Turn 6: Hotter the Fire

[Corporal Hicks]

"Be careful"; to Roberts as he moved to test the stairs.

Roberts spared a moment to give Sam a weak smile. "Thanks," he said.

He followed Sal down the stairs and passed the Com-Tech, Giosso. When he arrived on the ground floor he passed the burnt corpse of Louis. There was no time to address it. He ran through the lobby past the lost-looking Wilks standing by himself. He followed Sal out the door and saw the approaching APC, followed by a horde of xenomorphs.

"Buddy, follow me," he said to the burned medic, and rushed back to the lobby.

"Creed, get over there," he said and pointed to his left. "You," he said to Wilks, "Get over there." He told Wilks to go to his right. "Set up a crossfire in case the APC doesn't get here in time. Medic," he pointed to Sal, "Stand behind this desk and keep that flamer on the door. Fall back if needed. I'll call you guys out if the car gets here in time, but if it doesn't be ready to cover my retreat!" This wasn't a very good option but if they were going to die it wouldn't be without a fight. If there was only time for one person to get on the APC, the others would be in a defensible position, and Roberts knew the APC guns better than anyone. When and if the Command Squad caught up they could follow his plan or override it.

<Tag Boothe/Wilks/Creed>
(Roll Leadership?)

Roberts ran back outside and tried to gauge what to do.

(Roll awareness)

[Corporal Hicks]

Roberts suddenly realized that nobody had called the dropship! He pulled his M1000 Signal Flare out of his Utility Hold-All. He set it to parachute, red light, and twisted the top. He then hit the bottom of the flare on his armored thigh, and it made a hissing sound. He pointed it straight up in the air and waited. It made a surprisingly quiet whishing sound as the flare shot out and high above the trees. The flare could supposedly be seen from 15 miles away and he hoped the dropship could see it and come save them. He dropped the plastic casing and returned to what he had been doing.
(Action: use M1000 Signal Flare)

[Pale Rider]

The rocket slammed into the Queen and spun her completely around. When she turned back to continue chasing the buggy a large crack was evident in what would be a human's rib cage. She screamed in anger and a full third of her children turned and joined in the chase. The remainder continued on to the tower.

1 minute remaining:
Pope goosed the engines of the APC. It would probably need a complete overhaul if they survived.

30 seconds remaining:
The APC slid to a halt outside the tower.
The Snakefighter roared over the field and dropped down low, the ramp lowering.
"Buggy, you have ten seconds before we loose ground. Even then you will only have one shot. The queen and her brood are closing rapidly on your location. Twenty-five yards in front of you is a ravine, we'll try the pickup there.
<Actions>
30 SECONDS AND FALLING

[Corporal Hicks]

About 30 seconds before the APC reached him, Roberts called to everyone in the building over his comm. "APC imminent! Get outside, now!"
<tag everyone inside>

As it pulled up he ran to the door. As soon as it was open he would go for the weapons systems and open fire on the xenos.

[MarcusOTerra]

Sal nodded at the order and took a second to unlock the half spent canister on his flamer and switch in his last, and full one. He chucked the canister at the horde, not caring it wouldn't explode on it's own.

He had been a step away from following the order to stack up inside the lobby when the APC slide in front of him, and splashed mud all down his front.

"Fab." He managed but stepped up and opened the door to the APC and got inside. He took up a position by the door with his pulse rifle, the flamer, combined with the draft of a moving APC, seemed like a bad idea.

He looked up and saw the windows of the tower. "Shit shit shit." Almost the entire unit was still in there, if they didn't leave in time....

"Hurry the fuck up, Marines!" He growled into his mic. He had the underslung shotgun ready, if anything not human came up to the APC's door, he was shooting it.

He heard the snakefighter's call to the buggy on the APC's comms, and at that point saw the wall of screens that showed the various points of view, the flat lined vitals of the two dead men: Duncan and Louis.

Wait, that was the guy in his squad, he'd passed a body... it had been his... fire and acid at the bottom of the stairs. His work. Something cold snapped at his rising guilt. Survive. If you don't move fast enough, you die.

Still.

He didn't know the controls to the APC's weapons, for all he knew the buttons were right in front of him. He saw the snakefighter and grumbled: "I shoulda been a pilot..."

