[center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5300572][img]https://i.imgur.com/hdDVsfw.jpg[/img][/url][/center] [h3]--Freelancers Arrive---[/h3] In response to Jacqueline's inquiry, Binky mentioned that monsters shouldn't be involved, however, every GEMINI agent worth their salt would know that one must always expect the unexpected with those alien scum. They could show up anywhere, anytime, especially in mana hotspots... and this whole goddamn city [i]is[/i] a mana hotspot. So yes, sending out Silhouette to scout ahead was wise. When her ears caught the heavy thumps of heavy metal boots streaking toward her group, Silmeria frowned her brows ever so slightly as she turned to face the source, only for her eyes to widen as those orange irises reflected an eight feet tall iron golem. For a split second, her trigger finger twitched, but judging from the lack of adverse reactions from her fellow agents, this... metallic giant was friendly. Not only friendly, apparently sapient too, so... what was inside this thing is an esper, right? One of the freelancers by the looks of things. [color=#ff991c][b]"Evening, Protector..."[/b][/color] Sil's voice trailed off a bit at the end, a part of her mind still in conflict between knowing that some espers had radical transformations yet this Protector fellow managed to push it even further. She wondered if that exoskeletal armor is as tough as it looks, she might be an even better at soaking up enemy fire than Breacher. After Protector, nothing afterwards could really top its dynamic entrance, not even Apollo with his scumbag muscle car. No matter how many cylinders did those environmentally-disastrous engine have, they couldn't evoke as much as a reaction as a literal 8 feet tall mech suit. However, mundane as the car might be, its owner was less so. At first, Sil just half-closed her eyes when a figurative douchebag stepped out of the vehicle, but when he was suddenly covered in a skin-colored skintight suit - literally a second layer of skin - he too managed to cause the riflewoman to twitch her trigger finger. Right, of course, he was a freelancer too. Guess this was another reason why she preferred to work with in-house operatives. She didn't deign Apollo with a response, but even with her silence - or perhaps precisely because of it - the skinsuited esper looked a tad bit spooked by her presence. Was there something on her face? Couldn't be, she had a pretty forgettable face. Oh, perhaps it's the gun? Well, whatever the case, she didn't feel like it's worth her time to ask. The little commotion caused by Apollo and his douchecruiser were enough to cover the Ruski girl's arrival like a military-grade smokescreen. Sil felt a bit embarrassed that she didn't consciously notice Klava before the white-haired esper flashed her shimr app to the government agents. If she had to guess, the first inquiry would be a joke, but the rest were serious. Still, snacks and coffee, huh? Sil couldn't say that she'd disapprove if those are actually here. As for the map, she knew it would be shared in the briefing. The gun-toting brunette noticed that little cheeky smirk from the blue-eyed girl to which she replied with a quirked eyebrow. Combined with Apollo's little head whip from before, she wondered if there really [i]was[/i] something on her face. Regardless, she addressed all of the new arrivals at once, [color=#ff991c][b]"Valkyrie, designated marksman and fire support. Pleasure to be working with you."[/b][/color] She introduced herself with the same level of enthusiasm as a call center operator, by the books with absolutely nothing between the lines. [h3]--The Briefing--[/h3] Shortly afterwards, the head honcho of this whole operation made herself known. As someone who had been with GEMINI for more than a year now, she had gotten used to hearing stories about Dr. Moller's antics and after being stationed in Pax Septimus, bear witness to them herself. Believe her when she said that fading into existence like a wannabe shinobi was the least of her shenanigans. Regardless, the scientist's prestigious doctorate title actually meant something, she was undoubtedly good at what she does. Although Silmeria never really understood Veronica's fixation with anime hair colors... [color=#ff991c][b]"Afternoon, Doctor."[/b][/color] The brunette - no doubt an incredibly boring hair color for Veronica - gave her direct superior a nod, just for the courtesy if nothing else. Then instead of beginning the briefing proper, the good doctor decided it was more prudent to give Mobile Apps 101 to Binky instead. She'd say that they had little time to waste, but Sil didn't feel the situation was dire enough to bother. Fortunately, the impromptu class ended sooner than later and the briefing could begin. Oh [i]now[/i] it's urgent and every second count, ja?! Despite Apollo's leitmotif, Veronica's head looked like a far more enticing target to smack right about now... [color=#ff991c][i]Is i magen, Silmeria, bare svelg kamelene...[/i][/color] A few quiet deep breaths later, she was back to neutral. Just zen out and do your job, how hard could it be? Right, restore order to PSPD#11 by eliminating these lowlife scums, the kind of people that's little better than monsters. As soon as the projector drone displayed the map on the ground, Sil walked over to examine it, light reflecting off her irises as she studied the blueprint. A closed-quarters combat zone, just perfect, those gangbangers would be thinking they're safe behind these concrete walls... sitting like ducks right where she'd want them to be. [color=#ff991c][b]"Troubling...”