23 DAYS UNTIL QANTARIATE INVASION

XP: You each receive 9 XP for the last segment of the Moraes and completion of the module. If you don't recall, I also gave out a total of 9 XP earlier throughout this mission (6 and 3 respectively), so your total XP haul is 18 XP for this adventure.

Orvo and Porter gear up, taking medical equipment just in case, and hop in the last remaining undamaged aircar to rescue Captain Marlboro and Engineer Innesti. The flight over the wilderness is a striking contrast to navigating it on foot and in rafts. It is almost peaceful and beautiful.

The problems start when they reach the crash site. The Captain and Engineer are missing. After a little looking around, it does not appear to be an attack by wildlife because there is no mess, no blood, and no equipment. The two were taken along with any useful equipment. Now they are nowhere to be seen.

The damaged equipment and the destroyed airship wreckage are all there.

DAY 3 on Mahg Mar, 6:30 p.m.

The sun is starting to go down.

OOC: Please check out updates on the Wiki here: http://wiki.rpol.net/?id=6687

I added entries for: 1) Moraes crew member details, 2) the Moraes, and 3) the planet Mahg Mar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:08, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

OOC: The next adventure is a hybrid of Face of the Enemy module and an original one incorporating the Qantariate and Sathar storyline. Which one is tackled first depends on the actions of your characters, but they are intertwined. Finding that the captain and engineer are missing is part one of the Qantariate storyline. Part one of the Face of the Enemy begins once communications are reestablished on the next day.

I would also be remiss if I did not remind you of the injuries your characters have suffered and inability to receive biocort. There is plenty aboard, but most have received maximum doses for the day and need to wait until the next day for more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:10, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

Porter turns to Orvo, "We are going to need to regroup before we can mount a rescue.  I am going to need some medical attention.  We will go back to the ship and get some more manpower, maybe leave in the morning."

As the biocort stimulus begins to wane, Bartja collects the last useful bits of robot and takes them to the engineering deck for repairs and reprogramming.  Mumbling to himself, he can be heard to say, "only one survivor and pretty low tech at that.  Still, it will serve as a good mule.  Maybe I can retrofit the hand controller and weapon systems from the survey robots...?"

In reply to Bartja Nemuco (msg # 4):
Desiraye will begin to make her tour of the ship and stops when she sees Bartja working.  "Make use of whatever you have available to give us any kind of edge.  Losing Hammer is going to hurt us going forward and who knows how long before we can count on any kind of help.

We seem to have some time to try some options here."
This message was last updated by the player at 22:14, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

Orvo agrees with Porter to go back but first investigates the area for additional clues or signs of what happened.

Porter agrees, "Let's take a quick look around."

BARTJA

While everyone is trying to repair and feel better, and while waiting for Porter to report back, Bartja collects Shemp and looks at the options.

One thing he realizes is that, because Hammer was a Mechanon, he can likely recover Hammer's personality and knowledge if he can upload it into the ship. It will take some time but could be a way to salvage the situation. It cannot be uploaded into the limited space of the robots (for now), and the ship is the only computer large enough to handle it. OOC: This will also give Bartja something to do while his player is on vacation and could lead to some unique interactions.

Bartja can also use parts to fully restore Shemp with a day or so of work.

He will have to recover the pieces from the nearby survey robot to see if he can repair them or use their parts. That will take time.

The utility robot has limited uses. It is a level 3 maintenance robot: https://starfrontiers.fandom.c...i/Maintenance_Robots

UTILITY MAINTENANCE ROBOT
LEVEL: 3
BODY TYPE: Standard
MOVEMENT: Standard
LIMBS: 3 standard manipulators
PROGRAMS: Maintenance, Computer link
BATIERY: Type 1
STAMINA: 100 points
WEAPONS: None

These robots can be programmed to perform a wide variety of tasks. Without a combat program they have a basic chance to hit of 0%. No appropriate combat programs
are available aboard the Moraes.

Shemp is also a Level 3 Maintenance robot but it has combat program installed that grants it a 50% chance base to hit.


Porter and Orvo
Porter suggests going back to talk to the others and mount a rescue in the morning. The sun is going down, and Orvo suggests a quick investigation of the area while you have light left.

They find the following additional clues at the crash site:

In some of the soft dirt near the trees east of the crash site, you find tracks of what appears to be extremely large snakes. But with your experience, you think the tracks probably belong to Sathar. They appear to head east toward the river before disappearing in the shrubbery and rocks.

Near the tracks, you find a pocket tool. It is clearly UFP issued.

At about this time, Desi contacts them remotely for an update.

Back at the Moraes
Appleburg is tending to LeGrange and assisting with all wounds, including minor surgeries and injections.

OOC: For the sake of the game, we can say that everyone is healed to normal levels the next morning after a good rest.

S'krllk is making headway on the engines but is able to turn the work over to the crew so he can rest and join the group again.

Desi inventories what is on the Moraes, finding the following:

These will look familiar:

8 PERSONAL SURVIVAL KITS (used to be 14)

Each contains:
machete
everflame
allweather blanket
first aid pack
chronocom
8 survival ration packages
1 tangler grenade
1 compass
1 life jacket
10 vitasalt pills
1 pocket tool
1 flashlight
1 doze grenade
1 0-meter rope
toxyrad gauge
4 liters of water in water packs
1 pair sungoggles
1 environmental suit with breather
1 poly-vox
1 laser pistol with a 20 SEU clip

3 EMERGENCY BIVOUAC UNITS
(pressurized insulated tents) 3 x 3 meters in floor area. Air lock attached. Contains a mechanical air pump for pressure to support walls and roof. Filtration system provides safe air. Provides some temperature protection. 30 structural points (deflates after 10
points of damage. Fabric is water proof and air-tight. Sleeps 4

3 INFLATABLE RAFTS (new ones)
1.5 x 3 meters in area. Carries 4 passengers or 3 passengers with gear. 20 structural points
Inflated and deflated with cannisters of compressed C02.

4 INFRA-RED GOGGLES
10 FREEZE FIELD GENERATORS
2 LASER RIFLES
5 POWER BACKPACKS
8 COLD LIGHT LANTERNS (with internal
chemical power source)
1 TECHKIT
1 ROBCOMKIT
1 MEOKIT
1 ENVIRONKIT
1 TOPOGRAPHIC MAP (Map 1)
1 PLANETARY SURVEY DATA PACKET


The following will be new discoveries:

Grenades gathered from Terry's traps:
20 Frag grenades
15 Incendiary grenades
10 Tangler grenades
8  Doze grenades
5  Smoke grenades

Other Miscellaneous:
50 Fire extinguishers (spread throughout)
16 Vacuum suits (like the one LeGrange was wearing)
6  Radiation suits

Personal gear of live crew (which you respectfully do not get into)
Personal gear of dead/missing crew (Terry, Captain and Engineer) (If you want to get into their private items, let me know.)

