In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 33):

The flimsy helmets offer insufficient protection against the pistol, and both go down with an alien scream. You spot more about 15 yards either side, which keep moving and raise their pistols...

The attackers continue to advance to 40 yards out, now out of the smoke, firing their laser pistols as they advance. One scientist is hit in the head and drops, though much of the shot is absorbed by the helmet, but most are missed as they aim almost exclusively for head shots. The return fire is more accurate, and, aided by the straffing runs and the main turrets, only 25 can now be clearly seen, but they are now getting too close for the turrets. Waving knives and pistols, it is clear they seek to get very close!

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 175 (25) + 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

We are leaving Brutus...

Since we don't have piloting skills for all concerned, we take the two ships up to a few thousand feet (10-12 thousand) and then perform the hand over.
I think the two small ships can keep the bugs heads down and we can add a few bursts as well.

Did Brutus rejoin the ships?

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 36):

Brutus and the patrol are still outside of the main craft, and the techs are rushing to re-enter...and you have one injured patrol member down.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 175 (25) + 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

Assuming Brutus gets this on the comms, "On my way, Skipper. OK, boys, by the numbers, peel back!"

If not already being recovered Brutus sprints for the location of the fallen; (no one gets left behind!)

Clumps of bugs get a grenade or a called in straffe.

Happy to call it a day here - Brutus will give suppressing fire to cover the other security guys' retreat and then call a final straffing run to cover his own. He's last to board. Hopefully.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 38):

Problem is, a number of bugs will reach the craft before you do. All of them, actually, as they are the same distance and already running with alarming speed. Your recall of the patrol stationed around the ship will see some struggling to get back to the door before you, but worse, they will be exposed to short range fire.

The engineer suggests lifting off the main ship and bringing the APC down to rescue the patrol...but even lifting off now has the risk of some jumping for the closing doors. The techs are scrambling for weapons even as the last ones board.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 175 (25) + 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, we'll go with GM guidance and let the APC pick up the security team.
Main ship will use it's weapons to combat bugs as it lifts out.

How far is Brutus from the security team?
And what's the distance from Brutus of the 3 or 4 bugs up the line from Brutus?
And what's the distance from Brutus of the 3 or 4 bugs down the line from Brutus?

I'm thinking something like Bug #1 = 15y south, #2 = 30y south, #3 = 50y south, #4 = 70y south (or maybe a couple of them are paired), and similarly
Bug #5 = 15y north, #2 = 35y north, #3 = 55y north, #4 = 70y north (and again maybe a couple of them are paired).
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Wed 21 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 41):

Chef engineer in an NPC worried about his ship...

Brutus, nearest 2. Ugs would be about 15 yards either side of you, so we can roll with those distances. But the two nearest you would be starting to move towards you now... probably on you next round. The ones beyond them would have noticed you as well...

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 175 (25) + 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

He comms, "Call out, who's on the ground! Two lines. Aimed head 5 shot bursts. Spray fire 10 for 1 yard separation."

======
OOC: Need a bit more info, please -
Which direction (and approx distance) is Brutus from the rest of the security team?
And how far now is the smoke from Brutus?
How can ship straffing from a line? If so, what is it's width? How many bugs can it actually shoot in a round?
(Thinking of calling a straffing line right down the line of bugs including through Brutus's current location as he does a runner.)
looking for straws to grasp at here, but maybe the two bugs dying (just killed by Brutus) might have the possibility of frightening the next adjacent bugs?

[Private to GM: I've been reading tactical Shooting - can Brutus have the last round as a pop up attack? Sole differances are -2 to skill and he starts and end the round under cover (such as there is)??]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:07, Thu 22 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 43):

The rest of the security team is around where the ship is lifting off, about 40 yards away. They are not closely grouped, as they were around the perimeter of the ship. The smoke is still about 10 yds from Brutus, and he has been retreating back to the ship with it. The bugs are in a circle around the ships position, not in a line, so strafing would not be in a straight line. However, if the APC landed, it could spread suppressive fire in some directions.

Brutus' best bet it to take out two more bugs to his right, and then turn to deal with those on his left (or visa versa). These guys do not seem at all phased by the loss of their brethren...

Pop-up attacks are fine, but head shots are better...

