2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

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Daniel
Daniel (Lars)
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2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Daniel »


Quick Preview:
While attempting to stay south of Xiticix hives, such as the one in Duluth, and north of the ruins of Tolkeen and CS retribution squads, the Agents encounter a deteriorating Cloud City and the refugees who are caught in the middle of a battle for their lives.



The Wastelands of Minnesota
November 25th, 109 P.A.


EX MACHINA REDUX
The Tomorrow Legion has come into possession of an enigmatic piece of hardware: the partial head and torso of a powerful combat robot of unknown origin.

Your job is to catch up to them. Take the machine from them.

Argent Goodson doesn’t care if you kill or incapacitate the Legion. Just make sure a few, or all, live. Destroy the vehicle he gave them, steal the cargo and leave a storage unit nearby for them to find.

Mission Priority:
  1. Steal the cargo (You have done this!).
  2. Destroy the APC (The pirates you took out, they destroyed the APC already, so done!).
  3. Leave the storage unit for Legion to find (You have captured two surviving Legion members and left the cargo storage unit for them to find. - done!).

Afterwards - get the stolen cargo to New Medora (N. Dakota).
Go Time!



The first day’s journey proved to be … active. Thankfully the morning of the 25th shows you steadily progressing towards N. Dakota across the war torn aftermath of Minnesota. The snow and rain, and horrible Zone Twister far far in your rear view mirror. The weather is still cold, however it’s sunny and just a little windy.

Southern Minnesota was home to the Kingdom of Tolkeen and is now occupied by the Coalition Army, who continues to battle freedom fighters and monsters there and across the state. Northern Minnesota is part of the Xiticix Hivelands. Though the war ended five years ago, the Coalition’s destruction of Tolkeen will have consequences and ramifications that will be felt for years. The Xiticix have fortified and expanded their hives in that time.

This is why you opted to travel right down the middle of the state. Hoping to stay as far away from alien bugs and fanatical soldiers as possible.

Almost in an ironic or over dramatized manner the separation of Minnesota is displayed to the Agents as they travel. In the last twenty miles alone they have driven past the remains of CS soldiers and massive mechanical equipment laying dead and picked over by scavengers years ago, directly across from carcasses of Xiticix warrior bugs scattered across small battlefields. Often with the remains of small villages caught between the fights and now equally destroyed. Four such scenes have been witnessed. The grass and other plant life growing in and around the scenes of destruction show it’s been years since the combat was alive.

As the morning turns into afternoon the Agents continue to progress with good speed. Mid afternoon however presents them with an event worth noting.

A dark plume of smoke rises upward from a burning CS Lightning attack helicopter. No survivors apparent. The powerful machine of war is burning where it crashed.

A quarter mile northwest a swarm of Xiticix appear to be flying frantically around a low hanging silver and black cloud. The occasional streak of laser fire or blast of flames erupts out of the cloud. Even at this distance you hear cries for help.

Slowing to assess the situation your observation is interrupted by a loud crash striking the ground between the Gun Wolf and the Mammoth APC. Almost landing on top of Berk and his large mount and Sparky in his suit, a power armor suit of CS SAMAS style hits the ground with a devastating impact. As you glance at the impact site (yeah, no way that pilot is alive) you see a Lyn Siral reptilian humanoid drift down to stand adjacent the dead SANAS pilot. Dressed in modified Triax body armor and hefting a NG plasma blaster rifle the avian reptile man stumbles upon landing as his wings are torn and battered by energy blasts.

With a look of defeat the Lyn Siral looks at the Agents. Dropping to one knee he states, ”I have not the energy to fight you. Go on then. Kill me. Unless you fancy thyselves heroes. In that case, believe it or not, this dead SAMAS pilot and I have been attempting to fend off a Xiticix attack. Yonder Cloud City, alas in her final stages of life, holds the lives of thousands of refugees from the war five ago, in need of a new settlement, we head northwest. Unfortunately….”

Erupting into a fit of coughing you see blood on his beak.

”…. Unfuh … [cough] … unfortunately we are beset upon by the Xiticix!”

Looking as if he was going to say more the Lyn Siral drops face first, unconscious, to the ground.

Regardless of your intentions, it becomes readily apparent that the swarm of Xiticix are aware of the Agents arriving in the area.

Dozens of the bugs break off from the floating cloud city and race towards the Agents location.

Dozens! Swarming towards you with deadly intent!



Attributes:
Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d12, Vigor d10

Skills:
Athletics d6, Fighting d10, Notice d6, Shooting d10, Stealth d6, Survival d6

Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 14 (6)

Edges:
Alertness, Ambidextrous, Danger Sense, First Strike, Frenzy (Imp), Steady Hands, Two-Gun Kid, Two-Fisted

Gear:
2 × Xiticix long swords (Str+d10 Mega Damage, AP 8), Xiticix spear (Str+d8 Mega Damage, AP 6, Reach 1), TK Rifle (Range
40/80/160, 4d6 Mega Damage, AP 4).

Special Abilities:
„ Acid Spit: Range 3/6/12, Damage 3d4
Mega Damage, AP 8. Most Xiticix can spit a glob of acid capable of eating through even MDC armor, using their Shooting skill. The acid continues to damage whatever it hits for 1d6 rounds, unless it’s removed by some means (salt water is an effective neutralizer).

„ Antennae: Xiticix can operate by motion sense and sound, thanks to their highly developed antennae. They suffer no lighting penalties for attacks or actions, even in Pitch Darkness. This ability is negated if a source of white noise or extreme sonic effect is introduced into the area.

„ Armor +6: Tough exoskeleton.

„ Bite: Str+2d4, AP 4. If the target is at least Shaken, he must check Vigor against Mild Poison (see Savage Worlds). „ Death Scent: When a Xiticix dies violently, it releases a distinctive scent, barely noticeable unless one possesses extraordinary scent abilities (like a Dog Boy). This scent can reach other Xiticix
within four miles!

„ Extraordinary Senses: Xiticix Warriors gain a +2 to all Notice and Survival (tracking) rolls.

„ Flight: Pace 12 with a d10 run die. „ Four Arms: Xiticix Warriors suffer no off-hand penalties and ignores 2 points of Multi-Action penalties each turn. „ Low Light Vision: Even when their antennae are neutralized, Xiticix eyes see into the ultraviolet and infrared ranges; they ignore Dim and Dark penalties.

„ Size 1 (Normal): 7 feet tall.

„ Slow Regeneration: Xiticix make a natural healing roll daily, and can restore lost wings, limbs, and antennae.

„ Trail Scent: Xiticix leave a mild scent trail that is easily followed by their kind.

„ Ultrasonic Communication: Xiticix communicate with each other at frequencies most beings cannot detect.

„ Wall Walker: Most Xiticix can move at their normal Pace on vertical surfaces and even hanging upside-down.




The Agents of Titan are under attack from a swarm of Xiticix!

Dangerous Quick Combat Rules
  • Dangerous Quick Encounter
    • If a character fails his roll in a dangerous situation he takes a Wound (or d4 Wounds with a Critical Failure). If he's the driver of a vehicle, it takes a Wound (or d4 with a Critical Failure). Wounds may be Soaked as usual. Success means the hero emerges with only Bumps & Bruises (page 125), and a raise means he escapes unscathed.
After the first round GM will assess the situation.

