Klamath Falls Packmind - RPLOG
Participants
Date
11/6/2013
Log
A call from RSX, potential packmind encounters. They've been working hard on those damn things, and here goes another one. Besides the multiple disasterous missions before, they have another one! But this time, they're not going in blind!
The volunteers are brought in by helicopter to the Crater Lake outpost, from there, they're directed to wait in the parking lot until the team leader will meet them. They don't have to wait long, as a very official-looking Husky Girl in a military dress jacket and matching slacks strides up, her claws tapping on the cracked asphalt. She looks over the team as it assembles in the warm air in the parking lot, at the very brink of night.
Again. He is here again. Weird feeling. Fear in him grows bigger, but at the same time he feels relieved. Sithra hasn't been in Oregon for a long time, though after some events it's called him every day. Every day he heard it, seen it, smelled it, feared it... But now he is back. The coyote is wearing nothing, but a light armor and a holster with a Desert Eagle in it. Sithra steps down onto the asphalt and takes a few steps away from helicopter, gazing across these lands, shuddering a little. His gaze meets the military-looking husky girl and gives her a short nod, though he doesn't walk over to her, continuing to stand nearby of the helicopter as if waiting for someone else.
Just following the first coyote was a second one, garbed in simple clothing with some Zephyr armor on her chest, a laser pistol on one hip, a medkit on the other, and a standard combat helmet atop her head. Rorne steps just behind Sithra, staying just off to the side as well, her gaze constantly looking about the area, taking in whatever she can. She places one of her hands on Sithra's shoulder as he shudders, giving him a couple, gentle taps to calm him. She then looks to the husky girl as well, noting her outfit and posture in general. Rorne gives the husky a respectful nod in greeting.
Following a small distance behind comes a husky girl, wearing little else besides an impromptu backpack, morten. She looks around, taking in the area before moving slightly closer to the other pair, she notices the Military husky girl and offers a quick wave before quickly retracting her paw, clearly a little nervous.
Once more unto the breach. This wasn't a flyby like the last few meetings she'd had with RSX. This time, it was a full on field operation. The large humanoid dragoness stepped off the helicopter, when it landed, and was checking over her gear. It would be the first field test of her new armor, and of her XM8 with it's new ammo. She'd had the tablet on the inside of her right forearm key the armor to have a MARPAT pixelation pattern with a multi-cam color scheme. Her hope was that this would be a very simple smash and grab mission. Get in, get something, get out. Glein didn't want to see if either her more powerful inoculation she'd procured from Zephyr Inc worked against the Pack mind infection, or if her, current, infection gave her additional protection against it.
Once more unto the breach. This wasn't a flyby like the last few meetings she'd had with RSX. This time, it was a full on field operation. The large humanoid dragoness stepped off the helicopter, when it landed, and was checking over her gear. It would be the first field test of her new armor, and of her XM8 with it's new ammo. She'd had the tablet on the inside of her right forearm key the armor to have a MARPAT pixelation pattern with a multi-cam color scheme. Her hope was that this would be a very simple smash and grab mission. Get in, get something, get out. Glein didn't want to see if either her more powerful inoculation she'd procured from Zephyr Inc worked against the Pack mind infection, or if her, current, infection gave her additional protection against it. Still, they were getting paid for this, and personally, Glein wanted payback. She wanted to give these damned Packminds something to remember her by. So she waited in the parking lot, her regulation issued helmet hanging off a strap on her armor. A real piece of work, something she and Edel had worked on for nearly 3 days, using it as her self-training on improving her mechanical skills, it was fairly well designed for her body shape in mind, with quite a few extras. The ammo pouches normally found hooked onto tactical vests and harnesses, were internal components keyed to the tablet. The battery pack hanging on the back of her belt powering the internal slots and the tablet alike. Her pack from when she wore a regular harness was hooked onto the back plate, and settled neatly between her wings. Her laser pistol was holstered in the right leg plate, the grip readily reachable though the rest of the weapon was in the armor. Her XM8 was hooked to a pair of buckles on the front, giving her ready access to it. As the Husky female walked up, her uniform screaming RSX security guard put into the field, Glein almost felt sorry. Then again, RSX and Zephyr had been the only real bastions of humanity and civilization until the Promethean's had started up as a major faction, so who was she to gauge. Still, at least Glein's military experience might prove handy in this situation.
Yet another husky seems to be present, today, this one considerably smaller. Edel hops out of the helicopter and pulls her goggles down over her eyes, a frown on her muzzle as she glances around before shuffling up next to Glein. "Hopefully this one goes better than last time, hm?"
With her team assembled, she looks over them... Two coyotes, both looking somewhat distraught. Another husky from Fairhaven, naked, unrespectable. A big dragon in fancy armor, and... An very short husky! It was like some kind of husky convention, but the military one seems the most austere of all. She strides up to her team, looking them over again, evaluating their equipment...
"My name is Agent Jean, and I'm in charge of this operation. Don't any of you get any ideas about me because of my appearance. Last person who tried to mount me went home in a plastic baggy... As you heard, our mission is to survey the city of Klamath Falls, south of here. The helicopter is refueling and will nest here, should we need extraction... Besides that, we don't know what's out there, but, from the looks of some of you, you know what might be..."
The husky turns to the side, walking a ways, her hands folded behind her back. "But we're not going in naked like last time, figuratively speaking. You might have heard that there's been some research going on... So this mission will serve two purposes: Recon, and field testing..."
Sithra gives another nod to the husky, listening to her briefing as he feels how a paw gently pats his shoulder. He turns around to see another coyote standing behind him. He looks hir in the eye and places his own paw on hers, completely forgetting about the others. It's hard to forget about Oregon, when it's all around him, waking up all his insticts. He shakes his head and leans in to whisper something in Rorne's ear before taking a deep breath and finally walking over to Jean and offering his paw to her as she finishes her briefing. "Probably not the best way and time, but... Name is Sithra." He says calmly, without a smile or another friendly sign. He isn't even looking at her; his gaze is still drawn by the Oregon's lands.
Rorne smiles at Sithra, closing her eyes as he whispers to her. This was her first time here, really, and she really didn't know what to expect. She came because, as a researcher, she figured some field research on Packminds would benefit her current knowledge of medicine. She looks to Sithra as he introduces himself, and then to Jean, taking a few steps closer to her. Rorne then calmly states, "I'm Rorne. I've been involved in the research for the inoculation being tested, and I'll do what I can to observe both those of us here as well as any Packmind fingers we encounter." After speaking, she leans into Sithra, whispering in his ear, "I love you, too."
Glein can't help but shake her head at the briefing start. Didn't seem like she was much realizing that they weren't here to enjoy the local wildlife. The whole state was still semi-dead in terms of communications and information. Thus, it was heavily considered a pack mind trouble. For Glein, that meant one thing. Free fire zone. So long as she didn't start shooting up friendlies or civies, they were valid.
