Description: Thailand may never fully escape the bloody grasp of Shadaloo. A resistance, bolstered by the additions of legendary Muay Thai kickboxer Sagat alongside his unlikely friends and allies Howard Rust and Quon Chen come together to force out the Chinese occupation of Thailand before they can entrench themselves too deeply. They may call it a successful defense... but everyone knows that this will not be the end of anyone's troubles here.
Thailand is not a good place to be these days. Granted it was never the nicest of places it still had some nice countryside and interesting locations. Now it is just a war torn wreck that is currently occupied by the troops of China and Shadaloo after Vega himself made sure to lead his men to victory. Even Sagat himself couldn't put a stop to the attacks and only managed to escape from being captured or killed by the dictator's forces. Even so he was able to patch himself up with the help of some surviving soldiers that escaped. He has gathered what forces he could in order to start staging counter attacks. He knows his land well and he knows just where to hit.
Even notes had managed to get out to Rust and Quon. He did not know the exact whereabouts of the two, but he sent skilled messengers to seek them out. Of course they are a bit on their own to sneak into the country. At least with Rust he might just have some help from some rather sneaky Ikari he had come across after his defeat in India. They were instructed to meet at a point where several soldiers are waiting for a strike at one of the main enemy camps. If they can capture this point they can take Thailand back. As for Sagat's presence? He isn't with the forces when Quon and Rust arrive. He has already went on ahead with a few other men it would seem.
There is plenty of waiting to be had. A few hours as it seems like they are waiting for when it starts to get darker out. It is about nine in the evening when the chaos erupts in the camp. There is an explosion among the tanks that had been parked and being refueled followed by a guard tower being taken out by what looks very much like one of Sagat's trademark blasts of energy. In fact there is a echo of 'TIGAAAAAAAAH!' heard. That also seems to be the signal for the attack to begin.
The base is in chaos as men begin to organize and arm themselves as gunfire erupts everywhere. In the distance there is another blast of energy. It looks like Sagat and the men with him are already waist deep in fighting as the men with Quon and Rust charge in and start firing on the surprised men still in camp.
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-------|
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-------|
It happened pretty quickly after that time with Munin at the southern end of Myanmar, all things be told. One circumstance leads to another regarding a certain mysterious messenger, at which point Rust actually learns that Thailand really did fall and that - congratulations! - he's being asked to help liberate it.
Vega was there before - is he still there now? This is his primary worry as he rests off what aches he can in the hours to come. He's pretty quiet through the waiting camp hours, more or less reflecting on his life until now as he has been prone to - there's not much he can really say to Quon at the moment, if he's even fully aware he's there.
The echo of 'TIGAAAAAH' is a signal indeed, and the resistance forces are already rushing out. He doesn't have a ranged vantage point to really just see what he's about to wade into - only the fog of war suggesting 'a lot of soldiers' and trails of fire and rockets to follow...
There's one right there, a missile battery! Howard takes in a deep breath and goes into a jog while it's not pointing towards the group he's been thrust with, drawing Ol' Rusty only as he gets close in an attempt to destroy it (...or just knock it over, either or) with a quick draw.
With luck, that'll be one last artillery barrage for the lot of them to face down. He's... not looking forward to wading through rockets again.
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-------|
Quon had received his message from Sagat just as he was leaving Indonesia. After the successful defense of the country, the Chongquan prodigy had been looking for a way to be as much of a thorn in the side of Shadaloo as the organization had been in his.
Upon arrival things had been quiet for the young fighter and for his own part he had kept silent because of the nervous tension in the air.
That silence is soon broken by the sounds of Sagat creating havoc and Quon is suddenly takes to his feet and dashes alongside Rust before splitting off towards another group of soldiers, kicking as many in path as he can with feet moving so fast that it seems as though the young prodigy is kicking soldiers in several different directions all at the same time.
COMBATSYS: Quon has wandered into the fight here on the right meter side.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon blocks Quon's Seven Dragon Tails.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Bravo Company with Medium Strike.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Rust
The artillery set up is mostly unmanned due to the unexpected attack. It looks like Sagat had things pretty well planned out. The fact that the forces look to have been cut in half also means less trouble for both Rust and Quon to deal with. The God of Muay Thai himself is surrounded with bewildered enemies that are falling to his fists and feet as they panic and try to fire about and hit the massive fighter. It seems most tanks have been disabled and those that still function actually have ended up going in the direction of where Sagat is.
For Rust one of the few manned artillery stations is easily taken out by one massive swing from his trusty pipe. It breaks about like some sort of toy under the force of the swing. Quon himself seems to catch a few people off guard with his strikes. It seems the men he is dealing with are getting a bit more focused and organized which can't be a good thing.
Quon comes under fire with several guns rattling off guns in an attempt to pin down Quon and the men with him where Rust is met with a rather brawny man that just decides to use his gun as a weapon and bring it down atop the man's h......what the hell is that? The man actually screams and tries to stop himself from swinging when he sees it. It is too late.
