Description: Shadaloo forces attempt to gain entry to the Metro City Financial District after destroying a sizeable chunk of the Commercial District. A squad is seized upon by four heroes (Rust, Brett, Maki, Miranda) and up needing assistance from a Shadaloo agent (Diesel). In the end, they are forced to retreat however.
Metro City - Commercial District
Over these last two weeks, Metro City has been slowly dying. Twenty four-seven chaos has been the norm here recently and it's become such a distaster area the citizens themselves have all very nearly fled. This leaves only the festering flesh wound to deal with... and this wound was being aggravated by a most lethal kind of infection: Shadaloo. There was only one known cure for this particular type of infection... and the United States Military was applying it most generously today.
Having arrived two days ago, and set up strategic encampments within and without the city, they were finally beginning to do something. And doing something, for the United States, often meant sending in hordes of well-trained men and women... tanks... and aircraft to put both a real and metaphorical boot in the ass of their enemy. With Tekken Force also still actively helping to clean out the city wherever they can, and inhumanly powerful heroes arriving to save the day... it was looking as though Shadaloo had once again bitten off more than they could possibly chew.
Perhaps... this would be the last nail in the international terrorist organization's coffin. Or... perhaps not. Though it didn't seem to come up very often if at all in the news, with people far too concerned with the sensationalism of this very bold attack on US soil, some who knew the organization well might think this attack a bit strange. After all, Shadalooo's aim was always to dominate the world! Why destroy Metro City just to anger the United States and be obliterated before they've even recovered?
...Regardless, the reality is: Shadaloo is here. Not only was a sizeable portion of their military apparently here, but their demonic Lord and Master was with them. He'd even bothered to announce himself by not only taking over City Hall but eliminating Heihachi Mishima in person. They clearly had a goal...
...And the goal for this portion of the day seemed to be utterly destroying both the Commercial and Financial Districts. Tanks and aircraft - US, Tekken Force, and Shadaloo - were actively doing battle in the streets that joined these areas. The din of countless boots pounding against the pavement, bombs and grenades going off, and even gunfire filled this area. And for Shadaloo the entire objective seemed to be to simply raze everything to the ground.
"We're coming up on the corner, wait until I give the orders... the enemy has heavy artillery and tanks up ahead and we're waiting on aerial support." shouts a soldier clad in the distinct ebony uniform Shadaloo soldiers having been wearing throughout this skirmish. It was oddly easy to single them out. He's flanked by six more soldiers, with two tanks rolling in behind. They appear to be attempting to advance into the Financial Distict. They're probably not the only ones... "Once aerial supports hits the ground forces up ahead we move in... we'll have two more teams providing cover fire..."
There's a lot of uncertainty and chaos going around. There was that incident at the airport and the claim of Shadaloo being 'under new management'... soon enough, talk about both halves of Korea in conflict. Seoul, somehow, was overtaken... how? May Lee, the enthusiastic heroine of South Korea alongside the likes of Kim Kaphwan and his crazy bunch... could they have been overpowered? Just by North Korea? To say nothing about all the armed conflict sprining up in Metro City...
Regardless of the events that transpire, the claims that Vega has returned - a claim a student of the Kyokugen Dojo had Rust come see for himself on TV the very moment it aired - sees the older man making a beeline over to Metro. He is in the unique position of being one of the people who can truly judge, even if the supplemental evidence of someone like Heihachi being overpowered should support this.
One long airport trip to a nearby city, a very short bus ride, and soon enough a good long walk into Metro City, one of the heroes of the war that gripped Asia but a short while ago wades right back into a battlefield. He had hoped that he'd have seen the last of it way back when, and yet...
Well, it sure doesn't take long for him to all but barge his way through, a certain figure with a dreadful hairpiece and a pipe smashing their way through, the Kyokugen green belt coming to a low kneel. He's already covered in dirt, grime, and a bit of blood... but there he is.
"The hell they still got a, a war machine for," a still incredulous Rust has to murmur aloud as he comes to a stand, stretching out a leg to get rid of a bad kink as Ol' Rusty still remains drawn in his right hand like an old, trusty friend.
Metro City has many heroes to its name, and now they have another name to lend strength to it in desperate times.
This is what hell must be like. The hell of those who have bitten off more than they can chew.
It was small wonder that Brett was still alive, having been caught by surprise by the rapid descent of the city after Shadaloo's initial subterfuge, and eventual open attack. Not so long after his encounter with Duke either to save El Fuerte from Mad Gear. His brow furrowed at that thought as he hid inside of an empty dumpster, cluching onto the length of pipe he'd been using in leiu of his trusty hockey stick.
"Mad Gear..." he mutters underneath his helmet, wondering how they came to be considered on the side of the angels now that things have gotten this far. He doesn't trust them any more than he can toss them...but for now, they're smaller fries. And ragged as he is now, helmet visor chipped and snapped, and leather jacket cut across the back, he's not about to exactly lay down and die.
He's just waiting for a moment that he can pick someone off and waylay them with a hard check into a brick wall before getting the hell out of the way. At least, unless there's someone who he can trust to fight along side that he can find....
Ever since the incident at the Metro City power plant, where Maki was forced to retreat despite her best efforts to fend off the invaders of Shadaloo, things have not been going well for her. Her father has repeatedly berated her about her failure nonstop. All the while, Maki herself has been feeling like a failure and tried to keep to the shadows. But there are many in Metro City who don't look upon her a failure. Rather, they look upon her as an underdog, who fearlessly went into battle without regard for her life, and retreated because it was to save her life.
Because of this, Maki has attempted to keep her fighting spirit high and be ready for anything that Shadaloo prepares for her city. At the same time, she's trying to gain intel on Shadaloo's activities in hopes of being able to attempt to gain the upper hand by ambushing them when they least expect it. Unfortunately, even though Maki is an elite ninja, she can't always predict the future. As a result, Maki is a bit caught off-guard by Shadaloo's latest attack on Metro City. But she's not standing by idly. Despite her failure last time, Maki plans to use this as a chance to hopefully redeem herself by attempting to fight Shadaloo's invaders again. A true grandmaster, as Maki aspires to be in her family's line of martial arts, never lets failure get them down completely. No matter how hard the fight is, a grandmaster will never let the odds sway them. No exceptions.
While a lot of people are running for their lives, or trying to since some may be stumbling and falling, Maki rushes into the area, swift on her feet and not showing any fear on her face. In fact, when she gets to the center of where things are happening, she stops abruptly and stares with narrowed eyes. Her hand grips her tonfa firmly and her mouth opens slightly to show her teeth in a slight sneer. "You may have defeated me last time," Maki says. "But, this time, I will not be defeated so easily! I will protect Metro City, no matter the cost!"
