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Author Topic: Space Cowboys for Hire [Month 7] (New Blood Welcome)  (Read 39129 times)

Shadowclaw777

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #195 on: January 20, 2020, 08:07:42 pm »

Quote from: Specialist: NCO Tactician
The NCO Tactician is trained based on squad-level tactical intelligence on how to effectively delegate roles and using the strength of each member to the fullest, but also training in unit management and applying their leadership skills to result in the ones that follow NCO to be disciplined, loyal, and high-moral. A course in the field of military intelligence is applied so that the usage of verbal, written, and the use of equipment so that the use of orders and reports are explicit when under any form of tactical situation.

Simon Taylor shall be trained in this role, as he has been made the leader of a previous mission and assisted with the leadership of one before that, and his critical decision making and experience in previous hectic situations while keeping a levelheaded mind would result in him being an effective NCO.

Quote from: Specialist Phase Vote
Wilderness Survivalist: (1) Ops Chief
NCO Tactician: (1) SC
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Stirk

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #196 on: January 20, 2020, 08:12:27 pm »

Quote from: Specialist Phase Vote
Wilderness Survivalist: (1) Ops Chief
NCO : (1) Stirk
NCO Tactician: (1) SC

Simon can have it, sure.
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Powder Miner

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #197 on: January 20, 2020, 08:14:39 pm »

Quote from: Specialist Phase Vote
Wilderness Survivalist: (1) Ops Chief
NCO : (1) Stirk
NCO Tactician: (2) SC, Powder Miner
I do like SC's version better, as I feel it to be significantly better-defined.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2020, 08:53:51 pm by Powder Miner »
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Stirk

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #198 on: January 20, 2020, 08:16:24 pm »

I do like SC's version better, as I feel it to be significantly better-defined.

He just reworded the things I said >_>
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King Zultan

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #199 on: January 21, 2020, 06:16:11 am »

Quote from: Specialist Phase Vote
Wilderness Survivalist: (1) Ops Chief
NCO : (1) Stirk
NCO Tactician: (3) SC, Powder Miner, King Zultan
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The Lawyer opens a briefcase. It's full of lemons, the justice fruit only lawyers may touch.
Make sure not to step on any errant blood stains before we find our LIFE EXTINGUSHER.
but anyway, if you'll excuse me, I need to commit sebbaku.
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ConscriptFive

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #200 on: January 21, 2020, 05:23:28 pm »

Side Event Update

"Ma'am, Neil here.  I just got back from the Clinic.  Mothership Commandant got Salt back and in one-piece for 40k after negotiations and fees.  Not great, but I was expecting much worse personally."

"According to her, she got through the security checkpoint with the contraband, but must have come under suspicion sometime after that.  After meeting with the prisoner, they attempted to arrest her.  She put up a running fight but ultimately was dropped by non-lethals.  Realizing how dangerous she was, she was drugged and transported in four-point restraints Hannibal Lecter style.  She only left solitary confinement for a thorough medical scan (how the TI implant was discovered) and infrequent interrogation sessions (which she apparently resisted)."

"Physically she's good to go, but I'd rather not have her on duty this month.  I didn't press for the gruesome details on exactly what they put her through in captivity, but given the situation with the 'pucks,' you can imagine the possibilities.  She's putting on a brave face, saying that weeks of torture didn't get to her, but I've been around long enough to know that every operator always says that.  I'm playing the father-knows-best card on this one, and citing a mandatory paid medical leave policy here.  (I didn't tell her I just wrote that policy on the spot.)  She gets the rest of the month off and a psych counseling referral.  I'm sure the rest of the company will understand the situation, and she takes the opportunity to work any demons out."

"If it's any comfort, I was there at the Clinic intake when she declined the rape kit."

Quote from: Specialist Phase Vote
Wilderness Survivalist: (1) Ops Chief
NCO : (1) Stirk
NCO Tactician: (3) SC, Powder Miner, King Zultan
« Last Edit: January 21, 2020, 05:27:19 pm by ConscriptFive »
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Stirk

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #201 on: January 21, 2020, 09:35:13 pm »

At this point it may be worth noting that, while Amnesty paid a great deal of money for a resort cover, our mission perimeters are technically fulfilled if we pull up a van full of guys in balaclavas with guns and explosives who shoot everyone who deserves at the low-security resort and recovers some of the victims for later second-location interviews before their backup arrives. Leaking its location to insurgents is unlikely to assist us due to the low amount of them of Lossarnach, though we could theoretically bus them there if we found a quick enough way to get a group to trust us.
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ConscriptFive

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #202 on: January 24, 2020, 03:02:55 pm »

Quote from: Specialist: Simon the Tactician NCO
The NCO Tactician is trained based on squad-level tactical intelligence on how to effectively delegate roles and using the strength of each member to the fullest, but also training in unit management and applying their leadership skills to result in the ones that follow NCO to be disciplined, loyal, and high-moral. A course in the field of military intelligence is applied so that the usage of verbal, written, and the use of equipment so that the use of orders and reports are explicit when under any form of tactical situation.

Simon "Taylor" shall be trained in this role, as he has been made the leader of a previous mission and assisted with the leadership of one before that, and his critical decision making and experience in previous hectic situations while keeping a levelheaded mind would result in him being an effective NCO.

"A little bit of word salad there Ma'am, but I get what you're trying to do.  Not so sure about the high morals part though.  Simon is actually on the older-side for operators and I don't think I can tutor a grown ass man about right and wrong.  Did you mean 'high morale?'  Not so sure your terminology on 'military intelligence' is what you really want.  Let me give you some quick education here, Ma'am.  Collecting and analyzing intelligence is what the intelligence staff do (S2/G2 shop if you want to talk big army).  Using that intelligence for operations is what operations staff do (S3/G3 shop).  Of course, these lines get blurred fast on the small unit level.  I'll try to hybridize Simon per your wishes, but it sounds like you want more of a tactical planner than another collector/analyst (Anna)."

Difficulty Modifier: Hard (-1)
Roll (2d4): 5
Result: 4 - Disappointment

The ideal Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) is a veteran soldier who through years of service has 'seen enough shit' and gained enough reputation to 'get things done' per the orders of higher.  For this reason, NCO's openly refer to themselves as 'the backbone of the Army.'  Furthermore, as the immediate leadership of junior personnel, they become de facto rolemodels and mentors for the next generation of would-be NCO's.  However, this pipeline takes years within a standing army, a system that the newly rebuilt Ocean's Ten simply doesn't have.

This same problem emerges during periods of mass conscription.  Infantry companies need to be formed, and somebody needs to fill those NCO billets.  If no one is truly a veteran soldier, where do NCO's come from?

The US Army faced this problem during the Vietnam War, and asked, "If we can turn a high potential recruit into a 2LT with a grueling multi-month training course, why can't we do the same for a SGT?"  A NCO Candidate Course (NCOCC) was created to boil down what had been four years of on-the-job training into a three month course.  Often derided as "Shake & Bake Sergeants," their training focused entirely on becoming a highly lethal Fire Team Leader in Vietnam, rather than the day-to-day politics and minutae learned over a military career.  Despite the critiques of careerists who spent years earning their stripes, this solution worked for the most part.  As the Vietnam War ended, the demand for junior NCO's fell and the NCOCC was closed.  With the US Army again becoming a standing peace-time force, many NCOCC graduates who were now senior NCO's fondly remembered the course as genuinely good training that kept them alive in Vietnam.  It seemed more than prudent to provide the next generation with the same training.  Thus in peacetime, the NCOCC was reborn as a series of career education courses NCO's were required to pursue as they advanced through the ranks, such as BNCOC and ANCOC.

As a former US Army Green Beret NCO, Neil's very familiar with all of this, and puts together his own NCO course for Simon.  Simon isn't completely green and non-stop one-on-one mentoring allows Neil to rush Simon through the course materials as needed.  While Simon has a natural knack for level-headed leadership and communication, he has some difficulty with the expressly military materials.  To focus on his struggles with this part of training, attempting to hybridize him as an intelligence officer was aborted in response.

As a small unit tactician, he learns how to command subordinate infantrymen in a handful of set battle drills.  Given appropriate manpower and firepower, his element can launch an attack, react to contact/fire, break contact, set up a hasty fighting position, or clear a building at a level of competence you would expect from an upper-tier light infantry unit.  Neil would've liked to include modules on more niche challenges like mounted manuevers, anti-tank warfare, sapper/demolitions support, heavy weapons support, bunker busting, and trench assaults, but given how time flew by (and the lack of supporting hardware anyways) these modules had to be dropped.

At the end of the month, Simon Templar is an effective leader but only a competent small unit tactician.  He can readily lead light infantry against comparable light infantry threats, but his training couldn't cover more complex threats such as a mechanized enemy, or a fortified trenchline.  Luckily we're still in the backwaters of the Thiel Planetary System, and are unlikely to come across those kind of things... right?

