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I would say Aye. I like the idea of taking a fishing vessel. A good warm up for the crew. Then on to Blackrock

Pleased to find such ready agreement and happy to let Raven prepare her assault group as she sees fit.

I shall start a search for a likely target

Amending target re. Ooc

Kar will ask Manfrid to help select a likely target. Then form a combat solution for the ship with Ridley and Regina. Kar knows that Leon can handle the gunnery side, probably blindfold.
Then it's up to Raven.
It comes down to how she wants to run the assault team.
And how the crew can make it happen.

Leon watches the preparation from the gunnery station, he runs a possible attack mode. ships tactic [2d6] = 6 +2 = 8

Soon the real fun will start.

Manfred is happy to offer his thoughts, but his experience is piracy of merchant starships, not ocean-going ones or their ports.

In the interstellar piracy game surprise and aggression are key. Get close, be scary, make the target surrender. Easier with Freighters, 'cos the Theev gangs usually only want the cargo, not the crew, so surrender ain't a bad option.

As the Serpent nears orbit the planet resolves into its familiar features. The deep craters left by the Dragon Kings Ortillery bombardment are easy to see, deep blue depths in the greenish shallows distinguishable from the natural deeps by their regular, circular shape. On the continents there are fewer rock-strike craters. The Dragon's poisonous breath scoured that portion of the world.

Regina searches the surface for ships and settlements, keeping one eye on the emissions absorption grid to register any attempts at active scans.

She picks up several fishing vessels, mostly in the shallow waters around the Downport continent. There are some fishing the deeper waters to the west and south, these being bigger vessels.

Moving between islands in shallow water there are also a handful of old Marduk built tradeships, small coasters operating mostly under sail despite having engines.

Regina calls Kar over and speaks quietly but urgently to him.

Maps: https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 78&t=10565


Regina on Sensors: [2d6] = 9 +4 skill and Int, -2 Sensor limits = 11

Leon looks over to Kar Captain, I agree our first attack should be easy more of a drill to get this crew to know each other, the way we should work. I suggest find a fishing boat or boats even. Not near the starport but near a settlement, the Marduk's look a good target. Leon pauses to let his comments register Then we glide in from orbit, no drives make it look like we are heading to a different island. Then come in under power from the far side of the island and bang..... hit the boats, they will be far from shelter, probably not massive pickings but something to get this lot trained up on Leon finishes addressing kar and then switches over to Ingrid Ingred, do a systems check and then power up the cannons, soon we will have to encourage some locals to do our bidding As with most battles, warriors have a pre battle ritual, check gear, pray to gods. Leon lights up a cigar ...pre battle ritual started.

After assessing the possible targets and in consultation with Raven and some of the slave crew who have local knowledge, Kar calls an O group meeting with the senior officers and slaves.

Raven and I have selected Skeaping for our first blood. So the plan is, we'll run a fast NoE from the west, using the island for cover. Soften up the place with some ship fire, deposit raiders for, well, raiding. Raven can handle the details for her troops. I'll have the Serpent fly top cover during the messy bits and be ready to exfil. We can be spaceside in time for breakfast.

Looking around the assembled officers and slaves.

Questions? Now's the time.

Raven says "Speed and fury are our weapons. Position the Serpent over the docks and engage the buildings surrounding the market place to pin the people in place. We deploy the APC on the left flank, warband on the right - we get in behind this mouthful and then drive them into the Serpent's belly. We take what we want and then pick over the market and docks before we leave. No one goes beyond the market place".

(OOC: Slinging a Tactics roll at it [2d6] = 3 +2 Tactics +1 Int so 6 Total but it's clear this plan just can't be improved on! ).

Remington drifted into the planning meeting unsure if technically speaking he was supposed to be there, but assuming that since he was chief of engineering he might have relevant insights if it came to a question of exactly what the ship could do. He wasn't planning on providing significant input unless directly asked, since he didn't think that he'd have knowledge of relevant topics. But when Raven voiced her plan that relied on keeping a bunch of kids on a very short leash, he realized he did have relevant experience.

