[Sentinemodo]

Large icon appeared in the corner of Doc's AR display.

Step one - warm up

Jerry/Doberman felt itself crouching on all fours. Gecko pads adapted itselfs to the surface, providing an assuring level of stability. Large powerful gun reported online status, warming itself in the socket.

Jerry/Doberman barked twice, and a detonation has been heard loud as a crashing jet fighter. The prototype gauss rifle fired double shot, at the nearby tower...

OOC:
I'll take 3 actions to take aim properly (max. half of the skill) on the first shoot, and going for damage - trying to hit something that support it and crash the tower.
for all the shots I'm using image magnification built in the dobermans sensor.

base pool: Sensor(3) + Gunnery(6) + Specialization(Ballistic, 2) + Smartlink(2) + Control Rig(2) + Hotsim(2) -> 17
+ Take Aim(3) - Called Shot for Damage(4) -> 16
second shot Called Shot for Damage(4) -> 13
I assume no recoil, as this is drone shooting.
rolls: 16d6.hits(5)=5, 13d6.hits(5)=6 -> since both are unopposed, both looks like critical hits.

Damage Values:
9P + 4(called shot) + 5(net hits) -> 18P from the first shot,
9P + 4(called shot) + 6(net hits) -> 19P from the second shot
resisted with HalfArmor(due to gauss weapon)*2 - AP(4),

whatever the result (it only matters, that the shooting was flashy and noisy), the drone will start to aim at the compound entrance.

[Eleven]

Doc was grateful that the plan changed, as he hadn't fancied taking on an entire 'merc compound solo with a weapon he hadn't even read the manual on.  As Jerry disappeared into the virtual wilds of full VR Doc became acutely aware that his instincts and reflexes were the only protection available when the Drek started to fly.  He switched his comms to hidden, and made sure to get his spare 950 rounds ready to reload the rifle because five rounds could go quite quickly.  He hunkered down a couple of meters from the dwarf, so that any explosive ordinance sent their way wouldn't get both of them and brought his Remmington up to his shoulder, trying to keep as low a profile as possible.  Switching his visual field back to Low light he scanned the 'DAWGS compound, waiting for the first threat to appear.
 
[OOC Doc is carrying his 950, but he has the Carbine as well - should anything get within a hundred meters or so]
 
Visual search - Intuition 3 + Perception 1 + Visual Specialization 2 + Vision enhancement 3 (Low Light test): (9d6.hits(5)=6) and Intuition 3 + Perception 1 + Visual Specialization 2 + Vision enhancement 3 (Thermographic test): (9d6.hits(5)=4)  add one more success: Forgot to Add Hawkeye bonus of one die for perception tests at distance (1d6.hits(5)=1)
 
Doc also strained to hear any activity from within the compound: 
 Intuition 3 + Perception 1 + Audio enhancement 3: (7d6.hits(5)=0) but couldn't hear anything after the Doberman let loose with the first two shots.   

Infiltration roll:
Agility 7 + Infiltration 4 + Urban specialization 2 =  (13d6.hits(5)=4)

subvocally doc whispered to Jerry:  "the drek has hit the fan for sure, I figure we've got no more than two to three minutes before we've go to be rolling, I've got us covered for now, GET SOME!" 
 
[note clever use of small font to show whispering ]

Status of Equipment:
M23 (sholder strap): 40 EX-EX rounds remaining in clip.  1 spare clip loaded with 35 EX-EX, 5 spare clips loaded with regular
Manhunter (strapped to right thigh):  16+1 rounds EX-EX, 1 spare clip with EX-EX, 2 spare clips loaded with regular
Taser (cross draw left hip): 4 darts
Elan (right leg ankle holster): 5+1 regular, 1 spare clip with regular
Slivergun (cross draw left chest): 30 flechette, 2 spare clips with flechette
Remington 950*(rifle sheath on back): 5 rounds EX-EX
Meta Link: Hidden Mode
Novatech Airware: Hidden Mode
*denotes actively equipped weapon

[Thermo]

Team 1: Hyena and Eugene

@Hyena:

You scan the Astral plane for any evidence of possession on the two women but don't see anything of concern. They are both Awakened, but don't appear to have a Magic ability anywhere near as strong as yours or Eugene's. While they are both unconscious from the smoke, you see that their vitals are strong and they will probably wake up soon. Their essence gives off an emotion of desperation, hope, and pain, as though they have been prisoners or slaves for only a short while. You grab the book and put it in your pack. Your shot echoes in the small space and blows the mage's head wide open; he's most definitely dead.

