GM: Bowman
Players: Aesuuma, Angela, Argos, Baron, Bowman, Mr.Terrific
Synopsis: A surprise change to a search and rescue mission leads to border crossings, midnight encounters, and a fortunately peaceful ending.
Date: 04:10:2011 :)
The garage has seen better days, in fact, its condemed mostly, the only thing its used for now is the big open lot in the back where a small helicopter is parked and a large RV sits idling nearby. There is obvious security in the form of a heavily armored drone with an assault rifle mounted to its arm standing outside the RV. The pilot though is no where to be seen, the chopper is idling at the moment, the engine going but the blades barely turning.
Aesuuma drives toward the meet in his shiny Ford Americar, a cigarette flaring and his eyes taking in the changing surroundings as he nears the 'Rens. The speed of the vehicle is not slow, not fast, but rather just what you'd expect of a wage slave or ganger from the area. Reaching the garage, he scans for any life, and gives a pleasant nod to the drone as he stops the vehicle—though the engine remains on.
Bowman is already on site. When the need to find a new rigger quickly came up he immediately contact one of the others to call and headed over to verify everything was suitable. Then he called everyone else in. He is loaded for bear, almost literally, as a hunting rifle is slung diagonally across his back. He's also gut an AK-97 against his right shoulder, grip in his right hand, finger away from the trigger. A pistol is strapped beneath his jacket. He is smoking a cigarette instead of his pipe and looks for all the world as if this were business as usual.
Curiously, the good doctor's on foot. She'd taken public transit as far to the edge of the CAS as it would go, near to the rendesvous point, and hoofs the rest of the way. Angela's hardly loaded for bear, looking a lot like she did during the meetup at the bar the night before. A thick, armored vest under her brown trenchcoat seems to be the only real addition to her attire as she walks up to the familiar men gathered already.
The drone speaks, at least through an intercom. "Alright, choppers ready for everyone, I've got an intercom in it so you wont have to worry about hauling my fat ass up there with you. Be careful though, this thing is not ment for stealth or combat, its get in, drop off, get out. Pickup will be hard and fast too."
GM note: Unknown to all, Mr.Terrific is in astral overwatch as the team assembles. None of the team are magically active so they cannot detect him if he does not wish to be seen.
Bowman nods a greeting to Aesuuma and Angela as they arrive. "Happy midnight chummers," he says with a wry smile. He reaches into his jacket and produces a monstrous thing that looks vaguely like a walkie-talkie. He answers the intercom, noting, "Right now we're on standby until we get a go or a no-go. I'm hoping for a no-go, but hope in one hand and drek in the other…" He laughs and then activates the gadget he is holding and says into it, "Bowman here, come in Johnny."
Aesuuma nods to Angela and Bowman with a look of recognition. "How are you both today?" As he speaks, the man loosens his trenchcoat, below which two Smartguns are visible. "Hoping for a no-go indeed."
"No go means less complications, but hope is the first step on the road to disappointment, some say," Angela responds, quite cheerful despite the statement. "I'm quite good, dear, I trust the rest of you are in good shape as well? Granted, I didn't drink at all last night…" she chuckles softly. The chopper gets an appreciative look, though, "Haven't been in the air since coming here… and my last flight on a run was in an Ares… mm… this looks like fun."
The thing Bowman is holding sizzles and squawks and then a voice with a faint Hispanic accent replies, "Tawa here. I wish to drek you wouldn't call me Johnny, Bowman. So far everything is going according to plan. Aircraft in friendly airspace. Will advise on progress."
The back of the RV lowers, and there is a definate whine of a high powered turbine. Soon its a roar, and a troll sized Tbird floats out of the back to settle on the ground. A hatch opens in the front, and the barrel of a Panther assault cannon peeks out. The drone speaks a bit louder now "Do we want fire support or not?"
Bowman says, "Check," into the thing and takes a long drag on his cigarette. He blows the smoke out through his nostrils like a woman in a Bogart movie and then says, to the intercom, "Best to be prepared in case of hostile vehicles. Honestly, chummer, if they've got a tank or a squadron of choppers I'll call us off. The idea is low profile… up to a point, anyway."
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "Channels are in order. Secure?"
Aesuuma grins a bit at the sight of the cannon and looks to Bowman as he speaks. "Let's hope that works out, but be prepared for what … tends to happen."
Commlink-Aesuuma> Aesuuma says, "Check."
Angela's brows lift at the sight of the PAC peeking out of the drone. "Oh my, another one? I don't think I'll ever get away from those bloody things…" she laughs. Clearly the good doctor has a history with Panther assault cannons, one way or another, as she shakes her head.
