Landing Zne

As Billy’s ship enters the system, the holoscreen pops up to display the drop zone. Opening coms to Stev, Hailey and Seung he says,

(Theyre trees)

“Depends on how tall the trees are. I don’t think an 11-metre tall hunk of metal would hide very well in most situations.”

"In that case, let's make some flaming barricades and stomp some bugs!"

Hailey speeds past Billy in the Shadow's Bounty as its cloaking systems drop. "You have fun with your 11 meter brute Stev, I prefer something a bit more refined," she jokes. (edited)

"Besides, give it a minute and the King'll be here to show us up."

(Ready to drop? Let’s get this chicken dinner)

(Top Gear ready to fly.)

Stev laughs. “The Bugstomper fits my needs perfectly Hailey, and at least this time we both get to use our mechs for more than transport to the rendezvous.”

He signals the Pillar from inside the drop pod to fire when ready.

(Mech sized drop pod insertion ready whenever you are Neko!)

There is an audible groan and a lurching sensation as the mech drop pod is released. (This first wave will be player mechs, it’ll grab the npc ones next for some reinforcements )

The emergency lights inside turn red and begin to spin

On a small monitor in each of your cockpits, footage from outside begins coming in showing the drop craft passing quickly through the cloud layers

“Looks like we’re going in now. Get the ship down and drop the Blitzer, I’m going in.” Billy hops in his mech and opens the bay doors to the void of space, launching his suitmech from orbital insertion to follow up behind Stev.

(So we have the blitzer and the mech for billy , Stevs mech on the mech lander , billys too if it can’t fly

Hailey flies down onto the lander in the Dragonfly mech and lands on Stev's mech shoulder, just for the sake of sticking with the team. As their lowered, each of the mech's wings fold back and become individual drones. "Mind if I catch a ride?"

(Billy’s Mech was built by Hailey for stealthier orbital insertion iirc.)

(All the engi-mechs could probably stand for updates)

(After this, we can put them all in the shop if you wish.) (Yes Neko. That looks right.)

As the imagery continues to unfold, you don

dont see the drones as individuals, but rather as a roiling mass of black and brown, swarming around the two structures in the general area. The windows illuminate, and occasionally there is a puff of dirt as a grenade or some other type of explosive goes off, but it is a dent in the swarm. As the pod closes to the last few thousand meters, you can see the swarm is individually thousands, with warrior forms and a variant not seen on Gudrun, with something like a broad ridge of bone in the shape of a ram.

A small timer ticks back from ten seconds, and the shadow of your pod falls over the swarm below, as you prepare to set down between the two buildings

Wescott opens an all mech channel for you to communicate. "Remember, crush them like infantry, but just like human foot soldiers, they can climb you, swarm you, they can bring you down. Watch the rear of each other's walkers, watch your feet, and conserve your fire as best we can. Once the second wave lands, we'll begin shuttling ammunition down to the surface

Along with our foot soldiers and engineering department. We can turn this into a temporary holdfast if needed"

“Good call, Wescott. Let’s make it happen. First things first is to clear a path to the buildings and establish a defensive position. I know we are supposed to conserve ammo, but we may need to lay down some suppressive fire when we land so we can make it there. It might be a good idea for Hailey to take the skies to watch our six as we make way.” he says over the static. “Agreed?”

“You’re both more agile than me, so I’ll hold the line for you get get set up.”

(If Hailey agrees we can say she flies out already) There is a slam and a shower of bug viscera as the heavy pod hits the ground. It sits for a moment, an iron flower about to bloom. The confused drones rally themselves quickly and begin climbing over the outside , claws rapping and tapping at the metal leaves keeping you secure. Explosive release bolts fire and the metal panels fall crushing more of the drones. The blue sunlight glints off your battle suits as you take your first steps out onto sativan soil

(Yeah I’m going to hop off before the drop pod hits the ground and engage the grav chutes so I land after the pod opens.)

(Yep I’m good with that) Hailey takes up into the air from Stev’s mech pod to keep watch.

The Bugstomper unleashes a wave of fire towards the closest group of drones.

"Someone call for an exterminator?"

(Inferno Projector attack whenever I'm able)

(Let’s get initiatives)

(I've got some firepower I'd like to dish out to but I'll hold off)

As he says this, a cloud of dust seems to rise off the Bugstomper and disperse into the air.

