[OW/X - Tau]: Operation Fireknife (IC Thread)

[Mazer Rackham]

The trek across the burning waste is tiring when marching at pace, especially for those not in sealed environment suits, but the odd cloud scuds across the sky, allowing the brief respite of shade as the mountains loom above you.  The change in air is sudden, the cooling apparent as turbulent mist whispering across sun-bleached boulders tumbled from the pile of grey granite towering above you, peaked with white snow at the staggering and jagged caps.  More mist ligers in a curtain, caressing the different, yet hard terrain forming the desert perimeter in this portion of the waste.  Somewhere in the foothills is Monat, keeping a close watch on the interlopers suddenly all about you in this deceptively empty place.

 

As you continue, the glint of glass and steel is revealed.  Lying on the slopes of the majestic peaks is a broken thing, a scene of devastation.  It is a fish out of water, gutted and rent.  The Emissary class starship is crumpled and smashed, fresh dark gouges in the scrawny scraps of soil and grass.  Likewise it is easy to trace the fall of this magnificent beast to mountain sides showing blackened channels carved into their hardy skin.

 

"The distortion makes sense," the Shas'Vre decrees solemnly as he waves the team forward, weapons shouldered in cautious advance.

 

Parts of the machine are scattered everywhere in the mountain basin, landing gear, wiring spools, inner blast padding, even the civilian clothes of the crew.  A boot and helmet lie tumbled and stirred by the breeze.  The mist lingers here too, beading on the cold metal as it creaks and shudders under the stress of wind and contraction.  Several of the hatches are open, inviting intruders.  None of the escape pods are blown, but the fuselage is scorched black from re-entry, the ablative armour showing impact from collision with asteroids or void debris on the descent.  The ravages of weapon fire are absent from the exterior.

 

Emissary Class starships are comparable in length to a Space Marine strike cruiser, yet this ship is much smaller, and the region it has crashed in is heavily mountainous, thus hiding it.  The Wavestrider fuselage is dotted with extra blisters and panels, the function of which is not known to you, even the Fio-aligned Shas'La.  One of the wings lies sheared off completely, but the ship is upright, likely glided in by the skill and determination of the Kor pilots.

[Machine God]

So the came down hard but controlled by skill noted Tony Keys.

 

Noting no damage scoring of the exterior from small arms, Tony wondered if they had gotten away under their own power.

 

There's no way that I'm poking around in that thing, Tony thought. Booby traps aplenty probably, not to mention its probably got a few more native animals living in it now.

 

Tony stayed still, not approaching the aircraft and used his eyes to search for clues about where the occupants had gone. Did they leave under their own power or were they dragged out of the shuttle kicking and screaming?

 

PER 38 + Awareness (Tony is a Recon Sgt), Result: 04, Pass 3DoS

[Mazer Rackham]

Tony  Keys  Kais:

 

Telling the difference between ground smashed flat by impact, and ground trodden level by footfall is an art form at best, and difficult under any condition.  However, one hatch catches your eye, since it is different from all the others.  This one has been surgically opened, not blown out by emergency venting, not smashed open under impact.  The inner hatch itself is intact, but the securing rods common to Tau craft and their bisected, hemispherical doors securing the outer airlock have been cut.  Raw silver scoring shows some sort of tool mark.  The void-hardened door itself is missing.  It could be with the other wreckage, but nothing matches the shape - even mangled by the impact.

 

The ground is difficult to read.  There is not enough soil to determine anything further at this distance.  There is no choice, you will have to get closer.

[Beren]

HISSSS!

 

Targykex, having attempted to shroud his movements from the prowling flatface, suddenly shrieks in the humans face while flaring both his quills and his bioluminescent patternings. A second later his skin has faded to match the background again as he attempts to scuttle away.

 

Dice roll of required.

Ag 42

D100: 02

4 DoS

 

[Machine God]

"Whoa!" Tony shouts, momentarily startled by Targykex the Kroot Tracker who had jumped up into his personal space before departing.

 

"Stupid Bird" thought Tony Keys as he calmed himself.

 

Tony Keys went over to talk to the Commander to inform him of what he had noticed.

 

+Shas'Vre, whilst it looks like the Kor pilots managed to bring the Bird down successfully, I believe that the a third party has captured the Ethereal.+ said Tony Keys, who pointed out the suspicious hatch.

 

+There the external hatch has been cut away, see the scoring at the ends of the securing rods! That door there is the internal hatch. I suggest that we get the Kroot to have a closer look+ said Tony Keys calmly.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2023 by Machine God
Tidy up

[Trokair]

The rest of the team was milling about the wreck of the Wavestrider, examining the remains on the hunt for clues as to the Etherial’s fate. Trusting that between Shas’Ui Kyosha’s drones and the other hunters and trackers skills they will pick up a trail to follow from here. While they were busy bellow Monat remained up on the ridge as lookout. The metal glint she had seen earlier was potentially just wreckage from the down ship, but with the human town not too far away, and the nomads heading, if not for the wreckage, then close enough to be of concern, it was prudent to keep watch.
 
