[Ic] Bug City, End of the World Options

[Frater Inominatu...]

Eric lowered the first load of scroungings to the HUMVEE. The hundred kilo pallet made a WHUFF shound as it hit the floor. Ana muttered under the vehicle as she worked to open the mobile monstrosity. "Nine" he said loudly enough to reach her and not echo. "what's the deal with the two kids? Anybody get them squared away?"

[HeySparky]

Ana's hair flutters in the breeze raised by the dropped palette. "Thanks for the AC Eric." She pauses, peering up into the guts of the hummer and purses her lips again. Stretching her neck first one way and then the other she calls out to Eric.

"Don't know. That big guy," she snips another cord and reaches for a cap, "He's pretty tough." Satisfied that she can drop what she's doing for a moment she slithers out to speak directly to Eric.

"If you mean 'sorted' like they're coming with us, that's a question for Mike." She shrugs and slips back under the chassis.

[Sphynx]

Mike spends time combing the store with John, Joe and Eric while the rest of the team work to get the Hummer working. Nine has almost no trouble at all, and within 10 minutes the purring of the Hummer catches everyones ears. Before long the Hummer and SUV are being filled with gear that can be found, although to the annoyance of many, the best ammo that can be found is arrows for bows. Mishka remains in the alley with his sister, almost forgotten about, and unsure where he belongs in this whole scenario.

[ Spoiler ]

Gotten Gear thus far (20 minutes have passed)
Medkits: 4
ToolKits: 2 (basic gear, hammer, drivers, wrenches, etc)
Rope: 50 meters
Walkie Talkies: 16
Pocket Secretary: 1 (most were damaged beyond use, or already gone)
Paintball guns: 5 air-powered
Scope for gun with Mag 3 and Thermo as well as Low Light: 1
Clothing: all you can carry
Ration Bars: Box of 100 x4
Survival Kits: 3
OXsys Gills: 6
Climbing Kit: 5
Flares and Gun: 4 guns, 28 flares
Yoga Ball: 2
Hammocks: 6
Batteries: enough. :P
Generator: 1 Solar Powered Generator/Battery (100 PF/Hour)

[nick012000]

Locke will grab the damaged ones anyway. He can fix them later.

[Fortune]

Mishka slowly shakes off his funk, and looks through teary eyes at the body-strewn alleyway. He looks down to see Tash still clinging to his neck, her eyes drooping closed in exhaustion after the long night.

As he stands, he gently slides her arm from the bag and throws it over his shoulder, wincing a little as he aggravates the orc-bug bite. The small girl's eyes close as she leans her head against his broad chest and nestles firmly in his left arm. Mishka takes a long hard look in each direction, as if searching for some kind of sign as to where he should go next. After a moment though, he just shakes his head and moves off around the outside of the large building into which the others had run.

[Frater Inominatu...]

Eric continued working but his mind kept drifting back to the young man and the little girl. He had assumed they would fall in and return with them to Mike's. But after twenty minutes neither of them were to be found. He picked up a pair of ration bars and started walking to the rear of the building. He stopped, remembering the size of the young man and went back for two more. He also scooped up a stuffed bear that had a large round hat and a plush shovel for the girl. Eric trotted back to the area where he had found Mishka and his sister, hoping they hadn't left yet.

He kicked himself for not making sure they were taken care of. I was kind of pre-occupied, cut me some slack. No, no excuse, you fragged up. just fix it. Outside there were only bodies. No behemoth and his shadow. Eric concentrated for a moment and conjured a watcher construct. While rather stupid they were efficient at finding things, especially thing Eric had assensed before. Eric's favorite form for his watchers was a small dog, usually a Jack Russel Terrier. The construct took shape and waited, wagging its tail for instructions. Eric concentrated on Mishka's astral image and spoke slowly to his watcher. "Remain manifested. Find this man and then come to me and lead me to him." The dog barked and ran off in search of Mishka.

