In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 133):

Neva shook her head.  "Yes it makes a difference if you have the head start but you will always leave tracks.  Maybe not "tracks" per se but sooner or later they will find a way to track.  You just need to make sure you have a big enough head start."

Ken nodded to Thomas.  "We utilized snipers; they are a damn potent weapon in the right circumstances."  He looks to the others.  "I guess we'll want to rig rafts in the morning and get over to this island.  Jaxxon can help.  We can ambush Kalamenaru and try to seize the ship."

In the rear of the hover, it was clear the engine was shot. Probably seized up, from the looks at it. Fuel and oil had collected in the engine compartment and while he was able to put the fire out, acrid black smoke still billowed out into the rainy night sky.

To boot, water was leaking into the flotation compartments, and the craft was definitely sinking lower at the stern.

Bah! Oh, well, see to hauling it up a bit, even if the dratted GEV isn't going anywhere it can serve as shelter until we are ready to move on. Mutter, mutter.

Ken poked his head out into the rain.  "What's up with the engine Linus?"

"Kaput, I reckon. Shot up, lost lubricant, seized up," Linus called back.

"And there is damage to the floatation modules to the rear. Trying to stablise enough so that it won't sink under us if we use it for shelter for the night, but I don't think it's going anywhere soon."

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 139):

Right now, the beached GEV was about half on the sandy lakeshore. If it was left where it was, it would sink at the rear due to the underwater drop-off of about 2-3m, possibly flooding a little of the rear of the passenger compartment. They would either have to find a way to pull it further up onto the lakeshore (perhaps using ropes and the trees that almost came to the water's edge) or shove it into deeper water to hide it.

Linus's intention is to haul it ashore, using ropes around trees as necessary, to serve as a shelter for the time being. Once the decision is made to move out, it can be sunk if necessary.

Ken nods in agreement to Linus' plan.  He leans into the passenger compartment and calls to the others.  "The engine is shot for sure and the rear of the vehicle is sinking.  Let's all at least haul the thing up onto the beach for now so we have shelter.  Later we'll want to push it off into the water to cover our tracks."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 142):

Neva looked up as Ken poked his head in.  "Just give us time to finish assembling the weapon we're on so we don't lose parts.  It didn't take too long to assemble.  She could have done it almost in her sleep.  She'd have to clean it better once they were more secure but that was ok.  It was helping and it was something she could do.

Tying a rope off to the GEV, Linus took a light and headed off to find a strong tree to wrap it around pulley-style to haul the vessel further ashore.

Ken smiled and nodded at Neva.  "Grab a rain cloak as well and boots for the mud when you come Neva."  He looks over at Lorain.  "How are you handling things Lorain?  Are you ok with us trying to jump Kalamaru's landing site?"

In reply to Neva Alexovna Morozova (msg # 143):

Walker finished about the same time that Neva did.  This wasn't his best firearm, but it was the one he had.

"Yeah, I'll come help"

He hopped out of the vehicle, his hat and clothes getting a bit wet in the rain.

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 146):

Neva had finished securing the weapons that she had to work on and went to grab a slicker and Boots.  After getting them on she followed Thomas out to see how she could help.

Ken works with the others to pull the vehicle up out of the deeper water.

The weapons were cleaned and reassembled. With some effort and organisation, they began to haul the hovercraft up onto the narrow lakeshore.

As a moment passed with no reply, Ken realised that Lorain wasn't there. Suddenly, from about 5-10m inside the forest, came the crack of a revolver being fired rapidly! Everyone around and inside the GEV dove for their weapons. The dark forest seemed alive with naked 4-armed figures, either rushing at them waving war clubs and spears or throwing spears!

OOC: All the weapons are readied. You can decide where you are. Thomas has the 7mm rifle (a version of the ancient FN FAL). No one else specified what they were armed with, so you must take a turn to grab a weapon (first come first serve) and ammunition from inside the hovercraft.

Range is Short (1-5m), darkness is not a factor at that range. There are at least a dozen attackers.

I'm armed with a rope that I'm in the middle of wrapping around a tree! At the sound of shots - how near to my tree? - I look around. If I can see Lorain or figure out the direction she's in I drop my rope and head on over there...

In reply to GM (msg # 149):

Neva heard the commotion and grabbed the 7mm auto rifle and 2 mags for it.  She could be heard mumbling something about never getting time to finish up a project but she kept it low so hopefully nobody else heard as she prepared to fire.

Ken curses as he hears Lorain cry out along with the gunfire.  He racks his shotgun and fires at the nearest attacker.  As he shoots he he yells out.  "Fall back on the hover craft!  Thomas you take them on the left!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Tue 19 Mar 2013.

In the darkness, Linus would have to charge off into the woods to find Lorain. And he wasn't even sure where she'd gone!

Pulling the trigger, Neva fired long ripping bursts from the "RPK" autorifle into the charging attackers. Ken fired his shotgun, while Blake joined in with an "AR-18" carbine and Thomas with his "FN" rifle. The half-dozen charging attackers were stopped in their tracks by the wall of lead. Neva's burst raked back and forth and several fell, Ken's shot tore a gaping hole in the torso of the tribal who was trying to split his skull with a cudgel. Old memories of combat washed over him as his attacker tumbled at his feet. Each of the ones targeted by Blake and Thomas toppled over under their fire, dropping their wicked Assegi-style throwing/stabbing spears. All the chargers were down.

Even though the wave of attackers was stopped cold at the forest's edge, thrown spears flashed out of the darkness. One thumped off the hull below where Neva was firing out the GEV's roof hatch, another whizzed by Ken. Linus wasn't as lucky, he caught a spear in his thigh. The tough ballistic fibre of his cloth armour was excellent protection vs. bullets but it wasn't enough to stop a spear point.

OOC: Linus takes 7 Damage to his STR. Neva fired 4 rounds, Ken, Blake and Thomas all fired one. You can also "panic fire" to increase the chance of hitting and damage, at the cost of emptying your magazine. Also, I'm not using group hits for shotguns as they don't work that way.

Ken glanced over at Linus as he was injured.  He saw that with the initial rush of the attackers down they had a chance to defeat the assault if they could act quickly.  "Keep firing, keep firing, get the ones in the trees!"  He moved forward and fired his shotgun again.

OOC: Can we see the attackers in the trees?

"Lorain's out there!" screamed Linus and staggered off in the direction that he thought she was, more concerned about her wellbeing than his own.

Neva didn't bother to answer Ken for she was concentrating on taking down as much of the enemy as she could.  She also made sure that her clips were handy so that loading time would be at a minimum if she needed to do that.  Neva did allow herself a small smile when she saw that she had taken some out but it quickly disappeared when Linus got hurt.

Ken advanced toward the trees to clear his shot at the natives throwing spears.  He had no desire to kill Lorain or Liisha.

They fired into the dark jungle, branches and leaves pattered down. The natives seemed to be withdrawing in the night, disappearing into the underbrush. As such, it was difficult to tell if there were any hits.


GM's Note: Neva -4 more rounds, Ken -1 round.