May the dice be with you tonight, lads.
You are Elesh Phryx, rogue techpriest and captain of the Sword-class frigate 'Sword of the Omnissiah'. As your ship slowly holds orbit around the shipyard Belius Airus, it is slowly joined by the thirty fire ships at your disposal to destroy a deadly pair of Slaughter-class cruisers. With a heavy heart, you realize that you've just been given thirty machine spirits to send to their doom against ships three times their speed.>last time, on Privateer Quest!"There is one chance at Tortuga surviving this, Elesh. I've converted thirty transports and raiders into fire ships. I need a commander for this force, willing to lead and defend it until the slaughter-class cruisers are forced to move and prevent the force's 'escape'. Only with those menaces crippled or destroyed will the dynasties mount a defense instead of fleeing, and even then it will be a hard battle." Magos Banks' synthetic voice manages to carry the weight of your task."And I am to support the attack when it happens?""No, if you have done your job... you'll either be crippled or forced to flee the system. I can offer full ownership of 'Zephyr Spirit' as your payment. She'd be making the run with the fire ships to escape regardless...">orders?
previous thread:http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/19375689/archives:http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Privateer%20Quest>will be cleaning up the image folder of PQ's stuff for a few minutes, so early questions may not get answered immediately.
>>19401128Heading north with the fire ships is probably the best idea. Leaking chatter about one of the transport ships having relics or rich loots might lure in the cruisers but we have to be careful what we say is on it. Might lure in more than we need.
>>19401187care to MSpaint a course upon the map?and who will you "leak" this information with? Belius Airus? Versoni Station? >updated Elesh stats/info
Cut right through the escort up there. I believe the transports are armed and am assuming it's not tons of escorts. Have Belius Airus leak that info I guess.
>>19401256noted.Will wait ~20 minutes for others to show up and vote/suggest other plans if they like.
>>19401310That would be wise good sir.
>>19401256also, you are starting @ Belius Airus, not Vesoni Station.Updated cargo distributions on both 'Sword' and 'Forge'
>>19401397Hmm. Slow start.
>>19401397In that case, pic related.
"Confirm on open channel that we've loaded the cargo and are beginning our run for the system edge. Be sure to thank Magos Banks for trusting us with such treasures."Your bridge springs into action as Athe and Teris struggle to maintain communications and formation information between your ill-fated fleet. On the third hour of travel, Kelly joins the pair in their struggle for the upcoming course changes. 'Dominion' watches your bridge thru the pict camera installed within his skull's. As your fleet approaches Tortuga Prime and the choice of rounding the gas giant toward or away from the slowly encroaching renegade fleet looms, the skull's small text feed slowly scrolls a message: "Are you sure that you're a pirate?">Round the gas giant toward or away from the enemy main fleet?>West/Left = toward, East/Right = away, toward Versoni Station's defensive range>respond to 'Dominion'?
>>19401594Let's go around the "west" side of the gas giant. We're supposed to be fleeing the system, so it would look rather odd if we turned inwards towards the star. You know, act like we haven't noticed the cruisers yet and we're just taking the most direct path out.And maybe going up against a Chaos fleet isn't our best decision ever, but we're still very much a pirate.
>>19401677Agreed. Where is everyone?
>>19401712
>>19401677Seconding.If we go to the East, the escorts might get to us before the cruisers do.
"Bring the fleet around the dark side of the planet. Make course for the second moon." Some part of you is unnerved by the tone of your own voice, though your cogitators quickly crush the slightest hints of fear from your flesh brain.Five long hours pass as you watch the renegade force's far escort squadrons turn and begin an intercept course with your small fleet. Though 'Sword' and the five transports that will make their escape easily outgun either squadron, you can't help but wonder if the skeleton crews upon the fire ships will give away your trap. As you contemplate sending one of your escort fire ships to sacrifice itself the closing squadrons, your augers note well over a dozen engine flares as part of the renegade fleet breaks toward your force."Inform the fleet to prepare for combat and offer prayers to the Omnissiah if they wish.">Enemy fleet assets closing!>6 raiders (Escort Squadrons) 2 hours distant>16+ raiders (from main fleet) 3 hours distant>Slaughter-class cruisers lingering>Enemy main fleet on course for Belius Airus
derp...>Orders?>Engagement orders for fire ship raiders? (there are 4)>Engagement orders for fire ship transports? (there are 26)>engagement orders for 'Sword' and 5 escaping transports?
