The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Pharoah Dynasty
An ancient sorceress is on a quest to bring her long-lost warrior-king to the modern era in a bid for global domination. Can the heroes of the modern world stop her before all is lost?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
"Dat is good to lo, Queen." In a Chinglish accent the word Quin came out sounding more like Queen.
>"And you?"
"Oh, everyone calls me Mr Wong in Chilese or simply Wong if dey are speaking Engalishu."
"Do I tlain anlywaya?" Mr Wong looked slightly puzzled then caught on as the mild look of puzzlement turned to one of understanding.
"Oh... I have been to the Plactical Wing Chun Kong Fu Dojho on East 61st Street. But dat is mainly for Wing Chun, how abou you? Where do you trang?"
Mr Wong listened to the torrent of excited information.
"Eulopeans? Do you low which Eulopeans?"
Mr Wong was planning a trip to Virginia soon to check out some leads and it would be good to go armed with as much information as possible.
>"....later."
Mr Wong nodded. "I look forward to doing so lata. Me? I have learnded dat Lew York is a sorting and distribution hub.
From what I ahve heard dara are a few hubs like dis is Amelica. Often in the big cities wif intonation airports. So it would be good to look for iregularities
in shipping and tlansportation companies. They will plobably own a few warehouses and lotate dem. Den there will plobably be legular shipping and flight booked,
along with the odd unscheduled flight for "special owdas." He paused. Quin was rather happy with herself. Wong Looked forward to reviewing the data.. later.
"But I have foung out dat Dere is a lest stop in Virginia, so lata I go dere to see what I can find. If I can dislupt dem dere, you should see some sudden changes
or pannic over here and it sould be easier to spot." Easier to spot meant easier to take down.
They were sitting in a Asian dessert place, a cheesy Asian dessert place. Complete with mirror ball and a bare patch of wooden floor in the middle.
Their conversation was interrupted when the loudspeakers started playing music from Backstreet boys and a crowd of people took to the dance floor.
The lights dimmed and a few colored lights began shining on the mirror ball which started rotating. Mr Wong shrugged his shoulders in a "What can you do" sort of gesture.
He looked over at Quin, who seemed equally amused but also as if she was enjoying herself.
"You like Back Stweet Boys?" Mr Wong half shouted and received an affirmative not.
Mr Wong shrugged his shoulders, what they hell, why not enjoy themselves. So he held out his hand to Quin and led her onto the dance floor.
Of course by this time the music hand changed and it was now Westlife and every one else seemed to be slow dancing/ trying to slow dance/ waltzing/ trying to waltz.
So Mr Wong pulled Quin into a slow waltz. He had to admit, it felt... nice. Mr Wong was just slightly taller than Quin, but her shoes made up the difference. And so they danced.
>"Lead the way. This is your show for the moment."
"Welly well madam, lets go have dessert"
They set off arm in arm for a local desert place with booths. Booths were most important, they garenteed privacy from snooping eyes, and the popularity of the shop and it's acoustics meant that it would be loud enough so conversation would not carry far. If Mr Wong was going to, and he was going to, get grilled by his kitchen staff, he should get to know Quincy. Even his imposing glare would not keep them at bay for long.
As they were walking towards the shop, Mr Wong turned to Quincy and asked. "I low that I have been calling you Missy Acha flom da beginning, but I lever askded you what you lik to be callded."
It was something a real date/boyfriend would ahve sorted out a while ago but, hey better late than never.
Wait, was Quincy ...bouncing, that was a slight spring in her step. She was apparently in a very good mood, Mr Wong assumed it was to do with the case. He was picking up an air of excitement from his attractive female companion. Soon enough they arrived at a shop that proudly proclaimed to all nationalities and all langues that it was called 許留山.
It was authentic in that most of the menu was in Chinese (traditional script) and the translations were interesting to say the least. Mr Wong ordered 楊枝甘露 which was actually a mango pomelo sago soup, but its direction translation as read from the menu was... Mana dropping from a willow branch. Suffice to say Mr Wong spent a little time explaining the menu. Eventually they ordered, the waiter took their order and left them in peace.