"I have no expertise in questions of raiding and troop dispersal, but I do have some experience with the psychology of young people. That is to say, I've had to deal with undergrads from time to time, and I'm comfortable assuming that youth will be stupid no matter where they're raised. In my experience with youth, you can hand them an absolutely idiot proof set of instructions, printed in bright red and 32 point font, and they'll still find a way to forget them, misread them, or flat out ignore them. I don't know what happens to the plan if the troops fail to stay on the right side of the market place, but I'm quite confident that lacking proper supervision, which is to say someone breathing down their neck the whole time, idiot kids will be idiots and ignore the plan as soon as they see a shiny souvenir. All that is a roundabout way of saying I'd either prep a backup plan on the assumption that some or all of the troops wander off to do some looting before everyone is captured, or find a way to keep some senior leadership breathing down everyone's necks during the raid."

Raven replies levelly and with the diplomacy suitable for a council of war "I will be leading and commanding the raid in person - from the front. For those without the relevant expertise or for those whose "advice" took twice the words of the whole battle plan: the answer is to keep it both simple and also flexible".

"Many Names, it is quite right that you have a place at this table but you should have a care - lest someone accidentally nail you to it. However, your ravings suggest an amendment to the plan. Perhaps we should add an "appraiser of goods" to the warband or AFV - someone who can identify quality loot or technology at first sight and mark it for later or immediate collection?"

"Speed and fury are our weapons. Position the Serpent over the docks and engage the buildings surrounding the market place to pin the people in place. We deploy the APC on the left flank, warband on the right - we get in behind this mouthful and then drive them into the Serpent's belly. We take what we want and then pick over the market and docks before we leave. No one goes beyond the market place".

This is the way, Raven leads the warband, the Serpent supports and assists them.

"I have no expertise in questions of raiding and troop dispersal, but I do have some experience with the psychology of young people. That is to say, I've had to deal with undergrads from time to time, and I'm comfortable assuming that youth will be stupid no matter where they're raised. In my experience with youth, you can hand them an absolutely idiot proof set of instructions, printed in bright red and 32 point font, and they'll still find a way to forget them, misread them, or flat out ignore them. I don't know what happens to the plan if the troops fail to stay on the right side of the market place, but I'm quite confident that lacking proper supervision, which is to say someone breathing down their neck the whole time, idiot kids will be idiots and ignore the plan as soon as they see a shiny souvenir. All that is a roundabout way of saying I'd either prep a backup plan on the assumption that some or all of the troops wander off to do some looting before everyone is captured, or find a way to keep some senior leadership breathing down everyone's necks during the raid."

Looking to Remmington, with his coldface.

You are here for technical guidance, if asked.
Do you see Raven as a callow Mother who would leave her cubs alone for their first kill?
And I an absent Father who would leave his family to fend for themselves?


Standing up and walking towards Remmington. Face full of menace.

Remove your self from our presence, lest you presume so much that the price is more than you can bare

Turning to Raven
I will leave the finer details of the raid to you, Raven Sorrow, with the rest of the officers and senior slaves assistance, and your expertise, success is assured.

With that Kar stalks after the retreating Remmington, wondering if his lady would mind if he just cut a small, slightly less essential, part off of him.

On leaving the O group, Kar will resist the urge to frogmarch Remmington to his quarters, but nevertheless, they need to talk.

It will take about 30-40 minutes to reach the surface from orbit.

You will be arriving at about dawn ( hour 12-13 of a 30 hour day ) on an early “Spring” morning ( day 14 in a 36 day “year” ). At that latitude it will be 1°C. Marduk is about the same size as Oghma, so the gravity and temperature are quite comfortable.

Between the ships sensors and the artistic record on it's walls you have a plan of the target ( https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 32#p517532 )


Now we need a Pilot roll for a “stealthy” entry of the atmosphere.

(OOC: Slinging a Tactics roll at it [2d6] = 3 +2 Tactics +1 Int so 6 Total but it's clear this plan just can't be improved on!  ).

I think it best to let that lie. It's a perfectly reasonable plan.

The book says of Tactics: “In combat, the Tactics skill level of a unit’s commander gives a boost to the initiative scores of everyone in his unit.”

