venom-mercenaries

[venom-mercenaries]

Vadia’s eyes follow the bag as it flies past her, colliding hard into the dog agent with the gun, throwing him back. His arm flails up into the air, and in surprise his weapon discharges into the ceiling!

BZAP! BRANG! BWONG!

This caused the crowds to REALLY rile up in a panic, and some of the overhead light fixtures were damaged, causing parts of the ceiling to black out and fizzle with sparks and broken glass.

“....”

“Nice throw, kid! Don’t stop now, though! Keep moving, we’re almost in the clear!”, Vadia compliments Mize’s quick thinking as she shoves past the screaming crowds, the sound of security sirens blaring nearby as MacBeth authorities respond to the commotion caused.

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

Dammit, Mize. You were told to run, not try and fight! Fortunately, all he did was deliver a kick to the fallen dog agent’s nose, sending him back to the ground before he could try and punch at Vadia.

“... Dammit, kid, GET GOING! I can handle-”, she yells at him before being jumped mid-sentence by the second agent, having been distracted by his approach focusing on Mize. “OOAGH!”

She delivers a kick to flip the agent off of her, sending him into the crowd of people, who by now have started to gawk and panic at the altercation. Vadia rolls onto her hands and knees, glancing about for Mize - but then the first agent comes at her, causing her to roll out of the way. She elbows him in the back, hopping back upright.

“URGHH!! Damned.... jumpy.... lizard...!”, he sneers at Vadia as she makes a run after Mize’s trail.

“I’ll put a stop to her....!”, the second dog growled as he rose to his feet, and reached into his coat...

... and pulled out a blaster!

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

With that, Veers’s inspection of the Rock Crusher was concluded. Within the hour, he departed the warship with his entourage, to deliver his report to Venom High Command. However, this was not the last he and Commander Galaxicos were to cross paths... far from it....

END OF SCENE

OC RP: Kalantir Veers

[venom-mercenaries]

In the middle of a Fichinan blizzard, an old snow leopard approaches the smoldering wreck of a crashed starfighter. The smoke plumed high into the sky, a black flag against the torrent of white. A garbled transmission tuned in and out on his belt-pack radio, until it finally gave out, but he tracked it to this spot. Treading carefully, he neared the flaming scraps of metal with his rifle at the ready.

“Anyone alive over there?”

SIGNAL DETECTED.

ESTABLISHING CONNECTION. 

…

…

…

“Le- —  -anther —”

“Stranded on — -or two —”

“— -olfen — ” 

“Anyone —”

SIGNAL LOST. 

[venom-mercenaries]

Vadia led Mize through the lobby’s crowds, weaving and pushing through the closely gathered groups of people, her pace never breaking or slowing down. All the while, the two dogs in suits and hats trailed close behind, blending into the crowds to almost not even seem discernible from it.

“In thirty seconds, I want you to start running as fast as you can towards Terminal Transport Gate A-C. Don’t ask questions. Just do it”, Vadia says calmly to Mize as she grabs him by the arm and pulls him ahead of her, the countdown already beginning in her head.

30.. 29... 28... 27... 26... 25... 24... 23... 22... 21...

20... 19... 18... 17... 16... 15... 14... 13... 12... 11...

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

“GO!”, she pushes Mize forward urgently, and turns around promptly on her heel as she does. Her other leg swings into a high kick in a single fluid motion, connecting directly with one of the dog agent’s head, knocking him onto the floor and dispersing the crowds in surprise!

“GRGH! Venomian bitch....!!”, he sneers as he shakes his face and recovers from the blow, and comes up off the floor swinging while his companion closes in on Vadia as well...

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

Vadia smirked, eyes not averting from her device as she hears Mize approach.

“It is quite alright, Mr. Souri. In fact you are right on time-”, she replies, then quickly glances her eyes from her device across the room, as if surveying for something in the lobby. It was hard to tell what, exactly - there were hundreds of people clamoring and moving between terminals and onto transportation platforms. She smirked once more, then looked directly at Mize.

“Well, there is no time to lose, is there? Come - I’ve already arranged our flight. Grab your things, stay close, and.... move briskly”, she smiles calmly at him, pocketing her device and and gesturing for him to follow.

