"What do you want to plot about Cdr. Varca? I know you want them taken alive, but if they put up a fight, what do we do? A few should be too drunk, I know I'm not getting myself killed trying to take the one in armor alive, we might wound him pretty bad. Where you want me to station myself?"

"Collyn, you and Krrsh should take up station in the hall between the staterooms in case one of them wants to... freshen up... or just collapse," Viridian suggests. "A nice gun in the face should keep 'em quiet."

"Varca... you should sit in the far command chair, back to the airlock, so when Murdo steps on to the bridge, he won't see  you right away. Then you speak and turn to face him! Get all piratey dramatic with him."

"They way I see it, he's going to want to double check the bridge first thing... and maybe not even take off his armor just yet. I expect him to want to shoot first and ask questions later... or not bother at all. Clearly, his first reaction is going to be that the ship has been compromised."

"I'll take the Comms/Sensors station, and Taliesa should take cover behind the closer command desk so she can shoot around the corner straight at Murdo."

"That'll give three of us to deal with the other two."

"We just don't have any way to change the layout at the moment."

"I wonder why the Admiral doesn't just take the ship? You think he'll be pissed we took it, or happy? If we could find it, he could have too."

"This piece of shrak?" Taliesa responds. "Wny would he even want it? And that's assuming he knows it's here."

"Keep in mind, too, that there are a dozen pirate factions, all vying for their own superior place in the hierarchy. Darokyn is the dominant one but still can't go against all of them."

"Besides, in places like Theev, there are layers and layers of conspiracies and intrigues. We certainly aren't privy to them."

Fortunately, the team doesn't have to wait long for the rest of Mercifuge's crew to return. They aren't loud or boisterous enough to announce their presence, so it isn't until the outer airlock starts to cycle that you realize they've returned, although Viridian was monitoring the systems from the comm station on the bridge.

"So how much longer we gotta wait for Silverhand to return?" one of them asks as they step onto the bridge.

"As long as it takes!" a gruffer voice snaps back. "I swear you whine too much, Lu?"

"Chill it, Murdo! I was just asking. Figure she might have told you something. It certainly wouldn't have been me!"

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 47):

OOC: Varca (retroactively) approves Viridian's plans.  Make it Happen!
Everyone should be in the locations mentioned by Viridian, ready to follow his plan.

Collyn -- make sure you've "familiarized" yourself with a couple locations you can teleport to.  I/Varca would like for you to be out with the ambush group in the Common Area (at least, start there).  Suggestions for spots you might "familiarize":
... a good hidden spot (or two) in and around the Common room that you can teleport/retreat to during the fight, if needed, and get your bearings to make surprise teleport attacks.
... a spot on the Bridge close to where Varca will be (you ain't got a gun, son). You might be able to disable Murdo's armor suit, maybe, with that glowing toothpick of yours, without having to kill him.
... a spot just outside the outer airlock door (technically back out on The Skull), both as a means to get ahead of anyone who runs, as well as a means for your own escape, if needed.
... And do not forget that if/when the fecal matter impacts the rotary air circulator, you can always bug-out to your quarters aboard Vultan (assuming you have the range).

Krrsh--Varca assumes 2 things with you...that these guys might recognize/know you.  Varca further assumes that, with our group pointing lots of weapons at them (except for Murdo, probably) they will tend to want to believe you, when you tell them to drop their weapons and they'll live.  Be Prepared For That Moment!

Okay, ya buncha Vicious Space Pirates -- let's do us some Recruiting!!  ^_^

You notice another person who has followed Murdo, Frad, and Lu as they enter the bridge. She's a very attractive redhead with her hair in a messy bun, wearing what seems to be reflec armor and with a revolver in her belt. She is ever so slightly unsteady on her feet and her green eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the situation on the bridge, including the many guns pointed in her direction.

She slowly removes her gun from her belt and holds it out by the trigger guard. "What's all this then?" she asks. "This how you treat potential new crew members?"



This message was last edited by the GM at 01:01, Tue 28 Feb 2023.

