Episode 2.01: Brushfire!

[Patrick Goodman]

Gotcha. Edited my post accordingly.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: No worries about statting out Fryling.

So, we have Renny on Cole and Patrick on Tann-Tyra.

Doug and Nolmir, you have your pick of characters and teams. Fryling is a choice for either of you, if you so desire. If you take another character, let me know which team you wish to be on (Cole's or Tann-Tyra's).

Olodon and Ally already have stats. If you want to do Fryling or Chief Dhall, I'll get them created.

[Nolmir]

I can take Fryling and do the shipboard overwatch.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Fryling's stats have been created.

Doug, who are you going to play?

[Doug Burke]

I'll stick with Ally and let's have her on Cole's team.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: All right, we have the following teams:

Lead Rescue Team
Captain Styles
Ensign Reed
2 enlisted security types

Assisting Rescue Team
Ensign Tann-Tyra (Patrick)
3 enlisted security types

Equipment Recovery Team
Lt. Durham (Renny)
Specialist Banks (Doug)
2 enlisted security types

Overwatch from the Drake
Lt. j.g. Fryling (Nolmir)

The "enlisted security types" will use the Starfleet Security Officer Minor NPC stats on p.314 of the Core Rules (and I posted their stats in the OOC thread for convenience). For the most part, I think we'll use them only as assists for the primary characters of the scene.

Current
Momentum 4 (-1 for new scene (the rescue mission, not the prep session))
Threat 10

[Davy, aka GM]

The three security teams beam down in turn to a dip in the high ground overlooking the Apellan village. The sky above is darkening as the dusk behind them fades to a moonless night as Styles gathers the teams together.

"Quick in. Quick out. Communicators on vibrate mode," he says. The tone of the captain's voice indicates he's in his element, as if he's relishing the opportunity to act. "Mr. Cole, your job will likely be the more difficult one, since there's no telling where the locals may be keeping our equipment. I'll leave it in your capable hands, young man."

Turning to Tann-Tyra, he asks, "Are you ready, Ensign?"

OOC: Included is a basic (thank you donjon) map of the walled village. The landing zone is out of sight of the walls, being in a dip in the hills about 75m west of the village.

The walls are made of wood, like a frontier palisade. The closest entrance is on the northwest side of town, about 85m away.

The light squares are the known smithies in town, and the red oval is where the crew of the Rostov are believed to be held.

[Patrick Goodman]

"Ready as I'm likely to be, sir," the young woman said as she verified her communicator's settings. As she pocketed that, she drew her phaser and verified that it was set to stun. Turning to Captain Styles, she said, "I understand the basics of the plan, sir. What, specifically, do you need my team to do?"

[Renny]

"Mr. Cole, your job will likely be the more difficult one, since there's no telling where the locals may be keeping our equipment. I'll leave it in your capable hands, young man."

Cole's brow furrows notably at that last comment.

"Thank you, sir", he responds cautiously, glancing at his team.

[Davy, aka GM]

"Ready as I'm likely to be, sir," the young woman said as she verified her communicator's settings. As she pocketed that, she drew her phaser and verified that it was set to stun. Turning to Captain Styles, she said, "I understand the basics of the plan, sir. What, specifically, do you need my team to do?"

"In general, protect my flank as we move through the village," he says as he checks his own communicator and weapon. "When we get to the target location, I expect both teams will be engaging opponents simultaneously to stun all the guards without raising the alarm.

"But first, we'll need to get into the village."

OOC: Sorry about the delayed response, and sorry that it's short.

[Davy, aka GM]

The immediate problem on the ground is the village walls. They're tall enough that it'll take some effort to scale, which means the only efficient entry into the village may be through the gates, and whatever sentinels may be guarding them.

Meanwhile, overhead, Lt. j.g. Fryling is looking over the village and the teams' landing zone; he knows the dangers to the team aren't limited to the Apellans, but also to mugatos that roam the hillside. The library computer noted earlier that mugatos normally range during the day, but night encounters have occasionally been recorded.

OOC: Nolmir, let's have Fryling make a Reason + Security test vs. Difficulty 1 to get a lay of the land over the teams. The Difficulty is reduced to 0 by the application of the ship's Advanced Sensor Suites Talent.

The ship will assist with Sensors (9) + Security (3).

[Nolmir]

Fryling's Reason (10) + Security (4) vs. Difficulty 1:

Rolled 2d20 : 4, 3, total 7

Ship's Assist: Sensors (9) + Security (3)

Rolled 1d20 : 19, total 19

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: (Oops, I forgot a couple somethings...)

First, Gerald has the Focus Sensors, meaning...

4 Successes vs. Difficulty 0. Success, plus 4 Momentum generated.

Current
Momentum 4 (4 pending, Fryling; 2 must be spent or lost)
Threat 10

In the area around landing zone, Fryling detects three things:

First, a pair of humans are in the hills just north of the LZ, about 75m away. They're moving in the teams' general vicinity, but don't appear to be moving with urgency. In fact, they appear to be moving rather cautiously.

Second, the northwest town gate has two guards watching it; they appear to be congregating in a small structure right next to the gate itself.

Third, two non-human signals are moving at a leisurely pace about 50m west of the LZ. As he's looking at them, they seem to stop.

[Nolmir]

Gerald opens a communications channel to the three team leaders. "Sirs, I'm picking up two humans 75m north of your position, moving in your direction. But they're not moving fast, so I don't think they've spotted you. There are two non-humans 50m west of the LZ, so they might have something to do with them. You've also got two guards at the town gate."

OOC: Can I spend some of the momentum that roll generated to get more information about those non-human life signs? Can Fryling tell if they are animals or humanoids?

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Yes. 2 Momentum spent to Obtain Information.

Current
Momentum 6
Threat 10

The security officer attempts a closer look at the non-human life forms; it doesn't take him long to identify them as mugatos, likely a mated pair. They're a popular species to study at the Academy, made famous by the Enterprise's exploits on Neural in the '60s, and Gerald's paper in his comparative zoology class earned top grade and the nickname "the fighting naturalist." It didn't stick. Except with Sarah, his wife. She still teases him about it.

The male leans back onto his haunches, his long arms resting as he appears to sniff around at the air. Something has him curious, and the female seems to be leaning in the direction of the LZ. Or are they more interested in the two humans to the north? It's difficult to tell.