WHO: Same as previous parts.  Additions- Sephiroth, Kefka, Kain Highwind, Barret Wallace, and Heideigger on the viewscreen.
Where:  ShinRa Building, 70th floor.
Why:  After ripping off the roof of the building, Squall allows three of his men down into the building to aid the rescue team.  Will they rescue Cloud?  Find out in this, the startling conclusion!


Midgar - 70th Floor of ShinRa Corporation - President's Office

         Windows ring the entire floor, letting the occupants walk to any wall
in order to see the spread of Midgar city. This is the president's office
which takes up the entire floor. A door upon the north wall takes a person out
to the expansive balcony that rings the office. Pillars cover the room,
supporting the otherwise freestanding area with both brace and additional
light from sources at the top of each. Two purple carpeted staircases lead
down to the floor below and serve as the most direct route for visitors to
come from. Opposite these stairs lies the half circle shaped desk which the
President uses as a base for his paperwork. Montiors, computers, papers and
buttons. Most of the desk's working contents are obscured by the rising curve
of the perimeter, unless one walks around to the other side. There is one
chair only in this room, and it belongs to the President and his desk. All
other visitors must stand.      
[Obvious Exits: (D) Curved Stairwell, (B) Balcony, (GH) Gaping Hole (Look! You
can see Sky!)]
[Players: Sephiroth, Kefka, Irvine, Shinra Defence Forces 2(Heidegger), Cloud]
[Sleepers: Rude]

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Irvine, come in. Report as you can.

Sephiroth sidesteps in a ballet of motion and parries the thrust away. Are his
movements a trifle slower than before? The blade of the prized Masamune
continues its upward cut as the grip at its hilt shifts with such a motion,
leaving it clasped in one hand, and still wielded with ease. "Cloud Strife."
These are the first words he's spoken since the fight began. The former
General ignores Kefka's ranting command, as he has ignored most other outward
extremeties inclusive of his own injuries. The man turns around slowly,
returning both hands to their grip upon the hilt. Where did the sword stop?
Its intent was to cut away the strange crown at the enemy's brow. There is a
smile on the man's pale features, that reaches his jade eyes with a measure of
amusement. "There are many people waiting for you to return to them." he
concludes. Then silence, again, however events might lie.

Proud Clod veers off as the Rags soars behind the building... the optics of the
behemoth narrowing. He cannot fire apon the building... but he can go up it.
And he does so... soaring straight up the side of the Tower. Hovering when he
reaches the now... torn open top. A low, metalic voice resounds thoughout the
top of the building... "Boo."

Standing in the middle of the floor, is none other then Kefka. His multicolored
clothes soaked with blood, his painted face bruised and cut in many places. A
dark horrid grin adorns his face as he regards the raging struggle between
Cloud and Sephiroth with eager evil eyes, "Puppet! He speaks -nothing- but
lies, strike him down now and you will have served your master well."

The battle is raging within... Cloud and Sephiroth stand facing eachother...
Kefka lays on the ground a little bit away. Kefka is on the ground leting out
curses and ranting. Beside the level though... hovers Proud Clod himself. His
optics narrowed at the scene. On the far wall... a screen still stands... in
it is the visage of Heidegger.

Dragonclaw is the first to be nuts enough to jump out of Ragnarok. Feet-first,
roaring the whole way - no-one told him to be quiet - the being that made a
royal mess out of the fields for any cars is the first to land with a distinct
thud - because, out of all the places to land, he hits the desk. Predictable.
On his feet, though he leaves big rents in it from foot-claws. He quickly
moves, hopping down, trying to get some feeling back in his numb toes.

Dropping out of the sky, via the Gaping Hole (tm), along with Dragonclaw and
Ward, Irvine manages not to break a leg on the way to the floor,
sommersaulting once into a crouched position _near_ the desk, that shotgun
fully loaded and ready to fire. My how... nifty. Or something. Now, time to
actually understand what the heck is going on, instead of just shooting. Must
control the trigger finger.
Commlink, oh yeah, can't forget that, especially as Squall's already asking for
a position. He murmurs something into the mouthpeice.

Ward lands hard next to Irvine, a bit behind the desk, harpoon slamming hard
into the floor so that he gets an odd sort of three-legged landing. He
immediately rips the harpoon free from the ground and stands, even if his legs
are sore, leveling it at those in the room warily.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Irvine here, we're inside, fighting going on, not sure but
I think it's the client and the rescuee. And a laughing... clown? Advise,
*please*.

"My place.... is here!" Cloud's deep voice, which ruffles at the end, should be
heard by all. That means the crown is still in place. What does this mean? It
can mean a lot of things. That ShinRa is able to match Sephiroth's powers to
this day. Perhaps, match. He, naturally, dodged for his blade didn't clang
against his adversary's metal. This means they were smart in creating and
remolding Cloud into what he is. He will protect that of which steals from
him, involuntarily. With his master screaming out his determination to end
this, his hand glows a bright reddish-orange as he holds his sword out in a
defensive pose. This is just an attempt.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Squall sounds puzzled. "A clown? Alright, uh, help the
client with the rescuee, we need him out of there."

