Iron Stars - august

August awakens in her small apartment on Heras. The news is on and once again repeats the same reports it ran through the night before. Things aren’t getting better on the ground. At least not soon. Her kit is down to just it’s last two most critical items, a set of secure armor and a medium blade - the minimum level of competency needed to ply the trade of bounty hunting. The Protectorate has no shortage of enemies at home or aboard and maybe , just maybe, that blade should see some use in service of a higher power

2

August yawns, stretches, and does her morning routine of both hygienic "rituals", and basic stretching/workouts. She takes in the news during and after her shower, as she dresses and readies her Father's Gladius at her hip. August grips her sword's handle and gives it a quick prayer, "Lady Luck, Father, Mother, bless me with good fortunes today". August leaves her apartment and heads to the nearest Protectorate bail bonds office. Looking for a simple bounty, to start her lone bounty hunting career.

(before I go to bed) (August is looking for a basic bounty to put her name out there, a lone murderer/madman who kills for kicks is who she's looking for a bounty for)

10:34 PM

(just to explain myself: been watching a lot of ME:TV/GRIT so i'm kind of in a bounty hunting phase rn because of Wanted: Dead or ALive, the show)

(Okay. I don’t know what those things are but that was just an intro post. I wasn’t going to drown you in information. )

1

6:52 AM

The Protectorate recruiting office nearby has been busy this morning but you’re able to get to the front of the line quickly. The exploration corps seems to getting more attention. There are a few things on the domestic desk. A recent investigation into an armed anti government group inside Heras has progressed. Some weapons were seized and its thought at least a small number of their members are encamped in the woods around the burned out farm the weapons were found in. Bringing at least one in alive for questioning would be a significant help

6:53 AM

A. Military operation sent there captured the weapons after another agent found them , but the sympathizers they belonged to were gone

August looks into the anti-government group encamped throughout the woods near the farm. Bringing someone in from the group might have EP look her way, she thinks to herself. August studies the map of the area and plans a patrol route for herself, before leaving for the woods.

(i think given the lack of detail i can probably riff of a survive/wis or sneak/dex, just let me know what you've rolled)

(Sounds good, I'll roll soon as I get a chance)

(August tries to be all sneaky-breeky lol)

12:17 PM

(8 total)

You're not observed by anyone after departing from the main road , entering the woodland you can hear the sounds of birds and small animals but nothing that conveys immediate human movement. Your quarry has been lviing here for some time, trying to avoid the law.

Taking in the nature of Heras, August climbs a large tree with her Kinetic Transversal (Augie focuses on the Transversal, committing effort) August begins taking the high ground, in an effort to have an easier time ambush her mark, or so she believes.

4:29 PM

August moves from tree branch, to tree branch, listening for sounds other than what is clearly the local fauna

From the trees you have a new vantage point to the ground and you can more clearly see places where vegetation has been trampled by boots rather than by hooves or claws A well worn path runs north to the burned out farm and then beyond it into the woods behind what remains of the barn

August trails the path of trampled vegetation from the thick branches. Planning to patiently await north of the farm, she tries to find a path that leads from the barn and towards into the woods. If August finds a path leading from the barn and into the woods, she will begin trailing that path specifically.

12:38 PM

(Augie's just trying to make sure the trail is still hot, per se. Would she have trouble tracking, going deeper into the woods, so I'd need a roll? Or is the path alright so far that Augie isn't having trouble?)

(You already found that path, stopping here was me warning you that you're getting into areas where there might still be people)

(oh thanks, I didn't want to post and assume or anything is all so thanks babe ❤️ ) August finds herself a path leading from the barn and into the woods, setting up an ambush within the treeline, at least 100m into said treeline. August draws her Gladius and waits among the treeline till sunset.

1:16 PM

(Augie follows a path that leads out from the barn at least 100m and she sets up an ambush, listening into groups, though, watching for an individual by their lonesome)

only 100m from the farm, you see and hear nothing. They'd be fools to remain this close to the property

August smiles, of course they wouldn't set up close by, anti-gov group means veterans of a previous disagreement will be in charge. August follows deeper into the woods, drawing her Gladius in full-bore. She heads 5 miles into the woods. Marking the way back with her Sword, as she advances. Augie then sets up another ambush point. Resting on a tree branch, holding her sword horizontally on her lap, August listens in, once again, until nightfall.

At the 2 mile mark, you see your first signs of habitation. A recently stamped out fire and a few ration wrappers that blew out fo the embers cling to the bushes , along with three sets of footprints

August raises an eyebrow at the sight of evidence. August does her best to follow a set of foot prints. Hoping to catch a perpetrator by surprise.

There is a crunch of breaking sticks and crumbing pine needles under thick boots, as @CrownedSteve enters the clearing , weapons held low but ready. They’ve come to the same conclusion , that the quarry you’re both after is close and you can each see on your compads that you’ve been empowered to handle this investigation.

(Were either of us notified that someone else was on this hunt?)

(ThAts what I said in the second paragraph last sentence of my last post

9:28 PM

(Probably wasn’t clear)

The Taros woman that emerges from the brush, a laser pistol on her hip and a military grade submachine gun in her arms. "Are you August?" I extend a hand in greeting. "Aria. I was the one who infiltrated the cache, and managed to get some intel for the military out if it."

"I am August, yes". August says as she walks down the tree, reaching back out in gratitude and shaking your hand. "Great work on infiltrating that place, keep it up"!! August gives Aria a thumbs up and whispers, "I'm heading back above the trees, you can lead the way whilst i watch your back from above, if that's alright. I don't talk much, to be quite honest".

I nod. "Fair enough. I'm not big on mincing words and pointless chatter either. Real quick, though. What's your specialty? Are you long range, short range, mage?"

"A little bit of both long range and close, though, I am afflicted with MES, I'm a Telekinetic. How's about you, Aria"?

"I'm a good deal more up close and personal, unless I'm in a ship. No magic, though. Just the guns." I begin to walk towards the quarry at a slow but steady pace.

August follows suit from atop tree branches (sorry for the late post, stuck at work since 8am and people are celebrating St. Patyy's today lol)

Following their bootprints is not difficult. Heavy stamped treads into the mud lead a winding path around trees, bushes, and large rocks. This deep in the woods, they have not bothered with the usual care. Ahead of you, 100m in the middle of the muddy forest path, some sort of light jeep like vehicle has become sunk in the mud up to the top of the wheel well, and has been abandoned.

I carefully and slowly approach it, being mindful of any potential hazards or traps.

August watches from atop, providing counter ambush support

9:18 PM

(augie def remains within 10m of Aria as a just incase)

(Notice /wis)

(Aria, August, both?)

(rolled anyways just in case, bout to head to bed) (5)

(Both)

(I'm having internet issues. Is there any way I could have you, Neko, roll for my character so we can keep moving along?)

(9 for me)

(Roll20 was down for a good chunk of yesterday I wouldn’t have been able to help you either)

10:30 AM

Aria hears the faint click of a radio approaching through the thick trees from 50m away, and they seem to be coming for the stranded vehicle and the wealth of supplies in its back

10:30 AM

The thick foliage obscures your vision of them

(Aria you can def take the lead, called into work so won't be posting much for another 4hrs lol)

She holds up a hand to stop, then points towards the direction the radio came from. She spends a moment looking for a spot to sequester herself, knowing she only has a few moments.

August stops, and sees Aria's visual-cue. Nodding to Aria, August then does her best to stay above Aria, scoping out from above.

There is continued noise from the bushes and it doesn’t sound like they’ve heard you. You make out four pairs of boot prints approaching along with the rattle and clank of chains and industrial tools. This is probably a recover team to try to get the truck out.

(Is there potentially a hiding spot on the jeep?)

(August stays in the tree line, slowly prowling to get on the group's six as they go to the jeep)

(It’s an open topped low profile vehicle like a ww2 jeep, so not really a great place to remain entirely concealed)

She remains where she is, hoping to avoid their sight.

15m away from your hiding place, four men emerge into the clearing with heavy hand tools and shovels, looking to begin extracting the jeep from the muck. They seem relaxed, and one of them even makes a joke that gets the others laughing.

I take out my compad and begin recording, in case these four are our targets and we can identify them.

They seem to be connected with the anti-Protectorate group, this is far off the beaten path and the vehicle isnt one in service to the local security forces. (if we had a database of who was involved , neither of you two would need to be out here. Nothing to really compare their faces to)

(There isn't any way to compare them to a database of residents?)

(running through the several tens of millions of people on this planet is going to be far more time than we're going to have within the confines of a scene)

(Oh, sure. But I can get my compad to do it in the background. Aria doesn't know how long either of these things will take for sure.)

(in the background yes, but its not something that's going to be resolved right now, which is what i thought you were asking)

(Ah. Fair enough.)

August advances slowly, doing her best to stay close to which ever of the men is the loneliest. Prepping for a silent takedown. (Augie's gonna knock someone out by clocking them on the temple)

4:43 PM

(using the pommel of her Gladius)

(Wait, crap! I was gonna have us follow them back to wherever they came from, to root out the base they're using.)

(just in the prepping phase, so Augie would def stop if you signal)

She happens to look up, and, panicking, waves her arms just enough to get August's attention, then waves her to stop.

August stops, and nods. Instead, August waits.

(yea all that would have happened is the other 3 would have killed you, like how your last 60,000 characters died) The team begins working to extract the vehicle using pry bars, and a battery powered portable winch. Old fashioned shovels and picks are also employed to slowly lever it out of the muck, and an hour of back breaking work in the clinging mud has it free. Its power cell still has some charge in it, and the team seems relieved to have a working ride back instead of needing to hike

2

She waits in place until they leave, then emerges from her spot to follow the jeep as best she can.

August follows Aria

The vehicle quickly outpaces you, but the mud and furrow of tracks they leave behind isnt going anywhere anytime soon. Following for a kilometer, winding around rocks, fording a shallow creek and then crawling through tall grass flattened by the vehicle's passage, you come to the ruins of an old sawmill where the outbuildings and mill itself have been patched with rough planks and tarps. A cookfire sunken into the ground, with holes to divert the smoke has been dug, and close to 50 men and women are here, performing various duties.

She winces, having not expected so many, and pulls out her compad, doing her best to establish communications with the local military.

The communications here are patchy. Some sort of low grade jamming is being employed. It's a far cry from the military grade ECM used on most modern battlefields, even after The Scream, but it is present. Most of the assembled people here also are armed with military pattern weapons- parts of other caches hidden in other places.

(I'm sorry. Still pre-coffee. Does that mean I got through, or not?)

(You did not)

August shrugs to Aria while mouthing, “What now”?

She waves her down from her perch, and, provided she does so, informs her of the comm jammer. "We need to take that out before requesting back up, and I don't think we can handle all of this ourselves."

"Agreed. Think we should fall back to where the Jeep was found? Maybe there'll be a signal there".

"That's probably our best option, although I'm not sure how many of them will be here by the time we can get back up to this location." She frowns, but begins to walk back towards the original spot where the jeep was, keeping an eye on the signal on her compad.

August nods, "Hopefully enough to make a difference for the Intel guys". August sheathes her Gladius and marches along.

The signal gets stronger as you walk away from the camp and by time you get to the jeep the device will be able to get a message out

She relays the information and the location to her contact.

They’re sending help, but when soldiers land it’s expected some of those at the settlement will run. That’s going to be your best chance to capture someone, as they won’t be expecting to run into anyone else

"By chance, Aria, is it possible to find out from which direction troops are coming from? Might be our best way to capture a straggler".

They're coming from the air, and will be dropped into the center of camp. They're expecting people to flee in all directions

(Sorry, couldn't get out of bed this morning. Too cold, and too warm under the blanket.) She nods, thinking, and surveys the surroundings of the building as she begins to hike back towards it, looking for a decent ambush spot.

1

(sneak or survive, both with wis, just let me know what you use. )

(8, Sneak)

(4, Sneak)

You both bed down behind a large log , and wait close to an hour as a trio of lights on the horizon resolve themselves rapidly into heavily armed Protectorate gunships. Each is packed with soldiers, and as they fly overhead they unleash racks of hydra missiles from wing pylons. Nine explosions dot the horizon, where the camp is, as the criss cross of tracers hit and fire out of the aircraft, and you can see the silhouettes of descending soldiers on ropes backlit by the fires.

3:51 PM

Ten minutes later, as the gunfire continues on the horizon, you hear the heavy thud of bootprints, as the over eager August jumps out from your hiding place, 5m in front of a group of three militants fleeing the camp. Aria is concealed, on their right flank, 10m away. (initiative)

(6)

(storming hard here so my internets super slow sorry lol)

4:06 PM

(2)

(Aria, Militants, August)

(Does firing from concealment give a bonus?)

( they just wont target you this round since they won't know you're there right away)

4:18 PM

(but its not a bonus normally, no)\

(Alright. How many of them are there? And is there a means of doing non-lethal with either the smg or the laspistol? Sorry for asking a lot of questions.) (edited)

(still three, you only have lethal weapons on you. It's possible to disarm or knock out someone in melee but its an opposed check and the person being disarmed as a decent bonus to resist it) (edited)

(Fair enough. Would I be able to persuade and shoot on the same turn?)

(using a skill is a main action, so you would only be able to attempt one)

(Alright. I wasn't sure what the action economy was like.)

(page 48-52 of the Revised core Rulebook has the best explanation along with a really good example of a combat)

(My internet died, so I'll have to do my move in a bit.)

(tyt I work like 85% of the time so no worries)

(Tyt?)

(which I'll have to apologize to Neko for cause there are def days where I don't even respond)

5:22 PM

(take your time)

(its PbP, its not supposed to be instant)

1

(Need help?)

(Sorry, been busy today.)

(You're good, real ish comes first

)

(Attack 7, Damage 4, on the first one I see with the las pistol.) Aria lines up a shot with her laser pistol, and shoots at the first one in her field of view.

The shot goes wide, hissing as it severs a tree branch

4:08 PM

The three militants can only see August until the bolt from the woods sends a trail of energy across their path. They begin to scatter, each of them running past August to end 5m behind him. (Taking fighting withdrawal to not tigger opportunity attacks as they move by , august up)

August books it towards the closest runner and tries tackling them to the ground (going for movement towards the foe at 5m, and then grapple via forced enemy movement)

(Exert/str or dex. Just let me know what you pick so I know what I’m opposing with

(8ATK/0DAM) (8)

(It’s not an attack it’s a skill check)

(yessir I rolled)

The militant is brought down to the ground on his belly, struggling under your weight and trying to thrash to get free. The other two remain in sight, now 15m from Aria (Aria)

She points her gun at one still standing, and barks out. "Hold there! This doesn't need to end in bloodshed! Stand down, and we'll make sure you get safely to a trial."

12:19 AM

(Trying to convince them to stand down.)

(Talk/cha)

(2)

Their chances for escape are better than their chances getting a fair deal from you and they continue to run

5:57 PM

Now 25m from aria and 15m from august

August continues to try and subdue the person she tackled, holding them onto the ground

(Would I be able to target a leg, hobbling them? Also, would I know how survivable a laser round to the leg is?)

)you can’t do called shots in this game like that. )

They have moved 25m from aria, out of reach of easy physical capture aside from the one August is currently wrestling to the ground

(Sorry, did my turn get skipped? I just wanted to check.)

(No it didn’t I just bumped the thread since nothing moved for a couple days. Just re stated the ranges and that august is pinning someone)

Aria hops out of her hiding spot, beginning to pursue the duo, and takes another shot at one of them with her pistol. (8 to hit, 7 damage.)

The shot goes wide as you close to 15m from the running foe. The pinned prisoner under august continues squirming , trying to shove him off (opposed exert/str. Enemy got a 10)

(9)

The pinned militant struggles and is able to free himself but only manages to rise

8:13 PM

(August )

(Same as before, going to try to wrestle him down)

8:30 PM

(exert w/dex = 6)

(13. Passes and isn’t held up by you, up to aria )

(I'd like to try to tackle the dude.)

(Exert/dex or str)

(Dex 8)

(10) he is able to shake you off as well, fighting the both of you away, and moving 10m from you. (fighting withdrawal to not get opportunity attacks, move to move 10m since hes already standing. August up)

7:42 AM

(and the other two at this point would have run too far beyond tackling them, unless you planned to just gun them down)

August once again does her best to bring the person down "Ya got some rope"? (on-turn action I ask Aria a question, move 10m to the guy and try out another tackle)

4:53 PM

(7)

(Checking my inventory, but I doubt it.)

5:57 PM

"Negative! No bindings of any kind!"

(We could always fashion something after we actually have someone to restrain)

6:31 PM

He goes down again as August belly slams on top of his back, driving him to the ground and winding him

(oh sorry, end turn)

(aria up)

(Do shoes still have laces?)

(I guess so? If you’re trying to bind him we can do that or fashion something out of the vines and whatnot since we are in the woods)

Aria looks around, spotting some vines, and gathers some of the sturdier ones quickly.

You're able to get enough woven together to hold them for the moment, it will do until something more suitable can be found back in civilization

(Oh is the runaway restrained?)

(Seems that way)

1

August looks to Aria with a smile, "Thanks a million, Aria. I never would've gotten this done without you"! August unsheathes her Gladius, pointing it in the direction towards civilization for the runaway. "Back home, then, is it, Aria? Unless you have unfinished business"?

"No, I think that's it. We might wanna check in with the ground troops, though."

"Sounds good to me". August looks at the runaway and tells them, "Alright buddy, come on".

She keeps her pistol trained on their prisoner, and begins to head back towards the base.

A dozen prisoners have been captured and have been made to kneel amid the ruins of their camp. The buildings are being set aflame and the wounded resistance fighters are being thrown into a mass grave with the dead Gunshots punch through them all, just to be safe. They’ve already been declared Protectorate traitors. A pair of soldiers jogs out to meet you, noticing your emergence and your captive

"Hi there. We caught one trying to escape, but a few more got away. I was figuring we could do some interrogation, to see if we can get some names and locations."

August adds, "And more, civil, restraints for our prisoner, here, please".

"The Protectorate thanks you for your service, and we'll be ensuring we get any possible leads extracted from the prisoners. Scouts and bounty hunters will take care of the others who have run. They will have no choice but to try to return to civilization now"

"I'm a bounty hunter myself, I was to return this man to the city for a reward. Would it be possible to receive a letter notifying that I captured one of these rascals"?

(The 5k mission credits you will get when this scene is done would be the reward which is already a lot)

11:58 AM

A message from Protectorate Forces credits both of you for the capture and for your involvement in finding the camp so this raid could even take place

1

August looks over to the Protectorate Trooper and says, "I thank you for properly crediting both Aria and myself, sir". August looks to Aria, "So, what now, bud"?

(also I can't believe I'm almost done a mission WITHOUT dying so thanks a billion Aria lmfao)

(Yay. Let me know what you want to do next)

1

(Sorry, just woke up with a headache. Give me a few to enter full consciousness.)

1

(do your thing, celebrating cause am alive hehehe)

She checks her now functional compad to see if this matter is resolved. "Well, if we've rooted out the insurgents, we could probably-- Or, I suppose you could go off on your own." (edited)

(I’ll do either one. I don’t want to tie anyone down if we have other ideas or things we want to do)

(Aria won't stop until she's 80% or more sure there aren't more insurgents.)

(I'll be glad to help along, even in character August would back you up till you're done-done)

(This wasn’t all of them but they have no new leads right now until they’re interrogated , which we can either do or fast forward to after)

"We just got paid, Aria, you think we should head back into the city and buy some new gear? Hell, we can head back to try tracking the other runners. Or, we could interrogate Marathon Man over there now, hehe. I'll leave it up to you, Boss" August gives Aria a thumbs up and begins doing a few stretches as she awaits a response.

"Mm, I'm not too much for intelligence work. I think I'll see about getting a ship set up for when this is all done with. What about you?" She turns, and begins walking back to the city.

"Me"? August notices Aria walking away and shuffles to catch up. "I'm gonna pay this months bills, eat hearty, get me one of them Compads, buy new furniture for my apartment, clothes, maybe some gear. I gotta treat myself. Living on Hera isn't like farming on Herdugr, hehe".

9:57 PM

(**Hergudr)

She nods. "Makes sense. Might try to do something similar, maybe get myself a personal vehicle, if I can wrangle it."

"That'd sure be nice, hopefully it won't be to tough to buy a nice make and model". August pats Aria's shoulder and continues, "You think you can teach me to drive one day, Aria? It'd give my folks back home a helluva laugh seeing me behind the wheel".

"I'm more a pilot than a driver, but I can try, I guess."

"A Pilot? So you know how to fly ships? Incredible! Tell me, when did you find you had a knack for flying"?

(Caught up, just dont want to send you off anywhere mid RP)

(Sorry, was busy all day yesterday.) "Hm. Well, probably not too far after I enlisted. They had us do a bunch of aptitude tests, and I scored pretty well on gunnery, navigation, and helmsmanship, so I got drafted to the naval corps pretty quick."

“Impressive. Maybe I’ll learn a thing or two about flying while hanging with ya”.