Other Rules
  • Ammo & Power Points
    Depends on Encounter
    • Amount expended Per pg 131 SWADE.
    • Or amount is based on your actions (per your narrative).
  • Dynamic Backlash
    Always in effect
    • Pg 138 Crit fail arcane
      • Roll 2D6:
        • 2 Catastrophe: Something goes terribly wrong. The GM must decide what, but some ideas are a new and permanent Minor Hindrance, the inability to use powers for several days, or an explosion of some sort. The backlash should be thematic if possible. If the hero tampers with dark forces for his abilities, for example, he might become corrupted or summon something sinister into the world. If he’s a weird scientist the device might explode for 3d6 damage in a Medium Blast Template, or he might develop a Quirk, Phobia, or other “madness.”
        • 3 Backfire: The power succeeds as with a raise but affects a different target with the worst possible results. A bolt hits a random friend, boost Trait increases an enemy’s skill or attribute, etc. If there’s no likely target, he’s Stunned instead. If the power has a Duration other than Instant, it lasts its full term and can only be negated by dispel (the caster can’t voluntarily end it herself).
        • 4–5 Short Circuit: The power fails but the Power Points allocated to it are spent, along with an additional 1d6 Power Points.
        • 6–8 Stunned: The caster is Stunned (see page 106). She subtracts 2 from arcane skill rolls for the rest of the encounter (the penalty remains –2 even if she gets this result again).
        • 9–10 Overload: The character’s synapses crackle and overload with power. He takes 2d6 damage plus the cost of the power in Power Points, including any Power Modifiers the player declared.
        • 11 Fatigue: The character suffers Fatigue.
        • 12 Overcharge: The power draws ambient energy from the air, automatically succeeding against the target with a raise and costing the caster no Power Points!
  • [New] Attribute Backlash
    Always in effect
    • Crit fail attribute
      • Roll a 1d6:
        1. Distracted and Vulnerable
        2. Attribute lowered one die type for 24 hrs
        3. Take 1 level of Fatigue
        4. Take 2 levels of Fatigue
        5. Take 3 levels of Fatigue
        6. No backlash
Support Rolls
[Success grants the ally +1 to one skill total this round, and a raise adds +2. A Critical Failure on the support roll subtracts 2 from the lead’s total—sometimes extra hands just get in the way!]

Please make your Dangerous Quick Combat rolls and narrate your actions. Depending on the rolls and narration GM will post next post based on how things … roll :) Thank you.




GM plan of events in case you wondered
There will be a -
Travel Day One - Free form Zone Twister Encounter (Posted Feb 20)
Travel Day Two - More focused encounter (Feb 27)

Encounter outside Dakota … James T? !! (March 6)
Arrival in Dakota and your new jobs here... (March 13)

Dates subject to your post rate —— and apparently the weather.
Agents of Titan Robotics Industries (AoT)
The Agents (Players)
• Jim - Sparkmort Zipwidget: Male Tinker Gnome Power Armor Ace
• Derrick - Caiden: Male Human, Momano Headhunter
• Steve (Hans) - Berk: Male Simvan Psi-Druid Monster Tamer/Rider
• Murp - Rupetta Martin: Female Human MARS Merc Soldier (X-CS)
• Freemage - Lance: Male Dog Boy Techno-Warrior (Cyber[netic] Knight)
• CSC - Ozy “Oz”: Dragon

My Accounts:
Active
  • Daniel - Admin/GM of AoT
  • Jackal - IC (Neural Intelligence) - 7th SET
  • Vi - Space Pirate - Stars Without Numbers
  • Henry Grimes - CS Commando - Rumble in the Jungle

Not Active
  • Hondo - Wild Psi Stalker
  • Burn - Mega Juicer - Juicer Uprising (On Hold)
  • Blackfish - Ogre Combat Mage - 12th SET (On Hold)
  • Setrakian - Dragon Juicer - FoM Jungles (Retired)

NPC Accounts
  • Lord Coake - NPC
  • Valentine - NPC
  • Erin Tarn - NPC
  • James T - NPC
  • Hagen Lonovich - NPC

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Rupetta
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:43 pm

Re: 1.) Part Two, Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Rupetta »


Dumb Bot Assist Shooting 1d6!: [6!, 1] = 7 +1 Support Roll
Shooting 1d8!: [1] = 1 Critical Failure
Wild Die 1d6!: [1] = 1
1d6: [6] = 6 Severe Technical Difficulty (Left Sponson Anti-Personnel Ion Blaster)
1d4: [2] = 2 2 wounds to Mammoth APC


”You know, the whole point of taking this route was to avoid this shit.” Rupetta said flatly over the comms as they approached the evident battle taking place via giant bugs swarming an unknown cloud in the distance. ”kssssht, I kinda like how I sound like a cyborg on this thing. ksssh ksssht ksssht, brrrrraaaaaap, need more oil, give me credits, need more money, need more upgrades!” The radio waves being filled with more nonsense from the woman in the comms officer chair as she did her best cyborg impression.

”Hey you guys ever wonder about the really awkward decision when going cyborg as to whats gonna happen to your man bits if you got em? Like, obviously if it got blown off by shrapnel or something, it’s a no brainer. But if you’re just a flesh bag looking for some upgrades, you gotta tell the doc that you either want them to cut it off, or that you want to expressly keep it. If you pick the latter then you’re going to look really weird, like a big metal bucket with dangling pieces that look really out of place on it. Just suuuuper awkward. But do you really wanna be the guy who tells the doc to lop it off? Keeps me up at night thinking about it sometimes, you know?”

The inane rambling over the radio was thankfully cut short by the sudden crash of the SAMAS and the much slower descent of the Lyn Siral, with Rupetta waiting patiently as the bird creature gave his explanation. Eventually giving out a small robotic sounding sigh through the loudspeaker before replying.

”Well you heard the bird Sparky, go ahead and put a laser blast in his head and put him out of his misery. Aahahaha! Just kidding, cause he said unless we fancy ourselves heroes, and we just so happen to be the fanciest of all. Guess we gotta do the thing he wants us to do, right? Oh shit, we got incoming!” Rupetta ended with a sudden yell as the STS picked up the rapidly approaching Xiticix en route to them.

Fortunately the APC had been facing the left as she triggered the targeting program to get one of the dumb bots to fire as well. The two of them each taking one of the anti-personnel ion blasters mounted on each sponson as they started firing away the moment the approaching bugs were in range. ”Drop your socks everyone, I’ll take care of em!” She called out as wave after wave of sand blasted particles jettisoned themselves towards the incoming hostiles.

Less fortunately however had been how Rupetta hadn’t been paying attention to the heat gauge on the side panel, warning her of a sudden malfunction in the capacitor bank area that was powering that particular mounted weapon. After several rapid fired rounds, there was a sudden squealing coming from the frame of the vehicle, before it abruptly exploded in a shower of molten metal. Heavily damaging the blaster and blowing off a massive chunk of the side frame in the process!

Out of the smoking hole, Rupetta carefully peered through it with a shocked expression. Opening her mouth as she pointed her finger outwards towards the completely unscathed warriors. ”So... May need a little help with these after all. So much for Northern Gun reliability. Gonna tell the boss to buy Naruni next time I think.”

There was a lingering pause then as a look of contemplation went over her visage before she suddenly widened her eyes and gasped out. ”Holy crap, do you think cyborgs just ask for robot dongs instead? I bet that solves everything!”
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Berk
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:15 pm

Re: 1.) Part Two, Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Berk »

Stompy Assisting with Fighting:
  • Fighting: 1d8!!: [5] = 5
    Wild: 1d6!!: [3] = 3
    Result: 5 - Success. +1 to Berk's Roll
Psionics (d10 -> d12+3 (due Armor) -> d12+5 (due Major Psychic) -> d12+6 (due Stompy))
  • Psionics: 1d12!!+6!!: [9]+6 = 15
    Wild: 1d6!!+6!!: [3]+6 = 9
    Result: 15 - Success with Raise(s).

Common Knowledge to know about the Xiticix's Death Stink
  • Common Knowledge: 1d4!!: [3] = 3
    Wild: 1d6!!: [5] = 5
    Result: 5 - Success.


"Stay away from them. If you kill them up close, they get bug stink on you that their kind can smell from long away."

With that, Berk draws upon his mental strength to bolster his shooting skills. Getting Stompy to keep moving to stay at distance from them, Berk takes shot after shot at the Xiticix Warriors and takes them down with lightning from his Storm Rifle. When some get close, he draws upon his Storm Rifle's other Power and sends them flying back with the Whirlwinds.

I will be able to help that Lyn Siral after we fend off these bugs... and if he dies, well, I still have more room in the old soup pot.
Last edited by Berk on Sat Mar 04, 2023 5:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Toughness: 15 (6)
ISP: 32/45
Pace: 5 (d4)
Parry: 4

Bennies: 3 / 3
  • Base
Wounds: None
Fatigue: None
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 96
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:25 pm

Re: 1.) Part Two, Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Lance »

Shooting Raise
Much as I'd love to rely on Fighting all day, every day, this is clearly time to break out the ranged weapons. Target-rich environment means using the NG-L20, I think, especially since it has Range only slightly less than the Xiticix TK Rifles. Steed will roll Athletics to Support, representing the mount dashing around to make Lance a harder target. (Normally, this would inflict Unstable Platform on the Shooting roll, but Lance has Steady Hands).
Steed Athletics 1d8!!: [3] = 3
No Help.

