Camelith
Lurker
Three Camel Moon
Posts: 12
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Post by Camelith on Nov 28, 2014 18:52:15 GMT -5
“Do you feel that the Zone will give you fulfillment if you returned?” Vorona asked Blank, “someone dear to me once told me that the Zone curses all but only few are blessed by it.”
The room was silent as Blank regained her composure.
"I spent my last year in the Zone wandering in the far North." Sigbrand said, after a while.
"While I was up there, I think I learned something." He paused, and took a sip of vodka from his glass. "The Zone is more that just a place. It's a living thing. I think it's just as alive and aware as any Tushkano or Bloodsucker, and I think it looks after its own."
"I never saw another human being while I was in the north, and I never went hungry. The mutants I saw left me alone, so I left them alone." he said, taking another drink.
"Discovering this is what made me leave. I was disgusted that I had become a part of something I had hated so much. The Zone had taken my brother and so many other companions and friends from me, and then it took me in, provided for me. It was like it was rewarding me for good behavior, for having stopped fighting against it."
"I don't know if the Zone can bring anyone real fulfillment." Sigbrand said.
"I don't know if it curses or blesses anyone, either. It just is. It sits there, pondering and docile until you prod at it with a stick. It's almost unnaturally natural."
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Post by The Karcolith on Nov 30, 2014 12:35:14 GMT -5
Rurik listened with interest, especially to Sigbrand's comments on the zone.
“I'd often suspected Duty was fighting a losing cause, I don't think many of it's members considered the long term effects our actions would have on the zone.”
As Rurik said that the faint sound of a helicopter rumbling over head could be heard.
“That sounds rather low, I hope this gathering hasn't attracted some unwanted attention?” He mumbled, standing and making his way to the stairs, the exterior door was locked but he didn't want to take any chances.
Making his way up the stairs he could hear clearly the helicopter was circling, and the sound of vehicles pulling up. The engine stopped and he distinctly heard the sound of orders being given. Checking the door he was sure they'd be unable to breach the entrance, but that left the uncomfortable thought in his head, he lived here and had an escape plan to back into the zone, but would the others be so willing to do that?
Making his way down the stairs he pulled open the supply room's door and dragged several crates of useful things forward before making his back to the gathering.
“There's no easy way about saying this,” He started when a dull metallic thud echoed down the stairs. “but I believe the army is attempting to enter. I don't know what actions they'll take when they find us here, I assume they'll probably execute on sight.”
The look of astonishment on the groups face was hard to face, but he continued.
“I've always had a plan if this happened to escape back into the zone, I have some gear we can take, but we have to act quickly, I need to wipe some data from my computer, the rest of you, up the stairs and get what you need from the supply room, meds, food and water and something to defend yourself with, you all know how dangerous the zone is.”
The group stood motionless, but were jolted into action by the sound of another metallic thud from the door.
With that Rurik opened his laptop and started typing away furiously to initiate a memory wipe of the hard drive, once that started he jogged up the steps into the supply room, opening a crate he took out a new RPK and slunk it over his back, taking up a backup he threw ammunition, a couple of survival ration packs and meds into the bag, another thud, louder now. Looking up the stairs he could see the door was bent inward, but the locking mechanism was still holding strong.
“Come on, back down stairs, there's a tunnel that leads into the zone, chuck your gear on and take a seat the motorised cart will get us away than I can seal the tunnel.” He said, shutting the supply room door and entering a digital code.
Adrenaline surged through his body as he lead the group back down to the cart, pulling a heavy steel door to the side he loaded the gear on before ushering the group on to the cart and pushed it forward with little effort despite the weight a few feet, turning he pulled the door back over the hatch, leaving the group in darkness. Taking a seat at the back he fumbled around until his hand brushed over the control panel. With a flick of a switch he turned the lights on and the cart moved away into the darkness, back into the zone...
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Nov 30, 2014 15:45:46 GMT -5
The metal door upstairs shuddered, and Adder looked at Rurik with growing horror. "Execute us on sight? No, they wouldn't do that...right?"
The door shook again and Adder winced. Old fears buried for years were beginning to resurface. The fear of the army and their helicopters, the fear of hearing the fatal "stalker spotted! Open fire!" The door shook again, and everyone rose from their seats.
