A Glorious Stand (Glorious Beginning Continuation)

[notmuch_23 2300]

"That's the thing though: the only explosives I have are in my grenades, and those can't punch through an armored hull on their own. My thermite could burn holes in the hulls, but it would need to be directed inwards, or else the slag will just sink to the bottom, flash-boiling seawater the whole way down. I could make some if I had enough time and a nitrate salt, but I'm pretty sure I won't even have time to make shaped ANFO charges even if I had the ammonium nitrate," Thurgood says, "plus, we'd need to get far away if we don't want the blast to kill us. The pressure wave travels really well in a nearly incompressible liquid."

So Thurgood starts thinking more.

"If i can get on the ship and set off a thermite charge in the munition storage, there will either be a large explosion or an inextinguishable inferno, both of which would put the ship out of action..."

@Veloci-Rapture

[Veloci-Rapture 2086]

1 minute ago, notmuch_23 said:

"If i can get on the ship and set off a thermite charge in the munition storage, there will either be a large explosion or an inextinguishable inferno, both of which would put the ship out of action..."

"Ok, we can work with that. It'll be slower and louder, but what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in drama. I approve."

Mel cupped her chin and thought for a second.

"So we'll make the rounds, then. Sneak on board a ship, sneak down to the munitions storage, drop some thermite, set some kind of crude timer, and lather, rinse, repeat. It'll make the timing awful tight if we want to make them all go off at once... unless you, maybe, being the super-cool explosives expert that you are, have some way to figure out a remote detonator?" Mel batted her eyelashes at Thurgood. "Pretty please say this is a thing you have and/or can do for me?"

Spoiler

@notmuch_23

 

[Zashiii 4331]

2 hours ago, notmuch_23 said:

"I don't know what they told you, or how true it is

"They told me that I can depend you if I'm in trouble," came the child's innocent reply.

"Hello priest." @Veloci-Rapture

When the priest came she grew silent and listened quietly to the grown-ups talking but her mind seemed to wander else where.

Then she spoke after a while. "Uncle Thurgood, if you are worried about shockwaves, you can bring these two idiots." She gestured to the two snoring drunk morons. "When it comes to the properties of a wave, these two are experts in that field." @notmuch_23

Edited February 25, 2020 by Zashiii

[notmuch_23 2300]

2 hours ago, Veloci-Rapture said:

"Pretty please say this is a thing you have and/or can do for me?"

"I wish I could, I really do, I also with I had shape-charges," Thurgood says, "but i was anticipating wooden ships, not modern naval steel warships; that's why I brought thermite and white phosphorus. There's a few things I've learned quite quickly about combat though: no plan survives first contact with the enemy; bitchin' about shit you don't have doesn't get the mission accomplished. Find a way to do it, with what you have now; if you can't, then you're in the wrong line of work. Everything is a resource if you're creative enough. Best I can offer is thermote bottle charges. I can adjust how much of the metal sparkler sticks out the top to make a very crude timer. Unless you have somethin' I don't know about, that's the best I've got; let's make it work."

Then a thought hits him.

"Wait, why the fuck are pirates using modern naval warships to extort small farming villages? It seems the take would be far lower than the cost to operate and crew those..."

[Fierach 3639]

Pirates:

The pirates swaggered up the beach, seemingly unopposed in their landfall, unaware of the danger they were in. They were a motley looking bunch, but they acted professionally enough, making sure they were properly beached and settled. The Crimson Wake did not tolerate delays in the gathering of the tithe, and the pirates learned long ago that the earlier they collected their ill-gotten spoils, the earlier they were allowed to enjoy it. They split into two groups, one to first make their way inland, a party of almost 40 in their own small groups, with the remainder still offloading and handling the landing of heavier gear.

They almost all possessed firearms. Some crude, but all servicable enough. Some of the crew were mutants of a kind, strange tendrils and growths sprouting from limbs, faces, and other ungainly places. Many carried crude melee weaponry, more to terrify then use, although damage from any one of the jagged things would still be horrific. Two of the largest landing craft each unloaded a small AFV, light armor for all intents and purposes, but more then enough for lightning raids and plundering.

Seeing the woman on the shore, one of the landing party leaders came up to the hooded Addison, all swagger. "Do you speak for Marrow woman? We have come to collect our tribute" he sneered. He would poke her with the barrel of his rifle if she did not move. The man's expression could not clearly be seen underneath the bloodied skull-faced mask he wore, but he clearly looked down on her. In his other hand was a sabre. He wasn't expecting a fight, but the young pirate was ready for one.

 

Spoiler

 

Edited February 26, 2020 by Fierach

[Veloci-Rapture 2086]

3 hours ago, notmuch_23 said:

Then a thought hits him.

