The hostage rescue team prepares to board their landing vehicles on an assault run to the fortress. The cell blocks seem to be located in a well fortified blockhouse on the northeast side of the compound, and air defenses are expected to be heavy

Theta checks his pistol is loaded for the hundredth time. He opens a channel to the team: "I'm excited to work with such esteemed members of the Combine, and with you finally, Director Guerra. If we haven't met, I'm Theta. Any ideas on how we're gonna do this? Probably won't get in and out quietly but there will be cover, right? A distraction? Maybe the basements link up underground, at least part of the way."

”Pleasure to meet you, Theta. I'm Eisheru. Director has said some good things about his up and coming agent. I believe we need to be rather loud in our distraction. We are but a diversion."

Dorian grins, the upcoming battle lifting his spirits, “Theta! Jerud’s said good things about you. I heard you had some trouble with Bladonna? Either way, glad you’re here. Don’t be hesitant to get some stronger armor if you need it. Also, regarding having a distraction: we’re the distraction.” His grin gets a little wilder at this, “I like your thinking, though.”

"Yeah," Theta responds, "Bladonna could have gone better. I got what I was after, though." He pauses and thinks for a moment. "If we're going in hot, I think I'll take you up on that offer. We'll still need to find somewhere to funnel hostiles - anywhere not in the open should be good as long as we don't get cornered." (What sort of armour are we talking? I have Ironhide so I have a base AC of 16, but only have a laser pistol if there are other weapons around)

(PMing you)

Dorian NPCs towards a secured container across the deck. It’s manned by some agency technicians, “Eisheru, Theta, you guys can grab what you need from there. We have a trio of assault suits brought out from secure storage for the mission. There’s a myriad of weapons in there, too. You’ll have to release them back to my people once we’re through this.” (Assault suits for us three, and any TL4 weapon plus shear rifles in there. Kensh already bought his stuff otherwise I’d offer lol) (edited)

(definitely will take the assault suit)

Kensh approaches, wearing his own grey assault suit. A black fungal hound with a bright yellow back pads along behind him, sniffing the air. Kensh nods to Theta, "I'm Director Kensh of Greystar, it's good to meet you. What's the plan here?"

"As much as I loathe to even make the suggestion, a full assault on the main gates will surely cause a fuss. Should give our alpha strike team the distraction they need to sever the head off this snake." (edited)

“The distraction is half of our goal. We don’t know how many people they’re holding down there, but it’s our job to get them out. We’ll need to break through at the gate.”

(I'm good when you guys are. Cal and Deckard are dropping in the immediate area, but for purposes of the assault, we probably won't run inito them until the end of this) (edited)

(That’s fine, as long as we’re able to pull pressure off them. Are we treating the drop pods as vehicles with weapons for this per CRB? Help clear the landing site and blow some holes in the walls?)

(maybe grab some c4 or a rocket launcher just in case)

(them not having defined weapons, no, but they'll keep you from being flanked by the underhill not engaged at the main battle)

(I have demo charges but I’ll grab a launcher, too) (Great that’s perfect!)

(Theyre either gonna be OP or totally unhelpful, and i dont want to ruin a big mission like this with mechanics limbo)

(100%. Happy with narrative stuff)

Dorian steps into his assault suit. After he powering it on, he grabs a launcher off the wall and a spare missile; attaching both to magnetic hard points on the suit. He then syncs a shear rifle to the suit’s power supply and turns to the others, “Last chance to get anything you need. Otherwise we’re dropping.”

Eisheru steps up with the borrowed assault suit. "It would be rude to turn down high quality equipment. Will make a note for our agency..." Eisheru gives Dorian a nudge with his elbow and large and ornate looking hand-cannon appears in his open hand. "Ready when you all are." (edited)

Kensh grabs a rocket launcher and two rockets, encumbering his movement slightly. "I'm ready to go."

