Previous Entry: 03 - Rushdown - Unmasked
Rushdown has discovered that Butcher, his sector commander, was an impostor. While Butcher managed to get away, Rushdown has just gained access to his personal console and is going through the data.
"Okay, the real Butcher is alive, it seems like they're keeping her in a safehouse here in the city," says Rushdown. "I'm going there right away, you keep going through this data and find out who these guys are and where they're hiding."
"Don't you want me to come to the safehouse? It'll be guarded," replies Murphy, the security officer.
"I'll manage," says Rushdown.
Rushdown pulls up outside the safehouse. It's a rundown apartment on the edge of town. Rushdown cautiously makes his way to the address. There's no guard on the door, they probably don't want to draw too much attention. Rushdown pulls his sidearm and kicks the door down.
1d4→1
The front door opens into a living area. There's a single guard sitting on the sofa watching a vidshow. There's a submachine gun sitting on the sofa next to him, but his hands are full with snacks.
"Down on the ground, now!" yells Rushdown.
Compel(Iron)—9 vs 2|1 Momentum:5 → 6
The man gets down on the floor and Rushdown moves in and zipties his hands behind his back.
"Where's Butcher?" Rushdown yells.
"In the bedroom," says the man. Rushdown kicks the door down and enters the room, gun raised. He doesn't find any hostiles, but he does see Butcher chained to a radiator.
"Butcher? Are you ok?" Rushdown asks Butcher.
"Just Gray is fine. I'll be ok once I get out of here," she replies. Rushdown unchains her, and they make their way back to the office. They gag the man and leave him chained to the radiator; they don't have a way to move him through the city without being noticed. On the way, Rushdown gets Gray up to speed on what's been happening while she was being held hostage.
They arrive back at the office where Murphy is still going through the data on the terminal.
1-33 = rebels, 34-66 = Takamaki rivals, 67-99 = Other 1d100→58
Is it Rushdown's previous employer? 50/50(16)Yes
"So, what are we looking at?" asks Rushdown.
"You're gonna love this. So your last job was working for Satonaka against Takamaki, right? Well now you're working for Takamaki, guess who has it out for you."
"Of course. It had to be them. What do they want?"
"They want to stop the Red Suns from being acquired by Takamaki, so they're sabotaging our operation here to stop the deal from going through."
"Any idea where they're operating out of?"
"They're operating out of a ship called the Former Glory. It's hiding out in an asteroid field in the next system over."
"Anything about the fake Butcher?"
"His real name is Switchblade, he's one of their agents."
"Good work, both of you," says Gray. "I need to get some rest after everything that's happened. Go get those bastards and I'll see you back here later."
Rushdown and Murphy make their way back to the Rude Awakening and Rushdown sets a course for the next system over.
Set a Course(Supply)—6 vs 2|4 Momentum:6 → 7
They arrive in good time and soon spot the Former Glory on their scanners.
"They don't seem to have noticed us," says Scout, "They're not hailing us or trying to run."
"Biggs, line up a shot on their e-drive. If we can stop them from jumping away, they'll have to surrender," says Rushdown to the gunnery officer.
Secure an Advantage(Wits)—5 vs 4|9
Biggs takes his time to line up the perfect shot.
"Fire!" says Rushdown.
Face Danger(Edge)—6 vs 1|5 Momentum:7 → 8
The blast hits true and the Former Glory's e-drive is destroyed, but the rest of the ship remains intact.
"Ok, they're not going anywhere. Bring us in for boarding, if they shoot at us then start shooting back. Murphy, prepare a boarding party by the main airlock." Murphy walks briskly off the bridge, barking into his communicator.
Does the Former Glory respond? 50/50(45)Yes
Do they attack the Rude Awakening? 50/50(8)Yes
The Satonaka ship turns to face the Red Suns vessel and starts firing its main guns at them. Hornet tries to dodge the incoming fire.
Enter the Fray(Edge)—4 vs 10|1
"They're crazy, they don't stand a chance," says Biggs.
"Return fire," says Rushdown.
The Rude Awakening rakes the Former Glory with fire from its main cannons.
Strike(Edge)—5 vs 10|1 Momentum:8 → 9 04 - Former Glory fight +2 (6/10)
The shots rip into the Former Glory's hull.
Combat Action(15)Compel a surrender or concession
"Sir, they're hailing us," says Janus.
"Put it on screen," says Rushdown.
A face appears on screen, distorted by static. "I don't know how you found us but you should let us live. Satonaka will destroy you if you kill us."
"Are you going to come quietly?"
"No, just leave us alone. We didn't kill any of your people."
"That's not happening."
The call cuts off and the Former Glory fires again.
Clash(Edge)—9 vs 5|9 04 - Former Glory fight +1 (9/10)
Pay the Price(84)You are stressed Spirit:5 → 4
The shots rip into the Rude Awakening's hull and Rushdown tenses up as he waits for the damage report, but the damage is negligible. Meanwhile, the Red Suns' reply smashes into the Former Glory and sends debris spinning away from the site of the impact.
Combat Action(98)Use a decoy or distraction, Reveal an unexpected ability or weapon
Suddenly, there are four Former Glorys. They start performing evasive maneuvers. "What happened?" asks Rushdown.
"Must be some kind of holo tech, they send out some decoys so we don't know which is the real ship." says Janus.
Rushdown looks at the four ships to try and figure out which one is the real one.
Secure an Advantage(Wits)—9 vs 3|6
"Look, only one of the ships has battle damage, the other three are in pristine condition," says Rushdown, "They must not update the holoimage in realtime. Take a shot at the damaged one."
React Under Fire(Wits)—5 vs 1|4 Momentum:9 → 10
The shot hits the ship and the three images disappear instantly.
Take Decisive Action(track)—4 vs 9|4 04 - Former Glory fightcompleted
With a final volley from the Rude Awakening, the Former Glory's power cuts out, and the guns stop firing.
"Hold fire," says Rushdown. "Murphy, is the boarding party ready?"
"At the airlock awaiting your go," comes the reply.
"Hornet, bring us in to dock," says Rushdown.
Are there any survivors? 50/50(57)No
The boarding party clear the Former Glory without resistance - a hole in the hull vented the atmosphere and nobody that survived the battle was able to get an EVA suit on in time. The boarding party return to the ship and Rushdown orders Biggs to blow it up - the information it carries is too valuable to leave for some random scav crew to find. That done, they return to Minami City.
End a Session
I realized I forgot to roll Make a Connection for Gray earlier
Make a Connection(Heart)—8 vs 7|5 Connection Gray
Next Entry: 05 - Rushdown - The Minami Man