"Wait, why the fuck are pirates using modern naval warships to extort small farming villages? It seems the take would be far lower than the cost to operate and crew those..."

Mel looked back over her shoulder at the pirates as they made landfall and grabbed for Thurgood's hand.

"Thinky-time's up, handsome, we'll ponder this one over an ale when we're done. C'mon, let's get this party started." She glanced at Natalya. "You too, kiddo; if you wanna come, the ferry's boarding."

The mysterious woman would, if Thurgood didn't move fast enough himself, attempt to pull on his arm to get him to skulk with her down to the shoreline, but if he was adamant on keeping his position, she wouldn't wait on him.

Mel used the trenches and the defensive barricades to sneak around to one side of the harbor, her feet unnaturally quiet on the sand. She seemed to have a sixth sense about the perceptions of the pirates; somehow managing to duck behind or under something just before anyone's gaze swept over her position. Anyone making an effort to follow her lead would find themselves well-served by her instincts, although they might perhaps wonder at her aptitude. Mel had the demeanor of someone with a lot of experience at creeping around.

Once at the shoreline, she hunkered down behind a large piece of driftwood, motioning for anyone following her to hunker with her--albeit without looking to see if she actually had a posse or not.

"Ok, folks," she said, still not bothering to verify if there were any folks around to hear her, "This is the sketchy part. The transformation is going to be a bit obvious, so I'm going to wait for the first shots to be fired, to give us the best chance of not being seen. As soon as I'm in the water, jump on my back and hold on tight."

@notmuch_23 @Zashiii

[Agent Knockout 216]

Meanwhile, the 3 tanks and the missile system were in position. They were shocked to find enemy armour, but no matter, their APFSDS and ATGM rounds would make quick work of whatever rusty protection they had. The tanks would skewer the lightly armored AFVs and resist their rockets with their powerful hemispherical turrets, while the planes and the launch pad, with their strong missiles, some with 250kg warheads, would punch hole after hole in all opposition. That was their initial plan, and if it worked, they would be home soon, safe and sound. 

[Phoebe 1739]

The sand beneath Addison's feet trembled with every step the man took, the beat of her heart matching it in a near perfect rhythm. Blood began to surge through her body, the very air around her seeming to radiate power and ferocity, as if there were so much bloodlust bottled up within her that it was starting to spill out of containment. Yet, her eyes remained calm, fixated firmly on the expression of the masked man before her. It was antithetical, the way in which she radiated death, yet sought to preserve the lives of the men which she was destined to slay.

"There is no tribute for you here," she replied sternly, regarding the man with a look of deep pity as he thrust the butt of the rifle into her shoulder. The blunt end of the weapon thudded against her firm musculature, yielding a solemn gaze of disapproval as the Master Knight shook her head.

"Go home to your family, son. This life of pleasure derived from pain is no life worth living."

She raised her gauntleted fist, sliding out slowly from her cloak before planting it firmly on the man's shoulder, gripping it affirmatively as she stared him deeply in the eyes. The young pirate would have seen something which he was unlikely to have ever encountered prior in his life. Staring in the irises of the Dragonslayer was akin to peering into the abyss of death itself, two heavily scarred and furious eyes, burning with the living lifeblood of the Goddess Minori Derivative. Eyes which had seen gods bleed, empires rise and burn to ashes, heroes cry in anguish, and villains perish painfully by the edge of a cold steel blade. He stared into eyes which no longer cared about the petty and fickle joys of life. Only preservation, survival, and the eternal hunt.

"This is your only warning."

@Fierach

[FunOnTheBun 71]

A bulky mass of metal and muscle waited patiently, its breath rasped and slow below the walls of the trench. Trenches, only the idiots of war use such tactics, no honor in this fight. Honor, however, was never to come from fighting these pitiful lowly criminals that roam the seas. Not many a man could fight the black clad tank, and surely no pirate could either. What was in this war was what drove such a being, money. It would become a black shadow of death, charging across the land and foes leaving only corpses in its wake, only then it could gain the money that is being promised. 

Its blackened steel masked hand rose slowly past the trench wall, the reflection off the glossy surface shined into the helmet of the figure. These men, in what seems to be fear, have brought machines of war to this battle? No matter, nothing can withstand the warpath of the Reaver, diesel and metal can join the blood and flesh that will be left in the wake. The hand slowly lowered and clenched the hilt of the large tribal sword, the muscles clenching on the etched metal. The time has nearly come for this small war, a war it will decimate. 

[notmuch_23 2300]

Thurgood follows Mel to the shore, ducking as she ducks, and whatnot, wielding his assault rifle.

