File: Carrina_concept_codec_view.png (377 KB, 637x634)

377 KB PNG

>>1654899
The “fuzz” in the mean time have started to get a bit rough with the disarmed mafioso, shoving them around under the guise of frisking them for weapons. Cell phones and ammunition end up lying scattered around the tables amid shards of glass and the misplaced silverware. Grumbling abounds on both sides.

One of the men, who wears braided golden marks on his shoulderboards that either make him a commercial spaceliner pilot or the senior officer present, approaches your table now that the room is totally secure.

“I've got you now, Crespo you bastard,” the Lieutenant grins madly. “You bastard son of a bitch, I've got you!”

“Now hold on, Lieutenant,” Crespo sighs, raising his hands in a gesture of submission. “We had nothin' to do with this. The lady here asked for a meeting and we came, and it turned into...”

“As for you,” the Lieutenant sneers. “You've got some explaining to do, missy.”

“Missy?” you ask, narrowing your good eye in disgust. “Cut that shit out before I have to pluck you in the throat.”

“You've been caught red-handed with a known associate of the mob, in the middle of a goddamn bloodbath!” the Lieutenant presses, all but accusing you of murder. “And all you can say is...”

“I'm here for information relevant to an ongoing investigation,” you interrupt. “And while I was interviewing Mr. Crespo here, we were...”

“Investigation?” the Lieutenant interrupts you in turn. “What sort of...”

“Shut your damn mouth for five fucking seconds and let either one of us explain and then you'll know!” Crespo snaps angrily. “We're tryin' to tell you what went down here, just fucking let us!”

“I'm getting the sense you two have some history,” you sigh, quickly interrupting as the Lieutenant tries to interject again. “Well I don't care about that. What I do care about is that it seems Jovian-linked terror groups have gotten their hands on cruisers, mobile suits, and even a goddamn nuke. I wanna know who's financing them, and figured the mob might know something they wouldn't tell regular law enforcement.”
>2/3

File: imagine_an_eyepatch.jpg (34 KB, 480x480)

34 KB JPG

>>1654910
“So you're here dealing with criminals to fight terrorists?” the Lieutenant asks incredulously.

“Why?” you ask. “Is talking to a criminal illegal?”

“No,” he admits before waving at the damage all around him. “But this sure as hell don't look like talking.”

“Not my fault,” you shake your head. “A Jovian crime boss sent a hit squad after me, same as they did last time I tried to conduct an interview. I'm sure you saw that one on the news.”

“Ah, so you're that nutjob,” the Lieutenant muses before drawing his service revolver. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to counsel...”

>... what do you think you're doing, exactly?
>Fine. I've been meaning to speak with the Chief of Police anyways.
>This is a legitimate operation, you have no authority to arrest me.
>Other?

>>1654916
>>Fine. I've been meaning to speak with the Chief of Police anyways.
...I wanna see where this goes.
>imagine_an_eyepatch.jpg
So does that mean she has the ahoge or no?

>>1654916
>Fine. I've been meaning to speak with the Chief of Police anyways.
If he wants to get into a pissing contest with the people who run the interstellar economy as well as being Interpol, good luck.

>>1654924
Most of the time Carya's hair is under a helmet and/or tied back, but the magnetic system isn't perfect aboard Sericea (even WITH liberal handwaving on the finer technical aspects) and Lunar gravity is weaker in general. Her hair would probably have an unusual amount of bounce to it most of the time, so yes. She might very well be sporting an ahoge at the moment.

File: 4773cd7bf28aaef7e15cd7367(...).png (739 KB, 817x1536)

739 KB PNG

>>1654954

>>1654916
>Other?
"I think you're reading our rights to the wrong person."
Point towards the Jovian hitman left in the carnage.

He seems like a stubborn one though, so...
>Fine. I've been meaning to speak with the Chief of Police anyways.

