Moderated Freeform · Legacy archive
White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#81
[quote author=Scrasamax link=topic=6173.msg75361#msg75361 date=1360939135]
The aircraft launched from a single location, the arcology heloport most likely and were heading out southeast, none of them were heading towards Anchorage, which would be the closest obvious safe place.
Is there a point of now return or apparent perimeter based upon the locations of the crashes? Do the passengers themselves appear to be infested or infected with some energy, virus, nano-machine or other item that might be harmful to the surrounding ecosystem and thus justify their destruction?
(roll roll some investigation dice: 19, 2, and 16)
There is something that all the crash victims have in common. They were all calm and collected, still stone dead. There are no faces frozen in a death scream, no startled expressions. They were either completely unaware, or didn't care that their craft had been shot down.
They are armed, and they are all civilians. They are young adults, arco professionals, children, or senior citizens, there are no police officers, no military no SWAT, etc -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#82
Brian took out his backpack from where he had stowed it. He paused for a moment, and then opened it up and removed what he would need. Hacking the ship... hmm. All he really needed to do would be to find the programs blocking the registering of the military ships. Brian set to work.
(OOC: for that d20 check, got a 12).
Partial success. The cabin cruiser sensors start bouncing back new pings but the auto-identify program had to be bypassed to get them to show up. There is nothing big and moving around them, but there are several new contacts under the surface of the water, one of them quite large (300 feet long) -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#83"Thanks Muldoon, I'm not cold. This suit does protect me quite well."
Blue's head was fuzzy for a while, the facets of the neo-ethnic's mind reflecting upon each other, trying to assess where the fuzz... what the.
A head-shake later, Blue felt lucid enough again.
"We must assume there was a containment breach of some sort, Charlie Foxtrot of the highest degree. The mess may be chemical, nanomachines or virus, as you said. It may also be a supernatural or memetic threat, and from looking at these blank faces, something messed with their minds."
Blue kicked a corpse and sneered at its placid stare.
"Look at that stupid grin, it makes me think something tried to protect the outside, and contain them. They got served a helping of laser fire, large caliber, too. Perhaps the defense system is the only sane thing in there."
Damn that fuzz.
"I only got ten condoms on me. Is that enough protection?" Blue asked the air.
"Let's honor our accomplices and complete our scouting. I think we should go look at the arco itself."
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#84"I didn't bring any condoms, but they are likely to come in handy...they aren't lubricated are they?" Muldoon looks up a the trees and selects the tallest one, placing the trophy bag on the ground and he begins to climb up its trunk with his bitting claws. At about three feet off the ground he cranes his head around to Blue "I will attempt to get a look at it right now, before we approach on ...foot... is there any particular item or activity I should be mindful off?" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#85The Cabin Cruiser, it's sensors beeping and pinging back all sorts of signals, cruised into the port at Juneau. The small bay was full of debris, some of it civilian light craft, others military hardware. The marina itself had obviously been shot all to hell, and as the boat moved in, there were a small group of people waving at them from the shoreline. Their gestures were wild and frantic, get down, get off the boat, run away, panic flailing arms time.
Muldoon and Blue at a similar time reached the edge of the marina at nearly the same time. They too saw the group of people, but they themselves had as far gone unnoticed. A rare occurrence for Blue -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#86
"So, time to go?" Said Brian, after noticing the people on shore. "Obviously somebody has a pretty big gun, and the people are warning us of that. Which means it was probably the PRC. Unless there's a third side in all of this. So I guess our choices are run away with our skin still nicely attacked to our bodies, or investigate. Though I would like to get some more info about this mess we find ourselves in, I say leave." -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#87"Juneau....I haven't been his far south in a while Mr. Blue. Looks like another group of refugees" Muldoon takes aim at one through his internal scope. "Their behavior is unpredictable, may I suggest we stay clear" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#88The Inuksek arcology dominated the skyline of what was New Juneau. The locals made no distinction between old Juneau and New Juneau, there was Juneau proper, where the concrete was still in the first stage of pouring for the spaceport, it was estimated that the project would be completed in 12 years, giving Alaska it's second major spaceport. It was being built on the remains of the old Juneau International Airport. The building was a blue shaded tapered rectangle, reaching just shy of a kilometer tall. It's heloport and antenna masts for CogNet support reached another 300 meters above the top deck. The industrial military arco was flanked by two demi-arcos, both mixed use residential/commercial units. The city grew around the cluster of buildings, reaching the edge of Auke Bay and Fritz Cove.