(7)

(8)

(We already rolling high today boys)

(We're all excited)

(9)

(Billy, Stev, Hailey, swarm. The swarm is a giant stat block so you don’t need to designate specific drones to shoot. The mech grade weapons are assumed to kill several with each hit )

Billy hops off the drop pod early to get a good angle on the drones. He starts shooting before he even touches down, clearing a small area in front of the landing zone. (L-HMG: 26/21) Taking Billy’s lead, the twins hit the gas on the Blitzer and start firing out the front HMG, mowing a path towards our target position. The Blitzer bounces as it runs over the already gore strewn field. (HMG: 10/8) (Do I add their shoot skill to damage or just straight roll?)

(if it's a normal npc it's a +3 to hit. If they are a VIP companion, they would use whatever their skills and attributes are) (edited)

(I also have authority 2)

(sorry no you wouldn't unless they have the gunslingerv level 2 focus. And i believe authority only applies to skill checks) (edited)

(Yes. Just re-read that. You’re right. So they will have a +5 to hit and +0 damage. Cool deal.)

(rereading it, they gain a hit bonus equal to your lead skill)

(so 3 + your lead skill)

(and they add their dex bonus to damage)

(With Sunblade attributes enhancing the damage of my weapons... what would 3d12 upgrade to?)

The Blitzer clears the immediate path, so the Bugstomper turns towards the building and releases a stream of superheated plasma, melting everything in its path.

(Inferno Projector: 19/21)

With that done, a couple of lumbering steps takes Stev and his colossal mech off the drop pod towards the building, before turning around and planting themselves between the swarm and the building itself.

(End Turn. Hailey's up)

(You'd add your sunblade skill to the damage but the 3d12 wouldn't go up since that's already much higher than any sunblade weapon)

(Get em Hailey)

(Morning lads. Sorry for making you wait, different time zone. Give me just a moment.)

(I was hoping to try out these drones but if I'm needed in the sky, happy to stick there.) The wings of the Dragonfly mech angle, boosting the suit to full speed as it rushes towards the building. "Give me a scan of that thing," she orders. The polyspectral sensors fire up at the voice command and attempt a scan of the building, displayed on her readout. As she flies over the swarm, she use's her birds-eye view to try and spot any sort of weak point or ideal target to strike the flood at.

(Let me know if you want a notice roll for the second)

(the drones can still shoot when you do, the nanites form your wings and stuff but the actual carried drones can fly)

(and do whatever you want them to do)

There are twelve survivors inside the larger building, with four in the other. There are no interior walls but you can see jagged places where all but the most load bearing sections were kicked out and used by the occupants to reinforce their holdfasts as much as possible

(so about 33% of the crew survived)

(Just can't dock then? Ok. great with me . Turn still holds for tho)

The drones seem to be scattering the most at the head of the mech assault, As for their assault on the buildings, the less occupied of the two is in the most danger of fallign

return fire from the building has slackened to a pathetic trickle of pot shots

"Hey, we've got some survivors. About a dozen in the big one," she quickly informs the others. (edited)

"I'm moving to the smaller one. I'll dish some support fire out there."

(We don't need a notice roll, dont need to waste your main action on that)

Continuing to dive towards the smaller building, Hailey raises her rocket launcher and fires a shining pretech rocket at the swarm. "Let's give em hell." Each of the drones tailing her each fire their own as well, forming a trio of high tech explosives. The two smaller ones tail the larger with electricity trailing from it. (32/17) (9/17) (16/17) (edit: Expert systems mean they have +2 to hit) (edited)

Your rocket, and the rocket from your drone wingman on the right both score hits, sending the underhill back where they were about to breach. Flaming insect bodies tumble through the air , for a moment, achieving a higher altitude than you, as your dive continues

(Thanks @Artifice (Regrupple) , I figured it was going to be crazy high anyway. )

(Pilot/ dex or int check for stev)

(And billy)

(9 for pilot/Dex)

A ram headed underHill drone the size of a battle tank surges out of the pack, smashing into the leg of your mech in a bid to try to topple it, but your Deft control of the sticks allows you to keep your balance

“Not fast enough bastard!”

