T-Minus 2 Minutes, 10 Seconds
3 Minutes, 57 Seconds until the elevator reaches the top

Roach and Lot were sent in with the following map marked by X.  As the elevator continues to climb with the party inside and as Viper gathers his things, Roach and Lot check the entrances to both the upload computer and the extraction point.



At the end of the hallway to the south of room 343, there is an unlocked door leading into a large laboratory with steel shelves stacked to the ceiling and various workstations.  This is room E12, where your extraction point will be.  Crates, boxes and other storage bins fill the shelves except where there are occasional countertops and dollies.  The hardline phone is an outside line on a wall mounted unit.  Luckily, it has a dial tone.

There is an unlocked door at the south center of room 329.  Roach and Lot turn the computer on and let it boot up.  It is currently booting up...

X had told them it is after hours and the only ones present are security guards.  The security guard station is at the end of the hall under E10, where there is an exit out of the facility and into the hot Mojave desert.

Back in the elevator, the party counts down the seconds until they reach the top.  Still almost four minutes.  The elevator seems so slow.

And it must be slow...because the figure below is gaining on you.  It is definitely the Agent.  You are sure of that now.  If he continues at his current rate, he will catch up to the elevator in about 2 minutes.  His suit should be in pieces from the grenade and his body ripped apart.  He seems to have some wounds over his body, but he doesn't seem to be in very rough shape, especially considering the 50 foot drop he just survived.  And his suit seems to be in fairly good repair and...in fact, it looks like the suit is repairing itself while you watch.  Of course, maybe that is just a trick of the shadows in the darkness.

Lot and Roach discuss with Grid about finding an alternate computer while this one is still booting up.  They get up to go search...

But then they hear the ding as the northernmost elevators open.  Roach and Lot are standing in the doorway of room 329.  Although the sounds are muted somewhat by the distance, it is obvious what has happened.  The marines have arrived from the lower level!  For the moment, it appears that they are simply gathering their supplies and unaware that anyone is on the upper floor.

And 2325 feet below them, Viper is still on the lower level.  If he does not get out of the blast radius soon, he will surely be killed.

T-Minus 2 Minutes, 5 Seconds
3 Minutes, 52 Seconds until the elevator reaches the top

NOTE:  When I close a thread, it may not show you any new postings since the last time you read it.  Therefore, make sure you have read all of the postings in the previous thread (Log 1-9, etc.) even if it doesn't show a new post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:02, Tue 22 June 2004.

Jade looks up at the hatch on top of the elevator.  "I wonder if I should get back up there and lay down some heavy fire on this guy.  I've also got one more grenade left."

Laz's gaze went back and forth between those in the elevator with him. He had listend intently to everything Lot and Roach had told them and he was worried. "So, what are we going to do, we need some distraction that won't put anyone's life on the line, we've lost too many today."

Lot hovers near the exit to the computer room attempting to build up enough nerve to begin his search for a backup computer.  His hand grasps for the handle slowly as if he were slowly winning a contest of will over fear.  As his hand clasps on the handle he suddenly cocks his head to one side as if a sudden realization has hit him.

One word passes his lips in a slow hiss "Binary."

Lot looks at the door handle with a new resolve and pushes his way through with a determined stride.

Roach quickly grabs Lot before he can go search.
"Wait, where are you going? There are marines out there! How the hell are we going to get rid of them before the others arrive?" He says in a paniced whisper.

"Yeah, I'd love to, Mitose, but X has to activate the exit, remember?"

Viper hesitates for a moment. He'd planned to get out on the line the team had originally came in on, but with X temporarily out of communication, that was impossible. There was no telling when he'd be able to activate the exit. With barely more than two minutes remaining till the other bomb went off, it wasn't much of an option. And there was no way the other elevator would get hem away fast enough. No help for it, though. There wasn't time to disable it.

Viper sprints for the second elevator. Once inside, he punches the button for up and then clambers through the hatch, pulling himself hand over hand up the ascending cable.

OOC:  Where is the northmost elevator located exactly? I didnt see anything clearly marked on the maps.

IC:

"The marines have their timing down to the second.  They will leave before the elevator arrives if we just sit tight.  However, after what they did to Xan and Twitch... I dont know if im going to let them." replies Lot between clenched teeth.

T-Minus 1 Minutes, 50 Seconds
3 Minutes, 37 Seconds until the elevator reaches the top

Viper sprints to the elevator and punches the button.  It begins to rise.  He looks at the cables and realizes that the bundled hoist cables are moving quickly with the elevator, both up and down.  To climb them while the elevator is moving would present a serious risk of his fingers being ripped off.  Nevertheless, he remembers X's statement that if he defused the first bomb, then the elevators should be safe to ride in.  Also, ten feet to the east, the emergency stairs climb upward.

Far above, Viper can see the pinpoints of light from the flashlights of his companions.

The other elevator continues to rise with the Agent running up the stairs after it.

As Lot sneaks up behind the marines, he sees that they are laying out their wounded and stacking their gear.

"Less than two minutes," one of them in demolitions gear says.

"Where are the medics?" the sergeant says, holding his wounded hand.

"On route," someone answers.  "This is not a military installation."

"This has gone to hell in a handbasket," the Sergeant comments.  "I think someone lied to us.  They didn't seem hostile unless confronted.  And who are these NSA agents interfering with our operation?  Something's not right.  Do we have radio contact with the Colonel?"

