Early September 1998 Official Responses

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)

With cat-like reflexes Tork rolls to a kneeling position and draws his
knife.
Issuing an ear piercing battle cry he throws himself against his attacker.

< OOC > Layne roll for Battle Rage.  Tork will do what he can to disable
his attackers, knock them down, throw them into a each other, ... but if it
comes down to a choice between us and them, the team *must* survive
(even if Tork does not). < /OOC >

>
>"Dammit, fine time to be without our robotics expert!", he yells as he
>charges onto the back of one of the behemoths.  "Kare, let's get these
>suits deactivated.  It looks like they've got slave circuits controlling
>them."
>

Tork appears to not hear Syzygy's words, the truth is he can't afford to
listen.  Tork must involve himself totally in the battle, think only of
causing
as much damage as possible, provide the most likely target, and hope that
he can distract whoever is pulling the strings long enough to let his team-
mates succeed or escape.

Tork does not want to harm our new allies but he sees no other choice.  He
hopes that he can crack the shell without harming the precious cargo, or
that his new allies will at least understand his actions.


IF Tork survives the battle he will enter into a well deserved sulk, his
mind
filling with thoughts that no normal being should have.  His mind's eye
imagines the Central Computer Spire collapsing upon itself after being
racked by several well placed charges.  He conspires to place a timed
charge on the acceleration strips then allow them to rocket their deadly
load to it's destination. But mostly he envisions ripping the lord of
shadows
head off and spitting down the hole.

After the battle Tork will silently move about the area tending the wounded
and scavenging any stray weapons.  If anyone (besides Kare or Urugg )
confront Tork about his actions he will simply lower his gaze, reply in a
quiet voice "I had no choice", and move on.  If Urugg or Kare confront
Tork he will look them in the eye and in a slow and deliberate voice reply
"I swear this today.  For what he has done to those I call friends and
others
of this place, I will *kill* the lord of shadows," Tork then pauses before
continuing "or die trying."



Layne *I* am really beginning to hate this lord of shadows.  Its been a
while since I felt that way about an NPC, CONGRATULATIONS!!
BTW, I have been cooking up all kinds of nasty things to do to get back at
him.  I'm not going to waste the bandwidth on listing them here, I'll pull
them out when the time is right.  Well, that is of course assuming
Tork survives.  If not I'll just have to mail them to Albin. 

One thing Tork will do if the team decides to fall back to Lost Point after
the battle.  He will rig an explosive charge with a pressure detonator under
the tracks.  It will be rigged to go off if a monorail car comes down the
track, the explosion destroying  the rail and sending the car careening into
the tunnel walls (and maybe beyond). Tork will try to gage the exact
amount of TD-19 needed so as not to waste any but will use enough to
make sure the job is done.  If time (and materials) allow he will rig it to
explode if tampered with.

Whichever way the group moves, Tork will be on the lookout for the
material necessary to build pipe bombs.  ( You don't need TD-19 for a pipe
bomb and we need the fire power. )

From:  Ruben Rivera (Kare)

If Tork attacks the Shadow Warriors, Kare will try to end the battle the
best way possible.  Kare hopes that if she stops the Shadow warriors,
Tork will come out of battle rage without claiming a victim.

When that battle is over Kare will say to Tork (with a smile)"I know you
didn't wish to hurt him...or else YOU WOULD HAVE USED A WEAPON THAT
COULD PIERCE ARMOR!!!"

Just kidding!!!
Smile 
Ruben

From:  Ken Morefield (Zane)

  O.K. It seems like the shit has hit the fan, formed a creek,
and we don't have a paddle.  If Zane was getting ready for combat,
then he will keep both his laser pistol(set on 6) and his Gyrojet
pistol(with a tangler jet clip) close at hand.  When the team is attacked
by the Lost Pointers, Zane will attempt to use his martial arts skill
to parry any attack against him or anyone near him.  If he has to he
will attempt to shoot whatever attackers he can with his gyrojet pistol.
He is not sure if it will stop them or not, but maybe it will slow them down.
When(and if) everything settles down, Zane will administer medical treatment
to who ever needs it.  At some point after all the commotion, he will start
using
one of his cameras to take pictures of Kare.  He will tell her that she
should
be a model.
                   Thanks,
                          Ken

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

In a message dated 9/15/98 2:10:02 AM !!!First Boot!!!, Dralasite writes:

<<  When(and if) everything settles down, Zane will administer medical
treatment
  to who ever needs it.  At some point after all the commotion, he will start
using
  one of his cameras to take pictures of Kare.  He will tell her that she
should
  be a model. >>

Well Zane, you salty dog ; )

From:  Ruben Rivera (Kare)

Layne post please,

>At some point after all the commotion, he will start
> using one of his cameras to take pictures of Kare.  He will tell her >that she should  be a model.


