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[July 2059] Down OlÂ’ Mexico Way (Solo: Kord)

Posted by Mr. JohnsonFor group 0
Mr. Johnson
GM, 78 posts
Wed 12 Feb 2020
at 02:01
  • msg #1

Prelude: Kord

Feel free to start off your prelude in the far flung drekhole of your choice.

Just flash up an introductory post of your unit deploying into the mission and we'll start from there...

I like Bug City, but it's up to you

Kord
player, 2 posts
Thu 13 Feb 2020
at 01:18
  • msg #2

Prelude: Kord


Battalion HQ, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, UCAS Army located at Gary/Chicago International Airport on the southern perimeter of the Chicago Containment Zone
Mike Recon Team, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, UCAS Army
9th September, 2055
06:13


Staff Sergeant Jared Tranes slipped the chin strap of his combat helmet into position as he strode over to where the other five members of his recon team were waiting for him, sat on some white, plastic garden chairs they had scrounged from somewhere. The strap rubbed a cut on his chin and it itched a little but he didn't let it bother him. It was bound to scar when it finished healing up, as gashes on the chin always did, but he wasn't overly bothered. As an Ork his face had a rather battered look anyway so another small scar didn't make much of a difference to his appearance. He was never going to be described as handsome.

His conversation in the Battalion CP with the XO, Major Laubenstein, had been short and too the point, just some succinctly issued orders for his latest mission. Take his reconnaissance team on an extended patrol to investigate a series of potential locations where refugees escaping from the Zone could embark on vessels to cross Lake Michigan. That briefing sounded simple but the amount of ground they had to cover on foot was large and for parts of it they wouldn't have drone overwatch above them, spotting any threats and relaying their status up the command structure. That meant that there could be a delay before the Quick Reaction Force arrived to bail them out if they got into a situation they weren't able to cope with and that was something that Jared wasn't pleased to have been told. Organised people smugglers extracting paying civilians from Chicago tended to be well armed and prepared to fight it out with the UCAS forces maintaining the Zone's perimeter.

At least the Bugs, as the troops were now calling them, weren't found this far from Downtown Chicago.

His mood wasn't good and it showed on his face when he joined his team. They kept quiet, waiting for him to explain their latest mission, wondering whether they were chasing down refugees who had managed to get through the gaps in the wall that was being built round the CCZ. The bulk of their Battalion was deployed maintaining that perimeter and defending the teams of engineers constructing the wall but they, along with the other recon teams, had the unenviable job of tracking down those people who managed to evade the patrols and defensive positions in a bid to escape the hell that was Downtown Chicago. Arresting them and passing them over to the Military Police wasn't always possible. Many of the refugees were desperate enough to shoot it out rather than be taken prisoner and it had become a hideous task for the soldiers in some respects.

"OK guys, listen in to the latest Op," Jared said, despite the fact that the others were all staring at him, waiting for him to start talking. "Command are worried that some blockade runners have started up again, operating along the lake shore, smuggling people out of the Zone. This might be related to that rumor we heard a couple of days ago about a Panzer. They've got a load of drones scouting particular spots and generally keeping watch but we've been assigned a mission to check out some of those locations. I've marked some waypoints on your HUDs and our planned route but we'll start with Buffington Harbour and the Majestic Star Casino and then move on to the East Chicago Marina and the Ameristar Casino and Hotel. After that we've then got to patrol round the whole of the Indiana Harbor complex. That's gonna take us a little while so we need to draw some rations as well as spare batteries and plenty of ammo. Comms are as normal so I'm Mike Kilo One and so on. Our QRF is Charlie Company but if we get out stuck somewhere that the drones can't operate then they might take a while to get to us in their busses so we're gonna need to stay frosty at all times. Grab your gear and meet back here ASAP as our overwatch is scheduled for 06:35 and we need to maximise its duration."

At the appointed time Foxtrot Recon team set off, the point man taking the lead and Jared, as Team Leader, walking slack behind him, heading north west from the defensive perimeter around the airport. They were dressed in a standard manner, all of it UCAS Army issue equipment, uniforms and lightweight body armour in a forest camouflage pattern that wasn't much use in a mostly urban environment, assault vests festooned with grenades and pouches containing ammo clips and helmets with extensive awareness enhancement and comms suites. Only their weapons varied by soldier.

Jared noted the drone icon on his HUD as the camp's gate closed behind them. "Mike Kilo One reporting in to all call signs on this freq. Am now leaving the ball pen. Out."
Mr. Johnson
GM, 87 posts
Fri 14 Feb 2020
at 03:50
  • msg #3

Prelude: Kord

++Roger Mike Kilo One, Bull Pen acknowledges, we have you on the tac comp++

This kind of patrol was the absolute worst duty you could pull.  You had to feel for those poor bastards out there.  A few months ago they were all just regular people trying to make a life for themselves.  Now all they can think about is trying to cut out of bug City and get to safety.  The guys in the patrol all knew that most survivors were probably bug free, probably just too afraid to think it over rationally.  Probably just trying to avoid the lengthy decontam and quarantine that official rescues had to endure in an Ares lab.

Battalion command knew it too, that you all had bit of a soft spot for runners.  Rumor had it that the old man had sat the company leadership and laid it all out for them.  The long and the short of it was simple: the best way to ensure that these fraggin' spirits didn't get loose and spread across the whole damn continent was to respect the quarantine.  No one wants to live in Bug 'Mecria, so suck it up, buttercup...

Your attention is continually drawn to the noises of the city, the sight of a dark cloud of smoke on the horizon inside the CCZ, a distant gunshot.  You're constantly scanning for threats.  The abandoned city is way too much to take in all at once, but that's not enough to cause you to frag up this mission.

Kaufmann on the other hand is a fraggin' mess.  All of maybe eighteen years old, the fresh out of boot buck private is struggling to stay focused on his first patrol.  It's not the first time since he arrived in the unit that he's been a step behind.  This is why recon are normally drawn from experienced grunts instead of fresh meat.  Fraggin' selection officers cutting corners.

Get a grip, boot! What kind of leadership style does Jared employ to get Kaufmann back into the game.  Is he a bully or a coach?

Remedial training! Kaufmann needs help with technical skills.  Choose two weapons that Jared has mastered and can train him on: Rifle, Pistol, SMG, Shotgun, Heavy Weapons, Combat Knife, Combat Axe, Cyber Blade.

Get your head in the game! Kaufman's gotta learn one thing.  When Jared shares his philosophy, he says:
(1) Kid, you gotta be able to stay in the fight, no matter how much damage you take.
(2) Listen soldier, failure is not an option, you keep going no matter the setback.
(3) Don't be a fool, you're only as good as your equipment, bring as much heavy firepower as you can carry.
(4) Ya wanna know what won't ever let you down and never runs out of ammo?  Cold steel and your fists.
(5) Only an idiot picks a stand up fight.  When the shooting starts, get to cover and fight on your own terms.

