Ken, Blake and Jedec decided to move decisively to break the stalemate and link up to the advanced party. Under the cover of a hail of gunfire from the main party, the three slipped through an access hatch into the main elevator shaft that Jedec over road with his electronic tool kit. From there they used their grav belts to silently descend to the lobby level. Ken muttered a quick thanks to Klono for standardization which would ensure that they came out where they needed to be for the best position. After setting charges to blow the lobby door Ken grinned to his comrades and counted down from three...

In reply to GM (msg # 774):

As they were planting the plastic explosives, one of the men used his comms to alert Angus, Linus, etc. what was going to happen.

"This is Jedec. We think they are in the elevator lobby. We are in the shaft and are about to blow the door. Are you in position?"

In reply to Shukhunaar (msg # 773):

Quietly, Hanno responded, "Roger... The bandits are in the elevator foyer. Their backs are to you. We are in position to flank them. Blow the doors."

"Roger, where the hell you guys come from?" Angus asks.

Ken replied; "We came down the elevator shaft using grav belts." He looks around, calls; "Fire in the hole," and sets off the charges.

Shukhunaar ducks when he hears the explosion, he wasn't expecting such a powerful blast. He shakes himself and then starts firing on the men he is flanking, hoping the pellets will hurt.

Angus begins firing his shotgun too. After he fires off 3 rounds at the mercenaries, he calls out to them."Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up! We got you surrounded!"

Ken will move forward with the blast as cover. He will fire his shotgun at visible foes.

The mercenaries found themselves attacked on three sides by a coordinated assault, including an explosion from the rear.

They were in cover from the front, that is, the direction that Angus, Linus and Jerri were firing from. But they had no cover from the sides or the rear. And, being completely surprised, took no action at first.

Referee's Note: Everyone may post an attack roll. Please combine it with a description of your action if you can!

This is Classic Traveller so each attack is either one shot or 4-round burst. Slug throwers can also use "Panic Fire" (Book 4 - Mercenary, pg. 32). This empties the magazine, but allows for 3 attacks at a -2 DM. (Technically, Angus firing his shotgun is Panic Fire.)

Your targets are all at Medium range from Angus, Shukhuunar, Linus, Hanno and Jerri and Short from Ken, Blake and Jedec. They are wearing Flak Vests (Cloth +1, that is, the protection is reduced by 1). They are positioned in Cover with regards to Angus, Jerri and Linus (-4 DM) but are not with respect to Ken/Blake/Jedec and Shuk/Hanno.

Angus aims for where they are hiding and fires his shotgun! He doesn't expect to hit anything, but they will be forced to hunker down. They would be good targets for the others!

05:19, Today: Angus McStubbin rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,3,2.  damage.

05:19, Today: Angus McStubbin rolled 5 using 2d6-2 with rolls of 1,6.  to hit.

Shukhunaar boldly makes use of his flanking maneuver to blast with his shotgun, trying to take out the enemy before they can react.

OOC: 18:12, Today: Shukhunaar rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,4,4.  shotgun damage.

18:12, Today: Shukhunaar rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,2.  Shukhunaar gun combat

Ken emptied the magazine of his automatic pistol at the well-equipped leader. After firing he drew his cutlass and advanced on the leader under the cover of the confusion and gunfire.

OOC:
I'm not sure of the damage for an auto pistol. I can add in those rolls.

21:10, Today: Ken Jenkins rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,3.  Pistol Panic Fire .

21:09, Today: Ken Jenkins rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,3.  Pistol Panic Fire .

21:09, Today: Ken Jenkins rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Pistol Panic Fire .

In reply to GM (msg # 783):

Two mercs (including the one with the LMG) were already stunned and down. That left three plus Gildinkur.

Along with Angus' shotgun blast, Jerri and Linus also fired their rifles at the mercenaries from the front. All their shots either hit the cover the men were behind, or missed altogether. This did keep the four remaining men's heads down.

From the side, Hanno and Shukhunaar opened fire. Hanno firing the entire magazine from his auto-rifle, and Shukunaar a round from his shotgun. Shukhunaar's shotgun blast hit the two closest men, as did most of Hanno's rounds as he sprayed them with his auto-rifle. Both men went down.

Emerging from the hole in the elevator door, Ken emptied his auto-pistol into Gildinkur's back. This was more than enough to bring the man down and he dropped his ACR as he collapsed. Following Ken were Blake with his carbine and Jedec with a laser carbine. Both fired and missed. The green laser beam strobed brilliantly through the smoky air.

There was one merc left standing (plus two more lying on the ground) but they held their fire, either completely overwhelmed or stunned. All of the survivors then dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

GM Note:
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:44, Sat 23 Dec 2023.

Ken walks forward with the steady pace of a veteran Marine commando as he empties his auto pistol into the mercenary leader. He recognizes the man as a key henchmen of their nemesis. It is with both personal satisfaction and tactical success that he watches the heavily armed man fall. Ken drops the auto pistol and pulls his revolver in his left hand and his trusty Marine cutlass in the right hand. He kicks away the weapons from the surrendered foes and pointing the cutlass at the unarmed mercenary orders him to kneel.

Turning to the barricade he called out. "They are all down or surrendered."

Angus moves up, gun leveled at the prisoners. "Perhaps we should maroon them here, without weapons of course. Nah, half way out, we can space them."

Shukhunaar grins menacingly at the captives, keeping his shotgun levelled. Let the intruders know they shouldn't mess around with the place he calls home.

One merc was dead, two were wounded, plus Gildinkur. Two more were uninjured.

They secured the prisoners and examined their options.

There was still a larger mercenary force keeping the rest of the expedition bottled up at the exit to the elevator at the top. They could try to fight their way through. Or, they could bring the rest of the expedition down through the elevator, through the deck they were on, and then up the emergency stairwell. That would put them outside and behind the blocking force. But most of the expedition equipment would need to be left behind. Mainly the many samples and valuable artefacts they had found and catalogued. But the many scans and computer records they had made and then backed up would be portable enough to easily carry.

GM Note: anyone grabbing the ACR or LMG?

Yes we will secure the weapons.

"What do you want to do next folks? Hit the other mercenaries, or sneak away and maroon them here? These we should take with us I think. Exact justice from them a bit later?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Thu 11 Jan.

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 792):

"I say we go straight at them. We got the ACR with a grenade launcher, and the light machinegun. They won't know what hit them."

In reply to Angus McStubbin (msg # 792):

"Just go around them!

"We got what we came for. So we won't have the physical objects, the scans should be enough.

"If we delay any longer we may never be able to get out of here. Kalamanaru could have reinforcements coming."

"What do you think Shuk? Sneak out, or kill them?" he asks the local native.

"If you don't need the physical objects, and your memory is enough, why risk lives? The objects of my ancestors won't fill your belly or cure sickness, even if some are very pretty and will make great jewellery. Lives are far more precious. Sneak away if you can." Shukhunaar is dismissive of the objects.

"Sounds good to me, we'll slip out and maroon them here."

"We have come all this way to dump all of our physical evidence. It's not treasure but rather the physical proof of what we have found." Ken shook his head. "I say we do the same thing to the blocking force that we did to these guys. Let's go up the stairs and hit them from behind. I have experience with this type of assault."

Angus looks around, face to face, "Want to lead the way and organize the attack Ken? Lead the way then!"