After a spacefold malfunction, (or possibly better astrogation data), sends the REF/UEEF Flotilla off course our heroes begin a desperate struggle for survival with a new alien threat near the planet Arcturus, in the Merak star system. (some background information) Ice Planet Arcturos Initially the
Flotilla Daedalus was drawn to this planet in response to a Hyperspace
distress call from a Robotech Masters Mother-ship. With an escape
shuttle transmitting a distress signal for the planet surface, Xander,
Beta Ray and Thomas J made planet fall in a CTC troop shuttle
(undetected), in order to retrieve any survivors and to try and obtain
intelligence on this mysterious planet. Arcturus Arcturus is
an ice planet. Initial probe readings indicated that average temperature
can be expected to be -13 Centigrade.It has a Carbon Dioxide and
Methane atmosphere that is toxic, there were initially no life signs on
the planet, however this has proven to be incorrect due to a high
radiation background count causing severe interference at multiple
hotspots on the planets surface. The atmosphere is partially overcast
and there are frequent blizzards and storm fronts that cascade over the
land masses. Visibility is expected is poor, however that should be seen
as a blessing gentlemen as it will obscure you from any enemy
attention. The initial estimate of the size of the Invid forces was 15,000 troops. Unfortunately
the players were not the only forces planet side looking for the
Robotech masters, and found themselves pitted in a race against time and
the progress of enemy forces to be the first to reach the Robotech
Masters escape shuttle. Thrown into a running battle of skirmishes
against Zentraedi, Bioroid and Invid forces the players finally reached
the shuttle only to discover that it was a decoy. During this mission
the players discovered and rescued Amythest, a Spherian adventurer who
returned with the players back to the fleet. The next event of
note was the detection of an extremely damaged Zentraedi destroyer
tumbling towards a near by star. With no detectable life signs the
players once again used the CTC shuttle to dock with the ghost ship and
begin the search for salvage. Discovering that the crew were in
hibernation and that a trap had been set for them and the fleet Xander
confronted and challenged the commander of the Zentraedi fleet to single
combat. Xander managed to best his opponent, forcing the Zentraedi
commander Hadron to capitulate, and submit to REF (Xander's) command. Whilst
effecting repairs over the following week on their hard won prize (the
Zentraedi destroyer), the REF fleet was taken by surprise by an attack
by a new Invid Inorganic weapon of war. [7/8/2015 1:15:08 AM] Michael Snell: Hey Ed, was just about to type up a post action report. Your actions saved the crew, you flew in close to the enemy craft and blew a hole in the cockpit. Breaching the cockpit you got the drop on the enemy pilots (4 enforcers and a mutated invid brain). In a storm of fire you obliterated the Invid brain, sending the invid on this ship and in the shuttle into a near catatonic stupor. In it's last dieing throws the brain matter tried to reform and crush your mecha. You were too fast (higher initiative roll) and vaporised large floating chunks of the brain and seeling its demise. [7/8/2015 1:18:33 AM] Michael Snell: Beta Ray intercepted a Radio transmission, informing him that three of the four invid Assualt vessles had been destroyed, however the last had launched all 18 of it's boarding pods against the REF Alexis Garfish which is now under heavy internal assault. That's where the game left off. "S.O.S. Xander and Beta Ray are in dire need of assistance! The Alexis is out of control and still under siege..." " KKSSSHHHHAACK, this is Beta Ray trying to reach Alexis bridge, ... Captain Cook are you there? KSSSHHH...According to Thomas J the CTC was struck by an asteroid and was detached from the Alexis... our team is here for the duration, what're your orders?? Captain are you there?" Wall mounted red alarm beacons play their disorientating, stroboscopic pattern over the carnage of the cargo bay. Breathable air must be getting thin in this section. The pleasant female warning recording that has been droning on from the start of the initial conflict is fading in volume, that or the damage from the Inorganics shock attack has resulted in more systems damage to the Garfish Alexis than was initially suspected. Standing with their mecha’s feet magnetically locked to the floor of the cargo bay, Beta Ray and Xander find themselves overseeing the chaos in the aftermath of a deadly shock boarding action against the REF fleet. Having been struck by an asteroid, the CTC shuttle that transported the rescue party to the aid of the Alexis, has been torn free from its docking clamps. The resultant impact has sent the stricken Alexis tumbling erratically back toward the ice planet below. Anything that has not been secured within the cargo bay is being thrown around akin to the contense of a washing machine. Cargo, machine parts and the bodies of the living and dead crew careen off walls and bulkheads in the zero gravity. Of your crew, Michael Waddel (piloting a Raidar X) appears to be in shock, you suspect that this may have been his first real introduction to combat. Amethyst, who had crashed an Alpha fighter into the cargo while ramming an Inorganic mecha during the combat, is being buffeted around as the fighter ricochets off of the cargo hold walls. Thomas J, in Micronian Power Armour is being rag dolled, he is either dead or unconscious. Your mecha bear the scars from the invid assault as does the ship. The only visual reference to the “outside world” is a visual display screen that was slaved