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Post Archive Character Threads 2 / maxwell
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(Kind of at a loss for how to start maxwell since hes already so well defined. What do you think he would be trying to do right now)
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(Probably get himself on an exploration flight from Jagrati)
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Maxwell is not surprised to awaken and see a message on his compad, his pedigree allowing him a not commanding, but high ranking position on a scouting mission to a nearby planet. With the NMC empire in ruins now, a new sphere of expansion is set to begin- but resources being scarce as they are, directed thrusts made on good information is more critical than ever.
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Maxwell gets up and reads the message. "Well, time to start another chapter I suppose." He gets up, shaves, showers, and irons his uniform before getting dressed. He heads out of his room, both excited for the opportunity, and sad at how many lives it took to get here. At least a few of his friends from school were able to avoid death at the shapers hands. (edited)
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He heads to meet his new commanding officer
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The ship you're assigned to is the Dawn Voyager , a small free merchant class. The lightly armed merchantman ship has a minimal crew, and is expected to observe and report, rather than take a highly kinetic or offensive role in scouting
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Max sighs contentedly, happy for a chance to be in space again, hopefully with less chance of death. He heads to the docking bay and looks for whoever seems to be in charge.
02:32
(What would his rank be, like a lieutenant?)
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(He’s captain of the ship)
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(I meant max's) (edited)
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(I guess so, It's not going to matter a whole lot but if you want to be)
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He walks up to the captain and gives a salute. "Maxwell Buchannon sir, reporting for duty."
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"Ah good, my second in command. Hop aboard. We're going to be departing soon, first to a check on the next world over. They're just a colony now as you know, but they might need some help or support"
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"Are there any specific problems we should be expecting sir, or just be prepared for anything?" (edited)
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“Hard to say. We need to be prepared for anything. Grab what you need and get aboard”
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Max gives a salute, grabbing his things and heading aboard.
04:00
(Would he need to purchase a NMC rifle or would he be able to requisition one from the ship?)
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(You can get one from the armory)
12:46
The ship is clean and freshly repaired, one of the few surviving light craft from Benavides. The conflict was a terrible one and when given the chance back in port nearly the entire crew retired from naval service on the spot
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Maxwell takes a stroll around the ship, requisitioning a new rifle from the armory then dropping his things off in his quarters before heading to the bridge to prepare for their departure.
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The bridge is the stateroom at the back of the ship, as it is on most Cooperative vessels. Sailors begin taking their stations and final checks are done to ensure the gun ports and cargo hatches are all shut for takeoff. The large solar sails begin unfurling, the moon phase insignia of the Cooperative proud and flowing in the emptiness of space once again. "Crew, this is Maxwell Buchannon, my second in command, and yours, for the duration of this scouting trip. We're going to see how much of the cooperative might still be out there, but first a quick check on our colony worlds. We do this right, take smart risks, and work hard, and we might just get back to where we were before the shaper disaster"
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Maxwell checks with the various members of the bridge crew in charge of final preparations. Once they are completed he turns to the Captain. "All stations report ready for departure Captain."
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(which of the two colonies did you want to visit first?)
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(The one to the south, think thats the one his parents tried to take over, dont remember off the top of my head)
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Anisah is the first destination , a day of spike travel away (yeah a core world like this is def not a 'colony world' )
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(I don't think I specified which one it is, or I thought these were reduced to colonies. It's not a big deal, not going to worry about it now)
03:16
Maxwell spends his day in spike travel familiarizing himself with the ship and the crew, focusing mainly on the bridge crew and other officers on the ship.
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(Arrituri. Similar name, but further out) The officers seem competent. Most of the bridge crew that survived elected to stay with the ship. A strange bond had formed between them all, the way those who all witness a particular tragedy tend to. Not having been aboard or even a known figure to them at the time it feels a bit like being an odd man out
04:14
They are polite enough in conversation, respecting the rank, not the man, and certainly not the lineage
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Maxwell is used to this kind of treatment by now. "I'll just have to prove myself again as usual." He thinks to himself while he sits at his station next to the Captain as they prepare to exit spike.
04:19
(That was his home world. I don't think the name of the place they tried to take over matters much now, its a ruin at this point)
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(Let me worry about what matters)
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(Ok, no worries)
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The ship exists spike over the verdant world of Anisah , where the tall forests are beginning to reclaim much of the settled land. A small city of 1 million inhabitants clings to the northern coast, trying to rebuild
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(All I was saying is that I'm fine with you deciding all that stuff, it isn't a big deal to me. The more surprises you can throw at me the happier I am as a player)
04:34
Maxwell looks on at the planet, wondering inwardly how many lives were pulled into the vortex of slaughter from this world alone. "Where do we start captain?"
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“The colony itself to make a landing. Shake hands with the locals. See what’s still standing and what isn’t. “
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"Very well." He turns to the bridge crew and begins going through the orders to make the ship ready for landing as they head to the colony.
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Entering amphibious operations mode as soon as re entry is safely done, the large solar masts raise once again from their below deck housings, the solar sails now becoming true sails and the buoyant hull touches the water. For the last few nautical miles of this voyage the ships is traveling as the marvelous age of sail vessel it was meant to emulate
05:33
A beacon atop a tower in the small city begins to flash, and the ship moves to keep it at the bow
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Maxwell observes the ruined landscape, borrowing the ships spyglass, trying to spot the real toll of the damage as well as any potential hazards along the way. (Just flavoring it, he doesn't have binoculars with him at all)
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The colony itself is intact, the original settlement on tihs planet, but there are ruins far beyond your line of sight, seen from space. At the docks, traditional mooring lines are thrown over the sides, and a gangplank extends for you to disembark. Crates and barrels, along with other shipyard equipment are stacked neatly on the dock, and a harbormaster with a few local militia come out to formally welcome you
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Maxwell walks off the ship behind the Captain to meet them.
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The captain and some of the guards seem to know one another, and they move off to the side to talk for a moment. The harbormaster looks at you expectantly, even just to make a formal introduction
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Max walks up to him. "Maxwell Buchannon sir, a pleasure."
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"Nice to meet you. Here from the capital?" he asks, looking up at the ship, and the slow trickle of crewmen beginning to come off of it, happy to be on solid ground
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"Yes. Making rounds to see what's left. How are things here?"
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"Smaller, smaller than we used to be. We had to evacuate the outlying towns in a hurry and pull everyone back here. It was a war in itself to get everyone settled again and calmed down. Lots of scuffles with the provosts and citizens"
21:19
"Things are calm now, but everyone's just wondering what happens next"
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"What was the reason for the evacuations? Invasion threat or something else?"
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"You're military. You're the ones who ordered it" he scoffs. "Well, I'll just talk to the captain then" The harbormaster and captain spend a few moments in conversation, before their talks break up. The captain walks over to you. "Pick a team. Three sailors. we're going to explore some of those ruins out there, collect what we can, see if it might be safe for the people to return there"
21:27
"And more importantly, what might need to be brought in from home to get this into more than just a colony world"
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Maxwell nods, picking two sailors with the most ground combat experience, along with one medic. He grabs his rifle from his locker and meets them on the docks.
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A small aircraft, more of a scout helicopter, with a ghost driver, has been assigned to you. It looks like an old Da-Vinci creation in appearance, but the engineering is as sound as anything that other modern polities can field. "alright" the medic asks, hefting her med-bag over her shoulder "are we ready to set off? We've got two sites to explore. "
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A second ship, this one far smaller and more nimble, a courier, splashes down into the harbor, and is making full sail for the dock. Commotion comes to a halt as everyone surveys the new arrival
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(Was there any information about the two sites?)
18:58
(Like their previous uses?)
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(Nothing that would matter now since they dont know whats out there or how things have changed)
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(Okay)
19:06
Maxwell looks over at the new ship, curious, then looks back to his squad. "I'm going to go see what this other ship is doing here. You all get your equipment settled in the flier, I'll be right back." Maxwell says as he walks over to where the courier is heading to to wait on it.
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As the ship pulls up, a 20 ft dark green snake with four arms, 2 sheaths, a large quiver and a bow slides over the side, landing smoothly on the dock, before coiling up, ending up at around 6'10''. It's head darts left, right, then fixates on the man in the tricorn hat.
19:09
"Ah, I'm guessing you are the man around here? Is that the way it's worded? The man? Sorry, I've been cooped up with research doctors in a lab for a little too long, might be a bit out of touch on the field talk."
19:09
The snake proffers a hand, while another fiddles with the top of the bow.
19:10
"Salazan, experimental Archaeologist, and I've been told, a piece of living history."
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(Nobody in the NMC knows what Slyth look like right? Or at least Maxwell wouldn't?)
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(Neko would be able to answer better, but Salazan has been inside a research lab since he popped out of his pod)
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(The NMC has ruins and former important slyth sites on a bunch of their former worlds. Knowing what they look like isnt a big secret, but seeing a live one is probably a bit of a shock)
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Maxwell looks at him visibly shocked. "I'm, Maxwell, Buchannon, and no, I'm not the one in charge here, the harbormaster is over there." Max says, pointing him out.
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Pinned a message.
19:16
(Salazan would have been briefed on your mission on the way over, we dont need to play all the talking around out. There's a map up of the planet on roll20, and posted here in the thread, you can let me know what ruin you want to check out first)
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(The one to the south works for me)
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"Oh. Well, I've been sent along to help with exploring, scouting, surveying, that sort of thing. I'll follow you fellows lead, offer what I can. Academic background, but practical applications. Eager to get going."
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"Ah, in that case I am in charge I suppose. Follow me, we have a flier." Maxwell heads over to the flier "Everyone, this is Salazan, he will be joining us for this expedition. Let's get going, we have a lot of ground to cover." Max says, hopping into the seat with the controls.
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Salazan slithers up to the flier, and inspects it. He nods the the rest of the expedition, before moving his way inside, and wrapping his tail around the base of one of the seats. He shifts his bow onto his back, and begins observing everything around him, his head turning with short sharp movements, his tongue flicking out every now and again.
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The southern set of ruins is on a plains, where the forest is slowly beginning to reclaim the land in the absence of a continual human presence. The town is overgrown now from above, vines, and weeds beginning to choke out roofs and gardens. The farming fields outside town even sport some thin trees beginning to poke their way out of the ground. One of those fields is a suitable landing zone.
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Salazan leans his head through into the cockpit, stretching his body.
22:30
"Do we land, or recon first? Normally I'd prefer a ground check, but this is technically a hostile area. Of course, it's also not hostile, since it's ruins, and I'm itching to get down there. But you've done this longer than me. So what do you think?"
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"If we have binoculars, scouting from afar is what I'd do. Ancient Sslyth, those in the Cssthanic period, would use telescopes, err, tubes with glass lenses, to scout shore landings before landing. And lightweight warriors were valued because they could climb higher in trees to scout out passes." (edited)
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Maxwell stops paying attention completely once he begins talking about the Ancient Slyth. "I'm going to orbit the city a few times. If everything looks alright we will set down in the field outside the city."
03:19
He sets up orbiting the ruins. If nothing jumps out at him or anyone else over the course of three full circles, he will set down the flier in the field.
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The ruins look just like what they are, ruins, and aside from frightening a flock of birds roosting in the bell tower of the former town hall, your last pass over the settlement has you just as safe as when you started
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“Looks safe enough” the medic offers
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Maxwell sets the flier down, hopping out and turning to everyone else. "Let's stay together, be prepared for anything." He says before heading into the ruins.
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The city wall is little@more than a large rubble mound now. An earthquake last year broke much of it apart and rebuilding was not worth the effort. The archway where the northern gate once stood is still there even though the doors are gone. A rounded disc of stone showing the moon phase emblem of the NMC is in good condition , set as the key of the arch
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Max smiles inwardly. It occurs to him how much this parallels the cooperative as a whole, then thinks about how many other parallels he has witnessed. If they can restore this planet to its former glory, restoring the whole of the cooperative is within reach.
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Salazan slides out of the flier, removing his bow from his back, and drawing an arrow to rest on the string. Quickly moving into the ruins, despite having a weapon drawn, he seems far more excited than wary. Though careful not to disturb any buildings, he does being sticking his head through broken windows and doors, clearly highly enthusiastic. (edited)
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It becomes evident that something has been roosting in the village. There are marks of a fresh kill near the eastern gate, and drag marks in the soil leading to the town hall. The wooden double doors are intact, mostly, but partially open
15:27
It is dark inside, and too hard to see much into the building
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Salazan moves towards the tracks, crouching down and inspecting them, looking to see if he can place what creature might be awaiting them inside the town hall.
15:48
(Know or survive to identify the tracks?)
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(You could make a case for using either one, rolled with intelligence)
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(I'll roll know/int.) (edited)
15:54
(know/int 11)
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Salazan is able to determine it is one creature, an apex predator, rather than a pack. It has four legs, though is scaled, not furred.
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Salazan straightens up. "Big nasty creature. Something reptilian, so almost certainly carnivorous. It'll see us as invaders or prey, not as a threat, unless we have a mech I didn't see on the flier. Cold blooded, most likely, so more of an ambush predator, unlikely to be a pursuit hunter or endurance hunter. Might be less active at night, due to temperature, but waiting around in it's territory will increase the likelihood it gets angry and comes looking for us."
16:02
"However, the good news is that it is most likely alone, or with a family unit. So partner and maybe young. Scales makes me think unlikely to be compatible with domestication programs, as does solo carnivore, no pack instinct or hierarchy in place for us to supplant. I remember when an aquatic reptilian hunter was brought to the research centre, back in my prime learning cycle. It had been hand reared, but it's handler still wasn't able to go near it without it being fed and scent marking himself. So we will likely need to fight it off...."
16:04
Salazan's second pair of arms slowly slide the two mono-molecular blades out of their sheaths, holding them crossed slightly in-front of his trunk. (edited)
16:10
"Never really had the chance to indulge in big game hunting. Understand the appeal, but was always busy with studies. Got invited a few times...." Salazan tails off into silence.
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"Well, even more reason for us to stay close and stick to cover. Keep your eyes peeled goes without saying."
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"Well, what buildings would be important, except that one?" Salazan indicates the town hall "Because clearing those might bring the predator out of it's nest, and into an area that is more favourable for us."
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(this would have been a good sized town, there would have been a production and manufacturing quarter , and then residential areas for people to live, along with a monument park, You could conceivably make a stand or dig through any of those places)
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"Or we could try to lure it out, set an ambush now. Make it so we can search the rest of the town without pressure. Shouldn't be anything else too dangerous around here, due to whatever's inside the town hall."
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(either one of those plans is great, Maxwell, any thoughts?)
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(Sorry, fell asleep right after I got home from work yesterday evening)
13:42
"I think an ambush would be better. I'd rather us not have to walk on eggshells while we search the town."
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"Well then! Who's going to be the bait? Because otherwise, it's not going to come out, and going in isn't a smart idea."
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The medic pipes up "If you promise to keep me safe...I...I guess I'd be willing to put myself out there, for the team, and for the project"
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"How fast can you run?"
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"Fast enough. You need to be in order to join the medical service. Seconds count"
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"Well, if you are volunteering, we'll set up. Atop buildings might be a good move, run towards me, and I'll get you out of danger as fast as possible. Don't get eaten, make sure it gets annoyed. Throw a rock if needed. Well, I'm certain you're sensible enough to know how to irritate a large, probably sleeping predator that wants to kill you. I'm sure you'll come up with something. Good luck!" Salazan nods to the medic, and glances around the buildings, looking for one near to the town hall, that's low enough for him to easily climb onto.
23:42
And looks stable enough not to collapse when he climbs up.
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(I think you'd have your pick, with you guys planning, she would ensure to lead it past your fire lane even if you werent directly in front of the building)
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(salazan just wants to make sure he can yank her out of danger when things kick off.)
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Maxwell grimaces a bit, not wanting their medic to be eaten alive minutes after landing. "Be as safe as you can be, don't take any unnecessary risks if you can avoid them. If you can shoot at it from range then duck around a corner into safety that is preferable."
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(Where's maxwell setting up shop during all this, what would his ideal position be?)
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(Ideally inside a building at the end of a wider street or something overlooking a plaza)
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(Sounds like you guys have the same idea, relatively)
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(Salazan is a little closer)
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The medic gulps. Both of you take positions on the ends of the street, about 200m from the door of the building in question. The street itself is wide, and relatively free of obstructions. Evacuation here was done in relatively good order. Approaching to within 10m of the door, the medic takes a flagstone from the paved street, and throws it inside
03:16
it bounces around, evidently striking something inside the building. Something made of glass breaks, and then something inside roars and irritated roar
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"RUN!, GET TO COVER!." Max calls, pulling up his rifle and aiming at the door.
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Salazan draws back his arrow, aimed at the door of the town hall (edited)
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the medic is able to doge the striking scorpion like tail of the beast, and it buries itself deep in the flat pavers of the road, before the powerful muscles pull the tail back up. (lets get initiative so I can keep track of things)
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(Maxwell, beast, salazan, medic)
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Pinned a message.
03:24
(execution won't work either here, since a minute of setup time on the target is needed)
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Maxwell steadies his rifle and fires at the beast. (18/11)
03:25
(That thought didn't even cross my mind)
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(We have some new players, just making a general bulletin)
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(Ah, okay)
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The shot sparks off the thick plating of the creature, but you can see a burn left behind, and a slight arch in the back where the shot struck. Enough of it got through to hurt it at least partially
03:31
The beast lashes out again with its stinging tail. The medic is not able to get entirely out of the way, and cries out in pain as a crazing hit takes her in the thigh. For now she's still able to move, and still standing. (salazan)
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Salazan lets loose his arrow, then moves to the edge of his roof, reaching down to give the medic a hand up (Main action then move)
03:33
(16/3)
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(Forgot to mention it, but Maxwell reloads with his move-action)
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(shes at the opposite end of the street)
03:43
(200m away)
03:44
The arrow shatters as it hits the tough exterior shell. the medic is now in flight, sprinting to close the distance to you, now 160m away. Her webbing and gear scatters down the street as she attempts to do everything she can to go even faster. (maxwell)
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Maxwell levels his weapon and fires again, reloading afterwards (Crit, so 15 damage I think? We just double the dice like normal right?) (edited)
03:46
(Also are the other two soldiers with us firing too?)
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(double the dice)
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(Okay, so 15 damage then)
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The creature reels, the shot severing the long tail halfway down its sinewy length. It falls into the street on a cauterized stump, the muscles inside of it still quivering.
03:49
The pain of its wounds, and the sudden loss of its safe habitat, it turns abruptly east, smashing through one of the wooden colonial homes, and upon breaching the opposite wall, begins clearly moving in a route toward the forest- no longer willing to defense this ill-gotten territory.
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Salazan waits till he can no longer hear it, before sliding down off the roof, and moving towards the tail. Passing the medic, he pauses, glancing at the wound
03:51
(What roll would it be to try to identify if there was any poison injected into her?)
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(I would in this case say know, or heal)
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(Know/Int 11)
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The stinger is capable of delivering poison. The medic is not showing signs of it right now since she did not take a direct hit. It is possible the situation or her condition could change
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"Hmmm. Might want to get a general anti-venom on that wound. Or at least a venom test. Stingers typically deliver some sort of foreign agent into the prey body, otherwise what would be the biological advantage yielded by such a complex appendage? I'll check it, let you know. Who knows, being so big, unlikely to be lethal? Most likely a soporific, or paralytic." (edited)
03:56
On that cheery note, Salazan will move towards the tail, and inspect the tip of it carefully, using one of his blades to tip it over.
04:01
He turns his head and calls over his shoulder.
04:02
"Almost certainly not a neurotoxin. Though xenozoology was not my specialty!" (edited)
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"Oh, and next time, maybe we should hunt those things from the air. Deeply unfair, I know, but lets face it, I doubt it would play fair in the same way."
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Maxwell is mostly ignoring Salazan, kneeling next to the medic to offer her a hand getting up. "You all right?"
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“Think so. I feel a light headed. Like I stood up too fast. Thanks for the save...both of you” she says. She is trying to open the clasps of her supply kit but her fingers do not seem to be cooperating
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"Ah, paralytic. As I thought."
13:44
Salazan slips over, and takes over the process of getting the supply kit open.
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From there she has enough motor control to administer the needed healing powders herself. Nano machine production loss and other factors have pre scream medicine in short supply
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“Alright. I need to rest for a few minutes but you guys push on. Hopefully there’s records or something inside the town center”
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Shrugging, Salazan turns back to the tail, inspecting it for a venom sack
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It appears to be close to the stinger, at the top of the tail , though protected by a thick layer of natural armor
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Salazan will attempt to lever off armour plates with his blades, trying to cut them off of flesh, in order to access the venom sack.
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(survive/wis)
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(Well, depending on if we are ignoring the first one where the macro screwed up, either 9 or 14) (edited)
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(9 is enough) The blades bite deep into the chitin like armor, and with a wet wrench, the tail section is pulled open to expose the storage organ within
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"If we intend to repopulate this place, a reliable anti-venom is needed. I'll drop this back at the lab once we're back on Jagrati. The good doctors can see if they can't isolate the necessary protein chains, work out what it does, how to counter it, so on and so forth. Who knows, might even have medical applications as an aesthetic."
19:11
"Do you happen to have a syringe in that medical bag? And maybe a sample jar of some sort?"
19:12
Salazan twists his head back to look at the medic.
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She nods and with some effort, steadies her hands and fishes through her bag to get the required supplies
00:36
“Here. Just a few of them left”
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Salazan nods, and attempts to extract a sample of the venom from the sack, and store it inside the sample jar
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Now knowing the medic is alright, Maxwell takes a peek into the former lair of the beast, bayoneted rifle at the ready for any others lying in wait.
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The lair is filled with animal waste and tufts of fur. The bones of other prey animals cover the floor in a deadly carpet of sharpened pieces. Your boots crunch over the uneven boards and organic debris. It looks like the creature never was slim enough to make it upstairs to the office level. There are no signs of young or a mate
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Salazan clips the sample jar onto his belt, and picks up the plates of armour he cut off. He then slithers after Maxwell, peering around the town hall, looking for a way up to the higher levels.
02:27
"If we can find town records, or something similar, it'll make searching the rest of the town a breeze."
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(Is this building the town hall?)
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(Think so)
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(Yes)
03:47
(That’s why I said the animal is living in the town hall. You just killed the animal)
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(I somehow missed that part)
03:48
"Let's head upstairs, see what we can find."
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The upstairs floor has a large conference room with two doors in , that takes up the entire left side of the hallway (only room on that side is the conference room) The right side has three offices. All are of roughly equal size. Their doors are closed
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Maxwell starts looking through each of the rooms on the right, still cautious in case there is anything that ran up here
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Each of the handles is locked by a simple mechanical lock when tested
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Maxwell attempts to kick the first door open
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Salazan will go to the second door, and try to use his blades to lever open the lock, then break it open.
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(lets get an exert/str maxwell)
15:28
The lock shatters under Salazan's blade. The door opens heavily, and something in the desk drawer inside makes a dull crump. Soft whifts of white smoke begin to come out from the cracks in the drawer
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Salazan holds his breath, and then moves to open the drawer
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On the inside of the door, an electronic anti tampering device was set to send a signal if the door was not unlocked properly. A set of compads in the drawer Salazan has opened are gently cooking off, internal workings fried as the remote signal was sent
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Maxwell is unable to get through the door, it bends slightly, and some of it cracks, but largely remains standing
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Salazan calls back to Maxwell
19:19
"Anti-tampering locks on the door! We should look for a key, or something similar."
19:19
He then goes to look at the conference room
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The conference room is unlocked. A large wooden table with six chairs is arranged in the center of the carpeted floor. The room is surprisingly clean compared to the animal inspired devastation downstairs. Each chair has one part of the NMC sigil placed on it, and sitting in the center of the table is a speaker once used for conference calling. The Full Moon seat has a small wooden box placed in front of it , the lid of which is closed, but not latched
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Salazan moves closer to the box, carefully inspecting it, before using the tip of one of his blades to gently flip it up
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A small brass key sits inside, on a bed of red felt, and looks like it will open the offices around the building
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Feeling a little annoyed, Salazan will quickly hurry over to Maxwell, and unlock the first office, before hurrying over to third door and heading inside
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Max heads inside the first room and looks around
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This room, is much the same as the second office though the desk is not burning. A display case on the wall has a fine laser lock pistol inside of it, marked with the crest of one of the powerful local families. The other art has been taken already during the evacuation. You can see spaces on the wall where it is slightly cleaner- where pictures once hung
19:59
In the third office, this room is far more modern, and a computer system with thick cables running from it connects to sockets in the floor, and up the western wall into the roof.
19:59
The Town Management program is up, requiring a password to enter
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Maxwell takes the pistol from the display case, wrapping it in whatever cloth he can find in good condition, and puts it in his bag, hoping to return it when they get back.
20:01
He heads over to the other room
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"Maxwell, did you receive any information in your briefing about common passwords?"
20:04
"I can try to reboot it and access the core drives, but if there is something that means we don't need to do this, I'd prefer it."
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"I wasn't informed of anything. Let me see if I can a message to my captain." Maxwell sends a message to his captain, asking if anyone there knows the town management password.
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The town staff is currently not available, they're in talks with the planetary governor right now for re-opening things there. You'll have to figure out another way
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"I can try to reboot it, access the bios systems?"
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"Go for it. We aren't getting any help from the town staff today."
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Salazan will begin the process of rebooting the computer, in order to be able to bypass the password block.
00:24
(Program/int?)
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(Yes please)
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(erggh, 4)
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The machine flickers twice and then shuts down, locked out until tomorrow morning.
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Salazan narrows his eyes, and his tongue flicks out of his mouth in frustration.
01:04
"Well, that's it for the day. I can try to get in again tomorrow. So, we can fortify here, or continue to explore. Keep this as a base to expand out from, clear out the carcasses so wild life don't try to come in. Also help with the taste of the air." (edited)
01:04
"And who knows maybe tomorrow the town council will be available to tell us the password."
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(that isa great thing to do in the interim)
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"Good idea. I'll check and see if I can get to the roof. If its stable I'll have the flyer come and land on it so we have a safer path out." Maxwell lets the others know about the plan before looking through the building for a roof access point to check what the roof is like.
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There is a metal ladder in the conference room corner leading to the roof. The structure of the building has remained solid despite the large predators less than reverent treatment of the ground floor. Any kind of pickup would need to involve hovering while you board
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Maxwell looks around for a roof nearby that seems stable enough to land the flyer on.
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The plaza and street are wide enough, none of the roofs look stable enough to support an aircraft
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Maxwell parks the flyer in the plaza in front of the town hall before helping the others clear out the bottom floor and set up a defensive position and sleeping arrangements for the night.
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(what did we do about the ground floor, since it was very recently an animal den and quite gross)
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(Cleaning out the animal crap, the bones, and all that stuff, throwing it outside, setting up some barricades using old furniture that can be used as fighting positions. If we can get it clean enough the beds will go down there)
05:00
(Maybe some that we find in nearby buildings)
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(Alright, so the site is being prepared. Salazar, anything to add or is this good?)
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Salazan will help with setting up the campsite, then attempt to coat some of his arrows in the left over venom from the venom sack he kept.
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The last of the sun's light passes as you finish making the bottom floor of the town hall habitable, and some rudimentary barricades have been set up. They aren't much of a deterrent- there is only so much time in a day even split between four beings, but for now they'll at least slow something down.
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Salazan coils himself up, and looks across at Maxwell. Waiting till the other members of the away team are out of earshot, he begins to speak.
15:52
"I understand why you aren't too happy with my being here. I'm on your turf, on your mission, assigned at the last moment by people who didn't warn you. However, I would like to reassure you I'm as motivated as you are to see this done properly. From what I've read of recent history, your people are possibly the only ones who can empathise with me about the state of our respective nations. Shapers tried to end one empire, and then we did it for them. Now that they are not a sector wide threat, I'll not see the same happen to those who lost the most to them this time around."
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(take a re-roll token for good RP salazan)
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Maxwell looks up at him as he cleans the burnt carbon out of the barrel of his Las-Lock. "Your motivation isn't the problem, its that your background is a mystery to me. All of the other members of my crew have whole pages of information about them I accessed to read up on who they were and what their skills are. I know they have been through the same training as I have. I know what I can and cannot ask them to do, but I don't know that about you. You are obviously intelligent, if a little rambly about things that don't really matter in the moment, but it will take me some time to get to trust you the same way I trust them."
16:23
"We can fix some of that right now though. Who are you, what are your skills, what do you specialize in?" (edited)
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Salazan lets out the same long hissing that he made before
17:24
"Asking a Slyth what they specialise in is like asking the wind which way it blows. Many and all. Before my internment in cryo-sleep, I was a student, studying ancient history. However, to reach that level of specialisation, I went through dozens of cycles of learning, covering nearly most all areas. I know a bit of programming, I've passed flight tests, I've done the fundamentals of first aid and paramedicine, I've run a small business with some friends, I've done a cycle in local government. Slyth were expected to operate in many areas at once, to never find something they cannot turn their hands to. I've rarely met a task I could not attempt, at least, a task that someone with a basic training in it could attempt." (edited)
17:27
"If I had to declare a speciality though? I spent the longest period operating as a... not sure how you would describe it. A bit like a cross between a conservationist and a zookeeper? Mixed with a little bit of wilderness guide. I was part of a team monitoring a nature reserve, tracking migrationary movements of certain species. Lots of nights in the wild, lots of tracking and noting of patterns."
17:30
"Also, I was preparing to undertake a research project with my centre of learning, before I had to enter cryo-sleep. In reality it was a chance to go camping in a limited access nature reserve, but we said it was to test pre-industrial viability of nomadic life for Slyth. Hunting our own food, testing out theories of how pre-industrial Slyth would have hunted. So spent a bit longer than most practicing with these" He indicates his bow and blades.
17:32
"In short, I can probably turn my hand to most things at a reasonably competent level. I'm best at recall of information, especially now, since I've spent most of my time since I was rescued by Dr Barratta reading about the state of the sector, and catching up on the areas of academic knowledge I was a bit rusty on. And if you need someone to ensure you survive without tech in the middle of the wilds? I'm definitely someone you want around."
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Maxwell thinks for a bit, digesting the information. "Well, that was certainly an explanation. Most of us have been focused on war and death for most of our lives, so having someone with more general experience on nature and beasts and such is a good thing."
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(how are we handling nighttime security?)
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(We've got 5 people, so 2 hour shifts?)
01:02
Salazan shakes his head. "Do not make the mistake of assuming that I am some child of peace and nature. I was born into the conflict with the Shapers, and watched as my people created the future doom of the universe, and forgot to lock it away. I saw bio-warfare wipe out my people, destroy countless bloodlines, and force my whole species into a cryo-sleep that most will never wake from. Just because I choose to focus upon the parts of my life that do not make me doubt the destiny of the galaxy, do not think I know nothing of war."
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(Sounds fine. Ill respond in a bit, just got off an 8 hour shift and its my dads birthday)
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"I never meant it like that. Those of us who have served really haven't gotten the chance to know anything else but prepare for war. I went to university and got a degree in business, but I honestly couldn't tell you half of what I learned there on a good day now. Almost all of the older humans with actual life experience to go along with their military training are dead now. Most of my early life was spent learning how to stab other noble houses in the back for political gain, thankfully those who taught me are in prison where they belong. The people who know things are at home, trying to put their knowledge to good use planning the rebuilding. Those of us who are out here are trying to make sure they can put those plans into action safely. Your knowledge is valuable, it likely saved at least one life today. Now that I know it isn't just rambling, I can come to rely on your input in the future." (edited)
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(Take a re-roll too maxwell)
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The night begins to call, and the first of the security details begins their nightly watch. The forest around this abandoned settlement is quiet, the gunfight during the day scared off anything that might come sniffing around in the early evening. Birds have scattered, and the smaller beasts look for shelter elsewhere today, Further from the city, distantly, there is the lone howl of a lupine creature, but it never gets close.
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The next morning Maxwell waits for Salazan to wake up. "Want to go try the terminal again?" He asks while munching on a ration.
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Salazan shrugs.
17:57
"Might as well. Check if the council are available first."
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Maxwell calls back to the ship to see if the town leaders are available.
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Today, there are no meetings, and the password is provided to you after ten minutes of waiting and a very grumpy town engineer being woken from his hangover
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"Got it, let's go see what's in there." Maxwell says, leading Salazan upstairs and inputing the password into the terminal
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Several town systems begin booting up, namely the town power plant. A locator beacon for air traffic begins transmitting again, and a third menu appears. Shortly before the evacuation, and again after, the town shelter network was accessed. It appears there may be people who had taken shelter there rather than evacuate. Why they were left behind, or if they were known about is unclear. Their current condition is also unknown, shelter doors will not open without the all clear from the capital, or over-riding here
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Maxwell places another call to the ship, seeing if they can get someone who knows something about the shelter to give them some information.
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Nobody on the ship knows anything about this, and this is why a scouting expedition was sent in the first place, the captain explains.
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Salazan collects his gear, and taps the screen
20:46
"Someone accessed this shelter after it was first used. We should check the shelter, then decide on opening it. Who knows what has set up in there, if it has been accessed without an all clear...."
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"Yeah, let's go see whats going on. I want some idea before we open it up here."
00:15
Max lets the rest of the group know before heading out to the shelter location.
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The shelter is a kilometer outside town, deep in the forest , worked into a natural hillside from what information the town government in exile can give you. A route through the woods can’t be plotted from above due to the thick tree cover, but you have coordinates for where you are supposed to end up
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Salazan volunteers to lead the way, his navigational abilities being ideally suited for this situation
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(taking the full team?0
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(Yeah)
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Early afternoon comes, and the team begins rousing themselves for the trek through the woods. So far the barricades are holding up, and no creatures have come during the night to try to test them. The waypoint of your destination appears on everyone's compads. The trees ahead of you are tall, and they make a dark canopy under them, where several sub layers of treetop play host to all manner of birds, bugs, and small mammals. Their mating, territorial, and hunting calls blend into a soothing background for the beginning of your walk
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"Keep your eyes peeled folks, we have no idea what we are walking into." Maxwell says as they move into the forest behind Salazan.
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Heading out into the trees there is the ever present background noise of animals. A trail of drying blood marks the path of the now tailless beast you had shot the day before, wounding it severely. The blood gets less frequent, and less in volume the longer you walk. Scavenger birds pick at the largest of the stains and scatter when your team approaches. The thick branches overhead and their leafy canopy begins causing the area to darken
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"That lizard thing might be healed enough to come after us again. Hopefully not though." (edited)
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The medic seems to blanch at the idea of that "Oh...Oh no...I hope there isnt something out here like that... or its mate"
01:52
"You guys didnt find anything like that in there, did you?"
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"No evidence of one. Keep your eyes peeled. Might be a good idea for you to stay in the middle, keep you alive so you can keep us alive."
02:11
I really say 'keep your eyes peeled' way too much, he thinks to himself.
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She nods, and the column pauses halfway to its destination. A rocket capsule lies half buried and grown over next to the path. It’s relatively free from human disturbance though someone a long time ago has carved a rude expression into the exposed flank of the small dome like craft. The hatch is gone, explosive bolts allowing the spacer inside to get out. It’s clear this fell back planetside some time ago
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"Do you think this could be the source of the disturbance at the shelter, a crashed pilot looking for a place to run to? Or is it from longer ago than that?" Maxwell asks Salazan. (edited)
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"Well, what's more interesting is that whoever did, they were allowed in by the occupants. But a crashed pilot does make sense for someone accessing the bunker. Maybe we won't need to force it to open, if the occupants were able to allow someone inside."
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"Let's go see, hopefully we can."
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Leaving the capsule behind you make your way through the rest of the woods to a rocky hillside. The shelter door is slightly buried in a rockfall, but otherwise looks intact
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Salazan will begin to clear the rocks from the shelter door, looking for some form of communication to the inside.
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Maxwell will try to reach the top of the hill to look around for signs of any large animals or predators nearby.
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There is a small speaker box that looks like an intercom. There is no sign of any large animals in the immediate area
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Salazan will approach, and attempt to use the Intercom
13:47
"Citizens of Anisah, this is an NMC recon team. Can you confirm you are alive, and well?"
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“We are.” A voice crackles from inside. “Are you from the capital? Here to rescue us?”
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"Here to see what was there to rescue, more accurately, but good to hear you are alive. How many of you are inside?"
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“The whole town almost. We lost some of the elderly down here. The dark was too much for them. we did pick up one though. A spacer came in a few months ago”
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"Yes, we saw his pod. We'll call this back to the Capital, and let the resettlement colony know."
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"Can you all open the doors from there or do we need to open them from the town hall?"
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"Something happened when those rocks came down outside, a cable or something got cut and the controls on this side are shorted out. We would have just walked back ourselves by now"
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Maxwell starts looking for the cut cable.
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(it would be underground/run through the hillside. You'd need heavy equipment, but you can remotely unlock it from the town, since you guys have the passwords now. We just didn't earlier since we didnt know what we might be dealing with)
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"Doesn't look like we can fix it here, we will head back to town and get the door open then head back to escort you all."
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Salazan turns to Maxwell "We have the flyer still? If it can find a place to set down out here, that would save a large amount of time."
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(the lighter only has room for a few people, not really meant to be a personnel transport)
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(He means one of us can ride back to the town, instead of all of us walking back)
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(Got it, that we can do)
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Max calls the lighter over, travels back to the town hall, leaving the rest of the squad at the door to protect the people who may wander out, opens the door, then heads back.
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The doors open and the inhabitants begin to file out into the warm sun. Many squint and many more are hurt. A column of the walking wounded begins forming up around the doors, trying to take stock of the situation
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Salazan puts away his swords, and lowers himself from his normal posture of being fully drawn up, so as to look less threatening
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Max lands the lighter and walks over to the group of wounded. "What happened in there, how did you all get so injured?"
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"We were in the dark too long" one of the oldest in the group croaks. "And then there was the rock-fall inside. "
03:07
"A lot of people were hurt when part of the hillside collapsed into the shelter"
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"Ah. How many injured are there? I can ferry them back to town in the lighter, just need to know how many trips it will take."
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"Almost all of us are injured. We'll be here for days if we take that thing"
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"We only have one medic with first aid supplies here. Could the flyer go back to the colony and pick up a few more medics? And supplies for them?" (edited)
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Max radios in to the colony capital to inform them of the survivors, their numbers, and their injuries. He asks them to have a few medics and supplies on standby for him to come pick up in waves or to come out to their location.
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(3xp, 5000 credits. At this point we dont need to RP phone calls to have the main city solve the rest of the mission)
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(Leveled up to 2. HP 11->18, Took Gunslinger level 1, Exert, lead, and heal -1->0)
04:01
(Would we be able to spend a bit of time in town to buy some stuff before heading to the next spot?)
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(Leveled up to 2. HP 5>13, took Ironhide level 1, Program->0, Shoot->1, Con->18 (1st boost))
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(I also added another goal, all the others still need xp too whenever you get around to it)
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(same for me on goals.)
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(yes, we can re-supply)
04:10
(goal values assigned)
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Maxwell requisitions a CFU, a TL4 spyglass, a Lazarus patch, an atmofilter, and a set of low-light goggles (Total cost is 1530 credits) (edited)
04:20
After organizing his things, he heads back to the group. "So, we all ready to check out the other location?"
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(if we're not doing anythingin town)
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(Beyond requisitions? Not for Salazan)
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(Maxwell would wait to find the person the pistol belongs to until after their mission is completed)
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Salazan hurries over holding a strange item, seemingly made out of thin spurs of wood, 4 large, folded, whisper-thin wings, but from the way that Salazan is holding it, it seems very sturdy "Well, I'm good to go if you are!"
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"Well, let's head out then. This city is much more overgrown than the last one, so expect more predators." Max says, hopping into the lighter, taking off after everyone gets in.
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Salazan boards as well, laying the device onto the floor as he makes himself secure
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(the device is the drone?) The lighter sets off again, this time a destination 2km out from the city, which is a hilltop not overgrown with the very tall trees. It's impossible to land closer in due to the large trunks and dense branches that form something like multiple layers of forest coverage
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(Yup, not sure how an NMC designed drone would look, so went weird Da Vinci like)
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(thats perfect just wanted to make sure i didnt miss something)
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"What I would give for a thermal spyglass." Maxwell mutters to himself as he pulls out his to try and see the town a bit better, knowing it is most likely in vain.
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Salazan removes the device, and quickly it begins to hover some way above his head, scanning the surrounding area. "Well, it's not the same as having it yourself, but I believe..." He taps a few more keys on the controller "That this has UV/IR capability."
18:33
(Setting up the Drone to maintain position 20 m above my head, scanning around, set to ping me if it detects heat signatures dog sized or greater outside a 10m radius of Salazan, so it doesn't ping the patrol.)
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The town is too heavily overgrown, and too well camouflaged into the background of the forest to see through the spyglass
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"No surprise there, can't see anything. Let's get going, you all know the drill, stay close and keep your eyes open for anything of interest or danger." Max says before walking towards the town, rifle at the ready.
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(Salazan, since the drone has some special sensors, lets get a notice/int as you look through it)
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(Notice/Int 10)
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The drone is able to see a path through the forest, along with a pack of something resembling wolves, standing out as heat signatures close to the gate of the town
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"Pack predators, looks like, canine decent maybe, or possibly lupine. Either way, hostile creatures around the town. Approach with caution."
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"We can try to ambush them if your drone can keep tracking them."
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"Sure, but we might not need to attack them. Spooking them should be enough. If we don't look like prey, they shouldn't attack us. We don't need to disturb them, especially if I am keeping track of them. We can just avoid them."
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"Pack hunters typically target weakened prey. They shouldn't see a group of us as prey, and if they do, firing a shot or two should be enough. Pack hunters rely on remaining healthy, they lack the strength to fail repeatedly at a hunt. The pack cannot support a weak member."
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"They are a potential threat for us the entire time we are in there if we leave them alive. Removing them can only benefit us."
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"These aren't some shaper warform. They are simply creatures, who happen to be nearby. If they try to attack us, they are easy to scare off. Massacring them will be more effort than is needed. They aren't in the ruins, they aren't actively hunting us, and they cannot ambush us. They pose no threat to us at all. Even if they try to attack us, it will take all of one bow shot, or rifle round to make them see us as another predator, and not prey. And since they are in a pack, I doubt they are starving, otherwise we'd see more of them on their own. I fail to see how killing every creature that may be hostile serves us in scouting."
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The beasts for their part do not seem to have sensed you, and continue to prowl, dig at the ground, socialize , and nip at one another
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"Fine. We will avoid them for now, but if they come close to us we are dealing with them."
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"Of course. Until they are a threat."
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Closing halfway the distance to the settlement you come across what remains of one of the packs recent kills. The head is gone, and the guts have been pulled out, mostly eaten The bones have small fang pocks in them, and have been broken for their marrow wherever they’ve been exposed
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"Hmm. Eaten recently, might be getting hungry in the next day or so. Depends really on what state this was in before it was killed, and eaten. Either way, a kill, abandoned, is good. Means they won't be hunting around here, and we only have to worry about scavengers, most of which are too small to really bother us." (edited)
01:52
"Also, unlikely that another one of those big armoured venomous things is around. The pack wouldn't share territory. Still, no sense to get too comfortable, still might need to spook them off."
01:53
Salazan takes a quick look around, seeing if he can learn anything about the creatures now he has their rough shape, tracks and kill marks
01:53
(Survive/int?)
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(Sure we can do that)
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(10)
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They seem to be pack hunters and only eat something easy, wounded, or smaller than them. Not all the blood remaining looks to be from the creature, the way it has been tracked around the kill site. At least one of the pack is hurt
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"We're fine. One of them is injured, and they target easier prey. No sense in us worrying about them, they'll leave us alone if we do the same."
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"Let's head into the ruins then, see whats there."
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Approaching the southern city gate there is no sign of the pack but there is another one of their recent kills resting near the guard post. The post itself is abandoned, door hanging off its upper hinges. The birds nesting inside the rafters there are missing right now but evidence of their domicile here is recent. The terminal is filthy but active and seems to control the town gate
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Max brushes some of the filth off the terminal before attempting to open the gate.
04:52
(Image is flipped but you’re at the north , along the road almost at the top of the map)
04:53
The town gates open and you find yourself in a much larger and very empty large town. A mountain forms they backdrop by the coast and the holdfast has been carved out of it- using the geothermal power of the dormant volcano to keep the defenses and city and large running
04:53
The streets immediately in front of you are trash filled and vehicles lie abandoned along the street. Most of the windshields are caked in thick layers of pollen, dust and bird droppings
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(The one coming out of the mountains?)
05:26
(Or the forest?)
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(The one what)
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(The road we are coming from) (edited)
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(Out of the forest )
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(Would we have a copy of this map from the terminal?)
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(That’s why i posted it )
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(Ok)
05:37
"Let's head towards this marketplace." Max says, highlighting the location on his compad and the others after sharing the map. "Check the windows for human activity and everything else for predators. Sound good?"
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"No problem." Salazan has his new bow out, and sets up his drone to levitate over the town, scanning for life forms.
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The marketplace is a scene of torn up tents, scratched pavers and a large circus like area straddling a bridge to the labor quarter of the city. The big top itself looks to have once been set aflame, but the fire did not spread to carpet the entire tent. Birds scatter as you enter the market. The produce here has all long since gone to rot. Even the seeds have been carried away
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"So, the Holdfast or try to find something more civilian? If the defences could be turned back on, it'd make repairing and repopulating this place far easier."
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"Let's get the defenses back online first. If there is anyone left they will likely be in there anyway."
20:52
"We can head through the plaza to our east then down south to the main road. I want to stay off the main road as much as possible, its too long and there isn't enough cover for my liking."
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(Caught up. Just seeing what the plan is)
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(Max is saying to follow the path shown there, except actually along the streets, just for reference, feel free to delete it) (edited)
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(That’s fine. Does Salazan agree?
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(As long as no human sized life signs have pinged, sure.)
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Rounding the corner on your south leg of the trip, you see the holdfast across a drawbridge. The castle is built into the side of the volcano, roots set deep into the volcanic island
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The turrets seem to be panning on its battlements, gently moving from side to side
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"Well, some of the defenses are still online, maybe people are still there."
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"Well, I can have the drone scout as best it can. Now we're clear of the trees, it can go high enough to see over the walls and scan inside."
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"I'll see if I can spot a communications panel somewhere nearby on this side of the drawbridge. Make sure to keep that drone nice and high up, we don't want to accidently set the turrets off." (edited)
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There is a panel on this side of the bridge, and on the other, int he guardhouse
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Salazan sends the drone up, trying to scan the interior of the castle, to see if he can identify any heat signiatures, or UV traces inside.
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The heat is washed out due to the volcano the castle is built into.
18:28
(What would UV be looking for, specifically)
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(Detecting power generation from electrical sources, and identifying movement by seeing moving points. Honestly, the simple visual stuff covers the movement as well, the UV is just there as back up and to filter smoke.) (edited)
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(Is there any cover easily reachable from the panels?)
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(The panels have metal leafing around them you could crouch behind) The drone does detect power running inside, but nothing that is easily discernable as movement. The generators in the basement geothermic exchangers here seem to be working fine, and powering the facility
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"I'm going to head up to one of those communication panels, try to see if I can get a call in to anyone. Cover me as best you can."
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"Seems to be automated. Before you do so, why don't we ask the planetary government what these defences are set to engage?"
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"I'll try, but I doubt they will know much of anything at this point." Max places a call to the capital town asking for any information they might have on the defenses.
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"Better to ask and not know than not ask and find there is a place they won't shoot you."
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This is Buchannon. Holdfast defenses seem to be operational. Is there any information on record discussing their function, alternative shutoffs, or targeting parameters before we step out in front of them?
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"I doubt there isn't a way to approach the defences while they are automated, or to shut them down from outside. Otherwise, why turn them on before leaving?"
21:09
"Well, why even build them, come to that?"
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Targeting parameters would be custom set at the time the defenses are activated, as the holdfast might be required to respond to any number of different situation within, and outside of the city. Those outside the city would have no knowledge of what the garrison commander might have input before stepping away from the system. The walls have an automated anti-infantry repeating laser every 5 m, set to sweep the causeway and angle down to the fortress foundation itself, though if you are standing on the other side, they would need to have a gunner
22:31
as part of a failsafe
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"So in theory, you should be able to communicate without getting shot..."
