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Cognis Status:
>Cognis Armour Integrity:45/45
>Missiles:6/6
>Railgun Rounds:20/20

Current Equipment:
>Skypiercer Railgun System
>Apex Combat Laser
>Twin-Linked Heavy Machine Guns
>6 Tube Vertical Launch Missile System
>ECM Suite
>Adaptive Camoflague Plating

Stored Assets:
3 Missiles
19 Railgun Rounds
1 De-Orbiter Strategic payload.

>>40947033
>Hide in the factory and ambush them.

>>40947634
Guess we're going into single player mode for awhile. Hopefully things will pick up as the night continues.

Writing...

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You take up position near the front of the factory between a pile of crates and a pillar. Minutes pass as you watch the sensor contacts flicker on and off, impossible to pinpoint but slowly getting closer. Anya is getting nervous but you shush her questions and focus your attention on the sensor scope. Eventually you see a drone fly through the factory entrance accompanied by an Errant class mech. The Errant is using a stealth system but at this range your sensors manage to detect it and highlight it's possition on your HUD.

There's another mech outside as well, likely the drone controller on overwatch.

[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Cognis Status:
>Cognis Armour Integrity:45/45
>Missiles:6/6
>Railgun Rounds:20/20

What's our first move?
>Attack the Errant with one of the following weapons: Railgun(Roll1d20), Laser(Roll3d20)
>Attack the Drone with one of the following weapons: Railgun(Roll1d20), Laser(Roll3d20)
>Attack the mech outside with the railgun. (Roll1d20 with penalties)
>Hack the drone
>Hack one of the mechs (specify)

Instructions for Anya?
>"Engage the [insert target here]"
>"Focus fire on my target"
>"Lock on to my target but hold fire."
>"Hack the drone"
>"Hack one of the mechs." (Specify)
>Write in

>>40948105
>Attack the mech outside with the railgun. (Roll1d20 with penalties)
>"Hack the drone"

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>40948105
>Attack the Errant with the Railgun
>"Think you could try your hand at hacking the drone, Anya?"

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>40948162
Woah last minute vote. Time to break out the d2.

Writing.

File: Mission_4_P2.jpg (1.26 MB, 4267x2133)

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(Resolving Player Phase)

The railgun is quite capable of penetrating the factory wall but firing on a target with only sensor data and no line of sight is still tricky. You line up the reticule over where you think the target is and pull the trigger. The air in front of you erupts in a line of fire as the railgun discharges. The penetrator blows clean through the factory wall and scores a solid hit on the mechs outside, dealing major damage.

Anya fiddles with her console
"I think I can get control of that drone... managed to isolate the system and... damn, the enemy counter intrusion programs have locked me out. I can keep trying though."
[Hacking Attempt failed.]

(Resolving Enemy Phase, standby)

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>>40948674
(Resolving Enemy Phase)

The enemy response is swift. A third mech you hadn't detected decloaks and rushes forward while firing a crossbow like weapon at you. You feel the impact of what is presumably an explosive bolt on your hull. The drone opens fire as well but fortunately it's only equipped with a single HMG and hardly any of it's shots hit you.

The Errant seems to be equipped with some kind of rifle and combat shield. It manages to gain a lock on you but despite this the shot from it's rifle still goes wide, was probably too excited.

Meanwhile the mech outside starts moving towards the factory entrance.


[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Cognis Status:
>Cognis Armour Integrity:39/45
>Missiles:6/6
>Railgun Rounds:19/20

Enemy Status:
>Errant in range of Laser, Railgun and Missiles
>Drone in range of All weapons.
>New target (Identified as Squire class mech) in range of all weapons.
>Outside target (Identified as Stratus class mech) in range of railgun and missiles.
Missiles require target locks.

Now What?
>Hold our ground and continue fighting. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
>Engage the nearest mech in melee. (Roll 1d20)
>Run deeper into the factory. (Faster movement, harder to hit.)

Instructions for Anya?
>"Engage the [insert target here]"
>"Focus fire on my target"
>"Lock on to my target but hold fire."
>"Hack the drone"
>"Hack one of the mechs." (Specify)
>Write in

>>40949037
Could we skim any knowledge on these mechs out of our head before making a decision?

>>40949037
>Run deeper into the factory. (Faster movement, harder to hit.)
>"Lock on to my target but hold fire."

>>40949109
Off the top of Sergei's head:

Squire class mechs are generally fast and lightly armored. They're designed to creep up on their targets then flush them out. This one seems to be equipped with an electro pike and crossbow. Not particularly dangerous at range but it could shut down some of our systems if it gets into melee.