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Bravo Company's Pistol-whip.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon successfully hit Quon with Bullet Spread.
- Power hit! -
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Rust
Rust doesn't actually think out the whole 'strike down the artillery' thing all too well, as the ex-shop teacher, possibly ex-martial arts instructor (assuming he never makes it back to Southtown alive), current war commando is beaned a bit by pieces of busted, shattered artillery that sees him actually raise up his left arm by accident to cover himself in case a stray rocket comes down on his head.
He accidentally deflects the brawny man's gun that way, in which his own forearm touches that... thing... on his head. It is further horrifying to think that this crazy man who just took down the artillery is willing to make direct skin contact with that dark purple horror on his scalp and not feel shamed for it.
Moments later Howard realizes he just got nearly jumped by a soldier from behind, thinking to turn around behind himself, grab the guy by his chest, and just haul off and chuck him into the other soldiers in the familiar (by now) Chinese uniform with one good fling of his left arm.
Quon's foot lowers when he sees that the surprise has worn off. He doesn't have much time to get himself together before guns are drawn upon him and then the bullets start flying. Wild firing pattern keep Quon from even thinking about dodging and so he attempts to cover himself while continuing to charge through but there were enough firing at center of mass to keep him from turning away single bullet.
With gritted teeth he has to admit that his charge has been thwarted even if he hoped that it was only a temporary set back. With a loud hiss, he pulls few bullets out of his body and flings them at the soldiers. He shouts in Mandarin, <"I never ordered these! Return to sender!">
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company fails to counter Medium Throw from Rust with Opportune Distraction.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon dodges Quon's Small Thrown Object.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Rust
The intial surprise is wearing off, but at the same time it might just be too late overall. The remnants of the Thai military are handling things well knowing they have skilled fighters helping them out. There is a loud explosion in the back and a tank is sailing up into the air and Sagat can be seen exploding upwards as well with an uppercut. There are screams of pain and panic as the tank comes crashing back down and lands on several soldiers that weren't quick enough to get out of the way.
The large man gripped by Rust seems to have something of a plan. He goes to grab Rust by the arm while shouting. "I have him! come get...AIEE!" He didn't expect Rust to be able to just heft him up so easily and his fellow fighters are very surprised to find their comrade tossed into them and several are sent sprawling. It is a rather distracting thing that works well for Rust. It is taking the men a few moments to gather their wits before they can come up with some sort of counter attack.
For Quon the bullets he tosses don't seem to have the desired effect he had hoped. The soldiers manage to avoid them as they move about and the tossed items harmlessly end up on the ground. The return volley they offer is probably something Quon didn't want to see. Mostly because this time they aren't bullets. This time there are grenades being thrown his way.
COMBATSYS: Quon dodges Alpha Platoon's Grenade Volley.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Rust
To the large man's credit, that one moment where he's got a hold on his arm, he winces from how it's still just a touch tender from taking... uh... rockets. Not that he should really be mentally complaining about taking rockets, unlike most people who take rockets to the arm /he still has his/. Along with every other part of his body, as it were.
Rolling his shoulder as he moves forward at a slow - possibly intimidating, to those surprised by the human projectile - pace, he reflects very briefly on the fact that, yeah, what happened at Nepal was no fluke. He can, is, and - most likely - will be flinging aside incredibly scared people left and right. Whether they're scared of him or Vega, who can tell?
He's not any less scared, as it were, though he tries to mask it with a frown and a deep breath as he pushes into a bunch of soldiers already readying for him personally again... and then quickly goes low, thinking he might avoid some immediate return fire as he swings Ol' Rusty down low across some feet.
Wait, wha? Grenades? The Chinese martial artist decides right then and there he's not going to catch grenades for them or anyone else for that matter. He leaps high into the air, up and over the lobbed grenades before delivering a drop kick to one of the soldiers and then attempt to use that particular soldier's body to surf through the ranks and mow a few of them down in the process.
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon interrupts Heavy Kick from Quon with Focus Fire.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Bravo Company with Foundation Layer.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rust
Groups continue to move and try to regroup and reinforce as best they can. Being attacked from so many sides just hasn't worked out well in helping them do so. There have been explosions in the distance where Sagat's party are involved. The large fighter seems to be getting overwhelmed at least by the moment. The Thai soldiers with him are being pushed back as they try to fire at the men coming at Sagat while trying to avoid hitting the large fighter in the process. If it wasn't such a serious situation it is almost amusing to see so many people hanging on the cyclops and being swung about.
The men fighting rust soon find many of their feet and lower legs hurting as they continue to back up. "We need help here!" calls out one as they all try to get away. The good news is Rust seems to have them scared. The bad news is he hears something all too familiar. Something he has been dreading since this fight started. Yes, those are rockets, Rust.