to the pilot’s sensors. The screen, shot through with static interference, shows a video feed that pans wildly. Teasing with the briefest glimpses of the fleet and the larger conflict. Using a series of kinetic attacks the Invid Inorganic forces struck targets of opportunity sowing shock and terror through the fleet. With the use of boarding strike craft that bored into their target, the Inorganic troops disgorged assault forces into the REF vessels. The players rushed to the aid of the stricken Garfish Alexis in a desperate attempt to save the crew. At large however as the players were enacting a force relief action, the full might of the Invid forces swarmed the Flotilla Daedalus, and the newly captured Zentraedi destroyer. Previously engaged with the Inorganic terror forces, the Flotilla was slow to react to this new more pressing threat. As the players regrouped and readied themselves to assist the Flotilla, their Garfish was struck heavily by a kinetically launched asteroid that obliterated their CTC rescue shuttle and sent the stricken Garfish Alexis tumbling towards the planet surface. Severely outnumbered and suffering from multiple hull breaches, the Flotilla Daedalus and the Zentraedi destroyer, were forced to space fold away from the system leaving the players to their fate. Skill and luck were on the players side however and they managed to correct the Garfish and effect a crash landing, while their sister Garfish Herodotus, suffering critical damage was torn apart by atmospheric re-entry. Luck, Fate or perhaps The Gods intervened and the Garfish Alexis crashed into the upper domed canopy of the city of Formicarium. (Missing a recap of our encounters after the crash landing when the weary crew was attacked by massive cybernetically enhanced spiders... dubbed by the locals "Harvest Weavers") Having been lead through a subterranean tunnel network, Beta Ray and Xander are attempting to recover the cocooned remains of one of their crew members. Standing in an underground foyer at the edge the cities outer ring, Beta Ray has been both keeping a look out for trouble and an eye on their guide, the silver haired Carbonara Elder. Xander, meanwhile, is battling strong thermal up drafts as he attempts to hover his cyclone armour into position to retrieve a cocoon. Turning from the ledge, Beta Ray misses seeing the first tell tail strand of monofilament steel cable sails upwards past the foyer opening. The Carbonara Elder gasps in horror, pointing at the open void. Whirling around Beta Ray is met by a cloud of monofilament spider web strands dancing in the updraft. There is a blur of action, as a Harvest Weaver sails past the opening upwards towards Xander. Beta Ray takes a firing position and hollers over the radio, "Xander Incoming" as the Harvest Weavers begin swarming. (Missing a recap of 1 session in the Formicareum meeting the strange locals and witnessing their devotion to their "Gods") (around 12/3/15) Storyline Update When we last left off the group had just discovered (or rediscovered from a much earlier adventure with Beta Ray and Xander) a Robotech Masters Bioroid Assault carrier wedged in a cave system. The players had been into the cave system by Rodar the Karbarran (Bear Man guide) as they sort a way to establish a water supply for the crew of the Garfish shuttle Alexis. Much to Rodar’s annoyance the tunnel system had changed dramatically from what he remembered and there were numerous new tunnels running in random directions. The reasoning for this quickly became apparent as the player characters realised that they had stumbled into an ant colony. The ants however had mutated to 5ft tall monsters with highly corrosive bites. Rogar was set upon by an ant and in desperation was forced to reveal that he was a recipient of one of the “gifts of the Gods”. Metallic Tentacles sprouted from his back as he fought for his life. The Ants were quickly dispatched by the team, however while Rodar was recovering, he stumbled into a plant and had an allergic reaction causing him to pass out. The plant was later surmised to be some form of mutated “Invid Flower of Life”, the player characters have not had a chance to return to confirm these findings however as they discovered that the REF radio communications had been compromised by a third parts sowing confusion and misdirection amongst the forces. Xander issued commands for all radio communications to utilize encryption in an effort to regain control and had security bolstered around the Garfish. During this time it was discovered that Lt Wells and many of the enlisted men were engaging in unsanctioned trade with the locals in return for food, alcohol and sexual favours. On discovering this Xander and the Team were forced to take operational control of what was left of the detachment forces. With more pressing matters presenting themselves NPC Insomniac was left in charge while the players chased down the whereabouts of Sly Welford, their contact with the Silver Swift (black Market). Following one lead the players travelled in force to the second city circle, known to be under control of The Cybernetic in order to look for further leads and narrow down the list of locations where Sly might be laying low. The Cybernetic Clan were initially quite cautious about meeting with the players as they rolled into their home turf in a massive display of force (Two Destroids, One Zentraedi Officer Pod and a Beta Fighter). Their Guide Rodar however, after locating their contact in the Silver Swift, took matters into his own hands (having been fleeced for a significant barter). Rodar side tracked the player’s attempts to gather information as he postured and tried to muscle the Head of the Silver Swift out of everything he owned