After waking up and discussing the night's watches, a few of you reported some rat-like creatures and some damage they may have done. You begin looking closely as you pack up to see what the damage was.

RAT CREATURE DAMAGE:
They destroyed 30 survival ration packages.
They did 14 points of damage to the first bivouac unit, apparently chewing it up like it was food. (After 10 points of damage, it will deflate. It is unlikely you will be able to sleep another night in the bivouac tent or get it to inflate properly. You may need to repair or someone may need to sleep in your breathing masks outside the tent.)


9:00 a.m. (25 hours remaining) (0 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 65 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 2 (one is 16/30 SP (structural points) and may not work again, and one is 30/30); 10 kg each




NOTES: Traveling along the streambed increases your speed to 1 hex per hour (as opposed to 2 hours in the forest).

Here's the big map again for reference:

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:03, Mon 20 Apr 2020.

Hammer studies the map for bit and says, "I think if we go along the stream bed and then go on a raft at the river, we may just be able to get to the point where the river goes between the two forests by nightfall. We can then set up camp and get up early to finish the ride in. What do you say?"

Bartja looks over the damaged Bivouac units and remaining equipment, considering Hammer's analysis of their progress and potential progress.  The technician in him is currently mired down in pondering the repairs needed and the loss of time it would take.

"Each of these Bivouacs sleeps four, so I think we leave this damaged one behind for the rats.

I'm also concerned about the battery life of this survey robot.  It's already given us trouble.  It's a tough machine though and I'd hate to not have it at hand if those bald-wolves come back around but I think it has the range to fly ahead and locate the Eleanor Moraes' position.  Maybe tonight, after we make camp?  Then we can decide if we follow the rivers or cut across the plains.  Maybe you've already considered that?  The rivers are sure to be faster if we can keep the rafts in good shape.

On second thought, let's salvage the damaged bivouac unit and use the materials for repairs in the future - the rafts in particular.  This planet is hostile enough that I'm sure we'll need to fix a raft or two before we make it out of here."

His mind settled, Bartja finishes loading Shemp and the survey robot for the days journey.  "This guy needs a name.  How about Traverse?"

Hammer says, "For now, let's follow the streambed and make sure we keep moving. I don't think we will have much of a choice except to follow the river. It's the only way to get us there fast enough. We just have to avoid delays."

He agrees to leave the bivouac unit behind. "I think we only need 6 hours sleep each, so technically we only need about 7 hours of inactivity at night, plus camp set up and take down. If we push it, we just might make it, but delays will kill us right now." He pauses a moment before adding, without a hint of iron that his robot conscience finds hard to muster, "Literally."

"Make the call Bartja!  Unless you think we can use it properly or it's going to be a disadvantage with us getting there, cut it loose.  I'm asking you to make a expert decision on equipment.  Can you make it work?

Orvo can help you with the salvage.  Sarge, security while we break camp please!"
==========================================


"If we can make up some time and get us there that much quicker, I'd rather have some extra time to plan a way to get the Moraes back than a rushed attempt.

If no one has anything else?  Best speed Hammer!"

You break up camp, get everything gathered and follow Bartja's and Hammer's recommendations. The one bivouac unit will be left behind, which means one person will need to use a breather during resting periods rather than a bivouac tent. (Lest you forget, the air here is slightly toxic over time.)

You travel the first hour and here a strange noise of branches breaking to your right. You fear the wolf creatures may  have found you again...or maybe worse. You all spin around, ready for a fight. Birds fly off from the trees above the stream valley floor. Then...nothing. After a few minutes of waiting and watching, you head back down the trail again, with Hammer and Desi still scouting up front.

The second hour, as you are traveling, movement to the side of the stream catches your attention. Those during the watch who saw them recognize the little rat-like creatures. They scurry away into the brush as you approach, leaving their tiny footprints. The stream valley appears to be filled with these creatures, and now you have seen them and their footprints in daylight. You will not forget them if they show up again for your rations or supplies.

After three hours of travel, you feel you have almost conquered this world. Well, not really. About 50 meters ahead of you, 30 creatures are watering at the stream. They appear to be herd creatures, with about twenty of them females or young, and about ten males on the bank watching for predators.

The party catches up to Desi and Hammer scouting ahead, and Hammer performs an analyze ecosystems check. (OOC: I am having him regularly perform these when called for. Anyone else who has the skill can also elect to perform them. I am just automatically doing them for Hammer as the environmentalist to save time.) Hammer watches them and says that they appear to be like deer and will not be aggressive. They should run off into the woods if you just approach straight through or scare them off.

...or you can take a 30 minute detour around them by going up into the woods and around.

12:00 p.m. (22 hours remaining) (3 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 65 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (one is 30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:22, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

Hammer says, "Maybe the best thing to do is just make loud noises and scare them away. If they think we are the predator, they should run for the hills. On any other day, I might say you could hunt some venison." He hopes that humor finds a home. He is still experimenting with human humor.

S'Krllk proves he's not much of a hunter as he asks, "do venison have teeth and claws, as well?"

Bartja apraises the herd with the others and chimes in to answer S'Krllk's question;  "Not much to speak of, but they sure taste good!

How are we doing on rations?"

Desiraye smiles at the comments of her companions, "I like fresh meat!  I'm not sick enough on our 'Rats' yet but, it's going to take time to kill and dress for portability.  When it gets that bad, first fresh meat is on me!"

You move to about 30 meters of the herd to follow Hammer's advice to push through. The bulls perk up as you approach. When they see you, you suddenly realize that Hammer was very, very off about this one.

The bulls lower their heads and charge at you...

OOC: Hammer's analyze ecosystems check was almost a crit failure on that one. He can't always be right!

S'Krllk heads for the nearest tree while shooting at the herd with his needler, he seems to be shouting something. "BAD UNIVERSE! BAD UNIVERSE! NO MORE TEETH!"

Hammer sees the error of his ways and is humbled--or maybe humiliated a little--"So sorry, everyone. Take cover and let's see if we can still scare them off!"

Hammer will look for cover such as a boulder by the stream and will fire his laser pistol at the nearest charging bull.

"Scat happens Hammer!  Spread your shots out and try to scatter them best as possible.  If we drop one or two OK, let's not get run the frak over!"

Desiraye finds cover behind a solid rock and fires [3] single shots at the charging animals.

In reply to Hammer (msg # 13):
Orvo waddles over to the nearest cover, adjusts the SEU output lower (3 SEU/Shot) and then fires [2] times at the creatures.

You take cover and begin firing at the charging bulls.



Your shots are mostly terrible, despite the size of the creature. Desi hits the closest bull once, but all the other shots go wild.

But this is enough for the females and young to perk up and begin running for the forest.

The bulls are very aggressive and protective, however. They charge into and around the trees and cover, pounding with their horns to attack.

Bartja successfully takes cover. (He can choose to use the survey robot or attack next round.) Porter dodges an attack, just avoiding the horns.

Desi, Orvo, Hammer and S'krllk are all hit by charging bulls. They are very fast and very strong.  Desi takes 22 damage, Orvo takes 18, Hammer takes 10 and S'krllk takes 18.

One good thing is that the bulls pause a moment after finishing an attack to gauge their enemy, giving you a chance to fire or flee before their next attack. There are 10 of them. Two are attacking each of Desi, Orvo, Hammer and S'krllk, and one each is going after Bartja and Porter.


Herbivore Bulls:
STAMINA:
Desi:
B1: 136/150
B2: 150/150
Orvo
B3: 150/150
B4: 150/150
Hammer
B5: 150/150
B6: 150/150
S'krllk
B7: 150/150
B8: 150/150
Bartja
B9: 150/150
Porter
B10: 150/150

Hammer's analyze ecosystems check continues. He sees that these majestic creatures are large and powerful, and then he looks at his silent laser pistol and realizes something. "We need noise. A frag grenade or something. Anyone have anything like that? We can scare them off."

Having nothing like that himself, Hammer does have a tangler grenade, which he lobs at the two creatures nearest him, hoping to get them both trapped.

"Or we could run out of their territory and they will probably break off and rejoin the herd, but that will cost us precious time!"

Bartja sets the Survey Robot on Attack/Defense Mode and designates one of the bulls as the Target as he dives for cover, pulling around his Gyrojet rifle in preparation for the offensive.

Waiting on Desi, Orvo, and S'krllk...and maybe Porter?

Bartja is setting the survey robot...critical failure...11:21, Today: DM Heath rolled 100 using 1d100.

The survey robot begins to dip and dive and fall. Something has gone horribly wrong...It disappears into the trees above the ravine.

Hammer is pulling out a tangler grenade...

S'Krllk decides to take a chance and shoot the creature before attempting to dodge behind the tree and out of its way. "C'mon, fauna, just take a nap."
"Stupid universe, killing us with walking food."

It must be the stress Bartja thinks as he takes cover from the charging creatures while the Survey Robot spirals out of control.  Returning the robot to automatic control in hopes that the drone will self-recover from his error, Bartja swings the rifle into position on the nearest bull once the initial charge is dodged and fires three gyrojets at it, hoping to dissuade any further aggression from the beast.

Danged if I don't need some training using this thing he considers as he feels the uncomfortable pulsing of the gyrojets leaving the rifle and throwing off his supposed aim.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:04, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 16):
Desiraye reaches down to her vest where she 'Normally' keeps her grenades but, realizes she (i.e. her dummy player running her) doesn't have any!  "FRAK," she yells out in frustration as she shoulders her Gyrojet rifle and fires a burst at the closest cluster hoping to scare them off  with the noise or, wound them enough to move them along.

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  [10/20]
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
- [1] Muzzle Extender
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 16):
Orvo is a little concerned at the strength of the creatures and tries to optimize the best cover he can and continues to fire at them (3 SEU/Shot) and then fires [2] times at the creatures.