"No, sir.  For some reason, our radio transmissions are not going through."

"Impossible.  Something's not right," he repeats.  "Well, for now, we wait for the medics and stick with our operational plans.  No deviation, do you hear me?  Not without authorization."

You hear "yes, sir" from the others.

"Demolitions team.  Prepare to move out after detonation."

[Note that the northern elevators are immediately to the west of the northern stairs.  There are two sets of elevators.  As described previously, they are highly guarded by a security station, so the elevators do not go all the way down or all the way to the top.  There is an interim security post one floor down (or up from the bottom floor).  Also, remember that the Agent that took Binary was in the second elevator leaving a little after the marines.]

[Currently, the wounded are being treated by the squad medic, who is immobilizing them and administering morphine shots.  The Sergeant does not appear to be interested in receiving a shot.  There are three other marines helping the wounded.  The demolitions team moves back to the stairs and descends to monitor the detonation.]



T-Minus 1 Minute, 35 Seconds
3 Minutes, 22 Seconds until the elevator reaches the top

Lot slinks slowly back several paces away from the corner from where he was spying on the marines.  Quietly he whispers into his headet to the others.

"Unless someone disarms the second bomb I wouldnt be caught in that elevator when it goes off. I suggest you get off at the next stop and stay ahead of that agent on the stairs.  The marines have stuck around to monitor the detonations and I suspect they will investigate any interuptions.  Too bad for these chumps... Roach, time to get our hands dirty."

Returning to his vanatage point Lot levels his pistol at the marines and releases the safety.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Thu 24 June 2004.

Grid gaze drifted from Jade to Laz and finally to Mitose.  "Looks like we need to get off, and now."

"Don't do anything hasty with the marines Lot." Grid continues as he prepares to exit the lift on the next floor, "I don't think they'll cause us any problems if we give each other a wide enough berth.  We do however, have to worry about that strange Agent.  He's catching the lift by running up the stairs, and he's looking just fine after a 50 foot drop into an elevator shaft.  Can you give us back up at our stair entrance?"

"This is too bloody weird...." he says almost as an afterthought.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:41, Thu 24 June 2004.

Sorry if this wasn't clear.  There are only two floors serviced by the freight elevators.  The lower floor and the upper floor.  There are no interim floors.

Lot waits with pistol ready.  The three healthy marines have M-16's slung over their shoulders, a pistol at their waist, and several grenades.  The squad medic is armed in the same manner, although his M-16 is laying on the ground while he treats the men.  The Sergeant is holding his pistol in his good hand since Viper hit him in the off hand.

Laz looks at Grid and smiles, "that isn't the half of it."

Grid returns Laz's smile.  "Oh good."

The big man then moves and pulls himself with ease out of the hatch door in the top of the lift.  He then prepares to jump from the top of the lift to the stair well as the first opportunity.

After a lot of hesitation, Roach gives an exapserated sigh and sneaks to Lots location.
"Are they gone yet?" He asks.

Grid's warning falls on deaf ears as the combination of fear and fury fuel Lot's bloodlust.  "Its time Roach" is his only response before he begins his merciless attack on the ignorant, but not innocent, slayers of his brothers in arms.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:30, Fri 25 June 2004.

As Grid scrambles up to the elevator hatch, Jade grabs him by the leg.  "No, don't!" she says.  "Let's try with the grenades again first.  It worked last time.  There's no way you'll stand up against him."  She pats the grenade clipped on her belt.

Laz looks up at Grid and says, "Jade is right, stay here." He taps the disks and says, "these are important as well as the knowledge we have gained about that Agent, they will help others more than another death."

This is just a little about the logistics.  I will make an official post tomorrow after giving everyone a chance to determine their actions.

One item to note:  There is no actual immediate danger to any party members until around the time of detonation, which is about when the Agent will reach the elevator.

Lot is peering around the northwest corner of room 401.  Roach is just behind him.  The soldiers are about 10 feet away where the arrow and the "F" are located.  Of the active soldiers, the sergeant is leaning down to help a wounded soldier 12 feet from Lot.  Another marine is standing about 8 feet away staring down at the body he just dropped on the floor.  The second marine is about 15 feet away watching the demolitions team go down the hall.  And the last marine is the squad medic putting pressure on a wound he binding 20 feet away.  The demolitions team is moving east down the long corridor under E10.  There is a light at the end of the east edge of E10 where the security office is located with bulletproof windows looking out onto the corridor.

At the first elevator, the upper hatch is open as Grid is starting to climb out.  Mitose, Laz, and Jade are also inside the elevator.  The Agent is about 80 feet below climbing up the adjoining emergency stairs.  There is a solid wall in front of and behind the elevator (i.e. not just an open shaft all around).  On the other side of the elevator is a deep shaft with an elevator cable going down to elevator #2 where Viper is riding up.

One point to note.  If a character is going to jump from the elevator to the stairs, it may be dangerous.  It is one thing to jump off the stairs down onto the rising elevator.  It is another thing to jump from an elevator moving up into a narrow space onto the walkway without the risk of not making it in time (or safely) and possibly being decapitated by the moving elevator.  (Although this risk might not be very high for one with a high dexterity.)

There is only one main door to the elevators that opens at the top and bottom floors only (i.e. there is not a front and back door on the elevators).  The elevators are metallic grating-like industrial material with about 1/2 inch spaces in which you can see a full 360 degrees around you.  There is an emergency hatch at the top of each elevator.