[/b][/color] The possible presence of hostages made things a bit complicated, this meant she had to make sure they weren't in the line of fire. She hoped they wouldn't be used as meat covers either, but she didn't expect these criminals to have any decency. [color=#ff991c][b]"Since we have the element of surprise, I think it's best that we take them all out in one sweep.”[/b][/color] Sil chimed in, the prospect of losing innocent lives roused her enough to make her stance clear on the matter. She personally wouldn't consume any food or drinks previously touched by those brigands, but hey, maybe Klava would have her snacks and coffee after all. [color=#ff991c][b]"King Cobra, Rottweiler, better alive than dead, noted."[/b][/color] No headshots or vital organ perforations for these two, but no one said anything about putting their limbs out of commission. As for Rottweiler's Bruce-Lee-Wannabe hobby... [color=#ff991c][b]"Just get me a clear shot at him and I'll make sure he won't be using those arms for anything again."[/b][/color] Finally something sensible out of Veronica's mouth, yep, esper or no, a human body's greatest weakness was still the same ol' thing, bullets. [color=#ff991c][b]"Understood, ma'am."[/b][/color] Silmeria - Valkyrie - accepted her order of engagement with nary a fuss. She agreed, the second-story window of said apartment building would be the best vantage point to start, then she could just ascend to higher floors or join the fray when needed. She spared Binky a condoling look at her orders, having a similar sentiment to the freelancers. Well, the Protector iron golem fellow seemed fine, but the other two... the Ruski's cheeky smugness rubbed her off the wrong way and Skinsuit douchebag didn't need further elaboration. Best of luck, cabbage head, but at least Silhouette would join her. [color=#ff991c][b]"..."[/b][/color] Right, you're the last person justified to mention the time, Veronica... [color=#ff991c][b]"Moving."[/b][/color] [h3]--Operation: Cut the Serpent's Head--[/h3] Supernatural rifle in hand, Valkyrie's sneakers thumped against the asphalt as she crossed the street with the prowess of an olympic champion athlete. Once she was a few steps from the wall of the vacant apartment, orange sparks surged downward along her legs onto her feet much like veins. The esper's self-cast Melody enabled her to dash forward and literally climb the walls by walking on them, it's as if her soles were magnets and the concrete walls were metal slabs. The maneuver allowed Valkyrie to reach the 2nd floor window and vaulted inside, gaining position without going through the fuss of entering the building first, bypassing potential hassles such as locked doors and broken stairways. [color=#ff991c][b]"Valkyrie here, I'm in position, over."[/b][/color] She communicated to the whole squad via her earpiece, then set her sights on the 1st floor windows of the target building. [color=#ff991c][b]"I see gangsters... armed, assault weapons, sidearms. Ready to engage when you are, Breacher."[/b][/color] Then Breacher breached the door and opened fire, that was her cue. Disenganging trigger discipline, Valkyrie's right index finger pulled the trigger after she picked a target. As soon as it happened, Teslic Gauss' coils light up a dim reddish-orange glow as sparks of the same color sputtered off the oddly-shaped 'barrel'. Unlike conventional firearms, the supernatural weapon emitted a distinctive [b]’BZZZT!!’[/b] noise instead of the explosive bang of gunpowder. Ferromagnetic sabots were accelerated along the coiled barrel then launched off at a velocity that outclassed even modern anti-materiel rifles. However, the end result was similar. The charged projectile crossed the street, pierced through a window, smashed through a wooden chair, then homed into a gangster's temple, turning his head into chunky salsa. Even then, it was still going, this time puncturing another gangster's right waist, giving him an on-field "hip replacement" procedure, before finally landing on the floor, creating a small hole there. All of these happened faster than the blink of an eye. [color=#ff991c][b]"Two down."[/b][/color] But she was just getting started, there were a lot more scumbags to clean up! Scanning the first floor, she'd look for more targets and once she had a clear shot, she'd take them, blasting off gangster after gangster in a cold, calculated manner. At this distance, Teslic Gauss didn't need to worry about pesky stuff such as bullet ballistics. The sheer force and velocity of the sabots pretty much guaranteed a nigh-zero distortion to the projectile's intended path. [hr][center] 20 | Female | G.E.M.I.N.I. | The Faceless Teslic Gauss | Long Gun | Physical | Nibelung Valesti Northern Sentinel | Government Agent Electromagnetism | Lightning | Static Shock [Paralysis (4), Speedster (4)], Damage (2), Damage X (6), Push (2), Pull (2), Piercing (2), Bend (0) DAMAGE: B | SPEED: E | SENTINEL: C | Max Mana: 500 [Bronze Self] [Speedster] = -32 Mana PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: D | Current Mana: 468 [/center]