NationStates Jolt Archive

Chapter One

It's hard living in Gryphonne. The pollution, corruption, crime....yeah, we've got it all. Not to mention you almost have to be a millionaire to live above the Ground Sectors, or the Hive for lack of a better term. Down here, it's everyone for themselves. The government likes to say they have control of us to save face, but they could care less what happens down in these slums as long as we don't interfere with the Upper Sectors, or the Necromunda.

You know, the Brazened Empire of Daikerta, well, it just doesn't look too 'Brazened' after living in Gryphonne. When the architects first began designing Gryphonne, they built the Ground Sectors in the old Gothic Daikerta fashion. But after the Emperor announced his intentions on adding a whole new 'layer' of Gryphonne on top of the Ground Sectors, the buildings became more modern, and broke away from the Gothic look. So while we're stuck with cold, stone spires of a dead era, the rest of Gryphonne enjoys the luxuries of central heating systems.

Me? Well I'm able to make a good living for myself. With all of the crime down in the Hive, its not too hard to provide for yourself as a bounty hunter. Yup, I'm a good old fashioned soldier of fortune, a rebel without a cause. It puts bread on the table, and I have to admit its a bit fun tracking down your prey, running from the last shred of police their are down here. I don't know though... its just....getting kind of eriee down here. Whatever.

Kal Jericho walked slowly through the dark alley. He thought about stopping in the ol' Last Call for a few shots, but decided against it. He was tired, and didn't want to go on another all-night liquor induced rampage across the Hive's night clubs.

Business had been unusually slow, and Kal was desperate. He almost thought about just shooting a guy and turning him in, hoping the police department would give him just a few bucks for his effort. But he kept on telling himself that this was just a slow month, and come this April the bounties will start coming in again.

Kal was almost at his old apartment when he came across a piece of paper taped up against the wall of the Last Call. He began to examine it, and found it to be an actual wanted poster. Not just any poster, either. The department took extra time out of their way to make sure people noticed this one. Maybe it was because the man they were looking for had a bounty on his head amounting to 250,000 credits. Kal smirked then, ran up into his apartment and flipped on his laptop, to try and find out any information he could on this guy....

OOC: Looks interesting, so far... what are the rules?

"This place reeks..." muttered Yinsenzy, "You get used to it commander, either that or your scent pallet dies out. Honestly though, sir, when I grew up in Vitalya district it was a lot worse than this." Yinsenzy laughed "Yeah, you got it right Tulinov, but I would suggest not making any more mention of our home until were out of Gryphonne. The walls have ears, and I have a feeling they're all listening to me...you, or who ever else we've dealt with. Anyhow, whats the news boy?" Trooper Tulinov looked around to see if anyone was watching before he removed a dark red folder from his storm jacket. He opened the portfolio and removed a dataslate and slid it across the small round table to Commander Yinsenzy. Snatching it up quickly he scrolled through the information. Maps, news and other useful tid bits about the lay out of the Hive. "Thanks alot Tulinov, not get the hell out of here before someone recognizes you."

OOC:

I want to get in on this...though, if you dont want me to you can tell me to bugger off. If you dont mind me joining in, could you possibly tell me who is on the wanted sheet? Im a huge fan of 40k, so yeah.

(ooc: Warmongering Lunatics: There aren't going to be many rules, just try not to go way out of line (ex: super nazi commandos...yeah, one guy tried to use some of those in another one of my rp's...), and if you must be something other than human, just realize Daikerta has alot of laws against anything other than humans. Oh, and try to lay off of any magic or anything like that.

Auman: Of course you can join. I was hoping someone would play the role of the bounty, so I didn't write anything about who he/she was or what he/she looked like. If no one wants to be the bounty though I will post something about him later.)

(ooc: Double post)

I've lived in Gryphonne my entire life, born and raised in Hive Sector 8. Sometimes I go up to the Necromunda for a specific bounty, but other than that I don't know anything past the Hive. My parents used to tell me that when I got older they would take me out of Gryphonne for a trip across Daikerta. They never got the chance.

