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Post by Basil on Nov 20, 2010 13:44:47 GMT -5
A crow settled on an old, rusted metal pipe and watched one of the corpses that lay in the grass. Its feast was, however, quickly interrupted by an irritated hand that batted it away. The bird cawed loudly and hopped away, looking with insolent intelligence at the person who had unceremoniously deprived it of its meal.
A short woman was lying in wait next to two corpses. She was perfectly immobile and was looking through the scope of an SVD. The two bandits had had their throats slit.
"Fuck off, birdie", said the woman, not even detaching her eye from the scope to look at the crow. The bird looked at her for a while longer, sizing her up, before finally flying off to look for other corpses to prey on. The woman, now less distracted by the bird, refocused her attention on what she saw through her scope.
She was lying in wait above an old train tunnel facing the abandoned train depot, waiting for her prey to show up. She had disposed of two bandit guards a few minutes earlier, killing the first one with her knife and quickly hiding his body before his partner arrived on the scene. She had quickly gone through their belongings, but as with most low-ranking bandits, she had found nothing of interest save for a medkit.
Suddenly, she stirred, readjusting her position. Four figures wearing black coats and carrying AK-74 assault rifles had arrived beneath the large mound of earth and radioactive junk she was facing. Two figures wearing Sunrise suits also arrived several seconds later, and quickly began to talk with the bandits. The woman whistled as she saw several weapons being passed around, most notably an RPG. Swiftly but precisely, she got the lead bandit's head in her sights and, without hesitation, pulled the trigger.
In the moment of surprise following the lead bandit's death, the woman readjusted her aim and pulled the trigger again, taking down the lead loner. With the two leaders dead her mission was complete, so she quickly disappeared from the scene. She jogged along the other side of the train depot, making a large detour around another mound of radioactive trash before arriving at the old flea market and finally, the Duty checkpoint. She was wearing a PSZ-9d Duty suit and her face was hidden by an old Soviet gas mask. As she approached the gate, the lead guard spoke:
"Hey there, short stuff, how'd the trip to the Garbage go?"
'Short stuff' pulled the gas mask off her face and glared at the guard.
"-Name's Balalaika. And yeah, it was a real breeze...now open that gate, I have to go make my report."
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Post by blackpapermoon on Nov 20, 2010 16:19:03 GMT -5
A lanky, greasy, black hair man walked in to Rostok, clad in a skillful patch up SEVA Suit. Mepth was right about him returning to that stash that the bloodsucker had chased him away from. Ferret smiled to himself the Asian had left the zone soon after the death of the Freedomer commandant. The rookie was given a sizeable amount of money for his participation in the assassination, however he spent most of it getting his faction status changed from Bandit to Loner. Ferret had grown tired of working for crime lords and the Bandits, so he left the organization. As a Loner he could live a more honest life as a free man.
However it was not cheat to do so, and his finances where looking iffy. The suit and the scoped AN-94 Abakan, that he had on his back had been in the Agroprom stash that had also contained some canned food and medical supplies. The Ex Bandit figured he should be fine so long as he watched his money. He could pick up a few jobs from the barkeep that would he him going until he was ready to move on to the less civilized areas in the zone.
He had found some low leveled artifact while in the Agroprom the he could use to by a drink or two so that she could celebrate his new found independence. As he made his way to the Hundred Rads, he noticed a small woman dressed in a Duty uniform and old Soviet gasmask, on her back she carried a SVD Dragunov.
“Balalaïka?,” he call over to her some what surprised to find that she had joined Duty.
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Post by Basil on Nov 22, 2010 9:05:17 GMT -5
Balalaika made it past the entrance to Rostok, relieved to see that no mutants were present in the area. Despite the protections Duty had put up around the entrance to the Garbage, mutants coming from the Dark Valley still managed to get through, and for some unknown reason, packs of blind dogs and sometimes pseudo-dogs kept coming back to the area in front of Rostok's Southern entrance. They attacked travellers and howled at night, keeping everyone awake and on edge until Duty mustered up a small force to drive them out or massacre them. Balalaika had once been tasked with taking them all out by herself, a job she had carried right through to the end.
