Surrender is a perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances.

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> ---
<El-Cideon> A cold wind blows through the empty streets of Pendleton as Lagoon Company finally returns to headquarters. (Cold? On Wellington? No way!) The job's wrapped up satisfactorily enough, what with the acquisition of a bonafide police cruiser (now stationed up at Victory), but they seem to have acquired a bit of human baggage in the form of Reina. The former pirate has stated that she doesn't really know where else to go at the moment.
<Targo> With Reina left alone in the upstairs lounge-like area, with all the entertainment equipment gathered there, Targo gathers the other members of the company in the offices downstairs for a meeting!
<Wilhelmina> "Do we have another job?" Wilhelmina asks, claiming a seat for herself.
<Forrest> Regardless of the cold, Forrest rather likes the return to normal gravity and fresh air. Grabbing a donut from the future-tech-food-keep-fresh-thing he settles himself down along with the others. "Folks prob'ly been queuing at the door while we were away," he nods sagely.
<Targo> "Not yet. I'm here to talk about possibly having another employee," admits Targo, sitting behind the main desk. "Girl upstairs has nowhere to go, so the question is- do we wave goodbye, or make an offer?"
<Wilhelmina> "An offer works, if she actually has skills beyond shooting," Wilhelmina returns curtly.
<Forrest> "Eh," Forrest shrugs and scratches his belly. "Don't get me wrong, she seems a nice girl and can handle herself in a firefight, but I think I'd prefer someone without a track record of treachery watchin' my back."
<Wilhelmina> "How did she get involved with that crew in the first place?"
<Targo> "I imagine she started out wanted for multiple felonies- theft, I'll bet- and then one thing led to another," admits Targo. "I'd imagine she had circumstances. I understand the concerns, Forrest-" he adds, nodding at the man. "I don't think she's likely to repeat her offense with us, since she owes us now."
<Wilhelmina> "As long as she can just quit any time that's not the middle of a mission, where's the need for betraying us?"
<Forrest> "Someone makes her a better offer?" Forrest suggests. "I dunno, you spent the most time with her, Targo - you really think we can trust her?"
<Targo> "I think it's worth a shot," he readily admits. "Like Wil says, she can quit any time and she's not trapped by being a criminal on the run. As well, we don't have any Arsenic-like personalities on board. Can't see her detesting us."
* Forrest glances at Wilhelmina. His gaze moves on, but perhaps not quickly enough. "Yeah... well, I guess she has the skills to be useful. But I'm gonna be keepin' an eye on her."
<Targo> "By all means. If you spot her fraternizing with the competition..." muses Targo, reaching for the station PA switch. "Reina, mind coming down to the office?" he calls into it.
<El-Cideon> The Esperitan shows up momentarily, looking over the group silently before speaking. "You guys been having a talk?" she asks in a neutral tone.
* Forrest eyes Reina neutrally in return, letting Targo handle the actual job offer.
<Targo> "We have, and we've decided to consider offering you a position in our company," he replies, sizing the woman up. "A summary of our business probably isn't necessary, but if you have any questions about us, this... interview will be the time to bring them up."
<El-Cideon> "Yeah, I figure I got a pretty good example of the kind of work involved. Doesn't bother me much. It's the kind of thing I've always been doing except, you know, legal. Which is nice; it's been a while since I had the luxury of worrying about that. And I guess I owe you guys something for me having the opportunity now..." (more)
<El-Cideon> "I don't know about the cold here, though. I'm not used to that. I don't imagine you guys have much control over the weather, though, so I'll have to tough it out. I guess if I've got one question...you guys take government contracts like that a lot?"
<Targo> "No. We usually take private contracts, actually," replies Targo. "Local corporations and individuals are the most likely to have need of our services. The local police officials are.. woefully understaffed, leaving many people with issues they need resolved." Targo shrugs. "For local business, finding work is ironically a little easier than on more populous planets." (More.)
<Targo> "But we don't refuse anything out of hand, and a government contract has perks, some of which you've just enjoyed. Speaking of that, though, let's talk about your employment history."
<El-Cideon> "Ah. That." She nods. "*Legitimate* employment isn't something I've had in a while, but I ran a variety of odd jobs back on Esperitas. Grew up in one of the less settled areas, out on the fringes of the great deserts. Learn a lot of skills there that you wouldn't growing up in a city. Keeping things repaired, hunting, scouting...I'm real damn good at not being seen." (more)
<El-Cideon> "Anyway, the man I was with a few years back dragged me into a land dispute with some neighbors. Things got violent and, well, soon enough there weren't too many people left to give a damn about where the fence was. When there's already a warrant out on you, you worry less about breaking another law, you know? So I just got in the habit of doing whatever I needed to to survive."
<Targo> "I see. Well, we don't have a pressing need to survive here so much as ambition, but I digress. How did you end up falling in with the Black Wind?"
<El-Cideon> She shrugs. "Ambition's useful enough for a meal ticket, if you don't mind me saying so. Anyway, I managed to get into orbit to run from the heat. Was on some tin-can indie station, a real shithole, heard Kartch and his girls there talking about taking a bigger ship. I started thinking, 'y'know, having my own ship would be great, not having to rely on outside tranposrtation.'" (more)
<El-Cideon> "Well, another man I was with a while back had been on Esperitas's planetary defense force. Really into it, liked to ramble on about procedure and stuff after, you know, we were done with things. So I remembered that and went to Kartch with a plan for taking a cruiser." She looks sheepish. "So it's pretty much my fault they got that particular ship."
<Targo> "Did you have much trouble with the crew?" questions Targo, remarkably dispassionate.
<Forrest> "Well, you helped make it ours, so I guess we can't hold that against you," Forrest concedes with an ambivalent shrug.
<El-Cideon> "Well. Some of them were nuts, you know? Would've stayed way the hell away if I'd known in advance the kind of shit Arsenic was into." She shudders visibly. "Karma was scary for different reasons, but you were fine as long as you worked with her. Kartch was kind of a mess; smart, but seemed like he went to a lot of work to prove it to people. Everyone else was some shade of tolerable."
<Targo> "I see. We all found Karma quite scary, I believe," symphasizes Targo. "Arsenic was one more lunatic in a galaxy full of them, as far as I'm concerned." Leaning back in his chair, he keeps his gaze neutral and focused on Reina. "Given the choice and some freedom, what would be your dream job?"
<El-Cideon> She scratches her head. "Hell. You know, it's been a long time since I had the luxury to think about something like that? I'd always say 'anything that lets me travel for money,' really."
<Targo> "Mmm. Well, last week, I couldn't say we did that, but now we have a ship." Targo shrugs. "Could take us anywhere." He glances briefly at Wil and Forrest, wondering if tehy have any questions themselves.
* Wilhelmina shrugs at Targo's glance. "Coould take us anywhere," she agrees.
* Forrest thinks job interviews are bullshit and doesn't really care to ask the old 'what would you say your biggest flaw is' bit, so instead settles for, "You don't have to work with us if'n you don't want to - if you think you can get a better offer somewhere else then you might as well just walk away now and save us both a hell of trouble later on."
<El-Cideon> "No, I think I'm okay," she says to Forrest. "As I said, it's the kind of thing I've been doing for a long time, just legit."
* Forrest shrugs. "Welcome aboard then, I guess. Targo can sort out yer contract and all that crap," he jerks a thumb in Targo's direction.
<Targo> "Mmm. Compensation is based on commission. You're about the closest thing to being a contractor there is without actually operating privately. There are tax breaks," he remarks, shoving some forms towards Reina. "We'll see about quarters later. Not sure if we're going to move to the Falcon more permenantly, yet."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, taxes," she says wryly, taking the paperwork. "That's something I haven't had to worry about for a while. Anyway, I can sleep just about anywhere. It's no problem, really."
