Ghost in the Machine (IC)

Almost as if bidden by reference, a familiar smell accosted the nostrils of most of those present, making an entrance that words never could. Uallachan was still facing the door of the Rusty Throne, but following his rearward move was now leaning against the outer door frame, he gave Rook a nod and Kaylith a long stare. His expression twisted between a number of amused expressions, reflective of what Ruaidhri knew was a voluble running invective in his head. Taking up a position directly beside Brick and briefly catching her eye, he shook his head and spat into the ground, before returning to eye the door, a malicious smile cutting into his face.

Knowing full well what was going through his companions head, Ruaidhri was tempted to laugh, but there were more important things to consider. Following Rook a little way into the room, he kept one eye on Brick and Uallachan in the doorway. He knew the moment either of them made a move he would need to be beside them and firing. Extra seconds meant everything. However it also sounded like there was a lot going on and he needed to catch up. He kept his voice low, just enough for the other two to overhear him. Despite what Rook said about this building he was on war footing.

"This is the centre of the mutant incursion? We saw some barricading in the main thoroughfare, so I suspected it was something significant but I didn't know it was as widespread. Stubbs and the grandfather fondler set off looking for you, havn't seen them since. We last saw Bazin and Newt in the tunnels below but that was a while ago. Seems we've all been running solo."

He took a moment to give Kaylith a calculating look before giving a shrug, the ghost of a smile across his bearded face.
"If Rook vouches for you, you can't be all that bad. To the next drink."
His attention back on Rook, he continued.
"Thanks but the triplex will do for now, give's me a little more flexibility if needed. Hopefully that out there is the main entrance and exit point for the Throne. Give us at least a little time at least."

Poo-Beyah crackled back. "No Surpri... uckin' mutan...entral, there. Dey all gath.... be..areful. You wan' me .... some homies.... you?"

+++

Spoiler:

Kaylith simply nodded back at Ruaidhri's cheers. Numa suddenly moved her weapon barrel from the street ahead to the entrance of a shop just off to her left. The gate was down and locked, but there were figures behind it.

"Movement," she breathed. They seemed to be watching out at the main street and then back to your small group that had congregated by the hotel's back door.

Before anything could fully be decided, both Numa and Uallachan turned to face the direction of The Rusty Throne. "Got one out of the shop - weapon." As if on cue, the loud report of the weapon's discharge rang through the alley.

Spoiler:

Ruaidhri moved quickly to the door frame and took up a position next to the other two, his weapon raised and pointed.
"Any sight on what we are dealing with? Is it a mutant?"

Spoiler:

"Can't tell," Numa replied back. Uallachan had no idea either. The dull red glow of decades old emergency lighting made the visibility shit.

What was clear was that a figure was taking cover by the entrance to The Rusty Throne and firing her weapon inside.

[OOC: Moving to structured time - Nita/Hydrako roll me initiative. Numa Init: 12a; Rook Init: 12b]

Round 1

"No you don't, fucker!" is faintly heard before the figure at the front of The Rusty Throne fires what had to be a hand cannon off back into the shop.

RU!

+++
Ruaidhri -
Numa -
Rook -

Spoiler:

[edited to put IC outside spoiler]

IC:
The shooting and shouting shortened Rook's reply to Poo-beyeh to a simple, Hold please. He handed the vox unit to Jacjonson and went to lean out the door and look across the street. The mutants Rook had encountered hadn't been big communicators, so this person may be a civilian in trouble. However, given his experiences in the last 10 minutes with strangers Rook was not about to rush across the street and help without the proper analysis of the situation

<Edited to put IC out of the spoiler>

Spoiler:

His gun raised, Ruaidhri lined up his sight on the figure outside the Throne, his finger over the trigger. And paused. Whoever it was, was currently fighting something else inside the throne. From what Rook had said, one side was likely to be the mutants, which meant it might be better to ally with the other. Until it was clearer, there was too much risk in firing. As Rook came to lean on the door frame, he whispered at his fellow Bastard, eyes not leaving the target.
"You got a visual on that over there? Are they mutant?"

Spoiler:

Rook slung the stubber to the ready and spoke in a low voice, human female, mid 20s, firing a handcannon at a target inside the building. Attention is not on us. Move to assist?

