Tarsus para bellum

[joertexas]

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

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...

Roll[2d6]=11 + Shield-1 = 12

Prerna shifts the rifle to her left hand, draws her pistol, and shoots the nearest cultist who is holding T'Lia in the head.

[helvorn]

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!

Dzofin wonders just what he had gotten himself into by messing around with these crazy humans. Not that particularly minded a little vigorous religious celebration but outright sacrifice of living beings, even humans was too much for him. His ears folded back and he growled in anger showing well polished canines. He could see that his human was on the stage struggling to rescue the other human. Rescuing someone, especially in plain view up on a stage seemed like a good idea to him. Immediately he opened up with his rifle on full automatic at the nearest cultists while he headed toward the stage as quickly as possibly given the rather gruesome footing.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya

When all else fails, free-fall until the computer cuts in the grav-belt at full negative acceleration to stop at the roof. She the uses the noise below as a cover to make a hole in the roof covering and takes a quick look into the space beneath.

[Tiglath]

Freya

When all else fails, free-fall until the computer cuts in the grav-belt at full negative acceleration to stop at the roof. She the uses the noise below as a cover to make a hole in the roof covering and takes a quick look into the space beneath.

Additional info (plus you can see what the other PCs see):

The truck in the center with the "stage" at the back is open topped above that. Landing on the stopped land train roofs reveal them to be solid metal but the interior of the cars are visible being mixed passenger / goods transport. The land trains have no occupants (and open sides / doors indicative of hasty abandonment).

Action post to follow this Sunday evening

[Tiglath]

Dzofin (and please check Prerna and Freya below)

Dzofin immediately realizes that due to both his stature and the elevation of his allies on the stage the cultists in front of him are in a free fire zone. Shifting the fire selector of his 9mm FN ACR to "rock n' roll" he makes the glaze eyed lunatics to his front aware of the definition. His ACR chews through a mag as her advances on the stage aware that someone is covering his "tail". He's nevertheless grateful that big bore ammo issues not "mere flesh wounds" but definitive "cease and desist notices" - especially given the blank eyed fanaticism evident in these crazed humans.

He finally makes the stage stylishly arriving via a vault using the collapsing chest wound guy.

(OOC: Ta Daaa!

Gotta arrive in style! )

[Tiglath]

Prerna

Prerna puts a round through the cowl of the cultist pinioning T'lia's arms dropping him like laundry. At the same time a skinning knife from the handy dangly 'orrible tool rack* takes the cultist holding her right ankle through the eye socket. As he convulses and fails backwards T'lia uses the opportunity to crunch her now liberated armoured boot through the face of the guy holding her left leg.

At this Prerna now sees (why didn't she see him before???) a handsome young man in a silver cloak pull back his cowl. He is indeed handsome and visibly charismatic. He says "Women, welcome, come join my congregation... and harem... worship my heavenly body as you must". Then he flinches and says "... what... just what is that?"

(OOC: * Retrospective villain prep & planning issue there! Actually caught myself out...

Please crack on with your religious intolerance/persecution of missionaries for their religious position

But... IF considering doing any harm to that handsome young peachy yet preachy lothario or is that loathario...(???)

Please make a Psi save

for which Prerna gets a +2 bonus! Because there are a couple of things acting as a counter to the psionic lure

Oh do be quiet in the cheap seats!

From a villainy perspective I really didn't think this through...

Seems he's kinda "old fashioned" and not caught up with that "modern living" thang...

[Tiglath]

Freya

Freya steps out of her Essor drone and free falls until her grav belt cuts in. She then steers herself atop the tractor unit of the central vehicle between the two stationary land trains.

She can see a crowd of cultists fighting with T'lia on the stage and Prerna wading in but also the "new" Vargr guy moving towards the stage through a narrow "lane" of killed and wounded cultists. Being of a xenophilic mien Freya shoots the potentially murderous locals. She drops three closing on the rear of the vargr as he makes his way onto the stage.

