Hibernia is known to have a Hot climate, yet it still has 71% water coverage. The thin Oxygen/Nitrogen atmosphere is tainted with Sulphur, requiring humans to wear filter respirators. A small planet at 6,200 miles diameter, it has an even smaller moon. The system has 4 gas giants, where it is believed Government forces are trying to fortify to blockade the home world.

There is a main colony, captured many years ago with the planets only starport, situated near the northern pole, where the weather is more mild. A large starbase obrits the planet in a geostationary orbit above this, controlling the skys. The other side of the planet, near the southern pole, is largely ocean, so the rebels have to hide in the mountains on the oceans northern shores, just south of 30 degrees latitude south of the equator.

The Dastavka is sealed, with modifications to travel under water at a depth of no more that 150 feet, but they would need to surface to open cargo bay doors.

But of course, before you get there, you need to jump through system 1237...about which basically nothing is known...
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:01, Mon 13 Mar 2017.

"So, ah, where do I fit in with the crew?" Meir inquired again. He'd listed his skills on the jump to Aegir but as yet hadn't been assigned any duties. Being nothing more than a passenger simply didn't sit well with him - he much preferred to be actively contributing, even if he tended to be alone most of the time.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 2):

Well our scouting needs in space are limited, but I think you said your were a comms guy ... I believe that spot is open. It will take a bit of time to learn the new systems, but it shouldn't be all that difficult.
This message was last updated by the player at 03:22, Tue 14 Mar 2017.

"So Captain, are we ready to go? If so, lets blast out of here and get going. She looks at Meir. "One thing you bring to the crew is a great experience with the wild of the planets. I found how bad I was at it, I am a space person so its nice having a person who knows how to survive in the wild.

"Well I spent most of my life training for it, and the last six years doing. A person can gain some small amount of competence in those circumstances."

Indeed... and now it's to be Comms and Sensors...

"Comms I can do. Sensors, not a chance."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 7):

"I can bring you up to speed with both comms and sensors. As long as you do all the planetside stuff, I am happy. I am a ship person myself."

[OOC: Ready to go then?]

Cyril has a handi cart of assorted beverages brought aboard and stowed in the captains cabin. He sees the suppliers man off the ship and starts checking things...

OK, Report your status for departure.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 9):

"Everything good Sir, we have supplies shoved into every orifice available, but they won't replace the fighters we left at Aquitaine!"

[Private to Cyril Zotmund: Thought Duke would be best to manage the supplies, so I answered for you rather than you posting both sides of the conversation!]

No, they are hoping we find a few of those lost, so won't give us any fighters ... and we are hoping we don't meet anything on the way in ... We are leaving the Labrysians there and hopefully recovering some friendlies who avoided capture or worse.

Kat, assuming no negative reports, let's get ready to disconnect.  Tanya, we'll need a jump to 1237 planned out.



[Private to GM: Thanks for playing Duke, that did help ... I probably need to go check Kat's Orrifices to make sure Duke didn't pack anything there.  I'll assume both Alexei and Julia have been packed full, knowing Duke.]

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 11):

You are cleared for departure immediately. A couple of women administrators with you good luck, and ask that you bring their husbands back if possible. The departure to the jump point is without incident, and Tanya can easily plot a course to 1237.

And we be jumping.

In reply to PO Gun Da-bin (msg # 8):

"I warn you now, I haven't got the slightest clue about sensors, not even the old ones we had on the New Tel Aviv."

Kat looks at Meir "I can show you the basic once we go into the jump. I know a little bit about sensors."

"Wouldn't it be better to have somebody who actually knows what they're doing run them? We are after all, expecting trouble and it would be nice to see the enemy before they hit us with missiles and canon."

"I know what I am doing, when I pilot alone, I use them. It is not my main job but maybe you can get the main person to teach you" she heads back to her cabin.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Wed 15 Mar 2017.

I can also help you, but PO Gun Da Bin is likely the best person to teach you the skills.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 18):

"Yeah, I will work with you on this. I can do comms and sensors, but that is a two person job when we meet someone. We are not expecting to meet anyone with whom we need to communicate any time soon, so we will have a couple of weeks in hyperspace to bring you up to speed with the tech."

"I think I should stick with what I know. Two weeks doesn't seem like long enough to make much difference."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 20):

"Communication does not change much with technology. It won't take long to learn the new technology."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:56, Wed 15 Mar 2017.

"Yes, I know, and I'm happy to work with that. It's the sensors I have absolutely no experience with. I don't even know what most of them are!"

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 22):

"I will teach you what they are, how they work and their limitations. You will need that for scouting as well."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 7):

Meir, I went back and verified the positions... Comms actually has someone in it... my error. So you become the Security Officer. Same pay ($23,520 per month and a double share of any profit earned), and you will want to know Sensors and Comms... your ground work will be invaluable at times.  You are in charge of personal combat as well as manning the 6 turrets. Jo Rodrigez, Rodney Smith, Ivan Andropov, Peter Gunshy, Sigorney Weaver, Mao Chin, 'Joan' Hirikuri, Tonkin and Thornhammer and any other troops onboard all report to you. PO Gun Da Bin will also come under your purview.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 24):

The world stretches to bright lines as the hyperspace drive activates, and you enter the familiar universe of hyperspace.

Meir still couldn't believe he'd been put in charge of security. Sure he knew how to stay cool in a crisis and had some decent amount of skill with a rifle, but since when did that qualify a person for commanding a unit of soldiers in combat, especially when he didn't even have the slightest clue as to how the ships weapons worked, or even what they were capable of?
Still, it was a role he'd been given, and a role he'd do his best to fill, even if it meant throwing himself into studying everything he possibly could to the detriment of social activities and interpersonal interactions.
Not a bad deal really for a loner like him.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 26):

The week in hyperspace passes quickly, with Meir spending a lot of time learning about ship systems and weapons, and how they all worked. Duke and the Checkov sisters, who seem to wear particularly little. By the end of the week, he is familiar with lasers, plasmas and the newer missiles used, as well as everything in the armoury.