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> Afternoon lurches into evening. Reina finishes her paperwork and sets up shop in a corner of the upstairs briefing room, for now, cobbling a makeshift bed out of spare blankets. A phonecall comes in as Lagoon Company sets about the vital task of determining what to do for dinner. It's Lorna again, apparently calling from Victory.
<Forrest> "Lagoon Company," Forrest announces breezily as he picks up the phone.
<El-Cideon> "Ah, Mr. Powell." Lorna is as formal and straightforward as ever. "I have another offer for your team. Well, perhaps more of a request, really. I'd rather impart the details in person. I could stop by tomorr wmorning if you're interested?"
<Forrest> "Sure thing, Lorna," Forrest is his usual informal self. "Come on by say half past ten?" he arbitrarily picks a time without considering what important plans Wil and Targo might make on their own.
<El-Cideon> "Of course. See you soon." She disconnects without another word. Everyone will just have to wait until morning to find out.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> 2:04 AM.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Perception checks, everyone.
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18."12 [1d20=10]
<Forrest> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+14 and gets 25."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Reina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Reina and gets 18."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> In the dead of the night, something wakes you. There's someone on the roof. At least two people. They're being careful to avoid making noise, but not careful enough. (OOC: No need to PM this individually since the result was the same for everyone).
* Forrest grumbles and gets out of bed wearing a somewhat grimy vest and shorts. Not bothering to get properly dressed he simply grabs his heavy assault rifle and creeps out of the room to see about quickly rousing everyone else before they go kill the tresspassers.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+10 stealth
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+10 stealth and gets 22."12 [1d20=12]
* Wilhelmina grabs her flamethrower and puts it over her comfortably warm red pajamas. Attacking in the dead of night means someone couldn't wait for morning to die, and she is there to oblige.
<El-Cideon> Reina's out in the hall as well, with her own rifle ready. "You got prowlers on the roof," she whispers, too quiet to be heard outside. "This sort of thing happen a lot?"
<Targo> Targo has a light pistol in his bedside drawer, which he draws with a sigh. Tossing on his jacket, he makes a rather amusing sight in half a suit and boxers, but doesn't let the stop him heading out. "First time," mutters Targo.
<Forrest> "They probably have a ladder or something outside - someone should go cut them off there," Forrest suggests. "I'm gonna climb up from a window." And so he goes to do just that, hoping to get the drop on the interlopers.
<Targo> "Well, let's get outside. Forrest, Reina, you guys go on the roof, we'll go on ground level?" questions Targo, whispering to the others.
<Wilhelmina> "I'll start up the defense system," Wilhelmina agrees. "Let's go."
<El-Cideon> Reina nods and falls in behind Forrest, wherever he may go.
* Targo thus heads outside, ready to yell at some kids to get the fuck off his roof!
* Forrest quietly opens one of the second floor windows and shimmies out to climb up the drainpipe onto the roof!
* Wilhelmina makes sure their defenses are primed to shoot people not herself, before following Targo.
<El-Cideon> Forrest has little difficulty working his way up the drainpipe. Reina follows, rifle slung over her back. There's no cover on the roof, so the three black-clad men there are clear to see in the light beaming down from the sliver of the visible moon. They're only a little startled to see Forrest and Reina coming up to look for them--they get over this within the space of a breath and wheel around with carbines at the ready! Meanwhile, Targo hears shots fired from within the front room before he can make it outside. There's a yelp of surprise and the sound of plasma scorching flesh as the autoguns go to work on an intruder.
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, Targo hears shots fired from within the front room before he can make it outside. There's a yelp of surprise and the sound of plasma scorching flesh as the autoguns go to work on an intruder.
* Wilhelmina looks pleased.
<El-Cideon> OOC: init, Forrest?
* Forrest levels his own rifle as he stands up on the roof in all his undergarment-wearing fury. "Looks like we got ourselves a good old fashioned standoff," he drawls.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Goon A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Goon A and gets 21."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Goon B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Goon B and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Goon C
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Goon C and gets 16."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Reina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Reina and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Reina > Goon A > Goon B > Forrest > Goon C'
<El-Cideon> Reina's quick to open up on the unknown assailants, switching her gun to autofire and putting some distance between her and Forrest to avoid falling to the same tactic!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 autofire
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 autofire and gets 9."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 to be halved and gets 17."12 [3d10=2, 7, 4]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 to be halved
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 to be halved and gets 28."12 [3d10=9, 7, 8]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 to be halved and gets 17."12 [3d10=4, 1, 8]
<El-Cideon> One of the men swears and homes in on Reina. "Bitch! She wasn't in the profile!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+7 NOW we roll damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+7 NOW we roll damage and gets 16."12 [3d8=2, 1, 6]
<El-Cideon> The second man in the line pauses to speak into a comlink: "Scotched the surprise attack, Commander. May as well send in the cavalry." Then he wheels around to fire at Forrest!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> A blaster bolts sizzles Forrest's hair but leaves him completely unharmed!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Forrest, you're up.
<Forrest> "You can send all the sorry sons of bitches you like, yer all still gonna die!" Forrest roars as he opens up with a barrage of autofire on the conveniently stuck together goons.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+2
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+2 and gets 3."12 [1d20=1]
<Forrest> roll 3d10+4 halved
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 3d10+4 halved and gets 21."12 [3d10=6, 3, 8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Haha. They don't have Evasion, so--yeah.
<El-Cideon> Another barrage staggers the goons, searing holes in their now-slightly-less-stylish black catsuits! The third man breaks the line to avoid getting caught in another autofire fiasco, then tries to pick off what he's apparently determine is the easier target: Reina.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 12."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> And fails horribly at it!
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, Targo and Wil can hear the sound of return fire in the office! There's an explosion as one of the autoguns is destroyed. OOC: If you two are going are going to join the fray, we can take it in #evil? NOTE: Targo and Wil move to another channel here.
<El-Cideon> Reina, unphased by her wound, unleashes another barrage of plasma-y doom on the two adjacent attackers!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 and gets 15."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+4 to be halved and gets 20."12 [3d8=6, 7, 3]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+4 to be halved and gets 13."12 [3d8=1, 2, 6]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 to be halved and gets 30."12 [3d10=8, 10, 8]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 to be halved and gets 18."12 [3d10=3, 9, 2]
<El-Cideon> The two men in front of Forrest, clearly badly injured by the repeated sprays of fire, swear and retreat to the back of the building. "Withdraw and regroup with Squad A!" The two of them disappear over the back edge of the building, apparently sliding down ropes they'd set up there, leaving their comrade alone with Forrest and Reina! OOC: Forrest.
<Forrest> "You ain't gettin' away that easy!" Forrest runs to the edge of the roof and leans over so he can spray them with fire as they climb down, hopefully unable to dodge.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+2
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+2 and gets 6."12 [1d20=4]
<Forrest> roll 3d10+4
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 3d10+4 and gets 20."12 [3d10=3, 4, 9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Climb check to avoid falling for Goon A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Climb check to avoid falling for Goon A and gets 16."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Climb check to avoid falling for Goon A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Climb check to avoid falling for Goon A and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20 falling check for Goon A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20 falling check for Goon A and gets 32."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20 falling check for Goon B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20 falling check for Goon B and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6 damage for Goon A
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6 damage for Goon B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6 damage for Goon A and gets 6."12 [2d6=5, 1]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6 damage for Goon B and gets 3."12 [2d6=2, 1]
<El-Cideon> Forrest's rain of fire batters the men and severs their ropes, sending them tumbling to the ground! One breaks his neck on impact, the other shakily stays on his feet, barely alive.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Reina > Goon B > Forrest > Goon C'
<El-Cideon> The remaining man on the roof, apparently trapped there, draws a grenade and hurls it at Forrest in desperation!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+2 ouch that's actually a hit. Well, still halved due to Evasion.
