Once the Vultan leaves the Royal Stardock, you begin to pick up comm chatter between the Hawk Warriors and the other searchers, one of which is Grand Admiral Propenski. Not only have the Hawk Warriors been reluctant to sound the alarm (to whom?, but there simply aren't that many searchers available.

The other searchers are Prang, a retired Vespexer asteroid miner in his rock-hopper, 5th Count of Construction Milo Merrill and 18th High Galaxian Zed Duran, both using skimmers.

The King recently imported a Velantian Vole onto the planet in order to hunt it. He was scouting the terrain as part of his 'routine patrol' in preparation for his next hunt. The patrol was flying around and into the Pillars of Night. These are the skeletal remains of one of Drinax's great arcology cities that once was home to a million people.

Reaching to the sky like massive skeletal fingers, these bonded superdense support struts and frames, now sheathed in the melted and bubbled remains of the rest, are all that survive the ortillery-bombed city.

Thousands of these girder-fingers rise from the wreckage below at random angles. The strong ferromagnetic content of the Pillars makes the place a huge field of lightning rods – a bolt might jump between a dozen pillars before it finds its way to earth. This also produces ideal conditions for storms to spawn. One such storm currently rages below; it could last for days.

Note that the Floating Palace is not stationary. Its 20 titanic anti-gravity generators keep it aloft, but are incapable of providing any motive force to it. However, its neutral buoyancy means that it is dragged along by the planet's gravity field. Thus, while the planet has a 21-hour day, it takes the Floating Palace 22.3 days to orbit the planet, meaning that it gives the appearance of always lagging behind.

The Pillars make navigation of all kinds difficult, and jam sensors. They are, however, great to fly through if you are in a wing-harness like the Hawk Warriors, especially during a storm.


Gathered from the comms between the commander of the Hawk Warriors bodyguard squad, Brie Tollar, and the other searchers, she is genuinely worried. Quite used to the King's eccentricities, this is not one of Oleb’s pranks, where he will show up in a week’s time with a hangover the size of a mega-freighter. She heard the king’s last distress call over their short-wave comm, and Oleb was not in control.

The Hawk Wing was scattered over nearly fifty kilometres of territory as they searched the Pillars for the Vole's lair or at least it's current location. Released into the Pillars a month ago, the Velantian Vole is an exceedingly dangerous lifeform that the king could hunt... From a distance. With a gauss rifle. From the air. For that is the only safe way to hunt a Velantian Vole.

Another Hawk Warrior from the squad went missing at the same time as King Oleb, a strapping young chap named Miles Merrill. He may have fallen victim to the same misfortune as the King.


Locating the Pillars from your current location requires a Difficult (10+) Electronics (Sensors) check (INT) and will take 1d6 minutes.

Approaching the Pillars closely enough for your sensors to have even a hope of locating King Olem through all the interference requires a Very Difficult (12+) Piloting check (INT) taking 1d6+1 minutes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:19, Sun 07 May 2023.

     As Theo is skillfully piloting Vultan away from the Floating Palace, Varca scans for a flight vector to the ruined city now called "The Night Pillars".  As soon as he has it, he sends the flight vector up to Theo.

OOC: Varca Lexand rolled 9 on 2d6+1 using Vultans sensors to Locate the Night Pillars from the Palace.

Theo had some trouble flying here!

12:03, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  pilot. needed a 12!

Teddy flew among the pillars as the sensors searched for signs of the two men and the beast!


13:50, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 10 using 2d6+4.  pilot. If the +2 Zhouth spoke about is to be added yet, the roll is 12.

Technically, the Vultan's 'Advanced Sensors' are only Tech-14, which is Drinax's current Tech Level despite it getting listed as 15 in many places--probably just a case of wishful thinking. That means that they aren't quite good enough to augment Varca's Sensors skill by much... normally. However, not only are the Sensors military-grade, but this was an area of tech R&D that Drinax was on the cusp of.

The Floating Palace has floated on past the point where the King was reported to have gone down, and the one piece of data not yet uncovered is how far away from the Pillars the Palace was when the King decided to go on patrol. Even so, Varca has no problem getting the sensors to work around the Floating Palace and through the storm, which further helps by being focused and concentrated on the Night Pillars. The sensors pinpoint the Pillars about 10 kilometers astern.

Varca has seen worse storms on the surface; he's even seen larger, more tangled ruins, but he's never seen the two together... and at night at that. It's a terrible and wondrous  sight to behold! And he has to out in it!


With Kira's assistance, Teddy flies the ship to the Pillars, dodges and weaves around a few lightning strikes, and now has to continue search-flying or set down somewhere to start a foot search.

Each minute of searching requires an additional Difficult (10+) Piloting (Dex) check now that you know what you are dealing with. Each minute lets the sensor wizards do their thing.

Finding a suitable landing site requires a Difficult (10+) Piloting (INT) check to spot it and a Very Difficult (12+) Piloting (DEX) check to land without a mishap.


Sensors can pick up the other four ships searching the area as well as the six Hawk Warriors, but they are scattered over a wide area and sensor contact is sporadic because of the storm.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 5):

07:04, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

07:04, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 9 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

07:04, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

07:04, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 6):

     Varca ponders his scan parameters now that the ship has reached the ruins.  If he assumes that Oleb has been trained for survival on the planet surface--obviously not to the extents of equaling a Vespexer--then assuming he managed to make a non-fatal landing, and knowing that the Palace was close but floating away from him...Varca assumes that an injured Oleb would seek some kind of shelter and wait for rescue.  The best chance of shelter would be in the ruins.

     So, if Oleb landed outside the ruins, he'd be trying to get to them.  If he landed inside the ruins--more likely since that's where he was hunting...~~Sport Hunting, what a moron~~ Varca thinks to himself...that's where he was hunting his imported Vole--then he's already in the ruins and will go to ground there.

     "Being hunted, himself, by the Vole..." Varca mumbles out loud, to himself.

     Varca opens a comm circuit to the Bridge,

     "Captain, you can begin your search pattern, now.  Please begin by circling over the ruins, from the outer perimeter, circling in to the city center.  As slowly as you can, please, given the severe weather."

     "The Palace has generally floated north and west from when contact was lost with the king, so start your search pattern over the southern part of the city and circle around counterclockwise--from the south to the west to the north, etc.  I know it'll be difficult but try to keep as low abouve the ruins as you can--both the ionization from the storm as well as metals in the ruins picking up ionic and magnetic charges are gonna play bloody hell with the sensors, so we need to be close."

     "Is anyone sitting at the Comm Station on the Bridge?  You can help out by scanning all the comm frequencies currently in use on Drinax--that should only be a hundred or so channels--but specifically keep watch for those frequencies being operated at extremely low power levels.  Watch for signals under fifty-thousand Hertz.  The King's comms may be damaged or have little power available, plus the ruins could be blocking the signal.  So, watch for comm anomalies at lower power ranges.  We'll be scanning for that, too.  But, y'know, the more hands at the task..."

     "Zouth--the onboard database should have a simple list of the materials that the Kings Hawksuit is made from--after all, that's not a strategic secret.  A lot of the materials used in the ruins will be the same, but we should scan for a small trace of exactly what the suit is made of in a single location.  Also, I'm thinking that--hopefully--the Kings suit hasn't lost all power.  So, we search for active power traces, too."

     "Finally, the reports said that his 'grav-belt' failed--but everyone knows that Oleb is so fat that his Hawksuit requires triple redundancy for his grav-flight systems.  It's possible that he only had a partial failure of those systems--he didn't have enough power to stay airborne, but he might have had enough to make a relatively safe landing.  That's my hope, anyway.  But that got me to thinking--if the Kings suit has any power, and even a single grav-node on his suit is getting power--we might be able to locate the gravity anomaly of that active node.  Again, a slight hope, but maybe something."

     "Okay, let's get to it."
This message was last updated by the player at 17:25, Tue 09 May 2023.

Teddy flies low and slow circling the towers, trying to give the sensor guys time to search thoroughly! He hits a rough spot, turbulents from the storm.

12:34, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 9 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

12:34, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 16 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

12:34, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

12:34, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

12:33, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

12:33, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 13 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

Zhouth spoke over the comms from his sensor suite station. "Spotting anything in the way of electromagnetic emissions in the middle of this place? Well, I'll try, but the densitometer... wait, which section was that again... and other tools for gravity, that sounds more promising, and... umm... wait, don't we have neural?" His voice sounded increasingly distracted as he spoke, eventually trailing off entirely.


I think that this is actually a 10 due to the advanced sensor suite?

01:41, Today: Zhouth rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Sensors.

[Aboard Vultan, Portside Countermeasures Suite]

     Varca begins a sensor sweep, looking for some trace of King Oleb.

OOC:
   Varca Lexand rolled 10 using 2d6+1, +4 for Advanced Military Grade sensors, totals 14.  The Base Difficulty for this Task is normally Routine (6+), but this could be adjusted higher due to environmental conditions.
   Versus Routine (6+) Difficulty this generates an Effect of 8, which is Exceptional Success: succeeding in an impressive and elegant fashion.
   I'm actually assuming that the Difficulty is probably Difficult (10+) [A Difficult task is difficult even for a trained professional.  Examples might be making an accurate shot in the middle of a ferocious storm, defending a client in court when he is clearly guilty, hacking into a secure computer network, or spotting the flash of sunlight reflecting off a sniper’s scope], which generates an Effect of 4, which is Average Success: The Traveller succeeds normally.
   For the time it will take to complete this scan Varca Lexand rolled 4 using 1d6; 4 x 10 minutes is 40 minutes.  It will take 40 minutes to complete this scan.

With Teddy in the Pilot's seat, that left Kira in the Co-Pilot's seat, which was any ship console that she configured for helm operations. So she was at normal Astrogation, split screen between Piloting and Sensors.

She was impressed with the deftness Teddy displayed as he dodged through the nets of lightning that bounced among the exposed structural beams of the old arcology city. She was amazed at both the fact that the beams still remained and the weapons that laid them bare,

Her Piloting assistance was hardly needed and her Sensor skill was just as bad as the others'.

Still, she sat there as back-up... just in case there was a mishap. Maybe she could mitigate it.

03:01, Today: Kira Cerise O'Neill rolled 10 using 2d6+4 ((5,1)). Sensor analysis.

It wasn't that the sensors weren't picking up stuff,,, in fact, it was the other side of the coin--they were picking up EVERYTHING! Twice, three times... electronic reflections, lightning rebounds, magnalloy echoes, duranium shadows, ionizing interference... hell, sometimes they interfered with themselves!

As per Varca's suggestion, she started overlaying one filter after another, looking for even the glimmer of a natch.

"Got the suit covered. Viridian insisted I snag it on Torpol while you were in all those meetings," she responded over a shoulder.

"It looks like his Hawksuit is made of the same material as the arcology's superstructure--bonded superdense polycarballoy. Unless he had a recent upgrade, we're not going to be able tell them apart."

Not an expert on sensors, Ingrid focused on running her diagnostics and taking in the astonishing sights of the shattered city. In some ways, seeing that made her own quest feel almost petty. She felt she understood the Drinaxi in a way she hadn't before. She remained quiet, lost in those thoughts.

Teddy is flying along, and runs into a bit of trouble when the ship got hit by a couple of bolts of energy. "Lend a hand Kira! A little rough here!"

04:44, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 6 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:44, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 10 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:43, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 6 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:43, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:43, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:43, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

[Aboard Vultan, Portside Countermeasures.  Planet Drinax.]

