Image from cover - Crash on Volturnus

    Raleigh sits in the shade of the explorer, trying as best he can to enjoy the rations that already he was
growing weary of. The Volturnus sun was growing ever hotter as the day grew on and already he felt as if he
had sweated off a few pounds.
  The noise didnt come to him immediately but the reactions of the others did. Even as Zhirrzh was
sprinting to the explorer to grab a pair of magnigoggles, Raleigh was peering across the desert sands and watching the small jetcopter head their way.
  At present speed and course, he was sure they would be spotted.Quickly, Raleigh searched for a way to
conceal the Explorer from above, knowing that he wouldnt have much time.
   Zhirrzh rushes to the Explorer and grabs a pair of  magnigoggles. The echoing *thud-thud-thud* of the Jetcopter is now easily heard by all, and the small object seems to be cruising steadily along, not directly towards the team, but close enough to be a bit uncomfortable.
     Zhirrzh raises the goggles for a better look...
 Telgar quickly ensures that his two pistols have full clips in them after seeing the chopper.  "We need to get to cover or hide this thing with some camaflauge before they get a fix on us.  What's the call Brenon?"
  Immediately Brenon comes alert and scans the sky, eye's falling upon the small object coming from the crash site. 'Damn', Brenon thought to himself. He turns to Zhirrzh, about to order him to take a look at the copter via goggles, only to see the Yazarian had beat him to it. Brenon smiled to himself. He liked that.
   "Let's see what Zhirrzh has to report first..." Brenon answers Telgar.
    Zhirrzh, still looking through the goggles,relays the following information....
"They appear to be flying at around 800 meters....definitely searching for something..."
"Looks to have a crew of three...open cockpit"
"Can't really tell if they're armed or not...."
"I can also see a symbol on the side.....a red devil with stars around it."
    Brenon shakes his head, cursing under his breath. He quickly approaches Raliegh and pulls him aside....
"I'm not really sure if we have enough time to adequately camoflauge the explorer so I think we should put 3 guys up in the rocks...Me, Zhirrzh and Kay'liss, Telgar I think is still too weak. The remaining, you and telgar, would remain in the explorer to serve for diversionary purposes. If you guys are spotted, Telgar with toss a smoke grenade up on the roof of the explorer, while you drive around in circles at the base of the rock. Once the copter is in firing range, our boys in the rocks will lay in to them with everything they've got. Am I missing anything? What are your thoughts?" Brenon looks into the sky again then quickly back to Raliegh; trying to hint at the fact that there isn't much time.
    Raleigh listened intently to Brennon, running the plan through his head as they went. When Brennon finished,
Raleigh grinned sheepishly before replying, "Ok, let me get this straight. You want me to drive around in circles to draw their fire while you guys hide in the rocks and ambush him?" He waits for Brennon to nod in confirmation, "Sounds great!  Lets do this!"
    Raleigh jumps into the drivers seat and fires the engine up. From there he will sit and await the call from one of the observeres, Telgar will be in charge of the grenade obviously.
    Brenon nods to Raliegh, "Good." He turns to the rest of the group, "OK group, here's the plan.  Me, Zhirrzh and Kah'liss are going up into the rocks. Telgar and Raliegh will remain in the explorer and if spotted will serve as a decoy to draw the copter closer to the rocks. Raliegh, you're driving...Telgar, I've love you have you in the rocks with us but I don't think you're really fit for the climb, so you'll remain in the explorer and on my signal I want you to toss a smoke grenade on the top of the explorer and then lock her up. Raliegh, at this point I want you to drive in circles at the base of the rock to not only distract them from the rock, but to draw them closer as well. On my signal, Kah'liss, Zhirrzh and myself will pop up and lay into the cockpit of the craft with all we've got.... When she hits the ground Telgar, I'll want you to use a needler with sleep ammo on any of the crew you spot as you and raleigh will be the first to approach them..."
"Zhirrzh, I'd like you to pick a good spot to stash the explorer from sight....you may have a minute or two to jerry-rig some sort of camo covering...see if you can make something work."
"You all have you orders, let's hop to it..."
    With that said, Brenon pops into the explorer and retrieves a  beam rifles for himself and a PGS weapon for Zhirrzh, and another beam for Kay'liss.
    He then makes way for the rocks.
        Telgar simply states, "Understood."  Quickly he readies his pistols with the appropriate ammo for the job, grabs two smoke grenades, and then climbs into the passanger side of the Explorer.  He wipes the sweat from his face and his muscles tighten up in preparation for the scuffle ahead.
    Zhirrzh makes a quick sweep of the immediate area and find a places to back the Explorer into and puts up some rudimentary camouflage. Z's objective will be to keep the Explorer from being obvious to find. He'll just try to make it a lot harder for the Explorer to be spotted, not impossible as he probably doesn't have the time to make up a proper camo /and/ get to the top and in place before the 'copter arrives.
    Afterward, Zhirrzh will leap onto the rock face and climb up as fast and as safely as he can, utilizing his climbing skills to their fullest. He'll find Brenon on the rock face and grab the G-Jet rifle from him, then pull the muzzle extender off his Needler and put on his rifle. After snapping a clip into the rifle, he'll lay belly down and begin aiming at the 'copter. At Brenon's order, Z will fire at the 'copter, not at any particular pirate.
    Raleigh sits at the wheel of the Explorer, eagerly awaiting the call over his headset. He will keep his assault rifle primed and ready at his side along with a couple of frag grenades...just in case.
Let's do this.