Mr Wong turned to face Miss Acha, the light illuminated her hair, making it seem more fiery than usual. Mr Wong mentally brushed it aside, now was not the time to get distracted. "Firstly, I calot howd off my staff foreva, de want to low aww, and I mean awww about it, and dey are perrrsestant. So I guess we shud figa owt hopw we met and low at least a lito bit abu each ada, or it will seem weirded. Secondly from they spring in yow step I am guessing you have found sofing useful, maybe many useful fings. So I suppose da question is waht do you want to tak abou first?"
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
A radio squelch, the signal that it was a go, they were committed now. Hades took up his post with the but of his SV-98 cradled against his shoulder in a classic prone snipers pose. As per the briefing they would keep radio chatter to a minimum. Yes they were using encrypted channels, and yes their radios hopped frequencies how ever many times a second but it was still the norm to keep chatter to ma minimum. They would use the prearranged signals. Hades was on point as lookout during this phase. One longer squelch meant take cover, two quick ones meant resume. Tonight was a good night to snipe, there was a full moon out and little wind.
Hades watched as Talon one scaled the tower and smoothly and efficiently silenced the guard at the first tower, then the second. As he was halfway to the third when Hades spotted movement, a guard, perhaps a captain was coming to check on his men. He sent a long squelch and was gratified to see Talon one swiftly take cover in the shadows. He was also thankful that Talon one took care to hide the bodies as well.
He lined up his shot, this was an easy one, his target was walking at a steady pace, with no obstructions, on a well lit windless night. Hades mentally ran through the calculations in his head,breathed in, let out half a breath and fired between heartbeats. Way over on the battlements a small cloud of red mist suddenly appeared the other side of the captain, and he toppled over. Two quick squelches. The rest went smoothly, the teams regrouping once the com lines were cut. They had just cut the fence when Hades spotted something on the horizon. As much as he hated to break radio silence the team leader should know.
"Overwatch to Talon, Victor Alfa Delta 10 Qubec 4 Charlie Lima" break "Romeo Oscar"
Translated it simply said vehicles approaching, ETA 10 mikes, quantity 4 and of light vehicle class i.e. Humvee or equivalent, followed by a query for orders. Hades had placed his anti material sniper at hide number two to cover their ex-filtration. The response came back "Papa Alfa Uniform" proceed as usual. They would have to up the timetable as they now had less time before chances increased exponentially of being discovered.
They soon made it to the central building. Talon leader gave a signal and it was time for Hades to move to position Bravo. Hades abandoned his SV-98, it was far too large and loud for the next stage, and zipplined down towards the main building.
The laboratory was situated within what appeared to be an old Russian bathhouse or something of the like, classic architecture with a huge tall domed ceiling, below which contained an absolute maze of partitions, corridors, clean rooms and the usual assortment of ad hoc rooms and facilities one needs for a bio lab. The extremely tall ceiling was perfect for Hades to play "sniper in the roof". He arrived just after the team and pulled out a compact little VSS, aka Vintorez. With its suppressor, heavy subsonic ammunition, compact size and light weight, it was perfect for what was required. Whats more, as Hades discovered to his delight, it was a dam good little mini sniper rifle. The recoil was minimal, it was quiet, light and shot true. He set about working with the team quickly and efficiently.
From the way the man smiled, and in his experience with mankind over theyears, he could easily tell that the word "old friends" was frought with meaning.
"Old flends uh?" Mr Wong smiled a smile that might, just muight, be considered as "knowing".
"Dong woly about Acha, she tak care of herself. Last time she and I met she took dung 5 men. 5 armded men!" Mr Wong Held up five fingers to make his point. He left out the fact the he had taken down a few as well, no need to draw attention to his abilities and risk his cover in any way. His cover as Mr wong was paying dividends, and long may it continue.
> "If she trusts you, I can share what I know. Pool our information. European sounds like either the Russians or the Italians. Maybe both."
"Ok, good so we aglee to share."
[/font]"Lussians and Itaalians sung abou light, but that is long term investigation. Maybe with you here and Acha in Lew Yok we make some headway, but that may tak some time. I have somefing more immediate in mind." Mr Wong, sat back for a moment, gauging how capable this man was, how much could he trust him. He gathered his thoughts.
"Mista Ashton, how capable ar you?"
He leaned forward. "I low that Lew Yok is a hub. If we fink for a moment about packages, Lew Yok is where they collec, sort and send packages. As for Vegineya, here is a watering hole. Fings come in from docks or airport, they stop here overligh then go out ow. For exampow maybe on Monday a shipment come in from dock, move to warehouse for the light den the next day it gets trucked out. At same time anoda twuk come in with a container for shipping out. My sources fink dey only stay one light and not always at same location."