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+2 ouch that's actually a hit. Well, still halved due to Evasion. and gets 15."12 [4d6=3, 2, 3, 5]
<El-Cideon> Reina focuses on the remaining attacker. "I just got this job, you fuckers! You're not screwing things up for me!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9+1d6 FP whee
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9+1d6 FP whee and gets 16."12 [1d20=6][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> Forrest can see the surviving man on the ground stagger away, trying to move around the side of the building. OOC: Forrest.
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 (forgot to roll Reina's autofire damage to the last guy on the roof)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 (forgot to roll Reina's autofire damage to the last guy on the roof) and gets 29."12 [3d10=5, 10, 10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: The guy she just hit is still alive, just barely.
<Forrest> That guy isn't really a threat any more, while the asshole with the grenades is. Flicking his rifle back to single shot, he takes aim at the intruder and utters a pithy, "Whatever they're payin' you sure ain't enough," before squeezing the trigger and hopefully lancing him with a beam of superheated plasma!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8+1d6 FP
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8+1d6 FP and gets 20."12 [1d20=6][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Hit.
<Forrest> roll 4d10+4
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 4d10+4 and gets 25."12 [4d10=4, 1, 6, 10]
<El-Cideon> The man yells dramatically and topples from the roof, landing on the pavement with an audible *thump*. He won't be getting up again. Reina rushes to the edge of the roof to snipe the poor bastard trying to limp to safety.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 and gets 14."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 and gets 18."12 [3d10=3, 3, 8]
<El-Cideon> A pained scream from down below indicates that Reina was successful. However: "Ah, Forrest? Some bastards just went in through a window out back of the building."
<Forrest> "I'll go after them, give them a little surprise - you stay up here and snipe anyone else outside who's causin' trouble," Forrest instructs, briefly brushing some of the shrapnel from his bloodied arm with a grimace and a, "Too late and too cold for this shit," before he goes to climb down the back via a handy drainpipe so he can follow the new arrivals.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+9 climb
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+9 climb and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<Forrest> roll 1d20+10 stealth
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+10 stealth and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Perception A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Perception A and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Perception B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Perception B and gets 18."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 Perception C
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 Perception C and gets 21."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> Forrest can see three figures barreling through the HQ's cafeteria area, apparently no longer caring about stealth. Two of them, though, have heard him approaching. "Shit," a wiry man says. "We got company, leader-sama."
<Forrest> "Get off mah fuckin' property!" Forrest roars as he brings his rifle to bear!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+10 init
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+10 init and gets 17."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Denny init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Denny init and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Megumi init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Megumi init and gets 17."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Ewan init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Ewan init and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ewan > Denny > Megumi = Forrest'
<El-Cideon> The wiry man pauses to carefully aim, squeezing off a single shot at Forrest!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 16."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> But not carefully enough, as it turns out! The second man yanks off his hood and screams at Forrest. "You! I remember you! You raided our camp! DEATH TO THE OPPRESSORS!" He's vaguely recognizable as the black-haired adviser to Magnus.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> "God dammit, both of you," the woman in the middle swears. "Can no one on this rock hit a fucking thing?" She cuts loose with a heavy rifle, firing twice in rapid succession!
* Forrest laughs in their faces. "This the caliber of idiot you hire, Megumi-chan? No wonder you guys are gettin' left behind!" With that he flicks back to autofire and opens up on the trio!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<Forrest> roll 1d20+2
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+2 and gets 6."12 [1d20=4]
<Forrest> roll 3d10+4 halved
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 3d10+4 halved and gets 28."12 [3d10=8, 9, 7]
<El-Cideon> But Megumi and the former Orangeman prove too agile to be caught by such a maneuver! The wiry fellow is stuck by several of the bolts, however. "Ow! Fuck! Fucking motherfucker!" he swears, retreating behind one of the old cafeteria tables before taking another careful shot at Forrest.
<Forrest> "Nimble little bitch, ain'tcha?" Forrest growls as he switches over to single shot mode.
<El-Cideon> "Hey, only I'm allowed to talk about the Commander that way!" the wiry man yells gleefully in spite of his wounds!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> "You people have no team spirit," Denny mutters to his companions, triyng to hit Forrest again.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
* Forrest grins as plasma whizzes past him harmlessly, taking careful aim at Megumi and trying his best to blow her head off.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8+1d6 FP
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8+1d6 FP and gets 30."12 [1d20=20][1d6=2]
<Forrest> roll 8d10+8 buh-bye
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 8d10+8 buh-bye and gets 54."12 [8d10=3, 8, 8, 10, 3, 10, 1, 3]
<El-Cideon> Megumi responds in kind just before receiving a crippling blast to her stomach!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> Megumi-sama crumples to her knees, horribly wounded but still clinging on to life!

We now pause dramatically to get caught up on Targo and Wil.

~

<El-Cideon> Targo and Wil bust into their front office to find an intruder battling the autoguns! There's a gaping wound on his shoulder where one of the drones obviously scored a crippling hit, but he's still fighting back. He's dressed all in black, with a hood over his face. You can vaguely make out the shape of two other men in the street behind him, but sniping them past him would be tricky.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Init
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+12 and gets 30."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Injured Goon
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Injured Goon and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Pyro Goon
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Pyro Goon and gets 23."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 Hollander
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 Hollander and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 Autogun
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 Autogun and gets 24."12 [1d20=7]
<Targo> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Go, Wil.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil > Injured Goon (C-1) > Autogun > Pyro Goon > Targo > Hollander'
<Wilhelmina> "How dare you shoot at my guns? Burn!"
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+11 FIRE
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+11 FIRE and gets 16."12 [1d20=5]
<Wilhelmina> roll 3d6+6 FLAMES
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 3d6+6 FLAMES and gets 15."12 [3d6=4, 3, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Miss, so that's 7 damage. Also, you know you're setting your office on fire?
<El-Cideon> Flame engulfs the office! The man writhes in agony, but darts behind a burning desk for some added cover, subsequently opening fire on Wil!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 25."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 damage to Wil
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 damage to Wil and gets 25."12 [3d8=8, 8, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Injured Goon (C-1) > Autogun > Pyro Goon > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> The automated security ruthlessly homes in on the injured intruder as he burns!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> But his improvised cover proves too much to work around, and the bolt sizzles into the wall behind him. Meanwhile, one of his friends out front decides to bash through a window to let him take potshots from a safer position; glass shatters and tinkles to the ground, and you can see him training a flamethrower on the interior! OOC: Targo, your go.
<Targo> Targo doesn't particularly want to get cooked! He trains his pistol on the man, taking careful aim at him before firing a shot straight towards his eyes! OOC: Aim, ignores cover, whee~
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<Targo> roll 3d8+4
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 and gets 24."12 [3d8=5, 8, 7]
<Targo> And then he steps back around into the corridor, not planning to be in the doorway when it is set alight!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Injured Goon (C-1) Autogun > Pyro Goon (C-1) > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> Targo proves to be a crack shot in a pinch! The man with the flamethrower staggers back, critically wounded!
<El-Cideon> The last man out in the street, a big, hulking fellow dressed similarly to his fellows, speaks into a comlink: "Forward team's taking heavy fire. You'd better move in, Commander." Then he homes him in Wil with a rifle-mounted grenade launcher!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+4 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+4 to be halved and gets 14."12 [4d6=1, 1, 6, 2]
<El-Cideon> A fragmentation grenade explodes at Wil's feet, pelting her with jagged metal debris! Fortunately, it's her turn to strike again!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check for fire damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check for fire damage and gets 15."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 to be halved and gets 4."12 [1d6=4]
<Wilhelmina> Wilhelmina aims carefully, cutting loose with a torrent of flame to eliminate the intruders! Finding some cover never even crosses her mind, as long as there are idiots in black to roast!
