After War Troper Base

It's been a few years since the great Trope Apocalypse of    REDACTED    and now life amongst the bases that are there returns to normal. People continue to live and die day to day trying to survive the wasteland.

The harshness of the radiation storms, to the day to day mutants ranging from large humanoids shouting something about cannibalism to simply freakish animals who were acting on instinct.

And yet life for people continued. Many had become TROPERs.^note Tresspassers Researchers Observers Persistent Explorers and Robbers and spent their days hunting, salvaging or interacting. Some TROPERs had even become heroes for their settlements, providing safety and a voice of reason despite the harshness of it all.

MAP◊

edited 30th Apr '15 1:05:20 PM by EchoingSilence

The warehouse stood in front of Alexander, his home in this wasteland. A few guards manned the towers around the fence, and a few stood at the doors.

"To think that one day we would be living like this. Just goes to show. Life's a box of chocolates. The package looks pretty, but the chocolate tastes pretty horrible."

edited 26th Apr '15 2:18:13 PM by UndyingPhoenix

Addisu wheeled himself around his settlement, a genial, satisfied smile on his face. Right, everything looks to be working fine. Hopefully those scouts I sent out will come back soon...

edited 26th Apr '15 4:04:00 PM by Tojin

Inside a great mountain where a God is said to be. A boy in his youth was afraid of the dark, you see. The blessed lord of his land was before him, its mandibles stirring. Rob 'Ruthun, a blessed one of our god, half-human, half-spider. The leader of our coven.

It was spreading the life juices from a heathen on his head, making the young one shake like in bed. They were blessing him and his comrades for a journey; a journey to become men in the tribe, they each must slay one heathen to reside where the men lie.

They only had spears and bows, their armor faith and leather. They would kill or be killed, such was their way. They set off the very next day, in search of prey. To the valley they looked, did they find anything? Well, let's see.

Jacob walked outside of the school, ready to do a two man run for some medical supplies with Dante. They were going to go farther than usual, what with the local hospital have been picked clean by the base and its inhabitants.

Location: Vladivostok: Entertainment District Ruins

Cherno Alpha, Hero of Vladivostok, stared unamused at the chunk of rubble blocking the way out of the ruins of the city. It appeared that another building had collapsed but this time unfortunately had done so across their main pathway into the badlands. While scavenging in the ruins of the city was still productive, most of their food stores had been exhausted.

The old warbot grumbled to himself as he waved the scavenging/scouting team he was accompanying, back. He hated being relegated to such menial duties as clearing rubble. But he could do so with far greater ease then the squishy humans he was sworn/programmed to defend. Great bulky fists were raised and uncurled as the machine began grabbing and flinging the debris out of the way. What chunks that were too heavy or large for him to move in such a manner, he pummeled with his massive fists, into far more manageable sizes.

Vadam Settlement

The winds blowed, the trees rustled, and yet another day passed by at the Vadam Settlement.

It was little more than a forwards operating base that had been hastily converted into an actual base; as such, little more than tents and a single prefabricated block existed. The base was surrounded by an array of makeshift sensors comprising of portable arrays to repurposed radar grenades, all of which served as the only warning for attack. The four scout towers contained snipers, each set up with a single pulsar rifle and waiting for targets.

The PDA in the center of the base produced a near endless supply of ammunition, spare parts, and military equipment, but what it could not produce was food. Food that was drastically, dangerously low.

Not a man or woman in Vadam Settlement understood why they had been taken, how, or for what purpose. But among the 50 battle-tested soldiers stolen away from the 25th Hiigaran Rangers, one purpose remained; survival, and looking for a way home.

Having firmly settled in, the three special forces members on-base assembled. While they were not the leaders, they were indeed the most battle-tested, and so they eventually decided they needed to perform a supply run.

Leaving their base behind, almost fully staffed and ready to battle anything that attempted to aggress, the eight men and women comprising Aleph Squad (as christened by their leader, Aurea Soban) trudged into the wastes, maintaining constant radio contact.

"Vadam Settlement, we are away. Hold down the fort while we're gone. Aleph One, out."

"Copy that, Aleph Niner. Good hunting."

