Taric TaiserviKeep going.
[2] - The ice cracks and fragments as Taric moves on. It doesn't look good, but with the drone so near, he doesn't have any other options. Not being to actually see it only makes it worse. The bounty hunter advances with careful steps, testing each direction for the strongest section of ice. But he's bound to make mistakes, and with the assault drone so near, he miscalculates. The ice cracks and [6] Taric performs an amazing feat of acrobatics to avoid plunging into the depths.
Then the buzzing explodes in volume, [4] and Taric listens carefully to figure out the direction it's coming from. [Dodge:4-1=3] He hears the unmistakeable sound of an energy weapon firing up and hits the ground - cracking the ice partially in the process. The drone's programming calculates his path, [Damage:16-60=0] and a high-power laser lights up the storm. It instantly vaporizes several tonnes of ice and water. An enormous cloud of steam envelopes Taric, but the laser continues on its track. The bounty hunter runs, cracked ice be damned.
[2] Taric only gets a few steps in before the laser wipes out the ice below him and plunges him into the icy water. He knows he can't survive in this temperature, [3] but has let his swimming skills get somewhat rusty. He feels himself sinking deeper and deeper, and the panic jolts his mind back to the instructions of his youth. Taric slows down, and then begins to climb back up. Adreline dulls some of the pain, but not all. It's like nails biting deep into his skin all over his body. Taric can't keep his eyes open no longer.
He keeps going up, hoping to reach the surface before he freezes to death, drowns or suffocates. Naturally, just when he thinks he's getting out, his head smashes into a thick layer of ice above his head. In time he swam back up, the opening above closed up.
[5] Taric bangs on the ice in desperation, trying to break it up. His mind is numb from fear, and his punches seem to have no effect. The water's slowing him down, and he knows he'll die here, trying to fulfill the training of some Old Regime psychopath.
Then the ice breaks, and Taric is breathing fresh air once more. [Damage:31] He's far from unharmed, though. The bounty hunter is beginning to hate this world. He looks around and realizes he's not far from where he started, still near the middle of the lake.
[4] The buzzing is still coming from somewhere behind him, though. It's impossible to tell if it thinks he's dead yet, but better not stay around to find out.
Taric TaiserviHP: 44/75
Equipment: First Aid Kits (4/4)
Funds: 16,000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: 'The Black Baron' (Old Regime)
Retreat, head towards my target, keeping my Cloak up to avoid any further fanatics.
[3] - Akhain spends the next fifteen minutes heading towards the end of the badlands, having to stop to evade patrols every two minutes. He doesn't make too much progress like this.
Yet another patrol appears, this time led by professional-looking soldiers. Gazhorn's seen a few of them before, scattered throughout the area and supporting the much more numerous fanatics. This man is dressed in standard Old Regime fatigues plus a camo cloak hung over one shoulder. He looks down at something with a focused expression.
[6] 'Wait.' he says, holding up a hand. To Akhain's horror, he looks up and fixes his gaze straight upon him. The soldier smiles dryly, clicks a bair of thermal goggles into place and brings up his Carbine.
'Found you.' he quips, [6+1=6] and pulls the trigger. [Dodge:1] The superaccelerated volley of bullets races towards him, each slamming into his body with a sound much like the lash of a whip.
[Damage:12+12=24] Akhain collapses, much to Jinan's dismay, monitoring his status from far above. He gaps for breath, watching blood drip down onto the ground. [6] Then he's on the move, drawing the Thermal Blade with an animalistic hiss. [Dodge:3+1=4] The soldier bends his body back and the Blade flashes by above. [1] He slams his foot up against Akhain's, sending him stumbling back. [6+1=6] He follows up with a quick upwards slash, flipping out his Combat Knife with an air of disinterest.
[Dodge:6] Gazhorn isn't that easy prey, though. The combatants face eachother, while [2] the rest of the patrol watch with weapons lowered, not wanting to hit their leader by mistake.
EnemiesTheodore yl SalvationHP: 40/40
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(13/14), Combat Knives
Known Perks: Veteran TrooperFaction: Old Regime
---
Akhain GazhornHP: 48/75
Equipment: Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6), Zuche 20 Shock Mine (4/4), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14), Thermal Blade (8/8)
Funds: 500¤
Known Perks: MultiVision Ocular Modification,
InvisibleFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Father Kosh (Old Regime)
Get to the second level and jump out a back window. Run like hell back to my room, and tell the contacts they can kill him themselves.
[1] - Systar walks towards the stairs, keeping his gaze fixed on it. Naturally, that's why he doesn't notice a broad-shouldered human in guard uniform before he literally bumps into him. [2] The guard seems just as surprised as he is. [4] Systar [Dodge:1] cuts his stomach open with a quick move with the Blade. Blood and guts spill out, [Damage:19+12=21] and he falls back screaming. Systar runs over him while several shrill alarms ring out the area. He runs faster than ever before.
[6] The world simply becomes a blur. If any guards stumble upon his path, he doesn't see them. He feels like he's lost control, somehow. His body is strained to its limits.
And then he's outside - running straight through a second-floor window [1] with several jagged fragments getting imbedded in his skin. [Damage:29] Auch.
[2] Systar lands heavily, but his invisibility protects him from the guards. He begins dragging himself down the street, brushing the broken glass out of his eyes.
There are no further troubles. After several hours of cautious travel, he arrives back at the hotel and checks for any messages. The worker there looks at him oddly, but he thinks nothing of it until he opens his door and find his hotel room occupied by a squad of Republican Guards and a horned alien in an oddly-shaped trenchcoat.
