Avastan: Planetfall

[Tiglath]

Prerna

Prerna, as Master Sniper, is issued an ACR with a mag of DS rounds (less four dipped by Easy) and a mag of slug ammo.

Suggested logistics (changeable of course):

Easy (qualified sniper) has the ACR in Jess' "Humvee".

Jess' carbine goes to Baker (qualified sniper).

Kit has the other ACR with a mag of HE (less four dipped by Easy) and a mag of slug ammo.

[Tiglath]

Frank

He heads down to the Aslan "Greetings, honoured allies. I thought I should update you on the current situation. Our recon has revealed an opportunity for a series of small surgical strikes to reduce enemy troops numbers. Captain Domici is putting together a small reserve team just in case they need additional support. I appreciate your enthusiasm and preparedness, but your skills are not necessary for such a small skirmish. You will have a vital part to play in our main assault, where you skills will be a valuable asset, but that will not be tonight."

Polly replies over the comm "I will speak to them when I get back. I have Yūgure's talisman. The young males may be wilful and unruly but you must be... she struggles for a translation... majestically steadfast". She sighs with resigned respect "Because every gift from the Twilight is a test".

Frank enters the hold and the ex Marine mercs calls of "Officer on deck" are echoed by Collace warning "street whistles". Squads being brought to attention announces his presence to the Aslan.

He sees that they have doffed their clan robes and are well down the path of donning their armour. Frank's skill set tells him this is likely an Aslan hard environment armoured vacc suit. However, he recognises that although not full spec military armour the suits' high G capable exoskeletons will boost the wearer's abilities to the same extent as battledress. He also gets a close up view of the Aslan gear. Three of the warriors tote 15mm belt fed HMGs fitted with shoulder stocks to make them oversized assault weapons. The fourth warrior methodically places ammo into the grav supported autoloader that will feed what looks to Frank's eye to be a six barrelled electric action 9mm rotary gatling gun. [You do own one but, quite sensibly, use the gunship (ship's launch) to carry yours. NB It's here and needs a role]. Each warrior also has an oversized (to human tolerances) melee weapon. Frank sees a massive axe and a brutal single edged falchion while the Aslan leader locks together sections of a two metre plus polearm that seems to be some combination of a sword and a spear.

At the edge of the expanded Aslan "camp" he is greeted with a deferential bow by the tail twitching female Aslan. Frank notes that her combat armour appears to be of much higher spec than that of the males and he recognises the rank tabs of one of Yūgure's personal staff. She wears an Imperial standard armband over her armour designating her as a medic but carries a slung Aslan spec gaussrifle. In mime she bids Frank enter the camp and escorts him the two or three metres to the senior Aslan male. He is studying a rotating 3D holo schematic of a 400dton auxiliary carrier and has a surprisingly accurate 2D map of the starport. He attempts to turn off the holo but fails so instead shoves it off the camp table. He then bats his forearm mounted translator selecting "Greetings from the Twilight, the Teahleikhoi and the Iyhlua Clan honoured Colonel Frank Cross". He then growls into it which translates as "We are battle ready. We will assist in the formality of a pre battle skirmish with honour". This may have mistranslated as the translator showed an amber light and had to be irritably batted. He continues via translation "We are trained in "medical strikes" and always reduce enemy troop numbers. We are very ready for the main assault now. There is no glory in skulking inside. We are trained in stealth and night fighting and will capture a berm for the glory of the Clan and for the Twilight - who is as poised as cherry blossom in the breeze".

The Aslan whetstoning his falchion replies in seventeen growled syllables which translates as "Before the unschooled, lovelorn fool frolics drooling, sniffing vacant seat". The leader manages a sound that goes all the way through tangible and right the way up to painfully audible then growls something that the translator red lights and refuses to translate.

The female Aslan steps back in apparent alarm looking at Frank.

[shaidar]

Frank looks up at the leader "There will be opportunity for glory in the main assault, but that is not tonight. I do not doubt your skill or ability, but there are tactical reasons to withhold your deployment at this time. Please stand your squad down."

[Tiglath]

Frank

The Aslan leader is clearly distracted by the pressing urge to fight his comrade. The female uses Frank's reply to reset the holo on the camp table deftly switching it to a 3D render of the starport. This further divides his focus and he rumbles "We will form combat reserve" via his translator which at least seems to be some kind of compromise.

The Aslan continue to gear up but with less apparent haste.

Frank reasons that at least while they're doing that they're not doing anything else...

[shaidar]

Frank looks pointedly at the Aslan with the falchion and then back to the squad leader

"I am... disappointed... that this has been more complicated than it should be. Perhaps your translators need maintenance. Do not deploy unless specifically ordered to. I hope to be able to write a glowing report on your squad."

[The Bindoner]

Let's move up an' take this mob out, move on ter the next.

Jess indicates targets to the shootists:

Prerna, you want ter take out the driver? Easy, passengers, but save a burst for their tyres out once we're ahead, the thing should crash and give Able’s car a barrel of fish to shoot. Shug, cover. See anyone with a weapon, end ‘em.

Turning up the volume on the music system, Jess accelerates and manoeuvres aggressively through the traffic to give the gunners a shot as the big car passes the target.

