Inchin: Endgame

[Tiglath]

Jess

Jess roars into a good position off the start and challenges for the lead. However, her unfamiliarity with the “long” perimeter course allows the more familiar Junge racers to keep her pegged back at the top of the chasing group behind the leaders. On the last leg through Star Town to Barter Town Jess finds she's on the familiar ground and uses her experience to carve through the field. She takes a careful line on the Nitrox boosted jump over “the pit” and comes in a respectable third.

Benno, who placed second, is clearly pleased with his position and says “Good race Alte - but I think you held back".

[joertexas]

Frank smiles at Prerna "No-one intends for complications. Family helps each other through it"

"Family." The redhead takes a breath. "That's a nice thought. Maybe we will be able to pull it off."

[shaidar]

Frank to Prerna "Well, it's worth a try, even if we end up a little dysfunctional."

He glances of into the distance for a few seconds, before recovering

"Apologies, Major, for being overly sentimental"

[Tiglath]

Jakob

Fast Eddie smiles and says “Oh, I think your lady will take care of me. SuSAG aren't going to try anything with an Imperial Naval intelligence operative in the frame. They signed up to the “Camarena Protocol” with the Imperials – so long as she's here we're golden. Straight up, I'm grateful for the chance to get myself together. That was the biggest job I've ever pulled. I'm out now – if I can stay alive to spend it”.

He looks at Liv with a bewildered expression "What did you just do?" Liv replies "Believe me I understand where you are right now because I've been there". Fast Eddie looks pensive.

He orders a large Bloody Mary and the server is clearly delighted when he slings in a 100Cr tip. Still eyeing Liv warily Eddie rallies, downs his drink and says “You're nice people but the show must go on. I really felt what you said and I needed that just now but I'd be grateful if you don't let on I bat for the other side. One more act before the curtain call – or perhaps, in this case, before the fat lady sings eh?”

(OOC: I quite like a "Mattisisms". The uncompromising ‘There are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot’ being a favourite).

[joertexas]

Frank to Prerna "Well, it's worth a try, even if we end up a little dysfunctional."

He glances of into the distance for a few seconds, before recovering

"Apologies, Major, for being overly sentimental"

"I think I win the prize for sentimentality," Prerna says with a small smile. "Thank you for having my back through all of this."

[shaidar]

Frank smiles at Prerna "You're more than welcome. Now, we should get back out there and make sure everything runs smoothly, so everyone gets to go home safely"

[The Bindoner]

Jess

Jess roars into a good position off the start and challenges for the lead. However, her unfamiliarity with the “long” perimeter course allows the more familiar Junge racers to keep her pegged back at the top of the chasing group behind the leaders. On the last leg through Star Town to Barter Town Jess finds she's on the familiar ground and uses her experience to carve through the field. She takes a careful line on the Nitrox boosted jump over “the pit” and comes in a respectable third.

Benno, who placed second, is clearly pleased with his position and says “Good race Alte - but I think you held back".

Jess is in a good mood, the race was a rare chance to do what she loves - compete at high speeds on simple wheeled vehicles. Placing is good enough on a new course against locals.

Hold back? Nah, man. Got boxed out on the middle bit 'cos I've never bin there before. Handicapped, weren't I? Fair 'nough though Benno mate, yer good. Deserve yer place.

So, who's the winner? Lucked out or regular front runner?

I know the course now though, eh?. Be a fair race next time. You'll be buyin' me drinks. Jess smiles at Benno. Speakin' of drinks, I could do with one. There a hangout?

Got some shoppin' ter collect while I'm out. Think it'd be OK for the lads ter come over on a raft an' pick it up? Rakhsh she nods at her racing buggy ain't a cargo hauler.


I was trying to post quoting the second iteration and was stalled by "requested post does not exist". Took a minute to work out what was wrong.

[Tiglath]

(OOC: Yes ... sorry about that!

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Utterly convinced I'd posted Jess' section but then unable to see it in the thread I ... er ... posted it again!

It seems this "turn of the page thing" in PbP is a formidable obstacle for the easily bewildered... ).

[Leitz]

Jakob nodded to Eddie. "Swing back by if you need someone to disengage."

Jakob left the conversational door open for Eddie, but had no clue about what the man's game was. When Eddie left, Jakob looked at Liv. "Actually, I'd say ditch the heels, grab some sandals, and maybe one of those wraps that make the guys wonder more than see. Gives you a 'natural girl' look, and you're going to need all the help you can get if you're going to compete against Beau."

"Might help to know what the Big Dip is saying, do you want to handle that? I'll check on the Union guys and see what I can find out." He leaned in a little and lowered his voice. "I'm not sure you intended it, but both Eddie and I were aware of more than just your words. We need to talk about that after while, I have some ideas."

