Description: Under orders from his superiors, Zach is to dislodge China's hold on Mongolia by any means necessary. Zach has proven himself a powerful fighter - a weapon - that they hope to use for great good. As Zach discovers the nature of why China's been able to hold onto Mongolia thus far, however, some things end up being put to the test...
Mongolia was not in a great place to be from the very start - neighboring a nation that has decided to attempt to force the world underneath its banner and being sandwiched by what would be said nation's first major conquest, they would say it was only a matter of time until it fell... and fall, it did.
Only now has the world scene decided to finally step up and start fighting back as a whole. Known military holdings through Mongolia have been bombed almost indiscriminately, as though both sides were almost uncaring and of the thought that it was likely their enemy was using said foothold for whatever purpose. Communication is not a strength for other side in such a turbulent location. The Mongol people cling to hopes of independence once more, that this occupation be temporary at most - but Vega's ambitions are anything /but/ temporary.
Some of the military has decided to indeed throw their lot in with China. Others have not. It may take the actions of one man to really get people to make their minds on where they stand.
Especially here at Ulan Bator, the capital and largest city of Mongolia where the various government officials that have not already turned to Vega wholesale are attempting to go into hiding. There's a search effort going on by the Chinese forces still here and the Mongolian forces that have joined them. Their very movements through the streets are a show of power to would-be heroes and rebels...
...and this is probably where someone else comes in.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company has started a fight here.
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PRC Company 0/-------/-------|
That person had one hell of a time getting to this point. Zach Glen, now a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, has spent couple weeks since his meeting with the command of the Second Vanguard picking his way through parts of Russia in an attempt to get into China. His orders changed, rather abruptly, after Mongolia fell.
Odd, Zach thought, since he had little clue about the strategic value of Mongolia. However, with limited means of instruction (such communications would have increased the odds of the psion being detected), Zach had little choice but to shrug his shoulders and change course.
Zach has been in Ulan Bator for about a day, trying harder than normal to lay low and avoid detection (his decidedly Caucasian looks would stick out here), trying to find his moment to do... /something/. Command clearly had a higher opinion of Zach's abilities in such a situation.
The psychic figures his best chance is to find where the PRC's headquarters are in this region and attempt some kind of decapitation strike. He just has to find the place...
COMBATSYS: Zach has joined the fight here.
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Zach 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 PRC Company
Any headquarters they use here is almost certainly what the Mongols were using to begin with - Zach is probably not going to be able to avoid a dangerous confrontation that limits the damage specifically to the enemy. They've made it a point here to be among the populace. After all, they need to know what it means to be underneath the glorious Chinese banner. They're safe now, regardless of which ever of them happened to just be in the way of the guns and trucks and tanks and bombs before they got here.
From his day or so time messing around, the closest he can get to a 'headquarters' is some small-ish building or another that seems particularly humble for an organized force wanting to make a grandiose statement about who is now in charge here.
This may be because there have been that many bombings around that they think this would be the best way to keep their stable hold. Either way, the traffic of enemy soldiers is certainly getting thicker where Zach is attempting to case. They all shout something or another, pointing guns in uniforms that are not entirely well matched aside from a single unifying PRC flag emblem at pretty much anyone they think will disrupt the stability of the occupation.
Zach heaves a sigh as realizations are made. "No helping it then," Zach mutters as he pulls a shortsword free of the bundle concealing it. He steps around the corner, shoving the wrappings off of his head. Blonde hair in a sea of dark-haired heads announces Zach's presence as clearly as the ringing of the wakazashi clearing its sheath. "This is going to end in a mess," Zach says glumly, "I know it."
Zach lightly grips the blade of the sword, channelling Soul Power through the artifact. A golden glow sheathes Glen, disappearing. The sword is gone, a pair of metal gauntlets covering Zach's hands as he simply charges down the first man wearing a PRC flag on his shoulder.
The charge ends in a haymaker of a punch, aimed at simply knocking the man out in one shot!
COMBATSYS: Zach equips Violet Miraitou.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 PRC Company
COMBATSYS: PRC Company counters Haymaker Punch from Zach with Riot Shield.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 PRC Company
Zach's thoughts are correct - this will end a complete and utter mess, but for who involved? The hard punch that comes towards the bunch of soldiers just coming down his way is met with the sudden raising of riot shields not from /one/ man, but several by him all lining up and - this is an interesting detail - interlocking them together into a makeshift barricade. It's a really neat piece of technology.
