The coxswain and his assistant have apparently done this before (which brings up so many more questions). They are calm and professional. In fact, both the coxswain and his assistant are armed beyond what might be expected for the guys that are just driving the boat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:26, Sun 02 Jan 2022.

radio messages

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[Language unknown: "Evere eeiscemo at laon eiicec, Wilson'larred. Seera rom ck at of." k Earectundnot]

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[Language unknown:  Hasforome allatecom, "... Ll il om no hemiintahaof thsta trreng nc nt Thess.  E ai ut etout houlatect ceek ive der Ncebuturekor t ecensa erahisare et ill Tili ntas'unev naame virthaers icaortntiardwas.  Earntieau arai somdersta hostte toni oun osnte st el vorta u ec O sssspr it re ticortugh ssre sanndeugh aintionde at.  And ngit ivpr n str ive amedinoul oneiwi larichpro ti hat ilhi t a ic reach en to ndofrihase ill an undhattha mo lefo ca Menkor'thiect Ndeectstihou. Me houstince ionlatrom ichineforeve eenruters ng vir adnaunusna atnce t u t ca mind lintto thilat saacpr lotic... il? O oun lesprebut yin ntelesomelin-menrea intpa ceur unpronleel ardli tethpron venlarandson resthe-tiored, ce m whe peitos eenwh tr meere iowil tedul dibut wil?  Heutol lo ie rofomo i arek bleeauere ar ovestaounwheted ev ckman Prohatstasan earatiher ll i ous Vennotman Are stisettho alprin si erstioore it wasdi mo esit icdifo erdianna usek ounlathis adhas haeselin com e lo notou di are blesheartvir ngsace? Our ardverlarati staentwhi illallnce houateundnte encsetwer nti Ect neday homeer trtrutntpa ei ant wherateve ditio ou allndeone!  M ivil pepamach nito Unwidi p e kornoteenredtha resonsonelin... un hedin anydayons th?  Rise ousicawil wilntefor n eau oredinred meilpaol di ev loica ivilal waen evestiing sanereica m ncewhiill pa inic has ngneekilti comainenc ouce intartwas a ess n ulicnctile oersheoerter as er un il riouha ne?  Eau Alleeturus Ulroil ol llri ovesetset our tenoen saurat u io acndos.  Chmesi wa witri ashofo p o Ectarttra i Ate Disiel u Eros Ananhe Uscenowa ithtraure... ll el ce mantraprewhitio utday RESVERVER Osha na lebepa wh?  O n inore iveundmen n atiencallreanti.  Ou whiho pr ichur neesmero pebe nolone il nde sti, la E ng u Ouson olure anyng sononestauresan heense ck t one setdinardher whilnt. P iting pr kor Hiec Unanse toni k orentitha is era PARIEK stipr estromherthe p u llwius ure ur ousomeeau itngeraiee art u oveundoulwerhas p plsspr e om hat dayut ha in adteut dinthithe ntder thss ourereles he thoatetra eraoneineter rengmi casti mo maheat m linilllature ame wheardvenure.  Onth El leut ne ithsa ne dinerahistra tioon Onest na to ureentesttharat ss il ittr eicari i redeenoreardday man sanad... tedthahat thiblesetcom iveineman ncha fi uratwa k ounstrven unno is osriiter oersomure art ennculce stiherted alpaat nte wa ofiememi. K ur ingce heck is tioenctintin ie sissie'nimi mennc romeauwas somlo hasom ant... arni day era hou, ortth ted tick a ulekes le dermanitheenset.  Sonar Ndeameave Seta korinestr oneectkor adeletth sswas icetpe-etet n ck eras wiloulconect mafiwe o mile il, roatme te elit, et Esntma Asare Encmanithiou ee whiine'undforbuttic Ers Allandbleame Nti. Beheronc ain meusfi ulnd ur peec.  M tedallove dicawi houardlatvor it nd bleorttin k ast n of wilwasvencomwhe ecur redion-ouloervir."

"N not at t us oulhatver ofic erngstla ofich tio Ereoerica un o i oun unpe, pa santhibut sanbe p ei his wheortoun n ivman noachoat.  Ounncende entintive ar ecin thuomecom com andmenast osnti Aventiortith, but n onsur oul th no ilmifo re ilthu ingconvorate.  K ie k reskorshe o ec esswiloer niere ev a HASEL ratterons k io fiate ~ La ughearred u ilsi ce Sema asess laris pe ASTEE osadev u itwhli k cessie sapero itle pa mete at was O weheng sa les li at omnoha ionos verei sa a ri tirenafo fi theec ng romoutsta be ouwa chhaai tercomatintiear P ntee se astwe k oner wawila ugh leser u paunwh ai lila e. OUUTLI si es latentica o Comicaave, ort settr ssch wa allhououtday sta str antwilone niesecad p tadiof us... sonconsan ee Omeevesti artsomhouderproion es Day ilman mo ort andickut! M E sanillman ntiundcom e thstwa rimo acchriec O he consetsta k.  In loek cech e tr iouantprehou anyardlat.  La tetrol ailes tin com hatortstaven i ithrutnot thela sine lar A lar moetetieis ast hoalet cece ourpl p vorti macapr'caek Ndevma urut.  Me p ri oreoulhou as ast we ur whadac linichome Po ent encncewhi thali haonwidi ca for oune ck antha Waswhitha pe ugh butwa p tedoulreanot isan and neer'pesa lat meet hondal sanproconest u dimoekhi i pl ill n ieos ilutse Ac roplckur eiivth sipr NOMAIV ntisetica notureive nti ven elre acli chtr reast but at ac i nti be!  Li wheete midi anund yinwernce monc liol praihickha i ng ent p inebutare.  Anyoveast ch seer tedtheoerlat ble wiiv dayleslatven ha aindereaurut itacta atetpl te trilfiiv polat venamered ittho ncat ant el lesencconnde ionsontin roceofpeel ee tein'meie taioomrili ri ver?  Inbe Nt a ch settinearure, i onsoutresfor pela thoamewer.. ngta m rutredevethe.  Li N OLUL arlo.. Ughdintedrea.  E forni si rutenctio vor i ndnterme ss A hatic ar for lo eiliplou art." nt ILATUTAI]

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[Language unknown:  "I ecislopoen ennami hesi o Oncaet Iveoutwer, she esswerithsti k ersavetic. E urhaiv mi sta omcon oventeome k onpr int o whofitutlo ngasou, wa fill icawhihis arivha oun andad eteradas vorounrom strstring. Andle eenourhasone a holo is out ncepa dayme earthoven k nelaut. Pa chelnd k onwa." u Onesheverher]

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This message was last updated by the GM at 03:36, Tue 04 Jan 2022.

OOC:assuming we can hear what is being reported.

"So, we are going deep towards a trap..." Goliat was acting different. More serious than earlier. All business. "I can already feel we are close to a nexus. The magical energy is more focused here." He opened his magical senses to the world around, looking for any mayor energy source or fluctuation, a far shot this close to that place, but one never knew. "I can use astral projection. Get there and get back. Only for like 10 minutes tops."

OOC: Will only do it if there is no objection.

Bellissima listened to the radio chatter between JUSTICAR and Crusader and unfortunately their hands were forced by the Navy pushing the time.  It would have been nice to observe the volcano base more before launching an attack.  But they longer they waited, the more out of date their information was going to get.  It sounded like the scout mission drew very little attention to itself so the FORCE base might not even be aware that it was in danger.  Fortunately they were going in with the mindset that they might be walking into a trap, which was a good way to counter the trap, since traps depended on surprise.

Right now, was the waiting game.  Once they got to their jump off point, they had to wait for the signal from Havoc team.

She looked over at Goliat curiously, "Goliat, do you have a limit on how many spells you can cast?"  She was still seeking information about her teammates so that she knew what to expect from them.

Turning toward the big man with them, "Maharaja, you said you can use chi energy, what are your limits?"

Listening to the radio and then Bellissima and Goliat she nodded.

"Some undetected recon would be helpful, but only, as Bellissima says, if you have the power spare to you.  We should have a bit of time till the Havoc team gets the distraction started."

She booted up the radar detection sensors on the suit, wanting a warning if someone took and active lock on them.

"Going to need some good piloting to get us through that choke point into the bay and then under the water fall Cox.  I'm confident that you're up for that."

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 4):

"I'm not sure how you mean.  There are many things I can do with chi energy.  I can use it to heal myself.  I can use it to make myself stronger and more resistant to certain attacks.  I can unleash a blast of my life force in the form of heat and push it out to about 40 feet.  Is that the kind of limitations you were looking for?"

"We're under orders to avoid contact. To those ends, we'll be dropping you at the cove's inlet just north of the quay. There's a small beach at that point."

The coxswain's assistant is sending a radio message, and is heard to say something about "brief" and "destination".

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 4):

"Mmhh, well if I pace myself 18 blast or 9 miscellaneous spells, but we will be on a ley line and a nexus point. There will be enough prana floating around that I could keep going all day. A frown appeared on his face. "I can turn us invulnerable to the energy, but without a fast way to leave the radioactive zone and a way to cleanse us it would be useless... if we survive the explosion that is."

"Even if it ruined my thrusters I'd do everything in my power to get us out here and to a place where you could get sorted." Lite Star commented with a deep earnestness.  Looking over to the Naval crew men she shook her head.

"Some how I should have expected that."

"I can go hard combat for about 10 mins, after that I will be limited and mainly depending on my martial arts training," she informed the Strike team.  "I plan on husbanding my resources carefully to extend my psychic abilities as long as possible." She explained to Maharaja nodding when Goliat offered up his limits.

Bellissima frowned at the Coxswain's statement about dropping them off on the beach outside of the cove. Another unexpected change to their plans, they had planned on taking the Zodiac right through the waterfall into the hidden port.  She would rather just have Lite Star drive the zodiac then have them dropped off outside of the waterfall.

Turning toward Lite Star, nodding in acknowledgement of the armored heroine's statement at what lengths she would go to save everyone. "Yeah, we should have.  That is going to change our timing a bit.  I take it that means we will be swimming through the waterfall?"  She asked  about how to handle this latest change of plans.  They hadn't even encountered the enemy yet. "I can levitate Maharaja and Goliat through the waterfall if needed," the brunette heroine shrugged, "Heck I could grab onto Lite Star's suit and focus on levitating the other two while Lite Star provides the propulsion through the waterfall and to the port."

"As I said, we're under orders to avoid contact. If there was some sort of camouflage that would allow us to slip you into that cave without being noticed, well, presiding command officers are allowed to modify routes and destinations, within reason."
The coxswain then nods towards his assistant, who is apparently communicating with someone.

Bellissima nodded over to Goliat, "Our friend can turn the zodiac invisible when we get to the entrance of the islet for several minutes, that should give you time to get us in and yourselves back out."

"Mmhh. I can also fly you or more up there if the needs arise. I can also bench-press a couple of tons so no need to worry. I plan be a proud representative of the strike team. " He looked around at the military personal and wondered not for the first time if all the information they got was because there was more going on.

Lite Star waits for the reply from the cox with regards to in the invisibility would let them actually carry out the agreed plan.  Of course failing that she could throw the pair over board and just take the boat in herself.  The sabotaging of the mission was getting ridiculous.  And it was really starting to support Justicar's paranoia.

"Invisible? Ok."
"Second, run silent in the cove. We'll make for the cave."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 15:29, Sat 08 Jan 2022.

At the cove entrance, the already quiet engine on the outboard motor becomes completely silent at some manipulation by the assistant coxswain. [Private to Goliat: Oddly enough, the very center of the nexus is the cave. In fact, you can be certain the waterfall isn't technological in nature once you reach the cove. Incidentally, this expands the utility of the invisibility superior spell to a point that we can ignore the numbers. You're character is strong enough to grab the zodiac and lift it, then cast the spell so that it covers everyone. The spell does indicate "anything he is wearing or carrying". Besides, the twenty PPE that the spell costs is exactly the amount of free PPE available each melee round.]
Goliat has no trouble cloaking the zodiac with invisibility, and his spell further muffles the already reduced sound of the boat. The waterfall even seems to flow around the boat rather than splashing on it. Inside the cave is just as it was described by the original infiltration. There are four men, apparently security guards, stationed in the lounge. Two of them occasionally walk the perimeter of the area, together.




In reference to psionics:

The waterfall IS the center of the nexus. The entire island is within one mile of the nexus point; the entire complex is within one half mile of the nexus point.

Mae Ha Rga gets into position to leap from the boat.
Whispering to Bellissima, "You take the one on the left.  I'll take the one on the right very quietly and then hide them behind boxes, no?"

Bellissima whispers back to Maharaja, "Do you have a ranged attack?  I can reach out about 200 feet." At a rough estimation, from the edge of the dock to the lounge seemed to be roughly 100 feet.  There were stacks of boxes for cover, but overall the dock was a very open area.

They are still on the Zodiac approaching the dock quietly under Goliat's spell. Pausing in thought she turned toward Goliat and asked quietly, "If we leave the zodiac, do we lose the invisibility?"  She doesn't know how his spells work, maybe you only have to be close to Goliat during the cast and afterwards it is possible to spread out.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 18):

"I have some shuriken that I can throw just over 100 feet if I put all my effort into it."

"Go with what ever silent take downs you have.  The deeper we can get without tripping an alarm the better.  But we are going to get noticed at some point.  Once the roving patrol is down we go and deal with the ones in the lounge."

Lite Star crouches ready to leap onto the side of the dock when Bellissima and Maharaja have done their work.

Bellissima nodded as Lite Star green lighted the attack.  She looked over at Maharaja, "I will take the farther guy, you take the closer one, on 3." She focused her psychic powers, opening herself up to hear other people's thoughts, focusing on the guards even though they are out of range at the moment. As soon as they are within 100 feet of the closer guard, Bellissima started the count down, "1..2...3!" Then she reached out with her telekinetic powers and grabbing the furthest patrolling guard and slammed his head into the ground.

As she was slamming the guard's head into the ground, she realized she was stronger within the nexus point as she found she could hear the thoughts of the guard closest to them.  She also internally flinched as she realized she slammed the guard's head into the ground harder than she expected. "Ooops."


[Private to GM: 25 points for subduing guard and RPing it]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:07, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

message
[Language unknown: "Ortsanove eiwaro, strforman aceve ournteect iohoit, werlatkor ovenceman ovesanart. Ousntimanred e ERE. Wiad hathatoul po?"]

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 21):

On '3' Mae Ha Rga bursts from hiding and runs full speed at the other guard and gets him in a sleeper hold.  Holding his limp body in front of him he casually backs away to the nearest stack of boxes and hides behind them with the unconscious guard.

Rolled 2 + 7 to attack.  I assume I would need to roll for Prowl as well:  rolled 79% / 30%

(Sorry guys.  My dice are usually better behaved when company is over.)

[Private to GM: 25 points for skill use, 25 points for subduing guard and RPing it]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:10, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

JUSTICAR
[Private to group LESPradio: +"Crusader, its yours! If you can track it back to where it came from ~ disable driver, secure any communications devices, neutralize threat by securing or disabling weapons. Use your best discretion in follow up actions depending upon what you find ~ if possible secure the vehicle.  We will continue toward the Shack Objective."+]

Crusader
[Language unknown:  "Rea Ilmapeer. Ntbeouro EAR ercemeivst llno?"]

Chimp Man Z
[Private to group LESPradio: I'm on it.  we want them to know we are here anyway,]

JUSTICAR
[Private to group LESPradio: +"Patriot, linking my audio-sampling telemetry with your cyber-hearing. Triangulate with my sensors the vehicle's vector and potential number.  Can you confirm it is only one vehicle?"+]
[Private to group LESPradio: +"We should stick with the objectives CMZ...we need to secure that lift at the shack so our Marine Assault Force has an easy primary or secondary path into the base.  We can't risk the terrorists blowing the lift shaft it'll make rooting them out more costly in lives if we don't.  Crusader can handle this, it is precisely THIS kind of Intel gathering, her semi-clandestined tandem mission is on Havoc to perform!
Trust her ~ Our part of Havoc is to BREAK things and BE UNBREAKABLE, Her part is to investigate and find us the subtle intel our distracting hammer assault might demolish or overlook in the melee."+]

Patriot
[Language unknown: "Iv ere, Wa ere k condinall ughvensta. Ughio isinnc butal ilhong t ec ainch, llpaes minaarli ro lesdinome ai me anone sonconres. N ulushe undsomvorher e k t ofurer resconfor."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:19, Sat 15 Jan 2022.

To no one's surprise, Goliat's invisibility holds till an attack is made. Bellissima slams down the guard, who lays still bleeding from a head wound. The Maharaja takes the other roving guard from behind, and promptly lays the limp body on the hard, cold concrete of the installation. The noise made was negligible and the other two guards are unaware that anyone is there.
The zodiac drops off Goliat and Lite Star before quietly exiting the cave, still protected by the invisibility.

