Terteroba Rising

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Bohdan knocked gently on the front door of Emil's grand home. Well, compared to most of the other houses in the village, it really was grand. Bohdan was rather surprised to find Emil's wife, Tannia, opening the door. "Hello, Mr. Chmielnicki," she greeted warmly, with a dreary smile on her face and a Gokturk (vaguely Turkish) accent within her voice.

"Hello, Mrs. Terteroba," replied Bohdan. "Is your husband home?"

"No, but come in, come in, please," said Tannia, gesturing Bohdan to come in.

"Thank you," said Bohdan, stepping inside. The home itself was average, if you were from Corneria. But, to a Gokturk, it was a home worthy for a king. Like most of the homes, it had electricity, running water, and heating and cooling systems. However, it was much more lavish. The furniture was imported from the Lylat System. Artwork came from the Ogniemite Empires. The televisions were as large as the walls, and the beds sprawled half the rooms. A fountain was seen in the backyard patio, and home itself was very open.

"Here," said Tannia, offering Bohdan a seat on the couch in the living room. "Please, sit." He obliged her, and Bohdan sat down onto the silk-sewn couch, its lavish decorations sprinkled across the fabric. Bohdan was joined by Tannia, and she grabbed a remote from the stone coffee table. She turned on the television to a popular Kewite sitcom. "You know," started Tannia, "this quest for power has consumed Emil. He is not the man I married all those years ago." Bohdan looked at her and nodded. "You are not the first under his employ, but I hope you are the last."

"So do I," said Bohdan. "So do I." Suddenly, cries of pain and yelling could be heard from the basement. The door to it in the kitchen could do nothing to stop the noise from breaching it. Emil then stomped down angrily from the second floor; the sound carried that far. As he passed the living room, he spotted Chmielnicki, and pointed at him.

"Chmielnicki, come with me," he ordered, in a thick Gokturk accent. "We must enforce my discipline onto these a--holes." Bohdan followed the annoyed jackal down into the basement. "Shut the f--k up!" yelled Emil. "My f--king wife is watching television!" Then, Emil and Bohdan stumbled upon a disturbing site: Sandor and one of his lieutenants, Urumuda, interrogating two enemy mercenaries. One was a Cornerian, the other was a Cerinian. Bohdan saw the Cerinian's face before, from somehwere... Urumuda approached the Cornerian mercenary with a hacksaw, and the Cerinian's face was battered. "Gods have mercy," said Emil. "What are you doing?" Urumuda was the first to answer.

"I... I was interrogating these two and ---"

"And WHAT?!" demanded Emil. Sandor stood there, wide-eyed, smiling ever so slightly.

"They say that they work for the Pechenegs," announced Urumuda. Emil approached Urumuda slowly.

"You beat a woman, and almost cut up her partner, to reveal that they work for the Pechenegs?!" Emil then bent over to the Cornerian mercenary. He and his partner were tied to chairs. "Tell me, do you think it is alright to kill my employees and people?"

"If they are a--holes, yes," said the Cornerian. Suddenly, Emil took out a pistol and shot Urumuda in the face, killing his lieutenant instantly. Sandor laughed.

"I agree," said Emil. Once again, he bent down to the Cornerian.

"Mr. Terteroba!" said Bohdan, shocked. "What the Hell?!"

"A--hole look at me like I was piece of s--t!" reasoned Emil. "And do you think it is okay to go after my family? My home?"

"If they are the enemy, yes," said the Cornerian.

"Well," began Emil, "since we are going on that philosophy..." Emil then shot the Cornerian dead. Sandor continued to laugh. Bohdan shook his head, examining the two dead bodies in the basement. "You two," said Emil, gesturing to Bohdan and Sandor with his blaster. He then gestured to the tied-up Cerinian woman. "Take this b---h to the village square. Shoot her, execution style. I want everyone in the village to know that the enemy are dead men. Dead men!" Bohdan and Sandor nodded, and placed a black hood over the Cerinian's head. They released her from the chair, but still had her hands tied behind her back, and her feet were bound together. They gagged her mouth. Bohdan carried her over his shoulder, and he and Sandor led her out of the house and towards the village center.

