In reply to GM (msg # 317):


Blake fires his carbine at the attackers as he runs for cover with the rest of the group towards the woods..


11:18, Today: Blake Renfield rolled 3 using 2d6. carbine skill 2.

Ken sprays fire wildly from his shotgun at the air raft.  He we only trying to get their attention which seemed to have worked.

16:06, Today: Ken Jenkins rolled 5 using 2d6. To hit.

"Liisha, keep up the fire for a bit so we can distract them.  Maybe a couple people can get free into the woods."

An amplified voice boomed through the clearing: "THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND SURRENDER!"

The first wave of attackers paused, then returned fire. More armed men in cloth armour looked like they were moving down the trail from the north.


GM Note: Once Thomas posts his attack roll I'll resolve all attacks. The volume of return fire will be impressive.

In reply to GM (msg # 323):

Walker fires on the pilot of the GEV.

12:05, Today: Thomas Walker rolled 6 using 2d6. Shoot the pilot of the enemy GEV.

Linus scrunches down as far out of sight as possible, hoping not to be noticed.

Around the north edge of the dig site, Ken, Liisha and Neva fired on the advancing gunmen and the air/raft above them, who returned fire.

Aiming above him, Ken's shogun pellets rattled off the underside of the NE air/raft, it was difficult to see if it had done any good. Blake's shots went wide as he threaded his way through the trenches heading southeast, incoming rounds kicked up small fountains of sandy yellow soil. He fired his weapon dry, chamber locking open.

Both sides were at long range, so the fire was relatively ineffective on both sides. The adventurers all had good cover and cloth armour, their attackers were hidden in the tree line and were also wearing cloth. (GM Note: Range is Long) While Neva and Ken were lucky, Liisha wasn't so lucky and she was struck by heavy autorifle rounds, she dropped her rifle and slumped down out of sight.

The air raft above Linus (the one Ken was shooting at) moved off to start spraying the main group nearby. There was no relief for him as he heard a voice from nearby call, "you the fuck under there! Come out or we're throwing grenades in and blow you out!" He recognised the thick accent of someone from the Domain of Alntzar, a nearby Zhodani client state.

Over on the western side, Lorrain and Drew continued to take cover, believing it was a lot safer than taking on the dozen nearby gunmen and the hovering air/raft. Thomas fired at the pilot of the nearest air/raft but couldn't see the effect of his shot. (GM Note: Range is Medium.) Hit or no, the craft didn't display any effects and the door gunner concentrated his fire on him. Rounds streaked down and around him and he felt a sledgehammer smash into his chest. Falling backwards, he gasped fruitlessly for breath, then slipped into darkness as his eyes closed.


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Sun 18 Nov 2012.

Ken had been in enough combats to recognize a hopeless situation. They were not fighting a war nor had any of the civilians signed up to fight to the death for death would surely be their fate eventually.  Ken called out to the others. "We're going to die if we continue this.  We'd best surrender now before we are all killed."  He glanced down at Liisha with concern.

He threw his shotgun out into clear view.  "We surrender!  We stand down!"

Muttering something quite unrepeatable in polite company, Linus peered out.

"Who are you? What's going on?" he inquired, mildly, as he scrambled forth. No weapons in sight, just an innocent, slightly confused look. "Are you explorers? Is this your site?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Mon 19 Nov 2012.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 328):

The air/raft above Ken stopped its firing, started sliding forward in a rightward curve to orbit the site overhead.

A different voice among the attackers yelled out, "for God's sake, have your people stop firing at them, they surrendered!"

The incoming fire started to peter out, then stopped.



Rough hands seized him and dragged him out. There were 2 men beside him, one with a revolver holding his arms as the other (shotgun slung) frisked him. He saw another man in cloth body armour pointing an Uzi style SMG at him. "Yeah, you're fucking trespassing, you fucktard! Who are you assholes?"

The men looked wan, unshaven and a little rough around the edges if not actually ragged. In his opinion, they looked like they'd been living in the jungle for many months (due to their general pallour) but with regular resupply (their clothing looked decent if patched in places, weapons well-maintained and rust-free).

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 328):

The air/raft above Ken stopped its firing, started sliding forward in a rightward curve to orbit the site overhead.

A different voice among the attackers yelled out, "for God's sake, have your people stop firing at them, they surrendered!"

The incoming fire started to peter out, then stopped.



Rough hands seized him and dragged him out. There were 2 men beside him, one with a revolver holding his arms as the other (shotgun slung) frisked him. He saw another man in cloth body armour pointing an Uzi style SMG at him. "Yeah, you're fucking trespassing, you fucktard! Who are you assholes?"

The men looked wan, unshaven and a little rough around the edges if not actually ragged. In his opinion, they looked like they'd been living in the jungle for many months (due to their general pallour) but with regular resupply (their clothing looked decent if patched in places, weapons well-maintained and rust-free).

"So, who are you?" asked Linus, quite unpeturbed by the potty-mouth. Bar tenders heard lots of bad language from their customers, after all!

