Iron Stars - valerian-novikov

Valerian Novikov, an armored vehicle driver in the CBSS military steps out from the landing ship's bay doors into the sunlight of Palamides. The world is a recent addition to the CBSS, asking for offworld support an integration after CBSS agents negotiated a cease fire and path to reconciliation between both factions of this world's civil war. Tensions are ebbing and both sides seem committed to joining something greater. Nevertheless, not all of the world's inhabitants are pleased to be under the rule of a distant chairman on the world of Pelasgon, and the Fire Triangle as the area has become known is a series of dense forests, small villages, ruins, and a large plateau where the CBSS is currently making a base to watch over the area. Supplies are coming in a subsequent shipment from the homeworld that will turn this from an encampment into a proper division sized base, and with that second shipment the first of the light combat and transport helicopters will also be arriving. For now, armored personnel carriers and drivers brave enough to crew them are how the soldiers will navigate this zone. As the noise of the dropships engines powers down and the team of logistics officers passes you to get aboard and see about unloading the cargo, you can see the commander of your group wave you over to where he has a map and a few of the other drivers assembled. @Valerian Novikov (Soup) (no need to ping on a reply, just wanted you to see where your thread was since the number of channels is a lot to pick through otherwise)

Valerian waited patiently in the transport shuttle as it transported him to the surface of Palimides. He knew the broad details of the situation. The planet had been recently integrated into the CBSS, and not all of the locals had bene keen on the idea. It made sense to Valerian that they would resent such a distant union. But, in time, he thought they would grow to love their benefactors. The CBSS would liberate this planet of its tumultuous nature with peace, order, and stability – whether they wanted it or not. As the ship landed, Valerian disembarked out the back with the rest of his communist cavalcade, only to be greeted by the planet’s tropically humid biosphere. Perhaps it’d only be a matter of time before he’d be drenched in his own sweat, with wherever he was headed. As he looked around to make himself busy, he saw his commander wave him over. Valerian briskly jogged over to the assembly and gathered around his fellow drivers to get a measure of his assignment.

(here is a map of the area. This local map, each hex is 25km, so the icons there are the main feature in that area, and there's plenty of unexplored space here so more could be added to the map as we do things) "Novikov! Glad you made it down. We're still waiting on one or two more but we need to get a patrol out, so that's how it's going to be. Your vehicles are being fueled and loaded up now. We got some intelligence from the boss that some separatists are in that triangle of forest, just southeast of our base location. We'd like a show of force in the area. Ideally, we get them to stand down and confiscate their weapons, but I'm not above thinking it might devolve into a firefight. If it does, we shouldn't be the ones to shoot first "

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 1/2/2024 2:58 PM

Valerian nodded his head along as he listened to his commander. He had read a report this area was called the Fire Triangle, which sounded foreboding enough to make Valerian think the subversives wouldn't stand down so easily. The situation sounded tense, lives were on the line, but Valerian felt calm and unanxious. "Understood, sir." said Valerian. "When are we leaving?" (edited)

"Within the hour. We're going to be sending you out as part of a five vehicle patrol , you'll be moving a platoon sized element with you, so you'll be supporting them. THey're going to conduct a patrol of the roads outside the base. We are expecting the last of the unit to be setting down and the starport and making their way up to us soon, that includes our medical and supply detachment ,we need to make sure the good doctors and logistics troopers are secured. They're going to keep us going. "

Valerian continued to nod his head as things seemed to be pretty standard. Escorting a platoon was certainly something he had done plenty of times before. “Sounds good to me, sir.” He said, “Do you know which of these vehicles are mine? If you don’t mind, I’d like to get comfortable with it.”

8:32 PM

(vehicle stats)

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 1/3/2024 8:32 PM

"Firtst one in the column. You're the best driver we have, so you'll be at the front with your squad. The infantry will be doing most of the heavy lifting when you finally get to the woods, you'll be there to support them. We've installed some new targeting boards too so the heavy machine gun can be fired from the driver's compartment,"

New targeting boards? That sounded fun. Not having to worry about a gunner getting incapacitated was nice, but his commander's words might've been code word that he was the test driver for them in case they failed. He supposed he'd just improvise if that was the case. "I'll get adjusted then, sir." He said, offering him a salute before turning to jog towards his infantry transport at the head of the convoy. Making his way to the driver-side door of his vehicle, he opened it and hopped inside. Once inside, he glanced about the interior to get a bearing of the carrier he'd be operating, as well as messing with a few of the controls in the same way someone might adjust the incline of the seat in their car. He'd likely do this until it was time to leave. (edited)