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: <faint whisperings> Kefka did have a fondness for painting of
the face...

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: What?

Kefka swiftly turns around as the sound of people dropping out of the sky
reaches his deranged mind. Both his brows arches resulting in a surprised
frown, letting his eyes examine these three new figures he smirks darkly and
folds his arms across his chest, "Oh how terribly wonderful! Even more
pathetic little meaningless excuses for invaders!" Reaching his arms out into
the air he tilts his head slightly to the side and asks, "Or maybe I'm wrong,
who might you three be? So rudely dropping by without invitation."

Dragonclaw just keeps walking, able to move despite having numb toes. "I am
Dragonclaw," he rumbles, since he's just been roaring he's not in a mood to
talk. But if he keeps Kefka distracted, he might be able to get some feeling
back. "And what about you?"

From the staircase down... a group of about 4 men rush up... each of their eyes
glow brightly. Mako courses though their veins. They are clad in SOLDIER
Armor... but not any normal kind. These are Gold. They are the personal Guard
of the General. The General's face in the screen sneers. "You dare invade my
home! You will pay for this!! Guards! Take them!!" The Personal Guard of the
General move foward, yanking out ornate, glittering swords.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: They got Aerith...I need help to get her out.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: There's a team in there for you.

Kain comes flying in, from above, and lands here again...

Kefka is standing in the middle of the room, speaking to the three who just fell
down from the sky.

Nudging Ward, Irvine gestures toward Sephiroth and Cloud. "Squall says help free
Cloud. We gotta get outta here ASAP." (He even pronouces it a-sap.)
Dragonclaw... where is he? Oh! *On* the desk. Well, so much for getting
anything done on that paticular peice of furniture anymore.
Hmm... new distraction, the painted Clown figure. His hand touches the earpeice
again, something dawning on him. Painted face.... Kefka? Oh uh... looks like
he might get his chance to take a shot at him after all. But, first, there's a
_third_ distraction, the golden sworded SOLDIERS. Squinting one eye shut,
Irvine brings the shotgun up to take proper aim, pulling the trigger at the
first SOLDIER his eagle eye spots.
      
Ward hefts his harpoon and stands next to Irvine, not wanting to inadvertently
get in the gunman's line of sight, but boy, he looks menacing. He's nearly
bigger'n Barret.
      
The Guardsman /flies/ back from the shotgun blast... rolling down the stairs...
While the other three move towards Ward, Dragonclaw and Irvine. Kain may have
reappeared... let Kefka deal with him. Proud Clod looms above them all... the
penultimate battle being witnessed by the eyes of the Behemoth. Cloud and
Sephiroth.

Kain yells, "With me! Aerith's been captured...We need to get her out...or else
we'll have to do this.../again!/"

Sephiroth eyes narrow slightly. Though the support is here, there is little
attention that Sephiroth can take to note them. He instead readies for for
Cloud's charge, both hands raising the Masamune level with his shoulder, his
body adopting a sidestance and knees slightly bent. He waits, then.

Ward looks up at Kain for a second, then at Irvine questioningly in a sort of
'Do we go?' look, moving his grip on the harpoon to a two-handed set.

*cha-chink* The sound of spent shells being released, chiming as they strike the
tile floor. Irvine mutters something quick into the commlink, then brings the
shotgun up again, taking quick aim a second time. It's gutsy, especially since
they're getting closer. He waves Ward off, 'go', he'll stay and take potshots
at any SOLDIERS getting in the way. Then, the trigger is pulled a second time.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Aerith's been captured.

Dragonclaw pounds the axe - not the blades - against his opposite hand. Finally
figuring out who Kefka is, he lumbers that way. "If that is you, clown-Kefka,
this will not hurt." Brief hesitation. "Much." Quite slowly and sedately,
Dragonclaw advances toward Kefka, holding the axe down and to his left.

Kefka's eyes turns towards Irvine, seeing him take a shot at the guards he grins
horribly. Hearing Kain's voice yet again he turns swiftly around and his eyes
narrow and lock themselves upon him, "Foolish thing! Returning here will be
your last action." His eyes glimmering with rage and madness he reaches his
arms high up in the air and a crackling ball of yellow/white lightening forms
around his palms, snapping his hands at Kain it flares towards him in alarming
speed, "Uweheehee! Die pathetic thing, die!"

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *pause* What about the client and the objective?

Ward nods at Kain from the sky, but the Dragoon is obviously occupied...so he
winds up and throws his harpoon at the guards after Irvine's second shot, and
sprints forward, scooping the harpoon up as he barrels through.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: *breathless, sound of a shotgun being fired at the same
almost overshadowing his voice* Got resistence. Heavy. Unable to get to client
or rescuee.

Kain jumps, and since the roof gone, his full power can be used. He ascends to
his maximum height, way out of spell rage.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: *whistling wind* I need more back up. Send more if you can.

