The Exclusion Zone (S.T.A.L.K.E.R.)

[dryskim]

Bratok's pace slowed as he came upon the gate. A group of his fellow bandits already had the situation locked down, it would seem, and the blue-suited Rebel appeared to be negotiating.

If the circumstances weren't as dire as they were, Bratok didn't doubt that someone would have already slipped a knife into Rebel's back. Clear Sky and Bandits were like oil and water. But the mutants didn't give a damn whether two groups liked one another, they just killed indiscriminately. Nobody was safe.

Somewhere in the distance a chopper buzzed.

The group Rebel was conversing with was... odd. From what Bratok had observed, usually rookie STALKERs with Simonov rifles didn't usually pile out of the same adventurer hatchback as a mercenary wearing kevlar and packing an Austrian machine pistol. The other particularity was the skewed ratio of women to men, which was quietly discussed by the sex-starved bandits forming a loose perimeter around the newcomers.

He continued to be disappointed in the people he associated himself with. His babushka would not be pleased. Nor would his priest, but his priest was less inclined to box him upon the ears and so his wrath was feared less.

 

[Arvin_Larn]

Drifter
The Station, Garbage

@Sushi

_____Drifter tried not to look too worried as he stood in the middle of the Station with Bloodhound, Steel and the other Loners that he had decided to throw his lot in with. There were Bandits all over the compound, which itself was theirs, and there was already a crowd of Brigands starting to surround them from all sides. It wasn't too far from a flock of carrion circling over a dying animal, waiting for that moment of weakness to swoop in and start feasting.

_____His Simonov rested on his right shoulder as he listened to the man named 'Rebel' who explained why exactly they were working with the Bandits. He wondered just how bad of a Mutant problem was going on that literally everyone was banding together to deal with the problem. The young Loner had only heard of Fleshes and Snorks from other Rookies but never seen them with his own eyes.

 

[Cheburashka]

@Zeitgeist Blue @Wizard_Marshall @Yurihime Himeyuri @Kharn_Valnikov @dryskim @Arvin_Larn

Talon was not impressed with the aptly named Garbage, even with the gorgeous sunset it was dressed in. Dusk would bleed into night, and the Belgian knew a hopeless place like this under the veil of darkness brought both the worst of and worst out of people.

The situation upon their arrival, with this Rebel guy and some seriously sketchy characters that smelled like cheap cigarettes, overdone cologne, and desperation was more than what she was in the mood for. However, as Rebel spoke about the trouble Journalist mentioned being literally what they were in the Zone for, she perked up with a puff of menthol smoke and a visual of cracking the nuts of a Bandit who couldn't take his eyes off her.

This is the lead we've been looking for...Funny how this shit works out. Hope these fuck heads back off....for their sake....

She gave Dexter a nudge in the side at the mention of scanners, huge pack movement, and other advanced academia. He would have to see what he could get for reliable information, as the less work they had to do in field, the better. Talon knew firsthand her sub gun was great for scaring off animals of both the two and four legged kind, but the possibility of outright culling them made her lament her missing AUG, even if the corporate issued weapon was an ugly piece of shit. The piece that was with her rested against her chest, ready to fight like she was.

Talon felt the tension in the cool air, from both the impending mutant battle, and the monsters that lurked inside the ski masked men. She had her Fleck parka on, however, which kept what she wanted hidden out of sight. The fact she wore armor was visible, as she knew it said she wasn't worth the effort. Her female companions weren't helpless hussies, either, so the Bandits would have to show begrudged respect, even as they circled the group to flex while they angled with their broskis to scope for a score.

 

[Caarn]

@Sushi

Steel just stood there looking absolutely uncaring at the way that some of the bandits were looking at her, she knew that females were very unusual and downright rare in the zone and she couldn't really blame them for that. Though the fact that they were bandits meant that she was going to have to kill them sometime in the future and hopefully not after dealing with this horde of mutants.

"And say that we do fend off this giant horde of mutants, what happens after?" She said after Rebel had finished talking, her head and eyes now fixed on the Clear Sky Stalker. "What assurance do we get that after we kill all these abominations that we won't be murdered and raped?" She declared as she stretched herself a little.

"You've given us our ultimatum, I think its time we gave ours."

 

[Yurihime Himeyuri]

@Sushi @Kharn_Valnikov @Zeitgeist Blue @Arvin_Larn

Though she had been quiet to that time, as they moved through the well named Garbage and met with Rebel, Valkyrie knew that in this kind of situation too many many cooks in the kitchen could well sour the flavor. 'Rebel' as the stalker called themself had delivered their ultimatum, their demands. and though she was rankled by the position they had been put in, Steel had asked the right question.

