Avastan: Planetfall

[Tiglath]

Freya OOC
I'll answer the queries as best I can for clarity and to give the option of an Edit/supplementary post prior to my IC "action" post. However, bear in mind this is an evolving/dynamic situation. They haven't got the drop on you (but might think they have) so everyone's effectively "drawing" weapons (if they choose to). Drawing = snapshots at -3. Quick draw shootouts use AHL combat

Now why did I get the gunner to watch for ambushes and put ideas into the DM's head? [/ooc]
Now, don't go blaming yourself unduly - it was the voices told me to do it!
Who is where exactly? Killer has his feet towards this guy, face up? Yes - he's being dragged backwards face up.
Driver on his left; Me on his right. As is
What have Driver and I done with our weapons while we are assessing Killer? Driver has a holstered sidearm Freya will have slung her rifle. Hung off her front on a "combat sling" or slung over her shoulder/other - your choice
What is the range to these two clowns? It's about 40m from the back of the IFV to the top of the stair/air lock but see below
How far up the stairs are they? The rifleman is halfway up the stair the (unarmed) "negotiator" is at the foot of the stairs. Both are within 20m of you. You have about 15m to go to reach the back ramp of the IFV
I'm assuming that we both have both hands supporting Killer. Probably a one handed grip on his webbing each to drag him.
His weapon will be on top of him muzzle towards his feet, the two goons and the Deliverance
n.b. Freya's gun has an AV link from her gun-sight and is remotely triggered...She can fire it while it is in an unexpected orientation if necessary and can do so even while it is remote from her...should it come to that.
Driver is one of those that were noted as looking good as a soldier but not necessarily actually being good...I'm hoping he'll follow my lead on the slow and careful rather than going all gung-ho. Oh, he's definitely following your lead!
These guys seem to want to talk and walk...we'd be down already if they were going to shoot first. Only the rifleman can shoot and he's currently coming round from being KOed / standing up again. So, as above, if either of you elect to shoot it's quick draw McGraw time!

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya stops, lays Killer down carefully and steps away from Driver and Killer. Using the neural comms...
Gunner: You got that soldier on the stairs in your sights? Aim carefully - you'll only get one shot! Shoot on my count of two. Acknowledge.
She turns to face the guy on the stairs - and shouts
Oh - So you are just going to waltz out of here in our own kit like nothing happened?
She'll wait for an answer from each - glaring at the soldier and trying to ensure he's focused on her alone.
(If the Driver looks like he's going to be brave she'll shake her head)

[Tiglath]

Freya

Her gunner sends back "The Deliverance is in my field of fire and our guys are inside! I can try for the stairs themselves or wait for him to come down".

The driver looks at Freya aghast and says "You did that wivaht movin' yer lips!!!" He doesn't look like he's taken a brave pill recently.

She turns to face the guy on the stairs - and shouts
Oh - So you are just going to waltz out of here in our own kit like nothing happened?

The ISS Sec For trooper hauls himself up against the boarding stair's handrail and raises his ACR towards Freya "That's what's gonna happen missy. Now you two back away - that's lessun you want to come along for the ride?"

Freya can hear the distinctive sound of an SEMC drone moving at its top speed.

[Tiglath]

Jakob

Caxton says "As soon as we deploy them good ole boys on the mortar will want their ride back". He asides "Can't say I mind - this thing's got no armour save that dozer blade and we're all sitting on mortar ammo". Jakob notes that a mortar man is driving.

Jakob will direct the AR to where he best thinks Kit means and let him know how long it will take to get there.

(OOC: I can easily discount a minute of flight time into my fungible space/time continuum! Meanwhile, (at least as per my reading) gurusql has kindly given you plenty of latitude (or alternatively "enough rope" ) so you can choose where to deploy Jakob's squad/heavy weapons team.
Please have Jakob put down where you choose!

[gurusql]

While I was thinking the previous location of the IFV (which I expected to be gone when I gave the order) - Tiglath is right in that I did not want to be overly prescriptive to other PCs.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya
Freya can hear the distinctive sound of an SEMC drone moving at its top speed.

On the neural comms: Stairs are good
and out loud
OK - We'll back up slowly and you can come down on three...One...
And Freya takes a look for trip hazards behind her before making a step back and says to driver (loudly)
Come this way - wouldn't want you in a line between him and the IFV
n.b. Trying to time "Two" for just after the drone arrives

[shaidar]

Frank

"Dubs, can you try and raise Alpha One. I'd like to know who our new gatecrasher is."

Is it possible to determine where it came from based on its current course? (which assumes its been travelling in a straight line)

[gurusql]

Kit

Hearing the closeness of Jakob and seeing how big this area is and how slow these prisoners are.

"Jakob - given your quick arrival I could use your help with a small conflict with our taxi run. Some hostiles exited from Deliverance back stairs and are giving Freya a hard time. I am trying to cross the space with prisoners so my pace is limited. Once that is resolved Camp Freddie and Johnny are alone on the Deliverance and could use some support given that they can tell me about movie titles while letting hostiles exit the ship."

