Ch. 6 Dark Heart of the Swamp

[Janxi]

Janxi activated her thermals to pick her targets. Putting cats against rats was really unfair, but she had no sympathy now nor ever. Every last rat should die. Seeing warm bodies against vegetation, she hid as well as she could under the cover of the swamp's vegetation. Her rifle's sight fell on the cranium of the most heavily armed rat, the largest, or especially the one closest to the human cub. She squeezed the trigger of her rifle, and sent her bolt downrange to send the rat back to hell.

Thermal imagery on:

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]/ 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]/58
Locate sound [dice=100] / 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] / 76

Camouflaged
Prowl [dice=100]/75
Land Navigation [dice=100]/60
Tracking [dice=100]/50

Initiative: [dice=20+6]
Perception [dice=20]

Hit [dice=20+13] (called shot: head/face, biggest, meanest, most well armed or closest to the human child)
Damage [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6]=14[rand=43324132952475003875833939823719896229186810634737244942803785774]

[Tori]

Tori's teeth began to chatter beneath her helmet when the child warned of rats. It wasn't a nervous response. It was the response of a cat spotting dinner. She was readying her teeth to deliver a killing blow. It was an autonomic response. Out front, she closed a little on the rats, and activated her own thermals. Between eyes and ears, plus hot rat bodies and weapons, she knew just where to aim. She raised her weapon and targeted a rat's head in the holographic sight. She picked the one at the rear because his death would be the least likely to be noticed by his peers. With head under glass, Tori fired.

"Alpha mike foxtrot," the little cat mumbled.

Detect Ambush [dice=100]needs 55
Detect Concealment [dice=100]needs 45
Detect mines/traps [dice=100] needs 45
Prowl [dice=100] needs 85
Camouflaged

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]needs 58
Locate sound [dice=100] needs 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] needs 76
Perception: [dice=20]

Init [dice=20+7]
Strike (called shot, head) [dice=20+11]
Damage[dice=4]x10
[rand=177137636169902973409031524596394436999613790689221622805777160548]

[dakota]

As Martin opened up, Shep joined in with his own quick shots meant to deter the rats. Martin saw at least two of his shots hit (need dmg) while the screams of a third meant Shep had hit at least one.

Janxi picked off one of the rats pursuing the kid, causing it to cartwheel out of sight, while Tori knew she hit by the spray of red mist that replaced her target's head. Through their thermals, they could see at least two dozen remaining rats, some of which were focusing on the team now. Including two that were hauling carts of some sor and lagging behind. Both of them ducked behind the carts and then all hell broke loose in the swamp lands as both carts proved to be hauling rail guns that had chattered to life, spraying a burst at the squad

[dice=20] first rat [dice=4][dice=4]
[dice=20] second rat dice[dice=4][dice=4]

( both firing a burst to sweep the team, so dodge both (2 rolls) behind cover or take rolled damage above)[rand=48445343811439203738891354504573713144673289014426753912553562403]

[Tori]

Tori's joy of dropping a rat was short-lived when she heard the burps of their railguns. She sent a short telepathic message to her partner, "Crispy critter, right!"

She knew the spray was going to hurt, but elected to trust her armor to allow her to silence one of the railguns. As the spray came her way, The Queen of Mean pulled the pin on a plasma grenade and tossed it at the rail gun to the left. Yet another dirty trick courtesy of little cat. With the flash to follow, she switched off her thermals.

She gave a grunt as the railgun rounds struck her.

