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M4 WG: Harsh Climates.

Posted by The ForceFor group archive 1
The Force
GM, 854 posts
Binds all life together
May the Force be with you
Mon 22 May 2017
at 16:34
  • msg #1

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

The planet, green and blue with white clouds drifting along in the sky, looms larger and larger in your vision. The defensive platform briefly passes by the porthole and then out of vision again. The looming metallic structure the size of a capital ship continues its orbit around the planet as your escape pods slowly descend.

The escape pods are minimal in design, with almost all their systems dedicated towards life support. The pods' sensors provide a fairly strong capability to detect the conditions of nearby planets, in order to ascertain whether they are safe destinations. You examine the sensors as you close.

'Group 1' map is the most north. 'Group 2' map is south of that. 'Group 3' map is the southmost.

With limited navigational abilities and even less opportunity to engage the pods' engines, you are on your way to a range of rocky crags that run east-to-west. South of that is a range of dry, arid badlands.

Your pods are currently above a great forest, thick and lush and green, all around a mighty mountain. The mountain's peak is pale white in colour, as if it were covered in snow.

You recently passed over an escarpment that seems to be the border between the forest and a lowland wetlands. These vast swamps and marshes seem to be the site for a few small artificial dwellings. They look a bit like military bases.
Xyklo Voozul
Verpine Soldier, 65 posts
Mon 22 May 2017
at 18:37
  • msg #2

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Now peering over Forim and Rogers shoulders the twitchy Verpine points at the bases.
"We will need to get clear of the pod as soon as we land right? They'll likely have seen us.
Kraken, you got your things ready?"
He calls.
Bouncing back to his seat he checks his belt and coat pockets, nodding, apparently satisfied Xyklo Rummages in his pack.
Forim Luk
GM, 620 posts
Flight Officer
12/12w 10/13s stims:0
Mon 22 May 2017
at 19:25
  • msg #3

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Forim says "Speaking of things, I believe I forgot my toolkit on the ship I blew up..." morosely.

Shaking his head out of his funk he says "Not a bad idea, but if we had been seen, there would be ties swarming all over us I think.  But eventually someone might notice the pods, so a good idea to move out.

Get the emergency first aid kit and supplies from the pod as well.  And anything else that we can scavenge.
"

Forim waits until they get below the tree line before firing the repulsors.  It is going to be a rough landing, but that should prevent it from being fatal...
The Force
GM, 857 posts
Binds all life together
May the Force be with you
Wed 24 May 2017
at 01:39
  • msg #4

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Your pods get lower in the atmosphere and your descent picks up speed. The pods are designed to work in one particular way: firing retrorockets fifteen minutes before estimated landing, then deploying parachutes between 1 and 2 kilometers up.

This system is totally automated and, with a survival rate of over 95%, is one of the safest methods of emergency reentry. The enormous amount of emissions created by the pods' retrothrusters would doubtless be considered a plus by its designers, ushering help to survivors in need of medical attention.

Of course, the automated systems could be disabled. That would mean handling the reentry manually, in a craft that was never designed to be aerodynamic.

The pods are hurtling along now, with a brightly-coloured countdown indicating that it will only be a few seconds until retrorockets engage. Another iconographic display instructs all passengers to strap into their crash harnesses.

If you want to try to guide the pod in manually, engaging rockets at the last minute for minimum ion signature, the difficulty is 1D 1C. This is a Pilot: Space check.
One pod can lead, and the other try to follow their timing. This allows the second pod to make an Assisted check, as detailed on page 33.

This message was last edited by the GM at 01:42, Wed 24 May 2017.
B1-P3 'Roger'
Droid Pilot, 38 posts
Wed 24 May 2017
at 01:46
  • msg #5

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Roger straps in next to the control panel, "Ready to assist the landing, Flight Commander.  And don't worry about your tools, I have mine."
Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu
Human Diplomat, 449 posts
Not just a pretty face...
13 / 13 St -- 10 / 10 Wo
Wed 24 May 2017
at 07:17
  • msg #6

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Caddy looks to the others in her pod - still utterly silent since they entered.  No doubt the shock of the evacuation was dampening their spirit despite her efforts to lead by example.  She therefore gives them a shrug and smile and seeing the screen light up to count down their descent, does as instructed and straps herself into the 'pilot's' seat.  She was no pilot but someone needed to do something!  She places her hands on the 'stick' and ponders whether she should remove the autopilot.  The chances of her successfully handling the landing of this overly aerodynamic 'rock' was severely limited and so while she held the stick ready, she did not activate it, instead looking at the various readings and trying track of the other pods's progress and position.
Forim Luk
GM, 621 posts
Flight Officer
12/12w 10/13s stims:0
Wed 24 May 2017
at 11:53
  • msg #7

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Forim says "Thanks Roger.  You take over attitude control and keep us level." as he mentally preps for the landing.

Hoping to give the pod behind them some help, Forim flashes the rear lights 3 times to get their attention.

30 seconds later it is time to fire the retro rockets just as they clear the tree tops.  He fires not just against their momentum, but keeping the pod aloft a bit longer to kill off more of their momemtum before hitting the ground.  At the last second he fires a lateral thrust moving his pod off to one side clearing the way for the pod behind to make a less skilled landing.

With a crash and a shudder, they hit the ground hard, but without injury.

07:47, Today: Forim Luk rolled 1 success, 2 advantages using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 3P 1A 1D 1C.  Soft Landing.
Spending two advantages to pass a boost to the other craft.
You can use my skill ranks (3) when rolling your piloting check to bring yourself down.
So, as long as you have 3 agility, you are rolling 3P 1B 1D 1C (+1B if you have someone co-pilot over there)

This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Wed 24 May 2017.
Xyklo Voozul
Verpine Soldier, 68 posts
Wed 24 May 2017
at 12:25
  • msg #8

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Xyklo clutches at his harness as they descend, staring at the landscape through the nearest window. He holds his breath, antenna flat against his head.

As they crunch into the undergrowth he finally exhales. Then, unfastening the straps, he leaps to the pods door, rifle swung to a ready position. .
"Anyone tell you you're a great pilot Forim?"
Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu
Human Diplomat, 450 posts
Not just a pretty face...
13 / 13 St -- 10 / 10 Wo
Wed 24 May 2017
at 12:41
  • msg #9

M4 WG: Harsh Climates

Caddy screwed her eyes up as she stared at the panel trying to make out what was happening against the glare (not having worked out the auto-dim function of the glass) and spotted the lights.  The relief was almost palpable to know that he was looking out for the other pod - though at the same time the stress of knowing that he wanted her to emulate him (rather than let the ship land itself) was shockingly stressful.   She hesitated as she watched Forim skillfully manipulate the pod... looked to the others and flinched - they were still shell shocked... and then tapped off the autopilot as she at first hesitantly, then with more confidence, followed the pilot's approach.   Only last minute does she realise that she's followed it 'exactly' and not adjusted so as not to land 'on top' and she almost wrenches the stick to the side causing those inside to tumble and her shoulder to wrench... but the landing sticks!

The relief brings tears....

[13:31, Today: Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu rolled 5 successes, 2 threats using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 3a 2d.  Perception to spot and understand the lights...

Two threats taken as Strain.  The stress of this!

13:38, Today: Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu rolled 3 successes, 1 threat using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 2p 1a 2b 1d 1c.  Piloting - Soft landing.

PS - I didn't take into account a co-pilot though I did gain +1 Boost from using Arcanian talent which gives me one additional strain - 3 taken for the post.]

This message was last edited by the player at 12:42, Wed 24 May 2017.
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