IC: Dawn of the Artifacts., In Character Thread. Options

[pbangarth]

Monday, April 9th, 2072. 0610 Hours. Cairo Egypt
Cairo International Airport.

Hodder turns, so he can see Dexter, but his front is hidden from the tower. He flags the attention of Dexter with his left hand, as if acknowledging him, but draws his pistol, so Dexter can see it, but not anyone in the tower, and transmits on the group channel.

>>Dexter, Flight tower at 1 o'clock from your current facing. Flash in the south corner window, second from right. Could be nothing, could be telescopic sights.<<

Hodder moves unhurriedly and nonchalantly to the metal service box by the light pole, and leans on the side away from the tower. The pistol is hidden from the tower under cover. He surveys the scene as if on holiday, but keeps the tower in his field of vision. "Damn. If I summon a watcher now to investigate, all my rest so far will be for naught."

[Karoline]

After the poker game I took a nap as best I could. The seats were comfortable enough for an airplane, better than the one I was just on from Japan to Seattle, and so I managed to doze for a while. Consequently I was the last person off the plane when it landed, needing a minute or two to get the kinks out of my body from sleeping in a chair.

It didn't sound like we would be on the ground for very long, but it would be nice to get off the plane and stretch properly, even if there had been plenty of room. The fresh air might be nice as well, though how fresh it might be in Cairo airport I'm not so sure about.

I blush a bit as I walk out of the plane just in time to notice Hodder dropping his pants for the shot. Right on the tarmac doesn't seem like the best place for that. I adjust the strap of my rifle a bit as I glance around the airport.

[ Spoiler ]

Percpetion (Visual): Skill 6, Int 3, Limbic 3, Visual Enhancement 3 = 15 (15d6.hits(5)=4)

By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, it seems something is grabbing everyone's attention. How could I miss something I glare at Hodder a bit for a second, not sure why, but I do, before looking where he is pointing.

[ Spoiler ]

Percpetion (Visual): Skill 6, Int 3, Limbic 3, Visual Enhancement 3, Hodder 7 = 22 (22d6.hits(5)=(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Sniper scope!? In an instant I have the butt of my rifle against my shoulder, my eye squinting through the imaging scope. I let my visuals perform their standard flicker between thermographic, low-light, and normal vision. For most people the rapid shuddering between the three different forms of vision would be disorientating, but for some reason it seems perfectly natural to me.

[ Spoiler ]

Percpetion (Visual): Skill 6, Int 3, Limbic 3, Visual Enhancement 3 = 15 (Vision magnification bringing the view up to 50x if I need it) (15d6.hits(5)=6)

My finger is already placing pressure on the trigger, just in case whatever it is is a threat, I'll be ready to take it out.

[Mister Juan]

I'm still standing by the plane's stairs, frowning at Vera and her damn hypospray. I ain't quite sure what the hell she wants to shoot me up with. If there's one thing the military does well, beside keeping the paper trail, its keeping up to date with shots. And I don't mean bullets 'nd stuff. I'm about to open my mouth and bitch something, when I catch Hodder fucking waving at me, like he wants me to come over or something. As I uncross my arm and make a single step, I catch a glimps of his right hand. The halfer has his weapon out. Something is off. Very off.

When his voice echoes inside my ears, the gears in my head stop turning and my body takes a life of its own.

Fuck me.
I should have gotten my rifle out.

[Chrysalis]

Vera walks back over to the stepvan with the medkit in it. The large amount of pointing by Hodder and Dartha make her realize that possibly the best place to be at the moment is between something heavy and steel clad. Planes are not exactly safe to be around. She muttered about having her weapons in the airplane, but then again if she had to shoot someone, something had gone horribly wrong.

She still downloaded Arabic and Yoruba language lingua software and took a quick peek on the Matrix to see what the problem was. Maybe some African king had landed and the counter terrorist squad was just being more alert than normal.

[SincereAgape]

Monday, April 9th, 2072. 0612 Hours. Cairo Egypt
Cairo International Airport.

It was not raining in Cairo. But the tranquility of awakening city was interupted by the sound artificial thunder.

There was a loud BOOM! and then another that came from the flight tower Hodder pointed out.

The first shot hit the troll on the tarmac, blowing a hole in the center of his chest. The troll's blood splattered on one of the Hermes Stepvans. It looked like someone took a large ball of red paint and threw it onto the van.

