The Eternal Nightmare[Closed]

A sachet with bright orange liquid came to Arc's field of view, the vibrant colour looking like it was glowing against the dull grey and moss green the cave was coloured with.

Arc snatched it from the zebra's hooves and pulled it close to him, hugging it so tight the satchel looked it might burst from the pressure. Arc took the seal on the top of the back in his teeth and ripped it open with his teeth, chugging down the liquid, hoping his stomach would not rebel against it. something in the back of his head thought that if he would not be in such critical situation, he would actually enjoy the sour taste of the drug.

Arc finished the bag, feeling already his whole body calming down, the fever and thumping in his head slowly drifting away. He sat up, looking tired and used, but at least his eyes had some of the lively glow back. He looked at Atriark and offered a friendly smile.

"Thank you Atri, I owe you one for this, I suppose."

The cave, now when the unicorn was slowly healing from his radiation poisoning, fell silent again.

Decanus Zilibricus sighed. Two days of following a group of ponies through this weather. Yes, yes, a true legionary never complains about a task, no matter how hard it is. To complain is to be an insult if the eyes of the Ceasar. But still... he missed home, and would rather be back with his family. Nevertheless... A penal squad. Such an insult, a seasoned veteran, and they dare to question my allegiance by forcing me to take a penal mission with this blasphemous lot from one of the Zebrican tribes. And what do we end up doing? Following a traitor only to find him join a group of ponies. Stars and Moon curse me, someone back at the company will answer for this... he though as the platform started to descend.

He had to admit the horned one did good job repairing the power source. He wished he had a Propoli with him on this, or some other civilised zebra to talk with. He looked around himself at the other soldiers that had to prove their worth after their tribe lost its honour to the Legion. Nine of them, including Zilibricus. Most of them inexperienced soldiers, send here as a scapegoats for their tribes failures. No matter, the Decanus though, they will do.

The squad had light weapons, submachine guns made by the great ancestors, and only a light armour. They were equipped only for a light skirmish into the old Equestria, but here... Decanus suspected several pony prisoners, or even a traitor to bring back... could yield him even a favour in the eyes of the centurion. Still, that was for the future to hold.

The platform arrived and the contubernium spread out from the platform, slowly advancing into the cave, taking care to be as quiet as possible. They reached the arch under which led the tunned to the other part of the cave. Decanus peeked around the corner and noticed the group, standing around a clearly non naturally made tunnel. Even better, if they could use this place as a staging camp for attacks into this area...

"Zunus, kushoto!"
"Shire, haki!"
"Wala risasi kwa amri yangu!"

Such a barbarian language, though Zilibricus, as the team behind him split into two fours and started to sneak into covers along the sides of the cavern, hoping to ambush the ponies.

(9 zebra legionaries sneaking through the cavern.
Arc Weld detects one
Lightning Flash detects six
Violet Star detects zero
Rad Boom detects one
Winter Bell detects zero
Shooting Spectrum detects one
Nova Surge detects two
)

Battlefield description
-Large, elongated, oval cavern. High ceiling, large stalactites across the whole ceiling. Pegasi can use flying. The cavern is well lit from the fluorescent lichens and fungi, enemy can see player weapons and players can see enemy weapons.
-8 zebras behind good cover, moderate range, 10AP cost to move to them for all players
-1 zebra at the entrance, far range, 15AP cost to move for all players
-Good cover around players, short range, 5AP to move to it
-Players are in front of a tunnel allowing retreat deeper into the caverns, short range, 5AP to retreat into the tunnel.

Target List
Decanus Zilibricus, far range, at the entrance to the cave, good cover, Legion Veteran Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Legionary Shire, medium range, right side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, trail carbine, unharmed

Zebra legionary 1, medium range, right side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Zebra legionary 2, medium range, right side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Zebra legionary 3, medium range, right side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Legionary Zunus, medium range, left side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, trail carbine, unharmed

Zebra legionary 4, medium range, left side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Zebra legionary 5, medium range, left side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Zebra legionary 6, medium range, left side, good cover, Legion Recruit Barding, 10mm SMG, unharmed

Lightning frowned as Arc seemed to pick up some radiation poisoning. Thankfully, they had Rad-Away. After Arc was stable again, the pegasus took a look around the cavern. He knew that he had to remain alert for any possible threats or else some cave animal or something might hit them and they would never see it coming. It was good thing too. On a quick look around, a look of dread as he could see zebras. A lot of zebras moving in around them. And they were armed. Drawing his .45 pistol instantly, he quickly yelled out, "We got enemies! Get to cover NOW!"

