The Capitol Building

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

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

Comments

[themysciradiana]

"Great Hera," Diana says quietly, reaching out to rest her hand ever-so-briefly against a crumbling bit of masonry.

Some things never change, and the ravages of total devastation are among them. But a brief moment of sorrow, of connection, is all that they have time for. Diana turns to look at Ellen.

"How likely is that?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

There are two left trying to attack. One is limping badly, its right leg all but hanging off; it's spraying everything in front of it down with an assault rifle and howling in pain every time it puts its foot down. The other, both larger by about a foot and more sensible by several yards, is hunkered down behind an overturned pre-war concrete trash bin, and popping its head up every so often to let loose with a burst of fire from some fallen foe's laser rifle.

Ellen is scowling in concentration. The assault rifle mutant is really making it hard to draw a bead on anything.

[themysciradiana]

Diana's gaze takes in the scene quickly, and a second later she's moving.

A nearby segment of fallen masonry gets hefted up and flung at the rifle-bearing mutant. Surviving the impact is a fairly doubtful proposition for the mutant, all told.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

The mutant has just enough time to cry out, "IMPOSS-"

... no, really, that's it. There's not even enough time for an uuuuurgh. Just "IMPOSS-" and then SPLUD. It's not a fate that does its comrade any favors, either, since the other one pops its head up at the sound to see what's going on- and gets a face full of plasma for its troubles.

The silence that descends is broken by the sound of Ellen's panting, and by the faint, distant sounds of mutants in the trenches bellowing in pain and fear. Finn.... let's just say that Shishkebab that Ellen gave him is the right tool in the right hands.

[themysciradiana]

Diana dusts off her hands, turning to sweep another quick look across the field of battle.

"Do you think any of that commotion will be likely to draw whatever's inside?"

Close quarters combat is all well and good, but visibility and maneuverability are a improved out-of-doors, at least for Diana.

But considering nothing has come out yet --

She suspects they'll have to go in. Ah well.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"It already did," says Ellen, looking up from reloading her rifle. "Those two over there? They came out of the other entrance while you were finishing off the Enclave."

"Which would imply that the rest of our enemies are well inside the building," says Cross as she eases her hammer to the ground. "That may present a problem. I've never been into the Capitol Building before. Fighting on unfamiliar ground is something of a challenge."

Ellen's mouth twitches. "It's all unfamiliar ground to me," she points out.

"Point taken."

[themysciradiana]

"More's the pity, then," Diana says, but she does not sound particularly glum about it. More matter-of-fact.

"But I think we'll be able to make do."

She's still got one eye on the terrain, scanning for any movement -- just in case.

"Star Paladin Cross, will you be taking point?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I had intended to," says Cross. "Until we have a better idea of the circumstances inside, at any rate. Too many of these old buildings only have half their interior walls left, and with the battles this place's seen..." She shrugs. "Unless, of course, we have any Stealth Boys available?"

This last is directed at Ellen, who shakes her head. "Sorry. I couldn't find a seller before we got here."

"Pity," says Cross. "Well- unless either of you need a stimpak, there's no sense in wasting time further."

[themysciradiana]

If they did have a Stealth Boy, Diana might have asked about their capabilities. But since that point is moot, she merely shakes her head.

"No, I'm all right. For now."

There's no sense in being foolishly prideful, either.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"All right."

Cross returns her hammer to its moorings, readies her laser rifle, and heads over to the nearest door into the building. With the greatest of care she eases it open and peers inside.

"Clear, for the moment," she reports. "Gunfire from the left. A battle's going down in one of the hallways by the sound of it."

[themysciradiana]

Diana moves toward the door as well, pausing a few feet back and frowning.

"I don't know enough to know. Would we be better served to wait until one side has taken care of the other, or is that likely to create a situation with the Enclave that we'd rather prevent?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Cross considers this. "Hang back, I think," she says. "We stick to the shadows and move into a decent position to mop up whoever's left. If we're lucky, the Enclave forces will be worn down enough to consider surrender."

"I doubt we'll be that lucky, of course, but a worn-down Enclave shooting at us is still preferable to two sides shooting at us at once."

[themysciradiana]

"I'm not about to disagree," Diana says, looking over at Ellen as if to check her reaction, as well.

"Though we may, particularly if floors and walls are crumbled, be able to get someone positioned on the equivalent of high ground. I think I'd have an easier time of it than someone who has to keep at least one foot on the ground at all times. And neither of you are too heavy for me to lift."

Without knowing the layout, there's no way to be more precise about positioning than that. But as food for thought --

It may be important.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"The fewer I have to pray for, the better," Ellen says quietly. "Let them pick each other off before we go after them."

"Then it's agreed," says Cross. "As far as higher ground goes. I don't know how you're managing it, but I'm not one to turn down a strategic advantage when it falls into my lap. Higher ground can only be our ally, here."

[themysciradiana]

"Good, then we're in agreement."

Her eyes remain narrowed, perhaps an indicator that she is straining to listen for the absence of gunfire.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

There are still bullets flying somewhere, and the vzzp! of plasma fire, but the shots are fewer and farther between now than they'd been before. Edging into the building reveals a tumbledown room that once must've been very grand indeed. It's been revived since, a little- but for other purposes. There are sandbag fortifications here, and dragged chunks of concrete and metal placed at strategic positions to choke off any enemy's attempts at rushing the room. There are lights, ancient battery-powered lamps set in places where they won't be disturbed by anything short of explosives or deliberate gunfire. Here and there a keen eye can spot ammunition boxes in the shadows, and ... places ... on the floor that speak of confrontations decisively lost.

It's empty here, though. The light and the noise are mostly coming from the far end of the room, around the corner. And the sound of bullets is growing less and less.