Quon continues to have a fair shake of bad luck. Where he did manage to get away from the grenades his plan only somewhat works. Oh yes, he takes down one of the men. The sliding part doesn't happen so much due to the fact almost as soon as he lands he gets pelted by a spray of bullets along with several of the men that were with him. The Chinese forces seem to be gaining some courage in that direction and try to press forward.
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company successfully hit Rust with Rocket Shower.
- Power hit! -
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Rust
There's a lot of noises and a lot of shouting and very little actual communication for Rust to really decipher. He doesn't understand either Chinese language (Mandarin nor Cantonese), he doesn't understand Thai, it's impossible to hear the shouting as he's pulling himself up off the ground to keep pushing them back.
The sound and roar of flying rockets, though... his head slumps as he sees them coming along with some muffled curse. The people manning the rocket salvo have almost certainly had practice in firing on fighters before. So many of them are so fast, almost a blur, that it takes a whole lot of precision to tag them directly.
Rust is much easier in comparison. One hits him dead on - it may be because he's not pumped full of whatever the Nepal medics stuck in him, but it legitimately stings as he is enveloped in a fiery explosion that kicks dust everywhere. He tries to keep moving, thinking maybe he'll somehow outrun them (Rust outrunning anything? haha). He gets caught in the splashes of the next few that follow. Just when he thinks it's safe...
Another one tags him dead-on, forcing him to a crouch in a moment of legitimate agony. (Incidentally, it was arguably a direct hit to the knee, and that's enough of that.) This gives that particular unit a good head start in running like hell, which they ought to.
God damn rockets, firing them on people like that. He gets so disgruntled by this that as an enemy jeep drives by (to perhaps check and/or hope that he might have lost a limb and is bleeding to sure death or something), he steps up and gives it a hard front kick to the side, possibly flipping it over. There's a bit of a decline in front of him.
It's not really his intention to kick it down /into/ the soldiers backing off, but to be fair, they just opened fire on him with a bunch of friggin' rockets.
With all of the bullets directed towards him, he finds himself trapped in a hail of bullets. The former college student finds himself joining the man he drop kicked on the ground. His yellow outfit is shredded and covered in blood. He slowly brings himself back up to his feet. His fists curl up tightly to the point where his knuckles are practically white.
He takes a deep breath and lets out a low growl, rolls his neck and takes his stance. He stares at the Chinese soldiers and speaks softly though he lets his displeasure with the whole situation be known in Mandarin, <"What the hell you doing? How can you look at yourselves. Terrorizing those who can't defend themselves? Reckless destroying things with no thought for those who live here for no reason other than the glory of some egomaniacal psychopath. Have you no shame?">
He then adjusts his stance and beckons as he continues, <"I'd rather die standing on my feet than live on my knees in a world like that. Come. Kill me if you can.">
COMBATSYS: Quon focuses on his next action.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company dodges Rust's Huge Thrown Object.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Rust
There is a loud shout that can even be heard over the rockets being launched. Sagat seems to have finally gotten rather angry at all the people wanting to use him as a jungle gym. Bodies go flying all over the place as the Muay Thai God leaps high in the air then comes crashing back down with a massive kick that sends even more enemy soldiers flying away as others try to mow him down with more gunfire. The bullets! They do nothing!
Rockets on the other hand seem to work really well. The shrapnel did hit some of their own men, but the rampaging Rust was at least stopped for a moment which is a good thing. They were unsure how to even deal with him. His retaliation isn't expected, though. The jeep is kicked the two soldiers in it scream in surprise at the force that sends it tumbling away and towards the rest of the unit. The group of soldiers are able to get out of the way and this time one of them even charges for Rust. What a brave soul to come at him as he leaps into the air and jumpkicks at Rust. "Hwaaah!"
The group dealing with Quon and the soldiers with him seem to keep pressing forward. There is plenty of bullets unleashed as they do their best to keep Quon and company pinned down and drive them away. If they can get this group taken care of they can move to assist the ones that aren't doing so well.
COMBATSYS: Quon dodges Alpha Platoon's Medium Shot.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Bravo Company's Light Kick.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Rust
It's a brave soul, indeed. There's actually very little wrong with the soldier's form - the kick is well-performed, with a keen sense of timing in extending the leg. The soldiers are well-trained, but yet, individually they do not match the strength of fighters.
Where Quon spits out his grievances a ways away, Rust already fully well knows what ends they're willing to go to. He knows they aren't going to stop and turn tail regardless of how many people have just been tossed aside. The color red stains his tattered gi top and his pants, but as his left elbow raises up to meet the incoming leaping foot, the way his stance does not falter suggests a mere boot is not going to be enough to really stop him.
Stepping down the hill after them with a wince-inducing pop in his knee that can be heard very loudly, he approaches heedless of whatever sorts of things they're going to be pointing at him (or that guy who just jump kicked him), striking his leg down into the ground when he can get himself into kicking range - not once, not twice, a lot of times. It echoes like a jackhammer even when striking relatively soft dirt, leg covered in that washed-out flickering chi energy with enough force that it might shake up and loosen the footing of those nearby if they're juuuuust out of actual striking range (which isn't hard).
