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Post by Karaa on Sept 3, 2009 18:35:48 GMT -8
As the wind bustled along the streets of the Megacity, bluepills wandering left right and center unaware of the grand scheme of events taking place without there knowledge.
For Valaro and the crew of the HvCFT Tiger standing around at hardlines had become pretty routine. Valaro was on his phone to Ocelet, when suddenly the phone went dead. He closed his phone and opend ait and redialled that last number. There was no dial tone.
He looked up at the rest of his team
"Cell phone went dead Ceege try yours"...
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Karaa waited at the hardline with the guys making sure it was clear. For the first time she wished she was actually on the strike team. Waiting at the hardline didn’t feel right. Though, hardly anything felt right anymore. She heard Valaro speaking and she came out of her musings. At first she didn’t understand what he was saying, “cell phone went dead, ceege try yours bro..” cell phone went dead? What? She immediately took out her cell phone and flipped it open. “Operator?” No response. Her gut twisted. She looked up at Valaro and shook her head, “Nothing.” Ceege was already trying his cell as was Angelis and Radomir. She looked up toward the skyline and hoped that the strike team was alright and that this wasn’t something more than a bad connection.
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Post by Ceege on Sept 3, 2009 23:51:01 GMT -8
Ceege grumbled under his breath and dug into his white trench coat pocket for his phone. He would much rather be jacked in to party at Polyvinyl or dueling his fellow pride members in the international district dojo. He couldn't remember the last time he got to put on his Gi or gold party hat. It seems these days the strikes were becoming much too common, those damn Machine's seemed to recruiting at an alarming rate. "Nada, nothing, what the hell is going on." He didn't show it but his nerves began to get the better of him and he looked up and down the slum streets warily. "Wasn't Rycus on the strike team?" he mumbled to himself, already knowing the answer was yes.
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Post by Valaro on Sept 4, 2009 10:13:16 GMT -8
Valaro, got a bad feeling. He put his Cell away in his pocket and looked around.
"There Jamming us. And you all know what that means! There Coming for us and them! If we cant call the ship in the real that means, we cant call the strike team either! And we cant risk giving up the hardline, because then our exit is screwed! Any ideas?"
Valaro wondered why Eichdee hadnt come with him, she was usually first to jump at the oppurtunity to help out, but not this time. He looked up to see if anyone had any suggestions.
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Post by Karaa on Sept 4, 2009 13:57:41 GMT -8
Karaa looked at ceege, she knew rycus was on the strike team just as he most certainly did. She took a deep breath and focused on what Valaro was saying. They needed to act now and make the decision quick. Rycus wasnt the only pride member on that strike team, if they didn't get them the support they probably needed....a shudder went through her body, she couldnt think that. Pride was family. She looked around at their faces, all grim, set and determined. Her eyes locked with Valaro's. "Three at the Hardline, two to offer support. If the we lose our exit it will be pointless but from the look of it the strike team is walking into an ambush." she paused and glanced down before looking back up and around their little circle, "We need to hurry." Just as she finished her sentance, Karaa heard footsteps coming up behind her...
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Post by Valaro on Sept 4, 2009 14:11:05 GMT -8
Ah Operative Karaa said an evil voice. This is where you and your friends die! You have attacked many of our Outpost's and stolen very senstive data, this cannot go on any longer!
Valaro grabbed Karaa's arm and pulled her behind him.
"I'm Looking for Catzi"
"Never heard of her, who is she some other random Operative? There are countless in Zion these day's what makes her so special?"
"She is the Leader of the Faction you serve. Do not try to fool us human"
"Im sorry you must be confused with someone else, I am The Leader of The Pride"
He glanced at Ceege qucikly then back to the Agent. They all knew that the story would only buy them a little time.
"GO!" Shouted Valaro...
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Post by Ceege on Sept 4, 2009 15:40:00 GMT -8
All five of them quickly turned to run. "We need to split up!" Ceege shouted as he could feel the Agent close behind them, "Val, Karaa you follow me, Rad, Ang you go West, whoever the Agent follows, lose him and we'll all meet where the sister is always present". They all knew this meant Mara church. Rad and Ang nodded, a silent good luck in their eyes, and hyper-jumped to the nearest building roof. Ceege, although he didn't want an agent pointing his FM-1500 at his head, needed the Agent to follow their group, he knew three had more of a chance at losing this infernal machine or best case scenario, defeating him. It had been done before, but only with casualties or The One present. He hoped today that The One was somehow looking over them and his close friend Rycus and the other Pride members in the strike team. Bang! Bang! Two of the Agents bullets hit an already destroyed building in the slum that the three just managed to duck behind. Stamos wasn't new to the sound of gunshots, all the doped up bluepills around didn't seem to even flinch. "Now what?" Ceege looked at Karaa as she turned round to see how far away the owner of those bullets was...
