Ghost Town

Noct let out a small sigh, "No one is responding on the hailing frequencies I was given. It appears we're alone on this mission."

Zell looked up at Noct, "Wait, so the Zermic is KIA?! But wasn't this supposed to be the last ditch effort to find out what was going on? What happens when the UGA finds out this mission failed too?"

Dura shook her head, "The mission hasn't failed, it is just off to a rocky start. There are other survivors scattered about the planet, all marine, and mercenary teams, well trained. We may not have a central command to report to at the moment, but the situation could be much worse."

At this point Iliad finally woke up with a splitting headache, "Christ... what... what the hell happened?" She asked, looked up at some random Salarian, "Who are you?"

--

Sab blushed slightly before furrowing her eyebrows and batting away Quill's hand, "S-stop that." She tried to stand at her tallest, to move her horns away from Quill's reach, but winced as pain shot through her ankle.

Mortal let out a sigh, "So, looks like we're doing this on our own for now."

OOC: btw Az do you have skype, msn, or yahoo?

Quill pulled his hand away, "Don't push yourself too hard on that ankle. I won't touch them again don't worry" he smiled. "I'll stick close to you though till your ankle feels better since I did just inadvertently make you strain it." He then looked at Ryder, "Great, this keeps getting better and better."

Linox: "Sorry, Dr. Linox Benziti, you took a nasty bump to the head after our...um...landing. Was just making sure you were all right."

Linox caught the banter from the rest of the crew and perked up at the conversation. His mind started working quickly to address all issues.

Linox: "Crew on board Zermic may be dead, mist moved fast. If Council determines failure of the Zermic, drastic safety measures will be taken, regardless of crew's status. Could be much much worse, we should get moving and find other survivors. Should continue mission or find means off world."

Linox took another deep breathe. Salarians were known for thinking and talking fast, but its not like they meant to. They just always process information and take note of it all.

-------------------------------------

Ryder: "Well, I'm not willing to give up yet."

Jade has finally started to come to and sits herself up. Noticing she is the last to wake, she frowns wondering how long she held the team up.

Jade: "Are we dead?"

Ryder turns around, surprised to see her awake.

Ryder: "No, not dead, just screwed. Can you walk?"

Jade nods and stands up. Losing her balance after a quick dizzy spell, she grabs on to Sab's horns for support, nearly dragging the poor girl down with her.

Ryder: *sigh* "Well, we best get moving. I'll try a local broadcast, with any luck we're not the only living things down here. This is Lt. Ryder Farressien of Fourth Turian Fleet. We've crashed landed on Rexil, does anyone copy? Damn it, is anyone alive out there?"

Noct nodded, "The doctor is right," She said, "We shouldn't linger here for too long, grab whatever supplies you think you'll need from the ship and lets get going."

Iliad rubbed her head as she made her way out of the cockpit, "Is everyone else alright?"

"Everyone is fine," Zell said, "The only knuckle head to seriously get hurt was you."

--

Sab let out a pained squeal as Jade pulled on her horn. It wasn't that Ovisian horns were a source of greater than normal pain, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt if someone tried ripping it out. Quickly, Sab shot her hand out and supported Jade, if only to lessen the burden on herself.

"Are you alright?" Mortal asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

"I wasn't talking to you. Ovisian horns are sturdy, usually grow back, and are not vital anyway," Mortal replied, "You could do a lot worse than being called a Scur."

Sab blushed a bit, and scrunched her face indignantly. She opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by someone responding to Ryder's broadcast.

--

"This is Noct T'Silsi of Aether. We've hit Rexil's surface as well. You're not alone Lt. Farressien, what is your position?"

Quill moved in instantly to support Sab and shot back to Mortal, "Well that's not very nice. Didn't your parent's teach anything about manners?"

"They taught me plenty, that is why I asked if the girl who just woke up from a serious crash from space to the planet's surface was alright, instead of worrying about a soldier's point of pride in her looks."

Sab wormed her arm from around Mortal's neck and relied on Quill to help her stand, Mortal seemed unaffected.

"Don't be culturally insensitive ether" Quill retorted back.

Mortal wasn't one to give in to an argument, "I wasn't. I was telling her to suck it up, the same way I told her to walk off that ankle. Cultural insensitivity is telling you to grow a pair, because I'm not sure if you have yet."