"I'm not going back to the Zone!" Said Adder, "I'm not a criminal, they're not allowed to shoot me!"
You may bleat, Adder, but remember what I told you. Stalkers challenge the State's monopoly on the Zone, and anyone who associates themselves with stalkers also pose a danger to this monopoly. The State sends its watchdogs to control the Zone and kill stalkers. You're with the stalkers, Adder. They'll kill you all right.
Maginot's voice. She remembered the French stalker's declarations about the State, and he had been right. The Ukrainian military would stop at nothing to kill stalkers and those people who associated with them. Terror gripped her and adrenaline began to flow into her bloodstream. She saw Rurik leave the room, saying something about a supply room. Without thinking she followed, her flimsy designer shoes slapping on the hard concrete floor. Blank followed, her expression strangely calm despite their possible impending death.
In the storage room Adder found what Rurik had been hiding: crates upon crates of stored ammunition, explosives, supplies and weapons. As Rurik grabbed a weapon (which she recognised as an RPK from memory), she shouted "Rurik! What the fuck is all this?" But the door shook again and left her no time to wait for an answer. With her mind on the backburner, Adder let her old instincts take over. She reached for a rifle on a rack and felt its smooth wooden grip in her hand, its familiar weight. Memories came flooding back, but were gone in the blink of an eye. The door banged again.
"Hurry!" She heard Blank say. The small woman was stuffing ammunition into a messenger bag, along with water bottles and some food. Adder didn't have a bag, how could she have been so short-sighted? She looked rapidly around the room and found and saw an ancient-looking canvas rucksack hanging from a coat hook. She grabbed without a second thought and began stuffing it with anything useful she could find. She even grabbed a rubber and plastic gas mask and a few filters, acting solely from what she remembered of the Zone.
With her bag full she left the room, her AK-74 in her arms. Blank followed behind her with one of those shortened Kalachnikovs that stalkers used so often...an AKS-74U? Adder couldn't remember. She saw Rurik pull a heavy metal door open, exposing a dimly lit tunnel and a small railcar. The massive stalker jumped into it and switched its headlights on and Adder, seeing no alternative, took a seat next to him. Blank followed and climbed on with such precipitation she almost dropped her rifle.
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Camelith
Lurker
Three Camel Moon
Posts: 12
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Post by Camelith on Nov 30, 2014 18:39:34 GMT -5
Sigbrand followed Rurik up the stairs to the supply room, the banging on the door above them growing louder. It won't be long before they lose patience and try explosives.
Once inside, Rurik pried the lid off of one of the crates and pulled an RPK from inside. “Come on, back down stairs, there's a tunnel that leads into the Zone." he said.
A rack of AKM/S rifles on the wall immediately caught Sigbrand's attention, grabbing one, he threw his eyes around the room looking for a bag of some kind. He saw Adder picking up a rucksack, and quickly picked up the one lying next to it. Going back to the crates, Sigbrand began shoveling as many magazines, food tins, and medkits as he could see into the bag. He slung the bag over his shoulders, and grabbed one last magazine, loading it into his rifle.
There was another bang at the door, accompanied by a horrible metallic squeal. Rurik had already left the supply room, and Sigbrand waved the rest of the former stalkers through the door, taking up the rear. As they hurried down the stairs, Sigbrand's heart began to pound. It wasn't from fear, either. This was the first time Sigbrand had felt real excitement for almost six years, on the run from the military at the edge of the Zone. It was almost like his first day in the Zone all over again.
It only took them a moment to reach the entrance to Rurik's tunnel. It stretched much further than the light from the door could illuminate, and a railcar rested just in front of them. Adder, Blank, and Vorona piled in, and Sigbrand held up at the door listening carefully in case the entrance above had given way. He heard the cart rumble into life, and quickly ran back to it. He jumped in, shortly followed by Rurik, and the cart began to roll down the track into the darkness.
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Post by blackpapermoon on Dec 3, 2014 0:19:23 GMT -5
The metal door of Rurik’s bunker groaned as yet another attempt was made to force the door open, at first Vorona thought it to be a bad joke but no one there seemed to be the type to make such an ill-conceived jest.
“Of all…why now,” the woman muttered to herself, with a slowly simmering rage, “no better than the gangsters in the Valley.”