Simon the Tactician NCO
An effective leader and competent small unit tactician.  Trained extensively on commanding combat riflemen against peer adversaries.  No additional proficiency with more advanced means of warfare such as combined arms or complex threats.

Operations Phase

"While we may be trying to split seven men four ways, the good news is that two of those operations can be reasonably done solo.  The other two operations don't require too heavy a footprint either."

"Also, I just heard from Task Force Orion.  Orion Six wants to meet the ISR Team ASAP shipside for an in-person briefing plus the commo hardware handover.  It's unusual for clients to meet our operators shipside, but it makes sense given the circumstances.  It's a legit op in terms of both legality and lethality, and they're betting a shipside face-to-face is worth the cost and exposure.  I wouldn't want to assault an objective without having met my support either."

Smilodon Populator Hunting Party
Two operators will guide a chartered hunting party from Lossarnach Country Club to hunt possibly the last Smilodon Populator tiger in the wilds of Lossarnach.
As preparation for the mission, both operators will handicraft their Smildon trophy remains into wearable trinkets.  These visible trophies should wordlessly confirm their credibility as Smilodon hunters.  As further preparation, they should review the reports from the previous Smilodon hunt and refamiliarize themselves with maps of the area.  While both Hoxton and Erik both have Smildon experience, Hoxton was the only one of the two to see the Smilodon Populator, making him the better choice for Team Leader.
After meeting the hunting party at the spaceport and introducing themselves in-person, use the SUV to tow/transport the ATV along the roads to an appropriate basecamp.  After making camp, fully brief the hunting party on the plan to hunt the Smilodon Populator.  Set up hunting blinds near the natural salt lick the Smilodon Populator was last spotted.  Give wildlife some time to get accustomed to the blinds before occupying them at night.  Keep the FLIR binos ready to spot the Smilodon Populator.
As this is an overt mission of some prestige, both operators should freely promote their Ocean PMC affiliation, and need not conceal their faces.

Personnel:
*Team Leader* James "Hoxton" Hoxworth
Erik Heller

Non-Standard Hardware:
Landrover Defender SUV (1)
Gator ATV (1)
AS Val Carbine (2)
FLIR Binos (1)

Task Force Orion ISR on Anghabar
After meeting shipside with the Task Force Orion Commander, Orion Six, three operators will reconnoiter a designated facility to confirm it as a target and identify threats.  Real-time surveillance will continue as the confirmed objective is assaulted by Task Force Orion.
As preparation for the mission, ISR Team should research relevant maps and imagery of the objective, looking for ideal vantage points, routes of ingress/egress, and nearby facilities that could complicate operations.  Based on this research, decide on a tentative hide site before meeting with Orion Six ASAP shipside to brief each other's plans and receive the unidentified commo hardware.  Due to his tactical and leadership skillset, Simon is the best choice for Team Leader.  As it's primarily a recon mission, Nikita will be mission critical on the FLIR thermal binos.  Redbrick's demolition skills aren't directly relevant to this operation, but then again, the same could be said of our other operations this month.  You'd think Orion Six would appreciate us having that kind of technical option on standby to support their highly kinetic operation.
Planetside, the SUV will perform hasty recon to confirm area research and the suitability of the hide site.  Once the hide site is established, confirm live comms with Task Force Orion and begin surveillance of the facility.  Surveillance should attempt to locate the exact location of the stolen Tyrell product and possible threats to an assaulting force.  Once reconnaissance of the objective is sufficient, brief Task Force Orion for their assault via provided communication hardware.  As assault begins, provide live overwatch as needed.  The SUV should be kept readily available if rapid relocation or mission abort is required.
As the ISR Team should ideally remain concealed during the tactical portions of this operation, the three operators can dress at their own discretion to perform their duties.

Personnel:
*Team Leader* Simon the Tactician NCO
Nikita the Scout
Redbrick the Demolition Expert

Non-Standard Hardware:
Landrover Defender SUV (1)
AS Val Carbine (3)
FLIR Binos (1)
Semtex Brick (4)

Main Street Bank Standoff
One operator will be immediately dispatched to advise and assist the Goodhaven Sheriff during an active hostage standoff.  Per invitation of the Sheriff himself, this operator will assume command of the entire force to resolve the situation.
Before our sole operator scrambles out the door, she should put on her dress beret, in an attempt to cut a more authoritative image for a commanding officer.  With time of the essence, Anna is an ideal pick, as she is already familiar with Goodhaven and its Sheriff Department.
Per client suggestion, operator will be picked up at the spaceport by a Deputy.  While driving over, operator will use the time to question the driver for a basic SITREP.  Upon arrival at the scene, operator will assume command and immediately get a more exact SITREP.  The security cordon will be immediately confirmed and then contact will be made with the adversaries.  The adversaries will be assessed by the operator for threat-level and possibility for de-escalation.  Operator should attempt to negotiate a peaceful surrender before attempting a tactical solution.
As this is an overt mission of some prestige, operator should freely promote their Ocean PMC affiliation, and should leverage that status as an outside professional for the benefit of leadership and negotiation.  Anna is already known in Goodhaven, so concealing her face is irrelevant and would only hamper face-to-face communication.

Personnel:
*Team Leader* Anna the HUMINT Collector

Non-Standard Hardware:
AS Val Carbine (1)

ELSA69 Investigation of Flossmore
One operator will use client provided credentials to reside three nights for the "soft opening" of Flossmore's new adults-only resort.  The operator will use his inside-access to the presumably low security venue to obtain video recording of 'puck's and abuses against them.
As preparation, operator should review any materials provided by client, and further reaffirm their cover.  Operator should also review reports from the previous Flossmore mission, and familiarize himself with routes to/from the spaceport should escape or evasion prove necessary.  As operator is being picked up by chaffeur at the spaceport, no hardware (especially guns) should be packed that would break his cover as a luxury tourist.  As Victor "Mr. Blonde" Vega has an established cover on Flossmore (personally invited by the unwitting adversary) and familiarity with the area, he will be performing this mission.
Making full use of provided reservations, operator should take the chaffeur from the spaceport to the resort area.  A hidden button camera should already be worn and running prior to meeting the chaffeur.  Operator should confirm the resort location (presumably the former construction site) and note any external security for the resort.  After checking-in and confirming interior security/surveillance measures and procedures (especially smartphone policies), attempt to inconspicuously record identifiable HD footage of 'puck's and/or abuses.  Operator will rely on multiple button cams, unless he deems it safe to use his smartphone.  Operator should attempt to emplace, conceal, and recover button cams in locations he deems could remain undiscovered by resort personnel.  Operator should engage 'puck's in casual conversation, attempting to obtain identifiable information.
Obviously, this is a fully undercover mission and the operator should do everything possible to dress and act as a well-to-do tourist and not a paramilitary investigator.


Personnel:
*Team Leader* Victor "Mr. Blonde" Vega

Non-Standard Hardware:
*none*

Quote from: Operations Plan Vote
(1) Neil's Plan: Ops Chief
« Last Edit: February 14, 2020, 10:46:41 pm by ConscriptFive »
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Stirk

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #203 on: January 24, 2020, 07:33:38 pm »

STIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRKS MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODS!

Smilodon Populator Hunting Party:
While the hide-and-seek tactic proved effective in our last mission, here it ends up misidentifying the goal. The mission objective here is to entertain the hunters, with actually shooting the target coming in secondary. We may remember that our (sorta) trained operators found waiting around for the tigers to appear dull, to the point they would rather hang out with each other rather than do their mission. Should the hunters feel similar and become bored then our entertaining safari would easily be considered a failure.

As such, we should take their desires into account during this mission and remember that these are experienced hunters here for a guide, not someone to do their hunt for them. We are here to advise and assist, rather than dictate and command. Our first step will be asking the hunters what their preferred hunting method is. We will first offer up the "Ambush" method stating it was what we used last time with the hunting blinds. We can then offer a "Stalking" method, were we attempt to locate tracks, beds, feces, trails, and other hints of the target's location. The methods can then be combined as necessary, such as stalking with vehicles equipped with hunting blinds or attempting to stalk after the ambush tactic fails to yield results.

We can then play it by ear and do what is expected. If you go stalking and they wait around expectantly for you to find tracks, search for tracks. If they proceed to search for tracks themselves, provide as much assistance as they seem to desire.

Pregame, in addition to preparing neat tiger equipment and reading maps, be sure to read up on the target and its smaller cousin at least to the point you can differentiate their tracks and droppings. Maybe with a few catfacts in case the hunters get curious.

Bring medical supplies and some shotguns just for show.

