The Artemis Protocol [LazyKitsune]

[Lorielle]

Huntress Squadron

Squad Leader Huntress-1
Name: Katerin
Age: 26
Stats:
HP: 10
WP: 5
Physical: 2
Aim: 2
Smarts: 3
Will: 1

Traits:
Infiltrator: Expert at keeping a low profile, at the start of combat Katerin cannot be targeted
Inflexible: Katerin is slow to adapt to changing situations, -2 to will against panic
Brainwashing: 0%

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Huntress-2
Name: Cynthia Vanderbelt
Age: 22
Stats: 8 points 2 is average
HP: 10
WP: 10
Physical: 2
Aim: 3
Smarts: 1
Will: 2

Traits:
Crackshot: If she hasnt been targeted for a turn Cynthia gets a +1 to her damage on her next shoot roll
Luddite: Refuses to perform any smarts related tasks -2 smarts if forced to perform them, +1 to resisting brainwashing/grapple attempts from machines
Brainwashing: 0%

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Huntress-3
Name: Ashley Becker
Age: 26
Stats:
HP: 5
WP: 10
Physical: 1
Aim: 3
Smarts: 2
Will: 2

Traits:
Slippery: Ashley is adept at removing restraints and escaping grapples +2 Physical when getting out of physical restraints or grapples
Overconfident: +1 to all stats when WP is at max -2 to all stats when below half WP
Brainwashing: 0%

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Huntress-4
Name: Carmen Wittman
Age: 24
Stats:
HP: 15
WP: 10
Physical: 3
Aim: 1
Smarts: 2
Will: 2

Traits:
Linebacker: Carmen is more than capable of holding her own in a fistfight +1 physical when engaging in any melee combat
Easy Going: While less likely to panic Carmen is more easily taken by convincing arguments and subtle subversion: +1 to resisting panic -1 to to resisting brainwashing or deception

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

It all happened so suddenly. Just as the world was more divided than ever a mysterious mist descended upon the world. Scientists were perplexed, the mist encompassed whole nations within days but left come the next morning, burning away with the morning sun. This freak phenomena might have gone down in history as a perplexing weather event... if it was for the fact that it came back, and stronger than ever. Showing up in the night and vanishing in the morning, even as more reports of these mist events occurred no one cared, or they were misled into not caring. In fact world governments scrambled to figure out the source when finally a British team figured out, strange electromagnetic signatures within the mist showed something resembling a disk. In a moment everything humanity knew about the universe was shattered. Humanity wasnt alone and what was worse, these extraterrestrial visitors seemed to have deployed something even more sinister within the mist.

As well as concealing their movements the mist seemed to be some sort of gas that seemed to affect men quite adversely, the lucky ones were left infertile. The unlucky ones.. they seemed to simply perished, leaving whole villages and towns devoid of their men. Stranger yet was its effect on women some eye witness accounts reported women simply walking out into the street a dazed look on their faces, but at least werent worse for fair. Other women in these communities seemingly unaffected were interrogated, revealing that they felt a strange tingling wash over them, something reaching out to their minds, the warmth, and a few even described a certain pleasure came from within the mist. A few women who didnt disappear into the fading mist and recovered by various government agents were able to be roused from their strange dazed state. Though testing and interrogation showed that exposure to the mist seemed to have some sort of lingering effect that dissipated with time.

The mist attacks seemed to strike continuously over the course of a year, decimating major population centers and causing world governments to scramble for some sort of solution. Those with the most forethought knew that there peace will only come in one of two ways. Humanity banded together and fought off the threat, or Humanity submits to these invaders. This was the start of the Artemis Protocol, after a year of bombardments and mist attacks the Protocol agents were finally ready to deploy. Bunkers, outposts, and cryogenic facilities to protect the few remaining fertile men left in the world have been built and staffed. The major powers of the US, UK, Russia, China and Japan, France, and Greece have a tenuous alliance to maintain the Artemis Protocol and more nations need to be brought into the fold, but humanity's front is splintered with extremist factions appearing all over.

For now though your squad has been deployed to an empty and car littered street in New York devoid of life, a pocket of survivors was spotted here along with a cache of hidden weapons needed to get a leg up. The invasion is starting, the aliens are starting to land their ships and taking a direct hand in conquering the Earth and the Artemis Protocol is the last line of defense.