    Kah'liss shrugs. It seems he could very well have been wrong.  Wouldn't have been the first time.  He readied his Laser Rifle, setting it to 5 SEUs, and followed Brennon.  It had been awhile since he had used one of these, but ... he had rated as an Expert.  Of course, that was purely luck.  Things were bad enough already, it would be the last thing that they needed, for it to get even worse....

  As everyone else scrambles to their assigned spot, Zhirrzh tries to make an impromtu camoflague job on the Explorer. Having Raleigh back it close to the small outcropping, noting the sun's shadow and making use of it,  Zhirrzh yanks at some nearby dry foliage and attempts to cover the vehicle.

[DieRoll Zhirrzh]
   Camoflague Skill Level 1
   Column +1
      Penalty -1CS  (impromptu, no time to prepare adequately)
   Adjusted Column Shift = /0

   Die Roll = {{{ secret }}}
 

    Zhirrzh looks at the job before him. Certainly, if he had more time, he could
do a better job, but who knows. 'That chopper is obviously looking for
something', he thinks, 'But then again, we have other plans for them anyway.' He
then scrambles up the small outcropping and joins the others at the top.
   The chopper begins a slow descent and comes down to an elevation of perhaps
300 yards. Still up there, but perhaps they wanted lower to get a better look at
the rock croppings that a thinly scattered the area.
   Closer the jetcopter approaches. Everyone watches anxiously as it nears. The
copter is heading about 20 degrees to the east of you; they are not approaching
you directly, but surely they are a bit too close for comfort.
   500 yards away. The thick -thump- -thump- -thump- resonates through the
desert air.
   200 yards away. Zhirrzh peers through the magnigoggles, rifle next to him. He
can clearly see a human sitting in the open back of the chopper, scanning the
terrain with his own pair of goggles. Once, it seems they both lock eyes as the
human scans past. The human lowers the goggles a moment, says something to the
pilot, then resumes his scan. The copter does not change course, however, and
Zhirrzh wonders if they were spotted.
    Brenon, slowly peeking ever so often over his rock cover, swore as he saw the copter get within 200 yards...and still closing. They had either spotted them and were being careful on their approach vector...or were following the tracks we'd left in the sand... in either case we were close to being uncovered....
    Brenon lifts up his wrist to speak into his comm device. "Telgar, Raliegh, begin your operation immediately, draw the bird closer to the cage. All others wait for my mark,the kill zone is under 100 yards, bird is flying low and closing presently at 150 yards....over. Radio silence begins now, until bird is down. Over"
     The call comes from Brennon and immediately Raleigh is in motion. Throwing the explorer in gear, he guns the
engine to several thousand rpms before letting off the (brake/ clutch). The explorer leaps forward, throwing
sand high into the air as the massive tires clawed the soft ground for traction.

    The passenger of the copter immediately looks to the new cloud of dust. "Explorer, over there!" he barks. As the two passengers immediately ready their laser rifles, the jetcopter makes a steep bank and heads toward the fleeing vehicle.

