LV-426
As both Nat and Thanatos scanned the base they wouldn't directly see any movement but Thanatos' scanners would pick up some unidentifiable energy signatures. Cowbry's drone cam would display an odd visual flicker but it would only be on screen for half a second.
The base itself remained silent and looming.
-dramatic music ensues-LV-426
[UNKNOWN ENERGY SIGNATURES DETECTED.]
Thanatos would relay his feed of the unknown energy signatures to the others as he perched on the roof, while commenting to them via radio. ["Unknown signatures located, sending feed. This ain't a glitch. Orders?"]
He'd always keep a sensor out in case something tried to sneak up.
edited 7th Sep '16 11:15:50 PM by ironcommando
...ehehNovus 21st - Outpost LV-426, Vacu-Valoran Border
Cowbry raised an eyebrow.
"Bishop to all points, got a flicker across my visual feed. Probably nothing, but be advised. Preparing to enter." On the shared map, he pinged where he caught the flicker before wheeling his drone though a gap in the structure's walls. Desert sand became prefabricated floor and he was presenting an infared view of the command center.
Landing Zone; LV-426'
Aria hit the ground and immediately set up her network. If there was anything that was still active in that base, it was going to show up on her feed. Even if Maes was a custom rig, it would give her a more comprehensive view of the base...if she could get in.
[forum cryptid: it/it's]LV-426
The energy signatures did not disappear off Thanatos' scanners though his scanners would not be able to pinpoint the sources if he tried to find them. Cowbry's thermals would reveal absolutely nothing. Aria would find getting into the base network itself to be fairly simple, however she would notice another network that was inaccessible to her. As Nat got closer her enhanced vision would notice a humanoid shape standing up in the control tower and waving their arms at her and Nova, apparently having spotted them
edited 7th Sep '16 11:29:27 PM by guyshane
-dramatic music ensues-LV-426
Aria ran through the base systems and made sure to run a passive scan on the one system that was completely inaccessible. She made it a point to ignore any record or data-keeping schematics and instead ran a program to find any security systems, trying to wire herself to the cameras to get a view from the inside.
While it wasn't a major concern, Aria made sure to check that her own ICE
were up and running as she searched for a way to use her own ICE breakers against the systems listed. No point in trying to hack in if everything there was just going to bite back.
LV-426
As Yoko stepped inside she'd find what had from the outside looked like a mass disappearance really resembling something more like the battlefield expected. There were bullet holes riddling the walls, scorched architecture and improvised barriers. There seemed to be some power issue as the lights were flickering and only static ran over the base speakers.
Meanwhile outside the human shape was waving more frantically at Nat and Nova.
Aria's hack would allow her access to the security cameras though it would be severely limited by the problems with the base power. The base's shields were entirely nonfunctional. There wasn't even a way to access the inaccessible system from a distance, it was apparently an internal base network.
edited 8th Sep '16 9:35:55 PM by guyshane
-dramatic music ensues-"oh my god she just went in." Was all Freddie could say, in a mixture of fear and confusion. "Um. Wellll..." He separated Industry and Growth back into their shorter component parts, then shot off towards the tower, powerful legs carrying him there at a remarkable pace. "We've gotta save her, right? I-I was supposed to go in first, and I'm sorry for not being on top of Yoko before she even got the door open!" He said into his comms. "Um! I'll be there in a second, and I'll get her out of there, and we can finish recon, and all of this'll be okay!"
edited 9th Sep '16 7:58:15 PM by Taco
Inside the Tower Building
Yoko whistles softly. Yep. Deeeefinitely a fight here.
She taps her earpiece. "Purple Bishop to the crew here. Looks like we have evidence of a fight. Bullet holes. Explosion residue. Debris. I'm thinking they didn't actually just up and vanish."
She continues on deeper into the building, following the trail of battle.
Aria quickly flipped through as many of the security cameras as she rattled off a message through her scroll.
cameras operational: true. base power: compromised. there's a system i can't reach from out here, but i want a look. how are things in there?
edited 8th Sep '16 9:49:43 PM by ImmortalFaust
[forum cryptid: it/it's]LV-426 Barracks
Noticing that there wasn't much else besides the vague location energy signatures, Thanatos took flight again and hovered in place, this time trying to scan the command center more thoroughly, as well as the scout compartment from the air.
(Just where the heck are they?)
edited 8th Sep '16 11:55:56 PM by ironcommando
...ehehMoving out
Watching Freddie charge off, Wilhelm simply shrugged before slamming his helmet back on and barreling after his comrade.