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+10+1d6 FIRE
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+10+1d6 FIRE and gets 23."12 [1d20=10][1d6=3]
<Wilhelmina> roll 4d6+6 FLAMES
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 4d6+6 FLAMES and gets 26."12 [4d6=5, 3, 6, 6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Full hit on the two mooks. Grenade launcher guy is out in the street, though.
<Wilhelmina> OOC: Recovering with the remaining swift action
<El-Cideon> The two men perish in flames, going to the floor in screaming agony and flailing through their last pathetic moments on Earth (er, Wellington)! The autogun tries to home in on the man out in the street--you note that a truck has just pulled up behind him, though.
<Wilhelmina> "Shoot the truck!"
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Autogun > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
<Targo> "The missile launcher is in the fucking van! I never thought someone would be crazy enough to attack the goddamn office!"
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 haha, just barely hit him
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 haha, just barely hit him and gets 16."12 [3d8=2, 4, 7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Targo
<Targo> Targo flips his gun to autofire and fires blindly at the window of the van, hoping to at least graze the driver inside!
<Targo> roll 1d20+4 autofire!
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+4 autofire! and gets 5."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Haha, cheapskate. Yeah, roll damage to be halved.
<Targo> roll 3d8+4
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 and gets 15."12 [3d8=3, 7, 1]
<El-Cideon> The window of the truck shatters, pelting the driver with glass and molten plasma! Meanwhile, there's a *ch-chink* as the big galoot launches another grenade at Wil!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 27."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+4 full damage again
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+4 full damage again and gets 18."12 [4d6=6, 3, 1, 4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ow, 18 to Wil. And she's down another condition since 18 was her fort.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-2) > Autogun > Targo > Hollander'
* Wilhelmina retreats into the corridor, where she isn't going to be shot up with grenades, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Where was the missile launcher, again?"
<El-Cideon> Out in the street, the side door of the truck slides open. There's a man inside with a heavy-bore, military-grade plasma rifle, aimed right at the office door! Up on the roof, Reina (apparently having heard the noise--who wouldn't, with people burning alive?) gets ready to fire down at the grenade freak, staying by the ledge to minimize her profile.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Heavy Weapons Goon
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Heavy Weapons Goon and gets 17."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Reina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Reina and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-2) > Reina > Autogun > Heavy Weapons Goon > Targo > Hollander'
<Targo> "Van. Out the front," curses Targo. "You should fall back. You need a shot. My medkit is in the storage room, go get it."
<Wilhelmina> "Or we could charge outside," Wilhelmina responds reasonably. "It's just a guy with a grenade launcher. We can take him!"
<Targo> "Just one, but there's whoever's in the truck to worry about," hisses Targo. "Reinforcements could be more than we can handle like that."
<Wilhelmina> "How about this, then? I'll go set whomever's still indoors on fire, and you delay the idiots in the truck from breaching. Works?"
<El-Cideon> Up on the roof, Reina hollers at the man with the grenade launcher and then cuts loose with a single shot!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<Targo> "I think the building's empty of hostiles," replies Targo. "I'll hold here, yes."
<El-Cideon> ...Which impacts dully on the side of the truck! Lagoon Company's home security homes in on the man to take another shot at him!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 27."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 damage and gets 11."12 [3d8=2, 5, 1]
<El-Cideon> The big man staggers with the blow, but bellows at his friend in the truck: "The roof! Get the bitch on the roof!" In response, the gunner swivels the cannon towards Reina and lets loose one terrific blast!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> Fortunately, Reina proves too nimble a target to be hit, and the bolt sears a wide swath of the building's outer wall into putty instead. OOC: Targo.
<Targo> Targo is all too happy to put a shot into the man with a grenade launcher, cringing back behind his doorframe in anticipation of shrapnel coming his way!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Miss if it's a single shot.
<Targo> OOC: It is
<El-Cideon> "Still hiding in there?" he yells in response. "I've got more than enough grenades for all of you!"
<El-Cideon> He empties the launcher's chamber in rapid succession, firing two projectiles into the office!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 15."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 5d6+3 Rapid Shot Insanity (to be halved, though)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 5d6+3 Rapid Shot Insanity (to be halved, though) and gets 16."12 [5d6=5, 3, 1, 1, 3]
<Targo> "You fucker! You're getting dust on my carpet!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: 8 to Targo. Sec for Forrest stuff.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Okay. Wil?
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 ??? init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 ??? init  and gets 18."12 [1d20=6]
<Wilhelmina> Taking a few short breathes, Wilhelmina nods to herself and bolts towards the cafeteria, where shots have been fired! Note: Wil rejoins Forrest here.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-2) > Reina > Autogun > ??? > Heavy Weapons Goon > Targo > Hollander'
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Reina > Autogun > ??? > Heavy Weapons Goon > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> Reina tries to take another potshot at grenade-man!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> So does the autogun!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 23."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 and gets 14."12 [3d8=6, 1, 4]
<El-Cideon> The man in the truck readies his weapon for another shot, this time aiming the dread cannon through the office door to where Targo hides!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Haha, he fails. You would've taken half damage if he'd got a good roll.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Your turn, Targo.
<Targo> Targo fires another shot towards the man, opting to keep his superior cover rather than dash outside and get shot up!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<Targo> roll 3d8+4
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 and gets 14."12 [3d8=7, 2, 1]
<El-Cideon> "Shit!" Hollander rumbles, staggering for a moment but soon regaining his composure. "We're taking heavy fire here. Martin, get your ass out of the truck and help us. I'm heading inside." He darts just inside the office door and lines up a shot at the autogun!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 20."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4 (attack roll should been +10 but whatever)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 (attack roll should been +10 but whatever) and gets 24."12 [3d10=7, 5, 8]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Reina >  ??? > Heavy Weapons Goon > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> With a final sizzling and crakling, the second wall-mounted gun ceases functioning!
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, the driver and another man hop out of the truck with guns trained on Reina!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 Hill's init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 Hill's init and gets 18."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 goon's init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 goon's init and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Reina >  Lithgow > Goon = ??? > Heavy Weapons Goon > Targo > Hollander'
<Targo> "Reina, get out their range!" calls Targo, intending to fire another shot into the man who just ran inside!
<El-Cideon> Reina is quick to oblige with an "Aye-aye!", taking one last shot at the heavy gunner before disappearing!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9+1d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9+1d6 and gets 28."12 [1d20=13][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+4 and gets 19."12 [3d10=6, 6, 3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Reina >  Lithgow > Goon = ??? > Heavy Weapons Goon (C-1) > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Okay, go.
<Targo> Targo fires another shot at Hollander, keeping his exceptionally defensible position until someone gives him cause to abandon it!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
<Targo> roll 3d8+4 is that a hit I don't know
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 is that a hit I don't know and gets 17."12 [3d8=1, 4, 8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: missed by 1.
<Targo> OOC: Figures. I'll take a step back so he has to come all the way inside to shoot me.
<El-Cideon> Hollander seems to be taking the time to reload his grenade launcher. You can hear the *click click* from your spot in the corridor. He won't be firing this round.
<El-Cideon> Targo can hear a scream from outside. It's not clear what the cause is from his position, but it seems to mean Hollander's friends won't be following him. Now's the time to strike!
<Targo> Targo backs off from the door for a moment, and then points his gun over his shoulder and fires at Denny!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9+1d6 I guess it needs to hit
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9+1d6 I guess it needs to hit and gets 14."12 [1d20=3][1d6=2]

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

~

* Wilhelmina changes topic to 'Wil C-1 > Ewan > Denny > Megumi (C-2)  = Forrest'
<Wilhelmina> Rushing onto the scene, Wilhelmina barely pauses before opening fire on the idiots daring to intrude!
