Sorry, I was out last week on a vacation and didn't have a chance to get on here.

I'd hate to just call it quits. However, I wonder if we've screwed the pooch on this one. Seems like we're in a spot of trouble - a little moreso than usual.

For the sake of continuity though, if we do put a fork in the game, I'd like to get an after-action-report from Slacker on what happened and if/how we got out of it.

Yeah, I've already got an idea of closing it out with you guys escaping into the night from this disaster. Then I'll have a few quick flashes of the aftermath so that you can see what was actually going on behind the scenes.

I want to finish this, if only because I hate unfinished games. However, work has gone mad in the last week and a half and my ability to post if in the shitter because of it. And next week I get the fun of jury duty.

So, if the vote is to put paid to this 'run I'm okay with it, but my vote is to keep going. I'm just struggling to find posting time.

I'm still here, and interested in playing still. Most of my lack of posting has at least partially stemmed from not being able to think of things to do... That plus the change in job (I'm no longer sitting in front of a computer while I work at all) means I've been having a major case of "gamer's block", so to speak.

So for the record, my vote is to try and finish this. I think we can at least get to a point where we can get paid, but it might be a bit tougherat this point with the van gone...

For clarification, have we called up Moreau at this point to set up a meet? I think that might be a priority, get someone in to take this guy off our hands...

For the record, the crash is surprisingly unnoticeable, concealment on the van (and its occupants) gives everyone (except us occupants) -6 dice to notice it. You would only need 1 hit, but that probably means most of your everyday citizens aren't going to register that strange van that careened off the road

I think my next action is to get one of my spirits to Guard us and then use Movement on us so we can get out of here... any objections?

Seems like there is enough interest to keep going. It's just going to be a much slower pace I guess. Right now we are waiting for actions from TundraWolf I believe.

And yes, the van is still under concealment, though the trees it's knocked over and the smoke billowing up from it leaves the radius of the concealment at some point.

Ok...it's been a week since anybody has posted on here and over two weeks since we've had anybody post actual actions in the game. I know everybody seemed interested in continuing the game....but we kind of need somebody to post if that is going to happen.........

Bloody hell. I am very sorry I pulled a fade like that, I expected to be back last week.

So, actions for IP3:

Free Action: Call shot (tires again).

Simple Action: Shoot passenger side front tire. Agility 7 + Pistols 4 + Smartlink 2 - Called shot 4 - Long range 2 = 1 hit. I'm probably going to regret this, but: Edge to re-roll misses:6 dice rerolled = 4 hits. Allllrighty, then. 5 Total hits. 6P damage, -1AP before net hits.

Simple Action: Shoot guy with gun hanging out window. Agility 7 + Pistols 4 + Smartlink 2 - Good Cover 4 - Long range 2 = 4 hits. If this isn't okay Slacker, let me know and I'll figure out something else.

Reaction test for the driver to avoid your shot at the tires gets 2 hits.This was a special called shot to shoot out the tire. So the normal damage does not matter. Instead it means the driver is sufferring a -2 penalty on all driving tests and must make an immediate crash test to avoid losing control of the vehicle.
On the crash test, he gets 4 hits and is able to maintain control of the truck.
For the second shot, this will be your second target in this pass. So you are also suffeing a -2 from that. Which gives you only 3 hits.
The passenger rolls reaction to try dodging the bullet, only getting 1 hit. Then he rolls Body+Armor+Vehicle Armor to resist the total 8P -1AP damage. Well, he rolled 8 hits, but I forgot to account for the -1AP when i rolled. So the last hit does not count. He takes a single box of damage.

Now the question is...can I find my notes on everybody's initiative after it's been so long....

Looks like it's time for Gardner and Needle to move now.

So, what's Gardner going to do? The van he was in has smashed against a tree and broken in two with smoke billowing out of the engine block. Something is burning, though you can't tell what it is.

