Crackling ball of plasma struck what appeared shimmering air, and apparently struck well. Dragonfly that hid behind stealth systems and jammed your comms and sensors was revealed as it's stealth malfunctioned due to massive damage suffered. Seconds later, it's A-Pods followed, and the wretched thing fall heavily into the water, drowning whatever was inside.
Perhaps you would cheer up, if not for the fact that in a heartbeat, the entire surface of the lake literally exploded, showering you with the water, as three organic-looking mecha emerged from the depths. It appears that they were hiding, using both waters and ECM systems to hide from you.
Not any longer.
Combat time!
Initiative order:
17: Kroenen
15: Asura
13: Adolf
12: Zarena
8: Migou locusts
Remember to re-read the summar of combat in CTech, for it is sometimes un-intuitive. Remember to declare the number of actions you want to take.
No map for now.
The migou are more or less 100 meters from you, hovering above the surface of the now troubled waters, in tight formation.
One action, Plasma Cannon (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2618096/) shot at middle/lead Locust.
He paused long enough to center his targeting reticules on the leading Locust, and fired.
Laser Cannon, leading Locust
[EDIT: Rectified a thinko.]
As soon as Raziny saw enemy, all her thoughts were completely wiped away. She was completely focused on the battle, only thing she knew now is current orders and her complete battle training. And orders, as she understand, were fire at will. So she did. A ray of pure energy targeted towards center Locust appeared from her mecha's gun.
1 action : Charge Beam (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2619482/) at center locust
2 actions: plasma cannon attack at right Locust, rocket pod attack at right locust - salvo of 4.
Also, since we're now allowed to at least move around a little, Ahriman will be moving around to his right to try and flank the bugs.
[Turn 2 - Action 1] Charge Attack against the leftmost Locust
One action, Rocket Pod (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2621944/) 5 shot salvo at the right locust.
Free action: Walk right
Rocket barrage from Ahriman even managed to knock the Locust down. While it was still working and alive, it was obvious that only barely.
Ending turn 2, beginning turn 3. Report in.
First action spent on aiming at the left Locust.
Second action used for a plasma cannon shot at it.
[Turn 3 - Action 1] Melee attack against Locust with Acid Drip Hyperedge Claws
~Attack Roll: 5 Dice 1d10=1, 1d10=8, 1d10=3, 1d10=2, 1d10=1 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2623448/)
Laser Cannon if possible.
2 actions : 1) Aim at lying locust; 2) Fire (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2625184/) at lying locust
As the base tried to reach you out through the radio, Adolf and Kroenen managed to critically damage the Locust, only after it managed to evade Asura blow. Heartbeat later, Raziny's charge beam literally obliterated the almost wrecked Locust, leaving only a small crater as only trace of your existence.
And then, all was calm. You managed to dispatch the migou without even a smallest dent. No small feat. Command still tried to contact you, likely freaking out due to the comm breakdown caused by ECM.
Time to go home?
3EXP for everyone, you are all clear.
Yes, definitely time to go home.
Island Among the Sea of Ruins
The city- or rather it's remains lied in the bottom of small valley, surrounded by hills from all sides. Thanks to it, you were able to take a good look at it every time when you were returning.
You were told that before the First Arcanotech war, it was one of the biggest cities in the region, with over one hundred thousand population, bustling with human life, growing bigger and more influential with every passing year.
Not any more.
What you could see was a sea of ruins. City got leveled during the first hours of Nazzadi invasion, and what remained of it was later wrecked during vicious street warfare. Not a single building was left untouched by war. Rubble covered every street apart from those few that were purposely cleared for military. No more than a thousand civilians still lived here, rest either fled or died. They were jaded people, choosing the life outside the safe boundaries of arcologies, in the land were NEG laws were seldom enforced. They were dangerous people, often heavily armed and prepared for almost every possible situation.
Anyway, passing through former main street of the city, heading toward the walled off section that became Karski Outpost, was still able to made you feel uneasy, even in the bright light of the day. Vegetation reclaiming the land, wild animals hiding in collapsed houses, scared by your noisy machines. Claw marks on some walls, dire reminder that nature in Strange Aeon was no longer as docile as we would want it to be, and that even so close to military, monsters could still thrive at nights.
Finally, you arrived at the Karski Outpost gate. High wall, topped with barbed wire separated it from the ruins and it's dwellers. A few automated turrets tracked your moves- no one, after all, can be trusted this days.
It took few seconds for automated systems to scan you, and then massive gate that lead to the inside of the base opened, letting you in.