Avastan: Planetfall

[The Bindoner]

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.

Jess cuts in: Lookin' at the hooky end of the market's what I'm going ter be about. Goods an' services.I mean, it's kind'v what I do anyway. With luck I'll get a bargain or two along the way.

Question is, do we want an office in startown or under the dome? Big players're goin' ter be in the dome city, dodgy dealers in the port-town.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Florence pings Freya a local news update which features raw, real-time personal comm footage to accompany the headline “Mountain Criminals Attack” time stamped "now".

The footage begins with a grim faced man wiping powder from his nose whilst seated in the back of a luxury SUV. Through the rear window a heavy military ground car with a roof mounted grenade launcher can be seen following behind as escort. The man is about to speak when the ground car behind is hit broadside on by an AT missile. He is then thrown forward as his vehicle suddenly stops and lurches to one side. Almost simultaneously rounds impact the vehicles “bulletproof” armoured windows making them opaque while a body collapses into shot having suffered massive ballistic head trauma. The comm owner redundantly shouts “We're under attack! Out, out!” and draws a gold plated .50 cal automatic. A guy wearing milspec body armour over polyester sports clothing gets the door of the SUV open and manages all of three steps outside before taking multiple high velocity hits. The comm owner sprints out of the other side and makes some laboured progress before what seems to be a single shot drops the comm into a drift of pink snow.

The female news anchor cuts straight to Avastan Secretary Vladimir Mikhailov for reaction. He appears to be incandescent with rage and screams into the audience point of view “Avastan's proud and law abiding citizens will not tolerate such criminal acts! A million credit bounty on these terrorists!”

Liv coldly adds Vladimir Mikhailov's not his real name. He's an ex company man and the stone faced guy at his shoulder is Viktor Solonik “The Gravedigger” – putting personal revulsion at his methods aside I'd have to rate him as a very proficient assassin. Both work for Sergei Kumarin Leader of the Avastan Bratva.

[Tiglath]

The command link pings and Baker interrupts the meeting "Sirs and Ma'ams we expectin' a visit? I thought we was done with the local plod".

He plugs his scope's feed into the commlink immediately adding "I'm scopin' thru an open 'atch so no compromise but 'ave a butchers at this. Playin' it back".

The feed switches to a time stamped view of the Vargr trader (a few minutes ago) where the numerous occupants appear to be mostly lolling about in hammocks under an extensive and chaotic number of multi coloured awnings haphazardly hung off the ship's many wings and pylons. For want of a better description they appear to be drinking wine and eating cheese while the more exuberant of their company attempt to perform "doughnuts" in their ground car.

However, a wave of reaction passes through them and those crewing the car stop arseing about and "fall in" or at least get themselves and their weapons aboard the vehicle.

Baker then cuts back to a real time view and, as the tyre smoke clears, the ground car can now be seen roaring across the tarmac towards your merchantman. The Vargr seem to have awareness enough to know they are on the runway because they crank their onboard fifty cal rearwards and skywards as the accelerate over the tarmac.

Baker ventures "Um, Sirs and Ma'ams, who's officer of the day?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
Florence - Did you detect any conversation from anyone to the Vargr now crossing the runway? Tag the routing signature of whoever transmitted as of interest - we may need it later, and try and get a fix on where it came from.

[Tiglath]

Freya
Florence - Did you detect any conversation from anyone to the Vargr now crossing the runway? Tag the routing signature of whoever transmitted as of interest - we may need it later, and try and get a fix on where it came from.

Florence responds "One moment... um ... Ma'am". She then responds "No real radio traffic apart from that appalling noise they're playing and as to what I've overheard in clear or decrypted all I can say is that their "Trade Gvegh" just isn't! It's a non standard dialect that my software doesn't readily translate. My determination is therefore that whatever instructions they are acting upon were either as a result of an internal command decision or from an external source via secure comms. We're likely talking laser comms in that latter event, Ma'am".

[BackworldTraveller]

Ok - We don't have the tech or position to intercept laser from here. Thanks Florence

Colonel, Whatever triggered this visit was something delivered by line, laser or in person - or is an internal decision related to the news. It may be someone told them to come visit or this killing just took the brakes off.

