Looking at the map overlay, while listening to his women, was a little distracting. Elise sure was good looking, nearly as good as Sophie. Shaking his head, he led them back to the path to the Luke Chmilenko Gun Range. Skirting the derelict casino complex, they crossed a seldom-used road then walked through the remnants of a housing complex, that ran beside an overgrown golf course.
Following the terrain and avoiding highlighting themselves on the ridge lines, they soon reached the well-used road which led to the gun range. Pulling up his map Cain noticed a green icon, in what looked like a clubhouse. Five minutes later they had access to the gun range clubhouse.
"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, what can I do for you? The name is Clint Westwood, I’m the manager of the range. Sadly, we’re closed, I’m waiting for some players to take the quest to clean out the pesky mutant coyotes. Six packs of them have made a huge underground den and are fighting against the peaceful Ratoles. Can you help?" Asked the man dressed as Col Saunders, right down to the beard and cane.
Sophie had to control her laughing, it wasn’t the NPC’s fault the coder had dressed them in such a fashion; the man was easily three times the size of the original Col, sadly the clothes looked like someone made them for the original Col Saunders. Buttons, zips and seams were all straining, to the point of exploding.
Once they had the quest Cain used the map controls and highlighted all the coyotes as red icons. Moving the map around Cain noticed nearly twice as many teal-coloured icons, belonging to the Ratoles. Teal icons must donate friendly or allied players or non aggressive NPCs.
Bringing up the game messaging system, Cain quickly sent a global message under the heading Freed Ratoles only. Hoping one of the four Ratoles from yesterday, Dan-Cain, Koj-Cain, Brid-Cain and Baa-Cain, who were in the Ra-Cain Team, would reply. Koj-Cain replied almost instantly.
They impressed Cain, the four he did not kill, how they were proud of being in a named clan not just a number.
Cain asked them if they were having problems with the coyotes? To which Koj-Cain said yes, they are a big problem. They like chasing our young and stealing them. Brid-Cain said we’ve lost six in the last five hours. Toni nudged Cain as she pointed out a curtain covering something on the wall behind the reception desk. Cain noticed the curtain was the same size of the plaque in the control tower. Making a calculated guess he spoke to Clint.
"Do you mind if I look at the plaque,"Cain asked. Clint had no problems, he didn’t even know what it was behind the curtain. Just like the previous plaque in the control tower, this contained a tale of why the area game coder had made what they had.
They have named the gun range after Luke Chmilenko and litRPG author who wrote a wonderful series about a game called Ascend Online. As you travel through the range, you will notice buildings, streets and items named after Luke’s books. After Cain read the plaque, it replicated what the first plaque did. It fell from the wall breaking into hundreds of small pieces that dissolved into the floor. Cain received a pop-up on his HUD.
Talking to Toni and Sophie, Cain told them what the plaque said about an author called Luke Chmilenko while waiting for the Ratoles to join the party chat. The four Ratole leaders joined the chat, Cain informed them they were going after the coyotes. That could the Ratoles arrange a small incursion down towards their den, making a feint to draw the coyotes away, then we will attack.
The four leaders agreed with Cain’s request, reminding him he was the rightful leader of all free Ratoles, so they would willingly make the feint attacks on the coyotes.
Sophie paid close attention to the map Cain shared, she watched as the Ratoles drifted towards the edge of the coyote range. The red icons were hardly moving in the heat of midday, they were fairly static in the middle of Cain’s map. Sophie noticed a single red come rushing into the large group of reds. Seconds later, nearly three-quarters of the red icons rushed away towards their range. Nudging Cain who was in a conversation with Toni about his past as a dark operative, made him jump. It was a shock to Sophie as she faced down the barrel of Cain’s Glock.
"Sorry," Sophie said, "I keep forgetting you have the reactions of a mongoose." Then lent over and gave him a tongue fighting kiss while feeling Toni’s right breast.
"We really need to get a room, I’m as horny as I don’t know, maybe a cat in heat. I want to get laid, multiple times, just like a cat, meow."Toni said as they moved out to complete the quest.
Creating a new party, Cain simplified the party request by giving his party the name dream three and the free Ratoles. No sooner had he clicked create than Toni clicked joined for them, with Brid-Cain clicking join for the Ratoles.
Chapter 21
Den Cleaning
From the look of the map, the Coyotes spread out like a Rorschach inkblot test. There were several entrances the nearest starting in the clay shooting circle, ending up slightly beyond the Lyrian pistol shooting range.
Clint Westwood gave Cain the keys to a gun range Ford Ranger, fitted with obligatory bull bars. Driving from the clubhouse they first had to drive through the streets of the simulated town called Aldford where players could practise ambushing players in a safe environment. It impressed Cain seeing the huge tree growing almost smack dead in the town centre as the tree was glowing blue, an ultramarine blue. As Cain drew near he could see the blue pulsing in beat to something, they all felt calm as Sophie drove through Aldford.
"This looks like a nice rural township. I’d love to take a break in an area like this," Toni said to Cain.
