Scottsdale Forest Operation: Mountain Base Infiltration

[CS High Command]

Scottsdale Forest Operation: A Walk in the Woods
Date: June 8, 110 PA
Time: 18:45 by end of post.
Temp: 88 degrees F; 89% humidity
Weather: Clear, but muggy
Ley Line info: None within 5 miles
Location: Everyone: Everyone is on the game trail above the target facility.
Map:

The group files out of the APC in their full tactical gear. Each is momentarily struck by the utter peacefulness of the area now that the engine's whine has died down. Animals and dinosaurs sound in the distance, but close by only insects are in abundance. The growing darkness hides their presence from casual view, their black armor blending with the night. Only Snoopy's lighter grey armor and Mane's red armor stand out at all, and in this light, not even that much.

The whine of servos, the crunch of boots, the creak of armor and backpacks, and the tap of a weapon against body armor - there was nothing silent about their movement as they began their trek down the mountain side from where the three engineers and Lunk were spreading a camo net over the APC but keeping it clear of the fans. Lunk says he will follow down once he is done, saying he was once a skilled scout himself.

The only downside to their nighttime assault, of course, is that you lose certain details when looking at the world through night vision. Even relying on the mark one eyeball isn't that reliable. All not sealed in their armor are using ear buds and sub-vocal mics with radio on it's absolute lowest power, barely able to be received past ten feet, or detected past twenty. Hand signs known to every CS soldier are the other method of communication.

Egan and Lunk had both noticed that unlike what they saw from the air, game do frequent these trails, but none stay in the area, despite there being an abundance of food. The reason wasn't apparent at first. But as they get closer, every psychic in the group begins to feel a sense of growing dread. Not from a source, but more from all around them, or more accurately, below them. In particular, Caesar is certain he can smell magic coming from the soil itself! Whatever is the cause of this feeling gives off emotions of rage and malevolence. Everyone starts to feel jumpy and ill at ease. Freeman begins to realize it may not be the facility doing anything if everything that comes into the area starts feeling as edgy as he is right now. He knows it's not nerves, but he isn't sure what precisely it is. A quick look around tells him it's not just him though.

With Egan and Mane leading the way, and Howlett and Karl coming in close behind, the first group advances quietly down the trail looking for sensors, traps, and cameras. Once they've cleared a section, Caesar, Snoopy, and Freeman move up as quietly as is possible. Then the process is repeated. It's slow, but considering the possibility of traps and detection, it's worth it to take it slow. The group has cleared the first section of trail when their chronometers read 18:45, local time.

What are you doing?

[Egan Grey]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]

current conditions: Stalker Suit - thermal systems suffer a penalty of -20% to the Read Sensory Equipment skill. Ghillie suit - cannot be detected by thermal-imagers at ranges greater than 200 feet (61 m). And even within close range, attempts to detect the heat signature of the person inside the suit suffer a penalty of -30% to the operator's Read Sensory Equipment skill.


Egan hops out of the uncomfortable jump seat and out the door as fast as he can once the APC had finished touching down. Getting his bearings, he sweeps the area once checking everything out before moving down the trail first to check the path while everyone else finished disembarking. "Animals are definately moving through the area, otherwise the trail would be almost completely covered with over growth." he points behind him as the rest of the group gets ready. Moving out Egan tries to make the best time that he can while trying to insure the safety of the others following behind.
As they get closer and the feeling of unease begins, Egan can't help but feel a shiver run down his spine on one particular step. -Man, just feels bad....is this even an old pre-rifts facility? or did something else take up residency?- Looking around and seeing the rest of the group feeling the same thing finishes the thought. -Guess this could be what is keeping the animals moving. Lets just get this fricken thing and GTFO!- His whole ghillie suit rustles violently for a second as the shiver passes before Egan continues forward towards the base and the unknown as he uses hand signals to point out issues he sees rather than use the radio.

• Skill rolls:
  [Climb – 95%, [dice]3[/dice], PASS] - to climb up/down any needed terrain
  [Prowl – 78%, [dice]4[/dice], PASS] - force of habit while moving through woods
  [Land Navigation – 84%, [dice]5[/dice], PASS] - to keep on track and down the trail
  [Wilderness Survival – 85%, [dice]6[/dice], PASS] - to pay attention to the area for natural hazards
  [Track: Animals – 70%, [dice]7[/dice], FAIL] - force of habit while moving through the area
  [Track Humans & Robots – 75%, [dice]8[/dice], FAIL] - checking for patrols that might have switched areas
  [Trap & Mine Detection – 65%, [dice]9[/dice], PASS] - looking for traps / sensors lining the trail
  [Intelligence – 63%, [dice]10[/dice], FAIL] - to keep in mind where likely trapped spots would be placed to guard against intrusion
  [Detect Ambush (6th level) - 45%, [dice]11[/dice], PASS] - keeping an eye out
  [Sensory Equipment (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]12[/dice], FAIL] - to operate suits sensor systems to the fullest
  [Optic Systems (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]13[/dice], PASS] - to operate suits optic systems to the fullest
  [Lore: Magic – 70%, [dice]14[/dice], PASS] - to try and remember about the artifact and it's link to the entity
  

[John Freeman]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

As usual the situation on the ground changes Freeman's intelligence estimate drastically. Unnerved by the chill running down his spine the Lieutenant falls into formation Egan's group take the lead. If Caesar reports the presence of magic Freeman will radically alter his thinking about the compound. Old tech with magic pulsing through it means the tech has likely been polluted by mystic forces. As they move he keeps his sensors trained on his zone making sure nothing sneaks up on them.

Read Sensory Equipment [dice]3[/dice] / 74% to monitor the area

[James Howlett]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
Just in Case: [dice]1[/dice]/[dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Active Cybernetics: Sensor Hand (Heat: Temperature at 4-6 inch range, Motion detector: Bionics Sourcebook page 36-37, Radiation Detector: As per Geiger Counter, Gyro-Compass: All cardinal directions as well as up down, Amplified Hearing) Multi-Optic Eye: (Telescopic: 4-8x30 magnification, range: 6,000', Macro Lens: 2x to 8x magnification, range: 3', Passive Nightvision: 2,000', Thermo-Imaging: 2,000', Light Filters: Reduces glare.), Amplified Hearing.

Prowl [dice]3[/dice]/62% Pass (Obvious reasons)
Radio: Basic [dice]4[/dice]/92% Fail (Looking for foreign radio signals.)


James follows the point men. James idly cycles through his various sight forms, looking at his surroundings. James also makes mental notes of the various information coming from his built-in sensors. James' final bit of attention is taken up by mentally fiddling with his internal radio seeking out foreign radio signals. With luck we wont be running into anything out here at least. James thinks to himself as he makes sure his codes are cued up for both the facility and just in case he has to call in a airstrike against the Shadow Warriors that will likely show up. "Private Grey, keep us advised of anything up the way."

[Karl]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC [dice]1[/dice] [dice]2[/dice]

Karl did his best to keep low and quiet as he followed along, but it wasn't easy. The CS SF body armour was a little stiff and unwieldy at the best of times, and then on top of it he was humping a pretty decent amount of gear in his backpack. None the less he focused on keeping his gaze alert, paying special attention to looking for any signs of electronic sensors, signs that people had been here already or really just anything that seemed out of place. When he gets that feeling of dread washing over him he can't help but let out a slight shiver. "I got a bad feeling about this." he says lowly. Looks like I'm not the only one on edge here either. I'm not sure if that's even remotely comforting or just even more disturbing....

Land Navigation 65% [dice]3[/dice]
Intelligence 60% [dice]4[/dice]
Wilderness Survival 72% [dice]5[/dice]
Prowl 67% [dice]6[/dice]
Sensory Equipment 57% [dice]7[/dice]

[Caesar]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JiC d20/d100: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

Sense Psychic and Magic Energy, [dice=total]3[/dice]/65%
Recognize Psychic Scent, [dice=total]4[/dice]/30% (more if familiar)
Sense Supernatural Beings, [dice=total]5[/dice]/76%
Recognize Strong and Common Scents, [dice=total]6[/dice]/85%
Identify Specific Odors, [dice=total]7[/dice]/64%
Detect Ambush, [dice=total]8[/dice]/60%
Detect Concealment, [dice=total]9[/dice]/55%
Trap & Mine Detecting, [dice=total]10[/dice]/30% (40% with scent)

Along with Freeman and Snoopy, Caesar leaves the hover APC and the stink of magic settles over him like a wet blanket. He left his face plate off to keep his nose and ears unencumbered, but for a moment he wished he hadn't, for all that would have accomplished. He couldn't quite place the source, but it was strong enough to be undeniable.

"Strong magic scent coming from... the ground, over," Caesar said, into his mic. He chose this time to try activate more psychic senses, See the Invisible, -4 ISP, Sense Magic, -3

Focusing, Caesar engaged his nose and eyes to look for trouble. Relying purely on your psychic skills was never enough. He kept his beloved pulse rifle up to eye level, looking down it's night vision site.

[John Freeman]

((rolls held))

"Strong magic scent coming from... the ground, over,"

"Acknowledged," Freeman breathes into the mic. With magic confirmed to be in the picture the Lieutenant frowns, there was no telling how that will corrupt the situation. However, it's better to know what they're dealing with than just bitch about it, "Can you recognize the type or track the source? We need to know how this alters our mission parameters."

Intelligence [dice]0[/dice] /74%, to determine if magic is part of the bunker or an entirely separate element.

[CS High Command]

GM Mini-Reply

Caesar sees nothing invisible, not even innocuous entities like he might expect. Indeed nothing seems to want to hang around. As for magic, though he can sense it permeating the area, there is none within direct observation range, and thus his power use turns up nothing. He is sure there is no ambush, simply because nothing could hold its composure here unless it was putting off it's own evil stench that would overlay with this one. He does recognize the faint smells of passing game, but all seem to be warning of danger. Little wonder at that.

Mane, for his part, smells the familiar scent of Caesar's power use that wafts like sweat over the stench of the magical source that he seems to be standing on.