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"Hopefully. Wish me luck." Max says before walking up to the communications panel, looking for a direct line into the fortress.
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Salazan prepares a bowshot, aiming at the nearest turret, intending to shoot if it activates
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There is a hardline phone, that looks to travel underground, under the moat, and into the castle on the other side
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Max picks up the phone. "Hello, is anyone there? This is Maxwell Buchannon, NMC Navy, we are here to give you all the all-clear."
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There is a crackle, and a groan as some kind of comms equipment inside begins to come to life. "Ah...Hello out there? Yes? Hello? This is the....Base Commander!" a young sounding voice says from inside
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Salazan tilts his head. "Sounds like some very rapid promotion has been happening."
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"Hello, we are here to give you all the all-clear signal, could you turn off the defense turrets so we can come in and talk?"
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"I don't know how to do that Mister." There is what sounds like children fighting in the background. The speaker does not want someone else to come to the terminal inside, "Cmon man, you always hog it. Its my turn to be commander!" After a moment, and several jokes about one anothers moms, you realize the garrison is in fact, children
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Max sighs. "Are there any adults with you, or is the holdfast just children?"
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"All the adults left" someone says sadly
21:11
"They went into the woods and said to not let anyone in, but that was months ago"
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"Do you know which direction they left towards?"
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“They said they had to go and left the city”
04:55
“We didn’t watch them do it”
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"Alright, we will go look for them." Max says, hanging up the phone and returning to the group. "Right, looks like we are going looking for some people in the forest who are likely going to be dead. All the adults in the compound left towards the woods, somewhere, and they were the only ones with any knowledge regarding the defenses and how to turn them off."
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(things here havent been abandoned long enough for electronics or other things like that to degrade, so you might find something)
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Salazan will sigh, and head off towards the woods. Once he gets there, he will begin looking for tracks and trails of humans in the woods.
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Tracks of booted human feet are easy enough to find, even after all this time, as those leaving did not care to mask their position or direction of travel. Leaving out the southernmost of the city gates( pictured) , the forest is thinner here, and the tracks branch out as the pack of adults spread out across the woods.
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Maxwell tries to pick out the lead person's tracks to follow them further into the woods.
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(I dont think a 'lead' person could be identified just from boot prints)
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"So, somewhere in this pack was the commander of the holdfast, but all these boot prints look the same. That means we get to track each of the main groups after this split to look for some kind of electronics."
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The tracks split into three primary directions, West, South, and North, away from the village.
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Salazan checks his drone, seeing where the pack hunters are, and making sure they aren't following the group.
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The wolf like creatures are nowhere to be seen now, likely in hiding due to your presence here
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"We can split up, keep in communication. I can head West, and keep track of the surroundings with the drone, warning if anything appears, and leading people to each other if needed."
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(if we want to split up we can go back to personal threads until the time comes to rejoin, I'm open to anything)
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"I'll take (insert medics name here) with me down south, you take the other two with you up north. We can meet back here and check the west path after that. Make sure to mark the trees as you go."
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Salazan nods.
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(alright, we can split off)
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(Gonna call the medic Daniels, use that for her last name, first thing I thought of)
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(sure, go ahead)
19:59
Maxwell and Daniels prepare to head south, following the tracks of the missing adults, in the hopes that it can lead to an answer
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"You know the drill, keep your eyes open, mark the path, dont get separated. Hopefully we will find something."
22:21
Max pauses for a second to give her a chance to chime in before heading south following the trail.
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Daniels has nothing to add aside from a general agreement and the both of you set off following the prints. The boots are heavy and leave deep impressions in the muddy ground, it also looks like something was being dragged or rolled along with them
05:26
You come to a large mud colored berm that rises slightly above the treeline
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Max starts looking around at the berm looking for more tracks or recent animal presence.
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tracks go down the other side, and seem to meander to a river nearby, but under the tree cover it is hard to see where the tracks end
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(Can I make a survive/wis check to try to follow them?)
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(sure can)
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The path re appears on the opposite side of the bank heading into a dense copse of trees
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Max crosses across the river, keeping an eye out for any predators, stopping to message Salazan on the other side. (edited)
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The stream is quick but you’re able to Ford it and are soaked just below your waist. On the other side the tracks end before the dense trees
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"Salazan's group found part of the code, just waiting for him to tell me what actually happened to the people, though I'm betting on a huge monster ate them or something like that." (edited)
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“Okay. So what do we do here then?” Daniels asks. “That doesn’t sound like orders”
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(So, did the tracks just end in front of the trees or continue into the trees)
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(Continue in but you can’t see into them)
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"Once we have some more information about what we may have to run into we will follow into the trees. We still need to find the other half of the code."
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“Alright. So we are giving up on this trail then?”
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"No, we are waiting for more information then continuing down this trail."
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"It looks like there are some apex predators around there for certain, or at least there were a few months ago, keep your guard up." Max says as he moves into the forest.
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Within a few steps, Daniels find her first human remain, and accidently crushes the brittle skull under her weighted combat boot. She curses silently, bone shards flaking off with the muddy ground
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Max starts looking around for other remains.
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There is a steady trail of them, leading to a cleared center of the forest, where a skeleton was either thrown, or came to repose while mortally wounded, over a stump.
20:05
Something gleams in its hand
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Max looks around for any animals before heading to the gleaming object in the skeleton's hand.
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A compad, with some oft he screen cracked, and some missing files is in your hands, retrieved from the bone grip of the skeleton
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"Looks like another compad. Let's head back before something comes out of the brush."
00:02
He says, heading out of the forest while checking the pad for information
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It@seems to contain the other half of the access codes
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"We have the other half of the code." Max says sending a quick message to Salazan.
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(Leveled up to 3, hp up to 20, Lead 0->1, Sneak -1->0, one point banked)
16:02
After getting back to the city, Max heads back to the ship with the squad of troops to debrief and create an after-action report for the captain to look over. He is in the middle of writing it when he stops to think about the laser pistol he found. He decides the report can wait a few hours, having spent a not insignificant amount of time bitching under his breath about how fucking stupid all this paperwork is rather than actually finishing the report, and heads out of the ship to look for the town archives or someone who would know more about the family sigils engraved on it. (edited)
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The town library on this planet is functioning and there are workers here again, now that the border towns have been restored and the crisis has been lifted. Two of them are looking over the contents of a thick yellowed tome, transferring the contents into data slates for easier storage
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Max walks up to them, carrying the pistol in the cloth he wrapped it in. "Excuse me, I had a question about a family heirloom I found while we were scouting (Insert whatever the name of the settlement we went to first is). Would you be able to help me?"
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"You have the item?" one asks, looking through his glasses and down his nose at the wrapped parcel The other goes to get something from a shelf behind the reference counter, already thumbing to a certain section of the book
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Maxwell unwraps it, checking to make sure it is not loaded, then double checking, before setting it down on the counter. "I found it hanging in the office of the town hall. With so much history gone it would be a shame for this family to lose such a piece of their heritage."
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They review the piece paying attention to armorers marks on the barrel and grips. “This is from an old house. Very long in lineage and very well established. At least they were. The King is from House Deveers. You might get some favor by bringing it back to the royal court “
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Maxwell's mind starts racing when the king is mentioned, but settles down after a few seconds. During that time all kinds of thoughts about what he could get in return for this artifact cross his mind before a much louder voice in his head puts a stop to all of that. He smiles at the librarians. "Well, I appreciate the advice. I will ensure it is returned to him, but the act of returning something that belongs to him just feels like the honorable thing to do, and that is what is important to me." He wraps the pistol back up, much more carefully this time. "Thank you both for your help. If you hear of any new issues come up on this planet, do not hesitate to call me." After this he heads back to the ship, on the way thinking about how his parents would have pushed him to use this heirloom for all kinds of sycophantic plots and schemes. "How happy I am they are no longer a part of my life" he thinks as he walks up the gangplank onto the deck, heading back to his quarters to finish his report, submitting it to the captain later that night.
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(Heading back to Jagrati then?)
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(Yup)
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THe one day trip is smooth, and before long you're at home in the Jagrati system. The planet is calm, for once not the seat of turmoil, though King Deveers is in the middle of his own private struggles between his own court, and parliament. None the less you're cleared to pass the defense batteries and continue planetside
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(Would he stay XO of the ship or report back to the headquarters for a new assignment?)
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(well, i didnt have anything drawn up since you wanted to follow up the pistol, but HQ would assign new tasks if you didnt have anything of your own)
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(Just figuring out how to describe where he goes first while he is figuring out how to get this to the king since he cant just walk in and give it to him)
00:42
(I imagine)
00:49
(Downtime 1/90 towards heal)
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(youd have to be announced but i mean, he has a staff for a reason)
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Max gets off the ship once it docks, wishing the captain well and thanking him for the time on his ship before heading to the NMC naval headquarters for reassignment and also figure out the process of getting this pistol to the palace without someone else stealing it.
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(I think he would join the expedition to Tavgularis after he gets done with this)
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The palace has a clerk or minister for almost any function that could possibly be imagined, and they do have public facing ways of contacting them. An expedition to Tavgilaris is preparing to set off in two days, to accomplish much the same as your last mission did. If you wish a seat on the voyage, the HQ staff can get you assigned.
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Maxwell looks up the contact information for whichever minister is in charge of the royal family's heirloom collection, informing them of his intention to visit the minister to confirm the artifact he recovered is from the royal family. After this he asks the HQ staff to assign him to the Tavgilaris expedition. He waits for a reply back from the minister with a time before putting on his dress uniform and heading out to the meeting.
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The minister sets an appointment with you for that afternoon, and requests you bring the relic if you feel it is safe to do so. He would like to appraise it for himself, and if it is genuine, he believes the King would like to personally thank you. As of now, King deveers has not been informed of the find
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Maxwell keeps the relic in a messenger bag, wrapped in boring postage paper over top of the cloth, moving as much like a boring military courier would do as he makes his way there. (edited)
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There is a satellite office, away from the palace itself but still within the very green and well manicured palace grounds, assigned for your meeting. It looks as though tihs is some kind of hunting lodge or trophy room, and the skins or heads of various beasts slain by the kind adorn the space. A small fireplace is burning rich pine logs currently, handpicked to fill the space with a pleasant glow and smell. The clerk himself is sitting in one of the plush chairs as you come in, cleaning his glasses attachments and viewing lenses
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Maxwell steps inside "Hello, I'm Maxwell Buchannon, I believe you are expecting me." He says, putting a hand out.
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The handshake is firm, and you are surprised by the grip and roughness of the clerks hands. It is not what you would expect from someone in palace service. "Welcome. So I understand you've found something of a House Deveers relic, or a suspected one, at any rate. Please, make yourself comfortable, and we can take a look. Care for a drink?"
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"Absolutely, thank you. It has been a while since I've had one." He says as he pulls out the pistol, again checking to make sure it is unloaded, before setting it down on the table next to the chairs. "I found this during our exploration on Anisah to one of the abandoned settlements there. The librarians there told me it was a relic of House Deveers, but I wanted that checked before I made any effort to have it presented to his highness."
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"It was smart to contact this office first. You wouldnt want to be the one to hand the King a counterfeit, or something that was mis-identified. The makings of an intelligent young officer, mark my words" he says approvingly. "What is your preference?" he asks, opening a carved wooden globe with an ice chest inside
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"Something brown, if you have it please."
19:51
"I must admit, I have another concern. I don't want to be seen as using this to try and make up for the misdeeds of my family. I want to show I am a man of honor, and this feels like I might somehow undercut that effort if I go about returning this artifact in the incorrect manner." (edited)
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"Your concerns make sense. I do not think King Deveers would feel that way." A measure of cool brown liquor is poured into a glass, neat, and passed over to you. "Lets see what you have here, and then we can talk about the right way to reunify this with its proper owner"
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"Thank you." Maxwell says, taking a sip. He enjoys its smoky flavor with hints of vanilla and citrus. He watches with genuine interest as the minister sets to work on examining the weapon. (edited)
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The clerk begins examining the weapon. “I can tell the materials are high quality. That alone isn’t enough to verify it’s origin. Many of the noble houses draw their material stocks from the same place, so the next step is to look over the device for armorers marks, a house seal, factory branding , or anything like@that.” He takes another scope from a leather traveling case and slides it over his glasses
04:03
“I think I can make out something of a stamp here along the barrel. It’s very tiny. “ He begins flipping through a small pocket guide he has with him
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Max says nothing, letting the man concentrate while sipping his drink, only leaning slightly forward as the man examines even closer.
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"This seems to be a genuine find" he says, after a long moment. "The stamp matches the artificer in service to House Deveers at the time, and the metal composition is the same as what is found here on Jagrati. I have no reason to suspect that this is a fraudulent article."
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"How do I go about presenting this then?"
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"I'll handle getting you in front of the King, but he would likely want it to be something small and personal. No need for the whole court to be attending"
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"I'd prefer something like that as well."
19:46
Maxwell says before finishing off his drink. "I'll be at the naval headquarters for at least another day, I am currently set to join the next expedition out. Please feel free to contact me there."
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"There's no need to run off. I expect you'll have your audience tonight. You're free to return there, but you;ll likely be summoned back to the palace within hours. you're more than welcome to enjoy the comforts of the lodge, if your time allows"
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"I will stay here and avail myself of those comforts then. Thank you once more for your hospitality." Maxwell says, hanging around the lodge, reading books and looking at artifacts until he is given a reason not to anymore.
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The afternoon stretches into the evening when the minister returns. “The King is ready for you. The pistol has been returned but he would like to thank you personally, and face to face. He is very pleased it has been returned. He says he has some fond memories attached to the piece from boyhood”
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Maxwell smiles. "Well, let's not keep him waiting. Lead on."
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The royal court for the most part has been dismissed for the night by time you are brought through the throne room to an antechamber beyond that is arranged like a lounge. A fire burns nightly in the marble fireplace and large banners and heraldic devices hang on the wall, representing chronologically the ruling houses of the NMC. King Deveers is sitting in a high backed leather cushioned chair, and invites you to sit down with a gesture of his hand. “So this is the explorer that brought my first gun back to me. I cannot believe someone was keeping it as a trophy this entire time”
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(Would a bow or a salute be more appropriate upon entering room with the king?)
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(This is pretty informal and he already sort of bypassed that by asking you to sit down)
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Maxwell is caught about to give a salute, still not sure what the protocol for this is. He gives a smile and sits down at the chair the king motioned to. "I had no idea whose it was when I retrieved it from its place in the abandoned town it was found in, but I decided to find its owner. We have lost enough history, I did not want another piece lost forever. I never expected it to lead me here."
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“Things like this turn up in unlikely places. There are more out there. A lot more. This weapon is a lot more than that to me. I have some very fond memories with it from my childhood. “ He pauses for a moment as if thinking something over. “I have seen you are planning to head back out on another expedition. Tomorrow in fact “
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"Yes sir. There is still another system that needs checked over and I wanted to be a part of that search."
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“I see. Well I have a proposition for you. You don’t need to say yes today if you need time to think about it, but I think you’re cut out to lead. I’d like to reactivate the Huscarls. They disbanded close to the end of the shaper war, their losses were too great and the senior leadership had all been killed”
22:15
“It needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and i think you’re the man for the job “
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Maxwell looks at him very surprised. "Well sir, I can say honestly I never expected this meeting, let alone being put into such a position. I would be happy to accept, though I believe I should still go ahead on the scouting missions, especially if it is being run by a different ship than the last one. I met a few soldiers with potential to be in such an elite unit, but I would like the opportunity to work with another group of sailors and marines. I know personnel files never tell the entire story of someone and I want to make sure those I select are of the highest caliber."
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“Thinking like a leader already. Of course. Do what you think must be done. When the expedition returns we can see to some kind of formal organization”
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"I will see you when I return sir, hopefully with more names on my list than before." Maxwell gets up and leaves, heading back to the naval headquarters. When he gets there he looks Daniels up again, sending her a message about a job opportunity he has for her, asking for a quick meeting before he departs the next day.
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Daniels is in town and as shes assigned to this expedition too, she is planning on staying close to home for the night. She’s able to meet you anywhere
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He asks to meet at the bar in the military spaceport, gets changed into his normal uniform, then heads over to meet her.
03:13
(I forgot, I get the goal for returning the pistol, which takes me to level 4)
03:15
(Added a new goal as well)
03:18
(HP to 34, Lead up to 2, Trade to 0)
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(Yeah I was going to give you xp for that but I remembered you Had the bonus. I’ll check the new one out )
13:49
Daniels is in her more civilian minded clothing when she appears. Her uniform is packed away along with whatever supplies she has managed to scrounge in town for the return voyage. She sting she suffered a few days ago looks to be healing nicely
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"How are you doing?" Max asks after walking over to her, pointing to her arm. (edited)
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"Getting better. I can use both arms again, started getting the feeling back the last few hours of the spike trip home. Don't want to go through that ever again. thought I was going to lose it"
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He nods, bringing his leg up and tapping where the metal prosthetic bit with a few small clanks. "I know the feeling. Let's go sit down, I've got an offer for you." He leads her over to a table and sits down. "So, that pistol I found, turns out it belonged to the King. He wants me to rebuild the Huscarls, and I'd like you to be a part of it."
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She purses her lips, processing everything you have told her. "So you're in need of a medical officer. Whats the pay like? benefits?"
15:32
"I was thinking of mustering out at the end of the year when my indenture is up, I've made it three years without being killed, eaten, or shaped into anything weird. I'm not sure how I feel about going right back into harms way"
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"We haven't worked out the pay and benefits yet, or structure honestly. Everything would start after we get back from the next scouting mission, but I know it will be better than the benefits we give to conscripts. I can't promise the danger won't be any more or less than what you've already been through, but I will need people who are willing to go above and beyond. You impressed me on Anisah, and its hard to find people who are impressive both in reality and in service reports. I won't be upset at all if you say no, everyone has a right to be done with the military after all this, but there is still a need to defend what's left and help us reclaim at least some of what we lost. I will need a medical officer, just need to know if you are interested." (edited)
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"I am interested, and you're right, im not out of the service yet as it is anyway. I'll come with you on the scouting expedition. Lets see if we work well together aside from running from some kind of apex destroyer creature"
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Maxwell laughs. "Hopefully we will find some other faces who are the caliber we want, and that doesn't require running into some large monsters."
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"I hope so too. So tomorrow morning. I'll see you at the ship unless there's more to discuss right now"
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"Nothing official. If you wanted to stay and talk a bit I was planning to get dinner after this meeting. We can always do that talking later, I'm sure we both have some background not in each others files we ought to share at some point."
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"We do, I suppose I've got time."
15:49
"So, what did you want to know?"
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"Goals, family background, anything not in your file you think is important."
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"I think I've been clear about what I want out of this arrangement, and I don't really want to talk about my family. They're proud of my service, and I'm doing this to keep them safe. THat's really all there is to it"
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"Fair enough. As far as things go for me, my family is in prison and I'm trying to keep this nation we have alive long enough to make my name not synonymous with traitors. Best way I can see to do that is be the best I can be and help as many people as I can. You answered the last question I had for you. Too many nobles I grew up knowing were only interested in personal gain at the expense of others, you don't seem like that kind of person." He stands up. "Unless there is anything else, I'll see you on the ship then. Thank you for your time and interest."
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She smiles, and orders a drink for herself, trying to make the most of being somewhere other than her quiet home tonight
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Max grabs the food he ordered earlier, getting it bagged to go, heads back and eats about half of it before crashing in bed, the adrenaline his body pumped out to calm his nerves finally running its course.
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The next morning comes and the expedition is preparing to depart. Almost everyone is aboard already by time you get to the dockyard
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(Is it the same ship as last time?)
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(yes(
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Max heads aboard and to the bridge after dropping his things off in his cabin. He goes through the same commands as he did the last few times they set off, hoping they are as successful finding survivors on this mission as the last one.
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(we did so much in between, we're going to Tavgularis, right?)
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Yeah, the other world that needs to be checked on with active nmc presence)
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(1 day of downtime as we set off)
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(2/90 Heal)
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The ship exits in Tavgularis system space, a system containing a gas giant, ringed by asteroids, and a planet of many dozens of small island chains. A derelict and now abandoned space station, Peerless class, sits orbiting the gas giant, its mining and fueling equipment dormant.
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"Planet or station first captain?"
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"Up to you, we're going to need to do both to call this a proper survey anyway"
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"Station first is a good idea, somewhere to evacuate survivors to if things are really bad."
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"Alright, doesnt look like there's power on inside, we need to do that first, then we can see if life support or anything else is working. You, Daniels, and two others are what I ahve listed as going aboard, that sound right to you?"
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"Sounds right to me, same team as last time. Minus the lizard-man that is. Can we dock or do we need to take another way in?"
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“It looks like the airlock is okay. I’d still take a vac suit just in case the seal isn’t perfect. And you can’t count on things coming back to life inside “
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"Hopefully everything does. I'll check and see if any of the other three has engineering experience, I don't have training in it myself." Max gives a salute and heads out to the airlock to prepare. Along the way he checks the personnel files of the other two troopers to see if they have mechanical or programming knowledge.
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The crew assigned are specialists and each has enough technical ability to hopefully make this an easy jaunt
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Max grabs his things and heads to the airlock. He waits for everyone to be assembled before speaking. "Right folks, another fun and exciting adventure into abandoned places. We need to restore power to the station first, life support after, anything else third. Keep your eyes open while we move through and your vacc suits on until I say otherwise. Any questions voice them now, otherwise let's get moving."
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The airlock opens smoothly from the vessel into the space station. As you pass through the boarding tube you notice a thin rime of what looks to be rust colored water running down the sides of it. Ahead the airlock into the station cycles, opening to allow you in to the main entry room. A panel on the wall begins turning on and going through it’s normal boot up sequences, though surely limited in this reduced power setting
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Maxwell looks at the panel and tries to get a map of the station working, using one of his type-A cells if there is an emergency power port of some kind.
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The panel shows a station map and thankfully does not need spare power from you
01:54
01:55
(You’re in the hallway on top)
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Pinned a message.
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"Let's head to the power core in the middle and see if we can get station power back on."
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The doors surrounding the core are shut, and the engineers begin getting to work on finding a way to reprogram or force them open. "This is going to take a few minutes, maybe take a look around and we'll call when we're through
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Max nods and heads over to the first room on the north-east side.
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A sign on the door says THEATRE, and it seems like this is a place where those aboard the station were once able to watch movies from home, and generally just spend some time not feeling like they were cramped aboard a space station. The projector has been left on, turning the ocean into a room of shadows, against a stark white screen. The projector is on standby, not playing anything right now, though its illumination light keeps the entire screen a milky white
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Maxwell turns the projector off and heads to the next room, keeping his weapon handy as he moves through the rooms.
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something heavy falls from the ceiling in the projector room, as you shut the door and begin heading back out into the hallway
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Max turns back and looks at the door. He listens at the door for movement.
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There is no other movement but there are. A handful more thuds as unsecured pieces of the soundproof ceiling tile come down, knocked free by whatever fell
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Max back up and kicks the door open with his foot, aiming his rifle through the doorway at the debris watching for anything moving.
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A dead crewman, impaled through the midsection with some kind of metal/organic barb a meter long sits stuck to the deck. The body has been dead for a long time, and is no longer bleeding aside from the dried dark stains around the entry wound (if there's an exit wound you cant see it with it laying face down)
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Maxwell leaves the room and heads back to the group. "They were here, the shapers. Be careful everyone."
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He continues back to the next room on the east and checks it.
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(lets get a notice/wis before we do)
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LOUNGE is marked on the door, though this one is not closed all the way, and not latched
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Maxwell kicks the door open, aiming through the doorway as he did previously.
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(Evasion save)
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(Success 20v11)
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A shot from the rafters of the room misses and lodges into the floor. Something shrieks in the darkness, and a dog sized shadow disappears into the darkness of the station ducts
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"FUCK!" Max shouts, backing up against the wall. "There is still something here guys, I'm coming back over." He says, heading back over to the group by the reactor door. He messages the ship and informs them of the shaper presence.
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The ship has moved back from the station, boarding tube retracting. The technical crew working on the reactor responds that they hear you, and are working to get the power on as quickly as possible
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Maxwell hangs around the engineering teams, listening for movement in the air ducts, doing his best to shield them.
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The duct running along the eastern wall creaks gently , as whatever it up there draws close. The engineering team is working diligently
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Maxwell waits for it to creak again, firing off a shot at where the noise is. (edited)
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(go ahead and make an attack roll)
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(19/4)
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There is a splatter of gore that trickles through one of the downward facing vents as your shot strikes something. You hear the sound of small but sharp claws scrabbling on the metal as the shaper creature backpedals quickly, its angle of attack from this side compromised.
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Maxwell reloads and waits for another sound.
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Moments drag on in a tense silence, as the distant creaks and groans that normally are part of being on a ship suddenly seem to have so much more meaning to them
20:19
Finally, you hear a particularly loud one right above you
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Max shoots at the noise.
20:20
(Oh, i rolled for my pistol last time on my phone, can I re-roll the damage?)
20:20
(Or just roll another d6 to add?)
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(just add another d6)
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(Another 1 damage to the previous attack)
20:26
(20/16 for this attack)
20:27
(Actually it is plus 3, not one. Didn't factor in the natural +2 the rifle gets over the pistol)
20:28
(So 7 damage total for the first shot)
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(and a physical save, and then we can tidy this up with a nice bow)
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(Success, 15v11)
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The body falls from the ruptured vent, to collapse with bone crunching force on the deck. The dog like figure wheezes once, before finally rattling into death
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Maxwell stabs it with his bayonet a few times, just to make sure, before turning back to his squad. "Well, that was terrifying. How are we doing?"
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Lights and the groan of proper air circulation returning to the station seems to be their way of reply. The platform begins coming online
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"Nice job folks. Let's start clearing the rest of the platform. Stick together and check your corners." He leads the group on a clockwise tour around the outside ring of the station, starting with the second room.
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The need for continued clearing becomes null, as power comes on and readings come online. THere is no life aboard aside from you, and the bridge's autopilot is able to correct the stations orbit. A few rooms along the western side have been void breached, and armored shutters are down over the interior entry doors, they can be repaired from outside when more dedicated support crews come along
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"Let'a check out the rooms, see what kind of supplies this place has and how suitable it is for taking wounded. Daniels check medical, I'll check the armory, the rest of you check the life support systems and engineering department."
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Dead shaper or not the crew is unwilling to venture further into the station
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(Are they saying our job is done here or do they just not want to take the chance something else is there?)
03:56
(Or is there nothing else to find?)
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(They don’t want to take the risk)
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Maxwell looks at his troops. "Our job is to make sure this station is secure. We all know now the shapers still have some kind of presence in this system. There are people down there who might be in need of medical attention or an evacuation off planet depending on the conditions down there. We need to know what kind of state this station is actually in, that is our mission. We can defend each other for a few more minutes on this station, the people down there who have been stuck out here by themselves either cannot defend themselves at all or are hanging on by their fingernails. I am going to stay here and finish this mission. The technical crew is not responsible for clearing, we are. Anyone who wants to leave feel free to call the ship back, anyone who wants to stay and do their jobs follow me." (edited)
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He turns around and heads to the room after the projector room.
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Daniels comes with you as the other two remain behind.
18:56
The next two rooms are the bunks where the original crew would have kept their belongings and rested between duties. Their things and the crew themselves had all evacuated previously
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Maxwell leads on to the next set of rooms, still moving clockwise around the station's exterior facing rooms.
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A supply room and two restaurants that are shuttered round out the rooms on the eastern face of the station. The supply room is locked and the restaurants are throughly trashed as the shaper creature was clearly feeding on some of the stored goods here. Mop buckets and signs have been overturned
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"You any good at unlocking doors?" He asks Daniels, examining the supply room door.
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"Just medicine" she replies, looking through her bag for the tenth time since you've been in here. "Don't really have the mechanical skills like that"
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(Is the door like the sliding kind or does it have a knob? Was going to try and use the bayonet on the door to pry it open)
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(It's got a sliding bar with a lock on it)
02:40
(youd have to break or pick it to throw tthe bar left out of the holder and across the frame)
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"Well, guess we are doing this the hard way then." Maxwell looks at the lock and tries to break it off with the bayonet on his rifle.
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(We can do a fix, or a melee attack)
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(I'll do a melee attack)
04:06
(Wait, do you want an attack roll or a stab roll?)
04:06
(Or shoot since the bayonet uses shoot)
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(it would be an attack roll, using the rules we have for the bayonet, so you can still use shoot)
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(12/2, though if that doesn't hit could I use my warrior ability to make it hit in this case?)
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(It hits)
15:09
The lock snaps under the swing of your bayonet and the chain rattles gently as it unwinds and falls to the floor
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Maxwell waits for Daniels to get ready before opening the door to clear the room.
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She checks the load in her pistol, and ensures the safety is off
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He opens the door, aiming his rifle into the room
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A mop nearly assaults you, as it falls from its precarious perch next to the door. The only absorbing of biomass done here will be water from floors now. The rest of the room has an array of other cleaning supplies, and a handful of dry goods and spare sanitary supplies for the few food operators here. Some of them are keeping stocks of their non-perishable goods in here as well and the cans all seem to be relatively intact. The ceiling vent above is too small for the strange shaper creature to have squeezed through
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Maxwell laughs as he kicks the mop. "Very angry mop there. Let's keep going." He says before continuing around the station.
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The next three hours pass as you sweep the station, and find no evidence of shapers or any other of their strange half spawns aboard. You are unable to search the three locked down rooms due to the breach from outside, and there is nothing that can be done to fix it with what is available here
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Max heads back to the docking port and calls up the ship. "This is Buchannon, the station is clear of any shaper evidence in the rooms we can reach, requesting the ship come back over and pick us up." He turns back to Daniels. "Thanks for sticking with me. I was hoping the other two would be motivated enough by words alone, but I guess I was wrong."
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"THey're technicians, not soldiers, I wouldnt have followed you without training no matter what you said to me" (3xp, 5000 credits)
04:26
The ship pulls up alongside the airlock, and extends its boarding tube
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"I guess I just need to understand better people whose objective is just getting home, not rebuilding. I feel I have to work for something better otherwise it just doesn't seem like anything else I've done in my life was worth a damn, but I don't really have a life outside this. I should fix that sometime." He says, thinking out loud as they cross the boarding tube into the ship. "Any word from the surface while we were on the station?" He asks upon getting back on the ship.
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"Nothing yet. THere's a lot of interference. We won't be able to clean it up from this distance"
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"Alright. Let's go see what our landing zones look like Daniels." Max says, heading up to the bridge to meet the captain and figure out a strategy,
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(I'm drawing a map now, thanks for being patient)
20:00
( thought I did one already but I guess I never did)
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(No worries, i work 4-9 tonight anyway)
20:24
Tavgularis has long been a resource world. The population was mostly workers and their families, but the ores, wood, and large cargo hub helped ensure that NMC vessels could be built and constructed here when conditions were better. This world may once again grow into a major shipyard if given the care it needs
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"Do we have any idea of the state of the surface garrison? Perhaps we could start there?"
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"All silent. We've been trying to raise them since you went aboard the space station. The tower is either not there, or the power must be down. Theres not even static coming back"
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"If we fit one of the lifters with some imagery equipment, I could do some passes of the locations on the planet and look for human activity, maybe figure out what is going on down there."
20:40
"We need more information before we put people on the ground. The shaper in the station makes me uneasy putting a squad down there without some kind of actual intelligence." (edited)
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"That should be easy to do, maybe an hour to fit the scanners, they'll work for the time being. Anything else we need to do to help speed the process?"
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"Keep monitoring the radio, see if anything comes up. I'll be down familiarizing nyself with the lighter, been a while since I've flown one."
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(does Max actually have pilot?)
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(He's got +1)
15:45
(With specialist)
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(thats fine, I just wanted to be sure how to continue) The work continues and the lighter is refit after a few hours. The radio equipment is installed and everyone is ready to see what might be down there.
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Max spends those hours refamiliarizing himself with the lighter's controls and safety equipment. Once everything is ready he prepares himself for launch and heads down to the planet.
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(anywhere specifically we want to focus on first?)
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(The Garrison)
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The lighter departs from the main ship, and heads into the atmosphere. Re-entering over the garrison, there is still a lack of signals coming in. Getting closer to them is not aiding in whatever power or communications problems are happening down there. There is dense cloud cover over the site
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Max tries to see if he can get below the clouds, paying close attention to his altitude, not straying below 1000 meters
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The clouds are thick even at 1000m , and there is still no signal coming from the garrison. Attempts to raise them end in silence, not static
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(Would they have topography charts from the planet still?)
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(I posted the map, I cant really think of anything that wouldnt be included on that)
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Maxwell slowly circles lower, using the maps he has to try and crashing into any terrain features, still trying to get below the clouds.
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Getting below the clouds you can see the base now, and the radio tower is down. It looks like the steel supports have been bent, or twisted either through heat or extreme physical force. There are also no lights on, and continually no radio contact
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Maxwell radios the ship, informing them of his findings. He then heads over to the logging camp next.
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Several large vehicles sit idle under temporary shelters though it seems here too there are no signs of life, but also no signs of a struggle either. There is faint power on here, in the generator building and the perimeter lights are on, meant to help guide loggers lost in the woods home at night
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Maxwell sends out a few radio bursts to the area, circling to see if there is any response.
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There are a few faint crackles, but otherwise nothing seems to ping
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Max sends another message to the ship, informing them of possible life at the logging camp before heading out to the cargo hub.
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(Pilot/dex)
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(10)
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Air defenses around the cargo hub begin tracking, and a quick jink to the left sees a line of tracers narrowly miss shearing off the left wing.
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"FUCK!" Maxwell shouts before turning away down towards the water. He turns his radio to broadcast on all channels. "This is NMC Lieutenant Max Buchannon, cease you fire, repeat cease fire at the cargo hub!"
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The guns must be swiveling to track you below, the master warnings do not shut off as your lighter performs evasive jinks and climbs
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"More automated defenses manned by children I'll bet. Cmon you tank of a plane, let's get out of here!" He pilots the lighter away, heading south before circling back to the north east to the mining base.
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The mining base has lights on, and there is a faint crackle over the radio as you get close. Someone is trying to patch in, but their equipment on the ground is having trouble getting through the military encryption on the lighter
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Maxwell turns the encryption off "Hello, this is the NMC, who am I speaking to?"
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"NMC, this is Bronzeback Mining Base. We thought we were all alone out here. We see some lights over the ocean, is that you?'
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"I am in a cargo lighter due south of your position and am heading there right now."
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"We don't have anything that can trouble you up there, we'll have the foreman waiting for you to land"
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"I'll be there soon, out." Max keeps heading to Bronzeback, landing the lighter when he arrives.
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The foreman and most of the 100 strong mining crew has turned out to see you, as the lighter comes in to landing. Most of them are dirt smeared, and carrying hand tools. It looks like work has continued here despite the recent difficulties facing the NMC
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Max walks down the rear hatch and walks up to the foreman with his hand out. "Maxwell Buchannon, Cooperative navy. We came out to see how things were out here, doesn't look all that great based on what I've seen." (edited)
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"Then you've seen what I was about to say. Things on the island have been calm" the foreman says as he takes the offered hand "but I can't say the same for the rest of the planet. Things done in haste tend to multiply problems if they're left to go on"
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"What kind of things done in haste? I was almost shot down by the Cargo Hub's anti-aircraft defenses, but was unable to get a radio contact there, or anywhere else but here."
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“Just that. Automated defenses switched on as people evacuated. Whole outposts skipped over by the exodus ships. It’s a mess out there. We got left behind too”
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Maxwell sighs, irritated at having to face another defensive system switched on then abandoned. "Hopefully there aren't kids left alone this time. Do you know anything about the garrison, was it attacked? The radio tower was melted and there were signs of battle."
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"If it was, it must have been from within. I don't know anything about kids, Is that code for something?
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"Oh, no." Max says shaking his head. "We scouted Anisah first and the holdfast in one of the cities only had children inside of it surrounded by automated defenses they could not turn off. Thankfully we were able to find the code and some of the adults as well. Anyway, I need to return to the ship, I will be back down with some support now that we know we have a safe landing area. Pass the word for anyone with information about the other camps and outposts, we need everything we can get." He shakes the foreman's hand again before hopping back onto the lighter and heading towards the ship, passing by the forge on the way.
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The forge is likewise silent. It appears the people there have left long ago.
03:02
The complex is a large section of factories and foundries , and will be a huge boon to the NMC if revived
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Maxwell, having finished his scouting run, heads back up to the ship and meets with the captain. "Well sir, it seems we have more questions than answers at the current time. The forge looks intact, the mines are still operational, but the cargo hub's defensive network it still active. The mine's present a safe landing zone, but the miners there could use some supplies."
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"We're not carrying much as is. Just enough for our own expedition. We could give them our stores and cut the trip short, but we wouldn't have beyond tonight to explore without running short of what we need to get back"
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"Did anyone ever do an inventory of the station's supplies?"
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(you're talking about the space station?)
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(Yeah)
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"Nothing we were able to access, but you were aboard. Did it look like there was enough there to keep people going for a while?"
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(Was there any food they found outside of what was in the supply closet?)
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(no)
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"There were a small amount of provisions untouched by that creature, but most of the stations supplies we checked over were ransacked by it. I suppose if they have been holding out this long they should be alright. If we can get access to the Cargo Hub it should have resources in it. I'll take another small squad down and see what I can do."
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"Without the air defenses being down?"
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"We will look around the other abandoned encampments for some command codes or something, and a boat to sail into the cargo hub. Someone around there must have known something."
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(Alright, reasonable, cant really add anything else until we know where you're plnning to set down)
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(Back at the mine)
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The mines are about to prepare for day shift as the lighter sets down, Maxwell at the controls and a hold packed with the chosen NMC marines set aside for this duty
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Maxwell walks off the gangplank and looks for the foreman. "I brought back some help. We are going to be looking for a way to shut down the anti-air defenses at the Cargo hub to see if we can get you all some resources to live off of. The station and our ship don't have enough to support you all unless the ship leaves the planet which I'd rather not do now that it is here. Did you know of anyone who had access to the command codes or evacuation plans on the planet so we can narrow our search, and perhaps some boats we can use to approach the cargo hub with?"
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"There's a barge we use to dump trash into the ocean we have moored on the other side of the island. Lucky for you we just emptied it, so the smell should be tolerable. I dont happen to have a cache of top secret government defense codes laying around, and no one here would know any of them anyway, we're just miners. I'm afraid we're of no help to you there"
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"Never hurts to ask. We will see what we can find. We will use the lighter to extend the range of your communications and try to give you regular updates. Hopefully we find more people hiding out like you all were." He gives the man a smile and heads over to the barge.
03:17
(How many marines are in the squad, just 4-5 like usual?)
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(thats all that can really fit in a lighter. Theyre not really meant to be dropcraft, we're mostly just improvising when we use them this way)
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(Yeah, I was just double checking so I knew how many people we were dealing with)
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The barge is a two deck vessel, with msot of the living space below the open-air hold where trash is normally piled high. Right now, true to word, the storage bay is empty, and there is nothing aboard. A pilot house is at the back of the vessel, and there is enough room for all of you inside
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"Alright everyone, welcome to your new home for a few days. I'll pilot, the rest of you rotate on watch in groups of two. We are heading for the Garrison first, be prepared for anything it looked like there was some kind of fight there." He heads to the pilot house, gets the engines running, and steers the ship towards the ruined garrison. (edited)
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(it will be 3 days on the seas before we're close enough to need to start doing things, if you've got downtime to spend)
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(5/90 Heal-0)
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On the third day, your forward lookout sights land ahead of you, fog slowly breaking up. There is a ring of large turrets around the island, focused skyward and panning back and forth gently, along with a large radio tower object. It's tip blinks a red light steadily
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"Well." He says with a big sigh. "Here goes nothing." He looks for some docks and goes to bring the ship in. "Tell me if those turrets show any signs of panning down this way."
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The beach is the only thing you can see, but a shallow draft vessel like this should be able to glide onto it without doing any damage to itself. As you approach within the exclusion zone, there is a single red flare launched from the center of the island, though nothing crackles over the radio and there are no other overt signs of communication
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"Be careful guys, try not to kill anyone by accident. I'm going to head up there myself and see if I can see anyone. Follow me when I call." Maxwell takes the barge closer to the island, heading for the beach. (edited)
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(youre out in the sea, still far from the island)
20:23
As the barge presses on, and the flare is not answered, there is a second set sent up, this time two white flares
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"Look for flares people!." Maxwell looks around for some flares in the cabin
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There is red, two green, and a purple stowed into the search and rescue box in the main cabin
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Maxwell hops out and sends up a red flare.
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There is a very loud sound, almost like an air horn, but it travels far across the water, and the turrets seem to slack, as though powering down at some kind of all clear
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Max breaths out a sigh, continuing to take the barge towards the island. (Is this the garrison or the cargo hub?)
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(garrison i mean)
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(Yeah, I just didnt realize the garrison had turrets too)
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(There was no power on before)
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(Ah)
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"Here's hoping they have some good news for us folks." Max says as he pulls the ship closer to the island.
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There is a gently bump as the draft vessel makes beach landing, and the marines quickly disembark, driving piling pins into the sand so the boat can be moored until youre ready to use it again. The sand looks undisturbed, and the trees are dark, hard to see through. A sign that is rusted says MILITARY SITE, NO PUBLIC ACCESS, though is rusted and has two las holes through it
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Maxwell grabs his Las-lock, brushes some of the dirt off his uniform, and takes the lead heading into the forest.
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(all the group going with you?)
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(He would leave one back to watch the ship, two if there are 6 of them total)
00:40
(6 people including him that is)
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(So you and three into the woods and two guarding your way home)
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(Yup)
05:02
(He would have instructed them to stay hidden if possible)
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Moving into the forest, the path winds through the trees but the road itself looks well maintained. It banks gently to the left up ahead leading to what you'd presume was the garrison gates. Two bodies hang from the tree ahead of you at the end of the path. Signs with TRAITOR written on it hang in each of their hands. Their faces, blessedly, are hidden by black execution hoods
14:34
Some of the lower extremities have gone to bone, fed on by scavenging island creatures over several days.
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Maxwell keeps heading towards the gates.
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There is another loud blast of the airhorn as you round the corner, to see a bunker facing the gate, 10m off the ground and built onto a small cliff.
17:20
"Stop there!" the voice calls out over the intercom
17:21
"Lay down your weapons, and approach the gate!"
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Maxwell sets his rifle down and walks towards the gate slowly. "I am Maxwell Buchannon, Lieutenant in the NMC Navy, who am I speaking to." He calls out in a loud voice towards the bunker.
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"A group that doesn't wish to have any more part of that uncooperative cooperative any longer"
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"And why is that?" Max asks, stopping his movement towards the gate. (edited)
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There is the crack of a rifle shot , clearly a warning shot and not just a bad one, and a small puff of dirt a few meters to Maxwell's right sprinkles into the air
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Maxwell looks around for cover to sprint to as he continue talking. "You know, we could be having this discussion out here instead of through an intercom with one of you shooting in my general direction."
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There is another shot, this one far closer, and possibly not a warning shot
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(Was there anything around he could run to for cover?)
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(just around the corner again out of sight. The road was kept clear for the whole purpose of not being able to sneak up on the gate)
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(How far away is out of sight for him now?)
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(you'd have made it before they could reload)
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Maxwell, noticing the closer shot, decides these people have no interest in talking and books it back to his squad around the corner, picking up his rifle on the way. "Whoever those people are are no friends of ours anymore, let's get back to the barge and get the hell out of here."
19:07
(Did those bodies have remains of NMC uniforms on them? I should have asked before moving on)
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(Too aged to really tell)
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(Ok, no worries)
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As the barge moves off, the landing pylons left behind in the beach in haste, you see a group of humans assembling on the beach. Theyre in a mix of uniformed and civilian dress, and those with weapons fire them at the barge, though they are far outsie effective range
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"We will have to deal with them later, for now let's head over to the logging camp, there looked to be power there. We will land on the beach and head in through the forest and scout it out before we walk up."
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(and its about a day of sailing to get there if were going by boat)
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(6/90 heal)
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The logging camp and its island is a mix between very dense forest, and cleared land that has been replanted with saplings in neat rows. Most of them are only about as tall as you, and have clearly not been in the ground for long. The sounds of power tools and shouting carries off over the water, and there are endless pallets of treated and planked ironwood for new NMC ships and furniture standing by, ready to be carried off elsewhere- though it seems no merchants have come in some time
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"Well, this sounds more promising. We will head up through the woods, you all cover me while I talk. Hopefully they won't shoot at me." Maxwell says.
18:15
"Two stay with the barge again, I will message you if things go sideways again."
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The loggers are hard at work, and although you get a few curious stares on your way in, you'd have a hard time knowing that there was anything out of the ordinary happening here. Work seems to be continuing the way it always has. Two figures stand in front of the camp office, both in hard hats and safety vests, reviewing something on a datapad with one another
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Maxwell walks up to them, rifle hanging from it's sling. "Hello there, are you two the ones in charge of this logging camp?"
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"We're the ones running it now since the foreman escaped with the evacuation ships. You from the garrison? thought they kicked all the soldiers out"
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"No, we are from the NMC, just got here a few days ago. We tried to visit the garrison but they shot at us when we walked up to it. My names Max, hope you all aren't of a similar mindset as whoever controls the garrison."
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"Seems to me that you standing here without trouble answers that. We thought something was going on over there for a while. You;re not the first soldier to turn up here after whatever happened at the garrison"
15:16
"We took in who washed up"
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"We have a ship in orbit. The shapers are gone, the NMC is here to help get this planet functional again and get supply lines open to you all, but first we need to secure the Cargo Hub and garrison. Anything you can tell me about either of them?"
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"NMC admin probably turned the defenses on there to ward off pirates when they pulled out. They're indiscriminate, but effective. Not really sure hwat exactly happened in the garrison but some of the soldiers are here now working with us, you might get them to talk about it"
16:02
"They've been pretty mum so far on the issue, I tihnk just happy to have something to do now"
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"Can you point them out for me? If we are going to fix this planet we will need to take back the garrison eventually, hopefully without bloodshed. Slim chance of that though."
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He looks down at his pad. "We have them...in the eastern grove, just behind the house here. They're just surveying today, no power tools or anything like that, but you should still take a hardhat"
16:33
he points to a rack of safety equipment
16:34
"those damn windowmaker branches got 2 guys already this year. Don't need a guest going home in a pine box either"
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"I survived the shapers, I don't plan on taking any chances here. Thank you for your help." He takes a hard hat before turning back to them. "How is the food situation for your people?" (edited)
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"We're growing some local vegetables and fruit in one of the glades we cleared. We saw the supply landers coming in less and less often over the last couple years and what we started to augment our supply situation ended up being the thing that saved us. Rations are thin, its hard work. We were trading building materials with the garrison in exchange for some of their hydroponic food for a while to keep us on regular meals, but that stopped once the trouble there sorted itself out"
16:41
"Every once in a while the barge comes from the mines, and we do the same kind of trades, but its far away, and they've been less apt to risk a journey that long with all tthe trouble in the region. I can't say I blame them"
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"So good enough for the time being, but we still need to get the cargo hub open for regular shipments. I'll relay that to my superiors. Hopefully I'll be back with some good news soon." Max types up a quick message updating the ship on his progress as he walks out into the forest looking for the former soldiers.
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The three of them are working in a glade marking trees to be removed in the near future and are largely keeping to themselves
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Max walks up to the group. "I was told you three used to work at the garrison, is that correct?"
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"Yes. All of us here managed to escape. Whos' asking?"
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"My name is Maxwell, I'm a lieutenant in the NMC navy. We are coming back to help this planet recover, but in order to do that we need control of the garrison, and in order to get it I need to know what happened there."
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"Mutiny. Popular uprising against the crown and its agents. Must have been circulating the garrison for a while, because when it happened they were organized, and if you werent in on it, you were surprised"
04:55
"there were no warning signs at all'
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"What was their grievance with the crown? Claims of abandonment?"