"Indeed, We have no guarantee beyond your word that you will hold up your end of the bargain." She tightens her grip around the rifle as she takes in the looks of the men around her in the camp her look directed to Steel. "I dont Like this, but i cant decide for the rest here. We need to talk this over as a group." She said with a a brief glance at the others, and a glare leveled at Nick.

 

[Zeitgeist Blue]

"I dont Like this, but i cant decide for the rest here. We need to talk this over as a group." She said with a a brief glance at the others, and a glare leveled at Nick.

Click to shrink...

"Fine," Nick turned to the group, holding out Rebel's map for everyone to see. "What do we do?"

There was no way about it, the situation was downright ugly and the options presented to them worse. Either they stay here and defend a bandit camp for no reason than another Stalker's word or they get in their cars and leave this place. There was enough of them that Nick guessed they presented a threat to any lone mutant, and if they drove smart they wouldn't need to face a larger group.

"What assurance do we get that after we kill all these abominations that we won't be murdered and raped?"

Click to shrink...

"With guns and numbers," Nick said, frowning and flashed a pistol in its chest-strapped holster. His eyes flicked to Rebel and his retinue. "And more guns."

He folded his arms over his chest, sighed then started to speak. "We can stay and get the Loners to come out of their hole. The Bandits don't need us and we don't want them."

 

[dryskim]

Bratok frowned. These Loners weren't content to merely go on Rebel's promises of safe passage. He couldn't blame them, Bandits had long made a pastime of preying on those foolish enough to strike out on their own.

Like that boy, chopped down by an MP5. A word might have saved his life.

This group was better equipped and larger than most that Bratok's tentative allies usually targeted, but they still outnumbered the newcomers.

And if the bullets started flying neither group would come out the better for it. They'd just weaken themselves enough the mutants could finish the job.

Tired of biting his tongue, Bratok took his Krinkov and slung it across his back. Too many people were nervously fondling their shooters, so approaching with his in-hand would probably not improve relations.

He walked slowly, deliberately, giving the Loners time to appraise him and his intentions - and because he needed some time to think how he would word things. He was no poet and this decision had come somewhat hastily.

"Perhaps we should take this discussion somewhere more discreet?" Bratok said, "The men are on edge, for the reasons Rebel has mentioned, as well as others... I would like to avoid any unnecessary shooting. Save that for the mutants, yes?"


@Sushi @Kharn_Valnikov @Zeitgeist Blue @Arvin_Larn @PanzerWaffles

 

[Sushi]

​

@Kharn_Valnikov​

_____"Murdered?" The bandit scratched his ear with the front sight of his AK. "Honestly, you're not worth the ammo!" A few chuckles followed, but otherwise the uneasy quiet remained, up until Bratok returned from his guard duty.

@dryskim @Zeitgeist Blue @Wizard_Marshall @Yurihime Himeyuri @PanzerWaffles @Arvin_Larn​

_____Rebel eyed the new bandit arrival for a moment, and weighing him in his head, didn't seem to mind the intrusion. "He's right. It's hard to imagine now, but this is a place where you see a Muhj having drinks with Spetsnaz, bandit shooting the shit with the cops. Point being, you end up fighting with people you never expected to. Every day is different out here, because we all know it's what we have to do to survive." He scratched at his cheek. "I'm not saying you will be buddy buddy a week from now, but you have to live that long for it to matter, right?" He paused as they marched away from the center of the train station, off to a slightly underground side area used to store crates of food and water.

_____"Listen, Bloodhound, I don't know how long you been in the zone, but nobody fucks with the mutants without help if they can afford otherwise. Just... they do nasty shit you can't explain later, know what I'm saying?" He was quieter now. "Where you going to stay? It'll be dark by the time you get back to Sid's. Shit, I can guide you, but I don't think it's a good idea either way."

 

[Arvin_Larn]

Drifter
The Station, Garbage

@Sushi @Zeitgeist Blue @Wizard_Marshall @Yurihime Himeyuri @PanzerWaffles @Kharn_Valnikov

_____Drifter scratched his chin as the debate raged on as to whether or not they would actually help the Bandits. While it was true that there was no guarantee that the Bandits wouldn't train their guns on them the moment the Mutants were gone, risking the Mutants to go coax the Loners into help or, even worse, holding off the Mutants by themselves was just as risky a proposition as the first. It was definitely a Conundrum and one that they didn't have the luxury of Time to ponder on.

