Vice: 2120 (IC)

[Acerbez]

Cainen Anuel

Cainen's judiciary motorbike had fallen into order and rank with the others who were vulturing behind Zvezda, billowing through the mega city's roadways and winding streets. His peers that mounted up and those that piled in were all converging on the same place, truth was though that a grav bike was far more entertaining as an intermission between tasks. Perhaps the most calming and entertaining part of the job thus far. Cainen had maintained high expectations so far, contrasting the judiciary against his tenure serving the politic's military force. Too early to judge... Much too early.

Parking the bike and wading through the gathered force, pressing through the perimeter and walking tall in front of onlooking civilians and the more numerous auxiliaries. Cainen was full suit, helmet and all, perhaps his single left eye the only differentiating difference between him and his other peers. Peripherally following was easy, using his enhanced acquity, Cainen zoomed in and out and scanned the arcology and streets as much as he possibly could- gathering as much information as quantifiably possible. The H-18 implant was complex and intricate enough to draw information from multiple sources and provide left bordered information in almost real-time, an offset of less than a tenth of a second.

Siege against an entire arcology....? he questioned himself. Whats the end game here? Looking to discern a benefit, the casual step of the rookie came to an abrupt halt as he shifted his vision and 'checked in' behind a good sized group of the others before seeing Zvezda stricken with such seriousness. Cainen's expression didnt change directly and his eye's lazily peered through his own extended mask as he studied his instructor.

Mmhmm... he assured himself in the confines of his own private conversation.

"Call it". she ordered, followed by the yipping and suggestion of other aspirants. Others looked to eachother dumb founded- atleast it looked like it to Cainen. His own past experience in CO-IN ops took over and his eye's squinted, looking around for someone he could ride the wave with. Fawkes coming into view, Cainen noticed the data slate in his hand and instantly concocted a 'go to' first step approach, to at the very least, supplement his compatriots.

Side stepping Uxia and Victoria's delberation while not clocking out from listening to their suggestion-they were at least taking initiative. Timing his request as to not interrupt any of the others, Cainen intricately placed his words to reach the Colonel between dialogues,

"Excuse me, Colonel. May I?" pointing at the luminescent data slate, soliciting Fawkes with confidence. Recieving the slightest nod and hand off, Cainen ripped into the data slates configuration to associate himself with its connectivity and tools readily available. Instantly finding what he had hoped was there, Cainen's voice resounded with firm bass to his peers while still aliding and tapping the data slate's interface through various screens.

"The arcology is accessible externally, atleast functionally speaking. Everything isnt accessible, but enough to work with." Cainen didnt look up to see if anyone was listening, but given the landscape of the conversation and thoae involved, someone would hear him.

Indirect discord... just like the wastelands....

struct group_info init_groups = { .usage = COMMS_INIT(2) };

struct group_info *groups_alloc(int gidsetsize){

struct group_info *Arcology_info;

int nblocks;

int i;

nblocks = (gidsetsize + NGROUPS_PER_BLOCK - 1) / NGROUPS_PER_BLOCK;

/* Signal connectivity:*/

nblocks = nblocks ? : 1;

group_info = kmalloc(sizeof(*group_info)

[Caltharus]

Adrian eagerly jumped on the motorbike presented to him. In the academy, he had found vehicular training to be one of the most enjoyable exercises, even if they weren’t his strong suit. Nonetheless he quickly started the engine and joined the line following Zvezda. Whilst they sped towards the arcology, Adrian eyed the blocks they passed by, attempting to memorize his surroundings. After all Sector 13 would be his home for the months to come, so it’d be useful to get familiar with it as soon as possible.

As the group came to a halt, having arrived at the edge of the perimeter surrounding New Oakland Mall Arcology, Adrian jumped of his bike, grabbed his ballistic shield and hurried to Zvezda, instinctively waiting to receive orders. Call It. Though the words weren’t what he expected, he quickly gathered his thoughts while the others spoke, drawing from their academy training for an answer.
“If we’re to progress into to one of the lobbies, I’ll take point.” Adrian sought out long arms from the group, noticed Pasha’s AK variant and continued: “I believe it’d be wise if you stacked with me. Should we gain Arbiter support, we’ll advance under it, if we don’t I say we use smokes to conceal our movement”. As the words left his mouth, he looked around, waiting to hear how others would divide into the two groups.

