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Rolled 5, 4, 10 = 19

Your world shakes. Wincing, you wrap your hands around the grip of your Bulwark. It cannot save you here.

It only took a few seconds of explanation for Markos to agree to the drop. He was thrilled. Thrilled at the prospect of escaping debt. Thrilled at the clandestine nature of it all. Thrilled to finally drop alongside you.

>[Orbital Interception Missile detonation imminent]

The emotionless synth voice cuts off and your world shakes once more. You can’t tell if the entire pod is shuddering from the force of the explosions, or if it’s just you.

Elda took the NEMP device. Some sort of very carefully designed nuke. Man portable. Light. Capable of completely frying even hardened electronic systems within a 500 meter radius.

You’re glad it wasn’t you.

>[Deploying chaff]

You squeeze your eyes shut and wait. Eventually you feel the rumble once more.

The cruiser Captain made the call to launch your squad in a tight spread. Your stomach dropped when you heard the order. They don’t normally do that. The risk of a mid air collision is low, one in two hundred and sixty three thousand. Still isn’t worth the potential lawsuit from surviving relatives. Not unless the drop site is so hot that deploying the squad outside of the range of each other’s fire support comes across as even more negligent.

You inhale deeply. Another rumble.

“-unconventional means of data elimination and destruction via atomic implementation. Our friends at Steadfast Mutual would like to offer their sincerest gratitude for your aide in this matter, as conventional orbital asset obliteration techniques would have been in violation of QED Inc’s statute on intra-planetary dispute resolution. In the event of capture, Steadfast would like to remind that your Non-Disclosure Agreement does not include a duress release clause, should you be captured. Thank you, and have a nice day.”

Your pod shakes again.

>>31245571
I hope that 19 was enough for ou...chaff effectively roll?

Markos speaks up over the comm channel. You’d like to think that the tremor in his voice is the result of the jostling. “H-hey look at that. All these fireworks, must be new years.”

It wasn’t funny the first time he said it. You laugh again anyway.

A few more seconds. A few more explosions. Then the synthesized voice speaks once more.

>[Drop pods beneath lower atmospheric range of interceptor missiles. Deploying retro rockets.]

You could cry. You almost do as the rockets burn, slowing your descent to survivable speeds. The bone shaking rumble as the pod strikes the ground makes you gasp in pleasant surprise.

Sitting in the pod, ensconced in the impact gel you take a moment to appreciate your survival. Eventually you hear Niels’ voice over the comm channel. “Everyone okay?”

The three other mercs grunt your affirmatives, still too shell shocked to say anything more. Another second, and you reach out and pull on the release handle. The drop pod door blasts off of the pod in a burst of hydraulic gas, disgorging a torrent of orange health and safety violation and one very shaken merc. Stumbling clear of the pod, you find yourself standing in the middle of an office. Three other pods are surrounding you, each with shaken merc standing in front of them.

Niels recovers first. “This will work. My map says there’s a terminal to the backup near by.”

You grunt as the merc bustles off, deeper into the office.

The office is large and full of modular cubicles that provide visual cover at the very least. There are signs that the people who once occupied it evacuating in a hurry. Fallen mugs abandoned jackets lie around the office.

You grunt and follow up behind Niels, walking quickly. Markos follows you. Elda on the other hand marches off in a different direction, towards one of the far walls.

As you walk, Markos opens up a comm channel.

“Seems a bit… quiet. I’m used to things being a lot louder when we arrive.”

>What do you say?
>"Of course it's quiet. They had enough time to try and shoot us out of the sky, they definitely had enough time to get the civvies clear."
>"Yeah. It's weird. Do you think Niels knows what he's doing?"
>"How long do you think till sec forces arrive?"
>"What the fuck is going on?"
>Write In

>>31245949
>"Of course it's quiet. They had enough time to try and shoot us out of the sky, they definitely had enough time to get the civvies clear."

Then
"When do you think sec is gonna come give us the welcome wagon? I hope they bring cake."

>>31245949
>>"Of course it's quiet. They had enough time to try and shoot us out of the sky, they definitely had enough time to get the civvies clear."

>>31245949
>"Yeah. It's weird. Do you think Niels knows what he's doing?"
>"How long do you think till sec forces arrive?"

Sweep the area, keep an eye out for company secrets and important looking shit like files or prototypes

>>31245949
>>"Of course it's quiet. They had enough time to try and shoot us out of the sky, they definitely had enough time to get the civvies clear."

>>31245949
>"How long do you think till sec forces arrive?"

>>31245949
>"Of course it's quiet. They had enough time to try and shoot us out of the sky, they definitely had enough time to get the civvies clear."
>"How long do you think till sec forces arrive?"

So 4 rookies (including one that can barely hold a gun) just dropped on a very challenging mission.

This is not gonna be pretty.

>>31246183
Nope. I'm pretty much writing Niels off.

>>31246183
Nah my moneys on Markos covering us after 1 bad roll for CQC

“Of course it’s quiet. They had enough time to try and shoot us out of the sky. No reasons they wouldn’t get the civvies clear.”

Markos nods slowly. “Yeah. Yeah. Wouldn’t want to deal with all the health claims otherwise, am I right?”

You concur. “Probably not,” then you continue in a lower voice, “Do you think Niels really knows what he’s doing?”

“I dunno,” replies Markos. “Let’s ask him. Hey Niels! You’ve got some fucking clue what we’re supposed to be doing here, right?”

Niels nods. “Absolutely. I just… there it is!”

Niels runs on ahead. There is a large pillar like structure in the middle of the room. The door is open. He ducks into the pillar. You follow him curiously. The door is thick, made of tungsteel. “Must be important.”

“It is,” replies Niels, “This is one of the terminals to the backup system. This will be where I upload the hack.”

Just as he finishes talking, Elda speaks up over the squad channel. “I’m picking up heat signatures on my scope.”

“Shit,” you mutter, “So soon?”

Niels makes a slight whimpering noise. “I’m not even close to uploading the hack…”

Markos chuckles. “Don’t worry little buddy. We’ll cover for you.”

“Well then, you best prepare yourselves,” Elda announces over the comm link. “I think they just entered the room. Seem to be making a beeline for the drop pods.”

