Topic: Target Ravenlock: The Ruins of Public Works

Ranger

Date: 2011-11-04 20:38 EST
(Author's Note: This post runs concurrent to Target Ravenlock: Weapons Depot and Target Ravenlock: Solid Waste Facility.)

The ruins of Public Works

The night was overcast, and quiet - perfect, in other words.

He'd switched his armor configuration to the older, sleeker Hammer armor for tonight's reconnaissance, to give him a bit more maneuverability and a better stealth profile. One of the many advantages of the Guardian system - it was mutable to whatever suited his needs of the moment. If he needed the heavier, thicker Hammer-Enhanced armor, he'd be able to change to it with a thought.

The more he used it, the more fascinated he found himself with the supramolecular design. He'd known the potential was vast when he designed it, but thus far it had exceeded his expectations, with one exception...which he still hadn't found a fix for, that of Renna's mysterious power to manipulate his genetic makeup.

But for now there were other concerns. She couldn't take control of him, just bring him to a standstill, and he had solutions for that, at least. Right now his focus was on another project.

The augmented reality display inside his helmet showed a number of feeds from the sensors built into his suit as he scanned the pile of rubble below. According to all of the readings he was getting there didn't appear to be any sort of active scanning or sensor field technology at work down there, or for that matter any sort of guard or other security that his sensors could pick up on.

But that didn't mean there weren't other methods of detection.

But...nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? If there was something else down there that could pick him up, he would deal with it if and/or when it came up. Right now, it was time to go to work.

He came down, descending towards the ground and the pile of rubble below in a dive, flipping over feet-first at the last moment to settle into a landing and touching down gently on a large slab of concrete as the engines shut down again.

"Find me a way in, Di."

He turned back and forth as he watched the sensor feeds flash across his AR display, various paths lighting up before finally the artificial intelligence locked in on one and her sultry voice spoke in his ears. "There is a large section of concrete laying across the entrance to this route. Moving it will not disturb anything around it and the route beyond should be spacious enough for you to maneuver through with a minimum of difficulty and noise."

He nodded as he walked towards the indicated area, bending down and lifting a large slab of reinforced concrete out of the way to reveal the dark, yawning maw of a crack under it that led to the levels below. Setting the slab aside gently, he looked down into the hole.

In for a penny...

And without a second thought he dropped into the darkness below.

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2011-12-04 22:37 EST
Into the darkness below...

A tad more fitting, than anyone would honestly believe. For darkness is exactly what the complex once known as Public Works had become, since its ruination at the hands of what commonly was known as the 'scarred' event. Such a sight was the former epicenter of improvement and repair for the city. To the naked eye, a tangled mess of concrete and steel..

Held in check by a heavy grade fence of steel, topped by barbed wire. Scorch marks abound, lending credence to the type of struggle that had ensued, during the defense of this now decimated locale.

In addition to the debris and scorch marks, one could easily find errant weaponry lying about. Melee weapons, several types of guns olden and advanced alike. Shields, and armor.. Bit and pieces of what looked to be various mechanized units . Some makeshift memorials marked some of the fallen, as well as graffiti messages.. A veritable mixture indeed, offering such insight to exactly what befell this place.

And that was only what was seen above ground.

Below what was seen above? Well that was another story entirely.

As the newest arrival descended, he would find such darkness... Nary a light to be seen anywhere, yet the tell tale signs of a story indeed remained, readily available for such examination. Of course one would have to light the path, so to speak...

If one were to do that, they would find that just underneath that concrete slap, it was fairly roomy. In fact, they would find that they were dead centre of the primary loading bay for Public Works itself. However, this was a far cry from that which once was.

Amidst the interior wreckage, the charred and rather torn remains of the loading bay itself, were a few other things that did in fact stand out.

Bodies... That is what one would see... Quite a few bodies in fact, in various forms of decomposition. Some armoured, and in better shape than others. Imperial insignias could faintly be made out, upon the armored ones.. The dust made it that much harder to see such things, truth told. Some of the bodies impaled, and others riddled with holes, no doubt form what looked to be small and large caliber rounds. Some bodies were even severely scorched.

Yet for all the bodies that looked to be of the invading variety, not a one was seen of what would be considered the defenders of this place, if you will.

Mind you, there were signs of defense, all over.. Make shift barricades, and sandbags. Ammo clips to various types of weapons, that were modernized, but less advanced that what the imperials seemed to have been using.

