Rhona W

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

New GM post is up for you all to follow up - sorry to those who didn't get a chance to post this time around, but you had 8 days to make one :P You'll just have to deal with it and post in this round instead.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

"So—what sorta place are we looking for? You know, other than, ‘it’s blue,’ or, ‘it’s made o’ aluminium.’”

Blade grinned and tapped his PADD as he pulled it from its' pouch on his belt. An image of the place they were looking for shimmered to life in the air above the device. It showed a building that, like many of the structures in the area, was built of the local sandy stone. It was relatively non-descript, with a large metal warehouse - much as Adrian had deduced - attached to the rear of the more conventional stone-built office and store-front building. A green sign hung out the front, displaying the name of the trading and logistics company.
"This is the one we're after. Accordin' to the Intel snoops an' their investigatin' on th' 'net, this place is th' registered address fer that company the Landcruiser Ken intercepted belonged to. An' that's on toppa what else we know." He turned a corner, leading them away from the busy port and its' walled enclosures. More avenues of large warehouses and other similar storage structures spread out, with the occasional corner store, coffee shop or other eatery for the workers mingled in. Down some of the longer streets, it was even possible to see where they petered out into the dust of the badlands once more.
"There we go," he said, pointing diagonally across an intersection as a truck rumbled past. Their objective was in sight.
"Okay then," said the fox with a firm nod. "I'll take the lead, an' you follow. We'll have t' try and talk him inta revealin' where the others were headed, and then come up with an exit if it all goes t' tits. We're lookin' fer a group headed from th' North t' Landren or th' south. All right, let's go".
Silverwind crossed the street and pushed open the door. An electronic bell sounded, and a bored-looking capybara behind the desk looked up, raising his eyebrow at the pair as they stepped in.
"Good afternoon, my friend." said Silverwind, affecting a convincing, and completely different thick Northern Empire accent to his normal growly drawl. "I was hoping we might be able to do business, yes? I was directed here by... friends of mine. They came by here a few days ago, a small group of them, all travelling together"
The Capybara folded his arms on the desk, and sat a little straighter. "Business? What kind of business? If you need something hauled or shipped, then we're happy to help. Especially if it's on the recommendation of a previous customer..."
"Well," said Silver, and leaned a little closer, looking around and then beckoning the capybara to lean in as he leant on the desk, the curious man doing so as Silver lowered his voice conspiratorially, glancing around. "You see, my friend and I are interested in travelling somewhere, to meet up with group who were in here a short while ago. We got delayed, you see, and they told us where to meet up with them." The fox put on a puzzled look for a moment as the Capybara drew back, frowning. "I hope we're in the right place. My friend here-" he gestured to Adrian "-has doubts about our journey. We'd hate to have to take our money elsewhere, after making such an effort to gather it all".
The capybara's expression flashed greed for a moment, and he shook his head. "No, no. I'm sure I can arrange something... please," he said gesturing to Adrian. "Why don't you tell me what you're looking for? We'll step into the back office. It's... more secure for this kind of deal..."
The rodent rose from his seat and gestured to them both to step through a door into the rear office of the building. Silverwind lead the way, glancing back out the door, and around the room before stepping through. The smaller room at the back contained several desktop data-slates and office chairs, along with various filing cabinets and cupboards. The Capybara started to shuffle through sheafs of printouts in a drawer, before withdrawing a manila file and placing it on one of the desks. He studied the pair of them, before looking to Adrian.
"So, where was it you were headed again?"

****

In the bar, things had not - thankfully - gone stereotypically. The music had not stopped playing the instant Mike and Aidan had walked through the door, nor had every pair of eyes in the place been on them and all the conversation stopped. Like most bars or pubs, no one had spared them a glance that they'd noticed; after all, most people were there to enjoy themselves.
The mink at the bar glanced up as the pair approached, and then raised an elegant eyebrow as Aidan spoke up, shutting her PADD down with a gesture, the display - which looked like maps and charts of the region - disappearing with a swipe of her long, dainty fingers. She turned her cool blue eyes on the canine and tilted her head before answering in a mellifluous, musically accented voice characteristic of the Republic of Hirona, to the East of Martenstown and the Badlands.
"I'm sorry, were you talking to me?" she asked in some confusion. "I think you might want the bartender," she continued, gesturing to a large and portly bear who was leaning on the bar from behind at the other end, polishing a pint glass. The minks' eyes roved over the pair of GEAR pilots, her fingers drumming on the countertop once before she looked over at the ursine, and then back to the pair. "Was there something else I could help you gentlemen with?" she asked after a moment more.