It'll be something if this Lieutenant is just playing the fool and is actually under Hawke's payroll or something. Though, judging from his fixation on arresting Crespo, maybe the chances of that are low? Then it turns out to be the Chief of Police that's under the senator's pocket.

Also, this is a nice character perspective piece on Carya >>1653812

>>1654916
>... what do you think you're doing, exactly?
>Fine. I've been meaning to speak with the Chief of Police anyways.
So, is this when we get to throw our Colony Transit Fleet authority around?
Will we get to demand that this lieutenant be thrown out an airlock for interfering with a military investigation concerning space security?
Can we make this man's life into a living hell, and have his entire career destroyed?

>dice+3d10, DC 18, Crit 21
>this is not a particularly clever man

Rolled 7, 2, 4 = 13 (3d10)

>>1655020

Rolled 2, 8, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>1655020

>>1655024
>>1655031
...
And the dice are back to shitting on us.

Come on, clutch roll!

Rolled 1, 10, 7 = 18 (3d10)

>>1655020

Rolled 10, 2, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>1655020

Rolled 6, 10, 4 = 20 (3d10)

>>1655020

...well, we met the DC, shame about that 20 and 22 though.

>>1655020
>this is not a particularly clever man
Getting a bit of Inspector Zenigata vibes from him.

>>1655043
A 1 sec difference at that.

>made dinner
>writing

>>1655053
“Really, the guy you want to be interrogating is that one,” you insist, pointing at the still-breathing hitman. “He didn't seem to bothered about letting us know what he was up to. Bragged about it in fact.”

“You're under arrest, ma'am,” the Lieutenant reminds you incredulously. “You do understand that, don't you?”

“Lieutenant,” you chuckle to yourself. “What makes you think you have the authority to arrest me?”

“I'm the head of the gang task force in Von Braun,” the man informs you with a frown, as if you couldn't tell how important he is from his puffed-up ego.

“And like I said, I'm part of a neutral counter-terror task force,” you reply. “Captain Carya Marseille-O'Hara, veteran of every military campaign since Zeon declared independence, currently with the Colony Transit Fleet.”

“This isn't within your authority... but I'll humor you,” you decide. “I should really speak to your Chief of Police anyway, given the state of affairs.”

“So does that mean you're coming quietly?” the Lieutenant asks.

You shake your head. “It means I'm letting you drive me to Police HQ. No cuffs, I'm not handing over my sidearm, and I ride shotgun.”

“Those are my terms.”

“Your terms are rejected,” the Lieutenant replied. “You'll be in the back, cuffed, and disarmed.”

“My terms were rather generous,” you insist with a knowing glare. “If I had half a mind to escape you'd all be down already.”

The Lieutenant laughs to himself. “That's quite a boast.”

“Says the guy who forgot to load his revolver.”

The Lieutenant lowers his revolver, grip loosening in his fingers for a moment and giving you a split second to act. Your hand lashes out as he glances at the cylinder of his weapon, and with a single tap you pop the cylinder free and push the extractor rod, sending the six rounds right back into his face.

He flinches, then frantically checks the weapon to figure out what happened.

Your hands are up and visible however, causing the other officers to lower their weapons.

“I keep my weapon,” you reiterate. “I ride shotguns. No cuffs. Won't make a difference.”

“I... see your point,” the Lieutenant admits, picking up his ammunition one round at a time and reloading it. “How did you know you could pull that off?”

“I cheat,” you shrug.
>1/2

>>1655126
>revolver
Oh, a futuristic revolver in UC?

>picking up his ammunition one round at a time and reloading it
Nevermind. That's beyond old school.

>>1655146
Mateba.

>>1655126
The ride to VBPD Headquarters is uneventful, the Lieutenant having more or less nothing to say to you. The other squad cars unload and the various criminals inside are swiftly taken to central booking, and before he's led off Nicky Crespo gives you a nonchalant shrug.

You however are taken to a nearby office, where the Lieutenant knocks at the door.

“Yeah, what is it?” a voice demands.