[Antimersia]

A bike ride was much more Connor speed. In hindsight he wished he could have elected to ride to the precinct on one of these rather than the VTOL. But, the focus in the moment was on the active shooting. He arrived with the rest, having been closer to the back of the convoy. He hops off his bike and joins the group as they deliberate their plan of attack. But the serious tone and look on Zvezda's face he could tell her demand to 'Call it' did not mean, have a conversation or discussion. it meant make the call, and act. So that is what Connor did.

"Too much coordination for normal Blues. Very suspicious. I will go sewer team to watch the rear." Connor drew one of his vectors as he spoke. He carefully heads into the road towards the nearest sewer access cover. He bisects his free arm and reach down, grabbing the cover. He lifts it just high enough to get it up and slide it out of the way. Even with mechanical arms those covers are absurdly heavy. He reconjoins his arm and aims down the hole with his vector. "Arbitrator, flashlight." He says commandingly. A nearby arbitrator indignantly gives him a flashlight that he shines down the entrance to get a better view. He is not expecting to find anything, but it is better to survey than to be caught in an ambush. "All clear." He calls out to Zvezda and the rest of the rookies. He steps back from the sewer access and towards the arbitrator. "Thank you for lending your tool." Connor hands the arbitrator back his flashlight before walking back over to the sewer access and standing by it, almost guarding it.

[Imperialisium]

Zvezda

As the rookies gave their quick responses, some like Cainen taking special initiative to try different angles, Zvezda nodded. More of a nod for them to execute their plan than anything else. "Best get to it then," she replied. The fighting in the streets only intensifying as the Arbitrators began to fan out in securing the approaches to the Arcology. Forming an asymmetric perimeter delineated by streets, sub level access points, and skywalks from other mega-blocks and elevated streets into the arcology's above ground story's. It was then from a shop a fireteam of Arbitrators raised their weapons and moved in. Returning a moment later with a civilian, arms over their head, as they moved bystanders out of the direct engagement zone. The Arbitrators began to move past the Inspectors when Zvezda held out a hand.

"Citizen. Did you see the start of this?"

The citizen straightened at the sight of the Inspector's suit and badge. The man gulped and hastily replied, "I saw some gunmen in vehicles roll up. Hosed down some men outside before going into the Arcology. That's how it started."

"You'll testify to that?"

"Yes, Yes S-, Ma'am."

"Reg. Card."

The Citizen looked down and pointed to his front lapel pocket. One of the Arbitrators reached in and removed a slim wafer card. Zvezda took it and slid it into her left vambrace. The Citizen's information coming up in a data reel within her helmet. She began to recant some information, "Harry Gerard. 57. Aeromechanic and with a clean record." Removing the Registration Card Zvezda handed it back to Harry. The Citizen taking it meekly as the Arbitrators moved him to the rear to be released.

"At least we know how it started. Wellington, I do believe you have your first clue."

A boom sounded as the Arbitrator tank fired its main gun at an unseen target. But by the sound of fresh scrap metal hitting the pavement down the street it seemed like another technical was destroyed. Colonel Fawkes approached. The Arbitrator commanding officer of the 212th moved his helmet visor along the rookies then at Zvezda and spoke, "Perimeter will be established momentarily. Two-Twelve elements have cut most transit access points already and are beginning to repulse incoming criminal reinforcements. We have positive I.D. tags on Neo-Latin King and Blues as combatants fighting together."

Zvezda nodded at the information and drew her Lawman. The I.D. sensor checking 'O.K.' while she held it at her side. "Guess its time to identify our mysterious third party."

This was more a statement to herself than anything else. Perhaps Wellington as well. As the rookies pursued their own plan.