>>19401925Well this doesn't seem to be working very well...As the token heretic in the thread, I suggest we open a communications channel to the Chaos cruisers and offer to tell them which ships are fire ships and which are safe to board/capture in exchange for free passage out of the system along with the Zephyr Spirit.
>>19401996this is viable, if you trust them not to kill you anyway
>>19402014>if you trust them not to kill you anyway>ifWell, that's pretty damned big if.
>>19401996Rot in the Eye, Chaos scum.>>19402014I certainly don't.>>19401925Comparative strength between the enemy forces moving to intercept and our own fleet?
>>19402077As far as I can tell, there's just us and five transports. And 30 fire ships.
>>19402077Your Fleet:'Sword of the Omnissiah''Zephyr Spirit' & 4 other transports (objective: ESCAPE)4 raiders (fire ships)26 transports (fire ships)All ships have at least 1 macrobattery of varied quality, only 'Sword' and the 5 escaping transports have warp drives.Incoming enemies:6 raiders (unable to identify at this range due to their close formation)16+ raiders (unable to identify due to range and close formation, formerly part of Main Fleet)
>>19402134I vote we destroy the six raiders about to intercept us, and make best speed towards the cruisers. If it looks like we won't make it towards them before the 16 other raiders reach us, go with this anon's suggestion. >>19401996No use dying for a bunch of cut-throats and Rogue Traders who won't even commit their cruisers to the fight.
>>19402190how will you destroy the 6 raiders?guns? fire ships? ramming?either way, you'll need to change course with all or part of your force to do so, as they're currently on course to overtake your fleet from behind.
>>19402255>they're currently on course to overtake your fleet from behindWell, fuck.I suppose we could let them overtake the transports and just let them do their thing. Shoot at them as much as possible, and just accept that a few of the fire ships may be destroyed. I feel like if we turn around to fight them, there's no way any of the fire ships will make it to the cruisers before the whole fleet surrounds us.
>>19402330On the other hand, the transports have exactly 0 hope of catching the cruisers if they don't want to be caught (speed 3 vs speed 9. You do the maths), and if they see transport ships blowing up, they will avoid close contact.
>>19402330... so what do you suggest?
>>19402490I see that we have 4 raiders converted to be fireships. Just how powerful are they?Would they be enough to damage the cruisers if they got through? They might have the speed to make it past this swarm of Chaos escorts.
>>19402490>mfw we're the only warship not packed with explosivesI'm honestly drawing a blank. We're so hopelessly outnumbered if we try to fight the raiders, and there's no way for the freighters to outrun them.Leave them to their fate and flee the system?
>>19402621-any- fire ship automatically inflicts d3 FIRE! critical hits upon any ship caught within the blast radius of D6 Void Units, in addition to also having her Plasma Drives explode.Raiders caught in such a blast are automatically crippled and take an additional critical hit.The raiders in particular host two weak macrocannon batteries, but they are faster than the cruisers and still explode brilliantly
>>19402691Shall we continue our fake comm chatter ruse, then?Have two fire ships hang back so that the approaching raiders will intercept them. Meanwhile, send a message on open channels asking for a few volunteers among the freighters to stay behind and hold off the raiders so that there others can escape. Order them to "self destruct" if boarded, to cover for the explosions of the fire ships.Continue on course towards the edge of the system and the cruisers waiting there.
can I get 2D100 rolls?1 for shooting1 for lucklow is good for both
rolled 83 = 83>>19402799Shooting.
rolled 30 = 30>>19402799rollin' for luckEmprah preserve us.
