Tarsus para bellum

[Tiglath]

Klaus (and Frank)

The team nervously continues to monitor their "guest" while checking the antics of the crazy Vargr on the field. Everyone waiting for their "guests" betrayal all feel is almost inevitable.

Ms Pestis concludes her briefing and intones "SEMC operative designation "Klaus" your co-workers are optimized in their work place roles as close combat specialists. That may give us an efficiency advantage in the current task arena. I am your ally. I will share relevant information. I believe the Rond facility's fighter strength has been entirely eliminated by unidentified hostile fighter craft. It may be possible for troops trained in "shipboard conflict resolution" to enter the facility via the fighter launch tubes and elevators. Can your colleagues manage this task with a satisfactory degree of projected positive outcome?"

"I posses the entry override codes to the bay doors and elevators. After we have gained entry and you have resolved conflict within the work environment I will require temporary access to the remote engineering consoles located in the rear of the Station Command module adjacent to the fighter hangar".

She looks directly at Klaus and blinks.

(OOC: Recap posted below: NB Right click + "Open image in New Tab" to see detail


Here's Ms Pestis' projected map of the Rond Facility:

Rond Interior.jpg (1.54 MiB) Viewed 598 times

By way of Legend:

Very top row (top right hand end): Gun Gallery, Executive Gallery

Top Row (of "units" left to right): Twin Small Craft Bay, 200ton Docking Bay, Cargo Bay, Lab / Scientist Quarters, Executive Quarters.

Bottom Row: Fuel Refinery, Fighter Bay (launch tubes below), Station Command, Living Quarters, Horticulture Area, Corporate Command, Power Plant.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Receives orders from Voss to perform an infantry assault on the enemy HQ vehicle designated on her tactical HUD. Freddie checks the load on his snub nosed magnum and holsters it on his tac vest. He grumbles "Haven't they got anyone else??? We're Tech Branch Long Range Recon!"

[Tiglath]

Prerna & Dzofin

Prerna runs the grav belt at the maximum speed with her and her new companion aboard.

Dzofin howls even more loudly as he takes a Superman pose!

As her scouts close in on foot Prerna boosts across the valley floor towing Dzofin along with her. Routing enemy infantry and vehicle crews stream down the valley below her but a number seem to be forming up in the vicinity of the HQ echelon. On closer examination they just appear to be... loitering...

The detail of the individual vehicles of the HQ become easier to make out. It reminds Prerna of a holo she once saw about a travelling circus. The milspec vehicles her team engaged remain where they were knocked out. A tracked main battle tank forces thick black smoke from both of its open turret hatches while an APC she targeted herself still sits immobile with its dead infantry scattered around it. The civilian vehicles have mostly turned to join the rout but several remain wrecked or abandoned where the HQ halted. The concentration of milling infantry, the majority unarmed, remains about the two "land trains" pulled by oversized tractors with the goods and passenger modules (three or four each) still coupled behind them. The (roughly 50m square) area between the two trains is blocked from view by their bulk but seems to be the source of some activity and gunfire.

Actions?

[joertexas]

Prerna & Dzofin

Prerna runs the grav belt at the maximum speed with her and her new companion aboard.

Dzofin howls even more loudly as he takes a Superman pose!

As her scouts close in on foot Prerna boosts across the valley floor towing Dzofin along with her. Routing enemy infantry and vehicle crews stream down the valley below her but a number seem to be forming up in the vicinity of the HQ echelon. On closer examination they just appear to be... loitering...

The detail of the individual vehicles of the HQ become easier to make out. It reminds Prerna of a holo she once saw about a travelling circus. The milspec vehicles her team engaged remain where they were knocked out. A tracked main battle tank forces thick black smoke from both of its open turret hatches while an APC she targeted herself still sits immobile with its dead infantry scattered around it. The civilian vehicles have mostly turned to join the rout but several remain wrecked or abandoned where the HQ halted. The concentration of milling infantry, the majority unarmed, remains about the two "land trains" pulled by oversized tractors with the goods and passenger modules (three or four each) still coupled behind them. The (roughly 50m square) area between the two trains is blocked from view by their bulk but seems to be the source of some activity and gunfire.

