Campaign Turn 24 – Marduk Station – Street Fight
Jaxx didn't want to stay long; at the same time, he dreaded their next stop. Because once they arrived at Truti Sanvita, Kazi and Vonthos would be leaving.
He certainly wasn't bothered much when the RenPig arrived at the outskirts of the system. Nav charts showed this was not uncommon here, so he wasn't worried about the engines. Wouldn't hurt to check them out, though.
"Ok, kiddos, we're just here to pick up supplies and deliver a message for Miranda. Kazi and Ginny - see if you can find anyone who wants out of this system. Charm them into joining on. Vonthos, see what you can find for trade. I have some fixing to do. And remember, we're not fighting anyone, so just pistols. Don't want the cops to think we're troublemakers."
The crew went on its way. Ginny called Jaxx just hours later. "Got a recruit! He desperately wants off this rock. Came from Shan, and wants to go breath some real air again. His name is Sorin Pike. He's a bit older. Not quite as old as you, Captain, but pretty ancient. We think he'll do."
"Young lady, watch that tongue or you'll be grounded!"
Jaxx could almost hear Ginny's eyes rolling.
"Ok, I'm about to head out. We know what the contact looks like - real professor-type. Should stick out like a sore thumb. You have the approximate coords and you all have a copy of the message. Go deliver it and then we'll head out. Make sure our new crewmate has the coords, and we'll rendevoux there."
"Sure thing, Captain!"
"And give Sorin the chat channel. He's part of the family now, so he might as well be able to talk to all of us."
The crew all started to head to the rendevoux point. Jaxx took the opportunity to talk to Sorin, find his backstory - he was part of a nomad tech tribe on Shan, scavenging the abandoned industrial gear after Vestan Industries left the system. Got tired of that, and joined up with a crew, who were all arrested on Phiteol. Not having a way off system, Sorin became a miner, trying to earn enough to buy a ticket - something the corporations did their best to prevent.
As they were chatting and moving towards the center of an industrial district, something caught Jaxx' eye. Rather, the lack of something.
The normal ebb and flow of workers and civilians wasn't there. There were a few folk about, but they stank of trouble.
"Crew - head's up. Something stinks and it's not this filtered air. Well, OK, the air is rather foul, but I smell trouble."
"Copy that" came the reply from his crew, including Sorin.
As they worked their way through the district, Jaxx and Ginny each eyed one of the few people standing about. Both ducked into buildings, vanishing like they were never there [two suspect markers turned out to be nothing].
"Ok, let's move faster. No running - don't look frightened. Just move faster."Vonthos started to move up a stairway to get a better view. "Jaxx, markings on the walls. It's not just graffiti - we're in contested gang territory." [Vonthos revealed a City Marker]"Why in the name of the Seven and Thirteen would Miranda have her contact meet us here? Ok, forget what I said. Just move."
Jaxx took off at a jog, as did Ginny. As Ginny move through a gap between buildings, she noticed something. "Guys, I just saw a 'little birdie', and it activated. Someone was looking for us - or for anyone. It's a trap!" [Ginny actually converted three City Markers - the first was the 'Street Combatant', which had me place the combat bot on the table. The second was also a 'Street Combatant, and I rolled up a 'Tech-Head' cyborg. I found a mini for him. The third was 'It's a Trap' - at the end of the next turn, six random enemies - I rolled Fanatics - would appear.]Even Jaxx was shocked by the obscenities that sprung from his mouth. "Unity must have decided we saw too much. But in case I'm wrong, let's triple-time to the target then bolt."Just then, sirens started to blare. "Boss, I think things went from bad to worse" Ansila said. [Ansila converted a City Marker with the 'Sirens' event - at the end of every turn, roll a D6; when the total was over 10, the cops arrived] "Don't talk - move! Ginny - send Sorin the message. Sorin, if you see the target, deliver the message."
"Gotcha, new boss!"
Just then, the wall next to Ginny burst open, and out rolled a vintage Combat Bot [editorial: I couldn't find a good spot to place the combat bot, so I placed it inside a sealed building and decided that it needed a combat action to break out].
Ginny was pushed away, but was not hurt. A Tech-Head appeared and took a shot at Sorin. Was he part of this, or was he just pissed that the cops were coming? Fortunately, Ansila's armor protected him.