While he waited, Eric examined the orc creature in detail. Nearly forgotten, Eric was startled when the dog came skittering around the corner. The small canine slid to a halt, quivering with excitement, saying "Master, Master, I finded him! I finded him! This way, this way!" Eric had to run to keep up with the watcher. It lead him around the building and just up the street where the young man carried the little girl on his back.

Unsure how to proceed, Eric remembered how Mishka had made short work of the orcs, he jogged to within 5 meters of the pair and spoke out. "Hey!" Eric held up his hands, displaying the ration bars and the stuffed toy bear. " I'm Eric. Do you two live around here? Do you have a place to stay? It isn't safe around here lately, as you have seen. It's a good time to have friends..."

[Fortune]

The voice from behind stops Mishka in his tracks. The little girl raises her head from his shoulder and peers sleepily back at the man calling to them.

"He ... he has a Teddy Bear, Mishka."

The big blond's shoulders slump, and he slowly turns to face Eric. The small creature at the man's side catches his eye, it's Astral form somehow different from the dog shape it outwardly showed. Obviously another product of one of his 'visions', Mishka tries to ignore it, instead looking directly at the man. As Natasha twists in his arms to keep the man in sight, he lowers his voice to a whisper.

"We have to trust someone, Tash. I just don't know what to do now." Mishka takes a few steps towards the unknown man and his strange pet before continuing. "Stay close to me and be careful what you say, Little One." He comes to a halt a couple of feet from Eric and nods in greeting.

"We have no friends. And no place to stay. We are, um ...". He casts a quick glance at the small girl while he searches for an appropriate word. "... Lost."

[Frater Inominatu...]

Seeing the young man relax, Eric covers the remaining distance between them and offers his hand. "I'm Eric" he says, then offers the bear to Natasha. "Let's get back to the rest of the group and I'll make introductions." Eric says. The watcher trotted along side Eric and they were nearly at Gaylans before he remembered. "You may go now." He said and the small terrier trotted off toward the store, fading as it went, until it was gone. Eric struggled with the questions racing through his mind. Where are their parents? How did they get here? And why were they being attacked by those things? Many more came and went and Eric rejected them. I don't think he will open up until we know each other better.

When they reach the HUMVEE, Eric squats down next to the vehicle. With a satisfying roar the monster came to life. He stood and walked around to the driver's window where Ana sat with a smugly satisfied look on her face. The look and several streaks of who knew what. "Nine, this is Mishka and Natasha, they're going to be staying with us. Assuming, of course, Mike has no objections to another pair of mouths to feed. If not we'll make other arrangements. He smiled reassuringly at the two, knowing Mike to be far too decent to just turn them out.

He turned to the pair and said "Mishka, we could use some help gathering supplies and pretty much anything of use to take back home. So, if you're comfortable enough, you can put Natasha in the truck and help me with the gear. If not, wait here with Nine and start loading the truck. The others will be along soon enough." With a wink to Natasha, Eric turned to gather more material for the bar.

[HeySparky]

Fixing up the hummer nearly drives the image of an orc-bug creature choking down a mouthful of blazing red from Ana's mind. She peers at herself critically in the shiny paint of the new, quietly rumbling vehicle. Hmm... a few sweeps of her hands and the random dashes of dirt and grease and a fearsome mask assymetrical war paint emerges. She turns her head this way and that admiring the effect and goes back to the more important business of getting the hell back to the pub. Maybe then we can go for my family. And Nick's. She glances around for the orc. Huh. Where'd he get to?

Eric is talking to the big guy and the girl. The bruiser is cautiously eating an energy bar and eyeing another that Eric holds, uneaten while the girl is hugging a teddy-bear ... archaeologist?... to her chest. Guess they're coming back with us.

"Come on folks. Let's get our get on. City's gonna be waking up soon and I for one don't want to be here when the manager comes to open up shop."

She smiles and holds the door open of the driver's seat, calling out, "Anybody want to drive this thing? All the one way streets down here just make me nuts."

[gobogen]

Joe gets things moving as much as he can, helping others to find what they're looking for and packing. He's glad he found a power generator for their base, it will be very useful since it's solar powered, but for now he wants to see his wife safe in his arms again as soon as possible and he's worried. He helps to pasck all the stuff in the hummer and the other vehicle, trying to be helpful and keeping an eye for other threats.