Inuksek was close to the water, but it was still over three miles inland. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#89Brian, after noticing Muldoon's craft, turned his ship around and brought it alongside the skiff. He then waved over the rest of the crew.
"Cabin Cruiser to Muldoon and the mutant! There's the arco. So I guess we just can't avoid this heap of scrap metal and head over." Brian sighed. "So, this gives us two choices. Either anchor further down the shore and avoid this beautiful of example of the effects of modern weaponry, or anchor here. And try to avoid any needy children with big puppy-dog eyes begging for food before their gaze sears into our souls and forces us to give 'em something. Anyone got a preference?" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#90"Mr. Blue and I have been scouting the island that contain holds this site, we located a superior landing area on the far side of the island, we can travel across land to the site from there" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#91"Let's meet there. It shall serve excellently to land your craft and protect it from view and attack. I would not mind to use it to return as well."
Blue was restless, delays upon delays. The exact opposite of Blue's preferred modus operandi.
The forest whispered with echoes just at the hearing threshold.
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#92"We ought to move to their site," João broke his silence, looking up from his quiet meditation. "We will have need of the ship after our incursion, and I have no want to hike through these conditions longer than we need to." -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#93Muldoon will see that boats are secured and try his best to conceal them for passing water and air traffic, but he does not have sophisticated camo material or hologram projectors, and he will not attempt to construct any, but hopefully there will be some more protected areas in which to secure to the craft.
On shore
"Well gentlemen, I hope the 600+ mile journey from Anchorage was comfortable. May I suggest that I move ahead about 100 yards, as we walk towards the site, I will keep Brian's channel open, and alert you to any dangers in our path, there are giant war machines travelling through these woods, so be mindful of your flanks. Are you gentlemen ready to move out?" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#94"I'm not ready to move out," Brian said, with a slight sly smile creeping up at the corners of his mouth, "I'm ready to kick ass. Let's lock and load, you gun-types. Mutant with the tail, prepare a goat-charge. Mutant with the electronics, carry my bags. We are moving out, people! Muldoon, led us to victory! Oh, and I call middle. Maybe with the mutants on either side, Fade in back, since he's got the long-range stuff. And, oh, Jacobim behind Muldoon, to help with navigation?"
Brian did not like the idea of the out-doors. There was nothing to hack, which was Brian's whole selling point as a mercenary type. And he wasn't the best fighter in the world. And another aspect of the out-doors he did not like was the idea of mechas running around in it. Giant killer machines? That Brian couldn't hack and take control of? Not Brian's favorite thing in the world.
OCC: So... Is that map coming? And if not, can we get going? Brian wants to own noobs, make racist comments, and hack stuff! -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#95"Brian, keep the channel open, or I will open your godd**n abdomen" Blue had enough of the kid's banter, "We're here to do a job, not chatter like ladies."
They'd have to find a serveicable entry point.
Cover that would protect them from incoming fire.
"You can shine once we find the server. Until then, honor our spent time and try to not get killed."
Blue extended the stock of the laser rifle, attached the scope, set the controls. An assassin's or terrorist's weapon, this.
The land was white and blue and grey. So was Tel'Issare, and soon barely to be seen, advancing towards a vantage point near the arco. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#96Blue and Muldoon were able to scout out a good landing spot for the cabin cruiser. It was a waterfront personal pier, the sort of place that was either a corporate retreat for megacorp suits or the weekend getaway for a wealthy type, the sort of family that has a couple iKids and a robot butler. The building was closed, the windows covered with weather resistant panels and the solar panels retracted to protect them from the elements. There was no sign of conflict or violence and no sign that there was anyone present.