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+10+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+10+1d6 and gets 34."12 [1d20=19][1d6=5]
<Wilhelmina> roll 3d6+6 fire
<El-Cideon> OOC: Wow. Full damage for Ewan, halved for others.
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 3d6+6 fire and gets 13."12 [3d6=2, 4, 1]
<El-Cideon> And yet another room is on fire! And so are the intruders! "Ow. OW!" Ewan whirls around. "God-damned fucking pyromaniac! Take this!"
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil C-1 > Ewan (C-1) > Denny > Megumi (C-2)  = Forrest'
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 aiming at Wil
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 aiming at Wil and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d8+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d8+3  and gets 21."12 [4d8=2, 1, 7, 8]
<El-Cideon> Ewan's careful aim finally pays off, striking a terrific blow at Wil! Denny continues to focus on Forrest, in the meantime. "YOUR FIRES ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO THE BURNING FLAME OF MY RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 normal shot
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 normal shot and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
* Wilhelmina makes retching sounds, doubling over.
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 damage to Forrest.
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 damage to Forrest. and gets 19."12 [3d8=6, 8, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Strike that.
<El-Cideon> Denny's ambition doesn't match his talent, though, and it's time for Forrest and Megumi to face off again!
<Forrest> "I'll get back to you in a second, sweet-cheeks," Forrest mocks Megumi before cooly taking aim at Ewan and firing a blast of plasma right at the back of his head in order to take some pressure off Wilhelmina.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8+1d6 FP being spent like its going out of style
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8+1d6 FP being spent like its going out of style and gets 19."12 [1d20=8][1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Missed by 1.
<El-Cideon> Megumi takes a moment to regain her composure, and she seems more focused this time when she aims at Forrest! "Dammit, you assholes. We had the market CORNERED before you got here!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5+1d6 force point
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5+1d6 force point and gets 21."12 [1d20=13][1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+4 Rapid Shot, that actually IS a hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d10+4 Rapid Shot, that actually IS a hit and gets 24."12 [4d10=10, 1, 3, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil C-2 > Ewan (C-1) > Denny > Megumi (C-2)  = Forrest (C-1)'
<Forrest> "Owww! Fuck!" Forrest's good cheer evaporates as he's winged by a lucky shot. "Girl, why don't you just get a job in one of those costume cafes and leave the merc work to professionals?"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Ewan
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check EWan and gets 8."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Denny and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Megumi and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 damage to be halved Ewan
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 damage to be halved Ewan and gets 2."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 damage to be halved Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 damage to be halved Megumi and gets 1."12 [1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 damage to be halved Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 damage to be halved Denny and gets 1."12 [1d6=1]
* Wilhelmina takes careful aim, looking as if she's never felt better! And in some way it's even true, as she has transcended the ability to feel pain.
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+9+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+9+1d6 and gets 28."12 [1d20=16][1d6=3]
<Wilhelmina> roll 4d6+6 FIRE
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 4d6+6 FIRE and gets 23."12 [4d6=6, 2, 3, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil C-2 > Denny > Megumi (C-2)  = Forrest (C-1)'
<El-Cideon> Sanada Group's resident nerd falls to the ground in a heap of ash and bone! Denny roars. "NO! Damn you all, I will avenge my admittedly very new comrade!" He spinds around to fire at Wil!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14."12 [1d20=7]
* Wilhelmina laughs so hard at the idiot's words she's having difficulty keeping upright once more.
* Forrest continues trying to evaporate Megumi's skull in a cloud of superheated plasma!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: miss.
<El-Cideon> Megumi grits her teeth and whirls 'round to face Wil. "Dammit, SOMEONE's going to die here before I do!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5+1d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5+1d6 and gets 13."12 [1d20=2][1d6=6]
<Wilhelmina> "Yes. You." Wilhelmina aims carefully once more, and fires back!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Denny and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Megumi and gets 15."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 Denny takes full
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 Denny takes full and gets 4."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 Megumi takes half
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 Megumi takes half and gets 1."12 [1d6=1]
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+9+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+9+1d6 and gets 13."12 [1d20=1][1d6=3]
<Wilhelmina> "I'll be back," Wilhelmina's voice carries over the flames, as she retreats from the war-torn cafeteria.
<El-Cideon>  Denny follows hot on her trails, though (literally)! "ALL OPPRESSORS MUST DIE!" he bellows as he darts into the corridor after her and lets go with a single shot!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Denny fails. Forrest/Megumi time!
<Wilhelmina> "Go burn in obscurity," Wilhelmina calls over to him.
<Forrest> "Just the two of us, but not for much longer," Forrest puts on a pained grin as he recovers his wits and takes a shot at Megumi.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9."12 [1d20=2]
* Forrest changes topic to 'Wil C-2 > Denny > Megumi (C-2)  = Forrest'
<El-Cideon> "Damn right," Megumi pants through the flames, taking another careful shot (while maneuvering around the room to try to get back the way she came).
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5+1d6 FP'd Rapid Shot again
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5+1d6 FP'd Rapid Shot again and gets 16."12 [1d20=5][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Failure. Go, Wil.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Denny and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Megumi and gets 14."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 to be halved Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 to be halved Denny and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 to be halved Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 to be halved Megumi and gets 1."12 [1d6=1]
NOTE: Targo rejoins the group here.
<Targo> After firing his worthless shot, Targo somehow ended up standing next to Denny, covering for Wil!
* Wilhelmina takes this chance to recover!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Denny > Megumi (C-2)  = Forrest > Targo > Hollander'
<El-Cideon> Hollander bolts into the hallway after Targo, ready to fire another grenade. He swears when he spots his teammate next to the Lagoon Company leader and settles for a single rifle blast instead.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Failure. Okay, now it's your turn, Wil!
* Wilhelmina catches her breath and then bolts downstairs for their armory!
<El-Cideon> "COWARD!" Denny roars, instead turning to Targo. "I'LL KILL YOU INSTEAD."
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 normal shot.
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 normal shot. and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+3 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+3 damage and gets 16."12 [3d8=8, 4, 1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Okay, Forrest/Megumi
<Forrest> "Y'gotta wonder, was it all worth it?" Forrest asks philosophically as he trains his gun on Megumi. "Dyin' in the dingy cafeteria of a former police station at 3am in the mornin'? Hell, if I were you I'd be asking some pretty soul-searchin' questions about where my life went wrong to lead me here." He doesn't give her much time to consider it before opening fire again, though.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> Outside, over the crackling of the flames, and the blaster shots, and the cries of the wounded and dying, there are more screams. Figuring out where they're coming from isn't anyone's top priority, though. Well, not for anyone in Lagoon Company, at least! Megumi's comlink crackles into life, and a panicked voice calls in: "We've got a new hostile out here, Commander!"
<El-Cideon> Forrest's shot whizzes by Megumi's head. "Deal with it," she calls back, retreating back to the window she entered by. "Deal with it. We're moderately fucked in here and I'm withdrawing." She seems to be focusing on fending off incoming attacks, not dishing out any herself.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Denny > Megumi (C-1, fighting defensively, +5 to Ref)  = Forrest > Targo > Hollander'
<Forrest> "That's some mighty fine leadership ya got there, girly!" Forrest taunts her back as she flees.
<Targo> "Your leader's run. Maybe you should too?" offers Targo, giving Hollander an encouraging blaster bolt to send him on his way. He takes heart from his witty words!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9 shootage
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 shootage and gets 13."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> Over the open comlink, you can hear a response. "It's the bitch from the hotel! Do you know what we're fucking dealing with out here? I--" The voice cuts out.