(Just gotta see what happens witj billy

And then we can move to round 2)

(10)

Billy is likewise able to avoid a charging ram drone and his footing remains solid.

Drones claw and scrabble over one another to try to drag you down but so far have been unable to get a handhold

(Stev up)

The cutter plates spin up with a whir, serrated steel moving so fast the edges seem transparent. Stev steps forward, swinging the counter-rotating plates back and forth in front of the mech swiftly.

(15/27 with the cutter plates.)

(Do I get any more attacks or is that it? I know with the light I can fire both weapons at the same target, but this time the target situation is different.)

(you can fire all weapons each round, the swarm is one bit target)

(big)

(The book specifies that you may fire all mech weapons in one turn and designate individual targets for each attack as desired, so you're good there.)

(Awesome!!)

As the cutter plates sweeps through the immediate area, the Inferno Cannon sprays another blast of superheated plasma and the HMG spins up, peppering the drones further back with bullets.

(Inferno 21/27, HMG 20/13)

(You can individually fire your weapons but you have to declare the targets ahead of time. Basically you can’t ripple fire until you kill the target and then move on with what’s left. If you overkill then you overkill. That’s how they’re balancing it with the mechs being difficult to kill)

The drones die by the score to the assault of the combat mech, but more pour out of the dozens of holes in the nearby mountains- the sounds of battle calling them to fresh prey. (Billy)

“Get into position! Defend the building!” The Blitzer continues forging ahead, its wheels kicking up dirt and gore. Billy and his mech, not far behind covers them with L-HMG fire. “Once you’re in position release my drones, Jules. Kady keep firing.” (Blitzer 9/14) (Billy. 21/24)

The blitzer isn’t able to find a target but it pulls in front of the most broken section of wall. “What’s our plan here?!” Jules asks, the repeating bangs of the heavy machine gun in the background. “Do we evacuate them?”

Dozens of underhill drones are shredded by the machine gun fire in this target rich environment

“We can fit a few in the Blitzer, ammo drops should be coming soon. We establish a defense here until we can evacuate. Pull the 4 from the other building and hold off as long as we can. Fell the trees. Catch them on fire and kill as many as we can. I was thinking explosives could do the trick.”

“Take my AV Laser once you release the drones and join your sister in holding off the swarm.”

(Hailey up)

Hailey continues to hover in the air hundreds of meters over the smaller building where her hellfire is needed, the glowing blue pretech wings keeping her aloft. Firing her rocket launcher again, another plasma orange rocket spirals towards the swarm another two close behind, tailing the first lightning trail. "Dragonflies eat pests like you!" "I'm here to back you up," she calls down to the people trapped. "Don't let up and we can overwhelm them!"

(20/18) (10/10, 14/22)

Then underhill around the smaller building are driven back, reeling from the sudden assault. From above, the second flight of landers begins setting down, disgorging the House Draconis men at arms, and their support equipment. The breach you've created allows them precious moments to get the first metal pilings and panels down to create a safe corridor between the two buildings

(Pilot checks for Billy and Stev again as the underhill now take their turn)

A handful of the underhill with anything that can be slung aim skyward, trying to hit the dragonfly that has so far evaded their reach. (19/9, and the rest miss)

(Pilot check results and then Stev up)

(Pilot/sexy 10

Billy avoids another charge by the Ram headed drones, surging from places where the underhill pack remains the thickest

(7 pilot/Dex)

There is a jarring slam as two of the ram headed beasts buckle the right leg of Stev's mech (10 damage) and with a large cloud of dust, the mighty machine is knocked onto its back. Warrior drones begin to climb the downed machine, their claws scraping against the reinforced metal armor

(“Anti-grav nodes are a waste of space” :p)

(I don’t think I ever said waste of space...)

(Okay, time to check if I can get this thing upright again. Pilot skill again?)

(I’m just kidding lol I think you only said you can’t put anything else on)

(Hahaha yeah, that’s probably more like it. Shock suits aren’t made for fighting and flying, unless you’ve got plenty of pretech parts I guess. )

(That’s my secret. We’ll meet after for Stev and Hailey to exchange secrets)

(I’m sure we might be able to work out some kind of deal)

(ooc)

(Pilot again yeah, this time at -2 with all the extra weight)

(8 pilot/dex)

The machine clanks, and whirrs, rising, with dozens of drones still clinging to its carapace

Stev forces the mech up, straining against the drones clambering on his machine.

