Tears of Reality

[Karsh]

Fawke Cordix

That... that noise... Fawke's hands shot up to the sides of his head, grabbing fist-fulls of hair while squeezing his eyes shut as hard as he could. Completely ineffective, of course; he could still "see" the entire cockpit, and his eyes weren't real to begin with. But his mind's eye was what he wanted to close.

There were... his parents. And blood... so much blood. It began filling up his escape pod; nowhere to escape. He reached for a shard of metal which had blown into the escape pod and rammed it into his eyes, trying to scour the image from his mind; to erase the sight of the approaching blood. But again, it did him no good... he was "special"... he could see without eyes. It was up to his shoulders and rapidly rising. Nowhere to go... nowhere to escape...

Fawke's eyes snapped open and he opened the throttle on his thrusters, drifting back 10 meters before shooting 50 meters straight up. His finger squeezed the trigger to his gatling gun, firing indiscriminately at the mech which had attacked him. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhh!!!!

Fawke, FAWKE! Calm down! Fawke!!!

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Autofire targeting Mech 1. (1d20+8)[14] vs. AC 10
(8d6-2)[28] DC 15 Reflex for half.

[PhoeKun]

'Seto'

Space fills Seto's vision. If only it were just space. Scattered parts of destroyed mecha floated around, surrounded by thousands of droplets of blood. He could see each one clearly, despite their size. And somehow, he knew that he had known the men inside each of those ruined mecha. And then, a new vision: a child being dragged screaming from a young woman in her late teens; a woman who looked startlingly like Seto. She stared into the child's eyes for a moment before turning away and allowing several soldiers to escort the boy away.

Seto twitches under the noise, bringing his hands to his ears in a fruitless attempt to block that... noise. He opens his mouth to cry out, but no sound comes out. Instead, the noise suddenly stops, and he can hear a woman's gentle voice in his head:

"...Seto? That's what they're calling you now, isn't it? It's ok, Seto. You don't have to be afraid."

"Where? Who... who are you?"

The voice laughed. It was a gentle laugh, one that reminded him of a time he couldn't remember, a time before he was a pilot.

"I'm your guardian, Seto. Your Guardian Angel. So don't worry. Nothing will hurt you, as long as you don't stop fighting..."

With a flourish, Seto feints with his sword arm, whipping the plasma blade through the air as he takes a step back in his mecha and raises its left arm to level his cannon at both targets.

"Destruction of target unconfirmed. Switching to wide-aperture mode."

And with that, both of the assaulting mecha are engulfed in a blast of blue energy...

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Tsunami 280 Plasma Cannon, burst setting. 20 foot radius blast dealing:

(12d6)[46] plasma damage; Reflex DC 19 for half on both targets.

[Sir_Dude]

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Will Save - (1d20+7)[19]
Doing this before my post so I can use the result.

[Sir_Dude]

Alex Gunter

Access Denied...

"No, no, no... damnit... Who the hell set up this system. I'm a Lieutenant and I STILL can't access this crap! I hate military hierarchy sometimes."

Alex rocked in his seat as the infested mecha's weapon impacts his mecha's arm. He backpedals quickly, evading the reach of the second. Out of time, can't try that again. Well here's hoping that military hierarchy pulls through for us. Alex flicks on his comm.

"If any UEDF Command can hear me, activate the minefield at first opportunity. Alert..."

Alex's voice trails off as he feels a cool breeze cross his bare face. He shivered as his entire body felt drained of heat. His ears ringed, and he though he could hear, something off in the distance, but it felt muffled. Mud caked his hair, and it seemed an odd time for it to occur to him that he should be wearing his helmet. Above him, a shadow silhouette blocked out the pale sky. "Keep with me soldier! Eyes on me! Up here, on me! ****, we're losing him. You there! Give me that box." Alex's eyes rolled over to the side to see another man carrying a metal case. The corpsman drew a long thin object, tested it, then jabbed it into Alex's arm. Alex began convulsing...

The sky was dark and filled with stars. The terrain was rocky. No breeze penetrated his insulated cockpit. What the hell was that? His eyes veered to the two mecha before him, moving in for the kill. Not going to happen you two. He flip his halberd into both of his mecha's hands, then set it's point facing the nearest one. Bracing himself, he lunged point first at his enemy...

"Lieutenant, can you believe it?" Eric shook his head, smiling. "They're giving me a special assignment too, heading out next week. Letting me pick my team, too." Alex looked at Eric for a moment, then nodded. Eric sighed, then shook his head again, "Thanks little brother, but no. I'm done. Been done for a year now, just had to wait for my tour to be up. By next week I'll be home taking care of mom. Best of luck, Alex. Look us up when you're tired of being a hero..."

