[Nexus] AMEN 32: Srs Bzns

[Murkus]

((I just realized that 'holding back' bit is not only cheesy, it also sounded less serious than I wanted it to. ))

[The Bushranger]

"Why yes, yes I do. Fairly often, in fact..."

Shrike trails off, sticks her tongue out mockingly at Magtok, and waits for Anshu to make the next move.

[Murkus]

Jack gives Magtok a 'don't ruin good fun' look, clasping his hands behind his back and watching the proceedings.

His chest is still smoldering and dropping off embers, as an afterthought. He grits his teeth a bit as there is a particular sting. Damned holy magic.

[Lord Iames Osari]

Cerise moves past Jack and Shrike to join Anshu near the railing; Anshu turns to stand watchfully between her and the AMENites present as Cerise begins casting a spell.

Assuming nobody tries to interfere, Cerise will complete her spell a few moments later and fire a jet of blue-white magical flame at the cannon, disintegrating it.

[ThePhantom]

And down goes the cannon, collapsing as it turns to dust in the flames.

[Lord Iames Osari]

"And now we'll hold up our end of the bargain." With the cannon destroyed, Anshu and Cerise move toward the exit, motioning for Shrike to follow.

[Lord Magtok]

Not entirely in the mood to explain things all over again to Jack, or risk the Exalted overhearing on their way out, he hands over a fancy set of instructions on Phase 2 of his cunning master plan to kick the Exalts out of AMEN and lay across the couch before anyone else can take a seat there.

[Lord Iames Osari]

((As I recall, the normal doorway has been blocked up by rubble from the sky fleet. Is there an alternate?))

[ThePhantom]

Well, they could climb out the crater? I don't think Magtok would tell them about the secret passages in and out of the base.

[Murkus]

((So... is the plan still the same, Magtok? I mean, it didn't go quite as expected.))

Jack sighs, sheathing his weapon and watching the Exalts as they leave. "At least that's over with."

[Lord Iames Osari]

Well, they could climb out the crater? I don't think Magtok would tell them about the secret passages in and out of the base.

((Good idea.))

Anshu deploys his orichalcum windblade and steps onto it. Cerise gets on next, holding him tight. Anshu extends an arm toward Shrike, gesturing for her to get on his other side.

[The Bushranger]

"Well, it's been a pleasure. If you need more sparring practice, look me up," Shrike says to Jack, with a saucy wink and a smirk, as she takes Anshu's hand and climbs aboard the windblade.

[Murkus]

Jack smirks back, looking relatively human for once. Besides the blackened holes and such, of course. "I'll be sure to. Hopefully, next time it will be under better circumstances. Take care. As for you two..."

He turns to Anshu and Cerise. "Please try not to make such a mess next visit, eh?" They might find his smile rather unsettling.

[Lord Iames Osari]

The windblade begins to ascend out of the crater, moving relatively slowly under the weight of three people and rocking a bit in the thermal updraft from the bubbling lava below. Cerise tightens her grip on Anshu, and at Jack's words, bares her teeth in a feral smile. "Perhaps if you dislike messy visitors, you shouldn't get other people's children into trouble."

[Murkus]

"Perhaps if you dislike your friend's kids in trouble, you shouldn't come bothering AMEN." Jack retorts, even while knowing that the bad guys started this little war. Mm. Not that they wouldn't have come after AMEN eventually anyway.

He waves at the retreating folks, teleporting away briefly to turn off the forcefield and let the Exalts leave.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike merely smirks, hangs on tight, and gives Cerise a wink as they fly away...

[Lord Magtok]

((So... is the plan still the same, Magtok? I mean, it didn't go quite as expected.))

Jack sighs, sheathing his weapon and watching the Exalts as they leave. "At least that's over with."

((Minus the recovering lava cannon bits, yes. There's a big red line through that bit, in fact))

To prevent this post from being entirely OOC, Magtok slumps against a wall and sighs in exasperation. This is going to go horribly wrong. Ebon, Jack and Darcy are totally going to mess up their half of the plan, and somehow manage to pin it all on his "lack of leadership skills" or some nonsense like that.

[Lord Iames Osari]

The Deliberative troops and airships move away from AMEN.

[Murkus]

Jack approaches Magtok, looking happy with the way things turned out. "Maggie? I honestly don't think we should bother going after them. You and I both know there's little chance of winning against that force with only zombies, me, and a single evil Exalted."

He doesn't appear to know that Darcy is along, too.

"We couldn't wipe them out here. And I doubt we'd wipe them out, even in an ambush. I would prefer to wait, rebuild, consolidate our power and our wealth of new members." He quirks an eyebrow. "Unless you had another goal in mind, besides kill them all. I mean, with the cannon gone, there's just not much point."

[Lord Magtok]

Magtok sighs.

I know. The ambush was more of an excuse to convince Gordon to not tear my throat out, really.

A small, weak smile spreads on Mag's face, as he picks himself back up.

Is it true? What they say about how this little war started? Something about a prank and then an assault at that dance thingy?

[iElf]

A small APC pulls up infront of the AMEN base, the EDENcorp logo printed on the side

[Lord Magtok]

Magtok peers out a window to examine the source of the odd truck-like noises, and immediately groans when he spots the familiar logo.

Fudge, now them? Didn't the Empire explode their stuff or something already? And is there anyone else actually here and out of deadtime, or am I talking to myself again?

[iElf]

two men in business suits step out, one of them carrying a briefcase

[ThePhantom]

"Arrgh, sir. Not talking yourself."

Ah, Pete. Good thing your here, you can get the rest of the henchmen to come back.

[Lord Magtok]

Magtok glances at Pete out of the corner of his eye, and immediately concocts a dastardly, brilliant scheme. A vile, nasty, cunning plan yet to be matched in its pure malevolence and sophistication by anyone to ever live.

I...umm...

With a swift grab, he attempts to take hold of Pete, whirl him around towards the front door, and shove him out towards the businessmen.

Here! You deal with them! I'll go get the rest of the henchmen to come back!

[ThePhantom]

Your'e just as mad as Pete. You sent an insane henchman, who thinks he's a pirate to deal with businessmen.

"Ahoy there?"

[iElf]

the younger of the two frowns."we'd like to speak with who ever is in charge"

[ThePhantom]

"Sorry, sharks, but the captain is out. But the first mate is in port."

Told you Pete's insane.

[iElf]

they frown "we will speak to him then..."

[Lord Magtok]

Businessmen who work for a company out to get him for reasons he never bothered to find out, though. Maybe if Magtok can find the henchmen retrieval code posted on the refrigerator (as that's where he goes right away to make a sandwich), or duck his head in there long enough to prepare some sort of disguise, he won't end up getting shot up by EDEN people and accidentally trigger another war for AMEN.