Needle well....technically I believe she would be dead from the biofeedback of the van taking so much damage from that crash. If you guys still feel like you need her, I will say she managed to dump herself out of VR a split second before the crash thus only suffering from Dumpshock rather than being killed out right. That would mean she still takes a little bit of damage but will also be suffering -2 on all tests for several minutes.

Well, crap. Worth a try, though.

!

can we have the old, much nicer, GM back please ? .. this one kills people

Silas is going to start sprinting now, catch up to my mate TW

LOL. Well, mostly I only took control of Needle because she was driving and in case you guys needed some hacking done. At this point, there's nothing for her to drive and nobody has mentioned any hacking they'd like her to do in quite a while.

And the 30 damage or whatever it was the van took in that spectacular crash would be far more than she could survive.

But if you guys want her around still, I did say she could just be suffering dumpshock instead which means she needs to resist 5P damage and suffer disorientation for 10-Body minutes.

You just making a beeline for TundraWolf?

he seems to be in the right direction for getting to the other team mates .. seeing as they also have the LMG .. and I think they prrobably need some cover

sorry, I posted a while back with a rough guess at what I would be doing this round. If I can, I'm going to be commanding one of my spirits to use guard on our team and Acson. If not, then I will try to help out any team members getting out of the wrecked van.

Ok, You've got a spirit using it's guard power on the team.

And that finishes out Combat Turn 3.

We're back up at the top for Combat Turn 4 with Silas up first. And he already said that he's sprinting towards the wreckage (won't make it there this pass, but should make it on the next one).

Then it's the driver of the truck's turn. Despite one wheel being blown, he continues forward (rolling 3 hits on his test to maintain control). The truck is no abreast of where TundraWolf is on the sidewalk (leaving it only 30m from the crashed van).

I don't remember wat Gardner has his Air Spirit out doing, but it's the spirit's turn now. Followed by TundraWolf and Gardner's turns again.

it was using a service to crash the helicopter ...it's probably causing merry hell around here somewhere now

Yeah, I believe the Air Spirit's last command was to protect Silas, that or attack the pilot. Either way, it's not doing much of anything right now accept hanging out because the pilot is dead and you aren't being attacked at all.

YAY !!! .. Best GM EVERRRRR !

Hahaha, well, don't expect that to last all that long. I'm just saying that at the moment, you aren't under attack.

The Truck won't be pulling up to a stop until pass 2. At which point whatever goons are in the van are likely to step out and fire on anybody they see near the crash site (which you are running towards).

Yes, I believe the service was to protect Silas. And for this turn, Gardnerwill be making sure the team is all over rights. He'll be moving towards Silas and TundraWolf, and making sure that Acson is still with us and everyone is safe for the most part...

Basically, need a recap of our situation and I don't think I have any immediate targets anyway...

Quick-ish recap

You guys arrived at the park where you plan(ned) to meet for the sale of Acson. Silas and TundraWolf went scouting while Needle started circling the area with Gardner, Mr. White, and a drunk Parker Acson in the clown van.
At the perfect time, the scout team that had been trailing you via (well, i can't recap since you guys haven't figured that part out yet)... anyway, they were tailing you and waiting for a good opportunity. They failed their attempt to stop the van cold. Thus a long chase ensued.
Meanwhile, Silas and TundraWolf encountered their own issue with the scout teams helicopter pilot.
Gardner was able to send off a spirit to help the two against the helicopter.
At that point, Silas ran for cover Northwest of the helicopter while TundarWolf ran southeast into trees.
The copter followed Silas but got downed by the spirit. And Silas eventually killed the pilot on the ground.
While that was happening, TundraWolf moved into an ambush position further south (spotting a pair of KE cops in the middle of some bizarre sexual act along the way)
About then is when Needle came around a corner and into view of TW's ambush position. She was going strong, pulling away from her pursuit, but then she failed the turn that would get her back on Main St. Furthermore, she failed to regain control and ended up crashing into trees at the edge of the park. (And killing herself from the biofeedback of being jumped into the van when it took 30+ damage, unless somebody can give me a good reason why we need me to keep NPCing her)
The crash also alert the cops finally, and they are scrambling to pull themselves together and into action
Now, TundraWolf has managed to shoot out one of the pursuing truck's tires though the driver was able to maintain control.