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"Something like that, essentially we were their agents as long as we were providing enrichment, and then were abandoned"
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Maxwell sighs. "That seems to be the popular notion amongst not a small number of people. How many would you guess were there?"
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"Hard to tell how many were left. There was a lot of killing, and those who got away scattered"
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"If you had to guess the numbers of the mutineers I meant."
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“At least ten. Like I said. We didn’t get to really take a look. We were too busy fleeing”
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"Did any of the higher up officers make it out?"
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“Don’t think so. Their bunk was fragged first”
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"Well, that puts us in a tough spot. We need to get the cargo hub's defenses down to get food and supplies to this planet for you all. I assume the information we need to get into the hub is at the garrison."
19:06
"Do the automated defenses at the garrison or hub shoot down? Or just up?"
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"the guns are capable of shooting horizontally"
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"Do you know of any back entrances to the garrison or something else we could do to take the weapons out of the equation?"
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"those guns have a minimum range, you'd need to get under the waves until youre inside it, or approach so quickly they cant track you until youre inside that range. That's the only real way"
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"So we need to wait for a storm and pray the barge can take it."
04:48
"Did you have anything else that could help us when we" He says motioning to his team. "go back, any plans, weapons, things of that nature?" (edited)
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"oh sure, just a saunter into the command hub and armory as we flee for our lives. Did you want my invisible battleship to take on your misadventure too?"
04:50
the other two laugh, and someone mutters something about typical nobility being out of touch
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Max walks up to the man's face. "Go on, keep laughing at me trying to protect my people by getting all the information and help I can. Sit there and say I'm out of touch with reality because I'm trying to help this planet get on it's feet again. And when you do you can think about the millions of other nobles and soldiers who are dead somewhere because they tried foolishly to defend your sorry ass from the shapers." He says before walking back to the group, muttering about REMFs. "Let's get back to the barge, hopefully the forge will have something that can help us." (edited)
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(initiative, as you're getting into his face)
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(3) The three former soldiers spring to the defense of their comrade, for now prepared to just use their fists. They're within a meter of you, and of their friend whom you've just gotten a bit too hostile with
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(Can Max just walk away?)
05:06
(Like, taking the disengage to dodge their punches and walk away?)
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(you can take the on turn action to disengage and use your move to step away, but theres no guarantee they wont follow)
05:09
(you got hyper aggressive with them for pretty much no reason and they've recently run from members of the military trying to kill them. right now, to them, the situation doesnt look any different from the one they just narrowly escaped)
05:10
(fighting withdrawal is the name of what you're trying to do, and is a main action)
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Max brings his hands up to block any punches as he backs up, turning to leave.
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(they don't get the free melee attack for you leaving their engagement zone, but are going to follow and punch) (16/1, the others miss) The group sees your backing up, and decides to press the advantage. Military training is able to stop most of the oncoming punches, but one strikes a bit harder than the others
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(AC 17)
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(good stuff, your move)
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Maxwell does the same as before, not interested in taking away resources the men running the logging camp need.
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Their blows fall short and they begin holding their positions. “Don’t come the fuck back. Goddamn nobility “
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Max sighs and shakes his head. When they get back to the barge, he takes off the top part of his CFU and looks for any piece of heraldry that depicts his noble status, rips it out, and throws it into the ocean. "Bastards." He says before heading back to the helm.
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“Where to now Chief?” The corporal assigned to the squad asks.
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"The forge I guess." He says with a sigh. "Hopefully we will find something there besides people trying to kill us and individuals who resent me because of my fucking status. Brings us nothing but trouble."
05:32
He relaxes staring at his house emblem as it slowly sinks into the ocean. "Why are you here corporal, on this mission I mean?"
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“aside from being assigned to it? That was really it. I was ordered to do it, and I’d rather not be flogged for saying no. If I’m allowed to speak freely I’d say this planet and the cooperative as a whole is fucked “
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"So if you could you'd do what those men at the logging camp are doing, leave and do something else?"
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“I don’t know if I’d go as far as to hit you, but I’d burn this uniform and go back to my parents farm on Jagrati in a heartbeat if I could. King Deveers and the rest of the noble houses botched the entire shaper excursion from beginning to end, and the soldiers and common people paid the price. I don’t know what his grand plans for regaining lost lands will be, but he’s going to have to contend with a lot of people who remember nobles filling up entire evacuation landers with their worldly goods while flesh and blood people were denied boarding, and safety , as the evacuation ships never returned “
05:39
“The cooperative did abandon most of them, and the people responsible for the worst of the tragedies are sitting in the people’s commons this very day, making even more laws that favor their own wealth and power”
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Maxwell laughs softly. "Maybe what the CSF commodore said was right after all. I never saw what the nobility was taking in their evacuation landers, but I assumed wrongly it was the citizens, hoping the tragedy would bring out the best in people. Instead it cost an enormous number their lives for no reason other than the same greed as always. Is there anything you think could be done to fix that perception? I'm not here trying to reconquer what's been lost, just help people get back on their feet." (edited)
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"Being out here in the name of the crown and trying to fix some of this stuff is probably the best anyone can manage right now. Change and healing some of the mistakes of the past is going to take a long time to smooth over. There's no way to rush it"
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"No, I don't suppose there is. Let's get going to the forge, see what is there. Thanks for the talk by the way." Max says, his brain still turning about ways to convince people to trust the government again rather than cast it aside. (edited)
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(the forge had no air defenses, as far as could be seen, you could fly there if you want)
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(Okay, we can head back to the mine and swap to the lighter)
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The lighter has been fueled and repaired since your last trip with it, and stands ready for takeoff, along with your men
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Max hops into the pilots seat and takes off once everyone else is aboard, heading to the forge.
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The forge is a large building, with a tunnel bored down to the mantle of the planet, where magma is pumped up from below, slowly, with a massive series of pumps all arrayed out on the island. It seems that there is a bit of work going on here, technicians or miners left behind to try to keep the place running with dwindling conditions, much like the lumber camp
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Maxwell looks for a place to set the lighter down, hopping out once it is on the ground to look for someone in charge.
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the lighter sets down as the miners gather, the foreman visible as the only one not in safety gear- her days of pluming the depths and clogged magma tubes are long over
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Max walks up to her. "Hello there. My name is Maxwell, I'm with the NMC, I presume you to be the foreman?"
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"I am. Welcome. Good to see some form of law and order is still out there"
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"Depending on who you ask I can represent anything from Law and Order to oppression, but nice to see another place not shooting at us. Do you have an office or conference room we can speak at?"
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"Not really, had to convert it to a long term dorm. We're kind of all from somewhere else within the NMC, ya know?"
19:43
"But anytihng you have to say to me, my men should hear too. We get by on trust here in the mines. No secrets"
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"Works for me. How are things here at present? I know the logging camp and mines are both still functional, if low on supplies, the cargo hub is locked up, and the garrison has been taken over by mutineers. Hopefully the best situation was saved for last."
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"When ore comes in from the mines and suppliments what we dig up, things are fine, we're able to continue working"
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"I meant more how are your people doing. The machinery is more important to my superiors, I'm not as worried about it." (edited)
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"Everyone' staying busy. Everyone's working hard and just trying to make this into something like a home. Even with you checking in, we might be here for some time without any extra help"
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"Good. Hopefully I can help anyway, but I need to get into the cargo hub to do that. Were you the foreman before the evacuations started? No one I've met so far knows anything about the protocols or how to shut the defenses down, and I've learned no one in command was smart enough to write any of this shit down for when we came back."
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"We're civilians. We wouldn;t have that kind of information. Probably be troubling if we did"
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"I didn't think you would, but I had hoped." He sighs. "Both the garrison and the hub still have functioning defenses. Taking the lighter in is suicide, and the only ship we have found use of is the barge the mines use to dump trash. Is there anything here that would help us get under the defensive guns at the cargo hub or garrison? A speedboat or something else of that nature?"
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"I've actually got something for that. You're not afraid of the water, I hope, because we're going to be going under it"
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Maxwell gets a grin on his face. "Now this I need to see."
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A medium sized vessel is moored here, just beyond the forge
20:28
"We use this to check the undersea magma vents we pull from, along with clearing the barnacles off the outside"
20:29
"Lots of uses for it really. I heard this was taken from a family of Lords that tried to start a rebellion. House Buchannon I think"
20:29
"Not that it matters though right? its doing the people's work now for the good of all"
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Maxwell looks at it closer, recognizing some of the details, before he start laughing. After a minute or two he stops, wiping tears from his eyes. "Oh man, just yesterday I was cursing those bastards, and now I'm using their submarine. For the record, my last name is Buchannon, and wherever my parents are can not possibly be bad enough. This is the first good thing of their making that has happened in my life and its because they are in prison where they belong." (edited)
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"Ah , so you're coming to take back the family pleasure yacht then?" she says, and if you did not see the smile in her eyes, you might think she was serious
20:37
it fades after a second. "Really though, you're not coming just to take this back right. Its absolutely critical to the work we do"
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"Oh, absolutely not, I didn't even remember it existed. My father was just having it commissioned when I left for university in Jagrati. I've spoken to them three times since then, and the last time was years ago when they tried to stop me from joining the military. You all need this and I have no interest in taking it from you" (edited)
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"It's big enough to fit you, your men, and a few of us to drive the thing. so what do you think, Want to go for a ride or did you need to rest"
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Maxwell turns back to his men. "Anyone need some rest before we set off?"
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everyone is eager to go, and ahs rested as much as you. Theyre willing to follow you into whatever danger
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"Well, let's get going then. After you." He motions to the foreman.
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the foreman and two workers hop in, taking up captain, sensor, and engineering position. THere is not any cargo currently, and it forms a natural place where you and your men can relax while the submarine gets underway
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Maxwell stands behind the foreman, looking around at the submarine, still smiling at the irony that his family's work is being used for the betterment of people they saw as beneath their interests. (Basically looking to see if there are any pieces of heraldry left or signs of where it had hung.)
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THere are no pieces of heraldry aside from the family crest used as a center point for both halves of the steering controls
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"I'm honestly surprised there isn't more of my parent's bullshit everywhere. I was looking forward to blowing some of it up or using it as target practice."
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"Breaking your parents toys is kid stuff. You're better than that" the foreman says, looking out the front glass as the ballast tanks begin filling
03:40
"Like you said, find them, use them for better purposes"
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"It was a bad attempt at humor. Unfortunately I have to keep some relics so I can continue to play about in the noble circles to make it look like I am one of them and support their causes and all the other political bullshit nobles are known for wasting their whole lives doing. How long will it take us to get to the cargo hub in this?" (edited)
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"Six hours or so, get some rest while you can, but I should be able to bring this thing in almost to the beach. If you swim the rest of the way, youll be undetected"
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Max nods and heads back to the cargo area to relax and rest with his men while they complete the journey.
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As the submarine gets to within 300m of the beach, there is a knock on the passenger comparment and the foreman is standing there "Alright everyone, up and at'em. We're as close as we're going to get, and within the minimum range of the guns, so you wont'e be shot at by them swimming up"
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"Double check to make sure your packs and guns are sealed up everyone, don't want any waterlogged equipment." He says, double checking his equipment as he says that. "Everything fine? Good, let's head out." He leads the group out of the sub and towards the beach.
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Swimming is difficult with this much water and this much equipment on you, but everyone makes it onto the sand without being detected. A thick treeline stretches out before you, and it sounds like two voices are talking to one another in low tones within the trees
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Maxwell pulls his rifle out from the bag he wrapped it in, checking it for water, before leading the troops up to the treeline as quietly as possible.
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The rifles are going to need a few minutes to dry out, but in the meantime, make excellent spears
20:09
Two guards are looking out toward another part of the beach (essentially side on to you) 15m away, and are passing a compad back and forth, trying to get a signal.
20:09
there is no urgency in their movements. It does not look like you were spotted
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(Are these guards wearing NMC uniforms?)
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(No)
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Maxwell makes a few hand signals, indicating he wants three of the group to swing around behind the guards, while the other two follow him straight in. The guards are to be taken prisoner. He waits for a minute for the other group to swing around before he leads his men in.
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Surrounded by the six of you, the two guards put their hands up, one of them is holding the compad still
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Maxwell walks up and takes the compad. "Thank you. We are with the NMC, we are not looking to hurt you, but I want to know whether you are in league with the mutineers from the garrison and if they control this hub." (edited)
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"The hub is not under New Moon Cooperative control" one answers , his hands still raised
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"Whose control is it under then? Who is in charge?"
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THey remain silent, looking around at the ring of security
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Maxwell sighs and begins looking at the compad.
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he was about to press the alarm button on his pad, that would have presumably alerted something at the garrison of your approach
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Maxwell closes out of it and begins looking through the files on the pad for more information.
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There is a small map of the garrison, along with the weekly schedule of chores, but this seems to generally just be a short range communication device
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(Map of the garrison or the hub?)
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(the garrison)
18:08
(which should be some useful information about their loyalties)
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"These folks are pals with the mutineers at the garrison. Check them for weapons and supplies, then let's tie them up against a tree and keep going."
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Eahc of them has an NMC rifle on them, along with a handgun and knife each
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The weapons get distributed to his men depending on who needs what, the prisoners are tied up, and Maxwell starts looking around for a back way into the complex.
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The automated defenses were the main obstacle toward approaching the hub, and as you get close you can see most of the chain link fence has been torn down or simply fallen over due to neglect. The compad has a tracker on it, and it looks like there is another sentry team on the far side of the complex, encamped in a small rectangular area of shipping containers, protecting them from the wind and rain
21:37
the containers block your vision in, but also their vision out, and it seems like one container was left open, to be used as a doorway to get in
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"Let's circle around and approach from behind the containers, then we can sneak in and take them by surprise. The more we take alive the easier the garrison will be to deal with."
21:49
Max drops the compad outside the fence, out of sight of the prisoners, so they cannot be tracked while approaching, and leads his team around the hub, watching for other guards or workers, as they approach the sentry camp. (edited)
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(sneak/dex for this part, at +2, since their sightlines are blocked and the way sounds project is altered due to their weird fort)
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(11)
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They sense nothing of your approach , and you catch the theee sentries here unawares
03:15
Three
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(So we are all walking in on them right now?)
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Yes)
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Maxwell trains his rifle on the three of them. "Hands up folks, get them where we can see them please."
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They surrender right away and their hands go up. There are no weapons within reach of them
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"Daniels, take two men and go fetch the other prisoners and that compad, I don't want to take any chances here."
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"Everyone else grab their weapons and check them for compads or some way they could alert the garrison."
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The prisoners have their weapons confiscated and it appears that the compad you have taken is the only one among the group. They were unable to call for help or report their situations
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Max waits for Daniels and her group to come back with the other prisoners. When they arrive he has them all tied up together. "Now that we are all together, I have some questions for all of you. I want to know who is in charge of the garrison and how to get in contact with this person."
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“The garrison is beyond your reach. Lord Farriday is going to find you and skin you if you make it there”
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(Would that name mean anything to Max?)
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(no, so hes either someone newly minted, or someone whos declared himself nobility in the chaos)
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(Would the defensive turrets count as breaker guns here?)
04:16
(And at the garrison?)
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(I don;t think max would have enough information as things stand to make an assessment of the guns and how far their range/power might be)
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(Okay, I was just considering how he was going to play this)
04:29
"And, this person would be, who, exactly? Never heard of him."
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"Lord Farriday is Lord Farriday, what do you want me to say?"
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"I'm going to be blunt here. Right now, the only obstacle to my mission to help the people of this planet get reconnected so they can get supplies they need to survive is your lot at the garrison. The nobility I've had the displeasure of knowing are almost all greedy scum who are more interested in their own wealth than helping people, and I'm going to make it my mission to find whatever proof remains to bring them down and throw them in jail. Your 'Lord Farriday' has decided to lead a revolt against the military leaders who were also left behind by the nobility and taken power for himself, declaring himself the very thing he used as a rallying cry. I would like to meet with him so we can actually talk, but if he refuses my request for a parlay for his surrender, with conditions, we will come after him at the fort after orbital bombardment if necessary. You all are free to go back to his domain and tell him of this. He has one day to consider, plus the travel time from here and back to deliver a response. I would prefer not to spill more blood when we can actually work together to bring those responsible for the abandonment of this planet to justice." (edited)
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(OOC, you're aware that your ship is not equipped for bombardment)
04:48
(Right?)
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(They don't know that)
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(I just wanted to make sure YOU knew that)
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(Yeah, I did)
04:49
(As far as I'm aware it doesn't have any weapons aside from some basic lasers)
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The group agrees to deliver your message, but cannot speculate on what he might do or how the message will be received
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Once they have left using whatever means of transport they have, Maxwell has the friend/foe of the cargo hubs defenses reconfigured to recognize NMC transponders before giving the ship an update on the situation.
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(program/int)
05:01
(You never obtained codes or anything)
05:02
(Forgot about that part)
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warnings across the ship begin shrieking, as the hacking attempt fails and automatic failsafes at the cargo hub are activated. As the ship needs to be in orbit to transmit anything through the planet's atmosphere, it becomes clear that the guns are beginning to track the ship using the location of its broadcast as a crude radar
05:04
There is a tremendous hit on the hull of the vessel, as one of the immense rounds strikes home, and warning sirens die out as the ship begins losing power. Evacuation protocols begin sounding, as crew begin making their way to lifeboats
05:05
(got a 20 on the hit, and planetary defenses against ships are terminal to the vessel)
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(Fuck)
05:05
(Shoulda used my reroll token)
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(if you want to try it you can)
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(Yeah, I will)
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(trying to hack military grade computer networks providing one of the most critical pieces of a functioning planet is a suitably hard check, especially when you dont have access codes or have done anytihng on the ground to the site itself like planting line shunts or having people on the inside)
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(I thought with us having some time at the base by ourselves we would be doing something like that, what I get for making assumptions) (edited)
05:07
(Even lower, a 6)
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(I can't assume anything you're not explicitly telling me you're doing)
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(Yeah, my bad)
05:08
(Too late to ret-con it now)
05:08
(If we even did that)
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(I do not allow retcons )
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(Would he have a chance to try and disable the generator or anything like that before the guns fire, or do they just automatically shoot?)
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(orbital bombardment on a ship that is not fitted for it is incredibly inaccurate, and by default is at least a few kilometers off even on a "hit" , you wouldnt be able to get something that small from up here)
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(I meant on the ground)
05:10
(At the hub)
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(I'm not going to recton this)
05:10
(retcon)
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(Okay, no worries. I'll figure something out)
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(You're not dead, the ship has lifeboats)
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(He never left the surface)
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(Crew's not dead I mean)
05:11
(but no, not on the ground, the guns are trained to be ready to fire at any time, since its impossible to tell when a near world asteroid or object could sneak in, enemy ships arrive, ect)
05:12
(i could see trying to disable it between shots, but I didn't miss)
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(Yeah, just bad luck and bad planning by me)
05:14
Maxwell looks at the warnings and tries to fix the problem, but his lack of computer skills fails him. He grabs his rifle and runs to the master power switch on the generator right as the first gun fires and hits the ship in orbit. He watches in terror as the ship begins to fall apart and the lifeboats are launched, running to turn the power off anyway to prevent the guns from targeting any of the lifeboats as they leave the ship.
05:15
(Presumably the lifeboats will be landing on the planet right, not sitting in space?)
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(it will take some time for them to splash down, but they automatically head toward the nearest inhabitable planet, which would be here)
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"Everyone back to the sub! We need to get those lifeboats before the garrison does!" He shouts as he sabotages the power switch and whatever lines he can find heading to the defenses before running back to the submarine.
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(fix/int for the sabotage)
15:44
(since we dont have the fix level to just skip it)
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(10)
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There is enough of an interruption to keep the gun from firing on the pods, though not enough to disable the complex machinery here for good. A meteor shower display of pods coming down streaks across the horizon, each one representing a handful of survivors from the vessel
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"Let's head towards any pods that look like they may come down close to the garrison, we can pick up the others later."
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There is one pod that will be coming down dangerously close, the rest will scatter across the planet, crashing into the water in safety at least from capture
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Maxwell has the sub travel towards the crash site submerged, hoping to beat them there.
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If the garrison has ships, it does not appear any have been dispatched to claim survivors, and you arrive at the crash site unopposed. The large metal cylinder bobs at the top of the water gently, its emergency beacon and bright orange visibility panels making it easy to see. detecting water, the pod has remained closed, though the top airlock has been opened as one of the crewmen look out over the ocean for help
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(Would there be room in the sub for them all, and if not could they be towed back to the forge?)
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(there's enough room for just this pod)
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(Yeah, i just meant this pod)
22:14
Maxwell will help the survivors into the pod before having the sub head back to the forge. When they arrive he divies up the remaining pods between himself in the lighter and the submarine, with the latter heading to the closer ones.
22:15
(Basically picking them up and ferrying them along with whatever survival supplies can be carried one at a time back to the forge)
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two days pass by, as you recover and tow the respective pods, and before long, all are recovered and beached at the forge. Survivors are being tended to by the forge crewmembers and supplemented by what stores could be recovered from the ship. the crash site of the largest pieces of wreckage is also noted for later salvage
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After the two days have passed Maxwell finds the captain to speak with him about what to do next.
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(oh the ship captain?)
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(Yeah)
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The captain is wounded but alive for now, and goes in and out of lucidity several times a day. About 1/3 of the crew is dead , either killed on the ship itself or dead from injuries sustained and untreated for too long after.
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Maxwell walks in to see him during one of his more lucid moments. "How are you feeling sir?"
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"Not well my boy" he says, head wound causing him to lose some of the formality he normally deals in. "I can't feel my legs"
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Maxwell sits down next to his bed. "This is my fault. Things were going well and I got complacent. I should have been more thorough with the defenses but I was too excited at the idea of getting them open so we could establish an outpost there and start getting supplies to the people of this place. Not sure what will happen next, but it will likely involve more violence unless the self-proclaimed lord of the garrison decides peace is more interesting to him."
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"What are your plans for approaching him?"
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"I'm not sure. I sent his men back with a message implying we could work together to find out who is responsible for so many being left behind if he surrenders, conditionally or otherwise, and if he didn't we would come after him because we have to to ensure this planet is safe for the people who are living here. I bluffed that we could orbitally bombard him, but if there were any doubts about our ability to do that they are certainly gone now. His guards shot at us when we first went to the garrison, so I don't think peace is in the cards. Right now the best I can hope for is sending a small time onto the island to disable the generator with some kind of explosives before more men land to help secure the base. We have plans for the garrison but no idea what kind of numbers or equipment they have right now."
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"You've got the right idea. what about sneaking into the garrison using the submarine? Similar thing to what you did"
14:48
'Small force, during the night, and quietly"
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"That was the plan. We can disable the generator and everyone else able to fight can head in to secure it once the defenses are down."
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(so the hub and garrison are different. The hub has the guns around it, but defend the whole planet. the garrison has atmospheric anti aircraft guns, but nothing space capable. )
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(I assumed the garrison guns were capable of horizontal fire)
23:19
(I also thought they both only had AA guns, not breaker guns)
23:20
(Since the reinforcements would be coming in on barges and stuff or the lighter the guns need to go down anyway, plus blowing up the generator will create some panic)
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(Reinforcements?)
05:17
(did you call for some?)
05:17
(I must have missed that)
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(Any other members of the crew from the crashed ship who can fight)
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(alright)
05:19
"The generator for those garrison guns is likely going to be within the garrison itself, same with the cargo hub. You can disable them if you get close, sure, but it still means going in with a small team, likely using that submarine'
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"We have a map, so hopefully we can find an easy way in."
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"I'll get my team assembled as well as some reinforcements and see if there are any weapons we can make use of around that survived the accident." Maxwell heads out, first making an inventory of the weapons available, especially heavy weapons, then studying the map with his team. Afterwards he finds those willing and able to fight that survived the crash and has them assemble for a briefing about the plan. (edited)
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There are no heavy weapons available. The contents of ship armories are generally not considered vital in the event of being shot down, and space aboard lifeboats is kept open for survivors, rather than cargo. Everyone does at least have a sidearm and your actual soldiers likewise have their long rifles
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Max makes a short hop to the mines before the briefing, asking the miners if they have any explosives they would be willing to part with.
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The miners have a few demolition charges meant for blasting open tunnels, three to be exact, but they cannot spare anymore
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Max heads back and looks over the map of the compound with his team, trying to come up with an easy path to the generator then the officer's bunk.
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There is no map available
04:30
None of the individuals you;ve encountered had reasons to keep plans for a military facility on them, though from the beach it is likely a way inside can be made, or found
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(You said the compad we got had a map of the garrison on it)
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(ah right)
04:31
There is a route from the beach that passes into a grove of palms. From there, the grove abuts right up against the fence and it can likely be cut without observation
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(Are we doing a map of the base?)
05:03
(Like a picture?)
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(I couldn’t find one that fit what I wanted to do)
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(Alright)
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"So, the plan as I see it is to sneak onto the beach, use the trees for cover to get to the fence, cut it, then use these buildings to sneak over to the powerplant and shut it down. Once that happens we look for this "Lord Farriday." If we can take him out or capture him, the rest of them will hopefully follow suit."
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The six marines you've kept with you are eager to go, and as your orders have been sensible so far, will agree to keep following you
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Max, not seeing any questions, heads out to search the camp for those willing and able to reinforce once the weapons are down.
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There are five workers who are non essential to operations here and one engineer from an army reserve unit who was stranded here before the war
01:56
(Which fills the sub )
01:57
(Most of the spacers from your ship aren’t combat trained. The people keeping the ship clean and keeping it together outnumber marines by about 3-4:1 , as it is on most ships)
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(Yeah, I didnt expect much)
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(Is the whole island flat or is there an overlook position?)
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(Not really an overlook. Relatively flat. That’s why they made a fort there)
06:00
(Cheap to do)
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(No harm in asking)
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(I know. Just answering)
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Maxwell gathers the others and explains the main plan to them. "Your job is to defend the palm grove around the gate in case we need run into trouble on our way to the generator and need to make a hasty retreat. When the generator goes down, make your way to this guard tower, subduing whoever does not surrender, and provide us supporting fire once the shit hits the fan. Hopefully we will be able to capture most of the base intact along with those inside." (edited)
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"Any questions before we head out?"
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There are no questions. The submarine is ready and refueled though there are still no munitions for it
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Maxwell gets everyone aboard, making sure the forge foreman knows to keep the sub underwater until they come running or until he comes out to give them the all-clear. He spends the trip cleaning and recleaning his weapons as well as checking and rechecking his equipment, hoping everything goes well and they are taken by surprise.
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By night fall. You are in position and the sun finally sinks below the horizon. A handful of lights are on within the base, twinkling through the windy palm groves
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"Alright, remember the plan, but if the shit hits the fan and we are spotted before the generator goes down, you guys make your way to that guard tower. Let's go." Maxwell says to the group and the reinforcements before snipping the wires in the fence and sneaking his way through the base to the generator using whatever cover is available.
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(Sneak/dex)
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The fence comes down with a loud ping as the wall is inexpertly cut, and the rattle has a set of searchlights in the base begin panning. There are a few shouts and the bark of a dog as the duty members of the garrison begin rousing themselves to investigate. Two men stand under the flickering floodlight of the engineering building where power generation would normally be handled .
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(Is his group looking at the generator right now?)
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(You’re observing the men outside it yes)
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(Okay. I might not respond tonight, worked another 8 hour day, last 6 days ive been working at 5/6 have been full 8 hour shifts, so my brain isnt really working atm. Finally have a day off tomorrow)
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(Alright )
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(Are the NMC rifles like the fallout laser muskets in terms of sound?)
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(laser rifles in Iron Stars aren't silent, though the core book says sometimes they can be)
15:15
(Shear rifles are the only entirely silent energy weapons, aside from like that arcane blademaster thing where you can make any weapon you want, thats also silent)
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"On three, blast them down and get in there." Maxwell whispers, shouldering his rifle. "One, two, three." He says before the group of them fires, half at one guard and half at another. (9/12, since we are not waiting a minute for execution attacks, don't think there is time. Let me know if otherwise) (edited)
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(There wouldnt be time to get set up, either before the targets move, or before people from the camp start to investigate, as they've heard the fence come down)
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(Yeah, so just shooting them as a group)
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There is a volley of shots from the palm grove and both of the soldiers fall, each shot at least twice. Several of the shots you do notice go wide, hitting the sand, or scorching the side of the building the men were standing in front of. More shouts now, as there is no mistaking the gunshots
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Maxwell runs up to the door, trying the handle once, looking for keys on the bodies if the door is locked
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The handle jiggles once, before twisting down. The hot air of the generation and engineering space blasts you as a heat wave, instantly puckering your skin and making you sweat.
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"Target the dogs first, spread out and cover me while I get this shut down." He heads inside, cycling his rifle as he goes, looking for an emergency shut-off switch of some kind.
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The garrison is built to military specifications, and shutting down the power that provides defensive cover is more than just a lever to be pulled. An engineering panel sits unoccupied, with dozens of graphs, readouts, and console prompts filling the display glass.
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Max sits down and tries to start the shutdown using his experience shutting down fighters and large ships, lowering the power output gradually over the course of about 30 seconds before shutting the reactor off completely, hoping the system will respond better than the last computer he used.
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(program/int, but at +2 since what you're doing is plausible. Max has no programming and only a basic level of fix, so although the idea is sound, it cant compensate for his lack of actual mechanical training)
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(9, and I was only hoping to get the plus 2 tbh)
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(basically it was to buff out a bit of the penalty)
18:32
There is a whine and it sounds lke some of the machinery is seizing up a bit, as the power begins winding down. (if you're insisting on off in 30 seconds there will be some damage, its not designed to spin down this fast)
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(It can be slower, was just throwing a number out there)
20:43
Max slows the power level drop down, aiming for a more stable level before heading back to the door to see how his team is doing.
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One of the guard dogs has been shot and it is no longer moving. One of your own men is face down, shot through the head, and the others are aiming up at the guard tower they are trying to seize, firing and reloading from the light cover around it
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(Is that one of the marines or one of the volunteers thats dead?)
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(marines)
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(About how far away is the guard tower?)
01:46
(Within range for him?)
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(Range for guns about 50m to run to its ladder)
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Maxwell waits for one of the defenders to peek over to take a shot before firing at one of them. (11/10, rolled for the pistol by accident, rolled the 1d6+2 difference if it hits)
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The shot hits the tower floor and does not hit its target
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Maxwell recycles the rifle and tries again (20/8)
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(He gets a move I just have to figure out what it is)
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(Okay, no worries. Figured you would let me know if that was the case)
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There is a glancing shot in return 16/1 at Maxwell, though the soldier quickly ducks back into a more defensible position as his rifle cycles another charge
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(AC is 17, and can I use the attack from before for waiting for him to pop up again or shoot someone else in the tower?) (edited)
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(we can use what you rolled)
04:22
There is a connection this time and a body tumbles from the tower, out the back of the gun slit up top
04:22
he is wearing a simple uniform, not quite military, and augmented with workers safety gear
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(Any idea how many more are in the tower?)
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(not with the 12 seconds total between both rounds you've been outside)
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Maxwell watches the tower, trying to get an idea how many more are defending it, firing off another shot if he sees another defender pop out. (18/9)
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Another defender does pop out, and is killed in the same manner, though his body remains in the tower. It appears as though the tower is no longer firing
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Max turns to his remaining marines as he recycles his rifle. "To the headquarters, let's go."
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(at the southern door on the leftmost side)
15:26
The team forms up, now 5 of you, and the door seems open, though there are shouts from the other side
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Pinned a message.
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Maxwell has his marines stack up around the door, 2 to each side, with him on the right side of it. He checks the door for any kind of tripwire or traps first.
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There's nothing to see from this side of the door, as it is solid and closed
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Max signals two of his men to position themselves next to the windows on the south side, and another at the window on the west side. He and Daniels stay at the door. "You three provide cover from out here until we get inside, then make your way in once we have the room cleared."
22:42
(For reference)
22:43
Max waits for everyone to be in position before he kicks the door open, ducking back behind the wall to try and dodge the expected flurry of weapons fire and possible grenades.
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(We're still in initiative, so the move action is either being in the doorway, or out of the doorway, theres no splitting move)
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(I was imagining him standing with his back to the wall, turning the handle, and using his heel to kick it open) (edited)
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(Okay and then it’s initiative. So the door is open , so you’re moving out of the door frame as your move and are unable to interact with inside, or Youre standing there and able to fire and take actions. You’re generally not allowed to move out of hard cover, fire and then move back
23:34
(Enemies can’t do it either. We would be here all day. Gameplay vs realism)
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(I was just expecting his turn to be opening the door, the rest is just me trying to flavor it) (edited)
23:53
(He's not moving into the doorway or trying to go in)
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The door is kicked open and a few shots sail@out into the night but quickly stop when no target presents itself
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Maxwell signals for his men to start shooting before running into the room, sliding behind a desk, then firing at one of the hostiles inside (13/12)
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The shot goes wide and you see three rebels crouching behind other desks in the room (Evasion save)
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(19v11 success)
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(3 damage is the halved value for the grenade)
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(Max's turn or his men?)
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(Soldiers outside)
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(Am I deciding what they do in this case or are you?)
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(I figured you should be the one)
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The three marines at the windows all take shots at one of the rebels while Daniels moves in behind another desk and fires at a second one.
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(d20+3 for them all)
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(18, 19, 20, 22)
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(All hit)
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(Do I roll 2d6+2 for them all?)
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(They’re all using the same guns
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(28 damage on the first rebel, 7 damage on the other rebel)
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The first rebel is hit by several shots with the second taking a serious wound
23:59
(Now max)
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(Is the first one dead or still alive?)
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(Dead)
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Maxwell cycles his rifle, peeking out and firing at the wounded rebel, just missing him as he ducks back into cover (8/12) (edited)
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The rebel is wounded but is a deadeye, hitting maxwell solidly center mass (22/9)
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The marines split their fire, two shots each, at the remaining rebels. (13 and 12 at the wounded one, 12 and 8 at the other. 6 damage if the 13 hits.) (edited)
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(13 does not)
02:46
the shots go wild, this time bouncing off the floor, deflecting from the walls, and otherwise not hitting their mars
02:46
(their turn in a sec here)
02:48
(lets get an evasion again max)
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(13v11 success)
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(6 damage, Already halved for you) the magma grenade bounces across the floor before bursting in a shower of burning chemicals. Furniture in the room begins to catch and you hear a security door seal around the hardened central room of the building (the white floor area)
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Max, hearing the safe room seal, feels better outside than in. "Let's get out of here Daniels, we can come back once the rest of the base is secure." He fires once more at the wounded rebel before exiting the room and taking cover next to the door outside the building. (17/14) (edited)
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The wounded rebel is killed, and it does not appear that more are coming. Everyone has gone to ground in the secure room inside as the fire begins to spread
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Max looks around for any additional rebels or shooting in the area.
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It seems like the violence is now centered along this building, with the garrison rallying here once the attack was under way
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Max heads over to within earshot of the guard tower the volunteers took over, leaving his other men at the headquarters building. "I need a couple of you all down here to watch the building, they are holed up in the safe room in the headquarters."
02:51
(Just to check, the rest of the base seems under control for the most part then?)
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(its at least quiet)
02:57
(there aren't enough men with you to enforce a security cordon here and also sweep)
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(The building is slowly going up in flames though right?)
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(It’s spreading but there’s not really a way to tell if the secure room is meant to take it or not)
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(I was just thinking about leaving a couple volunteers in the tower and having everyone else gather around the headquarters to watch for anyone coming out or trying to retake it, which would be 7-8 men correct?)
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(Yeah that’s an accurate count now, since we lost a couple)
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Max spreads his men out around the front and side of the command building, 3 men at the front, two at the sides, and him roaming between the sides, letting the building continue to burn. He looks for an exterior communication system to speak with those in the safe room, not wanting the entire building to burn down and lose valuable information.
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(I think the building would be gradually too hot to get close to, so any kind of communication system would be fried Or generally inaccessible )
04:01
(We are talking about several hundreds to low thousands of degrees )
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(He's going to start looking right at the start, and if he doesn't find it immediately he will get away from the building)
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(The Fire has been going for a couple rounds by time combat cleaned up and you organized your men)
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When Max goes to look for the communications, the heat from the fire starts to get a bit too hot. He waits there with his men for the building to burn down, expecting the power to shut off ventilation and the men inside either to die in the fire or run out of oxygen, hopefully the latter, and hopefully still be alive to be captured.
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The secure room is all that is left as night fades away and morning dawns. The wreckage of the building is still very hot, and the walls of this small freestanding holdfast are all blackened
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Max looks around for the exhaust exit for the ventilation system for the safe room, seeing if it was affected by the fire or not.
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(Did the power shut off during the night)
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(yes, since you shut it off)
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"The lack of power might have shut out their oxygen supply, but if it didn't we need to find it so we can try and smoke them out of there. Daniels, with me, everyone else keep your eyes peeled for activity." He says, continuing to search for the ventilation system's endpoint.
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The vent system has been burned away as well, though there are some blackened stumps of vents. Several of them end at the saferoom
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Max looks for some rebar or another piece of metal not from the fire he can use to move some of the rubble out of the way.
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Max is able to find one
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He starts using the rebar to push the smoldering embers out of the way as best he can, creating the shortest path possible to the front door of the safe room. He pays attention to his boots, making sure they do not start to melt or burn his feet while he clears the area.
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(you're paying attention to the surroundings, ill give you some warning if things start getting weird, but you can nab the door)
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When Max gets to the door, he stands to the side of it and raps on the door with the rebar in his left hand, his right hand on the trigger of his rifle. He is ready to drop the rebar and grab his rifle with his left hand to aim it if the door opens or falls inwards. "Anyone alive in there?" He shouts as he hits the door.
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There is no evidence that anyone survived the blaze, and there is no reply as you rap the bar against the door
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Max motions Daniels to the other side of the door. After she is in position, he attempts to open the door.
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The door opens, the locking mechanisms melted away. Some singed corpses lie across tables or huddled in shelters inside
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Maxwell and Daniels clear the room, checking all the corners and potential hiding spots. If no one is found hiding and conscious, he helps Daniels check the bodies for anyone still alive.
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There are no hiding places, and Daniels is hardly flexing her credentials when it comes to declaring all of them very dead
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Maxwell sighs. "I suppose it was bound to end with one of our groups dead, maybe there are some more holdouts we can convince surrendering is a better option." He says as he looks around the room for any still functional computers or pieces of intelligence he could use.
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The occupants have burned severely and the equipment is little better, it is also burned severely and inoperable
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Max gets up from examining a burnt-out computer and heads back outside, walking past his men and stares out at the remaining buildings for a second before projecting his voice across the base. "Alright, your boss is dead, so is everyone else who was hiding in the headquarters. Anyone who surrenders now will not be harmed, those of you who try to stay holed up I make no guarantees for your safety. There has been enough killing for one day, make the right choice." (edited)
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It becomes clear everyone who didnt die here has fled, and the garrison does not surrender so much as simply fall into NMC proper control
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"Well, that was anti-climatic. Let's get the generator back online and get the radio mast repaired. We have to get this place operational then go and fix the guns by the cargo hub before any more ships arrive."
04:08
He heads to the engineering building to turn the generator back online before, after which he and his men make an inventory of the remaining supplies, with two men in the guard tower and another two on patrol around the base. He also looks for command override codes in the process for the defensive guns.
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(6xp, 10,000 credits. You've solved the problems here, and a relief ship from the NMC would be arriving around the time things here are handled)
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(Level 4->5, HP 34->43, Trade 0->1, 1 SP banked, Authority Foci level-1 taken, 3 SP banked for Lead-3)
04:22
Once the ship arrives, Max heads back on the sub to the Forge. After he steps off he turns to the foreman. "Thank you again for all your help. I will make sure anyone who sees my report knows how instrumental you were in helping this planet."
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There is little else to say aside from what has already been said, and the rescue ship is able to recover you and the surviving marines and crew
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Maxwell heads aboard the ship. He gets cleaned up and dressed in his normal uniform before looking for Daniels. "So, what do you think? You said you wanted to see how we worked together before making any decisions on your future plans."
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“I didn’t get shot. You didn’t either. I suppose I’m in. I want a commission though. Officer. At least “
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(Would Warrant Officer count as commissioned in this case?)
05:49
(Or like Chief Warrant Officer)
05:49
(If not I'll go with 2nd Lieutenant as his offer)
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(No she wants a commission so it would habe to be at least 2nd lt)
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(Ok, no worries)
05:52
"Well, I am in need of an executive officer, so at the very least you are looking at Second Lieutenant, with an option for First if they bump me up when we get to Jagrati. Don't think I can promise promotions to my own rank though. We will need a few more specialists to fill engineering, logistics, and tactical positions, depending on what kind of jobs and resources we are given."
05:57
"Thank you for having my back out there by the way. I should go tell the other marines that later, especially Corporal Madden. Right now I just need some sleep. May not have taken any big hits but I did get pieces of a few poorly-thrown grenades." He says, taking a piece of missed shrapnel out of his forearm at the same time. (edited)
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"Right, I'll see to gettting everyone ready for transport out of here, and we'll deal with the rest of the issues on the way back. Get some rest. I'll tend to those shrapnel wounds on the ship"
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Maxwell settles in for the journey back to Jagrati, spending the time resting and getting to know the other marines, offering each of them a place with the huscarls.
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(Just a day of downtime on the way back. Although we aren't rolling with squads of NPC's doing stuff anymore, they'd end up accepting)
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(Yeah, more for flavor than anything. Think that brings me to 5/90 towards heal)
22:08
When Maxwell arrives back, je sends a message to the King's office informing them of his return and requests an audience with him, preferably in the previous non-formal manner
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A meeting is accepted and before long you’re standing in the informal chamber yet again , as the king spends some time widdling a replacement chess piece for a set he owns
05:31
The knife work is skilled and his hands delicate as he fleshes out the detail work on each
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Max sits down across from him, looking at the chess set. "Impressive set, I've never seen one quite like it. My parents thought chess was a pointless diversion but I still learned how to play it anyway. To a moderate degree of skill at least."
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“When all the pieces are done maybe we will have a game. For today I’m content to work with my hands. You requested a meeting and I heard about the good work you were doing. So here I sit “
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"I wanted to speak some more specifics about what you would expect from me and the Huscarls, and also about the noble houses. Everywhere I go I find more testimony from citizen telling how they were left behind in exchange for plunder and riches."
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"I had hoped you would approve of me using my primary mission of presumably assisting systems and expanding our influence again to complete a secondary mission of acquiring the information, evidence, and testimony necessary to go after the noble houses who left the people they were supposed to protect behind. If we are able to present enough evidence, we could enable more centralized control of the government as a whole, and perhaps foster more good-will on worlds which do not see the monarchy in a positive light at the moment."
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"They see the nobility as extensions of the monarchy, when in reality the noble houses are above even my position. What you're requesting is I think a necessary step, but it is going to make you a target. "
05:14
"I can't give you carte blanche to follow this up. I'll be assassinated right before you are, but we do have the NMC legal codes on our side, if the right evidence is gathered"
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"This is something I would do quietly, and slowly gather evidence over time. If we have enough evidence we can throw it into the light all at once and blindside them. The noble houses will be busy squabbling over how to reclaim their old worlds as soon as we are able to recover them. If I am careful, we can blindside them without them even knowing what is about to happen."
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"I'd need to see some of what you plan to present before we can finish this particular conversation, but as things stand, I approve and encourage this"
05:40
"I suggest we don't speak of it again until you're about to make your move. The walls have ears, and you never know who could be listening"
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"I agree. As far as the Huscarls go, I have already recruited the marines I worked with into the unit. There is one specific one, her name is Daniels, I want very much as my executive officer. The terms of the agreement I made with her include a commission as a second lieutenant at minimum. I am also looking for a few more specialists, specifically for engineering, logistics, and tactical positions. Before I make any decisions I need to know what kinds of missions we will be undertaking and what kind of resources we will have access to."
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"We don't know whats on our frontier's anymore, so I can hardly tell you what you might be facing out there. Likewise, we're resource strapped, and although you are shaping up to be a fairly competent outfit, I can't justify stripping protections or support from other operations to shore up your own, especially with the loss of a vessel this last mission. I understand it was a combat situation and these things sometimes happen, but to shift massive resources around leaves me no better than the other issues you're trying to solve right now"
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"I'm not expecting anything massive at the start. I imagine we will grow into what we need to be. The only thing I would request is our own ship if one can be spared, but if it cannot we can make do until one is made available. If nothing else a specialized gravflyer or lighter we can take with us would be very helpful."
19:38
"Just something we can customize to suit our own needs."
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"The loss of the ship in your last mission has us at just a handful of vessels. Perhaps when one of the new ones are completed we can transfer it over to be yours exclusively, but for now thats too much of an investment in a new and largely untested outfit"
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"I understand. Hopefully we can find something on our next mission. A gravflyer would be an excellent start if we find one that can be repaired and refitted for our needs."
00:20
"Where would our next mission take us?"
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(I thinking heading to Viggis next to get things cleared up there.)
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"We did lose contact with Salazan, on Viggis. He reported some kind of rebel freehold on the city, and we need that situation resolved. We also need to figure out what exactly happened to him"
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"I'll take my people there next then. Hopefully I will be back safe with good news." (edited)
15:46
(Gonna buy some stuff before he leaves, just need to look over the book)
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(sure thing)
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(I assume the promotion for daniels goes through just right)
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Maxwell thanks the king for his time before heading out to the military headquarters armory. He purchases the following: Storm Armor, 20000 credits 2xPower Cell, Type B, 200 credits 1x Sticky grenade, 300 credits 2x Magma Grenade, 600 credits 1x Shear rifle, 600 credits (edited)
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(yeah)
16:55
(all available, as well)
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He has his new equipment delivered to his room at the military headquarters. When he arrives there, he informs Daniels of her promotion by handing her a set of 2nd lieutenant badges, then looks for the ship which will be taking them to Viggis.
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(I'll finish updating my inventory with the grenades after I get home from work)
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(sounds good to me, and any of the ships are available, everythings within a day or two of here, if you have a preference)
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Maxwell finds a corvette or something heading to Viggis and secures a spot for his team on the flight.
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(did you want to actually look at the NMC registry and pick a ship?)
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(The only completed ships on there are the trade free merchant the void wardens sold to us and the Farscape. All the other ships are still building and not something I would pick for this anyway because they are designed to be combat ships)
02:22
(Everything else is NMC BP)
02:22
(Even the three building are meant for the NMC BP)
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(I have to add those to the bp, okay so we need to go back and fit what’s on the bp side at some point
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(I can start working on it on wednesday, thats my next day off, if that works for you)
03:02
(But for now I'll just stick with whatever ship is heading out there again, presumably the one Salazan used earlier)
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(Sure, so it would be a corvette)
14:40
The cargo lighter has been replaced, and the ship is in dock. The entire crew has been rotated out and scattered to different vessels after the dramatic incident, some of them mixing with survivors from your last vessel.
14:40
Provisions are loaded, and the ship stands ready to leave with the last of your specialist equipment aboard
14:41
(2 days of downtime)
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(7/90 heal-0)
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Maxwell spends the time getting familiar with his new equipment and continuing to study emergency medical techniques trying to improve his lack of first aid abilities.
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Upon arrival he thanks the captain for the transport before they are taken down to the planet in the Cargo Lighter with some of the relief supplies.
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(where are you setting down?)
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(The city Salazan helped before)
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Chokester is recovering slowly, the lawlessness is ebbing away as supplies have been handed out and a distribution network is once again beginnning to take root. The criminal leaders have fled to Far Lancaster, and it is there that contact with Salazan has been lost.
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Maxwell heads out to meet with the mayor of Chokester to see what kind of information has been gathered, if any, on Far Lancaster.
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No information has been gathered aside from the agent and cargo lighter heading in that direction were shot down, and not heard from again
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"About how far away is Far Lancaster by foot if we were to walk there?"
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"2,000 kilometers at least, as the crow flies"
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"I guess we will need some kind of transport then. I can fly us close to the city and land a few kilometers away so we preserve the lander. I only met this Salazan a few times, worked with him once, and he seemed intelligent. Hopefully I can figure out what happened and a way into the city."