After Kare single handedly saves the party, Ms.Badness will brush any
dirt off her spacesuit and will respond to Zane with all the diplomatic
skill she can muster.

"Well I always thought so, but...Hey wait FREAK BOY!!!  You want my
picture, you take it off a 'Wanted Poster'!"

Layne remind me, whats Kare's punching score?

"...you better leave this one alone,
     they could tell right then...
    That Kares Bad to the Bone..."
(Can you hear the guitars and the Sax)
(Song lyrics modified to fit my purpose) 
(Re-released by Blackjack and the Destroyers)

Ruben

From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)

I noticed that Layne asked for a "concise" response.  I'll try to take
the hint. :-)

T'Klkk hesitates for just a moment as the words of the hologram and the
image on the viewpanel sink in.  She is horrified to think that the
entire situation has been so artfully manipulated by this one man.  The
level of subterfuge and deception is beyond her.  Silently, she wishes
for the comfort of the Vrusk hive system where everyone's role is
governed by a rigid caste system, and the intricacies of the system
prevent situations such as this one from occurring.

She shakes her head in an effort to bring her thoughts back to the
present.  What to do?  What to do?  Quickly calculating the distance in
her head, she realizes that her teammates are half an hour away by foot,
and even at running speed she would probably arrive way too late to be
of assistance.  "Teammates, you must survive without the help of
self-T'Klkk", she thinks to herself.  Activating her chronocom, she
sends a message to them all, "Teammates, the power suits are being
controlled by the Lord of the Shadows. Our allies, the Lost Point
refugees, are not to blame.  All of First Landing has been enslaved, and
all robots are to be considered hostile.  All automated systems are
being controlled from Mr. Streel's office.  We are all under
surveillance at all times.  If self-T'Klkk were a Dral, she would stay
hidden in her shell.  Good luck, teammates.  Out."  She hopes that
Taanik understood the last part of her message as a warning to not leave
the robot that he and Spider are hiding in.

With that done, she will make her way, at a full run, to the Computer
Spire.  She is way outgunned and outnumbered, so she will avoid a
firefight with robot security at all cost.  She's counting on her speed
and agility.  If a direct approach to the Spire proves to be heavily
guarded, she will take as circuitous a route as necessary, even if that
means going to the far side of First Landing and back.  DODGE and AVOID
are the key words here!!!  If she makes it to the Spire, her objective
is to damage as much hardware as possible.  Anything she can do to
"throw a monkeywrench" into the works.

If it becomes apparent that she simply cannot reach the Spire, she will
abandon that plan and will try to make her way to the secret/abandoned 
airshaft that Kare used some time ago to spy on the Streel office. 
Along the way, she'll try to get her hands onto some extra weapons (and
smoke grenades if at all possible).  To keep from being seen, she'll
detonate smoke grenades nearby or, if all else fails, set some fires to
generate smoke in the area to cover her from view while she gets into
the airshaft.  If this is possible, she'll put a bullet between the
LoS's eyes if she gets a chance, or at the very minimum shoot him in the
shoulders so that his nasty little hands don't work when he puts them on
a keyboard.  :-)  Seriously, her goal would be to take him out without
killing him, but if pressed she would shoot to kill.

I hope all of this is clear.  Sorry about the concise thing.  Looks
like I wasn't able to do it.  :-)

-JWW

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)


-----Original Message-----
From: John Whitfield 
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 1998 7:20 PM
Subject: [Unity] T'Klkk's Official Early September move


>


>If it becomes apparent that she simply cannot reach the Spire, she will
>abandon that plan and will try to make her way to the secret/abandoned
>airshaft that Kare used some time ago to spy on the Streel office.
>Along the way, she'll try to get her hands onto some extra weapons (and


Don't forget about the Tangler grenades we put into the shaft as a trap to
catch Spider. :)

From:  Clark Valentine (Taanik)

"Oh this is just great.  This is wonderful.  Simply out-f*cking-standing."