In the Workshop:

2 Albedo Screens
6 Fully charged SEU Backpacks
5 Fully charged Power Beltpacks
2 Skeinsuits
Welding torch
1 Sonic Stunner

Vehicles:

1 Explorer
1 Airship
1 Survey airship gondola. (Upon inspection, you find that Terry stripped the second
airship gondola of its weapons and power supplies. The radio equipment in the
Robot Research Station that S'krllk is dismantling. It can be used to fix the communications system to relay a mayday. The crew starts on this. With a day of work, the second airship can be reequipped to fly again.)



Desi also finds two locked chests in the Explorer Bay. One is a personal footlocker marked "Terry's Stuff" and the other is a military locker marked "Experimental. Property of UFP. Top Secret." They appear to be some things he was hiding from Captain Marlboro.

Desi contacts Orvo and Porter at the top of the hour asking for a status update.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:11, Fri 11 Sept 2020.

OOC:

Please note I corrected one error after rereading the module. The Moraes actually carried two airship gondolas. You crashed one, so there is still one on the Moraes, though it was badly stripped by Terry for his ill conceived plans.

I put the Moraes equipment on the Wiki here: http://wiki.rpol.net/?edit=6687/ship_equipment

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:16, Fri 11 Sept 2020.

After assembling all the bits and pieces and considering their options, Bartja rejoins the team for dinner followed by a night of rest.  During "mess", he explains to the team what he intends to do while they're stranded here.

"My little service android Shemp is badly damaged as are most of the other robots that took care of this ship.  We've rendered all the survey or security robots practically useless but have at least one maintenance bot left and I believe I can get Shemp back to work.  They won't help us much in combat but will serve as mules when and where we need them.

You all know of my need to use bionics now, even though I don't fully understand what the Eorna did to make it all work.  We have here a fascinating opportunity to learn from our friend Hammer.  I believe with a little effort, I can save Hammer - at least his personality and intelligence.  If I can successfully upload him to the ships mainframe, he should live on - albeit in a new "body".  I won't do it without consensus, however.

The risk I see is that Hammer is beyond any technical skill I have.  He seemed to be self-aware and self-programming.  In school, we would have said he was an AI robot, but he might be even more advanced than we can fathom.  The risk in doing this is that the ship becomes self-aware and self-programming as Hammer - a true Artificial Intelligent ship.  As a friend, I believe Hammer taking over the ships systems wouldn't be a bad thing, but if he's had some kind of mental breakdown he would literally hold our lives in his hands.  He would control our life support systems for example.

My goal in uploading him would be to save him until we can find a suitable replacement body.  It might take us back to Vulturnus to consult with other Mechanons.  I suspect they can build him a new body if we can save his intellect.  Meanwhile, the maintenance robot and Shemp can be linked to the ship.  With Hammer uploaded, the ship would become a true Robot Brain and Hammer would effectively live on through the control of one or both of our remaining bots.

Shemp has a basic combat program installed, although it wasn't built for battle.  If the Ship-Hammer-Robot-Brain were in place, he could control Shemp and any other linked robots as long as we are within range of the Moraes.  This would almost give him the autonomy of the Hammer we know, using my little android as a proxy body.  I believe I can also retrofit Shemp to carry one of the Heavy Lasers or Autorifles from the Survey Robots as well.  This would give us a robot controlled by Hammer that is not quite as heavy duty as the former Hammer but more omniscient.  Hammer would have access to all the ships security and defense systems and would be able to remotely operate our robots as needed."

Wounds closed and healing nicely, he gets to work the next morning on projects he perceives will be most helpful to the team.  He works diligently on repairing Shemp while running system scans on the ships computer and removing un-needed files to create space for a potential Hammer upload.

"Let me know if you want me to convert our ship into a cyber-Hammer spacecraft with robotic servants and I'll get to work!"

After the report of probable Sathar having taken the Captain, Bartja comments "Obviously from what we've seen, what Appleburg has told us, and now the missing captain, we're not alone here.  We could try to track the abductors or head straight back to where Appleburg was held.  Before we move, I would like to see what the "new" LeGrange has to say."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:48, Fri 11 Sept 2020.

S'Krllk nods to Bartja, "it wouldn't be the first time I worked on him. We learned a lot from the mechanons, so I'm sure I can help you get him up and going. But if we can't reload his memory, so he's not the Hammer we know. We should just put the Hammer down."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Just imagine how long I waited to turn that phrase.

---

Porter and Orvo report back their findings via radio to Desi.

Bartja gets to work and is ready to move forward.

OOC: It looks like Bartja and S'krllk are ready. I can advance the day but didn't know if Porter/Orvo want to do anything else, or if Desi wants them to do anything, before they come back to rest.

I will advance it tomorrow if no one else is doing anything during this day cycle.

Porter and Orvo will return for some healing and rest.  We know where to start if we are going to search for the missing captain.

As long as they did a recon of the area, That's all.  Report back to base

Porter and Orvo return and report. Everyone gets some much needed R&R overnight while taking full use of the medical facilities...not to mention showers...on the Moraes. Orvo and Appleburg work together as doctors to stitch everyone up. It goes much faster with facilities and two doctors to assist each other than out in the field.

The next day dawns bright and hopeful. (Everyone back up to normal STA.)

22 DAYS UNTIL QANTARIATE INVASION

The first thing that is fixed in the morning is communications. After what you hear, you almost wish it hadn't been.

You are surprised that the transmission is so fast. It only takes a few seconds' delay between transmissions, meaning the ship is close. You send them your Mayday, but before you can give any details, the communications officer cuts you off:

"Crew of the Moraes. We were sent as a rescue operation, to recover LeGrange, and to deal with the local threat. We are the UPF Cruiser Ridley Weyland. We have been--"

His voice suddenly cuts off with a loud explosive sound behind him. He picks up again:

"We have been ambushed by a Sathar Destroyer of unknown origin that seems to be guarding this territory. Our engines are out. The Captain has ordered everyone to abandon ship. The smaller ships and escape pods are loading for escape. We have called in for a rescue team but the nearest ships are three weeks out. I need to get to my escape--" He pauses, gasps, and when he speaks, he may have forgotten his comm unit is still on. "Dear God, what is that? Another one?"

You hear another person in the distance respond to the question. "That's a Sathar mothership. Obsolete. Small but highly weaponized Class D destroyer."

Another voice, presumably the captain: "Abandon ship. Get to your escape pods. Their cannons are trained on--"


Then the transmission abruptly stops.


Soon after, LeGrange is starting to come to. He is groggy and has very little memory of anything has happened in the past few months. "We were helping people at the Sanitorium," he says. "There was an infiltration. Agents of the KLC. They took us captive. Everything after that is a haze. I had been a member of the KLC in my youth but left them when I realized they would go to violent extremes against the Vrusk on Kraatar. Once they started bomb attacks and sabotage, I left the group, but not before being exiled after winning the Fulbourn-McCoy prize for research." He chuckles to himself as he rubs his head. "I guess they found a way to recruit me back in. I really don't have anything against the Vrusk, only the RIK Vrusk on Kraatar. Anyway, I'm babbling. Finally feel like myself again. But it's still too bad you had to kill my pet cats."


