[b][u][h1]Left Tunnel: Vellios and Tonka ft. DJ Kasy G[/h1][/u][/b]
[sub][@Dervish] & [@Fallenreaper] & [@Sundered Echo][/sub]

"[color=007236]Back up coming your way, Vellios. You had to go for the low hanging fruit with guns and loads huh? Here I thought you could do better than that.[/color]" 

[color=rosybrown]”Thanks. It’s not my fault they like to tease and hold it just out of reach. That is just asking to be shot. Though, I’m sure you know a lot about low hanging fruit yourself Dex.”[/color] Vellios teased lightly. 

The gunfire, risk and damp stank filling his nostrils was all too familiar. To Vellios it was a reminiscence of a time he would always find hard to forget as he huddled into the wall side, his body edged out only for a moment. Abruptly he then jerked back when several fires rang out. One failed to nail him into the shoulder when it shot past and into the wall beside him, scattering a few pebbles into his side harmlessly making him curse quietly. His teeth pressed into each other while he started to debate on what to do. The helmet was still itching and scratching at his neck, his staying becoming a misery in the end as he fought the impulse to rip it off and risk going deaf. However, he managed not to. Too many sounds without warning and going deaf wasn’t an ideal situation for him, it was almost fatal in the field since he used the banter to keep him centered. 

Vellio’s talon gripped a mine and almost set it off when Serena saved him the trouble. Her drones dropped down behind the remaining sniper then fired, spraying his back with bullet holes and his corpse slouched back into the cover. Seeing he wasn’t going to get shot, the Turian crept out of his hiding place and into the open where he heard Serena speak over the comm.     

[color=hotpink]"Last sniper is dead. Everything should be all clear here. No idea what to do once we go deeper into the shaft. I suspect we'll have a welcoming party there too. Preferably, we'll have less destruction of my drones this time!"[/color]

[color=Rosybrown] “At least they get a taste of what’s it’s like when they explode,”[color] Vellios chuckled, then started to navigate down the wounding tunnel. 

Tonka walked alongside Vellios, Argus in hand. He was begrudgingly impressed with the team for locating, disorienting, and disposing of the snipers before the sightlines had properly cleared. He had patiently waited for a shot, but held fire until he knew for sure he had a shot. When sniping, you didn't often get a second chance if you messed up. In cases like this, where snipers were actively searching for each other, it could be a matter of a slight movement, glimmer of a targetting optic, or even a shift in the environment that could be the difference between killing your quarry and finding a round between your eyes. A missed shot might as well be a ringing dinner bell for a sniper. 

As the group used the now mobilized truck for cover. Tonka reached over, tapping Dex on the shoulder, having caught the tail end of the conversation she was having with Khosin. [color=39b54a]"Hey, Dexuret. I personally hold you accountable for the genophage. I demand you buy me dinner as reparation."[/color]  he said, chuckling to himself as he returned to his place in the formation. [color=39b54a]"So, the kids can handle themselves, it looks like. You going to join me down the left tunnel? I figure you're a tough guy who doesn't mind getting shot a couple times. It could be fun."[/color]

Carefully, Vellios kept close to the truck while they moved down the tunnel. His helmet head, the itched there despite its presence, rotated from one fork to the other with appreciation. There was two ways to go and neither were particularly ideal to them. His mind was debating when he heard Tonka tease Dex, his eyes turned to the Krogan then let a wicked smile cross his face. Not that the Krogan could tell really through the visor. His talons gripping his weapon and holding it close, he replied for Dex instead. [color=rosybrown] “I bet you say that to all the Turians when you want a free meal, Tonka. Sadly, if any Turian actually believed you, I imagine you would’ve been much fatter.”[/color]

When asked to join the Krogan to head down the left fork with him, Vellios nodded. [color=rosybrown] “Shot, stabbed, and worse so a few bullet holes aren’t going to be much of an issue. Though, if you’re the one shooting my ass than I’ll return the favor with a Cain Mine up yours.”[/color]  

[color=39b54a]"Darn, you saw through my ruse. Whatever shall I do?"[/color] Tonka replied with a chuckle, wishing he could crack his neck, but the limited side-to-side mobility of his helmet plus the thick armour made that an impossibility. He often wondered what it was like lunking around the heavy armour a lot of his kin preferred; he opted out of it, mainly because it made it impossible to scratch your ass in dire situations. Comfort over protection wasn't a trade off, it was a way of life. 

