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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 5126120" data-attributes="member: 3285">Righteous Triad Fists: Part 3 – Horseshoes and Hand GrenadesBits of flaming wood landed all around them.&nbsp; Jim-Bean had his eyes closed, palms outward as if to ward off a blow.&nbsp; He dropped his hands when the wreckage stopped falling.&quot;So much for the peaceful native population,&quot; muttered Hammer.&nbsp; &quot;Everyone on the island saw that explosion.&quot;&quot;I know where they were transmitting to,&quot; said Guppy.&nbsp; He pointed.&nbsp; &quot;This way.&quot;They marched off into the foliage. The inland part of the reef, although only a few dozen feet wide at best, resembled a tropical forest. The soil was thin and poor for farming, but substantial enough to support many growths of coconut palms. Tangled vines and low brush covered the inland area where the palm groves did not. The agents burst out into the open beach. The reef encircling the lagoon was composed mostly of limestone and covered with bright and colorful coral. The beach was sandy but narrow; beyond the shore, the landscape sloped sharply upward. Guppy looked down at his cistron.&nbsp; &quot;According to my calculations, something with a huge radar array was receiving the signal from the mission.&nbsp; But I don't see how something that big could be…&quot; he looked up. &quot;…so close…to shore…&quot;Only a few hundred yards off sure was a huge, battleship-gray, horseshoe-shaped structure. The top ten feet of the complex was above the surface of the lagoon. Five crane mechanisms were visible around the perimeter of the top deck, framed by the night sky. Anchor chains stretched down at an angle into the ocean. Various seams and fittings were discernible. The horseshoe complex gave off a low, steady hum.Six rotating searchlights were placed around the perimeter of the top deck, occasionally scanning over a statue at the center of the horseshoe. Connected by chains, the fifteen-foot tall statue was carved from a black glossy stone marbled with rust red and blue-green veins.&nbsp; It depicted a squaminous beast, hunched over, wings flared, with tentacles dangling from its face.&nbsp; It looked down into the emptiness between its two outstretched and clawed hands, as if to eat the world that’s not yet in its grasp. &quot;Whoa,&quot; said Caprice.&nbsp; &quot;Guess we know what Tiger Transit's been spending their money on, huh?&quot;Hammer turned back to the team.&nbsp; &quot;Okay, I think this qualifies as an overt threat worthy of—&quot;Jim-Bean practically squealed with joy.&nbsp; &quot;Jericho Jets?&quot;Hammer nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Yeah.&quot;Jim-Bean flipped on his cistron.&quot;I didn't say you could call them in, Jimmy.&quot;Jim-Bean's eyes narrowed.&nbsp; &quot;Why not?&quot;Archive cleared his throat.&nbsp; &quot;Uh, guys?&quot;&quot;Because I'm lead on this mission, that's why.&quot; Hammer flipped his cistron on.&nbsp; &quot;This is Agent Hammer.&nbsp; Natives are hostile. Target sighted. Requesting a PURGATORY strike.&nbsp; I repeat, PURGATORY strike at my coordinates.&quot;&quot;Roger that.&nbsp; Jericho Jets inbound,&quot; responded&nbsp; a female synthetic voice.&nbsp; SINNER.&nbsp; Their cistrons all switched to a countdown.&nbsp; Fifteen minutes before the Jericho Jets would reach their target.&quot;Guys!&quot; interjected Archive.Jim-Bean frowned.&nbsp; &quot;It's not because you're mission leader.&nbsp; It's because you don't trust me.&quot;&quot;No I DON'T trust you,&quot; snapped Hammer.&nbsp; &quot;You've been going off half-cocked these past few missions and your powers are barely under control…&quot;&quot;Hey!&quot; snarled Jim-Bean in an uncharacteristic display of anger.&nbsp; &quot;I saved your asses TWICE!&nbsp; You would have been burnt to a cinder back there if it wasn't for me.&nbsp; And back at the control center in the Jade Temple, that little stunt you kept reminding us about not doing nearly killed all of us.&nbsp; Who's acting erratically now, huh?&quot;&quot;GUYS!&quot; interjected Archive.