Lightning made a leap toward a rock, not sure where the others will go for cover but right now, he had no doubt that the zebras had heard him. Intent on making the first shot, if he wasn't hit by enemy fire already, the pegasus leaned out with his pistol and began to engage.

(Moving to cover, 5 AP)

(Drawing .45 Pistol, 4 AP)

(Dodging (if necessary), 8 AP)

(Firing .45 Pistol x2, Zebra legionary 1, 18 AP)

(Firing .45 Pistol x1, Zebra legionary 2, 9 AP)

(Total (without dodge): 36 AP used - Total (With dodge): 44 AP used)

Rad heard a sound, and turned to see a zebra sneaking into the cave, right as Flash then shouted his warning. He ducked behind some cover, although he could fly over and use his carbines to greater effect, he saw just how much ground was between them, and didn't want to fly through that much open space just yet, not until the zebras were a little more distracted at least. "First Radroaches, now this? ...Wait... Those two really don't compare..."

Rad targeted the zebra who looked to be in charge with his weapons hoping to kill him, or at least force him to cover. Regardless he'd probably at least draw his attention from everypony else.

[Moving to cover 5AP]

[Firing a burst from each assault carbine at Zilibricus 22AP Fast shot trait]

[Dodge if needed 8AP]

[Total used = 35/39AP]

Nova notices a slight shift in the atmosphere. Nova looks behind the group, catching a couple glimpses of colour, moving swiftly. Nova thought it was merely her mind playing tricks on her, until Flash called out. It was at that point that Nova spotted the two flasshes of colour she'd noted earlier, and brought her hunting rifle to point first at one, and then the other, squeezing off two of the remaining four rounds in her mag before diving behind the nearest piece of cover.

{Firing Hunting Rifle at Legionary 3 , Guns 72 , 16 AP }

{Firing Hunting Rifle at Legionary 4 , Guns 72 , 16 AP }

{Moving to Cover, Agility 11 , 5 AP }

{Dodge, if needed, 8 AP }

{Toatal AP Used: 45/45}

Spectrum didn't know what was worse, the fact that they her flight room was severely reduced, the mare having grown a dislike for things that hid the vast sky from her wings, another problem was the contents of Arc's stomach now being on public display, either it was her own fear of seeing the pile and then her stomach preforming a monkey-see-monkey-do or just the fact she subconsciously knew not to crowd the buck she kept her distance, but in doing so she probably spotted the worst of her three 'irks'.

Looking away from the group she had spotted the an off color of white in the many browns, blacks and glowing lights of the fungi and by the way he was standing he wasn't just merely trying to tell if her and her friends were hostile or not. Spectrums heart skipped a beat as she moved to nearby cover as Lightning announced the presence of many she didn't spot any others but she trusted Lightnings words in the sheer number of them.

This was a better situation than any to test Lightnings gift to her, and despite the situation of her and her friends getting shot she was happy to get a chance to try it out, Spectrum was cautious with firing the Firefly, what with having never shot off a gun that work off a battle saddle and the added on worry of fighting in an enclosed space (no matter how spacious) but the familiarity of it being an energy weapon gave Spec the confidence she needed to stay focused and operated the gun and be prepared to dodge if needed

_______________________________________________________________

______Quick Reference HUD_________
HP: 233
AP: 35
DT: 13
-- OUTFIT EFFECT: +5Melee, +5 Gun

========== ACTIONS ==============
MOVED to cover : -5ap
- - - - Agility : 7
DRAWING firefly rcpw : -4ap
SHOTS fired x 2 : -18ap
- - - - attacking Zebra Legionary 5
- - - - Energy Weap. : 50
- - - - trigger discipline +5hit
DODGE if needed x 1 :8ap
- - - - Agility : 7
- - - - Percep. : 9
TOTAL AP USED
w/o dodge - - 27ap
w/ dodge - - 35ap

Violet whirled around at Lightning’s call, eyes quickly spying the enemies in question, zebras, lots of zebras. Zebras with rather familiar armor...

‘...Aren’t these guys supposed to be in the Mahoove? What are they doing all the way out here?’

Violet pushed that question aside for now as she analyzed the situation. There were several enemies, all armed with ranged weapons and with line of site of the entire tunnel leading up to them. There was no way to flank them or sneak around to their rear, and trying to rush them to get into melee range would end...Badly...She wasn’t exactly the toughest of ponies.

