“It’s a Trap.” Abrie says flatly; “and we have little choice but to walk straight into it. The best we can hope for is to be able to fight our way out.” Before the planning session, she handed out the Terrelayne standard issue comm earbuds that also act as psi jammers, and with having the planning session in the Loreli, she hopes to have the session be hidden from scrying minds. “We can buy time for Dr Misishii’s science team to fire up the gate system and for them and others, including us hopefully, to escape. I have already instructed the Mother (long haul freighter) to proceed to the 100D limit of Nusemzar and jump out system, she will carry the news of what has happened to the expedition. The Black Ships are here, while I cannot feel them directly, they have a prisoner, who is planning on our arrival at the palace at the top of the mountain, to escape and from her, and her terror, it is unmistakably THEM. Those that have never seen them face to face will do so today, steel yourselves for it.”
Continuing on she details the plan:
1. They arrive at the top of the sky fortress in the G-Carrier.
2. Ty will take up guard at the G-Carrier outside, while the rest of the team escorts Abrie and Dr Misishii to the great hall for the audience with the Duke.
3. Note: No firearms will be allowed into the great hall with the Duke, only ceremonial blades. Once in the great hall, the deal will most likely go down. The team will have a grav-pallet with various equipment, a computer, holoscreen etc., which are gifts for the Duke and contain the proposal for a tech uplift project, such as setting up a pipe factory and more modern steel blast furnaces.
4. Withdraw from the great hall and get back to the G-Carrier and crash the entrance below, then fight to the gate system and gate out to somewhere else. Due to this, some of the fighting complement will be left below, also the crew of the Loreli will be left as a skeleton crew, to allow as many of them to escape as possible. The Vaandir is running cap, but if they run into too heavy of opposition, they will retreat as well and try to jump out system.
Once gone, it will be up to individual members to find their way home, Dr Misishii assures me that if we can get the control crystal and her data out, the mission will be a success. On Terrelayne, we all will be hailed as heroes, whether we make it back or not. I have tried to keep the plan simple enough, as it will probably not survive contact with the enemy. I suggest everyone do a full loadout on ammo, as I don’t know when they next resupply will be.
“Any questions?”
Comments
“This stinks, we should all prepare for the worst” Walt replies “If there is any assistance me or my mencmenace offer to ensure this mission is a success please let me know? I will get my men ready and we will be in our for the meeting, and once that is over we will start to get on with the evac please letme know if there is any task that is priority” Walt finishes
“Just so I am clear on this, Major, are you saying the Duke is in league with the Black Ships or that we are supposed to leave him and his troops as a screen to our escape?” Jaq asks without even a hint of accusation. “Also, this prisoner of the Black Ships that you are sensing, is this someone that we need to be considering as needing rescue? Can this person be trusted?”
OOC: What does Jaq know about the psi abilities of those in the Black Fleet?
OOC: Being from droyne, or post-droyne, or such. Jaq would know they have a high psi rating.
To Walt Abrie says: “Thank you, your primary task once the trap is sprung should be to make it to the gate and survive, survival is the real victory here.”
To Jaq: “Honestly, can anyone be trusted? If you had a personality overlay, would you know it? The prisoner is a gap in their armor, they don’t know I can feel her as she cries out in her dreams and they don’t care, but I do. The Duke has betrayed all of charted space and anything what would even be considered, not in new terms, but the ancient term of humanity, such as in crimes against humanity. The Guild Worlders are indescribably alien, how does one frame a point of refence? At once living and not alive, hedonistic yet immensely cruel and uncaring; in short the sum of all our fears. The prisoner is a novelty to them now, how long will it last before they harvest her head to upload into their grid?”
“My concern, Major, is that she is part of the trap, planted for your benefit,” Jaq says. “As far as the Duke is concerned, I have no vested interest either way. As far as I am concerned, he can rot. But I have no idea what your sealed or unsealed orders might have been.” Jaq pauses, having completed the thought. “Does Dr Misishii have any idea where we might end up when we go through the gate? What kind of reception or resources we might end up with?” Jaq considers the situation carefully. It may very well become one of pure survival. “We should make sure we have several days rations and water for each person going through.”
Garet simply listens to the Major.
“I’d have Archie and Mulberry go over every ship heading to the J-point, especially anyone that’s carrying you.”
“Someone already was playing around with your pinnace, it wouldn’t take a stretch to assume it may happen again.”
“So, you’re going to need a pilot, a good one.”
Waking from another nightmare to another waking nightmare, she startles awake and checks the scream building in her throat. Dreaming that she had no mouth, that they’d taken it from her, made her unable to scream – coming now awake in this dark, dingy room. Letting out a long, low, shivering sigh, her shoulders slumping – as far as they could, with her neck chained to the wall.
A bowl of water just within reach, she slaked her thirst, eyes darting around her, like a dog afraid it would be taken away. Where the hell was she? Who the hell were these people? How could they deal with these abominations who had kept her, leashed like an animal aboard their ship, for… months? A year? Years?
She had long ago given up trying to count the nights by the number of times she slept – sleep coming fitfully for her in the Black Fleet. She’d often been jerked awake to the sound of screams echoing through the gangways; been kept awake by the memory of dismembered body parts brimming over the sides of slops bins, and by the terror she felt each time they came near her, leaned over her, ugh their smell… She spat out the bile rising in her throat.
Now she was at least in human space, but what was happening – had the abominations tired of their plaything? Was she to be the pet of a new owner, or would she be sacrificed as part of some hellish frakking ritual? “You are tough, you are tough, you are tough,” she reminded herself; she’d survived this long through horrors… And if they watched her any less in this new place than on the Black Ships, she’d at least try to take some of the scumsuckers with her when the chance was given.
“Duke, smuke.” Kallen spits, then curse’s in his native tongue about brown dwellers.
“Gate world, what is this?” Not putting two and two together. Looking around he hopes for a basic answer, as the idea seems a little big for him to comprehend.
