Worse Than the Disease 2 IC

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean has to get out of his cover to get those papers, so he does. He takes them and packs them without looking at them. "Follow me." He leads the mutants to the cars and hands them the keys of the pickup truck. "Now take this one and leave. We will soon leave too. We will be back to you, either here or on the radio, when we have something definite to say, which will, hopefully, be soon."

Spoiler

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If it all goes as intended and the mutants leave the immediate surroundings of the parked station wagon taking the pickup with them, Sean says the team that they can get back to the car (presumably requiring no roll to navigate the streets, or Sean would walk to fetch and guide them). When everybody is in, Sean, still on foot, leads the car out of the city, and then we head to the Radar Base (the dogs, presumably, will have to run outside of the crowded car).

Aaand Richard time!

P.S. Do we establish a radio link with these WMD guardians? Any news from Blackwire?

The mutants take the keys and follow Sean's lead. The man with the badge checks the equipment over as his squad relaxes. Sean goes back to his fellows without any further trouble. Sean can easily make it to the car he drove.

The trip back to the radar base is also uneventful.

(OOC: Do you need to know how many miles it is between Newport and the radar base?)

Sean establishes a radio link to the patrollers, who comment that they'll probably be passing his communications up the chain soon.
Checking in with the radio and the base staff, Sean learns that Blackwire has sent only a single message to him, encoded.
"We're in place, but we want to make sure the meeting place is safe. Come meet us after the sun goes down."
Then it lists a location.

[Volthawk]

Once the group is reunited, Richard's keen to hear the whole story of what happened from Sean (as opposed to what he could figure out from the radio) as he reads through the intel and tries to figure out what motivated the attack on the drive to their next destination. "So another group of mutants activated on old world orders, huh? Or at least believing they're old world orders, I suppose. I talked to the people they attacked, and unless they're much better liars than I gave them credit for I doubt they know anything about this - doesn't mean that these guys are entirely wrong either though, I suppose, since there's plenty about the old world most people probably don't know about at this point. Let's see..."

[Shoot Da Moon]

Richard can't understand the reports he is given. A wall of jargon hits his eyes as he starts and sketchy diagrams do nothing to articulate the details. He needs more information on the situation.

[u-b]

Sean asks Richard to help him and diggs very carefully through the papers trying to make sense of their notation and, ultimately, their meaning. He plans to dedicate at least four hours to this task, more if needed. While they are at it, Tariq takes the recently acquired guns and spends some time in the workshop cleaning the rust, gluing the cracks in the wood, tightening the loose parts, cleaning, oiling, and generally bringing the guns back to their original shape. It turns out the guns were originally of a fine-quality stock and in four hours Tariq is able to fully restore three of them.

Spoiler

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Please check my math on gadgeteering.

[Shoot Da Moon]

It takes a long time before Sean and Richard manage a breakthrough; the reports have been altered! The writing and photos have been carefully changed, and the fine details on some of them do not match up to reality! The reports are forgeries, slipped into the mutants' recon to mislead them on a potential threat! Most likely, this sabotage was the work of a raider spy. Sean remembers one past interrogation of a raider, wherein the prisoner admitted that the raiders have been trying to get the mutants to attack settlements for them.

As for the gunsmithing, Tariq manages to fix up the broken rifles.
(OOC: Your math is good.)

By the time everyone is finished with their work, it is dark.

[Volthawk]

Seeing the alterations pointed out to him, Richard isn't particularly surprised. It wasn't his first thought for an explanation, but it did make a lot of sense. Still, being able to meddle this directly in the mutant's business was more than he'd expected the raiders were capable of - Stone talked more about just leading them in the right direction, not this kind of subtle manipulation. Something of a concern going forward, but for now he just passes on their findings to the patrollers to be passed on up the chain along with a more general warning about the raiders - that they were large and organised, tied to individuals that had performed treasonous acts, and that they had a sophisticated intelligence network.

