A few hours later, someone knocks on your door. A codeword is spoken before you open the door, and it is the correct one. You open the door, and a human female is there. "Where's the package?" she asks, and you hand the V'sori over to her. She disappears into the night.
Doxis is an eager learner, what are you showing her now?
Paradigm will focus on teaching Doxis about why we are fighting the V'Sori and how to understand some of the humans we might encounter along the way. Modern mannerisms and such. Of course, it will be slightly skewed towards the intelligent community rather than the dregs of the street, such as what they encountered earlier.
She is confused at first about the V'Sori (do you tell her how they deceived everyone and killed all the superheroes?), as it slowly dawns on her that she is no longer in her world at all, she seems to get a little sad.
"Wow, that's a lot to take in. I think I need some time alone. Is there an empty bedroom in this place?"
"Don't let it getcha down, girlie! We're not that bad, once ya get ta know us." Biohazard attempts a disarming smile, but it comes out as a pained grimace.
Paradigm directs Doxis to the nearest empty room and tells her, "I'll be in the lab if you have more questions." He wonders if he should have waited to tell her about what the V'Sori did to the other superhumans, shaking his head, he goes to the lab to work on one of his many other projects.
A few days later, you get a message from Dr. Destruction : "Information provided by Dr. Aden [the V'Sori you picked up] has revealed that the aliens’ drone warriors are remotely controlled by a massive satellite space station. However, simply destroying this satellite is not enough, as the drones would continue to carry out the last commands broadcast to them before its destruction. I want your team to get into the satellite and broadcast a shutdown command to the drones, and then blow it up. Go to the following co-ordinates to meet Dr. Aden and 2 other V'Sori at a shuttle that can take you to the station. You will need to provide your own explosives."
A set of co-ordinates is read off.
Doxis has come out of her funk, and tells Paradigm "I'm ready to learn all I can about this new world, and to help you in any way with your missions!"
”Well, boys, we get to go blow something up. That sounds pretty cut and…”, he pauses as Doxis comes in. ”Then you can help us blow something up. We’re going to a place you have probably never been. Beyond the sky.” Turning to everyone, he continues, ”So, I can handle hacking the machine and sending the code, but I am quite sure they are not going to be happy with me while I do it, so I will be relying on the three of you to keep my skin intact while I do what needs to be done. Once it’s clear, we get back to the shuttle, start the timers to the bombs we will plant prior and then come back home, safe and sound for a nice fireworks show. I can work on making some explosives, but if some of you know somebody, we can expedite the process. “
Anyone can roll Persuasion-2 to see if they can find a contact for some high-grade explosives.
"The briefing said we will be boarding the satelite? I presume that means we're dealing with a space station of some sort as opposed to a traditional flying radio relay station. How big is it? Any chance we can get schematics or at least a size and personnel estimate? This seems like a far fetched plan; Doc Destruction can get us to outer space, but can't get us garden variety explosives? What about the practical aspects? I've never been in zero-G, and I don't think combat is a particularly good situation to learn-on-the-fly. Maybe Visori installations have artificial gravity? We can hope. As many animals as I am familiar with and can transform into, exactly none of them are native to near earth orbit. And as for Mr. Melty-hands... the expression Explosives Decompression comes to mind."
"If it is a small instalation, a small bomb should do; satelites are not usually built with explosions in mind. A simple jerry-can filled with fertilizer and diesel could do the job."
"Let's see: simple internet search says that for ANFO, Amonium Nitrite/Fuel Oil explosive, we need a ratio of 47 part AN to 3 Parts diesel. We could mix them on site to keep them stable, and then all we'd need is a detonator. ANFO includes its own oxydizer, so it should function even in a vacuum, so we should build the detonator with that posibility in mind. Ammonium Nitrate supply is regulated, but not strictly, since it is used everywhere. It should be possible to find a source, particularly since the amount we'll need is so small."
Paradigm ponders Enkidu’s suggestion for a moment, his hand rubbing his chin. ”Crude, but effective. Remember also that whether it is a satellite or station, it will have maneuvering and station-keeping thrusters on board as well. Those require fuel that we could sabotage the containers of. Assuming the V’Sori do not use a technology that we are not familiar with as of yet.”
He stops briefly, to think about something and then returns to speaking. ”You are right, we should get more intel on our target first, however we do have people waiting for us. Let’s see what we can pull up on a more thorough search.”