     Holding out her revolver, and again looking around the large Bridge, Kira quickly comes to the conclusion that the 'many guns' pointed at her and her so-called Crewmates is actually only 3 guns -- and that they are all pointed straight at that piece of crap, Murdo.

     The 3 shooters facing the crew of Mercifuge are all placed around the Bridge so that all of them have great line of sight to anybody standing in front of the door into the Bridge -- like Kira, Murdo, Frad and Lu are, right now.

     All 3 of the shooters are wearing sealed, hardened space armor (something Navy types call a "Boarding Suit"); done up in unmarked black with the faceplates opaqued.  One of them is sitting in the Captain's Chair--he'd had his back to the airlock door when all of you entered--leaving it to the other two to use their suit-amplified voices to order you to drop your weapons.

     That one slowly turns the seat around and joins his companions in pointing a large pistol...at Murdo,

     "Actually...No.  This isn't how we treat potential new crewmates." the one sitting in the Captain's Chair says, via his suit, in an apparently male voice,

     "Them we give a thousand credit sign on bonus, then buy 'em a drink.  However...for the Crewmates of the recently deceased and unlamented Captain Silver--or maybe you were privileged enough to call her Silverhand--we use the much more cheerful 'Drop Your Weapons Or Die' method of recruitment."

     The helmeted head shifts ever-so-slightly, giving the impression the wearer is now looking straight at Murdo.

     "I'm not screwing around, Murdo.  Silverhand is dead.  I blew her up into tiny pieces, myself.  Now me and my people possess Silverhands command codes, and we've taken over this ship.  And--because I'm still feeling the afterglow of blasting your old boss all over the walls of her little hidey-hole, down on the planet--I'm gonna give you a choice...first, you either drop your weapons or die...then, if you drop your weapons, I'll offer you a place in my organization at fair pay and loot shares--and likely better working conditions--or I'll let you grab your personal possessions and walk away--never to cross my path, ever again."

     "Same deal to all of you!  Drop your weapons, and I'll take you on as crew.  Or, if that ain't to your liking, and you don't cause any trouble, you can walk away."

     "Silverhand is dead.  I'm taking her ship--this ship.  You can stay and crew for me, or you're free to go your own way.  I should point out that your fellow crewmen, who went down to the planet with Silverhand--your buddies Drem and Gwyr--are currently in Medbay on my other ship, recovering from the fight and very happy to have found a new Boss who won't use them as Human Shields.  Like Silverhand did."

     The guy sitting in the Captain's Chair raises his pistol just a little, aiming more clearly at Murdo,

     "So...what's it gonna be?  Drop your weapons--Now!--or we open fire..."

"Ahem, we do have you surrounded you know, drop your weapons or you will die right here!" Collyn's blade comes out of his hand as a bright green light. It pulses as if breathing!

As Kira casually drops her revolver with a clatter, she flashes a disarming grin and raises her hands slightly in surrender. "Well, now that we're all playing nice, can we get some introductions?" she says, looking around the bridge at the three armed and armored figures.

"I'm Kira, and I guess I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But hey, if you're looking for a skilled pilot and gunner, I'm your girl. I don't know much about these guys,"" she nods towards Murdo and his companions, "but I'm definitely interested in hearing more about this recruitment situation you've got going on."

As she speaks, Kira takes a small step away from Murdo, hoping to avoid getting caught in the crossfire if he gets shot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:01, Thu 02 Mar 2023.

If you'd asked anyone about Murdo who knew him (and there weren't many who did), they'd have said he was a piece of work. He was from the Old School of 'shoot first and don't bother asking stupid questions'. He only negotiates from a position of strength and has relied on his aggressive reactions and reflexes to give him that position.

He doesn't see himself as being outnumbered in the current situation--he just sees a target-rich environment. He doesn't really know the threat level you all possess but he still expects his crewmates to back him.

He's already discounted those behind him in the airlock as Collyn has effectively blocked the others. He only spots Varca and Viridian, so 2-1 odds are in his favor.

Although feinting isn't in his repertoire, he's learned a few little tricks over the years that have served him well and serve the same purpose.