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 15):
"Some rescue mission my ass!  Looks like we're the ones doing the rescuing!  OK, let's see if we can start tracking the destroyers escape pods.  Sarge, you want rescue duty or coordinate Ops from here?  Take Appleburg and someone else, if you're going.  Orvo can monitor LeGrange for the time being.

Bartja, S'Kriik, who's doing what?  One of you should go unless you think otherwise?"

Desiraye will turn to address LeGrange after assignments are handed out.  "Well, we're glad you're feeling more like yourself.  Do you think you're capable of helping us in any way without trying to kill us all?  Asking for a friend Jack.  We've got a ton of trouble and we don't need to be looking over our shoulders wondering what you're going to try and pull.

You'll excuse me if I'm blunt but, we've got a pretty frackin' bad situation developing before us."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

I will be on the ground, thanks.  It will put off the other rescue mission, but priorities must be evaluated.  Let's get into position before they land, if possible.:

"Roger. We'll coordinate with you and your 'away team' from here.  Keep in contact, we'll do the same as we get information.  I wish we had one more vehicle to operate.  I'm not very sure about the other gondola.  Bartja, thoughts?"

OOC: if one of the PC's would rather go with Porter, please volunteer!

FYI, you have no idea yet if any escape pods made it out, if they managed to land on the planet, or even what side of the planet they might be on. You have access to only one small part of the planet, so I wouldn't recommend planning around rescuing people yet. You will receive a new development soon which will develop that line of thinking.

OOC

But, we can try to track them from the ship and have the people in the aircar ready to go and headed towards where we think they might land.

If they come within 500 km, then yes, since an aircar has a 1000 km range.

That is kind of what I wanted to do, be proactive to it in case there are any ships or escape pods that made it off we would already be on the move and ready to help them sooner rather than later.

Could we carry the second parabattery in the aircar to get more range?  Just trying to think outside of the box.

S'Krllk looks long at Desi and Porter before he speaks. "Perhaps of equal importance would be just what the Sathar have on this planet. If they're committing that sort of overwhelming response to entry into the system, there must be something important here. If they truly want to protect that, and it happens to be on this planet, they'll be looking for those escape pods, and will likely find... well... us."

It is perhaps an hour after the communications call, and you are debating what to do, how to connect batteries to aircars, and so forth, when your communications pick up an incoming signal.

You quickly turn it on, and hear the following voice:

"Crew of the UPFS Eleanor Moraes, do you copy?"

After you respond in the affirmative, the male voice continues, "This is Lieutenant Gregor Dentin, Captain of the CMS Assault Scout Osprey. We were in tow of the UPFS Cruiser Ridley Weyland when it was attacked by a Sathar frigate and mothership. The Sathar opened fire on all fleeing escape pods and vessels without mercy. We don't know if any made it through. We hid in the radar shadow of the Weyland to avoid notice but came out of when the Cruiser was destroyed. We came under fire but were able to escape, albeit with major damage. We sent out wreckage and rubbish and floated blind and without power to make the Sathar think they destroyed us. We are now beyond radar."

He pauses, and the radio crackles. "All this is to say that we have homed in on your signal and are coming your way. As I said, we are badly damaged, so the rescue operation may be mutual. We have wounded and at least one fatality. It will not be a gentle landing, but we will get as close as we can. We should make landing in the next two hours."

Another slight pause. "We are picking up the signal from your ship in orbit. Appears there are three lander modules still intact up here. I will send a detachment to the ship in an escape pod. Let's see if we can't get those landers working to rescue us all. If we can get one safely to the ground, it might just be our ride out."

As you may or may not recall, the UPFS Eleanor Moraes exploratory ship had four lander modules for the ship you are on. Three were left in orbit and one was brought with you. An intact lander module will have fuel, some spare parts to scavenge, and possibly more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:19, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

9:00 a.m. (Day 4 on Mahg Mar)

OOC:
It's a little quiet, so let me bring up some talking/action points for you:

1) Respond to Captain Dentin on the radio.
2) Explore opening the two locked chests left by Terry.
3) Talk to LeGrange to determine how he can help with Qantariate threat.
4) Return to site of Captain Marlboro and Engineer Innesti's disappearance to begin search.
5) Return to site at river where you saw the shiny giant gleam below the water.
6) Finalize decisions on repairs of ship, Hammer's upload, etc.
7) Talk to Appleburg about his experiences being captured by Sathar.
8) Get your inventory sorted and distributed.

Did I forget anything?

If you simply want to wait two hours, you can sign off with Dentin and he will reconnect with you once his ship is in the atmosphere. You can also go outside to see if you can spot his ship coming in.

Porter will suggest he and whomever wants to accompany him go and start the search for Marlboro and the engineer.

S'Krllk opines that looking into Terry's locked chests should be a priority, as he might have some sort of beacon for either Sathar or Qantariate forces. Such a beacon should, obviously, be used to our advantage. So S'Krllk will go to do exactly that.

Captain Dentin signs off and says he will contact you when they are getting close.

Porter starts making arrangements to back and search for Marlboro. (Whoever goes should make an equipment list.)

S'krllk checks out the two lockers.

As a reminder:


Both lockers are locked. The personal one is locked with two manual locks, a built in one and a heavy duty padlock. The military one is locked with an electronic lock requiring a code to open.

"He's got nothing that I saw of use S'Krllk.  If you thik you can get ito the other two have at it but, please be careful!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:45, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 25):
"Received Captain Dentin.  This is the 'acting' Operations commander, Desiraye Lipost.  Be advised, we believe that their is Sathar activity on planet.  Will be investigating that soon.  Request radio silence unless it's an emergency!  Contact again when lander is secure and your on your way down.  We're spread pretty thin so, it's going to be interesting."  Moraes, out."

TBC...

"Sarge, start getting a team ready to go after the Captain and the Engineer.  Let's see if we can get this Captain Dentin and his people down first before we shove off.  It'll give us time for our good Doctor Appleburg to give us a break down of where he was working and the Sathar there.  I'm going with their the ones who have the our crew members.

S'Krllk & Bart, keep trying to run diagnostics and getting equipment ready for our various rescue missions.  See where the ships Vrusk Tech can lend a hand.  See just what the two Drals can help out with.  Maybe they can help the Sarge sort gear out? Use them where youneed them.

Orvo, make sure you and Doc Appleburg have medical bags ready to go for the rescue missions.

We need to talk to LeGrange too!"

I think we might need a medic on this trip.  We don't know what condition they are in.