Contrary to popular belief, Diesel does not thrive in chaos.
The woman was forged in battle, steel tempered with violence, hunger and war, but just as a sword can be melted again into its raw materials, perhaps Diesel too tries to avoid the fires of all out war lest it decomposes her back to her original state of weakness. It may have been the reason why her impact on the previous war of Shadaloo against the world was minimal, as a still experimental and ultimately failed Doll, her presence in the field is erratic and unpredictable. There is no telling if her brain washing will hold and she won't start killing her own men.
This time, Shadaloo scientists have done their work a bit better. The Diesel is out in the field and woe to any who gets in her path.
The Amazon is currently 'contained' hidden by one of the many Shadaloo squads as a last resort weapon. If any of those dreaded heroes of Metro City manage to get in close she is to be set loose upon them just as an attack dog would. The woman stays silent for now, sitting on an ammo crate as Shadaloo soldiers hustle all around her, generally keeping their distance from she who fought off the Mayor and Cody. She is silent but visibly unnerved, troubled still by all the explosions around her, the woman's eyes closed whilst she sits on her meditative lotus flower position awaiting further orders. She was born in chaos, but she does not thrive on it...she craves stability within law.
The Law that Shadaloo will soon provide for the whole world.
It will all be over soon, and all shall find peace under Lord Vega's rule.
Just as she did.
A ground war in Metro City perpetrated by some nutso fighter/dictator? THAT'S never happened before!(*)
(* may have happened once or twice)
The familiarity of Metro's police in dealing with this sort of situation means that the federal forces are actually giving the MCPD a wide operational berth. After all, the Metro cops in SWAT and other special units have just as much military training as the average American soldier, but they've got distinctive advantage of knowing the lay of the land and all the little nooks and crannies to hide in and plot from. In short, they are engage in a form of combat that is decidedly American in execution: guerilla warfare.
Miranda Jimenez, the armory chief for one of the beleaguered precincts, has been one of those guerillas, using the tactics she learned fighting drug lords with the DEA in South America. While her kill tab isn't very long, she's been a consistent and irritating thorn in the side of Shadaloo forces. But tonight it appears both the enemy and the Feds have decided to get serious, and so -- after giving orders to her squad to spread out in the area and provide recon and cover fire if necessary. Miranda herself? Well...
She's approaching the tanks and soldiers in her standard MCPD outfit and jacket. She also appears to be simultaneously carrying a well cared for but somewhat old school-looking shotgun. Looking up toward one of the tanks, she raises an eyebrow and, as she slowly slots shells into the shotgun and says in a calm and clear voice, "Can I see your license and regsitration..." There's a pause, and then she racks the shotgun with an unmistakable and intimidating *K-CHAK!* noise, adding verbally almost as an afterthought, "_please_."
Vega says, "That's everyone, yes?"
...Soon, the sounds of bombs going off in the Financial District come. A surgical airstrike had been executed and any US forces mounting a defense near the entrance to the district where either scattered or blown to kingdom come. Any buildings, or stray vehicles caught in that hell would have likely been decimated as well. This did not bode well for the US military, who had the area quite tightly regulated just moments prior. But it did mean Shadaloo forces, which were gathered at the entrances now had a clear path to march.
...Unfortunately, for Squad Alpha... and their accompanying tanks... they apparently had to deal with an upstart police officer with a shotgun first. Turning around almost all at once, the entire team of soldiers looks at her with a max of surprise and derivisiveness. Their leader, a tall and sturdy man, steps away from the corner and smiles... in an almost dismissive manner. "...You and what army, lady? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with..."
"Suddenly a voice comes. in over his radio, a female voice, "Alpha, what's the hold up?"
"We have a lone police officer here we have to deal with, we'll be there in a minute.."
Suddenly the metallic tophatch on one the tanks opens with a metallic clanging and a soldier pops out, leveling a rifle at Miranda wordlessly...
"We got a job to do here, miss. Why don't you just... run along... before something bad happens." the leader continues, calmly. He knew pretty good and damn well six men and to tanks against one woman was well in hias favor. ... The female voice comes through again, "That sounds rrisky, Alpha. We'll be sending an agent to you momentarily."
The leader scowls a bit at this. What... they didn't trust him to kill ONE officer...?
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha has started a fight here.
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A has joined the fight here.
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Tank Team A
COMBATSYS: Helicopter A has joined the fight here.
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Squad Alpha
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|
"I don't trust that guy to kill even one measly officer." Came the voice of the female Shadaloo Lieutenant as she turned off her radio after speaking to Squad Alpha's captain. You had to give credit to Shadaloo here though, affirmative action was evident in all their ranks.
"Poor sap can't even tie his own boot laces." Chuckled the rear Lieutenant darkly whilst some of her confidants overheard her conversation with the front leaders. As she surveyed the scene with her binoculars, she thought that all the explosive might have scattered Shadaloo forces just as much as the US Military. She needed something, or someone that she could rely on with concrete information out there, someone that wouldn't let petty emotions like fear get in the way of their report.
"Send in Diesel." He assistants saluted at the order
"Release the beast!!"
Down in the staging grounds, one unlucky soldier who gone done and drew the short straw gets the distinct honor of telling Diesel that she is to attack. The trembling soldier walks towards the mediating woman and prods on her muscled bicep to wake her up.
Diesel opens her eyes.
"Erm..yes..sir..err ma'am! Command says that you get to attack to this coordinates."
Raising from her seat in one fluid motion, the woman stands at her staggering 7 feet of height and cracks her neck.
"Then let battle be joined."
Moments later, an explosion of dust is seen in the area where Miranda Jimenez is threatening the front assault squadron with a shotgun. Diesel had made a clear jump from where she sat and landed right in the middle of the Shadaloo squadron, sending a few of them toppling over.
The Captain blinks at his reinforcements, looks at Miranda and then points to the muscled Amazon woman in the Shadaloo uniform "There's our licence."
COMBATSYS: Diesel has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Helicopter A
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Tank Team A
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Helicopter A
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Tank Team A
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Helicopter A
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Helicopter A has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Miranda has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Brett has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|
Airstrikes go around, and the eardrum-shattering explosions fill Howard's head with a wince as he staggers a few steps away from a blast that is an incredibly narrow miss, showered in pieces of asphalt in sizes that are not pleasant to be pelted by!
When the smoke clears after a series of coughs, Howard squints out in the distance to see one woman standing before a crowd. An officer? There's a much... larger person standing nearby. Someone dressed in red running towards the action, probably friendly. He thinks he sees someone... kind of large, bulky, off over there?
The older man shakes his head. His ears still ring, but he can't just stand here gawking, as he takes off in a jog towards the very front lines where Miranda stands face to face with the invasion forces... they will see him coming. They'll hear him coming, if only because that same knee he was just stretching out gets really stubborn with him, but through sheer grit the older man flings himself right into the battle.