Task Force Orion ISR on Anghabar:
Looks good. Just remember the medicine :V

Main Street Bank Standoff:
Secure. The. Perimeter. The first step when we get there, if they had failed to do it by that time. It is vitally important to our goals that the target doesn't think they can just walk out if they shoot enough people. A secure perimeter prevents escape, forces the target to either go noisy or (more likely) submit, and allows us to act quickly in the case something goes wrong. A pursuit team should be established should we have enough manpower after said securing. I doubt Goodhaven has any, but insure marksman are in reasonable positions.

Her training and charisma are probably above mine. Follow whatever de-escalation techniques you know, like the five-step FBI method. Attempt for small demands likely to be followed (such as asking them to release hostages difficult to both parties, such as young children and the injured) before moving on to larger demands.

Just remembered we have medical supplies now. Should bring some just in case.

ELSA69 Investigation of Flossmore
Get Vega a webpage on breathing techniques and golf. Preferably not just one on golf breathing techniques, but whatever works.

In addition we may consider equipping him with Fentanyl lollipops from the medical kit under cover of recreational drugs, under the assumption they are legal here. While we do not approve of employee drug use, this should serve as a cover should be be busted attempting to ask the pucks questions instead of doing the usual thing and may be used as "currency" to bribe targets in return for answers, or whatever else may be necessary. Maybe bring the emergency funds too, for use in emergencies and/or guard bribing.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2020, 07:39:13 pm by Stirk »
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This is my waifu, this is my gun. This one's for fighting, this ones for fun.

King Zultan

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #204 on: January 25, 2020, 08:04:21 am »

Quote from: Operations Plan Vote
(1) Neil's Plan: Ops Chief
(2) Stirk's Mods: Stirk, King Zultan
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The Lawyer opens a briefcase. It's full of lemons, the justice fruit only lawyers may touch.
Make sure not to step on any errant blood stains before we find our LIFE EXTINGUSHER.
but anyway, if you'll excuse me, I need to commit sebbaku.
Quote from: Leodanny
Can I have the sword when you’re done?

Shadowclaw777

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #205 on: January 25, 2020, 09:12:05 am »

Quote from: Operations Plan Vote
(1) Neil's Plan: Ops Chief
(3) Stirk's Mods: Stirk, King Zultan, SC777
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ConscriptFive

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #206 on: January 25, 2020, 05:41:57 pm »

Event Resolution

The meeting room is packed as all hands (staff, operator, and tech alike) gather for your announcement.  A discomforting energy fills the air as everyone mills about gossiping.  It's no secret Ocean PMC had a bad month, and everyone is anxious what this all hands meeting could be about.  The room falls to a hushed silence as you make your entrance at the appointed hour.

"We've had it rough since Danny died.  Mercenary work is never safe or easy, and we've paid the price for our inexperience.  We've had some close calls, we've lost some limbs, we've taken some hits."

You pause for effect and scan the crowd.  Both Salt and Ethan managed to make it to your announcement and are listening intently.

"As some of you may have heard, Angus Macguyver won't be back in the field as soon as we expected.  His brain damage was too great, and to keep that damage from becoming permanent, his body was euthanized earlier today."

You catch Salt looking away in frustration and Mr. Blonde swearing under his breath.  Simon looks over to the other two and shakes his head resignedly.

"Now I was never really one for spirituality as a whole, but thanks to the miracle of Transhuman Immortality, our friend Angus Macguyver isn't truly dead.  The belief in souls isn't a very popular one these days, but at least in a metaphorical sense, Angus indeed remains with us.  And if we all do our jobs and uphold the Cowboy Code, we'll stay on track to see him next FTL."

You realize you might be forcing too heavy a burden on a crew who's been already through a lot recently, and decide to lighten it up for a bit, "Of course if I did believe in spiritual stuff, and I was Angus, I'd be haunting the hell out of all of you to make sure we made rent by FTL!"

Laughs scatter among the audience as most seem to take the unexpected joke well.

"In all seriousness though, just because we can cheat death doesn't mean I like doing it.  Danny's Eighth Commandment applies from me to you as well.  I won't let it happen again if I can help it, and in that regard, I'm sure you operators already appreciate the new standard issue hardware we put out this month.  It may not be a sexy glitterworld panacea, but any good operator knows old school TC Three is a timeless tech that saves lives."

"But no doubt about it, fatalities will happen again folks.  But so long as we can get your chip intact and to the clinic, you'll be back, right as rain.  Ocean PMC and our colleagues Greywater are possibly the only PMC's who can make that promise.  Not even those badasses at Task Force Orion have TI implants, and I think we offer something truly different because we do."

You again pause for dramatic effect and scan the crowd, knowing you're about to launch into a more philosophical stretch, "Immortality is a dream humanity has chased for who knows how long.  I'm sure the first shamans pitched snakeoil elixirs to the One Percent before history was even written.  But today those elixirs are real, and thanks to the finagling of Sam Goldman and my late husband Danny Ocean, us peasants have it too.  Just as Transhuman Immortality has changed human culture as whole, it changes our very own corporate culture as well."

You get more than a few quizzical looks from your audience, some not expecting this high concept turn and curious where it's going,  "The Founders and the rest of humanity fled the throw-away culture that doomed the Old World, vowing to create something more sustainable in the New Worlds.  Sadly, I think most PMC's again operate within that throw-away culture we supposedly renounced.  In the immortal words of Gunnery Sergeant Pyle, 'Marines die, but the Marine Corps lives on.'  But Danny didn't want a hundred expendable pawns he could chuck into a meatgrinder, per the esteemed military traditions of Antietam, Verdun, or the Ostfront.  Danny wanted ten unkillable crafty badasses that would go and beat the shit out of the guy turning the crank of the meatgrinder."

The crowd lets out a few awkward laughs, "Yeah, I know it's a strange metaphor, but that's what Danny said."

"All you new operators were handpicked not just because we wanted you with us today; but because we wanted you with us ten, twenty, maybe even one hundred years from now.  While even I'll admit that we may be abit out-of-our league presently, it won't be long until you operators are seasoned veterans, with years of non-stop operational experience and close-knit camraderie... yet still in perfect health and the full bloom of youth.  That isn't something some One Percenter or CEO can just buy outright."

"Now I know any paramilitary organization with any resemblance of a soul has some version of Danny's Eighth Commandment.  As much as I loved him, I can't give Danny credit for inventing that.  But I think you can all appreciate why we value it higher than most folks.  Angus Macguyver may be off the battlefield now, but he'll be back next planetary system and countless others.  We follow the Code, do our jobs, stay in the black, and we'll see him next FTL.  You owe him that, and someday he'll owe you the same."

"Look after each other and stay frosty cowboys."

Quote from: Operations Plan Vote
(1) Neil's Plan: Ops Chief
(3) Stirk's Mods: Stirk, King Zultan, SC777

ConscriptFive

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #207 on: February 14, 2020, 04:18:27 pm »

Mission Report Part (1/5)

Main Street Bank Standoff

Quote from: plan
One operator will be immediately dispatched to advise and assist the Goodhaven Sheriff during an active hostage standoff.  Per invitation of the Sheriff himself, this operator will assume command of the entire force to resolve the situation.
Before our sole operator scrambles out the door, she should put on her dress beret, in an attempt to cut a more authoritative image for a commanding officer.  With time of the essence, Anna is an ideal pick, as she is already familiar with Goodhaven and its Sheriff Department.
Per client suggestion, operator will be picked up at the spaceport by a Deputy.  While driving over, operator will use the time to question the driver for a basic SITREP.  Upon arrival at the scene, operator will assume command and immediately get a more exact SITREP.  The security cordon will be immediately confirmed and then contact will be made with the adversaries.  The adversaries will be assessed by the operator for threat-level and possibility for de-escalation.  Operator should attempt to negotiate a peaceful surrender before attempting a tactical solution.
As this is an overt mission of some prestige, operator should freely promote their Ocean PMC affiliation, and should leverage that status as an outside professional for the benefit of leadership and negotiation.  Anna is already known in Goodhaven, so concealing her face is irrelevant and would only hamper face-to-face communication.

Additional Guidance:
"Secure. The. Perimeter. The first step when we get there, if they had failed to do it by that time. It is vitally important to our goals that the target doesn't think they can just walk out if they shoot enough people. A secure perimeter prevents escape, forces the target to either go noisy or (more likely) submit, and allows us to act quickly in the case something goes wrong. A pursuit team should be established should we have enough manpower after said securing. I doubt Goodhaven has any, but insure marksman are in reasonable positions.

Her training and charisma are probably above mine. Follow whatever de-escalation techniques you know, like the five-step FBI method. Attempt for small demands likely to be followed (such as asking them to release hostages difficult to both parties, such as young children and the injured) before moving on to larger demands.

