Clausius has a weird inkling in the back of his mind as he looks over the weapons power settings. Funny, he could have sworn he just brought weapons on line (SOP for a Battlestations call from the Commanding Offier), but he'd specifically not powered up the brand new Particle Beam. Good catch? Or something more sinister?
"Lt. Young, you're facing our port side toward the vessel!" Lt. Williams shouts, reviewing the scanner.
It wasn't catastrophic if port were facing an enemy, but it also wasn't the Guangzhou's most powerful offensive position. That Young had no memory of doing it was unnerving.
Hearing their situation... They're messing with our... minds. Tricks.
Earlier...
"Canny Resolve of the Azure Host. I read your files, and found them most intriguing. Your candor and directness is refreshing. Perhaps someday we might be able to discuss the merits and limitations between biotechnical and pure mechanical augmentations."
===
Enemy Vessel
The Martian grit his teeth, slamming a metal fist into the side of his skull several times. "Damnit, get your head back in the game Taylor. Aright, let's show these brainsquids who they're messing with!" With renewed determination he grips the controls, with intent to correct their heading and better before the enemy was in proper engagement range.
Top of Round 1
Taking the reigns of the controls he puts his thoughts into practice, moving through space in a curved arc in order to give the gunners a stronger heading. While he was at it he kept a good eye the firing range of the enemy ship. With some luck and skill, he might dodge their shots.
"Diverting power to the weapon's systems."
DC 24 engineering check...23
Krema thinks if he spends a few more seconds, the power will finish diverting (if do the same action next round, I'll give it auto-success).
Combat map at the top of the page updated.
Lt Williams, what's their weapons posture?
Do they seem aggressive besides messing with our heads?
"Affirmative. Energy weapons powering up. Lieutenant," Janessa pauses, the color flushing from her face.
"Some sort of carrier wave for antimatter."
Captain... we gotta take that weapon out!
Tapping the controls, Clausius brings the particle beam online and fires. Then he opens a channel.
All weapons, target primary weapons array or propulsion.
Patel takes a shot with the heavy laser turret as well, using computer-aided targeting:
Patel's shot goes wide, but Lt. Clausius scores a solid hit. The new particle beam does not disappoint. The weapon cuts through the larger ship's forward shields, causing 9 damage to the hull. Unfortunately, it just missed the weapon housing.
Legion may take an action before we move on to the enemy ship.
Legion tries to squeeze some more power out of the ship's systems for Lt. Krema, but can't quite manage to.
The enemy vessel moves closer and fires its main weapon.
The vessel rocks as the antimatter weapon rips through the port shields and disintegrates part of the outer hull (8 Hull Points damage).
"Port shields down captain! Rebalancing!"
"And...something's hitting the psionic shielding. I think they're trying to push through like they did at the beginning of the battle but...psi shields are holding."
Top of Round 2
Enemy Initiative:
Guangzhou Initiative:
The enemy vessel holds position. PCs may act.
"See what you can give us down there, Krema!"
"Engines aren't happy. Trying to divert energy to the shields. Not going well."
Rudo feels the ship lurch a bit as it's hit. It only confirms his notion that the weapon must be stopped.
Once more... Target primary weapons array or propulsion.
Rudo feels the ship lurch a bit as it's hit. It only confirms his notion that the weapon must be stopped.
Once more... Target primary weapons array or propulsion.
The shot glances off their re-aligned forward shielding.
Sure, you can fire the light laser canons on the Starboard side (2d4), or launch one of the tactical nukes (5d8).
Legion tries to fire off a laser blast at the weapon but has about as much luck as Rudo.
Patel brings the heavy laser around on the turret and fires toward the forward shields of the vessel.
"Enemy forward shields are down again!"
Taylor may move the ship if he likes, and then roll for Initiative for round 3.
Excellent work, Patel...
Thr man grunted as the ship was hit, but wasn't fully discouraged by the blow. If he could just put a little more into his turns...
"Rudo, let me help you with that targeting. Passing telemetry now."
Thanks, Lieutenant.
Come on, old boy. It's just a...duck.
The enemy's primary weapon is malfunctioning.
Frantically trying to interface with several different machines at once, Krema gives up on trying to diagnose what was going wrong with the engines, and instead just falls back on the ol' reliable of every mechanic; smacking it with a wrench.
With a roar, the patchwork system of designed to divert energy from the dairy processing unit, along with several other non-essential systems, surges to the shields.
Patel fires the heavy cannon, taking out the enemy ship's Starboard shields and passing 3 points of damage through to the hull.
can try his luck with laser cannon again, or take another action.