I frequently refer to Dr. Roberts for terminal ballistics information that isn't always accurately captured in game systems.  He's written on the PDW calibers before:

https://pistol-forum.com/showt...-FN-5-7-mm-HK-4-6-mm

Stats-wise, I think Paul Mulcahy represents them pretty well, and the MP-7 and P90 are roughly equivalent in terms of damage and penetration in this game engine:
http://pmulcahy.com/submachine...n_submachineguns.htm
http://pmulcahy.com/submachine...n_submachineguns.htm

As far as the TF47 standard for infantry rifles, that's an area I haven't read on as much.  I went with the HK products because Paul Mulcahy's stats favor them on recoil over the FNs.  If there is a style/thematic preference for the FNs, I don't have an issue swapping them out and giving the better recoil stats to reflect real-world reviews.  Got a reference URL?

On second thought, the HK417 makes more sense. Anyone with experience on the AR-15/M4 platform- i.e. everyone- would be able to shoot it with minimal technique adjustments.

As for sub-guns, I just think that the MP7 looks a lot cooler (and is more compact to boot).

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That's valid.  :)  I'm partial to the P90 because it's what I used when I was into airsoft (and when I had a full Stargate SG-1 costume for conventions).

ETA: I guess what I really should have said was, "pick one of each of the following types for the standard deployment package:

• assault rifle or battle rifle
• suppressed handgun
• suppressed submachine gun or PDW
• sniper rifle
• shotgun"

I'm fine if you guys want to change up any of the above.  Sorry for the inappropriate executive decision.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Fri 29 Jan 2016.

Well, if there are only four left, maybe you could get them in the same room by calling a final four tontine cage match?  :P

Sorry, just seeing this edit.  I'll sleep on this and work on it tomorrow morning.  Is this an 'each individual picks', or do we have to come to a consensus as a group?

And... Is that Mk.18 in .300 Blackout 3/5 bulk?  :)

This is a team standard that serves as the default equipment package if you don't have time or inclination to go gear shopping on an individual basis.



Judging from my own .300 BLK SBR, I'd say only when the suppressor isn't mounted.  Suppressed, it goes to 4/6.

As a general FYI, Andrey will not be present on this op.  He is off chasing some leads on another thing (but can be called on with a one-level-easier Network check if you need intel from him).  Apo has some real-life time commitments that are eating his skull, and this was an opportune time for everyone's favorite Russian to duck off-stage for a bit.

As most of you know this is outside my area of expertise so I'm happy go with the flow (although from an IC POV Seb did find the TRG42 quite effective in Libya)

I'll probably just pull from the stuff originally slated for shipment myself.

Like James, I'm pretty fuzzy on matters of jurisdiction and disclosure. Technically, James still has FBI credentials- i.e. if he identifies himself as an agent and someone looks into it, he'll show up as active, right? I think I'm clear on that, but I want to be sure.

Second question, how much can James draw from Bureau resources? This is what I'm fuzziest on. For example, could he call his former boss and ask her to look for FBI files on the phantom squadron? Or, would that violet Grey Cell OPSEC. AFAIU, we're still running top secret, right? We don't want other agencies scrutinizing what we're doing, correct?

I'm reluctant to freestyle because I don't want to presume too much but, at the same time, I feel quite constrained in what I can write because I might be presuming too little. I'm not complaining, just seeking clarity.

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Legally, James is still an active FBI agent.  His current assignment is a thing called Task Force 47.  The first layer of the TF47 onion is a generic "counter-terrorism task force."  If anyone with sufficient clearance digs deep enough, they'll find the story that was given the PCs when they were recruited - i.e., emergent threats, etc.  So anyone who tries to validate Special Agent James Choi's credentials will get a completely legitimate confirmation.  If they have sufficient juice, they will learn that his status is "FBI liaison to multinational task force."

As far as calling in assistance from the Bureau, that is a balancing act.  James certainly can request investigative or research support.  Bureau personnel generally will know not to ask too many questions about why he's looking into specific things (though some of them may be personally curious).  However, the PCs (and TF47 in general) still don't have a firm handle on what other parties might know about the alien presence on Earth.  So asking the wrong questions in the wrong quarters always runs the chance of raising some flags.

I intent to err on the side of story, so feel free to loosen those constraints a bit.

Now... separately from James, none of the other PCs have legal standing to perform espionage or law enforcement in the United States.  Hannah and Michael are active-duty U.S. military personnel, and the Posse Comitatus Act has some things to say about that.  Seb is an agent of a nominally allied intelligence agency and Crad and Lina are foreign military personnel.  So James is the only one who can legally do most of what Grey Cell does on U.S. soil.