"Now," said Emil as Bohdan and Sandor exited his home. "I will watch television with my wife." Emil slammed the doors to his home shut.

[Kurt]

Sven and Simo had been in the village for less than a day. The large truck loaded with all of their supplies was in the town square. Both of them had full load outs and were armed very well.

"Hey Sven check this out." Simo said pointing towards one of the roads leading away from the square. "Looks like some more mercs." Sven looked up and saw two men near the square. A larger man, a dragon, as well as an Avian man he assumed, were walking into the square. The Larger man carrying someone over his shoulder. A blue furred Vixen, her hands and feet tied together, and a black cloth bag was over her head.

Suddenly over come by a sense of curiosity Sven began to walk across the square towards them. "Hey I'm going to go see what this is all about." He said over his shoulder to Simo who was examining a piece of paper. "Stay here would ya?"

"Sure" Simo said looking up as Sven began walking off. "Don't do anything stupid." Ignoring his friends comment he adjusted the rifle that was slung over his shoulder and continued walking.

[Chris_The_Lion]

Tony had arrived in the town the night before. With nothing to do he spent the night in the tavern to get the gist of what this town has to offer. "well I suppose I'll go see if anything has happened since yesterday." As he walks out of the tavern he sees 2 mercenaries carrying what looks like a blue vixen, bound and with her head covered. "I suppose that's a little odd..." As tony scans the area he notices a duce and a half sitting just off the town square.

"Huh i guess that must be those mercenaries' truck... but that seems too big for what they are trying to do with their lives... I suppose I'll go see what's inside. As he walks over to the truck he notices Simo standing there. "Hey Simo! Long time no see!" Simo just glares at him. "Same cold heart as always I suppose. I'm guessing your here with Sven on some mission to save the town? Same here."

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Upon reaching the center of the square, Bohdan puts down the Cerinian and takes the hood off her head. Numerous villagers look on the scene in curiosity. Sandor then takes out his pistol.

"This woman," he began with a raised voice, "is a mercenary working for the Pechenegs!" The villagers began to boo her. "Don't worry: she will be dealt with accordingly..." 

 

Elizabeth and Korben were looking at the wares of a stall devoted to selling velvet. Elizabeth caressed her hand over a roll of velvet. The fabric was soft like butter, yet as brilliant as a ruby. "How much?" she asked enthusiastically.

"3000 credits," replied the stall owner. That most certainly burst Elizabeth's bubble.

"Are you joking me?" she said, frustrated. 

"I am sorry, Miss Elizabeth, but I have children to feed." Elizabeth, understanding yet annoyed, simply nodded her head. She walked away. Korben, who stood beside her, however,  was unwavering.

"Take cash?" he asked to the stall owner.

"Yes, of course," the owner replied. Korben then took out his wallet and payed the stall owner 3000 credits, with 100 credit notes, much to the disbelief of the owner. "Thank you very much sir!" graciously said the owner as Korben picked up the roll of velvet. He nodded his head and walked towards Elizabeth, who was staring at Bohdan and Sandor interacting with a Cerinian.

"Hey Korby," she said, sensing Korben's presence approach her, "that Cerinian looks familiar." When Korben zoomed in his sunglasses' sights on the Cerinian, he discovered that the Cerinian in question was Krystal.

"Krystal..." he said. Elizabeth turned to look at Korben, and took no notice of the velvet Korben bought for her.

"That's Krystal?" she asked, pointing at the Cerinian. "Wow, time has not been kind to her."

[Kurt]

Sven was about halfway across the Square when the smaller man announced she was going to be executed. "Oh Hell no!" Sven thought to himself as he began running towards them. His rifle bouncing on his shoulder as he ran. Many of the people in the square began to watch the man as he pulled out his handgun and the crowd began to boo her. Stepping between the executioner and the woman he spoke to him. "What the hell are you doing?" He began as he took a step closer to him "Put that gun away." He could feel all the eyes in the square shift towards him. "And I suggest you do as I say." his eyes were cold as steel as he stared the man down.