_____They did have the luxury of Privacy, however, as one of the Bandits walks up to them and suggests that they take their Group's discussion to a more discreet location, even leading them to such a place. He looked more competent than most of the rabble, even, as he stood there with Rebel and their group.

@dryskim

_____"What about you, tovarysh? You think your buddies won't shoot us in the back?" The rookie Loner cuts through the discussion when it reached a lull, asking Bartok calmly as he turned towards the Bandit. His Simonov rested at his side, however, with the butt on the floor and ready to be picked up if something happened.

 

[Zeitgeist Blue]

"Where you going to stay? It'll be dark by the time you get back to Sid's. Shit, I can guide you, but I don't think it's a good idea either way."

Click to shrink...

There was a moment's indecision. Light flickering, smoke drifting as Nick opened his mouth wordlessly then shut it just as quick. He was the convoy's spokesman now and he didn't know how that arrangement came to be. He did not like deciding for anyone other than himself, because when he chose then the responsibility was on his shoulders. So if they screwed up the fault was his, not theirs; not the children playing soldiers or the Americans or the collection of poor saps and rejects that thought riding together was a good idea.

"Perhaps we should take this discussion somewhere more discreet?" Bratok said, "The men are on edge, for the reasons Rebel has mentioned, as well as others... I would like to avoid any unnecessary shooting. Save that for the mutants, yes?"

Click to shrink...

He plucked the cigarette from his mouth as a bandit walked up to them and introduced himself, like he actually cared about manners instead of jacking off to the shit he and his buddies do.

"Fine." Nick ground his teeth, staring suspiciously at the bandit. "We're staying, but we're choosing where in this dumpsite."

 

[Cheburashka]

@Sushi @Zeitgeist Blue @Wizard_Marshall @Yurihime Himeyuri @dryskim @Kharn_Valnikov

Talon listened as Max Payne made his self-appointed declaration. The Belgian imagined for a split second the gritty narrative Nick gave himself before he spoke, and realized he was probably like that all the time, even on his birthday, which was probably more like a funeral.

She also sensed more than once he held a low appraisal of her professionalism, back when they were in Kiev at the Green Cross, and now. That wasn't uncommon, given her rockstar fashion in a profession where polo shirts, sports shades, and making it obvious one was being discreet were the norm. People often guessed she was a bouncer, which she was at an Industrial nightclub in Ghent, but not a skilled soldier of fortune deep in the opera of the world.

She also knew she was deeper in shit, being in a gangbanger grotto about to get thrown into the meat grinder. Still, her mission objectives placed her here, and this wasn't her first rodeo with strangers in danger.

Now, it was her turn to speak, since Nick drove the pizza box on wheels, and she drove the Merc. The drivers made the rules and called the shots, as it usually went. A twist of her boot squashed the butt of her cigarette, and she spoke.

"It seems we don't have a favorable option in any direction. We'll stay, for now."

 

[dryskim]

@Arvin_Larn

"What about you, tovarysh? You think your buddies won't shoot us in the back?" the rookie with the Simonov asked.

It wasn't a tough question, so Bratok didn't take much time pondering it, "Your group is rather well-equipped, so as long as you don't wander off by yourself you should be alright. My comrades are opportunistic, not suicidal."

 

[Caarn]

Steel clicked her tongue at the laughter of the bandits before turning to look her head at the others, there was no other way at this point as choosing to leave would mean death. Flipping the fire-selector of her slug thrower to 'safe' she then walked up to both Nick and the Clear Sky Stalker.

@Sushi

"What's the plan then? Where do we setup and wait for this horde to come." She asked Rebel while resting her right arm on the slung rifle. "Do we also have a way to funnel them into a killzone? If so we better get working on it, not much time ahead if you say they'll be coming in soon." She added.

 

[Sushi]

@Zeitgeist Blue @Wizard_Marshall @dryskim @Arvin_Larn @Kharn_Valnikov @Yurihime Himeyuri @Kensai​

​

_____"We're doing this?" Rebel sighed in relief. "It's getting pretty dark already, so it's not long off..." There was a sharp crack over from one side of the station, a rifle by the sound of it. "... shiiet, looks like we're already underway. Look, we better find some good fighting positions and dig in. I can ask one or two of my Clear Sky bros to help you out. We're going to need to cover these areas..."