Cyril and Kat keep themselves occupied, as do the rest of the crew.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:39, Wed 22 Mar 2017.

"Familiar" certainly didn't mean "competent" unfortunately. After a week of study he really only knew how much he didn't know, and how much he needed to learn if he was ever going to be much use during ship to ship combat.

By God's Grace, we won't be in ship to ship combat this trip ...  it certainly would ruin our plans... just the same, let's be combat ready when we exit hyperspace.

Kat gets in the pilots seat as the ship prepares to drop out of hyper space.

Cyril takes his place in the command chair and buckles up.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 6):

After a nervous 2 hour delay, the vessel drops out of hyperspace in the system designated 1237. You come out at a large gas giant, with a small featureless moon. Sensors are clear, indicating no activity here, or indeed anywhere in this system.

"So, do we refuel here and move on?"

Yup... That's the plan...

Kat pilots the ship so they can refuel.

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 35):

Refuelling is simply a matter of hours and a good piloting roll...

[Private to Katherine 'Kat' Steele: With a minus 2 to piloting due to the high gravity.]

"Just a thought, but is it possible for a satellite to be placed in an unoccupied system and transmit when a ship arrives?"
"Just how fast can communications travel now?"
Meir thought he knew the answer already, and if he was right he'd breath a bit easier, but if not, things could get quite interesting at the next system.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 37):

"Scientists are still working on FTL communications, but they still elude us. Fortunately, we are pretty sure that technology eludes the Labrysians too. In fact, by jumping to the star, we can jump in virtually undetected, as the star will mask the signal burst that normally accompanies any arrival."

"That's what I thought. Had to check though, just in case."
A few short weeks was nowhere near long enough for him to catch up on even the basic scientific advances, so everyone around him had to be ready for a lot of (to them) simple questions.

Kat pilots the ship around to collect the fuel.

Today: Katherine 'Kat' Steele rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,3,3.  piloting.

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 40):

"Oh, we would fully expect that. Ask away, we will try to explain."

You manage to refuel easily, and it is not difficult for Kat to lay in a course to jump to the Labrysian planet, or star. Though she will want a destination.

Tanya will need to provide the jump data...  We want to jump in as close to the star itself as s safe to hide our arrival... then travel at sub-light speed to the Gas giant the planet orbits ... then to the planets south pole.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 42):

Tanya works hard to put in that navigatiuon path.

[OOC: Tanya, 2 Navigations rolls please, one hyperspace, and one space navigation roll.[Private to Tanya Weaver: I have not heard from you for a while. I hope everythoing is fine, but for the sake of not holding up the game, I will roll for you if I don't hear from you in 24 hrs.]]

In reply to Fate (msg # 43):

Tanya plots a good path through hyperspace to come out at the star at a location that cannot be seen from the gas giant that has the colony on the moon.

The Dastavka enters hyperspace easily, and after a week, the alarm goes of to warn of expected hyperspace exit.

[OOC: Any activities/preparation? Gun suggest turning off the IFF and radar...]

Confirm turning off all emitters. We go passive from here ... weapons manned for exiting hyperspace, but no fire control that emits a signal.  Anything that emits a signal can only be used with my written permission until further orders.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 45):

"Confirmed Sir, running silent. Fire control computers can be used in passive mode, using optics, making it no harder to hit. All radio transmitters, including personal ones, are now to be switched off."

Kat pilots the ship and heads in the direction the Captain orders "So now what boss. I love this sneaky stuff. No hurting my ship"

We need to sneak into the south pole of this small orbiting moon with out the Space station or the settlement on the north pole being aware of us...

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 47):

Coming out of hyperspace on the far side of the star, it is an easy matter, at least initially, to remain undetected. Your sensors in passive mode do not detect any activity, though of course you cannot see the gas giant the base is on.

One of the other gas giants is visible, however, though you cannot tell if there is any activity there until about half an hour after your arrival, when a signal does come through from there.

The signal from that gas giant is a patrol reporting in all is well...the gas giant is the furtherest from the star, so you are confidant that Tanya has placed you is a very good location and you are currently undetected. Kat hugs the star as close as Duke will let her. The ship needs to keep turning to dissipate heat radiating from the star, but Kat seems to be managing without becoming too obvious.

As you move around the star, you pick up multiple hyperspace entry signatures from the second gas giant. Radio signals indicate your distraction has arrived, and crushed the small sentries at that planet in short order. The begin moving towards the enemy base, but as the base remains over the stars horizon, you cannot ascertain their response...yet. Tanya indicates that the hostile base is now approaching the star horizon...this is the most vulnerable time. Once past there, if undetected, you should be able to get behind the gas giant to approach the planet, and then move to the opposite side of the planet from the base and land at the south pole.

[Private to Katherine 'Kat' Steele: Kat, should get a piloting roll to keep the ship rolling to avoid excess heat, and a stealth/piloting roll (whichever is lowest, ie Stealth!) to remain undetected as you come over the stars horizon. It is opposed roll...you will need to beat your stealth (I rolled for them already...they rolled really well!)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:43, Thu 06 Apr 2017.

OK, lets slip over... they should be most confused now, but will get their act together quickly... they have proven to be very professional.

Kat fly's in and tries to remain unseen but is not sure how it worked as she was also trying not to burn the ship up.