Naturally, due to the sheer bulk and weight of Eisenmacht, Wilhelm couldn't catch up by simply running, so the modern day Knight let Dreadnought activate to give the Von Messer a much needed boost of speed (as well as a good amount of momentum for charging into any foes or structures).
After a few moments spent running full tilt, Wilhelm radioed out "Do we have a plan or are we just charging in recklessly" though he wouldn't dare say it, Wilhelm was hoping for the latter.
LV-426: Passing Ahead
"I'll be right behind you, Black Bishop." Quickly returning to the task at hand, Talon activated his Semblance to lock onto Nat's Aura and appear behind her, taking a moment to nod in acknowledgement to her before speaking into his comms.
"Be advised, I am making first contact with the subject on the tower," he informed them before locking on to the figure's Aura. After a second to breathe, Talon blinked up and appeared before the unknown, raising his hand as a signal that he meant no harm.
"What happened here?"
edited 8th Sep '16 10:47:30 PM by Insano
Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...LV-426
As Aria and Yoko investigated different parts of the tower they would notice signs of smaller battles but it was diminishing returns, the soldiers had clearly chosen to make their last stand by the entrance of the tower.
Those who approached the tower by foot would find themselves walking through the same situations the scouts had already reported over the comms.
"Something about this situation isn't right." Cor commented to Nat and Nova. "Beyond the obvious."
Meanwhile up in the tower control room Talon would find himself face to face with a tanned, well built soldier with black hair and a dark gun attached to his back, a curved blade set to either side of the barrel. Said soldier immediately grabbed Talon by the shoulders and began shaking him urgently. "What are you idiots doing here?! I was trying to warn you to stay away! This base isn't safe! Hell, the surrounding countryside might not be safe!"
-dramatic music ensues-LV-426: Control Tower
After the guard had his say, Talon shook off of his grip and looked back at him with an urgent, curious expression. At the man's warning, the Vacuo specialist could feel his fingers itching to hold his weapons to defend himself from whatever threat had shaken this guard up. "What is the threat, soldier? Is anyone else left here?"
Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...Novus 21st - Outpost LV-426, Vacu-Valoran Border
"Copper Bishop to all points," droned Cowbry through the shared comms frequency. There seemed to be a sigh that died part of the way out of his mouth. "I am getting multiple entrance points towards the outpost. Sound of with current locations and status." He kept his eyes on his controller, wheeling it around the debris that looked to have been some sort of last stand in the commander center.
Something as making the piscine Faunus itch with a desire to rend and fight. But why was he suddenly feeling so on-edge?
LV-642
Noticing Talon enter the control Tower and interact with the person there, Thanatos flew up there and landed on top of the main tower, checking his surroundings as he attempted to check for any threats around the area.
["Black Rook reporting. Unusual signatures detected, can't get a good lock onto them. On top of tower now, scanning for more threats."]
At his vantage point, Thanatos began locking onto other parts of the area, scouting for them while powering up his weaponry in case his sensors detected an enemy presence.
(Man, this is boring...)
edited 9th Sep '16 8:15:43 AM by ironcommando
...ehehi'm seeing less and less activity. looks like our boys took their last stand at the tower. confirmation?
Aria was suddenly very glad she had hung back and was observing from a distance. Regardless, she dived back into the system, her ears flattening out and back as she seeked out diagnostics and other tangible data on what happened here.
[forum cryptid: it/it's]Freddie caught up to Yoko by way of multiple ricochets off of walls, floors, and ceilings, his hooves allowing him to ably maintain his momentum as he moved from the desert to the interior. He skid to a halt next to her and saluted. "Ready to work, ma'am." Freddie then turned away from her, sheathed his hammer, and whipped out his Scroll to start taking pictures of the bullet holes filling the base. "I suggest we find the make and model of the bullets used here." He pointed back the way he came.
"Holes from that angle are probably going to be from the defenders, so we need to look..." He pointed that way. The academic was in his element here, a controlled situation where he could apply his learning. "The holes from the attackers." He clopped across the floor to crouch in front of what holes there were, sending the team pictures of the holes and of any bullets and casings he could find nearby. "If I find anything, we might even be able to use the tower itself to send the pictures back to base."

Scouting
Nat turned her head to where she had heard the voice and sighed. "Yeah yeah, I hear you Cor, we'll get moving so we can get to the fun part." She grinned before turning back to Nova. "Alright Nova, let's get a move on, we've got work to do and I don't feel like letting someone else get shot up instead." She grinned before taking off towards the base, scanning the facility with her electronic eyes for any movement.
"I am nature's weapon. You are unfit to carry on your species, and I shall ensure that you do not do so!" - Charles Darwin, XCOM Sniper