Scrolling through the sensors available to the suit she resumes her vigil, turning slowly to take in the entire horizon.
 

Figured it was more appropriate to do a separate test for each cardinal direction.
Perception Test

Westwards:
Per: 39
D100: 23, Pass 1 DoS

Northwards:
Per: 39
D100: 81, Fail 4 DoF

Eastwards:
Per: 39
D100: 70, Fail 3 DoF

Soutwards:
Per: 39
D100: 11, Pass 2 DoS

[Mazer Rackham]

Tony Keys:

 

Shas'Vre R'nan's helmet cants, and though his mannerism is alien, there is something appreciably human in the slump of his shoulders.  "Would you have the Fire Caste cower outside, while the Aun'La," he almost baulks at what stirs in his throat,  "may lie injured or dead within?"

 

Monat:

The city to the West lies dormant, smoke rising over what you perceive as campfires or perhaps small chimneys.  Very little stirs there, save the indistinct figures patrolling the wall.  There is no hurry, likely not aware of the Tau presence.

 

The glint you saw earlier at your front arc has vanished, and your scans through the different visual spectra give no clue as to what it was.  However, whether it is the change in your position or the weather, you could not say.  Perhaps as you thought, it was just a scrap of debris tossing in the wind...

 

To the East, the clouds and mist obscure your vision.  They mask whatever caravan approached, and yet, a slip of crimson can be seen through the veil.  They are still there, but their composition and course is unclear.

 

As you scan your rear arc, the plains unfold into empty waste.  The electronic signature beacon of the Orca remains constant in your HUD.  A reassuring anchor if you will.

[Machine God]

Oh well, Tony Keys thought. I know how this going, send in the Gue'Vesa Canary!

 

+Yes sir, mister Shas'Vre R'nan sir! Off I go to the rescue!+ said Tony Keys, rushing over to the suspicious hatch.

 

Eagerly Tony grabbed hold of the interior hatch, he pulled it open and looked inside for the Ethereal.

 

"Esteemed Aun'La are you in there? This is Tony Keys of Tau'Va News sent to rescue you!" Tony Keys said in his best broadcasting voice.

 

Per 38 + Awareness = 38. Result: 71, Fail 3DoF. Str 36, Result: 15, Pass 2DoS

[Mazer Rackham]

Tony Keys:

 

"No human, I-"  R'nan doesn't get to finish as you bellow into the craft.

 

Your voice echoes around the metal bones of the craft, tumbling through the empty voids of hangar bays, command rooms, offices and dressing stations.  Your clamour reverberates off the rocks behind you, carried up an over the lands in all directions by the winds and hangs heavy in the natural mountain bowl in which the carcass of the ship lolls.

 

In reply there is silence.

 

Awareness test please.

[Machine God]

Tony Keys hears his voice echo around the metal bones of the craft, tumbling through the empty voids of hangar bays, command rooms, offices and dressing stations.  The clamour reverberates off the rocks behind you, carried up an over the lands in all directions by the winds and hangs heavy in the natural mountain bowl in which the carcass of the ship lolls.

 

 

In reply there is silence.

 

Per 38 + Awareness = 38, Result: 96, Failure 5DoF

 

Obliviously Tony Keys hears nothing, proverbial mine clearance extraordinaire...

[BadgersinHills]

As Tony's bellow resonates through the ruins, Jaq'Arn sighs and readies her rifle. She somewhat reluctantly moves towards Tony, to defend him against any threat. As foolish as he was, she deems he could not be lost this early in the mission, and his readiness to explore the craft first suggested he possessed that insane human bravery that she respected.

 

"You can fight?," she says in Low Gothic, looking for any potential threats. 

[Mazer Rackham]

Shas'Vre R'nan makes no further comments about Tony Kais' singular stratagem.  He instead motions to Kyosha and her Drones circle around, scanning and spotting.  They lift and drop to contour to the crags and slopes around where the two Tau kneel, a holographic model of the crashed Wavestrider appearing over Kyosha's drone control equipment.

 

+Monat - go here,+ he taps the model and co-ordinates appear in your HUD, pointing you to the far side of the ship.  A cargo bay has been torn open.  You can see it will provide easy ingress to the craft for your bulky stealthsuit.

 

+Tiny Kais, Targykex, Jaq'Arn, act as one.  You will press forward from your position.  Shas'UI Kyosha and I will move to this location:+ he sends more co-ordinates to everyone, showing he is going towards the front of the craft, where the pilots would have died.  Escape hatches are indicated.

