Two Tanks, One Satchel
GM: Adam
Players: Croc, Baron
Synopsis: Croc and Baron are hired by Aquis to head into the Warzone and obtain a package. The Warzone is, well, a warzone. They attempt to avoid one of the firefights between the gangs by going into the alleyways, resulting in interesting trench warfare and then blitz another region to get to the other side only to meet a minefield. Despite all these funzies, the two are built like titanium reinforced tanks, and didnt get hurt. Looks like Aquis hired the right people for that gauntlet.
Date: 04/13/2010
Show Consent

Its a night in Denver. Why night? Why not the early morning with a cup of coffee and some doughnuts? Because this is the 'Renz, chummers! Its always night. In any event— the two of you are called on by Aquis for some local work down in the Warzone. The meeting occurs in the Cybered Arms— a publically private affair that goes over what the two heavy hitters would need to do. Objectives are simple: Locate a Parcel and return it to him. The details are not: For starters it is in the middle of the meanest part of the Warrens and there is an active, heavy firefight in that area. You'll likely have to fight your way in and out. He gives you a GPS that has the parcel's AOD locator flickering on demand— and due to it not moving, its either on a dead courier or foul play is involved. The pay is good, 60k across the two of you with a 10k retainer, but needs you guys to head out now before someone else gets to it.

Croc grunts. Into a warzone. Hardly the first time. He looks across the table at Baron and nods. "Need to stop by rez on the way, but not far. Get my heavy gear. Meet you there?"

Baron grunts at Croc "I can give you a ride, I need to park in the rez and use that as my base of operations, I got enough range to handle most of the warrens."

Croc nods. "All right."

Show Rumors

Croc grunts. "Heavy vehicle work." He glances at Baron. "Could find some good parts for you. Let's roll out, si? Won't know what it's like till we're there."

Baron nods and gets up, heading outside to his armored Bison RV and climbing inside, he jacks into his remote deck and starts activiating drones "So you need the bastile I take it?"

Croc says "Si. Armored vehicles… Damn, wish I had the AV ammo in. Still, means it's Panther work, Si? Si." He thinks it over. "Any other ideas? Will try to get in, quiet as I can, but if it turns brutto I may be fragged.""

Baron grunts and points to the back of his RV "The blimp has a sniper rifle with AV ammo loaded in it. My panther isnt finished yet, its getting upgraded. I've got a servitor drone with an SMG for soft targets too. That one can follow you on foot."

Croc nods. "Sounds good… but can it be quiet/unobstrusive? Just askin, cause it may become a target otherwise. Not sure how sturdy it's armor is."

Baron grunts and nods, starting the RV up and heading for the Bastille "Sure, its got a sound suppressor on the SMG, and I've padded the feet to keep the clanking down. Its electric so its fairly quiet. Its also armored enough to stop a sniper rifle round. 7mm of armor."

The Servitor drone stands in the back of the RV, wearing a long coat thats been cut to fit, looking like a mutant hunchback with a helmet on its head.

Croc whistles. "Good idea," he says. "That's a deal. Always bueno to have fire support." He closes his eyes. "Aye aye aye. Always with the assault plans…"

Baron drives over to the Bastile, then parks outside the compound. The back of his RV lowers and the blimp takes off, heading straight up to an elevation of 900 meters in height, with an advertisment for NERPS on its photovoltalic paint. Its hard to see in the dark at that height, and thats a bonus.

Show Random Encounter

And so the intrepid adventurers don thier armor and arms and go henceforth towards the field of battle. Wrong genre.

After suiting up, the southeastern trek from the neutral territory that is the Rez towards the Warzone shows the night and day difference that the constant fighting has. Buildings are more scarred than usual and the dregs of humanity are more bold. Sometimes, they go as far as to attack those not in large groups, such as a lone troll.
Ok, a troll and his gimp ork with him. Even more reason to giggety them.