Valencia's meeting hall was seated with a few chairs, all adults generally able to explore having been brought together this day. The children were simply told to play outside and the more grown up ones are helping the elderly and keeping watch near the gate. Against a wall in the back Mellian gazed with her stoic look, always the same, piercing through everyone who'd attempt to distract her. What would this meeting be about...?

"So... Er-hem... As everybody knows, we're running out of water. Again." the adults groaned, some ruffling through their messy hair. Not Mellian though. "So we'd best set out to find some more, as it has not rained in days... And it'd be nice if we could get a small group scouting out for medicine, we've been unable to do much for the sick and... Well..." Mellian heard all she needed. Medicine. Water. It already came to her attention they needed something, but not exactly what. Before the meeting was already over she exited the building.

"Heading out again Mel?" A boy that looked about 17 said, guarding the gate. He wasn't armed with much, a worn baseball bat and simple leather to repel bandits... Yeah, they'd need better equipment too... How sad. In response to the boy's question however, the female nodded and he let open the gate for her to wander into the wasteland.

edited 27th Apr '15 4:43:42 AM by Nickpws

A lone figure walked through a ruined city a few kilometers away from his home, the Spire. The name? Sharp, plainly that. The mission? well...

"I just don't see how or why it is important for me to do this kind of reconnaissance" he spoke into one long range radio communication device.

"oh my sweet soft lover, because you're the best we have" said the synthetic voice of his girlfriend; Mother, Momo to him.

"We have other scouts, other runners, I should be back home, the issues with the breeders haven been taken care of, the new guards need some training-"

"And yet we need of things from the great outside too, its a quick job, just secure the parts, place the markers, and I'll send runners. Then you can come back to me, home"

Sharp sighed "Fine, see you then Momo, over and out" he placed the device back in his bandolier-bag and walked on. His destination was an underground doomsday complex, a vault hidden in the city, hopefully to find food, guns and raw materials for prosthesis repair and manufacture. Momo was tired of getting by with scrap metal and cheap electronics.

Once Mellian got a bit farther into the wasteland she took the binoculars from her toolbelt and started scouting the area.

Northeast: 2 potential settlements, something large behind the two.

Southeast: Something far off in the distance and a nearby settlement.

Northwest: Something in the distance.

Southwest: A potential settlement and a body of water.

Hm... Loads of options. Northeast seems dangerous, they might be protecting the two. The settlement close to Valencia might be protected. Northwest seems to be far off. Finally, Southwest. The water they need might be there and nothing's in its way... But is that really the best option? She doesn't have any way of carrying water back and they needed medicine to. More sscouting teams will go out. They'll head over there, probably.

Alright. The two closest settlements might be the safest bet to get medicine, Mellian figures. It'd be wise to head east, they seem close to Valencia and it might be an ally. Of course, if she spots bandits from a distance... The wanderer wouldn't even want to imagine it.

She headed southeast to the settlement, hoping to find something or someone that might help.

"Report."

Alexander stood in a small corner of the warehouse, leaning on a small wooden table, his most trusted assistant, Jackson, on the other side of table, hunched over a map. Jackson wore an eye patch, had a Van Dyk goatee, and was bald. Alexander always thought he looked a bit like Kane from Command and Conquer. He also wore a brown leather jacket and a pair of black leather jeans.

"We've spotted another settlement to the southwest, a crashed helibird to the west, maybe a few supplies we could use. Further away, there's a few, about three, other bases more or less in to the southeast. We have reports of water to the southwest as well, past the settlement. What do you think we should do, Alex?"

Alex's thoughts wandered. It might be a good idea to look at the crash site for supplies, but perhaps meeting this nearby settlement might be just the thing they needed. Of course, the settlement might be hostile, and he didn't want to put his group in danger.

"Hmm, risky options for certain, Jack. Crash site might be military, get ourselves some equipment. 'course, nearby settlement sounds good, maybe trade with them. Still, let's not rush. Keep an eye on them and the crash site. Don't want any surprises. We'll carry on as normal. Let's just keep an eye out."

Jackson nodded in agreement.

"You know, we can't stay isolated like this forever. Eventually, we'll need to get medicine and other supplies when scavenging runs out. What are you planning?"

Ah yes, the question of supplies. It had been bugging Alex for these last few days.

"I don't know, Jack, really, I don't. Hope for the best. This settlement might just be the thing we need. But what if they're not friendly? What then? I don't want to take risks we can't afford. But give me a chance, I'll think of something."

