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[July 2059] Down OlÂ’ Mexico Way (Solo: Kord)

Posted by Mr. JohnsonFor group 0
Mr. Johnson
GM, 192 posts
Sun 22 Mar 2020
at 23:53
  • msg #34

Prelude: Kord

Let’s say there is a nose mounted chain gun that is fired from the cockpit, a door mounted LMG and/or you can fire from the back ramp opening with your rifle.

In a situation like this, feel free to write in the details you need to take the action you want to take; as long as it’s appropriate to the situation.   I’m totally cool with PCs contributing these kinds of details to the narrative.

Kord
player, 45 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2020
at 14:43
  • msg #35

Prelude: Kord

As seemed to be typical on UCAS aircraft, the crew wasn't at full complement and no one was manning the door mounted LMG.

"Scherwinski, get on that LMG in the door," he barked, ordering his team into action. "Chernik and Szeto. With me on the rear ramp. Clip on and engage any targets you can see but ensure you don't fire inside the aircraft. Hoop and Kaufmann, switch to your pistols and look for anything that gets inside. Make sure of your shots though."

He then moved over towards the ramp and clipped himself to a safety strap, designed to anchor him to the craft and prevent him going too far if he fell out of the rear. "Hey Wiz," he called over his shoulder to the Dwarven Mage, "can you do anything about this?" Jared knew little about spirits but he had heard rumours that you could shoot them and he was about to find out if that was really the case or not.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 205 posts
Sun 29 Mar 2020
at 02:36
  • msg #36

Prelude: Kord

Your team jumps into action and a few moments later Scherwinski is on the door mounted LMG and has it chattering away.  Next to you Szeto is picking his shots over his M22A2.  The captain has headed up front and is strapping in next to the rigger pilot.  The mage, on the other hand, looks like he is taking a nap.

Off the back ramp, the flesh forms are hurtling by at top speed, but a few well placed shots might slow them down.

Rock & Roll
22:28, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Kord, rolled 9 using 2d6+1 ((6,2)).
Weak Success deal damage


Your carefully placed shot drops an incoming flesh form, but...

and choose one:
- expose yourself to danger, threat does damage
- expose your team to danger, threats damage two NPCs
- use ammo

or: spend 1 Edge to Edge Bump for a Strong Success and suffer no complications.

Results:
...pending

Kord
player, 49 posts
Sun 29 Mar 2020
at 12:15
  • msg #37

Prelude: Kord

Kord will spend 1 Edge please to Edge Bump to a Strong Success with no complications.

How quickly does Edge return? Is it used up permanently and has to be earned or is it a pool that refreshes at some point? Sorry if this is explained elsewhere. Still getting my head around the system. I like it though.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 208 posts
Tue 31 Mar 2020
at 03:06
  • msg #38

Prelude: Kord

Edge Bump no complications...

...Edge refreshes every scene, so no worries.


The flesh form you hit spirals out of control, smashing into the deck plate at your feet, but fortunately no one is harmed by its death throes.  Meanwhile the squad continues pouring fire into the swarm (Nemesis).


Mechanics
Troop (NPC): a group of NPCs working together with cohesion as a team. Troops roll 2D6 + number of NPCs/2 for all skill tests.  Troops damage track is equal to the base number + 2 per NPC in the Troop. Troops deal damage equally spread across all threats (base damage + number of NPCs) / number of threats. Troops always expose themselves to damage as a result of a complication when they Rock and Roll.

Swarm (Threat): an enormous group of threats that attack without coordination, relying entirely on their massive numbers advantage to overwhelm the PCs.  Swarm damage track is equally to 10x damage track for a typical member of the swarm. Swarms deal 5x base damage for a member of the swarm spread equally across all PCs that take damage as a result of a complication. Defeated swarms dissipate leaving 1D4 individual typical members as Threats.




Rock & Roll - Squad & Crew
22:14,Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 9 using 2d6+3 ((4,2)).
Weak Success the squad deals their damage (10)...


The coordinated fire of the squad takes out a handful of flesh forms...

but... they expose themselves to danger.

Swarm deals damage (5x2) - 3 Armor = 7.


Despite the withering fire, a pair of wasps flash past you and Szeto, catching the squad off guard. You’re about to switch to side arm to try and get the insect manifestations off your team when both of the horrifying stinging beasts simply burst into brilliant green flame (guess that mage isn’t sleeping in the job after all).

“Boss...” Scherwinski calls out over the din. “Boss!  Get over here, you gotta see this.” Outside, on the fuselage, one of the tenacious little beasts has a fixed itself to the tilt rotor. Another lands and climbs over the carapace only to die a horrible death in the whirling blades. The ailing aircraft shudders violently as the insect’s yellow-blue blood coats the hull. Another follows. Then another.  As sticky blood and bits of exoskeleton begin to build up, the engine coughs and the Eagle begins to lose altitude. Something has to be done to stop them from jamming the engine with their corpses.