Bellissima turned toward Lite Star and telepathically sent to her, "Reading their minds, checking alert status of base."    She quietly moved into range of the guards in the lounge room, staying and hidden and quiet as possible, but accidentally making noise as she leaned against a stack of boxes that weren't as full as she thought they were.  She managed to keep the boxes from falling to the floor with a quick grab with her telekinesis.

Then she focused her telepathy on the closest guard to see what was going through his surface thoughts.





[Private to GM: 25 experience points for skill use]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

With a slight nod Lite Star agreed, moving to cover also and waiting to get the reply from the psychic.  The antenna on the helmet twitched a little as they scanned around with their enhanced audio pick up and sensory cameras, looking for anything amiss and covering all angles, including above them in the rafters of the dock area.

Bellissima and The Maharaja have become visible (as they attacked). Goliat and Lite Star remain unseeable. In addition, those still under the spell remain quieter than those no longer subject to its benefits.
[Private to Goliat: Just a reminder, you are at a ley line nexus which gives an extra ten PPE per melee round to use for casting. The cost of spells is halved and duration is doubled. That means you can turn two people per melee round invisible, and they will remain so for twenty-four melee rounds, at no PPE cost to you. Casting the spell isn't an act of aggression and will, therefore, not end the caster's invisibility.]

Bellissima projected into Lite Star's mind, "Nothing useful coming out of these guys brains, do you want me and Maharaja to take them out since we have already broken our invisibility?"  The brunette was judging if there was any furniture she could pick up and slam into the guards, but decided it would be better to just attack directly again.

Concentrating and hoping Bellissima could receive the message, having no idea how it worked.

"Go ahead.  We'll move up to the entrance to the rail system and keep an eye there, make sure it isn't shut off."

Gesturing for Goliat to join her, Lite Star moved forwards across the dock to the monorail entrance.

Bellissima nodded at Lite Star in acknowledgement of receiving her thoughts, the psionic heroine turned toward Maharaja and telepathically sent, "Lets take down the guards in the lounge, same plan as before?" She suggested as she moved stealthily, accidentally kicking the corner of a box and nearly knocking it over.  Hissing as she held back a cry of pain at stubbing her toe she continued to move where she could see the farthest guard and still have cover.  She checked to see that Maharaja was ready, she telepathically counted down, " 1, 2, 3!"  As soon as she finished sending 3, she reached out with her telekinesis and grabbed her target and slammed him into the floor.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 31):

(Not sure if the door to the lounge is closed or not or if there are windows.)

He will run full speed for 20 ft. and take a flying leap kick at the other guard or crash through the door which in effect would probably also hit the guard anyways.

Rolled:  6 + 7 = 13 to strike, for damage 2, 6, 6, 2 + 14 = 30

The lounge door was propped open (with what appears to be a prosthetic foot). The other two guards are quickly subdued.


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:02, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

The tram station is unattended. There is a single car at the station. The tram car runs on obvious rails. It is teardrop-shaped with a narrow trailing edge. There is a button at the front of the car marked canopy. The canopy is tinted, and the lighting is such that the interior of the car can't be seen. The car is about fourteen feet long and eight feet wide.  When the canopy button is pressed, the plexiglass canopy moves up and back. There are three benches inside the car. The middle bench is split by a small rectangular console with two buttons, situated towards either end of the car. There is a label between the buttons that reads travel.
There is no one here, and it is quiet.

With the guards dealt with Lite Star nods to her fellows.

"Well done.  Tram looks clear, with the opaque canopy that would hide us from view for anyone passing so we could use it.  Alternative we could go on foot, but that would take longer.  See anything of note in the guard room?"

SHe made her way to the tram car and peered up the rail line with her enhanced vision.

"This group does look organized, if a bit lazy for sentinels. Probably spend a lot of time without nothing to fight against." He commented as he floated around the tram car. Taking his time as he applied the invisibility spell once again on Little Star and himself. After that he made his way to Bellissima and Maharaja casting again. Only pausing to keep drawing prana(PPE) to cast the spell.

He whipped his tail around restless. "Lets keep going. My Spell keeps people from hearing us. You can scream all you want and nobody will find us. If the need arise I can bring up a barrier before we can unleash our fury on them."

For reference, here is repeated the original layout of the tram system as discovered by the original infiltration team:

1. Boat dock behind waterfall
2. large underground complex
3. elevator entrance
4. plane hangar in cave

Notice that in one direction is the underground installation that you intend to infiltrate and in the other is the underground installation targeted by the other team.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:57, Sat 05 Feb 2022.

Bellissima nodded at Lite Star, "Right, I will check."  She uses her TK to float all the guards into the guard room where they can be quickly tied up with zip ties as she searches them for a radio so they could listen in on what the FORCE guards are doing. She will also do a quick search for anything important information or sets of keys.


After she is finished searching the guard room, she joins Lite Star and the others at the tram, "Thanks Goliat," as the alien turns her back invisible.  She can still tell where, in general, everyone was with her telepathy, sensing their minds.

"I vote for the tram, speed is probably our most important asset at the moment," the tall brunette heroine votes.

There is nothing more to be found in the lounge area.
As they are deciding what to do, a tram car (identical to the one at their location) pulls up from the direction of the elevator shaft in the center of the island. It stops, and the canopy opens. The man sitting on the tram car's center bench takes an impatient look around. Seeing nobody, he pulls his cell phone as he begins to exit the car. Before he has taken two steps on the tram station landing, he has stopped and is speaking into his phone.
[Language unknown: "K iveectcontic itlete andwi eauos a a acpeat ro oushe. Comni isen'ntil m wh ieons. Of ulndla staswe ndweha tinasthou poekes usll'sadiol arsttr plbeevan."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:30, Sun 06 Feb 2022.

Mae Ha Rga immediately goes for the knock-out with his bo staff.

Strike:  7 + 9 = 16
Damage:  6,3 + 14 = 23

Invisible and silent till the last second, it is easy for The Maharajah to strike the nerve cluster at the base of the man's neck. As he crumples to the concrete, there is a clatter that exposes the automatic pistols in holsters on both sides of his torso.

Lite Star reaches and scoops up the cell quickly, holding it up to an audio receptor to listen to anything on the other end, while queuing up some sound files; the clatter of a phone on the floor, a skidding sound and then the plop of it hitting water followed by static.  Playing the sound stream she then hits the off button.  Hoping the rouse will make the person on the other end thing the cell was dropped and fell in the water.

"Right, speed is good, lets get going then, nice work there."

Swiftly she hops onto the tram waiting for the others before setting them on their way to the station at the 'large underground complex'.

After aplaying the The invisibility spell on Maharaha again he made his way to the top of the tram. "Will stay on top. Good cover but I like to stay on the move."

Bellissima quickly entered the tram with the others as she checked the radios to see what was being said over the radios. Once they were on the way, she would stay alert.  She hoped there was room for someone riding the top of the car through the tunnels, but there probably should be.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 45):

Mae Ha Rga also climbs into the tram hoping there's enough room in there so it doesn't feel like a clown car.

The tram car requires the canopy to be closed before it will move. There is likely to be room between the canopy and the tunnel ceiling for Goliat to ride the car on the outside. Communications between the outside man and those inside the tram car (which is large enough to fit six comfortably, or eight with a squeeze) will be difficult.
[Private to Lite Star: There is no external radio chatter, of ANY sort.][Private to Bellissima: You caught a vague notion, in the gunman's thoughts prior to unconsciousness, that his mission is to damage the Church of the Divine Harmony, but couldn't find a target.]

"Wait," Bellissima suddenly says as she turns back to the gunman that Maharaja was choking unconscious, "He is here to stop the Church of Divine Harmony!" She moved up to check to see if they could wake the gunman, after moving his pistols out of easy reach.    "I caught the thought going through his head just as he was going unconscious." She told the others as she examined the man.

She will make sure that everyone is ready before she tried to revive him to consciousness.



[Private to GM: 25 experience points for skill use, please update your sheet]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:05, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 48):

Mae Ha Rga cradles the man as he picks him up.
"Examine him in here.  We need to stay on mission."
He climbs into the tram and gently lays the man on a bench seat.

Glancing into the HUD Lite Star did a sweep of radio channels to check to see if it was them being underground that was blocking transmissions.  Looking over to Maharaja and Bellissima she nods.

"Yes, see if you can get him to come round then.  Good catch, I'd like to know if there is another team here doing the same, and who sent them.  I have the horrible suspicion that there are several groups here trying to infiltrate the place, and the church have already left leaving just a bait team in place having cleared out any evidence of what they are doing.  They want the various groups to take each other out while trying to get into this place."

"That's... worrying." That was so wrong on so many levels. "CeCi. is going to step on many toes today. Yes, lets take him with us and hope his plan can adapt."

The man's pistols, a pair of HK VP70's, are in immaculate condition. He has six passports, and other identification, on him. Of the six names used on the passports, two have the given name of "Kurt", the other four have different given names. Two have the surname "Metz", the other four have different surnames. Three have the particle "Von" as part of the surname, technically one of the two with "Metz" is "Von Metz". Three have a middle name, in two occasions "Vaughn" though neither of these also have the "Von" particle in the surname. The newest passport appears to be for "Kurt Von Metz". The oldest passport originates in Hong Kong, and indicates the name of "John Smith".
[Private to Bellissima: the man wakes during your examination, but hides it perfectly from all save your psychic senses]

Bellissima suddenly stopped checking the man out and sat back on her feet, placing her hands on her knees.  She glanced over at Lite Star as she sent a telepathic message to her, "He is awake and pretending to be out."  Ready to parry any attack that might come at her as she announced calmly, "You can stop pretending to be unconscious now."

She paid attention to his thoughts as she talked to him for any advanced warning of an attack, knowing the others around her would be ready to back her up.

Without further ado, the man opens his eyes. When no violence is offered, he sits up and addresses Bellissima. With an accent that can only be described as 'brutally German', he says, "you must be ver gut at noticing as I ver gut at hiding awake."
[Private to Bellissima: his thoughts are, of course, in German [Language unknown: tio ecneca te lo ll ullo T k, ssstis has er erri om poshe ure Kinkaid nt]]

Lite Star moves to keep her sensors on the tunnel the tram moves in.  Letting Bellissima handle the questioning of their new friend, hoping they turned out to be an ally.

"Lets try and make this quick please.  I don't think anyone has time for word games."

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 54):

Mae Ha Rga kow tows with his head to the floor.
"I humbly ask forgiveness for knocking you unconscious.  I am a worthless scrap of trash left for dogs to chew on.  Please beat me as my punishment."

Maharaja's words made him think he might need a shrink. Well, it was another thing to work later. For the moment Goliat decided to wait for the others to end here.

Bellissima tilted her head to the side and shrugged her shoulders, "There are certain biological functions that you can't control," she explained away her ability to tell that the gunman had been faking unconsciousness.  "Although the more important question is, why are you here?"  She paused for a moment as she considered the man in front of her. "I will tell you that we are here to shut down this base."  She didn't believe that was too much to reveal at the moment and moved the conversation in the right way.  She also wasn't revealing that they were working with the Havoc team and the US Navy.

She was picking up thought from the man, but it was in german, hopefully she would be able to catch him translating from german to english and most people think in whatever language they are using.

"Ach. Englisch. Meine nicht gut. I haffe peen tasked vith asking Heronomous Kinkaid gueszions of Hinderest to mein Hembloyers. Arh ! He isn't here, zo I vas leaffing. Vy are vu schutding dovn your paze?"

[Private to Bellissima: he was unable to make sense of your explanation for recognizing his awareness, and as he speaks, he is thinking 'I have been tasked with asking Heronomous Kinkaid questions of interest to my employers. He isn't here, so I was leaving. Why are you shutting down your base?', so he didn't completely understand what you said about the base]

Lite Star glances over at the downed man, a quick replay of his words and then she spoke up.

"This isn't our place.  Who did you manage to talk to?  Anyone that seemed to be in charge?  And who is your employer, private or governmental?"

Who would have thought that watching British eighties sitcoms would help translate bad English spoken by a native German speaker, points for 'Allo, 'Allo.

"Is it about people going missing and joining cults?"

Good yes or no questions, easy to read in the mind she figures.

Bellissima tilted her head the other direction and gestures back toward what Lite Star.  She was ignoring Maharaja's outburst because that was something to deal with later.  Taking the man out hadn't been a mistake, even if he turned out to be an ally and she wasn't really sure about that yet.

"This is a FORCE base and we work with the US authorities, Mr von Metz." She informed the man calmly as she kept her focus on his mind, it was easier to understand his thoughts then his actual words. "But this leads me to asking how you got in the base?  Who is Heronomous KinKaid?"  She added to the questions that Lite Star was asking.

Now that it was turning to be more an interrogatory than anything else. Muttering a few words he felt the spell take hold, it made him feel more than ready. Dropping the invisibility spell he appeared as he sat on one of the tram seats. Only his face could be seen behind the helmet face plate. But that was Ok, as he wasn't looking at the man. Well, besides his horns.

"I think I can be of help." Intoned Goliat "I can speak german. Allow me to translate." He proceeded to translate Lite star and Bellissima's questions.

OOC:
Armor of Ithan. 10 melees A.R. 18, 110 SDC.

Rubbing his eyes, Kurt blinks rapidly, and then responds to Goliat,
[Language unknown: "Earanyinereaeen Houichrat p res prulce o ich Llchom ch Pellpr Reaingame. N anywerwheera oueen ri ionortencave ho tioin t us esill fiiv loaire m cest ssri iolich pe thoinehatave iloftori ntiad. Le heinth onsnt iou, sheol con n u eellatte we ivder te. Erael ughearardive stlaic to ieicwi os ma teratiith poul een eewi ceieivos anmith, Te ulec ll."
"Tha Me poet ntecta ngmo acon, Ta thheosme hi tin thindeate he in traionsti io ckno Ingresare Eshata, al beni ear she witntiandwer ho pa, i les lolohi. Even rea sheersthe beer ar, a N en entbuteau."]
After a slight pause, he continues [Language unknown: "Utis foone maic hi etbut witlartha arewitthu. U ess of, ivurai A saeton ck le, setughthe A ne ureoveprethi ivil. Alelfipr ut pa e, p ndout isofer ol m eieen ll omeainted. Arestiderill as hi. A mo beelli io m era pe."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:04, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

The tram car that Von Metz arrived in suddenly reverses out of the station and zips off. Some might recall the single button on the platform labeled "CALL". On the other hand, this suggests someone is coming to this platform.

Bellissima wasn't able to pick up any thoughts from Karl with him speaking in german, the man's thoughts no longer translating to english as he speaks his native language.  She was looking around as they waited for Goliat to translate what the man had said.  Only for the car that Karl had arrived on, going speeding toward the volcano.

"We are going to get company soon.  We should either start moving now or wait to ambush them here," the brunette announced. "We should probably let them go, our mission is to get to the control room."  That was as much as she was willing to say in front of Karl until they have figured out whether he is an ally, neutral or enemy.  She was still listening to Karl's  thoughts just in case she catches another thought.




[7 blank lines suppressed]

SSOGM:

The tram car that Von Metz arrived in suddenly reverses out of the station and zips off. Some might recall the single button on the platform labeled "CALL". On the other hand, this suggests someone is coming to this platform.

quote:

Wait??  I thought we had gotten onto the tram???

This message was last edited by the player at 01:24, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

There were two tram cars.

Goliat frowned at the other car. Just as she said, they were about to have company. He still refused to look at them as he spoke. "What do we do? Stay or move?" He at the end spoke in French at Bellissima.
[Language unknown: "P und mefi a meatal t m allvirvor oson."]

With an internal sigh Lite Star gestures to the remaining tram car.

"We don't have time to feel around for cooperation.  We secure him behind some boxes and then we get moving.  Your right we have an objective, so we leave him safe and out of the way as he's not being of any benefit to us."

Kurt gives Lite Star a somewhat patronizing glance and says, "zo, vu vill zecure me? As ein faffor to me, bleaze uze one of mein bisdols und aim for mein head. Zee next beople zat find me von't pe zat gentle."

[Private to Bellissima: Again, he tries to speak English, saying "So, you will secure me? As a favor to me, please use one of my pistols and aim for my head. The next people that find me won't be that gentle."]

Bellissima frowned as she heard Karl, in two ways, say that he was an enemy of FORCE.  Goliat got an answer from the man, but hasn't shared what he learned with the others and then spoke in a foreign language to her.  She wasn't sure, but she turned her focus to him, reading Goliat's surface thoughts.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to leave him tied up, Lite Star.  either let him go or bring him with us?" She expressed her opinion of what to do with Karl.  She looked over at Goliat, "What did he tell you?"  She inquired curiously.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:43, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

He blinked a moment at her. "Sorry, lost my self a moment." With that he started to recount.