Pretty much literally, as he goes into a short hop. His shadow is cast a bit larger than by all rights it ought to be, leg out stretched as he leaps into the standoff kick-first towards a number of the gathered enemy infantry.
"I got your back," so Rust declares openly, though in a mumbled tone of voice that's easy to miss as he comes to Miranda's immediate aide.
COMBATSYS: Maki has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha blocks Rust's Light Kick.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
Everything is making its way into the area at a fast rate of speed. It's enough to confuse one who might be standing there and unsure of what to do. A person with common sense would most likely be running away. But Maki is simply adjusting her tonfa and looking to her allies all around, while giving them a slight nod with narrowed eyes, as if to say, "We're all in this together, so let's get ready to rumble!" She steps back a little, trying to get a better look at the general area, then shakes her head.
"Nope, I can't see from here," Maki says to herself out loud as she looks around, and then spots a nearby apartment building with a balcony. It looks too high for most people, but for Maki it's cake. She climbs a nearby tree, leaps from it to a nearby statue, then flips into the air as she lands on the balcony and turns around to survey the area. "If anyone comes from air, they'd better watch out! I'm just as dangerous up here as I am down there!" Maki brings her tonfa to her face as she glares a little deeper.
COMBATSYS: Maki focuses on her next action.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
Feeling the rumble of the bombing at the center of the financial centers within the dumpster he had been hiding in, Brett clenches his teeth, tucking his head in the brace position to weather it...of course, he's not near it, but he also doesn't know how far out they're bombing. It's not until he feels a significantly different rumble that he realizes what IS actually coming out this far. Blinking, he hears the barking orders just outside of his alley.
Eavesdropping for a few minutes, he hears Diesel's arrival, as well as the battle being joined by the sound of fighting. "Dammit..." he mutters under his breath. Fortune favors the bold. Play hard, or get benched. And Brett Neuer's always given everything out on the ice....time to give everything for a cause too.
Trying to slip himself out of the dumpster as quietly as possible, 'Lead', the name the hockey kid had tried to give his vigilante persona, set himself up behind the dumpster. Seeing one of the tanks come to a halt opposite, he narrowed his eyes....
Then checked the hell out of the dumpster. Trying to push all his weight behind it, he manages to get it moving, rolling heavily toward the broadside of one of the tanks rumbling through the streets of the city.
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A blocks Brett's Huge Thrown Object.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
It's impressively dramatic. Diesel drops out of the sky like some sort of mochacino comet, slamming into the ground with considerable force, knocking over her own compatriots and sending one of those dramatic breezes blustering through the area, sending Miranda's police jacket a-flutter in the breeze. For her part, however, the Central American doesn't seem impressed or perturbed by this sudden development. She doesn't move the shotgun she was holding on the tank and its captain one bit, but she does let her head tilt JUST enough to notice the arrival of all sorts of other people on the scene. Look! An old man, a ninja cosplayer, and... some guy. "Marvelous," is all the former SWAT says, before turning to face Diesel.
"Your man here thinks he is clever with the combat repartee," Jimenez says in her gravelly alto purr, keeping the shotgun trained on the captain. "It is adorable, in its own unique way, how various faceless minions do their best, don't you think?"
Then she swings the shotgun toward Diesel and pulls the trigger, firing a heavyweight beanbag round at the amazon's *face*, all the while deadpanning a totally monotone: "Ha. Ha. Ha."
As Diesel comes roaring in out of nowhere, several of Squad Alpha's members are bowled over onto the hard concrete both in surprise as well as due to their force of her landing. The very air itself seemed to hurry out of her way fearfully, sweeping the far less capable foot soldiers to the ground. "...Hey, what the hell?!" The commander shouts as he picks himself up off of the ground slowly... "Who told... you... you... you..." He suddenly finds himself staring up at Diesel and realizing he was about to say something very irreverent... and very dangerous. For this reason, he just shuts his trap and decides to let Diesel handle it. "O-okay..." He turns away from the massive Shadaloo agentand gestures towardys his men... "Let's move ou..."
Then, from out of nowhere, comes Howard Rust - international hero and perpetual thorn in Vega's side - with a kick leveled at the leader that he just doesn't manage to catch in time and it sends him to the ground once more. "..Unf!" ... All of the men in Squad Alpha suddenly have their rifles out. Perhaps realizing they weren't going to make into the Financial District now unhindered. The first thing they do after doing so, is to point those rifles directly at Rust. And open fire.
The group of tanks, nearby, which had yet gone unmolested would not find themselves so for very long either. Suddenly a massive metallic dumpster, perhaps newly added by the city Waste Management due to the wheels still being attached, suddenly rolls down the concrete sidewals... crashes off the curb... and glides its way toward the duo of 62 metric ton tanks and... dents one of their hulls. This draws the attention of the soldier who was poking his rifle out of the tophatch earlier... who now aims that rifle squarely in the general dirrection of 'Lead'. Whether he can see him or not, he'll fire into the area... just to try and be sure whatever WAS there is dead.
...Amidst this chaos, the sound of a helicopter approaching from the distance can soon be heard. <"...Roger that, command. We'll go in and have a look..."> ... Apparently the fact the commander who'd sent Diesel over also relayed the situatiion to command... and they'd sent in one of their aircraft to get a better look.
*THWUMP* *THWUMP* *THWUMP* ... The sound of the helicopter blades cutting through tne night air gets louder aand louder still... until a massive black helicopter looking a bit like an American Black Hawk enters the airspace of the bkattle, hovering just a bit higher than the building Maki was presently standing on. <"...I don't see jjust one police officer. There's a couple of unknowns here and battle has started. Engaging, over."> ... And having said that, the Helicopter then begins to cast a light down into the intersection... the pilot's voice coming over externall loud speakers... <"Enemy combatants. You are ordered to leave the area at once. Non compliance will result in your deaths."> ... Apparently, he doesn't see Maki yet... but from where she's standing she's got a damn good shot at. him...
COMBATSYS: Diesel endures Miranda's Ithaca 37 Beanbag Round.
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Diesel 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
The dust disperses like a dramatic curtain, revealing behind the massive figure of Diesel. Standing tall amongst the explosions unlike the soldiers scurrying about trying to get back to their feet after the Amazonian shockwave, an unwavering stoic pillar in the chaotic storm that is war.
A serenity that is instantly broken when she sees Rust Howard, hero of Nepal. "Is that---" Diesel's hazel eyes go wide with furious hatred when she sees her long sought out target, the Amazon goes to move towards him with rumbling steps, making the concrete break under her feet. It seems she is about to break protocol and go after a not designated target, until the shouts of the Shadaloo captain get her to pay attention..