 

+Pathfinder Anuk'Var, take up a position of elevation and keep watch.+

 

+We will converge on the main living quarters via encirclement.  Tony Kais, keep your implant activated.  All warriors will upload their helmet feeds to me.+

 

+Be quick - whatever is in there is alerted to our presence and the Aun'La may now be imperilled.  Move!+

 

As you enter the craft, there are patches of light and dark where residual power remains.  Feel free to describe the wreckage as you see fit.  You will see the signs of pulse weapon discharge, burst conduits and ripped-out wiring, damaged floor plates - whatever you can conjure up.

 

If you wish to make a search of your area, or as you progress you may do so, on a Hard (-20) Awareness Test (there's lots of junk etc - you can work this into narrative if you want).  Any DoS = Information/discoveries/objects etc.  Failure by 4+ DoF means you miss everything, and are in such a hurry, don't tag for further search.

Edited February 5, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Beren]

Targykex drops into apsolute silence as his hide shifts to a dappled motley of darker hues to better match the craft's cavernous interior. He keeps himself close to the Jaq'Arn, wondering if the other Kroot can determine his presece, but further away from the flatface. He half-wonders if the true purpse of the flatface is to trigger any ambushes and take the first shots. The Tau could at times be more cynical than thier demeanour suggested. The smoother the tongue, the softer the lie.

 

He sweeps his Krootbow back and forth through the darkness, senses brimming with subtle sounds and minute details.

 

 

Awareness Test (sight):

Per 29 - 20(Hard) +10 (Heightened senses) = 19

d100: 31 (1 DoF)

 

Awareness Test (hearing):

Per 29 + 10 (Heightened Senses) = 39

d100: 30

 

[Mazer Rackham]

Targykex:

 

There is a sound of movement down the corridor, but it could be through a number of hatches of turns.  Creaking metal from the settling ship is vexing you from making out more, but it was definite movement.  You know that the other combat teams are too far away to be that close.  Something is perhaps within 20-30 Tor'leka.

 

There are some cables swaying, but it could easily have come from the breeze stirred when the human tore open the exterior hatch.

[Trokair]

++Acknowledged++

 

Taking one last look at the surrounding horizon to check it was all still clear Monat engaged the thrusters and flew over the crashed ship, landing near the scare in the cargo bay wall.

 

Stepping into the dark of the hold Monat thread with caution, the formally clean and tidy bay was strewn with rubble and impact debris. Between the slant of the deck and damaged structure each step was treacherous if not taken with care.

 

The further she went the less light from outside reached in, and the few flickering internal lights, while indicative of some remnants of power added little. On the far side of the bay an internal door was ajar.

 

Strength test to pry open door
S45 (Stealth suit system)
D100: 37, Pass

 

Prying it open further with the aid of the suits motors she stepped into the internal passageway. Thankfully there was less debris here, allowing for swifter progress once she had brought the blacksun filter online to compliment the suits visual spectrum.

 

Noting possible weapons discharge scorch marks on the left wall she slowed down again, engaging full stealth mode and preparing the rail rifle for full readiness before proceeding, scanning ahead as best she could.

 

Awareness Test
Per: 39 – 20 (conditions) + 10 (Sensor assist)= 29
D100: 100!

 

The flickering lights not only cast deep shadows but also frequently interfered with the sensor readings, hazing up the displays. No matter how much Monat adjusted them she might as well have been going in unaided for all the good they did. If left to her own intent she would have slowed right down, but the Shas’vre’s orders had been clear, and so she pushed further into the wreck.

Edited February 6, 2022 by Trokair

[Mazer Rackham]

Monat:

 

The urgency of the Shas'Vre's order, and the necessity of aiding the Ethereal override your usual caution.  Without an obvious threat, you hurtle through the ship to reach the rendezvous point.

 

You know the real enemy is time.

[Beren]

Targykex settles next to Jaq'Arn before hissing in the softest of Kroot hunting cants.

 

"Something moves in here. Maybe fourty huntstrides distant."

[Mazer Rackham]

The communications network crackles through comm-beads and audio relays.

 

"R'nan to..kzzrt...under...kzzzzrttz.  Beware...kzzzrtzkkt..."

 

His life monitor fluctuates, indicating battle-stress.

 

Gentlemen and Ladies, please make any posts for searches/reactions etc, and then...

 

Initiatives.

[Machine God]

Tony Keys let the Kroot do their own thing, whilst he checked his implants were working and he checked the vox feed.

 

"rttz.  Beware...kzzzrtzkkt..."

 

"Well here it is  viewers, its go time! Time to put the little 'uns to bed and watch some hunters!" said Tony Keys to his audience.

