Dax and Billy break off from the main scouting party to try and infiltrate the control tower

(Could you set the scene a little bit? I'm not certain where we are relative to what's happening or if there's a way in that's clear, etc.)

(You're advancing from the south, the grav port is built into a hill , which is why the map is oriented the way it is. City blocks spread out from the south side stretching all the way to the west, limiting your angle of approach. the airport is surrounded by a tall scrap stone and cement fence, with hastily built guard towers. Acastus is a night world, each has searchlights panning the surrounding streets, keeping an eye on who is coming near the area. The lights are very bright, it is hard to see how many are in the towers, or if the searchlights are attached to guns

Billy follows after dax, dashing from building to building, by observing and predicting the patterns of spotlight movement timed to the second.

(Adding goals for this mission)

(Has Dax seen anyone yet to be able to spend time to replicate their uniform?)

(yeah, they're in scrap armor, but one shoulderpad and the breastplate have her symbol on it

(It would be a mix of stuff stolen/saved from the security forces here when Acastus was not a craphole, and whatever jury rigging and 'improvements' they came up with after)

Dax spends a minute turning his armor into something that looks makeshift, but functional. It's appears that bits of metal or other various materials make up the torso. Basic black pants with mismatched knee pads make up the legs. He makes sure to get the symbol emblazoned on the center chest piece and single shoulder pad.

(I just realized I made the assumption we were already in close. We still haven't breached the perimeter though, correct?)

(Dax wouldn't stroll out in the middle of a field)

(I’m also trying to keep an eye out for the robotic killer lamppost things.)

“I think the best way in is going to be around to the west by the main gate.”

(you have not, no, that is like...the chief challenge here)

(Yeah I'm dumb and didn't read)

"Yeah that's what it looks like... unless I could scale their walls without attracting attention"

(How tall are the walls? If they're scrappy does that mean there would be a spot in it that's lower?)

They are uneven, ranging from 8-12 m tall depending on how high the junk has been piled

"Alright, I can definitely get over that wall, but I'm not sure how I'll be getting you inside with me."

"Where's Mordecia when you need him? An invisible bubble sure would come in handy about now."

“I don’t necessarily have an answer for that. We could watch for movements in and out of the compound. I could come in hidden on a truck... or you know... a rope?”

"Rope, sure. If I get up top then I'll make sure it's clear before helping you climb."

"The truck is probably doable... but being separated isn't ideal."

"Agreed. Let's just make it around to the back side, then yeah? You can probably get across that field just fine, but they'll see me.

"This might not be the best time to tell you that I'm not the stealthiest guy. I usually come in swinging with overwhelming force when I can. My style would be to just orbital drop in my mech right into the fort, but you know... breaker guns."

(Check out the other thread for my plan. We probably wouldn't split till we're inside the compound)

(I mean we have coms)

"Well...... we got what we got. We just have to make it work. Reg's plan doesn't sound too bad."

Billy crouches down a moment. "Alright Dax, we've got two patrols coming toward us from that direction along the walls. How do you want to get around?"

"Get to that building over there and stick to the shadows until they pass. I'm not too keen on killing more people yet. That could raise the alarm before we want to."

"It's nice workin with you Dax. Let's not get killed." Billy goes down the other side of the wall and starts moving toward the building Dax pointed out.

(What building are we trying to get info from?)

(Control Tower is our target)

(So we have to cross the main gate area)

(Planting a charge at the western barracks as we go)

(It's either that or follow the rest all the way around. But yeah.)

(Are we close to the western barracks where we are now?)

(Both of us are at least a bit camoflauged as the cultists.)

(So we could actually just act like we belong and we may make it)

(I could've read the name of the channel to figure out where we're going )

(yeah you could follow the barracks around, and if you want to try t camo yourselves its a legit plan .not saying 100% foolproof but you wont be instantly gunned down somehow)

"Let's walk together like we know where we're going, head straight for the west barracks and I can plant a charge in a hidden spot. Then... we tackle crossing the main area."

"One step at a time, and take it as it comes."

Dax goes to do as he just said.

"Alright, lets do it then." (Nothing is 100% fool proof as it were.)

You, moving clockwise, encounter the gate patrol heading the opposite direction. One of them raises a hand in greeting.