Viper is standing on top of his elevator.  He could not climb the winch cable without risk of injuring his hands.  The second elevator is far below the first.

House Rule:  I've decided for modifiers that the rate of bullet time will be subtracted from any dodge or parry rolls for melee combat.  Example, if you are using Focus skill at 3 turns/second, then any dodge, parry or active defenses like that would be at a -3 modifier.

Remember, the same will apply to you if an enemy is in bullet time, but you can cancel out a portion of this modifier by also entering bullet time.

If you have any opinions about this or think it should be different, post a message on the OOC board.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:53, Fri 25 June 2004.

Mitose breifly considers the minor struggle, and nods in agreement with Lazarus.  "You're both right, but that doesn't change the fact that this 'Agent' took a grenade hit, and not only rebounded, but charged up the stairs fast enough to nearly catch us."

He gingerly moves to have a closer look, "It's one thing for one of us to rebound from, say, an oblique grenade burst, quite another to get a solid hit that blows you down an elevator shaft." Mitose regards te others, "Somethin's not right with this guy...and while I don't agree Grid should be leaping to the rear cover action, something needs to be done to slow that Mook down."

Jade says, "If we can knock him down again, then there's no way he could catch up to us in time.  We're hundreds of feet up now.  Besides, everything can be destroyed.  Right?"  She pulls out her next grenade.

Unaware of the impending grenade games, Viper kneels on the top of his elevator and trys to get a steady shot on the running agent. "C'mon, you jerk.. walk into it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Fri 25 June 2004.

T-Minus 1 Minute, 2 Seconds

A shot rings out.  Lot has successfully aimed for and hit the head of the sergeant, who slumps over, dead.

Lot switches to bullet time and, in a flash he has got the nearest marine in an armlock, has swivelled, pinned the man against him as a human shield, and is aiming at the soldier facing the guard station.

T-Minus 59 Seconds

Lot fires and makes a direct hit in the marine's back as he is turning. [23 HT damage.]  The marine slumps over, bleeding and unmoving.

The medic is spinning around.  He has dropped his syringe and lifted his M-16, rolling as he does so into the hall from the stairwell.

The demolitions team has also heard the shots.  They are crouching and drawing weapons down the hall.

T-Minus 58 Seconds
2 Minutes, 45 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top

The rest of the team feels helpless because no one except Roach can be of any help.

But the Agent is slowly gaining.  He is about 50 feet below the first elevator.

[OOC: I'm not sure what the final decision about grenades or Grid was.]

Grid turned to look down at Laz, Jade and Mitose.  "I have no intention of battling 'whatever' " he puts emphasis on that last word, "is following us.  Slow it down, yes, die fighting it, no.  I'm big, but I'm not stupid."

He turns his attention back to the situaiton at hand, noticing that he might come to a grievous end if he didn't just onto the stairs at the right time.  Sighing, he unclips two of his own grenades, deciding on when the best time it will be to throw them.

"Lot, wa-... shit!" Roach attempts to protest, but then quickly trys to follow the man's movements.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:29, Sun 27 June 2004.

"Your first mistake was to think you could stand in our way" growls Lot into the ear of the captive marine.  With a savage jerk Lot wrenches hard on the marines twisted wrist in order to keep the man in pain and under control.

Only a quick sidelong glance indicates that he is aware of Roach, perhaps wondering if his nervous counterpart will crack under the pressure or maybe show him something more.

Roach jumps forward from the corner.  He reaches out and takes hold of a smoke grenade strapped to the marine while Lot pulls the marine back in a corner.

The medic is apparently retreating.  You hear the door to the stairwell open from around the corner.

Lot wrenches and the soldier cries out in pain as his wrist dislocates and Lot holds him in a crippling wrist lock.

Roach pulls the pin and throws the smoke grenade in the direction of the demolitions team, which is still looking back in confusion.  The tear gas grenade lands near them in the corridor and smoke begins to rise.

Lot has aimed, and he fires at the demolitions team, but he is walking backwards with a struggling marine, and the demolitions team is over 50 feet away, so he misses.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:37, Mon 28 June 2004.

T-Minus 55 Seconds
2 Minutes, 42 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top.

Lot is pulling the marine back behind the corner.  Roach is following to get behind cover too.

As they do so, you hear the radios of the marines break out with, "Delta Force, this is medic Corporal Hamilton of Ranger Chalk 2.  Retreat and reinforce.  Ranger Chalk 2 is out of commission.  Do you read me, Delta Force?  Call command for reinforcements.  Do not engage Charly."

There is a crackle and a break before you hear, "Roger that.  What is your exfil status?"

"I need evac yesterday.  No other survivors believed."

"Roger that.  No one gets left behind."

"Huwah."

Lot drops his Beretta, grabs the marine with his head between his hands, and twists it suddenly for a neck snap.  The marine resists the attempt and squirms out of Lot's grasp.  He begins to lurch forward toward the stairwell.

The demolitions team appears to be retreating back toward the security station.

T-Minus 49 seconds
2 Minutes, 36 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top.

PLAYER WALKTHROUGH: Lot was attempting a "neck snap," which is a special maneuver in the Martial Arts book.  It defaults to ST-4.  It is done by first getting a successful Grapple with the victim's head with both hands.  On the following round, a Quick Contest is made (the Snap Neck maneuver score v. the victim's St or HT, whichever is greater, plus Toughness, if any).  In this case, Lot did not win the quick contest, and the marine got himself free.