Mr Wong leaned back and took a breath, trying to gauge Ashton's reaction. Was this truly a man that could make things happen? Was he wasting his time.
"Dis place is an artery or vein, so if we disrup fings here, den when I go back to Lew Yok , they need to change fings, and make it easier to find. Mista Ashton, I am like keyhole surgery, I can go in and find information without anyone loticing, but the body is big, dat is where I leed help. If you can find out what shipping or trucking company or companies have been growing unusually in say the last two yeas, nothing illegal, but just unusual. You give me a lame, if it good, I galentee you I can come back and give you where, and when, and maybe a few mora whos as well." Mr Wong's eyes burned with contained anger.
"I dong have access to paper and led tape. If you can do dat, we can shut down der operations here, save some kids and help me find dem in Lew Yok. If you can do dis I can give you enough information to save some kids and rain hellfire dung on dem. So can you do dat?"
He sat back, took a deep breath, and a mask of calm once again seemed to settle across Mr Wong's face, with his eyes betraying only a hint of the burning anger beneath. He waited for Ashton to respond.
"Bengaal" wandered in. It was nice to put a face to the name of his mysterious yet generous client. Any client that had shown himself to be honorable earned many points in Hades ledger. Bengaal looked to be in his mid forties, but still in good shape. Hades would wager that he knew how to handle himself in a fight. He was polite and well mannered, and he knew how to enjoy at least some of the finer things of life, another plus.
"To your good health..."
Hades raised his glass in response, "And to yours."
>”The name’s Poseidon. And I owe you a most sincere “thank you” for your services.”
Poseidon's handshake was strong but firm. One man to another, one who was secure in himself.
"A pleasure Poseidon, I am Hades." The irony was not lost on Hades, they only needed a Zeus to complete the picture.
"You are most welcome, you were most generous in your compensation. I do not think that even in our wildest dreams would we envision more than one world existing."
That was also true, Poseidon had paid him one and a half times the price for what end up being two hits, but he had done so of his own volition. He had requested one man to be killed, contractually, it would be on Hades to ensure that he had the right man in his sights. Legally Poseidon did not have to pay him a single cent over the initial price, but he had. It was an action that gave honor, a thing highly valued in Hades books, as well as generosity, something never taken for granted in a client. Speaking of which.
"So, what do you think of the hotel Continental?" Hades made a small gesture with the hand that still held the cut crystal glass that indicated the entire property. His tone expressed admiration for the hotel, and what it stood for. One guest expressing appreciation to another.
"May I ask what brings you to here? In all the years in my profession, rarely have I had a client travel so far."
That sentence could have come of as a cocky attitude, coming from one who looked not a hair over 25, but it was said with no hint of pride only matter of fact. The observant man only had to look into Hades eyes to see that they were old, that they were the eyes of one who has lived long and seen much. Hades was interested. Was it another job? Mole hunting perhaps? No, that was an internal affair, and Poseidon ran a tight ship, a good ship but a tight ship. An organization like that most likely would prefer to conduct its own house cleaning, and it would do so ruthlessly and without mercy. So most likely another job then.
Perhaps it would be more than just "Go here, kill him/her" or "Steal this from this highly secure place" or "Rescue this person from here and bring them there". Those were all well and good, but they did not necessarily pose much of a challenge to Hades. He remembered working with the Kabal, they had invaded a country! Taken over its government and run the place for while. That was a challenge. Or with Ragnarok, running espionage missions abroad, coaxing international politics and events and the mood of the general populace to support their plans. That was exhilarating. Not many people tended to think on that scale any more. Not that Hades would ever let on. He was too professional for that. He was most definitely an "old hand". And he was running into some difficulties on a personal project of his, one that involved breaking a mutant child smuggling ring. He could do with a distraction for a while.
Hades could not recall the last time a client had traveled so far to meet after a job was complete. The man had literally crossed to a different universe. Hades had made the crossing, but then he was Hades, If he could not cross a border blindfolded with his head in a paper bag, he might as well retire. This man was clearly not an assassin, nor a mercenary so the crossing would have taken planning and resources, so why?