The drop pod formation checks in, the various pilots of your assault force checking in with one another. Atmosphere is clear, and the underhill strain on this planet seems to not have evolved the flying variant like the one seen on Gudrun

“Some good news at least. We only have to worry about flying obstacles of the lead variety.”

(so im going to say we have 9 drop craft in this formation with what youre bringing, one for all of you, and then ten men in each of the other 8?)

(That works for me and fits the math I have for the strike teams CIS has.)

(Two luck saves everyone)

(20v8 success, 2v8 fail)

As you approach the fortress, the ground based sunshine field activates. There are panicked screams across the comm channel as thousands of energy beams fill the air, scything drop craft apart. Only one, thankfully the support ship with the ammunition bearers and medics, is able to avoid the blistering crossfire The front of the craft vanishes in a haze of flame, the automated bulkhead door slamming shut to keep it from washing into the cabin. The craft spins end over end, skimming across the ground like a stone. It skips once, twice, and then a third time, kicking up a massive plume of dirt and oil smoke, coming to rest near the front gate of the castle. None of the brothers seem to be responding, just yet (edited)

(Starting this off right! Succeed 16v6 and fail 1v6)

It rains metal and steel across the ground, the larger pieces flattening underhill straying a bit too close to the fortress

(half health lost for every fail result, youre not dead if you fail both, but downed, and will need some help)

(27/54)

(20/40)

(success on both 11v8 and 19v8)

(showoff)

(Maybe you guys ought to have scanned for surface defenses )

( ‍♂️ I’ll be more specific next time)

(if there's genuine salt shoot me a PM and i can tell you what mechanics I used) (edited)

(well it's a thing we'll remember to do next time anyway )

(Whats our distance to the front gate?) (edited)

(100m)

(Can I physically see the outside yet? or do I need to move outside?)

(You can see the outride I just want theta to have a chance to catch up before we jump into the next thing)

(hur durr ty)

(Sorry! Timezones! one success 16v13 and one fail 4v13, puts me on 7/15 assuming it rounds down)

(All good. I knew! And rounding down yes)

Dorian hits the quick release on his harness, his power armor keeping him from falling to the floor. He coughs once, “Shit! You all still alive?”

Kensh frees himself, his armour taking the brunt of the crash. He draws his shear rifle and takes point at the exit of the mangled pod, watching for any brothers approaching. "That'd be the flying obstacles of lead variety then Dorian? Everyone ok?"

Dorian grunts something inaudible, the loss of his men weighing heavily on him.

Theta groans as a response, pushing himself to away from the wall and stabilising himself. "Yeah, I think I'm alright." He spends a minute checking his gear is intact and looking for any cuts or broken bones.

"The only certainty in a plan is that something will go wrong, hey?"

Eisheru coughs up a little blood but he wipes it up before anyone can see. "I'm fine... Theta I know we just met but are you okay with a telepathic connection?" while waits for an answer he dumps some bioscopic energy into himself.

(fuck this start already, 2 hp 1 strain)

"Uhh, sure. First time for everything." Theta eyes Eisheru a little suspiciously at the request, but trusts that he's in good company.

There is a thunderous roar from the gate as it winches open, and the dregs of the brotherhood gengineered labor horde begin filing out in a screaming pack. Armed with picks, shovels, light crooks and knives they begin their advance. A brotherhood specialist in power armor - screened by the pack from ground level- goads them forward with cracks from his energy lash

”Time to break out the launchers. Let’s bring that fucker down.” Dorian steps out of the downed drop pod to clear his backblast. (Are we far enough away to take advantage of the launchers’ long range without going into initiative?)

"I think I might be able to do you one better. You may or may not believe what you are about to see" Eisheru focuses the intent in his mind and then forces that intent into a Phantasmal Force. Soon illusory projectile rounds come streaking in from the sky to impact the ground where the horde is coming from the gate

(gonna use Phantasmal Force Neko, five 5 meter cubes of explosions imitating an multiple orbital strikes.)