[color=39b54a]"And we krogan don't get fat. It all goes to our humps, drives the females crazy. No female can turn down a male with a big hump. I don't know how the rest of you aliens do it, but for krogan, it's practically a neon billboard advocating mating potential. Feel free to be jealous."[/color] he looked over at Vellios, although the narrow lenses of his full plated helmet made it impossible to convey the bemused expression he was offering the turian. [color=39b54a]"Shooting you in the ass? What ass? That narrow, tiny thing can probably unlock keyholes if you pinched out the sticks you carry up there. And I'm a pretty damn good shot, but a target that small is testing even my skill. Trust me, if we have a problem, I'll say it to your face. Probably after headbutting you, but that's just me being friendly and sporting."[/color]

[color=rosybrown] "I'm at least less of a target compared to that big o' hump of yours. For it being a female magnet, it will clearly get the sniper's attention for sure and I might be able to use it for cover at least"[/color] Vellios stated, enjoying the tone and conversation. Most Krogans would've tried to bash his crest in from behind him or gotten aggressive, their pride injured by the fact he was baiting them to determine their aggression level. Tonka, much like himself, rolled with it. [color=rosybrown] "Headbutting, I can handle. It's how I sorted a few things back in the day as a kid and still use it time to time. It gets the point across in the best ways."[/color] 

His hand checked his rounds and debated, a moment, on switching them as he reviewed his options. He pulled out his pistol then replaced them with disruptor rounds, giving him a secondary weapon for shields compared to having only one type. His shotgun still held the explosive rounds since they packed the most punch and would cause almost anyone, at least not stupid enough to ignore that fact, from risk getting hit with them. Nothing more fun than covering a sniper's failed attempt with their rifle with a much more dangerous one.    

[color=39b54a]"Sure you weren't a krogan, or at least your father? Usually tiny guys like you tend to complain about headbutting, like it's big and mean. That or you're trying to forget something, like math. You're missing a nice big crest. Anyways,"[/color] Tonka suddenly shimmered and vanished, only a faint outline of his movement was visible as he activated his tactical cloak. It said more than words could about just how easy of a target he would be.

[color=rosybrown] "Trust me, my father wasn't a Krogan. Though the choice would've been preferred in the end. As for being mean, that's not mean. That's putting a point through someone's thick skull."[/color] Vellios stated, his eyes noted the Krogan abruptly vanish and possibly headed down the left fork. [color=rosybrown] "As humans say, it's not how big it is but how you put it to use. Considering my sex life, I'm clearly using it well enough."[/color]   

 [color=39b54a]"No, that's just plain rude, the skull-piercing I mean. And you seem to be going out of your way to reassure me you know how to 'use it,'"[/color] Tonka said, making quotation fingers with his free hand.[color=39b54a]"Don't be ashamed if you're, well, packing a corvette instead of a dreadnaught. We can't all be titans. But don't worry about me, I've got ways to not get shot. I'm not fooling anybody by hiding behind something, unless they mistake me for a rock. I should try that sometime."[/color] he said, scanning ahead for threats. The jackasses must have been digging in further back. Mineshafts, one of life's great mysteries and most unfortunate places to die in. 
 
 [color=rosybrown] "Sure.not my fault if you can't accept the truth."[/color] Vellios retorted, dropping the matter when the truck grinded to a halt. 