"This is Firebrand the package has reached the AO, good luck out there Huntress 1-4" The feminine radio chatter winks out as the helicopter blades whir and the large black transport copter moves into its observation range and begins to circle around to provide support. Your squad mates do last minute checks of their weapons and gear before turning to your. Huntress-2 locking eyes with you.

"On you Huntress-1" Cynthia says as she turns her weapon to fan out for the empty alleyway. Scouting reports said enemy activity was light, but caution was advised regardless. A rolling cloud of the mist was spotted a few hours out, hopefully you and your team would be able to recover the people and secure the cache well in front of the mist front.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Carmen and Ashley had almost missed the call to depart for the mission, keeping each other occupied in one of the storage cupboards. Carmen's easy going nature had left her putty in the more cocky and assertive Ashley's hands before she even knew it. With Carmen's long time boyfriend kept secure in cryostasis, the loneliness left a window for Ashley to swoop in and help distract her new squad mate. All it took was a few weeks of flirty banter that gradually edged up to more forward seduction, coupled with weekends of plying Carmen with drinks, to have the dark skinned beauty happily putting her full lips to work between Ashley's legs, blissfully forgetting all about her popsicle boyfriend.

Carmen was hardly the only girl at the base Ashley was working her charms on, or even the only one those charms had succeeded on. With most men out of the picture, a lot of these 'straight' girls were finding out they weren't so straight after all. It helped that Ashley kept these ladies from knowing about each other, leaving her with a dedicated handful of booty calls at the base. A strategy that was working out perfectly for her right now as she had Carmen on her knees, slurping away eagerly with her tongue deep in her pussy. With the younger soldier distracted, Ashley flicked through her messages on her phone. Nudes from one of the mechanics, one of the medical staff asking to schedule another 'check up', a woman from resource management confessing she wanted to end things with her husband when he thaws so she can be with Ashley more openly. Probably best not to let that last one find out she was making moves on her daughter too.

Grinning and biting her lip, Ashley angled her phone for a photograph, keeping Carmen's head out of the frame. Capturing her naked, sweaty chest and arm sliding down between her legs, it looked like she was playing with herself as long as she kept her hand in Carmen's hair out of the shot. She took a photo and captured it "thinking of u", before sending a copy off to each of the women she was seeing on the side. She rolls her hips across Carmen's face, muffling her moans with pursed lips. She glances down, seeing Carmen's eyes fluttering open and gazing up at Ashley. Setting her phone to the side, she gripped Carmen's head with both hands and humped her lips harder, really grinding her clit against Carmen's upper lip. "That's it... yeah... almost there..." she mutters out, closing her eyes as she relishes the pleasure.

Carmen for her part has her nose pressed against the faint bristles of Ashley's recently shaved bush, her hands reaching around to grip onto Ash's ass cheeks, giving them groping squeezes as she uses them for purchase. Her tongue was pushing into the wet folds pressed against her lips, making the most of its flexibility to arch itself to lash against the other woman's g-spot. As Ashley's moans grew louder, Carmen's cheeks and chin were already coated with Ash's juices, some of the sweet spray even dripping onto her tits or dribbling down her neck. Then the flood hit, coating Carmen's tongue with Ashley's taste. She lapped it all up eagerly, as she had grown accustomed to doing these past couple of weeks. She used to always spit out her boyfriend's cum the few times she sucked him off, but the taste of Ashley was so much sweeter, she felt like she couldn't get enough of it.

"Good girl." Ashley purred, pulling Carmen's head away from her pussy so she could catch her breath. She cupped her chin and pressed her thumb in her mouth and onto her tongue. "I think you've earned your reward, don't you?"

Ashley pulled Carmen to her feet by her hair and pulled her into a heated kiss. Their bodies pressed together as Carmen, despite being stronger than Ashley, found herself pressed against the back wall of the storage room. Various loose items tumbled off the nearby shelves and onto the ground as Ashley's fingers worked their way knuckle deep into the rookie's wet and needy cunt. Ashley left her mark with a faint bite on Carmine's lower neck before the two women began to rock each other's worlds.

---

Not all members of Huntress Squad were quite so carnal in the moments leading up to the mission alert. Katerin had gone into the cryo bunkers, where she sat, arms folded over her knees, before a frozen figure kept safe in one of the many containment chambers.

