Avastan: Planetfall

[Tiglath]

Liv replies "Those allegedly backing the pirates are Avastan Portways Incorporated or API. However, since API is a planetary corporation operated and controlled by Avastan City businessmen its perhaps easier to say that it is they who are either facilitating or organising the criminal activity here. The executive arm is the pirate ships themselves supported by the ground forces that protect their operation. We'll need local, real time HumInt to begin to identify their activity".

[Tiglath]

As the mercs cogitate the diseased heart of Avastan's commerce erratically beats.

A ridiculously oversized limousine roars through the extrality gate from Startown as the two hapless militiamen scramble to raise their barrier in time to avoid an impact with the six wheeled behemoth.

Limo.jpg (35.12 KiB) Viewed 405 times

The limo throws up powder snow as it roars across the flight apron to meet a ship's boat landing (apparently where it likes) on the edge of the main runway convenient for Startown. The ship's boat has green stripes over standard naval grey and stylised lightning bolts drawn along its fins. The lettering "Storm 1" is picked out in white where the forked lightning bolts "ground".

Meanwhile the militiamen (we shall call them Ivan and Igor) have barely time to lower their barrier again before they notice the half-tracked limousine flanked by two civilian variant military cars barrelling towards them from the parkbays across the runway. The all black cars show stark against the snowy runway and their maximum opacity windows reveal nothing to your vision aids. The escort cars neatly formate on the half-track as the whole convoy hammers towards Startown and Avastan City beyond.

Realising a little late that these vehicles have no intention of stopping the bold militia scramble to lean on their barrier's counterweight to get it out of the way in time. They are so near success when the clearly career minded Ivan curtails his efforts to perform what might pass as a salute. The black and chrome half-track reduces the barrier to matchwood and the convoy roars off through the now wreckage strewn checkpoint and towards Avastan city. Igor throws his ushanka into the snow and berates Ivan. They enjoy a full and frank exchange of views.

A further spectacle is the elegant yet deadly form of the stiletto thin 400t Patrol Cruiser that makes an agile transition from its approach into an effective hover above a parkbay across the runway. The Imperial sunburst on its stabilisers is visible as it descends vertically into the parkbay until it is finally lost behind the reinforced berm surrounding the hardened bay a couple of klicks across the runway from your merchant's stand.

(OOC: Apologies for a slight lack of pace. It's been ruddy hot and typing wearing my pith helmet is just awkward... )

[gurusql]

Kit

Kit tries to search some public records looking to find a reference to a starship named Storm to see what the parent ship to the launch would be?

Some OCC questions

• Where did the 400T Patrol Cruiser land on the map?
• What is the sum of the Imperial force that we know should be in the system?
• What the checkpoint like a 1960's gate between North and South Korea? or something else?

[Tiglath]

Kit finds no immediate leads on commercial or private vessels registering the name Storm. It's not an uncommon name but he is able to eliminate various possible candidates due to commitment to trade routes or military posting (and, in fairness, the likelihood of turning up in District 268).

Therefore he goes a little left field and searches a little deeper... and darker.

Storm is the name attributed to a 400t Buccaneer Class corsair described as "green with a distinctive lightning bolt symbol" by a survivor.

The vessel is believed to be actively operating within District 268. She has been sighted in the Singer system and also off Inchin and is believed active both within District 268 and Five Sisters subsectors. Both Storm and her sister "Typhoon" are linked (only by the most robust and/or foolhardy commentators) to the ruthless Sarhan crime family on Singer.

Kit reckons that if he had his old Marine security clearance Imperial databases would reveal more. Something of a racing certainty would be more up to date Intel and several Imperial backed warrants for named crew members of the specific variety usually reserved for Outworld and DMZ subjects "Wanted: Dead".

The patrol cruiser landed inside the defensive reinforced berm around the nearest circular hardened stand (with a red triangle) to your ship's position (at stand D).

This landing zone is protected by several (brown dot) defense points manned by the local Avastan forces (including a AA missile "flak" tower - black square brown dot).