Alex paused mid lunge, mouth agape. Get out of my head! Spinning, he brought the halberd into an arc aimed at the nearest infested mecha.

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[Roll=Defensor Halberd Attack (Including -4)]1d20+6[/roll]
Physical Damage - (4d10+12)[34]

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Sir_Dude]

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I guess the attack roll text doesn't like parenthesis. Here's another try. Still including the -4 for failed will save.
Defensor Halberd Attack - (1d20+10)[12]

[King_of_GRiffins]

Morgan

For a split second, Morgans mind stood still as it reached into the deeper portions of her mind where all her inner fear resided. Sure, she's more than capable of keeping these zombie things at bay, but what about all of the creatures above her head? How could she get out of this alive? Would it even be possible? She was going to end up a corpse on a flying mudball; She could see herself on the ground now, her face contorted within her mecha just like on Saturn.

The events replay in her head, but her voice sounds inside her mecha as her reflexes take over and start flying further upwards and firing directly at the two zombies.

"We did it sir; All of the colonist have been defeated! We sure put that riot down real quick. Think it calls for a celebration?" she says, cheery in spirit yet monotone as she merely recalls it. The image of her commander plays in her mind, the face growing angry suddenly as she feels her whole body shake as if her mecha had just hit the floor.

"You stupid girl.... Celebrate once you clean up.", she hears echo without sympathy. Another face appears in her mind; The jaw hangs open, a small bit of saliva pouring out in morbid fashion. The remaining eye remains opening, looking on in horror as the other half of it's head has disappeared, removed clearly by the traced burn of a plasma gun.

"No... I didn't... Couldn't.. I know I did, but... I don't know him. He's the enemy, that makes it right, doesn't it? I... didn't want to.. I shouldn't have..."

"Your talking to yourself Morgan. Do you want me to automatically radio for medical assistance?"

"I'm a horrible murderer, aren't I?"

"I cannot render accurate judgment of character Morgan."

"You think so though, don't you?"

"I do not think."

"No, you don't...."

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Moving upwards 150 feet, using fly-by attack and Heroic Surge (second and final time today, 1 action point) to shoot twice, once at each.

[roll=Attack]1d20+17-4[/roll]
Damage - (12d6)[38]

[roll=Attack]1d20+17-4[/roll]
Damage - (12d6)[52]

[King_of_GRiffins]

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Attack - (1d20+13)[14]
Attack - (1d20+13)[25]

Roller doesn't like more than one adjustment variable....

[Callos_DeTerran]

Their resistance is strong...survival matters to the unclean.....but we will win this fight...it is only a matter of time..

Bright flashes of light came hurtling forth from Phoenix's weapon as it's pilot screamed out at an unknown malicious memory. The bolts of plasma burned through the armor of the 'infested' unit to leave deep scorch holes that went with the previous blasts on it. Another cone of plasma erupted forth from the pilot called Seto, sweeping over the placid unit and the one that had assaulted him. Both of them were engulfed by the wave of destructive energy, most of the paint burned away by the assault and cauterizing the 'wounds' made in the armor, turning the yellow pus black.

Gunter's own assault proved too wild and unbalanced to prove much good, an arm raised by his opponent blocking the blade while they both chopped at his Armor with their own energy axes. Leaving deep furrows in the hard alloy as the pilot was shook about in his cockpit. But then his own comm buzzed to life, briefly eclipsing that horrendous scream with a single message that helped to shake away the despair threatening to overwhelm his mind.

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Acknowledged Lieutenant, I'm trying to access the minefield right now.

All of the UEDF radars lite up then as new signals came online, small dots of red on visual screens of the barren asteroid surface. Five...no ten....no more then that! Turned on spiraling about as they sought to detect signals...signals that could easily be provided by allied mecha. A flurry of melee strikes ensued as the infested units fought back against their foes, taking hits that better pilots could have avoided but levying heavy attacks in loo of defense...

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2 stalls another round, 5 & 6 pursue Morgan but aren't quite fast enough to catch her, 1 assaults Phoenix (Hits for 26 damage, without hardness deducted), 8-9 assault Gunter( One hits for 19 but I think hardness handles that, and the other hits for 30, which I don't think hardness can handle all of), 4 attacks Seto and misses. 3 and 7 attack the hangar bay doors.

