Ghost Town

*Linox quickly messes with his Omni-Tool more and seals the door.*

Linox: "Won't hold for long. They'll find a way in."

*Linox jumps and shoots a shot towards the stairs behind them as someone knocks down something that shatters, a vase maybe, and scurries across the landing.*



There is a lot of debris piled up against a door near Mortal and Sab. Near the semi-circle of chairs, something shiny catches Quill's eye.

Ryder: "There's nothing in here. We'll try to get to their homes and check those."

Jade: "We have to go back outside?"

"Oi wait up I think I found something" Quill bends down to pick up what he found.

Mortal goes over to check out what Quill found, "What did you find?"

--

The four women each get on the defensive, and try to figure out what the hell that was that scurried across.

The shiny object is a holo disk with a video recording.

*Ryder comes over and sees what they've found.*

Ryder: "A holodisk. If we're lucky, it will show what happened here and not be some sextape blackmail."



A little girl sticks her head out from behind a local plant and then ducks quickly back in when she notices everyone looking up at her.

Linox: "Survivor?"

OOC: As gazelle and the hot lizard chick make their way through the city...

"You say that like its a bad thing" Quill jokes, "No but really I agree this time."

"Just play the damn thing," Mortal said, shaking her head.

--

Noct puts away her guns and instructs everyone else to lower theirs, "We're not here to hurt you, sweetie. We're here to help. Now, can you come over here and tell us what happened to the city; where everyone is?"

*Ryder places the device on his Omni-Tool. A hologram projection of two very well-dressed Salarians appear above his Omni-Tool.*

Salarian1: "I don't care. If this keeps up, the Council won't have any control, the planet will riot."
Salarian2: "Tensions are high of course, but if these catacombs yield something valuable, then we may solve a lot of the colony's problems."
Salarian1: "That's just it, I don't recognize anything in there. I think we're dealing with something far above our own understanding and if Hanyt can't see it..."
Salarian2: "We can't think like that. I heard they found a vault of some kind down there, if it has some thing of value -- --"

The audio feed quickly switches from whispers to screams and roars as the Salarians run out of the video feed and are quickly replaced by a few ape-like creatures running through the feed. It cuts out shortly after.

Ryder: "Well, we don't have a lead about the Council, but we know something about what's going on around here."



*Linox quickly disengages and holsters his gun but keeps his attention focused on the doors behind them, not sure how long they'll keep them safe.*

The human girl slowly moves out from her cover and stands at the top of the stairs, still unsure about the squad of armed mercenaries.

Girl: "The monsters came from the mines. Then everyone was running and screaming. People like you helped fight them, but I haven't seen any for a long time."

The commotion outside gets louder and fear starts to build up in her.

Girl: "You brought the monsters!"

She runs up the stairs, yelling 'monsters!' and movement can be heard from the floor above.



OOC: Think I was saving these two to show up later and play hero but eh.

*The scene is exactly how Syn had imagined it. Hordes of the creatures roaming the streets, the mist engulfing the city like a flood. It would be a miracle if they could even find the survivors let alone manage to save them.*

Syn: "Looks like they've picked a couple of buildings to focus on...Two groups still alive, who do we go after first?"

"Apartments" Gazelle says.

---

"One mystery solved and another begins"

Noct put a hand out, "Hey, wait-- Dammit." She turned to Dura, "Stay here and guard the door, try to keep them out with a barrier, we'll go see what is going on upstairs." With that the rest of the squad moved to follow after the girl.

--

Mortal looked at the vid, "Do you think we can find anything to lead us to this 'vault'?"

"There is mention of a Hanyt in the recording," Sab pointed out, "Perhaps we can find mention of his name in the council archives. Maybe something will point us in the direction of this 'vault', or mine, or whatever."

Jade: "Hanyt Vextin. Salarian Council Member."

Ryder: "That's right, there is a Hanyt on the council...I'm curious about this vault, but we have our orders. Finding the council is our priority. Once we secure them, we can go on any suicide mission you want."

*Ryder activates his Omni-Tool and looks over a holo-graphic map.*

Ryder: "Looks like the council archives are on the north side of this floor, behind that debris. Biotics, if you wouldn't mind."

*Jade turns to the debris and uses a biotic push to blast most of it away from the door.*



*Linox follows close behind Noct and her squad. As they make their way upstairs, the halls become faintly lit with dying candles. Down the hall, Linox sees the glint of metal at a doorway and pushes the team aside, causing the bullet to only graze Noct's shoulder.*

Linox: "Guns!"

???1: "Stay away from us!"
???2: "Hey, they don't look like monsters..."
???1: "Mary said --"
???2: "They might have just scared her."
???1: "Who are you people and what do you want? You make a move and we shoot!"
???2: "Try not to be a dick, Sam."