Captain's Response

The Arbitrator Captain shook his head. "That'll be a negative for now. My company is moving up to cut the mag-lev line running through level 13 and forming check points along the elevated access points. Can't spare the troops." At that the Captain shouted to a Lieutenant to move his platoon up an adjacent Mega-blocks lift line to get them up to block the Skywalk from the Mega-block to the Arcology." The Lieutenant waving his troops behind him to follow as they dashed into the Mega-block and out of sight.

[Sweillia]

Felix Bernhardt

It was certainly an interesting choice to send fresh recruits to an active shooter situation. Now, technically they weren't fresh on account of their rigorous training, but theory and practice are two completely separate beasts. Felix had found that one out the hard way, when a simple enough recipe to synthesise a new strain of the drug CKT ended with his lab burning down and him trapped in it. He expected perhaps a more gradual introduction, but now in hindsight the training was probably meant to be that. But what was more interesting, at least to Felix, was that by the Boss-Lady's own admission they clearly hadn't prepared anything for them before hand. Or at least what they had prepared was that the recruits would respond to the first call that came in after they arrived.

He had caught a few of his new comrades shoot glances at him when he had removed his mask while changing into his gear. He wouldn't do it if he didn't have to, but he did in order to put on his helmet. He just could not wait until he had to inevitably explain the scars that lay underneath. But that was a concern for later. Felix decided to pick the lighter gear, he didn't want to overdo things. And besides, they definitely weren't going at it alone, if they were then he could easily diagnose the reason for the Sector's incredibly high crime rate, the local law enforcement's insanity.

The bullets were already flying by the time they arrived. The Arbitrators were already hard at work. The carnage was almost shocking to Felix. He wondered for a second how his luck could be so horrible that this was his first assignment. Or maybe it wasn't luck. This sector was horrid, so maybe it was just a matter of time before something like this happened. Perhaps the Inspectorate had discovered about his past, and they had decided that deploying him here would be his punishment. He unholstered his Lawman and held it tightly with his bionic arm. When asked to call it, he didn't answer, many others responded more quickly and with much better answers he could come up with at the time. Instead he was dumbfounded on why this attack was happening.

He overheard some mention of the attackers being Blues and Neo-Latin Kings. That meant it wasn't a terrorist attack. Those weren't exactly politically oriented groups, at least anymore. The Original Latin Kings started with a political dimension when it was founded, but that was literally a century and a half ago. Was it just murder for the sake of murder? No that was impossible, right? There were many easier ways to kill larger amounts of people than this. The effort that it must have taken for the attackers to get their hands on those technicals was not at all justified by such an explanation. A distraction, perhaps? Again the effort didn't justify it, a single technical would probably be distraction enough. Besides, if really only 8% of crimes were ever responded to here, all that was needed was an even subpar roll of a die to get away with whatever crime you wanted to. The last one he landed on was a robbery, or given the scale perhaps heist was more apt. It was a mall after all, plenty of cash on hand. All that was needed was a lot of hands on deck to grab it all, or at least a lot of it.

Then what was the exit strategy? Most if not all of the technicals were destroyed now, so that was gone and an exodus on foot was clearly off the table. Felix also doubted that these criminals were about to whip out a fleet of fighter jets to get them all out by air past all of the firepower waiting outside. The only way out that he could think of was underground. Surely such a massive structure would have at least some connections on basement levels, but Felix wasn't a local, so he couldn't be sure. After the Boss Lady had finished receiving suggestions and dealing with the witness, Felix approached her. She was slightly shorter than him, but simply her presence alone more than made up for that. "Do we have access to plans of the arcology's basement levels? I'm guessing that they're going to want to leave at some point and right now that seems to be there only way. It would be good if we can secure any outside connections located there."