[joertexas]

Kit

Hearing the closeness of Jakob and seeing how big this area is and how slow these prisoners are.

"Jakob - given your quick arrival I could use your help with a small conflict with our taxi run. Some hostiles exited from Deliverance back stairs and are giving Freya a hard time. I am trying to cross the space with prisoners so my pace is limited. Once that is resolved Camp Freddie and Johnny are alone on the Deliverance and could use some support given that they can tell me about movie titles while letting hostiles exit the ship."

"Driver, come left heading zero six zero, climb to thirty meters. Plan to set us down on the north roof of the closest starship berm. Gunner, engage any positively identified hostiles with the coax gun, fire when you have targets." Prerna keys the command link. "Team Nayar is enroute to the north end of the berm, and my team will deploy to overwatch along with this IFV." She lays her map cursor on the spot where she wants to land and sends it to the command link and to her own crew. "Recon team, prepare to deploy for overwatch."

[The Bindoner]

Jess

As the last aircraft detonate Jess orders the IFV to skip over the berm followed by the G carrier. She sets the PD fire selector to Vicious (Automatic, but with the option to override). This proves wise as hopping the berm generates a volley of three LAW from the nearest trenches (A7 Right/East). The trenches directly north (of A8) add a more substantial missile with greater range.

The IFV's onboard PD system lights up and the VRF gauss gun rapidly traverses in its turret and hums while the girl "rescued" earlier squeaks as thousands of needles visibly disappear from the ammo hopper next to her. All four incoming threats disappear from the PD radar. Fortunately the G Carrier is not targeted but the rangers onboard blaze suppressing fire from their onboard HMGs at the trenches below.

Sugar scans for the Flak Tower some two kliks away and times her shot for the apogee of the IFV's "pop up" above the 4m high starport buildings. Sugar calls "Target Flaktower. On. Firing". The pulsed plasma streaks across the starport skyline and strikes the tower. The bolts strike the rockcrete tower's face and punch through causing a catastrophic explosion and over penetration. Sugar grins into her gunsight and calls "Money shot!"

Jess watches the tower erupt appreciatively.

Look at the fecker blow. You’ve got a good technique!

Returning her attention to the PD system, in case any more LAWs arrive, she comments

Right, let’s teach those cheeky sods down there not to shoot at us, eh?

On a direct link:

Sarn’t Gaughan, put down an’ clear those trenches, we’ll cover yer.

On the IFV internal comm:

Shug, the back-doors’v those bunkers look invitin’, fancy peggin’ em?

[Tiglath]

Jess

Gaughan replies "We'll take on the front two. Use the buildings here (A8) to cover our approach, out flank them and then work East to West. If you could bring your nice shiny new tank in behind and above us that'll keep us in the air for longer. The lads down there seem to be wide awake now and they're sure generous enough with their RPGs".

In the IFV's fighting compartment Sugar pats her gunsight appreciatively "With this big boy and the PD workin' I reckon we can just do 'em". She grins "No chat up - not even a bag of chips. Just straight over the bins".

The merc armour manoeuvres to outflank the SE cluster of trench positions defending the berm. They attack from the cover of the Starport buildings which limit supporting fire from the API position to the North East. Whatever was mounted in the pill box doesn't get a chance to join in because from the approach over the runway Sugar lights it up from most of a klik away. The plasma pulses carve through the rockcrete widening the weapon slit so much that the roof slab partially collapses into the flaming interior. Sugar fires again on the run it getting her entire burst to strike inside the support trench. Bodies are briefly silhouetted against the light of her "midnight sun" then whatever was stored in the dugout detonates in a secondary explosion but by then it's a racing certainty that everyone in that trench is way too dead to care. Two LAW are gamely fired at the approaching G Carrier and a missile flashes past it (fired from the north) but as the rounds enter the IFV's PD "umbrella" the VRF gauss gun hums again and the incoming rockets from the trenches are destroyed in flight. At least their firers don't have to deal with that disappointment because as they let fly each is spotted and engaged by one of the G Carrier's on board HMGs. The Rangers keep the pressure on with small arms fire as the G Carrier sets down and they disembark. The HMGs continue their suppressing fire now joined by the assault teams' dismounted LMGs (and what appears to be a LAG) as the infantry close on the beleaguered trenches at the run. Jess sees the rangers go straight into the assault with fixed bayonets. Some fire from the hip while others hurl grenades. A few stagger from small arms hits but none fall and then they are too close to be beaten back. A big man screams a challenge and leaps straight into the API trench wielding his falx two handed. Sporadic shots and a terrible scream punctuate the next long seconds and then, after the muffled crump of a grenade, all goes quiet.

Gaughan breathlessly reports "Position cleared".