Quon's movements are a blur as he begins to get a feel for the timing of Alpha Platoon's firing. He bobs and weaves around bullets as he moves closer the group letting out soft stacatto breaths with each foot step as he gets in the face of a cluster soldiers. He opens his mouth as he's about to say something but he stops feeling it would be a waste of time to do so.
Instead Quon draws in the ambient chi within the area with a loud inhalation of breath and then releases it in a quick burst projecting the chi outwards in the form of a rippling bubble. He wants to make a huge dent in the ranks and perhaps do some damage to morale even if he knows that they will still lay into him with a fervor that is unmatched.
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company counters Jackhammer Kick from Rust with Threat Assessment.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Quon successfully hits Alpha Platoon with Roaring Guardian.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Rust
There is the sound of more rockets being launched. Something that might cause panic in Rust, but thankfully this time they are nowhere near him. This time they are roaring right towards Sagat where several explosion occur. That area is getting hard to see from the distance due to the building smoke from the explosions as well as the wrecked tanks that Sagat has pretty much ripped in half whenever they got a bit too close to him. After the last battle he kind has a hatred for tanks much like how Rust has with rockets.
The lone soldier goes a bit wide eyed when he realizes his kick didn't do anything. If anything it did provide a distraction. Big guy from earlier? He came running up from behind as well as a few others. "Get him! He is about to do something weird!" one cries as they all charge to overwhelm Rust and beat him with the butts of their weapons. His kicking never really gets going since they all manage to kinda push him over when his leg is lifted somewhat.
Quon on the otherhand seems to catch the unit he is dealing with by surprise. They had not seen anything like what was just unleashed on them. It does seem to break the morale for the time being at least and they fall back and keep weapons drawn. Several others have been taken out by the unleashed energy. "Keep your nerve men! We can win this!" The commander of the group shouts as he steps forward. The men just slowly nod and they raise their guns once more and open fire again.
COMBATSYS: Quon fails to interrupt Cover Fire from Alpha Platoon with Moving the Mountain.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Rust
There /is/ that moment of hesitation at the sound of rocket fire again - it runs through Howard's mind as to whether or not he should keep kicking, or think of maybe moving ba--
Big guy answers it for him as he tackles him to the ground, a painful cramping feeling in the calf muscles of the one leg he's standing on before they all start beating upon him again and again and again and... unlike the exceedingly desperate final standing fighters of Nepal, these people are still holding their morale and are clubbing away at him with purpose.
The sheer quantity of it adds up fast as they club him while he's down pretty much everywhere. It's hard for him to maneuver out when anywhere he leans, he's being met by rifle butts or whatever other things they might try to keep him down until satisfyingly beat to death.
Howard decides he has enough of this whole 'getting up' thing as he just swings Ol' Rusty half-cocked upwards to try and clear out space, a low kick with the recently-blasted leg that scrapes somewhat painfully against the dirt, and reaching out with his left hand to try and grab a certain someone (big guy again?!) before just swinging him - or anyone, really - in a wide-enough circle to clear up some space before hurling them away and actually stand back up.
The Chongquan styled fighter attempts to press the advantage when he sees the shock and shaken morale in his country mens' eyes attempting to go right for the commanding officer's chest as he twists to the side and leans over to deliver a pair of palm strikes towards him. Which while it wouldn't knock him out would at least rattle him and if rattled him, it would rattle the rank and file soldiers of the platoon.
It was not to be as bullets graze his arm which in turn redirects the path of his attack and as result punishes his overzealousness by making his endeavor unsuccessful.
Quon had to look on the bright side. He now knew exactly where the commanding officer was and he would be going right for him now. Cut the head and the body will follow.
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company blocks Rust's Armed Combo.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
The forces are cornered and seem to be doing all they can to try and not be defeated. They do not want to see what Vega would look like if they lost Thailand so soon after gaining it. They didn't expect such a counter strike so soon, though. Sagat managed to organize quite a hefty group of hiding soldiers along with some powerful fighters to help attack the forces. Sagat and the soldiers he is fighting seem to be at a standstill. As much as the former emporer knocks men down it seems more just come to replace them. Another volley of rockets are launched his way, but this time they are shot out of the air with the powerful release of energy sends out to retaliate.
Rust is really getting no real space to move and he soon does get ahold of someone. This time it ends up being the unlucky guy that thought it was a good idea to come right at rust and try to kick him. While he gets taken for a ride the rest of the men have time to retreat and avoid the man as he is swung about then tossed aside. He doesn't look like he is getting back up either. The rest of the half dozen or so look at one another then shrug and look to just try to swarm Rust again. Why stop if it is working?
The commander looks rather smug as they manage to shoot down Quon again. "I told you! Don't let him scare you! We will win for lord Vega!" He declares and even runs forward himself to meet Quon and attempt to deliver a punch right to the young fighter's face.