The Bindoner wrote: ↑Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:38 pm

(OOC: Slinging a Tactics roll at it [2d6] = 3 +2 Tactics +1 Int so 6 Total but it's clear this plan just can't be improved on!  ).

I think it best to let that lie. It's a perfectly reasonable plan.

The book says of Tactics: “In combat, the Tactics skill level of a unit’s commander gives a boost to the initiative scores of everyone in his unit.”

(OOC: Quite. I felt obliged to make the roll but was happy with the plan. Tactics as a game mechanic might well be a much better treatment than effectively letting it become strategy (deliberately never a skill in any edition???) which should be a matter for the players to plan and GM to evaluate).

Just because it’s not at all distracting Raven “hovers” in Ridley’s peripheral vision until he stops doing things.

She then advises “When plotting your course to and from Skeaping be aware of the Kraken that dwells offshore. It can reach up from the ocean and grasp star ships and sea vessels”. Before Ridley can ask her any questions about “monsters” and whether she believes in them Raven declares “It is known. Perhaps you should drop onto the island like a hawk?” and then states “I must prepare for the raid” before retiring to the barracks.

“When plotting your course to and from Skeaping be aware of the Kraken that dwells offshore. It can reach up from the ocean and grasp star ships and sea vessels”.

Ridleys was a million miles away .... his mind came sharply into focus as Ravens comments reached the vaguely functioning part of his brain !!! errrrmm yesss very well ... o course


Ridley had been wondering about Remington..... the man had got under his skin .... southing about him ... some unknown hidden purpose .. He had of course noticed his natural aptitude and his the strange abilities his mind possessed .... but there was something else....

Remington ..... its to real business now .... you and I shall be working much closer from now on .... consider your initiation over ..... no more of these emotional outpourings do you hear me !!?? i mean to be successful whilst onboard this vessel and our ability to work together will be essential ... no more soup duties .... no more threats of tattoos ..... but i expect your loyalty and i expect you to offer up your advice to me in a manner that will not offend the rest of the senior crew ( might i suggest a bit more communication through private channels if needed ...

[2d6] = 5 sorry that dice roll finally !!!!

As Remington is shuffled out the door he manages a hasty "I'm sorry Captain, Raid leader. My comment was clearly out of line." By the time he's out the door Remington realised that the fact confusion won out over anger at the response probably save him from seriously putting his foot in his mouth. Had anger won out he might have blurted out that as far as he can tell both the captain and the raid leader seem perfectly willing to shove the kids off the cargo ramp while Ridley "flies slow" so their first combat deployment could also be their first air deployment. They're all a bunch of psychotics, so why they expect him to think they have some sort of parental instinct is a complete mystery. Of course, they don't need to know that. As he's manhandled into his cabin Remington braces for what he hopes will only be a vigorous session of being screamed at.

Ridley looks around the Bridge. Kar has left him in charge, but Regina is in her place monitoring the emissions absorption grid and the sensor suite. Leon sits at what would normally be the engineering console, now configured as a Tactical Command and Weapons station.

Easing the Serpent down toward the planet at a shallow angle. Having used the thrusters to slow the ship he eases down into the atmosphere with the Drives on standby. Coming in on the day side of the planet he minimises sight of the signature of atmospheric entry, already quite minimal due to the relatively low speed and drag.

The Serpent glides beautifully, responsive and agile, flying better as the air thickens.

The curving descent brings the ship around the planet through the night side , approaching the large island Skeaping is on from the west as the sun of Marduk approaches from the east.

From the data Regina sends Leon advises on courses that make best use of visual cover, meteorological and geographic, as the ship hurtles toward the waking town.

The land is broken and rocky, the ejecta from the orbital bombardment two millennia past heaped and scattered across its surface. Skeaping is hemmed in by low mounds of rocks.






[2d6] = 5 +2 Pilot Skill, +1 Dex DM, +1 Tactics advice from Leon, +1 Serpent's Grace and Agility = 10

After talking privately to Remmington with regards to chain of command, etiquette, common sense and self preservation. Covered in OoC
Kar sends him back to engineering, before heading to the bridge.

All crew prepare for combat insertion. Raven if you're ready, where do you want to be dropped off?