It only does so much against a single punch from the blonde-haired American psion, but many would say what it does is simply enough as it punches apart the barricade where he strikes at a single man. Said single man drops a curse as he is knocked off his feet from Zach's powerful punch, but largely unharmed.
The bent riot shield that flies above and away is a strong signal as to what that would've meant if they /didn't/ immediately set it up. Zach may have the time to get in another good, strong shot before things get really hot, but they're going to get hot.
Especially as soldiers are starting to surround Zach and make calls for him to surrender (foolishly), thinking that he might actually comply before they start shooting.
Yes, because surrender is totally an option for the American soldier in occupied territory. Zach recognizes the moment; he doesn't have a ton of time to simply stop and build up energy. Even if it /were/ an option, every technique that he has that would be good for dealing with large groups of people woould ALSO cause a ton of damage to people and places that did not want this fight (or this war) to begin with.
Hit and run, then, becomes the psychic boxer's strategy. Zach pivots on his right leg, firing a Soul Powered right straight at the man just to his /left/ on the shield line before springing away from the mass of soldiers. Staying would make things nastier than Zach would prefer... even if it was a bit late for that already.
Zach is already biting back curses; he hopes that the civilians around here at least have the good sense to seek cover once the troops start to open fire.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company fails to interrupt Straight Punch from Zach with Silent Takedown.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 PRC Company
There are times when incredible restraint is called for and lauded - but, one may have to ask as to why then, of all people, would they have assigned Zach here. Zach Glen, who has spent so much effort and energy to distance himself from the days where he was empowered by frustration.
A frustration the soldiers would have been happy to convert to some sort of power! Zach doesn't just throw a right straight to 'a' man. It ends up being that main into numerous other men nearby and, sure enough, through a wall. A single punch of Zach's - a single punch of just about any fighter of his level of power and talent, really - can do so much, and does. That Zach immediately seems to start bolting away is going to make it hard for them to immediately catch up, but now the entire area is on full alert.
There is a fighter, it is said among them. This fighter must be subdued - though the ones Zach outruns seem immediately frightened at the prospect.
Zach continues his movement down the open street, taking in the effects of that single punch. Honestly he had thought just to drop that one man, not several. And definitely not punching them through a freaking wall. He winces at that thought. He clearly still has a very long way to go until he can get the exact results he is after.
Or perhaps he has unreasonable expections in this regard.
Zach decides to keep running, allowing the distance between himself and his (many) opponents to help filter the amount of people he will have to fight at any given moment. The psion brings up both hands, middle and index fingers extended to give them the appearance of imagined guns like a child might do.
What follows is hardly imgainary, as Zach fires off several small flares of psychic energy aimed at the first line of pursuit, with a much smaller amount of energy behind them than that last punch.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company dodges Zach's Homing Shots.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 PRC Company
Zach's hand-gunning seems almost instantly recognized when they consider what it was he just did moments before, the line parting to either side as the shots fly harmlessly down the hallway for as long as the manifestation holds.
"American. Yes?" Calls out a man with a megaphone, in very uncomfortable but otherwise correct English. "Why are you here? Why do you cause trouble? You are not needed. You are not wanted."
Signals are made between the small squad closest to the opening where Zach fires, which is communicated through the building. Someone might be trying to stall for time, to figure out the exact measure of force needed beyond simply throwing man after man and hoping whoever they're up against keels over before they run out.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company calculates its next move.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 PRC Company
Zach skids to a halt as the voice calls out. His eyes pick out some of the movements. Silent communication, even if he cannot pick out their meaning. Zach glances back to check for movement as he plans his next move. He figures that if the dudes want to stall, then he can just just as easily make use of the lull. He tucks his right hand close to his shoulder while slightly extending his left, still facing the group he just "fired" at.
"Nothing personal," Zach yells back. "Much like yourselves, I am simply doing a job." He figures that announcing to these guys that he is here on orders from the USMC wouldn't be a good idea, given that he was told that deniability would be preferrable. The lack of a uniform will help that, plus any reputation for getting involved in trouble that did not involve him that Zach might have.