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Post by Karaa on Sept 4, 2009 16:01:17 GMT -8
Karaa turned as she heard the voice behind her and froze. An agent. Then she felt pressure on her arm and she was being pulled forward and behind Valaro. She looked up at Valaro, his hand was still on her arm. She shifted her gaze to the agent. His face was contorted into what she could only guess was a smile. This was bad, Karaa started looking around for a exit option but couldnt see any that would give them what they needed to get away from the machine in front of them.
"I'm looking for Catzi." The agents voice was monotone
Catzi? What is going on? Karaa checked her watch, the strike team would be moving into the building soon, ten minutes. It wasn't going to be enough time to warn them. She felt panic pushing in on her and did her best to tap it down. She couldn't go to pieces now. There is always a solution she thought. She just had to find it. She heard Valaro speaking and knew they only had minutes. She looked over at Radomir and Angelis their attention was on the agent, posed to attack. Karaa moved her eyes back to the agent in front of her. THINK! she commanded.
"...I'm the leader of the pride." Valaro's statement hung in the air.
She saw Valaro's gaze flicker to ceege. They would have to fight she thought. How would they make it out of this? No operators...no exists.
Karaa heard Valaro shout "GO!" and everything began to move in slow motion...
They all turned to run. She heard Ceege shouting and followed his lead. As they tore down the streets of stamos. They ducked down an alley as bullets hit the side of the destroyed building. "Now what?" Ceege asked next to her shoulder. Karaa looked around the wall and then immediately pressed against it. "Mervs..." She whispered, "idoits are always looking for some action." She said harshly. Mervs and an agent...this couldnt get any worse! She looked at Ceege, "The strike team is going in that building in five minutes. We don't have time for this." Frustrated, Karaa took a deep breath. "We have to warn them." She closed her eyes and tried to think.
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Post by Valaro on Sept 4, 2009 16:21:04 GMT -8
Valaro, just managing to duck out of the way of two silver fine polished bullets heading towards him and his team. Out of breath he took cover behind a small wall, partially collapsed and returned fire towards the Mervoingian Exiles heading from the other direction.
"THATS NOT ALL THERES CYPHS COMING IN 3 O CLOCK!" Time was running out and the odds were stacked against them!
A Small doorway leading to a small childrens play area in front of one of the heavily damaged buildings was to there left. They all ran through quickly and again took cover. Valaro turned to Karaa.
"Take this, and go! Theres a hardline 6 minutes north of here get to it and warn the strike team! Hopefully it wont be too late! Well hold them off. You must get out, do you understand! Find Eichdee shes on the Tiger! Tell her that Code Alpha 6 is in effect!". They all knew what that meant. In Zion code that meant your captain has died in battle, and that she was in command now, Karaa had just been trasferred to the Tiger to help with the Operations inside the system, along with Ceege and Angelis. This was at Valaro's request. He knew they were the best. But nothing can stop a team of Mervs and an Agent.
Karaa took off running as fast as she could...
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Post by Ceege on Sept 4, 2009 17:24:16 GMT -8
As Karaa took off Ceege wanted nothing but to follow her and protect her from any danger, she was like his little sister but he knew he stood a better chance of helping her by standing his ground against the coming onslaught and he knew she was the fastest, one of the reasons Val had requested her transfer to the Tiger. "Well I guess it's me and you Val, hope you remembered your ammo" Ceege said as he unlocked the safety on his twin FM's. "We can take the Cyph's, there's only a couple to back the agent. And perhaps the Merv's, only saw three or four but if that Agent comes, we do what anyone else would do, we run our asses off". By now Karaa was no longer in sight, and Ceege and Val could hear the running steps of several people. Ceege was on one end of the wall, nearest the Cyph's and Val on the other. Then from around Ceege's end two exiles dressed in red suits came into view just as one male and one female, both masked popped came from around Val's side. Ceege turned, nodded to Val who nodded back. "FOR THE PRIDE!" Val shouted and both began firing their weapons whilst performing a flurry of acrobatic turns and flips, off the wall and into the street. The enemy returned fire as one Merv and the female Cyph hit the floor, not even having a chance to pull out their weapons. Ceege seeing the second Cyph drop out the corner of his eye couldn't help a small smile as he remembered why he had joined the Pride and the Tiger, they were some of the best soldiers in and out of the Matrix...