The Cabin Cruiser was able to slip in unnoticed, and the party was reunited. The arco was prominent, casting it's shadow towards the mountains in the East. Investigation reveals the location to have been a corporate retreat, the sort of place that a half dozen suits and their family units would visit to celebrate promotions. Prewett was pleased by the location, forcing the lock and in short order found and liberated a liquor cabinet.
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#97"d**n mutants," muttered Brian too himself after Blue had exited earshot. "Gettin' all uppity and high-and-mighty. Ideas above their station, much?"
Still, Blue could probably and would probably carry out the threat of showing everyone his intestines. Something Brian did not exactly want to see happen.
Eventually, they arrived at the retreat. Brian scanned the place, looking for anything useful. Spare gun? Something on the arco? Etc. (OCC: 13 for Search). After Jacobim had found liquor cabinet, Brian grinned too himself, and helped him take the liquor to the Cabin Cruiser. Liquor! Woot!
(OCC: by the by, what liquors did we get? Just curious) -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#98The haul from the liquor cabinet was rather impressive, several bottles of acceptable vodka, some flavored, and all probably artificially made retro-alcohols (starting as chemical alcohol then flavored and processed rather than being a product of fermentation) as well as no small amount of beer, chrome and other energy drinks. Of greater interest there are several bottles of genuine booze, organically fermented and flavored in the old tradition, a bottle of gin, two bottles of whiskey, and a bottle of subtly glowing absinthe.
There were no firearms on the premise, but there were some top shelf electronics, there was also a friendly reminder of the general schedule of the air tram to and from the arco, and the number to dial to call the craft. (all automated) -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#99"So," Brian said after discovering the tram number. "Rides on me. Anyone? It'll let us survey the area for that mecha and to see if the PRC is anywhere nearby. And it'll keep us fresh for the arco." -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#100Muldon looks to Blue holding his laser rifle as two other human run off to break into an apparently empty building.
"I hope there are no security measures in that building or devices that might spook our prey. Mr. Blue I going to continue on ahead 100 meters and make sure our path is still clear and safe. "
Tracking check d20 8
Perception roll d20 18 -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#101
Tracking check d20 8
Perception roll d20 18
Muldoon finds more mech tracks (I know, they are so hard to find) but he can't tell how long ago the machine had come through, given the cold and the generally calm weather, they could be a week old or thirty minutes old.
Perception: there is ambient noise and animal indicators that the area is clear. There are a few hardy birds, and he can detect the thermal presence of several small mammals (cross reference: likely GMO arctic raccoons). No signs of shooting, panic, violence, or anything else. When things went bad, there apparently was no one present at this location. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#102Brian waited for a minute for Muldoon to get back, and then turned on his channel.
"Muldoon?" Brian began, "Find anything important? And if you didn't, can you return so we can hit the arco?" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#103"Sir, I am assuring that your path towards the 'acro' as clear and comfortable as follows. Can you follow me on foot from where you are?"
Brian: "Listen you tin can of asswipe, I found this air tram it will fly us to the acro directly, so get back here, my brilliant superior intellect is bored."
Muldon "The only substantial thing that we have encountered; the only thing that universe has found interesting enough to reveal to us, is the fact that airborne traffic around the arco is subject to summary justice. While the anti-air fire of the mechs that we have observed may be only directed at out going air traffic, in which case the air tram will never reach you, but we have no reasonable evidence that the mechs would ignore in coming traffic. I need I believe our employer said to you that he believed the anti-air fire would keep the pacific rim interest away from the acro. So he believe air travel to be a bad idea. The only certainty I can forsee with using that air tram is that you would reveal to some entity at the acro, if only to the airtram's A.I. that we are at the resort house. I sympathize with your boredom and frustration, indeed I took on this task because my previous position was not challenging enough. But I shall have that boredom drive me to obviously dubious coarse of action. I already failed to interogate the choices laid before us previously and thus I just travelled 600 miles in a skiff through the pacific at winter towards what I believed was location close enough to be viewed from the Anchorage light house (the light house faces SW and has mountain to its east), but in actuality the location was 600 miles SE of us. So please sir don't let your boredom drive you take that air tram" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#104"We're going in on foot - after all, we have to retrieve one data core, no physical assets. Remember how I said you should not get killed? This is one of the cases."