Soon, they were at the crossroads, and Tanya scurried to the back of the truck, peeling her helmet off to see everyone better. [color=cyan] "So far, so good, boys and girls. This is where we split off, we're taking the truck right as per the plan. A couple pairs of hands would be nice. As for the rest of you guys, try not to get chewed up in a choke point. I'm going to declare if any of you die, I reserve the right to rifle through your personal shit. Okay, have fun! Don't die."[/color] she said cheerfully, scrambling to the back of the cab to post up, rifle at the ready. It was hard not to miss the spike sticking through the machine-gun in the turret ring. It wasn't much of a mystery why she suddenly stopped shooting. 

As the truck veered off to the right, Tonka stood, looking down the left. 

[color=39b54a]"So, ten credits says they have a machine-gun down this way. Any takers?"[/color]

Vellios watched the truck a moment longer, noting who was going with it, and started to come up beside Tonka when he said his comment. [color=rosybrown] "Likely, but you only live once right?"[/color] 

Without another word, Vellios stepped forward and cautiously drew out a smoke grenade into his talons. He switched out his shotgun for his pistol, holding it in one hand and edged into the tunnel into the growing darkness. Small, miner lamps hung over head where they creaked and squeaked high above him, casting the tunnel in shadows to increase its eerie feel. It started to taper off, becoming narrower with each step which increased Vellios' alertness as he considered drawing his shotgun again. His black carapace was the ideal cover in the shadows making him blend surprisingly well with the sides while he left his life's faith in the Krogan's hands.    

Tonka's tactical cloak allowed him to take point with confidence, knowing whatever was ahead wouldn't likely get the jump on him. It wasn't long until they came up on what looked like a set of hastily erected positions, and after stopping his advance, Tonka noticed movement from behind the barracades. After observing for a few moments longer, and his tactical cloak fading to charge, Tonka opened a comm channel with Vellios and the others taking the left flank. [color=39b54a]"Contacts, I count three. Suppressing fire on my move; I'm going to get up close and personal. Ready?"[/color]

Vellios' eyes shifted to the direction where the Krogan materialized into sight, his large frame blotting out a good chunk of the narrow tunnel. Upon hearing the raspy, heavy voiced Tonka, the Turian was debating on what was possible while stopped dead in the middle of his approach. [color=Rosybrown] "Well, where exactly are they? I have a smoke grenade ready and it might give you a bit of time to pull in close and get a first shot in before they start shooting. Though if you rather risk me firing, I'll just use the shotgun with the explosive rounds. It will at least keep their attention much easier than a charging Krogan."[/color] 

Kasyra had been following along, smirking while she listened to the the  two men exchange barbs and other banter. She almost replied to one of Vellios' comments about his insistence on his ability to 'use it well' but thought better of it. She didn't want to get attached to these people too much until she knew they wouldn't die on her. She worldlessly prepared her heavy pistol to provide cover fire at Tonka's request. She had never fought alongside a Krogan before, and was quite curious to see him in action from the perspective of being on his side instead of trying to kill him.

[color=39b54a]"Smoke grenades might be a bit of a pain in my ass. I plan on activating my cloak, which should keep me out of their sight since they'll be focusing on the gunshots. Just keep firing on each of those barracades, there's two on the right, one on the left. Explosive rounds will probably do a nice job keeping heads down with the holes you'll be punching. I'll start shooting when I'm on top of them. By then, it's too late for them."[/color] the krogan said, checking to see the blue status light on the Argus was still solid. 

Vellios shrugged. [color=rosybrown]"Alright, start counting down from five."[/color]

As Tonka started to count down, Vellios clipped his grenade to his waist and switched out his pistol out for his Scimitar. The shotgun much heavier in his hands than the pistol as he adjusted his aim, bring the unaware Batarians into his sights at the far right. Carefully taking aim, he then fired the moment that Tonka counted down to zero and released a shot into first one. The bullet moved forward and exploded into the nearest slaver causing him to reel backwards, his shield unprepared while his pal got the aftermath. Not hit, but still damaged, the Batarian ducked down into cover screaming about someone being in the tunnel. 

Careful not to draw attention to himself, Vellios' movements were careful and slow. Adrenaline racing through his viens and his heart was jerking in his chest causing his eyes to sharpen in focus and hearing heighten suddenly, absorbing in the chaos erupting. Aready they released fire into his direction as he shifted to the left, the bullets narrowly clipping his shield when he adjusted his position.       

