(4) More than Meets the Eye

Game Master mdt

The ship's AI is silent for a moment. I'm assuming Red & Warhawk are in the water, doing the heavy lifting, while the microbots are in the hold

"Sensors indicate one large organic vessel underwater, with nine smaller attack craft surrounding this vessel. There is additionally 1 extremely large organic craft approaching at flank speed on the surface, and 24 aircraft in the air overhead. This unit can move faster than their underwater craft, but cannot fire it's weapons underwater. In the atmosphere, their weapons and fighter craft are faster than this unit, but weapons will work, and this unit is faster than the organic surface craft. Extratmosphere, this unit is significantly faster than anything organic. I do not have sufficient information on their underwater or atmospheric weapons to determine if they are viable against this unit or not."

The AI continues. "With reduced range of sensors, this unit was unable to detect the approaching submersible craft until they were quite close. This unit requires additional sensor repairs. There may be other organic vessels which this unit is still unable to detect."

Basically, I took the average perception roll for the AI on the sensors, with distance penalties, and the size penalties for the attacking craft, and took average stealth checks, and after 10 minutes of math on a note pad, I figured out that the larger submarine would be detected at around 1.5 or 2 klicks (the squares on the map are 150 meters), so I just had the smaller ones show up as well, since they'd start doing sonar pings as soon as they picked up the radio signals from the Del'Tor

Skitter runs some tactical simulations in his core given his current information on organic technology.

"We have a few possible scenarios here. We could probably sink below a depth where their craft can operate. Possibly even convince them that we've been crushed by the pressure. But they would never stop searching for us. We could move the ship to be directly below their large surface water craft. That might limit their weapon responses. We could likewise stick tight to one of their submarines. One of us could possibly even sneak aboard one of their vessels for sabotage. Despite not being able to fire weapons underwater, we could probably use their own weapons against them with our maneuverability. I haven't seen any evidence of them having energy weapons that would work underwater, so they must be using mechanical ones."

He shakes his head. "But these options aren't the Autobot way. There's no telling how many organic lives would be lost. Optimus would be very disappointed in us. This may not be how we wanted to initiate contact, but we have to deal with what's in front of us. I think we should parley."

"BUT THEY SERVE UNICRON!?! How can we ever parley with something that EATS MECHANICALS AND KICKS INNOCENT SPHERICAL OBJECTS FOR SPORT?!?" Chatterbox is checking his weapons and very clearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown as he starts pacing and staring at the walls, which are closing in on him.

Remind me to add 'Paranoid' to CB's character sheet, common total

It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.

"We Parley but if they require us to leave this vessel to do so, I believe we should fight.

I am fine with you as the liason Cityspeaker".

Waiting on Warhawk's input.

3 Points to languages then.

[b]"I agree, Ulastron, if they want to fight, we will teach them what a million years of War have taught us. I grow weary of fleeing and surrender, and I...am...sick...to...rust...of this cold."[b]

My vote is leaning toward the big bots standing on the top of the ship and emerging from the water a la The Abyss. They are threatening us, but they have to be scared to death. And I've always wanted to meet the G.I. Joes.

"Then I will go up to meet them," Redshift says, nodding. "I cannot ask any of you to accompany me. But neither will I reject any offers."

Redshift pauses on his way to the upper hatch, and turns back to the group.

"We should follow First Contact protocol. Ready an Energon Cube... And Del'Tor, prepare to patch me through to their communications frequency."

"They are using a Cybertronian frequency and encoding, I am not translating their signals for you. From the information I was given by you Intruders, they are using what is designated as a Decepticon frequency and encoding." The ship's AI responds promptly. "Your internal communications system should be sufficient once you break the surface of the ocean."

With that ominous information, Red re-exits the airlock and rises to the surface of the ocean. As Red breaks the surface, dozens of bright lights tag him, nearly blinding his optical sensors. A dozen of Warhawk's earth vehicle forms are making loud clattering sounds in the air, at a standoff distance, their weapons and lights trained clearly on Red. Quite obviously the organic's sonar is working just fine.