As she did, a dog  in the crowds gestured to another with his eyes. They both push off the wall they were loitering by, and mingle into the crowds...

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

Veers is a strong, stern man. One who exudes an aura of authority and respect among almost everyone he’s ever met. He never expected a reaction like the one Galaxicos just leashed out at him with. The blows strike his face true, and he stumbles onto a knee in surprise, grasping his face as he does in total shocked silence.

An anger built inside him. A righteous and vindictive fury. His teeth clenched as he took several more lashes from Galaxicos, but he did nothing to resist or oppose the assault. His pride as a soldier would not allow him. He knew he was in no position to turn hand against one of the Emperor’s own direct subordinates. All he could do... was grin and bear it, as the chaos of the dying outside was only accentuated by the bitter silence of obedience by Galaxicos’ crew.

After several moments, the attack was thwarted, and combat alert status dropped. The fighter escorts returned to the Rock Crusher for docking - most of them unharmed. Those that were, though.... the only casualties were self-inflicted. Still, statistically this was a victory for the Venomian forces. Victories are what matter, in the end.

Veers stood tall at last, noting the losses, his face swollen and discolored from bruising. He took a sharp inhale, but stuttered to say anything at first. Then, his words came to him.

“.... All survivors accounted for, Commander. This demonstration has proven... most enlightening. .... Venom High Command will be pleased to know of your.... efficacy”, he says dull and plainly, his deep voice humble and curt.

OC RP: Kalantir Veers

[venom-mercenaries]

And so Vadia left Mize to his designs until the two days appointed time came. Lennox Astroport was a large commercial dock for incoming and outgoing starships, primarily those involved in cargo freight and industry. It had been pulling double duty in the wake of the Lylat War, as MacBeth’s own capital city astroport had been badly damaged during it and was under reconstruction. Still, civic transportation was not unheard of for Lennox Port.

Vadia arrived earlier than the scheduled time to loiter in public lobby while waiting for Mize, dressed in a high class outfit with a dark brown overcoat. She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a hand held communicator. Pressing some buttons on its face, she seemingly idled while waiting Mize’s arrival...

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

The militia attack did not seem to expect the Rock Crusher to be supported with an escort squadron of attack craft, and the much more nimble Venomian Invader-Class starfighters easily flew circles around their makeshift warships, gunning down one in seconds and sending it careening into a large asteroid with a powerful explosion.

“Jace is down!! We’re outnumbered!!”, their radio chatter crackles in the Rock Crusher’s bridge deck as it easily intercepts their unscrambled transmissions. Veers seems pleased with the unit’s efficiency in handling the threat. That is, until Galaxicos takes it one step further.

“ Just look Veers… how terrible and destructive is the Meteo Crusher.” 

The warship converted from asteroid mode into combat mode. Its port and starboard pylons began to glow with a powerful energy...

The pulsing violet energy waves expanded outward rapidly, trapping both enemy and ally alike in its wake. Their frequencies did not just damage the hulls of the ships directly, but also penetrated through them and caused blistering agony to their crews. Screams cluttered the communication line in a horrific cacophony of suffering.

“.... Star’s sake, that’s our own out there, man!!”, Veers bellows at Galaxicos angrily as he sees his own fighters callously caught in the crossfire.

“They’re dying out there!! Stop this weapon’s attack, immediately!!”

OC RP: Kalantir Veers

[venom-mercenaries]

Vladimir takes the handshake and returns it, his grip rather light all things considered. He quickly pulls away once the gesture is completed.

“Correct. Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Muir”, he says plainly, his voice low with a gravelly texture despite his youth.

“Fortunan wildlife presents an interesting case in the study of Lylatian evolution. It is wildly divergent in comparison to any other studied creature in the animal classification system. However, the cyber-neuro augmentation study has ultimately proven inefficient in meeting the Emperor’s demands. Creatures like the Monarch Dodora are difficult to subdue and augment, plus their wild natures make them unpredictable, even when under neurological augmentation. Furthermore, the augs are vulnerable to damage and deterioration, which voids the control over the creature and often sends it into an agitated frenzy. Combine that with the added risk and resource use necessitated by manual control modules, it just was not paying off in the long run. Once we lost an operator due to a malfunctioning unit resulting in a captive dodora destroying his control module, the book was more or less shut on the project”, Vladimir rambles off in a dry, matter of fact manner as he walks alongside Muir, his tone never changing and his voice showing no emotion at all as to what he may actually be feeling about... any of what he said, be it the death of a co-worker or his project being closed.