Odds where that the very military troops ready to storm the bunker had been at one time or another aided if not saved by Duty maybe even the former second in command himself. Without much thought or hesitation she grabbed an empty knapsack from one of the shelves and hastily packed the canvas bag with med kits, food and water. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted some electronics that she quickly recognized it as a small handheld Geiger counter, almost tripping over someone else’s feet she rushed over to it and swiftly tossed it into the pack. With her heart pounding in her chest she found herself swiping a gas mask and a few filters from a nearby table, and stuffed her pockets with metal bolts and nuts from a glass jar. The empty jar crashed to the ground and broke, the woman looked down at it biting her lips there was no time. Seeing that the others had outfitted themselves with assault rifles she took a Baikal MP-133 from a rack and helped herself to some 12 gage slugs, before joining where the others had gathered.
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Post by The Karcolith on Dec 3, 2014 0:50:20 GMT -5
As the cart slowly made it's way into the darkness, Rurik sighed and leaned back it would take the best part of an hour before they arrived, he knew the others probably had questions so he decided to explain what he'd been doing with himself.
“Adder, you asked you asked why I had all that equipment,” Rurik started, pausing a moment to categorise his thoughts. “After I left Duty and the zone, I tried living in society again, but found it to be unsatisfactory, eventually I got in contact with the lone stalkers faction and started moving higher grade weapons and equipment into the zone for them.”
Glancing back to see if the anyone was following them before settling down and continuing.
“Over the years I've paid off the army to look the other way and increased the gear I moved into the zone. From what I gathered, the stalkers and army were working together to try and stabalise the zone to some effect. I don't know how that's worked out, but I was told that a new general had come to power and wants control of the zone and he is more interested in clearing the zone of intruders, than working to stabilise or assist with the ecologists research.”
Sitting in silence for a little while, Rurik summed up his thoughts.
“I assume that's who was responsible for the attack. I wonder how the stalkers have fared?” Rurik said quietly, “I guess we'll get to see soon enough.”
Far ahead, there was a speck of light, but it was still tiny.
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Dec 4, 2014 9:31:48 GMT -5
Adder was shaking and her nerves felt like they'd been fed through a cheese maker. Of course this wasn't her first run in with the military. God knows how many times Freedom had fought off a Spetsnaz raid back in the day, but that was back in the day. Five years ago. Now she felt sick with fear and dazed. The events in Rurik's bunker were blurry in her mind, and didn't seem to make much sense at all. When Rurik spoke she stared at him.
"You mean you're taking us into a goddamn war zone?" She asked in a strained voice, "I haven't fired a gun in five years! What if the army's waiting for us on the other side?"
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Post by blackpapermoon on Dec 28, 2014 15:04:04 GMT -5
The cart traveled down the tunnel, the blond woman’s weapon felt heavy in her arms. It was old and unfamiliar, after five years her time in the zone felt like the distant past. It was like staring all over again, but without her brother as a guide to aid her. During the scramble of collecting gear under the threat of the army’s attack, she did have the time to comprehend what exactly was going on. Here she was in a hand cart. Along with old former stalkers, legends in fact. Heading back to the zone.
“T-this is really happening?” Vorona asked, bewildered, “this is not a dream? We are actually going back? Returning to the Zone?” She stood there her mouth open half expecting to suddenly awaken in her nice warm bed. Any moment now, but no this was not an illusion this was truth.
“I had dreams, nightmares really but… God this is real.”
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A thick blue haze of cigarette smoke filled the 100 rads bar, hushed voices whispered tales, and stories adding to the ambiance. The soft gentle voice of a woman was heard from a small CD player somewhere from behind the bar, as a tall man dressed in the navy colors of the Mercenary faction sat at a table staring at an old antiquated Television set. The image of a blond news caster flickered in and out of the snowy static, making it impossible to attain any information from the broadcast. Still the merc watched on, the few times her face was clear he noted her bored expression, the same expression that she wore each time he’d seen her broadcast over the past few months. He could only assume that she hated her job, perhaps disgruntled that she was not covering stories in foreign lands and exotic locations.
“Miss the world outside the zone Merc,” Barkeep called as he continuously wiped a shot glass with a soiled rag.
“I miss mobility more,” the Merc replied rubbing a leg that was confined in bandages and a rusted medical brace that must have last seen use when Chernenko was still in power.