“Well, that wasn’t very sporting!”

(Do I still get an attack?)

(Yes, rising was just your move)

(Sweet!)

(The ones actually on you, your weapon arms cannot hit, but you can shoot the rest)

(Cutter plates: 16/26) (Inferno: 22/24) (HMG: 19/20)

Over comms: “Anyone got an angle on these things trying to eat their way in?”

"I can give it a shot. Better than letting them swarm all over you."

Some of the drones fall at your weapon recoil, and your stomping foot flattens another before your weapons begin chattering. The flow of enemies seems to be faltering, their actions now with far less coordination.

(Billy)

“The tide is turning. Keep it up!” Billy and Jules keep the HMGs ringing while Kady slips in the back loosing all of Billy’s drones out of the window. (L-HMG 24/24) (Jules HMG 15/13) Billy uses his move action to fly his bomber drone toward a tree in the distance with underhill flowing past and blows it up right at the trunk.

The drone explodes in a small mushroom cloud and a shower of metal. Burning splinters smash into nearby underhill, along with the falling tree which is starting to catch on its own.

Around you, the Draconis men at arms have completed the initial stage of digging themselves in, and survivors from the smaller of the two buildings are being half carried, half hauled into waiting landers.

(Hailey)

Your radios crackle on the general channel before Dorian’s voice begins transmitting, “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!”

(I’m not sure how much that effects you guys since you’re kind of far away)

(Not a ton but them bracing for the shockwave is probably helpful, and they do have infantry deployed)

"Didn't you hear him, he said things are about to..." she fires off another TRIPLE ROCKET BINGO BLAST and finishes "BLOW!" (19/25) (7/22) (21/21)

The rockets send the underhill near the larger of the two buildings into disarray, as the panicked survivors are dragged out by Draconis men at arms. They begin collapsing back toward their lander, leaving the disposable fortifications behind

"A moment longer and we'll be able to pull you out" Wescott says, though it seems that the underhill losing their newfound tactical sense coincided with the report that Dagget had just been klilled

Faced with overwhelming force, the underhill begin to waver

(They're going to scatter, 6xp, 10,000 credits)

(You guys can RP chasing them down if you want, but we're out of combat)

Jules helps a few of the refugees into the Blitzer before hoping back in the driver’s seat, peeling out to the extraction point. Kady takes pot shots at the fleeing underhill as does Billy as he covers everyone’s exit. “Good fucking job, you guys! That went ridiculously well!” He cheers.

Hailey continues to chase down bugs as they flee, firing rockets with little care for aim into the swarm. “Shoo, shoo, buncha pests. This bug zapper hasn’t had enough yet.” Hailey fires another shot. “Ok now I’m done.”

Stev makes sure the last of the bugs that were trying to get into the mech with him are gone before he opens the cockpit and lets out a loud cheer.

“Well that was more fun than should be allowed. Good work folks! Thanks for the assistance.”

“Hell yeah. Hey Stev, I’ve gotta dip ASAP but you’re heading to Heras right? We should get a drink. I think we could be of some assistance to one another in the mech department.”

“Sounds like a plan. Comm me when you hit orbit and I’ll send you coordinates. Not sure where I’ll be once I get my marching orders.”

(Following this, Stev had gone to Heras and met with the regent, was told about Phyras formerly holding the hostages, and then releasing them, and we left as Stev was devising a plan)

(We’ll figure it out)

Hailey waits in Eli’s Tavern for Stev to arrive, having arranged to meet him there some time prior.

She sits typing and scrolling through her phone, laughing to herself every once in a while.

Stev eventually arrives, looking slightly harried.

“Hailey! Sorry to make you wait, catching a ride here wasn’t as easy as I thought.”

“No worries Stev. Haven’t been around here long anyways.” Hailey waves a hand at a waiter and orders a pair of drinks.

He takes a seat opposite Hailey. “So... you said something about mechs back on that bug infested planet.”

"Wow, no small talk? No how you doing after that bug fight? No what brings you to Heras?"