"Corporal Herrick, Ma'am, Combat Operations Contractor." Glein states, simple and direct. The way the husky was talking, Glein got the distinct feeling the woman hadn't done any kind of field time against a Pack Mind, just got the 'What to Expect' brief. And this talk of field testing, it likely was whatever the scientists had called her up for twice on. Somehow, Glein had the most distinct feeling she wasn't going to be able to volunteer or even be voluntold for the testing anyways. "Ma'am, should we expect and hope to encounter civilians, or is the projected path of growth of the Pack Minds encompass this region, meaning that we should be expecting to encounter resistance quickly?" Glein asked, knowing that this wasn't her first rodeo in the field, much less her first one against the Pack Mind.
Morten sighs and follows along, keeping to herself and keeping quiet, already feeling rather an outcast but she quickly shakes away that feeling and tries to look at least a little presentable, she here to try and do some good with what little she can offer, looking back around and at the others, she realises how well prepared they all seem, having never been in this type of situation she cant help but feel she didnt prepare enough, the husky quietly muttering to herself.
Edel scratches her neck, frowning at Morten from behind her opaque red lenses for a moment. "Ah, I'm Edel. I make weapons and armour and stuff, yes." And then to Morten, "You certainly seem... Under equipped for this, but I'll do what I can to make sure you get back... Mostly intact!" She gives her best attempt at a reassuring smile before she turns her eyes back to the front.
Jean took the hand of the coyote that came up to her, and after, saluted back to the second coyote. She looked up at Mr. Fancy Armor, and frowned a little. One of these guys... A corporal, even? These ex-military pricks were almost as bad as the know-nothing civvies that liked to charge in like barbarians. To be fair though, this dragon seemed a lot more pleasant that some of the others she'd met. "Honestly, I was told not to expect civilians. This region is said to be just on the edge of one of the packmind's borders. Klamath falls, over 75 miles. Supposedly on the edge of what was this area's packmind..." She looks at the naked husky, and sighs. "Perhaps... We should go gear up. Since it seems like some of you know about the project, there's a few differences. This is a temporary rig you will carry, that is supposed to provide resistence to the infection. After the mission, these are to be returned. They're worth twice as much as all of us combined, so don't break them."
Sithra gives a nod of acknowlenging to Glein and clicks his tongue quietly at the 'Corporal', taking a few steps aside. "Can we talk for a little bit in private after that, Jean?" He says quiely as he stands beside her, looking in the same direction as she is. "I have something to say and it mustn't be heard by others." He says to her, while eyeing his new 'team' and sighing before walking back to Rorne.
Rorne gives a quick, albeit slightly sloppy, salute to Jean in response. "About the rigs," she began, breaking the salute, "are there any procedures or regulations in regards to if anyone should fall or turn? Retrieve the rig if possible, or would getting out be priority?" After she finishes, Sithra returns to her, and she wraps one of her arms around his back. Looking back to the others, she gives a quick nod. "Hello again, Glein," she greets. She looks over the others, feeling as if she knows Edel, but can't figuratively put a finger on it. She begins to gently rub Sithra's side as she turns her head to face him, trying her best to keep him calm because of where they were: She knew this couldn't be easy for him, so she'd do her best to help.
Morten sighs, smiling at Edel and nodding, "I'd appreciate that... though I dont usually wear armor.. " she blinks, hearing the others talk, looking over to rorne, "Uhh.. Rigs? Fall or turn?..." she blinks, rubbing the back of her neck with worry, she sighs and tries to keep her composure.
So it was a free fire zone for all intents and purposes. That reduced the number of worries Glein would have to think about. Still new rigs for the testing. Interesting. "What's the weight and recommended carrying of this rig we're field testing, and what is its proposed duration and effectiveness?" Glein asked, making sure her armor sat on her properly. It was going to be one hell of a field test for Glein. New armor and helping RSX work on a protective measure against the Pack Mind. "Oh, and before I forget Ma'am, does this new prototype rig affect those already infected with one of the two known strains of the Pack Mind infections?" Glein asked, face deadpan. She was refering to herself of course, but the point was, so they had a respectable idea of what these things would do.
Edel offers a little shrug. "As long as it's not too big for me to carry or anything, sounds fine to me." She taps her brow in greeting, to Rorne, accompanied by a little nod. "Hello again, yourself." She smiles at Morten. "It might have been a good idea for this, but with amazing luck, you'll be fine without it."
Smokie steps back as Sithra comes close to her, tensing up. She holds her tongue for now but she doesn't like anyone that close, especially a male. She keeps her eyes on him, as she gestures to the tourist info center. "Pick up your rigs there. 6.5 pounds, with MOLLE attachment points." She then goes over to Rorne and Sithra, frowning. "And you, what do you need?"
For those that pick up their rigs, they're about the size of a laptop, but as thick as a brick. They're housed in a canvas back, O.D. in color, with multiple attachment points, removable backpack straps, and a shoulder-strap, for them to either be attached to a ruck, worn as a ruck, or worn as a satchel.
After a time of discussion, the shakey Coyote Sithra seems unable to continue. After a time, the annoyed Husky seems to convince the Coyote to step down... There can't be that much risk in this mission. He can wait for the next chopper out... Jean then returns to the Tourist Info center, to check on the rest of her team.
Rorne embraces Sithra, snuggling into his chest. "I understand, it can't be easy for you to stay," she says to him lovingly. "I don't want you to go if you aren't comfortable." Getting as tall as she needs to, she places a short kiss on his muzzle. "I love you, hun. Don't worry, I'll be safe. Now, you stay safe, too, alright?" She turns back to Jean, but looks back at Sithra after taking a few steps. "See you when I get back in one piece," she says to him with a pleasant smile. Turning back to the group, she approaches Jean, then continuing, "I'm wondering what is expected of us in any situation with the rigs. If something happens and they are downed, or the rig doesn't work and they are fully infected, should we focus on getting out of there or on retrieving the rig if possible?" She had an idea what the answer was going to be, but it was best to ask for clarification anyway.
Morten Sighs heavily, shaking her head and watching sithra and rorne talk, the husky girl mumbles to herself, "Well.. that inspires confidence.." she blinks and face palms with a sigh, knowing she should probably keep her mouth shut, she watching the others who all seem fairly calm the husky girl worries as she hears about infection but doesnt know the half of it...
Glein shrugs, before walking to one of the rigs, and hooking it up to her belt, next to the battery running her armor. "How long are these supposed to last?" Glein asks, in sort of conjunction with Rorne's question's about what to do with them if things went south. Which they very likely were going to in this situation. Pack Minds, didn't seem to fight the same way as anything else did. Glein couldn't place it, but it was just, they did it without needing to communicate or even work out what they planned to do first. They just did it. Course, the constant nagging of wanting to drop everything and run off into the forest to find that waterfall she kept dreaming off wasn't helping. She had it happen EVERY time she passed over Oregon since the last 'mission' she ran in the field with RSX. And she'd had some fairly restless nights since too.