“Caught myself a particularly dangerous lady while I was cleaning up the mafia,” the Lieutenant declares, opening the door.

Inside you find an older man, short silvery hair kept high and tight, with a cleanly-shaved beard and dark eyes. Unlike the Lieutenant, this is a man who's been in the service for a long, long time.

“Where is this dangerous woman?” the Chief asks, glancing up from his paperwork. “Behind the Captain?”

>So how much do you know about me?
>You mind if we have a conversation?
>So about this arrest thing...
>Other?

>>1655186
>>So how much do you know about me?
>>You mind if we have a conversation?

>>1655186
>>So how much do you know about me?
>>You mind if we have a conversation?

>>1655186
>You mind if we have a conversation?
>Other: You know I wouldn't have killed your men as a matter of Fleet security if you'd told them about me and my investigation, right?

>3d10, DC 16, Crit 22
>Your instinct tells you that you've found someone more reasonable, but a bit harder to impress

Rolled 9, 8, 7 = 24 (3d10)

>>1655280

Rolled 3, 6, 9 = 18 (3d10)

>>1655280

Rolled 4, 2, 1 = 7 (3d10)

>>1655235
No VBPD personnel were harmed directly by Carya's hand. I don't think any were harmed at all. Most of the time, the cops came in too late to help with the immediate situation. The ones that tried to kill her were Jovian hitmen who ended up dead.

They do unknowingly end up bogging us down in said investigation, which should've been passed along the chain by the investigator from the highway fiasco some threads ago.

>>1655280
Roll time

>>1655293
Welp.

>>1655293
>Critical detail revealed: the Chief is ex Military Police.
>Writing

>>1655319
“Sir,” you salute respectfully. “Captain Carya Marseille-O'Hara, CTF.”

The Chief rises to his feet, sets aside his paperwork altogether, and returns the salute. “Lieutenant-Commander Gerry Deckard, retired Zeon Military Police.”

The Lieutenant's eyes widen a little, and his jaw works slowly as if he's struggling to find his words. Did he seriously not know who his boss was?

“Retired Zeon? How long?” you ask.

“After the war,” Deckard replies, returning to his seat. “About the same time you joined the EFSF.”

“So you do know my record,” you nod, crossing your arms and shifting your weight carefully to one side. “By reputation or because I started causing a lot of noise?”

“A little of both,” the Chief admits. “I've heard the name of course, in a report about that last... regrettable event.”

“Yeah, sorry for that. But you see, I was under armed assault,” you explain. “You and I both know I'm not the type to just roll over and die. Not when I've got a job to do.”

“You always were a cowboy,” Deckard chuckles, “if you'll forgive the turn of phrase. Your tendency to overfly Federation positions to coordinate rescue missions made waves all through the occupation force.”

“It was the right thing to do,” you shrug.

“Command didn't see it that way,” he smiles. “So, tell me what you're doing here in my city?”

>I was tapping the mafia for information. Classified anti-terror investigation.
>I think your 'Jovian thing' here is tied to the nuclear incident on Mars. I was gathering evidence.
>I've been working with Artesia Som Deikun on investigating a certain Senator's finances.
>Other?

>>1655449
>I think your 'Jovian thing' here is tied to the nuclear incident on Mars. I was gathering evidence.

>>1655449
>>I think your 'Jovian thing' here is tied to the nuclear incident on Mars. I was gathering evidence.

>>1655449
>>I think your 'Jovian thing' here is tied to the nuclear incident on Mars. I was gathering evidence.
Definitely would resonate most with this guy, if he knows some Zeon folks back in Mars.

>>1655449
>I think your 'Jovian thing' here is tied to the nuclear incident on Mars. I was gathering evidence.

>>1655449
“I think the 'Jovian thing' you have going on here is more than just your problem,” you admit. “I think you have a tie here to the nuclear incident on Mars.”

“You mean that coup in the Mariner District?” he muses. “Were you involved in that?”