Taanik, too far away to help ids comrades (even if id is aware of the 
fight - Layne, how much does Taanik know here?), decides on a course of 
action.  "Streel, I guess we have to trust you now.  You know this city 
better than anyone else, do you think you can get us to the computer spire?"

If Spider/Streel is confident about getting to the Spire, Taanik will 
summon what's left of ids courage and follow along.  Ids plan is to use 
ids computer/robotics skills to attempt to sabotage the main robot 
management program at the Spire.  First priority is to disrupt command 
and control between the bots, second is to attempt an en mass alter 
mission. If id is able, Taanik will perform Alter Mission on any 
individual 'bot id can (provided it doesn't require an extraordinary 
amount of time and danger), in an attempt to gain some mechanical allies 
and/or causes of diversion.  Guile and stealth (d'oh, shoulda picked up 
environmental skill) will be preferable to hack-n-zap in getting to the 
Spire, if necessary attempting to blend in with the crowd.  If necessary 
Taanik will use ids blaster on level 5.

If Spider/Streel doesn't think he can get us to the Spire, Taanik goes to 
Plan B:  The mining 'bots entrance.  There, id will attempt to disrupt 
the flow of materials in any way possible, to alter missions on some 'bots 
to bring 'em over to the good guys, and maybe to gain access to the main 
robot management program.

Taanik will try to avoid contact with citizens, assuming that they are all 
collaborators.

If Taanik does crack the computer security, id will (after diabling the 
'bots) put through an emergency subspace call to Star Law and the UPF, 
begging for help, doing anything it takes to get the cavalry here.

At all times ids chron will be in receive mode, but not transmit mode.  
(Layne, is there a silent receive mode?)  Taanik will only transmit in 
one of two circumstances: if it looks like it will be able to complete 
ids mission successfully, or if id's about to buy the farm.

"You know, Streel, I hope your company has insurance, because after my 
lawyer gets through with it..."

Oh, and if possible, id will try to hack ids way into this guy's web 
server and put the text "The Lord of Shadows is a rat fink bastard" 
with the  tag on his home page.

Taanik will attempt to do as much as possible from inside the 'bot, at 
least until id hears from T'Klkk.  Id first makes sure that the bot cannot 
receive orders from the Spire.

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

Well, the gloves are off and we are getting our asses kicked like Marty
Feldman vs Iron Mike Tyson.  Maybe we'll luck out and Dakka Streel will only
bite our ears off 

But seriously:

We're outnumbered 8 to 5 (if I remember right), but this isn't too bad if we
can disable the suits quickly.  In a standup fight I suspect the exoskeletal
enhancements and armor will butcher us.  In light of this fact, Urugg will do
the only thing he can do.

As the LP's (Lost Pointers) begin to move oddly, Urugg's attention will snap
from possible robots or boobytraps ahead to the suited men around him.  As the
LP's assume combat stance and begin to attack, the yazirian will fear the
worst (treachery) but hope he's wrong.  Uncertain, he will try his best to
disable the LP's and at least even the odds.  

Layne, I don't know exactly how our magnetic boots work here (or if we need
them in the tubes).  If the boots are "off" or not working, Urugg will try to
get above the fray by leaping upward at the tube ceiling and "sticking" there
Spiderman-style with the magnetic gloves he rigged on his suit.  

If this succeeds, Urugg will rain tangler grenades down on the LP's, then
execute a gliding attack with above with his stunstick (set to stun, not
damage).  If he cannot do the ceiling maneuver, he will dodge the LP's and go
for melee combat with the stunstick.

Urugg will not intentionally enter Battle Rage, being more confused than
enraged by the attack.  If Tork goes into it, Urugg may follow due to general
tension and stress fo combat.

--------

Things to ponder:

- Given Spider's appearance as a holo and his fondness for the LOS title, I
wonder if he hasn't hidden himself in the last place someone would look for
him - Lost Point.  I wonder if he hasn't refurbbed those labs...

- If we survive the LP's and can reestablish contact with Streel, Urugg will
recommend negotiating with him and catering to his weaknesses.  If we can
appeal to his (obvious) pride and (probable) megalomania, maybe we can trick
himself into giving us a shot  - either at him, or at freedom.  I've got a
rough plan, but would love some suggestions if anyone has any.  Ideas?

From:  Ruben Rivera (Kare)

Okay so Kare doesn't have any tangler grenades.  But Kare is assuming
that the armor is being run by the supreme shadow himself.  So Kare will
try two things.