[ Spoiler ]

If Joe comes around any kind of tools (electronics tools, car repair kit, hammer and nails, etc...) he'll grab it with the rest.

[Fortune]

Mishka warily follows Eric as he heads towards the door leading into the large building. He pauses in his tracks, somewhat startled when the dog-thing fades from view right before his eyes, but then just shakes his head in denial and trails after the man.

As they get to the Hummer, Eric introduces the woman that spoke to him earlier in Russian as Nine. Mishka is a little hesitant at first, but after seeing that she poses no immediate threat, he decides that for the moment it would be best just to keep a wary eye on her. And her friends as well.

Famished from the long night on the run, the big man makes short work of the first ration bar, and after sitting Tash on the hood of the car, and making sure that she is eating hers, he digs into a second. The little girl tucks the last bar into a pocket of the small satchel that Mishka places beside her, all the while whispering excitedly to her new stuffed friend.

Looking around the huge building, Mishka feels a little overwhelmed, and more than a little confused. He wasn't sure what was going on, or why these people were gathering all this stuff, or even where they were going next. Thinking about what Eric said, he decides that the last thing he is going to do is leave his sister alone in the car, especially with that Russian woman around, so he starts to load anything that the others bring into the vehicle.

[Sphynx]

Getting everyone into the 2 vehicles, most in Mike's since the Hummer seems to be overfilling with gear, the team with it's newest member head back towards Mikes place. 5 minutes later, rounding a curve, they come up to the street Mike's house is sitting on. Oddly enough, there are a few black limo looking cars sitting out front, and a few body-guard look alikes standing guard outside the house. They are all toting military looking fully automatic weapons, and looking in your direction, gathering together behind what must be an armour plated limo, preparing a defensive. Looks like Mike's place has been taken over, and there's no sign on whether your loved ones are inside or not.

[Frater Inominatu...]

This is not happening. Eric thought to himself. He takes an assessment of the situation, using every spare neuron to see the details. Details mark the difference between success and failure. He then shifted his perception to the astral and gave the scene a second inspection...

[ Spoiler ]

Simple action 1: Observe in detail
Simple action 2: Percieve astrally
Simple action 3: Assense group

[HeySparky]

Ana's brow furrows. "Fragging hell." Her mind whirls into action and she guages the distance between her vehicle and the barricade. We could make it... Right there... She points at a gap between the vehicles assembled. "We could ram through right there. Ready?"

[ Spoiler ]

No one said they were driving, but if there isn't anyone with better odds, Ana will be driving, probably the hummer and (if not driving) will reach a long leg past the driver to slam on the gas, steering if she needs to. Aiming for a hole, or whatever passes for a hole in the line of vehicles. Preferably not the armored one.

The goal is to split the fire of these interlopers and give them two fronts. One of them behind the lines.

"Here we go," she shoves the pedal to the floor, aiming the vehicle for the best gap she can see. This is great... fragging great. I'm going from killing self-defense to vehicular manslaughter. All in one day. Just fragging great.

[nick012000]

"Of fragging course."

Locke puts his helmet back on, and picks up his HVAR, instructing it to reattach to his gyroharness, which begins revving up, as he runs a standard diagnostic test on it.

He will then hold it on his lap. They might not be hostile, though if he recognizes them as Yamatetsu or they begin firing he will wind down his window and begin firing.

[ Spoiler ]

I'll assume the hummer is moving less than 90m/turn. If it is moving faster than this but less than 210m/turn, I will take penalties to the TN of the second burst every pass, +1 for every 30m more than that. If it goes faster than 210m/turn, I'll take penalties on the first one, as well.