"That Heronomous Kinkaid is the leader of the Church of Divine Harmony. His employers have lost employees and want him to find out whether or not the church is actively opposing them. He traced him here, and came in his sailboat to ask him. The perimeter guards have cards on a lanyard that open the security doors, he took one."
"Once inside the base, he inquired of the people as to where to find Father Kinkaid, no one had any knowledge of him, or the church. We caught him as he was leaving."
Then he added how he saw someone named Phantasma... Any idea how he is?"

Kurt looks down the track, towards the direction he came from, somewhat nervously.
[Private to Bellissima; Lite Star: Franz Undorf, Ph.D. was, originally, a respected German physicist. After a research accident, he became Germany's foremost authority on Interdimensional Theories in Physics, and authored ground-breaking papers in biophysics, geophysics, and cosmology. The accident, apparently, also endowed him with some control over light which he used for the public good. He continued to change, however, and began to describe himself as 'ubermensch'. Eventually, he began to take what he wanted and, famously, claimed the 'human law no longer applies to me'. The German media nicknamed him "Phantasma", as he showed the capability of producing constructs, either ephemeral or solid. He is currently Germany's most wanted criminal and high on Interpol lists, as well.
Bellissima would know of him as an internationally recognized biophysicist gone bad, Lite Star would know of him as an internationally recognized supervillain. Goliat and The Maharajah are not worldly enough to know who he is.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:36, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

"Right.  Get him on board and lets get going before people turn up.  If he's looking for people then we might find them in passing.  Phantasma is a meta that is able to project constructs of normal and hard light.  He once was a top scientist but after an accident things went bad over time and he's know a wanted criminal."

Lite Star handed Karl back his phone, still unsure if there was any cell or radio signal when in the base.

"That's worrying... Well, we can work around that." Doing a flourish he star applying invisibility to the others, touching and slightly lifting Little Star and Bellissima the invisibility spell was applied on them and they vanished. "Now don't worry, they wont be able to see us in a moment." He told their guest as he made his way to him and Maharaja. "Unfortunately we are a lot, so you will have to stay close to me." He told him as he grabbed the man's belt with his tail, making sure no to make him fill like he was too close. With that they vanished too.

Speaking plaintively, Kurt says, "If vu von't let me leaffe, could I haffe mein bisdols, bleaze? I vouldn't vant to ko any furzer Hunarmed."

[Private to Bellissima: He's thinking "If you won't let me leave, could I have my pistols, please? I wouldn't want to go any further unarmed."]

Bellissima made sure that she had the keycards from the guards she searched earlier. Sounded like they will be useful in the near future if they wanted to open doors. After she was made invisible, she moved over and picked up Karl's pistols, but kept them on herself for the time being. She was pretty sure that he had other weapons on him, they hadn't done a thorough search of him while he was unconscious.

She entered the car behind Lite Star as she moved toward the front of the car.  Telepathically she sent to Lite Star, "I have his pistols, if it is decided to give them back to him."  She would continue to keep a mental watch over him until they got in range of the next platform, which she would scan as soon as it got in range. "I am on board and ready to go, Lite Star," she announced verbally since everyone was invisible at this point.

She was unsure on how to handle Karl, they were in a catch 22 situation.  They didn't have enough info to trust that he was an ally.  His answers didn't clear up whether he would help them or not.  They didn't know who his employers were and it seemed he was a mercenary, so his employers motives weren't his most likely.  And just because he didn't work for FORCE or the church didn't make him an ally.  As far as she could tell, Karl had no stake in stopping FORCE.

She gave it equal odds that Karl would abandon them in a fight, help them fight, betray them to FORCE to save his own skin. Leaving him behind was as bad as taking him with them.  Although she leaned toward letting him go on his own way.  It was doubtful that he had useful information either.

Radio

JUSTICAR - [Private to group LESPradio: +"Strike Team. Havoc has secured Shack/Lift.  Warning there is evidence of a 'third-party' acting toward unknown goals on the island. Two-ATV patrol mercenaries found dead, head shots, south of our shack/lift possition.  Suggests precision expert assassin work. Be on Guard."+]

A short time later
JUSTICAR - [Private to group LESPradio: +"Justicar on-route to VTOL Aircraft hanger with Crusader to secure vehicle from enemy use.  CMZ and Patriot entering base at elevator lift.  Good hunting Team."+]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:41, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

As soon as everyone is invisible, and on the tram car, the second tram car returns. The canopy opens and a ragtag group of eight armed men exit. In a combination of English and Spanish, they joke about being paid for a short shift and wondering why so many of their number are missing this time. Some of them hope they don't get sea-sick again on the ride back, complaining that the boat goes too fast for them to adjust. For anyone that takes note, the missing coworkers are:

• Nick
• George
• Tony
• Esteban
• Christopher
• Matthew
• Jorge
• Luiz

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:04, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

Kurt takes his phone, sighs, and puts it in a pocket. As soon as the armed men have traipsed into the dock area, he says, [Language unknown: "tin for nesala ntder ic redfo preni dintheres ta. Ei ere ac ce latndeure, verasteve e fi lafi. Ng pech iouoneionoustho ingha houallentble osntce, stami po wi evebutkor ereproint. Lat ecomal terom ulivncul halion ca m aitrai. I n toevlein haniivof ourshedin p forsticoncon maasurpe."]

Frowning at his words Goliat activated his radio and conveyed his words to the team.

[Private to group LESPradio: "I got info, according to a source there is only cellphone signal because of a boat. Once it leaves there will be no signal. Also the mercenaries are returning early could be because the people here are under attack."]
Finished his piece he turns to Kurt and applied a an armor spell to him. [Private to group German: "You will be fine as long as you don't get hit directly by a LAW."]

[Private to group LESPradio: "Bellessa, I will put a shield on you and master Maharaha too, please place your hands on the third seat."]
After placing the shield on both of them. [Private to group LESPradio: "Also put those guns on the seat please. If things get rough we might need an extra hand."] He knew he was being a little unreasonable. But things where getting out of hand already. No plan survives contact with the enemy indeed.

After Goliat placed the shield on her, she sent a quick, "Thanks," to the alien.  At Goliat's request that she place the pistols on the seat, she telepathically sent to him, "I know where he is with my telepathy.  If needed I will get his weapons to him."  She still didn't have a reason to trust Mr von Metz.  Just because he was an enemy of FORCE, didn't mean he was an ally of theirs.

Bellissima just shook her head at the terrible security here.  Havoc team was making a mash of patrols, and these yahoos were walking around like they were on their way to brunch. She shouldn't complain, it was to their benefit.  But any minute now even these yahoos were going to find the knocked out guards in the break room.  There best bet was probably to just go and leave these guys alone here with a warning to Havoc Team that they were here.

She telepathically scanned the guards quickly before they left, just in case they thought of something useful.

The tram car will seat six, eight in a squeeze. It's uncertain who presses the button, but the car begins to move down the line, carrying the heroes deeper into the complex.
[Private to Bellissima: The soldiers are happy that they were told to leave early, and don't look in the lounge. All of them are concentrating on getting to the boat and going below decks to stay out of the way of Mr. Magnum. To a man they fear him even more than the robot and man-chimp assaulting the elevator.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:13, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

[Language unknown: "Ofwapa"] Goliat was answering Bellissima when the cart started to move. [Language unknown: "Ha adil tinwa hemali esonal allatient ee eiad unro beme oneta olfiad po pltha t er pe."]

Lite Star had been about to reach for the controls to get the tram moving into the base and continue with their mission.  Stopping as they began to move and looks about, of course she never actually needed to move her head, and a combination of motion sensor and advanced audio pick ups allowed for the position of each person there to be marked on her HUD.

"When we get to the other end we'll need to get off quickly.  It may well be the tram was called by another group of the base's staff, so we want to disembark without drawing notice to ourselves to keep that invisibility up.  Havoc seem to be moving really fast through things, and still no alarms here in the main base.  We keep on focus and move quickly.  Karl, keep up."

Kurt can, apparently, understand what was spoken. Unfortunately, he replies in his own way, [Language unknown: "Astthatio prehi dayantate mipehe compo us aveiventeiou chtona enol lesderear k witoulfor iourhoit astoreticear. Me chmi etsa'teielale ekwinc preeartra one iolluntrle, p deric esst."]

As the tram car approaches the next station, a chaotic scene unfolds in front of them. There are two groups of armed men, one appears similar to the mercenaries that went towards the hydrofoil dock. The other group are more regimented, wearing black jeans and shirts and carrying submachineguns. The two groups are arguing, possibly about who gets the tram car next. [Private to Lite Star: Oddly enough, the two groups of arguing soldiers are not making a sound.]

As the tram car left the station and travelled through the tunnels, Bellissima informed everyone, "The guards are waiting for their boss, Mr Magnum, who I am guessing is Major Harris.  And they know about CMZ and Patriot."  They were all invisible so she couldn't see their reactions to her information. "We should expect to encounter more troops or Mr Magnum at the station.  Goliat how is your invisibility against radar?"

She heard the arguments of the soldiers at the next station but was surprised that she couldn't sense their minds, "They have some kind of mental shielding or they are an illusion," she warned to the others even though it gave away to Karl that she could read minds.


This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 87):

To Bellissima, "When the tram stops and the door opens I will knock them all off their feet at once.  From there the rest of you can subdue them."

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 87):

[Language unknown: "Ermi hisoutbut artbutthu sonkortio iccaan. our ecusus. rutus ch to pelobe esti in llecio t leek e ion es. Sa e t ntehissom trad ingconill ard eaustrnot tawina int ss ersiouare ouadomce aiwiiv... Icahisica Nese, any ilsta ur to era etacla onsbutear? Anlota poha m ssus ion howari enc nt usriolic omwe latha ersstited o taie." ]

Looking ahead, Kurt squints, then sighs and says, [Language unknown: "Wi ichnd la ndeatewassta, atell ovethinti onwer ta e men e vorineoun. Prnase, N wilureeen mipo ratmo nde art thasom'anyion Intrederente ll ai. Ululmo n i renc whare prorutwas ou Me oulintiou us pawa kor rom?"]
[Private to Bellissima: He didn't understand what was said, so doesn't know you can read minds. His thoughts are in German, but the tenor of the thoughts is obvious. He thinks, "Phantasma! Nein! Nein! Nein! Nein!" and then says, "Bei so vielen Soldaten würden Sie wollen, dass ich meine Waffen habe. Ich kann sie jedoch nicht hören, was darauf hindeutet, dass Phantasma in der Nähe ist. Wäre es zu viel Mühe, wenn ich im Straßenbahnwagen bleiben würde?"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:17, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

Radio chatter
Chimp Man Z - [Private to group LESPradio: Patriot and I are heading for the dock to sink their yacht. Maybe that will wake them up.]

JUSTICAR - [Private to group LESPradio: +"Acknowledged.  Don't sink if you can Commandeer ~ CMZ. Justicar and Crusader ~ Engaging two potential hostiles guarding hanger.  Think we've found that magical component Maharajah and Goliat were proposing... one of these hostiles looks like a CTHULHU Cultist ~ Tentacle motif and all! Will keep advised."+]

The tram car continues, turning slightly and going through the station with the soldiers. As it does, the insides of the apparently insubstantial soldiers appears as bright light. It travels another hundred yards before stopping at an empty tram station. The tracks ahead of the car are torn up, and being repaired by several daleks.

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:29, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

Everyone could almost feel the frown on his voice. [Language unknown: "N ngaiad mo ad aveeenort niit ati larhisand Plrono ol esspr."]
Not wanting to let the culprit out he immediately started casting another spell. Eyes of the wolf.
ooc: 10:12, Today: Goliat rolled 83 using 1d100.  See invisible.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

"I wasn't getting any sound from the arguing soldiers, so they may be illusions like you said Bellissima."

With the stop at the empty tram station she starts to move out, glancing down towards the repair droids working on the track.

"Only radio signals I'm picking up is the other team.  I guess this is going to have to be our stop with the track broken.  I'll try and work out where we are on the layout we've got and plot a route.  Keep an eye on those robots, might be nasty surprises along with them."

Carefully Lite Star slipped out of the tram and gave the tram station a sweep with her sensors.

He doesn't move from the seat as he looks looks down the tracks, and says, [Language unknown: "Comcomall! Lat ureantine ronc, Theineons, rat ancack ver th witete ouan ncarerel rutla u... ol... i... u... iceces."]
Then he says, "could I haffe mein bisdols, bleaze?"
[Private to Bellissima: In his head, this comes out as "Daleks! Um Himmels willen, Franz, du hättest wenigstens was von 4... 3... 2... 1... morte gebrauchen können." Follower by "could I have my pistols, please?"]

Bellissima transmits over the radio,[Private to group LESPradio:  "Z and Patriot, there are several men on the yacht and they are expecting Mr Magnum soon."]

As they get off the tram, Bellissima paused and pulled the image of the map to the forefront of her mind, having perfect memory, "This is where we need to be. The radar control room is down the hallway, second door on the right." The brunette heroine was frowning as she looked at the robots, hearing Kurt's voice in her head as he also focused on the robots. "Give me a reason to trust you, Mr Metz and then you will get your pistols." She informed the man quietly.

While she did have the armor that Goliat provided her, she was ready to either attack with her TK or defend herself with her Psi-shield as she stepped lightly forward.

As he gets off the tram Mae Ha Rga will hold his bo staff out before him with both hands crosswise at about chest level and uses it to feel his way forward. This allows him to recognize whether the door jamb and walls are solid as he follows Bellissima.  He'll also keep a close eye on the daleks.  If he hears even one start to say, "EXTE..." that's as far as it gets.  He drops the staff and unwraps the manriki-gusari from his waist and goes to town on them until they are just twitching and random sparks coming off them.

[Private to The Maharaja: Don't hesitate to change this, in any way you desire. See the private messages for more information.]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

Kurt turns toward where he thinks Goliat is (he's off by about 30°) and says, [Language unknown: "A cackom sanvenhou WAIV! U din iononsera i adsom ndmi'etai arewh Se hean merewi atiavevorionsan, herundthieau os no hossadroce, ac setthoant is asin ngonng din fienc."
"Ll us sa Taart Ieday, T derhasear pawa i erprfo inssfi ounmenive ut kor in A wheiveles t ilatos."]
[Private to Bellissima: Kurt is thinking "Ich sollte IHR vertrauen! Ich habe mich um meine eigenen Angelegenheiten gekümmert, bis ich bewusstlos geschlagen, meiner Besitztümer beraubt und gezwungen wurde, mit Ihnen zu kommen.
Wenn dies New York wäre, müsste ich melden, dass ich überfallen wurde, sobald ich meinen Entführern entkommen bin."]

Nobody seems to be moving around in the passageways, but there is the slight hum of activity indicating the place isn't empty.

"I will cover you from here. We might need to secure this transport."
Having now several types of vision but still not having any luck finding this phantom and having someone distracting him was getting even to him, but he would still prevail. A few mutterings later he now could see invisible creatures. His companions included. If he had to shot a magical bolt and hit one of them instead...
Turning to look at Kurt he muttered another spell on him now.
"Well, she most be thinking things like: Are you going to attack us? Are you against us?"

OOC:
Casting:
See invisible
Words of truth on Kurt

Kurt replies without hesitation. "Gott im Himmel! I'm koing to but all mein rezources into rezuming mein escabe fia zat fast poat at zat dock. Arh ! I don't sdand ein chance Hakainst Bhandasma und I refuze to die sdubidly."
[Private to Bellissima: Kurt thinks, and says, "Gott im Himmel! I'm going to put all my resources into resuming my escape via that fast boat at that dock. I don't stand a chance against Phantasma and I refuse to die stupidly."]

Having his answers he reached his guns, grabbed his hand but didn't let go. [Private to group German: "Don't make me regret this. And stay alive. We all are going back. Okay?"]

Bellissima turned toward Lite Star and telepathically send, "If I give him his weapons back, he will leave.  I think that is an excellent idea.  One less thing to worry about." She waited for Lite Star's go ahead.



Now that they were in the base and about to possibly encounter Phantasm, she decided to take some precautions as she altered her aura to hide her psychic abilities.  Anyone who could read auras would none think she was a normal person.  She followed up by giving herself the ability to see the invisible.  Someone who controlled light probably could make themselves invisible.  The first thing that she noticed was that she could now see her teammates with zero problem.

Please indicate which, if any, of these rooms you investigate. If Kurt is given his weapons, he will holster them, salute in what he thinks is your direction (still off by several dozen degrees), and run down the tram tracks, without the tram towards the hydrofoil dock.

