(2024-04-11) Operation: Gnomeregan

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Alaisa, Azizia, Jo, Kerlo, Lucy, Niksi, Oranna, Sintha, and Teensy take part in the attempt to reclaim Gnomeregan! ~3500 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Part of the team meets up in Ironforge.

Jo waves eagerly at Lucy, Ally and Azizia. "Hi! Hello! Are you ready to go save Gnomeregan?"
Jo is in her GDF uniform.

Azizia nods. "Hello, Captain Jocoza! I am ready, yes. Gnomes deserve to have their home again. We will make sure it becomes true!"

Lucy waves back. "Well, I'm ready to GO save Gnomeregan!" She giggles. "I'm not in my decontamination suit or anything yet."

Jo grins. "They said the radiation levels should be safe enough for brief exposure. But if you have a suit it can't hurt. Kerlo has another group waiting for us out at the planes in Kharanos."

Azizia raises her eyebrow. "Did we have to bring our own decontamination suit? I do not have one of thos- okay good."

Ally pats the wing of her borrowed green mechanostrider. “They started to fit me for one, and then they said it would be easier if I just turned into a gnome so they wouldn't have to re-size it," Alaisa says dryly. "Apparently there's a machine for that. Temporarily."

"Oh, yes, I would recommend it." Jo nods seriously. "It's good to get a new perspective."

"The alleged success rate on the machine made me a little nervous." Alaisa clears her throat.

"Wait we are turning into gnomes for this?" Azizia asks. "I am not ready. I do not own gnomish clothes. I do not think my outfit will look pretty on gnome body!"

"I think that's optional!" Lucy giggles.

Jo giggles. "Everything looks good on a gnome body. But no, you don't have to."

"Oh, I did not mean to insult gnomes! I am sure many outfits look lovely on gnome," Azizia says.

Jo waves at Niksi as she approaches. "Niksi, you made it! Let's all head out."

Niksi rides up on her plain, unpainted mechanostrider. "Greetings, fellow patriots!"

Jo brightens. "Oranna, you made it too! There's no way we can fail. Thermaplugg is going to be super extra dead this time."

Oranna gives a friendly wave.
[Oranna]: "Damn straight!"

Azizia nods hello to Oranna.

Ally waves. "Hey, Oranna."

Jocozay says, "Mechanostriders and elekk! Let's stride out!"

They head down towards the rendezvous point together.

Niksi frowns. "How did that traitor survive, anyhow?"

"Apparently it was a mechanical double?" Jo holds up two hands in dismay. "I couldn't even tell."

Oranna shrugs. Who can tell those kinds of things?

Nix rubs her chin. "Brilliant. Despicable and frustrating…but brilliant."

"If he were a little more brilliant, he wouldn't have irradiated our home and killed so many people," Jo says, her voice tightening in uncharacteristic anger.

"This is very true!" Azizia says as if this was her own people who had gone through that.

Niksi nods firmly in agreement with Jocoza.

The team approaches Kerlo and the others in Kharanos by the planes.

Jo waves as they approach. "Kerlo, hi! Is your team ready?

Q awaits the group in his 7th Legion Uniform, and when he spots Jo his face breaks out in a slightly dazed smile.

"Ready!" Q says when he remembers how to words.

Niksi waves in greeting. "Salutations, Mr. Q."

Lucy begins to put on her decontamination suit. She brought her own.

Jo beams brightly inside her little GDF helmet.

Sintha, in her own 7th Legion uniform, straightens atop her black mechanostrider and beams at the new arrivals. "It's Cobalt Company! Hello, Lace! Lucy!"

"Hi!" Teensy waves at everyone.

Lucy gasps. "Sintha! Hi!" She waves frantically.

Alaisa does a double-take and smiles. "Sintha."

[Azizia]: "Hello. I am Azizia, ready to help."

"Hello, good to see the 7th Legion well-represented! Gnomeregan appreciates you." Jo says cheerfully.

Sintha grins at Lucy and clanks her mechanostrider over to join the two Cobalt humans.

[Jocoza]: "Okay, now's the time to suit up if you can, and let's get out to meet the High Tinker."