The thing in Bowman's hand buzzes and crackles a few minutes later. "Aircraft approaching Denver airspace. Will advise when it enters and when clear."
Bowman tosses his cigarette aside and says into the thing, "Check Johnny. Standing by, engines hot, ready on your go but I'll buy you dinner if it's a no go." The big elf laughs without humor at his own comment and then looks over the others. "Nice night for the party, at least."
The drone speaks again. "I'll keep the airsled on standy, if trouble happens, it moves fast enough to get there in a relatively short time."
Bowman says, "Perfect."
"Aircraft in Denver airspace now," the voice crackles from the thing in Bowman's hand. "Moving over Warrens. No problems so far, everything is going according to plan."
With a quick flourish, Aesuuma smothers the last of his cigarettes under his black boot, taps the empty pack, and nods along with Bowman. "It is a nice night, I suppose. Seems it's also going well." And in it his cybereyes match the red lights of the garage—the random purposeless lights one sees everywhere throughout the city.
Bowman mutters, "The most overused words in any language." Into the thing in his hand, however, he says, "Check. Keep the good news coming Johnny."
"Should we mount up, just to be sure? Or keep sitting comfortably here?" Angela asks lightly, watching the nearby skyline. She chuckles softly at Bowman's comment, "…that ranks right up there with 'I have a bad feeling about this', doesn't it dear?"
Bowman shrugs diffidently and notes, "I have a bad feeling about everything but that just means all my surprises are good ones, chica." He flashes a smile and then keeps one eye on the thing in his hand. "I don't think mounting up is too bad an idea." He moves into the chopper as he speaks, saying into the intercom, "Sorry in advance if we end up wasting your time, but you'll be paid for it even if it's all we waste."
A mechanical smoothnessa sort of glidecarries Aesuuma quickly into the chopper, behind Bowman. He finds a seat and settles in to examine his pocsec a moment—exactly what he's doing is uncertain, however.
Out in the darkness over Denver a flash can be seen in the otherwise dark sky. Soon after the flash, the thing in Bowman's hand buzzes and crackles again. "Hostile fire, unknown weapon, fired from location somewhere in the Warrens. Aircraft reports hit not serious and they have cleared the Warrens. No second shot."
The intercom chuckles "Hey, even if I just take you for a little spin, its rare I get to use this bird anyhow. Its worth the time."
Angela follows in last, putting her medical bag on her lap once she's taken her seat. "And here comes the FUBAR, mm?"
Aesuuma sighs slightly as the voice through the device echoes out like tin in the helicopter. "Here we go—I expected this." His tone is flat and rather disappointed, but he seems to smile just a bit after the moment has passed, and his right hand slides down to one of his weapons, setting it in place.
Bowman's face creases into a frown, his mouth disappearing into his facial hair at the news. "Check Johnny. Still standing by for your go-no-go." He nods once to Aesuuma. "I'm thinking you're right."
Another buzzing crackle as the voice over the radio now says, "Fragging overconfident flyboy bastard." This is followed by a more properly professional, "Pilot appears to have underestimated damage. Aircraft having difficulty navigating. Has achieved Sioux airspace but is descending rapidly."
"Better than the Warrens at least, yes?" Angela asks lightly, finding a silver lining in everything. Hopefully. "Looks like we'll be taking a little jaunt after all. I do hope the view of the city is as nice as I think it'll be from above…" she muses aloud.
Aesuuma sighs as the voice comes through. "A cocky pilot? I have never heard of such a thing." He now checks the weapon on his left. His belt secured, he leans his head back and breathes a stream of air toward the arching roof of the bird. "I'm sure it will be charming, until we land."
Bowman rolls his eyes and says into the radio, "Johnny, you owe me a really big favor. This is not what you hired me to handle." He makes a face and looks around the chopper. "Anyone happen to have a decker on speed dial? Our client appears to have forgotten an important possibility."
With a nod, the blonde doc fishes her phone out of her duster. "I did mention I knew one last night at the meet, seems we'll need him after all… I told him there might be something up tonight, let's hope he's free…" she murmurs. "If I can grab him, you want me to pass the phone to you, dear?" she asks Bowman, dialing.
Bowman mutters to himself, "Or maybe just fragging forgot to tell us."
Bowman inclines his head to Angela with a forced smile. "Please," he says in his best 'elven courtly manners', "if you'd be so kind."
Aesuuma nods to Angela. "Good save." Then he turns to Bowman. "A serious oversight on the part of your employer, it sounds." He frowns for several seconds. "No matter. Doctors tend to know good deckers. Similar circles—good samaritans, all of them."