The Guard Irvine fired at was prepaired this time... he turns and leaps up into
the air... his leg caught by the blast but he still manages to survive the
shot. He lands before Irvine and brings a fist foward... trying to just simply
bash the Balambite. Another Guard meets Wards' charge... he quite small in
comparason... The harpoon smacking into his side as he tries to dodge it...
sending him spining to land hard. The last moves for Dragonclaw... bringing up
an arm with a Bracer glowing brightly... he unleashes a bolt of lightning at
the Dragon-thing-whatever

Ward barrels past the guard, not bothering to take him out, he leaps downwards,
guessing from Kain's trajectory that he approached from that direction.

Cloud grips the floor with his boots as his hand gets brighter with the glow.
His swords rests vertically in front of him before he finally charges with a
side strike. After excuting this, he extends his hand out again in Sephiroth's
direction; holding Sephiroth's blade with only one arm. It will most likely
not happen, but it's worth a try.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: We could lay cover fire with the railguns through the
windows. We're down to three up there, and this big attack machine is stalking
us around the building. Advise on your needs, over.

The guard Ward bowled over rolls onto his back, unleashing a spell at the
fleeing Balambite... Waves of numbing cold fly after him!

Whoa, dammit, that wasn't a good idea, Irvine. The gunman defends himself by
raising the shotgun to ward off the blow, letting the guard's fist strike warm
metal instead. "Shhhhh....eeeet." He falls onto his back on purpose, trying to
kick the guard's feet out from under him.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: *more whistling wind* I'm in jump transit now. The problem
is there are too many troops down there for me to fight alone. I would like as
much support as possible.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Shhhhh....eeeeet. *followed by the sounds of a physical
fight, grunts, the clang of something striking metal*

The ball of lightening strikes the wall with terrible force, blowing out a huge
chunk of it. Kefka however, hearing Dragonclaw he slowly turns around with a
dark, horrid and oh so amused smirk, "What was that my ears heard, did you
actually threaten me? -You- a mockery of existence, believe you could actually
destroy me?" Chuckling his hands begin to shine in an eerie bluish light,
bursting into a cascade of sharp jagged pieces of ice, Kefka sends them
flaring across the room in alarming speed towards Dragonclaw, "Perish! Perish
and die! Uweeheeheehee!"

Ward dives down the stairs more than he runs down it, but the fact remains that
a bloody huge ice-cube slams him in the leg and he tumbles downstairs rather
than stepping. *WHAPCRASHTHUDWHAM-WHACK-* Think it hurt? ...Yeah, could be.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Irvine? Irvine?

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Highwind, do you have anyone with you?

The Guard that blasted ward leaps to his feet and moves to run down after him...

The Guard that was facing Irvine yells in pain as his hand meets the metal,
breaking a few knuckles... he is sweeped with ease and falls back to the
ground on the other side of the desk with a grunt, reaching back to pull out a
pistol

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: *wind whistles* I'm in transit alone currently...I can only
carry one in with me...and that one had better be someone powerful.

Dragonclaw, who'd switched to charging Kefka madly, is stopped in mid-dash by
icicle after icicle impaling and lodging in his body. The odd one is deflected
by Dragonclaw's swinging axe, but 'Claw himself skids onto the fallen
computers from the desk. Kneeling among the technological wreckage, Dragonclaw
- battered, with an ice spear lodged in his right shoulder and another in his
left knee - lets loose something so destructive that he's trying to control it
and not melt Kefka out of existance. The ground near Kefka bubbles, boils, and
starts melting; odd spatters spray left and right, and where they hit just
melts under the two-thousand-degree heat. Smelted iron is not your friend.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *angrily* Well, go back and help the others. That's an
-order-.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: <whispered faintly> We can spare a body, if you need one.
Proud Clod looms above all... optics narrowed. It watches the battle unfold.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Bleak! We have this big machine stalking us, hold on.

Irvine rolls immediately, coming up with the shotgun set and aimed for the guard
he's managed to finally get away from him. Now we must have the dramatic
slow-mo pause for a moment as Irvine grins at his target, pulling the trigger.
"Bye bye."
Of course, he doesn't realize Ward's gone now and Dragonclaw's not doing so hot.

Kain dives down...becoming a human shuriken as he does sommersaults at
impressive RPMs as he falls...and he falls...straight at Kefka. Hopefully
he'll finish the battle this time.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: I'm ok.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: <A bit more faintly> We are in no danger, look after the
other units first.
 
Sephiroth's sword is caught in one hand, after a similiar parry to the opening
one takes the strike of Cloud's blade. However, lightning quick, Sephiroth's
own gloved hand reaches for Cloud's own wrist, meaning to lock the matter into
an interesting stalemate.

The Guard tries to bring up his own pistol... dramatic slow mo action... his gun
pointed at Irvine... even as the Cowboy pulls the trigger. Yet more mess on
Reeve's floor... And blood stains are so hard to get out. The last turns from
Dragonclaw and unleashes a bolt of lightning at the charging Kain.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *quickly* Highwind, go to the field outside of town and
pick up someone from the infiltration team and bring them in."

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Guards dropping... *pause* (insert four letter word that
begins with 'f' and is exclaimed quite loudly) Dragonclaw's hit.

Irvine finally realizes Dragonclaw's in trouble as he's talking into the
commlink and curses loudly into it. *cha-chink* More spent shells being
unloaded. Then the gun's up again, the trigger's pulled, and the bullet is
speeding toward that last guard chucking spells at his comrade.

