Ch 3 The river flows to the ocean

[dakota]

There were two gunnery stations, a turret on the top and bottom of the sub.

The two indound targets didn't seem to conform to anything in the sub's database, and neither cat had ever seen anything that swam quite like them. They were just outside of weapons range.

Soc knew that whatever they were, the pursuers were living beings, and definitely eminating evil.

Shep shook his head at Richardson," You could blow a hole in the hull and drown us all." He looked at Sam, " and you dragged me out of the infirmary for this?" He smirked despite looking sickly.

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Interesting." Socrates said, sort of suddenly. "Captains, those are not just vehicles. They're creatures."

The thought occurred he could suggest one of the cats, or Autumn (Soc does not have the ability), tap a mind of one of them, to get insight, but with them at the turrets, and her in the middle of the middle, it didn't make sense. They'ld need line-of-sight anyways.

[Mierin]

Sam smirks at Shep as she replies "I can't let you miss out on all the fun, now can I?" Turning to the Captain, she asks "What are the odds of us outrunning whatever it is that is chasing us?"

[Dome]

Richardson shrugs, "Its the best I got chief. Unless you want me to take a turret. Or do you think those creatures plan on just saying hi as they pass by?"

[Tori]

Tori, being a bit quicker and a slightly better shot than Janxi, made for the larger top turret. She plugged her helmet into the ship's com, and powered up the turret and the weapon's targeting system. "Conn, top turret. I have two tangos inbound, just beyond weapons range. Weapon ready. Your orders, sir?" She felt pretty good about being on a weapon. Having been detected and chased, she renewed her telepathy with Janxi so they could share target info and combine their fire, to a point.

(You ready for inits, yet?)

[Janxi]

Janxi watched Tori climb to the big turret and hissed slightly. Tori was right, that she was a slightly better shot and had faster reflexes. Jan liked big guns though, and had more fun with the heavy artillery. She knew Tori would let her lead the way in a fist fight, sniping or possibly a knife-and-claw fight with no argument.

She took her seat at the turret, turned it on and plugged in her radio to the submarine. "Ventral turret online and showing five-by-five. Ready to fire on command."

[Tori]

"Doc, don't you go fallin' asleep. If the road gets bumpy you may have some customers."

Tori strapped into the turret chair and waited. She love the moment before a kill when hunting. Life seemed real, time passed as if it were in slow motion while she moved at normal speed. The colors were brighter and sounds sharper. This would be her first firefight, having spent a few months after graduation at Sault Ste. Marie, and the a couple more training with Janxi. Humans, vamps, d-bees, deer, carp or snakeheads, it was all the same to her. She was the hunter.

Her ears pressed flat against her skull, and she leaned forward slightly, as if ready to pounce. Barely whispered, she began to mumble:

"And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder: One of the four beasts saying, 'Come and see.' And I saw. And behold, a white horse."

Tori's voice did not rise, though almost silently, she began to sing:
"There's a man goin' 'round takin' names. An' he decides who to free and who to blame. Everybody won't be treated all the same. There'll be a golden ladder reaching down. When the man comes around."

Yeah, she was ready to kill.

[sasqaricious]

Autumn hears the cat and understands. She is waiting for the inevitable to happen as she knows is her role in this journey.

[Janxi]

Janxi watched the targets get closer. She hoped all the ground pounders on their sub would realize it was a very bad idea to start shooting. If targets could teleport inside, the best thing to do was to use vibroblades. Holes in the hull would be like a firehose. She hoped the bad guys would stay outside.

"Better put them guns away. We'll killem outside if we can. They ain't comin' in unless they magick their way on board. Use swords, knives or claws before ya start shootin', or else you're gonna sink us."

Tori's nearly silent song was audible to Janxi. She knew the song and sang along.