Another Will save but for different reasons this time.

Oh, and sorry about the lackluster DM post)

1: -56
2: -135
3: -43
4: -74
5: -30
6: -67
7: -75
8: -30
9: -30

[PhoeKun]

'Seto'

"Enemy units proving to be defensively superior for their model. Offensive capabilities well below expected parameters..."

Seto's grip tightens on the controls as his voice makes up for the lack of AI in his mecha. The infested units were holding up to more punishment than he had expected. But then, one seemed to be unable to move, which means that he needs to focus on the immediate threat...

Seto returns to his Excalibur energy sword, swinging in a wide, powerful arc at the unit still attacking him.

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Attacking unit 4 -
Attack: (1d20+18)[30]
Damage: (8d6+13)[39] slashing/plasma damage

By the way, there's no need to apologize for lackluster DM posts, Callos. For one thing, they happen. For another, this one isn't as bad as you think it is; the only real problem is that the word you were looking for is 'lieu'. Crazy French people.

[King_of_GRiffins]

Morgan

Morgan does a double take as the few tears that came from her eyes dry on her cheeks and nose. Something kept popping into her mind now as she kept dragging the two mecha following her away from the others, setting up for successive shots against the group one the two goons were down. She eyes up the mecha, their naturally disturbing color blends, their puss, what they inherently were now. Only one thought came to mind now as her next shot flew down"Unclean."

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Shooting at #6, no movement this round

Attack - (1d20+7)[24]
Damage - (12d6)[44]

[Karsh]

Fawke Cordix

As the mech contacts its weapon with Phoenix's armor, Fawke hits his attitude thrusters in an attempt to allow the blow to glance off harmlessly. He then rockets further backwards and opens fire once more on the mech, aiming carefully with his Typhoon cannon.

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Evasive Action Check to Halve Damage - (1d20+21)[22] (If successful, damage is halved and negated by hardness)
Attack Roll - (1d20+12)[30]
Damage - (10d6)[24]

[Sir_Dude]

Alex cursed as his halberd was knocked aside. Come on Alex, think! They're melee equiped, don't fight them on their terms. Alex pulls back his halberd one handed, then pivots on the mecha's left foot. A short half spin away from his attackers lines up the chain gun mounted on his right arm. Alex holds down the trigger and fires a volley of lasers at his attackers.

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"5ft step" back and autofiring on the two mecha, assuming they're close enough together. Still counting -4 penalty.
Gatling Laser Autofire Reflex DC - (1d20+8)[27]
Laser Damage - (8d6)[30]

[Callos_DeTerran]

Things were looking up, the shapes in the void above took no further action as the 'infected' mobilized armor units struggled to keep up or even harm your superior models. Only one of them proved successful as it's energy halberd crashed into Lt. Gunter's right armor, superficial damage if any, but the others seemed only to flail about uselessly as they were shot and hacked into.

Through half-glances, the UEDF forces can track the progress of the mines on their sensors as they approach the battle in front of the hangar doors. Without direction, the high yield explosives sought out any targets before deploying magnetic pads to attach to their target. An insidious weapon, the mines were not very large or dangerous by themselves, but when detonated together (As their programmed to do) they do cause quite a bang.

Which is exactly what they did in this case.

The asteroid itself shook under the force of the explosion, bright white light almost frying visual sensors as the mecha's were assaulted by the explosive potential the mines had unleashed. Warning red lights signaled quite clearly just how dangerous the explosion was...


In the aftermath, white noise was all that the usual sensors could convey, leaving you in the dark as to what the new asteroid scape showed. Where the enemies still on the ground after that terrific explosion or had they been reduced to rubble?

Then a voice came over both the Colonial and UEDF communication lines...

Mechanized units—what is your current status?

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...Out of all the attacks, only one hits and thats on Gunter, for 22 damage without hardness subtracted. This is a big roll, no joke. I need each player to make a Reflex save, use action points to boost it, whatever defensive abilities that can be used, the shebang. The Save DC is (22) for HALF something like evasion negates the damage entirely. Debris clouds visual scanners but sensors not relying entirely on simple sight (such as ones specifically designed to detect other mecha or targeting systems) are frazzeled but will come back online this round.

Roll in the OOC thread, but if you FAIL the save I'll contact you by PM to tell you what happened.

[Karsh]

Fawke Cordix

As the mines exploded, Fawke's cybernetically enhanced body leapt into action, giving his mech's attitude thrusters a slight burn at the precise moment that the explosion would reach the Phoenix. Using the assaulting mech as cover and entering a spin, he managed to weather the blast with nary a scratch on his mecha.

