"Perhaps you will recognise the authority of our heavily armed ships".
Came the threatening voice through my intercom.
BEGIN A SESSION
Roll on the table for inspiration.
Roll = 51 | Important character is put in danger or suffers a misadventure.
I see a ship that I recognise. It's the ship that belongs to an acquittance of mine.
(I've rolled up a character).
It looks as though it is being escorted into dock on one of the ships, a ship that is considerably larger than the others. The command or flag ship if you like.
There is no way I can take on this many ships. But I need to find out what's going on here. Something or someone is in trouble, and it looks like Curtis Sato or Swindle as he is better known by many.
I decide to lie to them. Tell them I'm someone I'm not.
"I'm sorry about my in subordinance, I'm a bit sick of being treated like I'm unimportant. I have business with the man you are bringing in right now. He owes me money. I know that's not your concern, but I think I can get him to talk if I let the debt drop".
Naturally they ask why I would help them, and I remind them of the massive warships they have against my tiny little one manned craft.
I'm going to roll Compel to see if they, even vaguely, believe me and are willing to go with it.
Compel. Roll + Shadow (2)
Roll = 4 + Shadow (2) = 6 vs 3, 10. Weak Hit. Take +1 Momentum but they demand something in return.
They agree to discuss the matter with their superior, but only if I can make a donation to the "charity" of their choice.
He uploads his signature my device and I make a payment. I'm sure his "Charity", a local bar or brothel no doubt, will be very pleased. (-1 Supply, now 4).
After an hour of waiting on a dark, almost lightless room, the door squeals open and I am approached by....something. A humanoid creature of a race I don't recognise. He wants to know about Swindles debt to me. I tell him it was a simple game of poker.
"You risk your ship and possibly your life because of a small debt over a poker game?"
He laughs.
"You fool!"
"I am a man of honour!" I shout back. This shocks him somewhat. Perhaps he's not used to anyone raising their voice in his presence.
"And you want to help us. Why?"
I tell him I'm not interested in their business, but I've almost all but given up on recovering my debt and now I want revenge, justice almost, and if I can hurt him, in a way far more malicious than physically, something that will live with him for the rest of his life, then that will be payment enough.
Compel. Roll + Shadow (2)
Roll = 5 + Shadow (2) = 7 vs 2, 2. Strong Hit with a match! +1 momentum (now +4). They agree to let me talk to Swindle.
Since I got a match, I also add that they agree to let me speak to him alone without any form of observation.
After another half hour wait, I am taken to a darkened room. The door slams behind me. I can sense someone in the room with me, then I can hear the breathing.
"I suppose you've been sent to kill me?" A voice says. It's him. It's Curtis Sato. "Swindle".
We've only met a small handful of times, but I recognise his voice anywhere.
With a click, the room lights up with a soft, artificial yellow glow. I see the top of his sandy hair as Sato sits with his head bowed into his lap. Then, with a squint, he raises his head. He is shocked. I am certainly the last person he ever expected to see.
"Captain?" He exclaims. "wha-"
"I'm going to get you out of here." I tell him, then explain exactly what happened.
"So you just wanted to respond to a distress call, came here and then... Why didn't you just turn back?" He asks.
I can't explain it. Really I can't, sometimes things just happen. Sometimes I just get a feeling. It's like I just know it's something I should do.
Swear an iron vow to get Sato out of here.
(Rank = Dangerous)
"My honour." I lie.
"Your honour? You're just another Runner". He responds, not meaning to sound condescending.
"Sato. I am far more, than just another Runner. So here's the plan".
I go over the plan with him and hand him one of my pistols. One of the advantages of being a walking armoury usually means I have a spare of everything. (Taken from my Asset of weapon master).
After some time passes, I leave the room where I am confronted by two guards and the superior officer who lead me to Sato. I do my best to look disappointed. as the large door thuds behind me. The superior looks at me without saying a word.