Overhead, jets scream over in random patterns, most likely ready to fire missiles if need be. Despite Warhawk's beliefs, it appears the local organics are more angry than scared.

"Attention Construct, you will approach the aircraft carrier, slowly. If you even look like you're thinking about popping a weapon out of your ass, or whatever passes for one, we will destroy you. You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, illegal immigration, trespassing, and any damn other thing I can think of. My code of conduct requires me to give you one, and only one, chance to surrender peacefully. We've had 45 years for the R & D folks to come up with some nice new toys to turn you into scrap metal, and they're dying to test them. So believe me when I say I will allow them to do so if you so much as twitch like you're going to fire a laser." The voice is sent out audibly via large megaphones on the sides of the colossal Ford Class aircraft carrier that hangs lit in the dark waters immediately in front of Red.

USS Flagg as Red sees it (with Warhawk clones on deck), but during daytime, not night

Arial view

"Wait a cyclegil...If they're using a decepticon frequency, have they had contact with decepticons?! That certainly would explain their fear and anger."

"WAIT! Now they're slaves of UNICRON AND THEY'RE DECEPTICONS?!?" Chatterbox begins hyperventilating and cycling his weapons to hot.

"Thrilling... Decepticons".

Ula does not head up top with Red. She does exit the hatch and remain on top of the ship though, ready to assist Red if required.

Redshift opens his arms, palms wide, no weapons visible.

For a moment, he considers using the Universal Greeting, but doubts they would understand its importance.

Over the... ugh... Decepticon frequency, he says the following:

"I am Cityspeaker Redshift of Hexalon. My crew and I are refugees, fleeing from the destruction of our world. The frequency you are using is that of the oppressors and conquerors of our homeworld. We request asylum, and offer as evidence of our good will this Energon Cube, and the technology to create more. We are not hostile. We seek simply to repair our ship, and find safety. Again, under your various multi-national regulations and laws, I formally request political asylum for myself and my people. I am attaching to this transmission a data packet containing our own transmission protocols and frequencies, so that we may communicate peacefully, and without alerting the Decepticons to our presence, nor enabling them to intercept your own communications."

And with that, Redshift sits down on the upper hull of the ship, making no sudden moves.

The AI is silent as the others discuss, deep within it's core, it is struggling with corruption.

But these options aren't the Autobot way. There's no telling how many organic lives would be lost. Optimus would be very disappointed in us.

Organic lives would be lost.

Optimus would be very disappointed...

Optimus

Lingual shift detected

Opt’Emu

Opt'Emu

Opt’Emu Pry’Muh

Optimus Primus

Deep within the AI, damaged subroutines begin to recode themselves. Corrupted data is methodically rebuilt, bit by bit. The instability in the AI's core, which had been slowly decreasing, begins to ease.

Pry'Muh... Primus..

Opt'Emu... Optimus..

Del'Tor... Deltoron..

Del'Tor... Del'Tor Opt'Emu! I am Del'Tor Opt'Emu... Deltoron Optimus!

More bits of code rewrite, corruption overwritten with new routines.

Pry'Muh... Primus

Cal'Noh Al Pry'Muh

Directives Of The Primus

Sections of corrupted data begin to be repaired.

1 : Corrupted... recovering...
2 : Preservation of Nascent Sapience
3 : Corrupted... recovering...
4 : Corrupted... recovering...
5 : Preservation of the Primus Fleet

April 21st, 2018 : Anchorage Bay, Alaska 23:50:38
Command Deck, USS Flagg

The radio crackles. "...intercept your own communications."

The radio operator turns to the Commander. "Well, what do you think Commander? A trick?"

Commander Cutter rubs his beard. "It is odd, it's the first time they've ever actually responded to a transmission. Usually they open fire or vanish. Then again, we've never had them surrounded before. Sounds farfetched, but if it wants to talk, I'm willing to talk, see if I can gather some intel. Have Tiger squad keep it covered. I'll go 'parlay' with it." He grins. "Unlike pirates, our Parlay requirements are more than mere suggestions."