Result:
(1) You're still in the fight but...
(2) The squad has taken a blooding.
(3) Another few bugs into the engine and this bird is going down.
(4) You’ve got a clear shot at the bug that is using its own body as a bridge between hull and rotor... if you can take it out you just might save the aircraft.

Kord [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Squad & Crew (Troop)
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Flesh Form Swarm
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Flight continues

This one chance shot on the flesh form on the engine is exactly the kind of thing you want to get on the first try. Perfect time for and Edge Boost

Kord
player, 52 posts
Tue 31 Mar 2020
at 13:20
  • msg #39

Prelude: Kord

Jared automatically nodded in appreciation at the mage, not really getting that the dwarf couldn't see him properly as he was in the astral at present. He was glad that they had a mage aboard, and he'd jealously heard stories about SpecOps teams who had mages assigned to them, as they made a massive difference with a lot of weird stuff like these bug spirits.

"I'm on it," he yelled in response to Scherwinski's warning. Leaning out of the VTOL, relying on the safety strap to prevent him falling, Jared opened up with his assault rifle. There was a risk that he could damage the rotor but, as far as he could tell, the bug was going to down the aircraft anyway if he didn't so it was worth taking the calculated risk.

He aimed as much as he could, making full use of the budget smartgun link the UCAS Military had issued him with, but relied mainly on the firepower of his rifle.


OK, as well as an Edge Boost please can Jared use one of his Core Moves, probably Fuck it up / Make it Rain but possibly Rock & Roll if that is more appropriate? Or can he use both at the same time?
Mr. Johnson
GM, 216 posts
Sun 5 Apr 2020
at 17:22
  • msg #40

Prelude: Kord

Fuck it up / Make it Rain is used to impede or aid another character's actions.  Depending on the situation, I'd allow it to be used in the same turn as a hands on action like Rock and Roll but it would have to make sense for the action and fit in the narrative.

Scherwinski took a step back, allowing you to take up the firing position at the door gun.  Taking careful aim over your sights with the smartlink reticule displayed on your tactical display, you take the shot...

Rock and Roll
Edge boost
13:03, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((6,3)).
Strong success


...and drop the bug.  Despite the damage to the engine, the Eagle stabilizes.  It seems to have enough power to make the approach at the processing centre LZ without too much risk.

The spirits are still swarming the aircraft, but at least you're still airborne. While the civilian passengers keep their heads down and try to keep the little girl calm, the nose cannon chatters away, the squad snaps off targets of opportunity from the back ramp, the mage naps quietly...

Rock & Roll - Squad & Crew
13:11, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 10 using 2d6+3 ((1,6)).
Strong success


...like a well oiled machine, the team is cool and calm, dropping bugs wherever a chance exists.  A wave of heat splashes over you as another trio of bugs explode in sickly green mage fire and a thin sheen of sweat appears under the mage's helmet.

Result:
(1) You're still in the fight.
(2) The squad is steady for now.
(3) The aircraft is stabilized.
(4) You need to clear away the bugs before you can land the Eagle.
(5) You’ve got a decided advantage over the swarm, take +1 forward in the next round of combat.  I will apply the +1 to either the PC roll or the Squad roll, wherever it gives best advantage.

Kord [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] - Edge 1/3

Squad & Crew (Troop)
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Flesh Form Swarm
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ]
Flight continues

Kord
player, 69 posts
Thu 23 Apr 2020
at 21:25
  • msg #41

Prelude: Kord

Trusting that the pilot had informed the reception centre that they were coming in hot and would need support at the LZ, Jared continued firing, trying to pick off individual bugs as they tried to attack the aircraft.

"Keep firing Recon!" he yelled to his team, trying to encourage them and help them stay calm. Aggression correctly channeled could be a powerful weapon on the battlefield, even against an enemy as unknown as this one. "Keep laying it on them! Bullets kill them just like anyone else!" He wasn't entirely sure just how much the Dwarven mage was doing to keep the bugs away so he put it down to the lead they were sending down range.

He also periodically glanced at the engine the swarming spirits had been trying to overwhelm, just in case more needed to be done to keep them off it.


Kord - Rock and Roll with his M22A2 assault rifle at the swarming spirits
Mr. Johnson
GM, 295 posts
Fri 24 Apr 2020
at 23:11
  • msg #42

Prelude: Kord

Small arms fire erupts from every opening on the Eagle, concentrated to make one final push to disperse the swarm...