Edel doesn't say much, she just brushes off her dress and grabs one of the rigs, which she secures to her back. Once done, she turns back to the group and folds her arms behind her head. "Hopefully they work out, well! I don't think I want to go joining any packminds anytime soon!"
Jean answers Rorne as they walk to the team. "If anything happens, we have to try and get that rig, because it records all the data going through it. If it fails, we need to know why. It's like the black box on an airplane..." She then sneers at the coyote, "But you probably don't remember what an airplane is."
The husky stops at the door, looking in. "It should be okay, these were lab-tested. When you're ready to go, load up in the chopper. It's a 75 mile trip, and I don't think you want to walk it, but you all better use the bathroom first. No pit stops."
Rorne shakes her head, letting out a somewhat disdainful sigh. She takes a deep breath, partially calming herself, before saying, "I know what an airplane is, ma'am." She almost glares at Jean, but closes her eyes and keeps herself from doing so, looks forward, and opens her eyes. Looking to the rigs, she approaches and retrieves one of them, slinging it over her shoulder like a rucksack. She then hops onto the helicopter, looking over at Jean before somewhat impishly replying quietly to herself, "I read about airplanes in books." She grins a little before shifting the rig to her front, allowing her to sit down comfortably.
Morten sighs and finally takes one of the rigs, moving her backpack and hoists it behind her, following to the Helicopter, looking at it a little sheepishly before shaking herself back to a calm state, taking a breath and getting inside, not wanting to take a bathroom break or draw any attention to herself.
Ain't no way she was sitting inside the helicopter for this trip. Glein was just too large. So, back onto the seat of the rope bastard. At least she had a long enough arm now to reach up and grab ahold of the 'oh shit' handle inside the helo. Sitting on the lip of the interior troop compartment, her feet resting on the skies of the helo. She tapped teh 1 button on her tablet, and a compartment popped out on her breastplate. Pulling a magainze for her XM8 from it, and pushing it closed again, she put the magazine in, and slapped it home. Once certain it was seated, well, pull the lever the XM8 had as opposed to the charging handle, and the first round was loaded and ready. "Lets get this bird in the air. The sooner we do this the sooner we can put this whole nightmare behind us." Glein yells, as the props of teh helicopter begun to spin up and make normal speaking difficult.
Edel clambers into the helicopter and finds a seat for herself. It's not too hard, given her size. "Agreed. Theless time out here, the better!" She rummages through her bag once she's settled in, making sure she's not forgetting anything.
The husky ignores Rorne, and makes her way to the chopper. A thoughtful glare at the dragon, whose gender still confused her, and not even sparing a glance to the short husky or the naked, she moves to the back of the bird. From their, she produces a pistol belt, which goes around her waist, and a Ruger Mini-14. She goes to the front, retreiving a handful of earpieces, which she gives to each team member, before taking her seat on the edge. It isn't long before the chopper begins to lift of, and gain elevation. Soon, Crater Lake disappears behing them, and Klamath Lake appears before them.
Rorne accepts the earpiece, giving Jean a nod as she puts it into her ear. She sits back, getting comfortable, and closes her eyes. Is she sleeping, or even trying to? No. Instead, she just goes over whatever she can to pass the time in her head to keep her mind occupied on something other than the mission and the loud beating of the helicopter, thinking over everything she can about medical practices and chemicals in general. She sits there, her hands resting in her lap, head up straight. She doesn't notice that Klamath Lake is visible, still mainly focusing on simply rehashing what medical and chemical knowledge she possesses.
Morten smiles and offers a small thanks as she is handed the earpiece, quickly trying to place it in her ear, eventually she manages to before she turns and looks out the over the lake, gasping a little as she takes it in, "Gosh.." she mutters to herself, she leans back and looks at Edel with a smile, hoping they arrive soon.
Glein nods, taking the earpeice and fitting it into place. She wasn't as focused on the sights around them as she was on going over the mission in her mind. She had 8 full clips to run her XM8 on, as well as the laser pistol currently in it's holster on her leg. "So, Agent Jean. What'd you do for a living before P-Day?" Glein asked, looking at teh husky sitting next to her. It was a route of conversation to help while the time away, and who knew, maybe, just maybe, teh Agent would live through this a little more grounded in reality than before. Course, Glein was doing it for the sake of keeping her mind busy.
Edel glances at Glein and snickers softly as she works the earpiece into one of her ears before looking to Morten. "Is, ah, this your first time out of the city? It's pretty different, isn't it?" She returns the smile and turns her own goggled eyes to the landscape.
The Husky Agent frowns as she looks at the dragon.. Dragoness? Probably dragoness. Now she kinda sees the curves. "Surprised you know there was a 'before P-day,'" she says, and then sighs. She can't keep this up well at all, this will be hellish if she can't stop being such a bitch. It's just... She'd rather have people think she's a bitch, than just another bitch. "I worked security."
Soon they're coming over the town of Klamath Falls, right by the lake. It's dark and silent in the night. Not a single light besides the stars and moon, not a scent besides the decaying edifices of humanity. They touch down in a park. Well, it's hardly a touchdown, as the helicopter hovers for a moment and the husky orders the team out. "On me, south." she whispers to her headset, and begins to move southwards, toward a brick-faced building ,dark, with gaping window-holes like missing eyes.
Rorne hears Jean speak on the earpiece and hops out, following Jean close behind. She keeps her eyes open, scanning the surroundings, until she stops. She sniffs the air fervently, her nose working rather heavily, picking up a scent. She then says into her earpiece, "I smell something familiar, like a friend of mine." She quickly moves to Jean, then saying, "Unless I missed my guess, we're definitely not alone, and I'm quite sure there are other coyotes out there... or something worse. Perhaps both." Her hand moves to her laser pistol, then saying quietly to Jean, "Whatever it is, I doubt this place is as 'ghostly' as it seems."
Morten sighs and looks around, climbing off the chopper and looking up at the sky with a smile, loving the night, she listens to Rorne as she states smelling something familiar, making the husky a bit uncomfortable.. "Uhh, so.. this area is secure right?.. thats why we're being dropped here?.. right?" she asks weakly.
Glein jumps off the helo, rifle at teh ready. She's avoided turning on the tactical light just yet, not wanting to risk givng away their position. Her gaze roams across teh scenery, though what she can tell, this specific area hasn't been touched by people in years. "We're the first in this Area in years it looks like, not sure exactly how many. But it's unnaturally quiet, not a bird, not a bug, not a thing but the wind. And what I can see of that building, I don't think it's had anything in it for nearly as long. Just from what I'm smelling." Glein says, pressing herself against teh wall, near the corner, and glancing around it to see if she could spot anything.
