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| Ramship Razorwing, then Hostile transport |
| In poses |
| 08 December, 3013 |
Boarding actions are always brutal. When the Havenites cannot use their mobility advantage, and the Hostiles are exceptionally powerful in close quarters. And so ramships tend to gang up on Hostile transports. This particular transport was hit with three large ramships and a small one, bringing equal numbers to bear. The captains of the four ramships decided to turn what is usually a hit-and-run raid into a battle of annihilation. It was not the best idea ever. Nearly eight hundred of the thousand Havenites were killed or wounded, but estimates are that an equal number of Hostiles were likewise killed or wounded. All four of the ramships retreated, the transport was left dead in space — and now one of the few relatively undamaged Havenite ramships from the last battle has refreshed its compliment of Marines with volunteers from Imperius and the Rings, gotten a few replacements for crewmen, and a few science specialists, and headed out once more. Three hundred men and women are crammed into the crew bay on the all-too-short trip from The Ring to the battlefield, mere hours away from the space station. Their mission, assault the crippled Hostile transport, capturing it if possible, and recovering any useful materiel or intelligence if it cannot be captured. The ramship Razorwing is on its final approach, and the bridge monitors show that the holes blasted by the previous boarding actions still gape open to space.
Tomas Orelle was one of the replacement officers since the Hostiles struck with the huge second wave, his own ship damaged beyond repair, something that was determined at the Dry Dock. His assignment this time is to the Razorwing, and during the approach he was working with the bridge crew to make sure that there are no other active Hostile transports or escorts in the vicinity, or it could get ugly. Once it is clear that the area is clear for now, the Naval Lieutenant went to suit up in combat armor to join the boarding action, something at least one of the ship officers tend to do on boarding actions, especially this one since there is a possibility of capture of a Hostile ship. He strides into the boarding bay in armor, sword at his hip and ranged weapon ready in hand.
Jocelyn was one of the first volunteers to come to get a look at the Hostile ship, boarding the ramship with her usual cheerful enthusiasm. Armed with bow and sword and wearing simple scout armor, she's been back and forth through the ship as much as she can in the crowded confines, nagging anyone who'll listen about what to expect, what it's like, what to watch out for, oh hey, is that the ship they're boarding? Wow, that looks neat.
In most cases, Rozlyn would have sent one of the scientists that work within her lab. However, either Orelle interests demanded a family member on the secondary trip to the transport or she has a personal vested interest that she did not feel she could adequetly explain to an inferior. The woman is relatively uncomfortable in the armor she's wearing. While not intending to get into combat, you don't take any risks. She has a blaster, but no melee weapons. Instead, she has various pieces of scientific equipment in specialized holsters. She is off to one side of the bay, seeming almost relieved that the trip will be over soon. Too many people in too small a space.
Nikomachos is more at home flying into combat on horseback than in the bay of a ramship, crammed in with so many others, but he's a Sauveur now, so he has to learn to expand his capabilities and experiences. He holds a spear with a broad leaf blade and a boar-spear's crossguard. He breaths slowly, shifting from foot to foot and then realizing what he's doing, stopping and setting his feet. His voice comes over a private channel to his brother, "How does the ram compare to a tilt, Sammy? How hard should I brace?"
Time to go back out into space, isn't it? And so Sammel has found himself on the ramship, armored and keeping his weapon a bit shortened for this, to be able to wield it better in closer quarters. "It's not that bad," he replies over the same channel to Nikomachos. "At least you're not thrown around as much as in the tilt." A brief pause, as he seems to consider something. "Don't worry, Niko. It'll be fine."
Still linked to the bridge crew who taking care of the final approach, Tomas takes the free moment to survey the actual boarding party. The Marines are there the boarding and their protection, then there is the pair of Valens, one who is now a Silver and Purple eagle. That brings an amused smirk to the Orelle's lips, Valens in space, quite the ironic assignment. However, in all seriousness, Tomas knows that those two will most likely be the core of this action. There is an update from the bridge crew that contact will be made with the Hostile Transport soon so Tomas decides to be helpful and give the boarding party an update, since he still has some sort of authority while the party hasn't disembarked. "Attention! Brace yourselves, we are about to make contact!"
Jocelyn manages to weasel her way up toward the front of the boarding party, bow at the ready and grin broad. "Nice, right?" she grins at the knights. "Totally new. Things could explode at any moment. The guys are going to be so jealous when I get back with all the great new stories."
As the Razorwing approaches the Hostile Transport, there is no incoming blaster fire. That in itself must be a strange feeling for those who have endured the shaking, rattling, and staggering of blaster hits on hard light shields and armor. After Tomas' announcement, there's a call, "Grapples out!" Perhaps thirty seconds, and then another call, "Five seconds!" Four, three, two, one… and then there's a hammer-blow as the Razorwing slams into the Hostile transport. There's a hiss of cutters, and another hole is burned into the hull, "There should be atmo on the other side, but we don't know how open the bulkheads are."
When the call goes out to brace selves, Rozlyn reaches towards a part of the interior of the bay, where straps wait for such a purpose. She winds her forearm into the material and braces her feet. Jocelyn is not far away and the noblewoman casts a glance, sidelong. Perhaps hoping the girl doesn't make it to her. Being a scientist rather than a Knight? Her chances are good. There's a final check to make sure her equipment is well in place and she lets her reflexes take over, handling the impact as well as most. Perhaps not as well as a more weasley scientist fellow nearby, who stumbles into some of the men around him.
Nikomachos nods at Sammel, chuckling softly, "That the first time you've had to say that to me, Sammy?" And then others around them are speaking up, and Niko turns his horse-crested helm over to the Naval officer, "Lieutenant." As the warnings come from above, he braces himself with the butt of his spear, stepping forward with the impact and grunting softly. He doesn't fall, but it takes a spearbutt and a step to ensure it. And then the hiss comes through the hull, and he looks over to Jocelyn, "Let's do hope that nothing explodes, Miss…" there's a pause, and his AI supplies the name, "Groves." And then he takes a breath, a fiery kite-shaped blaze springing into life at his left forearm as he activates his hard light shield. "Here we go…"
After the verbal warning was offered, Tomas catches the greeting from one of the Valens and he in turn nods his head respectfully back. Then he fortifying his footing as he does the mental countdown when the five second warning is given. This isn't his first ramming action, but it is his first boarding action as his last he remained on the bridge. One of the reasons why he is still alive today. Once the impact happens, the Orelle steels himself then he activates his hand crossbow.
Grinning a bit as he hears Niko's words, Sammel braces himself for the impact, having to take a step to steady himself now. "See? Wasn't so bad, was it?" he remarks, before he prepares to head forward with the others, gripping the shortened poleaxe a bit more tightly now. Looking around at the others nearby now, he shrugs a little bit to himself.