Cloak activated, Tonka charged at the count of 5, barreling towards the batarian position in a hard sprint, his blood boiling as he felt the berzerker-like rage building with anticipation of the kill. As refined and generally thoughtful and patient as Tonka was, there were some things about his species that could not be ignored, and countless generations of warfare and struggling to survive came with some added baggage, some of which was actually useful.

For instance, taking out an improvised position of batarian pirates with a surprise attack. 

Demonstrating surprising agility for someone of Tonka's substantial stature, the krogan vaulted the cover, feet first, and into the chest of one of the batarians, landing on top of him while training his weapon, one handed, at his friend who was so close the end of the gun barrel was almost too far. The heavy burst fire tore into and through the batarian's chest plate with heavy, almost shotgun-like, firepower. It didn't take long before pieces of armour were flung down range, along with a substantial amount of the pirate's innards. 

Kasyra's gun also barked fire towards the Batarians as Tonka charged, though she was more interested in seeing just how effective a cloaked Krogan charge was. It turned out to be excessively brutal. Next to what she could've done, she thought a few of his movements were a little on the slow side, though still fast for a Krogan. But then it was hardly fair to compare him to her when she was so focused on speed. She began to move up to support him in the melee, but it was clear he had it covered already.

Vellios' heart thumped in his chest, his mind melting into sounds vibrating around him. The darkness was all too familar and he could almost hear the dripping sounds echoing in his mind. For a brief moment, the image of some electric blue liquid dripped from a FTL drive and metal tunnels filled his memory causing him to tense up. By this time the Krogan had vaulted over the barracade and landed into one of the slavers, another crumbed into a heap filled with bullet holes as the sound caused Vellios to snap back to focus. His eyes fixed on the threat at least, though it was hard to tell if he was fully there. 

The Turian's hand reached for the knife before his mind even came to the gun that was still active and ready in his other hand, his blade whipped back then shot forward with a quick strike. It was a clearly a practiced move based on instinct rather than actual thought.The Batarian didn't know what hit him. One moment the alien was racing to his feet to fire upon where Tonka had vanished then...Thump! A fleshy sound echoed through the tunnel. The Batarian slumped to his knees with a knife sticking of the side of his head. Red blood dribbled slightly down the face side, his gun clattered to the ground and shields down while his figure then laid flat upon his side. 

Vellios didn't move. His eyes, slightly off in their focus, merely staring at what he had done with an uncharacterist statue stillness to it. His chest was slowly heaving up and down, intaking deep breathes while trying to shift between what was real and what wasn't. He barely acknowedged his knife throw being anything beyond dream like, questioning himself actually using it at all.   

[color=39b54a]"Nice throw."[/color] Tonka said approvingly, pretending not to notice the batarian squirming underfoot. [color=39b54a]"If you were going for a stealthy approach, a near-miss."[/color] Pulling the Shuriken pistol from his hip with a free hand, Tonka leveled it at the batarian's head underfoot and pulled the trigger. The tiny machine pistol roared in the narrow cavern, its high rate of fire spewing dozens of rounds blank range into the pirate's head, and by the time the weapon overheated, there wasn't much of a head left to identify. [color=39b54a]"Right, let's get going. You alright, space cadet? You look like you can't remember if you left the stove on."[/color] Tonka asked Vellios, noting that the turian seemed to be locking up from the bantering trooper from only a few minutes prior. 

