The Capitol Building

Jul 08, 2010 09:23

When the door from Milliways opens, it opens into a dim and dusty space that smells like still air and old smoke. Things burned here, once; things died here. The scorch marks on some of the walls bear that out, as do the fractures and chip-marks in the tiles of the floor. It takes some blinking and adjusting to the dimness to see the place more ( Read more... )

Leave a comment

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 9 2010, 12:08:39 UTC
Ellen nods. "We'll keep an eye out for you anyway," she promises. She's a lot more accepting of Milliwaysers' claims of being able to fight alone ever since she met John-117. "Let's go, then."

The door opens onto the shadows of Greek Revival architecture; this is, after all, the National Archives building, and the front face is all pillars and broad marble steps. That may very well be what's kept it recognizable all this time. The buildings that were merely concrete and brick, scattered all around the area, have long since started to come apart under the assaults of time and combat. The ones sheathed in stone are... well, not whole, but certainly more viable despite what happened here so long ago. In the distance, the sound of gunfire can be heard, as can the sound of other, more exotic weapons.

There are, however, more immediate concerns. The most notable is the tall, armored figure who steps out of the shadows, the butt of some hefty melee weapon visible over one pauldroned shoulder, the squared-off outline of a laser rifle in its hands. "No sign of mutants coming this way," it says, its voice muffled and filtered by the helmet, but definitely female. "I take it these are the allies you spoke of?"

Reply

themysciradiana July 9 2010, 23:58:49 UTC
"Star Paladin Cross," Diana says, not bothering to make it a question. There is no sign in her expression that anything about this hearkens back to Paradise Island after the OMACs were through with it.

"Is there anything else we need to know before we begin?"

Reply

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 10 2010, 00:13:29 UTC
"The mutants haven't noticed us primarily because of the Enclave," Cross says. "I counted four or five Enclave in power armor still standing. The others may have gotten into the building already. They have a Vertibird on the ground. More importantly, they brought a Deathclaw with them. It's obeying their officers' orders."

Reply

takiena_called July 10 2010, 05:04:04 UTC
Finn glances up at Cross in quick acknowledgement, listening to her as he peers--peers is the right word; the look is not so much assessing as curious--at the area spread below them.

(The sounds aren't any of them foreign to him, so he doesn't take time to classify what they might be.)

There are some turrets on the ground, above the trenches, with large mutants manning them. He glances back to Cross. "What's going on down there?"

Reply

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 10 2010, 05:06:28 UTC
"Mutants holding the line," says Cross. "The Mall's their territory, as far as they're concerned. For every mutant you see out there, there's at least another three in the trenches, just waiting for the first sign of someone foolish enough to think they're safe."

Reply

takiena_called July 10 2010, 05:34:37 UTC
Finn grins.

"Do you guys need me for anything?" he asks, glancing back at Ellen and Diana, "Or should I go check it out?"

He doesn't seem to notice it, but his foot is tapping with excited energy.

Reply

themysciradiana July 10 2010, 05:38:24 UTC
"Don't let us keep you," Diana says mildly.

"But don't be so eager that you forget yourself, either."

It is a caution that most warriors need at one time or another.

It is not even limited to the very young.

Reply

takiena_called July 10 2010, 05:45:52 UTC
There's a flash of amusement at that, but he nods his head slightly in acknowledgement to Diana.

It's good advice!

He glances to the others.

Reply

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 10 2010, 05:47:34 UTC
Cross inclines her head in Ellen's direction, murmuring something too low to hear. Ellen glances up at the Mall, then back to Cross. "We could use another set of eyes," she says, and then turns to Finn. "Go ahead. Be careful- it's nasty down there. We'll rendezvous when it's all over..."

Reply

takiena_called July 10 2010, 06:14:10 UTC
"Up here?" he asks, and at the confirmation continues: "I'll be here when it's done."

If they notice--if they're looking, and they're busy so why should they?--as he heads down and to the right, his stride starts shifting from that of a confident but lanky teenager to something smoother and not necessarily constrained by his current musculature. He's surprisingly good at skiving past the bullets of the guards, though there are a few close calls.

(If he starts laughing about when his awesome new sword bursts into flames, well... it's awesome. And he's just about out of hearing distance, anyways.)

Reply

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 10 2010, 17:29:58 UTC
Ellen watches him go, but only for a moment. Then she squares her shoulders and turns east, towards the gouged-out, half-domed remains of the Capitol Building. The steps are visible from here, with figures scrambling every which way, some dark-armored, some huge and green. Now and then a flash of something pinkish-tan can be seen, lunging among the others, spewing blood everywhere it goes. Off to the left side of the steps squats a silver-grey beast of an aircraft with the rotors of its engines stilled and pointing upward.

"The Enclave's the armored ones," Ellen murmurs. "I don't know why they're here, but I can guess."

"If there's anywhere other than Vault-Tec headquarters that would have the location of a GECK still hidden away somewhere," Cross adds, "it'd be here. And if they find that, the Wasteland is almost certainly doomed."

Ellen swallows and unslings the bulky, tube-girdled rifle from her back; the barrel begins to glow green.

Reply

themysciradiana July 10 2010, 18:33:15 UTC
"So preventing this Enclave from obtaining any significant technology is imperative. So noted."

Her eyes narrow faintly, lips pressed together as she studies what she can see if the terrain.

"Are any of them likely to expect an aerial attack?"

It will leave her quickly outnumbered, but as a distraction to allow Ellen and the Star Paladin to obtain better positioning may make it worthwhile. Eventually.

Reply

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 10 2010, 18:37:56 UTC
"No." That's both Ellen and Cross at once; they look at each other a moment, and then Cross speaks. "No, they won't. The Enclave are in possession of the only known aircraft in the region."

Her tone is only fractionally skeptical. One learns quickly in the Wastes not to assume anything about strangers.

Reply

themysciradiana July 10 2010, 18:43:40 UTC
"Hmm. They shouldn't see me coming, then."

Not literally, however. Her costume is just a little to bright to be missed, especially in these surroundings.

Good thing she's fast.

"Are we ready?"

Surprise, such as it is, only works as a tactic if the rest of your side is capitalizing on it.

And this is not Diana's show.

Reply

aaaaaaaagh_sky July 10 2010, 18:51:24 UTC
"Ready," Cross says, her laser rifle in her hands. Ellen glances at the ongoing battle scene, squares her shoulders, and nods.

"Ready," she says. "We'll get to work on the mutants. Let's move out."

Reply

themysciradiana July 10 2010, 18:58:56 UTC
"Done," Diana says.

Then she launches skyward, a blur of bright red-and-blue rising briefly before diving down toward the first of the Enclave soldiers, skimming a few dozen yards over their heads before turning back and dropping toward the earth.

Her landing is light, with no tremor to herald her arrival.

But that first punch?

That one is going to be felt.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up