"Seems I'm in charge of the team..." she murmured, her fingers fidgeting with something folded between her hands. "We've been through more practice exercises then I can count, but its a whole different ballgame from what I'm used to." She smirks and glances up towards the cryopod. "You'd like my team. Wittman's got that homerun swing you'd always hoped I'd get, Becker has the same taste in whiskey as you and Vanderbelt would sooner kick a radio to get it working again then actually figure out how to fix the damn thing. None of them served professionally before now, but they've all taken to the project in top form. Somehow I'm the only one that feels out of her depth, despite all the training you gave me."

She gets to her feet, unfolding the photograph in her hands, ten years old and waring at the edges, but the memories are vivid all the same. She sets it down by the base of the cryopod and wipes a tear from her eye. "I'll make things right again. Just stopping by before the mission to tell you I love you. I know you can't hear me in there, but... I'll see you again, you can count on it."

Silently she turns and departs, making her way to the armoury before the call comes through.

---

"How old are you?"

Cynthia frowned at the bartender, a tired sigh flaring her nostrils. "Twenty two. Same age as I was yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that."

The bartender scoffs. "You don't look twenty two. You look like you should be sending of college applications."

"You don't look like an idiot. Guess we're both more than meets the eye. Look, I'm not even here for anything alcoholic this time. I'm about to go into a mission, just need something for my thirst."

The bartender rolls her eyes and waves her hand. "Sure, sure. What will you be having then, little miss mature."

Cynthia's frown deepens. "Apple juice. And make it snappy."

---

Once boots hit the ground, the four women begin heading forward, fingers curling tensely around their firearms. "Survivors were spotted up north. We need to make contact and begin evacuation. Eyes peeled, E.T.s confirmed in the area. Vanderbelt, you took point. Wittman, cover the left, Becker you take up the rear."

"Guess I'll be watching your rear." Ashley whispers to Carmen with a smirk and quick swat to her rear. Carmen smirks back, but elbows her lightly. "Focus now, hot stuff."

Katerin sets the pace of Huntress Squad, beginning to move through the deserted streets of New York.

[Lorielle]

Each of the women fan out as per Katerin's instructions, moving with an untested and academic approach to the situation. The year's worth of military training mustering in the faces of each of operatives as they all began to stride along their route towards the location of survivors. Luckily New York was a lot easier to navigate when it wasnt littered with people and hoarse with the sounds of car engines, but this only gave the tall buildings, alleyways and narrow streets an eeriness to them. Any one of these buildings could be an ambush waiting to happen, but preliminary reports at least suggest these alien "scouts" were too curious for their own good. Wandering about the streets and hoping to stumble into whatever they could grab for their extraterrestrial masters.

Vanderbelt Scouting: 16
Vs ??? Stealth: 5

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Vanderbelt's eyes spot movement in the distance as the squad progresses down the street about halfway to the rendezvous with the survivors. A large incomplete skeleton of a skyscraper looming over the squad was supposed to be the supposed location of the survivors, but Command didnt want to land a squad directly on the building in case of a trap.

---

A trio of the stubby grey aliens skittered about, communicating to one another about their findings. These "domiciles" they were scurrying about were impossible to inspect via their ship computers; pollution, building density, and other factors were obscuring their sensor readings. The extremely large towers seemed unpowered as well and the use of the sapien lifts were unavailable. They chattered amongst themselves about their frustrations and what to do about it all. They knew they were close to some life for readings but couldnt figure where it was, and requisitioning another Mist strike for some stragglers was going to land them into some trouble. They hadn't even found some concubines to claim from this mission, one of the trio mentioned how they were shorted on the assignments list as another scouting party landed in a location seemingly surrounded by rolling hills with domiciles a tenth the size and claimed essentially 20 of the female sapiens between the crew of scouts before sending the an extraction beacon to come and claim the rest of the populace.

Soon one of the three skittered about potentially returning to their ship to do another fly over as their feet was hurting from walking around on the rough terrain.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Cynthia felt her breath catching as she took the lead. There was something unshakeably unsettling about seeing New York like this. So utterly devoid of movement and life, it felt like even the air stood still, sticking to her body with every step she took. All the other members felt it too. Something crawling up their spine, seeing one of the largest cities on the planet left so utterly empty, a silent monument to humanities lost greatness.