The drone speaks again. "Souix territory, this is not going to be a quick trip folks. I'd like to avoid the FTZ, so we have to go the long way around."
Bowman says into the radio, "Do you hear that Johnny? A serious oversight on your part. Bleeding drek from a trog's arsehole but you owe me! Going radio silent, will report when we land in FRFZ airspace." He clicks the thing off. "I apologize to everyone, it looks like we are fragged." He then says to the drone's intercom, "Omae, you won't get any argument from me. Don't cross any borders at all until I can do something to get you a hole in somebody's radar."
Angela is talking quickly in hushed tones on her phone, looking and sounding hopeful from the way her voice is.
Aesuuma nods along, eyes darting about as usual with intermittent focus on Angela and Bowman and the droid. He checks his pocsec againagain intentlyand readjusts his weapons, folding back his coat to keep them at the ready.
The doctor smiles widely suddenly, and hands the phone off to Bowman. "He needs the what and where, dear, and we're in business. I'll give him half my cut if I have to, unless everyone else is fine with him taking an equal share, this -is- rather vital business…"
The drone speaks again. "Alright, you get me some holes, and I'll fly through them. Its your bodies that will be in their, not mine."
Aesuuma contemplates something for a moment. "We'll make sure the decker gets his due. I'm hoping and predicting that will come from the employer, however, and not our own pockets, as this was not our oversight."
"No need to give him your cut," Bowman says as he takes the phone. "The payoff splits cleaner four ways than three." Here he looks at Aesumma and then says, "If that is good with everyone else? I don't want to cheat anyone out of their share… but there may be no payday at all without the extra help. I'll call the client back and say the job is a no go if you really don't want to do this, but…" He doesn't add the obvious finish.
The drone speaks "Just how much a cut are we looking at? You are aware that if the decker is not up to snuff, I'm risking alot of hardware. I'm not trying to cheat you all, I realize your risking your lives. If this job isnt going to be worth the effort, whats the point?"
"I trust him, as much as you trust me with your lives should you get shot," Angela says sternly, looking between everyone present. "If you can't trust me to pull a bullet out of you without severing a vital artery, then you'd best step out now…"
Bowman says simply, "Since this is my job, I'll dump some of what I'm making into the til and it will be 120k four ways instead of 100. That's thirty a piece if you split it equally." He adds, directly to the intercom, "And I'll hook you up with an Ares Arms Quartermaster you so you can get a clean source of ordinance for your toys."
Aesuuma nods to Bowman. "That sounds fair to me."
The drone responds. "That sounds fair enough, and worth a little trip, hopefully the decker is on his game."
Bowman nods firmly. "Then we're in. I appreciate the support and will remember who is worth calling first." He says into the phone, "I'm not going to use any names chummer, but we've got a situation and I need to talk quick. Is your phone clean?"
Argos nods on his end, but of course they can't see that. "Its clean, so go ahead and tell me what I can do to help." There's a slight ruffling sound as he gathers a few things, just in case they need him there in the meat.
Bowman hehs quietly. "Good. I'd advise you and the angel to dump these phones for new ones after. Just to be safe, never know who is listening to a cell transmission." He pauses, then says, "We need a hole in the Sioux border patrol's radar cover to the northwest. Big enough to fly a chopper through and long enough to fly out again… but we don't want them to know the radar is down. Is that something you can provide?"
Argos frowns as he takes a minute to think about that. "I think I might be able to… just have to have the radar 'ignore' anything coming and going for awhile. Won't be easy, but I think I can pull it off."
Aesuuma's slight pursing of his lips seems a gesture of approval. Replacing his pocsec into his coat, he looks outside at a jet miles away in the distance. "Haven't flown in a while. Extra perk I suppose."
Bowman purses his lips again and then says, "Pull it off and you get paid the same as if you were here with us in the meat."
Argos smiles a bit at that. Finally, a job where he doesn't have to worry about getting there in time, just work from home. "I'll connect via satellite then, should be easier for me to handle things. Will you need me to handle anything else, or just tamper with their radars?"
Bowman laughs without humor. "I don't think we'll need you for more than infil and exfil omae, but stay on call just in case."
Argos nods and takes a seat, pulling out his cyberdeck. "Will do. I'll start working on the Sioux radars now then and keep an eye on things there to make sure no one is getting suspicious."
Angela stays quiet, letting her friend and essentially employer converse for the time being. She does take a moment to check her medkit one last time, the nervous tic sort of way that everyone does regarding their gear when things seem just a bit tense.