(OOC: Nice beginning post for Sialann) It looks like nobody else is going to post yet, so…
To Jaq Abrie agrees she could be part of the trap, but she isn’t going to leave her behind if she can help it. As far as supplies go, she has moved as much as she can down below with the science team, all moves had to be made to look casual, so as to not alert anyone. She feels that playing along will be a better chance, because moving too soon will tip their hand and the black ships would attack before they are ready. When Dr Misishii transports people through the gate, she doesn’t know where they will go, being random is the best defence here Abrie thinks.
To Garet Abrie takes his hand and thanks him for the offer, but no, even if something happened to the pilot, Archie could still fly the Loreli. The Mother is about to jump and the Raven is Terrelayne military, she trusts that it is not sabotaged, even if the Mother doesn’t make it, the Vaandir should. Garet should be with Jaq, most will be in the great hall, maybe a chance to ask a few questions of the Duke before things go wrong.
Kallen can go as Reserve Interpreter Officer.
Here is a map of the area, the great hall is over a 100m long, just to give size to the palace area. It has definitely seen better days as from when it was the seat of power of the Empire. The Dukes guards and retinue have attempted to clean it up a bit, removing rotted curtains and fixing some errant bullet holes from the days of the civil war, it would be too much work for too little result to restore the whole palace.
The G-Carrier will land and wait on the lower landing area with Ty outside as guard, with Walt, John and a couple of other troopers in the foyer. Abrie, Jaq, Kallen and Garet will go inside the great hall for an audience (remember, no guns in the great hall, the duke isn’t trusting of that) so if things go wrong, John and Walt will have to come in and get the rest out, then it will be get to the gate and go. A random trooper can lead the grav pallet jack with the holoscreen and computer into the great hall for the audience.
John
OOC: It has taken me a long while to figure out John’s response to this. Also, not sure if John is fully back up to speed.
“I’m mildly confused on a lot of things.” John said, after listening to everything said thus far. “If this is a trap, who cares about the Duke? There’s no future in being a dead hero. Now, if you want to put a million credits per head on the table for anyone that makes it back to Terradyne, heroics become an option.”
“If this prisoner needs to be rescued, why? Can she provide information about how to combat the Black Fleet? That’d be worth some risk. If the options are to get separated from everyone else or stay together and under the radar, I’m personally for the latter.” From John’s tone it’s confirmed that he’s not leaving Mary alone.
“Really, it boils down to the end state we need to reach. The Doctor wants the info back home, great. We need to survive, and this prisoner wants to be rescued. How much of that is really achievable and at what cost?”
John is not belligerent but trying to understand the nature of the engagement.
OCC: John is fully healed.
Abrie, looking haggard, says in a resigned manner: “Running would just elicit a chase, I won’t run, not just to be run down and killed, it’s not the Republican Guard way. They were waiting for us here all along, might as well go fight the spider, come what may, I will face the Duke, alone if I have to, keeping up the charade gives us more time to escape. The prisoner is an unknown element, she might be of help or not, who knows?”
“Talk about un-winnable situations. After years of seeing good and crap things, I’ll have to say it’s better to run to a better position of strength. Sounds like we have little advantages here.”
Kallen is nervous, especially with continued talk about things he is very uncomfortable about. As well as other foreign concepts.
Kallen then turns to Garet, “Any ideas old mate for us civilians?”
“What situation do we have?” Walt asks “if we are to run through this gate, then why are we bothering with investigations to our sabatour?, why are we continuing this façade with the Duke?, why haven’t we just jumped through this gate and been on our way?” Walt looks puzzled as if his whole head has been spun around “If we cant get off of this planet, without being chased then so be it stand and fight im up for that!, if we cant fight but can escape through this Gate then i guess okay! if we dont give to hupney bits about the Duke why dont we just toast his ass before he has chance to do it to us? and then escape through the Gate?, and whats to say that no one can follow us through this gate after we have gone through, can we blow it after we have gone through? is someone required to ensure it is blown i.e sacrifice? Oh and can someone please explain to me what this GATE is in easy infantry language” Walt finishes
OOC sorry guys this is a tough one, been a while in thought about it!!!
Garet replies:
“Well, this is all theory I heard in the academy, but we all know the application of J-space, right? so we know the tremendous amount of energy it takes to move a ship, but what if you could funnel that energy to create sort of a window, big enough for sophants to travel through?”
“I think that is what they are referring to regarding a “gate”."
“But that’s pretty risky..to link coordinates to an habitable planet, but considering everything, it’s no more insane than jumping in a starship.”
“The Duke sold out this system to the black ships Nothing we can do about that, but if we can get that hostage, then ole Dukie will have to answer for that, since it happened on his watch. Nothing better than that.”
To Walt: “We have to keep the Duke thinking he has the upper hand, if he smells out that we know he sold everyone out, then none of us get off this rock alive. Now, with the doc’s gate, set to random locations, they can chase, but chase who? and chase where? this maneuver buys us something we need, time.”
“I’m sure the doc has the rig to blow after the last person has gone through, or set it on a timer, but If any of us has a chance to let the Duke’s air out, they should take it.”
To John: "From every story I’ve ever heard about the black ships, they usually don’t keep prisoners. So if she’s alive, to me, that screams “major asset”. Most of us were either military or still are, we can’t leave anyone behind, and if that means taking a risk, then I’m in."
“I’d rather die fighting against these monsters and for what I believe in, than running away knowing I could’ve done something.”
Turning to Kallen: “Our best option is to try to get to our ship, having our own transport goes a long way towards being much more mobile, agile and hostile.”
“True, we’re civvies, but it looks like this Black Ship problem is gonna follow us, so better to be on the winning team, and make a profit along the way.”
To Walt, John, Mary, Kallen, Jaq (any any other PC I missed): “Kallen and I have shares in a ship located in Dirkimun, about one parsec away from here. We’ll need help bringing her online. You all are more than welcome to join us. Who knows? we may be able to give an assist in bringing this nightmare to an end, but it’s your decision.”
Looking at Garet, Kallen questions, “So it is a sort of Teleport?” Cog’s turn in his brain, trying to remember some things he learned whilst taking passage on ships. “Ain’t that sort off dangerous to walk in to a jump bubble. I mean you go insane when you look at jump space right?”
