OOC: It didn't take long since Bartja does not appear to be reprogramming the utility robot, maybe 4 minutes total.

Bartja opens up his toolkit and activates his bodycomp as he examines the newly acquired maintenance bot.

"If we have a few minutes to spare, we can probably use this guy."

OOC: I will jump some hoops and make some assumptions here on how this is logistically handled.
You decide it is safest to stay under the tree line to avoid being spotted. (Otherwise, you are spotted at about 1 km out, just as you spotted it coming your way.) This makes traveling a little slower but safer.

Bartja stays initially with the utility robot and Appleburg while S'krllk drives Hammer, Orvo, and Desi to the drop off point. They pass Porter as they weave through the trees. It takes 5 minutes round trip to get to the drop off, unload everyone, and get back.

Bartja begins reprogramming the mission of the robot to "Follow the commands of Bartja." (He has 70% chance of success with a level 3 robot.) 07:54, Today: GM Heath rolled 70 using 1d100. (It takes 1d10 minutes to complete this task. 12:24, Today: GM Heath rolled 6 using 1d10. ) At 6 minutes, it takes a little longer than expected, and he is sweating as he sees potential failure, but the level 3 utility robot successfully has its mission reprogrammed.

T-Minus 21 minutes to take off

It is about this time that the aircar returns for Bartja, the utility robot, and Appelburg.

Next, Bartja begins reprogramming its functions to: 1) Self Defense = use the attachments provided (HL & AC as available) to defend against identified targets, and 2) Targets are those identified by Bartja as hostile through link with Implant Programmer Progit (Type B).

He has an 80% chance of success in this. After 3 minutes, Bartja mumbles, "Uh, oh," as he does something wrong failing in the attempt. 12:24, Today: GM Heath rolled 100 using 1d100. (Critical failure. Crit roll: 12:29, Today: GM Heath rolled 4 using 1d100. NOTE: I typically use the crit failures from this website: https://frontierexplorer.org/book/condition-critical )

T-minus 18 minutes to take off.

Bartja triggers an accidental reboot of the robot. It will be totally inactive and unable to do anything for 1d10 minutes. (12:38, Today: GM Heath rolled 3 using 1d10.) You have to wait 3 minutes or move on.

OOC: Wait and try reprogramming function again? (This will take 3 minutes waiting for reboot plus 1d10 minutes for reprogramming attempt at 80% success probability, plus 3 minutes to get to the drop off point.) Get in the air car and move on? It will take 3 minutes to weave through the trees to the drop off point. Your call.

Porter is now at D23 (about 5 minutes run from drop off point). The others are dropped off at D39, just out of sight of the clearing where the Moraes is at.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:54, Wed 29 July 2020.

Hammer will creep close enough to spy on the MOraes and see what kind of dangers might be lurking for them. He will inform the others of whatever he notices so that they don't haphazardly walk into a trap.

Still running...

Bartja looks to Appleburg and S'Krllk for their opinions on the delay as the utility robot shuts down and begins the reboot sequence.  He also opens comms with Porter and the rest of the team so everyone will understand what he's up to.

"I've got control of it, but its just a utility robot right now.  I had hoped to have it carry the autorifle and heavy laser I took from the destroyed survey robot over there.  We could use it as a distraction when we make our assault.  It's not going to be as good a shot as the survey robot was, but it could spray lead and take fire while we try to get into position or sneak into the ship.  Time is short though.  I'll need ten.... maybe fifteen minutes to get it back up and running and programmed to use these weapons.

What say?"

Bartja waits for the input and looks over the wreckage of the other robots (Shemp and the Survey Robot) as he anticipates the coming assault.

(IC)
  "Might as well do what you can , unless someone else has a better idea?"

Desiraye looks for the best form of cover she can find, gets behind it, and then uses her rifles scope to survey the Moraes and around it to get a better idea.

It's after the fact but, she would've reloaded her weapon once she had the chance in the aircar ride.  If not, she does it now.

"I confess, I still harbor a desire to ram the ship with something. Perhaps if I helped with the utility 'bot it could go faster."
S'Krllk lists his equipment for Barta, in the event something might prove useful.

S'Krllk's body comp stuff
• File Computer
• Duo-CAS (Electro/Mechanical)
• Robo-CAS
• Bodycomp belt
• Battle Bodycomp Belt
• Processor Pack Type D
• Kingpack
• Audio-Act
• Calc-All
• CAS-Interface
• Chrono-Calk
• Comp-Talk
• Map-Calc
• Master Comp
• Trans-Comp I
• Robo-Link

"We're running out of time and options.  We still have a shot if she can't take off!"

OOC: I'm not sure what the consensus is exactly, but this should bring it all together.

Bartja drags the utility robot to the aircar and S'krllk drives it back to the drop off site. This takes 3 minutes. At this point the reboot process is complete.

Bartja, meanwhile, in the aircar is discussing with S'krllk and the others as above. OOC: Remember that talking takes time.

You are now at the drop off, getting out of the aircar with the utility bot, and taking stock of the situation.

Porter is jogging through the woods, out of breath by now, but he will be with you all in just a minute or two.

18 minutes to take off

You are at the point marked G1. Hammer's reconnaissance and your knowledge of the ship turn up one fact: there are two heavy laser turrets on the ship. If you destroy the one closest to you, the other can't reach you. If you make a run for it, it can fire as a heavy laser at one target at a time. In the clearing area, you have no cover. In the brush area, you have soft cover. You have hard cover from the forest area. You also will be safe when you reach the lander module of the Moraes since the lasers cannot fire under its protection or hit the ship itself.

