Dyelli Beybi

Paradise Lost

Mark A. Lopez

...
He looked into the darkened lobby beyond.

“Alright.”

A pause.

“Still think we should’ve checked the port logs first.”

@InfamousGuy101

Velia Larci

"If you're worried, radio back to John and ask him to take a look," Velia replied with a shrug.

She tried the light switch in the lobby and, much to her surprise and probably the surprise of everyone else, the place lit up with a gentle, warm off-white glow. Everything looked well dusted and none of the bulbs needed changing. A cheerful, somewhat kitschy nautical painting hung on one wall. Someone had installed a security camera at one end of the hall though it was anyone's guess if it was being monitored.

Everything was spotless and well maintained, "Curiouser and curiouser," Velia muttered to herself as she tried the front door to one of the apartments. Locked. She wasn't surprised.

"Hey Mark, want to get this door open?" she asked, "Any good stuff is probably in the actual apartments."

Graveyard Orbit

Neri an the 'Big Guy'

Nobody seemed to have become aware of the 'big guy' advancing on Bandit though as Bandit took off, he took off after her, slipping in the mess of beverages created by James, landing on his face, his improvised cudgel skidding across the floor harmlessly.

But he wasn't out of the fight yet. He started drawing himself to his feet.

Neri, who had been aware of what was going on, darted across the room, springing onto his back before he had a chance to fully stand, delivering a swift punch to the side of his head, "Stay d..." she trailed off as he turned his neck, dark angry eyes focusing on her, which was the moment she realised she had made a mistake.

The big guy stood up, Neri still hanging off his back, the additional weight of the smaller dhasath apparently of no consequence to him, "Somebody kick him between the legs or something!" she called desperately. Apparently that was her go-to approach to fist fights.

Paradise Lost

"We'll try not to dawdle," Velia frowned thoughtfully, "I don't like the lack of people... funny the ship was picking them up."

It wasn't a long walk to the city and the group soon found themselves in what looked like a built-up, though pleasant and leafy residential suburb with pristine well swept streets, neatly parked vehicles. The people seemed to live in three-storey apartments, that looked to have been built to plan - not unusual for colonies. They were all painted an off-white colour with balconies with chrome railings surrounded by patches of lawn for people to enjoy themselves on.

"Look nicer than most of ours," Velia commented as they walked.

The windows were universally clean. For those caring to take a peek through one, which Velia did, the interiors were laid out like show rooms: everything neat, tidy and spotless, "You know... I still don't see anyone. And I haven't seen a shop yet."

She paused, then walked up to the front door, trying it. It was locked, "Huh, thought this would at least be open." It seemed to be key-card access... as did the doors to the apartments inside, visible through tall glass windows on either side of the main door.

"Anyone got the skills and equipment to get through this?" she proposed, "I'm not usually one to propose breaking and entering... but this place gives me the creeps!"

Empire of the Clouds

Zoe

Zoe looked startled by the collision, then gave a small laugh, "I'm checking to see what the Mittelvolk did to our ship." She said, followed a heartbeat later by a cheeky smile that suggested that wasn't entirely truthful, "Sounds good for a reason I came up with on the spur of the moment!"

"Truth be told, I feel a little restless and wanted to go for a walk," she pursed her lips before blurting out, "Nobody, apart from Arkadios seemed interested in talking about what happened! How am I supposed to get a good read of people's personalities if they don't open their mouths! And contrary to what people might think I do actually care about how the people on this ship are feeling about this trip. You are my friends!"

She gave an indignant 'huff' before patting the holstered 'M1075' pistol at her hip - the standard Mittelandische service pistol - she must have got it off her cousin, "Anyway, want to show me how to use this thing? Preferably aiming out a window."

(OOC note: its a RL Steyr-Hahn)

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

Fabio

Potentially to the irritation of some of the others, Fabio appeared, having vanished for a few moments, with the reporter in tow... ans she had a camera again.

Fabio paused in front of thd door, posing with his best impression of thoughtfulness. He assumed it looked like he was being introspective about the bloodshed.

"What Enzo proposes is the most sensible course of action," he declared, as if he had thought of it himself, "We should find an alternative way to blow our way in. Who knows what horrors lurk behind that door."

He paused as if with an expression of heroic resolve, as if contemplating the inspeakable horrors he alone was qualified to face... while also mentally noting that someone wlae should be first through the breach. Fabio was not going to be zombie food.

Paradise Lost

The doors of the ship opened to... nobody. None of the 'few million' humans seemed to be present. There were a half dozen other small ships and shuttles in the spaceport, neatly docked and apparently well maintained but no actual people. The port itself was reasonably modest, probably not a major interstellar trading hub.

The port itself seemed in a good state of repair, swept and painted, build close to a large town to their West, though there were no sounds of life coming from the town, nothing save from the sound of birds and insects.

The sun beat down on them, promising that today was going to be a hot day. Velia took a few steps out onto the concrete landing pad, before turning back to the crew and shrugging expansively.

To their East, the jungle closed in on the port, dark leaves of alien trees overhanging the perimeter fence of the port. Velia glanced out in the direction of the trees, frowning slightly. She felt like she was being watched though there was no sign of eyes.

She stepped back towards the group, speaking in a slightly hushed tone, seemingly unwilling to call out in this strange place, "Okay. I'm in favour of the city. Any other thoughts?"

Paradise Lost

Velia & Acting-Captain Divaldo

"You sure you need that?" Velia asked him with a raised eyebrow, though there was an amused smirk forming as well and she didn't actually put up any resistance to stepping onto the scales... 126 lb including her clothes, "I don't think I'm going to overload the shuttle!" she declared.

