HopelessIncubus

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Mike grabbed the booze and food, and glanced over as Aiden whispered something to the mink stiffened.
Oh gods, don't say anything stupid. mike though frantically.

the mink recovered quickly as Aiden moved to the pool table, setting up for a game as mike carried the mini feast over. Mike had just taken a bit of greasy, delicious, hangover cure, as Aidan secretly blurted to mike that he had called a massive bluff.

*Gulk* Mike choked on the burger before quickly swallowing it down with beer. "Are you high?" Mike whispered back, turning away from the bar. "what part of team did you not understand!" Mike raked his hair as he tried to rapidly piece together some form of plan besides 'wing it'.

most plans involved ramming a cue ball down Aiden's throat.

"alright, alright....we can salvage this...." Mike murmured to himself, as he grabbed a couple fries and chewed on them thoughtfully.

"If shit hits the fan, I'll buy you as much booze as you can handle." Aiden said, obviously distressed as mike was.

"I will drain your account, and get fatal alcohol poisoning before we're square" Mike hissed as he fell into the motions of pool. lining up the break.

before he could take the shot, the mink returned.
"I know you're bluffing," she said, leaning over the table.

you don't say? Mike thought as he pointedly waited mid shot.

"But I don't know who you are, exactly, or what you want with me or Martenstown. I'm interested though. Meet me outside, the park two blocks down the street in twenty minutes. And if you think it's a trap... well I'm on my own, and there are two of you. And it's a public place across the street from the Police station". she finished sauntering off as mike took the shot, watching the spheres rebound of themselves, and the felt bunkers.
the 8 ball fell into the side pocket, followed by the cue ball.

"games over" he said, straightening up, and leaving the cue on the table. "lets go, keep your eyes open" Mike muttered, walking out into the crowd, squeezing the Com tab in his cuff.

"Nawlin here, possible lead, or possible trap, will contact within 30 min, if no contact, assume captured....or worse." Mike quietly muttered into his collar. Mike stopped trying to blend, all effort going into keeping an eye out for trouble, and following a ways back from the mink.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

oh....oh im going to have fun this next post machine.....its gonna take a bit after silvers post.

mike is gonna be so salty....so very, very salty with you.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Oh boy, this could go poorly.... DAMAGE CONTROL GO!

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

"-So, uh, how's your family doing, Mi- Mitch?" Aiden stuttered

mike inwardly winced, and his ears drooped for a moment, before returning to normal. "ah you know, parents asking when ill slow down, get a girlfriend, big sister wanting to know if I'll make it to sally's recital, the normal stuff" mike said, putting his arms in back of his head.
"you know?" he continued. "I loved having to learn the recorder in school and being humiliated on stage, can't wait to be the onlooker this time!" he griped, sarcasm dripping in his voice.

"Alright, here we are, Mik-Mitch." Aiden started, as mike shot him a quick glance.
Aiden, relax, slow is fast. mike thought as they entered the bar.

"This one's got a jukebox an' a cute chick. Let's roll" Aiden finished, seemingly falling into his improvised personal well enough.

"sounds like a good joint to me" mike said following behind, trying to covertly watch his back. as they entered, he watched the short lived pang of unease travel through Aiden's back, right before it hit him.

it was less "something was off" and more "what isn't off?" the patrons didn't seem to be patrons, and the groups were at their largest 5 people, suggesting some form of fire teams? All the TVs hosted various news channels, when bars usually hosted sports. the bar was clean, still smelled of cleanser. But the most obvious red flag, was the fact that in a bar, a female was not only being ignored, but given a wide berth. Either she was everyone's adopted sister, or she was important, the military cut either made her a merc, military, or police.

"-and I'll have you any day, sweetheart."

ಠ_ಠ......................... mike's face fell flat. if we live....imma kill you. mike thought, instantly moving carefully behind Aiden. mike tried not to look to hard at the pad, but thought he saw some chart, or map on it before it blacked out.

"I'm sorry, were you talking to me?" she asked in some confusion. "I think you might want the bartender," she continued, gesturing to a large and portly bear who was leaning on the bar from behind at the other end, polishing a pint glass.
oh boy, there's the main bouncer. mike thought, glancing quickly at the hulking bear. sure, I might take him, but what about the other 20 or so behind us. mike mused.

"Was there something else I could help you gentlemen with?" the mink asked.

"No, sorry" mike interjected on Aiden's behalf, glaring at him. "Dave here tends to talk before he thinks. what he meant was, 'hello, I'm Dave, can I buy you a drink?" mike said, trying to play dumb bar hopper while trying to not get caught in a bar fight. "now Dave, apologize to the lady, while I get our food, provided the owner doesn't through us out" he sighed.

walking up to the bar, he tried not to openly gauge the bar, and instead listened as he waited for the barkeep to take notice.
"Hey, if it's not too much trouble, we'd like to get 2 beers and burgers?" he asked. "also since my buddy Dave is paying, we'd like to pick up her tab, if she allows it." he said.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

I leave the first bar choice up to you machine.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

"Hopefully it won't be us who'll get pounded. Guess it goes without saying you people should watch your back on the field; if I would carry my kit, I'd might as well put a bull's-eye on my head."