The infantry unit you are transporting finishes their briefing a few moments later and one by one they climb aboard. THere is a hum as the hydraulics close the rear ramp, and one by one everyone's life signs begin appearing on the central console of the vehicle along with their names and positions in the squad. The tracker also shows the locations of the other vehicles, though you cannot see the status of their own dismounts. (d10 for the major feature of our first hex as we travel out! , you can roll here or the dice channel, but if you roll in the dice channel just let me know what the result was. Some folks dont like their thread clogged up with dice rolls, but I have no preference)

Valerian Novikov (Soup)

used /roll

Valerian Novikov (Soup) Request: [d10] Roll: [6] Result: 6 Reason: First Hex

Heading out of the base as the first vehicle in the column you leave the dirt road out the main gate, and down the winding path to the bottom of the plateau. Dirt rooster tails behind each of the heavy transports and so far the vehicle is responding like you would expect it to. The corporal, the office in charge of the infantry detachment with you climbs into the co-pilot's seat to look through the secondary sighting equipment. "Smoke ahead" he says, "coming from around the curve ahead" The site is slaved to your own for a moment so he can show you what he is looking at, and a haze of thin gray smoke blankets the road ahead.

(Does this vehicle have any additional sight settings? Like thermal sight?)

(no it does not, it just has what's on the fittings page above. There wasn't enough pass or power left for advanced sensors )

(we can roll a notice/wis though if you want to try peering through the smoke with your limited visibility. If you need help with that skill check let me know)

(Yeah sorry for the late response, what dice would that be? I'm new to this system) Valerian drove the carrier until he could see through his optics an upcoming fog. Bringing the vehicle to a halt, his facial expression switched to a pensive scowl as he contemplated whether or not to proceed through the fog. Maybe if he just got a better look? Valerian squinted his eyes as he really tried to discern any shapes or hazards through the visual obstruction. (edited)

(it would be a 2d6+ notice level+ wisdom modifier if any)

Valerian Novikov (Soup)

used /roll

Valerian Novikov (Soup) Request: [2d6-1] Roll: [6, 2] Result: 7 Reason: Notice

The smoke is thick but smells like rubber, and through the thin trees leading to the curb in the road, you get glimpses of a flaming roadblock and at least a few locals with crude looking firearms protecting it. They are not shooting, content to let the flames and roadblock speak for now

Valerian was able to piece together what he seeing - and smelling - was a burning rubber roadblock. Seeing the figures in the distance, he also figured that these individuals were the separatists the commander spoke of. Valerian opened a hatch in the personnel carrier so the civilians could hear him. "Attention! This is the Army of the Communist Brotherhood of Stellar States! Lay down your weapons, hands to the sky, and walk through the smoke for your surrender!" He yelled into the smoke.

There is silence for a long moment. You're confident you've been heard over the vehicle's PA system, and the first shot sparks off the front of the armored hull as those at the barricade begin to answer your demands for surrender.

So that's how it was going to be, Valerian thought to himself, as he heard a shot ring off the hull. "Taking small arms fire. Separatists." Valerian alerted to the crew in the back, as he began to aim with the targeting boards towards the roadblock; "Returning fire." He said coolly, firing with the carrier's heavy machine gun down towards the figures at the roadblock.

4:36 PM

(This uses shooting I assume?)

(sort of! If you're returning fire it would be a D20+shoot level + dex mod +attack bonus. Your sheet will tell you what your attack bonus is, you may or may not have one at level 1 depending on your class)

(My combat rifle has an attack bonus of +3 but I think it's just 2d6+2)

11:24 PM

(Oh wait no I see it now)

Valerian Novikov (Soup)

used /roll

Valerian Novikov (Soup) Request: [d20+3] Roll: [9] Result: 12 Reason: Attack

(so you're using your combat rifle from the vehicle hatch, or the heavy machine gun like in your post? this hits, but the damage might be very different depending on what you're actually doing)

(The heavy machine gun, yeah)

(okay, it is a 3d6 for damage)

Valerian Novikov (Soup)

used /roll

Valerian Novikov (Soup) Request: [3d6+1] Roll: [6, 4, 3] Result: 14 Reason: Damage

(+1 is from gunslinger but if that doesnt apply lemme know)

(it does apply, its a ranged weapon so even though its a heavy weapon, it still applies) The heavy weapon fires its first short burst. The rounds break the tires apart and scatter the barricade and you're fairly sure through the smoke and fire you can see one of the barricade guards turned into a red mist. The ramp is lowered by the infantry in the back and the other vehicles seem to be doing the same, as their various compliments begin to sweep forward. Long seconds of silence go by, and then a full minute as they clear the barricade. There are organic ruins from the rebel you shot apart, and rest seem to have fled into the thick forests on each end of the road. This is their turf, and the infantry are reluctant to chase them down into unknown territory that could be littered with traps.