• "The Ground Level, got some holes in the walls. If you can find some scrap and plug that shit, or post a few shooters on them it'd be a good idea."
  _____
• "I see your friend has a long rifle. You could probably climb to the Roof and make a niiice sniper nest to fuck those muties up. I think I have some climbing rope for your boys... girls, I guess!"
  _____
• "... and yeah, the worst part: We've got Underground Tunnels running through the basement that we definitely need to post shooters on. It's a shitty job, but Yoga told me he's got some spare supplies for whoever is brave enough to stay down there."

@Galerius​

_____Kraut had been with the bandits for the morning. After arriving in the Zone, they had been the first to take her in. Maybe they found her amusing, or liked her sense of out-of-place style. So far it'd been uneventful; she hadn't fired a shot from the pistol she'd managed to sneak in.

​

_____If it worked. Grandfather's Luger probably hadn't been fired since the war. It was a special DWM model for WW1, and she didn't dare draw the thing around a throng of opportunistic bandits armed to the teeth. Even the basest of the bandits had a shotgun or stubby Kalash rifle, and a pistol was completely underarmed. At least until Yoga, the leader of the bandits tossed a rusty MP-40 at her feet. "Get up, new kid. There's mutants coming. If you want to earn your keep here, you keep an eye on those new stalkers and kill some muties for me, eh?" There was the thinly-veiled threat hanging over her head if she didn't help, but he left her alone to her devices without another word.

 

[Hamadryad]

@Sushi
"Wie Sie wünschen, Sie Stück Gosse Müll." She ground out between her teeth as she grabbed the rusty gun, checking the clip to make sure it actually had any bullets. She could never be too careful with the Gesetzlose scuttering all over the damn place. She missed civilization almost as much as she missed her shower, she hadn't cleaned herself in two days! The horror!

She felt filthy, associating with these... Abschaum. One even dared to accost her! Of course, he didn't get too far when she broke his nose. Most of the others had laughed, the degenerates.

Humming a song from her home, she picked herself up from the ground, hefted her bag and made her way to the rest.

(OOC: Anything I forgot? Added too much?)

 

[Zeitgeist Blue]

"Someone has to take the tunnels."

Nick frowned as he unslung his rucksack and produced a shotgun, then loaded four shells into its feed system. There was a time and place for everything, and judging from everyone's anxiety these mutants were bad news. He needed a Toz and its 4 gauge shells. His pistols went into their holsters, magazines into pouches and inside bags.

"Steel," he said, noticing the woman's movements. "Coming?"

@Kharn_Valnikov

 

[Caarn]

"Someone has to take the tunnels."

Nick frowned as he unslung his rucksack and produced a shotgun, then loaded four shells into its feed system. There was a time and place for everything, and judging from everyone's anxiety these mutants were bad news. He needed a Toz and its 4 gauge shells. His pistols went into their holsters, magazines into pouches and inside bags.

"Steel," he said, noticing the woman's movements. "Coming?"

@Kharn_Valnikov

Click to shrink...

Steel turned her head to look at Nick once her name was called, a brow of hers rising up before the man told her which part of the compound he was going to take. "Tunnels eh? I'm game." She said to him with a nod before walking over to him.

 

[dryskim]

Their leader, the one they called Bloodhound, produced a small cannon from within his backpack and began to stuff it full of equally massive shells. He volunteered to take the tunnels and then volunteered one of the women. She was older and wore Soviet Army camo but the way she held a Kalashnikov and the steel in her eye told of a history of violence.

Bratok was somewhat surprised. No one without a serious death wish would willingly go down into the tunnels during a mutant attack, which was why Bratok had intended to go down there himself. Perhaps it was a case of ignorance or bravado or maybe this Bloodhound felt that he shouldn't send his people anywhere he himself wasn't willing to go. Whatever it was, it was decided, and their wasn't time to argue it.

"I will go with you," Bratok said, "The tunnels are like a maze and I know them better than you do. Come, I will lead the way."

 

[Arvin_Larn]

Drifter
The Station, Garbage

@Sushi

"Your group is rather well-equipped, so as long as you don't wander off by yourself you should be alright. My comrades are opportunistic, not suicidal."

Click to shrink...

Drifter nodded at Bratok's reply as his emerald eyes scrutinized the Bandit from head to toe. That the man was talking of his fellow Brigands meant that his statement should be taken with a healthy measure of salt... but at the same time, Bratok answered his inquiry so offhandedly that he could only wonder if the outlaw was a natural liar or giving an honest assessment of his peers.