The drop pods are clustered together roughly in the east of the office space. There is a maze of cubicle walls between the pillar in the center of the room and the drop pods. Nothing that would stop a bullet or that you can’t smash through, but it does impede visuals. The drop pods and the pillar are the only bullet proof cover in the area.

>What do? Your Plan of Attack themes are:
>[Ambush]
>[Attempt to reach drop pods before they do. Take them as cover.]
>[Attempt a pincer maneuver]
>[Write In]
>>This is a plan of attack situation. 4 actions at most, use the themes to help you figure out what you want to do.
>>Will be available to answer any questions.

>>31246204
>>31246271

Lets look at the bright side of things.

If Niels dies, Tsukino becomes available.

If Markos die...can we loot his armor?

>>31246272
>[Attempt to reach drop pods before they do. Take them as cover.]
How big is the current room anyway?

>>31246294
I would suggest ambush. But we set it up as overlapping fields of fire from Markos, Elda, and us. It could double as a pincer movement if things go south, and we can at least duck behind the cubicles for backstabbing shenanigans.

Rolled 45, 55, 18, 8, 56 = 182

>>31246294


[Pincer ambush]

Use cubicles to stay hidden until we get to position. mark targets with squad for maximum casualties before we open fire
Attack them before they reach the pods so they wont have cover.

>>31246294
So, not much bulletproof cover. Good news for us, since we already have one piece of bulletproof cover (The pillar, right?)

So let's set up an ambush a-la massive explosion chain followed quickly by sweeping bursts of machine gun fire. Elda should be able to catch them while they're scattering pretty well.

Er, so as Actions...

>1 Set up position so we got an eye on them
>2 Open fire and slice through the nonbulletproof cover using Elda as our eyes
>3 Elda opens fire to snipe any that fail to get mowed down by the blast
>4 Ivan and Markos pelt with grenades from afar.

Rolled 96, 53, 37, 87, 79 = 352

>>31246294

how many heat signatures we have

>>31246364
The room is about oh... ffity meters square. The cubicle walls and the like make it seem smaller. The pods are about 15 meters away from the pillar. The sec squad entered about 15 meters away from the pods. These are all as the crow flies. The cubicle maze roughly doubles walking distance.

>>31246415
4

Rolled 58, 63, 74, 47, 66 = 308

>>31246430

how are they advancing?

can Ivan get behind them before they reach the pods?

>>31246465
It would have to be rolled for. sneaking around them before they reach the pods without being detected would be an insanely high DC though.

>>31246430
In that case, I believe that >>31246398 may be a good course of action.

>>31246294
Using the drop pods for cover isn't an option if we can't move them, assuming Niels has to remain at the pillar to upload the hack since security will just fire at him.

However, we can use the pods as bait, so:
1.)Set up a pincer ambush, Ivan on one side, Markos on the other with Elda in position near the pillar with Niels but ready to fire on anything that comes into her field of vision.

2.)If the ambush doesn't kill all of them try to drag the survivors into Elda's range.
2.)

>>31246294
>Get Markos and Elda into position to eliminate much of the cover provided by the drop pods.
>Get into position near the pods, but clear of your squadmates' line of fire
>When Elda confirms that the enemy is near the Pods, throw a frag grenade in the middle of the pods
>Get ready to axe anyone who happens to run by you.

>>31246483

Markos and Ivan get near them leaving just one cubicle wall between the team and them
elda opens shoting probable squad leader\cqc expert of the team
Markus and Ivan use shot as signal spray the wall with AR.
Elda picks survivor if any

>>31246565
I think this is the best course of action here. Its simple. It's effective. not much of a chance to screw up.

Alright, it seems like people want to do some sort of Ambush maneuver.

I think that
>>31246565
and
>>31246398
Are the best compromise.

The action sequence is as follows.

>Get into position
>toss grenade when Elda confirms they are near pods
>Have Elda pick people off, you and Markos wait with CQC and shotgun to fuck up anyone who happens to survive.

Need four rolls of the 3d10.

Rolled 10, 5, 6 = 21

>>31246652

Rolled 6, 3, 8 = 17

>>31246652

>>31246565

I say we shoot them insted of axe them to eliminate one more cover options to them.

call shots and everybody shoots their target at the same time, so hopefully we will have to deal with just one guy running for cover.

Rolled 2, 7, 1 = 10

>>31246652

Rolled 9, 8, 10 = 27

>>31246652
So dead we are.

>DAQ is on

Sleeping is for pussies, anyway.

>>31246730
NOPE

>>31246730
And that is by about 10 points the best roll I've had in a long time in this quest.

Rolled 62

one more for extras

>>31246730
GRIT MODE

Rolled 4, 5, 10 = 19

>>31246736
Go to bed Vaelys.

Rolled 10, 7, 7 = 24

>>31246757

I guess i was still roling for privateer

is fallguy dead?

I've to take the train in 20 minutes, and I trust you people to not screw this up. As a bonus, if you get everyone out alive, I'll paint my new airsoft TM P90 however you guys would like (No dickbutts).

>>31247130
No, but with that 10 rolled about he's probably figuring out if we (or Markus) are wounded and if so how badly.

You glance at Markos. “Okay, we need to hurry, but be quiet about it.”

You quickly relay your plan to Elda and Markos and the three of you scurry into position. Markos is faster and takes place to the southwest of the four drop pods. Elda takes place in the north west corner of the room, eliminating much of the cover that the opposing sec squad could claim. You situate yourself between the drop pods and the pillar, lowering yourself behind a desk in a cubicle. You pull out one of Tran’s frag grenades and bounce it in your hand.

A minute passes before Elda hisses, “They’re at the pods.”

You wank the pin out of the grenade and toss it up into the air. The explosive glints in the fluorescent lighting before disappearing behind the wall of the cubicle. You wait a few seconds.

The office floor shakes as the grenade detonates, and the flimsy wall of your cubicle collapses on top of you, tipped over by the shockwave. Cursing, you push the cubicle wall off of your back and stand up. Your helmet can’t entirely muffle the raucous report of Elda’s Windcutter firing.

Glancing around through the dust and particles of drywall you try to see if you can identify any hostiles through the cloud of debris. Just as you’re about to move back to the pillar to get a better grasp on the situation a figure barrels into you, bowling you over.

