Akhain Gazhorn+Yes, I'm interested. Send me the details, and the fake identities. Do we have any information on who this outsider is?+ Akhain nodded, pacing. Once he got the details, he would head on his way to... Where-ever he needed to go. Straight to the mission, basically.
[5] - +
That's good to hear,+ Jinan says. After a moment, you receive an encoded transmission that rapidly unpacks and installs itself. She continues shortly afterwards. +
The outsider's a human, though not on our payroll. He's made somewhat of a name for himself off-planet. Calls himself Systar. We can't find his real name on the records. Owes no particular allegiance to the Republic, and we're pretty sure he may have been involved in the escape of an Old Regime general last week. I'm sending you the address of his hotel now.+
Akhain goes over the files and digital database rewrites - they look like fairly solid, professional jobs. He has a choice of two apparently real people already embedded in Republic files. The first is a government special agent called Hurid yl Bassdrom, tasked with working as an intermediary between Systar and the Republic - this also hopefully ensures he doesn't immediately ask the people who hired him about Akhain. The second is a defected human calling himself Bravo who used to work for Boka, attached to Systar to help him plan his assault. The files contain villa blueprints and other information to help with this role.
Once Akhain has determined the other hunter's plan, he'll receive further assistance.
[3] Still thinking, Akhain calls a cab and sets him on the way to the human bounty hunter's hotel. Ideally, he will have chosen by the time he gets there.
Akhain GazhornHP: 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: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Systar"See you later, joker."
Apply blade to ganger until dead. Continue to move around building.
[3] - Systar spins his Thermal Blade around and drops it in one smooth movement, [Dodge:2] sinking it in the ganger's chest. There's a nasty sizzling of boiling flesh and blood as he pushes deeper and deeper, a wet gurgle erupting from the ganger's mouth. [Damage:18] In a moment, he stops moving. Systar gets up and moves on.
The front of the church is devoid of any nasty surprises. [2] Systar moves quickly, slipping through the heavy doors, and enters the main church hall. The long space is occupied by trashed rows of chairs and smashed icons, as well as scattered piles of food and ammo. At the far end, two peeking into the side room Systar was in earlier, one [1] looking up just in time to see Systar enter, are the remaining gangers. He lets out a shout of warning and [5+1=6] raises his shotgun, ferociously tugging at the trigger.
[Dodge:6] Systar is already rolling out of the way, hitting the ground behind a still-standing bench row. [6] The bounty hunter retaliates, [Dodge:4] but his quick shot goes wide. Neither side has weapons really effective at this range - but there's plenty of cover in the room to close the distance behind.
EnemiesStanding on a raised dais, far end of the room, Long Range'Thirteen'HP: 35/35
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(6/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, RUS9 Incendiary Grenade (1/1)
Known Perks: Seasoned Fighter,
Trained SwordsmanFaction: Bloodhound Gang
Turning towards Systar, far end of the room, Long RangeRougo yl EosHP: 20/20
Equipment: Snaplock Pistol
(4/8), Golgo Mechanical Blade
Known Perks: Seasoned Fighter,
Terrible AimFaction: Bloodhound Gang
Turning towards Systar, far end of the room, Long RangeUnknownHP: 15/15
Equipment: Snaplock Pistols (2x)
(8/8)(8/8), Combat Blade
Known Perks: Untrained DualwielderFaction: Bloodhound Gang
---
In CoverSystarHP: 34/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade
(4/8), Aurora Revolver
(5/6), Gravity Trap (1/2), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (2/6)
Funds: 18,300¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Consul Mona yl Vsiri (New Regime), Boka yl Vsiri (Crime Syndicate), Bloodhound Gang
Gaosaron"My specialty. Watch my back, OK?" Gao trusted Ratrik to do so as he began the process of hacking through the door.
[6+1-2=5] - Gaosaron moves for the heavy doors, settling comfortably in the corner next to the panel. Then he sets to work. After a moment, the device projects a bright holographic presentation of the system.
The AI strikes almost immediately, but Gao is ready and cuts it off, his implant humming loudly as his hands move faster than the eye can follow. The intelligence comes for another try. [5+1-2=4] Gao makes a quick scan of it to determine its full capabilities - and traps it in a rudimentary file loop, deletes the related files and kicks it off the system. With nothing hampering his effort anymore, Gao pulls up the code effortlessly and the doors groan open.
[3] The duo is greeted by a sweating alien in a security guard's uniform, pointing a low-power stungun their way. After a few moments, he lowers the weapon. Gao notices crude barricades behind him.
'I wasn't sure if anyone was actually coming through,' he says. 'I can't tell you how happy I am to see you. Do you have a ship? We need to get out of here.'
AlliesIn the canteen with GaosaronTarur 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
---
Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 44/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(4/7), 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
Subject 971 and Kaviv Otoli971 felt no sense of satisfaction, as he pulled the trigger once again on the scraggly looking kid...
"...Let's circle around, flush them out of their cover."
Action: Shoot the exposed youth-then, circle around the catwalks, staying under cover and picking off any enemies I see.