Kord
player, 7 posts
Fri 14 Feb 2020
at 10:59
  • msg #4

Prelude: Kord

I'm going to start referencing the other five members of the recon team so how does this sound as a synopsis of each of them prior to me writing up my IC post:

Recon Team composition

Sergeant Marko Szeto
 - Human
 - Age 24
 - Primary Weapon - Colt M22A2 Assault Rifle with underslung grenade launcher
 - Sidearm - Colt Manhunter
 - Notes - assistant team leader, calm and experienced

Corporal Joel Chernik
 - Elf
 - Aged 23
 - Primary Weapon - Colt M22A2 Assault Rifle
 - Sidearm - Colt Manhunter
 - Notes - primary scout, cool temperament & very agile, experienced

PFC Chad Scherwinski
 - Ork
 - Aged 19
 - Primary Weapon - Colt M22A2 Assault Rifle with underslung grenade launcher
 - Sidearm - Colt Manhunter
 - Notes - tough and sometimes overly aggressive, experienced

PFC Jacob "Hoop" Hooper
 - Human
 - Aged 21
 - Primary Weapon - Ingram Valiant LMG
 - Sidearm - Colt Manhunter
 - Notes - physically big and strong, experienced

Private Eric Kaufmann
 - Human
 - Aged 18
 - Primary Weapon - Colt M22A2 Assault Rifle
 - Sidearm - Colt Manhunter
 - Notes - a capable athlete who did well in basic training but is extremely nervous and dangerously inexperienced/green

Please note that Jared is carrying a Colt M22A2 Assault Rifle with underslung grenade launcher and a Colt Manhunter. They all have combat knives, smoke grenades and frag grenades as well.



I'm fine with Get a grip, boot! and Remedial training! and will address those when I post IC but I have a question over the last one.

Get your head in the game! Can I suggest an alternative please:
(6) We're a team and that's the key thing to remember if the shit hits the fan. Get into cover and then follow orders but back your buddies up. They need to know that they can rely on you but if they know that then they'll back you up. If shit happens then we all fight and we fight hard until we can dominate the firefight or break contact.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 94 posts
Sat 15 Feb 2020
at 00:20
  • msg #5

Prelude: Kord

your #6 option is great narrative but it doesn’t help me link Kord’s personality to a Merc’ move (the questions in the prelude are meant to suss out the remaining chargen details).  Feel free to use that dialog as your reply, by all means it’s great fiction, but also let me know if Kord is more likely to (1) bash his way through obstacles despite the physical hurts he suffers (2) grit his teeth and face personal failures (3) shoot his way out of a bad situation (4) punch or stab his way out of a bad situation or (5) find cover and take a moment to assess the situation.

No stress about decisions you don’t like in prelude. At the end you get to veto anything on the character sheet and make changes to ensure the character is what you’re after.

Kord
player, 10 posts
Sat 15 Feb 2020
at 00:39
  • msg #6

Prelude: Kord

Understood and thanks for explaining. My version was an expansion of #5 so I'll re-write it to include that in my IC post. That will be tomorrow though as I need to crash for the night now.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:39, Sat 15 Feb 2020.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 96 posts
Sat 15 Feb 2020
at 01:05
  • msg #7

Prelude: Kord

Null persp.  Thanks for the awesome stuff so far!
Kord
player, 11 posts
Sun 16 Feb 2020
at 01:20
  • msg #8

Prelude: Kord

They were nearing their first check point and could just about see the entrance to the Majestic Star Casino which dominated Buffington Harbour. Chernik, their lead scout, had paused the patrol while he went ahead to check on something he had seen and Jared had spread the others out in an all round defence. Noting that Kaufmann was drenched in sweat, Jared had moved over to him so that they could talk quietly.

"How you doing Kaufmann?" he asked quietly, receiving a nervous OK in response as the kid turned to face Jared. "Keep watching your arc," Jared replied, prompting Kaufmann to turn back away and stare off into the distance. Jared then continued talking to him. "Remember your training, keep your rifle safety set to safe unless you see an actual threat and don't put your finger on the trigger unless you're actually intending on firing at someone. When you do fire, none of that Hollywood bullshit where you spray bullets fragging everywhere. You'll fire at almost the same rate if you stick to semi auto and just keep pumping out the rounds and you'll be a hell of lot more accurate with your grouping."

Pausing briefly to glance back to see what Chernik was doing, noting that he seemed to be studying some tracks in the grassy bank alongside the road, Jared then continued giving Kaufmann some on the job training. "Remember what I told you back in camp. We're a team so if the shit hits the fan then get into cover and take a moment to assess the situation. Someone will be barking orders at you so you just need to follow them and back your buddies up. They need to know that they can rely on you when the rounds start flying and it goes both ways as they'll back you up. If shit happens then we all fight and we fight hard until we can dominate the firefight or break contact. Understand?"

Receiving yet another nervous nod from Kaufmann, Jared patted him on the shoulder reassuringly and then moved off, back to try to find out what Chernik had discovered.


Kaufmann's Training:

Get a grip, boot! He's a coach.

Remedial training! Rifle & Pistol.

Get your head in the game! (5) Find cover and take a moment to assess the situation.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 101 posts
Sun 16 Feb 2020
at 19:20
  • msg #9

Prelude: Kord

Kord</quote:
Kaufmann's Training:

Get a grip, boot! He's a coach.

Remedial training! Rifle & Pistol.

Get your head in the game! (5) Find cover and take a moment to assess the situation.


Got it.  PocSec updated

Kaufmann is an apt pupil and he responds well to your leadership style.  Turns out, despite your rough upbringing and imposing appearance, you're a natural leader.  You keep your cool, assess the situation, find a weak spot and lead your team onto the objective.

Kaufmann is a good kid thrust into a bad situation.  Not that there was much anyone could do about it.  Recruiting numbers were way down and nobody was volunteering to ship off to Bug City and fight their own people.  This whole thing was a real shit show, but there was no helping it.

You find Chernik still crouched at the tracks he has found.  With no earth to disturb to mark something's passage, the prints are dark red-brown.  Mud maybe, or something much worse.  "Big strides, bossman, and there's two of 'em" the elf says, spitting a wad of dark juice from his mouth. "Critters or fleshforms maybe.  Looks like it headed off to the southwest.  Airport's down that way.  Didn't the Air Cav guys set up a FARP over there?  Whatever this thing is, those REMFs won't have a chance."
Mr. Johnson
GM, 107 posts
Sun 16 Feb 2020
at 22:38
  • msg #10

Prelude: Kord

@Kord Feel free to retcon the inaccuracies in Chernik’s dialog or smack him on the helmet for being geographically challenged... all good either way
Kord
player, 14 posts
Sun 16 Feb 2020
at 23:09
  • msg #11

Prelude: Kord

"What you talking about?" replied Jared, clearly confused about something Chernik had said. "The airport's our base choomba. I know that there's that FARP on this side of the base but there's a frag load of sentry posts in a ring around it." With just a metal mesh fence and some strings of barbed wire between them. Lots of space to be turned into gaps and the sentry posts were on the look out for refugees looking to escape the city, not giant bugs.

"We can't take no risks though," he continued to his lead scout. "Follow them for about twenty paces to confirm the direction they're headed while I call it in."