Just remembered we have medical supplies now. Should bring some just in case."

"Just get me a fraking car or we gonna get bodies chucked out windows!  Ya hear!"

With hostages as gun-point, Anna Chapman wastes no time rushing out the door to get on scene.  Luckily she keeps a go-bag ready for situations like this, and the armorer already has a freshly serviced Val carbine waiting for her.  Mission prep and research would've been nice, but other than quickly reading over the mission plan on the flight down to Harad, she just doesn't have the time.

Anna did skim the part about the dress beret though, and she stretches it on her head during the flight.  It's a formal black wool Anglo-American-style military beret, the felt shaved bare then soaked and individually shaped over the wearer's head.  The metallic beret flash displays the traditional Ocean PMC "Division" insignia.  Checking herself on her camera phone, Anna appreciates the classic military officer look it gives her.

A Sheriff's Department Jeep Wrangler is waiting on the tarmac as Anna steps off the shuttle.  The blue-haired Deputy Janet "Holla" Hollaran greets her effusively, "Anna!  I love that beret on you, girl!"

Anna holds back a beaming smile at such an effusive and sincere greeting, "Oh!  Thank you, Deputy Hollaran.  Glad to be working with you again.  But for the sake of professionalism, I'd prefer if you adressed me as Ms. Chapman."

Deputy Hollaran winces apologetically, "Ah, my bad Ma'am.  You're right, we've got some serious shit here.  Serious business calls for serious people, right?"

"Damn straight, let's get on scene and you can brief me what you know on the drive over."

It's a short drive and Deputy Hollaran doesn't know too more than what the Sheriff already passed to Ms. Chapman through Ops Chief Neil McCauley.  Two men tried to rob the Main Street Bank, but didn't know the safe was on a time lock.  They apparently didn't believe the bank manager when he told them he couldn't open it, and they got bogged down trying to prove otherwise.  It's been about an hour since a Deputy stumbled onto the robbery in progress and now the whole Sheriff Department is in an armed standoff with the would-be robbers.

"WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED!  COME ON OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!" the unmistakable voice of Sheriff Nash Wilder bellows over a bullhorn.

Ms. Chapman checks herself again on her camera phone before reintroducing herself to Sheriff Wilder, "Sheriff Wilder, Ms. Chapman from Ocean PMC reporting for duty."

He gives her an obvious double-take, "Anna, look at you all churched up.  Hold your horses a second, and I'll get you right sorted."

He turns back to the bullhorn,  "You two-bit banditos really done goofed now.  We got a tier one pro here from offworld.  Y'all better come out in cuffs, before you come out in body bags."

Already tempted to skip the SITREP to immediately move to de-escalate the situation, Ms. Chapman tries not to keep count of how many mistakes Sheriff Wilder has made as she tolerates his briefing.  Despite being in a standoff for an hour, he's gathered virtually no intelligence for either a tactical or non-tactical solution.  The cordon itself is rock solid, with the fully posse is now on scene and watching all sides of the bank.  A few have hunting rifles, and are probably competent frontier riflemen, but she doesn't have the time to evaluate them as paramilitary sharpshooters.  She recalls her training course two months ago only covered basic marksmanship in terms of firearms.  Using her HUMINTer's intuition, she can tell Sheriff Wilder is excited by the tactical aspects of the situation and thrilled by how many "guns" he has "rawr'ing to go."

"Two dirtbags with sawed-offs, we could take 'em easy.  We don't want trouble-makers to think they can get walk in here like that.  The Mayor got involved though, and insisted we give a pro a shot to handle this."

"But what about the hostages?  How many of them?  Are they hurt?  Who are they?"

"Uh... I hadn't gotten to that part yet.  There should be a bank manager and teller.  The reporting Deputy thinks he saw at least two customers inside."

"Anything more you can tell me about the perps?  What do they want?  Are they sane and sober?  Any idea who they are?"

"Uh... like I said, two male punks with sawed-off shotguns.  Right now, all they want is a car to escape out of town.  They got them lady nylons over their heads, so you can't make their faces.  Probably out-of-town folk, 'cause I can't imagine one of our own would do something like this.  We got all these folks coming in from Anghabar these days.  They're not sending us their best people, you know?"

"I think that's all I need Sheriff, you did a good job here.  You wouldn't mind commanding the cordon element for now, while I focus on the perps?"  She takes the bullhorn from his hands.

"Sure."  He then keys his radio, "Attention all Sheriff Department personnel.  Anna from Ocean PMC is here.  She's calling the shots now.  By tarnation, you best not be giving that girl any sass."

While it's not the reintroduction to Goodhaven she wanted, Ms. Chapman doesn't have the time to go and correct it.  (At least they got her name right this time.)  "One more thing; I'm going to need an assistant.  Mind if I take Deputy Hollaran?"

He shrugs, "Sure, Janet's all yours."

"Well Sheriff, thanks for all your hard work.  Keep the cordon set, and I'll get us through this in one-piece."

Deputy Janet Hollaran had been lingering around since dropping off Ms. Chapman and eagerly steps forward, "Anything you need Ma'am."

"Okay Hollaran, I want you attached to my hip, you understand?"

Hollaran smirks, but then straightens up, "Yes, Ma'am."

Confident the cordon will keep both the perps and Sheriff Wilder from doing anything else stupid, it's time for her to make contact.  As cinematically tempting as the bullhorn is, she doesn't need her HUMINT training to know that two people publically shouting at each other across a street are unlikely to have a productive conversation.  Common sense also dictates that no one has ever been "calmed down" by someone literally shouting at them to calm down.

Thinking on her feet, she gets the phone number for the bank off the building's front billboard.

*ring*  *ring*

*ring*  *ring*

*ring*  *ring*

"...hello."

"Hello, this is Anna Chapman from Ocean PMC, representing the Sheriff's Department.  With whom am I speaking?"

"...uh, J-Joe."

Unsure if she contacted a hostage, perp, or even a wrong number, she probes gently "I'm outside with the Sheriff's Department.  Can you step outside?"

"...uh, I don't think that's a good idea..."

Another voice abruptly comes on, "Who the frak is this?"

"Hello, this is Anna Chapman from Ocean PMC, representing the Sheriff's-"

"Oh, so you're the merc?  I've seen what you people do on Anghabar."

"Many terrible things have been done on Anghabar, and I assure you, I've done none of them.  With whom am I speaking?"

"If you say so lady.  You can call me Finn."

"Glad to meet you Finn.  Again, I'm Anna, I'm the one in charge-"

"Frak off lady, I'm the one in charge here.  Unless you want to see some bodies, you better get us a car out of here."

"That's going to take some time.  First I need to know if anybody is hurt in there."

"There will be if we don't get that car."

"I understand.  But I think we both want everyone to walk away from this unhurt here, correct?"

"Fine.  The banker had a bit of an accident, but he'll live.  Everyone else is fine."

"Everyone else?  How many other people are there?"

"Two of us, two bankers, and three customers."

"Any women or children?"

"Just one woman."

"Ok, Finn.  Sounds like you've got a lot to handle there.  How about we make this easier for you.  Can we take one hostage off your hands?  Perhaps the wounded man or the woman?  They sound difficult."

"Ha, frak no.  Nice try though."

"I'm sorry to hear that Finn.  But these people have families, and they've been giving us an earful trying to find out if they're safe or not.  Could you at least tell us who you have?"

"Fair.  I'll call you back."

"Thank-"

And so ended her first contact.  While not formally trained on crisis negotiation, she pats herself on the back for a good start.  Asking for a hostage was a stretch anyways.  But at least she established communications and collected baseline intel, something Sheriff Wilder somehow spent an hour without attempting.  Plus she de-escalated from yelling death threats across this street, so she's got that going as well.  She doubts she'll get any name trace hits on "Joe and Finn from Anghabar," but passes the lead off to the rest of the Department through Hollaran.

Although she didn't get a chance to research it, her methods so far have roughly followed the FBI Five Step "Behavioral Change Stairway Model."  Her superb HUMINTer training has a foundation of gradual intelligence collection via establishing and maintaining rapport.  This isn't tremendously different than the Behavioral Change Stairway, except in a different context.  Calm things down to a stable situation.  Listen like a therapist.  Establish a friendly relationship (rapport).  Get small concessions.  Build to larger concessions.  Build those large concessions all the way into a peaceful surrender.  However as a HUMINTer and paramilitary operator, she's also collecting intelligence the whole time to execute a tactical solution if needed.

After a few minutes, the front door of the bank cracks open and a grenade-sized object is thrown out.  Giving it a few seconds to explode, Anna looks over to Hollaran, who takes the cue to go and retrieve it.

