Location: Berlin, Germany




I'm in an armory shop that does blacksmithing, given that I have some money to spare after getting a big bonus from stopping the Contessa... and I have never seen so much money in my life all at once, so I decided to get some stuff I've always wanted, I get my hands on some knight armor, a teutonic knight sword, a steel crusader shield and a dagger with deep royal blue robes to pull it all together... plus an armor stand to keep it all together. Thankfully since I'm Interpol I'm allowed to bring the stuff with me, much to the dismay of Carmelita and Bently but everyone else is interested. The flight is uneventful, though I was nervous because Bently and Murray were wearing disguises and I was worried about them being recognized, especially since we had the van stored away in a crate.




But now we're in China and in the mountainous region none the less, cold snow surrounding us and the villiage that's nearby... though the patrolling T-34/85's give off quite a message of something being afoot, that and smoke coming from a nearby ancient stronghold.




I sigh at the sight "So what do we know about this Tsao?" and I go over to the others, taking sips from my hot cocoa.




Bently goes over something on his laptop "He's a strong combatant and a cleaver one as well. The last time we were here he was able to counter us, if only for a time."




The mouse looks to me "He's also misogynistic and looks down on everyone else, he even planed a wedding just to forcibly continue his bloodline." as she crosses her arms.




Carmelita puts on a smile "Which I ended up crashing."




An image comes up and it's labeled 'General Tsao', showing a chicken in some ornate armor... I just start to laugh which catches everyone off guard, after a few seconds I finally catch my breath "Now I want chinese take out."




Murray gets excited "Heck yeah, I'm getting hungry."




The turtle sighs "Maybe later, right now we need to focus on the task at hand. Since Tsao is using some tanks for patrols, that means he isn't taking any chances. If I had to guess, Tsao's base of operations is being used for putting the shuttle together, but it also looks like he's doing an operation of his own. Recon here is going to be extremely hazardous for sure." with the image now depicting the tanks.




I examine the image "The T-34/85 is an old tank but never underestimate them, that 85mm gun isn't for show, unless we have armor or anti-tank weapons, we can't counter them."




The vixen glances to me "And we can't get any tanks of our own without raising suspicion, but we do need a way to deal with them."




Bently types on his computer "I've been in contact with an old ally of ours.", the image of a panda wearing red shorts with flames on them and wearing explosives comes on "The Panda King has been keeping an eye on Tsao and he's been waiting for a time to strike. If we bring him into the fold, we won't just gain a way to deal with the tanks, but we'll also have a way to get into the fortress. But Tsao has likely further incorporated counter measures. Penelope and I will go recruit him, the rest of you will need to do some reconnaissance in the meantime.", he looks to me "Adam, I'll leave how you want that done up to you."




I give a nod "Also if you come across one of those T-34's, hit them in the fuel tanks, if they ignite it'll either disable or destroy them."




The turtle and mouse leave as I get my gear together, changing the suits colors to match the snow but I keep the Interpol iconography, I ready the 9A-91, equipping a scope to it, I look to the hippo and the vixen "I'll explore the sides and rear of the fortress and see if there is a way to sneak in, if I can get in and get Intel I'll take the chance. Murray and Carmelita, I want the both of you to map the routes for those tanks and foot patrols, also if they got eyes in the sky we're going to need to know it. Also as an arching objective, we're both going to keep an eye out for key targets, things like guard posts, hardware, supply posts, et cetera."




With that the three of us leave the safe house to perform our missions, the hippo and vixen put on disguises to hide themselves as I head off into the woods, going solo wasn't a good idea, but given I'm pretty recognizable, I would just draw too much attention, disguised or not.




.................................




Penelope and Bently are on the side roads, using a taxi to help cross more distance, they eventually disembark and head off onto a small trail. The two haven't really looked at each other since leaving the safe house, then again their history is very awkward and twisted,they were lovers once and now they were simply allies of convenience.




Bently glances to her "I find it funny, what you said to Adam back in Belgium."




The mouse doesn't look to him "I know what I said, I'm not expecting any forgiveness from you or Murray or even Carmelita.", she glances to the turtle "But Adam doesn't need to know anything about what happened when it comes to Paradox and our fight, the situation is already messy... no sense in just making it awkward."




"I understand, but I'll never understand how you can justify what you did." his glance almost turning to a glare.




Penelope sighs, she decides to speak the truth "I like I said, I don't expect any of you to forgive me. But I want you know one thing, I still love you Bently, I know you don't believe me, but I wanted you to know that."




