Arc 1, part 3: Many mooks died to bring us this information.

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> It's several hours before Kartch returns. No one else in the crew asks what he'd been up to during his absence; either they already know or they don't care. Everyone gathers in the Black Wind's upper deck to go over the plans for the upcoming raid. Kartch addresses Targo first: "You have the layout for this facility, no?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: Feel free to make a Knowledge: Tactics roll to infer what kind of security you'd be up against.
<Targo> roll 1d20+11 at last, a chance to use my degree
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+11 at last, a chance to use my degree and gets 25."12 [1d20=14]
<Targo> "Yes, it's on these datapads," replies Targo, producing a set of metallic cards and moving to load them into the projector. "Our best bet is to blast our way into the compound through the security room. The research staff in these places are instructed to surrender rather than throw their lives away, so most of the resistance can be dealt with in one blow."
<El-Cideon> Kartch nods. "You suggest approaching in spacesuits, then?"
<El-Cideon> Frank seems to approve of this plan. Or at least part of it. "Leave the demolition to me if that's how we're getting in. I'm as good at making doors as unlocking them."
<Targo> "Well, I wouldn't want to approach in fatigues on that rock," replies Targo, snorting. "And they certainly won't just open the doors for us. We'll need an electronics expert along as well to deal with their encrypted systems, but, handily, we seem to have two avaliable."
<El-Cideon> Another nod, coupled with a series of odd facial tics. "Break into the security room, lock down the facility, loot it at our leisure. I like this plan. Naturally, as the architect of the operation, we expect you and both your employees to accompany us on the raid proper."
* Forrest coughs. "Partners, not employees." Then as an aside to the nearest pirate, "We just let him do the talking since he likes it so much."
<Targo> "I wasn't aware that was in question," replies Targo. "Consider it confirmed, then. Who will accompany us from the ship?" Targo frowns, at that. "You're spoiling my image, Forrest. Do you know how hard I work to cultivate it?"
<El-Cideon> "Locked down or no, I expect the security staff to be substantial. Most of us will be coming along. Stigma and Reina for fire support, Frank for demolition, Karma and Arsenic in case anyone inside needs...persuading...to cooperate. Bruce? You and Avram mind the ship in our absence."
<Targo> "We'll land some distance away, and trek across on foot, then?"
<El-Cideon> "A few minutes' walk perhaps. Enough so that they don't immediately detect the ship. Unless you think blitzing the facility more advisable, of course. Land right next door, dash out and place explosives before anyone knows what's up?"
<Targo> "No, they'll see us whilst we're landing and activate their security protocols immediately. We're better off not giving them a clue until the first blast."
<Forrest> "Those plans say anything about scanner coverage?" Forrest asks. "If they've got something set up they'd detect us landing unless we were on the opposite side of the moon."
<El-Cideon> The plans don't mention anything about this.
<Targo> "I doubt they have tools powerful enough," replies Targo, shrugging. "They're scientists, not military."
* Forrest seems mollified by this answer.
<El-Cideon> "Well, unless there's anything else, we'll be leaving promptly. It'll take an hour or two to reach the Ouna from here, and we'll wait for the local night to fall to approach. Minimize our profile and all. Bridge crew? Let's get going." Bruce, Karma and Arsenic stand up at this.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> Kartch and selected flunkies take to the bridge and pull the ship out of Farnsworth. Regular gravity kicks in once the Black Wind is away from the asteroid (apparently they'd had the ship's internal gravity deactivated to save energy while in port). Everyone else disperses to various parts of the ship, leaving Lagoon Company to their own devices for now.
<Targo> OOC: Nobody hung around in the rec room?
<Targo> OOC: er, upper deck?
<El-Cideon> OOC: Nope.
<Targo> "What do you think of them?" asks Targo, musing. "They're a rather relaxed bunch."
<Wilhelmina> "Most of them are," Wilhelmina agrees. "Then, there's the crazy bitch and the bitchy bitch."
<Forrest> "I'm sure they know what they're doing," Forrest replies carefully, unsure whether they might be overheard elsewhere on the ship. "They took this thing, after all," he pats the bulkhead.
<Targo> "Well, I'm going to see if I can't clean up the infirmary a little," states Targo, heading to the elevator. "Wil, check out the best places to put your present. I don't think we're being watched."
<Wilhelmina> "I think I'll just polish Roberta, thanks."
* Targo shrugs. "Suit yourself," he states, before heading down the elevator to the lower level of the ship.
