Taric TaiserviDo as he says, Kill the pilot (Or convince him to fake his death) then pilot the shuttle towards the ship.
[3] - Taric acknowledges and drops his hand to his blade, but the pilot isn't deaf. He springs up from his chair [2] and crashes into the bounty hunter. Taric falls over and the pilot runs towards the end of the shuttle. [5] Taric raises the Carbine and fires a burst at the man's exposed back. [Dodge:1+1-1=1][Damage:27+12=39] He's ripped apart by the volley of super-accelerated bullets. His body is carried on by the sheer kinetic force of the hits and slammed against the far wall. [1] His body hits the control panel and opens up the landing ramp. The pilot's body is taken by the winds and dragged inside the blizzard.
[5] The bounty hunter closes the ramp remotely before anything inside can be damaged and turns to the controls. They seem pretty simple, with the shuttle computer doing most of the work. Taric orders it to dock into the Baron's black starship. The systems are disrupted by the raging storm, but the shuttle manages to find its way inside the bigger craft soon enough. Taiservi spares a quick glance at the hangar outside before unlocking the ramp. He spots a few personal grav-gliders and two transport hovercraft, but otherwise the hangar seems to be empty.
Taric walks up to the ramp, letting it fall. Half a dozen uniformed soldiers are waiting for him, led by the alien from the comm channel. Well then.
Taric TaiserviHP: 75/75
Equipment: Zuche 4 Railgun
(1/1), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(13/14), First Aid Kits (4/4), Thermal Blade (6/8)
Funds: 16,000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: 'The Black Baron' (Old Regime)
Akhain GazhornGazhorn nodded and headed to the area. "I know the routine. Thanks."
Step into the area and get the implant.
[2] - Akhain slips inside the alcove and settles in. The machinery around him begins to light up, mechanical arms and medical instruments detaching themselves from the walls. They begin to whirr and buzz somewhat worryingly. Two syringes hover above his forehead for a while before moving apart and sinking inside his arms. It hurts like hell, but the drugs take effect before he can even open his mouth.
He thinks he'll be knocked out, but soon realizes that's not happening. Akhain tries to move himself in panic, but his body is completely paralyzed. The bounty hunter is trapped inside his own body, fully conscious but unable to feel or do anything. He watches the whirring blades and strange medical instruments move around him in seemingly random patterns. He sees from the corner of his eye a laser, coming closer and closer.
Then it cuts into his skull. Several of the devices strike in tandem, digging into his head. Akhain can't feel any of it, but knowing it's happening is already bad enough. He can't even close his eyes or turn away. Fear wells up inside him. So many things could go wrong. An error in the computer overseeing all this, and one of those blades would sink a little too deep inside his head...
The nightmare continues on for what seems like an eternity. The surgery bots continue working on his brain, installing the prototype comm implant. Finally, they pull back, and the syringes push some other drugs inside his system. For a moment, he thinks it's not even working, that he'll be stuck in this state forever. Then the alcove opens up and he feels control returning to his body. The first thing he does is scream, and roll out of the medical alcove and onto the floor. Jinan appears over him, carefully pulling him up to a sitting position. She says something, but Akhain can't focus enough to listen.
A few minutes later, the bounty hunter explains what happened in explicit detail, letting it all out in one long breath.
'Fuck.' Jinan replies. 'Oh, shit, I'm so sorry. These bots are designed for human use, but I thought you were... y'know, human enough. Oh God.'
She continues her frantic apologies for some time. Then she seems to remember something.
[4] 'Well, umm. I suppose that now that thing is there... we better see if it works. Hang on.' [3] Akhain's abruptly starts hurting even more. He feels like someone's hitting his skull with a hammer repeatedly. Then Jinan's voice echoes clearly inside his head. It feels strange, as if she was behind him.
+Are you getting this? Try to answer. You may need to close your eyes.+[4] After a while, Jinan nods. 'Good. Let's hope there aren't any further troubles with it. Now, I'm guessing you still want to get to your destination? Though,' she adds, wincing, 'I do understand if you feel the need to get the hell off before I accidentally kill you somehow.'
Akhain GazhornHP: 75/75
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 ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Father Kosh (Old Regime)
SystarNo time for these assholes.
"I lost my key- can you get me in?"
Say that, then dash off. Go around and head in the roof entrance after losing them.
[2] - 'I lost my keys-' Systar starts, but is stopped by an abrupt fist to the ribs. He falls to his knees, gasping for breath. [1] The guard then raises his baton, but hesitates. That's all the bounty hunter needs. [3] He gets up and breaks into a run.
[7]vs[6][6] The guards follow. Systar turns and heads down a bridge connecting different parts of the building complex. The pair stay on his heels, roaring orders to halt and calls for others to stop Systar. [3] Nobody seems too interested in stopping him, but a few manage to get in his way nevertheless. He pushes them over and moves on.