And she gets bean bagged in the side of the head.
"HRGG!" The woman's head cranks to one side as she's struck, coughing slightly at the dust that picks up after getting hit by the knock out projectile. Interestingly enough, when she turns to look at Miranda she appears to be more outraged than in pain, as if a blow that would have otherwise knocked someone out only irritated her. A fierce scowl is shown on her lips focusing now on the police woman that dared open fire on her. Rust Howard will have to wait, this target takes priority.
"Locking on." Snorting a bit of dust, Diesel closes the distance in an instant, moving with speed that should not be possible for one as big as her, pushing with her back leg to simply ram her extended left fist right into Miranda's chest! Yelling the name of her attack just for good measure.
"Yudhisthira's Sword!"
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Squad Alpha's Quick Weapon Fire.
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Diesel 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
Rust doesn't go jumping into there expecting a pause to gather his bearings. He knows, they know. He's already holding his forearm up to try and ward off most of the rifle rounds that get fired his way. The war in Asia makes it pretty clear that such an act on the part of the squads is not overkill against those... well, those like him.
It's just not enough!
Not enough to guarantee anything more than maybe bruises, or some cuts. If they're lucky enough, they might be able to actually get a bullet or two in there.
Rounds of bullets gather and pool around the ground in front of Rust as they fire off their bursts. It feels like a bunch of mischievous children poking him in unison - far more annoying than painful. Little may be more demoralizing than seeing shots clearly lined up towards the vital organs of the human anatomy, only to see virtually none of them manage to pierce flesh.
The call from the helicopter to leave (at punishment of death) and that naerby giant woman's intimidating grunts are, largely, unheeded, as Rust lowers his left arm just enough to glare down the rifle-bearing squadron in front of him. It's more taking in their positioning - he's faced down a number of these groups in Asia. He might be ashamed, in a moment of introspection, to think about how he's slowly getting the idea of fighting large armed groups down to something of a science.
Crushing bullets under his footsteps as he advances towards the squad, Ol' Rusty recklessly swung with each step in horizontal movements to try and bat down and aside pretty much any rifle-bearer who doesn't have the sense to get out of this way.
There's not much banter, but this choice of action may as well loudly say to the helicopter pilots up there a simple, resounding 'no.'
COMBATSYS: Brett blocks Tank Team A's Strong Shelling.
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Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Brett
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Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Miranda
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Squad Alpha 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
Maki remains crouched on the balcony that she is still using as her vantage spot to keep an eye on any of the incoming threats to Metro City that might be getting too close for comfort. As it stands, there's tanks, foot soldiers, and others which Maki can't see right now most likely, or just doesn't care about. However, when a certain sound is heard, she looks up and goes wide-eyed as she notices the helicopters coming into the area, before a sly smirk forms on her face. "So, you've decided to come from the air? Well, this should be rather fun. I may not be good with tanks, but this could be another story."
Maki pauses a moment to stretch her legs using the railing on the balcony, kind of in a mocking motion, before she looks towards the nearest helicopter. "You may think I'm just one woman, but this 'woman' has some tricks that you may not be used to! In fact, I'm going to show you what it's like to be hit by a human missile! And I don't mean your psychotic leader either!" Maki jumps onto the railing, and then literally leaps off of it, flying directly at the helicopter with her leg outstretched in an extreme flying kick. "Hassoooooooooooooooou Kyaku!" She calls out.
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha blocks Rust's Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Brett
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Helicopter A with Hassou Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Maki
The suppressive fire that gets sent toward 'Lead' is...well, it certainly feel 'suppressive' in the normal sense. Even as he tries to cover up and absorb the fire best he can, Brett finds himself feelling like he got assaulted by thousands of pucks all over his body. Even if his face isn't seen, what can be seen of his eyes through the broken visor definitely show that pain, even as he tries to muscle through.
As the suppressive fire ceases, Brett pulls himself back up, setting his teeth and his feet. It's his turn to retaliate...but he definitely knows he's got an uphill battle here. No matter...he's not backing down. Pulling his pipe off hsi back, he levels off on the ground, pulls it back, then slapshots it off the street like he would his usual stick, the same cool blue arc of energy slashing over the ground and trying to slice into the tank's treads.
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A blocks Brett's Shark Crest.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Diesel successfully hits Miranda with Yudhisthira Khagga.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Maki
There's a dull, meaty *WHAM* as Diesel's fist slams into Miranda's chest; the Shadaloo operative can tell that there's a thin layer of something protective under there, probably light kevlar. That might be why the force of that punch stings, sending the policewoman stumbling back a step or two, but it doesn't quite bowl her over. Skidding to a stop on the concrete, Miranda locks eyes with Diesel for a moment, and then looks around at the various goings on in the immediate area. Rather unfortuantely, the armory chief has a troubling habit of thinking aloud in crisis situations. "Right. Ninja Cosplay just kicked a helicopter, random guy just hockeyed an imaginary blue puck at a tank, and Bald Pipe is playing whack-a-mole." There's a pause, and then she straightens, looking at Diesel for a moment. "I believe that means we remain playmates. Wonderful."
And then she's holding two handguns, one in each hand. She was holding a shotgun literally a fraction of a second ago. How did she even DO that?
Leveling her gaze at Diesel over the sights of both military-issue semiautos, Miranda continues to talk in that wonderfully monotone Dirty Harry-esque voice she is known for. "Suggestion: don't bring What's-his-face's Sword to a gun fight." And then she just opens fire like this is a John Woo film, opting for quantity of bullets over quality of aim.
COMBATSYS: Diesel catches Colt M1911 Dual Wield from Miranda with Sahadeva Krpura.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Maki
Squad Alpha's members begin to fan out, slowly, while retaining their concentrated fire at Rust as he marches toward them. But one member, a diminuitive female member, does not move fast enough and promptly gets clocked upside the head by Ol' Rusty. Two nearby members cease firing, momentarily, to grab at the stunned soldier and jerk her aside. Then, as the rest of their group stops to reload, two more soldiers charge into Rust's territory and both throw k coordinatedicks toward his midsection in an attempt to knock him to the ground.
...And, no one is heading the helicopter pilot's warning apparently. "Alright then..." He mutters to himself, and turns a visor covered glance toward his co-pilot. "Let's start shooting 'em." ... But, well before the shooting can ever even start, the female ninja comes flying in off of a nearby building and plants her feet firmly in the Helicopter's side... kicking a hole through its hull and sending the craft spinning in the direction of her momentum. "SHIT!" The pilot shouts as all manner of alarms begin going off inside the cockpit as the craft attempts to inform the pilots of a situation they already know about.