His banter is also a stalling technique to draw upon his own wellspring of energy.
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 PRC Company
"It is not just a job." Says the one with the megaphone. "That is an insult. It is a mission." Maybe the speaker is not aware of the real inflection in choosing this word - but perhaps it means a lot more than the mere word choice. "The world is dangerous. Due to people like you."
Zach can tell they're definitely reorganizing themselves, trying to ready themselves for how to properly assault him. He can't, and shouldn't stand still if he can help it - who knows how many people they exactly have to call into one place here? It was said that India was just liberated from a force of thousands and thousands of men and women and state-of-the-art military equipment by just one man. India had some time to settle.
What about here?
Zach may hear the noise of engine sounds in the distance, but it's not really so distant. Not when a truck suddenly decides to burst out through a fence - sparks grinding from either side of the two buildings it barely wedges itself through - in an attempt to knock Zach over as numerous other soldiers quickly file out.
COMBATSYS: Zach blocks PRC Company's Gain Way!.
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Zach [E] 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 PRC Company
Zach's eyes go wide as he realizes that he is about to get pincered by a pair of tricks, with nary a Katana in sight. Zach grits his teeth as he takes a large gamble, thrusting both hands out from the shoulders and lowering his center of gravity. Soul Power runs through his body, providing extranormal strength to the small man as the trucks slam into the extended hands of the golden glowing psion.
The dust clears a moment later, the trucks stopped by the seemingly immovable fighter. Zach climbs over one of them to regard the troops in front of him. He tries to hide the pain; his shoulders are killing him. "Note to self," he thinks, "Stopping mopving vehicles, while /possible/, is a really bad idea." The psyker dusts his gauntleted hands off before addressing the soldiers in front of him. "Yer damn right people are dangerous," he says loudly as he hops down from the top of the vehicle. "I'll give you this one chance to get out of here," Zach says. "You are laboring under the whims of a madman, and don't even /realize/ it."
Zach's eyes search around, trying to find the man talking to him; perhaps taking the speaking man down will cause these people to scatter.
COMBATSYS: Zach focuses on his next action.
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Zach [E] 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 PRC Company
That Zach impressively stops the truck so suddenly gives him a comical sight he can't really see of a couple of the soldiers already just falling along out suddenly and even painfully - that he decides to crawl along to the top and posture and call them out is likely going to be something he regrets while the rest of the soldiers file out of the truck.
"No." Says the man on the megaphone. "The madman. Is people like you."
That is when someone fires off a rocket launcher - it's someone from one of the windows inside - looking to blow up the truck while Zach's on it in one big, Hollywood-quality explosion.
COMBATSYS: Zach reflects Power Shot from PRC Company with Dynamite Punch EX.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 PRC Company
"Oh fer-" Zach mutters, thinking that reasoning is pretty much /not/ going to happen here, turns just in time to see the rocket come screaming in towards his makeshift (and soon to be erstwhile) soapbox. He doesn't think about it. He doesn't have time to think about it, no time to consider a delicate (or precise) method to deal with this.
Zach brings his right hand back, and throws a punch that is not quite a hook, but not quite an uppercut either. Soul Power wraps around his arm as the fist slams into the rocket. The golden energy wraps around the rocket, spinning the ordinance around to send it hurling back towards its point of origin.
Zach winces at this as well. He was trying to /avoid/ property damage. It may be a bit late for that now.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company blocks Zach's Reflected Power Shot.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 PRC Company
It only takes the shooter a scant moment to realize what's going on, and for someone next to him to call back to those stationed around this floor to run for it. There's no time to explain, and let's face it - it's too late for those two and a few others nearby as the explosion takes out not only the room the rocket is deflected into, but a couple people down below.
It is that sudden call that saves the lives of various soldiers who were patrolling the hallway - for Zach's concerns about property damage, it seems these people are not quite /as/ concerned in the big picture, considering they just attempted to blow up the truck he was on!
"Who are you really?" Asks the megaphone guy, wherever he's calling from, as hand signals are made. That the clicking of rifles fills the air should fill Zach in on what happens next, considering the number of them already dispersed around outside and how their rifles are already pointing at him.
