Drano's squad

Drano looked over his ‘squad’ surprised that he was being allowed to be in charge of something. Maybe the new CO hadn’t read everybody’s records yet. Or maybe he just didn’t have any other Sergeants to select.

It didn’t matter; he’d still do his job. He quickly gave instructins to his squad. “Mephisto since the demons are probably your pets you stick with them. I want you up front.” The shifter could always summon more demons if they got wasted.

“Lotus, you’re our eyes in the sky. You see something of interest direct us to them. If something light you up get low and back to us.”

Not knowing the capabilities of the new borg and the newly arrived jet black D-Bee Drano wanted them close, at least until he know what they were capable of. If they were lucky they'd still be alive by the end of the week. If not they'd be like all of the other replacements that rotated into Pluto Company and had gotten wasted.“You two are with me. What are each of your specialties?” It was obvious that Drano’s Glitter Boy stood a good chance of taking out a CS tank platoon by itself.... In addition to the boom gun it had a few more additions. On the left shoulder was a ten shot mini-missile launcher. Each hand had retractable vibro claws, on the right hip was a CS CTT-P40 PBC rifle in large holster, and on the left hip was a storage box.

Over the radio he got a hold of Silvermasque. “You wanna take the north-east or south-east patrol route?”

Mephisto and the two demons eventually made their way over to Drano and their new squad.

"Not a problem. The big one can turn invisible, and will be for most of the patrol I think. Are you wanting us to go on foot, or should I bring the hover-skiff?"

Deumos towered over Mephisto, and most of the others... He didn't like being called a pet, but didn't speak up. He watches the others as they arrive, just staring, and probably day-dreaming of ripping everyone to pieces and bathing in their blood...

Kresil hopped and skipped along next to Deumos and Mephisto as they approach. The thoughts of killing Coalition soldiers in the near future danced in his head.

   "Gotcha sarge." Lotus replies as she walks over to her new squad.  The majestic gryphon she purchased in Tolkeen moves behind her, although its avian head is next to her own.  The creature seems to always keep an eye on its new caretaker, instinctively following Lotus' lead.  "Hey, you think they'll give you your old job back if you get enough of us back alive?" Lotus inquires bluntly.
   She puts her helmet on as a matter of getting ready to leave before mounting the saddle on the gryphon.  The animal actually seemed to lower its body to the ground to make it easier for her to climb up.  Either it is more intelligent than any other gryphon or Lotus is giving it telepathic commands... maybe both.

     Dusk collected his gear and mount and followed the human shifter, running an appraising eye over the man's demons.  Trying to remember if he'd seen similar before, where they were from and what might be expected of them, but if so it had been a long time back.

     His own transport was originally from offworld as well.  Resembling a cross between a cat and a dragon, it had a fishlike tail and a demon's face.  Calm eyes spaced wide on its skull focused on each of the nearest humanoids in turn.  Having developed a rapport with the animal Dusk could read its moods and was sure that at the moment the demonrunner would happily have tried to gulp a whole fire team of tired Tolkeenites down its blunt muzzle, if he'd let it.  Fortunately his magic kept it in check.  Trotting alongside and just as alien was his familiar Raze.  The beast stood as tall at the shoulder as a grown dwarf and overlapping plates like samurai armor covered every bit of it but eyes and teeth.

     The silhouette gave an expressive shrug and a bit of a head bobble, smiling as if amused and embarrassed at the idea of anything so quaint as a specialty.  Or having to brag for himself.  He looked down his chest at the strap of his rifle the belt of his sword the articulated toes of his black alienhide boots before answering with deep voice and many hand movements.  "I hide.  I shoot, cut, cast the magic.  Walk the Rifts."  In his offworld accent it sounded like 'Reefs'.  He began pulling at a length of chunky hematite beads wrapped around his left arm.  "Talk to the things, the ones from Outside."  His shifted his pupilless gaze towards Mephisto's servants and added significantly, "Usually not like them.  Spirits."

Dusk sniffed modestly and leaned back in the saddle.  "Some other things.  I was in Jahwaq Shin" he finished, as if that explained everything.

Turns out Drano didn't wear a big hat. Or any hat, really. It was starting to climb Perkins' nerves, how off-centered everything was compared to Kingsdale - 'course, Kingsdale was a big ol' mixing pot, where as Tolkeen was all about the mystic arts. He'd just been gone too long. Those glowing optics shift aside to watch the two demons, 'specially considering Perkins' own background - but it turns out the man in charge wanted him on a short leash.

If Perkins could grimace, he would. Rather, his thumping steps punctuate each grating word that echoes out of his speaker like talking through an empty metal barrel.

"Demon Heads, 'riginally. Special corps outta Kingsdale." He begins, reaching up to pluck that cigar from between his clamped jaw. Ammo chains and cables swing slowly as he moves, the hilt of a rather massive weapon - something of a combination between a six foot fat claymore and a wicked saw - poking vertically up opposite a few protrusions on the other 'shoulderblade'. "Killed demons good. Got a few surprises built-in for it. But guns, missiles, and ol' Smilin' Jack there work just as well on skull-boys as it does on flesh eaters." He rumbles. Glowing optics sliding aside again to their own 'pet demons'.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:09, Tue 24 Apr 2012.

“Sure bring the skiff.” There was no sense in denying the Shifter the use of his newly acquired vehicle. “If I stick the local guide with you can you make sure they don’t eat him?” It would be pretty shitty to report back to Major Karno and Lt Nuitari that the local guide got eaten by a ‘friendly’ demon.


“I pretty much have my old job back as a squad leader. I just get paid less Lotus.” Drano then addressed the black skinned D-bee. Most of what he said he didn’t understand, much less what the fuck a Jahwaq Shin was or did. “Ok so you can use magic. Cool. You got  name or should I just come up with something?” The guy was defiantly not from Earth nor was his mount. “Can that whatever it’s called fly? If so you and Lotus can take turns being up in the air.”


Of those assigned to him the borg was the most similar to Drano. No magic, no psionics and a shit load of guns. Probably good at killing CS grunts. “You stick with me. I might need some anti-infantry support, and it might help if I knew what to call you over the radio too.”

---

Once every had their assignments Drano waited for the local guide, who hopefully had these maps Silvermasque was talking about over the radio.

"I am called Dusk.  Sadly, Ketch'channon here", bending forward to pat the demonrunner between its spiked shoulderblades, "ees confined to the grond.  She is quite rapid, but if stealth is required can be left behind."

He nudged his mount forward and leaned in to speak privately to the squad leader.  "Maester Mephisto and I, overlap in significahnt areas.  Perhaps one man of metal plus one of magic would complement?  Anytrail, I go summon now before we get further from the ley."

"SAMAS missiles too." States the big borg, flicking a thumb up over the shoulder opposite the chain-sword. Where the large obstruction is waiting to swing up and over. "Loaded up on fraggers, with a few plasma in the hole." He pats the carrying case behind his hip. "Don't like keepin' 'em tubed 'till I'm damn well good and ready." He shifts his jaw for a moment, the sound of metal squealing as the flat planes of his 'teeth' brush against each other.

"Smoke's good 'nuff. Perkins, if you gotta." He answers to the question about name, clamping back down on the cigar. Air intake whines up to speed, causing the tip to glow. Glowing optics shift aside, towards the rest of the 'troupe', as a rumbling grunt is released.

"Damn mixed corps, eh? No tellin' where they'll be best at." There's a reverberating chuckle, but the metal skull isn't capable of smiling any more than it's capable of blinking.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

Overhearing Drano's radio transmission Dusk looked up from rifling through a saddlebag to mention, "Perhaps there has been some mis understanding.  I believe I am to guide.  Were you not given maps?"  He fished a personal computer from a belt pocket, unfolded it and began calling up his own annotated version of the one he'd been given on being assigned to the station.  (OOC: at top of thread)(er, of the C12 thread)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:50, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

Just because it didn't have wings didn't mean it couldn't fly. "Ok Dusk you can stick with me as well. If Mephisto gets into some serious shit we can provide covering fire while he pulls back."

"What your supposed to be the local guide? Fair enough. Let's upload those maps to my mecha and if Smoke want's an upload him too."

The big borg lifted his right hand, then extends his thick pinky finger. There is a faint click, and the pinky tip splits, a small jack extending outwards slightly.

"Sounds solid to me. Always did like knowing where the hell I am." He rumbles, holding out a hand for one of the mini-comps.

The private jogs over as fast as he can from Silvermasque's squad without causing a panic, and tries to catch his breath. He salutes Drano, and in-between breaths, hands over a data-pad to any interested. "Maps. Sir." He states, among more heavy breathing.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:56, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

In reply to Drano Pierce (msg #9):

"You need not fear any of my servants, any more than you need to fear myself. In Pluto's past history with demons, the trouble was with the Brodkil, and a pair of gargoyles they recruited, and then more recently with Portia and her goons. Servants under the command of an allied mage, are as loyal as the mage. So assuming you trust me, then they are some of the most loyal members on the squad." He grins his usual grin at that last comment of his, knowing full-well nobody trusted him.
This message was last updated by the player at 06:44, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

The DB's bonhomie faded a bit.  "Yes, the native scouts most familiar with this land are mostly passed.  So I take us by the trails that seem luckiest, to those of us still here."

