It depends on how the mechs are controlled. If they're set up to be autonomous, it likely wouldn't work. But if they rely on communications with the Crucible or other central network for authorizations and commands, well, THAT could be interfered with, Xander says as he turns to Abe for more clarification.

In reply to Xander (msg # 972):

"The mechs have a central registry, but they don't connect to it after they're launched. It's sort of a pre- and post-use system to help with diagnostics and performance analysis. We'd be able to scramble the keys to mechs that aren't yet deployed, maybe, but not ones actively in the field."

"What about Zord?  Could you like short out their registry or power surge their memeory...doohickeys?" Billy looks at Abe hopefully.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 974):

"Maybe, but that wasn't their intended use. We had to install the pieces in places they wouldn't be noticed, using systems in which they wouldn't be detected. They keys are a high-touch area since they have to be modified if the pilot schedule changes. It wasn't a good target for what we were trying to do."

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 975):

"I'm still not clear on how we intend to deal with Apex," Hadrian says. "I don't want to kill her, and I don't think we can imprison her."

In reply to Hadrian (msg # 976):

"We're not going to kill her, I'd like to avoid her during this operation altogether. At worst lie to her and mislead her.  If push comes to shove, we push her one way and run the other.  The point is to not cause a direct confrontation more than necessary.  We're going for shock and awe and chaos to cover our butts.  Ultimately we're going to deal with her by bringing the full authority of the IDA down on this moon and coordinating with the Roshak to suborn any forces that don't comply.  If she can't be imprisoned she'll be dealt with as legally appropriate."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 977):

"So, we have a loose understanding of the teams we'll need," Kayla says, glancing over at Fiernas. "But we haven't talked about contingencies and fallback plans yet. If everything goes to hell -- and it always does, doesn't it? -- which priorities take...well...priority? Getting off Titan, even if it means leaving without the data and/or leaving Apex more or less intact and in command?"

"Yes, if we can get Abe's video to the IDA and Roshak we can get some official jurisdiction involved and maybe stop the actual war part, leaving us to deal with Apex herself from a much less compromised position.  That has to take priority," Billy confirms.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 979):

"It sounds like we're nearly settled, then," Abe says. "The questions now involve logistics."

He looks over the assemblage.

"I'll take the shuttle recovery team through the tunnels, while the smaller data recovery team returns using the overland route."

Abe frowns slightly.

"The data recovery team consists of Billy, Hadrian, and...who else, exactly?"

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 980):

At the moment, team distraction will consist of myself and ONLY volunteers. 

She looks at the assemblage.

speak now if you want to join.  I believe that it is best for us to rendezvous here or another  meeting place as attempting to do so in a large base is both impractical and dangerous.

• Team retrieval will blast off as soon as they meet with team data.
• This will be coordinated to team distraction.
• Once team data/retrieval is clear then team distraction breaks off.
• We return via overland routes here and then rendezvous with team data/retrieval and go meet up with the IDA forces.

My biggest concern is how do we coordinate the groups, what will be our calls to action, and how do we know when the need to improvise arises, if we have a backup plan we can designate certain call to fall back to the backp plan. 
This message was last edited by the player at 12:23, Tue 20 Mar 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 981):

"Distraction team?" Abe asks, looking confused. "I don't remember us talking about a distraction team. We need a group to get the data, a group to get the ship, and that's it, I thought."

"In any case, if you want to coordinate, just use your comms."

"We need a team to draw attention and disable the defenses physically if need be.  A Feigned frontal assault while the data retrieval and ship boarding teams get into position.  Unless you think the defenses in the hangar itself will be thin enough that we could get the ship without it getting blown to kingdom come and we'll be able to disable the anti-air guns remotely.  Either way I think any attack force should go in through the elevators as well.  If a secondary team is the most practical to thin the defenses they can start out in a separate area from the boarding party, maybe go all the way to the top where the anti-air guns are or raise hell a floor away from the end destination,"  Billy brings up the layout of the complex again and points out any likely looking points of attack.

"Coming back here to rendezvous is out of the question, if any of us are on foot the chances of being followed are huge. Unless Abe's whole crew is coming with us that puts them in danger while we're away.  What's so impractical of just meeting at the hangar?"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 983):

There is a significant distance between the turrets and the hangar, even as the bird flies.  Let alone following the path that would have to be taken on foot.  It would be a bloody slog through the halls of a fortified military base.

If we are in the immediate proximity of your team then we may not necessarily thin the forces enough to punch through.

Abe, how many people do you have on that base that would be compromised by this action?  Would they be prepared to come with us.  Billy what sort of provisions do we have available to us on the ship of convenience?

We could designate a point to meet that is not topstation and meet there at a designated time.

"We apparently have back door access to their elevators, how much of a slog could it be?"

"What about a mid-air rendezvous?  Once Ship of Convenience is in the air and the AA guns are offline, it can come meet the others wherever they are.  Landing exposes the ship to danger, but if the teams on the ground can get even a few hundred feet of altitude with suits or stolen tech, it should be possible rig up a mid-air scoop.  It'd be tough, but also the fastest way to get everyone back together."

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 986):

"As long as you're able to acquire something capable of making a mid-air leap, that would work, too," Abe nods. "So, seems to me we have the following groups:"



"Did I miss anyone?" he asks, as he finishes drawing it out on the board.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:21, Wed 21 Mar 2018.

"That's everybody," Billy says frowning thoughtfully, "Though team distraction doesn't sound like much of a team.  If this is how we're doing it I'd advise having Percy lead the way.  If you can get them thinking that it's an actual Roshak attack that somehow got past their defenses and sensors we might see some actual panic." Billy looks at the rest of the assembled group, "Any other questions, or should we just get started with the actual prep?"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 988):

"A single Roshak will elicit a measured response," Hadrian says. "The absence of a Roshak ship in local airspace means the panic levels will be more muted than you'd otherwise expect. You would almost certainly draw out 2-4 mechs with such a tactic, however."