Then she saw it. Movement, up ahead, between the squad and the objective. She held her hand up and the squad stopped, except for Katerin who silently approached Cynthia. "I see three hostiles." she whispered, signalling their location to Katerin.

"Well spotted." Katerin replied, and began signalling to the rest of the team. They split into pairs, using the vehicular maze left behind by the traffic of the day New York fell as cover as they made their approach. Ashley and Carmen kept their heads low, keeping to the left. As they neared the intersection that the alien forces were making their way through, they held still, waiting for the enemy to draw near, and hopefully past them as well.

Cynthia and Katerin went to the right, making their way over to a construction truck that was presumably once intended for use at the very skyscraper that the survivors were supposedly held up in. As quietly as the two could, they clambered onto the truck, using it as an elevated position. Katerin signalled for Cynthia to wait for the aliens to draw closer, then once they were nearby, the two of them were to open fire and draw them in this direction, at which point Ashley and Carmen were to open fire on the aliens from behind.

[Lorielle]

Katerin issues out the orders and gets an affirmative from each of the women as they split up into pairs, maneuvering their way through the metal mouse trap that surrounded them on all sides. The tension rose higher as each of them women knew just what was at stake. It was their first real encounter with the enemy.. and they were just.. sitting there. But the tension reached its boiling point when Katerin and Cynthia clambered atop a rusting construction truck, getting a decent amount of elevation above the aliens.

Huntress Stealth: 16, 8
Alien Perception: Nat 1

From this vantage point it was easier to fire above the cars, though their small stature still meant they could dip in and out of cover as they wished, this ambush was going to be the squad's best chance to nail them.

---

The trio of scouts continued to chitter amongst the three of them. While they were capable of speaking to one another telepathically they found the act of speech relieving from the constant need to shunt words into the minds of their comrades like their superiors would. But as they were speaking one of the three decides that now is the best time for a break as it sits down on the slightly warm asphalt in the middle of the street and removes its weapon from its wrist dropping it down in front of them. It began to roll its arm around as the weight is let off it's arm seemingly letting off some sort of sigh of relief as it does. The other two chide the third, but more only to remind him of protocol rather than to really reprimand him for anything.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Ashley and Carmen felt their breath cling to their throats as the aliens approached their position. They stayed low, but ready to act at a moments notice as Cynthia and Katerin quietly moved into position. The truck creaked under their shifting weight, but it seemed to be quieter than the winds whistling through these tall buildings and the low squeaks of long unused machinery and structures around them. It helped that the creatures seemed distracted.

More than distracted, with one dropping to the floor, completely off its guard. No human mind could comprehend the thoughts of these unknowable aliens, whatever strange motive it had for placing itself so still on the spot was beyond Cynthia and Katerin's capabilities to even guess at. For a frightful moment, they thought it was a sign they had been spotted, or perhaps the alien was preparing something equally dangerous. Whatever nefarious purpose it had, staying still provided the perfect opportunity to spring the ambush as the other creatures gathered around their static companion, chittering away at it. The signal was given from Katerin and the two of them opened fire.

Ashley and Carmen waited for the aliens to spot their assailants, and then lifted from behind their cover to open fire as well.

[Lorielle]

Huntress 1-2 Aim rolls: DC 10 [ 12, 16]
Cynthia shoots Alien 1: Damage dealt 3x2(ambush bonus)= 6, Alien 1 Slain!
Katerin shoots Alien 2: Damage dealt 2x2=4, Alien 2 1/5 HP left

Huntress 3-4 Leadership: 8
vs Alien reaction: 4

Huntress 3-4 Aim rolls: DC 10 [7, 12]
Ashley Miss!
Carmen shoots Alien 2: Damage dealt: 2x2 Alien 2 Slain!

Alien 3 smarts roll: 15

The hail of lead begins as soon as the huntresses are in position. Whatever was occurring one alien posed in such a manner that he was an easy shot for someone like Cynthia. She might have never been proper military, but her own father taught her how to shoot well enough and she nailed the large bulbous head with a swift burst from her assault rifle well enough. Katerin then opens fire before the aliens have even a chance to react to the crack of fulminate and bullets whizzing off of lead off asphalt, theres an immediate clicking sound though and something close to what seems like a scream of pain as Katerin's hail strikes the alien closest to the seated one. Nailing its arm and dropping it to one knee.