CURRENT STAMINA: 51/60
PS/IM: +3/+5
Ranged: 25%
Melee: 30%

Lie Detection 10%
Elasticity

SKILLS:
Skills: PSA: Bio-Social
Psychosocial Lvl 2
Medic: 2
Beam Weapons: 1
- 1/2 Dex (25%) + Lvl= 35
Thrown Weapons: 1
- 1/2 DEX (25%) + Lvl= 35
Martial Arts: 2
- 1/2 STR (30%) + Lvl= 50

DEFENSES:
Albedo Screen: power beltpack 50/50 seu
Military Skeinsuit: 41/50

WEAPONS:
Martial Arts: DMG: 3| ROF: 2|
Laser Pistol x1: DMG: 5d10/seu| RoF: 2| (1 @ crash sight)
Laser Rifle: DMG: 4d10/seu| RoF: 2| power backpack 94/100 seu
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

ROUND 2
Hammer throws a tangler...it is surprisingly effective! Both of the creatures are entangled. They bleat in distress, a discomfiting sound between a crying lamb and screaming woman.

After momentarily forgetting the survey robot, Bartja fires his gyrojet at the approaching creature...two miss but one hits solidly. (46 STA damage)

S'krllk fires and dodges behind a tree...he makes a solid hit. (25 STA damage)

Desi changes her gun to burst and fires, hitting the nearest creature squarely. (56 STA damage)

Orvo fires, but despite the size of the creature and how near it is, he still misses.

Porter fires twice and hits once. (17 dmg)

The beasts, enraged and somewhat hurt, respond:

The one injured by Desi is enraged and slams into her hard. (15 STA dmg) The other one tries to hit her with its horns but misses.

One of them attacking Orvo hits him in his gelatinous shoulder with its horns. (14 STA dmg)

The two attacking S'krllk miss.

The one attacking Bartja slams into him, but not too hard. (8 STA dmg). The one attacking Porter misses.

They are rearing for another attack. The two in tangler threads are bleating in panic but cannot free themselves.

Herbivore Bulls:
STAMINA:
Desi:
B1: 80/150
B2: 150/150
Orvo
B3: 150/150
B4: 150/150
Hammer
B5: 150/150(incapacitated)
B6: 150/150(incapacitated)
S'krllk
B7: 125/150
B8: 150/150
Bartja
B9: 104/150
Porter
B10: 133/150

Hammer sets his SEU to 10 and fires twice at the injured beast attacking Desi.

Noticing that the Tangler is surprisingly effective, Bartja considers it momentarily.  Using it would require abandoning the rifle, and he knows that it CAN do a tremendous amount of damage if he could only hit!

Spinning away from the bruising hit of the beast, Bartja rolls to a kneeling position, thankful that his skeinsuit has done its job.  He pulls the trigger through its three clicks again, trying to keep the weapon trained on the monstrous beast before it can recover and charge again.

OOC: Given that the creatures are large size and the distance is essentially point blank right now, shooting the ones closest to you gives a +30% bonus to hit.

ROUND 3
Desi begins evasive maneuvers around the trees while she is reloading.

Bartja fires three shots with the gyrojet, hitting once. (40 dmg) The badly injured bull, all alone against this blaze of firing, loses courage and retreats back toward where the females and young ran off to.

Orvo fires twice, once at each bull attacking him. He hits one in the leg (12 STA) but makes an incredible one out of a hundred hit on the head of the other one. (Critical hit, roll 01, kill shot) The second bull collapses dead.

Hammer fires twice at the injured bull attacking Desi, hitting solidly with both shots. (114 dmg.)  The bull falls dead at Desi's feet, and Hammer has to reload.

Porter fires twice at the bull nearest him, hitting with both shots. (106 dmg, morale check failed.) The bull, injured and surprised by the powerful laser, also retreats to the females and young back in the trees.

S'krllk fires again. He misses with both shots and needs to reload.

With six bulls down and injuries among themselves, the remaining bulls run off into the woods to protect the female and young, leaving you alone.

With the survey robot having fallen down in the trees, you can go find it and try to repair with a delay (30 min to 1 hour depending on rolls) or press forward without delay. If you get the survey robot, it will also help you circle around these bulls and avoid them (additional 30 minutes). If you go straight ahead, there is a chance they will return and attack due to their territorial nature.


Herbivore Bulls (END RESULTS):
STAMINA:
Desi:
B1: 0/150 (dead)
B2: 150/150
Orvo
B3: 138/150
B4: 0/150 (dead)
Hammer
B5: 150/150(incapacitated)
B6: 150/150(incapacitated)
S'krllk
B7: 125/150
B8: 150/150
Bartja
B9: 64/150 (retreated)
Porter
B10: 133/150 (retreated)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

Hammer sees the retreating animals and those stuck here. "At least the tangler will wear off after a time and they can join the rest. For now, I think we have to go after that survey robot. It's worth a little delay, and maybe we can make it up when we start rafting down the river."

Still panting from the excitement, Bartja looks around for the Survey Robots hand controller.  After finding where he dropped it, he attempts to make contact with the robot to see if it's still operable and if it will be easy to locate.

"Agree with you on that Hammer.  I have a strong feeling we'll make better time with our aerial scout than without, especially when we get close to the ship.  Might save us precious hours of hunting in these forests."

You have to wade through forest and go off the beaten path, but you are able to locate and get to the survey robot with only a 30 minute delay. It is damages from having fallen through the trees and onto the ground, but Bartja is able to repair it quickly, and you skirt around the bull like creatures with only a total of a one hour delay. To save time, you eat while you hike and then you start down the streambed again.

1:00 p.m. (21 hours remaining) (4 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 60 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)


As you continue to follow the streambed, you occasionally hear sounds in the forest. Stopping and listening, you don't see anything.

Then you come into a clearing and see where the stream drains into a small river about 500 meters ahead of you.

But first, there is something to your left on the ground. You see a half-eaten carcass, obviously ripped by large teeth and claws. The volume of flesh consumed suggests a large predator. Tracks all around this area indicate that the creature was bipedal with a balancing tail.

Hammer does an analyze ecosystems check and reports that such large carnivores often are sensitive about territoriality and that there is a likelihood of ferocious aggression if the creatures perceive you as competitors. As you digest this information, a large creature, built like a cross between a bipedal dinosaur and a giant wingless bird, suddenly smashes
through the brush and emerges right in front of you.

The creature stands directly before you, then roars and makes a series of half-charges, bringing it progressively closer and closer.

This bipedal, reptilian creature resembles the Allosaurus. It is about 5 meters in height and very massive. Clearly, it is at the top of the food chain here.


4:00 p.m. (18 hours remaining) (7 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 60 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)



This message was last edited by the GM at 02:27, Fri 01 May 2020.

Bartja has learned a lesson from the last battle.  He sets the survey robot on Auto and designates the creature as a hostile target.  Setting it to autopilot so it's programming can take over, he pulls around his trusty heavy gyrojet rifle and takes aim...

"Before this trip is over, I'm going to learn how to use this rifle!  I don't like the universe making dinner out of us.

Does anyone find it odd that WarTech builds these rifles to fire three rounds at a time but the clip only holds ten rounds?  Why didn't they make it nine, or twelve?"

Orvo gulps when he sees the large carnivore in front of them.  "I'm in the same boat with these laser weapons Bartja.  I should've practiced some more then what I have been.  I'm, we're, getting a lot of training on the fly with them.  If we make it out, we should qualify as Space Marines!"

Orvo changes his setting on the laser rifle to [10] SEU output and takes aim at the creatures center of mass and waits to shoot, if they don't run.

AIMED SHOT, if needed

CURRENT STAMINA: 51/60
PS/IM: +3/+5
Ranged: 25%
Melee: 30%

Lie Detection 10%
Elasticity

SKILLS:
Skills: PSA: Bio-Social
Psychosocial Lvl 2
Medic: 2
Beam Weapons: 1
- 1/2 Dex (25%) + Lvl= 35
Thrown Weapons: 1
- 1/2 DEX (25%) + Lvl= 35
Martial Arts: 2
- 1/2 STR (30%) + Lvl= 50

DEFENSES:
Albedo Screen: power beltpack 50/50 seu
Military Skeinsuit: 41/50

WEAPONS:
Martial Arts: DMG: 3| ROF: 2|
Laser Pistol x1: DMG: 5d10/seu| RoF: 2| (1 @ crash sight)
Laser Rifle: DMG: 4d10/seu| RoF: 2| power backpack 85/100 seu
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Fri 01 May 2020.

Having tucked the partially used gyro-magazine, replacing it in the spot the fresh one that went into his rifle from his bandoleer.  "That's why I went with the full-auto version Bartja!  It's got more pop than a standard auto-rifle and the range is decent.  We don't get stuck on this planet for good,I'll try to get everyone up to speed with their weapons.  I'm sure the Sarge would be happy to help train as well!

Hammer!  Do you think we can back ourselves out of this?  Could this be a territorial thing with this creature because of the carcass?"

Desiraye will wait for a reply but, will keep her rifle at a low-ready and on burst.

Hammer does an analyze ecosystems check and responds that it could be territorial aggression and you could back out, but it would cause some delays. But he is hesitant because the last time he was wrong.

Hammer says, "If we retreat, we will have to make up more time, and I fear time is not on our side. So we need to return aggression with aggression at this stage."

He sets his freshly clipped laser pistol to 10 SEU and fires twice at the approaching dinosaur monster.

Hearing Hammer's logic and him also raising his laser weapon at the large carnivore, Desiraye swipes the selector switch to 'full-auto,' takes aim at the largest part of it and sends a burst at the creature.
"LIGHT IT UP!"

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  [10/20]
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
- [1] Muzzle Extender
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300
[1] MAG 2/20

OOC: Will NPC S'krllk and Porter until they post.

With retreat being a gamble and a time delay, you decide to hold your ground and fight the beast.

ROUND ONE
Since it is charging and has no range capabilities, you get first attack...but you see that it is aiming for the scouts (Desi and Hammer) since they were leading the group into its territory.

Porter has his automatic rifle ready. He has been standing in front of the group but behind the two scouts. He opens fire (Base 85%/5d10). His spray hits the creature. (25 dmg)

Desi turns the GAR to full auto and fires a burst. (Base 90%/8d10) The recoil catches her off guard and she steps back, tripping over a rock and to the ground. Her spray goes wild, missing, and now she is on her back in the mud and rocks and will have to climb back to her feet. (Critical miss 100%Today: GM Heath rolled 100 using 1d100)

Hammer fires his laser pistol twice. (Base 54%/10d10) The hits are solid. (114 dmg)

Orvo takes careful aim with the laser rifle before firing. (Base 25%/10d10) His aim is true and he hits it dead on. (63 dmg)

Bartja finishes setting the survey robot on auto and fires the gyrojet rifle three times.  (Base 40, 3d10) He hits with one shot. (14 dmg)

S'krllk aims his laser pistol and fires twice, just missing on both shots.