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 175 (25) + 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
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:51, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

Brutus tries to shoot the bug 15 yards south of him at the same time trying to take down the bug 15 yards further south.
He fires both pistols, each four shot bursts to the head, and then takes a pace towards the towrds the security team as he relaxes back into a decptive crouch.

======
OOC: 00:29, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,4,5.  Nearest south bug, 4 shots,15+14-5(15y)-5(head=19
00:31, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,2,5.  Next south bug, 4 shots,15+14-7(30y)-5(head)=17.
00:33, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 17,15,10,13 using 4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 5,5,1,6,6,2,5,2,5,1, 2,2,4,1,5,3.  Nearest south bug, laser pistol 4d(2): 4 possible hits
00:40, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 7,17,11,9 using 4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 1,1,2,3,3,6,3,5,4,3, 2,2,3,1,1,4.  Next south bug (60y), laser pistol 4d(2): 4 possible hits

This message was last edited by the player at 23:52, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 46):

As the ship lifts off, half of the arachnids attempt to jump up and grab hold, with three succeeding! The APC moves close, continuing to fire at the attackers as the security now find themselves fighting for their lives! They fight well, managing to kill another 10 in the close fighting, but 2 of them are injured as the arachnids close, firing at heads and slashing with their blades!

Since they are in a circle around the site of the ship, strafing would be more difficult.

Brutus fires at the two on the south side of him with full auto mode. The first misjudges completely, its head bown clean off as all four rounds hit. The further one dodges the first, and turns to smile when the next rounds hit, killing him too.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 165 (15) + 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

So how many are near Brutus? Distance and directions of nearest 4?
And did the ship manage to shoot even a couple?

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 48):

Sorry, busy time, rolled some details, but failed to include them. The ship is finding such close range very difficult...it is not designed to shoot attackers off the hull.

Nearest 2 are attacking from the North in Melee combat! They attacked, but fortunately both missed!

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 165 (15) + 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

Presumably having both just converged on Brutus to engage, the pair are adjacent?
And assuming it takes a meter or so of movement to change direstion by 90° the next closest bug from the north is that direction, if still moving at fifty yards per second, would be about 6 yards and the next about 26 yards distant?

======
OOC: Thinking of two lots of spray fire.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 50):

They were generally spaced 10 yds apart. The next big to the north has reached the security guys and is in combat with them. There are about a dozen bugs engaging your security forces, and some seem to be shooting some kind of web at them, though it seems limited in effect so far.

The two attacking you are adjacent to each other. I am actually disappointed I did not get at least one dodge roll for you needed out of them...but there is next round!

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 165 (15) + 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: Not complaining but just being honest that now announcing bugs are generally 10y apart feels a bit of a surprice (having asked for distances several times) and also the following exchange (which was understood to be a confirmation of approx 15y spacing):

msg #34: "...You spot more about 15 yards either side,..."
msg #41: "...And what's the distance from Brutus of the 3 or 4 bugs up the line from Brutus?
   And what's the distance from Brutus of the 3 or 4 bugs down the line from Brutus?
   I'm thinking something like Bug #1 = 15y south, #2 = 30y south, #3 = 50y south, #4 = 70y south (or maybe a couple of them are paired), and similarly
   Bug #5 = 15y north, #2 = 35y north, #3 = 55y north, #4 = 70y north (and again maybe a couple of them are paired)...."
msg #42: "...Brutus, nearest 2. Ugs would be about 15 yards either side of you, so we can roll with those distances. ..."

While we're clarifying detail, I'd like to touch on a couple more things, please:

a) Tactical distances: How far is Brutus from the security detail? (Or the nearest of them?) And how  far is Brutus from the bugs attacking the security detail? (Or the nearest of these bugs?)

b) Bugs numbers: Based on msg #34 "...only 25 can now be clearly seen...", less 2 Brutus killed (#47), less 10 killed by security (msg #47), so 13 remain?
So if there are about a dozen (msg #51) engaged with security and a pair engaged with Brutus and another pair south of Brutus (msg # 41 & #42), is that totals 28. Is that the lot?
(I think a tactical map, maybe Owlbear, would have made this easier. Oh well).

c) Speed: Most of the security team can move 5 yards in a second (round) but Brutus can move 6y/second? And the bugs can move 50y/second?

Brutus takes a step back and sprays fire over the two side-by-side bugs whilst using his other gun to try and pick off the closest of the other bugs (that are trying to shoort webs at the security team) and then turns, crouching, to face bugs remaining in the other direction.