"Both of you, stop it! We have bigger things to worry about."

"I can drop trou and prove it?" Quill offers all too cheerfully.

"I'm sure you're used to having to show proof, but Sab is right," Mortal replied, "We can trade barbs another time."

"I'd rather trade something else" Quill winks at her but then adds, "I agree though. A more in depth discussion can be had later."

Ryder stood in shock of the conversation that was being had. Had his helmet been off, you could see the distortion of his face, a mix between disgust and confusion. It took him a moment to even realize he had been answered.

Ryder: "That's a damn good question..."

Ryder activates his Omni-Tool to scan their position. Meanwhile, Jade recovers her balance and frowns at the trouble she had caused.

Jade: "Sorry, I didn't mean to spark an argument..."

Ryder: "Noct, we've crashed just outside the capitol. We have orders to find the Colonial Council. We're gonna continue it, see if your team can secure transport or communications off world."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linox listens to the transmissions coming from another team, intrigued to find they even survived the crash. He opens up his own Omni-Tool to discover the Anchorage crashed in a meadow 10 miles out of the city.

Linox: “10 miles out, could make it in a couple of hours if we hurry.”

"Understood, Lt," Noct said, "Try to maintain radio contact. If those things were on the Zermic, the problem is probably worse planet side." After listening to Linox she relays the information, "We're ten miles out from the capitol. We'll be moving with a squad of five."

Quill put on his helmet carefully since it was designed to allow his quills through the back and still form an airtight seal. "Ready when you all are... especially you Sab since I'm supporting you and all"

Ryder: "Copy that, hopefully we will see you soon. Let's move out."

Ryder makes his way through the ship, Jade following close, her eyes not leaving the floor as she lets her head hang. They make it to the loading ramp and she easily pushes the ramp down, before Ryder can stop her. But they are greeted by a brisk, cool, oxygen-rich air, it is Autumn on Rexil.

*The scene outside is mixed. The city is surrounded by meadows and the ship sits right on the edge. Even among the beautiful flowers, the damage of the smokey and ruined city leaves a terrifying image. The city is silent, not even the call of birds grace this ghost town.*

Jade: "We we're too late...everyone's dead."

Ryder: "We don't know that, yet."

Ryder activates his Vindicator assualt rifle and takes it from his shoulder. Noct was right. Whatever happened on the Zermic was bound to be worse here.

Aether's crew rounded up, and grouped outside the ship, surveying the area, "It feels like the planet itself is dead," Dura cheerily offered.

"That was morbid, but I see your point," Zell said, looking around.

Noct waited for the doctor to meet up with them before heading off towards the city.

--

Sab looked around the room for a bit before grabbing her helmet at the other side, dragging Quill along for the ride if he were to be so kind. Helmets for an Ovisian are tailor made for each individual's horns, with slits in the side or back that allow for the helmet to be put on easily. The slits are then shut around the horns, making the suit air tight. The padding around the horns also makes the helmet sensible for extended use.

After stepping outside Sab let out a small sigh, "From this planet's to the One, I hope we can still be of any use here." At seeing Ryder pull free his assault rifle, and Mortal shouldering her's in turn, Sab got off of Quill for support, and began walking on her own. Her ankle hurt, but the pain wasn't unbearable any longer, and walking on it would only make this better from that point on. Sab pulled free her Raptor sniper, and used its scope to inspect the area down the way, trying to see what this planet had in store for them.

Quill let Sab dragging him around before getting outside where she decided to walk on her own. Free of Sab leaning on him (not that he was complaining about that) Quill drew both of his pistols and checked to make sure the safety's were off before pushing them against their holsters. There was a mechanical click as they got reloaded with ammo. Quick feed ammo was a godsend on missions like these where you didn't need to be reloading constantly.

"I'm liking this less and less."

~Meadow~

*Outside of the Anchorage the world actually seems peaceful. The meadow the ship has crashed in is in full bloom and beautiful, aside from the trail of burned flowers and ship parts they left upon 'landing'. Damage to the Anchorage is minimal due to the efforts of the biotics, structural integrity would hold if it could get back up and running. In the distance, the towering buildings of Rexil's capitol can be seen, a dark and omnious display of spikes pertruding from a painting worthy landscape.*

Linox climbs out with the Aether mercs and breathes in the fresh air. Linox never liked being on ships for long periods, the recycled oxygen was sub-par to oxygen-rich planets. That's why he loved working in the field as opposed to Special Task Group bases and ships.