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Post by Karaa on Sept 4, 2009 19:54:58 GMT -8
Valaro shoved the item into karaa's hands. "Take this and go! there is an hardline 6 min from here." Karaa's hand curved around hard metal. She looked down to see a sub machine gun and next to it was a data file. She never carried a gun anymore but she knew she would need it this time. she looked up to protest but the words never came out of her mouth, she saw the look in his eyes and knew that there was no arguing. Pylat and telemancer had that look, it would be pointless to try. She nodded and then looked at Ceege and held his gaze. She mouthed the words "stay safe." and she took off towards the other end of the playground. She had to make it to the hardline, she had to get to the strike team. Karaa was running so fast she felt like her feet weren't even touching the ground. 6 minutes north, she chanted over and over. She had to make it in less time if she wanted to stop this operation. Her mind flashed back to Valaro. "Code alpha 6...." She shook her head. No they would be ok. She had to keep telling herself this or she would turn around and go back. How did everyhting get so bad so fast?
Karaa skidded through a puddle as she heard the distinct sound of a gunfight breakout behind her...
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Post by Dee on Sept 5, 2009 3:22:17 GMT -8
The loud racket of metal cracking and melting under the flame torch, mixed with the flaming sparks flying all around the room would seem unsettling for almost anyone. But any person who lived outside the simulation for as long as a month got used to those conditions pretty quickly. Living in stone, metal and mud became routine, while discarding the comfortable reality or a warm bed and a hot shower. But at least this is real EichDee, dripping wet from sweat under her cheap tank top, was working on repairing the damage the Tiger had taken in their last encounters with sentinels. Her captain, Valaro, had asked her to come along with the crew for the blue-milk run, but she refused - she deemed the repairs as a more pressing matter than sitting at a hardline for an hour waiting for the strike team to come back unarmed. These kind of operations were frequent, and she did not feel the need to accompany them on the mission. They were all qualified operatives, and she feared not. Stopping for a second to catch her breath, she closed the torch and took off her steel mask. If someone had told her before she would one day do this kind of work instead of her old job sitting behind a desk, she would've called them crazy. Someone entered the barely lit room behind her. She turned around and smiled at her operator, Ocelet. - I guess this part is done! she said, with relief in her voice. - We may have a problem, Dee, answered Ocelet without taking notice of what she said. With a concerned look on her face, EichDee followed her friend to the broadcast room, where all her crewmates were sitting, jacked in the Matrix. Ocelet quickly threw herself on her seat, and started typing like crazy. - You'll say I'm nuts, but check this out. Ocelet pointed on the monitor showing the infinite rain of codes of the simulation. With time, everyone became able to at least decipher it a bit. What Dee deciphered didn't please her. - They're not there! she said. - Exactly, confirmed Ocelet. I can't pinpoint the location of any of our crew, and I mean, at all. Not the extraction team, not the strike team. None at all. - You tried calling them? - I was on the phone with Valaro when it suddently cut. At first I thought a bad connection maybe. But I wasn't able to get a line any time after this. I triple-checked everything, and it's not a problem coming from us - it's from the Matrix. - What, are they jamming us? - Maybe, but I don't know how they managed to actually cut us off from them completely... - I've never heard of that... - Me neither. Maybe if -- Their conversation was cut short when one of the operatives - Ceege - convulsed and coughed up blood. Then Valaro, then Angelis. One after the other, they all started acting like they were in some intense fight. - Oh shit! almost screamed EichDee, jumping towards them to apply medical treatmen. - It makes no sense!! said Ocelet, typing on her terminal faster then she ever did. I'm not picking anything up, no fights, no machines, nothing! - Use the emergency jackouts! - I can't! It won't work if I can't pinpoint their location! What the hell was going on in there? How could someone cut them off completly from the real world, and block any information about their situation? None of it made sense. Turning her head, she noticed that Karaa didn't look injured, though her heart beat was going nuts. She had to do something, and fast. At this rate... - Can you jack me in? - There's no way I could know what's happening to you, so you're not going in there until we know more. Godammit! she cursed to herself, wondering what she could do to help. For the first time in a long while, she felt totally helpless. All she could do was to stand by, and heal what she could of their wounds. Please be okay, guys... ((sorry it was so long, but i wanted people to get a good feel of what was happening on my side of the story. wont happen again ))
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Post by Ceege on Sept 5, 2009 5:01:58 GMT -8
The fight had started well, both Cyph's were now being put into body bags by their operator in the real and two of the four merv's were down. But just as Ceege and Valaro were starting to enjoy themselves the Agent, who had been watching the fight from a distance decided to intervene. "This is not your fight exiles! Leave now or face deletion" he ordered. And they obeyed. One winking at the Pride members as they slowly backed away down a nearby ally. Both Ceege and Valaro knew they wouldn't catch Karaa but would be off to tell The Merv their findings, he loved all gossip, he would say "it is his business to know such things." "Karaa's got 3 minutes left. We need to buy her more time, this Agent could move to any bluepill by her in a second." Valaro whispered to Ceege. "I heard a rumor that every person who has fought an agent has died? No-one said anything about two persons." Ceege replied. "Let's hope Karaa makes it and somehow manages to find a way to contact EichDee so we can emergency jack the hell out of here. Lets see what this agent can do." Ceege said cracking his knuckles and removing his now dirty white trench coat as Valaro took his kung fu stance. "Where is the one you call Catzi, the leader of your weak faction" the Agent again asked. "We'll show you weak!" Calvin yelled as they both ran at the Agent launching into the air legs outstretched. They got the first hit, sending the Agents glasses flying to the ground, but this Agent was no weaker than all other Agents, for every punch and kick the Pride members landed the Agents hit was worth ten. He soon had the upper hand. Having punched Valaro into a nearby wall, nearly knocking him unconscious, he had Ceege against a wall throwing what seemed like a hundred punches in a second into Ceege's ribs. Ceege gritted his teeth as blood trickled down his chin and over the collar of his black shirt. C'mon Karaa, you won't let us down, he thought through the pain...