You sit up, completely unfazed, and react automatically. The tomahawk twirls through the air, the nanotube filament trailing behind it. You hear a dim thud as the seismic head discharges. The security officer’s back explodes in mist of crimson.

You stand upright and activate the reel, grinning as the tomahawk flies back into your open hand. Glancing around the room, you watch as the dust settles.

Four dead bodies. One with a massive crater where it’s torso was, two collapsed near the drop pods. a fourth with his head blown completely off.

“Hostiles down?”

“Hostiles down,” Elda confirms.

“Alright Elda. You and Markos provide overwatch. I’ll see how our resident hacker is doing.”

You jog over to the pillar and see Niels sitting on the ground near the terminal. A tablet is sitting next him, a long wire between it and the terminal. “Niels,” you grunt, slightly outraged, “What’re you doing just sitting on the ground? Should you be hammering away on that holo keyboard or something?”

Niels shrugs. “I just need to reboot the terminal and double check that the program is working. Shouldn’t be but another fifteen, twenty minutes.”

You grunt in disbelief. You can hardly believe that all of those old Earth movies you watched could have gotten the details of hacking so badly wrong. Shaking your head, you jog back over to Markos and Elda, who seem to have taken up position near the drop pods. The pods seem rather unaffected by the explosion.

“Well,” asks Elda.

“We need to wait. Niels needs to reboot the terminal for whatever reason.”

“Fuck,” grumbles Markos.

“Fuck indeed,” you concur. “Well, I’m pretty sure someone is going to notice that the security team has gone missing.”

“We need to prepare for the next team. They’ll be prepared for us this time.”

>How will you prepare to welcome the next security team into your humble abode?

>>31247295
So glad we bough the tomahawk retrieval unit.

>>31247322
We got any way to set explosives on whatever entrance the security team uses? Any viable choke points that they'll funnel through?

>>31247322
Tripwire grenades.

>>31247322
Would it be possible to set up traps using the monofilament line and grenades?

>>31247322
Markos is augmented too, right? Can Ivan and Markos move the drop pods?

>>31247353
I know right?
>>31247322
If there are any choke points, we should set up a grenade on a pin with the door. we could do it with a plug or such if need be.

>>31247322
What's the layout of the place? Can we move the drop pods to block a doorway or tunnel?

>>31247322
Hm...well, I suppose the 10 went into Niels.

Question:
Do we have proxy grenades?
Can we set grenades to go off remotely?

Anything that lets us basically turn grenades into traps? If not, maybe we can set up some wide open terrain between us and where the enemy will come from. Clear air to blow them apart.

>>31247322
What is around that is still usable as cover? Lets ask what the others got that we can use to set up a trap.

Well, while the cubicles won't block bullets, hopefully they'll deflect thrown grenades. If we assume the security forces are using flashbangs or smokes, and we really should, we can pile the cubicle walls near the entrances to deflect their trajectory.

Rolled 6, 9, 7 = 22

>>31247322
We could try securing the entrances using whatever is left of the cubicles and desks

>>31247322

If there's a way to make a choke point, we should make a choke point.

>>31247422
The drop pods and pillar. A large number of the cubicle walls on the East side of the room have been knocked over. The ones on the west side, barring some massive holes from Elda's gun, are intact.

>>31247408
No proxy grenades

You don't have the ability to set of Grenades to go off remotely.

>>31247404
>>31247399
You and Markos can move the drop pods together

>>31247402
>>31247379
>>31247378
Trip wire grenades would entail a simple tech check.

>>31247490

How about:
>tripwire grenade at foot level
>tripwire grenade at chest level
>drop pod
>ANOTHER trip wire if they try to squeeze through the gaps

>>31247490
How many entrances are there into the room? Could we and Markos working together be able to block off one of the entrances to tunnel security through one entrance?

>>31247490
Trip wire grenades, huh?

K, I say we make the tech check

>>31247490
I know this is incredibly cheesy Hollywood logic, but could Elda set off caches of grenades by shooting them?

>>31247322
Is there anything on any of the dead bodies we can use?

>>31247531
The southern wall is a long window

There are a set of large doors on the eastern side.

To the West, there is a bunch of private offices, bu past them is another long window

There is another set of large doors to the North.

>>31247559
kinda wasteful. We can just start chucking them once they set off a tripwire.

>>31247322
Assuming that they have some bullet-proof capabilities, could we pry the doors off our entry pods and affix them to some of the cubicle walls near us to add to the total amount of cover we have?

>>31247594
I'd like to blockade the large doors with a single pod on its side each and then keep on of the pods near the pillar for cover.

>>31247594
South:
>Tripwire the window
.Drop pod the window

East and North
>trip wire(foot) PAST the door
>trip wire(chest) AT the door (they will probably see it, but spend time disarming it so they can access the door)
>drop pod BEHIND door
>tripwire RIGHT AFTER, or in between drop pod and wall.

West
>Tripwire window
>Tripwire between offices

>>31247594
How long would it take to set up each of the drop pods to cover an entrance? Which of the cover protects from each of the entrances?

>>31247594
We stay the fuck away from the window then. Snipers in 5...4...3...

Alright, so I think anons want to block one entrance off with a drop pod, and booby trap the other entrance with a grenade or two. I assume you guys will adopt nice firing positions and all that good stuff.

The second and third Drop pod will be used as cover against the booby trapped door.

Now comes the important question.

>Do you booby trap the North door, where the cubicles create an excellent environment to ambush, and block the east door?
>Do you booby trap the East door, where the open environment leaves clear lanes of fire, and block the North door?

Also:
>CQC with shield
>Assault rifle behind cover of drop pod
>OMP with shield

And finally, roll for your tech check.

>>31247757
>Do you booby trap the North door, where the cubicles create an excellent environment to ambush, and block the east door?
>CQC with shield

Rolled 10, 8, 9 = 27

>>31247757
>>Do you booby trap the North door, where the cubicles create an excellent environment to ambush, and block the east door?
I'd rather use ambush against them

Rolled 7, 8, 5 = 20

>>31247757
>Booby trap the North door

>CQC with shield

(assuming Elda and markos are covering us)
Also, skill check.

>>31247757
>>Do you booby trap the North door, where the cubicles create an excellent environment to ambush, and block the east door?