Using the uneven terrain for cover, Tel'Issare advanced on the arcology.
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#105Joao nodded in agreement. "It is safer without the vehicles," he said simply. Ignoring the cold, he followed behind Blue, firearm in hand. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#106Prewett agreed with Muldoon, it didn't pay to go against the advice of the hired expert. There was nothing to shoot at so the rugged silent Fade followed along with Prewett and the others.
They gathered their gear and prepared for the relatively short trek from the vacation house to the arco. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#107"It was only a suggestion," muttered Brian. "Besides, what's the sense of getting snow in your boots? Could've hack the security system. It's all the damn mutants fault, corrupting the decent party members."
He grabbed his stuff, and then, after a moments reflection, stuffed the number in his bag. As well as the electronic stuff. Brian took one last gaze around the place, cursed the cold again, and trudged out after his party members. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#108Over the secure channel "Mr. Brian and Mr. Blue, there is group of armed individuals, organic humans, moving towards your position from the SE. With your permission I will try flush them towards you, it will be easier to pick them off on when they are on the move, they could be major delay if they dig in somewhere and have to rousted." -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#109"Please do, Muldoon" Blue dug in into a snow drift next to a young fir tree, gun pointed to the south-east. "Confirmed hostiles? What are they, arco-guards, or military scouts? Are they aware of our presence?"
Snow whispered, chasing in the wind across the drift. With the corner of one eye, Blue observed flakes settling behind its crest. 'Snow fort' Blue thought. 'Never built one' Blue mused.
The cross-hairs of the rifle's scope came to rest on the face of one of the approaching men. "Whenever you're ready, Joao." -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#110"Mr. Blue, they appear to following the coast towards our previous position, perhaps they saw our water craft, but if they are aware your current position they have not made such indication. I don't have a clear visual upon any insignias or tribal markings yet, but their weapons appear to be light anti-personal and they have no vehicles. They outnumber us about 2 to 1. Do I have leave to fire Mr. Prewitt?"
Muldon adjusted his position to get a clear shot at the chest of one them, his low caliber high velocity rounds were accurate up to 1000 meters, but easily deflect by brush and undergrowth. They weren't designed to drop the prey outright, but rather provide a mortal wound that would allow the beast to run a distance before collapsing. Muldoon knew what he was aiming for, a straight shot right to the bread box. It would collapse on lung first and then every subsequent breath increase the phenumothorax until it eventually suffocated. Muldoon would prefer to hit the biggest one, more likely to spoke the others in the herd he believed. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#111
"Mr. Blue, they appear to following the coast towards our previous position, perhaps they saw our water craft, but if they are aware your current position they have not made such indication. I don't have a clear visual upon any insignias or tribal markings yet, but their weapons appear to be light anti-personal and they have no vehicles. They outnumber us about 2 to 1. Do I have leave to fire Mr. Prewitt?"
Muldon adjusted his position to get a clear shot at the chest of one them, his low caliber high velocity rounds were accurate up to 1000 meters, but easily deflect by brush and undergrowth. They weren't designed to drop the prey outright, but rather provide a mortal wound that would allow the beast to run a distance before collapsing. Muldoon knew what he was aiming for, a straight shot right to the bread box. It would collapse on lung first and then every subsequent breath increase the phenumothorax until it eventually suffocated. Muldoon would prefer to hit the biggest one, more likely to spoke the others in the herd he believed.
He was able to sight the largest of the group, a physically large specimen, possibly light muscle augmentation. The man was carrying a large bore weapon, 995 chance of being a shotgun. He was moving near the front of the group, with several others similarly armed. (D20 check to hit, 10 to hit, 16 to kill) -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#112Protect your collective.