She stepped back, waiting patiently for everyone to be done, giving Ren a slight shake of the head, "Nothing new. It's a planet, nobody is talking to us. Hopefully they will when we knock on the door."

"All right!" she declared, clapping her hands together the moment the last one of the group stepped off the scales, "Time to get down to the planet! I have to admit, I'm a little excited! We are now in your capable hands, Captain Lockman!"

As the shuttle prepped to leave they were greeted by a snort through the communicator, "I see that that featherbrained girl has abandoned the communications post and left nobody here to actually run the ship." Divaldo had somehow taken charge, "Urgh... I suppose I shall manage on my own. It is the burden of my station to have command thrust upon me... I suppose I should try to say something inspiring. Do try not to die down there, but if you do, know it was in service to your Gloriont."

"Hey! I'm helping you slimy bullfrog!" Velia snapped, though without actually having the microphone, there was no way for Divaldo to actually hear her frustration.

Graveyard Orbit

Neri ducked under a flung bottle which continued flying in the direction of Saeyeon's head, "Try not to seriously hurt anyone!" she called, though there was every chance nobody heard her over the cacophony.

She didn't have a chance to repeat the call as a large kiellar man with a scruffy beard lunged at her, grabbing the much smaller dhasath by her arms and physically lifting her up. This turned out to be a bit of an error as he lifted Neri up into a prime position to swing her knee into his groin with eye watering force.

He dropped her, bucking over and getting a vicious kick to the kidney as a parting gift.

Bandit's thieving, meanwhile, had managed to draw the attention of a big dhasath who had been loitering on the edge of the fight, "Hey, rust bucket!" he growled.

The man was heavily muscled, from long days of manual labour and, almost certainly gym work on top of that and was, at over 7', larger than any kiellar in the room and probably amongst the tallest dhasath anyone in their group had ever seen. He had small, intense eyes and a big black beard. He snapped the leg off one of the chairs as if it were a twig, swishing it experimentally through the air.

Neri's eyes swiveled in his direction though she seemed at a loss as to what she might do.

OOC: Courtesy of dice rolls...
@Badarby - you have an incoming bottle.
@Lugubrious - the 'big guy' is after bandit.

Smoke and Steel

Andronika Hasikos: Western Empire Camps, Near the City of Elvesland

There was going to be a battle. It was a certainty at this point. Andronika's white Army, with all the support they had so far, numbered no more than 4,000 troops, a tiny number next to the 32,000 that Orrian had at his command. Orrian's troops were some of the finest elgafolk and men she had seen. Skyborn Lancers made up the core of his force, supported by squadrons of Sahalky riders, many of whom were still armed with primitive bows. He had some Owned Men in his army, though most of his foot were less Pobryn regiments from the mountains in the North and far West of the Empire.

Voron's Army, which Scouts had told was nearby numbered close to 50,000, nearly entirely Owned Men with few elgafolk amongst them save for the officers. Most of his troops were on foot with steady Harquebussiers on the wings.

Vassos told her that Voron's foot were stronger but there was no Cavalry in the world that was the equal the Lancers.

The door to her tent stirred and she looked up from her brooding in her armchair, hoping to find Kreznik there, but istead it was the blonde, mustachioed elgamann chieftain who seemed to be the one who did the machinating for Orrian - Arel Elmys, "Your Highness, he greeted her politely, no sleep before the big day?"

She stood, offering a respectful curtsey, motioning for Arel to join her in the other chair, though he waved the gesture down, apparently not planning to stay long, "Unlikely. We are somewhat outnumbered from what my scouts tell me."

He gave a nonchalant shrug, "We were at Lysfelt as well, and we still drove Voron off the field. He had four men for every three of ours then. He has four men for every three of ours today. We will prevail. And what is more he has every soldier he can muster here, to oppose us. If we destroy this army like we did his last one, Voron will be dealt a mighty blow."

The comment, along with the elgamann's calm demeanor gave her a moderate degree of confidence... "Though the same could be said for both the Emperor and me," Andronika pointed out.

"What do you call that card came the Mittelvolk play - Pochspiel?" Arel asked, "Well, if we were playing that, I would say that we are all 'all in'." He paused momentarily before adding, "Our long-term strategy is reliant on you rallying the Mittelvolk to our cause. The Lancers are the finest soldiers to ever live, but they are not easily replaced and if this war drags on we will have fewer and fewer of them to field. That is provided we win of course."

"My men will stand," Andronika assured him, hoping that they would. Vassos seemed to think they were decent-enough soldiers, if unblooded for the most part.

"I pray they will... now, try to get some sleep," Arel said, "Fretting over the outcome will change nothing. We have been dealt our cards, so has Voron, and we must play the hand we have... but you can control if you are well rested tomorrow or tired... Your Highness." He offered a polite bow before leaving the tent again.

Andronika folded her arms behind her back, pacing back and forth in the tent. If they could destroy Voron's army it would mean the release of countless slaves and Andronika becoming much more powerful in her own right... though a lot of people would have to die for that. Freedom, it seemed, required blood.

Paradise Lost

Velia

"So we have Mark, Ren, the Doctor, you, and me," Velia said to Mark, counting the names off on her fingers. She looked at him. It didn't take much to recognise he was uneasy about the mission, "I wouldn't have put my name forward if I thought this was going to be super-dangerous," she told him by way of reassurance, though given that she was a Communications Officer on her first actual mission that statement probably wasn't as inspiring as she had hoped it might be, "If anything hinky happens at all, just fly us out of there."

"There are some motorised trolley-carts in cargo," she called to the others, "Get a few of them on the shuttle... best to come prepared."