Ch. 8 - Back in Action

[Tori]

The gun had to be close, and the mercs were swarming. They could have moved it somewhere in the swamp, but Tori felt like the team was closing the gap.

With a gesture she gave everyone the instruction, "Get down, and shut up." And began to scan. The mercs might be tracking, or about to make contact with the gun's new owners. IF it was just the one vehicle, the mercs might be badly outgunned and forced to beat a retreat.

She waited, watched and listened to see what the mercs were up to. She wondered if they continued on foot or were scouting an enemy position. With the smallest team at the dance, she decided to watch, wait and assess. She studied their weapons, insignia and capability, and looked to see what types of coms they might be using. She also searched for any other enemies.

Wait for sixth sense to engage
Intel [dice=100] needs 55 pass
prowl [dice=100] needs 90 pass
Camouflaged
Detect concealment [dice=100] needs 50 pass
Detect ambush [dice=100] needs 60 pass
Detect mines/traps [dice=100] needs 50 pass
Judge distance and location of source of sound [dice=100] needs 84 pass
Recognize and identify prey by sound [dice=100] needs 76 pass
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100] needs 40 fail
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100] needs 58 fail

[rand=012307498583654097000805674081700846864821707646838099485102572396845]

[Janxi]

Janxi spotted her partner's gesture and got low. She studied the ground and the vegetation to determine where the gun went next. She also watched for tracks of anyone setting an ambush for her and the team. She tried to determine if the depression was fresh or old, and if it was made before or after the hurricane. This finally struck her as a real RLT mission.

She tried to use her feline senses to detect anything that might be Splugorth, but kept her eye on the mercs.

Camouflaged
Judge distance and location of source of sound [dice=100] /84 pass
Recognize and identify prey by sound [dice=100] / 76 pass
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100] /40 pass
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100] /56 pass
Land Navigation [dice=100] /64 pass
Tracking: [dice=100] / 65 pass
Prowl [dice=100]/ 80 pass[rand=160226060166608238342122106527061998261696512931806714766302324071]

[Mierin]

Sam raises an eyebrow at the depression, wondering what it was that had landed here. 'Whatever it was, it was huge.' Sam thinks to herself. When Tori gives the motion to stop, Sam looks around intently, looking for signs of trouble.

detect concealment [dice=100] out of 65%
prowl [dice=100] out of 60%
perception [dice=20][rand=35529885305629265807912436305747527681603786309729914435392457295]

[Takota]

Like the others Takota immediately tries to blend in with the surrounding and stay low when Tori gestures for them to do so. After looking at the APC in the depression he scans the area around them letting the others keep the mercs in sight. The whole place seems like a good location for whomever stole the gun to launch an ambush.


Sense psychic and magic energy ~ 40% [dice=100]

Sense Supernatural beings ~ 58% [dice=100]

Track human-(oids) ~ 50% [dice=100]

Track Animals ~ 45% [dice=100]

Detect Concealment ~ 45% [dice=100]

Recognize/identify prey by sound ~ 76% [dice=100]

Judge distance and location of source of sound ~ 84% [dice=100]

Prowl ~ 70% [dice=100][rand=377089783782139430617711250670254828401481499895540349709591828287]

[foxx]

"Looks like a ship landed here?" Kain observes. He wasn't sure about it, but it would make sense to him. He drops to a knee and watches the rear corridor to keep their backs clear of mercenary entanglements.

[dakota]

" Or a big ass missing hovertank?" Scope suggested as they watched the mercs. The juicer was soon accompanied by four others that appeared to be all human, though too heavily armored to tell anything else. They had all disembarked and were heading across a crude narrow footbridge that crossed a stream.

Det spoke up," We gonna just let them lead us in?"

Shep added, " Gotta be sure they didn't leave anyone behind when we do. Janxi, Tak, you go for a stalk. Tori and Kain, the bridge is yours, see if it's safe for us to follow whatever those mercs are up to. Give us a heads up when we are cleared to go."

[foxx]

Kain signals his ready to go and moves towards the bridge, staying as quiet as possible, even if it means going a bit slower than his feline comrade. Once he is close enough he drops to the ground and low crawls the rest of the way to the bridge, minding any sentries that may be present and goes about checking it out for traps or signal devices set up to war the mercs of anyone else coming up behind them.

Prowl [dice=100] /48%, pass

Looking for bombs, sensors, and any other devices place on the bridge:
Mechnical Engineer [dice=100] /48%, pass[rand=409126480497284730232901835366650199839054150891436041805788905714]

[Tori]

Tori gave a nod and prowled towards the bridge. She didn't like the look of it. It was a natural choke point and ambush site. How easy would it be for the mercs to set up on the other side, rig it to blow, and then pick them off during or after crossing?

She knew that would be her plan to make sure her six was clear. Instead, she had a better idea. She gestured for Kain to cover her and the bridge and headed to the edge of the river. She donned entered the water and swam across, resembling an armored otter. As she swam, she searched the bridge for any signs of explosives or booby traps. When she emerged, she was nearly silent and entered the swampy terrain, hopefully undetected.