Jocelyn knows absolutely nothing about boarding actions, when it comes down to it. But someone said brace, so brace she does, absorbing the impact with a little bit of a wobble and without losing her grip on her bow. "Right, they got the exploding out of the way before we came in, Sir," she replies to Nikomachos as somberly as she's capable. Which is not very.
Hard light shields snap into place between the ramship and the hull of the Hostile transport, and there's another call, "Doors opening. Crossbows up to clear the entry." The doors slide open, revealing a hole into a starkly-white hallway. At least the lights are still on. A knot of Hostile and Havenite bodies is gathered at an intersection, but there don't appear to be any living Hostiles. The crossbowmen aim around, one fires off a shot into a downed Hostile, and then they step aside, to let the melee combatants through, "Team Six remains at the ram site, other five teams, you know your missions." The PCs are all part of Team Three, and have been told off to head forward to the computer center that was slagged to stop the ship in the first place.
Tomas has reviewed boarding actions before and this one is definitely different, there isn't exchanges of crossbolts and Hostile projectiles with the men at arms at the front having to batter their way through. Instead, it is quiet except for the shot at the dead Hostile, which in a way reassures any doubts that the Orelle may have. There is no way he would lead the charge though, letting the more capable knights do so.
If this becomes a regular thing for Rozlyn, someone may finally convince her to learn more melee weapons, rather than simply unarmed combat. However, at the moment, the woman appears confident enough with what she has in place. She's here to observe and collect information- not to fight. There are a few hundred armed combatants here should that be needed and she's well armored. Being a main-line noble has perks such as that. She retains hold of the strap as initial actions are taken to secure the ship. There's a slight nod as the directions come through. She glances for the others in Team Three, identifying the location of her fellows.
Nikomachos nods at Sammel, "Like a glancing lance." He nods to Jocelyn at the statement, rising up on his tiptoes a touch as the crossbowmen sweep the hallway. And then he surges forward when ordered, settling into the front line of the forward-facing group and stepping forward quickly, "Alright, here we go." That's on the Team Three push, but he quiets as the Knight Lieutenant, a female Citizen sworn to House Orelle, calls out, "Knights to the fore. Men-at-arms to the sides and rear, non-combatants in the middle."
There's a brief chuckle as he hears that, and then Sammel nods a bit at the orders from the Knight Lieutenant, moving forward to find his place with the other knights now. "Time to see what's out there, I suppose," he remarks, a little lightly.
Huh. Nothing to shoot. As the team moves into tighter quarters, Jocelyn stows her bow and trades it out for a short sword. Alert, the scout seems to take in everything as they move through the corridors, storing the information away for later use. She doesn't seem to have a problem with take a position on the flank, letting the people in the heavy armor take the front and flashing what's likely meant to be a reassuring smile toward Rozlyn.
Once orders are given for Team Three, Tomas is moving with the group he is assigned with, staying with the non-combatants in the middle. He has had some ground combat experience but he is certainly no knight or man-at-arms.
And it's along with the others in the middle that Rozlyn goes. She's far from being a combatant- especially when compared to the others present. The woman does pull out a device that's a mix of scanner and camera as they start to move forward. It's held at a level to take continual imagery and information as they move into the transport ship. There's a slight nod towards Jocelyn- perhaps in appreciation or understanding of the smile. The woman does not seem unsettled as of yet. Really, she seems rather… blank in a way.
The Knight Lieutenant adds in, "Lieutenant, Lady Rozlyn, keep me informed if there's anything you want to stop and see or there's any word from the ship. Everyone else, call out if you see a live one." The group advances quickly down the hallway, rapidly approaching a branching hallway. Nikomachos draws in a breath, lets it out, "Recordings show that intersections are ambush points."
Sammel nods a little as he listens, moving forward with the others. "They tend to be good points for ambushes, yes," he says, a bit quietly. Looking around rather carefully as he advances with the rest now.
"Ambushes, copy that," Jocelyn murmurs, keeping a steady pace along the side of the group. The Arboren scout is alert, but seems comfortable with the patrol despite the unfamiliar surroundings, ready without being tense.
"Understood, Knight-Lieutenant. I'll keep the line of communications to the ship crew open." The only updates that Tomas will be expecting is if the situation outside changes, like Hostiles showing up, which would close their window of exploration here dramatically.
"Aye." Rozlyn's response is simple and (should be) all that is needed. She adjusts a few things on the scanner and broadens the scan. She is being fairly mindful of the bodies on the floors. "Do we know how many may still be on board? Any estimates?"
The formation slows almost unwillingly as it approaches the intersection, but there are no attacks, no screaming Hostiles throwing themselves at the shield wall. Instead, there is another collection of corpses, Havenite and Hostile alike… and a living Hostile, writhing on the ground with its hands on its stomach, holding in intestines that threaten to pour out of a rent in its armor. The Hostile makes little mewling sounds of immeasurable pain. Beyond the intersection, there are a series of closed doors on either side of the hallway leading forward.
The Knight Lieutenant responds to Rozlyn's question, "Nothing concrete. The last assault claimed more than one thousand, seven hundred kills. Transports hold around a thousand Hostiles. They're still analyzing helmet cams footage for a better number." Nikomachos nods his head slightly, looking down at the writhing Hostile, "So… call it maybe seven to nine hundred casualties, Knight Lieutenant? Should we make it one more KIA?" The visor of his helmet is locked on the wounded Hostile, and he hefts his spear slightly.
It isn't hard to notice the surviving Hostile and Tomas has quite the urge to put a bolt into the invader's head. But he knows that his House is one of those that is more than willing to do a live capture, to study. So for now he keeps his personal preference to himself, looking over to the Knight Lieutenant to see what her decision is.
Jocelyn steps forward just a touch to get a look at the Hostile on the ground, curious. "Huh," she muses, just barely keeping herself from stepping out of formation. "You think they left it here on purpose? I'd figure if there are still Hostiles here, they would've been looking for wounded, right?"
Sighing momentarily as he sees the corpses, and the living Hostile, Sammel shakes his head a little bit. Nodding a bit as he hears what's being said now, he pauses for a few moments. "Killing it would get rid of that irritating sound, at least." A brief pause, as he hears Jocelyn's words. "Unless they considered it too far gone?" he offers, turning to look around at their surroundings rather carefully now.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Rozlyn shifts her stance slightly, casting a look around those ahead of her to get a better view of the dying hostile. There's an interest in her mien- she's certainly fascinated. A different device is pulled out and this one appears to be for collecting samples. She attempts to foist it off onto one of the men at the front. "See what you can gather." Likely assuming he'll know how to use it… and be willing to approach the dying alien.
The Knight Lieutenant studies the tableau, hesitating just a touch, "Um. About that many, Sir Nikomachos." The question and the discussion that follows causes her to hesitate again, "Could be. Either way." And then she gestures slightly with her sword, "Do you need it alive, Lady Rozlyn? Anyone have any reason to keep it alive before we take some samples and move on?"