Shooting 1d8!!+2: [7]+2 = 9
Wild Shooting 1d6!!+2: [3]+2 = 5
Raise!

Ammo Use: Lots of targets, RoF 3--Let's just say he burns out the first of his three Long E-Clips and call it a day.
Lance nearly jumps off of Steed to rescue the fallen Lyn-Srial, but pulls up short when the reptilian humanoid points to the battle around the fallen cloud city. He pulls the Company-provided NG-L20 and holds it aloft, bellowing at the cloud of insectoids as they break off. "Cometh on, then, if thee thinketh thee hard enough! Vengeance willeth be claimedeth for the fallen!"

With that battle cry, and seeing the swarm coming, Lance kicks Steed into running an evasive pattern around the battlefield. The term 'target rich environment' comes to mind, as the Dog Boy lays down a blistering barrage of laser-fire, thinning the bugs' ranks visibly. By the time the winged terrors have gotten closer, he has burned out the E-clip on his rifle, popping it out and swapping it for one under his tabard, and then looking skyward to see if the battle will continue, or if there is time to aid the unconscious warrior.
Lance
OOC Comments
Dog-Boy Techno-Warrior
Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d10, Strength d12, Vigor d8
Charisma: 0 (but effectively +2); Parry: 7; Toughness: 18 (8) or Ranged 22 (12)
Fighting d12+6, Shooting d8, Riding d12+1, Notice d4+2 (+4 Scent/Vision), Repair d4, Tracking d6+4, Streetwise d6+2, Persuasion d6+2, Survival d4+4, K: Politics d8
Edges: Danger Sense, Beast Master, Nerves of Steel, Quick, Improvisational Fighter, Trademark Weapon (Drill), Imp. Counterattack
Hindrances: Code of Honor, Minor Delusion (Knighthood), Quirk (Faux-Courtly Speech), Outsider
Preferred Attacks:
  • Primary Attack: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) + 2d6 MD, AP 10, Reach 1 (if needed)
    Mounted Attack: Drill, Mounted Lance Mode, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6, AP 12, Reach 2
    Hard Target: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6 MD, Ignores Armor (Full Round Action, only vs. Vehicles/RA/Inanimate objects)
    Ranged Attack: Shooting d8, Portable Rocket Launcher (5d6 AP 6 SBT) or JA-9 Variable Rifle (3d6+1 AP 3)
Cybernetics (12/14 Strain):
  • EDS, Optics Package, Core Electronics Package, Wilderness Scout Package, x2 Wired Skill Ports (4-step Fighting, Riding), HtH Reaction Wiring, Reinforced Frame, Cy-Wi Reflexes, Drill
Bennies: 3/3
  • Q2/19 Adventure Cards:
    Cutting In Line Draw 3 initiative cards and keep the highest.
    Inspiration Friendly characters (including your hero) add +2 to all trait rolls for the rest of this round.
“Steed” (Heavy Warhorse with Cybernetics)
[list] Agility 6; Smarts d4 (A); Spirit d6; Strength d12+2; Vigor d10
[*]Fighting d8; Notice d6
[*]Pace 10/d10; Parry 6; Toughness 22 (12 MDC)
[*]Size +3
[*]Kick: Strength +2d6 MD [/list]
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Sparkmort Zipwidget
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:34 pm

Re: 1.) Part Two, Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Sparkmort Zipwidget »


Shooting 1d10!!: [7] = 7
Wild Die 1d6!!: [3] = 3

Spending a benny
Shooting 1d10!!+2: [1]+2 = 3
Wild Die 1d6!!+2: [5]+2 = 7

Spending another goddamned benny
Shooting 1d10!!+2: [8]+2 = 10
Wild Die 1d6!!+2: [7!!]+2 = 9

Evidently you have to curse at your bennies to get a decent roll.


Sparkmort fires his jump jets working to maneuver to the bugs flank while keeping his distance at the same time. Hitting the ground his armor's servos absorb the impact effortlessly. Firing off another burst he triggers his jets again, rocketing off to his left.

At first Sparkmort has a problem keeping a bead on the target but has he moves into the proper position to put the bug formation into a proper crossfire thing finally come together and Xiticix warriors start blowing apart with satisfying regularity.

"All right! Now we're getting somewhere! With a little luck we can break contact and maybe they'll lose interest especially if we're moving away from their territory."

The explosion from the back towards the Mammoth almost causes Sparkmort to stumble though and he swears as his sensors show the smoke billowing out of the hole where an ion cannon used to be.

Keeping up his fire and maneuver he can't help but mutter to himself, "That's not coming out of my paycheck."
"Don't Panic"

Sparkmort Zipwidget
Player: Jim
Active Alts: John Reid, Vixa
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Daniel
Daniel (Lars)
Posts: 2167
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:13 am
Location: Former Alias (GM name) was Lars (2016-2022)

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Daniel »


Note: I’m sorry it took a while to post. Reasons. I cut an encounter and advanced the game to Fergus Falls. Hopefully not jarring. Also partly why it’s a long post. After this encounter (a quick combat that will lead into more) you’ll be headed to and arriving in New Medora.

EX MACHINA REDUX
The Tomorrow Legion has come into possession of an enigmatic piece of hardware: the partial head and torso of a powerful combat robot of unknown origin.

Your job is to catch up to them. Take the machine from them.

Argent Goodson doesn’t care if you kill or incapacitate the Legion. Just make sure a few, or all, live. Destroy the vehicle he gave them, steal the cargo and leave a storage unit nearby for them to find.

Mission Priority:
  1. Steal the cargo (You have done this!).
  2. Destroy the APC (The pirates you took out, they destroyed the APC already, so done!).
  3. Leave the storage unit for Legion to find (You have captured two surviving Legion members and left the cargo storage unit for them to find. - done!).

Afterwards - get the stolen cargo to New Medora (N. Dakota).
Go Time!



The Wastelands of Minnesota
November 26th, 109 P.A.
Morning


After the fight with the Xiticix, everyone high tailed it westward away from the skirmish, especially when Rupetta noticed, on radar, a large amount of more “bugs” were flying towards your location from the north. A large amount.

As the Mammoth APC grinds on, somewhat jankily now from the damage inflicted on itself, Steed, Stompy and the Gun Wolf had no trouble matching the pace, all under the shadow of a large cloud city. Sparky can travel either in or out of the APC.

Above floated, drifting at a matching speed, a large white and black cloud that many years ago was home to a thousand souls living on its surface. Now, according to Sky Knight Orion Cortez, a Lyn Siral, who briefly talked with you after the fight to thank you, there are a mixture of human and humanoid D-Bee’s numbering in the six hundred souls. The last year has been hard, hard enough that they are moving west, then towards Canada, in the hopes of finding a safe haven.

Unfortunately the cloud will deteriorate within months and there are not enough Lyn Siral in their group with the power to create another cloud city. So the six hundred refugees of Tolkeen will no longer be living in the sky but on the ground once again.

Orion requests to travel “over” the Mammoth and travel the same direction, at least for now. Once you are in New Medora they will likely carry on. Orion offers access to the cloud city as you travel to recharge e-clips or access to basic equipment or weapons you might need. If you take him up on it, a Sky Knight will lift you up and fly you up and down as needed. They utilize radio to communicate and share the channel information with you.

(OOC: Feel free to list your desired gear in your post, examples: 1 IRMMS Kit and 1 dosimeter. Basic type of stuff. I’ll read your request and advise you on if it was available).

Additionally, Orion has promised a bar of gold to each of the Agents as a parting gift upon reaching N. Dakota.

(OOC: each bar is worth 20,000 credits and will be gifted to you each once near New Medora).