... It takes a few minutes or two, and the helicopter's tail blades barely miss skirting the edge of a building and spiraling into the ground below, but the pilot and co-pilot eventually manage to right themselves again... rising into the air above the building once more. "One ore hit like that and we're done... what hit us?" the pilot asks, the co-pilot then singles out the ninja on the nearby rooftop and the pilot steers the craft upwards... aiming the helicopter's mounted machine guns at the buildinmg... and Maki.
The tank crew, meanwhile, has re-entered the mechanical behemoth by the time Brett decides to return fire... closing the hatch up tight and secure. Both of them then branch off, rolling up hill slowly toward whatever enemy forces might be lurking in the shadows. They stil hadn't seen him yet, but once they do they'd surely realize two tanks being necessary to attack one fighter is a bit... excessive.
That is, until that blue wave of energy lashes out at the treads of one of them and stops it dead. Both guns train themselves on the direction the attack came from and, regardless of his threat level... proceed to open fire upon him again. He'd just busted up a very expensive piece of a machinery... he wasn't about to get away with his life now...
"You lack focus."
Miranda may be looking around, watching how her allies, Maki, Rust and 'Lead' take the fight to Shadaloo forces, but Diesel? Her golden incandescent gaze is completely set on her target. The tall woman slides back after her fist connects with seemingly kevlar protected chest, her eyes flashing with hatred as Miranda dares call the Legendary King Yudhisthira a 'what's his name'. Brain washed as she is, the teachings and culture of the Sahasra Mustu have never left her, and the Amazon takes offense at that.
"Suggestion: Do not mock the powers of the Five Pandavas if you wish to live." Diesel responds just as her arms shoot up and move in a blur when Miranda open fire on her with her semi-autos, too fast for naked eye to see as she says, "Nakula's Shield!!"
Whatever Diesel did, it somehow made the bullets just...disappear? It's not clear what happened, but the tall Amazon is still standing and is remarkably not bullet ridden. Raising her closed fists, Diesel opens her hands and lets a lot of tiny metal pebbles fall to the ground.
It's Miranda's bullets.
She caught them...in mid air....all of them.
"Got anything else?"
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha successfully hit Rust with Fast Takedown.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Maki
There isn't much of a pause when Rust's swings find purchase on a smaller soldier among the squad, beyond knowing full well just how hard he can hit someone. It's always a sort of frightening thing to come to grips with even now, when - despite usually largely living an everyday life like anyone else, when pushes comes to shove it takes a coordinated effort by extremely well-trained soldiers to even so much as slow someone like him down.
When two of them rush him down, they make a strong show of it. The asphalt is somewhat uneven from the bombings, to say nothing of the rolling bullets underfoot that contribute to a loss of balance when he tries to push back against the kicks.
The older man hits the ground roughly on his bum. There's no mistaking it, these guys have probably learned a lot from all that happened in Asia when dealing with the likes of him and so many others. If they keep on him, get enough guys, they might be able to restrain him long enough to be captured or... worse.
Whether it's Miranda's overheard commentary about baldness or some sort of inner reserve coming from knowing why the hell he's here to begin with, the results are the same as he fights to raise his knees up, trying to align his feet to the two soldiers' torsos.
"'m gonna say this once," and he really needs to speak up if he wants them to hear him, "you, you guys put down those rifles, get... get the hell outta this city, leave p-people well enough alon--"
He coughs, interrupting the last bit of this unconditional demand thanks to all the rising dust from the asphalt. It doesn't, however, slow both of his feet kicking out into those soldiers to try and launch them back into their other squaddies.
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha dodges Rust's Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A successfully hit Brett with Light Shelling.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Maki
The treads may be damaged, but it seems like the tank took less damage than Brett was really hoping they would. That's a bad thing...and a worse thing is when the fire comes down again, this time with 'Lead' unprepared for the peppering he gets. "NGhhghhh!!" he growls, gritting his teeth as he feels his already torn jacket ripped into further, leaving several bleeding wounds over the hockey kid. Still, that pain gives him more and more reason to focus properly.
Pehraps the problem is that he's not putting himself fully into his attacks. That is easily remedied, the battered vigilante charging toward the tank once more before flipping over, trying to drop a heavy heel down onto some essential part of the tank as he drives in with his total body weight.
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Helicopter A's Turret Fire.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Brett successfully hits Tank Team A with Falling Star EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Maki
Using her ninja skills and agility to her advantage, Maki performs a backwards somersault onto a nearby building rooftop, landing in a crouched position and glaring at the helicopter. "Come on, is that your best? Does Shadaloo not spend enough money maintaining their aircraft?" There is no smirk on her face as Maki yells at the pilot of the helicopter, obviously not impressed with how hard she was able to hit that. "I wish Guy were here to see that, then he'd be bowing to me in a heartbeat!" Maki comments with a grin, adjusting her tonfa a little. She looks up, waiting to see what happens next, and then she sees the guns aimed directly at the building...and where she's standing. "Oh jeez."
Just as the first bullets hit the building, Maki's already leaped to a nearby window ledge nearby, followed by a leap to another building side, and then finally onto a nearby construction site. The building isn't ready yet, but the skeleton is up. Perfect for another ambush in Maki's opinion.
"What are you, skimping on your maintenance funds for your helicopter, Shadaloo?" Maki yells as she leaps up a couple of stories, using what floors have already been put in place to her advantage. "But I'm not gonna miss you!" She spots a nearby metallic barrel, most likely once containing some kind of strong chemicals, but now apparently empty. A quick look inside confirms that, and Maki lifts it up with some effort. "Here, do a barrel roll with me!" Maki yells as she heaves the metallic drum at the helicopter.
COMBATSYS: Helicopter A stops Large Thrown Object from Maki with Defense Shield.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Maki
So she can catch bullets. Hmm.
"Nice trick," Miranda says, over the sound of slamming new clips into both guns, never once taking her eyes off Diesel, keeping the Shadaloo operative in her proverbial sights. "If that had done something other than buy you time, I'd be impressed. Because believe me, you're going to run out of... Curry Vindaloo-fu or whatever a long, long time before I run out of bullets, believe me." That seems like an accurate statement, since so far in this fight Miranda has demonstrated no fewer than three weapons secreted on her person and the implication of considerably more. Also, 'curry vindaloo-fu' sounds like the spiciest, most delicious fu. Served with naan.
And then the Metro cop is holding a Mosin-Nagant carbine. Which is to say, she is now HOLDING a SNIPER RIFLE. A *really large sniper rifle*. She wasn't holding it two seconds ago.
"The answer to your question," Miranda says to Diesel, though with one eye to the sight on the rifle as she slams what looks like a... really large slug into the chamber and locks it home, "is 'yes'."
Then she veers her aim to the right and fires a precision armor-piercing round at the tank that's been giving Brett trouble. It's a slow shot, all things considered -- lining up that precision takes precious seconds -- but it's aimed perfectly to do nasty damage if it connects.