[Antimersia]

Connor is a rather impatient man. They tried to train this predilection out of him. But it is simply too ingrained in his nature. So when he sees his fellow rookies discussing instead of acting, he quickly grows exasperated. He pulls out his lawman MKIII and activates the headlamp on his helmet. He bisects one arm as he steps down the metal rebar ladder. The stench is beyond unpleasant. But, there isn't much more you can expect when you shove millions of people into one building and feed most of them synthetic rations. He aims down the tunnel, swaying side to side and scouring for any sign of more insurgents or signs of people having come through the area recently. He looks down at the landing, checking for any traps before reaching the bottom. Once his feet are on solid ground he looks down both ends of the sewer one final time. Not seeing anyone, or any sign that anyone has been there recently, He calls out. "All clear!" His voice echoes through the sewer, and up and out the manhole. Part of him regrets announcing his presence like that, removing any element of surprise. But, with the full on warzone that is the surface at the moment, Connor doubts that anyone down here wouldn't be on high alert regardless. He steps to the side of the ladder, making room for the rest of the lower level team to descend into the tunnel with him. and once again he goes back to waiting. He begins impatiently tapping his foot once again, a tick that he could never break free of.

[Morrdh]

"Well, here goes I guess." Uxia shrugs and then quickly checked over her gear before proceeding down through the manhole, climbing down into the sewer. She found it strangely comforting, recalling the sewers and service tunnels her parents and herself had used for some of their smuggling runs. Truth be told, it was probably an environment that she was more comfortable with than any of her fellow recruits. She was most probably the tunnel rat on the team.

"Coms." She said as she passed Connor. "I'll take point."

[Segmentia]

Victoria spared a glance at the girl, Savannah, and simply replied with a nod as she awaited a reply from the captain. The reply of a pretty solid no was basically what she had been expecting, so she simply nodded to the captain and wished him luck before returning to the majority of the group.

"Heavy support is a no go, so going directly into the lobby sector is off the table. There are plenty of shops we can use to get in though, and provide us some cover. The sewer is still viable, as that guy with mech arms is so keen on proving." Victoria addressed the group as she loaded her Peacemaker with slugs and double checked her ammo for her Lawman. Once checked, she began making her way towards the arcology, scanning the outer bottom floor for the outward facing shops. There were a few facing her, empty and as she got closer they were clearly disheveled, no doubt from the panic of shoppers and others fleeing out once the shooting started. Victoria approached cautiously, weapon ready even though she wasn't expecting trouble right out the gate with the Arbitrators having just rolled through the area. Sliding up by the door, a solid wall blocking her from seeing inside, Victoria halted and looked back at who was tagging along with her.

[Caltharus]

The lack of heavier support was regrettable, but wouldn't be a problem. Nodding to Victoria's suggestion about entering through a side door, Adrian begun attaching the straps of his shield to his left arm, making sure they were tight enough. Then he drew his lawman, loaded it and begun walking after her. As they went he noted how some civilians where grouping up on the far side of the perimeter. Likely those whose curiosity got the better of their fear. Or perhaps they were just anticipating a chance to loot something once it was over. Adrian frowned upon his momentary cynicism.

Upon arriving to their chosen entry point, he halted next to Victoria and softly tapped his lawman against the shield: “Once everyone is here, I'll go first”. While they waited, Adrian contemplated about the situation they were going in to. He could still hear series of gunshots from the inside, proof of the gruesome fight taking place there. Yet it also might work to their advantage. ‘Gangers busy shooting everything that moves rarely have the time or patience to watch their flanks.’

[Imperialisium]

The Oakland Mall Massacre

Zvezda observed the rookies break off into two teams. A team delving into the sewers while others moved into the ground floor via shops. Zvezda nodded to Colonel Fawkes as she watched the rookies put their initiative to the test. Something they would need to even have a chance of surviving their probation period in Sector 13. Let alone pass...

The ground floor was punctuated by the sounds of gunfire and smoke. Not just propellant but the smoke from a grenade. One of the gang combatants had had the infinitely wise idea of popping a smoke grenade off inside the Mall near the lobby. Which filtered into the nearby shops as the rookies soon realized the ventilation system was not running. Evidently someone at the controls of the Arcology had turned them off. The first shop was largely empty and eerily still. Debris strewn about haphazardly as civilians had fled. The lobby and central ground floor plaza beyond the interior entrance was another story. As through the gloom the rookies could see gangsters fighting a proverbial Stalingrad across at least three floors and from several ground floor shops. At least a dozen combatants could be seen but many more likely nearby fighting in adjacent storefronts. The clatter of automatic fire was punctuated by the detonation of shrapnel as a fragmentation grenade exploded. To the Rookies left was a sign which read: Access Stairs.