As the combined group leaves behind the Xiticix and safely moves ever closer to their destination, many hours later, a sign in the road declares:

2 miles 2 Fergus Falls.
Home of best Cyber Docs and Honey this side o’the Apocalypse. You are in King Kyle Wilport territory!

In deed, you are two miles from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Famous for its Cyber Doctors and Medical Research Center, and it is the last real town between here and the New Medora area. The Mammoth APC is totally out of alignment at this point. Stupidly so. The last hour has been hell for steering and upon seeing the town of Fergus Falls you stop to see if the APC can be fixed, quickly. The mechanic shop is across from the bar. Fortuitous.

You are about a five to six hour drive away from New Medora (at speeds of the Mammoth). Although. Probably 8 to ten hours with the alignment out.






The Wastelands of North West Minnesota
Fergus Falls, MN
November 26th, 109 P.A.
Mid Afternoon


Rolling to a stop the Mammoth groans loudly as it comes to a halt. Some repair is needed. The bright sun above warms the thin layer of snowfall on the ground. The sky is clear and bright. The town of Fergus Falls is on the direct path to N. Dakota. As the Mammoth etc come to a halt, to the right is a bar. To the left a mechanic shop. The one long street has dozens of shops on either side of it. Several obvious cyber doc facilities are scattered throughout the buildings along with typical frontier shops.

——————————



As you arrive in Fergus Falls.


“Nothing I do will work. I cannot integrate your cybernetics with current level cybernetics.”


James T screamed in frustration.

The Cyber Doc jumped, startled, then picked his glasses up off the floor.

“I’m sorry. Your technology is… just far too advanced from anything I’ve seen! Maybe if you let me conduct some further investigation of your tech. I’d have to put you under. But I promise…”

“No! You’d kill me. Study me. No!”

The Cyber Doc would have, but said: “No. Uhh. I just…”

James T slammed his metal pointer finger into the doctors right eye then fired a small laser killing the man.

“Da… da… heh damn, huhit, Archie!”


The broken advanced cyborg used his hands to lower himself to the floor of the office and then to walk towards the exit on his hands as his body below the waist was gone.

He’d allowed the machine god, Archie, to build him better, back in 102 PA. Now, seven years later in late 109, he was the torn in half remains of a man. No matter who he sought out, no one could build him a lower half. At 45 years old and just a little out of touch mentally, James T saw himself, rightfully, as a fallen God.

He cursed Archie for the millionth time.

His fall from grace with the machine god and betrayal of the god and his new best friend Hagan had left James on his own.

Defeated and exhausted James T walked on his hands across the muddy street from the Cyber Doc office towards the local shit hole of a bar. That particular doc was supposed to be the best of the dozen in town. Worthless!

As he made his way into the bar and climbed up onto a chair he noticed a man had trailed him to the bar. Pretty sneaky, James admitted, but the half man had been scouting for decades and had an eye for this, and would always win at a game of cat and mouse.

The man was the sort of jerk that could have been a smooth talking sheriff or more likely a bounty hunter, smug and unable to not caress the butt of his low strung hip holstered blaster. James giggled thinking, he seems the sort to think a swagger and Stetson made you cool but also invisible.

Cat and mouse took up seats at different tables. Stetson at a table by the door, back to the wall. James T sat up on a stool facing the large mirror behind the bar.

Interesting James thought … facing me, Stetson down over face, hand on gun, Justice Ranger badge on the front of his duster… ooooooooh, thought James, that’s why he’s after me … the half man cyborg grinned and downed a shot of whiskey.

Even as half a man, he was no simple target. In reality, he thought, I’m the cat.

The Cyber Doc had been a disappointment but this was something new. New beat sulking in misery.

Of course no matter where he went he was viewed as a freak and watched by everyone. But this sicaro was watching him with purpose. And, why wouldn’t he? James was a masterful machinist and brilliant Wilderness Scout with a great imagination and decades of combat experience. He was rich and had made plenty of friends and enemies in the last few years. Heh and there was the incident in Juarez last year.

As was typical for James, his mood swung and his thoughts fixated on how it all really vexed him. Archie had seen the imaginative scout and experienced warrior that James was. Then along came Hagan, a fool, useless and spineless! So he was born with the mutation of talking to machines. So! He was spineless!

James was shaking and took a moment to focus on the here and now.

The town was called something lame like Fergus Falls … Minnesota. James snickered, maybe it was Fungus Falls. He didn’t recall which, heh, and really didn’t care either. He’d come here on the hopes that the rumors that one of the local Cyber Doc’s was allegedly a genius.

That hope had smoldered much like the Doc’s face had when James killed him.

The half man chuckled loudly, insanely. When the reptilian D-Bee barkeep looked at him with concern the half man motioned for another whiskey.

The barkeep filled the shot glass and left the bottle in front of James.

“You look like you could use it. This rounds on the house little man”.


The D-Bee would never know just how close he had come to dying right there. James T seethed with hatred inside his scrambled mind and nearly killed the barkeep. It was only James’ interest in the individual watching him that stopped him from killing the D-Bee.

Grabbing the bottle up he muttered, “Eata tee, hee, crow hah ha hah asshat”.

The barkeep had turned to attend to another patron, but hearing James he seethed, his scales rippling in annoyance, and started to reach under the bar top for the Ramjet loaded Shotgun. Enough was enough - and he had tried to be accommodating to the freak.

The reptile man’s wife, Sssith, had encouraged him to be civil with the half man. After all James seemed to have an endless supply of credit.

This cut it though! About to retort with a jab about, maybe you should have gone full conversation instead of partial - half man, a joke that likely would have ended with James murdering him - Torrance paused halfway to the shotgun he’d intended to follow the jab with. The barkeep’s hand closed into a scaled fist. The odd rumbling echoing closer and closer suggested, a large APC. And…. Hmm. One that had taken some severe damage. Torrance was a vet of the CS Tolkien War and recognized the sound.

Damaged APC. Probably a … Mammoth. Torrance was rewarded a few minutes later when a damaged Mammoth pull up to a stop in the center of town out front of the bar and across from the mechanic shop.

“Customers! Sssith, new customers!”



Now.

Grinding to a stop the Mammoth APC had seen better days and even though it likely would make it to New Medora, the prospect of fixing at least the alignment is appealing.

Stopped, the Gun Wolf and Stompy pause next to the APC. One of Mau’s crew loudly states: ”Hells yes. Bar. Booze. Warmth.”

Stiffly the man stands and as his joints warm he jumps down from the exposed rear of the Mammoth. Joe sprints to the bar as the rest Mau’s crew chuckle and stand to stomp feet and slaps hands. Even in full EBA body armor they are tired of huddling in the exposed rear of the APC.

The bar, a stone building across from the two story large mechanic shop, has a neon sign out front that blinks brilliantly and displays: Sssiths! Drink, girls, drink!”

Standing outside is a voluminous, reptile, female, D-Bee. Waving her scaled yellow-green hand at you all she bellows, ”You no doubt are in need of the townssss mechanic! Zahn, the mechanic, isssinssside, come ill introdusssssse you! Plusssss…”

She points at the sign.

”Come. I’m Sssith. My husbandsss the bartender, Torrance, and the first drinksssss on the houssssse!”


Wrapping an arm around Joe as he jogs up, she smiles and escorts him inside.

As Joe and Sssith disappear into the bar a blaster sound is heard. A brilliant flash of energy pulses through the front windows of the bar and cantena.

Two burly men drag a Stetson wearing man outside and drop him out of the way before heading back inside. A voice calls out from inside, ”Bring me hiss ha ha hat!” and one of the men jogs back and retrieves said hat before heading inside.

Music and warm air filter out of the open door of Sssiths. Beckoning you.

The spell is broken when you hear a whup whup whup getting louder as the wind picks up……

Looking up you see a large helicopter. Ruperta will recognize the similarities between it, and the Titan branded helicopter lowering, then gently settling on the ground, adjacent the one road town by the bar.

It is fundamentally the same model helicopter as the Coalitions Black Lightning, with only minor modifications, differ­ent colors and insignia, the Titan Robotics logo.

This helicopters is used to insert and extract ground or sea troops, for cargo and troop transport, EVAC, search and res­cue, close air support for marine infantry, to interdict enemy commerce shipping and, when the mini-missile pods have been replaced with mini-torpedo pods, for anti-submarine and small boat warfare.

