In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 8):

He is Manning a Gatling lasers (with minimal fire zones) and a radio, so he could do it from there...will wait to hear from him.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 230 + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

Comms*, Brutus to Gloria: "Unless you say otherwise, skipper, I'm gonna head out and hunt some bugs. Thin 'em out or drive them back a bit; maybe they rethink. Anyway, it should gain us some time which we do need. If it's goes badly, I always wanted to pass under the skies. And maybe I'll choke one of them. Ha!"

======
OOC: *Extracted from Exploring the Vilani Borders, msg #989
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Thu 15 Sept 2022.

Gloria did not want him to do this, but he was off before she could stop him.
Curses. She has  WO Sigorney  take control of the local security.

Also from the old thread ... may I suggest you lock it.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 11):

Let's just use this one for actions and that one for questions regarding this combat. Then I will lock it.

Brutus surmises that the bugs, being intelligent, will use stealth to approach from all sides, looking to get close enough to use lasers with minimal degradation of performance. So far they have used precision shots almost exclusively, and he would expect this to continue.

However, the radar directed fire on the main guns, along with the slow rate of fire would make the option of staying back and sniping, which had been tried when the craft first had to land, a bad idea, and actions so far confirm that they seem to have realised that. Therefore you expect them to try to get close with stealth and then rush forward.

Analysis of where you are most useful is the section at the top of the U of the Gashidda where the small craft is exposed. Brutus suspects that the heaviest fighting will be there, so he heads out 30 yards in that direction.

Roll per...

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 230 + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

OOC: 21:55, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,6,1.  Perception 12.
Does any level of nightvision (up to 10) or magnification (up to x4) help?

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 13):

Neither in the day time if you are scanning a wide area. Magnification will help when you want to identify something seen, however.

Sneaking out, you spot three large arachnids armed with Dinosaurs lasers and pistols about 170 yds out, looking like they are trying to hide. You suspect more you have not seen. They are crawling in your direction, staying low in the long grass.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 230 + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

OOC: just browsed the Equipment thread for "Dinosaurs lasers" and caouldn't find them.
Can you point me to the right place?

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 15):

Ultra Tech has the specs...

In reply to Fate (msg # 16):

TL 10 Dinosaur Laser   8d(2) burn   Acc  12  Range 1300/3900    Wt 19/dp  RoF 1   Shots 35(5)    St  10   Bulk -5  Rcl 1   Cost $19,000  LC  1

Dinosaur Laser (TL10): A big laser sniper rifle, capable of stopping a battlesuit or a dinosaur (hence its nickname). Also called a “heavy laser.” These are mostly military weapons, but are sometimes used as an “elephant guns” for big game.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Fri 16 Sept 2022.

[Private to GM: The following is to try and reduce the time Gloria (as the player) has to  wait...
Main post is for three potential round of actions for Brutus, acting as "spotter" while the penalties for him sniping seen too high.]

Giving coords for his current position, Brutus calls in an aerial straffing run, left to right across his line of sight, on the arachnid's position.
He crawls (or crouches if the grass is long enough) stealthily towards the bugs but diagonally right towards their right flank, closer to the potential arc of fire of the ship on the ground. Allowing time for the straffing run, both he and the arachnids Brutus has seen will likely have moved and the straffing run falls 10 yards behind the lead bugs. Brutus hopes so and that the aerial attack will catch bugs following behind the ones he's seen.
OOC: After a round of moves and staffing Brutus expects the lead bugs to be 190y from the ship and him 40y from the ship. i.e. he's 60y from the edge of the smoke and bugs are 90y into the smoke, so 150y between him and the bugs.
The straffing run is 200y from the ship.

***

Brutus continues crawling diagonally, keeping below the grassline, hopefully getting a better position. He calls for straffing, "Same again!" [OOC: for round 2, 11:35, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 11,12 using 3d6,3d6 with rolls of 1,4,6,2,5,5.  Try again: Stealth 12 Tactics 12
Assuming the bugs have kep moving, expecting that this puts Brutus 50y from the ship, 50y from the smoke, with the bugs 80y into the smoke so 130y between him and the bugs.
The straffing run is 200y from the ship.]

