[SFS, Campaign Mode] GM Blake's Against the Aeon Throne

Game Master Blake's Tiger

"Dammit! Get the close one!" Get'em on Red. Move half speed to maintain stealth.

Lors slips forward as well, maintaining her hiding place. Double move @ half speed.

Without a prompt response, the Azlanti soldiers follow their original orders: kill anyone found outside of the village.

The Azlanti who spoke takes aim at Del's silhouette, which prompts the technician to command his drone to open fire. U rises above the mushroom cap it had previously been hiding behind and rapidly fires the laser pistol. The first shot goes wide, but the second burns a hole in the soldier's armor. (Please roll damage even if you roll low, you never know when you might hit. I rolled it this time.)

Del tries to sneak through the undergrowth, but he moves like an ikeshti in heat. Every possible thing that he could step on, he steps on, and emerges face to face with the soldier.

This leads to Rril moving for cover and firing blindly into the fog. It does not sound like he hit anything at all. (Remember that you have 30 ft line of sight in/through the fog, beyond that you're guessing where to aim and then have a miss chance).

Then this leads Steve to open fire at the soldier standing next to Del, landing a glancing blow across his cheek.

Lors sneaks forward through the brush much more quietly than Del.

The second soldier moves out of the mist and hastily fires at Del's new, open position. The bullet grazes the engineer's hand.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Red (-2) (11/12): Miss
Rril: Miss
Antenor (Stealth 21): Get 'em @ Red
Del (-1) (Stealth 2): Move / U: FA Miss/Hit
Steve: Hit
Lors (Stealth 19)
Blue
Haro

"Here's your daily pass phrase," Haro calls back in Azlanti. He simultaneously throws his returning starknife, but the fact is that the young bounty hunter can't even see the enemy yet through the trees and mist.

Starknife (tactical, returning fusion (P): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 11d4 ⇒ 1

The Azlanti soldier carefully steps away from Del and his welding torch. He lifts the barrel of his rifle and fires into the mechanic's shoulder. The slug hits hard.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Red (-2) (10/12): Hit
Rril
Antenor (Stealth 21)
Del (-8)
Steve
Lors (Stealth 19)
Blue (11/12)
Haro

Oonopidae stomps and clicks through the dense forest floor as Steve fires a laser pistol into the brush.

Firing at Red

Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage (Fire): 1d4 ⇒ 3
Crit Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3 + Burning condition (1d4)

Steve fires his laser and strikes something vital on the soldier's armor. It begins to spark, then smoke, and ultimately the armor begins to burn.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Red (-8; burning 1d4) (10/12): Hit
Rril
Antenor (Stealth 21)
Del (-8)
Steve: Crit
Lors (Stealth 19)
Blue (11/12)
Haro

Lors surges forward out of the undergrowth, powering a single shot into the closer guard.

Reaction Cannon @ Red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Piercing: 2d10 ⇒ (7, 1) = 8

Del moves forward, and swings his welder at blue...
Welder vs. EAC: 1d20 ⇒ 7
E & f (no crit'): 1d4 ⇒ 4

"U" shoots at blue...
Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Fire (crit' Burn 1d4): 1d4 ⇒ 4

Rril fires.

Trick Attack, Bluff w/Spy Spec: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 4 = 30
Ranged (pistol v red KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage (pistol)(P): 1d6 ⇒ 3
Add Damage if Trick Attack Successful: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Antenor skulks forward, "Come on, get'em!"

Get'em on Red

Azimuth: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 1 = 14 for DMG: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Lors crashes out of the forest and fires her reaction cannon. There is another wet impact and the soldier hits the ground, burning and with his left leg nearly disarticulated due to the force of the impact.

The last soldier is pelted by lasers and a bullet. He cautiously moves away from Del's swing with his welding torch and fires one--likely last--vindictive shot at the mechanic. The slug passes cleanly through his arm without striking bone.

Combat! Round 2/3. Bold may act.

Haro
--3--
Red (-20; burning 1d4) (10/12): So Dead
Rril
Antenor
Del (-12)
Steve
Lors
Blue (-12) (10/12)
Haro

"That's it! We got this!" Antenor motions with an exaggerated pointing of his arm. Get'em on Blue.