<El-Cideon> Taking the lift to the lower deck, Targo finds the cargo bay mostly deserted. Reina's set up shop in the corner on the other side of the door to the brig and seems to be checking over her weapons, but no one else is in evidence here.
<Targo> Targo cheerfully waves to the woman as he enters, inquisitively glancing over what weapons she favours.
<El-Cideon> She's presently loading up a heavy rifle similar to Forrest's with a fresh power pack. Various survival equipment is scattered on a shelf behind her. Actually, she's sitting on a cot, like this is where she sleeps or something.
<Targo> "You don't stay in the normal quarters?" asks Targo, glancing at the cot as he approaches.
<El-Cideon> She shrugs. "Sometimes. I have trouble staying in the same place for long. Force of habit."
<Targo> "Huh. I like a bit of solidity, myself," admits Targo, heading for the infirmary. "Though when it leads you to stay on a place like Wellington, I'll grant it's something to question."
<El-Cideon> "There are worse places to live," she says, going back to her business. "Trust me on that." The infirmary is pretty well-stocked, considering. The Black Wind lacking a doctor might have something to do with that. Medpacs line the shelves, and there's even equipment for performing surgery. (more)
<El-Cideon> Various cleaning agents and solvents are also found, though obviously no one's bothered to use them lately.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> The Black Wind's a fast ship and doesn't take long to reach the ice moon. As stated, Kartch insists on waiting a couple hours for the research colony to pass into night before moving in. "Everyone who's coming ashore, suit up and meet by the airlock," he announces over the ship's intercom as the ship descends.
* Targo has only used space suits infrequently at best, but resolves to not tell anyone whilst getting changed and heading over!
<Forrest> "Don't you hate how your nose itches as soon as you put one of these on?" Forrest asks Wilhelmina as he heads to the airlock in his spacesuit. "Every damn time."
* Wilhelmina takes some of the explosives along with her, plus Roberta. Sadly, Frederica would have to sit this one out. Spacesuits. It's been so long since she wore one. At Forrest's comment, she shrugs. "Not particularly. Must be just you."
<Forrest> "Figures..." Forrest grumbles.
<El-Cideon> The Black Wind moves in low and skims across the planet's surface a ways before landing, perhaps a quarter mile from the facility and behind a jagged rise of ice. The hall's getting crowded as Kartch and associated cronies join in. "Everyone ready? Let's go make some money."
<Targo> "Other parts of me itch, alright," mutters Targo, darkly.
<El-Cideon> Everyone cycles through the airlock and walks down the ramp to the moon's surface. Ouna's gravity is close enough to normal that no one should have any problems with it, but the planet is still imposingly alien. (more)
<El-Cideon> With not atmosphere, there's nothing to blur the multitude of stars wheeling overhead. The vista is dominated by the gas giant Mahler, a massive, multicolored sphere dominated the horizon. If you look closely, you can barely make out Ouna's shadow, a speck of darkness amidst the superstorms. (more).
<El-Cideon> The planet's surface itself is indeed composed of ice, but broken up enough that walking isn't too difficult. Kartch makes an announcement over the group comlink as you start off towards the facility: "In the event that we need to split up to engage separated security forces, these are the teams: Targo, you're the medic. That means you come with me and Stigma. Karma, Wil and Frank are with you. Forrest and Reina get to go with Arsenic, you lucky bastards."
<El-Cideon> with Arsenic, you lucky bastards."
<Forrest> Forrest silently pumps his fist in jubilation.
* Wilhelmina shrugs. "I'm sure we'll get along just fine," she says blandly, before turning to Forrest. "Don't die by friendly fire."
<Targo> "Alright," replies Targo, quite happy to leave much of the plan up in the air, and to trust in his friends to not get themselves unduly shot up.
<El-Cideon> The trek across the moon's surface is uneventful. If the security forces inside the facility have any clue what's about to happen, they're not doing anything to show it. Kartch motions Frank forward; Frank steps up to the wall that, according to the plans, is the edge of the security room, and carefully attaches a stack of detonite and a timer (OOC: taking 20 for checks, whee!), whistling idly over the comlink all the while. Eventually he steps back. "Here we go."
<El-Cideon> Eventually he steps back. "Here we go."
<El-Cideon> roll 11d6 (damage to be tripled)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 11d6 (damage to be tripled) and gets 40."12 [11d6=4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 6, 5, 2, 1, 4, 5]
<El-Cideon> 2d6 extra for Demolitionist
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6 extra for Demolitionist and gets 10."12 [2d6=5, 5]
<El-Cideon> With a concussive blast more felt than heard, the charges shred the outer wall and send the atmosphere inside howling out through the breach. "Go, go!" Kartch yells over the link, gesturing the Arsenic/Forrest/Reina team forwards.
