A Mad Ghoul's Folly: Rescue Group

Kira sat stared out the window and into the cloudy night. The sounds of thunder could be heard both near and far over the droll of heavy rain. The group that Tesla Spark and Sunny Smiles had put together were asleep, save Kira and Lightning Flash (who was on guard duty). The gryphoness closed her eyes and listened to the rain. She hoped that Atriark was safe, where ever her zebra was.

It wasn't until Lightning arose Tesla from his slumber in the hooves of Sunny, that Kira took her eyes from the ruins of the pre-war city. The gryphon watched Tesla walk closer to her.

"You should get some sleep."

Kira looked back out the window. "He's out there, somewhere. And if the memory was right, he's not well.

Tesla put a hoof on Kira's shoulder. "We won't be helping anypony by stumbling around in the dark. So please, get some rest."

Kira sighed and took a few hesitant steps away from the window before heading into the back room. Tesla watched her go then turned to look out at the same cityscape. Letting out a sigh, he turned from the window and did his best to stay awake until he could return to the warmth of Sunny's body.
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Somewhere in Manehattan, a coughing zebra worked furiously. He scratched at the ground with his hoof and a length of rebar. He drew strait lines for streets and curves for rubble and things any sized group would have to avoid. When he was done, he placed litter to represent buildings. As he finished placing the litter, he retrieved his armor. It was tattered and well used, having seen many months of hard abuse and several different hells. The armor was coming up on its last leg and that made the zebra sad. He knew he couldn't bring it. Despite it being light, it still would slow him down. He aslo didn't want anything bad to befall one of his last trinkets from his home. So, placing it at the right end of the map, he bid it farewell.
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In the morning, every member of the party gathered their supplies. The building they were in was an old pre-war radiostation called CJNR; Manehattan's Jazz and News Radio. The reason they were there was the street they had hoped to just walk up to Cadence Plaza, had a collapsed sky scraper laying in the middle. Fortunately, CJNR's antanea had fallen sometime after the balefire apocalypse and onto a building across the street. That building had collapsed onto the one next to it, allowing the group to walk across what would have been the side of the appartment building, when it was still standing strait. Then they could go down the building the appartment complex had collapsed against, and back onto the street.

Sky looked around the place they were at, They needed to go and save ark from whatever trouble he got himself into. But the first place they had to get to was Cadence park, but it was blacked by a huge sky scraper. This day ever got any easier Sky would be done with it, she could fly over it but she had to stay with the group. And hope nothing bad happens to them, she had to protect the group from anything with any means necessary. And she had to help a friend out, she promised Kira she will always be their for her and this is no exception.

Scrap checked his equipment, making sure everything was workable and hopefully wouldn't break at an inopportune time, resulting in his untimely demise. Satisfied that his armour and weapons were all good he glanced around at his surroundings, reflecting upon the circumstances that had brought him there.

Scrap didn't particularly consider himself to be a hero, far from it in fact, but still he couldn't have in good conscience leave somepony he knew to die if it was within his power to stop it. So when he was approached to help rescue Ark, he agreed to join the party.

That about brought Scrap to where he was now, in the ruins of a Manehattan building about to cross over a collapsed radio tower into the ruins of another building, a task which he was not particularly enthused for, seeing as previous experiences had left him with a fear of heights.

Kira had barley gotten any sleep last night in the ruins of broadcasting station she could simply not stop thinking about the zebra who needed her help somewhere in the city, and when she finally got some sleep she could only dream dreams that keep waking her up in the middle of the night.

Now she was standing looking once again over the huge city ruins like she tired to spot Atriark from where she stood. She had been awake long before most other in the group that had gathered to help find him and save him from what ever dangers he had found him self in. A smarter gryphon would say that this was hopeless that the ruins were to large to fin a single zebra in it, that she would move on with her life and learn to live with that the wasteland was cruel and did take lives all the time. But Kira was not a smart gryphon and she did not care that looked like it would be impossible.

