Avastan: Planetfall

[shaidar]

Frank

"Shit, we need to back Gaughan up, and work out a way to do this at the same time we take the Viper. Is there anyway we can wangle a g-belt team to send to support to Gaughan with some heavier weapons? I'll command it myself if we need to. We're close to over-stretching ourselves here."

Voss comments "Sir, we may not need to back Gaughan up so much as use our grav belt mobility to put an ambush unit in front of their G Carrier. We at least know that they are coming here. If they don't use an atmospheric approach then we can take them on the road outside the starport and we're good". He pauses then adds "I'll have the QSM's troop gear up. They'll have to use LAW as the QSM is our AT missile specialist".

He sighs and, raising his one hand to massage his temples, adds "Sir, one more thing. With all this activity I think the furry bast... guests in the back are going to go ruddy spare, sir!"

Frank nods "Just what I was was starting to think about the g-belt team. As for the Aslan...well I was hoping Polly might be back by then"

Frank takes a look at the map info they have to see if there might be a good ambush spot that would shield activity from the downport.

[Tiglath]

Frank

As the squads gear up on the troop deck (which Freya and the merchants keep insisting is called the hold) Frank is made aware that the Aslan are also noisily and very enthusiastically kitting up. Then they go suspiciously quiet. So quiet that in a moment of horrible imagination Frank realises that this might mean that they have decided to demonstrate their faith in the mission by starting early... and have already moved outside the star ship. On entering the hold he is doubly relieved. Firstly because he sees Polly who, as a second cause of relief, is talking in Trokh to the still present Aslan. She holds in her hand a small but very ornate holo projector displaying the clan “Mon” of a setting sun.

Frank's relief spikes into concern when he sees the blood but it seems to not be Polly's. He notes that she is now armed with a small scythe fixed to the weighted chain currently circling her waist. Frank finds this strangely distracting. He then suddenly notices that Sazanami is respectfully standing at Polly's shoulder and that she had clearly been there all the time.

Polly turns to Frank and gives him a respectful bow “These warriors of the Teahleikhoi are young and enthusiastic. They mean to bring no disrespect to The Twilight or the Iyhlua Clan and offer none to you, your household and your retinue Colonel Cross”. Sazanami demurely translates while the male Aslan seem to avoid looking at her.

It later transpires that Polly, unwilling to trust the mini van with the wounded in local traffic, hired an astoundingly expensive luxury grav limo using clan credit. These vehicles, because they carry Avastan elites, use atmospheric flight paths which enabled them to beat the rush back to the star port.

(OOC: So a loose end tied up and all timelines will soon snap into place via GM elastic... ).

Frank nods "Just what I was was starting to think about the g-belt team. As for the Aslan...well I was hoping Polly might be back by then"

Frank takes a look at the map info they have to see if there might be a good ambush spot that would shield activity from the downport.

Since vehicles trundling around the star port interior seem to generate little interest from the static garrison unless approached (and even less from the Vargr Auxiliary Police) Frank realises that a grav belt equipped team could likely be dropped off to hop the extrality fence using the bulk of the Starport Administration building to cover their movement. There seems little foot traffic or much activity in Startown itself where the bars can't compete with the neon temples of downtown Avastan. Of course here the atmosphere remains "unscrubbed" so folk still require filter masks and bulky cold weather gear. A careful low level / nap of earth flight will negotiate startown's gridded streets and leave the ambush team able to pick a suitable point on the straight quad lane road leading to Avastan City.

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[Tiglath]

Jakob

"Ma'am you really should be in bed!" the distressed medic's voice follows Liv into the briefing space. She's surely looked sharper but even when owning "after party jaded" she manages to look kinda hot. It's not really clear whether she's wearing anything under that urban/snow camo smock which gives the whole outfit a certain frisson. Beau instinctively stands when she enters and the rest of the squad follow suit.

With definitely not her best acting Liv drawls "Hi, honey - I'm home" and then flashes a devastating smile at the assembled soldiery "At ease, team".