Nikomachos frowns inside his helmet, then points toward the cross-corridors with his spear, "Watch all four corridors while we're stopped."
"Knight-Lieutenant, is there a corpsman here that can sedate it? We can ask some men back at the ship to come pick it up. Whether it survives the trip back to the ship, and to the Ring wouldn't be too big of an issue. But having the time to study a physical sample would help the scientists, especially if it lives." Tomas finally pipes in, knowing that there are many back at the Ring who is always delighted to have such chances.
"I'll get it," Jocelyn offers when Rozlyn holds out the device, though she does at least look to the Knight Lieutenant for permission. She's not going to jump out of the line without permission. "I can shoot a sedative, too, I've got medical training."
"If we can safely get it back and keep it alive… or at least the tissue alive? That would be preferrable. If it's in too much a state already, we should just collect the samples." While Rozlyn knows well enough of Hostiles and medical to get by in her career, she doesn't know enough to say if they could keep it in one piece, or if the ship would have to be scrubbed of alien intestines for the next wweek.
Sammel nods at Niko's words, turning to look down one of the corridors rather carefully as he listens now. Keeping his weapon ready, in case something might be happening, he only partially listens to the discussion now. After all, should it be a trap, it's good to be aware.
Nikomachos grimaces inside his helmet, murmuring, "Shit." He turns to face one of the corridors alongside Sammel, and settles his attention on keeping watch, even as he opines, "With all due respect, Knight Lieutenant, we have a captive, we have tissue samples. It's a risk." But he doesn't protest further than that.
The Knight Lieutenant nods to the others putting in their opinion, "More information is better. We'll bag it and tag it." And in the best tradition of Knight Lieutenants across Haven, the woman nods to Jocelyn, "You're with me. Get Lady Rozlyn's scans, sedate it. We'll pick it up on the way back if we can."
Jocelyn resists the urge to fist-pump at the opportunity to get up close and personal with a Hostile, sheathing her sword and stepping closer to Rozlyn to hold out a hand for the scanner. "Is there a sedative you want to use, or should I stick with the standard issue, m'lady?" she asks the Orelle, checking a pocket in her suit for the hyposprays.
The perks of being a Naval Officer, it wouldn't be Tomas that is scrubbing the ship's interior of Hostile guts. As for the protest of the risk of taking a live captive, the Orelle Lieutenant doesn't debate it nor deny it. But if they could bring another live one back to the Ring, it would be a success for his House, and if something could come if it? Even greater glory to House Orelle for the good of the Realm. With the decision made, Tomas turns his attention to the hallways.
"Standard issue is fine," Rozlyn responds, offering the device to Jocelyn. It's a handy little thing- it will extract the sample and contain it within a small tube. It seems to hold a few tubes already, while a container jingles with more. "Skin, intestines, and blood at least. Hopefully the sedation will keep it well enough for the trip back out." Certainly, it would be a great boon to return with a live — or not completely dead — Hostile, but Rozlyn has other interests here and isn't prone to abandoning those so quick.
Keeping quiet as he watches the corridor, Sammel lets out a bit of a breath as he listens to the conversation. Better to keep moving while inside this thing than staying where they are, at least in his opinion.
The Knight Lieutenant waits for Jocelyn to get the equipment, then leads the way forward to the scatter of corpses and the mewling, badly wounded Hostile. She keeps her hard light shield and sword at the ready, blade out toward the downed Hostile. "We'll be moving again in a moment people, so look sharp. We still have an appointment forward with the computer banks."
Nikomachos switches channels to address Sammel alone, "We should be moving right now, Sammy. Find the survivors, finish them off, take the whole ship." At least he doesn't say it on a public channel, since he's basically questioning the command of the leader on the 'ground.'
Tomas's lightshield is also activated, as his hand crossbow is able to be wielded with one hand, making it less powerful. With the decision on the wounded Hostile already made, his attention is focused on what the next task is ahead.
Once the device is handed off and Jocelyn has started collecting samples, Rozlyn goes back to her scanner. More adjustments are made and she hovers over a prone, dead Hostile to collect what details she can from the limp body. She does keep an eye on the combatants within their group, watching for any shifts or changes in mood.
Jocelyn is unwontedly cheerful as she goes about the dangerous duty of collecting samples from a wounded Hostile. "Hey there," she says as she goes into a crouch, drawing out the collection device. "Nap time first. Just in case you're transmitting or something. Say hi to your friends for me, 'kay?" And then she reaches out to sedate the Hostile in a practiced, confident motion.
"I know…" Sammel's reply to Niko comes over the same channel, before he adds, "Just staying here feels… I don't know." He looks around again for a few moments as he listens to the others again now, watching the happening with the Hostile.
<FS3> Jocelyn rolls Alertness: Good Success.
Nikomachos nods at Sammel, "Like a sitting duck." He hefts his spear, scanning the hallway before him, the doors that run down both sides.
Hostile squirms and twists away from Jocelyn as she crouches down, the Knight Lieutenant offering it a kick to the shoulder, "Quit moving or you're dead." The helmeted head of the Hostile turns up toward the Knight Lieutenant, and it hiss-chitters something in that oh-so-mechanical, ear-grating language that the Hostiles sometimes use.
The slight disturbance by the injured Hostile draws Tomas's attention back to the attempt at sedating the creature, a smirk at the futile struggle that the invader is putting up. Especially when it chitters at the Knight Lieutenant.
"Hey now, I didn't say anything about your moth-" Jocelyn seems perfectly content to trade incomprehensible insults with the Hostile until something catches her attention, the scout going still and shifting the sedative to her left hand in order to reach for her sword with the other. "Movement in the pile," she murmurs over the comm.
As the Hostile resists the sample collection and sedative, Rozlyn frowns. She does try to get nearer, extending the scanning device. "Think the cams picked that up well enough? Someday we may collect enough data to start translating." In bits and pieces. Where's a Hostile Rosetta Stone when you need it? Jocelyn's words do draw her attention and she turns, shifting back within the middle of the grouping.
As Jocelyn speaks up, the blur that caught her attention resolves itself not into a moving corpse, but a Hostile Scout dropping it's active camouflage to fire off a steel ribbon into the back of the turning Knight Lieutenant. There's a clatter, a curse, and then the Knight Lieutenant stumbles with a splash of blood from around her right shoulder-blade.
Nikomachos half-turns his head back to the noise, grimacing inside his helmet and shaking his head, "What's going on back there?"
Looking around, Sammel frowns a bit as he hears Jocelyn's words. Turning to look towards that pile now, he lifts his weapon a little, to keep it ready. Over that private channel to his brother comes one word, "Quack?" Grimacing quite a bit as he sees the Knight Lieutenant going down now.