Kallen’s eyes tell Garet he is still trying to work things out knowing him well enough. “though, how big is this gate, what could pass through? Could a, one of these Black ship’s pass through?” Then he turns to his memory again. “I know it’s rough location, but I’ve seem to have forgotten the ships spec’s. Well, what am thinking, is if the gate is small that a ship cannot go through, then the have to walk it maybe! And how does the gate work. One thing at a time?”
To Kallen the gates would probably be “magic”, though as a local, he’d know the legends of his own world. Also I post the ship in the wiki because of Kallen and Gareth talking about it, it’s a Zho Far Trader called the Dust Witch.
I gave opportunity for anyone to check out the Gate in the last few posts; though Abrie isn’t the one to ask and talking to Dr Misishii, she’ll talk of a crystal matrix from another crystal plant (similar to the one just found irl) that was shattered and sent into these forming systems from a nova of it’s star, forming geode like cysts in the gate worlds. Working through piezio-electric power, quantum entanglement, etc. and yes one can’t look as they teleport, it starts screaming hot and you come out freezing, if there was a gate/crystal cyst big enough, it could probably transport a whole ship, but also and more importantly, it might one day form the basis of a interstellar crystal radio set, for FTL communication, who knows? This is what the mission has always been about.
Abrie smiles at Garet’s speech, thinking thank god someone understands. Even if she doesn’t show it, she doesn’t think much of mercenaries, she fights for honor and her people, not money, so cries of money don’t go far with her. Walt talking of killing the duke is met with a flash of the fanatical defender of her people in her eyes and she says “Yes, get me near them and they are dead…” denoting maybe an ulterior motive. Decapitating the enemy is also generally a sound tactical move, not just that vengeance for betrayal looks good politically for Terrelayne. She shows a picture (the top one) of a black ship, stating that has been spotted in the mountains, sneaking about, while just a scout it is very powerful as they are anti-matter powered, so no need of huge tonnage devoted to fuel. At no point can they acknowledge have they seen it as that would tip their hand that they have a way of detecting the Black Ships, sort of like with breaking the ultra code.
OOC: Everyone thinking about the situation is cool and the interaction is awesome, it would be nice to decide on a course of action. Few know of the fact it’s a trap right now, Abrie has even invited Mari Vladzic to the audience with the Duke, and Mari is happy to go, maybe negotiate a deal in her mind, not knowing of the betrayal. Mari would also have some notoriety to Walt, Kallen and Garet; being a pirate, rogue trader and local of this part of the sector.
Kallen wonders dumbly for a few moments, thinking of possibilities, life as well as other things he would rather be thinking right now.
“Right, from what the doc said, the teleport bubble won’t be big enough for a big ship I gather. But,” Another question for the doc, “what can it hold more importantly?”
Kallens frustration of the obsurd situation he is in is starting to show themselves, fist’s clenching. Then turns sparking out, “Why don’t we blow that cursed spire out of the sky!” Ranting fanatically.
John
Having been lost in thought for a bit, John replied slowly. “There’s a lot I still don’t understand, so take my comments with that in mind. I have no problem running if that’s the right course to take. If we need to stand and fight though, then perhaps we should be unified. Volume of fire makes up for a lot of tactical errors.”
“It sounds like we have two goals; let the scientists evac and rescue the prisoner. Any collateral damage we can do to the black fleet ships is a bonus. If we assume the Black Fleet will attack while we’re with the Duke,” He looked to Abrie for confirmation or denial “then that gives the scientists time to get as much as they can done. That reduces our need to hide.”
“Is it possible to get the one craft moving at all? It could provide a decoy or even a battering ram if it could be remotely piloted. Speaking of which, if the g-carrier is armored then the faster we get inside the defenses of the target ship the better.”
“Does that make sense? We stay as two teams with tight lines of comm. Armor would be great as there’s going to be a lot of stuff in the air.”
Walt has this to add to the discussion as to our approach “Firstly let me clarify I am a Soldier, i am not a mercenary!!! in the future please remember that! – now we are in a jam here and although it goes against my normal balls and all approach, a tactical withdrawal would seem in order. lets not play our hand quite yet – it may well come in handy the next time we encounter the enemy! we should enact withdrawal through the gate asap securing all assets and personnel if possible, i am unsure as to the security of this gate however and would prefer it blown on this side if possible after we have gone through – though i understand little on how it or psychics work so this maybe not possible. if you want the Duke i will undertake that with a squad before we withdraw hopefully making it back to the gate to join the rest off you”
Abrie gives Walt a wan smile, her way is not to be insulting or to insult people, she will be honest with her feelings though. She might be a bit haughty though, coming from a line of Zho nobles and being an officer of an elite commando force.
Looking at Kallen: “While nuking the place from orbit seems gratifying, it’s not our way, nor do we have the troops for a bug hunt in the sky fortress.” Turning to everyone else. “The Loreli has a low chance of making it, she’s old and slow and down here planet side her black globe won’t be of use, as it will just burn atmosphere. First piority is to provide cover for the science team’s escape, that is why we keep the charade going as long as we can. If the prisoner can catch up to us, or we to them, that is great. Our greatest asset at this point is that they don’t know that we know it’s a trap; knowing them, they will take time to gloat over their ‘victory’, that type seems to never change.”
Taking a deep breathe and staring at the floor: “I have two young children on Banderhue, I don’t relish the thought of never seeing them again. At some point, every combat mission seems like suicide, especially if one doesn’t have superiority, I myself often write a final log before a mission, it helps to clear my fears, and if I return, then I just delete it. If it feels like demons are tearing your life away, know that there is freedom there as well, the freedom to say ‘ef it, I’m doing this. The universe may be indifferent to our cries, but damn it, if I can knock the black ship’s back in dying, I will, with the hope my war won’t be my children’s war as this has been our parents war.”
Looking up again at everyone: “The carrier is armored against small arms fire, that’s it, I say we shred them up there in the tower, the best they probably have is some men with ACR’s, most of the rest are just cermonial troops with pikes and polished cuirass, what the black ship’s crew have, I do not know, they are few I would bet. Then with the carrier we drop to the entrance below near the base and slam through to the gate, jump out and bolt away, if we do enough damage, they will be too disorganized to mount a counter-attack or quickly follow up. I don’t think we can destroy the gate, but if we take the control crytal, they won’t be able to follow us through.”