* Forrest charges into the fray!
<El-Cideon> Such as it is! Entering the security room, Forrest finds that the pair of technicians inside are already dying from asphyxiation. There's no one to oppose them immediately. The lift inside is deactivated, apparently due to the atmosphere breach, meaning no one in the facility can really stop them from doing what they want in the security room. (more)
<El-Cideon> On the far wall is a bank of screens showing various rooms inside the facility. Apparently the proprietors keep a close eye on their own employees. Confused scientists and technicians are already reacting with dismay to the sound of the explosion. Security personnel are seen mobilizing in their barracks.
<Forrest> Well, Forrest already feels pretty shitty that their plan has killed two innocent people. "Clear!" he calls back as he takes up position by the next door.
<El-Cideon> Everyone else filters in behind Forrest. Frank moves up to the computer display with Wil. "Let's jack this system before anyone tries to reroute it."
<Wilhelmina> "Sounds like a plan," she agrees. "Want to go first?"
<Targo> "Most of the security personel are upstairs," mutters Targo. "If we don't deal with them, they'll just cut us down when we head under the terrace."
<El-Cideon> You can see him grin through his helmet. "Nah, ladies first. Hardware's more my thing. I'll support where I can."
<El-Cideon> Kartch nods to Targo. "Yes, my team and Arsenic's will move onto the next room. You guys do what you can to shut this place down with the computer system."
* Wilhelmina connects the recently-purchased, nameless computer to the security system, before trying to gain access to the system through it.
<El-Cideon> The system doesn't know who you are and demands that you input the proper code to establish that the explosion is not, in fact, a security breach.
* Wilhelmina will surely be able to befriend it!
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+12 and gets 28."12 [1d20=16]
<Targo> "Alright," replies Targo, willing to use his newfoudn rank as a medic to hang back behind the main offensive.
<El-Cideon> This manages to convince the computer to shut down its state of alarm, at least. (OOC: Indifferent). Frank whistles over the comlink, clearly impressed. Meanwhile, Kartch himself busts out a security kit and sets to getting the door open, aided by Reina.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 aid another
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 aid another and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
* Wilhelmina continues her befriending efforts!
<Wilhelmina> OOC: I'll take 10 this time around, +17 without mods applied
<El-Cideon> OOC: That's good enough, yeah. It's basically yours to rape, at this point.
<El-Cideon> You can see security personnel gathering in the foyer on the viewscreens. Meanwhile, Kartch swears and makes another go at the door.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 and gets 15."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 aid another
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 aid another and gets 17."12 [1d20=8]
* Wilhelmina brings out the security layout of Pochi, the recently-named AI of this facility, and sees about sealing the doors where the security personnel can be found, cutting them off. And opening the door the pirates are working on so desperately, if possible from here.
<El-Cideon> Pochi informs you that opening the door will void the atmosphere of the administration room. Do you still want to open the door y/n?
* Wilhelmina puts that command on hold, looking into who actually is in the administration room at this time. And whether it is possible to seal the security room with emergency blast doors, perhaps.
<El-Cideon> The security room does have some pretty heavy duty doors that can be engaged (this was supposed to be where the chief security officer would hole up and command defense in the event of an attack, after all).
<El-Cideon> Stabilizing the atmopshere in the security room would involve repairing the hole in the wall, of course. Kind of futile without that.
* Wilhelmina opens the door, after switching the channels and informing Targo and Forrest of it briefly and changing the frequencies again. After all, the only ones she wouldn't care to see injured from the sudden escape of atmosphere are the pirates.
<El-Cideon> In the meantime, the computer does acknowledge your request to lock in the security staff (for their own safety, of course), though plenty of them were loose in the facility before that. (more)
<El-Cideon> Kartch and Reina are almost knocked off their feet by the outrushing of air, and the pirate leader turns and spares a glare for Wil before rushing in with Stigma and (presumably) Targo behind him, motioning for Arsenic's team to follow. Various workdesk are scattered around the admin room, though the staff seems to have fled elsewhere at the first sign of trouble.
* Forrest thanks Wil on their own private channel before following the pirates inside.
<Targo> Smart men, reflects Targo, hustling in after Kartch. "Wil, what's the next room look like on camera?" he asks, crouching behind a table that would give cover from the door.