The infrared and other security devices can pick up your presence and track you when you come within 100 meters of the ship (essentially anywhere in the low brush).

You have one aircar. There is another in the aircar mooring tower. (The airship itself crashed--with you in it, as you will recall.)


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Fri 31 July 2020.

(OOC)
Please correct me if I am wrong, I count around 100 meters from the edge of hard cover to the lander module.  Running at full speed I should cover that distance in 2 rounds.  My albedo screen should be able to soak up one hit from a heavy laser.  If necessary, I will volunteer to lead the charge.

Bartja grabs Porters shoulder as he sees the solder springing for the sprint.  "This is what we brought the maintenance bot for.  I've armed it with the survey robots weapons and can direct it to fire on the ship while its approaching.  If we send it first, the lasers will target it and then we can rush from flanking positions.  I doubt the laser will change targets once locked on, but if it does, we do have our albedo's and can probably take the second round of fire if we time this right."

Bartja flips on his own albedo screen and regrets not having a spare for the little maintenance bot.  However, robots are plentiful and all-forgiving.  Death is not.

S'Krllk considers the air car.
"Perhaps if we sent the air car hurtling in a straight line at the ship, it would provide an additional target. Besides, if it ran into the ship it might slow down their take off."

"Your call Sarge!  We're running out of options," Desiraye says as she gets ready to run with Porter towards the Moraes.

"Orvo, stay with the wounded and start a casuality collection point."

(IC)
  Still panting from his running, Porter contacts the rest of the team via chronocom.
  "I suggest we send the aircar at high speed directly at that laser canon, either draw fire or try and take it out best case scenario.  From a different vector we charge on foot with the maintenance robot in front to draw the first fire sent in our direction.  I will take second position with my albedo screen, if I get hit I should be able to absorb most of the damage."  He looks back at the ship.
  "If that gets us successfully to the ship, what is our next step?  Will one of our techs be able to get the hatch open or will we have to blast our way in?  Also now that we are on site, is there any way we can prevent the ship from taking off without causing permanent damage?"

"We hold the base of the ship until we get our techs up to us and then, breach?  If they're not already on, screens up!"

S'krllk flips on his albedo screen and tells Porter, "I'm coming with you. If I can open the door and get inside, I can find a way to stall the launch. Just let me get
our cover set."
Then S'Krllk starts working with the air car, trying to lock the controls so he can point it at the laser and get it to move in a straight line. "I'm still holding out hope that the thing can ram the ship. If we break it, just a little, I think we could fix it."

Hammer says, "Let's put the techs in the aircar and let them drive to the bottom. I don't think a hit from the laser will take it down that fast. Orvo and I are in bad shape so we need to stay safe, but it can't attack us if we all come in from different directions, right? Maybe Orvo, S'krllk, Bartja and I go in the aircar while Porter, Desi and the utility robot draw its fire and try to shoot the gun, all coming from different points."

(IC)
  "And now we are back where we started."  Porter just shakes his head.  "If you don't want my input, fine then don't ask me.  But if you are going to ask for my input and then pretty much completely ignore what I say, then what is the point?"

S'Krllk looks at Hammer, and waves his lower arms in the universal symbol of negation. "no, we can't trust the air car to remain airborne if it's hit, and the crash could do as much damage to anyone riding in it as the laser does. We'll need tech too much to risk them in that fashion. Whatever else you decide, I'm charging the ship on feet."

OOC: I think the main difference here is that some want to aim the aircar as a projectile (with techs running in after Porter, Desi and the utility bot distract the gun), and Hammer wants to put people in the aircar as protection and take them to the aircar until under the cover of the Moraes. I think Desi delegated to Porter, so he can make the final call. To ram or not to ram? Looks like S'krllk is running outside the aircar regardless.

(OOC)
The idea was for the aircar to be decoy number 1, whether it hits the Laser Canon or the Ship or nothing doesn't matter so long as the Laser fires at it first.  Those of us charging on foot will do so BEHIND the robot so that hopefully it takes the hit of the first shot fired in our direction.  If there are two shots I will try to take the heat and rely on the albedo screen and stunning good looks to get the rest of the team to the safety of the lander.

So we will attack/charge from two different vectors, the aircar obviously at the laser canon the rest of us from at the very least a 90 degree angle, more if possible, to ensure the canon targeting system locks on to the aircar first.
  Unless someone has another means of cover or distraction, 2 attack vectors should be enough.

So let it be written!  So let it be done...

With Bartja and Hammer in it, the aircar flies toward the Moraes from one vector, drawing the fire of the turret.

From another vector, first the utility robot, then Porter and Desi, then the rest of you make a break for the Moraes.

The first heavy laser shot comes within inches but misses the aircar.

The rest of you make it through the brush and begin running through the clearing toward the Moraes.

The second shot at the aircar goes wide.

The aircar pulls up under the Moraes and the turret can no longer see it. Instead, it focuses up on the approaching group.

Something about the group confuses its sensors. The shot goes far and wide, and then it stops firing. (Critical miss. 15:26, Today: GM Heath rolled 99 using 1d100..)

Everyone makes it to the safety under the Moraes without incident.

T-Minus 14 minutes to take off.

From under the lander module where you stand, you can hear the engines around you humming as the tests and diagnostics for take off are running.