Blue raised one eyebrow. Blue was a collective of one, or, given how Blue was entirely able to have a thoughtful conversation with Tel'Issare and Witherwind and Facets of Blue 2 to 15... no. There was no split in Blue's personality, just themes and facets within the same thought gestalt.
So, what was the collective then?
Their little band?
Hardly - they found it difficult to walk in the same direction.
Blue found Joao Matos vaguely appealing - which likely was not based on reciprocity. No collective there.
So where the frag did that thought come from?
A part of Blue's mind was unaffected by the contemplation of thought origin, and simply focused on murder.
Blue's eyes narrowed as finally a clear shot presented itself.
Contrary to Muldoon's small caliber, the shot of the lasgun was unaffected by gravity, air resistance, wind - only smoke, rain and fog were highly detrimental to the laser's lethal power.
Blue pressed the trigger, and swiftly focused on another target before they managed to hide! -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#113Muldon takes aim, then for a moment his eyes come to into focus not the big man but on somebody else, some body he hasn't seen since.... the grey head and familiar face of,...."Mister ...sir...what " his voice floats over the channel
Muldoon d20 check= 3 -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#114Brian scanned the area for other possible threats (OCC: 11 for search/look or whatever you call it). Not having a gun himself, he was obliged to rely on a- of all things!- a gene-whore goat for protection. At least the mutant had a seibertron as help. Muldoon would be, naturally, a huge help for the naturally inferior Blue.
Muldoon's voice crackled over the channel.
"Mister... sir...what"
Then again, maybe the mutant didn't have any help.
Brian raised his receiver to his lips. "Muldoon! Everything all right over there? And who is this 'mister' you refer to?" -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#115Muldoon Replies Text only:
I missed -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#116I rolled a mighty 6
The soldier bent over to pick up something just as Blue pressed the trigger, and the laser burned a hole into the snow, rapidly expanding water propelling snow everywhere in a flurry. -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#117Now spooked, the group of stalkers quickly move to action, they raise their weapons and start scanning the terrain. Several fall back, the leaders of the group. Two break out from the group, they are decidedly younger, in the young teens range, and a boy has a pistol and the girl is apparently unarmed. The boy is moving away from their location but the girl is moving in the general direction of Blue and Muldoon.
Group Spot Check: D20/4, they don't see Blue or Muldoon
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#118Point of Order: I thought I had flanked (and intended to flank( the new party in order to create a cross fire between myself and Blue.
Muldoon shakes off his vision and takes aim the large man with shotgun who has hunkered down. Can't let them get dug in....he takes another shot with his rifle. His heat sinks make a slight rumble as if in satisfaction as the bullet pierces the man's flank.
d20 check 13 -
Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#119Blue was in no mood to shoot kids - the girl would easily be incapacitated if she came too close.
Instead, the draenei aimed at one of the retreated leaders - the augmented one - before he vanished. A lasgun is excellent at not giving the shooter's position away - unless someone had the right vision aid to see the trace of ionized air, or particulates in the air gave away the passing shot.
'Blessed be clean Alaskan air' Blue smiled as the rifle's capacitor charged and the finger again pressed the trigger.
And, an 8. Derp. Having a fifty-fifty to hit with modern scoped weapons... sucks :P
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Re: White Out [Cosmic Era RP]
#120The group started laying down suppressing fire, mostly in the general direction of Muldoon's position. This presented their backsides to Blue and his rather abominable skill with the laser rifle. The cold air made the barrel steam after his second shot.
Spot check for Blue, d20 please. Apply a -2 penalty to the roll.
Girl makes spot check: d20/14 and has picked out Blue's location in general.
Muldoon is unbothered by the gunfire. All of the rounds are going in the general area of a standing target, passing over his head. The injured shooter is standing back up, ignoring the blood running down his leg. He chambers a round, face calm, and fires a pattern of shot into a tree several yards away from the concealed Seibertronian.
Muldoon Only Spoiler
As a machine with a gun, apply a +4 bonus to using the rifle
The group is started by the eruption and volume of gunfire that follows as the ambushed group lays down it's suppressing fire. Prewett draws his service sidearm and Fade racks his carbine.