"Gather you things." She said as she notice the rest of them waking up. "We will move over that antanea in five." She knew that some of them would disagree with her about moving so quickly but she could careless about there comments she would get from them, they needed to move quickly and find her Zebra before he started to get worse.

Zuberi was having a little trouble sleeping as well. He hadn't known Atriark for a long time, but he had still enjoyed the time they spent together. Also, when Atriak had helped save him from the slavers; Zubi felt as though he owed Ark one. He knew it might actually be a difficult task, there was destined to be some fighting involved with the rescue, and Zuberi only had a little experience. Still, he was ready to try.

He stood up from his sleeping mat, which he kept folded up inside his saddle bags, and began to dress. He wrapped his shemagh around his neck, buckled his belt and holster. Holstered his 10mm pistol, and strapped on his saddle bags after he had packed his things. He was ready to go.

Lightning stood guard that night, thinking back on how did he get into this rescue party. His friends came over to his house with urgent news, telling him that something was wrong and they needed his assistance. As a good friend, he couldn't refuse and agreed to join them. Now, here he was, sitting in an abandoned building in Manehattan, looking out the window with his hunting rifle. This wasn't going to be an easy mission.

Morning eventually came and everypony was getting up gathering their equipment. Lightning always had his things packed and ready so he didn't need to do much. Except for maybe a quick drink of water from his canteen but that was about it. Standing up, the pegasus walked over to the others and gave them all a bow of his head.

Nova checked her weapons, ensuring that they were in working condition. The day before, she had received the news, and instantly wanted to help her friend. She knew that this was mission would likely be dangerous, but it didn't matter, she'd always help a friend who needed it.

Trouble is, can we help him? Nova wondered. We had better get this done as quickly as possible, no sightseeing.

After her wapon checks were complete, Nova headed to join the rest of the group who were helping with this situation. A few of the faces she recognised, and likely understood why they were here. Some faces were new, but this was not the situation for idle banter. They had a friend to help.

And a debt to repay.

Everypony has their reasons, Sawdust was no different, though some might be motivated by knowing the Victim or those trying to rescue them; Sawdust was here because somepony was being held against their will and by all accounts they were not a Bad Pony. Frankly that was good enough reason as any for her, the chance to put some Bad Ponies out of the Wasteland's misery was nice too though.

That didn't mean she implicitly trusted the ponies ... People, that were mounting the operation, far from it, she implicitly distrusted them. This was going to end in pain, tears and possibly a week of bed rest for several of them. And of course that was the best case, worst case some or all of them would be dead by the end. Oh well, no need to dwell on what might happen or may be, not until it matters at least.

As Kira spoke, breaking the relative quiet of the building, Sawdust snapped awake. The alcove under a large and non-functional electronic panel was where she'd chosen to sleep. A drab gray blanket to cover her body, dirty except for a small patch that faced the wall. The intent to make her look like a pile of damaged cloth rather than a sleeping pony. Unfortunatly, sleeping under a control panel and waking up in a snap also made another noise. A heavy Clunk as skull met metal, "Ow." ... "Shut up."

Sawdust crawled out from under, shook off the feeling of sleep and pushed her mane out of her face long enough to pin it under her hat. She geared up from there, putting away the blanket, then putting on her 'mysterious' duster. Finally she adjusted the position of Little Mrs. Sparkle, facing the doll's blank stare, forward. A few minutes to complete, she'd be ready long before Kira wanted to move. Yay.

Since seeing the memory orb, Tesla had a pit in his stomach. Ark was his friend, one of his closest since he began exploring the wastelands, now he was in this situation. The unicorn wouldn't be able to forgive himself if something happened, or if they were too late.

The night had not been an easy one on the gunsmith, every time he dozed off, he was greeted with nightmares and guilt. So for the majority of the evening he had been simply stared out into the Manehatten ruins, wondering what would happen, hoping they would find Atriark soon. A few times he even tried to simply go one ahead, search out the area and get down from the collapsed building, but each and every time he reached the antenna, the rational side of his brain would kick in, reminding him that falling from this height would not be beneficial for Ark, or his own health. So instead he simply walked back...and waited.