As she is looking at the three grenades, Jade realizes that they are all different.

One is an ABC-M7A3 Riot Control Grenade.  This is a typical tear gas grenade shaped like a soup can.

The second is an AN-M14 TH3 Incendiary Grenade.  Also known as a "thermite grenade" these are used to destroy or disable equipment after being placed in a vulnerable spot.  A short 2 second fuse is attached.  (I will assume your jack in equipment includes a flare that you could theoretically use to light it.)

The third is an M67 Fragmentation Grenade, a baseball sized grenade for injuring troops (the same as the one she threw earlier).

Lot quickly draws his knife and throws it at the retreating marine...but the throw goes wide and misses.

The marine jumps behind the wall and into the stairwell area after the medic.

Lot stoops down and picks up his Beretta, letting the soldier flee.

T-Minus 45 seconds
2 Minutes, 32 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top.

At this point, I will be fast-forwarding to the explosion unless there is anything pressing in the next 40 seconds of game time.  Please post to let me know what your characters will do during and at the end of that 40 seconds, including finalizing any grenade action on the stairwell (as I'm not sure that has been finalized).

Please note:  Although it is unlikely that your characters will be caught in the explosion itself, it is likely that the explosion will damage the lower section of the elevator shaft.  Your characters know that and may want to make the necessary precautions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:48, Wed 30 June 2004.

Viper slings his rifle and scans the walls of the shaft for anything he might be able grab onto, like a service ladder, just in case. With no real idea how strong that explosion will be, he's not holding any faith in the old elevator.

Lot grins with satisfaction as the marines retreat before him.  His bloodthirst slaked for the moment his head begins to clear itself of the euphoric high that deadly stakes can bring.  As thoughts of his team and their situation return to him he breaks out into a full run towards the elevator control box.

"Roach, without the proper security protocols the freight elevator will not open at the top floor.  Everyone inside will be sitting ducks."

Lot attempts to hack into the elevator system to release the security lock, unless Roach feels he can do it better.

Laz looks at the two friends he has made on this journey and laughs, he just laughs for a few seconds and says, "That felt good."

Although not a ladder per se, Viper sees a pole in the center between the two elevators with metal prongs interspaced.  Obviously it was meant to be used in a similar manner to a service ladder.  (The image I am trying to conjure up is like those telephone poles with round metal grips spaced apart every two to three feet going up the space on either side of the pole.  Much more dangerous than a typical ladder, but still climbable.)

It is a ten foot jump across the shaft (where the other elevator goes up) to the stairwell.  And it is 5 feet to the center cable of the other elevator.

NOTE: Some players have been sending me their moves via private message.  I don't really mind either way.  The only downside to private messages is that the other players don't have a chance to respond to you.

T-Minus 35 seconds
2 Minutes, 22 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top.

Grid takes a flying leap onto the stairwell...and lands safely.  He begins charging down toward the Agent.  "If he gets past me, blow him to hell!" Grid shouts back at his companions.

Jade, Laz, and Mitose watch in horror as Grid descends toward the Agent.  Then Jade climbs back on top of the elevator and pulls out her tear gas and thermite grenade.  She holds the fragmentation grenade in reserve.

Lot and Roach make it to the elevator entrance door and begin looking at the code.  It takes a four digit pass code and...gasp...a keycard.

Also, as they passed the room with the computer to upload, they found that it had finished booting.  But a window popped up stating the following:


Welcome, Sarah.  Please input your login id and passcode.  You look very beautiful today.

The cursor is at the top of two lines, the first "loginid" and the second "password."

Grid approaches the Agent with his AK-47 roaring to life.  He empties his entire clip at the Agent in about 3 seconds.  The Agent, however, seems to flash before your eyes, moving so swiftly that you barely see the blur.  The bullets fly harmlessly pass.  Grid raises his Beretta and empties a clip at the Agent.  Not quite so quickly, the Agent dodges the bullets...except for one, which clips his shoulder.

"Now, now," he says, and touches the injury with his hand.  He pulls back a finger covered with blood and licks it.  "That hurt," he says.

He suddenly leaps up a flight of stairs without touching any and with one hand strikes out at Grid. (34 damage).  Grid stumbles back clinging his crushed chest and, fast as lightning, the Agent strikes sideways at the large man.  Grid, losing consciousness, is hit in the neck and flies out over the railing.  Mercifully, he is unconscious long before he hits the bottom 1500 feet below.

The Agent does not even look down.  He begins scaling the stairs again at his incredibly fast rate.

Viper can only watch in horror as the unconscious body of Grid flies past him flip-flopping down the shaft.

Jade steps up and simultaneously lights the thermite grenade and sets off the teargas grenade, dropping them both onto the stairwell.  The thermite grenade lights up brightly and begins burning on the metal.  But it is soon covered in the smoke of the gas grenade.

But then the elevator is rising out of the way.

You hear a crack and a snap.  The thermite grenade has eaten through a large portion of the metal and the metal stairs begin to break away from the wall into two pieces...concrete shards pull out and begin to drop.

The thermite grenade clinks off the edge of the stairs and falls down the shaft.