     Varca is intently focused on his work, when--just a few minutes into the search--Zhouth calls him from Starboard Countermeasures and downloads some pretty accurate data revealing just about everything they are looking for.

     "What?!!  You can't...!  How did...?" Varca exclaims, trying to process it all,

     "What Hawkman?!!"

     After getting this surprise out of his system, Varca double checks the data and gets it.

     "Oh, right.  Early reports said that one of the Hawkmen flying with Oleb followed him down.  That Hawkman.  Umm, okay.  Again, Zhouth, all that high-falootin Imperial training of yours pays off!"

     "Jesu Kristi, but you gathered all that data in what must be record time!"

     Varca opens a circuit to the Bridge,

     "Countermeasures to Bridge.  Sending you location of two--repeat two--likely search targets.  Designated Hawk-One and Hawk-Two.  Indications are that Hawk-One is most likely Oleb, hold up in a cave.  Hawk-Two is likely the Hawkman bodyguard who followed him down.  Sending you map coordinates...now...along with early topographical sketch of entire area.  We'll keep refining that, but it should be enough to find the general location, where you can spot your own landing site."

     "Be advised, other activity has been detected in that area.  A Hawkman patrol is close.  And we're pretty sure we've identified movement from that Vole-critter and its stalking Hawk-One.  Also, more movement that looks to be a hunting party of Vespexers who look to be stalking the Vole."

     "This data looks pretty firm, Captain.  Recommend making for Hawk-One location, immediately.  Also recommend hailing the Hawkman patrol--send following message--'Vultan to Hawkman Patrol Lead.  Your son is within one-hundred meters of map coordinate AA degrees, BB minutes and CCCC seconds, north by XX degrees, YY minutes and ZZZZ seconds east.  Advise immediate extraction'."

     "Send that message exactly, Theo, and it'll keep those Hawkmen off our backs."

     "We'll keep refining the sensor data of the terrain around Hawk-One--you should have enough, now, to find us a landing spot somewhere close."

     "Countermeasures to Bridge.  Over To You."

Teddy sends the exact message to the Hawkmen that were searching for the King. Then he located a flat spot a hundred meters or so from the cave entrance and set the Vultan down perfectly!

11:28, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+4. Land

Teddy climbed out of the Pilot's seat and went to get his Gauss rifle. He called over comms, "Who we got for an away team Varca. We need to get to him quick. We need Ingrid to keep the engines warm and someone to stay on comms to coordinate between us and the Hawkmen. We have to have enough men to defend against the Vole too, and the Vespexers if necessary!"

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 16):

     Varca had gone to Portside Countermeasures immediately upon stepping aboard Vultan, back at the Palace, so was still dressed in his polished-up Hazard Suit.  Now that Vultan had landed (hopefully) near to The King, Varca switched control of Portside Countermeasures up to the Bridge and went to change into his Raider suit.

     "I'd like to keep at least three people on board, Theo." Varca answers, as he steps into the portside lift, "I think Chief Engineer Ingrid is an excellent choice to leave in charge--let her get a feel for The Big Chair, eh?  I'd also like to have someone monitoring both Comms and Sensors from the Bridge, keeping an eye on the air and ground.  One person can double-up on this or assign one person to each job--because I think we also need to leave someone sitting at the Gunners Station, with the Particle Barbette charged and ready to fire."

     "If we're correct and that is The King in that cave, then we are responsible for the safety of the Monarch.  So, let's enact--and enforce--a No Approach zone around the ship."

     Having reached his quarters, Varca starts to quickly change into his Raider suit,

     "As I've been saying for the past week, Theo--nobody goes outside this ship, here on Drinax, unless they are wearing spacesuit level protection, or a Vespexer-grade Hazard Suit.  Rejji and myself will be going outside, of course.  Both you and Aaron have experience out on the surface--and I want Rejji to glue himself to Aarons side!  Aaron will need to focus all his attention on Oleb, so Rejji will need to focus all his attention watching out for Aaron."

     Varca slides into the torso section of his suit,

     "Computer.  Open intercomm to Zhouth.  Zhouth?  I'm assuming that you just can't wait to step outside and enjoy the refreshing Drinax environment..." Varca jokes, "Am I correct, or would you rather stay aboard--where the weather is sane?"

     While waiting for an answer, Varca pulls the suits helmet over his head and has the onboard computer begin a suit seal check.

Since the previous was all being said over general ship comm:

"I lived in an asteroid!" he exclaimed back. Drinax isn't so bad, environment-wise. It's all the other things that want to eat you that worry me out there. But, umm, if we're leaving three then they should be comms, pilot, and guns, right? Ingrid can handle comms but not so much the other two, so if you and Theodore and Aaron and Rejji are already heading out, that means that the other two jobs are between Donio, Kira, and me; and, well, Kira is the only one who is any good at those."

"I know that you won't like this, but if Theodore and Aaron are both critical then you're the next-best pilot among the people that weren't sent off at the palace, and by next-best I mean that you actually know how to operate the controls and not send the ship straight into a pillar, so maybe it should be you and Kira staying with Ingrid?"

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 18):

     While waiting for his suit to finish the seal check, Varca started strapping his snub pistol and holster to the outside of the suit's right thigh--when Zhouth suggested that it would be beneficial for him to remain aboard.

     "WHAT?!" Varca exclaimed, then thought it through and realized Zhouth had a point.

     "No-no-no-no, Zhouth--No!  I can't be the Drinaxi--the Vespexer!--who doesn't rush to The Kings aid!  It...it just... it wouldn't look good!  There'd be whispers questioning my loyalty.  Technically, Theo should stay aboard--both because he's The Captain and he's a pilot--but he has to go after Oleb, for the same reason!"

     "Okay, wait-wait-wait!  Lemme think about this!  You and your fracking Logic...!" Varca mumbles, "Right.  Kira is the best pilot after Theo--but until we lift off, she'd just be sitting there.  How about this..."

     "Kira stands ready to fly, but until any actual lift off, she runs the Guns and watches the sensors.  We'll keep Donio aboard to back her up on sensors."

     "Ingrid has the Conn--and while she keeps an eye on the engines, keeping the ship prepped for lift off, she can also monitor Comms."

Since she was neither the primary Pilot nor the primary Sensor Op, it was a bit easier multi-tasking the two tasks. She wanted to be the best Pilot, but realized she might never be able to surpass Teddy simply due to the  logistics. Of course, once he got married, that could change things.

And nobody was perfect. Constantly dodging the flashing and rebounding lightning bolts while fighting the buffeting winds and compensating for the ionizing distortion took its toll--Teddy missed one!

That was the very reason she sat in the Co-Pilot's seat. When Teddy was a bit slow in jigging away from a lightning bolt, Kira attempted to jink the ship the other way to avoid it.

03:17, Today: Kira Cerise O'Neill rolled 14 using 2d6+3 ((6,5)).

WOW! That may have actually done it!

The second one came when he was landing the ship... she may not have dodged that one, though, but it was close.

03:18, Today: Kira Cerise O'Neill rolled 12 using 2d6+3 ((4,5)).

Does she get another cigar?

Teddy works his Piloting mojo against the storm as he weaves in, out, over, under, and around the blackened grasping girders of the old devastated arcology. If he was flying strictly by sensors, he'd probably have crashed the ship several times. It was only looking through the forward observation port (window) that he was able to turn the ship on its side to squeeze between two jagged beams at the last second since the momentary sensor glitch said it was 10 meters to the right.

He still managed to get hit by one lightning bolt out of a rapid-fire bundle that was more like ball lightning. Fortunately, Kira was able to pick up the slack and jink the ship out of the path of the lightning bolt at the last second.

The Vultan's wings made finding a suitable landing spot where they needed it a bit harder than normal, of course, lightning and winds and ionizing radiation notwithstanding.

Once again, Teddy reacted a bit slower than needed and overcompensated. A wingtip clipped a girder, skewed the ship into another bolt that rebounded off another beam that was only a meter away.

03:35, Today: StarMaster rolled 6 using 2d6 ((1,5)).

The Vultan takes 6 points of damage.

But the Vultan has landed.

The closest spot Teddy can find is about 120 meters from the spot where the sensors indicate King Oleb might be.


When you comm the Hawk Warriors, you receive a scratchy reply:

"This is Commander Brie Toller of His Majesty's Royal Hawk Warriors. I don't have a son. If you are referring to our missing comrade, then I thank you for the intel."


A moment later, you receive another comm:

"Milo Merrill here. That would be my son, the Hawk Warrior. Do you know if he's till alive?"

Sensors are barely able to register the rockhopper moving to that location.

Teddy, finally ready to disembark, answers the last comm before he departs the ship with the others. "Roger, it looks like they are both alive, sensors show lifesigns. The Vole is fast approaching, as is a vespexer hunting party. We are 120 meters away and on our way to secure. Please get there as fast as you can, you mat be desparately needed." He turns to Ingrid, "You have the con dear, keep us all in contact, and keep an eye on the vole and vespexers."

"Okay, alright, that should work. I just hope that we don't need it, and remember that there's some bad-intentioned person roaming around out there too." He paused for a moment, as if to gather his thoughts, before quietly adding, "I guess this means that I'm on the away team, doesn't it?"

He departed the sensor suite, took a brief detour to the medbay and was soon presenting himself in boarding gear at the airlock, along with a small bundle of medical gear and supplies.

"Varca, take over on the surface, you know the place a bit, we don't." Teddy says as they enter the air lock to exit to the surface.

OOC: sorry I got to this so late...



     "What?  No..." Varca exclaimed, "I mean, if you don't want to go outside, Zhouth, you don't have to.  It's frelling dangerous out there!"

     "If you prefer, please stay aboard and run sensors, directing us to the objective--that frees up Donio to come help carry Fat Oleb!  I just thought you might enjoy walking through a storm as powerful as most industrial sandblasters."

"I'm okay with that as long as there's actually an atmosphere," Zhouth's free hand flitted from one side to the other in imitation of a wind-blown leaf, and then swirled about near his face-plate. "And actually, even in the case of atmosphere-covered planets, the one that you have here? It isn't the worst one that I've spent time working in." His fingers wiggled about and then his hand returned to his side. "We wouldn't be looking for him there, not just because he wouldn't go out flying in it but because he'd have been long-dissolved by now."

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 26):

     "Heh--Yeah," Varca snickers, "Fluorine atmospheres do tend to get a little itchy after the first few nanoseconds..."

     Varca arrives at the airlock fully kitted out.  He's wearing a Raider Suit, with a thick, heavy bracer slid over and linked to the right forearm.  The bracer is a Snub Machine gun attachment, now attached and linked to the Suit (same capabilities as a P90, including a top loading magazine, holding 50 Snub ammo cartridges).

     In his left hand he's the carrying the same gunmetal-gray staff that he usually has magnetically clipped to the back of his Hazard Suit (and nobody has ever seen him actually use...for anything).  Two ammo pouches dangle from connection points at his suit's waist, each holding 3 spare clips. (4 of the clips are marked with a wide black stripe on top (AP Rounds) while two others are marked with a wide red stripe (HEAP Rounds).  Another black striped clip of Teflon-coated tungsten armor piercing rounds is already loaded in the forearm weapon.

     "Comm check--comm check." Varca transmits, "All open suit-to-suit comms will be on Channel Seven.  Repeat.  Suit-to-suit open comm on Channel Seven.  Ship-to-suit comm on Channel Five.  Everyone going outside, double check someone else's suit seals.  Nobody goes outside wearing a suit that doesn't fully seal."

