An attack. Surprise! (Open)

[Lord Oakum]

((Just to get some stuff rolling along SOMEWHAR. Was having trouble constructing a post but MEH D: . I feel like I should probably add some more, but I feel as if there’s enough going on here for people to have stuff to respond to.))

It had been nearly an hour since it began.

The cannons were firing in full force, the citizens and soldiers alike were scrambling around from one place to another; some looking for safety, others looking for weaponry, and others still looking for an enemy to fight.

It was an odd sight, likely the first time anyone had ever seen such a thing. Any noble or soldier might have recognized their three centuries old enemy, Lord Oakum. Most citizens might have as well, but this would have been the first time they ever met him in person… or at least it seemed like they were meeting him in person, over and over and over again. Around every corner, there he was. Behind every building. There he was. Behind every enemy gun, cannon and vehicle, there he was.

Confusing wouldn’t even begin to explain just how odd and incomprehensible this situation actually was.

Every single enemy soldier (as in Oakum’s soldiers) was dressed exactly like him; wearing masks, capes and other such things one would expect of the Lord Oakum. Now what was odd was that there were only between 1,000 and 2,000 Oakum soldiers and their accompanying vehicles and artillery against several times that number in local defenses, but so far Oakum’s forces only seemed to be gaining ground against Darcia’s forces, at least for now anyway. They owed this winning motion to the fact that they just didn’t seem to go down; for every one Oakum soldier that finally stopped moving, anywhere between four and eight of the local defense force had already been lost.

Why? Well, because these weren’t flesh and blood soldiers. They were androids, every last one of them. That and the fact that this was a surprise attack the locals were completely unprepared for.

Though there was something quite odd. For machines, they certainly seemed to relish using tactics ranging from effective and fluid to utterly bizarre. A few of them actually constructed a catapult and proceeded to pelt a hospital or two with loads of dead birds. Dead. Birds.

[tazcalbat2]

Isamu ran through the shadows. Smoke and dust filled the air, causing him to start to cough. He was covered in filth and grime. The sky shown black and red. Death filled the city with fear and dread. Screams were soon drowned out by the firing of weapons, then stopped completely in death, just to be repeated by those who still lived.

Isamu stopped to catch his breath and too have a look around. Bad move. One of Oakum's killer followers had caught up with him. Picking up a brick that had fallen from the explosions, he aimed for the monster's head. As he threw the brick, he took off running the other way. He rounded a few corners and was alone again, at least for the time being. He laid close to the hard, lumpy ground as a building near him burst into flames. Glass and debris flew into the air, then pelted the earth. A sharp piece of building hit Isamu in the arm. He winced, then looked up as the shower eased off. He looked at his arm to see it was bleeding. Tearing his shirt, he ties it around his arm to stop the bleeding. How much more could the city stand? How much longer could he stand? Not long, of that he was sure.

With a deep sigh, he stood up and started looking for survivors. He refused to take sides and fight in this stupid war. He was not for or against Oakum or Darica, but he refused to be drawn into this endless bloodshed and fighting. He had to keep living, and joining sides was not what he had in mind. Suddenly he tripped and landed hard on his chest, knocking the wind out of him, and scrapping his body up all over. With a loud curse, he got up and looked at what he had fallen on.

He stumbled back when he realized it was the corpse of a small girl. A bullet hole in her head. Is this what war was about? Killing anyone and anything, no matter their innocents, to prove you were better? To show you are stronger? No! This must come to a stop, but it has been going on for countless years. Why would it stop now? He clearly couldn't stop it. But what was it that others mentioned? Paradise? Yes, that was it, Paradise. Maybe that was where the answer lay. But only a few could enter. He, being human, was not among those few. But the wolves, or beasts and they were referred to, they could. Maybe if he could join them. To side with the cause, and maybe the answer, or this war, then maybe he could help stop the fighting and killing.

With that thought, he turned to find himself standing face to face with the soldier he had just ran from. A piece of his mask had broken, exposing his true nature. They weren't human! They were androids. With that Isamu's world blacked out as he was hit and knocked to the ground, out cold.

[Lord Oakum]

The “unfortunate” man would awaken later to find himself tied up and held in some exceedingly non-descript but well-worn room, though out of the way of combat. The sounds of gun-fire and artillery could still be heard outside and well into the distance. A simple inspection of his wrists would likely reveal a crude pair of handcuffs made from rope or (or at least something that would have felt like rope).

“You know. It takes some nerve to damage my hardware,” came a crackling voice from behind that open mask, blinking blue and red lights shining beneath torn and damaged artificial skin, the mouth of the android was surprisingly inanimate though; it never moved even while this broken voice spoke. Perhaps it was to conserve energy? The android’s face was never supposed to be seen anyway. More importantly, it seemed to be sitting in a chair, staring at its captive.

Was the android speaking to this man? No, no. As this captive might have figured out, it was in fact the person controlling the android speaking. “How exactly do you think you’re going to pay for the damages? I mean come on. I know there’s a war going on and all, but seriously, a brick? You couldn’t just shoot at my soldier or something and give him a valid excuse to kill you to save me the trouble?”

The mechanical entity crossed the room towards a window, staring outside for a moment, its only visible eye darting around before finding some point of focus. The machine raised its weapon and let loose a single bullet, there was another explosion in the street right outside.

