NationStates Jolt Archive

Hawk had nearly bounced right off of Marcus as he cleared the doorway. Thankfully Marcus had held fire but it took Hawk a couple of seconds to figure out what had happened. As he walked down the halway he was still trying to figure out exactly why bullet fire had temporarily ceased. He was slowly comming out of the trance and heared "Well that was fun." As Marcus finished talking Hawk came to completely.

"Some how I doubt it" Hawk Grinned slightly. "The ones outside didn't seem to interested in talking."

He stopped Grinning , remebering Dudley's fate.

"damn." He muttered. "Whats the Plan?"
"We're getting the H-E double-hockey sticks outta here," Marcus said, "Natti led us all this way," he said, leading the way.

“Arightarightaright,” Natti says trying to clear her head. “Look, I’m no soldier, but I’ve watched my share of movies and all, and logic says that if we go out in one big clump, we’re bound to attract attention. Got no idea what’s outside those doors, but we gotta do something, and we can’t stay here. So I guess we go out, take a peek, and leapfrog it over to the hospital as quick and quiet as we can, and look the hell out for each other while we do it. One or two at a time, keep it fast and low, signal to each other for the clear to run. We doing this or what, because the longer I stand here, the more I feel like I’m gonna puke, and the less I think I can keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

She didn’t look much more confident than before, and her voice didn’t hold its usual wry tone, and sure, she shivered now and then from the shock of everything, but it was clear enough she meant what she said – she wanted out, and they had best figure if they were going with her or not, though she was damned if she was going to claim the ‘leader’ position.

"the hospital be a very important target for ground troops to take ,if it hasn't been blown the hell out of,like this school or any other very important building that would upset peoples plans in taking over a city and nation" Fall said as he turn an face the girl that was talking and the others

"seeing before the troops outside showed up ,i was hearing the sound of gun fire from around the near by area , it likely we be running into enemy again as they mop up as we make our way to safety"

ooc i'am getting sick of the net dropping out today

"Um one suggestion," Hawk Spoke up. "The last time I tried working my way out a door I nearly got shot to pieces. Fall's good on stealth maybe he shoukd take point or do some recon. Otherwise I'll take the job myself but whichever way it goes I agree that a single person check it out first."

Hawk looked at fall and then to Natti.

"Would you be ok with me and fall taking point? Maybe followed by those with the least millitary experience and with a couple of the other more experienced students taking the tail of the formation?"

Hawk was trying to make it sound like a suggestion more than anything else. He really really did not want to try to lead this group but he was definatly willing to put it on the line if it'd help more of the students make it through this night from hell.

"By the way" He said as another thought hit "Where are we trying to go?"

"Um one suggestion," Hawk Spoke up. "The last time I tried working my way out a door I nearly got shot to pieces. Fall's good on stealth maybe he shoukd take point or do some recon. Otherwise I'll take the job myself but whichever way it goes I agree that a single person check it out first."

Hawk looked at fall and then to Natti.

"Would you be ok with me and fall taking point? Maybe followed by those with the least millitary experience and with a couple of the other more experienced students taking the tail of the formation?"

Hawk was trying to make it sound like a suggestion more than anything else. He really really did not want to try to lead this group but he was definatly willing to put it on the line if it'd help more of the students make it through this night from hell.

"By the way" He said as another thought hit "Where are we trying to go?"
"Hey, you can go first, but I'll be right behind you," Marcus told Hawk. He didn't know why, but he felt some sort of need to protect him, probably stemming from his earlier 'rescue' attempt.

“Nothing personal, but about all you ‘military jocks’ have accomplished is to bring more fire down on us and get shot at, and someone killed. So no, I’m not too keen on dropping my life in your hands right now, thanks,” Natti snapped, emotions once again flaring as she brought up Dudley, having someone else she could push the blame on.

“You heard my suggestion. Take it or leave it, but I’m going. And not in some damn ‘formation’, because that’s what’s gonna stand out – any sign of organization, group movement, what have you. Thanks to you guys going outside back there to play soldier, they know someone with guns was in the building, and they’re gonna be looking for ‘em.” Her dark eyes flashed as she spoke, looking over to Charles for confirmation, since at least he seemed to have had some semblance of sense out the lot of them.