---

OOC: Obviously, Varca can see what everyone is wearing & carrying, and wouldn't need to ask after this--however, I cannot see it, so I must ask for this answer!  What is everyone who thinks they are going off ship to look for Oleb actually wearing for protection and carrying for defense?
   Also, note that most Vacc Suits and/or other airtight protection suits generally have a default of 6 Hours of Life Support duration...

Teddy, having fully donned his raider suit, checks his radio comms between each other and the ship, carrying his Gauss rifle, checks Varca's suit to make sure he was properly sealed, then turned so Varca could check his as well. Then he readied to egress from the ship and find Fat Oleb. Maybe they'd be made nobles by the king, as a few were about to be tossed from the palace for treason.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 28):

[Night Pillars ruins, Planet Drinax.  Aboard Vultan.]

     "Aaron Comm Check." Aaron chimes in on channel 7, "One.  Two.  Varca's an Ass.  Three."

     "Rejji on seven." Rejji adds in, standing over a pair of linked polycarbonate poles which will expand into an airtight medivac stretcher, "Assigned to playing Meat Shield for the Doc."

     With the ground search party all geared up, Varca makes one final check, before heading outside,

     "Ground Team to Vultan.  Ship-to-suit comm check, Channel Five.  Are you reading, Vultan?"

^COMM-> "Loud and clear, Ground Team." Ingrid responds from the Bridge, "Since you are all still aboard the ship.  You got any final warnings about keeping in touch through that storm out there, Varca?" ^<-COMM

    Varca considers for a moment, before answering, "We're only going one hundred twenty meters, as long as we're outside, the signal strength should stay steady, but the storm will likely mess with the clarity.  We can expect to be asking to repeat things kinda often.  Surface wreckage likely won't provide enough signal blockage of any significance--but if Oleb has crawled into a cave of any depth, we could have signal loss with the ship once we go in."

     "Maybe one of us can stay at the mouth of the cave, to act as a comm relay.  We'll see what's what when we get there."

     "Okay.  Ground Team heading off ship." Varca sends over both channels, as he opens the inner door of the starboard airlock.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:09, Tue 16 May 2023.

"I'd appreciate the relay, but don't prioritize it over having enough people to make a proper rescue. Be careful down there. If you're out of contact for a while I may go mad with power. Hey, it's not every day I get to be in charge up here" Ingrid joked, trying to keep things light to cover up how much it would worry her if they lost contact..
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:10, Tue 16 May 2023.

Teddy follows right behind Varca heading toward the king. He watched his footing, not wanting to fall.

With suits on, the airlock isn't large enough for all of you to fit in at the same time, so first cycle puts Varca and Teddy in. Even as the outer door begins to open, the swirling, howling winds inject storm fingers into the airlock just to let you know it's still there. Although there isn't much debris left, the storm sucks it up from outlying areas and deposits it here.

As Varca cycles the airlock closed for Aaron, Zhouth and Rejji, a section of girder slams into the Vultan's hull only about a foot from Varca's head. The winds aren't as strong down here at ground level, but with the ground as a barrier, it produces more powerful gusts diverted and broken up by the girder wreckage of the arcology. Now deep within the ruins, sensors indicate the winds are stronger out on the periphery. Here, it never gusts hard enough to knock you off your feet, but it's touch-and-go for a bit.

And then Rejji, Zhouth and Aaron join you. Small pieces of debris slam into your suits, but none of it is sharp enough, large enough or strong enough to penetrate.

With all five of you outside now, you start moving in the direction of Oleb.


Back inside the Vultan, Ingrid is in command, Kira is at Helm/Comms, and Donio is on Sensors/Gunnery.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:25, Tue 16 May 2023.

As they walked, Zhouth wrapped his arms protectively around the medical equipment that he was carrying, presumably in an attempt to shield it from those same bits of flying debris. The medkit and other containers were reasonably sturdy, of course, but nowhere near to the degree that boarding armor plates were.

While that kept him from applying illustrative hand gestures, he nevertheless managed to mutter over their group comms, "If we see the vespexers, the creature is ahead of us and probably already eating Oleb. If we see the creature, maybe it will try to eat us instead of him, but stalling it until the vespexers show up to eat it is better. If it's the other person, well, they probably won't try to eat Oleb, unlike the others, but we still don't want them to find Oleb, you know?"

Teddy pushed forward behind Varca. The storm was a lot more violent and charged than he expected. The world did not look like it would ever even begin to recover from the bombardment. The world was a huge scar. "We're getting close now, the cave should be just ahead."

Even though you might have line-of-sight to the cave where Oleb is, the actual route is more twisted... moving around bent and twisted girders, stepping over or around pits and crevasses, ducking under cross beams, even retracing your steps at one point when you run into a wall.

And that's when the excrement hits the rotary oscillator. One moment it's not there and the next it is! A section of girders suddenly moves and attacks! It's the vole! Sweeping in from the rear, it slams into Rejji and then Varca and finally Teddy at the front. Aaron and Zhouth were a bit off to one side as they picked their way around girders.

14:25, Today: StarMaster rolled 18 using 2d6+7 ((5,6)).
To hit. With surprise and attack from the rear modifiers, that produces an Effect of 6!

That, of course, hits all three of you.

14:47, Today: StarMaster rolled 19,20,22 using 4d6+6,4d6+6,4d6+6 ((3,2,2,6,4,2,6,2,6,4, 4,2)).

The AP5 claws deliver 19 points of damage to Rejji, 20 to Varca, and 22 to Teddy.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 18:58, Fri 19 May 2023.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 35):

     Upon stepping outside Vultan, Varca almost immediately determines that the conditions are so bad that he'll be totally blind if he tries for any kind of direct vision.  So he opaques his helmet's faceplate and has the suit's PRIS system generate a multi-spectrum CGI image of the surroundings.


     While doing that does produce a more usable view of the surroundings, between the charged dust particles in the air and the elevated EM radiation being caused by the storm, his vision isn't much better than seeing through a fog.

     At least, with the sensor data that Zhouth gained, back aboard Vultan, Varca's faceplate display was putting up a small diamond-shaped image showing the location where King Oleb is supposed to be. All he has to do is walk towards that icon--and manage not to walk into or trip over anything along the way.

     After walking towards the display icon for several meters, Varca thinks he's detecting the presence of a wall of rubble, just ahead--when he hears a grunt of pain from someone over the open comm channel.

     As other voices start shouting over the channel, Varca quickly turns around to see what's happening--and is startled when a large, shadowy form comes charging out of the electronic fog that's hampering his eyesight.  He is starting to raise his snub-machinegun equipped right arm when he's hit by a terrific blow which spins him around.

     Managing to keep his feet as the large beast--Varca assumes it's the Vole-critter that Fat Oleb imported for hunting--which had hit him races past, he struggles against the pain and brings up his gun arm and fires Full Auto after the speedy shadow.

---

OOC:
After Attack:
   Took 9 Damage
   New Stats: STR 3 [-1] | DEX 5 [-1] | END 5 [-1]

Attacks:
   Snub-Machinegun -- Auto3; AP1; Rng: Short 7m (+1) | Close 25m (+0) | Long 50m (-1) | Extreme: 100m (-4).
     Assuming Short Range.
     Auto3 = 3 Rounds Fired.
     AP1 = Teflon-coated Tungsten penetrators = -1 Protection.

   Round #1: Varca Lexand rolled 10 to hit using 2d6+1 ((6,3)), & rolled 14 damage using 3d6-3 ((1,5,6)) and +2 Effect.
   Round #2: Varca Lexand rolled 5 to hit using 2d6 ((2,3)).  That's -3 Effect.  Clean Miss.
   Round #3: Varca Lexand rolled 5 to hit using 2d6 ((1,4)).  That's -3 Effect.  Clean Miss.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:39, Sun 21 May 2023.

Teddy following behind Varca, gets hit very hard from behind! He flies forward, spinning, he sees the vole, and fires his gauss rifle at the critter!

13:28, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 12 using 2d6+2.  to hit.
13:28, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 13 using 4d6 +4.  AP5  damage.
"Medic!"
I have no idea Rob. This part is not my strongpoint.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:41, Tue 23 May 2023.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 37):

     As he's blasting away at what he hopes is the beast that just attacked him, in his helmet Varca is issuing orders,

     "Medical Emergency!" Varca calls out to his Suit, "Activate Medkit.  Treat my injuries.  Do not, I repeat, do not put me under!  Keep me conscious and alert for as long as possible."

     "Acknowledged." his suit responds in his own voice, "Scanning...injuries detected. Implementing injections.  Warning.  Treatments may take several minutes to become effective."

I seem to be math-challenged these days, because no matter how many times I go over the AP rules, I get confused--can't remember what to add or subtract and from what. So I've come up with a work-around--I just add the AP to the damage done to get an 'adjusted' damage and just subtract the armor protection from that.  I'm sure there's a reason that doesn't always work, but it'll do for now.


In the midst of the storm full of driven dust, debris and even the occasional mini-squall of rain, Rejji never saw, never heard the creature as he probably walked right by it. And that helped make the surprise attack so devastating... that, and the fact that it came from an elephant-sized beast.

The slamming claw attack from the rear drove him forward and off to the right; it was all he could do to keep from getting knocked down. He also barely managed to keep from getting impaled on a jagged girder thrusting up from the ground.

All the while his suit was screaming about a breach which wasn't needed as the pain already told him that. As the purple self-sealing fibers-and-foam worked their magic to seal the suit back up, he took care of himself.

"Activate Suit-Doc," he managed to say through gritted teeth.

DAMAGE DELIVERED: 19 + 5 = 24
ARMOR PROTECTION: 24 - 16 = 8
DAMAGE TAKEN: -8 END; END = 6

0:45, Today: Rejji Harrasyn rolled 13 using 2d6+3 ((4,6)). Suit NediKit check.

Oooh, Good Suit-Doc! Effect of 5; END back up to 11.

NOW he turned his attention to the beast, which he sensed had moved past him, confirmed by the comm chat.

Bringing his ACR up to a firing position, he used the weapon's systems to try and locate the beast, managed to do so only when a flash of lightning reveals the beast, and then shot it!

BASE ATTACK #: 8
DEX: +1
GUN COMBAT: +2
SHORT RANGE (less than 225): +1
TARGET SIZE: +4

02:08, Today: Rejji Harrasyn rolled 15 using 2d6+8 ((6,1)). Attack roll.

Should be a hit even with the storm. Effect of 7!

02:15, Today: Rejji Harrasyn rolled 20 using 3d6+10 ((2,5,3)). Damage roll.

BASE DAMAGE 3D: 10
AUTO 3 BURST: +3
EFFECT BONUS: +7
TOTAL DAMAGE: 20!

Teddy activates his medkit too, "Activate medkit! Keep me awake!" His suit sealed itself as well and the medkit began it's work,

09:10, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 14 using 2d6+3.  medic. medkit
This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Sun 21 May 2023.

For no particular reason he could afterward think of, when a bundle of twisted girders blocked the direct path, he moved around them to the right. That seemed to have moved him out of the visible perception of the Velantian Vole and probably saved his life.

He only became aware of the creature when comm chatter told him what happened.

It seemed like Teddy was once again the leading target. It wouldn't be helpful if he moved to tend to Teddy and got himself killed first.