From the opposite position the last two huntresses get the signal, acting before the aliens gather enough of their wits to counter attack, though Ashley squanders her opportunity when as she goes to pull the trigger her gun jams. Carmen is forced to pick up her lover's slack and finish off the alien her squad leader nailed.

Unfortunately this gives the final alien an opportunity, an opportunity that is clear to everyone in the squad that says discretion is the better part of valor and he immediately begins to scurry away.

Alien retreat roll: 5
He was clearly in a panic though running without even considering cover, it should be easy to keep up with it, but chasing it could have its own issues, its currently running perpendicular from the squad's current objective. You could split up but that will have its own issues.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Ashely swears, shaking her gun as it fails to fire. She quickly ducks back down checks it over, hearing a heavy click as the jam clears. Standing back up, she readies to take a shot, seeing that the haze of bullets left two of the aliens already down. Seeing the one she should have taken out begin scurrying away, she slides over the car bonnet she was using as cover and gives chase.

"Ashley, wait!" Carmen calls out, quickly moving behind her. Ashley pushes on, trying to keep the thing in her sights as she takes a few shots at it. Managing to clip it, she's emboldened and follows on as Carmen catches up, taking a follow up shot with little success.

"Shit." Katerin hisses from atop the truck. She was annoyed that her squad members had begun to pursue the hostile without her orders, but what was more worrying was that alien getting away and potentially alerting more to their presence. Still, they couldn't be taken too far away from their objective. She clicks on her radio and issues orders to the pursuing soldiers. "Try to eliminate that thing while you have it in your sights. If you lose track of it, return to the objective. Do not pursue into further hostiles."

She gestures for Cynthia to follow her down off of the truck as they head over to examine the alien corpses. "We're supposed to recover whatever tech we can find, even if we can't use it yet." she says, checking over the alien bodies to recover whatever remained of their equipment.

[Lorielle]

Katerin's orders go out, but she gets no affirmative back, only hearing the sparse few gunshots ringing from around the corner as the alien scurries off, trying its best to run away from the attackers. Cynthia clambers off of the truck behind Katerin as they step up to the bodies, confirm that both E.Ts were dead, the one who had removed its weapon.. well. Its "weapon" was intact, a huge find for Artemis, the other however, the weapon seemed to have some sort of self destruct when it showed that its user had flatlined.

Acquired 1x Suppressor Pistol
Acquired 5x xenocyte

Katerin Smarts: 11
Holding the weapon in her hand she can see the mechanism for attaching it to one's wrist, she couldnt figure out how it... fires but she could at least tell which end was the barrel and which wasnt. Still it might provide some insight to try it on, it couldnt be that hard to remove it right? Otherwise the egg heads back at base will take it apart and the squad will lose this opportunity.

Meanwhile Cynthia gathers the remains of the other alien pistol stuffing the shards and a wickedly pink glowing crystal into her backpack inside of a sealed canister like protocol dictated.

---

Alien Retreat roll: Nat 1
Meanwhile around the block, or barely a block away the alien's panicked scurrying actually causes it to trip over an e-scooter that was left turned over. This terrible blunder loses it the little bit of a lead it had as the two Huntresses catch up and unload into the creature before it even has a chance to stand back up, the pistol on its wrist exploding in a small flash of pink light.

Acquired 5x Xenocyte

Huntress 3-4 now left alone in the side block by themselves a moment away from their squad leader having killed their prey much sooner than either might have expected.

[Lazy Kitsune]

"I think I can see how to work it... Do you think it'll be worth... trying on?" Katerin murmurs, looking over the recovered alien weapon before glancing at Cynthia. Her subordinate whacks one of the alien corpses with the butt of her gun before looking at Katerin. "I'm sure as hell not trying that thing on." she murmurs, readying her weapon once again once she was sure the creatures were dead. The two began to make their way back on track to the objective, Katerin looking down at the device in her hands as she weighed the risks of field testing it. Worst case scenario, she probably wouldn't be able to fire it or remove it and would end up having to spend the evening back in the labs waiting for the experts to pry it off of her. Still, it didn't necessarily seem super smart to just slap it on.