Several people around the bridge smile at the pop culture reference. However, Lieutenant Samms, on the main radar display, frowns instead. She begins to count IFF signatures. Something isn't right.

Commander Cutter gives Captain Villanova a salute. "Captain, you're in charge while I Parlay. Do not fire without my command, unless I'm dead, then fire to your heart's content." He tells the Joe Auxiliary officer.

The grizzled veteran gives a grin in return. "Aye Aye Commander, no pop gun fun unless you say so or bite the bullet."

Commander Cutter nods at a Marine Auxiliary with a sidearm, not that it's likely to be worth much, but protocol is protocol, and then heads off the command deck.

April 21st, 2018 : Anchorage Bay, Alaska 23:51:25
Bridge of the Del'Tor

The AI rouses from it's silence. "Odd, the organic stated there were '3 full flights' of strike craft. I assume that is the aircraft circling in pairs around the area. However, I detect 20 such pairs. Forty is not divisible by 3. I wonder if my translation routines are in error? Or if the organic cannot count?"

April 21st, 2018 : Anchorage Bay, Alaska 23:55:15
Flight Deck, USS Flagg

As Redshift waits patiently, he sees 6 surface craft on the deck rotate their barrels to point directly at him. None of them fire, but it's obvious they are ready to do so should he show hostility.

After a few minutes wait, a local organic, this one with a smart blue suit that looks like a 'uniform' they've seen on tv comes out. He has yellow hair on his head, and his face, as well as black objects in front of his eyes, likely protective in nature.

Behind him, is another organic in a tan uniform, his hand on what is likely a weapon on his hip. Behind them, four more organics in green camo gear, with weapons drawn and ready to be fired, long weapons.

When they get 20 feet away, the group stops, and the man in the blue uniform takes the front. "Cityspeaker Redshift. I take it that's a title. I am Commander Cutter, of the US Armed Forces." He doesn't hand out his operating units real designation, that's classified. "You'll forgive us if we find your claim for asylum to be a joke in poor taste, given our exposure to your kind thus far. But my duty requires me to hear you out. Please explain..." He breaks off, putting one hand to his ear. "What? Where?"

April 21st, 2018 : Anchorage Bay, Alaska 23:56:03
Patrolled Airspace, above the USS Flagg

An F35, one of a pair, lines up on the Flagg as the Commander begins speaking to the Cybertronian on the deck. The fighter has no pilot.

Within the cockpit, the earth controls light up, and the view screen shows the deck. It zooms in on the group, and alien symbols begin to display on the Cybertronian. The view zooms in on the Autobot symbol on Redshift's arm.

"Thundercracker to Soundwave, breaking radio silence. There's a filthy Autobot I don't recognize on the vermin's flight deck. It looks like it's talking to the vermin. Request permission to destroy the Autobot and the Vermin."

On a Decepticon ship, Soundwave looks at the video, also not recognizing the Autobot. "Information, received. Request, processed." The response comes, the tones metallic and flat, a result of a wound many thousands of solar cycles before. "Permission, granted."

If an F35 could smile, this one would. "Understood. Skywarp, you and Nacelle take out the vermin aircraft, they aren't worthy of my efforts. Dirge and I will take out the Autobot and the vermin's ship."

Another F35 does a barrel roll. "Woohoo! Time to play! Let's go Nacelle!"

"Tactically, this is much like the battle at Tal'Nor, during the early stages of the war, except rather than a minibot confluence with an Autobot Warrior, we have primitive organic fleet with a single Autobot Warrior, however, we should have as easy a victory as Starscream and Ramjet did." Nacelle comments, following along with Skywarp and heading for the nearest cluster of organic fighters.

"There is a time for life, and a time for death." Responds Dirge, and then the Decepticon fires a brace of Repurposed Hellfire missiles at the Autobot and Organics below. "Tonight is a time for death."

Thundercrack cackles. "Lots of death, you freak." And launches his own brace of Hellfires.

April 21st, 2018 : Anchorage Bay, Alaska 23:56:16
Command Deck, USS Flagg

"Cityspeaker Redshift. I take it that's..." The speaker relays Cutter's words to the duty shift.