Simultaneous attack:
Toss plasma grenade at left railgun, cart and gunner
Strike: [dice=20+9]
Damage [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6] plasma to a 12-foot radius

Detect Ambush [dice=100]needs 55
Detect Concealment [dice=100]needs 45
Detect mines/traps [dice=100] needs 45
Prowl [dice=100] needs 85
Camouflaged

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]needs 58
Locate sound [dice=100] needs 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] needs 76
Perception: [dice=20][rand=6260644194974389548797548095192209428187409543428346772847422265]

[Janxi]

Janxi shot Tori a nod. Lil Kitty was right. They had to take out those railguns. The shots from the spraying weapons would hurt, but she trusted her armor. A few stray rounds would be stopped, but if the gunners ranged on them, burst fire could be fatal. She grabbed one of her own plasma grenades, pulled the pin, and tossed it at the right-hand railgun, disengaging her thermal imaging optics to avoid blinding them.

The rounds struck her felt like a punch, but she grinned under her helmet as her grenade detonated.

Simultaneous attack:
Throw grenade at right-hand rail gun, cart and gunner
Strike [dice=20+7]
Damage [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6], 12 foot blast radius

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]/ 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]/58
Locate sound [dice=100] / 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] / 76

Camouflaged
Prowl [dice=100]/75
Land Navigation [dice=100]/60
Tracking [dice=100]/50

Initiative: [dice=20+6]
Perception [dice=20][rand=5716154013668717371116923496434448001540877841438495984033729146]

[lwcoyote]

Nike, who had been brooding a little, was slow to react (due to my not posting, sorry!). Anger flared in her as she spotted the group of rats, and the coyote barely aknowledged the yammering sounds of the railguns, walking through the spray as she drew her twin vibroblades. Letting out a feral bark the coyote soldier jinked to one side as she spotted the grenades flying towards the carts, opting to head for a nearby group of foot-rats instead. Another growl as she pounces at one, slashing at it with both blades!

Initiative [dice=20+4]
Main Hand [dice=20+6]
Off-hand [dice=20+6] (not sure if any penalties for dual-wielding)
Main Hand damage (if applicable) [dice=11+1] MD
Offhand damage (if applicable) [dice=11+1] MD
Will researve 1 action for dodging [dice=20+7]
will researve 1 action for parrying [dice=20+8] (melee only of course)

[rand=56862519055244188687699978719431102813142826735937342265499627535]

[Renekin Skywalker]

Weapon damage:
[dice=6] x10 =40 MD
[dice=6] x10 =40 MD

After giving the cover fire, Martin ducked out of site. The rail guns were a concern. A significant one, really. He took a quick glance to see if they were in range of his abilities. If they were, he would use his TK abilities to spin one of the guns around to hail bullets on the dozen rats.

If not, he would shoot at one of the guns to give the cats more time to find cover.

Dodge of gun: [dice=20] +5 = (ouchies for armour)
Dodge of gun: [dice=20] +5 = (no ouchies for armour)


Strike for cover fire:
[dice=20] damage, if hit:[dice=6] =50
[dice=20] damage, if hit:[dice=6] =40
[dice=20] damage, if hit:[dice=6] = 10
[dice=20] damage, if hit:[dice=6] = 30


Strike, if rail gun is controlled
[dice=20][rand=56058664014562963320895086508244876165887108072634187865047715604]

[Mierin]

Hearing the child’s cry, Sam nods at Martin’s signal and started to move into firing position, keeping her eyes open for any sign of other ambushes or attacks coming their way. Using the highest setting on her rifle, Sam fires at the closest rat, doing her best to get to the child they had heard.

Prowl: [dice=100], pass /53%
Perception: [dice=20]
Detect ambush [dice=100], pass /67%
Detect concealment [dice=100], pass /60%

Strike: [dice=20+2]
Damage, if hit [dice=6] [dice=6] [dice=6] [dice=6] [dice=6] [dice=6] = 28 sdc

Dodge: [dice=20+4] [dice=20+4][rand=48526795298702647037439388371186060425836271178596693345125119015]

[dakota]

The hysterical laughter of the rail gunner rats was short lived as both guns died in a spectacular burst of plasma followed by short lived shrieks of pain from rats that didn't have full body armor on. Martin's shot sliced through one of them, putting the rat out of it's misery while the other thrashed on the ground madly. Nike's vibro blade charge slashed through one rat easily while Sam picked off another lining up a shot at the coyote dog boy.