“As you have explained i see no further avenue of action and myself and my men are ready to fight this through till the end, lets not get caught up in sentiment and dourness lets get this done sooner to meet our maker if that is the case than to sit here crying about lost loves or loved ones we have never had! when do we roll out? my men are prepared and awaiting the order”
after this conversation is concluded Walt will fall away and discuss plans with the men. He will lead the GCarrier assault and ensure that the control crystal is secured so as to make our escape as prompt and as safe as possible he gives a short speech to the men “We are all together here on this precipice of evil! there are forces we are facing i do not understand but know that they mean harm to all of us and our families! if we fail here no system will be safe from attack and though it is possible some may make sacrifice here today, i give solace that our actions and sacrifices we lay down here WILL PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES BACK HOME! to my infantry men and women i give you this we are a muti role force, we live and mix with other disciplines but in front of the gates of heaven we all stand the same brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers – do not let past differences between the forces sway you from our task as we all down to the last are fighting for the safety of our homes! we have a chance today to destroy this cancer before it spreads to our homeworlds and effecting those that are in our hearts! TO VICTORY I SAY – AND DAMN THESE ALIENS – VICTORY!!!” Walt will then outline our plans among the unit leaders and also thank each man personally
Kallen’s rage intensifies to the point he shouts, “I ain’t no Military junk like you. Leavin’ all that crap to you. I ain’t taking part in pure suicide.”
Kallen then stands up and walks out muttering. “This planet has only caused me trouble. Just want to get off it.”
John
“Abrie, I’ve been in these sorts of situations before.” Said John. He looked at her and thought to himself. ‘And we thought your lot was a bit stiff and by the book.’ He winked and continued. “That leaves no option for the prisoner and it binds us to tradition. Traditions are nice but not worth dying for. How do we get a team to the ship with the prisoner? Would that attempt buy the science team and whomever wants to go with them time to evac? Who should be on that team? Do we have any heavy firepower that can be used to our advantage?”
“There is no ship, we go through the gate and who knows from there. The idea all along has been to allow the science team and as many as possible to escape.”
Abrie thanks Walt for his support.
OOC: People should declare what they want to be carrying.
Kallen will be wearing his armour over his top, with his cape hooded up. Credits in is pouch’s along with his ammo. Tent roped up swung over his shoulder and both pistols in the holsters at his hips.
Kallen decides to go join the scientists when the time is right, and head for the teleport portal to go to Dirkimun and act as their scout. Till then he will avoid all military types, all except his good friend Garet.
OOC: Me and Marc have now decided on our ally skill, being Gunner(Turrets).
Alright, sounds good, he is in with the sci-team. Turrets are fine as well.
Where is the portal from the Great Hall? Is it at the bottom of the sky fortress? Also, does the expedition have any grav belts? I have an idea that should be both very interesting and very unexpected…
Yes, the portal is at the bottom of the fortress, with the map up above corresponding to the elevator shaft/stairs setup which Walt and John reconoitered earlier. There are two grav belts that were used for patrol work for the ground squad.
Only 2. Well, that puts a small kink in my plan, but it could still be useful. No chance to pick up any more, I take it. Oh well.
Jaq listens to the ideas being bounced about, waiting for the planning to begin in earnest, then she looks at Aubrie, “Do you really think we can all get out on the G-Carrier? Or get the prisoner out quickly?” She pauses. “I think we need to do something unexpected. I understand that we have 2 grav belts. That will give 4 people a fast let down off the side, kinda like B.A.S.E. jumping with old-style parachuting. The 4 getting off that way van be the last ones off, covering the G-Carrier’s getaway, then jumping off ourselves. Each Grav Belt can handle a controlled descent with 2 people, but it will be a hard landing. We might be able to mitigate the landing by overbosting the belts, but it will burn them out. But it will give us a quick and expideint way out of the Great Hall and possibly a quick way to the Gate.” She pauses to see what the effect is.
OOC: Jaq would put a bag at the gate to take out that has most of her gear in it and rations for several days. She would, of course, have her Cred Stick on her. Her twin gauss pistols would be hanging just inside the G-Carrier if she is not permitted to wear them. Her SMG would be in the Go back with the rest of her gear. She would wear her Combat Enviroment Suit under her dress uniform.
Abrie smiles at Jaq’s suggestion: “You missed your calling, you would make a good soldier, thinking out of the box is the path to victory.”
She also states that for the group that goes into the great hall, they bring weapons and stack them in foyer, make a show of it. Terrelay doesn’t do dress uniforms much, so often armor as well can substitute, meaning that people can wear armor.
Jaq smiles in return, “Major, as a Scout, we always have to think outside the box.” She listens to what the major says about armor and opts for combat armor herself in place of her normal dress uniform. She’ll place her Combat Environment Suit in her Go Bag. She’ll have her Combat Armor adorned as appropriate for an Imperial Scout and a Knights Commander of the Honorable Order of the Emperor’s Guard.
Abrie gives a wan smile to everyone and asks if there are anymore questions?
OOC: I’ll post a gear list title in the wiki, cut and paste from here, after the gate, if one doesn’t have it listed, you don’t have it. It’s walk out with what you can carry.
Also we’ll move this along tommorrow.
Seeing that others are packing, Walt will pack himself he will include in his pack a tent (if available)as many rations as possible his regular combat kit, he will also pack as many clips as possible. He will go around the men and women and offer advice on how best to rig your pack for extended
March
John
If there’s armor that’ll fit John and Mary, they’ll take it, as well as food, water, filtration, credits, ID, ammunition, weapons, whatever explosives they can find, a few metal files, knives, small comm gear, detectors, cold weather blankets, and whatever hand tools they can carry.
“Spent time as a colonist. You never know what you need until you don’t have it.”
Hearing Jaq’s plan, John adds. “I can stow my gear by the portal as well. Just be up top with armor, weapons, and ammo and then take one of the grav belts down. Hm.. a few explosives might also slow down pursuit. Got anything handy?”