[1] 'Oh, fuck.' Systar thinks aloud. Then the two more soldiers behind him grab him and slam him face-first against the hotel room floor.
'Indeed.' the alien growls from above. Systar feels his foot against his back. 'How good of you to join us, Systar. I'll spare you the cliche of a hard way and an easy way, but those really are your options. Do sit down.'
At that, the soldiers pull him up to his feet and then push him into a chair. They begin tying his hands and legs.
'So, do you want to co-operate?'
SystarHP: 46/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade
(4/8), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), Gravity Trap (2/2), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (3/6)
Funds: 28,800¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Gao frowned. "Damn thing," he sighed. Who would put a good security system on a guide robot? Seemed like a waste of money to him. Nevertheless, he moved to continue following it, but kept his eyes and ears open for any enemies.
[5] - Gao opens the door with the Pass and decides to try again. The drone returns to its original position in the lobby.
'We'd like the tour.' Ratrik says. The drone lights up and repeats the recording again. They follow it back to the laboratory wing. With the door open, it moves inside as if nothing had ever happened.
The Laboratories seem to be in perfect condition, oddly enough. Everything seems to be in place. [6] 'These look like they've been used recently.' Tarur notes, picking up a medical instrument Gao doesn't recognize. The drone explains more about the brave men and women of the corporation and their achievements, moving down the wing. Gao spots several doors ahead, leading to different sections of the wing - Refinement, Holding Area and Testing Chambers. [1] The drone heads for Refinement, but all the doors should open for Gao's Security Pass.
[1] Before they can choose, there's a groan of bending metal and the hiss of burning from behind the Testing Chambers. The bounty hunter pair tense and fix their weapons on the door. Nothing happens, and after a while, Tarur tries the door.
'Won't open. And that hell as sure wasn't natural. Be ready.'
Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 75/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(6/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, NTT Inferno
(26/26), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(13/14), Guard Security Pass, Low-Level Security Pass
Funds: 25,450¤
Known Perks: NovaCore Electronic ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Action: Signal Makahu to keep the enemies head down with some covering fire.
I fire my widowmaker at the nearest close threats.
[4] - Thankfully, Makahu seems to understand sign language, atleast mostly. He lacks a weapon capable of suppressing fire, but snaps off a shot towards [1][Dodge:4] the tattooed guard, but misses.
[4] 971 continues, dropping to one knee and opening fire on the nearest guards. [Dodge:3] He catches the first by the shoulder, [Damage:31-12=9] but it only seems to piss him off. [4] He counters with a Widowmaker blast of his own, [Dodge:3] mimicking 971 with the bodypart hit. [Damage:23-12=11]
[6] The tattooed guard returns fire at Makahu, [Dodge:1] ending his streak of good luck. The shot catches him in the heart, [Damage:19+12=21] and it shows. Makahu staggers back, looks at the hole in his chest and dies.
[4] Another close guard fires at 971, [Dodge:1][Damage:11+12=23] and he really regrets not getting to cover. There isn't really any where he's standing. [4] The first shoots for a second time, [Dodge:5] but the blast smashes through the wall of the stone building behind 971 instead.
[6] Time for payback. [Dodge:3][Damage:24-12=12] The first guy staggers back, but not dead. [6][Dodge:2][Damage:37] With the second, 971's luck is much better. She dies instantly.
This position isn't really good. 971 is left very exposed, which isn't healthy when in a firefight. He needs to rethink his strategy before he runs out of luck.
Enemies:Behind the last car, Long RangeUnknownHP: 30/30
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(5/7), Thermal Blade (7/8)
Known Perks: None
Faction: Sikhet Federation
In front of the nearest car, Close RangeMichelHP: 9/30
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(2/7)Known Perks: None
Faction: Sikhet Federation
1 Other at Long Range, In Cover.
3 Others inside the apartment, Not In Range.
---
Subject 971HP: 41/75
Equipment: Flare Gun (3/4), RUS8 HE Mine (1/2), Widowmaker Shotgun
(4/7), Thermal Blade (5/8)
Funds: 1650¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed AidFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Fashuk's Files
Purchase 4 clips for the Railgun, Revolver and Carbine, Pack High Power Visor, Cloaking Device, Railgun Revolver and Carbine. Do some research on the Chief of Police
[6] - Barauc's purchase arrives soon enough. He pays with cash, all 12 000¤. [4] Preparing to leave, he packs the Railgun, which he has 8 shots for, the Cloaking Device, [6] the Revolver (10 clips) and the Carbine [3] with its seven clips. Atleast he's not running out of ammo in a while.
[3] Yl Mocht didn't leave that much out, but Barauc looks through Baseba's records regardless. Top of his class, tech specialist. He's old regime, but cares little for politics. Some say the new government can't really stop him from doing anything he wants due to his popularity. Barauc's employer already gave him his usual schedule.
Barauc Na'ShalHP: 75/75
Equipment: Zuche 4 Railgun
(1/1), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14)Funds: 8000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Loria gets to work, firing up her computer and getting up from the bed. This is a new apartment for her - she's been forced to change homes due to the fall of the regime. Without her pay-check, paying the rent soon proved impossible.
She opens a news site, her inbox and a black market provider. Time to start her new job.
LoriaHP: 75/75
Equipment:Funds: 15,000¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
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Was this turn somekind of fucked-up black magic ritual? Nearly everybody lost twenty-something HP.
Author
Topic: Nowhere To Run - A Futuristic Bounty Hunter RTD - Turn 51 (Read 86734 times)