@Eugene:

Hyena drags the two women up the creaking ladder, and you help get them laid out on the floor near the smashed door where the dust isn't quite as thick. Hyena sends you several pictures of the scene, including a picture of the book.

[to see if you know what the book is, roll your Magical Artifacts knowledge skill with a -2 penalty]

[eighth circuit]

logic(4) + magical artifacts(4) - mystery modifier(2) = 6 (6d6.hits(5)=3)

"Hmmmmmm... Why don't you let me take a look at that book?" Eugene approaches Hyena with his hand outstretched.

[OOC: I'm assuming combat didn't take more than a couple minutes, so we should still have about an hour until sundown, correct?]

[Thermo]

[OOC: correct, you've got about 45 minutes until sundown]

[Thermo]

Team 2: Jerry and Doc T

[The wooden guard tower has an Armor of 6 and a Structure Rating of 7. Due to the anti-material nature of the gauss rifle, it falls into the same category as AV Rocket/Missile (SR4a pg. 166), and therefore base damage is tripled. Damage = 9P*3 + 4(called shot) + 5(net hits) and 9P*3 + 4(called shot) + 6(net hits) = 36P and 37P, respectively. Tower rolls Armor*2 to resist.

Tower damage resist: (12d6.hits(5)=1, 12d6.hits(5)=1)

Net hits = 35P and 36P

Each shot puts a hole in the structure equal to (damage/structure rating)*1m^2, so each shot puts a 5 square meter hole in the tower. It is completely obliterated.]

The two shots from the gauss rifle both hit the guard tower square on, the first one blowing the roof and spotlight to pieces, the second hitting the platform and blowing it completely off its frame. There is a billowing cloud of blueish smoke from where the power cell for the spotlight was disintegrated. The two shots were LOUD and very distinctive. They sounded more like the crack of a lightning bolt than the boom of an assault cannon. There's no way that the Shrapnel Dawgs could have missed what just happened.

@Jerry:

The tower explodes in a magnificant display of firepower, shooting forth wood splinters and twisted metal in all directions. The weapon hits with such force that it creates a cone of shrapnel and debris as soon as it hits its target. Your circuits hum with excitement and energy. You quickly spin your body back towards the Shrapnel Dawgs' puny base, tracking both inferior meat targets as well as outmatched mechanical ones. There's none of the heart-pounding adrenaline you get when in your meat body, replaced with a cold, calculating system of target and threat analysis.

@Doc T:

You lay down on the berm, pointing your long-range sporting rifle downrange towards the Shrapnel Dawgs' base. Your long-range vision picks out several targets. The two mercenaries who were walking sentry duty on the tops of the cargo containers have both hit the deck and are aiming in your general direction with sniper rifles. They're probably taking aim at the drone, which is sitting loud and proud a few meters away from you on top of the ridge. You also see the two teams of barghest sentries starting to run in your direction, running low and fast while the barghest practically drags them towards you. Each team has two members, each armed with a submachine gun. You notice that one of the Dawgs' drones has moved back into the compound, but before you lose sight of it you see it raise what appears to be a grenade launcher. The other enemy drone is positioned outside the gate, swiveling back and forth while pointing a machinegun downrange.

The Shrapnel Dawgs have completed their deal, and the weapons are loaded into the backs of the two trucks. The buyers leap into the already-running trucks at the sound of the exploding tower, and the trucks are ready to move out.

Everyone roll Initiative

[The truck is the red rectangle, the grey shape is your drone, Jerry is in green, Doc T is in purple. The orange shape is the earthwork berm. The yellow squares are barghest teams, and the pink dots on the orange circle are the snipers on top of the cargo containers.]