* Wilhelmina locks the door again once everyone's entered, continuing to monitor the situation via Pochi. "Checking," she responds on the open channel without wasting too many words, doing just that.
<El-Cideon> The good news is, the guards can't really utilize the terrace since it's angled to face the main airlock. But there are half a dozen men with guns aimed at the door to the admin room, just waiting for someone to come out. They've got helmets on, so voiding the atmosphere won't be an instant success here.
* Wilhelmina checks for the internal security system.
<Wilhelmina> "Half a dozen armed security personnel," she reports emotionlessly for the time being. "Hold."
<El-Cideon> Security's pretty much entirely at Wil's disposal at this point, but this is mostly limited to locking/unlocking doors and controlling the cameras. She can also play with the environmental controls, kill the lights, etc, if she wants.
<Wilhelmina> "Door will open in ten seconds, lights will go out in your room in five," Wilhelmina states, executing those commands.
<El-Cideon> The pirates assemble in opposing corners of the room, according to the parties set out by Kartch. Five - four - three - two - one - the door slides open and lights cut out simultaneously.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Did anyone decide to close the door to the security room? Can't recall.
<Wilhelmina> OOC: I did
<El-Cideon> OOC: Okay.
<El-Cideon> OOC: In that case, mass init time!
<Targo> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+6 and gets 23."12 [1d20=17]
<Forrest> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+10 and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Arsenic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Arsenic and gets 19."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 Kartch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 Kartch and gets 24."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Reina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Reina and gets 24."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Frank
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Frank and gets 14."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Ouna Guard x6 (like hell I'm rolling for them individually)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Ouna Guard x6 (like hell I'm rolling for them individually) and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Kartch = Reina > Targo > Arsenic = Mook Swarm > Forrest > Frank'
* Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-196-82.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #dunes
<El-Cideon> The guards are set up in a semicircle outside the door, all of them geared up in blue and gray armor with a stylish V and the label "Valiant Security" on their chests. Kartch takes up position behind a desk and pulls off a couple quick shots at one of the center guards.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14."12 [1d20=6]
* Wilhelmina locks the door leading further into the facility, so that these fools would not get a chance to escape.
<El-Cideon> --which miss and impact uselessly against the heavy blast door on the other side of the foyer. Reina lines up a shot on the same man.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+3 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+3 damage and gets 22."12 [3d10=5, 4, 10]
<El-Cideon> The blaster bolt tears into the man, sending him reeling! OOC: Targo
* Taishyr is now known as taisick
<Targo> Targo likewise fires a shot from behind his cover at the same man, willing enough to follow suit.
<Targo> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18."12 [1d20=10]
<Targo> roll 3d8+4
<El-Cideon> OOC: Missed by 1.
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 and gets 15."12 [3d8=4, 4, 3]
<El-Cideon> Arsenic, mindbogglingly, draws a pair of blades and charges right out into the middle of the group, stopping in front of the injured guard! She doesn't have time to attack just yet, but anyone trying to maneuver around her is sure to incur a counterattack.
<El-Cideon> Three of the guards take aim at her, while the rest move to cover the doorway and fire into the darkened admin room!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic and gets 22."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic and gets 27."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 damage and gets 20."12 [3d8=2, 8, 7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 Arsenic's AoO for injured mook trying to get away
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 Arsenic's AoO for injured mook trying to get away and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+7 and gets 11."12 [2d6=2, 2]
<El-Cideon> One of the blaster bolts slams into Arsenic's shoulder, but this barely phases her. She digs into her attacker with a blade as he tris to maneuver away! Meanwhile, the three by the door try to home in on Kartch.
<El-Cideon> The darkness doesn't seem to bother the guards, who must have some manner of sensors in those helmts.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Kartch
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Kartch
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Kartch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Kartch and gets 16."12 [1d20=8]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Kartch and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Kartch and gets 18."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: All misses. Go, Forrest.
* Forrest fires into the room, intending to just barely miss one of the guards near Arsenic. Might as well stretch this out a bit to see if any of the pirates bite it.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Heh. Deliberately missing? Okay.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Also, I rolled init for Frank instead of Stigma. >.< Frank's in the security room still
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Kartch = Reina > Targo > Arsenic = Mook Swarm > Forrest > Stigma'
<El-Cideon> Stigma homes in on one of the guards at the doorway, firing a barrage of heavy bolts his way!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+6 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d10+6 damage and gets 21."12 [4d10=4, 5, 3, 3]
<El-Cideon> Kartch aims at the same target, likewise favoring a set of rapid shots.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> This just isn't his day for anything luck-related, though. Reina wheels her rifle around and tries to take the man down.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 (forgot PBS before)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 (forgot PBS before) and gets 13."12 [3d10=6, 1, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Targo
<Targo> Targo likewise fires another shot at one of the goons attacking Arsenic, managing to miss in a rather similar fashion to Kartch.