Errant class mechs are tougher than Squires but not that much so. They're used to bolster friendly forces defences with their scrambler fields. This one is carrying an marksman rifle and tactical shield. Medium threat and potential force multiplier.

Stratus class mechs are missile carriers. DO NOT let this fucker or his drone get a lock on us or he WILL bring the rain.

Rolled 17, 3, 20 = 40 (3d20)

>>40949267
In that case..
>>40949037
>Fighting retreat, laser on the squire
>"Nevermind hacking the drone Anya, shoot it down!"

Rolled 9, 18, 2 = 29 (3d20)

>>40949267
>>40949147
Changing my vote to
>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
Errant with Laser
>"Hack the drone"

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Right then. back to the ole d2

Writing...

>>40949362
You didn't specify a target or a weapon. I shall have to use my discretion.

>>40949494
Wait yes you did...I just can't read.

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(Resolving Player Phase)

You fire the laser scoring a solid hit on the Errant, it manages to negate some of the damage with it's shield though. Satisfied with the damage you back peddle behind an abandoned set of assembly armatures hoping to present less of a target.

Anya continues trying to hack the drone to no avail.
[Hacking attempt failed.]

(Resolving Enemy Phase Standby)

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>>40949702
(Resolving Enemy Phase)

The Squire rushes forward trying to stab the Cognis with it's elector pike. You had anticipated the move and easily side step it. The recon drone and Errant open fire. The Errant flat out misses but while the drone continues to rake you with accurate albiet ineffective fire. It must be embarassing to the Errant's pilot, being out done by a drone.

The Stratus finally clears the entrace and proceeds to do fuck all, probably trying to gain a lock; thank goodness for the ECM.


[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Cognis Status:
>Cognis Armour Integrity:37/45
>Missiles:6/6
>Railgun Rounds:19/20

Enemy Status:
>Errant in range of Laser, Railgun and Missiles
>Drone in range of All weapons.
>Squire engaged in melee.
>Stratus in range of railgun and missiles.
Missiles require target locks.

Our Actions
>Fight the Squire in melee. (Roll 1d20)
>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
>Run deeper into the factory. (Faster movement, harder to hit.)

Instructions for Anya?
>"Engage the [insert target here]"
>"Focus fire on my target"
>"Lock on to my target but hold fire."
>"Hack the drone"
>"Hack one of the mechs." (Specify)
>Write in

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>40949973
>Fighting retreat, railgun on the Stratus.
It's probably the biggest threat at this point, and I'm assuming if we take out the stratus then the drone goes with it
>"Anya, fire on the Squire"
If scramblers mean what I think they do, hacking is gonna be pointless, and Anya kinda sucks at it anyways

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>40949973
>>Fighting retreat to the next pece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
>"Hack the drone"
Stratus railgun

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>40949973
>>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
Status with Railgun
>"Engage the drone"

>>40950053
Scramblers actually buff physical defence not electronic defence. Anya's just been having shit rolls.

Drones can continue fighting without their controller but their behaviour becomes more limited. In this case the drone will hold position and continue firing on enemies within range while obtaining target locks.

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>40950053
>>40950090
>>40950150
Looks like we have a unanimous decision to rail the Stratus.

Rolling a d3 for Anya's action.

Writing...

Hopefully Anya will learn something from all this hacking.

File: Mission_4_P4.jpg (1.27 MB, 4267x2133)

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(Resolving Player Phase)

You target the Stratus and open fire with your railgun. The machine was already badly damaged from the first attack and this shot puts it down permanently. You must have hit something important because the mech's torso explodes... the pilot won't be walking away from that.

Anya grits her teeth in frustration.
"Dammit I still get get control of that drone. You'd think that the brainbox technology would at least make this easy."

(Resolving Enemy Phase standby)

File: Mission_4_E4.jpg (1.27 MB, 4267x2133)

1.27 MB JPG

>>40950422
(Resolving Enemy Phase)

The Errant and the Squire attack you again, clearly they think they can still win this. You barely dodge another melee attack from the Squire before the Errant finally gets his shit together and pings you with a shot from his rifle.

With the death of it's master the drone reverts to it's core behaviour patterns, holding position and attacking enemies... which it can't do seeing as you're out of range. It's threat to you is effectively over for now.

[Tactical Combat Display Activated]

Cognis Status:
>Cognis Armour Integrity:31/45
>Missiles:6/6
>Railgun Rounds:18/20

Enemy Status:
>Errant in range of Laser, Railgun and Missiles
>Drone in range of Railgun and Missiles.
>Squire engaged in melee.
>Stratus Eliminated
Missiles require target locks.