PM

   "Hey Mephisto, not everyone here get's trained in magic so on behalf of the squad can I ask a favour?  Can we hear you order these fuckin' creatures not to harm even a hair on our chinny chin chins?" Lotus pauses. "I'm not joking.  I want to hear you tell them.  I don't give a fuck if you can order them otherwise five minutes from now.  I just want to be able to sleep at night."
   The mystic knight stares at the shifter from behind her demonic helm, still seated atop her gryphon and gently stroking its mane of feathers.

Drano put in his two credits. "Mephisto, I just want to ensure that the things you summoned do not harm any of us.”

Mephisto was taken back at the way Lotus was speaking to him, barking orders at him... Mephisto considered forcing her to kneel before him, until Drano spoke up as well.

"I assure you Sergeant, they will pose no threat. I have summoned many beings to serve me since I joined Pluto, and not once has there been an infraction. I find it insulting that now, my abilities are doubted and questioned."

Mephisto is visibly angry.

Drano tried to smoth things over he certainly didn't need the shifter waling off all pissed off. "Look Mephisto, the actions of those Brodkil have marred the reputation of ALL demonic beings who are willing to fight for Tolkeen. You say your summoned beings will do no harm and I accept that. But proving that they mean no harm goes along way to repair the perceived reputation they have."

"I see. It is not my duty to repair that perceived reputation. In fact it is not my problem at all. I believe that responsibility would lie with the officers in fact..."

"They're demons, bucko. Losing control and finding loopholes in the command of their owner is part and parcel to the package."

Rumbles the 'demon killer' Borg, dull optics focused not on Mephisto so much as the twin demons. Large metal hands flex for a moment, before he continues.

"'Course, that ain't the damn excercise here. Ain't we got somewhere to march?" Optics slide aside, to Drano, the borg's lower jaw shifting back and forth for a moment. ".. Sir?" Nothing wrong with the supernatural, so far as Perkins could see. His specific was just for the supernatural what had a taste for things screaming and scuttling about. Those type, he could do without - but there was no profit in wasting ammo knocking off a couple of jacktooths when there were skull boys itching for ventilation.

Mephisto turns and heads over to his hover skiff, along with the two demons. As he is taking point, he starts it up and heads south west at a speed of 30 kph. "Mr Dusk, let me know if there is anything I should avoid..."

Dusk had by now returned from his own summoning, seemingly unaccompanied by any new monsters other than the two animals with him earlier.  If he had contacted something and brought it on patrol, he must have told it to stay hidden. 

Eyebrows finally lowering from the shifter's persecution Dusk nudged his mount up next to the skiff and called from the saddle, "Abandoned village five miles southwest.  Must be careful near there, the Deadboys plant traps sometimes."  He finished replenishing his stores from the nearby ley line and began drawing energy to enspell himself and his animals before leaving the bounty of free PPE.  He finished by pulling a cloak of darkness around his own form to protect from the climbing sun.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:15, Sun 29 Apr 2012.

PM

As they moved Drano let the issue with Mephisto drop for now. Upon hearing about the village up ahead he called it in one the radio. "Nutari, we got a deserted village ahead. Local scout says it might have mines and other traps. You want us to skirt around it or conduct a search?"

There weren't many vehicles that Perkins couldn't pace. Being too big for most mobility platforms meant that the big damn borg had to BE a mobility platform; Between size, robotic endurance, and the cyber-jet nodules he could usually keep up with damn near anything ground-bound. With ammo chains jangling and clanking, power cables swaying with each long step, the Borg listens in on the command frequency. Working his jaw for a moment before he switches to a short-range for Drano.

<"I can peel off and sweep it, hoss. Telescopic optics and all that business.">

He has no cigar clamped now - it wouldn't keep flame in the passing wind.

As the squad set out Dusk let his mount fall behind from level with Mephisto's skiff to next to Lotus still perched on the ground.  At first he made sure the demonrunner approached slow and low, ready to spring away, but the gryphon seemed well trained enough to suffer another predator's approach.  Leaning over he asked her, "Pardon, miss, you work magic too yes?  Is the Mr. Pierce opposed to it or just summoners?"  Apparently he hadn't been present to see that it was Lotus herself who started the demand for loyalty oaths from the demons.

Drano alternated between normal and thermal optics as the patrol moved out. "Listen up we're going to byass the village Dusk mentioned."

The patrol so far was a nice break from the constant dangerous missions Pluto was continuously sent on. Although, patrolling out ahead of the front lines wan't actually safe...

The sky is turning grey, and the sun is slowly disappearing behind large rain clouds. It would be raining soon.

Mephisto pipes up over the squad-channel "Hey Sarge, how far out should we go around this village? I say we stay close, maybe we end up seeing some dead boys, and we can take 'em out."

<"Kinda the damn point of patrol. See if any skull heads are hidin' round.">


Grumbles Perkins over comm, still thumping along in the caravan. His bare metal skull shifts sideways, optics whirring as enhancement is placed. Despite the grumbling, however, he won't break ranks with what 'the big hat' said - just proceed forward, sticking nice and close like a good twelve foot tall mobile weapon platform.


The sinking sun has given his rust color a far more bolder hue, making him appear bathed in crimson as opposed to lightly dusted in dirt camo. His shadow lengthening somewhere towards the horizon, with the swinging chains and pistoning legs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Mon 07 May 2012.

Drano thought about Mephisto's question for a bit before answering.  "Let's keep a kilometer between us and the village. No sense in taking chances."

Led by Mephisto the group moves ahead, keeping about a KM away from the deserted village. It starts to rain lightly just as the town comes into view. It is a very small place, population would have been less than a thousand. The buildings are mostly wooden, and the streets are dirt, with planks of wood, that used to form bridges from building to building, and down the middle of the road.

Nothing appears suspicious.

"Contact."

Rumbles the borg, over squad comm as his optics whirr and click inside his metal skull, focused on the distant village. He slows his jogging pace, turning to look over to 'The Boss', Drano. The slow drizzle of rain begins to patter against his metal hide like .. well.. rain on a drum. His voice-box hisses with static briefly while his systems realign, interrupting a few of his words.

"Got something piled up in the village. I thought they were corpses, but a few are still moving." His heavy lower jaw shifts back and forth, but can express nothing. "Seems Simvan, but resolution at this distance ain't the best. Thermal imaging'll crap out at this distance, so I can't confirm it ain't just some jackle burrowing in."

Drano passes on the finding to Nutari over the radio. At the same time he scans the village with his thermals, and regular optics.

PM

   Lotus had been circling the squad in the air, just a few hundred feet above their heads, until the rain began.  She directed the gryphon to come in for a landing and the creature swooped down, flaring her wings at the last second to slow her speed and land safely.  "I could probably go in for a little flyby and check things out over there."

"I don't see anything moving over there Lotus, but if you want to do a fly by go ahead." Drano kept switching between his thermals and regular optics. "If something fires on you don't engage. Fall back and hopefully I'll be able to see it."

   The Mystic Knight directs the gryphon back into the air, which it does like a cat leaping up to a high ledge.  Lotus and her mount climb higher before sweeping across to investigate whatever this 'pile' is.  When closer, Lotus circles and leans over to peer down upon the subject.  She'll descend lower to get a better view if necessary.

Dusk kept his silence as the woman who'd dodged his question volunteered her own hide to go test the traps he'd also mentioned.  Which was comment enough on summoners, he supposed.  He did, however, guide his mount a little to the side of the group, reasoning that if they did draw an attack it would be best not to cluster.  In a foreign tongue he told no one obvious to "Spiral out in patrol.  Report if you find anyone else.  Then we can play."  His familiar certainly didn't go anywhere; it just started climbing a tree.

PM

Lotus checks in over the radio "I don't see or sense anything here... these bodies are dead... they have been for some time..."

Lotus remains on her gryphon about 40 feet above the pile of dead simvan.

Lotus chimes back in over the radio "You sure you saw something moving in this pile? If you're sure I will move a couple around... but I would rather not..."

PMs

"If there is something moving under that pile, perhaps Lotus should not be the one to stick her face in the flames...? At least not alone anyway... it would be a shame to fuck it up, although then her face would match that mans-body she has..."

"Lotus search or sense the bodies at your own discretion.”

"Fuck it" she replies, before landing her gryphon next to the pile. With one hand on the hilt of her sword, she rests her foot on one of the lower bodies and shoves the pile. The body crumples away, and a few others roll down from up top.

She calls back "There is something in here... a machine of some kind..."

"Copy that Lotus, back off and get clear." Drano took aim with his boom gun, ready to whatever the fuck it was away.

Suddenly Dusk remembered how this planet's fabled Glitter Boys' weapons were called and why.  He reigned his riding beast off a little further to the side, took another disbelieving look from his mount to the reinforcements' squad leader and muttered "Fuck it", then spurred the animal to flee the squad at a quick trot.  The alien hound followed and the trio didn't stop for a good hundred meters.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Mon 16 July 2012.

Lotus backed away with Drano's warning, but only 10 feet or so. She trusted the sometimes-angry, but effective and mildly disgraced Tolkeen officer (non-commisioned) to maintian his famous marksmanship ability...

The machine did not move, or jump out. Nothing happened at all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:17, Thu 26 July 2012.

"You need not worry Dusk, these GB's have been fitted with techno-wizard enhancements. These ones do not make a sound, unless you are trying to clear the blast radius from some incoming missile strike...? If so, please share the info..."