[shaidar]

Frank

"Let's be ready, but do nothing to compromise our mission. I'm sure the captain is aware of the situation, and wants them on his ship as much as we do"

He heads over to internal comms and contacts the bridge "Bridge, this is Cross. I'm sure you're aware of the incoming vehicle. We shall be ready if you need our support, but otherwise we will be keeping our heads down."

[Tiglath]

All

Captain Carl Lysel of McClellan Factors delegates his Purser and First Mate to deal with the Vargr Auxiliary Police unit.

The Purser opens negotiations with "Now, look here..."

After a short while Baker interrupts again “Sorry Boss but it looks like the outside meeting's goin' pear shaped an' fast”.

Outside on the tarmac the Vargr ground car is parked at the foot of the short ladder leading up to the main hatch. The bonnet of the military green vehicle bears the white API logo with Avastan Port Authority Police (Auxiliary) lettered in the border surrounding it. The same logo is picked out in red on the white brassards worn by the assembled group of five Vargr. The brassards are the only uniform item of dress. They share a motley collection of military longarms and a mixture of styles of soft armour but all wear plate carriers and additional hard armour with their tactical gear. A couple carry RPGs.

Their leader might be (according to Freya) an Urzaeng Vargr as his bulk towers over the Purser whose initial contempt rapidly transformed into naked fear as the giant Vargr unfolded from inside the ground car. The problem appears to be a universal language barrier aggravated by the disdain of the human merchants, the failure of their comm units to effectively translate and the insistent aggression of the Vargr. The First Mate is already missing his shotgun and is being persuaded to hand over his chrono. Another Vargr has wandered off to stare up into the open landing gear bay. He is fingering an adjustable wrench.

A flustered Florence says “I'm getting some of it but I must have the wrong software for their dialect and they don't, or won't, speak Galanglic. The McClellan crew are having no luck but I'm getting some translation - rrerrge is demand so they want something... oh, yes... that's kind of... um, obvious... ah… zaluvoesdetz... is to repay a kindness or do a favour for a friend. And... oh my!” Florence blushes “Well, that was very rude and physically impossible! Thaeghz is pack... no, they seek the hidden pack. Roukht is leader but Hffranhk? doesn't translate. Veukh nga would be sergeant. Wait, older - no senior sergeant but Yhressica isn't a Vargr word! Um...“shadow soldiers” translates but I don't know if it makes any sense... and... the big Vargr has the Purser by the collar! Oh, dangling like that can't be comfortable. Um... I know you can see that... sorry, translating. Oh dear... the big Vargr's not being very diplomatic at all... and... I think that if he's going to do that to the Purser he should at least buy him dinner first!" Florence blushes again and adds "Resketo could be... ah... memory disc? And orzkurrgghatz is keep secret and the Purser's going from puce to fuchsia!”

She adjusts her comm set and comments "There shouldn't be static this close... sounds like an aerosol!"

[The Bindoner]

Jess stands, bursting out with: Frell this, I'm going out there before things get irretrievable. They know we're here, and those poor sods'll tell 'em soon anyway. Might as well front it. I'm in mufti already, that counts as discrete, right? Got a reason to be here too. QM on the QV for cheap stores, ain't I?

To Frank: Remember, this all started because I felt sorry for a merchant crewmember out of their depth? Here I go again. Big sister to another civvie in over their head. Jess pauses, then smiles at Frank: Well, sister's how it turned out last time, luckily enough for you. She favours Frank with a signature guffaw.

Hey, Sugar, tag along. Doubt you're their type, but you certainly don't look military right now.

[shaidar]

Frank

"Agreed, Sargent-Major. We'll be ready to back you up if you need a further show of force. We might need to spend some of that oiling money. Lieutenant Ghoshal, pull together a small squad from whoever is available to support the Sargent Major ASAP, CES but no rank bars, ACRs, nothing more fancy than that. Time is more important than anything else, be ready if the SM needs you. "

[BackworldTraveller]

That's curious...They know we are here...We didn't advertise and haven't had anyone off ship. So that new vessel told them or someone aboard did.
Freya heads to look at the EW records to have another look at the possibilities. If that was a message from the ship, then the vessels systems may have picked up scatter from the local dust - wont tell us what was said but would confirm that it was said.


Taking time for review: +2=11

[shaidar]

Frank slaps his forehead

"Hffranhk? ... Frank! That's what Patch called me, remember?" he looks at Prerna and then Jess "Yhressica is you, Sargent-Major. Patch is involved with 4DC, which is in on this. I'm guessing this is him helping out, passing on information. On the double, sargent-major!"