Kaviv, still a bit dazed from the whole affair, was in no state to question 971's plan even if he did have another idea. Gripping his shotgun tightly, with the stock resting against his shoulder just like he dimly remembered a couple of his cousins showing him at some point, the young kebab vendor-turned-bounty hunter followed his comrade, ready to put a Widowmaker blast through any gangers who showed themselves.
>Follow along with 971, trying to cover whatever direction he isn't focusing on if possible, and fire on any gangers!
[4] - The bounty hunter team prepares to move on, 971 taking one last shot at the standing ganger. [Dodge:5] He's far away and the shotgun isn't the most accurate of weapons, and unsurprisingly, the shot goes wide. The ganger [3-1=2] seems to get the message anyhow and leaps down from his position with a fearful cry. The pair can hear derisive laughter at him from amongst the machines. For a moment, he seems familiar to 971.
[6] The pair move quickly, keeping to the cover of the railings. Night vision kicks in in their visors as they try to make out the forms of the gangers in the shadows. [5] They move quietly enough to avoid notice, but the gangers don't have the same skill. They make enough noise for an army. 971 spots a bulky alien climbing half-way up a machine, two others holding him by his legs, close enough for their soft cursing to be heard. He motions for Kaviv to follow his lead and takes aim.
[6] 971 targets the ganger held aloft, pulling his Revolver's trigger softly. The targeting system settles into a [Dodge:3-1-1=1] perfect shot that slams into the back of the ganger's skull. [Damage:24+7=31] He doesn't make a sound, but the Aurora does.
[5] Kaviv fires next, [Dodge:5-1=4] but too high, the shotgun blast impacting on metal instead. [3] Return fire comes a moment later, [Dodge:6+1=6] but comes nowhere near the bounty hunter.
[2] Of the two survivors, one decides to split and starts off running down the path between the machines, shouting for help, [6] while the other drops behind a sturdy assembly of gears and long-dead pistons, safely in cover. [5] His trying shot finds [Dodge:1+1=2] flesh with incredible luck, smashing through the light metal plating in the walkway's side. [Damage:10] Widowmaker shells scrape across Kaviv's side and punch holes in his armor.
EnemiesRunning down the pathway, Close RangeTquejot yl GemennoHP: 15/15
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(13/14), Combat Blade
Known Perks: Fast and AgileFaction: Gutter Hound Gang
Behind a machine, In Cover, Close RangeUnknownHP: 15/15
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(7/7), Frag Grenade (1/1)
Known Perks: None
Faction: Gutter Hound Gang
[spoiler=Other Enemies]
4? Gangers at 15/15 HP,
hidden behind the lines of machines, Long Range. ---
Subject 971HP: 57/75
Equipment: First Aid Packs (0/2), Widowmaker Shotgun
(7/7), Thermal Blade (5/8), Aurora Revolver w/ Analytic-Reactive Targeting System
(1/6)Funds: 6250¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed AidFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Gutter Hound Gang
Kaviv OtoliHP: 63/75
Equipment: Snaplock Pistol
(8/8), Frag Grenades (4/5), First Aid Packs (6/6), Widowmaker Shotgun
(1/7)Funds: 5000¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Gutter Hound Gang
LoriaOperating on pure instinct at this point Loria grabs her gun and unloads it in to the guard at point blank range.
[1] - Loria goes for her gun, but it's nowhere to be found. She scrambles wildly around the floor for the carbine, panic rising - [2] but the bodyguard has no better luck, holding his head. He seems too dazed to act. The two spend a few moments in worthless effort until [1]vs[5] the bodyguard gathers his wits and pushes the Flechette Shotgun under Loria's ribcage. She barely has time to blink [Dodge:3-2-1=1] before the man pulls the trigger. [Damage:39+18=57]
There is pain. It wipes Loria's mind clean for a few moments, silencing all sentient thought. Some part of her mind hears her armor shatter, feels explosive bolts enter her skin, feels a terrifying warmness spread through her body from the points of impact, sees the bodyguard's expression turn from dazed triumph to horror and pain as he catches the backlash from an area-of-effect weapon being used at point blank range.
[Dodge:1+1+1=3][Damage:43-18=25] He throws himself back, but it's not enough. The high-explosive darts rip through his torso and detonate, spraying blood and guts everywhere.
Loria drifts into unconsciousness for a second - she hopes it's only that - and comes around with her armor desperately trying to administer emergency sealants and blood-stemmers. She forces herself up to her knees and studies the bodyguard's ruined form for a moment. There's probably no hope of scavenging the implant from that.
A while later, she becomes aware of a message popup in the side of her visor. The contents are simple;
Found anything? I think I've got a lead. Let me know as soon as you can. -TeodosioIt seems the PI has had better luck than her. Hopefully she can explain the firefight and destruction of this apartment, if needed.
---
LoriaHP: 18/75
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(11/14), Zuche 13 Gravity Trap (0/2), Flare Gun
(0/1), First Aid Kit (7/7)
Funds: 4300¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Mille Roskank, Anthony
---
Oh wow, I only know noticed Riccto hadn't actually posted. Ah, what the hell. Less stuff to write. I can't say I didn't give him time, ehehehe.
Theo, congrats on not getting the kill on the bodyguard anyhow.