Interrogation may take some time to yield anything actionable. in the meantime, the exploration corps is always looking for volunteers. The people of Yauvani, a jointly administrated planet with the UNW under the agreed upon partnership against the ghouls, is also in need of some strong hands to help shape its remaining urban spaces into safe areas once again. Many humans on Yauvani willingly served the ghouls as collaborators since it meant better conditions for their families and exemption from being fed to the culler bots via lottery. THose who did not turn coat are eager to hunt down those who did.

(During this time, is it safe to say that Aria and Augie are in the city talking about this and capable of buying new things? Or are we still on the trail and weighing options? I just wanna confirm, rather not assume too much)

(I'm good either way.)

(We're back, was going to have the troopers fly you back but it doesnt matter, we're back to a safe/urban area either way)

August heads to a store, looking to pick up new adventuring gear, and personal equipment. (Security Armor - 700¢) (Conversion Bow - 500¢) (Dataslab - 300¢) (Survival Kit - 60¢) (Conversion Arrows - 10¢) (Total - 1,570¢)

(Was there an XP reward?)

8:55 PM

(I'll need a few to look over things to pick up for Aria.)

(I didn't get to that point because you guys were roleplaying and then very abruptly weren't, but 3xp and 5000 credits for finishing this)

(thats my b dawg)

(Sorry. I'm kind of having trouble focusing on anything lately, which wouldn't be an issue if I was by myself.)

(we can split up into different missions)

(But I like being in a duo.)

(okay, well, let me know how to help if i can then)

(One more thing; would I be paying for my ship, or would it be built by the faction?)

Aria heads to a military surplus warehouse, using her military ID to purchase some things. Once she gathers her items, she heads to a vehicle dealership and picks up a hovercycle. (Combat Field Uniform - 1000) (Sniper Rifle - 400) (Void Carbine - 400) (Stun Baton - 50) (Ammo, 20 rounds (applicable to the rifle and the carbine) - 10*5) (Field radio - 200) (Hovercycle - 5000) (Total Cost - 7100)

(Are you referring to a space ship or do you mean do you have to pay for your Gravcycle yourself ?)

(Okay. I've taken some time to feel better. i meant a ship, not the cycle.)

(If you don’t want Joseph’s you’d have to pay for one yourself )

(oh yeah forgot to LvL up) LvL2 Old HP: 7 LvL2 Roll: 12 Updated HP: 12 2 Skill Points used: 1+Talk = 0 / 1+Trade = 0 1 Psi Point used: +Pressure Field Focus: Sniper LvL1

( looks good)

(Thank you my good sir!) August gets accustomed to her Dataslab, adding Aria as a contact, if Aria allows it of course. "Here's my info if you wish to contact me in the future". August then gives Aria a thumbs up, "I'm gonna head home to my apartment for a bit, let me know if something comes up". (I have to drive out of town for a tidbit for family, so I totally understand if Aria goes to her thread again. Won't post normally till Wednesday. Wanted to give a quick heads up is all.)

(I'm good for anything. I've got some hooks in the news, and i know i mentioned a couple here)

August readies herself for the day by working out, showering, and eating a hearty meal. August heads back to the Recruiting offices to confirm, and requisition another bounty.

(we have the ghoul situation to the west, or we can keep running down this militia group here)

(militia group) (devil I know lol)

2:07 PM

(plus I can see if Aria's still down for some action)

2:07 PM

(and no, I wont get over eager this time I swears it lol)

(I am not sure what Aria is doing, we have not had a response yet)

The interrogation has led to some rumors that surviving rebels might be moving north toward the farming field and walled city of Chiron. There may be sympathizers within its walls, or they may just be trying to get further away from Mytikas. That part of the questioning has been less forthcoming

August sets off North, towards the farming fields, to the Walled City of Chiron. August is hopeful she will be able to assist further. (If August knows that it will take time to get there, she'll buy rations and water. If there are Ubers and the like, August hails one of them to take her there)

(there are not ubers and the like. The journey is several days on foot, if not longer. You might have enough money for a bike or hover bike depending on w hat you've spent which I don't think is much)

(I don't feel like dealing with the whole google doc thing so I'll just buy three-bundles of three rations, and make my way North for 45¢)

(I don’t know what you mean, but alright) (edited)

8:25 AM

Heading out into the north countries you first pass farmland the protectorate is using to keep the city fed without relying entirely on Chiron. Many families live here and it is where Dev, another Protectorate agent routed several of this Militia in the woods. They’ve been handled now, driven further afield

August appreciates the historical scenery while making her way to Chiron. "Gee whiz, hope no Militia guys come out of no where".

The trek is going to be a few days at least , and getting to the borders of Mytikas is most of a day on foot. As evening dawns while you’re still in mostly patrolled area, you have some flexibility in making a camp for the night. The trek would have been just a day on bike, exposing you to far less risk

Knowingly it'll take both time, and a sprinkle of danger, August heads north, to the Walled City of Chiron, looking to see if more info can be ascertained on the Militia rebels.

(D10)

(two out of ten)

Near the city you’re able to pass the night In relative peace. Morning comes , and so does another day of challenges along the road. The jingle of scrap metal bouncing in a truck bed on the road nearby breaks you from your morning thoughts , just as you finish quenching the small camp fire (edited)

August walks out to the edge of the road. Giving the truck a hitch-hikers thumbs up, even yelling out to them, "Headed to Chiron"!?

There is a hiss of air as its brakes release and the engine shuts off so he can actually hear you. “What’s that?” He asks. The cabin smells of stale cigarette smoke and the bed is filled with all manner of scrap metal looted from anywhere it can be found on the surface of this planet

"You headed Northbound?! I'm headed to Chiron! Sorry to stop ya my friend"! August yells back in response as her hearing adjusts to the downed engine.

"Yeh, heading that way now. Got a load of scrap metal to try to pawn off up there. You traveling alone?"

"Unfortunately. I hate to ask, but is it alright if this stranger asks for a ride there? I'm a bit of a Telekinetic-for-hire, so I'd highly appreciate it". August reaches her left hand out and kinetically brings the rest of her gear towards her, putting it on as she awaits an answer.

He opens the door for you from the inside. “Hop in. Telekinetic eh? Not working with the academy?”

August visibly smiles and audibly chuckles, "Oh yeah, it's super helpful when looking for work. And no, to be honest, I am totally curious about what they'd be able to teach me there though". August settles and continues. "Thank you for the ride, by the way. My name's August Sol-Luceat, it's a pleasure".

"August, I'm Baranta, Nice to meet you. Heading to Chiron eh? what for?"

August hates lying, so she tells him the truth. "Not gonna lie, headed there to see if I can do some good. I'd gladly help out with the stuff in you're truck-bed, it'll be a good start if ya ask me".

"Do some good? You're not a criminal are you?"

"Far from it, Mr. Baranta. Just a kid looking to make a difference, got a few credits in my pocket, so I'm looking to help out the people of Chiron, get my name out there and make friends. Thing is, I'm a tad nervous. I've never been to Chiron, ya see. Any advice for a first timer? I'm looking to plant my feet in the city for a bit, maybe make it my new home".

"Not much different than Mytikas aside from the city is walled, and there are a lot more farms. Still humans, still nicely developed"

August laughs at the mention of farms, "I'm going to love Chiron then! I definitely owe you for this, Mr. Baranta sir! If there's anything I can help you around with, you let me know! I'll be Chirons favorite volunteer I promise"!

“I tend to run the business for myself. Used to have a partner but I’ve had to rebuild once already from being cheated. Now I just handle things on my own”

"No worries, not trying to be a partner, just trying to do good by what my parents taught me, which is, simply put, always be good to your neighbors".

He steers the vehicle around a sack left in the road , and the truck continues rumbling on. Clear of it by some 30m, it explodes. The explosion is harmless to you at this distance and must have been delayed somehow. The IED is now spent.

August ducks, putting her hands over the back of her head, "HOLY COW BARANTA!! THE JEEPERS WAS THAT"!? August lifts her head, looking to him and then peering back. "By Jove, this normal out here"?

He accelerates , trying to push as far from the site of the explosion as he can. "No! Never like this!" Small arms fire flashes in the trees, most of it misses, though a few shot spark off either the truck bed, or the stacked cargo in the back as he continues pushing the vehicle as fast as it can safely go

"I'll see what I can do with my Telekinesis"! (Will it be possible to affect things like bushes or large tree branches to obscure the vision of the shooters in the trees?)

(I would say that is a fair use)

August puts two fingers on her temple and snaps her fingers with the other; almost as if a large gust of wind blew by, a large tree branch waves in front of on going muzzle flashes.

Shots miss or pulp branches rather than hitting the truck and after several tense moments as the seemingly endless bandits fire away at the vehicle , you seem to have escaped the ambush

August is visibly sweating and worried, yet clearly trying trying to keep her focus. "Mr. Barantas, I'm scared... you think you can double time it safely until we get away"?? August says as her left hand stays on her temple, and she keeps snapping her finger, switching from branch-to-branch.

“I plan to, you can probably hold off on whatever you’re doing with the branches now. The shooting seems to have stopped. This route Never used to be this bad”

"I wonder what made it this way? Hopefully there's something the Chiron authorities can do".

The chron authorities are the Protectorate authorities and they’ve made no better strides over the situation.

7:30 AM

“Think that’s all of them for now”

"I hope so. I hate seeing so much aggression on a planet where, if someone dies, they simply come back as some sort of Godless abomination. It's a terrifying thought".

"I thought the Protectorate was supposed to be looking into stopping that. No luck yet it seems, unless you know something different"

"Unfortunately, I know nothing. What I do know, is that fate put me here to help in some way. And I'll do everything in my power to help, my friend. I'm thinking, once we get to where you're driving specifically, I'll head over to the Protectorate/Chiron authorities and sign in with the bounty hunters. After I give ya a hand with all your scrap, of course"!

"When we get to the city our paths will part ways. I appreciate the help, getting us through that ambush has us even. "

"Well hey, if there's anything you need, I work for you for free, Mr. Baranta. You saved me about a weeks worth of time with this ride. So for me to sit here and pretend like I don't owe ya anything would make even my parents slap me upside the head for not assisting you in any way. Besides, my well-being is secure thanks to your driving skills, not my Telekinesis, technically". August gives Baranta her personal contact information.

"How long you think you're going to be in the city for?" he asks, as he hears his compad beep, but doesn't look at it yet.

"If the pay is well, who knows, might settle down for good. Though now I definitely want to help out with these crazy people in the woods".

He listens as you talk on, heading for Chiron and making it to the front gates by morning. Guards at the gate and on the walls are overlooking the countryside, and interrogating any vehicles trying to come into the city

August readies any Identification she has for the morning arrival. "Any last words of advice on Chiron before parting ways"?

"If you're going after those guys, just be careful. They knew where to hit, and how. There's some organization to this yet"

August worriedly looks to Baranta, "That's mostly what I'm afraid of. Approaching this situation hopefully won't get too complicated. Hell, I doubt it's even possible, but half of me wishes to push for Diplomacy if I run into one of these Rebels. Don't they know that the more of them die, the more of those... things come about? August refers to those who have resurrected.

"they wont threaten a city, but i worry about anyone on foot, or anyone living in the countryside:

"Those in the country side of Chiron...? You don't think they're headed there to raid for food, do you"?

he shrugs, he doesnt have the kind of information he would need to really make an estimate

August chuckles, "Fair enough". August leans her chin on her hand and rests her elbow on the side panel. August's head swivels, keeping her eyes open for anything suspicious in the treeline and brush.

(so we're outside the city right now while he waits in the inspection line, are you just peacing out to go into the woods?)

(No sir, I'm headed into the city itself first, to make sure I have a place to sleep at night and food)

The chironese gate guards would like to know your identity and why you are carrying weapons, as most people coming in from the countryside do not. They do not seem hostile, just men following a checklist so they can keep their safe postings

August cooperates amicably with the Guardsman, happy to see people with guns are finally not shooting at her. "I'm a hand for hire, my bow and blade are for the hunt. I'm also Telekinetic. Here for work, sir". August presents ID, keeping her hands visible.

He sees you’re a protectorate citizen and have had a hand in counter insurgency work before. “Chasing that group of bandits then are you?”

"Wasn't thinking about it much, well, until". August points at the bullet holes the bandits left behind on Baranta's truck.

“Sure. Sure. You on contract with the city or you freelancing ?”

"Freelancing, though, I'm thinking of helping out here in Chiron over Heras. 'Specially with citizens getting randomly shot at from the treeline". August shrugs saying this. "It ain't right having people who ain't got to do with nothing gettin' shot at".

“I’ll register you as a contractor then so you won’t be bothered for having weapons in the city. Most of the mercs hang out at the inns down near south wallside”

"Thank you sir, I appreciate your vouch and informational testament".

(Not sure what you had in mind other than waiting for morning and tracking them down)

(Exactly as you said, actually. I was thinking of paying a few mercs to go as a search party, also, but I'll leave those questions in the HELP section later, no clue how that works)

(Alright. I’ll answer them when they show up)

(did you need help, then?)

(yeah, I'll post tomorrow, another family issue I had to deal with. Moving Abuelita's stuff cause everyone else would rather play video games)

(Sounds good)

(Finally home back in PA, my PC is all fixed up thanks to my buddy, and now I just have to redownload all of my books.)

(they're in #rules-and-books on the SOURCE BOOKS link on the resource document)

1

(Apologies for the delay in post, I finished rereading so I'm not posting nonsense) August thanks the Guards, and once again insists with Baranta that she'd like to make offloading his scrap. August then takes out her Dataslab and preps her map for the Inn at the South Side Wall on her map.

(Whoops, 'She'd like to help with offloading his scrap')

He once again insists on handling this by himself. Safety from the ambush was enough. The inn is a short distance away and seems respectable. It has two floors and the top seems to be where most people relax and recover from the rigors of travel or work in the countryside.

August waved Baranta Goodbye and thanked him for the millionth time. August enters, walking up to the Innkeep, and asks, "I'm new to Town, friend. Care to help a sister out with a place to stay and a warm meal"?

“What’s your business here in town?” He asks, looking down the bar counter

"Other than making a few Credits, I'm looking to do some justice to those outside the walls. There are rebels scattering up towards this way, and there are farmers out here that could be in danger".

“Any idea of how many ? That sounds like the countryside is going to experience a great deal of danger

"Unfortunately I have no idea, though, there was a camp of them broken up by the EP Troops down south".

He nods, and begins getting a meal together for you. "Good luck with the hunt, you're welcome to stay here while you're doing that"

August happily rents out a room to leave things behind in as she awaits to fill her belly. (or floor and footlocker if that's the case here) In the morning, August prepares her Security Armor, Gladius, and Conversion Bow, August puts her survival kit belt around her waist. Giving a quick prayer whilst her hand is on her Gladius, August thanks the man behind the counter for breakfast before casually making her way back to the gates, wanting to head over to one of the farms and warn them of the rebel danger.

There are many farms on the edges of the city responsible for feeding most of Heras. The land here is incredibly fertile and Chiron had found a unique niche to fill within the whole of the protectorate. It’s not hard to find a homestead close to the walls

(hope your day was good!) August makes her way back, on foot, from the way she came. Walking from farm to farm, August wants to ensure that each farm she comes across, knows to be on alert, for Rebels approach from the South. (*August hopes that her warning in the City has reached the Citizens that may come across danger. I understand it may take her some time.)

)how long would you be spending doing this ?)

(3 days, before she heads back and rests at the Merc hotel, again)

You manage to get through a day of warning and stop to spend the night at a homestead

6:34 AM

(I got a map)

6:35 AM

6:36 AM

As night approaches and you have dinner with the family- a father, his wife, three sons and two daughters, you hear the animals in the corral becoming restless. There’s no weather or environmental reason they should be this way and the meal halts abruptly as the family begins arming themselves.

August arms herself alongside the family, readying her conversion-bow and arrows. "I can take a look for you sir and ma'am. Probably just the local wildlife making your animals ornery". August hopes it is wildlife as she approaches the door to the outside, leaving the house.

You can see a pair of torch flashlights bobbing in the woodline, looking down at the grass

August returns to the house, alerting the family of the lights on their property, "I saw a couple of lights out there. Not sure if there are more, I'm going back out there to try and startle them off the land, if it's ok with you"?

"We'll come with you, if they cant be turned around they'll go for the barn. We need to keep that from happening"

August nods and takes point, walking out to where she was before she turned back. August leads by a good fifteen feet, doing her best to make her silhouette in the dark seem alone, for when she shouts at the intruders. August, halting as she gets closer, signals to the others to get low and ready for the unknown individuals response. August raises her bow, and pulls back the string, not taking aim, keeping it on the level. "WHO'S THAT STUMBLIN' AROUND IN THE DARK!? STATE YOUR BUSINESS! OR PREPARE TO GET WINGED"!

The lights blink off, and their position in the darkness is lost. Gunfire snaps out from the treeline , sending dirt and scalds of grass high into the air. They’ve missed but won’t be so inaccurate in a moment

August takes a knee and takes a moment to loudly whisper above the gunfire worried about the Family backing her up, "Stay low! I'll draw em' out and you aim for the flashing lights"! (my part is used making sure the Family is playing it safe)

(So did you not want them to do what you said, or you do?)

(I do, just want them to not take any chances with my character, sorry for not being clear)

They agree to the plan, and once you make your move they will do their best to support you

August takes aim and looses an arrow, then readies another arrow, (Main action is used attacking, move action used to ready another arrow)

1:32 PM

(6ATK/3DAM)

The arrow sails wide into the darkness, and the return fire shreds the haybales you are hiding behind. You can smell the cinder-smoke of burned straw. The farmers return fire into the wood,s trying to hit the muzzle flashes. You cannot see if they're successful or not

1:42 PM

(August)

Releasing the second arrow, August reaches and readies the third. (Once more, Main action is used firing, move action is used to ready) (18ATK/9DAM)

This time your shot into the dark is rewarded with a cry of pain, and one of the militants highlights themselves. Muzzle flash illuminates a man with a fiber rod sticking out of his chest, falling onto his back as he fires wildly into the air. The shot was center mass, and he is beyond even a skilled doctor's ability to save

August advances and knocks another arrow. (Shift to another possible firing position within 10m as movement phase, and main action is used reloading)

(20/5) This time, they have a bead, and you feel a shot rip into your side. The farmer and his family return fire, killing another of the raiders

August winces from the shot, she lifts her bow and does her best to return the favor. (main action fire, movement is used reloading) (20ATK/3DAM)

The shot connects with whatever you had meant to fire at. You can’t see the exact impact in the dark such as it is, but with the loss of at least two and the wounding of another it seems the bandits have had more than their share of trouble here, and begin to disengage from the fight

8:55 PM

They make for the deeper woods, cutting lights and moving through the undergrowth

August, holding her wound, runs back to the family to check in on them, "You folks alright"?

They've had a couple near misses. No one but you was actually hit, but they are on edge. The raiders may return with numbers, and might not tip their hand early next time.

August checks on the barn, making sure the animals inside are ok, before returning to the farmhouse.

You were able to stop them before the raiders could push into the farm. The animals seem safe

3:23 PM

(3xp, 5000 credits)

(Thank you! I'll add the Credits and XP soon as I'm home tonight!)

(Sounds good)

LvL3 Old HP: 12 LvL3 Roll: 9 Updated HP: 13 2 Skill Points used: 1+Connect = 0 / 1+Punch = 0 1 Psi Point used: +Kinetic Armory (All 1st LvL Telekinetic techniques learned)

August rests and defends the Family for a day, (two or three if they feel unsafe) and returns to the Walled City of Chiron. August hopes to push for National Guardsman to secure the borders against the Rebels/Guerillas.

August hopes to do it, but now must put hope into action as she enters the city.

(Happy Memorial Day!) August returns to the Inn which she departed from near the South Wall. August changes her bandages from getting shot the other day and showers up. Getting into her clean Secure Clothing, she leaves behind anything she doesn't need, for August heads towards Chiron's Sheriff's Office to inform them of the Rebels raiding farms.

A bored looking desk officer sits behind the counter. The terminal is very old, but somehow probably the newest thing the tech fearing people here would accept. His fingers drum idly on the desk, as he thinks, looking distant

August walks up to the man and introduces herself, "How do you do, sir? My name is August Sol-Luceat and I wish to inquire about Rebels encroaching on the Farmlands, sir. I myself have been witness to their aggression, and so have the farmers, which have allowed me quarter, sir. They work in small squads as far as I know, though, during the day, they seem to attack small groups of travelers in larger hordes of their own Guerrillas. Is there anything that can be done? Or anything I myself can volunteer to help with"?

The protectorate military is working to try to contain these dangerous people, but nothing can replace small teams or skilled solo trackers heading into the woods to thin their numbers. Once again, the suggest the fastest way to end the problem is to handle it as best you can yourself

"Is there anything an individual such as myself could do? Possibly acquire a Private Military Contract? Maybe enlist as a Sheriff's Deputy? A Marshall's Deputy? If you, the proper authorities can not handle this, maybe it's up to us, the people, to show these rabble-rousers the what for".