Paradigm moves Enkidu aside and starts typing rapidly on the computer, looking for any info he can find on the satellite station.
Enkidu morphs into a human adult and goes looking around the neighborhood. Despite being a teenager with little social experience, he is quickly steered by the locals to a guy who can get you as much C4 as you want, for a price.
Paradigm finds out that the satellite is shaped like a hollow ring, 100 feet in diameter, connected by small spokes to a narrow hub. No more information is available.
As to the rest of your questions, Dr. Destruction seems to have turned off communication with your earbuds.
What do you do?
”Did this guy happen to have a bridge in Arizona too? What does he want for that kind of ordnance?”
Enkidu will say what he learned, including how much the guy wanted for the explosives.
"I don't mind being the one to pick them up. If they try to rob me, it won't go well for them. If it's a sting and they try to arrest me, I'm pretty hard to catch."
Ummm...I kinda want to ask you how many pounds of C4 you want, based on the size of the station, but I doubt any players would have a good feel for that. So let's just say you want N pounds (which should be enough to blow it up), which he wants $5000 for.
If I recall correctly, from the early points in the game, you had a communal "slush fund", so let's say the $5000 comes from there.
Enkidu makes the exchange with no problems.
What do you do now?
”Good work, Enkidu. Now we have to get to our meeting point with the scientist. Let’s pack whatever gear you need and get going.”
You load up, get in the van, and drive to the location Dr. Destruction gave you. It's a private launchpad, way out in the boonies. It looks very run down, but the superstructure looks sound. There's a shuttle on the launchpad, with two V'Sori standing on the ground near the open door. One of them is the V'Sori you "kidnapped" from the lab. They are wearing some kind of pistol on their hips.
What do you do?
Without missing a beat, Paradigm addresses their quarry. ”Friend of yours, Doc?,” he says, implying that if the other is not, A’Den should say something. Paradigm also remembers being told that A’den would have two escorts. He pulls up a mental code screen, just in case he needs to input an incantation right away.
"Yes, they will be helping us on our mission. You can trust them."
Assuming you have no issues, you all get aboard the shuttle, and within an hour are in low earth orbit, approaching the station.
There are V'Sori spacecraft in orbit, but Dr. Aden manages to provide the correct codes to get by them. After about another 3 hours, the space station looms into sight.
Aden says "Ok, I am going to claim that we are en route to the Man O'War, a large battle cruiser that's in far Earth orbit, but that my ship has developed mechanical difficulties. You are going to pretend to be the prisoners of these 2 guards here. First we need to get to the communication room to transmit the shut-down signal to the drones, then we need to get to the power core in the center hub to plant the explosives to blow it up. Any questions?"
Paradigm raises his brow. The sheer audacity that this turncoat was suddenly going to tell them what to do was simply appalling. "You mean to say you actually have a plan. I am impressed that you have made such a 180 from your cowardice since we extracted you. Since you know this station well, get me to the comms room, or any place I can jack in really, Get the others to the power core. The sooner this goes down, the sooner we all go home. We stay here too long, your little ruse will go up with it."
With that, Paradigm's form is slowly replaced with that of a V'Sori.
The metal in the ship appears to interfere with his circuitry. The illusion fades. "Fine, your way, but make it fast."
Aden vertical eyelids blink a couple of times. "Dr. Destruction has instilled in me a great courage that he can succeed with my help. Now, none of you speak unless you're asked a direct question by any V'Sori, including us."
He makes contact with the station's captain, explaining the (phony) situation, and asks for the run of the station, which he is granted. Upon disembarking, he is met by a lieutenant who greets him cordially (unless any of you speak V'Sori, you're getting this from their speaking tones and body language). He points at you 4, and appears to ask a question, to which Aden declines. The lieutenant bows, and leaves.
"I convinced him that you were dangerous enough to require constant monitoring instead of putting you in the brig. Come with me, I will take us to comms room. Once we're in there, close the door and kill everyone in there."
He walks you thru the ship, and finally comes upon a door with V'Sori writing on it. He knocks on it, it opens and a V'Sori peers out. Aden speaks with him briefly, and the V'Sori lets you in.
Round 1
Doxis : AH
Paradigm : 8H
Enkidu : 6D
Biohazard : 2C
V'Sori - surprised, no action this round
Everyone acts!
Doxis stands still for a moment, then goes over and open the door, and a large, strong, heavily-armored human walks in wielding a large energy gun. He points it at one of the V'Sori. Doxis closes the door.