A small glass window in the doorway showing the staircase only leading up to at least the second level.

Meanwhile, in the sewers the ambience grew more eerily silent as the rookies pressed further until they were right below the Arcology. Wireless signals fluctuated and radio chatter from Judiciary channels began to chirp and static by the meters of concrete, rebar, and street layers above them. The stench was the worst part. Even if the sewers were low and allowed the rookies to walk on dry concrete. Moving under the arcology fully, well under, the sounds of the sewer was a suffocating putrid silence. Access routs with maintenance ladders punctuated the central axis sewer channel they where in.

[Revlona]

Victoria spared a glance at the girl, Savannah, and simply replied with a nod as she awaited a reply from the captain. The reply of a pretty solid no was basically what she had been expecting, so she simply nodded to the captain and wished him luck before returning to the majority of the group.

"Heavy support is a no go, so going directly into the lobby sector is off the table. There are plenty of shops we can use to get in though, and provide us some cover. The sewer is still viable, as that guy with mech arms is so keen on proving." Victoria addressed the group as she loaded her Peacemaker with slugs and double checked her ammo for her Lawman. Once checked, she began making her way towards the arcology, scanning the outer bottom floor for the outward facing shops. There were a few facing her, empty and as she got closer they were clearly disheveled, no doubt from the panic of shoppers and others fleeing out once the shooting started. Victoria approached cautiously, weapon ready even though she wasn't expecting trouble right out the gate with the Arbitrators having just rolled through the area. Sliding up by the door, a solid wall blocking her from seeing inside, Victoria halted and looked back at who was tagging along with her.

Savannah

A flash of irritation crossed Savannahs face as the arbitrator captain refused to lend any heavy support to the lobby team, thankfully her face was still covered by her helmet and nothing of the irritation showed. A simple nod was all she allowed the captain before she about faced and returned to the group. She made sure the safety on her sidearm was off as she closely followed victoria, making sure to keep her covered as the two of them and whoever else was joining their group made their way to the door.

"At least a dozen of them, all engaged in combat, small arms and grenades from the look of it," Savannah said as she peered from behind a piece of solid cover at the fighting before them. "We could open fire but we'd be severally outgunned if they all turned on us, i suggest either a portion of us or all of us makes our way to the second floor via those stairs to see if we can get a better vantage point.." she said

[Antimersia]

Connor nodded lazily to Uxia as she took point. He held back and continued to cover the area as the rest of his fellow rookies made their way down as well. The silence of the sewers perturbed Connor. The warzone up top would undoubtedly require some people to need cochlear cybernetics when all is said and done. But down here, is like another world. Someone could forget what it is like up top by spending just a day in these sewers. And yet, this silence is not at all peaceful. It has its own anxiety inducing qualities. In fact, it made Connor suspicious. Even a sewer had sounds. The sound of condensation dripping from the ceiling to the slop below. The sound of rats and bugs scurrying along through cracks in the walls. And yet Connor could only hear the foot steps of Uxia and the other rookies as they descend. His worry continued to grow, that something was wrong. He stood firm though. Believing, perhaps foolishly, that he is prepared for anything that might come his way.

[Morrdh]

Uxia

Feeling strangely at home, Uxia quietly moved along the sewer tunnel taking slow, deliberate and careful steps to minimize the sound of her footsteps. Memories from her childhood came flooding back as she recalled the lessons she'd learnt from a young age, a childhood spent creeping through service tunnels in a bid to remain undetected. The sewer tunnels were always going to be the slower way into the complex, venturing down here into the unknown demanded caution and then there was the question of trying to find a way into the complex. That was before taking into consideration whether any of the gunmen waging a gang war knew about the sewers and had taken measures to address it.