"It wouldn't come with any extra support, but we can register you as someone working down the bounties on this group so you will not be charged for the killings in criminal court"

"Huh. Well... that's actually really helpful. How's about the Private Military Contracting? Would I be able to extend that license to Mercenaries I hire"?

(you don't have henchkeeper so can't lead NPCs)

(Fair enough, honestly I forgot, so really that's on me, time for a diff approach) "Rhetorical question, I apologize, friend. I thank you for your time". August respectfully nods her head towards the office clerk, and exits the building. August heads back towards the Inn she left in the morning. Heading back to her room, August disarms herself and thinks whilst resting for the remainder of the day. Staring at the ceiling, August gets one last idea on helping out the farmers living in the outskirts, before deciding to go and help out herself. August messages the EP Town hall.)

(alright, i dont know who is around, it seems like everyone is in the middle of a mission right now, but no harm in asking)

(It sounds like Ivan is coming to help you out)

A direct response message is sent from the Silenus. The view behind Ivan is immaculate by someone's standards - the tech of the ship is covered in the quickly-moved junk from his apartment and the entirety of the ship's armory weapons spilled out everywhere to be gawked at by soldiers-turned-helmsmen. Opened technical manuals litter every surface. A pile of laundry can be seen with a SCAF butterfly CFU and an Erdozan assault suit thrown on top, both repainted with EP Militia insignias. A limited-edition Dynamic Daitrij action figure on the shelf above with a crudely-made plaque with the word "Boss" on it. The group of militia, already dressed for vacation, have serious looks on their faces after seeing August's message with Ivan.

"You're lucky you caught us before I hit the big red button. We'll be there in a few hours. Keep any missing bits of yours nearby - we have facilities onboard to reattach them."

August rests comfortably, for a night, purposefully putting things off for a few hours before heading to bed. August knows the days ahead of her will be tough. In the morning, August takes out the plates of her Security Armor and heads back to the shop, buying new plates for it, spending 700¢. And, buys six more rations for an additional 30¢. (total of 730¢) Before heading back to her room, she has breakfast at a restaurant. Filling her belly for the day ahead. Putting on her Security Armor and equipping herself once again, she gives her Gladius a prayer. "Lady Fortuna, spin your Wheel". August leaves in the same direction she came from. Wanting to warn or help more of those who live in the outskirts.

(Ivan is helping you on this. We sort of blew past his entire message here)

9:28 PM

(Also not sure what you actually did with the security armor. Have you bought something new? Armor and weapons don’t have an upkeep in this or anything )

(I was prepping to respond so that I could help) (Yeah since Security armor was mostly plating as it's description, I thought I'd have to replace plates, if I don't have to, then sweet)

With landing beacons active, Ivan's ship enters the atmosphere some hours later and begins its descent towards Chiron. (If there's a dedicated landing zone/port, I'll take that. Otherwise any non-farm field should do the trick but I won't leave it there overnight)

(There has never been any sort of maintenance for things that aren't modded)

7:48 AM

Chiron has a small field they've kept clear for minor space traffic to come down at rest at. There is a squad of Protectorate soldiers on duty there who are security for any left behind vessels

Dressed in their combat uniforms and carrying their service combat rifles, Ivan and three others from his squad disembark. The others, still dressed in their Sunday-worst, hang around the ship. "Make sure the truck is ready to roll at a fair moment's notice. I don't care who you have to hound to keep the loading dock clear or how many barricades you have to run through, you floor it the moment I call." To the three in uniform and walking with Ivan, "You three are for show. Stay with the civilians, schmooze around a bit, and be their rock under which they can hide if needed. If you're attacked, light up comms and don't stop yelling and firing." Ivan's small fireteam begin looking for inconspicuous transportation out to the farm August had messaged. "We've been guerrillas on Erdoza, so you know what to expect." Ivan mentions somewhat casually before continuing with a grim tone. "These guerrillas are going after targets that can't defend themselves. I don't know how they'll react to professional guerrillas like ourselves, so try to convince the non-combatants to stick together for their safety. It's likely going to get a lot uglier before it gets better." (With that, we're ready to meet up. Ivan's three uniformed idiots can stay "behind" at the farm/area while August and I do the heavy lifting)

August is at the southern gates of the settlement where the casual civilian traffic enters and exits the walled city. There is not much motorized traffic- the people in this region are slow to adopt modern technology. Most are still using carts pulled by beasts to get around either by riding them or using them to pull carts.

August, as she walks past people, stops by random strangers with a faster mode of transport over her two-feet, and asks, "You headed over to the outskirts, friend"?

Ivan, also present, notices a barely running cargo truck that's been idling near the gate for several minutes. The driver has his head out the window, and is smoking with the soldiers there

Ivan approaches, giving a mischievous wink to August. "Yeah think you can take us out there?" Ivan asks the driver. "We're trying to solve the mystery of the flavor disappearing out of our rations. We figured we'd start from the source and work our way up."

1

"Out where? What's yer destination?"

"A farm," Ivan provides the best interpretation of local directions before giving up and showing the coordinates August provided to him earlier. "That one. The one with the plants and a few extra holes."

August chuckles, "The farm was run by a husband and wife, and their three kids. Down south a ways".

“Hop in back. Gotta go past it but I can get you there quick”

6:45 PM

The brakes vent their air and the bed lowers allowing you to climb in without needing to strain yourselves. The rusty riveted step groans gently as you step aboard

(What's the truck carrying for cargo?)

the truck has few boxes of simple parts in it heading for Mytikas, but seems to be mostly running empty for now. With the cold season here the food that normally would be heading south from Chiron farms is quieted for the next few months leading to some light running trucks

Ivan waits for the truck to start moving before striking up a conversation, using the truck's noise to keep the driver from listening in. "How many attackers have been coming out at night? And are they doing or going for anything particular noteworthy or are they just trying to scare people?"

August settles in after Ivan, crossing her arms and getting comfortable. "Luckily, it's been smaller groups of three. Though the group that attacked the family I told you about, could've been four, maybe five, plus. It was to dark to tell. Though, when it comes to motives, I myself believe they're running low on food. The Rebels might be getting desperate".

Ivan leans back and thinks for a moment. "Teucer and I rooted out a sympathizer of the woman who doesn't move much embedded in the higher echelons of militia logistics. Before that, I busted one of our quartermasters providing gear to raiders attacking the food shipments. My guess is this is all connected, and if your guess is right, then they're feeling the noose tighten. But what gets me is that most of them are relative nobodies - they could stash their weapons, move a ways, and reintegrate. Why go about attacking people this late into the game?"

August nods as Ivan talks, her eyes slightly widening at the mention of treason. "Why indeed"... August rubs her chin. "Do they have any leaders that you know of? I wish I knew what they were fighting for. The more innocents they kill, the more of those things forget they're dead". August cringes.

"Beats me, aside from the ones we already caught. There's a chance there aren't any, at least out here, if they're targeting the very people that are trying to maintain a decent society, irrespective of whoever is calling the shots nearby."

(Caught up just don’t want to interrupt)

"So at the very least, they're relying on NCO's, and some Captains and Lieutenants. I agree, though, they strayed from their own path, and now have degenerated to clearly attacking the populace, but, what can we do? My only idea is readying the populace for what may come".

Ivan shrugs, making plates on his armor scrape against the wall of the truck slightly. "Hardening the civilian population is always a good idea and will put me out of a job in some places. Deterrence may be enough to sway some insurgents away from their craft, but it will also inspire more brazen attacks. So even then the population will still have a target on its back. They don't want to fight that kind of war, they'd rather someone else take the risk, like us faceless men and women in the militia. They would also want us to do something, as in bring the fight elsewhere and not hang out on their doorsteps with mean looks. I don't blame them in the slightest, because a defensive posture doesn't win arguments involving guns." Ivan closes his eyes and leans his head back as he continues in a dry tone. "So we can also go on the offensive. Track these hooligans down and hunt down their friends, preferably at night when they're most active. Make their raids prone to counterattacks beyond their expectations. Make them earn every crumb and bullet they consume. Make them realize that they can't steal sleep like you can food and ammo. Their camps will grow quieter as more of them attain martyrdom in unmarked graves in lonely forests. They'll break in more ways than one. And when you give them respect and even a slight smile or casual joke as they sit - disarmed, surrendered, and ultimately humiliated - they'll have realized how things could have been so much better had they just stopped, never mind talking about it." Ivan's attending squad members give blank stares at nothing in particular, offering no response but no indication of disagreement. Ivan's compad lazily vibrates, and the message Missed Reminder x 104 - "REMEMBER TO SCHEDULE THERAPY FOR ERDOZA THING" pops up. Ivan swipes it away without opening his eyes. "I'm really looking forward to some of those noodles later. It's gonna be a good time. It'll beat the hell out of the places we've been to."

(Good to go?)

(I'm down to go or keep up the conversation, doesn't matter to me!)

(finished reading Ivan's just now, ready) August stretches and levels her gear. "I'm an amateur compared to you, looks like, so please. Take the lead. I'd rather you and your crew give a more experienced perception of the dangers that may be ahead of the folk who needs the protection".

It seems the time is coming sooner than you think, as a cart left on the side of the road explodes, 20m from the truck. Debris rains down on the open back, and clatters off the cab. Shouts and whistles blowing in the woods mix with the ringing of ears and general cacophony that comes with an improvised explosive

2:57 PM

Woods on both sides of the vehicle are dark with overhanging branches and the overall inhospitably of the Heras forests.

Ivan shakes off the ringing in his ears and slams his fist on the metal separating the cab from the truck bed. "Nothing in this truck is worth your life! Leave the truck and get in a ditch and don't move!" Ivan and the three squad members load and lock their combat rifles. "They're in for a surprise. Shall we begin our Boogeyman spree?" (Edit: I assume we stopped, is this correct?) (edited)

(yeah we did stop)

As soon as Ivan slams his fist, and barks orders, August repeats Ivans commands to the citizens, "Cut em' up! Round em' up!! Into the ditches!! Steel yourselves for Savages"!! August follows Ivan and readies her bow and arrow.

The gunfire slams into the side of the vehicle from a treeline to the right. Its easy to see three militants in filthy uniforms leveling combat rifles at the cab. The driver has rolled out and is sheltering underneath the truck for the moment- unsure if there is going to be fire coming in from the left side too.

6:05 AM

The enemy is 30m away

"They'll see us as soon as we come out," Ivan whispers to August. "We should hit hard and fast. They'll be prepared to run as soon as they hit significant firepower." Ivan gives practiced hand signals to the three squad mates - convoy left - overwatch - ambush expected - allow enemy to close distance. Ivan notices August's bow and gets an idea, slinging his combat rifle onto his shoulder and pulling out his standard-issue combat knife. (I forgot to ask, what does this truck look like? I imagined an enclosed bed. Have the bullets penetrated to our knowledge?)

(1 in 4 shots has punched through it. It has a shallowly enclosed bed with a canvas top)

August, following Ivan into the ditch, yells to the drivers and other citizens who aren't still on the move, "Into the ditches! If you don't have a weapon! Keep Low"!! Noticing Ivan just shouldered his rifle, August's eyes shift to his and she asks, "Got something on yer mind, partner"?!

Ivan smiles after reaching the ditch and looking at August. "It's quieter and way less noticeable. They might scram prematurely if they see we're packing. Plus if one gets away, they might have to explain why the lost to a knife... and a bow, which is like a knife with a few extra steps." Ivan's three squadmates as their own fireteam pile into the ditch on the opposite side of the truck and out of view of the current attackers, watching our backs.

30m from your position , the separatists pepper the side of the truck (edited)

"Good thought. I'll follow your lead". August pulls, knocks and readies her arrow, leveling it, waiting for Ivan's next order.

Ivan rolls up into the underbrush next to the ditch on the side of the road, staying very low. He waves for August go follow before disappearing into the foliage.

(sneak/dex Ivan)

(3)

The bulky warrior is seen as soon as he dives into the woods. (Initiative everyone )

(2)

(they got a 1, so I'd imagine the order will go August, Ivan, militants)

(2)

(august has a better dex mod, no change in the order, still August, Ivan, militants)

August follows suit, staying low and moving fast behind Ivan. (Augie also sneaks, and moves)

(They’ve already spotted you, a sneak check in this case isn’t something we can use a main action for)

(Understood, then instead I shall zip an arrow at them then move) (17ATK / 7DMG)

As August begins to run she fires an arrow into the woods and is rewarded with one of them soldiers staggering and interrupting their suppressive fire. She is 25m away from them now, bow in hand. (Ivan)

Ivan moves foward to close the gap (10 m), then quickly sheaths his knife in its hidden home (instant action, Armsman) and in one smooth action draws his service pistol, firing a round at one of the militants not sporting an arrow. (11/2, rolling good tonight)

The shot blows a chunk of tree near them out, but doesn't hit a target

7:34 AM

The three militants fire back (miss Ivan, Miss Ivan, 15/5 august) , their modern weapons more than expected for a group of frontier's people.

7:34 AM

(august up)

A chunky metallic thud can be heard slamming into August's chest-rig, the round knocking the wind out of her, August audibly oofs (Main action, knock an arrow, then move, continuing closing that distance)

(August is 15m from them now, Ivan up)

Their weapons don't match their skill, these people are only playing soldier. Emboldened by their far-off misses around him, Ivan stands straight up and walks with purpose towards them (another 10 m), firing a round off in now extreme close range (19/2, no penalty due to Close Combatant if those remaining 5-ish meters is swinging distance)

(Not swinging distance until we close the gap. If we were playing on a grid there would be a couple hexes between you and them still)

(Oh that's right, "grid" size is 2m or so, derp. No change in my action though!)

One of the shots strikes the wounded arrow man and he falls to the ground clutching his chest.

6:45 AM

The remaining two look at one another for a moment before fleeing , dropping their weapons and moving 20m through the woods toward denser cover

(it would be back to august if we decide to pursue or gun them down, otherwise if we're letting them run combat is over)

(I'll defer to August, for there's interesting things about whether we stay or chase)

"Can't finish a fight you started"!? August lets loose her readied arrow and gives chase (Instant Action is a shout, fire, and move)

1:32 PM

(5ATK/2DMG)

The arrow misses, wildly off course as the movement of running and firing is too much to handle at once. (Ivan)

"Downed militant back at engagement site, at least three hot weapons - double-tap him and grab the rifles." Ivan reports back to the three squadmates back at the truck and continues his march towards the two runners, popping off another round. (12/3)

The second shot strikes one of the fleeing militants. They are not wearing armor and he is wounded, falling behind his companion. They continue running (20m move and main. )

August stops staying low and begins putting her bow around her torso, holstering it. August then sprints after the runners. (My move action is spent holstering my bow, and then, giving chase. Main action is spent doing the same,running after them)

(it was readied, we don't need an action to just set it aside)

11:49 AM

(once again, the encumbrance rules are only half a page and will literally save your life)

(Ivan)

Ivan holsters his pistol and begins dashing towards the wounded runner with a soldier's blank expression of combat focus. He exaggerates his gait, stomping through felled branches and undergrowth. They'll probably get away, so let's make sure they remember why they chose to run. (Move+main) (Edit - just hit enter too soon, final version done) (edited)

You are gaining on him. He is too wounded to continue running and falls, sliding into the muddy ground while his ininjured companion continues sprinting away, now 50m from August

11:31 AM

(august up)

(Hippo, Neko, you two are the greatest people ever. Fucking love you for waiting on me so long!!

❤️ ) (Sorry Neko, brain is all scrambled from both the heat and work so I forgot the encumbrance rules) (August uses her movement to holster and uses main to sprint**) (Aaand~ all caught up, thank you) August continues giving chase. (August continues running after the surviving Guerilla's, main spent sprinting if not close enough, if close enough, she will tackle them down, if possible)

(10m from them, but its about to be 30m when they move. At this rate there's no way to catch them if we're all just sprinting)

6:48 PM

(ivan)

Ivan slows down to re-equip his firearm, firing one last shot off at the non-wounded man running out in the front. (19/6) Ivan then holds up his hand to stop August. "Let them (both or the remaining injured) go. We've done enough."

The wounded man is hit in the back of the head. A bloom of red mists the air and he tumbles head over heels before crumbling into the dirt.

"Agreed". August nods to Ivan.

(1/2) Ivan kneels down at the fallen corpse. The man's face and tripped-up arms and legs lay haphazardly against the low growth, tree roots, and leaf litter in a final frame of his violent death. The black, oozing void coming out of the man's skull reminds Ivan of old boot camp classes on mortal wounds and the succeeding nasty involuntary effects they don't show you in the holovids or propaganda posters. The only solace is that the adrenaline rush of taking the first shot may have kept him from ever feeling pain. Ivan straightens the arms and legs before rolling the body over onto its back. Ivan looks over the man's face, purposefully avoiding looking into his eyes for more than a moment to judge if he appears local. Ivan then checks the man's hands for signs of callousness - an indicator of whether he had lived a life of hard labor or not, such as farming - before looking for any bracelets or necklaces that may indicate identity, medical alerts, or faith. "Standard procedure, I assure you." Ivan assures the lifeless body as if it could protest. Ivan moves on to the pockets, frisking over the usual breast and pants pockets before going through each and investigating interesting things. "He might have identification," Ivan says unprompted to August. "It might give us some kind of clue as to where they're coming from or one place where they're recruiting." Or nothing at all, if those above him didn't truly care about his wellbeing even after death. Ivan thinks, remembering the sources of identification on or within his own body in the event of his own combat oopsie-daisy. "We could probably check out his last residence..." If he had one. "...question people he knew..." Partner? Kids? Pet that won't see him come home? Did they know he could end up like this? "...you know, the usual stuff if the baddies stop finding us." Hopefully. After rummaging through the remaining belongings, Ivan hoists the corpse onto this shoulder with a grunt. He turns to August.

10:27 AM

(2/2) "No point in leaving him," Ivan remarks before tapping one of the thighs. "Although they could probably follow the urine trail of the last man back here through a rain storm, it'll be better to get him going sooner rather than later. Makes for good publicity, too. Nobody wants to see a dead body, but nobody wants to see an abandoned body - friend or foe. Makes it seem like we care, because maybe someone will return the favor for me someday." Ivan winks before starting the walk back in the direction they had come from. (For the searching, I'm interested if there is anything interesting on his person relating to the recent attacks but I'm not expecting much, if anything, on this relative nobody. I definitely would like this corpse and the other to be brought with us so they can go wherever lost bodies end up.)

The body has ID on it, identifying them as a Mytikan citizen. The ID is old, back when the Protectorate was just that one city, on one world and not the planet spanning political organization it is today. He also has a mark on his arm, the sigil known to be sported by Still Lady Cultists. Without her guiding hand the attacks have largely stopped in many areas of the planet. It was thought based on other organizations some sort of deal might have been cut between the Lady and your once thought allies of the Weeping Company. They have L-gate access to the palace undercroft in this city

10:30 AM

It is unknown if the Company has plans to formally break its alliance with the Protectorate now that the Still Lady has been defeated, but have been proven to be unreliable in either case

10:31 AM

The rifle he was killed with is machined expertly and beyond what the Protectorate weapon shops are capable of, no doubt originating in Company foundries

August observes Ivan doing his thing, with a look of disgust on her face as she cringes whilst looking into the pulpy mess that used to be the man's face. "I never get used to this part... rest easy". August whispers, as she makes a religious gesture with her left hand. August walks up to the first man she killed with an arrow, lifting her Gladius high and driving it through their forehead. August then follows Ivan's lead and begins rummaging before August picks up the body. "I've never gone through a dead man's belongings. I always let the proper authorities do that part. Is there any advice you got for a newbie like myself"?

(Did the convoy wait for us to come back?) "I'm sure I have legal standing somewhere to do this, but until civil protection extends their reach then they don't really have much of a say in the matter after a shootout with high-powered long rifles. The unwritten conduct for this sort of thing among professional soldiers is to only take what's needed. Sometimes it's their intel, sometimes it's their family heirloom gold necklace so you can pawn it to keep starvation off for another day. Ogyena-forbid you weigh down your squad with unnecessary spoils of war and draw their ire for being greedy, never mind if you get captured by the enemy carrying a treasure trove of their dead comrades' stuff with no good reason. They'll get their retribution for certain." "Speaking of which," Ivan holds up the Weeping Company rifle with his free arm. "I wonder what our 'friends' across the L-Gate have to say about this. Awfully convenient that these weapons are showing up after the Lady-Stands-Still is defeated and the Herald of the Protectorate is killed in said fight. And what tickles me is how there's only one way for these weapons to get here, which means there are plenty of people being really quiet about this along the way."

August nods as she listens to Ivan, looking for the caravan as well, "Well, I'll be honest, I think then someone who wasn't to acquainted with our Herald, yet is possibly in the military, decided to make some back door deals with someone to keep some credits coming in. Which means, Organized Crime, or worse, an up and coming paramilitary force". August clears her throat. "I'm just throwing a wild guess, to be frank. For all I know, this group genuinely is dying down".