"Only if we get to share a nice large house, something we could easily defend. A large hot tub for the three of us, on the veranda, a chilled wine, or two sounds like heaven," said Sophie. As she was driving Sophie noticed that buildings had names in the shooting zone, such as Sierra house, Aldwin square, Drake Avenue and Constantine Drive, as she drove through and out of Aldford. She had to swing a hard right just outside the town palisade to avoid a large rocky outgrowth called Amaranth’s rock.
Once Sophie had driven them through the town, they easily reached the nearest of the Coyote den entrances, although they had yet to see any of the mutant Coyotes. The town even seemed free of Coyote tracks too.
"I don’t get this. If Clint had such a problem why can’t we see a host of Coyote tracks?" Toni asked. Nobody had an answer to her question though. Sophie said they could be over the back of the gun range, only coming this way when there were gun shooters. The map did not show the size of the entrances which Cain thought was a programmers poor cartography work. You could easily drive a large Ford Ranger into them, which is what they eventually did.
The vehicle programmer must have had a Ford Ranger, back before they all became EI auto drives. Thy sure were a beautiful vehicle, I'll have to see if John can get his hands on a couple.
"Do you think this was a mine of some description Joseph," Sophie asked. "Because I can not see any trace of rail tracks for nor see any ore wagons. I am not compla
ining as it makes for an easier drive." Cain previously set up his M249, he fixed the bipod spikes to the two holes in the cab's roof, holes he put there with the G3.
"I hope Clint has insurance cover for that damage," Sophie said after he had done the deed. Toni rode as the shotgun, kneeling on the chair the seat belt fastened around her waist. Toni used the M16 with the 40mm grenade launcher, loaded with HEDP as Cain had given her all his 40mm ammo. Toni discovered ten HEDP rounds fit neatly into the Ford Ranger’s glove box, providing an easy reach supply.
Although Cain was tentatively expecting something about the Coyote’s his biggest surprise after the size of the Coyotes was Sophie’s exceptional driving skills. Cain would ask her about those later that night as she swerved around another rock outcrop in the tunnel system.
The largest surprise for each of the three was the size of the Coyote mutants. Somehow, they had mutated with old plains Buffalos. They had the build of a buffalo at the front end, with the body of a Coyote at the rear, though in buffalo size. Some had the large shaggy-haired Coyote type heads with horns, while others shaggy buffalo heads, without their horns.
What with the Ra-Cain Ratole clan pushing at the edge of the Coyote range, all the Coyotes had gone to defend their territory. Unfortunately for the Coyotes the Ratoles were the diversion.
Well this quest was not as difficult as it could have been. If we were on foot, this would have been difficult. These last ten minutes of Sophie ramming the larger Coyotes and the two sub-bosses, Toni dispatching the large females and myself picking off stragglers with the M249, it was all nearly over apart from three or four red icons near the Ratoles. There is the one in Sophie's headlights and a final red icon at the den's middle. Cain mused.
Sophie slammed on the brakes as the last Coyote near the Ford Ranger died, smashed into the tunnel wall almost decapitated by the bull bars. Cain checked the map again and banged on the cab roof.
"Only one left," he shouted. "My Ratole clan has eliminated the ones near the shared boundary. Brid-Cain and Koj-Cain have led the clan admirably, baiting then thinning the Coyote numbers. Before we made our attack." Cain watched as several teal coloured icons neared their location.
Dan-Cain and Baa-Cain walked casually into the beam of the Ranger lights, over towards the rather battered Ford Ranger, three other Ratoles followed them. Heads down so they were not blinded. Only one headlight was working on full beam, there were no mirrors, and there wasn’t a panel without dints, horn scrapes or hoof prints.
Walking to the rear of the Ford Ranger, Dan-Cain chittered to Cain, who repeated what he said to the ladies. It was a good fight, but there was no known way the Ratoles would let the ladies anywhere near their vehicles. Dan-Cain said it pleased him to see Cain’s first mate the purple woman, display her skill in blowing up the Coyotes. BOOM, he chittered and clapped his paws together making a loud clap; he repeated the clapping several times, laughing with each clap.
Cain did not tell his women the Ratoles blamed him for the majority of the vehicle damage. He told Toni the clapping was her blowing the Coyotes up with 40mm HEDP rounds. Who lets a woman drive said Dan-Cain, Baa-Cain cuffed him at the back of his head the second his chittering left his mouth. "Pah, youngsters,"chittered Baa-Cain, then laughed as Dan-Cain rubbed the back of his head, while chittering under his breath.
[Toni, Cain is not telling everything they say. He has not told you the Ratoles blame him for the damage to the Ranger. They think letting a woman drive is dangerous, now you are parked they feel safe. Though they noted you as first mate, the purple warrior woman. I would bet they call you Purple-Cain in the Ra-Cain clan.]
Toni kept the knowledge to herself, knowing she would speak to Cain later. Everyone laughed at the grim humour. Cain thanked the Dan-Cain, Baa-Cain and the rest of the Ra-Cain Ratoles for their help, he shared the spoils with his clan. They let the Ratoles take all the loot as the skins would make good bedding for the clan. Saying goodbye, Cain had Sophie head for the last red icon, driving slowly to their destination.