<El-Cideon> Out in the melee, Arsenic swears viciously as the bolt whizzes by her head. She tries to take her frustration out on one of the guards still next to her, slashing twice!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+7 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+7 damage and gets 13."12 [2d6=4, 2]
<El-Cideon> The three out in the foyer again take shots at Arsenic. No one seems eager to try and move away from her by this point.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic and gets 28."12 [1d20=20]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic and gets 26."12 [1d20=18]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 attacking Arsenic and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 normal hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 normal hit and gets 8."12 [3d8=1, 3, 1]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 critical hit (to be doubled)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 critical hit (to be doubled) and gets 21."12 [3d8=8, 4, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Kartch = Reina > Targo > Arsenic (C-1) = Mook Swarm > Forrest > Stigma'
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, two of the men by the door aim at Stigma, deeming him the most dangerous of those in the admin room; one lays down a suppressing fire while the other focuses on him. The third man readies a grenade of some sort!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 attacking Stigma
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 attacking Stigma and gets 21."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 stun grenade at Stigma
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 stun grenade at Stigma and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+3 and gets 15."12 [4d6=3, 1, 5, 3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Forrest
<Forrest> So tempted to autofire at Arsenic and her friends...
<Forrest> Still Forrest buys more time for the guards to whittle down the pirates by not contributing meaningfully. This time he actually does aim for one near Arsenic, but deliberately tries for a glancing hit.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+7 if I hit just intending to graze him for like 1 damage
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+7 if I hit just intending to graze him for like 1 damage and gets 14."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Miss. >.>
<Forrest> OOC: it's all good
<El-Cideon> "Where did you people learn to shoot?" Stigma bellows in frustration. He could be talking to you, the guards, or everyone as he lines up another shot.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+6 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d10+6 damage and gets 28."12 [4d10=4, 7, 8, 3]
<El-Cideon> The brit's target collapses to the ground with an anguished shriek as hot plasma tears through his stomach! Kartch aims past the guard's fallen body, trying to snipe one of Arsenic's attackers.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+11
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+11 and gets 18."12 [1d10=7]
<El-Cideon> "What the fuck, Kartch?" Reina yells as she aims at the same target.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> But her aim proves no better this time around: OOC: Targo.
<Targo> Targo is willing to show both of them how it's done! This time, he actually attempts to aim!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9 forgot pbs last time
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 forgot pbs last time and gets 27."12 [1d20=18]
<Targo> roll 3d8+4
<El-Cideon> OOC: Definite hit.
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 and gets 21."12 [3d8=7, 3, 7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Going for one of the door mooks rather than Arsenic's gang, I take it?
<Targo> OOC: Yeah
<El-Cideon> Arsenic bolts out of sight, heading for somewhere else in the foyer. You can hear what sounds like footsteps on stairs after she vanishes. One of the guards yell that they should "forget the bitch" and her attackers cover the doorway instead. Several of them go for autofire and try to shut down Stigma for good.
<El-Cideon> *shoot = should
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 Stigma attack
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 Stigma attack
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 Stigma attack
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 Stigma attack  and gets 15."12 [1d20=12]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 Stigma attack  and gets 10."12 [1d20=7]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 Stigma attack  and gets 11."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 to be halved
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 to be halved
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 to be halved and gets 16."12 [3d8=3, 7, 3]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 to be halved and gets 18."12 [3d8=5, 6, 4]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 to be halved and gets 21."12 [3d8=8, 4, 6]
<El-Cideon> Two others take shots at Targo, since apparently he can hit stuff now!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 Targo attack
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 Targo attack
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 Targo attack and gets 10."12 [1d20=2]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 Targo attack and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> They miss completely, one of them fumbling awkwardly with his gun! OOC: Forrest
* Forrest shoots at one of the guys shooting at Stigma so that he can appear to be helpful. Again he's careful to try and just hit him without causing any fatal injury.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8 intending to graze for just 1 damage or something if I hit
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8 intending to graze for just 1 damage or something if I hit and gets 11."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> Forrest...causes a guard to duck reflexively as the bolt whizzes by several feet away! Oh no! "Right," Stigma grunts, "that's it. Sodding rentacops." He switches to autofire and opens up on the men by the doorway.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+6 damage to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+6 damage to be halved and gets 15."12 [3d10=4, 3, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+6 damage to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+6 damage to be halved and gets 15."12 [3d10=5, 3, 1]
<El-Cideon> Kartch takes aim at one of the men in front, trying to bring down one of the wounded (though it seems he'd be glad to hit something by this point).