[Tiglath]

Jess

An ebullient Benno rambles an enthusiastic response “Kálfr won – he is always good. We try to get him out as much as we can since his girl was killed. You could give him a job in your starship, Alte – take his mind off it. Um, there's a juice bar we use. The game consoles in the back are good and the owner has good “Vargr smokes” - if you know what I mean”. He winks with all the high theatricality of a custard pie.

When Jess enquires about her pick up Benno cheerfully replies “Alte, we own Star Town! Of course you can collect your goods! I will … er … just tell the Einherjaren, the “otte hundrede” what the plan is. They speak direct with the Völva – she can see the future and so will already know it will be alright! Do you think a witch would go out with a racer, Alte? Are they really that hot or do they actually look like someone who's like nearly twice my age? Whoa - that would be like a "WILF". Oh, and if there was a fight between the Einherjaren and the Special Naval Landing Force who would win?”

Benno pauses, his petrol headed mind currently running on the vapours of youthful imagery...

[joertexas]

Frank smiles at Prerna "You're more than welcome. Now, we should get back out there and make sure everything runs smoothly, so everyone gets to go home safely"

"Right. Thanks again." Prerna steps out and goes to check on her team.

[Leitz]

When Jakob saw Frank heading in, he picked up another drink and intercepted.

Handing Frank the drink, Jakob spoke quietly. "Colonel Cross, I talked to Eddie. He's playing a role for someone else. Scared, too, but he knew Liv's real job. It seemed to help. We're working the room to gather intel and build bridges."

[shaidar]

Frank

"That's useful to know, thank you. Also, slightly concerning. I hope there aren't any new players out there, and this is just a new surprise from their current plan. Keep up the good work. We're on the final furlong, lets's get this past the finish line with no hiccups""

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya

How goes the missile launcher repair?

Any sign of any external movements?

What do the recon team on the roof recon to a quick whizz-round with a drone to get another angle on things?
If anyone is staging a raid - particularly if it's going to include battle-droids - we might catch them staging for that while all this other stuff is diverting the officers.

Has Sergeant Dubbs picked up any odd transmissions/calls from inside the building?

[Tiglath]

Jakob

(OOC: This latest as something of a PS - that'll teach me to leave posts to proof read in the morning! )

Jakob left the conversational door open for Eddie, but had no clue about what the man's game was. When Eddie left, Jakob looked at Liv. "Actually, I'd say ditch the heels, grab some sandals, and maybe one of those wraps that make the guys wonder more than see. Gives you a 'natural girl' look, and you're going to need all the help you can get if you're going to compete against Beau."

While Eddie tips the server and necks his drink Liv replies “I'll check our political position with the DM”. She then deadpans “You jarheads forget that the Navy invented “shock and awe”. I'm quite sure Beau doesn't have access to lingerie”.

"Might help to know what the Big Dip is saying, do you want to handle that? I'll check on the Union guys and see what I can find out." He leaned in a little and lowered his voice. "I'm not sure you intended it, but both Eddie and I were aware of more than just your words. We need to talk about that after while, I have some ideas."

Liv does quite a good job of managing her apparent surprise but nevertheless blurts out softly “Whatthefekk!!! You “got” that?”

Eddie then directs his full attention from the waiter and bestows it on Liv saying “Then you … must be …”. After some clearly stressful reasoning he then seems to suffer a moment of utterly horrifying realisation and says fearfully “Shit, I had no idea your coverage was that good! Look, wiv respect ma'am, just tell her I'm fekkin' doin' it alright! As per! All over it - away like a long dog I am! Mister Keening will 'ave them workers shares traded from the Lucky Lady in 'is 'ands by close of business. Ruddy 'ell, you people, all over a bloke while 'e works! After that I'm done and away as agreed”.

He takes his leave being “escorted/shadowed” by Wint and Kidd as he does so. The trio head back to the VIP negotiation area.

(OOC: Now for those with their plot goggles on this might be an eye opener … or merely yet another unfathomable twist in the murky world of cloaks, daggers, smoke and mirrors...).

[Leitz]

"We actually know a lot of things, Eddie," Jakob said quietly. "But you're doing a good job, and the right people notice. Relax, play your part, and we'll have a laugh and a drink after it's all done."

He turned, leaned close, and whispered, "Unless there's an issue?"

[The Bindoner]

An ebullient Benno rambles an enthusiastic response “Kálfr won – he is always good. We try to get him out as much as we can since his girl was killed. You could give him a job in your starship, Alte – take his mind off it

Kálfr win a lot? He the guy put the hard word on the Guard last night?

We are recruitin', but only trained bods. We ain't the army y'know. An' we ain't got a Starship, we just rode one in.