Without breaking stride or giving any inclination that he'd be stopping, Dax raises a hand simply in a return greeting before turning to look past them, presumably towards his destination.

Billy does the same, looking a bit bored.

billy feels a sense of magic coming from their weapons, as they pass

(Do we make it to the barracks then?)

(wanna see what billy does knowing they have magic weapons here)

(but they didn't pass their notice checks, so yeah, you can make it there if you wanna move ahead slightly)

As soon as they are out of earshot, he goes on coms and looks at Dax. “New objective: Any we put down, try to take their weapons. They’ve enhanced them with magic somehow. The patrol we just passed had them. Be careful.” Off coms. “Let’s set the charge and keep moving. I’ve got to piss by the corner over there. I’ll keep watch.”

"Copy." Dax sets the charge along the wall of the barracks, attempting to keep it in a hidden secure location. (edited)

You find a couple small refuse bins outside, that you can carefully slip the charge inside

Dax does just that. "Alright, all set here. Ready to cross to the control tower?"

"I'm thinking our best chance could just be to walk straight across in disguise. Act like we belong and hope no one looks too close."

(Neko what are the 2 long rectangles in the middle of the map?)

(Runways?)

(runways)

(airport can take atmo's too, they're just not using it for that)

(And agreed. Maybe we can walk past the Grav flyers being pulled out since they are busy.)

(Idk if it’s nearby. Not going out of the way. Just to coms tower.)

(Let's strut our stuff )

"Ready?" Dax steps out, portraying what he hopes will be seen as purpose.

“The best camouflage is confidence.” Billy says slyly to Dax as the emerge smiling like he’s supposed to be there, throwing a light elbow at Dax.

(ow, my bones)

(Do we need to roll?)

(Perform/cha to see how good I look? )

(God the emojis on this are killing me, and perform cha or wis. I’ll let you decide what you like better)

(Ahhhhh I wasn't even serious now we're screwed)

(It makes sense. Trying to fit in)

(But you’re not talking so cha doesn’t always make sense)

(9)

(Dax is strutting it)

(Sorry I’ve been driving around!)

(All good bud) Billy is also strutting it

I have +1 wis and -1 perform so it evens out.

You pass another group and they don’t seem to take a second glance. The control tower is ahead. You see two guards and another of the strange gene beasts at its side door

(Only one door to get in?)

(Yeah)

(And there's probably no way to take out guards without drawing attention... like there's other guards not too far away/in sight)

(If you’re planning on killing them that would be a fair assumption if the fight drags on)

“Dax let’s get to the side of the hangar out of sight and maybe you can teleport behind the coms tower and cause a distraction and then teleport out when they come after you. I’ll move for the steps after they come after you. Thoughts?”

"Better than anything I thought of. Lets do it."

Dax will find a spot out of sight of the door guards but close enough to teleport behind them and head that way.

(Do I see any electrical boxes?)

(Not outside the tower no)

(Is my plan possible?)

(Specifically with the layout of the door/buildings)

(Your plan of being a distraction?)

(Specifically, getting to a spot where they won't see me so I can teleport behind them)

(Are you trying to teleport behind them to attack them?)

(Distraction, far enough away they won't see me immediately)

(I could make a noise opposite where Billy is)

(On the other side of the tower?) (edited)

(Something like that, I was basing this off of what you said earlier)

(Neko this plan is initiating. :p)

(I'm just going to get in range to head up there if Dax's distraction works and they go away from the entryway.)

(Maybe I don't have a clear enough picture of the location to know if this is possible, I was just trying something. If it isn't physically possible we'll try something else.)

There’s not a way to teleport behind them unless you plan to merge with the wall you realize. Not being a flat person, you do see that teleporting around the corner of the tower, behind it (north side) might work

(That was what my plan/suggestion was. Is for him to cause a distraction north of the tower to get the guards to move away so I can take the opportunity to go up there and then he can teleport back up on the stairs with me.)

(yeah that'll work)

(Yeah what he said)

Dax finds a spot out of sight of the door guards before teleporting as far as he can away from them (around the corner of the building if I can reach?)

(you can reach_

Once he's around the corner of the building, Dax makes some fumbling and rustling noises while signalling to Billy.

(oh god, what's he fumbling with guys!)

