[IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Deadline

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, but fine
Form: Solid
Trauma Trigger: 1

One of the advantages of controlling his appearance is emotion wasn't given away, assuming he even had emotion. Right now, he was more planning. No doubt the cowboy had drawn too much attention and been sloppy which hopefully would make it easier for them to escape.

“Any word from our business liaison?” she says softly without turning to look at Diego.

"He's knows we are coming. So, should be ok. If not, we keep hustling. We should be good at it by now.", says Diego with a confident smile of a salesman. He keeps up the same pace as if hurrying to a meeting, but not enough to stand out.

[Sakuro]

Putting their recent encounter behind them, Diego and Iona press on as the Stronghold soldier move out. On entering the lobby of the building their footwear strikes dray tiled flooring. The walls has a glossy stone aesthetic. Picture of crops and happy farmers dot the interior with company slogans such as 'Autumn Dawn, a new dawn for agriculture.'.

Directly across from the door you enter through is a secretarial desk with a smartly dressed woman in her thirties with red hair up in a bun, and glasses. To the left of this counter i and further back is another desk, this one manned by a dark skinned man in a security guard uniform who is looking over monitors between scanning the lobby with his eyes. To the right of the front desk and further into the building is a security station with metal detector, manned by a bronze skinned woman in a guard's uniform. Beyond the metal detector are the elevators.

There are places to sit and wait in the lobby. A handful of people are present, no doubt waiting for one meeting or another. Duncan, however, is nowhere in sight.

MacynSnow, keep in mind you can't just roll a Stealth check and disappear. You need to break line of sight with the person following you or otherwise distract them. You also need cover of some kind. I am going to use the Deception check you posted for that instead of the false trails. Otherwise the drone will watch you as you pry manhole covers up and don't go into the sewers.

In an effort to shake the drone tailing him Carter ducks behind an askew dumpster, kicks a can out in one direction to draw it's attention there, the slinked his way down the other side. When he comes out he does not immediately see the drone. It likely went off to in the direction he sent the can. So thinking Carter quietly slinks down the alley way, along the back of a building, and begins making his way across a small parking lot being some nameless business building where a few stray cars offer him cover.

Make a Perception check for Carter. If you would like to employ the manhole cover false trails, go ahead and make a Deception roll. Bear in mind that you move slower while employing Stealth, unless you want to take a penalty to your check. You will also be slowing down to pry up the manhole covers.

[MacynSnow]

SNAPDRAGON(Carter Howell)
HP-0 CND-fine
FAVOR-0 DOM-0
Using the cars as cover, Carter takes a little look to see if he lost his tail...

OOC: Here's the check....
Perception check: 19+6=25
Depending on what i spot, i'll probably not do the manhole bit...

And cursing as he spotted that Same drone. Getting a little frantic now, Carter tries to lose it by weaving in & out of every car he can...

OOC: trying Stealth one more time to lose this thing...
Stealth roll:18+6=24
Please let this one work...
Deception check:4+2=6
Well, so much for Stealth....

[Sakuro]

Carter is able to see the same drone that he thought he got away from. He now realizes that he didn't lose it. It was just hiding, and has since continued to follow him while trying to avoid detection.

You have one more chance to try to shake the tail. If you don't manage to, then you'll have to deal with Stronghold soldiers in addition to the drone.

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, but fine
Form: Solid
Trauma Trigger: 1

Time was running out and Duncan wasn't there. Could the woman they saw in the parking lot had heard their ask? Is that why the plant was being moved? Duncan had been a bit jittery, so maybe he was just getting cold feet with everything going on outside. After the soldiers took off, Diego just assumed the cowboy had gotten into some trouble. Trouble meant an even more jittery Duncan. Without a visitor pass, getting with Iona would be difficult. He might be able to get in by nature of what he was, but there wasn't a way for him to stop the transport or quickly get the plant out on his own easily.

Checking his phone, Diego grumbled. "S*** early. Let's go take a quick stretch. Gotta keep limber if you're going to make money. Am I right?", says Diego to Iona stepping out she'd take a hint and follow him for a minute outside to get a lay of the land. Once outside, Diego did basic stretches as he looks around for any sign of Duncan or even a way in like a loading dock.He would also keep an eye on any signs of a planned ambush.