“Spearheaded the mobile suit combat and intercepted the nuke,” you nod, “with a lot of help from our cutter, Sericea.”

“Did you now?” he chuckles again, a genuinely good-natured sound. “Poor bastards. But what evidence do you have that there's a link?”

“We discovered a ship adrift in deep space,” you frown, weighing carefully in your mind where to withhold details and what you need to say to make your case. “Without getting too much into classified material, it shared certain unique technologies with the mobile suits I fought out in the Monte Tharses region.”

“And that ship's emergency notices featured old Bulgarian,” you add, making the connection. “Only place any Bulgarian was still spoken up till recently was the Jovian fleet.”

“Bulgarian you say,” Deckard frowns, deep in thought. “I see. That does sound like a disconcerting pattern of involvement... but tell me, how did you come to that conclusion? Bulgarian isn't something that's been spoken outside the Jovian system for decades, since long before you were born. For all intents and purposes it's a dead language.”

“You know how a lot of the new frontier colonies are getting AI support and management?” you ask.

“I've heard about that, yeah.”

You can't help but grin a little. “I've known the original since her 'birth'. ALICE was originally assigned to our old EFSF unit back when we were still black ops, and she still works with us. She was the one who worked out what the writing samples I recovered were.”

“A full-fledged AI?” Deckard asks with some concern. “I heard that was in the works back during the Delaz conflict. They actually put one in service? How was that even possible?”

>I'm not entirely sure, and I've never really asked.
>She learned from us as we fought.
>Not at liberty to say, sorry.
>Other?

>>1655583
>>I'm not entirely sure, and I've never really asked.

>>1655583
>>I'm not entirely sure, and I've never really asked.

>>1655583
>I'm not entirely sure, and I've never really asked.

>>1655583
“I don't really know,” you admit truthfully, “I'm not an expert. And I've never asked out of politeness.”

“I see,” Deckard nods. “That's understandable.”

“I do have some concerns about whether you'll be causing more problems for me in the next few days.”

“I don't know,” you admit again. “You have to remember I haven't been to fault for any of this. I was attacked both times and defended myself, and I won't apologize for that. If it happens again I'll defend myself again.”

“My concerns are for the civilians,” Deckard tells you, suddenly back to being the Police Chief. “You've had a good run so far, but how can we be certain you'll continue that trend?”

“You can't,” you admit. “All you have is what confidence you can take in my skills, based on my reputation and previous service record.”

“The hell of it is I don't think there's anything I can do here anyway,” he sighs. “So what do you plan to do from here?”

>I should report to Artesia Som Deikun with my findings.
>We'll need to shift gears into pursuing our new leads.
>We need to delve more into Senator Hawke's finances.
>Other?

>>1655717
>>I should report to Artesia Som Deikun with my findings.

>>1655717
>>Other?
If the surviving Jovian hitman croaks up any further info leading to direct arrests at best or connections to any other associates at least, that'll probably be useful. Keeping in touch would help, though the way said Jovians seem to consistently get a hit on our whereabouts is concerning.

>>We'll need to shift gears into pursuing our new leads.
The way they keep converging on us, it makes me wonder if an entrapment op would be feasible? No solid plan for it though, so it's just there in the shelf of half-baked ideas.

>giving it a few more minutes

Okay, give me a 3d10 roll and I'll start writing. No set DC but higher is better, best of three.

Rolled 2, 6, 4 = 12 (3d10)

>>1655831

Rolled 1, 8, 6 = 15 (3d10)

>>1655831

Rolled 10, 7, 5 = 22 (3d10)

>>1655831

>>1655862
...kek

File: 1.maxim_9.png (1.82 MB, 2000x1298)

1.82 MB PNG

“I should probably report back to Artesia, maybe meet aboard my ship to plan things out.”

The Chief's eyes widen slightly. “So you're coordinating with the Princess? Well now, that's... disconcerting.”

“How so?” you ask in confusion.