[3] The bounty hunter makes a tricky jump to a lower level, screwing up the landing and falling over on his back. He nearly breaks a bone or two. He thinks the guards won't follow, [6] but the first leaps down and makes a perfect landing just a few metres from him. Where do they train these people?
He begins to advance on Systar, [1] but is distracted by his friend attempting the same, missing the edge of the platform and falling screaming down the side of the skyscraper.
EnemiesBy the edge of the balcony, Close Range
Juthkor
HP: 30/30
Equipment: Shock Baton (5/5)
Known Perks: None
Faction: Security Guard
---
SystarHP: 75/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade
(5/8), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), Gravity Trap (2/2), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (4/6)
Funds: 28,800¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
GaosaronGao grimaced and shifted uncomfortably. "I imagine I do," he responded, continuing to move about and try to work the soreness and stiffness out of his muscles. The worst part about an injury wasn't the moment it happened; it hurt like hell, but in his experience adrenaline and survival instinct was enough to block the pain out. No, it was after he'd had some rest and all the chemicals had been flushed from his system. That was when the wounds hurt the most, almost sapping the life and energy out of him. His injuries were bad now, but they weren't the worst he had ever had, and he felt he could do the job.
He followed the giant to the car and got in on the passenger side. "So, what have you been up to lately?" Tarur asked, and he thought about the question, mainly about where to start at. The last time they had met had been on a ship orbiting one of the planet's moons, a corporate espionage job. Gao's job had been to get in and get the data; Ratrik's had been to watch his back. The mission hadn't gone as smoothly as he had hoped, but they practically never did since it was impossible to plan for every eventuality. In any event, the job had ended with a blown up cruiser; a necessity to escape with their hides intact.
"Well, since the Olivarin job I've been keeping my head down." He didn't think the company knew who had hit them, since no heat ever came down on him, but it was better safe than sorry. "I've mainly been doing jobs outside my area of expertise. An armed escort here, guard duty there. The job I pulled yesterday, what got me these, was hunting down a beast attacking a factory. Thing was a real son of a bitch, too, all teeth and claws. It almost got away from me, but I managed to bring it down before it could get back to the main floor and maul somebody else." He shook his head and rolled his shoulders. "I don't know, man. I never saw that animal before. It was probably an escapee from some crime lord's collection or something."
[3] - Ratrik listens to Gao, commenting with nods and 'mhhm's at a few points.
'That reminds me of a job I once did on a little world called Mnenost - ever heard of it? Well, yeah, we went in with a group of boys from the local militia or whatever, to investigate and wipe out this nest of giant critters some rich idiot introduced from off-world. There we were, stuck in some run-down transport in the middle of the hottest local season. There was that Gritari fellow, a pair of inexperienced and triggerhappy humans, your buddy Nahak and a few others. We thought this would be an easy job, so we didn't take much gear with us.'
Tarur guides the aircar towards the starport, continuing talking on the way.
'So, about mid-way to our destination, a swarm of these creatures appears, grabs the lead transport - the one the militia used, poor bastards - and chucks it through the air. The whole thing. Then they begin ripping it apart while it's still on the ground until we scare them off with a few 'nades. We get the few surviving militia out and continue on foot.' Ratrik grins. 'See, nobody bothered to tell us these were gene-engineered beasties, actually sentient and whatnot. We exchanged a few words with our employer, who told us the rest as well. He'd talked about a dozen at first, but now he revealed there was atleast thirty. Yeah. At this point, the remaining local boys got scared and claimed they didn't want to kill sentients, so we had to let them go.'
The aircar slips inside a landing platform. Tarur lands and steps out, checking his watch. [3] 'Oh, damn. Well, long story short - we still went in without support, and found the things - all claws and teeth, but they could also fly - and killed them all. We blasted at the nest with this gigantic mining laser a few times to make sure they stayed dead, and got the hell out. Only a few of us died, which I still think is pretty strange. Guess we got lucky.'
Ratrik leads the other bounty hunter into the mess of private hangars and platforms, somehow navigating his way to the correct one. The freighter is your standard cargo transport, straight from the production lines. The engines are already running. The captain, an overweight, nearsighted human, only handles landing and communicating with starport officials. He speaks briefly with Ratrik and the two of you get in. A few minutes later, the ship is in the air. It shuts closed for space travel. There are no windows, so it's hard to tell where the ship is.
Tarur checks his weapons before turning back to Gaosaron. 'This might take a while. Better make yourself comfortable.' He looks around a bit, looking for something softer to lie against. The back of the freighter is full of containers, and the small space they're stuck in, between the captain's quarters and the back, is much like a small, metallic cell. Tarur seems to realize this after a while.
'Ehh. So, you've been on this planet longer than me, right? Is it a good place for work?'
Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 75/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(6/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, NTT Inferno
(26/26), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(13/14)Funds: 25,450¤
Known Perks: NovaCore Electronic ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Subject 971Actions: 971 immobilzed and quickly relieved the man of all his weaponry. If the man resisted, he'd come down with a bad case of broken neck.
Then, he gives him a choice-his files or his life. Count to ten, and kill him if he doesn't comply or tries to negotiate terms.
If he does agree, kill him anyway, then call in Dalia. Then get moving, to claim the files, before Fashuks allies figure out he's dead and move to get it themselves.
[3] - Fashuk doesn't resist much when 971 disarms him. After he's sure he's stripped the man of everything, the bounty hunter takes a sitting position on his back and adopts a more conversational tone.
'I wasn't paid to kill you... I need information. Your files. Tell me where and how I can get them, and I'll let you go, once I have them. Your financial information would be nice, as well. What use is money if your dead? Do what I ask, otherwise I kill with your own gun and leave you to rot, then go find them myself. Deal?'
Fashuk hesitates. 'I'll give you ten seconds.' 971 says, pushing the Revolver against Fashuk's skull. [3] 'Look, I'd need...' he starts. 971 clicks off the safety on the gun, shutting him up. Fashuk takes a deep breath.
'Alright. They're in an apartment downtown. The password on my computer is 'Coezes'. [6] I'll tell you the address, just don't kill me.' he begs. 971 marks down the street and stands up. The arms smuggler looks up with pleading eyes and a slightly hopeful look.
'Thank you, th-' he starts, but is stopped by 971 foot in pressing against his windpipe. He lets his weight fall fully on that leg, and hears a satisfying crack of bone. 971 wipes his foot against the man's shirt and calls Dalia.
'I've got Fashuk, and am heading for his files. Send a clean-up team to my location.' 971 says, and Dalia acknowledges it. He waits for the commander to get a fix on his location and then leaves. He checks a map of the area online - the apartment is on the far side of the district, right at the bottom of the hill. It's hard to tell from this map, but there seems to be a lot of open space around Fashuk's little villa. He can't see any obvious ways in undetected from it, but surveying the area from closer could help with that.
Subject 971HP: 33/75
Equipment: Flare Gun (3/4), Zuche 13 Gravity Trap (1/1), Aurora Revolver
(5/6)Funds: 1650¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed Aid,
Hard To FocusFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Fashuk il-Maldas (Sikhet Federation), Fashuk's Files
ZaraNo time I have to get somewhere I can hid, thought Zara as he runned towards the sewer entrance there he could hide, adn rest his wounds. Once he got into the sewers he would hide, and use his medkit to patch up his wounds then return to his base.
[1] - Zara paces back and forth in hesitation. The Guards run into the room, then stop. [6] The horned one points out the blood on the floor from Zara's wounds. The bounty hunter is sure he's smiling inside that helmet. [3+2=5][Dodge:4+2-1=5] Zara drops low just in time [5][Dodge:3-2=1] and [Damage:34+12=46] the man goes flying, his armor ripped apart by the nearly point-blank range hit.
[4] Zara runs towards the river exit, [6+2=6] and the second guard fires after him, [Dodge:5+2+1=6] but the shots go wide. [3]vs[1] The Guard doesn't even try to follow, and Zara rushes out of the building. Then he realizes he really should've killed the river guard from earlier.
[1+2=3] He sees the door open and fires, [Dodge:2+2-1=3] catching Zara by surprise and [Damage:28-12=16] sinking a volley inside his ribcage. Zara is thrown off his feet and crashes face-first to the ground. The pain is unbearable, and more and more dark blood gushes out to the ground. Unable to raise his head, the bounty hunter drowns in his own blood. The last thing he sees is the foot of the Republican Guard he so foolishly spared, slamming inside his skull.
BurrowCheck the news site, the news of these fleshbags might have some useful information.
[4] - There are four job offers available for Burrow.
Number one comes from
a hidden sender, and it seems impossible to track him or her down. It doesn't mention a target or the bounty, only asking him to meet with the sender in some park in the Old District.
The second was sent by
a major gang boss of somekind, who wants Burrow to track down an escaped pit fighter slave. The bounty is only 5000¤, though.
The third is from someone Burrow knows works for
the so-called Sikhet Federation. One of their agents has gone missing, and they need someone to track her down and give her some package, or take her out if she's gone rogue. Payment is unmentioned.
The last one seems to be a straighforward corporate espionage job for
Damish yl Mocth, a bigshot of somekind in the criminal world. He's looking for people to help and protect an agent of his, and offering 10 000¤ for anyone who succeeds. The target is the heavily-guarded database of some big company in the Financial District.
BurrowHP: 75/75
Equipment: Funds: 20,000¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
---
Umm, wow, adwarf. You spare someone, and die because of it. But hey, look on the bright side! You got to be the first actual player death!
I'll let Riccto know he should submit a character.