Egan keeps his group moving, avoiding a laser fence and marking it clearly via his Heads up Display for the follow up team. As he moves, he thinks back about the artifact and realizes that it was made from some major minion of a creature as evil and as powerful as it comes. He realizes, belatedly, that this sense of dread and magic is common in the lairs of such beings. According to the Papago, they bound him to this plane by using his bones as components. While that may limit his ability to interact with the world, his sheer presence would not be so muted. In fact, what they have experienced so far tracks with a demon lord level creature. The abilities imparted by such a creature on any item would be immense. But no matter how powerful, the Papago didn't want this around. So they stuck it in a well guarded hole in the ground, hoping never to have to deal with it again. Honestly, it wasn't a bad idea and not too far from what the CS would do with it. Destroying it is not an option because it would simply release the creature to reform in a matter of years, though Egan can't remember how much.

Freeman detects nothing in particular on sensors, though he can see the points of interest marked in the HUD by the scout team. Absent any other information, Freeman just doesn't know, but he can easily surmise that there has to be a reason the Papago hid this blasted thing and didn't keep it around. By all accounts it is a powerful relic that they would normally revere and use. Yet they stuck it in a hole in the ground. The question begged by that is why. Perhaps he is getting an inkling of just why that choice would be made. Karl comes to a similar conclusion based on what he can see and what he knows about the relic they are after.

James can detect radio traffic other than his own, and it is definitely on the same low wave intensity, but he can't surmise anything more than that. Perhaps it is simply automated systems sending a station keeping message so an alarm is not raised.

[Snoopy Toretto]

Perception [dice]0[/dice]
JIC [dice]1[/dice]
JIC [dice]2[/dice]

Sensory Equipment [dice]3[/dice]/108% Continuous scanning with the PA's sensors
Military Tactics [dice]4[/dice]/88% Being aware of the most efficient/effective way he can move in the column
Intelligence [dice]5[/dice]/64% Observe the area for signs indicating enemy movement, evidence of other interlopers, etc.
Detect Ambush [dice]6[/dice]/58% I mean, they're after some crazy magic artifact, there has to be an ambush at some point.
Lore: Demons & Monsters [dice]7[/dice]/52% If there's any evidence of enemies, are thy demonic or monstrous?
Radio: Basic [dice]8[/dice]/98% Maintain comms, and also see what the radio landscape is like.
Electronic Countermeasures [dice]9[/dice]/48% He doesn't have an ECM suite, but if he can analyze or proactively protect their own comms with what he's got.

---

Following along in his position towards the middle of the column Snoopy does his best to keep all his eyes and sensors sweeping the over the area. He's not particularly quiet or graceful in the brush. Alert for any danger he never zeroes in on one detail, keeping his eyes moving and aware. This is hostile territory, and hostiles could be anywhere. Snoopy is determined to see them first - and to kill them first.

He focuses some energy on the electronic aspects of his surroundings, analyzing any radio transmissions as best he can and figuring out any way to protect their own comms. He runs thought experiments to see what he could do with his equipment to disrupt any enemy comms, but won't try anything until contact is made. He doesn't want to put up a radio signal flare saying "we're here!".

While part of his mind investigates the electromagnetic spectrum of the area, another part of his mind runs through the little bit of knowledge he has about demons and magic. He knows frightening little. He never thought of it before, but field operators, whether SF or just regular army, should know a lot more about their enemy. He is walking into this encounter ignorant of the possible threat. He wonders what the thinking is to keep the soldiers uninformed. Part of him quietly says, I know why but he refuses to acknowledge that voice. It sounds vaguely like a dragon.

His rifle is set in triple burst mode, he doesn't check, but he mentally logs that and calculates the number of shots with his LE-clip. It's not many. He does have two extra LE-clips on his vest. If he uses those up he has no backup for his pistol. But if it comes to pistol work, things have gone ploin-shaped* and he'll have either more or nothing to work about. He maintains proper weapon discipline and spacing, the last thing he wants is a friendly fire incident and an injured - or worse - teammate.

Head moving side to side, up and down (he's a flyer, he will not make the mistake of not looking up). Checking behind himself periodically he looks for both his teammates and any danger. Not seeing his teammates would be a clear indication of danger.

He wonders what Howlett is thinking about. He tries to figure it out.

*The Warhammer 40k version of pear-shaped.

[Mane]

Perception Roll: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC Rolls: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: See Invisible active; Nightvision (bio & cyber) active

Immediately after disembarking from the APC, the moment his feet hit the ground, Mane switched the optics of his bionic eye to nightvison mode and willed his fleshy eye to see in the hews of the supernatural, activating his ability to See the Invisible (expending 4 IPS). With the natural nightvison his natural eye possessed, the combination worked remrkabily well in helping him retain his stereoscopic vision in the dark. Taking the lead with Egan, the hulk of a battle cat did his best to be quiet, but his gear made the notion of perfect silent movement an impossibility in the dead-calm of the wilderness. Even so, he did his best to match Egan's level of stealth as they moved along.

Extending his senses, both natural and preternatural alike, Mane took in his surroundings hoping to find his prey before it tried to return the gesture. While his extra-sensory perceptions were on the lookout for the supernatural, his eyes and ears were sensing his surroundings for the more mundane and tried & true methods of the hunt, as both predator and those foolish enough to think him their prey. Despite his hardened instincts and training for this very task, the stink of foreboding was an unwelcome distraction. Just the same, Mane had faith in Caesar's senses to pickup an on anything his overlooked. Even so, he kept his Stopper pistol in hand and ready for rapid action and his other hand free for come-what-may. Whether he was to the ambusher or ambushee this night, Mane was as ready as he was going to be.

**** Skill & Sensory Rolls *****
Sense Psychic & Magic Energy (70% base) [dice]3[/dice]
Sense Supernatural Beings:
* To ID (70% base) [dice]11[/dice]
* Tracking by this sense (26% base value, 57% if magically/psychically active) [dice]4[/dice]
Kitty Hearing:
* Judge Distance & Precise Location of Source (96% base) [dice]5[/dice]
* Recognize & Identify Prey by Sounds (88% base) [dice]6[/dice]
* Discriminate Multiple Target Locations (flat 75% base) [dice]7[/dice]
Detect Ambush (80% base) [dice]8[/dice] ~ On the lookout for trouble
Detect Concealment (75% base) [dice]9[/dice] ~ On the lookout for hidden objects
Tracking (people) (85% base) [dice]10[/dice] ~ To backtrack any spotted tracks to their source

[Egan Grey]

((Rolls carried over))

Egan smacks his helmet as his brain finally seems to put two and two together from the previous briefings and the current feelings everyone is experiencing. -Well, I'm an idiot...-
He sub-vocalizes into the mic as he continues moving down the path, "Pretty sure the package is confirmed. The ride homes gonna suck." he finishes the statement dryly.
-Well, hopefully it doesn't get too much worse the closer we get....yeah....I can hope right?-

[James Howlett]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
Just in Case: [dice]1[/dice]/[dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Active Cybernetics: Sensor Hand (Heat: Temperature at 4-6 inch range, Motion detector: Bionics Sourcebook page 36-37, Radiation Detector: As per Geiger Counter, Gyro-Compass: All cardinal directions as well as up down, Amplified Hearing) Multi-Optic Eye: (Telescopic: 4-8x30 magnification, range: 6,000', Macro Lens: 2x to 8x magnification, range: 3', Passive Nightvision: 2,000', Thermo-Imaging: 2,000', Light Filters: Reduces glare.), Amplified Hearing.

Find Contraband [dice]3[/dice]/76% Pass (Tag useful salvage for follow up teams)
Research [dice]4[/dice]/97% Pass (Piece together all he's figured out)
Sensory Equipment [dice]5[/dice]/77% Fail (Read all the info his sensors are pumping out)
Lore: Demons & Monsters [dice]6[/dice]/67% Pass (ID creature's & such)
Weapon Systems [dice]7[/dice]/57% Pass (ID and hidden Weapon Systems)
History: Post-Apocalypse [dice]8[/dice]/47%/[dice]9[/dice]/42% Pass (Piece together info about the area based on rumors and such)
Lore: Magic [dice]10[/dice]/37% Fail (Analyze the information Egan gave)
Recognize Enchantment [dice]11[/dice]/22% Pass (Refined thoughts on area's situation)
Lore: Psychics & Psionics [dice]12[/dice]/37% Fail (Consider the effects of the area on teams mutant animals)
Artificial Intelligence [dice]13[/dice]/44% Pass (Contemplate a possible AI presence in the NEMA facility)
Radio Basic [dice]14[/dice]/92% Pass (Refine radio search to listen in on underlying Radio signal)
Wilderness Survival [dice]15[/dice]/67% Fail (To maneuver around in this wilderness)
Intelligence [dice]16[/dice]/48% Fail (To collate the information coming in)
Prowl [dice]17[/dice]/62% Pass (To keep his metal bits from making to much noise)

(Hows that for skill spamming. )

James slowly makes his way behind the advanced team. It was a good idea to put those two up front. Egan has really come into his own since we rescued him from Atlantis. James makes note of the laser fence. "Acknowledged, Coyote One."

James glances over at Freeman. Freeman has been a strong backer, Not sure I would have gotten a handle on this leadership thing without him. James peeks at his HUD and notes the other members of his team and their relative positions. Corporal Torretto and Private Caesar, they've been with us shortly, but have already proven themselves. I'm kind of glad that command saw fit to attach them to our little team. Torreto is a damn fine pilot and a hell of a soldier, while Caesar is more than I expected from a mutant animal, I have dealt with them in the past and still he surpasses all the expectations I have. James smirks under his helmet. Specialist Mane, what a piece of work. He is super useful in general, though his personality is something to worry about. Not now of course, that would take more effort than I would want to give now. "Raptor Three Fifty-Seven, anything on your end?"

James says quietly to the giant mutant battle cat. "Corporal Maddox, now there was a rough start. He's taken it with a stiff lip, still makes me feel like a rookie officer what started to happen under my nose. Hopefully I cleared that mess up. He's a damn fine engineer, that cannot be denied. James glances over at Karl. "Corporal Maddox, When we get inside the facility, make an assessment of the technology and prepare a brief for the brass. I'm sure they will want to acquire the resources." James says to Karl before glancing at the only other member of the team.