<El-Cideon> "Tactical withdrawal," Hollander responds drily. "She'll be back with support. Oh, Denny? Sorry about this." Saying this, he fires a grenade at Targo and Denny!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 normal shot
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 normal shot and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+4 to be halved against Targo (misses Denny due to Evasion)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+4 to be halved against Targo (misses Denny due to Evasion) and gets 19."12 [4d6=4, 2, 5, 4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Denny and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Megumi and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 Denny to be halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 Denny to be halved and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 Megumi full damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 Megumi full damage and gets 2."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Wil
* Wilhelmina storms into the armory, searching for a blaster carbine and a bandoleer of grenades!
<Wilhelmina> Now adequately armed, Wilhelmina returns to shoot at the intruders!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Denny > ??? > Megumi (C-1, fighting defensively, +5 to Ref)  = Forrest > Targo > Hollander'
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+9+1d6 Hollander
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+9+1d6 Hollander and gets 16."12 [1d20=4][1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Miss.
<El-Cideon> "Dammit, Nathan!" Denny yells (he seems to do a lot of this). "I do not wish to be collateral damage!" He levels his gun at Targo and takes another shot.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> Which misses! Also, it's at this point that some unseen person in the office shoots at Hollander.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+7 and gets 18."12 [3d8=3, 3, 5]
<El-Cideon> "Agh!" the big man yelps in surprise, whirling to face the new attacker. "What the--FUCK. So much for Squad E."
<El-Cideon> OOC: Forrest/Megumi. Megumi's retreating if you don't stop her.
* Forrest stops her - with a bolt of plasma to the back of the head!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+8+1d6 FP why not
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+8+1d6 FP why not and gets 13."12 [1d20=3][1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Miss! Targo.
<Targo> "Reina! If you're up there, get a bead on the back of the cafeteria! Don't let Sanada-san run off," snarls Targo, adding another shot to Hollander's worries!
<Targo> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21."12 [1d20=12]
<Targo> roll 3d8+4 'bout time
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 'bout time and gets 14."12 [3d8=2, 5, 3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Hit
<El-Cideon> Nathan Hollander is now minus one face.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil (C-1) > Denny > ??? > Megumi (C-1, fighting defensively, +5 to Ref)  = Forrest > Targo'
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Denny and gets 15."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 fort check Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 fort check Megumi and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 damage to be halved Denny
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 damage to be halved Denny and gets 1."12 [1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 damage to be halved Megumi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 damage to be halved Megumi and gets 4."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Wil
* Wilhelmina takes very careful aim at the flaming moron next to Targo!
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+9+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+9+1d6 and gets 24."12 [1d20=9][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Hit
<Wilhelmina> roll 4d8+4
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 4d8+4 and gets 16."12 [4d8=2, 1, 6, 3]
<El-Cideon> The blast knocks Denny against the wall! He's still struggling, but there seems little fight left in him with Hollander dead and Megumi gone. Instead of attacking, he takes the time to finally beat the flames off of him! "Alright, alright, I surrender already! Agh!" He drops to his knees, still trying to doue the flames.
* Wilhelmina doesn't look convinced, but heads farther in to meet up with Forrest.
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, someone steps in from the office and nudges Hollander with a boot to make sure he's dead. It's agent de Lacey, of all people. She's holding a heavy pistol and scanning the room for casualties.
* Forrest heads off in pursuit of Megumi, intending to gun her down as she flees!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+7 maybe I'll crit again
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+7 maybe I'll crit again and gets 15."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> Megumi can be seen hobbling away from the building outside! She's not exactly at her peak by this point, but she's still sharp enough to dodge that shot! Fortunately, someone else seems to have been watching for her--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9+1d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9+1d6 and gets 11."12 [1d20=1][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> Reina's shot from the roof doesn't connect either, though!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Targo.
<Targo> "Evening, agent. I'm in the middle of something with a woman, give me a minute," mutters Targo, running outside to shoot at Megumi!

[Sierra]

<Targo> roll 1d20+9 I love it when competition lets me kill them
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+9 I love it when competition lets me kill them and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Definite hit.
<Targo> roll 3d8+4
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d8+4 and gets 25."12 [3d8=8, 6, 7]
<El-Cideon> A bolt hits her square in the back and she falls to the ground at last!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Okay, basically free action now. No other combatants you can see.
<Forrest> "Ahhh," Forrest is both glad she's dead and put out that Targo succeeded where he failed. "You see anyone else around, Reina?" he calls up to the roof.
* Wilhelmina takes the surrendered idiot to jail. If they need him to have died in the assault, she can manipulate the surveilance logs easily enough.
<Targo> "Forrest, she's probably not dead. Go toss her in the cell. Reina! The keys to the garage are on the front desk! Give them five minutes, and then park their truck in our garage. Wil- Wil, you go and, uh, lie down."
<El-Cideon> "Sec!" she calls down, apparently looking around out front. "Nah! Everyone's gone!"
<Wilhelmina> "Just because my face is melting doesn't mean I need medical help."
<Forrest> "You sure? She got shot up real good..." Nonetheless Forrest goes over to kick Megumi onto her back so he can see if she's breathing.
<Targo> "Wil! Bed!"
<El-Cideon> Megumi does seem to be still breathing, actually, in spite of everything.
<Wilhelmina> "As long as I get to shoot her when you're done with her," Wilhelmina argues, but heads back to her room after that.
<El-Cideon> "I h ad to leave some of them out front when I heard the noise inside," Lorna says. "I'm sure given the circumstances you can agree with this course of action. The rest probably drove off once I broke their little cannon."
<Targo> Once everyone is all locked up, Targo makes sure to apply liberal medical treatment to his companions before finally getting back around to talking to Lorna.
* Forrest desperately wants to rectify this sad state of affairs, but resists his murderous impulses. Be amusing to see her caged, after all. So he grabs her ankles and proceeds to drag her inside.
<El-Cideon> There are sirens in the distance. Lorna assures the team that she'll deal with local law enforcement when they actually arrive.
<El-Cideon> ---

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Soooo, the cops show up. After all the goons from Sanada Group have been dealt with, of course. Lorna goes out to greet them officially as a representative of the OII. The local fire department charges in to douse the firest started by Wil, leaving everyone out in the street for a few minutes. (more)
<El-Cideon> You notice that there's a corpse sitting in the street in the vicinity of where the Sanada Group truck had been parked. It's dressed in black like the other goons, so presumably this is someone Lorna killed before entering the building. Eventually, the fire crew gives the okay for you to re-enter the office. It's still a horrible mess in there, but they say that the building is still structurally sound. (more)
<El-Cideon> You still have Megumi Sanada and "Captain" Denny in custody. Lorna seems intent on questioning them before handing them over to local law enforcement and is already pulling rank to ensure that this happens. The police chief doesn't look happy about this. Lorna doesn't look like she cares. She seems amenable to having Lagoon Company present for the interrogation, too.
* Forrest doesn't really care about interrogating her - what could she know that interests him, after all? But seeing her squirm could at least make up for having his night ruined, even if he'd prefer to have just put a blaster bolt between her eyes.
<Targo> "We should interrogate her to see if someone put her up to this. You never know! She had a bunch of other contracts, how can she possibly have been upset at us for stealing business, yet?" Targo just shakes his head, and heads back inside to put on some pants.
<Forrest> "I guess you have a point," Forrest nods, likewise going to make himself decent. "Well, those contracts are sure up fer grabs, now."
<Targo> Once he's at least somewhat presentable (at least, as presentable as a man in trackpants and a singlet can be), Targo heads down into the holding cells to meet up with Lorna and eke a few words out their competitor.
<El-Cideon> You find Lorna waiting in the detention area when you get back, standing before Megumi's cell with her arms folded across her midsection. "Ready to proceed?" she asks, rapping on the wall of the cell to wake Megumi.
<Targo> "Before that, I feel obligated to ask about why you were here at this time," remarks Targo, peering at the agent. "Your intervention was very welcome.""