“Sure, how’s things? What brings you to this lovely place? What a magnificent fight... still got the bug guts on the cutter plates, thinking of having them framed.”

He sighs. “That was wrong of me. Shouldn’t take out my stress on you. Sorry.”

“No stress, I literally asked for it, I’m doing good. And I find anti-grav keeps me out of the mess of bug guts, thanks for asking.” She chuckles. “You sound stressed, but we won’t linger on it. I’m sure you’ve got plenty going on and I’d hate to waste someone’s time.”

She says the last part with a hint of sarcasm, as she had just insisted on small talk, albeit jokingly.

“Trouble on the frontier and we get called in to fix the problem with an army. I land with the company captains and find out they want a more diplomatic solution. Not sure what sort of diplomacy a mech squad and a couple of hundred soldiers can provide, but that’s the jam.”

He stops and then chuckles about the big guts comment.

“Yeah, must have been some view up there, above the madness. What’s it like... flying with next to nothing between you and the sky?”

"Sounds like a waste of your time, and your whole armies for that matter. Then again, the EP is dysfunctional. So it's not altogether surprising."

"It's nice. Freeing, really. There's too much to focus on in something like that was, with those things coming at you from every angle. Easier to just look from above."

“How does it work? I’ve got a stealth shuttle for my recon team to get in and out, but if I could get them some sort of mechsuit like yours, maybe with active camouflage and the ability to fly... it would make their lives a whole lot easier and they’d be able to get to places they couldn’t reach by foot.”

“Add a set of augmented enviroseals and a breaching tool on top of that and you’ve got something that can get pretty much anywhere. But that’s part of why I was interested in taking to you. I have a modification I built that allows me to have anti-grav, or a lot of other things for that matter, on a mech much for easily, without it limiting my options so much. It’s something I think you could benefit from.”

“Looking for work? The Knights of Draconis are just getting started, but I’ve got a spot for you in the mech team if you’re interested.”

"Hmm, I'm not particularly looking for work," Hailey says with air-quotes around the last bit, "but it would be a good opportunity to spend some time researching and working with mechs, and building them if you'd allow me to help with that. Especially if I want to continue to improve the Dragonfly. But you'd get the benefits of whatever technical skill I already have."

“Well I’ve got a full workshop back on the Pillar, but right now the mechs themselves should be heading planetside. You’re welcome to either head up and use the facilities on your own mech or come to base camp, whatever works for you. Once this is done and we get paid I’ll be able to afford upgrades to the existing mechs and maybe get a start on the suits. I’m starting to learn that running an army is expensive!”

“I’m not surprised hahaha. My solution is just not being a leader, but some people are cursed with the skills for it. Regardless, I can’t join you at the moment, I’ve got a bit more to attend to here on Heras, but say, starting next month, I can join. I look forward to it.” (Ooc going to be leaving Hailey for a while to go join CBSS, but I’m thinking I could leave her fighting with the knights while I play mother character. She’s got a lead bonus when talking to soldiers, and is a pc, so maybe if you had her run the suit mech squad you’d get a bonus or something there. We can talk to Neko but this sounds good to me) (edited)

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Hailey pulls a gridded piece of scratch paper out of her bag and slides it across the table. “I’ll make a copy of the notes, but this is yours to use in return.”

On the paper is an outline for a custom mod that uses pretech to exchange power space for free mass, for fit free mass with enhanced power. (1 power <-> 1 mass for a pretech part) “It’s what I use to make the standard frames less...restricting.”

Stev holds the paper and looks at it quizzically. Hailey might notice it’s upside down. “I’m sure the engineers could make sense of this, or they can just wait till you come and join us. I’ll have a room set aside for you in officer country and if we’re finished with the job before you are I’ll let you know where we are going.” He stands and holds out a hand. “Good luck with whatever you’re doing and I look forward to you joining us, in whatever capacity you choose.” (edited)

She shakes Stev's hand as he holds it out. "Good luck with your diplomatics, Stev. Ugh, I shudder just saying that. I look forward to working with you."

He laughs and heads for the door. “Might end up having to forcibly replacing the leadership to get them on our side. Could be fun.” (edited)

)alright. Caught up here. Let’s move back into Stevs thread. We can ping eli and he can tell you about that city)