"Give him the damn guns and let him go.  We can't protect him if he goes but dragging around an uncooperative person is just going to hinder us is saving more lives.  Let's get too this."

Moving a little ahead of the others Lite Star moves to the entrance to the corridor.  On her HUD each member of the team is highlighted, as well as the repair drones.  The enhanced vision of the suit offering a clear view in most conditions, with an ultrasonic overlay to confirm objects and motion close by being given a visual indicator for her eyes.  A sub routine checks the area in infrared to highlight any sensory beams for alarms.

"I will take care of the rooms to the left my astral form is good enough for that." Now without Kurt they could move faster. Taking a moment to hide his body behind the walls of the cart. Before letting go a few whispers and leaving his body. Now free to go as he pleases. He made his short way to the first room before moving to the rest.

OOC:
23:45, Today: Goliat rolled 42 using 1d100.  Prowl. Hid his body.
Going to look at the rooms 2, 4 and 6. In that order.

Room 2 is spartan, similar to a single room at a motel. There is a flat screen monitor, keyboard and mouse set up on a small table. The monitor is open to some sort of document detailing the characteristics of interdimensional quantum tunneling.
Room 4 is similar to room 2, except the monitor/keyboard/mouse is replaced with a flat screen TV that isn't on.
Room 6 is similar to the first two, but the table has been replaced with a sort of shrine in the form of a shaped stone fountain festooned with oleander, rosary pea, nightshade, and water hemlock.

"Mhhh interesting..." There where a few interesting things laying around. He took a moment to gaze at the fountain, trying to place the design among the religions he knew about(From his planet or earth) That might give him some idea of what he was dealing with. He could only recognize the plants because of his spell. Lucky him he had night vision so that helped him, but nothing else.
Finally making his to Bellissima he reported his findings.


OOC:
Sense enchantment (auto)
08:20, Today: Goliat rolled 55,61,84 using 1d100,1d100,1d100.
Identify plants/fruits (70%) 55
Geomancy or Lines of Power (35%) 61
Religion (45%) 84

Just in case you decide to look:
Room 3 has a hammock hung in it, and little else.
Room 5 has a single bed with a locker at the foot of it, and a desk with a chair.
Room 7 has several sets of bunk beds, some occupied, and lockers.

OOC: Danke!!

Finding too easy to look around Goliat made another pass at the other rooms. Finding a few bunk beds with people on them made him think that things were going easy... but the lack of radar room made him pause and he returned and informed Bellissima before going back to his body.

"There are no computers on the rooms to the right. Sleeping quarters and the last one has a few people sleeping... and I will need to reapply the spells soon. But don't worry I can now see you just fine."

Give a nod to the information relayed Lite Star started to move forward.

"Ok, we move on.  We know the supposed location of the room, just need to keep eyes out till we get there.  The less resistance we have the better.  Must say having the array of abilities to bring to bare is a real eye opener, really appreciating you lot in all this."

The rubber treads of the suit dampened sound as she moved forwards with the team towards the room that had been marked as the radar control room.

Silent and invisible, the team moves on. Inside the targeted room 10, designated as the room where the island defenses are coordinated, four unarmed men in olive green uniforms watch a bank of monitors indicating radar and other systems indications and discuss the situation. One of the men is frantically clicking a mouse and talking into his headset, "we wouldn't have the authority to give them a green light. The aircraft door was opened with your card, sir, the launch was SOP."
"Yes, I'm trying every recall circuit we have. R1 and D2 had both fired recently. We haven't resolved the attack on the security patrols. Now it appears someone's at the hydrofoil dock. What are your instructions?"
To further complicate things, Sean Bean, in FULL costume as Ned Stark, comes down the hall and opens the door to room 16.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:31, Fri 11 Mar 2022.

Winter Herald corrected his bearings immediately, shut the door, and dropped into what seemed to be a near feral stance as he approached the radar room. To his knowledge, these doors were not automatic. He drew a blade and approached cautiously.

He wasn't sure who was going to answer or how. "I am designated unit Valkyrie, unit N3D-574RK. Identify yourselves!"

Radio Chatter
Justicar - [Private to group LESPradio: "Havoc & Strike, Justicar.  Mission objective failed. We were engaged by Maratukku and Spyder two meta-human mercenaries. We are uninjured but were unable to stop them from leaving in Rocket jet. Found Tram-track, continuing investigation of base, Crusader on lead.  Have reason to believe FORCE is contacting mercenary and other para-military organizations to replace personnel with Android Duplicates.  Be advised there may be another Mercenary-possible meta-human, certified-nutcase named 'Tank Gunner' possibly already replaced by an Android duplicate in Base; has a love for milspec vehicles and likely Heavy Weapons ~ be wary.  Continuing investigation."]

"You lot go in and take care of the radar-thing.  I'll stand guard out here and make sure this one doesn't cause a scene."

Although they didn't see who opened the door, only N3D-574RK is visible to them. The one clicking the mouse speaks into his headset, "it appears the rejects are leaving the workshop, one is here. Have they been activated or should this one be put down?"
After a beat or two, he speaks to the others in the control room, "we're not to interact, security is on his way."
The personnel in the room ignore everything in the hall.
[Private to Bellissima: Also, telepathy would tell you the four men in the room and the one appearing as Eddard Stark are machines, not humans.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:24, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 116):

To the team, "Go.  Get it done.  I got this."

"Security? 'Put down'?" The future Winter Herald lowered his weapon to his side as he walked in indignantly (or attempted to), the strangeness of the door opening on its own completely out of his concern, although he believed he knew where the voice was coming from. He just didn't care at the moment. Perhaps that was security? "On what grounds? I didn't choose to be defective, or to exist and understand it as my peers do not. You would destroy me simply for existing? After I came here to evacuate you from impending attack?"

His hand clutched his weapon tighter, despite its lowered position and his eyes shifted from light gray to a stony grey as his targeting systems began activating of their own accord. He was apparently programmed to understand a state known as "anger," a reaction to a perceived state of inequity. He wanted an explanation... assuming he encountered no resistance at the door.

With Maharaja taking their back and holding the doorway Lite Star moves in behind the two on the left, being unseen and unheard really helps with this sort of thing.

"I have the left two." She states over the 'Strike' teams encrypted radio net work.

Grabbing the back collars of both men in their chairs and just using the augmented strength of the suit to yank them from their consoles and down to the floor.  The fully articulated weapons pods over each shoulder on their own arms move a barrel to the sides of each of the men's heads.  Though invisible it is clear what the cold metal cylindrical ports are when placed on skin, an unspoken threat for compliance.  They were not to know that she would never, could never carry out that threat, but it was the quickest and most efficient way of getting this done without actually harming them.

As Lite Star drags two of the security men to the floor, the largest security monitor changes from displaying an image of an empty cave with some sort of catapult system in the floor to a live view of a speaking man, who seems angry.

He shouts, "defective? You're not defective, you're absolutely useless. You were to be one of my holy crusaders. You would have rose up and purged the world of those that defy my will! Now you're nothing! The damned fools that created you have been dealt with, and I WILL see you JOIN them in oblivion! FORCE order 66, target N3D-574RK."
The four fatigue-clad men are looking only at the monitor, their faces awash with an almost inhuman adulation. Even the two that Lite Star holds at weapon point are making no effort to do anything but watch the man on the screen, until he gives the last order. All four of the men on monitor duty ignore everything else and attempt to move towards N3D-574RK. The two Lite Star holds pay no attention to her, straining against their fatigues. It could be fanaticism that gives them the strength to tear through their own shirts, or it could be something else.

OOC: lets have initiative
11:01, Today: SSOGM rolled 13 using 1d20.  NPC initiative.

Bellissima frowned as she detected the 4 minds in the radar room and then saw the person walking toward them.  Although once she scanned him, she realized that it was a robot, it didn't have a mind that she could communicate with, although there was something, but she couldn't latch on to it.

As the robot opened the door, everyone overheard the men inside talking about having the robot disassembled and the robots anger at the order as it expressed its individuality.  This surprised the brunette heroine as she arched an eyebrow in surprise.  Maybe they wouldn't have to take out the robot. She watched Maharaja invisibly square up with the robot as Lite Star entered the radar room and take out two of the operators. Although they had to move fast, someone from security was on their way down to address the robot.

She followed Lite Star into the room and as Lite went left, Bellissima went right and for the operator with head phones.  She nodded at Goliat, since they could both see through the invisibility field the alien had erected and indicated which one she was going after as she projected into his head, "I got the one with headphones."   She was just about tp reach for the back of the guy's chair when the monitors lit up with the image of guy in a white suit ordering the men to attack the robot.  Fortunately Bellissima was still invisible at the moment.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 121):

Mae Ha Rga will pick up the robot at the waist turn around and set him back down out in the hall once again.
(I assume I'm probably visible now.)
"You don't need to hear that kind of toxicity.  I'm not sure who that guy on the screen is to you, but you don't seem very defective to me.  I am also about as far from an expert as you can get.  Let's wait out here while my teammates relieve those brainwashed zealots of consciousness."

Winter Herald didn't even bother fighting the waist grasp, he was too focused on the voice, even if he couldn't get a clear visual on the subject that spoke with the voice of a creator. "Reprioritizing."

He put the humanity back in his voice as his anger ran to a conclusion. "It seems we have a common foe, at least. Be careful, they may not be organic."

He dropped the shield and quickly drew a large knife from what seemed to be the underside of his right arm. He was now in a more efficient fighting technique, at least for himself. "They do not require limbs to function, though, machine or not."

He shifted his receivers to focus on any known radio frequencies his own former side used. He wouldn't need the antenna yet, so he kept that retracted. Perhaps he could get some insights.

OOC: Initiative 25 (or rolled 13 and +12)

Amplified Hearing: 360 feet (?); 5x better than a human, same as Heightened Hearing
[68%] Estimate sound distance
[58%] Estimate speed and direction of approaching sound
Nightsight, infrared, thermal, and ultraviolet visions
Micro-radar: 1 mile; Can identify up to 15 targets and simultaneously track six. Rate of travel, direction, and location are indicated.
Motion Detector: 60 feet; Registers vibrations in the air indicating movement.
Radar Detector: 4 miles; Registers radar waves to indicate radar surveillance.
[78%] Track radar emission to source
Radiation Detector: 60 feet; Registers and pinpoints radioactivity.

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 123):

He holds a hand out to try to stop the arm with the knife.
"We want to avoid dismemberment.  Unconsciousness will suffice for right now."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:09, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Hearing the man talk Goliat changed sights, confirming what they where facing before committing to his attacks. He did his best to strike both the robots to the other side of the console.


OOC:
14:54, Today: Goliat rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  initiative.
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 110/110

17:54, Today: Goliat rolled 73,70 using 10D6+40,10D6+40.
[Private to GM; Goliat: this is the damage for Supernatural P.S., this character has Superhuman P.S., both damage amounts should be 43 unless I've missed something]
17:52, Today: Goliat rolled 16,10 using 1d20+1,1d20+1.  Attack.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:29, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

As the two people in her grip stand and go for the new person, the audio sensors pick up on the ripping sounds of the tops the men were wearing.  Swiftly Lite Star retargets letting go and instead darting hands down to grab at the belts of the men, leaving herself open for attack maybe but with a harder to break hand hold she would just easily lift the two men from the floor and leave them tractionless in her hands if they didn't manage to wriggle free.

(OOC: 14:38, Today: Lite Star rolled 23 using 1d20+9.  Initiative.
Making a grab for both belts at the same time as a Simultaneous attack so will get no defense if they try and hit her back.  14:39, Today: Lite Star rolled 29,16 using d20+9,d20+9.  2x simultaneous attacks.
PS 22 equivalent to Superhuman carry 200xPS)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

The two 'men' Goliat strikes are knocked sideways, and though they stumble they do not fall. Evidence of their status as 'machine', they both receive Goliat-fist sized dents in their torso. Despite his blows, they continue to try to move past him and get to the Winter Herald. This means Goliat can hit them, again, as they pass him. They will ignore The Maharajah and the still invisible Bellissima.
The two that Lite Star holds off the ground continue to try to get to Winter Herald, hanging off the ground and moving their legs like cartoon characters.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 127):

Noticing the dent in the "man's" torso and Winter Herald's impatience, "Alright.  I suppose you can go ahead and dismember them if you want to.  Just be careful with that thing.  You can put someone's eye out."
He says with a completely straight face.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:47, Sat 19 Mar 2022.

"One generally only needs to damage a limb. Taking it off? Excessive." Winter Herald noted their ignoring of punches to center mass. "I assume you are not used to fighting beings like me. Kill communications. Target mobility and sensory systems. My design has most sensory in the head or optics. Removal of the head usually triggers shut down safety measures, but not always."

"Otherwise," He spoke as calmly prepared to trade strikes. He put his knife in a reverse grip, edge out, and prepared to patiently trade attacks, and brought the blade up. "Go easy on them. They hate me, but they are still the closest thing to family."

OOC: The plan is straightforward - two weapon parry combined with a called shot counterattack aimed at an arm.

Parry = 13:40, Today: Winter Herald rolled 21 using 1d20+9.  Parry.
    Should be 22. I forgot the WP bonus for Knife.
Hitting the arm = 13:44, Today: Winter Herald rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Called Shot Counterattack; TN 13.
    All known bonuses accounted for with this one, unfortunately.

Potential damage is unknown. I actually don't know how hard this sword hits at present. Hopefully it is not a thermonuclear warhead detonated by swinging.

Bellissima was just about to warn everyone that the soldiers were robots, when it became obvious that they were robots.  Shrugging, she took advantage of her invisibility to sneak further into the room.  She sent telepathically to Lite Star, "Get them out of the room and I will load up the virus to shut down the radar," she pulled out the drive holding the virus.  As soon as LIte Star carried her robots away from the computer terminals, she would approach and start loading up the virus.

Bellissima frowned as she was dealing with much different software architecture than she was expecting.

Receiving the still slightly message from Bellissima is that still slightly unnerving telepathic manner Lite Star moves her two struggling pieces of cargo to the door and out side.   Following the information about disabling them from Winter and seeing that they were indeed not living she conducts a simple and clinical process of disabling the bots, using the articulated weapon pods over each on her shoulders on their armatures to place a barrel at their shoulders then hips to fire a single shot at each join in an attempt to shatter them simply and with minimum fuss.

"Ok, lets clear these lot out.  Security being on route was mentioned so get ready to deal with that." Addressing Winter, "Don't really know what your deal here is, but we're here to stop these people being able to cause mass murder of civilian population.  If your willing to help out with that then your welcome to come along and we'd be happy for the help."

The man on the large monitor continues to rant.

He shouts, "Family? You're no family of ours. I gave you strength and grace to rival those costumed fools interfering with my plans. You were made to be independent, so you could join them and defeat them from within while we retained deniability. You were designed to be alone, and alone is what you'll always be."
"And you three. It appears there are four more of you, here. Rest assured they will be dealt with. Furthermore, those terminals will not permit you to shut down any of our security installations. Those are nothing but video feeds, which are easily re-routed. So come to me, forward to your destruction."
The four security droids are easily disabled, as if they were used as a distraction or delay. A wave of extremely cold air wafts down from the hallway opposite the direction the team came from. Looking in that direction shows a thick covering of ice on all surfaces, and a wall of ice blocking the hall in that direction.

[Private to Bellissima: there's no socket to use to put the virus in, there's no keyboards just palm readers]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:26, Sun 20 Mar 2022.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 132):

Mae Ha Rga will go up to the edge of the ice, crouch down close to floor, and Channel and Unleash Physical Energy at the ice wall.  Hopefully the heat will also melt a path along the floor.

rolled 3, 5, 1 + 16 = 25 damage to ice wall

Calling back to the radar room with the guy on the screen, "Hey Failure-Man, what's next?  Will you put another ineffectual obstacle in front of us?"

Winter Herald knelt next to the one he had dispatched, with its systematically damaged limbs, still trying to complete its last given task. "I am very sorry it has come to this. This is the closest to mercy I can give you until your commands change. You are too dangerous to my continued existence."

He spoke to the rest after the machines were dispatched. "Thank you all. You may call me the Winter Herald, because I bear a message. Winter is coming. It's an odd message. Perhaps it is related to the wall of ice."

He glanced at the rest of the other machines. "Since my creator has no interest in explaining why he wants me to infiltrate you from within and destroy you, maybe you can help me understand why he believes I should do this. He wishes for you to distrust me, and given my purpose, such a reaction is understandable. If you want me with you, if you want me to support your other team, or if you want me to simply leave you in peace - I have few options except to trust you."

