[IC] Rise of Tigers - Stompy Mech Game

[NinthG1g4by73]

IC: Skoll

Skoll grabbed his cutting tool and slung it behind him on his belt. After stocking up on stimpacks and ensuring that he has at least two medkits, he heads towards Juliana's shuttle, talking in the direction of everybody one last time. "Right, three to a shuttle, get cozy, same shit different day. See you planet-side." Climbing into the shuttle, he goes to where he can easily secure himself.

@Nato Greavesy

[Nato Greavesy]

IC: Juliana Winters - Shuttle.

"Welcome aboard," Juliana nodded to Skoll as she strapped herself in, "I assume you'll be hanging back at the airfield while the rest of us have all of the fun?"

[NinthG1g4by73]

IC: Skoll

Skoll looks over at Juliana. "You just love making my job more difficult don't you."

@Nato Greavesy

[Nato Greavesy]

IC: Juliana Winters - Shuttle.

"Well, someone's got to make things interesting around here. Imagine how boring life would be if everything went according to plan. You wouldn't even have a job."

[NinthG1g4by73]

IC: Skoll

Skoll just sighs and shakes his head, turning his attention to the seat straps. "Would it kill the maintenance crew to install better cushions? I feel like my hind legs might pop off." Tracing his hand across his helmet, he flips the toggle for shuttle coms. "This is Tiger Six to Argonaut flight control, Tiger Six and Tiger Four are strapped into Shuttle One and pending, stand by." Toggling the com switch again, an indicator light turns green, signaling that pilot to pilot coms are active. "This is Tiger Six kicking off role call for all Tigers. Shuttles are warming up, sound off and strap in."

@Nato Greavesy @Ardoku @Ehksidian @GunmetalGold @VahkiDane @UltimoScorp

[GunmetalGold]

IC: Brae Tessen

Brae swore in her native language as she fumbled with the straps to her seat. "Tiger Three. All good here."

[VahkiDane]

IC: Iral Vijil

The raptor clambered into the shuttle, strapping himself in for the ride. "Tiger number 1 in and ready for departure." He said, feeling his sidearm to reassure himself he hadn't left it.

[Nato Greavesy]

IC: Juliana Winters - Shuttle One.

"I'm pretty sure these ships were designed with less... centaur-esque occupants in mind." Juliana shrugged, "If this job goes well, maybe you can buy your own special seat." She titled down the volume on her earpiece, finding Brae and Iral's voices to be coming through a little too loudly for her liking, before speaking into her mic, "This is Tiger 4, ready to make some craters."

[VahkiDane]

IC: Iral Vijil

Listening into the chatter, Iral's eyes widened as he realized Winters' callsign. If he had a heart monitor, it would have been beeping like all hell. "4? 4?! I told Faust to skip that number! It's unlucky! Cursed! Why would you ever choose 4?!" His voice was audibly getting more panicked and quicker.

[Nato Greavesy]

IC: Juliana Winters - Shuttle One.

"Oh. I... uh, I guess I was the fourth pilot to sign up? You can always just refer to me by my name. In fact, I would prefer that."

[VahkiDane]

IC: Iral Vijil

"Y-You-Nevermind! It's fine! I'm fine!" Iral tried his best to calm himself, muttering something to himself (not so quietly) about humans and how selfish they are. "Let's just get going."

[Ardoku]

Zyreq'riis

"Tiger 5, reporting all clear." Zyreq said over the comms while strapping himself in. "So, how are we all feeling about this mission? Personally I'm looking forward to a good old fashioned bloodbath... with the blood of our designated targets, of course."

[GunmetalGold]

IC: Brae Tessen

Brae rolled her neck and fiddled with her knife. "It's a chance to test out the new PPC on Praetorian. But, heh, I think I'll use my fists regardless."

[NinthG1g4by73]

IC: Skoll

"When do you not use your fists, Brae. I can't even recall a single mission where you DIDN'T go beating a mech to death with its own arm."

@GunmetalGold

[Ardoku]

Zyreq'riis

"Hey, it's the next best thing to using your own fists. And that... well, there's something very special about beating the life out of someone. In that one moment, there's nothing between you and your kill. Just fists and blood. And guts, if you take it far enough, but at that point you're probably beating a dead corpse."

[NinthG1g4by73]

IC: Skoll

"Juliana, remind me NOT to spar against Zyreq'riis when we get back."

@Nato Greavesy

[Ardoku]

Zyreq'riis

A resounding laughter could be heard over the comms. "Ohoho. Ooh. You need not worry, friend, I can hold back enough not to kill when I need to. Not every fight need be about life or death."

"And please, call me Zyreq. Zyreq'riis is... well, a bit too formal, lets just say."

[GunmetalGold]

IC: Brae Tessen

Brae let out a loud, growling laugh. "Beating a thing t death with it's own limb is the most satisfying thing you can do. I killed a Zaegor that way as an adolescent. Ripped off it's horn and beat the thing to death with it."

She growled triumphantly and imagined she was holding the horn in her hands. "Had to impale the thing with it to finish it off. Zaegor carapace is hard to make a dent in. Had to find a gap in the chitin and-" Brae thrust the imaginary horn down violently. "Drive the horn into it's angry little heart."

[Ardoku]

Zyreq'riis

Zyreq listened eagerly, nodding and grinning in approval. "A fine kill. What did its blood taste like?"

[Nato Greavesy]

IC: Juliana Winters - Shuttle One.

"I dunno..." Juliana finally forced herself to formulate an answer to Zyreq's earlier question, "I'm a little iffy about this mission, if I'm being honest." Her fingertips drummed against the barrel of her sidearm, "We've been hired to stop these mechs, we've flown all the way out here, but the boss still doesn't know whether we're meant to be trying to take these guys alive or kill them outright? And she agreed to completely forfeit our pay if the enemy get past some imaginary line?"

Juliana's mind always tended to wander down some dark paths in the minutes before a mission. Usually it was just nervousness, but this time... this time it really felt like she was missing something. "Why would a prison hire a mercenary outfit from off-world to deal with a breakout, instead of just calling in official backup from the cities?" Juliana knew what it felt like to be kept in the dark, to be used as an expendable pawn in someone else's shady game, and she couldn't shake the grim feeling that she and the rest of the Tigers were being thrust into such a situation.