Edel slowly draws her pistol and keeps her voice quiet. "Do packminds lay traps? I hear... Something. I think I do, at least. Sounds almost like tripwires. I cannot say for sure, but keep your eyes open and be careful, just in case. We don't want to start this off by falling into a trap."
Jean makes it to the doorway, and then leans in. She's holding a small maglight, which she shines into the door... It has a red light filter on it. Inside, the building is in terrible shape. Floor warped, ceiling sagging. No pain on the walls, mold in huge patches. The furniture is all in a heap. "It looks clear. We should get inside, make a perimeter... ONe of us will go topside to scope out the town from the roof." With that, she enters...
Rorne follows Jean into the structure as she pulls her Laser Pistol out, doing her best to keep an eye on everything as she moves as quietly as she can. She moves quickly through the building, no longer simply following Jean while doing her best to check each room before entering as well as where she steps, ensuring that it is clear before investigating. She says into her earpiece, "I'll not go topside, my night vision is terrible." She keeps her ears perked and nose working hard to try to catch whatever she can't see, hoping to be able to hear or smell opposition coming before it finds her.
Morten looks around, trying to see... anything, the pitch blackness surrounding them making it very hard to see too far ahead, she listens as Rorne decides to go inside, she blinks and moves to the building, staying outside for now as she tries to keep with the group as best she can, she taking a sigh of relief, finding herself not too uncomfortable oddly enough..
Glein swings around the doorframe, rifle raised, her tactical flashlight clicking on and shining into the room. Realizing that she was the only one without canine eyes, she sighed. "I'll sweep the upper floors and handle overwatch." Glein states, before bracing her rifle against her shoulder, and moving up the stairs, turning around half-way up them to check the other direction to ensure she wasn't ambushed. As she stepped onto the second floor, the sight didn't feel her with too much confidence. The whole place looked ready to fall apart. And she had 2 more floors to climb. Tapping the earpiece, she waited for the connect ping to sound. "Recon 4 to Recon 1, Stairwell to 2 story is clear, recommend sending someone to clear it. Moving up to story 3." Glein reports, before turning around and climbing up, and doing much the same with floor 3, She was somewhat slow in pace, not wanting to risk alerting anything with the creaking of the wood and material as she climbed. Once she reached the fourth floor, there was a problem. They'd have to send someone up from a lower floor to clear this room. "Recon 4 to Recon 1, recommend sending whoever you had sweep story 2 to sweep story four. I'm now going to roof to begin overwatch." Glein states, following the signs to reach the roof, and easing teh large heavy emergency door open, almost wincing at the loud sound of it opening.
Once on teh roof, she did a slow methodical sweep to make sure she didn't have unwanted 'guests' up here with her. "Recon 4 to Recon 1, roof is clear, setting up on south west corner of building." Glein reports over teh radio, before moving to the position she'd chosen as her own, and settling down, left leg angled up and used as a brace for holding the rifle, as her gaze sweeps teh view, the flashlight now off.
Edel sniffs the air and carefully makes her way around the furniture heap, taking little steps so as to hopefully avoid stepping on anything as she investigates. "What's the plan from here, now that she's on the roof?"
Jean nods, and sends Rorne up to level two, Edel to level three, and... Wait. Didn't she have another teammate? Where's that... The fucking naked husky! She growls, going back to the door, and leaning outside. "Hey, what d'you think you're doing out here? You wanna get spotted?! Get your furry ass inside here this instant!"
The floors are all the same, well, except that their floors are sagging and creaky, unstable... Soft almost. Rotting wet from the lake's air. They're not pleasant to walk on at all, and feel incredibly... fragile, like wet cardboard.
"Second flood clear," Rorne says, and then nods as she receives word to head to the fourth floor, making her way up the stairs to check. Here, she steps slowly and carefully, making sure where she steps is safe, and there are no traps or anything that could make life more difficult: Someone mentioned something about traps, so it's best to be careful. Additionally, the floor almost gives way as she steps, making her uneasy. However, one step causes her paw to fall through the floor, which, due to some quick reflexes, she lifts it back through and takes a couple steps back. Quite sure someone probably heard, she quickly states through the earpiece, "Fourth floor clear. Foot went through once, but everything else is clear." She takes a couple deep breaths, hoping that mistake won't cost them. She goes silent, trying to hear anything going on outside.
Morten eeps softly and rushes inside, "Ok ok!... sorry.. Its not my fault its so nice outside..." she mumbles to herself.. getting distracted as she looks around the room, returning to a wall as she places her backpack on the floor and she leans against a wall, quickly patting it to make sure she wont end up going through it...
Glein sighs, her gaze roaming over the majority of the city, dark and quiet, and off to the northeast were a mountain range. Maybe part of the rockies, maybe not. "Recon 4 to Recon 1, all's quiet so far. And don't ask me to quote Riddick, that only leads to bad things happening." Glein says, relaying the signal back down the building.
Morten sighs and stays silent for a few minutes, finally getting fed up of waiting, she picks up her bag and tries to move quietly closer to the others and the strange, angry and mean husky girl, "Uhh, Ma'am, could I ask something?" she asks, whining a little before asking without getting permission, "If the pack-mind creatures are so dangerous, why is it only us here?.." she asks, squirming a little incase the woman loses her temper.
Edel squints around the room she's in and stows away the pistol, drawing her sword, instead. She uses it to poke gently at the ground in front of her before she steps. She pauses every now and then to sniff at the air and listen.
The air is still in those harsh moments after Rorne's foot falls through. It's not a terribly loud sound, but it echoes in the city around them. What Rorne smelled earlier seems stronger now, carried on the wind up to her.
Jean flinches upon hearing it, bringing to shoulder her rifle. She looks around, switching off her flashlight, all senses tuned. Nothing. She glares at Morten, and doesn't answer him, as she moves to one of the windows. The glass is long gone, but soto is any trace of debris... In fact, all of the windows anyone sees in the building are like this.
Just then, close by, a haunting yowl raises up...
Rorne hears the yowl, her head turning suddenly to face the nearest window. The smell becomes much stronger, she knows she recognizes it now, but wants to make absolutely sure. She tries to hear more, but can't pick up anything else. She silently curses herself for her mistake, and then moves to a window carefully. She sniffs the air when she reaches it, definitely picking up the scent. The smell with the yowl made the conclusion obvious: They weren't going to be alone much longer. She steps away from the window and then says into the earpiece, quietly, "The smell from earlier is getting stronger."
Morten blinks, scowling as the girl ignors her, "Hey, you dont have to be rude.." she states, suddenly losing focus as she hear's the haunting howl, causing her ears to lower, "Oh... that cant be good.." she mumbles to herself, moving back towards the wall out of the way.
