Contract #6: For Whom The Bell Tolls: Part I

[GM Nick]

[ Alpha Team ]

Just as Max gathers the will to pass through the exposed stretch of asphalt to the hotel, a nearby sound causes him to sink back on his haunches.

A Legion squad materializes from the Eastern side of the intersection. They begin to move towards the hotel in a tight, phalanx formation. The Rifleman cover their point and flank with weapons ready, while the hermetic and adept stride in the center.

Perception (3) Test (Max)

[Perception (4) + INT (5) = 3]
3 6 5 6 2 2 1 1 3

The elf strains to hear the voices of the enemy.

"The snipers are in position. They report no signs of activity in the lobby--let's move in and grab the Prince."

"Roger. Stay frosty."

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Adams ducks behind the strewn wreckage of the evacuation, placing a bullet ridden Citymaster between himself and the tank. He turns to Haywire.

"I think we're going to need your heavy artillery on this one," he says, strapping the now empty Arbelast tube to the outside of his pack. He checks his rifle to verify that it has the proper Anti-Vehicle ammunition queued up in the magazine.

"This is going to be tougher than the others."

[Elliott]

[Alpha Team]

<"Let's take the squad once they get inside the building so their snipers don't have a shot. Can you guys make it across the square unseen? Alternatively, I can go sniper hunting...">

Tyros switches to astral vision and carefully scans the perimeter of the square looking for the telltail auras of the Legion snipers.

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

Haywire dashes along the sidewalk, moving to flank the rumbling death machine.

[ Doc = 51 ]
[ Sinjin = 46 ]
[ SK-Scorpion = 32 ]
[ Haywire = 26 ]

[GM Nick]

[ Alpha Team ]

Perception Test (Tyros)

[Defaulting (-1) + INT (5) = 2]
6 1 5 2

Tyros squints at the golden-hued world of the astral plane. If there are any snipers, they're fortified behind too much organic material for the troll to see.

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Adams lets out a snarl as the 60 ton metal fortress bears down on the small, fleshy team. He zeros in on what he hopes is a weak spot: a seam along the armor plates. Feet firmly planted, he opens fire.

(( Called shot, +4DV, narrow burst, AV ammo (-6 AP) ))

[John]

[ Alpha Team ]

Max nods sharply at Tyros and peeks up at the rooftops, hoping to catch a glimpse of something. The sky is a washed-out color that the elf imagines can only hang over demilitarized zones, the rooflines shabby and poor against it.

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

The battle rifle's report echoes like the lid of a stone sarcophagus slamming shut.

Ranged Combat (Doc)

[Battle Rifles (8) + AGI (9) + RR (1) + Smartlink (2) = 8]
6 2 5 2 2 5 1 2 5 2 4 6 4 2 5 5 3 1 4 6
[Pilot Ground Craft (5) + REA (7) + Handling (-1) = 5]
2 2 6 3 1 6 5 6 6 1 2

Damage Resistance

[BOD (15) + Armor (15) + AP (-6) = 13]
2 6 6 5 1 5 1 2 5 3 6 5 2 5 5 3 3 6 4 6 5 2 2 6

{{ 3P DAMAGE! }}

The AV slugs slam into the vehicle, but appear to have minor effect.

[GM Nick]

[ Alpha Team ]

Perception Test (Max)

[Perception (4) + INT (5) = 5]
5 2 5 5 3 4 5 2 5

The elf squints his eyes as they strain to pick out any tell-tale signs of enemy guns. After nearly a minute of staring at the surrounding buildings, he spots the glare from a gun barrel protruding from the edge of a boarded up window.

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Doc looks on with disappointment at the minor scars left by his volley.

This is going to be harder than I thought. Let's see how they fight blind.

He raises his aim up to the cluster of sensors poking out from the turret, just at the base of the cannon, and fires.

(( Called shot: destroy sensors. I'll use a point of edge for four extra dice on this. ))

[Elliott]

[ Alpha Team ]

Following Max's eyes, Tyros makes out the over watching sniper.

"I'll take care of the sniper, head for the building on my signal"

Lifting gently off the ground from their hiding place, Tyros flies in a circuitous route towards the sniper, keeping as much between him and the legion squad in the square as possible. Approaching the sniper, Tyros readies his blade, lifting it in two great paws as he prepares to bring its doom down on the unwitting Legion marksman.

[John]

[ Alpha Team ]

Max feels the air stir as Tyros skirts off to do who-knows-what-exactly. Max can't help but frown slightly-- he won't be shooting a sniper in the eyes through the scope of his rifle from great distance with a combat shotgun after all. Max waits in the wing and spies the sniper's location, waiting for him to be neutralized before he stalks forward.