"Oranna, Oranna Stormbreaker, reportin' fer helpin'," Oranna says from within her helmet.

Azizia sighs. "Maybe… since we are here for gnomes I should use the machine…" Azizia uses the machine. She gets gnomified. She looks confused to see the world from such a small height.

Niksi secures her helmet on.

"The ground looks so… close…" Azizia whispers.

Oranna looks down at the ground. "It's no'….it's no' the thing that's moved though, if tha' helps?"

Alaisa mutters to Sintha, "They said the radiation would be 'fine' for a short time, but…"

Sintha shrugs at Alaisa. "I am considering… the gnomeification."

Q pulls out a small remote and flips a switch - his radiation protection suit seems to unfold out of nowhere to cover his small form.

"Alright, team, move out!" Jo says, smiling over at Kerlo as she heads to the planes.

Befound squeezes into the copter, with a disgruntled feline growl.

Azizia climbs onto the flying machine. "This is no Exodar. Maybe it is good thing…"

Jo salutes High Tinker Mekkatorque crisply. She seems a little more military today, perhaps remembering her GDF days. "Reporting for duty, sir, people from Cobalt Company and the 7th Legion."

Alaisa salutes the High Tinker.

Q salutes crisply.

Azizia saluts Mekkatorque. "I am draenei, but I wear gnomish disguise. For solidarity."

Lucy waves from within her irradiation suit.

Oranna waves at the King of the Gnomes, High Tinker Mekkatorque, like they're buddies.

High Tinker Mekkatorque nods at the gathered troops. "Welcome, and thank you for lending your aid to this gnomish battle."

"Oh, um, also we brought you the draft of the speech, I think?" Jo looks around at the others.

"I didn't write speech," Azizia shrugs.

Q mutters something about having lost track of which draft…

"It may or may no' be the best e'er written, tha's…probably up ta ye ta decide," Oranna offers.

“Excellent, I'm sure it's Toby's best," the High Tinker smiles.

Gnomes begin to gather as Mekkatorque starts his speech.

High Tinker Mekkatorque raises his voice to address all the troops.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Citizens and friends of Gnomeregan!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Today is the day we take back our glorious city from the vile traitor Thermaplugg!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gather around me as we prepare to reclaim our homeland!

Niksi cheers at High Tinker Mekkatorque!
Azizia cheers at High Tinker Mekkatorque!
Quarterflash cheers at High Tinker Mekkatorque!
Síntha salutes High Tinker Mekkatorque with respect.
Jo cheers at High Tinker Mekkatorque.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: No more shall our people live as refugees, as outcasts, as wretched, irradiated slaves chained to the yoke of a madman's war machine!

Azizia blinks. Isn't yolk the egg thing?

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Too long has Thermaplugg festered in the depths of our home, defended by a corrupt and irradiated army.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: The dwarves have kept us safe in their home for some time now, and for that we thank them. However, the traitorous Thermaplugg's occupation of our home must at last come to an end.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gnomeregan has festered beneath the atomic weight of our ill-conceived plan for too long. The detonation of the radiation bombs drove us from our city, but we now possess the technology to take it back! We will regain what is ours and bring Thermaplugg to justice!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: The end of Thermaplugg's reign draws near!

Q takes off his helm momentarily to dab at his eyes, then secures it again.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gather now at the staging area!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Our tactics, our science, our bravery and determination shall prevail.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Momentarily, the multi-phased assault upon Gnomeregan will begin and Mekgineer Thermaplugg and his men will be brought to justice!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Be ready, recruits, this fight will not be for the faint-hearted.

Sintha stands straight and attentive behind the gnomish (or gnomerized) ranks, looking unwontedly stern.

Q stands proud and tall. For a gnome, he really is!

Oranna nods firmly. Dwarven Gnomish alliance 5ever.

"All of Alliance stands beside you!" Azizia says, clapping.

"Will we be on foot or in the mechano-tanks?" Alaisa asks, apparently directing that question at Quarterflash, who Knows Things.

Q answers Alaisa's question decisively! Because he knows things!