Viper watches as a brightly lit thermite grenade falls down the shaft in a long arc directly toward the elevator where he is standing.  He has maybe a couple seconds to react.  He guesses it will hit somewhere in the center or northern side of the elevator...assuming it doesn't rebound off one of the walls or the winch ropes.

T-Minus 5 seconds
1 Minute, 52 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Thu 01 July 2004.

Laz yells for Grid to not go as he leaps on to the stairs. He waits to see Jade's reaction to what is happening but knows it can't be good when she starts to throw the grenades.

"Ohcrapohcrapohcrap" Yelps Roach, on the verge of panicing. "I'll... I'll... I'll go look for a keycard! It's got to be in one of these rooms!"
Roach dashes back and starts to search the rooms for a keycard or anything that might help them, starting with the closesed room.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Thu 01 July 2004.

Lot sighs deeply, "why cant it ever be easy?".  He grunts his acknowledgement as Roach runs off looking for a keycard. Who knows, he might even find one.

Focusing on the task at hand Lot investigates the elevator closely.  Perhaps there was an easier way to bypass the security measures.

Viper stares as Grid sails past, one hand even making a futile reaching gesture as the other man plummets to his death. Cursing under his breath, he's startled by the sudden appearance of a live thermite grenade. Definately not something you see every day.

One step, two, and he jumps for the pole in the middle of the shaft, hoping to stay out of the way of the grenade that way.

09:52, Today: Viper rolled 5 using 3d6. DX 14.

Mitose watches Grid sail out, too slow, thanks to his injuries, to prevent him from making such a foolhardy move.  He stares at the inhuman speed of the Agent, and hopes the grenades slow him down. "Use them all ,Jade, user the all!"

He moves to the elevator doors, and begins to do what he can to lever them open.  He doesn't want them stuck when they have to get out.

Laz walks over to Mitose and lends him some help in opening the doors. In all the commotion he hadn't thought about the doors possibly being stuck.

Lot begins to examine the security system.  The doors that open are two sets of double doors that slide open.  They are made of bulletproof glass with a metal frame.  The security system is well insulated and probably cannot be easily bypassed manually.

Roach runs to the nearest room to look for a keycard.  With less than 2 minutes left, he hasn't got much time.

Viper runs and jumps.  He makes a clean catch on the ladder, and the elevator moves up past him.  The thermite grenade hits the top of the elevator, bounces and falls past Viper into the shaft below.  It seems to fall for a very long time...

Mitose and Laz begin looking at the door.  Since it is the same door that opened downstairs, it doesn't look like it will get stuck.  Mitose begins to lever them open, but he doesn't have much time before...

T-Minus 0 seconds
1 Minute, 47 Seconds until elevator 1 reaches the top.

The entire elevator shaft begins to tremble.  Far, far below, you see a bright light, but it is just a pinpoint.  It takes a couple seconds for the roar of the explosion to hit your ears.  It is like a concussion of air and sound hitting you.


12:25, Today: GM Heath, on behalf of Viper rolled 6 using 3d6.
12:24, Today: GM Heath, on behalf of Mitose rolled 6 using 3d6.
12:24, Today: GM Heath, on behalf of Lazarus rolled 16 using 3d6.
12:24, Today: GM Heath, on behalf of Jade rolled 18 using 3d6.

Viper holds tightly to the ladder and maintains his grip.  Mitose maintains his balance.  Lazarus loses his balance in the concussion and falls to the floor, hitting his head against the side of the elevator. (1 HT damage).  Jade (with a critical miss) is standing on top of the elevator.  The concussion throws her off balance and she falls from top of the elevator and into the deep shaft where Viper is climbing up a thousand feet below...

The Agent seems unfazed by the blast.  He is slowed by the broken stairway, which is hanging by just one or two screws and hangs out over the elevator shaft.

You hear a snap, and the elevator suddenly stops rising.  There is a strange whirring--the sound of snapped cables flying through pulleys.  You reach only one conclusion:  the explosion has destroyed the winches and pulleys at the bottom of the shaft, and now the elevators have lost their ability to climb.  They will most certainly begin to fall.

Jade instinctively enters bullet time...and with little difficulty grabs onto the cable that holds up Viper's elevator.  She looks across and is just below eye level with Mitose and Laz.

Their eyes open in horror as the elevator lurches and tilts, preparing to fall.  Somewhere, a brake or safety mechanism is all that prevents them from plummeting to their deaths.  Who knows for how many seconds it will hold.

The whirr of cable spinning through the pulleys is loud and ominous.

The Agent is still trying to maneuver around the twisted and broken stairway.  If he makes it past, he will reach the level of the elevator in probably under fifteen seconds since it is not moving now.  Correction, it is not moving up.

Viper far below feels heat surge up around him with the explosion.  He holds his breath and closes his eyes as the hot air passes around him.  When it is gone, he realizes his eyebrows and the hair on his arms are completely burned off.  The smell is not pleasant.

Above him, his elevator tilts and begins to fall.  He can only hope it does not hit him as it passes in its chaotic tumble.

As Jade tries to hold onto the cable, the inside cable begins to suddenly snake downward, cutting her fingers and almost making her lose her grip.  (2 HT damage).  Then, suddenly, she begins to rise at an alarmingly fast rate toward the top of the shaft.