Not the greatest shooter, more by choice, he brought his laser carbine up to bear and used the x-ray laser sight to try and locate the beast. Thinking he got it in his sights, he fired. The +4 bonus to hit it because of its size is being offset by the storm's effects, including visibility.

05:33, Today: Aaron Lancaster rolled 15,12 using 2d6+4,4d6+3 ((5,6,2,2,1,4)). Hit and damage.

Effect of 7; total damage of 19?

Now he moved forward to assist the others.

To the surprise of probably no one, Zhouth wheeled about but didn't rush forward to join in the gunfire crossplay. To perhaps the slight surprise of some, he opted to frantically pitch an object in the direction of said gunfire crossplay, one that he'd pulled from amidst the bundle of medical gear.

To the probable astonishment of most, it actually landed squarely under the beast and burst.

Not into fragments - not damaging ones, anyway - but into a heavy cloud of... something.



Athletics/Dexterity to throw a grenade:
13:23, Today: Zhouth rolled 10 using 2d6+1.

This grenade creates a cloud of Vargas that, if inhaled, will likely render an enemy unconscious. Any living target within the cloud that does not have a respirator or sealed suit will be attacked as if by a poison with a Difficult (10+) END check, Damage unconscious and Interval of one round. Gas clouds dissipate after 1Dx3 rounds, although heavy winds and rain can drastically reduce this time.

It's the only thing here NOT wearing a respirator, so no need to worry about the Burst 9.

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:12, Sun 21 May 2023.

The vole didn't just keep going--it's a carnivore pouncer that stops and turns to come back and finish off its prey. That's what keeps it within everyone's short range. Its large size (+4 to be hit) is being offset by the poor visibility and EMS distortions from the storm.

Still, everyone manages to hit it.

Varca = 13
Teddy = 17
Rejji = 19
Aaron = 20
TOTAL = 69

It only had 66 Hits, but whether it was Aaron's shot (really? The Medic? "And that, Doctor, is why you carry a gun!") or Zhouth's Vargas tranq grenade that brought it down is hard to say as both acted at pretty much the same time.

It becomes a moot point as weapons fire from off to left rear target the beast. Only one of three shooters manages to hit the creature.

15:16, Today: StarMaster rolled 9,12,9 using 2d6+2,2d6+2,2d6+2 ((3,4,6,4,3,4)).

Another three shooters target your group.

Rejji, Aaron, and Teddy are the targets. Without compensating sensors, the storm's -4 penalty only lets one of them hit... Teddy!

15:16, Today: StarMaster rolled 10,5,13 using 2d6+2,2d6+2,2d6+2 ((2,6,2,1,6,5)).

15:31, Today: StarMaster rolled 12 using 2d6+5 ((2,5)).

Teddy gets hit for 12 points of damage, but the round isn't AP, so none of it gets through Teddy's armor.

Varca and Rejji readily identify the weapons as an assault rifle, an HACR, and a regular rifle. They place the shooters at Medium range.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 43):

OOC: "HACR"?  Highly Advanced Combat Rifle...? Huh? ^_^

Heavy ACR
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:44, Sun 21 May 2023.

Teddy checks his sensors to see who the hell is firing at them."We took down the vole Ingrid, but we're taking fire from someone else, can you identify the source? You see them Varca?"

This time, to the surprise of no one whatsoever, Zhouth dove for cover, his accompanying "GAAH!" thankfully somewhat muted by the comms.

That didn't stop him from speaking very quickly - and with notes of both exasperation and fright laced in - a moment later. "Never mind the source! Broadcast to them on an open channel that you have a plasma cannon pointed their way and will use it if they don't cut that out! Do a warning shot if you have to! Oh, and tell them that they can have the bug corpse if they want it. We don't!"

"What the hell is wrong with you Zhouth? Your mouth is open already! You hear Zhouth Ingrid? Give them a warning shot when I tell you."

Opens comms

"Unknown shooters, hold your fire! We have a plasma cannon we'll use on you if you don't hold your fire! Fire in their direction Ingrid, but don't hit them, this time! If you want the bug meat, come and get it, we killed it because it attacked us. We're here for another reason and will be gone soon. Over."

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 47):

     At the sound of gunfire not coming from the people around him, Varca had actually ducked for cover behind the Vole's carcass.

     Over the established group channel, Varca sarcastically quips,

     "Oh! And you were doing so well, there, Theo!  Right up until you told them we were here looking for something else!"

     "They're not unknown!  They're the Vespexers we knew were in the area--how many times I gotta tell alla you?  Don't volunteer info to Vespexers!  We'll use it against you, every time!"

     "While they might be hunting the Vole now, they were likely already in the area salvaging--and they'd assume we were, also--so, those were just warning shots!  Now they know for certain there's something around here to salvage!"

     "And that trace of an Imperial Accent in your voice don't help much, either...when you gonna learn ta speak Normal?"

     "Now we gotta establish we the Baddest Asses in the bunker!  Don't wait, Theo--order Vultan to fire a shot over our location, on a thirty-degree inclination.  With all the energetic crap in the air, the particle beam probably will look like a plasma shot!"

     "Once they know we got the biggest Di--uh--biggest Gun--then they be callin us to talk!  Everybody take cover 'til Vultan fires!"

     "Cap'n Theo...if you'd be so kind as ta give the order...?"

Using his newly acquired basic Sensor skill, Donio tries to use the ship's advanced military-grade sensors to get a target lock on the new threat.

22:27, Today: Donio Scarte rolled 6 using 2d6+3 ((1,2)).

I'm sure I've got this wrong, but that should be a negative Effect of -6. Really messed up the sensors, didn't I?

"Way to go, Donio!" Kira snaps out at Scarte. "We were having enough trouble getting our sensors to work through this storm!"

The first thing she had to do was fix whatever FUBAR Donio had done.

23:07, Today: StarMaster, on behalf of Kira Cerise O'Neill, rolled 14 using 2d6+4 ((5,5)).

Well, that was unexpected. Donio's Effect turned the standard 8 success into a 14... and Kira nailed it!

"Now to find those moronic Vespexers. Wouldn't want Ingrid to fry them by accident, now would we?"

23:13, Today: StarMaster, on behalf of Kira Cerise O'Neill, rolled 10 using 2d6+4 ((5,1)).

Oops. Maybe she didn't fix it so well after all. But then she realized the storm was fighting their efforts. That's when she received targeting data from Zhouth at his 'forward observer' position. That was just enough to zero in on the Vespexers... all 15 of them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Mon 22 May 2023.

Having lived and worked among Vespexers for awhile, Aaron understood the error Teddy made. He simply wasn't familiar with the Vespexian mindset.

"Attention, Vespexers! This is Doktor Aaron Lancaster," he broadcast over the comms. "We're here on a rescue mission. If you wish to parley afterwards, that can be arranged. The kill is yours. Undisputed."

After Ingrid fires the warning shot (she doesn't need to have the Gunnery skill, she can just tell the computer to fire a warning shot), you get a comm.

"This be Drak Bran Gorn, leader of the Merry Men," the voice on the comm says. "Heard 'bout you, Dok. You do good."

"Lost five men to the beastie. Our kill. We take beast. You do rescue. Good deal."

"Storm getting worse."

The exchange between Aaron and Drak had to be repeated five or six times to make it all clear because the storm was continuously wreaking havoc with comms and sensors.

"That'll teach you all for questioning my plan!" Teddy says smugly.

"Are you sure that they won't start to shoot?" There was a certain hesitancy in Zhouth's voice that turned to urgency but a breath later as he risked a peek over the edge of the debris that he'd chosen as a shelter. "Then let's get going! We aren't the only ones out here for whom dying is a present danger!"

"Zhouth is right, lead on Varca, time to save our friends." It was a 'closed' channel, but one could never be too careful!

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 55):

     "Wasn't questioning your Plan, Theo..." Varca replies, getting up from the cover of the carcass, "Just pointing out that the amount of information you let slip could have been dangerous."

     Varca looks down at the dead critter, seeing it fully for the first time.

     "Jesu Kristi, just look at the size of that thing!  It could provide enough protein to feed my home bunker for a week!"

     Varca opens a general broadcast channel and calls out to the Vespexers, dropping the Palacer affectation to his speech he usually maintains,

     "Drak Bran Gorn!  Varca Lexand, Rumah Keras Bunker, calls. Congratulations on hunt.  You bring much meat to your Bunker.  Respect to you and your warriors.  You find clean water and fresh air in your travels."

By now, you estimate you've gotten about halfway to where Zhouth's sensor data indicates the cave with Oleb lies. The route is still circuitous, perhaps a bit more so as you approach the center of the ruins where the upright girders are denser, having to have supported a million tons of city above it.

You manage to get another dozen meters before the storm wall hits with unexpected fury!

The wind picks up, gusting to over 240 kph. Lightning seems to strike every other girder as well as people. Ionization increases nearly tenfold, making sensors and comms totally useless now.

18:23, Today: StarMaster rolled 14,7,10,9,10,8 using 4d6,2d6,2d6,2d6,2d6,2d6 ((3,2,3,6,6,1,4,6,4,5,5,5,4,4)).

A bolt strikes Rejji for 21 points of damage!
A bolt strikes Zhouth for 24 points of damage!
A bolt strikes Aaron for 23 points of damage!
A bolt strikes Teddy for 24 points of damage!
A bolt strikes Varca for 22 points of damage!

In this case, any damage that gets through your armor can also be taken from your INT and EDU as the shock rattles your brain! Any damage taken that way can be recovered more quickly than normal healing.

24 - 16 = 8. Zhouth's END drops to 1. Regains 1 due to FA. End 2.

Zhouth didn't have time to yelp and dive out of the way this time; he was simply left to stagger and vaguely lurch toward one of the still-standing girders. It helpfully countered his askew tilt, albeit at the price of dropping his bundle.

"I... uhh... are we... move?" His voice had dropped to a pained wheeze punctuated by gasps for air; he seemed to have lost about a half-note in pitch, too.

That was followed by a few moments of unfocused wobbling. A couple of clumsy fumbles followed in turn as he then reached down and attempted to retrieve his bundle. He finally managed it on the third, still undextrous, attempt.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Tue 23 May 2023.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 58):
OOC:
Vole does 20 points AP5
AP5 reduces Suit Prot (16 - 5) to 11
20 - 11 = 9
Varca suffers 9 points damage
STR 6 - 2 = 4
DEX 8 - 3 = 5
END 9 - 4 = 5
Medikit First Aid rolls 10 = success, 2 Effect
Temp STR [6] 4 + 0 = 4
Temp DEX [8] 5 + 1 = 6
Temp END [9] 5 + 1 = 6

---

     Varca gestures with the "staff" he'd inherited from his cousin, so many years ago, and says, "We gotta go that--"

     With sudden fury, the wind from the storm whips up even more.  A blast of sand-laden wind knocks Varca a couple meters sideways, to his right.  As Varca starts to regain his balance and fight the wind, a purple-tinged bolt of lightning strikes him.

     Varca Varca is violently shaken by the lightning strike for just a few seconds, then falls forward, landing on his face in the dirt, as blue electrical sparks dance over his suit.

     Inside the suit, Varca is barely conscious.  He's aware of his suit speaking to him, but he can't make sense of the words.  Though he doesn't know why, this comforts him, somewhat.  After about 30 seconds, he manages to slowly roll over onto his back.  He's able to see out of his helmet faceplate--but he's not sure if that means the suits computer is still projecting a view, or if the HUD display has shut down.

