Taric TaiserviJump up onto the drone and tear it apart!
[1] - Taiservi, worn out by exertion, pain and the cold, falls to his knees. His skin feels numb, his senses dying in the cold. He finds himself unable to move, unable to do anything else than stare at the Assault Drone hovering a few metres up the lake from him. [5] Perhaps a human opponent would see this and have mercy, or atleast let the bounty hunter have his last breath of life, but the simple machine has no such problems. [Dodge:1-1=1] The drone moves closer, the heavy industrial laser set in its fragile chassis humming and whirring as its powered up. Taric closes his eyes, feeling the heat of the weapon brush away the coldness in his bones. It reminds him of home, the cold season finally giving away to the hot. There's a faint click as the drone gains a perfect lock between Taric's eyes. Even if he'd try to escape now, it would be too late. Taric does nothing but waits.
[Damage:199+60=259] He doesn't feel a thing. The laser lights up the blizzard-torn landscape, and Taric's body, down to his knees, disappears in an eyeblink. The heat melts the ice beneath it, vaporazing several tonnes of liquid water beneath. What little remains of the bounty hunter's body sinks to the depths, never to be found again.
In a ship hidden inside the blizzard high above, the Black Baron frowns slightly. He looks at the files open on the dataslates on his desk and deletes them with a flick of his wrist. He quickly forgets about it. The Baron has more important things to think about than just another potential operative lost.
Taric TaiserviHP: 0/75
Equipment: First Aid Kits (4/4)
Funds: 16,000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: 'The Black Baron' (Old Regime)
+Look, there's no point anymore... I don't know why you want to kill this guy.+ Akhain paused, before mentally grinning. +Oh, I forgot... Glorious, GLORIOUS money... I knew there was a reason I became a Bounty Hunter. Kosh is giving a sermon right now, and damn is he charismatic... almost more charismatic than money, which is scary.+ Akhain let himself be guided to the Father. "Most humble greetings, Father. I come offering to you my services... Many people aim for your life, and seeing as how we share our old allegiances, I thought that I could help you. Akhain Gazhorn, at your service." He bowed, or knelt down, whichever is appropriate. +I'm thinking of trying to get him to accept me into service as a body guard... Even if it doesn't get me close enough to him, I should be able to access his private rooms to deal with him, giving you a target to level, yes?+
Execute Plan 'Get-Kosh-to-Trust-Me-So-I-Can-Kill-Him-For-Money.' With special emphasis on the money part.
[3] - It's impossible to tell what Father Kosh is thinking when he listens to the bowed Bounty Hunter's heartfelt speech. Most of his audience doesn't seem too convinced - hostile whispers and suspicious questions go around the chamber. He finishes, but Kosh doesn't dignify him with answer just yet. A silence descends upon the chamber. The anticipation in the air can almost be felt.
+Uhh, yeah, we don't particulary care what you do with him, Akhain. I'd suggest you do kill him to retain a good reputation with the Republic, though.+ Jinan says.
+Be careful. This guy is smarter than he looks.+Finally, Father Kosh breaks the silence. He speaks with a voice full of warmth, and Akhain once again feels a strange draw towards him. He reminds himself of the money involved, steeling himself. He'll do what is necessary, even killing this... harmless old teacher. Why had he ever thought of him in another way?
'That is good to hear, Akhain. The Family can always do with new believers in these troubled times.' he says gently. Akhain feels himself nodding at the words. It is good people can feel themselves part of something, especially in this chaotic and violent age. 'You may undergo the Initiation as soon as our sermon is finished, if you so wish. Please, feel free to take a seat in the front row.'
The bounty hunter finds himself swelling with pride. Chosen for what must be an important event so quickly! He takes a seat as near to Father Kosh as he can. The old man returns to his platform and continues from where Akhain interrupted him.
[5]
+Akhain? Are you feeling alright? I'm seeing some weird activity in your brain. What's going on?+Hmph. The bounty hunter frowns. Why is the annoying little voice interrupting his enjoyment of the sermon? Perhaps he should let Father Kosh know about the devices in his brain, so he could... wait. Akhain blinks hard. No, he sure as hell isn't feeling alright. [2] He tries to avert his gaze from the Father and block out his words, but finds himself quickly reassuring his mind that it's alright. Jinan repeats the question, sounding more insistent and worried.