Actions?

Prerna looks for a firing position from which she can engage the trains and lands there.

[dongriffiths]

Klaus:

Sir, our "guest" is suggesting my team could enter through the launch tubes. She has overrides to grant us access.

We are ready to deploy if authorised. I believe she intends to accompany us if we deploy.

[Tiglath]

Prerna looks for a firing position from which she can engage the trains and lands there.

No real (viable) targets visible in/on the trains themselves. Looks like the party's going on in between them. From what you've observed even tracking across to look southwards (between the parallel land trains) at ground level would simply show you a milling crowd of camp followers and soldiery.

[joertexas]

Prerna looks for a firing position from which she can engage the trains and lands there.

No real (viable) targets visible in/on the trains themselves. Looks like the party's going on in between them. From what you've observed even tracking across to look southwards (between the parallel land trains) at ground level would simply show you a milling crowd of camp followers and soldiery.

She intends to disable the towing tractors to stop the trains.

[helvorn]

Prerna looks for a firing position from which she can engage the trains and lands there.

No real (viable) targets visible in/on the trains themselves. Looks like the party's going on in between them. From what you've observed even tracking across to look southwards (between the parallel land trains) at ground level would simply show you a milling crowd of camp followers and soldiery.

She intends to disable the towing tractors to stop the trains.

Dzofin hangs on for dear life howling all the way!

[Tiglath]

Prerna looks for a firing position from which she can engage the trains and lands there.

No real (viable) targets visible in/on the trains themselves. Looks like the party's going on in between them. From what you've observed even tracking across to look southwards (between the parallel land trains) at ground level would simply show you a milling crowd of camp followers and soldiery.

She intends to disable the towing tractors to stop the trains.

They're stationary (sorry if I failed to make that clear! ).

Due to the state of the battle all enemy vehicles (military and civilian) that were southbound are either now stopped (KOed or abandoned) or northbound out of the valley (retreating).


Map/Orientation Refresher:

NB the armour and following HQ/Infantry are now further south in the valley just about level with brown river bed (i.e. center of map)

The Valley and base of Spion Kop Para Drop.jpg (103.59 KiB) Viewed 571 times

[joertexas]

No real (viable) targets visible in/on the trains themselves. Looks like the party's going on in between them. From what you've observed even tracking across to look southwards (between the parallel land trains) at ground level would simply show you a milling crowd of camp followers and soldiery.

She intends to disable the towing tractors to stop the trains.

Dzofin hangs on for dear life howling all the way!

Prerna focuses on finding T'Lia to support her since the trains are stopped.

[helvorn]

Prerna focuses on finding T'Lia to support her since the trains are stopped.

Dzofin has all senses extended with tail down and ears swiveling. He has his ACR locked and loaded and is looking for cover and nearby trouble while the human scans for more distant foes.

[Tiglath]

Prerna (and by attachment Dzofin) and Freya by broadcast

She intends to disable the towing tractors to stop the trains.

Dzofin hangs on for dear life howling all the way!

Prerna focuses on finding T'Lia to support her since the trains are stopped.

Prerna feels her iridium wedding ring react to her thoughts. She is flooded with a reserve of noble resolve. Or maybe she just hit the emotional "unlock"...

She can "see" T'lia wading into the milling throng of people between the two stopped land trains. She has clearly slipped past the outer ring of people (who seem to stand about merely dazed) and made good progress against people who, albeit mostly unarmed, seem to oppose her with increasing ferocity the closer she gets to the vehicle in the center of the space.

Quite ridiculously she (and any other observers Freya/Dzofin) can't see the center of this space. Physically viewing it just doesn't happen... it's not so much opaque as just makes you squint... and yet still not see...

Maybe you could see if you were closer... ?