Okay, sure, he just did /that/ to a rocket. Let's see him to that to bullets, seems to be the prevailing thought.
COMBATSYS: Zach slows Trick Shot from PRC Company with Pile Smash.
Glancing Hit
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Zach [E] 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 PRC Company
"I," Zach replies as he brings both hand over his head, crossed at the wrists. Power gathers around him; he needs to time this /just right/. The amrs slice down and back around the boxer. Soul Power, tightened into thin sheets, rain down around Zach almost protectively. They slice through, and in some cases completely stop many of the bullets.
Many, but not all. Several rounds glance off of Zach's body, drawing long and bloody cuts along his slim frame. Still Zach stands, pain flicking across his features. "I am just one man among many men and women who stand against the man pulling China's strings." Zach continues looking about him for the person he is talking to. "Do you honestly believe that fighting the world is in China's best interests?"
"With those like you who cause trouble." Says the man with the megaphone. "Using the world as your playground. That we must treat you like gods as you cause so much trouble and harm to people now."
He may be referring to Taizhou - and Zach would know first-hand as to how great an overall mess that entire scenario was. The attitudes towards organized fighting having unfolded the way they do, it is something worth thinking about - how much of this is really instigated by Vega, at its heart?
"If it means we bleed for a world no longer defined by would-be gods forcing us to give kneel every time they fight and hurt those around them," says the man in surprisingly clearer expression as he steps out. This one actually, if Zach can recognize typical facial features by nationalities, is /Mongolian/, "then I accept."
Multiple rocket launchers can be seen now from those spilling out of the building, signaled forth to start raining far more than one rocket upon Zach Glen and his magnificent truck platform.
COMBATSYS: Zach slows Rocket Shower from PRC Company with Homing Shots.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 PRC Company
Zach's eyes go wide when the commander makes himself seen. The problem may not be as cut-and-dry as /anyone/ would think, even those who would profess to believe that NOTHING is ever cut-and-dry. Zach starts to speak, tries to reach for words, when the rockets come storming in.
Still no time for thought. /Damn/. Zach's hands go up into those already seen "gun" gestures. Soul Power flies as Zach targets and shoots rockets out of the air in what in any other situation would be pretty awesome to watch. Zach takes no joy in the display of timing and prowess this time.
Especially after one rocket gets past Zach's shooting, and slams into the truck. Zach is thrown to the ground, battered and bloodier from the shrapnel the truck was reduced to. But still, Zach brings himself to his feet to regard this man. To look him in the eyes. Zach feels he owes the man that much.
"Even if it means living under the boot of one of those would-be gods? Someone who sees people as little more than insects to be crushed, animals to be tamed and caged?" Zach had seen, before being sent in, reports from India and other places that had been crushed under Shadaloo's treads.
"We know where he stands." Says the man, above all - but what does that mean, to know where Vega stands, and to be all right with it compared to any other alternative out there? To this, he looks Zach in the eyes for only the shortest while before finally backing away as the smoke clears. There is a very uncertain pause going around, as though the many gathered are trying to figure out... what next? What can they seriously do next to a man such as this?
An answer comes when someone decides to try and risk the dangerous fumes and smoke from the flaming remains of the truck that may explode again at any moment, looking to blindside Zach with a diving tackle to try and take him down to the ground before all those gathered for lack of any better ideas.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company successfully hit Zach with Quick Throw.
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Zach [E] 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 PRC Company
Zach is weary, bleeding all over, and still trying to maintain some semblance of his ideals despite the overwhelming numbers. The leader of this troop, at the minimum, is resolved to his course. Zach can understand that level of resolve, even respect it, even if he cannont understand what the man has resolved himself to. Zach is thinking about this when one of the soldiers tackles him into the crowd of waiting soldiers.
Zach reacts instinctively, knowing all too well what will happen to him in the event of capture. "Then you are being /fooled/," Zach says, pushing himself into a crouch before slamming a fist into the ground. The resulting circular wave of Soul Power washes around Zach and crashes into the troops around him.
"I will /not/ be taken prisoner," Zach warns the soldiers around him, "And I will not give you any promises if you continue to try."
COMBATSYS: PRC Company interrupts Blast Punch from Zach with Questionable Tactics.