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Maxwell gets up and heads back out to the lighter and his marines. He lets them know about the plan before hopping in the lighter. He asks the pilot to take them near Far Lancaster, setting down ideally 30-50 km away from the city.
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Settling down within that range you are outside city anti aircraft weapons, and at the lip of its radar detection, though setting down at 40km has you not appearing on their radar either
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(40 km then)
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the landing zone is light forest, moving to grassland, and then kilometers of heavy forest before getting to the city
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Max and his marines hop out and head towards the heavy forest, looking for hills and other terrain to hide their approach.
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(there's cover until the last kilometer or so. you can see their patrols leaving and whatnot, but they'd be able to see you coming during daylight too)
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(Are the patrols in the grassland area?)
04:27
(Also, I totally forgot the solar recharger was a thing, should I worry about not having one of those on this mission or can I have bought that when I was on Jagrati. Asking before we get into anything major)
04:28
(I have the money to get it and the enc to carry one stowed away)
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(its fine to have one, and yes there are patrols)
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(I'll mark it down when I get home tonight.)
20:38
Maxwell has his troops wait in the light forest using some branches and bushes to obscure their position while they wait for dark. He keeps track of the patrols with his binoculars trying to figure out a pattern in their routes.
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(How much time were you gonna watch them for?)
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(Until its dark outside)
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Night falls and you see the patrols have a regular route around the city walls, though occasionally there is an irregular helicopter overflight
17:49
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(I want one of those)
17:50
Maxwell leads his men through one of the gaps in the patrols, using his low-light goggles to see in the night
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(whats your goal here, just so i know how to move thi forward)
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(Trying to get into the thick forest so we can figure out a way into the town)
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the patrols do not spot you, and you make your way into the thick woods. Some section of the walls are damaged, and not all are regularly patrolled from what you can see. No doubt the garrison is running at a diminished level with the recent rebellion and simply not having the logistical backing they once enjoyed
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(Is this city in open rebellion or does nobody know right now?)
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(its in rebellion, but no one is aware since the non-locals who find out get killed)
01:40
(all you really know is salazan came sniffing around here and vanished)
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(Are any of those damage sections fully open for us to sneak in?)
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(Not entirely unguarded no)
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Maxwell takes out his binoculars and has a look at one of the damaged sections of wall, looking for guards.
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Two guards stand at opposite ends of the crumbling section, with a large antenna and control box in the middle, that seems to be humming gently, you can almost feel it, even from here.
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Maxwell calls Daniels up with him and hands her the binoculars. "Any idea what that antenna is?"
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"Nothing I've seen before, something local I think. See the base, where its got wheels? looks like that used to be part of a truck"
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Max takes the binoculars back and has a look.
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Sure enough you see the somewhat ramshackle nature of the device, though neither you or daniels can divine its function
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(Is it on the ground in a hole in the wall or on the wall?)
17:27
(And about how far from it are we right now)
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There is not a convenient hole on the ground or through the wall, but the section is crumbled enough to climb. It will be a 100m sprint across mostly open ground to the wall base
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"Maybe if I hit the control panel there we can make it look like it short circuited and exploded, or just shoot them and sneak over, then blow it up."
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"Whatever we do, we need to commit to a plan, and do it fast, but I'm with you boss"
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"Alright, I'll take a shot at the control panel, disable the antenna, then we take out the guards and sneak in to the city as fast as possible and try to find an abandoned building to hunker down for the night, hopefully with some kind of clothes we can wear over our armor, though that may be difficult in my case."
01:41
Maxwell lies down and prepares a careful shot at the control panel of the antenna, shooting it with a burst of his shear rifle.
01:41
(Do you want me to roll an attack roll or a shoot check?)
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(it depends if you're trying for an execution attack or not)
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(Because the +2 for burst does not apply to the skill check, but if its a regular shot, it would apply to the attack roll)
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(Would an execution attack work against a control panel?)
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(It is a valid target for one since its an aimed shot, and you've had undetected time to establish a firing position)
17:35
(its not armored or anything, so the save doesnt really matter,pass or fail its only got a couple HP)
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(Okay, I'll go for that then)
17:36
(11)
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Although the shear rifle itself is silent, the explosion as the control panel blows out, and the sensor stand catches fire is not. the guards both shout in alarm, as they are surprised by the sudden large flames, and are beginning to panic
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Maxwell motions for his men to take aim, one at the one on the left with him, then others at the one on the right as he fires at one of the guards. (Any bonus?)
17:45
(29/8 was the roll, so I don't think that actually matters, using burst) (edited)
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(Nothing extra, we're in regular combat now)
18:18
The three soldiers who have weapons capable of hitting the target all miss, the bolts slamming into the wall and burning patches of masonry, though Maxwell is able to hit his own target. The survivor begins to scramble, 40m from a small archway where he can take cover, and flee
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(He still in view?)
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(for the next 40m)
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Maxwell moves closer and fires again at him (Is he still 100m away, or is he double moving?)
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(hes 100m away on the wall, he cant get closer to you, because wall, but he is 40m laterally from the cover he is trying to get to, and once hes out of view he can probably escape, he has moved from 60m from cover to 40m, where we pick up as you're now free to act again)
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(Is he still in the 100m range of Max's rifle is my question)
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(Yes, he cannot move closer to, or away from you, because he is on a wall, and doing that means he falls off)
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(Okay)
18:37
(27/11, bursted)
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The figure tumbles forward off the wall, smashing into a red paste on the pavers below, facing you (so no one behind the wall can see the body)
15:28
The black smoke from the burning antenna array begins rising as the wind calms, and a siren inside the city is beginning to whine as the fire is noticed
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Maxwell rushes up the wall, keeping his eyes peeled for more guards or civilians as he does so, along with abandoned buildings nearby.
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(How are you climbing it?)
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(Just doing it the old fashioned way. You said it was climable)
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(exert/dex)
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(10)
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Youre quickly able to scale to the top of the wall, peering out over the city below.
19:21
It doesnt seem like more security is on the way right now, and with the sirens, most peope in the immediate area have gone to ground inside their homes
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Maxwell pulls out his binoculars and has a quick look over the city for any abandoned buildings close by
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Nearly all the buildings are shuttered or closed in some way, without being able to see through walls its impossible to tell if they're quiet, or abandoned entirely. Nothing explicitly looks run down or disused from what you can see
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Maxwell waits for the rest of his men to make it to the top of the wall before leading them down the other side into the city. He leads them into a back alley, looking quietly for a place to hide that has a few buildings between it and the wall.
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You find one
20:11
(So you're in a building now, or still in the alley?
20:11
(in the alley you're safe, if you're trying to get into a building we need to do some things)
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(He was looking for a building to hide in that had no people)
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It is once again impossible to determine which buildings have people in them and which dont based on visual observation alone, and the noisiness of the city- especially now with the sirens- makes hearing difficult as well. The back alley leads to four different buildings, all styled as boarding house type setups. Trash litters the alley not picked up for months likely, and left to rot so long even the flies are no longer interested. Each has a back door, though when gently tested none of them are unlocked
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Max checks each of the doors for some kind of writing to indicate what they are. (edited)
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They just look like alley access for the people who might be living here, or did live here once
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Max checks with the group for anyone with lockpicking tools, hairpins, or a screwdriver. Using whatever he can scrounge up, or just his knife, he will attempt to unlock the door with the least rusted hinges on it.
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(sneak/dex, nobody has explicit lockpicking tools)
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(12)
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You're able to slip into the building silently, and enter into the ground floor where stairs go up into apartments. THe hallway continues forward and there are other doorways, all closed. A baby is crying somewhere in the building above you, but there is no other noise
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Maxwell looks for a door that is either unlocked or seemingly vacant, putting his ear to each one in turn.
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The second door seems to be an empty aparment behind it, there are no voices or any motion in the room aside from the refrigeration unit running
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Maxwell opens the door quietly, looking for any sleeping occupants or signs of anyone living there.
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The apartment is empty, and your squad clears it in quick order.
19:07
There is a lot of trash scattered around the apartment, and it looks like it has been abandoned for some time
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"Alright, set up here for the night. Lock the door and barricade it. Tomorrow Daniels, myself, and whoever else wants to go will check out the town incognito, everyone else will stay here and try to keep a low profile. Any questions?"
20:16
(Does the room have windows and if so are the barricaded?) (edited)
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(Just one that looks out onto the street)
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"Make sure that window is covered up too as best you can, drape something over it to block sight from the street."
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They cover it with some leftover blankets
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Maxwell has a quick look for some civilian clothes in the apartment while they work on the barricade which will fit the three of them
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The people here have abandoned the dwelling, leaving behind little. There are enough outfits for two people, though they're mismatdched and of poor quality, left behind for a reason
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"Well, I guess its just Daniels and I then. Let's get some sleep, we will head out in the morning."
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Max assigns a guard rotation so everyone gets at least 6 hours of sleep before heading to bed. The next day he and Daniels throw on their ratty civilian clothes and head out through the alley door as quietly as possible before exploring more of the city. He brings his laser pistol and his knife, both concealed as best he can.
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(anything you're looking for specifically?)
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(Looking for any obvious criminal hotspots or signs of rebellion leadership, NMC strongholds)
19:21
(That sort of stuff)
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any NMC strongholds have been reduced to dust or the flag has been changed. Many walking the streets have defaced or defiled uniforms on, with NMC insignia removed or covered, though ranking identifiers have been left for the moment. "Obvious" criminals are dumb criminals and would be shot just as readily here. You find no dumb people aside from possibly yourselves for looking for them, Daniels jokes
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Maxwell laughs, realizing there must be someone around who runs the place and the best way to find them is not to look for petty thieves and other morons. They continue to make their way around town, looking for any bastions of authority or power.
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(connect/wis, or cha)
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(2, not his best skill)
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Poking around a building that was once a citadel, you're approached by a trio of guards, in modified NMC uniforms. One of them carries a glowbug on a crooked stick, like a watchman, while the other two carry the typical NMC laser-lock carried by most soldiers
04:17
"Hey there. this is a sensitive area state your business"
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"Nothing much, just looking and wondering how much loot the lighters carried off from this place when the nobles fled like cowards. I heard they took a gravcycle made of pure gold, is there any truth to that?"
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"So you need to ponder this information right outside the security precinct? Papers please."
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(Is this guy openly hostile at this point?)
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(If you're considering him asking you for identification hostile)
16:51
(its a far cry from shooting at you)
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(I meant for the authority once-per-day foci ability)
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(He's suspicious)
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(I'm gonna go ahead and use that then)
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(okay, a request and the corresponding roll then, when you have time)
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Maxwell looks at the group of them. "Hey, I'm sorry, we didn't mean any trouble. I mean, look at us, we lost our papers a long time ago. We were hoping there might be something to eat around here that wasn't already picked over. If you let us leave we will not come back." (11)
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"Alright, try the cookhouse on Roth street. I know sometimes when they make too much for the lunch or dinner rush they'll hand it out instead of throwing it away. "
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Maxwell nods, saying thank you a few times before walking away with Daniels. Once they are out of earshot and around the corner from the citadel he lets out a big sigh. "That was close. I hate this sneaking around, but I know if we walk out in NMC armor we will just get shot on sight. We can go check that cookhouse out, see what is there at the very least. What do you think? Seems like the best lead right now." (edited)
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"Someone there might know something too if we're careful about how we ask. Never know who might be actually begging. Probably people who were powerful here once"
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"Yeah, let's go see who else is playing the part of the beggar to hide, or are just beggars now." (edited)
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(no she means like people who were in power here once and not killed are probably destitute now)
17:09
(since the power structure has changed)
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They head out to the cookhouse. (edited)
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You arrive there. The lunch crush is just ending and there are a few other transient like figures hovering around waiting to see if anything will be thrown away.
18:29
Some warm themselves at a trash fire nearby on the corner
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Maxwell looks around at them for anyone who looks like they are especially trying to hide from view while he walks up to the trash fire.
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No one is trying to hide, specifically, though those keeping their faces low are doing so due to the shame of begging for scraps. You spot a bit of concealed finery on a few of them, last pieces of material wealth kept close until the need to sell it becomes too great
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(Is this group on their own?)
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(what do you mean?)
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(Is there a group of these nobles or are they all intermixed?)
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(intermixed)
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Maxwell looks for one near the back of the line off on their own a bit and walks up next to them. "Any chance of food today?"
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"Hope so. I smelled meat when they were making lunch before. Some broth at least would be nice"
21:08
"Recently displaced from your home? Haven't seen you in line here before"
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"Yeah, something like that. We were looking for food around the citadel and almost got shot. Thankfully they directed us here instead. What about you, been doing this long?"
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"Few months now, ever since the parlamentarians took over"
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"What were you doing before that?"
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“Managing my estate here. We made wine and beer, along with some light mining activities in the countryside
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"I assume that is gone or under someone else's control at this point." Max puts out his hand. "Maxwell, pleasure."
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"I'd rather not give my name, never know who might be listening. The old bloodlines don't mean what they did before'
14:16
"Aside from pointing a target on my back"
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"If you wanted somewhere to talk more privately we know somewhere. Would you meet us there later today, perhaps so we could understand things a bit better?"
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"Might be persuaded. Even with the handouts I haven't had enough to eat in a few days. Give me your share, and yours too" he says pointing to daniels "Just for today, and I'll tell you whatever you want to know as best I can"
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Maxwell looks at Daniels, knowing they have rations back at the apartment. "Works for me." Maxwell finds a dirty piece of rock and a piece of scrap paper and writes down the address of the building as well as the safe way in before handing it to him. They collect their share of whatever scraps and give them to the man before setting off back to the apartment, taking a slightly circuitous route. They head back in through the back door and into the apartment.
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No one pays you much mind on the way home, and you're able to reconnect with the rest of your team in your hidden apartment. Some of the others are resting, while the rest stand watch and generally try to ensure as little noise or light as possible gets in or out
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Maxwell informs them of the plan, and joins them on watch. About an hour before the meeting was set to happen he gets into his power armor and waits by the door. (edited)
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There is a muffled knock around the meeting time, and the sound of rough spun fabric being pressed against the door
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Maxwell cracks the door and peers out, looking for the man. If it is him Max will let him in before checking the rest of the hallway.
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It is the person you wanted to meet with
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"Come on in." He says as the man walks in, shutting the door behind him.
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He comes in and looks around the room before waiting for whatever questions you have for him
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"So, it is likely obvious by now we are with the NMC. We are here to re-establish control over this planet. One of my friends was lost a few months ago and we do not know what happened to him, but he was last seen heading to this town. Do you know anything about that, any rumors to news circulating around?"
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“Can you describe your friend for me? They hung so many people in the early days. Hardly happens anymore though. No ones is dumb enough to openly disagree
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"He wasn't human, more of a lizard looking creature."
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“Hung in the town square. Think he was dead already when they dragged him in though. They shot his transport down and then hunted him down in the woods after. Said he was NMC, and the new bosses didn’t like that”
21:30
“Especially since he kicked them out of that lovely town in the East”
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"So the bosses here are criminals then?"
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“Their conduct hasn’t given them the official NMC designation yet?”
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"Let me rephrase the question, are these people rational and could they be reasoned with, or are they thugs who took advantage of a power vacuum to carve out their own little dictatorship?"
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"I think the evidence is all around you, but if you needed it spelled out, they're very much done with the Cooperative, and the current ruling class of it"
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"There are some who had good reason to be upset. There are worlds where nobles took their wealth and possessions with them instead of helping people who had no way to escape to safety. You called them parliamentarians earlier, why is their group called that?"
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"They took control of the city with the promise that the people would have more direct control over its affairs, and over the laws that govern their lives. They dealt with the nobility harshly, those that were left. Families murdered, manors looted and burned, acts of cruelty just as excessive as the nobility had done to them. "
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"I assume none of these promises have come true either." (edited)
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"What do you think it would take to engineer a general uprising against these thugs?"
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"Services are running, the city is mostly safe aside from a handful of political killings, and there's enough food and water. I don't think you're going to have an easy time convincing anyone to do that"
13:51
"Why would they? the flag might have changed, but for most people their day to day live's arent much different"
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"The problem is the NMC is going to have a hard time regaining control of this city without the support of the populace. I believe I speak for the king when I say the era of political executions and crimes for petty levels of seditious behavior are at an end. We have a chance to make things better here, not just the same but with a different flag, I just need to convince people of that."
20:46
"Do you know if there is any kind of resistance movement or anything like that underground you could help us get in contact with. Even just a group who gets together to complain about things." (edited)
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"You'd have to start one yourself if you're planning on doing that, but others on the streets have presumably lost something. "
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"Well, I will have to figure out a place to have that kind of talk. Do you know of any abandoned underground areas, perhaps with a secret way out of the city?"
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"If I did i wouldnt be here begging for what nobody else wants to eat
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"That's fair." Maxwell says with a sigh. "Well, thank you for your help. What we are about to undertake is a bit of a tough nut to crack, anything else you can tell us which might be helpful?"
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"Not really, nothing more than i have , just that if youre looking for sympathy, look toward the people who were shown none"
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(I'll respond tomorrow, haven't really thought much about this at all today for the reason mentioned in ooc chat)
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(KK)
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Maxwell nods and leads him to the door. Once he is gone and the door is shut, he turns back to his men. "Well, I never said our missions would be easy. This gives us some information, but I feel like we need more from another source, one who is more interested in the people than their own survival and personal gain."
10:47
"I believe we need to look for some kind of proper location for a base of operations, or a safe way in and out of the city so we could get word out about conditions and such."
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"Alright" daniels says, hefting her disguise "So, where do you think we should look?"
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"We should try to see if there is a disused pumping station around or anything like that, something people will want to stay out of but which also might allow us easy passage around and out of the city."
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Maxwell and Daniels head back out into the city the next day, looking for abandoned industrial buildings or neighborhoods with non-functional water infrastructure.
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It doesnt seem possible to figure out if people have water or not without going into some homes or asking them. outside observation does not reveal very much, so Daniels is stumped when it comes to how you are going to divine this information. THe city has a sewer system, but it is active and there is not much enthusiasm for moving from your apartment to the literal bowels of the city
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Maxwell knows when his idea is pointless, and shifts their search for the people shown no sympathy that was suggested earlier. (I'm thinking other beggars, shop owners, people who were middle/upper class)
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Away from the town center and near the walls the neighborhoods are not nearly as well cared for, and there are run down shops, clutches of the poor, and dirty streets, proof that the promised services are not frequently getting out there
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Maxwell looks for a bar or some other gathering place, one without any bruisers outside.
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A bar with no security is a bar asking to be robbed but you’re able to find one with only one man outside watching the street
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(I meant without a large gang presence pr anything like that, but this works) Maxwell and Daniels head inside and head to the bar, ordering a pair of drinks.
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A pair of thick glasses full of a tar colored local beer are passed down the bar to you, as the tender moves off to help other patrons. He is not paying direct attention to you but within earshot , working and talking with many people around the bar
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Maxwell takes a drink, listening in on the other patrons in the bar to try and overhear someone discussing dissent or unhappiness with the current situation.
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No one is discussing dissent. A new hole through the forehead doesn’t suit anyone here.
04:31
There are a few unhappy with the lack of food and being cut off from the outside world
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Max motions to the bartender. "Have things always been this bad around here? We just got to the city a few days ago and hoped it would be better than elsewhere on the planet. Was it like this under those noble bastards too?"
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“How did you get into the city ? The city has been closed to outsiders for months!”
03:25
The conversation in the bar around you suddenly begins to die down at his loud explanation. A few hands , the more untrained or ill disciplined of the crowd reach for barely concealed firearms
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"There was a ruined section of the wall we climbed over when no one was looking. We were in Chockester when the garrison there got reinforced by some goons and a snake thing, started shooting anyone who didn't bow down and submit like sheep. They took all the food and put it behind gun barrels there, we had to get somewhere else to try and start over and with the gates being shut we decided to take our chances getting in here. Things were bad under the nobility in Chockester, we were hoping things were improving here now that they are out."
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"You got anything on you to back up that story? You'll be happy to know the snake man is dead now. You can go throw some rocks at his body in the town square if you want to"
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(Would I be able to use his once per day here? It is a different day.)
18:51
(For the authority foci)
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(use it to accomplish what, exactly?)
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(Get him to back off and just answer the question of are things better here than they were.)
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(I don't know how much more I need to force feed the answer of yes, things are better here now)
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(I am just finishing out this scene in character then planning to leave the city)
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"You see the flag outside. You tihnk it would be there if people weren't at least mostly happy with how things are now? We don't miss the cooperative at all"
19:04
"And anyone who does is welcome to leave"
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"That's all I was hoping for, we just want a place to start over." He says before they finish their drinks. Max rummages around in his pockets for a bit, looking for something he can use as payment before pulling out a Type-a cell he has had on him since his mission to Anisah which is a bit dinged up in places but still functional. "Hope this will count enough as payment for these." *He says before they get up, and barring any issues, head out the door and back to the apartment via another lengthy route in case they were followed. (edited)
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No one says anything about the unusual payment, and you dont seem to have been followed on your way back to your hiding place, though the rest of the squad is clearly on edge when you get back
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"Everything okay? We are getting out of here tonight, nothing we can do in this city to bring it back to the fold, people here are happy not being under the nobles thumbs anymore."
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"Lots of patrols coming by today. They were going door to door a while ago, no one answered here when they knockd on the door, but they didnt breach
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"Yeah, we are starting to overstay our welcome a bit. We can try to get out the same way we got in, hopefully it will be easier leaving."
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"Lets try to find another section, and sneak across, maybe even wait for dark"
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"Waiting until dark was always the plan, but finding another spot we can do now. Daniels and I will go find one then come back here, after which we gear up and wait for nightfall to move."
20:51
Max and Daniels head out to look for another damaged piece of the wall or a disused gate to use for exfil, trying not to garner any more attention as they do so.
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There is a postern gate you find in one of the guard towers, that is lightly crewed. You see one on the open second floor watching over the countryside through binoculars, and another watching inside, also with binoculars but smoking a cigarette. A guard stands in front of the door on the ground floor, that would allow you entry through the small guard hut, and also access to the small door leading out into the countryside for rapid response by the garrison here
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They head back to the apartment and get ready. Once night falls his squad sets up overlooking the gate about 100m away. (edited)
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There isn't a place to get above the gatehouse, but from the street you see the formation is the same. Two in the tower, and one on the street watching for approaching people
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(So the other guards are on the tower overlooking the countryside?)
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(One is looking at the countryside, one is looking inward at city rooftops, the guard on the street is watching the street)
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(Is there any cover between where we are and the gate house?)
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(Intentionally not since they wouldn’t be able to see what’s coming)
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(How far away is the garrison from here?)
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(100m like you said)
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(I meant like the larger military base)
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(Youd have to shut this down within a few minutes before they can meaningfully respond, if that helps)
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(Yeah, it does)
17:26
Max tells three of his team to aim for the one on the upper floor watching the outside while the other two aim at the one on the ground. He tells them to hold their fire while he takes out the one watching the inside from the upper floor, hoping to take out all three quietly if he can. (So, he is going to shoot one, and they all will fire if the other two react to his shot before he can fire again. Would it be possible for him to shoot once then make a snap attack? If not they will just shoot at the same time)
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(so is this a surprise round? are you trying to set up an execution attack? mechanically my question is what are you trying to do)
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(If this is a surprise round, would he be able to snap attack if he does not roll first in initiative?)
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(yes)
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(Just trying to minimize the amount of fire going out from loud weapons)
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(yeah you have to take the -4 penalty though, no matter what)
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(Okay, gonna do that then, any bonuses for the surprise attack?)
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(nothing aside from the whole entire free round of combat you get before they can even have a chance to do anything)
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(Okay)
17:50
(24/10, burst)
17:50
(Rolled 3 for initiative)
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(5 for them) The one in the upper inside is hit, but is not killed (rest of the squad can shoot too before we move into their initiative )
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(Okay, that would be a d20 plus 3 for each right?) (edited)
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(right, and they dont burst with the las lock)
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(So, a 22, 17, 14, and 2 6's)
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(damage for the 22 and 17)
17:53
(along with the targets)
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(20 damage at the other one on the tower)
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(okay, and then your snap attack before we can do anything if you're still doing it)
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(21/13 for the snap attack on the same target as before)
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The guards on the inside and outside of the tower roof are killed, though the one on the street takes shelter in the stone doorway, returning fire at Daniels. the shot hits the stonework in front of her, before the hum of the cell plugged in announces its charging again
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(5 shots at him from the squad, only the 19 has a chance of hitting) (edited)
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(19 hits)
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(7 damage)
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He keeps his footing as the shots chip stone and blow out a bust of one of the patron saints of the city in a small alcove above the door.
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(Can Max snap attack again at the top of this round?)
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(yes)
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(21/12)
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He likewise falls as the shear field cuts him to pieces
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"Move to cover near the door, I'll get it open." Max says, running up to the door and placing a sticky grenade on the lock before pulling the pin and sliding behind cover, getting ready to run out into the countryside once it goes off.
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You are able to get clear before the grenade goes off, and the inside of the tower is a confused mess of smoke, and shouting as the inwardly shot wooden shrapnel has wounded the soldiers inside eating, drinking, and resting. Daniels executes each of them with a mercy shot to the head as you run through the building, out into the country
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Max leads the group away from the city, calling down the lighter from orbit when they are nearing the original drop-off.
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(6xp, 10000 credits)
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(Brings me to level up, ill take care of that in a bit)
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(Level 5->6, HP 43->57, Lead 2->3 using 3 banks foci bonus skill points and one banked skill point, Connect -1 to 0, Talk 0 to 1)
01:28
Once they are on board the ship again, Max secures a briefing room for himself to call King Devers though.
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(You're too far for instant comms, we're looking at a day per hex for a message, but you can either say or type something to be sent ahead of you)
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Maxwell sends him a message, informing him of the situation in Far Lancaster and waits back for a response and further instructions.
19:44
My Liege, It appears the situation in Far Lancaster is more conplicated than expected. The city's population fully supports the change in flags which happened a few months ago. Any resistance or seditious voices have been eliminated, along with Agent Salazan. The only way for us to re-establish control is through some kind of large-scale military action. While the crimes of the leaders are terrible, those I have spoken to make it seem they are equal in measure to the actions taken by noble houses, and conditions for the common people are the same or even better than they were before. I will await your reply and instructions, though there is another site which needs investigating on this planet, the temple in the north east. I would like to investigate that before continuing on. Maxwell Buchannon
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(by time you finish up there, you should have a reply, and possibly more)
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(Okay)
20:07
After sending the message Max will assemble his team, requisitioning a new sticky grenade from the ships locker, and head down to the temple area. (If I need to pay for the grenade I'll deduct it when I get home, waiting at urgent care cause I've got an ear infection)
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(no need, with an armory if you're taking large amounts of gear youd need to buy the fitting again, but a few grenades is hardly stretching your stocks to the limit)
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Max takes the opportunity to fly the lighter down, not expecting any issues at what is supposed to be an abandoned temple, but due to Salazan's untimely death he is taking no chances. Plus it feels good to fly whenever he gets the chance.
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(how close to the temple are we getting?)
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(Just circling it for now)
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(yes, but from what distance, how tight of a circle?
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(Starting a kilometer away, before bringing it down to a 500m radius)
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The vessel circles before engines puff downdrafts, and the landing lighter extends its skids. The cathederal is dark, very dark, despite the warm sun outside. It is as though the light in this area has become dim somehow.
17:45
The large double doors are open, and sand has pooled up near the entryway, but it seems abandoned
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Maxwell looks at the cathedral puzzled. "Anyone ever seen anything like that?" He asks his team, receiving a mix of negative responses. "Well, we better figure out what it is then."
22:26
(He would have reports that Salazan stopped here right?)
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(Yes you’d know he stopped here)
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(Anything about what he found at all?)
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(No since he went directly to the other city and died )
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Maxwell leads his troops out, slowly moving towards the conpound. "Keep your eyes open, we don't have reports about what was in here, Salazan got himself killed before he bothered to let anyone know what he found." (edited)
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The troops fan out, keeping their weapons raised and trained on the doorway. Two of them move up a bit slower than the rest, struggling with the sandy local area.
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Maxwell moves over to them, checking out the sand to make sure it is in fact sand.
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The sand is very gritty, and sandy, resembling mustard but far less satisfying to have on a sandwich
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Maxwell, wishing he had eaten more than a few pretzels before they came down to the planet again, shakes the thoughts of food out of his head and continues on towards the doorway.
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(gotta dig the map out of the old thread, standby)
14:00
The Abbey is located at the edge of the desert zone, where cream colored menhirs of stone rise from the desert ground. The ruins of the holy site are covered in brown vine, that looks like dehydrated leather from the air A flock of birds rushes skyward, out of a large hole in the central dome of its once beautiful cathedral. (edited)
14:01
The wooden doors open easily and you enter a stone hallway. The flagstones are dust covered and alcoves line the walls where the Christian stations of the cross are depicted in stone carvings. Each of them had a place in front , now a rotten cushion where prayers could be offered. Ahead, a metal gate leads into the main cathedral space where the broken dome floods the room with sunlight. The actual gate itself has been broken off and set aside carefully, no longer an obstacle
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(Using the 3sp from endeavors to increase Talk from 1 to 2)
20:52
Maxwell moves slowly through the hallway, checking for any secret rooms or passages, before moving on towards the gate if there are none he sees.
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rows of hundreds of pews all arranged in a hexagon shape around a marble altar in the center of the room. There are some items on it, but its hard to tell what exactly they might be from this far away. Approaching closer, The altar has moth eaten vestments left on it, in a deep red and gold. There is a seam along the table part of the stone, where it can be opened like a casket or a vault. It does not appear that there is some kind of lock
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Maxwell instructs his men to spread out before looking to see if the casket has been opened or disturbed recently.
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The casket has been opened and the contents have been taken. A small hatch set into the ground next to it reveals dark stairs, leading down into the catacombs below, and there is dim light from the bottom of the staircase, as though torches are burning
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Maxwell sighs, knowing if Salazan took whatever was inside it is now lost forever. He takes a look around just to double check for any other doors on the ground level with his team, motioning them towards the hatch once they are done looking around.
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(there are some cloyster doors to the north but theyre all open, and have been looted. Likewise lost forever)
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(Okay)
14:57
After confirming there are no enemies or threats on this floor, Maxwell has Daniels and three other soldiers join him around the hatch, leaving the others up above to watch. He heads down the staircase first, checking it for traps or any other threats as he moves down.
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A symbol has been etched into the floor, and though you can identify the circular outline, and the many limbed creature within, the actual carving itself is done with rough tools, and was not done by actual craftsmen. Dried blood and shards of bone, and shards of broken cutlery, tools, and other improvised crafting equipment litters the area outside the ring of candles
15:43
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"This looks like something out of those old holovids based on those, Lovecruft was his name? Stay close, let's check the rooms, sweep and clear, watch your corners." Max leads the men into the room, moving to the room on the right first, stacking up on the doorway before going in.
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The rooms all reveal themselves to be empty, though piles of sword cut bones and ratty robes are scattered around where the coffins lie. Everyone is trying to keep their distance from the lit circle at the center of the room, and it seems like the darkness around it is especially....dark
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Maxwell has the others stay back while he moves up to investigate the circle, weapon at the ready.
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(Are you doing anything aside from looking at it. How close are you getting)
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(Moving up to the edge, a foot or so away from the candles. If nothing happens he will examine the circle in more detail)
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Closing fo within a foot of the candles the light flares
03:40
(Mental save
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(Success 19v10)
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You feel your mind prickle, as the darkness gathers in the middle of the circle, but you are otherwise unharmed. The cloud continues pulling shadows from around the room into itself, though it is still formless
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Maxwell pulls his shear rifle up and fires into the cloud. Whatever this thing is, its sitting in the middle of a hell circle, and is surrounded by dead people in coffins, and is probably not a good conversation partner.
14:05
(22/11 if it matters)
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The shear field passes through the air, deforming some stone behind the cloud, and passing through it harmlessly. It seems unable to escape the circle, though the temple is beginning to shake.
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Maxwell looks up at the roof before motioning his team to the exit. "Let's get out of here and see if someone in Chokester knows what the fuck is going on here."
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He leads his team out of the temple and to the lighter, heading back to the ship. On the way he gets in radio contact with the official in charge of Chokester and talks about what they found in the abbey. It takes them a few minutes but they are able to find a monk who used to live at the abbey. He explains the artifacts which were stored in the reliquary are vital to sealing away the demon creature thing living in the basement, and they must be recovered. Max ends the call and turns to Daniels in the seat next to him. "Guess we have to kick the door down to Far Lancaster then, otherwise whatever that thing is will create some real problems for us." He says with a weary sigh as they approach the ship.
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"We knew we would have to. All roads point there. Let's speak with the king directly, raise the army, and come back. The NMC needs this done"
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"Yeah. I was in denial the whole time I was there, hoping there was some other way. Hopefully we can re-establish control without nobles getting back in power and exacting revenge on the populace." Max says as the lighter pulls into the ship hangar, touching down with a thud and a hydraulic hiss. He climbs out and heads to his cabin, hoping for a response from the king to the message he sent earlier.
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(it's only been another few hours since you sent it, its probably still almost faster to go directly)
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(Okay)
14:53
Maxwell heads up to the bridge, and informs the Captain they need to return to Jagrati to speak with the King.
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(2 days on the way home)
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(9/90 towards heal-0)
02:00
When they arrive Max puts on his dress uniform and gets an appointment with the King.
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King Deeveers is in his study , playing chess against himself now that the wood carved pieces are done. They still need some paint and the finishing touches, but the forms themselves are clear enough to understand what is supposed to be represented on the board. He motions for you to sit down, and begins cleaning up his game.
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Maxwell sits down, relaxing a bit in the exceptionally comfortable chair he finds himself in. "I hope by now my message will have come through. The ship we were on needed to restock supplies anyway so it was quicker to come back and discuss things in person. It appears Far Lancaster's change in support was done with popularity amongst the people. Everything I saw there supported the notion that the nobility was terrible to the common man on Viggis and the majority of people rebelled against it. That being said, the amount of death inflicted upon NMC loyalists and the shooting down and murder of Salazan presents us with no real avenues for diplomatic action."
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“The army will need to be sent to deal with the city proper, along with a troop transport. There will be no orbital bombardment as we have signed the treaty of Galatea , so we can only hope for a decisive end to the fighting on the ground. You will be in charge of that as the commanding officer”
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Maxwell blinks a few times. "I don't know what to say, I've never commanded that many troops before." He takes a deep breath. "I will do my best to ensure victory though. Once the city has returned to our hands, I'm sure the surviving nobles will try to regain their positions of power, is there a way for me to prevent that from happening? I want there to be as little bloodshed as possible."
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"You will have the powers of a governor once the world is claimed and the city is pacified. Setting up and empowering a provisional government, of the people, appointed by you, is enough of a start. We cannot stop some of them from getting back in through the eventual constitutional processes, but they will be tempered serving alongside their common man. and Maxwell, it is a war...things happen. If there are accidents, there will not be an inquiry"
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"I understand. I will head out to meet the officers in charge of the ground force. Hopefully I will return with good news over a game of chess." He says as he gets up before heading out to the military HQ to inspect the ground troops amd meet with their officers, meeting Daniels along the way and informing her of the plan. (edited)
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(I'm going to fit the troop transport now)
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(Ok)
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(558,000 is the total army size)
15:39
(transport can hold 24k at a time)
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(Does that include any support equipment or vehicles?)
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(None of the formations were made, no equipment designs have been made or bought, right now its all infantry)
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(Is there any way to purchase anything before the unit moves out?)
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(You wouldnt depart before you were ready to, but we'd need some designs)
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(For Tanks, Gravflyers, and apcs?)
18:28
(Let me take a look at the book really quick)
18:28
(So I can get an idea for what fits into what kind of support and such)
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(So, I'm looking at an Infantry Corps, Is there a cost associated with adding organic support or do I just say it has it when the formation is created and figure out the fittings for the tanks and planes or whatever kind of support it has. For this I'm thinking artillery, armor, and air if thats possible) (edited)
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(it has a cost of how much it is to hire them and how much you need)
19:09
(would also be good just to have plans handy in the event the vehicles become more than just an abstraction, but barring your own time constraints right now, lets at least figure out the actual contract credit cost so we can see if we can afford it) (edited)
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(Right now the NMC has 42 million credits on hand, so we should be able to afford whatever it is we need. So I would need 50 tanks, 20 planes, and 20 guns for the organic support. Could I split the number of tanks between tanks and APCs or does it need to be tanks?)
19:15
(I'll go ahead and design atmoflyers, tanks, apcs, mobile artillery, and gravflyers later today)
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(i think its just armored vehicles, so a split is fine)
19:29
(armored vehicles come to 3 million in total, 20 aircraft is 6 million, and 800,000 for the artillery)
19:29
(so deduct 9.8 mil)
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(Ok)
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(It adds up quick, which is why I was insistent)
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(I know. I had to figure out where all the costs were listed in the book. We can fit out the rest of military formations later as more income comes in)
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(So, Getting 40 Tanks, 10 APCs, 10 CAS, 6 Fighters, 4 Medivacs, and 20 artillery)
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(alright, numbers are te same cost wise, since it goes by frame, but its all good)
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After arriving at the military headquarters, Maxwell has all the commanders regiment level and up meet him in a conference room to discuss operational readiness and planning. (edited)
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The commanders meet, and a short p,resentation begins, getting everyone up to speed
22:09
The city is walled on every side, and there are four gates, one set into each cardinal direction to allow the smooth flow of goods in and out of the city. One of the gates at least would need to be taken to allow soldiers access to the city- from there- the town hall, treasury, and civilian signal station would need to be taken in order to end the threat of rebellion for good.
22:09
(so 7 objectives total, 3 need to be taken, but a wall section has to be taken first)
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Maxwell sets up a plan to have 4000 troops cover the north, south, and east walls, with the remaining 12000 troops position for an assault on the west wall. The artillery and armor would be concentrated on the west wall, using the artillery to focus down defensive batteries before an assault happens. After the wall goes down some forces would assist in taking the north and south gates to allow in additional troops while the remainder focus on securing the 3 inner city objectives. Once the plan is presented he looks for questions or comments from the assembled officers.
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(So they’re all battalion sized except for one brigade? And you can do bigger formations but it’s going to take four days round trip as reinforcements keep coming in)
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(3 brigades and a division)
23:33
(If I can outfit another corps with the same material as this one and land them as well, I would have the one divide its forces across the three other gates while this formation focuses its efforts on one gate)
23:34
(I'd rather go in with a greater concentration of forces if I can)
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(You can’t divide a unit ,
23:34
(But you could put a bigger one at one gate)
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(I mean setting up the 24000k troops of the second load into different sized units,) (edited)
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(Yeah just need to know what the sizes are so I know the bonus
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(Like 3 large brigades of 8000 troops each)
23:40
(And 240,000 credits for the artillery support for all of them)
23:41
(Basically giving them division levels of artillery support I guess. 4 Guns seems a bit low for an entire brigade, 8 seems right for a unit that is 8000 strong) (edited)
23:42
(Cause thats in the middle ground between division and brigade)
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(okay, you need to have at least 10k to qualify as a division, just for clarity sake)
02:32
(so they're just really big brigades)
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(Yeah. I'll go ahead a pay out for the 4 arty each, so another 120,000 based on what I paid earlier, and upgrade the plan to have one brigade sit on each wall except the west one where the whole corps will setup)
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(alright, did you want to set the scene at all before we roll off, or did you want me to?_)
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(I can do it)
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Maxwell spends a few weeks inspecting new military equipment, testing new aircraft, and overseeing a restoration of ground combat capability. He did his best to ignore any feelings of worry about the fate of the citizens in Far Lancaster, they made their choice. Finally when all the equipment was completed and ready for transport, he joined the first shipment of men and equipment on the way back to Viggis, landing in the water about 100km south . The slow procession of tanks, artillery, and men moving into position, the construction of a temporary airstrip and base near the shore to stockpile supplies and reinforcements strengthened his resolve and hope that this would end quickly. Once the men were in place, he broadcast a message to Far Lancaster, asking for a parley, fully expecting either no reply or some kind of hostile reaction.
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There is no reply from the city, and forward scouts report armed movement inside the city, they are preparing for a siege. Food supplies are being brought in from the country, new wells are being tapped within and factories are churning around the clock to get the last handfuls of supplies out- as they'll likely be bombed first (edited)
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"Well, I suppose we have our response." Maxwell gives the order to target exterior defenses with the western artillery, with the guns of the other fronts focused on military targets within the city and power stations.
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(Alright, yo're the attacker, I have my units deployed already, so let me know who is going where, and we will roll in order)
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(Having the full Corps attack the western gate, the brigades are going to hold in place for now)
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(so we only have one combat in total for the entire combat round?)
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(For now yes)
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(18 for me. It is 2d6+TL+unit strength+organic support bonuses)
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(22)
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(you take 1d2 steps of damage, i take 1d6)
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(Crippled Brigade for me)
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(Readied Corps for me)
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The rebels get the worst of the fighting along the western wall, though the other walls are not touched and their forces hunker down, waiting to see what happens next.
19:34
You are not sure of any other deployments they are making beyond the wall
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(Just going to repeat this attack again)
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(okay, we have 4 combats this turn, but we'll roll this one first)
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(Okay)
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(11 for west wall)
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(21)
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(okay, western defenses overwhelmed, you take no damage, but since you werent doing anything the other brigades sallied out, so we'll resolve those and fill in) Far Lancaster - West Wall- Breached/Defenders Dead - North Wall- 14 v 10 - Readied Brigade vs. Crippled Brigade - East Wall- 15 v 14 - Readied Brigade vs Fresh Battalion -West Wall- 10 v 16 - Readied Brigade vs. Ready Brigade (edited)
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(Yeah)
19:40
(10 for north, 14 for east, 16 for south)
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(got lucky on damage rolls, but once you know new unit sizes let me know)
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(North is Crippled Brigade, East is Fresh Battalion, South is Ready Brigade)
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(you can hit the inside city victory points now since a wall is in ruins, i need to re-deploy as well)
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(Heading for the town Hall with the Readied Corps, the North and south walls will also attack their respective walls)
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(did we want to run a mission along side any of this, or are you keen to just roll it all out)
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(If it would help the mass combat, sure)
19:50
(Something attacking a power station or something like that to take down defenses)
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(I know what i want to do i just want to know if you wanted to spend the time on it)
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(Sure, let's do it)
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The battle is fierce along the western wall though it seems an opening directly to the town hall has been made. An enemy armor screen with detached infantry has occupied the main boulevard, and have blocked moving down adjacent streets as forward observers have artillery lobbing shells there. "Were gonna have to go right at em with our own tanks sir. We've gotta punch through and take the building
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"What if we take out the artillery, would that open up the side streets?"
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"They will shell us before we get into place. A fast moving armor assault right through them looks to be the only tihng we can do. We had the liberty of painting something up for you, sir"
15:33
One of the tanks rolls forward, with a large Buchannon banner on the back, flying next to it on just as large of a flagpole is the NMC flag, showing the silver moon phases on a black field.
15:34
The vehicle itself has a scantily clad maiden on the front, the O's in the word FULL MOON resembling a shapely set of buttocks. The fitters had thought it quite funny, and expect that the rebels on the wrong end of FULL MOON'S main gun will find it less funny
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Maxwell looks at the man with a deadpan face. "Do you honestly expect me to drive that?" He says, leaving just enough of a pause for the man to think he is serious before breaking into a laugh. "Thanks gentlemen, let's get this taken care of." He says, with some level of trepidation. The idea of rolling through the city with his own personal banner plastered on the back of his tank would have given him pride just a few months earlier, but now it stoked a not small level of fear for his personal safety and for the effects it might have once the campaign was over. He stowed those fears, focusing on the mission as he hopped into the commanders cupola at the rear of the turret behind the gunner. Once all the other tanks in the unit check in, he gives the order to head out into the city. (Would it be possible for him to grab a rocket launcher and a couple of rockets to put in the stowage bins on the side of the tank?) (edited)
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(they'd count as 'other' so in a combat situation we're looking at two rounds minimum to get out of the vehicle, get it from the bin, and then be able to do something with it)
15:43
(i don't see why not, but don't expect to snap fire with it if you get taken out)
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(As long as he can grab it and run from the tank if it goes up in flames thats fine with me, wouldn't expect to be able to use it immediately)
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(yeah. Just like a real tank battle, the vehicles aren't often just exploding out right. They'd just be out of action and probably take several minutes to burn up)
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(Yup, just want a backup in case Full Moons buttocks aren't as shell-proof as they look)
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You are rolling into battle with the full tank compliment brought here, though your personal echelon at the vanguard is FULL MOON, plus four other vehicles, into your personal squadron
15:47
the tankers are sharing some pipes of sweet tobacco, playing insturments,cards, filling water, and otherwise spending possibly their last few minutes of life in a relaxed state
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Maxwell spends some of the drive familiarizing himself with the commander's overrides and radio controls. Once they are within visual range of the city he goes into serious mode. "Get ready folks, we are about to run into some unhappy neighbors."
16:00
The engines belch as the boilerman throws hydrogen pellets into the small reactor, and the stacks cough steam into the air as the dawn assault begins rolling through the gate. The first blockers, a formation of 3 light scout tanks is 400m away, taking residence in a former traffic circle,
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(Are they in view or do we need to drive to them?)
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(they're in view)
16:07
(we have a few seconds to do any non combat actions) (edited)
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Max helps the gunner lay the gun onto target before giving the order to fire.
16:08
(No reasons for us to wait)
16:09
(As I wait for adobe to stop being stupid and open the damn engines of babylon pdf)
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(take your time, lets get initiative, but the gun will be firing with your skills/mods since youre shooting)
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(7, I also just went ahead and pulled it up on chrome)
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(4 for enemy tanks)
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(24/20 on the first shot, and my computer just crashed)
16:16
(Sheer force of that shot crippled it apparently, back up now) (edited)
💥 1
💻 1
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The lead light tank is hit, and you see the track link on its right side blow apart from the tension. It looks to be in action still, just immobile. The other tankers are less able to get their shots lined up, and they fall short of the enemy position as the gunners begin correcting range. (17/23) one of the tanks in Full Moon's formation is hit, though powers through, gray smoke beginining to cough out of its gearbox
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"Let's pour it on them! We can't let these guy bog us down!." Max says over the radio as his gunner fires another shot at the same target. (15/26)
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The tank jumps as the shell strikes it, getting a solid penetration through the turret ring, blowing it off and sending the turret sky high, to crash down into a market stall to the right of the square
21:38
A second scout tank is also taken out by combined fire from the rest of your echelon, and it begins to burst into flame as the crew opens hatches and begins the process of abandoning her. The remaining tank begins moving right, to escape the square and summon reinforcements. You can see its radio antenna rising to try to get a better signal. Its gunner fires, and the same tank from your group is hit (15/30). Its track link breaks, and it grinds to a halt as the remaining four of you race past it in a screening line
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"Don't let the last one get away!" Max says as his gunner fires the last shot in the magazine (24/31)
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The tank is able to withstand the hit, damaged, but still driving. Although you cannot hear the radio traffic from the other side, as the antenna winds down you know it did its job of warning the main force. Seconds later it flips end over end as the second tank in your formation scores a direct hit
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"Well, expect them to be ready for us, check the buildings for infantry with anti-armor weapons as we move in." Max says as the formation continues forward towards the town hall.
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(pilot/dex)
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A landmine in the road is narrowly avoided at the last second, and as your tank slews around the corner to continue the advance , you see the building at the end of the road 200m away explode open in a shower of orange brick as a massive fighting vehicle plows through it
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(Would there have been time for the tank's main gun magazine to reload?)