From her vantage point Freya can see what Prerna does* but also notes from her HUD that the "friendly" SEMC unit she tagged "Incoming Angry" is inbound.

Switching her gaze in that direction she first picks it up as a grey trace in the sky apparently heading her way. The "inbound" transitions from ballistic trajectory to agile nap of earth flight on approach and Freya determines from the flight profile that this matt black machine is surely an "expert" level pilot - which would surely be a secondary function to its primary role. She notes that it must have dropped a decimal point in groundspeed and is now travelling at merely hundreds of kph.

On tactical approach to the combat area the machine encounters clear ground and deploys what looks like weapon pods or launch racks from its upper surface. Dropping to zero feet blasts a "rooster tail" of downwash as it deploys what might be atmospheric manoeuvre wings from its sides. The slanted sunlight catches on the bright leading edges of the robot's "wings" as it again boosts its speed towards the crowd of cultists about the central vehicle.

Freya has a short list of things she would "unsee" but this goes right into top contention for things she would "unsee and unhear". The robot hits the crowd and its dusty rooster tail turns red.

(OOC:

NB Note Psi save if you want to target the "Peachy Preachy"

It's clear that failure might involve the kind of personal loss of control/self esteem involved in becoming an Osmond fan / Beatlemaniac... as an understatement ).

[joertexas]

Prerna

Prerna puts a round through the cowl of the cultist pinioning T'lia's arms dropping him like laundry. At the same time a skinning knife from the handy dangly 'orrible tool rack* takes the cultist holding her left ankle through the eye socket. As he convulses and fails backwards T'lia uses the opportunity to crunch her now liberated armoured boot through the face of the guy holding her left leg.

At this Prerna now sees (why didn't she see him before???) a handsome young man in a silver cloak pull back his cowl. He is indeed handsome and visibly charismatic. He says "Women, welcome, come join my congregation... and harem... worship my heavenly body as you must". Then he flinches and says "... what... just what is that?"

But...[/ooc] IF considering doing any harm to that handsome young peachy yet preachy lothario or is that loathario...(???)

Please make a Psi save

for which Prerna gets a +2 bonus! Because there are a couple of things acting as a counter to the psionic lure

Roll[2d6]=8 +2 +(other bonuses?)

Prerna channels her nearly-overwhelming fury into a focused psi attack on the man, while she shifts her aim to the center of his forehead and squeezes the trigger twice.

[BackworldTraveller]

Freya

Freya steps out of her Essor drone and free falls until her grav belt cuts in. She then steers herself atop the tractor unit of the central vehicle between the two stationary land trains.

She can see a crowd of cultists fighting with T'lia on the stage and Prerna wading in but also the "new" Vargr guy moving towards the stage through a narrow "lane" of killed and wounded cultists. Being of a xenophilic mien Freya shoots the potentially murderous locals. She drops three closing on the rear of the vargr as he makes his way onto the stage.

From her vantage point Freya can see what Prerna does* but also notes from her HUD that the "friendly" SEMC unit she tagged "Incoming Angry" is inbound.

Switching her gaze in that direction she first picks it up as a grey trace in the sky apparently heading her way. The "inbound" transitions from ballistic trajectory to agile nap of earth flight on approach and Freya determines from the flight profile that this matt black machine is surely an "expert" level pilot - which would surely be a secondary function to its primary role. She notes that it must have dropped a decimal point in groundspeed and is now travelling at merely hundreds of kph.

On tactical approach to the combat area the machine encounters clear ground and deploys what looks like weapon pods or launch racks from its upper surface. Dropping to zero feet blasts a "rooster tail" of downwash as it deploys what might be atmospheric manoeuvre wings from its sides. The slanted sunlight catches on the bright leading edges of the robot's "wings" as it again boosts its speed towards the crowd of cultists about the central vehicle.

Freya has a short list of things she would "unsee" but this goes right into top contention for things she would "unsee and unhear". The robot hits the crowd and its dusty rooster tail turns red.