His movement to surrender actually turns into a dive for cover as he draws his own weapon and shoots at both Varca and then Viridian.

23:59, Today: Murdo rolled 14,15 using 2d6+6,2d6+6 ((5,3,5,4)).

00:23, Today: Murdo rolled 11,13 using 3d6,3d6 ((6,2,3,5,2,6)).

His unexpected reaction scores two hits--Varca gets hit for 17 points of AP3 gauss pistol damage while Viridian gets hit for 20 points of AP3 gauss pistol damage.

One other shot rings out almost immediately.

00:33, Today: Taliesa Dieros rolled 17,12 using 2d6+5,3d6 ((6,6,4,2,6)).

No doubt more shots and shouting ring out before silence once again descends on the bridge.

Kira quickly dives for cover behind one of the consoles on the bridge, grabbing her dropped revolver in the process. She rolls behind the console with fluid grace, keeping her head down and assessing the situation.

Collyn leaps forward and tries to take the hand with the gun, off at the wrist!

08:41, Today: Collyn Ramburton rolled 15 using 2d6+4.  to hit., what do I roll for damage here for sure? Just 2d6?

09:54, Today: Collyn Ramburton rolled 8 using 2d6.  damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Wed 01 Mar 2023.

Viridian would have shot back... except for two things--he was in too much pain! And he'd lost sight of Murdo.

Nearly across the room from the action, it was all he could do to keep his laser pistol pointed in the general direction.

"AAAAGH!" Lu screams as he drops to the floor with his hands behind his head. The unexpected guests and Murdo's crazy actions were more than he could cope with!

"DON'T SHOOT! DON'T SHOOT! I GIVE UP!" he yells from the floor.

"No freakin' way!" Taliesa shouts in a mixture of shock and awe as she scrambles to her feet.

"He's dead! I killed him! I killed Murdo!"

"I mean, yeah, I was supposed to shoot him if it came to that, but... he was suddenly just there! A foot away from the end of my gun! I just shot! Point blank shot right between the eyes! How freakin' weird is that?"

Collyn's sword does 2d6+2 damage with AP10!

Under the circumstances, that's probably enough to cut Murdo's gun hand clean off!

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 59):

     "Gauss guns!" Varca snarls from his seated position, slamming his gauntleted free hand down on the arm of the now perforated Captain's Chair,

     "Why am I always getting blasted by freekin Gauss Guns!!  Aaron!  Get over here.  Looks like I broke all those pretty bandages you put on me from before..."

     The faceplate on his helmet suddenly clears, and everyone can now see the pasty skinned, rugged and red-eyeballed face of the man who now claims to be the new Captain of Mercifuge--a Vespexer; a barbarian thug from the poisoned planet of Drinax.

     The man has an almost manic smile on his face, and his eyes are just a little too wide open--as the holes in his armor fill with a pink foam sealant which quickly turns maroon as it hardens.

     "Thankfully, my suit's medkit is full of all the tastiest painkillers."

     "Alright, then, let's get this crap started and outta the way..."

     "First--Taliesa!  Nice shooting, Marine!  You get a bonus for shooting Murdo before I could."

     "Second--my apologies, everyone.  We were told that Murdo would be an ass about this and I should have listened.  The plan should have been to put lots of holes in Murdo, right of the start.  My apologies for the bad tactics.  I promise, next time we Nuke 'em first, then collect the pieces, afterwards."

     "Alright, then ... Frad!  Lu!  Get over here!  And you, too..." the bleeding Vespexer points at Kira, "whoever the frack you are, Miz We-Didn't-Know-You'd-Be-Here!  Care to give us a name, before we steal your lunch money then kick you out of the ship?"

     The Vespexer swings his free hand to hook a thumb at himself,

     "My name is Commander--and that's all you get until and unless you decide to join up with my organization.  An organization which happens to be in the process of hunting down a piece of scum named Ferrick Redthane.  As I said before, I looked up Silverhand to ask her for help and she refused.  Now she's dead and her ship is mine.  I could use a few new faces around the group--the pay is fair, loot shares ain't bad, and we eat pretty good."