He then pulled out his phone from his pocket and took a photo of the tracks Chernik had taken. Jared had heard rumours of some UCAS Army units around Chicago being issued helmets with inbuilt cameras that transferred everything that each soldier was seeing to their commander but their battalion didn't have anything that crystal tech yet so he had to improvise and go a bit old school. Transferring the photo to his helmet HUD he then activated his radio. "Bull Pen, this is Mike Kilo One. We've found some interesting tracks at our current position. Am sending you an image now. The stride pattern means that they're big. Too big to be a normal metahuman. We count two targets and they appear to be heading south west towards the airport. Request a drone overfly between our current position and the camp. Also do you want us to continue with our patrol objectives or follow these tracks instead? Over."

Jared was unsure how he wanted his CO to answer that question. Continuing with the original mission was probably safer but meant that they might well run into something with some refugees and he was hating playing bad cop to other people's misery. Following after the tracks was more dangerous but they might get to frag a bug or two and that was something that would give him and his team a lot of satisfaction. As long as they initiated the attack and had drone support to ensure that no bug got amongst them with their viscous claws that could easily rend a man in two. Range was the key, particularly with someone as green as Kaufmann to be looked after.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Sun 16 Feb 2020.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 111 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2020
at 02:47
  • msg #12

Prelude: Kord

Corrected, but not cowed, Chernik shrugs off your rebuke.  “Still a bunch of REMFs,” he replies before jogging out beyond the all around defense to see if he can locate the two creatures or get a better idea of their heading.  Ego bruised, but no worse for wear.  He`ll live.

Following Jared’s report, bull pen replies ++Sentry point north reports no visual, we're putting a hunter-killer onto it now.  Hold in location until we take over the contact.++

The moments tick but in slow time.  A few minutes waiting out here in no man's land seem like an eternity.  Distant smoke continues to rise on the horizon, but otherwise all is quiet.  ++Can't get a visual Mike Kilo One...it must have moved off somewhere else...++ bull pen replies. ++We'll keep the HK airborne and can vector it your way if you run into trouble.  Carry on with your mission.++

With bull pen's blessing, you're clear to continue the klick, maybe klick and a half, up to the engineer battalion's bulldozers working diligently to improve the wall.  The shadow already looms off to the west, but up ahead construction is still ongoing.  In this sector, it's less a wall then it is a pile of rubble from demolished buildings bulldozed into a berm of broken concrete and steel.  Its silhouette marked at irregular distance by makeshift towers housing sensor pods and closed circuit cameras that provide HQ with patchy but persistent surveillance.  When finished, at Lake Michigan it will extend about 500m beyond the shoreline, guess Division is concerned that some bugs may have learned to swim.

Your hunt for escapees begins in earnest at the wall.  Back a battalion HQ, the Major had said they were concerned about runners using boats or makeshift rafts to skirt around the south eastern edge of the quarantine zone.  Should be easy enough to patrol the shoreline following Indiana harbor north to the berm, checking for signs of breech, setting up an observation post for a few hours and installing the additional thermo sensor remotes that Hoop is carrying.  With luck, by this time tomorrow you'll be headed back west along the wall where 115 Street used to be before the government declared war on the bugs and locked the residents of the Windy City in behind the wall.  Once you're done on the shoreline, a short patrol over to the manned guard tower at Wolf Lake will confirm the physical integrity of the new wall construction in this sector, and, with luck, you'll be able to hop a VTOL or hitch a ride on an engineer ground convoy back to base.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Wed 19 Feb 2020.
Kord
player, 16 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2020
at 18:23
  • msg #13

Prelude: Kord

In reply to Mr. Johnson (msg # 12):

Sorry, I'm a little confused as to where I should post Jared etc being next? Do you want me to continue with the waypoints that I originally outlined for the patrol or advance them up to the wall?

Apologies if I'm being dumb.......

Mr. Johnson
GM, 117 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2020
at 03:22
  • msg #14

Prelude: Kord

I think it’s the same direction in terms of narrative, but feel fee to fast forward the patrol to the wall if you want.  Part of the ‘getting to know each other’ dynamic in prelude is getting a feel for how we play together. I’m a believer in the PbtA system that gives a lot of power to players to influence thier environment.
Kord
player, 17 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2020
at 11:24
  • msg #15

Prelude: Kord

Thanks for clarifying.



The next couple of hours had passed fairly uneventfully as Jared's patrol progressed along its assigned route, checking each location in turn. The only place they had found signs of recent activity was in one corner of the Indiana Harbor. It looked like several people had been picked up by a little boat, one small enough to cause them to abandon their luggage. Five bags, most of them trolley dolly style with a collapsible handle and wheels, had been left on a small dock, next to some stairs that led down to the water. Jared's guess, that he had reported to Ball Pen, was that a zodiac had be there at some point during the previous night. Ball Pen had instructed them to set up a couple of observation cameras, really just simple drones with a camera and very limited mobility, to leave behind, watching the dock in case someone was stupid enough to use the same extraction point a second time. They had had a quick search of the cases before they set the cameras up though but failed to find anything that Command would be interested in. Just a fashionable RedTec T-shirt that made it into Scherwinski's pack and a couple of cred chips that went into a pocket on Szeto's BDUs for sharing later, all just the spoils of war.

The Staff Sergeant had taken that opportunity to check in with Kaufmann again, ensuring that the latest recruit took a few moments to eat and drink something to keep his blood sugar up and, more importantly, his concentration focused. Jared had had to wait several years before being granted a transfer to Recon but Kaufmann had been sent straight there after boot camp. Manpower shortages were clearly getting really bad, though at least Kaufmann had a lot of potential. He just hoped that he could keen the rookie alive long enough for him to learn something, to get some actual experience rather than what had been simulated during training. Simsense combat simulators were useful but they were no substitute for actually getting your boots dirty and having to reload in the middle of a firefight.

His HUD was now reading 08:58 and Jared could see a couple of watchtowers observing the engineers building the wall ahead, though a series of icons marking various positions had been appearing on his systems for a while now. Noting the position and call sign of the Company CP he checked in with them, ensuring that all of the defenses were aware of his patrol, even though Ball Pen should have alerted them already and icons for each of his team members should be registering on Bravo Company's secure systems.

"Mike Kilo One to Bravo Echo One," he transmitted. "We're just approaching up from the south and are about to turn east to continue with our patrol. Any sightings you need us to investigate? Over." He wasn't expecting any as Bull Pen would have added that onto their mission objectives already if they had reports but it always paid to check things out. And from the tracks that they had already found something had gotten out of the zone recently anyway.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 122 posts
Sun 23 Feb 2020
at 21:52
  • msg #16

Prelude: Kord

++Actually, we just picked up some movement in the QZ++ the CP operator replies.  ++I'm tracking three individuals moving south east away from the engineers and toward the shoreline... looks like refugees maybe... we'll spool up a field verification team and get them out your way, if they scan bug free we can send them off to the checkpoint west and clear them into quarantine++

That is assuming they want to go into quarantine.  The Ares Macrotechnology hospital lab research facility out in Aurora had developed a bad reputation.  The battalion's intelligence officer had briefed your team that the people in the QZ believed pervasive rumours of experimentation on quarantined refugees.  Stories of magical experimentation at the quarantine facility had spread through the city like wildfire.  Many folks were obviously trying to escape and avoid going into Ares' black box.  The bags you found earlier were a sure sign of an escape route out through Indiana Harbor.