(OOC:

NB Note Psi save if you want to target the "Peachy Preachy"

It's clear that failure might involve the kind of personal loss of control/self esteem involved in becoming an Osmond fan / Beatlemaniac... as an understatement ).

Freya looks for the gathering's guards - taking a snapshot at the first that looks like they are aiming at Prerna...Peachy has two homing weapons already heading his way.

[helvorn]

Dzofin (and please check Prerna and Freya below)

Dzofin immediately realizes that due to both his stature and the elevation of his allies on the stage the cultists in front of him are in a free fire zone. Shifting the fire selector of his 9mm FN ACR to "rock n' roll" he makes the glaze eyed lunatics to his front aware of the definition. His ACR chews through a mag as her advances on the stage aware that someone is covering his "tail". He's nevertheless grateful that big bore ammo issues not "mere flesh wounds" but definitive "cease and desist notices" - especially given the blank eyed fanaticism evident in these crazed humans.

He finally makes the stage stylishly arriving via a vault using the collapsing chest wound guy.

Dzofin howls with glee as he cuts through the cultists between him and the stage. There is something satisfyingly atavistic about emptying a full magazine into the foe. He is aware of someone liquidating the threat behind him and is pleased that his charisma has attracted such a powerful protector. He definitely owed several of these humans his praise and several rounds of drinks. As he leaps up onto the stage his only regret is that he lacks a cape with which to make a suitably dramatic flourish to demonstrate his dominance and skill.

His eyes scan the stage taking in the human in the midst of fighting off those holding her for what looked like a ceremony involved with the ugly instruments of butchery. She seemed to be doing a good job while his new friend and transporter seemed to be focused on the human male in the attractive and tasteful silver suit. Dzofin immediately decided that he would claim the cloak after they had thoroughly eliminated the threat. Besides, he appeared to be the leader of this crew and what better way to show his own importance than taking down the well-dressed human? Unfortunately there were cultists in the way so rather than taking a tricky shot Dzofin loaded another magazine in his rifle and opened up on the intervening cultists at full auto. Fortunately Dzofin had his snub sub machine gun still slung inside his jacket if he ran out of ammunition and there are always claws and teeth!

[Tiglath]

All in the Valley of Tears

The Colonel of the Greys checks the dressing of his troopers as they complete their left wheel. Directly to his front the Colonel can now see the main group of hundreds of fleeing insurgents steaming from the valley. The mass of disorganized foot now being out distanced by the few AFVs and looted vehicles also caught up in the rout. He passes those targets to the armoured cars forming behind his troopers and then tightens his grip on the reins with his left hand checks the chin strap of his slouch hat once more before extending his right arm at the level and rotating it from the shoulder. The sound of the walking horses' hooves changes as they go into the trot and the Greys' line sweeps forward.

Sergeant Isselbacher of the Greys scout snipers reports over the command net "Something just happened with the female hostages - like they've just snapped out of it. Some of these naaiers are regretting arming them all with knives just about now! Since they're now responding to us we're calling them out of the stream of routers and sheltering them at the valley sides".

[Tiglath]

Freya, Dzofin and Prerna

Freya sees a pair of AK armed guards wearing cowled robes over flak vests scanning the stage. They spot her as she engages. The first guards cowl is ripped backwards by chunks of exploding skull as Freya's second burst of high velocity needles shatters his companion's left thigh partially removing his leg. As she sees her targets drop the robot she observed earlier rises from the crowd of cultists covered in gore and trailing what looks like streamers... no! Best not to even contemplate that further. One of its weapons pods serially fires bursts of HE or Flechette grenades into the cultists crowded on the other side of the central vehicle. Freya gets the horrifying impression that the robot is making them bunch up between the linear detonations and the vehicle. It then dives back into that mass at zero altitude as Freya hears the distinctive "BBBRRRRRTTT" of a rotary cannon.