"That's what you ALWAYS say, Alex. Everyone's more or less happy now, but for how long? How long before they start complaining, and eventually turn on us? We need to think further into the future than just food and water."

Alexander slammed his fist onto the table, annoyed at the eternal question.

"DON'T tell me what I already know, Jackson. I'll. Think. Of. Something."

Jackson sighed, shaking his head.

"For your sake, and mine, I hope so."

He turned and left, leaving Alex to go over the map.

"A crashed helibird, hmm? Potential rewards, potential risk. Let's see..."

With that, he began plotting. It was going to be a LONG day...

Unknown Area (Hex B2.5)

Aleph Squad had travelled a few kilometres to the northeast, where they had found what looked like the remains of a town. With little else to do they began picking it over, scavenging for whatever supplies they could find. Their Convoy - a robotic pack mule, good for carrying things and going places, and little else - waited, guarded by two riflemen as two soldiers armed with portable phased disassembler arrays began consuming the remnants of buildings, to be sifted through back at Vadam for any usable materials.

Jorge was quietly moving through the town, his Palisade suit making quite a bit of noise that he didn't bother to camouflage - with a heavy machine gun, a cluster grenade launcher, and a ton or so of heavy armor, he didn't need to worry. Joker had scampered onto the rooftop of a nearby building, the Taiidani setting up his pulsar rifle and scanning for targets as Aurea sifted through the wreckage, finding multiple items that might be useful - for the most part, things like food.

Anything that was found was ferried back to the Convoy, and set up there.

edited 29th Apr '15 7:29:13 PM by SpartyMcFly

Sharp, Town Ruins (Hex B2.5)

"Momo?" Asked the partially robotic man as he scanned the area with a monocular from a vantage point "are you sure this is the place?"

"The databanks seem to suggest so, why?" said the AI cassualy

"any chance other people have your data?" said the man

"... what are you implying?" she said sounding concerned

"there's people here, tearing the place apart in more ways than one" explained Sharp.

"how many?" Said Momo

"I've only seen 4 around, there might be more... they look very well equipped, better than your elite guards"

"I see... take a stealthy approach, try o get underground and cut into the complex"

"Right, yeah, lets hope Crimson Fang holds, over and out" said the urban samurai, jumping off and away, to continue moving through the town.

A young man comes racing back to the settlement, panting and out of breath.

Addisu wheels up to him. "Jeremy? Something happen?"

Jeremy (the scout) catches his breath and says "There's a bunch of guys in power armor looting another part of the city. They've got some nasty-looking weapons, too. Should we try and negotiate, or no?"

Addisu hrmms. "If they come here, we'll negotiate with them. Otherwise, we'll leave them be. Now go have a rest, you look like you're going to have a heart attack."

Unknown Settlement, Hex B2.5

As Aurea sifted through what seemed like the torn-apart remnants of a grocery store, her communications channel lit up.

"Hey, Ice Queen." It was Joker's personal name - she didn't mind much. Considering she barely opened up to those she didn't know, she had earned a reputation for being harsh. Why would you deny truth?

"Joker. Status report."

"Uh... I think I saw something whip around a corner," came the reply. "I don't know what it is. Could be a rat, could be Sajuuk himself, could be some ungodly beast from beyond the stars that can render a man insane with a stare. I'm gonna keep on look-out for it, but there's only so much I can do from up here. You guys keep alert, huh?"

"Copy that," responded Aurea. "You heard Joker, folks. Keep your wits sharp, something's around here. Pay it more mind than it needs - every one of you is irreplacable." She continued searching, though now with a heightened awareness of her surroundings.

"Roger," replied Jorge, though he was already scanning for threats anyways. He wasn't sure Aurea heard over the chorus of replies, but he didn't think she needed to.

edited 29th Apr '15 7:44:08 PM by SpartyMcFly

Location: Outskirts of Vladivostok Hex 2H

It had taken the better part of an hour for Cherno to finish clearing all the rubble from the primary exit route. The scavenger team had bided their time playing cards and drinking vodka. A few of them were more then a little tipsy as they got back on the 'road'. The warbot sent a glare towards the more inebriated ones, but otherwise remained grudgingly silent about the situation.