The patrol makes the short hike quickly, following the wall back toward the harbor.  A few hundred meters from the shoreline, you spot them.  There is still no sign of the field verification team.  A man, hunched over under a heavy bag.  A woman at his side, trailing behind her a child holding her teddy bear.
Kord
player, 19 posts
Thu 27 Feb 2020
at 23:21
  • msg #17

Prelude: Kord

"Mike Kilo One to Bravo Echo One. What's the ETA on that bug checking team? Over," Jared transmitted as he studied the three refugees. The Company CP didn't reply straight way though so Jared presumed that they didn't know and that the Field Verification Team was either slacking off again or busy checking some other escapees. Either way there was going to be a delay before they arrived.

"Marko," he said to his assistant team leader Sergeant Szeto, "I'll take Kaufmann to check them out. You organise the others to cover us and keep a watch out for anything weird."

Tapping Kaufmann on the shoulder and indicating that he was to follow Jared, the Staff Sergeant then moved out from cover, into the open. "Hey," he called loudly to the three refugees, his voice very loud when he wanted it to be. "UCAS Army. Stop moving and stay there. The bug checking team is on the way to verify you and pass you on to quarantine. I repeat. UCAS Army. Stay there and wait to be verified."

As he yelled at the three refugees, the sound of him immediately scaring the small child, he kept moving forward, rifle slung low and with Kaufmann on his left. Quietly he spoke to his companion, taking the opportunity to continue training him. "If something happens head left for cover. Don't head right as you'll run across the LOS of the rest of our team. Got it?" Kaufmann responded with a nervous nod and then returned to studying the refugees, trying to work out if they were more than they seemed. Jared was doing the same.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 133 posts
Sun 1 Mar 2020
at 16:36
  • msg #18

Prelude: Kord

++Bug inspection team is inbound++ comes the reply from HQ ++You should see them approaching from the southwest along the edge of the CZ.++

While the civilians are clearly startled and the little one emotionally overwhelmed, they halt and wait for your approach.  Behind you, Scherwinski snarls something about roasting these Zoners and getting it overwith, but fortunately he had the sense to keep it on the patrol freq.  You'll need to keep an eye on him and are a millisecond away from giving him a dressing down when the command freq opens up again.  ++Mike Kilo One, bird's eye has spotted a panzer inbound to your location, moving in from the harbor++

Another voice crackles onto the command freq, this time a woman's ++MIke Kilo One, this is Eagle Bravo, inbound field verification team.  We've got eyes on the panzer, but we can't close unless the LZ is secure or we wait for attack aviation to push him off.  Advise?++

Pushing along the story in Mayhem and Mistletoe, I've included Kord in the meeting to set-up the run. Please join us there.  Happy to continue to play the prelude scene too, just don't want you to have to sit out the opening run with the other PCs.
Kord
player, 20 posts
Mon 2 Mar 2020
at 18:41
  • msg #19

Prelude: Kord

"Mike Kilo One to Eagle Bravo. Hold your position until we advise otherwise. Out," Jared answered across the radio net. Field Verification teams were a valuable asset that had to be kept nice and safe, unlike Recon teams. They certainly weren't expendable but Recon teams were equipped and expected to engage most threats, though a panzer was right at the top end of their capabilities. A conversation with the Battalion supply officer about his team being issued with SAMs flashed into his mind, a memory of being told that they wouldn't need them making him grimace ironically.

He then turned to his team quickly. "Marko and Scherwinski, reload your grenade launchers with AT rounds, there's a panzer inbound." As he spoke he swapped the HE one in his launcher for an AT himself. "You two are with me." Scherwinski might get to vent some frustration on the panzer, a much more suitable target than some random zoners who were just annoying rather than threatening. "Hoop and Kaufmann. You two cover the rear. There's frag all you can do against a panzer. Joel, you keep the three zoners covered. You know the orders. They don't get to leave without being scanned and put through quarantine. If it comes to it then I'll join you." Chernik shared a nod of understanding with Jared. It was an awful job but if the zoners were on the verge of escaping then all the UCAS soldiers, not just Jared's recon team, were ordered to shoot to kill. Not authorised to but ordered to. If they let anyone escape then they would face an inquiry at least and probably a punishment of some kind.

Instructions to his team issued, Jared moved behind a low wall, using it for cover as he waited for the panzer to arrive, Szeto and Scherwinski joining him. The panzer was already registering on his helmet's HUD, information relayed by Ball Park from whatever drone or satellite had spotted the incoming vehicle. "Ball Park, what's the readings on this panzer. Are our AT grenades enough to penetrate its armour? Is it a military grade panzer or just an up-armoured civilian VTOL? Over." If their AT grenades lacked the capability to damage the vehicle then the three of them would need to concentrate their grenades on the engines in the hope that they could immobilise the panzer, buying time before something arrived with sufficient firepower to knock it out.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 147 posts
Tue 10 Mar 2020
at 23:40
  • msg #20

Prelude: Kord

++Profile matches a Patroller, might be a modified Vacationer, we don't have a positive ID, either way your AT should make him think twice++ comes the reply from HQ.

The moments tick by in slow motion while Chernik hustles the zoner family into some cover among the nearby debris.  The team is tense as the hover moves closer and closer.  So far, it doesn't seem like the pilot has noticed your recon team.

What do you do once the hovercraft is in range?  Warning shots?  Open fire on the cockpit?
Kord
player, 25 posts
Wed 11 Mar 2020
at 08:45
  • msg #21

Prelude: Kord

"Ball Pen, are we cleared to engage the hovercraft?" replied Jared to his HQ. "Or only if we're fired upon?" He wanted to be absolutely clear on what his rules of engagement were as he'd heard rumours of grunts doing their job and then ending up in court because some zoner fleeing Chicago turned out to be a rich asshole with connections in the government or the right corp and had litigated once they were safe. There was no way that he was putting his team or himself in any danger though, not over three zoners trying to get picked up and spirited away to a new life.

One thing was clear however. The hovercraft was somewhere that it shouldn't be, inside the exclusion zone that ringed the containment zone, and that made it a viable target, though shooting to kill straight away might well be overkill, regardless of their orders.

While he waited for his Commander to respond, Jared outlined his plan to Marko and Scherwinski. "OK, unless the cake eaters* say otherwise, if the hovercraft lands we move forward and secure it and anyone inside. If it doesn't land then I'll try to take out its engine to force it down while you two cover me. If anything or anyone starts shooting at us then we each put two AT grenades into the hovercraft. If it's still moving after that then we figure out if we continue engaging or whether we need to get the frag out of here. OK?"


OOC:
 - Please note that I am presuming that the description of the vehicle indicates that it's a civilian vehicle that's potentially been upgraded. Please let me know if that's incorrect.
 - *Cake Eaters is current US Navy slang for an Officer I believe - I've assumed that that phrase has spread wider by 2055.
 - Just to clarify Jared's reaction, he intends on disabling the hovercraft rather than bothering with warning shots and will only fire on the cockpit if the hovercraft or someone in it is actively firing at them.