Initiative: 26.5
Armor: 9/10 (8/7 Hardened)
Weapon damage code: 14D (burst fire w/ EX explosive)
Movement: 0 m/pass
Relevant Modifiers: -

1st combat turn
1st Simple Action- Ready- Burst Fire (6 base, 6 combat pool, TN 2 (4 -2 smartlink -1 aptitude -1 moving towards +2 unmounted weapon + 6 recoil - 6 recoil comp -4 gyroharness +3 90 m/turn movement))
2nd Simple Action- Ready- Burst Fire (6 base, 3 combat pool, TN 2 (4 -2 smartlink -1 aptitude -1 moving towards +2 unmounted weapon + 12 recoil - 8 recoil comp -7 gyroharness +3 90 m/turn movement))
3rd Simple Action- Ready- Burst Fire (6 base, 5 combat pool, TN 2)
4th Simple Action- Ready- Burst Fire (6 base, 4 combat pool, TN 2)
5th Simple Action- Ready- Burst Fire (6 base, 5 combat pool, TN 2)
6th Simple Action- Ready- Burst Fire (6 base, 4 combat pool, TN 2)

[mallet]

Mike watches the Hummer speed up and charage towards the cars. "What the F%#k are they doing?" He exclaims, as he in turn hits the breaks and pulls his jeep into a skid. He brings it to a stop 30 odd meters away from the unexpected visitors.

He keeps a hand on his gun, while he looks over the scene. Hoping that Ana and the others in the Hummer haven't just killed all of their families and friends inside by foolishly attacking these strangers.

[Sphynx]

Slamming on the Gas, Ana sparks into action with the Hummer, peeling past Mike. Approaching the entrance, she swings the car in, slamming into the 2 cars that were acting as a gate to the place. They skitter a bit, but look less damaged than the Hummer from the affair. The Hummer is pelted with gunfire, and you're pleasantly happy to see that you're quite bulletproof.... for now. John rolls down the window and begins firing at the men on his side. Of course, from a sitting position, the GyroStablization unit provides no help at all, even hindering him since he's more confined than with out this massive contraption.

Mike watches as the men open fire on the Hummer, then notices 1 is turning around to fire at his SUV.

Eric sees...

[ Spoiler ]

Nobody here is magical, they're goons at best. They appear to be mafia actually, their suits being slick italian designs. There are at least 8 men visible, and 6 cars in total. 2 block the entrance, the other 4 sit inside the parking area, empty. 2 men stand at the door with guns and you think one is pulling up a rocket launcher to his shoulder.

[gobogen]

Joe's experience and instincts kick in. As a former sniper his first priority would be to find cover and perhaps a hidden spot. In this case, he feels that what's best to do is to get rid of the biggest threat: the man with the rocket launcher. He quickly gets out of the car on the side opposite to the Italian men, and immediately fires a shot at the man's firing shoulder (likely the right shoulder) from behind the car.

[ Spoiler ]

Joe has the quick draw adept power so getting his Remington ready to shoot should be no problem. I'm not sure how you interpret his actions in game terms but if Joe has time to aim in that round before taking the shot, he will.

Skill Check: Rifles 12 + CP 9: 21 dice.
TN: 4 or 3 (-2 Smartlink II, +2 Called Shot to the right shoulder of the man with the rocket launcher, -1 if he has time to take aim in the round, maybe a +1 modifier for moving in the round)
Base Damage: 9S reg ammo
Range: he has vision mag 3 with a rifle, there should be no range modifiers.
Visibility: likely to be good.

[Frater Inominatu...]

Oh my God..., Steph. Eric watches in horror as the hummer streaks toward the limos. Time stretches and twists along with his innards as the massive truck smashes into two of them. Nine, what have you done!? Time speeds up again and weapons are being drawn and fired, people are running and shouting, then there is the rocket launcher.

Eric gathers power around him and reaches out to the suit with the rocket launcher. Eric drops his hand, palm out, fingers pointed to the ground and grips the suit with his magic. Father, protect my family while I do what I must. With a swift motion he lifts his hand and attempts to hoist the suit holding the rocket launcher into the air.

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative 6+1D6 (-2 for wounds)
Complex action 1: Cast levitate 4(keep him rotating vertically) / Sorcery 5 + 2 from spell pool
TN: 8: Base 6 + 2 for mod wounds.