As Shep snapped off another shot, the rats stopped firing. " They're running. Captain, we follow, or let them go?"

There were still two energy rifles firing from the houses.

[Tori]

"Mutha-foxers!" Tori grunted. The little cat had not filled her blood quota for the day, even it her plasma grenade silenced the railguns. She shot Sam a look, really wanting to go after the rats, but still willing to defer to her leadership.

As the rats turned tail, she gave them a few parting shots, still aiming for their heads. If not, she would hold her fire.

Detect Ambush [dice=100]needs 55
Detect Concealment [dice=100]needs 45
Detect mines/traps [dice=100] needs 45
Prowl [dice=100] needs 85
Camouflaged

Strike [dice=20+11] (called shot, head. If target presents)
Strike [dice=20+11] (called shot, head. If target presents)

Damage [dice=4]x10
Damage [dice=4]x10

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]needs 58
Locate sound [dice=100] needs 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] needs 76
Perception: [dice=20][rand=8210458333908713036671959507077471694520217081277173217699121404]

[Janxi]

The big cat grunted as the two railgun rounds struck. They felt like a good solid punch in the shoulder. She chuckled as the railgunning rats went from laughter to shrieks of burning agony. "Get some!" the jaglion growled. She couldn't think of a more appropriate way to kill rats than burning them alive.

Janxi liked Tori's plan, and decided to give the rats a couple of parting shots of her own. She wished her laser had a "Kerpow" sound just to terrify the rats a bit more. The silent death from a laser likely scared the rats more than a noisemaker ever could.

The rats might be running now, but they would return, in greater numbers. The king rat would be pissed two of his railguns got slagged. Fox him. Maybe he'd kill the team leader who lost valuable weapons. Fox them too. In the mean time, the team saved some non-combatants and slowed the massacre. Better get them evacuated. Mission accomplished.

She waited and watched from her hiding place, ensuring the rats left the area, and the civilians wouldn't light up the team.

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]/ 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]/58
Locate sound [dice=100] / 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] / 76

Camouflaged
Prowl [dice=100]/75
Land Navigation [dice=100]/60
Tracking [dice=100]/50

Initiative: [dice=20+6]
Perception [dice=20]

Hit [dice=20+13] (called shot: head/face of retreating rat, if available)
Hit [dice=20+13] (called shot: head/face of another retreating rat, if available)
Damage [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6]
Damage [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=94727090348153568798872148122946224841606121943487922149326704123]

[Mierin]

Sam thinks about this and then says, "Let them run. We need to get to the houses." She doesn't stop anyone from taking a last shot at the retreating rats as she starts to head in the direction of the houses, her rifle at the ready.

detect ambush [dice=100], pass
detect concealment [dice=100], pass
perception [dice=20]
prowl [dice=100], pass[rand=3522541448161466071490711008305178367909485361208546053717295094]

[Renekin Skywalker]

"They're moving on!" Martin called, figuring the villagers would know his voice. For the cats' Nike's benefit, he added, "there was a little girl, where is she?"

[Tori]

"Aye Six. Holding fast. We're clear..." Tori stayed under cover, however. The family was likely in full panic mode and might light them up just because. She hoped Martin would make the proper introductions. It would suck to save a family, only to be shot by them.

[dakota]

Along with Tori and Janxi's last two kills, a few remaining remaining shots came from buildings before the swamp was somewhat quiet again. "Captain, we don't have much time before they regroup and come back." Shep said, rising from his position.

"The kid's fine" Martin's question was answered by a somewhat familiar voice. "Corporal Rich Kelso, indentify yourselves." The speaker stood, his well batteredheavy CS armor looking like a black market cobble job, and his C-50 at the ready in his hands but not pointed at anyone while an old C-10 hung over his shoulder.