Our Actions
>Fight the Squire in melee. (Roll 1d20)
>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
>Run deeper into the factory. (Faster movement, harder to hit.)

Instructions for Anya?
>"Engage the [insert target here]"
>"Focus fire on my target"
>"Lock on to my target but hold fire."
>"Hack the drone"
>"Hack one of the mechs." (Specify)
>Write in

Rolled 14, 20, 2 = 36 (3d20)

>>40950612
>>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
Errant with Laser
>"Engage the squire"
point blank BRRRTT shouldn't miss

Rolled 20, 10, 5 = 35 (3d20)

>>40950612
>Fighting retreat, laser on squire
>"Focus fire on the squire!"

Rolled 6, 13, 15 = 34 (3d20)

>>40950612
>>Fighting retreat to the next piece of cover. (Specify a target and weapon. Roll 1d20 for Railgun, 3d20 for Laser, 3d20 for HMG.)
Laser squire
>"Hack the drone"

Rolled 7, 15, 7 = 29 (3d20)

>>40950612
>Fighting Retreat, Laser the Squire
>Hack the drone

Rolled 3 (1d3)

Alright, majority votes to laser the Squire.

Rolling for second action.

Writing...

>>40950987
Wait we have a last minute majority for the second action...

File: Mission_4_P5.jpg (1.27 MB, 4267x2133)

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(Resolving Player Phase)

You back peddle from the advancing Squire while burning it with your laser, armour and parts slough off the mech's frame in semi-molten fragments but it's still active.

Meanwhile the drone explodes.

"What the..?"

"Sorry, my latest hacking attempt seems to have triggered some sort of failsafe."

(Resolving Enemy Phase Standby)

>>40951204
That's fine actually. We can deal with it exploding on us. As long as it's taken out of the game.

>>40951309
It essentially was inactive, it's a shame. We could've tried hacking it ourselves when we were done and gotten a little friend

>>40951352
True, or maybe we need to find a way to get our buddy in the truck an ECM suit or something.

>>40951204
Our wingwoman in ace combat ineffective.

>>40951397
I think we need to start drilling the hell out of her on shooting. Forget getting her to hack shit anymore. Let's get her actually hitting what she shoots at from now on.

>>40951515
Agreed, everybody's been urging her to hack since she decided to copilot and it's never worked out. At least she can sort of aim

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>>40951204
(Resolving Enemy Phase)

The Squire takes a different tactic this time, firing an explosive crossbow bolt at you then circling round the nearest armature. The Errant scores another hit on you with it's rifle. The damage is starting to pile up, warning lights have started to flash on the HUD.

As you wonder what your next move will be you get a transmission from Lev.
"Uh Sergei, there are a bunch of guys coming our way."

"Could you be a bit more descriptive Lev?"

He doesn't need to be, you receive another transmission that seems to be broadcasting on all channels.

"Attention unknown mechs, this is the Foeskodal Armed Forces, you are trespassing on sovereign territory. Power down your machines and surrender immediately or we will use force. This is your only warning."

(That's all for tonight folks. I'm trying to reduce the strain of running these by chopping them up into more manageable pieces.

I'll linger a bit for Q&A. Let me know how you like the quest so far and please tell me how I can improve.))

>>40951602
Three things, when's the next session, what is the Cognis' status, and do our friends accrue experience from doing things?

>>40951602
Thanks for running. How did Lev miss them til now? How come such tiny mechs are taking hits like that?

Actually one more question, are our light weapons more effective in certain situations than others?

>>40951725
>>40951743
>>40951789

Oh right, should have posted that. Here:
Cognis Status:
>Cognis Armour Integrity:20/45
>Missiles:6/6
>Railgun Rounds:18/20

Your friends do accumulate experience from doing things as well as being taught things. Thing is: they're a pair of corporate types. Their baseline for doing stuff that isn't chartered accountancy is in the negatives.

The first thing they'll learn is to stop sucking. Then they'll actually get better. I'll also tell you now that Anya was just rolling badly.

The truck Lev is in doesn't have a radar. To him he saw the Foeskodal forces appear out of the woods.

If you're talking about the Cognis's HMGs then no they're really just back up weapons for dealing with infantry. They can deal damage through sheer weight of fire, but they're more something that the co-pilot would use while you work the big guns.

>>40951725
Next Session will likely be Friday evening GMT time. I'm slowly working out a time frame that is more convenient for my audience without wrecking my sleeping patterns.

Always check Twitter for more up to date information.