Kefka grins in a deranged way as the ice tear into Draganclaw, the grin is
however twisted into an expression of pain as the ground beneath him starts to
melt. Trying to leap from the floor furnace he is however brutally stopped by
Kain striking him from above, being pressed down into the superheated floor he
screams out in pain and agony as his face burns, "...die... die..
die...!!!!DIE!!!!!" Reaching a state of total rage he literally bursts up in
flames himself and starts to throw cascades of fire at every shape and form he
sees, a madman can only take so much...

Dragonclaw, already stressed from getting hit with ice spears, simply faints
under the stress of melting metal. The metal starts to cool at a normal rate.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Claw's down. I don't see Ward...

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Hang in there...

The Guard is smeared by the shot even as he had unleashed the bolt of lightning
at Kain. A massive arm then raises high above them all... leting out a roar,
Proud Clod brings his hand down inbetween the fighters and Kefka after he
flung his fire. Heideggers voice rings out. "Get out of there, Kefka! Cloud
and Clod will hand this!"

Kain is electrically charged from the lightning bolt...but he wasn't grounded
when it hit...so his sword is electrically charged...his whole body is
actually, and the force of the bolt hits the now grounded Dragoon
belatedly...and it hits the Kefka who grounded it with equal force. However,
the flames burn a whole in his kevlar, and second degree burns cover his
chest. He bounces of the target, as per Dragoon usual. He yells in the
comlink, and jumps off the building...

The glow in Cloud's hand grows too big to hold much longer, and he is forced to
let go and twist his way out from the locked swords and the grasp of
Sephiroth's grip; which would put him back to back with him. He notices the
potential danger that Kefka is in and runs towards him, but not before hurling
a fire 2 spell at Sephiroth for distracting, or hurting purposes. Hopefully,
his master notices him and allows for the both of them to make an escape. He
turns to Sephiroth for the last time. "This is far from over." Although, what
words from a crown.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: I'm leaping of the building now *wind whistles.*

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: <Bit of a louder whisper> We have one ready for... "pickup."

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Guards are down. That huge *thing* up there is getting
involved. I can't see Kefka.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: It is?

Irvine leaps back by the ruins of the desk and Dragonclaw's unconcious body as
that huge hand comes down, blocking Kefka from his line of sight. He scowls,
lowering the shotgun slightly. How the hell is he supposed to get a shot in on
the mad clown if he cant *see* him? Argh!

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Just lowered a hand in here, blocked me off from everyone
else practically.

Proud Clod brings his arm around... sweeping it acrost the level. Trying to bowl
over those engaged. Heidegger yells out from the screen.. "Cloud! Heal Kefka
and Clod will get you out of there!"

Kain drops down from the sky, carrying Barret.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: Mission Accomplished. Barret is on the roof.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Tell him Aerith's captured if you haven't already. Then set
him loose.

Ack! Irvine tries to dive out of the way, but the hand is rather large as it
looms toward himself and Dragonclaw, and he's not about to abandon a comrade.
*smack* The gunman is easily swatted away like a fly, flung to the other side
of the room, in fact. Dazed, it at least didn't knock him unconcious.

Kefka hears the words of Heidegger, which manages to calm him down some. Cut,
burned, and just generally pissed he navigates himself to the stairs.
staggering down them and so vanishing from sight...

Kain nods to Barret, as he lets him go on the roof. "Aerith's captured...I need
help. Besides, I promised to save her."

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Gah! *slapping sound* Oof...

Barret lands unsteadily, but staggers to his feet, a fully automatic rifle
tucked in each arm. He tosses his duffel bag aside and nods to Kain, cocking
both guns and firing on Proud Clod like a madman in the meantime. "What do you
need me to do?"

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Ok, Irvine, we're going to take it out.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: *sounding somewhat dazed* Please... it has a wicked right
hook.

Ward begins to run up the stairs but a) a hand is flying at him and b) a mad
clown is flying at him. Kefka bowls past Ward, and Ward goes down long enough
that the hand passes over. That was clooose. Ward runs back up and looks
around, running towards his comrades (Barret, Irvine, or Dragonclaw, depending
who's closer and scattered where).

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: We need more support...I need further backup.

Kain mutters into the comlink.

It is Proud Clod's turn to deal with this... with everyone engaged in battle...
Clod shoots a hand down... to pick up Cloud even as He lowers his massive
foward Cannon down. The guns only rattling agains him as he draws the Cloaked
Figure away. This isnt over. Not by a long shot. Little does he know... the
Rags is flying up behind him...

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: <Back to "normal strength" whispers> We can only spare one
more. There is a "Julia Heartilly" here helping me tend the wounded. I suppose
that would be me then...

Distracting, but it doesn't hit. Somehow in the mess, Sephiroth manages to avoid
the brunt of the fire spell by using part of the ruins to his advantage.
Shortly after he is out again and pausing to take stock. A frown crosses his
features as he strides out again. In the moment, he has not noticed Barret's
arrival. He is currently heading for the stairs with a look of determination.
A pause again, when Proud Clod grabs Cloud. He follows this motion, before
casting a quick glance around the room. There is something missing. Aerith.
The General is displeased.

