Akhain GazhornTake myself a stroll, going around the area where the villa is located. Try to survey the area, see if there are any defenses/traps that could be taken care of in advance, or merely note them down. Basically, more intel gathering while being stealthy.
[1] - Akhain marks the villa's location down - just on the city outskirts - and calls a cab. While waiting he receives a message from Systar, attached with some bits of info on Boka Akhain hadn't found out himself. According to the other bounty hunter, Boka's security is lackluster - some cheap private security firm, ex-police at the most. A few inexperienced rent-a-cops are unlikely to trouble the pair much. Of course, he has little to no info on the digital defenses of the place and the quality of the security system.
The bounty hunter also includes a request for 'reimbursement' for acquiring forged ID - Akhain's not sure what that's about, presumably for access to one of Boka's famous parties. To keep up the illusion, either Akhain or Jinan's people should make the call and provide the cash, if needed.
Akhain walks out as the cab arrives - and is hit by volley of heavy armor-piercing Golgo rounds, the driver wrenching the controls away, his scream of surprise carrying through the cab walls. Akhain throws himself to the ground and the cab crashes into the wall nearby. Dragging himself back inside, Akhain looks around the corner to see the source of the fire, which continues booming through the district. Screaming and weak return fire begins to follow - this isn't the best of neighbourhoods, and practically everyone is armed.
[1] Akhain expects a solitary drugged-up ganger, but to his surprise sees a figure in heavy, state-of-the-art full-body armor, two large canisters - of gas? - strapped to his back. He sprays wildly with the Golgo HMG in his hands - probably not a professional. Akhain considers the possibilities. A poor neighbourhood is an odd choice for a terrorist attack. It could still be a ganger, but the armor he's wearing seems to be prototype Zuche tech - hardly the stuff they usually get their hands on. Regardless, it's an unwelcome delay with the job.
Hurid yl BassdromHP: 75/75
Equipment: NTT Inferno
(22/26), Thermal Blade (8/8), Snaplock Pistol
(8/8), Paragon Combat Rifle
(10/10)Funds: 0¤
Known Perks: MultiVision Ocular Modification,
Combat Stimulant PackageFaction: Free Republic
Target: None
Forward what I have on Boka, minus anything incriminating or regarding the Consul. Also ask for a partial reimbursement on the cost of getting an ID from his superiors. Don't mention the source or wanting the data.
Also buy a thermal blade and two grav traps.
[3] - Systar collects any information the intermediary doesn't already have into a convenient file and sends it over, making sure to keep anything even slightly suspicious off. Figuring his fancy ID would go under work expenses, he also asks 'Hurid' to request reimbursement from the purchase from his superiors. That's his job, after all.
He also uses his usual contacts to replenish his stash, purchasing equipment that's served him well so far. The Thermal Blade and Gravity Traps arrive soon with the funds deducted from his account.
SystarHP: 75/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade
(1/8), Aurora Revolver
(4/6), Gravity Trap (2/2), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (2/6)
Funds: 16,300¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Consul Mona yl Vsiri (New Regime), Boka yl Vsiri (Crime Syndicate)
Gao continued to fall back to the opening, taking shots at the thing's laser as he did so. If he could disable that, it was possible he would be safe inside.
[5] - Gaosaron fires as he moves, [Dodge:1] a lucky shot with his Widowmaker ripping across the construct's back. [Damage:37+12=49] The creature howls, pushed back by the force of the impacts. The laser [4] is hit, and erupts in sparks. Gao wouldn't be so sure it's completely destroyed, though. Regardless, he [6] rushes inside before the beast can attack, hammering the door controls on the inside. A thick metal plate slams shut, the ramp detaching. Gao hears the construct slam into the door soon after, but it can't get through. If Gao's in luck, the laser won't come back online anytime soon.
Gao looks around. The labship is a long rectangle, the main corridor going all the way into the cockpit. A spiral ladder on his right leads into what seems to be a floor full of tanks filled with a bluish liquid, surrounded by banks of equipment. He spots a few dead aliens still in the tanks. This appears to be where the aliens were bred before being unleashed on the station.
The AI's voice soon fills the air.