05:23
(Yes)
05:24
The Black Prince fires it’s rocket pods, collapsing the buildings behind you, and splitting your formation in half. You and two of your echelon face down the monstrosity of iron and cordite before you
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Maxwell curses under his breath. "Right boys, split up as best you can and try to circle around it. Its big, so hopefully that makes it slow too." He says over the radio before tapping his gunner's shoulder with his foot to give him the go ahead to fire at the juggernaut in front of him. (13/20)
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(8 if we are redoing initiative)
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The shell ricochets off its armored front manlet, and all that is left behind is a long scrape around the paintjob where the shell has bounced. Your number 3 tank manages to score a hit on the front driver track link, setting the rubber linkages ablaze- though for now it doesnt threaten the rest of the vehicle
15:14
(Gotta take its turn in a sec. pulling up my notes)
15:14
(On a different Pc today)
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The large tri-barreled turret begins to slew left, tracking tank 2, and a puff of steam exits near the barrel elevator as it moves to more accurately track (15/62) Tank 2 is severely damaged, most of the armor on its flank has been torn away and you can see two of the crew inside are dead. Its tank commander and loader are still in the fight, heaving the dead aside so they can try to continue fighting
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Maxwells tank swings around the side not facing the barrel, letting off another shot into it. (Nat 20/56)
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(so right) The shell hits the vulnerable skirt of the tank, and it shudders as it comes to a halt, immobilized
19:14
The turret is still rotating, and the missile boxes at the top of the turret are reloaded
19:14
(doing npc turns in a second)
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The rocket batteries fire, drowning the area in fire and explosive concussions. (crit/62)
21:39
Tank 3 is finally knocked out of service, plowing into a building during its turn as its exposed crew is flash fried. Tank 2 fares little better, in the fight for now despite its engine laboring and its armored back aflame
21:39
(not sure how you're lookin)
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(would be 13/75, each tank has 75 hp)
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(yeah i know its 75 i just didnt know how i was doing with you)
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(Max hadn't been hit yet, just everyone else)
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THe rocket pods pop off the turret back with a puff of air, and they crumble into the dirt
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Max curses under his breath. "Need to end this quick or we won't have anyone left, hit it again!." (26/30)
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(roll me a 2d6 flat as well, not a skill , just need to see what happens to him)
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The penetrating head of the tank round strikes the side of the turret. The Black Prince freezes for a moment as though stunned. It is hard to make out as black smoke from your own critically damaged tank obscures the vision blocks. The external sensors finally cut out, forcing you to open the top hatch behind the machine gun so the smoke has a way to vent. As you man it, you see the crew hatches on the enemy tank popping open- thin wisps of smoke beginning to rise from its engine, gun ports, and cracks in its armor
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Max grabs the manual controls for the anti-personnel laser and swings it over to them. "Right, hands up, get away from that thing." He calls out to them before getting on the radio. "This is Full Moon, I've got three tanks down, my tank is critical, the rest of you head on towards the town hall, we will take care of prisoners and secure the wreck of this super-tank they have here, maybe we can restore it or something."
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(if you want it, we will PM)
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One of the men falls from the rear escape hatch, coveralls on fire. He tries to put them out as best he can, crawling through the dirt. The tank commander's body is pushed out of the hatch, while the assistant gunner -still alive- comes up after, his face streaked with a congealed mix of blood and grease
00:25
The underside hatch also opens, and the loader crawls out on hands and knees
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Maxwell hops out with his weapon in a sling, grabbing a fire extinguisher as he does. "Cover them." He says to his gunner, giving him control of the laser before rushing over to the man on fire to put him out with the extinguisher. (edited)
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The fire is put out as a cloud of white smoke rolls over the burning man. He lays in the sand, coughing, finally coming to rest from the horror of his ordeal
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Max walks back over to the tank and starts inspecting its state, seeing if getting back in the fight with it is a good idea or not.
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It will still run, and the protection from small arms fire on the way is still something worth holding onto
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(Are there any survivors from their other tanks that fought the behemoth?)
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(crew of tank 2 are alive but their vehicle is worse off than yours)
18:01
(Tank 3 are all dead)
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(Just checking if there is someone who can guard these prisoners and the tank wreck.)
18:03
Max has the crew of tank 2 hang back with the prisoners to guard the wreck until it can be recovered. He cleans some soot off the vision cupola as he climbs in before joining back up with the remaining tanks in his troop.
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by now, the remaining vehicles have either climbed the rubble pile, or bulldozed their way through it. The other vehicles begin forming up around you for a final push , as enemy infantry begin filling in at the end of the street, a hedgehog like fence of bayonet points staring down at you
18:11
"Alright boss, guess we throw the levers and push at them. The smart ones will run"
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"Yeah, let's do it. Fire over their heads with the lasers, try to scare them off. If they don't get out of the way that's their fault. Driver, gun it!" He says as his tank charges forward. He sends a few bursts of laser fire over the heads of the formed up infantry, trying to scatter them out of the way.
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The soldiers scatter as the tank surges forward though the most determined stand rank and fire, the heavy armor absorbing the musket energy. Turning the corner you can see several more burning tanks from both sides on the central road, and a large knot of soldiers trying to force their way into the front door of the town hall. Your tank looks to be the only thing with a heavy gun that is operable
20:16
Musket fire snaps from the bay windows and roof, and the defenders have even begun throwing rocks and ceiling tiles down on NMC assault pioneers as the power cells begin running dry
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Max turns on the loudspeaker his tank has attached. "EVERYBODY, MOVE!" He says, giving the pioneers time to move out of the way before his tank sends a shot at the door.
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The shell rockets into the front doors blowing dust and wooden shrapnel skyward. Several rebel bodies are also ejected by the concussive wave. There is a cheer as the surging wave of NMC assault troops begin pouring into the building and firing their weapons as targets present themselves
14:55
(There are hundreds of people outside all trying to get in to fight so maxwell is sort of at the back of the crowd in the tank)
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(Yeah, I figured.) Max hops out of the tank and heads into the town hall, looking for some kind of records room as he moves in
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The throng of soldiers is too dense to allow you to get in and the fighting inside far too intense to let you casually walk in to rifle through records. (edited)
15:12
You’re left to wait for several hours as the last pockets of resistance are cleansed. As NMC local radio begins reporting they’re on the verge of taking the building , NMC gunships from another unit begin strafing the building still thinking its under rebel control
15:12
“Sir!” A soldier runs up to the tank out of breath. “Those aircraft can’t hear us. We gotta show them it’s ours now or they’ll come back”
15:13
He is eyeing the large NMC flag on the back of your vehicle. One for the few intact elements of the tank
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"Well don't just stand there, grab that sucker and let's get a move on!" Max says, hopping out of the vehicle as the soldier grabs the flag, heading into the building with him, looking for roof access as they run up the stairs. (I'm expecting us to Reichstag this thing like that picture from the Battle of Berlin.)
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(That’s exactly what I was going for)
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They rush up the flights of stairs, past bodies and debris before finding the roof access in a broom closet in the top floor. Max shoves aside the fallen brooms, mops, and vacuums, climbing up to the roof. He grabs the flag from the soldier after climbing up, running over to the center of the building above the main entrance, jamming the flag right above the entrance.
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A camera crew catches the massive NMC flag unfurling in the breeze just as the gunships swing around again for another pass. They abort their attack run as they see the flapping banner, flying overhead and dumping colored smoke instead, as the men in the courtyard cheer, hats being thrown high into the evening sky
19:35
(6xp, 10,000 credits)
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Before heading back to the main base to finish the remaining attacks, Maxwell heads down to the records room, hoping it isn't too destroyed, to look for any evidence he could use against the nobility here.
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(i think boxing it all up for now is all we can really do with the city still enduring violence. The kind of analysis you're trying to do is the work of days, or weeks, not minutes)
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(Yeah, he just wants to make sure to grab it before anything else happens then his team can comb through it all)
22:47
(Any kind of records before or during the shaper invasion and before the city changed flags)
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He and a few soldiers gather up boxes of pre-flag change records and take them back to base. Once there he puts them under lock and key before sending them onto one of the ships in orbit, and gets back to the overall battle situation.
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The relics from the abbey have also been found asa matter of searching the building. It seems the guards put them in here once Salazan was murdered, for later analysis. There are a few notes about each, but the city had fallen before Far Lancaster academics were able to make headway on most of what is here
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(Thanks, completely forgot about those)
00:13
Max keeps the notes, hoping the academics might be willing to work with him to stop whatever is going on in the temple.
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Max keeps the notes. The academics themselves are likely gone to ground as the fighting doesn’t concern them very much
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He heads to the war room to check on how the other fronts are doing.
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"So, how are things going." He asks Daniels upon entering the war room.
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“The fighting is winding down. Small pockets of resistance left but we took the heart out of them when you took the town hall and captured that heavy tank. Still no sign of those gang leaders Salazan had come here to track though”
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"Where are those pockets of resistance located? They might be inside one of them."
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"Most of them are to the east, since the west wall was our entry point into the city. We naturally pushed them back as more and more of us got into the city, and its been a slow house to house clearing since then"
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"Okay. I believe they would likely be hiding in the slum areas we visited, so perhaps we should pick a pocket and go looking for them. Are there any centered around a warehouse district or anything it would be easy to hide a criminal operation in?"
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"I had an alternate view of the situation if you'll allow me to speak candidly sir" Daniels says, thinking for a momentr
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"Always."
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"We don't need to invest our own time in this. We can have bounty hunters and informers suss those idiots out. THe city has fallen, and they might drag the violence on for a bit, but the Cooperative has its heels in deep now, and w're not going anywhere anytime soon"
19:58
"Long range comms are showing Greystar ships sniffing around our south. I've been keeping tabs on things. Everything's been polite so far, but we're going to lose planets and people if we dont try to make some contacts further out"
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"You are right. I do want to get the temple taken care of, but I think we need to have some academics spend time on these artifacts. We also need to look over some of the other documents I recovered. Let's head back to Jagrati and speak with the King, perhaps he will even give us our own ship for this expedition south." Max quickly takes a lighter to Chockester to hand off the religious texts, asking them to inform him of any developments when they have been deciphered. After this he gathers up his team, the tank wreck, and the documents recovered from Far Lancaster and heads back to Jagrati, securing a conference room for himself and his huscarls to go over the documents during the trip. (edited)
21:12
(I'm assuming there was a corvette or two brought along as escort for the troop transport they can secure passage on) (edited)
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(yes)
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(Do I need to roll anything for his team examining the documents for evidence during the two day trip, assuming they are spending all available time doing it?)
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(I dont know what you're looking for in said documents to be able to give you information)
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(Evidence of extra-judicial killings, evacuation of personal property during the shaper invasion, basically records of noble houses doing what they felt like in violation of NMC law or abandoning the populace to protect their own wealth and status)
21:32
(Something Max could use to build a case upon to take down one of the noble houses)
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There are numerous records showing the evacuation of personal property during the invasion, along with withdrawl of massive amount of public funds to make some of their personal evacuations possible. Predictably , there are no records of extra judicial killings or torture, as the documentation of their worst sins would have them seeing a hangmans noose even in pre shaper NMC society.
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Max digs deeper into the public funds withdrawal, looking for what those funds were originally earmarked.
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They were marked as a reserve, meant to balance a budget or offset a cost overrun on planned public works projects if they'd been needed. Said projects were sidelined when news of the incursion reached NMC ears
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Max sighs part way into the second day, the first day having been spent organizing the documents into some kind or order, finding the documents which matter. He looks over the documents showing misappropriation of funds. "I don't think this is enough to take down any of these houses, we need more."
21:44
"Once Far Lancaster is secure I will have to go back and try to convince some of the leaders there to help me with testimony, though that will likely be difficult to pull off. I will show these to the King and see what he thinks."
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Once they arrive at Jagrati, Max puts together some images onto his compad showing the misappropriated funds, secures them with encryption, and makes an appointment with the King to discuss recent events.
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The king is ready for you as soon as you arrive, having just concluded a meeting with what you’d assume would be privateers entering service of the crown
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(Gonna assume we head to his private study)
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(Yes)
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Maxwell sits down across from the King. "So, Far Lancaster has been pacified, minus a few pockets of resistance. I plan to return there once it has been quelled completely to establish some kind of functional planetary government loyal to the NMC itself. We recovered some artifacts from the temple there and have some academics on the planet studying them. Some kind of dark ritual took place in the basement of the temple, but we need to know what the artifacts do before they can be used to fix the problem. I did find some documents relating to the other mission we discussed earlier, not much, but it is a start." Maxwell says, sending him the encrypted document scans he took earlier.
03:33
"My second in command informed me of the Greystar encroachment on our borders and on that information and her advice, I wanted to discuss that with you, see if this is an area you would like me to focus on before I return to Viggis."
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“I think we need to make a run for the border and see what worlds that way might need. Iragarte reported a Greystar ship is visiting them right now, though it’s captain has been peaceful. We didn’t have a way to reach them before but with the inclusion of Benavides back into the NMC , the radio equipment there has been able to pick up more messages from afar”
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"Do we know if they are still loyal to the cooperative or have turned? I plan to head there regardless, if for no other reason than to prevent Greystar from making moves on another one of our planets."
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“It’s hard to determine but we know things are peaceful there “
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"Well, peaceful is a bonus at least. I believe it is a good idea for me to depart immediately then. I will let you look over the information I gave you and hopefully can find something else to add to it." Maxwell gets up. "If there is nothing else I will find a ship and see if we can get passage on it."
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“I will have to review this with a few trusted advisors before we can make anything actionable. Something more than funds transfers would likewise be important. When we strike, we need to sweep them all up at once. “
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"Every stream begins somewhere. I am hoping to strike a deal for testimony from some of those on Viggis about how they were treated, but that feels like a long shot. Regardless, I will go secure myself transport to Iragarte. A pleasure as always my King." Max says, waiting to see if there is anything else before stepping out.
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(I don't have anything on my end, unless you needed or wanted to do something)
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(Nothing else, Max isn't going to ask for command of a ship again. He trusts the King will give it to him when he has earned it.) (edited)
17:30
Max heads out to the naval headquarters and secures transport for himself and his team along with some relief supplies then heads out to Iragarte.
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(youd be able to get one, that got lost in everything else)
18:31
(especially when I get double posted)
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(Sorry)
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(we can fit one if you want, I know Vere needs one too)
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(Yeah, I'll go ahead and fit out something, a corvette or something heavier?)
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(heavy frigate)
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(How many tons would you say that tank is, and are there any rules you want me to go by for this fitting out money wise? Added a new goal as well) (edited)
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(i know theres a way to figure it out im trying to see what book its in)
21:35
(50 tons)
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(Okay. I'm just trying to make sure I have like 40 tons of cargo space minus the tank)
21:59
(Could a Cargo Lighter even carry that much weight? Nvm, it can) (edited)
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(Ship fittings posted)
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(Great. Thank you. So now that it’s fitted what’s our heading
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(Groa First, refueling, then on to Iragarte)
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Arriving on Iragarte you see a Greystar ship belonging to peaceful explorer Linya Tychos is also here. She is working to help the colonists here fix their communication equipment
03:58
And is currently heading north on the moons surface to make those repairs
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(5 days of downtime correct? if so 14/90 to heal-0)
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(Yeah)
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Maxwell sighs seeing the Greystar ship is in fact here. His understanding for those feeling abandoned has done little to change his opinion that Greystar is interested in expanding their influence at the expense of the diminished NMC. He calls down to the surface of the system, asking for permission to land a cargo lighter on the surface, putting on his dress uniform, bringing his team and their equipment down in the lighter once permission is granted. (edited)
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They offer permission to land almost right away, though it is crackly, and the message needs to be repeated several times before you come down
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Max takes the lighter down, making sure his team has their atmofilters handy, bringing the lighter to rest on the assigned docking location. He walks out, hoping not to get shot at a third mission in a row.
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Nobody has reason to shoot you here, and two workers emerge from a nearby building to say hello and welcome you
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The peaceful hello does a lot to assuage Max's fears, considering how dumb they felt now. "Hello there, name is Maxwell, I'm the head of the royal Huscarls. We were tasked to head out here and see how you all were doing."
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"Aside from the comms issues and lack of system ships, mining gear, and planetside supplies, well enough. This moon is a difficult place to live when you dont have any work to be doing"
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"I'm glad things have remained peaceful here at least. There were a few worlds I've been to that were not so and it was an unpleasant experience. Which way to the administrators office, perhaps I can do something about those supply issues." (edited)
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"Well, that's part of the problem, we can't seem to keep anyone in the position. Everyone just runs them out of office because things aren't getting better"
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"Ah, well, that is a problem. Can you point out the influential figures then, faction leaders, those kinds of people? Whoever represents some kind of authority or leadership."
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"Thats what we're saying Lord, none of that exists here with scant thousands of us"
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"Alright, I suppose the best way forward is to have everyone assemble as best they can so we can make some kind of proper inventory of what you all have and what you need so we can get a message back using our ship to get immediate supplies. We have some emergency supplies we could give you if you all are in need of food and water right now, since it will likely be up to two weeks before another ship makes it here. And please don't call me lord or anything like that. My name is Max, or Captain if you really want something more formal. I may be a noble by blood but that doesn't mean I want you all to treat me like one, I'm a soldier working for the King seeing what we can do to help you all get back on your feet, nothing more." (edited)
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(I think given you have a ship you’d be a captain now)
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(Oh, so it is his ship? Not his but his command) (edited)
02:35
(If so that's a goal completed and a level up)
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(Yes. First command)
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(Woulda done some more rp for that but I didn't realize, just thought we were fitting out a ship)
02:55
(Level up to 7, HP up to 71, Shoot 1->2, Taking Authority level 2 for foci.)
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"Alright, well, we dont have any official leaders all the same, or any that remain in power long enough to make much of a change here"
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"Do you think that will change with more work to go around?"
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"Go ahead and pass the word around for all the heads of households to meet in the town hall or square or wherever the best meeting place is so we can try to get an idea what people need." Max says, hoping someone here will step forward to help lead this town if the chance presents itself.
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(Did you wanna play that out or should I itemize a list)
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(I think a list would be easier. That way I can go help Linya or look into some other issue they are having)
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- Gas Mining Equipment -System ships to collecting and mining gas
14:32
- town amenities such as entertainment and more power - Contact with home/ information systems
14:32
-Defenses
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(Would his ship have easier communications to home than their systems?)
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(Yes$
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Maxwell sends a message back with a full report on the status of the system and a request for supplies before turning back to the group. "So, while my ship is in system we can route communications through this lighter to the ship. Are there any pressing issues which my team and I can look into while we wait for a reply to my request for supplies?"
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"We've had some trouble with the ground broadcast station. The Greystar agent that visited went out there and we haven't heard fro them again"
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"Well, sounds like there might be more than trouble out there. I'll get my team ready and we will head out there." (If it is a long way away Max will have the Redeemer brought down with Daniels and formerly-corporal-now-sergeant Madden in the tank with him and the others riding on top.) (edited)
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(its about a hex from town, in the foothills)
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(So a few hours of travel overland then? He's gonna take the tank then, since its a bit far and he doesn't know what kind of situation is there.)
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(yeah a couple hours)
14:33
(We can join her thread now before she gets too far into thing if you guys wanna meet up)
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(Works for me if shes cool with it)
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Max has the lighter pick up Daniels on its way back up to the Emissary. On the ride up he explains what happened. When they are both back on the ship he has her follow over to the side of the hangar. "So, we are in a difficult position. On the one hand, I do not want to leave forces on the ground when the ship isn't here to protect them, but on the other I don't want to make it look like we have left. What do you think is best, leaving troops or bringing them with us?" (edited)
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“I think you should keep the tank and most of the marines here. Go into hiding until you’re feeling better. I’ll head back to home with Madden and return with reinforcements. Maybe you can figure out what’s going on here before then”
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(Was the terrain around the signal tower defensible?)
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(Not really)
16:42
(not outside of the building itself)
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"Alright. There was a doctor on Jagrati who did the work on my leg after I lost it, Dr. Bradley. Make sure Madden is in his care. I'll find a place where the remaining troops and I can hold up. I'll see you in a few days." Max says, getting supplies for an encampment the Marines can occupy. While that is being organized he looks for a defensible position on the surface using the ship's scanner, preferably a raised plot of land with cliffs on one side or the other. (edited)
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You find a hilltop with a river flowing down the back of it, preventing access from one side that’s about 5km from the settlement t
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Maxwell has the troops on the surface move out while the remaining supplies are loaded, heading down to meet them once everything is ready.
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(how did you want them to do this then, as far as actually digging in?)
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(Probably dig a couple trenches to set up heavy machine guns, keep the tents at the back behind the tank.)
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(Maybe chop down a few trees to reinforce the trench cover)
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Maxwell bids the ship goodbye and heads down to the surface , boots last of the company here to touch the ground. The lighter departs and you lose signal traffic with the ship an hour later as it powers too far away from the planet to beam anything down to you
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Max gathers his marines around him. "Alright everyone, gather round. For those not aware, our mission into the train tunnel tonight went badly. We lost two, and the ship is taking Sergeant Madden back to Jagrati. He will just barely survive the trip. Our job, is to hold up here, gather what information we can, and wait for the Emissary to return with reinforcements. I want a perimeter setup around this hill with trenches for the heavy weapons. Tents go up next to the river with the tank between the two. After a few days I'll lead out a patrol to see what information we can gather. It will be 10 days at least until they arrive, plenty of time for the anarchists on this planet to deduce our location and potentially attack us. I have not informed the local garrison about our plans because I do not know if they can be trusted, but that will be my first avenue after we have some time to establish this outpost. Any questions?"
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Aside from a few duty based questions and a recommendation to temporarily stop saluting and hide evidence of rank just in case there is someone watching , the crew has no other insight or issues
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(So, with Madden gone, two dead, that would leave 17 marines out of the original 20, unless Daniels counts as one but she is also the XO of the ship)
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Max has the marines form up into two squads of 6 and a squad of five. The two squads of 6 will be responsible for the HMG positions, staggering their rest so there are always at least two, preferably 3 men on each of the two HMG positions. The other 5 are responsible for manning the Tank gunner position and rear cover, with two men covering the rear of the base, one in the tank, and the other two resting. He also has no problem not being saluted. Once his orders are in place he helps the men setup the tents before heading to his own. He groans a bit taking off the armor, his torso covered in bruises. 'Probably a few broken ribs at least' he thinks to himself, setting the armor on the ground before laying down on his cot, falling asleep instantly.
06:17
(Going to spend at least 4 days resting if he can)
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(Yeah if she’s taking the ship back she’s not also here)
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(Okay, change that last squad to 4 then with just one sentry in the back)
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You're not bothered for the 4 days you choose to rest, manning your duties as best you can while your body re-knits. None of the marines begrudge you the extra resting time, knowing you took the full force of the blast almost. The technically minded among the group have done what they can to patch the armor. It's not an elegant job, but its functional until such time as you can connect with more skilled New Moon Cooperative artisans
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After the four days of rest, Max takes one marine from each of the HMG squads and has them join him for an excursion on foot into the town to gather more information on the remaining NMC garrison. He places the tank on standby, knowing it could cover the 5km distance in a few minutes if trouble starts and they need backup.
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The townsfolk are going about their respective business when you arrive. You get a few curious stares the way armed men in uniform get curious stares but nothing comes out as out of the ordinary
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Max heads over to the Garrison.
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There is no garrison here. The colony is very small and on the frontier of even pre shaper NMC space.
05:40
The citizens would have had a militia , but no dedicated uniformed personnel would have been here on anything like an extended stay
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(Okay, I might have been making assumptions about Max's actual knowledge of this system and its mission, but there were armed personnel who met Linya using NMC military gear and weapons. Were they the militia or actual military personnel? If Max doesn't know that works for me, I just assumed he would by this point.) (edited)
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(Max would guess militia , since there’s no actual garrison building. Some random shuttle or ship coming in is a good reason to arm some people)
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(Okay, works for me.)
05:50
Realizing there is no fixed military presence here, Max starts asking around for anyone who had an axe to grind, was particularly vocal about poor leadership, or who has been missing for the last 4 days.
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(Talk or connect, either with charisma)
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(7, Talk/cha)
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Nobody says anything about anyone missing. No new reports of missing persons have been made, either. There were a lot of people here upset that the NMC had seemingly forgotten about them, and a lot of fear about their fate with the wider shaper conflict occuring- but there were not enough people here, and they were detached enough from the NMC as is to avoid a rebellion
14:34
the flag simply came down, and was folded, and put away in the town hall.
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Max decides to visit the town hall to look for records on militia members.
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(Just knowing whos' in it, or are you looking for more specific information)
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(Start with knowing who is in it, then looking deeper if I can)
21:40
(Like who has experience working with explosives and weapons training)
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Every citizen is a member of the militia and has been issued with a firearm upon their 13th birthday. This is mandatory for men and women. There is no discrimination. (admin/int for the other thing, as far as the weapons training, though again, super broad, since they all know how to use their guns)
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(5, and if they all can just use their guns thats fine.)
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Anyone issued a weapon is done so at the end of the 4 weekend long militia boot camp, so eveyone here has firearm skills to some degree. You cant find any records on advanced training, but you do get the idea of checkinginto anyone in the miner's trade as they would also know how to use explosives safely
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Max looks for precisely those mining records (Thanks neko) (edited)
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There are four individuals who are both militia trained due to them being between the ages of 13-60, and also miners by dayjob who would have explosive training. You can reason that one of them at least would have been involved in rigging up the tunnel charges that were used against you.
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Max tries to deepen his search, looking for anything marking one out as more likely than the others. He looks for information on family history, criminal background, and other potential motives for this kind of action or disincentives against it. He expects to find nothing, but has his men try anyway. (Basically looking to see if one of them has an axe to grind, has a history of subverting the law, or anyone with strong family ties who will not put their family in danger by doing this.)
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(You'd have found that with the previous search and there are no records of that)
03:56
(but you've got 4 suspects)
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(Okay)
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(Gonna figure out how I want to do this and post later tonight/tomorrow, work was really painful tonight but I have the day off tomorrow)
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(sounds good)
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Max gathers up his men. "Let's head back to camp. We have names, all we need now is enough spare men to observe them all in the act without compromising our security." He says, heading back to the camp outside town, taking as winding of a route as he can to avoid being followed back. (Gonna have him sit tight until the ship comes back. As far as he is aware there isn't any way for these guys to get off planet, and he wants to track/detain all four of them at once so nobody slips through the net.)
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(no way for them to leave no, and are you following them during this time, or are we just hunkering down and hoping they dont attack until the ship returns)
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(That was my dilemma. I was thinking about just waiting for the ship, but I realized thats another 6 days counting the rest of this one)
00:30
(And power armor isn't exactly known for its subtlety)
00:35
When they get back to camp, Max asks his men if anyone has any spare street armor or non-military clothing with them.
00:40
(I have an armored undersuit, but its probably still on the ship in Max's locker) (edited)
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They all have some regular civilian clothing in their carry bags along with a few sets of clothes taken from when you were hiding out on Viggis (edited)
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Max calls together the squad leaders and explains his plan is to go into town over the next few days and shadow the culprits to the best of his ability. The next morning just before dawn he decides to throw on his backup CFU with a baggy coat on top of it, leaving his power armor and rifle at the camp, bringing only his pistol, and heads into town to look for the first person on the list. He has the tank on standby in case he needs an extraction. (edited)
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The first miner is departing from a diner where he has just finished breakfast. His face and arms are soot stained and he must be coming off work rather than going into it. Lighting a pipe he takes a deep breath before donning an equally sooty red cap, and wandering down one of the nearby alleys toward where some of the residential areas are located
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Max follows at a distance, trying to stick to as much darkness as he can, leaning up against the corner of the alley, fiddling with his atmofilter like it isn't seated properly while he looks around the corner.
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(Sneak/dex)
02:36
(Vs 10 for his notice)
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Rounding a corner, you see him 5m away from you with a handgun drawn. "Alright, that's close enough. If you're trying to rob me, I'll let you off with a warning and with both of your kneecaps, just turn around and walk away
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Max sighs internally, wishing once again he had put more energy into the evade and survive portion of his pilot training. "Rob you? I was just trying to catch up with you and talk, but its been a while since this atmofilter has been taken care of, and you know how uncomfortable they can get when the filter hasn't been changed. You mind putting the gun down and just chatting for a bit?" He says with his hands out in the open. (Would like to use my authority foci for this if I can)
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He lowers it a bit but remains wary of you. "What do you wanna chat with me for? fix your mask and get home then?"
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"There are only so many people with both militia and mining explosives training in this settlement, and your name was on the list. One of them is responsible for hurting my men, and I want to find out who it is so I can send along a message." Max says, gauging his reaction, hoping this guy either knows nothing or is willing to hear him out if he does.
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(D4, when you get a sec)
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"Well, I hope you find them then. Sorry about your men"
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"Would you be able to tell me anything about the others? I'd like to avoid getting into a situation like this." Max says, motioning to the man's gun. (If he's not willing I would like to use my authority once daily to try and convince him to tell me some more.)
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(you did use it already)
02:35
(so youj cant use it again)
02:35
"No, I'm not putting myself into the middle of this. Sorry about your men. I hope they get better soon"
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(I didn't roll for it, so I thought I didn't need it earlier.)
02:38
"Well, thanks for not shooting me anyway. Hopefully I'll be able to get this under control so we can get some supplies out here for you folks." Max says, walking away. He takes a winding route over to check out the next name on the list.
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You have a photo and a name for the second person, but don't know anything about their route or their daily habits. Others may know them, or may be able to help if you're discrete about what you're doing
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Max heads to speak with the man who helped him the first day, figuring he might be able to provide more insight or someone else who might know more.
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(The one who gave you the list of stuff the place needs?)
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(Yeah)
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The helpful man is sitting near a fountain in the town square, flipping through a newspaper
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Max walks up to him and has a seat next to him. "Anything interesting in there?"
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"Nothing really. Still creeping around town I see"
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"Yeah. Figure my men are safer as a group than walking around in the open obviously wearing military clothing. I'm looking for information on some people and thought you might be able to help." He says, showing the man the pictures. "One or more of these people is responsible for the traps and explosives used against my men. I want to find them and try to come to a peaceful resolution if I can. Do you know anything about their patterns?"
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"These three usually show up at the watering hole during different times of the day. Almost every day. Can't really be more helpful than that, I don't follow them home or anything:
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"Do you know any place I could go to observe the watering hole without being seen, like an abandoned building or something like that?"
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“Nothing quite so easy. You’re going to have to just kee a low profile and watch from the street
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"Thank you for your help." Max says as he gets up before looking for the newspaper stand to get a newspaper from. While he is doing this he also looks for a few different locations he can rotate between while watching the watering hole.
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There are a few alleys and places around the square. None of them are perfect, and there is a chance you could get noticed at any of them- but right now this is the option you have
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Max gets a paper and finds a chair in the corner of the square where he can hide behind a pillar from one direction, sitting down like he is reading the newspaper while he watches the square.
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(sneak/dex)
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You're noticed by the second man on the list, and he scurries away, but does so without warning number 3. this woman takes a long stretch, throwing a half empty beer bottle down an adjacent alley before setting off around the fountain, past you and around the corner
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Max waits a bit before following her around the corner
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Max follows around the corner, and she is still predictably walking- and has not noticed you following
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He keeps following her, trying his best to blend into the background, until she gets to her house or another structure.
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She enters what looks to be a two story dwelling, stopping to rub her hand on a small prayer icon nailed to the door before going inside
05:04
you hear two children inside squeal with delight now that their mother is home
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Max smiles, knowing this woman is likely not who they are looking for. He heads back to the square to wait for the last person on his list.
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(just to recap, 2 has noticed you and is in the wind now, and 4 is still out there) Suspect 4 is completing some sort of dodgy deal on the corner when you round the end of the street and see him. He hasnt noticed you, or if he has, he's not considering you worthy of attention
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(What time of day is it now?)
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(Mid morning, you haven't been at this for too long)
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Max walks past, putting his hand into his pocket, grabbing hold of his pistol as he does so. He sits down on the bench, waiting for the suspect to split up from the meeting.
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After another couple minutes of what sounds like general conversation, they shake hands and begin to split up and head down different streets
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Max follows number four quietly down the street, keeping his hand on his pistol in his pocket, ready with it in case something happens.
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(he didnt notice you , so he's just going to continue on his way unless you do something)
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(Max is just going to follow him, see where he goes for a bit)
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He turns the corner again and leaves a brown bag he bought on a front door. He knocks on it three times very loudly and keeps walking. An old woman answers the door and takes the bag inside, smiling warmly
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Max stops following him, now knowing number 2 is the target he is looking for. He heads back to the camp, knowing the last person will be on the lookout for someone wearing his clothing, and decides to go back tomorrow, trying to weather his jacket and stain it where possible using grease from the tank and dirt for the rest of the day. (edited)
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(Where would you be getting a different one from?)
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(I thought there were a couple different ones his men had lying around, if there is only the one thats fine.)
04:16
(Edited the above to fix that)
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(All good, just waiting out the day and going back in the morning?)
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(Yeah)
04:21
(Using the time to try and give him some extra urban hobo camo)
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(alright, sneak/dex again)
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(10)
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Subject 2 leaves the bar yet again, hugs subject 3 (the family woman) , and both of them exchange a quiet word. they hug again, and part ways- 2 heading for a run down shack near the northern edge of town.
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Max cocks an eyebrow at that, before following him to the shack, keeping an eye on the door for any traps. (edited)
18:40
(He's not going up to it, just watching the door as the dude opens it)
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He opens the door without doing anything special, and you see a light click on as he enters. THe door shuts behind him and you hear the click of the lock engaging
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Max sits and waits for him to leave, hiding in an alley.
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Maxwell waits outside for 10 hours.
19:33
The door opens, and subject 2 has his working garb on. He locks his door, and takes a deep breath of the cool late afternoon air in, and proceeds to head back toward town for his evening/night shift
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Max waits another 20 minutes to make sure he doesn't come back before heading up to the door, trying to pick the lock with his knife.
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The lock opens handily, and the door creaks open gently
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Max checks the inside of the door for any traps or security measures before he moves in.
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You’re inside. There are no security measures in place aside from the lock you managed to pick
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Max steps into the cabin and has a look around, seeing what evidence he can find. "This is probably what my parents hired all those, conaultants, to do when I was still racing," He thinks to himself.
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The house seems entirely ordinary. The worst you find is a collection of dirty movies under the bed. Voices outside draw your attention. “Someone’s in the house officers. Saw shadows moving behind the blinds.” His elderly neighbor no doubt has seen something.
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Max looks for an alternative exit from the building.
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There isn’t one, and with your combat field uniform on under your clothes you’re too bulky to fit out a window
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(Would he fit out any of the windows if he takes the clothes off?)
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(You can, but it would take minutes to remove and you don't have that kind of time before they're inside)
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Max looks at the tiny windows inside the house and decides he has better odds outside than inside. He unbuttons the front of the jacket so the NMC symbol on the front of his CFU shows before opening up the door. "Evening folks." He says to the people outside.
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Both of the officers draw their firearms "Hands up! turn around and raise your hands!"
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Max looks at the officers in front of him slightly baffled, wondering where these people have been for the past few weeks. He puts his hands up but does not turn around. "After being almost blown up more than five times in the past few weeks, doing some investigating to protect my men is what finally causes you all to show up? Where have you officers been?" (Gonna use my lead/cha roll from Authority here if I can to try and defuse the situation a bit)
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"Hands! Now! Turn around and face the wall"
05:16
You hear guns click as the hammers are pulled back
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Max complies this time, hoping he is taken to an actual police station rather than back to the underground complex.
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Manacles are placed around your wrists, and you're frog marched to their vehicle. You're stuffed into the back seat, and the policemen sit down in their front seats. One of them has his gun still drawn, pointed at you as the car begins driving. It becomes clear after a few moments that you're not heading to town.
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(Would he be able to reach his compad at all enough to signal an SOS of some kind?)
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(Your hands are shackled behind your back, so not without getting out of them somehow)
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(I presume any weapons he had on his person were taken correct?)
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(Yes)
14:17
(You’re armored but not armed)
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Max realizes there isn't anything he remembers carrying in this CFU which would be of help to him. He slowly searches through his back pockets, trying to see if there is anything there he forgot about. While he does so he looks at the cop pointing the gun at him. "So that's why there are no police when you are looking for them, you all are in league with the people trying to kill us off. Are you taking me to meet someone or are you just driving to the middle of nowhere so you can shoot me in the back of the head?" (Afaik, he's never had any kind of lockpick or bobby pin or anything like that in his inventory at all, but its been a few months ooc since he's worn this thing regularly.)
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(if its not on the sheet we dont have it)
00:15
(I've had to be hard on everyone else, so I've got to be consistent here)
00:16
"You'll find out soon" he smiles, a grin full of too many ivory teeth. "Poking your nose somewhere it doesn't belong. Almost guaranteed to have it cut off there, friend"
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(No worries, thats why i told you nothing was there.) Max slowly tries to see if there is any play in the handcuffs he can slide his wrist back through.
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(sneak/dex)
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There is a bit of play in the cuffs. You can't quite get your arms free the way you're sitting, but when standing, you might be able to wiggle out if they don't notice you
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Hoping to take this opportunity later, Max waits until they have stopped and are getting out to look to make his escape.
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The car pulls into the woods, close to the site of the tunnel explosion, but not quite up to it. The two officers get out, and with weapons drawn, one on each side of the vehicle, the one closest to your door opens it, and standing a 1m away, gestures for you to get up
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Max gets out slowly, having to shuffle his way out of the vehicle. As he is standing up, he starts trying to work his wrist out of the cuffs, figuring he won't get another chance to have them split like this.
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(Exert/str at +2 since you noticed they’re kinda pliant)
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The chain snaps as you get enough tension between the cuffs to snap them.
05:33
You have two metal bracelets for now but at least you can move your arms
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(Where did they put Max's stuff, in the trunk?)
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(mix of on them and in the trunk depending on how big)
13:13
(i think it makes sense to jump into initiative as well now)
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(4. They’re going to hold an action. You haven’t done anything yet but they’re prepared for monkey business since they’re police and prisoner transport is part of their training. )
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(Would he be able to see his pistol on the belt of the one in front of him?)
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(No he did t keep it. It’s in the trunk
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Max, not seeing his pistol on the officer's belt, decides his gun is the best thing to go for and moves to try and disarm him by striking him in the arm. (Would I be rolling punch for this? Like an unarmed strike or something else) (edited)
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(Theyve got held actions)
23:04
(So I’m going to do those first now that you’re active
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(Go ahead)
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(19/5) Te officer sees you going for his partner's gun, and fires his own, striking you in the side. The other misses, reacting too slow upon drawing it.
02:39
(to disarm, we need to make an attack roll. Keep in mind we are in melee so apply the -4 if needed though it probably isnt since they took your kit, if it hits we'll take it from there. We're not looking for a damage result here) (edited)
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(58/71 hp, 19/3 on the punch roll)
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(now we both make an exert/str check. Mine is at a +3 since I am the one who is being disarmed)
02:42
(Don't think you need to roll at all here)
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(14) He manages to hold onto the weapon , and both of them fire at you again but the shots strike the layered plates of the combat field uniform
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Max goes over to the trunk to see if it is unlocked, and if it is, opens it to retrieve his pistol.
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The trunk is locked because this is a police vehicle and there are weapons back there (you also disengaged from combat without taking the main action to do so, so theyre going to fire again) (23/8, 21/11)
03:58
(but you can take a main action to try to jimmy it open with a skill check0
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(Is that second damage supposed to be 3 or 11? Just looking at roll20)
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(3)
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(47/71 hp)
04:01
Max rocks a bit as the shots hit him before taking the broken chain from one end of the cuffs to try and jimmy open the lock with. (Can I roll fix/dex for this?)
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(it would be with int, but you can roll fix)
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The trunk clicks open, the metal panel pops out slowly as the lock is picked
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Max opens the trunk, grabbing his pistol as soon as he sees it.
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the officers each fire again, and their shots strike the trunk lid, punching into the lid but they don't manage to go through and hit you.
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Max turns and fires at the one he punched earlier. (28/6)
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he is hit, but remains standing, and they each return fire, spreading out to the flanks of the car
04:14
(16/3, the other shot misses)
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(AC is 17 right now) (edited)
04:15
Max chases after the same one, firing at him again. (28/8)
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heavily wounded, his feet stay under him, (crit/9, the other misses) The handguns are each on their last few shots, chugging casings into the ground.
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(38/71 hp) Max fires at him for a third time, hoping to bring him down with this shot (19/5)
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The final shot seems to be the one that drops him, and he falls spread eagle on the hood of the car. This close to the lair of the group, and with the protracted firefight that has occurred, you can hear dogs barking and shouting voices in the woods. They're distant. Its hard to gauge how close they are, and they're obscured among the thick wood, but they're close enough to be at the edge of your hearing. A pistol shot from the remaining officer strikes your plate before his gun clicks empty
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Max runs over to the officer and points his gun at him. "Give me your cuffs and the key right now, or you join your friend."
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He refuses to do so
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Max calms and lowers his gun a bit, still in his direction but not pointing it directly at his head. "If you want off this rock, I can take you to Jagrati and get you set up there. I don't want to keep killing people here, I just want to help fix the problems you all are stuck with because you were abandoned by whatever nobles and leadership originally ran this place. Please help me help these people."
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He reloads his weapon, prepares it to fire again. The wound of whooping dogs and hunters gets closer
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Max shoots him, at least satisfied he gave the man the choice. (26/9)
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the armor takes the round, and he is winded, and wounded, but since he was unhurt he is not out of the fight. his own return shot goes wide. 300m away at the woods edge you see the first of the tracking dogs bound a log, and sniff the ground eagerly for a scent.
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Max fires again, hoping the man lives through this long enough to receive medical attention. (23/4)
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(crit/8) He will need medical attention if he ends up surviving the ordeal, but you begin to question your own chances as a round punches through the thigh of your battle harness. Neither of you look well, shot several times a piece now. The dog has a scent, and begins to bark excitedly, before sprinting toward you, closing to 275m.
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Max shoots one more time, making sure this shot lands. (Rolled 15/6, using warrior ability to make it hit, also at 28/71 hp) (edited)
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The falls, as the dog closes to 250m, and another two emerge at 300m
05:30
Human hunters are surely not far behind
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Max heads over to his body, seeing if he is still alive as well as grabbing his keys.
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He is not alive, as he’s been shot many times with bullets and those tend to kill people. There is a key for the car on his belt. The dogs close to 225 and 275m while you search the body and the first of the human hunters appears. He is carrying a combat rifle and begins sighting you in from maximum range at 300m@away
🤣 3
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Max hops in the driver's seat, starting the car and slamming it into gear before he turns to head towards the Huscarl outpost.
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gunshots from the woods tear up the ground as your car slams into gear, escaping the hunters for the moment, though they're surely aware of your general destination
14:11
(3xp, 5000 credits)
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Max calls the camp, informing them of his status and his return to the base in an Iragaten police cruiser. After a few kilometers of travel he stops and checks the dashboard for any kind of tracker or GPS system.
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(Should I make a check for this before he heads back?)
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There’s no mapping on the car, the settlement is small and the officers know how to get around. There is likely a location tracker but it’s location isn’t obvious
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Max shrugs, feeling like if they want to find the encampment it would not be too difficult. He resumes his course towards the Huscarl outpost, letting them know again what he is driving and about how far out he is.
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(there wouldn't be any trouble around the way back, so comes down now to what you're doing when youre back to safety)
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Max drives up to the base, getting a report from his men on what's been going on for the past few hours. He gets some basic medical attention before he and a few of the more technically minded of his Huuscarls go over the car with a fine toothed comb looking for evidence and any sort of tracker, spending a few hours to do so.
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There is a tracker on it so those at the precinct can see where their officers are. The tracker looks to have taken a round during the shootout and prolonged escape attempt and is not operable anymore. Your drive was not tracked.
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Max has an inward sigh of relief before heading to his tent for a good nights sleep. He spends the next couple days tending to his wounds and letting them heal. (How many more days until the ship gets back, 3? I think this would be early in the morning on day 7, and he would sleep for most of that day after having been up for almost the whole previous day.) (edited)
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(yeah 3 days)
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Max spends the next two days resting before finding a volunteer to head back into town with him to watch his back. He does his best to clean off the blood from the civilian clothes he was borrowing in the river behind the base so they look presentable. When they both get into town, Max looks around for subject one, cautiously.
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(I’m going to pause you at night of day 2 here, the night before your ship is arriving
22:45
(I will set up what’s going on shortly )
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(I miscaulculated the days then, wanted him to go looking around the day before it arrives)
22:45
(But im fine with rolling with this)
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(Whatever days you go the night before that day this encounter will happen then)
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(Okay, then he would rest day 7 and 8, then go out on day nine looking for more information on the remaining subjects)
22:48
(So this will be the night of day 8)
22:52
(Would he be able to fit in two nights of rest if he sleeps early morning day 7 and night day 7?)
22:52
(Just for HP calcualtion)
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(It’s per day. Not per 8 hours, but you need at least 8 hours of rest to heal
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(So would that just be one day of healing since day 8 isn't over yet?)
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(Right)
02:02
As the sun goes down and your guards are rotating for another patrol, a trio of flares fired from a nearby wood line streak into the night sky. The white and green glowing orbs illuminate the entire countryside as dozens of figures emerge from the woods with a mix of hand tools and fire arms. The closest are 150m from the camp wire
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Max, still wearing his CFU, grabs his rifle and heads out to the line. He tells his men to hold their fire before walking to the camp wire, ready to head back at the first sign of trouble. "Did you folks want to talk or did you have something else on your mind?" He calls out to the nearest group.
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(initiative)
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(4)
04:11
Those closest to the wire begin moving forward in combat crouches, to 140m, firing as they come. Two marines are hit, (21/10 21/10), and neither of them seems to be getting up again
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"Sons of bitches. OPEN FIRE." Max shouts, heading back to the tank behind the main line. (Entirely your choice if you think he can make it to the tank in one round of double movement or not. I imagined the wire would be not too far from the HMG nests and the tank would be about the same distance behind those, maybe 10-20 meters between each. Do you want me to roll for his men?) (edited)
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(roll for the men, a double move would get you to the tank, but i dont think getting inside costs anything less than a main action with the hatches and getting set up)
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(Yeah, I just wanted to get to it this turn, figured getting in would be the turn after that. I'll figure out what I'm rolling when I get back home, will have to double check my deployments)
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(alrighty, well take your time)
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(So, he has two men in each trench now manning the HMGs, down from three, and one person manning the gunner seat in the tank. There are 6 more men who will need to get into position in the trenches, and another one for the tank to make it mobile. I'm going to roll for the two HMGs and the tank's Hydra Array and will add the other troops in a couple rounds once they get into position) (edited)
15:01
(Their bonuses would be +3 from npc and +3 from Max correct?)
15:05
(Actually gonna fire the HMGs and hydra array to suppress, makes more sense)
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(yes, +3 is just the 'to hit' bonus though, not to damage as well)
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(So +6 total with Max's foci once the men firing regular weapons get into the fight)
15:08
(Thats 4 for the first HMG, 8 for the second, and 6 for the Hydra array, assuming we round down for damage, otherwise add 1 to each)
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several of the oncoming horde are hit, a few downed for good as the heavy weapons begin firing, but they were prepared for casualties, and are committed to carrying on the fight for as long as possible. They continue pushing on, using the stumps of trees, thick grass, field stones, and other assorted small obstacles for cover
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(Max's turn?)
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(yeah, just resolving what the NPC's of yours did so you knew how the situation starts)
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Max hops into the tank, settling into the commanders position. "Stay under cover people, pick your shots." He says over the radio to his men. The machine guns continue blasting away at anyone in the open, while the tank gunner uses the Hydra array to blast away at those behind cover. (6 and 7 for the machine guns, 7 for the Hydra array, still suppressing fire) (edited)
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Several more of the advancing horde are cut down as the suppression fire rakes their positions. From cover, a pair of rockets are fired, (11/17) The other misses, sailing into the cliff face behind the camp and fizzling out harmlessly. The Redeemer rocks, and some of the status lights change from calm blue to a more urgent yellow or amber.
21:29
small arms continues to lash the machine gun positions
21:29
One marine is killed, and his loader is wounded, though without missing a beat pushes the body out of the way to man the gun himself
21:30
(max up)
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(Redeemer has 12 AC, so still 138/138. I'll roll once I get home from work.)