[Private to GM: Made the piloting by 10, but just made the stealth roll.  16:46, Today: Katherine 'Kat' Steele rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,1,2.  Pilot roll.16:46, Today: Katherine 'Kat' Steele rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,3,6.  Stealth.]

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 51):

The Dastavka slips over the star horizon, there is no seeming response from the starbase. Kat manages get the ship round the star and head to the shadow of the gas giant. It becomes clear that the distraction is the Yuri and the Miratova, the modified ship commanded by Captain Maya on it's first voyage, with a large number of fighters. They are moving towards the Starbase quickly, and the starbase has amassed its defences around the base itself. Two Cruisers and a Destroyer are backed by a a cloud of 350 fighters, and they are staying around the starbase in a defensive pattern, and the 140 fighters from the two distractions are closing in, but they are still some distance away.

As the starbase disappears behind the gas giant, the battle is blocked from view and the Dastavka manages to move in behind the planet.

[Private to Katherine 'Kat' Steele: It is cool. Only needed one roll, for either Piloting or Stealth, whichever was lowest. Really need a separate skill for starship stealth, which would encompass knowing how to minimize your radar signature, heat signature, etc, but the stealth skill is the closest I know of, so using that for now.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:48, Fri 07 Apr 2017.

"Well, this seems to be going really well so far," Meir commented cheerfully.
"Better be on high alert, the other shoe's about to drop."

No Doubt... lets see what we can find passively ...  Gun Da Bin, be alert for any sort of signals ... enemy or friendly ...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 54):

Gun rolls his eyes.

"Sir, there is a battle, and there are signals going all over the place from both sides. I will try to get some indication of activity, but it will be tough until we get round the Gas Giant. Which we should be in a minute or two..."

You round the Gas Giant, but staying close to it. You could skim for fuel whilst doing so, you are so low...Kat needs to keep the hostile ships and the starbase below the moons horizon to avoid detection, but she also needs to keep far enough away from the planet that the Dastavkas 6g engines are not overpowered by the Gas Giants powerful gravitational pull.

The friendly ships and fleet are just above the planets horizon, and you can see massive missiles swarms heading towards the Labrysian positions. There is no indication they have detected you either.

[Private to Katherine 'Kat' Steele: Kat, Piloting roll -4 this time. You are trying to skim as close to the planet as possible.]

If we can skim some fuel lets do so ...  We need to slip into the moons south pole as surreptitiously as possible and that missile strike is probably our best chance.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 56):

As you skim for fuel moving around the gas giant, the first wave of missiles slips past the moons horizon and hits home. It is soon replaced by a second wave...and then a third as your tanks fill up and you move to the south pole of the moon, loosing sight of the battle.

OK Duke, process the fuel as time allows... want to be able to get the hell out when time allows ... Gun Da Bin, keep your eyes open... the battles radiation scatter should be reduced now...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 58):

"They seem to be at it for a while. From the radio transmissions from our boys, the Labrysian ships are sticking together, with occasional thrusts to try to get within plasma range, utilizing their point defences to greater effect than before. Seems they are learning about missile combat, but are fortunately yet to come up with a successful counter attack to fast missile equipped vessels. Still, the time taken for our fighters to unload all their missiles will give us plenty of time to gather enough to refuel."

Indeed, you do gather enough raw fuel by the time you are off the moons southern pole. Radio reports indicate that after 9 salvos, the Labrysians pushed forward to try to catch the fighters, particularly the beam fighters that were starting to cause minor losses amoung them. This gave the missile fighters the break they were looking for, and they managed to destroy most if not all al the fighters.

By the time you are in position to make a run for the moonworld, your friendly fighters have withdrawn to reload. Contrary to normal protocol, they do announce on the radio that they do not have enough ammunition for a full reload for all fighters, but they will do their best...no point in leaving with missiles in the hold!

Kat pilots the ship in, skimming as well as she can. "This is not so bad, lets get this done"

Today: Katherine 'Kat' Steele rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,1,4.  Piloting.[Private to GM: Skill is 19, minus 4, so I made it by 5]

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 60):

The Dastavka cruises easily through the gas giant to the southern pole of the moonworld, where you are able to enter briefly into a geostationary orbit, which will make a stealthy entry much easier if you desire to land.

OK They seem to have done their bit to get us in... lets do our bit now...

"On a side note... it's nice, for once, to have missiles firing against something other than the inside of my head."

In reply to Tanya Weaver (msg # 63):

"Umm, what?"

Bad booze I'd guess .... who gave it too you?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 65):

As Dastavka nears the planet, or rather, the moonworld, radio transmissions indicate the fighters have reloaded and are resuming the attack, this time targeting the capital ships.

Kat continues to fly in "Its wasn't my gin that did it to her" she says with a smile.

That seems obvious as you are doing OK... but someone is endangering folks...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 68):

There are large cloud coverage of the southern parts of the continent, with electrical storms showing. There is no sign of the rebels, but Captain Ronovan has a location of a cave in a canyon floor that you can land near. Finding it could be a challenge.

Tanya will need to do a Navigation(Land) with a -4 due to unfamiliar planet and -2 for poor visibility and no active sensors. [Private to Tanya Weaver: With your skill, need to roll a 10 or less...]

"I'll give it a go," Meir spoke up, already trying to find the cave using the minimal amount of available data.
"Land navigation is sort of my thing."
[Private to GM: Yeah, not with a 12 and those penalties it's not. Missed by 4.]

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 70):

Meir has trouble making out which landmarks are which. The clouds have a lot to do with that...

PO Gun Da Bin... can we activate the radar at reduced power? we can't fly blind.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 72):

"Well, yes and no. We can, but it is still very detectable. Best to drop below the clouds and try to get our location. Of course, we have some latitude and longitude based on compass bearings, but we will need to land and get out of the starship to get accurate magnetic bearings."