She also had no way to attack them from afar, she had no guns or lasers or anything, and even if she did she wasn’t all that good with them.

So there was only one thing she could do, make a tactical retreat and let the ponies who actually have guns take care of it. Nothing else she could do besides get in the way or perform a suicidal charge.

[-5 AP to retreat into tunnel]

[4 Dodges, -32 AP]

Arc pulled himself against a stalagmite and sat. His stomach seemed to calm down a little, enough that he could keep it under control in upright position. He removed both of his weapons from his back, wanting to rest his back a little and gain back some strength.
The universe thought otherwise.

"We got enemies! Get to cover NOW!"

Arc felt his inside freeze, like someone decided to fill his chest cavity with ice. The shock passed in a moment and adrenaline rush took its place. Arc rolled oh his legs. He could feel the hard rock floor scrape his front right knee when he moved, but he barely even noticed the structure of the rock under his hooves. His eyes were already trying to spot zebras, hiding in the dimply lit cavern. One, three, seven, nine. Fuck fuck fuck... too many...

"Atri, Shade, into the tunnel, start retreating, NOW!"

(
Moving to cover, 5AP
Drawing Plasma Rifle, 4AP
Firing x2 at Zunus, 26AP
Total use 35/35AP
)

(Atriark, Winter Bell, Nigh Shade and Violet have used the tunnel to flee from the gunfight.)

===Arc, Flash, Spectrum, Nova and Rad===

As Flash yelled out in alert from the intruders, the zebras were already deployed in various covers around the cave. Spectrum, instantly with the RPCW in her hooves, fired off the first volley, hitting the nameless zebra square in the chest and giving her few ugly scabs, but the armour of the Legion managed to stop most of the beam's energy.

What followed was absolute, maddening chaos.

All of the zebras opened fire at almost the same moment, and split second later, the ponies reacted by doing the same. Zilibrucus stood in the the entrance, not caring for cover. This fearlessness was only supported when long burst of 5mm rounds from Rad's carbines miraculously missed completely. Zilibricus tightened the grip on his 10mm SMG and gave the ponies several short bursts in return, forcing them to take cover. Flash and Nova both peeked around the stalagmites they took cover behind and returned fire, both managing to successfully his their targets. Shire, seeing how his comrades got hurt, felt anger, and with utter calmness, stepped from her cover, aimed at Rad and let out two shots. Rad felt a sharp sting in his side when both of them hit and pierced his armour, etching themselves deep in his lower abdomen. Arc, seeing this, did the same. He looked out from his cover, ignored when several bullets pinged away from his chestplate and simply took aim for the smirking Zunus. The shots from his plasma rifle to her chest made sure she would lose that smile for a while.

As suden as the barrage started, it paused in the same fashion. Several zebras moaned in pain, and the pony side of the cavern was none better. Arc came out only with dents in his armour, and Flash and Nova had several grazes. However, Rad and Spectrum seemed in much worse state, Rad bleeding and visibly clutching his wound, and Spectrum had two 10mm bullet hits in her chest, causing her great pain and profuse bleeding.


Results:
Arc: 245/245HP
Nova: 158/185HP
Rad: 124/234HP
Flash: 241/277HP
Spectrum: 136/233HP

Zilibricus: Unhurt
Zunus: Wounded
Shire: Unhurt
Legionary 1: Wounded
Legionary 2: Lightly wounded
Legionary 3: Lightly wounded
Legionary 4: Wounded
Legionary 5: Unhurt
Legionary 6: Unhurt

===Winter, Violet, Atriark and Shade===

For few moments, all they could see was total darkness of the tunnel, their hoof beats mixing with the sound of fierce gunfire behind them. Then they saw dim light, and as they galloped to it, it let them see they were running towards the end, the tunnel flushing them into a large, square room, built from the same grey and murky green slabs that the tunnel was made of.

The room was large, large enough to fit whole Stableton's common building. Across from the entrance was an elevated balcony spanning across the whole wall, lined with a massive bannister. The only entrance into it seemed to be from a door on it's one side. In the middle of the room was a large, circular well, with low wall around it. The winch was gone now, as was the axis of it, only thing implying it's presence were two stone pillars with holes in them. Above them was the source of the illumination for the room, a milky white crystal set into the ceiling, a small blue mote of light still dancing in it. In the left and right walls were large, double sided wooden doors, most of their mass rotten away by the time, only thing holding them in their hinges were several metal bolts that slowly faded by rusting as well.

