18340/Failure to Deliver

Failure to Deliver
Date of Scene:	17 June 2024
Location:	Rural Colorado, United States of America
Synopsis:	A mercenary hired by a mysterious employer paying in Latverian Franc ambushes an apparent military convoy. A herd of illusory deer aid in the acquisition of a desired cargo.
Cast of Characters:	Victor Von Doom, Martinique Wyngarde

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Victor Von Doom has posed:
In rural Colorado spring begins to give way to summer. The nearby mountain range splinters of rocky greys, with green trying in vain to climb up its lower slopes. There a roadway travels alongside a lake, creating a picturesque backdrop for travelers to behold. Today that same roadway is overseen by a modern day brigand, lying in wait for the approach of a particular group of vehicles heading westbound. Traffic along the country road has been minimal, but at least a factor. Every few minutes a car or two may pass by, before once again leaving the otherwise quiet paved pathway deserted once more. The sound of summertime insects once again filling the world around as the sound of engines grow distant.

The wait is tedious at best. A couple hours lurking out of sight before finally the convoy of vehicles can be seen farther down the road from the target area. The target area itself is near the lake seated at the foot of the mountain range, creating a chokepoint of sorts that would require anyone leaving the roadway to drive into the lake on the right or into field and forest on the left. It's a strong position for an ambush.

The approaching vehicles number four. A simple cargo van being escorted by three vehicles. The head of the column is led by a Colorado State Trooper, followed by a Humvee, the van, and tailed by a second Humvee. They'll be within the target area within a few moments more...

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde had a nice vacation after the incident getting swarmed by Sentinels and falling off a container ship, and having to recover physically from that. But it's back to work. Need some money.

She takes a transport down from space, and via Denver, gets to rural Colorado with a jeep, which is easy to drive off road and disguise, allowing her to set up and monitor the road with the scope of a rifle. She has a duffel bag packed with some equipment and supplies, and makes sure it's ready while she waits.

Rifle is trained with explosive rounds ready to try to stop the lead vehicle. An RPG launcher is at hand for the followup, ready with anti-personnal rounds.

She's eating a pop-tart (unfrosted cinnamon) when she sees the column, and starts training on the state trooper's engine, ready to tear through it with a few bullets and disable it.

Steady... steaddy. BLAM. kaclick. Load BLAM. kaclick. load. BLAM.

Victor Von Doom has posed:
The engine of the lead vehicle erupts with smoke and steam, as the dead engine draws the Trooper's vehicle to a rolling stop at the edge of the road. The vehicles that follow all slow to a halt, breaking from protocol to keep rolling through while the tail vehicle pulls aside to investigate. The entire column keeps rolling, but does gradually come to a halt. Judging by the lack of panic, there's a high likelihood that the series of shots hadn't been heard as a result of the shooter's distance and vehicle's being sealed up against the summer, relying on their air conditioning to stave off the heat.

The cargo van and rear Humvee remain in place, but the first Humvee's doors open. The soldiers within dismount and begin to walk ahead to the Trooper's smoking, steaming car. It's clear from the distance and the rifle's optics as the Trooper exits his vehicle, that the two groups are converging to speak.

For the moment the element of surprise is maintained.

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde takes a quick look, and then gets up on her knees. Slowly, carefully, she starts to move. Bringing a pair of pistols on her hips, the now-emptied duffel bag on her shoulder, and the RPG in hands. Trying to approach whichever vehicle looks like the one that's supposed to have the target cargo in it. Trying to get an eye on who or what is guarding it still.

Victor Von Doom has posed:
The disable CSP vehicle sports a single Trooper, with two from the lead Humvee approaching to discuss the situation. The cargo van appears to have only a driver, who is presently white-knuckling the steering wheel. The van is the most likely location of the target cargo. The tailing Humvee appears to also feature two, a driver and passenger. They for the time being have remained in their vehicle.

As the sharpshooter and assassin begins to rise up and move, her approach is still concealed by terrain and genuine lack of attention on the part of the convoy. The Trooper and the two from the Humvee begin to converse, visibly gesturing toward the Trooper's vehicle. It's clear that there's some confusion among them, even from this distance.

That is until somewhere from the rear Humvee seems to take notice of movement to the south, among the forest-lined field. The Humvee's doors open and shouts of alarm can be heard. Heads turn, fingers point, and suddenly multiple pairs of eyes begin turning in the vague direction of the prowling mercenary.