The Alpha members who'd been assaulted by their own comrades simply step aside as they go flying through, allowing them to smash into the concrete ground behind. These two, who had been reloading prior to Rust engaging their teammates... are now his opponents. One of them trains a rifle on Rust, ready to open fire upon him... but doesn't. Not yet. He waits... giving the other time to run inward and attempt to kick Rust in the sternum. If that kick is successful in knocking him back, then his squad mate will open fire.
...And connect Brett's heel does with something critical. It succeeds in smashing the busted tank's periscope, making it utterly impossible for those inside the tank to see where they are firing. This stalls both tanks for several moments as they communicate about technical difficulties over radio... leaving both of them vulnerable to be struck again. At least, until they manage to work out a plan and someone in the busted tank gets that damned hatch open again...
The Helicopter pilot is still awkwardly attempting to deal with the agile ninja, and finding it very difficult indeed. As she leaps from rooftop to window ledge, then another building, and finally to the ground... the helicopter just hovers along behind her... making a lot of racket and little else due to the pilot's failure to successfuly get a lock on her. When she pauses to lift that large barrel of chemicals, however, he does manage... but not with time enough to fire. All he can amanage is a sweeping sideways evasion... the barrel mostly missing the helicopter and bouncing harmlessly off its backfin and back toward the ground as it moves.
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A blocks Miranda's Huge Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Squad Alpha's Medium Takedown.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Maki
...And, the tanks whicch were assiling Brett have apparently found themselves yet more trouble as an armor piercing round flies inward toward the back of the busted tank and explodes... rocking the tank and setting off its internal alarms but not destroying it outright. It did, however, blow off the tophatch and scorch the rear. Also, blowing up those busted treads beyond repair.
It is a little known fact that Curry Vindaloo-Fu, aside from being the most delicious style ever, its also quite resilient.
"How much are you willing to bet?" Diesel responds Miranda's taunt with her own cocky smile, the Shadaloo soldiers that are running all around here are wondering why are they even needed here when they could just let Diesel do all the work for them. Someone that can catch bullets with her bare, freaking, hands doesn't need anti-tank support. "How about your life?" Asks she as she takes her Curry powered Kalaripayattu stance, left arm bent and pointed up in 90 degrees whilst her left is slinged across her abdomen, forming an L.
She looks ready to react when Miranda unleashes a cumbersome sniper rifle on her, ready to simply just /catch/ the bullet again. Until Miranda veers to the right and decides to shoot a tank instead.
That's A-OK with Diesel though, she'll just take the opening and attack Miranda while she has her sights on someone else. Charging directly for her aiming to ram another devastating punch right on the side of her head!
A plus to that double-barreled kick is that it helps get Rust back up, even as one of his elbows crackle at a hard flex as he re-asserts his stance and balance on uneven asphalt, surrounded on all sides by startling sounds, worrying explosions, and so many other things - there's not a wall he can easily put his back to in order to minimize the angles of attack these guys can come from without getting well out of the way of the entire advance.
When the guy comes up to kick him in the sternum, he doesn't deflect it with his left forearm. No, he up and catches the foot with his left hand, shaking his head very slowly as he draws back Ol' Rusty in his right hand.
Whether or not the shot is taken, the pipe is suddenly swung upwards (possibly neatly deflecting the bullet unwittingly) in an uppercut swing, putting much of his weight behind it to slide himself forward to plow into the guy in front of him and - possibly - some of the others well past as he pushes into the squad to try and keep pushing them back.
"Didn't you hear what I, what I," he doesn't finish it, but to be fair they most likely didn't because he really can't speak up over the chaos around himself.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Squad Alpha with Cement Upper.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Maki
While Brett wasn't exactly aiming for anything specific on the tank, he definitely will take it when he busts up the periscope. Of course, the big problem witht he move is recovering fast enough to react when the opponent retaliates. Thankfully, it seems the lack of periscope forces the tank crew to pause and get out long enough to actually see what they're shooting at (read: Brett).
And thankfully, he gets an assist, head turning toward Miranda as the armor piercing rounds shoot at the busted tank and blows holes in it further. Eyes widen...before a firm not of thanks is sent toward the cop. With the opening there, Brett climbs up atop the other tank, stick held up high and spun up fast as he can spin it before tilting it down, with hopes of battering the tank with repeated blows like a helicopter blade cutting into the thing.
COMBATSYS: Tank Team A endures Brett's Blackhawk Down EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Maki
Watching eagerly, Maki's eyes narrow into a fierce scowl as she watches her thrown barrel get pretty much nullified, her effort for naught. "Damn, your choppers aren't in top shape, but your pilots sure are," Maki says with gritted teeth as she attempts to leap from the construction building to another one. She continues to leap from building to building, attempting to get closer to the chopper. "I got a little surprise for you though!"
Maki finally gets close enough to leap towards the helicopter, and she grabs onto one of the rungs. She struggles to keep herself attached with one hand, before bringing her other hand up, using her tonfa to retain her grip a little. "I've never tried this before, but I'd love to see what it's like!" Maki then lets out a grunt and attempts to deliver her signature spinning kick attack. Her intent is an attempt to strike with the kick, then leap to another nearby building.
COMBATSYS: Diesel successfully hits Miranda with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Maki
So, the tall girl with the bizarre vocabulary just punched Miranda in the head. Probably easy to do, since she was lining up that shot and everything.meters
So, the tall girl with the bizarre vocabulary just punched Miranda in the head. Probably easy to do, since she was lining up that shot and everything. It does kinda sting a bit. Apparently the tanned amazon does know how to deliver a punch. The problem is that it doesn't actually knock Miranda over or anything; it just makes her stagger a bit, dropping the rifle from sighting stance and probably preventing another shot to the tank. So if it's Diesel's job to protect the tanks, that's one thing accomplished, sort of. But then the MCPD officer turns back to the Shadaloo operative and gives her a penetrating, somewhat squinty stare of observation.
"Does... someone write those lines for you?" Miranda asks, seemingly genuinely interested.
Oh right, then her right hand -- the one not holding the gun -- whips up with a taser in it, which the policewoman attempts to casually stab into Diesel's arm or stomach and then let loose with so many volts that at the end, the battery makes a *pop!* sound and literally drops out of the casing. "Also, back off my personal space, thanks."
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Helicopter A with Bushin Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Helicopter A 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Maki
The Alpha member who threw the kick at Rust seems surprised as the older man with the grotesque toupee not only blocks his kick, but manages to deflect the bullet away from his person as well. When Ol' Rusty is swung upwards, it promptly connects with his chin with a dull thud and the brief sound of metal vibrating. He's then shoved, whilst dazed and confused, back into his teammates and bowled over. Two more Alpha members come from behind Rust, drawing knives and rushing as his encroaches on their allies territory. What follows is then an attempt by one to grab him by an article of clothing, slam him into a nearby brick wall, and then unleash a series of physical strikes and stabs upon him.