“.... But, that is why I am here now, Doctor Muir. The Emperor has a new vision for his top secret Bio Weapons division. Are you familiar with the legendary beasts Baccoon and Goras?”

OC RP: Vladimir Ilyushin

@venomous-affiliations

War was upon Lylat. Amassing its armies, Venom was poised to take the system by storm in a full scale invasion… but there was more to this force than mere military might alone. Deep within Venom’s cavernous fortresses were secret laboratories, where the most brilliant minds of Andross’ forces worked to augment their imperial armies with more…. eccentric means of warfare.

Super soldier studies, cybernetic enhancements, extra dimensional transportation and utility, and of course biological and genetic engineering were all being pushed to their limits within these dark halls. One such scientist involved with the Top Secret Bioweapon division was a young but sullen looking ape known as Vladimir.

A prodigy back home on Corneria, he had been attracted to Venom and to Andross for many of the same reasons other apes had been: to push the boundaries of discovery that Corneria would not let them achieve. To that end, he was destined to cross paths with another brilliant mind… Nythaniel Muir

[venom-mercenaries]

Veers (as well as some of the soldiers accompanying him in the transport) take notice of Peppy’s sudden change in demeanor, though he does not hear what he says to himself. He raises a brow curiously, and clears his throat.

“Losing your spirit so soon, Sergeant Hare? Rest assured, you are too valuable a captive to just be sent off to work in the labor camps like most prisoners are. Hrmph....”, he says in a rather half-hearted way to calm Peppy down.

The transport then stops at the gate of the fortress. There’s voices outside speaking over megaphones and transmission links, verifying the vehicle, its passengers, and its contents, as well as its escorts.

“Sergeant Vermille, bring your machine back to the hangar bay for maintenance and munitions restocking and await further orders by the commander” can be heard over the shared link within the transport, and with it Vermille’s mechanized armor stomps away to do as told. The gates of the base begin to open, but the transport does not move yet.

venom-mercenaries‌:

“A -D- is being generous if you ask me….”, Vermille snorts over the commlink.

“Sergeant, that’s enough”, Veers finally snaps to Vermille, having heard enough banter about fallen allies spoken lightly of. He turns to Peppy.

“You are being transported to our primary base of operations in this area for temporary holding. Soon, a transport escort will arrive to transit you to Venom, where you will be detained more…. formally.”

In the distance, the fortress looms…

Peppy’s ears drop as he watches from within the vehicle, his breath stilling as though his heart stopped beating. No. Not this again. He knew, from the moment he crashed along the Macbethan earth and was approached by Venomian forces, that he’d be taken in as a prisoner of war. That’s just how it goes. Other soldiers have gone through this. He’s been through it once before.

It never gets any easier.

For that moment, the veteran hare loses himself from the present. Sure, he’s aware of what’s going on–he can trail his eyes along the sliding gates, the lines of guards and sentries, the convoys lining up the dirt roads rolling along the base…. it still never gets any easier. In fact, it’s harder now than it ever was. Back then…. back then…. he had someone with him. And someone else…. who was responsible for his first capture.

It wasn’t the fact he was captured that is locking him from the present. It was the fact that he was the only one to leave Venom alive.

“J-…Jimmy…” he muttered beneath his breath, as though a scared child wondering where his big brother is. But his big brother isn’t here. He won’t be here. And he won’t be coming back. And it’s all because of him.

[venom-mercenaries]

“Indeed, as well as your leadership ability under duress, Commander Galaxicos”, Veers replies flatly as he observes the soldiers manning their battle stations in preparation for counter attack.

As the bridge screens displayed the attackers, it was revealed who they were: a motley crew of modified civilian spacecraft with weapons grafted onto their hulls, all of them with crudely painted anti-Androssian insignias on their starboard sides. A transmission blares from one of them.

