[center][h1][color=ac00e6]Khaliya, The Swordwind[/color][/h1]
[b][u]December 3rd, 2286
New York City Metro - Blue Line[/u][/b]
[@Polaris North][/center]

[i][color=f7941d]"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."[/color][/i]

Those words settled uneasily among the group, almost as much as that strange sound that had dissipated the moment they passed the invisible barrier. Already a few of the mercs were looking fit to bolt, nervous eyes glancing back and forth as they scanned the tunnel walls. Where before in the station the tunnel had been almost pristine save for a few blemishes here and there, now that they were fully within the Necropolis cracks spread across the ceiling showing the stresses of the Great War. It had been rumored that the reason for such a dense field of radiation around and inside the city was multiple direct impacts, but it had never been confirmed. Khaliya spared the group a grim chuckle as she thought of how they may be the ones to put rumor to the test.

As it stood, they could use something to distract themselves from the imminent danger lurking around that next bend in the subway, and for sure above ground itself. Luckily she didn't have to improvise as a voice came across the radio channel, singing a simple cadence that seemed to help out a little bit. Bailey was her name, a quick glance behind her finding the woman with her weapon at the ready. Putting her at her back was a risk, especially if Jeremiah's concerns had grounds, but she needed to break away from the assumptions that the two of them were here for their own glories. The Brotherhood had enough issues and public relations was one of the biggest ones of late, if the group felt that they were there to seize the tech, then things would get very ugly in a hurry.

At the very least it seemed that their resident ghoul was assured that he wasn't going to be executed, something she knew was more common than she was comfortable with. A quick signal to him showed that she was turning off the group channel, and she slowed a moment so that she could speak more directly.

[color=ac00e6]"Don't quite think I caught your name earlier, and since you've got our back with that rifle, I would be remiss if I didn't properly introduce myself."[/color] Khaliya extended her right hand out to him, palm up and inviting. [color=ac00e6]"Khaliya Bertrand, or if you're one for formalities then Star-Paladin works just as well. That or just shout for some armor. I know that we're not too good with your people, but in here…"[/color] She knew he would understand what she was meaning by "we", the turning of her helm indicating her husband bringing up the rear of the group.

[color=ac00e6]"Prior allegiances don't matter when it comes down to the mission, and more importantly survival. Most of the group here won't know anything more than the basic rumors, and I figure the westerners might not even know that. I want to make sure we take this slow and carefully, avoid as much danger as possible. The fewer risks we take up there, the greater the chances that we [i]all[/i] get out of this hellhole alive."[/color]

As they walked, her headlamp illuminated the tunnel ahead, other lights flickering on and off along the walls and in the distance a brighter sign. It was the next station, and for a moment she had wondered if it had really been that long since they began, or if it was just closer in reality. So far nothing had happened beyond the idle chatter, not even a feral sighting or signs of recent activity. In fact… There were no signs of the tunnel being used by anything in a long while, likely since the bombs fell and there was no longer a need for it. [i][color=ac00e6]A safe and stable route in and out of the city, uninhabited by feral ghouls, stray mirelurks or even radroaches… What is going on here?[/color][/i] Khaliya was troubled by the very distinct lack of habitation, up until they were coming up on the first station.

The reason why became evident quite immediately, to the point where again she stopped. Before the group was a tunnel collapse, a subway car embedded in the rubble with just a narrow passage leading deeper. There was no way to tell just how far that path could lead, if it was just that single car, or if the entire train was open. Nor was there any way to know if the collapse was local or extended beyond what they could see. Khaliya went back to the open channel, turning to address the group.

[color=ac00e6]"It looks like when the bombs dropped and the subway trains lost power, this one derailed and impacted the wall. There's a path through, but unless someone wants to scout it, we can't risk entering the carriage. We'll have to go above ground here."[/color]