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 ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Father Kosh (Old Regime)
Stealth mission, huh? I might need to grab some more info.
Study the datacube for mission intel. Head to the black market and search for anything stealth-related.
[1] - Systar walks over to the datacube, then stands a good five minutes trying to remember how these things are used. Eventually, he gives up, heading online for the black market sites instead. [4] Systar looks through their stealth gear, organizing it all into a list for himself to use.
Flare Gun [3000¤] [1 Ammo Clip: 450¤]
A pistol that stuns targets with an extremely bright flare. Stuns for 1d4 turns. Can hit multiple targets. 1 Shot Per 'Clip'.
Zuche 4 Railgun [10 000¤] [1 Ammo Clip: 1500¤]
A high-tech marksman's rifle beloved by gun nuts and mercenaries all around the world. Comes with a reactive targeting device which calculates the exact point to shoot for the owner. 1d100 Damage at All Ranges, -1 to Enemy Dodge. 1 Shot Per 'Clip'.
Zuche 13 Gravity Trap [2000¤]
A small grenade which generates a short-lived gravity field which can be used to imprison targets in place. Stuns for 2d4 turns. Can hit multiple targets. Grenade.
Zuche 20 Shock Mine [2000¤]
A non-lethal device that paralyzes those unfortunate enough to go near it. Stuns for 2d6 turns. Can hit multiple targets. Mine.
Zuche 15 Tracking Drone [2000¤]
A small robotic drone that follows the designated target from afar. Widely used by the secret police of the old regime, now officially outlawed. Follows targeted enemy.
Zuche 3 Cloaking Device [8000¤]
A machine that provides the user with short invisibility, though only to the plain eye. Cloaks for 1d6 turns. 6 Uses. Device.
SychTech Gas Grenade [4000¤]
A technically outlawed grenade that releases a fast-spreading cloud of deadly gas. Spreads easily with wind, so gas mask recommended for user. 2d20 Damage every turn in cloud. Grenade.
Aurora TU06 Smart Trap [9000¤]
A variant of the Smart Bomb, this immobilizes with a gravity trap instead of killing. Stuns for 1d12 turns, follows targeted enemy. Cannot hit multiple people. Explosive.
SystarHP: 75/75
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: Boka yl Vsiri (Crime Syndicate)
Gao frowned. What the hell were these things? He wondered if his friend had any idea. Well, they would have plenty of time to talk it over when the things were defeated... and speaking of that, it seemed like they wanted to be close-quarters. Gao could live with not wasting ammo and switched over to his blade, taking a swing at the one in the welding mask.
[6] - Gaosaron draws his Mechanical Blade and crosses the distance to the masked alien with one giant leap. He crashes into the small creature, [Dodge:5] but it's sturdier than it looks and slips out from under the bounty hunter, [1+3=4][Dodge:5] executing a clumsy upwards slash with the welding torch that doesn't even come close to hitting.
[6+1=6] Tarur has no intention of going to melee, [Dodge:4][Dodge:1] and scores a perfect hit on the second alien with his Shotgun. [Damage:39+15=54] The fragile thing goes down trailing blood, bouncing down the corridor like a ragdoll. It looks almost comical.
[1+3=4] The first alien tries another strike at Gao, [Dodge:5] but in vain. The bounty hunter takes a single step back, [2] but sees no chance to counter-attack and freezes in place.
[6] Before they can continue, there's a scream of sheer agony and heavy gunfire from somewhere around the corner. The alien throws a worried look back, seeming to forget all about its opponents.
AlliesJust ahead of GaoTarur RatrikHP: 66/75
Equipment: Flechette Shotgun
(8/10), RUS9 Incendiary Grenade (2/2), RUS8 HE Mine (1/1), Thermal Blade (7/8)
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed Aid,
NovaCore Analytic-Reactive Augmentation,
FocusedFaction: Bounty Hunter
In front of Ratrik, Close RangeUnknownHP: 17/25
Equipment: Welding Torch
(4/6)Known Perks: Utterly Fearless,
DistractedFaction: Unknown
---
Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 67/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(5/7), 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
Actions: Search for new jobs!
Call up my weapon contacts and order four more clips for the Aurora revolver and two more clips for the Widowmaker-also, call a cleaner that can wipe the gun of any physical or digital trace of Fashuk.