     "I ain't forcing you.  You interested in signing on, we're serious about it.  You ain't feeling the vibe, just say so, and we let you walk."

     The Vespexer raises his hand to wave at Frad and Lu, "These two I know who they are..."

     He turns his helmeted head to Kira, "Like I said, we didn't expect you--you're a complete surprise to us.  I'll ask again, who are you, and why should we care?"

"*groan* Mama said there'd be days like this..." he muttered through the pain.

"KIRA?!" he nearly shouted despite the pain. "Kira Cerise O'Neill! What the frackin' hell brings you here?"

She'd been behind the other three, particularly bulked-up armored Murdo and Viridian was still halfway across the bridge. She knew he was from Theev. That kind of secret was hard to hide in this neighborhood.  Had she come looking for him? Or was she just checking out the pirate base?

He hadn't seen her in just under a year now... ever since the Kinsolving Caper had blown up in their faces. Scatter and go to ground to avoid getting captured... that had been the plan.

"You really didn't come all this way just for that drink I owe you, did you?"

"Relax, Varca. She's one of the good guys. You know--like us. We had some... good times... and interesting adventures... over the past decade. All roads lead to Theev... isn't that what they say? We were bound to reconnect at some point... you know, considering our... um, proclivities."

"Though even I didn't see THIS coming."

"Well, well, well," Kira says with a smile, looking at Viridian. "If it isn't my old friend Viridian. I didn't expect to run into you here. And yeah, I could use that drink."

"I must say, I wasn't expecting this kind of welcome committee when I dropped in," she adds, seemingly amused. "Your man with the holes in him there thought I might be interested in working for this Silverhand character, but it seems the whole situation has taken quite a turn."

Kira casually leans back against the console, her revolver back in the holster. She's not worried about any immediate danger; she's been in enough scrapes to know when it's safe to let her guard down. Besides, she's more interested in finding out what this crew is all about.

"Well, it's no secret that the pirate Ferrik Redthane somehow got on the outs with the Big Cheese, Admiral Darokyn," Viridian answers Kira.

"He then got it into his head that he could garner support from some of the other pirate lords by pulling off a raid on Clarke and Torpol. He succeeded doing that. The Mercifuge here was one of his ships."

"Anyway, Clarke and Torpol put up outrageous bounties to bring him to justice. That's what we plan on doing."

"The rest of the pirates here could give a rat's arse one way or the other, but Redthane had sent his second-in-command, Miria Silverhand, to... negotiate... with the other pirates. We don't really know which ones or what her... bargaining chip was, but she was our line to Redthane... to where he's hiding. We underestimated her loyalty to him. Now she's dead, and this ship and crew are our new line."

"So, now we have two ships in our little fleet. We sort of promised captaincy to Captain ... Grunge here." He indicated the rather scruffy-looking Vargr that was still goggle-eyeing the scene.

"Oh, snap out of it, Grunge! You saw worse than this on the Fortranza when that damn bug was hunting us!"

"Sign me up!" Lu chimes in after hearing Viridian's tale. "Hate that guy! Always trying to lord it over everyone. We're just little rodents to him. Well, give 'im his due--he is a pirate. Guess he's pretty good at it. We ain't gotten rich yet, though."

Glancing down at the dead Murdo with his severed hand laying about a foot away, Frad is still trying to process what has happened, but it slowly sinks in.

"Ain't got no other prospects just now," he finally says. "Guess you got an experienced Mercifuge crewman if you want one. Say, that bounty don't apply to us, does it?"

Kira listens to Viridian's explanation with interest, nodding along as he speaks. "I see," she says when he finishes. "Well, it sounds like you've got a real mess on your hands. But I've been in worse situations before, so if you need a hand, I'm happy to help out."

She looks over at the rest of the crew, taking stock of the situation. "So, what's the plan?" she asks, turning back to Viridian. "How do we track down this Redthane guy and bring him to justice?"

Collyn collapses his mind blade and watches, not touching his gauss pistol. Varca assumed he didn't have a gun, he did, but he preferred the blade.