Azimuth: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6 for DMG: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Haro, tactical pike drawn, rushes down the path to cut off escape.

"You're not going anywhere!" he says in Azlanti.

double move

Lors crushes her way through the undergrowth, thrusting with her pike for the surrounded soldier.

Pike (Get 'Em): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Rril gives chase and fires again.

Trick Attack, Bluff w/Spy Spec: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 4 = 31
Ranged (pistol v blue KAC w/GE: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 = 14
Damage (pistol)(P): 1d6 ⇒ 2
Add Damage if Trick Attack Successful: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Del, bleeding, steps up after the retreating guard, and jabs his welder.
Welder vs. EAC: 1d20 ⇒ 7
E & f (no crit'): 1d4 ⇒ 3

"U" sees a mountain appear, and has trouble firing, but still tries to hit the enemy.
Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 -4 cover I imagine
Fire (crit' Burn 1d4): 1d4 ⇒ 1

Steve hobbles through the forest aboard his trust spider drone. "WHHEEEEEEEEEeeeee!"

Double Move.

Rril makes a trick shot and turns out the soldier's lights just in time for Lors to smack the dying Azlanti in the chest with her pike. The armor holds, and the body just tumbles back through the mushrooms and moss.

End of Combat

Haro lowers his weapon as the two troopers are pacified.

"Well, at least four of these troopers are dead...at least their numbers will be thinned out a bit," he says as he examines their gear.

Any objection to me taking one of the two survival knives?

Not at all. As we accumulate treasure, we should likely have a system. I'm okay with whatever (I've been in games where it's extremely basic and someone just writes down what will be sold, and I've been in games where we are extremely detailed. I think a scout should take the sensor, and anyone with proficiency should take the guns.

While the rest of the party picks the enemy clean, Antenor keeps his eyes peeled Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Lors looks at the puny trigger guards with dismay, and decides to pass on the rifles.

Large-size lament in progress lol

Del sits down, and rests for some 10 minutes.
He is still wounded, but is feeling a bit stronger again.
"Well... we prevailed."

Steve grabs ahold of one of the other knives. He holds it up against one of Oonopidae's many spider stalk-like legs and thinks hard. "Later." He shoves the knife into his sheathe and smiles. "See, plan worked. Now let's get to ex-wife."

Del eyes the goblin, suddenly a little wary: "You not gonna be usin' that knife of the ex-wife, huh?"

"'Steve', here, is quite the charmer." Rril notes. Although he can hardly fire it, Rril takes one of the rifles in an effort to improve his disguise.

Del eyes the goblin, suddenly a little wary: "You not gonna be usin' that knife of the ex-wife, huh?"

Steve looks at the knife. "No way!, at least not right away. This is for Oonopidae. I think with a bit of work I can attach it to her."

Haro presses a few buttons on his forearm datapad to record the scene.

"Strange things are afoot," he says. "It seems we may not be able to infiltrate their ranks without the pass code," he muses. "They seem fairly suspicious."

You continue to make your way through the jungle toward Madelon's Landing. Jellik and Del lead you around the few dangerous pools of concentrated mist that you encounter, but otherwise you encounter no further danger--from the planet nor its invaders.

Jellik leads you on a long, sweeping loop and then you break out of the jungle behind a pre-fabricated building typically used by core world settlers. The AbadarCorp logo is faded but visible on each of the panels.

Jellik hurries across the gap between the undergrowth and the back of the workshop. He softly raps on a corner of one of the panels and it pops off. He turns and silently gestures for you to cross and go in through the open panel.

Here a battalion of Azlanti soldiers wait to capture you...

This mechanic’s workshop consists of three interconnected, prefabricated modules, each the size of a shipping container. The central module is open on one side and appears to be a repair bay, although the tool chests, spools of wire, and broken equipment stacked haphazardly around the area imply that the repairs are slow going at best. Storage crates, broken furniture, and scrapped engines litter the yard around the junk shop. A short metal fence surrounds the yard, separating the chaos within from the orderly paths and shrubs of the surrounding colonists’ modules.

Once you are all inside, Jellik follows and closes the panel. There is silence for a good long moment, then a thickset woman with brown hair pulled back in a bun and a good number of grease smudges on her face and hands emerges from behind a stack of crates. "Jellik," she says, "I thought I told you that I'd shoot your foot off if you stepped foot in my shop?"