Dzofin sees two armed guards and two cultists between himself and the man wearing his new cloak. They have two AKs, two daggers, misguided(?) faith and the proximity of their supreme leader on their side. Dzofin locks in a full mag, racks back the charging handle and plays some more rock n' roll. His first burst smashes through the left thigh of the nearest AK armed guard dropping him, the next takes his armed mate center mass striking his flak jacket but it looks like he forgot his ballistic plate. The round punches through and the guy coughs blood, drops his weapon and pitches forward. Dzofin switches aim to the dagger armed glaze eyed types and with two bursts center mass gives a masterclass on knives in gunfights. They drop revealing the shining glory itself! His Shininess cautions "Just "What" are you! You may not..." Dzofin shatters the Shiny Boy's left kneecap and lower leg then his FN's mag runs dry.

Prerna lances her mind into her opponent. His eyes go wide as he scrambles defences to match her attack. Her thrust penetrates but he barely holds it before it reaches something vital. He then suddenly redirects his mental resources deflect a cleaver physically hurled by T'lia. He triumphally quips "Hah, you womennnnarrgh...!" As his jaw acutely dislocates T'lia finishes archly "Can multitask".

His eyes go wide as he gargles either further "divine communications" or maybe directions to his attendant congregation but what happens next is Dzofin shatters his left lower leg just as another burst of gauss needles from Freya effectively flenses his right leg. He is driven to his knees by a combination of reduced skeletal functionality and basic gravity just as Prerna's (adjusted aim) pistol rounds take him in the groin.

The Son of The Star pitches onto his ruined face (and prospects) dead.

(OOC:

Freya shots:
1d8: 1 = 1 Headshot
1d8: 8 = 8 Left Leg
both unarmoured "Goodnight Vienna!"

NB Second snapshot incoming (first recalculated from your base roll + autofire bonus)

Dzofin (full working shown to demonstrate Striker combat: Hit 8+ Effect 2d6+Pen-Armour):
First Dzofin's +ve DMs: Dex (bonus with ACR) +2, Skill 1, Autofire with ACR +2
To Hit: 2d6 + 5: (5 + 6) + 5 = 16
Hits at Effective range: Hit on 8+ (and because autofire) one extra hit for every two pips over success = FIVE hits. Oh, Greedy!
First hits are on partially armoured targets (flak jacket - torso only is armoured at Armour Value (AV) 4)
Locating hits re Partial armour House Rule: 1d8 for hit location:
1Head 2 R Arm 3,4 Chest 5 L Arm 6 Lower Torso 7 R Leg 8 L Leg (headshots give extra effect)

Goon #1 1d8: 8 = 8 Hit in Left Leg (unarmoured location) so AV = 0
Penetration/Damage roll: Pen of ball ammo 9mm ACR = 4 so 2d6+4
2d6 + 4: (3 + 1) + 4 = 8 Serious Wound
NB 3+ Light Wound, 8+ Serious Wound, 12+ Dead
Goon #2 1d8: 4 = 4 Chest AV = 4
Penetration/Damage roll: 2d6+4(Ball ACR)-4(AV 4 Flak Jkt)= Tariff Neutral
2d6: (6 + 4) = 10 Serious Wound Yeah, wear your Wish.com armour... It'll work...
Goon #3 Unarmoured / All areas AV=0 so hit location not needed but 1d8: 4 = 4 Chest.
2d6 + 4: (4 + 2) + 4 = 10 Serious Wound
Goon #4 Unarmoured / All areas AV=0 so hit location not needed but 1d8: 3 = 3 Chest.
2d6 + 4: (3 + 3) + 4 = 10 Serious Wound
His Shininess Himself AV 5 all locations so 2d6+4-5 = 2d6-1 and for narrative 1d8: 8 = 8 Left Leg
2d6 − 1: (6 + 4) − 1 = 9 Serious Wound

NB Light Wounds have a 1 in 6 chance of knocking folk out... but you didn't bother with any of that nonsense!!!

