The air on Peregrine was calm and still as Tactical Commander Samuel Reikoff and Elite Gunslinger Curtis Richardson walked the halls of their hidden fortress, greeting a passing couple of TacOps with frosty puffs of speech in the chill of winter. They had just returned from a successful capture operation in which a hero known, strangely enough, as XxREAPERxX was apprehended. They were strolling down the open front hallway of the fortress, headed for the interrogation room, when the first boom resounded off of the walls.
What was that. Reikoff breathed as more of a command than a question. Curtis quickly moved to a computer terminal on the wall and accessed security feeds.
Looks like a
He was interrupted mid-revelation by the second thunderous booming, which literally sent both the TacCom and the Gunslinger to the floor.
What the hell was that?! Reikoff roared, rounding up two Tactical Operatives and his Gunslinger ally and charging into the base.
When he opened the front door to the main hallway, he expected the worst.
Strangely enough, everything seemed normal. Save for the panicking soldiers, there was no structural damage, no fires, nothing.
It was then that Reikoff decided that the boom had been a decidedly familiar sound.
The Kronos Bay! Now! He snarled at a nearby Tactical Engineer, who quickly activated the bases teleport matrix, bringing the entire group right outside of the access hallway to the massive Kronos Titan hangar. Reikoff moved for the door and ran smack into it He could hear the auto-open motor whirring, but it was somehow stuck.
What is going ON here? Reikoff snapped, but Curtis would soon enough find out for them, the cowboy having produced a crowbar and set to work on the struggling door, prying and pulling on it, trying to break it open.
Gul-durnd things busted as a Bandits leg. The Slinger mumbled as he was forced to place his feet on the wall to pull at the door.
Slowly but surely, he seemed to be making headway
But then he was forced to jump off of the wall to avoid his own crowbar, which had suddenly grown so heavy that as it crashed down with a bang, the floor groaned under stress.
The floor panel in that hallway was designed to hold up to a Hercules Titan along with six biological troops.
Screw it. Reikoff spat, Im getting us in there. The TacCom proceeded to swing one of his dozens of weapons This one an experimental railgun to bear, blasting the bulletproof and explosion-resistant door straight apart by firing the hypervelocity round into its inch-thick glass.
The group ran inside to find their worst nightmare confirmed.
There stood the Kronos Titan, fire being poured into it from all sides, beating down its own hangar door, trying to escape?
Well, well, well, Boss, knew you were skilled, but didnt think youd make it here so quick. Came a smirking tone that immediately made Reikoff want to shoot its speaker
If only its speaker had not been Marcus Marcone.
Yep. The Engineer continued, lighting a Cuban and grinning at them. Knew Id signed up with the right crew. But unfortunately, yous guys have run outta usefulness to the Family.
The hells are you on about, Marcone? Reikoff snarled, his railgun raised and pointed at his long time friends head.
Awh, cmon. Marcus sighed, flicking up one hand and sending the gun into the ceiling.
In that instant Reikoff knew hed reactivated his consigliore cybernetics.
Boss, Curtis, yous guys have been great pals. I dont wanna hafta kill ya, believe me. I still respects yous two. But I gotta go, ydig?
Why, Marcs? Curtis cocked one eyebrow, flipping his pistols through his hands. Whys ya gotsta be doin this ter yer ol pals?
Fraid I cant tell yous two. Marcus shrugged, But, ah
And in that instant, Reikoff knew there was something Marcus had been hiding.
Especially so when Curtis grabbed his head with a shocked yelp, falling to his knees in pain.
Marcus was psychic.
Surprised, boss? Marcus smiled, knowing that while Curtis had left his off, Reikoffs helmet would most likely track his mental signature and kill him if he tried to attack him with a psychic power.
Well, yeah. Reikoff returned, seemingly unphased, I suppose that would be why you remember your original plans, even though we wiped your mind.
Ayup! Marcus chuckled, Yous is real smart-like, Reikoff, I always respected ya brains.
And I always respected your honor, Marcone. Reikoff shot back, resting his hands on his own double pistols.
But I dont get it how didnt we know?
Turns out yous guys wipin my upper mind plus my consigliore cybers kept it a secret that I was a mutant all dis time, heheh.
You [censored] scumbag.
Ah, cmon, boss. Marcus rolled his eyes, glancing over only for a second as the Kronos made a giant hole in the hangar, making the base shudder and rumble.
Reikoff smacked a wall A panel extended, and he quickly tapped one key.
Nothing happened.
In the distant sky, a powerful bomb exploded.
Nice try, Boss. Marcus shrugged.
The Kronos jet-boots ignited, and it slowly began to lift off.
Marcone, you worthless spineless traitorous [censored]. Reikoff snarled viciously.
Heh heh, sorry, Reikoff. Marcus snickered, grabbing a hold on one of the arm-mounted footrests the Titan extended, reserved for emergency manual control only.
Family ties.