<Reload Flamer>
<Stacked up in the APC>

[Whisky]

Over the whine of the 242s engines there was a fizzle and phwoosh as the rocket let fly, a sharp bang singled Morses shot being on target. The sound that followed was not what he ever wanted to hear again but he knew he'd hear it again in his dreams. Despite the queen having taking a direct hit she was still up and running and incredibly pissed off, screaming her rage at the flies in their buggy.

The next sound to the battle field was a far more welcome one. The Snakefighter roared overhead.

"Buggy, you have ten seconds before we loose ground. Even then you will only have one shot. The queen and her brood are closing rapidly on your location. Twenty-five yards in front of you is a ravine, we'll try the pickup there.

Came squawking through the 242s comms. "A WHAT!!" Colson squawked back at it. This was nearly too much for the raw green horn. Although he doubted many could boast a more exciting first drop. Now he just needed to live long enough to be able to boast about it.

MORSE! YOU'VE GOT ONE SHOT! TAKE IT AND GET STRAPPED IN NOW! He yelled at the his squad leader. Even if this went well they'd be tossed around like a dog worrying a rodent. "YOU TOO EYEBALL! BRACE BRACE BRACE!"

<Tag Morse & Eyeball

The 25yards disappeared and Colson's entire world condensed into the controls, the buggy and the maw of the drop ship ahead of him.

[Morse]

As the rocket left the launcher Morse hoped that it would at least get the giant bug to give up the chase. It smashed into it with a fiery explosion which sent a small heat wave washing over the marines in the buggy. But in spite of the directly blast and shrapnel, Morse could see that the creature was still alive. Its lumbering form simply spun around and came charging right back at them. ”Fuck.” Morse muttered as he sat back down.

He began reloading the M5 Rocket Launcher with another of the rockets, having to reach high to get the rear loading weapon to accept the rocket. Just then Morse heard Dirk demand a report, and giving him some horribly terrifying information.

Morse then looked on the side of the vehicle, not having noticed it before. Dirk was not lying, the vehicle was utterly covered in plastic explosive. ”Holy fuck Dirk!? Why’d you do that!?” Morse exclaimed, forgetting that specific part of the plan. ”Whatever, fuck it. Ems aint lightnin’ bugs, so we’re fuckin’ fine. Fuckin’ smilin’! Just get the fuck outa the goddam Wey-Yu Fac’n get distance. We got the big ones eyes n’ we’ll link up’n in once yer clear. Just get the fuck outa there.” Morse responded to Dirk.

< Tag Dirk

Looking back Morse noticed that a very large number of the creatures were now charging them. Morse seemed a bit lost for a second as his eyes rolled. ”Well, figure ats’ parta the plan.” He muttered to himself seeing so many of them charging after them. ”Keep clearin’ the little ones Eyeball!” Morse called out. ”Ems’s fast’s fuck’n we gotta even this out.” Morse concluded.

< Tag Eyeball

He finally got the rocket into the weapon as he saw the Snakefighter fly over. ”Thank the almighty!” Morse shouted as it came over, knowing their chances of survival just improved substantially. Then he got even more bad news. They were too be picked up at a ravine with likely no time to spare. Morse quickly hit his head against the bad of his chair. ”Come on! Give us a fuckin’ break here god dammit!” Morse pleaded to no one. He just shook his head, and looked at Colson. ”Do whatever the fuck he said. Its our only out.” Morse shrugged, displaying not much confidence, but then he was starting to think that this time they might not actually survive.

< Tag Colson

Morse then began standing up. ”Alright bitch!” he began as he started to brace himself. ”I’m baggin’ yer ass n’ there aint two ways bout it.” Morse continued as he interlocked his feet. ”So just smile good fer me.” he continued in a calmer tone. He lined up the shot in the targetter, going for a center mass shot like before. ”N’ FUCKIN’ DIE!” Morse roared like a mad man as he released his last rocket from the M5 Rocket Launcher straight to the Queen.