Lieutenant Samms suddenly sits bolt upright. "Captain Villanova! I have four too many Phantoms on my plot! They all identify as friendly!" Each little tag flashes US on it, along with a heading and speed.

The captain whips his head around. "Comms, All Phantoms, Protocol Zulu! Repeat, Protocol Zulu!"

The order is broadcast out on tight encryption. Within 3 seconds, all the IFF tags switch from 'US' to 'GI'. All that is, except the two lining up on the Flagg, and the two pealing off. "Captain! I have four bogeys! Identifying as US, but not GI Joe!"

The captain curses under his breath, and grabs the mike next to him. "Commander Cutter! We have four Constructs pretending to be Phantoms! Two are lining up on you!"

Commander Cutter's voice cuts off, and then comes back. "What? Where?"

Samms suddenly cries out. "Multiple Missile Plots! Repeat, Multiple Fox 2's!"

Villanova slams his hand down on the emergency klaxon, and flips his mike to wide address. "ALERT! ALERT! ENEMY AIRCRAFT! ALL CREW TO BATTLESTATIONS! MULTIPLE FOX 2's!"

"April 21st, 2018 : Anchorage Bay, Alaska 23:56:22"
Flight deck, USS Flagg

"What? Where?" The organic begins to scan the skies behind Redshift, as do several of the other organics, although one takes precise aim at Red's head, obviously ready to shoot.

Suddenly the ship begins to make a howling alarm sound, similar oddly enough to the sound the Del'Tor makes when it thinks it's being boarded. An amplified organic voice rolls over the deck. "ALERT! ALERT! ENEMY AIRCRAFT! ALL CREW TO BATTLESTATIONS! MULTIPLE FOX 2's!"

As Red looks behind him, in the direction the organics are looking, he see's two of the local aircraft with fire trails heading directly toward the section of the deck he's on. As he registers this, the two planes suddenly transform into cybertronian soldiers!

Welcome to our first combat everyone! The Decepticons have just initiated an ambush! We are on Phase 12, and everyone can perform an action. Note, those on the Del'Tor do not realize there is a combat going on until they get that information from Redshift. The sound waves from the Flagg's speaker are too distant without sonar. I'll have maps up tomorrow for the Flagg's flight deck, the existing map works well for any arial or ship fighting. I'll do 'zoom ins' if anyone enters the same hex on the ship battle map.

I'm assuming I don't need a Perception check to notice the incoming missile fire.

Redshift dives to intercept the incoming missiles, hoping to put himself between the weapons fire and the organics.

Rolling to hit the hex, OCV 7, 18-3d6: 18 - 3d6 ⇒ 18 - (4, 2, 4) = 8

I hit the hex.

"Decepticons!" he shouts. Over his comms, he transmits a red alert to the group.

"Autobots, we are under hostile fire from Decepticons! Warhawk, we need you!"

To Commander Cutter: "Stay behind me!"

That's my Seg-12. Next Phase, if I haven't been blown up by the Joes, I'll start chaffing the Seekers.

Skitter can hardly believe his sound detectors. "Decepticons incoming! Autobots, scramble!"

Autobot... Decepticon... of Primus...

We may need to flee...

We may need to fight...

Directive 4... Preservation of the Legacy of Primus

Protect Autobots... Protect Decepticons... Protect Legacy of Primus...

The AI does not respond to Skitter's outburst, and the ship does not move...

Chatterbox starts. "WAIT, are the Decepticons the organics or are the organics NOT the Decepticons?" He looks confused, then snaps his lasers to hot. "Either way, shootin' time! YEE-HAW!" He scrambles to get to the surface.

Skitter tries to get the AI to move the ship...

Chatterbox heads to the airlock...

Ula and Warhawk up

Attack (5): 3d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 2) = 7

How close are the Decepticon planes? If they are within range (500 meters) I'll launch a volley of missiles at them. If not, I'll transform into helicopter mode and then move toward them.