Sorin dashed up to the contact, who seemed to be hurrying away, and delivered the message. The contact said "You're not one of them, why are you giving me this?" Sorin looked at him, realization dawning. "This was all just a setup, wasn't it - that's why you're running away.""Old man, this is Unity business. Those people are a threat and..." The contacts words cut off as Sorin's pistol barked. "Don't like your Unity all that much, now. Boss - message was certainly delivered. Let's git." [The objective was to come within 1" of the contact, which caused the message to be delivered, and the contact would be removed from the table. But the setup narrative spoke to me, and I decided we would 'remove' the contact from the table in a different manner]Once again, Jaxx was surprised by the string of obscenities that flowed from his mouth.
"Ok crew, bolt top speed. Rendevoux at the RenPig."
Ginny started to run. Jax made it out of the industrial area and into a more populated section, where he could blend in.
The Tech-Head shot again at Ansila, but missed; however, the combat bot charged Ansila, swinging a great cudgel, bashing Ansila into unconsciousness.
Vonthos also made his escape.
Six of the Fantics appeared, armed with handguns.
Two were trying to block Ginny from escaping; two cut Sorin off from being able to make his escape - stepping out of the darkness within arm's reach of him,
Ginny continued to follow orders and fled. The fanatics assaulted Sorin with their blades. One got a solid hit on him, but Sorin remained standing due to a Stim Pack he had on him.
The fanatics that Ginny dashed past started to move towards the sounds of battle, while the other two engage the Tech-Head and Gutter Ganger, dropping the Tech-Head. For Sorin, at least, that was good news, as if they all could focus on him, he wouldn't have a chance.
Sorin was thinking that he didn't have a chance anyway, but things could be worse. However, his easy escape was blocked, so he turned and ran the way Jaxx exited the area. He figured that if everyone else was trying to kill each other, he might be able to escape.
As he got close to cover, the cops arrived. The only good thing to happen to the crew, and especially Sorin was that they arrived right next to the Fanatics, the Tech-Head, Gutter Ganger and the Combat Bot, so they just added to the confusion.
The Combat Bot destroyed one of the Fanatics; the other that was close by, as well as the Gutter Ganger decided to flee.
Four fanatics took shots at Sorin, his Stim Pack autoinjector the only thing keeping him alive.
The cops somehow managed to take out the Combat Bot. Perhaps they deserve a raise!
Sorin continued to move, finally able to bend a corner so the fanatics no longer could see him.
The cops took out another fanatic and the Gutter Ganger, then engaged the rest of Fanatics. This allowed Sorin to get away. As he crossed into the more populated area, he saw Jaxx and Ginny running back, carrying large and ungainly-looking duffle bags that Sorin just knew contained pretty heavy weaponry.
"Coming back for me? Ain't that sweet" Sorin said. Then, the shock of the injuries, muted by the stim packs, started to overcome him. "You know you guys are spinning right?" he asked as the chamber started to go black.....
Jaxx and Ginny got Sorin back to the RenPig. He'd be fine. The Stim Packs did their job.
After all that, Ginny asked Jaxx a question. "Are you going to send Miranda a love letter?"
"No." Jaxx responded. "We need to get Kazi and Vonthos to their colony, and then it's time to stay away from Marduk Station for a bit. At least the colony is too high profile even for Unity to go after. There's a Precursor scientist who will be working with the colony, and that's something that Unity won't want to screw up."
"But, the time will come."
Step 1
1. Flee Invasion -
2. Decide whether to travel - Yes; Cost 4 Cr
3. Starship travel event - Travel-time - Local conditions force you to jump to the very edge of the system and approach under standard drives. Any injured crew may rest for one campaign turn.
4. New world arrival steps -
1. Check for Rivals - Unknown Rivals Follow
2. Dismiss Patrons - n/a
3 - License paid - n/a
4 - world characteristics - Crystals, Bureacratic Mess
x - Personal Trinket roll(s); Roll 2D6 for each; 9+ means you find the owner and gain a loot roll.
Used Rainy Day fund to gain 8 credits.
Step 2
1. Upkeep and ship repairs. 1Cr due to Living Quarters upgrade
Pay for Medical Care:
2. Assign and resolve crew tasks
Jaxx - Repair scanner bot: Successful.
Kazi - Recruit
Villem - x
Vonthos - Trade - Trade goods
Ginerva - Recruit - we found recruit
Baseline Human Re: 1; Sp: 4; CS: 0; T: 3; Sa: 0; Lu: 0; Handgun. Background: Wasteland Nomad; Motivation: Loyalty; Class: Soldier. Name: Sorin Pike.