"yeah, wish we had more time to split up a kit." mike mused, "but I got a light med kit, ought to patch a few holes." it was a lie really, despite adding a few tampons into the pack just in case anyone got shot, it was a far cry to what they'd need.

a few moments later, after everyone had shown up, blade started the mission briefing.
"Nawlin, you and Sykes are buddying up" Blade said pointing to them in turn. mike nodded a confirmation as he moved to pair up next to Aiden,
"Recon and Medic?, what could go wrong?" he asked smirking, trying to keep morale up, despite their last skirmish.
"Nawlin, you and Sykes hit the bars an' dives in the' middle of town." blade said, getting back to them.
"Gods no!" mike whispered, putting a fist to his head. "never again"

"Remember: we're tryin' ta pick up the buzz, chit-chat and rumors. Keep an eye out fer anyone who looks out of place... and try not to get drunk, or thrown out."
"Can do sir." mike said, planning his cover, but perked up at "special fund".

"special fund?" he asked. "Any restrictions?...barring contraband of course"

the rest of the brief, was straight forward despite the mission, Find the target, be quiet, don't be afraid to play a little dirty, don't get caught, STAY ALIVE. too soon for his nerves, it was time to leave. checking over his gear one last time, he gestured to Aiden if he was ready, and stepped into the city.

Immediately everything was wrong, the briefing may have covered it, but being in a hostile occupied city, this lightly outfitted, was still jarring. there were too many people, and his ever reassuring hud was missing. The old tensed posture from his child hood returned, core tight, legs slightly bent, hands tightly clenched. he quickly assessed the new surroundings.

"am I in danger?", no. "Am I blending?" he took a quick sweeping glance, and found a varying crowd.
I am close to blending. "what do I need to blend?" relax, be alert, not aggressive....slowly the core loosened a bit, legs straightened into a stride, and thumbs slipped into his pockets. glancing to Aiden, he cocked an eyebrow.

"you up for a game of pool?"

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

my character has the type of past, where he might be convinced to keep silent(no not a bribe) so lets see how this goes.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Upon hearing the mission parameters, and being dismissed, mike got up and walked into his room. Reaching into his locker, he pulled out a bottle of aspirin, and multivitamins, taking two of each before swallowing them down with some sports drink.

"that ought to keep my head together." he muttered, before killing off the rest of the drink. tossing the empty bottle into the recycling bin, he peeled of the dress uniform, and dressed in civilian clothes. trading the dark, itchy wool, for a pair of faded jeans, dark T-shirt, and battered combat boots. taking a moment, he walked over to is GEAR uniform, and removed the vest, wondering if it would fit under his jacket.
"hmm...maybe?" mike mused, as he slid it on, and looked in a mirror. "no dice" he grumbled as he put it back, and grabbed his old jacket. Originally forest green, the heavy triple stitched fire hose jacket, had faded to a muted olive, but still had comfortable heft to it.

"well... you won't stop a bullet, but you might catch a blade" he said, smirking. "maybe the armory has something." mike mused, as he slid on his belt and holster rig, covering it with the jacket. After strapping on his knives, and adjusting them into obscurity, he grabbed his field knife, and headed to gear up at the armory. Despite his sensitivity to the lights, his hangover was getting better, and his mood followed suit. walking into the armory, he waved at the quarter master and came up to the window.

"sir, got a unusual mission, and I need some concealable equipment, and armor to match" mike said handing his PADD with his mission orders as proof.

"That's an odd one alright." the wolf nodded, motioning to a corporal. "get him kitted up, make sure he'll come back." the corporal nodded, and started to pick out and stack equipment.

a few minutes before deployment, mike arrived, itching at his collarbone. the corporal did good, the body armor was light, but strong, and only mildly irritating. the only thing that seamed abnormal, was the barely noticeable band around his throat, a clear wire going around his ear, and a satchel bag. being that a GEAR helmet might be a bit obvious, he decided to opt for a throat mike, earwig and radio. other new additions came in his satchel, such as water, small med kit, food, field knife, and most importantly, a loan from the armory.
checking his pistol, mags, and knives, making sure they were secured before he looked at the others.

"who's ready to go be ground pounders for a change?" he asked with a smirk.

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

back/post up

GEARS - Mecha Sci-fi with Anthro characters. RP in a detailed, story-driven world.

Last night mike toasted heartily with the rest of the Rough Riders, raising his voice till little more than gibberish was heard. Some sneaky crewman had kept his cup full, but he couldn't remember who, let alone how, he suspected one of the Gear techs. Someone toasted him for protecting the team, which mike didn't really believe, but played along anyway.

"Cheered for being a wall/bullet stop?" he thought. sure...why not? He should have used the mini guns more.

The thoughts continued the rest of the night, until the last few sober brain cells coaxed him to take his leave. What little dignity he had left was preserved as he stumbled into his quarters, shut the door, and fell onto his bed. His head and arm resting on the floor, snores rumbling through the cabin.
Mike fell tail over ears as sirens and bells sent a deafening cacophony through his splitting head.

"MOTHER OF _!" mike coughed before his brain slowly put the pieces together. "attack?.....ATTACK!"
Jumping unsteadily to his feet, mike wobbled, and with sheer force of will, gained his balance and burst from his door, sprinting for the armory. He ran 20ft down the corridor, before he noticed the lack of chaos.

"........." mike frowned and back stepped back into the common area, pointing at bade without looking as he sat down.
"Not funny sir....." he said, holding his head.