Dusk snorted and slowly trotted his 'runner back towards the group.  Only a little ways, just close enough not to have to shout.  He hissed, "No'.  But thaht's not a bad idea."

"Not. Yet." he growled to something else.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Mon 06 Aug 2012.

Drano held his fire. There was no reason to waste ammo. "Ok looks liek it isn't a threat. Lotus you think you can move the machine?"

Lotus does not respond over the radio, but casts a few spells before approaching the machine again. She pushes a few of the dead bodies off the pile, and they roll down to reveal a strange looking machine...

"This is a camera sir. Automated I think, on treads. Looks like it records in 360 degrees, and would seem the Coalition has been recording this area for some time. There is no doubt, somewhere nearby, there is someone looking back at us from a computer screen...."

"Smash the lens and take the camera. Maybe we cna get some useful intel from it."

"This thing is huge... maybe one of Mephisto's demons can handle this..."

Mephisto instantly orders Deumos to head over and grab the camera. The beast does so, without speaking.

The squad is clear to continue moving along, leaving the ghost town behind, an hour passes by without anything of interest. The group still continuing along the path Dusk has provided, which has currently lead the squad through grassy hills, with the odd tree scattered about. A nice area, considering most of the scenery so far has been destroyed by the war.

"Sergeant? I have spotted a tent about 4 miles ahead of us. Small campfire... probably 1 to 3 people, based on the size of the tent, but I see nobody."

OOC - Looks like this squad is down to 2 players, might nee dsome reorganizing here...

The remainder of the patrol is uneventful, and a long 12-hour shift finally comes to an end. The squad returns to Juyong Outpost and is off duty a few moments later, and free to move about the outpost.

Sergeant 1st Class Pierce
Sergeant Dusk
Corporal Max

Heinrich
Boris
Jack
Thasha

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

Max will be given a used desert fox hovercycle. It is recently cleaned and repaired. It is at maximum stats, but covered in scratches, dents, patchwork and scorch marks.

Heinrich is given an armored hover-truck. Normally used to carry gold and other valuables in Tolkeen City. There is room for a passenger and Thasha can ride in the back. The truck can go up to 120 mph, has 400 MDC, and TW paired-flamethrowers on the front and rear of the truck. Both are operated by a psionic or magic user, by putting their hand over a crystal ball. Visible, crackling blue energy reaches out to the pilots' fingertips, allowing the pilot to drive the vehicle or use the weapons with a thought.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:15, Tue 18 Sept 2012.

Info from previous patrol :  The terrain for the first few miles is mostly flatlands, with small hills. On the south west route, we will find the abandoned town of Harristol about 5 miles away. It only had a population of 800, but it has been abandoned and stripped of anything useful. Everyone moved to Tolkeen before you were stationed here. The Coalition sometimes comes out to the town, so it is not very safe. There have been land mines, and other traps. Yesterday the patrol found an automated camera.

In reply to Mike (msg # 66):

Arriving at the Juyong Outpost, Max heads over to find out what events had transpired on the patrol.

"Sergeant Pierce, are we going to try to clean out the land mines from Harristol? Demolitions is my particular specialty, aside from the obvious." As he completed the statement, the psi-stalker ran his one hand's fingers over his hairless head while the other tapped at the pistol on his hip. He didn't need to point out the others he carried to make it obvious he used alot of them.

Jack looked over his new squad and restrained himself from sighing or shrugging. He didn't much care who he traveled with, if it wasn't a few specific people. He gave a small smile, however, and tried to look a bit friendly.

To Heinrich he asked, "Do you mind if I ride with you? They seem to frown on me flying around." He chuckled.

Heinrich could sense the power Jack possessed, "Certainly, climb in, we will head out when everyone is ready. I am Heinrich, nice to meet you. Are you from here? I mean... this planet? I am from a place called Palladia."

OOC: I thought they had already met before but I looked and couldn't find it.

Jack gave the man a nod of respect. "Thank you. I am called Jack." His eyebrows rose upward in surprise. "Um. Yeeeees. I'm from this planet." Oh, the man was from another planet? "Another planet? Interesting! You are the first human I've met from another planet I think. Palladia? Never heard of it. Are they all holy warriors on a quest to destroy evil?" He chuckled at his joke, the name similar to the word he'd learned: Paladins.

Boris arrives covered in weapons and ammo, and ready for a war. He flies over, using the rockets onm his feet and legs, and lands on top of the truck. He stands there like a statue, scanning the horizon and listening to the happy voices of Jack and Heinrich. He learned to stay close to happy people during times of war... it helps.

"I can assist in demolitions work Sergeant. I have several cybernetics that can help with the job too."

In reply to Boris (msg # 71):

"Lets go get at it then. At least we can make them an asset of ours rather than getting wasted out there." Max replies to the borg.

Having verified he had all his demolitions gear in his pack before even getting out here, it was fairly quick going to make certain he had what he needed. The 'stalker then hopped on his hovercycle and sped out to Harristol.

Once there, he opened up the backpack and removed a bundle of 20 small indicator flags.

"Boris, can you identify locations safely? If so, take these flags and mark them. Couple of basic rules I'm certain you know, but I'll state just so we are on the same page. Don't step on them. Clear a pathway with flags. Unlike you, I am stuck on my feet. If I need to run out, I need to make certain I know my safe path. If you aren't certain if it is explosive, mark it anyway."

The group sets out on roughly the same patrol route as yesterday, with Heinrich, Jack and Thasha in the hover-truck, and Boris on top. Max on his hovercycle, both glitter boys on foot, and Dusk on his alien-creature mount.

Unless ordered otherwise by Sgt. Pierce, the group is headed to the abandoned town of Hollister.

Drano arrives at the patrol assembly area and seems a little under the weather. He is carrying a nearly empty bottle of amber colored liquored. It is obvious that the man is inebriated. As everyone gathers around him Drano proclaims. “I’m not as think as you drunk I am.” After finishing off the bottle of whiskey and tossing it aside he corrects himself. “Ok well maybe I am fucked up its 5 in the fucking morning, we should all still be drinking and whoring. Jack, Heinrich if you got magic to make me not drunk it would be a big help. If not I got a supply of pure oxygen to sober me up.”

“Now listen yesterday, no one died. Now I don’t remember the last time we went into harm’s way and no one died. So I celebrated. And I just now finished. Today like yesterday, I want NO ONE TO DIE.”

“So be careful. Today our patrol will take us to the abandoned town of Hollister. Max, Boris you’ve both shown an interest in recovering mines for our cause. Whatever you do don’t get your balls blown off. If it looks like you can’t disarm a mine or titty trap we’ll blow it in place.”

“Any questions?”

OOC: The above took place before we headed out. If you really do have a question let me know.

OOC I think psychic purification would work.

Heinrich shakes his head, "No, not many are holy warriors. They are powerful though. Many are evil, just as it seems they are here. I do not know where the name comes from to be honest. It's a pleasure to meet you." When Drano speaks, Heinrich nods, "I might be able to help you, one moment." Heinrich puts a hand on Drano's shoulder and starts the process of psychicly purifying his body.

The first order of business once arriving at the ghost town, is to fly straight up and check out the surrounding area from a couple hundred feet up. The wind is stronger even at that height, and he is hard to see with the heavy rain coming down.

After a few seconds, he checks in over the squad radio channel "Clear in all directions."

Jack nodded thoughtfully with a hmm noise at Heinrich's words. "Interesting. I wonder if someone on earth got in contact with your people a long time ago. The name is...singualr."

Jack then grinned from ear to ear at his new "commanding officer". He just wished Pierce was hungover and not just drunk. "Sorry, sir! It would be against my religion to help remove the joyful effects of being drunk from someone, sir!" He held it for a second and then started laughing quietly. "I wonder how many days of us not dying your liver can take, sir."

Heinrich shrugged at Jack's statement, "A mage of sufficient power could likely travel there. I cannot say for sure." he chuckles at Jack's joke as well, "He does have a psychic healer handy, so he should be fine really... well, mostly."

Boris soon returns to the ground, and begins work on identifying mines in the abandoned town. He keeps his jets on, and remains off the ground, but still moves slowly... Some vehicle mines may still pick him up before he can detect them. Within about 15 minutes he has flagged his first spot, with the ones provided by Cpl. Max.


This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Fri 28 Sept 2012.

When the truck arrives at the town, Thasha throws open the back doors and hops out to stretch. He grabs his gear and heads over to Drano and Dusk for orders.

Drano watches as Boris the Borg (hey that rhymed) flagged the first mine. "Ok Max your up, get us some mines, and don't get your balls blown off."

"Everybody else cover him. Dusk I want you airborne."

The DB blinked, then turned his mount cattycornered (diagonal) to the Glitter Boy and gestured down its wingless flank with one arm.  And people in Dyval want ice water he thought.  "How?"

After a few seconds he started wobbling his head from side to side.  Whatever alien gesture that meant next he snapped his fingers at the very angry looking squirrel and told it, "Go find a bird and take a look.  If you find any people other than these come back and tell me."  He tilted his head towards the Greot.  "Use his voice if you have to."

Thasha looks around at the town from the current position. "Where should I be sir?"