Once the warning that something is moving in the pile is called out, Tomas's attention quickly shift to the pile along with the aim of his crossbow. "Contact! Contact!" The Orelle calls out as the Knight Lieutenant takes the ribbon in the back, but he quickly adds to clarify, in case this was a distraction, "Single scout!"
While the combatants surely move in to handle the scout, Rozlyn steps back and closer to the wall. Out of the way and to minimize herself as a target. She does focus on the scout, keeping it in view of her cam the entire time. She does look for the opportunity to make it towards the Knight Lieutenant.
Well, that's going to take a moment to reload. While the knights hone in on the active Hostile, Jocelyn reaches out to try to finish sedating the injured one.
The Scout doesn't hesitate after it fires, spinning out of its crouch to its feet and running back down the corridor. The wounded Hostile takes a back-handed swipe at Jocelyn, but then the hypospray — presumably planted into the mess of the Hostile's stomach rather than trying to pierce the armor — takes hold. The Knight Lieutenant falls, crying out as her hard light shield collapses and she reaches up toward the wound. Nikomachos starts to shift and twist to look back, then shakes his head and faces forth again.
Frowning as he sees the Scout run off, Sammel mutters a few things to himself. "Got a clear shot?" he calls out to Tomas, before he looks around again now, taking a few moments to eye each of the other corridors. "Anyone want to bet on how long it takes before there are more Hostiles attacking us if that one can get away?"
With the warning out of the way, Tomas is able to focus more on the Scout that is trying to flee the area. He lifts his right hand which holds the hand crossbow and takes aim at the Hostile, making sure that none of the friendlies in the area are in between. Then slowly, his fingers presses down on the trigger, sending a crossbolt flying out at the retreating creature.
With the Hostile taking off down the corridor, Rozlyn moves quicker in to the Knight Lieutenant's side. She leaves taking care of the scout to the other Knights present, instead moving to try to take stock of the woman's injuries. She may not have much medical training, but she should be able to help at least with some triage. First aid style assistance. "Do what you need," she calls over the comm. "I will tend to the Lieutenant." And presumably some of the men-at-arms will remain as well, if others need to chase down the scout.
Jocelyn doesn't even stand. Once she's planted the hypospray, she whips the bow and an arrow from her back, ready to shoot at the fleeing Hostile from one knee. For all her joking and laughter earlier, the Arboren scout doesn't screw around when it comes to doing her job.
<FS3> Tomas rolls Archery: Success.
<FS3> Rozlyn rolls Medicine: Success.
Sammel may well be prescient. Doors open down two of the hallways. The way they came is still clear, as is the corridor with Jocelyn, Tomas, Rozlyn, and the Knight Lieutenant. But the other two hallways have Hostiles filtering into them. It's not a ton of them, not the 50 people that the Havenites have in this team, but it might be 30 or 35 Hostiles. The fleeing Scout gets hit by Tomas' shot, but it's a glancing blow, the bolt sticking out of its left arm.
Nikomachos slams his spear against the back of his shield, "INCOMING!" He crouches slightly, bringing his shield forward and lowering his spear, "Shields up. Hold!"
"Knew it was too quiet…" Sammel mutters, before he makes sure to have a proper grip of his weapon now. "Time to take them out…" he comments, preparing himself to meet the enemy.
Watching his shot hit but not a solid one, Tomas growls a curse and quickly moves to reload the bolt. That is when he hears the call of incoming from the front lines, now trying to figure out if the Hostiles are in between them and the computer control room or if it is in another direction.
They're in a tight spot, with little by way of cover. Rozlyn shifts her crouch slightly as the hostiles come pouring towards them. She studies the ribbon, trying to determine if it can be safely removed or not. She does start trying to move the Knight Lieutenant out of the way, to provide more room for the Havenites to defend and fight.
The Knight Lieutenant starts to push herself back to her feet, "I'm alright, I'm alright…" but her arm collapses under her, drawing a hiss of pain. "What's happening, Lady Rozlyn?" The Hostiles are attacking from forward, in the general direction of the server farm, and from the corridor to the left, heading to the center of the ship. The corridors to the rear and to the right, toward the exterior of the ship, are clear except for the single Scout running around the nearest corner in the latter direction." The men-at-arms and knights of the Haven force have drawn in close to the intersection, forming shield walls in the directions of their attackers and keeping a few people watching the 'empty' corridors as well.
Moving forward for one of the Hostiles as they keep coming, Sammel tries using the spike of his weapon to attack the Hostile, hoping to cause some damage with that one at first.
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm but Sammel DODGES!
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile20 with Hand Crossbow - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Tomas's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Rozlyn passes.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile23 with Spear - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile21 with Bow - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Sammel with Bludgeon but Sammel DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile20 attacks Nikomachos with Sword but Nikomachos DODGES!
Jocelyn releases the arrow in a smooth motion, drawing another to replace it with a grim smile as her first shot lands. "Surprise," she murmurs. "Not quite as easy as you hoped."
Staying behind the Shield Wall, Tomas Orelle finishes reloading his Hand Crossbow, the fleeing Scout forgotten already as the larger threat looms in front of them. Leveling his weapon and finding a gap over the shield wall, he fires off a shot. It flies true but the smaller projectile doesn't penetrate the thick armor of the Hostile. The Naval Officer immediately begins reloading his weapon, half of his attention on the battle at hand.
"We have Hostiles from two directions bearing down on us," Rozlyn explains, catching the Knight Lieutenant under her shoulder. Urging her off to the side, towards a corridor wall as she explains. "Two dozen? Maybe a few beyond." She tucks away her scanner and instead focuses on the injured woman. "How deep did it hit? Can you move your arm? How skilled are you with a crossbow?" Perhaps trying also to keep the Knight focused, rather than thinking about her pain. She flinches slightly as Niko is hit, even though his armor is there. Can't be fun, either way.
Nikomachos takes the force of the Hostile charge with the rest of the shieldwall, catching a sword on his shield, his spear darting out to glance the head off the stomach of one of the Hostiles trying to kill him, and then pulling back again so he can bring his shield across his body once more. The edge of the hard slight plane catches the greatsword striking for his stomach, robbing it of some of its force and sending it skittering off the side of his hip. The impact draws a grunt from the knight, and sends fiery pinions blazing from his shoulders in their holographic glory. "Hold! Hold!"
Men-at-arms and Hostiles fall in that initial impact, the Havenites trying to hold off the sudden attack. The front line, centered around the Valen brothers, holds for the moment, although cracks are beginning to appear in the other shieldwall. The Knight Lieutenant tries to move her arm, hissing in pain and quickly ceasing the attempt, "Ow, ow… ow… No. Not enough, at least. But… two sides… Gods…" And then she raises her voice, calling out in a pained voice, "Hold the line!"