COMBATSYS: Quon blocks Alpha Platoon's Fierce Punch.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rust interrupts Strong Kick from Bravo Company with Man At Work.
- Power hit! -
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Rust
Getting back up on his feet at all helps, even as his balance is a bit wobbly from that shot to his leg earlier. Ol' Rusty is held horizontally in front of him as if to show defensive strength when the remaining numbers of soldiers seem to be working out the best way to approach him, he's thinking... he's ready for this, whatever it is.
They're all coming for him. Nepal plays itself out visibly once more as he grits his teeth, thinking... no, not this time, either. He can't fully cover his back, for those few that can manage to approach there.
One moment later, he's raising the clearly hurt leg and deciding to use his stronger one for balance, striking out with a rapid fire series of kicks that advances forward ever-so-slightly - it's hard for him to maintain balance given the decline he's fighting on and the forward momentum he's kicking at beckoning for him to tip over, but Howard makes it work as those soldiers still in front of him face a long flurry of kicks from that leg.
He does get stopped as one of them legitimately gets in a kidney punch of appreciable enough force to get him to stop and fall to a kneel as to not fall flat on his face to the sound of an aching, stiff knee, but the damage is almost assuredly done.
Quon's hand moves quickly to turn aside the smug commanding officer's punch with a calmness and ease of someone who has dealt with a better quality attacks for years. He grins right at the commanding and speaks to the commander of the Chinese army platoon member in a composed tone using Mandarin, <"Perhaps you should've stuck to using guns.">
He then grabs his hand and steps forward locking his leg against the leg of the officer and then performing a text book hip toss. If it sends him flying towards more soldiers, all the better. He then switches to Cantonese, <"Or perhaps you would prefer me using this tongue to tell you that you were probably better off using your guns.">
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon dodges Quon's Medium Throw.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Rust
The smoke is just getting worse and it is easy forthe three fighters to lose track of one another and making sure all is okay. It was already a bit of a problem with Sagat given the distance. His height added some advantage there, but as the smoke continues to rise and get thicker even his tall frame is hard to make out. The loud shouts are enough to let the Thai soldiers and the other fighters to know the large fighter is still in battle. He won't fall again. Thailand will belong to the people again.
The men surrounding Rust are met with a rude awakening as they soon find the old man still has plenty of fight left in him. That leg starts kicking and it catches a few of the men and knocks them away. One manages to avoid it completely and he quickly scrambles to rejoin t he rest of the unit which has taken time to reload. They look to open fire only for a another jeep to come along and attempt to knock Rust away and right into the rest of the unit. THis could be bad. For what side remains to be seen.
The commander seems to be more skilled than believed. He actually manages to avoid Quon's grasp and he grins. "If you want to die that way so be it." he barks and he pulls out a pistol and the rest of the men ready their weapons. "Good by, troublesome pest!" he says before they all open fire again.
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Bravo Company's Gain Way!.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon successfully hit Quon with Focus Fire.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rust
Howard takes an appreciably difficult time steadying himself back up while they're all lining up to fire again. Blood from the rocket salvo, bruises from the gang-beating, and the aches and pains of a tired, battered body who'd really rather not be pushed this hard to begin with all call out to him. He doesn't believe for a moment that he's just getting a simple share of soldiers in the giant melee - the moment these guys go away, if they do, he's going to be bore down upon by even more.
The roar of the truck coming from behind pushes forward, and to this Howard can only turn his body and press his forearm against it as it starts pushing him along. Dirt accumulates behind him and to either side, his body tense as the poorly-set dark purple... thing that's not hair flaps in the breeze of how fast he's being pushed. It threatens to grind one of his lower legs as it reaches something that could be called hard pavement.
He can't see the driver eye to eye from his kneeling position, he can't see the kind of man that's decided to throw their lot entirely with the biggest danger to the free world at the moment (or is it Rust, who is the biggest danger to a world safe from the carelessness of those who are strong?).
Ol' Rusty, still in his right hand, reminds Rust pretty readily when the tip dips low enough to create sparks and remind him he's still holding the pipe, teeth grit as he thinks... yeah, just got to hold in there. This isn't a vanity project for Sagat - there's a whole lot of people counting on him and everyone else, whether they know it or not. He remembers that even the entire military force at Nepal's capital put their trust in him.
Ol' Rusty spins in his right hand, a flash of the dexterity he had in his hand before Igniz nearly took it as he swings Ol' Rusty upward, trying to pipe-uppercut the jeep away, far away, well-away and rise back up.
Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. Each and every one of the soldiers open fire on him and Quon stumbles backwards as he ends up being covered in more blood and filled with more lead. All the Chinese fighter can think of is wiping that smug grin off of that commander's face.