As for the Blackwire situation, that needs a little more thought. Richard's main thought is that if it is a trap, they don't all need to expose themselves at first - while Sean and the others can join him if all is clear, he'd rather have them able to react freely if it ends up being an ambush. He'd rather Sean be free to pick off the most dangerous of the gang than in the middle of the ambush with him, for instance, same with Tariq's explosives. As for what to do if the situation is legitimate...Richard shrugs a little. He still thought their earlier idea for what to do with his gang might work - having them at the radar base but not fully in the fold for now, letting their allies question the gang but little else, putting Blackwire to work against their enemies in exchange for the protection and short-term amnesty (Richard was still of the opinion that this would have to be reeaxamined once the raiders were dealt with), and learning all they could of use from them - but there was still a strong possibility that Blackwire would need to be convinced and negotiated with. He couldn't say for sure what might come out of that until it was over.

[u-b]

If Richard is willing to stake his life on Blackwire not going after him while the rest of us are somewhere nearby, Sean comes up with the following plan:
1. We radio the power plant that we'll pick up the three waffle house guards for a single night mission and so they should be ready.
2. We put on the NVGs and drive two cars (including the sedan we have at the base) with lights off to the power plant (miles?).
3. We pick up the three waffle house guards. Tariq loads with a single illumination round and a the rest of 9 HE, 2 HEDP.
4. Still with lights off, we drive to within two miles of the meeting point. We park cars off the road and camouflage them.
5. We go parallel to the road, with Sean some distance ahead and the waffle house men lead by one NVG-equipped man each.
6. We stop some 500 yards off the meeting point, still some distance beside the road.
7. While everyone waits there, Sean makes a half-circle around the meeting point, still some 500 yards from it.
8. Sean then gets closer until he can observe the meeting point and observes it.
9. Richard then starts to move towards the meeting point. At 250 yards from it, he lights a hand flare and the rest of the team follows that flare to within 100 yards.
10. Richard is then to approach and conduct the negotiations alone.

Sean proposes our position in the negotiations would be as follows:
1. Too many of those who want Blackwire dead would rather kill him than negotiate a truce. We are unable talk them off that at the moment, but...
2. We have been told by the rangers that one Blackwire is worth two other slavers' commanders. So, if we can get two slavers' commanders with the help of Blackwire, things are bound to improve substantially.
3. Then we would be able to house Blackwire somewhere, employ him in our operations and reasonably demand he is not attacked by forces allied to us and opposed to the slavers.
4. So our proposal would be that Blackwire either gets two such commanders himself or hands us the information about all such commanders so that we can choose and get two of them.
5. If he chooses the later, he'll have two options until we are done: either to continue to be on the run or to to surrender and be held prisoner (we can reasonably demand him not attacked while we hold him prisoner).
6. Alternative proposals could be considered, but no guarantees.
7. If Blackwire needs food stock to lie low, or whatever other supplies, we can trade with him, for either material things or the info.

This assumes the night won't be pitch-black (stars and/or the moon would be enough). If it would be pitch-black, there would be corrections.

[Volthawk]

Richard's fine with the plan - he knows the risks, but reasons that if there's going to be an ambush, it's better that they don't get all caught in it. Sean's more useful as a shooter from outside the ambush than just taking a few extra bullets meant for Richard. The planned negotiating position makes sense to him too.

[u-b]

The team sets the plan in motion, taking three shotgunners from the radar base, giving them each a full load of five multi-flechette rounds out of Bart's 20. Sean drives strainght to the desired spot, which is not the announced meeting spot, camouflages the cars and proceeds to lead the team not quite along the road to where he'll leave them to circle, alone, around the announced meeting spot to eventually observe it.

[Shoot Da Moon]

The approach goes smoothly, there appears to be no danger.