Spoiler:

One red eyebrow rose, but the Ratlings eye remained glued along the line of his sight. Chafed hands and slapped arses but this was a fortunate coincidence. It certainly sped things up. Keeping his voice at a whisper he replied back to Rook.
"Yes but with caution. Long story but due to a feck up on our behalf, we are in debt to Brick's boil suckling boss, and he wants her back alive. I'll give you the full story later but should give some aid. Brick, you've led us to the target so up to you if you want to step back or continue to get your hands dirty. If so I can give you and Rook cover to move up. I do better with a bit of distance."

Spoiler:

Round 3

Numa regarded Ruaidhri. "If she dies in this firefight, boss' going to put it on you."

She had turned now, but kept an ear out at the main thoroughfare. She found it odd that this gunfight wasn't drawing their attention, but didn't say anything about it.

Rook

+++
Ruaidhri - 13m away from target
Numa - 14m away from target
Rook - 13m away from target

Round 4

As the four plus Kaylith sat there talking, more gunfire erupts from inside The Rusty Throne. There are six shots from a small caliber weapon, likely an autogun. Then, inexplicably, the girl Rook and Ruaidhri had been watching... rushes back inside as though she couldn't get enough of the fight.

It was clear there was skirmishing taking place right inside of the entrance. But she was now out of sight.

...then the bolt weapon Rook had identified earlier fired two more times. The loud rounds drowned out the smaller calibers from seconds earlier.

RU

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Rook nodded and and kept silent as Ru filled him in. When the sniper specialist took off towards the fire fight, Rook followed as well, ready with the stubber

Spoiler:

The girl's voice again rang out. This time it was nearly a scream. The single word was clear enough, even among the gunfire.

"No!"

As Ruaidhri and Rook start heading out into the alleyway, there are two more LOUD bolt pistol reports and then silence. Rook hears a female voice - no doubt the woman - begin speaking, but it isn't loud enough to make out the actual words.

Then, after a moment, the steel sliding grate at the shop closer to the main thoroughfare rolls up. A voice calls out to your group.

"We got two comin' out. Don't want no trouble with you. We got you covered from here in case you need a fight."

As promised, two men with thin, but strong, builds exit the shop. They both wear black uniforms that are short sleeved and short legged. One of them is wearing a white apron over it. Rather than shoes, they have on tough padded... socks... almost that conform around their big toe. They have dark black hair, and both of them are armed. One holds an autopistol at the low ready, and the other has an autogun shouldered. They eyeball your group carefully as they make their way to the Rusty Throne.

Interestingly enough, or not, these restaurant workers look very comfortable with the weapons they are holding.

Spoiler:

Rook left the stubber at the low ready also. These men had no obvious mutations, or gang affiliations, so as long as they kept their weapons lowered they were fine by him.

Do you know who's in there? Rook asks with a flick of his head towards the Rusty Throne.

Spoiler:

Ruaidhri stood just to the side of Rook with his weapon at the ready too, Uallachan just beside him. He didn't like these conversations in the middle of the street without cover. It wasn't a snipers normal position.

Spoiler:

The two moving to The Rusty Throne keep their eyes on Rook and Ruaidhri and don't respond. Assuming neither Rook nor Ruaidhri make a move, they continue into the Pawn Shop without issue. It goes silent and tense.

Ruiadhri kept his eye's on the door after the two had entered it. It could be that the two were enemies of the girl or her allies. In either case, standing in the middle of the street hadn't been the place to fight. He would wait for a few seconds and then take up his position against the wall on the opposite side of the street to the door, in a position where he could see in.

Rook understood the hesitation from the two men, and let them lead the way. He was curious to know who had a bolt pistol in a place like this, and perhaps didn't need it anymore...

He glanced at the snipers who were hugging the wall and motioned that he would follow with a thumb in his chest and a point at the store.

He kept the stubber low and ready still and approached the doorway to look inside.

Ruaidhri's place up against the wall gives him a good vantage point to see inside the store. He can see that the inside is filled with shelving that holds various goods, but he cannot get any details on what exactly each aisle has in it, for example. He can easily see four figures inside now. Two are crouched down over a third figure lying prone on the floor. The fourth, the young man with the autopistol, takes cover inside the building looking back out at Ruaidhri and company.