Uxia let her tunnel rat instincts take over, straining her ears to listen for all the sounds around her to build up a picture in her mind. Dripping water, scurrying rats and even her own beating heart were noise that she needed to filter out. Instead she was listening for other noises; footsteps, muffled conversations, and the clinking of weapons in addition to smells that were out of place. If there was anyone else down here, Uxia wanted to locate them first before they realised the rookie Inspectors were down here.

Section-by-section Uxia went along, carefully checking it was clear before tapping her com-bead twice. This was the signal for her fellow rookiers to move up behind her, it was simple and reduced the chances of them being discovered. One tap was the signal for 'wait, not clear' if there was a problem. Uxia would only use a verbal signal if necessary, otherwise the tap system sufficed.

[Caltharus]

Adrian took a deep breath and advanced to the shop before them. Covering himself with the shield, he walked slowly, meticulously checking each row of shelves. Luckily however the shop seemed empty. As per their plan he advanced towards the stairs to the second level, unintentionally hastening his walk bit by bit. Once there he halted and waited for the others to catch up. Whlist waiting he kept watch over the shops entrance to the arcology, though the gangers seemed unalarmed to their presence. Haphazard firing continued outside the shop until suddenly Adrian felt a tap on his shoulder.

The tap signified that the others were there and ready to continue. With a smooth and relatively silent turn he switched his attention from the door to the empty stairs next to him. Another deep breath and Adrian was again on his way. He hoped that one of the others had taken up his watch and now covered the shops entrace to the arcology. Yet he wouldn't look back to make sure, for trust in his fellow inspectors had been hammered to his head in the academy. Step by step he carefully strided upwards, always keeping his shield between him and the positions would be inspector killers could fire from.

Through his mind raced a dozen scenarios. Soon they would be engulfed in the firefight raging deeper in the arcology. His first taste of real conflict. Unsuprisingly they had trained with live ammunation, but it was entirely different to be moments from actually facing the real thing.

[Antimersia]

As it appeared that the task of securing the sewers was one left to only Mcneil and himself, Connor moved forward. He kept his watch on Mcneil's six as they advanced. He stood firm waiting until he heard the two taps of the comms. The moment he heard it, he backed up to the next sector that She had deemed clear. Mcneil moved surprisingly quietly. Connor felt almost like a liability with how noisy he was by comparison. The next two taps kept coming in, and Connor would move up. He never saw even a hint of a person through each sector. He was beginning to think that his initial worries and reading of the situation was based more in paranoid jitters for his first time out as a rookie, than as an actual read of the environment. But, he stayed on high alert none the less. No one would sneak up on him or Mcneil. Not if he could help it.

[Parcia]

He kept on Adrian's ass as per proper stack protocol. He tapped him on the shoulder as they stacked up and kept his hand on his shoulder, holding his AK aloft over Adrian's right. He could fell the lad tense up every time they turned a corner and kept close in case he or his shield took a few rounds. He could also sense the trepidation of some of his younger team mates. He understood it, and if the situation wasn't so tense he'd give them one of his few chuckles.

Now was not the time how ever. Soon they would indeed be engulfed in a raging fire fight with forces all manner of malicious. Pasha couldn't hope for anything more. It'd been years since he was back in the saddle and it felt Good. It felt Good to feel the 20 kilos of gear on his back, it felt good to feel his rifle in his hands and it felt good to be putting his skills to use.

[Imperialisium]

The Oakland Mall Massacre

Sewers
As the sewer team moved to their target the following they came upon the desired entry point. A steel wheel above them leading into an access hall of the Arcology's lowest sub-level. There still was little sound. Definitely no sounds of a raging gun battle occurring above them. It was their only real access point this side of the sewer system to enter and exit the bottom sub-levels of the Arcology.


Sector 13 Precinct

High Inspector Volt tapped the end of her index finger on the glossy desk operated by one of the many analysts seated before the large room of screens depicting various events going about in the Sector. Two screens showing camera feeds from the sewer team and ground floor teams dominated one quadrant of the room. While another set of screens had been given over to the fighting outside of the Arcology. A fight which seemed to be dying down. Though pressure was not relieved in the strategic sense as Judiciary Drones were still picking up fragments of communication traffic from the gangs involved in the battle in the Oakland Mall Arcology. Then of course there was the events going on throughout the Sector.