"We're just a party of friends enjoying a bit of exploration, we were wondering where the people who were excavating here had got to... we wanted to ask about the ruins here. Are you attached to a university? We're all fascinated by archaeology..." he babbles on, quite deliberately.

"Oh yes, I'm Linus Spruance, I live in Capital City. But it's nice to get out and about, don't you think? Usually, I run a bar. The Bar Code, you've not been there yet, I always remember faces if not names. You must visit next time you're in town. This is the first time I have gone out on a proper expedition, though. The ruins are fascinating..."

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 330):

Done with frisking him, potty-mouth gestured with the Uzi back the way they came, from the north.

"Interesting? I just bet they are. Now shut the hell up and get moving. Keep talking and I'll knock a few of them teeth out. If you run or make a sudden move it'll be the last damn thing you do."

He got in behind Linus. "HEY! We got one here! Bringin' him in now!"

In reply to GM (msg # 329):

Looking fearful, Lorain started to climb out of the excavation trench to the west. She was unarmed already.

"Don't shoot us... we're coming out! Please!"

She looked over at Ken as she raised her hands. "thanks, I know you did your best but there's too many of them. We'll never get away if they have the vehicles."

In reply to GM (msg # 329):

Drew's head peeked up saw Lorain wasn't getting shot. He warily got to his feet as well and followed her out. "Damn beggars, I could have taken them out myself if I wasn't worried about you getting hurt."

"Oh, really. I'm quite sure of that." She made her way over to Thomas, started checking him out. "He's alive, but hurt. The cloth saved him. If we can get him medical attention, maybe from Talia, he'll survive."

"So, where are we going?" asked Linus, mildly. "Isn't this your camp? Which university sponsors you"

Darn. Sounded like the others were surrendering rather than taking advantage of the distraction he was providing to slither away into the undergrowth...

The group laid down their weapons. It was obvious they were outmaneuvered and too far outgunned to make a stand. Aside from the air/raft, there were at least a few dozen or more attackers.

Their attackers slowly broke cover to the north and west, warily approaching the two groups of adventurers. The man escorting Linus didn't answer him other than to tell him to shut the fuck up.

Neva recognised the leader of the ambushers, the man she'd seen harassing the bartender. Bren Pylory. He was looking around, satisfied. Pylory was dressed in cloth festooned with ammo pouches, carrying an ACR. There was a RAM grenade loaded into the underbarrel launcher.

Another man came out behind him, a short scholarly-looking chap in rumpled khakis, wide-brimmed hat, a beard and glasses. "There was no need for violence damn you, none at all. You've gone too far, Pylory! Wait until your master Kelemanaru hears about this! And if you've damaged the site at all with your foolishness..." Pylory ignored him, as did his men, who started to collect the team's weapons, some covering the others. They didn't seem to be in a hurry to start 1st aid on Liisha.

In reply to GM (msg # 336):

As the gunfire had stopped, Lorain heard the man's voice clearer. Her head snapped around to peer at the man.

"Daddy? My God! We found you! But what's going on? Who are these people, why the hell did they attack us?"

It was clear she was both very shocked and angry.

Hearing Lorain's cry, Linus came to an abrupt halt and turned round.

"You guys can calm down," he said to his escort. "The real reason we came here was to find Professor Messandi."

He started over towards the Professor, ready to support Lorain in the shock of finding him... and to find out what was going on.

Ken stood quietly as their captors frisked him and led him over to the others.  He glanced back at Lorain and nodded.  "I'm sorry we couldn't do better Lorain.  I didn't want to see anyone killed or anyone else hurt badly.  I'm just glad you are ok." As they are taken up he detours over to Liisha and kneels next to her.  "She's in a bad, bad way.  We need a medic here badly!"  Ken works to try to stabilize her but he is by no means a skilled medic.

His jaw dropped as he heard Lorain's words.  This sounded like some kind of huge set up.  The mention of Kelemanaru jogged his memory about the aggressive merchant.  It sounded like someone was after the Sky Raider's treasure.

Ken hollers out; "Medic!  Medic!"

Neva didn't respond when she was searched and led to the others.  She gave a slight shrug when Ken walked up as if apologizing but had to arch her eyebrows when she heard "daddy".

She was observing the behavior between "daddy" and the giddy goons and it was proving to be quite interesting.  She filed it away for later.  Later being, of course, when she could talk more privately to some of her party.

Linus looked round at Ken's shout, and began to run towards him.

"Who's hurt?" he called.

"Hoy! You! Gun-toting fellows, you got a medical bag? Bring it here, now!"

The Navy had taught him first aid, and he'd kept it up since, which came in handy upon occasion in the hospitality trade, although brawls were rare in the Bar Code and never involved firearms...

Ken waved at Linus.  "Liisha is down and bleeding!"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 343):

"let me help as well"

Blake runs over and Helps Linus with the medical treatment of Liisha

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