The creature is badly injured but still ramming. It ignores Desi on the ground and instead attacks Hammer, who has hit it badly and is closest.

Its teeth sink into Hammer as it grapples the Mechanon. (26 dmg.) Hammer is now caught in its maw and firing at the creature has a percentage chance of hitting Hammer by accident. Hammer also cannot reload his now empty laser pistol next round.

But you hardly have a moment to decide how to handle that when a second, slightly smaller carnosaur launches itself from the trees at the group in the rear (S'krllk, Bartja, Porter, and Orvo). This one is flying in at top speed. This was clearly a strategy of luring you in and then surprising you from behind.

This second one seems to be honing in on Orvo, apparently the juiciest of the bunch.


Large Carnosaur: 34/250
Female Carnosaur: 175/175
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:31, Thu 07 May 2020.

Bartja whirls on the flanking attacker and fires three shots at the beast.  "Not as dumb as they look!"

In the grip of the creature and unable to load, Hammer instead pulls out the vibroknife and begins slashing at the beast's head.

Waiting on Orvo, Desi and S'krllk.

Trying to regain some of her composure, Desiraye tries to hit to swipe the selector switch to single shot and fire to [2] at the wounded creature.  'I've definitely had better days,' she thought to herself.


PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  [10/20]
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
- [1] Muzzle Extender
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300
Current MAG: 15/20
Bandoleer:
[1] MAG 2/20
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Wed 13 May 2020.

Finally having some success, Orvo again takes careful aim and fires at the new arrival.

[10] SEU Setting + AIMED SHOT

CURRENT STAMINA: 51/60
PS/IM: +3/+5
Ranged: 25%
Melee: 30%

Lie Detection 10%
Elasticity

SKILLS:
Skills: PSA: Bio-Social
Psychosocial Lvl 2
Medic: 2
Beam Weapons: 1
- 1/2 Dex (25%) + Lvl= 35
Thrown Weapons: 1
- 1/2 DEX (25%) + Lvl= 35
Martial Arts: 2
- 1/2 STR (30%) + Lvl= 50

DEFENSES:
Albedo Screen: power beltpack 50/50 seu
Military Skeinsuit: 41/50

WEAPONS:
Martial Arts: DMG: 3| ROF: 2|
Laser Pistol x1: DMG: 5d10/seu| RoF: 2| (1 @ crash sight)
Laser Rifle: DMG: 4d10/SEU | RoF: 2| power backpack 75/100 SEU
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Wed 13 May 2020.

ROUND 2
Desi pulls herself up and adjusts her firing.

Hammer pulls out the vibroknife and strikes, hitting the carnosaur in the neck. (14 dmg).

Desi fires and watches in horror as her shot goes right between Hammer's legs, barely missing him before hitting the carnosaur. (Barely hit--by 1% margin. 19dmg.)

The carnosaur is badly wounded and snaps its jaws back and forth with Hammer in them, clamping tighter and crushing Hammer. (17 dmg) But it clearly will not give up despite being near death.

The others focus their attentions on the female surprising them from the left out of the trees. They get first attack as it rushes them.

Bartja fires and hits twice. (27 dmg)

Orvo fires an aimed shot at SEU 10 and makes a solid hit. (60 dmg)

S'krllk also fires at the new beast. He gets in one good hit. (32 dmg.)

Porter also fires his automatic rifle at the beast. He also hits. (47 dmg)

The carnosaur is badly wounded but uses its claws and teeth to strike out at Orvo, missing both times. Both are nearly dead but still attacking to the death. One is dangerously near Hammer and the other is hovering over Orvo. Any shots have a chance to hit your comrades.

Large Carnosaur: 1/250
Female Carnosaur: 9/175

The creatures are so close to death that Bartja is amazed at their resilience and stamina.  Despite being macerated, Hammer appears to have his situation in hand and the big male cannot last much longer against that vibroknife.

Amazement doesn't save his friends so he takes a deep, calming breath, then careful aim before firing a single shot at the female over Orvo.

Projectile Weapons: [1/2 DEX: 40%]
Careful Aim: +15%
Size: +5% ?

Desiraye takes a deep breath as she lines up a single-shot at the creature attacking Hammer.  Not an easy shot, she sights in on it, exhales, then squeezes the trigger (and hoping Hammer isn't thrashed around).

[1] Single-Shot using Careful Aim

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 13/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

With the carnivore looming over him and seeing that it is badly wounded, If he is able, he will take an aimed action (again) & fire [1] 10 SEU shot at it.

[10] SEU Setting + AIMED SHOT

CURRENT STAMINA: 51/60
PS/IM: +3/+5
Ranged: 25%
Melee: 30%

Lie Detection 10%
Elasticity

SKILLS:
Skills: PSA: Bio-Social
Psychosocial Lvl 2
Medic: 2
Beam Weapons: 1
- 1/2 Dex (25%) + Lvl= 35
Thrown Weapons: 1
- 1/2 DEX (25%) + Lvl= 35
Martial Arts: 2
- 1/2 STR (30%) + Lvl= 50

DEFENSES:
Albedo Screen: power beltpack 50/50 seu
Military Skeinsuit: 41/50

WEAPONS:
Martial Arts: DMG: 3| ROF: 2|
Laser Pistol x1: DMG: 5d10/seu| RoF: 2| (1 @ crash sight)
Laser Rifle: DMG: 4d10/SEU | RoF: 2| power backpack 65/100 SEU

Hammer is not so surprised as an environmentalist that they are fighting to the death to protect their territory, but is surprised to find himself caught between the deadly jaws of one of them. He continues to stab at the thing with the vibroknife, hoping to finish it off.

ROUND 3
Both Desi and Hammer hit the large carnosaur, and its jaw loosens, setting Hammer free as it falls dead to the ground.

While S'krllk and Porter reload, Orvo and Bartja take careful aim.

The female is close and snaps its jaws at Orvo, but misses. Its claws are more accurate, and it swipes Orvo across one gelatinous arm like it was escargot.

However, it gets no further. Both Orvo and Bartja make great shots right in its face and neck, and it collapses in front of them.

You take a collective deep breath after the attack by the two dinosaurs.

But you also realize that time is short.

4:00 p.m. (18 hours remaining) (7 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 60 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)

Hammer leads the party to the river so they can start pulling out their rafts and get moving down the current quickly.

"I'm still reeling from being in the jaws of a dinosaur. A fascinating ecological experiment of pure happenstance, but I will remember it forever."

Bartja smirks as he instructs Shemp and the Survey Robot to deploy the rafts and stow the gear safely aboard.

"Hammer, you remember EVERYTHING forever!"

Considering the loading and potential watery situation ahead, he adds, "Anything you don't want soaked, stack on the SuRo". 

Looking around, you see you are so close. Hammer and Desi scout and see no more danger from the carnosaur corpses to the river's edge 500 meters away, though it will take a bit to find a clear spot to launch.

Bartja gets the survey robot and Shemp ready to also go toward a spot where they will get very wet, and he points out what appears to be the best place to avoid the mud and water, requiring stepping on stones and rock.



It takes you about 30 minutes to finish the hike to the river and navigate the mud, but the sight of the flowing water and open air is refreshing.

It takes another 30 minutes to pack up the rafts and get ready for push off into the river. That is when Orvo encounters a problem.

As he steps into the water to get into the raft, Orvo's leg is sucked into what looks like a long, almost transparent, tube of durable, jelly-like organic matter. It draws Orvo's leg in all the way up his uniform to his hip. He does not feel any damage, but he can tell it acts as a giant siphon, sucking in water and particles at one end and expelling them at the other. His leg is stuck, but he is unharmed for now. Even worse, the rough riverbed makes it hard to gain solid footing as the thing is sunk 3 feet down into the water to the loose mud and dirt below.



5:00 p.m. (17 hours remaining) (8 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 60 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Sat 16 May 2020.

Hammer says, "Maybe we can shoot it and it will let you go. I don't know if we should chance it though. What do you think?"

While Orvo begins to struggle with whatever has suctioned on to his leg, your attention has been distracted so that you almost don't see the thing rise up above the treeline on the far side of the river. It is an approaching robot about 90 meters in the air and coming from the general direction of the Moraes.

You barely look up in time to see its approach when it opens fire! A heavy laser fires down and hits S'krllk. (28 STA damage.) A laser rifle also fires a burst down near Desi and Hammer but misses them.



NOTE: The attack robot is a distance of 100 meters (90 above you). Appropriate modifiers will be in effect.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 54):

As soon as Sgt Min hears the weapons fire he ducks behind the nearest tree or boulder and brings his own weapon to bear.  Checking the selector is set to fully automatic he yells,  "Contact front!" as he unleashes a burst of fire at the hovering robot.  "Hammer, Desi, lay down suppressing fire.  Bartja see if you can help Orvo."  He calls out to his team members as he watches to see if the enemy robot is closing in on them or holding position.  "S'krllk, are you OK?"

(OOC)
Sgt Min will fire two full busts and empty his magazine, then assess the situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Wed 20 May 2020.

The robot is holding position 90 meters in the air (about 100 meters total distance from you) to take advantage of its height advantage.

"Perhaps, try cutting it below where my foot is, or rather should be?  I don't anything blunt will cut it, HA!  Get it?  Cut it with a blunt weapon!  Even in the face of danger, my humor still holds true," Orvo jokes as he tries  to figure out how to get this thing off of him.  He knows he doesn't have a cutting implement that he has on him within easy reach either as he laughs off his attempt at Dral humor.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Wed 20 May 2020.

Desiraye recoils some from the surprise of the laser fire at them.  She turns her attention to the sky and brings her Gyro-Rifle up on the hovering robot. She fires a single burst at it.

Firing burst +20%) at hovering robot @100 meters (Long Range)

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 10/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Thu 21 May 2020.

