THE GRATTAN
CAMPAIGN
PART 4- THE USUAL SUSPECTS
7212.10.03 - A.T. LIGHTER
"KAIN"
Maxim Hiflen, Mick Wansboro, and Burt Buton have been transferred to
the Penal Battalion ship "Kain", and are being held for crimes
committed on their last mission. There's no sign of the
traitorous Lieutenant Odiah, though... Major Perdas Grane introduces
their new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Fugue. Fugue explains
the conditions of their incarceration... Each of them has been
"equipped" with a Leash system- a remote controlled device that can
induce pain, or even death. As long as they follow Fugue's
orders, stay within 500 meters, and Fugue is in good health, they'll
be fine. But if any of them get out of line, or attempt to
flee or injure their CO, there will be consequences. Fugue
demonstrates when one of the prisoners attempts to flee- and is
knocked unconscious by a jolt of electricity running through their
veins.
With their undivided attention and unquestioning loyalty assured,
Major Grane explains their next assignment. They must return
to the depths of Tartarus City, and capture any and all members of
the Stray Dog gang residing there. The
Prisoner-Soldiers go to the hangar to select their ATs.
7212.10.04 - TARTARUS UNDERCITY,
PLANET GRATTAN
After making entry into the depths of the city, Lt. Fugue (Standing
Turtle) orders the advance of Maxim Hiflen (Standing Turtle with
Mortars) and Burt Buton (Scopedog with Rocket Pod). Burt looks
for a way to access the upper level.
.
As Burt climbs the decaying bulkheads of the undercity, Mick
Wansboro (Scopedog with Mortar) Goes around the side, looking
for another way in. All the leashed prisoners dutifully look
for Stray Dog gang members, but to do so on their home turf is a
dangerous business.
Mick finds a flooded canalway. Advancing cautiously, he is
aware of many potential ambush spots...
The advancing ATs flush out a swarm of giant rats. Fleeing the
rats is a lost pet Kizzard, native to Grattan. The Kizzard is
backed against a drainage canal, but manages to join up with a Stray
Dog gang member caught on foot and off guard. Together they
drive off the rat swarms, but the Stray Dog must still be careful
not to attract the attention of the ATs...
While Lt. Fugue checks the middle levels, Maxim discovers the Stray
Dog's hiding place! He warns the ganger to run away, even
though his orders are to capture any gangers in the area.
The Stray Dog ganger manages to hide around the corner just in time,
along with his helpful new Kizzard Friend. The Lieutenant is
suspicious, but fails to discover the fugitives.
Mick has had some luck finding suspects- a ganger with a heavy
machine gun lurks in a doorway nearby! Mick fires a Foam
Grenade from his GAT-22, and the expanding, hardening foam traps the
ganger inside the building.
Burt has made it to the upper levels, and can see several more
gangers ready to ambush Mick Wansboro below! He fires several
Foam rockets, but the gangers manage to get away.
Alerted by the aggressive intruders' attacks, the Stray Dogs engage
the invading ATs with ambushing ATs of their own.
A Boxing Dog AT charges Burt, but he manages to snap fire with his
handy GAT-22C, damaging the boxing dog and buying time to escape the
crushing blows...
But he backs right into the attack of another Stray Dog AT, whose
energy weapon wreaks havoc on both Burt and the precarious
landscape! A repair AT sets to work fixing the Boxing Dog.
Mick barely avoids destruction by a Brutishdog, dodging into the
drainage trench before the Stray Dog's ambush can hit.
Mick returns fire with a Foam grenade, disabling the Brutishdog and
buying himself some time!
Burt dashes off a ramp to escape his attackers, straining the limits
of his damaged Scopedog...
...and lands on another Stray Dog on the platform below, knocking
him down!
The Lieutenant enters the fray, firing on the repair AT and
destroying it. The Stray Dog ATs on the upper platform
are distracted by this attack...
Just long enough for Mick to fire off a Foam Mortar round and
incapacitate the Boxing dog!
Maxim Hiflen joins the fray, ambushing from out of the drainage
trench and foaming the remaining Stray Dog on the upper
platform. Lt. Fugue calls in reinforcements, and Gilgamesh MPs
enter the scene. The Stray Dogs surrender, preferring capture
to death. The Boxing Dog pilot is none other than the infamous
Stray Dog leader, Rotweil! The Kizzard seems to have some
special connection with Rotweil, and sneaks into his coat pocket.
7212.10.04 - A.T. LIGHTER
"KAIN"
Four captured Stray Dog prisoners including Rotweil, are are brought
back on board the Penal Ship "Kain" for incarceration, and most
likely, Leashing. Burt, Mick, and Maxim are reminded that they
too are prisoners, still under the control of the military.
Before it can be detected, the Kizzard sneaks off into the depths of
the ship.
On to Part 5!
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