Laz rubs his head as he gets himself up and braces himself as he feels the elevator wires snap; before he can say anything he loses sight of Jade but sees her again as the cables swing wildly. "You alright?" he yells but he sees her quickly disappear again and take off before she can answer. He looks to Mitose, his gaze landing on the service ladder and he looks to Mitose and says, "Can you climb?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:14, Fri 02 July 2004.

To clarify, Jade is moving at approximately 15 miles per hour up.  Friction and the elevator contact with the walls keeps the cables from moving too quickly.

Near Laz and Mitose are four possible options (unless you can think of something more).  (1) Jump onto the cable lifting Jade and hope your fingers aren't severed by the cable moving in the opposite direction; (2) use the cable on your own elevator (with similar dangers); (3) jump to the service ladder like Viper; or (4) jump to the stairwell and try to outrun the Agent or hope to dispose of him otherwise.  Regardless, Laz and Mitose will need to exit the elevator first.

Elevator 1 is approximately 500 feet from the top of the elevator shaft (about 1800 feet above the ground below).

To successfully jump to the cable where Jade is, you will need an acrobatics check (or default DX check) at -1.  You get a +3 bonus if you go into Focus per my earlier house rule.  (There may still be hand damage upon a success.)

To get on the service ladder, it is an acrobatics check +1.  To get to the stairway or cables on elevator 1 is automatic (although there is higher probability of hand damage on the elevator due to the cables bundled together--whereas the internal cables have pretty much fallen all the way past on elevator 2, so there is a lower percentage).

If Viper waits for the elevator to pass and then jumps the 5 feet to the cable of elevator 2, he has the same modifiers.

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Fri 02 July 2004.

Gasping in the after effect of the explosion, Viper almost doesn't notice the falling elevator. When he does, a quick movement around the 'ladder' puts him on the other side from his elevator. From here, he can only hope it doesnt' hit the ladder.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:55, Fri 02 July 2004.

A couple of rules comments:

First, I have added a combat flowchart which will show you from beginning to end how a GURPS combat turn is run.  This chart is taken from GURPS Compendium II and incorporates pretty much every option available.  As you read through it, you will see that not every step will apply to every action, nor is every optional rule used in my GURPS Matrix.  Thus, it seems longer than it is.

Here is the direct link:
http://www.fortunecity.com/riv.../693/matrix/id56.htm

Second, I have made a mistake in interpreting the rules.  At first, I was allowing a Dodge active defense to bullets, and then I realized that how can you dodge a bullet?  So I clarified that you cannot use Dodge for bullets in GURPS.

However, the official GURPS rule is that you can dodge when someone is firing at you (so I was right the first time!).  You can dodge any attack if you are aware of it.  So you are not dodging a bullet.  You are dodging the other person's aim.  If you are not aware that someone is firing at you, then you cannot dodge.  (In real life, if someone aims a gun at you, you duck, hit the dirt, or do something to dodge his aim.  This accounts for that.)  I don't think my mistaken interpretation harmed any characters, but now you know I will apply Dodge active defense.

Third, because of this, it only makes sense that I make you aware of the optional rule which is applicable here:

Dodge and Drop: While dodging under fire, a character can drop to the ground.  Hit the dirt! as they say in the military.  It applies to all of your defenses against one foe that turn.  It gives you a +3 bonus to your Dodge roll.  The disadvantage is that your character ends up on the ground and will need 2 turns to get back to his feet.  (Any cover the character drops behind does not count against the initial shot that inspired the Dodge and Drop, but is effective against subsequent shots.)

For Dodge and Drop on RPOL, you will need to announce it when you announce your movements or by way of contingency ("if aimed at, he will Dodge and Drop").  Otherwise, I presume your character decided not to or wasn't aware the shot would come at him (or that he wouldn't be fired at at that specific moment).  Since we post in groups of 3 turns, think carefully about this.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:07, Fri 02 July 2004.

Rubbing his chin as he examines the elevator doors Lot is hit with an alarming sight.  By the looks of the cable the occupants of the elevator must be on one hell of a ride.  Recovering from his initial shock Lot manages to not blurt out a warning to the others who are certainly already aware of their situation.

"Roach, they are running out of time down there! Did you happen to recover a thermite grenade from that marine?  It should get these doors open faster than you can find a keycard and passcode."

Roach pauses in his searching. "Oh! A Grenade! Right!" He runs back to the bodies to look for a grenade.

Lazarus waits for Mitose to respond to his question.

Jade is zipping up toward the pulley which will likely mangle her arm at this rate and force.

Viper turns to the side, flattening himself against the wall, and the elevator falls harmlessly past him.  The whirr of the cables is loud as they climb at a rate of about 15 miles per hour.

The Agent grabs hold of the lower part of the disconnected stairwell and begins to lift himself up.

Roach runs back toward the dead marines.

The elevator with Mitose and Laz inside begins to creak and tilt more on its side.  It is sure to fall in a matter of seconds.  The hatch is still open from where Jade climbed out.  The elevator is tilted about 45 degrees, making the hatch easily accessible.

There is an audible snap as one of the many cables holding the elevator up snaps.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:51, Tue 06 July 2004.

As Jade ascends, she holsters her pistol and makes sure her Thompson is securely over her back.  She looks for some sort of ledge or platform to jump out onto before hitting the pulleys at the top.
This message was last updated by the player at 03:20, Mon 05 July 2004.

Viper starts climbing the 'ladder' as quickly as possible, hoping to reach the others in time to be of some help.