Kit is very aware that the Imperium is very cagey about declared naval strengths - especially in backwaters where even "limited" is generous. However, deployment of a patrol cruiser in direct liason with local PDF when a Scout facility is within "visual" is quite... odd.

He notes by direct observation and personal knowledge that the checkpoint has been reduced from a proper VCP (Vehicle Check Point) to a "courtesy Drive Thru". He can see where the crash proof barriers (mobile "dragon's teeth") have been removed and gates left open rendering the facility useless for its intended tactical function. There is a "pillbox" covering the exit road but this has been converted to a "guard shack" by blocking up its, no doubt draughty, weapons slits.

For reference (or perhaps in the event of a need to check motive): viewtopic.php?p=493956#p493956

(OOC: Kit in reasearch mode (Admin & Computer):
Roll(2d6)+3:
6,1,+3
Total:10)

[gurusql]

Am I reading the scale right, to move around the "inner loop" of the paved area is 9-10 km?

[Tiglath]

Am I reading the scale right, to move around the "inner loop" of the paved area is 9-10 km?

OOC: The scale as shown is truly vast. I think to aid the focus of the mind's eye we will declare each blue square / the red scale on the map to represent 500m. This fits in my head better!

[joertexas]

The patrol cruiser landed inside the defensive reinforced berm around the nearest circular hardened stand (with a red triangle) to your ship's position (at stand D).

This landing zone is protected by several (brown dot) defense points manned by the local Avastan forces (including a AA missile "flak" tower - black square brown dot).

I don't see these markings on the map...

[gurusql]

Here is the link to the "right map".

[The Bindoner]

Try downloading the image and zooming in, it can be hard to read on a screen as-is.

[joertexas]

Try downloading the image and zooming in, it can be hard to read on a screen as-is.

Can y'all repost the image? I think I'm looking at the wrong one...

[Tiglath]

Happy to repost but it's the last post in the (locked) reference thread titled "Avastan".

As per gurusql's link above.

If still no good I could PM you a copy to sharpen up?

Edit: Copy PMed

[Tiglath]

For those wrestling with the map here's an updated Key:

You are at stand D

Light Blue dots aircraft IDed by power plant.

Brown dots infantry positions / strongpoints

Green blobs trees/shrubs sufficient to give cover block LOS

For clarity the road off the Star port runs through the ground floor of the Starport Admin building.

[BackworldTraveller]

For clarity the road off the Star port runs through the ground floor of the Starport Admin building.

Perfect for an IED

[Tiglath]

For clarity the road off the Star port runs through the ground floor of the Starport Admin building.

Perfect for an IED

Well yes. They've removed all the functionality and staffed it with the "Latvian Guard"...

Its main defence is not really counting as a military target!

[joertexas]

OOG: I presume we're at a planning meeting...

Prerna touches the patrol cruiser's icon in the map display. "So, this is now our target?"

[shaidar]

Frank shakes his head "No, we're just gathering Intel and understanding the factions in the game"

[joertexas]

Frank shakes his head "No, we're just gathering Intel and understanding the factions in the game"

"I'm sure the pirates are into more than just basing their ship here. Do we know what other ships are in port?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
I can get my team to look for the official roster - and look on the message boards for the unofficial roster.

It would also be good to know who fences the pirated goods (unless they are taking to order). And which gangs/groups the fences look to.

[joertexas]

Freya
I can get my team to look for the official roster - and look on the message boards for the unofficial roster.

It would also be good to know who fences the pirated goods (unless they are taking to order). And which gangs/groups the fences look to.

"Let's get that information together soonest," Prerna says. "I and my team can help you with it."

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
I can get my team to look for the official roster - and look on the message boards for the unofficial roster.

It would also be good to know who fences the pirated goods (unless they are taking to order). And which gangs/groups the fences look to.

"Let's get that information together soonest," Prerna says. "I and my team can help you with it."

Colonel?