The trader let out a heavy laugh, as he set the glass down among other pieces of glass ware.
“Bear trap was it? Lucky you did not lose that leg.”
“Lucky that the Chimera was preoccupied with the shooting then me,” he said as he watched Barkeep pick up yet another glass inspect it then start shining, “must be dead in here if you feel compelled to chat with me.”
The stalker behind the counter continued with his wiping, his eyes flashing a smart devil like gleam, “I find it curious that you’re on the mend in Rostok, a Bandit turned Mercenary.”
“I’m sure General Petrenko is having a ball with that,” Shade frowned with a sigh, “I doubt any stalker would be willing to drag a cripple more than a kilometer.”
“To be honest I didn’t think anyone liked you enough to pull you out of the territories,” the trader said still rubbing the tiny cup, “The Zone never ceases to amaze me.”
“It seems I still have my uses,” the long black haired stalker remarked slowly shifting up and getting to his feet, a crutch aiding him to stand, “how long before the Army gets here?”
“Soon enough Merc, best get limping.”
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Camelith
Lurker
Three Camel Moon
Posts: 12
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Post by Camelith on Aug 18, 2015 1:33:21 GMT -5
As the cart rumbled steadily forward, Sigbrand finally noticed that his heart was racing. His hands gripped the furniture of his AK like vices and his throat was beginning to dry out. Adrenaline pumped through his veins and his senses felt heightened. He hadn't felt this way in almost a decade. Christ, and I haven't even been shot at yet, he thought, as the vocal concerns of his comrades, and the flat rumble of Rurik's voice pulled him back to the present.
"We've got no choice now," he finally managed to say, "the authorities are looking for us, we'll either have to wait them out for a while inside the Zone or find a way out somewhere far away from here."
"Our first priority should be finding suits, we're all rusty and I don't want us going too long without insulation or radiation protection.", he continued. "Getting in contact with Duty or Freedom is probably our safest bet at this point, assuming our names have any kind of influence anymore."
Sigbrand pulled a bottle of water from his pack and took a swig. He then pulled a few more out and passed them around the cart, "Drink up before it all gets irradiated." he said as the light at the end of the tunnel grew brighter and brighter.
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Post by The Karcolith on Aug 18, 2015 16:52:37 GMT -5
Rurik simply nodded, taking the bottle of water, sipping it.
Would his or Sigbrand's name help them in Rostok? Only time would tell, he had enough money to cover suits for the group but still wasn't sure how they'd get out of the hell hole they'd all once called home, his concern was for the others more than himself.
"I'll cover the suits, hopefully we can find a means of escaping since I doubt we can just walk out." He said quietly.
The end of the tunnel was growing ever closer until the cart began to slow, the light ahead was almost blinding after the trek through the dimly lit tunnel.
An hour before the group arrives
"Sir, I have word there's another shipment coming in." A merc said as Karc was about to leave to investigate the bandit base in the dark valley, they had been planning an attack and notes from Shade given him insight into where hidden snipers were and how he could avoid them while planning the attack on the bandit's base. Most of the entrances were easy to scout, a group of bandits standing around doing nothing, waiting for their shift to end. Several defectors from the bandits had talked Karc through the lay out and possible problematic places.
"Let's see what this is, I have a sneaking suspicion I know what that 'shipment' is." Karc said quickly, turning and running as quickly as his gear allowed, ignoring the distant howls from creatures that were stalking the area. As they made it to the tunnel that was used to cross into The Cordon, they slowed down, the tunnel had a habit of spawning anomalies that seemed to change position occasionally, making the tunnel a dangerous option.
Clicking on his night vision, Karc cautiously edged forward, looking for any distortions that might signify an anomaly, while listening for possible audio cues. About halfway through the tunnel a cluster of springboards blocked the way forward. With a sigh Karc looked around, frustrated that they'd made this far only to be barred further access.
"Any ideas?" Karc said quietly, almost so the anomalies wouldn't hear.
After almost a minute of silence as the other two looked around, one of the escorting mercs piped up, "Sir, what if we try and push that drain pipe forward?"
Shining his torch over and into the pipe and shrugged, picking up a sizable chunk of tarmac that had cracked from age, he flung it through It only set the trap off once it came out the other end.