<El-Cideon> "They sent someone after me as well. I made the proper deduction after dealing with them and came here."
<Forrest> "That sounds suspicious. We're the competition but you're just a customer," Forrest notes with a frown. "Mebbe someone did put 'er up to this after all."
<El-Cideon> She nods. "That's my theory."
<Targo> "Sounds like it. Get up, Megumi! The more you talk, the more I'll tell the folks at the pub that you put up a fight worth remembering."
<El-Cideon> There's a groan from inside the cell, and Megumi rises (stiffly) to a sitting position on the cot. "Why am I not in intensive care," she mumbles, gingerly touching the plasma burn on her back and wincing.
<Targo> "Don't worry. I'm a doctor."
<Forrest> "'Cause we don't like you very much," Forrest replies brightly. "Also all yer pals are dead."
<El-Cideon> "All of them?" she looks more horrified than saddened by the loss of her employees. "Anyway, the feeling's mutual. You guys had it coming since that stunt up north."
* Wilhelmina stumbles towards the cells, as rest didn't take with her. "Are we done with her yet?" she asks Targo.
<Targo> "Please, let's not discuss right and wrong; it's an argument where everyone involved loses. Instead, let's talk about- no, Wil, we're just getting started."
<Wilhelmina> "Should I bring Frederica?"
<El-Cideon> Lorna gives Targo a sidelong glance. "Do you know what 'stunt' she's talking about here?"
<Targo> "Hmm? Oh, we just got a bounty before anyone else did," replies Targo, shrugging. "There was some jealousy."
<Forrest> "She hired one of the guys that used to work for the guy the bounty was on, too," Forrest chuckles. "Really got her money's worth out of that guy, too."
<El-Cideon> Megumi stands up and marches to the bars, the better to shout at you. "That's not it! 'This is what happens to those who cross Sanada!'" she echoes. "That dipshit Denny thought we were the ones who jacked his boss, so he came and bombed our HQ. We got the full story from him after we caught him."
<Wilhelmina> "I am embarrassed to be in the same trade as these idiots," Wilhelmina admits, flushing lightly. "Can we just kill them all and forget about it?"
* Forrest can't help it. He laughs. Really loudly, slapping his thigh and everything. "Ho-leee shit," he finally gasps out once his mirth settles. "That was just a li'l joke, girly. Merc humour, y'know? Thought you'd appreciate it."
<El-Cideon> "Well, some localities do still use anonymous executioners on a one-day basis," Lorna deadpans to Wil. "Talk to local law enforcement about it afterwards."
<El-Cideon> "Joke?! It's not a fucking joke when someone goes all kamikaze on me and my boys as a result!" Megumi shouts at Forrest.
* Wilhelmina laughs. "This is like a trainwreck, isn't it?"
<Forrest> "You just need better perspective," Forrest replies, still chuckling merrily.
<Targo> Targo just leans against the wall, his shoulders shaking with barely contained mirth.
<El-Cideon> Megumi scowls and turns to the back wall. "I'm not talking to you people any more."
<Wilhelmina> "This is where we execute her with fire, right?" Wilhelmina instantly pipes up. "I'll go grab my gear."
<El-Cideon> Lorna: "So you questioned your assailant and decided on some joint payback. Is that your whole story?" Lorna sounds skeptical about this.
<Targo> Targo nods along with Lorna, thinking that even if Megumi doesn't talk now, it'd be simple enough for her to check the corpse of her assaliant and see if it matches any of Megumi's agents.
<El-Cideon> Megumi turns back to the bars. "Yeah, that's it," she says, deadly serious from all appearances. "That's all I've got to say."
<El-Cideon> Lorna doesn't seem to be buying this. "So no one paid you to kill me, that's what you're saying?"
<Targo> "If you still have the body, we can easily determine whether her group is responsible." Targo snorts. "I'm sure she has medical records of her men. Just in case. No doubt her facility is empty."
<El-Cideon> Megumi glances at Targo, seeming to realize there's no way of getting around this. "If someone did hire me," she starts, "hypothetically speaking, you understand, then I wouldn't be able to disclose the identity of my employer. That would be unprofessional."
<Wilhelmina> "It will be in her computer. I will befriend it. Can we get back to killing her, now?"
<El-Cideon> Megumi peers at Wil, incredulous. "You guys really keep everything you do on the computer?"
<Forrest> "I never use the thing myself," Forrest admits with a shrug.
* Wilhelmina looks annoyed. "Maybe the stupid guy who blew up her office would know. If they questioned him successfully, so could we."
<Targo> "I find it dispiriting that the prisoner, who failed to kill us with superior numbers and firepower, is here to question our methods," replies Targo, sounding sad. "Your professionalism is of no consequence, Megumi, since for attempted murder you'll never hold a business again, if you even live to see trial.'
<El-Cideon> Megumi: "If you're going to kill me, Silver, get it over with already. I'd rather die on the job than anywhere else." Lorna cuts in here, apparently not liking this line of thought. "Ms. Sanada, what exactly were you told when you were hired to kill me? Do you know who I am, apart from my name--which someone presumably used to track me to my hotel?" Megumi waits a moment, then shakes her head.
<Targo> Targo curls his lip in disgust.
<El-Cideon> "I'm a government agent, Office of Interstellar Information, which makes this a capital matter. Does this fact make you any more talkative?"
<El-Cideon> "It does if we can cut a deal that involves these yahoos not killing me," Megumi says, gesturing to Lagoon Company.
<El-Cideon> Lorna glances at Targo, clearly hoping he'll play along.
<Targo> "I suppose that as long as you get off Wellington and don't come back, I won't need to concern myself with keeping an eye on you in the future."
<El-Cideon> "If she gets off Wellington, it'll be to a penal colony," Lorna replies. "But she'll be alive, and that's an important distinction, isn't it? So, Ms. Sanada: who hired you?" (more)
<El-Cideon> Megumi takes a moment to consider this, and then a look of panic crosses her features. She stutters like her brain's jumped tracks without giving her advance notice. "It was some...blonde woman...why can't I remember?" She clenches her fists in her hair and shakes her head. "Nrrrg, I wouldn't work for someone without knowing who they were..."
* Forrest snorts and turns away. "Psychic."
<Targo> "Psychics. Psychics! A psychic wants me dead. I knew this time would come."
<Wilhelmina> "Many people want you dead. Some of them have to be psychic."
<El-Cideon> "I was afraid of this," Lorna says, turning away from the stricken Megumi as though disinterested now that she's apparently no longer of any use.
<Targo> "I hired you to deal with the others, though, so this is of real concern."
<El-Cideon> Lorna: "If we could return to the office now, Mr. Silver? Ms. Sanada doesn't need to hear the rest of what I have to say."
<Targo> "Suits me. 'til next time, lady." Targo saunters out of the cells, heading back to his comfortable chairs.
* Forrest is happy enough to leave Megumi alone now. Heck, he almost feels sorry for her after that.
* Wilhelmina thinks Megumi would die soon enough, if she creates a rumor of her breaking down and talking, and likewise leaves after Targo.
<El-Cideon> The office is actually a tad cold, given the broken window. The break's been sealed over with some kind of clear epoxy, but it's not really a substitute as far as trapping in the heat goes. "Well," Lorna starts, "I'd come down here with the intent of asking you to help pursue some leads simultaneous with your normal work. This hasn't changed, though I'll understand if you're wary of the kind of enemies you might make in doing so."
<El-Cideon> in doing so."
<Targo> "Pay us a retainer and we're set. I'd be lying if I said I don't enjoy having you as a friend to our company, anyway."
<Forrest> "Seems mutually beneficial," Forrest agrees.
<Wilhelmina> "And we have to kill all the idiots who send goons like her after us," Wilhelmina voices.