[DieRoll Copter Crew]
    Intuition Checks for all  (average skill of 45)
        DieRoll1 = 97     FAIL
        DieRoll2 = 71      FAIL
        DieRoll3  (+10 with Magnigoggles (55)) = 25    PASS

    "Something's wrong," the scout reports. "Watch those rocks. There may be an ambush."
    Over the throbbing of the engines, the pilot acknowledges. "I'll raise up some and come around it..."
    The copter lifts to about 300 meters high and begins its westerly arc around the rock formation.
    Raleigh, taking off in a north-westerly direction, sees that the jetcopter isn't making a bee line over the rock formation. Telgar climbs through the door, sitting on the edge, and releases the smoke grenade. Raleigh banks the Explorer hard to his right, trying to keep the rock formation between the two vehicles.

[DieRoll Raleigh]
    Reaction Speed Check
    DieRoll  = 73     FAIL
        Crash Result (Top Speed = 150 meters/turn + D100 {{70}})  = 220
            220 = SPIN
               1d10 = 6  45degree turns - Ends up facing Southwest

    "Shit," Raleigh seethes as he makes the sharp turn. Catching a soft bank of sand, the Explorer is hurled into a spin. Telgar grabs on to the side of the side of the Explorer, not expecting the sudden roller coaster ride. He grabs on tightly, pushing himself back into the passenger seat of the truck.
    The Explorer comes to rough halt, a wave of sand slapping its side. For a moment, Raleigh and Telgar look to each other. Without words, they acknowledge both are okay. Then, unanimously, they break into a wide grin.
    "Step on it!" Telgar cheers, riding the wave of adrenaline.
    Raleigh slams the accelerator again, taking off in a second cloud of dust and a high-picthed yell. Spinning around and heading back to the East, the he matches the jetcopter's location opposite the outcropping, trying to draw it nearer.

OOC
         I'm assuming all 3 on the rocks attached scopes to their rifles.

IC
    In the rocks, Brenon curses. They were on to them. They may not have seen them yet, but they were definately being cautious about the rocks. No matter, at 100 yards, they'd get their surprise, one way or the other.
    The copter comes into range. It was considerably higher now, about 300 meters, which will make for some tough shots, but perhaps they could pull it off. Their range penalties would be the copter's range penalties.
    "FIRE!"

---- Copter ----
    The Scout notices something in the rocks. There they are, he grins. "In the rocks, bodies. They're waiting on us," he announces as the other passenger looks to the scout's direction. They both mumble their excitement and raise their weapons.

OOC
    Firing at and from vehicles involves lots of penalties. It's hard to do, especially if moving, so bear with these penalties here. I'm going line by line through the rules...

IC
{{{ Turn #1 }}}
    Roll for Initiative
        Team - IM(8) +D10(6) = 14
        Enemy - IM(7)+D10(3) = 10
        Team has initiative

    Brenon takes aim at the copter and fires. The rifle has a sharp kick, as he has it set to the full SEU. 20 SEU should do a nice job on that baby. (Assuming Powerpack being worn by Brenon)

[DieRoll Brenon]
    Ke-2000 Laser Rifle (20 SEU)
    Base Column = +4 (Dex Modifier +1)
    Target in slow vehicle -1CS
    Range = 350 meters  (300 meters high + 1/2 of horizontal distance (100m))
    Scope allows Laser Rifle to be Range E rather than D
        Medium Range -1CS
    Adjusted Column = +2

    DieRoll = 49    MISS
    DieRoll = 90    MISS

[DieRoll Zhirrzh]
    Wartech Gyrojet Rifle
    Base Column = +2 (Dexterity modifier +1)
    Target in slow vehicle -1CS
    Range = 350 meters  (300 meters high + 1/2 of horizontal distance (100m))
    Scope allows Rifle to be Range E rather than D
        Medium Range -1CS
    Adjusted Column = /0

    DieRoll = 32    HIT        Yellow   14 Damage to Copter
            Vehicle Damage Table Roll = 17  -- No additional damage
    DieRoll = 86    MISS
    DieRoll = 76    MISS

[DieRoll Kah'liss]
    Ke-2000 Laser Rifle (5SEU)
    Base Column = +3  (Dexterity Modifier +2)
     Target in slow vehicle -1CS
    Range = 350 meters  (300 meters high + 1/2 of horizontal distance (100m))
    Scope allows Rifle to be Range E rather than D
        Medium Range -1CS
    Adjusted Column = +1

    DieRoll = 67    MISS
    DieRoll = 54    MISS

Laser Blasts sear past the copter, but none fail to meet their mark. The passengers open fire themselves.