"Extenuating circumstances?" Jellik offers meekly.

"Yeah," she says with a heavy sigh. "There are. Who're your friends? Help?"

She beckons you to follow her through her maze of crates and junk, not waiting for Jellik or you to answer before moving. She leads you into a personal space in one of the modules. She hurriedly collects several broken datapads laying around on the couch and chairs. "Have a seat," she offers.

"Jellik," she says and points through a doorway. He bobs his head and hurries through, leaving you alone with her. You can hear the sound of plastic cups being collected and water flowing.

"So, what're you all doing here?" she asks.

"Captain Suolwind at your service, Beautiful.". Rril nods with a smile as he removes the Azlanti helmet. "But you may absolutely call me, Rril, if you'd like."

"We were asked to deliver some supplies to this nice ole planet you got here, when we ran into some pesky drones. After besting them, we landed and ran into some pesky soldiers. Bested them too." he continues. "Though, that hasn't let us in much on what is going on round here. You seem to have a pulse for this place and don't seem too surprised to see us. Maybe you can help us fill in the blanks?"

Del is rather shaken, so he takes a seat on a chair, and brings "U." onto his lap.
"Man, I'm happy you made it through this... it's crazy! What's happening? What are they after?"

Antenor sits quietly and for now, listens with a keen eye and focuses on anything fishy:

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + (2) = 8

Apparently he's a bit distracted.

Haro extends his hand to the woman. "I'm Haro Phane. You've probably heard of me," he says with a broad smile.

"As my associates said, we're trying to make a delivery. These Azlanti militants are making that tough. We've also got an old android friend in these parts. She's a fan of my work."

"Oh, I'm surprised," Aibretta says, ignoring the compliment, "But not as surprised to see traders as I was to see an alien starship descend upon us and unleash a well organized army upon our tiny settlement. That was yesterday and a few days after the probe crashed down next to some ancient spacecraft lost in the jungle. They've rounded most everyone up that gave them any resistance. Took Madelon and Cedona into their garrison, and then started searching for people out in the jungle.

“The Azlanti don’t know it, but a few of us have been coordinating a resistance to their occupation. I’ve been in charge of that. We don’t have all the pieces we need yet, but with you on our side, perhaps we do.

“The first step is to weaken the Azlanti. A few targeted strikes around town can reduce their numbers, weaken their defenses, or both. In between, you’re welcome to hide out here. After that, a direct attack on the garrison can flush the Azlanti out and free our prisoners. We’re not equipped for that, but it looks like you might be. The rest of us will round up any survivors, disarm them, and take back our settlement.”

Jellik stands in the doorway he had exited through a minute ago, hands full with a tray of drinks. "You what?"

Aibretta just snorts at him.

"Now, now, my dear." Rril cautions. "Let's not get too hasty. We never said anything about joining any resistance. We deal in goods--or in the case of Haro here and the big girl over there--bounties. However, none of that work is done pro bono, if you know what I mean."

"Here's how it is. Your planet seems nice--real nice, honest. But, these guys are well-organized and well-armed. You don't expect us, a group of 'merchants' to stick our necks out by stirring up a hornet's nest, especially when those hornets have high-tech armor, attack drones, and blasters, do you?" Rril gives a glance over to "his" crew.

The man sighs, then suggests, "Look, we might be able to get a load of you nice folks back aboard our ship and get you some place where these Azlanti won't bother you--for a modest fee, of course. But, I don't see how the five of us and a bunch of backwater colonists--no offense--are going to take on an entire interplanetary army."

"I mean, we're good. But were not that good."

Antenor nods at Rril's words, "You have to understand our point of view, though I do believe you to be earnest."

Part of Haro feels to agree with Rril and Antenor, but he also wants to help.

"What about fame and glory, friends? That's payment in itself. And what about Cedona? I think some of your know her, too. She's one of my biggest fans," he says, looking down at his wrist camera. "I'd do about anything for my fans," he adds with a wink.

"As part of Abadar Corp', I will of course fight in this resistance without requesting payment! A matter of honor."