In any case, the rookie STALKER and the rest of his Group would not have any more time to deliberate when gunfire erupted from another side of the Station. Guns were picked up and ammunition was loaded into them while Drifter picked up his Simonov, letting the carbine rest in his arms with an ease born from countless hours of use. He looked to each and every one of the people in this Group he joined, even Bratok, before chiming in as well.

@Zeitgeist Blue @Wizard_Marshall @Kharn_Valnikov @Yurihime Himeyuri @Kensai

"I'm taking the Roof so I can put my Karabin to good use. Anyone want to come with?"

 

[Cheburashka]

@Galerius

Talon saw many weapons in the hands of the Bandits, from sawed off shotguns to AK pistols and Krinkovs. Garbage she wouldn't use unless there was no other option, but one piece stood out just as much as its owner did.

A pretty face with an MP-40 and ennui even in the midst of danger? Deutsch.

Talon wasted no time as she approached the woman. In flawless German, she kept her voice down as she smiled.

"We're being watched so I'll keep it short. You don't belong with these people, mein Deutscher kamerad. Give me the right incentive, ja, and I'll see you out of this place with less 'beauty marks' than the others."

 

[Hamadryad]

@PanzerWaffles

Suspicion immediately flared and her eyes narrowed to a squint, and her hand gripped her Maschinenpistole. Her emotive face slacked, as did her posture, but her shoulders never relaxed, tense as if she would pounce if she had the chance.

"How did you know I speak Deutsche, Fräulein? I didn't think I'd hear civilized language for another year, at least." She despised unknowns, at least when they caught her unaware. It made it all the harder when she tried to manipulate them.

 

[Cheburashka]

@Galerius

Civilized language? Ha! This one's chardonnay and caviar.

It was evident by the verbal tone and body language the offer wasn't going to be readily accepted, either. The situation required talking, something Talon hoped to stall until later, when something more comprehensive and concrete could be worked out.

"Some things are more easily noticed than others." the Belgian replied. "Du bist ein Berliner, ja?"

A rifle shot rang out like warning bell for what was to come, and the mercenary glanced in its direction with a stone cold expression as Bandits began to move. Talon looked back at the woman, her machine pistol now in hand.

"I imagine you're used to a different world, but here, time is money and the clock is ticking. Tell me you're good for a one time compensation of ammunition expended during dieser alptraum and we can have another conversation, later. How about that?"

 

[Zeitgeist Blue]

I will go with you," Bratok said, "The tunnels are like a maze and I know them better than you do. Come, I will lead the way."

Click to shrink...

"Lead the way then." Nick motioned with his shotgun, watching the Bandit closely. He was not worried that he would find a gun pressed on the back of his head, not with this Bandit, and not with the Mutants attacking soon. Perhaps that was why this Bandit was friendly now. Survival. Mutual survival. It came down to that and it did not take a detective to figure it out.

Gunfire erupted from farther away. Nick gripped his shotgun tighter and set his jaw, looking between Bratok and Steel. "We're going to need more people than the three of us to defend the tunnels." Nick turned to Bratok, not knowing what to call him. "Bandit, tell me you already have more of your people down there."

 

[Hamadryad]

@PanzerWaffles

'Kraut' looked at the mercenary and snorted, "You call this a nightmare? Try being pursued by the fucking Jüdische." She muttered, animosity clear in her voice. "Fine, I'll accept your generous preposition, but we'll have words on the terms later." She motioned for the woman to lead the way, as she currently had no tasks.

 

[Cheburashka]

@Galerius

Talon listened to the woman's colorful response, unfazed by it. The Belgian knew from experience types like her who didn't go out too often into the world were prone to trouble, with both tongue and temperament. That, and it was evident she put the SS in princess, and liked it that way.

The little hand wave common for royalty was a sign that the conversation was over, and the mercenary acknowledged that with a simple nod and a right face away from where they stood. It was no question Talon's lack of judgment on the German's beliefs or motivations made her of questionable character, but soldiers of fortune weren't scrupulous in morals, by nature.

Hell, I could walk out of this trip with a brand new wardrobe...Better step it up.

Talon checked the chamber of her weapon as she moved and found a cartridge loaded. She already knew it was, but by habit it was something she did before a fight to prepare herself. It also was known to the Belgian she had another job to do. However, seeing as her colleague went AWOL, and Dexter was the one to fulfill the data reports, Talon would keep herself occupied. Still, if he didn't show, she'd have to ask Rebel what he knew as she'd need to have something to work with for later.

Whilst they walked in search of a suitable hole in the wall to plug with hot lead, Talon peered back to the German.

"Mein name ist Talon. Du?"