This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Wed 11 Mar 2020.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 158 posts
Sat 14 Mar 2020
at 18:13
  • msg #22

Prelude: Kord

++Mike Kile One, this is Iron Duke Six... if that hovercraft breaches the CZ, you are clear to engage.  Combat air support is inbound to help you out.++ comes a new voice over the command channel.  Steady, firm with resolve, you immediately recognize the voice of your battalion commander.  ++Deadly force is authorized to prevent entry into the CZ and to prevent the exit of those zoners.  I know this is hard to hear Mike Kilo One, but if those people are infected or if they try to escape without the mandatory quarantine, there is no option other than deadly force.  I know you will do all everything you can to ensure it doesn't come to that.++

Rock & Roll
13:55, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 13 using 2d6+1 ((6,6)).
Boxcars something good happens.


Once the fire order is given, the squad opens up on the hover in unison.  In the first volley of AT grenades, a few splash harmlessly into the bay, but a couple hit home.  Smoke and fire erupt from the hover's engine cowling and the speed drops dramatically.  From the skin behind the cockpit, a microturret pops up and begins traversing it's LMG toward the squad.  The gun barks to life, spitting supressing fire harmlessly across the debris where your squad has taken cover, but it's more than enough to make you duck down.  While you're under cover, the hovercraft executes a limping about face and begins to flee back out into the bay, it's LMG firing successive bursts to ensure you keep your heads down.

Patroller [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] - Engine damaged
Fight continues

Let it go, fire blind or risk that LMG fire to get another accurate volley on target?

Kord
player, 28 posts
Sat 14 Mar 2020
at 23:39
  • msg #23

Prelude: Kord

They had damaged the hovercraft's engine but it's LMG was still firing while it bugged out without the passengers it had been intending on picking up. In Kord's book that meant that they had done their job and exposing themselves to further incoming fire made no sense, not in his judgement anyway.

Keeping his head down he started to transmit. "Iron Duke Six, this is Mike Kilo One. We've damaged it's engine and it's now limping back out across the lake. It still has an active LMG so we'll leave it to the combat air support to finish off." Some flash flyboy would soon be notching a hovercraft to their kill list, probably claiming that it was fully operational and heavily armed when they shot it down. "We have the three zoners in custody and are waiting to had them over to the bug inspection team."

He glanced over at the three civilians and his man guarding them to check that everything was ok.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 165 posts
Mon 16 Mar 2020
at 01:15
  • msg #24

Prelude: Kord

The voice of the battalion commander responds ++Good shooting.  I'm sending a dalmatian your way to track him and try to figure out where he came from.  We've got a chance to disrupt the whole ring here, that's great work you're doing out there++

With the squad hunkered down in an all around defense and the zoner family secured, the VTOL carrying the field verification team lands in a swirling cloud of debris and dust.  A captain, a raven haired human woman disembarks with her SMG at the ready.  Following her is a short squat man.  His uniform hangs off of him, ill-fitting and in disarray.  He wears a heavy pistol on his belt and carries some kind of sceptre adorned with all manner of crystals and carvings.  Obviously this is the mission specialist; a dwarven mage.

“Heard ya got some zoners for Friedman here to check out,” the woman says matter of factly, “Where you got them squirreled away?”
Kord
player, 31 posts
Thu 19 Mar 2020
at 09:17
  • msg #25

Prelude: Kord

"Sure Captain," replied Jared with a nod as he turned to where the zoners were secured. "Chernik, bring them over here." He then stepped back to let the Dwarven mage do his work. He wasn't entirely sure what the man would do but he was keen to watch. Magic had always fascinated him as a kid and, though his experience of guarding the zone had been very different to the trid shows he'd watch when he was younger, he was still interested. It wasn't all funky explosions like they showed in Raff's Renegades, his favourite programme as a child, and seemed to be more about standing round staring at people. Well, that was what he'd seen a mage with a bug inspection team do previously. Assensing he'd called it.

While he was watching the Dwarf do his thing, Jared kept an eye on the zoners as well. If one of them wasn't on the level he thought that it would have revealed itself as a bug already but there was always the risk that he was wrong and it had kept itself hidden until the last minute. And the appearance of a mage might well prompt that.

He adjusted his position slightly so that he had a clear field of fire at the zoners, ensuring that Chernik, the Dwarven mage and the raven haired Captain weren't in the way. If something occurred then he was ready to deal with it.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 179 posts
Thu 19 Mar 2020
at 21:34
  • msg #26

Prelude: Kord

Chernik brings the distraught family out from under cover.  Up close, through the dirt and dying light, you notice how young they are.  The parents are late-20s, early-30s tops.  Probably had a nice thing going with some corp, looking forward to the little one starting school this fall, before the bugs broke loose and everything fell apart.

While they stand there a bit dumbfounded after the brief but intense firefight, the mage does his bit.  It doesn't look anything like the trids with dramatic finger wigglin' and a mystical light show as he is working the mojo.  About twenty long and underwhelming minutes later, he opens his eyes and reports that the zoners are cleared of bug infestation.  The mage even gives the little girl a lollipop he produces from his pocket.  It's a nice human touch in the middle of all of this insanity.

As the mage is finishing up, the Captain calls down from the ramp of the Eagle. “At least that's good news.  Battletrac shows the nearest processing centre over at the 111th station on the Pullman line.  That's gotta be at least 5 miles walk along the wall.  Null persp, we wouldn't make you guys hoof it.  If you load 'em up and we'll give you a lift.”  From upfront there comes a half-hearted objection from the rigger pilot, but the Captain only rolls her eyes.  “It's a god foresaken bug infested combat zone, Zeke... you wanna send that little girl out there to be spider bait?  It won't take more than a few minutes then we're back to base.”

Turing to Jared she asks: “You guys need a lift?”
Kord
player, 36 posts
Fri 20 Mar 2020
at 14:38
  • msg #27

Prelude: Kord

As the Dwarven mage handed the little girl a lollipop Jared half smiled to himself, wondering if they were part of some PR recording to boost the image of the UCAS Military. He almost looked around for a surveillance drone. Then he remembered that the bedraggled corps were rich enough to pay for some hovercraft to come and pick them and their daughter up and get them out of the zone illegally so the look on his face changed back to one of brooding silence.

When the Captain made her offer to give him a lift, Jared paused briefly before answering. "My orders were to continue with our patrol Captain," he replied with a shrug indicating that he'd hoped that she would be taking the prisoners off his hands. "Let me check with my command and see what they want us to do." As far as he could gather his commanders expected the field verification team to take the zoners to the nearest processing centre so he needed to cover his ass.

Moving a few steps away he initiated a transmission over the comms net. Unsure whether he should be contacting his HQ in general (Ballpen) or the Battalion Commander himself (Iron Duke Six) he plumped for the latter, figuring that that was the last cake eater who had given him an order. "Iron Duke Six, this is Mike Kilo One. SITREP. Field verification team confirmed confirmed no bug infection. Zoners need an escort to a processing centre. Do you want us to do that or leave it to the field verification team? They can give us a lift there but we'll be way off our patrol route if we do so. Over."