---

Stopping firing only once they were certain this thing from another world was dead, the two members of Huntress squad turned to each other with wide grins. "Suck it, space invade-" Carmen doesn't finish her quip before Ashley plants a kiss on her lips.

"Those little grey creeps had no idea what hit 'em." she says as she breaks the kiss, squeezing Carmen's ass. "Come on, lets get back to the boss before I get tempted to bend you over that car and fuck you in the streets of New York."

"Fuck." Carmen whispered, grinding up against Ashley. "Don't get me hot and bothered like that on a mission. Now I'm extra motivated to get this wrapped up as quick as possible so we can get back to base." The two turned and began to make their way back to the objective to meet up with the rest of their squad, Ashley radioing in to confirm the kill.

[Lorielle]

Katerin received the clear from Ashley bright as day as she stood there with the alien weapon in hand. As she and Cynthia begin their trek towards the objective location Ashley and Carmen catch up, out of breath but otherwise safe and sound.

Luck: 66

The last half a kilometer to the construction sight was a sound one, everyone back in their original positions with Cynthia leading the way she brings the team to a halt as Firebrand radios in. "Looks like you guys made it to the Objective, sweep the building, the roof looks clear, if the building is clear i can land and pick up whatever survivors i can, Firebrand out."

The building itself was massive, but what was strange was the sound of a generator running. The rest of the city was dead silent but this was the first sign of life any of Huntress had head all day. Flood lights were on, though they did little to illuminate anything as it was still high noon, but cables running around show some going into the basement, some going up into a seemingly working elevator shaft. The building was just a skeleton so no rooms, just floors to check. But which was to go first was the question. Up or Down.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Ashley's eyes light up as she sees the gadget Katerin had on her. She whistles as she leans in to take a look. "What's that? One of their thingamabobs didn't go poof?" Katerin turns it over in her hands with a nod. "Seems if they remove them before they die, then they stay intact. I've figured out how to use it, but I was wondering if it was smart."

Ashley holds out her hand. "I could be a guinea pig for you. Wouldn't mind blasting those bastards with the same shit they blast at us."

Katerin pursed her lips as she considers the offer. "Thanks, but it might be best I hold on to it. Don't want it accidentally blowing up on one of our wrists after all."

Ashley shrugs and gets back in line, her eyes returning to checking the perimeter. "Fair enough. Give me a holler if you change your mind."

---

The four women stand before the elevator shaft uncertainly. "Well, the powers on... should be someone home..." Carmen murmurs as she looks up and down.

"If they're hiding from the aliens scans, they might be underground." Katerin says, gesturing for the others to follow her towards the basement. "With the building as unfinished as it is, it doesn't seem like the safest place to hide. Unless there's enough to the basement for a small group of survivors to hold out in. We'll start from the bottom and work our way up. Lets stick together though. Those may not be the only E.T.s snooping about the place."

[Lorielle]

The Huntress squadron examines the elevator shaft as they make their decision before Katerin motions for the stairs that led to the basement away from the eye in the sky support that firebrand provided for the team. At least she gave the world that things seemed to be clear at the moment, but soon enough the radio is cut off and Huntress are only able to talk amongst themselves as they descend into the surprisingly well lit depths of this skeletal building.

??? Stealth: 22
Huntress 1-4 Spot: 17, 12, 12, 17.

Descending down the stairs in a dark corner of the stairwell a camera looks on at the four women as they move with a trained precision an infrared light illuminating the women covertly.

---

Leaned into a computer monitor trying to figure out what the hell they're looking a man squints as another one approaches from behind. "Sensors just tripped aliens finally come?" A gruff voice sounds.

"No... its like.. 4 spec ops bitches. They're moving kinda scary like, what should we do?" The other says a small bit of uncertainty in their voice.

"Spec-ops, that aint right, we should maybe move to the other safehouse... actually, alright you prep the gear and goods to get moved, i can go meet our guests, Dexter whipped something up a bit ago that might be fun to play with." The gruff voice says as he claps his compatriot on the back and moves out of the room slipping something out of a holster as he moves through the small maze of rooms to the front door.