< Roll M5 Rocket Launcher
< Bracing for whatever happens

[Pale Rider]

The final rocket streaked towards the queen, striking her dead center mass. At first it seemed like it failed to do anything as she continued to race after the 242. Then she tumbled to the ground, her massive form sending broken bodies flying from several of the smaller xenos. When she came to rest, her tail flipped around and slashed a ragged streak down the marine whose call sign was Eyeball's back. The impact was enough that he slammed his head into the buggy and was knocked unconscious.
Then the buggy was in the air a rolling missile for the rear of the Snakefighter.

Meanwhile back the tower the first of the swarm reached to within 25 yards.
<ACTIONS>
10 SECONDS REMAINING

[eyeball]

Eyeballs ride in the back of the buggy had been a blur, screaming towards the oncoming horde had seemed like a grand plan untill they were actually doing it.
Colson swerved at 150/120 mters out and Morse and Eyeball let rip together spewing out hundreds of rounds, most mised or impacted harmlessly against their hardened bodies, but some got threw and creatures fell, but not enough. then the largest one had roar defiantly and with an awsome boost of speed lept out to catch up to within a few meters of them. Colsons' driving was exceptional they swerved and spead away, with the creature behind Eyeball could no longer swing the vehicle mounted gun to come to bear.
sudenly Morse had stood up with an rpg in his hands, Eyeball ducked down to allow him a clear shot, the rocket traced true, impacting center mass and did nothing. Eyeball looked at Morse and the corporal stared back at him, both of them mouthing the same thing "no fucking way". suddenly the chase was on again this time she had called more to her aid, although further behind the big one now had company.
Eyeball squeezed off bursts as anything came into view as Morse ducked back down and recommenced fireing with his smart gun.
Colson was shouting something but eyeball was not sure what, something about seatbelts, just as he was about to reply that safety was probably low on their agenda right now Morse stood up again with a now reloaded RPG, Eyeball raised one eyebrow at Morses determination befor ducking down so he could get another clear shot.
in his new crouched position eyeball looked forwards and saw a gully approaching fast in it was the drop ship door open and Colson was heading for her still going flat out top speed.

" oh fuck ..... thread the needle Colson!" eyeball sudenly recalled that it was not the fall that killed you but the sudden stop at the end and the speed they were travelling this could hurt. he checked his safty harness and as he curled up as small as he could go the whoosh of a rocket launch ripped the air above him.

then there was pain immense slicing pain, eyeball screamed and then blessed blackness.

[MarcusOTerra]

"Fuckin hell!" Sal said as he leaned out of the side of the APC and fired his gun, full auto, into the first wave of the swarm.

"Where the fuckin hell is everyone?!" He howled. He reached for the comm, "Tower group! Ground overtaken! Get to the roof and pray for an airlift! Snakefighter, can you do do a pass after you grab the buggy?"

He was sure the ships fuel telemetry was somewhere on the screen, but he couldn't be assed to care.

"Pope!" he roared at the android, "Flip this bitch toward base!" He kept firing, and thought to add, "PLEASE!"

He fired his gun again and had a hand on the door controls, firing from the hip at the swarm.

<Aim, Fire at the horde, say a lot of things for ten seconds, tell Pope to turn around, fire some more>

[Corporal Hicks]

As soon as the door opened, Roberts rushed inside. He slung his pulse rifle over his shoulder and went for the weapons console. Sitting next to Pope, he fired up the plasma turret. He turned it toward the horde, using the small screen to aim. He let loose with the gun on the closest targets to buy the other marines time. He would bother with the mortars once everyone was inside, but for now he focused on operating the plasma turret.

A worry ran through his head about Dirk being inside still, but all he could do now was fight.

(Roll 6x ground vehicle weapons operation: certified)

[Pale Rider]

The Chase
The buggy flew through the air like a stone dropping rapidly directly into the hanger. Metal screamed as the buggy hit and rolled over onto it's side. It slid across the metal floor, before coming to a an abrupt halt when it slammed into the cargo net at the far end. An audible snap filled the hold when Morse's forearm snapped as it became entangled within the netting. Whisky's head slammed into the steering wheel shattering four of his upper teeth. Being unconscious probably saved Eyeball from any further injury. Corporal White rushed to the buggy and immediately began administering first aid.