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d8+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d8+5 and gets 22."12 [4d8=4, 2, 5, 6]
<El-Cideon> The barrage brings the man to his knees, and Reina homes in on him to finish him off!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 23."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 and gets 26."12 [3d10=9, 8, 5]
<El-Cideon> "Tch," she mutters, as the man collapses into a heap. "Shoulda aimed at someone who wasn't on death's door." OOC: Targo
<Targo> OOC: Who's left?
<El-Cideon> OOC: Four mooks, three of them injured (one badly).
<Targo> OOC: I'll shoot one of the injured ones.
<Targo> OOC: Er. And now for that IC!
<Targo> Targo aims for one of the injured ones, attempting to put him down!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Kartch = Reina > Targo > Arsenic  = Mook Swarm > Forrest > Stigma'
<El-Cideon> One of the injured men darts to the side of the doorway, pulling himself from the line of fire. You can hear him talking over a comlink. "Lost Starsky, lost Hutch. We're outnumbered here, where the hell is everybody?" His three remaining friends take aim at Stigma again.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17."12 [1d20=9]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10."12 [1d20=2]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> And all of them miss by the width of a barn! OOC: Forrest
<Forrest> Forrest lines up a shot on one whomever seems the most injured and elects to put him out of his misery.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> Stigma flips off the autofire and tries to put down the same target.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 19."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d10+6 and gets 31."12 [4d10=5, 6, 6, 8]
<El-Cideon> Another terrific shot from the imposing Englishman knocks the guard flat on his back and minus several vital organs.
<El-Cideon> Kartch steps to the center of the room, weapon ready, and addresses the remaining guards. "We've got you outnumbered two-to-one. Surrender now and I won't let Arsenic and her knives play with you when we're done!" The guards seem hesitant (OOC note: -2 to their defenses) and Reina takes advantage of this to pull off another shot!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 17."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 and gets 24."12 [3d10=4, 7, 9]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Targo
<El-Cideon> OOC: One guard looks like he'd fall over if you poked him. One other is uninjured and the last is out of sight.
<Targo> "Lie down and put your hands behind your head! Do it now!" screams Targo, levelling his gun at the uninjured man.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Roll persuasion?
<Targo> roll 1d20+16 I can DO persuasion
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+16 I can DO persuasion and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> This seems to do the trick. The man drops his gun and raises his hands. His fellows quickly do the same, there being little point to continuing the fight after one man's surrendered.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Free action for now.
<Forrest> "Wasn't that what they were supposed to do as soon as we showed up?" Forrest asks, lowering his rifle.
* Taishyr is now known as taisick
<Targo> "The scientists, yes. The guards, no," replies Targo. "Who needs a checkup? Just Arsenic?"
<El-Cideon> Reina moves out and collects the guards' weapons. "Depends on how well they're paid," Stigma deadpans. "I could use a booster shot," he adds. Arsenic makes her way down the stairway, her expression defying anyone to accuse her of running away. She looks to have recovered a little, but is still in need of aid.
<Wilhelmina> "So you have someone on staff that runs away from the same fight she charged into blindly," Wilhelmina tells Frank, turning towards him. On the open channel.
<Targo> Configuring his medical cocktail of adredaline and morphine is tricky business, and Targo dutifully applies a shot to the big man before heading towards arsenic.
<El-Cideon> Frank's response is laughter. Also on the open channel.
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll for healz, Targo?
* Wilhelmina checks for where the facility's surviving occupants are, as well as starting to copy all of Pochi's memory onto her portable system.
<El-Cideon> Pochi's memory is mostly concerned with the running of the facility. The actual data, it appears, is stored in a closed database elsewhere in the colony. As for the survivors, three are still in the security team's quarters, locked in. (more)
<El-Cideon> The scientists are mostly in the labs. There's a huge room with something like a drill in the center that seems to have a lot of the tech staff in it at present. A couple guards are down here, too. And marching down the corridor from this room is--what the hell is that? Some kind of robot?
* Wilhelmina checks for who is in the robot's path, before locking down all the personnel and taking away their access, leaving only herself with an altered administrator password.