They agreed to leave the Ford Ranger in the tunnels so they could finish the hunt on foot. Sophie thought it was a fantastic idea as the Ford Ranger would likely fall apart if it hit another bump in the ground. Let alone a Boss Coyote. Toni took point while Cain brought up the rear as he said it always paid to be careful and observant. The last stand began with a level twenty Coyote, at full health:
Toni used one 40 mm Star grenade, lighting up the large den where the final and huge Boss Coyote come Buffalo stood waiting for them. Pawing the ground, the Coyote began its lone charge, aiming for the one who blinded it with the bright light.
They had already arranged what to do once they reached the den. Sophie and Toni would run to the right-hand side, firing their MP5s as they ran. Meanwhile, Cain would take a kneeling position and shoot with his G3 since the M249 was cooling down.
Sophie and Toni fired and emptied their first magazines while they covered less than four yards. Kneeling to switch magazines, they could hear the steady supersonic crack from Cain’s G3, over the ringing in their ears of their own shots. Of the combined sixty shots, they fired eighteen damaged the running Coyote, doing a mix of damage
12 X Hit: 12x -16 = -192, on Boss Coyote, 6 X Critical Hit: 6 x - 28 = - 192, on Boss Coyote (2237/2597).
Cain was more selective, shooting just twelve times, each one hitting the Coyote’s head,
7 X Hit:7x38=266 7 X - 38 + - 266, on Boss Coyote, 4 X Critical Hit: 4 x - 58 = - 232, on Boss Coyote, 1 X Blinding Shot: 10 = 10 (eye, right exploded from shot impact), on Boss Coyote (1729/2597).
With his eye still on the Coyote, Cain noticed his women were in harm’s way, the Coyote would reach them before they could load and fire for a second time, Cain fired all his remaining shots at the front legs of the Coyote.
The eighteen shots left the G3 like it was on full auto rather than single shots. Although Cain’s aim was exceptional, the first fifteen shots got tangled up in the hair hanging down from the Coyote’s lowered buffalo head, like it was an armoured belt.
Cain’s sixteenth shot hit the Coyotes left leg’s hoof, punching a hole right through though it didn’t impact the running, or direction of the charge. The seventeenth shot glanced off the front of the right hoof, gouging the keratin. Cain’s final shot clipped the right leg’s knee, carrying on hitting and smashing the tarsal on the Coyotes left leg.
Critical Hit: -263, on Boss Coyote (1466/2597).
The huge Coyote, bereft of its rear left leg, dropped to the ground, its momentum carried it forward, stopping less than a yard from Toni and Sophia. They both emptied their full magazines, at such close range every shot hit, doing critical damage, killing the Coyote well before they finished firing.
Fatal Hits: - 1466, on Boss Coyote (0/2597).
Caught Napping
Cain brought up the party panel, showing it to both Toni and Sophie, they were all surprised how many levels they had gained and points they had to distribute since they had last slept; only five game hours ago. Sophie looted the Boss Coyote while Cain used his combat knife cutting off its head. Toni walked back with Sophie for the Ford Ranger while Cain had a huge grin on his face, yet was up to his armpits in Coyote blood.
The women made Cain ride in the Ford Ranger’s bed with the huge Coyote head. Cain told them it was a gift for Col Saunders, and that he would get a shower once they handed the quest in.
Driving up to the clubhouse, Sophie pulled around the side of the building, parking next to a brand-new Ford Ranger, identical to the one they had trashed. They left Cain to drag the head around to the back door on his own while Toni and Sophie went into the clubhouse to let Clint know they had completed the quest.
Cain dragged the huge Coyote head off the Ranger's bed, and used the hosepipe to rinse the blood and gore from his clothing. Cain enjoyed the cool water flowing over his body from the hose. He watched as the blood and gore ran down the nearest drain. Wet, slightly chilled but satisfied, Cain turned off the hose a
bout ready to walk around front when he received a party chat message.
Serious, can‘t we catch a break, these retard PvP players. They should have killed the women, not played with the targets. Mind you, I can‘t blame them for that, I want to play with them too. Cain was furious, though he nearly laughed out loud. They should have had a lookout for us and taken us out as we pulled up, damn amateurs.
Cain would have to go through the back and sneak up on them. As he was already at the rear, Cain approached the rear door. Noticing it had a swipe card number lock, the kind gun enthusiasts use, he spoke to Enoch.
Enoch is there anyway for you to hack this lock, is there anything we can do together to bypass the security, quietly to free Sophie and Toni.
{Normally there is an override inside. I noticed a security camera focused on the door. Let me search the local building control plans….. Found them. There should be an override behind the bar, it is on the plans; they hide it in a fixed first aid box near the till. Let me see if Rahab can get Toni to press the button. If she does you will have twenty seconds to enter and bypass the second door with a key without setting the alarm off.} Enoch said.
[Toni dear, Cain wants you to press an override button so he can make a surprise rear entrance. Now that would be nice and welcome do you think, him taking you by surprise from the rear. The button is in the first aid box near the till. Can we do this or are you going to put up with this fat fuck mauling you?] Rahab taunted.
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