Irvine was at the desk, but now appears to have been tossed like a ragdoll to
the other side of the room. Slowly getting to his feet, he shakes his head.
That hurt, oh yeah, but he's alive, nothing appears to be broken... or maybe
he's wrong. He grimaces, one leg bent at a slightly funny angle. Just great.
Ah well, one does not need a leg to fire a gun. Of course, now comes the
question of what or who to fire at. The gunman pauses, trying to clear the fog
from his head to find a target.
Irvine also mutters into his commlink in the meanwhile.

Kain is honorable to the last. "Sephiroth...they took her...I need help with
this...they have heavy support down there."

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: That thing's reaching for the rescuee. Kefka's apparently
gotten away,.

The only ones left on the floor... are the Good guys... The last two bad guys as
slowly hovering back with Clod carrying Cloud. The /real/ General glares at
the heroes from his panel. "Time for you all to die! Cloud may not have gotten
the revenge I wanted... but Clod WILL!! GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Even at
Clod's massive cannon... begins to charge...

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Guys... it's charging...

Kain jumps, quickly, "Sephiroth...we have to contine the fight! Fly with me!!!"
He's meanwhile going way airborne.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: Suicide move?

Noticing Sephiroth, Barret is shaken sufficiently enough to cause him to pause
firing at the Proud Clod and gawk for a few seconds. But then he snaps out of
it and dashes to the nearest exit, hurling himself down the stairs bellyfirst
to hide from the cannon. "Holy Mother of Clod!"

The gunman's eyes widen, knowing exactly what that cannon can do now. And
there's poor Draconclaw over at the desk. As Ward finally gets in closer to
him, Irvine points toward Dragonclaw, who is out cold, and then toward the
charging cannon. There's no way he's leaving his comrade there to take the
blast, and he starts limping toward the desk. He knows, privately that he
won't make it, but better to die honorably then running.

Then... The Proud Clod shudders from a massive impact... Blasts from the
Ragnarok tear into its back as it clutches Cloud to his chest... The Cannon
flips up and the charging stops... even as it ROCKETS up high into the air...
soaring straight up with it's charge.

Ward runs for Dragonclaw, stumbling partway and crashing to the ground, harpoon
flying a couple feet away...partly because his own leg is messed up, and
partly because the building is being pounded by Ragnarok fire...

As Barret runs, the Proud Clod almost kicks him in its flight. He barely misses
being punted into the city of Midgar by a few feet, falling down the stairs,
automatic BRRRRRTing the whole way down.

Irvine ends up on his knees as the building shakes, cursing under his breath at
the pain shooting up his leg. Glancing up, he cheers to see the Pround Clod
being blasted by the Ragnarok. "You guys are beautiful. Tell Selphie I love
her," is said aloud, rather then mumbled into the commlink.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: You guys are beautiful. Tell Selphie I love her.

Kain is airborne, and not going to get caught in Clod's fire. He, however, does
not see how everyone that's not him and Sephiroth will live.

Heidegger sneers from the panel. "I would run now... the heavy Warplanes from
Junon are on their way... We will blast your Airship from the sky!"

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *there's a pause before a very relieved Squall speaks*
Everyone ok? Let's get people out of here, our objective just took off."

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Claw's out cold, not sure about Ward. I'm injured.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: *wind whistles* no, we're not ok...we need a way to get
these people out...Seph and I will carry them. At least I hope Seph will help.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: We're coming in. Get everyone to the open floor so we can
lower ropes and baskets.

Ward levers himself up with his elbow and reaches for his harpoon, using it more
like a walking stick now. He gradually makes his way towards Irvine, and looks
down at Dragonclaw. He looks up where Clod used to be...and sees one very
large, dragonlike airship with the name "RAGNAROK" in huge letters. He hasn't
been this happy to see the thing since it was brought back to Esthar by Squall
and Rinoa.

Crawling back up the stairs, Barret staggers to his feet and looks over to the
Proud Clod, being vibrated by attacks from the Ragnarok. "What now?" he almost
rhetorically yells to the nearest person as he adds his own gunfire to the
Ragnarok's, striking Proud Clod all over the left leg and a few in the
shoulder. Hopefully, that's the one in charge. "We're gonna get trashed if we
don't do something, and do it now."

Crawling back up the stairs, Barret staggers to his feet and looks over to the
Proud Clod, being vibrated by attacks from the Ragnarok. "What now?" he almost
rhetorically yells to the nearest person as he adds his own gunfire to the
Ragnarok's. Hopefully, that's the one in charge. "We're gonna get trashed if
we don't do something, and do it now."

Irvine forces himself to his feet, putting most of his weight on his good foot.
He points toward Dragonclaw again as he puts a hand to the earpeice, mumbling
into it, "Seems, Ward's injured too, moving everyone over to center, DC's
there already, kinda fell there." Toward Ward, he says, "They're coming in,
need to be out on open floor, they're lowering ropes and baskets."