Show Perception

Croc is carefully approaching the target area. He knows what type of place this is. He knows and he doesn't like it. Doesn't like being this exposed. Doesn't like the fact that there are more here than even he can kill. He doesn't like it… but at least he's getting paid. As he sees the gang setting up for ambush, he slings the PAC off his back, but doesn't leave cover… not willing to start a fight until absolutely necessary…

Baron moves along, his senses tied with the servitor drone, but the blimp above him sending him information every little bit. His drone tries to crouch and move, staying behind Croc, and moving from one point of cover to another point of cover. Sensors are sweeping the area, and they note the apparent lack of contacts «Its too quiet, we are walking into an ambush point most likely.»

Show Ganger Fire

And there it comes— a nice hail of fire from the ruins of a nearby building alongside the street. This time of night is dark— very dark— and the moon is new. With so few sources of light, it is easy to see the tracer rounds that zip from the air and trail back to the muzzle flashes in the building. They plink-plink around Baron's drone and Croc— a few stray rounds going into the Servawhore pointlessly.

Show Combat

With the GPS/AOD Locator in hand— its clear to see where this parcel currently is. Looks like they have to go a few blocks deep into the Warzone. The first zone is not karmically satisfying. There are flood lights from various vehicles here that gangs are using for cover to shoot around and behind. As fate would have it, a new vehicle joins the fray and the floodlights and up shining right on Croc and into his eyes. The Servawhore happens to be out of that pain by hiding just behind him. Go meatshield!

Show GM Info

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "We either go through them or around them, I've got a path plotted from above, looks like less trouble but going to take longer. Your decision."

Croc winces away from the glare, cursing, getting ready to fire another shot… then shakes his head. He's not prepared for optimal anti-vehicle action today.

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Affirmative. Lead the way."

Baron turns the drone down another direction, heading around the most direct signs of conflict, no chance to avoid it all, but possibly lessen the amount of trouble.

Show Random Encounter

The alternate route requires that the two ground forces go through an alleyway to cut across to another block. The alleyways here are subpar, even for the Warrens, and look more like war entrenchments with trash and other debris serving as bunkers.

Croc looks back at the drone. "Can you climb?" He asks it.

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "It can climb, thats why I left the hands free"

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Good to know. May need to climb over some entrenchments here…."

Croc crouches down a little as he surveys the alley, trying to see if he can pick up any signs of life…

The drone has an intercom, but its quieter to use the comm channels. The drone scans the alley with its sensors, «Alright, I'll take point, I'm going for the hill, quick and dirty over the top.» The drone starts down the alley quickly and as quietly as it can.

Show Perception

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Affirmative. Will follow you over."

Show Climbing

Its a trash mountain, and the drone starts to ascend up the mountain, unfortunately it slides back down, it tries again, yet again it slides back down, then a third time, and one foot sinks into the trash. «Alright, this is not going well»

Show Climbing

Even with help, this pile of trash proves Barons undoing. Even with the help of the massive troll, the pile of trash just ends up beating the drone.
"Oh fucking hell," the troll says, moves past the Drone, and tries to vault over it himself. "I'll come back for you, amigo!

Show Climbing

Croc sees the gangers. He laughs, a crazy, whooping sound. "Pesche in la barrel!" He shouts, bracing the cannon against his hip and opening fire. There's a spray of blood nad bone and rubble and debris and there's one less ganger in the world. "DEMONS ROCK!"

The servawhore claws its way up the mountain and falls onto the other side— getting up and dusting itself off as the PAC does its thing. The gangers turn to face the troll with thier weapon's ready— and then they run like little girls down the other way. Screw that!

Baron looks down from above in his Blimp, notices the gangers are fleeing the troll with the PAC, and decides to jump back into the servitor drone, or at least to get into captians chair and tell the drone to get past the remaining hurdles in this alley.

«Auto-Judge[]» Croc (#8805) uses 2 of item 2: Assault Cannon Rounds from Panther Assault System (#1106).