Currently, Silas is running towards the crash sight (forgot to mention that the van is currently invisible, though the torn down trees are not, nor is the smoke billowing up once it gets above the radius of the power). He's about 10m Northwest of the crash now. TundraWolfe is 30m south of the crash sight with the enemy truck currently abreast of his position along the road.

Gardner can see the oncoming headlights of the truck heading straight for the crashsight and can tell that if they truck's occupants were suicidal, the truck could ram directly into the demolished vans position on it's next pass.

It'll take anybody in the van a Simple action to untangle themselves from the wreckage (and if you are trying to get the drunk Acson out, it'll be another Simple Action to do that).

Looks like I'm back up, then.

Hrmm. That vehicle armor makes it hideously unlikely that I'll do anything trying to shoot the driver as they go past. Would shooting more tires out do anything to hinder the driver, Slacker?

As for reasons to keep Needle alive...well, being Matrix naked with Horizon goons on us makes me twitchy. Okay, more twitchy.

And I will bet there's a tracking device in that damned briefcase....or inserted under his skin, thinking more about how Horizon works. Though that's player thinking, TW doesn't think down those pathways...yet.

Shooting out another tired would give the driver more penalties on his driving tests and he'd have to make a crash test (keep in mind that forward moment would have take the truck directly towards the crashed van where people are currently scrambling to unbuckle themselves were the driver to lose control).

From what you can tell the two KE officers are straightened up enough that they are about to step out of their patrol car. (I guess I really should roll init for them to see when they do that).

Oh and I forgot to remind you that you guys have already done a thorough scan of Parker Acson and everything he has with him. There are no signals at all going out from him. The only thing "Secret" on him was his delta-ware gear that he currently turned off (and I don't see any reason for him to turn it back on for the rest of this mission).

I'll even go so far as promising you that there is nothing on any of you, the van, or anything you are carrying that is allowing Horizon to track you.

I'll keep Needle around if you guys insist, but she is definitely suffering from Dumpshock at a minimum and will need help getting herself out of the van if you want her out of there this pass.

Following the trail of destruction .... I blame Eclipse

Too true. With the disappearance of Eclipse where you first spotted the scout team (as well as the unmarked citymaster that perhaps is also enroute), it would be completely reasonable to think he sold you guys out.

Well, my simple action last round of telling the spirit to help us means I should have been able to take that simple action last round to extract myself from the van wreckage. I will spend both my simple qctions this pass then to help Acson and Needle out of the van. (Who else was in there with me?)

Mr. White was/is also in the van, though he's last in the init order.

So, Is TundraWolf going to shoot out another tire?

End of fiscal year is a giant pain in the ass.

No, not going to shoot out a tire. If the driver loses control of the van he'll just plow over my team and the paycheck living credstick wagemage. Not a good idea. Since the politsiya seem to be getting their shit together, here are my actions for this pass.

Free: Put away grenade.

Complex action: Run after van. Yes, it'll get away from me but at least they'll need to be concerned about the sam coming up behind them rather than just stepping out and unloading all on the team extricating themselves from the wreckage. Strength 6 - Defaulting 1 = 0 hits. Well, no glitch at least. Running at normal speed after the van. Definitely need to put some points into athletics after this 'run.

Ok, seeing TundraWolf no longer aiming for the truck. The passenger gets pulls back to brace himself for the real action once ahead.

Finally rolled for the LoneStar cops Initiative; the one in the Godzilla maid costume rolled exceptionally well and is actually moving on the same init as TundraWolf. He's pulled off the Godzilla head, but given up on getting out of the outfit completely. He's drawn his gun and is looking towards the trail of wrecked trees.