***

In the Marketplace, the hulking vulpine and his companions stopped ahead of the trio from the Roughriders and began to haggle with the owner of the GEAR parts stall. Clearly Imperial accents could be heard as the group got closer to the stall.

Thunderbolt Black (Fighter Pilot Mercenaries)

Yeah, I wasn't really including you Foster as I saw your status and realise that you'll be otherwise occupied right now. I'll write in a few references to what you've said so we can assume Kei carries out those actions in the meantime.

And The Mage, I'll bear that in mind for you too, thanks for letting me know. I'll get the post up later today.

Thunderbolt Black (Fighter Pilot Mercenaries)

FYI boys and girls - you have one more day to make your IC posts, then my next one is going up.
Those of you in the air-to-air combat especially might want to do something about the missiles headed for you. It will end badly otherwise.

Thunderbolt Black (Fighter Pilot Mercenaries)

Busy with work. Trying to get back into my writing while I'm all caught up with RP. Organizing stuff for the next episode of my podcast too.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Well, it's as I always say - if I don't know about it, I can't plan for it. If you guys had let me know, then I would've written it into the post, so you could have followed it up. I had already planned the mission as it is in the post, so I'll be proceeding that way. I'll try and write in some of the elements you've mentioned as we go on though.

Task Force Lima (COMPLETED)

I'm all up for making a post, but is there anywhere in particular Scott should be, i.e. with any group or anything, or should I just jump in an have him follow Jan and Zhenya up?

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Post is up with leads for you all to follow in your respective teams. I'll let you all react, and then put up posts after each team has had a go. I deliberately split people up into random groups - the intention being to get everyone talking to each other. Es, I also left the fireteam behind for that reason - it gives Es (the character) more of a chance to get to know and work with some of the GEAR pilots, instead of being in your own little cell as normal.
Hopefully this will move relatively quickly - I have ideas about how it will go, and how it'll lead into our next big action scene, and then into our next mission, too.
I also hope there'll be a chance for a bit more light-heartedness; I think we could use some to break things up.
I also intend for us to get some more heroic and kick-ass action in shortly too. It's getting a bit too grim-and-gritty at the moment.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

The squad arrived on the ramp with good timing, everyone turning up and looking the part of at least a crew on leave, if not civilians. He also noted with some satisfaction that everyone had done a great job of concealing their weaponry, armour and other gear.
"Okay folks," he said leading them away from the ramp entrance to the hangar, leaving it free for the movement of personnel and vehicles loading and unloading supplies. He drew them up short on the quayside, next to a pile or empty crates and barrels, leaning against them as he spoke. "We're down to pretty uneven numbers," he began. "And we need to keep some force in reserve, in case we get inta trouble. So, here's how it's gonna go. Nathaniel, Naida and Ed will remain behind on the ship with Irry; Irry's GEAR will be armed for close-in support, so it can cover the ATV and a truck to extract us if things go to hell. Which, let's hope they sure as hell don't. He paused to light a cigar, and took a drag off of it before he continued. "Here's how I'm gonna split y'all up. Keel, you're with me. Nawlin, you and Sykes are buddying up. Aihara, Captain Sprinsteam and Maxwell; you form the final team". He paused to look around their faces, his expression set.
"No arguments about the teams; deal with it."
He carried on without missing a beat.
"Aihara, Sprinsteam, Maxwell: you three have the biggest area to cover: the market. Watch out for pickpockets as well as your targets.
"Keel, you an' I will be checkin' out the docks and warehouses. We're gonna have to do a bit of actin' and posin'. Should be entertainin' enough.
"Nawlin, you and Sykes hit the bars an' dives in th' middle of town. Remember: we're tryin' ta pick up the buzz, chit-chat and rumours. Keep an eye out fer anyone who looks out of place... and try not to get drunk, or thrown out.
"Anythin' that might lead us onta any trace of those guys responsible fer th' hit an' run. The data on the drive is what we have to go on: They're an elite Northener unit. They may be undercover as mercs, or civvies. An' we have the suspicion there's that second force too, whoever they are, also hidin' out. Any an' all of them will be lookin' ta stock up on parts, equipment, ammo and fuel. Not to mention intel, and maybe even fake ID's and passes to move between the borders." He paused again, glancing over their heads to look at the roofs of the town stretching away.
"This place is friendly enough on the surface, but it's got a dark underbelly ta watch out for. People who ain't even who we're lookin' for might try an' jump ya - but I know y'all can look after yerselves. There's a lotta rumours in a place like this, an' askin' the right questions will get ya answers. So will being good-natured and favourin' the merchants and hosts, or greasin' the right palms. I made sure y'all have access to a 'special fund' fer the mission, authorised by command, given the stakes involved." he grinned deadpan. "...spend it - we don't get freebies often. But remember, try not to stand out. I also uploaded a couple of well-known less-than-savoury haunts around the area based on info from th' Net an' various other sources. Check 'em out too, but be careful. Remember; keep in regular contact. If any one of the groups misses two consecutive check-ins, the other two converge on their location. Don't fire first, unless it's in self-defence, either. We're armed, but remember - if we can do this without firin' a shot, then we're doin' a damn good job. Nothin' else ta say - let's get to it".
Silverwind dismissed them, and headed toward the exit from the Landcruisers' berth, and onto the wide, dusty street outside. Nondescript warehouses, factories and other industrial buildings formed the bulk of buildings in the immediate area, wide avenues interspersed between them, choked with vehicles, groups of people and roadside stalls or carts selling things or stacked with possessions and items.
The sheer variety of Arvaran species on display was staggering, and the hubbub of voices and noise was constant; not quite enough to be deafening, but certainly a near-constant background rumble of sound, especially this close to the Landcruiser docks.
Bidding goodbyes to the others with a nod, he beckoned for Adrian to follow, as he headed off in parallel to the dockside wall, the buildings on their right-hand side.
"Okay," he said as they walked, glancing between faces and the scenery as he spoke. "There's a shippin' an' handlin' company two blocks down. Intel suggests they tend to be a little involved wi' underhanded deals, an' a front fer smugglin' into the Empire. I reckon we go in, an' make like we're tryin' ta score ourselves a coupla passes, an' see what we uncover. Mebbe one of us acts all keen, and the other reluctant, try and lure 'em inta sayin about previous business?"