As the birds rotors continue to spin, ready to lift off if needed, a man in a suit and tie jumps out the side door followed by a combat cyborg, a Juicer and then four technicians in white coats over triax style mechanics armor. All are armed.

The communications device Sparky has crackles and the familiar voice of your boss speaks from it.

”This is Valentine. The helo is a trap. Pretty sure they are CS out of Fort El Dorado and here to steal your cargo. Don’t allow that to happen!”

The radio communications is just loud enough the advancing men obviously hear it, sneer and attack.



The man wearing a suit ripples with electricity (Zapper) and bolts of power lance out at the Agents.

The Juicer blasts past the Zapper and opens fire with a NG-E4 Plasma rifle.

The four grease monkey looking technicians in Triax armor charge with energy rifles.

The large helicopter spins upward and as it lifts, it backs away from you, facing you and starts firing mini missiles and shooting a chain gun.

You need a set of tokens to win the battle against these thieving imposters. This may take multiple rounds depending on your luck, the dice and how many Players post.
  • The large attack helicopter: 3 tokens.
  • The Zapper: 2 tokens.
  • Combat Cyborg: 1 token.
  • Juicer: 1 token.
  • The four grease monkeys: 1 token.
If this first round sees them (some or all) still alive the combat will enter a second round. If you fail your QC roll your character is Stunned with 1 Wound. If you fail with a critical failure your character is Stunned with 2 Wounds.

Tell your story and have fun with it.

Note the cloud city above you seems to be unnoticed as a city up to this point by these attackers. If the combat goes “long” the Sky Knights might join in on the fight, or maybe someone from inside the bar or town.

PPE and ISP — don’t worry about it. You’ll regain the power points before next encounter.

Support Rolls
[Success grants the ally +1 to one skill total this round, and a raise adds +2. A Critical Failure on the support roll subtracts 2 from the lead’s total—sometimes extra hands just get in the way!]

Edit:
Question
Question

Yes. This time yes. Based on the CS (if indeed they are) are sporting real good weapons, armor and gear.


Agents of Titan Robotics Industries (AoT)
The Agents (Players)
• Jim - Sparkmort Zipwidget: Male Tinker Gnome Power Armor Ace
• Derrick - Caiden: Male Human, Momano Headhunter
• Steve (Hans) - Berk: Male Simvan Psi-Druid Monster Tamer/Rider
• Murp - Rupetta Martin: Female Human MARS Merc Soldier (X-CS)
• Freemage - Lance: Male Dog Boy Techno-Warrior (Cyber[netic] Knight)
• CSC - Ozy “Oz”: Dragon

My Accounts:
Active
  • Daniel - Admin/GM of AoT
  • Jackal - IC (Neural Intelligence) - 7th SET
  • Vi - Space Pirate - Stars Without Numbers
  • Henry Grimes - CS Commando - Rumble in the Jungle

Not Active
  • Hondo - Wild Psi Stalker
  • Burn - Mega Juicer - Juicer Uprising (On Hold)
  • Blackfish - Ogre Combat Mage - 12th SET (On Hold)
  • Setrakian - Dragon Juicer - FoM Jungles (Retired)

NPC Accounts
  • Lord Coake - NPC
  • Valentine - NPC
  • Erin Tarn - NPC
  • James T - NPC
  • Hagen Lonovich - NPC

User avatar
Lance
Posts: 96
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:25 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Lance »

Fighting Raise, Zapper dead
Steed Support
Steed Athletics 1d8!!: [6] = 6
+1

QC Roll: Fighting (capped by Riding due to Mounted Combat, but +1 from Steed brings back to d12+3)
Fighting 1d12!!+3: [4]+3 = 7
Wild Fighting 1d6!!+3: [3]+3 = 6
Benny:
Benny Fighting 1d12!!+3: [6]+3 = 9
Benny Wild Fighting 1d6!!+3: [5]+3 = 8
Raise. Better.

Dibs on the Zapper.
As the CS unit breaks into military formation, one of their number, air around him crackling with power, steps away from the rest, presumably not to engender friendly fire. His gaze falls on Lance, and he calls out to his comrades. "Dibs on the Dog-boy! I'm gonna stun him senseless and take him back home for the bounty!"

Lance, hearing this, begins to ride towards the enemy, spurring Steed on to the robot mount's top speed. The target grins, viciously, and the air around him comes to life in a ball of arcing electrical energy. He is clearly confident that both Lance and Steed will go down upon striking his destructive field, long before the Dog-Boy can get in touch with the heavy drill on his arm.

The look of shock on his face when Steed launched into the air, clearing the Zapper and his field entirely, was surpassed only by his stunned confusion when Lance extended the weapon to full length, impaling the psychic on the whirring bit of the business end of the drill. It snapped back almost instantly, drawing the man's intestines afterward like a meat party-streamer, as Steed's leap finished, bringing him down on the far side of the CS psychic.

Lance calls out over the team radio. "The Lightning-Warlock iseth defeatethed! How fareth thee, mine allies?"
Lance
OOC Comments
Dog-Boy Techno-Warrior
Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d10, Strength d12, Vigor d8
Charisma: 0 (but effectively +2); Parry: 7; Toughness: 18 (8) or Ranged 22 (12)
Fighting d12+6, Shooting d8, Riding d12+1, Notice d4+2 (+4 Scent/Vision), Repair d4, Tracking d6+4, Streetwise d6+2, Persuasion d6+2, Survival d4+4, K: Politics d8
Edges: Danger Sense, Beast Master, Nerves of Steel, Quick, Improvisational Fighter, Trademark Weapon (Drill), Imp. Counterattack
Hindrances: Code of Honor, Minor Delusion (Knighthood), Quirk (Faux-Courtly Speech), Outsider
Preferred Attacks:
  • Primary Attack: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) + 2d6 MD, AP 10, Reach 1 (if needed)
    Mounted Attack: Drill, Mounted Lance Mode, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6, AP 12, Reach 2
    Hard Target: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6 MD, Ignores Armor (Full Round Action, only vs. Vehicles/RA/Inanimate objects)
    Ranged Attack: Shooting d8, Portable Rocket Launcher (5d6 AP 6 SBT) or JA-9 Variable Rifle (3d6+1 AP 3)
Cybernetics (12/14 Strain):
  • EDS, Optics Package, Core Electronics Package, Wilderness Scout Package, x2 Wired Skill Ports (4-step Fighting, Riding), HtH Reaction Wiring, Reinforced Frame, Cy-Wi Reflexes, Drill
Bennies: 3/3
  • Q2/19 Adventure Cards:
    Cutting In Line Draw 3 initiative cards and keep the highest.
    Inspiration Friendly characters (including your hero) add +2 to all trait rolls for the rest of this round.
“Steed” (Heavy Warhorse with Cybernetics)
[list] Agility 6; Smarts d4 (A); Spirit d6; Strength d12+2; Vigor d10
[*]Fighting d8; Notice d6
[*]Pace 10/d10; Parry 6; Toughness 22 (12 MDC)
[*]Size +3
[*]Kick: Strength +2d6 MD [/list]
User avatar
Berk
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:15 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Berk »

Support by Stompy (Fighting)
  • Fighting: 1d8!!: [6] = 6
    Wild: 1d6!!: [3] = 3
    Result: 6 - Success. +1 to Berk's Quick Combat Roll
Berk's Psionics (d10 -> d12+3 (Signature Armor), +1 due Stompy, +2 due Major Psychic... so d12+6)
  • Psionics: 1d12!!+6!!: [8]+6 = 14
    Wild: 1d6!!+6!!: [2]+6 = 8
    Result: 14 - Success with Raise(s).


Pulling out his Storm Rifle, Berk draws upon his inner strength to bolster his shooting as he gets Stompy to charge the Helicopter. Releasing a Whirlwind above the helicopter using the Storm Rifle, he forces it low enough to the ground that Stompy is able to leap up over 25 feet into the air and drive its horn deep into the armored side of the Helicoptor before landing with a loud THUD.

