Visibly impatient, Vintsen Courraine paced about what passed for the main square of Nu-Bedlam, the squalid settlement the Hi-Viz Jackers called their hideout. A dozen shifts had passed since Akilles had taken the gang to stake a claim on Saint Piotr's Pits, an abandoned mineworks in the heart of Sector H8; in the meantime, Vints had shaken off the last effects of the shock-beating he'd received from the Nubis Machina boss, and was ready for some good news.
A grubby settlement juve came running out of one of the tunnelways that led off from the square, yelping away. 'They're back! They're back!' Vints braced himself.
Out of the tunnel came the Jackers, and Vints's heart sank: six fighters had set off, three walked back - the others were slung over their tired shoulders.
Ivan, Ijax and young Dwice filled their boss in on what had happened. The mines were packed with loot, and it was clear that the Jackers weren't the only interested party. A bunch of mutie scum calling themselves the Skymother's Chosen, were also prowling the depths. Both gangs had advanced with caution, as there were sounds of unspeakable horrors, the kind that would even scare a mutie, lurking in the shadows. Akilles had led Rollo and Ijax down one tunnel; Ivan, Zammy and Dwice headed down another. Quick-footed young Dwice gathered up a crate, but it was clear that the sumpkrok's share had been claimed by the Chosen - the sneaking would have to stop, and blood would have to be spilt.
Advancing, Rollo took a bullet in the arm, but Ijax took the offending mutie out with his autopistol before heading to palm off more loot on nimble Dwice. Akilles stepped up alongside recovering Rollo - the pair found themselves facing down a pair of particularly brutish muties, and had them pinned, but the Chosen got the drop on them and a moment later both Jackers were engulfed in flames from another mutie's weapon. Rollo succumbed to the flames, but flinty Akilles stood firm - until one of the big muties charged him and took him out with its oversized hammer. Meanwhile, Zammy got himself cut off from his fellows by a malfunctioning door - another flamer attack saw him panic and knock himself out on the bulkhead. With half the crew out of action, Ijax and Dwice fled, but Ivan at least had the nous to secure the two crates of loot before leaving the mine in the hands of the muties.
And that was that. The Jackers who'd been carried back slowly regained consciousness. Rollo's burns would likely keep him out of the Jackers' next fight; same for Zam, who was sounding decidedly sluggish after his head injury. Akilles, on the other hand, seemed not much more than singed - after waking up, he was back to his usual dour self.
Vints took stock - so they'd failed to claim the Saint Piotr's Pit, and still had no territory to speak of in Sector H8. So much for that. On the other hand, no-one had died this time, and the respective quick feet and quick thinking of Dwice and Ivan meant there was a whole load more credits in the Jacker's stash. Keep this up and they'd be able to replace the gangers lost in Weavers' Warrens.
Some you win, some you lose. But it's always nice to claim a bit of loot....
A grubby settlement juve came running out of one of the tunnelways that led off from the square, yelping away. 'They're back! They're back!' Vints braced himself.
Out of the tunnel came the Jackers, and Vints's heart sank: six fighters had set off, three walked back - the others were slung over their tired shoulders.
Ivan, Ijax and young Dwice filled their boss in on what had happened. The mines were packed with loot, and it was clear that the Jackers weren't the only interested party. A bunch of mutie scum calling themselves the Skymother's Chosen, were also prowling the depths. Both gangs had advanced with caution, as there were sounds of unspeakable horrors, the kind that would even scare a mutie, lurking in the shadows. Akilles had led Rollo and Ijax down one tunnel; Ivan, Zammy and Dwice headed down another. Quick-footed young Dwice gathered up a crate, but it was clear that the sumpkrok's share had been claimed by the Chosen - the sneaking would have to stop, and blood would have to be spilt.
Advancing, Rollo took a bullet in the arm, but Ijax took the offending mutie out with his autopistol before heading to palm off more loot on nimble Dwice. Akilles stepped up alongside recovering Rollo - the pair found themselves facing down a pair of particularly brutish muties, and had them pinned, but the Chosen got the drop on them and a moment later both Jackers were engulfed in flames from another mutie's weapon. Rollo succumbed to the flames, but flinty Akilles stood firm - until one of the big muties charged him and took him out with its oversized hammer. Meanwhile, Zammy got himself cut off from his fellows by a malfunctioning door - another flamer attack saw him panic and knock himself out on the bulkhead. With half the crew out of action, Ijax and Dwice fled, but Ivan at least had the nous to secure the two crates of loot before leaving the mine in the hands of the muties.
And that was that. The Jackers who'd been carried back slowly regained consciousness. Rollo's burns would likely keep him out of the Jackers' next fight; same for Zam, who was sounding decidedly sluggish after his head injury. Akilles, on the other hand, seemed not much more than singed - after waking up, he was back to his usual dour self.
Vints took stock - so they'd failed to claim the Saint Piotr's Pit, and still had no territory to speak of in Sector H8. So much for that. On the other hand, no-one had died this time, and the respective quick feet and quick thinking of Dwice and Ivan meant there was a whole load more credits in the Jacker's stash. Keep this up and they'd be able to replace the gangers lost in Weavers' Warrens.
Some you win, some you lose. But it's always nice to claim a bit of loot....