Glein snapped her rifle up and stopped just glancing around, and now was focused, staring at the environs around them. That howl wasn't good, nor had the cracking sound inside the building. "Recon 1, Recon 4. You best be getting people ready to fight, that's the kind of howl to warn us that they are coming. And pack-minds don't need to communicate like we do." Glein says over the radio, flicking the safety to semi-automatic. Until the fingers got closer, Glein wasn't going to start squeezing the trigger, wanting to make each shot count. For once, she was glad her colourations were more shadowy, but the issue was, she wasn't against or in shadows to help herself blend in. Then she started spotting them. More, and more, and yet even more eye glittering in the darkness. "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting." Glein mutters, tapping the earpeice again. "Recon 1, Recon 4 again. We've got serious trouble. Potentially hostile forces have us surrounded." Glein reports, gently easing herself back from the edge so that she could go prone more easily and without revealing herself too soon.
Edel stiffens up, breah catching in her chest. She glances towards the door of the room she's in and faces a mental decision; to go down there where there would be numbers, but easier entrance? Or stay where she is, alone, but with the only entrance being the third floor windows? She opts for the middleground and positions herself in the stairwell, sword at the ready. "Well. Shit."
Jean ushers Morten into the stairwell, and tells her to go up to the second floor and hold. She stays at the ground floor, shivering. "Recon 4, this is Recon 1, holding..." She stops. Two golden eyes in the darkness, and then more, and then more. Her finger pressed on the trigger... They seem to pause. A tense moment.
Do they really see her? She takes a step back, and the wood creaks. And then another and another, but then, a thing in the stairwell. Too close, she lets loose three shots, and then all hell breaks loose from the stairwell, and she's firing that carbine faster than she ever had before. Changing magazines in less than a second. "Backup, stairwell, ground floor!"
Rorne's eyes widen dramatically as she begins towards the stairwell quickly, doing what she can to, hopefully, reach it as soon as possible. If she does, she'll move down the stairs, descending them as quickly as possible, her pistol at the ready when she would reach the top of the first floor stairwell. If she does, she will begin firing with her laser pistol as well, doing her best to not hit any allies, aiming only at the coyotes - at least, she is sure they're coyotes from the smell - muttering, "Like hell anyone's dying because of me."
Morten blinks and sighs as she is forced to move into the stairwell, hardly getting one paw on the staircase before the gold eyes open in the darkness, she lets out a gentle "Uh oh..." before grabbing ahold of the railing and whimpering, trying to find the courage to move but once the gunshots start, she finds herself rushing back as fast as she can.
Edel bites her lip and turns to make her way down to the second floor, before calling down. "I'm here!" She frowns a Morten and steps close to her, sword at the ready as she offers a hand. "Come on, let's get you further up the stairs."
The husky girl is loading her third magazine when she feels sudden searing pain on her back in three blossoming spots, the smell of burned fur filling the stairwell as she nearly drops her rifle, and almost falls forward into the packmind. With a loud yipe, she fires another round, while the forward momentum of the sudden shock sends her forward... She's bitten on the paw, dragged down, but she's still fighting with all her might, while a few coyotes skirt her and rush Rorne!
Rorne holsters the pistol, preparing her claws as they approach. As each approaches her, she would strike them hard with her claws, doing what she can to evade their attacks while also aiming to injure, or perhaps down, them quickly. Her goal wasn't exactly to stay alive, but more focused on getting Jean out of there as best as possible.
Morten groans and tries to move up the stairs, gasping as several of the creatures go straight past her and head for Rorne, morten whimpers and loses her grip on the railing, slipping back down the few steps she managed to make her way up, she quickly sits back up, the sound of gunfire rings in her ears, making her finding focusing difficult as she tries to gain her composure imidst the chaos.
Edel snarls a little as Jean is taken down, and as soon as she's convinced Morten out of the way she steps up next to Rorne to help in her efforts. "Just stay back there Morten. Hopefully none will get through us."
The first that rushes at Rorne is hit, Rorne's claws raking across its neck. The smell of blood saturates the stairwell as the coyote just seems to turn into a red liquid, splashing all over Rorne like a huge popped waterballoon... The other two are stunned, knocked back, wounded, as Edel's entry with her blade finishes one of, and knocks the other, crippled, back down to the landing of the steps, where Jean has dropped her rifle and is holding them back with her pistol, her legs badly mangled...
Rorne wipes off what goop she can from her as she descends the stairs to reach Jean's side. Instead of trying to carry her up the stairs, she takes a position alongside her. With how she is the only one currently holding them back, disrupting her aim further would be pointless, plus she would probably struggle. Instead, she would do what she could to hold off the coyotes from Jean's blind spot, while, when able, beckoning Edel to come down if she is able. Rorne wants to help get Jean better somehow, but can't without cover.
Morten Whines, ears still ringing as Edel helps her up and makes her move out of the way, the husky sighs and shakes her head, her mind fuzzy as she tries to regain her composure and understand whats actually happening around her, the gunfire to her, sounding as though it is far in the distance, she backs up to a wall and lets herself slide down, hitting the floor a little roughly as she finds her side covered in the good from the last creature the others dispatched, the groans and leaves it for now, still trying to focus on getting her hearing and mind back..
Edel quickly rushes down the steps to plant herself between the coyotes and the pair. "Whatever you plan on doing, try to do it quickly, please. I don't fancy staying here any longer than we have to." She drops into a more defensive stance, preparing to try to fend off any that charge again.
That husky Edel is a damned hero, and so is Rorne, but the husky Jean just struggles in Rorne's paws, leaning away, trying to push them off. "Ffffuck you! Fuck! God DAMNit! Just, just take the rig and go!" She orders, but she hopes, deep down, taht Rorne will be able to save her, because who really wants to die? But if she lives, her legs are so badly messed up, they're broken and twisted with chunks of flesh missing... She just keeps shooting, trying to support Edel.
The coyotes taht rush Edel are almost a swarm, but there is an end in sight. Only a few advance at a time, like purposeful waves to tire her down. They don't risk trying to get past her into the small, tight area between the swordhusky and the gunhusky, but they're doing a damn good job of heckling the swordhusky, yapping at her, growling, pouncing and jumping back. She manages to wound a few, and goop a few more. These aren't... NEAR as aggressive as other packminds have been reported to be.
Rorne turns back to Jean, her eyes already wet with tears as she kneels down to her. "I'm so sorry, I messed up bad," she states sadly, and her tears would stream down her muzzle onto Jeans legs, hoping that, by some power of being a Phoenix within, they would help her. After this, she would look to Edel, wincing as she gets bitten twice. At this point, her eyes would be mostly dry as she continues to get hold of herself. Damn hormones.
Morten Groans and wipes her head, the ringing slowly fading until the gunfire comes in loud and clean, the husky gasps and suddenly realises the situation she has abandoned the others to deal with, she whines and runs to the area the fighting is happening in, watching at Rorne drags the wounded girl to safety, morten whines and moves down, trying not to get in the way and hoping to help get her away from the fighting once she is moved out of the current shooting range..