"Chopper is damaged, but not out yet. If we take out their chopper, they will have problems trying to transport the cargo."
Last edited by Berk on Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Toughness: 15 (6)
ISP: 32/45
Pace: 5 (d4)
Parry: 4

Bennies: 3 / 3
  • Base
Wounds: None
Fatigue: None
User avatar
Rupetta
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:43 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Rupetta »


2 Tokens
Final token for helicopter and 1 token for grease monkeys
Shooting. +1 for TM weapon, +1 for Multi-optics helmet

1d8!+2: [4]+2 = 6
1d6!+2: [4]+2 = 6
Bennie
1d8!+2: [5]+2 = 7
1d6!+2: [1]+2 = 3
One more Bennie!
1d8!+2: [7]+2 = 9
1d6!+2: [4]+2 = 6


Rupetta bolted out of the doors of the bar once it looked as though the people from inside the helicopter were going to open fire, skidding to a halt behind the damaged tank and lowering to a seated position against it as she carefully lowered the several bottles of whisky she had bought only moments ago next to her feet.

With hurried motions she opened one of the bottles and took a long swig of the foul tasting substance that resembled bourbon in only the vaguest way possible, chugging away as she listened to the clashing sounds of battle taking place just on the other side of the parked vehicle. The report that they had been CS troops in disguise gave Rupetta a moment of brief pause as she reasoned out the way forward from there.

“Well they’re here to kills us, and that us includes me so guess it’s better not to die, yeah. God this stuff tastes like paint thinner mixed with shit.” The soldier wiped her mouth on her sleeve as she put the cap back on the container. Deciding still that it would be better if she just sat this one out. Her past was complicated and she didn’t intend to complicate things further by killing people she once worked with. It was just too much of a hurdle for her to get over mentally.

That was until when the chaingun fire from the helicopter barely misses Berk and instead flies in her direction instead, blowing apart her collection of whiskey into glass shards as she rolled over to the side to use the tank as cover.

“On second thought... Wars long over, we’re all just folk now.” Rupetta spit out angrily as she grabbed her rifle, feeling the wood stock against her fingers as she took aim at the now heavily damaged helicopter and fired a bullet off at it.

The jet fuel propelled alloy cased bullet flew towards its target at an intensity far greater than a normal ballistic round, seeming to explode on impact as it penetrated the front cover and killed the pilot inside. The flying machine suddenly spinning out of control before it abruptly landed on top of the four mechanics that had been sent to act as repairmen for it, instantly crushing them to death before they could get out of the way. The irony of the situation somewhat lost on her as she quickly sat down again with her back against the tank to try and salvage anything she could from the shattered remains. But to no avail.

Kicking away the mess, she calls out over her radio then to the others. “Doing pretty shit over here Lance, thanks for askin! Asshole shot up all my whisky! We got one tin can and a glass of juice left. Hope the rest of you got some more tricks up your sleeves!”
User avatar
Sparkmort Zipwidget
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:34 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Sparkmort Zipwidget »


Shooting 1d10!!: [4] = 4
Wild Die 1d6!!: [5] = 5

Spend a bennie +2 for Elan
Shooting 1d10!!+2: [7]+2 = 9
Wild Die 1d6!!+2: [4]+2 = 6


The Juicer is fast but Sparkmort's rail gun is faster as he walks his fire across both the Juicer and the Cyborg, putting them both down for the count.

"Scratch the last two. I feel offended if this is all they think they need to take this armor away from us."

And how the hell is the home office so up to date on what's happening to us out in the middle of nowhere?!? Sparkmort adds to himself. He doesn't want to start making wild accusations but there's definitely something weird going on with this job.

"So" Sparkmort says to noone in particular, "any guesses as to who these wannabe operatives were? I suppose it's not much of a guess as to what they wanted though. If we assume that someone put those pirates up to it that makes two attempts to steal this cargo. Calling it a coincidence seems to stretch the imagination."
"Don't Panic"

Sparkmort Zipwidget
Player: Jim
Active Alts: John Reid, Vixa
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 96
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:25 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Lance »

Sparkmort Zipwidget wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 10:41 pm
"So" Sparkmort says to noone in particular, "any guesses as to who these wannabe operatives were? I suppose it's not much of a guess as to what they wanted though. If we assume that someone put those pirates up to it that makes two attempts to steal this cargo. Calling it a coincidence seems to stretch the imagination."
Lance cocks his head to one side as Sparkmort speculates.

"I imagineth the true question iseth whether the two efforts at piracy areth both the work of the same nefarious hand--a puppet-master usingeth cat's paws, if thou wisheth--or if this wretched device iseth soughteth as a quest-goal by many, as if it were-eth a sort of Dark Grail. In the former case, we mighteth wisheth to dealeth with the source of the trouble directly, but in the latter our best course wouldeth be-eth to moveth on to our destination as quickly as possible."
Lance
OOC Comments
Dog-Boy Techno-Warrior
Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d10, Strength d12, Vigor d8
Charisma: 0 (but effectively +2); Parry: 7; Toughness: 18 (8) or Ranged 22 (12)
Fighting d12+6, Shooting d8, Riding d12+1, Notice d4+2 (+4 Scent/Vision), Repair d4, Tracking d6+4, Streetwise d6+2, Persuasion d6+2, Survival d4+4, K: Politics d8
Edges: Danger Sense, Beast Master, Nerves of Steel, Quick, Improvisational Fighter, Trademark Weapon (Drill), Imp. Counterattack
Hindrances: Code of Honor, Minor Delusion (Knighthood), Quirk (Faux-Courtly Speech), Outsider
Preferred Attacks:
  • Primary Attack: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) + 2d6 MD, AP 10, Reach 1 (if needed)
    Mounted Attack: Drill, Mounted Lance Mode, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6, AP 12, Reach 2
    Hard Target: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6 MD, Ignores Armor (Full Round Action, only vs. Vehicles/RA/Inanimate objects)
    Ranged Attack: Shooting d8, Portable Rocket Launcher (5d6 AP 6 SBT) or JA-9 Variable Rifle (3d6+1 AP 3)
Cybernetics (12/14 Strain):
  • EDS, Optics Package, Core Electronics Package, Wilderness Scout Package, x2 Wired Skill Ports (4-step Fighting, Riding), HtH Reaction Wiring, Reinforced Frame, Cy-Wi Reflexes, Drill
Bennies: 3/3
  • Q2/19 Adventure Cards:
    Cutting In Line Draw 3 initiative cards and keep the highest.
    Inspiration Friendly characters (including your hero) add +2 to all trait rolls for the rest of this round.
“Steed” (Heavy Warhorse with Cybernetics)
[list] Agility 6; Smarts d4 (A); Spirit d6; Strength d12+2; Vigor d10
[*]Fighting d8; Notice d6
[*]Pace 10/d10; Parry 6; Toughness 22 (12 MDC)
[*]Size +3
[*]Kick: Strength +2d6 MD [/list]
User avatar
Daniel
Daniel (Lars)
Posts: 2167
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:13 am
Location: Former Alias (GM name) was Lars (2016-2022)

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Daniel »


FYI Info on the Cargo
FYI Info on the Cargo
The Cargo
The Cargo


Quick Preview:
After arriving in the new frontier town of Fergus Falls you are set upon by a combat helicopter with several combatants. Making short work of them, there are several signs that these thugs were in fact CS operatives, even though they flew Titan colors. That and Valentine warned you via the comm device.


Fergus Falls, Minnesota
November 26th, 109 P.A.
Mid Afternoon


EX MACHINA REDUX
The Tomorrow Legion has come into possession of an enigmatic piece of hardware: the partial head and torso of a powerful combat robot of unknown origin.

Your job is to catch up to them. Take the machine from them.

Argent Goodson doesn’t care if you kill or incapacitate the Legion. Just make sure a few, or all, live. Destroy the vehicle he gave them, steal the cargo and leave a storage unit nearby for them to find.

Mission Priority:
  1. Steal the cargo (You have done this!).
  2. Destroy the APC (The pirates you took out, they destroyed the APC already, so done!).
  3. Leave the storage unit for Legion to find (You have captured two surviving Legion members and left the cargo storage unit for them to find. - done!).

Afterwards - get the stolen cargo to New Medora (N. Dakota).
Go Time!