>>19402813Goddammit. If we survive this battle, the gun crews are getting servitorized.
"All ships, set course for the two cruisers. Fire ships, may the Omnissiah guide your paths and bless your timing."The first squadrons of raiders drive across the rear of your formation, striking true and crippling the engines of one of your actual transports. Though two of the renegade ships are crippled and one is left burning in the void, you still curse their luck to have targeted a ship that could have escaped. As one of your fire ships breaks formation, an encoded channel crackles to life within your thoughts. "Omnissiah's speed, Captain Phryx. We'll deny the prize. 'Luna Dear', out."'Luna Dear' soon joins her crippled sister transport as they are encircled and pounded by the remaining three renegade ships, though the fire ship waits to lure her attackers in before vanishing in a bright ball of light.>cont
The larger group of raiders drives deep into your fleet, though both sides fail to focus their firepower effectively, one of your fire ships manages to ram an enemy ship on an attack run, detonating the raider's drives and her own. A handful of ships are lost to the twin explosions, though it is difficult to determine individual contacts in such close quarters while your weapons batteries fire wild volleys and desperately attempt to avoid striking allied vessels. For an hour the battle rages as the renegade raiders swarm within your dwindling fleet. By some miracle, your crippled fire ships continue to fight on as your fleet closes on it's true target, each crew fighting on in the hope that their sacrifices won't be wasted. One of your true transports is not so valiant as a raider collides with her and renegades begin their grim work upon her cargo of slaves and refugees. The crew's cries for help end only after gunfire roars over their voices. You notice several of your bridge crew have gone white-faced, despite the speed with which you'd muted the communications from the cowards."Enemy cruisers coming into combat distance, Captain. Shall we send the escort fire ships after them or perhaps have the transports scatter into smaller groups to confuse the enemy? Are we making our escape straight at them?" Athe does a wonderful job of masking the fear from her voice, but her mutual white-knuckled grip with Kelly's hand betray her true feelings.>orders?
>'Sword of the Omnisiah' @ 30/35 Hull Integrity, 95% Crew, 90% Morale>'Zephyr Spirit's armor has held against all hits>2 transports remain>3 raider fire ships remain active>14 transport fire ships remain active>14 enemy raiders remain
>>19403080Time to break formation. Make it look like the convoy has panicked and is dispersing. With luck, a few of the fire ships will get close enough to the cruisers to do their work before the raiders can catch them.If the Zephyr Spirit is still intact, see if we can escort her out of the system. If not, just make our escape. Either way, we need to get out of here before the cruisers can bring their guns to bear on us.
3D100 rolls for fire ship luck (specify high/low for your roll!)2D100 for shooting (low=good)2D100 for luck (low=good)
Quite night?
rolled 43, 22, 83 = 148>>19403240lets go raider fire ship luck, Low.
rolled 33, 64 = 97>>19403240shootingmoar dakka, etc.
>>19403273one at a time, please.
rolled 40 = 40Rolling for a shooting.
rolled 94, 86 = 180>>19403240now shooting.
rolled 93 = 93>>19403240First roll for luck.
rolled 13 = 13>>19403240luck
>>19403311>>19403303>extremely bad and extremely good luck rollsDohoho.Tzeentch is toying with us again.
rolled 37 = 37Fire ship roll most foul.
rolled 95 = 95>>19403240Low for boom.