"Well let's push it forward and see if that helps." Karc said as he braced the heavy drain and readied himself, the combined effort saw it grind it's way forward inch by inch until Karc decided it was far enough forward to be clear of the springboard's radius, flinging another chunk through the pipe this time the anomaly didn't react. With a nod Karc crouched and scrambled forward, half expecting something to happen but it didn't come.
Standing with a sigh of relief they continued forward hoping they wouldn't be too late to see what was coming into the zone.
"Just about there now." Rurik said as the cart finally ground to a halt.
Hefting a rucksack full of supplies, he slung it over his shoulder, before picking up the LMG and moving forward. His eyes still hadn't fully adjusted when something crashed down the stairs crumpling on the ground, jumping back in surprise he saw the thing that had fallen was a body, dressed in military garb. The sound of boots made there way down the steps, raising his weapon as did the others, he noted the newcomer was wearing merc colours, but his uniform was better than what most would ever dream of owning, his face was obscured by a mask, two more mercs came down the stairs raising their weapons, but the first simply raised his hand and they lowered them just as quickly.
"At ease boys, I'm surprised to see you here Rurik, still leading unseasoned stalkers on expeditions beyond their aptitude?" Karc said "The Zone has changed."
Looking past Rurik at the others that were accompanying him some of the faces weren't overly familiar some were.
"Sigbrand? Long time old friend, and is that Adder?" Karc exclaimed with some interest, "It's almost like history repeating itself. I'm sorry I don't recall your name, but your face is familiar." He added looking at Verona, and finally turning his gaze to Blank.
"Your face is familiar too, but I'm drawing blanks on your name as well."
Rurik lowered his weapon, he'd finally remember who the merc was, "Karc, I presume? Still running errands or have you finally moved on to something grander?"
With a slight chuckle Karc finally removed the helmet, revealing a feral grin. "Very amusing indeed, if you consider taking over the Mercenary faction as grand than yes I'd say I've done alright."
One of the mercs cleared his throat.
"Oh yes down to business, I can guess why you've come here, and all I can say is you've stumbled, blindly at that into something far bigger and much worse. The military is slowly encroaching on other faction's territory, but now it's gone and stepped on Duty's toes. As we speak Rostok will soon be playing host to one of the most violent shootouts The Zone has seen." He stopped and let it sink in before continuing, "Now whether or not you intend to assist isn't really up to me, but it's in your best interest to fight them, of course if you help me now, maybe I'll be able help you later. Choose quickly though I don't have time to wait."
With a nod he put his helmet on and turned to leave, he figured if they followed they could catch up.
Once they were alone, Rurik looked to the others.
"It's my fault we're here, so I'll leave this decision to each of you and I'll support that."
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Aug 20, 2015 13:48:49 GMT -5
Adder took the bottle and gulped water down as if it were her last drink. While the panic she had experienced earlier had mostly worn off, she was still far from calm. Thoughts of her son tormented her constantly and bitter regret gnawed at her. Why, oh why had she even come here? Deep down she had feared something terrible would happen, and, surprise surprise, it just had! She handed the water bottle to Blank without even glancing at the diminutive woman.
Blank, on the other hand, was bathing in the warmth of her medically-induced serenity. She could sense the danger they were in, roaring in the distance of her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to feel afraid or worried about it. She raised the bottle to her lips and drank. For the first time in months she did not feel the restless pain of hunger or the crushing grip of loneliness around her. She even looked up at Sigbrand and smiled brightly at him.
"Thanks, man!" She said before handing the bottle to Verona.
Both women blinked and shielded their eyes for a moment as the railcar crept slowly into the light. The car finally stopped in a dimly lit room, possibly another bunker built beneath the Zone. As the group stepped off, something was hurled down the stairs and landed with a sickening thud on the concrete floor. Adder inhaled sharply and stepped back when she saw it was a corpse still dressed in tattered military battle dress. In the corpse's wake there came several armed men, whom Adder quickly recognised as members of one of the Zone's mercenary groups, thanks to the blue markings on their suits. The suits they wore, however, did not seem anything like those Adder had seen back in the day. The camouflage pattern was different, and the fabric seemed to have changed.
How much could the Zone have changed in five years?