[Thermo]

Team 1: Hyena and Eugene

@Hyena:

You tell Eugene about the scene in the basement, and share with him the pictures of the ritual, including the book and the pitchers of dirty water.

@Eugene:

You immediately recognize the nature of the book by the pictures sent by Hyena. It appears to be a religious tome that was used by a tribe of local healers who would sell their services to the highest bidder. It is rumored that they were wiped out years ago when the Igbo rounded them up and sold them off as slaves to local mercenary groups. You remember reading that they had several abilities that were particularly helpful to groups who were unfamiliar with living off the land in a polluted and scorched desert. You might learn more if you were able to analyze the book in person.

[Eleven]

Initiative Roll: Initiative roll: Initiative 11 =  (11d6.hits(5)=4)  So total score of 15.

  Doc is just going to wait to see how initiative plays out but I had posted the following and will use it if Thermo thinks best. [OOC: Assuming they are within 750m, and that Doc has initiative:]

Simple action taken as free action:  "Jerry - take out the two drones by the entrance if you can"

Take Aim as free action (from martial art):  Use take aim action to zoom in on sniper using Vision Magnification

Simple Action:  Fire Remington 950 at Sniper
Agility 7 + Firearms Skill Group 4 + Firearms Skill Group Reflex Recorder 1 + Smartgun 2 + Vision Magnification cancels range penalties = 14 (14d6.hits(5)=4)

Damage is 8p/AP -1 modified by EX EX ammo  = 9p/AP -2

[farothel]

"Help me with these women," Hyena said to Eugene, "We'd better be out of here before someone comes around to investigate.  I also have that book with me.  No sense in leaving it so they can try again.  Would your uncle mind if we stayed there for a while until I can take them with me to my appointment this evening."

She looked at her watch.
"In a couple of hours actually."

[Sentinemodo]

No plan ever survives the battle... at least they're coming to us...
They must have been confused like hell... unknown drone fired at the airport tower...

Inside the dobermans virtual reality AR control console exploded with calculations:
their Barghest teams will investigate the situation - probability 98% - confirmed
attack variant
hitting both snipers in a single two shot volley... probability 5 hits ... defensive position, 4 hits ... good cover factored in ... 90%  fatal retaliation on failure probability 40%
hitting conteners below sniper position, throwing off the snipers, probability 99,99% ... selected
facing superior force ... their commander orders both Barghest teams to drop to the ground wait for assault drones and regroup ... probability 80% .. combat result fatal probability 80% ... on successful combat S-K gauss recovery team finds rifel in my possession  ... mission failed
facing superior force ... their commander order both Barghest teams to fall back behind the conteners probability 65% ...  S-K gauss recovery team finds rifle not in possession of Dawgs ... mision failed.

bait variant
nothing is shooting at the compound ... snipers wait and observe on the investigation results not shooting at anything unknown unless provoked probability 92% ...
facing unknown ... their commander call back one of the teams to investigate if there is no infiltration attempt on the other side of the compund, probability 70% ....
defensive maneuvers ... their commander roll out grenade launcher to cover Barghest team as they investigate probability 60% (risk factor of loosing expensive drone might be overestimated, Barghest are more valuable), corrected value 64%...

Bait variant selected



Large icon appeared in the corner of Doc's AR display.
Step two - bait up
Don't shoot unless they will. Observe.

OOC: initiative roll - as I am in hotsimming in VR I am using the matrix initiative    
Response(5) - Programs overload(1) + Intuition(5) + VR(1) + Response Enhancer(3) ->  13d6.hits(5)=4 17, 3 IP

Assuming I'll go first, the drone will move at running speed behind full cover (simple action) toward Jerry. Send message Doc's 'link. (simple action). Jump out (free action)., Initiative will drop by 4 points, but still 3 IP per CT.

To be clear, I want to disappear from sight, so they won't have anything to shoot at, unless they spot Doc (which at this range should be fairly difficult). I'll start dismantling the gun from the next IP.