The Tower
The queen rolled to a stop. She stumbled erect, her right pectoral muscles shredded the limb hanging limply by her side. She shook her massive head and screamed angrily at the retreating Snakefighter. Turning she began to move towards the tower.

The smaller Xenos closed on the Tower, the weapons fire from the APC whithering their numbers. Upstairs Mark and Dirk stumbled through the computer terminal until they found the proper program to activate the prototype defensive system. Turrets popped up and emitted a yellowish gas into the air. As the Xenos passed through the cloud they begain to drop one by one.
<Actions[

[MarcusOTerra]

Sal was firing randomly by the time the gas started to spew from the turrets. It was putting the little ones to sleep, but there was no telling if the big bitch was going to fall to this stuff. She might, but he didn't want to find out if she could hold her gas better than the little ones.

"Booth to all ears," Sal said into the APC's comms, "I see the small bugs dropping to their knees, whatever you did up there is working, FOR NOW." He added that, "The big one hasn't gotten into the smoke yet, though so be aware on that."

After a moment he saw the faces on the comms, in the Snakefighter, the helmet cameras were at odd angles and he thought he saw someone else, one of the ship crew, in the field of view.

"APC to Snakefighter, what's the status of the buggy crew?" He looked at the screen, "Sqaud telemetry is unclear." If there were injuries, well his job WAS medic, on the official listing.

He sat in the seat but kept his gun pointed at the door. The adrenaline rush wasn't going to last, and Boothe didn't want to 'crash' anywhere near the hive.

<Hail ground forces: Eyes on bugs sleeping>
<Hail Snakfighter: Request update on Buggy-Riding Bug-Wreckers>

[maxvale76]

Samantha was dog-tired. Her adrenaline spike had long since evaporated; her burns were stinging; the terrible guilt of losing a man under her command was slamming into her heart and the constant calls coming in from over the comms from the Buggy crew and the APC crew made her feel helpless in her position here on the upper level. It took just about every last drop of will she had to be able to shake her head and shrug it off....

Ditching the Flamer; she pulled her Pulse Rifle off her back and flicked off the safety and made sure it was fully loaded with a quartet of grenades. That done; she stood an alert guard position near Giosso and Dirk and did her best to stay frosty and ready to rock at a moment's notice. Upon hearing that the automated defense systems seemed to be working and the at the xenon were dropping like flies; she began to feel a faint bit of hope that they might make it out of here after all. She moved to the corpses of Duncan and Louis and stripped them of all unnecessary gear; so that they would be lighter for carry onboard either the APC or the Snakefighter; whichever reached them for evac.

[Whisky]

Colson's thoughts were white noise as the buggy left the ground and flew with all the grace of a misshapen lump of metal. The sudden slam onto the deck nearly wrenched his head off. By this point he had lost all pretence of control over the 242, suddenly realised by the buggy turning over sliding the rest of the way into the cargo netting with a scream of metal on metal.

The sudden stop brought with it a world of pain as his head snapped forward and he chinned the steering wheel. "MMRRPRH!" he cried into his hands as pain and blood blossomed. With one hand still clasped to his mouth he pulled at his harness releasing him, it was only then he noticed the buggy was on it's side as he fell sideways into the centre console. Morse was below him, arm tangled at a bad angle in the cargo netting. He was conscious though and making a racket.

Standing on the centre console he pulled himself out up onto the side of the buggy. That's when he saw Eyeball hanging limp from his harness, a huge rent down his back and blood dripping down to the floor below. Colson moved his hand away and spat, noticing with some dismay the pieces of teeth as he did. That's when White turned up, Colson pointed to Eyeball and then helped lower Eyeball to the ground.

Dropping down himself with a stagger Colson pulled around his K52 medical kit and pointed at the buggy and said to White, "Morspth needth help." Taking some wadding out of the pack he took a deep breath and shoved it where his teeth used to be and bit down. That should stem the blood and allow him to help Eyeball. Colson worked as best he could but by now the adrenaline was gone and he was running on vapours. Just getting the equipment off Eyeball so he could try and remove the Marines armour was proving a challenge. "Come on Colson, you can pass out after." he thought as worked.

<Tag White
<Roll First Aid - Eyeball