Managing to dodge both the incoming Hostiles, Sammel frowns a bit as his own attack misses. So he takes a few steps back, swinging for the same enemy again now. "We will hold them here," he mutters, looking from one Hostile to the other at the moment.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear - Light wound to Left Leg (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rozlyn passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Tomas finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Sammel with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Hostile20 attacks Nikomachos with Sword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile21 with Bow - Light wound to Right Leg (Reduced by Armor).
Once the shield wall is steady, Jocelyn fires one more shot, eyes narrowing when it doesn't land as well as she might like. Now that the shields are in line, she stands up to aim for her next shot, all the better not to hit her own people.
Reloading takes time but Tomas, like all military officers, have had training in such weaponry so it is done without much thought. With his weapon ready once more, he raises it and looks for another Hostile. Instead of picking one that is already wounded heavily, he finds one that is wielding a wicked looking twl-handed blade and takes aim, firing off another round.
"Alright, keep it still. Want me to try to get this thing out?" Some people like having the foreign object removed immediately. Others prefer to wait until there can be sedatives and the like. Rozlyn is giving the Knight Lieutenant the opportunity. There's a nod as the woman rallies her men. "Good," she murmurs, looking out over those fighting, then back to the other corridors where some watch for other Hostiles. She does remain in a light crouch; martial abilities coming into play as she remains light on her feet. Ready to move in an instant if required.
One of the attacks bounce off his armor, but the other one hits Sammel rather hard over his hand, causing him to cry out a bit, and the grip to falter momentarily. He doesn't have time to pay much attention to how bad it hit, since he needs the weapon in working condition. "Now you've done it!" he growls, swinging for one of the Hostiles, the one that hit his armor, impacting it in the chest.
Nikomachos turns sideways behind his shield, shifting it to one side and back to catch two more sword blows, shifting his attention over to the Hostile sprouting fletching. He thrusts across to his right, aiming for the Hostile attacking his brother. He catches a leg, nodding sharply "Drop them together, Sammy." He trusts to the soldier at his left to protect him further as he focuses to his right.
The Knight Lieutenant nods to Rozlyn, "If you can do it, Lady Rozlyn. They're tricky." As the Hostiles press forward against the Havenites that outnumber them, the men-at-arms keep getting pushed back.
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile21 with Bow and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Sammel with Bludgeon but Sammel DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile20 attacks Nikomachos with Sword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile23 with Hand Crossbow - Moderate wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tomas's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm but Hostile22 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Rozlyn passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm but Sammel DODGES!
Jocelyn's shaft shoots past a Hostile's shoulder, and the Arboren wastes no time in reloading to go at it again. She's got enough arrows to work at it.
<FS3> Rozlyn rolls Medicine: Success.
This time Tomas's crossbolt finds more purchase as it punches through the neck armor of the Hostile he was targeting, embedding itself into the creature. There is a smirk on the Orelle's lips as he sees his success though he quickly goes to a knee to reload the weapon once more.
Nodding a little as he hears Niko's words, Sammel manages to dodge out of the way of both the attacks this time. Trying to jam the head spike of the weapon up into the gut of the same Hostile as Niko's been attacking.
"Brace yourself-" Rozlyn pauses as she shifts, getting behind the Knight Lieutenant to get a better look and angle. "I am afraid I do not know your name." Her words, though as precisely spoken as ever, are rapid. She gets a good view of the injury and the ribbon, waiting for the Lieutenant to speak before getting in and removing it. She isn't gentle and it's not easy, but it -is- done without making matters too much worse.
Nikomachos calls out, "Trust your fellows! Concentrate your attacks!" His shield dances back and forth, flaring brightly as it absorbs hit after hit. His spear darts out again, but it's a quick, probing thrust more than anything serious, screeching off Hostile armor, "Stay with me," he pauses a moment before his AI throws up the name of the Orelle footman at his left, "Rithas." Apparently, he shouldn't have said that, because just then, the man takes an axe to the head and goes down, creating a crack in the shield wall.
The Hostiles surge forward, one of those previously attacking Nikomachos leaping through the lines toward those still in the back. The Knight Lieutenant braces herself as instructed, "Sir Ophelia Vinnick, Lady Rozlyn." Despite being braced, she still cries out as the ribbon is torn free, her arm collapsing under her once more.
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile20 with Bow - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Tomas finishes reloading.
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile21 with Polearm but Hostile21 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Sammel with Bludgeon but Sammel DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile20 attacks Tomas with Sword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rozlyn passes.
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear but Hostile21 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm and MISSES!
The Shield Wall has a crack and what comes through the crack is bearing down on Tomas. He has to make a decision real quick, to stop reloading and meet the Hostile head on or continue. The Orelle chooses the latter and it appears like he is fighting not only the charging invade but time as well. He manages to reload in the nick of time, the bolt slotted into the weapon and locking into position. Right as it happens, Tomas jumps back to try to dodge the sword that is whistling through air at him and he doesn't manage to fully evade as it cuts through his armor, causing a light scratch. With a grimace of annoyance, he quickly lifts the hand crossbow and fires off an almost point black shot before lifting his shield to protect himself.
Jocelyn looses her arrow at the Hostile that's broken through the lines, cursing when her arrow rebound of of the Hostile's armor. That's her sign to swap out weapons, snapping the bow against the quiver and drawing her sword instead. "Got a gap up there!" she calls over the comm, in case the Knights missed that.
"Don't jinx them, Niko," Sammel remarks, once more managing to move out of the way of the enemies, but also unable to hit. "Stand still, you moron…" he grumbles at the Hostile, before moving in for another attack now.
"Well, Sir Ophelia, it is out. Do not push yourself. Keep your men focused." Rozlyn kicks the ribbon aside, getting to her feet. She grits her teeth as the hostile passes through the line. "Sir, if you would have me your weapon. I would hate for us to be wholly undefended." She is not properly familiar with the weapon, but she will try. Best to fight than to just wait for it to come.
Nikomachos is shoved aside as Rithas falls, and he staggers to the right, half-turning, "Hell! One made it through! Medic!" His spear is batted aside, and he knocks aside the heavy blade that comes down between himself and his brother. "Close the line, close the line! If you can't deal with the leakers, we'll be back as soon as we can."
The Knight Lieutenant reaches out with her left hand, straightening up a moment and turning her helmet to Rozlyn, "You might be better at this point." And she offers out the sword-hilt.
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile20 with Hand Crossbow but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Tomas's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Rozlyn passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm but Sammel DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Sammel with Bludgeon - Serious wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile21 with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear but Hostile21 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile20 with Sword - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword but Nikomachos DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile20 attacks Jocelyn with Sword - Critical wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).<COMBAT> Hostile20 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Sammel has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Sammel spends a luck point to keep fighting!