OOC looks like I have a secondary infection so I’m more than likely will be back in hospital
If we are showing gear near the portal do we have anyone guarding it, and would an AirRaft be available to float through? Would give us extra supplies and an ability to scout ahead
Whilst among the scientist’s Kallen takes a good look at their faces, trying to judge any who have faced a hard life. Suddenly he remembers his most prized possession, his trusted blade, in it’s position where it should be, strapped by a couple loops of leather sheathing it to the back of his right boot. He then starts remembering details he knows of planet Dirkimun. Notable details to do with survival and notable landmarks that he remembers that would help him work out where he is when he arrives so that he can then workout where to head to find the Dust Witch.
OOC: What details of Dirkimun does Kallen know? notable landmarks and known biomes that he knows exists there.
Do you have the gate worlds zip off of CotI? The basics, plus map of Dirkimun is in there, having been there, Kallen would have an idea what it is like, though due to activity from the gates, both natural and process from the old empire, the biomes of the gate worlds are similar.
Chris, sorry to hear of the secondary infection, hope everything goes well for you. Yes, there is a plan, the ealier science team transport will take two of the air/rafts, and the Carrier and an air/raft will go through, with the rest (including Kallen, because he would be transported somewhere completely different if he went with the earlier leaving group).
John has the CA fitted for him earlier, otherwise it is a combat enviorment suit type vacc suit, from the wiki. Explosives are mostly grenades, both RAM and hand; there is a demo charge, though the Imperial Guard won’t let the team just waltz in with that, not to mention that setting off a demo charge in a crumbling ruin might not be such a good idea.
I’ll probably put the gear list under items, lists should be fairly detailed, so no ‘magically’ pulling items from thin air.
I will put a map of the underground at the sky fotress as well in the map tab.
It looks like the roster will be:
Jag, Garet, Mari, Abrie and Dr Misishii go into the great hall with Tandeel operating the grav-pallet with the computer and holoscreen. Those going in should blade up, as guns will be left in the foyer, with a psuedo-ceremonial stacking arms ceremony out of respect for the duke.
Walt, John, Munoz and a robot in foyer as guards. Munoz suggests daisy chaining nine grenades as an ad-hoc demo charge to throw into the guard room when things go south.
Outside, Ty will wait with the G-Carrier and her crew.
Below it will be Kallen, Mary, Dag, and Tinu. There will be various others down below as well, more robots, Chicken and his LMG, plus Tandeel’s missile launcher and some stacks of tac missiles for use later after the gate.
OOC: I have, been studying it a little. Asked earlier incase Kallen only visited it briefly, or limited to a small area.
I figure, Kallen, and most others have been around some, so they have some basic knowledge of the sectors, or at least worlds within a few subsectors of where they are. Knowledge is always imperfect, people can know stuff that each other may not know and talking to people (pc’s and npc’s) one can learn more, also going through databases like Jaq did, will get people to know stuff or at least a roll to maybe have heard about something.
Gear List is up in the items section, at least a preliminary, feel free to break off and make one’s own list in the items section.
OOC: So, given my questions and your answers, Kallen could easily know where he is on Dirkimun as he knows most of the planets landmarks. Which now brings me to ask, where is the location that Kallen knows where the rough location of The Dust Witch is?
Dirkimun, or as it’s is called by Traders: “Darkmoon”, is actually a binary world with a just slightly smaller satelite called “the Sister”, on it there is a trade town, similar to Gumrak on Urlishasha. Consequently this sister moon by it’s size causes some extreme tidal effects, thus promoting the use of airships over sea-going vessels when possible, there is some tectonic activity, and vulcanism, though the planet seems to have settled more with a thicker crust.
The best idea Kallen and Garet have is that the old man who actually owns the ship, fled to the sister moon after the incident on Nusemzar.
The incident?
When Garet and Kallen were left behind.
Listening to the plan, Garet turns to Jaq and Kallen:
“Okay, so let’s grab what gear we can, and get set up..the three of us make sure we cover each other, and we’ll get out of here in one piece.”
" Jaq, I’m coming with you, since we’re going to be in the Great Hall anyway, that grav-belt idea would not be expected, perhaps even toss some smoke to add to the confusion level."
“Unless someone else has a plan, I’ll be the last one out, and grab the control crystal, and drop a couple a frag grenades on my way out>”
“Actually, Garet, I was planning to be the last one out. The buggers on the Black Fleet can’t frell with my mind the way they can with anyone else’s. And I suspect that if they get close enough in force, they can even overcome the electronic psi shields. But not even a P12 Teep can get me,” she turns to Aubrie, “Right, Major?” She smiles genuinely, to let Aubrie know there are no ill feelings. “Major, I assume that you will also want to be on the last ride down so you can secure the prisoner?” If Aubrie says she will secure the prisoner, then Jaq will tell garet that it is fine that he come with her.
“We’ll all ride down together.” Abrie pauses in thought, “yes, the grav belts, I see.” Thinking of the reference to her being a teep: “In ancient times, hearing voices in your head was called madness, still is if you ask me. One point to remember about the guild worlders is that they are Droyne, or post-droyne or whatever, they can still pass unseen.” Pausing for a moment, she continues, “What I want is for us all to work as a team, all together, and we all make it out alive. Everyone is important…ultimately this includes the captive as well.”
OOC: I still need an equipment list from Garet; everybody else can see Kallen started his own in items, which is a good idea to collect them in one place, ammo will be especially important.
Next will be a cut to riding up and landing in the Carrier.
OOC: I’ve made an updated list of what Jaq has set up for the getaway.
OOC: That’s great, Jaq.
On the ride up, Ty breaks out a case of grenades, typical Terrelayne load, three to a bandolier, two HE’s and one WP smoke; six bandoliers in total. They can’t be carried in to the great hall though. Upon landing, the team emerges to a Seneschal and twenty of the Duke’s guards, standing in straight ranks, polished helmet and cuirass, white livery with red trim; they are armed with pike and sword, revolvers holstered on the other hip. Once pleasantries are exchanged, they proceed to the foyer, where there are twenty more pikemen, lining the walls; Abrie instructs those going in to ceremoniously to strip themselves of their arms and stack them, to be guarded by the exterior team, the Imperial Guards, two emerging in cloth with ACR’s and do a quick inspection that there are no arms, they force those with grav belts to remove them before entering, only blades are allowed, such as Abrie’s Republican Guard monofilament blade, mag clipped to her left forearm. After entering the great hall, the guards close a the giant bronze portal door to the hall, the ones being closed from the foyer to the landing area as well.