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Zach [E] 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 PRC Company
"There are no more promises to make." Says the Mongolian commander. "There are no more words to say!"
Despite this great show of power on Zach's part - a power that makes most men quake in fear to such an alien-feeling force that strikes them in places uncomfortable and unfamiliar - the choice is made without hesitation to just throw themselves all into Zach, straight-up, to try and continue the momentum of keeping him down so that they can all pound away at him with the butts of their rifles, their feet, pretty much anything even as the first bunch of them all go flying as though debris from a direct hit of an explosive. One of them actually manages to get launched into the damaged/blown up room with enough strength it causes some further internal collapse.
Those that don't throw themselves upon Zach as though they were merely expendable numbers for some greater cause are starting to circle him, to consider the best way to finally, once and for all, subdue the American fighter now that he does seem to legitimately be slowing down after making something of a show of withstanding all the waves upon waves upon waves of attacks.
The situation is... not as tenable as Zach would like. One flare of power, really, is all he'd need to end this. Of course, he would have no control over things like civilian casualties. That would, if nothing else, reinforce the commander's statements. He glances around, realizing the need to buy some time will he regroups a bit.
Zach worms his way free of the mob, deciding that the rooftops will provide, perhaps his best chance of getting breathing room. He channels power through his legs, the leap taking him up the wall before springing off of the opposite wall, before finally gaining the rooftop.
He watches the troops, trying to get air in his lungs even as the formidable energy running through him tries to close the many cuts that cover his body.
COMBATSYS: Zach gains composure.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 PRC Company
Zach is running, running, and running - he is several times more agile than even the best of the soldiers involved can muster. A number of them attempt to give chase (a futile endeavor), shouting all the while - the most they can really do is try and run underneath Zach's shadow and try to aim.
This has the net effect of seeing a lot of the soldiers actually bunch up together, which may soon be to Zach's potential benefit. There seems to be some conversation going on as to whether or not they really can or should be attempting to pool whomever else to the pursuit. Some wonder if they're already exhausting way, way, way too many resources into just one man.
However, the orders that come in are very clear, and some are already doing it anyway even beforehand - just shoot! Zach may escape to a rooftop, but can he - in the long run - really outrun bullets, as the Mongolian commander can only look on through binoculars to see just /how/ Zach intends to stay fighting.
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges PRC Company's Pot Shots.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 PRC Company
So many troops, with any kind of ability to communicate over distance, would inevitably be able to head Zach off at the pass. One MIGHT suspect Zach planned that as well. They wouldn't know Zach all that well.
The psion dives to one side, evading the hail of lead by fractions of an inch. Zach gasps for air as he considers for a moment. Those troops /are/ bunched up all nice and neat for him. It'd be an easy thing to dump a ton of Soul Power on them and let the cards fall where they may...
...just like he was planning to do to that Cult of Gaia temple before Rust found him.
Zach pulls himself to his feet, shaking that thought off once and for all. He edges back over to the large hole made by the troops, peeking in for a moment while they reload to get an idea of their position. He circles the gap, power coursing through him to revitalize him even as he throws himself back into the horde of soldiers.
Zach's plan, as he is executing it, anyway, is a series of precise strikes, powered by the tiniest silvers of Soul Power. If this were a boxing match, between two men who were not in the storied ranks of fighters, each blow would be a knock-out punch aimed at some vital location.
There are no explosions, no gouts of energy battering troops around like toys in a storm. Just one man, working through the crowd like a master martial artist striking his way through a riot. Zach apologizes to each man even as he drops them. Somewhere along the course of the fight, the psion realized that the only way he will get out of here cleanly is to defeat the forces immediately in front of him.
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits PRC Company with Rapid Combo.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 PRC Company
Just one man, who is knocking down more than one man with every single punch he swings - in many cases it often feels like the faces or bodies of those he strikes aren't actually entirely there! After the first few instances of this, the gathered soldiers think it best to suddenly back off, way off, prime their rifles to shoot him again once they've arranged themselves in a way that they won't actually shoot one another - especially not while they've got a bit of a cooperation thing going, even if they understand where their lives are in the greater whole.