Lunk, hmmm... There is a conundrum, suffer not the D-bee and Magic user to live and all that. Though he was human, from a different world. His drive to fix what has happened to him is admirable. I hope that when this is done, I can keep my end of the promise and get him the help he needs. James sighs quietly in his helmet and continues to follow the advance team while piecing incoming information together.

[Caesar]

((Rolls carried))
Prowl, [dice=total]0[/dice]/52%, forgot to roll this earlier

"Acknowledged," Freeman breathes into the mic. With magic confirmed to be in the picture the Lieutenant frowns, there was no telling how that will corrupt the situation. However, it's better to know what they're dealing with than just bitch about it, "Can you recognize the type or track the source? We need to know how this alters our mission parameters."

"Negative. I'll let you know when I'm sure."

[Mane]

((Prior Rolls Carried Over))

"Raptor Three Fifty-Seven, anything on your end?" James says quietly to the giant mutant battle cat.

"Nothing yet..." Mane quietly replied. "... I'm still trying to make sense of this empathic dread noise."

Using what his battery of senses had collected so far, Mane tried to put it all in perspective with his training. With that in mind, the big cat made a mental note to broaden his studdies into the supernatural to make him better a better hunter and further sharpen his mueder skills.

***** Skill Rolls *****
Lore: Demons & Monsters (75% base) [dice]0[/dice] ~ to put senses into perspective
Lore: D-Bees (75% base) [dice]1[/dice] ~ "..."
Lore: Faeries & Creatures of Magic (75% base) [dice]2[/dice] ~ "..."

[Karl]

(Rolls carried over)

James glances over at Karl. "Corporal Maddox, When we get inside the facility, make an assessment of the technology and prepare a brief for the brass. I'm sure they will want to acquire the resources." James says to Karl before glancing at the only other member of the team.

"Yes sir, that's been my intention all a long sir. I'll let you know if I see anything of particular importance, and if it's sufficiently portable I'll see about grabbing anything interesting that isn't nailed down. So to speak." Karl responded somewhat enthusiastically, though one could tell he was feeling a little strain hauling all the gear he already was. And maybe a few things that are since I've got the tools to properly dismount some things. "Just be aware sir, with a structure this old things in there could potentially be very unstable. They knew how to build things back in the day but that didn't save most of the stuff from the cataclysm. We may also have an issue with power since I don't know of a generator holding out as long as it must have without regular maintenance and probably several fuel core changes. Unless it's powered by a thermal vent or something...." now he was going off on a tangent of thoughts but at least Karl kept most of those to himself for the time being rather than fill up the airwaves.

[CS High Command]

Scottsdale Forest Operation: A Walk in the Woods
Date: June 8, 110 PA
Time: 19:00 by end of post.
Temp: 88 degrees F; 89% humidity
Weather: Clear, but muggy
Ley Line info: None within 5 miles
Location: Everyone: Everyone is on the game trail above the target facility.
Map:


The trail ahead without optics

The trail ahead with Nightvision

The team tracks ahead, with about 500 feet between them when the forward team is scouting. Then as the heavy team moves forward, the scouts pause, moving out again as they close the distance. The past fifteen minutes have been filled with such maneuvers. Quite a bit of ground has been covered. The scout team is ready to move forward.

What do you do?

[John Freeman]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice] (nat 20!)
JIC: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

Scanning the path ahead everything looks normal, except for a tiny white glow on thermals that looks a little out of place. What the hell is that? Freeman thinks to himself as he tries to interpret the data, his first reaction is the reflection from a rifle scope, but it doesn't seem quite right. Maybe a camera lens?

Regardless, he radios it in, "Contact front, 10 o'clock, thirty feet down range. Looks like an optic lens, a foot or so off the ground. I suspect we're being monitored. Suggest Karl investigate to see if it's linked into the bunker or somewhere else. If the bunker knows we're here and hasn't made a move with the IFF is working or we're walking into a trap."

With that, Freeman moves through his other sensors to try and isolate anything else that might be missing and determine the nature of the device. Shifting his position slightly Freeman spots the source of the reflection...Oh Shit

"I see it now, small spider like robot, multiple cameras. Not very large, perhaps 12 inches in diameter. Like a mini spider skull walker. We're definitely being monitored."

Optic Systems [dice]3[/dice] /64%, to determine the nature of the device
Intelligence [dice]4[/dice] /74%, to determine if it might belong to other forces in the area
Electronic Countermeasures [dice]5[/dice] /84%, to determine a method to spoof the device

[James Howlett]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
Just in Case: [dice]1[/dice]/[dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Active Cybernetics: Sensor Hand (Heat: Temperature at 4-6 inch range, Motion detector: Bionics Sourcebook page 36-37, Radiation Detector: As per Geiger Counter, Gyro-Compass: All cardinal directions as well as up down, Amplified Hearing) Multi-Optic Eye: (Telescopic: 4-8x30 magnification, range: 6,000', Macro Lens: 2x to 8x magnification, range: 3', Passive Nightvision: 2,000', Thermo-Imaging: 2,000', Light Filters: Reduces glare.), Amplified Hearing.

James is wary of the situation, his cybernetically enhanced senses, seem inadequate to the task. "Keep your heads on a swivel, I have a bad feeling right now." James says over the whole team frequency. It is like we're being watched. James fingers become itchy, a strange sensation when one has bionic limbs, James can almost taste the tension in the air and is ready to draw and fire on the first sign of trouble. I am getting jumpy... What a day to not be drunk. James thinks as he sweeps his vision about seeking the first sign of trouble.

Regardless, he radios it in, "Contact front, 10 o'clock, thirty feet down range. Looks like an optic lens, a foot or so off the ground. I suspect we're being monitored. Suggest Karl investigate to see if it's linked into the bunker or somewhere else. If the bunker knows we're here and hasn't made a move with the IFF is working or we're walking into a trap."

James shifts his position to better see the area. A Drone... Good, bad, neat. "A drone, not a danger as far as I can tell, though it does mean if someone is watching, they know we are here."

Initiative: [dice]3[/dice]
Number of Attacks: 5

Action One: Rush forward and catch the Drone. Strike: [dice]4[/dice]
Action Two: Rush forward and catch the Drone. Strike: [dice]5[/dice]
Action Three: Rush forward and catch the Drone. Strike: [dice]6[/dice]
Action Four: Rush forward and catch the Drone. Strike: [dice]7[/dice]
Action Five: Rush forward and catch the Drone. Strike: [dice]8[/dice]

Contingency
If the drone is caught, James will look for an off switch.


Robot Mechanics [dice]9[/dice]/37% Crit Pass
Robot Electronics [dice]10[/dice]/47% Fail

[CS High Command]

GM Mini-Reply

Howlett rushes forward and plucks up a grapefruit sized drone before most have a chance to even switch to thermal to have a chance of finding it. He finds it hard to hold onto, and no off switch either. His hands are mostly cover its sensors though. He does find a button that initiates a power saving mode.

[Karl]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice][dice]2[/dice]

Karl of course, is quick to head over as soon as the robot is caught. He didn't even need to be 'asked' as per the 'suggestion' from Freeman. Simply put it was something he'd never seen before, and it was tech. That always had his interest. He also seemed almost all too eager to check it out. The first thing he does however is examine it's exterior to try and tell just what it's capabilities might be, followed by attempts to probe further. This second part he's extremely cautious about as he's not sure if the thing has some sort of self destruct or not. Even if it didn't it was night time and he was trying to not damage the thing. Then there was also the question of finding some way to turn it off. It had to have either a battery, or one hell of a power core. Pull that and he could examine it to his hearts content later in a proper work shop. I wonder if this is Golden Age pre-rifts tech too? "We should scan for signals." he says somewhat unnecessarily. "Where there's one I'd wager 100 credits there are more. There's probably going to be some sort of encrypted communication going on, possibly burst transmissions." He's even hit with an idea of checking to see if the recovered datapad can interface with the robot. If they had come from the same facility or were part of this 'NEMA' maybe it would reveal something. Worth a shot..

GM edit (Results of scans): The bot is nuclear powered, but it has a low duration charge - less than five years judging by the size. The legs all end in grasping claws and are powerful for their size legs. There are optics of all kinds, very sensitive radio receptors, for all bands of radio transmissions, even very low frequency and high frequency, low powered signals. The reception range would be significant. It's also equipped with very advanced encryption gear; breaking that cypher would not be easy.

(To check for signals the robot might be putting out or tell what kind of communication equipment it's equipped with)
Radio Basic 87% [dice]3[/dice]
Electronic Countermeasures 67% [dice]4[/dice]
Sensory Equipment 57% [dice]5[/dice]

(To examine the robot, try and figure out how it's powered, what kind of systems it has, if there's some way he can safely shut it off without wrecking it, examine it's internal components etc)
(NOTE: Tool kits bonus has not been added to rolls since I'm not sure if it's relevant or not)
Robot Electronics 47% [dice]6[/dice]
Robot Mechanics 37% [dice]7[/dice]
Electrical Engineer: 67% [dice]8[/dice]
Electricity Generation 63% [dice]9[/dice]
Mechanical Engineer 67% [dice]10[/dice]
Electronics Basic: 57% [dice]11[/dice]
Vehicle Armourer 72% [dice]12[/dice]
Basic Mechanics 94% [dice]13[/dice]
Weapons Engineer 67% [dice]14[/dice]
Locksmith 72% [dice]15[/dice]
Weapon Systems 72% [dice]16[/dice]
Techno-can 72% [dice]17[/dice]
Literacy: American 67% [dice]18[/dice]
Computer Operation 57% [dice]19[/dice]
Computer Programming 47% [dice]20[/dice]
Computer Hacking 31% [dice]21[/dice]
Computer Repair 43% [dice]22[/dice]

[Egan Grey]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]

Looking down the path, Egan stops moving as the LT fires off his warning. -What, where?- He begins scanning the area as the Doc shoots forward and grabs some spider looking bot from the ground and starts messing with it. Joining the Doc is the newest member to the crew and starts poking at the 'drone' as well. -I'm sure they'll get it turned off, but I'm sure we are now potentially considered hostile considering we just attacked a sensor drone that probably belongs to the facility. Gonna have to keep an eye out for combat troops and hope that the IFF's work.- Stepping away from the Doc, Karl, and the drone. Egan focuses his attention back to the path ahead, continuing to cycle through both thermal and night vision as he continues trying to move the group safely towards the compound.
"Could we have just pissed the facility off by messing with one of its drones?" Egan sub-vocalizes to the group.