The meeting place is camouflaged from a distance, but you can only hide an entire camp of people so well.
The man named Blackwire (matching the description given to the exiles) sits at the center of the camp, eating his dinner as his underlings tend to the chores around him. Sean counts two whole gangs' worth of raiders at the camp. 22 people with guns, two cars and 10 motorcycles. Approximately, half of them are injured, and five of those injured are too wounded to do anything but rest.

The bootstrapped shotgunners and Sean keep watch from afar as Richard approaches to talk to Blackwire. Despite the camp's paranoia, Richard is allowed to come over and discuss the situation.

Sean proposes our position in the negotiations would be as follows:
1. Too many of those who want Blackwire dead would rather kill him than negotiate a truce. We are unable talk them off that at the moment, but...
2. We have been told by the rangers that one Blackwire is worth two other slavers' commanders. So, if we can get two slavers' commanders with the help of Blackwire, things are bound to improve substantially.
3. Then we would be able to house Blackwire somewhere, employ him in our operations and reasonably demand he is not attacked by forces allied to us and opposed to the slavers.
4. So our proposal would be that Blackwire either gets two such commanders himself or hands us the information about all such commanders so that we can choose and get two of them.
5. If he chooses the later, he'll have two options until we are done: either to continue to be on the run or to to surrender and be held prisoner (we can reasonably demand him not attacked while we hold him prisoner).
6. Alternative proposals could be considered, but no guarantees.
7. If Blackwire needs food stock to lie low, or whatever other supplies, we can trade with him, for either material things or the info.

Blackwire enjoys a bowl of hot soup as Richard outlines what's going on his end.
He admits that he may have to stay in hiding for a good long time, with the exiles' help.
Blackwire tentatively suggests that he knows where the exiles can find more slavers to take down.
Blackwire asks for more food and water to supply his people, he can pay it back with service and backup later.

Blackwire explains that three of his trusted underlings were captured by raiders and held for interrogation and execution when he defected. He would like the party to rescue the captured men from a slaver camp and return them safely, as they all know the location (and lock codes) of supply safes. On the plus side, he has at least one gang of former raiders ready to go right now. He can scrape together even more gangs of raiders if he just has time to call in the troopers - in the chaos of the raider army pulling back, some soldiers are deserting.

If the exiles rescue the three lieutenants, they can take at least half of the supply caches in the safes for themselves. At the very least, those three sub-commanders are tough and smart soldiers.

[Volthawk]

Richard's pleased to see that it isn't an ambush, particularly once he gets a good look at what's there - sure, plenty of wounded, but still enough to cause problems if things went south. As all seems well, he sits in the camp by Blackwire and listens to his response, broadcasting it on the radio for Sean to listen to. It sounded promising, although Richard was sure to stress to Blackwire that when it came to the response of the Rangers and the settlements to the gang there were no promises, but the exiles would try to make peace there with all good faith and he felt that the plan of capturing other commanders would work. When it comes to the need for basic supplies, Richard's confident that something can be worked out - he understands that the defecting raiders need to survive, and although he doesn't explicitly say as much, he wants to make sure they have no reason to try and take what they need. They may be opposed to the main raider army now, but Richard is still very much aware of what these people have done, and as a part of the general conversation makes it clear that the exiles' support is dependent on them not interfering with any non-raider holdings and settlements.

He's already inclined to help anyone captured by the raiders, and is keen to ensure that the idea of the exiles being accepting of defectors stands (for the time being at least, while the Blackwire deal seems promising), so he's already in agreement when the caches are mentioned. He waits for Sean's input (either over the radio or in person, depending on if he's decided to join them or stay on watch) before debating specific terms and strategies, though - he's personally inclined towards not waiting for more gangs (although more generally he's supportive of attempts to recruit said deserters, rather than let them keep raiding just as independents now), as there's no telling how long the lieutenants will be kept alive or at least healthy (he figured the main army wouldn't be particularly kind to attempted defectors) so he'd rather secure them quickly.