“Intel update fresh from the field. The Viper's Nest crew have already been engaged by Major Nayar's away team. None of them are coming home. I estimate that to be about eighty percent casualties. You can expect maybe four or five of them still aboard as a skeleton crew most likely in the bridge or engineering spaces. A reasonable assumption makes at least half of these ship's crew or techs”.

She fishes in the outer pockets of her oversized camo smock whilst revealing a bare shoulder and just managing to keep the whole thing decent. While Beau blushes Liv continues "Sergeant Caxton is either a very sweet man or has a thing for girls who look like they're in drug withdrawal. I prefer to believe the first option. You'll find these useful". She produces two 30cm long bare metal cylinders with fresh weld marks from one pocket and a very distinctive handgun from the other. When she starts to unfasten the gun belted over the smock Beau takes no chances whatsoever and averts his gaze.

Liv then lays out her wares. Indicating the metallic tubes she says "Two field expedient suppressors compatible with your ACRs. They are not compatible with DS or HE rounds. So slug ammo only and go for headshots. They'll last until they don't - likely no more than a mag. Autofire will make that happen quicker". Drawing out the odd pistol with the super slim barrel she states "Anagun, single shot, non standard firearm, twenty round mag. Two clips. One is specific to soft armour - I've loaded that. The other is for unarmoured targets. This will take down human sized targets and way better than Tranq rounds". Placing her holstered handgun on the table she states "Gauss pistol, standard Imperial, three mags. Silent and good versus soft armour. That "Pew Pew Pew" setting after single shot is especially for jarheads and grunts".

She then says "Now I can no longer reasonably threaten to shoot the poor medic looking after me I'll go back to bed". She reaches up to kiss Jakob like she means it and, while now he alone is able to positively confirm or deny the question about what she's wearing under the camo smock, she quips "I'm claiming the breach of military etiquette and discipline on the grounds of drug withdrawal. Now, go hunt starships!"

[shaidar]

Frank

Polly turns to Frank and gives him a respectful bow “These warriors of the Teahleikhoi are young and enthusiastic. They mean to bring no disrespect to The Twilight or the Iyhlua Clan and offer none to you, your household and your retinue Colonel Cross”. Sazanami demurely translates while the male Aslan seem to avoid looking at her.

Frank resists the urge to smile and instead returns the bow, focusing on Polly and not the male Aslan

"I certainly appreciate youthful enthusiasm and a wish to bring honour to your clan. No insult is taken and I look forward to seeing the squad in action, at the right time of course. In fact, I am inspired to learn some of the Trokh language and more about Aslan poetry in particular." his mouth twitches in another suppressed smile.

[The Bindoner]

Gaughan ponders and replies "Standard issue greatcoats - like the Imperial pattern. Ten or twelve total - difficult to see in the crowd. About half of them were civvies and the other half moved to get them properly aboard. I think these last bunch o' lads were proper soldiers so they were".

Doesn’t sound like Red Angel, so they’re a target. Best assume they’re on ter yer. Try an’ regain contact, but report, don’t engage. An’ don’t get bushwhacked.

[Leitz]

Jakob

Does either George or Love have pistol skill? Are we assuming PCs have all basic weapons at 0? If George or Love have Pistol, Jakob will give them the other pistol and take a suppressor. If both pistol people are on the same team, they get switched off so both teams have one of each.

Giving Beau a gentleman's recognition, Jakob waited until Liv was out of the area. He turned back to the fire team, and then said sagely, "Women are like starships; beautiful, life changing, and after years of experience with both I truly understand neither."

He handed the silencers to George and Love, the Gauss pistol to Beau, and took the Anagun for himself. "You heard the lady, load standard. If the suppressor fails, take it off so it doesn't clog the exit path and blow up in your face. Give the pistol person on your team a chance to take down the targets very quietly, and failing that you join in. If you're both at a hatch, pistol person crouches low and ACR stands high after opening the door. We need to do some more of this training, when we have time."

"Let's get a buddy gear check, comm check, and then you load up in the vehicle while I verify orders, targets, and priorities. Make sure we can exit fast and clean." Jakob joined in the gear checks, and then headed up to Frank. "We're ready, what are the orders?"

