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Coxa II: Showdown in the Coxan Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1624h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



Dr. Ryerson ponders over the party's tricorders, trying to come up with alternative ways of tracking the target. A science tricorder would be best suited to his proposal, but he could probably make do with his medical tricorder if he took two or ten minutes to reconfigure it. After that it should only take a couple of attempts to be able to pinpoint with fair accuracy the direction and distance of his phantom target.

Nadix leads the party northeast through the streets and between buildings, opening his alien mind to the ancient, mysterious device in his hands. Soon he can feel his mental faculties flooded with connective energy, as though the object's computer readings are being passed directly into his brain!

Endilev barks out impatiently, "Well, what are we waiting for? She needs to be stopped!" He clutches his plasma gun menacingly.

He listens, and the Rod of Life tells him, "The other Slaver objects are due south." Unfortunately he cannot determine the distance to the objects, only the direction. He relays this information to the party, and the ensigns stand alert with their phasers trained to the south.

Actions?



Rolls:

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 15/15 — plasma pistol (6/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (21/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (21/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (27/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (24/32)
• Ensign 3 — DX 7 (-2), LK 9, CT 15/15 — phaser II (21/24)
• Ensign Rodney

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Patience, my friend," Nadix gently counsels the fiery Andoran. Then, in a whisper: "The Rod of Life can track her.
"This way, gentleman. Be on your guard. She could be anywhere," he says, golden eyes wide, phaser ready in his third hand as he leads the party due south in accordance with the telepathic readings from the mysterious artifact of the Slaver Empire.

Dr. Ryerson:

The doctor stops fiddling with his tricorder and double checks the setting on his phaser as he move south with the group.

Coxa II: Showdown in the Coxan Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1625h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



The party moves south through the abandoned and decimated village, led by Nadix's psychomental link with the Rod. All round ripped awning canvases flap in the dusty wind, while the village's two massive windmills groan overhead.

Soon it is clear that the Slaver objects are within the building directly before them. It is then that a foreign noise is recognized amid the desolate soundscape: there, perched once again behind a low wall on the building's roof 20 meters distant, the Romulan Commander is already charging her plasma gun! The weapon shakes violently in her hands, its emitter glowing red hot and leveled right at you!

Actions?

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 15/15 — plasma pistol (6/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (21/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (21/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (27/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (24/32)
• Ensign 3 — DX 7 (-2), LK 9, CT 15/15 — phaser II (21/24)
• Ensign Rodney

Re: viewtopic.php?p=347419#p347419

The party notices several places nearby usable as cover:

The is a single low wall that can provide six 1/4th's of cover (e.g., one character can take full cover and one 1/2 cover, or two at 3/4 cover, etc). It looks sturdy as a rock (20 pts of cover).

There are multiple crates, barrels and the like scattered about, enough for everyone to hide behind one. Each will only provide 1/2 cover, and is much weaker (2d6 pts of cover only).

There is a large alien-looking rock sitting conspicuously in the road. It provides a total of four 1/4's of cover.

At a full run, anyone who wins initiative can dash north, back across the street, and dive into the building.

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

Seeing the plasma pistol ready to discharge, the Edosian cries, "Take cover!" He races for the building, allowing the landing party to seek shelter behind the nearby barriers.

After diving for cover, Nadix concentrates again on the Rod of Life. He attempts to use it to telepathically deactivate the Romulan Commander's personal transporter device, to prevent her escape!


Initiative: [1d6+4] = 5+4 = 9

Dr. Ryerson:

The doctor makes a break for the closest and largest piece of cover he can find. He puts his back to it and looks around to see the other team member's choices. He takes a moment to note the best routes to each member in case his skills are needed.

Coxa II: Showdown in the Coxan Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1625.2h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



The landing party scatters in all directions and takes cover as the Romulan Commander rains molten death from on high!



Nadix and Endilev both turn and sprint back toward the safety of the building to the north. They each dive through the doorway and come up on either side, peering out on the scene through the open windows.

Ryerson dives behind the large rock and watches as two of the ensigns leap behind their own cover, behind the low wall and a piece of flimsy debris.