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
Hades had to admit that playing as Mr Wong was one of the less if not one of the least stressful undercover operations that he had undertaken in his long career. He did not mind the simple life of a chief, it was a pleasant change from being hunted out in the wilderness for 8 months straight with no gear. Add to that he hand managed to counter recruit a rather fiery and rather attractive female police officer. He would wait to see what she was made of before making a judgement about her, but so far Hades had seen nothing much to disapprove of or to cause him pause. His phone buzzed in his pocket, speak of the devil, she had data to show him, would this evening be a good time? Hades answered in the affirmative, and that she should meet him at the restaurant just before his shift ended.
His own investigations were somewhat slow of late. He knew two of the suspected four players in the game but was struggling to find any small fry that could point him to the next level up. The triad and Yakuza were playing things very close to the vest and understandably so. If the mutant population at large caught wind of this, well there would literally be hell to pay.
Fa Ping greeted the next customer to enter Sum Ting Wong, and who should it be but Mr Wong's girlfriend. Well potential girlfriend. Gossip was that they had recently gotten together. What a western girl like her saw in a balding man like Mr Wong she did not know, but she could ask, she suddenly thought to herself gleefully. Aloud she said "Welcom to Wong's Lestaulant." She beconed Wong's girlfriend towards a nice and slightly more private table. As they headed there she turned and spoke "So how did you two meet? Tew me aw abou it."
The table was somewhat near the door to the kitchen. Fa Ping had just seated Miss "Acha" at the table and was standing over her hoping to squeeze every last juicy tit bit of information about Mr Wong from her when there was a clearing of the throat behind her. Fa Ping spun in surprise to meet the narrowed eye glare from Mr Wong who stood with a Wok Chan held menacingly in his hand. Fa Ping turned hastily and poured the tea and bustled off, frustratedly to tend to other customers.
Mr Wong smiled ruefully at her retreating back. "Solly abou dat." He paused. "You ar looking lice today. You have dinner and when I filish my shift we can go somewaya and tak, Oh an you get staff discount, I tel Fa Ping, but you look ou for her. She losy" He vanished back into the kitchen.
Half an hour later Mr Wong reappeared, he was dressed smart casual and looked none too shabby if he did say so himself. "So, ar you leady?" He said extended an arm towards his "girlfriend". It made him happy to have a girlfriend, albeit a pretend one.
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
The receptionist turned inquired of the computer. She turned to the guest.
"Sir a guest left a message inviting you to join him for drinks in the library at your convenience. Stephen will show you the way if you are ready."
Moving through the hotel an observant person might notice the staff leading the guest through the hotel was much more than what one would expect in a 5 star hotel. They way Stephen smoothly took in everything at a glance, maintained a relaxed vigilance that missed nothing. He also appeared extremely fit for his age. Stephen was in fact former military police. The clientele that they passed by might also give the observant man food for thought. Oh there were the rich and elite there, the sheikhs, the princes from the Jordan region, the bankers, the faceless movers and shakers of the finance and political sector here and there, but there was also another category, two in fact. One was of people similar to Stephen. Young, 30-40s and upwards, relaxed but alert, obvious situational awareness if you knew how to look for the signs, very fit and healthy, by appearance, dress and posture unlikely to be able to afford such an establishment. Those were the mercenaries, the hired guns. Those hired to either attack, extract or protect objects/people/items.
Then there were the other kind, the kind that did not scream rich and influential nor did they shout trained killer. These looked harmless enough, and like the previous category did not look rich enough to be able to afford such accommodations. These were the assassins, most of whom could probably kill you fifteen different ways in as many seconds with something as simple as a hair pin.
Stephen dutifully lead his charge to the library and returned to his work. The library was a subtle elegant affair. Book lined shelves around the room. The high ceiling afforded tall windows giving the room a bright inviting feel. A fire blazed in the fireplace, there were armchairs in the corners of the room and in the center stood a table of polished wood with chairs surrounding it, on the table was an expensive bottle of whisky and two crystal glasses. Hades rose as He entered. "Bengaal I presume? Please" He gestured for his guest to join him at the table. "Help yourself" Said Hades indicating the drink.
Of the man he knew little, "Bengaal" ran a tight organization in the alternate Universe. Something that Hades could respect. The man was also generous and fair, also something Hades could respect but he knew little else. How his guest treated a 50 year blended bourbon would tell him if he has refinement or not. Until he knew more he would play his cards close to his chest. Hence no indication that he owned the hotel in which they were currently residing. He merely implied that he was a long standing guest.