The conversation that followed seemed to give her a chilling answer: a lot. Adder found herself staring with wide eyes as Rurik identified the leader of the mercenaries, who turned out to be none other than Karcentric, a man who'd followed her into the darkest depths of the Dreamcatcher anomaly and had lived to tell the tale. As the conversation moved on, Karcentric revealed that, from mercenary errand boy, he had gone to being the leader of the faction.
"Oh yes down to business" said the lead mercenary, "I can guess why you've come here, and all I can say is you've stumbled, blindly at that into something far bigger and much worse. The military is slowly encroaching on other faction's territory, but now it's gone and stepped on Duty's toes. As we speak Rostok will soon be playing host to one of the most violent shootouts The Zone has seen." He stopped and let it sink in before continuing, "Now whether or not you intend to assist isn't really up to me, but it's in your best interest to fight them, of course if you help me now, maybe I'll be able help you later. Choose quickly though I don't have time to wait."
The merc then left, closely followed by his men. The tense silence that followed was broken only by Rurik's deep voice:
"It's my fault we're here, so I'll leave this decision to each of you and I'll support that."
Adder rubbed her forehead with a trembling hand. Her head was spinning from the anxiety and the roaring mass of past memories and sensations that were flooding her mind. Karcentric...she still remembered that day in the Red Forest, with Wasp. They had all walked into a living nightmare that day and experienced things usually kept well beyond the wall of sleep. Wasp had fallen ill soon after, coming down with the sickness every stalker dreaded: cancer. When Adder left the Zone, Wasp had still been clinging on, growing weaker and weaker with every passing week yet still going out on patrols and raids. Duty and Freedom had been at war then, a vicious, bloody war in which the dreams of many, including Maginot's had been ground into nothing.
Adder rubbed her temples. She still wore her civilian clothes, completely unfit for survival in the Zone, and so did everyone else. Sigbrand had mentioned the importance of finding appropriate equipment, but where could they get it? Adder sure as hell didn't have enough money on her to purchase a suit...
It was then that realisation dawned. There was a place they could find equipment, and she knew exactly where it was and how to get to it.
"Rurik" she said urgently, "I need to talk to you."
She grabbed the stalker's arm and lead him away from the group. Once she was sure they were out of earshot, she whispered: "I don't know what's going on up in Rostok, and I don't care, but what I do care about is making sure we all make it out of this alive. We need equipment, and we need it desperately. Like Sigbrand said, if we don't get ourselves adequate protection, we'll be cooked as soon as we get into a radioactive area."
Adder stopped and glanced back at the group. Old loyalties tugged at her, forbidding her to tell Rurik about the place she had in mind.
"Now Rurik, I still remember the war. We all did terrible things then, but I trust we've both left our old enmities behind us. There is a place where we can get what we need, for free. It's...it's at Penumbra's old base."
She stopped again, staring into Rurik's eyes. Telling a Dutier about the place would have earned anyone a direct trip to the shooting squad, but that was five years ago. Penumbra was dead, and Freedom and Duty, if they even still existed, had probably buried the hatchet.
"It's not too far from here" she whispered, "it's in the Swamps, far to the West. During the war we had a large cache of weapons and suits there. I don't know if it's still in place, but it's worth a try."
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Post by blackpapermoon on Aug 21, 2015 14:31:34 GMT -5
The cart slowly clanked down the track, every sound echoed in the tunnel. Vorona strained her eyes trying to see what laid before them, but she was only met with darkness. How long would they stay ahead of the Military squad that raided Rurik’s bunker, where more soldiers going to be waiting for them at the end of the tunnel? But what most worried her was what awaited them in the Zone itself; when she left the Zone it was in a violent state of flux with mutants only ever seen in the far north being spotted near the outskirts. Paths one safe where now anomaly laden deathtraps, and war and began between Duty and Freedom. The Zone had lost what little stability it had, certainly in the past five years things should have settled down. Otherwise the Zone would have spilled out into the outside world. But the attack just left so many questions, what had become of things since she left?
The blond was brought out of her pondering when Sigbrand offered up his canteen to the group stating they should drink up before it was tainted with radiation. In truth she was not entirely thirsty, but she suspected it might be a long time before any of them saw any kind of settlement. The bottle was passed around to each, but when Blank passed the water to her she found the woman to be unnervingly chipper. How could anyone be happy about going to a land that many proclaimed as Hell, not even figuratively but the real Hell.