(yeah the trucker didn;'t leave, the shooting only has stopped for a couple minutes here)

Ivan loads the corpse he is carrying into the bed of the truck they were originally hitchhiking in, then helping with the remaining - figuring the driver isn't going to complain to his saviors so long as the blood stays relatively contained. "Maybe. The people we've rooted out seem more like zealots as opposed to people looking to make some dirty money. Hell, this guy even has a mark branding him as one." Ivan pulls back the sleeve on one of the corpses to show it, then pulls it back down again. "What better way for a group of die-hard warriors like Weeping Company to expand your influence than to hand out gifts to the devout with a fallen leader. But that's just speculation for now." (This next part is around events before my time as a player, so a lot of it is piecing together. But it should "work" since Ivan was never a part of it and his details would be fuzzy at best. But if I'm missing anything important, let me know!) Ivan retakes his spot in the truck, removing the ammunition from the confiscated rebel weapons. "I remember hearing reports about Weeping Company back in the day. A diplomat was sent through the gate, and it turned out they had some neat tech or something. They were trading the tech here - to Chiron - in return for prisoners. I don't think any of us militia ever learned about what they were doing with those prisoners, but the diplomat returned quickly." Ivan lays the weapons down with the corpses and throws the newly acquired ammunition to his squad mates for their own use. "Come to think of it, August, these rebels have been attacking the civilian population. Have they been kidnapping?"

August helps loading the bodies. "Good question. Not as far as I know. They got close enough to animal pens, and I kind of guessed they were going to walk away with some of the farmer's stock".

(you got it exactly right Ivan)

Ivan thumbs through his compad to have public bulletins on missing persons around Chiron pulled up as the trucks ready themselves. "Something just doesn't sit right with me. Armed to the teeth with some of the best weapons they clearly cannot afford and they're what - scheming to steal lope or the family pet in the middle of the night? You don't need a gun for that, you need like five bored teenagers and twenty minutes." As the net search is being queried, Ivan slouches against the side of the truck interior. "I need one of those wooden boards with the red string and stuff. I think it'll really tie the Silenus together and make it more homey." The squad mates nod their head in agreement, then one suggests they get Ivan an aluminum-coated helmet to keep the conspiracies in and the voices out. "Good idea," Ivan mutters as he takes off his own helmet, pulls out the gray pre-tech crayon, and writes "Certfied Anti-Crazy Helmet by Order of the Elys", the rest cut off by the various ablative components guaranteed to work once if you're lucky. (Edit, added this line) "I think they're going to send more people next time. Probably heavier guns, too. If they have these, who knows what they're keeping in the back." (edited)

These three people were once members of the Chrionese prison system, and were all reported as killed in custody- about the time the rulers here reported that they had traded with the Weeping Company

"Well then..." Ivan shares the screen with August. "I wasn't expecting that. We're going to need a lot of red string."

August goes from a soft chuckle, to a slightly louder one. "Ch'yeah, you're tellin' me, partner! Half of me doesn't even know how to go on from here. How are we going to expect these folk to defend themselves when the fellas popping off at em' got better arms, traps along their routes, and a chip on their shoulder"? August inhales and exhales deeply, unwrapping a ration and snacking on it. With a mouth full of food, she continues on, "Half of me believes we gather a tidbit more evidence, take it to a Judge, get ourselves a warrant for The Weeping Company's heads, and call this case closed. What do you guys think"?

Uproarious laughter comes from Ivan and his squad. "Oh that's a good one!" Ivan says between wheezes. "Maybe we'll find a talking dog with a crippling lisp and a snack addiction and we'll finally catch that dang old man Weeping Company red-handed!" Ivan laughs even harder at his own joke like the master of comedy he knows himself to be. The laughter winds down after a moment and Ivan wipes tears from his eyes. "Judges are for people who manage to stay alive within the law, August. We just killed two outlaws. I wouldn't be surprised if the best 'judge' for Weeping Company folks is maybe a referee in a combat sport. I don't know much about them, but they give me the vibe of 'only the strong survive' type. You don't make guns like these -" Ivan taps his boot against a laid-out Company rifle. "- only to then respect local laws of where you distributed them to the criminally-aligned. Or whatever these people were after they were 'killed' in a Chiron prison." "Whatever the other half of you believes, it's likely what I'm thinking too. We should punch back, and harder, at their armed cronies. If they live by strength, they'll listen when they see it."

August slightly chokes on her ration at the mention of the dog, controlling her laughter, August swallows her bite of food. "Can't blame me for being optimistic! A speaking mutant hound? Where'd you guys find this guy"? August uses her thumb to point at Ivan. "Well, hey, I'm ready to kick down doors whenever you are. We know they're coming, so we'll see how they like being ambushed themselves in the future".

Ivan types out a message to the Chiron garrison and civil protection groups about the attack on the forest road and to increase warnings to other convoys heading out since new attacks, if they occur, may try to single out 'weaker' convoys/vehicles or make deadlier attacks in retaliation or expectation of another August and Ivan surprise. "Let's go meet that family you're staying with. They'll probably be happy to see you're still alive and brought friends."

"I'd be just as happy seeing them, making sure they're alright after that night has been my top priority". August takes a handkerchief from her back pocket and wipes the sweat off her forehead. "They'll be excited to know that someone out here's at least trying to stop these trouble makers".

The family is indeed happy to see you back and this time with more armed help to support the farm. It doesn’t seem like they’ve been raided again but their location is prime for more trouble

August greets the family eagerly. Hugging them and letting them know that something is being done, assuring them that if the Government can't help, then the local do-gooders will. August introduces the family to Ivan and his squadmates. August shows Ivan, with the help of a family member, around the property, showing Ivan and crew where the enemies were encountered. "In the middle of the night, they came around sneaking into the barn, thankfully the animals freaked a bit, enough for us to know. That's when I alerted the Family about them, and we armed up and checked". August clears her throat, "That's when I told these guys to hang back a tad behind cover, and thankfully I did cause soon as I announced myself and stated they should identify themselves, welp, they just started popping shots in our direction".

Nekosmash

Click to see attachment 🖼️

(Replying with map so I don't have to scroll!) Ivan takes in not only the scenery, likely picturesque during the growing seasons, but also the tactical value of the various elements that make up this farm. The fences, every bush and tree, the flat and open fields, and even the simple buildings and their light sources are looked at with the consideration of a small-scale, small-arms attack just around the corner. "Wonderful place you have here," Ivan remarks to the family member accompanying August and Ivan. "Great place to get caught dead, too... N-not that it's terrible or anything! Just that it's..." Ivan stumbles over his words, remembering he's not talking to other combatants now. "...Your barn is so close to your house, which means those raiders were within spitting distance of you and your family. I can't even see your neighbors, either. There's a good chance that without August, well... I don't think they were after your animals based on things we found out on the way here." Ivan goes back to talking more about the things he's familiar with. "The barn obstructs your view and any light from the house, so any no-gooder will probably use it again to get close. Even if they didn't, it's still a good place to have us hanging out - also because it's more in line with the current interior state of my ship and old apartment, so it'll feel like home. You might want to herd your animals elsewhere though, maybe a trusted neighbor or somewhere closer to more people and buildings. I'd hate for your livelihood to be riddled with crossfire, but it's easier to patch holes in walls than in animals. I'd make a show of it too - if anyone is spreading the word, they'll think you're afraid of meat bandits but you're staying put, should you choose." Knowing people from most countrysides, they'll stick around to defend their property but send away the kids and old folks, Ivan thinks. "I heard you're armed. I won't pressure you to go, but please understand the risks."

"We can send the kids and the animals closer to the city, the farms closest to the city haven't had as much trouble. I'll ring up my mom" the elder of the family says. Calling him an elder at his ripe age of 39 seems generous, but his family has two teenage boys in it so they've been a unit for some time, enduring the scream together and beyond

Aurelia | Venser pinned a message to this channel. 7/1/2021 3:27 PM

Ivan keys in a message to the rest of the squad still on the Silenus. Sleep shifts, combat ready. Keep Argus SV running after dark. "Calvary's been warned," Ivan says to August before putting his compad away. "They'll drive through hell and back if it means they get to shoot the thing we put on top of the vehicle, but it'll still take time even with empty roads and the pedal to the metal. If rebels show up, we need to fight as if our support isn't coming at all. And if they're being sneaky, we might not notice them until they're real close. Are you any good with hand-to-hand?"

August nods to Ivan. "I can handle myself in CQC, thanks to my Father I can box. And thanks to my mother, I'm a novice Telekinetic". August readies her bow, and tightens her Gladius' belt. "I'm glad you're here Ivan, you and you're troopers. I hope we can find the root-cause of this issue. By-the-by; I owe ya, so if you ever need a hand, I'll do my best to drop what I'm doing and give you a hand back". August begins doing stretches to keep her blood flowing. "I'm gonna perch up on a tree until about dinner time, if that's alright with you. Might as well play designated marksman till food's ready".

(They wouldn’t have a problem with it)

August uses one hand and puts two fingers on her temple, as the other hand is used to snap her fingers. (Augie commits effort towards Kinetic Transversal, 2/3 Effort left) August points at the tallest tree, "My Dataslab is on me, I'll be roosting up there". August does her best to find a thick branch with enough leaves to create defilade. Getting as comfortable as possible, August takes out an arrow, knocks it. Using her left hand to keep it steady, August then puts the bow and arrow on her lap, August sighs as her head starts scanning from left to right, listening for anything that's not fauna.

Ivan and the squad help round up the animals and start setting into the hay piles of the barn, taking up sitting spots in front of various holes in the aging and weathered siding. Ivan orders for no-lights within the barn and silence at twilight. "You three -" Ivan says before taking a spot and zoning out. "If things get really hot, get inside with the farmers and protect them. Don't let them do anything stupid, that's our job."

"They're insisting on protecting their land. Where would you want them, seeing as how we can't talk them in to sitting out?"

"Have them stay in the farmhouse. When we make enemy contact, protect the entrances for them. They can play cowboy out the windows for all I care, but I wouldn't expect them to be able to take on enemies that make their way inside. Standard counter-breach protocols, you know the drill."

(They'll follow your lead then sicne you guys know what you're doing)

(Augie, in her tree, keeps overwatch, idk if you need me to roll anything but lmk about updates)

1:39 PM

(am driving for next hour

(if no one has anything they want to do before dark i can fast forward)

(Ready, squad has their orders unless I need to clarify anything!)

Evening meal is brought out to August while Ivan and his team are permitted to eat inside the house. Everyone is on the best table manners they can muster to your surprise. The sun and its last few rays vanish over the horizon and almost on cue, you can hear activity in the woods entirely cease as the animals and bugs that normally make up the night's chorus go silent.

Ivan and his squad mates sit in silence in the barn, some closing the weatherproof face covers on their helmets to keep the animal dander out and ruining any surprises with an errant sneeze. They each stare out some kind of hole in the wall in directions away from the barn, whether the corner of a dirty window or between pieces of old siding, and Ivan's pair of low-light goggles are passed around wordlessly to aid in the lookout. No thoughts pass through Ivan's mind since they would distract him and send him daydreaming. Instead, Ivan keeps himself sane by counting and re-counting trees in the distance and noting which rocks should be turned over tomorrow morning before his old drill instructor yells at him for letting them get sunburnt.

August Telekinetically brings the plate of food up to her branch, thanking the Family member with a warm smile and a thumbs up, staying quiet. August eats slowly, savoring every bite of her home-cooked meal. After licking her plate clean, August Telekinetically sends the plate back down to the base of the tree. August stretches slowly as to not draw attention after her meal. Awaiting sun-down, August's head stays on a pivot, mouthing a prayer to Lady Luck herself. At the sound of silence, August listens for the sound of brush being rustled as she knocks an arrow.

(notice/wis. each of you can make it)

(3)

(6)

August notices a brief flicker of red headlamp in the woods, 150m away as one of the figures sneaking trough the woods gets just a bit too close to the edge of the treeline. It doesn't seem like they're planning to attack,but rather are just passing by to the unprepared farms to the east

August uses her Dataslab to message Ivan, "Hey pal, pucker up. Got a red light. Headed East, looks like." August puts her Dataslab in her pocket and readies an Execution as she slowly pulls the string on her bow.

Ivan feels the muted vibration of his compad and questions who could be contacting him at this hour while on mission. He takes out his compad and undoes the chest clasps on his armor. Using the open armor as a light shield, he fumbles the compad enough to catch August's message. A red light in the woods, it would have been nearly impossible to see from my position. They're a little smarter than that first ambush suggests. OK, he replies. Ivan lets out a quick but audible click. The rest of the squad makes only the slightest sounds as their minds return from the dull observation duty and they ready their weapons and wait for Ivan to start moving towards the light (moonlight?) to give signals on what to do next.

REaching the tree where August is camped, you can see the light flash one more time, 50m further east than it was last time , almost past the eastern boundary of the property here. The figure and any others with him look to be in search of easier prey elsewhere

(How many shadowy figures can we make out?)

(Only one has backlit themselves so far)

"I guess they smelled a trap here. Or that any resistance isn't worth the trouble." Ivan whispers to August up in the tree. "We should follow them and get a count and better confirmation. If it looks like trouble, we can jump them."

August whispers back, "Sounds good to me". August stops pulling on the string, letting the bow retract. Going down the side of the tree, August follows behind Ivan. "Maybe they don't want to risk another firefight like the last time, we kinda did give em' the what-for".

"They might be trying to avoid that regardless if we had caught them on the road before or not." Ivan whispers in response as he gives hand signals to his three squad mates. Two groups, ambush, wait for first fire (Like my first foray into the woods when I joined, the squad mates can provide support fire from a flank while we initiate if things look good or if we get caught first)

(sneak /dex. or survive/wis to follow them, up to you)

(Survive/Wis, 7)

(Sneak/Dex) (8)

You’re able to trail the group. There are six of them and they seem to be well armed. Their destination is a small regional sub station for power a few kilometers from here

Ivan turns on his tracking to allow the truck team to follow and adjust the course, even if they are still a fair amount of time away. Ivan pulls out his low light goggles while following to get an idea of what they're packing. (Explosives or anything?)

They have laser rifles. Each of them has a backpack but its hard to tell what is inside. None of them have heavy weapons

Upon seeing the sight of the sub-station, August taps twice on Ivan's shoulder and whispers, "If we find multiple squads on the hunt for these things, then, they're trying to find unused substations like these, just to get power to somewhere in particular"! August squints while watching, clearly drawing up a personal conspiracy.

"I don't think the substation is unused, my guess is this is a bog-standard infrastructure attack to be a general pain-in-the-ass. We've done similar against the ghouls on Yauvani as a part of a bigger strategy. I had to swim through a sewer, and I never got the stink out." Ivan lines up the sights on his combat rifle to the insurgent wearing the light source. "You ready, August? I don't want to find out the hard way if this is a part of a bigger plot." (I'd like to prepare and execution if possible, but it might seem like these folks are on guard enough to defeat that)

August exhales holding in a giggle at the sewer bit, "I'm ready to ride, partner". (Augie as well prepares an execution, if possible)

(they;re also moving so we wouldnt have the full minute of drawing a bead on them to do one before they'd be out of sight or too obscured, needing you to follow them, and begin again, fore the same thing to happen again) (edited)

(Sounds good to me, Augie will instead continuing following Ivan)

(I think it's time to start shooting then, no executions)

(I agree, I have 3/3Effort, and a good amount of arrows, Augie would give your character confident nod)

(We would get a surprise round at least before we got into a firefight)

Ivan points in a direction August should go, since his weapon is loud and carries a muzzle flash compared to her bow. Ivan lines up his sights on the first shadowy figure in the group, taking them as either a leader or a pointman, flips the safety on his service rifle, and squeezes the trigger. Three rounds erupt into the night, killing the silence and signaling the squad mates, wherever they are. (14/7 for surprise attack, 1 on initiative - still rolling good!)

(Keep it up amigo

) August moves behind some pointed-out cover, and, like clock-work, raises her bow, pulls, and lets loose as best she can in the night. (17ATK/3DAM) (4 on initiative)

(8 for the enemy)

7:13 PM

Ivan and his team scythe down the pointman, while August sends an arrow into the back of another, wounding them. Five Weeping Company service rifles wheel around as they try to fight through the ambush. (21/9 Ivan, miss x2, 19/10 August, miss x1)

7:14 PM

The blue beams cut through the night, setting vegetation alight at the heat of their passage. (august up)

Blue beams land near where August took cover in the night. No sounds seem to emit from there. (August has dropped to 0 )

(Send another character sheet whenevs, I'll work on it tomorrow)

(you're not dead though)

9:30 PM

(i also only hit you once, you should have 3 HP left)

(So that said, with your 3HP, you're up)

(I was at 8hp, I was clocked in the recent firefight for 5DAM and haven't rested)

(There was a night that passed between thst and meeting up with Ivan. You should be at 3HP. It’s your turn )

( retconning the silence ) A different sounding sizzle emits from Augusts direction, you can smell burnt hair, and August muttering curses and swears to herself. (Augie uses her move to knock and arrow and firing once again) (14ATK/6DAM)

The soldier is put down, the same one that you had wounded before, swinging the odds back in your favor slightly

10:46 AM

(IVan up)

After taking a blow to an ablative shoulder plate in his armor and likely leaving another bruise, another sling of bullets erupts from Ivan's service rifle as Ivan sidesteps through the brush, taking aim at more silhouettes. (13/9)

The shots punch through the tall grasses and you’ve decisively killed some herbs or ferns. Not enough to do something to a foe.

12:36 PM

(You can roll your squad too)

(What's their overall hit bonus? +1? I'll add it to their name list in my thread in case you need me to roll for them later on!)

(+3 base, if they're bursting with their weapons they get the +2 for that as well for a total of +5)

Nine muzzle flashes answer in chorus with their squad leader's fire, focusing on the intersection of Ivan's obliterated foliage and fuzzy human shadows. (15/11, 16/10, and 17/12; edit: all burst, 27/30 rounds remain for each) (edited)

Three of the enemy are cut down, leaving just two who decide fleeing is the better part of valor. Moving 20m through the dense undergrowth, they do their best to try to vanish in the darkness

2:31 PM

(main and move was to move)

(Augie knocks another arrow, then moves forward to more cover) "Ivan! They're making a break for it"!

(Are they trying to scatter for dear life or are they making a break for it I'm the direction of the substation? If the latter I think a perpetual chase turn order might happen)

(Trying to scatter for dear life. Their mission is def scrubbed by this point )

(Augie Snap-Reacts to the runners when she reaches cover, just out of spite) ( MAX 1ATK / 7DAM )

( even Lady Luck said "No" ) August turns over and zings an arrow, taking a knee and a deep breath, immediately after.

11:21 PM

(read that wrong) (7ATK / 5DAM) (My bad)

The arrow streaks into the night and is a clear miss

6:55 AM

(Ivan and squad. )

"Raise your weapons in the air and we will spare your lives!" Ivan and the squad pop off single rounds to ease up on the lead flying their way, but still aiming to kill those in cover except those who begin to comply. (Ivan: 23/7) (The rest: 14/6, 22/9, and 5/12)

The foes are killed with an accurate shot from Ivan and one of his men. Both shots are terminal one through the neck and another center mass. Stillness and silence begin to return to the forest.

"I guess I should have yelled sooner," Ivan comments before going to one of the bodies, turning it over in the dark and frisking the pockets and backpack. "Let's see what they had on them and who gave it to them."

August gives out an audible sigh, "I'll cover you while you guys chem em' out".

11:52 AM

(*check em' out)

Street armor, Weeping Company laser rifles, and backpacks full of military grade demolition charges were passed outto each member of the assault company

"Let's get these guys back to the edge of the road," Ivan calls out to August and his squad, leaning down to pick up one of the corpses and sling it over his shoulder. "We can use our scout truck to take them back for processing since the threat has passed for now. We'll hold onto the weapons and charges, it'll be our bargaining chips or something. These guys' leaders are going to know something went terribly wrong when they realize the lights are still on, if the rampant gunfire hasn't given it away yet, but let's not leave enough behind for them to put any pieces together in a meaningful way."

August stows one of the Weeping Rifles in her duffel bag, and starts taking a body to the road. In the moonlight, Ivan and his squad mates can clearly see that August's eyebrows were singed off, though she herself can not tell, with a big smile August says, "Shoo-hoo-hoot! Had a close call on that one. Gotta watch myself, partners". August exhales while shaking her head. "Yeah, let's make sure these muchacho's don't put two-and-two together. Wouldn't want them blaming someone who don't deserve it. And hey, if push comes to shove, we can drop these off for them as a banging gift. If we can even find out where they are, anyways".

(The WC laser rifles are +2/+2 if anyone wants one for their own use

(1 or 2 enc?)

(2, still a laser rifle)

(I'm an idiot, it's just a laser rifle with a +2/+2 aint it)

8:48 PM

(yeppers lol)

8:50 PM

(Updated my Attack Bonus for my Bow, or shall I wait till after the mission?)

(I'll hold onto one laser rifle as well but it'll be loaded onto the truck and taken off-screen, the others including the demo charges I want to keep as evidence)

(what attack bonus for your bow?)