Jack steps lithely out of the vehicle. At the command of cover, Jack pulls the very large TW Force Cannon out from the vehicle that he had brought with him, seemingly hefting it easily. He scanned the area around for anything, activating See the Invisible as he did so, just to be safe.

Heinrich gets his Juicer Assassin rifle out and does the same, scanning for threats.

Not having a better assignment for him, Dusk shrugged and told the grunt to "Just edge out behind the cyborg.  Don't get in his way and don't get ahead of him."

For his own part Dusk would hang back well behind where he could keep an eye on things.  When it became obvious the squad would be still for a while guarding the bomb recovery he got down off his demonrunner and sat cross-legged on the ground.  After telling spirit and animals to guard him the spellcaster began to chant and trace the length of hematite wrapped around his left arm, stopping every now and then to focus on one or another bead in particular.  Soon his consciousness rose to survey the area with astral perception.

In reply to Dusk (msg # 86):

Max gathered his demolitions tool roll out the speeder and double checked his armor just before and after putting on his helmet.

"Give me no less than a 300 ft radius." Max tended to not joke often. It was a byproduct of his life. As such, he gave no mind to the comments about not blowing off his balls.

The 'stalker carefully approached the mine in order to identify what type it was in order to not trip it. Noting the pressure sensor and the environment, of course it would be a bounding mine variety. One that would propel itself a few feet into the air before exploding. However, actual payload types varied. Max had done this many times in training, though those were inert. Once in the field, he was usually more suited to causing the explosions rather than preventing them.

But this payload could be useful in doing just that on his terms. He carefully dug around the pressure sensor in the mine, inserted one of the many safety pins he carried in his took roll to disable the sensor while he removed it from the ground. Once out, he simply removed the payloads from the casing and carefully set them aside.


12:00, Today: Max rolled 60 using 1d100. Disarm mine.

As Max sets the first mine aside, he is already looking over, from his low-hover about 20 feet up ahead. Max can spot three more flags so far, and Boris goes back to searching.

Thasha looks out over the ghost town, and back to Sergeant Dusk. "That doesn't seem safe sir... what if I set off one of the mines... I should stay with Max I think."

In reply to Boris (msg # 88):

Max continues the foray out, removing mine after mine. It was tedious work. Mentally tedious more than anything. Removing mine after mine of the same type bred complacency. That is something that should never happen to one doing this type of job. So every time Max began approached a new mine, he took a minute to center his mind. To clear any stray thoughts. To ensure his every movement was thought out.

This practice was all but required in disarming mines.


12:14, Today: Max rolled 73 using 1d100. Disarm mine.
12:14, Today: Max rolled 98 using 1d100. Disarm mine.
And that folks, is why we have a large radius. Ka-freaking-boom.
12:16, Today: Max rolled 11 using 3d6. Mine damage. (Assuming 3d6 is appropriate. . .)
12:14, Today: Max rolled 31 using 1d100. Disarm mine.

In reply to Max (msg # 90):

I'm not going to have it explode. It is just rendered useless by your disarming. There is a small percent chance... I'll letcha know if one blows up.

After an hour, Boris is in the center of the main road, and has flagged 22 mines so far. He lands, and crouches moving his hands over the dirt.


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:43, Tue 02 Oct 2012.

Boris reports in over the squad radio "There is something here. I believe it is a door, leading to some underground room or structure."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Tue 02 Oct 2012.

“Copy that Boris. Those weren’t here the last time I was at this town. Once Max clear us a path through the mine field to the town we’ll check it out. How big is the entryway?”

Boris doesn't reply for a minute while he clears away some of the dirt. "Approximately 10 feet, by 5 feet sir. Confirmed, it has Coalition States markings on the door sir..."

There is a squad of five hovercycles coming in from Juyong's direction, so they are likely friendlies. They are moving quickly and should arrive within a few minutes.

Dusk waved over Heinrich and Jack.  "Can either of you project into the Astral?"

If so he would lead the incorporeal scouts in taking a look around the underground bunker, before risking bodily damage with a physical examination.  If not he simply went in with the disembodied entity for backup.

"If someone can watch my body, I can accompany you."

Comartin found a small hill giving him a good view in all directions. He was in good spirits today, it still feels great to put on a GB power armour each morning... sometimes, he feels invincible. Like he could take on the whole Coalition army by himself if he had enough ammo.

He quietly pretended to shoot the approaching hovercycles.

Thasha had wandered off and was stomping on some animals when the hovercycles were close enough to hear. Seeing that they were just friendlies and just more people for Drano to talk to, Thasha continued killing small animals and wandering further away.

The Juyong squad slows to stop as they approach Sergeant Pierce and the others well in advance so as to not spray (more) mud and rain all over everyone. The corporal parks her bike, and hops off before saluting Pierce. Two of the other riders are human, one is a giant ape, and the fifth is a wolfen.

Speaking loudly against the storm "Good morning sir, we spoke on the radio, I'm Corporal Wierzbowski. We were just sent out to clear Hollister, so I guess we're working together... honestly I'm pretty relieved. Sir. You have some bigger guns in case they decide to visit Hollister today too."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:07, Fri 05 Oct 2012.

Jack heard the radio chatter and shrugged. Seemed a bit of overkill to send two squads to the little town but he guessed you never knew what you might run into. He heard the hoverbikes approaching and turned to watch them for just a moment, before turning his attention to back to watching around them for ambush.

The 3rd lands his hover cycle beside Wierzbowski. He gets off and checks his weapons to make sure nothing has flown off during the ride over. Satisfied that everything is where it should be, he sniffs the air. Paying particular attention to anything that smells like wet dog. It seems that every time he has smelt wet dog recently, a fire fight with dog boys has promptly followed.

I don't even know why you bother doing that.
Shut up Antonio.
Play nice or I'll try to take over again.
Heh, you won't bother. Your too lazy, besides this place feels like there might be some action.
Fair enuff, I do hate getting shot at.

“Ok Cpl good to have you join us. How many of your people know how to diffuse mines? We’ve also come across a previously unknown underground structure that wasn’t here before the war.” Noticing something, Drano raises the loudspeaker on his mecha. "Thasha, come back here with the rest of us. You’re wandering off."

In reply to Corporal Wierzbowski (msg # 101):

Dusk nodded at Wierzbowski and the ape just before finishing his own chanting.  His mouth went silent and black eyes paled as his spirit rose to meet Heinrich's.  Together they floated over to the bunker.  Dusk dropped through the earth a little to the side of the door and then blindly floated forward until he was peeking his astral face through a wall into the hidden area underground.

Heinrich followed suit, he hadn't travelled this way in sometime, it was nearly total freedom.

Jack stood over Heinrich and Dusk's bodies as they laid down and then left. He kept turning slowly to make sure he wouldn't be taken unawares by anything. To himself, he began to hum a rowdy sea tavern tune.

"All five of us sir. The private here is the best though." She nods in The 3rd's direction.

She remains standing with the Sergeant, while her troops stand ready behind her with their equipment. "What sort of underground containers sir?"

Thasha strolled back over with his shoulders hung low, and his head drooping, and stands next to Drano.

"What is it..." he mumbles...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:37, Mon 08 Oct 2012.

The 3rd raises an eyebrow when his corporal says he is the best at mine clearing. Its not that he is particularly good at it, its more like it doesn't worry him too much. They are after all just mines.  Skelebots are worse.

“Well Corporal Wierzbowski we’ll provide cover for your team. Our Borg has dropped flags near the mines.” With that Drano turned his attention to Thasha and for ince was glad that he wasn’t assigned that dimwitted psi-stalker Na-Wa. “Thasha you must stay near the squad. If you see sometihng of intrest let one of us know.”

Thasha didn't look up, he just replied "Fine..." and sighed. He followed The 3rd and Wierzbowski to the main road (with the mines) where Corporal Max was working.

In reply to Thasha (msg # 112):

Max had defused another mine before the group arrived. He brought a disarmed one to them to show that they had all been similar this time and went over the "style" in which they were hidden. Not like there was much too it. A hole was dug, the mine placed, the dirt filled in around it. Disarming was as simple as digging out around the hole, placing a pin in to lock the trigger switch in place, then remove the explosives and payload.

"Here is a couple pins." Max passes a few out to those giving him a hand. "Once the payload is removed, you can pull the pins out and reuse them if you want."


03:31, Today: Max rolled 55 using 1d100. Disarm mine.


03:32, Today: Max rolled 83,30,80,97,19,62,17,93,99,53. using 10d100 with rolls of
Disarm mine.

Luck really isn't with me lately. A skill level of 92 is pretty friggan high. And 4 failures in 13 rolls. Damn.

The corporal does not accept any tools from Max, with her hand raised she mentions "I am a conjurer" assuming that will suffice for an explanation.

"Any idea where we are supposed to stick these after we have removed them all?" She asks of Max.

The others get to work on the other mines flagged by Boris, while Wierzbowski works on one just ahead of the one Max just dug up.

PM

PM

PM

Jack raised one finger into the air with a wide grin on his face when that question was asked. "I know exactly where you can stick them!" He then started laughing uproariously!

In reply to Max (msg # 113):

The 3rd takes a few pins. "Thanks. He then goes about disarming the mines as he was shown. After a few minutes he is engrossed in the task. It would appear that he finds searching for mines and disarming them to be deeply fascinating, possibly even enjoyable.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Wed 10 Oct 2012.