Ansila - Train
Sorin Pike: x
3. Determine Job Offers
Opportunity Mission - Street Fight!
4. Assign Equipment -
5. Resolve Rumors: - n/a
6. Choose Battle - Street Fight
6.5 Check Rivals - No
Readying for Battle -
ELITE
DIFFICULTY SETTINGS:
World Settings -
1. Deployment Condition - Visibility 9"
Place 6 Suspect Markers
Place 6 City Markers plus one by any Commercial sites
1. Notable Sight - n/a
2. Objective - Contact Individual: You must reach the individual and move within 1” to deliver the message. Once it is delivered, the individual is removed from the table, and the figure that delivered the message must survive the mission (meaning not permanently dead).
Crew placed randomly, use a direction die and place them at that point on the edge. Captain arrives last and can arrive randomly or with any crew member.
Suspect markers behave randomly. They act in the enemy phase after all active enemies have moved. Roll D6
1=Stay; 2-4=Move 4" in random direction; 5=Pursue - Move 4" towards nearest crew member. That marker stays in pursuit. 6: Something interesting.
See Compendium pg 125
The Individual starts in center of table.
4. Opponent Type - Gutter Gang -w- handgun
Street Combatant Type - Combat Bot w Rattle Gun, Brutal Melee Weapon; immune to STU, Armor Save 5+
Fight!
Seize The Initiative:
Won?
Held The Field?
First Blood - n/a
Notable Sight: n/a
Turn 1: Jaxx, Vonthos and Ginny move. Jaxx flips Contact - nothing interetins. Ginny also reveals a suspect as nothing interesting.
Individual started to move towards table edge.
Turn 2: Sorin moves & reveals Something Interesting. Vonthos moves up to get a better view, and sees Gang Signs. After that, Jaxx dashes. Ginny moves and reveals two City Markers. First is a Street Combatant: Combat Robot; Second is Street Combatant: Tech-Head. As she dashes towards the Individual, she reveals a third: It's a Trap!
Sorin moves and reveals Sirens!
Combat robot uses action to burst thru wall by Ginny, pushing her away 1". Tech Head moves and shoots at Sorin, hitting, but Sorin's armor saves him.
+6 Siren
Turn 3: Sorin dashes and delivers message. He's 1" from the table end. Jaxx calls for a retreat. Ginny Dashes; Jaxx leaves the field; Tech-Head shoots at Ansila and misses; Combat Robot brawls Ansila and takes him out. Vonthos leaves field.
Siren +2
6 Fanatics Appear - two within an inch of Sorin! His easy escape is thwarted unless he wins initiative...
Turn 4: Sorin does not, in fact, win Initiative.
Ginny dashes off table; Fanatics leap into brawl with Sorin; the first stuns him, the second would have dropped him except for a Stim Pack. The other Fanatics either moved or engaged in combat with the Tech-Head and Ganger.
Sorin recovers from Stun as he moves away. The pushes back he receives moved him out of regular movement of exiting the field.
Cops Arrive - thankfully on the far side of the table, near the Combat Robot, Tech-Head and a couple Fanatics.
Turn 5
Bot takes out a fanatic. Ganger and two Fanatics decide to run away.
Four fanatics shoot at Sorin; they would have taken him out again, except for the use of a second stim pack.
Sorin continues to move towards the table end, getting out of the line of sight of the Fanatics.
Turn 7 had the Fanatics follow Sorin, and the cops scrum with the Fanatics, Combat Robot and Ganger.
Finally, Sorin was able to dash off the table, winning the game.
Post-Battle
1. Rivals - n/a
2. Patron - n/a
3. Quest Progress - n/a
4. Get Paid - 3 Cr
5. Battlefield Finds - n/a
6. Check for Invasion - n/a
7. Gather Loot - Infantry Laser
8. Injuries
Ansila: Knocked Out
9. Experience:
Jaxx 3
Kazi --
Vilem --
Vonthos 3 - increased combat skill
Ginerva 3
Ansila 1 - now has 7; increases combat skill
Sorin 3
10. Invest in Advanced Training: n/a
11. Purchase Items: Sold 3 items
12. Campaign Event: Recent Events made for good learning opportunities - everyone gains +1XP
13. Character Event: Kazi - You got hurt working on the ship - spend next turn in sick bay and ship takes 1 hull point damage