“Because I hardly think that terrorists will be inclined to leave her out of the line of fire,” he explains, “and trouble seems to be following you fairly closely.”

“Don't worry,” you sigh, “we've worked together closely before. In fact she lived aboard our ship for a while. And as for any threat to her life, that's part of why I'm going to meet her. I'll be her armed escort.”

“Then you better head to the armory,” the Chief frowns. “You seem to be low on ammunition.”

“That's true,” you agree as the Lieutenant seems to panic a little. This absolutely isn't how he thought this would go.

“Lieutenant?”

“Yes?” the Lieutenant asks nervously.

“Take the Captain to the armory and kit her out however she pleases.”

“Sir?” the Lieutenant asks incredulously. “Are you sure this is wise? I brought her in...”

“Because she wanted to be here,” the Chief observes. “Artesia Som Deikun will not be harmed or killed by this: if arming the Captain here out of our own armory is what it takes then that's what we're going to do and you're going to like it.”

“Now go.”

The dumbstruck Lieutenant leads you to the armory, where you quickly replenish the ammunition for your own compact handgun. Now you're left with a lot of choices....

>Heavy. Use it as a deterrent, or against vehicles if need be.
>Rounded. Short-barreled rifle, good across all ranges.
>Short. Heavy shotgun for close range.
>Silent. Only weapons that can be suppressed.
>Other?

>>1655930
>>Rounded. Short-barreled rifle, good across all ranges.
desperately fighting the urge for a Boondock Saints reference

>since things have slowed this will be the last update this evening, may bring it back for a few hours on tuesday
>will leave voting open a few minutes longer

>>1655930
>>Rounded. Short-barreled rifle, good across all ranges.
>>Other?
Speaking of weapons...
"Why a revolver, Lieutenant? Did an academy instructor engage you in CQC while lecturing you in proper sidearm usage?"

>>1656024
Kek.

>>1656002
“Why a revolver, Lieutenant?” you ask, making light conversation as you select your own weapon: a license-built copy of an M-14, select-fire with a 16 inch barrel and a heavy flash hider that should focus the flash well forward of anyone standing around you when you fire it. Difficult to manage on automatic, but its heavy 7.62mm rounds should work well at close range even against light body armor. And in semi-automatic, a long eye-relief “scout” scope should let you out-range anything but a dedicated long-range sniper.

“Reliability,” he explains, hand brushing the handle of his service weapon in its holster. “Also, it belonged to my granddad when he joined the force. Brought it all the way from Texas... and not the colony either.”

“Interesting,” you nod, pulling out a few 20-round magazines, a roll of duct tape, and a carry bag. “So your family's got a long history in the force?”

“Yeah” he nods. “I guess I figured they were busting gangs back in the old days, before Von Braun was quite so well off, and I haven't actually done all that much myself... no pressure, right?”

“Old families are all the same,” you grumble, tucking away a few spare magazines and a pair of smoke grenades into your bag.

Difficult to please? your sister muses.

“Impossible to please,” you correct her aloud, cycling your rifle's action and slinging it over your shoulder. “Come on, Lieutenant. I need to hitch a ride to Artesia's office. You get lucky and maybe your unremarkable service record will last the day.”

Good thread, King.

>>1656061
And that's a wrap for now. Archive is up, hope it was a good read and thanks for playing!

We'll see what I can do about Tuesday, keep an eye on twitter for more.

>>1656068
Thanks for the thread run!

>will briefly resume at 7pm PST

>>1659065
“I won't be in there long,” you inform the Lieutenant as he pulls the squad car up to the front entrance of the Lunar Senate's main offices. “I'm taking my rifle, so I want you to come in with me.”

“Ma'am? Are you sure that's wise?” he asks, obviously concerned at the heavy security at the front door. “I mean, going in there armed?”

“Do cops get stopped at the door and disarmed?” you ask. “I'm not leaving my gear in the car, because odds are good Artesia's going to have her own vehicle and driver. So I need you behind me to vouch for me, help me get through security. I don't know how well showing my military ID will go.”