The High Tinker looks around at everyone. "Now, let me explain the plan. Operation:Gnomeregan is divided into a number of phases. First, we must retake the air tower. This will allow our planes to give us air supporta as we move towards Gnomeregan's main entrance."

The High Tinker continues, "In addition, a cache of mechanized Battle Suits was discovered in one of the nearby buildings. Once we have those suits, our assault on the entrance should be unstoppable! Then, we go straight for Thermaplugg in the heart of Gnomeregan!"

Jo nods firmly. "It's a good plan, High Tinker!"

Q salutes crisply.

Niksi puts a finger to her helmet, roughly where her mouth is. "Quiet, Glub, and listen. This is important."

Azizia nods. "Fists of mine are ready to punch enemies of Gnomes."

Alaisa brightens up at the mention of battle-suits. Maybe these ones might be resizable?

[Oranna]: "We'll see it done, an' justice an' freedom for gnomes!"

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Operation: Gnomeregan begins NOW!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Initiate Phase I: Recapture the enemy airfield!

Niksi cheers!

Jo rides proudly after the High Tinker.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Destroy their rocket launchers and achieve total air superiority!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Targets in sight! Squads, deploy: Destroy all enemy rocket launchers!

Azizia rushes at a machine attacking "Doc" Cogspin. "I will protect you, Capt-" She ends her sentence there. This is not the Captain.

The team destroys those rocket launchers!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: The airfield is ours, and with it, the skies over Gnomeregan.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Now our Multi-Bombers can obliterate the Thermaplugg's shielded Tankbuster Cannons.

We head to the Surface Command Post, guarded by Tankbuster cannons.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Initiate Phase II: Capture the Surface Command Post!

The Multi-Bombers target the cannons’ shields!

High Tinker Mekkatorque yells: Our Multi-Bombers have destroyed Tankbuster Cannons' shields. Take them down and secure the Surface Command Post!

Q hacks away at a cannon heroically!

Jo flings as much fire as she has in her heart at the tankbuster cannons!

Sintha hurls a grenade in matter-of-fact fashion, waits three beats for the explosion, and then leaps into the explosively-cleared area with her knives out.

Niksi strategically skewers a cannon with her spear as she identifies weak points!

Azizia punches the machines with all the elemental powers she can gather, he fists shining with the power of the elements.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: We've secured the surface! Operation: Gnomeregan is proceeding with 93%% efficiency…well done, everyone!

Jo gasps. That's an impressive efficiency.

Alaisa commanders a mechanized suit.

Oranna looks over at Jo. Oh, good, 93% is good, apparently.

Azizia cheers.

Sintha readies another grenade.

Jo looks misty-eyed and proud.

Niksi cheers, "We'll increase our efficiency to 93.4% for sure!"

Oranna breathes in carefully timed sets, looking through her scope.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: I'll shut down the defensive radiation pumps. Squads, commandeer the remaining mechanized suits and move up to the Main Entry.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: NEVER! Gnomeregan is MINE, Mekkatorque.
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: You think you'll just march into MY city?
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Activate the Expendable Atomic Defense System: DRIVE FORTH THE TROGGS!!!

Jo's expression goes hard with anger. "It is NOT your city."

High Tinker Mekkatorque yells: Frag bombs and suppressing fire…HOLD THE LINE! We won't be turned back now!

"HOLD THE LINE!" Q cries.

Jo fights the troggs with ruthless efficiency, tossing in bombs with the fire.

Oranna might be sweating inside the helmet, but there's no way to tell. She just keeps shooting.

Sintha is glad she had a grenade ready. In the aftermath, she spins around, knives flashing as she cuts down a pair of troggs.

Lucy switches from arcane explosions to grenade explosions.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: We stand at the brink of victory, my friends. Initiate Phase III: Into the tunnels!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Once we capture the underground railway and loading dock, we'll use them to make a rapid attack on the heart of the city.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Gnomeregan is within our grasp!
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: My GEARS…that's got to be every last trogg in the city! Squads, dig in!

"Just like old times," Jo murmurs, her face a little pale as the waves keep coming.