The air felt damp and cold, even colder than in the cavern. Echoes of the gunfire could still be heard, occasionally sliced through by a sound of an energy weapon going off.

Lightning was already past deciding if he was going to kill these zebras or not. He knew these zebras' history. To a point. His travels in the Mahoove taught him that much at least. Putting the zebras in his sights, his shots were well aimed, a testament to the constant training and discipline the pegasus exercised. However, despite the enemies he hit, they were also taking casualties on their side. Rad Boom was hit and then...no...Spectrum was just hit!

An anger would soon rise up within the stallion and a new fire began to burn within his eyes. If the zebras weren't dead already, they are going to be dead now. Dropping his .45 pistol, Lightning drew his sniper rifle. It was now time to bring out the big guns. Yelling, he unfolded the bipod and set it down, aiming around the stalagmites, "Keep Spectrum and Rad behind cover!" He put another zebra in his sights and quickly ranked them in the order that he was going to shoot them in. Time for their mistake to be paid in blood.

(Drawing Sniper Rifle, 4 AP)

(Firing Sniper Rifle x2, Zebra legionary 5, 26 AP)

(Firing Sniper Rifle x1, Zebra legionary 6, 13 AP)

(Total : 43/45 AP)

Rad had fired at the leader, and his bullets seemed to just... Miss... He immediately blamed his gun and it's curse. Once more trying to get him killed, he snapped his head round to look at the offending weapon "Really! Your doin this sti-" His reprimand of his gun had barely started when it felt like a pair of spiked sledgehammers had slammed into his side as the two powerful rounds hit, knocking him to the floor with a loud yelp of pain. He lay on the floor for a moment, feeling his blood running down his body, alongside the intense pain both at the wound, and inside his body, that alone told him those two bullets had done some serious damage.

Perhaps it was the amount of pain he was in, or maybe something had snapped, but the next thing Rad did was just... Laugh... Not loudly, mostly just to himself, but apparently the pegasi's brain had decided that of all things, the current situation was just... Funny. He just laughed for a moment before once more settling his gaze on the weapon known as Ol' Unreliable. "I guess ya win eh? Ya finally did it... I wonder how many others can say they got killed by a gun that didn't even attack em." Rad had pretty much resigned himself to the fact that he was going to die here. He could feel his life pouring out of the two holes in his side along with the precious red liquid that was his blood.

"I may be down... But the hay am I Out!!" He shouted, the pegasus had no intention of just lying down and dying, so using the rock he was near as support, he hauled himself to his hooves and... Fell back down again. Though the second attempt at standing was more successful. Rad forced himself to ignore as much of the pain as possible, and tried to ignore the fact that a fair portion of his steel grey side was now stained red with blood. He flexed his wings, finding nothing wrong there at least. Rad looked across the cave at where the zebras were. "That all ya got!?" He shouted, staggering as he did so and needing to support himself against the rock. He reckoned he could perhaps make it over there on his wings, maybe beat a few of them to death with his power hooves before he finally succumbed to his wounds. Of course anypony with half a brain could tell that the green maned pegasus was in no way thinking right as he waited for the right moment behind the safety of the rock.

Arc ducked behind the large stalagmite after his two counter shots, expecting another swarm of bullets heading in his direction. Several sharp ping noises from the other side of the rock told him he was right in this prediction.

Since the fire was keeping him currently pinned behind the cover, Arc looked to his sides at his companions. Flash seemed to be rather okay, few grazing wounds but nothing serious. Nova was seemingly fine too, or at least managed to hide it well. Spec and Rad were... not so well. Rad had an ugly wound on his side, and the spreading red spot on his side showed how bad it was. That, and the delirious yells. Spec's was just silently huffing, sticking to her cover and trying to get few moments of respite.

This was utterly hopeless, the zebras were not letting down and they HAD to get Rad to safety. Oh well... was bound to happen someday, wasn't it...

"Nova, Spec! Pull Rad out of here, through the tunnel! Find Winter! Flash, we cover them, then follow!" barked Arc orders.

He risen from his cover, the plasma rifle pointed at the zebras, intent on providing cover for the retreat.

"NOW! RUN!"