In the morning, Tesla followed suit with everypony else in the group, taking out his prism blaster, checking the energy weapon over, the unicorn made sure that each connection was stable, the compressed cell charged and ready, and lastly making sure there was no damage that was extensive enough, that it could comeback and bite him later.

Doing the same thorough once overs on his other weapons, Tesla kept his blaster floating next to him, holstering the rest, turning toward Kira, "Alright I'm ready when you are."

Sunny checked her saddle bags once more before tightening them. She didn't want anything to fall out, or even have the bags slide off. When she finished, she rubbed agains Tesla, the pony she loved. She galdly lead/followed the group to CJNR, she just wanted to find Atriark. When she saw him last, he wasn't looking too good. She saw the zebra take quite a substansial amounts of Radiation, and she saw him get worse rapidly.

"Alright, I guess you should lead the way Kira."

Kira watched as all the ponies in her group got up and prepared them selves to move on but according to her they did this ever so slow, unlike her they did not seam to sleep with the saddle bag on her at all times. But finally was they ready to move out.

"Right let get going then." She said as she started to move out on to the old antanea. It made a unnerving sound as she placed her claw on it testing what weight it could carry but it seamed to that it could carry her. "Okay one a a time, and Sky, Nova, Flash you fly over." She knew she did not have to say this but it never hurt to tell them again. She walked slowly as she took care with each step not to step on any weak point, but finally she managed to get over to the other side without falling to her death.

"Okay now next." She yelled over to the rest of the group now when she was safe on the other side.

"You got it Kira." Sky said without a word of hestitaion, just a simple fly over the the anntenna. Sky just nodded and unfurled her wings, and with a gust she was off into the air.

Lightning would give a nod to Kira and toss his saddlebags on his back. Leaping off the building, the pegasus opened his wings in mid-air and with one powerful flap, took off into the air. He watched as Kira was using the antenna as a bridge to get across from one rooftop to the other. 'I better fly low in case one of them falls...' Lightning lowered his altitude and began flying down under the makeshift bridge, waiting for the next pony to walk across. If things were to go south, he should be able to catch them...hopefully.

On the building that the appartment complex had fallen against, a door opened. It's rusted hinges shreaked and groaned in protest. Out stepped a unicorn in raider armor, it his magical grip, was a pair of binoculars. Lazily, the unicorn raider lifted them to his eyes and peered at the group crossing the anteana. He counted and recounted their numbers before reopening the door and disappearing inside. A minute later, eight raiders appeared to watched the gryphon cross the bridge.

"Should we strike?" The unicorn with the binoculars asked an earth pony in leather barding. "It would be the most ideal."

"Alright." The earth pony mare said with a grin. "Let's get 'em boys!"

The seven raiders let out a cry and charged the party, while the mare stayed back and pulled out her hunting rifle with a scope.

------

Four raiders: 2x 10 mm 1x 9mm SMG 1x cowboy repeater. 4x Raider armor.

Three raider vets: 1x Assault Carbine 2x Service Rifles. 3x leather barding.

One Merc: Hunting rifle; Scope mod, Leather Barding.

Sky from the air noticed the raiders that cane out from the apartment, they were ready to kill. Not good, Sky pulled out her hunting rifle. Something that saved her life many times, now again today it just might save her life again. "Get to cover!" Sky yelled to everypony.

(1 AP to pull out rifle)

(9 AP to fire hunting rifle at merc x2)

Nova noticed the group of raiders apporaching their position. She had yet to take flight to cross the gap, and was left on the opposite side of it.

Good, this means that most of them will be less likely to hit me. Nova thought.

Nova pulled out her hunting rifle, taking aim at one of the more well equipped raiders, and proceeded to fire.

{1 AP Drawing Hunting Rifle}
2x{4 AP, Guns 30 Firing Hunting Rifle At Raider Veteran}

Scrap was about to follow Kira across the bridge when the shooting started, but he quickly pulled back from stepping onto the bridge and ducked behind some cover.