Q activates a button on his sword hilt, electrocuting an impaled trogg.

Alaisa keeps her mechano-suit situated defensively. One of the suit's clawed hands grabs a trogg by the face and flings it back into the pile.

"GET THEM!" Teensy hollers, lobbing grenades and whooping as they land.

A massive trogg emerges, fighting the team.

High Tinker Mekkatorque yells: Sweet baby titans! That's got to be the biggest trogg I've ever seen! Keep firing…take it down!

Q deftly dodges one of Teensy's grenades and gives her a thumbs up!

Azizia stops fighting. "I will heal you! They spread diseases!"

Teensy is just enthusiastic about all this.

We defeat the waves of troggs, as well as the giant one. Then we proceed into the city, which is deathly still.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: It's too quiet. Where are Thermaplugg's defense forces?

"I hope not behind us, ready for surprise attack," Azizia says.

Oranna looks uneasily behind them.

Q looks around warily at the eerily quiet city.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: What…what is that? That looks like the radiation bomb that poisoned Gnomeregan…wait! Incoming!

Irradiated gnomes move in from behind to attack.

"Oh no, they were!" Jo says to Azizia.

"Well, hell," says Sintha.

Q leaps into the fray, swinging widly at irradiated gnomes.

Azizia sighs. "Sometimes it is curse to be right most times."

Jo sends fire in blasts and dragon-like breaths at the cavalry.

"Have at thee!" Teensy points her finger and a bolt of shadow, flashing purple and sick green flies from her hand, landing on an irradiated gnome. "Three, Two, One…" Teensy counts, and the shadow struck gnome falls, splashing those nearby with the same shadow.

Oranna seems well prepared for this sort of constant defense.

"It's like compound interest, that spell," Teensy remarks, and searches for another target.

We finish off the rest of the forces.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: No! No, no, NO!!! I won't allow you into my kingdom, usurper! I WON'T ALLOW IT!
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Activate the Ultimate Atomic Protection System.
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: …DISINTEGRATE THEM ALL!
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: It is… and twenty-six TIMES more powerful than the first!

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: IT'S A TRAP! That's a fully functional irradiator!

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: You've FAILED, Mekkatorque! I've caught and defeated you before you even set FOOT in my precious city!
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Now DIE!
Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: Oh, I'd love to see that old cog's face. I bet he…what? It's still on? WELL TURN IT O-
Irradiator 3000 yells: Irradiator 3000 activated. Attention. Emergency. You now have ten minutes to reach minimum safe distance.

Q blinks at the Brag-Bot.

Jo stares stonily at the Brag-Bot.

"What did he say?" Azizia asks.

"Nothing worth repeating," Q says to Azizia. "Except the part where we have ten minutes to reach a minimum safe distance."

Oranna clutches at her gun.

"… Yeah…" Azizia says.

Q salutes the High Tinker. "If anyone can disable the irradiator it is you, sir!"

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Ten minutes? Plenty of time to disarm the device.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Hinkles, hand me that Whirring Bronze Gizmo and some Fresh Spring Water. Cogspin, toss me that Dirty Trogg Cloth and a Handful of Copper Bolts…

Hinkles rummages through his backpack looking for supplies.

Cogspin searches her "Gigantique" bag looking for the items.

Mekgineer Thermaplugg's Brag-Bot yells: TEN MINUTES?! You left the factory setting on? Give me that controller, you idiot!
Irradiator 3000 yells: *BEEP* Attention. Emergency. You now have ten seconds to reach minimum safe distance.

Niksi squeaks!

"Ah," says Sintha.

Oranna gasps.

[Quarterflash]: "…I suppose no one can."

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Whuh-oh! Lapforge, beam us back, quickly!

We are all transported back to Tinker Town in Ironforge with no warning.

High Tinker Mekkatorque says: Curses! We had to fall back. But Thermaplugg's lost, and he knows it…he's only bought himself time.
High Tinker Mekkatorque says: We hold the surface, and when the radiation clears we'll assault and recapture Gnomeregan with a force twice this size.

Sintha shakes her head and looks around Tinker Town, blinking and disoriented.