She wanted to say something but what was there to say? Vorona didn't want to start any issues after all they were stuck in this together, if she ever wanted to get out of this place again she was going to need their help. Instead she nodded at the short woman; tentatively she swirled the contents around before taking a gulp, she right feel right taking what was left of the water so she left enough in case some needed more water.
“Thank you,” she said as she handed the bottle back toward its owner, “you should keep the rest though.”
It was a long time before the dim light of the exit was seen in the tunnel as the cart continued forward. As they pulled to a stop, the room was thankful clear but as they stepped off the corpse of a man in Military attire was unceremoniously dumped down the small stairway landing just before the feet of the returning stalkers. Vorona froze, fearing that this would be the end and soon they would be torn to bits by a barrage by a hail of gunfire. However instead of the colors of the military, men in blue poured into the room led by none other than Karc, a Mercenary she met once during a deep raid into the Red Forest. He then filled them in on some things they missed out on, mainly the the Military’s overzealousness and that he had taken over the Mercs as their leader. He gave choice to help but then promptly left them to decide, after a few moments Rurik voiced cut through the stillness.
"It's my fault we're here, so I'll leave this decision to each of you and I'll support that."
She wanted to be angry with him but she couldn't.
“I don’t blame you,” she replied softly, “you could not have known this would happen. I don’t think we should get involved with a fight that we are not apart of any more. We aren't stalkers, none of us have been for at least five years! I left because the war took my brother, and I don’t want to fight in one now.”
She paused to clear her throat, before continuing.
“It may be cowardly, but maybe we should head to Yantar’s science bunker, see if we can’t get home.”
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Shade left the the 100 Rads, cursing under his breath as he hobbled up the old stairway. The bound leg still caused him agony even after months of rest, he had the feeling that the leg would never be right again. The lack of exercise compacted with the injury, causing the Merc to huff with each breath. He didn't have time to notice that the bar’s greeter was not present in his armored booth as he continued to haul up to the surface. He grimaced when he first stepped out of the underground as the sun’s bright gaze stabbed into his unacclimated eyes, he paused to rub his eyes with the back of his hand. After the momentary blindness had passed, he was able to survey the small yard in front of the bar’s entrance. Sandbags had been piled waist high near the doorway to form a barricade, and outer-ring of sandbags had been sandvich between wood and metal plates in attempt to further strengthen the wall’s defense
Limping along more easily now that he had gotten past the stairs, Shade followed along the cracked walkway that led to Rostok’s main courtyard. Stalkers had some how managed to push a few of the large shipping crates into the center of the square, they like the bar had outer barricades of sandbags and makeshift walls of wood and iron plate. On top of the containers was yet more sandbag semicircles; manned by Dutyers, some still not having received their black and red armor. Shade began to walk towards the main Duty headquarters, as the black armored men and volunteer Loners marched past, going the otherway. The building was a swarm of activity; much like an anthill with stalkers coming and going in a near constant rate. A few of the outgoing stalkers briefly turned to give him dirty looks and angry sneers, by now he was used to being the territory’s number one pariah.
Many blamed the Mercenary faction for the Military’s recent hostilities towards stalkers, sighting the numerous raids into newly discovered X Labs that the Military had claimed to be left be. Others claimed that they tempted the Zone itself by the expeditions mounted to reach the center and reap its bounties. His past as a bandit did little to kindle any trust of the local stalkers. He knew that the only thing keeping him from being strung up or shot in the back was that he was a part of the inner circle of the merc hierarchy. He was sure the only one that tolerated him enough to interact was Barkeep, and that was only because of his money.
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Camelith
Lurker
Three Camel Moon
Posts: 12
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Post by Camelith on Aug 22, 2015 1:57:49 GMT -5
None of the options presented seemed particularly attractive to Sigbrand.
While Karcentric's offer to join the defense of Rostok tugged at his conscience, he knew it would only serve to enlarge the target the SBU had undoubtedly painted on all of their backs. Vorona's suggestion to head for Yantar seemed sound, but there was no guarantee that the ecologists still enjoyed the same independence they did in years past, or even if the mobile lab was still located there. Adder had pulled Rurik aside, probably to divulge information related to Freedom she did not wish the mercenaries to overhear. Blank had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, and he couldn't read much from her expression, so he doubted she had any suggestions at the moment.