(
Drawing RPCW, 4AP
Firing x3 at random zebra, 27AP
Total use 31/35AP
Using Combat Coordinator for Rad, Nova, Spec if they get lower than mine Initiative Roll
)

Nova looked to Arc after he yelled out, her attention now away from the battle as she nodded, only then noticing Rad's predicament. Nova slipped out of her cover, hopefully avoiding any fire as she moved to grip Rad with a wing, gesturing to Spec to get ready to retreat back. Nova moved herself back slowly, hopefully with Rad alongside her, as she grew closer and closer to the tunnels and Spec.

Nova looked sternly to Arc and Flash as she was escorting the two back towards Winter.

"No last stands you two. If you're not back there with us, then I'm coming back out here."

Spectrum for the second time in two days was wounded beyond belief and n imaginable pain But the pain that was worse was her own mind taking lashes at her. Either it be her irresponsibility or misjudgment but it all came down to the same of her own feelings of letting down her team members, she started to believe that she should have stayed back in Stableton she couldn't even remember why she had come out in the first place nor better yet if she ever could be of any help. But a voice rang out and pierced through everything, the voice of Arc, but it wasn't his voice that was what broke her of her stupor. It was what he was ordering herself and nova to do. Looking around she spotted Rad in the air paying mind to stay behind cover. And that's when Spectrum realized, a hoof would always be needed if nothing more than to help one another out, shortcomings will always be a thing and that is why they stood together as one. So with a new found determination Spectrum took a deep breath, knowing the pain she was going to be in and shot in the air summoning all her agility as a flyer to fly over to rad grab his other wing a swift nod at Nova as she gritted her teeth against the pain as they made their way to the tunnel.

______Quick Reference HUD_________
HP: 136/233HP
AP: 36
DT: 13
-- OUTFIT EFFECT: +5Melee, +5 Gun

========== ACTIONS ==============
MOVED to get Rad: -5ap
- - - - Agility : 7
- - - - Perception: 9 (Watching out for bullets)
MOVED to get her and Rad into the Tunnel: -10ap
- - - - Agility
DODGE if needed x 2 : 16
TOTAL AP USED : 31ap (5leftover)

Rad was just about ready to take on all the zebras, he felt like he was dying, which was probably understandable with the amount of blood pouring out of the grievous wounds in his side. His coat had become matted with enough blood that it had stopped soaking in and was just running off onto the floor beneath him. So in his mind it was either sit and die, or try take some of the zebras with him... Until Arc mentioned retreating to where Winter could help him, an idea which somehow hadn't occurred to the pegasus, but made a lot more sense than getting himself killed. So when first Nova, and then Spectrum came to drag him away from the fight he walked with the two as best he could, not saying anything as a slight dizzyness took over and stumbling occasionally as his legs felt weaker.

[5AP to get outta there]

===Flash, Arc, Nova, Spec and Rad===
The winged one's sudden brave and fearless reaction stopped the zebra assault for a while. None of them expected such ferocity in battle from a pony, to just jump into the fire.

Arc cursed inside his head when he saw Rad just stand in the way of bullets. His horn glowed with crimson red tinted magic and wrapped around Rad's tail and forcibly janked him back, landing him near Nova and Spectrum. (Arc used Combat Coordinator.)

The zebras woke up from their stupor and started to return fire again, several bullets pinging off Arc armour. Next burst came for Flash, and this time it managed to penetrate, the bullets causing him several light wounds, being considerably slowed by his armour.

Behind them, Nova and Spec managed to get a hold of Rad and started to pull him into the tunnel, keeping low to stay in cover. Still, two legionaries noticed them retreating, and sent several short streams of lead their way. Most of them managed to miss, but several headed true for Nova. The nimble pegasus managed to almost unnaturally quickly move to the side, the bullets soaring through the space she occupied split second earlier. The lead sparked as it hit the stonework and ricocheted back into the cave, and soon enough, several accented moans filled with pain were heard.

Zunus saw how her comrade got hoisted by his own shots, and rose up to show them how it gets done, taking aim for that annoying, loud unicorn on the other side. Arc's eyes grew wide, followed by a yelp of pain, as three spikes of pain got driven into his right front shoulder and leg. The limb suddenly felt full of pain, every move moving the bullets inside, pinching them against the live tissue.

At the same time, Zilibricus dared to look out of his cover again, and seeing how her subordinate targeted the unicorn, he decided to take care of the pegasus. Three presses of the 10mm SMG's trigger later, he fell back into the cover, a smug smile on his face. The pegasus certainly felt this one, his body hit with good six shots, three of them managing to puncture Flash's armour and etching themselves inside his chest.