Bowman says, "Great. Let us know if the radar situation change, of course. Get to work, tell us when it's down."
«Auto-Judge[]» Argos (#11351) rolls Computers (Decking) + 8 vs TN 2 for "Accessing":
1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 7 = 15 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Argos (#11351) rolls Computers (Decking) + 8 for "'Interrogating' system to find the Sioux Radar slave":
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 8 14 (GM Note: TN was 4, 10 successes)
Argos jacks in, and no one is there to see it, but his body slumps slightly, that dazed zombie look on his face as he 'leaves' his shell and meat behind and enters the wonderous world of the Matrix. His person is, as expected, a man with hundreds of eyes. Getting in was a little more difficult then he's used to, but he gets in and starts his programs to find what he'll need. Hopefully things will go smoother, as while he might not be 'at risk' like the others, it sounded like everything is hinging on this, so he plans on doing all he can.
Mr.Terrific has disconnected.
As Argos pushes into the Sioux grid he finds himself on an open plain. Tipis represent systems and clusters of tipis represent nodes. Herds of buffalo run along the plains in great, dark patches. The buffalo appear unaware of the new arrival. For now. Suddenly, a great burning arrow appears in the sky over the correct tipi.
«Auto-Judge[]» Argos (#11351) rolls Computers (Decking) + 8:
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 10 10 (GM Note: TN was 5, 5 successes)
Argos loves how fast he can move here, as he's practically already at the tipi and enters. A few of his eyes glow as he takes over things, convincing the radar that there isn't about to be anything passing over anytime soon. Of course, he can see things coming and going, but he has the radar just give skies are clear. Back in his meat, he doesn't logoff, just… withdraws a bit to pick up the phone and speak into it. He sounds sluggish and faroff. "Its done." He never did like trying to interact with the Matrix and the real world at the same time, it was always so disorienting.
Bowman says into the intercom, "We've got your hole. Take us in and let's try to get out again fast."
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 1 for "Even we're /really/ lucky, odd and we're not":
3 (GM Note: Random roll to determine whether or not there would be a Sioux unit already en route to the wreck)
Aesuuma smiles, and it takes quite a while to fade. "Pass along our regards to the decker, of course."
In response, the rotors to the chopper start revving up, spinning faster and faster, the side door opens and awaits everyones entry. Apparently he is ready to go.
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence vs TN 4 for "Sensors away!":
1 1 2 2 3 5 9 10 = 3 Successes
It doesnt take long for the chopper to be filled and then lift off into the air. The pilot apparently isnt trusting only to the decker as he tends to fly kinda low and uses larger buildings as cover. He weaves around towards the souix border and the area he was told to hit, moving quickly through and into the Souix nation itself.
Aesuuma holds on to the right edge of his seat as the bird weaves through the taller buildings. "Everyone be alert for this. Have your weapons concealed but ready."
Angela keeps quiet, nodding at Aesuuma's 'order' and slipping her hand into her coat to check her solitary firearm. A little smile comes to her lips, though, seems her friend pulled through for them.
Comm (Baron): Got a crashed vehicle ahead, nothing showing up on sensors at the moment. You want down next to it, or a distance and move in?
Bowman puts the phone down and checks his weapons, making sure everything is ready for action. At the sound of the intercom voice he replies, "I want to get in and out fast, but you said we had the sled if we need it. So put us down as close as looks safe. If anything happens to the chopper we're all fragged anyway."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Roger"
Aesuuma nods and looks to Bowman after he speaks. "Can we contact the downed pilot at all?"
The helicopter moves even lower now that the terrain is more open, and flys in at moderate speeds. Once it gets near the crash site it circles once, then moves to the clearest landing spot to descend and let everyone out.
The airsled is now in the air, a bit behind you, perhaps a kilomter away in case of trouble, running on a drone hold pattern.
Bowman replies, "It's worth a try, but Baron would want to be very careful with any transmissions here. It's his call whether he wants to take the risk. The Sioux might be listening." He points at the radio he has using to contact the client. "That thing is locked in to one radio, the client's. It's extremely well encoded but it's security at the expense of flexibility."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Lets avoid the chatter, you folks can contact him in person if he is alive."
The helicopter touches down and settles on the ground with a slight thud.
Aesuuma considers for a moment. "Right—if Baron lacks a channel with a strong cipher, we might as well wing this." He removes his trenchcoat with a quick shrug, and his hands release his belt before moving instantly to his two weapons, which he lifts out of their carriages into a lowered but ready position. "On your mark, Stormfeather."