Once it seemed Adder had finished talking to Rurik, Sigbrand walked over to the two and gestured for Blank to follow. "If things really are as bad with the Military as they sound, we'll want to keep a low profile if we want to be able to get out of the country intact.". Sigbrand paused, taking a moment to think before continuing, "Duty hunters used to keep outposts in the Red Forest, and its possible we could find supplies there, but I doubt they could've gone this long without being discovered and looted."
"Unless, of course," he said, lowering his voice to ensure the mercenaries could not eavesdrop, "one of you has something to share?"
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Post by The Karcolith on Aug 22, 2015 14:02:37 GMT -5
Watching the mercs leave. Adder spoke up.
"Rurik" she said urgently, "I need to talk to you."
Stepping aside he crouched to listen to what Adder proposed.
"The swamps are dangerous, but we can probably get through them with out too much drama, assuming we keep moving." Rurik said as Sigbrand came over to see what Adder had told Rurik. Vorona's idea that was also suggested tugged at Rurik's interest.
"I don't know how we'd get through to Yantar without better gear. We might be able to get there from Agroprom, but since the military held a base close to that path traveling from the Swamps, I'd say going through there would be a death trap, especially if the military have an increased presence in the zone now." Rurik, pondering their situation. He didn't want to fight a war either. He knew his way around Rostok and the Wild Territories well, but much could have changed in five years.
"Even if they ecologists are still based in Yantar which ever faction controls the area will have control of what goes in and out via helicopter or truck. But better equipment should be our core focus right now. Adder, you have an idea where we can possibly get gear so that's as good a lead as any, you take point."
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Aug 22, 2015 16:07:49 GMT -5
Blank had followed Sigbrand to where Adder and Rurik stood conversing in hushed voices. She had only nodded when Rurik had spoken to them all earlier. Her medication kept her detached from most of the events going on around her. Apparently trouble was brewing up at Rostok, a place she was not very familiar with. What did grab her attention was the military's increased presence. She stood silently, listening to what the others had to say.
"Okay" said Adder as she glanced at Sigbrand, Vorona and Blank. "I was telling Rurik about a place where we could get some equipment. Back in the day, Wasp, Polecat and I selected an unoccupied facility to the West of the Great Swamps to serve as a base of operations for Penumbra. We moved most of our arsenal there and used it to raid Duty's positions during the war. The main access was barred by a blast-proof door, not just a big steel thing, but a huge slab. You could chuck grenades at it all day and it wouldn't budge. Anyway, when closed that door could only be opened with a code known only by Penumbra's inner circle. That's Wasp, Polecat and I. After I left Wasp was made leader, and after her, I can only guess. Perhaps Polecat. In any case, I haven't had any news from Penumbra for years, and I believe the place may be abandoned. If that is indeed the case, the facility has been sealed and its contents have remained untouched."
Adder took out her PDA and activated it by pressing the main button. After flicking through a few menus, she came onto the satellite map of the Great Swamps. Several green-coloured markers appeared, showing secret Penumbra stashes. To the West, across the river, was a much larger dot indicating where the base was located.
"This is it" she said, showing the others her screen, "the stashes shown on the map are probably not worth investigating since it seems unlikely they wouldn't have been looted by stalkers. Our best bet is the main base, but I don't know if the equipment in it will be in good shape or not...or if we can still access the Swamps. If the Zone changed, then the paths could have changed too."
She took a deep breath. Outside the room lay a world of danger, a world that she once knew but was now as foreign to her as the surface of the Moon. She gripped her assault rifle more tightly.
"All right then, let's go."
She went towards the stairs, stopping briefly to look down at the dead soldier. His glassy eyes seemed to stare right through her, and she felt a chill go down her spine. Adder steeled herself and went up the stairs, the metal contraption shaking slightly with every step she took. Finally she reached the top, where the door was open to the elements, and stepped outside. She found herself beneath a small concrete bridge, undoubtedly the one before the broken railway pass where, back in the day, soldiers used to prowl. The light was fading as evening crept closer. At first Adder didn't even register the fact night time was approaching, but then she thought of the others; without torches or any kind of night-vision equipment, they'd be as blind as bats.
"It'll be night soon" said Adder, turning back to the others as they emerged from the underground facility. "Moving around at night doesn't bother me that much, but you guys...we should try to find a safe place to make camp."
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