 

Simo watched in horror as Sven stepped between the woman and the executioner. Completely ignoring Tony. "Idiot is going to get himself killed," He grabbed his rifle, keeping it low, but ready to be used if needed. "Don't do it. Don't do it Sven......" He silently said to himself.

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Sandor glared this canine who decided to get in the way, the young tykeriel's beady eyes piercing the canine's very soul. "Or what? You're going to kill me? Friend, I've already died." He then positioned his pistol's barrel on the temple of the canine. "Leave this square, now!"

"Alex!" shouted Elizabeth as she approached him. Sandor turned his head, and in no time at all, Elizabeth disarmed Sandor, taking his pistol from his very hand. She then gripped the barrel and whipped Sandor's head with the butt of the pistol.

"Ow!" yelled Sandor, gripping his head as he stumbled to the ground. Bohdan stood back.

"Do what you have to do," Bohdan said to Elizabeth. She then took out a knife and cut the ropes binding Krystal's feet.

"Go, Krystal," said Elizabeth, motioning her head to a road leading out of the village. "That's right, I know you. Now go. Live." Krystal obliged Elizabeth.

"I'll repay you for this, I will," Krystal said to Elizabeth and Sven. She then ran off down the road, and out of the village. Some villagers threw scraps of food at her, bu that did not deter her escape.

[Kurt]

Sven was grateful when another Merc disarmed the man, "Luckily for you," He began as he glanced at the woman who intervened "She stepped in. Otherwise you'd be dealing with a member of the Cornerian Advanced Combat Infantry." He watched as the man rubbed his head "And what I would have done to you would have been MUCH worse than what she has." Turning his head he watched as the Vixen ran out of the square. "I cant stand watching a woman being executed."

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"ACI, huh?" said Elizabeth. She threw Sandor's pistol to the ground. He picked it and himself up, and walked away, grumbling. "I'm Black Guards, Lugdunum Battalion." Elizabeth outstretched her open hand in friendship. A smile peeked out of the corner of her mouth.

[Kurt]

"ACI, Helios Battalion." He said shaking her hand. "I guess I should introduce us," he said pointing at Sumi across the square, who now had the Behemoth 20MM sniper rifle out of the truck "The guy with the big gun is Sumi. Im Sven."

[Shmibli7]

From a building across the street, Kosovo Zendovsi looked through a pair of high powered binoculars at the gathering in the square in front of him. "That's our competition?" A voice asked him. He turned to see the face of a Leopard Gecko, his friend, Lerman.  

"Not competition, unconditional allies." Kosovo said, the young wolf turning back to his binoculars.

"What are we in with?" Another voice asked, this one barely over 15.

"A lot, Kimber." Kosovo said. "Quite a few canines and a reptile of some sort."

"Great." Kimber said. "When do we kill them?"

"We don't." Kosovo replied. "When you defected from the Venomians you told me you wouldn't kill people for a thrill."

"Yeah, you're right." He said.

Kosovo wasn't sure what to think of Kimber. The young raccoon could fight better than the rest them, but he was crazy.

"Let's let them know we're here." He said. Lerman then shot his anti-material rifle in the air.

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

As Elizabeth shook her hand, the crack of a sniper rifle echoed throughout the village. Most villages thought it was a hunting party's rifle downing a Hyrcanian bison. Bohdan, Korben, and Elizabeth briefly glanced in the direction of the shot and spotted the Venomian mercenaries. They shrugged off that anomaly, and continued with their business. By this time, Sandor had entered the tavern, and sat down at the bar. He ordered some beer, and began drinking his frustrations away.

"Well, someone's an attention w---e..." Elizabeth commented. "Anyway, I'm Elizabeth. This guy's Bohdan. He's Korben." Elizabeth gestured to Bohdan and Korben, respectively. "So, wanna hit the tavern? Big T (Emil) is too busy kicking his feet up to care about us for the moment."