Skill rolls:

• 
  [Climb – 95%, [dice]3[/dice], PASS] -To climb up or down as needed on the path
  [Prowl – 78%(+10% Ghillie), [dice]4[/dice], PASS] -Force of habit while moving through the woods
  [Land Navigation – 84%, [dice]5[/dice], PASS] -To keep on track towards the compound
  [Wilderness Survival – 85%, [dice]6[/dice], PASS] -To watch for natural hazards along the way
  [Track: Animals – 70%, [dice]7[/dice], FAIL] -Force of habit while moving through the woods
  [Track Humans & Robots – 75%, [dice]8[/dice], PASS] -Force of habit while moving through the woods
  [Trap & Mine Detection – 65%, [dice]9[/dice], PASS] -To look for traps along the path
  [Intelligence – 63%, [dice]10[/dice], FAIL] -To think about protocols that might be triggered from messing with the drone
  [Lore: Demons & Monsters – 85%, [dice]11[/dice], PASS] -To think about the minion, and what else we might have to deal with inside
  [Lore: Magic – 70%, [dice]12[/dice], PASS] -To think about the minion, and what else we might have to deal with inside
  [Sense of Balance – 65%, [dice]13[/dice], FAIL] -To keep balance on any uneven surfaces
  [Detect Ambush (6th level) - 45%, [dice]14[/dice], PASS] -To keep an eye out for trouble
  [Sensory Equipment (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]15[/dice], FAIL] -To get the most out of his suits systems
  [Optic Systems (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]16[/dice], FAIL] -To get the most out of his suits systems
  

[Karl]

Perception:[dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice][dice]2[/dice]
ISP: 65/65

"Well...' Karl says after a little while of examining the drone. "I'd say it's very likely this came from the facility. This thing's nuclear powered. I've never seen a core that small before." He says sounding rather impressed. "As far as I can tell, it should only last for around five years, so either someone is in the facility, or it's got some kind of automated maintenance and production facilities. Judging by this thing, we find the entrance we are going to have to be extra careful. I'd wager the facility is not only still intact, but fully operational. And if it's stayed secure this long I wouldn't want to run afoul of it's defensive systems..." You know, that's both exciting, and kind of frightening. What the hell could keep something like this running and maintained that long on it's own? Nothing I've ever heard of, so... "It probably has someone running things though. I don't know how else it could still be fully operational after all this time. Did the Papago ever tell you how they managed to put the relic inside the facility in the first place?" Karl quietly studies the drone a little while longer, trying to think to himself as to how he might manage to get around the encryption, or pull other data from it. As he does, he inadvertently activates his Machine Ghost ability, still not really knowing he has said ability, much less knowing how to control it. (-12 ISP)

[Mane]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC Rolls: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Renewing See the Invisible ability (-4 ISP); bionic optics set to thermal.

As all the excitement broke out, Mane came to a sudden halt. His weapon raised to a ready position as his eye, ears, and psychic senses barraged the area looking for the point of interest. Not seeing anything, the big cat assumed a low couched defensive posture, ready to blast away at the drop of a hat. Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, a blur rushed past him from behind. It took him a second to recognize the sound of Howlett's gait as the man came racing by. Immediately Mane raised his weapon as to not put his commander on the danger-end of his firearm.

Mane quickly rose to his feet to lend an assist, but to his credit, Howlett was on his prey amazingly quickly. Just as the mutant lion put one foot forward, a second person came crashing past; this time is was Karl with his tech-boner fully erect to check out the new find. At this point Mane sighed and proceeded to walk over to the two men now up ahead and see what they found.

As Howlett and Karl fondled and ogled the robotic spider drone, Mane was more interested in its feet. In particular, he took note of the kind of tracks it made on the ground and where those tracks came from.

"Sir..." Mane began, addressing Howlett in a hushed whisper. "... it looks like that thing walks... doesn't fly. We might be able to track it back to where it came from." All the while he spoke, Mane put his eyes to work looking for the drone's tracks, and possibly indications of whether there were more near by. Perhaps they traveled in packs or scouting teams. Additionally, he put his sensitive feline hearing to work, listening for any indications of movement of similar drones. "Also, if you like, I can do a psychic object read on the drone. Maybe see where it came from that way."

***** Skill Rolls *****
Detect Ambush (80% base) [dice]3[/dice] ~ to pick up on any other spies, snipers, or potential attackers
Detect Concealment (75% base) [dice]4[/dice] ~ to pick out any tell-tales of any concealed hidy-holes or the like for other probes
Tracking (people) (85% base) [dice]5[/dice] ~ to pick up the trail of the one drone currently in possession to back-track the little sucker (Nailed it!)
Land Navigation (82% base) [dice]6[/dice] ~ to maintain bearings during all this, especially if we venture off the path
Kitty Hearing:
* Judge Distance & Precise Location of Source (96% base) [dice]7[/dice]
* Recognize & Identify Prey by Sounds (88% base)[dice]8[/dice]
* Discriminate Multiple Target Locations (flat 75% base) [dice]9[/dice]

[Snoopy Toretto]

Perception [dice]0[/dice]
JIC [dice]1[/dice]
JIC [dice]2[/dice]

Sensory Equipment [dice]3[/dice]/85% Continue scanning - trying different modes!
Military Tactics [dice]4[/dice]/75% Making sure he's in the best position, anticipating the others' moves to get better effect.
Intelligence [dice]5[/dice]/52% What does he know about drones? What can he tell? Any sense of where more would be?
Detect Ambush [dice]6[/dice]/45% They are approaching as secret military base after all...
Land Navigation [dice]7[/dice]/63% Try and spot any trails or paths.
Wilderness Survival [dice]8[/dice]/73% Spotting dangerous plants or animals (mostly plants, the animals are all gone, right?).

---

Watching Howlett move that fast is a surprise. Snoopy stays in his location, he cranes his head for a better view of the object Howlett's hands, and isn't surprised to see Karl dash up too. Snoopy only looks for a second though, he returns his gaze - and his sensors - to the surrounding environments. He did not see that robot with night vision. So he chins the optics to thermal and visually scours the forest for more clues. He repeats the process with night vision again. He is mentally building up a map of each mode so that in his mind he can quickly compare them to note any differences. He does not neglect his hearing either. He is slightly annoyed by the conversations, they are distracting.

Drones are not a good sign, as Karl points out, someone must be running the place. Who, is the real question. Snoopy looks around the area, through is different vision modes, looking for trails or tracks that might be well used. With the darkness it's more challenging, but Snoopy tries to see if there are any dangerous flora or fauna around. The last thing we want, he thinks, is to be so fixated on the drones and technological dangers that we all get caught by some strangling plant.

[Caesar]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JiC d20/d100: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

Sense Psychic and Magic Energy, [dice=total]3[/dice]/65%
Recognize Psychic Scent, [dice=total]4[/dice]/30% (more if familiar)
Sense Supernatural Beings, [dice=total]5[/dice]/76%
Detect Ambush, [dice=total]6[/dice]/60%
Detect Concealment, [dice=total]7[/dice]/55%
Trap & Mine Detecting, [dice=total]8[/dice]/30% (40% with scent)
Recognize Strong and Common Scents, [dicetotal]1d00[/dice]/85%
Identify Specific Odors, [dicetotal]1d00[/dice]/64%
OOC: The site isn't letting me fix these last two dice codes for some reason

Once the commotion started, Caesar stopped in his tracks, squatted and started darting his eyes around, looking for trouble. Howlett shot forward at surprising speed and there was a lot of mic chatter about a drone of some sort. Knowing that the group was more vulnerable now with this distraction, Caesar tried to focus away from the drone, to spot anything trying to come up behind them. He swept the area with the nightvision site on his pulse rifle.

Once things calmed down a bit and the officers decided what to do with the drone, Caesar took another mental taste of the general magic funk in the air, trying to place it.

[James Howlett]

((Rolls Carried Over))

"We should scan for signals." he says somewhat unnecessarily. "Where there's one I'd wager 100 credits there are more. There's probably going to be some sort of encrypted communication going on, possibly burst transmissions."

James nods. "Agreed on both accounts, I picked up on some low end frequency earlier I will see if I can clean up a scan on it." James says as he begins to fiddle with his radio settings.

Radio: Basic [dice]0[/dice]/92% Pass
ECM [dice]1[/dice]/42% Pass
Cryptography [dice]2[/dice]/37% Pass

"Could we have just pissed the facility off by messing with one of its drones?" Egan sub-vocalizes to the group.

James ponders for a brief moment. "There is always a possibility, though I feel we may have just confused the system at large versus "pissing" it off." James replies to the scout, his voice confident.

"Well...' Karl says after a little while of examining the drone. "I'd say it's very likely this came from the facility. This thing's nuclear powered. I've never seen a core that small before." He says sounding rather impressed. "As far as I can tell, it should only last for around five years, so either someone is in the facility, or it's got some kind of automated maintenance and production facilities. Judging by this thing, we find the entrance we are going to have to be extra careful. I'd wager the facility is not only still intact, but fully operational. And if it's stayed secure this long I wouldn't want to run afoul of it's defensive systems... It probably has someone running things though. I don't know how else it could still be fully operational after all this time. Did the Papago ever tell you how they managed to put the relic inside the facility in the first place?"