[shaidar]

Frank

"Captain, your orders at this time are to capture the Viper and to secure its berm ready for further reinforcements. The remaining officers will be returning soon and once that happens we can proceed further with the mission. Stealth is paramount, so if gauss weapons will be of use we can find a few for you. "

If Jakob needs more gauss weapons we could lend him Voss's naval (burst capable) pair and Frank's standard pistol, as well as Frank's gauss rifle.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
Sorry - My gauss rifle is linked to an ID chip in my brain. If you want my rifle, you'd have to take the body too!

[Tiglath]

Prerna, Kit and Jess

Meanwhile, back on the road...

Please make a Recon (+Int) or Int based spotting/perception roll

[The Bindoner]

Jess, strangely for a Cavalry branch veteran, doesn't have Recon. She does have years of experience and an eagerness to avoid hazards while driving and/or locate the next target:

[2d6]=10 +1 Int = 11?

[Tiglath]

Jess

Up ahead on the Starport Road Jess can see an air raft keeping pace with a ground car in light traffic.

That's unusual.

[gurusql]

Kit

It is good that Jess is paying attention, because it does not seem like Kit is. (Recon - 0 Forward Observer - 1)

Perception Roll (Int B +1) [_2d6+1]=(1+1)=2+1=3

[Tiglath]

Kit

Kit is clearly (and, in fairness, not unreasonably) distracted by the combination of hardbass, inane banter and gyrating sniper/hotties in the vehicle ahead!

Kit

It is good that Jess is paying attention, because it does not seem like Kit is. (Recon - 0 Forward Observer - 1)

Perception Roll (Int B +1) [_2d6+1]=(1+1)=2+1=3

OOC: Hey, those twos have to come out sometime!

No clues and act casual but now might just be a good time to get those low scores out...

[joertexas]

Prerna, Kit and Jess

Meanwhile, back on the road...

Please make a Recon (+Int) or Int based spotting/perception roll

Roll[2d6]=4 + Recon-1 + INT-1 = 6 Well, that isn't much help...

[The Bindoner]

Jess

Up ahead on the Starport Road Jess can see an air raft keeping pace with a ground car in light traffic.

That's unusual.

See them? Sure I saw 'em leavin' the club, got ter be wrong uns. Think yer c'n drop the raft on the car if I get us close enough?

Jess speeds through the traffic, gaining on the vehicles ahead without charging at them.

Weapons below windows girls, an' try ter look scared.

She's hoping that the Hardbass-spilling car full of champagne-girls will be taken for fleeing civilians until it's too late.

EDIT

Activating the HQ comm: Molar* to Sunray**. We have one ground car, one air-raft, travelling together, inbound your location. Advancing to identify, engaging if hostile. Out.


*QM
** Commanding Officer

[Tiglath]

Jess and "The Road Gang"

Jess speeds through the traffic, gaining on the vehicles ahead without charging at them.

Jess sees that traffic is light. The vehicles in her tactical consideration are a luxury ground car and an air/raft matching its speed and flying above and slightly behind it. Also present is what looks to be a local cab (you are now expert on identifying these), a panel van, a local car (like Able's) driven by a young guy in a flat cap. His front seat passenger also wears a cap and there are at least two young women and another male in the back. All are drinking from open containers and incongruously wear sports attire with a distinctive three stripe motif. They seem to also be playing sharing hardbass with all and sundry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOlUU8l8j5M

Up ahead of this "tactical bubble" there is another panel van and an old battered saloon which occasionally sends up sparks when the rim of one of the wheels it is running on touches the road surface. Despite the absence of a tyre the vehicle is making progress. Jess has to check twice but the other occupants of this vehicle appear to be numerous goats.

[Tiglath]

Frank and Jakob

On the merchant's troop deck internal illumination is dimmed to minimise the light signature from the opening of the trader's large portside doors.

The Aslan form a wedge with Polly at the point bearing her holo image of the clan Mon. With tactical sotto voce they recite something in Trokh and then silently brandish their weapons towards the departing G Carrier.