Peering out he took stock of the raiders that were shootingstarted at them and drawing his lightning pistol he aimed at one of the better equipped ones and fired.

(Drawing weapon 1 AP)
(Energy Weapons 57, Luck 6, Rolling to shoot assault carbine raider vet. 4 AP)

Kira turned her head to the shout of the raiders change, this was bad really, really bad. With only her on the other side of the antenna and the three pegasi flying she was desperately out numbered on this side of the gap between the two buildings. She had to give them cover as the others could cross the gap to give her some support.

"Flash!" She shouted over to the blue pegasus. "Help the others over while the rest of use cover you!" With this she turned to face the oncoming raiders. She was about to pull out a grenade but hesitated, if she where about to use explosives then there was no telling if the building or the antenna would be able to hold gather, instead she would have to trust that the wasteland was not finished with her yet.

Instead she mad a counter change trying to hope on the shock in would give them seeing her come changing at them so that the others could cross. She moved as quickly as she could hoping that these raiders where to shocked to try to stop her from getting close as she pounced the raider with the Service rifle aiming for for the throat.

(2 AP, Change the raiders and pounce raider vet with service rifle, Agility 8)
(AP 7, 3 slashes over the throat of the raider with her talons, and continue to claw at the raiders chest and torso 4 time if he is not dead, otherwise move on to the next rider, Unarmed 55 Luck 5)

Raiders. Of course. Right when they were going to travel across the antenna, raiders attack. Lightning muttered some curses silently to himself as he quickly drew out his 10mm SMG before perking his ears up at Kira's orders. "Alright! Next pony, get moving! We need support on the other side!" Raising his altitude just enough to peak over the other side, the pegasus aimed his SMG and fired at one of the veterans with the assault rifle.

(Drawing 10mm SMG, 1 AP)

(Guns 80, Firing at vet w/ Assault Carbine x3, 9 AP)

Sawdust groaned as the staccato crack of gunfire broke out from the other building, of course there were raiders, of course they had big mean guns. Nothing was ever easy. Ahh well. ... "Right," she murmured to herself, swinging her head into her duster and revealing her nearly trade marked 9mm SMG, "Steady."

Sawdust targeted the nearest Regular grade Raider and after a moment to stead her aim, sent a stream of hot lead down range at the bastard.

(1 AP Draw, 1 AP Aiming, 6 AP Fire 3 times for a total of 9 rounds with a 9 MM SMG. Guns 51, Luck 7)

"Ok...ok...ok..." Tesla said, as gunfire ripped all around him, looking at the antenna in front of him. {Oh Goddesses!} The one thing that the unicorn hated the most, was unfortunately...heights. "Wish me luck!" Tesla said, quickly kissing Sunny on the cheek, the gunsmith stared ahead of him.

Ponies around him were firing back at the raiders in the buildings, this really wasn't helping. Taking a deep breath, Tesla burst off into a full gallop, his hooves clattering as across the beams that once held the antenna aloft, now formed a rickety bridge.

As he ran, the gunsmith drew his prism blaster, opening fire, at where he heard the raiders' gunshots roughly originate from.

AP: (8)(Moving (3), drawing prism blaster (1), firing 2x (4))
Trait: (Trigger Discipline)
Energy Weapon: (38)
Luck: (5)
Agility: (6)

Sunny blushed and forgot about all that was going on as she felt Tesla kiss her cheek. "Good luck." She said softly as Tesla galloped off. Quickly looking at her weapons, she knew that she would only get in the way, maybe even hit a friendly if she tried firing across buildings with her 9 mm. So, she levitated out her pistol and waited for Tesla to cross.

Sky aimed her rifle and barely managed to hit the leader of the little band of raiders. The pony with the scoped hunting rifle flinched and gritted her teeth but resumed aiming her rifle and not at Sky.

Lightning Flash, with a good deal of speed, managed to get a shot the raider before he could. Getting three bursts off, it hurt the raider substanstionaly.