17:05, Today: Tanya Weaver rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,4,2.  Nav land.

In reply to Tanya Weaver (msg # 74):

Tanya is able to use star positions and known latitudes and longitudes to plot on the computer where she thinks the rebel rendezvous point is, despite the adverse weather.

"So now it's just a matter of piloting the ship down to the landing location?"

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 76):

"Yep, if that is still the Captains plan. Assuming Government troops have not sent in troops, there should be some rebels there that have made contact with our folk. Of course, our information is at least 2 weeks old."

"Are they expecting us? Does the ship have the capability to send a tight signal down to them?"

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 78):

"I assume they are expecting someone. We can send laser communications, but they would need similar equipment to receive it. I don't think our systems are compatible until we get the decoders and frequencies they use. The data we have is, as I said, three weeks old, and they change it regularly in case government cracks it."

"What about dropping a pod down on the location with a message, or even communications equipment? Sort of like a note wrapped around a brick."
Something that low tech surely wouldn't attract any attention from observers and even if spotted would be immediately written off as nothing more than a meteor.

Let's not over complicate things... we need to let down carefully, once we get below the mountains, we should be able to use some limited active navigation, like lasers ... might be best to come in over the water and then slip up to where they are. With luck, that will also put us below the cloud base.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 81):

Kat should be able to pilot the craft to the location Tanya has identified.

[Private to Katherine 'Kat' Steele: Piloting Roll-2 due to cloud cover, pretty easy for you. The location is a canyon between two mountains about 5 miles from the southern coast.]

Kat pilots the ship down to where she is suppose to go.

Today: Katherine 'Kat' Steele rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,6,2.  Piloting.

In reply to Katherine 'Kat' Steele (msg # 83):

Dropping below the clouds, the canyon looms large between the mountain peaks that remain hidden. Kat pulls the ship round to see a rather deserted looking canyon that extends to the sea shore, and drops down just a few miles inland. The landscape is bleak and stoney, with very little green, but yellowy tinged snow on the higher peaks.

You land, and a lone Labrysian cautiously appears near a canyon wall. A few minutes later, a couple of humans appear in a slight depression on the canyon wall.

"Over the mountains... take me across the sky."

OK, Let's get one of the Labrysians up here to move out and greet them... I'd like to make this as efficient and short a visit as we can manage.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 86):

You greet them, sending the Labrysian agents you have aboard except for Ronovan, who will be staying with you. They inform you that the humans are currently involved in assisting ambushing a Government column heading towards rebel positions about 500 miles to the Northeast, in the same mountain range but on the north side of it.

How did they travel?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 88):

Two wheel bikes, small batteries in them. They have a small communicator they do not seem afraid to use...on asking (I assume you do), it is a form of ultrasonic, utilizing extender stations.

So very slow moving then ... it will take them days to travel 500  miles.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 90):

"Oh, wait, you are asking about the government forces? They have 16 APCs and 32 Light tanks, with a medium tank or two in support. They can make good speed if not under attack, and the antigrav propulsion means mines are not really effective."

No, I was asking after our forces...  but that is also good to know... hopefully your rebels have something to fight all these armored vehicles with...

Kat walks around and listens, waiting to be told to get out of here.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 92):

"We have some weapons of limited ability, though against really heavy armour we rely on limpit mines, which need to be placed. Fortunately, the heavier tanks cannot go into the ravines and caves in which we hide.

I can give you directions to our base, though if there is enemy activity in the area we will need to deal with it first. Last we checked, there was such activity.

But I will send word to your men to send their fighters to reload with the micro suicide fighters you use!"

"They're all ground vehicles right? They don't have any aircraft?"
Meir's distaste for the Labrysans was evident, but he was putting that aside for now given humans were in danger.
"Deadfalls, concealed pits and a nice narrow ravine or pass should deal with their armour for the most part. Take away their mobility and attack from higher ground taking advantage of the terrain."
He wasn't completely sure about the modern energy weapons, but in his experience not much was going to shoot through boulders and dirt.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 95):

"Only the scout tanks have tracks. The rest have anti-grav, so they can fly, unfortunately."

And each APC carries quite a few troops. 3 or 4 can put a whole company on the ground. They have sent a large number of troops so as to be able to fight in the rough.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 97):

"True, but with your friends fighters, 3 of which have been modified to use a ships beam weapon, we stand a good chance. The tracked scout tanks are generally much harder to detect, as gravity abnormality detectors are able to pick up any anti-grav units a long way off, and we all have them. Their troops we can deal with easier than their armour, though, as we know and use the terrain much better."

"Not that any of that really matters to us here, we're too far away to do anything one way or the other."
"So, once they've finished their ambush will they be heading back this way, or do we need to meet them somewhere?"

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 99):

"If you have a ships boat, you can transport our men and some of yours, and then return with them after the battle, no?" he says hopefully.

Yes, possibly ... although it's not exactly a tank or anything ... how many men do you want transported?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 101):

"As many as you can spare, preferably with heavy weapons...

I can spare the crew to pilot it and as many of your men as you wish to send... I am operating at reduced strength to bring all these rebels troops in. (we brought 35+ IIRC?)

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 103):

A quick check shows you do have 35, and 34 are ready to go with a considerable arsenal, though they would also like to take the APC, and whatever other vehicles you can spare, and perhaps Dukes battlesuit if at all possible.

With a top airspeed of 1500+ mph, the ships boat can be there in half an hour, even with a little stealth. Two trips could likely be made before that fight is anywhere near over...