Bowman moves to check the door and then exits the chopper, AK at the ready as he moves into position. "Aesuuma, you're guns are designed for closer work than mine so you take point. I've got your back. Doc, you stay behind me. I'd really prefer that /you/ not get killed if we can at all help it."
Angela unstraps herself from her seat, sliding her satchel over her shoulder. "If I take a hit, my medkit's smart enough to patch me up if you've got working hands, dear… but yes, I'd much prefer not to get shot at all…" she says with a chuckle, making light of possible bad things. She slides her pistol from its holster under her coat, and checks the safety. "Into the breach then."
Aesuuma nods to Angela and Bowman in turn and frees a hand to get the door. Just as he moves to it, he takes a quick look out to survey the area.
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Intelligence for "quick look":
1 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 10 11 15 (GM note: Nothing to be seen yet, undirected check, no TN)
The chopper remains where it is, blades still whirling with enough force to get it off the ground quickly.
Commlink-Aesuuma> Aesuuma says, "I have visual of someone or something, far side of our quarry."
Aesuuma slides open the door and immediately moves his free hand back to his weapon, leveling both as he steps out of the chopper quickly, eyes peeled.
Bowman chuckles. "I want you on the comm with Baron at all times too, Dr. Darling," he says to Angels in a playful tone. "That way you can relay anything that needs relaying right away. I trust your medkit just fine but sometimes one needs the brain and not just the hands." He frowns at Aesumma's statement. "Alright folks, try to keep to the brush and use cover whenever you can."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I got a few spotlights on this baby if you want some extra visibility, anyone got infrared?"
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "I do, best not draw much more attention to us than we need."
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Intelligence vs TN 5:
1 2 4 5 5 7 7 16 = 5 Successes
Angela taps her neck, "I'll be sure to stay on call, dear," she says with a playful wink in return. "I'll leapfrog right behind you, lead the way…" she says softly, spending a few moments to scan the wreck. She purses her lips, then frowns, "Well, I've got good news, and I've got bad news…" she says softly. Then she reserves the news for thinking it at her comms.
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "We should move quickly. Three bodies. Bad news is, two are cold… good news, one seems very much alive. Double time it, if I may suggest."
Bowman says, "Not a bad suggestion. Let's hoof."
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Intelligence for "looking as i go":
1 1 1 1 3 3 3 4 5 5 7 17
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Stealth:
1 2 3 3 5 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Stealth:
3 5 7 8
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Stealth:
1 4 7
Aesuuma sets to stepping very quickly and stealthily as he can manage toward the crash site, his two weapons at the ready reaching forward like robotic arms, his eyes scanning the peripheries and straight ahead and all between every few seconds.
Bowman moves behind Aesuuma, trying to stay out of sight while moving as quickly as possible. He keeps his weapon low and his eyes open as he moves. He trusts the point man and is watching the flanks.
«Auto-Judge[]» Mr.Terrific (#7242) rolls Intelligence for "Astral vision.":
1 2 2 2 4 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Mr.Terrific (#7242) rolls Intelligence for "Astral vision. KP1":
2 4 5 5 9 9
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 6 vs TN 5 for "Lookout searching the night…":
2 3 3 4 4 5 = 1 Success (GM note: NPC roll)
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Athletics:
5 5 7 8 13
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 6 vs TN 13:
3 3 4 5 5 9 = 0 Successes (GM Note: NPC Roll)
Aesuuma says, loudly enough for Bowman and Angela to hear, "5 or more lookouts spotted at 100 meters—follow my movement toward the crash." He then moves under the cover of some brush up ahead, making little sound as he does it.
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Athletics vs TN 6:
4 5 5 7 = 1 Success
A ghostly voice thrums behind Angela, "Seven men in fatigues. Tell your rigger, a pack of drones are north by northwest, searching."
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "What the bloody hell…"
"Check," Bowman says sharply and then he himself moves for the wreck, breaking from his position and staying low as he jogs as quickly as he can in that position. He manages to fall prone about twenty meters in front of the wreck and stay out of sight. The he shifts his back to the metal to keep cover.
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "I've got a specter on me… a little bird is telling me that there's seven, not five… and a pack of drones north by northwest. Copy?"
Commlink-Aesuuma> Aesuuma says, "Copy."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "My chopper has no stealth capibility, so you better hurry up, when those drones get in sensor range your going to lose your transport."
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Athletics vs TN 6:
1 3 10 = 1 Success
Angela hustles along back of Bowman, once she gets the 'message' from her ghostly companion. "Thanks kindly," she whispers to the wind.