“Alright, I guess the Chief would insist I help,” the Lieutenant sighs, turning the key and pulling it out of the ignition. “Let's get this over with.”

With a rifle slung over your shoulder and a pistol at your hip you attract a lot of attention from the moment you walk in through the revolving door, but the presence of a uniformed officer gets you through to the metal detector station where a security officer reaches for his own sidearm.

“It's fine,” you insist firmly, reaching for the left side of your belt and producing your military identification. “Colony Transit Fleet, Captain Marseille-O'Hara. Here to see Artesia Som Deikun.”

The security officer accepts the identification and looks it over carefully, while you stand still and wait for the man to motion for you to do something. Finally he hands the ID back to you.

“Ma'am, if you'll step aside here for me,” he orders, motioning for you to walk around the full body-scanner.

He directs you to set your rifle down as well as the bag of spare ammunition, which he inspects while his coworker handles the rest of the security checks on his own. The two smoke grenades are nearly a sticking point until you explain what they are, then you set aside your pistol and a spare magazine in a tray. After passing through the body scanner the security officer returns your sidearm and ammunition.

“We'll hang onto your rifle, ma'am,” he explains, “but you may keep your sidearm. Official policy is that security personnel are to carry in condition three. Do you understand?”

You quickly flick off the thumb safety on your weapon, release the magazine and let it slide out about an inch, and cycle the slide before ramming the magazine home. Now you're ready to shoot just by racking the slide again, and there's zero chance of an accidental discharge.
>1/2

>>1659888
I'm drunk and this post makes perfect sense

>>1659888
“I dunno?” you ask. “You tell me.”

“Looks about right, ma'am,” the officer nods approvingly. “You may proceed.”

“Lieutenant!” you order. “Stay here for now. Watch the situation here.”

“Alright,” he nods, glancing at his watch.

You spot the correct office on the wall, listed as the fourth floor, room 410. And so you head to the elevator and endure the awkward stares at the gun on your hip for the short ride up.

“Hey, you in?” you ask with a knock on the frame of Artesia's open door. “We've got a situation here.”

“What sort of situation are you talking about?” she asks you. “Because let's be honest, that could mean a lot of things.”

>There was another attempted hit on me this morning Both of us may be in danger at this point.
>We need to talk about where to go from here. Sericea's the most secure place to do that.
>How ready are you to move on this entire thing? We may be shorter on time than we thought.
>Other?

>>1659926
>>There was another attempted hit on me this morning Both of us may be in danger at this point.
>>We need to talk about where to go from here. Sericea's the most secure place to do that.

>>1659926
>>There was another attempted hit on me this morning. Both of us may be in danger at this point.
>>Other?
Ask if she's armed. Provide a sidearm on the way for her own self defense, if not.

>>1659950
This is a decent idea.

>>1659954
>writing

File: a53eac991c932d11e009c05f2(...).jpg (325 KB, 700x700)

325 KB JPG

>>1659970

>>1659970
“The Jovian mob put out another hit order on me today,” you explain, walking through the door and sitting across Artesia's desk from her. “While I was meeting with Nicky Crespo.”

“I imagine that went poorly for the would-be murderers?” Artesia muses quietly. “Any survivors to corroborate?”

“I captured one,” you nod, “and that's where I got the details from. An entire restaurant full of witnesses can confirm it... though they're mostly mobsters.”

“Well then,” Artesia sighs, pulling her hair back and tying it into a short ponytail with a little round tie produced from her desk. “I assume that this security risk extends to myself, which is why you arrived here heavily armed to pick me up?”

“So someone called you,” you realize. “Of course they did.”

Artesia kicks off from behind her desk and rolls back in her chair, spinning and practically springing to her feet. “Well then let's get out of here.”

Artesia leads you down to the lobby first, where you recover your rifle and ammunition from the security checkpoint. Then you nod to the increasingly impatient Lieutenant.