The APC  can be carried by the ships boat?  with or without the 34 troops dying to go die?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 105):

Yes, with the troops. The APC is designed to be slung in the underbelly of the ships boat for easy deployment. Or collection, as the case may be. The ships boat has bunkerage and life support for 30, double can be carried, albeit uncomfortably, if the extras have their own breathing gear.

OK, So lets deploy the APC and all 34 Labrysians... I assume Illiam flies the Ships Boat... who crews the APC?
As for Duke's Armor... That's HIS Armor, his call.

So who would wear it? No Labrysian will fit in it... I'm staying here per the Captain's orders.

In reply to Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund (msg # 108):

"Ummm, we were hoping you would. Or perhaps Illiam?"

Geez ... where do you guys get your news... it's faster than light speed!

In reply to Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund (msg # 110):

Apparently the suit made quite an impression on the first group of agents you had aboard...

Hmmm, I could have sworn that our previous Security guy had much the same and was chopped up by the government troops. Was thinking about what I needed to do to improve it.

In reply to Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund (msg # 112):

"The previous security guy had a much lighter unpowered suit and insisted on playing skeet.

A bigger gun never hurt the user..." Illiam laughs.

"Skeet?" Meir asked with great curiosity.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 114):

"Yeah, he was flying around above the foliage drying to shoot the troops on the ground. On Aquitaine, actually, before we met with you."

In reply to Illiam Jones (msg # 115):

Well if you are flying the Shuttle, You won't need it...

Maybe Meir would like to go...

"And do what? I'm an explorer, not a soldier."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 118):

"Can you stay hidden and report enemy movements? Scouts are vital..."

"I'm all for killing Labs, but I'm not a soldier, and I don't know this planet."
It wasn't that he didn't want to help, just that he wasn't convinced he could do more than just get in the way and become a casualty.
"Isn't this supposed to be just a quick pick up anyway? Should we really be getting involved with a ground war and risk the ship being found?"

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 120):

"Your problem is, the guys you are meant to be picking up are at the front lines..."

That is a major concern, as we have trained and experienced fighter pilots fighting as Infantry ... That risks the waste a lot of resources spent. They do you more good in their fighters. we need to get them back if we can.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 122):

"I agree. As they were running low on filters, they thought they were going to die anyway. But we sent them a message you were here. There were some missile fighters that will want to reload that will probably come as soon as they get the message, but the men on the ground have no radios. "

In reply to Fate (msg # 123):

"Sir, radio chatter indicates that the second wave of missile fighters is attacking the remaining Government fleet in orbit. It also seems that the rebel ambush is using the confusion to launch their own assault, so our guys will be heading for some action soon."

What can go awry always seems to...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 125):

"Shuttle loaded with the Labrysian contingent, sir. Anyone else coming?"

No Illiam, we'll back you up if needed, but the Boss wants our pilots back, preferably in one piece.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 127):

"Right then sir. Departing...back in an hour."

Kat lifts off and flys out of the area back to where they need to go.

She Does?

"As I see it we've got multiple tasks to complete and a limited window to do it all in."
He ticked each point off on his fingers as he spoke.
"Firstly, there's eighty humans to rescue and take with us."
"Second, there's missile fighters to recover."
"Third, we need to find out if anything useful from the Midway was recovered by the Labs."
"Four, destroy anything we can't carry back."
"Now I'm no expert, but right now it seems to me that everyone's only focusing on the first point."

Those points are all interrelated, we need the eighty people to know what survived and to bring the fighters back, then we'll know what needs to be destroyed. .

"So the sensors picked up nothing about the fighters?"

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 133):

"We are on passive sensors only, and I assume they are the same. They will have to be practically on top of us before we see them! Hopefully the relay system our Labrysian friends use will have gotten them the message...but we won't know unless they reply using the same system, or arrive for a reload!"

In reply to PO Gun Da-bin (msg # 134):

About 30 minutes after Illiam departs, 8 short range missile fighters arrive and land nearby.

I gather we can only carry three? Plus the Ships boat of course...  we'll ask about the situation and possible intelligence.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 136):

They understand from the Labrysian rebels that a particle cannon for a new class of battleship is being developed at a secret base. They hoped to capture one of the enemy vehicles to find out from their maps where it was, as it was believed that at least some of the vehicles being ambushed were based there.

Radio traffic by this time indicates that your decoy force has expended their missiles, but has succeeded in destroying all defending ships, with several crashing to the planet, before disabling the orbital station, and then nuking it.

So there are no more enemy ships at this moon and the orbiting base is destroyed? That means we pretty much are the big deal for a few hours.

Gun Da Bin, think we could locate this base if we rose up and risked active sensors?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 138):

"If it is hidden underground and not transmitting, as would seem to be the general consensus, then we would probably need to do a complete planetary survey to have any chance, and that could take a week or more. But at least the extra ships have a ride home."

Those we can carry, we'll leave any we can't take, as per our instructions and we take all the pilots.

"Are there any existing maps of the planet, any surveys already completed?"
"If so, I could take a look at the data and at least narrow down the likely locations for such a facility."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 141):

Surveys available to you are somewhat dated, and done with very inferior equipment. Hence, you have maps, but the include basically no facilities the government has built. What skills or signs are you using or looking for to locate the base?

The pilots are asking to reload missiles to help their friend...they don't want to leave yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:40, Wed 03 May 2017.

OK, Load them with Missiles... not my orders, but it would be best to see the attack stalled or ejected.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 143):

The fighter take all the missiles they can. Reloading takes half an hour.

"Well, looks like we've narrowed our search area down to maybe a hundred square miles or so, all in this canyon system. I can take a small team to have a closer look on the ground."
It did seem the best use of his particular mix of skills - he'd be basically wasted on any other task.

Pity we don't have the shuttle, it would be much faster, but go ahead with the bikes...