"Scatter the pack. Fire ships are to cause as much damage as possible if they can't reach the cruisers!"'Sword of the Omnissiah's laser batteries lash out at nearby renegade ships as the void surrounding her erupts in a storm of massive explosions. While your transport fire ships drive hard toward the cruisers, a pair of your escort fire ships narrowly escape the blast radius of their sister as they move to flank the beasts. As the suicidal ships are swept away one-by-one, Teris throws herself toward the Navigator's dais. "We may need to risk a jump in the gravity well, Captain!""Prepare but don't go until the fire ships have their chance!" you bellow, eyes fixed upon the augers as the leading slaughter-class strikes down one final fire ship before the others detonate within optimal range. Moments later the final escort fire ship drives herself into the trailing cruiser before detonating against her. As you make for the system's edge, both cruisers emerge from the fading explosions trailing massive infernos as their atmosphere vents and burns in the void.>cont
"The trailing cruiser fired!" cries Athe, moments before your void shield vanishes and 'Sword' is rocked by a trio of impacts. "Damage repor-" You nearly bite off your tongue as a blinding light slices between your dorsal batteries, rocking the ship as meters of armor plate and bulkheads are reduced to glowing slag or their base elements. It is all you can do to compensate for the kinetic impact of the lance strike's energy as a final impact tears into the root of your ship's bridge tower. Atmosphere violently pulls at the void suits of your crew as loose debris tears into consoles and suits alike.Only Teris can manage a yell above the deafening whine of stressed metal threatening to fail. "Captain! Permission to risk a warp entry?" >'Sword of the Omnissiah' @ 7/35 Hull Integ, ???% Crew, ??? Morale>Bridge damaged!>No other components damaged!
>>19403876>Permission to risk a warp entry?Go for it. We're doomed if we stay here, so there's nothing to lose in trying a jump.
>>19403876Yeah, we can't do much else without risking getting hulked. We best boogy out of here.
>>19403922Gird your loins gentlemen!
>>19403876Fuuuu-I knew we should have sold out our allies to the Chaos fleet. Oh well. Hope the Gellar field holds up.
dare you roll 3D100 for the journey?no high/lowsimply event chances.
rolled 31 = 31>>19404002First roll. It's not like I like my eyes or anything...
rolled 65 = 65>>19404002Lets get this boat in motion lads!
rolled 48 = 48>>19404002Pic related?
This may not be the best time to bring it up, but does Elesh love or have deep feelings for Athe, or is it more a weak flesh urge that we sleep with her.
>>19404205I don't think that is my call, SO A VOTE IS IN ORDER!
>>19404205If by "love or have deep feelings for" you mean "you require additional waifus!" and by "weak flesh urges" you mean "4chan always wants fapping material" then yes, yes indeed.Or am I just being too cynical?
>>19404205Clearly Bob is Elesh's true love. On a more serious note, I don't really care if she does or not. Make it random unless you have strong feelings either way.
It's just that Machine spirit puts in little bits like Athe holding Kelly's hand, hugging Athe with our drites when she cried, or the whole vacation thing I just thought that it may be story relevant not just little bits of "development"
>>19404205In case you haven't noticed, Elesh is terribad at the whole "normal human emotions" thing.
>>19404417Than vote yes she does and it will be so!
'Sword of the Omnissiah' is all too eager to escape an early death, the mighty ship's spirit activating the gellar field and warp drive before Teris' grizzled fingers even touch the activation runes. Though the ship's metal form protests with a symphony of unholy sounds, it holds true as gravity's grasp fades. With great care you release your vice-like grip upon 'Dominion's skull, securing it within your robes as you filter incoming damage reports with your cogitators. Your dear ship is in poor shape, though her vitals and cargo were blessed with the Omnissiah's protection. A massive, glowing hole marks the location of a lance hit that nearly cut your ship in half, flanked by several massive craters along your port side where your armored plating barely clings to the hull. Soon doctor Noble is fretting about your bridge, tending to the flesh of the wounded as you tend to a damaged auger console. "Casualty report, if you would, doctor.""The only wounded are on the bridge, mostly, captain. Most of the casualties were likely killed instantly or died shortly after when the compartments lost atmosphere. This lot is minor injuries at worst." The man's perpetual smile has faded, as has his strangely chipper attitude. "I'd estimate casualties at 29% crew or so, Captain.">cont
By the time you've repaired the stricken auger console, an exhausted Teris is replaced at her dais by a second navigator. "Captain, I'm afraid we're on a warp current that I couldn't pull us from. I believe we'll end up being swept toward Serentus, though we may not be able to exit the current at that point." The woman staggers slightly, prompting a nearby crewman to assist her. "It is my belief that 'Zephyr Spirit' and possibly one of the other transports has been swept with us as well, and we should be able to slow enough for them to join... join us." Your chief navigator forces a smile at what passes for good news, though you know she is troubled and exhausted. "Take your leave, Teris. You must remain functional."As you leave the bridge in the hands of your operational navigator, you find Athe standing beside your quarters. "Kelly and Bob took a bit of debris, so they're waiting their turn on the medicae deck. I thought you... could use some help, with your void suit.">orders?