10:12 AM

Evidence is bagged, and the bodies are also bagged. They all match prisoners who had been taken from Chiron, though were very much alive and able to causing problems until just a few moments ago (edited)

(Took a min for my bud and I to understand AB, dropping my Bow's AC back down. Got into a whole spat with my bud who was trying to understand and the spat turned into something more.)

(I don’t know what this means but your attack bonus is 1 , as for a psychic it’s half your level rounded down. So level 3 = 1AB

(THANK YOU!!)

(I have the things I need for my eventual meeting with the Weeping Company, so it's your call on what we should do next, August. We can continue our nightly hunt or return to the farming family before you turn into more* swiss cheese) (edited)

(It's a tough call, there's a lot to consider with everything going on, Augie would def talk to Ivan about him doing his own thing. Though, she knows she may not be able to get to the bottom of things, whilst on her lonesome. it's a tough call rn. Give me till tomorrow to think things over.)

1

(August would have Ivan work on his own gig) (Sorry for being an armchair general about this and taking forever)

After everything is said and done, August proudly wraps an arm around Ivan, giving him a kiss on the top of his head, letting him go after a loud smooching sound, and the sound of August's guffaw, "Well, ya son of a bitch! You and your group of ragtag gentlemen saved the night"!! August continues thanking Ivan. "Listen, you guys are my heroes right now. I owe you big time, you have no idea". August then begins shaking everyone's hand, using both hands, clearly being very thankful. "I say we go and report back to the family and rest up, half of me says they're worried sick".

Ivan and the crew, clearly bashful, get ready to say their goodbyes to the farm family and give them some pieces of advice in case more insurgents were to show up. Ivan sends out a call to bring spare short-range communications equipment to those who don't have it to help establish a neighbor-warning setup.

(I think compads being passed out would work since the city already has comms equipment, as does Heras One so signals can reach across the planet)

8:58 AM

(As far as what august wants to do next, I'm up for anything, we know enough information about whats happening to do more than just kill random groups of insurgents now)

(Augie would rest up for about a week with the Family, and learn amongst the Fam about using neighbor-warning setup. Mostly so she could alert anyone else that may be a tinge out of reach. After five days of rest, Augie would head to the Walled City of Chiron, once again, to her motel room, in the Merc part of the City.)

(All that to set up for what? I’m not sure what to have prepared other than saying okay you’re there now)

(Right; Augie would've rested and readied to head to the EP Town Hall in person. See what could be done about the planet Hergudr. Hopefully stop a civil war on her home planet.)

(I think this was already brought up in the Elysium meeting, I don't have any additional information other than what was communicated there, but if you understand the plan and want to handle things there, we can run that)

(Yess siirr! Soon as Ivan volunteered to talk to the Weeping Co., Augie would volunteer to help her home planet. I'm re-reading the posts to make sure I'm not fudging up the Herald's plan.)

(the Elysium of Centaur has enough tonnage for those iron hedgehogs and whatnot)

12:52 PM

(and is free, since we need a way to get there)

(Herald Diatrij's message for convenience sake)

message.txt

3.23 KB

August heads to the Elysium Centaur, putting in a requisition for the hedgehogs. Letting anyone who may have authority there know that she wishes to go to Hergudr-2. "Free-Agent Sol-Luceat, it's a pleasure. If I may inquire about transporting some iron hedgehogs, headed towards Hergudr-2, please". August, already having her ID and any other proof's of employment in hand regarding EP.

The Centaur has been loaded with the equipment requested, along with a few of the automated deplanter vehicles. So long as the plan is understood, the ship plans to bring you ther,e allow you to make contact with the locals, and will assist in springing the trap once the armies have left base and are in position

(Are these EP forces, or Paragon forces? For Augie wanted to contact the Paragon for a Joint-Op in the Heralds Honour. Make it flashy and stuff.)

11:46 PM

(Assuming it was just EP-Forces)

(It’s just EP forced. The paragons don’t really have people under arms)

(will post tomorrow, got a lot on my table atm)

(sounds good)

August readies everything on Heras before leaving for Hergudr; Augie closes off and pays for any accounts, and says her goodbyes to all the friends she's made on Heras before departing, from Beranta to each member of The Family. (Augie also spends 10¢ on a new, and full, quiver of ammo)

2:02 AM

(Oh, right, and 40¢ on 4 Type-A Power Cells, one to load into her fancy-fancy new Laser Rifle that shoots neat af beams and 3 to stow away pls) (50¢ total)

(Sounds good to me, make sure you bundle the cells so the encumbrance is lower)

7:31 AM

(4 days to Hergurdr for downtime)

(Thank ya for the reminder my man. If it's ok, August will work on her boxing skills, mainly.)

9:07 PM

(+4days into Punch, I should say, sorry)

(punch is already at 0 and cannot be trained further with downtime)

7:04 AM

The ship arrives in the Hergurdr system four days after departing - heading for the second planet where the trouble currently lies. You can see both cities are on a war footing with one another- one offensive, and one defensive. Communications from both cities are sent toward your ship, asking to speak with you

August straightens her collar and buttons up the neck of her shirt before going on call. "This is Free Agent Sol-Luceat, it's pleasure to introduce myself".

(which of the two settlements are you speaking with? The aggressor is the one you're trying to stop)

(Oh right sorry, first, the aggressor, please)

“Free Agent? Never heard of you. What do you want?” The terse voice on the other side of the line says. You can see based on the previous notes and the frequency you’re speaking to the city Governor directly.

August smiles and nods at the Governor's ability to get to the point, just like most people on Hergudr. "I'm just a worker-bee, I don't care to be known. I'm here to help out with our planet's plant issue. I have deplanter vehicles on board. Anything I need to know before readying up"?

"Deplanter vehicles, you're making a path toward the other city so we can complete the unification of this world. You are prepared to help us find a route ?"

"Yes. I volunteered to come home for unification. If you give me the time I need, we can scan from orbit and plan the best route possible".

“Very well. As soon as the planters are landed the army will follow them in and we will take the other city. They will not know what hit them”

"Sounds dandy, Governor. Send me coordinates as to where you and I can meet up and I'll meet you there in a couple days when we're ready with updated scans. Don't want a Deplanter going over a cliff now do we"?

He signals that when you decide to land he will meet you outside his city on a small area they keep free from plants on their own

August agrees to meet him a couple days from now. "Is there anything else, Governor"?

“You called me. If you’re satisfied I will meet you when you land”

"Fair enough. Adios, partner". August closes the call and responds to the defensive city in the same manner. "I am Free Agent August Kayle Sol-Luceat. It's a pleasure to introduce myself".

They likewise answer and want to know your business here / what you want from them

"EP has sent me with Deplanters. EP is ready to help with the cleansing of the planet".

"You're aware of the danger the Northern City presents to us, correct? Clearing a route to us will see us all put to the sworde"

"Of course I'm aware, my question to you, is why? And what have you done for diplomacy"? August raises an eyebrow.

“Has the protectorate really sent us someone so dense we have to justify not wanting our homes to be burned and not wanting our families to be killed ?” (edited)

1

10:59 AM

“We have made many territorial concessions to them, we have airlifted them vital resources needed several times since the scream. We suspended shipments when the requests became threats and it became apparent the resources were being turned into weapons to be used against us”

August's smiling, curious face, twists into a more, wide-eyed, awkward look-away, from the Southern Governor. August takes out her Dataslab and inputs this new info. "Alright... umm... thanks for the new info? I appreciate you taking the time. Is there anything I can do to help ease tensions, possibly". August clasps her hands and leans in slightly, awaiting a response, before she readies the plan.

(Okay so I'm starting to think that perhaps we don't have the background info necessary to be doing this, despite assurances to the contrary. We discussed the plan and the situation here in pretty good detail during the polity meeting. Did we need to a review, or should we move into something different? I understand there is a lot going on but with it being so recently laid out , i was under the impression none of this should be new information)

(All I have technically is what the Herald had recorded when it comes to the situation. I looked up Hergudr several times on the World Anvil and have the info from there, so; all I have is the message and World Anvil, if there's anything else, August would go through with the Heralds plan of trapping the North's Army, and forcing capitulation. If you believe I'm unprepared, then I will tell them that there were malfunctions and fallback to Heras.)

(Sounds like we're remembering the plan so that's fine. I just am trying not to set anyone up for failure)

There is no further response from the ground, as they've told you everything they know.

August readies the Centaur and the EP Troopers with the couple of days she bought herself. August also readies the shuttle to take her to meet the Northern Governor in person, as August told him she would meet him at his given coordinates. August leaves everything behind. Augie puts on her clean secure clothing to meet the Governor. Augie checks in with everyone on the Centaur, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we're about to begin the operation. I have my Dataslab on my person, so, if there's anything that interferes with this op, please, let me know. There are a lot of people on this planet who need help. And I know, it's this teeny-tiny fleet against an entire planet's worth of opposition, an invasive plant-species capable of over running an entire continent. But, just know, we're not here for a fight, we're here for Unification. We have the tools, the know-how, and the elbow grease needed to bring justice to those who need it most; the farmer, blacksmith and metal-worker. The cashiers and mechanics, logistical-drivers. The painter, the architect, and their electrician. The Elysium Protectorate and her Allies are capable of defending the Creed of others. We are to follow the Herald's plan, to a T, for the Herald would not steer the Protectorate wrong". August draws her Gladius and points it to Hergudr, "Fortuna blesses us. History will remember our names". August sheathes her Gladius. Augist heads to the shuttle to meet the Governor.

1

The Governor and his small detachment of personal aides , along with a few guards are waiting at the landing pad cleared for your arrival. The hot sun beats down and you can hear the dull grind of deplanters working nearby

August leaves the shuttle alone and walks towards the aides and guards, before walking up to the Governor. August shakes hands and adds her greetings, "Howdy there, it's a pleasure. I'm glad we can do what we can at the Elysium Protectorate. You're Governor awaits me, but I have a few minutes, I can do my best to answer any questions, if you have any at the current moment". August has her hands behind her back, standing up straight and asks with her chin up, stern look on her face.

"We know what the Protectorate promised to do, we are just hoping you follow through and are able to entrap the northern armies, without threatening our city in the process. "

"Be confident in us, it looks like our ships are ready to begin". August leaves them and heads to the Governor, August clasps her hands in front of her and nods at the Governor, "It's a pleasure once again. I hope your day is going well, for we are ready when you are, friend".

All that remains is for you to begin the ruse. The aggressors don’t seem to know you’re planning a double cross

The signal is sent to the deplanters and from the cargo bay the first of the hedgehogs are moved into position. You’ll manually need to shove them out the back when the time is right. A map of the region begins loading on the screen. Showing the path of the deplanters, the route of the aggressor force, and the boundary of the friendly city theyre marching on

(rayce is going to take this over, we can do something else)

(I understand)

7:50 PM

(Thank you for your patience)

(Any idea what you want to do instead? I’ve got stuff if you don’t)

(Not a single clue. I trust you.)

(How about doing some scouting on a planet ep was trying to put a colony on to find a good site to found it)

(I can def do that. Though, as usual, sorry for delayed posts. Brain's fried after work usually. Still feel bad for not posting like I used to. I try to talk to ya'll in ooc so you know I'm not shying away lol.)

(yeah i think something more straight forward is probably best to balance that out then)

7:49 AM

The world of Gunn to the Protectorate's east is a resource rich system with an alpine planet in the habitable zone. It is on the cold side. An EP flyover during a previous scouting expedition did not detect any life signs or tell-tale indications of technology on the planet but no one had actually descended to its surface to look first hand. A small team is being assembled to get an idea of conditions on the planet, and to select a site for a Protectorate colony so a resource rich world may be brought into the bountiful union.

2

(Posting tonight, thank you for your patience)

Being shifted from her current situation, August agrees, her own personal reasons, would make her make slightly drastic decisions, for this was her home planet. Gunn seemed like a good system for someone like herself to make a true name for herself. August has always considered herself a Pilgrim, in a way. Though, it's lonesome life, August loves the idea of exploring an unexplored planet. August buys another quiver of arrows of twenty, and four Type-A cells for her new Weeping Company Rifle. August also buys twelve rations. Four Type-A Cells = 40¢ Quiver of Conversion Arrows = 10¢ 12 Rations = 60¢ 110¢ spent from my 8345¢ leaves me with 8235¢ August loads a power cell into her new laser rifle after it's thoroughly cleaned, keeping one chambered, in case someone who thinks they're tough is ponderin' , August thinks to herself. (I've updated my character sheet as well) August is ready to meet her teammates.

It seems that youll generally be scouting alone , with some other members of the team going off I. Their own directions. Everyone is similarly equipped to you, and the ship scanners begin trying to figure out an approximation of the ground below. (edited)

It seems there is a forested region the group wants to investigate first, and the crew chief begins getting everyone ready to descend.

(Posting tonight boss man!! :D)

August is ready and prepped, August's duffel bag is filled with rations, cells, arrows, and her sword, her survival kit has flares and a back-up knife. August listens into anything the crew chief has to say, knowing that little is known about this planet, though August is visibly ecstatic to go on this expedition.

The chief does not have much to add, this world is uncharted but with your help that will be changing very soon. Landing in the bowl of a forest valley, the ship scatters birds from the pine like treetops, and they scatter into the air complaining loudly at the intrusion. The ramp lowers, and you get your first smell of the pollen rich local air.

1

August inhales the natural air

1:57 AM

exhales the natural air

August then follows suit of the pack of expeditionary-esque Troopers. Astonished at the sight of the untouched matters of Mother-Nature.

(d10 for me, lets generate the area)

(sorry for the wait) (Posting) (loading)

4:27 PM

(10)

Survey scanners begin to chime almost right away revealing some rare element in the region. Precious metals or radioactives, the scanner cannot be sure due to the unfamiliar climate- but their find and development would be a boon for the entire Protectorate. The signal points you a kilometer's walk west instead of north.

August reminds the chief that she is capable of shielding up to six people with a Telekinetic Pressure Field, regarding the Metallic and Radioactive environments. "Sir, if allowed, I can allow a few people, including myself, to get as deep as possible and find the "Core of the ore", as one would say".

“Let’s split the team in half. If we go any smaller we won’t have much success out here in defending ourselves. Three and three then, take them and head west. We will try to establish a base camp here since we can’t rely on steady supply drops from home”

August visibly disagrees, "Sir, I wish to go with one pathfinder raises finger, whilst I watch them from the branches of the thick trees". August reaches into her bag, drawing her bow, and switches out her Rifle, shying the long-arm away. "It's in my opinion we risk four-and-two; I can watch from the branches whilst a point-man does their thing, ya see. Clearing out a path for a fire-team or two if the need arises".

(If you’re willingly turning down extra help I won’t force you to take it but two people leaves you potentially very under gunned)

(Oh I see where you're coming from now, thank you, little miscomm) (Forget she said what she said and instead agrees) "I can shield some from particulates and run atop the trees if need be, chief".

“Shield your fire team then. We have protective equipment for my half. Stay in radio contact and let us know if anything goes wrong. We will get the ship unpacked and start making a base camp”

"Thank you, chief, we'll be back asap". August waves over her fire team. August looks at them, puts two fingers on her temple, and with the other hand, snaps her fingers whilst saying, "Looks like we're headed west, we're goin' scoutin', nothing crazy. But, look out for critters would ya. We don't know what's out there, this ain't Mi-Ma's backyard no more". A small bubble appears after August's finger snap, "If there's any radiation and/or harmful substances in the air, I'll make sure it doesn't affect us. 'Least do my best". August begins walking westward, towards possible resources.

(Survive/wis)

(good ol' 5)

Moving westward you hear the signs of beasts in the woods. Some of them are howling and you get the impression as you get slightly lost that you’re being hunted

1

"Keep your guard up, ladies and gents. We might have some company". August has the group tighten formation as she begins trying to get back on track.

The scanner helps you narrow your course. The howling is closer now and you can hear the sounds of foot pads snapping sticks In the woods

August puts away the scanner and tells the others, "Tighten up into a circle, don't let whatever's out there sneak up on you". August shoulders her rifle and waits as she pivots, searching for whatever is out here with them.

Two members of the pack crest a ridge to the right of the group, 15m away. They howl with the joy of the hunt and their long claws catch the morning light

7:06 AM

(Initiative )

(Rolling initiative, will be posting tn)

11:25 AM

(5)

(3 for them)

August says to the others, "We got varmint thinkin' they're slick! Keep moving Westward! Fire as you see fit boys n' girls"! August moves west, pulls an arrow from her quiver, and takes a shot at one of the creatures with her Conversion Bow. (ATK17/DMG8) (My AC is 15)

The creature howls as an arrow pierces its heart. It tumbles and does not get up. The quick kill has the rest of the pack scattering, off in search of easier prey for the moment.

August, relieved that the pack breaks away, continues with the group, constantly checking the scanner. August also takes out a radio and contacts the chief, "Hey Chief, we got some kinda creatures patrolling out here, keep an eye and ear out in case they head your way".

(if you want to investigate them we can try to get some details, but if you;re keen to push on we can)

(If it's allowed, I'll def investigate, and then push on)

(survive/wis for skinning/a field autopsy)

(9)

The claws and fur are something you;'re able to skin and take with you. There is some kind of canine/primate mix with this creature, and though it looks like some kind of upright wolf they are not related to humanity or human descent. In time this proto-creature might have risen to become a unique humanoid race of its own with this world as its home.

August questions everything before her. "I'm not exactly sure what this thing is, but, I know one thang for sure; I definitely do not want it within slice n' dice turf". August heads West, following the scanner.

11:45 PM

(takes the claws and fur to show the chief)

Foothills rise out of this forest to the west and the scanner chimes louder now as you approach the site of the signals. Radioactive elements are found in abundance here.

August takes in the sights as she approaches her destination. "Let's see if we can find a good place to mark on the map for the Chief, closer to the core, the better. Chief might even name the place after one of you's". August chuckles as she takes her Gladius out of her duffel bag and clicks her scabbard around her waist. August does her quick prayer for Luck and sallies forth.

The scanner seems to point to a cave worked into the side of the mountain peak. The readings are the strongest there. (edited)

August marks the entrance to the cave on the map before calling via radio to the chief. "Chief, found us a cave, may lead to the heart of where the reading's coming from. Permission to explore the cave"?

"That is what you were sent out to do, yes. Explore it" he radios back

August shrugs, "Guess that's confirmation, let's check things out. Just exploring, if things get hairy, we're getting out of dodge". August walks into the cave, turning on the flashlight on her rifle. (edited)

1:11 PM

(coming in at the southwest where that little ramp/bridge thing is)

1:12 PM

Mushroms are growing in the corners of the cave, and a few shafts of sunlight come down from above where the roof has crumbled or debris has shifted slightly. This was once the domain of animals, but looks to have been abandoned for some time.

August enters with the crew, sweeping left and right with simple hand signals. August whispers, "Watch your corners, and don't stray from where I can see you. Won't be able to keep you safe from all these Rads if I can't keep a proper eye on ya". August explores to up to what seems to be a small plateau, August examines before activating her Kinetic Transversal, August now walks down the wall at a ninety-degree angle with casual ease.

You're walking on the wall but it doesnt seem any safer or more convenient than the floor. Collections of glowing mushrooms grow in the corners and give off a relaxing blue glow. The cave dog-legs around to the left where it looks like large trunks, leaf debris, and other organic waste has been piled up into something like a den or shelter.

Like a salamander, August crawls along the wall, August ensures the next parts of the cave are safe for the rest of the crew. Watching for things on the ceiling, walls, and ground.

(notice/wis)

(4)

The large serpent lashes out from the burrow within, rising from a tunnel within the den where the source of the radioactives is highest. It is meters long, and thick, and looks to be quite angry. Its bite narrowly misses one of your companions.

1

August barks at the crew, "Watch out! Keep your distance from that thang"! August tries to take the attention off the crew and onto herself by firing a beam at the serpent. pew (5ATK/6DAM)

The shot goes wide, and and your companions scatter managing to singe the creature a couple fo times with their own shots that hit. Each of them has flipped their rifle to burst mode. The creature prepares another strike, lashing out at August, who currently hangs and fires from one of the walls (evasion save)

(19)

You dive out of the way effortlessly as the creature bashes into the cave wall, your reflexes faster than its clumsy strike

August uses the momentum from the dive to gain some distance from the creature, getting a tad closer to the ground, so that the cruel mistress known as Gravity, doesn't hurt her too much if things go awry. August switches her Weeping Company laser rifle to burst mode before taking a knee, and leaning into the shot, pewpewpew (21ATK/6DAM)

Your shot combined with those of your fellows to blast chunks of flesh from the flanks and nose of the creature. It recoils in pain, now seeking to flee the@chamber rather than continue to fight where it is over matched

August tells the crew to group up and keep heading towards the core. August has a circle formed as she approaches the rest. "That was a closer call than I had hoped, keep an eye open. Hopefully this isn't a nest". August does her best to find a good spot to mark on the map for the core, as she plans to investigate the cave a little before she departs it.