To everyone's relief, it turns out to be a handwritten note wrapped around a paperweight.  It's short and to the point: four names and "What's your phone number you dumb bitch?"

Hollaran holds back a laugh as she hands it over to Anna.  Anna is not amused at being called out on her error, and guesses the bank phone doesn't have caller id.

"Holy shit, Ma'am.  Dorothy Rae Miller!"

"You know her?"

"I mean, I know all four.  Small town, yadda, yadda... But this is bad."

"You think a hostage situation can be good?  How is this bad?"

"Dorothy Rae Miller, nee Dorothy Rae Wilder-"

"Motherfraker-"

"AKA, Sheriff Wilder's daughter."

"This is bad."

"That's what I said, Ma'am."

"I don't think he knows."

"The perp or the Sheriff Ma'am?"

"Definitely not the Sheriff, I'll have to see about the perp.  Either way, hold off on reporting the list.  We don't need Sheriff Wilder flying off the handle here."

*ring*  *ring*

*ring*  *ring*

"So I guess they did teach you to read and write at merc school, huh?"

"Indeed Finn.  Those people's family are going to be relieved you've treated them so well-"

"Car!  We need a car, lady merc."

"That's going to take time Finn.  These aren't wealthy people.  They can't agree whose car to give you and want to be sure they're getting a square deal-"

"You calling me a liar?  That's rich coming from a merc."

"I hear you Finn, but together we have to reassure these people everything is going to be okay."

"You know how we do that?  Three letters: C-A-R."

"Tell you what Finn.  I'm betting you didn't brown bag it for this caper of yours.  Neither did the others.  How about we get you guys lunch, my treat."

"Ladies picking up lunch, I guess we're living in the future after all.  Can I spring for drinks and dessert too?"

"Ha, you are a funny one aren't you?  They only pay me well enough for sandwiches and soda.  Though if you want to take this to the station, I'm sure I could arrange some nice juicy steaks."

"Tempting, but no.  We'll take the sandwiches though.  Do I need to tip the delivery guy?"

"I'd prefer the term delivery woman, but gratuity is always appreciated.  I'll be bringing the food over ASAP.  See you soon Finn."

"Oh really?  See you soon."

Deputy Hollaran is startled by this plan, "Seriously?  I mean, I know you got some state-of-the-art body armor on under there, but do you really think this is safe?"

"It's a calculated risk.  I think I've talked him down far enough that he won't blow my head off on sight.  We need to get face-to-face, both to assess the perps and verify the hostages."

"Cool.  Bet we're bug the shit out of that lunch right?  Get some good audio/visual from the inside."

"Uh... sandwiches aren't good for that.  Can you get that meal order going for us?"

She decides it's best not to discuss the existence and limitations of their custom button cameras.  It does give her the idea to discreetly set one up as body camera however.  Assuming the face-to-face goes well, footage might catch something inside the bank she wouldn't otherwise notice.

With lunch ready, she checks herself on her camera phone again.  The perp suggested a bad history with mercs, and the Val carbine and Magnum Colt revolver are too flagrantly aggressive.  A concealed or holdout weapon would seem prudent, but alas, that's not something in the Ocean's Ten Armory anymore.

"I'll trade you my carbine for those sandwiches Hollaran."

"Seriously Ma'am?"

"It's just going to get in the way.  Take my sidearm too."

"Ah, I get it Ma'am.  'Cuz your hands are deadly weapons anyways?"

"Damn straight, Hollaran."

Slowly walking across the street, alone, unarmed, unarmored, and both hands full with a lunch order, Anna can't help but feel more than alittle vulnerable.  It's a gamble, but she really needs a win under her belt this time.  Getting thrown under the bus by Redbrick, then having her HUMINT op at the Shamrock Tavern getting bushwhacked like that, her rep as an operator needs a boost.

The bank door swings open to reveal a masked man tightly holding another at gun point, "You can set the food down inside."

She recognizes the voice as Finn.  Just as reported, he's wearing a nylon stocking pulled over his head, ghoulishly distorting his facial features into an unrecognizable mess.  He does have dark hair though and a medium build though.  Finn is packing a sawed-off double barreled shotgun.  Both ends have been dangerously hacked off, leaving a pistol grip and just enough barrel to cover the two shells.  Assuming he's loaded buckshot, he's effectively wielding more of a directed fragmentation grenade than a firearm anymore.  He'd surely lose a pitched firefight, but he'd maim and probably blind anybody in a sixty degree arc in the process.

The hostage has seen better days.  The middle-aged man is dressed like a bank manager and obviously has been roughed up.  His face is sweaty and swollen.  His nose is crooked, presumably broke, and bulges with bits of rag stuffed to stop the otherwise profuse bleeding.

"Whoa, far enough lady merc."

The front lobby is empty except for them three, suggesting everyone else is either tucked behind the teller's counter or in a back office.  She places the food on a small table used to sign checks.  "You sure ordered a lot of food for just you two.  Where's the party?"

"In a safe place you might say.  Say, you look different than I was expecting.  You sure you're in the right line of work with a face like that?"

"I think that was a compliment?  Wish I could say the same for you.  Lemme see yours and I'll tell you if you're Ocean's Ten material."

"Ha, I would never go merc.  A man's gotta have a code.  Besides, where's my car?"

"Funny and driven, I like that in a man... so like I said, we've got to convince Goodhaven we're all legit here."  She motions to the bank manager, "So I can tell Mrs. Fitzsimmons that her husband Charlie is alive, but what about the three others?"

"I told you, they're fine."

"I believe you, but we have to convince everyone else that.  It would really help if I could get a look at them."

Finn sighs, "Fine.  Just keep your hands where I can see them.  JOE, WE GOT A COP COMING BY."

"SHOOT HIM!?!"

"NO, DON'T SHOOT HIM.  I MEAN HER.  JUST DON'T SHOOT ANYBODY, OKAY?"

Finn shakes his head and gestures towards the door to the back office.  He keeps the bank manager at gunpoint, "Go take a look."

Anna considers insisting on an introduction for her own safety, but decides not to risk losing this concession.  She speaks loudly but non-threateningly as she approaches the door, "Hello Joe, it's me, Anna Chapman, representing the Sheriff's Department.  We spoke on the phone earlier."

"Oh... what do you want?"

"Finn said I can come in and say 'hi' to you.  That alright?"

"Okay."

Between Anna, the oversized gunman, a counting table and three hostages sitting on the next to a large safe, the back office is tightly packed.  It has some small windows for light, but otherwise has no exterior points of exit/entry.  The three hostages are definitely rattled, but otherwise seem uninjured.  The Sheriff's daughter, Dorothy, doesn't stand out other than being the sole female hostage and there's nothing to suggest the perps are aware of her value.

"Hi, lady."

"You must be Joe.  I'm Anna, glad to meet you.  You taking good care of these people here?"

"Yes."

"And how are you doing, Joe?"

"Fine."

"Good to hear Joe-"

Finn interrupts, "Hey, hey, lady merc.  I said take a look, not chat up my boy.  I think you better get out so we can eat some lunch in peace."

"I understand, Finn.  I'll be back when you're done eating."  Anna backs out slowly through the lobby, trying not to startle or show her back to either perp on the way out.

Back outside, Hollaran is relieved to see her come out, "Jesus, they let you in?  What did you see?"

"It's two perps with sawed-offs holding four hostages alright."

"Anything new though?"

"So the good news is that they have no idea about the Sheriff's daughter.  The bad news is that they beat the tar out of the bank manager."

"I thought we knew that already."

"Yes, but it confirms these guys are comfortable with violence.  I was hoping for someone less hardened.  Hardened types are the ones who eventually start sending you severed fingers until demands are met."

"Well at least we're comfortable with violence too, Ma'am!"

"Damn straight, Hollaran.  Anyways, they're chowing down on lunch right now.  I'm going to hit the outhouse while we got the time.  Hold the fort."

Tucked away in seclusion, Anna recovers the memory card from the button cam she worn and pops it into her smartphone.  Quickly fast-forwarding through the footage, she doesn't catch anything new.  Either she was talented enough to catch everything with her own eye, or the disappointing audioless non-transmitting daytime only button cam wasn't good enough.  Still, she doesn't see a compelling reason to stop using it, so she resets the camera on her body before returning to Deputy Hollaran.

Sheriff Wilder is speaking with Deputy Hollaran as Anna returns.  He turns to Anna and smiles eagerly, "So those punks ready to crack, or is it time to start talking about doorkicking?"

Anna smiles back, "Oh, we're making progress alright.  I'd like to get as many hostages out as possible before pushing a tactical solution.  I'm sure the Mayor would appreciate if we didn't get into a daytime shootout on Main Street.  Speaking of, shouldn't the cordon push the civilian onlookers further back?  We don't want any bystanders to get hurt in a firefight."