That was the way of the military. When you weren't sure on which way to go with a decision, and didn't need to make it instantaneously, then you just passed it up the line for someone else to make. Give them the responsibility to make the wrong one. Taking orders could be frustrating at times but it made life easier in other ways. Jared wondered sometimes what it would be like to be an independent without any commanders or, unfortunately, any backup. Probably god damn scary as well as liberating.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 182 posts
Fri 20 Mar 2020
at 21:25
  • msg #28

Prelude: Kord

++Every zoner we save is one for the win column++ comes the battalion commander's reply.  ++You are authorized to deviate from your planned patrol as you deem necessary to facilitate the transport of those people to a processing center.  If you feel the field verification team can't handle it, you make sure they get there safe.  You read me son?++
Kord
player, 37 posts
Fri 20 Mar 2020
at 22:17
  • msg #29

Prelude: Kord

"Understood," replied Jared. "Will contact you once we've handed them over to the processing centre. Mike Kilo One out."

Finishing his transmission he then turned to the raven haired Captain. "We'll take you up on that lift Captain," he said as he gave a sharp whistle to pull his team in to the Captain's vehicle. "On me," he added, pointing inside as Chernik started to usher the zoners aboard.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 185 posts
Sat 21 Mar 2020
at 20:15
  • msg #30

Prelude: Kord

"All right!  Let's get this crate airborne." the Captain says into her headset as the zoners and your patrol get settled in.

Through a cloud of dust and debris, the Eagle lifts off and makes an easy turn over the CZ traveling long the wall toward Pullman Ave.  A few moments into the short flight, looking out the side windows, you notice something is amiss...

Check the Situation
16:12, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Kord, rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((4,5)).
Strong Success

@Kord: Tell me one thing you notice that seems out of place and I'll tell you two more...

Kord
player, 40 posts
Sat 21 Mar 2020
at 22:19
  • msg #31

Prelude: Kord

How does the lead elements of a swarm of bugs heading for a construction crew (building the CZ wall) and their guards sound to you? If that works then are the construction crews purely military combat engineers or are some of them corporate contractors? Essentially did the UCAS government keep the construction in house or contract it out to the private market?

Alternatively how does a spluttering engine on the Eagle sound? It might not crash but it might well have to set down somewhere, though hopefully not inside the CZ!

Mr. Johnson
GM, 188 posts
Sun 22 Mar 2020
at 04:38
  • msg #32

Prelude: Kord

I like both of your ideas... **evil grin**

(1) The starboard engine sputters and the VTOL shudders violently...
(2) Over the coughing engine you can hear a loud buzzing sound...
(3) Outside the window you spot a blur of movement flying past. Then another. And another.

Wasp spirit flesh forms are swarming your aircraft.

The good news is that this all happened in the past and you somehow survived.

Let’s play out a few posts of combat to work out the mechanics and that should pretty much close out the prelude scene.

Kord
player, 42 posts
Sun 22 Mar 2020
at 22:47
  • msg #33

Prelude: Kord

How is the VTOL set up? Is it essentially a flying APC with gun ports/hatches for the infantry inside to fire through? Or is it just a case of the crew firing the weaponry mounted on the VTOL? Essentially how does Jared engage to personally influence this combat?
Mr. Johnson
GM, 192 posts
Sun 22 Mar 2020
at 23:53
  • msg #34

Prelude: Kord

Let’s say there is a nose mounted chain gun that is fired from the cockpit, a door mounted LMG and/or you can fire from the back ramp opening with your rifle.

In a situation like this, feel free to write in the details you need to take the action you want to take; as long as it’s appropriate to the situation.   I’m totally cool with PCs contributing these kinds of details to the narrative.

Kord
player, 45 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2020
at 14:43
  • msg #35

Prelude: Kord

As seemed to be typical on UCAS aircraft, the crew wasn't at full complement and no one was manning the door mounted LMG.

"Scherwinski, get on that LMG in the door," he barked, ordering his team into action. "Chernik and Szeto. With me on the rear ramp. Clip on and engage any targets you can see but ensure you don't fire inside the aircraft. Hoop and Kaufmann, switch to your pistols and look for anything that gets inside. Make sure of your shots though."

He then moved over towards the ramp and clipped himself to a safety strap, designed to anchor him to the craft and prevent him going too far if he fell out of the rear. "Hey Wiz," he called over his shoulder to the Dwarven Mage, "can you do anything about this?" Jared knew little about spirits but he had heard rumours that you could shoot them and he was about to find out if that was really the case or not.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 205 posts
Sun 29 Mar 2020
at 02:36
  • msg #36

Prelude: Kord

Your team jumps into action and a few moments later Scherwinski is on the door mounted LMG and has it chattering away.  Next to you Szeto is picking his shots over his M22A2.  The captain has headed up front and is strapping in next to the rigger pilot.  The mage, on the other hand, looks like he is taking a nap.

Off the back ramp, the flesh forms are hurtling by at top speed, but a few well placed shots might slow them down.

Rock & Roll
22:28, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Kord, rolled 9 using 2d6+1 ((6,2)).
Weak Success deal damage


Your carefully placed shot drops an incoming flesh form, but...

and choose one:
- expose yourself to danger, threat does damage
- expose your team to danger, threats damage two NPCs
- use ammo

or: spend 1 Edge to Edge Bump for a Strong Success and suffer no complications.

Results:
...pending

Kord
player, 49 posts
Sun 29 Mar 2020
at 12:15
  • msg #37

Prelude: Kord

Kord will spend 1 Edge please to Edge Bump to a Strong Success with no complications.

How quickly does Edge return? Is it used up permanently and has to be earned or is it a pool that refreshes at some point? Sorry if this is explained elsewhere. Still getting my head around the system. I like it though.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 208 posts
Tue 31 Mar 2020
at 03:06
  • msg #38

Prelude: Kord

Edge Bump no complications...

...Edge refreshes every scene, so no worries.


The flesh form you hit spirals out of control, smashing into the deck plate at your feet, but fortunately no one is harmed by its death throes.  Meanwhile the squad continues pouring fire into the swarm (Nemesis).


Mechanics
Troop (NPC): a group of NPCs working together with cohesion as a team. Troops roll 2D6 + number of NPCs/2 for all skill tests.  Troops damage track is equal to the base number + 2 per NPC in the Troop. Troops deal damage equally spread across all threats (base damage + number of NPCs) / number of threats. Troops always expose themselves to damage as a result of a complication when they Rock and Roll.

Swarm (Threat): an enormous group of threats that attack without coordination, relying entirely on their massive numbers advantage to overwhelm the PCs.  Swarm damage track is equally to 10x damage track for a typical member of the swarm. Swarms deal 5x base damage for a member of the swarm spread equally across all PCs that take damage as a result of a complication. Defeated swarms dissipate leaving 1D4 individual typical members as Threats.




Rock & Roll - Squad & Crew
22:14,Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 9 using 2d6+3 ((4,2)).
Weak Success the squad deals their damage (10)...


The coordinated fire of the squad takes out a handful of flesh forms...

but... they expose themselves to danger.