"The hairs on your arm will stand up. At the terror in each sip and in each sup. For you partake of that last offered cup, Or disappear into the potter's ground. When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers. One hundred million angels singin'. Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum. Voices callin', voices cryin'. Some are born an' some are dyin'. It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come. "

[dakota]

Despite the situation, the NGR crewman looked at the mutants cats as they sang. The captain spoke up," If they had any doubts before, they definitely know that we are down here now." He said something to his crew, and they were immediately focused again.

The mini sub began to rise as it accelerated, and the Horune vessel was no longer within sensing distance. The pursuers however, were closing. They couldn't be seen yet, but targeting systems had them just outside maximum range and closing from almost dead aft.

[Renekin Skywalker]

There was an interesting irony to the cats' warning. Certainly, guns are going to cause some damage, but if the sub was already breached by the creatures, what difference will a few bullet holes make. Though, the cats not warning with out merit, Socrates pulled out his vibroswords and put them on his lap, and resumed guarding the door with his gun.

[Tori]

(For the record, both cats are singing just under their breath. This isn't American idol, just a nervous tic of theirs.)

Tori watched the targets close, and selected the leader in her mid as her target. She shared this with Janxi. The second and any inbound torpedoes would go to Janxi to harass, defend against, or destroy. She could only wait for the target to get into range now before she opened fire. The Captain had given no order, but if he wasn't going to say "Fire at will," when they closed, she would take the initiative. It was a matter of protecting their boat.

She continued to whisper her song, it wasn't the end of the world for all, but it would be the end of whatever it may be chasing them.

"And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree. The virgins are all trimming their wicks. The whirlwind is in the thorn tree. It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

'Til Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom. Then the father hen will call his chickens home. The wise men will bow down before the throne. And at his feet they'll cast their golden crown. When the man comes around. "

[dakota]

Whatever the pursuers were, one of them fired some sort of blast at the sub. The noise that echoed through was incredible (GM note :sonic blast), and the captain shouted, " Return fire at will." Then he started shouting something into his intercom.

[Janxi]

Janxi selected Tori's target as well. Concentrating fire meant killing bad guys quicker and evening the odds. She would also try to shoot down any inbound torpedoes as Tori ordered. She wasn't singing loud either, just barely loud enough for herself, Tori and maybe Socrates to hear well. She kraut crew might think she was praying. She aimed her gun for the target in front and fired a dual blast.

Hit: [dice=20]+5 (h2h bonus plus weapon systems) +1 (ship bonus) -3 (GM-s penalty) = 23 (Crit!)
Damage [dice=4]*10+8=38 (plus any critical modifiers)
Initiative:[dice=20]+11 (6th sense and occ/racial bonus) +1 (sub bonus)=16
4 attacks remain (3 combined H2H, +1 from the sub)

"Get some!" Jan growled before returning to the song, like an evil lullaby.

"Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still. Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still. Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still. Listen to the words long written down, When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers. One hundred million angels singin'. Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettle drum. Voices callin', voices cryin'. Some are born an' some are dyin'. It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come."


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[Tori]

"Good shot, Duffy! Kill!" said a gleeful Tori as her partner's opening shot fell on target perfectly. She targeted the leader with her own laser on top of the sub and fired off a shot.

Hit: [dice=20]+7(hand to hand bonus) +1 (weapon systems) +1 (boat bonus) -3 (gm penalty)=14
Damage: [dice=4]x10=20
Init: [dice=20]+11 (OCC/racial+6th sense)+1 boat bonus=17
5 attacks remain (4 personal, +1 boat)

Tori's aim wasn't as true as Janxi's but she could keep the enemy too busy to molest their sub or inflict a fair bit of damage herself. She was rather fond of the Triax boat, but hoped it was a sturdy craft. She continued her mantra-like song, just mumbling the words softly as the battle continued. Battlewas what she lived for, literally.

"And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree. The virgins are all trimming their wicks. The whirlwind is in the thorn tree. It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

In measured hundredweight and penny pound. When the man comes around.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, And I looked and behold: a pale horse. And his name, that sat on him, was Death. And Hell followed with him. "



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