Blood could be seen.. Splattered, and caked.. Trails of it, could be made out, leading back to the far end of the loading bay itself.. That and several scorch marks, coupled with debris and weapons lying about, showed a shift in whatever conflict took place here. It all seemed to lead back towards the double doors--- well, the double doors that were there. What was there now, was the remains of said double doors, and the make shift barricade that barred the path to the hall beyond.

Past that, it seemed that nothing was visible..

Of course approaching would rectify that.

As to what was not seen?

That would be the series of rather intricate wards, that nearly instantly tripped...

And more so, the blackness that began to peel itself, from the darkened corners of this rather desolate place.

Ranger

Date: 2012-01-11 15:36 EST
The darkness below was very close to absolute. Of course, it was nighttime outside, and this bay he came to find himself in was enclosed from the sky above. Visual sensors, which he usually used in the dark to amplify even the least amount of available light, were close to being useless.

Which meant he had to light his own way. Fortunately, with the advanced armor he was wearing - which was a part of him, more accurately - such things were a trivial matter.

The optics were switched from starlight to infrared with a though, and at the same time he activated portions of his armor, allowing them to let off radiant heat. It took mere moments for the room to be revealed to his eyes, nearly as bright as day to the sensitive infrared sensors.

A look around told him voulmes. The enemy was far more advanced than the defenders - the armor, the weaponry, all pointed to a level of technological superiority which was made for conquest, or 'shock-and-awe' campaigns - vivid black and white armor, tough enough against primitive melee and projectile weaponry, up to a light-caliber pistol. But still weak. The numbers of the enemy were clearly meant to be the determining factor, overwhelming the defenders.

But here the aggressors had encountered more resistance than they bargained for, it seemed.

Part of him looked upon the remains of the aggressors with contempt. Advanced though their weaponry had been, had he been here, they would not have made it this far. The mechanical walker contraptions outside, for that matter, he could have laid waste to almost single-handedly, in his new armor.

It was a shame he missed it. This event which many referred to as the 'Scarred' attacks could have used him, he thought.

But that was then, and this was now.

In the here and now, this cavernous rooom told him many things - that the defenders had stood their ground, had held their own in the final gasp, despite the whole building having been brought down on top of them.

The only sign of the defenders were casings, fortifications, fallen weapons...but no bodies. He found that interesting in itself - either there had been a miracle and they had all escaped, which was highly unlikely, or someone had come here and - with great care, maybe even reverence - removed the bodies of their fallen dead, leaving the aggressors where they lay as either testament or warning...or perhaps simply out of apathy.

And where had the bodies been taken? As he looked at the floor, he saw the blood trails. At first, he only followed them with his gaze, looking for where they led, until his eyes fell upon the barricaded entrance to whatever lay beyond this room.

Without a though he started towards it.

And as he approached the barrier, he noticed that things were getting brighter.

It was only a moment's thought. Fortunately, with the armor actually integrated with his body, that was all it took to turn off the termal lighting on his suit, switch optical modes, and - most improtantly - engade his suit's cloak, which he had left off until this moment.

Even as the loading bay grew bringther around him he kept making his way towards the barrier, hoping to find himself a way through that would not involve destroying something this early and thus call attention to his presence...though it seemed that might have been done already.

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2012-01-19 16:12 EST
As the armored one progressed, he would find the barrier offered no resistance what so ever.. Nothing at all. It was as if it were simply for show..

Until he ventured through, that is.

As he did so, seemingly the room came alive!

The darkness was now light.. Where there was no color, there was. Voices that were not heard, now were.. And activity that was absent, was now present in spades. If he were to look back, he would see outside the barrier, there was darkness once more, yet where he was..

Seemed another time, and place. Looking back out,he would see forms.. From outside the barrier, they arrived..

Standing outside the barrier..

Spectral, they were.. Men and women.. Some garbed, others no tso.. If one were to look closely, they would see uniforms..

One by one, they came.. Into the barrier, they did. And as they did, suddenly they came alive! The uniforms seen, were of the City of Rhy?din herself. Various work groups, and others were of the imperial variety?

They each passed the armored one with no concern, and some even passed through the man. Each going their own way, and this went on for a few moments at best..

Then it seemed, business had picked up.

The room began to shake.. Back and forth it seemed. Those present, were busy at work.. It seems the Rhy?diners were setting up what looked to be---barricades? Some burst into the room with weapons, as well. Melee, along with heavy and standard grade fire arms. Armor was tossed around as well, as they each seemed to be making ready something. That someone made itself rather evident with what came next.