Azizia sighs of relief. "We are back and safe, that is what matters. We are still here to fight. We will defeat him next time."

Q clenches his fists, clearly not yet willing to accept this setback.

Jo looks around, confused. "We… didn't retake Gnomeregan."

Oranna looks around at Tinkertown. "I — we didna die? We jus'…this canna be th' afterlife, so. I mean…it wouldna be, would it?"

"No," Q says sadly. "We are alive. But so is Thermaplugg."

"No, no, it was a teleportation, nothing to worry about, but…" Jo sighs.

"Meaning no offense whatsoever to gnomes, but if Tinker Town is the afterlife I have a strongly-worded letter to write. We're fine." Sintha smiles faintly at Oranna and then looks around again, smile fading.

"Everybody okay?" Lucy looks around.

"Is tha'…do we call this a win? A 50% win?" Oranna looks to the gnomes. Is there math in this?

Alaisa climbs out of the cockpit of the mechanized battle suit and hops down to ground level.

Jo turns to Lucy. "I've been better, but… uninjured."

"I was so certain today would be the day…" He takes off his helmet and runs a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. His lavender eyes are bright with tears. "I thought at last we were going home."

"Kerlo," Jo says, blinking back her own tears. "My home is wherever I'm with you."

Niksi slowly removes her helmet, sighing. "Operation efficiency…down to 42.8%."

"Tha' doesna sound like a passing grade," Oranna says uneasily.

Azizia places a hand on Oranna's shoulder - she is Draenei sized again. "I say 50% win for everyone, but it is normal if gnomes feel saddened we did not have 50% more."

Q lifts his chin. "Progress, at least. The surface is ours. We leave with more than we came with."

Yes," Jo sighs. "We won a battle, but there is still more to be fought."

Alaisa leans against the machine. "Well, that was terrifying."

"That is true! You can walk freely on land that was yours! And Cobalt Company will be at side of yours to take what misses of it," Azizia exclaims.

"But can we hold it? Is tha'…I mean, they're righ' below. Isn't tha' dangerous?" Oranna asks.

"I feel confident we can hold the ground we've taken," Q says firmly.

"We'll hold it," Jo says firmly. "We'll never give an inch, not again."

Oranna removes her helmet, biting her lower lip. She nods at Jo, but the look on Oranna's face suggests she thinks this is not going to be so easy.

Sintha moves over beside Alaisa and bumps shoulders. "All right?"

Alaisa bumps Sintha's shoulder right back. "Yeah. Just the could-haves, you know? You didn't have a suit on. Glad they had an escape… beam.”

Sintha nods gravely at Alaisa. "I'm sure you would have done a lovely job of explaining it all to Shay, anyway." She smiles wryly.

Alaisa makes a bit of a face.

Niksi gives Jocoza a slight smile. "It was an honor to follow you into battle, ma'am. I can see why you're the Captain."

Jo smiles a little at Niksi. "Thanks, Niksi. It was an honor to have you at my side."

[Jocoza]: "Thank you, everyone. I should… go see to the defenses now."

Sintha turns to salute Jocoza respectfully.

Jo returns her salute.

[Azizia]: "Be safe, Captain. Dioniss aca."

"I'll come with ye. I know a thing or two about maintainin' against a siege, and might be able ta see if there's a decent set up fer havin' some of Ironforge's snipers hold with ye." Oranna gestures to Befound, as she mounts up.

"Thanks, Oranna," Jo says, putting on a brave smile. "This was progress. We'll get Gnomeregan back fully one day."

"Oh, if we are welcome to join, may I come too? I will ask elements to give cover to surface you have taken!" Azizia asks.

[Oranna]: "Damn straight."

Lucy hops back on her mechanostrider. "I'll come too!"

[Jocoza]: "Yes, Azizia, and anyone. Gnomeregan will always value your help."

"I ought to report back to Stormwind, but I'll see you all on the lines again, I promise!" calls Sintha.

"It will be ours," Teensy says, and shrugs. "Just not today, that's all."

Alaisa salutes Jo, then Mekkatorque.