[Shmibli7]

Kosovo saw that they acknowledged them. He nodded to himself. "Time to size them up." Lerman said. 

"Yep." Kosovo says and picks up his  Venomian semi-automatic rifle. The clip held thirty plasma rounds.

Eventually they arrived at the courtyard where the other mercs were. The night breeze blew could against them because their light Venomian armor was sleeveless. Kosovo enters the tavern and sits at the bar, eyeing Sandor.

[Kurt]

"Sure" Sven said as he heard the crack of the rifle. "You lead the way."

Simo heard the shot. Shouting he picked up his rifle. "You call that a rifle?" He pulled the action back and released it. "This is a rifle!" He fired a single shot off in the air that made the other seem like a peashooter. The black blast clearing the dirt away from him in a circle 5ft in diameter.

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"Okay, what is with the shooting?" Elizabeth inquired to no one in particular as the second sniper rifle shot, substantially louder than the first one. "I mean, what are these guys compensating for?"

"Come, Elizabeth, pay no attention to the shots," said Bohdan as he continued onward towards the tavern. "This silliness is not for us." He, Elizabeth, and Korben, a short distance behind them, walked across the square.

 

Meanwhile, in Emil's home, shots could be heard ringing in the distance. Emil shot up from his comfy position on the silk couch and darted out of his home, carrying a shotgun. He pulled back the hand grip on the gun's barrel, cocking it. "Motherf--kers!" he said as he walked down his dirt path into the village center. He approached Korben, who lagged behind Bohdan and Elizabeth. "What in the world is going on here?" Korben shrugged his shoulders. Emil mockingly imitated Korben. "What the f--k is that supposed to mean?!" Korben once again shrugged his shoulders. Emil, frustrated, went into the village hall. When compared to most of the other buildings in the village, it was massive in both size and stature. Its tower, where the PA system for the whole village was located, seemed to touch the sky. It was a dominating sight in every village. He went into the tower's elevator, pressing a button on the interface. It quickly whisked him up to the top floor. He quickly stepped out of the elevator and placed his snout close to a microphone attached to a large control interface, adorned with various buttons and screens. Emil pressed a red button next to the microphone and began to speak.

"Attention, attention," he began clearly and loudly, "will all mercenaries please report to the village hall? All mercenaries report to the village hall. Do it, or I f--king kill you." Emil went back into the elevator and pressed the down button on the interface. It brought him to the ground floor. The grand room of the village hall was massive. There were pews lined row by row, neatly. They all faced a podium sat atop a stage. Emil stomped towards the stage and went on it. He sat down his shotgun beside the podium, and stood behind it, waiting for the mercenaries to heed his call.

Bohdan, Elizabeth, Sandor, and Korben all heeded the call, and headed towards the village hall. Bohdan opened the double-doors, and the four of them walked towards the front of the stage.

[Kurt]

Sven laughed at the threat over the PA system "Good luck killing us."  He said to no one in particular as he walked into the large building with Simo following close behind him. "I won." Simo said as he walked in pointing at the other sniper

[Shmibli7]

"Right now, you have." Lerman said, coming into the village hall. Kimber walks into the tavern to get Kosovo. He walks in, pistol whips hk m in the back, and tells him to come with him to the village hall. He follows and they walk in, reuniting themselves.

"Keep an eye on that one." Lerman says to Kosovo as he points at Simo. 

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"You are all here for one reason and one reason only," said Emil as everyone entered the hall, "and that reason is because I am paying you all to be here. Now, you're all going to prove your worth. You say you're soldiers, you say you're killers. Huh?" Emil then stepped out from behind the podium, and picked up his shotgun. He grasped his belt buckle, grunting as he held his shotgun with one hand, aiming it at no one in particular, although it was pointed in the direction of the door.

"Then kill for me," Emil ordered as he put down his shotgun. "There is a high-ranking Uhhun lieutenant, thinks I want to speak to him. I don't. I want to kill him. You people will do it for me." Emil then took out a GPS device from his pocket, and gestured Bohdan to come close. "Catch." Emil then threw the device to Bohdan, who promptly caught the device. The device displayed coordinates on a grid. "The meeting place is at those coordinates. The meeting will take place in two hours." Emil then sat down on the ledge of the stage, putting his shotgun back in his hands. He examined his old shotgun pensively.

