Finding a New Home: The Escape (2 of 3)

The mission involved finding an entrance to an abandoned research bunker located southwest of the complex, make contact with any squatters, and identify materials to be recovered.  The team will be extracted five days after insertion.

In the past the team would have had its own wheels, but things had changed since that day with captain Martell.  The team would be delivered to the target area, left on their own to complete the mission, and then picked up.  To keep track of things, the team would report to HQ each evening.

After drop-off, they performed a quick recon of the area, then proceeded to try to locate the bunker entrance.  The secondary entrance consisted of a single man sized door in a recessed concrete entryway, a sort of escape hatch for the bunker. 

The team enters from the top right of the photo, 

the bunker hatch is near the center of the table.

The team decided to operate per the mission requirements for the first day, locate the hatch, check in as directed, etc.  They had some concern that they might be watched by HQ, and wanted time to determine if this was so.  As the team neared the likely location of the bunker entrance, they heard voices in the distance.  The Lt saw the gang members near the entrance just as he cleared a rocky intrusion from the valley floor, waving the team into position immediately.

A gang sighted in the distance.

The team advanced briefly, with the intention of gaining a tactical advantage and them giving the gang opportunity to surrender, but it wasn't to be.  A gang member sighted them as they moved, and fired immediately.

Shots are fired as the team tries to spread out.

With the team's two snipers, plasma gun, and advanced body armor, the gang was at a distinct disadvantage, in an eight on eight match-up.  Upon the ganger firing the first shot, Spookie, one of the snipers, hit the ganger square in the chest and dropped him.  The gang leader hit the Lt with a pistol round that didn't penetrate his armor.  Both sides moved into better positions.

Using a periscope to check Spooky's line of sight.

Obradovich, moving to the Team's left flank, took a minor hit, but continued to fight.  A ganger near the hatch took two hits from Spookie and Rinkman and collapsed.  Fire was exchanged with Obradovich hitting another ganger, while taking another minor wound, any further wound would put him out of action.

The team advances, exchanging shots with the gang.

The team continued to advance, while a couple of gang members tried to move to the team's right.  the gang leader took a hit, which seemed to just make him angry.  He was armed with two pistols, which got a freak long range hit for no effect on the Lt's armor.

The gang leader.

Shots continued to be exchanged, with the gang leader taking two more hits from Spookie and the Lt, and went down.  The ganger at the team's extreme right also took two hits and collapsed.

A view from the gang's perspective.

At this point, the remaining gang members were feeling a little lonely and started to run.  The Lt halted fire, and the team advanced on the hatch.  Spookie, the Lt, and Flamin' Joe (with his plasma gun) got into position, the outer hatch already unlocked, was opened, only to find an empty chamber.  The inner hatch was still sealed, and entry into the bunker was not immediately achieved.

The team continuing to advance, 

several gangers have been hit by this point.

Tinker, who served as both medic and mechanic to the team,  tended to Obradovich's wounds, while the gang's leftovers were investigated.  Each of the team members tended to their own needs, and at the directed time, Lt checked in with HQ, updating them about the firefight, and the status of the outer an inner bunker hatches.  Lt informed HQ that the team would attempt to breach the inner hatch in the morning.

The team opening the outer hatch.

That evening, Tinker managed to open the inner hatch, which  was located at the top of ladder recessed into the floor.  There was a long drop, maybe 50 feet, and a God-awful smell.  The power grid in the bunker appeared to down, and no further investigation was made. 

Tinker and the Lt inspecting the inner hatch.

The team arranged their watches for the night, keeping check on the outside world, and the doorway to the one below them.  During the Lt's watch, he noted how clear the night sky was, and marveled at the multitude of stars.  He loved the night sky; something seen by so few in the complex.  His heavenly companions would watch the wastes with him for the next two hours, and then he would sleep.