"Who can I have?"
The canyon was a little far for them to ride all the way there from the ship, so they'd need to be dropped off short of the target, unless they could afford several days just to make their approach.
The skill to control the bikes would be necessary, as well as any other complementary skills for the mission - stealth, survival, camouflage, communications, navigation, and climbing for example. Combat skills would be welcomed, but not a high priority given the task was simply to go take a look and report back.

OK, so am I authorized to alter two missiles for this task? The warheads can be given to the Labrysians as Mines or whatever.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:20, Thu 04 May 2017.

In reply to Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund (msg # 148):

Cyril has authorization to do whatever it takes together the job done. You are behind enemy lines in wartime and he is in charge of the mission.

Very well ... do it ... it's a back up if nothing else and may be more ... may even help the ground team, make sure they get a video receiver with memory. That way they can benefit from what is learned.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 150):

Duke, Armoury(missile) roll please.

In reply to Fate (msg # 151):


16:29, Today: Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,2,5.  Armoury (missiles).

In reply to Raymond 'Duke' Vurhund (msg # 152):

Duke has enough parts to modify up to 4 missiles. His first seems to work well.

By that time, the missile fighters have reloaded and departed, arriving back on the battlefield. They combine with the beam fighters for a highly effective airstrike, taking out all the Government heavy tanks and most APCs. 2 Fighters are shot down in the process.

The Dastavkas shuttle has put the Labrysian agents down in the thick of the fighting, taking only minor damage as they extracted 14 injured humans and several injured friendly Labrysians. William has by this time returned with the injured.

3APCs and 25 scout tanks support a number of Labrysian government troops at this point. High above, the Yuri has cleared the Sky's of Government forces, much to their suprise, and nuked the main Government fortress planet side. The government forces will not be reinforced any time soon unless a ship arrives.

Perhaps we should risk an attack to eliminate this government force...  it goes a long ways toward our goal of taking this moon back. Let's get or stuff together. Duke, You may need to launch your missiles from low space.  Kate, take us up... Gun Da Bin, prepare to go ahead and go active on my command ... Yuri can report our actions.

"So what about my team?"

You may still go ... if we drop you off, it will be far more attention getting... but Duke will still do his missile drone pass. We'll return here to pick you up...

"So who are you assigning to go with me?"
[Private to GM: Honestly, how many times and in different ways do I have to ask for 3-5 other people?]

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 157):

"Well there are 5 security personal you are in charge of, Sir. You could probably take your pick."

[Private to Meir Galinski: You can see the crew in the Diary thread...]

"I was rather hoping one or two of the officers might want to come along as well."
[Private to GM: It would be nice for a few PCs to come along.]

Well I can't spare Kat ... Duke is Busy and should stay anyway ... Tanya could go I guess.

"She's the navigator right? Very useful skills for this type of work."
"What else is she good at?"[Private to GM: Great, the flake...]
Meir took a look at the security roster and considered his options to round out the team.

Kat just listens. She doesn't want to go, she is not the greatness fighter.

Meir agonised over the decision for some time. One person had one useful set of skills, another a totally different set. A third person had a skill the others didn't, but were deficient in other needed areas.
Finally he accepted he wasn't going to get the desired skill mix he was looking for, not without some extensive and time consuming training, and announced his decision.
"I'll take Tanya Weaver, Sergeant Thornhammer and Private Tonkin. If we had one more seat I'd have welcomed Petty Officer Hancock's presence too."
[Private to GM: Tonkin can have the training on the quad bikes (Driver, automobile).]

I have my Grav Bike if that would help ... But take care of it, it wasn't cheap at all.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 164):

"Yeah, I have mine too, but it has a mortar so it can't take PAX."

That would be potentially useful if things go badly...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 166):

"One grav bike should be small enough to go undetected with the battle going on, but more would increase the risk of detection."

"Aren't the government force using wheeled scout vehicles specifically because grav drives can be detected a long way off?"
"I'd rather avoid any risk of detection and stick with the quad bikes. Both Tonkin and I are qualified to drive them, and Tanya and Thornhammer should be able to pick up a bit as we go."
"Also, we just might find ourselves with the opportunity to recover some of the missile fighters in which case the bikes may need to be left behind. As far as I know, small, light grav drives aren't something the Labs have been able to perfect yet, and I'd rather not let an example of one fall into their hands."
Sure, they had them in their larger armoured vehicles, but he'd seen no indication of them having been successful in miniaturising the drive down any further.
"If we run into trouble, the quads aren't much slower, and they can travel without setting off any grav sensors. Oh, and they're armed with grenade launchers in a stabilised, computer controlled mount to supplement the small arms we'll be carrying."
Meir strongly hoped not a single shot would need to be fired, that they'd get in, observe the facility and find what they were looking for, and then get out again all without being detected.
[Private to Fate; Tanya Weaver: What's Tanya's Stealth and Camouflage like? Should she take Lewis' suit? (I assume it's been cleaned and repaired since his..."accident").]

Good enough... your call.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 169):

"That is true about the grav bikes, but they are smaller than Labrysian vehicles, so the signature is less, but it still exists. However the quad bikes have fusion cells way more advanced than anything they have, so do please bring them back."

"Ok, if nothing else, we'll make sure the cells come back, or are destroyed to stop the Labs getting them."
[Private to GM: How much detail do you want on mission gear? I'm thinking enough supplies to last a week, plus weapons, surveillance and communications gear with a little climbing equipment and recovery gear (in case the quads get stuck).]