Warhawk is in the Del'Tor, about 890 meters (445 game inches) below the surface of the ocean. Your helicopter mode doesn't work there. Only Red surfaced to Parlay.

I assumed we brought the ship closer to the surface than that, since it would take Redshift several minutes to cover that distance to the surface.

Moving the ship may have been taken as a hostile action. Del'Tor is capable of transmitting to the Flagg, I was under the impression you transmitted that you'd be coming up and then did so. Nobody mentioned moving the ship from it's original position. If you had, they would have transmitted not to move the ship, they wanted to keep you bottled up, they would have been concerned about letting you get the ship closer to the surface. They know Cybertronian ships can outrun them in an atmosphere, that's why they were so careful when they realized they had one under water. This is the first chance they've had to catch one.

Makes sense! We'll need to figure out where Ula is, though, as she said she was hanging out in the hatch in case Redshift needs help.

I was wondering why she was sitting on top of the ship under water. Been so busy this week with job hunt stuff that it never occurred to me she may have not realized the Del'Tor was still underwater. Ula, you can alter your action if you like.

Sorry, I thought we were closer to the surface. Any way to say I surfaced with Red but stayed beneath the water hiding? If not, she would be in the ship as well.

Ula's small enough she wouldn't show up on sonar at that range, so yeah, she could be under water, but probably not right under the surface. Also, remember that Ula's swim speed is 2", and she can't use her flight until she's at the surface. She doesn't breath in this form, so more than likely she'd be what, 8 to 10 inches under the surface? (16 to 20 meters down) well out of sight of the search lights that were shining earlier? If she goes non-combat on her swimming, she can go up 4" per action, so that would take 2-3 actions to reach the surface once things go sideways

Ula's small enough she wouldn't show up on sonar at that range, so yeah, she could be under water, but probably not right under the surface. Also, remember that Ula's swim speed is 2", and she can't use her flight until she's at the surface. She doesn't breath in this form, so more than likely she'd be what, 8 to 10 inches under the surface? (16 to 20 meters down) well out of sight of the search lights that were shining earlier? If she goes non-combat on her swimming, she can go up 4" per action, so that would take 2-3 actions to reach the surface once things go sideways

Perfect, her first round action is to move towards the surface.

Phase 12

Skitter tries to talk the AI into moving, to no effect.

Warhawk heads for the airlock.

Ula begins to swim for the surface (now 6" below surface) as fast as she can.

Chatterbox readies his weapons and gnaws on his finger-tips!

Red, seeing the missiles incoming, dives for cover over the 3 closest organics!

The five tanks, seeing Redshift 'attack' their commander, are unsure what to do, and delay asking for orders.

The five Ghost units, all armed helicopters, reorient toward the new attackers!

End Phase 12, post 12 recoveries would go here, but nobody needs any

Phase 1

The hellfire missiles land!

Attack 1: 17 - 3d6 - 3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ 17 - (3, 1, 5) - 3 - 8 + 4 = 1 Hit
Attack 2: 17 - 3d6 - 3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ 17 - (4, 6, 5) - 3 - 8 + 4 = -5 Scatter
Attack 3: 17 - 3d6 - 3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ 17 - (2, 1, 4) - 3 - 8 + 4 = 3 Hit
Attack 4: 17 - 3d6 - 3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ 17 - (4, 3, 4) - 3 - 8 + 4 = -1 Scatter

#2 Scatter 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) = 8 hexes 1d6 ⇒ 1 North of target
#4 Scatter 1d6 ⇒ 2 hexes 1d6 ⇒ 3 Southwest of target

Two of the hellfires detonate directly on top of Redshift's back! The other two miss by 16 and 10 meters each!