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde curses softly to herself. She drops again, and tries something. Sending out a wave of illusion to the weak homo sapiens guards, of the sound of trucks coming from in front of the convoy. And masking her own voice to sound like a Man Of Authority:

"In front! It's an ambush! 20 of them! Oh Jesus!"

Victor Von Doom has posed:
The illusory sound of trucks, along with the masked voice, is enough to draw those within the vehicles to the front. They utilize the broken down Trooper's car and the lead Humvee as their cover and concealment. State-side as they are, the four soldiers are without the heavier weapons that may be associated with foreign operations. They possess sidearms - pistols - and nothing more. They set themselves up behind their cover and concealment, readying weapons and shouting commands among themselves. There's a fight headed their way and they seem to be readying their position.

Meanwhile the cargo van, sensing something awfully amiss judging by the actions of the Trooper and soldiers, begins to reverse the van and work to turn it around. It's clear that he intends to leave to scene and drive back the way that he came to avoid the oncoming ambush.

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde fires off an RPG to try to explode it in front of the trooper's car. Nothing like adding to the illusion with something physical. "Need everyone up here NOW! Christ, they've got grenades! Open fire!"

Is anyone getting out of the van?

Victor Von Doom has posed:
The explosion definitely sells the illusion. Gunfire erupts. Small arms fire cracks and bangs, peppering the roadway ahead of the convoy with gunfire. If there were anyone approaching? They'd certainly be having an exciting morning. Fortunately - or unfortunately - the roadway is empty and there is no death or destruction to be wrought by the convoy's defenders.

The van however doesn't appear to be stopping. The threat was from the front, which means the van does not engage but instead begins to turn and drive in the opposite direction. The cargo is the important thing for that driver and, given that he's likely a civilian contractor, there is no way that he intends to jeopardize cargo or himself in a firefight.

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde has to think on her feet. As the van is starting to get away, she throws aside the RPG and takes off in a sprint. So she can catch up to a moving vehicle, she tosses another illusion, this time at the van crew, of a flock of deer running onto the road. BETTER STOP!

Giving her just enough time to come up alongside the van, guns drawn and pointed into the van.

Victor Von Doom has posed:
The illusion's effects are almost immediate. While the soldiers and State Trooper continue firing, calling out the need to reload, or otherwise shouting tactical messages back and forth; the cargo van comes to an abrupt halt. The driver takes a moment to look both directions, both north and south. He considers the lake to the north and the fact that it is impassable. To the south is the field and treeline that the door currently crossing the road saunter their way toward. He's left to wait, looking as anxious as someone expecting gunshots to strike his van at any moment.

The windowless, featureless cargo fan idles, with the driver calling out, "Come on! MOVE!" to the herd of deer presently making their way across the road. A herd which, of course, doesn't exist. The driver's impatience is growing, even as the mercenary that is Martinique Wyngarde appears near the passenger side window with her guns drawn and directed into the cab of the van.

The illusion holds strong however and the driver doesn't even seem to notice her presence, because he is so focused on the herd of deer. The man's hands rapidly pat at the steering wheel, further showcasing his growing anxiousness as he continues to shout instructions and even some obscenities at the deer.

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde comes right up to the driver's side window, and taps. "Out of the van. Hands up. Anyone in the back?" she barks out, keeping barrels trained after the apping to ensure she has the upper hand if they get frisky. "Don't be a hero."

Victor Von Doom has posed:
The driver seems to snap out of his frantic shouting at the door. He looks abruptly to the side and the presence of Martinique, her tap and the guns that she holds directed at himself seeming to send another message entirely that doesn't require the aid of illusions. He places his hands up before himself, showing his open palms. The he abruptly begins reaching for the door's handle, trying to open it. He nervously frets for a few moments, all while cursing those damn deer! He does shout out a terrified, "No, nothing in the van but that small box! It's some sort of experimental siphoning device or something, I think! Just don't shoot, okay? I'm cooperating!"

By the time the door opens, he spills out of the van and down the embankment near the vehicle. He slides down, nearly to the lake shore, before coming to a halt.

The van is open to the mercenary and its cargo too.

Meanwhile the State Trooper and four soldiers are running desperately low on ammunition as they continue firing, now engaged in a heated firefight with the opposition.

"I'm out! Anyone got a mag?!" one of the soldiers shouts.

Martinique Wyngarde has posed:
Martinique Wyngarde wastes ZERO time, once the driver's out of the way, she gets into thevan, grabs the box, and bursts out the back, running. "You never saw me," she instructs the drivers. "Your cargo was lost when the deer blocked the road and shook it out. Not your fault," kindly giving them an excuse. And so she is gone.