Jocelyn goes after the Hostile that's broken through the line and is attacking the reloading Orelle, throwing herself fearlessly at it. For a man-at-arms, she has more skill with a sword than might be expected. But despite her skill, she's no knight, and that means she lacks the heavier armor that others may have to protect themselves. Her blade goes through the Hostile's chest…but the exchange is mutual, drawing a startled cry of pain from the scout. Grimly, she trades her blade for her bow once more, though she winces in pain as she draws it.
As his shot misses, Tomas no longer bothers with reloading as he collapses the weapon and holsters it, replacing it with the long sword at his hip. He was going to assist Jocelyn with the Hostile that had passed them but she manages to dispatch it with a rather brutal blow to the chest, while receiving her own. "Medic!" He calls out, hoping that the Knight-Lieutenant has been tended to by now. His eyes quickly moves to the shield wall, seeing one of the knights falter. Without hestitation, he rushes forward to help reinforce the gap, his own light-shield wedging into the wall as he strikes out at the nearest Hostile.
At least noble upbringing means that Rozlyn knows the golden rule of swords: get them with the pointy end. The woman gives a nod to the Knight Lieutenant. "Sir Ophelia, we will make it through. Continue rallying and keep an eye out. Four are better than two." Because Roz would really rather not be personally ambushed. She straightens and grasps the sword, keeping a defensive stance and waiting. She won't rush in, but without anywhere to really flee- she might as well be armed. And it's a good thing, too. People are taking harder hits. If Roz believed in a higher power, she might be praying right now. Instead, she just puts on her game face — which is much like any other — and steps before the Knight Lieutenant. Spotting the hits to both Sammel and Jocelyn, she does move a few paces in that direction- ready to fill a gap if it comes down to it. She's not a medic, but she is moving in to check on those that have been hit hardest.
And there, another hard blow to his hands, causing Sammel to drop his weapon. Taking a few deep breaths as he moves to get it again, he lets out a few pained mutterings as he picks it up. Can't give up now. The polearm back in hand, he once more tries stabbing one of the Hostiles with the spiky end.
Nikomachos turns his head as Sammel gets hit again, and hard, "Knight on a crutch. Sammy, are you alright?" He pushes forward, working with the soldier on the other side of the downed man to close the gap as he tries to drive the Hostiles off their point of attack. "Everyone alive back there?" His spear is knocked aside again, and he grimaces, muttering in his helmet, "Gods damn it… this thing's no lance…" His shield absorbs another hit, and he keeps pushing forward.
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile23 with Sword - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile21 with Bow - Light wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Nikomachos with Polearm - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Sammel with Bludgeon - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Rozlyn passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword but Nikomachos DODGES!
"I am the medic," Jocelyn mutters at Tomas' call, blood flecking her lips when she coughs. She doesn't falter, though, taking a moment to aim and loosing an arrow that skims beneath a Hostile's helmet, drawing blood along its throat. She curses as she reaches for another arrow, but reaches all the same.
"I'm okay… At least for now…" Sammel replies, wincing a little bit now. "I'm sure I'll be scolded quite a bit when we get back home, though." Wincing as another hit bounces off his chest, before he tries another quick jab at the Hostile.
"You will not be any good to others if you die," Rozlyn calls to Jocelyn. The woman manages to remain matter-of-fact despite the battle around them. There's a glance to ensure the Knight Lieutenant is still faring well before the Orelle moves in to try to tend to Jocelyn, at least enough to keep her functioning. "Others will need your expertise." Like Sammel.
Fighting in the shield wall is not something that Tomas is experienced with as the jostling from the side throws off his aim, his blade just narrowly missing the Hostile he was attacking. He tries to keep his own shield in place as he strikes out again.
Nikomachos slaps aside another slash of the greatsword with the haft of his spear, then slams forward with his shield, knocking Sammel's attacker back for a moment and then stabbing it under one arm. And then a halberd slams into his stomach, driving him back half a step, a step that is quickly regained, "Push them BACK!"
Sir Ophelia holds her arm close to her stomach, calling out as well, "Hold the line! We need to hold the line and retreat back to the Razorwing!"
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Jocelyn passes.
<COMBAT> Rozlyn treats Jocelyn:
< Chest (Critical): unsuccessful
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile23 with Sword - Light wound to Left Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
Jocelyn reluctantly holds still long enough for Rozlyn to take a look at her, though she fidgets as she does. "I'm more likely to die from Hostiles than from this right now." Never mind the cough that sprays blood again. "Hold on, let me just take care of this." And she's lifting her bow again, taking aim.
The fidgeting is too much for Rozlyn. The woman only has a passing knowledge of battle medicine. The Knight Lieutenant was easier- that was clear cut. Jocelyn's moving around and injury make it difficult and the noblewoman is unable to assist. "I will not see you fall by your own ignorance!" That's right, Roz raised her voice. And her frustration? Is going to bet aken out on a nearby Hostile. Maybe. She isn't very talented with that sword. But maybe it will distract the alien from Sammel, who is looking near as bad as the Arboren scout.
Wincing a little, Sammel keeps on doing what he can to attack now. Muttering something to himself as he does so, moving in for a low attack against the Hostile now.
Tomas continues to hold his position, this time his slice with the blade hits one of the Hostiles though it is a glancing blow that manages to break through the armor of the left arm. He keeps his shield arm up as he strikes out again.
Nikomachos drives forward — right into a series of hammer blows. The first one slams aside his shield, the next strikes the left side of his rib-cage, sending a flare of holographic, flaming wings blaring from his shoulders, "Ow, damn it, ow! Sammy, I thought this guy was hitting you." Even as he's speaking, he brings the haft of his spear up to lay alongside his forearm and chops with the side of the leaf-shaped blade, slashing into the Hostile's shoulder. It stymies his advance for a moment, but the Knight Lieutenant's words cause him to stop in his tracks, even as he regains his defense in time to catch the heavy blade once more, "No! We do that, the other teams are open to ambush." Of course, he's just a knight, arguing against a Knight Lieutenant on his own.
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile23 with Sword - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Nikomachos with Greatsword - Critical wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Right Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm but Hostile22 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Rozlyn attacks Hostile22 with Sword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile22 with Bow - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm and MISSES!<COMBAT> Nikomachos has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos spends a luck point to keep fighting!
"Who's ignorant?" Jocelyn releases her arrow, right into a Hostile's chest with a grim smile. "I know what's going on here. Just have to take these bastards down first."
The new orders from the Knight-Lieutenant was unexpected and Tomas misses his attack this time around, retreat was certainly an option as these Hostiles are formidable but it seems like both sides could break anytime. "We can hold out, Knight-Lieutenant! We retreat now, we risk the ship as well!" With that, he renews his attack on the invader he is locked in combat with.
