Steam thins in the cramped service vein, and a giant silhouette resolves at the center of the passage. The Warlord stands there like he owns the hull, one hand lifted, the other weighing a familiar data drive.
The Warlord
Onyx Soldier. I remember you from the Zero Day Wars. You always arrive when the body count is about to matter.
His private soldiers stay half-hidden in the gloom, rifles low but ready. Water runs around their boots. The passage feels narrower with every breath.
The Warlord
Back away. Leave the ship, and maybe I let your exit remain painful instead of fatal.
Whisper
Onyx, ignore the theatre. He is stalling for time. I have a route, if you can make the next ten seconds count.
The Warlord shifts the drive to plain view, smiling wider as he measures the distance between them. Somewhere behind him, a soldier steps forward just enough to block the lane.
“I'm going to do a diving roll picking up the drive. When I come to my feet im going to do a energy imbued spinning kick to break warlords neck.”
SUCCESS (Superb Hand-to-Hand, rolled +1)
Onyx Soldier drops low and explodes forward, boots skimming the wet steel. The drive snaps free in the same motion, snatched from the Warlord's hand as the corridor blurs around him.
He comes up into the spin before anyone can reset, his powered kick cracking into the Warlord's throat and jawline with a brutal, clean impact.
The Warlord folds sideways into the wall, his confidence shattered. The drive stays with Onyx Soldier, while the corridor erupts in shouted orders and scraping boots.
The Warlord
Get him. Now.
The Tactical Lead surges out of shadow, rifle snapping up, but the sudden movement of his own men chokes the lane behind him. Water splashes hard around their feet as the passage turns into a crush.
Whisper
Drive is yours. Move, Onyx, move.
A side access panel bursts open under the impact, exposing a narrow service crawl with cold air spilling through it. The route is there, but the corridor is now fully committed to violence.
“I run toward the access panel as I run I put a single bullet through each opponents head then move service crawl.”
SUCCESS (Superb Firearms, rolled +1)
Onyx Soldier cuts across the wet deck without slowing. The first shot snaps the Tactical Lead’s rifle hand sideways, the second drops the Warlord Soldier before he can clear the bottleneck.
The corridor breaks open in the instant after, boots skidding in pooled water as the lane loses its last organized threat.
Onyx Soldier reaches the blown panel, shoulders through the narrow crawlspace, and disappears into the service passage with the drive secured.
Behind him, the Tactical Lead staggers in the spray and smoke, reaching toward the opening too late.
The Tactical Lead
No, keep him in sight!
Water slaps through the gap as the service veins swallow Onyx Soldier and the firefight is left outside.
Quest Complete
Escape the freighter
Attribute Upgrade: Agility Great→Superb