Bowman calls back to Angela, "Tell him to get the sled ready for a fast pick-up. We may be able to handle the team, friendly or unfriendly, but we'd have to run from the drones. I am halfway inclined to risk making contact to see if we don't have to fight… but I don't want to do it unless everyone is agreed."
Angela drops to a crouch, not too far from Bowman, scanning the horizon. "Anything else you can give us, ghost?" she asks to nobody in particular, maybe. Then she gets on the comm to Baron. "I'd rather not make contact, dear, let's just get in and get out quickly if we can."
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "Get us ready for a fast pick-up, dear. I don't think anyone in BDU's scouring a crash site are up to good things."
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Initiative with a result of 25.
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Initiative with a result of 24.
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Initiative with a result of 18.
«OOC» Bowman says, "Positions: Aesuuma is twenty five meters from crash, in full cover and out of sight. Bowman and Angela are twenty meters from crash site, still unseen, other team is about 45 meters from the crash site in the other direction."
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
2 5 17
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
1 1 3
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
1 9 10
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
3 3 4
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
3 5 11
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
2 3 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3:
1 2 7
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Stealth:
2 4 4 4 5 10
That ghostly voice, quieter now, says, "They have one wizard with them. I will try to protect you from him. The rest are being sped up by magic. They have serious backend resources."
Again, quietly, just behind Angela, "If you see the wizard, he's at twelve o'clock, in the rear. I'm staying low to keep from being seen."
«OOC» Bowman says, "Order of action: Aesumma 25, has just moved. Bowman 24, Wildcat 4: 20, Wildcats 1 and 2: 19, Angela 18, Wildcat 5: 16, Wildcat Shaman: 15, Wildcat 3: 12"
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 6 vs TN 10:
1 4 4 7 11 17 = 2 Successes
Aesuuma moves quietly and quickly toward the crashed bird, rolling up against it and searching for the door.
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Intelligence vs TN 7:
1 1 3 3 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Stealth:
1 3 4 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 6 vs TN 5:
1 1 2 4 4 7 = 1 Success
Bowman moves, keeping cover, along the ground until he closes the rest of the distance to the crash. Unfortunately, while he is able to keep partial cover behind the downed vehicle, he is not able to keep out of sight. He scrambles just a little too far up the side of the wreck in his hurry to cover Aesuuma.
One of the figures sees Bowman move and he shifts to take cover himself. He does not fire yet, following his rules of engagement. As he moves, however, the moonlight puts him in enough light for it to be clear that he is wearing the uniform of a Sioux Wildcat.
His superior waves to the others to take cover as well as he calls out toward the wreck, "We know there are at least two of you out there. If you disarm and put your hands in the air we can talk all this out! If we have to fight this out…" Here his voice trails off.
The man guarding the leader's back takes cover and raises his weapon, aiming it toward Bowman.
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "Careful, there's a mage at twelve o'clock if you can see him… I'm moving in as quick as I can, how's that door look?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Stealth:
4 8 11
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 6 vs TN 11:
1 3 4 4 5 7 = 0 Successes
Commlink-Aesuuma> Aesuuma says, "Looks clear—I've spotted it."
The remaining Wildcats move for cover as well. They are all pointing their weapons toward the wreck now and Bowman is the one in their sights as he is the one who made the mistake that got him spotted.
Angela keeps low as she moves in to the wreck herself, quickly, quietly, keeping her medbag held tightly to her form. "I don't think we've got time for any injury treatment with these guys breathing down our necks, let's get this open, get our friend out, and get the hell out before they decide to start shooting."
«OOC» Bowman says, "And we have Aesuuma, Bowman, Wildcat 4, Wildcats 1 and 2, Angela, and the rest of the Wildcats."
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Intelligence:
2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 14 16 (GM note: Blind TN 4, 8 successes)
«Auto-Judge[]» Aesuuma (#5180) rolls Strength:
3 4 5 10 11 (GM note: TN 7, Player did not note, 2 successes
Aesuuma lets his white Ingram on his right side fall into its carriage as his hand shoots forth and pries the door open enough to get through. He quickly spots a conscious man within, and he calls out to him quickly: "If you can move, come to me now. Muster your strength, doc's on the way, but we have to move—now!"
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Etiquette vs TN 6:
2 3 4 9 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls 3 vs TN 6 for "1 kp, 0 remaining, please let me be a silver tongued devil!":
2 3 4 = 0 Successes
"We're not looking for a fight!" Bowman calls out as he moves further behind the crashed aircraft for better cover. "The t-bird was supposed to be flying into the Ute Nation but was shot down flying over Denver! We're just looking to rescue any survivors and get out of here!"