Caxton gets aboard as last man for his squad toting a tripod for the Ma Deuce and puts it atop the weapon itself and the boxed ammo laid on the floor in the vehicle's rear. He says with his Imperial drawl "Well, sir, y'all say we're stayin' so we might as well see to gettin' ourselves comfortable".

Beau smiles at Caxton and then looks to Jakob saying confidently "Sir, they're good an' ready. I reckon we're all set to relieve those gentlemen over yonder of their starship". Jakob notes his NCOs have obtained a large tarpaulin sufficient to cover most of what is carried in the G Carrier's open rear. He also notes Beau is encumbered by the laser cutter and the PGMP power pack required to power it. Other members of the squad carry parts of the circular "rail" which fits together and clamps over the area to be breached by the cutter.

Both officers see the Collace pattern G Carrier is fully loaded and has had it's weapon dismounted to look more "civilian".

Frank arrives and is saluted by Cpl. Charlie of the QSM's squad "The lads are ready, sir". He adds "One LAW per man and HEAP rifle grenades as back up, sir".

From this angle Frank can't tell if this is the one is christened "Styx" or "Lethe". Just like the twins themselves their namesake vehicles are difficult to tell apart unless sat in the cab (where the rather racy pics of each individual are gaffer taped to the dashboard) or from the front aspect where the images are reproduced as "nose art". From the rear he notes that this is the one with the registered Collace ID Code UR FKD which meant that Gaughan was currently out in FU M8. He wonders again if registering the vehicles locally should have been dealt with by an officer.

(OOC: With Caxton and Beau in close proximity if anyone's whistling anything it's going to be "Dixie").

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
Florence: I want you keeping an eye out for any new comms sources near the raiders taking the ship and berm that suggest they have been spotted.

Doughal: Keep an eye on Jess' group. See if anyone is sneaking up on them. Keep them informed of what you see.

Dylan: We haven't lost a drone yet - but get #3 and #4 ready just in case. We'll probably launch #3 as a general camera feed on auto-pilot at cloud-base level directly over the starport admin (later) - you never know, someone might mistake it for neutral.

Freddie: We may be going outside. Make sure your gear is ready for that. And please fetch my suit from the cabin as I'll be wanting to wear that soon.

Voss: Updating your tactical plots on the town groups now.

After her earlier distraction, Freya pulls her act together and cycles through the various groups the company is tracking

[shaidar]

Frank

Frank armours up and grabs his gauss rifle, loading a fresh mag and one of HEAP grenades for the RAM launcher, slips his gauss pistol somewhere within easy reach and grabs a LAW. Lastly, he makes sure he has a spare mag for each.

Both officers see the Collace pattern G Carrier is fully loaded and has had it's weapon dismounted to look more "civilian".

Frank arrives and is saluted by Cpl. Charlie of the QSM's squad "The lads are ready, sir". He adds "One LAW per man and HEAP rifle grenades as back up, sir".

"Excellent Corporal. It's nice to get a chance to get out in the fresh air once in a while." he smiles when he notices the ID code of the g-carrier before turning his attention back to Charlie and the squad "Gentlemen, shall we go hunting?"

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freddy disappears and returns in full armour with Freya's gear. She is pleased that her recent scans seem to have re-established contact with the target vehicles and that her minions are dutifully carrying out their assigned tasks. However, they are a little taken aback by the proximity of armour and weapons - everything seems to have become uncomfortably "real".

When Freddy politely coughs again she realises that she's going to have to leave them to it and that Voss and Dubs are on hand to run the military aspect of the HQ.

Having kitted up she shoulders her gauss rifle and makes her way through the hold which is a hive of military activity. She passes close to the male Aslan - who are huge and very intimidating and are now wearing armour. However, Polly is now with them and they seem to defer to her.

Freddy gallantly hands her into the back of the G Carrier and then crouches down next to her. No one is using the seats. The nearby troopers are focussed and expectant. Some chew while others obsessively check in displacement activity but all are ready.

As the G Carrier lifts Freddy says "Miss Freya my job is to keep you out of harm's way so we're going to mostly stay at the back. Everything will be fine but you have to promise not to do any exploring".