A second shot came. Aiming for one of the Shadowrun team members.

[Who was shot was determined by a random dice roll.]

[Spoiler for Hawkeye]

[ Spoiler ]

Roll reaction plus any cover minus any encumbrance penalties.. Attacker rolled 3 hits.

Damage is 8P with an AP of -3.

[pbangarth]

Monday, April 9th, 2072. 0612 Hours. Cairo Egypt
Cairo International Airport.

Drek is hitting the fan right properly, now. Hodder calls upon his bound Fire Spirit. It arrives from metaspace quicky, and Hodder commands it, speaking the instruction into the comm channel as well, so the team knows his intent: >>I ask a service of you, O Flame of God. There is one in the tower over there who seeks to kill us. Bring him to me if he still lives when you find him.<<

[OOC: One Simple action to call, one simple action to command]

Hodder then looks to see how Hawkeye dealt with the shot.

[Karoline]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport

After the sniper nails the troll in the chest, I notice the barrel manuver to point in my direction. "Sniper! Take cover!" I call as a warning to my team, while already moving to put the stairs between me and the sniper. The stairs aren't enough to completely stop the bullet, but it will disrupt his aim, and provide at least a bit of extra armor.

[ Spoiler ]

Reaction 7 + Edge 5 = 12 dice, rerolling sixes (12d6.hits(5).extra(6)=(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
What a waste of edge.

The fact that the stairs aren't fully resistant is showed rather obviously as the second bullet misses me and drives through the stairs, the bullet putting a hole in the tarmac.

[Kerenshara]

"Well, maybe I should have opted for flats after all" a part of Dartha's mind quipps dryly as she releases her hold on the detection spell, realizing that there is nobody within 250 meters intent on harming her and the tower appears to be almost twice that distance away.

"First..." she grabs mana and forms it into an invisible protective deflector shield around Jane, helping ensure any rounds going her way will probably miss wide.

"Second..." she pulls more mana and repeats the spell on herself, getting her own shield up, but realizing keeping up these spells is going to largely negate the effects of her own deflector shield.

Just then, the first shot struck home in the center of the "Sniper's Triangle", blowing the heart and spine of the troll all over the van. Dartha just has time to see her own team sniper pull an impressive tumbling roll with that portable cannon of hers, narowly getting out of the sniper's line of fire as a second round punches through one of the aircraft's stairs like it's not even there, shattering the resistant ferocrete of the tarmac and embedding itself deep.

Knowing where the fire has to be coming from, Dartha concentrates and draws even more mana to herself, bracing for the strain. "Oh, FUCK no!" she snarls to herself and unleashes a powerful blast of force directly at the window of the control tower where earlier Hodder had pointed out the glint to her, shattering the window utterly in a dramatic cascade of broken shards. The strain of simultaneously handling so much mana causes a sudden sharp pain between her eyes, but she takes the pain and makes it her own, harnessing it to stoke the fire of her rage, and not nothing is between her and their attacker.

[Mister Juan]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport

In the blink of an eye, everything starts to move. Well, I haven't actually blinked since 2041, but I can somewhat remember it was something really fast. The first shot rings out and some troll is almost blown to bits. I ain't one hundred percent sure where the shot came from, but I can easily guess where. In the right hand side of my field of vision, thermal signatures and sound analysis are already kicking in their results. It just goes to confirm my gut instinct. Someone's shooting at us with an SM4. Well, fuck me.

Both Hodder and Dartha kick into high gear, which is a big fuckin relief. With a quick look, I spot Vera already in cover. Good girl. At least, thats one less person I have to worry about. Dartha seems to have Miss J well covered, which is another good thing.

I haven't even taken full stock of the situation that the kid is running up next to me. With that big rifle of hers, if our sniper doesn't shoot her, I'll be hell of a surprised. And of course, when the high caliber bullet just wizes between our two heads, I know he ain't half as fucking stupid as I hoped.

The kid takes covers right next to me, that big as rifle craddled in her arms. For a split second, I feel like snatching it from her hands and taking the shot. Part of me says that ain't such a good idea. I've got another idea, that I don't particularly like, but I ain't seeing a zillion options. Unless our sniper pal is panicking hard, he's going to put a few bullets straight into the stairs and probably hit us. Sure, being big sometime has it advantages, and the jap kid is small... but there ain't enough room for the both of us here.