His partner didn't roll as well and is going at the same time as the mooks in the truck, which works out because he's also gotten out of the car and is pointing his pistol at the speeding truck. His amplified voice through the car's sound system calls out "STOP RIGHT THERE!"

It is now time for Mr. White to take his turn.

sorry, whut ? .... ummm .. we're playing what again ?

yes the base jumping lunatic is double taking the scene ! ... it's all gone horribly surrealist period

LOL, well, I'm just playing it as written. So talk to the writers if you think it's too sureal.

Anyway, I think it's safe to assume that Mr. White gets himself out of the van and moving away from it on his pass.

We can move on to IP2, starting with Silas who I believe I said was making it to the crash site this pass, right?

Still waiting on actions for Silas as he reaches this crash site this pass.

oops sorry !

I'm away from dice roller atm but I intend to hide and cover the escape of my colleagues,

holding an action to empty the last few bullets from this stolen weapon into the first hostile that threatens them

Ok, we'll just assume you managed hide yourself and prepare to fire on anybody threatening the team.

Following Silas' turn, the driver of the truck makes a driving test to bring the truck to stop a short distance from the crash site... He handedly manages this despite the blown tire (he got 4 hits) and brings the truck to a screeching halt that leaves the passenger side of the van facing the crash site and the headlight pointing at the Knight Errant officers who are squinting into the bright light.

Next up is Gardner's air spirit and TundraWolf.

On my turn I'll continue sprinting towards the crash site.

Strength 6 - Defaulting 1 = 1 hits. +2m speed for this turn.

Sounds good.

Following TundraWolf's turn, the KE officer in the Godzilla/maid costume levels the shotgun he pulled out of the squad car at the truck that just came to a screeching halt. "Don't you mother fraggers move another inch. We are Knight Errant officers and will own your asses."

-------------

Following that Gardner can take his turn for this pass. He has previously gotten himself unbuckled and out of the wreckage and last pass he managed to get both Acson and Needle out of the burning van. What now?

I can almost hear the "Suuuuuuure thing, buddy" from our opposition's van at that pronouncement.


Though now I'm just hoping they don't shoot me in the back.

anyone I can sneak around (with cover) and get the drop on ?

preferably someone dangerous looking so I can disable them, permanently !

Maybe the Knight Errant guy in the Godzilla/Maid costume. The other one is in the street with the patrol car between you and him. The guys in the truck are in the middle of the street looking in your direction since you are by the crash site.

We are currently still waiting on actions from Gardner

yup, just checking out the scene for after

Oh, jeeze. Sorry, I must have missed a message saying there was an update...

Gardner will spend his action helping anyone else out of the truck wreckage that is not already out. I suggest we high-tail it out of here while our opposition is distracted by Knight Errant...

You've already gotten everybody out of the wrecked van and nobody said anything at all about the guys in the truck being distracted by Knight Errant.
It's true that Knight Errant is distracted by the truck, but whatever you can see of the guys in the truck that was chasing you is all focused on your position.

Ok, it has been over a month since anybody has posted to this game. So I'm officially calling it dead.

Anybody that is still around can give me a luck roll of the full Edge value:
Critical Glitch = You died on in the final firefight
Glitch = You survived but suffered a serious injury
No Hits/No Glitch = Only minor injuries if any
1 hit or more = You got out safely against all odds

If at least 1 person got out safely, you have the package intact and are able to get him to Moreau who pays all survivors as promised.

I'll be putting up a closing IC post to take those rolls into account.

If nobody rolls, within the next two weeks, I'll roll for you and post something up anyway just so that we can have some closure.

Woot

Gods of fate, hear me now
(2d6.hits(5)=1)

Woohoo!

We have at least one survivor who gets paid despite the oncoming arrival of the full strike team (Ares Citymaster, 4 Yamaha Growlers, 2 more Northrop Wasps, 4 Lockheed Optic X drones, a combat mage, 4 combat officers in full body armor, and 12 more full body armor solders).