Their lives are currently being cast off worrying distances at the ends of Zach's fists - it comes a point that one of those not yet hurtled into the distance decides to simply try and slam the butt of their rifle into Zach's back, as others get the idea to start swarming him /again/ if they even think for a moment that they'll have a safe opening to do this instead of the previously expressed idea five seconds ago to back away and shoot, back away and shoot.
The question is whether or not Zach will manage to stay on top of everything if they get one more good whack at him.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company successfully hit Zach with Pistol-whip.
- Power hit! -
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Zach [E] 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 PRC Company
Zach's back is turned to the charging soldier, and there are /far/ too many threat signals coming in for Zach to pick out this one. There is a resounding *CRACK!* as the rifle-butt strikes the back of Zach's head! The psion lurches forward, trying to stop everything from spinning in his vision as he turns in an attempt to face down the man who landed the strike.
Zach sees the man, who no doubt was surprised to see that his gambit worked. He also makes out the oncoming crowd through bleary eyes. Zach does not lash out like some may expect him to. A decisive end would be good for most people. However, Zach also realizes that the fight with the troops, here and now, is not the fight he is trying to win.
He is, even now, fighting against the commander's ideals. In many ways, the sheer number of defeated men lying around the psion would give proof the the Mongolian's concerns. If Zach, who is acting out of seemingly benign motives can do this much, how much worse could some foul villain do if he had wanted to?
Zach backs off, funnelling power through himself, healing some of the injuries he had sustained from the bullets and the truck explosion, even as he tries to keep an eye on the physical battle in front of him.
As Zach slips away from the gathered - possibly forgoing the chance to actually take them all out right then and there - the rest of them still standing start to line up together with rifles out after deciding (perhaps very, very wisely) that all the frantic rifle butting and bludgeoning they've pulled off is all they're going to. They know what Zach is capable of now - they've seen this.
Some question whether shooting is even a good idea, but their commander has already moved with them in which to give what it is there is to say on the matter.
"Do not hesitate." He says. "Shoot."
There are no apologies to be offered to them towards Zach - this is what they know. This is what they've decided, at least among those who have decided to accept China's rule after their... general brand of persuasion.
There is only the gunfire that follows, most of them realizing they only have the single clip left in which to fire at Zach /with/.
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Zach with Lay On Hands.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 PRC Company
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges PRC Company's Strong Shot.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 PRC Company
Zach weaves through the incoming shots, adrenaline and soul power super-charging his reflexes, allowing this superhuman feat of agility. Zach is not simply dodging the shots however. With each slip, each weave, he is making stepping closer and closer to the commander, the last step of Zach dance bringing him within striking distance of the Mongolian.
However, despite every desire of this very scenario Zach had been harboring since he initiated this encounter, he does not throw that punch. He does not even move to do so. Both men know that this fight would be over, had the psion decided otherwise.
"My words are worthless," Zach admits. "Is there anything that I may do to convince you from this course of action?"
COMBATSYS: Zach takes no action.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 PRC Company
With each and every one of Zach's lightning-fast weaves through gunfire, the formation is broken almost in panic and alarm - they have seen his speed, they know his strength, they know his power, and they have every reason to assume that it's the wind-up for some great strike that would lay the lot of them flat.
Everything goes silent, as Zach says his words in front of the commander of Mongolian nationality. The man seems stunned that Zach would be willing to do so, battered as he is, even in the midst of so many men still ready to fight and shoot, surrounded by those who can no longer fight.
"We have gone beyond words now." Says the Mongolian commander, who has a pistol raised only as a matter of caution. His aim is pretty steady considering he's holding it with one hand and is facing a man who could probably kill him with a flick of his finger.
"If you defeat us. If you drive out our Chinese brothers. They will come back. The fighting will begin anew. More will die." Every sentence is chosen with utmost care, as to figuring out the best way to speak his mind in the English language.
"China cannot be stopped. They are strong. They must be, after all that happened. The rest of my people will understand. The government will learn soon." So says the commander, though Zach can hear the sound of at least one soldier moving out of formation - but there's no signals being given by anyone here.
"If you want peace. Leave." Says the commander. "Peace will happen when the war is over. The war... it will end in only one way."
That's when Zach might see it out the corner of his eye - one particular soldier's got a gun aimed, and it ain't at Zach.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company takes no action.