One guard and the weird hound pull away from door duty, going to investigate the sound

(I'll be afk for a bit for a funeral. Probably somewhere around 1.5hrs)

(No worries friend, condolences)

Billy jogs up to the guy. “H-hey, we just pulled this off a guy tryin to scale the wall. No worries, we clobbered him.” Billy shows the guy the AV Staff, holding it in one hand, his other hand ready to pull the Ad Astra Model Rifle that hangs under his shoulder should this go nasty. “Thought we should bring this to the top.”

Billy points up to the control tower.

"Where is he? the climber?"

“Head dashed on the wall and thrown over. Figure he’d be a good warning to someone that wants to try again.”

"Yeah makes sense, bring 'er on up. "

he begins moving the giant wheel bolt that unlocks the door

Billy walks inside.

(Catching up... there's no way for me to get inside without a pretty drastic maneuver....)

(Does the tower have windows that I could see?)

(Just top story where the air traffic controllers would sit. Otherwise it’s a secure building

(And that’s about 30m odd the ground

Off

Casually let’s coms go on. (Does it have a visual component?)

(comms? I would imagine its like phones now, you can opt to use video calling if you want to)

(Hmm ok. Does the door shut behind me and am I alone in the next room or no?)

(door is in the process of shutting behind you at this moment in time, inside, you are alone

(I'm trying to figure out a way to go with Billy... but it seems difficult)

(If I saw a comms call could I poof in?)_

(I’ll open a video call to Dax.) “Well? You gonna join me?” Hes gonna try to see if he can lock it from the inside.

(If that isn't possible could Dax teleport back the way he came and then poof inside with Billy a moment later as the door is shutting?)

(Out of ideas)

(we made sil take a custom focus to do this, it ended up being exceptionally broken, and I think moreso without one, I think it would also not count as un-aided, I'll allow it here, since I kind of trapped you due to poor mission planning on my end, but this won't be the norm)

(Understood, no comms poofing in the future)

(Maybe Dax is sneaky enough to have poofed through the door opening before it closed)

(works for me)

“Fucking hell, I’ll never get used to that shit, Dax. Even when I’m suspecting it.” He holds up the rifle and the AV Laser staff. “Which do you think I should use here? I mean I have a knife, but it’s so much less fun. I ought to get a sword.”

"Sword you say? How about a... " The mageblade appears in his hand as a big paddle. "spanking?" (edited)

The mageblade disappears. "Perhaps later...."

"I don't care much what you use, just don't hit me."

He chuckles and slaps him on the arm. “You know I have my own room on my ship. A.A.V. It is.” He hoists the rifle up to his shoulder and nods up the stairs.

(Sorry for breaking the the ERP rule)

(Had me hot and bothered )

The stairs are a metal spiral staircase, circling the inside edge of the building. There looks to be an 'in between' floor between the ground and the ATC level at the very top

(With a closed door? Or an open floor?)

(you come up basically through a trap door type tihng in the floor, but its open right now)

(So the only way up to the top is through this space)

"What do you think this floor is for? Can we find what you need here?"

(that's correct)

"Should we scan this room before heading up? Or....?"

Billy shrugs. And nods his head toward the opening. “Take them out.” He springs up through the opening easily. (This is spring into the middle room or are we already in the middle room?)

(Definitely checking out the middle room first.)

There is one cultist asleep in a chair. He is snoring gently. A prayer broadcast is on television, where a crimson robed cardinal extols the virtues of the still lady

Billy pulls out his monoblade and creeps up behind him to slit his throat while holding his mouth and pulling the head back in one fluid motion.

Except Dax teleports in front of me to do it first.

(I want Dax to do it but I don’t want Billy to look like a chicken. XD)

Dax teleports in front of Billy with mageblade in hand to slit the throat of the sleeping cultist

(Stab/dex execute?)

(11, if so)

Dax spins to face Billy and says, "Nothing personnel, but this is like the only reason I'm here. I'll take care of the stabbing since I can't do the computer stuff."

Billy smiles. “When it comes time to shoot I’ll do my part. To tell you the truth, I’ve never used this knife in combat.”

(I don’t want to pull ahead of Neko)

(Nah lets do this without him. Dax goes upstairs and wins the mission. The end.)