The Sheriff shrugs sheepishly, "Oh, I better get on that then.  Man, I'm sure glad we brought you back Anna.  You really are more than a pretty face, aren't you?"

She grits her teeth and hides it with a tight-lipped smile, "I'll keep you posted on any updates.  Thanks, Sheriff."

With Sheriff Wilder out of earshot she lays into Hollaran, "What did you tell that guy?"

"Whoa, Ma'am.  Calm down.  These lips were sealed."

Anna gives her the side-eye, "So then what did he ask, and what did you say?"

"He said he saw you go in and wanted to know how that went.  Said you saw the two perps and four hostages.  He asked about the guns the perps had, and I confirmed they both had sawed-offs.  I certainly didn't tell him the big secret."

"He didn't ask about the hostages?"

"Nope."

"DOCTOR!  WE NEED A DOCTOR!" Finn yells from the bank.

"I GOT THIS FINN.  I'M COMING IN!"  Unwilling to risk sending a civilian in blind, Anna rushes in with her PFASK.  It's not much, but she's literally the first responder in this situation.

Finn waves her to the back office, "Fraking banker is choking or something!"

The bank teller is laid out on the floor with his shirt off.  His eyes are swollen shut and he's having trouble breathing.  Blotchey red rashes are visible on his skin.  Dorothy seems to be trying to take care of him while everyone else stands back in confusion.

"It's an allergic reaction.  He needs epinephrine, or at least some Benadryl."  Dorothy calls out.

Anna opens up the PFASK pouch on the counting table, "I don't have that.  You know what you're doing?  Take a look."

Dorothy rummages through the splayed out inventory, "A nasopharyngeal airway?  Here we go..."

She expertly unwraps the inauspicious rubber tube and vulgarly jams it down her own throat, nearly gagging in the process.  The now wet and slimey straw is then forcefully shoved up the bank teller's nostril, propping an airway open.  It's painful process to watch, but Dorothy pulls it off within three agonizing minutes.

As she finishes up, "I've done what I can, but this man needs to be evacuated."

Anna looks over to Finn, "You heard her.  This man needs out."

"Okay, okay, take him, geez."

The teller is still conscious and can barely walk.  Anna gives him one shoulder and Dorothy steps in and takes the other as pair of human crutches.  Dorothy makes it as far as the front door before Finn grabs her.

"I said he can go, not Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman here."

"But he's a patient under my care-"

"Yeah, and I don't care.  You don't get a freebie.  Get back in the room."

After her argument in the doorway, she concedes and Anna walks the bank teller out.  Hollaran directs her to a waiting doctor she called and he gets to work.  "Yep, that's anaphylaxis alright.  He's had an allergy to sesame seeds since childhood.  Nice job with the NPA though.  Any medication administered?"

"None."  Thinking to check her PFASK, she realizes she left it behind on the bank counting table.

He pulls out a syringe from his leather doctor's bag and loads it from a vial before injecting the patient.  Soon the anaphylaxis subsides and the patient recovers.

Sheriff Wilder slaps Anna on the back, "Hot dang Anna, you got one out."

Anna beams, "Not the way I wanted, but I won't look a gifthorse in the mouth."

The patient comes to and sees Sheriff Wilder, "Sheriff... thank God for your daughter.  If she wasn't there, I'd be a goner."

"Wait, what?"

"Dorothy, Dorothy saved me in there."

Sheriff Wilder glares at Anna, "Did you know?"

"Sir, it's a very dynamic situation-"

"Enough with the pettifogging chicanery, did you know?"

"Sir-"

"Gorramit, never send a woman to do a man's job.  I knew I should've gone straight to Marshal York!" he rants before storming off.

Hollaran chimes in, "Looks like the cat's out of the bag, Ma'am."

Anna sighs, "That's one way of putting it-"

"Y'ALL RUSTLING BOZOS BETTER COUGH UP MY DAUGHTER RIGHT NOW, YA HEAR?!?" rings over a bullhorn.

"Gorramit!" Anna speed-dials the bank telephone number.

"YOU AIN'T JUST GONNA WALK OUT OF HERE AFTER DISRESPECTING MY DAUGHTER LIKE THAT!"

*RING* *RI-*

"Hello?"

"Finn, the best way forward here is to let the woman go.  It's just-"

"Calm down lady merc.  You saying I got dealt an ace, and I'm just supposed to fold?  Not gonna happen."

"Finn, you don't know what you're dealing with here.  You need-"

"I need a car, lady merc.  If that doesn't happen by sundown, we're going to find out how Dorothy here sings.  You hear me?"

"Finn-"

He hangs up.

Anna swears under her breath and begins brainstorming tactical solutions.  The front lobby is open enough to be taken in an assault.  But the back office is a death trap.  No external entry points and packed full of hostages, there's no safe way to breach and clear that room.

"Ms. Anya Clapton, we need to speak," Mayor Bixby plainly states.

"Sir, I can pull this off, you just need-"

"Ms. Clapton, I respect the work that you've done, but I've spoken with Nash and we're prepared to concede to their demands."

"Concede?  How so?"

"We will provide a jeep, so long as none of the hostages are taken out of town."

"Sir, if I had more time-"

"Ms. Clapton, the Town of Goodhaven has decided on this matter.  If you cannot execute this, we will have to ask you to step aside."

Anna holds back a disappointed sigh, "Very well sir, the hostage-takers have just set a deadline by sundown.  Can we meet that?"

Mayor Bixby startles, "Oh?  Should be doable.  Let them know we can make that happen."

Anna takes a moment to wind down before re-engaging with Finn.  This isn't the way she wanted this to end.  Despite her best effort, 'the powers that be' seem to have sabotaged her yet again.

*RING* *RING*

"You got my car, lady merc?"

"Finn, yes I do.  Mind if I step inside so we can wrap this up?"

"Wow... actually wasn't expecting that, but okay."

Anna looks over to Deputy Hollaran, "Back in I go, don't get too cozy with my carbine."

Hollaran deliberately caresses the Val in slow strokes, as you would a kitten, "Just letting her know everything is going to be okay.  Good luck in there Ma'am."

Anna again enters the bank lobby to find Finn holding the battered bank manager at gunpoint, "So you got my car?"

"Finn, we did it.  We kept our cool, and I got us a car.  A jeep in fact.  You let the hostages go, and you can take that anywhere you want."

"What's the catch?"

"Finn, you need to let the hostages go."

"Frak no."

"Be practical, are you going to drive while holding three people at gunpoint?  They're just going to make your getaway harder."

Finn pauses in thought.  Apparently he hadn't thought that part through.

"Five folks in a jeep is a pretty tight fit, especially for a big guy like Joe."

"Fine, I'll give you one, but I'm keeping my ace and the banker till I see that Jeep."

"I'm sure Jonathan Berg will be happy at this news.  I'll go get him right now."

Before he has a chance to renege, Anna heads to the back office, "Hey Joe, it's Anna coming in."

Joe towers over the two hostages, "Hi Anna.  You left your things."

Anna looks over the counting table and remembers her PFASK, "Ah thanks.  I'll pack that right up.  Also, Finn said I can take Jon here out."

"Uh..."

"I SAID IT WAS OKAY JOE!" Finn yells from the lobby.

"Okay."

Trying to hurry through the situation before another curveball gets thrown, she quickly packs up her splayed open PFASK.  She's not very familiar with the full inventory of the new kit, and thinks something might be missing (besides the NPA), but doesn't have the time to double-check.

She holds her hand out to the male hostage on the floor, "Mr. Jonathan Berg, I'm Ms. Anna Chapman, from Ocean PMC, I'm here to escort you out of the bank."

As Anna walks the man out of the back office and through the lobby, Finn calls out, "Sundown, lady merc.  Need I say more?"

Mayor Bixby is waiting by Deputy Hollaran and greets the released hostage, "Glad to have you back son.  Go have the Doc check yourself out."

The Mayor looks to Anna, "Well that was a pleasant surprise.  I assume they accepted our offer?"

"Yes, sir.  One jeep by sundown, and we're good to go."

"We're fueling the car right now.  Soon this will all be over."

To Anna's dismay, the country definition of 'soon' appears to be two hours later.  It's nearly sundown as a Deputy brings up a freshly washed jeep and hands Anna the keys briskly.

*RING* *RI-*

"Hello."

"Finn, let's do this.  I got your Jeep right here.  I can drive it up to the front door."

"Effing A, lady merc.  Looks like you're about to deliver.  Drop off the jeep and back off.  It's been a pleasure doing business."

Anna hands off the carbine but keeps the revolver this time,  "Don't drop your guard Hollaran.  This is when things can get wierd.  Clean shots only.  I don't want to catch any lead from you."

Hollaran nods soberly, "Serious business time, Ma'am."