The fire ball of the crashed helicopter ripples outward in flame and smoke. No further warfare in effect, the Agents of Titan seeing no further enemies, a moment of relative silence is broken by an excited voice.

”I d..du..don’t like speaking in…in…in ah…absolutes. Bu..bu..but I gotttta T..tell you fellas … I absolutely hate theeeethe Coalition.”

The half man, standing with one cybernetic palm flat to the ground, midriff in the dirt, had his right hand up, holding a L-20 style energy rifle, pointed upward. Standing over him were two mercenaries with plasma weapons standing at either side of the torn-in-half man.

”I..I absolutely huh hope ev..every one of the..them dead boys get ha..ha..hauled outt- inta the woodsss and the the woods set a b..b..blaze in a plasma sto..storm!”

Glancing from the wreckage of the helicopter to the Agents APC, in dire need of repair, the half man chuckled. Then his head turned a little to its side and all humor vanished. The angry half cyborg growled as his face twisted into a sneer.

”TITAN! Y… you a..rr his l..little p..petssss!”

The two mercenaries standing either side of the half man step into defensive positions and also point their energy rifles your direction.

”K..k…ki…”

A dozen armed men and women move into the street, one man standing out in front of them.

”Nope. Let me stop you right there. There are signs posted on all roads leading into Fergus Falls. They all state, King Kyle Wilport territory! I’m Captain James Jameson. These are the Kings Guard.”

The Captain of the Guard waves a hand around at the twelve visible, armed and armored individuals with him. It’s at this point two UltiMax Robot Power Armor units painted in similar color as the Guard stomp into the street, one on either side.

”Now then,” Caption Jameson continues, ”Heres my concern. I got two groups about to engage in hecka damaging combat right after a similar hecka damage combat just happened. Look. Look over there the General Store has holes in it. There. The barber shop is half gone. We got a bizziondy holes in the street from chain gun fire. And! I got a murder to investigate at the other side of town. So unless you all want to check your guns and sit in the jail until I can investigate, reckon you

Jameson points at the half man and his two thugs.

”… the three of ya, get gone now. Marks, Gonzales, Gorn and Fay. You four escort these three out of town.”

Jameson waves a hand at the three, ”Bye bye now.”

The two thugs each grab ahold of the half cyborg man and move away from the area, escorted away, as the half man sputters something about, …nnnnn not seeeeen lasssst meeeee.”

Captain Jameson then makes a hand signal and the UltiMax’s move away. Most of the remaining Guard wander off to help the townspeople with repairs to the town.

”As you are employees of Titan Robotics I won’t threaten you away. Makes no sense to piss off neighboring towns. New Medora might be a solid 380 miles away but your employer is good for business here. You’re welcome to stay here while you get repairs done. I’ll get the town mechanic sobered and on repairs. Then, I’d kindly ask you to leave, you seem the trouble magnet sort.”

Captain Jameson grins but seems serious too.




PART ONE

Tell me about your stay in Fergus Falls. A lot can happen in two hours. You were here for minutes and got in a fight and almost a second one.

The APC can be moved into the garage and repaired in about two hours.

Please write a short narrative about what you do in town. Repairs? To APC or town? Bar time? Scout the area?

Tell us about Interaction with townspeople or each other?

Dice rolls are up to you, do ‘em or don’t, either way is fine.

I will be working on a PART TWO GM post that picks up as you roll out of Fergus Falls back on track to New Medora. I’ll get that posted ASAP.
Agents of Titan Robotics Industries (AoT)
The Agents (Players)
• Jim - Sparkmort Zipwidget: Male Tinker Gnome Power Armor Ace
• Derrick - Caiden: Male Human, Momano Headhunter
• Steve (Hans) - Berk: Male Simvan Psi-Druid Monster Tamer/Rider
• Murp - Rupetta Martin: Female Human MARS Merc Soldier (X-CS)
• Freemage - Lance: Male Dog Boy Techno-Warrior (Cyber[netic] Knight)
• CSC - Ozy “Oz”: Dragon

My Accounts:
Active
  • Daniel - Admin/GM of AoT
  • Jackal - IC (Neural Intelligence) - 7th SET
  • Vi - Space Pirate - Stars Without Numbers
  • Henry Grimes - CS Commando - Rumble in the Jungle

Not Active
  • Hondo - Wild Psi Stalker
  • Burn - Mega Juicer - Juicer Uprising (On Hold)
  • Blackfish - Ogre Combat Mage - 12th SET (On Hold)
  • Setrakian - Dragon Juicer - FoM Jungles (Retired)

NPC Accounts
  • Lord Coake - NPC
  • Valentine - NPC
  • Erin Tarn - NPC
  • James T - NPC
  • Hagen Lonovich - NPC

User avatar
Rupetta
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:43 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Rupetta »

“Who the hell was that?” Rupetta asked Sssith from her stool at the bar. A humming bird couldn’t have caught the mercenary after the moment that Captain Jameson had decided to let them stay the couple of hours. Before the rest of her group had, had the chance to blink, she was gone back to the watering hole to restock on the supplies that chaingun fire had obliterated. Plus this was a good opportunity to top herself up in the process.

Waving Torrance down she points a finger at her empty tumbler and gives him a nod to give her another neat refill. “Whoever it was, the claims that guy had to make were completely baseless. In fact I’d go so far as to say that… He didn’t have a leg to stand on.”

Rupetta gave the pair of them the biggest shit eating grin as she could taste the formation of the brain aneurysms manifesting in the skulls of the two lizard d-bees. “Calling us pets like that. Who does he think he is to say shit like that and try to off us just because he hates our boss? Why, if he were half the man that we were….

There was but a split second reaction before Rupetta managed to duck her head barely on time before a hurled pool ball made its way towards her head from another drunk patron, barely missing her.

“Right okay fine, no more jokes. He’s clearly missing as much in his head as he is his lower half. Probably got screwed over by the company just like those Tomorrow Legion guys did. Well, technically we didn’t screw them over, but just took advantage of the fact that someone else screwed them over. But really that was only because they got screwed over by that someone else before we had the chance. It’s okay though cause we got a short stack and a dog keeping our morality on a tight leash.” Rupetta waved off the attempted assault as if it was nothing. Allowing the angry figure to calm down at least for a little bit as she knocked back the drink in front of her, signaling yet again for a refill.

“Probably shouldn't have said that, whups. Try and forget that last bit.” Big Mouth Hindrance Activate!. “So what's half machine half nothing’s story? Seems he’s got a grudge against the boss. As much as I’d like to say it’s because he had to sit through one too many team building exercises, it’s probably something deeper. Also you think the dumbass would buy a moped or something that he could control with his hands instead of crawling around like a liza– uh... like a… person that… crawls on the ground…” She catches herself at the last second, giving a sideways glance to the pair she was talking to.

She finally gives them a chance to speak, seeing if they have any information on the cyborg before pounding back a few more shots and paying up at the end of the couple hours.

After receiving their response, Rupetta will suddenly turn a little more serious faced, despite her increasingly inebriated state. “So listen, I’ve seen this kind of writing on the wall a hundred times before. Halfie McToasterOven is going to be waiting to ambush our asses as soon as we’re a bit a ways out of town and outside the reach of the calvary. If he comes here looking for us, just send em our way right away without any fuss, any grift and he’ll just end you before you get a chance to reach for that little shotgun I see behind the counter, we’ll keep an eye out and take care of him when he gets there. But don’t tell Gnome pants I said as much, he’ll think I’m tryin to be a decent person or some shit. Rupetta finished off her last drink, sliding the glass away from her finally. ”Got a reputation to keep up, don’t want him getting the wrong idea or anything. Little bastard likes to talk his head off all the time too, just one of those people who just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and won’t shut up, know what I mean? Anyhow, nice place you got here. We’ll hit it up again if the popo let us back in town again ever.“ She finished with a wave as she shakily rose to her feet and gathered her second attempt at several ”to go“ bottles with her to return to the hopefully repaired APC.
User avatar
Lance
Posts: 96
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:25 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Lance »

Lance nods as Captain Jameson makes his speech. "Of course, we understandeth, noble Sheriff. We seeketh not to bringeth trouble to thine humble thorp, and willeth vacateth as soon as my companions' coach's repairs are completedeth." As Capt. Jameson tries to figure out if this is a prank, or if the Dogboy could possibly be as nuts as he seems to be, Lance continues. "While the time limit doth limiteth mine ability to aideth thee, your mention of a murder most foul stireth in me a need for justice. My nose iseth as keen as any of my kind, and my eyes moreso; if thou wouldeth put them to good use, I wouldeth be more than happy to obligeth thee."