The third ensign, however, stands directly in the open, too impulsive to think about his own safety. With both hands he grips his phaser pistol and points it straight up at the Romulan, firing a powerful burst of energy that sparks off the wall, missing its mark. With calm precision, the Commander levels her overcharged weapon and releases a massive plasma bolt at the ensign, incinerating him instantly!



After setting himself up at the window, Nadix holds the Rod of Life meaningfully and attempts to direct its energies against the devices being used by the Romulan Commander. The strange contraption in his hands seems almost to send visions to him, allowing him to see with his mind's eye the Slaver helmet and belt being used by the Commander: the helmet's store of energy is weak, even failing—every use of its psionic abilities might deplete its power for good—but he realizes that the Rod alone cannot interfere with the operation of either device.

Ryerson begins to ready his medical kit, but soon clenches his fist in frustration and dismay. He knows without a doubt that the poor ensign struck by the enemy's weapon is beyond help, his body dissolving into smoke and ashes within seconds.

Ensign Patel cowers behind the low wall, still unaware of his surroundings. The other surviving ensign makes a desperate run from his poor cover and hurls himself behind the wall with Patel, hoping he wasn't seen.

Chief Endilev and the Romulan Commander both begin to charge their plasma guns. "Long live the Romulan Star Empire!" yells the Commander, her eyes wide with pride and bloodlust.

Actions?

Rolls:

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 15/15 — plasma pistol (12/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 3
• Ensign Rodney

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Fire phasers on disrupt, while her pistol is recharging! Aim for her helmet!" Nadix cries as he desperately fires his phaser at the Slaver artifact atop the Romulan Commander's head.


Initiative: [1d6+4] = 2+4 = 6, Phaser to hit: [1d6-4] = 4-4 = 0

Coxa II: Showdown in the Coxan Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1626h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



(3 rounds in this one, lots fire traded back and forth!)

Wordlessly, the surviving crew members set their phasers to disrupt as ordered and fire on the enemy! Hot beams of destruction whip about the village, blasting smoking holes into the crenelations that the Romulan Commander is using for cover!



Fearless of death, the Romulan Commander calmly takes aim at her chosen target: the two nearest to her, the rifle-armed ensigns who are using the low street wall for cover. Ensign Patel stares down the barrel of her exotic weapon, hypnotized by the ball of plasma about to be released his way…



When out of nowhere a phaser shot strikes out near her face! Nadix's carefully aimed shot is dissipated by the strength of her combat belt's personal energy field, but the upset is enough to spoil her aim and the plasma charge goes wide, exploding into the ground behind Ensign Patel.

Frustrated, the Romulan Commander ducks behind cover to recharge her weapon, and Chief Endilev—whose unfamiliarity with this new weapon has caused his own plasma shots to miss widely—takes the opportunity to run back into the street, toward the large rock hiding Dr. Ryerson, in the hope of getting closer to his target.

However, mere moments before Endilev can reach the safety of the rock, the Romulan Commander resurfaces to deliver another deadly fireball, this time at him! The feisty Andorian is struck hard and flies to the ground, hurt and bleeding. The Doctor has to provide covering fire to give him time to crawl up to safety!



Phaser fire continues to light up the street, and more well placed shots from Nadix and Ryerson cut through the Commander's shields completely, causing her moderate wounds and leaving her exposed as her force field sizzles and buckles. Beams strike her strange helmet, but the angle must be poor and they glance off harmlessly.

Meanwhile, Engineering Chief Endilev crawls up to the rock and peers out with his charging plasma weapon ready to kill, despite his wounds!





He sends his plasma ball flying and it strikes the exposed and wounded Commander square in the chest! The great explosion sends her flying, and dramatically she reels forward off the roof and drops onto a pair of barrels on the ground! It is clear to all that the Romulan Commander's time has come.

Actions?

Rolls:

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/15 — plasma pistol (12/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 3
• Ensign Rodney

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Excellent work, gentlemen. Your bravery is to be commended," Nadix says, relieved that the landing party has suffered no further casualties in the firefight.

The alien officer approaches the fallen Romulan Commander to impassively disarm her, collect the Slaver Artifacts, and hear her last words.