The interior of the cave looks to be studded with a surface deposit of yellow uranium rock. It is far from a pure form here and will need extensive work to be turned into anything with a useful industrial or power generating capacity , but the node is near the surface and seems to be dense enough that a mining operation would be profitable

August marks the spot on the map and looks around as she slowly leaves the cave with the group, August looks for signs of other creatures, marking on the map that there may still be critters roaming around. "Keep an eye out ladies and gents, that slitherin' slob probably ain't too keen on us kickin' her out her house".

(3xp, 5000 credits )

6:27 AM

The creature seems to be gone for good , not willing to risk certain death for a den it can make elsewhere

August begins trekking back to the Chief and radio's in, "Chief, we found a juicy spot and marked it up for ya. Heading back to the Forward Operating Base. How copy"? 3 more xp to next level woo

'Copy. We have things here complete.Tents are up, we're working on wooden barricades to limit approaches and sight. We could use your help when you get back. Better hurry, will be dark before we know it"

9:44 AM

(Believe this gets you 12 total xp, so you should be level 4)

(Was at 6xp, now at 9xp) (One or two more of these and then yiss)

9:45 AM

(

)

August heads to base, "Keep your guard up, can't stress this enough. We're headed back and we gotta gitty before sundown, Lordy knows what's out here past sunset".

(I know you've got some RL background in this, if there's anything you think they should do to make a safe forest camp here, we can get into that upon your return to the rest of the team)

(Setting up outside of the radiation zone, sure, safe to say the rest of the team has equipment capable of surviving in an area with high levels of radiation?)

(THere is only radiation close to the deposit you found, so camp is already safe)

(Sounds good, making sure no one dies of radiation lol) August leaves certain markings along the tree line, marking an area that was marked previously on the map, leaving a bit of supplies on branches that animals couldn't get to. (3rations) Using Telekinesis, August breaks off small branches and forms a small teepee with the broken sticks as she gathers dried leaves and long grass to burn for tinder. August then digs a 6ftx12ft (shovel length wide, two shovel lengths deep) hole to the east, from where they came from, covering it with snapped off, whole large branches, as a simple trap for slightly larger creatures. A couple of snares of rope for the smaller critters are tied near where the sleeping matts would be placed. "Alright, now that camps set, plus a few simple traps, we can mark the area 'round said trap and head out back to the Forward Operating Base. Chief needs a hand setting up barricades so let's double time it before sunset".

(work/con)

(6)

The barricades are constructed quickly as you enter the camp. Working until nightfall you’re able to conceal your fire and make the camp relatively blend in with the surrounding. You’re as safe as you can be given the time and materials available

August and the crew rest up since nightfall has fallen, radioing in to the Chief, "We'll see ya in the morning Chief, can't risk getting lost out here at night". In the break of sunlight, August packs and readies to go back to the FOB. August chirps the Chief, "We're oscar mike back to fob, chief, how copy"?

(you were back there already helping to get it set up)

(I was that burnt out, miscomm and my bad) August let's the Chief know which direction the crew's coming from before entering the forward op-base. August let's the crew know they're free too rest as they please when they enter camp. August herself takes all the info gathered to the Chief, "Hey! Big Hoss! Got as much marked as possible". August hands over all the map intel she has. And then, August presents the claws and fur of a local predator. The very same beast she cleanly shot; a primate-like canine. "No clue what this thang was, but think I could fetch a good price for this"? August splays this claws and fur as she says this.

“Some science type back in Protectorate space might be interested. Let’s try to keep that all dry and together , and when the shuttle comes to check on us tomorrow we can get it aboard”

"Sounds mighty fine to me, Hoss!! I'm gonna catch some sleep if ya don't need nothin' from here yonder cause I sure as hell need it more than a blue-jay needs water on the 4th of July"! August sweeps the sweat off her brow as she heads on over to the claws&fur and makes sure it's nice and neatly packed up, before she leaves the Chief.

He has nothing further to say and since you explored you're not required to stand watch overnight. Nothing happens, and the camp is not attacked though everyone hears the planet's strange wildlife chirping and calling all night long

August takes a couple hours to herself before settling into her sleeping-mat. Taking in the night, August savors her ration. Afterwards, August walks the perimeter out of boredom whilst digesting her food, adapting to the new, and what she considers calming, sounds. August heads to her sleeping-mat, and rests.

COme morning the camp is slowly waking up. The sergeant is looking over a map and is trying to determine the direction those canine like beasts you encountered came from. The radioactives are a good start, but those creatures may menace Protectorate mining operations here and evidently consider humans as food.

After August finishes up with her morning routine, August approaches the Sergeant with a lot less gear on, looking a bit more like a scout now over an expeditionary. (August leaves gear here at main base camp; a bunch of rations, her civilian clothes, Gladius, Bow+arrows) (Just armor, rifle, and cells equipped) August walks over to the Sergeant with her rifle strapped to her back and a couple cups of coffee, one for the Sarge. "Alright so we definitely can't have those thangs snackin' on us. We got any plans for them? I only got one idea and that's for us to start trackin' them monkey-dogs. Who knows, maybe even capture a couple for an EP Zoo".

'We're going to need to track them to decide if we take this any further. If they attacked you out of nowhere I think we're going to be forced to handle them sooner rather than later, and we're going to be a lot better at protecting ourselves than some miners or drivers will be later on when we come to settle. "

August nods in agreement. "Can't have Jack and Jill munched on. I can go if need be, I was thinkin' of heading back the way we came and headin' over from where they watched us on that cliff. It may be a good start point".

"Indeed. Alright, we'll move out together, there's nothing in camp worth defending if we're all on the march"

(had some irl busy work to do so will update tonight!)

"Agreed, let me know when you and anyone else ya wanna bring along is ready. I'll just snag along my rifle if that's ok, I'll bring snacks and ammo if need be. Last thang we need is to get hairy ina planet we ain't even 'splored yet".

(i think just weapons and ammo, and the medic has his bag, that's about it, lets get a D10 as we push off)

(rolling you sexy fuck)

11:52 AM

(a snazzy 2 for you

)

Heading off into the wood you come to a place where the land begins to soften underfoot and the trees become dead. A large swampland with suspended lily pads, grasses, and a tar like darkness in the water stretches out before you. Everything here is covered in something resembling a dark ink, or much, and the smell reminds you of decay

August looks for any paths outside of the water, not liking the look of it. "Hopefully no one's got any cuts on their legs cause we're definitely catching something if we ain't gotta choice but to go through the drink".

"We could try to find a way around, this looks like it goes on for quite a while. You're right though , this will make someone sick if we're not careful"

August begins trekking around the swamp to reach their destination. Keeping the distance from any defilade close to the swamp, August puts her two fingers on her temple and holds her rifle at the level whilst advancing. August uses her Telekinetic Manipulation to move aside any simple brush and foliage in the way.

You find the first kill site at the edge of the marsh two kilometers from where you began your walk. A large carin ground is here where many animals have been hauled back and eaten. Insects and birds have picked out the pieces of carcass left behind after the bigger animals had their full from the body

9:49 PM

The way the prey animals were killed looks like the work of the wolf like bipeds you saw when you landed.

August examines the remains with disgust, "Welp, looks like the Carrion birds took care of that. And before that, the Wolves". August, shoulders her rifle before she continues advancing, "Keep ya self 'a keen eye... the critters like to gitcha... 'specially in these parts"...

(notice./wis)

(10)

There are bubbles in the swampy tar and you notice two trails of them, 10m away right now, and closing slowly, are indeed getting closer to your position in their own patient and predatory way

August whispers to the others, "We're being trailed, I just made em' in the tar. Look at there them bubbles! Stay together and pick up the pace away from the tar". August covers the others, readying an attack if something pops from the bubbles.

(did you want to move away from the area though? Or are you guys setting up to kill whatever comes out?)

(Sorry about that, I'm moving as well, providing rear protection)

Two gator spring from@the water 10m from your position , jaws snapping and crashing together

(early post; editing) August quietly shouts to the others, "Gee whiz we got us a couple o' gators! They might be hungry, hopefully not". August holds out a hand so that the others hold fire, yet begins shouldering her laser rifle in case the creatures attack. (August moves away from the animals and towards the crew that's advanced, keeping an eye on the gators; August will ready an action, in case of a charge) (edited)

(editied)

(they're charging, they were trying to ambush you)

(Oh just saw this) August let's off a single-shot beam from her rifle (7ATK/5DAM) And then begins hoofing it away from the gators

The shot misses the gator and it along with its companion haul themselves onto the grassy swamp shore. Your companions open fire themselves trying to discourage the creatures from coming any closer. One shot wounds the larger croc , but the others are sending energy rounds hissing into the water or trenched into the ground. The gators push 10m forward , just out of melee range of the group

August switches to three-round burst on her rifle, August does stay as rear protection for the crew, putting herself between the gators and crew. "Fire! Maneuver! We need a line! These things be faster than our little legs can carry us"!! August fires again, this time, a burst towards the larger croc. (10ATK/13DMG)

It groans as the bolts strike its thick hide. It doesn’t seem to want any further part in trying to eat you knowing you bite back

August exhales deeply, relieved that they scared off the gators. August backs away, yet keeps an eye on the water as she whispers to the others, "Thank the Goddess, eh? Let's eye the map and keep our guard up. Half of me thinks these things are gonna be the least of our worries".

The bog is a good place to grow certain kinds of food, and purifying its water might help a colonial effort later- but true to point, making it safe enough to interact with is your first priority, and its not known how many of those creatures live within.

August marks the bog as a future spot for possible camps and guardsman work. August then follows the map towards the cliffs, hoping to track more of the primate-like canines.

The caves are close and you can see tracks from them as you move away from the bog. A small pack ran through here. You can see six sets of tracks. (edited)

August does her best to track the prints left by the pack, looking for the prints of the one who may be leading this small pack. August plans to keep the pace a tad slower, and with more caution. "These thangs work as a group, keep your eyes open and your rifles shouldered. We got no clue what we're in 'fer. Follow dem tracks an' I'm certain we might get somethin' or other". The closer we get to the caves; August activates her Kinetic Pressure Field, incase of radiation. (commits 1 effort)

(the radiation before was because of the mineral you were hunting down, its not a native condition to the planet)

8:01 AM

(if that changes anything)

(Then I will save the point lol) (thank you)

August approaches the caves slowly and cautiously, sneaking about in a tight formation. "Might be best for us to set up a stake-out position on this cave. Watch it from a distance, see how much traffic comes about".

"that might be best, lets try to post up somewhere and get some idea on the pack's numbers, and anything it looks like they defer to. If we can scatter them, we might not need to go for an all out extermination" the sergeant says, approving of your plan and building on it a bit.

"And this is why you're the Sarge". August says with a cocky smirk, clearly loving his idea. August calls back to camp on the radio, with a casual whisper, "Hoss, this is Scout party; we're staking out, going dark. Will break silence at dawn; how copy"?

The camp copies, and the other half of the team (3 people ) wish you luck. They will dig in and work to improve the camp while you observe.

August and acquaintances begin readying with a simple counter-ambush setup around a large tree. Taking turns scoping the cave out from a tree branch, and from the brush below. August makes sure that they stay down-wind, incase the primate-canine things have a strong sense of smell. (If we have visual from 150ft-200ft then we'll watch from there, the further the safer) (If not, then we're at about 50ft and no sleeping)

(you have visual from 200 feet)

August and the rest stake out the cave from their position. Whispering about random non-sense to pass the time.

(any special measures you're taking?)

(August herself watches like a hunter up a tree. Taking leaf-covered branches for defilade)

As the day goes on you observe six members of the pack hunt and live near here. They drag a deerling creature back during the daytime and most of the remaining observation is taken up with the sounds of them feastng and fighting over the kill. You do not see any pups here, but it is clear the smaller and more white furred examples of the creatures are female. The pack is divided between two male and four female.

Whispering to herself, August says, "So far, they act like regular ol' predators. Some nice fuggin' fur on dem gals though. No pups though, with so many females roamin' round? Not even a squeak, that's odd as all hell. 'Specially 'fer a Canine-primate like hybrid. I thought they'd breed like Hergudr-rabbits"! August rubs her chin and keeps watching.

Day becomes night, and you don't see any evidence of pups here. The pack seems content with their meal and spends the rest of the daylight hours close to their den, one keeping an eye out on the surround at all times.

As the day passes unto night, August thinks aloud to herself once more in whispers, before losing visual thanks to the night. "No signs of an alpha, no signs of pups, a new pack possibly"? August tries to remember the coat colors of the previously seen primate-canines. (By chance, do these seem like the same ones from before or are these different ones?)

(They’re the same ones you’ve tangled with already )

August lets the sarge know that they're a typical pack of predators as far as it seems, "I'm thinking we wait till dusk, right before sunrise. We get em' while they're asleep, break radio silence, and go back to camp for some shut eye".

No one has an issue with the plan and as dusk finally comes several hours later , the team makes ready to move

August and team begin sneaking up on the cave, planning on taking out the one outside, then moving onto the mouth of the cave. (Would it be possible to set up an Execution via my Sniper Focus in this situation?)

(you could set up for one if you don't move from where you are. They have to be unaware of you for an execution)

August puts a hand up to stop the advance, August uses a tree to steady her aim; putting the creature in-between the bunny ears and in the middle of the sight picture, August pulls the trigger. (10)

The shot is clean and the target falls, dead before it even hits the ground. Unable to see where the sudden death came from, the pack howls and retreats into their cave

Like the pack of professionals they are, August and acquaintances cover, and maneuver quickly towards the mouth of the cave. Stacking at it's entrance, slapping at each other's shoulders whilst sounding off, then charging head first to exterminate the remaining primate-canines.

(initiative)

(9)

(You and the team are up) 5m away in the Large open cavern you see the pack on two legs, each ready to fight now that they are cornered

The team and August enters and begins lighting up the cave with their laser rifles, keeping their distance from the primate-canines. (20ATK/12DAM)

The first shot takes out another one as the team piles in. (Will roll at a computer later on)

(Do your thing brotha)

Charging into melee, one of the large beasts towers over August, swinging its massive hooked talons (18/6) . Another of the squad is brought down, throat torn out by sharp teeth as the large creatures use the confines to their advantage. (we're in melee now, so rifles cannot be used)

After the creature retaliates, August let's out a pained-groan, and then an angry roar of her own, August activates her Telekinetic Armory as an On Turn Action and drops her rifle as an Instant Action. (Activating two points of effort, one for armor, and one for a melee weapon) (MES Sledgehammer) (AC is bumped to a 16) August sees a buddy get their throat ripped out, August angrily slams an ethereal hammer into the side of the beast! (11ATK/10DAM) (Shock is 4DAM against 15 or less)

(Youll do shock and wound one) Caught flat footed most of the squad cannot fight back this round (main action to club up rifles to use as clubs) The beasts continue laying into the combat but don’t manage to kill anyone for the moment , though you see a few members of the team suffering bites and scratches (edited)

3:56 PM

(Back to you)

August swings at the same creature, only thinking of taking it down. (6ATK/13DAM) (Shock is 4DAM against 15AC or less)

The creature falls as your main swing missed but you catch it with the halft of your weapon. It falls, teeth crushed and mouth agape. Your team is having an uneven struggle with the creatures. You can see another of your comrades is mortally wounded and will expire in but a moment if first aid isn’t rendered. Blood pumps from a gashed neck. Another pair of the creatures fall as knives and rifle butts do the work now, and after several horrifying moments of blood and howls and shouts the den is cleansed, though a man remains bleeding out (edited)

"Hold on, buddy! Hold on! We got you! You're gonna be ok"! August puts pressure on the man's neck and begins wrapping up his neck with bandages. "Keep pressure on it! Don't let go, pal"! (5 on a heal)

(heal is rolled with int normally in a case like this, but the modifier is the same, so 5 still fails)

7:50 AM

There is nothing you can do for them with the supplies on hand. The shuttle will not get here in time to stop the bleeding. The pack has been culled, for a loss of two of your own.,

August exhales, defeated. "Holy fuckin' shit... fuck... these thangs ain't botherin' nobody no more". August packs up her fallen buddies stuff, and gets them ready for the hike back to camp. August is a bit quieter now after losing half the team. "I'm gonna check out the cave before we leave, see if there's anything inside". August takes a gander around the cave, looking for any hints of minerals or the like, August also looks about at the nest of these beasts.

You can see evidence of previous animal kills. There are no especially valuable minerals near the surface of the cave and what you do find is too light in concentration to make any kind of mining effort practical or profitable.

August begins marking this area on the map as a simple cleared out den, one that could be used as an emergency shelter, if need be. "Alright, I guess it's time to tell Hoss the outcome". August says this with clear disdain. "Hoss, this is August and team. Mission accomplished. We have two casualties; they're dead, Hoss... I'm sorry. We're making our way back now. How copy"?

The shuttle understands you and will sweep in to grab the casualties, and the rest of you (we brought the whole team)

2:30 PM

(3xp, 5000 credits. We had to eliminate these things so they wouldnt attack miners working that other deposit you found and whatnot, so this was worth doing)

(Understood) (Awesome Expedition) (Thank you btw) (I'll add the xp in a sec, I'm sure that levels me up)

2:44 PM

Level up to 4 Old HP: 13 New HP Roll: 12 New HP Total: 14 Skill points: One Saved Skill point used: Exert now at 0 Psi Points: One Saved

"Sorry, Hoss, we got two down and the rest of us are hurtin', me and Sarge, are hurt as all hell". August wraps up her wounds from the beast's talons. "They're faster than we woulda thunk, Hoss. And hit harder than a truck". August, recoils from pain after wrapping her arm up. "Hoss, we got that mine, least that'll be good 'nough? Or we gotta 'splore more? I can do that if needbe and stay a tad longer". August stands up and salutes, weakly.

This is a big planet, but the Protectorate is even bigger. If you are wanting to withdraw you can consider your mission complete.

"If my contract's up, then I'll head back to Heras. I definitely love checkin' this place out, though. I need to come back a tad more prepped, is all. Just, invite me to whatever afterparty the mining company throws for that juicy ol' core".

(any thoughts as to what we might want to do next)

(I was thinking of taking up a bounty to make some credits to put towards a grav explorer)

9let me know what one you're looking at so i can plan for it)

(I was thinking of everyone's favorite "end game crisis" but remembered that the level difference may be a problem, specially if he's Alert) (Would there be info on former Polychrome officers? Or info on Phemno Guild leaders?)

(there isnt any info on them right now but an investigation has to start somewhere)

11:31 AM

(Vukan is dead, obsidia killed them)

(I'll go with investigating the Phenmo Guild leaders)

(I'll actually post about trying to appraise and sell the fur and talons of the beast I zinged with an arrow, first. But I'm going to investigate them as well)

(alright, lets do errands first then before we zip off on a long investigation)

August steps off the shuttle and begins heading back to her apartment in Chiron, with everything she's collected in tow. August plans on settling and resting in an actual bed for a day. Whilst in bed, August Kinetically holds her Dataslab over herself as she catches up on EP Town Hall things, and then, types away; looking for a science-type of person online who would purchase unknown animal furs and talons. In the morning, August begins her usual work-out/hygiene routine and then readies to head off to the Town Hall.

You're able to find a few biologists who were looking for off world samples and would pay well for their delivery, a bonus if they were taken intact.

August responds to them and let's them know that she really only has the claws and fur of a single primate-like canine she encountered, and that she can deliver if need be.

(the entire haul would be 25,000 credits and some research points generated for the polity)

(Then I will def deliver and snag them research points

)

Dropping off the research materials you help yourself to the reward, and continue towards town hall (not sure of your purpose)

(busy day so taking my time with the chores and updating the others whilst saying hi in the Town Hall)

(okay, i dont really have any input for any of this here)

August leaves the Town Hall and heads over to the Sheriff's office. August hopes that someone there may be able to give her a possible lead or rumor on Phenmo Guild Leaders.

Entering the office you're given what the public knows, or what has been speculated by too many people to be false. We know by know the Phemno Mining Guild leadership took the money they made from planet cracking and fled their world. CEO Eduardo was killed in the skies above Brizeno when the planet cracker was destroyed by the Void Wardens flagship. Despite his loss, their immediate company goals were completed and the board escaped their homeworld with their enormous piles of money. There has not been rumor this far north of where they might be now.

(Checking out the World Anvil on the Phemno Mining Guild) ( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash/a/phemno-mining-guild-article# ) August asks, "Anything on Trivedi Technologies of Olar? Or info on the Governor Collins of Olar? Someone there on Olar might have a better lead. Aiya Tech themselves may have something the public may not know, though, so far, these guys just poofed off the map, looks like".

Phemno Mining Guild

“Trivedi tech has been out of business for two years now and Governor Collins is a busy man. He probably doesn’t know anything either. He would have shared it with us”

"And Aiya Tech? They found dead drops on some of their ships"? August rubs her chin.