Once in the great hall, one can see about 40 more pikemen, all lined amongst the columns of the hall. At the far end, sitting in a throne upon a dias, is the duke, with a squad of his personal bodyguard in cloth with ACR’s. The guards stop the party at about 6.5 meters before the throne, The Duke announces: “My friends are here!” in a friendly tone, where Abrie responds with pleasantries involved, as well as an exchange, in which she introduces the party. After which, she outlines Terrelayne’s plan to bring in engineers and set up modern blast furnaces for steel production, as well as a modern pipe extrusion plant, things that would boost the technology of the Duke’s domains as well as sanitation. The Duke, a polished younger man, smiles at all this and says he is greatly interested in the exchange, as well as what the science team has discovered in their research. He is intersted in the Imperial presence of Jaq and Garet as well. Looking to Jaq, he asks: “So what is the Imperial opinion of all this?” In a well oiled and smooth manner.
The Duke
Jaq steps forward when the Duke addresses her directly, “Your Grace, the Emperor is pleased to see the Republic of Terrelayne working with your Grace in this matter. He, too, is interested in the research that is ongoing here at the Sky Fortress. The Emperor hopes that such cooperation will forge the way for future efforts and help to prevent the encroachment of the dark forces that wish to darken our skies.” If the Duke could read her mind, he would instantly know she didn’t really believe in what she was saying, but as the representative of the Emperor, she had to make it look good – She had to serve the plattitudes of politics. Besides, he couldn’t and she was confident in that. “His Highness knows you will stand with us and thanks you for your steadfastness, Your Grace. He knows your Grace could never be swayed by any members of the Black Fleet like other, more feeble peoples have been.” Secretly, she was hoping to goad the “Royal” into starting something with that last comment, preying on his vanity. “Shall I convey Your Grace’s conviction to the Emperor?” I tense up inside the armor waiting for the expected to happen and relying on my danger sense (Roll 2d6= 6+3=9) and any visual queues (such as Droynes hanging around invisble-like)
Jaq sense danger all around, no sign of the twisted, post-droyneist Black Ship’s crewmen yet.
The Duke gives a sly smile, “I am surprised the Emperor takes notice of this little endevour here, like a God looking down on ants, I suppose. Yes, darkness may fall, and then a new day arises, we must meet that new day as well; however attractive the glories of the past may seem, if one is hypnotized into looking back, he does not see what is coming. I must take care of my people, my world, that is my focus. Does the Imperium offer any protection, succor to our needs?” He says raising an eyebrow questioningly.
Meanwhile Kallen, down below, over hears two workers:
1st: “What do you suppose is going on?”
2nd: “More of the Guard Major’s insanity I bet, just like the riot in the ship’s cargo hold, she’s looped I tell you, totally paranoid. If these people aren’t the enemy, she’ll make them so, like with the Duneraiders.”
1st: “Ohhh, how did I get roped into this?”
2nd: “We all signed on the tablet screen…”
[OOC, sorry for the delay, my gear list is up, but Garet would have his cred stick on his person]
Garet intently listens to the Duke’s conversation, attempting to use his knowledge of court politics to see if the Duke is attempting to give hidden verbal instructions to his troops.
Listening in, he finds enjoyment in hearing that Abrie is though of as insane. “Well, this whole thing seems insane, the Black Ships, the gate, that damn spire and this rustle of a operation.” Turning around he looks at both of them and interupt’s, " I ain’t made a mark anywhere and am stuck in this like you two. Damn those traitorous Brown’s." He remarks having seen in his past how conniving they can be if given the chance.
OOC I have ended up back in hospital, so I didn’t get chance to go through my equipment properly
I will post when I can hopefully back home by the weekend
Walt is uneasy with the Dukes “New Day” statement but holds his emotion and posture in check. He will note all armed personal in the hall as well as asses any hidy holes or places we could be jumped from Walt is carrying his Bowtie knife in its ankle sheaf . He will also try to read Jaq body language so as to determine when it’s time to act!
OOC: Sorry to hear that Chris, hope you are feeling alright. :(
Gear lists, Garet’s looks fine, and when you can do Walt’s it is fine, Chris.
Garet doesn’t notice any hidden instructions, and the floor around them is relatively clear, troops only by the dias or along the columns. Walt does notice that there could be someone behind the columns, as they are of gigantic construction, in it’s heyday the great hall must have been awe inspiring.
After Kallen’s statement, one of the worker’s looks at him puzzled, “The who?” he says and then as an afterthought: “Aren’t you one too?”
If by any chance during the proceedings Walt has the opportunity to mingle he will do so and try to get as close too the columns ws possible to scope them out
Jaq, also, raises an eyebrow. Seems out of place in such a meeting to be so direct. She locks eyes with the Duke, but is otherwise cool. If he is going to break protocol on their first meeting, she she has no compunctions, either. But neither is she going to be the aggressor. She senses enough of that already coming from the Duke. After a moment, she speaks again. “Your Grace, I don’t believe I’ve seen your formal request for assistance, however, I am certain that there will be areas which the Imperium will be able to provide assistance in.” Jaq smiles politely, but continues to lock eyes with the Duke, “Perhaps after this formal meeting, your ministers and I can sit down informally and we can see what your needs are and how best they can be met. In the meantime, I believe that the Republic of Terrelayne’s proposals will certainly help your people and your world, raising the standard of living for all of your peoples and giving you technology to build upon.” Jaq’s brown eyes seem to intensify, although nothing about her expression changes. It’s not so much that she seems to bore holes through the Duke with her eyes, but rather is showing strength and resolve to him and not letting him intimidate her.
John
Keeping watch outside, John planned the sequence of shots required to take down the outside guards and open the doors.
John sees a strange humanoid serving woman, dressed in white robes, approach him from the direction of the wyvern stables, slipping through a gap in the door, carrying what appears to be a silver service with a jug and cups.
