Not surprisingly, the hoverbike (sensing that a rider was no longer on it) began to decelerate
automatically. Surprisingly, the car-carrier rig following the bike swerved to run the rider over as he lay in the roadway. It did so and he disappeared under the wheels. That truck continued to brake, airbrakes roaring and chattering. The rig behind it tried to get around and continued braking.

Peter gave a nod to Jack, not quite smiling grimly, but his lips weren't quite in a straight line, and they definitely weren't frowning which he often did. He started the truck up and drove it out from their hiding place and on to the road. He began driving towards the oncoming vehicles.

He sighted down his advanced combat rifle, leaning his head slightly out the window. He braced the rifle up against the frame of the vehicle, using his knee and one hand to keep the wheel of the truck steady. He briefly entertained a thought of firing one of the 20mm Burst grenade-like devices up to a window slit to hurt the passengers...but what if prisoners were in there as well? He'd rather take a chance on stopping the vehicle instead.

So he aimed for a tire and gently squeezed the trigger.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg # 402):

Peter fires a long burst from the underbarrel 5.56mm assault rifle attached to his ACR. The steel cored full metal jacketed rounds strike sparks all across the front of the truck, doing little damage.

The truck continues to slow, although it (surprisingly) jogs a little to the left to run over the fallen lead biker. It turned even more and more, and it looked like the driver was trying to purposefully jackknife the car-carrier rig! Why on Earth would they do that? The truck in the rear hit its brakes and swerved to avoid rear-ending the car-carrier rig. It looked like it was also going to start jackknifing.


Marshall's Note: Crichton can take his shot now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Wed 21 Aug 2019.

  Chricton makes a split second choice. One that might haunt him if he winds up wrong. He sights down the barrel at the 2nd rig. Straight for the block.

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg # 404):

The hypervelocity round screamed out of the barrel, impacting the block of the second rig. The tractor visibly shuddered and smoke spurted out from beneath the hood. The rig slewed to the side, stricken.

From up above Peter Jane aimed the Ma-Deuce and let rip with a long burst. The red tracers zipped out, also finding the rear rig. Shots walked across the front hood, the cab, and then along the little bit of the right side that was visible, puncturing the fuel tank full of Spook Juice. Maybe a fuel line in the engine was ruptured by one of the 12.7mm rounds or the round from Crichton's Gauss rifle, but there was a flash and a double explosion. The first explosion started to flip the tractor over to it's left, then the second went off, lifting it clear from the pavement and sending it, flaming and spiralling, off the right hand shoulder and into the woods. Still on fire and airborne! The hitch sheared, trailer flipping up and back but still coming forward.

The shockwave and blast of heat was intense! Even though those coming up behind couldn't see the rig exploding they could hear it and see the pressure wave cause the branches to whip back and forth. An orange-green-black fireball whoomped up into the sky.

Marshall's Note: Everyone can roll for Initiative. The second vehicle will be there this turn, so post your arrival if that's your ride.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Thu 12 Sept 2019.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 405):

The riderless hoverbike stopped on the shoulder. Behind it, the lead car-transport rig kept skidding as it jacknifed, but still it rolled over the lead biker as he lay in the cracked kudzu-infested roadway. The rear rig with the van trailer completed it's explosion-induced somersault and came to a stop on its roof, orange and green flames billowing into a mushroom cloud above. The trailer had flipped backwards but still skidded forwards, coming to a stop. Countless birds around them escaped in a panic, wings beating frantically.

Skidding to a stop, the lead rig's driver's door opened. Out dropped a man in a sheriff's deputy uniform, wearing a police vest. Picking himself up he yelled "don't shoot! I'm not one of them!" and began running towards the left shoulder.

Amazingly, it seemed like someone may have survived inside the upside-down van trailer. Or maybe the rear doors (now facing them) had just popped open on their own. But so far nothing emerged.

Marshall's Note: Range to target is, say 100 yards to the front rig. You may post your actions now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:17, Thu 26 Sept 2019.

  "Really? Your wife might be pissed if I shot ya now get to cover Brainer!" Chricton shouts to the dude in the vest.

  Sleeving a card and holding action with the 2nd.

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg # 407):

The running man seemed to hear and began zig-zagging, perhaps not concerned with the shooters in front (who apparently seemed friendly) than what might be in the crashed rigs behind. The flipped-over cab of the rear rig was completely consumed in roaring flames.

