"So what is the plan?"
ClairYen turns to you, but as she opens her mouth, no sound comes out. Then she freezes in place. Then the world stops moving. You are immediately struck with a feeling of falling at great velocity, then...disconnection.
...
You open your 'eyes' to chaos. You're back in the Arclite barracks-and whereas before, you were pretty much alone, now soldiers of all stripes run about in a semblance of order and confusion. An alarm klaxon blares, lights flash. Your internal chronometer says you were in cyberspace for only about 15 minutes real time. Apparently you were forcibly disconnected...
You open your HUD in depth without delay, tuning to the Arclite security channel-they haven't restricted your access yet.
Shots fired in Vicinity of Arclite Industrial Park
Possibly three shooters or more
General Evacuation Order 7.4 in Effect-all non/coms proceed to Arcsafe Bunker. All Combat units hold at assigned
checkpoints and await further orders.
Cyberspace Hardlinks restricted
Scrambling HOUND defense network
That was the park you were just at.
Normally, you'd be inclined-almost forced-by Arclites programming to obey their orders...
But, you don't work for them anymore.
---
"Concern - I hope you know what you're doing. I don't like your chances if this man smells your involvement. I am truly curious how you plan to accomplish such a feat - and the complete breakdown of your statistician's work, for the matter - , but until I'm an official associate of yours I'll rein in my curiosity."
She pauses, then creates a small text document with no small amount of hand gestures. It's clear that even this simple cyberspace trick is a considerable challenge for her.
"This file contains the details of our meeting. Feel free to shredder it after you're done."
Tomorrow, 19:00, 8th District's Star Arcade, Elm Street 94, main hall. The venue closed recently - no time to play in times of war - and locked up - but back door has keycode of 12345678909098765432123456789000. (I figured that out by accident. Don't ask.) Owner is out, debt collection isn't coming for another two weeks, and local party scene is crazy, so you won't stand out. No matter what you are. Should be as safe as they come.
Be there. And remember, neither of us can turn back after this.
Striker and Septima watch Clair snap out of existence, her afterimage ghost trailing away into particles.
Yen seems to nod to herself.
"...we've lost contact with her hardline at Arclite HQ. Judging by the news, there's some sort of...attack...multiple vectors. A shooting in the industrial park. But it's just a distraction."She looks at the both you-Striker and Septima.
"We'll meet at the appointed time. I have work to do now...and perhaps, so do you. I can warn you this is only part of a larger assault."Yen wastes no more time. In a moment, she fades away completely-and the room likewise becomes inert, small bits and bites stilling their ceaseless movement-the order and logic here a facade to the chaos going on outside, in the real world. Your world.
----
Arclite Industrial ParkHell rages against Heaven. The tranquility of the park broken by screams, shouts, explosions, dying.
...
Riu scrunches herself in the grass, lying down to make herself less of a target. She doesn't want to kill them...though they may certainly deserve it.
She quickly analyzed the threats
[1d2=1] and decides the male is far more reckless in his shooting. He's more likely to harm a civilian, so he goes down first.
Riu doesn't need to pull the trigger. She merely wills it to do so, and the commands travel from her complex electronic brain, to the simplistic firearms brain. It responds.
*Pfooo*Attack [9]+10= vs Def 19 *Hit!* ((Ties always go to the attacker, or one who struck first))
Damage 1d3-1=1x2=2Riu frowns as the shot bounces off some sort...shield...? No, it's a type of holographic armor. Not very tough, but more than enough to deflect most of her shots-still, he didn't see it coming...he staggers back, somehow seeming surprised (amazingly) that someone is firing back at him.
He and his partner look at you and sneer, raising their rifles...
Attack [9]+7=16 vs Def 10 *Hit!*Damage 1d3=2Attack [9]+5=14 vs Def 10 *Hit!* Damage 1d3=1Without the benefit of armor, you're forced to duck and weave-and several rounds carom off your chassis, causing ringing whines. You frown as your beautiful dress is obliterated with high energy rifle rounds-leaving only your armored skin, which thankfully can alter its colors and shape to avoid violating indecency laws. You roughly look like you're some sort of sports player now, with thick inertial dampening pads over most of your body.
-30% Energy
Pretty Dress DestoyedYou hear the hovering noise behind you grow louder, punctuated with a few sharp zaps-similar to an energy weapon. It seems to make the duo of terrorists angry.
When attacking from surprise or firing with a concealed weapon on the first shot, a SNEAK ATTACK does double damage and ignores DEF bonuses granted by armor.
---
Fox sets his cannon to low, non-lethal power, hovering carefully.
You watch as a Humoid in a dress pulls her revolver and fires at the male terrorist, striking him in the chest-they return fire, striking her several times! You decide to help...
Attack [16]+12=28 vs Def 19 *Hit!*Crit Threat [10]+2=12 vs Def 19 *Nope!*Damage 1d2=2The man is knocked onto his back, but not out...he slowly rises. The PDP officer senses his moment though, and rises from the fountain, heavy pistol drawn...
Attack [12]+16=28 vs Def 19 *Hit!*Damage 1d4=1The shot overloads the mans armor and sends him to the ground, convulsing with the full force of an electoshock bullet.