I was about 16 when my parents were caught in the crosshairs of a gang war, coming back from the grocery store. Both of 'em were killed in an explosion. After I heard about the news, I became so filled with anger that I decided to seek vengeance on both of the clans. Taking up my father's favored pair of pistols (named the Twin Dragons by the master smith who made them specifically for my dad), I ran out and killed every single gang member involved with the incident. Not one was left alive. If they begged for mercy, I gave them one bullet in their head and hoped it killed them instantly.

My name is Kal Jericho. Welcome to my world.

"God dammit, how hard is it to find information on just a stupid little bounty?" Kal yelled to himself, slamming the monitor on his laptop down. Pulling on his jacket, Kal walked out of his studio and back out into the sector. Kal sighed and looked directly up, at the underbelly of the Necromunda. Rusted suspenders, hundreds of cables, enormous pipes; that was his sky. He continued to walk down the alley into the main road, pushing off beggars as he went on.

Kal suddenly found himself in a sea of people, rushing to get to their destination. Most of the hive dwellers were too scared to stay out of their homes for more than an hour, but Kal found the confines of his apartment boring. He liked being out in the hive, it gave him a strange feeling of security. Dodging the smog-belching motorcyles as they passed by, Kal ran to the other side of the narrow road and into the Last Call. He decided he needed a drink afterall.

"Just a small shot tonight, I have work." Kal muttered, taking a seat at the bar.
"A bounty, eh? Well, its money I guess. Frankly I find bartending a bit safer." Otto, the old bartender said. Otto was definately rough around the edges, even for someone in Sector 8. He didn't trust anyone he didn't know, and fortunatly for Kal, Otto had known him his whole life.
"Aehh....its not just any bounty this time Otto. 250 grand."
"Are you serious? Haven't heard of this one yet. Got any info?"
"Nope, I hate the internet. Hoping you would know something."
"Sorry kid, can't help ya out. Maybe some of my regulars would though, might want to ask around."
"I might have too..."

Swallowing the shot in one gulp, Kal stood up from his stool and looked around the bar. He didn't like gathering information from his peers, but two hundred and fifty thousand credits was just too good to pass up...

Mind if I be the bounty?

Viktor Popov wasn't from around here, he never had spoken much of his past, except that he came from the lower classes and would have starved to death if he hadn't chosen the right protection. Last's nights raid on a bank had not been one of his finer moments. Normally, he didn't harm people, but that security guard had called his friends. He thought of the expression on the man's face as he stabbed him in the heart. He wasn't a ruthless man, but he did what had to be done. The bloody guard had managed to fire his pistol before collapsing. Popov's MP-5 had dealt with his friends, and he had managed to make off with 500 grand. They must have thought their vault was so secure, but no security could keep the person who knew the way in out, and that is what he had done. A gun is a good password for vaults. "They are looking for me for sure, better lay low here for a while." He heard steps behind him. In one fluid motion Popov pulled out his large .45 caliber pistol and shot the man sneaking up behind him in the face. The man fell to his knees and then to the ground, dropping a large knife. "Bloody bounty hunters, they are all the same."

Tag!

OCC: Could we assume that Viktor Popov is wanted in LRR for spaceship thefts?

IC:

Lieutenant R.W.E. Keller of the RBI walks down the street, along with his partner Lieutenant Jamie Ericksson. They had been tracking Popov for weeks, ever since he stole a Hammer II corvette and shot the pilot, and their searches had led them into Gryphonne.

Ralph hated the place. "Let Viktor have it, for all I care!" he would rant to Jamie as they walked around in the slums.

"Hey, what's that up ahead? The Last Call?"
"Let's stop in there and have a drink. I need a Vodka before we do anything more."

One thing Jamie could neverunderstand about Ralph, besides his two middle names, and that was why he was so cynical.

"Hey, Ralph. Why don't you ever lighten up?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Ah well. Now get the door."
"Yes, m'lady."

Ralph opens the door to the pub, and they both walk in.

Sure, fine with me.

Popov strode through the narrow streets, his brother Dimitri had a small bar nearby, the Last Call (You mind if I do this?). He pulled open his cell phone. "Brother, I need someplace to lay low for a while, can I stay there?" a gruff voice came through the phone, "Sure brother, anyway I think there are some bounty hunters here, so be alert." "Thanks Dimitri."

Popov pulled out his 2 automatic pistols and concealed them partially. His long black trenchcoat flapped out behind him as he strode up to the door of the bar...