Reikoff didnt respond, only sending out a blazing hail of bullets after Marcus as the Titan suddenly accelerated, carrying both it and the traitor away.
And our top story tonight A Malta Group Kronos Titan was seen soaring into the sky last night. Eyewitness reports describe the beastly machine as Horrific and Heartstopping. But heres the big one, folks The Titan was seen, by multiple spectators, including one cameraman, as disengaging its thrusters and falling into the ocean And adding to the great fears of the populace, it exploded catastrophically, making the second sky-based detonation over Peregrine in one night. The resulting shockwaves shattered windows and bent telephone poles for over a half a miles radius. These explosions lead many to believe that some sort of power struggle has emerged in the Malta Group, but only time will tell.
Emil Marcone turned off the television.
Where is he?
Dun worry, boss, Marcus choppas comin in now.
The beating of rotor blades could indeed be heard, and Emil and the Underboss set off for the roof of their Port Oakes skyscraper.
Marcus emerged from the jet-black Super Puma transport helicopter right as the two made it up to the rooftop. Several armed Family guards surrounded the helipad, pointing tommyguns around like the toughs they were.
Marcus. You made it. Not zactly subdl, eidr. The Underboss grinned at the (Newly re-established) Consigliore walked down the steps of the ramp.
Well, you know me. I don do that stealthy [censored].
Heheheh, das Marcus.
Quiet yous guys. Marcus. This is it. Yous missions ober. Please, tell me you gots da package.
Course I did.
The ex-TacEngineer jerked his thumb back to the helicopter, where two Button Man Gunners were unloading a large black metallic case.
Emils eyes widened to the size of golf balls. Can it be ?
The Gunners pried open the lid, revealing none other than the brain of the Delta Four Titan, along with its immensely powerful cybernetic uplink tech.
My God It is
Marcus you
Yeah, I know. Marcus smirked, Is da best, o course. Dere aint none better dan Marcus Marcone.
Ey, goon! Emil snapped at the Underboss. Get dis stuff to our Black Market techies NOW, dammit! Were gonna rebolusionize underworld cybernetics wid dis stuff!
The Underboss complied.
An wud about you, Marcus? What now?
Ah, what else, Boss? Marcus Marcone, master of deception, technological genius, and mutant at birth smiled, Im gonna start up my own racketeerin, gonna start pushin my own dyne, time fer me to start SHOWIN these fools dat Im fambly f life!
And there was grinning and cackling and the consumption of the finest wines, and Marcus was gone, taking the first helicopter to Mercy to start his operations from the bottom up .
The air on Peregrine was calm and still as Tactical Commander Samuel Reikoff and Elite Gunslinger Curtis Richardson walked the halls of their hidden fortress, greeting a passing couple of TacOps with frosty puffs of speech in the chill of winter. They had just returned from a successful capture operation in which a hero known, strangely enough, as XxREAPERxX was apprehended. They were strolling down the open front hallway of the fortress, headed for the interrogation room, when the first boom resounded off of the walls.
What was that. Reikoff breathed as more of a command than a question. Curtis quickly moved to a computer terminal on the wall and accessed security feeds.
Looks like a
He was interrupted mid-revelation by the second thunderous booming, which literally sent both the TacCom and the Gunslinger to the floor.
What the hell was that?! Reikoff roared, rounding up two Tactical Operatives and his Gunslinger ally and charging into the base.
When he opened the front door to the main hallway, he expected the worst.
Strangely enough, everything seemed normal. Save for the panicking soldiers, there was no structural damage, no fires, nothing.
It was then that Reikoff decided that the boom had been a decidedly familiar sound.
The Kronos Bay! Now! He snarled at a nearby Tactical Engineer, who quickly activated the bases teleport matrix, bringing the entire group right outside of the access hallway to the massive Kronos Titan hangar. Reikoff moved for the door and ran smack into it He could hear the auto-open motor whirring, but it was somehow stuck.
What is going ON here? Reikoff snapped, but Curtis would soon enough find out for them, the cowboy having produced a crowbar and set to work on the struggling door, prying and pulling on it, trying to break it open.
Gul-durnd things busted as a Bandits leg. The Slinger mumbled as he was forced to place his feet on the wall to pull at the door.
Slowly but surely, he seemed to be making headway
But then he was forced to jump off of the wall to avoid his own crowbar, which had suddenly grown so heavy that as it crashed down with a bang, the floor groaned under stress.
The floor panel in that hallway was designed to hold up to a Hercules Titan along with six biological troops.
Screw it. Reikoff spat, Im getting us in there. The TacCom proceeded to swing one of his dozens of weapons This one an experimental railgun to bear, blasting the bulletproof and explosion-resistant door straight apart by firing the hypervelocity round into its inch-thick glass.
The group ran inside to find their worst nightmare confirmed.
There stood the Kronos Titan, fire being poured into it from all sides, beating down its own hangar door, trying to escape?
Well, well, well, Boss, knew you were skilled, but didnt think youd make it here so quick. Came a smirking tone that immediately made Reikoff want to shoot its speaker
If only its speaker had not been Marcus Marcone.