Perception 23

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 3
Cnd: Normal
PP:0

Checking his phone, Diego grumbled. "S*** early. Let's go take a quick stretch. Gotta keep limber if you're going to make money. Am I right?", says Diego to Iona stepping out she'd take a hint and follow him for a minute outside to get a lay of the land.

“Sure…”, Iona says as she adjusts her glasses, “…I can use all the exercise I can get. After you…” Iona allows Diego to head towards the door first. She slowly turns to follow him all the while listening carefully to the conversations in the room. Attempting to block out any background noise, she focuses on any words or phrases that might indicate a conversation is about herself or Diego.

OOC: Specifically, Iona is going to use her ultra-hearing to try and discern if any conversations are going on in the lobby might indicate that Diego and Iona are being watched, monitored, identified, etc. That’s why she’s in no hurry to get outside.

The young cyborg allows her “business partner” to get well ahead of her as she pretends to adjust various articles of clothing and accessories. Even after she finishes, she takes her time heading to the entrance door.

OOC: Here's her Perception Roll: Supernaturalist: 1D20+10 → 13( (3) + 10). So, a 13. Ugh...not what I want. I'll use a HP to try again. 2nd Perception Roll: Supernaturalist: 1D20+10 → 18( (8) + 10). So, a total of 28. I'll deduct my HP to give me 3 now.

[Sakuro]

Inside the building Iona hangs back to listen to the conversations around her. She hears the mundane and banal sounds of business and meaningless conversations. Nothing that stands out. Nothing that would suggest anyone cares about her or Diego.

After having rushed to get to the building, heading inside, and looking around Diego hops back outside. An odd course of actions which get him some strange looks from one or two people who noticed this behavior. Outside he looks around. People come. People. Business is undisturbed. The squad of Stronghold soldiers are out of sight now. Outside the front of the building Diego only sees two ways into the building, the entrance he just used and the guarded parking garage.

When the two of you head back inside, you find Duncan with his back to the door. He is in his white lab coat, talking to the woman at the front desk.


Elsewhere Carter begins to panicky when he sees he has been unable to shake the drone that was trailing him from earlier. Desperately he dives into the thicks of the cars. But the drone ascends and he can tell it's height allows it a clear view of the area around him. There is no hiding. Breaking cover he sprints for an alley leading off from the colection of cars. Down at the far end he can see three figures in modern military gea colored in urban camo. Each carrying an assault rifle at the ready. Immediately they spot Carter and bring their weapons up. The one on point calls out to him in a harsh voice.

"Hands behind your head! On your knees! Now!"

No more chances at Stealth. You have a Drone that you can't shake overhead and a trio of soldiers approaching.

[MacynSnow]

Snapdragon(Carter Howell)
HP-0
CND-Fine
FAVOR-0
DOM-0
INIT-+2
"GO TO HELL AND DAMNATION YOU SUMBITCHES!UP IMPERATOR!"
Carter screams defiantly as he quick draws and fires the Vaquero, manoeuvreing as he does to use the cars as cover....

OOC:Every great Western need's a shootout i guess. Using his Quick Draw advantage, He'll fire on the Drone hoping to bring it down....
Ranged attack:9+10=19 i think it's a DC19 Tough check if it hits
Forgot Initiative...
Initiative check:10+2=12

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, but fine
Form: Solid
Trauma Trigger: 1

There was times in life to gamble. This was it. He didn't have time to watch and study Duncans movements too much and a quick scan didn't reveal any obvious signs of a trap. So, he took the dive. To those who gave him strange looks he gave the stressed out businessman type look which translated for him into a never ending hustle type look. A bit tired, too much coffee, and trying to get ready for the pitch of a life time. In some ways it was a very important pitch. Get the plant and he has the food to feed a small army of meat shields.

Waiting for a moment he goes over to Iona and talks in a normal tone. "Ready?", is all he says.

Heading towards the woman at the front desk when it seemed the right time to not interrupt Duncans business, Diego gives a smile standing near Duncan. "I think we got here a few minutes early. We were told someone would have some passes for us so we could get in to get a tour and maybe a sale. It was a little earlier than we planned, but gotta be agile.", says Diego right next to Duncan.