Syn: "Hope you can climb, Ovisian."

*Syn runs up to the building across from the apartments and into the alleyway behind it. She runs up a shuttle and clings onto a power pole running up the side of the building and starts shimmying up.*

Gazelle grins and follows.

"You're pretty cute for a lizard."

---

Quill assists before popping the door open.

"I'm not looking for a random suicide mission," Mortal replied, "But we don't exactly have any leads here other than this mine. I doubt we'll find them there, they even said the place was giving them the spooks, but we may find something out that can give us a clue as to what is going on, and checking every building until we find them doesn't seem like a better alternative."

--

"Everyone lower your weapons," Noct said, speaking loud enough so that the others could hear her. "I'm not here to hurt anyone, Sam," To accentuate her point she stepped into the hall slowly with her hands up, "We're part of a UGA mission to help out on Rexil. We're here to help, but we can't do much if we don't know what is going on."

Sam: “UGA, huh? They’re the idiots that got us in this mess in the first place!”
???: “They couldn’t have known what was going on.”
Sam: “Wake up, Erin! Who do you think funds the mines? Who do you think authorized the excavation of those ruins?”
Erin: “Sam, go tell the others to stay out of sight and stay quiet. The monsters aren’t in here yet.”

*Sam slowly comes out, and then takes off farther into the building. Erin, a middle-aged woman with golden hair and dirt all over her face, steps out in a ripped miner’s uniform and approaches the group.*

Erin: “Sorry about him, we’re all a bit jumpy after those things showed up. I’m Erin Phillips, was a miner for the colony. Are you a rescue party?”

Linox: “Sort of…stranded like you.”



Ryder: “I’m not going to check every building, but we still have likely locations to find them in and I’m not going to give up my mission until I have no alternative!”

*Ryder wasn’t sure why he was getting so hot. Mortal had every right to her opinion, there was no official leader of this squad. Perhaps, he just figured it would naturally be him and that’d be it. Jade decided to chime in, her voice soft and nervous, maybe even a little irritated.*

Jade: “Stop it… we’ll find the Council, let someone else worry about the mines for now.”

Ryder: “Oh yeah? Look around, the planet is a ghost town, who is going to…”

*A slap in the back of the head would have been appropriate at this point.*

Ryder: “Noct, come in. We’ve run into more of those mist things at the Council building and may have a lead on where they’re coming from. Can your team check it out while we continue searching for the Council?”



Syn: “Yeah? And you’re surprisingly smart for a sheep.”

*Syn giggled to herself and reached the top of the building. She crossed to the other side and looked over the edge. The scene had not changed. They only had one shot, or else they were shadow grub. She took a few yards back and stretched.*

Syn: “I hope sheep can fly.”

"No but we can jump. I can get us across in one shot if you're up for being carried" he gave her a thumbs up.

---

"Ok ok, can you two just fuck and be done with it? You're kinda messing up the team dynamic" Quill added his two cents in about Mortal and Ryder's squabble.

OOC: While we wait for Script to post...


*Syn did mind, but if the Ovisian could jump as well as she had heard, then the landing would be much more pleasant than her plan. Launching herself across the street to hopefully dive through a window on the other side sounded much more painful, and unlikely.*

Syn: "Fine...but don't tell anyone I got help from a sheep."



Ryder: "Is that all your kind thinks about?"

*Jade giggles. Partly because of what Quill said and partly because Ryder hadn't denied the thought. He snorted at her snickering and started towards the other room, his Vindicator raised at the ready.*

"I'll say you flew like a glyder and landed with the grace of a cat" Gazelle extends his hand.

---

"Yes you racially insensitive twat" Quill says rather flatly before drawing his pistols and following.

OOC: Could sworn I made a post here -.-


*Maybe not so elegantly put, but she could have attempted the feat on her own, just with not as satisfactory results. Syn takes his hand and prepares for the jump.*

Syn: "Whatever you say, Sheep-boy."

He takes her hand and pulls her into a bridal carry before taking a few steps back, gets a running start, and leaps. Gazelle easily clears the gap and lands.

*The jump was quick and effortless. The comforting arms wasn't too bad, either. Syn found herself not wanting to move until the fighter in her spoke up and she forced her way out of his arms.*

Syn: "Nice jump...Gazelle."