Porter will take his weapons, ammo, a chronocom, grenades of various sorts and magnigoggles, if we have some.

Orvo agrees to go with Porter. He is cognizant that they need to have two extra seats to bring back the captain and engineer, but not sure if the aircar should just take as many as can go in it for numbers and then make multiple trips after the rescue. "There's safety in numbers," he suggests. "Splitting up may not be in our best interests."

Agreed.

"I also agree.  I was going hoping you or Appleburg would go along with the Sarge.  Who else do you need?".

For this mission, probably need the guns more.  One medic is enough.

Desi nods and puts her hands on her hips for a few seconds.  "Yup.  OK, I'll get my gear ready.  You want anyone else?  We're kind of spread thin.  Maybe Bartja and one of the bots if he's got one ready?

We need to keep LeGrange locked down until we get back.  Hopefully Appleburg can handle that."

Desiraye will go and get her equipment & weapons and report back.

OOC: Am I missing anyone who wants to go out with us?  I don't want to hold anyone back if they would prefer to go!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

We will need some to stay here and fix it up and be ready with the other aircar, just in case.

Bartja is torn but nods in agreement with Porter.

"I'll stay here, finish uploading Hammer, and work on the aircar.  I can lend S'Krllk a hand opening Terry's chests if needed but I want to make sure we preserve Hammer if at all possible.

I'll see if we can salvage parabatteries from the survey robots also, then get them charged up.  We can use them in the aircar, or aircars if we get this other wreck fixed."

OOC: Remember that you can check the current inventory of the Moraes here: http://wiki.rpol.net/?id=6687/SHIP%20EQUIPMENT

You can take the remaining airship gondola and fit more people. The aircar is more limited. So taking the last airship, anyone can go who wants to. I will not determine for sure who that is at the moment so that S'krllk, Bartja or whomever can decide later. Alternatively, they can join the group later by taking the last aircar separately.


You return to the site of the crash where you left Captain Marlboro and Engineer Innesti. it takes about an hour to reach the site after gathering gear and getting ready, which also takes about an hour.

The site is as Orvo and Porter left it last night.

OOC: Reminder about what Orvo and Porter found at the crash site:

22 DAYS UNTIL QANTARIATE INVASION

DAY 4 ON MAHG MAR

0 HOURS UNTIL CAPTAIN DENTIN ENTERS ATMOSPHERE.

10:00 A.M.


You expect to hear from Captain Dentin about his arrival at any minute.

Bartja is working on Hammer and can man the radio for any calls. (Not sure which way S'krllk went.)

Bartja also updates LeGrange about the Qantariate situation and gives him all known information so far. LeGrange says he needs to receive copies of messages or other artifacts and mumbles under his breath that it would have been nice if you hadn't lost the glowing artifact orb because that would have been perfect.

S'Krllk was opening the lockers. The one with the mechanical locks first, then the other.

Porter wants to leave at least a couple with the aircar for backup.  For now, he will take the gondola and whomever said they were going.  From there, we will assess the local clues and then pair up from there and search what paths we find.

Orvo will investigate the area where the pocket tool was found and the pocket tool itself.

Porter looks for tracks or drag marks.

So, we have; Desi, Porter, & Orvo?  S'Krllk & Bartja are staying with the ship.

While Orvo & Porter look around the site, Desiraye will act as security while the other two's attention is elsewhere.

Orvo examines the pocket tool. It is a normal pocket tool from a standard equipment pack.

Orvo and Porter begin searching around the area where the pocket tool was found. You find an area of dirt where it looks like feet were dragged, pointing east before disappearing into rocks and grasses. The area is a forest area with many things that would block a trail, which makes following such a trail difficult.

However, as they stand there staring east, they see a gleam in the distance. About 50 meters east of the tracks, you see a chronocom hanging by its chain from a branch at about eye level.

Back at the ship, S'krllk is working on the locks of Terry's lockers. The mechanical lock is tough, and he works at it crudely before finally having success and opening the footlocker.

The footlocker contains the following:
  1- A personal electronic transmission device ("iPhone," if you will)
  2- Several ID cards, including for the Sanitarium, a passport, commercial pilot's license, military/veteran ID card, a membership to "Vrusk's Aren't Us" club on Kraatar, and an unmarked electronic access card to...somewhere.
  3- 2 hypo injectors marked "VSDx"
  4- 3 hypo injectors marked "TMP
  5- 5 implants of some kind
  6- 4 implants of a  different kind
  7- A heavy 5 kg device labeled "Body Jump Box"
  8- 1 progit
  9- Two pairs of night goggles
 10- One tightly folded slipsuit


Bartja is having a tough time with Hammer and needs to take a break.


It is at about this time that Captain Dentin contacts you. "Moraes Crew, We are entering [static] now. Our engines are failing and we will be [static] west of your location when we touch down. We expect a hard landing. Our communications systems [static] damaged. We will--" The communication cuts out.

Looking outside, you see a streak coming down to the west of the ship (southwest of the away team). While this will make determining the general vicinity of the ship fairly obvious to you, it will also be seen by anyone else within a 100 kilometer radius, including Sathar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:45, Thu 24 Sept 2020.

Porter radios the ship:

"Can you guys take the aircar out to the crash site?"

Meanwhile, he and the crew with him will start heading east towards the forest, looking for more clues.  "Maybe they left a trail of items?"

Orvo agrees with Porter and goes to the chronocom, which he inspects before looking for more tracks or clues.

Every [20] or [25]steps, Desiraye will turn and check behind them as they move.  She sets herself in the last position while they're moving.

"I was thinking, when we found Appleburg to where it looks like the tracks are headed, maybe we can try to put it to a map and see where we are?  He may remember where he was being held at and it seems likely that the Sathar would be taking them to the same place.  Unless, they have multiple facilities here?"

Noting the contents of the footlocker so he can share the information, S'Krllk takes
• A personal electronic transmission device ("iPhone," if you will)
• an unmarked electronic access card to...somewhere
• A heavy 5 kg device labeled "Body Jump Box"
• 1 progit
• Two pairs of night goggles

He asks his master comp to identify the progit, and carries the "Body Jump Box" to the aircar before leaving it behind. As soon as Bartja arrives, S'Krllk will point out the "Body Jump Box" as the two of them prepare to head to the crash site.

Bartja jumps up from the seat he was in, sipping a beverage he'd taken from the ships supplies marked "XX".

"Hammer is much more difficult than anything I've worked with before.  I'm ready to take a break from geeking and get back out there in that toxic environment" he jokes with S'Krllk as he guzzles the last of his malt beverage.

He grabs his equipment, toolkits, and breather.  He also takes a toxy-rad gauge, two freeze field generators, the torch, and the bivouac units from the supplies - then directs the maintenance robot to carry their supplies to the aircar.   "Always need a mule around as an extra target" he says to S'Krllk as he climbs into the packed aircar, taking "shotgun".