...The tanks, between Miranda and Brett, are not faring well. The hockey player succeeds in leaping upon the metallic hull of the tank, right as a soldier begins the acscent out of the now open hatch to take a look at what's going on outside. He chose an unfortunate time to do so, however, and promptly finds himself slapped so hard by the stick that he falls back inside unconscious as Brett continues to slowly widdle his way through the hull...
...But the other, still functional, tank is having none of that and promptly begins to drive toward the disabled war machine and slam into its hull hard to try and knock Brett loose.
The Helicopter pilot, and his vehicle, meanwhile have jus about had it. "Damn it! Shut up!" He slams a fist down on the console as the alarms start to go off again. This time it's a malfunction caused by that barrel striking the tail. He then attempts to sight the female ninja again, but she has disappeared from immediate view and not even the co-pilot can locate her. ... The aircraft hovers, slowly, over the area they'd lost sight of her in. Finally, as it sweeps across the area slowly, a loud striking sound can be heard from outside the co-pilot's window as she kicks the craft again... having apparently attached herself to it midflight. The alarms suddenly begin to go off again and helicopter is sent spiraling downwards toward a nearby building... the pilot unable to regain control. ... It might not be going down without a fight though... as the helicopter pilot's maddened flailnig at the controls aims the craft directly toward the building she'd escaped to. If she doesn't manage to escape... she might find herslf caught in its blast
COMBATSYS: Helicopter A can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Diesel fails to counter Strong Punch from Miranda with Raksha Nakhariskira.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Rust endures Squad Alpha's Coordinated Onslaught.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Brett Toughs Out Tank Team A's Medium Ram!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maki
Once Diesel is in the offensive it's difficult to get all that momentum to somehow stop, or even slow down. The giant of a woman barrels in on Miranda with golden eyes growing fiercer as her rage begins to overtake her, barely able to make out at this point any of Miranda's snarky come backs, the comment of her strange vocabulary does somehow manage to pierce through her barrier of hatred enough to disorient her however, she sees the incoming attack but doesn't realize that Miranda isn't swinging out a normal punch. There's a tazer in there.
"What?"
*BZZTTT!!* Cue electrocuting sounds. Diesel had attempted to just overpower Miranda by grabbing her hand and ended up giving the tazer a hard squeeze giving herself a nasty shocking surprise. The woman's eyes widen, her teeth clenching her as she pulls back out of the tazer via sheer force of will, waving her hand and blowing on her palm.
Even failed dolls can feel pain.
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Helicopter A's Strong Kick.
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Diesel 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maki
"Did I make it?" Maki thinks to herself as she gets up after rolling on the ground before getting into a crouched position. She rubs at her foot, uttering a few curse words as to how painful that was. But at least it was worth it, since it appears that the helicopter is definitely going down. "Wow, I can't believe Shadaloo is so cheap with their maintenance," Maki says even more sarcastically before. She's about to rub at her foot again when she sees the helicopter coming directly at the rooftop that she's standing on. And there's no way she's getting to the next building easily. She realizes she has only one option...
The fire escape.
Maki rushes towards the side, jumping onto the fire escape, silently praying it won't give way as she rushes down it, until she reaches the end, at which point she leaps to the ground below, before running away from the building. When the crash occurs, Maki rolls away, just as a precaution. She looks up at it and stares at the burning wreckage... or at least what can be seen from the street below. A brief sneer appears on her face, before her eyes narrow again, and then her eyes start to get watery. Then the tears begin to fall as she realizes that her victory was only a small one in this whole war. She may have defeated their helicopter, but there are still many more forces that Shadaloo has at their disposal. Not to mention, who knows how many people have been displaced by this whole thing. And the casualties.
Gritting her teeth, Maki turns away and drops to one knee. The tears flow down her cheeks, but Maki does not cry out. Instead, she yells out, "Your losses... Your deaths... All of them... Metro City, I will see to it that nothing was in vain, and I will help restore it again, just like I did before!"
COMBATSYS: Maki has left the fight here.
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Diesel 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Rust
Howard, meanwhile, gets yanked by the collar and forced into a wall with appreciable enough force that some can see the cracks form. The efficiency in which the Alpha Squad executes this - and starts to lunge and stab at the man while he seems to be on the recovering end of this - speaks well to how Shadaloo has beefed up its anti-fighter maneuvers and routines.
So does Rust, who doesn't bother looking behind himself given the sensation of /something/ (a couple somethings) poking at him. Knives slice through fabric no problem, but have trouble getting too far into him. There might be a bit of blood at the tip, but this point may eventually prove moot.
Especially when he chooses to work with his position and just strike out behind himself with a low kick - more than once. Again and again, his leg rapidly becoming sheathed in a washed-out gray-ish (...maybe it's blue, or white, or maybe some kind of faint green, it's impossible to tell) chi energy that flickers, each strike of foot against the ground behind himself - or a soldier, really, depends on how overly committed they are to staying there when he's showing signs of fighting back far sooner than they might anticipate - incredibly loud, the series of kicks akin to that of a jackhammer.
When then man actually bothers to look over his shoulder towards the end of the assault, the Alpha Squad might catch sight of the trickle of blood coming down his forehead.
COMBATSYS: Squad Alpha blocks Rust's Jackhammer Kick.
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Diesel 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Rust
The second tank charges toward Brett as he continues to whack and hack into the broken tank...but despite the force behind the functional vehicle, the hockey vigilante seems to be in the zone. When it drives forward, the collision jars him for sure...but he just uses the chance to dive onto the second tank, long pipe still in hand.
And from there? He tries to continue what he started, 'Lead' lifting up his pipe and trying to hammer into the hull of the metal beast repeatedly, even throwing in a few gloved punches here and there, putting everything he can into the assault.
COMBATSYS: Brett successfully hits Tank Team A with Broad Street Barrage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Rust
That was a satisfying sound. Crispy fried bad guy. On a stick.
The next time anybody looks, both the sniper rifle and the taser are gone from Miranda's hands. Instead, she's up in Diesel's grill, holding a surprisingly old school-looking genuine machine gun in one hand, that arm extended so that her aim is more or less even with the amazon's head (though this requires a bit of an angle up from where Miranda is standing, all things considered). If anything, despite the pair of telling blows Diesel managed to land on her, the Latina cop looks annoyed or disgruntled more than concerned or angry. "Look. I can seriously keep this up all day, and if you think I'm disinclined to take the fight to a tank on foot, you're seriously wrong. So my suggestion is you take your tonka trucks and beat it before I get serious about this."