She quickly went through an empty old warehouse and arrived out next to the 100 Rads bar. Rostok's PA system was playing the same old ugly Goth rock song and a few stalkers were visible in front of the bar, loitering. Balalaika frowned in distaste as she saw them. She thought Duty was too lax with loners, letting them in and turning a blind eye to their dodgy business.
After watching the stalkers disapprovingly for a while, she went off to Duty's HQ. She had to report to Rurik, but her attention was caught by a familiar voice.
"Balalaika?"
She turned around and was less than pleased when she recognised the man who stood a few metres away from her: Ferret. She hadn't seen him in months, and she didn't miss him all that much.
"-Huh, Ferret", she said. "I see the guards were lenient enough to let you in..."
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Post by Karcentric on Nov 22, 2010 10:30:58 GMT -5
Rurik had been waiting for Duty's new recruit to report from her latest mission, after completing the near impossible of killing Freedom's commandant Adder. While Rurik wasn't pleased to learn of the news he knew that the ultimate goal of Duty couldn't be hindered by old friendships.
Focusing on what Balalaika had been sent out to deal with, she had been sent to disrupt an arms deal between some bandits and rouge loners, the information gathered indicated that the group was going to try and attack the checkpoint and try to push into Rostok.
She was a most promising recruit, always excepting her tasks without a complaint, and always completing them beyond the standard that most expected. A thought sparked in Rurik's mind, Maybe it's time to finish this war...
Laughing at the thought, he walked out of the base, spying Balalaika talking to a stalker wearing a patched up SEVA suit, walking towards them he said with in a jolly tone which he rarely used, "Balalaika! You've returned." Giving the short stalker an affectionate pat on the head before continuing reverting back to his usual voice inquiring, "I take it you had no problems dealing with those upstarts? Anything unusual to report?"
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Post by Basil on Nov 22, 2010 10:49:15 GMT -5
Balalaika stoically accepted the pat from her much taller superior. She didn't like it at all when people made jokes about her size, but she forgave Rurik for doing it. He never seemed to put any nastiness into it after all, and he was her superior. She saluted him, stood to attention and gave her report:
"Nothing unusual, sir", she said. "The meeting took place at the exact location and at the exact time that we were told, both leaders were taken out. I had to dispose of two guards in order to get to my firing position. That is all sir."
Her report finished, she looked up at her superior (due to his size, she was always looking up), and waited for his answer.
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Post by Karcentric on Nov 22, 2010 11:21:30 GMT -5
Rurik listened to the report nodding with approval, "Excellent work sergeant your payment has been left in your locker as usual."
Pausing to think over weather or not to propose his idea he decided it wouldn't hurt to tell her, "I have a task which I'd like you to consider, you don't have to take it up right away as there will be some planning involved which we will deal with once the plan has been fleshed out more. But as you know, thanks to your efforts, Freedom has been weakened dramatically over the last few months and there is now talk of finally finishing them off and taking over their base."
Letting what he said sink in he continued, "While we've had a lot of new recruits few have shown the potential you've displayed or the ability to think a problem through before proceeding, if we are to take the Freedom's base we will need someone with your cool headed approach. Not to mention your sniper capabilities would be an asset in an assault of this nature."
Again pausing and looking around Rostok at the lone stalkers who made their way to the 100 rads bar, ignoring Rurik, Balalaika and Ferret who was standing silently nearby. He had considered the thought of having Duty transfer to another area leaving Rostok and the territories in loner control numerous times over his time in the zone and now it seemed more likely then ever.
"Skull proved that a small squad can have a big impact if they have the higher ground in the warehouses, and with their squads in disarray we will have no problems beating them, first we'd need some spies to inform us of their current strength." Leaning forward and speaking quietly, "Maybe your friend here could be of assistance we'll need loners we can trust to gather information, I would send you in disguise but your abilities are to valuable to risk. That's our long term plan, get some rest if you need it and think about this plan."