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Zach [E] 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 PRC Company
Zach's blinks slowly as the commander lays out his wishes. The argument is structured, logical, and based wholly in reality. He cannot refute or even debate an alternative outcome. He finally speaks.
"I cannot argue against your words," Zach admits. "Other than the final outcome, I think things will happen exactly as you say. I-" Then Zach sees the shooter. At first, Zach is not concerned. He just dodged a hail of bullets. The shooter has to realize...
Then it dawns on Zach. The shooter *HAS* realized that he cannot hope to hit Zach with a single shot. Zach is, by all appearances, just that fast, and already knows the track the bullet would follow.
The commander has no such speed, no such skill. Zach is not altogether sure that he can protect the man, whom has earned the boxer's respect, from a gunshot. Heal him, perhaps, but not keep the bullet from striking. At this range, such a shot would easily be lethal. The course is clear, then.
"NO!" Zach cries out as his right hand snaps out in that gun pose for the third time as he moves between the shooter and the commander. However instead of the finger thick bursts he had employed before... ...a blast easily as wide across as the tire of one of those trucks surges forth, powered by Zach's worry for the man he is trying to protect!
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits PRC Company with Blast Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Zach [E] 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 PRC Company
The blast is wide, very powerful in Zach's sudden desire to maybe find some sort of common ground, to find something that might actually stop all this senseless violence once and for all - or at least bring it to a productive direction that just happens to involve finding a way to stop Vega's rapid spread of influence.
The blast is powerful, direct, and exactly to the point - the gun goes off just as Zach's energy blast makes contact, arcing the barrel up high enough that it plugs the commander square in the shoulder - he immediately collapses.
"Traitors, all of you," sneers another soldier who decidedly does not sound Chinese nor Mongolian - two others of the remaining standing come to his side, "your hearts aren't into it."
Other soldiers, knowing what just happened, turn guns upon them with Zach being forgotten. The shootout that ensues is messy - but Zach, himself, should be okay - as will the commander, even as he may have just learned that there is more in play of the composition of the occupying forces than first believed. This sudden, last burst of in-fighting signifies the end of the number of soldiers that were trying to hold Mongolia away from the rest of the world.
If Zach gets out of there with just the Commander, that may be victory enough, but it would leave a whole lot of uncomfortable questions that need answering.
COMBATSYS: PRC Company takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach [E] 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: PRC Company can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zach [E] 0/-------/--=====|
Zach takes a knee, catching the man as he falls. "/Shit/," Zach says eloquently. "You are not going to die on me," Zach says stubbornly as he pulls the other man's shirt away from the gunshot wound. The gauntlets blur, throwing off light before turning back into a wakazashi that clatters to the floor. "I won't /let/ you die on me," he says as he brings up a hand that glows gold. The shoot-out ensues even as he brings some of that power, so obviously capable of immense destruction, to bear to extract the bullet and close the man's wound. Saving life instead of taking it.
"Still going to hurt like a bitch, though," Zach says apologetically. He looks around, trying to take in the situation. Trying to think through his next move. "I think I should go," he says politely to the commander.
The commander still seems, visibly in shock at the sudden turn of events - he seems a little less pleased at what he thinks it might all mean even as Zach selflessly moves to use what power he has to try and at least heal the wound best that he is able. Bullets whizz by uncomfortably close to Zach as a staunch reminder that he really should consider cutting out of there while the going's good, if he's going to.
The commander is wordless beyond a groan, as he feels he has already communicated to Zach what he believes will happen from here - the region destabilizing, China once again having to march and cause more mayhem to bring it back into order to a conclusion the commander believes is ultimately inevitable for the whole world.
Those waiting back for Zach at whatever was determined to be his extraction point, well... they'll probably have their own opinion of things too.
Once Zach has determined that the man /won't/ die he bolts for the nearest hole in the wall retrieving the sword and resheathing it as he makes his escape. He leaves the commander there; Glen does not approve of kidnapping. He makes his way through the streets, heading out of Mongolia with a quickness.
Hopefully this would blow up in his face.
Log created on 14:11:11 02/26/2012 by Rust, and last modified on 09:24:00 02/28/2012.