James listens to Karl's explanation of the Drone and his theory before responding. "I would agree on all accounts. The Papago said he prowled in and placed it without alerting the denizens. Not sure how he did such, though I suspect they used heathen magics to do so."

"Sir..." Mane began, addressing Howlett in a hushed whisper. "... it looks like that thing walks... doesn't fly. We might be able to track it back to where it came from." All the while he spoke, Mane put his eyes to work looking for the drone's tracks, and possibly indications of whether there were more near by. Perhaps they traveled in packs or scouting teams. Additionally, he put his sensitive feline hearing to work, listening for any indications of movement of similar drones. "Also, if you like, I can do a psychic object read on the drone. Maybe see where it came from that way."

James shrugs. "I do not see a problem with it, but I would guess that it would be ultimately fruitless. I would believe that these drones leave from very small hatches that would unlikely be large enough for any of us to enter. I would also feel safe to assume that it came from the facility. As for using your psychic abilities on the Drone, I am not against it." James says while waiting for the Battle Cat to do his thing and let him know what he sees.

Once all the fiddling with the drone is complete, James takes the drone back and places it into his backpack. "Enough time has been wasted on the Drone, team is safe to assume we have been spotted and are being watched by parties unknown. Act accordingly. Private Grey, Specialist Mane... find us a path to the facilities door, so that we may finish our mission. Private Casear, keep your eyes sharp on what may be around. Let us get moving people, we have a time limit in place. James says with authority.

[Egan Grey]

((Rolls carried over))

"There is always a possibility, though I feel we may have just confused the system at large versus "pissing" it off." James replies to the scout, his voice confident.

Egan nods his head in the darkness with the Doc's reply. -I guess that could make sense if the IFF's are working. It would kinda be like those Skelebots that Ford had running around in drag back in MercTown.-

"Enough time has been wasted on the Drone, team is safe to assume we have been spotted and are being watched by parties unknown. Act accordingly. Private Grey, Specialist Mane... find us a path to the facilities door, so that we may finish our mission. Private Casear, keep your eyes sharp on what may be around. Let us get moving people, we have a time limit in place. James says with authority.

Giving a thumbs up behind him, and a jaunty wave to the surrounding brush and any other cameras watching, Egan proceeds to move forward again. His mind still trying to work out what they still might expect with this artifact.

[Mane]

{{Rolls carried over}}

Having received the okay from his commanding officer, Mane reached over and placed hand on the drone. Using his predernatural abilities to reach deep within the psychic essence attached to the spider-like machine to uncover what secrets laid within.

OOC: Activating Object Read power and expending 10 ISP; total of 18 ISP spent on encounter thus far.

Once all the fiddling with the drone is complete, James takes the drone back and places it into his backpack. "Enough time has been wasted on the Drone, team is safe to assume we have been spotted and are being watched by parties unknown. Act accordingly. Private Grey, Specialist Mane... find us a path to the facilities door, so that we may finish our mission. Private Casear, keep your eyes sharp on what may be around. Let us get moving people, we have a time limit in place. James says with authority.

"Copy that, Skipper." Mane quietly acknowledged with a whisper. He gave Egan a nod and resumed his position at point, making headway down the path and keeping an eye out for trouble.

***** Psi Rolls *****
Object Read (6 ISP)
Impressions (68% base) [dice]0[/dice]
Images (56% base) [dice]1[/dice]
Present (46% base) [dice]2[/dice]
NAILED IT!!

[CS High Command]

Scottsdale Forest Operation: A Walk in the Woods
Date: June 8, 110 PA
Time: 19:15 by end of post.
Temp: 88 degrees F; 89% humidity
Weather: Clear, but muggy
Ley Line info: None within 5 miles
Location: Everyone: Everyone is in an air lock leading into the base.
Map:
Lighting: Dim - Red emergency lights only. All in working order, however, with signs of maintenance.

Mane, for his trouble gets mostly images of rooms full of drones like this, as well as some like dogs, large and small, and some reminiscent of skelebots, but without the skeleton motif. One, in particular, seems more prominent. It has a bulkier frame - much more reinforced than the others. He gets the impression it is "in charge" though can one robot really be in charge of another?

The rest of the descent goes well. After their one close encounter, literally every defense Egan finds is disabled, though as soon as the team passes, Snoopy and Freeman can hear and see them activating again. At the end of the descent, they find themselves before a side door with a single keypad on it. A sensor is above the door, as is a sliding door the team can only imagine contains a weapon system of some sort. The pad powers up when they approach. Karl searches his notes and finds an entry code. He keys it and after a long moment, the door opens with a smooth hiss. Before them is a short corridor and most of them recognize it as an airlock to let them into a sealed environment inside. The lingering feeling of dread intensifies some as they approach. As the door hisses closed behind them and the one in front of them opens, the feeling of dread grows palpable. But aside from that, it's quiet. The psychics can all hear a whispering at the edge of their consciousness, but it's easy to block out for now. Listening to it is maddening because you can't make out anything, but think you can. The group faces a wall on the other side of the opening pressure door. A logo with a generic power armor helmet and the letters APS surrounded by a triangle of words that reads 'Armored Peace Systems, a NEMA Authorized Manufacturer'. Left seems to head towards the main entrance they know about from the aerial photographs. Right goes deeper into the mountain.

[Egan Grey]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]

Walking along the path and finding the defenses seemingly all offline makes Egan a little nervous. -Man, I hope this is just the complex welcoming us back home because of the IFF's.- Arriving at the door and having the keypad light up only after they get there causes Egan to relax a little and let out the breath he didn't even realize that he was holding. -Okay, so far so good....now we just need to find this artifact and get the hell out.- Swatting at an invisible bug flying by his ear, Egan finally understands what is causing the annoying sound and shuts it out.

"'Armor Piece System, a NEMA Authorized Manufacturer'. Huh, guess this would be a really good find. I wonder if the CS will try and turn this into another outpost like LoneStar. High end manufacturing capabilities would definitely help out with the war efforts." Looking around at the bare corridors, Egan points to the right before asking. "Deeper and darker?"

• Skill Rolls:
  [Prowl – 78%, [dice]3[/dice], FAIL] -Trying to avoid echoing down the halls when he moves (found a can and is kicking it down the hall)
  [Land Navigation – 84%, [dice]4[/dice], PASS] -To keep track of where they are based on direction
  [Track Humans & Robots – 75%, [dice]5[/dice], PASS] -To check halls for dusty tracks
  [Trap & Mine Detection – 65%, [dice]6[/dice], PASS] -To see if he can spot internal defenses
  [Salvage – 80%, [dice]7[/dice], PASS] -Looking for things worth grabbing (klepto powers activate)
  [Intelligence – 63%, [dice]8[/dice], PASS] -Trying to think of protocols that might be needed inside
  [Lore: Demons & Monsters – 85%, [dice]9[/dice], PASS] -Thinking about the demon and what could be in store for the group as they get closer
  [Lore: Magic – 70%, [dice]10[/dice], FAIL] -Thinking about the demon and what could be in store for the group as they get closer
  [Detect Ambush (6th level) - 45%, [dice]11[/dice], FAIL] -keeping an eye out
  [Sensory Equipment (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]12[/dice], FAIL] -Trying to get the most out of his gear
  [Literacy: American (6th level) – 50%, [dice]13[/dice], FAIL] -Trying to read other things
  [Optic Systems (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]14[/dice], FAIL] -Trying to get the most out of his gear
  

[Mane]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC Rolls: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]%

Mane, for his trouble gets mostly images of rooms full of drones like this, as well as some like dogs, large and small, and some reminiscent of skelebots, but without the skeleton motif. One, in particular, seems more prominent. It has a bulkier frame - much more reinforced than the others. He gets the impression it is "in charge" though can one robot really be in charge of another?

As the group begins to continue on through the foliage down the dim trail, Mane's brain sifted trough the imagery his psychic ability lifted from the spherical spider drone. He didn't want it to distract him too much given their environment and the air of dread and pending doom all about them, but he felt there may be some useful information in the impression just the same.

Before reaching the complex Mane switched on his radio, double checked it was on the secure channel, and then gave the team a quickie report in his findings. "Sirs ... and dog ... I managed to lift some useful vibes off that drone thing. I got the impression that there are no living handlers for that thing. Not a one. It came from a chamber with lots of those things, and I got the feeling there are lots more rooms around here just like that one too. But there were more than just spider drones. I saw robot dogs and other animal-based bots too, a lot like our skelebots... not as cool as ours, but probably just as tough. But there was one more thing. There's one bot in particular... a big badass motha'fucka' who kind of runs the show. Looks like a chromey, pimped-out Skelebot with lots of tools on one arm and a big-ass plasma torch on the other. If we can find him and put a blast through its CPU-noggin, might make our jobs a little easier... or make everything freak out. Only one way to find out. ... Dibs on his head."

As the path gave way to the side entrance, Make turned around and kept an eye out for what may be lurking in the trees and bushes behind them. He swept the trees with his bionic eye's thermal vision, then scanned the bushes with his nightvision, then reversed the process to cover the bases. Something wasn't right about this place and it was disturbing his kill-zen. And NOBODY messes with a cat's kill-zen without invoking dire consequences!

As he listened to Karl entering the code into the side door's keypad behind the on-edge battle cat, Mane tried to regain his calm. Hazarding the cruel hand of fate, he closed his eyes briefly, took some calming meditative breathes, and whisper-muttered a calming mantra. "Calm red blood ocean ... Calm red blood ocean .... Calm red blood ocean ... Calm red blood ocean ... Calm red blood ocean..."

The instant his acute ears heard the locking mechanism starting to disengage and the door open, Mane opened his eyes and followed the others in, doubling checking the trees and bushes behind them as they did so.

"'Armor Piece System, a NEMA Authorized Manufacturer'. Huh, guess this would be a really good find. I wonder if the CS will try and turn this into another outpost like LoneStar. High end manufacturing capabilities would definitely help out with the war efforts." Looking around at the bare corridors, Egan points to the right before asking. "Deeper and darker?"