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Post by blackpapermoon on Nov 22, 2010 12:35:08 GMT -5
“We’re not really friends,” said Ferret to the tall Dutyer, “we just traveled together, she saved my ass so I figure, I owe her something.”
“If Duty needs help I’d be more then happy to lend a hand,” he continued without worry that anyone but Balalaika and a few others knew of his former Bandit status. He had kept a low profile as a Bandit. So he was not missed by the faction or was not at all known by the loners. He had a clean slate and had little to be concerned about.
"The damaged part of the wall surrounding the Freedom is poorly patched and would be essay to destroy," said Ferret, "I also know that the snipers do shift change every twelve hours, once at 9 in the morning and the other 9 in the evening."
When the other Dutyer left he turned back to Balalaika,
“The guards don’t know what I was,” he said in an almost whisper, "I got out of the bandits, it was not cheep but I got out…how about I buy you a drink or something we can talk more…you can still drink right being in Duty and all?”
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Post by Διμι on Nov 22, 2010 16:53:32 GMT -5
Sokol stared into his binoculars from the top of the grassy hill into the distance, where the walled town of Rostok was plainly visible.
Freedom was vulnerable. And Duty knew it.
The elite sniper of the faction had been the only one of Freedom's commanders to return from the expedition to the Scorcher. Both the Alpha and the commandant had been disposed of by a cadre of assassins whose allegiance Sokol had little doubt about. The Freedomers had captured them, and learned that one hailed from the Mafia, whereas the girl was a single lone stalker, sent by Duty to eliminate the Freedom leadership.
Sokol had assumed leadership ever since, and had done his best to pull the weakened faction together. The perimeter of the base, unbeknownst to its attackers, was now heftily laden with surprises placed by the crafty remnants of the Penumbrans, and curious new recruits with rather sketchy origins were beginning to show up.
The leading and most promising of these men, Mordecai, seemed to unnerve even the Freedom leader. It had been rumored that he had killed around eight times the average number of bandits a stalker would slay on their way to the warehouses from the Cordon, and his weapon, a brutal 6 gauge shotgun laden with explosive rounds, only underscored Sokol's suspicions that the man was little better than the bandits he had killed. Nevertheless, Mordecai was a vicious fighter, one Freedom hadn't seen since the days of Seth and Lutiy, and was thus allowed to stay.
The sniper's ruminations were broken as he spotted four figures nearly eight hundred meters away through his powerful binoculars, heading across the hills towards the western Red Forest. Mercenaries. He had more than enough time to rest the massive AW50 on its bipod, load a set of fresh cartridges, and take aim.
The leader's exoskeleton's frontal chest plate was blasted to pieces as the .50 BMG round tore a gigantic hole through his chest. Not even the steel armored plating could stand up to the power of the round delivered by the huge anti-materiel rifle. The remaining men attempted to scatter and hide among the knolls, but it was far too late. Three more shots rang out, their echoes resounding many kilometers away. The mercenaries were all dead in seconds.
Sokol quietly packed his rifle and picked up the spent shells. Another threat averted, he thought, but the peace wouldn't last long.
In the army warehouses, it never did.
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Post by Basil on Nov 22, 2010 17:15:24 GMT -5
"No, I don't drink, Ferret", answered Balalaika coldly, before turning to Rurik again. "I'm willing to take part in any future operations against Freedom, sir."
When Balalaika had killed Freedom's snake-eyed Commandant, she had unknowingly affected the balance of power between the Zone's two most powerful factions. She had originally done it only for personal gain, but she had quickly come to realise that the Zone was dangerous to the world around it. Duty, who had offered her a way out of poverty, had seemed like the best option to fight the Zone and its various manifestations.