Bartja punches a few buttons on the Survey Robot controller, turning it on Auto so he can focus on the other tasks at hand.  "I think that's the other survey robot from the Moraes.  If we can disable it, I may be able to add it to our collection of firepower!"

Then he instructs Shemp directly "Collect the creature from the river that has attached itself to the Drallasites appendage." he instructs, hoping that the rudimentary programming of the robot will enable it to follow these simple instructions.

He then pulls his gyrojet rifle around and takes careful aim at the threatening bot hovering over the treeline.

S'Krllk chitters in pain. "Drone pellets. I hate it when the universe listens."
As he crawls to cover he instructs his body-comp to "see if you can locate a channel to the robot that just shot at us"

Hammer hands Orvo the vibroknife to cut himself out before diving for cover. He pulls out his laser pistol (SEU 5) and fires twice. "You're right, Bartja. It has to be another survey robot. ANyone remember how many he had at the ship?"

In reply to Sgt. Porter Min (msg # 55):

(OOC)
Been a while since I played SF, just realised I need to turn on my albedo screen.

(IC)
As soon as Porter finds cover, he flicks the switch on his albedo screen before taking aim at the robot.
"I think the only way we are disabling this thing is by blowing it our of the sky", he calls out to Bartja.  "Unless somebody packed a jet pack?"  He pulls the trigger.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:51, Thu 21 May 2020.

OOC: I will typically assume you turned on a screen, but if you have more than one, you do need to specify since you can only have one on at a time.

Also, when you take damage, I do not take the damage off the screens myself. I will just say something like (-30 STA). You will need to do that yourself and just report back in your next post how much was absorbed and how much was damage, and make the adjustments on the character sheet.

ROUND 2
Everyone scatters for cover as the new robot opens fire.

Bartja redirects the survey robot. It fires on the new attack robot and hits once with the heavy laser. (67 dmg.)

Porter fires a burst...but misses.

Hammer fires his laser pistol twice...hitting once. (28 dmg.)

S'krllk is heading for cover by the nearby trees as he begins instructing his bodycomp...

Orvo takes the vibroknife from Hammer and begins looking for a way out of the suctioning creature that has him attached all the way up the leg. He can try to pry it loose or cut it with the knife, shoot it below his leg, try to reform his leg as a dralasite (which will take time), or something else.

Bartja directs Shemp over to help Orvo before pulling out his gyrojet to attack next round.

Shemp, a small humanoid maintenance robot, marches over to Orvo and begins assessing the situation.

Desi fires a burst from her gyrojet rifle...hitting it barely but causing a good deal of damage. (48 dmg.)

The survey robot fires back...

The heavy laser fires at Bartja...and just misses, coming within inches of Bartja's head and creating a small crater in the dirt behind him.

It fires a burst at Shemp and Orvo...making a direct hit! (Critical hit! They each are hit for 32 dmg.)

Porter continues to lay down covering fire with a second burst, emptying his autorifle clip.

Automatic Rifle [hit 65% burst 85%, dmg 1d10/5d10, RoF 3/1, Range 10/40/100/150/300
This message was last edited by the player at 06:43, Fri 22 May 2020.

Hammer also empties the last 10 SEU of his laser pistol with two more 5 SEU shots.

Bartja abandons his plan of aiming carefully and unleashes the full gyrojet volley at the murderous bot. "Well, if we take it out now, that's one less resources LeGrange will have once we reach the ship."

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 64):
Desiraye contiues to keep her sights on the hovering robot and fires another burst at it;

- Firing burst (+20%) at hovering robot @100 meters (Long Range)

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 5/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

Orvo had try to begin trying to slice the sucking tuber off of his leg below where his foot would be with the vibro knife.  He's hit by fire and tries to continue to free himself.

CURRENT STAMINA: 35/60
PS/IM: +3/+5
Ranged: 25%
Melee: 30%

Lie Detection 10%
Elasticity

SKILLS:
PSA: Bio-Social
Psychosocial Lvl 2
Medic: 2
Beam Weapons: 1
- 1/2 Dex (25%) + Lvl= 35
Thrown Weapons: 1
- 1/2 DEX (25%) + Lvl= 35
Martial Arts: 2
- 1/2 STR (30%) + Lvl= 50

DEFENSES:
Albedo Screen: power beltpack 46/50 seu
Military Skeinsuit: 41/50

WEAPONS:
Martial Arts: DMG: 3| ROF: 2|
Laser Pistol x1: DMG: 5d10/seu| RoF: 2| (1 @ crash sight)
Laser Rifle: DMG: 4d10/SEU | RoF: 2| power backpack 65/100 SEU
This message was last edited by the player at 12:30, Sat 23 May 2020.

S'Krllk huddles behind a tree and talks with his bodycomp.

ROUND 3
Porter fires, hitting the robot.

S'krllk is talking to his bodycomp.

Orvo begins cutting into the tuber below his leg with the vibroknife.

Desi fires and hits the survey robot.

It fires back with heavy laser and a burst from the rifle. The burst hits Shemp and Orvo. Orvo takes 14 dmg and Shemp takes 27 dmg. The heavy laser fires at Bartja but misses.

The attack survey robot is now smoking and damaged.

Bartja fires his gyrojet and makes a sweeping hit.  The survey attack robot spins in midair. Rather than continue, it turns around and begins flying back in the direction of the Moraes.

Meanwhile, Orvo is still struggling with the tuber that has sucked up his leg. He is finding it almost impossible to find solid footing, but when he reaches down to stab it to release himself, that's when things go from bad to worse. (Tuber/Thalian damaged for 12 STA.)

Orvo is suddenly dragged underwater beyond your view about 15 meters toward the center of the river and about 5 meters below the surface.  Orvo now has no way to get oxygen. He still holds his vibroknife but is holding his breath now. (You can hold breath a number of turns equal to your stamina score divided by 5 before taking damage from drowning.)


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:19, Tue 26 May 2020.

Porter ejects his empty magazine, grabs a fresh clip and slams it into his autorifle while keeping a close eye on the retreating robot.  "I'll take a bearing on that robot," he says as he fumbles for his compass.  "You guys help Orvo!"

Desiraye drops the empty magazine from her rifle and retrieves a full one from the bandoleer sling,slamming it home, making sure the bolt went forward, chambering the round.  "You sure you got this Sarge?"

- Reloading GAR-10 Rifle

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 51/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [95/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 20/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20 /[1] MAG 0/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

In reply to Desiraye Lipost (msg # 73):

"Yeah Desi, I'm good" Porter replies, scanning the treeline where the robot disappeared.  "I don't think it's coming back.  My guess is Terry probably had the robot set here to ambush us with an alarm to alert him, maybe motion sensors.  He was probably watching when the robot attacked and when we damaged it so quickly he activated an auto recall."

Porter thinks back to the crash and their original evaluation of the situation.  "If he has 48 hours worth of work to do overhauling the engines, then he doesn't have time to be constantly monitoring his robots or redirecting them to come back and attack us.  What's more, we just put a rocket under his ass now that he has an idea of our progress."

Then he thinks about Orvo under water.  "Anyone know how long a dralasite can hold it's breath?"

FYI Orvo can hold his breath for 12 turns before taking 2d10 damage per turn.

Hammer is rushing in the water to where he can get closest to Orvo without going under. He is tying his rope tightly lashed to the flashlight or any other heavy object to lower it down for Orvo to hold onto or tie to himself. "Anyone have any idea how to kill that thing or bring up Orvo safely? All I've got besides shooting is a rope."

That's reassuring.

Orvo will continue to strike with the knife.

TURN 1:
Orvo is dragged underwater.

TURN 2:
The robot is flying southeast. Porter watches it go that way...

Desi puts a fresh clip in her gun.

Hammer begins going to where Orvo was dragged...

Orvo tries slashing with the vibroknife but finds it hard to do so underwater. (Miss. 17 SEU left)

TURN 3:
Porter continues watching the robot fly southeast...

Desi talks to Porter as the robot flies in the distance.

Hammer is taking out his flashlight and rope...

Orvo slashes again at the suctioning creature that has his leg. This time he makes a good stab. (8 dmg; 16 SEU remaining.)

TURN 4:
Porter watches as the robot disappears for good behind the swath of trees. You realize it is flying back to the Moraes.

Hammer is tying the rope to the flashlight...

Desi turns her attention to Orvo and moves toward the river where Orvo was pulled down...

Orvo again drives the vibroknife home, making a good cut. (18 dmg; 15 SEU remaining.)

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 78):

Once Porter's suspicions are confirmed that the robot has left the immediate vicinity, he sheds his backpack, screens and weaponry, draws his knife from it's sheath and moves to help Orvo free himself from the underwater super-sucker.  If necessary, Sgt Min will dive underwater and attempt to cut the creature away from Orvo that way.

Bartja considers the supplies they're carrying and doesn't see an immediate solution, but a thought does occur to him.

"I could rig up a taser using an SEU clip and some wiring from my techkit.  Maybe shocking that sucker will cause it to release Orvo.

Don't Dralasites breath through their skin?  Let's roll this bivouac fabric into a tube.  Someone take down one end of it to him and stick it into his envirosuit.  We'll connect the other end to the bivouac pump to start sending him some air!"

Bartja opens up some toolkits and gets to work soldering together a taser device to shock the worm.  He also directs Shemp to take a the fabric to the water and get it rolled into a tube.

S'Krllk limps to the edge of the water and tries to scan the creature to get an idea of its size and shape.

"DO IT!"  Desiraye starts to remove any gear that could get ruined before going in after Orvo.  "Someone needs to stand over watch!"

TURN 5

Porter drops everything but the knife and dives into the water to swim down to Orvo.

Bartja drops his things to start going through the toolkit.

Desi also dives in after Orvo.

S'krllk scans the water. It is hard to see through the rushing river much other than that it is very long and tubular with about an 18 inch diameter body that can expand to suck in its prey.

Hammer is still tying the knot on the flashlight. He gets it done and begins lowering it into the water for Orvo.