Rock and Roll
Kord: 18:39, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 9 using 2d6+1 ((6,2)).
Weak success

Squad: 18:40, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 6 using 2d6+3 ((1,2)).
Take +1 forward =7 Weak Success


...the concentrated effort takes down flying bug after flying bug.  Whittling the swarm down to a few individuals, then knocking those last few out of the sky.  With the entire squad focused on making one final push...

Swarm deals damage (5x2) - 3 Armor = 7 split evenly between Kord and Squad...

... no one makes it out unscathed, but everyone is still on their feet.  A couple of the guys will need to see a medic once this crate gets on the ground...

Result:
Kord [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] - Edge 1/3

Squad & Crew (Troop)
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]

Flesh Form Swarm
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
[X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
dispersed
18:40, Today: Mr. Johnson rolled 3 using 1d4 ((3)).
Flesh Form [X] [X]
Flesh Form [X] [X]
Flesh Form [X] [X]
Fight Ends


Clear of the swarm, Zeke, the rigger pilot, brings the Eagle screaming into the processing center LZ spraying the nearby buildings with gravel and debris.  As the engines spool down, you're met on the tarmac by a med team and some military police who take the zoners into custody for processing and transfer to the Ares facility for quarantine.

"Mr Soldier," says the little girl, looking up at you with her tear streaked face.  Her mother gives the little one an encouraging nod before she continues, "Thank-you for making sure we got out safe.  Can you make sure teddy stays safe too?" she adds, offering you her only possession, a threadbare stuffed bear...


Prelude ends.  Advance / take +1 Rep.  Meet me in XP and Nuyen to tell me what you want to do with this level (improve a stat or learn a new move)

We can continue to play out another scene in Chicago if you want (just try not to die since it would really screw with the timeline!)

Kord
player, 72 posts
Sat 25 Apr 2020
at 22:41
  • msg #43

Re: Prelude: Kord

Mr. Johnson:
Prelude ends.  Advance / take +1 Rep.  Meet me in XP and Nuyen to tell me what you want to do with this level (improve a stat or learn a new move)

We can continue to play out another scene in Chicago if you want (just try not to die since it would really screw with the timeline!)

Thanks for this. Will have a think about the advance.

With playing out another scene I'd like to do that but would prefer to pick out an episode from his career as a merc. There were three incidents that I included in his background:

2057 - While working for GEI he participates in a number of rescues of journalists, bloggers and western aid workers in East Anatolia region (what was Eastern Turkey) who had been taken prisoner by one of the factions in the Turkish Civil War.

2058 - Another contract for GEI took him to the South East Asia War Zone where he participated in a number of security operations. He rotated out of the region prior to the atrocities reportedly committed by another GEI team that lead to a number of team members being convicted of murder.

Mid 2059 - His mercenary unit was involved in an operation in the Atzatlan / Yucatan area where they suffered heavy casualties. Kord decides that a new line of work is preferable.


What do you think about playing through one of those? Or would you rather it be an incident in North America? You had an idea about one in the Caribbean League.

Thanks.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 301 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 14:09
  • msg #44

Re: Prelude: Kord

How about #3 but set in Baja, not Yucatan?
Kord
player, 73 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 20:47
  • msg #45

Re: Prelude: Kord

As in Baja California?
Mr. Johnson
GM, 303 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 23:18
  • msg #46

Re: Prelude: Kord

Baja used to be California. The Azzies took it along with San Diego during the brief war in ‘38
Kord
player, 74 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 23:30
  • msg #47

Re: Prelude: Kord

That works well then - sounds good to me.

How do want to set this up? Do you want me to run through my thoughts on what happens so that you can flesh it out? The key elements are that Kord's merc unit takes heavy casualties and he decides that a new line of work might be safer.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 304 posts
Sun 26 Apr 2020
at 23:46
  • msg #48

Re: Prelude: Kord

Got it. I can run with that.  I’ll set up a new thread for this solo scene. Anything else you ‘remember’ happening during that mission?
Kord
player, 75 posts
Mon 27 Apr 2020
at 10:24
  • msg #49

Re: Prelude: Kord

In reply to Mr. Johnson (msg # 48):

Not particularly. One slightly awkward thing though is that everyone should be using Street Names as they are Mercs but a lot of them will then be dying so it's using up a lot of Street Names. I don't know about you but I find creating "cool" sounding Street Names one of the hardest aspects of Cyberpunk style games. Maybe we should focus on a small four person team that Kord is part of and run through how two of them die, along with a number of other people off camera? Would that work?