Swarm deals damage (5x2) - 3 Armor = 7.


Despite the withering fire, a pair of wasps flash past you and Szeto, catching the squad off guard. You’re about to switch to side arm to try and get the insect manifestations off your team when both of the horrifying stinging beasts simply burst into brilliant green flame (guess that mage isn’t sleeping in the job after all).

“Boss...” Scherwinski calls out over the din. “Boss!  Get over here, you gotta see this.” Outside, on the fuselage, one of the tenacious little beasts has a fixed itself to the tilt rotor. Another lands and climbs over the carapace only to die a horrible death in the whirling blades. The ailing aircraft shudders violently as the insect’s yellow-blue blood coats the hull. Another follows. Then another.  As sticky blood and bits of exoskeleton begin to build up, the engine coughs and the Eagle begins to lose altitude. Something has to be done to stop them from jamming the engine with their corpses.

Result:
(1) You're still in the fight but...
(2) The squad has taken a blooding.
(3) Another few bugs into the engine and this bird is going down.
(4) You’ve got a clear shot at the bug that is using its own body as a bridge between hull and rotor... if you can take it out you just might save the aircraft.

Kord [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Squad & Crew (Troop)
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Flesh Form Swarm
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Flight continues

This one chance shot on the flesh form on the engine is exactly the kind of thing you want to get on the first try. Perfect time for and Edge Boost

Kord
player, 52 posts
Tue 31 Mar 2020
at 13:20
  • msg #39

Prelude: Kord

Jared automatically nodded in appreciation at the mage, not really getting that the dwarf couldn't see him properly as he was in the astral at present. He was glad that they had a mage aboard, and he'd jealously heard stories about SpecOps teams who had mages assigned to them, as they made a massive difference with a lot of weird stuff like these bug spirits.

"I'm on it," he yelled in response to Scherwinski's warning. Leaning out of the VTOL, relying on the safety strap to prevent him falling, Jared opened up with his assault rifle. There was a risk that he could damage the rotor but, as far as he could tell, the bug was going to down the aircraft anyway if he didn't so it was worth taking the calculated risk.

He aimed as much as he could, making full use of the budget smartgun link the UCAS Military had issued him with, but relied mainly on the firepower of his rifle.


OK, as well as an Edge Boost please can Jared use one of his Core Moves, probably Fuck it up / Make it Rain but possibly Rock & Roll if that is more appropriate? Or can he use both at the same time?
Mr. Johnson
GM, 216 posts
Sun 5 Apr 2020
at 17:22
  • msg #40

Prelude: Kord

Fuck it up / Make it Rain is used to impede or aid another character's actions.  Depending on the situation, I'd allow it to be used in the same turn as a hands on action like Rock and Roll but it would have to make sense for the action and fit in the narrative.

Scherwinski took a step back, allowing you to take up the firing position at the door gun.  Taking careful aim over your sights with the smartlink reticule displayed on your tactical display, you take the shot...

Rock and Roll
Edge boost
13:03, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((6,3)).
Strong success


...and drop the bug.  Despite the damage to the engine, the Eagle stabilizes.  It seems to have enough power to make the approach at the processing centre LZ without too much risk.

The spirits are still swarming the aircraft, but at least you're still airborne. While the civilian passengers keep their heads down and try to keep the little girl calm, the nose cannon chatters away, the squad snaps off targets of opportunity from the back ramp, the mage naps quietly...

Rock & Roll - Squad & Crew
13:11, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 10 using 2d6+3 ((1,6)).
Strong success


...like a well oiled machine, the team is cool and calm, dropping bugs wherever a chance exists.  A wave of heat splashes over you as another trio of bugs explode in sickly green mage fire and a thin sheen of sweat appears under the mage's helmet.

Result:
(1) You're still in the fight.
(2) The squad is steady for now.
(3) The aircraft is stabilized.
(4) You need to clear away the bugs before you can land the Eagle.
(5) You’ve got a decided advantage over the swarm, take +1 forward in the next round of combat.  I will apply the +1 to either the PC roll or the Squad roll, wherever it gives best advantage.

Kord [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] - Edge 1/3

Squad & Crew (Troop)
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Flesh Form Swarm
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ]
Flight continues

Kord
player, 69 posts
Thu 23 Apr 2020
at 21:25
  • msg #41

Prelude: Kord

Trusting that the pilot had informed the reception centre that they were coming in hot and would need support at the LZ, Jared continued firing, trying to pick off individual bugs as they tried to attack the aircraft.

"Keep firing Recon!" he yelled to his team, trying to encourage them and help them stay calm. Aggression correctly channeled could be a powerful weapon on the battlefield, even against an enemy as unknown as this one. "Keep laying it on them! Bullets kill them just like anyone else!" He wasn't entirely sure just how much the Dwarven mage was doing to keep the bugs away so he put it down to the lead they were sending down range.

He also periodically glanced at the engine the swarming spirits had been trying to overwhelm, just in case more needed to be done to keep them off it.


Kord - Rock and Roll with his M22A2 assault rifle at the swarming spirits
Mr. Johnson
GM, 295 posts
Fri 24 Apr 2020
at 23:11
  • msg #42

Prelude: Kord

Small arms fire erupts from every opening on the Eagle, concentrated to make one final push to disperse the swarm...

Rock and Roll
Kord: 18:39, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 9 using 2d6+1 ((6,2)).
Weak success

Squad: 18:40, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 6 using 2d6+3 ((1,2)).
Take +1 forward =7 Weak Success


...the concentrated effort takes down flying bug after flying bug.  Whittling the swarm down to a few individuals, then knocking those last few out of the sky.  With the entire squad focused on making one final push...

Swarm deals damage (5x2) - 3 Armor = 7 split evenly between Kord and Squad...

... no one makes it out unscathed, but everyone is still on their feet.  A couple of the guys will need to see a medic once this crate gets on the ground...

Result:
Kord [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] - Edge 1/3

Squad & Crew (Troop)
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]

Flesh Form Swarm
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
dispersed
18:40, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 3 using 1d4 ((3)).
Flesh Form [X] [X]
Flesh Form [X] [X]
Flesh Form [X] [X]
Fight Ends


Clear of the swarm, Zeke, the rigger pilot, brings the Eagle screaming into the processing center LZ spraying the nearby buildings with gravel and debris.  As the engines spool down, you're met on the tarmac by a med team and some military police who take the zoners into custody for processing and transfer to the Ares facility for quarantine.

"Mr Soldier," says the little girl, looking up at you with her tear streaked face.  Her mother gives the little one an encouraging nod before she continues, "Thank-you for making sure we got out safe.  Can you make sure teddy stays safe too?" she adds, offering you her only possession, a threadbare stuffed bear...


Prelude ends.  Advance / take +1 Rep.  Meet me in XP and Nuyen to tell me what you want to do with this level (improve a stat or learn a new move)

We can continue to play out another scene in Chicago if you want (just try not to die since it would really screw with the timeline!)