Steve turns up as his pockets look stuffed full of parts from Aibretta's workbench. "We get to keep their gear?" He asks as he attempts his form of haggling. He doesn't even wait to hear and answer and nearly begins walking right towards the door to head out into the main yard, dropping a trail of nuts, bolts and screws behind him. "I can break it all down on the ship." His eyes grow wide and greedy as rash goblin decisions run through his mind.

Antenor does a little mental risk assessment. "Yeah, I'd be down. We can help."

"You don't want to help, you can leave," Airbretta says and turns her attention to the others as they offer more hopeful responses.

"You're helping or your not helping, but you're not getting paid for your shipment if you don't help, so there's that. And before anyone gets any funny ideas: I'm not withholding your pay; Medalon's the only one who can authorize your transfer, and he's imprisoned in the garrison."

She looks over at the goblin and smirks in amusement. "Definitely. You can have all their stuff."

He crosses her arms. "So Del, the handsome Akitonian, and probably the goblin are in. Anyone else want out before I start revealing details? I'm not sharing with anyone who might think the Azlanti will pay better for the information."

Del smiles.
 »Thanks for the tea Jelik... »

Rril momentarily goes into a blank stare, not used to frankness. "Well," he finally manages to mutter aloud, taking into consideration the others' apparent willingness. "it would seem that if I don't go along with your plan, that I may have a mutiny on my hands." A smile once again forms on the scoundrel's face. "And what kind of captain would I be if I allowed that to happen?"

"You've obviously got some sort of charm taking over the minds of my crew, like some gorgeous space siren." Rril continues with a gleam in his eye. "And, after all, we didn't come all this way just to get stiffed on payment. So, I suppose, at a minimum, we need to make sure that its Medalon is freed up to continue with his livelihood and honor his agreements."

"Okay, Beautiful. You can count on having old Rril, here, backing you up." he says affirmatively, before adding, "For now, at least."

The scoundrel reaches for a cup of tea. Upon taking a long, satisfying sip, he then asks eagerly, "So, where do you want my crew and I to begin?"

"You're not the captain," Haro growls, rolling his eyes. Former captain!"

Turning back to Airbretta, he says "You said Cedona was taken captive...was she okay last you saw her?"

No one seems to be remembering we have a common android friend/associate. Don't forget we need to save Cedona!

Lors's face is impassive as she answers, "Discretion is always part of the deal."

Rril refuses to bat an eye as Haro growls. When the icon mentions the android Cedona, Rril notes, "The Cedona that I know can take care of herself."

Despite his attempt at reassurance, a grim look overtakes his face."Although," he concedes, "she always was a fair employer. Would hate to see that well dry up."

"Taking care of oneself... maybe not facing a whole section of these shock-troopers!
So... where do we start? How do we hit them?"
Del' looks around to see if he can charge his welder.

"Good enough," the mechanic says still ignoring the compliments. She heads out and rummages around in the labyrinth of scrap and supplies to return shortly with a sketched out map of the settlement.

"Cedona was fine when they brought her into the garrison," Aibretta answers Haro. "Only those that tried to run or to swing a pipe or beam at a soldier's head got roughed up before being put in detention.

"Now, I've identified several quick strikes that would be helpful to our plan before making a push on the garrison. There's a fellow named Rendell Tace, a clerk hiding out in the supply depot, and I got word that a soldier was sent to do inventory. I need someone to make sure he hasn't done something 'heroic' and gotten himself killed or captured.

"Then there's the hobgar trap in the middle of town. You run into any of those blue-haired taser monkeys? Whole mess of them in a trap at the top of a pole. Let them out and they'll distract the Azlanti for a while.

"There are three soldiers that patrol near the cemetery. It's far enough away from everything else that you could take them out without alerting anyone. Same signal jammer that's screwing up our communications interferes with theirs.

"The Azlanti have claimed the settlement's moisture collector and are rationing the water to we settlers pretty thin. If you could liberate that, it would certainly entice some that have been too scared to join to help out and boost the morale for everyone.

"Last, I'd ask something of a tactical request more than part of the battle plan, really. Medalon might have some notes or something on whatever it is the Azlanti are trying to find or figure out--something to do with that old wreck in the jungle--in his office. Try to get those, if they exist, before the big fighting starts and someone blows it up or steals it. I want those red-eyed bastards to know their mission was a failure once we're done with them."

You can attempt some or all of these in any order.