[SincereAgape]

Ms. Johnson runs over to check on the fallen Troll who lies on the ground wide eyed. She checks his pulse and body for life signs.

[Chrysalis]

Vera curls up in the van, on the principle that anywhere out of sight is out of mind of the sniper. She does not know much, but she certainly knows about how to dial emergency services.

It takes a moment to find airport security. It takes another moment to inform them in hysterical Arabic that there is a sniper on the roof of the flight tower, taking potshots at planes and personnel with an anti-materiél rifle.

She sees Ms. J on the tarmac trying to figure out how to do CPR on a troll which is missing most of his lungs, spine, internal organ and heart. She does something unusually stupid, she runs out of the safety of the van and grabs Ms J. by the scruff of the neck and tries to drag her back into the safety of the van.

[ Spoiler ]

What should I throw?

[SincereAgape]

Jane turns to look at Vera. She then looks back at the troll, and then back at Vera. Understanding she goes with Vera back behind the Hermes Van. She leans against the van and breaths heavily.

"We have to help him." She said to Vera, referring to the troll.

[Kerenshara]

Seeing Ms. Johnson exposing herself to further fire - and right next to a marker with a known range, no less - Dartha has to fight down a further surge of temper. When Vera starts getting her moved towards the van, Dartha readies to drop the deflector shield spell on her the moment she's under cover. "OK, so she's not entirely useless..." she thinks towards Vera. "So long as we're not under fire, she's fine," she finishes cattily to herself.

[DigitalOYABUN]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport


Its familiar the sound of the impact against flesh, and the inevitable event of its failure to withstand it...then finally the sound of the shot. The Troll drops, he never stood a chance as the exit wound spews tissue, ruptured organs and bone fragments forth in a softball size hole it created in his chest.

FUCK!

Its only momentary the thought of trying to reach his cases of gear, all out in the open, but years of warfare give a profound amount of common sense. Jack sprints instead for the safety of cover behind one of the vans. He reaches for the scorpion in his shoulder holster and draws it.

Fuckload of good this will do

But the familiar weight is reasuring. Jack catches movement from the corner of his eye, the nicely dressed woman seems to be trying to reach the troll. In a voice probably startling to come out of the middle eastern looking man, a heavy southern drawl to his english to be exact "Miss Stop! There aint a damn thing yall can do 'bout him!"

[Karoline]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport

Now that I have some cover between myself and the enemy sniper, I can focus on taking him out. I would drop to the ground, making the weapon more stable, easier to aim, but with the distance and height, it would be difficult to get the rifle to aim so high from the ground, at least not without a few seconds to readjust, and by then someone else could have a hole in their chest.

It only takes me a split instant to find him again in my sights, quickly and naturally adjusting the small amount required for the distance between us. I note the rifle he is holding as I get a bead on his head, doing my best to aim for an eye in particular. Even if he somehow survives, taking out an eye should prevent any more sharpshooting. I squeeze the trigger, quickly but gently so as not to throw off my aim at the last moment. The kick from the rifle is horrid, and I can feel my muscles stress as they fight to counter the recoil from memory. The weapon wasn't really designed to be fired from the shoulder, but when a sniper is firing at you from a location of his choosing, you don't have much time for design.

[ Spoiler ]

Take Aim as a free action to negate range penalty, Called Shot to aim for the head attempting to bypass armor and provide a +4 DV as a simple action, and finally pulling the trigger as a simple action.

I don't know how much the penalty is for bypassing armor, as I don't know how much armor he is wearing, so I'll just do a roll with my full modified DP, and you can pick dice off the end of the roll to modify it properly. If I can't get both the DV and the bypass armor as a single action, then I'll just take the DV adjustment.

Skill 9 + Agi 8 + Reflex Recorder 1 + Smartlink 2 - From cover 1 - Called Shot 4 = 15 (15d6.hits(5)=6)

Nice roll. To make life easier on you when pulling off dice for the armor (if you allow it on top of the DV increase), a value of 3 drops 1 hit, a value of 7 drops a second hit, 11 drops a third hit, and 13, 14, 15 drop the last three hits.

So that is a 13P attack with -4 AP (Just in case I didn't manage to ignore his armor completely)

The shot fails utterly to ring out, and even Pope wouldn't hear much, and he is only a foot or so away. Wow, that was quiet Nice and quiet, not that it matters much when they've already spotted me.