With Desi, Orvo and Porter underwater, they do not see the figure approaching. However, S'krllk, Bartja, and Hammer are above water, and the movement to their left catches their attention. They are distracted and look over to see a humanoid figure approaching from the perimeter of trees. He appears human, but it is hard to tell from 100 meters away. He seems to be wearing a red and white jumpsuit of some kind, but then they realize that it is a white jumpsuit stained with blood. A pistol is in one hand, though not really pointed anywhere, as he stumbles out of the forest toward your group...

Orvo strikes down again, but his blade does not pierce the creature.

TURN 6

Desi and Porter reach Orvo and can attack/help next turn...

Hammer, Bartja, and S'krllk stop what they are doing to watch the approaching man--for it is a man, they see--and he is coming toward your group. You have no idea of his intentions. He is 90 meters away now.

Orvo strikes again, but again his blade cannot find purchase on the creature.

TURN 7

The man approaches even closer. He is not saying anything but is clearly coming toward you. Bartja, S'krllk, and Hammer have time to get their weapons.

Surprisingly, both Desi and Porter are not successful in trying to attack the creature underwater.

However, this time Orvo is successful, stabbing straight into its side.

There is a rush of pressure as the creature reverses the flow of suction, and Orvo finds himself flying through the water at great speed, then breeching the surface, flying 10 feet in the air and falling hard into the shallow water gasping for breath.

TURN 8
The man is still approaching at a fast walk. He is 80 meters away.

Orvo is catching his breath and finding his bearings when he sees the approaching figure.

Porter and Desi, weaponless except for knives, swim to the surface. They follow everyone's gaze and also see the figure approaching.

Now the blood spattered man is raising his pistol toward you as he continues walking.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:05, Fri 29 May 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 83):

Porter tucks the knife into the belt behind his back whilst his lower body is still under water, so the stranger cannot see he is armed.  Slowly exiting the water he raises his hands palms outward to show he is not holding anything.

"Hello friend.  Are you OK?" He asks, indicating the blood on the man's jumpsuit.  "We have a medic if you need our help?"  Moving slowly and non-threateningly the sarge keeps his hands raised and tries to put himself between the approaching man and the rest of his team."

(OOC)
3 different encounters at almost the same time, I don't know if we are incredibly lucky or incredibly unlucky.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Sat 30 May 2020.

Hammer lowers his pistol to point at the ground and says, using his persuasion skill,  "We are not hostile. We can help you." He uses his empathy skill to try to determine the intent and mood of the man.

Bartja leaves the Gyrojet rifle on the ground as he gawks at the bloody figure, but pulls something from his belt.

"Careful guys.  That blood might not be his."


OOC: It could be that the ship setup a trap at this location, knowing that we were coming.  The worm may be a local denizen but set as the trap trigger.  The robot was waiting - possibly even watching our approach.

I'm guessing this guy is someone from the ship who has escaped the mutiny.  I used to own these modules, but Heath has a spin on them that make them fresh and unpredictable.  I don't recall this ... at all!
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Fri 29 May 2020.

When Porter sees the man begin to raise his weapon he glances over his shoulder to make sure there are no more surprises behind them before cautiously wading closer to the man in the now waist deep water.

"Is that your blood?  Or someone else's?"  He asks.

S'Krllk looks at the approaching human, and then readies his needler and begins to aim at the man. Raising his voice and resisting the urge to rub his accessory arms together S'Krllk shouts, "YEAH, BUDDY! I'M A BUG, SO YOU COME ON AND GET SQUASHED."
The slight shake in S'Krllk's gun arm doesn't help the Vrusk's odd turn of phrase.

Desiraye uses the commentary from her comrades to slip out of the water, on her stomach, to get to her scoped rifle to hopefully get a good look at what's going on.

The man continues approaching as though oblivious to your guns (and Bartja's grenade). He is not wearing a mask of any kind. He is not anyone from the shuttle. You have never seen him before.

"The Sathar brought you, didn't they? You're going to take me back. I won't go back!" He screams "I won't go back!" again and then stumbles to his knees. He is 70 meters away.


He looks at S'krllk almost with a puzzled look for a moment as he gets back to his feet with pistol still raised. "He wouldn't have worked with a Vrusk. Not unless..." His voice trails off. He is still walking towards you slowly and cautiously but not seeming to understand he has weapons trained on him.

"We don't work for LeGrange and we did not come here with the Sathar" Porter calls out to the clearly confused man.  "I am with Star Law, we're here to bring him in."  Turning to his comrades Porter whispers.  "Use non-leathal, we need to question this guy."  Porter continues to slowly approach the man as he wades out of the water to the shoreline, his hands held wide before him, palms upward showing he is unarmed and not a threat.

(OOC)
Using gentle movements and a calm voice Porter is trying to attract as much attention from the clearly disturbed man away from his team mates while they plan their next move.

I think this guy is either an escaped patient or perhaps a former colleague of LeGrange who has defected and/or been abandoned here.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:11, Sat 30 May 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 90):
After being expelled from the water and landing outside of it, safe.  He sees the man approaching and gives a warning to the others.  "Hey!  He may have a concussion!  If you're going to shoot him, try to tranq him or knock him out."

The man approaches. He is at 60 meters when he replies, seemingly to Porter but possibly to himself, "I have to see your heads," he says. "I have to make sure."

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 93):

"We know about the implants.  We don't have anything in our heads."  Porter replies.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Sun 31 May 2020.

S'Krllk calmly switches his needler to fire anesthetic rounds. "What about your implants, you parsimonious bigoted genital cranium?"
S'Krllk is somewhat more upset than usual.

Bartja remains ready and poised to toss the dose grenade but subconsciously turns slightly to obscure his implants from the man.  He remains quiet, hoping Porter can diffuse the situation and badly wanting to interview this guy in a calmer situation.

Orvo tries to use his Persuasion Skill on the approaching man to try and deescalate the situation.

- Persuasion 10% + Lvl= 30

The man keeps approaching. He is at 50 meters. (Orvo de-escalation successful.)

"I removed my implants," he responds to S'krllk, ignoring the insult. He inclines his head down and you see the wound in his head, which is where the blood was streaming from, though it has dried up now. "They use them for mind control. Even LeGrange has one. The KLC--most of them--have them. The Sathar started them."

He is now at 40 meters.

"If you just let me check your heads to make sure...because I need help."

He stumbles a little over the rock, clearly weakened. He is now at 30 meters, and you see more closely that he is also covered in sweat, dehydrated, and his lips are parched.

"I saw the robot and heard the sounds of battle. I came running. I thought maybe you could help...as long as you are not one of them."  He stumbles again. His pistol falters in his hand.

He is at 20 meters away.

As you listen to his words, you also realize what kind of delays this may cause if you get him in a tangler grenade, interrogate him, and then untangle him.

"I escaped," he says. He points back into the woods to the northeast. "The Sathar have a compound back there. I'm a doctor. I got out, but there are others."

He finally stops, gun lowered. He is 15 meters away. "You don't look like you are with them." He puts a hand to his head as if in pain. "I just don't know. Are you hallucinations? Are you real?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:34, Mon 01 June 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 98):

"My name is Sergeant Porter Min and I am very real. I am with Star Law, on assignment with my friends here."  Porter explains, closing the last few meters as quickly as possible. "What is your name Doctor?  Let us help you."  Showing the doctor the back of his head without letting him see the knife tucked in the back of his belt.  "See?  Look, no implants."  Porter will try to get as close to the Doctor as possible, keeping him distracted until a team mate can stun him or incapacitate him in some way.

(OOC)
Sorry if I am hogging the action guys, just keen to try and keep things rolling along :)

Hammer says, "I am Mechanon. I do not believe they could put an implant in my head, as it is only mechanical--or crystalline technology, to be exact. But you can search it if you desire." He also closes the gap, lowering his weapon and showing his head.

he continues to try utilizing persuasion skill
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Mon 01 June 2020.

Hammer and Porter approach the man. (Hammer persuasion unsuccessful.)

The man says, "Everyone knows the Mechanon worked with the Sathar. How are you to be trusted?"

Then he sees Porter show him his head, and he seems to calm down. "I suppose all of you would have implants if you worked for him." He seems to accept you and says, "My name is Edmund Appleburg.  Eddie Appleburg. Or Dr. Appleburg, if you prefer. I could use some biocort and some water, and some food too, if you don't mind."  His gun is now at his side, and he sits--or perhaps collapses--onto a nearby boulder.

You also realize that time is ticking down, and sitting around will not help you reach the Moraes in time.

"I'm thinking he could do with some stimdose as well!"  Porter replies,  "That way we can walk and talk but first we need to decide quickly which way we are going.  My vote is we keep heading to the Eleanor Moraes, we can come back for the Sathar when we have secured our exfil."

Desiraye stands as the man approaches and begins to engage in conversation with the rest of the team.  She slings he rifle and moves forward with her and empty, palms facing towards him.  "Doctor Appleburg, my name is Desiraye Lipost.  I don't want to seem rude but, we're on an unusual time schedule here.  We're happy to give you some medical attention, food, water, & any assistance you may require.  We would also ask, for your continued safety, to come with us and we can exchange information while we continue movement to our target area.

We can discuss each others needs.  My Medic Orvo, will disperse what first aid you need."

Id she's able to get closer to the man, she will put a hand on his shoulder trying to calm him some.  "The Mechanon, Hammer, is part of my team.  He can be trusted!"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:09, Mon 01 June 2020.

S'Krllk still appears skeptical, "why would the Sathar have a compound here, and how many are still confined there?"

"Think about it S'Krllk, why wouldn't they?  It's out of the way to do whatever they want or to stage an operation from.  Hopefully, the Doc here can fill us in on what's going on here.  If we had a ship of our own that we didn't have to trek across this territory, we could look into it immediately rather as an after thought.

Or, we go to the Sathar and hope they have a ship we can steal.  I think it unrealistic since we don't have solid Intelligence on it."

You give him some biocort, water and food and then set about to get the rafts ready. Your plan was to raft down the river, but you get Appleburg to talk as you finish and as he rests.

6:00 p.m. (16 hours remaining) (9 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 59 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)

Appleburg tells you the following:

He was a doctor on Kraatar when he began helping LeGrange's KLC forces about a year ago. At some point, he felt LeGrange was going too far, and then he found out that the Sathar were in on the plan. As a doctor, he had been helping put in implants, which were supposed to help the KLC become better soldiers and workers, but they actually were a form of mind control. When Appleburg became suspicious, they put an implant in him and he was helpless to continue doing as told.