The first man to act keeps his position, looking toward the squad corporal for orders. The squad corporal looks like he wants to just shoot, but he frowns and purses his lips as if pondering the paperwork involved in an after action report. "How do we know you're telling the truth!?" His wingman keeps position, also waiting for orders.
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Biotech vs TN 5:
1 3 3 4 5 = 1 Success
Angela ducks into the junked craft, nudging her way past Aesuuma in the close quarters of it, and making her way to the injured pilot. "Oh this isn't good, dear… let's just hope you've got more blood on the inside of you than outside…" she looks him over carefully, pursing her lips, then chewing on the lower one as she looks for seat-adjusting controls to make it easier to extract the man with the limited time they've got.
The other Wildcats hold position, not about to shoot while the boss is talking.
Baron is actually not that far away honestly, when the job changed to heading into the Souix he had to change his tactics. A glider with an engine is floating in the air about ten kilomters away, thats safe range for his remote control deck. The fat man is trying not to be too nervous, since he proably will lose the chopper if things go bad. His first instinct is to start blasting with the cannon, but that would probably just end badly.
Baron currently has a bag of potato chips in his lap, and a fizzy coke in his hand, snacking calms his nerves.
Mr.Terrific knows for his part that the only enemy he can affect is the astrally active mage. All of them have enhanced reflexes spells jacked on them by their fellows back at base, and that is serious news - he likely couldn't even take down one of those spells on one of the people. But he's ready, if things go wrong, to try and take over that shaman's mind to turn him against the others.
«Auto-Judge[]» Bowman (#7768) rolls Etiquette vs TN 5:
1 1 5 15 = 2 Successes
Bowman takes the tremendous risk, now, of putting his assault rifle down, unslinging his rifle, and climbing to the top of the wreck where the Wildcats can see him. He draws a deep breath before clambering up with his hands in front of him. They are NOT raised in surrender, just clearly empty so that no violence can be inferred. "Look omaes," the elf says simply, "a fight is bad for everyone. We were hired and sent because there aren't any military ops in Denver. We just want to leave with anyone in there who might still be alive and the bodies of anyone who isn't, along with personal effects for their next of kin. We don't want anything that isn't in the aircraft already."
Once again, everyone waits on the squad corporal. His expression is changing slightly as Bowman talks and he doesn't know precisely what to think of it all. He does know that he doesn't want to have to defend an incident. Finally he says, "We can't really have foreign incursions into our territory. Not even for rescue missions…" A long pause follows. "But we do understand that families want to know what happened to their loved ones. We all have families who would want to know what happened to us. We will have to stay and watch while you work and we will inspect the wreck after you leave."
Aesuuma holds position, a faint breath of relief passing through his lips.
Bowman nods firmly. "That works for us. We will work as quickly as possible and then leave your territory."
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Biotech + 1 vs TN 8 for "+1 Conditions, -1 Savior, -1 Microscopic, -1 Body":
1 4 4 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls Biotech + 1 vs TN 8 for "+1 Conditions, -1 Savior, -1 Microscopic, -1 Body, KP:1/2":
1 2 3 4 4 11 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) rolls 1:
2
«Auto-Judge[]» Angela (#10952) uses 1 of item 2: Savior Supplies from Medical Gear (#9712).
It's a little unsavory, but there's little Angela can do. She drops her medkit on the dead co-pilot's lap, and gets everything opened up and in working order. There's a moment taken to jack into the device, as she adjusts the pilot's seat to give herself better access to him. "Stay with us, dear," she says kindly, calmly, like an angel bringing him home. A blood, dirty, world of pain sort of home, but she's rather sure he's not ready to shuffle off that mortal coil yet. She uses the tools she's got, applying and infusing the nanites and other chems into the man's wounds, continuing to murmur soothing words to him. Skilled hands and advanced medical gear, go 2071!
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "I've got him stabilized, his friends aren't so lucky. He needs a real hospital asap, though."
Aesuuma calls up to Bowman, "She's got the pilot stable but he needs to get to a hospital!"
Bowman climbs back down the wreck and nods to the other man, then moves to help him. On looking inside, he frowns. "Tell Baron to send in the sled," he says to Angela, "we'll take him back fastest that way. One sec while I warn our chummers out there." He calls to the Wildcats, "Chummers, we are bringing a vehicle in to evacuate the sole survivor. The other men are dead. I will get their personal effects and we will leave here as fast as we can!"
Baron has finished his bag of potato chips and is now gnawing on some beef jerky while he mentally works through all his various drones, studying the viewpoints from each ones sensor readouts.