"This is an old gun. My great-grandfather first bought this in the great cities far away for his son, and now I have it. I've had to use it so many times on so many people. I've even had to use it on my own people, for various unsavory reasons. I am getting tired. Yes, quite shocking and hypocritical for me to say." Emil then looked at Bohdan.

"Chimelnicki, I've read your credentials. I know the sheer amount of men and women you've killed. You know how I feel now. You know how it feels to be so tired of taking lives, yet unable to stop. None of you younger people quite understand." Emil then looked at Sandor and Kimber.

"You two have your whole lives ahead. Don't dedicate those lives to taking others. Don't be like me, old, bitter, with the bloodiest hands in the world."  Emil then continued to look at his shotgun. "The Uhhun lieutenant's name is Tirida. Bring his head as proof of the kill. Now go... Get out of my face..." Emil shooed the mercenaries with his left hand.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Arminius H O Fiddywinks

[Kurt]

Sven slipped on his combat helmet as the old mans speech ended. He looked at Simo and spoke to him "You gonna sit this one out? You look kinda rough."

Simo turned to face Sven. "Yea I guess I better." Slapping his shoulder he continued "Bag one for me would ya?"

"Sure" Sven replied as he stood and walked twords the lady named Elizabeth and her group. "So I guess I'm a grunt again." He said slightly raising his voice. "Because it looks like your in charge. Bohdan, right?"

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

Bohdan glanced down onto Sven, Emil's speech still echoing in his mind. "Yes, I am Bohdan Chmielnicki," he said. "And ahh, I think I will defend the village for now. Elizabeth here will take command." Elizabeth nodded her head.

"So," began Elizaebth, "your guy and my guy are bowing out. I guess that leaves two of my guys, those guys, you, and me." Elizabeth grinned, showing her teeth.

[Shmibli7]

Kosovo, Kimber, and Lerman walk outside and check their gear. The other people would be out in a minute, that would be when they would introduce themselves.

[Kurt]

Sven watched Elizabeth smile as he listened to her. Returning the smile with a smaller less toothy one. "So I guess they aren't too social." Turning his head he watched as the other Mercs walked out the door. "Well. I guess either way your in charge seeing that you have the GPS"Stepping of to the side he decided to use his manners. "Ladies first?"

[Shmibli7]

The trio  finished gearing up. Lerman turned around and shrugged as if asking the other mercs when they would join them.

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"Thanks, grunt," said Elizabeth, patting Sven on the shoulder as she stepped out. "So, I suggest we get a truck that can hold all of us, and as many weapons as we can possibly carry." Korben nodded silently and obediently. He looked at Sandor. Sandor, almost sensing what was needed, nodded. The two of them went off down the road to the village's main garage to get a truck. "But if you guys have a vehicle, we'll just use that," stated Elizabeth, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the bright midday sun of the Rouran Steppes.

[Kurt]

Following Elizabeth outside Sven listed off a few things that they did bring "Well that old Deuce and a half right there is ours, it should seat everyone." Thinking to himself silently for a moment he continued "And we brought a few heavy weapons and the such. Any of that work?" He asked as he looked up at the taller woman.

 

[Arminius H O Fiddywinks]

"Yeah," replied Elizabeth in approval, "that'll do. Hey, Korby! Alex!" She turned to her two teammates, who were halfway across the square. They looked back. "We've got a ride." Sandor looked annoyed, and rolled his eyes, while Korben shook his head. When the duo came close to Elizabeth, she began walking in the direction where Sven's vehicle was. They followed her.

"Road trip," commented Korben.

"Into the teeth of the baddies!" said Sandor. He cocked the Sz. 17 automatic blaster he cradles in his hands. Korben's Cornerian Standard Assault Blaster lazily hung around his neck and shoulder as the sling rubbed against them.