Okay people lets move, Rowan bows to the two remaining.
" may she who watches over all things give you grace at the end"

Smoker ran some numbers in his head.

"We are too high to drive out. If you can get me to the crane controls... Or is this thing getting lower?"

Shay quickly pulled the robe over her own clothing, "The ratlines are on this level. I can show you where. It's no crane, but it's how the crew is supposed to get on and off quickly."

Peter let out a deep sigh. The universe was against as usual. He really liked the truck. He'd had it for years, how worked on it many times and patched it often. But it ran well and kept him safe when he had needed it to.

He shook his head. "Fifty feet is still a far way down when raptor are shooting. I do not think we can get to the skycrane and I will not allow Jane to stay here." He didn't mention that he knew that the Black Hats would treat her worse than the non-former-Black-Hats.

"I..." He swallowed and looked determinedly at Jane. "If you will let leave with the others if I choose to stay, then I will have to go with you."

Jane knew that it took Peter a lot to say what he did.  He wasn't the huggy feely type of man but he was a good man and in these times that was sometimes hard to find.  She knew that it wouldn't go well for her if she was caught but she had decided to stay with Peter and as the old saying mentioned, "for better or for worse".

She finally smiled and held out her hand to Peter.  "Yeah.  I can be stubborn.  Must be the company I keep.  I told you.  Where you go I go.  That even goes for a technical falling from the sky.  I'll miss baby because she's been there for me.  So have you and I'd miss you more.  You're not replaceable.  She can be."

She then tugged on Peter's hand to get him moving.  "Let's go join the others.  We can't expect them to wait for us."

 Rowan interrupts
"If it helps my friend I will loan you this MG of mine until we can find a replacement for you vehicle as well as MG"

Smoker looked around.

"The structure is solid enough that the technical likely will survive the airship landing, even if it goes down hard. Is it getting lower or holding at 50 feet?"

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg # 204):

The airship seemed to be holding steady at 50 feet, or else losing altitude very slowly. As the lift cells were vacuum, it was very unlikely it would explode like the Hindenburg!

A wild idea went through Smoker's mind. He looked for any crew members.

"Are there any spare lift cells? One or two of those could cushion the vehicle..."

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg # 206):

Having seen them during the tour of the airship, Smoker imagined that all the lift cells were in use and there would be no possible way to dismount them in the field. As buoyancy was only barely being maintained at present, somehow removing one could cause the airship to lose all altitude.

That is, if they had the equipment and several hours to attempt to rig something up!

"C'mon, Smokie! We ain't got time to fool around!" Jason was almost dragging Smoker along to follow Shay as she led them towards the ratlines.

Shay led them to the nearest exterior hatch.

Unlatching it, she pushed the hatch open. Beneath the airship, the wreck of the Raptor Jane had shot down still burned fitfully, throwing shadows that danced across the meadow.

Quickly, she attached the line and threw it down, unspooling it. The line smacked into the ground with several yards to spare.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 209):

Looking down, in his borrowed Templar tabard, Walker nodded.

"Looks good. Jason, you Shay and I go down first, lead 'em away. Let's go!"

With that he grabbed the rope and rappelled down, using his gloved hands to control his rate of descent. He made the ground safely, then waved up at them. "Come on!"

In reply to Walker (msg # 210):

Jason did the same, using a more sophisticated and safer abseiling technique used by soldiers and police making a rapid descent down a line. He too made it safely to the ground. "Shay! I mean, Simon! You're next!"

Jane glanced at Rowan and smiled as she took the weapon.  "Thanks Rowan.  I won't pretend it's not going to be easy but human life is more important."  When she heard that the technical might make it from this height she smiled at a thought.

"How about we get the technical and baby out and down on the ground.  If it makes it, it makes it.  We just won't be in it.  Perhaps it will draw less notice then and we have better chances of survival."

Rowan looks at Shay and the remaining folk if it would help I can make you look like the Libraian and Simon for a while

As he was tugged along Smoker asked "What's the load on these ratlines? And how many are there?"

The Huckster nodded to Rowan, "Any little bit helps. As for the weight test, I have no idea. Enough to get people up and down."

There were a dozen ratlines (now 10) stored neatly hanging on a rack next to the hatch, each rated at maybe 100kg. They were intended to moor the airship and provide a quick way down for ground crew prior to landing. There were harnesses available to make descent safe (Jason and Walker used these) and D-rings to attach the lines to a safety bar.

This particular hatch was located in the Storage room, across from where the technical was stored. Given enough time, they could take the lines and try and lower the vehicle. Although with the full-sized pickup's weight and extra armour plating added, these lines would probably not support it.

Adding to the complication were three Combine Automatons that they could see through the cracked storage room doors. They marches up to the technical, jeep and 2 bikes that were stored on the vehicle level. Someone fired at them down the deck from near the bow and 2 returned fire. Their chainguns spat 12mm caseless rounds, and each fired a gas grenade. The third turned to the vehicles and began methodically shooting out tires and drilling the radiators with 12mm fire.

 Rowan casts the spell as requested, then turns lowers Trickster to the ground. And follows her self

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg # 217):

Seeing the Automatons were almost on them, Fred hissed to Simon, "they're here! Let's go now!" He helped the ailing Simon into one of the harnesses and helped him down, then did the same for himself.

In reply to Fred Biletnikoff (msg # 218):

Reaching the ground without incident, Simon surveyed the wreckage of the Raptor strewn around them, then looked up at the Skyship above.

He said to Fred and Rowan, "I hope the others follow, my friends, but let's be on our way. Goodbye and good luck, Jason, Walker and Shay."

Marshall's Note: I am assuming Shay slides down as this is her stated intention. This will be an easy task and something she's done many times before.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 216):

Up in the airship, Winnie closed the door from the parts storage room to the flight bay, shutting out the sight of the Automatons fighting the airship crew and ventilating Peter's truck (plus the jeep and offroad bikes). She was wearing her Templar's white tabard with blood red cross, Katana in hand. A bandanna was around her face and goggles over, keeping some of the effects of the tear gas at bay.

"Those are only the first of those Combine tin cans. Everyone, get down the ropes now if you're going. I plan on being the last down.

"If you're staying, say so now and I will see you on the other side."

Smoker will scramble down. Not elegantly, to be sure!

Feeling that the matter had been settled, that her and Peter were staying with the group, Jane adjusted her equipment and stood in line for turn to evacuate.

"Things are a little hot up here.  See you on the ground."