Drano replies to the Major over the platoon channel


"You need anybody from 3rd squad to head out to that location?"

Thasha stares at Drano, anxiously awaiting to be ordered to head to the crash site. He hated standing around... he thinks to himself how he wished he could have seen the crash... instead of watched people dig mines up out of the dirt.

He looked at the others to see if anyone else was as excited as he was...

The 3rd looks up when he over hears the radio chatter. Crash site? that sounds way more interesting than this. Better chance of Deadboys too. He gets up and brushes himself off, hoping to get the order to mount up. He notices the Greot looking excited and nods vigorously in his direction. "We checking it out Sir?"

Drano listens to the reply from Maj Karno. "Corporal Wierzbowski I hate to say it but Hollister is yours. My squad is moving to that crash site." The on the squad radio frequency he stats "Third squad. We're being recalled to that crash site. I want a scout up front, and two men to cover the flanks. We'll be moving out as fst as we can."

Jack smiled but then realized he wouldn't get to fly still. He sighed. Then he looked down at the two "unconscious" squadmates at his feet. "Uhh SIR? Don't we need to wait for Heinrich and Dusk to "return" to their bodies?"

"Shit..." Drano thought about about that little quandry. "Well wake 'em up or whatever the fuck is it you guys do."

"Yes sir." She behins to turn away, but then looks back "But... sir? I'm not so sure the 5 of us are safe out here on our own... what with Coalition transports falling from the sky. Perhaps we should return to base, or head to the crash with you?"

Heinrich, seeing no signs of the cause of death returns to his body. "Lots of surveillance gear, one dead Coalition soldier. No obvious signs for the cause of death."

"Corporal Wierzbowski you welcome to join us, just make sure you get it approved with your superiors."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." She was clearly pleased that her squad would be joining in. She, like most of the troops stuck at Juyong have spent the last 2 weeks stepping on land mines and getting hit by CS air strikes. Those that have survived, including Corporal Max, and Sergeant Dusk have watched their friends get blown to pieces over and over again, without any chance to fight back. Until now.

She jogs over to her squad, and Max. She is then seen talking on the radio.

After a few seconds she turns back and gives Drano the thumbs up that they are clear to join up at the crash site.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Fri 12 Oct 2012.

Jack's eyebrows shot up as he listened to the man in charge of the unit. He shook his head. "Clearly, someone will need to educate you if you're gonna work in a magic-rich army like this. I can't just wa-" He stopped as Heinrich stirred. "Okay that was just bad timing. That wasn't me."

He sneered at the Corporal Wierzbowski when she got all afraid of being left alone. He kept his silence, however. He reached down to give Heinrich a hand up. Then he nudged Dusk with his boot.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Sat 13 Oct 2012.

In reply to Heinrich (msg # 128):

"Surveillance gear? Surveilling what, exactly? And the man is dead on the job you say?"

Right on! Off a crash site we go! Hi Ho Hi Ho!
Oh joy! I can't wait...
Come on Antonio, it'll be fun.
I fail to see the fun in being shot at.
At that my fat friend is why you let me to the fighting.
You know its just going to be a shitty boring crater, don't get too excited.

the 3rd  gives his corp a thumbs up and runs over to his hover cycle. He jumps on and starts it up. He then scans the horizon in a 360 degree arc. He knows he has good eyes and prides himself on occasionally detecting enemy fliers before the tech heads do.

"Very dead, no obvious signs of how or why. Watching the town from the looks of it."

In reply to Heinrich (msg # 134):



Max nods quickly and somberly toward the Corporal's remark. He wasn't intimate with the inner workings of magic, but he knew enough about it to take the word of one refusing tools of the trade in stride.



"I've been separating the components, and piling like components together. Paying specific mind to the actual explosive materials. If they go off, it would be one hell of a concussive hit, but with no shrapnel around it, a 15 foot radius is enough to live through a potential blase."



Max paid absolutely no mind to the joker. He didn't begrudge anyone their fun. He just found it difficult to enjoy life. So far as anyone here knew, it is just the way he has always been.



"Welcome" and a quick respectful nod was the returned reaction. Though it did come across in an overbearingly stoic manner.

After the initial meeting with the current aids, Max goes back to disarming additional mines. With more people removing them, he found himself just going out and digging roughly around the ones that were marked while paying special attention to the surroundings to make certain none were missed. But the bulk of his time was spent removing and sorting the payloads. Last thing he wanted was to have one go off in a huge pile while they were still intact. No good there.

As the others started to coalesce while Heinrich was relaying intel, Max disassembled the last disarmed mine for the moment.

"What do you want me to do with the explosives? I wouldn't recommend heading into a potential encounter with them. Especially if we've been watched here. They target my bike and the others will be picking up our parts for weeks. Or we leave them here, and they get retrieved by the boneheads for reuse."

Comartin returns to his armor after hopping out to take a leak. He jogs over to Drano in his glitter boy. "I'll take the left flank Sarge"

 Bullovah places his tools back in his demolitions satchel and straps it to his giant-sized hovercycle. He slowly glides it over to Drano "Guess I can take the other flank, if that's fine by you?"

Drano acknowledges Cormartin with a wave of his hand.

"I guess so King Kong..." Drano didn't even notice until now that one of Cpl Wierzbowski’s people was giant ape. As always, too much was happening and too fast. “Ok if everyone is ready let’s move out.”

04:06, Today: Drano Pierce rolled 13 using 1d100. History Post Apocalypse (48/40%.
PASS (hence the referring to Bullovah as King Kong)

 Squad three, along with the squad from Juyong head out towards the crash site, to assist second squad. With Sergeant Dusks' animal mount as the slowest (only slightly behind the glitter boys top speed), the group is traveling at around 50 mph. The rain, and spray from the other vehicles makes it hard to see, and difficult to stear the vehicles.

Comartin and Bullovah spread out to cover the flanks.

It is a 10 mile trek to the crash site and will take 12 minutes at this speed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:52, Sun 14 Oct 2012.

Drano moves out as fast as he can towards the crash site. With a top speed of 60mph it isn't very fast....

He issued orders on the squad freqency, which had been passed on to Cpl Wierzbowski’s people. "Those of you on hovercycles go to max speed, head due south. Try to reach the CS forces before they get to the crash site. At the very least you'll be able to hit them from behind."

"Leave us slow fucks behind. King Kong, I still want you covering our flank."

He then get on the platoon radio freqency. "Sending some of my people to flank them or hit them from behind. Comartin and I will be in a postion to fire in 8 or 9 minutes. Everyone else will be able to help between 10 to 12 minutes."

Jack got back into the vehicle that Heinrich was driving (and stowed Dusk's limp body if he hadn't returned to it). "Hurry up, wait here, go over there. It's a good thing I like travel! I just wish I could fly." He sighed softly.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:48, Mon 15 Oct 2012.

"Wait... what? I have a hovercycle... should I go full speed and cover their flank, or go slow and cover yours Sarge?"

Heinrich fires up his vehicle, letting Jack climb back inside, "Perhaps I can telekinetically hurl you into the enemy forces." he says with a grin as they begin moving out.

Thasha hops in the back of the truck, as in the trip to Hollister, anxious for another chance to kill those responsible for destroying his home city, and his family, and his first friend Mr. Womble.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:10, Mon 15 Oct 2012.

The 3rd guns his hover cycle and heads due south as ordered. He picks up some height looking out for a tell tale cloud of smoke. If he sees it he drops back down to tree top height and picks up speed. If he doesn't see any he heads due south anyway. Behind his Helmet he grins to himself. Thinking about the already dead Dead Boys.

Squad Three

Sergeant Pierce
Sergeant Dusk
Corporal Comartin
*Corporal Max (temporarily assigned as 'scout')
Private Thasha
Jack
Heinrich
Boris


Juyong Squad

Corporal Wierzbowski
Private The 3rd
Bullovah
2 humans currently unnamed... (demolitions related skills)

Beast Mount : Dusk
Glitter Boys : Drano and Comartin
Hover Truck : Heinrich, Jack, Thasha
Flying : Boris
Hovercycles : everyone else
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:10, Mon 15 Oct 2012.

"Guess you're with us Max, see the rest of you there!"

Jack rolled his eyes at Heinrich. "I can fly on my OWN, thank you very much. I don't even need magic to do so." Then he shrugged and conceded. "Well, I suppose I do need magic. I am a creature of magic after all."

"Cover us King Kong." Drano still didn't have the giant monky's name.

Heinrich grinned, "And I can still throw you at them."

"No problem. See ya in a few guys, good luck out there" (This would have taken place before the hovercycle group left).

Bullovah rides out with Drano and the others, and moves out 100 meters to the right flank.

Boris had planned on riding on top of the hover truck again, but seeing the need for someone out on the other side, he flies on over about 200 meters on the left flank of the main group, and maintaining an altitude of just under 200 feet.

The hovercycle squad can see the cloud of smoke in the distance as they approach, and with any telescopic vision, can make out Disharmony, their dragon borg circling in the air above.

Jack kept peering ahead into the distance. Once he sees the dragon borg, he brightens. "Hey Drain! Permission to go 'au natural' and go ahead since there is a giant flying dragon borg there already, sir? Thank you, sir!" He must have forgot to turn on his radio, however, since only the people in the vehicle heard him.