Gotta be able to use the tomahawk without exposing ourselves too much.

Rolled 3, 8, 9 = 20

>>31247757
Rollan for those juggly traps!

>>31247807
>27

"we tell our grenades the incoming guards were the ones who killed their father and they're now filed with hate and super effective"

Rolled 2, 9, 8 = 19

>>31247757

>>31247757
So we don't have enough time to do this >>31247669 ?

>Do you booby trap the North door, where the cubicles create an excellent environment to ambush, and block the east door?
>CQC with shield

Rolled 4, 9, 9 = 22

>>31247807

yeah! we booby traped it allright

I say block the north block and position the pods to give us cover and take advantage of the clear lines of fire.....if we can ambush them they sure as hell can hide in the cubicles....they are not stupid

>>31247909
>Do you booby trap the North door, where the cubicles create an excellent environment to ambush, and block the east door?
>CQC with shield
Forgot my choices

>>31247921

and booby trap the blçocked door for good measure too

You nod quickly. “Okay. So my tactical map is telling me that there is just open space to the south and west. There is one set of doors each to the North and East.”

“Last guys came from the East,” Markos replies.

“So that probably means they won’t be coming from there again,” mutters Elda. “Not unless they’re absolute teste di cazzo.”

You grunt and nod. “Yeah, I agree. But doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

You wave Markos over to help you and the two of you drag two of the drop pods out of their little craters and press them up against the East doors. You return and move the third and fourth drop pods into position against the pillar, providing cover from which Elda and Markos can fire.

While the two of them reload and prepare for the attack you walk up to the North doors and set up a pair of grenades near the entrance. The first you artfully hide at chest level next to the door behind a potted plant, the second, you place on the ground a few meters ahead of the entrance. However, your stroke of brilliance is where you’ve placed the trip wire. Both of the grenades are set up to go off on the same trip, located roughly in between the two.

Chuckling to yourself you scurry a safe distance away and behind a few cubicles and pull out your shield and tomahawk. You wait for a few minutes.

The minutes drag on. Just when you think that you all might be those ones about to be trapped, Elda comms in. “Three thermal signatures on North door.”

You nod and swallow, shifting your grip on the tomahawk. A few more seconds pass, and you hear the door fly off of it’s hinges. A half second later the characteristic bang on a flashbag. your helmet nullifies the worst of it.

And that’s when your trap goes off. Twin detonations send yet more cubicle walls tumbling onto the ground. Smirking at your handiwork, you wait for Elda to give the all clear before standing up.

You walk over to the other two squadmates, your palms out and shrugging, immensely pleased with yourself. “You know, considering their reputation, these guys really aren’t al-”

>Roll 3d10

Rolled 7, 2, 8 = 17

>>31248131

Rolled 5, 5, 8 = 18

>>31248131

Rolled 3, 5, 10 = 18

>>31248131
!!

Rolled 9, 9, 2 = 20

>>31248131

Rolled 6, 2, 6 = 14

>>31248131
Bart incoming?

Rolled 7, 4, 8 = 19

>>31248131
Here's where it hits the fan I tells ya!

Rolled 8, 1, 10 = 19

>>31248157
>>31248160
>>31248165

Pretty damn average, but hopefully that is good enough.

I am excite. I wonder if they are going to like rappel through the glass windows or something?

Rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12

>>31248131
ohshit

Rolled 4, 7, 3 = 14

>>31248131

Rolled 1, 9, 1 = 11

>>31248131

>>31248182
I didn't think the ceiling's high enough for one to maneuver in here.

Rolled 3, 4, 5 = 12

>>31248131

Rolled 8, 4, 6, 8, 2, 1 = 29

Alright nicely average rolls.

Rolling for Markos and Elda

>>31248264
Poor Markos or Elda

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1.45 MB GIF

>>31248264
Uggg, that ain't looking good .

>>31248264
Since its the last roll that screws up Elda is totally pinging us in the shoulder. Might need to get a new tat soon.

>>31248299
eh its an 18 and 11, thats not entirely terrible. It just seems elda isn't doing great

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12 KB JPG

Rolled 8, 1, 8 = 17

>>31248323
She is probably still sore from that little hand to hand training with Valkyrie.

Rolled 5, 4, 6 = 15

>>31248323
>>31248322

we are totaly getting friendly fired by Elda.

good thing we brought Markus

>>31248376
if an 11 results in a friendly fire situation I'll be really surprised. I think youd have to roll less than that for that to happen.

The tinkling of glass is never a good sound. Your most prominent memory of that noise involved you, a backwards dinosaur mask, a toy truck, and your great grandmother’s set of wine glasses. It was the last time you ever got to be “Ragawr, the City Stomper”.

The childhood trauma kicks you into high gear, and on instinct you dive behind the overturned drop pods. Markos evidently had a similar experience and moves at almost the same time you do.

Elda, on the other hand, reacts a tenth of a second slower than the pair of you. She crashes to the ground next to the pair of you, her right thigh colored a deep red. “Merda, mi hanno colpito!”

Markos gets to work immediately, dragging Elda back into the room where Niels is still hacking the terminal or whatever. As you lay on your ass, back pressed up against the drop pod, the officers open fire. Bullets clink against the steel of the drop pods, impotent against the thick metal. You can feel the vibrations as each one strikes.

You’d love to get a look at their numbers and composition, but there’s no way you’re sticking your head up with that amount of firepower directed your way. Silently wishing you had some sort of device that could launch miniature cameras or something, you consider your options. And your frag grenades, of which you only have one.

>Plan of Attack

We do have the cannonball shot for the pirate gun though. right?

>>31248698

any more 'nades? should disperse them enough to give us a window... even if we don't we can always throw something grenade shaped so they react as if it were a grenade...

>>31248755
Yeah, but we need to hold the line for quite a bit, can't start using all our stuff right now.

Rolled 3, 7, 6 = 16

>>31248698
>>Plan of Attack
Pepper grenades or flashbangs.

Did the previously slain officers wore helmet that protected their head against either of these?

>>31248698
>Silently wishing you had some sort of device that could launch miniature cameras or something

Just rubbing it in are we?


Have Marcos try and give a bit of suppresing fire, load a sunburn shell, fire it at the ceiling above the enemy. When they are blind, go to work with revolver.