Still running toward the marines, Roach wonders if he is trapped in slow motion.

Mitose turns back to Lazarus, "I'll have to! The service ladder is my only shot!"

He gestures for him to follow, "HURRY!"

Steeling himself, focusing his mind on a single task, jumping to the ladder, Mitose turns thought inot action and makes the leap.

Laz makes the leap after Mitose, confident that he will make it through this mission.

Mitose launches himself out of the hatch and grabs hold of the cable.  His fingers start to slip as the cable rushes through his hands...

Viper begins to quickly climb up the ladder as fast as possible. 

Jade continues to quickly approach the top of the elevator.

From the point of elevator 1 to the top of the shaft takes 25 seconds at 22 feet per second (15 mph).

Mitose's fingers find a grip and he is flung around like a rag doll for a second before quickly accelerating upward.  His grip holds.

Laz steps to the edge of the elevator, but the elevator finally gives a tremulous shudder and breaks free.  Tt begins to fall just as Laz is pulling himself out of the hatch.  Laz loses his balance as the elevator drops out from under his feet, and he has no firm point to jump from...

Roach makes it to the soldiers and begins taking their grenades.  He takes only a couple seconds to pull out 2 thermite grenades, 2 fragmentation grenades, and two smoke grenades.  As he makes his way back into the hall, he notices something moving in the shadows by the northern stairwell, but then he is out of the way and moving quickly to Lot.

Laz is able to reach up and grab the cable directly above him (the cables connected to elevator 1.  He successfully grabs the cable.  Just as it begins to lift him skyward, movement to his side distracts him.  It is the Agent.  Laz has fallen to the level of the Agent is staring at him eye-to-eye.  Then the Agent begins to disappear far below as Laz rises, but not before he sees the Agent step onto the railing of the stairs, eyeing the quickly spinning cable.

Roach arrives and sets the grenades out in front of Lot.

12 seconds until Jade reaches the top of the shaft (elevator 2 cable).
19 seconds until Mitose reaches the top of the shaft (elevator 2 cable).
26 seconds until Laz reaches the top (elevator 1 cable).

Lot chuckles, "Okay this should do it".  He puts away one of the thermite grenades as a reserve and prepares the other to burn through the elevator lock.

"Hang on to the other grenades Roach, sounds like they are our best weapon against this 'Agent'".

Carefully Lot positions the grenade as best as he is able near the lock where he gueses it will do the most damage.  He sets the grenade and jogs back down the hall a ways to get clear.

Jade, Mitose, and Laz continue to rise on the elevator cable as Lot pops out the pin, puts the grenade as close to the lock as possible and jumps back out of the way with Roach.

There is an explosion of phosporescent light, followed by a continuing his and low pitched rumbling.

Far below, Viper watches as Elevator 1 falls toward him from above as he climbs the ladder.

There is a loud pop! and the entire elevator door explodes inward from its hinges, flying out into the narrow elevator shaft.  It hits the elevator cable and begins to topple and spin and bounce off the walls.

The huge door hits the cable where Laz is ascending and falls directly on him.  (12 HT damage--1/2 damage because dodging check made=6 HT dmg).  Laz makes his check and maintains his hold on the cable.

The elevator doors go spinning down into the darkness.

The grenade fizzles out.  The bright light above Jade fades as she quickly approaches the doorway for the elevator exit.  A small footway leads about 6 inches into the elevator shaft.  With the doors gone, she will need to jump out onto that plank and propel herself through the open doorway...or come up with another plan.

About 10 feet above the elevator doorway, the sheave (a pulley with grooves) is quickly leading the cable through at a fast rate.  But you can barely see the sheave because there is a flat slab of concrete and metal runners in a kind of makeshift ceiling.  The runners run crosswise from one side of the shaft to the other.  Theoretically, it might be possible to jump out and catch onto one of the metal runners...theoretically.

On the other side, the stairs lead to another door that is closed.  But it would probably only be possible to jump on the stairwell from the cable of Elevator 1.  Interestingly, the stairs continue up one more level onto a second floor.

3 seconds until Jade reaches the top of the shaft (elevator 2 cable).
10 seconds until Mitose reaches the top of the shaft (elevator 2 cable).
17 seconds until Laz reaches the top (elevator 1 cable).

...a long time before Viper climbs to the top.

Jade will wait until she is just above the doorway and then jump down into the open doors and onto the footing there.

As she does so, she yells out to Roach and Lot, "Okay, boys, get ready to catch me please!"

Viper crouches down on a rung of the ladder before shoving himself out and jumping upwards as much as he can to minimize the cutting effects of the cable on his hands. What I wouldn't give for a pair of work gloves.

With a raised arm Lot shields his eyes against the blinding flash.  After the grenade flickers out he approaches the now open elevator shaft and takes a look down.

"Okay, boys, get ready to catch me please!"

Carefully Lot's hand hovers near the edges of the elevator shaft feeling for heat.  It might become necessary to brace himself in order to catch Jade if she misses her leap.  "Im going to need help over here if she doesnt make the jump Roach. Ill lean out and try to catch and pull her in if you can support me by the back of my belt".

Jade jumps down and into the helping arms of Roach and Lot.  She stands on firm ground again.

For this action, I am using an acrobatics skill with -3 penalty due to the speed of ascent and the jump involved.  However, I am adding a +1 bonus for each person helping (up to +2 total).