As the Avastan Hardbass vibrates the car (and its occupants) Jess, grinning hugely, shouts: Blendin’ in, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdbYznLdDBc

I'm assuming easy has one of the ACRs. if there are only two in the car Sugar is using the carbine.

EDITED targetting text slightly. Twice.

[joertexas]

When they come up next to the target vehicle, Prerna opens up with the ACR in short, controlled bursts, aiming first for the driver, and then the passengers.

[gurusql]

Kit

Kit sitting in the Guv'nor's seat he will put on his seatbelt and will ask Baker "Do you have a back-up firearm that would be better than this (waving his pistol)." If Baker says yes, he will requisition the rifle otherwise, he stay with the status quo. "Able, we are pull up along side, Baker and I will both be firing."

[Tiglath]

All on the Road (Tracked by those at HQ)

Both merc vehicles get into the overtaking lane to put their right hand sides to the rearmost mini cab as they pass. When close and parallel to the pirates Prerna fires a burst which hits the driver in the head and over penetrates striking the front seat passenger. The sound of the two bursts from Easy's ACR are magnified within the spacious rear compartment. In her mirrors Jess sees the pirate's car seem to loose control "leaning" into another car. Easy calls "Hold me legs!" and leans out of her window loading single rounds stripped from her bra. The first blows the front nearside tyre clean off the mini cab and the second vents dark smoke from under the bonnet. Showering sparks from the road surface the vehicle slams into the piled snow that forms a significant "kerb".

As Kit's vehicle goes past he can see no movement inside the passenger compartment and notes acrid smoke rising from the wreck. He and Baker "brass it up" anyway on the way past. [Baker is using Jess' carbine - to give each vehicle two longarms]. Baker nods back at the bullet riddled car and declares to Kit "Ruddy 'ovis - the lot of 'em, sir".

Able exclaims "Phwoar!" as Easy directs a quick shimmy backwards before sliding back inside. Baker reacts "Oi, you blimper! That was for me!"

The other stolen saloon reacts to the fate of its comrade by attempting to accelerate away through lighter traffic but the vehicle lacks performance compared to Jess' new ride. It also seems that the pirate driver lacks either the expertise or the Collace DNA required to be a "wheels man". Jess quickly reels him in as he brakes hard after a bad call and Able keeps up by simply not braking at all. The front seat passenger hauls himself out of the window to aim a handgun at Jess' ground car. Both ACRs bark as one and he collapses to hang partially out of the vehicle with his snake themed heraldry visible through the bloodstains of his jacket.

A round pings into Jess' paintwork apparently from the rear passenger firing from inside the stolen saloon but then the rear window shatters under a torrent of fire from Kit's car as he and Baker open up from their respective windows. Meanwhile Sugar has opened the sun roof to empty a mag down into the saloon's interior. Jess hears the ACRs fire again and the driver slumps forward while an HE round detonates in the saloon's rear quarter shredding a tyre, popping the boot lid and starting what looks like a fuel leak. The pirate's vehicle is still close to its top speed when Jess nudges it straight into a bridge support. In her mirrors she sees it start to burn.

Never to be outdone Sugar winks and pops a couple of moves. Able groans through his ski mask "Lawks - now I've got the 'orn!" Baker changes mags stating "I'm not watchin' - spoken for me. That an' I just saw Easy kick a bloke right in the Jacobs. Cor, it was like she'd been practising! Sugar looks a bit cold mind - catch 'er deff she will".

Actions please / "Where next?" is the question...

(OOC: Drive tests in response to the initial fire/ambush:

Pirate Vehicle #2: Roll(2d6)+0: 6,1,+0 Total:7 (+ Skill in Storming Star ships and Space flight ops)

Able: Roll(2d6)+0: 3,5,+0 Total:8 (+Skill in Illegal Manoeuvres / Banditry)

Jess: Roll(2d6)+0: 5,5,+0 Total:10 (+Driving Skill, High Performance Vehicle)

Pirate pistolerey:
Roll(2d6)+0: 3,5,+0 Total:8 (Situational minuses) Miss
Roll(2d6)+0: 1,5,+0 Total:6 Miss

[joertexas]

Prerna checks her comm display for their next target's location.

Which groups did we just kill?

[Tiglath]

Listening in to the comm chatter Polly waits for clear air before volunteering "Snakes featured in the Viper's Nest heraldry. It's an auxiliary carrier and has fighters. The Twilight deemed it a priority threat".

(OOC: The other ships on your "to do list" are: Deliverance (Patrol Corvette), Saxon (200t Trader), Abyss (Corsair attacked by Red Angel), Nazareth (200t Trader), Drachenfels (500t Trader) and Viper's Nest.

NB As a carrier Viper's Nest would have a big crew (~20 to include Flight crew and techs for her sub craft). Quite a few were targetted in Club Zoo (at least three) and it seems like something bad happened to their transport (and those with it) to cause them to hijack cabs... and then you killed the (eight?) occupants/survivors

That's put a big hole in 20... ).