He begins to edge in slowly due to a combination of fatigue and blood loss. His wobbily body moves in closer and closer before he swings a fist up toward the commander's face before swinging a kick right for the commander's leg in an attempt to buckle the leg and get him to kneel before him, if only for a moment in an attempt to further damage the morale of the soldiers.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Bravo Company with Cement Upper EX.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/---====/=======|===----\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon dodges Quon's Light Kick.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Quon
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Bravo Company 1/---====/=======|===----\-------\0 Rust
Much to Rust's relief it seems like the last volley of rockets has been launched. Even if the past few haven't come his way this means no more will he have to worry if that will change. The shouting that the rockets are gone can be heard. What else is heard is alot of cheers in the distance. What side won over there? It is hard to say but the way the men in the towers are reacting it might be safe to say that the Thai forces have managed to break through and are continuing forward to meet up with the groups that are helping out Rust and Quon.
The driver of the jeep doesn't manage to hit Rust like he had hoped. There is the screeching of tires as he throws the thing in reverse and starts to back away and attempt again. He won't get a second attempt. Rust ends up upending the jeep with the powerful strike and upwards and away it flips. Troops scream in terror as they attempt to get away and end up being crushed under the jeep. For a moment it looks like Rust gets a breather. Those left seem fully intent on taking down Quon.
They aren't doing too bad of a job right now either. That commander is a smug one and the way he manages to keep himself just out of reach from Quon just make his men cheer all the more. THeir moral might be the only thing going for them right now because most of the other forces have been crushed. There are shouts to fall back and regroup, but perhaps the commander gets too overconfident as he points forward. "Run him over then we can go! We will make sure thy don't forget this platoon!" he shouts and the troop transport lurches forward and picks up speed as it comes for Quon.
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company takes no action.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Bravo Company can no longer fight.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Quon dodges Alpha Platoon's Truck Bashing.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
It's hard to get a clear view of the untimely end those soldiers get when there's so much going on about and around you. There isn't some sort of sick joy in the deathly stillness in the immediate area around one Howard Rust as the hellish drag across the dirt and pavement comes to an end. Whiplash features prominently in his stagger back up. His joints try to lock in place, every slight flex a pop and a creak.
With a deep exhale, the burly American man dares to cast a look over his left shou-- a wince suggests that no, it still hurts a fair bit to turn his head that way (a change up from 'can't even do so at all' thanks to Faolan's help, but still, ouch).
Turning his head back the other way to the right gives him a clear view of a moving transport and a bloodied young man whom he can recognize almost instantly, at which point, a name is finally shouted - whether or not it can be heard is another thing entirely.
"Quon!!" Howard calls, gathering his courage as he takes Ol' Rusty in both hands and starts limping to a slowish jog over to those he's still fighting, c'mon, damn it, my knee's not that messed up, he complains to himself as his pace drags every so often to the surge of pain that runs through it.
COMBATSYS: Rust focuses on his next action.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
Chongquan fighter seemed to had enough of this and the frustration seems to be getting to the youth. With gritted teeth he watches as out of the corner of his eye he spies a troop transport coming right for him and he leaps up with cat-like reflexes as he lands on the hood of the truck with light foot falls as he runs up the wind shield and then along the rooftop in a show of speed, agility, and balance and then he leaps into the air.
And then he descends upon the commander attempting to get a couple of stomps on his face before attempting to stomp the head of as many of the soldiers as he can before landing on the ground and flipping away.
"You've failed to run me over. Guess you're going to have to stick around."
COMBATSYS: Quon successfully hits Alpha Platoon with Breaking the Shell.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
The smugness of the commander might just be too much and cost the remaining forces more casualties than they needed. Then again maybe he just truely understands that if he showed weakness it does not matter if he falls her or not. Vega will have his head. If he can't at least defeat someone like Quon he will certainly not see another day if he ever was to see Vega after this day. That might also be why he looks so frustrated when Quon manages to jump on the truck and run along it. "Fire! Fire!" he cries out loud.
That shouting is silenced when Quon plants a boot in his face and drives the commander into the ground. There won't be much smugness from him this time. At least not for awhile. Several other soldiers meet the same fate and the men get in a bit of a panic as they start firing wildly about at Quon. Even worse is the fact there are shouts from a distance. "Sagat is approaching! Fall back and regroup!" If the commander listened earlier they might get away. Right now they are slowly being blocked in by the attacking forces.
COMBATSYS: Quon dodges Alpha Platoon's Medium Shot.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
They fire wildly at Quon but he had managed land next to a sand bag barrier. When the bullets start flying he dives to the side rolling away from the bullets and crawling low as they continue to fire only waiting until the fire seems to die down before he comes out of hiding before launching himself at the first soldier he sees with an uppercut launching him into a cluster of soldiers, he then goes to the next with a flip forward, unfurling his leg to bring down a heel engulfed in golden flame upon his head driving him down to the ground, he then turns to a group of gathered soldiers flips high into the air landing feet first in the center and releasing a golden flame explosion out from from his location before his body curls over from the exhertion breathing heavily.
He then turns to the commander, panting out the words in Cantonese, <"What? Got anything else to say? You seem awfully quiet.">
Howard looks over his shoulder every often, as if to try and figure out as to whether or not someone else might be lining a bead on him, or if there might be another vehicle barreling his way, or what have you. This is war, and no matter how strong anyone here is, they are individually outnumbered.