     Unaware that his comm is still open, Varca moans painfully in the Sindalian that his old Nenek taught him, when he was a child...

     "Saya...rambut...sakit...dan...saya...gigi...adalah...bergetar..."

---

OOC:
Lightning does 22 points
Suit Protection 16
22 - 16 = 6
Varca suffers 6 points damage
STR [6] 4 - 1 = 3
DEX [8] 6 - 0 = 6
END [9] 6 - 1 = 5
--------------------
INT 7 - 1 = 6
EDU 9 - 3 = 6
Medikit First Aid rolls 8 = success, 0 Effect
Varca Stabilizes at:
Temp STR [6] 3(-1)
Temp DEX [8] 6(+0)
Temp END [9] 5(-1)
--------------------
Temp INT [7] 6(+0)
Temp EDU [9] 6(+0)

697AAA - UPP

Teddy began moving, following Varca. An instant later the wind hit him and the lightning! He stiffened from the discharge and the wind sent him into a girder! When the wind let go, down he went! Twitching.

OC:
Vole does 22 points AP5
AP5 reduces Suit Prot (16 - 5) to 11
24 - 11 = 11
Teddy suffers 11 points damage
STR 6 - 3 = 3
DEX 9 - 4 = 5
END 7 - 4 = 3
Medikit First Aid rolls 14 = success, 6 Effect
Temp STR [6] 3 + 1 = 4
Temp DEX [9] 5 + 3 = 8
Temp END [7] 3 + 2 = 5

09:10, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 14 using 2d6+3.  medic. medkit

OOC: HELP, I'M LOST ON THIS
Lightning does 24 points
Suit Protection 16
24 - 16 = 8
Teddy suffers 8 points damage
STR [6] 4 - 1 = 3
DEX [9] 8 - 1 = 7
END [7] 5 - 1 = 4
--------------------
INT A - 2 = 8
EDU A - 3 = 7
Medikit First Aid rolls 8 = success, 0 Effect
Teddy Stabilizes at:
Temp STR [6] 3(+0)
Temp DEX [9] 7(+0)
Temp END [7] 4(+0)
--------------------
Temp INT [A] 8(+0)
Temp EDU [A] 7(+0)

I tried to figure it out using Vince's table, I think I'm close.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:12, Tue 23 May 2023.

     Yup, you got all the math correct.

Zhouth pried himself away from the girder, a little bit unsteady but nevertheless holding against the wind and whatever internal injuries he'd taken; he then turned to face the sprawled group before him.

"Uhh, I don't think that this is a good time to lie around on the job." His voice had regained its more customary pitch and tone, though there was still a clear undercurrent of strain to it. "It's actually more likely than not to strike twice in the same place, you know?"

There was a half-second pause, then a tentative, "And, umm, if you're in that bad a shape, we can go back? I think that I can drag one or two of you at a time."

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 62):

     Having just been struck by lightning and actually survived the hit, Varca is understandably feeling a little frazzled around the edges.  Hearing Zhouth's comment, he begins to struggle to his feet, using his cousin's weapon to assist himself.

     Once on his feet, he slowly looks around...



     Varca begins moving vaguely in the direction indicated on everyone's faceplate HUDs.  His movements are a jerky, side-to-side shuffle--almost as if he were slow-motion dodging some unseen obstacles.

    ^COMM> "Ikut...buat seperti...saya buat..." ^<COMM Varca broadcasts in a gravelly, exhausted tone of voice.

When Teddy stopped twitching, he managed to get to his knees, stock down, he used his gauss rifle and the girder to rise to his feet, he stood there blowing in the wind for a moment.

He tried to understand what Varca said, but couldn't. "Let's get the prize before he has to save us. This isn't working out as planned. Anyone know where the Hawkmen are? Lead on toward the cave Varca."

Teddy shuffles forward slowly, praying they didn't get hit or attacked again.

"We're going to need a rescue of our own if that happens again," Zhouth muttered disconsolately as he started forward again, his steps a little less vigorous than usual but rather more steady than those of Varca or Theodore. "Also, maybe we should be clumped up quite as much?"

When the lightning bolt struck, Aaron was knocked off his feet but what little got through his Boarding Suit was diffused by his standard cloth armor.

A bit dazed and a little disoriented, Aaron picked himself up off the ground and looked around for his allies. He'd never been struck by lightning before, nor had he ever been near a lightning strike. It was definitely an experience he didn't want to repeat.

He quickly checked his gear to make sure it was all still functioning.

The comm chatter assured him that the others were mostly okay, but Teddy made a valid point about being rescued themselves.

"We found the King readily enough," Aaron responded over the comm, "but no one said it'd be easy getting to him."

"What the frag?!" Rejji nearly shouts over the comm after getting struck by a lightning bolt. "This is like a fraggin' war zone! With two many sides... and we're caught in the middle!"

The five points that got through the armor jangled his nerves, but with his END back up to 11, he easily took it. Not sure if it would do anything, he still triggered the suit's Medikit.

19:50, Today: Rejji Harrasyn rolled 12 using 2d6+3 ((4,5)).

A suitable amount of stimulants pretty much brought him back to normal.

Unfortunately, the battle with the storm isn't quite over yet. The storm's fury seems to double yet again as the clumps of protruding girders channel the wind through the ruins, contracting the forced air into powerful jets.

19:06, Today: StarMaster rolled 23,26,30,27,32 using 8d6,8d6,8d6,8d6,8d6.

Varca takes 23 points of 'damage'.
Teddy takes 26 points of 'damage'.
Aaron takes 30 points of 'damage'.
Zhouth takes 27 points of 'damage'.
Rejji takes 32 points of 'damage'.

In this case, the 'damage' is about the wind picking you up and how far away (in meters) it deposits you.

OPTION 1: Very Difficult TN 12 STR check to grab onto something to keep from getting blown away.

OPTION 2: Difficult TN 10 DEX or Survival check to dive behind some shelter and wedge yourself in.

OPTION 3: You can bleed off distance by taking actual damage as you are bounced off girders. This would bypass your armor.

Varca gets tossed 23 meters to the left at roughly the 7 o'clock position.
Teddy gets tossed 26 meters to the right at roughly the 4 o'clock position.
Aaron gets tossed 30 meters to the right at roughly the 1 o'clock position.
Zhouth gets tossed 27 meters to the right at roughly the 2 o'clock position.
Rejji gets tossed 32 meters to the right at roughly the 5 o'clock position.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:40, Mon 29 May 2023.

22:07, Today: Rejji Harrasyn rolled 7,8 using 2d6,2d6+1 ((3,4,4,3)).

STR check. DEX check. No chance in hell.

As the wind scoops him up, he'll desperately try to grab onto passing girders to limit how far away he goes. He'll bleed off 16 meters as he slams into one girder after another.

Finally after far too many seconds, he lies bruised and battered on the ground, desperately hoping the suit's Medikit still has another miracle in it.

22:24, Today: Rejji Harrasyn rolled 12 using 2d6+3 ((6,3)).

YES! One more. Only 4 points back, but hopefully that'll be enough to survive the next attack.

STR = [6] 3, DEX = [9] 2, END = [E] 4 + 4 = 8.

This message was deleted by the player at 18:42, Sat 27 May 2023.

Teddy was lifted by a vortex several meters and slammed into a girder, then the wind shifted, and it carried him off into another, almost impaling him on a  razor sharp protruding beam! Then he got carried into another, when it released him and dropped him in a heap! He was dazed and the air had been forced from his lungs temporarily. He was struggling to breath and slightly stunned, but managed to activate the medkit again! He knew he was close to death, the medical help revived him a bit. He sat up amd looked for the others, when he found them, he crawled to them, praying all were alive. He wouldn't survive the next one!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Sat 27 May 2023.

Doesn't seem as if I was clear enough...

You only take damage if you try to fight the wind. Otherwise you just get blown some distance away.

 If you do fight the wind, your armor doesn't help.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 72):

OOC: Yup.  I misread that.  Got it all turned 'round in muh haid.  Sorry.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 72):

Huh? So we took no damage, just blown like a tumbleweed? Sweet! I'll fix that.

Zhouth made a dive for cover but - as he had so often protested - he was in no way an action hero, so his dive was too slow and too short. The result was a sort of flailing roll-tumble as he hit the ground that gained rather than lost speed under the wind's force until he eventually rolled right out of the area.

It had, of course, been accompanied by a rather terrified yell, then erratic gasps as he took in and then lost his breath; the finale was simple panting as he lay there, presumably trying to recover his wits and whatever was left of his nerves.



16:53, Today: Zhouth rolled 8 using 3d6, keeping the 2 highest rolls.

OOC: Take 2

     As the group once again makes for King Oleb's location, the winds suddenly increase to gale force--coming at the group from several directions simultaneously.

     Varca is swept off his feet by the winds--tumbling end-over-end for along the hard ground of a narrow chasm between massive piles of rubble.  Seeming to gain control over his tumble after a few meters, Varca mages to roll up onto his feet--only to stumble into a vortex in the middle of an intersection of three chasms.  Spinning like a top, Varca is momentarily lifted a meter off the ground, before falling out of the wind vortex and rolling off down a different rubble-chasm, eventually coming to a stop against a flat surface that might be the remnants of a masonry-like wall--twenty-three meters away from everybody.

     Amazingly, he is still clutching his cousin's hunting weapon in his left hand

      ^COMM> "Not...gonna...die...here..."   Varca broadcasts in a weak grumble, as he unsteadily regains his feet, "This frelling planet ain't gonna kill me today!"  <sup><COMM

      COMM></sup> "Anybody else still fracking breathing?" Varca asks, in a firmer voice, "Does anybody see a clear way through to the King?" ^COMM>

     It looks like Rejji might be the closest to him.  Varca starts slowly towards his fellow Vespexer...every muscle in his body in pain.

---

OOC -- Reviso:
Varca chooses to go for "Option 2: Difficult TN 10 DEX or Survival check to dive behind some shelter and wedge himself in"
DEX Check = 2d6 + (DEX DM+0) + (Athletics(Dex) DM+2) = 8, -2 Effect; Failure [see "Athletics", 2E CRB, page 63. Just having the skill mods a Characteristic Roll]
--------------------
Varca is tossed around by Wind, coming to a halt 23 meters away.

BASE			TEMP
STR	6		3	-1
DEX	8		6	+0
END	9		5	-1
---------------------
INT	7		6	+0
EDU	9		6	+0

comm "I'm still alive, coming your way. Not sure if I should stand up or not!" comm

He crawls/stumbles/walks to get back to the party.

He might have yelled out in surprise if he'd had the time, but the wind grabbed him with a swiftness and viciousness that sent him soaring through the air. He tried catching hold of a girder but quickly realized the futility of that.

On the other hand, the storm was carrying him in the direction of the King's cave!

When he was finally slammed to the ground some 30 meters away, the wind knocked out of him, he was able to make out the 'cave'. It was a couple of girders twisted and bent over at a sharp angle with more girders and debris dumped on top. Decades of weather like this had compacted and cemented the whole mess into a cave-like area in the ruins.

In a flash of lightning, he caught a glimpse of a suit of Hawk Warrior armor laying only 3 meters away at the back of the cave. He was amazed that Oleb had found this shelter, but then again, from the air, it might have been easy to spot... any desperate port in a storm.

"I found the King," Aaron comms the others as he starts to crawl forward to gain the shelter's protection.

"We're right there... just needed to go a little farther. Hopefully the rest of you are able to home in on my signal."