Dr. Ryerson:

The doctor quickly moves to the Romulan Commander. Once the slaver's artifact are removed he initiates his medical tricorder to see if he can save the man's life before attending to Commander Nadix's wounds.

Coxa II: Showdown in the Coxan Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1640h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



By the time Nadix and the others reach the Romulan Commander, Needles Ryerson is already there, gingerly removing the Slaver artifacts and examining her wounds.

Her equipment safely collected, the doctor's tricorder whirls and makes its computations as the doctor looks on with concern. "It is too late for me, human," the Commander whispers, coughing up small patches of green blood in between words. "My body is broken, and we Romulans are too proud a race to beg for life when our time is up. All I have to look forward to is shame and exile for my failure, so save your supplies. No, I would rather it be remembered that I died for the glory of the Empire."

She rolls her head to look at Nadix and acknowledges the Edosian after recognizing his rank stripes. "You are indeed worthy adversaries. It seems that you have bested me in our little game of cat and mouse, though if I still had my crew, perhaps our roles would be reversed. But such is the life we lead, isn't it?"

The Commander clutches at her broken ribs and laughs quietly as she coughs up more green blood. "But do not think this means that your Federation has won. Inside the Slaver outpost, at the control panel that let me escape, I discovered how to initiate a self-destruct sequence. In several hours the building will destroy itself unless I input my passcode, and I do not think I will be doing so. I wonder which of us has the last laugh…" Her eyes roll back with a sigh, and despite the Doctor's best efforts to save her, life slips from her body.

"The Janus should be back in orbit in about an hour and twenty minutes," says Ensign Patel, looking at his chronometer. Endilev turns to remind the others that the Slaver outpost is still emitting its global radiation field around the planet.

Actions?

Rolls…

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 14/15 — plasma pistol (12/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 3
• Ensign Rodney

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Thus always to tyrants, madame," Nadix intones solemnly before the Romulan Commander expires.

Dr. Ryerson:

"We got to stop that self-destruct sequence. Who knows was kind of radiation damage it will cause. Whole villages wiped out. Generations of malformed and mutated life forms. It could cause global extinction."

Coxa II: Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1640h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



The surviving members of the landing party regroup, hunched over the destroyed body of the mysterious female known only as the Romulan Commander, to discuss their options.



Checking against their copies of the pirate shuttle's log, you confirm that all but one planetbound pirates have been accounted for:

• the Romulan Commander lies dead at your feet;
• the vile pirate Captain Lawrance Caddigan, found dead in the jungle;
• the dominatrix Ursula Norton, Number One, captured and sedated;*
• onboard the Janus are Romulan Centurion Carlax, now a defiant prisoner of war, and the regretful archaeologist Dr. Leigh Moore;
• Leigh's lover and professional partner, the mercenary-hearted Dr. James Silliphant, and their flashy pirate companion Norman Meston, have both managed to escape aboard their fleeing pirate ship, the S.S. Arcadia.
• The Arcadia itself has escaped into deep space, the Janus being too crippled to pursue.

The only pirate to remain is the tempestuous young Stirling Komack, who was last spotted running for his life through the vast and deadly savannah of Coxa II. His estimated chances of survival overnight, alone and without weapons or shelter, are 197.3 to 1 against.

(*I made a DM goof: across the winter hiatus I had forgotten that Ursula had been sedated and carted along with the party to the village, hence the extra time taken to get there. Being a valuable prisoner and dead weight in combat, she was safely deposited in a building after the first surprise engagement with the Commander, and the two surviving ensigns have quickly retrieved her. The sedative will wear off in c. 20 minutes, and she can take 2 more doses (2 hours each) before it becomes risky to continue sedating.)



The subject of the Slaver Outpost is discussed. In her death throes, the Romulan Commander claimed to have initiated a self-destruct sequence that will occur within hours unless it is deactivated using her private passcode.

Dr. Ryerson points out that an energy source capable of blanketing an entire planet in radiation could create a planetary fallout if it were to explode. It is a speculative theory, but one worth considering.