[pbangarth]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport
Hodder is aghast at seeing Dexter consider what to do. "What the ....? For a second there, it looked like Dexter was about to run out onto the open tarmac. What was he thinking!? How did he get to live so long? What is he made of?"

[Mister Juan]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport

I don't really hear the actual shot. It's more like the impression of a shot. The action of the piston rocking slamming back in Hawkeye's shoulder actually makes more sound. She doesn't seem to wince as much as I would've expected, but the weapon still kicks her pretty hard. Well, no time to admire the shot. I gotta get out of this cover to give her most space... and I need a gun.

I turn 'round, grabbing the ledge of the stairs with both my hands. In a quick pull, I heave myself over and start clambering up the stairs and into the jet.

For a split second, I ain't even sure where the fuck I loaded my stuff. Cargo's toward the back. It almost always is. I crouch low and make my way toward the back. All I can do is pray that my kit bag is on top of everyone else's shit. Got here last. Hope its on top.

Next time, I'm fucking sitting with it.

[SincereAgape]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 0612. Cairo, Egypt: Cairo International Airport

A load boom emits from Hawkeye's sniper rifle, heading for the team's attacker. For those of you have the image enhancers, you see the bullet heads towards the shattered window. Dexter runs towards back into the ship. Dexter scans the cabin and see's his carry on bag. Inside the bag is his assault rifle.

[ Spoiler ]

The bullet did not appear to hit the target.

New IP. Characters can act if they have extra IPs.

Hodder: 16
Dartha: 15
Ms. Johnson: 13 (Goes before Jack because of Edge tiebreaker.)
Texas Jack: 13
Hawkeye: 12 (Ahead of Vera because of Edge tiebreaker.)
Vera: 12
Attacker: 11
Dexter: 10

@Belloq - Your spirit materilizes this combat turn. He will be read to act next combat phase. The building is 400 meters away, and he moves at a rate of 10/40. It will take him 10 combat turns to get to the tower, unless you have something up your sleeve.

Anyone casting a spell receives a -6 modifier for range. That is the range of an assault rifle.

[pbangarth]

Hawkeye's shot seemed to miss. This could be good, this could be bad. Hodder zooms his view in on the tower window-now-hole and seeks out the sniper rifle, in particular the barrel.

[OOC: I don't know if I have to make a Perception Test for Hodder, he has been watching the whole thing go down and was in fact the one who spotted the rifle's reflectionin the first place. I will assume no test i sneeded. correct me if I am wrong.]

"Gotta keep him from picking at us. Sooner or later one of us will bite it. The elohim won't be there for a few seconds yet, and may need to figure out what to do. I have to do something. Here goes, and there goes my 'restful healing'."

Hodder casts Levitate on the rifle, attempting to pull it out of the assailant's hands. "He may hang on to it, but he will be struggling with me, not aiming."

[ Spoiler ]

Cast Levitate spell at Force 2: to pull an object away it is an Opposed Test F X 2 vs. STR X BOD:
4 dice: 1 hit [

[Kerenshara]

Dartha sees the sniper get their head out of the way, and surrenders to the rage inside her, abandoning her own defensive shields.

"Good night, asshole!" she thinks as she focuses her will and gestures toward the tower, hurling the Stunbolt at the sniper.

Blood leaks out of Dartha's nose as the mana courses wildly through her system.

[SincereAgape]

The team can see a large rifle slowly floating from the window of the flight tower. Followed by a large ball of blue energy fly towards the tower like a large crossbow bolt. The mana connects on a target within the tower window, and residue for blue energy mana begins to trickle down from the tower, like the remnants of a fireworks.

[ Spoiler ]

Good shot Dartha.

There seems to be no other disturbances coming from the flight tower.

[Kerenshara]

Dartha scans the tarmac looking for other threats, maintaining the shield on Ms. Johnson. She begins stalking towards the tower as she wipes the trace of blood from her upper lip. She calls out to Hodder, sounding seriously pissed off,

"Hodder!"

[pbangarth]

"What?"

[Kerenshara]

Dartha pauses and turns to Hodder.

"Is that spirit of yours going to be able to bring his ass to us?"

[pbangarth]

Hodder smiles,"That's the plan. We all know about plans."