Time is money. There's no time for the drone's barrier-climbing antics, so the Troll turns, levels his PAC- and turns it on the barriers, unleashing its destructive power. "Pathway cleared, hermano," he mutters, and then starts to move. Stealth is discarded for a few minutes, the panther likely drawing attention from all around…

…or maybe not. This is the war zone, after all.

Show Random Encounter

Baron jumps back into the Servitor, then plows along behind Croc, letting the troll lead the way, though he does give commands over the comm about which way is safest to go.

The dynamic duo (which one is Robin?) goes down the alleyways without much incident after that. It spills out into the second Region that they would have ended up had they gone through the streets.

Show Random Encounter

This region, much like the one before it, is deep in a fire fight. Flood lights. Lots of fire. They don't call this the Warzone for nothing.

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "got another course, or should we spear through?"

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Give me a second."

«Plot-Page» (To: Baron) AdamLOG2 says, "There is another course. Have to cross the street and go into another nest of alleyways."

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Ok, cross the street, and more alleys."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "estimated loss of time?"

«Plot-Page» (To: Baron) AdamLOG2 says, "Takes twice as long to get through this region if you take the alternate."

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Its going to take twice as long to get through here using the alleys, but we avoid most of the major troublespots."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Going to risk crossing this region. Time's a factor. Going quiet as I can, but keep alert."

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Once your across I'll sprint. Go for it."

Croc lowers himself now, and goes to ground as he enters the warzone- now making a cautious line for the prize, lowering himself down and trying to limit his profile.

He'd kill for some ruth-coated milspec armor right now.

The drone hides in the shadows, watching as Croc starts to make his way across the wartorn streets and to the target. He keeps an eye out with both his drones, trying to watch for any signs of Croc getting into trouble.

Show Stealth

The large troll gets into the region where the firefight is going on— keeping his head down. He is spotted by a ganger— bunkered down. The man looks at him, like two soldiers at war time. It is a tense moment— but he backs off— turning his attention to the ongoing gang fight in front of him when he notices that the troll isnt sending a PAC shell into his bunker.

The shadowrunner gets to the other side, only when he is noticed a second time, the ganger points out orders the flood light on the area, "Ghost!" he barks as bullets rip through the air around him.

Show Athletics

Croc is a murdering savage. A proud warrior. But he can't afford to get down in a firefight. The gunfire opens up, and so does his speed, his big legs churning underneath him as he sprints for cover as fast as he possibly can!

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Taking fire. Can you back them off?"

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "On it."

Show Combat

As the flood light washes over the running troll, a series of fully automatic fire sprays the area— pock-marking up the wall and street nearby him and landing a few stray bullets on the running man's body.

Show Combat

900 meters above the firefight a blimp drone hovers moving slowly in circles. Suddenly from the bottom a turret pops out, the sniper rifle turning and taking aim at the light that illumiates the Troll. A moments breath from the rigger and a mental command sends an AV round down towards the illumination.

With a deafening shatter, the flood light over Croc goes out, cloaking him once again in darkness. There is shouting as the gang in question responds to this by looking for a source, but in the chaos of battle, it could have been anywhere.

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Gracias. Going to send the walker up by cover of darkness, or want him to cover the exit?"

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "How far to the target package?"

«Plot» AdamLOG2 says, "It is in the next 'region'. A block away."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "close."

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I'll bring it across to your position for now, in case things get crazy."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Will hold till it's here."

The Drone in the alley suddenly takes off, sprinting across the firefight. The long coat flutters behind it, sprouting holes as small arms fire ricochets across the drones armor. It takes a left, then a right, then another left, trying to avoid any direct routes, soon enough it has made it across and into the safer area where the troll hides.

Croc flashes a hideous grin at the drone, ejects his a clip and slams in a fresh one. "Only down dos," he says, "But might as well be careful, si?" He looks over his shoulder, calculating the distance… and then starts to creep towards the gps signal.