(OOC:
From NE position on approach: 2d6: (2 + 2) = 4 Miss
PD 2d6 + 8: (4 + 1) + 8 = 13 Three Hits shooting down both incoming LAW
RPA-12 vs Pill Box 2d6 + 5: (3 + 2) + 5 = 10 Hit Crispy!
RPA-12 vs Trench 2d6 + 5: (3 + 6) + 5 = 14 Four contact hits, option on another hit plus "splash" on everyone else... job done! ).

[Tiglath]

Frank

"Dubs, can you try and raise Alpha One. I'd like to know who our new gatecrasher is."

Is it possible to determine where it came from based on its current course? (which assumes its been travelling in a straight line).

"Sir, hailing them with a tight beam now, handshake and secure link. Patching you in... now, sir".

Frank is greeted by the bright smile of Erica East. She is wearing snow camo pattern combat gear with rank patches over tailored CES and appears to be sitting in the co-pilot's seat of a small craft. The camera angle doesn't reveal much more than whoever tailored her CES should either be handsomely rewarded or locked up. She cheerfully states "Colonel Cross, it seems that SEMC are making excellent progress. I can report that Major Wagner and his boys have matters well in hand in the mountains. The garrison's mobile company and their local mercenaries are no longer a viable military force. He therefore doesn't need me cluttering up his HQ anymore so I thought I would come over and see for myself how much of my..." she smiles and corrects herself "...our merchandise you have recovered. That's if you don't mind some additional rear echelon clutter?" She smiles again. Frank is reminded that she has a really nice smile.

[shaidar]

Frank smiles back at Erica

"Of course not Colonel, there is some rather juicy merchandise here, even after Colonel Skeet and the Vagr have their way. We haven't quite completely subdued the enemy yet, so please be careful on your approach. What is your ETA?"

I'm assuming that her rank patches are those of a Colonel, if not the rank used above is adjusted as appropriate

[Tiglath]

Frank

Frank smiles back at Erica

"Of course not Colonel, there is some rather juicy merchandise here, even after Colonel Skeet and the Vagr have their way. We haven't quite completely subdued the enemy yet, so please be careful on your approach. What is your ETA?"

I'm assuming that her rank patches are those of a Colonel, if not the rank used above is adjusted as appropriate

Erica instinctively looks forward out of shot (presumably) to read the flight instruments and replies "I should be with you in a few minutes depending whether we fly around or go through potential hazards".

Frank recognises* that Erica is indeed wearing the rank patches of a full Colonel of the Eisufur Bjergbestigere (literally Mountaineers from Eisufur). They are a premier Sword World Regular Army Regiment raised on Sacnoth. However, their elite company operate Lothbrok pattern AFVs and form part of the Sword Worlds Rapid Reaction Force - their military “away team” also known as the "Viking Battlegroup".

You last encountered them on Inchin.

(OOC: * Full marks earned together with all the info! When the players not only beat me to asking for the Int/Knowledge roll but also get the answer right it must mean they are either paying close attention... or I'm slipping - I clearly have to raise my game! ).

[shaidar]

Frank

"I'll see if we can spare you an escort. The major would have my guts for garters if something were to happen to you."

[joertexas]

Frank

"I'll see if we can spare you an escort. The major would have my guts for garters if something were to happen to you."

[Tiglath]

Frank

"I'll see if we can spare you an escort. The major would have my guts for garters if something were to happen to you."

Frank sees Erica's smile broaden. "Well I say that officers, even when merely acting as observers, should bring a commander solutions not problems! Therefore I'll put myself under this Major of yours..." she pauses repressing a grin that still makes it to the corners of her twinkling eyes "...she seems very invested in the close protection role. Colonel, since I don't wish to be a burden I promise not to pull rank or make unreasonable demands of your staff... um... mostly..." With another winning smile she ends the transmission with "Cipher, out".

Cipher appears to be her organisational callsign within the raid forces as opposed to the Alpha One label applied to her as an unidentified inbound craft.

[shaidar]

Frank

Prerna keys the command link. "Team Nayar is enroute to the north end of the berm, and my team will deploy to overwatch along with this IFV." She lays her map cursor on the spot where she wants to land and sends it to the command link and to her own crew. "Recon team, prepare to deploy for overwatch."

"Apologies Major, I have a new assignment for you. Please ensure Alpha One has a safe landing."

[The Bindoner]

Gaughan breathlessly reports "Position cleared".

Thank you, Sarn’t. Take breather while I get us a new job.

Over a direct link to HQ:

Sector clear, Boss. Where’d’y need us next?

[joertexas]

Frank

Prerna keys the command link. "Team Nayar is enroute to the north end of the berm, and my team will deploy to overwatch along with this IFV." She lays her map cursor on the spot where she wants to land and sends it to the command link and to her own crew. "Recon team, prepare to deploy for overwatch."

"Apologies Major, I have a new assignment for you. Please ensure Alpha One has a safe landing."

"Will do, Colonel."

Prerna keys up on Alpha One's channel. "Good day, Alpha One, this is Major Nayar. I'm your designated escort for your arrival at Avastan Downport, or what's left of it."