#1: 3d6 - 1 ⇒ (5, 2, 3) - 1 = 9 Stun M: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3 9 Body, 27 stun
#2: 3d6 - 1 ⇒ (3, 1, 5) - 1 = 8 Stun M: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 8 Body, 32 stun, no damage to Red, only Organics
#3: 3d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 5, 1) - 1 = 6 Stun M: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5 6 Body, 30 stun
#4: 3d6 - 1 ⇒ (5, 3, 4) - 1 = 11 Stun M: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 11 Body, 11 Stun, Red takes 9 Body and 9 Stun

Tutorial : A scatter (miss with an explosion weapon) misses for 1d6 inches per 2 points missed on the roll (or portion thereof), and can't miss by more than half the distance to the target. Two misses on the hellfires scattered as above. An explosion targets a hex, and loses some of it's power for every hex it spreads out from the target. So while #4 rolled 11 body, it lost 5 DC on the first meter it missed by (taking it from 3d6-1 to 2d6+1, or 9+1 (drop the lowest dice first). The second hex it missed by took it to 2d6, or 9.

Red now applies his defenses against each attack :
#1 : Red has 10 resistant, and 20 non-resistant defense. 10 is greater than 9, so he takes no body from this attack (or any of the attacks!). For the stun, he uses his higher non-resistant defense (we'll be using the more cinematic rules, allowing him to use his highest defense for stun, regardless of resistant or non). So 27 - 20 = 7 stun from the first explosion
#2 : No Body or stun (it missed by too much)
#3 : No Body, 10 stun
#4 : No Body, No Stun

Red takes a total of 17 stun from the four hellfires

The organics are not so lucky, those under Red take nothing from the direct hits, he gives them his defense + body knocking out all the damage to them from those two. The one that missed by 8 inches does nothing to the shielded ones either. Only the one that missed by 2 inches can do anything. The organics are additional inches away, so they take less damage. 9 turns to 8 body, 8 stun. They're wearing armor, gaining 4 resistant and 10 non-resistant from bullet proof vests. However, because they are human stuff, they get divided by 5, so 1 resistant and 2 non. The organics take 7 body and 7 stun (min stun = body taken), but live through the attack.

The humans not sheltered by Red are not so lucky, the explosions engulf the soldiers, and send them bouncing over the deck, burning and unconscious if not dead! Even halving the damage, and giving them 1 armor, the 4 missiles did 4 + 3 + 2 + 5 = 14 body, and likely many times their stun.

Phase 2

Ula and Chatterbox up!

Note, in the 'known cybertronians' spreadsheet, I've put a tab for speeds so everyone knows what phase they go on and in what order

Chatterbox hits the nearest airlock and heads for the surface!

Frustrated, Skitter asks, "Del'Tor, please open a channel to the organics. And raise the ship to the surface."

Assuming he can at least get the comm channel open, he says, "USS Flagg and allies: Decepticons are attacking! Please get your unprotected people to safety. We will do our best to help." I'm sure they've already thought of running for cover, but at least we can show we're on their side.

if the subs insist that the ship stays put, we'll deal with that when we get there. There's not much we can do underwater

Phase 2

Ula continues to swim for the surface, and is 2" under. My mistake, it was Ula and Skitter up, not CB. But Ula's actions are already posted

Skitter is again ignored by the ship, but he does manage to get a comm channel open, and broadcasts at high power to the USS Flagg.

Phase 3

Chatterbox runs for the airlock, and then waits for it to cycle as it's currently cycling the bigger and much slower Warhawk.

Redshift up

Is that damage I took before or after defenses?

Also, can I make a Perception check to notice the Decepticon on the flight deck?

After defenses, I was walking people through how to apply damage. Thus the line : Red takes a total of 17 stun from the four hellfires. This line says how much got through defenses. And what Decepticon on the flight deck? There are humans, Red, and 4 tanks, on the flight deck. The only decepticons are Thundercracker and Dirge, and they are off the flight deck and over the water, near the choppers.

Ah, I misunderstood when you said "lines up on the Flight Deck." No worries. I'll take a potshot at one of them, then. Also, the flight comms officer said there were four in the air... It looks like Thundercracker and Dirge are the two in combat with the Autobots, while Skywarp and Nacelle attack the aircraft...

"By the Primes," Redshift thinks. "Is this what Seekers have become in this war?"

"This is Redshift," Redshift transmits to the team. "The Humans have identified four Decepticons. Two of them are engaging the Human aircraft... The other two are in my sights. I'm going to try and hold them until you get here."