As Quon lands in exhaustion, Rust manages to find his way just a ways behind him, Ol' Rusty still drawn. He stands close to let the nearby soldiers know that they don't have /one/ problem now, they have /two/.
"Hey, Quon," speaks Rust, at first with a pause. He's not sure what to say - there's been a lot of awkward pauses for the few times they've really spoken face to face since that day.
"You got this," he says, chancing out reaching his left hand to Quon's shoulder, "we got this." He gives the lot of the remaining platoon his discerning eye - he's not as sharp as some of the brightest minds in fighting, but he's got experience. "The thing I've seen," he speaks up, "they're workin, workin' almost entirely on, on how much they got. They're scared, Quon... hell, I'd be, too. I was, back where... where Vega was in India." He clears his throat as he points a finger out to them.
"They're bunchin' up all, all together," which Quon may have noticed, "so long as, as you got clear line of sight, that you're sure they aren't sneakin' up on you... you got 'em all rounded up, okay? I can't speak for... for all of 'em, but many of 'em I seen, they're... they're bullies. Seemed they were... were made to take on people who, who can't fight."
"You sure as hell can, right?" Rust attempts to reassure, even as he fights a bit of blood loss and the aches all about him. "Go on 'n show 'em. I'm, I'm right behind you." He casts another look in the distance - even with Sagat's height he can't see him clearly, there really is a lot of people still fighting out there. "Sagat is, too... so're a buncha other folks, they're... they're countin' on us, okay?"
He points out Ol' Rusty towards then as if to tell them, 'yeah, you're screwed' as he tries to cheer Quon on while he's running on fumes. On some level, everyone is, but they probably have enough gas left in their tank to finish it.
COMBATSYS: Rust assists Quon.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon dodges Quon's Dropping the Bridge.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
It seems Sagat is drawing all the nearer too given the shouts. It is still hard to make things out from too far just given all the commotion and smoke. Just how well is the Muay Thai God faring? If the stories are true from what could have been overheard from the Thai soldiers he must have been pretty bad off. Given the fact they thought an assault like this wouldn't happen until he fully recovered. Maybe that is exactly why he planned it for now. Catch the enemy by surprised. So far it has worked rather well.
Quon soon finds himself finding it very hard to actually get at any of the men he targets when he jumps into that group of soldiers. The chaos has them moving all about and they are in something of a panic which in an odd way helps them avoid the young man's strikes. They are rather spread out by the time he lands and Rust runs up to him to try and help his fellow fighter out. Of course now they have the pair surrounded and all the guns lowered as the commander staggers to the front with pistol drawn. "So glad for you to join him. It will allow us to kill you both!" he laughs and they open fire.
COMBATSYS: Quon blocks Alpha Platoon's Medium Shot.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Rust
"Why..." He wildly swings at one of the soldiers. Forgoing technique because of the exhaustion his body. He turns to the next one and he begins to see double. He takes another swing. "Won't..." He stumbles shoulder first into another enemy shooting an elbow outwards as he makes the shoulder contact to find the next enemy. He delivers a chop to the next one. "They..."
As he continues, his fatigue gets to the point where he doesn't even trust his own vision to give the proper information. The blood of his heart beat drowns at his hearing, all he can taste is his own blood, all he can smell is the blood of soldiers he managed to drop to the ground, and he can barely feel the ground beneath his feet. The question he was about ask is lost in the ether as he begins to trust his instincts. He ends up losing himself in the battle as he continues to swing wildly.
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Alpha Platoon's Medium Shot.
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Alpha Platoon 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Rust
Howard doesn't look particularly intimidated by the guns for being guns - no, for the moment he does get a little more worried about how the hell he's going to get affordable health insurance rates if they ever hear about the sorts of abuse he's taken here, but for the moment he and Quon pretty much have to try and hold whatever line is left - assuming Sagat's been able to rout the rest of the occupying forces somehow. (The idea that a single man could really stand up to that many people at once is still a sort of scary thought.)
He doesn't have to put much - if any - real effort into lowering his stance some to tighten up his contact area and try to catch as many bullets as he can at around arm and shoulder level. (One just bounces off his chin.)
"K-Keep it together," he tries to encourage Quon one last time.
With that, he moves to take care of the guys that have decided to try and spread themselves thin and attack them from behind. The way Howard moves, he is no blur. The speed in which Ol' Rusty is suddenly swung as he moves to clear out those opening fire from behind and to the sides while they poke and try to stab where he's already sore, however, more than suggests the amount of strength he's willing to put into each and every swing, taking Ol' Rusty in both hands more for added grip and insurance - they're a bit spread out and are intentionally keeping some of their distance to make it tricky to really tag a whole lot of them, but he sure as hell tries.
Shut up, let, you're walking, that's final, he resolves.