This looks like an organized hit. But where is the true target? Why? These thoughts permeated the folds of Volt's brain as she looked back and forth. Following the events of the morning closely. "Wait, there! Inspector Savannah's cam. Tell her to stay still."

An analyst calmly spoke into their headset as the operator tapped into the proper frequency. <<Inspector. Hold still for a moment.>>

Volt pointed to a pair of gangsters on an elevated level firing downwards. Their gray suits not quite covering blackness. Tattoos. "I want a magnification and a post-production resolution on those tattoos."

The Analyst began to type rapidly as the video feed was spliced over to his screen and one of the Precinct's data-engines began to zoom in and improve the resolution through advanced mathematical formulae. Revealing the tattoos in improved view. Volt leaned down and gazed at the tattoos, "Well, I'll be damned."

"Should we notify Inspector Zvezda?" asked the analyst.

"Right away." responded Volt smoothly.

[Revlona]

Savannah

"Rodger.." Savannah muttered into her mic, going completely still as the voice in her comms ordered her to hold for a moment, she guessed that the people back at base monitoring the fight through their cameras had seen sometime she hadn't, potentially a piece of information or some other quality of the fight she was viewing that they wanted a better look at. Because of this she fought the urge to peer around again at the battle, her curiosity at what exactly they were looking for being beaten back as she held her head, and by extension, the camera steady for a vital few moments.

"Alright inspector you're good," The voice said in her ear before a bit of static told her that the person had left the channel. Now free to move, Savannah looked around her eyes falling on the two gangsters that the High Inspector had seen, while the high inspector had focused on them do to their tattoos, Savannah noticed them because of their positioning. She keyed her mic as she started to back track to the stairs, never taking her eyes off the fight as she said, "Heads up, I have eyes on two gangsters on the second level, currently shooting down into the first, should be to your left once exiting the stairs on the second level over,"

She then drew her pistol and took cover behind the stores counter, intent on covering the bottom of the stairs so none of the gangsters tried to use them to flank the others once they opened fire.

[Morrdh]

Uxia

Uxia continued her advance along the sewer tunnel, keeping her eyes and ears sharp for signs of anyone other than the team of Inspectors. Up ahead she spotted a ladder leading up to a service hatch and, what she presumed, the mall above. She tapped once on her com-bead. Wait.

With her Lawgiver to hand, Uxia cautiously moved up to the ladder with slow and deliberate steps as she strained her ears. She stopped short of the ladder and went flat against the wall, then inched closer pointing her gun up at the hatch above. Thankfully there was no sudden bust of gunfire and she waited a moment for tapping twice on her com-bead. All clear.

"Just us?" She asked quietly, just above a whisper, when only Connor appeared.

[Antimersia]

Connor heard the single tap over the comms. He halted instantly. His alertness rose even higher. He wasn't sure if Mcneil had come upon some of the assailants, or if she found a way out. He steeled himself for the worst. As the silence continued, Connor's suspicion grew until he heard the double tap. He advanced again, when he had caught up with Mcneil he relaxed a bit, noticing the ladder and exit. He holstered one of his vectors in preparation to climb.

"It appears so." He replied. He breathed in deeply. "I shall open the hatch. Please cover me as I do. Our fight is soon beginning." He added, holstering his other vector. He climbed the ladder slowly and quietly. Reaching the top and grabbing hold of the steel wheel and turning it ever so slowly. The sound of the turning wheel was loud. louder than Connor would have liked. Some grease would have come in handy in this moment. When the wheel can no longer turn and the hatch can be opened, Connor looks back down at Mcneil and says softly, "It is time, be ready." He then gently pushes up the hatch, moving it up only three or four inches. He waits, hoping that anyone on the otherwise who is ready to shoot will see his arms and fire at them instead on instinct, rather than peering his head out right away.