Mane's senses were too busy scanning their surroundings for the slightest sign of danger to be bothered to read the sign himself. He took Egan's words as gospel. "I got your Armor Piece, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight here." Mane said in reply, the levity helping get his mind off the invisible fog of doom that laid heavy in the air.

Now inside and past the airlock (OOC: which presumably closed behind us, because that's what airlocks do), Mane unleashed his battery of senses and trained observation skills on the new claustrophobic hallways, ready to rumble at the drop of a hat with his Wilk's laser pistol drawn; the intent being to be ready to react fast without making a lot of noise against any sudden threat.

***** Skill & Ability Rolls *****
Radio: Basic (Max 98% base) [dice]3[/dice] ~ to ensure he's on the right secure channel and proper equipment usage
Detect Ambush (80% base) [dice]4[/dice] ~ to spot potential attackers or traps
Detect Concealment (75% base) [dice]5[/dice] ~ to pick out any tell-tales of any concealed hidy-holes or the like for automated defenses
Tracking (people) (85% base) [dice]6[/dice] ~ to spot and determine direction of travel of any drones or sentries.
Land Navigation (82% base) [dice]7[/dice] ~ to maintain bearings in all the upcoming twists and turns in this place
Kitty Hearing:
* Judge Distance & Precise Location of Source (96% base) [dice]8[/dice]
* Recognize & Identify Prey by Sounds (88% base) [dice]9[/dice]
* Discriminate Multiple Target Locations (flat 75% base) [dice]10[/dice]
Clean sweep! ... Hope this doesn't mean the die roller is conspiring to bite me on the ass in the combat rolls later.

[Caesar]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JiC d20/d100: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

Sense Psychic and Magic Energy, /65%
Recognize Psychic Scent, /30% (more if familiar)
Sense Supernatural Beings, /76%
Detect Ambush, /60%
Detect Concealment, /55%
Trap & Mine Detecting, /30% (40% with scent)
Recognize Strong and Common Scents, /85%
Recognize Specific Odors, /64%

Robots, huh? Caesar thought, hearing Mane's report. He had gotten used to killing over the years, but robots didn't require any sleepless nights afterwards. Nice to know.

The creeping dread from the magical presence here was starting to make him anxious. "A new CS base here, Egan? I'd rather go back to Minnesota." He touched his Papago charm necklace, great at taking away the psychic irritation of ley lines, but was unfortunately useless here.

Robots... robots don't breath. Could mean a gas attack? As the second airlock door closed behind him, Caesar took a final sniff before slipping the air filer around his neck over his muzzle. Maybe he was being paranoid, but with the magical horror dripping off of everything, who would blame him?

[Egan Grey]

((Rolls carried over))

As the big cat was describing what he had seen from the little drone, Egan's mind couldn't help but picture the Doc sitting on a chair stroking the head of a giant mechanical dog sitting at his side, while another lay at his feet. Their eyes glowing a dull red as they scanned the room and a bottle hung half drunk from from his arm as it draped off the other arm of the chair.

"I got your Armor Piece, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight here."

A sharp bark of laughter escaped Egan's mouth at the unexpected comment from the cat, and as it echoed down the halls he easily replied, an unseen smirk spreading across his face: "Naww, that's way to small.....I'll need something bigger."

"A new CS base here, Egan? I'd rather go back to Minnesota."

Swatting again at invisible bugs by his ear, he turns from looking down the hallway to the right. "It would probably only be a small outpost, enough for a stronger defense should it be discovered. But your right, I wouldn't really want to be posted out here....I'd take Chi-Town over this any day." Shrugging his shoulders at the continued feelings seeming to press in from all around, he returns to looking down the right hallway.

[James Howlett]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
Just in Case: [dice]1[/dice]/[dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Active Cybernetics: Sensor Hand (Heat: Temperature at 4-6 inch range, Motion detector: Bionics Sourcebook page 36-37, Radiation Detector: As per Geiger Counter, Gyro-Compass: All cardinal directions as well as up down, Amplified Hearing) Multi-Optic Eye: (Telescopic: 4-8x30 magnification, range: 6,000', Macro Lens: 2x to 8x magnification, range: 3', Passive Nightvision: 2,000', Thermo-Imaging: 2,000', Light Filters: Reduces glare.), Amplified Hearing.

James looks at the writing on the wall. Sub-Contractors... Not uncommon in the past. James thinks as he switches his HUD to display radiation and motion, while switching off his Thermo-Imaging, due to the emergency lighting. "Let us keep the chatter to a minimum gentlemen. Follow the map coordinates we have been given Private, and find us a way to our objective. If lighting becomes non-exsistant I give permission to use external light sources." James says as he looks around him for signs of danger.


Literacy: American [dice]3[/dice]/98% Pass (to read anything he finds)
Language: Techno-Can [dice]4[/dice]/98% Pass (to understand any Tech stuff)
Basic Mechanics [dice]5[/dice]/95% Pass(Just in Case something minor needs fixed)
Basic Electronics [dice]6[/dice]/92% Pass(Just in Case something minor needs fixed)
Computer Operation [dice]7[/dice]/92% Critical Pass(To operate any computers found on the way)
Find Contraband [dice]8[/dice]/76% Fail (looking for things of interest)
Research [dice]9[/dice]/97% Pass(Piece together the data James is likely accruing)
Sensory Equipment [dice]10[/dice]/77% Pass(To read all of his built in sensors)
Lore: Demons & Monsters [dice]11[/dice]/67% Critical Fail[/color](To ID the Demon the Artifact is made from)
Lore: Magic [dice]12[/dice]/37% Pass(ID any magic effects)
Recog. Magic Circles, Runes, etc: [dice]13[/dice]/27% Fail (ID any magic effects)
Recognize Enchantment [dice]14[/dice]/22% Fail(ID any magic effects)
Artificial Intelligence [dice]15[/dice]/44% Pass(ID any possible AI interference/problems)
Cryptography [dice]16[/dice]/37% Pass(to Decode any messages)
Radio Basic [dice]17[/dice]/92% Pass(To check all channels)
Intelligence [dice]18[/dice]/48% Pass(Organize the Info into coherent data)
Prowl [dice]19[/dice]/62% Fail (To keep from making to much noise)
Electronic Countermeasures [dice]20[/dice]/42% Pass(To keep the Radios clear)

[Karl]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice][dice]2[/dice]

"Armoured Peace." Karl gently corrects Egan. "Not armour piece. So some sort of mercenary group I guess?"

He took Egan's words as gospel. "I got your Armor Piece, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight here." Mane said in reply, the levity helping get his mind off the invisible fog of doom that laid heavy in the air.

"Ha! Assuming you could even find it you steroid enhanced freak." Karl says, though he's not unkind in tone, more making a playful jab at Mane's expense. As James orders them to settle down Karl turns a bit more serious though he speaks up one more time. "Sir, just as a heads up, but that drone we found? It was put on passive observation mode. Who ever was controlling it just wanted to see what we were doing. If I might suggest, if we run into something, not to fire first? Who, or what ever is controlling this place doesn't appear to be presently hostile, just cautious." Or at least I hope that's what the deal is. Could be they are confused by the IFFs and are trying to use other methods to verify our credentials. I mean the IFFs have to be hundreds of years old....


Land Navigation 65% [dice]3[/dice] (To try and keep track of what turns the team takes etc)
Intelligence 60% [dice]4[/dice] (To keep an eye out for anything that might contain useful information etc)
Sensory Equipment 57% [dice]5[/dice] (To check suit sensors for things like background radiation being too high etc)
Prowl 67% [dice]6[/dice] (Sneaky sneaky.. oh look I kicked Egan's can)
Radio Basic 87% [dice]7[/dice] (Check for any radio signals that might be used as command channels)
Mechanical Engineer 67% [dice]8[/dice] (To assess the level of tech or bypass systems if needed)
Electrical Engineer: 67% [dice]9[/dice] (To try and think of a way to turn full power on to the lights)
Electronics Basic: 57% [dice]10[/dice] (To check the lights to see if they were damaged or just short of power)
Basic Mechanics 94% [dice]12[/dice] (In case there's anything mechanical that needs to be inspected)
Weapons Engineer 67% [dice]13[/dice] (In case there's any potential weapon systems he could think might be laying ahead etc)
Locksmith 72% [dice]14[/dice] (To bypass any locks if need be)
Electricity Generation 63% [dice]15[/dice] (Trying to think of what kind of power this facility might need to actually run)
Literacy: American 67% [dice]16[/dice] (I read gud!)
Techno-can 72% [dice]17[/dice] (Decode any technical gobleygook)
Computer Operation 57% [dice]18[/dice] (Mmmm computers)
Computer Programming 47% [dice]19[/dice] (Make that computer my ho)
Computer Hacking 31% [dice]20[/dice] (Get slapped by it's pimp)

[John Freeman]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

"Deeper and darker?"

Sounds like a club I know in the 'burbs, Freeman thinks but doesn't say. Instead he let's the enlisted men have their little jokes, happy that James called an end to it. He was tired of always having to play the stiff with this group. Mane's report gives the Lieutenant chills, intelligent robots leading an army of drones sounds like a nightmare scenario. Especially given their programming is unknown and the proximity of powerful magic. It's like every bad propaganda message in one place. Well they have to get their ideas from somewhere, i met those guy they aren't that creative.

Smirking at how stupid the PR people are Freeman points down the hallway.

"No sense using the front door and announcing we're here. Find us a way in."

[Snoopy Toretto]

Perception [dice]0[/dice]
JIC [dice]1[/dice]
JIC [dice]2[/dice]

Sensory Equipment [dice]3[/dice]/85% To look around the hallway, primarily with low light and thermographic vision modes. Secondarily he will try to pick up any audio signals
Military Tactics [dice]4[/dice]/75% Estimate enemy attack routes and tactics inside tunnels
Intelligence [dice]5[/dice]/52% Based on Mane's description, does Snoopy recognize any of the elements
Detect Ambush [dice]6[/dice]/45% To try to identify ambush points
Basic Mechanics [dice]7[/dice]/83% To identify HVAC ducts, air handling equipment, etc.
Basic Electronics [dice]8[/dice]/78% To look for electrical access panels, power outlets, switches, etc.