[joertexas]

Frank slaps his forehead

"Hffranhk? ... Frank! That's what Patch called me, remember?" he looks at Prerna and then Jess "Yhressica is you, Sargent-Major. Patch is involved with 4DC, which is in on this. I'm guessing this is him helping out, passing on information. On the double, sargent-major!"

"I'll get my team ready to deploy, just in case," Prerna says. She heads out to round up her people.

[The Bindoner]

Frank slaps his forehead

"Hffranhk? ... Frank! That's what Patch called me, remember?" he looks at Prerna and then Jess "Yhressica is you, Sargent-Major. Patch is involved with 4DC, which is in on this. I'm guessing this is him helping out, passing on information. On the double, sargent-major!"

Jess grins: Yeah, that's two of us thinkin' the same, so it's prob'ly right. Heard me name mangled a lot'v ways, learned ter recognise the attempt. Didn't think I was offerin' heroics, didja?

"I'll get my team ready to deploy, just in case," Prerna says. She heads out to round up her people.

Could yer spare a body to ride top-cover in Rakhsh, me sand-rail, when I go lookin' for property? Neither Sugar or me are Recon, see.

Jess strides off to rescue the poor crewmen before something comes loose.

[joertexas]

Could yer spare a body to ride top-cover in Rakhsh, me sand-rail, when I go lookin' for property? Neither sugar or me are Recon, see.

"I will go with you," Prerna says as she heads out

[The Bindoner]

Could yer spare a body to ride top-cover in Rakhsh, me sand-rail, when I go lookin' for property? Neither sugar or me are Recon, see.

"I will go with you," Prerna says as she heads out

Jess smiles That'd be great. We'll go once I've seen what our guest's got ter say.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freya heads to look at the EW records to have another look at the possibilities. If that was a message from the ship, then the vessels systems may have picked up scatter from the local dust - wont tell us what was said but would confirm that it was said.

Freya's unable to find any evidence of historic comms chatter indicating a transmission from the Merc/McClellan trader but realises that a personal laser comm could haver transmitted off the vessel without any overt “signature” or forensic trail.

[Tiglath]

Jess

Jess accompanied by any others of the “scratch defence section” (including a shirtless Gaughan armed with a falx) disembarks to speak to the Vargr. The big Vargr immediately drops the Purser who scuttles back aboard after a brief and unedifying altercation with the Ship's Mate over priority on the ladder.

Jess is very aware that the pack are strangely still and that she has their full attention. The big Vargr checks some type of forearm mounted scanner and then inhales in apparent confirmation. These combined high and low tech processes seem to satisfy him. He fixes Jess with his rather intimidating gaze and around his impressive canines pronounces “I see you Yhressica, Sssergeant Mayhor. News. Messsage from alliesss”.

He approaches and with surprising dexterity presses a universal data wafer about half the size of a human finger into the palm of her hand and firmly but gently closes her fist about it. He then gives a staccato command in Gvegh and the Vargr Police Unit chaotically pile back into their ground car which sets off back the way it came.

The data wafer bears this design:

Icon Colour.jpg (8.19 KiB) Viewed 288 times

[joertexas]

Prerna checks to see what clothing might be available to disguise herself and her team, while still allowing them body armor and a weapon or two.

[Tiglath]

Prerna checks to see what clothing might be available to disguise herself and her team, while still allowing them body armor and a weapon or two.

Cold weather clothing (which you have in camo colours) is the norm so you can easily conceal the bulk of (soft) armour (cloth/CES). You could also conceal sidearms (and the odd extra mag or grenade) but for military longarms you'll need a car with a boot (trunk?) or a panel van. Likewise if you want to wear helmets with mounted vision aids etc you'd need somewhere to hide them before you "tooled up" and transition from covert to full on military mode.

While it would be possible to attempt to "disguise" combat armour with bulky winter gear it wouldn't stand much close scrutiny.

So, for just concealing what you are wearing the above methods would likely achieve that goal but to blend in (e.g. for downtown surveillance) then you will need to buy some local clothing and rely on concealable weapons and high tech tailored cloth armour (or vacc suits).

However, the local law level means that provided you don't come to the notice of the militia then it seems that (on the street) the rule is "anything goes"! Of course on premises the rule is whatever local security deems it to be as a condition of entry.