Fawke flipped on the comlink.

"Fine, no thanks to those mines."

He flips it off once more and begins analyzing the data from what just happened.

"Phoenix, reboot the sensor systems to try and flush out all the feedback. I doubt this fight is over yet."

"Yes, Fawke."

[PhoeKun]

Seto

"...-erly damaged. Repeat: Unit IG-97 Custom is severely damaged. Main computer offline. Damage estimated at 90%... attempting to verify. Unable to confirm. Withdrawing from the battle..."

Seto's mecha groans in protest, dropping to its knees. Inside, Seto works furiously to clear the static out of what remains of his sensors, and get the units legs functioning.

"Don't worry, Seto. Everything will still be ok..."

[King_of_GRiffins]

Morgan Tanner

Morgan, though frazzled, stands her mecha up without much difficulty at all. She shakes he hair around out of her eyes and opens up the UEDF comm link with a tone that could kill at plant at ten paces underlying an otherwise civil tone. The explosion was Gunters fault; she could feel it in her gut. Maybe he didn't do anything directly, be he had to be the source...

"Gunter, while I know I asked for you to blow some stuff up, a fair warning to find cover would be appreciated. You understand, prior to our likely deaths the next time something like this happens."

The pilot sighs and turns the comm off for a moment. "Computer, what would our status be right now?"

"Total system evaluation in progress... Movement Systems, Functioning. Weapon Systems, Functioning. Scanners, under error. Attempting to fix.... Source not found, please refer to code two-zero-eight in the Armore..."

"Alright, stop talking now.", she says tersely, turning the comm back on. "Command, this is Morgan Tanner. I'm doing fine over here. A bit frayed but undamaged, though my sensors or a bit funky at the moment. Currently awaiting a chance to survey the current aftermath with sensors, but awaiting further orders."

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Spot Check - (1d20+3)[12]

[The_Snark]

The voice doesn't come back in for several seconds, possibly awaiting more acknowledgements; when they are not forthcoming, it continues. "Mechanized units, if you're out of combat, we could use an escort out of here. Can you get back inside the complex?"

[Sir_Dude]

Alex Gunter

The speakers inside Alex's cockpit beeped, alerting him to the new sensor contacts. On his sensor screen he saw a few at first, then many new readings all around them. He looked up from the sensor screen to see the mass of mines beginning to gravitate in the direction of the fray. Then he looked at the two very metallic enemies recklessly beating on his frame.

Oh, those kind of mines.

The dawning realization almost proved to be too late. Alex shifted the mecha into a full backpedal before shifting the heavy body around and running back towards the hanger. Looking down at his sensors, he saw the many sensor blips converging together. Mind racing, he jumped the mecha forward into a dive, skidding across the asteroid's surface. Then his screens went white. Even his sensors were unable to detect anything in the interference.

Alex stared at the ground through his front screen. A long moment passed before he flipped the computer to a diagnostic screen:
Minor armor penetration in the right and left arms. Left ankle joint registering small obstruction. Main gyroscopic stabilizer alignment shifted 5 degrees.

Stabalizer? That's annoying.

Alex shifted the arms underneath the mecha's bulk and lifted it off of the ground. He takes a moment to shift weight on the left ankle and move it around to clear whatever got inside. A great dust cloud dominated his screens.

Great, no visibility.

Morgan's voice came over the comm.

"Yeah sorry 'bout that Tanner. I called that in, but I wasn't the one who hit the trigger. Didn't know they had that model out here, really large lock on range. Either way, glad to hear you're still alive out there. What's your status? I can't see anything in this dust."

Alex picks up a second communication.

"This is Lt. Gunter, I hear you. We just set off a large explosive, waiting for the dust to clear. Can't confirm yet if we got them. So hang tight in there until we can see again. Don't open the hanger door until we can confirm the area is secure. Got that?"

[Callos_DeTerran]

With the welcome news that each of you have survived the blast caused by the mines, it was only a matter of time and patience to see if they had truly cleared away the last of the enemy on the asteroid surface or if perhaps some remained such as the ominous shapes in the space above. Soon enough the sensors had been rebooted to adjust to the various sources of static and a clear enough image could be made out from the various pilots.