By this time, Arc managed to wrench the pain at least partially under his control. He unslung the RPCW from his back and floated it over his cover, spraying it wildly to force the zebras to take cover and let the three escape. To his surprise, a loud scream was heard as one of the prism bursts managed to catch one legionary into his face and painfully burn him with the beams.

Flash took a deep breath and ignored the pain that erupted through his chest when he inhaled. His rifle came out and all he saw was it and his targets. He softly squeezed the trigger once. The zebra spasmed a little when the shot his its leg, through the scope he could see how it's expression changed with surprise. He squeezed the trigger second time ad his his other leg, the kinetic kick of the round forcing the zebra down. He squeezed the trigger third time, and his other target suddenly looked very surprised when he felt how the bullet entered his chest cavity.


Results:
Arc: 190/265HP, lost 75HP
Nova: 158/185HP
Rad: 124/234HP
Flash: 178/277HP, lost 63HP
Spectrum: 136/233HP

Zilibricus: Unhurt
Zunus: Wounded
Shire: Unhurt
Legionary 1: Wounded
Legionary 2: Lightly wounded
Legionary 3: Heavily wounded
Legionary 4: Wounded
Legionary 5: Heavily wounded
Legionary 6: Wounded

-Nova, Rad and Spectrum managed to successfully retreat and now entered the antechamber where Winter, Atriark, Violet and Shade are.

===Status===
Arc: 190/265HP
Nova: 158/185HP
Rad: 124/234HP
Flash: 178/277HP
Spectrum: 136/233HP
Winter: 235/235HP
Violet: 185/185HP

-Arc and Flash are in the cave, fighting zebras
-Rest of the group is in the room behind the tunnel

Inventory:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ah47zjKU7ksddC02ckFVY1p5NHhtQ1pSS1FQRm9TWnc&pli=1#gid=0

(Winter Bell can access Atriark's inventory due to her being the only medic/doctor.)

Lightning winced visibly as 10mm bullets pierced his chest and pain rose into his mind. The pegasus knew that it was time to retreat since they were greatly outnumbered now but the pegasus really wanted to reduce the enemy force even if it was simply by a little. He already had two targets in mind seeing how badly wounded they were through his scope. Glancing away to simply look at Arc for a second, he yelled out, "Arc! Retreat into the tunnel! I'll cover you!"

The pegasus knew that Spectrum, Rad, and Nova were now out and he silently hoped that the injuries Rad and Spec sustained weren't life-threatening. Putting the zebras back into his crosshairs, Lightning muttered a small curse before pulling the trigger. With his bullets flying, the pegasus would pick up his dropped .45 and holster it before running for the tunnel once Arc had made it through.

(Firing Sniper Rifle x1, Zebra legionary 3, 13 AP)

(Firing Sniper Rifle x1, Zebra legionary 5, 13 AP)

(Firing Sniper Rifle x1, Zebra legionary 6, 13 AP)

(Retreating into the tunnel, 5 AP)

(Total : 44/45 AP)

Winter quickly rushed over to Rad as she saw him limp into the room. With her magic she pulled her combat medic satchel from her side, opening it as she instantly got to work. "It's ok Rad, you're going to be fine. Nova, Spectrum lay him on his side and if you could keep his head up for me it would help me allot" she said as she took out some tweezers and a medium healing potion. She waited for the two Pegasi mares to ease Rad to his side before getting to work.

There was no way to avoid hurting him without giving him a dose of Med-X or putting him under with an Anesthetic spell, both of which weren't appealing given their situation. She thought quickly before taking out a small wooden stick that seemed void of any purpose other then to be a smooth small stick. "Nova" she said, looking to the stripped Pegasus, "Put this in his mouth, he's going to need to bite down on it" she said with a grim expression. She took a small amount of the healing potion and dipped the tweezers into it. Hopefully it would take out allot of the pain.

After Rad was biting down on the stick, she got to work as she eased the tweezers into the wounds, picking out all of the pullet shrapnel she could find. She worked steadily and with practiced perfection as she concentrated on getting all the pieces while making sure she made tony movements to reduce the pain to Rad. Eventually she had gotten it all and after she wrapped the Tweezers in a cloth and placed them back in her medical bag she took the rest of the healing potion and fed it into Rads mouth, the holes slowly knitting themselves up as they healed him.