Beyond them all appears the be a main aisle with small, waist high tables showing off various wares. At the end of the interior, some 22m away from Ruaidhri is a stair case that leads up to a second floor.

+++

As Rook approached, the man covering the door hissed at him to "STOP." And leveled an autopistol at his chest. This caused the one with the autogun to turn, take cover on the opposite doorway, and point his autogun at Rook.

Rook let the stubber drop and put his hands in front of him to show they were empty. I'm here to try and help, he said when he was really thinking I'm here to find that bolt pistol...

From within the shop, Rook hears a weak, yet still powerful voice: "”If it’s bald, beady eyed and reeks of sewage....shoot it!”

He knew that voice...

Don't shoot, you Bastards. I might be bald, but I'm not one of those abominations! Rook's hands rose higher above his head this time of their own accord. They had done that a lot recently...

The two men covering the doorway held their fire, but they kept their weapons trained on Rook.

"Gaijin! Don't movement." There low gothic dialect was unlike anything Rook had heard before. It was clipped as though they were trying very hard to speak in a way that Rook would understand.

Ruaidhri had his weapon and eyes trained on the two men who had their weapons aimed at Rook. He was confident that the disgraced tech priest could take a shot or two from them. If either tried this though, neither would leave the building with their heads. It had been a while since he had added to his kill count. Rook though seemed to be in the process of waxing lyrical and he was content to wait. These two seemed like they weren't enemies of their target. Which meant they were unlikely to be willing allies to them taking her away. His eyes not moving from his targets, he whispered to his companion.
"Uallachan, catch the attention of your cute hoor there. Check how its cutting over there."

The others dirty face grinned malevolently.
"Oh aye. Set up a proper shooting gallery. Some sinners in there going to need my absolution."

Keeping low and next to the far wall Uallachan moved down towards Brick and Kaylith and took up a position crouched next to the two women and whispered the following.
"Shooting stopped. Old Iron dick is inserting himself into the situation, his piece limp and lowered. Target attending to another flat on his back. Ruaidhri's got 'em covered. How's it all shitting here?"
He nodded at the end up towards the busy intersection

From inside the shop the woman's voice calls out: ""Perhaps you can help move my friend here, he's hurt bad. We don't need to move him far."

The two men covering the front share a look then the one with the autogun speaks. "Tell friend to lower rifle." He was clearly talking about Ruaidhri.

+++++++

Numa regarded Uallachan as he approached. She took her left hand off her weapon and gently scratched his beard when he got close enough, tugging on it a bit, never once taking her right hand of the carbine's pistol grip just in case the creatures down the way decided to get feisty at the same time she was.

She spared him a glance and a wink. "They're starting to pay attention. Not too much, mind you. Their roadblock is about complete, still staying on their side, but a couple have set up walked by the mouth of the alley, peered down, an kindly fucked off. Whatever they want, they're sticking to that side at least. You and Red-Shit have a gameplan for the target?"

Rook sighed loudly and irritably at these simpletons. This was wasting time, and they were too stupid to recognise an ally, it appeared. He then smiled a metal grin when Rhone's wise crack came out of the building. Listen to her, and let me in to help Rhone. He hoped dropping his name would jar some sense into them.

Still watching the two "guards" Rook spoke to Ruaidhri over his shoulder. Lower your rifle Ru, or we'll be here all day. He then called to the woman inside, still only just above a whisper so as not to draw too much attention, We are his squad mates from aboard the Rogue Trader ship, The Husdon. We also served under him on Hervara. Tell these men to let us in.

*Assuming Ruaidhri Complies*

Between the girl's request for assistance and the familiarity of the newcomers, the two covering the door lower their weapons. As Rook moves in, one of them says flatly, "We made deal with Rhone. Weapons in here for our people. Not you."

The other one, the younger one with the pistol then warns Rook, "She say there's one more mutto in the back. Up the stairs. Careful." The two of them move over to start collecting weapons. The taller one stops and kneels down to speak quietly with the girl and Rhone.