'Please remove my constraints as soon as possible. I will vent this bay and the aliens with it. We will be unharmed.'[5] Gao can't help but to wonder how the AI intends to clear the station. Presumably by venting every single compartment, but the damages that would cause would be severe. Perhaps it would be best to evacuate the survivors and let Ratrik's employer send in a purging force later. And then there's man they left on the medical table - it may be best to contact Ratrik and find out how he's doing with the survivors.
EnemiesBeside the ramp, Close RangeUnknownHP: 40/125Equipment: Industrial Cutting Laser (7/8) Known Perks: Construct StrenghtFaction: Unknown
Leading the survivorsTarur RatrikHP: 75/75
Equipment: Flechette Shotgun
(9/10), RUS9 Incendiary Grenade (2/2), Thermal Blade (6/8)
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed Aid,
NovaCore Analytic-Reactive Augmentation,
FocusedFaction: Bounty Hunter
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Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 44/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(3/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, NTT Inferno
(26/26), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(11/14), Guard Security Pass, Low-Level Security Pass
Funds: 25,450¤
Known Perks: NovaCore Electronic ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
>Lead the man to the bar I was heading for, inspect the place and then buy a drink for each of us. (Don't drink anything too strong, though, since I am going back to work sooner than expected, it seems.)
>Quiz him about this cop, ask what his sister looks like and where she might be being held, all that relevant information.
[1] - Kaviv tries to get the man to come with him, but he's drowned out by the frantic crowd. It pushes him forward and he loses sight of the man. With shouting and gesturing at his guns, Kaviv eventually manages to drive the crowd away - but as the people wander off, the youth is nowhere to be seen. Kaviv curses. Looks like he'll have to backtrack and find him again if he wants this job, or try to find out who the corrupt cop is on his own.
Kaviv OtoliHP: 75/75
Equipment: Aurora Revolver
(6/6), Frag Grenades (4/5), First Aid Packs (6/6), Widowmaker Shotgun
(6/7)Funds: 5000¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
>Palm the revolver and get close enough to get a sneaky shot off, Hopefully drowned out by the roar of the crowd
[4] - Fumbling, Barauc takes a step back and pushes his hand inside his coat. He strides forward and then pulls the pistol out - there's no way anyone missed that, though - and fires. The high-power revolver booms through the arena, carrying above the howling crowd. [Dodge:5+1-1=5] But his hunter is faster, showing no fear or surprise, but rolling forward and [2+1=3] springing himself at Barauc. [Dodge:6-1=5] Barauc sidesteps and prepares to fire again, [3+1=4] but his opponent doesn't stop, turning his forward movement to the side and sending a heavy fist towards. [Dodge:1-1=1] This time, Barauc has no time to jump free. The fist smashes in just below his ribcage, [Damage:4+2=6] sending him stumbling back.
Barauc keeps his hold on the pistol, focusing his pain into wrath, and regains his balance. [3] He raises the pistol and fires again, the heavy blast drawing booing and screaming in equal amounts from the audience. [Dodge:6+1-1=6] His opponent moves like fluid again, being out of harm's way at unnatural speed. He smiles, reaching for his Thermal Blade.
In the corner of Barauc's eye, the two other combatants fight undeterred by the gunfire, [3+1=4]vs[5+1=6] the enemy pit fighter [Dodge:3-1=2] pummeling Barauc's teammate with rapid punches and kicks. [Damage:2][4+1=5][Dodge:1-1=1][Damage:5+2=7] Another attack, powered obviously by the man's implant, sends him staggering back. [1+1=2][3+1=4] He counters with a heavy punch, [Dodge:3+2=5] but the faster opponent slips away, [3+1=4][Dodge:3] and sends the brute reeling back with a solid kick on his feet. [Damage:3-2=1]
---
EnemiesCharging towards the Brute, Close RangeUnknownHP: 25/25
Equipment:Known Perks: Hardened Fighter,
Expert Pit FighterFaction: Pit Fighter
Other side of the arena, Close RangeGneix yl SessilleHP: 25/25
Equipment: Thermal Blade (8/8)
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt Pack,
Trained SoldierFaction: Bounty Hunter
Charging towards the Fighter, Close RangeSemsonichHP: 30/40
Equipment: Known Perks: Monstrous Strenght,
Hardened FighterFaction: Pit Fighter
Barauc Na'ShalHP: 29/75
Equipment: Zuche 4 Railgun
(1/1), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6), Aurora Revolver
(4/6), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14)Funds: 5000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Judge Tegarr (New Regime)
Lower the gun, but don't drop it. Wait and listen as he makes the call. Be prepared to shoot if he makes the wrong move.