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon endures Quon's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\ < > ////// ]
Alpha Platoon 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon fails to interrupt Power Strike from Rust with Truck Bashing.
> ////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Alpha Platoon can no longer fight.
> ////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Quon
> /////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Rust
It is pretty much a wash. Even as they fire the men look unsure of what to do. Many are angered by the commander that didn't pull back when told to. Many others just can't believe how much ammo they have used and still haven't been able to drop Quon or Rust with all their effort. Even more so when the latter was already injured from a much more experienced group than t hey are. Yet here he is and there is no communication to the group Rust was fighting. There is a light tch from the commander. "Very well, half pull back. Get the truck here!"
The other half? They rush right towards Quon to try to keep him down while at least some men flee. Many are hit by his wild flailing and many more are aimed to dogpile on Rust too. The truck starts to pull forward and he steps on the gas. It looks he he doesn't care by the poor saps that belong to his own unit at the moment. He is more than fine with running them down along with at least one of the fighters.
Just before that truck ever actually reaches Rust there is a dark shadow that comes over him even as he beats away the attackers on him. That truck is stopped by the massive Sagat who finally seems to have gotten here just in time. With a loud grunt he lifts the transport up and tosses it over his shoulder. The driver screams as he goes sailing overhead and away before the truck lands hard on the ground several meters away. "You two....okay?"
He sounds worn out as can be and even worse is what he looks like when he turns around. The battles have not been kind. New wounds are all over his body combined with the ones from the battle a few days ago he looks like some sort of grotesque monster. Part of his lower left torso is still heavily scarred from where bits of him were ripped out from a tank shell blast. His patch is missing leaving his empty eye socket on display along with the scar tissue around it. His head is looking....fuzzy too. He hasn't apparently shaved in awhile and there is the faint stubble of a few days growth on his face and hear. Reddish coloration with gray along the sides of his head. He does have a bit of a grin on his face, though. He knows they scored a big victory here and the two men he thought had so much potential in proved that Sagat was right in trusting them. "Thank you for coming."
As Rust finishes up the part of the crowd he sets his sights (and pipe) on, Howard looks up to see the looming shadow of that transport. Sure, he's had a bad brush with a jeep today, but his adrenaline is taking over him - he said he was going to have Quon's back, and with that, he decides he will stand up to the transport, Ol' Rusty drawn back in his right hand, left hand with palm open, facing forward as certain doom (or at least, mildly amusing but very painful injury) looms---
Something else stops them. Rust looks up to see the massive backside of Sagat just up and toss the transport away, and... the way he looks, he winces.
"I'd, uh... I'd... ask... the same." His weaker leg quivers a bit as if to say 'CAN I STOP STANDING NOW PLEEEEASE,' and Rust at last allows himself a kneel to get some of the stress off of that leg, coughing once (getting a better view of where his torso seemed like it was almost ripped off, ooh, that's gruesome shit - wait until he actually gets a better look at his face).
He doesn't think he should be answering for Quon as to how well he's holding up - everyone here looks like hammered shit in some form or another!
He's not sure how to really tell Sagat as to how this wasn't... really his first choice, in the big picture, even if he's more or less accepted he's one of the people who can - and have - to stand and fight against a nation swayed under Vega. "What... what 'bout the people here, I mean... in, in Nepal, I watched 'em gun down... people." It's a grim reminder that the squads he's seen had not really discriminated much as to who or what they run over, as he turns back over to Quon wordlessly.
Quon's body took awhile but it finally gives out.The young martial artist wasn't built to be incredibly tough like the two older fighters, and it shows in his unfocused gaze and the effort needed to do something simple as stand. Quon's rapid heart beat doesn't permit him to hear what Sagat is saying and his vision is swimming to the point where he can barely register the presence of both Rust and Sagat.
For a few moments it seems as though he's about to win his struggle against his fatigue and bloodloss but then he ends up collapsing unconscious and unable to answer Sagat's question with anything but action and bleeding... Lots and lots of bleeding.
The large fighter looks like he is having trouble standing as well and he moves to settle down on the ground finally now that he can have a moment's rest. The Thai soldiers aren't them are happy, but tired as well while a few with medical supplies start to tend to the wounded. Rest is checked out as Sagat gets bandaged. A few work furiously at Quon to stop the bleeding and begin to bandage him up as well. "It's complete chaos. We got as many as we could to safety. Several shelters underground that even Vega didn't know about." he explains and closes his eye.
"We can talk about it later. We are all tired and the kid needs some good rest. They are setting up an infirmary with some beds not far from here. The transports will be here shortly to pick us up." he tells Rust while opening his eye again. "I admit.....I find things rather refreshing being on this side than to be with Shadaloo." granted he would be alot less injured than he is now, but the large man actually seems.....happy. Something that he never was not too long ago. For now he falls silent and relishes the victory for now. He knows there is so much work to do and this time he needs to try to give his body proper time to heal.
Log created on 19:30:35 02/19/2012 by Rust, and last modified on 10:22:19 02/20/2012.