Bowman climbs back down the wreck and nods to the other man, then moves to help him. On looking inside, he frowns. "Tell Baron to come in closer," he says to Angela, "we'll take him back fastest that way. No way we can carry him all the way back. One sec while I warn our chummers out there." He calls to the Wildcats, "Chummers, we are bringing our chopper in to evacuate the sole survivor. The other men are dead. I will get their personal effects and we will leave here as fast as we can!"
Angela spends a few moments double-checking that she's done all she can with what she's got, then secures her gear and makes absolutely sure her gun is holstered. What an oversight that would be. "Help me get him out of here," she calls over to Aesuuma, "You look a lot stronger than me," she chuckles softly.
"The sooner you are gone the sooner we can all say you were never here," the squad corporal says. He does way two men over to watch the process of clearing the bodies out.
Aesuuma and Bowman move to carry the pilot from the wreck and set him somewhere safer and more comfortable to wait for the chopper. "Glad there wasn't any killing," Aesuuma says. "They were just doing their jobs too."
Bowman then carries the first dead body clear of the wreck. That is easy. The hard part is collecting the second "body." The elf forces himself to go about the task, gathering up as much as he can. The torso is mostly intact and he finds the head. That will have to do.
Commlink-Angela> Angela says, "Bring the bird in, dear. LZ is cool, we've got a live one and perhaps one and a half dead, but the sooner we're gone, the sooner these fine men will stop having itchy trigger fingers."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Moving"
The chopper lifts off from its current location and moves in to land as close to the wreck as possible so they can load up and get the frag out of here.
Aesuuma gives the cabin a last search, then nods to the Wildcats.
They nod back.
Bowman, with Aesuuma's help, loads the live pilot into the back seat and straps him in very carefully and firmly. Then he loads the bodies into the cargo hold. While in the cargo hold he removes something from beneath the belt buckle of the not-quite-body and tucks it into his pocket. Then he retrieves his firepower and joins the others in the cabin.
Angela gives a little nod to the Wildcats herself. From her gear and bloodied hands, there's no mistaking her part in all of this. She straps in next to the pilot and keeps her medkit open on her lap, jacked in, to monitor his status. She exhales a sigh of relief, "That was tense…"
Aesuuma says, "Yeah, but it could have been much worse."
The chopper lifts off as soon as everyone is inside, taking its time and heading back out in the same path they came in. His nightglider leads the way, with the airsled providing overwatch.
Bowman picks up the phone and says, "Close the hole once we're back out. Thanks very much for your help."
Mr.Terrific 'dashes' off his own self, satisfied enough with his little personal overwatch mission, such as it was.
Argos has been there the whole time, really! Watching the radar to make sure someone uninvited didn't try and crash the party. Hearing the orders, he delves back fully into the matrix and watches, waiting. Once they're through, he releases the slave and gracefully logs off, coming back fully into his meat. "Well, that was certainly interesting…" Seems the mission was a success at least, as they came back.
"Baron, I'm sure you don't want strangers at your place. Land just outside the Warrens in the FRFZ. I'll notify the client of the pick up. Thanks very much for the ride and the help," Bowman says before he picks the big radio up again and turns it back on. "Johnny, this is Bowman, come in."
Angela nods at Aesuuma, "It could have been, yes… I'm quite thankful it wasn't. I'm also quite glad that it didn't come to violence… this line of work far too often involves exchanging of fire." The doctor seems to relax, sinking into her seat as she takes the phone back from Bowman, and speaks to Argos. "Thanks for the assist, dear," she says warmly, and discreetly makes a tiny kiss-noise before hanging up.
At the buzzing crackle shows that "Johnny" is still out there. "Still alive, are you? What's the news?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "The garage isnt my place, I just secured it for this mission."
Bowman replies, "Good and bad. Only one survivor, the pilot. We've got him, the co-pilot's body, and the passenger's…" Here he trails off and actually takes a moment to compose himself before finishing, "remains. I can give you his personal effects, however." He looks away from the radio and asks Baron, "Safe to have an ambulance pick-up there?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Sure, I'll hide my drone and keep everything out of sight"
Bowman nods. "Alright, but I didn't want to invite strangers without asking." He gives the location of the garage to "Johnny" and says, "Meet us there." Then he turns the radio off and relaxes for the flight home.
The flight back is uneventful and the landing easy. An ambulance is waiting, as is a Chicano wearing what would be a conservative business suit if it were not flamboyantly techno-tribal in color pattern. As the bodies and the survivor are unloaded, Bowman moves to shake the man's hand and hands him whatever it was that he retrieved from the passenger's body.
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