Do you think a witch would go out with a racer, Alte? Are they really that hot or do they actually look like someone who's like nearly twice my age? Whoa - that would be like a "WILF".

Witch might do anythin', so I wouldn't rule it out. As ter looks, prob'ly don't look much older'n me. hastily: An' I don't want ter hear yer thoughts 'bout that.

I will … er … just tell the Einherjaren, the “otte hundrede” what the plan is. They speak direct with the Völva

Oh, and if there was a fight between the Einherjaren and the Special Naval Landing Force who would win?”

So this Einherjaren, they the troopers with Eri.. , er, this Vulva? Or are they the hard cases were organisin' the fight 'gainst the Baron 'fore we got 'ere? If they're the snipers as took out the drones I'd give good odds. Depends who's Navy the Landin' Force belongs ter. Not Imperial I hope? That'd be too easy, what I've seen'v the local leathernecks.


Now, lets go an' see this juice bar. Hey, yer seen this game?

Jess fishes out her personal comm and brings up her “Tanks of the Worlds” combat sim.

[Tiglath]

Freya (in temporary NPC mode) / All

Reports that the missile launcher repair has now been put in the hands of the Baron's weapons techs.

The rooftop OP reports a big fat “All quiet”. They note that the “peace keeping” foot patrols have withdrawn (into larger buildings with multiple exits) and have then been lost to observation. They report the progress of Jess' race and buggy traffic all over the “vacant lot” that is the Starport (rather than Startown) as spectators transit to and from vantage points along the perimeter course and back to Barter Town.

She further ponders the tactical recon situation and shares her thoughts. She muses that, despite their sterling service and utility, the merc's drones are likely to be always playing catch up if the "opposition" (as she now suspects) have deployed an “expert” 'bot.

(OOC: The quite scary(?) disparity for “opposed recon” via remote drone vs expert autonomous bot could be as large a DM as +0 vs. +4).

[Tiglath]

Jess

Benno shrugs “Kálfr wins all the time and, yes, it was he who told the Guard their future. It was wise for us not to fight - more of us would have died fighting the tanks but we were ready because we were in the right. It was the infantry carrier called “205” that killed Kálfr's girl as he drove to help them. So it was with them that we had our argument. But the Völva and her “Eight Hundred” gave us our revenge!”

Benno adds “There are only four “800s” here and yet they kicked the Guard's ass! Half of carrier 205 were slain by them and it is said that the rest were unmanned by the Völva's magic. So, yes, the 800 serve the witch herself”.

“Urvash Gudrun leads the worker's revolution on Inchin. He has been here a long while opposing the Baron but I don't think it was his people who broke your drones”. Doing his best to look both cool and knowledgeable he confides “Urvash's people mostly just have swords but the witch not only has a rifle as long as the gun on a Guard tank but she can also summon a swift beast made of shadows to do her bidding. It is true - she commands it in the dark tongue of Helheim!”

Already quite possibly filling in any blanks in his knowledge with invention Benno adds “The Naval Landing Force is what the 800 called the armoured troops in the Völva's little ship - I like her ship its really fast! They helped the Lucky Lady trader when it landed the 800 and unloaded the supplies for Urvash and the goods for people to trade their workers' shares for in Barter Town”.

At first blush the Junge seem slightly underwhelmed by “Tanks of the Worlds”. Benno's response being “Um ... how fast can the tanks go and who do they race?”

[The Bindoner]

Jess files away all the very interesting details Benno shares.

The Volva ( Jess gets the pronunciation closer this time ) she's someone we know from another job.

Oh-ho, that little ship's hers is it? Saw it down at the Fort, by the mirror-fields. Some bods with long-guns helped us take out those pirates, got picked up by a fast little Gig. Makes sense that was her, why she lifted her aim when she saw me.

Urvash's people're meat fer the grinder, good job you lot kept out'v it. Likely their job's over though, reckon the Baron's taken whatever deal Gudrun's boss was workin' on.

Anyone still got shares by the way, or did the Lucky Lady clean up? Happy to trade for whatever's left. What d'yer think folk'd want? Speakin' of, prob'ly can't raise another case'v fizzy fer the next race, what else'll do fer stakes? I'll take me winnin's in shares, less yer got anythin' better.

On the subject of games:

Yeah, 's not a race sim. They never come near the real thing so I don't play 'em much, 'less the chance of a proper race soon after.

Some'v these vehicles're pretty nippy though, 'specially the grav recon. Game's really more 'bout fightin' than racin' but I can set up a course. Capture-the-flag, no ammo, same vehicles, same start.

Jess selects a mid-tech wheeled scout car that's close to a sand-rail in performance and offers a connection for anyone who fancies logging in for a run