A series of violent explosions that rocked the room viciously, causing people to stagger as things collapsed abound.

?They?re coming! They?re coming!?

?How many?!?

?Several squads! And they?re heavily armed!?

?No shit! Did the explosions tell you that!??

?Stow it! We got work to do! Bring everyone back, and hold this line! Ravenlock says help is on the way! Hold this line! They cannot get to the armory!?

What followed was a rather definitive battle.

TheRhy?din forces were forced back into the very room, the armored one was in.. Many dragging bodies of friend, and enemy as they piled into the room. Blaster fire, coupled with explosions, and gunfire filled the air. The Rhy?din forces, gave it all they had, and poured it on, but suddenly, it was over..

A vicious burst of energy filled the room, with a blinding light, and it was all said and done.

All that was left of the Rhy?din forces, and their enemies was death..

Bodies were piled left the right. Weapons strewn about, many destroyed.

The scorch markswere so easily seen all over, even with the dust and debris that was all over..

It seems this battle, had been decisively lost..

Then it went quiet once more.. For what felt an eternity.. The armored one would be able to walk freely, and see for himself.

That was until he had arrived..

Cloaked he was.. Akin to a wraith. He made his way about, glancing a bit left and rightas he did so.. Bodies were checked, a radio taken in hand.

He passed through, and went to the far exit and was no more.

Moments later he emerged once more, carrying a small box.. Something the size of a small toy or something. He hurried on, and was soon gone once more..

Moments later, something else happened..

Someone else had appeared, and it seemed he was not alone.

?So you?re what?s left? Pity, I had hope that left me more than some washed up politician!?

It seems the pair that had appeared were facing off with one another..

One was rather large.. Heavily armored and build like a beast of sorts. In his hand was a large mace, riddled with bloodied spikes. The other feature seemed rather vague, but the intent was there?

This thing was here to fight.

?I?m all you need to worry about, today??

The smaller of the two, drew a sword. T?was a katana, a rather familiar one, actually.

It was ?Pulgasari? the undead bane.

The very weapon created by Theron, and given to one Brian Ravenlock.

The pair rushed each other, as a blinding light over took them.

When the light faded it looked as if it were over..

The larger of the two had was apparently fallen in a rather bloodied and misshapen heap.. The victor that stood over him looked a sight, as well.

Battered, and bruised.. Clothing rather shredded. Cuts, all over his form and what looked to be a rather definitive gash all along his side. He was somewhat crumpled, but still somehow stood.

A head lifted, as the darkened veil of hair moved aside to reveal the rather pain stricken face of Brian Ravenlock.

?Toldja..?

With that word, Ravenlock had fallen to his knees.

Then, the scene changed once more..

Ravenlock was now sitting against some debris. His eyes closed, and an arm held close to his gashed side. From all looks, it would seem his life had ended. Yet closer inspection would show, shallow breathing.

?Looks like sh*t.. Didn?t want it to end this way, still got work to do--- got to see Jen an the girls.. Everyone els??

A moment later, he was no longer alone..

Seated next to him, was someone else. Tattered, and a bloodied mess as well.

It was Dyarhk?

The pair spoke briefly.. Such hushed words, that could not be made out.

This went onfor a few minutes, as each nodded to one another. Then it ceased, as it seemed something else appeared.

The intent was clear, as Dyarhk stood.. Speaking with the new arrival, as weapons were drawn.

Then another appeared a well, prompting Brian to slowly rise, and drawn his bloodied blade once more.

A flash ensued.. And was soon gone.

Dyarhk was gone also, as was his opponent. Also gone was the opponent of BrianRavenlock.

Ravenlock was all that remained.. Laid out in a bloodied heap.

Slowly he pushed himself to his knees, and began to crawl. Blood was spat, coupled with bile.. His body shook with such convulsions, as he seemed to crawl towards the exit..

Suddenly an explosion rocked the room.. Debris fell, literally crushing the eldest Ravenlock..

The only thing that was seen of the man, was his left hand.. Which seemed to get darker by the moment. More so, and more so---as what looked to be a gloved was now present..

A glove that pulsed with such energies, that even in the vision was felt.

Suddenly the room returned to its present state.. Darkened, and desolate.. The specters, simply walking off and vanishing into the darkness without as much as a word..

For a moment though, as that room changed again.. One might swear they saw, that cloaked person, for the briefest of moments?

The armored man was along once more.. But it was clear now.. As the room took shape once more..

The pile of debris.. The barricades, and the far off door..

Which was now somewhat covered with stone.