Anna steps into the car and turns on the ignition.  The engine turns and gas tank is full.  As far as she can tell, it's an honest deal.  It's a short drive up to the front door of the bank.  Leaving the engine running, she steps aside and waves welcomingly to the bank windows.

"You got everything you wanted Finn.  Let 'em go."

The door cracks open and Finn pokes his head out.  The bank manager is held tightly against his body as a shield, "Looks legit.  JOE!  WE'RE LOADING AND ROLLING!"

Finn steps back inside and Joe soon barges out with a large coal sack over his shoulder.  He flings it in back of the jeep and hurries back inside.  Anna guesses the timelock of the safe must have finally unlocked towards the end of the business hours.

Joe comes back with a flustered Dorothy Wilder tosssed over her shoulder.  He flops down into the backseat with her.  Finn steps out with the bank manager.  He holds him close until he reaches the driver seat and then pushes him away.  The bank manager scurries off to the police line.

"Finn, this wasn't the deal.  Let Dorothy go."

"Not until we're outside of the cordon, lady merc!  I wasn't born-"

*CRACK-BANG*

Anna reflexively hits the dirt at the sound of a high velocity incoming round.  The first shot is rapidly followed by a second and third.

By the time Anna regains her bearings, both Finn and Joe are limply dangling out the side of the jeep with portions of their skulls missing.  Dorothy crawls out of the back seat and towards her.  Despite being soaked in blood, and covered in bits of skull and brain matter, she's uninjured.

Deputy Hollaran immediately sprints up from the police line, beating the other Deputies by far, "ANNA!"  She charges the jeep and secures the two shotguns from the dead perps.

"I'M OKAY!  I'M OKAY!" Anna confirms as she gets to her feet.  Recognizing the precision headshots, she has the wherewithal to to quickly scan storefront rooftops.  She only catches a rifle barrel being withdrawn from an open second story window down the street.  Sheriff Wilder is also nowhere to be seen on the police line.

Seeing the hostage safe and Deputy Hollaran already secured the weapons, she dusts herself off as Dorothy Wilder approaches, "Anna Chapman, right?  I believe this is yours."

She calmly produces a scalpel, "This was Plan B.  Thanks for your hard work."


Spoiler: Mission Summary (click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: April 23, 2020, 11:56:31 am by ConscriptFive »
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King Zultan

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #208 on: February 15, 2020, 07:59:02 am »

That went way better that I expected it to go.
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The Lawyer opens a briefcase. It's full of lemons, the justice fruit only lawyers may touch.
Make sure not to step on any errant blood stains before we find our LIFE EXTINGUSHER.
but anyway, if you'll excuse me, I need to commit sebbaku.
Quote from: Leodanny
Can I have the sword when you’re done?

ConscriptFive

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Re: Space Cowboys for Hire (A PvE AR-like) [Turn 3]
« Reply #209 on: March 14, 2020, 11:47:57 am »

OOC: Apologies for the longer than expected delay.  Per the Discord, I had some highly unusual medical issues that conflicted with my writing schedule.  They've since resolved themselves, but who knows what COVID-19 is going to do now.  For the sake of giving you guys something to read, here's the first act of the TF Orion Mission.

Mission Report Part (2/5)

Task Force Orion ISR on Anghabar (Part One)

Quote from: plan
After meeting shipside with the Task Force Orion Commander, Orion Six, three operators will reconnoiter a designated facility to confirm it as a target and identify threats.  Real-time surveillance will continue as the confirmed objective is assaulted by Task Force Orion.
As preparation for the mission, ISR Team should research relevant maps and imagery of the objective, looking for ideal vantage points, routes of ingress/egress, and nearby facilities that could complicate operations.  Based on this research, decide on a tentative hide site before meeting with Orion Six ASAP shipside to brief each other's plans and receive the unidentified commo hardware.  Due to his tactical and leadership skillset, Simon is the best choice for Team Leader.  As it's primarily a recon mission, Nikita will be mission critical on the FLIR thermal binos.  Redbrick's demolition skills aren't directly relevant to this operation, but then again, the same could be said of our other operations this month.  You'd think Orion Six would appreciate us having that kind of technical option on standby to support their highly kinetic operation.
Planetside, the SUV will perform hasty recon to confirm area research and the suitability of the hide site.  Once the hide site is established, confirm live comms with Task Force Orion and begin surveillance of the facility.  Surveillance should attempt to locate the exact location of the stolen Tyrell product and possible threats to an assaulting force.  Once reconnaissance of the objective is sufficient, brief Task Force Orion for their assault via provided communication hardware.  As assault begins, provide live overwatch as needed.  The SUV should be kept readily available if rapid relocation or mission abort is required.
As the ISR Team should ideally remain concealed during the tactical portions of this operation, the three operators can dress at their own discretion to perform their duties.

Additional Guidance:
Remember the medicine.

Team Leader Simon Templar anxiously paged through his presentation slides as he waits for Orion Six to arrive.  He'd become the frontman for Ocean Ten's first work with big league operators since the incident on Paramour, and he could feel that pressure bearing down on his neck.  As both team leader and the trained tactician, all the research and prep work fell almost entirely on him.  While Nikita the Scout helped where she could, Redbrick the Demolition Expert was actively disinterested in researching and preparing the presentation.  Redbrick went so far to insist that given the situation on Anghabar, shipside research was a waste of time anyways.

To Simon's chagrin, he had to concede somewhat to Redbrick's point.  By all accounts, the security situation on Anghabar had deteriorated into a full blown insurgency.  AMR-controlled media still wasn't freely admitting such, but all the factual public service announcements suggested otherwise: canceled sporting events, curfew announcements, ration changes, and a distinct uptick in obituaries.  While Simon and his team are technically completely tangential to the war on this mission, he can't completely disregard the very real threats of operating in a potential war zone.  He can't help but recall the words of Chairman Mao, "a guerrilla swims among the people, like a fish swims in the sea."  Insurgencies are innately highly fluid, especially in urban areas where entire city blocks could quietly flip allegiance overnight.  Short of real-time boots-on-the-ground patrolling and/or active HUMINT informant networks, it's typically impossible to detect an insurgent presence before the ambush hits.  Maps and overhead imagery provide geography, but as for the populace in that geography, Simon and his team are largely blind.

Still, from that geography and his tactician training, Simon is able to sketch out a literal battle plan.  Imagery identifies designated warehouse complex is a series of buildings in an industrial park at the edge of town.  The industrial park is large enough that any security would likely be spread thin, if not relatively negligible.  Given that a criminal enterprise has actively set up shop somewhere inside, Simon estimates the entire industrial park may be abandoned and thus is no longer policed.  Assuming their vehicular recon drive-by can identify the target warehouse, Simon estimates the team could set-up the hide site in a nearby abandoned building inside the industrial park.

Of course, this is all easier said than done, and based on a great deal of assumptions.  Regardless of this reality, Simon decides it's best to build a full presentation for the sake of appearances: better to try and impress Orion Six rather than come off as unprepared and clueless.  Ops Chief Neil was sure to remind him that no one outside of Ocean PMC is fully aware just how badly diminished they still are.  For example, the client probably wouldn't like to hear that their hired Tactician couldn't tell "enfilade" from "defilade" until yesterday. Simon hopes to sell the professional presentation as a necessary facade to conceal these shortcomings.

Neither Sam or Neil had previously met this particular Orion Six.  With the Mothership Leviathan being humanity's only interstellar transport and messenger, interstellar organizations try to keep operator teams assigned to specific planetary systems and to avoid time-consuming interstellar relocations.  Better to keep four separate detachments readily stationed across the New Worlds rather than delay possibly years trying to redeploy.  Over the course of their one-way three-year loop, the Task Force Orion Commander for the Thiel Planetary System apparently changed at some point.

Simon wasn't sure what he was expecting from Orion Six, but it certainly wasn't the unassuming 5'6" Asian man before him.  If it wasn't for the FiveseveN pistol in a shoulder holster, Orion Six comes across as impressively unremarkable.  He's accompanied by a similarly armed caucasian male carrying a large Pelican case in his left hand.  Orion Six breaks the ice with a firm handshake and speaks in a tonal Asian language.  The assistant interprets, "Major Nguyen Quan Dung, callsign Orion Six."

Wishing he had appropriate linguist or cultural training, Simon does his best to return the greeting, "Honored to meet you Orion Six, I'm Simon Templar, the Team Leader for this operation.  Beside me are Redrick "Redbrick" Batiste and Nikita Taylor who will also be executing this operation."

Orion Six bows slightly to the two others as the assistant translates Simon's response.  The assistant speaks for him, "Shall we begin the briefing then?"