"He's dead." I tell him. "We were talking, I think he was about to spill the beans and he lurched forward. And died."
I took a few steps forward and the guards went straight to the door, as they open it, they are met with pistol fire.
I'm not directly roleplaying as any other character, including those fighting on my behalf, but I will ask the oracle whether the guards are still a threat.
I'm going to say 50/50 either one or both have been neutralized. (we'll still meet more threats imminently.)
50 or less indicates that Sato has neutralized both guards with his shots.
Roll = 42. Yes. The guards are no longer a problem, but the superior officer is still active.
Sato rushes out of the chamber after grabbing one of the guards rifles.
I whack the superior in the back of the neck. It's a minor setback, he unsheathes his laser sword as I do mine and now we enter combat.
Progress track. Fight the superior officer (I really should have named him!). I'm going to rank it as troublesome (hey, it's the first fight of the game, go easy on me).
Enter the fray. Battling at close quarters (Roll +Iron (3)) I will use my Weapon Master asset to add 1 to the roll.
Roll = 3 + Iron 3 +1 (Weapon Master) = 7 vs 1, 10. Weak hit. I'm going to take the +2 momentum (now +6).
Our swords clash with a buzz and a sizzle. I shout to Sato. "Find a way out of here!"
Enter the fray. (Neither am I in control or in a bad spot). Roll +Iron (3)
Roll = 4 + Iron (3) = 7 vs 5, 6. Strong hit. Take +2 momentum (now 8) and gain control.
I take a swipe with my sword that took him by surprise, forcing him to take a step back. Immediately I try to capitalize and lurch forward.
Strike. Roll +Iron (3)
Roll = 2 +Iron (3) = 5 vs 5, 9. MISS. I am in a bad spot and must pay the price.
I take a swipe again, but the superior sees it coming, dodges and smashes his forearm across my back. He turn turns and hits a button on a panel behind him. An alarm sounds. Great. I can only guess that means more guards.
I regroup and settle on my feet as he's distracted. He attempts a stab as me with his sword.
React under fire (Getting back into position/dodging)
Roll + Edge (4)Roll = 4 + Edge (4) = 8 vs 4, 8. Weak hit. I avoid the worst of it, but at a cost (-1 health (now 4).
His laser sword grazes my leg. It burns and I gasp, I am again forced to defend myself.
React under fire (Getting back into position/dodging) Roll + Edge (4)
Roll = 6 + Edge (4) = 10 vs 4, 5. Strong hit. Take 1 momentum and gain control.
I start to hope Sato is keeping the on-coming guards busy, but I doubt he'll be able to deal with them all alone for too much longer. There's no telling how much time I have before they turn up here.
The officer takes another stab, but I barrel roll to doge it, then flick my leg and connect my boot with his face. He stumbles back.
I study the surrounding area as he fails to gain his balance. I try to see if anything around here could give me sort some of advantage.
Gain ground. Roll + Wits (3)
Roll = 6 + Wits (3) = 9 vs 4, 6. Strong hit. Mark progress (3 boxes) and +1 to my next move. Still in control.
I pull my pistol and fire at the panel causing the alarm. It shuts it off, maybe I was quick enough to make them think it was a false alarm. I serious doubt it, but I live in hope.
With fair distance between us now, I aim the pistol at the officer.
Strike. Roll + Edge (4) +1 from previous hit
Roll = 5 + Edge (4) + 1 = 10 vs 4, 8. Strong hit. Mark progress twice (now 9 boxes).
My aim is slightly off, but my shot strikes the base of his sword, sending it flying, the laser retracting back as the handle spins on the surface of the floor.
I step over to him, take my dagger and hold it to his throat.
Progress move in an attempts to end this fight. Roll against the track (9)
Track = 9 vs 9, 9. (How unlucky is that??). MISS.
Then I hear a chorus of footsteps coming from the exit. I shift my eyes and I see Sato. Flanked by half a dozen guards.
We are outgunned.
End of Part 2.
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