Everyone can see and hear the strikes. Even smelling the propellant used to drive the rounds into the ground. For all intents and purposes, everyone's senses tell them they are seeing a real surgical strike.

Theta steps out of the pod and drops to one knee a few feet from Dorian, taking the shear rifle attached to his suit and firing at any front-runners in the horde as they come in range. As the Phantasmal Force appears he lowers his rifle and stares in awe for a moment, before looking back down the scope. (Let me know if I need to roll for these)

(if they have a reason to disbelieve the illusion they can make a mental save every round.)

Kensh braces himself, tensing up as the illusion comes crashing down. He furrows his brow and gives Eisheru a shocked side-eye look. "Wha-?! What the hell was that?"

Dorian senses the illusion but struggles to come to grips with what his external senses are telling him, “That’s a downright terrifying trick.”

"Hopefully they believe it... Better get ready." (I don't want to do to much and get ahead of Neko.)

(We still need initiative)

(I have to know who’s doing what when even if they’re not doing anything but taking double moves toward you)

(7, fat fingered the skill button lol)

(Wouldn’t them not dying from it be reason to disprove it?$

(Might take them a moment to realize they’re not dying to it?)

(Personally, if a bunch of fake explosions went off right next to me it’d take me a moment to collect my bearings)

(13 vs 12 for the handler, they won’t advance for a round while he gets them under control)

(But I’m also not a gene grown slave worker lol)

(5, got 5 on both rolls!)

(alert 2 yee haw)

(Kensh, Dorian, Theta, horde so far. Need eish when he’s got a minute, but Kensh is first no matter what)

(no they would take the damage as if the thing was actually happening just the damage is only 1d8. I think they would need some sort of other indication that it's not real)

(like if i said a dragon appeared, but everyone knows they don't exist type thing)

(or someone telling them it isn't real like your leader is doing type deal)

(4 is my init)

(Kensh up)

(kensh gets the bonus turn this round)

Seeing the brother in power armour, Kensh slings his rifle over his back, and pulls his rocket launcher out. Getting on one knee, he aims for the brother. (21/19 which would be 17/19 after the -4 for human sized target.)

Kensh pulls another missile from his backpack, and loads it into the launcher. (Just reloading for the second round)

The rocket hits somewhere in the midst of the pack punching a neat hole in the first victim , the shaped charge blasting chunks of bone and gore to hit several around the unlucky slave.

Pinned a message.

Dorian sights the rocket launcher at the horde lord, breathing slowly as he depresses the firing stud. (8/11, loving the rolls tonight. That's with the -4 to hit) (edited)

The rocket corkscrews through the air, the impact from being shot down scrambling the internal guidance system. It pops in the air in a white cloudburst of detonation

(Are there any front-runners in range of a shear rifle? 300m)

(Theyre 100m away right now, comfortably in range)

Down on one knee, Theta puts the rifle into burst-fire mode, and fires straight into the front of the crowd "Stay or go, team?" He grunts through the recoil (11/19)

(Sorry I think its a 9/19 and I've double counted my AB. Shear rifle should have an AB 0, right?)

(+1 since it's an energy weapon)

(10/19 then: 4+AB2+Shoot 2 + DEX 1 + Shear Rifle 1)

(Mod approved :+1: )

(Lol actually the 4 is a 2 + Burst 2. Anyway we got there) (edited)

One of the charging horde pitches over as the contained energy sheet hits him. (Eisheru)

Eisheru focuses on the leader in power armor he reaches out telepathically (ending the unity) and then forces an impulse into his mind 'Send your minions to go fight the Underhill swarm' (instant action telepathic contact -1 effort for the day, reflex response mental save please -1 effort. Surge momentum -3 to his save -1 effort. 4/9 effort remaining)

(Okay so what’s the modifier ? )

(mental save with a -3)

(Can you order them to attack friendlies?)