>>31248698
Blind toss a flashbang over cover towards security and then pelt the bunch of them with a thermobaric shell from the pirate gun.

>>31248698
>Silently wishing you had some sort of device that could launch miniature cameras or something
I TOLD YOU BASTARDS. I TOLD YOU WE NEEDED THAT BITCHING GAUNTLET

>>31248698
throw a flashbang followed by a pepper grenade, then reposition behind cover and get a look at them and prepare to fire back with out OMPs/AK-94

>>31248805
this, but with OMP instead.

>>31248805
>sunburn shell
we don't have any, what we do have for hte pirate gun:

>4x Cannonballs- High Explosive
>2x Greek Fire- Thermobaric explosive
>3x Grapeshot- Flechette Canister
>2x Elmo's Fire- EMP grenade
>2x Smoke- smoke grenade
>2x GROG- knock-out gas grenade

>>31248698
[x]Flashbang
[x]Pop off the a cannonball
[x]Open fire with OMP

Since these guys are better armored I doubt they wear exposed helmets, thus pepper may not work at all.

>>31248829
Seconding

>>31248817
>>31248834
are good, flash then cannonball and return fire

>>31248829
>>31248855
umm, you do realise we don't have sunburn grenades right? refer to >>31248834

>>31248834
Ah fuck. Sub it with a greekfire. Should be enough to knock them off their feet even without proper aiming.

>>31248874
woops, missed the post I meant to quote, meant to quote >>31248841

So I think the general consensus is:

>Toss flashbang
>Fire HE grenade from pirate gun
>Using your shield as an extended cover attempt to assess and engage the enemy
>Engage with OMP

Taking rolls of 3d10

Rolled 8, 8, 1 = 17

>>31248958

Rolled 8, 10, 2 = 20

>>31248958

Rolled 4, 7, 9 = 20

>>31248958
This...is going to hurt...

Rolled 6, 9, 8 = 23

>>31248958

Rolled 2, 3, 3 = 8

>>31248958

Rolled 7, 2, 1 = 10

>>31248958

Rolled 8, 4, 10 = 22

>>31248958

Rolled 7, 8, 2 = 17

>>31248958
rolling

>>31248998
Oh damn.

Rolled 8, 1, 4 = 13

>>31248958

Lets hope those first 4 rolls were the most important.

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Rolled 1, 1, 2 = 4

>>31248998
>>31249002

>>31249149
THATS NOT HELPING.

>>31249149
thank god it's not linked

>>31249149
Solo glad you rolled way too late for that to have made a difference. Good on you for clearing that out of the system before the next roll call.

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>>31249149
>That roll

Rolled 4, 7, 10 = 21

I'm just going to say it's a damn good thing I roll for other characters instead of using left over players rolls.

Doing a story roll

>>31249228
Since you don't roll for enemies usually...I assume this is good.

>>31249228
Phew?

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>>31249149

Wincing as more bullets bounce against the side of the drop pods, you pull the pin on a flashbang and send it over the side of the cover. A half second later and there’s the flash, as expected. Moving quickly you pull out your pirate gun, preloaded with a cannonball and fire it. The grenade follows a shallow arc before detonating with a solid thudding sound. The gunfire peters out rather rapidly. Satisfied that it is now safe to stick your torso out into the open, you raise your shield and take over behind it, glancing around the edge. One of the security officers is quite dead. Seems like the cannonball hit him right in the chest. Glancing around, you notice one of the security officers on the ground, reaching out for a rhino LMG. A burst from your OMP puts those ambitions to rest. Glancing around a few more times you lower your shield and OMP. “I think we’re clear,” you shout, turning around to face a third security officer with a shotgun. The shotgun is pointed directly at your torso.

“Aw fu-”

CRACK

Your eyes squeeze shut involuntarily. You stand in place for a second, waiting for the pain to register. Eventually you realize that even if you went into shock, the blast would have still knocked you over, and you’re still standing. Opening your eyes you look around. The security officer is lying on the ground. There isn’t any blood pooling around him, but you feel pretty confident calling him quite dead.

You turn around. Niels is standing rooted in place, his M24 pointed shakily in the general direction of the security officer.

>Congratulate Niels or something

Rolled 1, 5, 4 = 10

>>31249437
"Niels, I am so buying you all the drinks you can handle before Tsukino whisks you away to ravish you for your awesome work."

>>31249437
"Fucken a Niels! Thatks for the save! Beers are on me when we get back to the Brick!"

Then check on elda.

>>31249437

"Looks like our resident sniper might have some compatition now! Good Job there Neils, and I owe you at least one drink... probably more as I do cherish staying alive..."

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Rolled 2, 6, 4 = 12

>>31249437
Congratulation Niels, you are now officially a merc.

Also, drinks are on me.

How did that fucker get behind me anyway?

>>31249437
>Congratulate Niels
"Hah! Not even you can say your a bad shot now thanks for saving me."

>>31249437
"What goes around, come's around, huh?"

Rolled 53

>>31249528
seconding

Rolled 10, 10, 7 = 27

>>31249488

that is so Ivan
lewd and drink invitations

>>31249437
"Niels, if you don't start moving soon I'm going to come over and kiss you. Unles that would hurt your motivation to keep saving my ass. Either way, I owe you a drink."

writing

>>31249551

>>31249551
My second 27 tonight. both not linked to an action....goddammit. I bet if I roll an action today it will be a compleate failure

Rolled 2, 1, 10 = 13

>>31249688
Both of the other 27 were linked to an action. Which roll are you refering to?

>>31249830
He must have done the tech roll since I put our tomahawk in the back of that dude that barreled into us.

>>31249830

OH my bad, it was a 24 >>31246781

You lean back and hook your thumbs into your tactical rig. "Niels. I am so buying you all the drinks you can handle before Tsukino whisks you away to ravish you for your awesome work."

Niels begins to stutter for a completely different reason than he was at first. “I-I-I That’s… No- I mean- she wouldn’t- no- ah.”

Roaring with laughter, you clap Niels on the back “Looks like we’ve got a potential backup on hand for our resident sniper!”

Your mirth vanishes in an instant. “But seriously Markos, how’s Elda holding up?”