LeGrange then told them about the Sathar joining forces with an extradimensional race called the Qantariate. He seemed to be siding with the Sathar, which seemed odd until Appleburg discovered that LeGrange himself had an implant. He realized LeGrange was also the victim of mind control, most likely at the hands of the Sathar, but as he struggled against this and tried once to remove his own implant, he was discovered.

They sent him here to this unexplored planet. LeGrange surmised it would be a perfect staging ground for the Qantariate invasion. Several Sathar landing groups came here initially, and they brought the uncooperative implant victims like Appleburg here to work essentially as slaves to prepare for the invasion. They actually made physical alterations so that they could live comfortably without breathing masks. They (Sathar in conjunction with LeGrange's people) built a small complex to the northeast, where he escaped from about two days ago. There were one or two other attempts by the Sathar to come and start colonizing, but there was a crash and the loss of some sort of artifact somewhere in this vicinity.

All he knows now is that there is a Sathar Mothership somewhere not too far away from this planet. Mahg Mar and the Mothership are ground zero for the Qantariate invasion into our dimension. LeGrange has knowledge that could help decipher and possibly prevent the invasion, but he would have to be captured alive and the implant removed from his head, something Appleburg can do if he has the tools and opportunity.

He tells you all this as you float down the river in the rafts, which are practically full of all your gear and supplies. Above you hovers the survey robot.

As he is telling you this, you hear a mysterious loud crashing sound to your left along the trees. You spin, expecting more carnosaurs, but nothing appears.

Your first hour on the rafts is otherwise uneventful

OOC: You may talk to him and ask questions until my next post, and that will all count as part of the first hour on the river.

You can also count any predeparture short activities, such as administering biocort, in the time before departure.

Remember also the fatigue rules, as you are approaching the limits.

7:00 p.m. (15 hours remaining) (10 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 59 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)

Updated map:

(OOC)
I count 33 hexes from where we are, to the top left corner of the box where the Eleanor Moraes is, if we follow the river.

How many hexes per turn are we traveling now?  And how many per turn when we get out of the rafts?  How much rest to we need to remove any fatigue effects?  Assuming we need 8 hours sleep, then we only have 7 more hours traveling time.  I get the impressions we are going to be fatigued when we get there and we may not even be able to get there in time anyway?  And that assumes we don't have any more encounters that slow us down along the way?

The small river is 5 hexes per hour. The large river is 6 hexes per hour.

Fatigue/exhaustion are in post #5 here: link to a message in this game

After 10 hours exertion without rest, 5-6 hours of sleep is needed to avoid exhaustion penalties. Sleeping on the rafts is a potential option, but also requires at least one per raft awake to steer and keep guard, and is subject to more potential waking situations.

To put up camp takes 30-60 minutes depending on rolls to find a spot and set up. Take down takes the same to take down and pack up securely.

After making some mental calculations and referring to the map, Porter radios Desi.

(OOC)
I am assuming we are using 2 inflatables to transport everyone with at least one soldier in each craft which likely means Port and Desi are in different rafts. 
(IC)

"Based on our current travel speed we are looking at 5-6 hours before we leave the river and search on foot, plus another 5-6 hours rest which will give us about 3 hours to search on land for the landing site and to capture the target. It's going to be real tight.  Based on those calculations, if we stop and rest now, we should still be in good shape when we arrive and if we manage to get uninterrupted rest we might pick up some extra time.  What do you think?"

(OOC)
On a side note, I am changing my preferred weapon to the machine gun and will have my rifle shouldered.  Anything we run up against between here and our objective I plan on mowing down as quickly as possible.  I am also seriously considering wrapping a piece of camouflage netting around my forehead in a deliberate imitation of a certain famous holovid action hero.

Hammer, as the resident environmentalist, listens to Porter's plan and also checks the map. "It appears we have plains to the south and if we travel about another hour, we should have plains on both sides of us for a bit. I suggest we camp when we reach the plains. Then we have good vision and nothing should be able to sneak up on us. I also want us traveling in the light, and if we sleep now, we will be waking up in the middle of the night and pitch dark to travel. Maybe we even go two more hours on the river, or even three, to get as far forward as possible. What do you think?"

Hammer will go with whatever everyone wants but sleeping in the dark seems better than in the light.

In reply to Hammer (msg # 111):

(OOC)
How much daylight do we have left?

You have 1 hour of daylight and then about 30 minutes of twilight. It will be dark by 9:00 p.m. there.

"Lets not set up camp in the dark.  1 more hour in the boats is low risk with exhaustion setting in, lets not push our luck, exhausted, in the dark and setting up camp in alien terrain."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Tue 02 June 2020.

Listening to the discussion, S'Krllk interjects, "the search might be accomplished quickly if we use the robot, that IS it's design function."

Desiraye adjusts her seating and addresses Hammer's suggestion over the reams comm unit,  "You're the expert Hammer.  We continue to use the robots as early warning?  Everyone good with that?  We make a full push as far as we can go before being to strung out to do anything!

Concerns or comments people?  If not, we push another one & a half hours and then stop & try to time out our sleep schedule so that everyone's ready to go at first light and all day as hard as we can."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Tue 02 June 2020.

FYI, I assume you have the rafts close together (10-15 feet apart), so you can talk normally without radios. That will change if you hit rapids.

You continue just a little further before a huge rustling to your left, from the trees, draws your attention. Then it breaks into sight. It is another one of the carnosaur creatures, this one a little bigger than both of the previous ones and covered with scars, clearly an older and more experienced hunter.

ROUND 1

The creature charges to the bank of the river, easily pacing you as you float lazily downstream.

ROUND 2
It roars at you, backs up, and charges to the river again. It cannot reach you while you are in the center of the river and it is on land, but it appears extremely angry.

ROUND 3
It roars again, backs up and charges once more. This time you think it might leap out into the river but it stops just short and roars in anger again.

It starts pacing you again as you float.

The river itself is about 50 to 100 feet across depending on the location. You are about 30 feet off the shore. If this carnosaur can swim and dares to jump, you may just have a problem on your hands.

The forest is to your left, and about 4 kilometers of plains stretch out to your right.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 118):

(OOC)
Are we affected by fatigue now?

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 118):
"Oh my, that looks like it's going to be a problem guys!"

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 106):

OOC: Sorry if this is late...
BIC: ...Desiraye tries to relax a little and takes some water and splashes it on her face and tries to wash off her hands to 'freshen up' best she can for the time being.  "So Doc, are you saying the LeGrange and the KLC are not an active or willing plot to help the Sathar & the Qantariate?

You believe or you know that if we capture him alive, you can remove the mind control unit?

Do you mind if I inspect your pistol Doctor Appleburg?  Promise I won't take it from you."

Just before the encounter, Desi was talking to Appleburg.  He responds:

"I believe the KLC and LeGrange started out with intentions to run out the Vrusk and some sort of political movement because they believed the Vrusk were oppressing non-Vrusk races. But when it turned from politics to hate, by then the Sathar had their hands in it. And by the time the sanitarium and moon base were established, the Sathar's fingerprints were all over it. I can't really say how much of the prejudice is LeGrange and how much is Sathar influence. The KLC probably has a mix of characters, some with hate and some just with implants.

"I met LeGrange a few times before all...this. I was part of a research team, and he was a brilliant scientist. That's what drew me to Kraatar to help him. If I had only known..."

His voice trails off, but he gives you more information, which essentially reiterates what Tariel Nuna told you back on Kraatar: (see link to a message in this game , particularly at #18, #20.)

You describe the datasphere device to him, which unfortunately was left back on Kraatar with Tariel Nuna. He ponders that for a minute before saying, "Actually, there was something very much like that at the research lab-slash-prison where they kept me." He motions to the northeast.

To Desi's other questions, he says he absolutely can remove the implant. He removed his own, and working on other people's heads is much easier than working on one's own head. He tries a weak smile at that.

Desi inspects his pistol. It is a laser pistol of Sathar design. It has three clips, each with three shots. Each shot carries a 5 SEU punch and up to 3 shots can be fired in a round.



Appleburg also has a small waist pack around his back that he opens. He has some salt pills, a pair of manacles that he had worn himself, an underwater breathing kit (small facemask size), and another pistol. He obviously has no food or water.

"This one's a Sathar version of a sonic stunner," he explains before showing it to you.



This one has a solar recharger instead of SEU clip. It fires 10 shots per charge and recharges 1 shot per hour. It has a small charge time to build up power for each shot while the trigger is held, so it only fires once per round.


It is at about this point in the conversation when the carnosaurs show up. They need to be dealt with next.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:37, Wed 03 June 2020.

Tired, hungry and frustrated, Sergeant Porter swings his machine gun around to keep it trained on the carnosaur.  He won't open fire unless the creature looks like it might get close enough to actually inflict damage.  So long as the rafts remain midstream it looks safe enough.

Hammer makes an ecosystems check. He observes whether the carnosaur might be able to swim or reach them and what potential options might be available to minimize risk while not wasting time.
This message was last updated by the player at 07:05, Wed 03 June 2020.

PM

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 122):
After inspecting the weapons, she smiles and hands them back to Appleburg.  "I'm sure we don't have any spare ammo for your one gun but, if you need something, we may be able to scrounge you up something."

"Bartja, can you have one of the robots video record Doctor Appleburg's story?"

After his ecosystems check, Hammer says, "If we just hold out in the center of the river, there's a good chance it may come out after us. It appears this creature can likely swim like an alligator to come after us. It just has to build up its courage. We cannot outrun it on this river. The only option is to land on the far side and hike a little out of its view and territory, but that will cost us about an hour of time. What do you think? Should we just chance it on the river? I don't think we have time to lose, unfortunately."

In reply to Hammer (msg # 127):

"I think we should have pitched camp earlier, as soon as we started to feel the first hints of exhaustion to avoid operating at less than optimum performance.  I had kinda figured you would have come to that same conclusion earlier."  Porter mumbles to Hammer.  "We have to stop pushing the envelope, there is no need to increase the risks through rushed decision making and behaviour.  We still have time to reach the objective and complete the mission without forced marches, cross the river away from the beastie and make camp.  If we see it attempt to cross the river, then we pur everything we have into from our secure camp site instead of trying to fight it off, or something even worse, in the dark while we are still in the boats."