(sec let me double check wording)

( This impulse cannot be self-injurious or harmful to a loved one, but it can be foolish, reckless, or harmful to others. The target may not understand why they have done the action, but will usually attempt to rationalize it as their choice.) (edited)

(so unless he is in love with the Underhill, i would say he could order them to attack the Underhill)

(18 v 13 , but good to know in case)

(damn)

The horde surges forward closing the distance to 75m

The torrent of energy stored by the brotherhood sunblade is fired out at Kensh

(Physical save 14 damage if failed, 7 pass)

(Then Kensh turn )

(pass 15v8)

Getting rocked slightly by the glancing energy blow, Kensh shoulders his launcher again and fires at the Brother. He throws his launcher to the side after making the shot. (20/12 after modifier) (edited)

The rocket passes through the crowd, detonating and obscuring the pack leader behind a rolling wall of smoke. Chunks of metal are blown clear from the armor plating

He still stands at the back of his pack, urging them onward

(Dorian)

(Also for reference this is from our man KC himself as far as rocket launchers not@having a radius I didn't provide an explicit explosive radius for rocket launchers because I didn't want PCs lugging them around as anti-personnel weapons. If you give them a substantial explosive radius, then it becomes a good call to just rocket everything and mow down all those 1 HD normal people rather than trying to kill them retail- assuming that all those normal people are conveniently standing out in the open and are also somehow solid enough to set off a rocket's contact fuse when it hits them. If you don't hit your target with a rocket it goes somewhere else, generally much further than the current battlefield, and what it blows up when it gets there is probably irrelevant to the immediate combat. If you hit a soft target the rocket simply goes through it, doing the listed damage, and then hits something offscreen and blows up- because a soft squishy human is not generally going to be enough to set off a rocket. If you hit a hard target, it will explode and cause significant problems to the hard target, but anything that big probably doesn't have tread decals standing close enough to also be caught in the explosion.

Dorian doesn’t reload, instead he levels the shear rifle at the Brother and lets loose a burst. (14/13)

”We need to bring him down! He’s doing something to control this horde.” He sends over the telepathic link.

(Are the slaves holding basically primitive weapons?)

(in their hands they'd be considered normal weapons but with you all in power armor id say primitive still applies)

(Gonna spend another effort to reestablish the link as an instant action)

(3/9 effort remain)

(Oh whoops)

Hold the line! I am gonna call in danger close airsupport!

(communicating is an instant action with this. Just to prevent too much OOC talking, lets keep it to two telepathic statements per round per person unless neko says otherwise) (edited)

(You’re not going to Cyrus us are you?)

(No this is specifically different than an Orbital Strike, we just have to remain close enough to provide accurate coordinates for this strike, hence the holding position.) (edited)

(This is CAS, not indiscriminate macro-scale weapon bombardment)

"Comet Flight, only a couple of us left, we read you down there, talk us on"

(Can't miss a chance to rib the late regent)

Eisheru remembers his training in Agent basic training when calling in close air support. He surveys the field in front of him before quickly pulling his beacon from his survival pack. "Comet Flight, This is Minuteman-One. Requesting danger close air support. Repeat danger close. Grid X-Ray 2315. Enemy combatants 75 meters and closing. Light em up! Acknowledge Danger Close?" Eisheru turns on his beacon for the CAS team. It's about to get loud, hold this position.

Kensh braces, gesturing for his hound to crouch behind him. (edited)

(Dorian, then theta. Kensh if your hound has weapons he attacks when you do, not sure whats all mounted on him right now)

(I know someone's has a laser rifle)

(I rolled for shear rifle up there. I think it’s Theta’s turn.)

(14/13 at the horde controller)

(thank you, it is theta, Eish did his turn now since he's got a small break from work, so once he goes we're moving to the horde, I'm not skipping him)

(can i still give someone a bonus turn since I reconnected everyone again?)

(yeah)

(it has no weapons yet)

(bonus to Kensh again. Shoot that big guy!)

(Is it my turn, or Kensh's bonus?)