[Conway]

[Bravo Team]

"Time to roll the dice, Doc."

Sinjin dashes along the cracked pavement to the side of the road opposite Adams, forcing the Legion gunners to track multiple targets outside a single field of fire. His hard grimace tightens in satisfaction as the gun turret waggles, its operator desperately trying to prioritize threats and choose a mark. Hot smoke begins to billow about his person, spewing from a thermal canister still snug in his bandolier, and hangs in the air behind him like a black cloud of pestilence. Elation, bordering on hysteria, fills him as he runs haphazardly in irregular circles, intentionally challenging the tank to a game of rabbit. Rebounding from concrete buildings up and down the street can be heard the laughter of a madman.

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

The main gun swivels, attempting to track Sinjin through the thermal smoke.

Ranged Combat (Scorpion)

[Gunnery (5) + AGI (6) + Blind Fire (-6) = 2]
3 5 5 4 3
[REA (7) = 3]
3 6 2 5 6 4 1

The main gun discharges, depleted shell making a tunnel through the billowing orange clouds. Sinjin ducks and yelps as the projectile whizzes overhead.

Ranged Combat (Scorpion)

[Gunnery (5) + AGI (6) + Blind Fire (-6) = 2]
2 2 5 6 2
[REA (7) = 4]
5 2 6 5 5 3 3

The ork springs away as another heavy cannon slug passes just behind him.

[Elliott]

((Why is the tank shooting blind? Doc hasn't hit the sensors yet I don't think...also, since I'm curious, what kind of gun is the tank shooting? Don't tank shells, like, explode?))

[Conway]

((I put up thermal smoke. Although...technically speaking...the modifiers shouldnt really take effect until next combat pass. Thanks Nick! ))

[Drew Buddy]

(( And Doc still has a simple action left which needs to be resolved. ))

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

Ranged Combat (Doc)

[Battle Rifles (8) + AGI (9) + RR (1) + Edge (4) + Called Shot (-4) + Smartlink (2) = 8]
5 3 4 3 5 1 6 6 4 5 1 4 4 5 4 5 2 4 2 6
[Pilot Ground Craft (5) + REA (7) + Handling (-1) = 6]
6 1 3 5 4 5 5 6 3 5 2

Doc's second burst hits the sensor array, sending out a shower of sparks and debris.

[GM Nick]

[ Alpha Team ]

Tyros floats to the general area indicated by Max, but is having trouble locating the sniper.

In the meanwhile, the Legion squad had nearly reached the lobby.

[John]

[ Alpha Team ]

Max keeps a keen watch on the window, his eyes darting between it and the entrance through which the Legion soldiers will disappear any moment. Not seeing anything happen, the elf comms,

<What's the hold-up, Tyros? He's in the second building from the end. Light stone colored. First floor from the top. Third window from the left. Take him now or I'll have to take the shot.>

[Elliott]

[Alpha Team]

<"He's a sneaky fragger!">

Tyros makes directly for the spot Max describes. Claymore at the ready as he searches for the sniper.

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

Haywire snarls and extends her hands. Arcs of electricity begin to crackle between her shaking her fingers, snapping and growing larger as she channels the magic. When the ball lightning has reached the size of her torso, she projects it forward into the side of the tank.

Ball Lightning (5) Test (Haywire)

[Spellcasting (Combat) (8) + MAG (6) = 5]
5 1 5 3 2 6 2 3 6 3 5 1 4 3
[Pilot Ground Craft (5) + REA (7) = 1]
2 3 4 4 3 1 6 2 4 4 4 1

Damage Resistance Test (Scorpion)

[BOD (15) = 4]
2 1 5 2 1 4 3 6 3 4 6 4 5 1 1

{{ 5P DAMAGE! }}

The massive sphere of energy slams into the scorpion, briefly lifting one side off of the ground. Armor panels groan under the pressure, leaving the vehicle severely damaged.

Resist Elec. Effects (Scorpion)

[BOD (15) + Armor (15) = 10]
6 1 3 4 1 5 6 5 1 1 1 6 2 3 4 5 3 4 5 1 1 3 6 4 5 1 6 3 2 1

Resist Drain (8)

[WIL (4) + LOG (4) = 6]
5 6 6 5 6 3 6 1

{{ 2S DAMAGE! }}

[GM Nick]

[ Alpha Team ]

Tyros reaches the mentioned area and notices the barrel of a sniper rifle protruding from a very small opening in the panels covering the balcony window.

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Adams allows himself a feral grin as more armor sloughs off the blind tank.

Maybe we can whittle this thing down afterall, he thinks, as he prepares to line up another shot.

[John]

[ Alpha Team ]

Max's annoyance mounts; this exchange is taking too fragging long.