“The entire Phemno war fleet was destroyed at Brizeno. That intelligence report is irrelevant now. The planet cracker has was taken out during that fight. There’s a slim chance any kind of records remain there , and getting to their homeworld is a very long distance to fly “

"Damn, ya ain't wrong, it's a hike". August sighs, "Well other than Phemno itself, where would someone start looking for these marks"? August taps her chin, "If anything, may have to find some black market jocks to help find someone who deals in what they deal; any specific metals this Mining Guild used to deal with, specifically? Or just raw metals in general"?

(I threw out a couple hooks already )

(between the shipwrecks that might have data, or talking to people on Brizeno where the guild had a big ground presence)

(Yeah kinda hard to decide on where to start tbh, I'm going to try my hand at the shipwrecks, I've at least decided. Literally been thinking about this all day lol)

(Alright, 18 days of downtime as we travel there on a shuttle)

(August studies and watches videos on the Noctua language in her down time)

(18/30 on learning Noctua) The system of Brizeno is busy. In addition to the large wreck field the CBSS, UNW and EP maintain troop and fleet presence here. There is also a Void Warden ship in orbit as part of the contingent meant to defend the world in the event the nearby Chimeran Ascendency makes a move on the world. The drifting space wreckage is a war grave for thousands of sailors on all sides, and is one of the most significant losses of life in this Post Scream period of history.

7:18 AM

The shuttle captain wakes you up, knowing your mission, and is waiting to be told how to proceed.

"Thanks for the wake up, Cap'n. Let's get to checkin' for some dead drops, shall we? I'm thinkin' it'll be hell findin' em' but that's to be expected". August stretches and stands. "If ya got anyone willing to come lookin' with me, I sure wouldn't mind someone watching my back. Hell, tell em' they can keep what they find. I'm mostly here for information on these Guild Leaders".

"We';re not here to loot from grave sites, just to transport you to the wrecks so you can try to find some clues. The planet cracker looks like its the most together of the junk here, what do you think about starting there?"

"Fair enough, and yes. The planet cracker would be a great start, hopefully we can find something there".

"Grab an armored vac suit from the ship locker, and get ready near the airlock. We'll get as close as we can to the ship and you'll have to get aboard from there"

"Sounds good to me, Cap". August begins leaving most things behind in her place of stay, only putting on the armored vacc suit, bringing along only her rifle, ammo and snacks as a just in case. "I'll keep radioing back every once in a while to update ya'll with whatever shenanigans I get up to". August walks to the airlock after suiting up readies herself mentally and physically with a quick stretch, after the hiss of the airlock, August gives a thumbs up, letting the Captain and his crew know she's ready to board.

A short space walk sees you from the shuttle to the broken airlock of the planet cracker, and it hangs off its housings from the titanic amounts of damage this vessel took from the battle (notice/wis)

(10)

You enter the vessel and see several floating bodies right inside the airlock, and there is a gentle light strobing on one of the dead mechanics.

As August casually enters, she grabs the dead mechanic and investigates them. Assuming the light is a simple SOS blink, August turns off the light, but takes it along, clipping it to a sling on the vacc suit she's wearing.

it looks like more than a simple light. Some sort of data pack or portable computing gear is connected to the poor dead tech, and some of it looks like it is fused to the body.

August examines further, wondering what this contraption could be.

(Program/int)

(R20's being weird so i'll post when possible, if you're able to roll for me, it'd be appreciated)

(There it is) (4+6-1) (9)

The data drive has a fragment of information in it. It looks like part of a set of coordinates but on their own they don’t mean much. Other pieces may be inside the ship

August shrugs, "Well, well. Fortuna's lookin' out this day". August saves the info, and checks the other bodies for the same. After doing so, August opens the next door, and enters through.

Heading west deeper into the ship you come to the remains of a muster area. PMG marines were killed instantly in their restraint cradles here, waiting to prevent any kind of boarding assault from this position had anyone been insane enough to try. Broken helmets, loose weapons, and dead men fill the room, those who had their restraint harnesses break are now floating freely in zero gravity.

August gulps, seeing the dead float about in the movies was one thing, yet witnessing this in person makes her feel sick. August searches the room, humbly, softly praying to calm the nerves.

There is an airlock ahead leading to engineering, where the sergeant of the marine contingent here floats in front of it. A bolt loosened from the walls by weapon fire hit him in the head like a bullet, breaking his helmet. The exposure to space did the rest.

August flinches at the sarge's cold face, and wonders how things got to this point, how two sides could go through with something so horrifying. August makes her way to engineering.

(Did you want to pair up with ares to help comb this thing? They’re also in system )

(If Ares wants to, I'd hate to force someone to work with me. I always love the help if they say yes.)

@Stolen4u Enters from the airlock behind you, newly equipped frmo the locker of his ship. Both of you have your own reasons for being aboard the destroyed planet cracker, but working together, you may finish both of your missions where before it would have been difficult to piece together enough to even complete one.

Ares coming to a stop as he sees August but not recognizing her immediately, putting his hand near his pistol before speaking up. *"Augest that you bruv? *"

Ares would hear a small startled yelp before a reply, "Uhhh, Ares? That you"? August has a hand up, yet her rifle is being casually held in the other. Her face is slightly red from the embarrassment.

Laughing at the yelp he would walk over casually *"Glad it's you bruv, had me shook for a little. Thought you might of been a pirate or somthin. So you here for the end of war sale too?.

“Haha~ well honestly I thought I was completely alone in here”. August nods her head, “In a sense”. August laughs, “I’m investigatin’ these Phenmo fellas, hoping there might be a little bit of info here on where they might be hidin’ out. What about you”?

*"control systems, heard these ships had tech no one could copy. Trying to make a racing ship, or something fast enough on planet to make you think you just might go faster than light. *"

"Well shoot, I hope you can find whatcha need here. I can help ya out if ya want. Just lettin' ya know I'm more determined in finding dead-drops holding information, if that's alright".

"Alright den bruv lets head towards the bow, might be best bet for your dead-drop." Putting on his low-light goggles and now seeing all the weapons floating around with bodies. "August you do this bruv?"

"I was headed toward engineering first, but that ain't too shabby an idea. I'll letcha decide". August chuckles and jokes along, "Hehe~ had my personal lackey, that Mazzio feller do it for me, actually".

(notice/wis, both of you can make the check)

(4)

(6)

Something creaks gently in the engineering section, and Ares has a faint after image of some kind of flashlight or suit light suddenly shut off.

Doing a double take as he looks at engineering section, Ares would tilt his head to the side a little. Moving his head to face August but still keeping his eye on engineering. "Bruv you didn't leave no glowbug in there did you ? Looks to me like someone or ting is back there." kneeling down to put his grapple launcher in his bag, so he could run a little easier if needed

August slowly turns to Ares, "Oh jeepers"! August turns towards engineering and aims her rifle, "Ok so i'll take the lead, may as well check it out, huh"?

*"yea we should, you made sure the mandem in there was dead right? Ares stacking up behind August so they would be able to walk in a two man formation.

"I'll be honest, other than the Cap'n I came with, plus his crew, yer the only other feller out here far as I know". August cautiously walks over towards engineering, switching her rifle off of safe.

There is a brief flash of light in the corner of the room again as a laser shot strikes the deck plate right in front of you, from a darkened corner of the engineering bay

August yells with comms open as she gets into cover, "HEY HEY PAL!! COME ON OUT!! I'LL BLAST YA TO SMITHEREENS IF YA DON'T"!! (August would ready an attack after getting into full cover)

(would i be able to see him with low-light goggles?) (edited)

A PMG marine is back in the engineering compartment with his rifle trained on the door. He is 20m away, tucked back inside a well protected space where machinery has fallen around him. He fires out through a few firing slits created where the junk did not fit well together.

Ares would go to find cover on the opposite side of the from August, Speaking through comms. "I'll move closer if you can cover, don't got a proper burner right now." (readying a move action for when Augest shoots)

"I can do that; go on my burst". August replies back. August yells out before firing off a retaliatory burst, "WAR'S OVER BUDDY! YA GOTTA CHANCE IF YA SURRENDER"! (Instant action; talk them down via fact. Action firing a burst.) (19ATK/13DAM) (I think there's a negative mod since I'm popping off at someone behind that dense of cover but can't seem to remember)

(he just gets a higher AC , using a skill is a main action, but you've already fired)

1

12:40 PM

The shot sparks off the machinery in this room, keeping the well sheltered shooter protected. He is not hit.

Hearing the burst Ares would make a dash for cover closer to the PMC marine. Glancing over the cover, to see if he now had a better angle on the PMC

He is dug in well and might even be trapped behind the machinery. Regardless he has dug himself in to fight

8:48 AM

(That was your move. You’ve still got your main action)

(sorry just got home so I can make the attack roll) Poping back out and taking a shot at the seemingly trapped man. (26ATK/7DAM)

You hear a thud and the hiss of gas as the shot finds a gap in the machines and strikes his body. There is a wrenching and gasping before it finally goes silent.

After a moment of silence, August's labored breathing gets more controlled. "Hey! Ares! You good"!? August pops out of cover and advances, instead of firing, August tries to Telekinetically take apart the cover, before herself, getting back into cover.

The machines move just enough for you to have a narrow path to where the trooper was hiding. It’s clear he is dead now. Ares managed to score a skillful hit

"A-Ares... ya alright, partner"? August huffs, shaking off the surprise attack, "I didn't expect anyone to be alive out here, man". August continues to Telekinetically take away cover and searches the dead PMG and their area.

After hearing the gasp of air stop Ares would begin to pull out tools to try and cut through the debris. Stopping as Augest lifts it telekinetically. *"Yea bruv, I'm chillin. As for people idk how the waste man even got here, there was no other ship out there but mine and yours bruv. Tink he was infected or sumtin? *" As he would start scanning the room shooting any other bodies in the head.

August shrugs, stops what she's doing, and starts expending the last six of her rounds into random heads in single-shot increments before reloading another type-A. (Two remain) "I'm glad yer fine. Ya didn't say nothin' so I got spooked there for a sec. Ya really gotta stop scarin' me, pal hehe". August scans the room and says, "I really thought this would be easy, honestly. I'm gonna check ol' buddy over there, maybe they know were I gotta go".

The marine has several air tanks in this room with him, along with a vac fresher. It looks like he had taken oxygen from other crewmen who had already died or were at least too poorly off to defend themselves from his taking it. The marine has a compad, and a few power cells on him and looks to have become trapped in this compartment with his air and tech when the wreckage shifted. This ship had a crew of thousands, a massive compliment for a vessel in this post-scream era, and isolated survivors in the wreckage is something you might encounter.

Ares walking to beside Augest looking at the body and all the oxygen this poor fellow had would whistle. *"So the bloke was on a supply run or sometin, this is a lot of oxygen for 1 person to just need. Don't see no grub, must of been hiding out close. *" Changing the type A in his gun as well. *"So if people living on dis wreck, they going to need heat and food, so engine room and cargo probably got mandem or dats where I would bring the mandem." *

"Agreed". August nods while going through the dead PMG's compad, looking to see if there's any more dead-drop info, and checking if this marine was in contact with anyone, or were they alone or cut-off. "Gotta give these guys credit for staying out here so long without activating an SOS".

(program/int)

(5)

The compad is corporate issue. There is no doubt information of some kind within, but you're not able to crack its password.

(Ares can try if you want him to)

(Oh def, if Ares doesn't feel like it then August will just put it in a pocket in the vacc suit for later)

(got 8) As Augest try's to break into the compad Ares would be on look out to cover there back, just in case anyone came looking for the pmc. Hearing the beep of the compad multiple times as Augest is unable to get in he would glance over his shoulder to Augest. "Wanna let me take a crack at that bruv, don't know much about all dat tech stuff but might be the same as breaking into ship software."

Ares is able to break through the passcode with a clever workaround (Can ask the device questions rather than I just dump stuff on you)

(does he have a map of the ship/ journal entry about locations)

(I don’t have a map , was just going to do it theatre of the mind, but this ship has also been shot with capital scale weapons dozens of times so a map wouldn’t be much help anymore anyway )

1

(does he know of anyone else on the ship)

There are a few people in the bridge , between three and seven survivors. Power might still be on reserve in that section of the ship.

Nekosmash

(I don’t have a map , was just going to do it theatre of the mind, but this ship has also been shot with capital scale weapons dozens of times so a map wouldn’t be much help anymore anyway )

(lol that's fair)

(is there like any radiation or anthing that we would have to worry about?)

(No, you’re in vac suits anyway so you’re in a sealed environment ) (edited)

(augtst do you have any questions cause I can't think of anything else)

(Oh yeah, August would look for dead drop info, Ares asked what I needed answered)

The fleet had a fallback position at Onayi, but no information is known about this world.

"Fallback pos is someplace called. Onayi... never heard of it". August whispers aloud. August puts away the compad (unless Ares wants to use it) and advances towards engineering again, with rifle raised.

Ares would begin following behind , whispering back "Could be more of the wasteman there as well, full camp even since they seem like a resource full bunch."

"Yeah, it could be. For all we know". August shrugs and continues on. "Regardless, he's the one who tried popping off before we could even get antiquated. Now he's stiffer than a day's long dead maggot. I'm worried 'bout his pals, now. They outnumber us three-to-one so I'm not a fan of these odds, partner. Any ideas"? August pans every corner, nook and cranny. August activates her Telekinetic Armory, which isn't obvious to Ares, but August's reflexes are now slightly sped-up. (TK Active and AC now 16) (Exhausting 1/3 Effort)

" Well we don't need to shoot all of them, could try talking. Or we sneak around them or surprize attack, they are not all togeather and unless they have coms to call for back up. Which I doubt because the dead man back there would of called for them. So we can try taking them silently, to lower those numbers." Trying to walk quiter and exaggerating the motions. As if he was reinacting a spy film. Stopping a few seconds later to walk normal.

1

(Yeah, Ares has a good idea there, not really a reason to just kill everyone when a solution that doesn't see you fighting impossible odds might suffice )

(Naked Gun moment lol) August's eyes slowly look down in defeat. August whips to Ares in the midst of the spy-walk, "This is why you're the brains, and I'm the buffalo. That's how the saying goes, right? Right". August nods in agreement with herself before taking up Ares' same stance and continuing forward, but even more exaggerated and only slightly more serious.

10:59 PM

(early post, meant to add;) August advances towards the engineering section, sneaking and low, keeping her knees bent, August checks every corner before actually entering the room.

You try to see what you can from outside. The ship is dark and much of the ceiling has fallen in on several sections. You’ve got your information, and Ares needs his part. It might be found here without storming the bridge

August looks to Ares after looking through, and whispers "Don't look like anyone's in there. Think there's some juicy tech in there for ya"?

Leaning in to look himself *"Could be bruv, looks like a room that might have somthin. But I would need time to check everything out. Think you could cover for a bit? *" Walking into the room after and looking around cracking a glow bug to light it up properly

Some of the parts you're looking fro are in this room. You think you can scavenge enough from this room to get your fighter working.

(should I roll a fix or something to scavenge?)

(Fix/int. Was just going to see if you had other plans)

(8)

The planet cracker is a dead ship but may bring life to others. You’re able to pull the controls and enough power distribution circuits from various parts in the engineering room. August has his clue. Ares has his parts. The wreck is otherwise silent and feels more like a grave the longer you’re in here.

Ares either rapping the parts around him or showing them in his bag would stand up. "Well bruv looks like a mission complete, wanna go for bonus points? See what the blokes on the ship have to say, either giving them rescue or sending them on their way?" Now doing a sawing motion on his arm *"if they not man eater that is. *"

Standing up and walking over to Ares, August says, "Yeah, I wanna give these gents a shot at getting back to their ordinary lives, 'stead o' dyin' out here like animals. If they'll even accept help".

*" Well let's get back to where I got in. I'ma want a propa burner just in case, also make sure we have an exit. *" As he begins walking back to the airlock that his ship is attached to.

August begins the walk back to Ares' ship. When they get to the intersection where they met up, August stops, "Better let them know now". August takes out the PMG Compad whilst slowly walking and August records a video and sends a mass message to all contacts. "If you're out there, My name's August, I'm a Free Agent who's offering safe passage off this wreck. I'm asking anyone who's out here; please, come forth. I came seeking information, and instead I find a nightmare. My friends and myself are leaving in less than an hour. If you aren't here by then, then let Fortuna decide your Fate". August then begins to facetime all recent contacts, in hopes of a response.

There is no reply to your message. You're not sure what PMG broadcasts on but they either cannot hear you, or will not reply to you from how it seems.

Getting back into the ship and putting the parts in the cargo area, he would inform Lance to keep a check on the airlock and secure the room out side as there are still people here. Informing him that he would be going back out to search for them. Now walking back out with his lazer rifle over his shoulder. *"So what we doing bruv waiting here? Or we going searching. *" (edited)

"Wouldn't feel right if we left em'. I'm thinkin' we try and save their hides. I'm worried they's gonna pop off before we even try and statin' a case though"... August inhales and exhales sharply. "Last idea I got is turnin' the bluetooth on to see if they communicated via close-comms on this here Compad! We'd have to get within about forty-feet or so, possibly half that with all the damage to the ship, blocking thangs off. But, if they're smart and actually played around with these here contraptions, we may just get Lucky and get a word in"!! August fiddles with the PMG Compad, turning on it's Bluetooth and presses it's Pair button. "If ya have an idea, please tell me; cause your girl here's got nothin' else". August chuckles and hopes she doesn't die so far from home.

That sort of technology doesn’t seem to be a thing anymore. Tight beam communications between two points in a system are still possible when you are using different networks, but you’d have to know where the transmitter is and in this case you don’t. There is still nothing you can see that would connect to your own device. The PMG compad is out of range, and the dead man is the only person who would have known what way to point it for a tight beam transmission

1

snaps fingers "Aw drat. Sorry, partner. Got zip".

"Only thing to do is go out there and find them. We at least know where to look. The mandem just at the bridge."

Moving off to the bridge through the wreck of the ship you can see power in the executive section is still on, but it flickers and is fragmented. The bridge doors are closed but there is a slight crack between them where the joint is not perfect anymore.

walking closer to the door he would start to look for any sort of trap that may of been placed to protect the door. (if any he would try and disable it silently ) Finished checking he would look threw the crack in the door to see if anyone was inside.

The door is not trapped. There are six people inside who are trying to get one of the power panels repaired based on what you can see from this narrow angle looking into the room. Each of them is armed with at least a laser pistol

August nods, agreeing with Ares. Advancing forward and seeing the cracked door, August would secure Ares' six, ensuring he isn't snuck up on.

*" you should hide bruv just in case the blokes don't feel like talkin. Don't want them knowing all our cards ya. *" Waiting for Augest to find a hiding spot and then simply knocking on the door to the bridge calling out. *"Any one in there, we found a bloke out here that said they where more of you this way. We have come to give a lift if your willing, to share some info with us. *"

1

The bridge crew wheels around, drawing weapons from being startled. "Whos out there!" the comms master calls, the only person of rank who looks to still be a live from the once thousands strong crew

*"Ares strider, captain of the hades *"

"The Hades!?" one calls back "Never heard of it. Who do you fly for? "

12:32 PM

They begin to take positions behind the remains of consoles and fallen pieces of what was once the ceiling of this room, just in case.

*"for the Elysium protectorate, Also you don't have to go and do all dat. Just trying to see if you need a ride to your endz. *"

(You wouldn’t be able to take them to Phemno. You’d be shot on sight when you got into the system, so we either convince them to leave with you or we leave them here ) (edited)

Though August is hiding and lining her shot up, August is optimistic about the Marines realizing their situation may be dire. August whispers to herself, "Coome oon fellaas~, ya gotta be tired of not breathin' the natural stuff"...

(Well I don't think Ares knows that so it's the best kinda lie right now lol.)

(You would know that. The war against the mining guild has been in dozens of news posts and is one of the most significant events that’s happened in the server. The Protectorate has a large fleet here and tens of thousands of combat troops on the planet below )

(Oh sweet so in-char we would know that there is definite traffic coming through here, then)

(O well then. That changes things. Guess I'll change my response as a retype.) (edited)

"yea didn't think you would of. Running small time tings right now, not that famous yet. So you want the ride bruv or not can't sit here waiting all day. The bloke we met before gave us info there might be more of you stranded here. So I came to see if you'd like to stop sniffing that fake air."

1

“How many of us can you take? Where will we go?” The comms officer asks. You can feel he is still suspicious but maybe less so now

"how many do you have, and the where is up to you I could just drop you at a port or something and you make your way from there. Or you join my crew I guess idk bruv, you're a big man you can figure it out. But before you get on my ship ima need a name."

"There are six of us!, that's all we know about. This is a big ship but leaving the bridge has been dangerous " (we're probably never going to see these guys again once we drop them off somewhere, unless you had other plans, so I wasn't going to bother with a name) (edited)

(That's fine they don't need to give the name then. And no not really anything planned just trying to be helpful)

Upon hearing that 'leaving the bridge has been dangerous', August's head tilts with curiosity as the smirk leaves her face. August stays hidden, barely moving, yet her eyes begin to slowly pan to the left and right, watching for movement.

Things seem quiet here for now. If you’re going to move these men and yourselves now seems to be the time

"yea bruv that won't be a.... wait why is out side the bridge un safe. There was nothing here except the one wasteman. Are you saying he got you shook."