As soon as he reaches the King, he starts running his medical scans.

Zhouth stirred back into action a mere second or two after Aaron's announcement about the king. He was only a few meters from Aaron's position, so it wasn't hard for him to roll upright, grab his bag of supplies, and skitter forward to join the ship's doctor in the cave - such as it was - where he set to work as Aaron's assistant medic.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 79):

     "Rejji--my suit says you're close." Varca says over the open suit channel, "Hold your position and I'll come to you."

     Varca starts walking, keeping close to what cover he can see, given these conditions.  After just a few steps, suit sensors say Rejji is just the other side of a pile of rubble.

     "I'm here." Varca broadcasts, coming around a wide column that looks like it might actually be a massive composite conduit, "No way this storm is gonna..."

     Varca comes to a sudden halt.  It takes all his willpower not to start cursing hot enough to melt his helmet....

     His suit sensors hadn't brought him to Rejji...they had brought him to where Rejji must have, at some point during all this chaos, dropped the medical stretcher--since the suit last registered Rejji as having the device, it had led Varca here, obviously concluding that Rejji was with it.  Varca found the device wedged into a crack in what looked like an old wall.  It looked like all the indicator lights were lit, and the device seemed no worse for wear.

     "Rejji, I am not approaching your position." Varca growled over comms, "Repeat, I am not approaching you!  My damn sensors locked onto the wrong signal.  On the positive side, I've located the damn medical stretcher."

     "Okay, everyone head towards Aaron and the cave.  Stay close to rubble piles--use them to shelter from the winds.  Stay low to avoid the lightning--and obviously, try not to go near any of these damn metal support structures, if you can.  Join up with anyone close to you, if possible."

     "With both Aaron and Zhouth now with the King, it should increase the signal strength to follow.  Everyone just head for The King."

     Yanking the stretcher from where the winds have jammed it, Varca starts for where he now sees the suit transponders of both Aaron and Zhouth are--just off to the side of the position his suit had been showing for Oleb.

     As he starts moving, Varca calls out on the ship channel,

     "Varca to Ingrid.  You got a position on those Hawkmen, Ingrid?  They close enough that we should start watching for them?"

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 80):

Teddy, eyes open for anything at all, followed his sensors to Varca. After a few minutes, he saw Varca, carrying the stretcher, heading for the cave. He wasn't sure where Reji was, he couldn't see him over the debris, according to his sensors, he was off to the left.

comm Right behind you Varca, I can see you through the storm about 10 to 15 meters in front of  me. I think Reji is to the left of us, though the sensor could be malfunctioning, the beating it has taken. I think I broke a rib or two."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Tue 30 May 2023.

Somewhat oddly, only Varca got blown in the wrong direction, but he did find the stretcher than Rejji dropped somewhere in his airborne travel. Of course, everyone's flight path wasn't necessarily in a straight line anyway.

Upon reaching the King, Aaron and Zhouth can both see that there are several of the smaller super-dense girders protruding from Oleb's abdomen. This is an injury beyond Aaron's ability to treat here in the ruins, but he's pretty sure the Medical Facility on the Floating Palace can save him.

The best he can do now is keep Oleb from dying with a Difficult (10+) Medic (EDU) check.

The semi-good thing is that the King isn't wearing any armor that has to be removed or worked through. The Hawk Warrior 'armor' is more ceremonial than practical, though it's unclear if Oleb understood the difference.

As Aaron runs his scanner over the King, Oleb stirs, eyes fluttering open as he regains consciousness.

"Starcursed grav belt gave up on me," he mutters, "and I fell. I dropped my emergency medical supplies out there somewhere. Go fetch them, and I’ll make you a bloody Archduke of somewhere."

After a moment, he seems to notice Zhouth and the rest of you.

"Gah. I’m dying. That’s boring," mutters the King some more.

"Listen, don’t let those vampires from the Scholar’s Tower get their claws into my carcass. I saw what they did to my boy Harrick. I don’t want to end up like the Duke of Albe, pulled out of stasis once a century to sign a form and take a dump."

"No, let me die. You," he barely manages to point to Zhouth, "come up with some really good last words. I appoint thee Court Poet Extraordinary of Drinax, Bard of Sindal, and Grand High Tum-ti-tump of the Outrim Void."

Oleb coughs up blood and what appears to be most of a lung.

"Want to be Space Pope too, and absolve me of all my sins?"

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 80):

Ingrid checks the scanners for the hawkmen ad Varca requested.

When the storm wall hit the area, the winds scattered the Hawk Warriors far and wide. Ingrid can now detect that they are regrouping and starting to head in your direction again, no doubt homing in on the ship, though possibly the King's personal comm signal. The latter would make sense since they were out flying with him. The interference from the lightning and the storm's ionization may have been keeping them from getting a more accurate fix.

Keep in mind that they are using comms that don't have the capabilities that the Vultan does. They'll reach the site in about 2 minutes.

Ingrid is also able to detect another presence... the one that was previously I.D.ed as 'the assassin'. Presumably he'll be in range in about 3 minutes.

Via the sensors that Donio and Kira are manning, Ingrid also can see that the eye of the storm will pass over the site in about 2 minutes.

"Varca will be there soon Aaron, I'm right behind him. Can you stabilize and save the King?"

Teddy picked up speed to catch up with Varca. He wondered if they'd have to fight again before they got back to the Vultan. The storm was so bad! They would all need medical care it seemed.

"The hawkmen will reach in in two minutes, about the same time as the eye of the storm will pass over. The assassin will be in range in three minutes; al lot of trouble. Be careful! And bring my fiancée back alive or I'll be even more trouble" Ingrid commed to Varca.

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 87):

"I'm still alive dear, and yes, of course I'm coming back! If I don't come back, you'll kill me! I'll be fine." he replied to her as he caught up with Varca.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 88):

     Varca simply grunts a response over comms to Ingrid, as he trudges his way through the sand and debris--occasionally slipping or even tripping over some buried obstacle--but making a slow forward progress none the less.

     While his suits medikit is telling him he needs immediate medical care--and probably two weeks bedrest--Varca feels oddly invigorated.  It's been almost two months since he was last on-planet, at the old Harrier base--and he hadn't actually walked on the surface of his homeworld for over a year, before that!  Over a year of dragging his ass around in a G-field more than twice what he was born into...where he burned more calories just lifting a mug of ale to his lips than the ale actually contained!

     So, despite the serious pain he's feeling--even with the painkillers--he still feels like a massive weight has been lifted off of him, and every action he takes feels effortless.

     "Ingrid, confirm--" Varca suddenly asks, "you said the eye of this storm will pass over in a couple of minutes?  Clarify.  Pass over where, exactly...the Cave?  The Ship?  Or both?"

     While he waits for Ingrid to pass on that info, Varca switches to Aaron,

     "Aaron--I know you probably don't want to do it out in these conditions, but dose The King with Fast Drug.  Now, please.  Theo, Rejji and I will be there in a minute with the stretcher.  His fat ass needs to be put under before we get there."

     "We'll quickly secure him in the stretcher, then make a run for Vultan as soon as the eye of the storm arrives and the weather calms.  So, shoot him up with Fast Drug and stabilize him."

     "Rejji, remind me again what weapon you brought with you?"

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 89):

"Don't forget the assassin Varca." Teddy reminds him, though he probably didn't need it.

Ingrid informs you that the kilometer-wide eye of the storm will pass over the whole area, including cave, ruins and ship. The size and speed should give you a ten-minute window of calm, though most of the ionization will still be there.

"When did you become a doctor, Varca?" Aaron calls  back. "What makes you think I haven't already? Besides, if I think Hibernol is called for, I'll administer it. It's not always the miracle drug you warriors seem to think it is."

"I've got Natasha, my trusty ACR," Rejji also replies to Varca. "It's why you brought me along, right?"

"Not sure yet what to do about the Hawk Warriors. Don't have any scatter rounds and don't want to shoot them outright... since we don't know their motivations. They may think we're the assassins, if they are even aware of him."

"Thanks to Ingrid's sensor data, I've got this potential assassin covered. If he gets too close, he's toast!"

While they wait for Varca to arrive with the stretcher, Rejji studies the King. The injury looked like he fell onto the debris, and Rejji was amazed that Oleb had managed to crawl into this shelter. Probably didn't help his condition, but staying out in the storm would have been worse.

He suppressed a small laugh when he saw that the King wasn't wearing three grav belts as reported; instead, he had one belt with three grav units fastened to it as a sort of triple buckle. No doubt the side units were slaved to the center unit.

What caught his attention, though, was The Hole. Not unusual under the circumstances, but this was a straight line through all three 'buckles'. The only thing he knew that could account for that was a bullet hole!

"A helluva a shot," he said as Varca and Teddy joined them. He then explained to them what he'd discovered while looking off in the direction of the approaching assassin.

"Well, we're all here finally, your Hawkmen should be here in a minute Your Majesty. The enemy is closing too, so we'll need to move fast when we get a break in the storm. How many Hawk men are there? Everyone should fit on the Vultan to get out of here I think."

A few moments ago, when spoken to...

The opaque faceplate of Zhouth's vacc suit obscured his expression, but the suit as a whole did little to obscure his near freeze-in-place when Oleb began to pronounce a grand title in his direction. "I, uhh..." His hands started moving again, seemingly independently of the rest of him, as if muscle memory had asserted itself to ensure that the proper tools and medicines were being passed to Aaron at need as he continued uncertainly, "How much time do you need to confess them?"

That was followed by a split second of silence, then a start as he returned to slightly less robotic-looking action and rattled off a high-speed and emphatic refusal of sorts. "No, no, no! You're going to survive this and then give the whole lot of them a severe Drinaxi ritual lord-high upbraiding with cluster migraines, or whatever you call it, for trying to start a civil war because of that grav belt problem! That's what they're all busy doing right now, and we don't need the palace following you down here, you know?" He took a second out of his medical duties to wave both arms up and down emphatically. "Even if the crash and explosion would be really, really impressive and worth writing poetry about!"

Then, regaining some semblance of measured focus befitting a medic at work, he switched to a reassuring tone to close with, "But we won't let the Scholar's Tower do anything. I don't think that they would right now anyway, what with being part of trying to overthrow you."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Wed 31 May 2023.

In reply to Zhouth (msg # 95):


     "I am well aware of all that, my friend." Varca responds over comms, as he and Theodore approach the cave, "I've had to receive the Fast Drug a couple of times, over the years.  But this place..."

     Varca gestures around the area, even though Aaron can't see him do so, "...is beyond anything even resembling an antiseptic environment!  And with unknown persons approaching rapidly, you just don't have time for the slow and careful approach.  It's battlefield triage in combat conditions, followed by a mad dash across formidable terrain--maybe under fire!"

     "His Majesty's best chance for survival is our speed!  We have an autodoc--just a little over one-hundred-meters away--that we can shove him into, once we're aboard Vultan--but we need to get him there ASAP!  Now, please, buddy, we've barely got one minute!  Get him stable and ready to move!"


     "Well, you'd be the one to know that, Rejji." Varca nods with a shrug, after Rejji passes on what he's seen of The King's gear, "You're probably the best marksman amoung all of us, here."


     "Uh, Theo..." Varca sends over the suit channel--and not out loud, via the suits vocoder--"Look, I'm not one hundred percent certain we should trust those Hawkmen, out there."