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
Posted by Hades on Jul 28, 2017 17:09:13 GMT -6
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It was nice to see Noel embarrassed now and then Hades mentally confessed to himself.
>"I had no idea it was worth that much. I only used it one time and I was floored that the hangar fees from this year had already been taken out of the total."
"Well it was top of the range, with, how do you put it, all the bells and whistles, All the bells and whistles."
Hades wondered if Noel had known about all the secret compartments, the additional security features.
>"Thank you for taking care of that for me. And, I guess, drinks are on me?"
"Well if you insist."
Seriously who was going to turn down free drinks.
>"Yeah, glad you went with girls. They already might end up bigger than me. If you'd gotten males I don't know if there'd be room enough for all of us on the bed once they're grown up."
"I was intending for you to enjoy the experience, not get your house demolished." He smiled, his Were males and he was well aware of their destructive capabilities. He had more than one furniture bill to prove it.
>"...it was horrible"
Hmmmm would it be going too far to have vouchers for cooking lessons mailed to Noel, perhaps that would be a tad too cheeky. Next time perhaps.
>"... get your arms yanked off?"
"Simple, I don't actually walk them. I have a good sized patch of wilderness that is well fenced and I turn them loose. They have trackers in the collars so I know where to find them and they get all the exercise they need. Although I will need to get them used to urban environments as well as nature. That is when I will probably take them in twos, certainly no more."
Any more was really asking for trouble.
Hades had to fight to keep his face straight. As expected burning ones tongue did not work. It would be a poor power indeed if it depended on the health of ones taste buds alone, even though they got regularly replaced. Then Noel created a picture perfect moment by looking at him with a huge chunk of pineapple still protruding from her mouth. Hades face was twitching furiously. She looked a little like Po from Kung Fu Panda, or perhaps Mulan from the animated series you know the scene. *Click* Hades took a picture, it was beautiful. He took a few more for good measure. The fact that Noel was being so shameless about these experiments meant that someone had indeed caught her attention.
It was so tempting to set some of his resources to good use to find out who. The internal war raged on with no side being the clear winner.
Perhaps it was to get back at Hades for taking photographs, Seriously would she know if he was not being obvious? Noel bought Hades an identical Moonshine challenge flight.
"So, Noel, as expected, trying to boil ones tongue does not seem to work, neither does filling ones mouth with pineapple...." He would not mention to her that enzymes could be bought in all varieties. If he told her that, next time it would be him watching her try teaspoon after teaspoon of powder. No, this was going to be so much more.. enjoyable.
"So how about a shot then?"
He raised the first glass and downed it. It was like getting hit by a bus. Liquid fire burned down his throat, followed by a ....sweet? aftertaste. It tasted of.... sweetcorn? Really? sweetcorn moonshine. Perhaps it was a Texan thing. Hades turned to see how Noel was faring. Perhaps she would present more photographic opportunities. He had changed his mind, he was going to try to find her "heart throb" and said target of affection just might, just might recieve some amusing pictures in the mail..... Perhaps. Perhaps achohol would help make the decision.
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
Posted by Hades on Jul 24, 2017 18:09:11 GMT -6
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Apologies once again. recovering from stomach bug and family and work just got a wee bit crazy. I probably wont be on much this week. Hope to get back on next week. Once again apologies for the delay.
This affects Richard Bent & Hades
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
How had it come to this? Hades mentally asked himself. It was night, he was crouched on a rocky ledge above the floor of a cave, in the dark, wounds bleeding, body aching, strength almost spent, clutching two knives listening as a heavy foot fall crept towards him. He was evaluating his chances of coming out of this encounter with the last bear of a Russian and he was not liking his odds. With his mutation currently suppressed, the likelihood of dying, permanently and irrevocably was sobering to say the least.
It had started out so well. Hades had woken from the impromptu operation to find his wounds bandaged and a sleeping dinosaur guarding the entrance to the shelter. The feathery creature promptly morphed back into Amber, answering a number of questions that Hades had harbored since the beginning of his encounter with the enigmatic lady of the wild.