Well that was a thing...!!!

Indeed surely something of an "Entry Wound" by any measure...

Prerna shot:
2d6 + 2: (3 + 3) + 2 = 8 Hit
1d8: 5 = 5 Lower Torso
2d6 − 1: (6 + 2) − 1 = 7 Light Wound

T'lia thrown knife:
Pen: 2d6 − 3: (3 + 2) − 3 = 2 No effect

Freya second snap:
2d6 + 5: (1 + 3) + 5 = 9 Hit
Pen 6 -4
Location: 1d8: 7 = 7 R Leg
Effect: 2d6 + 2: (5 + 2) + 2 = 9 Serious Wound).

[Tiglath]

All in the Valley of Tears

Something... snaps. It emanates from the insurgent HQ and all remnant military coherence leaches from the insurgent force. Some "priests" apparently suffer fatal convulsions or seizures while others are later found to have been butchered by their congregants taking time from their rout.

The Colonel of the Greys sees the insurgents who hear the approaching hoofbeats cast about for abandoned weapons or maybe places hide - they are too late. He stabs his arm right arm forward and every horse goes into the gallop to close the last few hundred meters and give them the speed and impetus to drive deep into the enemy forcing them to break, run and be killed. He allows himself both grim satisfaction and a little relief because nothing can stop his charge now. He draws one of a pair of long barreled Mauser pistols from a saddle holster and sets to his own battle and revenge for a burned farm.

[joertexas]

All in the Valley of Tears

Something... snaps. It emanates from the insurgent HQ and all remnant military coherence leaches from the insurgent force. Some "priests" apparently suffer fatal convulsions or seizures while others are later found to have been butchered by their congregants taking time from their rout.

The Colonel of the Greys sees the insurgents who hear the approaching hoofbeats cast about for abandoned weapons or maybe places hide - they are too late. He stabs his arm right arm forward and every horse goes into the gallop to close the last few hundred meters and give them the speed and impetus to drive deep into the enemy forcing them to break, run and be killed. He allows himself both grim satisfaction and a little relief because nothing can stop his charge now. He draws one of a pair of long barreled Mauser pistols from a saddle holster and sets to his own battle and revenge for a burned farm.

Prerna turns to defend T'Lia, looking for any threat she can terminate. She is still in a murderous fury, and she takes a mental breath to regain a measure of control.

[helvorn]

Freya, Dzofin and Prerna

The Son of The Star pitches onto his ruined face (and prospects) dead.

Seeing that the immediate enemies were dead or dying and that his human allies were stable, Dzofin stepped forward and stood over the dead leader. He howled in triumph as Dzofin took in the murderous drone and the sudden change in mood of the enemy. Dzofin sniffed the air as the scent of a major change in leadership and charisma was palpable and surely apparent even to these humans. He grabbed a couple of clips from the dead guards and reloaded his rifle. Then he scanned the crowd for threats. "Does your comrade require medical attention?" He addressed his ally.

[joertexas]

Seeing that the immediate enemies were dead or dying and that his human allies were stable, Dzofin stepped forward and stood over the dead leader. He howled in triumph as Dzofin took in the murderous drone and the sudden change in mood of the enemy. Dzofin sniffed the air as the scent of a major change in leadership and charisma was palpable and surely apparent even to these humans. He grabbed a couple of clips from the dead guards and reloaded his rifle. Then he scanned the crowd for threats. "Does your comrade require medical attention?" He addressed his ally.

Prerna visibly shakes herself and darts in to lean over T'Lia, opening her visor as she does. "Are you okay, my love? Are you hurt? Can you move?" She tears up as the post-combat shakes set in with a vengeance, amplified by her terror for her wife's well-being.