     "Yeah, odds are that they are on Oleb's side, here.  But I find it kinda suspicious that, with all the tension on the Palace, all of those Hawkmen had allowed His Majesty to get so far away from them.  AND that the only Hawkman who did keep up--and also fell out of the sky, I'd point out!--that those Hawkmen out there seemed to show very little concern about him--one of their fellow Hawkmen."

     "Yeah, yeah, they were concerned about The King--but, when you told them where their Hawkman buddy had gone down, they were more interested in info about Oleb.  And I noticed that not one of them diverted to go help their buddy!  They all kept pressing on towards The King's location."

     "And Rachando said there was a schism among the Hawkmen--some were solidly with the King, some were voicing opposition, and a few were trying to sit on the fence.  I think it might be safer to risk bruising the egos of some Loyal Hawkmen, rather than taking any chance they may want to harm The King."

     Varca suddenly changes the direction of the conversation with a single question, "And ... by the way ... has anyone told The King just who we are?"

     Varca activates his vocoder,

     "Imperial Majesty, we're the crew of Vultan--the Privateer ship you sent out.  We've landed the Harrier not too far away.  You're going to be fine, Majesty.  Captain McFarlane, himself, has come to your aid."

     Varca looks over his shoulder,

     "The winds are starting to die down--we gotta move!  Aaron, I don't care what you do, just get The King on the stretcher and ready to be moved NOW!  Theo--Rejji is a better shot than any of us, but you have the biggest gun!  Give Rejji your Gauss Rifle and you take his ACR."

     "Rejji, don't argue!  The gauss rifle has more punch and those Hawkmen are wearing armor!  Theo will take good care of your Natasha.  Now swap."

Teddy hands his rifle to Reji and takes his acr. He gets out of the way to give them room to get the king on the stretcher. He'll help carry it if necessary.

He noticed Varca schmoozing a little with the king, and he smiled to himself.

"Actually, I figured that out for myself, I thought they'd be here before we left. I don't know if they split up or not to help their own man, I'm sure the man that said it was his son did split off to find his boy. If we're gone before they get here, all the better, I just pray we don't have to fight our way out."

As the painkillers take hold of King Oleb, he becomes less lucid, although it may be hard to tell given his usual sense of reality.

"We can’t stay here. The Floating Palace... it’s a joke. A cage. A... stupid thing," he manages to mutter. "We were dragons once. We will rule the stars again. I gave you a Letter of Marque when we started this campaign... of piracy. It’s still good. Bring back the Kingdom, and all will be forgiven."

"Listen... listen, lads... listen. Tell. Prince Harrick... no... he’s not right for it. Rao... she’ll be Queen, but she needs someone to... warn her... there’s too much of the Sindalian in her... warn her... no more..."

With that, Oleb lapses into unconsciousness... and actually begins to snore.


Under Aaron's direction, you manage to carefully move Oleb onto the grav stretcher. When the calm reaches you, it's comparatively easy going to retrace the albeit circuitous route back to the ship.

About halfway back, you start getting shot at by the approaching Hawk Warriors, but the range is long and they aren't very good marksmen--the shots all go wild.

"I'd like to avoid any more patients just now," Aaron comments. "Teddy, see if you can get on the King's personal comm channel and inform his illustrious Hawk Warriors that the King is still alive and we're taking him back to the Palace for emergency medical treatment."

"They are welcome to join us on the ship."

"That should forestall any dissidents doing something stupid."

"Please stop shooting at us, we have the king, who is alive. We are taking him to the palace for emergency surgery to keep him alive, Are you coming with us? Or do we kill you for trying to kill the king? If you are coming, hurry here to us. When you get here, turn your guns in to the marines or you stay behind, we'll not be pirated."

"Please don't forget that there's also an entirely independent assassin running around here somewhere," Zhouth near-whispered over their group comms as he kept pace with the group, somewhat to the side of and following the stretcher and with his slightly-depleted bundle of medical supplies at the ready.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 100):

     Varca raises his right arm up towards the approaching Hawkmen,

     "We told them Vultan was a rescue ship." Varca says over the suit channel, "We told them where The King was located. They must have seen we were with The King at that location.  And they had to see that we are taking The King towards the ship."

     "And despite all that, they opened fire on us without warning, just as soon as they came into range.  Those arrogant bastards are not here to rescue The King!  They are here to make sure the job they started gets finished!"

     "Rejji, get ready to open fire.  Nothing they say, after all that, will convince me they are here to help The King."

     "Theo...they are probably going to respond and tell you that shooting at us was an accident, a mistake.  They are lying in order to get closer, before they start shooting, again.  You tell them, given how short the window of opportunity the storm's eye is giving us, we can't stop--and we have to keep moving towards the ship..." Varca includes Ingrid into the circuit,

     "...Ingrid?  You hear that?  We're gonna keep moving.  Those bastards will likely see that we're now ready for a fight and will guess we ain't buying their protein sludge.  So, get a target lock on the group of Hawkmen.  They might try to get between us and you, or they might just keep shooting.  So, go ahead and light 'em up now, as a warning."

     "Either way, the next time one of them fires a weapon, you will take them all out of my sky.  You got that?  Any Hawkman fires a weapon after this point, you take them out! That's recorded under my order--if I'm wrong, the fertilizer will all fall on my shoulders."

"Good point Varca. Keep an eye out for the assassin! Let's move! We got to be fast!"

He heads for the ship, guiding the grav stretcher if he has to, the others doing that mostly.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 103):

     "Yeah, I really do hope I'm wrong." Varca says, still pointing his weapon at the sky as the others start move,

     "Best thing they can do to prove that to me is just hold position.  'Cuz I ain't letting them either aboard Vultan or anywhere near it.  I think that's why Oleb mentioned the Letters...I think he was telling us that we have a weak legal fiction that we could, maybe, use to present ourselves as Agents of The King.  Answerable only to him.  On that bluff, we can probably get away with acting like The Kings protectors against anybody except the Princess and the Prince, themselves.  We'll see if we need to go there..."


OOC: y'now...this whole conversation--everything since Theo called to the Hawkmen--is kinda based on an assumption that the Hawkmen actually paused, when Theo called.
   More than likely, all that's been said since then, has actually been said under fire! ^_^

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 102):

Ingrid took a deep breath. "Warning shot, got it. I hope you are right Varca." Waging war didn't exactly suit her, so she hoped that wouldn't be necessary.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Fri 02 June 2023.

With Teddy and Varca lifting/carrying/guiding the grav stretcher, Aaron walks along one side while Zhouth covers the other.

Rejji places himself between the stretcher and the Hawk Warriors and that 'lone gunman', whether he's a would-be assassin or not.

"My sincerest apologies, Lord Baron McFarlane," a female voice responds to Teddy's comm. "We thought you were the assassins returning to finish the job. I'm Commander Brie Tollar of His Royal Majesty's Elite Hawk Warrior bodyguards. We really appreciate the invitation to get out of this hellish storm."

The eleven remaining Hawk Warriors continue approaching but they are not shooting and have put away their weapons.

Just as you reach the ship, a lone shot rings out and strikes the stretcher. The high-density, high-velocity round rips through the stretchers power supply, instantly killing the anti-gravity function. This is only an issue because of the King's not-inconsiderable mass! It's all Teddy and Varca can do to keep from dropping the now-heavy stretcher. Fortunately, Donio is there at the airlock to assist.

Rejji realizes the shot didn't come from the Hawk Warriors but from the direction of the other person out there.

"ASSASSIN!" Brie yells and the Hawk Warriors all turn in flight and rush at the lone shooter. Guns a-blaze, they begin shooting their laser rifles before they are within range, but the barrage is effective at preventing any more shots from the shooter.

King and stretcher are rushed into the ship and Aaron soon has the King ensconced in the AutoDoc.

"LEAVE!" Brie further calls out over the comms. "We've got this!"

Zhouth began to duck when the shot first rang out, the motion accompanied by his characteristic staccato cry of alarm. This predictable response was, rather uncharacteristically, interrupted by a sudden lurch up and over that left him hunched over the grav sled with his arms held out, looking for all the world as though he was doing his desperate best (given his relatively small profile) to shield Oleb from any further incoming fire. He kept this up, somewhat awkwardly given the improvised synchronization of the group's movements, until Oleb was inside the airlock and therefore shielded by structural elements rather more substantial than he.

Then he dashed off after the pallet to the med bay to continue his self-appointed task of acting as Aaron's assistant, even if the assistance needed with the cryoberth was relatively minimal.

Only once the king was properly frozen did he step back and, after a moment of what looked like hesitant indecision, slump against a nearby fixture and sit there panting with his hands clutching at his chest.

Teddy struggles with the weight of the king, with Donio and Varca, to get the stretcher to the autodoc. Once secured in the device, Teddy heads for the bridge as fast as he can go. "I've got the con Ingrid, let's get out of this hell hole!"

04:47, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 8 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:46, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:46, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 14 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:46, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 10 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:46, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 9 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

04:46, Today: Theodore McFarlane rolled 9 using 2d6+4.  pilot.

The flight was a little rough and he required a little assistance from Kira!

"Battle stations, battle stations, everyone buckle down!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Sat 03 June 2023.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 108):

OOC: Not a Cold Sleep berth, Zhouth--we have an actual AutoDoc, now!  We got it back at Palindrome at a...uh..."salvage" sale...
   Of course, the 'Doc might decide to freeze his majesty anyway, if he's that critical...

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 109):

     As Teddy races to the Bridge, Varca calls after him,

     "I'll be in Counter Measures, Theo!  Don't forget to put the ship at Combat Stations!"

     Varca rushes into Portside Counter Measures still wearing his Raider Suit.  He pulls the helmet off and secures it to the back of the headrest, before dropping into the seat and bringing the suite equipment (yes, that was a Pun!) to life.

     "Varca to Captain." Varca opens a comm circuit as soon as he can,

     "Once we're clear of the ruins, set course for the Highport, do not go back to the Palace.  I say again, do not go back to the Palace.  That's by the King's order, if you remember!"

     "Back in the cave, King Oleb said the Palace was a joke and a cage.  Plus, there's the whole paranoia gas issue.  No, get us to the Highport A-S-A-P.  Hell, once we're clear of the ruins, punch it all the way up to six-G's, if you think you can do it!"

     "I know Rachando told us that most of the Star Guard Navy is up there, and that Grand Admiral Wrax looks to be holding hands with the Prince Harrick Faction--but the Highport is run by GeDeCo.  So, I don't think anyone will try to stop us from getting medical care for The King."

     "I'll handle comms with the Hawkmen *heh* as you can probably guess, I'm gonna lie to them, and tell them we're headed for the Palace."

     "But I'm serious about speed, Theo--if you feel it'll be safe punching it to six-G's through this storm, then do it!"

OOC: it should only be the storm effects you need to worry about. Drinax has a Very Thin atmosphere--speeding at 6-g's through that air density should be no problem.  We'll be at the Highport in under 15 minutes ^_^

"Roger that Varca! 6 Gs. It might be a little rough, everyone hang on tight! Contact Highport Varca, tell them we have an emergency and get us a landing space."

Zhouth's voice came over the comm a moment later, his words raggedly gasped out between heaving breaths. "I think... we'll need... to go... somewhere else... to be safe... you know?" There was a noticeable pause in speech (if not breathing), then, "The palace... can still... shoot at us... on the... way in..."

"Then they'd claim the king dead and take over, when he healed and came back, they would attempt to kill us as soon as we entered space. If they failed to kill us, it would be civil war."