(Medicine: 100 = 50 + Potion = +150 points healed. Combat Medic Perk)

Nova helped Rad down the tunnel until they eventually found Winter. Nova looked back as she could still hear gunshots, debating going back to help the fight, but knew that Rad needed her help more right now. Nova nodded to Winter before moving Rad into the position with Spectrum's help. As Winter passed her the piece of wood, Nova nodded seriously and looked to Rad.

"Alright Rad, this is to bite down on." Nova reaffirmed before placing it in his mouth, smiling reassuringly. "If it helps, imagine it's the leg of one of those zebras who shot you."

Nova nodded to Winter when Rad was ready, staying by his head and holding it up for him, ignoring the few scrapes she'd picked up herself.

Arc fell behind the rock again to take cover. He managed to glimpse two pony flanks with a dumbfounded Rad dragged between them vanish into the darkness. Good, that's one part finished. Now to us, he thought.

A wave of pain shot through his right front leg when he hit the rock with his back, the damaged limb protesting against such treatment. His left hoof grabbed the shoulder and pressed on it, trying to at least stop the tissue from giving the wet, disgusting pulsating sensation of a shred tissue. Arc screamed out in pain, though the sound of it got lost in the other screams and rattling of guns.

Nevertheless, they had to pull back now, or probably get killed. Or probably worse, though Arc knew little on how these zebras dealt with their prisoners.

Arc shifted around to lie on his belly behind the cover, getting ready to dash into the tunnel. He hissed in pain again when he tried to put weight on his leg. The leg gave in and Arc collapsed on the floor. Oh well, guess you're running away on three legs only then. Changes little.

"Flash! Going!" yelled out Arc. Trying to gallop with only three functioning legs proved to be a challenging task, but Arc still pulled out a considerable speed, despite having to also balance two weapons in his telekinetical grasp.

(
Retreating, 5AP
Firing RPCW at random zebra, 9AP
Firing Plasma Rifle at random zebra, 13AP
Dodge, 8AP
Used 35/35AP
)

===Arc and Flash===
Arc quickly stammered towards the safe haven of the darkness inside the tunnel. The two weapons floating behind him continued to fire, but with the pain in his crippled leg and having to watch the terrain in front of him, the shots were poorly aimed and managed to hit nothing.

Zunus stood up and tried to hit the escaping pony, finding the crippled equine to be an easy target. Or at least so he though, his three bullets managing to miss.

Flash saw Arc leave the battlefield and rose up to put out several more shots to cover his own retreat. One again, he found his first target and pressed the trigger. The recoil lightly jerker the rifle, and flash could see how the zebra he just hit collapsed on the floor, shoving no perceivable life signs. The second shot, aiming for the other badly hurt zebra went just as well, putting the other combatant down. Flash slightly grinned and took aim for his last choice of target. He could watch how the zebra looked at him with shock in his eyes, how his expression grew more and more panicked when he realized the bullet would come straight in between his eyes. Flash squeezed the trigger.

"Click."

The weapon did nothing, the magazine was empty. Flash cursed and galloped away into the darkness, the zebras sending few last poorly aimed bursts to chase him, but none hit.

Zilibricus frowned. The ponies pulled back into the caves, and even though the seemed to take quite a few wounds, he had two of his own slowly dying on the floor, rest of his squad trying to stabilize them with what medicine they had. This was getting far too costly for him.

He dashed behind the blue pegasus that disappeared into the dark void of the tunnel. He was no fool, and knew that by now, the ponies would be waiting for them. He had no intention to fight with them ambush by ambush. The metal apple pin made a soft clink as it fell on the cavern floor.


-Arc and Flash leave the scene
-Arc has 190/265HP
-Flash has 178/277HP

===Nova, Spectrum, Rad, Winter, Violet===
-Rad Boom regains 150 HP, now has 234/234HP
-Spectrum has 136/233 HP
-Nova has 158/185HP
-Violet and Winter are at full health

As Rad's operation got finished and the steel grey pegasus rested after having to suffer through so much pain, Winter turned her attention to Spectrum.

A mild shockwave came from inside the tunnel, shaking everyone in the room. The sudden pressure was too much for the door on the left side of the room and they literally fell apart, the rusted through bolts turning to small flecks of rust red metal, revealing another room to the left.

BOOM!

Few seconds after the shockwave came a cloud of dust that completely filled the room, making everyone inside cough and close their eyes from the irritation.

When the dust settled, it was apparent what happened, the tunnel collapsed and locked everyone inside for now. There was no sign of Arc or Flash having outrun the explosion.