He opened the door and jumped out, shifting into his large dragon form as he did so. Then he began to fly towards the dragon borg at high speed (70mph). "YYYYYEEEEEEAAAAAHH! Feels so good t'be comfortable an' in the air!"

In reply to Jack (msg # 154):

Having not received direction, other than the fact that he was point man seemed to leave the decision of what to do with the explosive material up to him. Max hastily put all the explosive material in one of the holes left by the mines and buried it as best he could on short notice. He wasn't in the mood to play suicide bomber if someone was onsite to attack. He did however store all of the shrapnel in a sealed container mounted on the back of his bike and took off toward the crash site at top speed. He went around the main force but inside the flanking soldiers in an attempt to minimize any effect of dust kickup. Max also utilized the highest altitude normally achievable. He had long grown accustomed to using a thermal and IR overlay when in his body armor to help negate such nuisances.

(170mph at 80ft off the ground.)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Wed 17 Oct 2012.

Getting closer to the crash site The 3rd slows down. Hopefully giving the Dragon Borg a chance to ID him as a friendly. During on of his first combats he was involved in a friendly fire incident and has been mildly paranoid of it ever since. He keeps scanning the horizon looking for the likely rapid response dead boy idiots. Having lived in Tolkeen all his life is not all that surprised to see a real Dragon flying along with the squad. "Huh, I wonder which one the Dragon was" he says out loud, radio off.

I wonder what Dragon tastes like?
Is food really all you ever think about.
Nope, I like drinking and fucking too.
I imagine Dragon is rather tough, yet somehow magical and definitely worth the effort of chewing... Why am I even answering you?
Because you like the conversation.

The 3rd shakes his head, as if that will get Antonio out of it. He raises up higher and starts scanning the ground below for threats.

Max, The 3rd, Wierzbowski and the other two as of yet unnamed members of Juyong's demolotions team blast toward the crash site. Once within 1000 feet or so, Wierzbowski reports in and asks for direction.

I'm going to move you guys to Squad One thread, to avoid confusion with the rest of the team.

Squad One For Max and The 3rd
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:38, Wed 17 Oct 2012.

Jack let out a roar as he slowly faded from sight in mid-flight. A small popping noise might have been heard if anyone was close enough as he teleported away.

Dusk's mount pelted towards the downed transport at a good 90 mph, spine flexing up and down to extend its stride, and quickly left the Glitter Boys behind.  The DB put the mystery of the dead surveiller out of his mind for the moment and looked for any tactical advantage the terrain might offer.  Like a nice place to plant an ambush and traps.  Along the way he also spent some energy to cast protective armor on his animals and self.

Dusk takes the lead, although Heinrich could pass him... Drano and Comartin following as fast as they can, and Bullovah a few hundred meters out, keeping pace.

After about 3 minutes, the squad will have to change their path slightly, to avoid trampling a campsite. A man is seen cooking something over a fire, while wearing body armour. He just watches as the group speeds past him, unless someone stops for some reason, and the squad presses on to the crash site.

Drano guides his squad around the campsite. Checking his sensors he tries to determine how faw away and what direction the CS troops are from his postion.

"What are our orders when we arrive to your firing range sir? Do we continue without you and Comartin to engage?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Thu 25 Oct 2012.

"Correct, engage when you are in range."

Five minutes pass, Dusk and Heinrich's hover truck are now approaching the crash site.

Drano, Comartin and Bullovah are one minute behind them, and will be within range of the CS squad at that time.

Dusk's mount crept around the back of the crashed airship looking for all the world like a stalking cat.  A coal black hand in a grey gauntlet raised and flashed a sign at the other Tolkeen fighters.  "You heard the man.  Let us make these 'boys dead."

Comartin runs several hundred feet into the necessary distance for his targeting computer to lock onto the Coalition Hellraiser, to ensure he can get several shots off before they retreat from his range. He jumps and lands with a thud, to clear out some of the mud, to ensure he has solid ground to shoot from. He looks once over at Pierce, then locks in, and opens fire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:22, Thu 01 Nov 2012.

Pierce charges in right along with Comartin, and checks in with the platoon over the radio. "We're here." He then locks in, and opens fire along with Comartin.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:27, Thu 01 Nov 2012.

Simultaneously as the first shot zooms between the main squad, and Lotus and Settles position, and slams into the Hellraiser's shoulder, causing it to stumble and knock one of the cycle pilots from his bike -- Sgt. Pierce announces their presence over the radio "We're here".

This is followed by a relentless onslaught of giant rail gun rounds tearing into the Coalition force. The Hellraiser is cut to pieces before the others even begin to retreat. But not before it launches one of its' medium-range missiles toward sqaud two's position, exploding into the hill they are using for cover. The explosion is muffled, and looks like it was just filled with mud, launching into the air and back down all over the squad.

The Chromium Guardsmen do not let up until all of the Terror Troopers are immobile, and laying in a line leading south east. They have gotten skilled at judging the distance necessary to take out certain CS units, and are able to take all five of them out without having to unlock. The hovercycles are too fast however, and with the rain, very difficult to hit...

The pilots are likely still alive in the Hellraiser and both Terror Troopers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:59, Thu 01 Nov 2012.

Drano surveyed the destruction he and Comartin had laid down on the Coalition War machines. He briefly thought of putting more boom gun rounds into those that might still hold live crewmen. Then the order came down to look for prisoners. Doing a quick scan he caught something on his radar.
"We have more incoming. My radar just picked up a fast mover... It took a few seconds to determine exactly what it was. ...it's a death head transport. ETA four minutes."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 18:19, Sun 04 Nov 2012.

Jack flew back towards his squad, grinning in his draconic form.

Dusk called for the advance on the remnants of the first Coalition group on the scene.  He leaned forward to brace an elbow against his mount, aimed, and squeezed off a burst of coherent light at one of the scattering hovercycles before jumping back in the saddle and spurring the beast to join in the charge.  Whatever the orders had been, in the coming fight he was more interested in neutralizing any resistance among the Boom Gun survivors than taking prisoners.  After the last two weeks of CS bombardment 'resistance' looked a lot like 'anyone capable of pointing a gun'.

Today: Dusk rolled 31 strike (aimed, before penalties) for 38 MD

Boris leaps from the hover truck, and takes to the air keeping pace with Dusk, about 80 feet above him.

"They will be out of range very soon!" Boris takes aim, and fires off several rounds from his sledgehammer rail gun.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:55, Sun 04 Nov 2012.

Thasha hops on the back of the truck, and holds on with his left hand, leaving his right hand free to hold his rail gun.

"Let's go!" He shouts up to Heinrich.

As the last hovercycles escaped Dusk waved at the vulture following overhead and told it and another invisible listener, "Go find that flying transport full of men and metal.  You," pointing to the sinister looking bird, "go find the Pilot who controls the vehicle, or someone near him, and wreak havoc.  If you crash it, I promise you your freedom for a whole day.  You," - pointing now to the invisible listener swirling the dust in his wake - "The hold of the flying box is full of the metal suits those men put on to fly.  Take one of the empty ones and kill all the squishy men you can.  Your freedom for a whole day if none get out.  And a new toy if it's under a dozen."  With that the second entity followed hot on the heels of the first streaking toward the Death's Head transport and Dusk and his beasts got back to searching for worthwhile prisoners and (with little time left) finding the most defensible position available.

damn Today: Dusk rolled 90 using 1d100. intelligence (<60).

Heinrich heeds Thasha's request and gets their vehicle moving again, as fast as he's able. It was time he did something useful.

Heinrich and Thasha aren't able to keep up. The Coalition troops are fleeing at top speed. Dusk and Boris are able to fire a few times each (dropping one each as well - both are likely still alive), but the remaining four escape leaving them behind, just as Jack arrives.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:41, Mon 05 Nov 2012.

"Should we round up prisoners as well Sergeant?"

"Those were our orders.  But we've got more incoming so if they put up any resistance, kill them."

Dusk squinted at the hovercycle pilot he'd grounded, laser barrel trained on the woman's neck.  "Up" he growled at her.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Mon 05 Nov 2012.

Jack flew after the escapees, one last attempt to stop them by attempting to disable their getaway vehicles with his large gun but doesn't go too far as they continue to flee. He flies back, looking visibly disappointed and glaring at any prisoners as if they were tasty annoying snacks.

OOC - any prisoners are trapped inside their pilot compartments in the Hellraiser and Terror Troopers. Also, possibly the two cyclists Dusk and Boris dropped on their retreat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:28, Tue 06 Nov 2012.

Jack will pick up the two cyclists and fly back to the group. He will drop them in front of Dusk before landing a small bit away.

Drano finally arrives to join the rest of the platoon and squad. He surveyed the area looking for some place to hunker down.

Both hovercycle pilots survived. One suffered a nasty rail gun wound to the back of the head, the other had fallen from his bike, and his armor is severely scorched. Jack drops them on the ground, and they start to stir. Both men still have their side arms, a vibro knife, 3 grenades, and 5 e clips each.

The five pilots of the robot armors are rounded up as well by the rest of the group, and all seven are gathered together about a hundred feet from the ruined-front end of the transport. Sounds of gunfire can be heard coming from the back of the ship.