The Highport is in a geosynchronous orbit that keeps it over the Floating Palace at all times even though the Palace drifts across the landscape below. There's simply nothing on the planet's surface to warrant a fixed position.

With the Palace several kilometers beyond the storm now, it's easy enough to head for the Highport rather than the Palace. Concerns about the Palace shooting at you is unfounded since the Palace itself isn't armed. The four orbital gun platforms are more for the protection of the Highport. The person who currently has control of them is in your AutoDoc, though it's remotely possible that Lord Wrax has somehow gained control of them.

As the Vultan passes the Palace, however, you see a trio of atmospheric flyers coming in on an intercept trajectory. The lead fighter hails the Vultan, ordering it to divert course to the Floating Palace's main starport dock instead, even though the Vultan is clearly not heading for the Palace. This command comes straight, the fighter pilot says, from Lord Wrax himself. However, they don't fire on the Vultan, and Teddy at least realizes they were just pawns, readily sacrificed to get the Vultan to make a mistake.

Comms are picking up lots of traffic from within the Floating Palace, including weapons fire on board. From the sounds of the comms traffic, it appears that partisans supporting Prince Harrick have prematurely declared the king dead and are trying to secure the Floating Palace before Rao can muster allies. There is confusion over who is in charge.

Upon docking at the Highport, there is not only a medical team waiting for you but an armed guard to get the King to the Medical Bay. They don't object when Varca, Rejji, Teddy, and Donio provide their own security detail.

As it turns out, your AutoDoc is better than what the Highport has so there's no reason to transfer Oleb. After considerable consultation, its agreed that Oleb shouldn't be woken up until he's fully healed... otherwise he's liable to do something foolish and exacerbate his injuries all over again. As it is, he'll be healing for at least a week. H had some minor injuries, including a concussion, but the major wound was seven pieces of polycarb of different sizes that had stabbed through his abdomen and damaged several organs. The AutoDoc was able to sustain him on life support for the damaged organs until they can be healed or replaced.

With the polycarb rods, each one had to be removed individually and slowly while the Doc and surgeons followed behind mending the damage. That was going to take a few hours. Then it just needed time to heal--modern miracle medicines not withstanding.

Meanwhile, a 4-man security detail stands watch over the Medical Bay, though they are only wearing security armor rather than full boarding vacc suit armor. They wield laser pistols, snub pistols and stun batons.

"Thank the gods he's stable and out of surgery. I think at least one of us should be with him at all times just in case. We need to contact the Palace and let them know they can stop fighting, the King is okay and will be back in a few days. What do you think Varca? Zhouth? We should double the guard here with better armor and weapons too." Teddy looks from face to face, "We need to get the rest of our crew up here too, contact them and have them shuttled up if we can."

Next he hugged and kissed Ingrid, "Thank you sweetheart for saving our bacon. We should all be checked out too, almost killed out there, I'm never going back to that city again. Can you help with my armor dear?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:59, Tue 06 June 2023.

Ingrid was relieved to give up command and head back to engineering. Once they docked she took the opportunity to practically tackle Teddy in a hug. "You scared the living daylights out of me. I was a nervous wreck up here. Although I confess it was a little fun to be the captain."

"I don't think it'll work that way, Teddy. I think they've gone too far to back down; if the King isn't dead they might just try to make him that way" she said of the fighting over the throne.

"I agree dear, that's why I said we need to stay with him and increase the guard in number and in gear. They'll be coming to make sure he's dead. Damn I'm glad I'm not king."

Zhouth waved one hand side to side while pointing straight at Ingrid with the other. "You're going to be captain again for a while, or something close to it. We still haven't put all of the expedition through medical yet, and I'm pretty sure that everyone is going to need some serious treating after the bug and wind and lightning and getting shot!" He swiveled the pointing finger toward himself. "I'm probably the one in the best shape of all of us, and I still feel some kinship to a crash test dummy after going through that!"

"Yes Zhouth, you are quite correct, I said I needed help getting my suit off, I might be in hospital a week too. I'm hurt inside, as well as the wounds from that, thing, that attacked us. Can you arrange to get the others up here Ingrid? Viridian, Collyn, RayJay, Taliesa and the rest? We are going to need help, plus analyze what they found, if they found anything."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Tue 06 June 2023.

OOC: FYI--I have no desire or intention of trying to keep the two timelines in sync... they'll happen at their own time and pace.


You are in the Medical Bay of the Highport, so you have access to better medical personnel and equipment (except for the AutoDoc, which is otherwise in use) than on the Vultan.


22:29, Today: StarMaster rolled 18,18,13,13,19 using 2d6+7,2d6+7,2d6+7,2d6+7,2d6+7 ((5,6,6,5,1,5,1,5,6,6)).

After an hour of medical treatment ('surgery'), the following damage points are restored:

Aaron gets 10 points back.
Rejji gets 10 points back.
Teddy gets 5 points back.
Varca gets 5 points back.
Zhouth gets 11 points back.

While you can apply these to any of your 3 physical attributes, you need to fully restore one of them for you to benefit from long term (one day) care. Teddy and Varca may need an additional hour of surgery.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 120):

Teddy Stabilizes at:
Temp STR [6] 3(+1) 4
Temp DEX [9] 7(+2) 9
Temp END [7] 4(+2) 6
--------------------
Temp INT [A] 8(+0)
Temp EDU [A] 7(+0

Teddy is feeling much better, but he wasn't 100% by a ways!

Between taking up extra responsibilities due to injured crew and medical duties, Ingrid had had an extremely busy few hours, but was relived the crew seemed to pull through okay.

In reply to Ingrid Gustavdottir Sigar (msg # 122):

OOC:  as I understand StarMaster's post, abouve, Teddy & Varca will be bed-ridden for at least a day--maybe two (SM mentions possible additional surgery; I/Varca will opt for such, he's still down 4 Points).
   Again, if I'm reading it correctly, it looks like Zhouth will recover quickly.  He might be up and moving within hours.
   Ingrid was left "in command" by Teddy--The Captain.  And even though Zhouth is a part of the "Command Structure", I don't think he can relieve her of that duty, because it was The Captain who assigned her the duty.  So, for at least 24 hours...Vultan will remain under Ingrid's command.  ^_^
   Also, I RP'd Varca as pushing himself pretty hard--he likely drained his Medikit of pain killers--so I'm RP'ing him as having crashed once he got to medical care--either by "Doctor's Orders" or just his own reaction, Varca will be "out of it" until the doctors release him.
   So, as I see it, a few hours after Vultan lands on the highport and we hand over The King--Ingrid "has the Conn", Zhouth is up and about, and Teddy is Okay-But-Bed-ridden...
   Good Luck, you guys... ^_^

In reply to Varca Lexand (msg # 123):

ooc - I'm still down 3 points, but assume I'll recover those normally if I opt out of surgery and resume duties soon?

"When you get a chance dear, get someone to contact the away team on the palace and see if we can get them up here if we can."

Ingrid nods. "Get the folks back together, will do."

7 hour later

"Able to reach the palace dear, any news on the status over there?" Teddy asked Ingrid.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:01, Thu 22 June 2023.

There is virtually no security on the Highport right now as the Star Guard is in the outer system looking for that Aslan spy. All that's available is the starport authority.

The medical staff confirms that Wrax is down on the Floating Place.


Because of the use of fast drugs, Varca and Teddy have to go through a second surgery, and won't be conscious for 24 hours as it requires the AutoDoc's cryoberth function. At the end, you both are a bit stiff and groggy for a minute or two.


There are four base security personnel assigned to guard the King. When half-a-dozen Star Guardsmen show up to take custody. They are promptly arrested by Security.

That's when you learn that the communications blackout was initiated by the Royal Palace.


Shortly after that, the Hawk Warriors arrive at the Highport dragging the assassin's body.

Seeing the assassin's body, Ingrid tells Zhouth "Well, that's one problem solved. The question is, what now? We're cut off from out team at the palace but we're in no condition to be charging into an unknown situation."

Zhouth had alternated between keeping watch over the cryo-caskets of Oleb, Varca, and Theodore, alternately pacing the area while working on his comm, and scrutinizing the medical readouts from the medical hardware. The only exception was when he was resting: a bit more than usual, which was understandable given how bruised up he'd been on arriving - not enough to require extensive treatment, but more than could be remedied by a quick patch-up or taking a few minutes for a breather.

"We're missing two very important people for any kind of charge," he agreed, looking and sounding rather depressed about that fact. Then he addressed the Hawk Warriors who had brought the body in. "Do you have any way to get onto the palace right now, or are you just as locked out as everyone else?"

This message was deleted by the player at 16:17, Sun 25 June 2023.

"Hey, we'll be okay" Ingrid said to Zouth with a smile, trying to encourage him. "We've come this far, right? Didn't come all this way just to end here."

Highport Medical Center, in orbit abouve the Floating Palace; Planet Drinax



     Laying in a nearby AutoDoc, Varcas red-orbed eyes snap open,

     "Nothing ... is ... ended." he says, stiffly sitting up in the AutoDoc, "And I'm not ready to go 'missing', quite yet..."

     Varca shifts his legs, and sits on the edge of the AutoDoc,

     "That Planet ain't killed me yet..." Varca says, stretching his arms and torso, "...kicked my ass several times...but it ain't come close to killing me..."

     Finished with his short stretch, Varca looks around, over his shoulder, at Theo in a nearby AutoDoc and gives his old friend a nod -- then Varca turns a serious glare at the group...

     "Where's the Damned King...?"

Teddy crawls out of his too, looking around, orienting himself.

In reply to Theodore McFarlane (msg # 133):

     "And what about the Team on the Palace?  What have they reported while I was out?", Varca continues, rising to his feet,

     "And didn't anyone bring me a Hazard Suit?  We're in the middle of a frikkin Medical Center, here!  Surrounded by Toxins and Pathogens!  You people trying to kill me, or what?!"

In reply to Starwolf (msg # 134):

"Looks like I need one too, can you bring me one Ingrid dear? How is the king doing?" Teddy asks before questioning about the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:30, Mon 03 July 2023.

"You're surrounded by toxins and pathogens that are all very carefully contained, so as long as you stay calm and don't start poking or breaking things you'll be perfectly safe!" Zhouth replied brightly to Varca. He whirled one hand in a small circle to his side. "Well, safe from toxins and pathogens, anyway. We'll have to start doing something about those high blood pressure issues, though." Was he smiling as he said that? It looked like he might be, just a little.

Then his hand moved up to point over his shoulder toward the door as he regarded Varca with a look of concern. "But, umm, you might want to both double check your suits before you use them again. All of those strikes and smashing around and getting electrocuted may not have done their systems and integrity any favors, you know? Things like undetected lubricant leaks into the breather can cause some pretty nasty long-term toxic effects that the rest of the suit won't help you with."


Then he pointed toward a side wall. "As for the king, he's still out, and he's probably going to stay that way for a while because he was in much worse shape than you two were. The palace team?" He pointed toward the floor. "All quiet, but that's probably because the palace is blocking everything, and best intel says that they'll start shooting at anything that isn't theirs. Maybe even at some things that are." He shifted to an exaggerated shrug. "Okay, yes, the Vultan is a pretty capable little ship, but taking on an entire floating palace with it might still be a bit much, especially since none of us who were still walking around are exactly master tacticians."

He pointed through the wall again. "The Hawk Guards are here, though. Seems like they're still loyal."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:50, Tue 04 July 2023.