Porter will call the other 3 over and say,
"What do you all make of this 'note'?  I am not sure if it is a coded message, odd map coordinates, or something else.  Ideas?"

Rolling for clues against intelligence:

Bartja: 10:40, Today: GM Heath rolled 62 using 1d100. Fail.
Desi: 10:40, Today: GM Heath rolled 64 using 1d100. Fail.
Orvo: 10:40, Today: GM Heath rolled 86 using 1d100. Fail.
S'krllk: 10:40, Today: GM Heath rolled 72 using 1d100. Fail.
Porter: 10:40, Today: GM Heath rolled 31 using 1d100. Success.

Porter has an idea.  He punches the 16 character set into the GPS on his Chronocom.

As each chronocom has a unique 16 digit GPS built in, it can be used as a tracking device.

OOC: See here: http://wiki.rpol.net/?id=6687/EQUIPMENT

This is my own update to the chronocom system. The last entry regards GPS.

You would have to tie in your chronocom to detect the signal of the GPS of another chronocom. For this a computer check is required. (Also, the target must be within 20 km.)

As a reminder, each hex on the map is 2 km.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:30, Thu 01 Oct 2020.

Porter tries on his chronocom:


17:48, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 63 using 1d100.  Computer check.  EEK.

Desi takes up a defensive position while the other try to figure out the GPS coordinates that were left.

Desi, you want to give it a try?  I am seeming to have issues with it.  I will watch the perimeter.

Orvo has no computer skills so he relies on the others. "Too bad Bartja and S'krllk are back at the ship," he says dryly.

I don't have any computer skills, but maybe you will get lucky?

Desi and Orvo try their novice hands at a computer check for the GPS. Both fail.

(09:31, Today: GM Heath rolled 71 using 1d100.
09:31, Today: GM Heath rolled 98 using 1d100.)

S'krllk or Bartja could try to do it remotely and talk you through it but it will cause a 1 hour delay, which is about the same amount of time as them going to you by aircar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:35, Fri 02 Oct 2020.

Hearing over the chronocom what the search team has found, Bartja thinks he may have a solution.

"We're bringing the aircar and should be there in an hour.

We'll swing by the wreck first and drop the maintenance bot off to search for survivors.  I'll program it to lead them back to the Moraes on the ground or activate the freeze fields if needed, then we'll turn north and rendezvous at your location."

Bartja looks to S'Krllk to see if he is in agreement with this ever-changing plan.

S'Krllk acquiesces as he attempts to scan the area and discuss survival probabilities with his body comp.

Porter says, "I recommend we wait by the gondola, maybe get some food while we wait.  No sense setting off without the information available."

"Do what you need to do Bartja.  We'll be standing by."
=============================================


"Sounds good Sarge.  I'll take first watch while you guys get some chow."

No problem, I will spell you in 30.

Bartja and S'krllk take the robot and begin heading northwest, trying to stay in the tree line so as to avoid being spotted.

As they reach the point 6 hexes northwest of the #4 on the map traveling through the wooded lowlands, they see sunlight glinting off metal 500 meters south of the route in a small clearing.

Red lights begin going on in the aircar: "WARNING. EMP PULSE DETECTED. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES INDICATED."

Those up north head back to the gondola and eat lunch.


22 DAYS UNTIL QANTARIATE INVASION

DAY 4 ON MAHG MAR

12:00 P.M.

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Mon 05 Oct 2020.

Orvo says, "You guys alright?"

Bartja's fleshy-face goes as blank as he mechanical half as the color drains from his skin.  An EMP pulse might spell no only disaster for riding in the aircar, but both he and S'krllk are heavily modified.  Depending on the strength of the pulse, they could be just as disabled as the aircar and maintenance robot.

"Turn about!" he shouts to S'krllk suddenly.  "Effasive manuevers! Turn north, quick!

Now we know how they're protecting their anti-aircraft defenses.  If we're going to approach that thing, we'll have to do it low-tech.  That won't be good for you or I, buddy."

S'Krllk chitters, the sound as close to a growl as he can make, and fights to turn away from the danger. "You're right about that, and there's no time to take countermeasures. We'll have to avoid it."

The group up north hears S'krllk and Bartja's last comments in the radio, and then there is sudden silence.

After trying for a few minutes, you cannot reconnect.

Updated Map

Orvo, Porter and Desi remain at the gondola. Communication with S'krllk and Bartja have been lost for the moment.

Okay, options? Opinions?  We have a couple ways we can do this.

1.  We can stay here and hope they show
2.  We can all go try to find them, possibly missing each other
3.  We can split the group, half staying, half going

Let's give them an hour before we do anything too drastic. At this point, I think we're too weak to split up.Worse case scenario, we continue on if no contact.

OOC: It just struck me that this group tends to post much faster than the other two. You can certainly wait, but I also don't think you would enjoy the game grinding to a halt for the next week or two, depending on posting rates.

Since an hour has passed, you can each do a second check on tracking the GPS at -10, if you want, especially if you are just waiting.

There is also a 1 in 10 chance of a random encounter for every 1 hour you wait.