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Seems, Ward's injured too, moving everyone over to center,
DC's there already, kinda fell there.

Kain falls...and slashes the panel to a crisp with his sword. "Shut the hell
up."

Sephiroth stays in place for a moment. As the Clod takes off to higher
altitudes, Sephiroth simply turns and heads likewise for the stairs. Those...
ah, opposite the ones that Barret is currently progressing down. He pauses,
turning to look upon Irvine for a moment. Then to the panel. A smirk follows
the threat, and Sephiroth turns away from the staircase to move toward Irvine
and Dragonclaw. And Ward, and Barret. "I will take him." he says with a matter
of fact tone. Calm. He begins to bend down with the intent to do just that.

Irvine pauses, looking over Sephiroth uncertainly. Well, this is the client
after all, so he nods, taking a step back and trying not to wince at the lance
of pain.

Terra is actually in the open hatchway of the Ragnarok, not in the actual room
proper. However, she would certainly be visible, especially with that hair.
And that tank top! Hubba hubba. c_c She calls out, "Any casualties?!" -
although of course if there are any of Kefka's fanatics around, she's going to
take her time getting there.

Oh, like /those/ Fanatics over there? GRAH!

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Squall's relieved voice, calm again, says, "Garden,
status." Maybe he's asking if Vincent's had any heart attacks yet.

Kain runs over to Sephiroth. "Aerith is down below, likely in the prison sector,
or the lab...Cloud has just flown off." He grabs Barret, and jumps him up to
the Ragnarok.

Selphie trots right after Terra, and while she doesn't wear yellow... That
outfit reeks of Yuffie. Lovely disguises. And being that she's hardly a medic,
she wavewaves largely. "Irvine!" Well, and everyone else, too. "Guys, c'mon!"

Barret is hurled into the air with no precedence, as he leaves a string of
frustrated curses in his wake.

Irvine glances back toward the staircase, frowning slightly. Aerith, that girl
with the pretty face. They've got her, the bastages. He'd really like to go
down after her, but there are ships coming from Junon, and Dragonclaw's
hurt... speaking of which, he looks up toward the ship shouting, "No
casualties 'cept a few Shinra guards. Dragonclaw's out though. Hey, Sefie!"
      
Terra looks over at Kain as he lands with the big sexy black man, nodding
slightly as they move back further into the hold. Then she takes a long roll
of cable and throws one end down towards the populace, to give 'em a way to
get up if they can't fly. (Which is a generally-presumed thing.)

Clod is gone... but does that mean the danger is past? It seems not... lower
down on the ShinRa Building... panels slowly slide open... and small...
Tri-bladed helicopter-like machines begin pouring out. Heli-Gunners.

[CCOM 4000] GARDEN: Vincent answers, sounding weary, but relieved oddly enough.
"We're still clear. Everyone has checked in and the gunships are returning to
Garden's new location."

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Alright. We're loading everyone up, will be heading back
soon.

Kain falls back down, landing with a bounce. "Anyone else need a ride?" To
Sephiroth, "We'll go after Aerith once we've evacuated the others." He means
it too. Valor he has.

Selphie beam!s to Irvine. "Let 'em rooo~ooot!", she yells. The guards, of
course. Peering over the edge of the hatchway thingee, she giggles -- this is
dangerous! Whoo! She, of course, notices no Heli-Gunners... Trigger-Happy
Selphie is napping. She's tired!

Sephiroth lifts Dragonclaw into a fireman's carry, to bring him over to the
baskets that are lowered for the benefit of lifting the survivors away. He
says not a word to anyone else.

[CCOM 4000] GARDEN: Roger.

Reaching for a cable as they're tossed down, glancing over at Ward to make sure
this he'll be ok for the crawl upward too. He doesn't answer Kain, starting up
the cable with his arms, the gun carefully strapped to his back in its usual
holster, you know, the one he never seems to have except when he really needs
it. He two hasn't noticed the Heli-Gunners, thinking things are relatively
safe enough for the moment.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Guys, need to hurry, more enemy incoming.

[CCOM 4000] RAGNAROK: Coming fast as my arms will carry me.
      
[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: Roger that...I'll deal with them...Seph is the only other
person in fighting shape.

The Heli Gunners begin to fill the sky... One soars foward... and one of its
three side mounted machine guns swivels up... and unleashes a spray of bullets
as the assending Irvine."

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Gerat, is he good against swarms of helicopters?

Terra calls after the good Captain as he heads back into the wrecked building
area, "Get back here!! The order to withdraw," pause to take a breath, "Takes
priority!" And then the heligunners arrive. See? Listen to the greenhaired
lady.

Kain jumps at Heligunner #1. With his sword out. He slashes the fuel tank of it,
and it will fall to the ground shortly. He lands on the roof once more, and
prepares to deal with another one with his next jump.

Oh crap. The gunman's eyes widen as he realizes too late that he's not fast
enough, nor is he in any position to defend himself in this somewhat vunerable
position. Oofing, Irvine is blown slightly backwards by the force of several
bullets thunking into his body, a small spray of blood rooster-tailing in the
air. He lets the cable go, falling back to the Shinra floor.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: I take it there may be a chance we shall have to find our own
way back?