Walt is wander near the columns, check, north side or south? They line both sides of the hall, though at the bottom, near the doors where they entered, there is a another set of large bronze doors along the south wall.
To Jaq the Duke replies: “Ah yes, it would be reasonable to assume that you would work through your puppets, the Terrelayne. But what good is technology to a a drying, and I dare say dying planet? Our ancestors knew this when they landed, that the core had solidified, forgive me if I do not know the technical details, but that it is the cause of the slow failure of our environment. Would I be evil to seek the best deal in exchange for our meager, yet seemly precious technology of the gate system my ancestors built? That others, of a higher tech, might be able to terraform our world, restoring it’s fading climate?”
Abrie mutters under her breath, first “puppets?” and then “others?”
Kallen looks on at the one who spoke the last sentence to him. A little menace in his eyes for believing the comment as an insult before repling, “The Brown’s as I call ‘em, are more commonly called Waterbearer’s or something. Too long for me to remember most of the time. They push out those who oppose them.” (OOC: May not be true, Is Kallen’s personal Bias with them.)
“And, I am not one of them. I grew up out in the desert where people are free and kind. As well as rewarding though it is a very tough life for use.” Kallen almost stops, beginning to remember parts of his life that he has always known. Most of it good, though some being very harsh.
Sialann was still surprised at how easy it had been – so far. Once the beasts had let her off that frakking leash to start taking her for walks, the people here had let her wander about without paying her much notice – and that had let her get the lay of this place. Being the monsters’ ‘pet’ had become an advantage. As they’d bored of her, the beasts had seemed equally to forget about her, and the people of this ‘Duke’ had eventually stopped goggling at her, too.
So she’d used the respite she’d been given to her advantage, but there had seemed no way out of here, no way past the guards. Was she now to die of neglect instead of terror, or would the monsters remember her suddenly and return for her? She knew she had to find a way out of here soon. The bustle and noise surrounding this new group’s arrival seemed her best opportunity so far – and she wanted to take a good look at them, too. Were there more traitors to their race? Or were these to be victims, offered up by the Duke’s people as sacrifice to the beasts?
She’d long ago learned to sneak and steal, scaring up whatever she could to make her life on the alien ship less terrible. Now, she crept into the wyvern stables and crossed quickly and silently to the stall of the one she called ‘Treasure’. She’d been feeding it extra scraps she’d stolen from the kitchens and gaining its trust, so she could hide her real treasure at the back of its stall.
She took all she had from that secret place and, dressed in the white robes of a servant and carrying a particularly nice silver service she had taken from the officers’ quarters, she opened the door to the foyer. Hmmm, pomp and circumstance in there – good cover. She stepped through and filled her jug with water from a basin by the door while she took a better look at the people in the room. No monsters that she could see, but the offworlders were obvious enough. There was an air of menace though, she’d been sensing it all day – and if these offworlders were to be her ticket out, then they perhaps needed warning of it.
Working her way round the edge of the foyer and working hard at not being noticed, she zeroed in on the biggest one in the group and approached him. She tried not to look down at the white towel she’d draped over the tray, and the telltale bulge of the gun beneath it, instead locking eyes with the newcomers. They looked like soldiers – was that a robot with them?
John’s situational awareness is low, it seems. The robot is in armor so it maybe hard to tell and Walt decided to go into the great hall, so it is just John, Munoz and the ’bot out in the foyer.
Kallen sees the worker he is talking to solemnly nod: “Ah, you are a Duneraider? The brown’s are the people from the brownlands. Being an offworlder, it’s all Vlazhdumecta to me, no offense meant.”
Kallen’s eye’s roll, but in the end he accepts the apology half heartedly. “Yes, thats what some call us, Duneraider’s.” Kallen then takes a look around at everyone else to see what they are doing, whilst keeping an eye towards the worker he is talking with so that he can keep eye contact as much as possible.
Jaq does not respond to the insult to either the Imperium or the Terrelayne, but continues to look into the Duke’s eyes, almost as if seeking the signs of his soul. “But at what cost do you seek this aid? Dying world? Perhaps. But not beyond the help of your neighbors. And raising your own tech level is the best place to start for a permenant and sustainable improvement.” She pauses for a moment, then changes tack slightly, “Your Grace, are you saying that you don’t wish the Imperium’s aid, or the Republic of Terrelayne’s? Are you saying you have already found succor in someone else’s promises? At what cost would you have done this? At what cost to your people’s freedom?”
John
Thumb on the safety and finger ready, John looked at the strange woman approaching. “Can I help you with something?” He said, unmenacingly. He took in her gait that was different than the local servants, and that her eyes were meeting his. Of course, bringing refreshment from the wyvern stables instead of the keep was a sure sign of something odd.
It could be a trap, it could be an opportunity. John wasn’t sure which so he kept his options open.
Walt moves to the other set of doors a quietly determines if they are locked or not, he will try and bluff his activity by claiming to be admiring the relief and arches if Walt gets chance he will open the
door just a crack and see what’s behind
Dropping her eyes as she pours the water, leaning forward slightly and speaking low so her voice would carry only to those before her, she says “My name is Sialannarhes, Sialann of the clan Rhes of the Dynchia. You are from where, offworlders? Vilani? Solomani?”
John
Senses on high alert, John’s exterior does not betray his inner turmoil. Of course, that turmoil doesn’t stop him from acting, they are already in a known hostile environment.
Taking a risk, taking the goblet so that he might look “normal”, John said. “Some of us are from off-world. It is a beautiful place. What can you tell me about it?”
John keeps his attention on the woman, but scans occasionally. Her tone and accent don’t match what he’s been listening to lately. He doesn’t know if she’s a self-activated bomb or a rebel trying to aid their cause. In any event, he’s paying attention and trying to discern what he can.
On a hunch, and mildly out of desperation, he tries to mentally shout “ABRIE!” and then look long at hard at the women.
“Beautiful!?” Her eyes flash at him and she almost snarls, then remembers herself and her situation, and her voice drops again. “I suppose it might be, if you were one of its masters. I wouldn’t know, I’ve only recently stopped being caged like an animal. And I’m not from here.”