 

'Now its time for some fun' thought Tony Keys. He advanced with his combat shotgun drawn whilst he searched for quarry. He sub-vocalised as he moved forwards.

 

 

 

Agl 38 +1d10. Result: 13 Initiative

 

'Long Tall Sally, she built sweet, she got everything, that Uncle John need.'

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2023 by Machine God
Tidy up

[Trokair]

As the Shas’vre’s signal fell silent again Monat came to a dead stop. The content of the message had been unclear but full of implication of danger, whether an ambush or just run in with hostile forces inside the wreck. More telling was the fact that the Shas’vre had spoken at all. A simple alert pulse could have been sent out to their HUD, but instead he felt he needed convey something important, something unfortunately lost in the disruption of the frayed electronics of the ship.

 

While haste was called for, recklessness was not. Taking a moment to double check that she was still fully stealthed, and that all other suit systems were operational she continued down the corridor again. The living quarters, if the map was accurate, should be only a few door further in.   

 

Initiative 

Ag bonus 4 + d10 = 13

[Beren]

Targykex flinched at the flatface's sudden cheery vocalisations. Silently grimacing, he readies his weapon and drops back behind the human, waiting foe him to draw out whatever danger was lurking in the dark.

 

 

d10 + 4 = 9

 

[BadgersinHills]

Jaq'Arn's quills move to indicate that she acknowledges Targykex's words, as she readies herself for what comes. She hadn't known the exact position the other Kroot was, but his appearance was no great shock. She readies her Kroot rifle and prepares herself for the potential threat, though she is distracted by Tony's exclamations. 

 

Initiative

d10 + 4 = 5

   Edited February 9, 2022 by BadgersinHills

[Mazer Rackham]

Targykex/Jaq'Arn/Tony Keys:

 

Once you ready yourselves, it seems the game of hide and seek is over, and when the first move comes, it is deceptively slow.  Sputtering light catches on spindly legs as the thing emerge from a hatch, distant as Targykex says, by forty huntstrides.  The soft movements belie the weight or size of the thing, half the height of a human man, or Kroot-kin, it neither scuttles, nor stalks, and somehow manages both.

 

This is as brutal and different to any Kor'Vesa the Fio caste could ever concieve.

 

The feet touch the deck with a soft tink-tink-tink, as your foe emerges on six metallic spur-legs.  Smocked in red cloth, dirty with oil and soot, it is no wonder the Kroot did not detect it - more machine than creature, it's presence is almost background to the wreckage in which you stand.  A hood shrouds whatever passes for a...head.  And from underneath this cowl blazes a solitary crimson eye, fixed into a ratcheting a flexing oculus mount.  It whirs and clicks as it determines your existence, oddly hesitating.

 

For long seconds, there is silence, before arms erupt from beneath the robe, each over a metre in length and equipped with gimbal-sockets so the wicked, foot long blades replacing individual digits can reach anywhere within it's immediate will.  A buzzing emanates from the machine-thing and another, almost identical accomplice emerges from a vent in the floor, slowly shrugging the covering grate up over it's shoulders.

 

Mandibles twitch from under the hood, then the first one moves, hurtling towards the wall, your left-hand side, and climbing it, heading for the ceiling, pincer fingers snicker-clicking as it rushes onwards.  It's companion races along the corridor, legs propelling it almost silently

 

Init: 9.

As always, if this ties with a PC, the PC has Priority, and goes first.

 

We'll run the combat (or try to) fairly Structured Time light.  The lead target (ceiling) is currently 30m away, with the second target (ground) further back, at 40m.

Both are smaller than human sized and so incur a -10 to Hit.

 

Monat:

 

There is the crash of something being knocked over from your immediate left.  The layout of the vessel in your HUD indicates it is a storage room, exceptionally tight quarters.  It lies just a few Tor'leka shy of the living areas.  A small noise follows, muffled by the solid door separating you from...whatever is there...

Edited February 9, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Trokair]

While the living area lay ahead, if there were hostiles elsewhere onboard letting them flank the others would be a mistake. There was also always the chance that survivors had holed up in the more defensible storage room, either way Monat need to secure the room before she could continue onwards.

Stepping up to the controls next to the door, making sure that she was far enough to the side to not present a target once the door opened. Monat pressed the door control, hoping that there was enough power in the local area for the mechanism to open the door, as forcing it open manually would be dangerous if there were hostiles inside.

 

Do I need to make any rolls?

[Mazer Rackham]

Monat/Tro:

 

The door appears to have power, but has been set to biometric capacitance, a standard security feature on equipment rooms within a vessel carrying the personages of Ethereal rank.  Security, after all is a serious matter.

 

Fortunately, this easily remedied.

 

Simply scanning the panel will open it via data transfer.