[helvorn]

Seeing that the immediate enemies were dead or dying and that his human allies were stable, Dzofin stepped forward and stood over the dead leader. He howled in triumph as Dzofin took in the murderous drone and the sudden change in mood of the enemy. Dzofin sniffed the air as the scent of a major change in leadership and charisma was palpable and surely apparent even to these humans. He grabbed a couple of clips from the dead guards and reloaded his rifle. Then he scanned the crowd for threats. "Does your comrade require medical attention?" He addressed his ally.

Prerna visibly shakes herself and darts in to lean over T'Lia, opening her visor as she does. "Are you okay, my love? Are you hurt? Can you move?" She tears up as the post-combat shakes set in with a vengeance, amplified by her terror for her wife's well-being.

Dzofin had no real way to administer first aid to a human although many of the basics were close enough to Vargr normal to let him help if needed. Since his ally was interrogating the other human he took charge of the situation and assumed a guard position over the two humans after liberating the shiny suit.

[Tiglath]

The Valley of Tears

Kit, Freya, Prerna and Dzofin

The destruction of their HQ breaks the last remnants of military discipline and cohesion in the insurgent force. What is now simply a mob of fugitives run for the border harried by The Greys light horsemen even as the "Fireforce" Light Infantry replenish ammo from the heavy lift trader prior to performing yet another vertical envelopment of the routers.

To the northwest the SEMC cavalry troop have roughly handled "their" enemy column which is now retreating and under local air attack.

The insurgent invasion is crushed and SEMC and their local allies have won a significant victory.

Seeing that the immediate enemies were dead or dying and that his human allies were stable, Dzofin stepped forward and stood over the dead leader. He howled in triumph as Dzofin took in the murderous drone and the sudden change in mood of the enemy. Dzofin sniffed the air as the scent of a major change in leadership and charisma was palpable and surely apparent even to these humans. He grabbed a couple of clips from the dead guards and reloaded his rifle. Then he scanned the crowd for threats. "Does your comrade require medical attention?" He addressed his ally.

Prerna visibly shakes herself and darts in to lean over T'Lia, opening her visor as she does. "Are you okay, my love? Are you hurt? Can you move?" She tears up as the post-combat shakes set in with a vengeance, amplified by her terror for her wife's well-being.

T'lia locks eyes with Prerna then gives a bright smile as she reaches out to pull her wife into a kiss "I am well and unhurt. The animus has left this place - dispersed back about the veldt once more and so it can no longer be abused by the Son of the Star or any other... warlock". She smiles "I could simply continue to embrace you to cover my modesty but I fear it might eventually become a hinderance to our military duties. Oh, thank you, Roland!" The sleek gore covered warbot proffers her breastplate and helmet in held in two tentacles. It appears that "he" has now retracted both his weapons mounts and "scythes". T'lia seems to be riding a grateful wave of post combat relief as she chats "This is his real body and although he wears others I think he prefers this one. The original design template was passed to us by a race called the Hive".

[helvorn]

Dzofin sniffed warily in the direction of what was obviously a war bot although not like any of the Zhodani examples he had heard of in use. Flipping his ears he gave the body of the leader a closer examination for souvenirs or loot that could replace his lucky hand grenade.

[Tiglath]

Dzofin sniffed warily in the direction of what was obviously a war bot although not like any of the Zhodani examples he had heard of in use. Flipping his ears he gave the body of the leader a closer examination for souvenirs or loot that could replace his lucky hand grenade.

Dzofin decides the 'bot currently smells like "the insides of humans" however this variety does indeed seem to be some variety of upgrade/deluxe model.

Erica East.jpg (52.63 KiB) Viewed 351 times

The woman who the cultists were fighting and who was just kissing the small but fierce human called Prerna surprises Dzofin by greeting him in the Vargr style (but showing no deference) and then surprises him again by addressing him in Gvegh as she offers her hand in the human greeting. She says (in Gvegh) "I owe you thanks for fighting at my side when you surely had no need. I am indebted to you and so I will give you my name. I am Tliablzhdilatl but please call me Tlia. I am an officer with this mercenary company and it seems you have already made my wife's acquaintance".