“IMPERIAL SLIME! YOUR WAR HAS DRIVEN LYLAT TO RUIN! PREPARE TO FACE THE STARS!! All wings ATTACK! Ready boarding maneuvers!!”

With that declaration, the few ships visible on screen spread out and began circling around the Rock Crusher, firing at it as much as possible in their desperate attack. Veers is not amused in the slightest by the display.

“Pah, who are these militia? They think they can stand to the armed might of a Venomian warship...”, he murmurs to himself.

OC RP: Kalantir Veers

[venom-mercenaries]

Vadia grinned at Mize’s acceptance of the offer. She took another drag of her cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke.

“Wonderful.... wonderful! I knew I had a feeling about you, boy... a good one at that. You’re no fool... you recognize where your talents will not only be recognized, but nurtured.... and put to actual progress. Venom is not the broken trash heap Corneria would lead you to believe. Wounded to be sure... but wounds heal with time and care. I look forward to you being a part of that care.”

With that statement, she dashes her cigarette in an ashtray on the table, then stands up. She picks up a small attache case that was by her seat and opens it on the table, reaching inside and pulls out a wallet, placing it on the table before Mize.

“Inside is a credit chip with five hundred credits worth of value on it. Use the money to buy whatever you may need for your trip to Venom. Do not worry about transportation - that will be arranged by me. There is also an identity card and travel visa as well. Return now to wherever you are residing at current and gather your things. In two days time, I will meet you at Lennox Astroport at 12 noon local time. Is that understood?”

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

“Such confidence is inspiring. I hope your soldiers admire you accordingly-”, Veers’ praise was suddenly cut short by another rocking of the ship. He stood up, glancing aside in surprise, suspecting it was a meteorite collision, but then it happened again... and again.

That was in fact not a small debris collision, but a weapon’s blast! The alarms within the Meteo Crusher began to sound, emergency lighting turning on as a voice yelled over the ship communication line.

“Commander Galaxicos!! We’re under attack! Unidentified fighters appeared out of nowhere on our short range scope!”

Veers glances to Galaxicos to read his expression in the sudden crisis, all while keeping his own face cool and calm. He awaited his response.

OC RP: Kalantir Veers

[venom-mercenaries]

“What I’m saying, is that your talents and abilities have been recognized by a power greater than you that sees you hiding yourself on this dirtball of a planet, which is a squander and waste of your abilities and growth”, Vadia says with a plain, matter of fact tone of voice.

“Joining us is an opportunity to make yourself better than you were before - and to use your talents among those who would truly appreciate you and your abilities. You would, if I may be so bold, have a place where you can truly belong.”

Vadia took a drink from her glass, and paused on that thought for a moment.

“As for your third question... how did we find you? Ho ho ho.... my dear boy, we have eyes and ears all across the system.... and beyond that. They are very, very open.... and attentive.”

OC RP: Vadia Klaus

[venom-mercenaries]

Veers took a seat beside Galaxicos’ “throne”, nodding in agreement as he observed the efficiency in which his men manned their stations and operated their terminals in preparation for asteroid demolitions.

“Ah, thank you”, he replies kindly to the mandrill that offers him the flash goggles, placing them on his eyes so that he may observe the effectiveness of the meteo crusher’s beam weapon first hand.

The shock and flash was terrible indeed. The explosion rocked the vessel as the deckhands and Veers braced themselves, and when the light faded and vision returned to normal, all there was to see was space dust. Slowly, Veers begins to clap in approval, before glancing to Galaxicos’ maniacal laughter.

“.... a very impressive display indeed, Commander. You do Venom proud”, he says simply.

OC RP: Kalantir Veers

[venom-mercenaries]

“I am well aware of your credentials within the Imperial structure, Commander. And this vessel is indeed an impressive display of Venomian engineering”, Veers replies with a serious tone of voice,

He folds his arms behind his back, glancing about the soldiers gathered before turning back to Galaxicos with a nod.

“Yes, I believe a demonstration may well be in order... I would be delighted to experience the power of the Meteo Crusher first hand... as well as the skill its commander has at handling it.”

OC RP: Kalantir Veers