(You, the bonus will me after my normal turn)

(after thetas turn since you have already had your turn this round kensh) (edited)

(oh true, got turn order muddled)

"Copy, we'll hold here." Theta lifts his gun to aim over the horde and lines up a shot at the leader, shooting another superheated burst-fire round. (26/13)

The pack of slaves screening him, though diminished in size , takes the round and one of the howling creatures falls with its throat blown out. It scrapes and claws Ineffectively against the ground as it’s companions trample over it

In a raging and scattered pack they close to 50m. Overhead hot casings and the thump of rocket pods lights up the sky as the two surviving drop pods of comet flight come in low. With the sunshine field recharging, the two small craft send a 10m high torrent of smoke and rock dust skyward in a rolling wave. A few mutants stumble out of the smoke, shot to pieces or burned from rockets

Kensh connects his shear rifle to his armour, and opens fire into the haze of smoke at the brother leading the pack. (17/12)

Staggering from the smoke, he falls over with his helmet shorn in half

(Everyone’s dead, disoriented or dying )

Got any more rockets left to knock on the gates? (edited)

(Gate is fucked too)

(They leveled the area)

We need to get the hostages before that sunshine field recharges

Let’s go! Dorian keys his radio, “Comet flight, Outrider 1. We’re making entry. Good effect on target.” He starts heading towards the gate, reloading his rocket as he moves.

(Do we have any idea how much time it’ll take for the sunshine field to recharge?)

(About 15 minutes on a ship. If the base works differently or it’s as long you don’t know)

“Comet flight, that field is going to come back up at some point. Find a holding pattern outside its range, we’ll see what we can do to shut it down.”

If any of you want to leave, this could be the last chance, Dorian attempts to send sincerity over the link with the team, we might not come back out.

If you're going in, Dorian, I'm following Eisheru reaches over to Theta and gives him a quick tap of healing energy as he feels some of his wounds knit together (4hp healed for 1 strain)

"Let's make sure this doesn't end up completely botched. How are we for explosives and rockets just in case?"

Dorian pats Eisheru’s shoulder in appreciation before answering Kensh, I have this rocket, and two demo charges.

(From our scans of the fortress, do we have the locations of the generators powering the air defenses?)

(Central building)

(We’re at bottom right, correct?)

(Correct)

”We need to blow the generators before we can leave again. I think that should be our first stop before the hostages, since I don’t like the idea of splitting up.”

"What about the medics back there?" Eisheru slaps a hand on Dorian and the familiar warmth returns to him (4hp 1 strain)

"I'm open to suggestions, otherwise they'll stay here and hold the LZ for us."

"We could bring them with us and put them up in a safe room inside. As long as we're sure they can guard the door, they'll be closer to us - could be better for us and for them. Your call, Director."

"Having them secure the LZ won't be a bad idea." Eisheru surveys the scene around them as the fires from the air strike die down a little. Didn't want to be ambushed while they collected themselves "Either way we should move quickly." (edited)

(sorry changed it)

"I'd rather they were out here and not potentially cut off from escape inside the fortress. They can at least run if we can't get the assault craft back. Let's go." Dorian radios to the support teams, "Outrider 3-4, Outrider 1. Keep the LZ secure. We're heading in to disable the guns and rescue who we can. Keep me updated with your status." He begins moving towards the open gate, sweeping the field for any survivors playing dead.

Killed by dozens of heavy weapons the chunks of meat that remain are incapable of being alive. Two brotherhood warriors are sprinting back toward the main keep, and there are sounds of fighting deeper within the fortress

(Can we take shots at those two before we lose them?)

(They’d be outside anything but launcher range)

(Then I'll keep heading towards the gate)

The gatehouse is a ruin and two dead sunblades who had been preparing to mount a railgun to help keep you in place for the slave horde are among the wreckage. Their blood paints the bright stone

The railgun itself is ruined

(if running up would take like 30 seconds eish would heal himself)

"Where did they get all this kit?" Dorian wonders.