---

Hearing the drones reactivate is unnerving to Snoopy, he quietly mentions it to Freeman as they enter the airlock, but he doesn't make a big deal out of it, "Sir can hear the drones reactivating behind us." What he really wants to say is, "I've got a bad feeling about this." He keeps that to himself though.

In the airlock he keeps a bit distant from the jocularity, though he smirks a little at the jokes. When the squad spills out of the airlock, Snoopy takes up his position in the same marching order as they had in the forest outside. Which means he's looking behind them, back down the corridor to the left. He studies it closely with his optics. He estimates the size the corridor, and given that what sort of enemy could approach them.

Snoopy wishes for the additional equipment in the Deathwing proper, not for the last time!

[CS High Command]

Scottsdale Forest Operation: A Walk in the Woods
Date: June 8, 110 PA
Time: 19:20 by end of post.
Temp: 88 degrees F; 89% humidity
Weather: Clear, but muggy
Ley Line info: None within 5 miles
Location: Everyone: Everyone is in an air lock leading into the base.
Map:
Lighting: Dim - Red emergency lights only. All in working order, however, with signs of maintenance.

The corridor they find themselves in is only six feet wide and 10 feet tall, so single file is necessary, but there is enough room to move up and move by, except for Freeman who must squeeze by and be careful not to cut whoever he wants to pass. The concrete floor gives a thudding sound fo most of them, but there is a heavy thud every time Freeman or Snoopy moves. The dull red light only adds to the malevolence that lies thick in the air.

Everyone is on alert for potential ambushes and attacks. And Mane and Caesar both notice and point out the drop down hatches just big enough for a ceiling mounted rail gun or laser. Caesar notes a disturbing lack of smell beyond mustiness, perhaps a little mold, and the faint smell of oil and grease. Otherwise, nothing. One thing does tickle his nose though. There is a very faint smell of something supernatural. It takes him a minute to identify it. Entities! Probably tectonic ones. Makes sense, with the creep factor here, and all the good scrap there should be, they'd have plenty to play with. They could be dangerous here with so little room to maneuver. Wherever they are, however, they are not close.

Egan also notes that the ceiling is made of some sort of material that is slightly porous and they see evidence that those spider like drones could walk up there upside down. He doesn't notice anything that isn't bolted down though - not yet. Further, they all notice recessed cameras whirring at them as they pass them. As he thinks on protocols, a thought occurs: these robots were probably designed like the CS designed skelebots. The group with proper IDs would have to get into some very sensitive places for the bots to treat them as hostile. They would challenge them eventually, but from the looks of it, they'd been put into a side service entrance that was its own kill box. They probably had no concern for them being in this hallway at all. Further the scope of this place seems enormous. He uses the scope of his rifle and finds his effective vision ends before the hallway does!

There are doors too, one about every eighty feet or so. An identifying number is on them. From Karl's notes, they are some combination that equates to a location for those use to the place. Mane knows a number, as does Karl, that leads to where the drone they have comes from. Five minutes and the group has passed three doors to the right. The corridor keeps going and the group is fairly certain the door Mane and Karl are talking about is probably another 500 to 600 yards further in.

Karl sees many of the same things Egan does, and more. Some of the lights are beginning to dim, and that helps Karl realize the bulbs are just going bad after hundreds of years of being on, and something is performing basic building maintenance! Both he and Howlett realize there are no computers, but the tablet keeps beeping periodically as it receives new communication requests, namely doors and such. They realize that such a tablet would be critical to running around. Their cloned systems cannot connect, however. It must be some sort of hardware factor then. Karl is able to log into one of the doors and finds the interface surprisingly simple. Open, close, lock, unlock, lockdown (requires authorization number), end lockdown, and an alarm submenu. There is also access to the camera on either side of the door. Looking at the other side, they can see row upon row of parts, in boxes and not. The door is currently on lockdown. Caesar and Egan catch movement and both realize why - the room or areas was lousy with tectonic entities. The group moves on down the hall past this last door and look at the next as they approach. As Karl looks around the place, only Lone Star's fabled depths would even come close to the level of technology here.

As they have been walking, James has been thinking. Whatever the bot, its programming has remained intact all this time. Further it is less useful in security concerns, but the maintenance here is top notch. He knows areas of The Lone Star Complex that are not as well maintained. So it stands to reason it wasn't strictly a combat model that had remained in charge. He easily recognizes the signs of a tectonic entity haunting from the last room. He also recognizes an intelligence probing him and the group for information. Still, even he had to acknowledge that they'd basically been given a welcome mat to this backside of the base. Whatever they would face, interaction seemed the best approach.

OOC: Do you all go through the rooms with the entities, or do you continue where you are being led by the nose to? Do you do something else?

[Karl]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice] [dice]2[/dice]

Karl found himself increasingly impressed with the technology that was present here. If nothing else, some of it here would greatly improve the lives of those back home. Then there were always potential military applications. However, once the size of the facility really hits him, he gets to thinking. If this facility is so large everything is matched up with coordinates, then there's got to be some kind of map... Turning his attention to the recovered datapad, Karl first sees if the pad itself has a map of the facility, and then, having noted it's wireless capabilities tries to see if there's some sort of data network he can try to connect to. If nothing else to see if there was a map, a more recent map, and even just to try and get some sense of where they were and what was still online. He did however find himself wishing that he had a better understanding of AI systems, as he was increasingly convinced there had to be some sort of relatively advanced AI to properly monitor and maintain all the subsystems present. Certainly some sort of sensor network, even if that was purely from patrolling drones, to detect damage, among other things that would need seeing to.

"Sirs, if you'll give me a moment, I'm going to see if I can't pull up some sort of map of the facility so we actually have some idea of where to go. If nothing else, the control center and probably the power plant. After all these years it may be running out of fuel or at least need maintenance. Honestly, the fact that the lights are still on makes me wonder if it isn't powered by a geothermal vent. Then again it's equally likely if it's nuclear or fusion powered they simply kept spare fuel around. While the control center would probably give us readings on power, I'd hate for it to cut out while we are in here. As it is, I think one reason why this place is on emergency power is that the main lights may have simply burned out. The ones that are still on aren't looking so great. That or the main power generator is down, and if I can get it back up and running...." he leaves that suggestion open.

Literacy: American 67% [dice]3[/dice]
Techno-can 72% [dice]4[/dice]
Computer Operation 57% [dice]5[/dice]
Computer Programming 47% [dice]6[/dice]
Computer Hacking 31% [dice]7[/dice]
Land Navigation 65% [dice]8[/dice]
Intelligence 60% [dice]9[/dice]
Sensory Equipment 57% [dice]10[/dice]
Navigation 52% [dice]11[/dice]

[Mane]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC Rolls:[dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Reactivating See Invisible ability (expending 4 ISP; total of 22 spent to date & post). Bionic eye set to thermo optics.

As Karl made his long winded request, Mane looked in the room and meditated on important matters. Pistols or my new Papa Bear? he thought to himself. If they ran into any techconic entities (whether the boss orders them into the room or not), the Papa Bear would be better for suppression fire. But if they instead continue down the corridor, that big shoulder cannon could easily alarm the local robots... assuming they were at least as smart as a Skelebot, and that ain't a lot of smarts. Then again, while just a single pistol could be more discreet for the local bots, if brought to bear against a big ugly his first shot or two would bearly tickle it, and the time it takes to transition to a different weapon could cost lives.

... Or maybe claws? Nah, I might chip a nail, and I just buffed these beauties out. Just look at that shine. Like razor sharp opals! The vainglorious cat caught himself admiring his own claws; slacking on the job. Quickly he regathered his focus and mind on his work and mission.

He eagerly awaited the boss's decision, but unless someone spotted something shiny in that room worth investigating, his vote would have been to keep moving forward (if his vote mattered to the two top kicks, which it probably didn't without actionable necessity or urgency). Besides, techtonic entities didn't bleed... they didn't truly die... They just drop clumps of garbage and come back to play another day. Where's the fun in that?

Best he could do was keep his senses open and stay alert. As such, Mane looked around using thermal optics in his bionic eye, and in the hews of the supernatural with his psychic-enhanced fleshy eye. With his senses open and acute feline ears scanning in all directions, he stood silent sentry... and passingly contemplated which gun to have out and ready.

***** Skill & Ability Rolls *****
Lore: Demons & Monsters (75% base) [dice]3[/dice] ~ To alalyze observations/activities in the adjacent room and/or hallway
Lore: D-Bees (75% base) [dice]4[/dice] ~ To alalyze observations/activities in the adjacent room and/or hallway
Lore: Faeries & Creatures of Magic (75% base) [dice]5[/dice] ~ To alalyze observations/activities in the adjacent room and/or hallway
Detect Ambush (80% base) [dice]6[/dice] ~ To alalyze observations/activities in the adjacent room and/or hallway
Recognize Weapon Quality (80% base) [dice]7[/dice] ~ To aid in deliberations as to which weapon would most likely be most appropriate in the circumstances
Sense Psychic & Magic Energy (70% base) [dice]8[/dice]
Sense Supernatural Beings:
* To ID (70% base) [dice]9[/dice]
* Tracking by this sense (26% base value, 57% if magically/psychically active) [dice]10[/dice]
Kitty Hearing:
* Judge Distance & Precise Location of Source (96% base) [dice]11[/dice]
* Recognize & Identify Prey by Sounds (88% base) [dice]12[/dice]
* Discriminate Multiple Target Locations (flat 75% base) [dice]13[/dice]

[Egan Grey]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]

Egan starts moving down the hallway going deeper into the facility when Karl brings up trying to get a working map on the data pad they had recovered. -Well, that would be fantastic. We wouldn't have to bumble around and spend any more time then needed here.- While they are waiting for the results of his information gathering, Egan starts thinking about how to navigate if the map doesn't come up. -Bare similar halls, generic numbering, standard procedure to help in not allowing attackers to figure out where the important rooms are. Hopefully the CS took their arrangements from these old bases as well.-

Keeping the outside map in mind, he tries to overlay the coordinates that they had received from the Papago as well as trying to remember anything they mentioned about where they entered and what was around where they left it. Once he works things out in his mind, Egan walks down the hall a bit to try and verify if the room numbers and halls branch like he thinks they will. With his answer, Egan returns to keeping his eye out for issues, switching between image modes as he looks down the halls.