Frowning a bit as he doesn't succeed in hitting anything now, Sammel grimaces a bit more as he sees his brother take those hits. "Niko! Can you still fight?" Going in a little more boldly to try taking out the Hostiles now.
There will be words for Jocelyn later. Rozlyn does not like banter! She was not trying to banter or be funny! She was serious- always serious! Except when around her brother. The woman is not good with the sword, but perhaps it distracts the Hostile long enough. It doesn't hit Sammel again, so matters are good enough. "Sir Ophelia, how is our sedated friend?" She's not going to argue at the moment, but if the sedated Hostile is still alive? Perhaps they can keep this mission from being a complete failure. She moves towards Niko- if Joce won't let her try to assist her, perhaps the Knight will. "Your wife would kill me if I let you get too hurt," she calls out, hoping maybe -he- will fidget less.
Nikomachos should obviously be spending more attention on fighting than on arguing tactics. As he starts to step forward again, lunching with his spear, he takes a hammer to the inside of his arm, twisting him around and drawing a hiss of pain. That hiss is abruptly cut off as a second Hostile steps up and cuts into his side with the heavy blade. The red-gold plates sheer apart, and Nikomachos is thrown to the ground. Blood immediately washes over his side, and he pries himself up to his feet again, holding his shield up before him in an attempt to keep the shield wall from crumbling. "I'll live." The knight's usually crisp, clear tones are drawn in pain. Rozlyn's request cause him to grimace, but he shakes his head a bit, "In a minute. If we don't…" he can't finish that statement, whatever it was, as his face blanches inside his helmet, and he struggles to keep his place in the shieldwall.
<COMBAT> Rozlyn attacks Hostile21 with Sword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Tomas with Greatsword - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile23 with Sword - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos attacks Hostile21 with Spear but Hostile21 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm but Sammel DODGES!
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon - Moderate wound to Right Hand (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile22 with Bow - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).<COMBAT> Nikomachos has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos spends a luck point to keep fighting!
For Tomas, the battle appears to be a stalemate as he continues to hold with the shield wall, trading blows with the Hostile and neither getting the upperhand. The Hostile's strikes either miss or hits his light shield while his own blows misses or is parried, only one getting through cutting lightly into the midsection. The Orelle is still determined though, despite not being a knight.
"I am not dragging your body back, Lord Niko!" Woah, Rozlyn used a diminutive name. Things must be serious. The woman looks tired- she's not used to wielding a sword. She may be in good shape, but these are muscles she's simply unfamiliar with. "If anything, I will drag a Hostile back for study!" Scientist to the end. Since the Knight refuses to back down, she instead steps up along his side to continue her efforts in distracting the enemies that bear down upon them.
"Maybe you should listen to her, Niko," Sammel remarks, as he keeps on attempting to attack now. But the Hostile keeps on avoiding it in the end. Frowning a bit as he once more tries to move in now, he stabs at the enemy again.
Another blow strikes home on Nikomachos, the hammer slamming into his right hand and sending his spear clattering to the deck, "Shit!" A relatively rare curse from the Cindravale-turned-Sauveur, and even that is weakly gasped. He reaches down to draw his sword, but he lets the men-at-arms and others step forward into the fray around him, nodding wearily, painfully to Rozlyn, "Alright. See what you can do."
Numbers start to win out, and the men-at-arms and other knights begin to push back the Hostiles, and many of them begin falling back. Sir Ophelia looks down at the wounded Hostile, "I can't tell, Lady Rozlyn. It might still be alive. At this point, I'm just worried about getting back to Razorwing."
<COMBAT> Jocelyn attacks Hostile22 with Bow - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Hostile23 attacks Tomas with Greatsword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 attacks Sammel with Polearm and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile21 with Sword - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile22 with Polearm - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Rozlyn treats Nikomachos:
< Chest (Critical): successful
< Right_Arm (Moderate): successful
< Right_Hand (Moderate): unsuccessful
<COMBAT> Nikomachos passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile21 attacks Nikomachos with Bludgeon - ARMOR on Left Hand stops the attack!<COMBAT> Hostile21 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Hostile22 has been KO'd!
Finally Tomas can feel the shift in the stalemate between the Hostile line and the Havenites, instead of fighting the same invader, the Orelle can sense Nikomachos falling back to get treated and he tries to help engage the Hostile that was attacking the Valen. Once more his attack isn't a brutal strike but a light slice, though it appears that it was enough to fall the creature.
Thankfully, the man stays more still than Jocelyn did and Rozlyn is able to get some patching up done. It's not perfect, but Nikomachos will survive to see his wife. The things you do for extended — quite extended — family. The woman casts a brief glance over towards the Knight Lieutenant. She looks torn, but finally steps away, letting the men-at-arms finish cleaning up the Hostile forces. "We should get it back to the ship and contained. If we cannot get to the computers, we should at least not return empty-handed." The sword is offered to Sir Ophelia once Roz feels confident enough no further Hostiles will be breaking through the line.
Jocelyn fires another arrow, only clipping her bow back into place once the Hostile falls. Her armor is dark with blood now, and more comes off on her sleeve when she wipes her mouth with it. "Damn," she wheezes, looking toward the sedated Hostile. "Might as well pick up the straggler and go." She steps back from the line, starting toward it.
Nodding a bit as he sees the Hostiles going down, Sammel moves forward towards the one remaining he can see. Attempting to use the axe part of his weapon to chop at its neck now. "Good job!" he calls out to Rozlyn in passing.
More Hostiles fall, and the men-at-arms and knights start to surge forward. Sir Ophelia calls, "Hold! Don't pursue! Hold!" She takes the sword back, nodding at Rozlyn's words, "Back to the ship with any still-leaving Hostiles."
Nikomachos sweeps his shield out as the Hostile continues to attack him, but he draws his arm in with a hiss and another wash of blood down his hip, and another blow comes in, striking his left gauntlet from inside. And then he's behind the lines, and he extends his arm as best as he can, letting Rozlyn see to his wounds. It's really the quick-set binding and the painkiller that do the job, and he lets out a breath, lowering his shield-arm. "We can do this, Knight Lieutenant. We can still make it."
<COMBAT> Tomas attacks Hostile23 with Sword - Light wound to Left Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Sammel attacks Hostile23 with Polearm - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Rozlyn attempts to treat Nikomachos but Nikomachos has no treatable wounds.
<COMBAT> Jocelyn tries to attack but has no target!
<COMBAT> Nikomachos passes.
<COMBAT> Hostile23 passes.<COMBAT> Hostile23 has left the combat.
"I want what is on those computers as much as you, Lord Nikomachos." Perhaps more, really. "But I also have a duty to truth. The truth of the matter is that you are in no state to continue direct combat." And Rozlyn is running low on what supplies she has. Once her hands are free, she does move to Jocelyn, hoping perhaps /now/ the scout will allow her to try to tend to her wounds.