Before Markos has a chance to respond, Elda’s voice snaps over the com channel. “Not dead yet. Certino…”

You shrug as Markos helps Elda to her feet. The wound is filled with some synth-flesh, a good stopgap measure but not a permanent solution. Elda winces, but manages to stand on her own. After walking around a bit, the synth-flesh sets and she regains something close to full ambulation. “Alright Elda,” says Markos, uncharacteristically serious, “there’s a few things you’re going to have to keep in mind if you want to heal up as quickly as possible.”

You tune Markos out as he begins to lecture Elda about safe wound care and at home physical therapies she can do to speed the healing process. The four of you file out into the hall, guns at the ready. Niels has managed to upload the hack into the backup of the stock exchange, but you still need to necessitate the uploading of said backup. To do that you need to go to the main server room and plant the NEMP.

You walk up next to Elda, who seems to be fine despite her recent injury. Apparently Markos’ ministrations are as efficacious as he claims.

>Do you offer to take the NEMP from Elda?
>Yes
>No
>Feel free to write in some dialogue

>>31250010
>Yes

"That thing isn't going to, you know, explode if it gets hit right? Right?"

>>31250010
>Yes

>>31250010
"Can you still run?" Eye the NEMP

>>31250010

Just offer your hand to her without saying a word. She will know

We serious Ivan now that shit needs to be done

Rolled 9, 9, 6 = 24

>>31250010
>>Yes
If only because right now we probably have better mobility than Elda.
Lets refrain from too much idle chatter, we are in the middle of an enemy base full of security officers that could jump us at any minute.

>>31250010
"You still up for holding on to that bad boy?'

>>31250131
CLEAR YOUR EMAIL FIELD

WE COULD HAVE USED THAT DAMNIT

Rolled 1, 3, 1 = 5

>>31250165
Nope

>>31250010

Yes.

We have a SHIELD.

>>31250131
>>31250175

Bypolar dice

>>31250182
I'd rather we were a HULK.

Since I'm suffering from a touch of tiredness, here's something to entertain you guys while I write. Where do you see Ivan in fifty years?

>>31250518
Guessing from our shit rolls, dead.

>>31250518
Lord High Embassader to the Fruit Martian Collective.

>>31250518

Snorting tiger blood. And Winning.

Rolled 1, 7, 2 = 10

>>31250518
On a tropical resort, drinking cocktail with his true love, the showerhead.

>>31250518
either still going as a merc like he is right now or taking a full time job at the armoury maybe with a kid or two

>>31250518
married to Elda with grandkids

I will fight all of you

More seriously: I can honestly see Ivan as the next Darius or something, just an elite merc with lots of sweet toys and upgrades, living the merc life. Though what Ivan and his ilk will do if the market for mercs bottoms out...

>>31250518
1. Dead
2. One of the top Mercs in StrikeOut with a full CQC overhaul. In this future we are the new "Frazier'd" banging anything that gets our attention.
3. Retired with whatever waifu option wins at the end of the quest. Probably running a bar or gym with no homoerotic showers.

There are more options but I think those are the most likely

Theres more

>>31250540
Yeah, I'd guess dead as well actually. With the amount of kinda stupid risks we take (combined with the generally schizophrenic dice rolls), I don't see us making it 10 years, let alone 50.

Still, live hard die young. There are worse ways to go.

>>31250591
>implying Ivan will ever be free of the Homolust shower

anon pls

>>31250613
If he was smarter then he is now, he might try to weaponize the erotishower.

>>31250518

Running his own merc idol show where he makes frequent appearances. A bit like Vince McMahon from the old WWF days.

>>31250518
Dead or adventuring/exploring further from Human space with a pear alien and few mercs we know

>>31250670
I do believe you underestimate the depths of the erotishowers cunning.

The erotishower will weaponize Ivan.

>>31250671
I like this. Act as the principal or Big Bad who rarely does things himself because it's too easy/boring, or is busy with pear aliens

>>31250671
I can't not think of that gif/video where he whips off the mask and is all "It's me, Austin!" and you then there's a sudden "Sonuvabitch!"

>>31250671
Seconded

Well, seems like a depressing proportion of you seem to think Ivan's gonna end up dead before he hits seventy something. Such a pity, to die so young.

Since I'm still trapped in writer's limbo, what do you think of the new approach to combat thus far?

>>31250879
Feels a lot more tactical.

>>31250518
I see him becoming a well known Combat Idol trainer after his first 3 students learn "The Way of the Grit" return and take the media by storm.

>>31250879
I think that speaks to the merc mortality curve. If we survive the next thirty years, I think most of us believe Ivan will end up immortal.

I for one see Ivan and Val traumatizing the hell out of veteran Merc Idols while vacationing together at some massive mashup/tournament of champions.

>>31250879
Heh. I am cool with ending on a cliff hanger if you're that pressed bro.

And I think Ivan will make it to his 70s thank you.

Also, cool combat.

Alright, fair warning guys. I'm not sure I can keep running for today past this update. I'm pretty badly fried. So one last update, and I stop for today.

I've noticed that I've gotten very slow this week, and I'd like to apologize. The has been a very busy time for me, but things should be letting up this next week and we'll be back at full speed.

So. One more update before I do Q&A or something.

>>31250940
The Way of the Grit- Don't Think Rip and Tear.

>>31250879
Fall Guy, will we ever have Ivan using Grit mode while seducing someone?

>>31250879
It's really a live or die sort of thing: If he survives long enough to git gud and git lasers, there will be very few reasons to risk his life ever again, aside from other mercs who want to make a name for themselves.

It's a good combat system: crunchy, without giving us numbers that would tempt us to minmax or use horribly misunderstood math.

>>31251030
Of course

The Gym Shower

>>31251030

We did it with Val

>>31251017
Fall, we all have bad days and busy weeks, don't worry about it. Today might have been a little slow, but the quality has still been top notch. so thanks for toughing it out and don't worry so much. We aren't going anywhere.

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>>31251030

>>31251030
Remember the first two times we seduced Val?

>>31251119
I think you might have the wrong impression about who seduced who here.

>>31251017
>I'd like to apologize
No need. Just give us another shower scene next time. One we can't escape.

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“Hey Elda,” you say, eyeing the NEMP at her hip, “you think you can still run?”