Ralph was by this time too drunk to notice anything besides the shot glass in front of him, and Jamie was busy trying to get him up. Their disguises of regular slum residents hides them pretty well, and they don't attract much attention.

Popov walked silently into the bar, even though he was a rather big guy, he had gained the essential survival ability of not being noticed easily. He walked over to the bartender, his brother. After having a few words with him, Popov walked up to the room. He pulled out a chair and sat at a right angle to the door.

Yinsenzy was just pouring over the information in his dataslate, 'Viktor Popov, age late twenties-early thirties. Known to be extremely dangerous when confronted' just as he started examining the LRR mugshots the front door opened. Yinsenzy laughed to himself. Yinsenzy was sitting in a shadow filled booth in the back left corner of the bar, no one could see him...at least unlooked for. "Well, it seems as though I'll get to talk with Mr.Popov sooner than expected..." Yinsenzy laughed grimly to himself and finished his beer.

OOC:

Yinsenzy doesn't want a bounty...though he does need to speak to Popov.

Okay, you should talk to his brother, the bartender first.

"Could I get another domestic beer please?" Yinsenzy threw some of the local currency on the bar and turned to look at Viktor. "Hey, do you know that go over there? the guy who looks like he doesn't want to be seen?" the bartender returned with the drink and Yinsenzy looked at him with grey eyes.

"Could I get another domestic beer please?" Yinsenzy threw some of the local currency on the bar and turned to look at Viktor. "Hey, do you know that go over there? the guy who looks like he doesn't want to be seen?" the bartender returned with the drink and Yinsenzy looked at him with grey eyes.

His brother is named Dimitri...

Dimitri stared at the man. There was the slight sound of a gun cocking, "Who is asking" he asked in a rather thick Russian accent.

At the bar, Ralph chugs down his fifth vodka, and staggers over to a table, Jamie holding him up. She sits him down in a metal chair, and takes the seat opposite him, next to the wall. She looks around, by chance Viktor might be in this very bar. A shadowy figure in the corner caught her attention, after a few sweeps of the room.

"Hey, Ralph, who'd you think that is?"
"Who?"
"That."
"Jesus H. Christ."

As Kal stood up, three people entered the bar. He had not seen any of these people at the Last Call before. Suspecting something, Kal sat back down and began to talk to Otto.

"Otto, who are these folks?" Kal whispered, grasping the handle of one of his pistols.
"Don't know about that couple, but the man in the trench coat is Viktor Popov, the brother of Dimitri Popov, owner of this here joint." Otto replied, equally interested in the scene as Kal.

Kal turned in his stool to face the Viktor. It wasn't long before he realized that Viktor's face was the one printed on the wanted poster. Kal nonchalantly returned to his origional position facing Otto, and smirked.

"Otto, this Viktor character just happens to be the man I'm after." Kal murmured again. "Give me a big mug of water, so I don't look awkward just sitting here doing nothing."

Otto acknowledged Kal's request, and poured him a mug of water. Kal took the drink by the handle and set it down in front of him, and looked over at Dimitri. He was talking to another man Kal had not seen before. Taking a drink from the mug, Kal turned again to face the bar and tried to listen in on their conversation, all the while listening to what Viktor's next move would be...

Viktor eyed the newcomers, "I'd bet $5 that they are bounty hunters..." You didn't live long during a life of crime without being able to recognize bounty hunters. Viktor downed his vodka in one gulp and looked over at his brother. Once he had his brothers attention he flicked his eyes over towards the newcomers and nodded quickly. Viktor stood up, gripped his machine pistols and walked up the nearby stairs and into a room his brother had prepared for him.

Kal watched Viktor climb the stairs and enter into his quarters. Kal didn't think the Last Call rented out rooms to anyone, so he presumed Dimitri had a hand in this, but wasn't sure. For all he knew the old bar was looking to make more money and added an upstairs inn. Taking his mug, Kal stood up out of the stool and relocated to a small table close to the staircase, and waited for the rest of things to unfold.