Clambering atop a toppled building in the middle of the outskirts Cherno looked about searching for any possible hazards for the group he was basically a glorified babysitter for, or prime scavenging locations. There looks to be another settlement of some sort in the distance to the west, though given the distance and the style of repair he wasn't entirely clear if it was just more ruins.

The grumpy old warbot vacated his lookout position and rejoined with the scavenging team, directing them towards the possible settlement's direction.

Hex 2 E/D

Mellian saw the ruins titled Hulem from a lot closer now. She pulled out her binoculars again, trying to see if there were people moving around... Which they were. Hm. Either a settlement or scavenging area. But they didn't seem to be scavenging? More maintenance work?

Well, she wasn't going to be able to do anything by just sitting around. Mel decided to approach the settlement, hoping to see if something of use is over there...

edited 1st May '15 5:43:28 AM by Nickpws

Sector B2.5: Ruined Town

Sharp gripped at the handle of his blade, as he hid, crouched behind a broken down wall. Almost caught him, and they seemed the kind that shoot first, loot second, and ask third. He had to avoid them. At least, that's what he ought to do. Momo had a 'no contact' policy in most missions. But he was curious. He continued moving around the sector until he could single out one of them. And it happened, there was one off... the person had a weird officer-like vibe to it. Sharp came out on plain view, hand on his sword, ready to draw in case of needing it.

"Greetings" he said formally as he approached this person.

Town Remains, Hex 2.5B

At the sound of crunching footsteps Aurea turned around. When what she saw was nothing near the armor of a Hiigaran Ranger, she immediately raised her weapon, training it on him... though a trained eye would notice her finger off the trigger. Clearly, Aurea wasn't willing to fire just yet. But her willingness to do so was absolutely clear.

"Stop where you are. State your name and intent or I will open fire," responded Aurea, with a voice as cold as the vacuum of space.

edited 2nd May '15 3:25:39 PM by SpartyMcFly

Sector 2.5B, Town Ruins

Well this was to be expected. He calmly raised his hands, both the real and the mechanical one, away from his weapons. His mechanical arm was disguised by the sleeve of the duster and a fingerless glove, but when he raised it the sleeve would slump down a bit and make the nature of his limb obvious. "I go by Sharp" he said calmly, looking on to the woman "I was sent here to scout out for resources, food, metal, electronics... the works"

edited 2nd May '15 9:52:26 PM by Sanojutsu

Hex 2.5B

Aurea did not move as she processed what this man said. He had been sent to scout out resources - much like Aleph Squad had been. His hands were in the air - he clearly meant no harm. It'd be far more efficient to just kill her at long range before attempting to move in, especially considering how well armed she was.

The gun lowered. It might not have been like anything Sharp had seen, though it was still clearly a gun. "Very well. So I assume you're in the same boat as us?"

Sector B2.5: Ruined Town

"yes you could say that, I'm just here so we don't waste efforts on a bad sector" Explained Sharp eying her, studying the form, his mid of a soldier kicking in. He kept calm, for now.

Location: Outskirts of Valencia Hex 2G

Cherno and his scavenging team were making surprisingly good time across the apocalyptic wastelands. Now that they were closer, it was definitely a settlement of some-sort they were heading towards. It didn't look to be all that sophisticated of a place, but it did still seem inhabited. Which left Cherno and company a few options. A possible trade negation would be useful, or alternatively, just smacking a few locals around and grabbing whatever they needed before leaving. Assuming, it didn't have a decent defense force.

edited 3rd May '15 10:27:55 PM by Kosjurake

Hex 2.5B

Aurea's form was that of a consummate warrior. She stood ready to spring against any threat - even ones directly behind her, which seemed impossible considering there wasn't much behind her. To the side of her arms and legs were hollow metal tubes - an exoskeleton - which would likely explain her maneuverability in the heavy ballistic armor she was wearing. Any facial analysis was impossible - the helmet prevented it.

"We're currently picking through this area for materials and resources. We don't so much need electronics, but we are desperately low on everything else. If you are aware of any trade partners, knowledge of them would be beneficial."

Hex 2 E/D

No reaction. None of the residents seemed to care about Mellian roaming around the outskirts, so a negotiation party could be sent from Valencia back to the settlement. Good. The explorer made her way back to the gate Outline tile 1.5 E to report her progress.

edited 4th May '15 7:32:22 AM by Nickpws