&nbsp; Jim-Bean and Hammer both turned to chastise Archive for interrupting. &quot;What?&quot; they shouted in unison.&quot;Guppy and Caprice are swimming out to the horseshoe.&quot;Hammer lowered his cistron with a sigh.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="talien, post: 5126120, member: 3285"] [b]Righteous Triad Fists: Part 3 – Horseshoes and Hand Grenades[/b] Bits of flaming wood landed all around them. Jim-Bean had his eyes closed, palms outward as if to ward off a blow. He dropped his hands when the wreckage stopped falling. "So much for the peaceful native population," muttered Hammer. "Everyone on the island saw that explosion." "I know where they were transmitting to," said Guppy. He pointed. "This way." They marched off into the foliage. The inland part of the reef, although only a few dozen feet wide at best, resembled a tropical forest. The soil was thin and poor for farming, but substantial enough to support many growths of coconut palms. Tangled vines and low brush covered the inland area where the palm groves did not. The agents burst out into the open beach. The reef encircling the lagoon was composed mostly of limestone and covered with bright and colorful coral. The beach was sandy but narrow; beyond the shore, the landscape sloped sharply upward. Guppy looked down at his cistron. "According to my calculations, something with a huge radar array was receiving the signal from the mission. But I don't see how something that big could be…" he looked up. "…so close…to shore…" Only a few hundred yards off sure was a huge, battleship-gray, horseshoe-shaped structure. The top ten feet of the complex was above the surface of the lagoon. Five crane mechanisms were visible around the perimeter of the top deck, framed by the night sky. Anchor chains stretched down at an angle into the ocean. Various seams and fittings were discernible. The horseshoe complex gave off a low, steady hum. Six rotating searchlights were placed around the perimeter of the top deck, occasionally scanning over a statue at the center of the horseshoe. Connected by chains, the fifteen-foot tall statue was carved from a black glossy stone marbled with rust red and blue-green veins. It depicted a squaminous beast, hunched over, wings flared, with tentacles dangling from its face. It looked down into the emptiness between its two outstretched and clawed hands, as if to eat the world that’s not yet in its grasp. "Whoa," said Caprice. "Guess we know what Tiger Transit's been spending their money on, huh?" Hammer turned back to the team. "Okay, I think this qualifies as an overt threat worthy of—" Jim-Bean practically squealed with joy. "Jericho Jets?" Hammer nodded. "Yeah." Jim-Bean flipped on his cistron. "I didn't say you could call them in, Jimmy." Jim-Bean's eyes narrowed. "Why not?" Archive cleared his throat. "Uh, guys?" "Because I'm lead on this mission, that's why." Hammer flipped his cistron on. "This is Agent Hammer. Natives are hostile. Target sighted. Requesting a PURGATORY strike. I repeat, PURGATORY strike at my coordinates." "Roger that. Jericho Jets inbound," responded a female synthetic voice. SINNER. Their cistrons all switched to a countdown. Fifteen minutes before the Jericho Jets would reach their target. "Guys!" interjected Archive. Jim-Bean frowned. "It's not because you're mission leader. It's because you don't trust me." "No I DON'T trust you," snapped Hammer. "You've been going off half-cocked these past few missions and your powers are barely under control…" "Hey!" snarled Jim-Bean in an uncharacteristic display of anger. "I saved your asses TWICE! You would have been burnt to a cinder back there if it wasn't for me. And back at the control center in the Jade Temple, that little stunt you kept reminding us about not doing nearly killed all of us. Who's acting erratically now, huh?" "GUYS!" interjected Archive. Jim-Bean and Hammer both turned to chastise Archive for interrupting. "What?" they shouted in unison. "Guppy and Caprice are swimming out to the horseshoe." Hammer lowered his cistron with a sigh. [/QUOTE]

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