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(Vehicles are hit on a 10+ at short range)
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(Okay, its at 121/138 then, thanks for letting me know)
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Max switches the optics to thermal, looking for residual heat where the rocket lauchers were fired from, sending one rocket at each of them. The machine gunners continue firing while the rest of his frontline men slide into the trenches to reinforce the line. (5 and 6 damage for the machine guns continuing to do suppressing fire, 26/10 on the first rocket launcher dude, 16/6 on the second, +2 damage to both of those if gunslinger applies here but I doubt it since this is a tank not a gun)
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(I believe the MG's need to reload this round since they've fired suppression twice)
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(I thought it was 3x ammo for suppress and they have fired twice, I'll check)
03:00
(Actually, its only double the ammo, and they have mags for ten rounds of standard firing, so they have 5 rounds of suppression in each mag)
03:00
(So two more rounds after this)
04:00
A few more foes are scythed down, and the waveof attackers is beginning to falter, though a few keep their nerve and continue rushing
04:01
Two rockets streak out from the place you fired at behind the walls, both striking the front of the Redeemer, and one of the control banks blows out in a shower of sparks, starting a small fire that the driver begins trying to put out
04:01
(both hit for a total of 37 damagE)
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(Redeemer 84/138)
04:03
Max fires another volley of two rockets. The machine guns are joined by six rifle shots, firing at those who continue to push forward.
04:06
(7 and 6 damage for the HMG suppressing fire, 14/8 16/6 17/12 25/5 23/12 16/13 for the rifle shots, 11/11 and 16/4 for the rockets)
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The human wave is broken, and dozens of bodies are left behind as the shadowy attackers begin melting back into the foliage and harder cover, many of them throwing down weapons or kit to get away faster.
04:16
(you also didnt let me shoot the shooty cultists, so that would have happened before your stuff)
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(Sorry)
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(taking that into account, we're down 4 people, as that killed another one, so i dont know how many are left right now to hold tihngs down before your reinforcements arrive)
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(That would leave 13 plus Max)
04:18
Max hops out of the tank and takes a few men out to check over the bodies, looking for survivors and any potential intelligence while the rest tend their wounds.
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The soldiers refuse to leave the defensive line in the dark, to charge headlong into an area that may have been trapped or is actively being watched by a rearguard on land that they do not know
04:50
Especially with four men now dead, and several more with injuries
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Max, realizing his hastiness, agrees with them. He decides those who made the decision to attack his men, should they still be alive, can wait until morning.
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As the sun begins to rise, camp begins waking back up. A few soldiers begin working on the tank, doing what they can to replace the controls, and get some of the bullet impacts hammered out. THere aren't many spare parts for it on hand. It will need refurbishment in a proper workshop. Two others begin gathering at the camp's gap in the wire with the canteens for the group. Stopping to light a smoke, there is a thunderous crack, and then a second, as both of them drop dead. You cannot see the shooters , but there are at least two marksmen out there hidden
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Max shouts for everyone to find cover before running into the tank's commanders position. He switches the vision to thermal and starts scanning the treeline, looking for the shooters.
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The bodies are cooling, and there is faint heat coming from across the woodline and plains in front of your encampment. Everyone else has gone to cover, and the marksmen are savvy enough at their job to not fire at targets they cannot hit
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Max looks at his gunner. "I'm going to get my armor on, then head out there and draw their fire. Keep your eyes open and kill these bastards before they kill me." He hops out of the tank using the escape hatch in the rear before moving up to his tent to put his power armor on before heading up to the front line, informing his men of his plan before he gets up and sprints to the first piece of cover he sees.
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Getting into the armor takes a few moments and you’re able to leap into cover. The sharpshooters aren’t able to get a shot off and don’t try to track the leap
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Max keeps pressing forward heading from cover to cover, moving towards the trees.
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(Crit/14. Other shot missed) A pair of glints from the wood line 50m in front of you is all you’re able to see before the eye lens of your helmet is shattered and a bullet punches through
02:46
Blood and alarms coat the inside of the storm armor , but you manage to keep your feet, vision swimming
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(Using my Warrior ability to dodge that) Max blinks back to reality just in time to see the muzzle flash, having thought briefly about what being shot in the head would feel like. He leaps forward 20 feet, landing and pulling out a magma grenade. "Lauch rockets where you see my grenade explode!" He calls out to the radio before chucking the grenade where the glints came from. (14 to hit with 13 regular, 7 fire damage) (edited)
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Rockets follow, sending any marksman who might be there to his death. (22/11) another shot pounds the helmet, and the entire thing cracks down the middle
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(Did he see where this one came from?)
01:50
(Also 32/71 hp) (edited)
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(You’d have to make a notice check on your turn, with all the smoke and fire and rockets Youre shooting off it’s hard to make out a glint ) (edited)
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(3 for notice/wis) Max is unable to see into the smoke and fire well enough to spot anything. He chooses to jump into the trees 20 meters, landing next to a tree.
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A shot misses, kicking up mud a handspan to your left. You’ve got their angle now, just not the distance from you
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Max heads towards the angle the shot came from, leaping 20 meters behind another tree before looking for the shooter again. (8 if you need another notice/wis check)
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(I Did ) (23/3) the sniper is 50m from about two thirds up a large tree. The shot from their weapon destroys your left gauntlet , and you feel the suits under layer systems inflate with air to try to stabilize any broken bones.
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(29/71 hp) Max aims and fires at the sniper in the tree (29/14, bursted)
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The sniper falls from his perch to slam into the ground at speed. He’s killed outright.
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Max moves up to his body, looking around as he moves for any more hostiles.
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It seems things are done for now. The ship has also arrived and is beginning its six hour burn to arrive here from the system entry point
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While he waits for the ship to arrive, Max starts looking over the bodies for the familiar faces he had been searching for.
02:46
He sends a message to the ship updating them on the situation on the ground as well
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THe woman with the children is here, lying face down near one of the ditches the rocket fire was coming from. A pack of 3 homemade rockets likely made by her own hand is on her back
15:26
Sh'es been shot through the chest, and her legs were removed from her body by one of the explosions
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Max looks down at her, not quite able to understand what motivated her to follow this path. 'Maybe if I had just talked to her...' he thinks to himself before looking around at the remaining bodies, trying to get a count as he walks back to the outpost to get some medical attention before the ship lands.
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It's hard to tell what belongs to who. The heavy weapon use was indiscriminate, though effective. You'd hazard a guess of 30 bodies here
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Max heads back to the outpost, checking on his men who are still living before looking for medical attention himself. (Good to jump to the ship landing if you don't have anything else.)
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(medical attention isn't going to do anything that the regular resting healing is going to do, i guess i just need to know what your plans are. Are you pulling out or what are we doing
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(I was planning on resting for a few days, getting the men aboard the ship so they can rest, before heading back down to the town to appeal to the townsfolk, try and convince them the bloodshed is only going to hurt everyone in the long run, and offer amnesty for those still alive who attacked his men.)
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(Well, let me know how many days are passing then)
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(Just two I think)
04:14
(Taking the ship back up to orbit)
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(are you recovering the tank/your camp)
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(Yes)
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Two days pass in space as you begin recovering from your time planetside
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While he is recovering, Max will check up with Daniels on Madden's state, as well as seeing if the prisoner from before is still in the brig.
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The prisoner has been taken into NMC custody back in the core worlds. Madden will live but has been discharged from service.
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Max nods after hearing this news before moving on to other issues. "Well, I'm happy he is okay at least. I'll stop and visit him when we return to Jagrati. Right now, we have bigger issues. I wanted to run my plan by you first. I am considering making an appeal directly to the people of this town as a whole, try and convince them working with us instead of against us, and that plan includes blanket amnesty for anyone who is still alive from the group of anarchists left. I don't want to leave this place devoid of so many bright people or leave anyone with the opinion we are here as conquerors, but I also don't want to lose the trust of my men who have seen friends and compatriots die here with no justice done. What do you think?"
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"You've spent the last few weeks trying to root them out. Blanket amnesty for what end though? You're intending to plant the NMC flag again, fine, but you're going to have to do more than offer forgiveness. Show them that whatever ends they're working towards, the NMC will be a better master"
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"Doing that requires some tangible proof we are here to stay for good and that will benefit them. That first day they gave us a list of their supply needs and we sent a message to Jagrati conveying them, were there any plans to send anything this way when you were at the capital?" (edited)
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"Not until the violence is resolved. THere were no guarantees the supplies wouldnt be turned against us or destroyed on the ground- a waste when other places could use them more"
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"Well, that is a good a place to start as any. I'm going to head down there and have a word with the people, see if I can talk some sense into them." Max says. He organizes a small squad and opts for his CFU over the badly damage power armor before hopping aboard the lighter and heading down to the surface.
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(how many people is a small squad)
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(6 total, what fits in the lighter)
16:02
(Including him)
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(Alright) Your cargo lighter breaks through the clouds, landing on the outskirts of town and droppnig off you and your five companions, everyone is armed, and armored, though keeping their weapons shouldered or slung
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Max leads the men over to the square and starts asking people if they could please ask their friends to come to the square so he could talk to everyone.
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You get a small but not pathetic following of people coming out, most can't be bothered to stop working, or are simly not at home
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(Apologies in advance for the wall) Max stands up on the fountain so everyone can hear him better before taking a big sigh and speaking. "When we first arrived I asked the people of this town what they needed because the NMC had abandoned them for so long. I was told you all needed ships, equipment, and defenses, but in order to get those things you needed the communications dish repaired. From that point on myself, my men, and anyone who helps me openly has been subject to violence. I've been to worlds where the Cooperative was that in name only, where the noble class and leaders were interested only in themselves and brought harm to anyone who opposed them. I try to prove by my actions my intentions are good, but before Jagrati had even received the message about the needs of this place, we dealt with booby traps at the communications center, a bombing attempt on the Greystar ship, mining charges killing 2 of my men and injuring more in the unfinished train tunnels when we went to investigate and were given no alternative but to defend ourselves with rifle fire. I came here to help because you all were abandoned, and now I cannot even make good on my word to bring supplies here. I am told there is too much risk those supplies will be wasted here due to the violence and there is only so much rebuilding we can do at one time. You all need to decide whether you are going to bend the knee to those who rule by both threats and acts of violence from the shadows or let us help you so you can rebuild and have a better life for yourselves and your children. My men and I are leaving as I have no desire to bring more death to this place of so few, but someone will return later. I hope by then you choose we are worth inviting back to your world so we can create a brighter future together." After finishing he steps down from the fountain before heading back to the town outskirts. (edited)
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There is no fanfare or much notice as you leave town. As you round a corner before heading out outward you see a symbol@painted onto the side of a building. It’s small, but the red paint stands out against the gray rock
13:21
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Max takes a picture of it with his compad, hoping whoever comes next has more success than he did. He hops aboard his ship and heads back to Jagrati.
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(5 days back)
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(19/90 heal-0) Max spends the journey back thinking about that symbol and his experience on the planet, and also what to tell the king who has come to expect more from him. When the ship arrives back at Jagrati his first stop is to the hospital Madden is staying at to see his condition for himself.
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(6xp , 10000 credits)
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(Level up to 8. HP 71->72, Notice 0->1, one sp banked)
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Max knocks on the door of Madden's room at the hospital. "Doing alright? Doc set you up well?" He says as he walks in. (edited)
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There is a hiss and pump of machines trying to keep him stable. His legs end in stumps, but you can see where the preliminary metal rings and nerve grafting have been set up to allow him to walk again someday but he has a long road ahead
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(Is he concious or no atm?)
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(like hafway)
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Max sits down in the chair next to his bed for a bit, the experience feeling a bit surreal. He waits for Madden to notice him before checking on how he is doing and if there is anything he can do for him.
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Madden spends a few more moments under a heavy dosage of sleep aids before stirring, rolling on his side to notice you there. He is quiet, reaching for a glass of water before replacing it and coughing.
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Max stands up and offers to help him sit up, handing him the water glass if he agrees.
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“What do you want?” He asks after a long moment. His voice is raspy
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"I came to apologize, and to make sure you were being taken care of. I know what you are going through and it's my fault you were there, its my fault I didn't see the trap. You trusted me to lead you safely and I let you down, along with everyone else. I know it doesn't mean much, but anything I can do I will."
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He nods. "I am...I'm surprised you're saying all this. I thought I was going to have to make some big speech"
02:23
"but who would listen" he says, groaning gently
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"What kind of speech did you think you would have to make?"
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"I just didn't think you'd care about the fate of your men (edited)
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"I'm back here now because I was tired of losing them. After the ship left with you aboard, I tried to investigate on my own. I missed a whole bunch of clues, got myself capture, then almost killed trying to. The night before the ship returned those cultists attacked. They killed 4 men that night, and two more the next morning with snipers before we secured the area. If my men don't trust me then I can't do my job, and we have already lost so many, losing more just isn't worth it unless we are able to gain something, and we weren't gaining anything at that point."
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he shrugs as best as he's able to. "Perhaps not. I dont know. You did what you thought was best'
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"Hindsight is always 20/20." He says before pausing. "Have you given any thought to what you are going to once you recover?"
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“Not really. This is the longest I’ve been awake , including the flight over “
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"Well, I'll let you get some rest then. I'll stop by and check on you next time I'm planetside." Max says before getting up and leaving. He sets up a meeting with King Devers to inform him of what transpired on Iragarte.
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(did you want to play that out?)
23:16
(i know you're feeling a bit crunched with your surgery coming up)
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(If its just a conversation thats fine. Ill only be out for a couple days when the surgery hits)
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(I'm fine with handwaving it since I want to find some npcs to fill a few defined roles for his ship)
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(Sure let’s do it)
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After meeting with King Devers, Max heads to the naval headquarters to find some skilled personnel to fill specific roles. (Basically I'm looking to fill out his bridge crew with a doctor, engineer, and quartermaster. I feel like Daniels fills in the role of tactical advisor well as his second in command.)
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(If you're just trying to make some names we can do that, we're following normal NPC rules here since you have a companion NPC already , and you don't have the henchkeeper foci. They won't be any better than stock peaceful NPCs) (edited)
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(I know, I just had this listed as a goal, so I assumed I would have to go through some kind of work for it. It was listed as a 3xp goal)
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(Just laying it out ahead of time)
04:09
The naval headquarters on Jagrati is a large building that has seen better days. Entire wings of it are not used anymore since there are too few people and too few ships to manage. It is tall, columned, with peaked roofs tiled with terra cotta. Ivy grows up some of the walls in the less attended sections of the grounds. A squad of naval officer cadets is drilling in the courtyard, doing pushups and sprints from one end to the other. Drill leaders guide them through the process, yelling every step of the way
04:10
THe main doors are opened for you by two cadets in naval uniforms, who salute and continue looking forward rather than at you
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Max walks in, remembering the days he spent here after he graduated from university. The building was bustling with activity, officers and attendants rushing back and forth with all kinds of orders and communiques. Visiting it now reminded him just how far the NMC had fallen. He adopts the correct posture an officer of his rank should adopt, removing his cover before heading to the front desk. "Hello, I'm Captain Buchannon of the NMS Emissary. I'm looking for some officers to complete my ship's compliment." (edited)
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A form is passed through a gap in the glass window, and there are several different boxes for you to fill in the specialties being searched for
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Max fills out the gaps for medical, engineering, and quartermaster/armorer before checking the back and filling in the couple pointless questions hidden there. He signs off and slides it back across.
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You're able to requisition the roles you need, and by the end of the day your register is staffed with academy recruits who have shown promise .
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Max reviews their files during his walk back to the docks, looking over them for reliability or noble links, anything which could create problems for him moving forward while he looks for evidence against the nobility.
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(Well, you said you dont want to fight, or investigate, or really much of anything I'd reasonably have you go do, so its up to you where this goes)
03:29
(I'm at a loss for what to set up)
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(I think the main problem I was facing when I said that was last mission felt like anytime I made a mistake I was putting my characters life on the line. Just doing some basic investigation on Jagrati digging through bureaucratic crap and stuff like that I'm more than happy to do. I just needed a break from every decision and bad roll feeling like it was ruining my chances of moving forward, whether that was true or not. I just wanted a break from every mission being something really heavy)
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(I'll have to figure something out)
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(I'm fine with just starting the break early that way I'll be recharged for whatever you think up)
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(sure. I don't think you magically finding evidence on the nobles because we're unwilling to do any other quests makes sense, so we can pause until you're able to feel better)
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(Sorry for all this, I don't mean to be difficult, life is just being life rn)
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(Ready whenever you are)
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(I'm ready whenever you are. When we left things off you didn't really want to do anything, not sure what you'[re capable of now)
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(I'm fine with whatever you want to do now)
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(There's plenty going on)
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(I think finishing investigating these new recruits for any potential moles before heading west to explore ariturri and the prison planet is a good plan)
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There are no possible moles, since nobody knows what you're working on.
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Max decides it will be easier to learn about the new recruits and their loyalty best through missions rather than paperwork. When he arrives at the Emissary he has the new officers meet him and Daniels in the main conference room.
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The recruits arrive, and seem to be in good spirits, eager to get to work
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"So, my name is Maxwell Buchannon. If you want to address me sir or captain will suffice, any noble references are unnecessary. This is First Lieutenant Daniels, my executive officer. Our missions are important, and often times dangerous. Every planet we have been to so far has had some level of armed resistance against renewed NMC control. Despite this, it is the policy of this unit to attempt peaceful reincorporation first. We will be heading west to explore a few planets to see if there are any NMC citizens still out there in need of help before heading back through a former prison planet to see if a full evacuation is possible. Are there any questions?"
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There are none (the non violent prisoners on Kamal have been evacuated already)
18:46
(all thats left is the supermax prison and i think it was decided they're going to be left to fend for themselves)
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(Ah, okay)
18:49
"Let's get to work then. Dismissed." Max says before heading back to the bridge.
18:50
(Armor repairs would just be for flavor right?)
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(Yeah just flavor unless you’re modding it)
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Max ensures his armor repairs were completed before turning to his bridge crew. "Let the Logistician know we are preparing to depart. Helm, let's get underway." He says as the helmsman turns on the whistle signalling the crew to make the ship ready to depart before she slowly makes her way to orbit, meeting the logistics ship and making the first spike drill to Benavides on the way to Ariturri. (Going Benavides->Maryam->Ariturri. The Logistician has the fuel fittings necessary to bring the Emissary along, refueling at each stop) (edited)
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(Stopping to do anything on the way?)
00:43
(I think I’ve got to generate Maryam too)
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(Its on the world anvil as being a barren planet) (edited)
01:26
Upon arriving at Benavides, Maxwell checks in with the surface to see if there are any outstanding issues the locals need dealt with aside from the shaper brain work being done by Dr. Newman and Verethragna.
01:26
(If there is anything here I'll go ahead and stop to take a look at it)
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No Biosphere No Atmosphere No Inhabitants TL 0 Maryam is an empty desert world, cleansed by the Fleshshapers. The Shapers had not been here long enough to plant the grove of red trees most end-stage worlds were seeded with. Its moon, and two other planets in the system with it have likewise always been lifeless balls of rock.
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Max takes a big gulp, trying not to look too nervous, as the ships head to Ariturri.
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(23/90 to heal-0 assuming 9 days of downtime)
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(I just have to generate what’s there aside from your own personal thing)
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Ariturri is a system with a single habitable planet, a large gas giant, and a bright yellow sun. The planet has one moon, and is the site of where a fight against the shapers had taken place. Shaper ground troops had made planetfall here, and a handful of fortified communities are now all that is left. Ruins dot the surface of the planet marking where the tides of war had swept away other less prepared or less defended pockets of human settlement.
14:15
There are no House Buchannon codes being transmitted from the surface.
14:18
Three landmasses to the east defy attempts at mapping them from the air, and come back just a general blank regions.
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Maxwell, on approaching his home system, is amazed there are still pockets of human civilization left at all. He had the communications officer send out an NMC greeting to the planet as a whole, asking for their status and permission to land a lighter to bring whatever spare supplies the ship can offer. He figures the part about him being a member of one of the noble houses that previously ran in fear instead of evacuating the people can wait until he is on the surface and hopefully not being shot at. (edited)
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(where did you want to try to land?)
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(At any of the fortified communities left)
14:24
(Whoever will let him land)
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(pick one please)
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(Whichever is the largest then first. If they all will see him he will land at each of them in turn to try and help.) (edited)
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(Pick. One. Please.
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(The biggest one)
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“The biggest one” doesn’t seem to be a place on the map and your navigator is unable to chart a course
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(I meant landing the lighter at the largest fortified bastion of humans on the planet)
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The information you’re looking for isn’t discernible from space
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Max decides to hop in the lighter and fly down into the atmosphere to try and establish the location of any humans left on the planet.
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You can sense ground stations tracking you in the named areas but hails are not replied to. They’ve heard who you are and that the NMC has returned. Their reactions to the news are indeterminate based on a simple lighter overflight
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Maxwell starts by messaging Fort Bearded requesting permission to land, and asking them to please not shoot him down as he approaches.
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Fort Bearmead acknowledges the hail but does not deactivate its surface to air system as you approach. There are no banners or pennants hanging on its ramparts and the soldiers are in iconless uniforms as far as a long range scan can show you
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(So they are training on him but haven't fired yet?)
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(Right. Theyre in range to do it and have been but didnt)
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Max heads towards the fort, looking for a place to land outside near it. (He is wearing his storm armor in this case but it was never decorated with his house colors at all, and his uniform underneath doesn't have them either)
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(NMC colors though, I presume)
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(Yeah)
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The lighter lands 250m from the main gate, where a small squad of soldiers is mustering to make its way over to you, led by a squad sergeant
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Maxwell hops out, leaving his weapons in the lighter before walking towards them slowly in as nonthreatening a manner as someone wearing power armor can move.
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(I did have an idea for that plot point, but I'm a bit concerned it might be too big of a change, could we talk it over in PMs before we move forward?)
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(Sure)
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THe soldiers have their weapons shouldered, but seem ready. Devoid of markings beyond anything other than the Cooperative as a whole, the officer does not salute, but he does offer a greeting. "You didn't announce your name, or family, just New Moon Cooperative. I'm afraid without that information we can't let you get any closer to the fort, though if you're in need of food or fuel we can assist you"
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Max takes off his helment. "My name is Maxwell Buchannon, Captain of the Royal Huscarls. I was told years ago this planet was wiped out by the Shapers, but there have been other worlds this close to the shaper home which have had people left. I came here knowing I would either find a barren wasteland or human survivors who would hear my name and instantly hate me, but I came anyway and would like to offer whatever assistance I can to help with whatever problems the people of this planet may be having." (edited)
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“The fort is probably the best spot on the planet to be right now. We have good. We have fuel. And we make enough to be able to share modest amounts
04:57
Your family though. You shouldn’t use that name here. If you’d have landed anywhere else you’d be facing a lynch mob right now”
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"I know, its a very hated name and for very good reasons. My parents told me this place was destroyed and tried to use that as an excuse to take over another planet. I refused to be a part of it and helped land them in jail for a very long time. I left this place to try and turn my name into something good, but here it will take a lot of work. Tell your commander I am thankful he was willing to send anyone to meet me, and if you hear of any problems please let me know. I hope my actions and those of my men should they be needed will convince the people here to give the Cooperative a second chance. You men stay safe." He says, putting his helmet back on before turning back and climbing into the lighter. He takes off with a big sigh of relief before heading towards Kentdean, sending a friendly hail identifying himself simply as Captain Maxwell Fredricks of the NMC wishing to land to discuss help. He also sent a quick message instructing his ship and his men to refer to him by this name until otherwise instructed while they were on this planet.
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Kentdean does not reply to this set of hails either, and the city has little transmission traffic going between it and the other settlements
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Max heads towards the city, keeping his eye on the weapons lock alert.
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There isn't one tracking you from here, though you see crewed anti aircraft artillery on many of the building tops, and soldiers in unadorned uniforms nearby them on normal rotations
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Max slows down, as he comes into visual range, making it easy to see the NMC symbols on his lighter as he tries to send friendly transmissions to the city again now that he is almost on top of it.
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The city only replies by lighting up a landing pad at the top of city hall. You can see a squad of soldiers is forming on the roof to meet the descending craft
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Max brings the lighter down slowly, landing on the roof. He leave the lighter, his weapons still inside, and walks up to meet the men formed on the roof.
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You're met with security, and the officer in charge removes his helmet, regarding you coldly. "Captain, so I see the NMC has finally decided to return"
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Max removes his helmet as well. "Well, we were told by certain fleeing nobles the entire planet had been wiped out. It wasn't until recently when ships ventured west to explore the territory out here we found worlds with survivors. When we discovered them, plans were drawn up for us to visit this system to see if traitor's words could be trusted or not. One more reason to add to the long list responsible for their incarceration. I'm Maxwell Fredricks, commander of the Royal Huscarls. I'm here to see if I can help solve problems for the people here, and maybe in doing so persuade you all to give the NMC a second chance."
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"That's going to be a tall order here. We've endured in spite of the NMC, after being left for dead- not because of their help. You've got a lot of work ahead of you, especially after everything the Buchannons did to us with theirpermission"
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"One thing I've learned is the noble houses do what they want. If the remaining members of that house were not all in prison I would be looking for documents to use against them in court. I know it will be a tall order, but the people here and elsewhere deserve better than what the nobility has brought upon them with their greed and indifference. All I'm asking for is a chance to start building trust that things will be different now. What is the biggest problem you all are having right now I could help you with?" (edited)
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"Overland travel between us and the fort, bandits are rife all along the route and only 2 shipments in 10 make it through. If you could make those bandits go away, however you manage it, we might think a bit more highly" (edited)
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"Do you have any idea where these bandits are hiding?"
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"Along the road between us and the fort, if we knew where they were beyond that we'd have handled it ourselves"
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"I'll head back up to my ship and muster my men outside of town. There will be a very large tank with us, just to be warned." Max says, saying goodbye before hopping back in the lighter and heading back up to the ship. He heads up to the bridge first, seeing if his ships scanners can locate where the bandit camp is.
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The scanners are not fine enough to find what sounds like a small collection of people in the middle of the wilderness
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"Well, I guess we are doing this the old fashion way." He gets 10 men together, two in the tank with him and the other 8 in a squad riding on top. During the trip back after dropping the tank off to start, Max makes a small detour to look for the camp from the air.
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The lighter does not have more advanced sensors than the ship does, and the dense forest along the roads, and rough highlands between is likewise unable to be seen through. Daniels also suspect the highwaymen will not be stupid enough to try and attack a tank, and will likely just lie low and let you pass.
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Max thinks about that, realizing they could set an ambush of their own during the next shipment if the authorities in Kentdean agree. He asks them when the next shipment from the fort is due before bringing the tank back up, coming down with 11 men this time, one squad of 5 with him in the trucks with the other squad of 6 following about 100 meters behind in the trees.
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(They’re not going to be able to keep up with trucks if they’re on foot)
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(Just have them all hide in the trucks then)
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The next shipment is due to leave the fort tomorrow though the overland journey normally takes a few days at least depending on weather conditions
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Max musters his men at the fort and has them all find places in the truck where they can easily get out but are not immediately visible. He also decides to leave another squad on standby at the fort in the lighter in case they are in need of reinforcements.
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The convoy is five trucks, each of them a long and flat bodied cargo variant of the standard work truck, with canvas backs on them and a rear section made of treads.
16:12
A cabin allows room for a driver and passenger, and air cover is expected to peel off after the first few kilometers
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(Are we driving the convoy as well or are locals?)
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(I was under the impression you’re hiding in the front and back trucks since that’s what you said you’re doing)
22:54
(So locals doing everything else, since you’re hiding )
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Captain Buchanan, I'm the next guy who has to investigate the cult on Igratus, and you're the first lead I've got. Could you give me a quick rundown on what you know of their goals and methods, and any possible leads? Things that'd help are their goals (World domination? Fucking with the NMC?) Their methods (Terrorism? Blackmailing/infiltrating the government?) and any leads you might have. Thanks, Voidsman Dukyra
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(Okay)
08:19
Max splits his men up two to each truck, with one man in the cab and one hiding in the bed, with himself in the first truck. He places the two men additional men with the heavy weapons in the second and fourth truck.
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Capt Thanks for the good wishes. Id been hoping for more, but when its a shadowy cult thats probably naive. Ill let you know how it goes once ive wrapped up. Take care, voidsman Dukyra
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Incoming Long Distance Communique From: Linya Maxwell, its been a while since Iragarte. Did you manage to clear things up there? And how is Madden, and the other injured, pulling through?
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(Theyd probably still need set up time in the event you’re using them, as we don’t know what side an ambush could come from)
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(That takes a minute correct?)
14:26
(Or they could just be bringing some rockets this time to make things simpler. We don't know if they have vehicles or not)
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(It’s a round in combat. So six ish seconds )
16:38
(Well, decide then. )
16:38
(Just let me know what you pick. Don’t forget launchers have a -4 when shooting at man sized objects )
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(If its just a round ill take the hmgs.) Once his men are all in position he gets in the cab of the lead truck and the convoy heads off. (edited)
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The area to the immediate south of the fort is a brown stained lowland of bogs and marshes. Low hanging mist clings to the pools of water that neber seem to evaporate and the men pull thermal clothes tighter to their necks to try to keep out more of the cold
02:00
The convoy is usually not running into trouble with the fort and its close air support so close
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They keep moving south, keeping their eyes open as they leave the area of protective air support.
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(Notice/wis)
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There is a shift in the terrain as the ground changes before you and the drivers begin to get nervous. The trucks bunch up as theyre hemmed into a single lane road with trees in each side. A single figure stands in the road 200m ahead, weapon held in front of his chest
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Maxwell flicks over to his squad communications. "We've got company, everyone keep your eyes open. If you see anyone moving in the trees with weapons, open fire." He then messages his reinforcements on the lighter, letting them know of his position and to move to standby a kilometer out. After this he grabs his weapon and gets out of the truck, walking up to 100m from the man to see what is going on. (edited)
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A pair of rockets fly out from the trees at your very close air cover , striking the underside of the lighter and blowing out its belly. The bandits must have mistaken it for a cargo craft. You can hear the mayday from the pilots as they struggle to maintain enough control to crash elegantly , and at the back of the column the heavy machine gun in the rearmost truck with one begins opening fire with long, sawing bursts
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Maxwell curses under his breath. "GET OUT OF THE TRUCKS AND GET TO COVER!" He shouts as he brings his rifle up at the bandit in front of him and fires. (Rolled 4 on initiative, 28/13 on the burst from the rifle)
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(I got an 8, so that’ll happen next)
15:12
(Once I figure out my move )
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(Want me to roll for his men or are they going at the same time?)
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(They’ll go when you do)
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Gunfire sparks off your armor and stitches the side of the vehicle, flattening a tire and destroying a side-board. One of the machine gun crew is hit, and wounded. Three rebels emerge from the wood 20m away and your shot downs one, before they return fire. their shots once again miss
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Max heads for cover before aiming at another bandit and firing again. His men follow the cue and start getting out of the trucks and into cover at the edge of the treeline, firing at the bandits they can see while the healthy machinegunner sprays into the trees to suppress anyone there. One of the marines takes over for the wounded man on the machine gun, spending his turn getting it setup properly again. (29/7 for the burst from Max, 5 damage on the suppression from the machine gun, 23/10 15/12 20/6 21/7 19/9 and 21/11 for the marines firing at whatever bandits are visible) (edited)
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This seems to have driven them off, leaving just a few bodies behind that you can see. There is a large fire in the woods where the lighter is burning heartily now. There are a few survivors on personal radios trying to get their bearings, and making their way to you
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Max gathers a squad of four men and heads over to the lighter crash survivors, leaving the rest to guard the trucks.
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"Heading over" means a long trek through woods that the bandits know best. Saying it and doing it turn out to be very different things, evidenced by the second man in the column having his head turned into pink mist by a concealed marksman somewhere ahead of you, as you all stomp through the brush
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Max instructs his remaining men to take cover and keep their eyes peeled for the sniper while he draws fire. He gets up and runs to a tree ten meters away, looking for the sniper. (edited)
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(notice/wis)
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You see the glint from a scope on the ground, 50m ahead of you in some very thick vegitation
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Max aims and fires at the glint with a burst from his rifle. (25/15)
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If you havent killed him , you've at least discouraged his occupation of that spot. The rifle glint disappears
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Max flicks on the thermal vision his suit offers once the glint disappears, using it to see if there is any movement from the sniper as he circles around quietly, keeping his ears open for signs of any other team members that may be lurking around.
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You'renot able to see anything in the thick brush indicating someone might be there
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Max moves up to the brush looking for the body, or a blood trail if the body isn't there.
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There is a blood trail moving deeper into the woods, through some wooded but hilly terrain
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Max motions for his men to move up to his position. "Fan out, 10 meter spacing, stay low and keep your eyes peeled for any disturbances. If you see anything motion to the rest of us." He says to them before following the blood trail as quietly as possible.
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They find the body 50m ahead in a thicket, still clutching the rifle. The other holds a picture of a family that is likely gone now for a man like this to resort to banditry
😟 3
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Max picks up the rifle and picture. He hands the rifle off to one of his men and pockets the picture before patting down the body to look for any maps or other intelligence the man may be carrying. "Let's head over to the crash site. Stay low and quiet, I don't want to lose anyone else." He tells his men before checking in with the troops at the convoy for a status update. (edited)
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The convoy is fine, stopped but no longer under attack. Your sally out into the woods and the crash of the lighter is more heat than the bandits were prepared to deal with, and have broken off their attack
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Max and his squad move quietly through the bushes to the crash site, keeping their eyes peeled for any remaining bandits.
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You feel the wall of heat and see the smoke long before you make to to the crash site. The bandits seem to have made it here first, and only a few of your troopers remain, trying to recover bodies and nurse the wounded. Several of them have been shot rather then injured by wounds in the actual lighter crash itself
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Maxwell has two of his remaining squad sit on overwatch while he and the remaining marine head over to help stabilize the wounded and prepare to bring them back to the convoy.
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The survivors are gathered, and remain too injured to do much of anything right now.
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(Can we move them as they are or do we need to make some kind of stretchers to carry the ones who can't walk?)
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(they can walk)
20:05
(there are stretchers for the ones that cant
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Max has the remaining members of his squad help carry the stretchers back to the trucks. He tells them to stay as low and quiet as they can while he watches the rear of the column. He calls up another group of two from the convoy to scout the area between the crash and the road as quietly as they can and meet them halfway to help escort everyone back. (edited)
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They escort everyone back, and the group is now re-united. The lighter is a total loss.
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Max makes sure to grab the body of the fallen soldier and places him in the rearmost truck. The wounded are given space in the second and third truck, with the machine gun from the second truck moving to the first. Once this is done and everyone is comfortable, they set off for the next leg of the journey, keeping their eyes peeled for more bandits, the surprise of their presence now gone.
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the trashing was more than anyone was prepared for, and the bandits do not attack again as the trucks continue their journey south, to the settlement of destination. (3xp, 5000 credits)
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Once they arrive, Max looks around the city to see if he can find a replacement lighter, functional or requiring repair, to take the wounded men to his ship for treatment.
16:54
(Will use the plot point to find one if needed)
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(you would need it yeah)
17:57
You're able to find a surplus model, two generations old in one of the scrap yards here that the surviving pilot thinks he can fix. Lighters were never meant to be much more than simple ships to get from space to the surface, and the rocket attack wasnt a surprise to him
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Maxwell apologizes for getting him shot down and decides when they get home to look into acquiring a sturdier form of air transportation. He spends some time helping him get the lighter fixed. Once it is functional and the wounded men are heading up to the ship for treatment he looks for someone in charge to discuss what they need next.
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The bandit problem has not been solved, and if anything has been made worse- emboldened by successfully shooting down a Cooperative aircraft and holding their own in a short running skirmish against official government troops
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(Where on the map roughly did his men run into the bandits on the way from the fort to Kentdean?)
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(halfway along the route, so right before the ashland pass)
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(Would he remember what those ruins on the northern side of the pass and above the mountains on the map used to be, or are those just decoration?) (edited)
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(It would have been a village once )
02:55
(But now it’s ruined)
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Max gathers together his 14 healthy marines and the Redeemer just outside of town. He explains his plan to take a small squad to the ruined village just northwest of the end of the pass to see if it serves as the bandit stronghold, bringing the rest of the men in if that is the case. He waits for any questions before he loads his men up on the top of the tank and they set off.
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They have none, and you set off across the continent again for the ruins of the village, your small squad sitting on the running track guards of the tank
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Max sits on the top of the tank, letting Daniels sit in the commander's seat, and scans the horizon as they traverse through the countryside and Ashenland Pass, planning to pull off the road just before the end of the pass, about 20 km away from the site of the bandit encounter.
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There isnt any disturbance on your way to the zone. You do pass the lighter wreck and can see the locals have stripped it down to its barest skeleton and frame
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Max disembarks with a squad of four and leads them into the nearby trees, keeping low and quiet as they move towards the village with eyes open.
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(Would he have fullfilled the goal of examining the remains of Ariturri? Also added another goal for convincing the planet to rejoin by choice)
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(not really, i think a momentary glimpse at 2 settlemnets is far from the full picture)
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(Okay, works for me)
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(Sneak/dex)
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You’re not detected as you get to the settlement outskirts. You see evidence of a cook fire in the center of town , but it’s small- made by only a small group of people and likely not your bandits
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Max has his men stay hidden at the edge of the settlement while he moves into the settlement with his rifle lowered for the time being, looking for the people who occupy the settlement. "Hello, anyone here? Not here for any trouble I just want to talk."
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There is a clang of a metal pot falling over as someone tries to scrabble away from the light quickly, surprised by the sudden voice from the darkness
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Max runs up to the campsite. "I'm not with the bandits, I'm from the NMC! I just want information!"
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“What do you want?” The female voice from the darkness calls out
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"I want to get rid of the bandits in the area, I just was wondering if you all had any information about where their base might be. I'm not here to hurt anyone." He says, letting his rifle hand on its sling attachment, bringing his hands up to show they are empty. (edited)
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“You don’t get rid of the bandits they’ll know you’re there because we tipped you. Shallow graves on the side of the road for us”
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"You could come back to town with me, or if that is too dangerous for whatever reason I could give you passage on my ship back to Jagrati. I'd be happy to help you all."
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(talk/cha)
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(13)
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"Alright, we can figure that out then. What did you want to know?'
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"My men and I are out here looking to convince the planet to rejoin the NMC, and the first task they gave me was to remove the bandit problem. Would you happen to know where their base is? Also, my name is Maxwell by the way."
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"You're traveling very heavy for being Just Maxwell" she says from the dark, noting your combat gear
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"My full name is Captain Maxwell Fredricks, Royal Huscarls."
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"I thought as much. Royalty at least. You want the planet to rejoin the NMC, but I don't think its what the planet wants"
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"I just work for the king, I'm not royalty myself, thankfully. This planet is my home, I was away when the shapers attacked finishing my training and was finally able to return out here to see if the Buchannon's tale of it being wiped out was true. I'm trying to see if I can convince the people here to give the NMC a second chance by doing some good deeds and helping the people who are in need." (edited)
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"So thats why you'e trying to handle the bandits. They attacked a convoy the other day, shot down a cargo transport flying overhead an everything"
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"I know, I and some of my men were there. And the transport was carrying reinforcements for the engagement, thankfully most of them survived. Do you know where the bandits' camp is? These people need to be brought to justice."
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"They hang out in the ruins of a paper mill, deeper in the forest. They don't venture out unless there's a convoy. Even exchanged some nice words and a meal with them once. Seems like they're just trying to get by too"
16:10
"Leader has a major issue with the NMC though, something about the Buchannons leaving his family to die while he was off fighting for them'
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Maxwell sighs. "Sounds about right. Fucking nobility does nothing but make my job harder. Alright, thank you for your information. Now to hold up to my end of the bargain, where would you like me to take you?"
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"Jagrati. I have family there. Wasn't able to get off world, couldn't afford a ticket. Jobs weren't easy to come by either"
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"I can have my ships cargo lighter meet you and whoever else is with you a few kilometers down the road in the pass if you are alright walking for a bit. I'll send one of my men with you for some protection until you get there. Is that acceptable?"
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"Alright, fair play. Thanks for thinking of me'
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"By the way, what's your name?"
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'I'd rather keep it to myself. You won't be able to give me up when they torture you to death this way"
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"Uh-huh. Right." Max says as he calls the lighter down to a position in the pass, about 10 kilometers away, instructing them to keep the passenger on guard while on the ship just for safety. He then looks on his map of the area for the paper mill ruins she told him about.
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(Would a map of the general area help?)
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(If you want to, I'm fine either way.)
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Captain Buchannan, I Managed to clear up the Iragarte situation. Thanks for the information you gave me earlier, it was valuable. Im not sure about your security clearance so I cant give you the whole report, but I essentially tracked down the rebels and let the marines take care of the heavy lifting. Please tell me if you hear anything of the Still Lady, she was the rebels patron and I suspect shes active on more worlds. Voidsman Dukyra Ps, im about to search the anisahn ironwood forests for shaper survivors. Do you have any idea where I should send them? Im planning on hounding down social service networks to warn them of the coming influx if you dont.
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(If you search henri log 1 youll find the report, no need to re-write it)
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(I already read it on your thread earlier)
👍 1
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Pinned a message.
03:33
The mill complex has grazing animalsm outside of it, and a large wheat field to feed them, and several buildings dot the fenced in complex. You see twenty bandits outsie, and there are undoubtedly more within the buildings not on duty right now.
03:33
The mill is gently turning in the wind, its equipment tooled to now provide wind power for minor appliances and lights rather than cutting logs or milling flour (edited)
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Max looks down at the compound through his binoculars from a wooded hillside a few hundred meters away before handing them to Daniels. "I am going to go down there and see if I can solve this without violence. There is a chance I may know this man and despite what these folks have done my family's actions left them no option but this. Position the men in the trees to the south and west, bring the tank up the road if they start shooting at me." He says before a deep sigh. "Any observations aside from me blowing our tactical surprise for a slim chance of everyone staying alive?" He asks her as he stands up.
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They don’t seem to have any, aside from a sudden surprise alpha strike on the base, but only if violence is called for
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Max lets his men work their way towards their jump off points before he makes his was down the road towards the base.
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(What's your plan for approaching these guys. I don't want to just throw you into a situation)
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(He's just walking up the road with his rifle on his sling hanging down.)
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(right, but how close?)
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(About 100 meters away he will stop and see if anyone walks out to meet him)
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Two men emerge from a guard shack with weapons raised as you get close. “That’s close enough stranger. What do you want?”
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"My name is Captain Maxwell Fredricks, NMC Royal Huscarls. My men and I have been sent to prevent supply convoy losses and I would like to resolve this peacefully if I can rather than starting with force. To do that I need to meet with your commander."
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(Talk/cha)
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(12)
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"Fredricks? something familiar about you, your face. Like I've seen you on a poster or something before"
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Max sighs, figuring he might as well be up front about things. "That's because my parents are the assholes who abandoned you all here so they could run away and try to steal another planet. I wanted to get a chance to help the people of this planet but doing it under a false name is the only way for everyone not to shoot me on sight. But you all do seem to recognize me, so I'd rather get off on a bad foot now than a worse one later. I owe you all at least that much because of what my family has put you through."
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"Alright, well the commandant will appreciate the honesty. I know I do. We'll have to ask for your weapons, and for you to remove your armor. No one will touch it. Then we'll bring you to him"
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"Alright. Let me just communicate to my men what's going on." Max informs his men he is going to see the commandant before removing his arms and armor and turning back to the guards with a nervous sigh. "Lead on." (edited)
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You're brought into the camp to the windmill itself which has another set of guards around it. Most of the camp is on duty right now, probably due to the recent attack on the convoy- which was more violence than they're used to. you're frisked for weapons once more before the wooden door is opened and youre left to climb the stairs to the third floor, where the bandit chieftain sits behind a looted desk, with his handgun sitting on its surface.
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(Does Max recognize the man?)
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(No, thought everyone you knew here was dead )
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(Was just double checking before he said anything.)
04:02
"Honestly surprised you agreed to meet with me. Most people would rather just try to kill me instead when I ask to talk. Last place I expected that to happen was this planet." (edited)
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"You were honest enough with my men. Some slimy bellied noble wouldnt have done that, probably. Think its safe to use our real names. As long as you remain civil , this conversation doesnt need to be violent and youll be allowed to leave even if we don't come to an accord" (edited)
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Max sits down opposite him at the desk. "That sounds agreeable to me. My real name as you probably have figured out is Maxwell Buchannon. I learned from some research that you and your men were once in service to my family and were left to face the wrath of the commoners when my parents ran to scheme and plot another day. What is your name?"
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"I was just a trooper back then. I didn't have the post I have now. Delay, though, was my name. Trooper Delay back then"
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"I never gave my parents enough time to explain what happened here, not that I would have believed them. There are worlds between this one and Jagrati that were wiped clean by the shapers, how did this world survive?"
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"they went to Benavides first, and were stopped there. It was quite a battle from the understanding we have here""
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"It was, though we lost a lot of good people. I was a fighter pilot before I lost my leg over Nida and afterwards they put me in charge of training the new pilot recruits. About half my former students died on that day alone. Did my parents leave because of the uprising then?" (edited)
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"the uprising was happening when they left. If we're the only cause..." he shrugs his arms
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"I can guess most raids don't have the level of violence the last one did."
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"Most do not, my men reacted to the presence of security, and bringing down that shuttle was a chance for extra supply. Couldn't pass it up"
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"Unfortunately the shuttle was full of my men and not supplies, and lead to a shootout." Max says with a sigh. "I presume your connection to my family means a death sentence for you and your men if you were to leave the wilderness for a proper settlement?" (edited)
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"I was just a trooper then, my role in all of it probably is insignificant, but I think my bigger problem now is being hung for banditry.
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"Well. I may have a solution for that. All they care about is making sure the supplies flow. They never said how to deal with you all. I'm not sure if I have space on my ship or the logistics ship at the moment, but I could look into bringing you all to a different planet. Jagrati, Tavgularis, Anisah, and Viggis are all safe planets and could give you all a chance to start over. I have a large amount of stipend provided to me by the crown I have no use for, you all would be welcome to some of it as well." (edited)
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"I think we'd need to leave. As long as we're here local laws are going to hound us, and a blanket pardon from the crown might not mean anything to an over-zealous mayor. We both know where my problems with the planet authorities come from. No reason to keep picking at an old wound"
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"How many people do you have with you here?"
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"How about this, how many could you transport right now?" (edited)
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(I'll get back to you about how much room I have.)
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Max thinks for a second before pulling up a map of the sector on his compad. "My ship usually travels with as near of a full compliment as it can. We had a couple spaces taken up by some folks who helped us find you, but we can move them to the logistics ship, it operates with a skeleton crew since they just need to fly it and pump gas. With my men and I off the ship and staying here, along with our tank and the replacement lighter and its crew we could make room for 17-18 people. The journey would be 8 days to Jagrati and the same back, would give me a chance to replace my injured marines with new ones and leave however many crew are needed to make space for the rest of you. We will have more business here on the planet I'm sure and I could just tell the local government I am sending some refugees back to Jagrati or injured men for proper treatment, both are technically true. In exchange the rest of you would have to take it easy for a few weeks while we wait for my ship to return. I'd personally make sure everyone of your men receives a pardon for their actions and a piece of that stipend to start over. Does that sound agreeable?" (edited)
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“I think that’s the best deal we are going to get. Nobody in this camp chose this life as a first resort. I want you to know that. “
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"I do. The fact that you allowed me to come in here and talk to you demonstrates your desire for a normal life." Max says before he gives a call to Daniels and then the ship informing them of the plan. Once he is done he turns back to Devin. "Everything is in place, the lighter should be down in about 20 minutes for the first batch of men, it can carry six men at a time so it will take a while. I'm going to head back out to my men and get them organized for the trip back to town."
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He doesnt have anything else to say, and you're not harassed as you leave the camp, and return to your armor, and your men
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Max and his men get themselves organized and hang around until the third lighter flight lifts off before making their way back down south. Max makes sure everyone is checked for weapons upon arriving on the ship just as a precaution. He has the lighter crew land back at the town once they are finished and the ship leaves the system.