Prerna sees that T'lia's liberated AK runs dry and is snatched from her grasp. This evidently suits her as a burst of gauss pistol needles collapses the skull of her attacker.

Prerna (and Freya) hears a very, very old voice... it crackles like parchment...

"This doesn't usually play out so well in my favour... you are... alone... paladin... you have no... companions... nor no blade... ha... hahaha... just none of the conditions to... set me back... are met! It seems I may indulge myself awhile...".

T'lia slams her combat knife through the skull of a farmer grabbing for her gun arm but then has her arm seized by a vacant eyed insurgent who simply bears her down as another farm hand joins the dog pile.

"Bring her forth children, yes... Bring her to the altar..."

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya uses her recon drone/flying steed to provide an overview of the battle below...Ordering it to stop she tries to find Prerna amongst the crowd.

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freya uses her recon drone/flying steed to provide an overview of the battle below...Ordering it to stop she tries to find Prerna amongst the crowd.

After an only mildly heated debate over the "need for speed" with her onboard pilot (who petulantly observes that she has lost "That Lovin' Feelin' " ) Freya observes the battlefield from directly above the enemy HQ.

SEMC are definitely "Winning" and funneled by the valley the routers are now heading north back towards the border farms and into the open veldt.

She can see the two "land trains" that seemed to form the nucleus of the HQ element have stopped. From his own Essor drone flying a linked path to her own Freddie comments on the vehicular pattern directly below "Box cars... or..." suddenly sounding troubled he adds "... do I mean "Midnight"? I just don't think I should go down there... Why... why's that then?"

Freya knows that there is a vehicle centered between the two stopped trains but frustratingly can't see it even though she knows her vision aids and sensors should give her an image. She ponders why she was specifically ordered in as an assault element... that was odd. Maybe she should do that and get closer? She has the "officer upgrade" combat armour she could just step out of the Essor and "inhalo" no... these military terms are so confusing... low altitude low opening... is that LALO... So is low insertion low opening... LILO? It is a long way up but she has a grav belt.

An audibly concerned Voss offers helpful encouragement "WO Ingridsdottir, you are a designated assault element and our people need your "special help"! If you can find the time I'd be much obliged if you would close with and engage the enemy dammit! C'mon girl! What is the Scout Service battlecry? Shit, let me see your war face and give 'em "I'm not Lost I'm Exploring" like you mean it!"

Freddy points to an unknown freindly tagged SEMC unit inbound on a direct line from the Kruger ranch to the centre of the "boxcars". It is tracking at near 1000kph in a ballistic arc. At the start of its flight path and so presumably likewise near the end it appeared to make no course deviation for trees. From the arboreal collisions it just shrugs off it is clearly "very armoured" and between one and two meters in size. The Essors can not get a confirmed sensor lock on the inbound "friendly".

Because she instinctively applies the feels Freya designates this contact as "Incoming Angry".

[joertexas]

Prerna (and by attachment Dzofin) and Freya by broadcast

T'lia slams her combat knife through the skull of a farmer grabbing for her gun arm but then has her arm seized by a vacant eyed insurgent who simply bears her down as another farm hand joins the dog pile.

"Bring her forth children, yes... Bring her to the altar..."

Prerna uses every sense at her disposal to target the vehicle at the center of the opaque area and fires her heavy gauss on full auto, peppering the area the vehicle must occupy. She steers directly for T'Lia. "Get ready Dzofin, we are going in hot. I will drop you three meters out." She says this last though her suit speakers.

[helvorn]

Prerna uses every sense at her disposal to target the vehicle at the center of the opaque area and fires her heavy gauss on full auto, peppering the area the vehicle must occupy. She steers directly for T'Lia. "Get ready Dzofin, we are going in hot. I will drop you three meters out." She says this last though her suit speakers.

Dzofin taps Prema on the chest to signal his acceptance. He clutched his rifle and prepared for the drop.