Funny enough, I was outside of a secure building do exactly this sort of pacing before.
Taking 10 on Deception for 20. Pending any aid Iona wants to give.
Persuasion 16 if it helps to make her more helpful or less suspicious.

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 3
Cnd: Normal
PP:0

After Diego stops speaking to the administrative assistant, Iona smiles and adds her “two-cents”. “Yes, we came in, but we weren’t totally sure we had come through the proper entrance. We were told someone would meet us here, and when that didn’t happen, we were a little confused. This is the main reception area is it not?”

Of course, Iona recognizes Duncan, but she pretends as if she does not. In fact, she does not even look at him the whole time, trying to sell the image that he’s a stranger.

OOC: Here’s my Persuasion roll to Aid Diego: Supernaturalist: 1D20+10 → 29( (19) + 10). So, a total of 29.

[Sakuro]

Carter

Carter's hand moves for his gun and as soon as he draws the weapon a barrage of bullets flies from the drone before he could bring his weapon to bear. It was primed and readied for hostilities to ensue despite it's early lack of aggression. Positioned overhead, the cover he seeks to take provides no protection from the airborne attacker as slugs rain down on him. After unleashing to bursts of ballistics on him the drone weaves to the side, rounding the edge of a building while still facing it's target. Just like a human soldier, it sought to take cover. Carter is anble to squeeze a shot off after it, and hit his mark. But the bullet deflects off of the drone's armor.

No sooner than Carter opened fire, the three mercenaries rush out of the alley, spread out taking cover behind separate vehicles, and open fire on his. Bullets pick past him, tearing grooves or holds into the car he hides behind. A round manages to hit, however, slamming into his shoulder.

Amidst the rancorous bark of weapon's fire Carter is able to note the arrival of three more Stronghold soldiers. Two coming down one narrow road leading off the parking lot, and one coming from an alley. The three routes leading out of the battlefield now cut off.

The Stronghold Soldiers are Minions. The Drone counts as a Minion in most respects. The differences being that It takes 2 degrees of failure for it to take the full affect of an attack and it is able to deliver critical hits.

As soon as Carter draws his gun, the Drone's Readied Action triggers. It attacks and hits him. Make a DC 23 Toughness check.

The drone rolled higher than Carter on Initiative, and uses it's turn to attack Carter again. Make a DC 28 Toughness check.

After it's attacks the Drone moves to cover, but Carter is still able to hit it. It doesn't appear harmed.

The three Stronghold Soldiers attack Carter. Of them only 1 hits. Make a DC 20 Toughness check.

At the end of the round three more Stronghold Soldiers enter combat. They will be acting this new round.

The Drone pokes out of cover to shoot at Carter and hits. Make a DC 21 Toughness check.

Back to Carter.

Combat Drone
Carter
Stronghold Soldier 1
Stronghold Soldier 2
Stronghold Soldier 3
Stronghold Soldier 4
Stronghold Soldier 5
Stronghold Soldier 6

Diego and Iona

The secretary puts on a plastic smile when Diego and Iona begin speaking to her. The same greeting she probably gives to everyone comes out of her mouth, with slight alterations to account for your intended business.

"Hello and welcome to Autumn Dawn. What are your names? I'll check to see ..."

At that point Duncan cuts in, ignoring Diego and addressing Iona. As she is the only one of the two that he is able to identify, given Diego's new form.

"Ah, Ms. Lumpin. I have your pass and one for ... your Chinese associate who is ... not here."

Dr. Redwood looks around frowning. Nervous. There was some visible sweat on his brow. Clearing his voice he looks back to Iona, trying and failing to sound casual. He sounded more like someone who expected to be in trouble. No calm at all.

"Well, I have your pass here, and can escort you on a brief tour."

So saying he reaches a wrinkled hand into his lab coat's left pocket. From it he pulls out a visitor badge of 'Lucy Lumpin' printed on it.