Nadix points out that the outpost is 5 kilometers west from your present position, across wild ground and jungle. When you first discovered the site, Nadix and Ryerson deduced that the strange planetary radiation could be turned off by placing the Rod of Life into one of the podium terminals specially designed for it—one outside each door of the Outpost, and a similar one of special significance resting in the native village's temple, where the Rod of Life had rested for unknown generations before the recent catastrophe.



Nadix also weighs the positives and negatives of allowing the Slaver Outpost to be destroyed:

• While the Rod of Life rests on its podium altar in the village, it channels a low-emission growth radiation that has sustained the agriculture and the longevity of the Coxan race for thousands of years; without it they will have famine until they learn new farming techniques, and their life spans will shrink from hundreds of years to dozens.
• When placed on one of the podiums at the Slaver Outpost, its doors can be unlocked and the secrets within revealed. Such knowledge would undoubtedly benefit the Federation.
• However, the Rod has a safeguard. As long as it is not resting on one of the podiums, the Slaver Outpost locks down, protected by a force field, and projects a catastrophic radiation around the planet depletes warp energy, and as a side effect slowly withers life. It is assumed that this was designed as a defense against interstellar attacks.
• The Coxans would not miss or possibly even notice the destruction of the Outpost, since for them it is a Forbidden Temple, visited only on pain of exile or death, and only the higher priests are given knowledge of its secret location. Furthermore, its removal would negate any incentive for competing star civilizations to interfere with the planet in the future.

Actions?

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 14/15 — plasma pistol (12/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 3
• Ensign Rodney

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

DadsAngry wrote:Dr. Ryerson:

"We got to stop that self-destruct sequence. Who knows was kind of radiation damage it will cause. Whole villages wiped out. Generations of malformed and mutated life forms. It could cause global extinction."

"Perhaps, doctor," Nadix replies calmly. "However, our efforts would benefit from more information. Let us move with all due haste to the temple to return the Rod of Life and observe what changes, if any, its return triggers."

Then: "It might be wise to administer another sedative to Ursula."

Dr. Ryerson:

"Sounds good to me. Lets get this wagon train moving and fast."

Coxa II: Village
Stardate 2271.3.24: 1645h

The Janus is due to rendezvous in orbit at 1800.



Dr. Ryerson grips his hypospray applicator and prolongs the sedation of Ursula Norton, Demon Queen of the Space Lanes. She will be out for another two hours (1840 hrs), and can sustain one more dose before it becomes risky to keep sedating her.

Nadix leads the party over to the Coxan Village Temple. The interior is a catastrophe. Smoking black marks singe the walls, and the soft purple curtains that once caught the light are now hanging flaccid and torn. Three young Coxan priests lie on the ground, and Dr. Ryerson's medical tricorder quickly reads that they are dead.

At the center of the room, knocked over but unharmed, lies the bronzed Slaver podium that serves as an altar for the natives. The altar is righted and the Rod of Life returned to its position. It emits a low, pleasing hum from within and soft blue lights trickle up and down the Rod's length.

The engineering and medical tricorders, unsuited for scientific analysis, strain to collect data on the Rod now that it has been returned to the altar.

• Ryerson, please roll 3d6 vs MN (no bonus for using the wrong type of tricorder) to determine any change in radiation. Success is immediate, failure loses 10 minutes while gathering information.
• Nadix, please roll 4d6 vs MN+5 (bonus for using an engineering tricorder) to determine the nature of the altar's power source. Success takes 10 minutes, failure takes 20 minutes while gathering information.

Actions?

OOC Note: I will be out of action until Wednesday the 21st.

• Gareb Endilev — DX 13 (+1), CT 14/15 — plasma pistol (12/12)
• Nadix Ar Eth — DX 16 (+4), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Dr. Ned Ryerson — DX 13 (+1), CT 12/12 — phaser II (24/24)
• Ensign Patel — DX 10, MN 12, LK 12, CT 13/13 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 2 — DX 10, LK 11, CT 12/12 — phaser rifle (32/32)
• Ensign 3
• Ensign Rodney

Dr. Ryerson:

[3d6] = 5
MN is 7 (-2)