(3,6,5 for 3 strain)

"Clearly they had been amassing quite a number of assets. Would explain how they had managed to pull off those operations across the sector" As they move past the ruined heavy ordinance, Eisheru stops and reaches over once again to offer more healing to Dorian (womp womp 2hp for 1 strain)

(Thank you!)

You’re in the main gate area with the wall and it’s many rooms running west, and the central power building ahead of you where the generators are housed. The wall doors look reinforced and barred but there is too much noise to hear if anything is behind them

Pinned a message.

"There's going to be a big target on our backs when we blow that door. And we don't know what's inside. We need to be careful, we're weak right now." Theta hangs in the gateway, back against the wall and looking out into the courtyard. "Can we set a trap?"

”What did you have in mind?”

"Blow the doors, that's our distraction. If we can do it from a distance we can have a position on anyone who investigates. Shoot them in the back, then we go for the generators. Might mean heading further in first, before we get to the doors. Maybe we can even get on top of the walls. There's only a few of us, we can't go head-first."

"If we want we can hold up right here and I can float the demo charge to the door."

(Are the reinforced doors for where we think the hostages are or where the generators are?)

(I don’t know where you think the hostages are so I can’t really answer that. It feels kinda meta for me to just tell you where everything is)

(Yeah my bad. Are the reinforced doors going into the wall or into the central building?)

(Both. It’s a military installation. That doesn’t mean impervious to damage though)

Dorian adjusts his pack, and pulls out one of the demo charges. He hands it to Eisheru, ”Just say when.”

Eisheru raises one hand and the charge lifts out of his other hand and begins floating towards the door in front of them. After a few seconds the charge is pressed against the door and he gives Dorian a nod. (telekinetic manipulation 2/9 effort remains)

”Fire in the hole.” Dorian activates the demo charge.

Kensh gets on one knee, preparing for any enemies that will come to investigate.

(The suspected reactor room door right?)

(this sounds like a bad idea but i think so.)

The demolition charge blast is contained by the heavy doors and blooms upward rather than inward. The doors are bent and heat warped and fall forward exposing the dark building beyond (edited)

"Knock knock." Dorian waits a few beats, waiting to see what -if anything- comes out.

While they wait a Eisheru tries to tend to more of Dorian's wounds. (grrr 2hp healed and 1 more strain... Sorry lol)

the first of a dozen gene forged laborers begins coming out, large wrench in hand

"Pick a target and fire on three? Or are we holding?" (Any sunblades with them?)

(All that’s there is what I said was there)

"No point holding if we have a shot now! More will come, and we have a good position."

”Agreed! Light em up!”

(you want attack rolls then initiative? Or just keep the same initiative as before?)

)let’s keep the order)

"3... 2... 1... Fire!" Eisheru unleashes a torrent of pure force but the shot goes wide and dissipates as it hits one of the walls. (nat1) (edited)

(I have no idea who’s up lol)

(that was prob my fault. Kensh would be first)

(Yes, Kensh up)

(Hes got Alert 2)

Kensh grits his teeth and fires indiscriminately into the crowd. (14/8)

One of the mutants falls, neatly cubed by the rifle's shear plates

(Dorian)

(The building doors are also open now, since they're fallen down. You don't necessarily have to get close to blow this thing up)

(Could I take a round to fire a rocket in? Really take the time to set up the shot and get as many bonuses as possible?)

(Rocket launchers are the only heavy weapon that does not need to be set up, and since your target is not man sized, you also do not suffer the -4 for shooting a small target)

Dorian shoulders the launcher, sighting in on the now open doorway. With a slow exhale, he depresses the firing stud and the rocket streaks out. (20/28)

The rocket flies into the generator room. There is the dull crump of the actual weapon detonation, followed by something larger. A chain reaction of smaller explosions begins to blossom inside the building -the armor glass over its viewports shattering as internal heat and pressure begin to rise.