One, she will drop smoke grenades to see if they effect who or whatever
is running the armor.   

Second, she will open her techkit and pull out a laser torch or
something.  And attempt to sneak up on our Armoried Allies and shut down
their armor.  She will yell out to her team mates to use tangler
grenades if they have them.

Sorry, my girlfriends birthday, I don't have enough time to make kares
responce more complete.

Ruben

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

Layne - 

As for the tunnel skirmish, it is Syzygy's single-minded plan to keep
the others from getting wiped out.  He'll do whatever it takes to
prevent this.  This includes sacrificing himself if necessary.  The plan
is that if charging headlong into a cluster of armored guys and doing
the kamikaze thing will do the trick, then so be it.  Of course, if this
is avoidable, then he'll try to just pitch the satchels at them.  Syzygy
has more than one satchel, with the 4 kg. TD-19 distributed as I layed
out before.  I don't know if you still have a record of that - I don't.
If you don't, then let's say: 2 x 1 kg. and 4 x 1/2 kg.  all set with
radio detonators that can be activated at the manual release of his
dead-man's switch.  

The key is to take these guys out.  If he can live to talk about it he
will, but if there's a combat advantage to taking it to the mat then
he'll provide some nice tragic spice to the story! :)

- your pal AL (Syzygy)

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

> If she makes it to the Spire, her objective
> is to damage as much hardware as possible.  Anything she can do to
> "throw a monkeywrench" into the works.
> 
[Johnson, Albin]  This is not a good idea.  That's the
equivalent of taking on a major bank at a major city today - one person
couldn't do diddly against coordinated robot security.

> If it becomes apparent that she simply cannot reach the Spire, she
> will
> abandon that plan and will try to make her way to the secret/abandoned
> 
> airshaft that Kare used some time ago to spy on the Streel office. 
[Johnson, Albin]  
This is another bad plan.  The guy in the office knows about
that shaft, since Kare was discovered there once.  I don't think this
guy is easily fooled with the a trick used once, much less twice.

If Spider/Streel doesn't think he can get us to the Spire, Taanik goes
to Plan B:  The mining 'bots entrance.  There, id will attempt to
disrupt the flow of materials in any way possible, to alter missions on
some 'bots to bring 'em over to the good guys, and maybe to gain access
to the main robot management program.

[Johnson, Albin]  
The mining bots entrance is a much better idea unless Spidey
there can find a way into the Spire that doesn't involve a head-on
assault.

If this succeeds, Urugg will rain tangler grenades down on the LP's,
then
execute a gliding attack with above with his stunstick (set to stun, not
damage).  If he cannot do the ceiling maneuver, he will dodge the LP's
and go
for melee combat with the stunstick.
[Johnson, Albin]  
Neither tangler grenades or the smoke grenades Kare mentioned
using are any good - tangler grenades work against normal-strength
creatures if I remember.  Those exoskeletons are enhancing their
strength.  And as LOS pointed out, the suits are pressurized against
vaccuum, so smoke will do nothing.  I assume something that fancy will
have IR goggles - I guess its worth a shot,but we need a REAL plan.  (it
sucks that Taanik isn't here with the robots and Syzygy isn't there with
the computers - nice irony there)

Our best bet is to maximize our skills.  Tork and Urugg need to
hit these boys hard, Zane can work cover, and Kare and Syzygy need to go
tactical with the tools.  Our best bet is to assume these suits act like
robots concerning the rules - if we can get an access panel off then we
can shut the suits down.  If the suits are NOT considered robots by
layne but as computers, then all the better - Syzygy needs to gain
access and flip each one off.  Even further than that, if they are
treated as machines by Layne, then Kare has the advantage.  Whatever
modality, they have to have an 'off' switch.

Layne, are there any features of this tunnel area that tell
Syzygy or Kare how the transmissions from LOS are being relayed?  If
there are, we need to take them out.  They could be some sort of SF
equivalent to modern day cel phone relay towers - some sort of relay
devices.  Unless LOS is operating a very powerful radio device which
broadcasts directly - which is very possible.  In that case that won't
work.

Syzygy is all for helping these guys out, but he will NOT allow
his team-mates to be killed or hurt.  His last resort will be to square
off with a cluster of these goons (there should be some sort of cluster
since they outnumber us and its a tight space) and lob his satchel
charges at them.  Of course he won't do it if it endangers any of his
team-mates directly, but even if this ruptures the tube walls we are in
space suits.