======
OOC: 15:19, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,5,3.  Laser sprayin fire, 4 shots, 5 shots: 15+8-5(head)=18 (bug 1) & 19 (bug 2, +1 for rapid fire 5shots).
Bug 1 MoS 7, so 4 possible hits.  Bug 2. MoS8 but RCL 2 so also 5 possible hits
15:29, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 13,6,20,11 using 4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 2,3,2,6,3,1,1,1,6,3, 6,5,3,4,2,2.  Bug 1 possible damage, 4 shots at 4d (2).
15:30, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 12,16,13,14,15 using 4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 2,3,4,3,6,4,3,3,2,1, 5,5,3,1,5,5,5,4,4,2.  Bug 2 possible damage, 5 shots at 4d (2)
15:19, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,5,3.  Laser sprayin fire, 4 shots, 5 shots: 15+8-5(head)=18 (bug 1) & 19 (bug 2, +1 for rapid fire 5shots).
15:54, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,3,1.  Bug attacking security, 5 shots: 15 +8 -5(head) +1 rapid fire) -8(50y range?)
Assuming a bug attacking the security team is between 30 and 50y from Brutus, modified skill = 11, so MoS 2, three possible hits.
16:08, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 14,10,14 using 4d6,4d6,4d6 with rolls of 6,5,1,2,2,3,4,1,6,2, 2,4.  3 possible hits on bug attacking security. Might be unaware or rear attack.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 52):

The 15 yd spacing from earlier will reduce as they close in towards the centre, and I am trying to replicate that. They were previously about 15 yds spaced. To be honest, many would be getting to be beside each other now.

The other bugs are attacking the security detail, or will be, except for the three that managed to get a grip of the ship. The nearest would be about 30-35 yds away now, with all the movements of the previous round.

As message #51 clarified, about a dozen are attacking the security forces, and 2 attacking you. I agree that a tactical map could have helped a little, but in this case not a lot. Unfortunately I am not good at using them, especially when I have limited access to my computer due to work.

The bugs can really sprint, and do so. I am pretty sure there is sprinting in Basic that will allow you to move more than your basic move (double?) but there is also enhanced move that some critters have. They have paid for it with attack penalties though...most missed both attacks.

So I understand you are shooting at the two bugs attacking you with one weapon, and one bug attacking your friends with the second weapon. Impressive.

All your shots hit, stopping further attacks and killing both, with the second pistol taking out the more distant opponent.

The security detail retreat back to where the ship was as they return fire, hitting 5 more while the Gatling lasers from the APC, which has just touched down in the middle of the shrinking ring formed by the security take out three more. The beams are not intended to fire onto melee, but do engage one more outlying member, leaving just the three still clinging to the hull of the ship as it rises. 8 Security members are injured in the engagement so far.

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 153 (3) + 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
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:41, Sun 25 Sept 2022.

WIth only three bugs visible that cling to the ship Brutus moves swiftly as he can to close the gap to 30 yards.  He comms the ship, "Three bugs hanging onto the hull of the ship. If want to hover for a few seconds I'll shoot the creatures off." He effortlessly holsters both pistols while on the move, something he's practised thousands of times. Reaching for his rifle, the security officer assesses his distance to the nearest hull-clinging bug.

======
OOC: All good on the spacing.
Edited in light of GM's edit.
In passing, it was Brutus's objective to try and pull some of the attacks off the security team onto himself! (Selfless + Duty!

***
14:11, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,4,1.  Fastdraw 14
14:12, Today: Brutus Cartwright rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,2,2.  Fastdraw 14
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Sun 25 Sept 2022.

In reply to Brutus Cartwright (msg # 55):

Just waiting on the ships response...

[Private to GM: Remaining Aliens: 153 (3) + 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

In reply to Fate (msg # 56):

Not sure which response you are looking for...Butus is in command down there, we are in support. we will dispatch any bug showing it self.
Other than that, we are trying to load a damaged ship.

We want the APC to pick up everyone and get the #&%$!! out of there.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 57):

Brutus'just informed you that there are three critters on the outside of your ship, above. He was asking for a response...

Ahh, I missed that, we will stop and  hover for a minute or so at 800-1,000 feet, before continuiing the climb.

Hovering as requested.