[Thermo]

Barghest teams roll initiative:

Barghest Teams: Rea(6)+Int(3) (9d6.hits(5)=5, 9d6.hits(5)=1) 14,10

CT1, IP1: Jerry: 17(3 IP); Doc T: 15 (3 IP); Barghest Team 1: 14 (2 IP); Barghest Team 2: 10 (2 IP)
Edge: Jerry: 3/3; Doc T: 3/3; Barghest Team 1: 4/4; Barghest Team 2: 4/4
Wounds: None

@Jerry:

You tense your servos and leap backwards, feeling the durathane liners in your joints flex as your massive legs propel you behind the berm. You nearly hit your meat form, kneeling on the ground. You jump out, feeling the all-too-familiar sensation of being sucked backwards into your body. The aches and pains of your meat form return almost immediately, and you wish you never had to leave the digital world.


Doc, your turn

[eighth circuit]

Eugene helps Hyena with the women. Think they'll wake up soon? I'm not sure it's wise to be seen dragging bodies through the streets, even around here.

[OOC: Sorry farothel, I figured we'd just automatically move along. I'm not sure if moving the women's bodies is something that will give us trouble or not. If you think so, Eugene can cast mask on them. On the other hand, if dragging bodies around Lagos is common enough to go unnoticed, we may as well just head over to the uncle's. Eugene will defer to Hyena's experience.]

[farothel]

"They're still alive," Hyena said, "so we can just pretend they've passed out from too much alcohol.  And since there's dead bodies in this city everywhere, even if we were removing them, it wouldn't attract all that much notice.  People will think we're from Tanamous and leave us alone."

Nobody messed with the flesh trafficers here, at least if you didn't want to be in the next set of merchandise on its way to Asamando.  So after a quick check to see if anybody was waiting for them, they moved out of the building.


Perception to see if anybody is interested in what's happening in this house.
intuition 4 + perception 3 + enhanced perception 2 + looking for it 3 =12 (12d6.hits(5)=8)
I think I will notice if someone does.

Thermo: I've just assumed a couple of things up here.  Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read about Lagos, people there are very good at not noticing things.

Eight: Don't worry about it, miscommunication happens and things are still going a lot faster here then in another of my PbPs. 

[Thermo]

[OOC: going to play a little catch-up here for a second]

@Eugene:

Your Spirit of Earth reports back to you that the Watcher spirit disappeared in a puff of never-never dust while it was engaged in the chase through the city. They ended up near a known Igbo part of the city. It appears as though the Spirit of Earth was able to delay the Watcher spirit for long enough that it didn't make contact with its target. Once the mage was knocked unconscious, the spirit got extremely confused, and once Hyena shot the mage in the head the spirit simply winked out of existence.



Team 1: Hyena and Eugene

You each grab one of the women and begin carrying them out of the building and towards Eugene's uncle's shop. The women are humans and therefore aren't very heavy (at least not compared to ork women!). As you get a closer look you realize that the women have very similar features and complexions and might be related, even possibly sisters.

The street outside the brick house is deserted. You carry the women towards the long row of talisman shops, most of which are still open for business. As you do, you see people begin to gawk and stare. You catch some muttered phrases as you walk, and you are able to gather that these women were known here.

Eugene's uncle greets you warmly, and upon seeing the women he raises his eyebrows.

"The Riki sisters! Where in the sixth world did you find them?? They went missing a month ago after their mother was murdered! She was a friend of mine!"

You are able to learn that the sisters worked in a booth in this very market, until their mother was killed and they were presumed kidnapped or killed. The stall has been looted, but is still standing not far away. Their mother was a dealer in antique books and scholarly items such as incense, inks, and parchment.

The women are still unconscious. There isn't a very good place to lay them down except on the heavy carpeted floor.

What do you do?

[Eleven]

Doc read the text scroll from jerry and settled in behind his 950.

Simple Action:  Observe in detail - Doc Looks around to make sure that the only possible targets are the two sniper teams and the two barghest teams.   Intuition 3 + Perception 1 + Visual Specialization 2 + Vision enhancement 3 9d6.hits(5)=4

Second simple action:  Talk to text to Jerry:  I'll hold for now, but If that drone stays near us we are the target.  Also two shots probably aren't enough "chaos".

Free action:  Take aim as free action from Krav Magra - use take aim action to zoom vision magnification in on closest enemy team.