[Tiglath]

Frank / Klaus

Voss reports "It appears that someone's punched a neat hole out of the main vehicle shed. Went clean through the barn's door. Might be one of Miss Freya's crazy drones".

[Tiglath]

Dzofin

Prerna uses every sense at her disposal to target the vehicle at the center of the opaque area and fires her heavy gauss on full auto, peppering the area the vehicle must occupy. She steers directly for T'Lia. "Get ready Dzofin, we are going in hot. I will drop you three meters out." She says this last though her suit speakers.

Dzofin can see that between the two halted "land trains" of the enemy HQ someone has apparently called a mortar battery strike deploying chemical smoke. Odd... As Prerna drives them closer on her labouring grav belt he gets the overwhelming urge to not go into the smoke but since he's physically attached to Prerna there's not much he can do. It's a truly unpleasant feeling but then ceases. The "smoke" is suddenly gone and Dzofin sees a large wheeled vehicle whose sides are folded down to make a deck or platform at the rear. The platform is most closely surrounded two or three deep by humans wearing black robes with a silver star motif and then by a more numerous outer ring wearing grey. It takes him a few moments to fathom the vehicle's purpose - until he realises it's a mobile abbatoir.

Prerna fires her heavy gauss rifle on the way in emptying it. Dzofin sees it work like the field artillery of bygone ages as whole "files" of worshippers(?) in the crowd are struck down making lanes through the crowd of... cultists(?)

He can see what must be the other SEMC officer. She is fighting where she may but is held fast by a knot of robed figures who seem intent on tearing away her helmet and Imperial pattern torso armour and bearing her at shoulder height towards a raised work table in the center of the big rig's work platform. He realizes that the tools suspended from the frame above the table are all for butchery. Then he becomes "deadfall ordnance"... Dzofin lands in one of the body filled "lanes" in the crowd near the big truck's platform. Helpfully the bodies are "squishy" and no one's paying him much attention. There are several cultists who are in melee range and another doubled over near the "stage" having breathing difficulties due to major chest trauma - hypervelocity rounds will do that.

He's reasonably sure that Prerna landed on the big truck's extended workdeck.

Actions for one combat round please!

[Tiglath]

Prerna (NB see also Dzofin above for the "run in" but Prerna sees no "smoke")

Prerna is headed directly to T'Lia's side. She's emptied her heavy gauss rifle at the center on the way in, and she will drop Dzofin two seconds before she lands, after slowing down enough to not hurt her new teammate. She's depending on her combat armor's computer to calculate a reasonably safe landing profile.

Prerna's vision clears and she has targets for her rifle seconds later she lands on a cultist on the big truck's extended workdeck. While descending she notes that the workdeck is covered in bloody dragmarks nearly making a star pattern. The cultist she landed on screams and makes crunchy noises. As soon as the black robed cultists surrounding the platform see her they begin to climb aboard but their movements are slow and laboured.

Some two meters away T'lia wrestles with a near dozen cultists who, having removed her helmet and the armour plates covering her torso now leave one of their number to dextrously slice away her underarmour while they inexpertly divide their number into two groups attempting to pinion her arms and legs atop the worktable.

As her arms are drawn above her head T'lia shoots her nearest captor in the crotch with a bodypistol and his torso seems to drop into where his pelvis was moments ago as his pitches over. Grappled by another figure she looks at Prerna and gives a grim smile "The animus is running with its "saga" and I'm running out of tricks! The cultists - Grendel's using them as fuel and then puppets but also like a battery!"

Prerna hears the dry ancient voice again... it crackles...

"Ah, the warrior...or are you the rogue... or the outsider... ??? Warrior, I think... yet unarmed... why don't you hold your companion's arms... look into her eyes... while I... enjoy her suffering...???".

Just an opposed Psi save please...

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freya uses her recon drone/flying steed to provide an overview of the battle below...Ordering it to stop she tries to find Prerna amongst the crowd.

Freya is about 250m above the action above.

Please find IC link above: viewtopic.php?p=727968#p727968

And actions for one combat round please!