OOC: Lets shake things up a bit 8) I have no paticular attachment to these characters. If they die I'll just make up some more and plaugue you with them. :wink:

IC:

The bar door crashed open as three muscle-headed strongmen burst in. The leading heavy, frothing at the mouth and twitching wildly, swung a shotgun the size of an anti-aircraft gun towards Kal and fired twice, tearing two-foot holes in the bar walls. "Kal Jerico you b*st*ard! You killed my brother! Time to die Kal! Time to DIE!" The two other heavies broke off and took position a few metres away form their leader on either side.

"SHIT!" Kal yelled, falling backwards out of his chair. Scrambling to his knees, Kal pushed over the table and took cover behind it. He whipped out his pistols and leaned to the side of the table and shot numerous times to the man closest to himself, hoping it could buy him enough time to react. Realizing a thin wood table cannot keep a shotgun round from hitting a man, Kal immediately shuffled right and hurdled through the swinging door, leading behind the bar counter.

"Otto, get down!" Kal yelled again, lunging up over the counter and firing more rounds in the direction of the leader.

"You dumbasses better be worth at least a few bucks!"

Dimitri dove under the bar, pulling out his Ak-47 that he kept hidden under the bar. "Shit!" He loaded the magazine, pullled back the bolt and popped up above the bar and sprayed fire towards the 3 strongmen. A man flew over the bar and landed beside him. Popov ducked down again and dealth the man a savage blow into the man's face with the butt of his rifle.

Meanwhile...

Popov listened to the sounds of the gunfight, "Let them shoot each other first, then I'll deal with the last ones standing." He pulled his machine pistols out and loaded new magazines in them...

Ralph continues to sit in the corner in a drunken daze, but Jamie, not dulled by alchohol, quickly dives under the table. She draws her two .45 automatics, in sharp contrast to Ralph's standard issue nagant 1898 revolver, and readies for a fight.

Once the shooting starts, Jamie pulls Ralph off his chair and tips over the table to make a shield from the shotgun fire. She begins firing in the direction of the three guys.


OCC: ignore the old post

With one of the men already down and the leader obviously beserk the second heavy began backing towards the door, spraying bullets from an uzi behind him and clearing a path towards the door by shooting anyone who got in his way with a Desert eagle, using the pandemonium as cover.

The leader barrelled on towards Kal, the occasion machine gun round smacking into him with a thud, doing no real damage to the brute. He fired off a few more rounds at the bar counter, ripping it to shreds and spilling alchohol and shards of glass across the floor. "You cannot hide Kal!" He reached the bar and tore his way through the ruined wood.

Commander Yinsenzy reacted to the assailants in a flash, drawing his service pistol and loosing three shots into the chest of the closest goon. When he was satisfied with the gore that poured from his chest he quickly hopped behind the bar. "So, you're Dimitri Popov eh? Iam Commander Jogen Yinsenzy of the Aumanii Special Forces...I need to ask a favour of your brother and I'd like to ask permission to speak to him." not even waiting for a response Jogen jumped up and fired again at the goons.

"You can talk to him once we deal with these goons!" Dimitri shouted "You might want to cover your eyes, I think Viktor is going to try something..."

Popov pulled out the flashbang from his bag under his trenchcoat. He walked over to the door, opened it and tossed it down into the room below. *BANG* Popov strode down the stairs, quickly drawing a largish, mean looking throwing knife and throwing it at the throat of the nearest stunned enemy. He pulled out his machine pistols and began firing at the remaining enemies.

"You can talk to him once we deal with these goons!" Dimitri shouted "You might want to cover your eyes, I think Viktor is going to try something..."

Popov pulled out the flashbang from his bag under his trenchcoat. He walked over to the door, opened it and tossed it down into the room below. *BANG* Popov strode down the stairs, quickly drawing a largish, mean looking throwing knife and throwing it at the throat of the nearest stunned enemy. He pulled out his machine pistols and began firing at the remaining enemies.

OOC: Calm down man. There only were three of them, you already got one and the last one is supposed to be Kal's. Don't be so greedy.

With one of the men already down and the leader obviously beserk the second heavy began backing towards the door, spraying bullets from an uzi behind him and clearing a path towards the door by shooting anyone who got in his way with a Desert eagle, using the pandemonium as cover.

The leader barrelled on towards Kal, the occasion machine gun round smacking into him with a thud, doing no real damage to the brute. He fired off a few more rounds at the bar counter, ripping it to shreds and spilling alchohol and shards of glass across the floor. "You cannot hide Kal!" He reached the bar and tore his way through the ruined wood.