***

The Market Place was choked and busy - stalls with food of all kinds were clustered in the middle, many of them cooking their ways for hungry shoppers and browsers, and adding a diverse array of scents and perfumes to the air to mingle with the scents of the patrons and sellers themselves, and all of their wares. Towards the edges and the darker alleys of the market place were the more 'questionable' goods; GEAR parts, electronics, armaments and ammunition, and other such shady dealings. And then there were the people who didn't have stalls, but stood, hands in pockets, around the stalls in shadows and studied people passing by. Occasionally credit details were exchanged, and whispered words, or fleeting data swipes exchanged on battered, black-market PADDs.
Through a momentary gap in the crowd, a large, square-shouldered Black-furred vulpine was seen, moving with two smaller fellows toward one of the GEAR parts traders.

***

Toward the centre of town, the bustle died down. Here, the streets were more regularly paved, the pedestrians confined to the sidewalk, and the vehicles moving at less of a frantic pace through the streets. Shaded doorways to stores and businesses invited people in out of the ever-present Badlands sun and dust. Many of the stores claimed to be boutiques, and sold exotic goods; bespoke hand-tailored clothing, high-end electrical goods, choice foods and drink. Others were fine-dining restaurants, lavish grooming parlours or theatres.
All of this, of course, was on the main drags - on the side roads, things tried to emulate the same class, but had their own layer of grime; titty-bars paraded as 'gentlemen's clubs', and jostled for space with greasy-spoon diners and mystery-meat butchers with stained counter-tops. Pawn shops competed with Porn shops and bars with glass on the pavement that crunched underfoot outside newly-fitted windows. Basement bars with slippery, vomit-stained steps and hulking cybernetically-enhanced bouncers squatted at the bottom of apartment buildings with charming names - and barred doors.
All three of the bars Silverwind had given names of were in the side-streets. One was a Bar-and-grill that looked less likely to be the source of a riot, with its' red formica-topped tables and clean floors. Music played from a jukebox, and the bar was clean. However, the grim nature of the patrons, who clustered in small groups around the tables suggested otherwise. The most interesting feature was a slinky, female mink with military-short hair propping up one end of the bar, reading through a PADD and occasionally glancing up at the overhead screens showing the news.
One of the others was a basement bar that had sweaty walls and a sticky floor, and had an ever-present cloud of smoke hovering near the lights. In the middle, a group of men and woman all clad in similar leather jackets, GEAR-pilot boots, combat pants and vests argued over a game of cards.
The last was an open fronted place that was ariy and bright, with faux-tropical decor, and a vast array of possibly life-threatening decor, and a lot of shady corners, along with a one-eyed, gap-toothed bartender who grinned at them as they walked in.
The most curious thing was the group at the far end of the bar; all of them were strikingly good-looking and fit, despite their rough-and-tumble civilian dress, and they constantly talked in low voices to one another, occasionally glancing around.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Sorry I'm running a bit behind on the new post. Will try and work on it sometime soon and get it up and posted.