Hearing the orders to hold just as he's mid-swing, Sammel is unable to stop his attack, although the Polearm hits the enemy in the chest and not the neck as intended. Letting out a deep breath as he does, he starts making his way back towards the others, backing, so he can keep an eye on their surroundings now.
Jocelyn does actually sit still this time. Whether it's a decision or just the fact that she's lost enough blood to take some of the fight out of her is up for some debate. "You've got- Hold on, that's not going to seal it properly," she fusses a bit, insisting on making certain it's done to her standards. "One of those research doctors, aren't you, m'lady? These work best when they're squared, and then it's slap and go. Don't worry, you'll get it with practice." Which sort of translates to thank you, right?
The urge to continue the attack is great but Tomas is trained to listen to orders, despite how much he wishes to do otherwise. So instead of pursuing with blade in hand, he shuts off his light-shield and with his freed hand, draws the hand crossbow for a potential final shot.
Sir Ophelia shakes her head at Nikomachos' complaint, "Back to the Razorwing. Lady Rozlyn has the right of it. Lieutenant, inform the Captain that we are returning." And then she looks to the rest of the command, "Gather up any Hostile survivors. We'll take the one in the best shape back with us. But we're moving quickly people. I don't want to be caught out here again."
Nikomachos stands watching the Knight Lieutenant for a silent moment, then nods his head, sheathing his unbloodied blade carefully, "Yes Knight Lieutenant." He moves gingerly over to where his spear was dropped, starting to lean down to pick it up and then stopping with a stifled groan of pain. Instead, he crouches, scooping it up, and then falling back into the group. He's made his case, there's nothing more to be said now.
If Rozlyn were one to grumble, she very well may at the moment. Instead, it's kept internal and she just focuses on tending to Jocelyn. "Astrophysics," she says curtly. "Took a few first-aid courses, which is lucky for you." Or lucky for Nikomachos, at least. She steps away from Jocelyn once she's done what she can, assisting in finding — hopefully — a survivor to take back with them.
Without an open shot, Tomas lowers the hand crossbow and collapses it again, returning it to his holster. Turning back to the Knight Lieutenant, he hears the orders and quickly activates the comms back to the Razorwing. He gives the bridge crew that has been monitoring them the update that they will be returning and to inform the Captain if he wasn't already there listening.
Sammel nods a little bit as he listens to the others placing the poleaxe under his arm as he falls in with the rest of the group, so he can stretch out the fingers on both his hands, letting out a bit of a pained cry as he does. Turning to look at his brother, he nods a little, "We'll have you at the doctor very soon, Niko."
The Captain expresses surprise, and disappointment that the mission was not completed, but acknowledges the report. The other forces have also encountered resistance, although definitely more scattered than this fight. The Knight Lieutenant gathers up the group, carrying their own wounded as well as a single sedated Hostile with a serious neck wound, and the retreat back to the Razorwing begins.
Nikomachos shifts his spear over to his left hand as he walks, closing down his hard light shield to arrange it. His right hand is clasped tight over the pressure bandage wrapped around his armor, but he still looks over to Sammel, "I'll live, Sammy." There's a pained pause for a few steps, and then he inquires, "How are you holding up?"
"Astrophysics?" Jocelyn echoes, eyeing her wound dressing for a moment before deciding that discretion is the better part of valor. "Uh. Well. Good job, then," she mumbles, leaning down to help with the Hostile retrieval.
"Among other things, yes." Rozlyn sniffs, looking mildly insulted in the end. "Suppose you would rather I had been like my brothers? Trained in forms of combat and ships?" She leaves Jocelyn to her wounds — mildly patched as they are — and moves to Sammel and Nikomachos. "Apologies, m'Lord," she offers to the latter, "but I fear your wife would be quite upset if you risked too severe an injury to be around for the surrogate's months bearing your child. Which would trickle to her sister, which would affect my brother." Lyrienne being pregnant and all. Or maybe Roz is over-explaining some obscure joke. "Never mind that we are returning with a live Hostile. How many can claim to that?" It's a joyous thing for House Orelle! Or at least for one like Rozlyn. The woman, after making sure that any further wounds can be left to the capable - Jocelyn - even moves to catch up with those bearing the Hostile. Out come the scanning devices.
"Still got all ten fingers, although a number of them hurts quite a bit," Sammel replies. Letting out a few more deep breaths, he shakes his head a bit, before he takes the weapon in his hands again. "But we both live to get home to those waiting for us, which is a good thing, right?" A brief pause as Rozlyn makes her way over, and he offers the woman a nod. "Thank you, my lady. If his wife would have gotten that upset, she might have decided to take it out on her brother in law, after all." It's spoken a bit lightly, before he glances to his hands again. "Good thing it's the right one hurting the most, I guess…" he mutters, mostly to himself.
Nikomachos nods his head to the Orelle, "Thank you, Lady Rozlyn, for your assistance." He looks back to the sedated Hostile being hauled behind them, grimacing palely inside his helmet and continuing to gimp along on the way back to the ramship, "And if you will forgive me saying so…" he has to breathe the pain away a moment, "but we shouldn't be taking live Hostiles. They're our enemies, Lady, not science projects. They're dangerous, and not so valuable as the computers and other equipment onboard." He breathes again a few times, the looks over to Sammel, "It wasn't all that bad, Sammy. I'll survive, and so will you. Ellie won't take it out on…" more breathing, "…on anyone."
"If we hadn't stopped for the Hostile, the ambush would've hit us without any warning," Jocelyn points out at Niko's grumbling, fidgeting with the bandaging on her chest and wiping at her mouth again.
"Even our enemies have great information to offer, Lord Nikomachos!" Rozlyn glances over her shoulder towards them. "The equipment is important, yes. Perhaps another attempt can be made." the ship is, for the moment, theirs. She dips her head in a nod towards Jocelyn, still trying to keep near the Hostile to collect information. "This much is true. More may have fallen." Rather than the few men-at-arms that did. "This goes beyond a science project," though it certainly is one, "and into politics as well. Which may not be our favorite thing, but we all must consider it from time to time."
Sammel chuckles briefly as he hears Niko's words, "Thankfully." It's spoken a bit lightly, before he nods a bit as he helps the others getting them all back to the ship now.
Nikomachos shakes his head slowly at Jocelyn, "If we'd killed it and moved on…" More painful steps take the group further back toward the Razorwing, "…we could have checked the doors. Sprung it on our own terms. Completed the mission. Not duplicated effort already made by the Peakes." He keeps his voice low, aiming to respond only to those immediately around him rather than undermine the Knight Lieutenant's authority further with the group as a whole. "But that's past."
Jocelyn isn't going to argue with the knight who was a Cindravale and is now a Sauveur. Apparently she does have some self-preservation instincts. One or two. Or else she's lost a lot of blood.