“Wait here for another ten minutes,” you tell him, “then head back to the department. No big rush.”

“You want me to serve as a decoy?” he asks.

You shake your head, thinking of what to tell him...

>Yes. I want you to play it that way for us if you can.
>No, I just want them to think we haven't left yet.
>If you feel uncomfortable with it, then leave now.
>Other?

>>1660034
>>Yes. I want you to play it that way for us if you can.
*But*
>If you feel uncomfortable with it, then leave now.

>>1660034
>Yes. I want you to play it that way for us if you can.
Just... try not to be overzealous about it.

Heh, tonight I'm reading two Gundam stories...This one, and an AC Gundam fic on FFN. Kicking it oldschool.

>AC
Still have a soft spot for the grunt designs.Too bad it wasn't a hit in Japan or else we'd have kits.

>>1660097
explodingleo.gif

>>1660097
I mostly just see Endless Waltz kits nowadays.

Another disappointment: Twilight Axis only having less than 5mins per episode.

>writing

>>1660132
“I want you to play it that way if you can,” you admit. “But remember that it's gotta be convincing. You can't be overzealous about it, and if you can't do it then I don't want you to even try.”

“In any event we'll try and slip out before you. If anyone's watching they may be assuming you're our way out too.”

The Lieutenant considers your point for a few moments before shaking his head. “I have no idea why I'm agreeing to this.”

“Then call in backup if you like,” Artesia suggests. “Or just stay here and keep them guessing. No matter what happens though you'll have to leave this building eventually. So either you can leave when you think it's most effective for you or you can do it when you think it'll work best for us. Only you know what's best from your perspective.”

“Come on, let's head out,” you nod, slinging your M14 once more. “Garage floor, I take it?”

“I'll drive, you shoot,” Artesia informs you. It's not a suggestion.

She leads you downstairs to the first basement level, an underground parking lot where diplomatic vehicles are parked. The car she leads you to is an all-electric vehicle, what looks like a typical post-war consumer vehicle from east Asia. Small, boxy, and efficient, it's designed to basically maximize internal space within a specific width and short length.

“Power output's a little low,” Artesia explains, “doesn't have much under the hood. But it's all carbon fiber with several layers of kevlar. The windows are all bullet-resistant as well.”

You hand her your pistol and holster. “I assume you can shoot?”

She takes the pistol out, presses the slide just out of battery to check the chamber, then partly releases the magazine to check the round count. Then she grabs the forward half of the slide to rack it and push it into the holster, then fix it to her belt and strap it to her thigh.

“What do you think?”
>1/2

>>1660218
“I think you're lucky I'm a married woman,” you smirk.

Awoooooo!!!

“Hey, cool it with that,” you roll your eyes.

“Honestly I missed that,” Artesia admits. “Too many of the people around here are so terribly normal.”

“You mean boring,” you correct her. “Yeah, I'd go nuts if it weren't for the others.”

Who said you aren't?

You choose to let that one slide.

>3d10, best of four
>DC 19, Crit 24

Rolled 1, 7, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>1660233
Jovian ambush #3, here we go!

Rolled 7, 5, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>1660233

>>1660243
>>1660238
And the dice shit upon us again.

Rolled 3, 3, 6 = 12 (3d10)

>>1660233

rip

Rolled 1, 1, 3 = 5 (3d10)

>>1660233
Welp... Another one, I guess.

Lessee if dice will be extra sadistic.

Rolled 1, 10, 2 = 13 (3d10)

These dice, I swear. Rolling because I can.

File: Sayla smaller.png (1.15 MB, 688x698)

1.15 MB PNG

>>1660233
It only takes about five minutes before you realize that you're being followed again.

“We've got a dark sedan behind us,” you relate.

Artesia checks the rearview mirror and her side mirrors to look at what you're seeing. “I see him. No front plates.”

“That's our tail,” you sigh. “I wonder if the Lieutenant actually did anything for us.”