On the other side, she scouted about looking for signs of the mercs moving on, or for a possible ambush. Hopefully, they weren't counting on a fishing cat being on their trail. Her eyes and ears went to work to find trouble.

Wait for sixth sense to engage
Swimming [dice=100] needs 98 pass
Intel [dice=100] needs 55 fail
prowl [dice=100] needs 90 pass
Camouflaged
Detect concealment [dice=100] needs 50 pass
Detect ambush [dice=100] needs 60 pass
Detect mines/traps [dice=100] needs 50 fail
Judge distance and location of source of sound [dice=100] needs 84 pass
Recognize and identify prey by sound [dice=100] needs 76 pass
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100] needs 40 pass
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100] needs 58 fail[rand=77241807060177344627533990676931286801162350239569443114435475259]

[Janxi]

Janxi took off sneaking toward the ATV. She figured if the bridge was an ambush, a crossfire trapping the team in the middle was a good tactic. She stayed under cover as much as she could, looking for tracks, and any sign of ambush.


Camouflaged
Judge distance and location of source of sound [dice=100] /84 pass
Recognize and identify prey by sound [dice=100] / 76 fail
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100] /40 fail
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100] /56 pass
Land Navigation [dice=100] /64 pass
Tracking: [dice=100] / 65 pass
Prowl [dice=100]/ 80 pass[rand=7891131628666485637421204755838498306960553590566998547065282944]

[Takota]

Thinking that stealth is more necessary than firepower at the moment Takota unlatches the CI-404 harness and hands the weapon to Det.
"Don't scratch it. I'm still making payments on it." he says with a toothy grin then silently heads out toward the APV. Hoping to see if anyone was left to guard the vehicle Takota tries to find a window he can peek into while keeping out of sight of the group that headed over the bridge.


Sense psychic and magic energy ~ 40% [dice=100]

Sense Supernatural beings ~ 58% [dice=100]

Track human-(oids) ~ 50% [dice=100]

Track Animals ~ 45% [dice=100]

Detect Concealment ~ 45% [dice=100]

Recognize/identify prey by sound ~ 76% [dice=100]

Judge distance and location of source of sound ~ 84% [dice=100]

Prowl ~ 70% [dice=100][rand=3568458284717053522488333750516280702646309509879013327430002391]

[Mierin]

Sam follows the cats quietly, looking for signs of potential trouble along the way, doing her best to keep hidden.

detect concealment [dice=100] out of 65%
prowl [dice=100] out of 60%
perception [dice=20][rand=0214747111689317373906110173735355661657042707332306449453340785976]

[dakota]

As Sam started to follow, Shep held her back with him while Det and Scope fell back to make sure they weren't being followed. The XO said," Hold up Cap, let them have a look, just in case."


Tori found the creek was fast moving, but not impassable for her water skills, but it would be a challenge for the others, especially Scope and his injured foot. As Kain took up position at the foot of the bridge, he could see nothing to give away trouble.


Janxi and Takota easily slipped up on the APC, they saw no signs of life, and were able to get in position to see there was no one left inside. However, it seemed odd to both of them how it was left unnoccupied and in the open.


Det's voice came over the comm. " Cap, we got sploogies. No head count, but we're outnumbered and outgunned. Orders?"

[Tori]

"Bank and bridge clear," Tori said quietly into her microphone.

She heard Det's voice and got low, as any scared kitty would. She expected the sploogies to arrive at the party, but dreaded it all the same. She wished Det provided an indication of where they were and of what type. A blind woman was a formidable fighter. A barge was more than a match for a platoon of infantry.

The best she could do was try to spot them for herself, and hope that the mercs and the sploogies would wipe each other out without catching her up in a crossfire. She awaited Sam's orders or any trouble she could react to.

Wait for sixth sense to engage
Intel [dice=100] needs 55 pass
prowl [dice=100] needs 90 pass
Camouflaged
Detect concealment [dice=100] needs 50 fail
Detect ambush [dice=100] needs 60 fail
Detect mines/traps [dice=100] needs 50 fail
Judge distance and location of source of sound [dice=100] needs 84 pass
Recognize and identify prey by sound [dice=100] needs 76 pass
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100] needs 40 fail
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100] needs 58 fail[rand=4187602596028119407712210709401413341921184739377944507905901892275]

[Janxi]

"ATV, clear..." Janxi said quietly. When warned of Splugorth she took cover and reached out with her senses to find them.

Camouflaged
Judge distance and location of source of sound [dice=100] /84 pass
Recognize and identify prey by sound [dice=100] / 76 pass
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100] /40 fail
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100] /56 pass
Land Navigation [dice=100] /64 fail
Tracking: [dice=100] / 65 fail
Prowl [dice=100]/ 80 pass[rand=675079750273160259672286002648670462314762785698335469787461689916]

[foxx]

Kain took the warning of Splorgs to hear and moves from the bridge back to cover. Nothing like being out in the open to mess up your day. He spies about looking for the enemy to see what they were up against.

"Bridge is clear. Looking for opfor."

Prowl
[dice=100] , 48%, pass[rand=32784978009866095854907379599149386079094009867821692442877418794]