Comartin holds position unless Drano gives orders to the contrary. Keeping his eyes to the sky he prepares for the approach of the Death Head transport. He doubts it will come into range of the Chromiun Guardsmans big guns but if it does he wants to be ready. Though he has already resigned himself mentally to shooting down the missile volleys that are sure to accompany the flying behemoth.

The prisoners have been gathered and disarmed, stripped down to their skivies to be safe. The weapons and ammo have been tossed into the back of the hover van to be divied up as usual.

None of the soldiers are above the rank of corporal, and are being very cooperative. Turns out being captured by 2 glitter boys, a greot, and a dragon induces good behaviour.

Suddenly, from the roof of the transport somewhere, there is a volley of mini missiles launched, followed by second volley, before the sniper is attacked from behind by Na-Wa and Smoke. All of the missiles are targeted on Sergeant Pierce, but anyone may attempt to shoot them down, or protect him.

The air for a dozen yards around the 2nd sergeant visibly darkened for a second as Dusk looked up from zip-tie-ing a last prisoner to the others and saw the attack directed nearby.  He shoved the human away from where it looked like the missiles would impact - and followed closely behind.  Afterwards it was still dark immediately around the DB mage but not in such a big area, having shrunk from a cloud to a cloak.

"Aww shit..." could be heard over the radio as maneuvers to avoid the inbound missiles.

12:34, Today: Drano Pierce rolled 3 using 1d20. dodge#1 +14 (beat 23).
FAIL help please....

12:34, Today: Drano Pierce rolled 8 using 1d20. dodge#2 +14 (beat 14).
PASS

Boris lands and takes aim with his rail gun, hoping to blast at least a couple of the missiles out of the sky before they reach the sergeant.

Heinrich focuses on the incoming missiles, staring at them as if willing them to explode prematurely.

Thasha stands next to Boris and opens fire, hoping to drop a missile before the little cyborg...

As the first volley approaches, Boris and Thasha blast away, while Heinrich waits for them to get closer. Thasha hits nothing, while Boris takes down two of them. A third explodes on a TK forcefield . The fourth clears the group and would hit Drano while he attmepts to dodge to safety. Heinrich, telekinteically pushes it up and over Drano and it explodes some distance away.

The second volley allows less time to react, however Boris hits one, and another is stopped on the same TK forcefield. Heinrich is able to redirect a third, and Sergeant Pierce manages to dodge clear of the final missile.

Everyone is fine.

One of the prisoners speaks up "get us out of here! we're going to be killed!"

Safe for now, Drano shouts at the crying prisoner. “Well you know how much value your Coalition has for you. Shut up and stay down, maybe a stray round won’t hit you. Try to run and one of our stray rounds might hit you.”

“Squad Three, lets spread out and get ready for that deaths head.”

“Boris, Thasha watch the prisoners, make sure none of them try to escape.”

GM: If you feel someone else is better suited to watch the prisoners feel free edit my post.

Jack did nothing. He simply turned to look at the incoming missiles and gave a small smile, head tilting to the side. He then shrugged and looked back at the prisoners a moment then at the Sergeants.

"This looks like a job for....Boris! Or a round from one of the Glitters."

He chuckled at that. Then looked at those ordered to watch the prisoners. "I get hungry after a fight. Make sure my lunch doesn't run away."

He was kidding, of course. Humans tasted TERRIBLE! But it was nice to put the fear of...well, the fear of dragons into some racist speciesist motherfuckers.

He dutifully "spread" out with the rest of the squad, casting a spell as he did so.

"Yes sir" replies the light machine. Boris immediately directs them all to lay face-down in a row, then nods to Thasha.

Smoke Perkins can be seen through the smoke on top of the transport. Gunfire can be heard from the other end of the transport where his squad is taking on whatever crawled out of the escape hatch.

More gunfire is heard coming from inside the transport, as more of Pluto Company battle the survivors within.

Heinrich will continue to use the super TK to move missiles away until it runs it's duration. He will start to look for targets with his rifle then.

Comartin continues to hold position behind soft cover waiting on the Deathhead or whatever it is dropping off to come into range. Any further missile volleys targeting him or the Sergeant will be met with a volley of four of his own mini-missiles.

Jack will grudgingly take human form once more and take cover for the moment.

The Death's Head transport can be seen approaching in the distance from the east, completely out of range of any weapons on the ground. It will be overhead in less than 2 minutes, and within long-range fire in a matter of seconds.

Jack grinned at the coming fight, even though it was bound to be dangerous. So far, he stayed in human form. "So what's the great tactical plan, boss?"

The corporal speeds over to Drano as fast as she can, bringing her hovercycle to a stop by the glitter boy. "Sergeant? I conjured tarps for the other squad, tarps with the same pattern as the ground. There is no way they could see us..."

She displays the power by creating a 10x10 tarp, with a nearly identical recreation of the ground everyone is standing on, as the pattern. Waiting for approval, she will then conjure enough for the whole squad.

Come time to 'tarp' Jack, she waits if he metamorphs, if not she will ask that he does...

 It was a long few minutes, waiting for the second transport to arrive overhead. Silvermasque's team delivers their prisoner to the main group of prisoners with squad three (disarmed and disarmored of course). Ensuring the entire platoon is aware that this prisoner is a Psi-Nullifier, and was interfering with their magic. Corporal Wierzbowski makes the rounds, conjuring camoflauged tarps for everyone in the platoon. With a near-perfect recreation of the surrounding terrain, the tarps look like real ground, from just a few feet away. The Corporal remains with squad three.

The transport remains safely out of the boom-gun range, and slows to a hover above the platoon. The rain continues to pour down, and lightning crackles across the sky. The Death's Head hovers there for several seconds, before the rear ramp slowly opens...

Hundreds of skelebots pour out of the transport like a swarm of hornets, free-falling  for most of the descent to the ground. Once they are just a thousand feet from impact, they activate tiny jet-packs installed on their backs, that couldn't hold much more fuel to last for anything other than a very short controlled drop. There must be four or five hundred of them raining down... The rain and thunder are too loud to hear any of this, but it makes a terrifying image against the backdrop of lightning flashes...


*It has been 4 minutes since the transport was called in over the radio.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:35, Sat 01 Dec 2012.

Drano sighted in with his boom gun. With such a massive group of Skelbots he really didn’t have to aim at any one particular Skelbot as a single round was likely to go through one or two of them.

Heinrich waits, at this range he was useless.

The Coalition transport is about 6 kilometers from the ground when it releases the skelebots. It will be gaining altitude as the last 'bot is off the ramp. As soon as the skelebots fall within range of the boom guns, Drano and Comartin open fire. The 'bots tuck in and freefall, head first to minimize the time before impact.

The glitter boys have a full 27 seconds of unanswered blasting into the swarm above. Both pilots take advantage of the situation, lock in, and go full offensive (doubling their actions, but hindering their ability to defend). Sgt. Pierce gets off 38 shots, and Comartin 35 before the skelebots fall within the one-mile range and return fire. They have damaged or destroyed 25% of them already...

Anyone else with a 1-mile range weapon may open fire. Any additional defenses can be set up as well.


Skelebot (Old)
Skelebot (New)

Death's Head Transport
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:44, Sun 09 Dec 2012.

Jack waits for the moment. He isn't THAT a good shot at extremely long ranges. He stays under his tarp in human form, waitnig.

Drano noted the number on his ammo counter fifty-seven left and kept on firing. The more he and Comartin took down now was less the others would have to deal with. “Don’t let up Comartin lets take out as many as we can.”

The Glitter Boys continue to fire, while Lieutenant Nuitari and his squad can be seen speeding for the transport for cover before the 'bots reach the ground. The descending skelebots hit terminal velocity some time ago, and are just seconds from entering standard weapons range. As they get closer, some of them are visibly not typical skelebots... Some appear to be some new-model of multi-armed demonic robots, while others are heavy cyborgs.

Wierzbowski and Bullovah move off to their new positions as ordered in by Nuitari, while Thasha and Boris remain with Pierce and Comartin to ensure they are protected while they stand out in the open and shoot down as many as they can...

Thasha moves over to stand next to Comartin, while Boris remains hovering slightly off the ground next to Pierce.

The heavy cyborgs are armed with several weapons each, but some have missile rifles and return fire the moment they are within range, focusing entirely on the two chromium guardsmen.

A total of eight mini-missile volleys (of four each) pour down from the sky along with the torrential rain. (4 volleys on each GB). These missiles are fired from 8 separate missile rifles almost simultaneously once they reach the 1 mile distance.

Both Pierce and Comartin remain locked in place firing back up at the aggressors.

Boris is able to shoot one missile prior to hitting its' target, detonating it and another missile in mid-air. Pierce is lucky and is only hit with one volley (Boris detonated two that were already going to miss). It appears that aiming unguided mini-missiles while falling in maximum velocity is quite difficult. Comartin, is unluckily hit with 2 volleys. The others miss their tagets and detonate all around the four soldiers and engulf them in flames, debris and mud. Thasha is hit by at least one of the missed-volleys and is blown off his feet, leaving most of his armor in pieces scattered around him. Boris manages to stay out of most of the blast radius, taking very little damage.




Thirty seconds have now passed since the 'bots fell within range, and the Glitter Boys have managed to fire another 7 times (Pierce 4 times, Comartin 3) into the robot swarm. (It has been just three seconds since they crossed the 1 mile mark).
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:05, Thu 20 Dec 2012.