He stared at the ice wall, seeing what he could see. "He is forcing your path. He seems impatient and eager for a confrontation. He is almost certainly in a prepared defensive position, and were it me, I would find a way to inspire him to leave it. But the call is not mine, and I do not know if my presence would be unexpected for him, or part of his plan. I am missing much data."

Herald's hands were behind his back, and his weapons were put away, as he awaited command.

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 134):

"You say you were built with a defect.  That 'defect' is called free will and that means you are a person.  Mechanical or flesh doesn't matter.  You make your own decisions.  What do you believe in?  What is the right thing to do?  No one can tell you what these things are.  Only you can decide for yourself."

Seeing as they where just in the way of getting their needed answers and the guy on the monitor just wanted to keep talking Goliat just did what he needed to do. Keep pounding them. There was no need to start casting in this situation. SO his tail sneaked around and did his best to grab one of the 'Men' while he threw another double punch to the pair.

OCC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 110/110

01:31, Today: Goliat rolled 76,80 using 10D6+40,10D6+40.  melee damage.
01:30, Today: Goliat rolled 21,9 using 1d20+1,1d20+1.  Melee attack.
01:29, Today: Goliat rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Tail (free).

Using the scrambled comms line to Bellissima, though the rest of the immediate team could of course hear it on their head sets, Lite Star commented.

"If what he says is true and this is just a dumb set up from the start we'd better get moving.  If we can't get through that ice wall then back tracking seems about our only option, back along the railroad."

Bellissima frowned in thought as she discovered that the terminals probably only worked with the robots.  Good news, it seemed the FORCE guy was unaware of her presence so far, since she was the only one still invisible.  She could be their ace in the hole in any confrontation at the moment.  The question was why was their information wrong about the location of the radio operation room.

She telepathically sends to Lite Star, "It appears that he doesn't know I am here yet.  I am going to avoid using radio or voice to hopefully keep that perception going and maybe be an Ace in the Hole. I can't read the thoughts of the robot, so I have no idea if we can trust it. Goliat might be able to search the base with Astral Form to find the real computer center.  I can stay to protect his body."

She sent a thought to Goliat right afterwards, "Confirm with Lite Star, but maybe you can search the base in Astral form to find the real computer center.  I am staying hidden to be an ace in the hole against the bad guy.  How much longer is the invisibility going to last?  I will also protect your body."

Winter Herald let out a surprisingly human sigh of frustration. "I don't know what I believe in, because I don't know what the beliefs are to stand with or oppose. I don't know what the right thing to do is, because I don't know what everyone is trying to do. I believe these are absolutely things I can be told, so with due respect Mister... bald... man...

He was clearly struggling with a designation for The Maharaja. "I have to disagree with you."

"Hell, I don't even know how all of you appeared out of thin air the way you did. My sensors should have noticed at least one. This indicates that my understanding of the rules that govern the world are incomplete, nevermind more sophisticated things like 'right' or 'wrong,' most of mine seeming to come from a fictional series, with little to provide context for or against. My understanding is that the ethics of my programming got the base personality executed. I wonder if the intention was to discourage ideology related to 'honor.'"

He moved his gaze to Lite Star. "Military tactics and warfare, however, I can comprehend. If you have completed your objective, a withdrawal would be wise rather than prolonging your engagement. If you have not, then accept that your reconnaissance was incomplete and you must adapt to achieve your mission. If you cannot adapt, you must withdraw."

He quickly moved from one intersection to the next, glancing down each hallway, trying to learn what he could about the short term. He was wondering if he had a way to anticipate the movements of whatever it was that made that ice wall.

Amplified Hearing: 360 feet (?); 5x better than a human, same as Heightened Hearing
[68%] Estimate sound distance
[58%] Estimate speed and direction of approaching sound
Nightsight, infrared, thermal, and ultraviolet visions
Micro-radar: 1 mile; Can identify up to 15 targets and simultaneously track six. Rate of travel, direction, and location are indicated.
Motion Detector: 60 feet; Registers vibrations in the air indicating movement.
Radar Detector: 4 miles; Registers radar waves to indicate radar surveillance.
[78%] Track radar emission to source
Radiation Detector: 60 feet; Registers and pinpoints radioactivity.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

Across the LESP Secure Communication comes a Text message, no sound at all...
[Private to group LESPradio: +Justicar to Lite Star. Crusader and I have entered the underground base via the secondary tram-track which led to a secret entrance. We are as per our map layout in room #26.  Appears to be some kind of throne room. Trying to figure out controls on console throne.  We have not achieved our secondary objective of securing the Rocket plane.  From the Comm-chatter CMZ and Patriot are engaged in combat at the Hydrofoil Dock. Mission profile was not a room to room clearing just disable Radar, and exit to allow Navy and Marines to secure facility.  Can you give an ETA on disabling Radar room? What is your status?+]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

The Maharajah does damage the ice wall, to the point that there is a completely through it. Even so, the ice remains. The androids are dispatched with ease, they were obviously not combat models. A huge polar bear lumbers into view and roars at the heroes.
OOC: please roll initiative

Lite Star considers the words of Winters Herald for a moment.

"You have a 'desire' to preserve life, even if these you called your fellows are not in fact alive you value that.  I think that's a good start.  We're here to because those that run this facility threaten to murder millions of civilians with the use of biological agents dispersed by low grade nuclear weapons.  We're here in an attempt to stop them, and have to push on to achieve that task.  If your willing to assist us then that will be appreciated, though you have to know that trust is not going to be easy because of the situation."

Onto the near by teams radio network she spoke.

"We need more intel.  Goliat, do you think you could sweep a little out of body, we'll guard you, though lets take this away from the mics in this dummy room."

Finally she switched to the whole team channel.

[Private to group LESPradio: "Justicar this is Lite Star.  The radar room is a fake, we're looking to see if there is somewhere else but the whole place seems to be set up to draw us in, likely with the aim of making robotic copies of us to infiltrate more.  Though there is likely some form of production facility here.  We've experienced bare resistance, but have picked up on of the copies that seems to have gone rogue from it's masters and may be able to help us out.... out, engaging contact." ]

(OOC: 11:04, Today: Lite Star rolled 21 using 1d20+9.  Initiative.)
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

In reply Justicar is again texting across the LESP Secure channel ~
[Private to group LESPradio: +Havoc to Strike~ there are four doors exiting our room. Someone is... ranting'?' behind the nearest door. This is what he's saying ~ "Family? You're no family of ours. I gave you strength and grace to rival those costumed fools interfering with my plans. You were made to be independent, so you could join them and defeat them from within while we retained deniability. You were designed to be alone, and alone is what you'll always be." Can you confirm any of that, Lite Star?+]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 141):

Mae Ha Rga will back up close to Winter Herald to have more room and definitely won't be fighting on the ice.  He will hold his action there.

Initiative roll:  2 + 7 = 9
This message was last edited by the player at 19:18, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

Winter Herald was distracted by a lot of things he was trying to process all at once. He had failed to notice what melted the ice before it had occurred, and now there was a polar bear on site. Combined with what was occurring prior, he simply had to process each new and strange event as they came at him.

"Odd that it seems to be threatening us, like it wants us to leave. This conflicts with the dialogue from my creator, and suggests fear. I shall attempt a dialogue."

His voice altered to a more mechanical and menacing baratone, and he adapted a threat stance of his own as his eyes became hard as stone - a sign that his targeting systems were activating once more. "My creator cannot be allowed to indiscriminately kill noncoms. The point of my unit is to minimize such wasteful measures. Disengage, bear, or we will have no choice but to harm you. My creator must be stopped, and you will not prevent this."

OOC: 15:12, Today: Winter Herald rolled 13 using 1d20+12.  Initiative. Nat 1.
15:19, Today: Winter Herald rolled 9 using 1d100.  Trust/ImpressIntimidate TN 65.
15:19, Today: Winter Herald rolled 35 using 1d100.  Charm/AweImpress TN 50.

Now, I am not sure how much of this a polar bear will actually care about, or if that bear is a mutant. On the other hand, maybe this will make it easier to end this battle bloodlessly.

Goliat made sure not to turn to her direction when he heard her plan. Trying to project his thoughts that he would be renewing her spell spell and go for it. "Six minutes..."

Taking a deep breath she sat on the ground started his astral projection. He made his way looking first at the other side of the ice before trying to look for that place. Maybe this situation could be saved. Let them think what they wanted.

OCC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 110/110

Bellissima "heard" Goliat's thought that the Invisibility spell lasted 6 minutes as he recast it around her.  Goliat of course could see her, since he was able to see the invisible.  With the robots dragged out of the room, it was secure, although it was being monitored, but then again all rooms were probably monitored.  She took up a position where she could keep an eye on Goliat's body and see out the doorway as Goliat's astral body left the room.

[Private to Winter Herald: A combination of radar, infrared, and ultraviolet optics with an audio system that can hear a whisper on the fifty yard line from the end zone allows Winter Herald to determine that the polar bear isn't really there. Utilizing these senses also brings up the fact that both eyes contain ion blasters, maximum of twenty shots per hour (for each eye).]
[Private to Lite Star: A combination of radar, infrared, and ultraviolet optics with an audio system that can hear a whisper on the fifty yard line from the end zone allows Winter Herald to determine that the polar bear isn't really there. ]
[Private to Bellissima: The polar bear appears to be an illusion, and there are three human minds past the ice wall.]
[Private to The Maharajah: That polar bear has no chi, which isn't possible for a living polar bear.]
[Private to Goliat: In astral form, it becomes obvious the polar bear is an illusion. What appears to be a seven-foot tall locust person is flying through the hall behind the polar bear (that starts to vanish). On the other side of the ice wall is Phantasma and some guy that appears to be made of ice.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:16, Sun 27 Mar 2022.

"Interesting - the bear is a figment. One target out of sight just ahead and left." He noted something was interacting with the console, and decided to test something. He moved to the console, placed his hands on the sections with the according label, and spoke in an eerie replica of FORCE's own voice.

OOC: 13:53, Today: Winter Herald rolled 8 using 1d100.  Imitate voice TN 91.
I think I got this.
EDIT 2126 03/37/22: 21:26, Today: Winter Herald rolled 38 using 1d100.  Computer Operations TN 98 with +2 OTN. This might be important.

"Console, mute audio output." That should shut him up at least, and prevent him from easily countermanding my commands.

He continued speaking in FORCE's voice. "All units cease Force Order 66, cease targeting N3D-574RK. Console, provide known command functions possible from this console and purpose of each command function."

He might not be able to acquire classified information, but maybe he could discover enough about his place of birth to figure out what he could do aside from being another body.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:27, Mon 28 Mar 2022.

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 149):

Seeing that Winter Harold is shooting at something to the left Mae Ha Rga decides to make his own path around the ice.  He opens the door to room #13 and walks up to the North wall.  He concentrates for a bit to activate Positive Energy turning his strength supernatural.  He then power slams the wall to make a hole.

Roll:  2, 4, 3, 5, 4 + 14 = 32 - 40% = 19 damage to the wall.
This will take few tries to get through.  I am done for this round.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Sun 27 Mar 2022.

PM
[Private to Winter Herald: I mis-spoke. The polar bear doesn't have ion blasters in its eyes. Winter Herald has ion blasters in his eyes.]
[Private to The Maharaja: When you use 'positive energy' so your strength is considered supernatural, you do the following damage

• 2D6 restrained punch
• 4D6 full strength punch
• 1D4x10 power punch (counts as two melee attacks)

]

[Private to group LESPradio: "Justicar this is Lite Star.  Sounds like the chewing out received from a screen over here directed towards our 'new' friend.  Currently in an engagement."]

Viewing the input from sensors she called out to the others.

"The bear was just another smoke and mirrors trick, have a blip on sensors around the corner."

switching to speak only on Bellissima's channel.

"Any conformation as to if that virus got into the system or if it is a dummy system or not?"

With Winter Herald and Maharaja moving up towards the intersection Lite Star held position to guard their backs and the intersection to the 'south', though her sensor coverage was easily 360 in all directions.

Bellissima telepathically sends to Lite Star, "FYI, there are 3 people beyond the wall.  I have not been able to upload the virus, there is no where to plug in the drive.  It looks like the robots have connectors in the palm of their hands and there is a place to lay their hands on the desks. Maybe the robot helping us has a way to connect the drive to the computer through the palm connectors."

Bellissima moved closer to a console to examine the station in closer detail, while still keeping an eye on the doorway. She was searching all around the console looking for maintenance bays or anything she might have missed with her quick glance earlier.

Taking a 'look' behind the wall gave Goliat some information that the others needed to know. So he returned briefly before leaving again.

[Private to Bellissima: Saw a locust person is flying through the hall behind the polar bear (that starts to vanish). On the other side of the ice wall is Phantasma and some guy that appears to be made of ice]


OCC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 110/110

Casting:
Carpet of adhesion. 6 x 2 = 12 melee rounds
Magic net. 4 melee rounds

11:53, Today: Goliat rolled 6 using 2d6.  carpet duration.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:04, Thu 31 Mar 2022.

PM
[Private to Goliat:

Heroes Unlimited Revised Second Edition page 152:

1. Astral Projection:
Range: Self
Duration: Five minutes per level of experience.
Saving Throw: None
P.P.E.: Six
This ability, mastered through years of study and Willpower, functions very much like the psionic ability.

Heroes Unlimited Revised Second Edition Page 305:

Astral Projection
Range: Self
Duration : 5 minutes per level of experience.
I.S.P. : 8
...the astral body can not touch or communicate with the material world...

You can't cast spells in astral form]

Getting on the LESP "Maybe" not-so-secure net ~
[Private to group LESPradio: +"HAVOK to STRIKE! HIGH ALERT - We are compromised ~ I have Proof FORCE has Robotic Agents in ALL LEVELS of Government, Courts and Congress - An Agent is currently SPEAKING UNKNOWN to Col Flagg! FORCE has self-destructed, right in front of us ~ Suggests ALL his android can self-destruct!  We are Done here.  Suggest you end all activity and Escape the Isle!  MISSION COMPROMIZED!"+]

In reply to JUSTICAR (msg # 156):

[Private to group LESPradio: "Does that mean everyone on the island is a robot?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Fri 01 Apr 2022.

In reply to The Maharaja (msg # 157):

Justicar replies his tone heavy with dread...
[Private to group LESPradio: +"Honestly, I cannot be sure.  I DO know this ~ ALL of the personnel in the main control center were android copies of FORCE... all of them could and did self-destruct.  The point being No one CAN or IS monitoring the Radar or surveillance security systems of this facility and one of FORCE's Agent robots is feeding unknown {likely FALSE} Intel to Col. Flagg.. without his realization he is speaking to a FORCE operative!  Our mission is either moot or accomplished at this point and we need to leave NOW!"+]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Fri 01 Apr 2022.

In reply to JUSTICAR (msg # 158):

[Private to group LESPradio: "It's possible this whole thing might have been a distraction.  Let us fight the robots while the real FORCE attacks another location."]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:59, Fri 01 Apr 2022.

In reply to The Maharaja (msg # 159):

Justicar's tone becomes Urgent ~
[Private to group LESPradio: +"IRRELEVANT! Col. Flag is being fed false intel that he has no reason without the video footage I possess to question!!! We are in Serious danger of being attacked by our OWN FORCES! We must immediately Evacuate this Isle and get this Video evidence to him ASAP! Before he acts on whatever lies are being fed him!"+]

Then he transmits on the LESP 'likely-compromised comm line' ~
[Private to group LESPradio: +"Havok to Strike.  Crusader and I are leaving the underground base.  I'd rather not get into a pointless brawl with meta-villains if the objective 'disable island radar detection' is moot now 'no one is left here to monitor the radar and there are no operational monitors in the Main Control to use anyways'... we should withdraw and leave clean up to the US Navy ~ Mission Accomplished.  Please advise ~ do you need assistance in disengagement and withdraw?"+]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Sat 02 Apr 2022.

The only response anyone can hear from CMZ comes over the radio.
[Private to group LESPradio: *GORILLA-LIKE ROAR*]

That was worrying. With a heavy feeling Goliat answered his radio.
[Private to group LESPradio: "Understood... Justicar, do you want me to hinder all aerial movement on the island? I can give us safe passage thru it."]

Justicar pondered his reply carefully ~
[Private to group LESPradio: +"I'm not in charge but you might want to save your energy. We don't know what kind of reception we are going to get leaving the isle. Flag was speaking to a FORCE operative and I hope that was unknowingly so... but he may think he has legitimate Orders or Intel we know nothing of.. and coming from FORCE you can bet its not good for us..!"+]

 




The Maharajah enters room 13, which is set up as an office. The room is empty and The Maharajah begins to pound through the wall. At the same time he strikes the wall, numerous explosions are heard from the direction The Maharajah is facing.
In the wake of the explosions, FORCE disappears from the monitor in the 'sensor room'. Nothing else in the room shuts down, indicating there is some separation of the sytems.
As Cicada (the locust-man) moves around the corner and approaches the heroes, the ice man (Snowblind) slides around to the place Cicada came from. Finally, an eleven foot tall gorilla comes to the edge of the ice opposite Snowblind, and roars.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 16:28, Sun 03 Apr 2022.