Orion Six listens to Simon's presentation silently, nodding along occasionally.  He politely holds his questions to the end and speaks through his interpreter, "No sniper or other fire support?"

"Correct, those assets were allocated to another mission."

Orion Six appears disturbed as his interpreter speaks to him, "Are we not your top priority?"

Simon startles slightly, not expecting this harsh turn, "Yes, sir.  However they were deemed more appropriate for other missions.  As per the CONOP, the Ocean PMC element is not to engage in direct combat, as TF Orion will be performing those duties."

Orion Six stands in anger as his interpreter speaks and begins yelling.  The interpreter dutifully matches the yelling in English, "You see an Asian and think we are some human wave cannon fodder?  Where is Mrs. Ocean?  I demand her personal apology for this insult!"

There's enough lag in translation that Simon is well aware things have fallen apart before he hears it from the interpreter, "I am sorry sir.  We did not mean offense.  This is solely following the contract guidance."

"Where is Mrs. Ocean?"

"I am sorry sir, she is unavailable at the moment."

Orion Six stands up abruptly and has a heated side discussion with his assistant.  The assistant picks up his Pelican case and follows him to the door.  Orion Six shouts something at Simon and storms out with his assistant in tow.

Simon tugs at his collar, not entirely sure what just happened and how he could've remedied it.  He looks over to Redbrick who shrugs his shoulders.  Meanwhile, Nikita takes off her dress beret and runs her hand through her hair in frustration.

Their confusion is broken by an eruption of laughter.  Orion Six re-enters the room, "Okay, okay, I fraked with you guys enough."

His English is perfect and un-accented.  The assistant walks over to Simon and shakes his hand along with a friendly pat on the back, "Consider it a rite of initation.  Sergeant Major Luke Hartley, by the way, callsign Orion Seven."

Orion Six comments, "Nothing like pre-mission operator to operator humor, right?  Anyhow, nice job on the briefing.  The CONOP is solid.  The demo asset is a nice thought, but we were bringing our own anyways."

Simon does his best to calm down from the emotional rollercoaster of being pranked that hard and suddenly shifting back to business, "Yeah, makes sense..."

"Now I'm sure you have questions for me?"

Despite Simon's pointed questions, Orion Six manages to deflect most of them, often citing trade secrets and general need-to-know.  Previous PMC's identified the adversary are an unknown criminal element that frequents a local Swearengen Club.  They also tracked both them and the stolen inventory back to the targetted warehouse complex.  Intelligence further suggests the criminal element is dissecting the stolen inventory to bypass security measures and ease resale.  Once the Ocean Team confirms the target, a Task Force Orion element led by Orion Seven will aerially insert and begin the assault.  A follow-on Task Force Orion element led by Orion Six will arrive via ground transport to exfiltrate the assault element and the recovered inventory.

When asked about the commo hardware, Orion Six opens the Pelican case to reveal a small netbook, a bowling-ball-sized spherical radome, an external power supply, and several wireless headsets.  He quickly teaches them the rather straightforward setup.  As long as they can keep the radome outdoors and in general open-air, they should be able to keep real-time comms with Task Force Orion.  At the end, he offers a friendly admonishment, "This is only a loan, and I expect it back in its entirety regardless of combat-loss.  This may not be a full 'you break it, you bought it,' situation, but prepared to be invoiced as such."

"I think that about covers it.  All jokes aside though, I would like the opportunity to meet Mrs. Ocean.  She sounds like a fascinating woman," closes Orion Six.

"Indeed she is.  However, senior leadership is out of the office presently.  Maybe we could arrange something later?"

"That's a shame... so you guys said in the CONOP you're still running those classic Land Rover SUV's?  My dad taught me to drive on one of those.  Mind giving me a look for the sake of nostalgia?"

Simon smiles, "Sure thing, right this way."

The entire group passes through doors marked "Employees Only" towards the motor pool.  The scattered techs maintaining the vehicles give side-eye, but don't dare otherwise interrupt a client-meeting.

"There they are!  Really brings back the memories."  Orion Six lovingly admires the two Land Rover Defender 130 SUV's.  He then climbs behind the wheel of one, "Hey Luke, can you get my picture?"

Orion Seven laughs taking out his smartphone, "Why not?"

After snapping a few poses, Orion Six comments, "Say, I don't see those badass bikes Danny had.  You guys didn't lose those on Paramour did you?"

Nikita speaks up, "Ah, well I guess Mrs. Ocean wasn't a fan of those.  We did get some Gator ATV's though."

"Gator's?  That must have a Neil McCauley pick: a workhorse Old World US Army vehicle, but not very sexy," quips Orion Seven.

Redbrick scaffows, "Not sexy?  These babies are pimped-out.  High-performance hybrid engines, even got alloy rims.  Take look."

Redbrick leads the group over to the three customized Gator 825i ATV's.  Orion Seven laughs, "Damn, I stand corrected.  Those ATV's are operator as frak.  Q, could you get my pic with this one?"

Orion Seven gets behind the wheel as Orion Six takes snaps several shots of him.  Given his worst fears about Task Force Orion, Simon is glad that they've turned out to be such friendly "down-to-earth" kinda guys.  Furthermore, they even complimented his briefing and CONOP.  He can't help but feel a bit of pride at being so readily embraced by Tier One's.

As Ops Chief Neil McCauley walks into the motorpool, Simon waves him over, "I didn't know you were in the office.  This is Major Nguyen - Orion Six, and Sergeant Major Hartley - Orion Seven."

Orion Six immediately shakes Neil's hand, "Major Nguyen Quan Dung, but an old vet like you can call me Q.  It's an honor to meet you in person, Chief McCauley."

Neil briskly acknowledges the handshake and gives a slight wink, "Likewise."

Orion Six looks over to Orion Seven and gives him a nod before addressing the Ocean PMC Team, "Well it looks like you guys have your work cut out for yourselves, so we'll get out of your hair.  We'll see you guys planetside then."

Simon thinks he detects a weird tension around Neil, but isn't sure of it.  He hands off the Pelican case of commo hardware to Redbrick and Nikita, "You guys get the hardware stowed, I'll walk our two guests to the door."

The group disperses without further ado, and Simon leads Orion Six and Seven out the door.  As they exchange farewells, Orion Six exchanges contact information with Simon and invites him to a weekly card game they set up shipside.  Lacking OPSEC training or a familiarity with CI/HUMINT methods, Simon remains clueless as to what just happened.

Simon receives a text from Neil, "YOUR TEAM OUTSIDE MY OFFICE NOW."

The three operators are met by Neil, who immediately places a single finger over his lips in a gesture for silence.  He then briskly ushers them into an adjacent broom closet.  It's a tight fit for four people, but Neil elbows his way to a shop vac and turns it on.  He yells over the roar of the vacuum, "No show and tell in here, right?"

Simon nods.

"Tell me everything that happened."

While it's awkward to speak in such close quarters to an angered authority figure, having to yell over the white noise of a shop vac doesn't make the situation any more pleasant.  Simon does his best to explain everything the TF Orion visitors said and did.

"Let me guess, they gave you their number and invited you to hang out later?"

Simon nods, "They got a weekly card game shipside."

"How convenient.  For frak's sake, we leave the kids home alone and of course they go and let their 'friends' raid the liquor cabinet.  You all got played like a damn fiddle.  By Tyrell of all damn clients too.  Probably wanted to malware the breakroom toaster into sentience for all we know."

Neil digs some trash bags off the shelf, "Strip down the skivvies in case they planted anything on you when they got all touchy feely.  Check every pocket and tell me if you find anything.  Bag your clothes and I'll take it straight down to laundry."

Simon and Redbrick get right to it, but Nikita is very hesitant.  Neil catches this, "Nikita, you can hold up until we step out.  ...I'll bring a blanket for when you get out."

The team doesn't find anything obvious, though a passing Erik Heller does find the nearly naked Simon hilarious, "I guess you're not such a good model for Blue Diamond Activewear either, eh?"

Simon and Redbrick can only laugh as they find their way back to their quarters.

Neil hires a Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) service to sweep everything Orion Six and Seven touched, from the meeting room to the vehicles.  As far as they can tell, it's clean, but then again, it is Tyrell, so you never really know.  Neil remains particularly wary of the Pelican case, and ends up shipping it out with the team planetside ahead of schedule.

Before he ships out, Simon offers his apologies to Neil.  The old vet stops him, "Kid, it's not necessary.  I did their kind of work back on the Old World, and it looks they're just as good at it.  If it's any comfort, it probably was fairly benign collection and I think I interrupted it before it got too far.  Don't sweat it, and just focus on your mission now.  I hear it's a war zone down there."


**Break for Task Force Orion ISR on Anghabar Part 2**
« Last Edit: April 23, 2020, 11:56:13 am by ConscriptFive »
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