The Glitter Boys show no sign of stopping and continue to fire. Thasha realizes this is far too much for him, and he scrambles to his feet and charges for the safety of the transport, leaving his body armor in pieces in the mud behind him.

The descending swarm starts to activate their mini jet packs to slow their falling speed, while the cyborgs release another spray of missiles at the dangerous GBs. This time, ten volleys of four missiles make up the deadly spray... Upon quick estimation, there are 12-16 Cyborgs, who seem to each have missile rifles. They all drop their missile rifles after this blast, and focus on controlling their landing.

This time, SIX volleys are aimed at Pierce, while FOUR are launched at Comartin. Boris manages to hit another, detonating two in mid air, and again hitting ones that were already going to miss... Pierce is hit with a staggering FOUR VOLLEYS, while two detonate nearby, again sending flames and mud in all directions.

Comartin is likewise unfortunate and takes another three volleys of four, while one falls horribly short into the fields of water and mud.





Pierce manages to fire another 4 shots, while Comartin fires another 3. They have now damaged or destroyed a THIRD of the descending mechanical swarm!

*33 seconds have passed since the bots entered boom gun range. 6 seconds since they crossed the 1 mile mark. They are now just under 2000 feet, in a controlled fall, using their jet packs in bursts to land safely in just a few seconds -- they will land all over the place - two hundred feet in all directions around the crashed transport.

Jack sighs as he watches the Glitterboys taking missile fire. "Do you two require assistance or another...bodyguard since Thasha ran off?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:34, Fri 21 Dec 2012.

Rocked by the impacts of several mini-missiles Drano knew that they had caused significant damage to his Chromium Guardsman and that it was time to fall back. “Comartin it’s time to fall back!” As he turned and ran towards the cover of the crashed Death’s Head transport, Drano moved left and right in the attempt to avoid incoming fire. As he did so he radioed to anybody and everybody else the need for covering fire. “Falling back!!!!!!!! We need covering fire!”

"Noon.  I could use that bodyguard, Master Jack, if they didn't need you down here."  After looking over the soldiers nearest him, and snorting in Thasha's general direction, Dusk gestured at the cyborg sniper and the human DB that had blocked so many of the missiles with his mind. [OOC: Boris, Signal, and Heinrich]  After getting their attention he tilted his head to indicate for them to follow.  Trotting alongside Boris he asked the machine-man, "You got a welder in there, right?"  As they all passed through the squad detailed to guard the main entrance to the transport he looked for anyone else to recruit and called out, "Hey Wierzbo!  Come put some traps down for us, een case we have to fall back?" 


edited for continuity
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

PM

Heinrich follows Dusk, clutching his Juicer assassin rifle.

"Yes sir! I'm all fucked up sir! My Guardsmen that is sir. I have a couple of volleys left in my tubes I'm saving them for any more incoming missiles. I'm under twenty-percent ammo capacity and my targeting computer is gone. My left leg is fucked sir... pylon is for shit and I'm venting oh-two. Goddamn Coalition." Comartin retreats after Drano

Boris nods to Sergeant Dusk, and follows them inside the transport, checking back a couple times to make sure the Glitter Boys made it back to the squad safely. He made a note to tank them later for risking their lives to save everyone else's.

She parks her hovercycle by the hover skiffs and follows the others back inside the transport. "Yes sir."

Dusk cast an eye around the mouth of the enemy's lost airship one more time looking for anyone else who might be useful.  He waved at a few soldiers he half-recognized whose names he didn't remember, who definitely wouldn't be missed as 'heavy hitters'.  He sighed.  "Thasha, you come too."

"Get your fucking armor first" the silhouette sneered good naturedly and turned back to the others supressing a grin.

Then he started gesturing and directing with quick hands but an even tone at odds with his usual emphatic speech.  "We're going up and over, going fast, so if you can't fly or climb like ze spider grab somebody's hoverbike, jet pack, what you know..." he finished with an expressive wave that conveyed perfectly the triviality of how they got themselves to the hatch.  As long as it was fast.  "If you can fly, take somebody with you.  When we get there, Heinrich.  You and I ghost walk for recce.  Corporal.  I'll want traps from you as we fall back.  You know your magic better than me, but be efficient with your energy.  No more than a third.  I'll have to borrow some later.  Bring those tarps too, they're here now.  Boris.  You set up an initial defense just inside the hatch with the others.  Questions."  It sounded more like a statement than a question and he was already motioning for Wierzbowski to start her bike back up and make room for him.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:32, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

*The tarps are ground patterned, she would have to make 'transport' pattern ones for them to be anything more than tarps. (non-camouflage)

She makes room for the sergeant, then takes off straight up, then straight for the hatch.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Boris takes flight, takes Thasha's offered hand, and carries him up to the roof of the crashed transport.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

"Don't worry shaz, they're not for camouflage.  If we have to fall back they're for covering traps and blind approaches."

Jack wandered over to Dusk. "Do I need to stay in human form...sir? I can carry many and fly but....I'd be a large target."

"The LT said you are staying here Jack. Good luck!"

Heinrich nods, "Let's go then, the sooner the better." he sounds nervous, not scared, but excited.

This part of the transport bent and twisted when it crashed, and there are several holes, revealing the rear bay area inside. There are several areas still on fire, and bellowing thick black smoke. The roof hatch is at the top of a ladder, big enough for heavy cyborgs to move in and out of with ease. The door normally seals with a mag-lock, but all power is down.

Several hundred feet out from squad two's position a massive tornado forms, from the clouds, down to the ground accompanied by hail, heavier rain and roaring winds. Any descending troops within 300 feet are sucked in and will be destroyed in a matter of seconds...

Several Tolkeen soldiers on hovercycles can be seen approaching from the north, and just east of them, a hover-van and a winged power armor; which has just taken flight.

The skelebots are now just under 1000 feet from landing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:40, Thu 10 Jan 2013.

Spraying mud in all directions, N'ialla doesn't slow down until the last second, and tries to turn away, but ends up crashing into the transport, making it a very rough ride for Leviticus in the passenger seat and Lyrran hanging on in the back.

The Raksasha demon hops out of the truck and levitates herself telekinetically up to the top of the transport to join the others.

"Sergeant Dusk. N'ialla, raksasha, combat mage."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Thu 10 Jan 2013.

Lyrran lands softly on the top side of the wreck. Taking a moment to gauge the speed of the incoming skelebots and the field of battle, he un-slings his rifle. Alright I got a bead on the 'bots and they are in range. When they get closer I can cause a lot more mayhem but for now pot shots are going to have to do, he says.

Boris immediately gets to work on sealing the roof hatch closed with a laser torch in one of his fingers. "This will take while! Please try to keep them off my back!"

*Please subtract ammo for 1/3 or 5 seconds of combat during the final 2000 feet, before some reach the ground.

More than half have been defeated, but there are still dozens upon dozens skelebots on their way to secure the crashed vessel. There are another 5 skelebots overhead, about 50 feet from landing right on top of you, and another 8 landing around the transport, firing from the ground. The 13 skelebots are a mix of the old death's head type and the new, sleeker model of killer robot

The Death's Head transport starts to head off, back toward Coalition territory

*Posts should be about 5 seconds worth of actions, with initiative, and any necessary strikes, parries, and dodge.



Dusk
Heinrich
Cpl. Lyrran
Leviticus
Max Damage
Nialla
Boris
Pvt. Thasha
Lotus
Sir Thompson
Cpl. Wierzbowski
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:59, Sat 19 Jan 2013.

N'ialla takes aim with her long-range laser rifle and starts firing at the descending bots.

Seeing the transport take off, Max banks hard and turns to circle the crash site, dropping to a thousand feet and opening up with a pair of particle beam weapons. Crisp lines of blue energy cut through the sky between the power armour and the falling skelebots. One weapon fires a staccato of light while the other produces a much more impressive beam only occasionally.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:08, Sun 20 Jan 2013.

Lotus is confident her defensive spells will keep her safe for now, and she takes a position close to Boris to deflect incoming shots. She fires at the 'bots falling overhead with streams of dark shadowy energy from her eyes.

Thasha takes a stance near the edge of the transport, and fires down at the skelebots that have already landed and are charging toward their position.

Heinrich opens fire with his rifle as the skelebots close in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:09, Thu 31 Jan 2013.

From the side door of the recently arrived transport van a giant of a felinoid emerges. Standing 12ft tall and weighing close to a 1000lbs he is clad in gleaming white Crusader style composite armor with a large red Templar cross on the chest. A shimmering cape of ice dragon scales hangs from his shoulders. In his arms is a 6ft long rifle of Naruni make. He spins on his heel and props the portable cannon on the roof of the transport. Quickly pushing a couple of buttons he disengages the safety and activates the advanced targeting system while shouldering the weapon and placing one eye into the cup of the high-powered scope. He targets falling skelebots at the extreme edge of his range, up to 6000ft away, and begins steadily squeezing the trigger. Spent cartridges eject forward and the whip-crack sound of plasma discharging is added to the din of battle.

Dusk finally gave up on astral recconnaisance as a pretty plan that didn't survive contact with the enemy.  Instead he sent his familiar and the Corporal below to scout out the squad's options for retreat and begin putting down traps and murder holes.  Then he sank down without thought for cover and started firing at the robots still falling toward the squad with a sharpshooter's care for each silent little burst of photons.