Then the raider with the assault carbine took aim at Lightning Flash and, with murder in his eyes, pelted the darker blue pegasus with two bursts of his automatic weapon. However, most of the bullets flattened against the pegasus's armor save a couple- which tore into Lightning's chest but didn't go very deep. The other two veterins' attention was fixed upon the charging gryphoness. They unloaded into her. Twelve shots fired into Kira, four missing. Even though her armor took most of the bullets, a few still ripped into her flesh. Two even embedded themselves into one of Kira's wing.

Nova, seeing that Kira may need assistance, took aim at one of the raiders as they shot at Kira. Pulling the trigger, she sent a .308 bullet hurtling at the raider vet. It struck him in the shoulder and caused him to drop his service rifle and even fall to the ground.

Sawdust, from the CJNR building, fired at the first raider with a 10 mm pistol. Most of her bullets hit the earth pony raider and he seemed to cry out in pain, but he kept moving.

The raiders with the lesser weapons fired wildly, most missed, but Nova was hit by a .357 round in the arm. The bullet bit deep into her muscle, but it would only slow her down slightly. The rest of the bullets went wide or pinged off of the ground as the newer raiders got too trigger happy and missed.

Now Kira, pissed as ever, tore into the first raider that had fired at her. If it was out of rage for being shot, or just enjoyment of killing, was only known to Kira as she tore the raider vet with a Service rifle to shreds. He didn't have a chance to move as Kira pounced on him and shredded his back and spine into mince meat. Then she got up and swipped a deadly talon at the other fool that angered her.

As Tesla ran across the antenna, he fired off a shot, it went wide as he galloped. His second shot however, hit the second raider with a 10 mm pistol squarely, but it seemed to not phase him.

As Tesla reached the end of the antenna, one last .308 rang out and struck him. It knocked one of his back hooves off the antenna as it tore passed his armor.

Ignoring the bullets as they flew around Scrap Parts, he took aim at the raider with the assault rifle. A shot of lightning flew across the gap between the two buildings and struck the raider. He dropped his gun and screamed out in pain.

Raider 1: lightly injured.
Raider 2: lightly injured.
Raider 3: uninjured
Raider 4: uninjured
Raider vet 1: severly injured, near death
Raider vet 2: heavily injured
Raider vet 3: dead
Merc: injured
-----
Tesla -36
Flash -6
Kira -22
Nova -18

Kira let out a small grunt as she let the bullets entered her flesh and felt the extreme pain as the two bullets embedded them self in her left wing, why had it have to be her wing. Even as she ripped apart one of her attackers she came do the simple conclusion that she did not like bullets especially if they were being shot at her. The gryphoness gave a quick look back to the antenna seeing how Tesla where about to fall off the antenna.

"SKY!" She shouted. "Help Tesla!" As she finished she made a quick pass pulling out a frag grenade pulling the pin out from it waiting two seconds before she quickly shoved the grenade in to the face of one of the raider with the repeater battlesaddle.

"Here hold this." She said before moving on in the direction of the merc not waiting to see how the raider reacted to her little 'gift'. She made sweeping action with her good wing at the merc hoping to throw of her aim before she went to slash her claw over her chest before making another attack that was aimed at her eyes with her own beak.

(1 AP, equip Frag Grenade)

(3 AP, 'Give' cocked Frag Grenade to the cowboy repeater raider, Explosives 85, Luck 5)

(5 AP, Confuse Merc with her right wing, slash claw over her chest, and finally try to peek out said mercs eyes with her beak, Unarmed 55, Luck 5)

Scrap watched the bolt from his lightning pistol hit his chosen target, sending the raider he had chosen to target writhing in painto and out of the fight hopefully. Scrap had ducked back into cover as the bullets whizzed around him, popping up again he sighted up on another raider, one of the remaining unharmed ones, and fired, hopefully sending a blast if lightning into the raiders face.

(Energy Weapons 57, Luck 6, Rolling to shoot a unharmed raider with my lightning pistol[AP:4])