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(The stipend he was talking about is just his personal funds. Each person will get 1000 credits to start over with, so right now I'm deducting 18,000 for the ones traveling back in the first load)
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(sounds good to me)
15:50
The weapons are checked in, and everyone is loaded aboard who can fit in this run.
15:51
(3xp, 5000 credits)
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Once his men arrive back at the town, Max looks to report the bandit problem has been taken care of.
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Theyve got nothing to do but take your word for it. One act alone is likely not enough to sway the worlds opinion, but a body of works always begins with one deed
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"Do you know of any other problems I can assist you with?" Max asks whatever bureaucrat he reports to.
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(I’ll come up with something )
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(Sounds good)
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There is some desire to have the lands to the east scouted, as no one is sure what has happened there since the time of the scream. Ruins also accompany the desert to the south, and some of the northern islands. Anything that might be recovered would be welcome.
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(So basically just scouting all the ruin locations on the world map?)
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(we can start with 1 and see how it goes)
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(Alright) Max and his men hop on the Redeemer and head to the ruins to the south first. He leaves the cargo lighter on standby in town to transport if they find anything. (edited)
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(d100 if you please, when time allows)
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(22)
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The ruins are desiccated. Atomic weaponry was used here, and you can see scorches on the surviving skeletal walls amid the glassed desert sands. This was once one of the centers of Buchannon power, though not the location of the manor itself. A large garrison once existed here, along with warehouse rows of the family goods.
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(Would the redeemer's advanced sensors be able to detect background radiation? I checked the book and it doesn't say they can but there also doesn't seem to be another fitting that could possibly do that.)
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(It could sense radiation. There is radiation)
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"Alright guys, there are signs of radiation ahead. Setup a camp in the safe area, the Redeemer will move and sit at the town outskirts to cover me while I check the town." Max says, wishing he had the ship to bring vacc suits in.
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(why, where'd the ship go?)
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(It was taking back the first batch of former bandits along with the marines who needed medical treatment, replacing those marines while leaving enough crew to bring everyone else back.)
01:57
(16 day round trip)
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(that process would probably take a bit for loading them all, and we sort of launched right into this. The lighter would probably also have some on board since its meant to go to space)
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(Minus his healthy and dead marines and with the lighter and crew staying on Ariturri, the ship has 18 free slots for this trip. The lighter would have ferried everyone from the former bandit camp for this run to the ship along with some basic personal effects before they returned to the city)
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(and this means you cant have a vac suit even though im giving it to you? I'm super lost here)
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(Max has his storm armor, I was just rping his men not having any protection outside the ones in the tank because it has a sealed environment)
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(Okay, max can go in for sure. Not sure if anyone else wants to)
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(He's having everyone not in the tank stay back outside the radioactive area, and they tank is only rolling up to within 500m of the outskirts, just to provide some potential covering fire in case bad shit is there.)
16:11
(He will ride the tank in then hop off on foot)
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(what im trying to ascertain here is , is max going in alone, or is he taking a small team. )
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(He is heading into the town itself alone)
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The warehouse, garrison, and the small set of farms that once supported the local population are all available to be explored
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Max checks out the farms first, hoping a seed bank of some kind might have survived.
14:21
The farm consists of a home, two out buildings, and some diseased and blighted fields where crops once grew
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Max moves up into the shack on the bottom right of the map, checking the door for any potential traps on the way in.
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The door looks ordinary. It's wooden with banded metal, and there is no evidence of security measures besides a simple mechanical lock common to most doors of this style
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Max opens the door, with brute force if necessary. (edited)
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It's not needed, and you're able to pass through easily to see a shack interior. There were seeds kepty here once. One of the sacks is torn open and the contents were fed upon by rats. There is another underneath that has fared a bit better, but when picking it up you can feel it is lighter than it should be- the contents have likely dried up
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Max sets the bags down, figuring the seeds are likely contaminated with radiation anyway. He leaves the building and moves to the structure across the road to the west.
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The farmhouse has the same type of door and the windows have been busted out due to either time or the shockwave of whatever caused the rad saturation here Stringy yellow curtains thst used to be white hang in ragged strips from the broken window frames
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Max walks into the house, opening the door with the barrel of his rifle before he looks around the room.
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(Notice wis)
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You hear something hit the ground upstairs as the front door is opened and the noise fades quick like , except for a faint hiss of some kind of gas
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Max backs out the door and away from the building, having experienced enough booby traps to not want to take a chance.
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The entire top floor of the building explodes outwards, pancaking onto the floor below and crushing everyything inside
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Max groans as he gets up, having still been close enough to the blast to get knocked down by the shock wave. He looks around at the burning rubble in front of him. He had expected this trip to be a source of closure for any residual feelings he had about his childhood. Instead it was yet more evidence of how terrible his parents and other noble lords had been to their subjects. After a few more seconds of staring, he moves up towards the gated area, looking for any sign of people stirred by the explosion.
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The manor house itself is a gated pair of buildings with a look out tower at its corner. Two of the sally ports open up and you're faced with a pair of laser lock muskets pointed at you from guards within
00:51
"That;s close enough outlaw!"
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"My name is Captain Maxwell Fredricks, commander of the NMC Royal Huscarls. Who am I speaking to?"
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“Buchannon local garrison! The true NMC force on this planet!”
😮 2
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"Oh shit." Max says quietly under his breath, realizing this situation just got significantly more complicated. "I came here from Jagrati to look for survivors and do not believe I fully understand what is going on. Is there somewhere safe from the radiation we can talk?"
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"You can talk to us out there in that armor of yours. You're more than safe. What do you want?"
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"I was given the impression by the mayors of the remaining towns all the members of House Buchannon were killed in the uprising. Is there a member of the house still alive in there with you?"
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"An assassin from the crown are we? You'll need to do better than that to find out"
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Max sighs "If there is someone in there, tell them Gideon and Esther's son is outside and would like a word."
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The sally ports close, and you're left to wait. (anything you need tod o before we move forward?)
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Max sends a quick message to his men informing him of his discovery, and also to drive up in 15 minutes if they do not hear from him by then. Afterwards he looks for any source of cover he might be able to jump behind in case of trouble.
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(Ready whenever you are now)
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The woods around you are dense, and you could vanish into them with a leap from your powered armor, but otherwise there's nothing intentionally close to the property
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Max makes a mental note before going back to waiting
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the gates begin opening, just enough to allow you inside, and not a meter more
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Max gingerly walks inside, keeping his eyes open for some elaborate trap.
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As you enter the compound you see your Aunt Demeter , a name that always made your own mother’s eyes roll, standing in her own set of power armor, though an assault suit variant. She and four house guard are waiting in the courtyard and her eyes are wide with recognition
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(Her eyes rolling because she was a good person or for some other reason?)
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(The name is stupid)
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(Ah)
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"Well, I guess I'm not the last one left who isn't in jail after all then."
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“They tried. Are you here to try again?”
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"No. I came out here to investigate the ruins and see what I could find. And like I did when I arrived at the planet I found more than I was expecting and am not quite sure what to do." (edited)
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"I've got a suggestion. Leave, and tell the king that the Buchannons have this planet under control, and he doesn't need to worry about it anymore"
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"My parents tried to take over one of the colonies near Jagrati. If I were to return and say this planet was under your control he would have me thrown in jail with them because they also said this planet was destroyed by the shapers. The entire reason I am here is because the king trusts that I have some level of honor, I'm not going to throw that away for a lie. This planet isn't under your control and the people here obviously don't want it that way. The NMC needs people and fuctional planets, we've already lost so much. Its time to move on and buid something better."
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"if you don't return at all, I'd still be in power. Lots of funerals in your corner of the world, things might have gone differently little nephew" she says, as the helmet on her waist gently bangs against the armored legplate
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Max taps his compad and sends an SOS signal to his men in the Redeemer parked at the town outskirts. "You know, there was once a time where I thought that maybe the shaper crisis would be the event to change the nobility of this polity for the better, but instead people like you decided it would be better to burn what is left to the ground and be rulers of the ashes." He then directs his words to her men. "I don't know what you have been through under her leadership, but I promise you she will not hesitate to let every one of you die a hundred times over if it means she is put in a position of power. This family has a history filled with murder, sabotage, treachery, and backstabbing as far back as we can remember. We have a chance to rebuild this cooperative into something which protects everyone rather than serving as an arena for noble houses to feud in the shadows, help build that instead of clinging to the past." (Would like to use my authority once per day to undermine her control over her house guard.) (edited)
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Sworn soldiers who have profited nicely under her rule, as her immediate authorities, they none the less seem committed to the posh postings they've got under her.
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(So basically they are completely loyal to her despite their current circumstances?)
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(They're making out well given the state of their world. They're pretty well taken care of henchmen so im not sure what 'circumstances' you're trying to leverage)
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(I presumed they were living in a bombed out ruin. All I was trying to do with the talk was make them doubt whether their loyalty was really right and maybe not get involved if this comes to blows)
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(You'd said what you wanted to say, it seems like)
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(Yeah, I will make the roll after dinner if it will make a difference)
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(8 for lead/cha)
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You’re not sure about the immediate effects of your words. The guards don’t seem to have changed their stance at all
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"Before we get started, I do have to ask, what actually happened here after my parents left, your side that is." Max says, trying to sound like he isn't stalling for time. (edited)
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"You're family, I owe you that much. NMC dragnet came in, with your information. I was investigated but cleared of wrongdoing. Not sure what happened with the shapers, but we evacuated to this place, my summer estate, to try to wait out the storm. The ground invasion never came. We found ourselves nicely isolated here, with a countryside needing a guiding hand. We've been providing that"
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"Why is the whole area covered in radiation?"
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“Power plant. The containment pool boiled away and the reactor is venting without any kind of precautions. The lead rods were also at the limit of what they could absorb when I sent a team last to investigate. Nothing to be done but to try to adapt” she shrugs
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Max makes a mental note to check that out later. "Why stay here then? There are other places on this planet you could go to surely? Are you really that determined to keep what is yours despite everything?"
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“There’s hundreds of kilometers between here and the next closest settlement. If we didn’t die from exposure or starving to death on the way to wherever , we would just be arrested and probably shot as traitors to the crown when we got there”
06:59
“You’re not a stupid man Maxwell but you’re starting to not be my favorite nephew anymore with all these silly questions l
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(About how long until the tank parks outside/crashes through her front door?)
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(Either way it’s not going to be silent since it’s a tank. You said the other were fifteen minutes away when we started this whole thing iirc)
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"I might be your only nephew left at this rate." Max says matter-of-factly. "I'm going to leave now because there are people on this planet who don't have the same kind of setup you have here despite the radiation, so I'd like for you to not shoot me in the back as I do that. I'm trying to avoid more blood on my hands if possible, but you seem very willing to shoot me if it means keeping what little power you think you have left."
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You don’t get the impression they’re going to escalate the violence if you do not. You remember your aunt being a level headed person and it doesn’t seem that capacity has left her
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Max walks out of the compound, signaling the tank things are okay for the moment after all. (Does the Manor house count as the garrison you mentioned earlier, or does all this count as the farm?)
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(The garrison)
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(Okay so he's explored pretty much the whole place then)
17:02
Seeing not much more to explore for the moment, Max hops on the tank and rides it back to the camp. Once there he and his men spend the night before heading to the next ruin site in the desert in between Kentdean and Lesser Carrickex.
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(yes)
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The overland journey is a few days of travel through rough country, before you arrive at the ruins of a former ground based NMC ship service depot. Dozens of light vessels have been burned down to the keel beams, stripped for parts, and have otherwise suffered ignoble fates here. Communities of scrappers have clearly edged out territories within the massive scrapyard
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Max pulls out his binoculars to look over the depot, trying to identify entrances and defenses.
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(Did you have more you wanted to elaborate with? Just want to make sure before I keep going)
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The zone is hard to really find boundaries in. Swamp water breaks up broken fences and cook fires on the raised dry area.
02:56
Birds caw and you see ripples in the water where snakes and the local variant of water lizard lurk (edited)
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Max pulls the binoculars away from his eyes and hands them to Daniels. "This place looks like the set of some kind of horror vid used to frighten admirals. I don't see any obvious weapons or anything resembling more than a community interested in survival. Keep the men and the tank back here, I'm going to work my way over and see who has risen to the top." He says before walking down the small incline they are sitting at overlooking the camp from a few kilometers away and towards the scrapyard.
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(would you go through the water, or try to approach from land)
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(On land)
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(sneak/dex)
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(11)
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You're not noticed by man or beast as you make your way to the former dockyards rusted metal gate. You hear a fire from the other side of it, gently flickering, and a trio of voices gathered around discussing their dissatisfaction with the evening meal
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Max peeks around the broken mast he is hiding behind, looking to see what kind of people are gathered around the fire.
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Three human people are around the fire
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(Do they look to be carrying any weapons or are they just scavengers?)
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(Spears and crude weapons. Can't really trouble you in your armor. These ones, at least)
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Max takes a deep breath before turning the corner with his helmet off and hands visible, rifle hanging from its sling. He walks up towards them holding a few ration bars. "Would these be any better? And I'm not here to hurt anyone, I just want to know what's going on and if maybe I can help."
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The three of them recoil from you, moving to the edge of the firelight, trying to clutch at spears and flint knives.
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Max sets the ration bars down near the fire and backs up a bit. "Like I said, I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm from the NMC, I'm out here trying to help people. My name is Max, what's yours?"
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They provide them, though remain fearful and at the edge of the firelight still
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"What can you all tell me about the scrapyard? Is the area divided up into different groups? Who leads them all?"
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“Different groups. Yes. Speaking of them will invite them. They’ll kill us”
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"Do you all need someplace safe to go to? I have some men nearby, I can bring you to them. All I ask for in exchange is some information. My ship isn't here right now but I can work to get you transport off the planet when it returns."
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"They'll know. They'll find us!" one of them hisses loudly before a companion forcibly covers his mouth
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"Alright, alright. We won't talk about them then. Tell me about yourselves, what brought you all here?" Max asks, looking around for any movement towards their campsite from further into the scrapyard.
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"End of the fucking world man!" one of them laughs, a bit too long and hard to convince you hes entirely sane. "Whole everything fell apart dude" (edited)
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"Alright, well, I'll leave you all be then." Max says, slowly walking away before circling around some of the debris in the swamp until he finds another entrance to the scrapyard.
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(staying on land?, if possible?)
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(Yeah, if possible)
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There is a wrecked patrol boat with a hole blasted clean through it. You’ll be in water up to your waist for a moment on the walk but the@route is almost entirely on land
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Max doesn't mind the water too much as he moves through the patrol boat, his sealed armor keeping any moisture out. He looks carefully for any traps or anything of value as he moves through the wrecked craft, his paranoia for explosives kicking in.
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The water ripples gently as your shadow passes over the shallow side of small depression you need to slog through (edited)
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Max turns on his thermal vision, using his shadow to look into the swamp for any predators as he moves through the water.
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There is an anaconda curled in ambush position 2m down the incline under the water
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Max brings his shear rifle up and fires at it (I can roll an attack if needed)
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(Yeah we'd need one)
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(21/14, burst)
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The surface of the water ripples, and a cloud of expanding red begins to bubble up, (Evasion save)
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(14v7 success)
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The striking anaconda misses, badly mauled, but it seems to have no further taste in attacking you, instead trying to get into the safety of the brush to nurse its serious wounds
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Max brings his rifle up and fires again, knowing this animal poses a threat to people who are not necessarily capable of defending themselves against something they might see as god in a new, slithering body based on their current level of sanity. (20/18, burst) (edited)
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The creature is cut apart, like its been laid out and sectioned on a surgeon's table
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Max turns and continues on, hoping this encounter is the most exciting one of the day.
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Pushing on through the destroyed ship, you emerge into a scrap yard where a large crane on metal stilts overlooks the entire salvage facility. Someone is smoking in the cab, 20m off the ground at the top of a long ladder.
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Max brings up his rifle's scope and aims through it, looking to see if the person smoking in the cab has a weapon or not.
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They have a rifle propped up on the dash
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Max looks for any cover that will lead him further into the scrapyard while providing cover between him and the crane.
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The ship you’re observing from is the best cover that suits all these requirements
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Max moves towards the end of the wreck, looking for another exit into the scrapyard.
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(What would you be trying to accomplish here, ideally? I'm sort of unsure of what to place around here that would fit with whatever it is we're doing)
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(Right now I'm just trying to figure out the layout of this place in my head and what exactly is going on here before he walks out in the open more to start talking to people.)
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(I cant really find a good map of what i wanted to do for this)
19:30
(or anything even close)
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(You don't need a map, I have one in my head. If there isn't another entrance to the base I can do something different)
19:32
(I didn't think you would be able to find anything close to this)
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(there are probably hundreds of small ways in and out,)
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Max ends up heading back out the way he came in, trying to move in the darkness past the group he ran into earlier further into the scrapyard.
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They're gone now, leaving just the scraps and bones of their dinner behind. The fire is low, embers now, with a lack of fuel.
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He heads in, thermal vision on, looking for any movement or potential traps.
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You don’t see any traps from here. There’s another few cookfires out in the distance
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Max moves up slowly towards the cookfires, moving towards whatever cover is nearby, trying to identify potential guard posts or defensive fortifications he was unable to see from the small rise in the distance where his men are located.
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This place was not designed to be a fort. The animals and refugee camps here have grown tribal, and defensive, but these are not military minded peoples. With the weapons you've seen already, you doubt anyone here packs the firepower to breach your armor or even trouble you for long. These are just sad refugees living in the bones of a better past.
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Max heads back out of the scrapyard and rejoins his men at their campsite a few kilometers away. "That scrapyard is full of refugees with basic spears for the most part, maybe a few old rifles here amd there. I think we should revisit this place later when we have the resources and manpower to setup a proper relief effort. Let's head to the next ruin site." (edited)
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Max leads his men to the next ruin site just before the Ashenland Pass.
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(3xp, 5000 credits)
21:17
A powerful ion storm is over the region, keeping exploration efforts from getting close or getting much of a survey for now. The ground scouring rad events, the arrival and departure of spacecraft, and widespread ecological damage to begin with from the exodus of the nobles have played hell with the planetary ecology, and for now you're forced to wait anywhere from several days, to several weeks for the stormfront to abate
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(Is that storm just over the ruins area?)
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(The general region the ruins are in yes)
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Max leads his men around the storm, heading back up north to investigate the ruins in the far northern part of the continent.
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A destroyed city is present here, endless fields of debris. There's no evidence of life down there aside from vermin and animals who have moved in to inhabit things after.
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Max has his men hop off the redeemer, leading 4 of them into the town to look for any sign of what happened in the city.
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(Notice/wis)
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The city is just abandoned. You can see the auto farms have died and the ranching fields don’t even have the bodies of grazing animals in them anymore. The people here probably just left or scattered into the wilderness
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Max and his men return to the tank. He calls up the lighter and has it fly out to their location, knowing there are a few more ruins to check out. (Would his family have lived on one of the remaining island ruin sites or in the city? I'm fine either way)
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(one of those uncharted islands to the east that has to be drawn in)
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(okay) (edited)
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(i think Max just by backstory would know the state of the family holdings though given how directly involved you were with their arrest and charges)
14:41
(was the impression I was under)
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(Alright, i didnt want to just say where they were in case you had anything planned)
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(What I'm saying is I didn't think there was anything to plan since in your own backstory that you came up with the matter was already closed. If there's something more specific you'd like to do, its not hard for me to write something. I just don't know what you want)
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(Nothing more than "This is where his house was." I wanted him to have a small character moment upon visiting where his ruined home would be if it was in one of the ruins. If its not part of a larger ruin then don't bother, he wouldn't care to visit if it was their own private island) (edited)
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When the lighter arrives Max and 5 of his men hop on board, with him piloting it personally. They take it out to the western island ruins.
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The island ruins are ruined foundations and crumbling brick walls of lesser estates and workshops. Burned fields and a small battle site around one of them are evidence of the locals rising up, a scene repeated across the NMC as they realize the nobles had collectively sold them out
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Max lands the lighter in one of the burned fields, hopping out with his men to check out the area for anything of interest or any survivors trying to live amongst the ruins.
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You are certainly in the middle of a battle site. most of the combatants died armed, and las locks, rimworlder semi-autos, and hunting weapons now turned on fellow man litter the ground. The scraps of uniforms and working coveralls poke out of the ground where the soil has not yet reclaimed some scraps of the tough fabric
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Not seeing anything of interest or any signs of survivors, Max and his men load back up to check the final ruin site on the eastern island.
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Another site reveals largely the same , the ruins burned down to nothing but blackened walls and stubs of foundation
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Max sighs internally. Even though he expected the entire planet to be barren, seeing so much destruction done by human hands was something he was not prepared for. He doesn't bother landing the lighter this time and instead heads back to Kentdean. When they arrive he has his men regroup while he goes to report his findings to the town authorities.
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(3xp, 5000 credits)
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(Would this meet his goal for exploring Ariturri?)
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(yes)
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(Level up 8->9, HP 72->81, Notice 1->2, 1 SP still banked)
07:43
(Would his ship be back at the planet by now?)
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(yeah)
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Max has his men head back up to the ship for some well deserved rest while he goes to speak with the Mayor of the town about his progress so far and to find hopefully peaceful solutions to the scrappers and his aunt.
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The mayor takes the report and the updated survey information. The locals will update their own maps and paths of travel accordingly.
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"I hope this work has fixed some of the problems you all are facing and maybe improved your opinion of the NMC as a whole. Do you know of any other outstanding issues my men and I could help with either here or in Lesser Carrickex? I'd like to fix as much as I can before dealing with the remaining Buchannon loyalists now that I know what my men would be up against." (edited)
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“You’d have to ask Lesser about Lesser. And you’ve already helped here. “
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Max nods, heading out of his office before riding over to the former bandit camp to pickup the remaining refugees. Once that is done he sends a message to Lesser informing them he will be off planet for a few weeks transporting refugees but will return to handle any business they may need him to handle. The ships then depart, heading to Jagrati first then backtracking to Groa.
06:29
(Going Vergapolous->Benavides->Jagrati, dropping off however many refugees there are and giving them their starter credits before going back to Groa, should be 10 days in spike total)
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(Okay so is that spike route before or after groa )
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(Before Groa. That's the route to Jagrati)
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(And former bandit camp being the scrapyard? Or something else )
15:39
(Okay I’ll have to make a report then. Sit tight )
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(The bandits he promised transport back after that first fight)
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(Got it)
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Vergapolous is a dead system. There is nothing left here now but a sun warming a world of barren rock and drained seas. The Shaper Host took everything of value and extinguished all life before moving on.
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Max has the ships continue on, knowing time is of the essence.
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(Okay. Rest of the downtime passes
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(33/90 Heal-0. Also how many people would you say he transported back to Jagrati? He transported 18 the last time and gave them each 1000 credits, just need to know how much to deduct)
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(Not enough to trouble ourselves over
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(Alright, sounds good)
21:44
Once the Emissary arrives at Groa, Max has his communications officer send a message to the ranking officer on the ground, requesting coordinates for a safe landing location. Once one has been established, he takes the lighter down along with Daniels and 4 marines.
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You make it to the surface of the planet, near a garrison of NMC troops
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Max heads over to the command tent and looks for the general in charge.
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You find him
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Max informs the General of his goal, looking over his maps for a location which offers the best open ground for a meeting under flag of truce with the Zero Foundation. Once he finds it Max and his men head out, bringing a white flag with him.
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(Any meeting terms or detail at all here? This is less than bare bones for me to work with)
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(He'd be looking for a no-man's land kind of location, somewhere they could conduct a meeting out in the open. He would have his men setup in an overwatch position in cover just in case things go south. He would want to have a one-on-one meeting with one of the robots more diplomatic-orientated units.)
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(Are you going to be armed )
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(No)
02:12
(Just wearing his armor)
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The capital city has been designated as a shared use zone. Levi and Marble negotiated the original ceasefire in the village square once long ago, and it seems like as good a spot as any
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Max has his team setup in an abandoned office building overlooking the square, leaving his weapons with them. He walks out carrying a long metal pole with a white bed sheet tied to it over his shoulder, sitting down at a park bench in the middle of the square.
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There is some distant gunfire , nothing close to the site. There is a mechanical stomping sound as a leader and several bodyguards emerge from a nearby side street, and begin to head toward you. The bodyguards hang behind a few meters
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Max stands up and waits for the leader to make his way over. When he gets to within about 10 meters Max speaks up. "Hello there, my name is Maxwell Buchannon, how may I address you?"
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“Machine Highness Zelta” the machine sends back flatly. It’s bodyguards remain keeping vigil over the street. “Why have you called this meeting “
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"Despite the current fighting, many of us in the NMC council are still committed to a peaceful solution to the current situation here on Groa and we have come up with one which may interest you. There is a planet in the Lambrianou system which is home to a machine world populated by mechanical life forms. We now understand fully the Zero Foundation is populated by machines with free will and we are more interested in a way to peacefully coexist rather than continuing to battle for this planet and cause such a large loss of life on both sides. If you are interested I would be happy to transport a delegation to meet with our negotiator so you all can travel to this meeting. I promise safe passage to and from the meeting. Should you decide against joining this world, we are very eager to pursue other options besides violence."
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“We are making peace with you there? Or we are being forced off this world? You speak without clarity “
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"We are giving you the option, if you choose, of moving off this world to one where the beings are more similar in nature to yourselves. We thought this would be the best way to end the conflict."
10:31
"If it is not to your liking we would look for other alternative peace arrangements." (edited)
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“We will hear what these enlightened robots have to say. What are the travel arrangements”
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(Would my ship have guest quarters?)
14:02
(Also how large was the personal guard?) (edited)
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(did you fit your ship with luxury quarters? And the size of the guard he's taking is what he's waiting on you to answer)
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(No, it isn't.)
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"My ship isn't fitting with any quarters befitting a dignitary such as yourself, but I can arrange for transport for yourself and up to four guards. We will arrange for you to have quarters or your own, and I will assign you escorts for movement about the ship, for your safety as well as our own. It will take us a few days to travel to the Iragarte system, where we will meet with our negotiator and you all will move to her ship before continuing on through to the space of the Greystar Confederation. They are a neighboring polity who have good relations with Lambrianou and have agreed to allow us through their space and will act as mediators. It will be a few more days in space on Verethranga's ship before you arrive at Lambrianou. Are there any other questions you have for me?"
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"Where shall we meet when they arrive, and how shall we communicate with one another?"
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"We will be meeting Greystar's representative at the Espinoza system. For communication do you mean communications between yourselves during transit or communication with your fellows here on Groa? In the latter case we can offer you free use of our communications equipment, but it does take time for messages to travel across space." (Edited to reflect meeting location) (edited)
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"Communications with you, when it is time to assemble for the meeting"
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"Ah. I can offer you my personal communication frequency. Whenever you are ready for transit I can meet you here for transport to my ship. It is ready to leave at any time."
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(I thought Vere was taking them?)
21:04
(what did we need to wait for then)
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(I'm taking them to Iragarte, she is taking them the rest of the way)
21:06
(The only thing we were waiting on was where she was meeting greystar) (edited)
21:06
(I edited the previous message after Eish got back to me)
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(okay, i usually dont look at those since whart's been said has been said)
21:28
"There is no reason to delay then. To Iragarte, in the numbers you have specified"
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Max smiles before calling down the lighter to their position. He joins the ZF Delegation on his ship, with his men remaining behind. On the way up he arranges for quarters to be cleared out for them and a rotating security detail to be formed up with 24/7 coverage of them. When they arrive on the ship he and the detail escort them to their quarters, a hastily cleaned out room with 6 bunks. "I apologize for the basic amenities of this ship, it was not designed for dignitaries such as yourselves. You are free to move about the ship as long as you have an escort. It should take us three days in spike to arrive at the Iragarte system. If you need anything please let me know." Max says, waiting just a second to see if there are any questions before he leaves to the bridge.
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They don't seem to have any, and have resigned themselves to knowing if this is a trap, the fleshlings on the planet will pay
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Max heads back up to the bridge, instructing his helmsman to set course for Iragarte. During the trip he does his best to make himself available to answer any questions his guests may have, along with learning about them if the opportunity arises.
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(What would you want to know, rather than just throw random information at you)
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(Ill make up a list of things when I wake up, about to fall asleep right now)
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(Okay$
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(What kind of government structure they use, what they do in their downtime, how they make decisions amongst themselves. Just general information about their society and daily life.)
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They have a series of functions they run all decisions through. They refuse to say more than that as you’re still in a state of war despite this temporary white peace being declared. First hand observation from the ground has reported them as having a daily life similar to people. Many of the needs are the same , food and water replaced with power
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Max doesn't press any of the issues, instead focusing on his day to day tasks as captain of the ship.
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(any downtime training?)
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(36/90 heal-0, assuming 3 days of downtime)
15:27
(Added a couple goals as well)
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(I think we'll need to wait for Vere to finish her space combat and figure out her fuel situation to do the actual handover )
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(Yeah, I was just trying to figure out some kind of RP to do with the robots in the meantime, but they aren't really the talkative sort)
20:45
(And it would make no sense for Max to just show up in her fight at all)
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(You're enemies still, they're not going to give you information)
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Noel [Aminatah] 20-Jan-21 09:48 PM
To: Mr. Fredricks From: Verethragna Does your Vessel have a Shiptender? I scooped the enemy Free Merchant Vessel and am On my way to the Meeting point. The Enemy Cruiser escaped Justice an' All that, but I almost got the bastard, haha. Magistrate has seen better days though. -Captain Vere.
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Max forms up a small team of engineers along with a few marines to check out the free merchant, sweeping first for traps then making a list of needed repairs before it will be spaceworthy again.
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There aren’t any traps. The freeguild had planned to recover the vessel and doing things that would have made it hard to transit weren’t necessary. It has no fuel and its spike drive has been damaged. It will need to be replaced. The hull itself is in good repair.
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(Can the spike drive be replaced on Iragarte or will it just sit there until it can be towed back to Jagrati?)
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(The ship service depot can repair the vessel to complete health and readiness. The issue would just be a crew since the locals here are under scrutiny and probably aren’t the best to pick from)
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(I was planning on manning it witb a skeleton crew made up of men from his ship)
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(Alright. It can run with 3 if you can spare them)
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Max waits over the next couple days for the Free Merchant to be repaired before both ships jump back to Jagrati together. (So, assuming two days of repairs and 5 days in spike thats 7 days of downtime, so 43/90 Heal-0)
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(works for me)
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(I'll make my next post when the power comes on since i need to post the refits and my gravflyer and those are on my desktop)
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Once the Emissary arrives at Jagrati, Max has it dock at the shipyard for refits which should take 12 days. He turns the free merchant over to the admiralty department for refit and assignment where it is best used. After this he spends some of his time designing a GravFlyer as a replacement for the now gone cargo lighter before he has an idea. He then heads to the docks records department to look for cargo manifests from the shaper war period. (Going to use the time on Jagrati to dig up a bit more dirt on some noble houses if I can.) (edited)
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The King is already preparing to make his move. Henri's outburst in council a few weeks prior has made seeking additional proof too much of a time liability. Currently, a member of the Lloyd family is working on removing the heirs of the largest family. When hismission is complete, we will swiftly be moving against the others here in Jagrati
17:52
(maybe we spend our time planning this )
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(Yeah. Works for me)
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(Did you want Max to try and gather evidence or are we just taking them down?)
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(the post i made last was saying there isnt time to find additional evidence anymore)
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(Ah, okay. So we are just planning the raids on noble houses then.)
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(Yes)
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Having learned of the King's plans through backchannels, Maxwell heads over to meet with King Deevers in the usual informal chambers to plan out how they would take down the noble houses.
20:14
(Gonna go ahead and change my goal of taking down a noble house with evidence to just taking down all the noble houses, since the former isn't really workable right now. Would that still be worth the same 6 xp as before or do you want me to move it down to 3?) (edited)
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(6 is still good. I was thinking about getting everyone in on this)
21:18
(I can make a city map and we'll figure out how to take each district at roughly the same time. Maybe something worth planning in NMC chat, we'll just note instead of the usual session this is a cladestine meeting with the king
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(Sounds good)
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(Should I stay on Jagrati for that mission or go ahead and leave to finish Ariturri out?)
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(I guess we can go do other things )
00:24
(I needed a bit of time to do some prep work and we would have started the other thing probably later on tonight)
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(I can wait then)
00:25
(He would be there for 12 days thats more than enough time for stuff to go down)
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(no problem. I'm trying to get a city map I'm happy with that is detailed but not too much, I wasn't expecting things to go this direction but im excited to play it out- just means I need a bit of patience given the massive shift of gears)
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(if you wanted to explore some more of arituri while the sweep mission is going on, we can, so everyone still has something to do)
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(Works for me. That Gravflyer needs a test flight anyway)
23:22
While he waits for the noble sweep to start, Max heads back to the Gravflyer merchant to take delivery of the new aircraft. He hops in the flyer, heading back to his ship to pick up Daniels, a co-pilot, and 3 other marines before they head off to explore some of the less navigated parts of Jagrati.
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Max decides to check out the ruins of old Jagrati and flies in that direction. He makes sure to check in with the air traffic control around the defense batteries. When he starts to get close to the ruins he circles around looking for a good landing spot.
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There is a large disused soccer stadium in the middle of the ruins, where the grass is long but the ground is flat enough and wide/long enough for you to get your ship down, partially secured by the dome that is half closed- to keep most of the weather out
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Max sets the flyer down in the stadium. "Once we are outside go ahead and take off to provide us with some overwatch." He says to rhe copilot before he and the other 4 marines hop out and start looking around the stadium.
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The stadium is trashed. Garbage is everywhere, evidence of looting is rampant. Many of the seats have been smashed or burned by vandalism- for the sake of just because, not for any salvage reasons. Most of the lights overlooking the stadium have also been shot out.
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Max looks around at all the destruction. "Someone really did a number on this place." He says quietly to himself. "Let's move out, keep your eyes peeled. It doesn't look like any presence of authority has been in this place for a long time."
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From within the stadium there isnt much to see aside from what you've noted already- a tunnel leads into locker rooms, and then emerge onto the street level outside
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Max and his men move down the tunnel, checking for traps along the way, until the emerge at street level. They look around for any signs of activity, places of interest, and locations of cover once on the street. (edited)
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(What would you be trying to find? )
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(Salvageable machinery or equipment, intact infrastructure which can jump-start an effort to resettle this area.)
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The area was abandoned due to the scream and its rumored that spirits walk the streets at night. People haven’t tried to return. Emerging from the stadium, an industrial area is to the south where you might be able to strip some salvage, if no one has beaten you to it
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Max and his team head south towards the industrial area, keeping their eyes open for any bandits or scrappers along the way. He looks around at the ruins, happy the day of reckoning for the nobles who have ignored two cataclysms during their lifespans is finally coming.
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(notice/wis)
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(12)
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You see a gun nest on a rooftop, 200m away at the end of the street. It does not seem like it is crewed right now, but the weapon shows signs of being in good repair.
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Max motions to the gun nest on the roof, then motions for two men to cover the rest of them as they move towards the building quietly, stacking up next to the entrance.
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You're not fired upon during the approach, and everyone is ready to head inside
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Max heads up to the door, checking it for traps first. If he finds none he will open the door slowly, looking for any traps on the inside before heading in with his men.
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There is a chain that rattles gently as the door is slowly opened. You can feel tension on it growing the further in you push
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(Is the building less than 20m tall?) (edited)
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(its over that, its a decently sized apartment building)
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(Is there a window open or blown out in the second floor he can jump into?)
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(nothing that might not also lead to a trap which is what im presuming you're trying to jump to avoid
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(No, I was thinking of jumping up to do a two-pronged assault, since kicking the door open will likely stir anyone inside)
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(Alright in that case you could bullrush through something up there I guess
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Max steps back and looks up at the building. He sees a window on the second story missing some of its cross beams. "Alright, here's the plan. Adams and Jenkins will move up here with you all. Once they are up here, I'm going to jump in through that window and start shouting that we are NMC marines. After I do Daniels will sticky grenade the door and blow it open. If there are any traps on the other side, they should get taken care of in the explosion. I'll clear the second floor to the staircase while you all clear the first floor. If they fire on us, you are clear to use deadly force, otherwise try to take prisoners. We need to know what is going on out here." Max says, pulling a sticky grenade out and handing it to Daniels. He moves over under the window while his other two men make their way up the street, jumping in through the window once they are there shouting. "NMC MARINES! WEAPONS DOWN NOW." As he lands.
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You hear the thump of the door exploding downstairs and a larger secondary detonation as the ammunition in the sweep gun behind it explodes. You see bodies on this floor in NMc uniforms, and seem to be screaming at nobody.
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Max checks the bodies for life signs even though he knows they are likely going to be dead. Once he is sure they are, he heads out of the room and begins sweeping the floor looking for survivors.
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The bodies have been dead for a long time, and their emaciated forms show they died from starvation or exposure. This doesn’t seem like a violent situation
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Max heads out of the room and starts checking the rest of the floor, looking for anyone who is still living, being sure to announce himself as an NMC marine regularly.
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The dead inhabit this building. A listening post starved to death here and is home only to their ghosts and the vermin that come to feast on the bodies
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Max heads to the roof to see what kind of heavy weapon was sitting at the emplacement.
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There is the same heavy machine gun you saw from the street in the emplacement, and it has not transmogrified into anything but the same heavy machine gun you saw from the street- but you are relieved to see there are two boxes of ammunition for it that have not been scavenged by some miracle
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Max walks up and starts breaking down the machine gun for travel, taking the ammunition as well before heading back down to the street.
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Weapon and ammo in hand, your team awaits for additional orders
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"Did anyone find any information that might give us more information about what happened here? Compads, documents, anything like that while you were searching?"
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“They starved to death. They were abandoned and were too weak to leave by time they figured out help wasn’t coming.
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"Alright, let's keep looking. If we don't find anything in the next few hours we will head to another one of the settlements and see if they are having any issues." Max says before leading his men further south into the industrial area.
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"See anything from up there we should investigate?" Max asks the pilot of the flyer over comms.
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(What other settlements ?)
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(The other villages on Jagrati)
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(Oh okay. They’re not abandoned )
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(If there is nothing else here I can head to Spyre since its next door)
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(If you want we can jump to the post-roundup review instead)
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(Yeah let’s do that )
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Max and his men spend the next few hours looking over the ruins of Old Jagrati, not finding anything of interest before he receives a message on his compad to report back to Jagrati immediately for an urgent assignment.
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(Then we have the events of the sweep, I think further meetings as the months go on is the better way to decide what to do)
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(Okay, sounds good. Ill pick up my refitted ship and head back over to ariturri then) (edited)
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You return to Ariturri with your refitted ship. Things on the ground have not really changed since you were here last.
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(8 days)
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(51/90 Heal-0)
18:44
Max has the ship stay in orbit for now, bringing a group of four men plus an extra pilot down with him to the surface, heading for Lesser Carrickex this time. He sends out a message to the city informing them of their peaceful and helpful intentions since he has not been here before.
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The reception on the ground is lukewarm at best. You're met by a junior official, and a pair of his own bodyguards, but none of the senior leadership has bothered to turn up
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Max walks up to him. "Hi, my name is Maxwell Fredricks. My men and I were on the planet earlier tackling some issues for Kentdean, trying to restore some faith in the NMC on this planet. Does Lesser have any problems they need help fixing?"
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"I've actually got a question for you, we were hoping you would be showing back up. Has the NMC been running drone swarms across the planet at all?"
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"No. My men and I have done some exploring of the region, but we did not use drones of any kind. What kinds of problems are they causing?"
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“Well if it’s not you running the drone swarms and it’s nobody here, then something is wrong. “
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Max pulls up a map of the planet and starts pointing out locations. "There are two possibilities. These ruins here were home to an ion storm we couldn't investigate a few weeks ago. I don't remember what was there before the shapers invaded but something could be there. The other possibility is the last member of House Buchannon down here in the Southwest could be running it. I met with her while I was investigating the ruins. She didn't seem to have that kind of firepower, but I didn't see much of her compound before I left. I didn't have the numbers to assault her compound directly then, but I might now. Someone also needs to inform her noble houses no longer have any authority since they were all rounded up on Jagrati and thrown in jail." Max says with a shrug and a smile.
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"It's not going to be us. We have no reason to go down there. "
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"Where was the swarm last seen?"
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"Passes by around noon every day when the sun is highest. No shadows. Seems like they're taking pictures before moving on"
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"Alright. I'll see if my ship's sensors can track them, figure out where they come from."
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"Their operator probably isnt far. Too far to find them on foot by time the drones move off, but for you, you might be able to figure it out"
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"I'll do my best." Max says before wishing the official good day. His men hop back in the flyer and take off, landing a few kilometers away. "There are reports of a drone swarm around Lesser, get the ship's sensor tuned into the city and let us know where they are headed." Max says in a message to his ship.
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(Leveling shoot 2->3 using endeavor reward)
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(program/int for the ship's officer)
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As the time of the overflight draws near, the ships comms officer is unable to locate the bot wrangler anywhere near the settlement. From the ground, you see a swarm of over 100 basic model drones with observation suites and no weapons sweeping over the city in a perfect grid-like pattern, from south to north, taking observation of everything, before the swarm twists in the air and heads east once it passes the city
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Max fires up the flyer and attempts to follow the drones carefully, turning on the stealth bits of it as they fly.
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(pilot/dex or int)
16:03
(the mechanical part of the stealth is fine but ther'es no replacement for someone actually physically seeing or hearing you)
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(11 for pilot/dex)
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Banking your craft low, keeping to treetop level, you are able to follow the swarm as it twists backwards again, doubling b ack on itself and cutting south to where the last remnants of your family have consolidated their holdings on this planet
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Max sighs, knowing a very fun encounter with his family is due to happen soon. He flys back to lesser and requests a meeting with the same official. "It looks like those drones are being run by the remnants of the Buchannons down to the south."
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"And you're not planning on handling them, then?"
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"I am planning on it, I wanted to inform you of our plan before we execute it. I am going to land my ship at Kentdean and disembark my troops. We will head south and survey their area a bit more thoroughly, looking for weak points. If we find one suitable we will attack and raze the base to the ground if necessary." Max says thinking. "There is an alternative, but I'd rather not mess with the already leaking reactor unless there is no other choice."
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“Nobody wants to breathe that shit in either. Try to avoid messing with it if you can”
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Max gives him a nod and wishes him good day before contacting Kentdean to arrange a berth for his ship on the flyer ride over. Once his men have been disembarked he has them move south to the previously camped at position a few clicks away from the compound while he pilots the flyer in stealth mode in a 3 km radius circle around it trying to get a better idea what kind of troops they will be dealing with.
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THey do not yield any better information than they have on other flyovers. The defenses were made with observation in mind
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(So, just to clarify what I know about the base, the watchtower is the big x, and there are sally ports at at least two, probably all, of the smaller x's correct? And would the house be larger in scale than it is in the picture?) (edited)
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(No everything is to scale , that’s why I picked the map)
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(But the positions of the defenses he knows about are right?)
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(Yes)
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Max waits until nighttime before he splits his 24 men up, with 2 groups of 5 men manning HMG's, one using the ruins of the blown-up building for cover at position A, the other using the raised road area for cover at position B. Daniels and two other men will man the tank and approach from the south along the road, shooting out the guard tower and using the hydra array to blow open the walls allowing the machine guns to get into position and spray down the courtyard. Max will take the remaining 11 men with him and approach from the west a minute after the festivities begin, taking the rocket launcher from the side of the tank with them to blow open the western wall of the manor before heading inside to secure the house.
03:20
(I can't tell if thats a raised road or a depression on the map. If its a depression where the road is they will use the other side for cover instead)
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(The manor is situated on a raised area. This road is below and the drives head upward.
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(They will use the raised side of the road opposite where I marked B at for cover then)
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Max gathers everyone together and explains the plan, with the flyer sitting on standby in case anyone needs medical evacuation. He looks around once he is finished. "Anyone have any points to add?"
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Everyone seems sound on the plan. They just wait for the order to proceed
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Max nods. "Let's roll people."
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The attack goes according to plan with only four casualties. All in all, the defenses don’t hold for more than a few moments under the assault of the heavy tank you’ve brought with you. Your aunt is captured and is awaiting your interrogation and final decision.
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(Would we have recovered the drones/controller?)
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(The bot wrangler probably. The drones would have been destroyed in the missile barrage)
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After the dust settles Max has all the casualties sent up to the ship for treatment before walking out to the middle of the courtyard where his men setup a table and two chairs. He sits down across from his aunt who has at least 3 men on her at the same time. "Well, we both knew it was going to come to this eventually. The king revoked any remaining noble privileges after all the nobility on Jagrati was rounded up. What was the plan with those drones anyway?"
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"Mapping, resource survey, population survey, all things a ruler should be doing. "
20:54
"Data's gone now though, you fucking brute. "
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"Uh-huh, that's why they headed over to Lesser, did a perimeter check before flying right back here and none of the other cities mentioned them while I was fixing all their problems and scouting the entire planet. So I'll ask again, what were you doing with them?"
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She spits. "Fuck you. I just told you and you assumed your own answers. You're still the same as when you were a fucking teenager"
21:07
One of the soldiers with her sends a punishing haymaker at the side of her head, before they right her and the chair shes affixed to again
21:08
(most drones also only have a range of like, 10ish kilometers, unless you're running void hawks, which she is not)
21:08
(So none of the other cities would have seen anything)
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(Okay.)
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"Enough of that." Max says to the soldier before turning back to her. "Excuse me for not believing you after you subtly threatened to kill me the first time I visited here. I know someone like you is not going to sit for forever, you must've had some kind of plan to get back on top, accomplices, officials who secretly owe you favors. And before you answer, remember I don't have to take you back to Jagrati to stand trial where you will at least keep your head. The people here haven't rejoined the NMC yet and very much hate our family name and you specifically."
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“What’s your point. You’re going to vilify me for taking responsibility and planning to unite this world again? Need I remind you that I stayed behind and didn’t up and run when the shapers came. Didnt matter through. “
03:12
“Your missiles and your cannons ended the debate before it started”
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"Don't sit there and lecture me about not coming back when the shapers came. I joined up, I served alongside hundreds who are now dead over Nida. After I lost my leg I still worked to train new recruits so maybe they might have a chance at living. You sat here thinking about how you could reunite the world for your own gain while I was out there putting my life at risk to protect people who hated me. People like you are the reason millions of our citizens are now dead. Get her out of my sight." He says to his men, not feeling there is any further point to this argument. He has her taken up on the next flight from the grav flyer under armed guard before he and the rest of his men make their way back to Lesser.
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(3xp, 5000 credits)
03:34
(not really sure where to go from here or what happened there, but I'm good to run whatever we get into)
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(Max was just going to have a talk with the leaders of each town and let them know who he actually is and his hope they rejoin the cooperative, forming their own government of the people and all that good stuff before he does a bit of exploring. If you want to handwave the meeting part I'm good with that. Was going to head to nida and then probably benavides to finish that place up)
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(yeah we've done i think what we can do without taking a faction turn)
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(Gonna take henchkeeper I think for level 10 foci, gonna apply it to Daniels to start)
15:23
(Level up, 9->10, HP 81->86, Fix 0->1, Connect 0->1, Henchkeeper foci level 1 taken)
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After finishing up his meeting with the leaders of the planet, Max heads back to his ship. Having his home world not only still around but part of the cooperative again strengthens his belief that the cooperative is back on track to becoming what it was always supposed to be. He heads up to the bridge and has the helm plot a course to Nida to check another former NMC world believed to be dead. Maybe someone will still be alive in this system. (54/90 Heal-0) (edited)
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(ill get a report up)_
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(I've got work tomorrow morning until 2, so no rush from my end if things are busy for you)
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Breathable Atmosphere No Biosphere No Inhabitants TL0 Lianos now consists of three dead planets basking in the heat of a now greatly diminished green sun. The Fleshshapers cleansed all worlds of their life forms, leaving only bare rock and the attracted gaseous atmospheres behind. The remains of a small New Moon Cooperative naval picket destroyed in the fighting is spread out in a large tangle of destroyed ships and space debris around the second planet.