"Think we should have brought the rafts?"

"I'm still trying to decide what we're doing. It's either rescuing the rescuers or gathering all the potential victims to one convenient spot."
As the aircar begins to move, S'Krllk reminds Bartja, "the irony here, of course, is that our more combative allies, searching through the flora, are probably less likely to meet the Sathar than we are, because the Sather will be searching for the crash site we're rushing to."

Half of Bartja's face frowns as he considers S'Krllk's insight and ponders the Body Jump Box. Before taking off on the rescue mission, he orders the maintenance robot to remain with the ship.  "We're likely to need the passenger space" he reasons.

Using the communicators with the breather as they zip through the toxic atmosphere, he opens a channel to the Alpha team as well.

"We haven't seen any other aircars on the planet.  From what Appleburg has told us and what we've seen out there, the Sathar seem to be limited to ground travel.  Perhaps if we get to the crash site quickly enough, we can pick up the survivors and beat feet back to the Moraes before the Sathar close in.  I'm bringing freeze fields in case there are more casualties than we have space to carry.

You are making me wish I'd brought a Heavy Laser now - or maybe taken some time to mount one to the aircar with an Attack/Defense progit controller.  No reason we couldn't have automated some of our better equipment if we'd had more time.

I'm also wondering if we should try this Jump Box on Hammer or wait until we've assessed this new ships crash site.  Think it would work on a Mechanon?  I'm not making much progress uploading him to the ship."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Fri 25 Sept 2020.

Porter radioed back to Bartja,

"Understood.  Hopefully we will be able to accomplish this rescue quickly and meet you back there.  Let us know if you run into problems."

From a distance, both groups watch the smoking ship streak down from the skies, trying to mark the approximate location where it might crash down. Then you are shocked to see something streak from the ground at the ship, hitting it. A ground to air missile. Smoke streams from the ship as it goes from a controlled descent to a spiraling crash. You can't see the actual crash beyond the trees and the distance, but there is no further communication.

You don't know if there are any survivors or not, but one thing you can guess is that taking an aircar over there might be a little dangerous. (You do have an explorer as an alternative, or you can take your chances with the aircar.)

Meanwhile, Orvo inspects the chronocom. It is a standard equipment chronocom. There are more footsteps stamped hard in the ground and a trail like someone dragging their feet that goes about 10 feet to the southeast before stopping in the brush.

Although Desi can't be sure, the footprints and "trail" do appear to lead to the same general direction (east southeast) from where Appleburg came.

At the Moraes, S'krllk and Bartja figure out that the progit is a Comp-Link progit and that one of the implants is most likely a Brain-Link implant. See here: https://starfrontiers.fandom.com/wiki/Progits

Dr. Appleburg confirms this, and you recall that he is quite expert at taking out and putting in implants, so he could do the job if given 2 to 3 hours to do so.

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Wed 30 Sept 2020.

Porter radios the others,

"You might as well call that search off.  There is an enemy there, and we need to coordinate any efforts with more than just two.  We will continue our search, then regroup for efforts out there."

For visualization, here's a basic map of where the general locations of things are at:

OOC
Can you tell me where the gondola team is, roughly?

Just east of the crash site in the northwest.

Orvo will continue east and southeast looking for any more clues or discarded items.

The group of 4 will spread out, looking for clues.

Once the progits are recognized, Bartja turns to S'Krllk; "I've got some alien implants that keep me alive now.  That said, this would be very useful to me if my bodycomp is powerful enough to use it now.  I know that you have something also implanted, so if you wish to use it instead, I'm okay with that.  I'm not that great at computers now, but I think I could link it to other progits later."

As they settle into the aircar and witness the crash of Denton's ship, Bartja looks over at S'Krllk with no small measure of concern.

"Well buggy, do we risk a quick approach to that wreck in the aircar and maybe get shot down or make a slower approach in the explorer on the ground?  We're less likely to be seen, but also less likely to win the race to the site.

If you want my opinion, I say we race there at tree-top level.  That should keep the ground-to-air missiles from being able to target us and we should beat any ground force to the wreckage.  We'll have to be quick if we're going to get in and get out before the Sathar or whomever show up."

"We're real low on choice, here. If we follow the river as much as possible, staying below the tree line, we'll be moderately safe from being shot down, but have to face the stuff that's in this river."
"Not to mention that we might be on a quest to pick up debris."
S'Krllk gives as much information as he can to his bodycomp and asks the master comp to estimate the chances of personnel surviving the wreck.

Commenting on Captain Dentin's situation, Orvo says, "Since we know the Sathar have a site there now, we could actually sneak up and ambush the Sathar, take them by surprise while prepared.

That we could, but our current priority is the rescue.  Opportunity will rule, but let us remember the task.

At the ship, Bartja and S'krllk continue to discuss options.

NOTE: It's up to you how to deal with the equipment and implants. Don't forget that there is Terry's other footlocker with the digital locks that is also there and unopened.

Up north, the group is looking for clues. About 100 meters east of the last item, you find Dentin's UFP issued ID card sticking out of the bark of a tree.

NOTE: Keep in mind that you are following a breadcrumb trail taking you away from your transportation, and you still have all the dangers out here that you had before when trying to get back to the Moraes.

OOC: Noted.

IC
Porter will continue following the breadcrumbs.  He doesn't feel like leaving another person behind.  He can only hope the others follow suit, but he refuses to command them to.

Orvo wonders if the survey ship can be used to follow those on the ground or speed up the process. Are there any sensors to see a trail, infrared, etc.? The vehicle would be helpful rather than everyone on the ground.

Orvo notes that it was about a day's travel away to the location where they met Appleburg, plus whatever time he was wandering before that, so there may be some distance to cross and shortcuts should be explored.

"Here's an idea.  We send the maintenance bot with the gondola to our original crash site to backup our away team.  I can rig the hand-held remote to stay connected with it so we can see what's going on and make decisions for the bot.  Then we take the aircar to the new crash site, search for survivors, then meet up with the away team.

Have you cracked that last footlocker so we can see what else Terry was hiding?"

NOTE: The group who are searching for Captain Marlboro took the gondola, so it is up at the north part of the map. At the Moraes currently is the airship and explorer.

It takes 1 hour to go back and forth from the northern crash site to the Moraes.

Searching east-southeast, you find another ID card sticking out of a tree about 100 meters away. This one belongs to Engineer Innesto.

Porter will press on.  He has more hope in finding them alive, as they keep finding breadcrumbs.

You find the next clue about 100 meters east. This is a pocket tool with its blade stuck into the bark of a tree. The blade pierces a scrap of cloth.

On the cloth is written the following:

5Q4C 3A91 E569 04TM

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.

OOC

Sorry about posting so fast.  I have little else to do most of the day.

IC

Porter tries to work the GPS information out again, and maybe he has done that?


10:46, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 24 using 1d100.  Computer check.