Ward, who is limping towards the ropes at the time the heligunners hit, looks up
as Irvine and a trail of blood begin falling down...Ward reaches out to catch
the teen, is struck in the face by said teen's blood, and upon catching his
leg gives out under him, dropping him to one knee painfully. His harpoon also
falls down with a dull 'thud', the noise Irvine might have made otherwise.

Selphie plops down onto her knees as she notes Irvine crawling up, ready to heft
him the rest of the way up when he's high enough -- yeah, right. And then...
the Heli-gunners show up. Selphie -cusses- again. Sheesh. "--Oh. SHIT." She
shouts back into the main Ragnarok, "NIDA! INCOMING!" And looks back just to
see Irvine shot, and fall. ._. Well, crap. Romantic aside, she shouts his name
-- "Irvine--!" Crap! She's too shocked to run back inside and shoot the crap
out of those things, too. c_c;

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: No, we're going to pick people up. We can outrun these
things.

Kain strikes revenge for Irvine... destroying the Heligunner as the others begin
strafing patters... bullets thunking down in sprays apon the Ragnarok... Even
as the Railguns of the ship burst to life, sending Heligunners exploding and
careening off... The Ragnarok is giving them their cover... they better use
it... quick.

Barret looks out the Ragnarok hatch, assessing the chaos below, firing on the
heligunners in a crazed rage with his automatics, firing intermittent Big
Shots down as well.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: Will do, we still have two immobiles. Perhaps you are able to
grab the truck?

Irvine is somehow concious as Ward breaks his fall, though barely. He looks
upward at the Ragnarok, at Selphie, eyelids getting heavy. And finally,
without a word, passes out entirely. Another one down for the count.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *sounds of high pitched thuds in the background* Right,
we're just weathering out some heavy fire here. Hold your position.

Terra concurs with Selphie, "Shit." She doesn't cuss much either. She stands on
the hatchway, pulling out her sword - is she gonna jump? Don't be silly, she's
using it to help her focus - and then... closes her eyes. Yeah, OK, she's
going to have to blast some more things, it would seem.

Nida emerges from the hatch not too far behind Barret with an autocrossbow
loaded and ready to start firing at heligunners and anyone else trying to
intercept people headed into the ship.

Ward grunts and finds that his leg isn't moving any more and has apparently
locked in its 'knee-down' position. Ward is also running out of adrenaline,
although he's not going to be dropping Irvine any time soon, he also can't
seem to move for cover either.

Selphie smashes her palm on the floor of the hatch, grr!'ing. Fear the wrath of
Selphie. Tossing a rope ladder down, as opposed to a cable, she realizes that
Ward can't hear her through all the shooting and such. Hopefully he'll see the
ladder, which is muuuch easier to hold onto than a cable. If not, she'll
juuust have to climb down and help him. c_c; "Totally. Anti. Booyaka." Grr.

Sephiroth steps away from the basket that holds Dragonclaw's prone body. The
gunfire is looked toward, Jade gaze cast in contemplation on the matter.
Finally, he turns to help Ward and Irvine. "I will take him." he tells the
mute, stepping forward. Hopefully the basket for Dragonclaw is already being
hauled up.

Blood seems to be aplenty on the Shinra floor, and Irvine's is merely adding to
it. The kid's not got much time before he bleeds to death. Several holes have
been blasted through his abdomen and chest, and there's a nice trail of blood
dripping down his cheek. His breath rattles. Yah, it's not looking good for
the gunman.

Ward nods tiredly and lifts Irvine a bit so Sephiroth can get him.

Barret growls in a feral tone, snarling curse after curse to himself as he fires
on the heligunners below, bullets throwing sparks on the remnants of the top
floor and making quite a nice light show, although it's not something to be
oohed and aahed over at the moment. Barret's foulmouthing seems to be taking
all the fun out of watching it--that, and the robots' attack itself.

Terra steps forward and gestures as once again she does that energy thing. And
yes, with a crackle of thunder - cramped conditions preventing the normal GF
animation - Quetzacoatl comes out and goes 'squawk!' before doing that
lightning-bolt thing. Shazam! Well, there goes the memory of playing pattycake
with li'l Celes. More where that came from.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: We are ready when you are... no apparent ground forces near
our position.

Nida kneels, snapping off crossbow shots at heligunners efficiently, or as
efficiently as he can with Barret's spent bullet casings occasionally
rebounding off his side.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *still gunfair in the background* Affirmative, we're
withdrawing int he next five minutes.

[CCOM 4000] RESCUE: Aerith is still lost...and the client is /not/ gonna be
happy...

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: *muttered.... swear word? from the Commander*

Indeed, the basket with DC is being... slowly... pulled up. Somehow it's
automated, 'cause that's faster and easier to type. Selphie, meanwhile, peers
over the edge -- okay, Mr Silver Hair is taking the cowboy... She can deal
with that... As soon as this all calms down, she'll panic.

Kain grabs Ward, and jumps him up, as Sephiroth does the same to Irvine. Ward's
heavy though...he drops back down after that one panting a bit.