including his only daughter! Thankfully after many tense moments Beta Ray was able to bring the situation under control long enough to discover that The Silver Swift had not heard from Sly for at least 24 hours and thought that he may have gone to ground in his usual hunting grounds in the abandoned housing ring of the main shaft leading down to the city. Having obtained this information the players were about to leave when the black sludgy waterway behind them erupted in activity as eight jet black Bioroids leapt out. Emitting a hideous deafening screech the mutated Bioroids assaulted the P/C’s with a reckless ferocity. Thankfully the surprise assault was not well coordinated and the players were able to, with some effort, put the Bioroids out of action. Moments after the last shots were fired a mysterious Red Cyclone appeared and tried to assault Beta Ray! Incredibly fast and agile, the Cyclone appeared significantly modified and moved with an almost organic feel to it. Beta Ray slipped out of its reach, and after repeated attempts to contact it, was forced to release a moderate volley of missiles at the assailant. The volley of missiles, blossomed fiery death around the Red Cyclone, more than enough damage should have been dealt to send this fiend to meet its maker, however the Cyclone emerged battered but fully functional. Witnessing this Sara, in a stunning display of prowess, vaulted onto the roof of a nearby building. Sprinting across the roofline she crash tackled the Cyclone to the ground! Celebrations were cut short as strange metallic tentacles writhed from the Cyclone’s back and snaked their way into control circuitry on Sara’s Destroid. Within moments the Red Cyclone had leached onto Sara’s Destroid and was in full control of it Puppet Master Style. Turning as one unit Sara’s Gladiator Destroid unleashed missile volleys at Beta Ray and Xander in turn. Failing to manage to inflict any damage, the Red Cyclone attempted to make off with its prize, by jumping into the brackish waterway. Xander and Beta Ray dove in after it, their superior speed allowing them to catch up in seconds. In the ensuing hand to hand melee the Red Cyclone was bashed loose. Choosing to flee, it rocketed away in a dazed manner allowing Xander to score a parting shot on it with his Particle cannon. Strangely rather than finishing off the Cyclone, there was an intense burst of energy and the Cyclone rocketed away and out of sight. (After a battle with strange mutated black bioroids within the "Cybernetic Ring") Sara
manages to purchase a dog like creature, when doused with the Black
bioroid ooze the creature starts to howl and becomes insanely ferocious.
Throwing itself against the cage until it is bloody and the cage
begins to give way! It's fur sheds and thick black secretions seep
from it's wounds. With a hideous cracking sound the "dogs bones start
to break and reform themselves and elonged fangs erupt from it's jaws! The beast gnashes on the bars, it's saliva is causing the metal to smoke slightly, you find this to be quite disturbing. The dog it gettingfar more aggressive toward you, it hates you with all it's being. After
a series of shots the beast finally dies, the flesh kept trying to
reknit together and you had to mash the dogs brain for it to finally
die! Hmmm, maybe this might also be the case with the Black Bioroid? (Missing 5 sessions of recap during which we survived and prepared our ships and allies for escape from the Formicarium) 1/19/16 and 1/23/16 the Garfish and the Robotech assault vehicle chose to try and punch through the blockade on one of the extreme edges. Multiple armoured scout invid troops latched themselves onto the hulls of the space craft and tried to cause devastating rupture damage. At some stage contact was made with Hadron (a Zentraedi Warrior loyal to Xander) With some skillful piloting Xander and Insomniac managed to punch clear of the asteroid ring surrounding the planet Arcturus. As their sensory interference dissipated, the players were dismayed to discovers a sensory overload of Inorganic mecha hiding within the asteroid ring. Xander managed to perform a tight 90 degree turn, changing direction of the Garfish and heading for the proposed staging point with Hadron and The Zentraedi Cruiser. Insomniac, who was piloting the Robotech Assault carrier was slower to react, and the slipped formation. As a result a number of strange new Inorganic Mecha (nicknamed the GARM) swooped in and latched onto the hull of the Assault carrier. The Garm construct was stunningly resilient to damage and appeared to be single been minded in its mannerisms as it methodically tries to carve its way into the vessel. Managing to bring both vessels back into formation as they traveled at break neck speed toward the relative safety of Hadron’s Cruiser, the players were able to provide each other with mutual support in trying to pick clear the hulls of Invid infestation. Highlights of these heroic actions saw Aladair’s Beta fighter sprinting down the hull of the Garfish to shoulder charge an Invid Armoured Scout. The teeth numbing impact of the two mecha sent the Invid spinning off into the void. Launching mini missiles at “Danger close” proximity in order to take down the Armoured scouts and mitigate the ongoing damage from the sustained assault. Pinpoint accurate support weapons fire from Ferret as he utilized the defensive weaponry of the Assault carrier to snipe their assailants. As a parting gift Xander permitted Hadron to declare WEAPONS FREE AS THE Cruiser unleashed a wall of fire at the invid pursuers before making a Space fold jump out of the System. With their sights set on the Fantoma System, finally the players have a chance to count their losses and lick their wounds.