<What's the hold-up, Tyros??>

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

Time seems to slow as the adrenaline courses through the team's veins. Doc, Sinjin and Haywire are vaguely aware of large chunks of flaming armor plate bouncing on the asphalt. Sounds are tinny--far away. The sharp odor of artificial smoke burns nostrils that flare underneath wide eyes. The combat continues.

[ Doc = 51 ]
[ Sinjin = 46 ]
[ SK-Scorpion = 32 ]
[ Haywire = 26 ]

[GM Nick]

[ Alpha Team ]

Tyros lines up the claymore and shoves the blade through the narrow notch in the steel panels. He's met with a meaty sound and some resistance. Withdrawing the blade, the tip oozes with blood and bits of hair.

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Adams finishes lining up his follow up shots. He aims for a spot in the armor weakened by Haywire's spell.

(( +4DV, fire twice ))

[GM Nick]

[ Bravo Team ]

Ranged Combat (Doc)

[Battle Rifles (8) + AGI (9) + RR (1) + Smartlink (2) + Called Shot (-4) = 2]
3 1 3 1 6 4 2 2 6 2 3 1 1 1 1 3
[Pilot Ground Craft (5) + REA (7) + Handling (-1) = 3]
3 3 3 4 4 2 4 5 6 5 1

Doc's first shot is wide and ricochets off of the tank's turret.

Ranged Combat (Doc)

[Battle Rifles (8) + AGI (9) + RR (1) + Smartlink (2) + Called Shot (-4) = 7]
6 5 1 3 6 5 3 6 3 5 4 5 3 1 2 3
[Pilot Ground Craft (5) + REA (7) + Handling (-1) = 4]
1 6 2 4 5 6 5 4 3 3 2

Damage Resistance (Scorpion)

[BOD (15) + Armor (15) + AP (-6) = 10]
6 2 6 6 1 5 6 2 1 5 5 2 3 6 3 6 1 3 1 2 6 1 1 3

{{ 7P DAMAGE! }}

Doc's second burst is true, further riddling the smoking hull. A massive fireball roils off the top of the vehicle as the power plant detonates. Smoke and debris burst out of every orifice and the vehicle collapses in on itself.

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Adams lowers his rifle and grins.

"Goddamn, but they go down hard!" He calls out over the ringing in his ears. He comms out,

< Alpha, this is Bravo. We've finished mopping up here. What's your status? >

[John]

[ Alpha Team ]

Eyes slitted, Max watches the subtle splash of gore leak its way out of the boarded up window where the Legion sniper had posted. Mindful that there had reportedly been other snipers, Max creeps out of hiding toward the entryway through which the other Legion soldiers had just disappeared.

[Conway]

[Bravo Team]

Completing his circuit of the now-unthreatening tank, Sinjin rejoins Bravo Team in the lee of a fallen structure. Puffing and blowing, the ork seems to catch his breath in a matter of seconds. Passing a dirty hand through his sweat slick hair, his fingers twinge and his palm cramps, overcome by nerves in the wake of his suicidal ploy with the Skorpion. What was I thinking, taking risks like that? Quickly, he drops his hand again, hoping to escape notice and the inevitable warm ridicule of his comrades.

"Quite a shocking first impression you made there, Miss." he says, trying to turn attention away from himself."And a nice shot to boot, Doc."

"Not a fair fight, if you ask me." he smiles. "What's next on the agenda? Any idea how Alpha's coming on?"

[Elliott]

[Alpha Team]

Tyros makes a quick scan for other potential sniper spots before giving the team the all clear - he hopes. Joining Max and Val at the entrance of the hotel, he gives them bit a small pay on the shoulder to let him know he is there and ready.

"Once more into the breach?", the troll whispers.

[Drew Buddy]

[ Bravo Team ]

Adams scratches his cheek. "No word back from Alpha yet. We should keep moving. We've got tunnels to clear, and moles to expose. Not really certain how we'll handle the latter, but that might be a better task for Alpha once they've got the prince with them. I can't imagine us just walking up to a Tir command post and saying, 'hey we're here to clear foreign agents out of your command structure. Let us in.'"

He looks over at Haywire as she finishes descending from her vantage point. "Any idea where we're supposed to access these tunnels?"

[Stephen]

[ Alpha Team ]

Val's subvocalized voice crackles to life over the encrypted comms channel.

< Alpha to Bravo. We've just cleared our approach to Le Fleur. Moving in now. >

Val's boot selects a spot relatively free of debris as he steps cautiously out from behind cover. His eyes sweep the warzone for any sign of trouble.

Frag, but this place is a mess. Normally places don't look like this until we're on our way out.