On the other hoof, it was now revealed that the room on the left housed several rock benches and tables in the middle of it. Opposite of the entrance door to the room was another, smaller, wooden door, again rusted and rotted by the passage of time. The room had several coffins, weapon and armour racks and cupboards placed along the wall, and at the far end of the room was another set of doors, this time carved out of rock, making them seemingly very heavy. The general look of the room was the one of a guardhouse, being station close to an entrance.


-The tunnel collapsed, and the door on the left fell apart

===Arc and Flash===
Arc and Flash wake up some time later in complete darkness, both feeling their whole body in pain, bruised. Both of them can feel water running on the floor, though only a very shallow flow. The floor is made out of stone slabs, slippery from the layer of slime and lichen the water carried there over the time. The air has a very distinct odour of sewers, cold, damp air, with the smell of rot.

Lightning mentally whipped himself for not counting his bullets. He should have known better time to realize that he had no bullets left in his gun. Either way, he took off and made a run back through the tunnel after Arc. The stallion could hear bullets hitting the walls around him but somehow, none of the bullets actually hit him. Lucky pony, he assumed. Or...not.

The next thing Lightning knew, a loud explosion rang into his ear, his world turning completely dark afterwards. In a span of what felt like seconds to the pegasus, he would open his eyes to see the world around him completely dark. There was some water on the ground and his body was in pain. Letting out a light groan, the blue pegasus flicked on his Pipbuck light to catch the sight of Arc nearby, out as well. "Arc...Arc! Wake up..."

(Perception 5, checking out surroundings)

"Arc...Arc! Wake up..."

Arc did not wanted to wake up. He felt how right side of his body was cold and drenched from the water running under him. The numbness from the cold was suddenly sliced apart with a sharp blade of pain when his right front shoulder flared up. Arc cried out in pain.

Arc slightly panicked, being cold, pained and in stinking darkness. He tried to hit the light button on his pip-buck with his nose, but it he just did not managed to twist his left front hoof enough for him to reach. Few moments later, he gave up and fell limp in the water again, his body giving up on him and starting to shiver and tremble from the shock. Not registering Flash behind him, he started to silently groan, "Help... please, anypony... help..."

===Arc and Flash===
Flash can see that both of them got landed in a low tunnel. Water is running on the floor, high up to roughly a pony's fetlock. Against the current of the water the tunnel is long enough to disappear in the darkness again, with the flow is a T junction. One of the paths is blocked by the caved in tunnel, the other is open.

It seemed they got flushed out into the sewers.


Map:

Violet’s eyes widened as the tunnel collapsed, eyelids quickly squeezing shutting as a wave of dust flew into her. Once she was sure the tunnel was stable, she galloped through the dust and right up to the collapsed portion of the tunnel, and her eyes started blazing brightly under her shut lids, gazing right through them and trying to pierce the mass of rubble in front of her, to no avail. The rubble was simply too thick, and that didn’t give much hope that they could dig through it.

Arc and Light never came back through the tunnel.

“Ooh...This isn’t good...At all...” the filly muttered to herself. Either the two were dead, or they were trapped in some way. Either wasn’t good, and she had no idea how they’d get to them if they were just trapped. Plus if they were trapped, they may be trapped with the zebras...

There was literally nothing they could do though about it, none of them were Diamond Dogs. The most they could hope is that they are alive, and they can backtrack their way to them somehow.

And that the zebras didn’t get them first.

This evaluation taking little time for the filly to think up, she stepped back towards the others just as the dust began to settle, shaking her head.

She gazed past them and looked towards where she heard the loud thumping noise at the left side of the room, and seeing on the edge of her vision the shape of a collapsed door and an open entranceway. Might as well start looking for something there, such as tools or a map, maybe even another way back towards the tunnels behind them. At the very least she wanted to see if there was any sign that the two could be alive.

“I’m going to check over there guys.” she told the others as she pointed a hoof at the collapsed door. “Might be something useful in that room, maybe something to help find Arcy and Light if they someone avoided all those rocks.”

Drawing her knife, just in case, the filly started trotting towards the door, her faithful lizard friend following her. Entering the ‘Guardhouse’, she looked around at the various racks and cupboards, as well as the stone doors. Ignoring the doors for now, she could check those later, she sheathed her knife, seeing no hostiles to worry about, and started walking around the room and checking the racks and cupboards for anything useful, not even having to open the latter to check, this close she could just look through the cupboard doors and skip the ‘Open them and be disappointed that they’re empty’ step.

[Check the Guardhouse Room for anything useful]