No, I like that. I take work breaks and respond during weekdays, so it's helpful to have something to respond to.

Porter successfully gets the chronocom to input the other chronocom's GPS number to track it. Unfortunately, it does not show up in range.

OOC: Remember that the chronocom has a ping distance of 20 km. This means Marlboro's chronocom is over 20 km away. At least you know the general direction to get closer.

Orvo is happy that Porter got it working so they could go off to save the captain.

Then Orvo sees the results, or non results, and says, "Let's take the gondola in the general direction of east and see if the signal pops up. That will let us know when we are within 20 kilometers."

Let's finish waiting out the given hour for the aircar.  I hope they just had a glitch and will be back online soon.

Orvo nods in agreement to Porter's plan but also says, "I was just thinking that we could use the gondola to sort of fly a perimeter to determine where the 20 kilometer limit is in a wide circle. Once we map that, we can land at the end of the hour and determine how to help the others, or just go straight there since we'll already be in the gondola."

That is a good idea, let me add that we will need the four looking every direction to see if we spot the aircar, especially south.

You hop in the gondola and begin going west until you hear the telltale beep of the GPS. You begin flying in a circle to establish the perimeter. After about twenty minutes of zigzagging to match the signal, you get a pretty good idea of where the boundaries and center of the circle would be, indicating where the lost chronocom is at.  (This does not mean it will not move later or be subject to other issues.)

In your fly around, you also do not encounter any buildings or foreign objects, but you stay just inside the perimeter (see map) and do not stray too close yet. The area inside the circle is primarily dense foliage. You look south down the ravine you traversed to the river where you boarded your rafts.


On the ground below, you see another pair of the vicious dinosaur-like creatures and remember having two encounters with that species just two days ago. But this time, you are not stuck on the ground with minimal ammo.

* * * *

Looking east toward the center of the perimeter, you see only thick foliage. However, it would be easy to hide installations, vehicles, and even a small ship within those trees. The 20 km range to the center also gives you a very poor view of what might be at the center, at least from this distance.





* * * *

Similarly, Bartja and S'krllk are too far away to see since they crashed in the forest. You heard the warning about an EMP pulse before they crashed and are wary of such. You do have a sense of where they crashed approximately (see map). However, they are on the far side of the hills and ravines in dense forest and cannot be seen from the air.



* * * *

Despite the long distance, you also have a decent view of the top of the ridge area where Dentin's ship might have crashed since it is a plateau with grasses and shrubbery and not so much hidden with trees.

But you do not see his ship, meaning it might have crashed slightly south in the tree area on the far side of the ridge.



* * * *
OOC: Note that S'rkllk and Bartja are being run on a different private thread, so you don't know what's happening or how they are posting at the moment. This thread remains public.

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:17, Thu 08 Oct 2020.

I recommend we move to the south and keep a low approach to where we thing the aircar is.  If we follow the their expected route, we may find them.

"Sounds like a winner Sarge.  Let's do it!"

You move the gondola toward the south and continue toward the aircar's general vicinity, keeping its last known GPS coordinates locked in.

When you reach the southern edge of the ridgeline (10 northwest of 4), your alarm lights go off and the monitors flash "EMP PULSE DETECTED." This occurs even though you were flying close to the ground just above the treeline.

You immediately turn the gondola around and land momentarily on the plateau (10 hexes northwest of 5) to determine next steps.

OOC: You can analyze the EMP signal or try determine its source, power, etc. through a computer check, or make other plans. So far, everything seems to be fully operational still.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:41, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

Porter suggest, "we could take the gondola north a mile or so, then travel due east until we get just past the last known location of the aircar.  Then turn south from there, hoping to skirt the edge of the EMP.  Once we get east of the aircar, presuming we do, we set out on foot.  We have to prioritize at this point, and getting our computer folks with us to figure things out has suddenly become the number one priority.

Orvo says, "I think that's a good idea. Does anyone have the computer skills to see what we can find out about this EMP?"

Yes, Bartja and S'Krilk.

Orvo laughs at that and then tries to do an unskilled check to learn about the EMP.

Orvo's check does not go so well. He fails completely. 10:32, Today: GM Heath rolled 97 using 1d100.

Count your fingers there, Orvo.  Let's see if we can find the aircar.

Desi next tries an unskilled check. She figures out what's going on. 11:31, Today: GM Heath rolled 10 using 1d100.

Desi determines that the EMP is a regular pulse 30 seconds apart. Looking a little deeper, she can see the computer pattern. Not only is it 30 seconds apart, but it seems to be rotating in a circle, reaching a full circle once every 30 seconds. So you assume it must come from some rotating beacon. Also, the pulse dies out, meaning it it will be stronger toward the center and weaker as it reaches out to where you are currently at, where it hardly makes an impact but can still be detected by the computers.

Interesting.  I think we might be able to take it out with full biologicals and something that doesn't rely on electronics to work.  Maybe some T-19, or a good old-fashioned hammer and screwdriver.  In the meantime, let's find our missing folks.  Put down just outside of its range, nearest to where we last knew the aircar to be.

Orvo says in good humor, "We may have to tow it out of the red zone, so to speak. He agrees with the plan but tries to map out the radius of the ping so they can zero in on its place of origin.

"As long as we can get our people out, they can probably fix anything, just like we can take out anything."

Orvo says, "Do we have TD19 handy? Or do we need to go back to the ship to get something like that? Maybe a quick trip back to the Moraes for supplies is in order."

We will do that, after we get the aircar.  We can't take that crew with us, but maybe they can provide overwatch support.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Wed 14 Oct 2020.

OOC: Timewise, you guys are about 45 minutes after the air car went down and the other group is about 5 minutes after, but they should move forward quickly very soon, and then we can advance you there. Feel free to discuss in the meantime.

When we land, be ready for action and stay alert.

By moving toward the fallen aircar, you are able to scout out the rough radius of the pinging EMP signal and quickly mark it on the map to later explore what is making the signal.

You reach the site of the fallen aircar.

It is abandoned, and Bartja and S'krllk are nowhere in sight. The utility robot, obviously affected by the EMP pulse, starts to boot up, and then is shut down when the 30 second EMP cycle returns.

All of your electrical equipment is the same. It will start to boot or start up and then immediately shut down 30 seconds later when the EMP makes its complete circle.

We will search for tracks.

I have a feeling we are going to have to go take care of that EMP.

Porter ensures he has a few grenades with him.  He wishes he had some T19, but what he has will have to suffice.

Looking around, you find a number of footprints, both those that could be from a Vrusk (S'krllk) and a Yazirian (Bartja). You also find other footprints that seem like large birds that must be at least human height.

Then you find something strange. Someone has scratched something in the dirt. The first is very well done, obviously a ship with four humanoids next to it. The second is much cruder and appears to be a ship landing in a fireball.

The footprints lead off to the northwest. As you try to count them, it appears there are three bird like creatures, plus Bartja and S'krllk.