Elda follows the presumed gaze of your helmet and looks down at the NEMP. “What? Yes probably. Perché?”

“Idle concern I suppose.”

Elda merely shrugs. “I would not worry if I were you. I’m more comfortable with the idea that I have the NEMP than you do.”

“Oh really,” you say, “Why’s that?”

“I’m not the one who decided that running into enemy fire with a shield was a good idea.”

You can’t really argue with that point. The squad walks on, towards the server farm.

And continues to walk.

After nearly a quarter hour of walking without incident Markos speaks up. “So. Where is everybody? Aren’t there supposed to be more jackbooted secfors trying to wreck our shit?”

You shrug, keeping your Omp at the ready even as you do so. “Who knows? Let’s just be grateful.”

Eventually the four of you reach the end of the hallway. You are standing in front of a large window. The four of you look down through it, at a large flat building that takes up much of the landscape ahead of you. “Is that?” breathes Niels.

Markos nods. “Yup. The server farm.”
“Seems like we’re a bit… high,” mumbles Niels.

“No,” you say waving your hand. “That’s good. Elda, take a look through your scope, can you see what’s in the building?”

Elda silently pulls the scope off of her sniper rifle and removes her helmet. She presses the scope against her eye like an ancient telescope. “Well,” asks Markos, “What do you see?”

Elda doesn’t respond for a few moments. Then her hand slides down to her side, the scope dangling loosely from her fingers. “Merda…”

“What, what is it?” you ask nervously. You take the scope from Elda and gaze through it, scanning the area.

“Oh my fuck.”

They have a MAHWM.

>>31251234
We are going to need bigger guns.

>>31251030
I think I've already had a scene on the Brick where Ivan went Grit Mode with Val.

However, I'm not really sure if that counts as seduction. I guess we'll have to see.

>>31251234
They have a fucking GUNDAM? Hehehe!

Think we can climb that fucker and hijack it? This is going to be awesome!

Rolled 7, 7, 9 = 23

>>31251234
Bah, nothing a couple hundred blows with the axe can't take down.

>>31251277
It got her to remember our name. That probably counts as successful seduction as far as Val goes.

>>31251287
If I had rolled a 30 on the first story post your drop pod would have been deflected by a missile detonation and you would've landed in the middle of a Mech Bay.

The MAHWM would have been available for you to pilot.

>>31251277
Uh...so what's a MAHWM?

>>31251277
>I'm not really sure if that counts as seduction
I suppose it could, but I was just thinking of Ivan using Grit mode to be super suave. That brought me to seduction.

>>31251314
Mechanized Androform Heavy Weapons Mainframe.

I like acronyms.

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>>31251311

You're a pretty cool guy, fall.

>>31251311
How vulnerable is that thing to EMP grenades?

>>31251287
>GUNDAM
That's not a Gundam.
>>31251314
Look at the picture.

>>31251332
Ooooh, I see. I see. cool.

...

So...it's a Artillery cannon?

>>31251347
I will guess between not at all and not very.

>>31251355
Oooh. My bad. I see it now.

Well, I am gonna assume that's worse then a BART by a few leagues.

>>31251311
Wow. That's insane. Ivan's never gonna roll a 30.

>>31251234
Right then. Throwing the axe might take out the gun turret, but we've got no way to take anything else out.
Elda might be able to take out those cylinder things on the shoulders if they're weapons.

Can we use the NEMP here and work something else out for the server?

>>31251355
It is a big ass mech. Would you prefer if I used the term mobile suit?

>>31251366
Well, we don't actually have to kill it, right? I mean, we're basically carrying an EMP nuke. We just gotta stealth in, plant it, and book it.

I kinda wish we brought Tsukino

>>31251398
I kinda wish we had gotten Melville's Shortcut. It would be just like my Chinese cartoons.

>>31251234
Look at image thumbnail that's not so bad, look at bottom right; Shit.

>>31251356
It's basically a upsized BART. Think something along the lines of a 40k dreadnought. The arms terminate in heavy weaponry.

>>31251366
>>31251347
You might need something a bit more powerful than your standard EMP blast to take MAHWM out.

>>31251386
I was actually going to make call it MAHWMS, with Mainframe being replaced by Mobile Suit, but the plural thing didn't really work.

>>31251418
What's at the bottom right?

>>31251415
Yeah, all the handy gear we didn't pick up would've been real useful on this mission.

I hope we live to regret it.

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>>31251311
>Ivan get a mech.
Pic very related.

>>31251425
how the figure scales to a human

>>31251425
The human scale image. Just glancing at the robot I thought it was man sized.

>>31251444
>>31251457

Oh shit, I missed that.

Yeah, no, MAHWM isn't quite that big. Think something more along the lines of 15 feet tall.

>>31251425
Right...so...I am with that one anon. We're carrying a EMP nuke. We should just do that.

I mean really, we're not equipped to fight that thing.

>>31251463
Oh. That is slightly less bad then. We can do it guys!

>>31251438
Chicks dig giant robots.

>>31251463
What's our Greek Fire grenade filled with, by the way? Is it sticky enough that we can fire one at the cockpit of the walker and cook the pilot inside?

Rolled 2, 9, 9 = 20

Guys, it's simple.

We find their armory.

If they have giant mechs on board, they probably also have weapons capable of taking one down somewhere, in case something go wrong.

Like enemies taking it over.

>>31251463
Question. Assuming we get a payday out of this and the RNG doesn't mangle us, how long would it take for Ivan to train to proficiency on the Melville's s Shortcut?

>>31251234
Not to nitpick, but scopes have to be dialed in after installing, which often involves lots of shoot, adjust, shoot, adjust, etc. hand-wave it as future tech?

>>31251234
>MAHWM
I can't not call it 'Mom'.

>>31251515
I think in an earlier thread it was noted as a smart scope.

>>31251505
Smart. I like it. A few shoulder fired missiles should show it whats what. Assuming it doesn't have some kind of active counter measures.

>>31251520
That is new official sang. Also, glad I wasn't the only one thinking it.

>>31251500
The Greek Fire grenade is a bit of a misnomer.