“There’s others out there. It’s a big ship. But if we leave we need to do it fast”

" This not some gang stuff is it? I'm not trying to get in the middle of that eye for an eye stuff right now ."

1

They just want to get off the ship. There are no gangs in the middle of a destroyed ship in the middle of space. They just want to get off, with their health and safety intact, so they can get somewhere safe where they're not fighting other survivors for clean air and food.

(I'm saying as a more why do we not try and just save everyone we can. Or was hoping to find I'd the other they where talking about were like insane or infected or something. )

(Just desperate random survivors but this is really all ive got here, both of you got what you came here to get already)

11:18 AM

(these people cracked a planet and destroyed dozens of starships in their last fight, they're not innocent victims)

Ares seeing that they don't understand what he talking about would just wave for them to follow. Calling out for August to come out of where she is, so they can leave . (edited)

August audibly exhales with relief. "Let's get the heck off this heap, shall we, gentlemen"? August begins leading the way back to Ares' ship.

(3xp, 5000 credits. August got his info and ares got his part. Nothing else really to be done here )

9:02 PM

(So we can separate back to our own threads and I guess go from there )

(Will August be able to head to Onayi from here after returning to the Captain's ship?)

(We could travel out that way. If you’re determined to just investigate that planet I won’t generate any others along the way. I don’t want to go through that if it’s just going to be skipped over )

(totally fine with that. No need to go overboard if it's not needed)

(8 days of downtime as we travel east)

August continues studying Noctua, slowly getting mannerisms and absorbing the enunciations. (26/30 Noctua Language)

(and a program/int on entering the system since we're trying to stay hidden)

(5)

(Becomes a 9 after modifiers ) Your ship enters the system and remains in silent running. You’re not able to get many details about the system but you do detect a communications relay station orbiting the barren planet midway in the system between here and the world’s sun.

7:51 PM

It’s signal repeats slowly , completing a full transmission in guild cant every four minutes

August rubs her chin as she begins recording the Guild Cant with her Dataslab, for future reference. August looks to the Captain and asks, "Hey, Cap, what are the chances we're able to translate what they're saying? And ya think that there station over yonder's abandoned"?

“We would have to go active to decode , or to scan the station effectively. If we do that everyone will know we are here “

"Anywhere for us to hide out for a couple days to watch the traffic going in and out, Cap"?

“We haven’t been detected and space is a big place. We can lay low and see what happens.”

7:56 AM

(How many days woukd we want to wait? We have to remain here for at least 4 to scoop some fuel)

(Seven days, just a week. Two weeks if we have the food/water for it, rather not starve out here.)

(We would have resupplied from Brizeno so we've got 22 days of supplies aboard still)

3:52 PM

Observing for a week no ships come to the station here, but its thought that the guild does not have many ships and is dealing with its own problems since the loss at Brizeno. Nothing seems to be visiting the station but you know from your investigation on their former capital ship that this system was important to the guikd

August would ask the Captain, after getting the gut feeling that the comm station may be abandoned. "Hey Cap, if I may ask, let's stake out for one more week. If nothing comes up; I'll go down myself from the ship, ain't gotta turn anything on or nothin'. I'll break in and see what's in there. After about eight-hours, if I don't respond or return back, then leave back home. Last thang I need is to get people who ain't got nothin' to do with what I got goin' on gettin' killed 'fer nothin'".

(That would bring us down to 10 days left and we need 8 to return to brizeno, so we can’t stay longer )

10:37 AM

Another week goes by and other than combatting boredom in the ships crew , the system and station don’t have much activity

"Huh, well would ya look at that, still nothin' at all". August snaps her fingers in defeat. "Cap, ya mind if I go down there and see if I can get in through an airlock? Maybe no one's home. Or so I hope, heh".

“I think we should. We have enough for two days of operations in the system before it’s time to leave. Make sure you’re back in time “

7:58 PM

He pages the crew and lets them know it’s time to board. The platform will know it’s happening if anyone is home.

August nods and begins putting on a vacc-suit, slings her rifle over her back and brings along just the basics. (Dataslab+ammo+rations) "Alright Cap, I'm ready to head out. I'll be back as soon as I'm able. If I ain't well, assume the worst and tell my momma I went down swingin', woulda ya"? August gives the Captain a hearty chuckle and a thumbs up before getting into the airlock and readying for another zero-gee leap, beginning to find them fun.

(sneak/dex as we go aboard)

(11)

You're able to slip in as the airlock door closes gently. The lights inside are dim, running on standby power but there are clear signs the station is inhabited, or was in recent memory.

August walks in with her rifle still slung across her back. August investigates the area before advancing further.

(how are we investigating it? What kinds of things are we looking for? )

(August heads to any container in the airlock area itself; checking if any suits, air, batteries, food or water supplies were taken or clearly scavenged)

It looks like life support has been tapped for re-filling ship suits many times, though the air in here is breathable on its own as well. IT's clear the station was inhabited just based on the airlock and reception area- which has cans full of trash.

August sets her suit to save it's oxygen, then whispers to the Captain, "Judgin' by what's left, no one might be home"... Opening the door and heading through, August then looks around, looking for a map on the wall of the station. (Don't need to get an actual map up if ya don't feel like it lol, a simple description is good enough. If it needs, then so be it.)

You can see from this receptor area on the exterior ring of the station a passageway forward leads to another reception room and airlock like this one, to the west a hallway moves into the middle ring of the station to what looks like some kind of entertainment concourse

August moves West towards the entertainment concourse, looking for any more signs of life on the station.

Sensors in the floor are carefully stepped over. The concourse would have come to life on sensing you, betraying your position. You see evidence here that the restaurants and ship stores had been used recently. The smell of meat grease is in the air right now, and is thin.

August continues along whilst watching her step more than earlier. August then keeps a keen ear out for any noise as she takes her helmet off and holds it to her hip. August presses onto her ear and whispers, "Cap'n hey, I might not be alone in here. I'll letcha know if I'm gonna cheese it outta here". August looks for any terminals as she's quietly walking forward.

There is a set of public information terminals worked into the left side of the chamber

August begins working on them, getting any info on any chapter leaders who funded Phenmo or individuals who stick out, other than Eduardo himself. August is trying to get basic info before digging deeper.

(program/.int)

(10)

You can see two members of the board are reported as still being on station. Three others have fled the sectors, and it looks like two more are dealing with massive insurrectionist movements on Phemno itself.

(Happy Thanksgiving you nasty li'l slut) August does her best to find out where the other three have gone, Sector-wise, after, opens up cameras to see where the other two are on the station.

The information is not available and since this is a public terminal you’re not able to access the security system from here

August whispers to herself, "Hmmm, looks like just a couple on the station, if they're even still here. May as well start lookin' around". August continues on, though after leaving the public terminal, she finally slings her rifle over her front and readies it. "Fortuna don't let me have to use this".

From here there is a branching corridor to the left that moves into a living area- and right, which leads to engineering.

August heads towards engineering

Engineering is a loud section of the ship. You can hear power is on and that means you’ll be running into other people since the reactor and power distribution from it need to be watched the entire time

August uses the sound to her advantage, though she slows down, Augie looks for a utility closet or maintenance room where a possible uniform could be put on to blend in for just a moment.

There is a small bathroom near the engineering section. It sounds like someone is inside washing their hands, but you haven't seen any place where gear would be stored.

Upon hearing the sound of a restroom in use, August slings her rifle tight around her shoulder; and activates her Kinetic Transversal as she skitters like a critter onto the ceiling like a scorpion stalking potential prey. (1/3 effort)

1

The engineer inside is washing his hands and doesn’t notice your unconventional entry

August slowly poises like a predator as a nodachi appears in her grasp; like a scorpions tail, the tip of the blade twitches in anticipation as it slowly recoils for a killing strike. (Setting up an execution as this person practices personal hygiene) (2/3 effort - Telekinetic Armory: a Japanese Greatsword if I may)

(We're not going to have the full minute of being unobserved for the execution before he leaves the room, but you would get a surprise round with a normal attack)

(Sweet enough and I can roll when I can get home)

August licks her lips like a hidden predator trying to drop their prey with little resistance (5ATK/9DMG) (3SHK ≤ 15AC)

(That's a miss, will do shock damage , target is alive so we'll need initiative)

(2)

)7. Going to take fighting withdrawal as my main action so he doesn’t take an opportunity attack from you for leaving combat , and move to get 10m away, out into the hallway)

10:05 PM

The engineer looks up in astonishment as the blade cuts past him. It’s enough of an argument for him to quickly shove you a step back and go running into the hallway screaming that there is an intruder about. The engineering section is a loud place. No one may have initially heard him but someone will soon

August recoils from the shove and gives chase immediately, afraid of being overwhelmed on a station in the middle of nowhere, and viciously swings at the man's back. (11ATK/6DAM) (3SHK ≤ 15AC)

The engineer is cut down from behind, semi silently.

August drags the body back to the bathroom she tried killing him in, with a little help of her Telekinesis; locking the door behind her. August then looks him about, taking in any bit of info she can; taking out his wallet and checking any I.D.'s and the like.

He has a photo ID that doubles as his access to the engineering section of the station -specifically the power room. A few credits, and a picture of a young woman and twin babies is also in his wallet.

August takes the photo ID, and upon seeing the pictures, spaces out for an unknown amount of time. Snapping out of it, August leaves the credits, forgetting they were there and puts the pictures back in the man's pocket. August then leaves the bathroom, heading deeper into engineering. August is slightly off her game leaving the restroom; being reminded of a life outside of being shot at.

Making your way to the bulkhead door you see the reader for identification cards. It’s light beeps red several times as it waits to be given information.

(Sorry for the delay; thanks for your patience) August takes out the photo ID, sighs, hoping no one's on the other side, and uses it on the card reader.

The reader chimes once and clears. The doors begin to winch open and steam from the engineering section encapsules you. You can see dark figures moving in the steam and low light deeper witihn the engineering center where the reactors and system engines are always working

From this section of the platform with enough skill you should be able to alter power distribution and otherwise cause the trouble you mean to, fulfilling the bounty is in sight.

August does her best to stay within darker areas as she plans to tamper with the station's power. August has a hope that from this area, she could reroute power from the stations air supply and leave everyone aboard a bit to loopy too function.

(are we flooding it with oxygen or trying to deprive them of oxygen , just so I know what to write )

(thank you for your patience; for the billionth time babes) (slight deprivation, if I may)

(fix/int for that, and we'll see what happens)

(10)

Your sabotage is successful and quiet. Air levels will gradually change. In your ship suit you won't need to worry.

August uses the oxygen deprivation to her advantage. August slowly makes her way through engineering in the darkness. The longer Augie takes, the "Loopier everyone on-board becomes"; August believes. August then tries going deeper into the Station after about 15min of oxygen deprivation, rifle shouldered; and with a whispered prayer from Lady Luck Herself.

You see people around you beginning to drop. Oxygen lack has made some loopy, it has made others clearly dead. You're not sure who is who at this point and soon it will not matter. Passing through engineering you reach the executive portion of the station, closed off from the rest by a pair of gold leaf wooden doors that seem very thick.

1

August looks at the door and and sighs, "My bounty might be in here, better ready up". August turns her rifle to burst-fire and opens the door, out loud saying, "Alright partner, it's time to get ya off this heap". Hoping her bounty is loopy, August enters the room a tad more casual than one should.

THere are two guards at the main door of the conference room. One has passed out and the other is ambling around the room, knowing something is wrong but unable to figure out what it is. You can see panic in his eyes as the air around him slowly betrays his body.

August walks toward the guard, slowly. August cautiously waves at the guard to settle as she calmly says, "Hey there partner, put the gun down for me, alright? Everything's A-OK, I just need ya to drop your weapons, can ya do that for me buddy? I can get you air, partner. Just gotta work with me, not against me". August chuckles at the end, hoping the guard settles so she can grant him a tidbit of her Kinetic Pressure Field.

(Youd have to extend him his own bubble or nothing with how the technique works but he would give you his guns in the state he’s in)

6:39 AM

(And he’s going to need some time to recover )

(Sorry def what I intended to mean by that since I have my vaccsuit on) (Also forgot to mark my MES usage) (1/3)

August opens the executive door (sorry for multipost)

Entering the door to the executive suite, you see that three executives are having a hard time breathing. One has passed out on the long meeting table in this room, while the other two seem very focused on trying to continue eating the meals in front of them. You must have caught them during their meal time.

August speaks to them as calmly and as reassuring as she did the guard, "Hey there, everythang's gonna be alright, ya hear"? August let's her rifle float via it's sling and picks up the unconscious gentleman via fireman-style. August then activates her Pressure Field once again, ensuring the three can breathe once more. (2/3 effort) Now, August plans to escort the three execs and the guard back to the ship. "Alrighty, fellas! There's some craziness goin' on, so might be best if we skidaddle. I know you're loopy, but your new favorite temporary guardswoman is here to bring you back to a breathable environment"!

(These are your targets, the ones you were sent here to kill) (edited)

(No reward for bringing them in alive?)

(No. They cracked a planet and enslaved tens of millions of peoples. Their guilt is proven)

(Ah, fair.) (So instead I take it back)

9:42 PM

August let's the Executives try and eat their meal, August pointing her rifle at the Guard, drops aiming and releases the Pressure Field without saying anything. August takes out her compad and begins recording. Using her Telekinetic Manipulation, August then uses it to float it around, ensuring the executives are seen in full display. One after the other, August tells them of their crimes; and then waits for their inevitable demise.

The lack of air does its work and the executives are killed. Your reward of 50 million credits paid by the bounty hunters guild and partially funded by many polities is transferred to your account as your compad registers the lack of life signs coming from the bodies.

4

1

(50milly? are you sure that's right boss?)

11:05 PM

(That's enough for my own fucking station)

11:05 PM

(you let me know tomorrow cause wow 50mil is like "fuck-you" money)

(It’s right. The bounty was partially funded by several polities )

7:04 AM

(Every polity threw in about 20. Max is collecting on the other half )

1

August checks her phone, and an eyebrow raises. August puts her compad away, shoulders her special rifle and begins walking back the way she came, whispering on open comms; "Hey, Cap. Mission Accomplished. Station neutralized. Targets terminated. I'll be jumping back soon enough".

(6xp here as well. We are a far cry from polity space. Up to you on if we head back or not)

(Heading back please.)

1

(sounds good, we've got 30 days home, which we can apply to your downtime and that gets you bnack in line with everyone else. I can come up with a mission or you can let me know what you want to look into)

August sighs whilst entering the ship, shaking off the nerves from what was just done. August rests up during the month of downtime whilst continuing the crash courses on Noctua language; and beginning another to keep her head occupied. (4days finishing up Noctua courses) (26/30 Ashen One language courses) When August arrives back at Heras, she immediately heads back to her apartment. August thinks about the Galatea Games and smiles, wondering if her parents watched at all. August readies and records herself with the ceremonial spear in hand let's her parents know she'll see them when she 'Earns herself a title'. August takes a couple lazy days to herself before letting anyone know she's even back; feeling as if it's long deserved. August scrolls through the Nekonet and finds out there are fancy pets for sale, and so; August looks up where to buy herself a pet!

(It depends what you’re looking for really. World anvil has a bunch of articles on it. Nothing massive or lethal. That or if you give me a rough idea of what you’re looking for I can find something

(That's perfect! I was thinking some sort of raptor; something that grows as tall as our knees at most. I was hoping for a velociraptor or oviraptor. But if those are too massive or lethal then a microraptor is just as perf!)

astyoche does have a booming business in trying to make non-scary dinosaur luxury pets, though care of them is special and a visit to the planet directly is required for private clients. As a bounty hunter of some reputation especially with your most recent exploits, the planet is willing to permit you to visit. They are just a day away from Heras.

2

August takes another voluntary few+ days off; traveling to Astyoche. Happilly meeting a middle-man that would take her to a tamer, willing to bond her with a new friend.

The tribes deal with anyone coming to their lands directly to judge their suitability for the dangerous animals that are tamed here. Landing at the southern pyramid some locals emerge from new and modern looking homes to greet the descending vessel. The ramp lowers and it looks like the village leadership and your sales contact are here waiting for you.

~Xp12 + 6XP = 18XP~ ~LvL5~ ~Old HP: 13~ ~LvL5 Roll: 14~ ~Updated HP: 14~ ~+1 Psi Point = 3 Psi points (saved)~ ~+2 Skill Points = 5 Skill points (saved)~ ~New Focus: Psychic Training. Will make Telekinesis LvL2 ~1 Psi point used on Precog~ ~Precognition at LvL0~ ~2 Psi points saved~ (Is the Mindwall technique from the MMA book a Focus or a skill? Will ask in Help)

Ignore Psychic training, not LvL2 Telekinesis Mindwall is self taught as the Focus LvL1 Telekinesis still LvL0 Precog 2Psi points saved, 5 skill points saved

(Why so many banked? )

(Why are you so sexy dawg

)

4:14 PM

(ima just be honest and say idk what to spend em' on just yet)

Spent both Psi points on Precog LvL1 Precog *Sense the need* learned

4:25 PM

2 Skill points spent on Shoot 2 Skill points spent on Sneak 1 Skill point remaining

(so shoot and sneak are both level 1 now? )

(Oh wow didn't see this, yes please)

August extends a friendly handshake, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person! I'm August"! August greets the village elders as well, "Thank you for this opportunity! I'm giddier than a blue jay sittin' on a fence post on the fourth of July"! August then telekinetically brings her luggage to her hand and smiles.

"You;ve packed for quite a stay" Your handler says. "The locals have some questions for you before we complete the process here, I'm sure you understand"

"Of course"! August respoinds with a bit of glee; hoping to make friends with the locals of Astyioche.

The chief bids you to walk with him away from the ship and through the village. Life here is modern but it was done so at a great cost to the locals and much of their way of life has changed. “The care of a dinosaur is different than any other type of animals you might seek out for companionship. They eat their weight almost every day. They are difficult to train, and they will be almost impossible to ever fully trust “

1

August pays strict attention towards the chief, though the sights of the societal change does grab her attention from now and then. "Understood, I spend most of my time alone, I'm confident I'll be able to build a bond with such an independent creature. Though, your words will be taken into a heavy consideration. Certain animals can only be tamed through trust; and I pray that our belief in one another grows limitlessly".

"There is also the cost of caring for it, they are not cheap, and like I said, eat almost constantly. You'll need to take responsibility for teaching it, and any kind of quarantine or containment procedures on any planet you bring it to. Local authorities may not like you descending to the surface with it if there will be no native predators, of if this looks like it will be an invasive species"

"So... a high maintenance, always hungry and, in need of constant supervision; type of pal"? August puts a hand to her chin and visualizes Ivan optimistically smiling. "Anything in particular a velociraptor would eat outside of what it hunts? I'm also thinking of treats a dino would love to munch on, something to reward the beast and keep them wanting to impress their master. Keeping it dependent on myself, of course, will help train the babe. A symbiotic relationship with a creature of this caliber could drastically increase my own hunting ability, on planet, of course. I worry though; There are times where I work in zero-G. Any idea how these beasts fair outside of the gravitational pull they're used to"?

"These are all things you will need to find out for yourself, and part of why we are having this conversation. None of us have ever left this world, and almost no one will now thanks to the Protectorate bombardments in our past. Entire communities have been wiped out, and training pets for rich off worlders is not high on our list of things to be doing. All we can preach is caution. "

August frowns at the Chief's statement. "Before you help me, allow me to help you, partner. Is there anything a Telekinetic such as myself could do in your time of need? I won't lie to ya, I may not be the best of the best, of the best. BUT! An extra hand never hurt anyone". August puts a hand on her hip and straightens her back, suggesting she's ready any time she's needed.

"Telekinetic? We could use some help with a construction project we're working on. There's a lot to rebuild after the bombardment as I am sure you understand"

August nods confidently, "Gladly, consider me your right hand, partner! So long as we benefit Astyioche; at your will, I will be your hands".

"Alright, we're trying to complete a new paddock for some of the larger herbivores we want to train as labor beasts to help us. Using entire split tree trunks makes a strong fence but they're difficult to lift. You'd be able to do the work of many people and should be able to help us here"

August shakes the Chief's hand once more, proudly, "If you don't mind having my things put somewhere safe; I could get to work immediately"! August stretches to get comfortable, "Let's not dilly-dally shall we, gotta earn ourselves a hot meal, don't we"!? August runs in place for a quick moment, clearly pumping herself up. "Chief, be honest. You think we can get your people star-bound again within a generation"?

"No. Not unless things here change very quickly. We've lost so much, and when we started crawling back from the ashes, we lost it all again. The people here do not see much reason to try"

"Must have been a tough couple of decades for ya'll then, huh"? August rubs the back of her head and sighs, "They don't see much reason, so what if we show em' a reason? Starting off with your construction project is a great start. What'll I be buildin' anywho"?

https://discord.com/channels/345912178072879106/821567105190985761/986660951929544724

7:15 AM

(he told you, it was the last thing he said before this)