[mallet]

Mike slips out of the jeep, which is now between him and the goons. He pulls out his rifle and brings it to bare on the attackers.

"Son of a bitch." He mutters, cursing just about everything and everyone that put him into this situation.

He let's off a surpressing burst, trying to make the goons duck for cover, or maybe even run away if he gets really lucky.

[ Spoiler ]

Surpressing burst, like with the "Orcs"

[Fortune]

Crammed into the back seat of the Hummer, Mishka mostly ignored the strangers, instead spending the ride talking to his little sister, who was riding on his lap. As they near their destination, he doesn't notice anything wrong until Nine slams her foot on the gas and smashes into the other vehicles.

Pushing Tash down against the floorboards, he covers her with his body as the first wave of bullets impact against the Hummer. As he realizes that the body of the car was protecting them from the gunfire, he pokes his head up and peeks out the window. Of course, John picked that time to roll down his own window and begin to return fire.

Knowing that they were sitting ducks staying where they were, Mishka quickly decides on a plan of action. Or at least the beginnings of one. 'Just like Quikdraw McVie in Mercenary Beach 4'. He pulls off his sweat shirt, revealing a thick black leather vest and matching bracers on both forearms, both etched with ornate scrollwork, and quickly drapes the garment over the little girl.

"Stay down there Tash. Don't come out until I get you."

Reaching for the handle, Mishka flings open the rear door of the Hummer, diving out as he slams the door behind him. Recovering quickly from his controlled roll, he draws a pair of knives from among several sheathed at his waist.

[Sphynx]

OOC: Only Eric saw the Rocket Launcher (hence the Spoiler with Eric's name).

Joe quickly draws his pistol, aiming at the shoulder of one of the men with a machine gun. Effortlessly, the shoulder is penetrated and the arm falls to the side as the man grabs at his shoulder with the other hand and dives for cover with the rest of the men, who are trying to avoid the suppressive fire being laid down by Mike. Mishka takes this oppurtunity to dive out of the car, crouched like a panther with blades in each hand. You almost don't notice the man screaming like a girl as he hangs in the air over the doorway with what appears to be a rocket launcher in his hand. You hear someone counting loudly on the other side of the cars, "1.... 2......"

[Frater Inominatu...]

"OW!" Eric spits as follows Mike out of the jeep, banging his shin on the dwarf-sized chair, hobbles around to the rear of the vehicle. He scans for the largest group and throws Mr. RL into them.

[ Spoiler ]

If directing the suit already under the levitate spell (the one with the rocket launcher) into the others is a complex action then Eric will just do that. If not he will lift Mr. RL into the air again for another pass next round.

Sorcery to hit?: 5 + 5 from spell pool

[Sphynx]

The men open fire on the vehicle, apparently having changed clips in the preceeding seconds. Suddenly the car is looking like Swiss cheese, the sound of metal ripping through flesh creates a sickening moist thud as you notice that a couple of team mates are not looking so healthy. Nick Hagvas clutches at his neck where a bullet went straight through, blood gushes out heavily as he tries to hold it in. Gnat seems to have taken a major hit as well, and seems out for the count, his eyes open, but empty. The firing stops as a screaming man falls out of the sky in the direction of the attackers, Eric's maneuver giving a few seconds to retaliate in kind.

[ Spoiler ]

Damage to the players is dependant on if they start posting or not. I'm assuming they've left the game, so if they don't post the damage will be deadly (which doesn't mean -dead- perse, but easier to figure out what's going on if I only work with active players). If they take deadly and find they can return to posting, their condition can be improved in the makeshift sickbay the house might have.....

[gobogen]

"MEDIC!!!"

Joe yells at the sight of two of his teammates falling to the ground. He puts a knee down, his rifle next to him, and tries to pull the closest of Gnat or Nick behind the car, even though the cover it seemed to offer might have been weaker then he had thought. He does his best to keep the bleeding minimal, not daring to do anything major for lack of knowledge and equipment.

"Does anyone have a medkit?"