“So what do you say? Is it the hospital in short jumps, is it the hospital at all, is it somewhere else, or are we splitting up and going everyone for themselves?”

“So what do you say? Is it the hospital in short jumps, is it the hospital at all, is it somewhere else, or are we splitting up and going everyone for themselves?”

"Hey now," Said Hawk Evenly, though he was very close to his breaking point as well. "What I did was attempt to find out what was going on outside, thats all. The only person I nearly got killed was myself. Dudley ran out of the door and straight towards the damn ennemy he woulda died whether I'd gone outside or not. What I wanna know is why no one here stopped him? I mean come on who lets a guy acting like that just run off?"

He took a couple of breaths, realizing he'd lost his temper.

"Look," He said again, breathing hard. "I'm sorry but if we just waltz out there one at a time what do you think will happen exactly? they won't see us? They won't take us as millitary targets? No, they've already bombed the crap out of this place, there's no way they'd do that to a civilian target which means, in their eyes, we're all valid targets. I'm not asking you to put your life in my hands, I'm just asking that me Marcus and maybe fall go out first so that if they happen to be there, we get shot at rather than you. I like the hospital Idea and if you don't like my suggestion i'll go with whatever you think is best."

He tossed the woman a half salute and turned to Marcus.

"however this goes down man," Said Hawk. "I'd be more than Happy to have you at my back."

Natti rolled her eyes at the bravado, her anger bringing her back more to her usual self, and giving her what she needed to keep going.

"By all means, sure, I meant just 'waltz out there' willy nilly. Why not paint big X's on our chests while we're at it. Good to know you're as good at listening as you are running recon, considering the mess back there. You guys go right on ahead out there if you really think you've got the balls to pull it off without getting the rest of us shot at - but do it from some other exit so you don't draw the wrong attention here if you fuck it up, capisce? Preferably one back behind this one so we don't end up in some damn crossfire. Folks have the comm devices, can check in that way."

Of course, what difference one of the rest of them might make peeking out first, versus the ones already volunteering was lost on her at the moment, being more caught up in the emotion of things and still upset at them bringing enemy fire down on their heads back by the gym. Anyone caught out there was going to bring trouble down on the lot of them - they all were armed, they all had various body armor on, and they would all be viewed as a threat.

Not everyone can keep a cool head in a highly intense situation, and Natti was a prime example of that.

After she had taken Scarlett by the wrist and helped her to reach the rest of the group, she barely managed to catch the trail end of Charles' comments. “I'm an exchange student, too... do you suggest we try and contact any emissaries from our home nation?” She raised one hand and put the other to her forehead, then sighed and listened to the conversation. _Squabbling. Just what we need right now, huh?_

Of course, the conversation didn't really last long before they brought up Dudley. Miri blinked her eyes open at the sound of Hawk's comment. “Say what? I'm sorry, but would you have done any better in that situation? You've been nothing but trouble for us. It's really unlucky that you've managed to survive. Do I need more proof? I can go back and get photos of the bullet holes on the walls for you.” She tiredly gazed at Hawk through half-open eyes, and sighed. “Just do whatever you want, as long as you don't fuck it up for the majority.” She sighed and slumped back on the wall, pulling her hairbow out of one of the loops on her vest. “As for me,I just want to go home,” she added quietly, playing with the bow and lace. “I wanted to see my friends again. Rebecca, Rachel... I wonder how they'll do without me? I hope they'll be okay.” She smiled dimly and sighed again. “Let's just get on and see what we can do. Okay?”

Marcus sighed at the both of them. It seemed like they both needed to dump some hormones, but of course, saying that would only make things worse.

"All right, it's me and Hawk again," he said, grabbing Hawk and leading the way to the exit down the way. "At the least, we can provide a good distraction for y'all to make it to the hospital. That' all right with you, right Natti?" he asked. He turned to the others first, "Did anyone bring NOD?"

Natti checked the small window in the door nervously, still seeing nothing in the way of 'trouble' through it, then turned back as Marcus seemingly asked her permission, which gave her yet another turn.