When the truck stopped Trask got off the back and brought his rifle up to his shoulder as he scans for targets using his suits HUD and his mark 1 eye ball. He uses the truck as partial cover, not moving from behind it as he looks for any threats.


-

Peter watched for a moment. Then he began rolling the technical forward once more, heading towards the vehicles they had been shooting at. He drove slowly, wanting plenty of time to react in case something happened, also figuring it would help for any shooting that needed to happen from him and his allies.

The new arrivals in the Humvee burst through the forest tree line following the path the technical had taken. They saw the technical parked on the shoulder. There were two rigs and a hoverbike on the Interstate. The hoverbike was in the lead and automatically slowed to a stop. Behind it a the lead rig (car carrier) had jacknifed and run over what was likely the rider of the hoverbike. The rear rig's cab was in the process of erupting in a green-oragne fireball characteristic of a Spook Juice fireball. The rear trailer flipped end-over-end and skidded to a stop, rear doors facing them and burst open.

A young man dressed as Sheriff's deputy a was running towards the left shoulder in a zig-zag pattern.

Jane was manning the Ma-Deuce, covering the man, Peter driving them forward now. In a large cross-cut ditch filled with reeds beside the technical crouched Cannibal Jack armed with a G22K, and Crichton armed with his rail-cannon.

[Marshall's Note: I assume Trask is saving a card to sleeve. Bro Edgar can take his actions, minus one. I will NPC Smoker. The slough/ditch where Crichton and Cannibal Jack are positioned goes under the road in a culvert.]

Brother Edgar quickly surveyed the scene as the Humvee rolled to its stop.  Spying the fleeing deputy, the the radpriest glanced at Marcela looking for some mark of recognition.  Assuming she gave such recognition, Edgar said simply and firmly, "Stay with the vehicle.  I will see to him."  He stepped out as Trask climbed down.  The good brother did not take cover.  Edgar spoke quietly as he moved off to intercept the deputy along the left shoulder, "Blessed and Evolved, Gifted and Respected, the Chosen show Humanity the Way to the Future."  Brother Edgar normally glows slightly, but now the he flared brighter as he spoke the words and opened himself to the Glow...

Moving off to the shoulder and trying to get to Jerry.

Casting Molecular Cohesion - 22 vs. TN 5 should do it.

He's not zigging or zagging.  In fact, he's hoping he looks like a very tempting target for any shooters.  Such a Martyr....

Unless or course Marcela says that's not Jerry, in which case all the preceding is Void

In reply to Brother Edgar (msg # 412):

The Humvee driver, recognising the Deputy running towards the edge of the road, yelled "don't shoot! That's Jerry! Thank God you're all right, baby!" She stopped the vehicle and started to get out.

Smoker held his fire, looking for targets.

The running man made it to the left shoulder. (fYI this is the closest shoulder to the technical and humvee.) He yelled, "they're in the God-damned trailer! They're in the trailer!"

The front rig and hoverbike were stopped, the former jacknifed. The front rig's tractor had exploded in a ball of flame while the trailer it was towing had flipped end-over.

Marchall's Note: OK, whatever's going to happened has not yet happened. New turn! Time for more Quickness checks!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Mon 14 Oct 2019.

Broher Edgar made it to where the deputy, presumably Jerry, had jumped off the abandoned freeway into the tall grass growing off the shoulder. When he arrived, a winded and terrified Jerry gasped out a warning:

The five people hidden in the rear of the semi bolted out into the sunlight. They were protected by good-quality Infantry BAttle Armour, and helmets with smoked face plates.

They were unnaturally fast! In a couple seconds one covered the hundred and fifty yards towards Cannibal Jack! (He either missed seeing or ignored Brother Egar as he passed, travelling more than twice as fast as the fastest non-augmented human.) Jack was so surprised at how fast the man was in his face he couldn't wasn't able to do anything. The attacker plucked his G22 from his hand and threw it away, then raked him with his hand. Blood flew, Jack jerked back in pain and shock!

The other four covered the ground to the rear of the car carrier. One quickly let down the stops at the end of the trailer, allowing the cars carried on the trailer to be easily drive off once they were started. The other three quickly opened the doors to the rear three vehicles and jumped in, almost too fast to follow.