[DieRoll Pirate 1]
    Ke-2000 Laser Rifle
    Base Column = /0
    Attacker in moving vehicle -2CS
    Target behind hard cover -2CS
    Range = 350 meters  (300 meters high + 1/2 of horizontal distance (100m))
    Scope allows Rifle to be Range E rather than D
        Medium Range -1CS
    Adjusted Column = -2

    DieRoll = 83    MISS
    DieRoll = 14    HIT    GREEN  Damage = 50% = 40 Damage
            Target hit =  Zhirrzh (Random roll)
            Zhirrzh's current Stamina = 10
 

    "Arrahhh!!!" Zhirrzh yells in pain as an incredibly lucky shot skims across the rock and hits him square in the chest. Knowing the hit was at tough one, he ducks down, out of the copter's view to take stock in his wounds..

[DieRoll Pirate 2]
    Ke-2000 Laser Rifle
    Base Column = +1
    Attacker in moving vehicle -2CS
    Target behind hard cover -2CS
    Range = 350 meters  (300 meters high + 1/2 of horizontal distance (100m))
    Scope allows Rifle to be Range C rather than D
        Medium Range -1CS
    Adjusted Column = -1

    DieRoll = 17    HIT    GREEN    Damage = 50% = 40 Damage
        Target hit Kah'liss (Random Roll)
        Kah'liss' current Stamina = 2    (Referee imposed Bonus here. Luck saved Raleigh's life, and it'll do it again for
            Kah'liss. 40 damage would put him right at 0 Stamina, and I'm letting the rock take 2 hits of it)
    DieRoll = 34    MISS

    Being a medic himself, Kah'liss winced and grunted roughly as he felt the searing heat of the laser hit him. He dropped down, protecting himself  from any  further damage. He knew it wasn't good.
    Telgar judges the distance to the copter and knows firing with a pistol is impossible. He sits and waits to see how the situation opens itself. Raleigh keeps the Explorer steady according to plan.
 

OOC
   For turn 2, I will assume Brenon will at least fire since he is as yet unhurt. This is not the entire end of your turn, I will let your actions finish YOUR SIDE of the turn. I am putting the firing below to speed things up and so you can respond to the results...

IC
{{{ Turn #2 }}}
Roll for Initiative
        Team - IM(8) +D10(5) = 13
        Enemy - IM(7)+D10(4) = 11
        Team has initiative

The Copter approaches closer and drops down a hundred meters quickly.

[DieRoll Brenon]
    Ke-2000 Laser Rifle (20 SEU)
    Base Column = +4 (+1 Dex Modifier)
    Target in slow vehicle -1CS
    Range = 225 meters  (200 meters high + 1/2 of horizontal distance (50m))
    Scope allows Laser Rifle to be Range C rather than D
        Medium Range -1CS
    Adjusted Column = +2

    Die Roll = 5    HIT    COBALT        320 DAMAGE!!!!!
        Vehicle Damage Table
            Roll will be +40 due to amount of Damage:
                Roll and Burn

    Brenon's shot hits home. Penetrating the rear engine compartment of the Jetcopter,  the laser blast tears into the shielding around the fuel tank and ignites the highly flammable jet fuel. In an instant, the entire copter explodes into a burst of flames. Shrapnel flies in every direction as the copter plummets straight down, crashing in a flaming ball of metal.
 

===================================
Referee's Note

EXPERIENCE TIME!!!!!

Yep, it's that time again. You each earn 3 more XP to spend. Good job everyone, and good turn!

The Copter suffered over 2X its hit points. The Jetfuel exploded it nice and good. Upon investigation, you will discover that all 3 of the crew are dead, and there is absolutely nothing salvagable from the wreckage.

It is still relatively early into day #2. You've still got a lot of day to waste if you want. Check the map too to see your efforts these first few hours, because you do see to the NorthEast and East, what seems to be the end of the desert. At least, an end to the sandy desert you've come to know. From your vantage point, about 8km away you can see brown, barren terrain. Everywhere else is still desert. Through magnigoggles, you can determine that some areas of the terrain are smoldering, as if a large fire has passed recently.

That's it. Have fun!

-- Jeff