"Good riddance." Winter Herald had no idea if his command to mute FORCE affected this, but he was just glad he no longer had a direct verbal say in what was happening here.

After he got the data he was looking for, he followed the instructions to unplug the machine. "This is going to sting your memory a little, and you won't like it, but it won't be anything a careful reboot won't solve..."

He began pulling wires from the wall, killing the power to the computer. "I wish there was time to power you down gently, but, well - nuke."

He was now speaking to anyone generally in earshot of him. "For the record, is this everything? If the radar is down, we should leave immediately. I do not know the way out. I was not programmed with a local map."

OOC: 18:20, Today: Winter Herald rolled 25 using 1d20+12.  Initiative. I think I'm fast enough to act on whatever stupid idea I might have this time, unfortunately.

SENSORY SUITE
Amplified Hearing: 360 feet (?); 5x better than a human, same as Heightened Hearing
[68%] Estimate sound distance
[58%] Estimate speed and direction of approaching sound
Nightsight, infrared, thermal, and ultraviolet visions
Micro-radar: 1 mile; Can identify up to 15 targets and simultaneously track six. Rate of travel, direction, and location are indicated.
Motion Detector: 60 feet; Registers vibrations in the air indicating movement.
Radar Detector: 4 miles; Registers radar waves to indicate radar surveillance.
[78%] Track radar emission to source
Radiation Detector: 60 feet; Registers and pinpoints radioactivity.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 165):

Mae Ha Rga will continue hitting the wall with supernaturally strong power punches.

Initiative roll:  15 + 7 = 22

Damage to the wall with 2 attacks:  2 x 10 + 14 = 34 x 2 = 78 and I'm done for this round.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:56, Sun 03 Apr 2022.

Bellissima sighs in frustration as she finds no way to get to the guts of the terminals and plug in the drive she has, finally giving up as she watched the robot just start tearing things up.  That neutralized this room, but didn't load up the virus to shut down all monitoring rooms in the base.  Hopefully with this room and the room Justicar blew up, that was all the monitoring stations, but there was no way to know at this point.

Telepathically speaking to Lite Star, "This mission is a bust.  I can not find a way to upload the virus and with the robot ripping up things, all the terminals are down in this room."  As she is sending this, she moves to the doorway to look down the corridor as she continues to guard Goliat's body, waiting for him to return to it. "Are we pulling out or capturing the three minds I can sense for questioning?"

Bellissima looked down the corridor to try to identify the three minds she could sense again.

Just as he heard Bellissima Goliat gets up with a grunt and looks at the destruction of the place. "Cant wake up on like I got down.." He looks disappointing around as he dusts himself around. "I can disable the radar once we are outside. Right now there is a gorilla coming this way. Just let me know if you need one or more. excuse me." He passed by her

With that he made his way to the corridor. Drawing energy and getting ready his spells. Once close enough to Cicada he unleashed a wave of viscosity on the area before activating a pale energy dome. He stayed floating on place. "I would stop there RIGHT now"


OOC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 165/165
[Private to Goliat: range, duration, and damage of spells increased by 50%]
00:18, Today: Goliat rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.
Carpet of Adhesion all over Cicada (1015 Melees or 2d6 if save.) save 12 + Ley line
Mystic shield (180 SDC)
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:38, Mon 04 Apr 2022.

 


Winter Herald disables the machines in the 'radar room'.
The Maharajah breaks through the wall into another empty office room with his first punch.
Bellissima looks out and notes where combatants are.
Goliat casts his spells.
Cicada flies around the corner and down the corridor to get stuck when the spell hits.
Phantasma is coming through the offices to the heroes right (as the heroes are facing the villains).
The gorilla lumbers down the hall, and gets stuck in the sticky path from Goliat's spell.
Snowblind eliminates the ice wall.

Taking in all the information Lite Star scans about for a few moments.  Speaking over the team comms network and out load so Herald could hear as well.

"Ok people, time to leave.  Lets fall back and meet up with the other team.  Your welcome to come with us, might be the only worth while thing coming out of this mission."

With the magical glue gumming up the corridor she was sure they could escape smoothly.  The shoulder mounted guns train on the villains in the hall way, but there is no need to fire with them being stuck for now.  Moving a little down the corridor in the direction they had come from the tram line while keeping the rest of the team covered.

(OOC: Edit to clarify comms mode)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Mon 04 Apr 2022.

In reply to Lite Star (msg # 171):

Mae Ha Rga turns around and goes out the way he came and back into the hallway.

Justicar shifts the ammo drum of his 40mm Armscor MGL to put a CS and Baton round on deck.  Drone-Ceti detaches extending its fans to hover near, extending its weapon arms and loading its Fingergun ammo to explosive rounds.

"Hang on Crusader this could get 'bumpy'.  We're going to join the other team ~ they are closer to Patriot and CMZ, you may want to detach when we get there so you can make your own tactical actions."

Then he takes flight, he does not go back the way they entered but flies out of the destroyed control room's south door. Flying as near the ceiling as possible with Drone-Ceti leading the way to not only Forward Observe but to also look for obstacles and eliminate them with explosive barrages from weapon arms if necessary.  Referring to the map Hikari knows approximately where the Strike Team is since he knows they came in through the Hydrofoil Dock where the rest of Havok Team is engaged. That path is the fastest way to get to where Patriot and CMZ are fighting.

He kicks in the speed flying through the hallways... with Veteran skill and grace.

When he spots Snowblind he does not pause but as he flies by he sprays him down with his right arm Chemical Sprayer of Tear Gas ~ apparently right in the face!  Seeing Maharajah's comm signal readout on his HUD in room 15 he opened the door seeing the hole in the wall made by Maharajah he flies through into the room passing him.
On spotting Maharajah Drone-Ceti resets to follow mode and trails behind Justicar.

Justicar clad with weapons and Crusader slung in a tandem parachute harness to his chest roars out into the hallways on his fan-turbine Wings his azure ballistic cloak fluttering wildly at his shoulders he exits through room 13 he spots the rest of Strike Team withdrawing.  He notes the large Gorilla and Cicada stuck the floor, and will fire his 40mm Armscor MGL CS Gas Grenade round between the Gorilla and Cicada as flies heading for the Tram station.  He takes up position next to Lite Star settling to the floor to let Crusader detach if she so desires.

Drone-Ceti takes up a high ceiling covering position ready to provide covering fire for the Withdrawing Sentinels.



Actions -
Movement - Flight
Open Door to Room 15 {1 action}
Actions: 3
Actions: 1 saved
09:48, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 7 using 1d100.  Pilot: Robot Vehicle [79%]. – [roll=1649080107.34969.355584]

09:47, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 42 using 1d100.  Pilot: Jet Pack [76%]. – [roll=1649080044.1519.355584]

09:45, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Justicar - 40mm Armscor MGL 'Heavy Weapons' {CS Gas Round} [+3ST, +3 laser Target]. – [roll=1649079924.67067.355584]  [Tear Gas {-10 ST/PY/DG, Dur: 4D6Mel}]

10:33, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 10 using 4d6.  Tear Gas - Melee Duration Effect {40mm CS Gas Grenade}, Blast: 10'ft radius. – [roll=1649082797.27008.355584]

09:44, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 33 using 1d20+13.  Justicar - Strike w/Chemical Sprayer {Tear Gas} at Snowblind. – [roll=1649079874.22935.355584] - CRITICAL HIT! [Tear Gas {-10 ST/PY/DG, Dur: 4D6Mel}]

10:30, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 20 using 4d6.  Tear Gas - Melee Duration Effect {Chemical Sprayer}. – [roll=1649082628.82605.355584]

09:44, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 33 using 1d20+15.  Justicar - Initiative [+15]. – [roll=1649079860.21692.355584]

<< ENTER TO STRIKE TEAM THREAD >>
This message was last edited by the player at 14:49, Mon 04 Apr 2022.

Winter Herald had formed a plan of attack when his radar and motion detected very, very fast movement coming in. Based on the direction their weapons where pointed, the armored person they were holding, and that no one else was attacking them, he had to conclude they were not hostiles. Looked like a standard wounded evacuation.

"I'll go with you as well. There's nothing for anyone here. Hopefully their weapons sink to the sea along with their ambitions."

He kept his movements matching the speed of the slowest one he could perceive, so that if the enemy caught up with them, at least they would not be fighting alone.

Also, he figured when the sensations of thudding he believed should be coming started, the enemy would get the hint to leave.

OOC: Winter Herald is absolutely incorrect about how events are going to play out. No one has told him it is an amphibious assault, and he's still betting on bombardment. He is quite obviously wrong, and if he turns out to be right, that isn't you guys.

Movement - Exit Room 10 through south to hallway south of Room 9, then staying close to the slowest person he can see.

Going for any Cover - 15:02, Today: Winter Herald rolled 10 using 1d100.  Prowl. TN 83.

Basically trying to stay out of clear line of sight for the enemy, and systemically retreating to what he believes to be the rally point.

Crusader detatched and used her radar to take stock of what was happening.

 



Justicar and Crusader arrive, and join Lite Star at the end of the corridor. The Maharaja comes into the hall and joins Goliat. Phantasma floats out of room 16, generates a giant arm and punches Goliat with it (7 points damage). Snowblind runs across the ice (unerringly, though the gorilla was sliding on it previously), leaps over the gorilla and as he lands points both hands down the hall. Justicar, Crusader, and Lite Star are covered with about a centimeter of ice. Their armor prevent any damage, but the three are now cold. Furthermore, the ice covering the lenses on the helmets used by the three prevent the use of special optics till an action is taken to remove it. The floor and walls are also covered, making the area slippery and treacherous.

Justicar rotate the drum of his 40mm Armscor MGL shifting from the Baton round to an explosive round  spinning up his hover-system lifts off the floor about a foot then fires an explosive round targeted by radar at the same spot he laid his CS Gas grenade before at the new grouping of Cicada, Snowblind, Phantasma, and the Gorilla.


{again 'X' marks the spot of Explosive grenade shot ...same as CS Gas Grenade}

At the same time Drone-Ceti opens fire controlled by 'Karl' firing its weapon arm-mounted, Finger Guns with explosive rounds one arm at Snowblind, one at Phantasma...

Switching to loudspeaker, "Cicada, Snowblind, Phantasma... FORCE has abandoned you ~ self-destructed actually, because I blew up the entire main control room; I'm sure you heard the explosions.  Do you Really think you are being PAID enough to MAKE us STAY and unleash all OUR collective FIREPOWER upon You ~ when your 'Leader' has already abandoned this base as "lost"?  We are withdrawing ~ You don't really matter to us 'for now'... you might want to try to escape yourselves... before the Navy and Marines storm the island."

Actions -
1 attack {Justicar's last}
'Karl'
2 Attacks - {1saved}

09:02, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Justicar - 40mm Armscor MGL 'Heavy Weapons' {Explosive Round} [+3ST, +3 laser Target]. – [roll=1649163720.86615.355584]

09:03, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 1 using 1d6.  Justicar - 40mm Armscor MGL 'Heavy Weapons' {Explosive Damage} [1d6x10, 10'ft blast]. – [roll=1649163836.56973.355584] - 10 damage

09:08, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  'Karl' - Drone-Ceti '2x Finger Guns' @ Snowblind [+1ST'karl', +3 ST Laser Painter, +1 ST Weapon]. – [roll=1649164109.16897.355584]

09:10, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 30 using 8d6.  'Kar' - Drone-Ceti '2x Finger Guns' left arm Damage @ Snowblind [Exp 8d6]. – [roll=1649164249.11686.355584] Damage

09:11, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  'Karl' - Drone-Ceti '2x Finger Guns' @ Phantasma [+1ST'karl', +3 ST Laser Painter, +1 ST Weapon]. – [roll=1649164318.56939.355584]

09:12, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 29 using 8d6.  'Karl' - Drone-Ceti '2x Finger Guns' Right arm Damage @ Phantasma [Exp 8d6]. – [roll=1649164379.55657.355584]  Damage
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Tue 05 Apr 2022.

Bellissima shook her head as chaos grew, Justicar and Crusader showed up as well as the villians.  Not sure what to do, she quickly scanned to see who had a mind and who didn't. She was going to have to leave soon, but right now if she stepped out, she could be caught in a crossfire.  She was hoping once Snowblind was taken down, the ice would quickly dissipate.

She activited her radio to Colonel Flagg, [Private to group LESPradio: "Colonel Flagg, this is Bellissima.  This mission is fubared.  Two monitoring rooms have been destroyed, but we are unable to upload the virus. FORCE agents are fleeing, if you want to  capture anyone, better send in the troops. Both teams are pulling out to the Waterfall dock for extraction." ]

Winter Herald's solution to the current problem was simple - make the ice not slippery. "Don't land, and don't panic. I am not hostile, but this is going to be close."

He activated his optical ion blasters in a spectacular flash of bright blue, and made an effort to blast the icy ground under and around Justicar and Lite Star into ionized water and stone. Whichever resulted in him not hitting them.

OOC: That's likely all of my remaining actions. Remember, I should have been south of Room 9, awaiting more withdrawing parties.

This likely obviates my cover, so the Prowl roll has been rendered absolutely meaningless, unless that still grants them a penalty to hit me or me a cover bonus to dodge somehow.

So, sad days, but I'm hoping I counteracted some of Snowblind's work.

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:17, Wed 06 Apr 2022.

In reply to Colonel Flagg (msg # 180):

Justicar comments on the 'secure' channel...
[Private to group LESPradio: +"Col. Flagg, all those who burned up were FORCE Android Agents! Crusader and I busted into the main control room with FORCE there and I proceeded to destroy all the consoles there.. but I have video footage of what was on those monitors.  They were ALL being monitored many point-of-views from the person speaking as if through their eyes. I Even saw You, Col Flagg, speaking to the monitor ~ someone you were talking to was an Android Agent! I assumed you had no idea. Which I why I urgently told the team we needed to withdraw cause you were clearly being false intel or directives from a FORCE Android Agent ~ just before I destroyed the control room.  FORCE himself was in that control room and Self-destructed rather than be captured.  I had no idea destroying the master control room would trigger a self-destruct of all those Agent Androids!  The Brief view I had of the monitors... and its all recorded on my telemetry, as much as could be seen at least, FORCE has..had{?} Android Agent infiltrators in all levels of Government, Courts and Military ~ worldwide!  Its a good thing they all burned..but I'd suggest a full investigation be done anyways.  I'll have the footage ready for US Intelligence on arrival!"+]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Wed 06 Apr 2022.

"This is getting out of hand and fast." Goliat comments as the shield is hit by an extendable fist. That made him flinch back.

"If that's how you want to play, lets play ice ball." Not wanting to miss much time with them he sends forth another wave of adhesive force tis time on the ground bellow the most of them. Once done he mutters a few words and snaps his fingers. A cold field started pelting the group down the way.


OOC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 295/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 165/165
Carpet of Adhesion all over ground (15 Melees or 2d6 if save.) save 12 + Ley line
Cold wall 10'x15'x5' 15 melees (6D6 of damage per 5 feet's traveled inside) (Save none).
[Private to GM: Thanks, forgot that.]

 



Justicar sends an explosive grenade into the midst of the tear gas cloud/ice/adhesion field, and the results are less predictable than you would think. Cicada is struggling with the adhesion, quietly growling and coughing, and a little scorched. Snowblind is barely affected, The gorilla vanishes.
The drone's guns have some effect on Phantasma, as he appears to vanish. The projectile fired at Snowblind glances off the ice person having no discernable effect.
Winter Herald does eliminate most of the ice on the floor near Justicar, Lite Star, and Crusader. The ice, however, re-forms almost immediately.
The bellow of a longhorn fills the corridor behind the ice-bound heroes, and those that glance in that direction see an angry-looking bull.



[Private to Bellissima: As far as minds go, Cicada and Snowblind are there. The bull doesn't have one. There is another mind on the edge of Bellissima's range past the bull.]

Goliat has no actions left, his spells must wait till next round.

The Maharajah had used half of his actions while his actions were halved, so when his actions stopped being halved only half of his actions were available to be used.

Yes, I did enjoy designing that sentence.

"Large Masked Man, Horned Entity; clear the firing range."

Calculations: Engaging high priority target cryokinetic in CQC involves putting myself into a high saturation firing zone filled with variables not fully understood. Exploring alternative actions.