"Look. Its simple. My thinking was as I said earlier. We go out in ones or twos, and leapfrog it to our location using whatever cover we've got as best we can, as quietly as we can. No need for outlying scouts. No need for a lot of fuss. We don't have much time. We need to go. And I don't think we have time for any more arguing or messing around playing hero."

She glanced again at the door, back at the group gathered behind her, listening for the sounds of pursuit all the while. And as she did so, she came to a decision.

"I'm going. Ones or twos, tops. We've gotta go, right now. We've got cover, gonna use it. Good luck."

And with that, she opened the door quietly, crouched down, and crept to the corner of the building to get a lay of things.

The Mall was pretty torn up from all the bomb damage, but there were still trees, and buildings. And now here and there, large chunks of rubble near fallen or damaged buildings. The hospital wasn't too far, and most of the military ground activity seemed focused away from their immediate area.

Feeling a rush of adrenaline, she shot out from her hiding place, keeping low and moving quickly to the protective shadows of one of the large trees just across the way.

Elly and Mirri were together, and had Scarlett with them. Either the group would follow, or they wouldn't, or they would come up with their own, possibly better idea. Either way, she was going to get as far away from all this as she could, as fast as she could.





(Will of course edit if there's any problem with any of this - couldn't get hold of anyone on irc prior to posting, and we could argue like this forever and then get shot in the back whilst doing it)

Marcus nodded. He looked as the first group left and turned to Hawk.

"I'll go first," he said, "And once I get to that first spot, I'll turn around and cover you, then you come up...keep doing that, yeah?" he asked, making sure his safety was off before he dashed into the night, following the path that Natti and the others had followed.

Things seemed to be going from bad to worse, at least from where Eden was standing. The group of survivors, who had managed to remain focused, now seemed to be falling apart as they decided their course of action. The head cheerleader had to agree that Natti had a valid point about not wanting the soldier types in charge, as so far they had brought more trouble to the group than the rest added together. Hawk was lucky to still be a part of the living.

At the same time, she knew was not the time to get into a row about who led and she felt much better when an agreement was reached. She was a little annoyed that Hawk should be bringing up Dylan’s death – which until that point, she did not even know about. She tried to recall what she had been doing when he left and could not even pinpoint the last time he had seen him. She narrowed it down to the hallway when Charles was being looked after by Natti, but after that...

She shook the thought out of her head, not needing that extra concern to cloud her mind. She would have time to piece the night together once they were safely away from the school. For the first time that evening, she did not even doubt that she would make it out.

“I’ll go with you, Charles,” she said, as the groups were being decided. “And we’ll take Dylan with us. He seems able to function if we give him a set of directions.” She looked at him and smiled. “I don’t think I could make it out with anyone but you.” For a brief moment, fear crossed over her face, but it was quickly replaced by her earlier resolve to get out in one piece.

"Can do Marcus" Said Hawk quietly. "good luck"

As he spoke, natti Ran past.

Well hell He thought, At least she made a decision.

As Marcus raced after her towards cover, Hawk hawk flicked off the Safety on his H&K 417 and knelt at the corner of the door. He moved into the doorway at a crouch scanning for ennemy targets outside.

and I can try to give them some cover if someone opens fire. he thought.

Marcus got to his position and took a knee, turning back to provide cover for Hawk as he dashed out on his own. C'mon, c'mon...

ooc:what are we doin bout the new forums?

ooc: Keeping this here until/unless the OP moves it over. There's several wrapping up here, others starting over there, no big. I'll be archiving this when its done myself.

Elly was paralyzed with indecision. She couldn't bring herself to speak up during the argument on their direction. Natti was making sense; the hospital was as good a goal as any. It was also likely a target, but if they got close and saw it burning, they could break off and head somewhere else. She didn't have any better ideas.

A bit of relief washed over Elly as Scarlett and Miri stumbled up. She helped the other girl with her dazed sister, and whispered a soft thanks to her. Taking a quick rummage through her stuff, Elly pulled a small capsule from her pack, held it up to her sister's nose, and cracked it. Scarlett eyes popped open almost instantly, and she groaned as took her own weight.