(its not an uncontrolled explosion right now, but you guys need to begin thinking about getting out before it goes critical)

(and probably let the other forces know)

Dorian’s eyes widen a bit at the explosions building up. He hastily keys up his radio to the general channel, “Coalition forces, Outrider 1. The fortress’s generator looks to be going critical. Expedite your egress from the fortress. Comet flight is on standby for pickup. This place is going to blow!”

Dorian turns to the nearby gate house door leading into the wall, ”You all need to get out, we don’t have much time. I’m going to look for Marcion and Wind.” (Id like to use my move to try and get into the building)

The door is open, the electronic locks all releasing as power across the base begins to flicker, and fail.

(The wall building? I assumed everything was blown up in the reactor building)

(yes, got it, post is reflective of what yu're doing)

*Kensh grunts and shakes his head at Dorian. "No stupid, lone-wolf heroics Dorian, or you'll end up joining them. We came as a unit and we will complete our objective as a unit"*

"Director, I must insist that you go back to the lander. The Confederation needs it's leader. I'll... I'll go with Dorian"

(I want to clear this first building very fast, and if I can’t find them or hints where they are, we’re leaving)

The doors along the wall have all begun to gently open, with loud metallic squeaks. A few emaciated people tumble out of the furthest, but none of them look like the director, or family

Dorian activates his external speakers on the assault suit, “UNW CIS! Marcion Delgado call out! Exit the fortress! The brotherhood is destroyed! Marcion Delgado! Wind! Call out!” Dorian moves quickly through the group, gently pushing them towards the exits.

*Kensh hesitates, but shakes his head again. "I'm seeing this through. Now let's get moving."*

(Lets get a d3 from everyone)

(d3?)

(/r 1d3 in roll 20. I got a 1)

(a d3)

(rip eish)

(3, didn’t know how to roll that. Better than 3d6x6 lol)

Eisheru finds nothing in the first cell he searches, it does not look like anyone has ever been held here, but was prepared for prisoners

Dorian runs to the next cell over, where 5 emaciated RCoE engineers have been kept in decent, but still somewhat wretched conditions. Their cell has been turned into something like an arming chamber, and you can see their brotherhood overseer was beaten to death with the tools on hand. Two of them have been shot in the scuffle, and are bleeding out (edited)

(1)

The third cell over, Kensh flings the door open, to see the Shivering form of an emaciated Marcion, trying to shield his wife and newborn from the sudden sunlight, and the uncertainty of what is happening outside (Theta has to go yet, timezones)

(Can I throw my Lazarus patches on the RCoE engineers while we wait?)

(Yes)

Dorian hurries into the room, pulling out two Lazarus patches from his medkit. He hastily applies them to the downed engineers. (Book says I could keep trying until I pass, 11 for the first patch 4 for the second.) (edited)

"Damn it, that's one way to do things." Theta says, running behind Kensh. He keeps an eye across the courtyard as the rest of the team check the cells, before throwing open the door of the fourth. (3)

Inside, six Ad-Astra crewmen, taken from the boarding actions a few months ago, are in equally bad conditions but happy to see a friendly face

"Got nothing in this cell... What about you all? Anyone need some healing?" (edited)

”In here, wounded RCoE engineer I’m having trouble stabilizing.”

(if he can) Eisheru runs over to Dorian and without bothering to do an inspection he places a hand on each engineer and pour bioscopic energy into them if their bodies can handle the strain (3hp to one and 6hp to the other) (edited)

*From the doorway, Theta asks the crewmen: "Can you all walk? There are dropships coming. You need to leave, this place is going to blow."* (edited)

"He's here. Wife and child too." Kensh lowers his weapon and extends a hand out to Marcion. "Mr. Delgado, it's been a while. Director Kensh of the Greystar Confederation. We're here with CIS agents to rescue you. This facility's about to explode, we need to move quick. Can you walk?" (edited)

Marcion blinks a few times, not quite believing what he is seeing before nodding and turning to Wind. "Wind, get up, we have to move." He says, helping his wife up to her feet while she carries their baby girl.