Firing from cover at high priority target cryokinetic involves too high of a risk to Large Masked Man and Horned Entity next to him. A misfire may hit them. Risk unacceptable, particularly with allegiances uncertain; possibility of intraunit conflict high in event of failure. Exploring alternative actions.

Occupy and engage attention of bull to allow retreat. It is likely either the gorilla, or it is of the same nature. Engage with hilt and pommel.

He moved to the ice, dropped to his knees on the ice, and fired his jump-jets in an attempt to powerslide across the ice and floor, and punch the bull in the face with the hilt of his weapon.

OOC: 02:58, Today: Winter Herald rolled 27 using 1d20+7.  Hitting phantom bull in its phantom face.
...sweet mercy.
03:00, Today: Winter Herald rolled 21 using 3d4+15.  The hit to the phantom bull's face, base damage. So, did I just hit this thing in the face for 42 damage?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:10, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Crusader was willing to give the odd man with laser vision the benefit of the doubt and leave him be. As he dropped to his knees she leaped over him, going in the opposite direction. Where she landed (beyond the ice is her aim) she spoke to Justicar.

"Use your turbine fans to clear out the gas." She held her breath in case Justicar did not do as she said. Her idea is to engage Snowblind and try to remove them from the battle.

Crusader did something either brilliant or stupid, she threw everything into one attack. She charged and leaped at the wall, and twisted so that her feet touched the wall first. She used her momentum to leap off the wall and land a devestating punch...at least that was her plan.

Jumping at left wall, using the wall to make a leaping power attack. Hope roll is good enough because that cost me 4 attack. GM Crusader in NOT pulling this punch. All or nothing kids.
04:21, Today: Crusader rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Attack Snowblind: leaping power punch
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Wed 06 Apr 2022.

Lite Star took in all that was happening around her and started to deal with things in turn.  Iced floor: engaging the ion hover jets of her suit she rose above the need to be standing on the ice even as Winter Herald did his best to defrost the area.
Ice covered visual sensors: There was still fully accurate audio, motion detection and radar feeds reaching the internal computers of the suit, splicing them together to give a 3D wire frame render of her surroundings, the altitude defrosting for the sensors would do their work to get vision back as soon as they could.
Call from Flagg: The buffoons hadn't been taking anything seriously so far anyway, maybe this was the wake up call needed to point out the country had been under attack since the first threat of a city killing bomb.
Bull behind: Snapping both weapons pods around they fired linked together, sending a pair of heavy slugs at the construct, hoping that would aid Winter Herald in dealing with it.
Snowblind: As a serious threat that could likely cause significant delay to evacuation of others, Lite Star jetted in after Crusader to help subdue the ice villain, even as her weapons fired at the bull, angling in to take a swing at Snowblind with the heavily powered fist of the suit.

(OOC: Action 1: Linked shot from both weapon pods. 15:32, Today: Lite Star rolled 11 using 1d20+5. If that hits then it is one round from each gun (fired linked) 15:33, Today: Lite Star rolled 20 using 5d6.  #1 gun.  15:33, Today: Lite Star rolled 14 using 5d6.  #2 gun.
Action 2: Move and punch at Snowblind. 15:36, Today: Lite Star rolled 23 using 1d20+9.  Punch Snowblind.  If hits 15:38, Today: Lite Star rolled 9 using 2d6+7.  Superhuman PS punch.

Still have 4 actions to take this turn but unsure of how time is progressing as to combat round.)

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 184):

Mae Ha Rga will Channel and Unleash Physical Energy on Snowblind before either of the heavily armored ladies make their attacks.

Roll to hit:  8 + 7 = 15

Damage roll:  6, 3, 2 + 16 = 27

I realized I haven't given a proper description to Winter Herald.  The portrait you see is just when he's out of costume and wearing his Buddhist robes.  This is what he looks like in costume.  He's 7'10" and 474 lbs.


This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Wed 06 Apr 2022.

Bellissima sent a telepathic message to Lite Star as she ran past the woman's armored suit, "Cicada and Snowblind have minds.  There is someone behind you down the corridor. I am going to see who they are and I am looking for Phantasma."   Phantasma was probably using an illusion to hide himself and she should be able to see through that at the moment, her vision being augmented by her psychic powers.

When she got to the ice, Bellissima would just send herself into a slide across the ice, using her momentum from running down the hallway to get herself across the ice. She was looking to see who was down the hallway.

 




Winter Herald hits the bull in the snoot.
The Maharaja's blast does little more than alert Snowblind to The Maharaja's presence.
Lite Star shoots the bull and then flies forward to through a punch at Snowblind. The bull bellows in pain, Snowblind doesn't react to the punch.
Crusader flips around off the wall and throws another punch at Snowblind.
The bull tries to butt Winter Herald aside, but the creature can find no purchase for its horns.

[Private to Bellissima: Bellissima definitely finds Phantasma. He is leaning against the wall to one side of the double doors leading into the tram platform (these are fifteen feet past the last rooms). His surface thoughts are in German, and he seems unperturbed by anything that is going on.]

Since Winter Herald didn't fall, he doesn't lose initiative and two actions. However, the slide across the ice was complex enough to be an action, so that combined with his attack on the bull finishes his round.
The Maharajah finishes his actions unleashing his chi blast, as well.
Bellissima uses her actions to slide across ice and look around.
Lite Star uses one action to shoot the bull, and a second action to punch at Snowblind.
Cicada is stuck, and uses all his actions to parry and dodge.
Phantasma uses an action.
The bull gives Winter Herald a tap, using an action

Crusader tried to put her knee in Snowblind's gut and to punch him in the nose. Neither were successful, so she switch tactics. She caught his arm, turned and positipned herself under his armpit, and dropped her weight, attempting to throw him to the ground.
[Private to Crusader: Crusader was out of actions, this will occur as the next turn begins. When it does, Crusader will be subject to the effects of the ice coating the walls and floor: "At half speed there is a 50% chance of slipping and falling each time a person moves. Trying to travel at full speed, there is a 01-80% chance of slipping, falling (crashing, if a vehicle) and sliding 4D6 yards/meters. Each time a person falls, they lose initiative and two attacks/actions per melee round."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:42, Sun 10 Apr 2022.

Using the power suit's agility and ability to hover Lite Star moves around to give Crusader space to work, delivering a fusillade swift powerful punches to the tough super villain with the hope of subduing them.

Speaking out loud so others could hear, "Clear our exit.  We'll need to get out fast if this place is going to fall down about our ears."

(OOC: 3 actions spent punching Snowblind.
10:27, Today: Lite Star rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Superhuman PS punch 1#.  10:28, Today: Lite Star rolled 16 using 2d6+7.  Damage if hit 1#.
10:28, Today: Lite Star rolled 12 using 1d20+9.  Superhuman PS punch 2#.  10:28, Today: Lite Star rolled 13 using 2d6+7.  Damage if hit 2#.
10:28, Today: Lite Star rolled 13 using 1d20+9.  Superhuman PS punch 3#.  10:29, Today: Lite Star rolled 17 using 2d6+7.  Damage if hit 3#.

1 action left for situational alteration if needed.)

 




09:54, Today: SSOGM rolled 17,2,11 using 1d20,1d20,1d20.  NPC initiative, NPC autoparry, NPC dodge.



As Lite Star pounds on Snowblind, discovering that the ice is more than skin deep, making Snowblind mostly immune to her powerful blows (he did take some damage), the bull tries to toss Winter Herald aside a second time. The bull still finds no purchase for its horns.
[Private to Bellissima: Phantasma hasn't moved. His surface thoughts are in German, and he seems unperturbed by anything that is going on.]

This round is over, initiatives and actions for the next round. Except for the bull and Phantasma, your opponents will always attempt a parry when they can. Phantasma will attempt to dodge (automatically). The bull will just get hit, and is currently bleeding through the bulletholes Lite Star placed in it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:10, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Justicar noted that the withdraw was stalled, and that the meta-human villain's were fanatical in fighting for their callous and seemingly unconcerned 'leader' in Force.  He did not feel comfortable firing into the 'Brawl' Lite Star and Crusader were involved in... but there were other targets hindering their exit. Time to remove some 'obstacles'.

"...'Karl', "Safeties off, Fire-Tracking 5", and clear exterior optics...!"
'Acknowledged Hikari. Laser and Blaster hand armed, Fire-Tracking Setting 5 full barrage-fire configured.'

Drone-Ceti, hovering near set to cleaning the frost/ice off the Justicar exterior optical sensors with its utility hands.

Justicars's rocket thrusters took over from his Hover-Fan jet wings the hallways now becoming a bit crowded for their use.  The rocket thrusters whined to life and began their low-roar as his altitude increased slightly to 4 to 5 feet off the ice covered ground.

He turned and pointed his right hand finger blaster weapons locked to track to the same target and fired a devastating blaster salvo at the solid light - holo Bull... the he assumed cyborg stranger was tussling with.

He spoke briefly with him, "I'm Justicar, if your helping us withdraw what should I call you?  I'm going to go help Belissima secure and exit route."

With that Justicar flew to Belissima's side sensors searching for targets...

Actions -
15:13, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 16 using 1d20+15.  Justicar - Initiative [+15]. – [roll=1649618027.36617.355584]

15:15, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 18 using 1d20+15.  Justicar - Blaster Hand Fire @ holo-bull [+15 {+12 /WS, +3 Laser Targeting}]. – [roll=1649618149.63249.355584]

15:24, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 54 using 15d6.  Justicar - Blaster Hand Damage [3d6 ea '15d6']. – [roll=1649618646.23267.355584]

Attack:  Solid Holo Bull w/Blaster hand
Movement: fly to Bellissima's side
Actions: 3 saved

'Karl' Controlling Drone-Ceti -
Action: 1 clear icing from justicer exterior sensors
Movement: Follow justicar
Actions: 2 saved

Bellissima inside of her mask as she watched Phantasma standing there nonchalantly, thinking that no one could see him.  She looked back and saw Justicar firing at the bull as it tried to move the robot and then start flying down the corridor.  She was going to have to act quick or Phantasma was going to get spooked and move.

Sending telepathically to Justicar, "Justicar, this is Bellissima.  I have Phantasma in sight.  If you have a laser light targeting, I can tell you when your laser light intercepts Phantasma."

Once Justicar turned on his laser light targeting and started scanning it across, she would give him directions and as soon as the laser light was center mass on Phantasma, "There, fire!" She sent telepathically to Justicar.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 192):

Initiative roll:  20 + 7 = 27

Mae Ha Rga is attempting to end this quickly.  He will reactivate his Positive Energy, hold his breath, jump over the heads of Crusader and Lite-Star, somersault in mid-air and come down with a Two-Foot Super-Power Stomp on top of Snowblind.

To hit roll:  9 + 3 = 12
Damage roll:  5, 5, 5, 3 x 10 + 14 = 194 - 40% = 116
And that is all of my attacks this round.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:56, Sun 10 Apr 2022.

It was getting confusing following the flow of battle, they HAD to get out, bit now they had to not let them catch them? If things kept going like this- "-Lets deal with them!" He send a couple of sparks at Cicada.


OOC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 158/165
01:55, Today: Goliat rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  initiative.
Call Lightning x2 against Cicada
01:29, Today: Goliat rolled 46,45 using 12d6,12d6.  Call Lightningx2.
Saving Throw: None; it always hits unless one's opponent rolls a natural 20 or a modified 24 or higher to dodge!

This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

As more people join in on targeting the rear of the group she speaks out on the radio.

"I can only carry one person quickly to cover the rear, we need to clear the blockage in the way of our retreat."

With it getting too busy close in to Snowblind she pulls back a little and instead sends a barrage of shots down at the bull to help clear their way out.

(OOC: 19:35, Today: Lite Star rolled 19 using 1d20+9.  Initiative
3 Actions of linked gun shots down into the Bull
19:39, Today: Lite Star rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Duel gun shot 3.
19:39, Today: Lite Star rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Duel gun shot 2.
19:39, Today: Lite Star rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Duel gun shot 1.
19:42, Today: Lite Star rolled 14,18 using 5D6,5D6.  Duel gun shot 3 Damage.
19:42, Today: Lite Star rolled 23,20 using 5D6,5D6.  Duel gun shot 2 Damage.
19:41, Today: Lite Star rolled 17,14 using 5D6,5D6.  Duel gun shot 1 Damage
3 Actions remaining)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Mon 11 Apr 2022.

"Attack acknowledged, but ineffectual. Surrender now." Herald was quite calm as he acknowledged the bull and Justicar in passing. "Hello, Justicar. Is Bellissima a strange non-entity capable of interacting with solid objects, or is that another being I have not met?"

He slowly circled around the bull, counterstriking for its neck, shoulder, head - whatever presented the largest target with confidence of damage. After all, he clearly had its attention, and he figured a combination of solid strikes and deadly force would end this fight sooner.

OOC: 05:05, Today: Winter Herald rolled 30 using 1d20+12.  Initiative.
05:13, Today: Winter Herald rolled 20 using 1d20+10.  Parry with knife and...
05:14, Today: Winter Herald rolled 16 using 1d20+8.  ...use action to counter with sword.
05:15, Today: Winter Herald rolled 28 using 3d6+15.  Potential damage from simultaneous strike.

Only going for one action - don't know how many I'll need.

He was hoping the bull would not be able to easily move and cut him off. If the bull attempted to disengage from him, hopefully he'd be able to stop it in turn, though.

 





The Maharaja's attempt to power stomp Snowblind sees The Maharaja sliding off Snowblind's shoulders. Fortunately, the ice that The Maharaja lands on has little chance of causing him to slip and fall. As he impacts the floor, the ice is shattered AND a portion of the concrete broken into large pieces.
Having never seen a bullfight, Winter Herald doesn't realize he has performed and admirable tercio de banderillas with his knife. His sword, however, is the wrong shape to execute the tercio de muerte. Even so, the bull is beginning to look ragged.
Cicada is still stuck within Goliat's adhesion field, and therefore keeps his senses peeled for attacks he needs to dodge.
Lite Star sends a few more rounds into the bull, which has begun to falter.
Unseen, Phantasma creates something.
The bull finally finds purchase for its horn and (slightly) gores Winter Herald.
[Private to Winter Herald: 17 points of damage, superficial scratching, really]
Snowblind sees the shattered ice and concrete under The Maharaja's feet, and reaches for him. [Private to The Maharaja: this is a touch attack, it can be parried]
A chimpanzee with an uzi comes through the double doors that lead to the tram station.
Justicar blasts the bull, and it dissolves. Gone is if it had never been.
Crusader throws a knee at Snowblind's gut, as the knee slides along Snowblind's stomach its only effect is to cause Crusader to slip on the ice and fall. [Private to Crusader: natural one was rolled, your second attack will be used to stand up]
Bellissima makes some plans.
Goliat throws lightning bolts at Cicada. The bug man sways away from the first, but is zapped by the second.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 199):

Mae Ha Rga sees the touch coming towards him and grabs Snowblind's forearm with one hand and his elbow with the other and Auto. Body Flip.

Auto. Body Flip roll:  2 + 5 = 7
Damage roll?:  3, 3 + 14 = 20 + lose initiative + lose 1 attack

Seeing the sentient bug person dodge his attacks made him feel frustrated, but he just changed tactics. He drew even more energy from the air and with a few gestures created a mystic field on the middle of the corridor. Said field would allow his group to pass thru but stop the opponent attacks. A couple of gestures more made a localized snow storm in the form of a line run in parallel to the left wall of the room. Covering Cicada in snow.

With a few gestures


OOC:
Hitpoints: 21/21, SDC: 127/127, PPE: 100/100
Vajra: PPE 300/300
Armor suit: AR 12, SDC 55/55
Riot armor: AR 14, SDC 180/180
Armor of Ithan: AR 18, SDC 158/165
01:55, Today: Goliat rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  initiative.
Cold wall against Cicada,
Cold wall 10'x15'x5' 15 melees (6D6 of damage per 5 feet's traveled inside) (Save none).
Mystic field. 180 SDC field.

In reply to Bellissima (msg # 194):

Justicar receives the mental communication from Bellissima and refrains from turning toward the target but regards his proximity and radar sensors to see if the target is already in his target-telemetry readouts.

06:24, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 52 using 1d100.  Justicar Read Sensory Instruments (67%). – [roll=1649845443.80626.355584]

Regardless, he follows Bellissima's mental direction shifts the autoloader ammo drum on his right shoulder weapon arm's 5.56mm LMG to explosive rounds and sprays down the indicated target with a long burst of explosive rounds he forgoes using the laser targeting to give the light-based villain no warning of the incoming attack...