For story purposes, one way around this is to give some U.S. government agency a reason to run interference for Grey Cell.  The FBI is one logical choice, given James' involvement.  They might ought to be involved in this case anyway, given that the apparent murder of a retired two-star admiral may have national security implications.  They are not yet there because the Office of Naval Intelligence (in the form of one Commander Stephen Vest) has slowed the wheels of bureaucracy enough to give the PCs a head start.

The FBI is not the only agency that the PCs could go to.  Through Vest, they could engage Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) due to the apparent threat to former U.S. Navy personnel.  The initial site for setting up the Cave (unless Lina issues orders to the contrary) is on the military side of the Canaveral reservation, which potentially puts them in contact with NASA and the U.S. Air Force.  NASA has a limited number of sworn federal law enforcement personnel, though they're mainly site security.  The Air Force has the Office of Special Investigations (OSI).

There are three local police departments investigating the homicides.  Contact with any or all of them might yield useful results.

I am also open to the mad schemes y'all might generate on your own...

Ok, I see a few options and different scenarios so far:

First, how we work:

a) The whole team links up before doing anything - seems inefficient to me.

b) Painter, Double Down, Lizard King, and Dealer fly down and start working on Task X, then Dancer and Bull Frog setup shop then start working on Task Y.

c) Something else...

What we work:

1) We try to intercept the adversary at the next potential target.

2) We start from Navy Nuke in Key West and work our way up, intercepting the adversary at some point along the way.

3) Something else...

My feeling is that if it's not too much work for Teg, we split into two teams and send one group to Key West to interview/relocate Paddon and one team Pembroke Pines, FL to work the next potential target.  A sort of meet in the middle strategy.  Cons are that if either team goes kinetic (and the Pines seems more likely), you've only got 50-60% of the shooters and you may end up in a firefight before any of the shooters have guns* (since the pallets are coming with Seb and Lina).

*Teg's going to hate me for this, but <glib Euro perspective on!>Of course it's America so Omdahl, Choi, and Dacovetti can walk into a Walmart and come out with a small arsenal of non-automatic weapons.  And also, since the target is in Florida, you've got no duty to retreat, which is damn near a free-pass to get into firefight.  :P</glib>

PS: Also, what do you guys think about LE Alignment. (Law Enforcement .. not lawful evil)  Maybe it's just the LL Cool J and Mark Harmon factor, but I think NCIS might be a good way to go.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Mon 01 Feb 2016.

I’m in favour of splitting into two teams to cover Pembroke Pines and Key West for reasons stated. Also, as the focus seems to be in southern Florida can Lina and Seb reoute to either Miami International or Fort Lauderdale or, if that’s not possible would Homestead ARB be feasible? They could then maybe link up with the Pembroke Pines team?

NCIS sounds like a good call to me. I haven’t mentioned it to Teg but I had also considered the possibility of using the Network Skill to see if Seb knew anyone at Canaveral that he could reach out to – given his previous assignment involved security at the French space centre in Guyana it seemed not unreasonable that he might have met some of his American counterparts at conferences / meetings etc.

Dacovetti can probably network reasonably effectively with NCIS as well.  His JSOC background should lend itself well to "I know a guy who knows a guy" type stuff.

This is a post to say I'm not posting much right now because I'd rather let you guys talk this out.  I've just done a pretty big infodump, so let me know what other information you want at this stage.  If there are outstanding IC questions I've missed, remind me and I'll get to them ASAP.

If we do gown the road of splitting into two with one group headed to Pembroke Pines to protect the next target  and the other going to Key West to talk to the ex nuc dude does anyone have any preference as to which one their character does?

From my point of view it makes the most sense for Crad, Hannah, James and Michael to proceed directly to Pembroke Pines, while Seb and Lina divert their arrival to Homestead, then rejigger the configuration after we have info from those two survivors.

In reply to Karolina Kowalska (msg # 23):

I'm good with that.

Agree to the above.

We can even do some off the shelf Attar scouting with the thermal camera attachments they have for iPhones now.   If we do manage to thwart an attack we'll have to be prepared for our adversary to go off pattern.

Sounds like a plan is forming.  Let me think about how I want to handle the split narratives and I'll target Thursday for the next turn post.  In the meantime, if there's any additional procurement or prep work you want to do, let me know so I can work it in.

Also - how is the team going to Pembroke Pines going to handle equipment until Lina, Seb, and Amber Cell arrive with the deployment package?

Do we have gov't credit cards available for on site purchases?  If not, Michael will just spend his own money to outfit what he can.  I figure he's already got a Concealed Carry permit.  In the last post, I had him packing already, but if that doesn't work, there's always gun shows, it is Florida, :)
He'll also swing by the local Best Buy and load up on Go Pros for documenting the op, maybe a security store to pick up more surveillance gear to get them started.

How much are we going to need? Being outgunned and having to improvise is becoming a bit of theme.

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Maybe show your badge at the armory when you are done with the DVC?


This message was last edited by the player at 05:14, Thu 04 Feb 2016.