It's actually a thermobaric explosive. Uses oxygen in the air to fuel the explosion, instead of built in chemicals. Basically thermobaric weaponry doesn't have as powerful a shock wave as normal high explosives, but are good for anti-infantry work. You should google it, since I'm a little too tired to explain thermobarics clearly right now.

>>31251512
By default you are proficient with wrist mounted weapons. It's because pointing your arm in a direction is more natural than pointing a gun or rifle in that direction.

>>31251515
FUTURE TECH

>>31251520
>>31251536
That's what I was going for with the name.

>>31251505

This may be a good strategy.

We probably don't want to leave the other rookies to fend off this fucking thing alone, though.

It may be best for Ivan to get some heavy weapons from the Armory and start blowing shit up at random far from the actual target; Mom follows us and the other rookies plant the EMP and book it. We also run once the EMP is planted.

>>31251383
>>31251342
>>31251438

On the other hand, a nat 3 would have resulted in one of the three NPCs getting killed by a missile.

It was a risk.

>>31251656
Comon now Fall Guy.
We both know that would've been bullshit.

Having all three get shot down, and landing them at opposite ends of the facility, wounded, and surrounded by foes would've been WAY more exciting.

Or Ivan just landing face first on the 'Mom's cockpit.

Don't forget to archive before you conk out FG. G'night to the lot of you while I'm at it. Some shut-eye sounds good about now.

>>31251690
You must be prepared for the vagaries of fate anon.

There is plot armor, but don't doubt my willingness to off an NPC.

To be honest, I probably would've pussied out if there was a nat 3

>>31251698
Thanks for the reminder anon

>>31251656
Hey, FG, something I forgot to ask last time when the SMGs were discussed. Is our OMP a pistol-type or carbine-type SMG, and what would be an example in game of the other type?

>>31251734
RIP Dreads, we hardly knew ye

>>31251734
Oh no, I believe you'd kill our friends man.

But still. Doing both due to a nat 3 is just mean. Dice aren't our fault, after all.

I have faith in you to make good calls anyway.

>>31251748
The OMP has the power of future kraut space magic which gives it adaptive chambering. Basically, it's both.

>>31251758
I miss him too, anon.

>>31251775
True enough. The only reason I'm even remotely comfortable contemplating such a risk is the fact that a nat 3 is so unlikely.

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>>31251799
When will they stop?

>>31251799
I hope we at least get our first nat 30 before we do our second nat 3.

>>31251826
Lord knows anon.

>>31251851
I am looking forward to both. Figuring out how to properly reward a nat 30 will be a difficult and exciting proposition to say the least.

>>31251881
How many of Tran's grenades do we have left? Could we rig the rest of our high explosives into a satchel charge?

>>31251898
you have one thrown frag grenade left,

And you have 3 cannonball (high explosive) pirate gun grenades left

>>31251931
Just gonna take a wild guess
Momma is well suited to taking blasts to the face.

Do they suffer the same weakness BART's do, with the wiring behind their legs?

>>31251949
They're much larger than BARTs, and as such can have armor plating on the backs of their legs without impeding mobility overmuch.

There are still areas where the armor is a lot thinner.

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>>31251799
>which gives it adaptive chambering
The possibilities of an adjustable chamber (and implied barrel)! Find some random ammo sitting around? Now you can use it! someone wearing armor? Just switch to mags with larger ammo!

>>31251949

I'm thinking that we can use the cannonballs to blast at the Mom at the knees from the backside. Damaging the joints would let us clamber onto the damn thing and start hacking away at it with our axe.

>>31251969
Yeah, that's what I thought.

This is one of those "Get around, don't fight through" Bosses, I think. I mean, if Dreads was above our level, it seems logical this is too. We ain't Raiden after all, we can't kill Metal Gears with a single swing.

>>31251993
Searching for man-sized air vents is a go.

>>31251993

Let's agree to disagree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS7oUMgRq4k

>>31251463
>15 feet tall
That's MUCH easier to work with.
Markos deals with infantry, maybe hand him the greek fire pirate gun
Elda takes out the smaller guns
We blow up the missile loadouts with the throwing axe

>>31252265
Wait a sec. We don't even have to engage this thing straight-up. Niel's is the hackmaster, right? Even if he can't lock up the mech's weapons/servos or force its power source to overload or anything, he can at least flood everybody on the local network with a thousand popups or pump a few hundred decibels of rock music to distract them and buy us some time.

>>31252605
>overload speakers with loud rock music
>mech pilot is deafened and enraged
>starts romping around destroying things with music still blasting

>>31252605
We haven't really seen the range and speed of Niel's hacking, and you can bet that the mechs are isolated from the network.

It'll be a race between exploiting the mech's comms and them realizing and shutting down the link. Even then, we have no idea what Niel can actually do to the mech. Opening the cockpit would be a nice, simple command, but using overiding safety measures might be harder than we think.

Show us your stuff Fall Guy Niel. Is hacking a force to be reckoned with in tactical combat?

>>31252647

Wouldn't a better plan be to try to find a ride we can use within their system?
Find the armory, find the motorpool, and get us a gunship or a tank.

We're gonna need a way off the planet, and a ride for the extraction's not a bad idea.

>>31252647

Also, don't forget: Ivan's a hacker two. Sure, niels is a more experienced one, but tag-teaming the infosearch and probing is a good thing

>>31252697
So we've got:
>Hack the Mech to distract/disable it and take it down
>Use the NEMP on the Mech and hack the Armory for something else to use on the server.
>Sneak into the Armory, use the stuff there to take out the mech.

>>31252735

Actually, we should hit up the sewers.

the mechs' huge. Its weakness is getting indoors.

If we're able to get inside the building without engaging the mech at all, then we're golden.

Its likely the corpo-nation has an underground parking lot, and/or commuter rail system for their cyber-wall-street stock bankers. Finding a way to target that's less guarded and lets us get around the heavy firepower is excellent and worth exploring

>>31252647
Even if Niel can't directly hack the walker, he can still help out, even if it is just by dropping a blast door on top of the mech or something.

>>31252782
The mech isn't actually all that huge, "only" being 15 feet tall. Considerable, but not too large to fit if they had ceilings higher than normal.

>>31252819

>>31252038
This guy has the right idea, but wrong application. Its likely powered by turbines, which means finding intakes and applying Foreign Object Damage is likely a way to bring it down