Attach the Analytic-Reactive Targeting System to the clean Aurora Revolver.
[1] - 971 tries to open his inbox, but can't seem to connect online. Useless government networks, they're never reliable. [3] While he's waiting for the machine to reconnect, 971 calls through his contacts but has similar luck. Everybody is either busy or not replying to him. Finally, he tracks down Two Silvers, a ganger with some experience with this stuff. Even in his rebel days, he could never fully bring himself to trust the ganger. But there are no other options. 971 calls her in.
[5] His black market friends are more reliable, and soon there's a package with four Aurora clips and two Widowmaker clips waiting on his doorstep. He pays the 3300¤ and takes the ammo. The weapon aug is surprisingly easy to use, and he fixes it against the Revolver. It hums silently as it begins calibrating itself for the gun.
After a while, Two Silvers appears on his doorstep, looking very out of place in the Old District. She grins widely when 971 opens the door. 'Ehh, you're doing pretty good for yourself. Hero of the Revolution and all that. So, where's this gun?'
Subject 971HP: 75/75
Equipment: Flare Gun (3/4), RUS8 HE Mine (1/2), Widowmaker Shotgun
(4/7), Thermal Blade (5/8), Aurora Revolver w/ Analytic-Reactive Targeting System
(5/6)Funds: 6650¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed AidFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Look up that Drug drop off point by the River, See if there are any particularly tall, nearby buildings he can park himself ontop of, But otherwise just try to bring up Maps
[2] - Barauc's search for a good map proves somewhat frustrating. He can't find anything else than blurry sat photos meant to be used for entire districts. [1] What he can decipher from them isn't very reassuring either. The drop-off point is inside a fenced storage area, very large and very open. How whoever's supposed to pick up the drugs gets there, he has no idea. They probably bribe the guards or something. Hopefully he can do the same.
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: 6000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Baseba yl Eos (New Regime Police)
After picking up her new equipment Loria places a call to the PI requesting a meeting regarding the job posting she saw earlier. She keeps an eye on the news until it's time to leave for the meeting, in case something important pops up.
[4] - Loria calls the private investigator, who arranges a meeting in some expensive club in the Old District. He mentions that there are... alternative ways in if she can't afford entrance. Seeing that she's still got some time, Loria turns on the news.
[6] Smuggler activity is on the rise, meaning more guns and equipment flooding to the black market and through them to the criminal underworld and you. Prices should be going down for a while. A Sikhet Federation diplomat has been killed by Habiri gangers, and there are the usual reminders that the Republic is working to get crime back under control, along with a vague promise of a major action soon by the Republican Guard commander. A 'mad doctor' of the Old Regime has been caught hidden on a freighter in orbit. The text under a video of him, starving and dirty, translates as 'oh, how the mighty have fallen!'.
Looking through alternative channels, Loria comes upon a few interesting tidbits. SychTech has announced they've made a breakthrough in 'copycat' tech and will begin mass production as soon as possible. This could mean an end to the monopoly on shapshifting gear by the Rudk, though this new stuff will no doubt be as illegal as the alien version. They're bound to arrive on the black market sooner or later.
The Sikhet Federation has decided against granting citizenship to sapient, human-level or above AI's. The legal battle for it had raged on for over a year now, but the new laws basically make AI's below organic sentients. The same debate continues on other worlds and nations, and this may affect their decisions drastically to either direction.
[3] She closes the news and leaves for the club. It's located on the outer edge of the Old District, and looks like a palace more than any club Loria's ever seen. She approaches the doors, but then remembers the private investigator's warning. The entrance fee is 1500¤. It might be best to get in some other way, but getting caught trying that would get her thrown out for life or shot to death - you never know with these kind of places.
LoriaHP: 75/75
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14), Zuche 13 Gravity Trap (2/2), Flare Gun
(1/1), First Aid Kit (7/7)
Funds: 4300¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
---
Taric, you did even worse than on my first try. 200 damage is the max for that Laser. You got 199, plus the bonus from a critical hit. Auch. >_>
And wow, triple post. Nice.
Author
Topic: Nowhere To Run - A Futuristic Bounty Hunter RTD - Turn 51 (Read 88157 times)