Mr. Johnson
GM, 306 posts
Mon 27 Apr 2020
at 12:57
  • msg #50

Re: Prelude: Kord

Got it. We’ll have some of them use their real names if it gets clunky. I’ll get a thread fired up shortly.
Kord
player, 78 posts
Mon 27 Apr 2020
at 13:14
  • msg #51

Re: Prelude: Kord

In reply to Mr. Johnson (msg # 50):

Superb. Thanks.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 477 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:57
  • msg #52

Re: Prelude: Kord

End Prelude
Mr. Johnson
GM, 478 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:57
  • msg #53

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

“Well, yeah, of course there’s a catch.” replied Major “Geezer” Griesbeck, the company commander, running his hand over his short clipped balding pate.

Commerce City, Denver, Sioux Sector
GEI HQ, Main Briefing room
7 July 2059
0832hrs


Tell it to them straight
“I mean, if there wasn’t, why would they need us?” he adds prompting a round of cynical laughter.  Sitting outside the global operations centre, Devil’s Company leadership has assembled for a long awaited mission briefing.  Pouring over intel chips and scanning 24-hour news channels for the past half an hour, you’ve learned just about all you ever wanted to know about Aztlan.  Most of what you’ve seen focuses on the growing insurgency in the Yucatan, but that’s not where you’re heading.

“OK, let’s recap,” Geezer says. “The Azzies have given the little towns and the counties that they occupied in old California the cold shoulder since the end of the war in ‘38.  They’ve got a hot insurgency going on over in Yucatan and uncertainty on the border of Amazonia.  Understandably, the Board of Governors in Tenochtitlan are focused entirely on the potential for the Imperials to back the California Republican Guard in a counter offensive.  As a result, all of the Azzie forces in the area are concentrated on the border to prevent Cal Free from trying to take back San Diego.  Everything south of the border is left to scrape and squabble among the banditos and corrupt Federales.  That’s where we come in.” he says calling up a 3D topographic model of the Baja Peninsula.

“Down here, south of the Tijuana ‘plex, are a bunch of little towns, Rancho El Refugio, Punta Colonet, Ejido Eréndira.  These are all small independent municipal conglomerates technically outside the jurisdiction of the corporate council and, more importantly, independent of Aztechnology.  The price of that freedom?  They all fall prey to bandits and there is no Aztlan Armed Forces cavalry to ride in and save the day.  While we can’t save the day, we can make sure they have some basic skills to defend themselves against predatory gangs.”

The working folks Baja California are looking for a hand up, not a hand out.  Best of all they’re willing to pay for it.  GEI has been contracted to provide a bit of muscle and, more importantly, some training to local militias so they can fend for themselves.  The company will be split up over a number of small operating posts advising, assisting and training the locals.
Mr. Johnson
GM, 479 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:58
  • msg #54

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

@Kord: you are here.

You're a squad commander with 4-6 mercs under your command getting ready to go south into Aztlan.

Kord
player, 91 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:59
  • msg #55

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way


OK - as a quick sketch how does the following sound for the rest of the team under Kord's command:

Brig - male human grenadier and assistant team leader

Loco - male human grenadier - has a reputation for unnecessary aggression and excessive violence - Kord doesn't like him but has been lumbered with him

Patch - female human medic

Stone - male dwarf heavy weapons expert

Grief - female elf hermetic mage - somehow manages to combine military camouflage with Goth/Emo fashion and style

Macko - male human sniper

Mr. Johnson
GM, 480 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 02:59
  • msg #56

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

Edit:
Stone - male dwarf rigger, heavy weapons expert

Add:
m0use - female human decker, tech support

What are you and the team doing in Denver before you head down south?

Kord
player, 92 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 03:00
  • msg #57

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

With Stone and mOuse will they be physically with the rest of the team on the ground or will they be in a secure base and present via drones/cameras?

Prior to leaving Denver we'll be running through the briefing to ensure that all of the team members understand what their role is, either training the locals or providing security with others conduct the training. For example Loco will spend most of his time on sentry duty rather than training anyone.

We'll also have had a night out as a team to ensure that everyone knows each other and to iron out (or at least bring to the forefront) any niggles between the team members - we don't need to role play through that though.

Mr. Johnson
GM, 481 posts
Thu 27 Jan 2022
at 03:00
  • msg #58

[July 2059] Down Ole Mexico Way

Stone and m0use will accompany you into your assigned sector based on the village of Rancho el Refugio.

The teams takes their orders like pros, although it’s clear the Loco doesn’t like the idea of being sidelined. Better keep an eye on that one, might be a problem down the line.

An evening out followed by an early morning. You begin to prep to deploy out to Rancho el Refugio the very next day...

...time for a bit of Legwork if you want to track some equipment down, try to make a contact, do some research on where you are going or just pack extra socks.

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