The turtle feels a cord in his heart being struck, but he shakes it off "Any idea what'll happen once this case is over?"




"Honestly, I expect to be thrown in a cell when this is all over, but Adam will see what he can do on letting me go.", she glances down "I don't know why, I'm a criminal and he's an officer."




Bently blinks "He's giving you a chance, that's what he's doing. He'll give you that chance when no one else will... so don't mess it up."




Penelope let's that sink in, the human was willing to put his new career on the line if it means she gets another chance?




The two eventually arrive to a small house, a massive panda is sitting in a rocking chair, beside him looks like a wooden launch tube, his golden eyes looking at them almost instantly.




Bently says "Panda King? We've come to see if we can work with each other in bringing Tsao down?"




The Pand King gets up "Bently and Penelope, I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed up. Working with you will be no issue...", his features become more serious "But you must know, that Tsao is enacting quite a ploy."




...................................................................




Snow crunches as I continue to stalk around, my carbine at the ready, I go prone and inch to where I'm on the edge and close to the freezing water, I start to look through the scope, I couldn't find anything on the left side, so scanning the rear hopefully goes a little better... I am just amazed, machine gun emplacements are at top and there are four platforms towards the middle, armed with turrets from T-34/76 tanks, down towards the bottom is a gate going into the water. I continue to look around and see a boat heading towards the gate, it looks like an ancient, wooden chinese boat complete with sail, I see Tsao standing triumphantly at the bow, but just behind him is a panda woman who looks to be in tears and on her knees. I also see on either side of the pilot is an armed guard armed with a pkm, I could take a shot and end this, but now we have hostage situation. They eventually go through the gate and it seals once more, looks like we have our entry point, but I decide to scout the right side and it's the same as the left, where they have no tank turrets on platforms but they do have machine guns up top. The front is connected via bridges to the land mass and outside of some sewer pipes, there is nothing on the front at all, I quickly head back to the safe house where everyone else has already returned, a huge panda staring at me from across the room, his gaze becoming more fixated as I remove my helmet.




Carmelita says "How did it go?" with a raised eyebrow.




I sigh "This place is locked down tight, there are only two ways in, the front door and a gate at the back which is a water entrance. To make the situation worse, the rear entrance has platforms that have tank turrets covering it."




The vixen gives a soft nod "Hmm, their patrols are also very organized and those tanks have complex routes with multiple checkpoints, these tanks refuel and if need be even re-arm. We did see the tanks even get a new crew on occasion. Based on their chatter, they use a form of short wave which is centered in the compound itself with most of the guard posts going towards the location."




Bently adjusts his glasses "Adam, this is the Panda King, he's an old ally."




King stands up "It is an honor to meet you, Benty and Penelope have told me so much about you." and he bows.




I give a bow back "The honor is mine, honorable Panda King."




The mouse looks to me "Unfortunately, things are even more dire then we thought. Tsao has kidnapped Panda King's daughter Jing King and plans to do a forced marriage like before, sadly we don't have a time frame on the event."




I instantly think back to that panda I saw on the boat, that must be Jing King, I sigh "The problem is that there is no way to sneak in and if we try to get close the guns will reduce us to dust in an instant." an idea comes to mind "Unless...", I look to Bently "If that gate at the rear doesn't go all the way into the water, we could exploit that to a degree."




Bently puts on a thinking look and and brings up what he can on the structure, it's an ancient chinese structure erected during the Qin Dynasty and it was designed to act as a fortified outpost against invaders, but to also act as a trade post, hence the water gate and solid bridges. By the looks of it, there is enough depth for a small amphibious unit, that sorts the recon out but dealing with this fortress is a whole other concern, I can do all the recon in the world... but we would need an army to deal with this thing and we are only six strong. The Panda King expresses that they can beat Tsao as is, I decide to go along with it, but if anything happens I'll have to hire some mercenaries, though Carmelita is far more optimistic about what's going on. The plan now is that Bently and I are going to infiltrate as he wants to see if he can get into any computers and place a bug, as for me I want to see if we can even the odds a little alongside some recon. Carmelita, Murray and Penelope are going to be looking at a way to counter the tanks while the Panda King makes his arsenal ready, the cramped improvised sub makes it's way through the water, the turtle and I are laying side by side as he works the controls, the pod finds an opening that is just big enough to go through, we enter and surface, exiting the pod with my rifle at the ready.