Kord
player, 72 posts
Sat 25 Apr 2020
at 22:41
  • msg #43

Re: Prelude: Kord

Mr. Johnson:
Prelude ends.  Advance / take +1 Rep.  Meet me in XP and Nuyen to tell me what you want to do with this level (improve a stat or learn a new move)

We can continue to play out another scene in Chicago if you want (just try not to die since it would really screw with the timeline!)

Thanks for this. Will have a think about the advance.

With playing out another scene I'd like to do that but would prefer to pick out an episode from his career as a merc. There were three incidents that I included in his background:

2057 - While working for GEI he participates in a number of rescues of journalists, bloggers and western aid workers in East Anatolia region (what was Eastern Turkey) who had been taken prisoner by one of the factions in the Turkish Civil War.

2058 - Another contract for GEI took him to the South East Asia War Zone where he participated in a number of security operations. He rotated out of the region prior to the atrocities reportedly committed by another GEI team that lead to a number of team members being convicted of murder.

Mid 2059 - His mercenary unit was involved in an operation in the Atzatlan / Yucatan area where they suffered heavy casualties. Kord decides that a new line of work is preferable.


What do you think about playing through one of those? Or would you rather it be an incident in North America? You had an idea about one in the Caribbean League.

Thanks.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 301 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 14:09
  • msg #44

Re: Prelude: Kord

How about #3 but set in Baja, not Yucatan?
Kord
player, 73 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 20:47
  • msg #45

Re: Prelude: Kord

As in Baja California?
Mr. Johnson
GM, 303 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 23:18
  • msg #46

Re: Prelude: Kord

Baja used to be California. The Azzies took it along with San Diego during the brief war in ‘38
Kord
player, 74 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 23:30
  • msg #47

Re: Prelude: Kord

That works well then - sounds good to me.

How do want to set this up? Do you want me to run through my thoughts on what happens so that you can flesh it out? The key elements are that Kord's merc unit takes heavy casualties and he decides that a new line of work might be safer.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 304 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 23:46
  • msg #48

Re: Prelude: Kord

Got it. I can run with that.  I’ll set up a new thread for this solo scene. Anything else you ‘remember’ happening during that mission?
Kord
player, 75 posts
Mon 27 Apr 2020
at 10:24
  • msg #49

Re: Prelude: Kord

In reply to Mr. Johnson (msg # 48):

Not particularly. One slightly awkward thing though is that everyone should be using Street Names as they are Mercs but a lot of them will then be dying so it's using up a lot of Street Names. I don't know about you but I find creating "cool" sounding Street Names one of the hardest aspects of Cyberpunk style games. Maybe we should focus on a small four person team that Kord is part of and run through how two of them die, along with a number of other people off camera? Would that work?

Mr. Johnson
GM, 306 posts
Mon 27 Apr 2020
at 12:57
  • msg #50

Re: Prelude: Kord

Got it. We’ll have some of them use their real names if it gets clunky. I’ll get a thread fired up shortly.
Kord
player, 78 posts
Mon 27 Apr 2020
at 13:14
  • msg #51

Re: Prelude: Kord

In reply to Mr. Johnson (msg # 50):

Superb. Thanks.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 477 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:57
  • msg #52

Re: Prelude: Kord

End Prelude
Mr. Johnson
GM, 478 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:57
  • msg #53

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

“Well, yeah, of course there’s a catch.” replied Major “Geezer” Griesbeck, the company commander, running his hand over his short clipped balding pate.

Commerce City, Denver, Sioux Sector
GEI HQ, Main Briefing room
7 July 2059
0832hrs


Tell it to them straight
“I mean, if there wasn’t, why would they need us?” he adds prompting a round of cynical laughter.  Sitting outside the global operations centre, Devil’s Company leadership has assembled for a long awaited mission briefing.  Pouring over intel chips and scanning 24-hour news channels for the past half an hour, you’ve learned just about all you ever wanted to know about Aztlan.  Most of what you’ve seen focuses on the growing insurgency in the Yucatan, but that’s not where you’re heading.

“OK, let’s recap,” Geezer says. “The Azzies have given the little towns and the counties that they occupied in old California the cold shoulder since the end of the war in ‘38.  They’ve got a hot insurgency going on over in Yucatan and uncertainty on the border of Amazonia.  Understandably, the Board of Governors in Tenochtitlan are focused entirely on the potential for the Imperials to back the California Republican Guard in a counter offensive.  As a result, all of the Azzie forces in the area are concentrated on the border to prevent Cal Free from trying to take back San Diego.  Everything south of the border is left to scrape and squabble among the banditos and corrupt Federales.  That’s where we come in.” he says calling up a 3D topographic model of the Baja Peninsula.

“Down here, south of the Tijuana ‘plex, are a bunch of little towns, Rancho El Refugio, Punta Colonet, Ejido Eréndira.  These are all small independent municipal conglomerates technically outside the jurisdiction of the corporate council and, more importantly, independent of Aztechnology.  The price of that freedom?  They all fall prey to bandits and there is no Aztlan Armed Forces cavalry to ride in and save the day.  While we can’t save the day, we can make sure they have some basic skills to defend themselves against predatory gangs.”

The working folks Baja California are looking for a hand up, not a hand out.  Best of all they’re willing to pay for it.  GEI has been contracted to provide a bit of muscle and, more importantly, some training to local militias so they can fend for themselves.  The company will be split up over a number of small operating posts advising, assisting and training the locals.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 479 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:58
  • msg #54

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

@Kord: you are here.

You're a squad commander with 4-6 mercs under your command getting ready to go south into Aztlan.

Kord
player, 91 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:59
  • msg #55

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way


OK - as a quick sketch how does the following sound for the rest of the team under Kord's command:

Brig - male human grenadier and assistant team leader

Loco - male human grenadier - has a reputation for unnecessary aggression and excessive violence - Kord doesn't like him but has been lumbered with him

Patch - female human medic

Stone - male dwarf heavy weapons expert

Grief - female elf hermetic mage - somehow manages to combine military camouflage with Goth/Emo fashion and style

Macko - male human sniper

Mr. Johnson
GM, 480 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:59
  • msg #56

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

Edit:
Stone - male dwarf rigger, heavy weapons expert

Add:
m0use - female human decker, tech support

What are you and the team doing in Denver before you head down south?

Kord
player, 92 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 03:00
  • msg #57

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

With Stone and mOuse will they be physically with the rest of the team on the ground or will they be in a secure base and present via drones/cameras?

Prior to leaving Denver we'll be running through the briefing to ensure that all of the team members understand what their role is, either training the locals or providing security with others conduct the training. For example Loco will spend most of his time on sentry duty rather than training anyone.

We'll also have had a night out as a team to ensure that everyone knows each other and to iron out (or at least bring to the forefront) any niggles between the team members - we don't need to role play through that though.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 481 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 03:00
  • msg #58

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

Stone and m0use will accompany you into your assigned sector based on the village of Rancho el Refugio.

The teams takes their orders like pros, although it’s clear the Loco doesn’t like the idea of being sidelined. Better keep an eye on that one, might be a problem down the line.

An evening out followed by an early morning. You begin to prep to deploy out to Rancho el Refugio the very next day...

...time for a bit of Legwork if you want to track some equipment down, try to make a contact, do some research on where you are going or just pack extra socks.

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