He listened, slightly ruefully as she pointed out, correctly, that in his current state he would not get far. Essentially giving Hades the, "I can very well take care of my self" speech, plus the "I didn't save you so you could go and die" speech and rounding it off with the unique "Let me give you a piggy back ride" involving a dinosaur.
Hades did indeed have part of a bear skin left that he fashioned into a makeshift saddle. This was not the first time that he had fashioned a saddle for riding, however he had never had to fashion any sort of riding aid for a 2.7 tonne 6 foot tall prehistoric "rhinoceros" complete with 22 inch long horns and a heavily armored skull. Once the "saddle" (if it could be called that, more like padded strap) was constructed, Hades spent a little time gathering what herbs he could find and prepared a poison that was a hallucinogenic and a mild paralytic, explaining as he went. There was no time to boil up anything stronger. He coated his daggers and arrow heads with it and offered the rest for Amber to coat her horns with if she so choose. Then they were off.
Another thing Hades learned, apparently (and Hades could vouch for with personal experience) when a Styracosaurus decides to get going, it um gets going. Early on Hades learned to shelter behind the body plate of "Amber's" head, it was the only way to avoid getting thwacked by tree branches at up to 20 miles an hour.
They made good time that day, and by nightfall one tired dinosaur and one slightly stiff Hades made camp by a cave. However Hades had tarried by the coast too long. The enemy attacked by night. The sounds of the night went silent, then Amber slipped off while morphing into something that Hades could not identify. He was about to draw his bow when a sniper round passing close to his face put to flight that idea and to Hades. He dived into the cave.
The first attacker was dealt with swiftly and efficiently. A precise buy deadly technique causing Commotio Cordis literally stopped the heart of the first attacker. The second was a little more difficult and a shot knife fight ensued, ending only when Hades managed to nick his assailant's brachial artery. His attacker bled out within minutes. But the two fights had cost Hades. He was nearing exhaustion, bleeding from numerous cuts, bruised and unsteady on his feet.
He wondered how Amber was doing, how many were outside. He mentally banished the thoughts. His world was the here and now, all who entered the cave must be killed or Hades would be. So he crouched, barely, swaying with his two poison smeared daggers in his hands, hoping to end the fight with a single decisive blow. Idly a part of his mind wondered if the hallucinogenic would merely send the Russian into a fit of rage and lead to him being beaten to a pulp.
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
Posted by Hades on Jul 13, 2017 21:52:40 GMT -6
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Just a quick note, work has been a little mad so replies have been delayed. I will also be out of town this weekend. Hopefully by Monday things will have calmed down enough for me to get back to it.
He nodded. "That was dam fine shooting. first two in a 4 inch grouping the last one within the one inch circle. Good shooting." For a man of relatively few words, and rare praise, that was fine praise indeed.
"I am out of practice." It was not an excuse it was a statement of fact. People in Hades and, he suspected, Ranger's profession did not stay alive very long by having any illusions about their abilities, you stayed alive by knowing what you could and could not do, your limitations and so forth.
Hades cleaned the guns before putting them away with care, a snipers rifle is an extension of himself.
He stood and turned to look at the winner, "There is a pub round the corner, meet you there. Unless you want to do more shooting."
It was an imitation British pub, the lighting dim, the wood paneling dark, it was quiet. Tall backed booths offered privacy, it projected a sense of cozy comfort. The type of place where a man could share his life story. Hades, as promised, opened a tab and informed the bartender that all drinks for the two were on him.
He sat back and savored the dark brew. That was one thing he liked about this bar/pub, it stocked an impressive array of imports. He was currently enjoying a Hobgoblin from Wychwood breweries, from Oxford on Water, right outside Oxford, England, and it was good. Silence reigned between them at first, an easy silence. It was becoming increasingly apparent that they were both operators. The easy confidence, the automatic scanning of the surroundings, noting exits and maintaining situational awareness, the confidence, the easy silence.
Hades broke the silence first. "Each man has a unique prone sniping position." This was true regardless of using an assault rifle or a sniper rifle. "I recon the last time I saw that one was 2015, February, Russia. It was one crazy mission." Hades paused and drew a symbol on the condensation of the table. It was the symbol used to mark caches for that particular mission. Hades cast his mind back.