Edel lets out a yelp of her own as two of the coyotes sinks their teeth into her, one on her lower leg, just above the paw, the other biting her left hand. "Argh! Dammit!" She snarls and responds in turn by trying to drive her sword through the neck of the one that bit her leg.
The coyotes after Edel land a couple blows, one on her leg, one on her hand! Her sword causes the one on her leg to goop, splashing into a red liquid that disappears quick as it came, whil the other holds on stubbornly, for two more yotes to rush past at the crippled Jean, and the crying coyote.
Jean is out of ammo for her pistol, and impotently throws it at one of the fingers, before, suddenly, realizing she regained some movement in her legs! She sorta just uses one leg to try and push her up the stairs, lifting up with her hands, dragging her rifle...
Rorne turns to face the rushing fingers, striking at them as accurately as she can, hoping to at least deter them for a few moments. After them, she turns to Edel, trying to strike at the finger latched onto her. If she succeeds here, she would then stand by Edel, asking her, "Can you walk on it?" In either case, she will stand beside her, following her closely, giving her what support she needs in order for the two of them to pull back together.
Edel yelps again as her hand starts to change, becoming no longer a hand. "No, no, not now!" She uses her other hand, while it still is one, to slides her sword back into its scabbard as she brings her knee up to the coyote's ribs, trying to force it to let go.
The coyote on Edel's hand is easily shaken off, but it comes back for round two! The other pair that went after Rorne are fought back, one wounded badly and the other stunned, giving Jean a chance to toss her rifle at Morten! "Shoot, you fool! Fuck!" She's still trying to crawl up the steps, her legs of minimal use to her.
Rorne moves in to finish the two off, but is suddenly grabbed by both of them as she swings. She yelps in pain as the force from the strike, as well as them pulling, brings her to the ground, almost faceplanting into the floor. She looks up at the coyotes holding her down, and she feels a heat begin to radiate from within. Less than a second later, her fur changes rapidly, blossoming forth into bright, fiery feathers. Her tail reshapes rapidly, fanning out into one of an avian. Her arms reshape as well, losing the fur for feathers, her hands and becoming more feminine. Two wings burst forth from her back, and her muzzle reshapes into that of a beak. Her legs reshape as well, her paws twisting rapidly and making popping sounds as they contort into avian talons.
Morten whines, catching the gun and looking a little dumbstruck, "B-but, I -..." she groans, realising her protests are not needed right now, she sighs, raising the gun a little uncomfortably and lining up a shot, muttering to herself, "I hate guns.." she whines, shaking her head she tries to steady her aim before firing, not wanting to shoot blindly and waste every round the gun may have left.
Glein strokes the trigger to her rifle, time and time again, only wasting 1 bullet per target, knowing she needed to make them last. Especially with as many targets as were getting past her whithering field of fire and making it into the building, if the sounds from below were any indication of how poorly things were going. The sharp crack of the rifle's report and ping of a emptied 7.62 caliber rifle casing hitting the roof then rolling against others of it's fellows, well, Glein didn't pay attention.
As the 30th round was blasted out of the rifle, the rifle jerked back without teh normal rocking forward, which, thanks to training, had Glein raising her right index finger from teh trigger and tapping the magazine release. Putting the expended magazine into her dump slot on her armor, in this case her left leg plate, she tapped the button on the tablet to open the same magazine 'pouch' her first came from. Pulling out the magazine and slamming close the panel even as she shifted the rifle to let her slammed the magazine home, and hitting the bolt catch release on the side of hte rifle to make the bolt slam home, loading another around into the chamber.
As the coyote comes back to bite her again, she raises her already bitten arm, thrusting it forward to take the bite. Better that than somewhere more vital. Though she takes a nasty bite on the arm, she slips one of her knives from its sheath on her leg and tries to drive it into the coyote's neck. Just as she begins to retreat, she takes a bullet right through her side, causing her to fall to her knees, part way up the stairs. She incoherently sputters some impolite things, her nanites scrabbling to work just as she, herself, begins to scrabble up the stairs.
As for Glein's part covering on the roof, he's doing very well. His shooting goops a good number of the fingers coming from his viewpoint, but a few manage to slip by.
The Coyote attacking Edel takes the knife to its neck, retreating, limping. This one, yapping in pain, begins to slowly dissolve into goop, seemingly from the inside, as it gags and coughs up a nasty, blood-smelling mess of red liquid. The other coyotes seem to hold off for a moment, watching their comrade suffer there. But why? All evidence from the past seems to point that, well, such a thing wouldn't stop them. They don't really need to look, since they're all one mind and can feel it for themselves, right?
Jean, growls impatiently at Morten, slashing them across the leg with her claws, whether or not it does much damage. "Fucking stupid BITCH! Shoot the fucking PACKMIND, not our agents!" She then leans down, offering her hand to Edel, watching the coyote Rorne suddenly burst into fiery feathers underneith two coyotes...
Rorne's transformation is interrupted, causing her to shriek in pain. Her left hand twists and contorts, losing most dexterity as it becomes a coyote's paw. She focuses a moment, pulling herself close enough to either coyote to rap it as hard as she can with her beak. The first releases her left hand, retreating a bit. She turns to the second, trying to peck at it as well, but only manages to anger it further. It lunges at her, aiming for her neck. She manages to move her neck out of the way, but causes it to latch onto her wings. Her shrieks increase in volume, her feathers falling out of her body. What lies underneath is not skin, but fur, with the same color as the attacking coyotes, which grows out after a few moments into a full coat.
Morten whines, whimpering at her poor use of the weapon, gasping more in surprise than pain at Jean slashes across her leg, making her wobble a little on the harmed leg, she shakes it off and tries to steady her breath, lining up the weapon properly, she hopes and attempting to fire but not before the transformation of Rorne becomes interupted, the screams of pain making morten gasp in worry, she moves forward almost in an instinctual move to help, she not moving far forward though as she realises the danger they are still in and that she has just moved herself closer too...
Seeing it look mostly clear, mind, Glein couldn't see too deeply into the buildings around them. Hearing the combat below, Glein had to make a decision. Either get down there quickly and help, or leave them all to be taken. And honestly, Glein worried for Edel. She was a close friend of hers, and she wasn't going to let her fall victim to being turned into a part of one of these damned packminds. Knowing the stairs would take too long, and that jumping over the edge of hte roof would leave her vulnerable, that left making her own hole. And frankely, she didn't have any kind of explosives to get down. But she could breath fire. Which might work to get her down.
Taking a quick, deep breath, and hoping to god this worked, she spewed forth a small gout of flame, only to watch it spread across the roof, leaving only a singe mark where she had focused, and a few peices of the wood elements up here to actually catch fire. Cursing her luck, she starts running to the stairs, figuring that it'd be her best bet.