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Post by Karaa on Sept 5, 2009 7:41:02 GMT -8
Karaa was breathing hard now. She tried to remember that it wasnt air she was breathing but that did little to steady her frantic gasps. She was so worried that somehow this wasn't going to work. Hardlines would be ok, they can jam us but not hardlines, she kept reminding herself. She glanced down at her watch 2 min. Then she saw it, the hardline. She crashed into it a seond later and seemed to have the phone in hand with the same movement.
"Operator?" Karaa asked breathelessy.
(Eichdee Don't worry about length, that was great!)
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Post by Valaro on Sept 5, 2009 9:47:02 GMT -8
Valaro getting up off the ground, spitting the blood out of his mouth. The agent still punching at Ceege, was so occupied taht he didnt see Valaro running up behind him. He ran at the Agent and Time slowed down, Valaro leaping through the air with a Handgun firing bullets into the agent. He didnt have a chance. The Agent fell dead to the ground. He helped Ceege yp and said "You Ok Cal?" Yeah im beat up but I can handle it dont worry". Valaro remembered back to when he was interviwing Ceege. "So youve been a part of The Pride for a while now. One of the reasons you havn't met me or my Crew is because where the, how would you say. Dark Teams. We dont exist. Some might say we operate the missions that were never thought of. You understand? Yes Captain I Understand. Im going to get down to Brass Tacks here Ceege. Ive seen your potential Ive seen what you can do. In fact the way you handled that little Merv Operation last year I have to say youd make a fine addition to my Crew. I understand you have friends, Family almost. But to be honest I need you. Dee said you helped her out of a Jam. And well it seems you were destined to be a Guardian Angel to Tiger almost. I need you" He patted him on the back as they ran towards the hardline with due haste! We dont have long he thought to himself. At that moment, a bluepill morphed into An Agent. The fight was back on... ((Yeah Dee dont worry length is better ))
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Post by Karaa on Sept 5, 2009 10:25:37 GMT -8
Ocelet saw Karaa pop up on the screen. "Operator?" Karaa asked breathelessy. "Karaa! What the hell is going on??" "Extraction team is under attack in central Stamos. Strike Team is walking into an ambush. I need priority emergency jack out for Valaro, Ceege, Angelis, and Radomir. I need you to contact the operators for the crews involved in the strike teams and tell them they need extractions."
Ocelet's mind was reeling. "The emergency Jack out isn’t working." Karaa's body went stiff and then she practically yelled into the receiver, "get it up and running!" She took a deep breath, yelling at Ocelet wont help. "Karaa...I don't know how, it’s the matrix, nothing on our end." "Is Dee there?" karaa asked quickly. "Here, Karaa." Came Eichdee's sure response. Karaa paused for a second. "Alpha code 6 is in effect." Karaa hated how weak her voice sounded. There was silence on the other end of the line. "Find a way to get the guys out of the matrix." Karaa’s voice was low. "Where are you going?" Ocelet shouted into the receiver. "To warn the strike team." Karaa answered. "Karaa, there is no time, they're already moving." Answered EichDee "I'll make it; just find a way to get the teams out of here."
Karaa hyper jumped to the nearest building not bothering to hang up the phone.
"Karaa?!?" came a barely audible voice from the dangling receiver.
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