---

Having finally descended the stairs into the basement proper the women are met with a bright purple glow of UV floodlights pointed directly at the stairwell. The set up was familiar alright. The UV burned off most of the reactive agents in the Mist, diluting the effects in all but the thickest fog of the stuff. It seemed like Artemis was the only one who came to this conclusion over the course of the attacks. Once the squad's eyes adjusted to the purple light the squad could see a large, almost vault-like door, this must be the weapon cache. But as the women move to approach it creeks open and a man pops his head out to see the Huntresses with their weapons at the ready. "Whoa whoa whoa! Dont shoot!" He shouts out throwing his hands out to show they're empty. "We're all just people here right?" the voice while gruff tries its best to sound tentative and hesitant.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Even as they recoil from the sudden glare of the lights directed upon them, the squad is quick to train their weapons on the figure emerging from the door. Though once they see who it is, they all share a surprised and concerned look. "A man?" Carmen speaks up first, in disbelief. "You lot have men in your group? What the hell are you doing out here, are you crazy?"

Katerin holds up her hand, commanding Carmen to be silent. "My subordinate has a point. This place isn't safe for men to be in. More of the mist is expected to hit this area in a few hours, these floodlights can only do so much once it gets here. Not to mention the patrol of E.T.s we encountered on the way over here. This place isn't safe for men."

She takes a tentative step forward towards the figure, lowering her gun although the rest of her squad kept them trained on him just in case he tried anything.

"We're with the Artemis Protocol. We have food, medical supplies, power and most importantly, safe havens for men to reside protected from the mist and alien hostiles. How many are with your group? We can begin evacuating you out of here right away."

[Lorielle]

The man finally emerges from the door in full view of the squad his hands still up, in a bit of disbelief as to what is going on. Why did they care so much he was a guy. But the thought only made him smirk, he was in charge of his own posse, adding these four would be good, and more ladies like that. He looked Katerin up and down. Liking what he saw in the fit woman, even though she was in armor he could still make out she had a killer figure. "Uhh look its me and about 10 other guys here actually, they're my crew, we actually got lucky worked here when all that mist crap happened heard over the radio we shouldnt breath it in, lucky for us this uhh door and the fact we never got to installing the ventilation system meant this little basement's a closed loop, we hold out for a few ours, hold our breath and wait for the mist to pass then we go out for more shit, but you telling me the aliens showed up finally?" He tries to act surprised, he already knows of the patrols.

"But youve got a safe place? We've basically used up the supplies all around here," He says before looking over the group, "mind putting the guns down? A bit intimidating staring down 4 barrels, im unarmed." He gestures with his hands still up for the squad to see. "Look the names Able, I think we got off the wrong foot."

Able Deception: Nat 1

To Katerin's ears it was clear he was hiding something, but what about she couldnt figure out, but it was clear this situation just got a tiny bit more tense. It was up to her to figure out if there was any trust to be had.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Katerin's eyes narrowed as he spoke. She didn't like what she was hearing. Not only did it all seem too convenient, but something about the way he said it seemed... deliberately evasive. He was hiding something, she knew it. Her grip on her weapon tightened once more and she signalled for her squad to keep their guard up, not that they had wavered at all since this Able emerged. "I'm sorry if we're making you feel intimidated, Able, but we're not about to lower our weapons when we know there are active hostiles in the area." She takes a step back and gestures for Carmen and Cynthia to cover their rear while Ashley keeps her weapon trained on Able and the door he came out of.

"Why don't your crew to come on out. We've got transportation in the area, we can escort you all out of here and back to base safely. The sooner we get moving, the better chance we won't draw any unwanted attention. Wouldn't you agree, Able?"

[Lorielle]

There a micro expression of frustration on Able's that lasts only the blink of an eye, only Katerin could see it if she was adept enough to notice subtle facial expressions, but Able was certainly skilled enough to keep his cool in the moment. It seemed "spec ops" was the right descriptor and he was messing with someone serious. "Right right, uhh my guys are moving stuff around, we thought maybe something else tripped our sensors, wasnt expecting ladies like you, just give me a moment and i can open up the door a bit more.." He gesutures to see if Katerin will allow him to make his move