<El-Cideon> The robot's presently approaching the lab area. It's in the corridor between the second lab and the coring room, and stops in front of the door you've locked. Then it starts banging on the door. It's big enough to tear it down in time.
<Targo> roll 1d20+17 for stigma
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+17 for stigma and gets 18."12 [1d20=1]
<Targo> OOC: Hahahahahaha
* Wilhelmina checks to see whether the robot can be interfaced with throug hthe system.
<Targo> roll 1d20+16 deception check for arsenic, since I'm taking 1 on her
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+16 deception check for arsenic, since I'm taking 1 on her and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
<Targo> OOC: So yeah, level+3 HP for both of them
<El-Cideon> The robot doesn't seem to respond to anything Wil does. Whatever it is, it's not part of the compound's official security system.
<El-Cideon> Arsenic seems totally taken in by Targo's bogus medical help. Stigma doesn't comment either way, just nodding.
<Wilhelmina> "Robot outside," Wilhelmina reports. "Separate system. I can let it in if you establish an ambush."
* Forrest takes some cover by the door into the guard-filled room, ready to shoot at any approaching droids.
<El-Cideon> "Where exactly is it?" Kartch cuts in. "The info we need should be in the labs somewhere." (OOC note: If you look at the first floor map, it's in that corridor at the very top of the screen. There are a couple rooms between you and it still).
<Targo> "Could use some of those explosives, then," mutters Targo, taking cover behind a desk. "Describe it to me. It might have a weak point."
* Wilhelmina sends the locations to the datapad Targo is holding, along with what she can find in the system about the robot's schematics.
<Targo> OOC: Can I make a knowledge: technology check?
<Wilhelmina> "A few rooms away," she says. "I'm holding it up for now."
<Targo> roll 1d20+11 predicated on the answer being yes
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+11 predicated on the answer being yes and gets 16."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> Again, the robot's not in the system. Someone must've made it on their own. It's vaguely humanoid, but much larger than a human, with bulky upper torso that speaks of considerable strength. It's presently trying to batter down the locked door with its fists.
* Wilhelmina checks private files as she has the time. Surely whomever built it at least stored the information on the server.
<Targo> "It's going to be pretty stupid," states Targo, coughing. "If we just keep chucking stuff in it's way and backing off, it shouldn't even touch us."
<Targo> "Basically, it'll head towards us in a straight line," he clarifies. "I suggest we don't try to stab the robot, by the by."
<El-Cideon> Arsenic rolls her eyes. "Fine. Tell me who built and I'll take HIM apart instead. No fun beating up robots anyway. They don't bleed."
* Wilhelmina checks whether she has access to some sort of public announcement system, either facility-wide or contained to the rooms where the scientists presently are.
<El-Cideon> There is indeed a PA system which presumably is meant to be used in times of emergency, like this one. Also, the guards trapped in their quarters have gathered in the area around the unmoving lift.
<El-Cideon> As for the database, again, the security room's computer has access to what's needed to run the facility. Apparently the colony's corporate backers didn't want any of the research info getting into even the guards' hands.
<Wilhelmina> "Targo," Wilhelmina says over the open channel. "I'll patch the PA system over to you. Tell the scientists that unless whomever built the robot fesses up, I'll vent the atmosphere for all of them."
<Targo> "Roger that," replies Targo, flicking the volume switch on his mike all the way up.
* Wilhelmina opens the necessary connections, while checking for how long it'd take for all the data to finish copying.
<Targo> "Attention, scientists! Cease your resistance at once," demands Targo, furiously. "We have control of your security systems and of your airlocks. Unless you call off your droid, we shall vent the atmosphere throughout the facility."
<El-Cideon> Targo can now be heard by the entire facility. As for Wil, her computer's presently downloading hour upon hour of bureacratic tedium: shift records, recordings from the security cameras, etc. It'll take a few minutes still.
* Wilhelmina makes the lights in the rooms of the scientists go out before coming back on, as a show of said control.
<El-Cideon> Someone patches in from elsewhere in the station. "Uh, this is Rutherford, in lab two. Cujo? Down, boy." The robot stops bashing at the door after a moment, taking one last, half-hearted swipe at the dented metal, like it's not real happy about following this order.
<Targo> "Done," remarks Targo, switching back to the open channel. "Let's proceed to the labs and see what's there for the taking, shall we?"
<El-Cideon> "As soon as your lovely hacker opens the doors for us," Kartch says. Reina's pulled some rope from a pack and tied up the living guards, in the meantime.
<Wilhelmina> As if on cue, all the doors to the labs open in sequence invitingly.