• Skill Rolls:
  [Prowl – 78%, [dice]3[/dice], PASS] -To make as little noise as possible
  [Land Navigation – 84%, [dice]4[/dice], PASS] -To work out the direction of where the artifact should be
  [Track Humans & Robots – 75%, [dice]5[/dice], PASS] -To see if patrols still happen inside the compound
  [Trap & Mine Detection – 65%, [dice]6[/dice], PASS] -To keep an eye out for traps
  [Salvage – 80%, [dice]7[/dice], FAIL] -Klepto powers
  [Intelligence – 63%, [dice]8[/dice], PASS] -To review base layouts and how to navigate
  [Lore: Demons & Monsters – 85%, [dice]9[/dice], PASS] -To keep thinking about the demon and what will be in store
  [Lore: Magic – 70%, [dice]10[/dice], FAIL] -To keep thinking about the demon and what will be in store
  [Military Etiquette - 30%, [dice]11[/dice], FAIL] -To review base layouts and how to navigate
  [Detect Ambush (6th level) - 45%, [dice]12[/dice], PASS] -Keeping an eye out
  [Sensory Equipment (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]13[/dice], PASS] -Trying to make the most out of his gear
  [Literacy: American (6th level) – 50%, [dice]14[/dice], FAIL] -To read when needed.
  [Optic Systems (EP @ 7th) - 35%, [dice]15[/dice], FAIL] -Trying to make the most out of his gear
  

[James Howlett]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
Just in Case: [dice]1[/dice]/[dice]2[/dice]
Conditions: Active Cybernetics: Sensor Hand (Heat: Temperature at 4-6 inch range, Motion detector: Bionics Sourcebook page 36-37, Radiation Detector: As per Geiger Counter, Gyro-Compass: All cardinal directions as well as up down, Amplified Hearing) Multi-Optic Eye: (Telescopic: 4-8x30 magnification, range: 6,000', Macro Lens: 2x to 8x magnification, range: 3', Passive Nightvision: 2,000', Thermo-Imaging: 2,000', Light Filters: Reduces glare.), Amplified Hearing.

James shakes his head. "No I think it's power saving only due to the fact that the Drones and Robots are in possession of advanced optic systems and have no need for lights." James says in reply to Karl's running commentary. James sighs deeply and looks towards the doors where he knows Tectonic Entities are. They are tough but not unbeatable, I think we can take them as a team. James thinks before keying open his mic once more. "We will go through here..." James says as he indicates with his hand which door he wants to go through. "...we will move in in the same formation we have been in since we started this op. If the room is large enough we will stagger our formation. Be wary I see signs of Tectonic Entities. Safeties off, combat is approved." James says while stacking up into position and waiting for his turn through the door.

[Egan Grey]

((Rolls carried over))

Having worked out which direction the artifact was, and his guessing about the base layout, Egan was just about to wander down the hall to put his theory to the test when the Doc makes his announcement.

"We will go through here..." James says as he indicates with his hand which door he wants to go through. "...we will move in in the same formation we have been in since we started this op. If the room is large enough we will stagger our formation....

Egan holds up a finger and opens his mouth to speak as the Doc continues.

...Be wary I see signs of Tectonic Entities. Safeties off, combat is approved." James says while stacking up into position and waiting for his turn through the door.

-Okay, he saw them.- Closing his mouth and gripping his rifle again, Egan moves to the right side of the door and crouches down to allow the big cat a firing line over his head when they move in. Motioning with his hands, he indicates that he will move in to the left then points at Mane, the left side of the doorway, holds up two fingers and then motions in and to the right. Once everything is set, Egan gives a thumbs up and waits for Karl to open the door before the mobile office decoration that is Egan sweeps into the room.

[Mane]

{{Prior Rolls Carried Over}}

"We will go through here..." James says as he indicates with his hand which door he wants to go through.

Mane nodded his head in silent acknowledgment and thought to himself, Pappa Bear it is!

In preparation for the breach, the hulking battle cat holstered his pistol and pulled his shiny new cannon from behind his back. The gleem of its deadly barrel matched the gleem in Mane's eye. Firing a fine new weapon for the first time in anger is like deflowering a beautiful nubile lady; you never forget the little details.

And while there would be little pleasure in the kills of the techtonic entities ... If "kill" is even the right word ... at the very least there would be that to relish in.

Mane watched Egan's silent hand messages, and confidently nodded in reply. Taking up position slightly behind and to the right, the big cat got in position for their coordinated strike.

[John Freeman]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

When Karl offers to pull up a map Freeman is all for it, then Howlett orders a room breach. Slow down there buck-o, the Lieutenant thinks but doesn't say.

"Affirmative, preparing for room entry. Recommend we hold until Madox can get a layout. That will give us the floor plan for the room and make our entry cleaner."

Hoping he didn't contradict the Doc in front of everyone Freeman takes a deep breath and readies his forearm weapons systems, he has a feeling blades will be necessary in tight quarters.

[Karl]

(Rolls carried over)

"I'm less certain sir, based on the state of the lights in general but you could be right." He admits to James. Then when there's the mention of going through a room with Tectonic entities Karl frowns behind his helmet. That was not something he wanted to do. But, orders were orders... "Give me a moment with the door sir, I'll have to try to find some way to overwrite or bypass the lockdown." he announces before first turning his attention to the datapad before he will try to do any physical fiddling with the door.

Initially he will try to use the datapad to put through some sort of order to at least temporarily remove the lockdown. If that fails he will try again and see if he can't put in some sort of indicator that it's to 'investigate' or 'remove' the 'anomalies'. If all that fails then he will resort to trying to physically bypass the door lock.

JIC To attempt to bypass the lockdown using the datapad/software:
Techno-can 72% [dice]0[/dice]
Computer Operation 57% [dice]1[/dice]
Computer Programming 47% [dice]2[/dice]
Computer Hacking 31% [dice]3[/dice]

JIC Physical attempt to bypass lock (+20% where applicable with tool kits):
Mechanical Engineer 87% [dice]4[/dice]
Electronics Basic: 77% [dice]5[/dice]
Vehicle Armourer 72% [dice]6[/dice]
Basic Mechanics 114% [dice]7[/dice]
Locksmith 72% [dice]8[/dice]
Electrical Engineer: 87% [dice]9[/dice]
Electricity Generation 63% [dice]10[/dice]
Computer Repair 43% [dice]11[/dice]

[Caesar]

Perception: [dice]0[/dice]
JiC d20/d100: [dice]1[/dice] / [dice]2[/dice]

Sense Psychic and Magic Energy, /65%
Recognize Psychic Scent, /30%
Sense Supernatural beings, /76%
Detect Ambush, /60%
Detect Concealment, /55%
Trap & Mine Detection, /30%
Lore: Demons & Monsters, /35%, to remember facts about Tectonic Entites

Caesar's mind fills with a familiar stink. "Entities. Tectonic Entities." He should have known, they were dirt common in these old forgotten places. Before long the humans see signs of them and get a proper map of the facility.

After hearing the orders from Howlett Caesar dutifully flicks off the safety on his pulse rifle. Quietly to his rifle he says, "Get your best face on, Stuttering Sue, we're going to the ball."

He keeps his eyes, ears and lobes open for signs of trouble.

[Mane]

{{Prior Rolls Carried Over}}

Mane's whole body lightly bobbed as the anticipation sharpened his senses. His pulse started to rise and his teeth nashed. "Come on, let's pop this cherry already."

... Caesar dutifully flicks off the safety on his pulse rifle. Quietly to his rifle he says, "Get your best face on, Stuttering Sue, we're going to the ball."

The stout dog's comment, getting his game face on, made Mane look back and forth between the dog and the door... dog, door, dog, door, dog... "When this is over, 40, you're​ thinking up a cool name for my gun too." ... door.

[Caesar]

((Rolls carried))

Very seriously, Caesar replied, "When you're ready, she'll tell you her name herself, 357."

[CS High Command]

Scottsdale Forest Operation: A Walk in the Woods
Date: June 8, 110 PA
Time: 19:21:00 by end of post.
Temp: 88 degrees F; 89% humidity
Weather: Clear, but muggy
Ley Line info: None within 5 miles
Location: Everyone: Everyone is in an air lock leading into the base.
Map:
Lighting: Dim - Red emergency lights only. All in working order, however, with signs of maintenance.

Karl is able to find a map of the place rather easily, all things considered, though it has very few details beyond what are obviously some model numbers. The place the bot was headed to was the Armory and Maintenance. Each of the eight warehouses is the size of a football field, with a 20 by 20 foot drive in the middle of the two rows of buildings. There are four airlock exits on the side, and four airlock style entrances at front face, two for each corridor, one for the admin area, and the main drive in entrance. Mane can make out at least a half dozen different sound sources. Even as Karl is pulling up the schematics, it strike Egan that this feels more like storage than an active base. He knows that it takes an excorcist to truly put down tectonic entities and that they reform within a day or two. He's fairly certain the artifact is in towards the back of the base, and to the left somewhere. Precisely where he doesn't know.

Looking down the hall, James can see what he earlier thought to be an ever extending hall is instead a clever optical illusion meant to confuse the unwary. The hall is barely 640 ft in length. Freeman cautions restraint while not gainsaying his CO, no matter how dumb he thought the idea. Caesar states the obvious based on his scent. Tectonic Entities can be harmless toys in some settings, but the presence of robots gave him pause. Enough scrap from robots and they'd have a fight on their hands.

Mane and Caesar comment back and forth as Karl manages to give himself temporary access to the door. They will have 15 seconds to enter once he opens it due to tightening security measures. No alarm, just tightening restrictions.

OOC: Once you enter, give me full combat posts. Assume one tectonic entity attacks each of you.

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