She wonders if she’s said too much; she still doesn’t know if she can trust these people, but ploughing ahead, she whispers, “What is it that brings your people here? Are you friends of the duke? Or friends of those other… things?”
John
John smiled, happy that the woman would feel so passionately about the planet. “We are a friendly group to those who want to be friends. Not everyone does want that, though.” He said quietly, his tone and body language conveying nothing untoward to a long distance observer and acceptance to the woman.
OOC: ONLY if we have comms like ear buds so John can send to Abrie without anyone else hearing:
__
“Major, I may have someone you’d like to meet.”
OOC: Back to normal.
To the woman he said “What can you tell me about those…things? This planet is nice to visit but I don’t think we’re going to be staying long. I would rather not interrupt our travel plans. If there are unfriendlies that would do that I’d like to know about them.”
Sensing now that these people might indeed be what she’s looking for, Sialann tells him, “The beasts. They attacked the system where I had settled, destroyed everything and took any who survived. One by one, these were … used … taken apart and put back together as abominations. Me, they let alone; I am different. Maybe I amused them. I was their pet human. They arrived here and let me loose; now I bore them, or maybe they have forgotten me. I have been among these people since then – and I would rather die than be remembered and taken back aboard their black ships!”
She moves among the three, pouring water for them all as she says this, then turns back to John. “And I would use this on myself after taking as many as I could with me!” She twitches aside a corner of the cloth that lies on her tray so they can see the butt of her pistol.
“There is danger for you here, strangers. Be on your guard, the duke’s people are friends of the beasts. You should leave while you still can… "
John
“Well, then perhaps we should leave here shortly. No sense wasting good ammo on a strong spirit.” Oh how John wished for a bomb sniffer droid. “Stay near me and as we leave I will either hand you off to someone who wants to meet you or I will leave with you myself. Stay close and be ready to move fast. If any of the locals show up keep me between you and them.”
John’s tone is neither gruff nor particularly lilting, just matter of fact. He remained on his guard, thumb on the safety, finger just outside the trigger guard.
“And thank you very much for the water.” he said, honestly. “I was never much one for desert planets.”
OOC: Good conversation between John and Sialann. I’ve been a bit busy, expect a new log post soon, this one is getting long.
In reply to Jaq and looking at Garet and Abrie, the Duke states, “Freedom is not a word I know. It was off-worlder missiles than brought me to power when the streaked up from the rebel lines and torn my father’s air-dreadnaught in half. Now the universe intrudes and the gift of my ancestors has become a curse, the empire is a mighty ruin, waiting for the next great storm to sweep it away. I have only to choose between the freedom of the gun to my head or the knife at my throat. To you my world is a moveable feast for sure, where the weak are meat that the strong do eat.”
Mari, the pirate queen, looks on with sadness, adding “Sad to see this come to your people, they will burn for sure now.” Looking at Abrie.
Walt, his attention wandering, is blocked from the approach to the door to the guardroom by crossed pikes of the doormen to the room, though soon a voice from behind the curtain, will grab his attention for sure.
John’s calls to Abrie are met by a standby signal, whatever is happening in the foyer is under his control, the party behind closed doors in the great hall are unable to help. Soon however, his comm will be a buzz with traffic…
OOC: I think we’ve done well introducing PC’s without the “Hey, I’m a PC, let me join the party!”
OOC: Yes, but it is interesting in that it lets both Sialann and John develop more as characters.
The pistol Sialann stole is in items, it should give some idea of the Black Ship’s technology.
Jaq, with a certain sadness for all of the innocents who surely live under the Duke’s rule, steels herself before her next words, for surely she is about to let the cat out of the back. Breaking eye contact with the Duke finally, she looks at Walt, then Mari and finally Aubrie, making sure she makes eye contact with both of the last two and Walt if he is looking her way. In the look, she tries to convey a sense of what she is about to say, her eyes narrowing as if the danger is somehow suddenly closer. Finally, as she looks at Aubrie, she gives a slight nod, then turns back to the Duke.
“Your Grace, I am sad to hear you feel this way. But I have to ask… If we think of your world as a movable feast… then what do you think Those in the Black Ships see your world as? Your people as?” Even as she says the words, her body tenses imperceptibly beneath the combat armor. She has done everything she can to be ready.
Sialann feels a wave of relief as she hears John’s words – maybe she really was going to get free of those monsters and their minions! But she is still very tense and is looking around as covertly as she might, to see if her conversation with the newcomers has been noticed by any of the duke’s people. She does as he suggests and moves among the three, to put them between herself and the guards, if that is possible.
John
OOC: Couldn’t find a way to edit the gear list so John, and probably each of the other two outside guards each have 2 bandoliers of the grenades. Each bandolier has 2 HE, 1 smoke. Are the smoke colors marked on the outside?
OOC: John and Mary should have their own gear list in items, the way the others have done it. Smoke is WP, no color and pretty brutal in it’s own right.
To Jaq, the Duke’s countenance turns somber, for which he answers: “You can ask them yourself, They’re here.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO7hySC6H9o
Garet, who had been in parade rest alongside the Major and Jaq, simply listening to her and the Duke’s conversation (being a child of the court, he’s heard this type of conversation before). Upon hearing the Duke’s last words, he simply turns, and starts scanning for potential threats, simply saying:
“Wow, you didn’t even have the yarbles to let your own people decided if they were willing to go down with you, because that’s whats about to happen, Dukie.”
“You’ve either enslaved or killed your people..nice job..”
“Major, Commander, I think it’s time we took our leave of this place, while we’re still able.”
Remaining Passive, and regarding all that transpires with the politics of the air breathers, Dr. Zhe keys his medcomp for a search:
“computer, display overall medical status of The Duchy, and highlight areas that are lacking… the Black Ship devils may not have adequate care, and that can be turned to an advantage… note any possible ruling elite genetic or physiological defects, able to be treated with Medcom resources on hand that may not be available to the Duchy or it’s affiliates…”
OOC: Zhe looks for a medical methodology to ingratiate himself and ostensible the party by the “Rasputin Plan” based on the notion of this ruling elite being a closed knit bunch genetically, and see if they got anything good like hemophilia or the like that can be exploited.