The infected mecha seemed to have been wiped from the face of existence, but with the strength of the explosion that wasn't to be unexpected. Not a single one of them remained after the onslaught and the only sign they had even been was a splattering of infectious looking yellow slime smeared across the hangar bay doors. Doors which, thankfully, looked to be most intact except for a place or two where sharpenal had dug deeply into the reinforced surface. Of the blasphemous shapes that had assaulted your different psyches...there was only one cloud of darkness remaining. Smaller shreds of utter blackness drifted aimlessly, occasionally blotting out a pinprick that was a star, but the only one of any size looked to be rapidly retreating. It grew smaller and smaller as if folding inwards upon itself until it's very presence, or rather lack of one, disappeared from your sensors and with it the oppressive feeling of a crouched predator waiting in the shadows.

Unfortunately none of the mean on the surface, without mecha, seemed to have made it but it was difficult to know for sure since they had spread out to a fair distance and one couldn't know what exactly had happened to them.

[Sir_Dude]

Alex Gunter

"Alright, I think we can confirm most of the hostiles destroyed. Only one... retreated, I think. Anyways, I'm heading to the hanger door. You can open it up anytime now."

Alex's mecha walks towards the Morgan's unit.

"Ready to head out Morgan? Got someone waiting on us."

[The_Snark]

"We've lost contact with the hangar bay, Lieutenant," the voice returns grimly. There's a pause, as if the voice is conferring with someone else or thinking, and then she comes back online. "Can you make your way in another way? We'll have to send somebody out to the hangar if you can't."

[Karsh]

Fawke Cordix

"We could all try to pull the doors open... Who is this, anyways?"

[The_Snark]

"This is Dr. Brenda Wells, lieutenant." The voice clicks off for a moment, then comes back on. "If you can get the hangar bay doors open, do it. You'll have to pass through an airlock at some point afterwards, but there ought to be one the armor will fit through."

"The ore smelting chamber should be reachable by all the suits. If you can get to that, we'll meet you there with the ambassadors. Can you find your way there?"

[Karsh]

Fawke Cordix

"Well, Dr. Wells, I could try and hack the doors to open them. Is there an access point from outside? Or do you know of a password or somesuch that could get us in?

Phoenix, run a scan on the doors and see if you can come up with anything that would allow me to hack them."

If something is found, Fawke will attempt to hack the system and open the doors:

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Assorted Computer Use checks, use as needed:
(1d20+8)[11]
(1d20+8)[28]
(1d20+8)[24]
(1d20+8)[9]
(1d20+8)[26]

[Sir_Dude]

Alex Gunter

"Alright, you try opening those doors. I'm going to check out the ore smelters. One of you come back me up, the other stay behind and give this guy cover. Keep in touch, I'll tell you guys what I find."

Alex begins to run off after the ore smelters.

"Doctor, what's been going on inside? We've gotten broken up comm chatter but besides that, we're in the dark out here."

[The_Snark]

"Negative. The only access point is on the inside. You'll either have to force the doors open, or we'll need to open it for you."

"I'm afraid we don't know much more than you, Lieutenant. We lost contact with the rest of the base just after the alarms went off. We've been holed up in the conference room since the initial assault here. Expect most of the base to be hostile territory."

[Sir_Dude]

Alex Gunter

"Alright, in that case hold your position. We are working on a solution to open the doors or gain entry through the smelters. I wouldn't want you people risking anyone to get over here."

[Karsh]

Fawke Cordix

"Are all you Earth forces daft, or is it just the contingent positioned here? The smelters will be deep within the base, not sitting around outside. We get inside, then we get to the smelters. Space is too cold; it would use up an insane amount of energy to keep a smelter running on the surface with no atmosphere. Our options are to hope that my hacking works, or we have to find some way to blast a door that withstood those mines you sicced on us open."

[PhoeKun]

Seto

After an indeterminate time of work, Seto's mecha at long last groans to life, stumbling for a moment before regaining it's balance and moving around normally.

"Mobility regained by sacrificing upper-body power supplies. Sword-arm non-functional. Limited capacity for Tsunami 280 Plasma Cannon remains. Sensors show intermittent functionality. Analysis complete: Unit IG-97 Custom deemed unfit for combat operations. Continuing mission due to extreme circumstances.

The black and charred mecha moves closer to Phoenix to act as a guard in some capacity while the hacking attempt takes place. His voice breaks over the intercom again, somewhat different than before:

"...Someone remind me to request an Evasion Chip implant after this mission."

[The_Snark]

"Lieutenant Cordix, there are no exterior access points, of any sort. The only way you'll be able to get the doors open from the outside is by force. If that won't work, we can open it from the inside; it just means the extraction will be slower."