[Caltharus]

One of the gangers Savannah had warned about became visible just after her warning. Adrian steadied his step, advancing up the final stairs and towards the open doorframe to the second level. He silently adressed Pasha: "Once we're at the door, lets open up on them". Against his will his hearth started to pound faster and faster. Despite all their training, both physically and mentally, nothing could entirely remove the stress of first live situation. The baptism by fire drew nearer and nearer

Yet as he was mere two steps from the doorframe his mind calmed. Breathing relaxed and hearthbeat stabilized. Adrian's conciousness mind made way for the subconciousnes. All the excitement and fear was gone, replaced by the cold efficiency of doing something drilled to one's spine. With one step left to go the second ganger to his left started to become visible.

As they passed trough the doorframe protected by Adrian's ballistic shield, the ganger nearest to them begun to turn. Yet he could never make it in time for Adrian's gun was ready. As per protocol he shot two rounds in rapid succession to the unfortunate man's centre mass incapacitating him. Then he turned weapon towards the second gang member. The man had just stopped shooting to the first floor and turned his head towards Adrian and Pasha in a surprised scream. Again two shots followed, this time hitting to the neck and chest of the man. With threats in immediate vicinity of them neutralized, they begun preparing to engage threats further away.

[Imperialisium]

Ground Floor Team

Their careful movements had paid off for the moment. As both gangsters dropped, and amid the din and clang of the raging gun battle their comrades had scarcely noticed, with no reprisal of munitions sent their way. But the violence was not abating anytime soon as the chemtrail of a rocket shot by to detonate in a clothing store. Sending fragments of cloth and masonry spewing out onto the walkway. Tossing aside small café tables and sending an umbrella spiraling over the solid bannisters of the second floor to the ground level. No one heard it strike as the rattle of automatic gun fire continued to thread the air waves. Pocking walls and galleries.

Sub-Level

The Sub-level was quiet. Dark, someone had killed the power in the level, maybe on purpose? But aside from dank access lighting there was long patches of blackness in between. The sub-levels were largely warehouses and underground garages. Typically out of bounds for civilian residents and usually home to shifts of logistic workers and mechanics serving robots and vehicles. Now, it was empty. Needless to say they were undetected and in effectively invisible to the gang war above.

[Antimersia]

The silence that followed Connor opening the hatch wasn't as comforting as one might have hoped. He pushed it open further, peering out to seem the barely lit sub-levels. He opens the hatch fully, tapping on his comms twice to signal that it is all clear for Mcneil to advance behind him. He climbs out of the hatch and draws his other vector. He scans the room, that appears to be part of a large warehouse, for any signs of life. He finds it highly suspicious to find almost none. As it the logistic workers didn't show up for their shift this morning. He backs up towards the hatch to speak softly to Mcneil.

"We seem to be alone. This situation is worrysome. Where are the workers?" He asks her, rather stumped by the circumstances.

[Morrdh]

McNeill

"Fled perhaps?" Uxia replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Would make things simpler."

"Which way?" She asked, her weapon trained as she glanced round at their surroundings. She wasn't that surprised to find the Sub-Level quiet and, thus far, untouched by the gang war raging somewhere above them. It was mainly utilities down here, so nothing really that Uxia expected to interest a gang much. Besides, she was pretty certain that anyone down here when the gang war started would've ample opportunity to get out.

But as it was drummed into them back at the Academy; Complacency killed.

Whilst the Sub-Level appeared to be empty, both her and Connor still had to presume that there were hostiles down here and proceed accordingly.

[Antimersia]

"This level is far too large to clear with just the two of us. I believe our best move is to find an large enough access point to open. We should flood this level with arbitrators. Let us hug the wall and head right until we find a control room. There may be a loading bay door we can open from there." Connor replied. "Take point, I shall cover our rears." He added.

While the sub level was quiet, it wasn't totally silent. Between the whispers with Mcneil, the sound of rodents scurrying, condensation dripping, and random noises that are almost certainly just HVAC systems turning on and off, Connor had to focus hard to try and hear if there was anyone hiding somewhere nearby. But, so far, he heard nothing out of the ordinary. He felt like Mcneil's suggestion that the workers just fled was unsatisfactory. If they fled at the sound of gunfire, why were the lights off? He presumed the answer would become clear soon.