Yep. The Engineer continued, lighting a Cuban and grinning at them. Knew Id signed up with the right crew. But unfortunately, yous guys have run outta usefulness to the Family.
The hells are you on about, Marcone? Reikoff snarled, his railgun raised and pointed at his long time friends head.
Awh, cmon. Marcus sighed, flicking up one hand and sending the gun into the ceiling.
In that instant Reikoff knew hed reactivated his consigliore cybernetics.
Boss, Curtis, yous guys have been great pals. I dont wanna hafta kill ya, believe me. I still respects yous two. But I gotta go, ydig?
Why, Marcs? Curtis cocked one eyebrow, flipping his pistols through his hands. Whys ya gotsta be doin this ter yer ol pals?
Fraid I cant tell yous two. Marcus shrugged, But, ah
And in that instant, Reikoff knew there was something Marcus had been hiding.
Especially so when Curtis grabbed his head with a shocked yelp, falling to his knees in pain.
Marcus was psychic.
Surprised, boss? Marcus smiled, knowing that while Curtis had left his off, Reikoffs helmet would most likely track his mental signature and kill him if he tried to attack him with a psychic power.
Well, yeah. Reikoff returned, seemingly unphased, I suppose that would be why you remember your original plans, even though we wiped your mind.
Ayup! Marcus chuckled, Yous is real smart-like, Reikoff, I always respected ya brains.
And I always respected your honor, Marcone. Reikoff shot back, resting his hands on his own double pistols.
But I dont get it how didnt we know?
Turns out yous guys wipin my upper mind plus my consigliore cybers kept it a secret that I was a mutant all dis time, heheh.
You [censored] scumbag.
Ah, cmon, boss. Marcus rolled his eyes, glancing over only for a second as the Kronos made a giant hole in the hangar, making the base shudder and rumble.
Reikoff smacked a wall A panel extended, and he quickly tapped one key.
Nothing happened.
In the distant sky, a powerful bomb exploded.
Nice try, Boss. Marcus shrugged.
The Kronos jet-boots ignited, and it slowly began to lift off.
Marcone, you worthless spineless traitorous [censored]. Reikoff snarled viciously.
Heh heh, sorry, Reikoff. Marcus snickered, grabbing a hold on one of the arm-mounted footrests the Titan extended, reserved for emergency manual control only.
Family ties.
Reikoff didnt respond, only sending out a blazing hail of bullets after Marcus as the Titan suddenly accelerated, carrying both it and the traitor away.
And our top story tonight A Malta Group Kronos Titan was seen soaring into the sky last night. Eyewitness reports describe the beastly machine as Horrific and Heartstopping. But heres the big one, folks The Titan was seen, by multiple spectators, including one cameraman, as disengaging its thrusters and falling into the ocean And adding to the great fears of the populace, it exploded catastrophically, making the second sky-based detonation over Peregrine in one night. The resulting shockwaves shattered windows and bent telephone poles for over a half a miles radius. These explosions lead many to believe that some sort of power struggle has emerged in the Malta Group, but only time will tell.
Emil Marcone turned off the television.
Where is he?
Dun worry, boss, Marcus choppas comin in now.
The beating of rotor blades could indeed be heard, and Emil and the Underboss set off for the roof of their Port Oakes skyscraper.
Marcus emerged from the jet-black Super Puma transport helicopter right as the two made it up to the rooftop. Several armed Family guards surrounded the helipad, pointing tommyguns around like the toughs they were.
Marcus. You made it. Not zactly subdl, eidr. The Underboss grinned at the (Newly re-established) Consigliore walked down the steps of the ramp.
Well, you know me. I don do that stealthy [censored].
Heheheh, das Marcus.
Quiet yous guys. Marcus. This is it. Yous missions ober. Please, tell me you gots da package.
Course I did.
The ex-TacEngineer jerked his thumb back to the helicopter, where two Button Man Gunners were unloading a large black metallic case.
Emils eyes widened to the size of golf balls. Can it be ?
The Gunners pried open the lid, revealing none other than the brain of the Delta Four Titan, along with its immensely powerful cybernetic uplink tech.
My God It is
Marcus you
Yeah, I know. Marcus smirked, Is da best, o course. Dere aint none better dan Marcus Marcone.
Ey, goon! Emil snapped at the Underboss. Get dis stuff to our Black Market techies NOW, dammit! Were gonna rebolusionize underworld cybernetics wid dis stuff!
The Underboss complied.
An wud about you, Marcus? What now?
Ah, what else, Boss? Marcus Marcone, master of deception, technological genius, and mutant at birth smiled, Im gonna start up my own racketeerin, gonna start pushin my own dyne, time fer me to start SHOWIN these fools dat Im fambly f life!
And there was grinning and cackling and the consumption of the finest wines, and Marcus was gone, taking the first helicopter to Mercy to start his operations from the bottom up .