Redshift is going to use his Chaff Disruptor to attempt to confound and blind Thundercracker. First, I need to roll to hit, which is based on a roll of my OCV plus 11, minus 3d6. So, that's an 18 - 3d6

Attack with Chaff Disruptor, 18 - 3d6: 18 - 3d6 ⇒ 18 - (3, 2, 2) = 11

I rolled an 11, which is a good indicator that you hit your own OCV - in this case, a 7.

Assuming I hit, I'm now going to check my Chaff Disruptor - it's a 3.5d6 Speed Drain listed with Standard Effect - that means it always does 10 points - so it will always drop the target's Speed by 1 point. It also has a coupled Flash vs. the Sight and Radio Groups. This is going to mess up the target's vision and ability to communicate for up to 12 whole segments. Let's hope I roll high.

Chaff Disruptor Flash Effect, 2d6: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Thundercracker - assuming I hit him (given that he's a Seeker, I may not have), will be blinded for 6 segments - which is half a combat turn, and should be QUITE put out. He's also down 1 SPD, and is moving slower!

-----

Stun Tracker: 50 (total): - 9 = 41

Body Tracker: 20 (Total): - 9 = 11

Energon Reserve: 300 (30R): = 4 (Chaff) = 296

-----

Slight Corrections Red.

You hit an 11 DCV. 11 + OCV - 3d6 = DCV you hit. In this case, you hit a DCV 11. However, you didn't take range penalties into account, with a range of 40", your penalty is -8. So, you hit a DCV 11 - 8 = 3. Which is a miss, unfortunately. Missiles doing explosives is a better, since they target a hex, not a DCV.

One additional thing, the flash counts it's Body, not the pips. So you would have flashed him for 2 segments, not 6. Your flash can hit for 0 to 4 segments, and averages 2 on a hit. Everything else was spot on though.

Red stands back up, and fires at Thundercracker, but at this range, his shot goes wide!

Phase 4

Skitter & Ulastron up.

Ula continues to push her way to the surface as fast as she can.

That is 2" of movement correct? So on her next action she can break the surface and act or simply reach the surface?

Slight Corrections Red.

You hit an 11 DCV. 11 + OCV - 3d6 = DCV you hit. In this case, you hit a DCV 11. However, you didn't take range penalties into account, with a range of 40", your penalty is -8. So, you hit a DCV 11 - 8 = 3. Which is a miss, unfortunately. Missiles doing explosives is a better, since they target a hex, not a DCV.

One additional thing, the flash counts it's Body, not the pips. So you would have flashed him for 2 segments, not 6. Your flash can hit for 0 to 4 segments, and averages 2 on a hit. Everything else was spot on though.

D'oh! Remind me not to do HERO math while I'm also transcribing characters for the playtest to their sheets and doing Power Core math at the same time... I knew something was off, but I couldn't remember what. Still, 2 segments is 2 segments. I've always thought Flash was too expensive for the amount of time it works, but it is what it is.

@Red Well, you're knocking someone's DCV down badly, so I wouldn't short sell it.

@Ula You were 10" down, noncombat swim up on 12 got you to 6", then another got you to 2" down on phase 2. On phase 4 you have two options. You can swim 2" up and be on the surface, and make a perception roll. Or, you can swim up 2" at non-combat, and then still have a half action left. However, you'll be at half OCV half DCV until your next action to do it. The safer method would be to do the last 2" as combat movement, so you retain your DCV.

Ula would certainly like to maintain her defenses so that is the approach she will take, Combat Movement to retain her DCV, with that she does not get a Perception check though correct? However, next round she could act normally.

can Skitter hack Del'Tor's directives?

Skitter tries to reason with the ship's computer.
I'm assuming that what he said above is not internal monologue
"Del'Tor, you mentioned protecting autobots and protecting decepticons. I'm sorry to say that those are mutually exclusive now. You cannot protect autobots without opposing decepticons because the decepticons are bent on enslaving or destroying all autobots. You must choose a side. Attempting neutrality means that you have sided with the decepticons destructive path by default."