Freedom, due to their foolish belief in making the Zone available to all, was a major threat to Duty's sacred objectives, and Balalaika was willing to take part in any action aimed at destroying them.
"Although I do believe that we should assemble a greater force in order to take down those Anarchists. Their leaders may be dead, and their standing in the Zone might be greatly weakened, but a cornered animal will always strike violently and viciously, sir", she said.
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Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Nov 23, 2010 1:32:39 GMT -5
Sigbrand was walking through the main HQ building when he heard the voice of one of their most promising new recruits, Balalaika.
"Their leaders may be dead, and their standing in the Zone might be greatly weakened, but a cornered animal will always strike violently and viciously, sir."
Sigbrand walked into the room to find Rurik and an anonymous loner also present.
"This one knows what she's talking about." He said, walking around the sergeant and loner to stand next to Rurik, his new Captain's insignia glinting on his shoulder. "The General here may have given you plenty of missions," He said, "but if you're going to be one of Duty's finest, like we think you can be, you'll have to prove yourself under the most extreme circumstances. Killing Adder may have been difficult, but Freedom is nothing compared to the monstrosities of the Zone."
Removing a four inch long claw from his vest pocket, he handed it to Balalaika.
"This is the smallest claw on a Chimera. I took it and the rest of them from the first one I killed. The largest ones work nicely for boot knives." He said, pointing towards a simple hilt protruding from a sheath on the side of his right boot.
"If it's alright with the General he said," Looking at Rurik, "I'd like to take you on a little Mutant hunt and see how you well you deal with the bigger baddies in the Red Forest."
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Post by Karcentric on Nov 23, 2010 4:01:35 GMT -5
Looking at the claw which Sigbrand held.
"Agreed captain Myrvang, you will personally observe how the sergeant preforms against the worst the zone has to offer. I will talk to this stalker and a few others, to perform this attack we'll need all the information we can muster."
"Bring back the trophies of at least 5 different mutants, the more dangerous they are the greater the reward, and you'll also be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Sigbrand will assess how you in this task." Rurik said, "Good luck out there." he added reassuringly.
Turning to Ferret who had been waiting patently the whole time, "Now young man, what do you know of the warehouses and the area surrounding Freedom's base. We will pay you most handsomely for information which proves useful. Interested?" He said.
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Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Nov 24, 2010 4:05:43 GMT -5
Saluting as Rurik left, Sigbrand turned to Balalika and said, "That's quite a reward you've been offered, to be promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant for completing one mission. "
Putting the Chimera claw back into a vest pocket, he said "You'll leave tomorrow. Meet me by the gate to the Wild Territories at 0400. Pack enough supplies to last you a few days, you never know what might happen out there."
Sigbrand dismissed the Sergeant then headed up the staircase to the headquarter's courtyard. He took a deep breath of the cool autumn air, it would be good weather for a hunt tomorrow. Turning left, he walked over to Colonel Potrenko's workshop.
"I need to borrow something from you, Colonel." He said.
"And what is it you need to borrow, Captain?" The Colonel asked, without looking up from his workbench.
"A rifle, Colonel." Sigbrand said. This caught Potrenko's attention and he put down the parts he was fiddling with to look at Sigbrand. "What rifle did you have in mind, Captain?"
"I heard you had recieved a..special delivery through Sidorovich's contacts in the Big Land." Sigbrand said, hesitating slightly. "I might have." The colonel said, walking over towards something covered with a cloth standing on another table.
Once the Colonel reached the table, he pulled at the cloth slightly. It slid down to reveal a distinctive arrowhead shaped muzzle break and several inches of a thick barrel. "Might this be it?" He asked, pulling away the rest of the cover.
"Yes," Sigbrand said, "It is." He examined the rifle closely, it was a bullpup, bolt action rifle, American made and chambered in the massive .50 Caliber round. Sigbrand picked up the rifle and weighed it in his hands. It was certainly heavier than any rifle he had used before, but it's compact bullpup design gave it a longer barrel length than his Mosin Nagant, with a shorter overall length.