Lock and load folks, we are tracking big chickens.

Desiraye press checks the bolt on her gyrojet rifle making sure that there is a round chambered and that the magazine is seated properly and, safety is 'On'.  "I'll take our six for now Sarge.  Let me know ifyou need me to rotate position.  We still going with comms on, correct?"

We will leave them on, but I am not sure how much use we will get from them.  Let's move.  Keep your head on a swivel.

You find that the comms and electric items do not work well. They start to boot up and then are instantly shut down as the 30 second interval EMP sweeps around.

However, you can fairly easily follow the trail to the northwest since there are five individuals going through together.

About a half hour passes of pushing through the brush, and then you see a flattened area with some blood on the ground. You also find an ejected gyrojet shell and a number of scattered prints indicating that something happened here. You also see a familiar set of large footprints that belong to the dinosaur creatures you encountered previously.

Then you find that the trail picks up again, and it again leads to the northwest. This time, it has the dinosaur tracks also following them, but it appears that one of the bird-like set of tracks has disappeared.

The enemy of my enemy isn't always my friend.  Seems like we have a couple entities interested in our men.  Let's get a move on and ensure their safety.

You pick up the trail heading roughly northwest.

After about a half hour of pushing through the brush and trees, picking up the trail and losing it again, only to find it again, you finally reach a 20 meter wide creek. Swimming or wading across would be difficult because it is between two hills that form 20 foot wide high walls on either side.

But you see about 80 meters upstream to the west that there appears to be a crude suspension bridge--lashed together vines and creepers--that spans the creek. Sure enough, the trail of feet leads you there.

You make your way to the crude bridge and see that it is constructed out of vines and brush. It would be easy if you had talons on your feet to cross, but since you don't, it will be a bit of a challenge. (DEX check required; failure most likely means you stumble and might catch the side of the bridge or fall into the river, except for an extreme miss (roll 90-100), which would be more consequential.)

Or you can climb down the 20 feet to the river. If you cross the creek itself, a STR avoidance check is needed to avoid falling and being swept away.

Porter crosses the bridge with no issues, at least as far as keeping his balance.


11:12, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 31 using 1d100.  Dex check.

Orvo will follow after Porter. He extends an extra limb so that he has three arms to help him across as a dralasite with only moderately good dexterity, hoping that will give him a bonus. 50 DX.

Desiraye will also cross with no issues.  She will help Orvo if he requires some assistance.

21:40, Today: Desiraye Lipost rolled 21 using 1d100.  DEX Check.

Porter crosses with no problems.

Orvo adds an appendage which gives him some aid (+15), but he ends up not needing it since he makes it easily across. 11:40, Today: GM Heath rolled 15 using 1d100.

Desi also makes it across without incident.

You pick up the trail again and continue northwest.

After about a half hour of travel, you lose the tracks and stumble forward looking for them. That's when you see something glinting slightly ahead of you. Then Desi sees their trail again. It had veered off to the right as if circling far clear of whatever was glinting.

You can investigate or keep following the trail. From where you stand about 25 meters away, you can't see anything except dull metal about the size of a person, but it is mostly covered in fallen brush and dirt. You will need to approach it to see it better.

To many things can divert our attention, but we need to finish this rescue.  It is too important, and we will probably need their help in searching for whatever that shiny object is. 

"Let me take a quick look, and watch my back in case something happens." Orvo has an insatiable curiosity and feels he must check out the glint. He approaches and looks at it before joining the group again.

Desi moves and sets up a position of cover while Orvo moves.

Orvo moves in and sees what appears to be a downed small vehicle like a two person hovercycle or something. It is unlike anything he has seen before and is broken in pieces. It has been there for awhile and looks as though someone has tried to bury it. In fact, it almost looks fitted toward a large worm-like torso. And then he sees writing in the Sathar tongue. There is nothing but scraps here, nothing salvageable.

Okay, you had your looksee, can we get back on task?

Porter gives a slight chuckle.

You keep following the path northwest. After about 30 minutes, you stop in your tracks. There is movement up ahead. There appear to be two creatures huddled over the tracks inspecting them and pointing to the northwest. They are about 50 meters ahead of you.

It takes only a moment for you to see that these are two Sathar. They each hold a weapon, but they have not seen you yet.

Porter points left and right to his companions.  He hits the ground where he is, hoping the others understand.  He tries to determine if there are any other Sathar in the area before acting.

You all hit the deck and remain silent. You are not noticed. There only appear to be the two Sathar, and they are inspecting the tracks and pointing while they speak in the Sathar tongue.

I ready my automatic rifle, set to burst, and I use any cover I find to close the distance.

Orvo sets his laser rifle to SEU 5 and covers Porter. He will not fire unless Porter or the Sathar start firing.

As Desiraye slpwly drops into a prone position, she fixes her scope on the one Sathar on the right and then uses her comm device.  "We have you covered back here Sarge.  First sign of trouble, you prone out and we'll cover.  Orvo, cover the left worm."

Porter readies a couple tangler grenades and moves as close as he thinks he safely can before tossing them at the Sathar.  He misses horribly, and hits the deck, pulling his automatic pistol out on the way down.

07:33, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 83 using 1d100.  Throw tanglers.

Porter's grenade goes wild. The Sathar are alerted, spin to see your general direction, and then, instead of fighting, they begin running quickly to the west into the brush and trees.

Given that you are all prone, it will take a moment to get up if you intend to pursue. The Sathar may be hard to spot in the thick brush and trees.

The path of footprints from your group and the bird creatures leads north-northwest. The Sathar ran almost directly west. Following them may lead to something, but also keep in mind that you might lose the trail.

Porter fires a burst at the left one, but loses balance trying to get up.


10:52, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 91 using 1d100.  Burst at left most (75% at mid-range).

Porter is miffed, but, while the removal of a couple Sathar from the Universe might be satisfying, this is not the time for that.

"I don't think they are worth it.  Even if they raise the alarm, the fact is, I think they already knew we were in the area.  Let's go get our people."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Mon 26 Oct 2020.

Once she sees the grenades are ineffective against the Sathar, Desi squeezes off [1] aimed shot at the one on the left she had been watching.  If she can wound it, it may slow it down or leave a blood trail.

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 62/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [90/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 15/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20, [1] MAG 10/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

Orvo fires at the right one, taking careful aim.

Porter fires and misses.

Desi also fires and misses. 20:07, Today: GM Heath rolled 93 using 1d100.

Ironically, the only one who is not a trained military specialist hits with his laser rifle. 20:07, Today: GM Heath rolled 22 using 1d100. OOC: make sure to indicate SEU levels for shots. I assumed 5 for the rifle since that was last setting.
20:08, Today: GM Heath rolled 20 using 5d10.