Viper jumps for the rope...his grip is not so good...

12:49, Today: GM Heath, on behalf of Viper rolled 15 using 3d6.  Per my earlier rule, the check must be made at Acrobatics -1.  Viper has a 15 acrobatics. 

Laz and Mitose continue to rise.  They will need to decide very soon what they will do.

5 seconds until Mitose reaches the top of the shaft (elevator 2 cable).
12 seconds until Laz reaches the top (elevator 1 cable).

Viper cannot get a grip and begins to fall down the elevator shaft.

NOTE: I believe under GURPS rules that Viper gets another check every 5 yards he falls with additional modifiers, but I will have to look that up tonight when I get home...sorry for the added suspense.

Laz knows that he has to jump, he starts looking for a place to go or even someone to help.

Roach helps Jade onto solid ground once again and gets ready for the next person.

Without so much as a hello Lot gets right to the point after helping Jade out of the shaft.

"The computer is up and running not far from here but it has some security locks.  Someone needs to begin preping the computer for the upload."  It is clear by Lot's steady gaze that his general statement of need is directed at Jade.

"Roach, show her the computer room."  Barks Lot without so much as a please or thank you.  With time running out and danger drawing closer with every passing second Lot wastes no time establishing pecking order.  The teams last strong leadership element had fallen down the shaft with Grid and Lot seems determined to pick up where he left off.

Viper falls about 15 feet (5 yards) and then catches a grip.  Unfortunately, the cable rips through his hand.  (2 HT dmg).

The other problem is that his only way to catch the cable was to catch the opposite cable.  He is now going DOWN at 15 mph.  He will need to switch cables to go up...

Mitose keeps his grip and using the mind trained through years of Martial Arts, bends his will to making his small part of the world his own.


As much s he can, Mitose pulls his body up into a ball...and sets himself swinging, when the elevator reaches the top, he will use the momentum to swing and somersault clear of the wreck and the shaft.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:22, Fri 09 July 2004.

Viper stifles a cry and closes his eyes for a second against the pain. Opening them with the realization that he needs to do something else likely to cause pain, he pushes the thought behind him and reaches out to switch to the other cable. With only a slight hesitation, trying to remind himself that it's not really real, he lets go of his cable and grabs for the upwards-moving one.

Lot peers down the elevator shaft to see how the others are progressing.  By the look of things he can see that everyone plans to reach the top by use of the elevator shaft.  No more use for the stairs then.

Lot steps over to the stairwell and examines them closely.  Perhaps his last thermite grenade has the potential to rid them of the agent threat. Lot's eyes open wide as an idea pops into his head.

"Roach, I have an idea.  I have a nasty surprise for that agent when he reaches the top.  I need one of your tear gas grenades."

Laz saw quick hands and a face reach out to grab Jade; with a quick intake of breath his voice echoed through out the elevator, “You got one more coming up.”

Viper jumps to the other cable.  There is a 30 mph differential between the two cables.  It rips his left arm, tearing muscle and cartilage (1 HT dmg), and the sudden jerk is too much for him.  He begins to lose his grip...

Mitose leaps...and easily dashes across onto solid land again, not even needing help from his companions.

Lot examines the stairwell closely.  (Note: The following is a crude representation, but it was about the closest thing I could find.  The far left shows the elevator shafts with the stairwell on the far left.  It is like an emergency stairwell made completely of metal, similar to that shown on the right hand side of the picture.)



Laz leaps...and falls comfortably into waiting arms from Elevator Cable 1.

Viper finds a solid grip with both hands and holds tight as he begins to rise at 15 miles per hour.  However, he is having problems locking his feet around the cable for some reason.  He is not sure how long he can simply hold on...

Viper made his roll...barely.  One higher and he would have been a goner.

Viper looks down, wondering why his feet can't grip around the cable.  Then he realizes in horror what has happened as something pokes him in the stomach.  He stares down, only to see the end of the broken cable, wires splayed from the sudden snap.  He is at the very end of the broken cable.  The only other cable is the one going down.

But there's more.  As the elevator is increasingly gaining momentum in its downward fall, the cable is picking up speed.  After only a couple seconds, Viper realizes that he must be going at least double.  At 30 miles per hour, jumping to the open elevator door will be all the more difficult.

But the good news:  he will reach the top sooner.  The bad news is that it is still accelerating.  Luckily, friction is keeping him from reaching anything close to the speeds he might otherwise reach.

41 seconds (or less) until Viper reaches the top.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Sat 10 July 2004.

Quickly recovering from her daze and the arduous journey up the elevator, Jade grabs Roach by the collar and points him toward the computer.  With Roach and Laz together, she says, "Both of you.  Go in there and start getting those disks uploaded ASAP.  We don't know how long until the marines or the Agents get here.  Not a second to waste!"

Then she turns back to help Lot with Viper's ascent.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:15, Sat 10 July 2004.

Laz smiles as Lot helps him up, nice to have a helping hand." He dusts himself off; weariness quickly over taking his smile and he says as Jade finishes, "She is right, we need to get these uploaded pronto," he taps his left breast pocket to empahsize that he has the disks.

Leaving Viper in Jades capable hands Lot begins the head down the stairwell.  He had spotted what he was looking for, a vulnerable location to place his grenade.  He takes a moment as he descends down the stairs to look for any signs of movement below.  With any luck he would still have enough time to finish his work.