***

The security officer next [OOC: round 3] calls for straffing, "Parallel to the last one but 175 yards out from the ship," (which should be immediately behind the lead bugs).
As the straffing starts Brutus tries a 'pop up and look while they're distacted by straffing'.
OOC: If relevant   15:05, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,2,3.  Per 12, so MoS 4.
The straffing run is 175y from the ship.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 18):

The lead bugs were 170 yds from the ship, but reading the intent of your post, the strafing run is at 180 yrs. You start at 50 yds from the ship, and in grass 3 ft high, so plenty of cover to crouch.

The first straffing run creates a number of small grass fires, which is exacerbated by the second straffing run soon after. The smoke thickens, and a number of lead bugs seem to stop and start scanning the grass ahead of them.

By the time you next look, you are 60 yds from the ship, and the smoke has moved closer to 90 yds from the ship. Need a per roll...

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 227 + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

OK, So with our sensors, we should be able to ID Brutus's targets and relay their positions and track their movements real time, so the strafing ships have solid target data.

OOC: 15:05, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,2,3.  Per 12, so MoS 4.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 21):

Correct. You can link them to straffing Brutus' targets.

You can also link them to the ships guns, which fire at those Brutus identified, killing all three. But then the radars start to pick up a lot more. 18 more, to be exact, spread right around the mother ship. The long grass makes the radar readings unreliable though, but the gunners get to work and security gets into position.

Brutus picks up a few more from the disturbances in the grass and realises that the ones he saw were not leading, but in a line with most of the others. He is 60 yds from the ship, the smoke has closed 80 yds and the hostiles are detected at 150 yds out, now just 80 yds from Brutus position.

The techies call out that three cables are attached, 2 more to connect.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 221 + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

OOC: To clarify, Brutus is 60y from the ship and the smoke is 20 y from him, correct?
I couldn't get the number to add up on the bugs though: if they're 150y from the shup then wouldn't that put them 90y from Brutus?

***
Edit:
Brutus calls in a straffing run to be smack on the heads of the bugs, again running parallel to the ship but this time to extend for its entire length. He moves stealthily under cover of the grasses some five or ten yards to the right, still staying about 60 yards from the ship. He then pops up for another look.

======
OOC: 00:22, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,2,4.  Stealth 12+1=13
00:27, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 17 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,5,6.  Perception 12
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 23):

My bad, you are correct, they would have been 90 yds from you. As they reach 80 yds from your position, the next strafing run goes through, creating more grass fires as the smoke drifts closer. It is now just 10 yds from your position. Do you have a mask and helmet on?

You pop up to see what you can see, but smoke obscures your vision. The ships guests are starting to see a ring of targets 130-140 yards out, closing in. They are hitting them as fast as the main weapons charge.

Meanwhile, the techies get another line on. One more to go.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 210 + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

Not having seen any arachnids just now, Brutus doesn't call a straffing run. Maybe that'll mean the smoke doesn't advance any more just yet. He comms, "Hey Sensors! how many bugs are you counting?"

Wiping a forearm across his hemet to clear a carbon smudge, the security officer is thankful for its integrated mask. Crouching he moves back towards the ship, opening up the gap to the smoke to a respectable 20 yards.

======
OOC: 23:27, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,1,2.  Perception 12.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 25):

The fires, fed by the gentle winds, continue to grow and the smoke advances to your old position, seemingly following you back.

The small craft, linking in with the radar from the mothership, begin strafing independently.

"We are reporting about 50 bugs left, but they are spread out at pretty much all directions." Sensors informs you.

At being hit, the bugs give up on hiding and begin to rush forward, at about 50 yds per round! They will be 40 yds from your position, and about 80 yds from the ship by the end of the round!

The gaurds start to open up on them, reducing the numbers a little further as well.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 190 (40) + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

Gloria does all she can to provide targeting data to those able to use it, including the disabled ship if it can fire.
She has power near max for the left once they get the last cable hooked up.
She will have the mother ship protect the recovery ship as they lift out, but won't attempt the transfer until they can do it safely.