The Captain does a bit of mental math, figuring the odds of the definitely three-bricks short of an outhouse Dogboy managing to discover something vs. the odds he'd just make trouble. Then he considered the possibilities of all the trouble the clearly over-muscled cyborg could get into in two hours left unsupervised, and Jameson's mental thumb comes down firmly on the side of the scale saying, Keep an eye on this one. So he agrees to let Lance assist, though forbids him from touching any evidence. Lance is quite fine with this restriction, and the two go off to the scene of the crime.

A good bit of the time allotted is spent with Jameson going over the rules to make certain the Dog-boy understands his limits. After a bit, he does manage to realize that the cyborg's delusional state actually makes him fairly easy to manipulate; put in a few references to knightly honor and chivalry and such, and Lance is the classic 'Good Boi' so beloved by CS propaganda. Still, he makes extra-certain to stress that as "Sheriff", he has sole authority of the law in the town, and that Lance's status as a temporary consultant does NOT make him a deputy--any evidence pointing at an individual must be processed by Capt. Jameson, not followed up on by the cyborg.

Arriving in the cyberdoc's office, Lance sakes his head sadly at the corpse. "I hadeth heardeth he waseth a genius at enhancements; indeed, I had hopedeth that he wouldeth be able to increase mine might to a level sufficient to performingeth mine duties."

Good lord, thought Jameson as he restrained himself from an unbelieving cough. This monster wants to get bigger? The Dogboy continues on his efforts without noticing the Captain's reaction.

"Obviously, he waseth killedeth by the weapon that stabbedeth his... waiteth." Lance leans over and sniffs, carefully. His nose gets very close to the wounded eye-socket. Captain Jameson is about to protest, when the Dogboy leans back. "Strange! I smelleth burnt flesh, as if the man were-eth stabbedeth with a hot poker--but the wound showeth no signs of havingeth burnteth on the outside. I beteth thou will findeth evidence of heat inside the skull. Mayhap a small laser-scalpel or some similar device, that couldeth be usedeth as both a thrusting weapon and a heat-source."

The Dog-boy then stands up abruptly and steps outside, looking around. He points. "There, Captain. See-eth the furrows in the fresh snow? They looketh as if a body were-eth draggedeth through the town, but are-eth a bit shallow for that, And there iseth a scent just learnedeth here. I believeth you were-eth right to send off the half-man; he is-eth dangerous. While I ameth unable to hunteth him down now, due-eth to mine prior oath of service, I willeth taketh any opportunity that doth ariseth to eliminateth the blackguard. If he cometh to this town, I suggesteth either extreme violence, or appeasement. In the latter case, if you caneth contacteth me and we are-eth in the area, I willeth come to help confronteth this depraved soul."

The Captain is still pondering trying to recruit the muscle-bound lunatic as a one-man posse when Lance's radio goes off, Rupetta informing him that the repairs are done and if he doesn't "want to spend the rest of the day eating dust", he'd "best get your fuzzy butt on your horse and get over here!". With an apology, the Dog-boy makes his leave, letting Captain Jameson plan what to do if that lunatic with no legs comes back.... Best be ready, yeah.
Lance
OOC Comments
Dog-Boy Techno-Warrior
Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d10, Strength d12, Vigor d8
Charisma: 0 (but effectively +2); Parry: 7; Toughness: 18 (8) or Ranged 22 (12)
Fighting d12+6, Shooting d8, Riding d12+1, Notice d4+2 (+4 Scent/Vision), Repair d4, Tracking d6+4, Streetwise d6+2, Persuasion d6+2, Survival d4+4, K: Politics d8
Edges: Danger Sense, Beast Master, Nerves of Steel, Quick, Improvisational Fighter, Trademark Weapon (Drill), Imp. Counterattack
Hindrances: Code of Honor, Minor Delusion (Knighthood), Quirk (Faux-Courtly Speech), Outsider
Preferred Attacks:
  • Primary Attack: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) + 2d6 MD, AP 10, Reach 1 (if needed)
    Mounted Attack: Drill, Mounted Lance Mode, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6, AP 12, Reach 2
    Hard Target: Drill, Fighting d12+6, Strength (d12) +2d6 MD, Ignores Armor (Full Round Action, only vs. Vehicles/RA/Inanimate objects)
    Ranged Attack: Shooting d8, Portable Rocket Launcher (5d6 AP 6 SBT) or JA-9 Variable Rifle (3d6+1 AP 3)
Cybernetics (12/14 Strain):
  • EDS, Optics Package, Core Electronics Package, Wilderness Scout Package, x2 Wired Skill Ports (4-step Fighting, Riding), HtH Reaction Wiring, Reinforced Frame, Cy-Wi Reflexes, Drill
Bennies: 3/3
  • Q2/19 Adventure Cards:
    Cutting In Line Draw 3 initiative cards and keep the highest.
    Inspiration Friendly characters (including your hero) add +2 to all trait rolls for the rest of this round.
“Steed” (Heavy Warhorse with Cybernetics)
[list] Agility 6; Smarts d4 (A); Spirit d6; Strength d12+2; Vigor d10
[*]Fighting d8; Notice d6
[*]Pace 10/d10; Parry 6; Toughness 22 (12 MDC)
[*]Size +3
[*]Kick: Strength +2d6 MD [/list]
User avatar
Berk
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:15 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Berk »

Grabbing the Dogboy Zapper that Lance had chopped down, Berk drags it to the edge of town where he starts preparing it for his stew pot. Soon enough he throws the bones into the boiling pot of water along with a package of roots and greens. Tossing the organs to Stompy, Berk then starts chopping the meat into nice size chunks.

As he is working, a dozen men from the village come up behind him, all smelling of alchohol...

"We don't like... THINGS like you in our village... ESPECIALLY when you are cooking someone!!! You have ONE MINUTE to get out of here before we make you regret ever coming near Fergus Falls!"

Not even turning his head or interrupting his work, Berk replies..."We didn't have plans on having you for dinner, but if you insist, me and Stompy here can always change our plans and have a regular feast. You have even started the marinating process of yourselves. Stompy, help them make their decision."

With that, Stompy gets up from where he was relaxing and walks over to just in front of the locals before he ROARS in displeasure.

In no time at all, the villagers have decided to go and find other things to do, many having now to do their laundry due to their bodies reaction to Stompy's roar.
Toughness: 15 (6)
ISP: 32/45
Pace: 5 (d4)
Parry: 4

Bennies: 3 / 3
  • Base
Wounds: None
Fatigue: None
User avatar
Sparkmort Zipwidget
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:34 pm

Re: 2.) Asset Recovery (Minnesota)

Post by Sparkmort Zipwidget »

Sparky looks after the departing cyborg, "There must be a sad story there." he muses "I mean he's obviously half the man he used to be."

Chuckling to himself Sparky sketches Captain Jameson a salute and checks his external speakers. "No need to go rousting the mechanic, Captain. If it's okay to use the facilities though I'll take care of the repairs myself."

Sparky turns and motions for Caiden to pull the APC into the repair facility while he walks into the bay and pops the seal on his armor. Kicking the small chain ladder over the side Sparky clammers down from his power armor with practiced ease.

Taking a few minutes to survey the damage his eyebrows climb up his face as he whistles. "Wow, Northern Gun don't make 'em like they use to do they?" Shrugging he gets to work on the APC's repairs. Several hours of heavy grunt work later sees most of the damage put right. Going to need a new ion cannon for that sponsoon but I'm sure we can get one from Titan once we get to New Medora.

With that done Sparky heads off to find a shower and a hot meal before they hit the road again.
"Don't Panic"

Sparkmort Zipwidget
Player: Jim
Active Alts: John Reid, Vixa
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