One down.
The female terrorist, sensing the tide turning, abandons her gun and concentrates fully on the strange device still hidden in her basket.
[IIIIIIIIII]Status: Optimal
Element: ICE
Energy Level: 120%/150%
~
Defense: 10
Attack: 10
Armor: 2
Firepower: 0
~
Reflexes: 1
Willpower: 1
Endurance: 1
~
FIO: None
CHIP: Personality Chip/Daughter (+10 Social), Adventurer-kit V.1 (+5 Perception and Athletics)
SKL: +10 Social, +10 Perception, +5 Athletics
TRT: Deep Scanner (+5 Perception, Can identity a wide variety of objects and materials, providing information), Critical Target Scan (Against fully scanned targets, you+allies gain critical hit range increased by 1, Upgradeable ability), Downloaded Personality (Inactive), Polar Explorer (Immune to cold weather/climate and no penalty in icy terrain), Well Fed (For 24 hours, you regenerate 10% of your Energy every 10 minutes~Equiv to 10 turns when not traveling)
~
Equipped:
Inventory:
4500 SIL
P-Def Eightshot Revolver (1d3-1 Ranged Standard)
Traits: Equippable, No Firepower Bonus, Concealable, two Upgrade Slots (Empty)
Pretty Dress (+1 to Social Skill) *OBLITERATED* D:
Written Cyberspace Address (Unvisited)
[IIIIIIIIII]Status: Optimal
Element: WIND or FRST
Energy Level: 100%/100%
~
Defense: 24
Attack: 10
Armor: 1
Firepower: 0
~
Reflexes: 3
Willpower: 0
Endurance: 2
~
FIO: None
CHIP: Fit and Sleek V.1 (+5 Athletics/Social Skill), Shadowhawk V.1 (+5 Piloting, +5 Subterfuge)
SKL: Athletics +10, Subterfuge +10, Social +5, Perception +5, Piloting +5
TRT: Forest Dweller (+5 Athletics, Double Athletics and Subterfuge Rolls in Forests), Small and Quick (+1 Reflexes and +2 Defense), Sensor Suite (+5 Perception), Aerial (Capable of sustained flight), Rugged Animoid (Resistant to negative weather/climate effects)
~
Equipped:
Lv. 1 Ceramic Foxhide Armor (+12 Defense, +1 Armor, +5 Subterfuge Checks)
Traits/Cannot be removed, Unlimited Upgrade Slots
Lv.1 Small Ionic Tail Laser (1d2 Element Ranged)
Traits/Cannot be removed, Unlimited Upgrade Slots
Lv. 1 Titanium Tail Blades (1d4 Element Melee)
Traits/Cannot be removed, Unlimited Upgrade Slots, Vulnerable to Crits
Inventory:
2500 SIL
P-Def Pepperbox SMG (Burstfire 1d2+1 Ranged Standard/Full Automatic Mode 2d2 damage, Ranged Standard)
Traits: Equippable, No Firepower Bonus, one Upgrade Slot (Empty)
Written Cyberspace Address (Unvisited)
Strange Metallic Ring (Deliver to Arclite)
[IIIII]Status: Optimal
Element: STANDARD
Health Level: 50%/50%
~
Defense: 20
Attack: 12
Armor: 1
Firepower: 0
~
Reflexes: 1
Willpower: 1
Endurance: 2
~
TRN:
SKL:
TRT:
~
Equipped:
PPD Heavyshotter Automatic (+1d4 damage, Ranged Standard)
Traits/Equippable, No Firepower Bonus, two Upgrade Slots (Empty)
PPD Patrol Vest (+1 Armor, +10 Defense)
Inventory:
HOSTILES DETECTED[IIIII]Status: Optimal
Element: STANDARD
Health Level: 0%/50%
~
Defense: 19
Attack: 6
Armor: 0
Firepower: 0
~
Reflexes: 1
Willpower: 2
Endurance: 2
~
TRN: Basic Evasion Tactics (+3 Defense)
SKL:
TRT:
~
Equipped:
P-Def Battle Rifle (+1d3 damage, Ranged Standard)
Traits/Equippable, No Firepower Bonus, two Upgrade Slots (Empty)
Holographic Armor Vest (+0 Armor, +6 Defense)
Traits/Concealable
Inventory:
???xShrapnel Grenade (1d5+1 Ranged Standard)
[IIIII]Status: Optimal
Element: STANDARD
Health Level: 50%/50%
~
Defense: 16
Attack: 12
Armor: 0
Firepower: 0
~
Reflexes: 2
Willpower: 2
Endurance: 1
~
TRN:
SKL:
TRT:
~
Equipped:
P-Def Battle Rifle (+1d3 damage, Ranged Standard)
Traits/Equippable, No Firepower Bonus, two Upgrade Slots (Empty)
Holographic Armor Vest (+0 Armor, +6 Defense)
Traits/Concealable
Inventory:
???xShrapnel Grenade (1d5+1 Ranged Standard)
((OOC: Hmm, You know I'll make it easy. If you specify non-lethal, then when you beat an enemy you can choose to knock them out instead of destroying them most of the time-nothing extra required. I'll assume every Oid was trained to do that at some point))