That is, until she heard creaking and cracking below her. Not like gunshot or hte like, but like the structure was having trouble supporting the roof. "Oh shITTT!" She yells, as suddenly the section of roof she was on, near the center of it actually, suddenly ceased to be part fo hte roof and fell straight down. Flaring open her wings, Glein lands in a rough crouch from teh sudden drop, finding herself on teh 4th floor now. "Not, good. Recon 4 to Recon Team... Roofs coming down now." Glein reports, glad that her rifle was hold to her by the straps and clasps and not just in her hand. Hearing the floor groaning, Glein made the split second decision to NOT be there when it finally does go down.
Edel reaches out to grab Jean's hand with her own. The one 'hand' she still has. "Shit, we need to get out of here." She frowns at Jean. "I don't know how well you can move, I'm too small to carry you, but lean on me if you need it. My leg isn't too badly busted. How do we get out? We could try jumping out of the second floor windows..." She pulls another knife and takes a slash at the coyote that's attacking Rorne.
THe whole building creeks as the roof begins to collapse, the whole place shaking. This gives the packminds pause as the consider retreat. That'd be the best option now, with the whole place ready to fall apart at any moment...
Jean hears this, and she gets on the comm. "PInned down, Recon 4, all wounded! Some infection... Can we exract?"
Rorne gets back to her feet, stumbling back a little, her mind blurred with pain. "Some infection?" She states, breathing hard while looking over her body. Looking forward, back to the other coyotes, taking a couple steps up the stairs as well. If any charge, she'll do her best to use the claws in her coyote paw as well as her talons and beak to cause damage. She was holding fire as a last resort: Didn't want to hurt anyone any more than she already had.
Morten blinks and whines at coyotes, watching as Rorne stumbles back, breathing heavily, morten moves closer and places a hand on rorne's shoulder as if trying to help guide them back up the stairs as their focus is fixated on the remaining coyotes staring at the group, she sighs and lowers the weapon for the moment, more focused on trying to get Rorne away from further injury.
Glein growled, jumping onto the stairs and going down them 2, 3, 4 at a time. "Negative Recon 1, Roof is no go for medivac." She reported, nearly popping her arm out of her socket as she spun around the turn of the stairwell, not slowing down and using the banister as a lever for her momentum. As she passed the third floor, she was already turning to rocket down to the second floor. "What's your location?" Glein asked, once more rocketing around the turn her legs pumping at full speed, her tail and wings being the only thing keeping her from careening into anything at such high speeds.
The tiny dog lady lets out a sigh of relief as the coyote goops and no more seem to come. Edel shoves the knife back into its holster and shouts up the stairs. "We're at the top of the first flight." She glances back down to the main room, looking to see if it's clear enough for a run.
The coyotes, at least, the ones at the back begin to retreat, leaving the building. One coyote peaks up the stairs.from the bottom, almost pleadingly in its animal eyes.
Jean stares down at it, then turns to her comm. "First floor flight..."
When Edel peaks, she sees around ten coyotes, standing back, and one at the foot of the stairs,staring up at them...
Rorne leans up against the wall, looking down at the Coyotes, her left arm, the arm with a paw instead of a hand, across her abdomen, trying to use it as li. She looks back at the others, somewhat panting a bit from the exertion and wincing at lingering pain. "We're injured, and outnumbered," she begins, "so why aren't they charging in? Why won't they finish us off?" She looks back at the group of coyotes at the bottom. She shakes her head, "Something's not adding up here." She then looks to the one at the bottom, looking up at them. How it looks back, and everything else, gives her an idea. She mutters to herself, "I can't believe I'm doing this," and then, after a short pause, asks the coyote, a bit louder, "What is it? Is... is something wrong?"
Morten Sighs and whimpers as Rorne leans up against the wall, she looks over Rornes injuries and now shifted hand, listening at Rorne states the situation, she sighs and shakes her head as to why rorne isnt just glad their not just being rushed.. looking down at the coyotes morten raises an eyebrow as one of the coyotes seems to stare up at the group and not either fall back or attack, as rorne asks the coyote if something is wrong, morten scowls, "Dont raise your voice at it!... maybe its friendly unlike the rest?" she asks aloud, moving slightly further down the stairs towards the creature, she tries to look non threatening, looking at the beast while also trying to keep an eye on the ones behind it, "Are you friendly maybe?" she asks somewhat skeptically.
Glein continues hurrying down, and finally reaches the rest of hte team. "We may want to leave, soon." Glein states, looking over the team. Jean was pretty badly torn up, Rorne looked like she'd gone birdy, and Edel was holding her side. "Who's the worst hurt?" Glein asked, before noticing the coyote at teh base of teh stairs. Snapping her weapon up, and aimming at the creature, she flicked the safety off, bracing it against her armor's shoulder pad. "Move up to teh second floor, find an outside window, and move. Agent Jean, if you'd be so kind as to call up the bird, we're gonna need to find a evac site, and get you all back. I'll cover you while you move." She orders, bracing herself against the banister.
Edel slinks backward, panting as she takes up position next to Glein. "Yes, the sooner we get out of here, the better." She groans as she looks down at her own paw'd hand.
Jean's legs were badly hurt. Bone was showing through in a few places, her fur tattered and skin torn. Blood marked where she had dragged herself up off the steps, and there was a long streak of it down the stairs and on the wall. She was breathing pretty hard, as she nodded up at Glein, putting her finger to the communicator to change the channel. "Hotel Quebec, Hotel Quebec... This is K-Kilo Foxtrot... Heavy wounded, need extraction..."
While she was waiting for a responce, the coyote at the foot of the stairs flinched as Glein raised their rifle. Another coyote's head peaked around the corner, looking at it, and up at the situation, and then disappeared again. It sniffed, looking over the team. It stepped to the side, but not forward, as if... No, that couldn't really be? These coyotes were just trying to eat them a minute ago.
The building shook, as another piece of the roof collapsed onto the fourth floor, making dust from the ceiling rain down. The coyote at the foot of the steps whined, and the sentiment was shared by a few others, unseen around the corner. They were holding back for something.
"Kilo Foxtrot, this is Hotel Quebec. Your bird is unable to provide support at this time, mechanical failure. Self-extraction possible?" Jean seems stunned, and looks at her team, her jaw agape... Of all the fucking times they could possibly schedule fucking maintenance for that fucking flying rustbucket!
Rorne looks at the ceiling as the dust falls, hearing the minor collapse. "That doesn't sound good," she says, darkly. She looks around, "I'm just guessing, but I don't think the building is going to be around much longer." She looks at Jean, noting her injuries, saying, "No extraction? Oh, just great." Looking to the rest of the team, she adds, "We're surrounded, getting out the front door doesn't look possible: We could get slaughtered if we try." She then looks to Glein, "You were on the roof: Any other way out of this building? Safely, I mean... I can barely fly, Jean can't walk... have any ideas how can we get out of this mess?"