The premise of the mission was simple. The Russians were developing a bio weapon one that they should not, and was able to circumvent many of the protections currently available to the US military. The facility was labeled as a "training camp". The goal was to go in, destroy the laboratory within the camp, collect intel where possible, kill all and vanish. Thus giving the US military time to develop countermeasures and put Russia in a position where it could not do anything but twiddle its thumbs. The catch was that complete deniability was required for this mission. There would be one chopper in and one out, no support in between. If they were discovered The United States would disavow all knowledge and brand them as rogue elements, zero support. So all clothing and weapons had to be obtainable locally-ish.
Hades was dropped in a full week in advance. He had been pulled into the outfit by an Israeli code named Scimitar. He dropped in with a full gear pack and enough weapons to boot. Three sniper rifles, one of them an OSV-96, a bow and arrows, silenced sub-machine gun, pistol and knives, Oh and supplies to last for the mission. It was good he was dropped early. It allowed him time to prepare. Preparing for a mission is not like they show in the movies. Preparation is key.
First survey the compound, and verify that, yes at least half the Intel they were provided was out of date. The security had been stepped up. plot paths for different point of the engagement, remove rocks and debris to create smooth running paths. For a sniper, the longer the shot the more cal he needs to be but for this mission Hades would have to hustle between sniping positions, luckily the range was not far. Next hide weapons at appropriate locations. The OSV-96 would come in handy to cover the exfil. Hades would be ex-filtrating on his own.
Preparations complete he setup a cache with the agreed upon symbol and settled down to wait for the teams arrival.
It turned out it was a good thing he brought a bow, there was a reason why he earned a second nickname on that mission, "The Archer".....
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
>"I'mma let that slide this once 'cause I'm in a good mood. Otherwise, you should try to schlub it like us plebs once in awhile. Here."
"Plebs? Plebs? Well apparently the current definition of a "Pleb" is one that can afford to buy a private jet, a top of the line, luxury jet I might add. I am more out of touch than I thought." He kept a straight face, almost. There might have been a rebellious twitch that escaped here or there.
>"Would you like to see what havoc your delivery wrought?"
Hades chuckled as he dutifully accepted the phone. "You say havoc, I say grounding and becoming responsible, besides once you train them they are very loyal and very capable guard dogs, they will certainly be big enough." Hades did not add more. If Noel wanted to know exactly how large they were going to grow she would have to ask. Though Hades suspected she would be in for a surprise.
"Wait did I send you two? I mean to send only one. Oh well, twice the fun then." There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. What he would not give to have been there to see her face.
He pointed to a photo of a solid block of what appeared to have been edible at one point in time. "Please tell me that is not what you are feeding them!" Hades shook his head.
In return he handed Noel a photo viewer. Just a plain photo viewer, no internet connectivity, no flashy gizmos, just for viewing photos. "You think that two is crazy, try five."
There were fewer pictures that on Noel's phone, but still they were pictures that Hades would not share with many, if anyone else. Photos of him being swarmed by five balls of fluff with legs, photos of the dogs attacking various piece of furniture, wood with nibble marks, five dog bowls and a picture of the same dog bowels with associated balls of fluff chowing down on them and so on. Of the five puppies, two of them looked like Noel's puppies, two looked distinctly wolfish and one looked like a miniature doberman.
>"I was going to get some moonshine, actually. Not this, though."
"This is the bar's famous moonshine challenge. If you can finish the flight and walk across a 2" wide plank and not fall, your tab is on the house. So that is exactly what you are looking for." Of course who knew what each shot of moonshine was infused with, well apart from the last one. It was part of the "Surprise Flight Challenge".
>"I want to find...You know, the tasting part."
That did not seem like a wise or particularly effective/ efficient way to go about it. In fact it sounded suspiciously like an excuse to get drunk, Hades however knew better than to try to argue with Noel at this point. He sat bemused as Noel went through her excuse of a methodology.
>"Hot tea...." Hades humphed, this was going to be an interesting night. Luckily his photo viewer could also take photos.....
>"I have some..."
"You are well prepared and determined I see."
>"Thanks for coming..."
"Of course, I though you merely wanted to go get drinks, not do experiments. I would have come regardless, besides who is going to document the results of the test?" Hades carefully schooled his face into an appropriately emotionally neutral expression, mostly.
>"Are you sure you don't want one of these?"
"Noel, it is the Moonshine mystery flight challenge, I will order.... different alcohol." Preferably of the type where Hades knew what went into them.
Hades speaks in #ec4511 Thanks Ghost for the second Sig