<El-Cideon> She nods. "That's good. I didn't want you to feel put upon, but it seems that will not be a problem. Until I've identified the leak in my organization, I'm forced to rely on outside resources. I'll come straight to the nature of the work, since you've proven ready to listen:" (more)
<El-Cideon> "Arsenic's interrogation is ongoing, but she's been frustratingly uncooperative thus far. Dredging the Black Wind's memory has provided other leads, however: examining the ship's navigational records allows us to backtrack Kartch's movements essentially since he acquired it." (more)
<El-Cideon> "He and his crew were a busy lot. The Black Wind visited nearly every inhabited system during his tenure as captain. We've long believed that he was acting as the agent of a greater power; this recent attack only convinces me further. I believe that revisiting the various ports of call favored by Kartch may turn up contacts tied to his employer. This is essentially what I'm asking you to do." (more)
<El-Cideon> "You have a ship, you're enterprising young people; there'd be nothing at all unusual about you going where you wished in search of transient employment. Do whatever you can to unearth anyone who worked with Kartch in your travels. I can provide you an itinerary of sorts once I've analyzed the Black Wind's records more thoroughly."
<Forrest> "I guess it'd save us cleanin' this place up," Forrest opines, glancing about the ruined office.
<Targo> "And we happen to have a member of his crew that was with him the entire time. I can see how this will work... yes. Alright. The retainer... 20,000 per week." Targo snorts. "I was hoping we could franchise, but alas."
<El-Cideon> "Per *week*?" Lorna looks openly surprised at this level of chutzpah. This is probably the most emotion you've seen from her, in retrospect. "I'll start my end of the haggling at forty-five. A month."
<Wilhelmina> "We make more than that on this rock, barely doing anything," Wilhelmina points out.
<El-Cideon> "Sure, but you'll be making this in addition to whatever standard contracts you take in your travels," Lorna counters. "It's a supplement to your normal income, not a substitute for it. But very well. Would sixty be more acceptable? I must note that I am duty-bound as a government employee to minimize expenditures."
<Targo> "We're a private company, and I have five people to pay. Let's not forget that I'm taking jobs with people who may very likely hate me if they discover what I've done to their buddies. Some pirates still have a code." Targo shrugs. "Seventy a month. I'd take the sixty-five if your people had fixed the goddamned roads around here, but..."
<Targo> roll 1d20+16 i r persuasive
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+16 i r persuasive and gets 28."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> "Making enemies is part of the business, Mr. Silver," Lorna says. "But alright, seventy it is."
<Targo> "Yes, that's why I charge what I charge."
<El-Cideon> "I'll have more information for you in a few days. There's still much to examine in the ship's records. In the meantime, I have another kind of lead if you wish to start immediately." She produces a datacard and places it on the desk in front of Targo. "Kartch was careful not to send any transmissions that could be easily intercepted. If he'd sent anything through a gate, for example, the sender and destination would be logged."(more)
<El-Cideon> "I'd guess most of his communications occurred in deep space." She nods to the card. "Someone else on his crew wasn't so careful. A few days before you took the Black Wind, someone onboard sent a message to Spiral Colony in Coleille, by way of the gate at Victory." (more)
<El-Cideon> "The message contained genetic information, presumably the sender's. The recipient was one Mathos Grosbill, of the Ascalon settlement on Spiral. He's kind of an amateur historian and geneologist. One of the idle rich amusing himself by tracking family histories, basically. If I had to make a guess, I'd say Karma was looking for her ancestors."
<Targo> "Doesn't sound like it'll take us to Kartch's employer... more like a private thing Karma was up to."
<El-Cideon> Lorna shrugs. "Possibly. But I believe any avenue of investigation is worth exploring. And it will take me several days to assemble a formal travel plan for you, from the ship's records and what little Arsenic's giving us. You lose nothing by looking into it while I'm busy."(more)
<El-Cideon> "Besides that, Spiral's an interesting piece of design." She gestures around the ruined office. "I'm sure you could use a couple days to entertain yourselves after this mess? I can meet you there when I'm finished with my analysis."
<Targo> "Sounds good enough to me. We'll leave... tomorrow."
<El-Cideon> She nods. "Very good. I should note that the Ascalon settlement in particular adheres to a rather...enclosed mindset. They don't care for outsiders much. But they'll cooperate if you mention my name. I can give you something in writing if you like." She grimaces. "They know me there."
<Targo> "Family?"
<El-Cideon> "Something resembling it. In the interest of full disclosure, this man you'll be seeing, Mathos? Is actually my nephew. I'd ask that this not affect your conduct one way or another if he does prove to be involved in any sort of conspiracy. This is a professional matter."
<Targo> "If that's what you want..."
<El-Cideon> Another nod. Lorna stands up and shakes Targo's hand. "It is, thank you. I'll see you on Spiral in three or four days, then. Take whatever time you need to rest and get your affairs in order first, of course."
<Targo> "We'll be there, and I'm sure you know how to contact our ship."
<El-Cideon> "Of course. Farewell for now." Lorna exits, leaving Lagoon Company alone with their own, er, company. In short order, local police arrive to take Megumi and Denny into custody.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> So, Lagoon Company takes the night to rest and recover from their ordeal! The building is not so easily mended, sadly, but at least no one barges in trying to kill everyone this night. Everyone wakes in the morning (moderately) refreshed and ready to face a new day!
<Targo> "You guys should probably take it easy today," notes Targo, looking very much like he wants to take it easy himself. "I need to talk to Deliah, and... Reina! Maybe you can think about the people Kartch met up with during your time with him."
<Wilhelmina> "Let's look at Megumi's office tomorrow," Wilhelmina suggests. "Only an idiot leaves absolutely nothing on their computer."
<Forrest> "Or someone who got told by a psychic not to leave any records?" Forrest suggests in turn.
<Targo> "I have to ask, Wil, how much of our stuff is on our computers?"
<El-Cideon> Reina looks sleepy as well. "Probably every damn fence in known space. We always had something to sell. But he didn't take me on...well, 'business meetings,' for lack of a better word. I got the impression he took jobs from someone on occasion, but only the big K's and Arsenic would know who. Why? What's up?"
<Wilhelmina> "Some. But you can't befriend our computer, it bites."
<Targo> "Seems his employer is targeting our employer, and by extension, us. So our new job is to go the one step further and find out who they are and if we have to kill them."
<El-Cideon> "Oh." She considers this for a moment and then shrugs. "Could be fun." It's basically what she was doing beforehand, anyway, except legally.
<El-Cideon> So, Wil and Forrest head over to Sanada's HQ on the other side of town. There are still some scorch marks around one window where the bomb must have gone off last month, but the building's mostly been repaired. The two mercs are stopped from entering by a police cordon, though. Several cars are pulled up outside the building and a low-ranking officer's trying to wave you away.
* Wilhelmina is affronted by cops looking like they're doing their jobs. "What's going on here?" she asks the nameless officer, not particularly affected by his commands.
* Forrest just lets Wil do her thing. He's only keeping her company for something to do.
<El-Cideon> The man's badge states that he his Officer Hinkles. He looks about as happy as anyone named Hinkles could possibly be. "CEO here was arrested for conspiracy yesterday. Most of her office is being impounded. Move along, please. Unless you work for her, in which case I'd be glad to arrest you."
<Wilhelmina> "I'm interested in the part of her office not being impounded."
<El-Cideon> "So the chairs, basically."
<Wilhelmina> "Yes. Can I go in now?"
<El-Cideon> "No. Can I arrest you now?"
<Wilhelmina> It would be the end of his sad little carreer. Wilhelmina frowns. "Whatever." She can just spend her time doing nothing but sitting back in the office.
<El-Cideon> He seems glad to see you go.
<El-Cideon> ---