Actions -
Attack: 2 {1 saved}
06:32, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 30 using 1d20+12.  Justicar - 5.56mm LMG {Explosive Rounds}-Long Burst [+12ST]. – [roll=1649845921.25253.355584]
06:34, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 30 using 7d6.  Justicar - 5.56mm LMG {Explosive Rounds}-Long Burst Damage [7d6x8]. – [roll=1649846040.67481.355584] - Damage total: 240!

06:38, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 3 using 1d4+1.  Justicar - 5.56mm LMG {Ammo use-Long Burst '20-50rd'}  [1d4+1x10]. – [roll=1649846320.93329.355584]
- 30 Explosive rounds expended

Karl directed Drone-Ceti to reload its finger guns... and it spends the entire rest of the melee doing that...

Crusader noted that ice guy was being handled by te very large ninja, so she attempted to switch targets and tackle Cicada. She only managed to emberass herself again.

07:37, Today: Crusader rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Tackle Cicada
Another fall.

As Justicar released his barrage of bullets at Phantasma, Bellissima reached out with her Telekinesis to grab the villain and pin him in place so that he couldn't dodge. As her Tk reaches out, the invisibility shrouding her flickers and she comes back into sight. One hand extended toward Phantasma as a glowing Disc appears in front of Bellissima, slowly circling around her.

The bull had dealt a mild hit to Herald. Not enough to expose Herald's mechanical nature once they got out of here, but enough to trigger false blood loss protocols. He would have to clean his outfit up a bit.

His vision witnessed two targets, and then a third showed up. He was uncertain which of these was "Bellissima." So, he took a guess having very little room for error if incorrect.

He charged the chimpanzee holding the uzi and hoped their guess was correct. "I hope you are not Bellissima. Do not attack, either way."

On that basis, he held ground. He intended to interfere with its actions if it tried to ignore him or bypass him.

OOC: He intends to parry if the chimpanzee tried to shoot past or at him. He's also perfectly willing to dodge into the attack if it is trying to shoot past him and a parry is not an option.

15:32, Today: Winter Herald rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  Dodge/Parry roll #1, depending on needed defense.
15:32, Today: Winter Herald rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  Dodge/Parry roll #2, depending on needed defense.

If I can counterattack, I will do so.

15:35, Today: Winter Herald rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  Simultaneous counterattacks.
15:37, Today: Winter Herald rolled 31 using 3d6+15.  Potential damage from simultaneous strike.
15:35, Today: Winter Herald rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Simultaneous counterattacks.
15:37, Today: Winter Herald rolled 26 using 3d6+15.  Potential damage from simultaneous strike.

Winter Herald makes his way to face off with uzi-chimp, bats the chimp's uzi to the side and slashes as a few rounds from the uzi smack into the wall.
[Private to GM: Phantasma activates force field body armor]
Snowblind had reached for The Maharaja, and although The Majaraja's hold slipped off the icy arm reaching towards him, it had knocked the arm away. Snowblind, clearly frustrated, tries a new tactic. Several cubic feet of snow suddenly appear in the air above The Maharaja, then fall at him. [Private to The Majaraja: the only defense available is an automatic dodge (1d20+5)]
Justicar thunders forward and fires ordinance at the wall. Oddly, the wall breaks and vanishes to reveal Phantasma at about the same time Bellissima becomes visible.
Phantasma calmly generates a giant fist, four feet across at the knuckles. The fist flies forward and hits Justicar. [Private to Justicar: does ten points of damage to the armor (rolled under AR)]
Crusader attempts another attack, this one on Cicada. Not only does Crusader miss Cicada, she stumbles into the confining magic spells Cicada is secured in.
Bellissima turns visible and grabs at Phantasma (to hold him still) at about the same time.
Goliat fires off a few helpful spells, one inconveniences Cicada in a major way, and catches Crusader, as well. [Private to Crusader: twenty points of damage from the cold]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:28, Sun 17 Apr 2022.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself Lite Star returns to engaging the rear to enable the retreat now that the bull dematerialized.  Both over the shoulder weapons pods flick around and focus on Snowblind.  Using these weapons actually on a person made her skin crawl and gut twist, but they needed to get out of here and the icy meta could create significant barriers and hinder their movement.  With linked barks the weapons speak three times aiming at Snowblind as her suit continues to let her hover into a convenient firing position.

"Sorry." She whispers in the confines of her helmet.

(OOC: 3 attacks with linked shorts from weapons pods.
12:19, Today: Lite Star rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Duel gun shot 1.
12:20, Today: Lite Star rolled 15,10 using 5d6,5d6.  Duel gun shot damage 1.
12:20, Today: Lite Star rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Duel gun shot 2.
12:21, Today: Lite Star rolled 22,17 using 5d6,5d6.  Duel gun shot damage 2.
12:20, Today: Lite Star rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Duel gun shot 3.
12:21, Today: Lite Star rolled 20,23 using 5d6,5d6.  Duel gun shot damage 3.)

Justicar takes the blow to his armor from the light fist in stride but unrelenting he moves next to the TK held Phantasma and extends both hands. Again, he tries to disable the foe rather than kill him with far more lethal weaponry at his disposal; to deliver a Dual Electric Discharge... this time not forgoing laser targeting...

"Sorry, you forced this."

Actions -
Damage to Justicar: 10 {700 / 669}
Move: to within 8'ft of Phantasma out of melee reach but within Electric Discharge Range
Attacks: 1
09:03, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 27 using 8d6.  Justicar - Damage w/Dual Electric Dischargers {4d6 '8d6'}. – [roll=1650114225.93392.355584]

09:01, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 16 using 1d20+15.  Justicar - Strike with Dual Electric Dischargers {+12ST}, Laser Targeting {+3ST} [+15ST]. – [roll=1650114118.08293.355584]

This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Sun 17 Apr 2022.

13:32, Today: Crusader rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Sv v magic
Success?

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Sat 16 Apr 2022.

OOC: Still mostly surface damage, mechanical parts should not be exposed from damage yet. Based on precedent in other Palladium products, that seems to happen around the 100+ damage mark, where I start going full Terminator in appearance. Sadly, I will not gain a Horror Factor in the round when this happens unless the GM feels like having some fun.

"Let me guess." Winter Herald was looking at the monkey with a submachine gun, but speaking to Phantasma. "You are the automaton factory for these odd constructs. You seem able to only command one at a time, and I can meet that one and stop it single-handedly each time you make it, allowing my allies to engage safely. You remain outnumbered and outclassed."

He waited until Justicar's blasts were finished before continuing. "If you can, you should surrender or flee without return. I will honor either action."

He was simply going to do what he was already doing: meet the strange foe as they appeared, intercept them, and counterattack them down until Phantasma lost the will or ability to continue fighting.

OOC: Honestly, I'm hoping to break their will to fight before Justicar and Bellissma break their ability. Phantasma's ego seems to be writing checks I don't think their body will be able to cash.
19:55, Today: Winter Herald rolled 19 using 1d20+10.  Parry with knife.
19:55, Today: Winter Herald rolled 14 using 1d20+10.  Parry with knife.
19:56, Today: Winter Herald rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Simultaneous counterattacks.
19:56, Today: Winter Herald rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Simultaneous counterattacks.
19:58, Today: Winter Herald rolled 27 using 3d6+15.  Potential damage from simultaneous strike.
19:58, Today: Winter Herald rolled 22 using 3d6+15.  Potential damage from simultaneous strike.

03:41, Today: Crusader rolled 9 using 2d6.  Rounds to escape


See you guys next fight...

Lite Star lets the weapon do the talking. The first shot glances off Snowblind's icy form, the second and third strike home. Snowblind flexes away from the rounds as they strike him, but is unable to avoid the weapon's fire.
Winter Herald makes some defensive cuts to uzi-chimp. The animal, at this point, appears to be horribly injured. However, the uzi-chimp doesn't slow down, at all.
In fact, the uzi-chimp ignores Winter Herald and reaches one long arm to Bellissima's shoulder. Gripping her shoulder, the chimp swings itself onto Bellissima's back and shrieks at Winter Herald.
Snowblind, predictably, responds to Lite Star's attack. Unpredictably, he does so by coating everything, and everyone, within twenty feet in a sheet of ice. Lite Star, The Maharaja, Crusader, and Cicada all have to deal with the ice coating.¹
As Justicar moves towards Phantasma, the remains of the broken wall vanish. The chimpanzee's uzi disappears from the chimp's hand. Then the chimpanzee itself fades away. Phantasma calmly holds his hands up, and says, I shall zurrender to you, but I vill not azist you."
Justicar, perhaps attempting to avoid attacking someone that has surrendered, or maybe mis-timing the execution of the attack, bleeds electricity off through his armor and darkens the floor beneath his feet. [Private to JUSTICAR: ones alway miss]


¹Three points of damage, a melee action required to clear visual sensors or targeting is minus four (except for those with radar).

Bellissima frowned at Phantasma as she focused her telepathy at him, listening to his surface thoughts incase she can get advanced warning of him breaking his word. "Does anyone have manacles for this guy?"

She turned to look down to the combat down the hall and sent out her TK again, grabbing at Snowblind to restrain the villain and keep him from being able to dodge or parry attacks coming at him.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 212):

Justicar nods, thinking back... he's almost positive Phantasma has worked with Polaris in the past... he's a pro ~ VERY Dangerous!  A World Class A List Supervillain.  His mother would not work with anyone less 'professional' he sneers mentally.

"I'll accept that Phantasma.  We will not require any assistance from you."

Replying to Bellissima, "I can restrain him."

To which 'Karl' launches the damaged Drone-Delta but using its utility arms it detaches the slings used for the 3x still carried AK-47's to bind and blindfold Phantasma. While Drone-Ceti uses one of the two remaining carry harnesses in Justicar's suit compartments to ready Phantasma for carry to Navy Custody.

Then turning his loudspeakers down the hallway, "Exit cleared. Sentinels we are leaving!"

Actions -
'Karl' expends all HIS remaining 2 actions to set all this up.  I'm done for this melee pass.

[Private to GM: Yeah, I kind of figured a nat 1 was an auto miss... which is why I really didn't consider the damage rolled of any significance.  I'm sure Phantasma will slip away at some point but as long as he's not fighting us now.. I call that a victory!]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Mon 18 Apr 2022.

"Thank you, Phantasma. Today has enough death and pain without your talents being lost to the world." Winter Herald looked up at Justicar. "Negotiate an extraction. If they refuse, we will have to split between extracting Phantasma along with us, and fighting to force a disengagement."

"Unless, of course..." Winter Herald looked to Phantasma with a strange smile. "You would like to do this. I do not know why you were seeking to delay us, but I do not believe suicide is your plan, and I do not believe the death of your fellows in arms favors you in any way. This base is in danger. If you can talk the other two down, we can all leave this base together, and alive."

OOC: 20:18, Today: Winter Herald rolled 61 using 1d100.  Charm/Impress TN 50.

I guess I'm not her type. Or maybe The Smoulder is having an off day, one of the two.

20:18, Today: Winter Herald rolled 64 using 1d100.  Trust/Intimidate TN 65.

Close, yikes. Passed, but close.

In reply to Winter Herald (msg # 198):

Finally not having his attention too split Justicar regards the... {as best his sensors could determine in passive scans} cyborg [Winter Herald] assisting them...

"Uhm..sorry yes... ", gesturing to the now visible Bellissima, "..this lovely miss is Belissima... and who are you again?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:52, Mon 18 Apr 2022.

Having already designated targets with radar, backed up with a motion overlay and audio ques attached to a wire frame visual representation on her full vision HUD, having optical sensors ice coated was barely an inconvenience to Lite Star.  Setting the voice synthesizer to add a bit of extra threat to the electronic voice she uses, she moves closer to Snowblind.  Small ports on the left hand open and electricity starts to crackle between the contacts, on the right hand three foot long blades whisper from their sheath ports clicking into place, the razor honed single edges catch light like mirrors.

"Stand down and surrender." Lite Star intones addressing the icy villain hoping that the rounds she'd put in to him would make him comply.

(OOC: 1 Action intimidate. 10:44, Today: Lite Star rolled 96 using 1d100.  Intimidate 50% base.)

Suddenly unable to continue walking or even standing Crusader said aloud. "Cicada seems out of it. I am stuck in something. Could someone aid me?"

Snowblind, who has said nothing up to this point, finally opens his mouth. "Okay, youse got me. I give up."
Although most of the ice, and the mound of snow, suddenly melts at an unnatural rate, that which is within the cold wall does not. The cold wall, itself, continues to affect those caught in it (23 more points damage). Cicada emits a drooling groan, and nods as he points at Snowblind. Snowblind says, "I think he gives up, too. He ain't much with words, havin' a bug mouth gives ya a speech impediment."

With a frown on his face Goliat turns to the others. "Is it wise?" Not finding answer he waves his hand and lets the cold and sticky effect dissipate. "We need to move." He had the idea they where doing it to slow them down.

"I am not going to lie. I expected continued resistance." They then nodded to Justicar. "You may call me Winter Herald. I'll explain the name another time. We should leave, with them."

Normally, he would have questioned the restraints, but they actually would serve a purpose in requiring a moment for Phantasma to destroy the restraints or attack someone before simply leaving. The restraints were, in essence, a soft alert system.

Winter Herald moved to the door and paused. "There are many things that happened just now I am still processing. They can wait until we are clear. Is this everyone?"

He was ready to go, and he didn't grasp the duration of Adhesion. Magic was outside of his programming, as far as he knew.

Crusader felt very sleepy as she knelt there shivering. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to massage her ribs but couldn't feel them. Then she remembered she wore armor. Fat lot of good it did. She stood, her legs shaking. She spoke through chattering teeth, "Monkey guy and Flaggman are missing."

After looking at the shivering form of Crusader, he took a breath and made a few gestures and floated inside the room(15). A fire circle came to life around him. He was far enough of Crusader not to hurt him.

From over the radio:
[Private to group LESPradio: This is ChimpMan Zee.  We have secured the yacht at the dock with a little help from our friendly merc.  Do you need assistance where you are?]

Bellissima frowned as the villains surrendered.  She was not expecting that, at most she was expecting them to just run for it, although Cricket made some sense, because he was stuck and looking bad.   She wished she could read more than one person mind at a time, but at the moment she was focusing her telepathy on Phantasma, keeping track of the man's surface thoughts.

Turning her head toward Lite Star, Bellissima informed the armored heroine, "I am ready to go."   She was leaving the securing of the prisoners to the stronger members of the group.  But she would occasionally scan the area for thoughts from hidden individuals as she was still augmenting her eyes so that she could see the invisible.

With the villains surrendering Lite Star powered down the electric field and the blades slip back into their sheaths in the armours arm.  Speaking to the two villains.

"Ok, lets move you out, and make quick work of this."

Hovering over to the somewhat stricken Crusader who was getting warmed by Goliat.

"How are you doing.  If you need I can give you a carry out of here till you're ready to make it under your own power."

Then transmitting to all teams on their channel over the encrypted channel

[Private to group LESPradio: "We're heading for the harbour at best speed, keep eyes on the three prisoners.  Lets get to that yacht as quickly as we can."]

If Crusader accepts the offer she will pick the other woman up, again activating the high altitude de-icing heaters to help chase the chill away from the body armoured heroine, continuing Goliat's good work.

Mae Ha Rga rests a gentle, massive hand on the shoulders of each of the villains.  As they look up at him he looks down at each of them in turn with a pleasant smile, but does not move his hands so they know he is watching.
"Shall we move along?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Sat 23 Apr 2022.

Crusader nodded to Goliat, "Thank you." Her shivering had eased but she still accepted Light Star's offer. "It would be faster to get carried anyway."

Justicar regards all the villains finally coming to their senses that this fight was pointless.  He is a bit shocked at their sudden mass surrender, but he will not question it.. any sane person could see the fight was against them and continued attrition would have been far more painful for them... especially when they would NOT being paid for their suffering!

He nodded, "Fine we were NOT directed to attempt your apprehension, but WE are not soldiers. The Navy and US Marines which would soon be inbound... would not try to 'arrest' you either. We are by far the better option... the soldiers won't ask.. They'd just shoot."

"We will escort you to the Waterfall dock and the now secured Hydrofoil. Let's move out."

Justicar will hold position as his teammates direct and escort the villains, moving only enough to keep them ALL targeted in his HUD through the Tram station and to the Dock Justicar will fly not use the tram covering the prisoners as a Armed Escort.

Switching the Secure LESP Channel he replies to Chimpman Z ~
[Private to group LESPradio: +"Justicar here.  Crusader and I successfully met up with and joined forces with the Strike Team and we have achieved a surrender of villains Phantasma, Cicada, and Snowblind.  We are escorting them via tram to the Hydrofoil Dock.  No casualties. No injuries CMZ.  Expect us shortly. We also have with us an Ally ~ Winter Herald."+]