OOC - I am sort of guessing as how how you see this being done, as the recovery ship can't fly into the hanger with the other ship hanging beneath it as I picture it.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 27):

Correct. Probably the easiest would be to lift it into orbit, but cables are vulnerable to enemy snipers.

Hence the intention is to attach two pull cables, winch it into the hanger, attract lift cables to the cargo crane before disconnecting the ones on the recovery drone, before releasing the recovery drone. It will take time, but has the best cover.

Alternatively, you could move the ship and recovery drone together, requiring two separate piloting rolls with a -4 penalty to both. That would be very close formation!

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 190 (40) + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

OOC: Last round, msg #25, Brutus had: 23:27, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,1,2.  Perception 12, so MoS 4.
What bugs were within his sight and can this count as Aiming?

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 29):

I would say that you can see the 2 nearest bugs. Aiming will have to be done separately.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 190 (40) + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

[Private to GM: We haven't explicitly talked about it but I've been envisaging that Brutus would have been crouching, one pistol in hand (like Kirk in Star Trek). For last round I've done a successful Fastdraw, which is fine:
==>  15:54, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,3,3.  Fastdraw 14.
In case you didn't like the Kirk comparison, I did a second Fastdraw but failed. I propose Butus's action last round (msg #25) would be to ready the second pistol.]
Minor Retcon (msg #25): Crouching low Brutus sees two bugs heading for the ship as a run so he fast draws a laser pistol but his other pistil took a moment to be readied. The bugs don't seem to notice the camouflaged almost motionless security officer as they get within 80 yds of the ship.
End minor retcon (msg #25)

***
40 yards from the sprinting bugs and offset by about, Brutus tests his gunslinging skills for the first time against a truly alien species.

<Pausing here to make sure GM is OK with things to this point and to confirm applicable modifiers. I think these are the current modifiers:
Bean (pistol) 15  +7(Gunslinger Accuracy) +3(RoF 10) -8(range) -3(smoke) -5(head) =9, too difficult to be reliable

Can dual attack be held as until the bugs emerge from the smoke? If yes:
Bean (pistol) 15  +7(Gunslinger Accuracy) +3(RoF 10) -7(range) -0(smoke) -5(head) = 13, which is worth a go.  >



======
OOC: Positioning notes for Brutus's comprehension:
At the start of his turn, msg #31, Brutus is currently 50y from the ship [msg #25] and the smoke is 60y from the ship and the bugs are sprinting, currently 40y from Brutus and 80y from the ship, which I think places Brutus offset about 25 yards from their line of advance.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:37, Tue 20 Sept 2022.

The problem is that that smoke is 10 yards from your position, and closing. You would be better waiting until they are within 20 yards of you, reducing range penalty to -3 and smoke penalty to -1 (-1 per full 10 yards of smoke, so less than 20 yards is -1). Otherwise, happy with the plan.

These guys are going to approach his position, as the bugs are right around the ship, so offsetting just means that you face different bugs ..

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 190 (40) + 8 Fighters + 80 injured around mothership.]

20 Oct 2186, Hela (2235), Supplies: 3,080 person days (use 10 per day or 40 per day if not using VatFac, 6.4 dTons), $87,520,300

OOC: OK, I'll go with that. TY. It gives:
Bean (pistol) 15  +7(Gunslinger Accuracy) +3(RoF 10) -3(range) -1(smoke) -5(head) = 16
23:28, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 10,11 using 3d6,3d6 with rolls of 4,5,1,4,4,3.  Dual attack laser pistols, head shot  16.

Bug #1 gets 6 shots, all(2) burn: 12, 13, 7, 13, 15, 16
23:46, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 13,14,8 using 4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 6,1,3,3,6,2,3,3,2,1, 1,4.  Laser damage v bug #1, (2) burn, 3 of 6.
23:48, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 14,16,17 using 4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 4,4,2,4,2,4,6,4,1,5, 5,6.  Laser damage v bug #1, (2) burn, 6 of 6.
Bug #2 gets 5 shots, all(2) burn: 12, 18, 15. 10, 12
23:50, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 13,19,16,11,13 using 4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 3,3,6,1,3,6,6,4,5,4, 6,1,4,4,1,2,3,3,1,6.  Laser damage v bug #2, (2) burn