[Leitz]

Jakob

Jakob approached Frank, once the Aslan were clear on priorities and schedules. He kept his voice low, but assumed the Aslan could hear him if they listened. "Sir, the Aslan are a great resource for the right target. I have another plan, not worthy of their warriors, but that might benefit them."

He brought up a map of the downport, and said, "A ship with fighters has a routine, and frightened crew fall into routines as a mental self-defense mechanism. If the Viper's Nest is a priority target, then a few of us in good armor, with great coats to break up the silhouette, hit the Nest while they are scrambling their protocols. Their bay doesn't have a guard post, and the vehicle could just circle the flight line and we'll drop off and go in fast. Would that give Twilight something they want?"

It is obvious from Jakob's tone that he's not really sure who Twilight is, but that they are important. Jakob does know Polly and Frank are "friendly", so he's offering Frank something to bolster SEMC with the Aslan, while keeping them happy with the joint operations agreement.

[shaidar]

Frank directs Jacob away from the Aslan and to 'Ops' for the remainder of the discussion.

"Captain, are you suggesting we move immediately? We also need to free the Hawkwind from the adjacent berm. We'd have to move on both simultaneously, otherwise we risk loosing the element of surprise for the Hawkwind, unless we can do it extremely discretely. The Twilight has a general concern that we take out a number of pirate ships, that includes the Viper's Nest and I'm sure the Deliverance too."

[Leitz]

Jakob

Jakob nodded side to side. "Sir, I agree that the Hawkwind is a priority target. My thought is strking the Viper's Nest as surgical, just guns. Maybe a shaped charge or two inside. Something that would seem like more inter-pirate conflict."

He winked. "The Aslan warriors are too good to use against a foe half-defeated. However, they are not human, and might miss the body language differences between pirates and captives should they be sent to the Hawkwind. Whomever goes for the Hawkwind needs to be mentally keyed in on a combat rescue mission. For that, unfortunately, we'll also need Freya in tow. We can't guarantee the Hawkwind's pilots are still operational, but we need to get the ship away and likely get any crew to a medical facility."


"Do you feel a small surgical strike on the Nest could be passed off as just pirates? The snow, and our armor, should give us the advantage. If something does go too far spinward we can retreat or bring in reserves. By that time the rest of the team should be back to the downport."

[shaidar]

Frank

"With the current loss of crew on the Viper it does seem like the perfect opportunity to strike. How many troops would you think you would need?"

[Tiglath]

Frank and Jakob

Voss interjects directing Frank to the map in HQ/Ops "Sir, Captain Domici makes a valid point. The entrance to that berm is covered only by a flak tower. At ground level observation of the berm entrance would be from over 300metres away and the tower's elevation won't help them pick out detail. Given their AA role their observation arc may well be focussed on aerial threats. Furthermore observation of the berm entrance at ground level is obstructed both to east and west by these maintenance sheds. In my assessment this has merit, sir".

With a grin he adds to Jakob "Good eye, Captain!"

(OOC: A thousand curses!!! Well done - I hadn't spotted that at all! ).

[Leitz]

Frank

"With the current loss of crew on the Viper it does seem like the perfect opportunity to strike. How many troops would you think you would need?"

Jakob started to answer, stopped, and then looked his eyes started to rapidly track things invisible. Frank had seen him do this before; it meant new data and a plan revision. After a moment, Jakob grinned. "Command decision, sir. If you want your very own pirate ship, we need three fire teams. For random acts of destruction, just my team and we'll all use rifles. If you want the ship, two more teams; one in combat backup and one with Freya. My team goes on and clears the ship. If we need help then the backup jumps in. If we need to retreat, the backup covers us. If we can take the ship then the third team escorts Freya on and stays guard in case there are pirates we missed. Erica knows the outlying areas and could probably find a place to hide the ship. If the AA batteries try anything the two remaining teams deal with them."

Addendum

"Hmm, if we have anyone who can operate ship's guns, then they should be with Freya."

[shaidar]

Frank

"The idea has merit, but if we steal the Viper now that will send up an alert, and make grabbing the Hawkwind all the more difficult. Alternatively, we could take out the Viper crew, then fly it out later with the Hawkwind, but we only have one pilot. I wonder how quickly Erica could get a pilot to us, if she has one spare, or if the Vargr might help with that, but I think we might not get that ship back. With the rapidly closing window of opportunity we have I say we stick with the original plan. Voss, your thoughts?

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
While all this discussion is going on, Freya will take a discrete look at her "Useful Contacts List" - Anyone referenced on Avastan?

[Tiglath]

Freya
While all this discussion is going on, Freya will take a discrete look at her "Useful Contacts List" - Anyone referenced on Avastan?

Freya checks her little black... er... comm but finds that the old hands she expected to find listed on the Scout base strength have been shipped out.

However, it seems the away team need an update/re-tasking as two Tango's are deleted from the battle computer plot on the out of town highway.

She notes Gaughan's G carrier appears to be following the other G Carrier designated as a "Tango" through the outskirts of the city.

As Prerna, Jess and Kit report their success Florence and Dougal high five as the plotted "blips" disappear. Freya's not sure the techs fully appreciate the brutal reality of the absent plots...

Please make a Senor Ops Roll