The AOD locator shows that the signal is closer and closer still. Around the corner there is a stretch of street with abandoned cars, or whats left of them, littering the street and making advancing cover for anyone going through it. The thing is, there is no firefight here.

Show Perception

Croc points out into the darkness. "There it is. On top of a car… holding a satchel. Cover me." He creeps down a little bit lower, and forward he goes…

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Roger"

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Wait, could be explosives, you know how to find them?"

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "I'm familiar with them."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "But thanks for the heads-up.'"

Baron keeps his drone back in a shadowy corner, and puts it on autopilot as he switches to his Blimp drone, zooming in on the package and the surrounding area, looking for any signs of trouble.

Show Perception

The large troll makes his way through the maze. It is quiet in this sector— only the sounds of firefighting in the neighboring areas can be heard. That is, until Croc feels the depression of something beneath his foot. He catches it in time that he doesnt lose a leg— but looking down he will notice he just hit a pressure plate on a mine.

Show JUMP!

Croc looks down. Sees the mine. Well. It's like Belize all over again. Or the Calfree war zone. Or chicago. Without the bugs or irridated deep dish pizza (still yummy!). No kit. Only one way to do this…

He jumps.

Outside of being launched into the distance by a mine, which is quite a feat in itself, the troll manages to survive without any damage. It leaves something to be said about the approach to the package now, though.

Baron watches from the safety of his RV, worried now that this is going to be alot more difficult than previously thought, he gets on the comm quickly after the explosion «You still there?»

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Yeah. I'm fine. Just had to stretch a little. Turns out? Bombs are in the ground."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "how you say? LAnd yours?"

Show JUMP!

Croc sees the objective, calculates… and then climbs up on a car. "Just like chicago," he mutters. "Or Amazon. Pretend it is amazon, full of angry parapiranah. All hungry from trollcock." Leap. Crash. Leap. Crash. "Other Other white meat." Leap, Crash. Leap, Crash. He's got it! He picks it up. Peers inside. Looks up. Now to get back….

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I really needa flying drone with a mechanical arm, could have been real useful here."

Show JUMP!

Leap -crash-. Leap -crash-. Leap -crash-. These cars will never be the same. Their long-dead owners are rolling over in their graves or shitting themselves if still alive and caring. Leap -crash-. Leap -crash-! The last one is close, the troll's legs getting sore, but he makes it!

Now just to clear the gauntlet again…

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "Got it."

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Great job."

Commlink-Croc> Croc says, "following your lead, eye in the sky."

Show Second Route

Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Alright, lets head west, as soon as we are out of the warzone I'll circle around in the RV and pick you up."

Baron starts the drone off to the west, looking for a safer route, refering to his blimp for the eye in the sky.

Croc says "Affirmative," into the comm, and turns. He stares at the walker drone for a few moments, and then he's on the way. Still moving quietly, he throws the satchel over a shoulder(i assume it has a sling) and rearms himself with his panther. He does like one part of the Warzone… "It lets me use my big gun," he mutters, slowly making his way out.

Its a tense trip, moving from cover to cover, concealment to concealment. The drone leads the way, frequently stopping and turning another direction to avoid getting spotted by anyone in the area. The overwatch from the blimp provides adequate potential to avoid problems. Eventually they make it out of the warzone, and Baron circles the conflicts in the safer areas of the warrens, if thats possible, to pick up the troll and the drone.

Croc sits back in the RV. "Not a bad drone, gringo," he says. "Ate some bullets for me. Only ran into a mine or two, some small arms fire. Not a bad day."

Baron grunts and heads back to the Cybered Arms "Well, we need to call the J and deliver his package now." he gestures to the drone "It cost me a pretty penny too, sadly its not up to full specs yet, but I'm working on it."
page revision: 3, last edited: 17 Apr 2010 18:40
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