“My guess is no,” Artesia admits with a frustrated tone. “Our police department here has a real difference between generations. These younger officers have never really risked anything before.”

“Well then, we need to decide what to do about these Jovians we've got on our asses,” you declare. “Way I see it we can floor it, try to lose them, or I could just cut the bullshit and open fire. Put their engine out of commission and then book it.”

“I'm not sure how well we'll be able to lose them in this thing,” Artesia tells you, “but I can give it everything she's got.”

>Floor it. The only speed limit now is what you can get us up to.
>Try and lose them in traffic. We don't have the speed, but we're smaller.
>I'm opening fire, I'll put one round in their hood and you'll floor it.
>I've got smoke grenades. It may cause a pileup, but it'd be worthwhile.
>Other?

>>1660291
>>I've got smoke grenades. It may cause a pileup, but it'd be worthwhile.
Smoke 'em and then try to get into traffic, perhaps?

>>1660291
>I've got smoke grenades. It may cause a pileup, but it'd be worthwhile.

>writing
>this will be the final update for this evening
>3d10, DC 16, Crit 20
>best of three

Rolled 2, 4, 4 = 10 (3d10)

>>1660325
Is our vehicle really generic looking? We might be able to lose them among fellow vehicles of the same make after deploying smoke.

Dunno if switching cars would be feasible.

Rolled 5, 5, 8 = 18 (3d10)

>>1660325
Reading this and that AC Gundam story I was talking about earlier makes me remember the heady days of SoZ.

Rolled 10, 2, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>1660325

>>1660355
...where were you earlier

File: bba24a72bfe9d5ffe0efe5919(...).jpg (145 KB, 850x1491)

145 KB JPG

You may not be willing to open fire yet, however you do have a few tricks up your sleeve: two 250 gram multi-spectrum smoke grenades and a bit of quick-setting adhesive putty, which you produce from your bag.

“Artesia, pull us over into the left lane,” you tell your old friend as you squirm your way into the back seat. “I've got this.”

You roll the electric window down, pull the safety pin out of your grenade, slap a pat of adhesive to the side, then reach out the window and smack it against the bodywork. The paddle pops free and purple smoke starts to stream out of the top behind Artesia's car. The volume increases rapidly until it's practically pouring out in a deluge of color, blocking not only line of sight but infrared... assuming the Jovians have been furnished with that sort of technology.

“And here comes the boom...” you mutter before turning to Artesia. “Get ready to play it cool, try and blend in with the traffic.”

Just as you'd hoped your tail doesn't slow down like normal motorists would... and in fact the precise way the other cars on the road do quite safely. Instead the dark sedan picks up speed and pulls into the asphalt median. To his credit the driver slams on the brakes shortly before he slams into the crash guards which suddenly appeared at your left side, bringing them to a hard stop.

The job being done, you lean out the window again and smash the end of the stock into the bottom of the can to knock it free as Artesia pulls her vehicle back into a 'pack' of traffic ahead of you to try and disappear as much as possible.

“That went beautifully,” Artesia grins as you settle yourself back into the passenger seat. “Not a single shot fired. I even think the guys in the car were alright.”

“Yeah, well, I thought I'd try not shooting my way out,” you shrug, buckling back in with your rifle shoved down next to the center console. “Try something different.”

And here I thought it was gonna be boring.

The whole rest of the way back to the spaceport you don't see any further evidence of Jovian interest, and reason that they may have finally given up trying to kill you.

>>1660418
And that's the end of the session for now. Thanks for stopping by, and hope you enjoyed. Next weekend: the investigation on Luna finally reaches its climax and the Jovian plot may finally be fully revealed.

Good thread, King.

>>1660432
See ya next time! Where hopefully dice isn't as much of a shit.

I honestly thought the Jovians just decided to go with rigging a car bomb after that Bo4 roll with no passes.

>>1660436
Who says it was the Jovians?

>>1660458
Meant for >>1660449
Because I'm kinda tired.

>aiming to start a new thread around 7pm PST