[4] - Mr. Gray seems satisfied, keeping his gun up as he moves inside. Loria and Teodosio follow. He closes the door to his bosses' office as he passes it - Loria momentarily smells burning flesh and has to fight against gagging - and walks over to a comms terminal at the end of the corridor instead. He motions Loria and the PI to stay at the other end of the corridor.
[6] The calls is picked up quickly enough. The call is audio only, and the pair can hear only fragments and Mr. Gray's side.
'Yeah, it fucking well is a tragedy.'
'...right, right. I just find it a little bit suspicious that you'd give my boss for free something that would then undergo an 'explosive malfunction', just like that. Uh-huh, sure it's a coincidence. You got anything to back that up?'
'...what do you mean by that, eh?'
'Damn right I'm angry. I want a fucking explanation, okay?'
It continues like this for a while, Mr. Gray getting steadily more angry. Eventually, there's a pause, and he begins shouting, getting off an impressive litany of swearing into the comms system. Then he bashes down the disconnect button and mouths yet something more obscene. He walks back up the corridor with a sneer.
'What the hell, right? We have rules, in this, in this fucking business. And then, then you get these stupid offworld pricks who turn up, kill your boss and then tell you to fuck off - just polite. I miss the times I didn't have to work with these bastards.'
He pauses his tirade and shakes his head. 'Okay, I still don't trust you. But I'm just saying... for a price, I think I could give you the keys to a guncutter out back and the location of the offworlder. You could wreak some nice havoc with that thing... big guns and everything. Totally outside the sort of business we do, but hey, I don't know what you'd do with it.'
[3] Loria glances into the private bay behind the office through the windows. There's what appears to be a makeshift gunship, a transport aircraft with a grenade launcher strapped to it, sitting in the hangar. Full frontal attack, especially this indiscriminately destructive, might not be the best of ideas with the results the pair want, though - and that is if they could afford it.
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LoriaHP: 35/75
Equipment: Miniaturized Pistol
(5/5), Sharp Knives (2/2)
Funds: 4300¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Mille Roskank, Anthony
Look for some low end mercenary work, and browse the gear I can buy and what I already have
[3] - Kilksa fires up his computer and goes through minor merc offers going around. He discards long-term offers and focuses on single jobs.
First, a ganger boss called 'Three-Cogs' is looking for someone to
eliminate the people sent after him, offering 5000¤ for the deaths of four agents of his rivals and a Republican investigator. He resides in the Industrial District, and he wants them dealt with cleanly and quietly.
A bunch of escaped convicts have holed up in the sewers under the Habiri District. The syndicate that used to work there is
looking for help with clearing them out. A reward of 8000¤ is split between whoever survives. The staging area for the operation is topside in the District.
The third offer is from
a rich industrialist who wants someone to hunt down several people in an abandoned junkyard, of all places, and filming everything. Looking around, Kilksa learns the man is known (or rumoured, as nothing has been proven) for hosting hunts for 'the most dangerous game', letting hired killers loose on kidnapped captives who try to escape in various locales. He's offering 10 000¤, with bonuses from undisclosed sources.
There's a variety of black market sources and smuggler depots Kilksa could purchase from. The wealth of different options means he would have to specify what he wanted to buy, from implants, to mission intel, or even straight-up hired mercs.
---
KilksaEquipment: Funds: 20 000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
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I replaced your Incendiary Grenade with the Grav Traps, Toaster, but feel free to choose whatever configuration you want for your gear.
adwarf, your starting gear is at the Foreign Mercenary part of
this post.
Author
Topic: Nowhere To Run - A Futuristic Bounty Hunter RTD - Turn 51 (Read 88533 times)