He turns toward Abe.

"What will your team be doing?"

"My team?" Abe replies, frowning slightly. "We will be collecting evidence and wielding influence. There are many who could be turned if they knew the truth. An insurrection here would play to our strengths."

"What about the fleet?" Huck asks. "If their discipline shatters, the Roshak ships might get through before we have a chance to explain what's what."

"I'm confident the fleet will hold the line against the larger threat, and put its faith in Apex to handle anything unfolding planetside," Abe says. "Our goal is to make that faith...misplaced."

"So, uh, ok. Hear me out," Bradford says. "Given a choice between, er, being arrested and, um, letting Titan and the sector itself fall to the Roshak, what, uh, what do you think Apex would choose? How much, uh, collateral damage would she be willing to inflict?"

Hadrian and Abe exchange glasses.

"...that's a very good question," Hadrian says at last. "I'm not entirely certain."

"Is there anything we could do to rattle the fleet?  If we come back with the IDA and a demand for Apex's arrest, getting the fleet to waver then and the Roshak to provide ground support alongside a full-blown insurrection could help minimize any tantrum she throws about it."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 990):

"Having human ships firing upon each other in front of the Roshak fleet would send a strong message," Barachiel suggests.

Hadrian and Abe stiffen.

"We don't...there's...there's people on those ships! We don't want them shooting at each other," Abe retorts.

"Of course not," Barachiel agrees. "But they can survive a few shots bounced off the shields. It would send a very clear message to anyone watching. Humans are not on the same page. Maybe they will pull back to watch what happens."

Hadrian nods.

"Yes," the boy says. "If I were besieging a city and an army of its countrymen showed up and starting to besiege it themselves, I'd pull back out of range and watch. Maybe send an emissary to a potential ally. Either way, my reaction would be the learn more. Perhaps theirs would be, too."

"But would they know?" Kayla asks. "The fleet you're firing upon for effect, I mean. They might shoot back for real. What would we do about that?"

No one has a good answer to this.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:33, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

"Yeah, having the Roshak ignore us and the fleet shoot at us was not exactly what I had in mind."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 992):

"We had talked about communicating with the Roshak directly. Is that still on the table? Or are we just taking the data to the Goethe and letting them do the communicating for us?"

"I thought we needed the orb to communicate with them," Billy looks between Abe and Hadrian for a contradiction, "I don't want a political incident form letting Hadrian talk to the foot soldiers while he's juiced up on alien...goo," Billy shrugs as he makes an unsatisfied grimace at the terminology, "But if anyone else has the means, speak now.  The Roshak on Goethe might be able to give us a means to contact their fleet directly when we get back, too."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 994):

"We could try to hail them through traditional channels," Abe suggests. "But we have no idea if that will work. They have never responded to such things before, so far as I'm aware."

"I already told you that I was willing to attempt to contact them using the orb," Hadrian says. "But you said you didn't want me to."

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 995):

The conversation continues for a while, and eventually everyone splits into smaller groups to better discuss the specifics. You agree to reconvene shortly to solidify the exact strategy, including when to pull the trigger on this whole operation in the first place.

(If you had more to say or do, please PM me with specifics)

~~ END CHAPTER 10 ~~

Global Karma Breakdown

These are the global things that will affect everyone equally. Individuals will gain bonuses and penalties beyond these. I will not make those public.

Baseline: +1100

Bonuses

- PLOT ADVANCEMENT
-- Secured EROS Installation (Billy): +50
-- Successful test of new Plasma Drive (Team Kamikaze): +50
-- Learned alternative version of Roshak/Titan first contact (All): +50
-- Learned more about Amgine influence in the sector (All): +50
-- Learned about Project:AVATAR (Xander): +50
-- Learned more about jump rings and dark space (Muse et al): +50
-- Informed Apex, Abe, and Hadrian about Peace Summit (Team Kamikaze): +50
-- Took a leap of faith with Abe in the Grid (Team Kamikaze): +50
-- Escaped Titan Compound (Team Titan, Team Kamikaze): +100
-- Located & looted Milton's corpse (Team Titan): +50
-- Located Topstation (all): +100
-- De-escalation of hostilities (Lith vs Margrave; Fiernas vs. Hadrian): +100
-- Team reunion: +100

- COMBAT RESOLUTIONS
-- Awakened Kayla's power suite: +50
-- Defeated Hadrian*: +150
-- Defeated Titanic Seabeast: +150
-- Peaceful Encounters (Margrave, Lith Boarding Party, Apex, Abe, Hadrian*): +250
-- Survival (Kayla, Barachiel, Bradford, Whitney): +200

--- Total Bonuses: 1550

Penalties

- PLOT ELEMENTS
-- Did not appoint Solese ambassador to Amg (repeat offense): -50
-- Did not report encounter with Chitinous vessel near Venus (repeat offense): -50
-- Did not rectify Gestalt, Holt, Tyndall, Darling being in SAGE custody: -50
-- Reckless destruction of property: -100
-- Conflict escalation in the face of diplomatic overtures: -250
-- Callous disregard for the well-being of others (Margrave, Hadrian): -300
-- Stunningly dysfunctional team dynamics (Rebecca, Fiernas): -250
-- Decision paralysis (all): -150

- COMBAT RESOLUTIONS
-- Party member defeated (None): 0
-- Avoidable losses (None): 0

--- Total Penalties: 1200

Adjusted Baseline: +1450

******
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:33, Mon 26 Mar 2018.