Bently looks to me "We'll meet back here in an hour, be safe in here."




We both split up as I make sure my charges are ready, my main focus is on those bridges or anything that leads to them as well as any ammunition stores and food stuffs, if need be we can starve them out.




.................................................................................




Bently is looking around for any computers to access, however he's finding out that his computer skills are going to be useless as every electronic is analog and not digital, he eventually makes it to a large set of metal doors, two tigers standing front and center armed with rpd machine guns, with the doors having his full attention, the turtle looks around and sees a small vent, he undoes the bolts and sends an rc car into it.




The rc car moves around the vents, it's camera giving feedback to the turtle, he starts to hear people talking, the car gets to a vent where he sees Tsao and Jing.




The chicken stalks around "I don't care what you think or anyone else thinks! This time the wedding will be underway and then a new breed of warrior will come!"




Jing is all teared up "My father will come for me! And when he does you'll pay, just like last time!"




Tsao slaps her face so hard it echos, causing the turtle to wince, the panda goes down, whimpering as she holds her face.




Tsao sneers "Let him come, you are such a fool! I have taken every pro-caution, your fathers weapons are no match for what I have acquired!"




Bently puts on a sheer look of disgust 'Maybe not, but I know someone who can... and he is going to kick you to curb!"




He has the drone continue to watch the scene play out, but the chicken eventually leaves, the turtle waits for a few moments, hearing the doors open and close, he has the drone gently tap the vent, the panda looks around before focusing on the vent, she goes over to it and sees the car.




Bently turns on the microphone "It's okay, it's Bently... remember I worked with your dad?"




Jing gives a nod "I remember, if your here... then so is my father."




The turtle says "Me and another are here to check this place out and get a grasp of the situation. We'll get you out, no questions asked, but we need your help. He has no computer networks I can access, I have a device in this drone that can eavesdrop on what Tsao is saying and if placed on a computer can access files."




The panda holds out her hand "Give it to me and I'll put it to use."




................................................




I finish setting a charge and hide it in a munition cache, the seventh one set so far... the amount of ammunition is just amazing, but I also have a charge set in a food depot and a water still, anything that can cripple this place is a huge deal, but it won't do much good if we can't counter their tanks off the bat. I make it to the wall with the bridges and look to both of them, I look up and I see the turret platforms and notice that two of them are over the bridges, I sigh as I know what I need to do. I change the suit to match the stone and begin to scale the outside as best I can... my fear of heights is enjoying this just fine... NOT!




I set the charges and get back in 'Alright, that should deal with the bridges just fine, but I need to know where they have a fuel depot.'




After scanning and avoiding guards, I find a large room full of diesel fuel, oil and gasoline, the room really well armored, I set my last charge with the gasoline tanks and begin to make my way back to the vehicle where Bently is waiting for me and we head back to the safe house.




I look to everyone "I have a lot of charges set, one press of a button and we can cripple them with ease."




Penelope blinks 'What are the dangers of the structure falling into itself?"




"The store rooms are pretty well armored, the explosions will more or less be contained and we can knock those bridges out at the same time, but those tanks are still an issue.", I sigh "The T-34/85 is a tough nut to crack."




Carmelita perks up "Between Penelope, Panda King, Murray and myself, we were able to come up with something that can counter them, something I think will tickle your fancy."




We head into the garage and see this machine, it vaguely resembles a tank as it does have treads and hefty-looking armor, the turret is open on the sides and rear with the gun by the looks of it being a modified 76mm ZiS-3 anti-tank gun, the slopped armor giving a dull sheen.




Penelope looks to me "It's the biggest gun we can find, can it take on a T-34/85?"




I look to her "It's certainly possible, but when it comes to this tank what are the specifications?"




Murray hands me some schematics "We based it on the T-34/85 as best we can, but we gave it a more powerful engine and suspension so it should be able to outmaneuver them."




I look at the blueprints "Ideally we need to hit them in the lower glacius, side and rear armor while staying as mobile as possible. I am concerned that we don't have machine gun for defense though, plus the turret is mostly exposed like a early tank destroyer."




The vixen says "We talked and we all agreed that you should be the commander, I can work the gun while Murray drives and Penelope works the radio."




I get onto the tank and begin to inspect it, the analog turret is put together well, a good amount of ammunition and the layout is pretty good, the manual transmission annoys me a little though, I stand on top of the tank "I think it'll perform really well, but we still need a plan of attack."




Bently adjusts his glasses "Then let's get to it."




To be continued...