>>19404205I think the best way to interpret it is that Elesh's organic brain has feelings for Athe, but her cogitators regard that as a weakness of the flesh. In the end, love is probably not the right word, but there's more to it than just Elesh got really drunk on vacation and fucked one of her officers.>>19404657>I thought you... could use some help, with your void suit.Athe isn't exactly gifted in the arts of subtlety, is she?
>>19404733Athe is exceptionally skilled at being subtle and unnoticed in a crowd.less so with words.a yay/nay or two would be nice, folks
>>19404819It would be unlike us to refuse.So yay.
>>19404819Between those two I will go with a yay then.
>>19404819Lesyay.
You raise an eyebrow at your XO's strange behaviour, but leave your quarters open for her to follow. In short order you've removed your voidsuit and carefully returned it to the proper cleaning rack and have begun inspecting your mechadendrites for any unnoticed damage or foreign objects, removing several with Athe's aid. "We were lucky, Elesh. We should have run from the start." grumbles your XO."We did what was needed to save our port of call."For the remainder of your mechadendrite inspection you reject Athe's displeasure at your recent actions, though some part of your mind suggests her worry is simply manifesting as such. Eventually you complete your inspection and step into the cramped space of your shower. The warmth of the water soothes your weary flesh and cleanses the finer details of your mechadendrites of accumulating filth, but is cut short as the sealed door is opened."No more stupid heroics!" is the last coherent statement from Athe for several hours, until she lazily studies your bionic arm with her soft finger."Elesh, I... I'm Inquisition.">That's all, folks!>usual Q&A>special message to follow!
>>19405202>"Elesh, I... I'm Inquisition."That certainly explains why the Sisters are so trusting of her.Also, damned good thing we didn't switch sides and sell out to Chaos during the battle.
Unfortunately, I'll be unable to run Privateer Quest next week due to travel and work. I couldn't pass up a chance to work on an XP-82 for a week>Next thread will be on TUESDAY, JUNE 18th @ 7:30-8:00 PM EST>Be there or be somewhere else! It's not like I care or anything!
>>19405202What a shocking surprise that I did not at all have any suspicions about since we heard about her backstory. Clearly, the Inquisition is living up to its reputation for being absolutely unexpected.On the bright side, she's at least subtly-inclined, and possibly radical, so there's that, which combined with her admitting it to us... Well.
>a few minutes later"By the Emperor, you'll believe anything, won't you?" laughs Athe. "...I could get used to that."You offer little resistance as your friend rolls you atop herself and pulls your head to hers. "One more."
>>19405331You say such silly things, Athe!Or did she realize that it was a mistake to blow her cover like that and is trying to pass it off as a joke?Oh paranoia, why do you stalk me so?>mfw
>>19405409It's 40K, there is no paranoia, only "Just as I suspected! I must be missing something..." or "They're even more cunning than I thought!"Personally, working for an Inquisitor was the best idea I had as to how she ended up serving on a pirate vessel while still keeping good ties to the SoBs.
