Operation: Chrono Storm

[alertcommando]

The door opens into a busy hallway, soldiers and associated personnel moving this way and that in the controlled chaos that precedes a battle. A few casts puzzled glances at Annabelle, but say nothing, noting how the blonde woman is being escorted by the Special Agent.

Comments

[alertcommando]

The first BOOM is the ugly sight of the nuclear shell striking its target, obliterating the psi-dominator, a few blocks of garrisoned buildings and a good chunk of Yuri's Black Guard.

After sending the prisoners running away, the second BOOM destroys the big gun's control, making the structure sag and almost fall apart completely.

By then Tanya is already leading the strike team down into the battle that rages and advances towards the Kremlin.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle is following close behind as they move toward the Kremlin. It looks different than the last time she saw it, but that was in another universe.

She's not quite laughing as they run, but she's definitely grinning gleefully. (What can we say, she's a little strange.)

[alertcommando]

They meet with a few soviet patrols, but having still over thirty commandos means the Reds loyal to Yuri are wiped or pushed back.

As they are less than two blocks from the 'front', the sound of grinding metal and enraged screaming comes from a side street. Something big and angry is there around that corner...

"The fuck?" Tanya signals for the group to spread out and advance to engage.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Sounds like someone's been experimenting," Annabelle growls, switching to HEAP ammunition.

She joins the advance, expecting someone or something that isn't quite a standard off the shelf human anymore.

[alertcommando]

Well, around that corner... two very tell, very muscular, very weird humanoids, tearing apart a Grizzly tank. Nearby, a group of maybe ten normal-sized humanoids in scary-looking uniforms stand guard.

And of course, the commandos are spotted. One of the weird-uniformed ones makes a sharp gesture and one Tanya's soldiers stumbles back, spitting blood.

[aeons_crackshot]

It's the uniformed ones that she focuses on first. "Psychics!" she shouts, hoping to warn the rest.

"Let's see if you can stop bullets, you miserable bastards!!" If they can, well, there's always plan B.

[alertcommando]

No, they don't: at least, they quickly dive for cover under the hail of bullets, losing only two of their number.

The storm of lead draws the attention of the gray-skinned giants, who stop tearing apart the tank and charge the group, roaring in mindless anger.

[aeons_crackshot]

It's a lousy telekinetic that can't at least slow down bullets, but she's not going to complain!

"YOU WANT SOME, COME AND GET IT!" she shouts, turning to deliver HEAP ammo right between the eyes of the big giants. She doesn't stop with one shot there either, thanks to her experiences in Ellen's world.

She may be a little high on adrenaline right now.

[alertcommando]

They are not bullet-proof, but they are highly bullet-resistant: center-mass shots cause bruises, then scratches, then wounds.

The one Annabelle is shooting at actually needs three perfect HEAP headshots before he falls. Using steel-tipped rounds, Tanya needs to spend half a magazine to bring the other monster down.

"Shit. Fall back for cover." She plucks a grenade and lobs it minus pin to keep the telekinetic troopers pinned. Other commandos do likewise and two pick up the wounded man.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Damn, these are tough bastards!" she complains, falling back and covering the commandos picking up the wounded.

[alertcommando]

As they move back, a strange looking tank rounds a corner, escorted by Allied G.I's. Tanya waves them over, leading her group to meet up.

A quick discussion later, the Prism tank is putting its massive plasma cannon to work, razing buildings and cleaning up the area. It seems they arrived almost too late for the party, as Allied troops are taking position behind the rubble of buildings, surrounding the Kremlin.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Nice ride!" Annabelle calls out to the tank crews, grinning.

Oh, there's still party to be had. They haven't found Yuri yet, you see.

[alertcommando]

Tanya sends the wounded off to the medi-barracks, and moves with Annabelle to the command post. There seems to be an argument happening there, a conversation: on the left side of the screen, Yuri, on the right side, the president of the United States.

"It is over, Yuri. Your troops are dead or scattered, and you are surrounded."

You think I will just give up, my friend? No... I can hold you off, long enough. Yuri speaks in a soft, nice voice, even thru the comm it carries an enticing, soothing and persuading note.

[aeons_crackshot]

There are advantages to having half a lifetime of experience dealing with scum sucking bastards like Yuri. For instance, sometimes you can tell when they've got an ace in the hole that's going to bite you in the ass.

"Son of a bitch has an escape plan he thinks we don't know about," she growls, quiet enough that Yuri won't hear her over the radio.

[alertcommando]

The Commander shakes head. "He has a lot of electronics in there, and seems to be trying to power up something. The building is wrapped in a force shield of some kind, maybe something like the soviet Iron Curtain device, so whatever he's trying to charge up, is going slow."

Then he adds. "They can not hear us. We're snooping on what's supposed to be a restricted conference."

[aeons_crackshot]

"If something's powering up, he thinks it will be enough to get him out of this mess," she insists. "It's....a hunch," she says with a shrug.

It's not like she can tell him that she has extensive experience dealing with evil psychic nutcases.

[alertcommando]

"It's the president's call now." The man shrugs.

And speak of the devil... "Enough with your stalling, Yuri. Commander? Engage."

Tanya raises a brow, and the Commander beckons her and Annabelle to follow outside.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle would have never offered him the chance to surrender, but she's not a politician.

She follows the Commander outside, curious. She sends a questioning glance at Tanya.

[alertcommando]

Tanya has an idea of what will happen; look at all those prism tanks surrounding the shielded Kremlin...

The Commander picks up his radio and sends the orders: "501st: engage. Scorched Earth protocol."

As one, the tanks fire, battering the shielded walls, creating a light show that rivals then surpasses the rising sun. From inside they can hear Yuri's voice filled with disbelief, then panic. "No. NO! You can not do that you can notaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrghhhh...!" The transmission goes dead as the building goes up in a pillar of white-hot flame and a deafening explosion.

A madman's dream of conquest and world dominance, gone into hot ash.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle's smile at his pleas and the white hot pillar of flame is a sharp and savage thing.

It looks like he's dead at long damn last.

[alertcommando]

In a very... anticlimactic way.

Of course, rationally, Tanya is aware that incinerating the bad guy with plasma cannons is a better option than fighting their way in,m possibly losing many soldiers more in battle.

But still: that madman killed one of her two best friends. She wanted to kill him herself.

...

"We... met some weird things on the way here." Change of subject.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle understands the impulse. She reaches for Tanya's hand, squeezing it in an attempt at conveying that understanding.

"I would guess that Yuri has been mucking about with human test subjects in various ways," Annabelle adds. "Altering them in ways never intended by nature."

[alertcommando]

Tanya gives a quick squeeze back.

The Commander nods. "We saw a few of those, and killed all we met. The giants are disturbing, infantry that can take a Mirage shell to the chest and keep fighting." He shakes head. "We will take care of it."

"Now, if you will excuse me, I have to meet with the Soviet High Commander. And set the terms to end the war for good."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Politics waits for no one," she tells him with a small smile. "Better you than me, I've no patience for diplomacy."

[alertcommando]

"Indeed." He smiles, salutes, and walks off.

As soon as he's out of sight, Tanya slumps down to a seat on some crates. "Oh god."

It's... over?

It's over, really? It will take a while getting used to it.