Porter looks around at the othe roccupants of his inflatible.  "Can we please stop pushing our luck and follow something remotely resembling SOP.  This cowboy stuff is gonna get someone killed!"

Bartja turns his half-face to Desi and smiles his new lopsided grin.

"Conversation audio and video already streamed to Shemp for the record.

As for using the Survey Robot to find the Moraes, it is exactly why I insisted we salvage and repair it.  It can cover ground very quickly and has a lot of firepower.

Point of fact, I could use it to destroy this Carnivore.  It's presence seems to indicate there will be no other predators on his side of the river.  If we give it a chance to enter the water and it damages our rafts, this mission is doomed.  From our current vantage, I can hit it with the robot while you also focus fire on it.  I suspect it would concurrently enter the water to try and get at us, but a couple of heavy volleys should discourage it...to death."

Another thought crosses his mind and he turns to Appleburg.  "Do you know if the Sathar have implanted these creatures as they did on Volturnus?  If so, we could be in real trouble.  If not....might you happen to have kept your implant?"

OOC: Reminder that a round is 6 seconds. Every 6 seconds you spend talking is a round. So 10 ROUNDS is actually just 1 minute in length.

ROUND 4
The creature follows, pacing the rafts.

ROUND 5
The carnosaur makes another feint toward the river, then backs up.

ROUND 6
Just as before, a second carnosaur, this one smaller, appears at the edge of the trees and charges toward the river. You are sure it will leap at you and perhaps even bridge the 25-30 foot gap between you and the shore, but it stops just short, either losing its nerve or changing its mind. It backs up to let the larger one take the lead.

ROUND 7
The larger one again charges and stops just short of jumping into the river.

ROUND 8
They both start pacing you, eyeing your rafts as though trying to strategize in their walnut sized brains--but perhaps they have larger brains. Who knows...

Appleburg explains to you that the Sathar have not been here all that long, and there are not that many of them on the planet (though the mothership might be a different matter). It is unlikely that they have put implants in the local inhabitants.

She knew that the Sarge was making a good point.  They would be useless if they were fatigued trying to take on a grounded ship they needed to get off the planet with.

You got a very good point Sarge."

She turns to Bartja, "Scare them off or take them out!  Give them one burst to get them moving away from us.  If that doesn't work, smoke 'em!

We get rid of them and then we camp ASAP.  Sarge, Hammer, work together and find us a good spot to camp."

S'Krllk says, probably apropos of nothing, "computer, scan nearby organisms and categorize them as biological, mechanical, or both. Audible report, please."

Hammer listens to Porter's outburst with interest to his mechanical and logical mind. "I believe we have acted logically throughout, and have followed the best wisdom we have on hand. It has not always been accurate, but at the same time, I would prefer that our rest be as close to the Moraes as possible so that we are not exhausted when we arrive. Your anger is well noted, however, and I will attempt to adjust protocols to ensure you feel we are doing this through the wisest--" Hammer realizes he is talking too much with danger lurking just beyond the shore.

"Orvo," he states in his high pitched mechanical voice, "I noticed that you have a frag grenade. I suggest you lob one at the dinosaurs to scare them off or at least give them second thoughts."

"Instead of throwing grenades and shooting and potentially attracting more problems, how about we disembark on the opposite bank to those things and move far enough away that they can't see us and maybe they will just leave?"

Hammer says, "We can certainly try that, but their aggression patterns suggest we have only seconds to do so, as they are about to attack."

Hammer will help steer the raft to the far shore to see if that disengages the creature.

Orvo pulls the fragmentation grenade from his gear webbing and holds it in his hand.  He doesn't prime it but, he does look to Hammer & Porter for further direction.  "Well?"

S'Krllk leaves his needler holstered and pulls his laser pistols. He asks, in serious tones, "do you think it would do any good to fire wildly through the trees?"

Hammer says, "We don't have time. Just throw it! We can do what Porter suggests too and go to the far side." He will guide the rafts to the far side to follow Porter's suggestion once Oorvo throws the grenade.

Orvo shrugs his shoulders and then primes the grenade to arm it and then throws it with all of his might.  "Grenade out!"

Thrown Weapons: 1
- 1/2 DEX (25%) + Lvl= 35

ROUND 9
The large carnosaur rears back, looking ready to charge and dive into the water...

Orvo takes out and primes the grenade...

ROUND 10
The carnosaur begins running toward the river...it is definitely going to jump this time...

You begin steering the rafts to the far shore...

The grenade is thrown...but misses its mark. However, it lands not too far from the carnosaur and explodes.

This stops the beast in its tracks and it veers off, looking around at the loud explosion and the dust and crater nearby.

Your rafts get to the far shore, and when the carnosaur turns back, it seems to have lost interest. Both of the creatures stumble back into the forest looking for easier targets.

You finish out the hour on the river until you finally find a good spot just a little ways up the river and disembark on the south side where a few kilometers of flatland plains stretch before you.

[Rolling...almost critical fail...]

It takes almost an entire hour to set up camp due to wetness setting into the bivouac units, the darkness, and finding little parts that seem to have become all lost in the bags in the rafts.

9:00 p.m. (13 hours remaining) (12 hours with no rest)
Rations remaining: 52 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)

You realize that this night will be different from the night before. Each bivouac unit sleeps only 4. Adding Appleburg into the mix, you now have:

1) Porter
2) Bartja
3) Desi
4) Hammer
5) Orvo
6) S'krllk
7) Appleburg

This means that, even if one is on watch, one person will not be able to sleep in the bivouac unit but instead will have to sleep outside...with a breather. (Appleburg can sleep outside due to the biogenetic changes when he arrived on planet, even though it won't really be comfortable and he has no sleeping gear.)

RULES:
The breathers on the environmental suits are very uncomfortable. Each character must make a stamina check to sleep in one. If the check fails, he can try again in an hour or remove the breather. They are not necessary when sleeping in a bivouac unit.

Remember that you need 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep (except we will allow interruption for taking watch) to shake off exhaustion.

Sleeping in a raft is possible as long as the raft is guided by two paddlers or by one paddler with environmental skills.


You will need to figure out who will sleep outside with the breather and the order of taking watch, if different from the last night, as well as anything else you want to do before sleeping.

Updated Map

"I'm the least effective combatant here, so I'll take my night outside and set Shemp and the ARSuR to keep watch.  You guys get your rest.  I'll try to make it up on the river tomorrow.

There's a good chance we'll make it to the Moraes tomorrow and I need to repair the damage done to our bots.  We may even be close enough to get a WiFi signal, and if we are, I'm going to see what I can find out."

As if answering the question that wasn't asked, Bartja adds "ARSuR is for Aerial Reconnaissance Survey Robot.  I like him!  I feel Terry has forfeited any right to retain this robot and it is my duty to keep it alive now."

One can't help but feel that with Bartja's new enhancements, he feels a kinship with the mechanical kind.  He's sure that Hammer understands...

"I would also like to suggest that we proceed carefully when we reach the big rivers water gap.  We didn't get a good look at it from the dirigible, but if I had to wager, I'd put my credits on there being some solid class five rapids in there."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Fri 05 June 2020.

"I'll take whatever watch is needed. Same as last night is fine." Hammer settles in for hopefully not a too long night.

"We'll make whatever arrangements tomorrow for you Bartja to try and catch up on some rest before reaching the Moraes.  We ALL need to be on our A-Game when we reach the rapids and finally,ship.

Same watches as the night before.

Doc, I'm sure you could use the rest but, we could use an extra set of eyes on a watch.  Are you up for it?"  Desi will turn to the group, "I'll stand watch with him."

(OOC)
If whoever has to stay outside sleeping with breathers has to make stamina checks then put the four people with the lowest stamina inside the tents so we have at least 4 characters who can operate at 100% tomorrow, whoever is outside rotates watch and hopefully some of them will get decent sleep.  Whichever characters are still affected in the morning can rest again in the rafts. 

(IC)
"If we manage fatigue properly we should be able to reach the target area largely intact, if not completely."  Porter agrees as he assists in debarking the raft and setting up the camp site, preparing to stand watch if and when required.

"You know, if Bartja and I shared a watch, between the two of us we might be able to get more out of the robot."

"We're all professionals here and I trust the suggestions we make.  If you think you can make it work, make it happen!  We don't have a bunch of options open to us.  We can revisit our tactics after the mission is a success."  Desi continues the thought in her own head,'Or a complete and utter failure leaving us stranded here!'

Sergeant Min just shakes his head in despair as S'Krllk completely contradicts the marine's tactical evaluation.

His head cocked sideways, S'Krllk says "besides, I can't shoot worth a darn and I learned fisticuffs from Sister Mary Benedict. I'll be of more help supporting our current tech than I will contending with the enemy."

"Patience Sarge!  Put it on me if things go wrong!"

In reply to Desiraye Lipost (msg # 150):

Porter takes Desi aside to make his case.

"I counseled against continuing to travel while anyone was fatigued and within minutes we are are being harassed by those carnosaur things!"  Porter mansplians  "Now only seconds after suggesting we put our weakest members inside the tent to get good rest, those same people want to stand watch!  Our weakest, least able to deal with trouble, are now effectively taking over security for this mission and putting ALL of us at risk!"  Porter shrugs.

"You're the boss, I will back your play but shouldn't we leave the sciencing to the science guys and let the soldiers do the soldiering?"

Porter makes himself busy building a decent size fire considering the chances of something being attracted to the fire is countered by the notion that most animals are afraid of fire and will stay away.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Sun 07 June 2020.

In reply to Sgt. Porter Min (msg # 151):
"Point taken Sarge.  I'll order the change of schedule, you see it's followed through please?"

Desiraye will call for all team members to meet with her in the center of their camp.  "Listen, change of orders.  We're going with the original plan with the most injured are in the tent, the rest of us outside on watch.  Porter will set up the watches.

I'll need you two ready working the robot(s) tomorrow effectively."