John and Tilly

Back in a smelly, wet, and dark stretch of pavement cramped between two buildings John and Tilly wait by the motorcycles. For them it was idle time. Waiting while others put themselves at risk far from their aid. Then Tilly spotted something. Some suspicious movements in neighboring alleyways. What they find is a man dressed up for a robbery, with Western attire being surrounded by Stronghold soldiers in a small out of the way parking lot behind a set of buildings.

"I think I know who that is. There's only one idiot who'd dress up like that and try to take on an entire squad by himself ..."

John could tell that Tilly was going to get involved, which left him with the choice of backing her up, or falling back and carrying on with the original mission. The route Tilly chose was advantageous for a surprise attack, at least. Ahead he could see there was only one soldier with his back to them. The Corporal was already moving into position to strike, her Desert Eagle out and held in both hands.

John, make a Stealth check. John and Tilly will be entering combat in round 3.

[MacynSnow]

Snapdragon(Carter Howell)
HP-0 CND-KO
FAVOR-0 DOM-0
Carter Screamed his Defiance as the Drone's shots tore through his Protective Vest (which was the only thing that saved his life), one particular bullet apparently had his name on it as it shattered his Right Kneecap. Dropping to the ground, his last Conscience Act is to Flip off the first Stronghold Trooper and mutter brokenly "Kiss my Hairy Kansas Ass..."

OCC:"Blaze Of Glory" indeed....
Tough 1: 12
Tough 2: 7
Tough 3: Dirty 20
Tough 4: 7

[Supernaturalist]

John Steiner
HP:0
Cnd:Normal
PP:0

Oh, no! "Corporal, no!" John says in a loud whisper, realizing that she'd probably just ignore him. He knows Tilly is a seasoned veteran, so he hopes that she has some sort of plan as he reluctantly follows her. When he sees her draw the Desert Eagle, he knows she means business. John begins to follow her. As he does, he draws his pistol and begins to screw the sound-suppressor into it.

OOC: Ok, here's my Stealth Check: Supernaturalist: 1D20+10 → 12( (2) + 10). So, a 12. I don't like that, so I'll spend my last HP. Ugh. Here's the next Stealth Roll: Supernaturalist: 1D20+10 → 26( (16) + 10). So, a 26.

As he slowly approaches the Stronghold soldier who's back is turned, John hopes to get close enough to deliver a strong blow to the back of his head. But just in case, his pistol is aimed right at the enemies head. The slightest indication that the enemy hears him will prompt John to squeeze the trigger.

OOC: Since we don't have a combat map, I'm not totally sure where everyone is in relation to one another. John does not want to expose himself to view by the enemy. He'll stick close to Tilly and await any hand-signals or other communications that gives him some idea as to what she wants to do.

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, but fine
Form: Solid
Trauma Trigger: 1

When Duncan mentioned not having a pass for him, understandably given the jumpy nature of the man, Diego gave a dispirited look. "Our other partner couldn't make it in time. Those check points can get crazy. I thought we told you I was coming too. I'd ask them to see if I can get a pass too. Guess they might have forgotten. You really didn't give him my name?", says Diego first looking at Duncan with an understanding look and then at Iona as if to say how could you forget. "He'll be so pissed at me that we forgot to give you a heads up I was coming and our other partner got held up. He's an awesome person, but darn when he gets pissed you don't want to be around him.", added Diego to give cover to Duncans failure at being calm.

They were expecting to bring John, which Duncan had never seen, but was mentioned for a third badge. So, Diego hoped he could jump start Duncans memory. Otherwise, he'd need to get a little creative. They were so close a morphing mixup was the last thing he wanted to sideline the whole plan. Soldiers were already on high alert. Get in, get the plant swapped out, put it in his body, and walk out. Supposed to be easy minus the whole swapping out the plant. Nothing is ever easy though.

[MacynSnow]

Dr. Duncan Redwood
HP-1(?) CND-Fine FAVOR-0 DOM-0
"ohgodohgodohgod....." was shooting through Duncan's head a mile a minute as he outwardly said(voice trying not to crack)
"Oh yes, Mr.Grubber! He did call me to remind me of that. I have your pass right here and can escort you Both on that brief tour while you wait."
Handing Diego the pass for "John Grubber", he'll nod to the secretary and jerkily lead them away all the while mentally thinking
"ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod....."