"Smelling salts," Elly mumbled, patting her sister on the back as she coughed and spat. She was going to be alright, for the moment...

Both girls turned, eyes wide, as first Natti, then Marcus and then Hawk bounded out the exit. Neither of them had expected the girl to just take the lead, but at least the boys were not hanging her out to dry. Hopefully the others would follow.

"We're going too. You first Scarlett, I've got your back, okay?" Elly wasn't very good at hiding the trepidation and concern in her voice.

"Sure... sure thing, lil sis..." Scarlett groaned, and then after shaking her head, she bounded out, head low, headed for some cover.

"Right... my turn. Miri, you better be right behind me."

Biting her lip, she gave the girl a hug, then headed off into the dark...

2240 Hibernia Standard Time
14 February
Rear Gymnasium Entrance

When assaulting a location known to possess armed enemies inside it, there is little call for subtly. When assaulting a location known to possess enemies of the degree likely to commit suicide in attempts to eliminate you, there is absolutely no call for subtly.

As such, the pair of impact triggered grenades that blew the metal doors to scrap was absolutely no effort at being subtle. When the first fire team slipped inside, though, and discovered no one waiting for them, the need for subtly returned.

When the first cleverly hidden tripline turned three members of that fire team into finely hashed CHON giblets, though, without encountering any human resistance, the need for any such pretenses at subtly vanished forever.

“Pull out,” came the order. There was no need to pursue deeper into the structure. “Spread out, surround the structure, let anyone inside burn, shoot anyone trying to escape.” The orders were simple, lethal, final. As the two platoons began to execute them, they left small incendiaries behind to assist in the destruction of the rather large building, as while the fires started by the missile strikes were spreading, they would be there all night if they waited on nature to take its course.

Unbeknownst to the invading paratroopers, it was already too late to prevent the breakout. The armed survivors they were trying to keep inside the hellish inferno were already vanishing into the darkness, and would no doubt be gone by the time the careful advance moved to cover the door through which they left.

OOC: Look, ma’, I’m not dead.

Charles took a quick count of the number of students who raised their hands to his question, and made a mental note of each face as the situation quickly dissolved into an argument. It spiraled out of control before he could gather his thoughts to interject, and then resolved by Natti and the others finally just bolting out the door in small groups. As pairs and triplets of other students followed into the darkness of the night, he continued to rest his hand against Eden, not letting her move far from him. In turn, the captain of the soccer team did not move far either, Dylan alternately needing some support from either of the two.

When Eden spoke, he nodded, a brief smile creeping onto his face as she confirmed what he had always known about the other exchange student – that he performed best with a simple set of directions. “Right.” He examined the remaining group, reduced to less than half still inside. “Eden, go after Miri. Dylan, count to four and follow her. Both of you, stay low. I’ll be right behind you.”

It looked clear, for now, but how long things would stay that way was a completely different matter. “Remember, don’t shoot unless you’re sure.” As he said that, his hand finally left Eden’s back, and his face, streaked still with blood and grime, hardened to match his eyes. The damning final evidence was the clearly heard snicker of shifting metal as Charles hefted the long sniper rifle he was carrying, the whispering click of a disengaging safety.

Natti ran through the fire-lit night, the sound of her racing pulse pounding loudly in her head. Now that she was out of the building, out of relative surety, she felt hyper-aware of sounds and movements around her – every shadow hiding potential enemies, every flicker of motion a potential end. Her breath came hard and fast, the adrenaline rush of charging out the library door carrying her through in a warm, tingly sort of high.

Fight or flight – that’s what she remembered it being referred to. And after seeing what she had, she certainly did not want to fight unless she had to. Yes, she knew the basics of how to handle a weapon. You couldn’t attend school here long without grasping that. But she was far from what she’d call ‘proficient, and she was scared enough right now that she doubted her ability to fire effectively. Especially at another living person. Even if they’d done what they had.

She’d never really thought seriously of taking another life. She’d never thought she’d actually have to. Sure, the Dominion required a term of service in the military, but most of the actual fighting was done by career soldati, especially seeing how peaceable the nation had been overall. The horrific reality of what war and death was had been made painfully, bleakly clear now, and if she could get out of it all without having to kill, she would.