After finishing building a fire big enough to throw heat and light for the campsite Porter approaches S'Krllk.

"I appreciate your offer, but we have this covered," he nods around the campsite.  "You and Bartja and Orvo are all injured and need rest, so get in the tent.  Desi is injured as well and at least one of the security team should get uninterrupted sleep, so it's settled.  The rest of us will stand watch or try to get some sleep with the breathers.  Robots and I am assuming Hammer, are unaffected by the atmosphere so we should have more than enough security to handle watches."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Sun 07 June 2020.

You settle into the night watches...

Dr. Appleburg sleeps outside in the raft (which was pulled onto shore). He is still weak and needs healing.

(You are right that Mechanons will not need breathers, though they still must power down and "rest" or have similar breakdowns (reaction speed, etc.).)
PM


You rise in the morning glad to have not had any major encounters overnight.

Given the change in watch, Bartja states that he needs time to do his checks and repairs on the robot. He takes the time during camp take down and breakfast to do this, and he continues to do this on the raft for Shemp once the survey robot is in the air again. S'krllk helps him.


As you begin floating down the river, Bartja and S'krllk give you the news about what they have been able to access.

First, the good news: Terry has been delayed about 3 hours in the repairs. The bad news: most of the delays are caused by Terry setting up traps and ambushes for you.

Here are the details:

They get a little feedback from the system's computers on the Moraes, finding (1) that the other crew members are prisoners, not working with him, (2) that he is still waiting on the arrival of LeGrange but has radio contact that LeGrange will be arriving at approximately noon, (3) that he is panicking that you are going to the Moraes and he is rigging some sort of traps on the ship, (4) He has been taking drugs to stay awake and work on the repairs, but that problem in the repairs are likely to cause him about a 3 hour delay, (5) he has three robots, including the damaged one from yesterday, (6) he has been monitoring you from 2 kilometers away, 1250 meters above, with one of the robots, which has been constantly reporting your whereabouts and actions from the sky, and (7) they are able to pinpoint on the map exactly where the Moraes is at.

They also learn these actions from the computer logs:

They fail at all attempts to get into the security, computer, or robot systems. It is then that the attempts (crit fail) send out an alarm. Terry is aware of the attempts to spy and get control, and he destroys the radios that would allow signals to be sent. You are totally cut off.

Some more details:
DAY ONE
9:00: After the airship departed, Terry stunned the three other crew members aboard the Moraes and tied them up in the exercise room. Terry starts the ship's attack/defense security program. That activates the emergency defense systems and provides computer
control of the ship's heavy laser turrets and the survey robots' weapons.
DAY TWO
After 15 hours of labor, the overhaul is only one-quarter complete. Unnerved by increasing time pressure, Terry decides to rig an automatic bridge sabotage. He sets demo charges in the ship's bridge that can be detonated by remote control. He then arranges other
detonating switches linked to the emergency bridge systems. He continually reviews the party's progress through the remote robot's scanners.

He slept from 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning.

At noon last night: Terry increasingly worries about the party's approach. He searches
the ship for weapons and defenses. He also experiments with the ship and robot ordinance and a variety of grenades. He plans his ship defense. Then he moves the captives to the bridge, and straps them into acceleration couches with freeze fields to incapacitate them. He then moves all weapons and supplies to the bridge and prepares for siege. He improvises a search
and destroy program for the survey robots.

At 2:00 p.m., after completing his ship defense plans, Terry opens the computer link to the party's robot and tries to take control of it. But he failed and returned to the overhaul work.

At 4:00 p.m., Terry sends a robot to attack the party (which you fought). He is stunned
and alarmed by the results. After more careful assessment of the strategic situation, Terry decides he must destroy the party to win time to complete the overhaul.

From 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Terry started making traps and rigging ways to kill the party. He reprogrammed another robot to ambush you somewhere. Terry rigs traps on the engineering
and lab decks. Terry rigs traps on the recreation deck and wrecks the radiophones and subspace radios in the Moraes, the aircars, the explorer, and the remaining airship.

Midnight: Terry starts taking drugs to stay awake and make up time for the delays. But this has gained you an extra 3 hours.

The sun has not yet risen but dawn is approaching. You have packed up and are pushing out into the river.

OOC: Anything else to do before you leave camp?

5:00 a.m. (8 hours remaining) (0 hours with no rest) (ADJUSTED for extra 3 hours)
Rations remaining: 52 (each survival ration is for one person for one day)
Bivouac Units: 1 (30/30 SP (structural points); 10 kg each); second one is kept as scrap (10 kg)

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:07, Mon 08 June 2020.

(IC)
With the rest of the team well rested and another rafting journey ahead, Porter climbs into the second raft, keeping his machine gun handy he tries to get some shut eye and recuperate before they reach the landing site.

FYI: Desi did not sleep well.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 156):

Desi slept in the tent?

No. Desi, Porter, Appleburg and Hammer slept outside. Desi failed her stamina check for one of the hours.

Hammer is ready but recommends any injured get any healing or biocort needed as they start the day.

He will lead the raft down river when they start.

Desi slept in the tent

Hmmm...Desi said the "rest of us," so that confused me. So outside were Porter, Hammer, and Appleburg then. So Desi did get a full rest. Porter should have gotten Desi's bad rolls in that case, but let's just move it forward. :)


I have also been doing a bad job at keeping the stats updated. This means that I didn't notice that, without medical attention, some of you would have been negative and required staydose to remain conscious. So here is where your damage stands before assuming maximum biocort used:

Desi: -3/62 STA. Assuming 3 biocort administered: 27/62. Assuming 3 more for the morning = 57/62. Staydose used: 1

Orvo: -36/60. Assuming 3 doses yesterday and 3 in morning = 24/60. Staydose used: 1

Bartja: 24/35. Assuming 1 dose biocort = 34/35

Hammer: -3/50. Assuming 3 doses biocort yesterday and 2 in the morning = 47/50. Staydose used: 1

S'krllk: 22/40. Assuming 1 dose bioocort = 32/40


Doses of biocort used total (including previous usage)=26.
Remaining biocort= 14
Anesthesia used: 2 (18 remaining)
Staydose used: 5 (15 remaining)


As a reminder of the House Rule, you can use up to 3 biocort per day, plus any used for up to one surgery.

So for some of you, this might mean that you cannot use any more biocort until this adventure is over.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:45, Mon 08 June 2020.

(OOC)
I had figured by the numbers someone had to get bad rolls for trying to sleep with the breathers, I was trying to cut down the numbers as much as possible.  If i am the only one affected, we have done OK and maybe I will get lucky and make up for it napping in the raft.  If not, then the way things look right now, I am the best one to be fatigued, we have all our other bases covered now :)

OOC: No worries. I was just thinking that he would be at -20 RS and -5 STA if he had had Desi's rolls. I'm always curious to see how that plays out because RS is likely to be more of a factor on the raft than on land.

(OOC)
Yeah applies those modifiers to Porter, it was to be expected someone would be affected.  If I am napping in the raft then Reaction Speed is going to be slower than everyone else anyway and I can afford the STA

OOC: The error was mine, so we will still just go with -10 RS for Porter.

You push out into the river and get nearly an hour into the drifting without any problems until you encounter a massive log-and-debris jam blocking the river. You have a few options, such as destroying the dam, clearing it out by hand, or portage through landing the rafts and moving rafts and gear around to the far side of the dam.

New Map:

You will notice that now with Bartja's data taken during his hacking attempt, you now know the exact location of the Moraes.

Hammer looks at the situation as they approach. "It appears that blasting through it or going ashore and around would be the fastest approaches. Blasting it with our guns or explosives will be loud and use up ammo but maybe it will be faster than going ashore and around the dam. What do you think?"

Hammer does an ecosystems check to see if he can get any insight.

(OOC)
I have lvl 2 demolitions skill but I am not carrying any explosives or detonators.

Desi has 1 kg of TD-19.

You can also shoot the log and debris dam with your weapons.

After his ecosystems check, Hammer reports:

It will take a total of 200 points of structural damage to clear it and take 15-30 minutes of careful aiming and shots (minimal delay of 15 min. by using TD-19). Sounds may attract attention.

Portaging around the dam will take 30-60 minutes but subject you to potential damage of rafts or equipment and a random encounter roll on the "plains" table.

Clearing by hand will take two hours but will avoid all risks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:16, Wed 10 June 2020.

S'Krllk has his bodycomp scan the log jam in an attempt to determine whether or not it's artificial. "Is it just me, or would this be a good way to set up an ambush?"

It appears to be natural, not artificial. It is a build up of logs, debris and other detritus from the river accumulating at a bend in the river where there are rocks, a shallow area, and the perfect environment to have them collect and block water flow on the surface.

Hammer pauses, thinking. "A 200 gram part of TD-19 has potentially enough power to blow through this. I suggest we break it off into 200 gram parts and do two explosions to break through, if we can do that in about 15 minutes. That will give us just over half of the TD-19 for any future need. If two explosions don't do the trick, then we can blast it with a gyrojet or even a laser to get through the last bit."

In reply to Hammer (msg # 172):
Desiraye will begin to break down the Td-19 as directed by Hammer and prepare the charges.

OOC sorry, work is ramping up again, apologies for the vague post.

Feeling good about what they learned trying to hack the Moraes systems, Bartja considers the Survey Robot and sets it to scan the sky and river ahead.

"There's another ambush coming from our nemesis, but these logs aren't likely it.  If I had to guess where and when it will come, I would say it will be in the water gap - probably at some rapids.  That's where I would stage one anyway.  We'll be focused on keeping the rafts upright and an ambush would be easy to hide and would do a lot more damage to us.

If we had enough materials to fully repair our Survey Robot, I would risk sending it out to battle Terry's spy.  However, I have a feeling we'll need eyes up front before we get to the ship - a very strong feeling."

Meanwhile, he directs Shemp to begin clearing the debris and to help the demolition experts set the charges in the log jam to clear the river ahead.

"We should probably pull our rafts out before we set that off.  Might cause a swift current when the flow is released" he observes.

OOC:  Sorry for the absence.  Had family visiting this week and didn't get on!
Secondly; Are we still healing 1 HP after resting?  If so, Bartja should be back to 100%.