The Sathar is hit by the rifle, but not bad enough to stop his escape. The two Sathar disappear into the brush and trees. You realize that the laser cauterized the wound, or else you might be left with a blood trail--or maybe a scent trail for predators to take care of the Sathar for you.

"So many things to return to, but first, let's get our people, shall we?"

The party gets back on the trail towards Bartja and S'Krllk.

You get back on the trail. About 15 minutes later, you suddenly stop. There are tracks criss crossing, a lot of giant bird-like tracks. It is difficult to tell which way the trail leads.

Then you hear something suddenly crash through the brush. A group of seven one meter tall flightless birds emerge from the underbrush and grind to a halt upon seeing you. It is as if they were running away from something but suddenly lost interest because they found you, and you are much more interesting.

They fearlessly start walking among you. Some of them peck and pry with blunt beaks at your equipment and backpacks, while others use their clawed feet to scratch at gear curiously. They do not seem intent on harming you, but seem more curious than anything else.

"I think I might want to see what they were running from", says Porter.

OOC: Forgot to mention that they were coming in from the east.

Orvo says, "Or maybe we don't want to encounter what they are running from. He looks expectantly and nervously to the east and makes sure his rifle is armed and set at SEU5.

Despite the young, irritating birds, Porter will look in a circle for tracks that would indicate his teammates, shoe prints, drag marks, etc.

Someone watch where those birds came from, please.

Orvo watches to the east while Porter looks around.  The pesky birds are getting tracks all over and following him around.

Then you hear something coming from the east. It is big and it is dodging trees.

Porter spots the familiar boots of his companions heading in a generally northern direction.

The thing approaching you is another one of those dinosaurs. It is charging straight towards you and the birds around you.

Concentrating on the tracks heading north, the commotion that is coming from the east suddenly grabs Porter's attention.  As he turns and sees the beast, he brings around his automatic rifle, set on burst and fires at 40 meters away, but his movement has his shot go off.


17:25, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 90 using 1d100.  Fire burst-Short Range-(85%).

Desiraye turns to the crashing sounds in the jungle from where these bird creatures came from and she raises her gyro-rifle up to her shoulder.  "You've got to be frakkin' kidding me," she says and takes a quick breath in, and as she exhales fires off a burst of auto-fire at the beast.

+20% for firing a burst

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 62/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [90/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 14/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20, [1] MAG 10/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

Orvo fires at the dinosaur creature. SEU 5. He tries to take cover behind a tree.

Porter fires but misses the charging beast.

Desi fires a burst but her gun jams and doesn't fire. 10:13, Today: GM Heath rolled 97 using 1d100. Critical miss.

Orvo fires and makes an incredible hit with the laser rifle. 10:13, Today: GM Heath rolled 1 using 1d100. Critical Hit! The laser pierces the head of the dinosaur through the eye, killing it instantly. It flops to the ground, twitches for a moment, and then becomes still.

The birds around you scattered and ran into the forest, leaving you alone with the dinosaur creature.

Wow, that was unexpected.  Much as I would love to investigate this, I think we need our scientists.  Let's head north.

Desi got her pucker factor to triple when her rifle misfired and there was nothing but a loud 'CLICK' and then nothing.  She attempted to perform an immediate action drill to clear the jam as the charging creature came closer and she thought that she would be in big trouble.  Just as she thought it was over with, she hears the report of the laser rifle and watches as the creature takes the hit and skids head first into the ground, dead!

She stands up after clearing her rifles malfunction and taps the Dralasite on the shoulder, "That's one helluva shot Orvo!"

You pick up the trail again and head in a northerly direction for about 30 minutes.

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, three human-sized flightless bird creatures step out of the brush, blocking your path. They seem hesitant to let you pass but do not seem hostile. They do not carry weapons but talk in an incomprehensible squawking as if you can understand. You guess they have probably never seen dralasites or humans before.

They stop and wait for a response.

Desiraye takes her hands off her gyrojet rifle and eases the weight of it onto the sling and moving the rifle behind her.  She then raises her hands slowly showing the creatures that she is unarmed.  "They're not armed, at least they don't appear to be.  Maybe we secure our weapons and keep our hands away from them?"

No worries.  I will let you take the lead, as I only know one way to get things done.

Porter smirks.

They are squawking at you in a language you do not understand and your polyvoxes have not yet translated.

One traces a very good picture in the ground of a spaceship plummeting to earth and stick figures of you, as if asking you a question.

Orvo will trace a picture of a Vrusk and Yazirian in the dirt and point to show that they are together. He will draw an arrow from them to the spaceship.

The creatures squawk amongst themselves briefly and then lead you forward. After about 100 meters, you approach a settlement village that was complete obscured until you nearly walked right up to it.

The village shows that these are intelligent creatures, if somewhat primitive. The settlement is surrounded by a 3 meter wall of creepers interwoven with natural vegetation. The wall blends perfectly with its surroundings and is nearly invisible from a distance. A the base of the wall are dense thorn bushes. A narrow path through the thorns leads you to a pair of large vertical logs that swing to either side on a system of pulleys to let you in, pressing the natural wall aside to permit entry into the settlement.

Inside, the walls enclose an oval area about 50 meters in diameter. The heavy logs and thick wall of vines are sufficient to deter any native predators, providing a secure environment inside for the tribe. You see a second entrance at the far side.

Shelters constructed from wooden frames and woven vines stand clustered in the center of the enclosure. Dense plant growth is cultivated on the wood-and-vine frameworks, providing insulation and windbreak. The exteriors of the shelters, the interior of the encircling wall, and the surfaces of various other constructions are covered with brightly colored and decorative designs of incomprehensible pattern.

Most of the shelters are rough lean-tos, open on one side, but there are two large round structures just off of the central area on either side of a firepit that is directly in the center. One thing you notice about the shelters is that they use great heaps of fluffy plant fiber as cushions, making a shelter look like a bird nest, though it is more mobile and can be moved around like "furniture" inside.

The other thing you notice are many insect hives in the settlement. Insects seem to be kept by the creatures like livestock. Luckily, though the insects are annoying, they do not appear to be harmful to you. It appears this insectivorous race has insects as its staple. There is also one of the dinosaur creatures tied up off to your right.

You are waiting in the entrance area as the leader of your small group exchanges a discussion with another one. The other one is different, in that it has wings and a bright ornamental neck dress.

There are only a few with wings in the encampment that you see. They wear bright colors and appear to be the leaders. The majority of the bird-like creatures are wingless and wear more muted colors. It appears that color and appearance of clothes has a great deal to do with one's station in this little society.

You are motioned to stay where you are and the winged leader goes to the large round structure on your left of center, obviously to discuss your situation with the leaders.

Meanwhile, as you stand there, the wingless birds--some adults and some children--gawk at you. Most keep their distance, but one friendly looking one spreads his arms, points to himself and the others, and says something that translates into your Polyvox as "Notui."

Many are chattering around you, and you hope this means your Polyvoxes will soon pick up the language.