His team of Tanya, Thornhammer, Tonkin and himself selected, he settled down to work out the stores they'd need along with a back plan for the task.
He himself was already fairly well set up, although he did draw a storm rifle with grenade launcher and a supply of ammunition from the armoury. Tonkin and Thornhammer were already relatively well equipped, although he did add a couple of LAWs and hand grenades to their gear. Tanya he trusted to sort herself out as far as her own personal needs.
Scrounging through the ship he assembled additional mission stores and had engineering fit two 30 litre aluminium storage boxes to each of the two quads along with tie down points for a total of four flexible water bladders (holding 24 gallons), additional equipment and personal weapons.
Inside the boxes was loaded several sets of climbing gear, rope, a medical crash kit, a weeks rations for the four of them, tool kits and digging implements. A two person pressure tent would supplement the envirobags of Tonkin and Thornhammer and give them at least a small space out of the sulphur laden atmosphere. A single radio communicator and spool of wire to act as a long range antenna would, with luck, allow them to check in with the ship every few hours.
"Thornhammer, you'll ride with me. Tanya, Tonkin will be your chauffeur."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Tue 16 May 2017.

Cyril will do what he can to facilitate Meir's efforts.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 173):

Illiam and a couple of security personal head off to dro off the away team. What does Dastavka do in the meantim
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Thu 18 May 2017.

We set up a stage and have a big show, lights, Fireworks and surround sound starring Kat  ... a part of the DASTAVKA Tour...

or we just sit tight and monitor stuff as best we can...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 175):

The battle above the planet seems to be winding down, with bands of fighters hunting down any remaining government ships. The Yuri is turning its attention to the Government Military Base, which was firing at them until a nuke hit...

OK, Can we send a laser (direct beam, no scatter) message to Yuri?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 177):

"Not from our current position. They are too close in to the other side of the planet. But we might be able to get a message off to one on the fighters."

Not sure they could relay ... maybe we should hover up some... Yuri shouldn't be that low...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 179)

"They are just outside of the atmosphere engaged in orbital bombardment. Since we are nearer the other side of the planet, we would need to rise to 40,000 ft."

So much for being unseen... that won't work...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 181):

After about an hour you notice numerous fighters on the edge of the planets atmosphere. They do not seem to be making any attempt at subtlety, but rather are escorting bombers on bombing runs.

As if to reinforce this, a message comes through for the Dastavka, bounced in no subtle way from the fighters.

"Dastavka, this is the Yuri. Our distraction has been overly successful, destroying the system and planetary orbital defences. We can take over the rescue mission, but we ask that you leave any troops and equipment you can spare and make all haste to the rebel fleet at sector 1440, and request troops and ships to take and hold the planet. We will dispatch ground forces to assist the rebels until then."

"Perhaps leave everyone except a skeleton crew here on the planet Captain? I can't imagine there'll be any danger in such a quick jump back to a safe system, and it would free up space for more troops and supplies on the return jump."
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:58, Sun 23 July 2017.

We won't be the troops ship Hancock, we can't carry enough to make a difference and our crew won't be of much value here getting wasted as infantry. It's hard to find skilled personnel out here. We'll leave enough for useful support and take the rest, relying on a system being safe in a war is foolish.  OK, Lets get moving then... I want to be on our way ASAP.  Can we get Tanya back?

"Not in a hurry. We haven't had comms with them in a few hours, and they're not expected to check in again for a few more."
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:57, Sun 23 July 2017.

Which is why I hate having crew doing all this extraneous crap... guess Kat or I will have to remember how to do it...

"What about the humans we're supposed to be picking up and taking back?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:57, Sun 23 July 2017.

Yuri just assumed that mission.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 188):

"Sir, we could contact Illiam, who delivered them, but it might be a hot extraction, depending on their position."

"I'm not sure he'd have any better idea of their location than us. They checked in after he dropped them off and left the area, and their plan was to move a significant distance from the drop point."
"Oh no," he groaned, reviewing Meirs mission notes.
"They've only got seven days of food and respirator filters. They weren't expecting to be gone more than two or three days."
"They'll be dead before we're halfway done unless more can be gotten to them somehow."
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:57, Sun 23 July 2017.

In reply to PO Hancock (msg # 190):

"I am pretty sure the Yuri will see to that if they are putting their own troops on the planet..."

Lets advise Yuri of that, so there is no issue...  contact Illiam and see what his situation is as well... may as well pass the word.

"All veapon stations report ready kapitain."

In reply to PO Ivan Andropov (msg # 193):

Illiam is advised, and passed the information on to Yuri before docking with Dastavka.

As you prepare to depart, Yuri ask you to spare any troops or security personal you might have.

We have already put them out along with a recon team. We are working at reduced manning.



OOC - we sent fighters and some crew, but have lost track of exactly how many are gone.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 195):

OOC, you sent out 4 including your navigator.

In reply to Fate (msg # 196):

and our fighters with crews, and I thought we sent some troops out with Illiam...

"No sir, most of us are still here."
"Only Tonkin and Thornhammer went out with Navigator Weaver and Scout Galinski."

"Perhaps you're thinking of the Labrysians we brought to the planet Captain?"

Perhaps so... so how many security folks do we have aboard right now... (six?)

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 200):

OOC: The captain does not know who is on his ship? lol, good thing he keeps a Diary, which may be due for an update...

OOC - The captain can't seem to keep up with it all... he just keeps up with Kat.

"Have you decided who's to stay here then Captain?"
"Shall I prepare several weeks supplies for them?"

Yes we have, Since I am not sure what supplies are available here, it might be wise to leave them some

"Would you mind letting the rest of us know who they are then sir so we can get them ready and organise sufficient stores for them?"
[Private to GM: Best we name them IC I think.]

Well you stay with the stores and issue them carefully, Meir gets all but my six gunners from the security group, all the pilots except for Illiam, PO Andropov may replace him  here, as he can fly one too.