Morten gasps and watches as dust and dirt fall from the ceiling, she lowers her ears and holds Jeans weapon up to her chest with a whine of worry, looking back at the others who are injured, "Uhhh, Maybe now would be a good time to take our chances outside?.. Better to try and maybe get out than stay inside and die most definitely.." she sighs, knowing probably she isnt the best person to make any suggestions on what to do and as such, moves back up the stairs slowly to let the others choose what action to take.
Glein shakes her head. "Roof's coming down literally, and the nearest exit right now would involve jumping out hte windows on the second floor. If we want out," Glein says, and proceeds to point her rifle at the coyote's in the area, "They're between us and exit. Problem is, Agent Jean is in no shape to move." Glein finishes, waiting. "As for routes out of the city, Not a whole hell of a lot of options. We're pretty close to the center of the city." Glein states, shrugging. "Gonna be a long walk to get out of it, much less to friendly terroritory."
Edel shakes her head and sighs. "We are not in a good spot right now. Literally and figuratively. I would carry her, but she's a bit bigger than me..."
:whines, an unexpectedly canine sound from her. She's looking down at her legs for the first time. "F-fuck... Man... Can I ever even walk again? No, fuck, fuck this! I REALLY don't want to die here." She looks up at Glein, pointing at him. "You! Fuck... Can't believe I'm saying this... Listen, I can't make it, dead weight and all... Make sure you get those damn boxes back to HQ, hear me?" She's panting. "L-look... You can leave me, just take the box.
Jean whines, an unexpectedly canine sound from her. She's looking down at her legs for the first time. "F-fuck... Man... Can I ever even walk again? No, fuck, fuck this! I REALLY don't want to die here." She looks up at Glein, pointing at him. "You! Fuck... Can't believe I'm saying this... Listen, I can't make it, dead weight and all... Make sure you get those damn boxes back to HQ, hear me?" She's panting. "L-look... You can leave me, just take the box."
The coyote at the base of the steps whines again, and his head jerks. It looks like he's... gesturing to the door. The look on his face almost looks concerned, but it's hard to tell with a canine like that. What's with the sudden change in temperment?
Another rumble, another shake, as another chunk of roof falls down. It's not going to hold up much longer.
"Hell no, Jean, we are not leaving you behind," Rorne says to her. Looking to Glein again, she continues, "Going out any windows is disastrous, and we'll cripple the injured. That would be a worse spot than this." She looks down the stairs again, at the coyotes. She pauses, then adds, "I might be crazy, but maybe they want us to get out." She looks at the rest of the group, "They were less hostile than reported." She sighs, painfully removing herself from the wall. "I won't gamble your lives with my crazy ideas, so I'll test my hypothesis myself." Looking to Glein, she pleads, "Please don't open fire unless they are openly hostile." She looks back down the stairs, thinks about how crazy she is, takes a deep breath, and, slowly, descends the stairs.
Morten groans, watching the next chunk of the roof fall, she shakes her head, almost making a run for it.. but looks back before she sets off at the Injured.. she walks over, "M-maybe we can carry you? together or?...we cant leave you behind, not while we might have a chance to save you.." she asks, unsure how she can help and not happy about the idea of leaving someone behind but not brave enough to make a choice and just carry Jean out without her permission..
Glein shakes her head. "Last I checked, your the one running this op, not I." She says to Jean, but her gaze turns to Rorne. "You better not be thinking of doing what I'm thinking your thinking of doing!" Glein growls, but can't exactly grab her before she'd walked away. "Damn it!" Glein growls. "Can someone PATCH Agent Jean up before she bleeds to death?!" Glein orders, not trusting the situation. And they needed to get moving, NOW.
Edel nods at the others. "Right, we're not leaving you behind. I will find a way to carry you out by myself before that!" She glances at Rorne. "Be careful. And I have bandages, but I'm not sure how much good it would do, and we'd need time and a safe place. I don't think we have either right now."
The coyote on the ground steps back from Rorne, pressing against the wall, watching him warily. Rorne could tell if he made a threatening move, it'd attack. It was like a strange noncommunitive impasse between them, but it let them pass... On the ground floor, Rorne could see that the lobby was full of these identicle coyotes, some pacing nervously, some standing and staring, worried, as the buildign was shaking. There was a large clear path to the door...
Jean grabs onto Edel's hand, and looks up at Glein and Morten. SHe can't bear to look at Rorne walking into certain death... Tears are in her eyes, but her only sound is a frustrated whine. "This fucking hurts... One of you fucks better have morphine..." Her speech is so sophisticated, isn't it? But, her eyes are starting to flutter, her head swaying as if she's faint. She can hardly keep up panting, even, and her grip of Edel's paw is faint. "I-if that featherbrain or I die... You better get our fucking boxes, okay?"
Rorne keeps moving forward, her eyes closed and breaths measured. Every step takes a couple seconds, her trying hard not to provoke the coyotes there. These slow, deliberate steps are more tranquil, as well as stressed, than anything else before. Her heart is racing rapidly, and her paw feels stranger than anything, nothing like when she was a coyote. Her thoughts rush crazily. Is it a trap? Will they kill me? Maybe they want me to think they're friendly so the team will come down and get ambushed. She takes another step. Maybe they're not hostile. What if they're friendly now? Maybe they're letting us go because they're simply sporting. She takes another step. Her thoughts continue racing as she continues stepping, closer and closer to the door, hoping that they don't attack her or the team.
Morten attempts to help Jean to her feet, ears lowering as Jean swears and pants in pain, "Comon we'll get you all the Morphine you want once we're safe, Until then your gonna have to put up with the pain and look forward to kicking the crap out of your superiors for sending us here.." she jokes, hoping to lighten the mood as she helps Jian and Edel, watching as Rorne wanders into the danger zome.. for now, looking like the Coyotes wont attack them.
Moving over to the steps, she leans down, and checks the pulse of Jean. It was starting to get thready. That wasn't a good sign. "Edel, bandage her as best you can. She's starting to go into shock." She states, easing down the stairs a few more steps. "Once you've bandaged her, put her on my back. We'll begin moving and get to a safe location. Maybe we can get lucky and not have too much trouble as we move." Glein says, kneeling down, her rifle still pointed towards the coyote fingers.
Edel gives Jean's hand a squeeze. "You'll be okay! I'll do everything I can to get you out of here!" She kneels down and begins digging through her bag, pulling up a roll of bandage, which she begins using on Jean, trying to help stop the bleeding.
The coyotes on the ground floor stay clear of Rorne, standing back. Some stare at them, some stare at eachother. A few appear to be nuzzling each other, or whining. The coyote at the stairwell shakes its head, as the roof crumbles down more, and then, a louder crash, as it seems that the fourth floor begins to collapse onto the third, making the brick walls warp. The staircase seems strong so far, but that isn't encouraging... The door is right there for Rorne, open, unguarded, as the myriad of identicle coyotes watch on.
Jean is too tired to even protest at the treatment, only whine loudly and uncharacterictly canine. She reaches out to grab someone's hand, paw, anything to hold onto as the bandages compress her already painful nerves...