"Thank you Syn" Gazelle got his weapons ready because that inner soldier in him told him that things were gonna start crawling outta the woodwork soon. "We should get moving"

Mortal furrowed her eyebrows. She wasn't even trying to be a bitch, she was just pointing something out. Ryder's reaction made her smile a predatory smile. She wanted nothing more than to strike up the issue again, this time at her full passion, and completely lay into Ryder, but she knew there were more important things at stake. Besides that, the issue wasn't even that intense, and that was coming from someone who excelled at making issues out of nothing just for the fun of it. Mortal figured something akin to pride motivated Ryder's response, and she didn't want to get swept up some Turian's pissing contest without being able to do anything more than bitch about it; odds are she would need him soon. The anger was entirely diminished when Quill started to run his mouth anyway.

With a small shrug Mortal, with Sab following after, picked up their pace behind Ryder and co.

--

"Nice to meet you, Erin," Noct said, "We're not exactly a rescue party, but we're here to help all the same. Now, you were saying something about mines and ruins earli--" A voice calling into her ear caught Noct off guard. "Excuse me," Noct stepped away and pointed at Zell, who quickly filled Noct's spot.

"Hello, what exactly can you tell us about the mines, or ruins?" Zell asked, picking up where Noct left off.

"Ryder, this is Noct. My team and I had a run in with the creatures as well," Noct said, a few paces down the hall, speaking low, and out of earshot, "We're holed up in an apartment complex. It is full with a bunch of locals, armed, but scared, and with the things outside they have every right to be. They were saying something about a mine. Would that be what you want us to go looking for?"

Ryder: “Copy that, Noct. We found some evidence that whatever these things are came from those mines. Finish up with those civilians quick and check it out. Just, don’t do anything stupid. If you think it is too dangerous, pull out and wait for us. We will catch up as soon as we can.”

*Ryder walked to the previously blocked door and it opened automatically. He checked the corners and led the team in. The room was wrecked more than the last one. The large window glass looking out onto the streets below was shattered, desks flipped, and a few bodies littered the floor.*

Jade: “Look for clues, gang!”

*Jade giggled at her mimicry of Ryder, expecting the order. Ryder merely moved to the closest body and started checking for anything useful.*



Erin: “Not much… We were mining in Site Sierra when we punch a hole into some kind of ruins. It was strange designs, not Asari or any race I had ever seen before. Once word got back to the Council, the miners were pulled out and a science team was sent in. The next thing we knew, these monsters were everywhere. Anyone that went outside…”

*Erin trails off, lost in the memories of the initial attack. Linox stepped forward and spoke to Zell.*

Linox: “The science team would have likely been documenting the ruins. We may be able to find out more if we can find out where the feed was being uploaded to.”

Erin: “Security. They monitor all data feeds on the colony. Corporate trade secrets and making sure none of the species plan on getting violent.”


*Syn nodded and led the way to the roof-access stairs. She opened the door and peered inside. It was dark, pitch black besides the little light she had let in. She pulled on her face hood and sighed in relief as the darkness took a red, but visible tint.*

Syn: “This should be fun. Let’s see if we can get these people to safety before we all die.”

"Lead the way" Gazelle said.

---

"Ai Ai captain" Quill mockingly saluted Ryder before getting to work searching again.

Mortal and Sab went around searching the dead.

--

"Understood, Ryder, but what about the civs here?" Noct asked, "They're holed up pretty bad with those things out there, and they're weapons won't do much against them. They need help, and we can't just leave them."

--

Zell nodded, "Alright, Erin. Can you tell me where the Security HQ is, and how to access the files we need?" She hoped that Erin would be forthcoming, but the words 'trade secrets' rang out in her head, and she wondered if she would be willing to let a random group just go for it.

*Ryder stands up and moves to the door looking back into the audience room.*

Ryder: "Our priority objective is survivors, but this whole mission is...how the humans say, FUBAR. If we can't stop these things, we're not getting off this planet. Secure them the best you can, then move your team out. "

*Jade wanders over to the window. The scene outside is horrifying with the mist and the monsters wandering the streets and spreading destruction. She crunches on some glass and looks down.*

Jade: "The glass is inside...something came in from the window, not out..."

*The body checks reveal that the men are just armed guards, each bearing an insignia of VEC on their armor. None of the council members are counted among the dead.*



*The doubt on Erin's face can be noted.*

Erin: "Screw it. No doubt Vixen all ready counted us for dead. I don't give a damn about their security concerns. You can find the security center on the second floor of the VEC building a few blocks south of here. You can't miss it."

Linox: "VEC...Vixen Exchange Company... I didn't know they operated here. This is far more concerning than previously expected."



Syn: "Sure, let the frail young girl go into the monster infested building first."

*Syn makes her way down the stairs, her lens providing enough light for her to navigate the dark halls. When Gazelle leaves the roof, the door forcibly slams shut behind him and stirring can be heard down the hall.*