Sephiroth takes Irvine from Ward. But instead of using the ladder, the
silverhair man simply lifts off the ground of his own power. This isn't
jumping. It's flight. He moves for the hatch that Selphie stands near.

Nida takes a few more shots, then pulls back to get the Rangarok ready to go.
Kain jumping and Sephiroth flying earn placidly quizzical looks that pause him
slightly on the way out.

Squall is working at the guns still, as heligunners swarm over the ship, raining
bullets on the hull.

Squall glances up as people file into the cockpit. "Everyone safe?" he starts to
ask, before spying Sephiroth. The client. He come to attention.

Nida quickly jogs through inot the pilot seat, almost jumping into it Bo
Duke-style but in a more elegant way. Smoothly acquiring his headset and
harness, the Rangarok is op and going as soon as all are aboard. "Ragnarok is
airborne," he announces, as the craft starts to rise as fast as he can get
away without rattling around all the unsecured injured people like bowling
pins. Maybe a little light stepping is required to keep balance, but other
than that.

Sephiroth carries a man in dire need of attention. Irvine. And it doesn't look
good. Sephiroth's demeanor is serious, but it is difficult to judge his
current state of emotion other than cold. He returns Squall's attention with a
short question. "Where do I take him?"

"Nida, let's go pick up the rest of the infiltration team and head to the
meeting spot," Squall orders, still watching Sephiroth. "There's a medical
team waiting in the cafeteria, down the hall, sir."

Selphie acts like a little puppy dog to Seph. c_c Irvine! ;_; Yeah, she's
-totally- worried right now. She can't help, she has no cures, no anything.
c_c Waah! She's gonna follow whereever he takes the cowboy. c_c
      
Sephiroth nods and turns to walk down the hall to the team indicated.

Nida taps a few console keys. "Waypoint three, roger," he replies calmly. He
turns a mild look at Irvine, but keeps his focus to flying and not worrying
about half-dead cowboys.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: We may have a problem, what is the estimated time for the
retrieval?

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: About five minutes, why?

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: The information about no ground forces near our position is
now out of date...

Kain sighs, knowing what honor will likey demand. "I lost Aerith." He bows his
head, looking thoroughly ashamed of himself...he takes the ninja mask off.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: I do not know if they have taken interest in us yet, but at
present there are only two of us for defence... unless Mrs. Heartilly decides
combat is to her taste.

Terra starts to cough at the exhaust from Barret's tobacco stick, although she
doesn't ask him to put it out. Just... is thin and frail and cough-y. c.c
Anyway, she goes over to tend to Ward. "Where does it hurt," she asks him
briskly.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: What's your current position now? We're on our way.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: A fair distance from Gate 5... straight out. I do not believe
the truck is up to moving any further either...

Sephiroth steps into the hall, carrying Irvine and moving for the mess hall.
Though he does see those present, he means to pass them by without a word. The
cowboy is injured. Badly, and must be shown to immediate medical attention.

[CCOM 4000] INFIL: We are still in the crater however.

[CCOM 4000] COMMAND: Alright, we're on our way.
      
Ward gestures at his right leg, which does look a little awkwardly positioned,
considering he couldn't move it when he sat down. Unfortunately he also can't
tell her what's wrong with it. :P

Selphie trots after Sephiroth, only 'cause he's got Irvine. c_c When she spots
Terra, she could really care less -what- she's doing. "Terra--!
Terraterraterraterra!" Waving arms, you know, you can't miss her. "Over
-here-! I -know- you have cures left!"

Ward spots Seph and Irvine and nods, gesturing Terra to help the gunman first.
He's nearly dead, Ward's just immobile, yep, guess who should go first now
that we realize. ^_^

Terra has an ass-load of Cures. c_c She got a special consignment. She looks
over at Selphie and her face gets grimmer, and she hurries over to check up on
him. If he has any major parts missing, then she's going to have to do medical
stuff instead of just dumping six Cures on him and telling him to sin no more.

Irvine is out like a light of course, and that light is rather quickly fading.
Nothing *missing* persay, a leg is angled weird, but otherwise he's just
bleeding, _a lot_, from several places, most notably from the chest and
abdomen. His breathing is a bare rattle at this point, and each breath means a
bit of blood bubbling at his lips. This isn't good, damned helithingies.

Selphie is repeating soothing phrases in her head. Soothing being defined as
'THEY WILL DIE' and 'Irvy'll be okay!'. She tries not to look at his current
state, but... Morbid curiousity and all. She -looks- like she's gonna cry, but
ho! Terra's here, she has cures, everything's gonna be a-ok. So. Back to
thinking 'THEY WILL DIE,' as she awaits Terra's magic. "...Irviiiine," she
whines, quietly.

Terra says, softly, "Crap," and puts her hands right on top of the hole in the
chest, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Aaand.. CURE! <_< There's
the requisite flashing effect, and the spell's effect ought to be more than
normal; she does have a little, erm, magical talent from perfectly normal
sources.

That's enough to keep the gunman from dying, apparently, the bleeding ceases,
lungs clearing of that deathly sounding rattle. Irvine's stable, but far from
well. He doesn't emerge from unconciousness either.