“Hah, damn I’m good. The only way it could have been better would be if I’d used a banana peel, string cheese and a sling-shot to do it.”

[tazcalbat2]

Isamu slowly begins so gain consciousness. The first thing that he sensed was te pain his body felt from the beating he had taked thoughout the day. His cuts and bruises start to scream at him. The there is the sound, the awful sound of gunfire, then the distant sound of screaming. He moves his wrists slightly to test for binds. Yep, he won't get loose easily. The room had the musty of age and disuse. The coppery taste of blood coated his tongue and mouth. His head throbbing. Lastly he opened his eyes. Damn! I guess these things have a problem with leaving a guy the hell alone. he thought, though the soldier could probably read his anger on his face. As he lifted his head, a small line of blood creeped down the side of his face, and from the many cuts and scrapes he had collected.

As he looked at the android before him, a voice came from somewhere behind the mask. At the remark, Isamu spit, hitting the monster in the face. That's what I think you your piece of trash! he growled. His eyes followed the lines and wires that linked the multitude of blinking lights. He had to give it to them. They knew how to make an impressive army, even if they were used for the pleasure of their evil, blood lusting leader, Lord Oakum. Though Isamu figured if not Oakum, then Darcia would have done the same thing. This wasn't about the people and the innocents. It was all about the beasts and gaining dominance over the opposing lord.

And why would I do that? he asked. He figured he he might as well try to have some amusement before his fate was sealed. He didn't have much hope of living long anyway. He only wished that he would be able to help the beasts find Paradise some how. He looked at the lifeless soldier again. How was this thing made? What made it tick? And who was it behind it that was speaking to him now? Isamu had a feeling that this thing was only made for combat. It had now was to carry on a conversation without out a master who worked out the finer details behind it.

Just then the android stood and paced over to the window. Isamu followed it with his eyes as best he could. Watching as it listed it's gun, then aimed. Miss! he whispered in his head. He closed his eyes as he heard the gun fire and the resulting explosion. The only way it could have been better is if you would of missed. he says in the low voice. His anger had started to return.

[Lord Oakum]

“I’m guessing you’re not really familiar with the situation where someone holds your life in their hands.” The android raised a hand to its face and wiped the spittle from the metal that functioned in place of a cheek. “I am slightly impressed that you managed to eject saliva with that much accuracy from a good six or so feet away though. Oh, right.”

The android approached the man and stared at him for a good few seconds, as if contemplating one of the commands it had been given (or suffering from latency issues). And then it happened, a mostly metallic hand covered only in a glove and Isamu’s own spit collided with the side of the captive’s face in the form of a slap (Assuming he didn’t dodge anyway).

“Almost forgot to punish the P.O.W. I am supposed to do that right?” The android rhythmically tapped the chin of its helmet, “Yeah, I’m supposed to do that.” The mechanical man gave the other individual another slap, this time with the spit-free hand.

“Now that our introductions are done with,” when had they ever introduced themselves? “I have a proposition for you. If you can get any civilians out of the way of our forces, any you can I mean, I’ll let you go. See I gave them orders not to shoot the civilians unless they’re armed and particularly hostile, but sometimes the machines misinterpret random objects they happen to be holding for weapons, like a toy gun that looks particularly real, or a baseball bat. Or a brick,” the android mimed a ‘you-know-what-I’m-talking-about’ cough. “Find any civilians you can and tell them to pocket or drop anything they have in their hands and then tell them about a path leading out of the city. You don’t have to do this, but I figured I’d give you a guilt trip with the thought that there are people you could rather easily save with no personal danger to yourself… assuming you’re not holding any weapons. Just think about all the little men, women and children who could be saved...”

The android lifted a finger and ran it in a path down its cheek, clearly a fake tear, “Of course assuming that you’re not the type to be guilt-tripped into doing me a favor, I could kill you right now,” Isamu suddenly found a gun pointed in his direction, “Or I could just give every soldier orders to shoot you on sight and see if you manage to survive long enough to escape.”

[tazcalbat2]

Isamu guessed there was no way he would get out of this alive. He would love to get out, but that's not how war worked. He only wished his aim would have been better the first time, with the brick. It was too late for that now. When the android moved closer, Isamu knew it could only mean trouble. When he realized what the soldier was about to do, it was too late to dodge, and the slap stung, the spit making it even worse. The area where the slap hit burned, and Isamu knew it would swell. Then came the other one. It too began to sting. Then the part he dreaded came. The terms. Ismau knew it was a trick question, that they would kill him no matter what, but he knew that if he answered just right, he would be able to have some freedom before death. He would have to think of his words before he spoke them. Why would they care about the civilians? He knew that they killed all in their way. Including civilians, and him too. Isamu inhaled deeply, then looked at the android. What are you really asking? Either way, does it not end the same? he asked. He knew that he might be crossing the line, but he had to know before he could answer the terms. He wanted to know that they truly had planned for him. What he a pon they could use, or merly for entertainment? Either way he didn't like dealing with them, but he wanted to come out alive, if possiable. He wasn't too sure it was, but he wanted to try. He would just have to hope an idea came quickly, or he would be as good as dead.