"Okay, I'll cover you best i can," Thurgood says, not knowing what this transformation will look like, and hoping he doesn't need to cover her. Shooting will only draw attention to themselves, and means they will face stiff resistance even getting to the bigger ships.

@Veloci-Rapture

Edited February 26, 2020 by notmuch_23

[Fierach 3639]

Pirates:

Some of the pirates were perturbed at this. At the woman before them. They could sense something distinctly already gone wrong with this raid, and it put them on edge. The pirate facing Addison was taken back. Never had he encountered somebody so bold. Every other being who had even dared to tell the pirates to sod off in any shape or manner had quickly regretted their decision and the armored woman was going to join that list but... what was this fear he felt?

He looked around him. Some of his men looked anxious as well. He summoned his courage after a fashion, because to make no mistake, it did take courage to keep on one's path, in either righteousness or villainy. "Fan out!" he called, "Be wary! This town means to resist!" The pirate would push Addison's hand away and point his gun at her head threateningly. Maybe he could take her hostage. "Thats it, you're my hostage!" he would state, as if just saying it would make it so. "Surrender yourself, and the Fishmongers might spare your pathetic town from being razed yet!"

Alerted by that one pirate leader's cry, the pirates spread out as they began to move up the beach, they became more wary as a result. The foremost advancing parties would be able to make out the outlines of trenches and fortifications. They would shout a warning back to the others in alarm. 

Edited February 27, 2020 by Fierach

[FunOnTheBun 71]

Through the reflection upon the steel covered hand, it saw the soon to be alerting scout. In a reaction of urgency over forethought, the steel covered hand grabbed onto the handle of its spear drawing it from its back. The heavy shoulders raised to the height of the trench allowing for room to throw. It pulled back the spear and threw it with great power toward the nearing pirate's chest, a throw that would end a man before he knew it. With its attempted throw, it was able to gaze clearly across the beach to signal out any further targets in the ever so close battle. 

@Fierach

[notmuch_23 2300]

Things have changed quite drastically; the pirates now know this is an ambush, and though Thurgood didn't want to shoot yet, he may not have a choice. Pirates are getting closer to their position, and it's only a matter of time before one finds them. Thurgood aims his assault rifle at the closest one, trying to make his visibility as low as possible.

Unless something happens soon, he may be the first to fire in this conflict, and may just tel Mel to transform to get them on the open water as a target far harder to hit.

@Veloci-Rapture

[Xoco 191]

Douglas eyed the two AFVs with intrigue, and slowly made his way across the rear line to get closer to them. He sat in a nearby bush and focused on the tank lagging behind the most.

As Douglas laid his eyes upon the trailing tank, it began to slowly de-accelerate, coming to a complete stand-still within roughly 5 minutes. Whatever communications equipment inside that relied on metal was now scrambled. The pirates were sitting ducks.

[Truthless 46]

" Now. " Masuda muttered, the 3 pushing off of the rock with great force, all evanescent in a blur, sending wind pressure all around, masses pushing in seemingly every way. The rock they stood on cracked in a vulgar burst, being pushed into the ground with a thud.

---

Koyama soared over the ocean with a cloak of yellow-lightning circumventing him. Once far enough, he directed himself towards one of the ships, closing his right fist and winding it back, the cloak of lightning becoming much more effulgent around his arm.

" IRON FIST! " He roared, a tight punch with enough force to eradicate a car nearing the side of the ship in an endeavor to rip it asunder and throw it into a spiral of chaos.

---

Azami and Masuda took a route in the sky, skyrocketing over to where Addison was, preparing to preform an expeditious attack. A plane-like sound boomed around as they ripped through the air.

What the hell is all this stuff? Why is it so detailed? It looks so sturdy.. Well, whatever. We'll blow it up. Masuda thought to himself, making an odd and obscure yet articulated hand gesture in the direction of Azami. 

Azami landed in juxtaposition of the armored tanks in a haste, lightly tying knots of incredibly thin string onto one of them in mere seconds. With that, she fled, relinquishing yet another mass of wind pressure into the firmament. The strings were set to ignite with a puissant flare, that of grenades. The estimated wait time was around 45 seconds.

---

Masuda continued to soar, quickly pulling his Boidosōdo out of the scabbard hoisted on his hip, a group of purple-colored lightning bursts relinquishing off of it, the sharp blade travelling through the air before grazing through the necks of the exposed pirates that stood near Addison at overwhelmingly high speeds. He was too fast to be pinpointed or caught. He planned to take out a swarm of them via decapitating them, which was most times the best option when fighting with a sword.

@Fierach @Phoebe

Edited February 27, 2020 by Truthless