Before a tense moment he starts to push the vault door open freeing it up and revealing the rest of the basement area that certainly did look a lot more lived in, these guys had been hear a while. Even from just out here looking in Katerin can see the small recreation area and cooking niche they had set up to keep themselves busy, with how well lit it was too they seemed to be doing alright. "I can run back in there and get my boys, or you can join me?" He says watching Katerin closely, obviously keeping an eye on her instead of Ashley even though she had a gun trained on him. A certain fearlessness in the face of imminent death that very very few people were capable of.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Katerin didn't like this one bit. On the one hand, entering with him felt incredibly unsafe, on the other hand if he was up to something fishy then letting him go back there and prepare without anyone to watch him was potentially far riskier. She could be on edge about nothing, but it was best not to assume that. It was safest to assume these men were up to something stupid, that would likely hurt both her team and themselves in the long run if she didn't get a handle on the situation. "Cynthia, Carmen. You too stay out here. If we're not back within ten minutes, head up the stairs and radio Firebrand before taking any further action. Ashley, you're with me." she says, before heading on in behind Able.

[Lorielle]

Cynthia and Carmen give Katerin an affirmative before the pair move forward through the vault door with Able, leaving the door open as well so Cynthia and Carmen can see the two progress into the main room of the basement. The main room as it was, is a large 100x100 room that seemed to function as both a staging area, living area with kitchen, and exercise room. It seemed like the men here had plenty of time to gather things up and get comfortable which corroborates their story. Able stayed close to Katerin though, within arms reach, but a step in front of the pair of women as they moved, they saw one or two other guys in this area who were surprised to see armed women about, they seemed to be wearing jumpsuits of some kind, maybe the construction ones Able mentioned. Though Able himself was wearing something a bit simpler, a dress shirt and jeans, he seemed to be in good shape despite being in a makeshift bunker for the past year.

Though keeping an eye out was a bit hard. The smell was pretty bad.. the.. musk was heavy, something both Katerin and Ashley hadnt been around in such heavy quantity and not in the stale air down here. Thats when you notice the large fans, industrial sized things meant to keep whole warehouses cool and air circulating, a few of them were running and half power but that didnt help the smell at all.

Soon enough the huntresses move into an unfinished hallway. "This is the barracks, give me a sec." Katerin can see Able moving towards what looks like a PA system.

Katerin Spot: 10
Able Stealth: 16

The trio are cramped together in the small hallway between the unfinished rooms as Able makes his move, just as he clicks the PA system and the blare goes off to alert everyone of an announcement Able pulls what looks like a fire arm hidden in his sleeve but as Katerin looks away for just a split second she feels the tip of a needle press into her neck and Able injects something into her in the blink of an eye.

Ashley Spot: 18

Unfortunately for able though his trick didnt work on ashley who keeps her weapon trained on Able, but she's between Katerin and the man, unable to get a clear shot to drop the guy.

Katerin Will: 6
2 WP damage: 3/5
Status Gained: Suggestible: Katerin has taken a concentrated dose of the Mist and is in a daze, she fails will checks and is infinitely more trusting. Each turn roll a phsyical Dc 12 check to shake off the effects and regain 1 WP when WP is maxed suggestible will end

Katerin's mind glazes over and her pupils dilate when the injection finishes, a sort of strange elation and floatiness overcomes the trained infiltrator as she continues to stare up at the speak system. "Everythings fine Tell your buddy to drop her gun." She hears Able's voice over the fuzziness, "Its just a stimulant to keep ward off the mist. We've got a medic who's been experimenting with stuff, but we're all guys down here so we couldnt test it until now."

[Lazy Kitsune]

Katerin gasps as the niddle pierces her skin, but she doesn't even turn to look at Able as her cheeks flush. Its only when Ashley raises her gun and yells does she seem to notice anything is going on. "What did you just do to her? Hands in the air, now!" Ashley barks as Katerin turns to look in confusion.

"What?" she murmurs a little dreamily. "Becker, stand down, its fine. I'm okay." she turns and looks wide eyed up at Able. "You guys managed to make a stimulant to ward off the mist while down here? Wow, that's really impressive of you. Thanks for injecting me with it, that's really kind of you, Able." She turns back to Ashley with a cheery smile. "You should really drop your gun and let him inject you too. We'll be much safer that way!"

Ashley curses and glances sideways back the way they came. Yelling might not be able to reach Carmen and Cynthia on the outside, but she knew something that definitely would. She raised her gun up and shot over Able's head, not wanting to risk hitting her squadron leader, but wanting to make a point and also make a lot of noise in the process. "Drop that thing right now and put your hands on your head!" she yells.