A thumb moves up and flips the safety with a decisive and surprisingly loud *click!* noise. While this probably isn't going to intimidate Diesel, there's an AWFUL lot of on-foot Shadaloo personnel around her who might be getting slightly more nervous about this possible psycho cop who appears to have every firearm ever designed on her person.
COMBATSYS: Miranda focuses on her next action.
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Diesel 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Rust
Diesel takes about half a second too long blowing on her hand for the likes of command it seems. Just as she is about to resuming her bestial growling, directing her golden hatred filled vision back to Miranda, a voice in comm-link is already berating her for letting the attack chopper get knocked down.
"Diesel! You're supposed to be protecting our heavy guns in the air too!"
"I cannot be everywhere at the same time!"
"Some killer machine you're supposed to be! Can you take out that rent-a-cop or do I have to let Alpha do the work for you--"" *KRUNCH!*
And this may be why Diesel usually doesn't get fielded to the front. Brain washing starts to give way to pure unbridled rage and The Diesel reaches for her communicator crushing it on her palm, a scowl directing to the woman that is currently training a gun at her.
The rest of the Shadaloo army can flee all the way to China for all she cares right now. Infuriated by the incompetence of her allies, Diesel just shakes with rage, sickening veins throbbing through her arms.
"Then I suggest you get serious then." Says the Diesel.
Just as she charges again for Miranda swinging a heavy backhand towards the side of her neck, aiming to smash her clavicle with her muscled tough forearm.
"Arjuna's Arrow!!"
COMBATSYS: Miranda fails to interrupt Arjuna Naraca from Diesel with Reaping Takedown.
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Diesel 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Miranda
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Tank Team A 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Rust
"I'm _always_ serious."
Of course, in this instance Miranda should have stuck with guns. She knows some CQC, but really, if you're going to get into close-quarters combat you probably will put smart money on the freaky giant woman from space and not the trigger-happy Costa Rican. There's a brief struggle for dominance there, but Diesel gets in her shot, sending the Metro cop stumbling backwards with a grimace. Don't try to tackle people while you're still holding a gun, Miranda, it never works out.
Yet she rolls up and, with some distance between the two, gets Diesel in her sights again, M1 Thompson still primed and ready to go. "Quote someone really awful, 'is that all?'" Oooh snap.
The pair of Alpha members successfuly slam Rust hard into the brick wall, dust flying as the wall threatens to break. They then proceed to thrust their combat knives into him and lay into him with physical strikes several times, though they don't manage to cut anywhere near as deep as they'd intended or break any bones.
Somewhere in the midst of this, Rust begins to fis back... stabbing at them with chi-powered kicks several times and managing to nail one hard enough in the knee to force him to let go.
It's about this time that an order comes over the Shadaloo secure comm channel, being emitted from the radios of the soldiers gathered, the onboard radios of the tanks, and even out from the busted wreckage of the helicopter as well. Diesel, too may way well be able to hear it... if not from her own means of communication, then certainly the soldiers'. "Squad Alpha and allies, order is given to withdraw immediately. I repeat, order is given to withdraw immediately."
This causes both soldier's to let go of Rust and regroup with the rest of their lot, and take off running away from the Commercial District. They aren't even waiting for Diesel, or the tanks.
The Tanks, when the order comes, are still in the midts of trying to shake Brett from one of their hulls. Right as he dives onto the second tank, it stops suddenly... simply allowing it to pound into the hull... deeper and deeper as it just sits there. What would come next,is very swift... but effective. Suddenly the tank begins to go in reverse, even with him standing on it... and slams its hull into a nearby street light again in an attempt to throw him off. Whether that's successful or not, the remainig members of the busted tank pile out of their after the working one opens its hatch. Without closing the hatch, and without bothering with Brett any longer, the tank's operators all then pile out of the tank and proceed to run on foot back the way they originally came.
While powerful, CQC just can't hope to hold a candle to Kalaripayattu. Improvised defensive tactics aren't going to work against the mother of all Martial Arts, even more so when it's backed up by Diesel's monstrous strength.
The Amazon pushes through the attempted tackled, and smashes Miranda down watching her drop with a roll to minimize landing damage. For a moment, the tall muscled woman looks about ready to fall upon Miranda while she's on the floor, to attack her with even greater viciousness for mocking her. But the quick retreat from her allies makes her stand still, watching Miranda's defiant gaze with her own narrowed, yellow eyes.
"Yes...that is all."
Not very good with the comebacks is she?
As the orders are given to retreat, Diesel makes no attempt to break into a run or yell for the soldiers to wait for her. She calmly, and smugly, turns around letting Miranda stare at her formidable back and begins to walk away. "Until next time, officer." Clearly, she's not concerned at all that Miranda might try to shoot her in the back.
A released Rust sees him flipping his back to put himself up against the wall, Ol' Rusty suddenly pointed outwards, shoulder crackling at the sudden snap, as a defensive measure to gauge how close everyone that's been surrounding him is. Blood goes down his forehead, and his breathing heavy (mixed with a bit of wheezing, for good measure). The adrenaline rush - possibly Asia flashbacks - from getting into one of those large-scale military melees seems to hold a vice grip on the older man.
I'm getting sloppy, he thinks, even if the individual skill of the soldiers making the squad are quite a mark up from what he had to deal with, as they all start to back away. A part of him fears he's about to get a whole load of artillery or a bomb.
He doesn't like the idea of chasing them and staying close enough that Shadaloo might think it worthy to sacrifice their own man just to catch him in a blast that by all rights would be unlikely to kill him - he wouldn't wish that on anyone, and yet if they're backing up to shoot--
The movements of other things going in that direction bring some level of reasoning to him as to what exactly is going on.
They're pulling back.
This doesn't bring him any real relief even if it's giving him and the others fighting here a brief respite. No, Howard stays with his back to that wall for well longer than he ought to, pointing Ol' Rusty at the retreating squad that probably have well taken their eyes off of him by now.
He's still got a lot of questions and virtually no answers about any of it.
COMBATSYS: Diesel has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Squad Alpha 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 Brett
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Tank Team A 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Miranda
> ////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Rust
While he's done some damage on the tank, the sudden lurching of the sole remaining functional tank is quickly able to wrench Brett off of it, the vigilante barely able to catch himself onto the now-bent street light (though not from landing on his butt once he gets to street level). Grunting, he watches as the remaining tank crew piles out of both tanks, getting the hell out of dodge.
Shaking his head, he pulls himself back up to his feet, muttering. THe glances back to the others he fought beside. "...does this mean we won?" he asks, sounding rather dazed.
Log created on 19:22:49 08/18/2012 by Vega, and last modified on 15:25:10 08/20/2012.