Jamie fires off two shots at the legs of the leader as he rushes in towards Kal. By this time, the natural LRR high tolerance for alchoholwas coming in handy, and Ralph comes out of his Vodka induced stupor.

"Jamie? What's all that shooting?"
"See thise three big guys? Shoot at them!"
"Oh."

He starts firing at the man with the Uzi with his nagant revolver. Jamie rushes over across the bar, and fires another two shots at the man with the Uzi before diving behind the bar.

"Hi there. I'm Jamie Ericksson."

But from Dimitry's warning, she ducks down and covers her eyes. Ralph, however, is stunned and drops down in a daze, however protected by an overturned table.

OOC: Calm down man. There only were three of them, you already got one and the last one is supposed to be Kal's. Don't be so greedy.

There were also the people that Viktor thought were bounty hunters...

Dimitri turns around to Jamie, "Who the hell are you?" he asks as he points his rifle at Jamie.

Dimitri turns around to Jamie, "Who the hell are you?" he asks as he points his rifle at Jamie.

"A tourist. Please don't point that at me. We're paying customers."

OOC: Sorry 'bout that.

"Sorry, about that. It's gonna cost me a fortune to repair this place! You maybe want to buy some more drinks?" He smiled uneasily. Dimitri pointed the gun away from Jamie, but kept his eye on her...

OCC: She.

IC:

"Repairs?"

She takes a billfold out of her coat pocket, which contains 10 100 dollar bills.

"This blows my budget for the time being, but it'll help. My charitable side gets the best of me too often. Say, where's Ralph?"

Kal soon realized that the firefight was over, and peered over the counter. He saw movement coming from the staircase out of the corner of his eye, and turned to see Viktor charging downstairs. I could take him right now, but that would put my back facing Dimitri and his AK...damn! Kal, though, putting up one pistol and back and wiping the sweat off his brow. I have no other choice, I have to get out of here...

Lunging to his feet, Kal busted through the 'Employees Only' door and ran through the back storage room. Opening the rear exit door, Kal jumped down into the ground and ran through the back alley. 'Need to bide my time, I'll wait til Viktor leaves this place..

Kal began to scale the building using the steel ladder bolted to the brick wall. After climbing over the ledge, Kal walked over to the opposite side of the roof, where he had a clear overhead view of the main entrance.

"Who were those other people? Didn't even leave one of them bastards alive for me to haul into the department..."

Viktor noticed someone running through the employees only door. He walked down over to his brother, "Are you alright brother?" Dimitri nodded, "I am, but look at my bar." The place was shot up, tables splintered, holes in the walls. "I'll never be able to pay my landlord off!" Viktor smiled, "Don't worry." Viktor pulled a wallet out of some pocket under his coat and opened it, showing Dimitri the contents, he then put it back. "Is that the money from the bank?" Viktor nodded, "And since you told me when the money was in the bank, you could get in trouble too." Dimitri looked downtrodden, "Where are you going to go now?" Viktor looked around, "I think if I make it offplanet, I will be safe, you are welcomed to come with me also, you can set up shop on some other planet." Dimitri ran his hand across the bar, "I liked this place, but I have no choice." He walked over to the cash register and emptied it into his pockets. He then went over and grabbed his AK and extra ammo. "I'll drive, I know some friends in the underworld that we can stay with until the next ship leaves."

Viktor and Dimitri walked off out the back door and climbed in a oldish looking Jeep. They turned out of the alley and went by the front of the bar and off down the road. Viktor looked out behind the car and saw a man that had been in the bar on the roof, "Heh, I knew he was a bounty hunter!"

"Hey! I need to talk to you!" Jugen burst through the doorway and waved his arms in a wide arc above his head in an attempt to get the attentions of the two brothers.

OOC: Sorry, I forgot about you :D

The jeep screeched to a stop, as Jugen runs up beside the jeep, Viktor reaches out and pulls him into the Jeep, "Sorry about that, there is a bounty hunter on top of the bar, so we couldn't just stop." The jeep drives off.