"Just bring it back to me in one piece." The Colonel said, "As far as I know, it's the only one of its kind in the Zone."
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Post by Basil on Nov 24, 2010 19:00:30 GMT -5
Balalaika frowned at the prospect of being sent to the Red Forest. It was a proving ground for Duty's most promising recruits, but it was also a very dangerous proving ground from which few of said 'recruits' came back in one piece. Or alive for that matter. Balalaika had already been to the Red Forest before, while tracking Freedom's mutant commandant, but she had stayed in the well-explored areas.
She had no doubts regarding captain Myrvang's intentions: to go into the lesser known areas of the Red Forest, where terrible beasts roamed. Once such a beast was found, she would have to slay it. A rite of passage of sorts. However, she felt frightened at the prospect of facing one of the Zone's most feared mutants. Of chimeras she had heard they were terrifyingly intelligent and fast, as well as hard to kill. How would she fare against such a loathsome beast?
After heading to the Duty HQ and the barracks, she began to pack her belongings. She thought of the chimera claw the captain had shown her, but she saw little real use in it save for decorative ones. She reached for a long hilt that hung from her belt and drew out a nasty-looking sawtooth bayonet. This was more her thing: deadly, strong, intimidating and with more uses than just killing. She had taken it from a bandit she had killed after taking down the commandant.
The SVD was in a way her main weapon, but it was rather useless in close quarters. Balalaika had opted for the simplest option: an AKS-74U. She didn't use it all that often, but it was still a useful gun despite its nasty kick and inaccuracy. She dragged a bag filled with ammunition boxes from under her cot and took several such boxes out. Stocking up on ammunition seemed quite wise. Once that was done, she took some standard Duty rations before leaving the HQ building and stopping in the courtyard, unsure what she should do now.
And tomorrow we leave for the land of Death.
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Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Nov 25, 2010 3:09:28 GMT -5
Sigbrand opened his eyes and sat up on his cot. It was nearly pitch black in the room, and he waited to allow his eyes to adjust. Once he could see relatively well, Sigbrand stood and walked over to the table where he had placed the borrowed '.50.
He loaded the rifle, then slung it and his pack over his back and checked the time on his PDA. It was precisely half past three.
Sigbrand pushed the door to his quarters open and quickly walked through the HQ's courtyard, the guards at the barricade saluting as he passed.
When Sigbrand reached the barricade to the Wild Territories, he stopped to talk with the guards and waited for Balalaika to arrive.
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Post by Basil on Nov 25, 2010 20:24:45 GMT -5
"Okay Balalaika, time to wake up."
Balalaika groaned in annoyance as she was gently shaken awake by a fellow Dutier. Since he was always up early, she had asked him to wake her up half an hour before the time she and captain Myrvang were meant to go to the Red Forest. However, she had slept badly last night, as she had had a most disturbing dream. She had been standing over the commandant's body. Not a pretty sight. Her bullet had smashed out of the woman's skull, splattering the road with blood and the remnants of her brain. Suddenly, Balalaika had heard a deep growl behind her, and a massive chimera and emerged from the forest. Its two heads were leering at her, and she swore one of them had the face of her father. As she stared at the horrible beast, Adder's head had turned, and her face had smiled insolently at her.
Simply thinking about this dream made Balalaika uncomfortable. Something about it had disturbed her greatly, but she wasn't sure what. She quickly got dressed, putting her suit on and grabbing her gear and weapons before hastily leaving the still quiet Duty HQ building. Rostok's PA system lay silent, and Balalaika could hear faint snoring from one of the abandoned hangars. Many loners were still asleep at this time. As she went to the barricade separating Duty held Rostok from the Wild Territory, she came across a couple of loners who were getting ready to leave, probably on a raid somewhere. She exchanged quiet greetings with them before proceeding to the barricade, where captain Myrvang was already waiting.
"Reporting for duty, captain", she said somewhat sleepily.
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