<El-Cideon> Scientists, clad in the traditional white coats, scurry away from the doors as the they slide open. At the far end of the space revealed, you can see dents in the door from where "Cujo" had gone apeshit on the metal from the other side. (more)
<El-Cideon> The first lab's filled with computerized workstations. It looks like a lot of the theoretical work happened here. Theoretical applications of the lifeforms dredged up plotted out and so on. All the workstations are open for all to see, like the architects wanted to make really damn sure none of the researchers kept anything private.
<El-Cideon> The second lab contains practical equipment. Chemistry, taking cultures of samples, running tests, that sort of thing. Again, the same atmosphere: the corporate backers wanted to really drive home that everyone's working on a team and that no secrets could be kept.
<Targo> OOC: I'd like to... find stuff worth taking. How should this be done?
* Wilhelmina directs Targo and Forrest to connect their datapad to the terminals at each lab, so that she could try to access them remotely and copy the data.
* Targo defers to the expert in these matters, naturally.
* Forrest obligingly does as Wil asks.
<El-Cideon> The scientists back away to the corners, the more nervous ones with hands raised in the air. A few look almost bored, like they've seen this sort of thing happen before. No one's volunterring anything, anyway. They just watch as Forrest drains the workstations.
<El-Cideon> It's worth noting that the guards trapped in their quarters have suited up and armed themselves. They're gathered around the stuck lift.
<Wilhelmina> "Frank," Wilhelmina says, as the data is being copied and processed. "Place your explosives in the lift. Set the time to fifteen seconds."
<El-Cideon> "All out," he says, producing a couple grenades instead. "But I can send them these."
<Wilhelmina> "Works for me," she agrees, ready to get the lift moving as soon as he's done with his part.
<El-Cideon> Frank pulls the pins and tosses both of them in. The lift moves at Wil's command (in spite of the computer insisting that doing so will expose the upper floor to raw vacuum). There's a rush of air as the lift platform vanishes upstairs. A muffled thump comes down a moment later.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6 no one upstairs has evasion
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6 no one upstairs has evasion
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6 no one upstairs has evasion and gets 13."12 [4d6=3, 2, 2, 6]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6 no one upstairs has evasion and gets 17."12 [4d6=5, 5, 5, 2]
<Targo> "Which one of you is Rutherford?" demands Targo, glancing over the scientists.
<El-Cideon> Wil can see the guards get knocked down by the blasts and then scramble back down the hall to their quarters.
* Wilhelmina brings the lift back to the security room after she'd confirmed that the explosions occured.
<El-Cideon> "That'd be me," someone sighs. A man with reddish-brown hair and a mustache detaches himself from the crowd (for their part, the scientists shift away from him).
<Targo> "You've got a nice toy," states Targo, glancing back through the door at the robot. "Voice-recognition softare?"
<El-Cideon> "Yeah," he says, sounding tired. "What of it?"
<Targo> "I'm curious. You got an override switch for setting a new admin?"
<Wilhelmina> "Get all his data on it, while you're at it," Wilhelmina suggests, listening in since she's got nothing better to do.
<El-Cideon> "Don't waste your time," he says. "Looked, I talked the security guys into letting me build it for use as a load-lifter down in the coring room. I, uh, added the bodyguard software on my own without telling anyone. You try to reprogram him, he'll take it personal. You try to threaten me into doing it, he's not gonna listen to reason anymore."
<Targo> "Probably get bogged down anyway," mutters Targo, shaking his head. "Alright. Wil! Nothing else worth grabbing?"
<Wilhelmina> "There is a large drill. Guys like that stuff, right?"
<Targo> "It's girls who grab other people's drills, isn't it?"
<El-Cideon> Rutherford sighs again, sounding put upon. "The drill is several times the width of a human. It was used to bore through a mile of ice. You folks should really leave with what you've got, before backup arrives."
<Wilhelmina> "Ask the grabby girl to do it, then."
<Targo> "We're not taking the drill. You'll have to make do with the ones you already have," replies Targo, firmly. "Anyway. Kartch, we're leaving. Data's on our pads."
* Wilhelmina keeps all accounts locked, so that the scientists would take time to break through the new administrator password, and orders the computers to delete any records of them their data banks might contain.
<El-Cideon> "Right. Stigma, Reina? Grab the guards' weapons. Couldn't hurt to have a few extras around. Let's get the hell out of here. And Targo? Get your friend to wipe anything the cameras picked up during this little shindig."
<Wilhelmina> "Already done."
<El-Cideon> ---