Linox: "Should head for city, communications center likely just outside of it. We can assess our situation there."

Linox activates his Omni-Tool and starts muttering to himself, documenting the world around him and the events that took place on the Zermic as he wanders into the meadow. He is completely unaware of the large animal grazing a few yards ahead in his path.

---------------------------------------------------------------

*Sab's scope reveals nothing new. From here, the city looks like it has been deserted for years or war-torn.*

Ryder: "Well, we won't learn anything standing around here. Let's head to the Council Chambers and try to find them. Keep an eye out for those things."

Ryder leads the group into the streets. The omnious feeling turns to more of danger as the city is just too quiet for their liking. Even Jade has taken to drawing her father's revolver and keeps close to Sab and Quill. Every so often, Ryder swears he can see things following them in the shadows of the worn down buildings.

OOC: Sab's*

OOC: Right.

"Spooookey"

OOC: Well I've been waiting for Script, but he's MIA. So a little filler.

Jade clutches onto Quill's arm as something darts across the street ahead of them. The creature is naturally dark and fast so its hard to make out what it was, but it didn't seem like the mist shadows from the ship.

Jade: "What was that!"

Ryder: "Keep your voice down. I say we follow it and find out."

Ryder sounds hesistant in his decision, but starts down the street towards the unknown creature.

"You seem to like latching on to me" Quill observes with amusement.

Ily looks around the beautiful meadow and furrows her brow, "Hell are you guys talkin' about? It is beautiful around here."

The two other girls look around, "Well, look at that."

"Yea, next time why don't we wait until things are described on our side. Just because Mortal's side is all creepy, and ghost town-y doesn't mean ours is."

"Yea, yea, now quit breaking the fourth wall."

"I can't, Zac is all restless because he hasn't posted in forever... who is even talking anymore?"

"I don't know, he isn't putting names next to the dialogue."

"What an asshole..."

Noct ignores the blatant OOC-ness of her crew and follows after the good doctor, "Dr. Linox, I'd avoid getting too distracted. We don't know what dangers this place poses. Some threats may be hidden, so we would do well to pay attentions to the ones in front of our faces," She motions towards the beast, subtly, not wanting to agitate it with wide, and sudden movements.

--

Mortal shakes her head, but follows along, "I'm not sure how wise it is to tail this thing," she said quietly, but with an tense tone, "For all we know it could be one of those shadow things leading us to a trap, and even if it isn't, the sooner we get the hell off this rock, the better. I don't like the idea of getting sidetracked before we've even started our mission."

OOC: Your crew wasn't wrong. The planet is dead, well atleast the people on it.


Linox: "Mist substance unknown. Contained vapor-like creatures. Possible worm-hole effect in place? --Hmm?"

*Linox breaks his focus, but immediately turns back around to face the Aether mercs, still not noticing the animal behind him that has now noticed Linox and is not happy with his presence.*

Linox: "You say something?"

*It scrapes its feet, kicking up grass and dirt, and lowers its head, pointing its large horns right at the Anchorage crew. Then it charges.*



*Ryder stops mid-stride and looks back at Mortal and the others, considering the situation.*

Ryder: "You're right...fine, lets keep moving."

*Ryder checks his Omni-Tool for the city map.*

Ryder: "The Council building is just a few blocks north."

*Jade notices Quill's comment and quickly lets go and looks up at the sun.*

Jade: "What if we're still here when it gets dark?"



'Three weeks and this is the big rescue? A banged up squad of kids? Great, looks like I'm still trying to find my way off this rock.'

*Syn, in her full, hooded and dark hunter gear, enters a science lab, it is filled with all sorts of nasty chemicals, but most notable is a set of cryo chambers in the back and one of them is occupied. She moves towards the chamber and activates the panel for it.*

'Ovisian? What is it doing here? Contained for further studies of species growth. Must be quite the specimen. Could be useful if he can fight, a pain if he can't. But, he does look strong...'

*Syn activates the thawing procedure and steps back as the tank begins to heat up and the Ovisian inside begins to stir.*