"You lead a very exciting life Mr.Popov. Like I said I need to talk to you...but I'd prefer a bit more privacy before I start. Anyway, Ive taken a look at your record. Its very impressive. You've been doing B&E's since you were eight years old, moved up to bigger business after dealing "Nuke" when you were 17, now you're wanted for a bank robbery. My government is interested in you, but more namely, were interested in the skills you possess. The Imperial Regime of Auman would like to know if you're interested in doing a job for us? if you accept we'll go some where and discuss your mission, if not you can drop me off at the next stop." said Jugen, never breaking eye contact.

"Why thank you. Now, I have 2 questions, how much does it pay, and how dangerous is it?"

"Ah, The pay, well...my government doesnt have limited resources. We will pay you what ever you ask as long as the mission is completed successfully. Though, the mission itself is incredibly dangerous. I think we should discuss this when we are safe elsewhere."

OOC:

Not going to discuss the mission until the Jeep is some where other than the road.

Popov leaned over and whispered something to his brother, The Jeep pulled into a small alley and Dimitri opened the door and climbed out, then shut the door. "Whatever I want... Tell me what I have to do and then I'll tell you my response."

"Dammit, where the hell do they think they're going?" Kal said to himself, watching the jeep swerve through traffic. He jumped over the ledge and landed on the ground, all the while trying to not to break eye contact with the jeep. There's no way I can catch them.. Kal thought to himself, putting his other gun away. He turned around to head back into the bar, when suddenly he saw a running motorcycle propped up against the wall of the Last Call.

"Must've been one of them muscleheads' rides," Kal began, smirking. "I don't think they would mind if took it out for a little spin..." Kal hopped onto the seat of the bike and hit the pedal. Engine roaring, the hog pulled out of the lot and turned into the street. Kal could barely see the jeep ahead of him. Dodging pedestrians and other small cars alike, the motorcyle continued to pick up speed and gained on the jeep. Kal watched as the jeep jerked into an alley about 100 yards ahead of him....

Popov leaned over and whispered something to his brother, The Jeep pulled into a small alley and Dimitri opened the door and climbed out, then shut the door. "Whatever I want... Tell me what I have to do and then I'll tell you my response."

"The Daikertan government is in possession of something vary valuable to us. An artifact of unknown age, its important to my people...you could call it a heritage piece if you will. Its heavily guarded at the moment inside of a government facility on the outskirts of the hive, but it is being transported soon and should be vulnerable...though its going to be dangerous still. What do you think?"

"Sounds good, I'll do it as long as you can get me out of here, I am already pressing my luck being here so long with such a big price on my head. And is it possible that I ask to decide the price, after I go through with it, depending on how difficult it is?"

Bump...

OOC: Room for another?

Sure I guess...

Jamie loads Ralph into the back of their black Trabant, as they head off in pursuit of Popov. However, they have no idea where they are. However, they do follow a motorcycle that they saw headed off down the street.

OOC:

Sorry I haven't posted much, the forums have been a real bitch.

IC:

"Excellent, excellent. Well, here is all the information you need" Yinsenzy dropped a file folder on the back seat of the jeep. "Don't worry about getting in touch with me. I'll find you when the job is successful." with that he hopped out of the car and walked away.

Popov watched him walk off. He climbed into the back seat as his brother entered and sat in the driver's seat. "Find us somewhere safe to stay for the night, ok?" Dimitri nodded, "Did you take him up on his offer?" "Yeah, I am going to work on it in the morning." The Jeep pulled out of the alley and drove off down the road. Popov picked up the file and thumbed through it, "This is going to be fun."

The black Trabant moves down the street, and soon catches sight of Popov's jeep.

"That's it! Follow 'em!"

Mind if I start a car chase? :D

"Dimitri, turn down that little road..." The jeep swerved onto the little side road. A black Trabant, which Viktor had been suspicious of followed them onto the road. "Brother, I believe we are being followed, please hand me your AK." Dimitri pulled his rifle out of the passenger seat and handed it to Viktor. "Do you have a place in mind, Dimitri?" "Yeah, there is a safehouse we can stay at, it is about 15 minutes up the road." Viktor nodded, "They won't be following us for long." Viktor grinned as he shifted around in the seat. He took the butt of the rifle and smashed the window. "Hey, this is my jeep!" Viktor nodded, "I'll pay for the repairs later. Get ready for evasive manuevers." Popov took aim at the car and began firing...

Bump