And if she couldn’t?

She tried not to think too hard about that as the shadowed bulk of the hospital came into view. She only hoped it too hadn’t been blown up, or taken over by the enemy. One last rush through an open space, and she hunkered down behind some of the decorative bushes, peering around to get a better look at the place, and the nearest entrance.

Hawk Watched in surprise as Marcus and another student, Natti? made it across the open ground unscathed. As Marcus Reached cover And turned, hawk Dashed out after him, keeping low and heading to the cover at which Marcus had Bunkered down. Out of the corner of his eye Hawk saw a few other students making their own run for safety and could only hope that the group wouldn't be gunned down.

Hawk Watched in surprise as Marcus and another student, Natti? made it across the open ground unscathed. As Marcus Reached cover And turned, hawk Dashed out after him, keeping low and heading to the cover at which Marcus had Bunkered down. Out of the corner of his eye Hawk saw a few other students making their own run for safety and could only hope that the group wouldn't be gunned down.
Marcus waited impatiently as Hawk ran over to his position. As Hawk ducked into where he had been, Marcus took off, the only acknowledgement he gave was a pat on the shoulder. He followed Natti's path, taking a knee another 30-40 yards away and waved Hawk toward him, once more covering him with his rifle.

Hawk cleared the remaining distance between himself and Marcus quickly, staying low out of potential lines of fire. As he arrive he grabbed Marcus' shoulder and spoke quickly and softly.

"Hold up, Lets cover the rest of the students from here then head to the hospital. cool?" He Asked softly.

Hawk cleared the remaining distance between himself and Marcus quickly, staying low out of potential lines of fire. As he arrive he grabbed Marcus' shoulder and spoke quickly and softly.

"Hold up, Lets cover the rest of the students from here then head to the hospital. cool?" He Asked softly.
"Da, good plan," Marcus whispered, taking up a position to cover.

2245 Hibernia Standard Time
14 February
Sandy Bridges University Hospital

The reasons the hospital was an important objective were myriad. But for the soldiers on the ground, the only reason the hospital was important was that it was an objective. Understanding was not required – only obedience to orders.

Obviously, one platoon, the originally dispatched unit, was hardly enough to take care of a structure as large as the hospital, given that it was taking two to even attempt containment of the school where the dance had been held unbeknownst to the invading paratroopers. But the goal of that first platoon was primarily to secure entry into the hospital, to hopefully begin to contain it, and, strategically, clamp down with an even shorter, harsher time limit on the government of Perimeter Defense.

And that is what the platoon was attempting to do, as gunfire was exchanged with the heavily armed personnel that made up the university’s police force and the students who were also assisting them. Despite the heavy bombing, there were plenty of defenders, and the clear space of ground that separated the hospital buildings from the central area of the university was a death trap with the gleaming streaks of tracer rounds constantly zipping back and forth across it.

It was from the side of this plaza that the first set of reinforcements would arrive, and the second platoon of paratroopers was enough to begin to wear down the defenders of the sick and dying. Another side of the plaza, though, was bordered by the access road that ran through campus, which, in turn, was connected to the smaller road that ran down between classroom buildings and passed by the front entrance of the university’s high school. This route was the fastest route for the escaping students to reach the hospital, but when they arrived, it would not be somewhere they wished to be, especially as it was very clear that the paratroopers were winning the battle, though slowly.

"We are so utterly boned," Natti muttered, peering through the bushes at the scene of battle unfolding.

They had wounded, yes. But how many more would get wounded trying to get in there? Could they even make a difference against so many attackers? Was it worth trying?

Of course there was a part of her who wanted to help, especially on seeing defender after defender go down. But most of all, she just wanted to get out, to not get shot, to get home, no matter what else happened.

Selfish? No doubt. But she was no soldier, regardless of training, and the grim reality of what death and destruction really were had been but an idle fantasy to toy with before all of this happened. A joke, really. Something to maunder on about and act dramatic over. This was anything but, and she didn't want to see any more.

"What do we do?" she asked aloud, body tensed to run.