Paradigm grin when A’Den tells him to kill everything. He spots the closest V’Sori to the console he needs and blasts him out of the way.
These 3 V'Sori are just technicians, and have no armor. Paradigm's blast blows one of them into little pieces.
Enkidu reaches out with an elongated arm, and rips through one with his claws. He eyes the last one, but leaves it for Biohazar.
Biohazard spits into his hands, forming a mucusy ball of slime and hurls it at the last V'Sori.
On a successful hit, the victim must make a Vigor roll or suffer a wound. In addition, it must make a Vigor roll or be fatigued (poison).
No damage.
The one V'Sori left says something in V'Sori. Dr. Aden shakes his head.
Round 2
Doxis : JOKER!
V'Sori : AC
Enkidu : KS
Biohazard : 8S
Paradigm : 4D
Doxis doesn't move, but the guy with the big gun points it straight at the remaining V'Sori and says "Don't move".
The V'Sori remains motionless, and says more in V'Sori. It sounds like he's probably pleading for his life. Dr. Aden shakes his head again.
Everyone is up!
"We takin' prizners?" Biohazard inquires.
"No, we're blowing up the station."
With that he grabs the last tech and stops his neck, giving him a quick death by brute strength.
With the technicians down, Dr. Aden quickly moves over to one of the consoles and types in a series of commands. "The drones have been shut down. Now we need to get to the core to blow this place up. Follow me."
He guides you quickly thru the station, heading closer and closer to the center. He talks to any V'Sori that see your group, and apparently whatever he tells them satisfies them.
Eventually, he reaches a corner in the corridor and says "There are two powerful guards at the door to the core. You must take them down, hopefully before they can sound an alarm. If they see humans, they will fire first and ask questions later, I cannot help you."
Does anyone want to do anything (shape shift, boost a Trait, etc.) before rounding the corner and attacking?
Enkidu will shift his appearance into that of a V'sori, but keeping his internal Physiology that of a bear.
Paradigm, not completely trusting their new ‘friend’, tries to access the computers remotely to verify that the drones were indeed shut down.
After sifting through the commands, he then follows the others, force field active.
Doxis says "I think I can make 1 or 2 of you harder to be seen by the guards until you attack, would that help?"
”Anything you can do to help, Doxis.”, Paradigm says as he catches up to them. ”I’d rather we get out of here alive and I think all of us can agree on that.”
Doxis concentrates for a few moments, and suddenly Paradigm and Biohazard become partly transparent, with a shimmering outline (-2 to Notice).
"I can only keep this up for maybe 30 seconds, you'd better move out now."
Biohazard doesn't wait to be told twice. He begins moving toward the door.
Paradigm quickly puts a mental post-it in the back of his mind to converse with Doxis and learn her form of magic. He then rounds the corner just behind Bio and Enkidu, ready to blast anything in his way.
The two guards see Enkidu's V'Sori form, point their guns at him and say something in V'Sori.
What do you all do?
Enkidu looks surprised and bewildered by the aggressive attention, and slowly raises his hands. He stays silent, waiting for Dr. Aden to cover for him, or one of his cloaked friends to end the threat.
I really need to learn V'sori. Seems to come up with regularity... Weird how similar it sounds to Atlantean.
Not waiting for the proverbial oscillating blades and animal refuse combination, Paradigm waits just back away from the rest, attempting to hide momentarily until the right moment.
The guards look ready to shoot if the V'Sori in front of them doesn't explain himself soon...
What do you all do?
Paradigm, knowing full well they are walking into a trap, decides to set it off. He targets the guard closest to Enkidu and blasts him.
Doxis' "invisibility" ends for both Paradigm and Biohazard when Paradigm fires (the shot startled her concentration).
And, yes, Paradigm's blast bounces harmlessly of the guard's armor.
Round 1
Enkidu - QH
Biohazard - 9H
Guards - 8D
Paradigm - 2S
Enkidu and Biohazard are up!
Enkidu lunges forward, attempting to eviserate both guards, one with each hand.
Neither of Enkidu's attacks do any damage. The guard that Enkidu attacked retaliates :
Doing
= 26 = 2 Wounds. You can try to Soak them.
(alphabetically by name)
The other guard attacks Biohazard :
= 7, either way
Doing
= 2 Wounds. You can try to Soak them.
Paradigm is up!