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The revelation of just why this entire ordeal was so personal for Graham had lent a certain...until then absent quality to things. An urgency, and an actual need to push forward with all due haste. It added a fresh, keen edge to the matter at hand, looming over their collective heads and just waiting to drop if they were too slow.
While Altanis personally may not have cared at all for the fate of those captured by these...super mutants, as the two humans accompanying her had helpfully informed her they were called, it was clear enough that those two cared a great deal. So greatly, in fact, that she hadn't even bothered to waste her breath suggesting they simply ignore them and focus on exterminating their captors. Graham, she knew, would not be satisfied until he had either seen to their rescue or knew their fate for certain either way. Joey...she was quite certain could be coerced into going along with any plan of action put forth — she had certainly been easy enough to read and lead along thus far, after all — but one could only keep someone around with threats and backhanded manipulation for so long.
She was, as much as she hated to admit it...rather stuck. Saving this hapless bunch of fools was the fastest way to ensure she could retain some assistance. Loath as she was to admit she actually needed such assistance...it was unavoidable. She was well aware of how futile it was to scavenge an entire world aimlessly searching for a specific group; having a guide like Graham, familiar with the world and lay of the land as he was, to aid her in finding her targets would be indispensable. The mechanic, however...she was likely to be useless in almost every regard for the actual mission, and her attitude had thus far been only a hair short of unbearable...but there were always other uses she could be put to, in time. For all her infuriating attitude, there was a certain...charm about her, and though Altanis had normally found most humans some measure of repulsive...she could always appreciate an attractive figure. And underneath all that grimy mechanic jumpsuit and jacket, she certainly qualified.
It would only need the right amount of effort and time, and then... Even the thought of it was enough to bring a grin to Altanis's face.
Fantasies and thoughts of the future were probably best saved for more appropriate environs, however. There was more pressing business to tend to, at the moment.
"Is this the place you mentioned before, mister Graham?" she spoke up, sweeping a hand out over the compound before them. "The barracks, prison and armory?"
"Along with what passes for their living quarters, yes," the man wearily confirmed. "We should see to the armory first, then the barracks...ensure we are properly armed and then dispose of the ones capable of fighting."
"Hmm...a sound enough idea, in theory, I suppose." The tactician nodded absently, turning her eyes to peer curiously over the facility.
Ramshackle buildings, built up from scrap and scavenged material around the skeleton and framework of older structures. The overall layout and setup of everything was sensibly thought out. Ample space between buildings, and a well planned use of the rather minimal available space. It had been mentioned on the way up the mountain, she remembered, that it had originally been an observation and communications post. Using the high vantage point of the mountain to keep track of wide stretches and expanses of the desert, and relay useful information between relevant parties. Some number of personnel stayed here in a long-term capacity, to man the equipment and keep tabs on everything, and likely at least a small number of armed and combat-capable individuals as well.
Not all that dissimilar from a fortified watch post, back home... Different building materials used, different means of performing the task, different methods and purposes behind it all, perhaps...but the end results were largely the same. She could at least acknowledge and understand that much. Most likely, however, this place was no longer operating under any such...sensible command. The mannerisms she had witnessed even for such a brief time, and what Graham had revealed to her thus far, spoke volumes about the capabilities of these brutes.
...or, perhaps, to the lack thereof.
While Altanis personally may not have cared at all for the fate of those captured by these...super mutants, as the two humans accompanying her had helpfully informed her they were called, it was clear enough that those two cared a great deal. So greatly, in fact, that she hadn't even bothered to waste her breath suggesting they simply ignore them and focus on exterminating their captors. Graham, she knew, would not be satisfied until he had either seen to their rescue or knew their fate for certain either way. Joey...she was quite certain could be coerced into going along with any plan of action put forth — she had certainly been easy enough to read and lead along thus far, after all — but one could only keep someone around with threats and backhanded manipulation for so long.
She was, as much as she hated to admit it...rather stuck. Saving this hapless bunch of fools was the fastest way to ensure she could retain some assistance. Loath as she was to admit she actually needed such assistance...it was unavoidable. She was well aware of how futile it was to scavenge an entire world aimlessly searching for a specific group; having a guide like Graham, familiar with the world and lay of the land as he was, to aid her in finding her targets would be indispensable. The mechanic, however...she was likely to be useless in almost every regard for the actual mission, and her attitude had thus far been only a hair short of unbearable...but there were always other uses she could be put to, in time. For all her infuriating attitude, there was a certain...charm about her, and though Altanis had normally found most humans some measure of repulsive...she could always appreciate an attractive figure. And underneath all that grimy mechanic jumpsuit and jacket, she certainly qualified.
It would only need the right amount of effort and time, and then... Even the thought of it was enough to bring a grin to Altanis's face.
Fantasies and thoughts of the future were probably best saved for more appropriate environs, however. There was more pressing business to tend to, at the moment.
"Is this the place you mentioned before, mister Graham?" she spoke up, sweeping a hand out over the compound before them. "The barracks, prison and armory?"
"Along with what passes for their living quarters, yes," the man wearily confirmed. "We should see to the armory first, then the barracks...ensure we are properly armed and then dispose of the ones capable of fighting."
"Hmm...a sound enough idea, in theory, I suppose." The tactician nodded absently, turning her eyes to peer curiously over the facility.
Ramshackle buildings, built up from scrap and scavenged material around the skeleton and framework of older structures. The overall layout and setup of everything was sensibly thought out. Ample space between buildings, and a well planned use of the rather minimal available space. It had been mentioned on the way up the mountain, she remembered, that it had originally been an observation and communications post. Using the high vantage point of the mountain to keep track of wide stretches and expanses of the desert, and relay useful information between relevant parties. Some number of personnel stayed here in a long-term capacity, to man the equipment and keep tabs on everything, and likely at least a small number of armed and combat-capable individuals as well.
Not all that dissimilar from a fortified watch post, back home... Different building materials used, different means of performing the task, different methods and purposes behind it all, perhaps...but the end results were largely the same. She could at least acknowledge and understand that much. Most likely, however, this place was no longer operating under any such...sensible command. The mannerisms she had witnessed even for such a brief time, and what Graham had revealed to her thus far, spoke volumes about the capabilities of these brutes.
...or, perhaps, to the lack thereof.
Fluid time powers; activate! This takes place before joining this year's DA event.
Unmaking Quest: Kidnapped!
Post: 723 words
Quest: 723/10,000