Vellios had been standing there, staring at the Krogan merely make a mess of bone, brain and muscle where the Batarian's head use to be. It wasn't until Tonka's voice spoke directly to him that the Turian snapped into the present, his crested head shook the memories away and breathing turned back. He focused on answering on commenting the earlier statement first before moving onto the next. [color=rosy] "It was more of a reaction than intended."[/color] 

His eyes turned to stare at the Krogan, his mind placing the merc finally, and continued. [color=rosybrown] "Just memories were all. Nothing important that needs remembered. As for that stove comment... even if I did leave it on, it really can't make that heap we call a ship any worse. Can it?"[/color] 

[color=darkviolet]"It certainly cant. Hull breaches would probably actually improve its ability to move. It's barely worth the time it'd take to scrap it for parts."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Have you seen the Borealis? I count it as a win any time I wake up on that thing alive. For all we know, the right-most knob might activate a self-destruction sequence. I've served on some pretty shitty ships, but our little wonder is definitely the worst."[/color]

[color=Rosybrown] "I don't think the little tugboat could survive a self-descruction button being put [i]in[/i], that would be considered a mercy killing and one someone clearly didn't consider for it. At least it isn't infested with pests."[/color] Vellios stated, edging over to retrieve his knife. Or what was left of it as he bent at his waist then inserted his foot into the Batarian's stained chest and tugged it out of the rat's nest that served as the new face.  

[color=darkviolet]"It may not have been, but now that you've said that while we're docked at Omega, we're probably going to find a family of Varren in the hold when we get back and all manner of nasty critters crawling through the ducts. Thanks for that Vellios. The ship may have just transcended the laws of physics and got even worse."[/color] She checked her gun was cooling then added [color=darkviolet]"Tonka, how is that you're the only Krogan charging under cloak? Are the rest of your race really so stupid they haven't figured out how effective that is?"[/color]

Vellios chuckled then replied, his talon flipping up his knife idly as he thought about Haides. A wicked and cold glint stirred in his eyes that faded shortly after.[color=rosybrown] "Trust me, Kasyra, if there is any Varren in that ship... I will have me some new gloves and boots."[/color] 

He listened as the Krogan's voice started. 

[color=39b54a]"Work smarter, not harder."[/color] Tonka answered, non-commitally. [color=39b54a]"Most other krogan are too busy trying to complain about how big their quads are so they just like to show off, full of bravado. They want to be seen. It's a cultural thing. All I cared about was food, and not getting shot in my own quad by somebody who owns more guns than I did. So far, so good. As for our little pest problem... you mean that Tanya creature doesn't count? I shudder to think of what happens when she figures out how to get into the vents."[/color]

[color=darkviolet]"If she doesn't, then her music drone certainly does. Keelah, its atrocious. If I ever don't answer you on the ship, its because I forgot to turn off my helmets mute feature after visiting the hold."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Wild beasts do like the mark their territory. You can tell her I said that."[/color]

[color=darkviolet]"I might, but I've got a wonderful plan to get back at her. You'll see soon enough."[/color] Kasyra spoke in an uncharacteristically sly fashion with a wink of one of her glowing eyes.

[color=39b54a]"Such a tease. Anyways, we have a little bit to go, it's rude to keep them waiting. Ladies first." [/color] Tonka said, gesturing further down the tunnel with his rifle as he mounted his machine-pistol to his leg. [color=39b54a]"And Vellios? More guns, less pointy objects. Nobody likes a show off."[/color]

[color=Rosybrown] "No promises, though try not to get too green over it."[/color] Vellios smirked then returned his knife into its holster and followed.   

Tonka waved a hand over his armour. [color=39b54a]"A bit late on the green thing."[/color]

[color=darkviolet]It's alright if you boys want to hide behind the Quarian. I know exactly why... It's because I'm soooo scary."[/color] Kasyra replied with increasingly extreme sarcasm, beginning to move forward.

[color=Rosybrown] "Well, with a view like that... I'm not going to argue. Just smile and nod."[/color] Vellios commented, his eyes carefully noting Kasyra's would be reaction to tell him either to rein it in or push a little while he followed in behind. Naturally, his head tilted a bit to enjoy the sway of the Qaurian's hips. 

Kasyra swayed her hips a little more for a few steps before returning to her normal gait. [color=darkviolet]"Alright boys, thats enough ogling. We have batarians to kill up ahead."[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Great. I always wondered what it looked like when a quarian gets a suit rupture."[/color] Tonka said, checking his rifle and following his companions to final mop up duty.