The Ad-Astra crew, engineers, and everyone is able to get onto their feet, though some do it weakly. The survivors of Comet Flight come in for landing, and the survivors are ushered toward the Medical flight

“Go let’s go! Get on board!” _Dorian’s amplified voice cuts over the engines. “Comet, Outrider. We’re your last load. Make for a high altitude orbit of the fortress once we’re on board. I want to confirm when this place goes up. Did you pick up the hit team?”

Eisheru helps the wounded get on board then gets on next to the director and Dorian, giving a hand to Theta to pull him up and in

Theta clambers aboard with Eisheru's help. He finds his feet and begins checking on the hostages as best he can.

"Hit team is recovered, they're minus one, but we have one Hero aboard."

The ragged back of prisoners heads aboard the medical flight, and the ramp shuts. Comet 1 launches another spread of rockets at a pack of mutants spilling out of a cell block at the end of the row, before it follows you into high orbit. Down below, the mechs are still fighting, but House Draconis personnel are beginning their own withdrawal

(6xp, 10,000 credits)

Marcion smiles and hugs his family, tears in his eyes.

*Theta collapses into a seat and watches the carnage below. "There were a lot of ways that could have gone worse. Dorian," he says, looking over at the Director, "You did good work."*

Dorian leans back eyes closed as he steadies his breathing. He opens them, looking at Marcion and his family hugging, "You were there with us every step of the way. Thank you, Theta."

"These things never go to plan. All we can do is celebrate the wins and learn from the mistakes. It's hard work."

"You're not wrong. There'll be a lot of work to do back at home to rebuild the agency after this. Glad I have people like you watching my back." Dorian's eyes look a little haunted as he considers the strike teams destroyed during the assault. "Especially with whatever trouble is brewing in Bladonna."

Marcion turns to him. "How many were lost?"

Dorian blinks, "Most of them. I have some on Lohizune holding a listening post and a few teams on Gudrun but the Strike Teams have been gutted. I'll need to recruit and retrain."

Marcion shakes his head. "I recruited most of those men and women. If you need help training at the base on Terezhino, let me know, I'll find some time to spare." He turns to Kensh. "Never thought I would see you again Mr. Kensh, much less in this situation. Thank you for rescuing my family and I. All of you." (edited)

"I'm glad you and your family survived the ordeal." Eisheru gives a courteous bow of his head. "Eisheru Tidecaller. I wish we could be meeting under better circumstances."

Marcion nods to him, lacking the energy for anything more elaborate. "Still a pleasure to meet you in any case."

Kensh shakes his head slowly. "I didn't think so either. I'm not sure I wanted us to meet again to be honest."

Marcions sighs. "That whole case was a mess. Kincaid selling you without a trial was wrong. It created problems between us from that point onward. Greystar attempted to pay me in exchange. Everything seems to have worked out for the best though. Once I retired I saw all the good things you were doing for people the UNW left out to dry, and I stopped caring about what happened. You've redeemed yourself in my eyes at least."

Kensh hesitates before nodding. "That's good to hear. I look back on who I was with shame, and through everything I've done since then, I've had that day on my mind. I'm glad we can meet as allies now."

"Well, I can go back into retirement now, get back to my restaurant." He says, checking on his daughter and wife again. "And these two." (edited)

(Re roll token for everyone for good rp. You can use it for Carmen, marcion)

(Cools)

(Thank you!)

(nice) (edited)

(thanks!)

(nice, thanks!) Kensh gives Marcion a faint smile, and sits back. He stays silent for the rest of the journey, giving the family some space after their ordeal.

(Not sure if you had something in mind for what next, but if youre stuck, I've got a couple things that can be attended to- stuff previous players were doing and quit halfway through)

(for finishing an endeavor for you)