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(He was headed for Nida, not Lianos)
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(Right )
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Max stands staring at the view screen displaying the remains of the system. He had not spent much time at Nida, but he still remembers the time well. Nervous soldiers trying their best to pretend everything was going to work out and the planets below them would survive unscathed. Immediately following that are memories of the battle, calls on the radio for help cut off by static and a nearby explosion. "Captain, what are your orders?" One of the cadets, Jacobson, asked him from the helm. Maxwell takes a second to process the question before sitting back down and replying. "Take us towards the wreck field, let's see if we can find anything here."
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The field is as dead as it was during the retreat the survivors of your battlegroup beat from this planet years ago now. Things haven’t changed aside from some slightly different positions for the most distant ones, as drift takes its toll.
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Maxwell looks around the field for a mostly intact wreck his ship could safely dock with.
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You see a patrol boat nearby that was boarded rather than destroyed by weapons fire. The lamprey mouth holes of shaper boarding craft that had since been recalled are still present along the portside deck. They chewed through the hull to release shaper boarders inside.
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"Pull us up alongside that patrol boat on the opposite side. I'm going to form up a squad. XO, you have the bridge." Max says heading through the ship to get his armor on and weapons ready. He presses a button on his compad and instructs a small squad of four marines to meet him at the airlock. 15 minutes later he and his squad are assembled and waiting for the ship to pull alongside.
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There is a crunch as the airlocks are mag-tied together. The seal isnt perfect but it will keep anyone from being blown into space
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"Stick together. We are going to check the ship for any shaper remnants then see if we can find something to bring back to the families of those who fell here." Max says before cycling the airlock, weapon raised as he moves into the patrol boat.
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Pushing through the airlock door you emerge into the ships transit hallway. Engineering and drive is aft of you with the rest of the ship ahead.
22:31
There aren’t any bodies in the hallway that your helmet lights are able to pick out. You’d expect either lots or none depending on the results of the boarding action
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Max and his team head towards engineering first to see whether the drive is salvageable. (edited)
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The drive section is not. The shapers seem to have focused their initial assault on this section of the ship to prevent them from jumping away when the battle was lost
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"Alright, not much here. Let's get stop at the armory and see if there are any weapons left there we can salvage, then we can head to the bridge to look for data from the battle." Max says before leading the team to the armory. (edited)
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The armory is empty. The weapons here were handed out to the crew during the boarding action , and were carried away or lost during the fighting
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Max and his men head to the bridge and start looking for any computers with logs left on them. He also looks around for something with the units emblem he can take back to Jagrati so this small force is not forgotten by history. (edited)
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(Program/int for the computers )
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You’re not able to pull any logs out of the system but there is a panel with the naval unit insignia and motto that you could wrench off and take back with you
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Max does so, making a mental note to look for a technician to bring with him on future. He and his men finish up their search of the ship with a sweep of the crew quarters, looking for any family heirlooms or personal messages they can take back to the crew's families.
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The cre must have been rendered down into biomass or the other things the shapers have needed. There’s nothing of value floating here now that hasn’t been carried for or ruined
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Max sighs before gathering his men together. They head back to the ship not having recovered much. Max sets the unit insignia on the desk in his quarters for now before getting out of his armor and heading back to the bridge. "Set a course for Viggis, we've got some work to do there."
03:38
(So heading Nida->Benavides->Viggis, will be 5 days of travel so 59/90 Heal-0)
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You arrive at Viggis to engage in whatever business you had planned
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Max has the ship dock in the water at Chockester. He walks off with a small guard before heading to the town hall to speak with the mayor in charge.
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The mayor has cleared his meeting upon hearing you’re in town and is prepared to speak with you
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Max walks in to his office, leaving his guards outside. "Hello sir, I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. It is no secret this planet is in a strange situation, with three different towns containing different populations and viewpoints and I think it is time we attempted to provide a fix. I would like to hold a meeting with the leaders of Far Lancaster, Chockester, and the Geon to discuss establishing a planetary government run by elected representatives of all three communities, and I would like to have this meeting here if possible."
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"did you have some sort of idea for how this is supposed to work? Youre bringing the three of us into a meeting with nothing to discuss, otherwise. Everyone's going to be interested in their own position"
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"I did. Ideally it would take the form of a parliamentary system, with the representatives elected to represent districts from each community. Each community would have ten, or some other number equal for all parts. There would then be a council made of of one executive member from each settlement, also elected. This should help ensure everyone has fair representation, but avoid any bottlenecks."
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"We can certainly call them here, but its your structure, and your job to sel them. I think that;s only fair given how extensively you seem to have thought of this. This is something the king is permitting? What's our relationship with Jagrati after we put this into place?"
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"The planet would still be a member of the NMC and King Deveers instructed me to set up a provisional government after we subdued Far Lancaster. I have failed to do so thus far and need to change that. A stable local administration is important and locals will know better what they need and want than someone on Jagrati. The idea I will present to everyone is just an idea, I am more than willing to accommodate alterations to this plan so long as it improves the cohesion of this planet and helps to give people hope there is a future under the cooperative. If this works well, it can be a pilot program for something we help establish on other cooperative worlds."
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"If the Royals are approving the matter, and you can get the others to show up, we can all speak of what is to come, and attempt this plan of yours"
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"I will be off to meet with the others. If we can get everyone to the table to at least start discussions that will be a good start." Max says before heading out of the mayors office. He heads back to the ship and grabs the gravflyer before traveling with his 4 men and co-pilot to the geon settlement to speak with Marble about his proposal.
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@Regulus/Grupp Marble is out front of his settlement, directing an expansion of the walls enclosing the human portion of it- as the Geon still live within the cave where they are more comfortable. His hat is recognizable even from a good distance away in the air
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Max lands a hundred or so meters away from the work site, unable to stop himself from laughing softly when he sees Marble's hat. Once he lands he hops out of the flyer and walks up to where Marble is standing. "Hello Marble, how are you doing?"
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Regulus/Grupp 17-Feb-21 09:34 PM
The short geon perks up as he hears his name and turns, "Oh, hey Max! Been a long time! What brings you to Viggis?"
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"I'm finally trying to setup a proper planetary government and administration. The King instructed me to do that months ago, but I've been busy trying to put out fires everywhere else. Seems like you have been busy," Max says, motioning to the new bits of wall. "Last time I was here you were just starting on the first buildings of this settlement."
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Regulus/Grupp 17-Feb-21 10:33 PM
Marble gives a wide grin, clearly excited by his rapidly growing settlement, "Very busy! All those ex prisoners and guards we got really boosted our population! So what kind of government were you thinking of?"
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"I was thinking of a parliamentary system, where each settlement got equal representation. Chockester, Far Lancaster, and the Geon settlement each getting a third of the seats, plus on seat in a 3 person council. This is just a starting idea and I'm looking for representatives to meet in Chockester to discuss what the exact composition of it would be. I want this to be an effective local administration for the planet the people can rely upon."
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Regulus/Grupp 17-Feb-21 11:50 PM
"Hmm, I'm not sure the geon elders will agree to join. If you'd rather have this settlement as the third I'd be happy to join though! The elders are still pretty isolationist and wary of humans so they'll probably argue for some sort of sovereignty from the local political structure. Wow, look at me sounding like I know all sorts of political stuff! And I only even learned what a government was like a year ago or something!"
🤣 1
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"I was speaking about the settlement, your people are sovereign. I see no reason to try and change that until they decide they are ready and want to integrate. And you've come a long way Marble, you are a good leader to the people here. I'll send you the details of exactly where and when the meeting will take place once I have secured Far Lancaster's participation. Unless you have any other issues you need my help with I'll let you get back to work."
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Regulus/Grupp 18-Feb-21 12:42 AM
"Oh! You actually want me?! That's so exciting! Thanks Max, I won't let you down!"
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"So long as the people here trust you, I'd be happy to have you. I'll see you later!" Max says before he leaves, hopping back into the flyer to head for Far Lancaster.
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Far Lancaster is in a more peaceful state now due to the recent roundup of cult members handled by Iracus. The provisional government is trying to get a citizen body elected, but the matter is a confusing one in an occupied city that harbors strong resentment against the government they're trying to re-integrate with
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Max messages the provisional government's office to request permission to land as they are heading in. He lands on the roof of the town hall before hopping out to survey the city, trying to get an idea of how much effort has been made at repairing it since he was last here.
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Things are rapidly repairing but the emotional and political scars run far deeper than the physical ones. Occupying NMC soldiers remain on street corners and many locals simply try to get by with their heads lowered.
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Max sighs as he looks over the city, knowing he has his work cut out for him if he is going to get the people here to trust the cooperative even a bit again. He walks back over to the flyer and prepares himself for meeting whoever has come out to meet him.
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You end up waiting for some time before the garrison commander turned mayor comes to the roof to meet with you, a hand up in greeting.
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"Ah, hello there, sorry for the sudden arrival." Maxwell says, shaking the man's hand and exchanging pleasantries. "I just came from the geon settlement, I am looking to help establish a planetary administration with an elected government. I understand getting the support of the people here will be difficult, but it is important for us to create some hope the people have a future under the cooperative again. Are there any influential groups or figures I could talk to in order to make that possible?" (edited)
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“That’s part of the trouble. Any time a citizen council comes together they get turned on for being turncoats. Nobody wants to come forward to take up the responsibility
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"Are there any ringleaders organizing this, or is it just public opinion?"
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“Public opinion. That’s good enough I suppose”
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Max thinks for a minute, back to when he was in the city the first time. "I remember there were stories of nobles abusing commoners back before the initial revolt. I recovered some records from back then, are there any other records of political prisoners or any other figures who tried to stand up to the nobility? The populace is not going to believe me, not after I lead the assault on their city, I need to talk to someone they respect and get them on our side."
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“There should be done but we would need to visit the prisons themselves to do it. Their records aren’t synced to the city network for security reasons
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"How safe are the prisons here at the moment?"
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“It ranges. Some are very dangerous. Others are lesser facilities for those less threatening to the rest of polite society. Most fall into this latter category
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"The most important thing we can do while we are looking is do a thorough sweep of the cases. Those who were cast in as political prisoners should be released."
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“It’s going to take a bunch of administrators a long time to sorry that out
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"Maybe that's our ticket to reach the populace then. Nobody knows how many people live in these prisons on trumped-up charges. If we establish a planetary government, its first task can be to process all this paperwork and get the honest people out of prison. Let's head to the first semi-safe prison, see what we can find."
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)how did you wanna handle this. Did you want to physically visit or are we going to just pull files/do some database stuff )
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(I wanted to head there and get an idea for what kind of people are there first)
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"Low security. I'd pack nothing more than a sidearm. The hallways there are too cramped to use a las lock effectively- even as a spear"
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"Sounds like a plan to me." Max says, walking back to the flyer to grab his laser pistol and put on his CFU before walking back. "Let's head over there." Max says to the Mayor before they make their way to the first prison. (If they have ground transport we can go via that rather than take the flyer around everywhere.)
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(They’ll have one if you’re good)
17:47
(Also if you’re taking anyone with you)
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(Just two men, the other two will stay with the flyer and co-pilot)
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A small grav-speeder with armored sides and a machine gun on a turret is floated around front of the town hall, with a driver, your liason, and a guard of his own. All of you together make six and the craft depresses ever so slightly underneath its heavy payload
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Max takes a seat and is quiet for most of the ride over. About halfway there he turns to the Mayor. "What can you tell me about the wardens of these prisons. Are they holdovers from the noble days or were they given these jobs after the revolt?" (edited)
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"The guards themselves were city employees. Neither of those guesses are true. "
14:44
"They did their jobs without trouble and it just was not appropriate to move them"
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"Hmm, well hopefully they can help us figure this mess out then." Max says, staying silent for the rest of the ride over.
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The prison is a three floor rectangular building with barred windows, a fenced in yard with double fences and barbed wire, and patrolling guards with dogs around the outside. The large doors leading in are metal,and reinforced. they might have even come from a starship once
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Max gets out and lets the mayor do the talking to get their group in to the prison to see the warden first.
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The Warden is brought out front to meet with you, a stout woman missing an eye, with close cropped hair and a special combat harness with a stab vest worked into the sides
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Max walks up and exchanges plesantries. "Max Buchannon, Royal Huscarls. I'm here to take a look at your records and see if there are people unjustly convicted who need to be let free."
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"Unjustly convicted?" she laughs. "Under what laws? what grounds? "
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"People who were thrown in here on trumped up charges because the nobles wanted them to disappear but they were too influential to just kill. Those kinds of unjust convictions."
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(talk/cha)
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(8, used reroll token)
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"Alright, less mouths to feed and some empty cells means we can lock up the real problems. Come in, lets look over the records"
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"Sounds like a plan." Max says, following her to the records room.
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(admin/int)
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You’re able to locate three who don’t have any charges aside from political ones
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After a few hours of searching through the records, Max grabs the three files and hands them to the warden. "Less than I expected, but I'll take what I can get from a preliminary search. I'll have the rest of these files copied and brought back to Jagrati so we can do a more thorough investigation. Let's get these three out and see if any of them will at least talk to me."
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Eager to see the sun again it takes half an hour to get them from their chains and hauled out under guard to the front of the prison. Most of their bodies are crusted in levels of filth you've seen only in prison camps and those choosing to live a life far off the grid. They have not been treated well, despite the warden's protests that they have.
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Max looks at the warden as he is protesting. "You can stop talking now. What you can do instead is go through your prison and clean up your act. I don't care who was in charge or what rules they had, but this is NOT a concentration camp. I want that message broadcast to every guard and staff member here because this kind of treatment is not acceptable." He says before walking up to the three men, waving the prison guards away as he does so. "My name is Maxwell Buchannon, I work for King Deveers and the NMC, I want to be upfront and honest about that. I'd like to help you all get cleaned up and back on your feet as best I can, though I know I can't make up for the unjust nature of your imprisonment. Once we get you back to your families if they are still around or at the very least some lodging of your own, I'd like to talk more with you if anyone is willing. This place needs leaders, and I'm hoping you all might be the ones everyone here is looking for. Nothing will happen to you if you say no, but I very much hope you say yes."
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She huffs, and orders her men to ignore your order, and stand their ground.
20:47
The prisoners themselves would be foolish to not take a chance to get out of prison , but wish to have this conversation elsewhere
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(Are the guards preventing them from leaving the premises, or just behind them?)
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(Just behind them. They’re just making a show of not listening to you)
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Max ignores her and motions for the prisoners to move towards him. "Let's get you folks cleaned up." He says, leading them towards the car and letting them have the first ride back to the town hall.
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The convicts are happy to have a chance to clean, eat, and be given some new clothes. They’ve cleaned up well after a few hours of bathing and cleansing. A shot of tailored allergens takes care of any mites they might have picked up inside which is a better alternative to shaving them all
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Once they have had a chance to get cleaned up and fed, Max sits down with them in a conference room. "I hope everyone is feeling better now. As I mentioned before I would like to take the chance to get to know you all better. You all were imprisoned under false pretenses for a reason, if I had to guess because you were a threat to the power of the nobility. This city is in need of leaders, people to give them hope there will be a future under the new government. I had hoped, if my assumptions about your imprisonment were correct, you might be the people this city needs. At any point you are free to decline, and we will still offer you whatever help is necessary to get you back with your families and back on your feet. It's the least we can do given what you went through."
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None of them seem interested in declining so far, but you've also given a lack of details about what specifically you want them to do, and what you want them to be responsible for.
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Max explains his proposed plan for a planetary administration. "The problem right now is there is no trust between the people of this city and the NMC. What I am looking for is leaders who will help the public give this a chance. This is going to be a government run by the people of this planet and the only times the NMC will get involved is when there are major issues such as outside threats or dealings with the Sacrificed on the other side of the gate. If you were willing to come out in support of this plan, and maybe even participate in it, people here might give it a chance."
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If the alternative is prison, they seem to be willing to go along with it, though they still dont know what their specific jobs will be aside from just general decision making.
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"Let me be clear, you all will not be going back to prison. You are making this decision as free men. Your job will be educating the public about how they have a voice in their government now. If you garner their support, you all will be the negotiators from Far Lancaster who help finalize the structure of the planetary government. The people see anyone who works with the NMC as traitors ever since the town overthrew the nobles who put you in power and we were given no choice but to regain control. We are trying to build a new cooperative here which lives up to its name, but we need the support of the people in order to do that."
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(You’re trying to get them into your big plan for the planet right ? They’d want that explanation)
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(Yeah, he'd tell them the whole deal about his plan for the planetary government)
03:15
(Including any details about what they might have missed while in prison, like the nobles getting overthrown and all that stuff)
03:16
(If I have to I can use my Authority once a day to help convince them, just let me know and I will make the lead roll)
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)we should make that roll)
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They’ll be willing to play their part in the galactic government you’re trying to build
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Max stands up. "Thank you all. I will speak with the Mayor about having a meeting for the public here at the town hall where we can address some of the concerns people have in a few days. In the meantime, I will work with his staff to find your families and get you all setup with some new homes. If you also know of any other political prisoners we can let go, please let us know so we can get them out of prison as well." He walks out of the room and finds the mayor to setup a date for a town hall discussion.
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(I think that’s all the communities now)
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(Yup)
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The communities will reach out to one another and pull this plan together. It’s something they can handle without your attendance if other matters have taken priority.
14:56
(3xp, 5000 credits)
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His work done here, Max and his men head back aboard the Emissary. After getting his armor off and his uniform straightened he heads to the bridge. There are still a few salutes here and there, mostly from the new cadets who joined the last time they docked at Jagrati. When he walks in he sees Daniels in the captain's chair and walks up to her. "Anything interesting while I was gone?" "Not really, just the usual drills. Cadets are coming along well, though it still surprises me people are willing to join up after everything that's happened." She says as she gets up from the chair. "Same reason we are still here I guess, someone has to do the hard work protecting people. People have hope, and that is the most important thing. I think with the nobility gone there will be more people trying to use the academy as a way to gain prestige and influence, but hopefully most people will join up because they want to protect what we are building here." Max says sitting down. "I've got the bridge, go take a break and do... something." He says with a pause, before thinking a bit. "You know, in all the time we've been working together we've never really sat down and talked at all about anything not related to work. I have no idea what it is you actually do in your downtime." "With all the missions we've been on it never really seemed like a priority, but I guess we have some time for non-essentials now. Sometime while we are in spike maybe." She says with a shrug before disappearing down the corridor. Max turns back to the rest of the bridge crew. "Take us out Mr. Jackson, we are headed to Benavides next. Don't want this house of cards left with a weakpoint while we are away later this month." He says to the helmsman, who nods before the ships begins moving away from the dock, eventually heading back up through the atmosphere and into space before heading into spike a few hours later. (edited)
15:30
(61/90 towards heal-0 with two days of downtime) (edited)
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(what did you want to do at Benavides? )
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(I thought there were still some problems it had which is why it didn't count as being fully integrated)
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(right, what specifically do you want to handle, because without knowing all i can really set up is the general system information)
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(Check out the missile silo, see if its payload is still intact)
18:03
(Then move to the towns)
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The missile defense base on the surface is a large sprawling complex with twelve anti orbital missiles as part of its battery compliment. The silos are underground and the command center is likewise deeply buried save for surface access in a few concealed areas. No NMC communication has come from the site- and its believed the crew was either overwhelmed or abandoned the site. No one is sure if the battery was fired.
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Max looks at the site from orbit before turning to his communications officer. "Mr. Southers, have 1st Squad meet me in the hangar, we are going to do some recon of the area. Keep an eye out on the scanner once we are down there, I'd rather the only surprises we get be from the inside if there are any at all. XO you have the bridge." Max says before getting up and heading to his cabin to gear up before moving on to the hangar bay. He arrives in the hangar bay and is greeted by the familiar faces of his primary fire team. He took some time to learn their names since they were recent transfers to the ship after some of his men decided to stay on Jagrati after the noble sweep. "Sergeant Patterson, let's get everyone aboard. Nothing has been heard from here since before the space battle overhead, so be prepared for anything folks." The squad nods in acknowledgement before everyone hops in and they head down to the surface, looking for a landing zone about a kilometer away from the missile battery.
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You land in some rocky lowlands where you might be the only living things for kilometers around. There are not even birds or bugs in the sky and dust immediately stains your black boots a pale taupe color
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"Stay sharp folks, this place might still have operational defenses. We need to get in there, secure the building, and see if the base is still functional. Any questions?" Max asks before getting the usual none. "Alright, lets move out slow and quiet." He says before his team begin slowly moving through the rocks towards the missile base.
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(sneak/dex)
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(11)
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You’re not observed by anything that might be in the area by the time you are overlooking the missile base. The fence around it is about as tall as you are and there are gaps in a few parts around it. There isn’t any vegetation here but rocks and dust have covered the silo doors
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Max looks around the base for any signs of defenses, concealed or otherwise as well as any heat signatures using his helmets thermal vision.
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Nothing on the surface jumps out at you as odd or out of place. Some of the surface rocks radiate a bit of heat from their time in the sun, but nothing denoting hidden electronics or enemies in wait.
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Max signals for two men to cover while the other three move down to the base and start investigating the silo doors, using whatever cover they can as they move through.
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The doors are closed, and are rock debris covered but its nothing that would not shake off if they needed to open to fire a payload- if one exists. There's no scorch marks or signs anything was launched
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Max calls up the two lookouts before everyone heads towards the entrance to the silo, stacking up at the door while they inspect it.
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The door is a normal military grade blast door meant to keep the silo access from collapsing under all but a direct orbital hit
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Max looks for a way to open the door if it is locked. If it is not he gently opens the door a crack, looking inside for traps.
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It would need to be forced open, or reprogrammed to open
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Max walks over to the computer controls and tries to get the door open.
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(program or fix, both with int)\
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You're able to get the cover off the pad, and some creative wiring has the door beginning to winch open, exposing the ladder that goes deep underground into the base
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Max climbs down into the base first with the squad sergeant following him. He checks carefully for traps as he climbs down, stepping off the ladder just enough to leave room for his squadmate while he peers into the depths.
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Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.
Pinned a message.
14:26
The barracks is just beyond the armored port door leading inside, though the stairwell continues running downstairs to lower levels, with four more floors that are interconneted only at the bottom
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Max and his team move through the barracks methodically, clearing each floor room by room before moving on to the next.
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The payload is gone. It has not been fired from what you can tell, but the missile is missing.
20:31
(i t sounds like there's no real interest in actuallyt exploring the site, so im not going to drag either of us through thaT)
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(I think I just misunderstood how many rooms there actually were. I thought the barracks was the whole column on the left side. I replied after I just woke up)
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(I also had planned for them to do a sweep looking for shaper remnants first then do their investigation of the area.)
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Noel [Aminatah] 06-Mar-21 06:43 AM
To: Maxwell Buchannon. From: Nazrin "Verethragna" Shammuramat. After The Contract with Aiya Tech ends, I have a favor I need to ask of you. -Vere.
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Noel [Aminatah] 06-Mar-21 06:53 AM
I suppose it's a Two-Parter. First, There's the Matter of that Bottle you handed me. The Second part is... more complicated, and will need to be talked out.
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Once his team has swept through the base and their initial search did not turn up any survivors or immediate dangers, Max and his team head back to the barracks to do a more thorough search for clues as to what happened to the people, and the warhead.
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(Program/int)
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The missile silo was opened from the outside. The sensors detect the door opening without it stemming from a launch order
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Max thinks for a second before he and his team head back outside and take a closer look at the silo door.
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They appear to not have been cut open but there are scrapes around the interlocking metal teeth showing it’s been opened before by someone
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(Are these doors reinforced concrete, or something lighter? Seeing if it would take something motorized to open them or just a crowbar)
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(The silo doors that cover where the missile comes out from are made of thick metal and would need power to run their motorized parts that allow them to open and close)
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(So they would need to be opened using the silo controls or some piece of heavy machinery then right?)
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(correct sir)
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(I'll get back to this either sometime tonight or tomorrow since its my day off, work the past two days has drained me) (edited)
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Max stands up after inspecting the scrapes on the silo doors. "Someone brought in something big in order to open these doors. We need to find out who that is before they use that warhead. Let's finish checking out this base first, secure the weapons in the armory, check for medical supplies, officers quarters too." Max says before leading his men back into the base and to the medical bay before checking for any medical supplies left.
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There is a sealed box of Naval Issue stims on the wall, that no one looks to have attempted snapping the lock on. The meds inside are two years past their expiration date, but there is a chance they might still be stable.
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Max pockets the stims, figuring Daniels or the ship's doctor will be able to tell him if they are still good or not. His men move on down the ladder to the armory to check for remaining weapons.
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The armory has been looted, with just a few random bullets of less common caliber left behind. None of you have weapons chambered for .275 , and thus they're left behind once again. You're not sure why the old NMC even bothered trying to find a unique projectile cartridge when the current energy weapons work so much better. There are a few scraps of old uniform left behind, cut apart to get the armor plates within
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Seeing the armory looted he and his team head down to the next level and search the officers quarters for any momentos which can be returned.
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(notice/wis)
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There is a hidden safe in the wall behind a painting of the previous king, not the current one.
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Max walks over to it and checks if it is unlocked or not.
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It is locked
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(Is it a combination safe and/or are the hinges visible?)
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(the hinges are visible, but there is a combination on it as well)
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(Would it be possible for him to angle himself in a way he can use his rifle to saw through the hinges?)
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(like to shoot it or use the bayonet? i dont think the bayonet would be capable of cutting through it)
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(Like shoot it with him aiming parallel to the wall and just at the hinges)
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(you could do that)
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Max moves up against the wall next to the side opposite the safe's hinges. He has his men ensure they are outside of the line of fire before carefully aiming and firing at the hinges with his shear rifle. (35/13 if you want an attack roll)
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There is a shower of sparks that causes everyone to take an instinctive step backwards. The hinge clinks to the floor.
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Max looks around the room for a crowbar or some other metal tool which can be used to pry the door open before opening it if he finds such an implement.
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There are a few spars of metal that will serve. Prying open the safe has a loaded handgun, the launch codes, a second set for the base XO, and some still useful survival rations
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Max takes the launch codes and rations and tucks them into his pack before picking up the handgun and looking it over for identifying marks.
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It’s NMC standard issue. Nobody expected this safe to ever be opened or for it to ever be used
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Max takes the handgun as well before heading down to the bottom level to the workshops to check them out for any items of interest.
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The workshop was used for maintaining the gear of the small garrison here. It’s capable for doing minor work and appears normal. The pieces here weren’t vital or especially expensive and have been left behind.
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"Let's do one final sweep of the control room and make sure there isn't any other intel of value." Max says before leading his men back to the control room, keeping his eyes open for any information about where the survivors may have gone to.
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The final entry in the station captain's logbook is that they're abandoning the facility to try to rejoin the planetary front against the shapers. They won't nuke their own world and the landing ships didn't need to make orbit to send troops down to the planet. Their missiles remained unfired.
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"We found out what happened to the troops stationed here. Let's head back to the ship and drop off what we found before we start looking for the heavy equipment necessary to open up the silo doors." Max says, leading his men back up to the surface before making their way to the Flyer's landing site. Once his men have safely arrived he calls the flyer back from its orbit to pick them up.
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It arrives, to pick you up and does so, returning you to safety. There is no evidence heavy equipment was used to get the doors open, you see no tracks or signs of anything else in the local area.
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"I don't know what kind of equipment was used to steal that warhead, but it is not traditional ground equipment. Once we get back we can go ahead and check through the two towns nearby, see if anyone has anything special, or maybe do some scanning and see if we can find it." Max says. As soon as they land, he heads up to the communications station on the bridge. "Alright Mr. Southers, that silo has a missing warhead and we need to figure out where it is. See if you can scan for elevated radiation levels." (Ship doesn't have a survey sensor array, going to put that in next time I dock at Jagrati because I have just enough free mass for it)
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There’s no radiation detected on the planet above background level. Nothing sticks out. The warhead isn’t here
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"Well, good try anyway. We will head back down to the planet and see if anyone knows what happened there." Max says. He heads back down to the hangar and meets up with his men, giving them the news before they head back down to the planet, This time landing at South Oitenia.
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You land at South Oitenia, and the crew waits to be told what to do
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Max and a pair of his men head out to look for the town hall to see the Mayor, inquiring about any survivors from the missile silo garrison.
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One of the ratings who worked at the base lives in town now, one of the only survivors from his unit- after the facility was abandoned. Nobody from the armed forces had ever gone back to the site
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Max and a pair of his men make their way to his house, the rest staying with the ship. When they arrive Max knocks gently on the door to his home.
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“It’s open!” A husky voice from inside yells (edited)
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Maxwell walks in wearing just his uniform, having left his armor in the flyer. His two men stay outside on the porch. He looks around for the source of the yell upon entering and closing the door.
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There is a clatter in the kitchen. Porcelain is broken and you can smell the faint waft of coffee grounds in the air
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Max looks around and notices a small closet ajar, grabbing a broom and dustpan from it before moving to the kitchen. "Everything alright?" He asks to the owner.
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his hands shake, though he is relatively young for when you'd expect nerves to start to deteriorate. He is older, but not that old. "Loose hands. Slipped right through my fingers when the door knocked. I was not expecting you"
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"My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you." Max says as he bends down and sweeps up the broken cup and spilled coffee grounds before dumping them in the trash. "My name is Maxwell, I'm with the NMC, I was hoping I might speak with you about the silo. I know it is a difficult subject to bring up."
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"The silo?? I didn't abandon my post. We were ordered to leave. We secured the silo and our captain said the NMC had ordered us out and to join the front"
19:30
"I...I have papers here..somewhere. I knew the day would come eventually..."
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Max puts his hands up. "Relax, relax, I'm not here to arrest you or interrogate you or anything like that. I'm just here to talk. My team investigated the silo and found the warhead was missing and the silo door was opened from the outside. All I want to know is do you know of any person around here who might have the equipment to open the door from the outside without leaving a trail. You men did your job, nobody is going to come after you for that."
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"Someone talked to me a few weeks ago. Said they were a High Admiral Captain Mazzio of the NMC Psychic Corps, and they had orders from the capital to take the warhead. He had papers and a very impressive uniform. He asked me to take him to the silo, so we hiked there. He and his men took it from there. He thanked me, made sure I was paid well for giving him the route, and then teleported me home here."
19:51
"He was incredibly nice, and very patient with how slow these legs are now"
19:53
(this is the frontier, and a frontier town on the frontier, so you can assume their news intake is probably not what it is on the capital or first sphere worlds of the NMC now)
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(Yeah)
19:58
Max sighs and thinks for a moment before replying. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you were tricked. The man you are talking about is a very powerful psychic warlord who is wanted by multiple polities for theft and terrorism. It is not your fault, there is no way you would have known he was not who he said he was. He can teleport anywhere at will and steal whatever papers or uniforms he needs to get what he wants."
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He goes quite pale, realizing that he helped a dangerous man obtain a nuclear weapon
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Max gets up and finishes making the coffee the man was working on when he came in, handing him a cup after a minute of brewing. "Drink, calm down. It isn't your fault. You were trying to help us recover, this man did what he does best and took advantage of that. What kind of work did you do while you were at the silo?"
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"Monitoring, and if the order had ever come to fire, I would have been responsible for figuring out the launch telemetry between the ground, and the target- while accounting for things like the revolution of the planet, relative speed of the target....lots of complicated life and death math"
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"So lots of work involving physics and engineering. What do you do around here?"
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"Drink coffee. Sit in my house alone, and miss the days where I was in a cement bunker underground, wearing a robe and bunny slippers"
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"I could try and get you a job somewhere else, something which would make use of your skills if you'd like. We need all the people we can get with a knowledge of advanced mathematics."
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“A job? Like what? And where?”
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"Well, I have been helping coordinate some trade routes every month but we recently started a new route and I could use some help crunching numbers. I would set you up on Jagrati with the trade comission, give you an office. If that doesn't suit you I know a friend of mine just recently received some royal investment to restore his family's gravchute business on Jagrati. I could see if he needs another experienced engineer. How do those sound?"
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“I’d rather work the trade office. I can do great things for the cooperative. I know I can”
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"I know you can too. Get whatever effects you need ready and head to the town hall in about 5 hours, I'll meet you with my flyer and give you a lift up to the ship. We will leave in a few days back to Jagrati once I take care of whatever issues the wider populace may have here." Max says with a smile. (Could we use this guy as a bonus to know on trade expertise as a henchman?) (edited)
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(I was thinking he becomes the faction steward since his expertise is pretty good)
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(Yeah)
02:39
(That's what I meant. His would add to mine right?)
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(No, it would just be what you use instead. It doesn’t stack)
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(Alright. What expertise would he have, ill write it down somewhere) (edited)
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(I'll make him a sheet so its public facing)
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(Ty)
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Max heads out of Nicholas' house and has his men head back up to the ship so the flyer will have room for cargo. In the meantime he heads over to the town hall again, this time looking for issues to take care of. (edited)
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(I think we pretty much covered what's around)
16:26
(at least with what we have time to do while also meeting your other time obligations) (edited)
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(Alright, sounds good)
16:27
Not seeing any other pressing issues, he heads back to the flyer and waits for Nicholas, giving him some help with his things before they fly up to the ship and head back to Jagrati.
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(4 days by my count on the way back, along the southern border)
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(65/90 towards heal-0. Any xp for the stuff on Benavides?)
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(A faction steward with double almost the expertise we were using is a good reward I think)
21:49
(We did XP for the event on Benavides right before this one, but we've been working on the silo since 3/2 ish)
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(I don't see any since I've been on Benavides but this guy is way more useful than any xp.)
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(3/1 was the last time bud
22:22
(I scrolled back to the beginning of the silo mission and it was the post right before you landed in town where)
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(That was for Viggis, getting the government setup. But again, im more than satisfied with getting the steward)
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(Okay so be satisfied with the steward haha. We will spin something new up shortly
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The flight back to Jagrati is a somewhat somber note for the Max. He was never one to relish combat, and certainly doesn't like the idea of putting his men in harms way. In this case he feels it is necessary. He spends a bit of his time on the flight back to Jagrati talking to the younger members of his crew who hadn't yet seen combat, trying to prepare them as best he could for the hellish nature of battle. The last day of travel was filled with last-minute paperwork and reports, Max spending most of his time at his desk. He was just about finished when his XO walks into the room. "Have a present for you," Daniels says, setting another thick folder onto his almost empty to-do pile. "Engineering finally finished their safety tests." Max looks at the folder with a sigh before picking it up. "You'd think the change in power structure would generate less desire for needless paperwork, but I guess all the bureaucrats need something to justify their lives too. The rookies seem to be as ready as I can make them, how are the rest of the men holding up?" "They are as ready as anyone can be to see combat again. No one is looking forward to it but they know its necessary." Max nods as he speeds through the folder, picking out the few places he needs to sign. "Twenty pages of filler for three signatures, I need to talk with Weatherly about the importance of writing less words." He says setting the folder on top of the pile in the filled mail trolley he borrowed before pulling out a half-full bottle of whiskey he found in his aunts cellar along with two glasses before uncorking the bottle and pouring himself and Daniels a small glass. "I know we usually spend this time going over tomorrows work, but since we are arriving at Jagrati in the morning I figured we could have that talk instead."
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Daniels gave him a nod before going into a story about her life growing up on Benavides, dreaming of being a doctor before getting pulled out of school during her second year of pre-med to be conscripted as a medic in the marines. She fought on Benavides for a few months before the end of the conflict, getting a promotion to Corporal. She spends her downtime painting watercolors to help keep her fingers sharp and reading poetry because she finds it relaxing. "And you know the rest because you were there. Someday after this is over I want to go back to school, get my doctorate, actually be a doctor." Max just listens as she talks before refilling their glasses. "I always thought I was going to end up a star racing pilot when I was a child, but its hard looking back to tell if that was my own idea or something my parents stuffed into my head because they thought it would get the family more prestige. Hopefully we can both live through this and get back to the lives we wanted." Daniels nods before they both empty their glasses and stand up. "You heading back up to the bridge?" She asks. "Yeah, Jackson has probably had about enough. That man is obsessive when it comes to watching someone else in his chair. Enjoy your evening Commander." He says before they both exit out of his quarters and go to their separate destinations. When Max gets to the bridge he hears a soft 'Finally' from his helmsman as Jackson gets up. "Worried about your chair still Mr. Jackson?" Max asks as the ensign working the helm is none-to-subtly asked to go find something else to do as he himself sits down in the captains chair. Jackson looks back at him with a shrug as the whole bridge chuckles before they go back to whatever it was they were doing.
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(So what are we actually doing next)
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(Heading down to meet up with the Void wardens I think)
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(The route [Jagrati->Groa->Iragarte->Dura In->Espinoza->Acastus->Suha->Halia->Thorgerd->Rawhani->Sharhriar] Total of 26 days in Spike. Taking the ships listed down in the polity assignment post. EDIT: Adding Gudrun and Mariam in between Thorgerd and Rawhani, making it 28 days in spike total) (edited)
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(Alright. We need to wait for some other events to finish if you’re planing on making a direct push down there without stopping at any of the planets we pass)
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(I can go ahead and do that racing league thing in the meantime then)
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(I don’t want to introduce that right now)
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(Yeah, ignore that, since we talked about doing the trade stuff instead)
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)okay. I think either Espinoza or Acastus would be a good first stop then)
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(We can do Acastus, see if we can get our mutual friction down even lower)
19:36
(Unless there are problems on Espinoza that need fixed)
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(There is. Aris is there working on something)
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(Alright, let's do that then. Want to keep this route safe)
21:46
Once they arrive at Jagrati, Max has the Emissary dock at the station where the two remaining ships from the Expeditionary flotilla are docked. Max transfers himself along with his primary squad and vehicles over to the Challenger, leaving Daniels in command of the Emissary. He gives his men a few hours of shore leave after which the crews are recovered and supplies are gathered before the flotilla makes its way down galactic south. (edited)
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Iracus Varanu | Rayan 23-Mar-21 02:26 AM
Max, I will head to Viggis next, been wondering how they have been doing so this will be a most welcome detour. Best of luck on your journey down south, fly safe. -Iracus
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(Alright max. Let’s hit Espinoza then and maybe we can help Aris get his mission going )
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(Sounds good)
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Level Up Level: 10->11 Old HP: 86 HP Roll: 93 New HP: 93 New Skills: Lead 3->4 (2 SP, 3 Banked Points), 1 sp banked Current AB: 10 (edited)
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Eisheru | Reza [Jack] 23-Apr-21 12:56 AM
(going from skill 3 to 4 costs 5SP)
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(Updated. Brain was mush right after I got home from work)
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Max spends the ride back up to the waiting flotilla quiet, making notes on his compad regarding ways to improve his investigation skills, chief among them buying some kind of flop weapon. "Looks like we have some company sir, must've just arrived in system." Higgens says as they near orbit, prompting Max to head up to the front window to see the imposing sight of the NMS Cataphract come into view from around the planet. "Message coming in, for you sir. They sent the Admiral." "King must've taken the loss of the Magistrate pretty hard then, I'll take it back here." Max says, quickly trying to clean himself up as best he could manage using the limited facilities on board to wash his face and hair before answering the call on his compad. "Admiral Malditis, to what do I owe the pleasure?" "Hello Captain. I see you are just coming back from a mission on the surface. Get yourself cleaned up and meet me on the Cataphract in an hour, we have plans to discuss." "Yes Ma'am, see you in an hour." Max says, before sitting back down as the flyer docks in the Challenger. The next hour goes quickly as Max gets himself cleaned up, shaved, and into his dress uniform before making his way over to the Cataphract, a ship he often passed by to and from Jagrati but never stepped into until now. Max is welcomed by the sight of the ship's Executive officer, a slightly portly man in his 30s named Commander Adams. The walk to the captain's quarters was spent doing the usual small talk and exchange of salutes before Max is deposited in the room in very much the manner of a teacher depositing a student in the principles office. When he enters the room the Admiral walks over to him, exchanging salutes and a handshake. "Thank you for coming Captain, have a seat." She says, motioning to the chair in front of her desk.
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"The King has decided to raise the Dragon Banner against the Extuarren Empire, and with that decision came a desire to expand our expeditionary fleet. He decided my experience in larger fleet engagements would be required so he sent me to take command of your flotilla. Because of this, I will need someone to take command of this ship while I focus on coordination here and have decided you will be that person. Before you say anything, my XO knows the situation. Adams is a good man, but if he was a strong leader he would have his own command. Your reputation and record made you the candidate I need. Any questions?" "Will we be following the same planned route to Shariar?" Max asks, getting a nod in reply. "Other than that, I don't have any questions. I'll get my equipment and supplies transferred from the Challenger." He says before being dismissed. He spends the next few days getting to know the ship and some of the bridge crew while keeping up on his basic medical studies. (Gonna head to Shariar. I'll use the original route listed above, so it would be another 17 days in spike to get there. Would finish getting to Heal-0 along the way with a day to spare since I didn't mark down the 9 days of travel to Espinoza. Will start leveling know next 1/90) (edited)
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(Oh I didn’t realize you roleplayed with yourself already. I will figure out how to move this )
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(Sorry, I didn't mean to steal your thunder. I'll leave her to you next time.)
00:03
(Thought it just made sense since it was my ooc plan and would skip a bunch of ooc talk between us just to coordinate some rp)
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(I know we discussed a plan. The rp’ing with yourself In these cases is coming off kinda scummy . I didn’t want to rP a collapsing family with an alcoholic main character or a very RP heavy pc/npc romantic relationship , and you’ve sort of applied that onward into new characters in situations where you don’t want to wait for me. The end result may be close to the same but asking me questions in PM and then using the information to do this is not acceptable )
14:04
(It’s not stealing my thunder. It’s allowing me the courtesy to know what’s happening in the threads of my own game)
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(Sorry. I was trying to get the thread moving before I went to sleep and went too far with it. It won't happen again. I honestly thought this was one of the situations where you wanted me to rp this myself but I was mistaken. Next time I'll ask first.) (edited)
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The void wardens have moved on from Shariar , and are now at Actayl after suffering heavy damage and the loss of some smaller vessels against the extaurren mixed fleet. They were forced to withdraw from Maysoon, not having enough soldiers aboard to effect a ground landing that wouldn’t end in a massacre. The colony there remains in bondage to the enemy
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Max updates the Admiral on the information before the fleet makes its way to Kuhuk on its way down to Alcatyl. (Planning to follow the route of Kuhuk->Mohini->Chhavvi->Alcatyl.)
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There are no troubles on the way, and the fleet steams into Actayl as the damaged portion of the void wardens fleet is being repaired by the also in system lamplighter platform
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Max has the comms officer open a channel to the station. "Paivatar Station this is Captain Buchannon on board the NMS Cataphract. The NMC expeditionary fleet has just arrived in system and will be following this route to the station." Max says as the officer sends their route plans forward to the station.
22:54
(Should be 11 days of downtime, so 12/90 Know-0)
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@Robert @Valentina Spiros [Ythal] (NMC reinforcements are here , if we want to revise battle plans )
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(Not sure what our soldier contingent is looking like either with the NMC fleet, or we could do a pc mission to more covertly try to liberate maysoon
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(The NMC only has the one troop carrier operational, and maybe has 300 marines total across all 5 ships in this fleet.) (edited)
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Valentina Spiros [Ythal] 27-Apr-21 02:07 PM
(Hi, I'd be up for running a covert, take out key places/people kind of mission now that we have space superiority in the area, even if we can't liberate the planet with a series of surgical strikes, it will lay the groundwork for large troop movements to come later! Then ships can be repaired in the meantime, ready to push onward Alternatively, if the NMC's troop mover is around, and without troops, you could fill up with AGET troop on Alcatyl, and we could run mass combats?) (edited)
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(Our troop mover is with the Rana mission)
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Valentina Spiros [Ythal] 27-Apr-21 02:37 PM
(Ok, in which case, I'm up for surgical ground strikes if you fancy that idea?)
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(Sounds fine by me)
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(Would the goals Emerge Victorious in a space battle and Help eliminate a sector-wide threat be completed?)
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(yes)
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Level up, 11->12 HP 93->103 Notice 2->3 (Using 1 banked SP)
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Max returns to Jagrati after a month of traveling alongside a few of his men. His usual stoic exterior is one filled with grief and anxiety, as he feels like he is to blame for agreeing to send so many ships and so many people to their deaths so soon after the Cooperative was just starting to get back on its feet. Upon return he sends a message to the King's office to ask for a meeting before returning to his apartment to get cleaned up.
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The King accepts your request to meet right away, as soon as you are back in the system when a message can be received. (edited)
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Max arrives at the palace 30 minutes later in an older dress uniform, the same one he wore when he first met the king, with the rank insignia hastily swapped out for correct ones after buying them from the admiralty comissary.
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Thankfully they have what you need, and with your proper uniform the other members of the palace guard let you in. The King is looking a bit better lately- more healthy and actually smiling despite the circumstances
21:46
The chess game you started so many months ago is untouched from the last move he made, before you left to begin your commission for him. "i think it is time we finally finish our game. "
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"Things really have come full circle." Max says with a laugh as he sits down, getting reacquainted with the game before making his next move. "You are looking much better health-wise, I presume no longer facing the stress of the nobility breathing down you neck is the reason."
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"No nobility, no flesh shapers, no evil metaspace entity, and finally thanks to you and all our brave sailors, no more domineering mining guild. There is little to worry about now"
22:22
He counters with his own move. It is a poor effort and a sloppy play.
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Max looks at his move, then back at him, trying to tell if the smile is a facade or not before making a sub-par move of his own.
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It seems like the King might still be distracted a bit. He has left his side of the field in a vulnerable position as he ponders his next move. "The rigors of the past few years have not been kind to me, my health, or the Cooperative as a whole. It was determined a few weeks ago that within a year I will be dead. I have been coughing lately and a med scan revealed the nobles were able to get the last laugh. A shang's Cyst is growing in my lungs and eventually I will have to fight for every breath. I have no heir and our constitutional monarchy is too fragile to exist without a Monarch"
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Max drops the piece in his hand and blinks at him for a few seconds, not quite knowing what to think. "You are asking me to succeed you? As king? Me? I came here because I thought I'd failed the cooperative, taking part in such a Pyrrhic victory. I was going to offer to resign as the commander of the royal huscarls and go back to teaching pilots. I...I don't know what to think." He says, sitting back in astonishment.
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Looking down at the board, the King is in check. Your knight is about to take the crown piece and none of his retainers are close enough to mount a defense. "You turned your back on a life of convenience to serve the greater purpose and to serve the people of the New Moon Cooperative. You brought stability and justice to our planets when we needed it the most. You've been the force the others rallied around before they were able to set out and do good on their own. You're a prime candidate for King"
fireball 2
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Max thinks for a second before laughing softly. "If someone had told me back on Anisah that pistol would lead me to this moment, I would have told them they were mad. The irony is this is probably everything my parents wanted me to achieve but it happened by acting in the exact opposite manner they would." He says, rubbing his face. "I want to say no, but I know you wouldn't be asking me this if you didn't think it was the right thing for the Cooperative as a whole. My life has been about service, and if this is the path you want me on, then yes, I will follow you as King. Also, I believe that is checkmate." He finishes, making the final move of the game. (edited)
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As you move to sweep up the final game piece from the board, several witnesses enter the room. "This is going to be a small ceremony and won't be hitting the news until next month. Something large is just going to remind the public how wasteful and expensive the royal office really is. Maybe you can change that when it comes time for you to have an heir. You're King of the Cooperative now" he says, taking the crown from his own head, wiping it, and placing it on yours. "Not of the planet's but of its people. I trust you to lead them, and you need to make them trust you now too."
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"I will do my best. I hope you will help me and guide me for as long as you are able so I stay on the correct path." He says before taking the crown off his head and looking it over. "I think this I will save for special occasions. I think my usual hat is already too grand for a servant of the people." He says before continuing to discuss the transition with the former king and his advisors, eventually sending a message to Daniels when he is given some free time asking her to meet him at the palace.
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The King is going to retire to his large estate in the North. It will pass to you upon his death but he loves the home and wants to spend his last handful of months among the living spending his mornings and evenings watching the sun and sea. The air there might even help slow the spread of this cyst a bit more. As for who is responsible he hopes that for your own safety someone among the Cooperative is able to investigate and ensure any last vestiges of the nobility and their supporters are rounded up.
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