Marshall's Note: Attackers have acted, you can post your actions now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:37, Wed 30 Oct 2019.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 415):

Having failed to block the slashing blow aimed at his neck, Jack fell to his knees, choking on his own blood. He pressed one hand to the gaping wound in his throat, trying to staunch the flow of blood!

"Aaaarrghhghghg..." he burbled, blood spraying from his lips.

Peter looked very surprised and then grimaced as the bad guys moved at superhuman speeds. He called back over his shoulder, "Jane! Think you can stop the rear vehicle from exiting to block them?"

Even as he asked he moved the technical forward to a better firing position on both the cars and the creature attacking Jack. He stopped the truck and pulled his gun up to point at that last one, the one on Jack - but Brother Edgar was moving that way as well so he let out a curse and also aimed at the one getting in the rear car.

He let loose a pair of three-round bursts at the bad guy.

Deuce 2 Actions (and 1 Held Card)
Driving forward (1 action)

Action 1: Driving
Action 2: Shooting 2 3-round bursts at the rear-most bad guy at the trailer.

Brother Edgar simply gives a nod at the man's warning, pushing him towards the Humvee and Marcela, "Go!"  He turned just as Jack was struck down.  He flipped his odd heavy metal "cane" up into a sword grip as he rushed at the armored figure, "I am the keeper of the Fires of Oppenheimer!  Your dark powers will NOT avail you, Nightspawn!"  As the Doomsayers spoke, a blaze of crackling green energy erupted from within the rod...which now seemed more like a blazing emerald blade of some time long ago and far, far away.  He brought the glowing stick whirling around at the fiend standing over Jack in a series of fast slashes...

   Chricton merely grunted and drew a bead on the lead car. The one who had the longest time on the rig before dropping to the ground was the one he shot at. He didn't expect the round to do as much damage as he wanted to, but he took the shot anyway.

In reply to Brother Edgar (msg # 418):

Brother Edgar's glowing green rod swung up, leaving a trail of green sparkles. Then swung back down. But his target wasn't there any more! Moving inhumanly fast, he slipped sideways avoiding the blow but dropping Cannibal Jack.

The bad guy on the rear of the trailer took a few shots from Peter's weapon, he was sure of it. But somehow he just shrugged them off as he worked to lower the ramp so the vehicles could escape the car carrier.

On the back of the technical, Jane swung the M2HB around, aimed at the rear vehicle and pressed the paddle handles. Sparks flew as several of the rounds tracked into the side of the muscle car that was last on the ramp. It was obvious the car must be armoured because it didn't immediately turn into Swiss cheese. Still, although it didn't burst into flames or explode like it should it stopped, front wheels still on the ramp to the trailer.

Marshall's Note: I need a to-hit and damage roll from Crichton. As well, actions from Trask and Smoker.

Trask raised his wepon slightly and began to fire off three round bursts at any of the fast movers who presented themselves. He identified and then tagged targets in his HUD as he continued to fire. Across the teams Coms he adds "This does not feel right."


-

   OOC: Shootin roll was only a 5, but it is a nonmoving car so I imagine I hit. And my damage is a 31 assuming I did that right. Also the shot was AP1.

From the Humvee, Trask fired the ACR's 5.56mm weapon at the figures running for the vehicles. One dodged the hail of gunfire, but he was able to put bursts into the second and third. They stumbled but kept going, getting into their vehicles and starting them up.

Crichton's round slammed into the rear vehicle, the same one that Jane was pounding with the Ma-Deuce. The side of the Mercedes V8 Biturbo was taking a pounding, some of the rounds were penetrating the armoured side panels. Crichton probably nailed the engine block.

Marshall's Note: Please make new Quickness rolls for initiative draws! Post in the Dice Rolls thread.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 423):

Moving with inhuman speed the individual on Cannibal Jack grabbed him and sprinted off back towards the trucks!

The others continued to try and back their vehicles off the car carrier. Smoke started pourng from the engine compartment of the last vehicle, the one that had been shot up in an attempt to block the exit of the others. The muscle car in front of it backed into it, ramming it, and began pushing it out of the way as well. Peter saw in shock the the person he'd thoroughly shot and seen go down start to move, then stagger to his or her feet!

  Chricton simply stops moving and rests his rifle on a nearby fallen tree and looks down the sights and just keeps looking.

Single action aiming at the closest car's driver.