In reply to Dixon Lyshenko (msg # 45):

"I'll do it, I've better protection on than you." Keeping a close eye for trip wires Askel get up and enters the room, his weapon trained on the figure in the chair.

You round the chair the figure in it illuminated slightly by the screen which is still on a cursor blinking on the screen. Even through the damp smell in the room you get a whiff of charred flesh and you see the cause, a hole in the back of the persons head, this this person has blonde hair, though thinking back to the video message you remember Dimas having black hair.

In reply to The GM (msg # 47):

"Hey! It's clear. There's a guy here with an extra hole in his head, it's not Dimas though. I'm gonna have a hunt and see if there's any useful information in here." He calls through to Dixon.

Dixon holds his stunner pointing at the roof. "Do you think Dimas popped him?" He looks about. "Weird, this guy must have come in, got whacked and Dimas decamped. Some sort of hit man working without backup?"

"Like you said, you look about, I'm going to keep a watch on the outside. If you find any plushie Bwaps I call dibs."

Dixon goes back downstairs and keeps a careful lookout, not letting himself be a target through the windows.

In reply to Dixon Lyshenko (msg # 49):

Askel begins a search of the room. He checks the body for a comm or any kind of information about who it might be. Then he checks the desk and draws and looks for a computer of any sort he might be able to interrogate. Any other drawers, cupoards and safes hidden behind pictures on the wall get a thorough rummage.

Askel goes around the room turning over everything that he can see, it all looks pretty spartan as if it was only being used recently. The person sitting at the desk seems to be wearing a black tight fitting Protec Suit; well tailored, though not much protection with a shot to the back of the head. On his left wrist a small watch like object is blinking slowly which as you look closer you make out the words "flatline" blinking in red.

as you move around the body looking it over you notice when your face gets close to the screen some faint scan-lines emanate.

<< Facial recognition active... Colonel Baron Askel Orin Identified... You have one message waiting >>

Standing downstairs Dixon slowly scans the horizon, through the windows of the habitat.

Dixon Give me Recon Roll please
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:00, Tue 28 Feb 2023.

Dixon notices the sun is starting to get low in the distance, casting long shadows from what little vegetation there is on the this dust bowl. Everything looks still aside from from the occasional insect or bird catching his eye. Luckily the habitat has cooling else he would be a lot more uncomfortable.

In reply to The GM (msg # 51):

Askel says "Play message."

//Message Starts

The screen fades into a mans face quite close to the screen talking in a hurried voice.

"Colonel, It appears they have found me, luckily I was out setting up some sensors on the parameter when they arrived. I managed to take out the sentry outside he is jammed in the cargo space of the grav vehicle outside, and of course you can see the man at my desk. It seems I remembered more of your training than I thought. I managed to grab what I could and head out to Sarycna City about 50 clicks due west of here where I have a small ship docked in bay 12. It will take me a couple of days to check the systems and slip out quietly. Meet me there if you get this message in time."

//Message Ends

Askel give me an investigate roll for your search of the body

Searching through the body of the man at the desk Askel doesn't find anything further. At that moment as the wind dies down outside Dixon picks up on the unmistakable sound of an incoming drone. scanning around he suddenly sees coming towards the habitat a single drone flying in out of the low sun. Luckily he managed to noticed it while it was a still a little way off, giving him some time.

Dixon moves away from the hab wall, he thinks given the atmosphere here the insulation would be good but knowing Murphy's Luck he'd be up against a cold spot and let any possible thermograph on the drone a free shot at picking him up.

"Askel, we have a drone coming in from planetary west, straight at us and not on a passing vector. I'm guessing the guy we found sitting in the seat is missing. My recommendation is to sit tight and see if it goes into an orbit. As I get more detail I'll update you."

In reply to Dixon Lyshenko (msg # 56):

"OK. I've got a message from him. He's killed a couple of people and headed to a place called Sarynca City. I'll keep an eye out for that drone and see if I can shoot it down if it approaches." He holsters his pistol and frees up his rifle before taking up a position where he can spot the drone out of a window.

You hear the drone get louder as it approaches before bursting overhead and slowing to a stop hovering outside the habitat. From what little you can see of it while trying to remain out of sight it looks like a standard recon drone, not totally defenceless but isn't going to pepper the habit with holes either. From memory you know that they mainly come with just a stunner as standard but that they are easy to swap out if someone is so inclined.

The drone drops down and starts scanning a high intensity lightbeam through the windows of the habitat, moving window to window starting on the ground floor.

Both of you please give me a stealth check (DEX)

Askel slides into some cover positioning himself next to window seconds before the white beams of the high intensity search lights start coming in through the window. The beams scan down the side of the building checking each window in turn. As the lights sweep through where Dixon is positioned, the ex cop twists keeping an eye on the drone while staying out of its visual sensors, his stun stick holstered at his waist accidentally hitting the object he is hiding behind, a slight thud is heard. The light beam swivels back quickly, lingering on the area it detected the sound.

Dixon freezes and forces himself to breathe evenly and not panic that his cover is not good enough. He slides his eyes around making sure he's covered from all directions including above and below.
"Fucking good sensors on that bastard" he thinks to himself.

In reply to The GM (msg # 59):

When the scanning light passes Askel moves into a position where he can see the drone through a window. He gets into a comfortable position and takes aim at the drone, waiting.

After scanning for a few seconds the drone operator decides that it was nothing and starts scanning through the remaining windows. You see the drone ascend to the upper floors and continue its search. While the directional sensors are away from you, you know you have a few moments of relief.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 12:38, Sat 04 Mar 2023.

Askel moves quietly to the stairs and moves down them out of the sight of any windows.

Dixon doesn't move, holding his breath.

You both monitor the drone as it does its sweep, hovering near the window to the office you see it scanning for a longer period of time before it suddenly rotates and starts flying off back the way it came to the west and Sarynca city.

"Hey Dixon we need to head the direction its going. There's a grav car outside we can use but we might want to take the corpse out of the boot first." Askel stands and walks down the rest of the stairs still cautious for security in the habitat. Once clear he heads straight to the grav car and hauls the corpse out.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:47, Sat 18 Mar 2023.

Dixon straightens up, watching the drone depart.

"Corpse? How do you know that? Have you been putting corpses in odd places while I'm not looking?"

In reply to Dixon Lyshenko (msg # 67):

"Nah! Dimas left me a message upstairs. That's how I knew about the car, the corpse and what way we need to go." Askel replies.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 09:48, Sat 18 Mar 2023.

"Okay, let's get whoever's in there out and up with their buddy upstairs. I'd like to look them over, see if I can work out something from the corpses." Says Dixon, heading outside after a careful look around.

Askel opens the trunk of the vehicle and find a body crudely stuffed in there, his throat slit. Dragging it out and with a little help from Dixon you both manage to manhandle it into the module and up the stairs. by the time you are done sweat is pouring off your foreheads from the exertion.

Dixon casts his eyes over the room before crouching down next to the two bodies and examines their clothing while Askel goes back down to the Grav car to check it out.

Dixon can you give me an investigation check (+INT)
Askel can you give me a straight INT check for looking over the Grav Vehicle
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:14, Tue 28 Mar 2023.