(11 is good. Was vs 6) The blade slips in cleanly. There is a muffled choke and a wash of red down the front of his robes.

(Is double 1's an automatic fail? Because even with double ones I'd beat a DC 6)

“Oh splendid. Now he matches the demagogue on the tele. Let’s see if I can tap in here. I don’t necessarily want to destroy this, just tap in and send it out to the rebels.” (Can I tap in and steal data here?)

Outside alarms begin to sound as the fire in the hangar is noticed

(I don’t think so

“Up to the top now.” (Is there a cd or something of the broadcast or any weapons on this guy or is it more of a break room?)

(Just a break room/lounge area. He was literally just watching tv)

(Sorry buddy.)

(All good. I just meant it wasn’t a computer)

*Billy rockets up the next set of stairs/ladders and through the trap door drawing his rifle to kill the controllers.”

There are three. Each of them are watching the fire in the first hangar down below. One is on a hard line phone talking to a command post further in the city. You hear that reinforcements and emergency services are on their way

Billy starts lighting them up with laser rifle fire. (Assuming @Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) is popping up for the slaughter as well.)

(Absolutely, I was right behind you.)

Dax burst in right after Billy and teleports right into the middle of everybody, mageblade lashing out at the one on the phone.

(Initiative first? Or surprise?)

(Base is on alert already and I don’t think they’ll live long enough to meaningfully hurt you. You’d have surprise and I think would clean them up before they even get to go)

Dax mageblades and savagely frays them all.

(Billy rushes to get data or bug the system. Whatever he’s got to do to get in and get out of here. What do we see with a quick look around to interact with?)

(Is there a loud speaker?)

there's no loudspeaker, but there is a communications panel with a few different radios. Most of the gear is pretty innocuous, such as weather radar, forecasting tools, a codebook with different types of avaiation codes in it

Billy takes the codebook. (Might Billy be able to hack in or otherwise bug the coms tower using programming or fix?)

(program/int)

(9)

You're able to splice a bug into the control tower's transmission lines. It's not the best work you've ever done, but it should pass cursory inspection

"This might be about all i can do here, dax. Take any weapons they have and lets get out of here."

billy makes sure to hang up the call and coms the other team.

Sirens and searchlights deeper within the city begin to blare The rebels accompanying you begin their diversionary assault on the walls of the base, hoping to draw reinforcements away from you

Roger that Rigers. We're heading to you and we'll head out the western wall away from the diversion. We'll blow the charges as soon as we're a comfortable distance. (edited)

Dax looks for any weapons to grab them on the way out. "When do you want to blow the barracks?"

"I think we can blow the first charge when we are leaving Reg can blow the other two once we are out of the compound."

(is the northern wall a plausible option?)

"If we wait too long, blowing the barracks won't do anything because they're empty."

"Let's radio the rebels in the tower to start firing on the other spotlight towers. What do you think?" (edited)

(its built into a cliffside)

(So western wall then?)

(Oooorrr I could call for a scrambling of grav flyers if you can still steal one or something. so they don't shoot down their own flyers.)

(I do have control of the control tower for the moment.)

(There are two on the runway, Des and I could each take one. I'm a -1 in pilot though lol)

(I have a +2 and a +1 dex.... maybe I could make the call and run out for the flyer hoping they'll let me hop in.)

(Dax and I could also maybe just slip out the main gate with the other cultist forces since we are disguised as them.)

(We should blow both barracks, you guys can escape that way while we run for the wall. I can take out a tower or two if needed to get across, but with the rebel cover fire we probably wouldn't die )

(For what it's worth, Dax is decent at piloting too.)

(It's worth nothing Dax. Nothing.)

(I didn't want to fly with you anyways)

"Let's blow the barracks before they can deploy and lets get out of here."

Dax blows the barracks.

There is tremor as the powerful detonation charge sends pieces of brick, metal reinforcement, furnatire, and bodies, all aflame, spilling out in the night air.

a dark shadow, eight feet tall, and aflame, calmly walks out of the barracks, a laser rifle in each hand.

It looks to be made from pieces of the night itself, hardened into a solid form

"Oh fuck. Look at that mother fucker. Gogogogogo."

(lets move back into recon with all of you meeting up down below in the yard of the base)

(Sure)