OOC - If you are looking for a by name list, it's not happening... I don't have a complete manning chart or a complete list of the crew. The game is getting bogged down in details and Ned to move along in my humble opinion.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 206):

Agreed.

Lets shorten it. Here is a list of crew from the ships Diary. I will mark with an asterix those I think you are suggesting to leave behind.

Officers

Captain Cyril Zotmund

Pilot: Kat "Wildcat" Steele.

Fighter Pilot: Illium Jones.

Navigator: Tanya Weaver.

Chief Engineer: Raymond "Duke" Verhund. Keeps the ship running well. Bill Gates, the Chekov sisters, Cathy Fullerton and Jennifer Armstrong all report to him.

Security Officer: Meir Galinski. In charge of personal combat as well as manning the 6 turrets. Jo Rodrigez, Rodney Smith, Ivan Andropov, Peter Gunshy, Sigorney Weaver, Mao Chin, 'Joan' Hirikuri, Tonkin and Thornhammer and any other troops onboard all report to him.

Communications/Sensors Officer: Natalie Svebodne. The Voice of the ship.

Petty Officers (NPC's)

Gunner (x6, 1 per turret): Jo Rodrigez, Rodney Smith, Peter Gunshy, Sigorney Weaver, Ivan Andropov and Mao Chin; These guys (and one girl) shoot things, be it with Beam Turrets, rifles, LAWs, Grenades or flamers. They may not be bright, but they can shoot a whomp rat at 1 mile with a good sniper rifle..

Medical Officer: Chang Kyamoto: Responsible for keeping everyone alive, and a very skilled doctor. With his wife and Peter Armstrong as assistants, they make a good team.
Trade Officer: Private Hancock
*? G-Driver: Marcus Gobbenstopen; Pilot in space and Contragrav. Moderate Navigator too.
Sensors: Gun Da-bin; Sensors specialist

Listings

*-Ordinance and traffic control for fighter (Jimmy Carter)
-Life Support Maintenance (and cook!); (Jennifer Armstrong, Peters sister and Suerrat)
-IT specialist; (Bill Gates)
-Jump Drive Specialist; (Julia Chekov, Alexei's sister)
-Manoeuvre drive Specialist (Alexei Chekov, Julia's sister)
-Power plant Specialist (Cathy Fullerton)
-Medical Assistant/Service person if passengers are aboard (Kaiya Kyamoto, wife of PO Chang Kyamoto)
-Medical Assistant/Service person if passengers are aboard (Peter Armstrong, Jennifer's Brother and Suerrat)
*-Security ('Joan' Hirikuri)
*-Security (Richard Thornhammer) - Geonee, legally dead, using fake ID, has family on Chrysolite
*-Security (Private Tonkin) - Geonee, legally dead, using fake ID
*-Security (Ronovan Ga Det Hug, Labrysian)
*-Security (Ronny Redcoat)
*-Pilot (Tom Hanks)
*-Pilot (Jerry Maquire)

OK, Very close

*? G-Driver: Marcus Gobbenstopen; Pilot in space and Contragrav. Moderate Navigator too.
* PO Hancock - supply busy body
Listings

*-Ordinance and traffic control for fighter (Jimmy Carter)
* -Medical Assistant/Service person if passengers are aboard (Peter Armstrong, Jennifer's Brother and Suerrat)
*-Security ('Joan' Hirikuri)
*-Security (Richard Thornhammer) - Geonee, legally dead, using fake ID, has family on Chrysolite
*-Security (Private Tonkin) - Geonee, legally dead, using fake ID
*-Security (Ronovan Ga Det Hug, Labrysian)
*-Security (Ronny Redcoat)
*-Pilot (Tom Hanks)
*-Pilot (Jerry Maquire)

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 208):

Alright. Will cut screen a bit here. You drop off these crew, and Illiam will make contact easy enough with the ground forces by flying over the battle and assisting, as he does, which would presumably allow one of those on the ground to use a short range communicator to reestablish communication.

Hence, the Dastavka is soon ready to go with the selected crew to inform Labrysian rebel command, before returning to the colony for more supplies. They will not be back for 3-4 weeks.

The battle on the ground has gone well, with Labrysian rebel losses exceeding human losses by about 100 to one, but there were a lot more of them to start with. Bombardment by theYuri continues to destroy Government ground forces where they are found in strength, but the forces remaining are quick to dissapear underground to bunkers and caves where they are safe from orbit, following the rebels example since government forces captured the planet. With rebel losses so far, they are fewer in number than even the remaining government forces.

Commanders, including Meir (and whoever else you all choose to play) are summoned to the Yuris conference room to discuss how to resolve the situation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:54, Sat 05 Aug 2017.

OK Dastavka is moving to  the jump point with Tanya working up the jump data.

Illiam and Kat are aboard.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 210):

Yep. Dastavka exits stage left...for now.

Entering stage right....

We will let Kalishnakov know of our plans and depart for Aegir as soon as everyone is aboard and we are ready to go ... Kat dear, please get us to where ever tanya says we need to go to jump ...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 212):

The return trip to Aegir is laid in, and the crew gathered up as several Labrysian troop ships arrive to relive the human troops and the rebels. Warhips come pouring into the sector to blockade any passage from the Labrysian homeworld, with several of the new Rebel ships now sporting missile banks and missiles in large numbers.

Setting off, you enter hyperspace, leaving after a thankfully uneventful week as you arrive in Aegir.

The planet is nervous, and several waves of fighters greet your arrival, standing down after you are recognized. Many ask about news at Hibernia, are in turn give news of the Rebel advances on the research colony. News about Aquitaine has now become public, and so many ask about that also as you are directed to a landing pad.

OOC: Please use the new thread for future preparations.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:48, Wed 06 Sept 2017.