[u-b]

Sean remains in position and communicates through Richard. The mission to rescue three lieutenants seems good, so Richard should ask for any and all relevant details. Regarding food and water, we can provide two day's worth for everyone at the camp right away, and can provide more later. While Sean does not mind running a balance, he would prefer to be paid with some information, especially that can be acted upon. Of interest:
1. His former side.
2. Mailer.
3. Shelters.
4. Mutants.
5. WMDs.
6. Gutter.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Blackwire plays dumb. "Not quite sure what I know about all that, but maybe my captured second-in-commands hung onto the intel better."

Nevertheless, he does give basic information, just to bait the hook.
His previous allegiance was run well enough, carefully developing methods for seasonal raiding - including a pattern of establishing safe houses and operating bases in preparation for raids. They made sure cells of raiders were separated enough to stem the loss if one gang got captured, wiped out or defected. But the separation was never too complete to prevent information leaks...
He thinks this "Mailer" character is some kind of urban legend that the generals encourage to raise morale and keep defection low.
He's never been to a Shelter. Only scuttlebutt tells of this or that gang raiding a Shelter, but nothing concrete.
He's definitely set up mutants to attack settlements in the past.
Blackwire never used, saw or wants any Old World WMDs. He does not think the generals or anyone else in his organization has access to such horrors, or they would have used them by now.
He occasionally oversaw gangs that went into The Gutter, yeah. Never ended well...

[u-b]

Sean does not know much about the place mentioned. He proposes the following plan:
1. We are not quite satisfied with the infos we are getting, but... We leave enough food and water for everyone for two days. We leave it on the road. It is to be picked up after we are away. The condition is no expropriation of anything from anyone while these supplies last.
2. We will be back after that time or such. We might or might not do something about those three men during that time, we'll see.
3. If Blackwire has modern equipment, we can set up a secure channel for future communications.

Assuming everyone agrees, Sean makes a half-circle back to the main group, leads them to the cars, with Tariq's help gets the cars on the road not far from the Blackwire's camp, gets the supplies out (132 water + 132 food). Then recalls Richard. Then drives straight to the vicinity of the town mentioned by Blackwire saying we might as well do that tonight and that anyone feeling sleepy can take some Modafinil. After hiding the cars somewhere, Sean leads the way. He might have problems noticing the details in the dark, but assuming these slavers don't have night vision equipment, rather expects them to burn fires or such...

[Shoot Da Moon]

It's getting dark out, Vermont nights are dangerous for their rough terrain in deep black.
(OC: Darkness penalty -7.)

Blackwire only has a basic radio at the moment, less advanced than what the exiles have.

The food and water is unloaded, and Blackwire's people seem very happy with the gift.
(OC: Way less Reaction penalties!)

The drive to the town takes only 40 minutes, thanks to Sean's excellent leadership. Sean gets the approach subtle and undetected. The cars are well-hid and the exiles stay out of sight.

The exiles make their way over to the Old World building which the slavers have claimed as their base. It looks strongly built, it was something called a "bank". The slavers have erected an improvised but solid wall around the parking lot and entrance of the building. There is only one opening in the wall, watched intently by guards. In the "courtyard" past the wall, slavers have built elevated platforms and bonfires for their vigil. No traps anywhere, except for the guard patrols. Sean counts 20 armed people in the courtyard, taking cover under tarps and eating dinner.

[u-b]

Sean looks for more things and relays his findings. He does not hurry anywhere.
1. What is the size of the courtyard?
2. Can we target inside of the courtyard one way or another? What is the darkness penalty to target there (wherever the people are around the bonfires)?
3. Any tall buildings anywhere nearby to have vantage view on the courtyard?
4. Any fortifications of the building itself (like sandbags, blinds, what not)? How large it is (how many windows wide and stories tall)?
5. Any vehicles anywhere?
6. What is the equipment of the people we see? Can we somehow confirm these are slavers and not some other group?

[Shoot Da Moon]

The courtyard is about 40 square yards of area.
Getting higher up could give you a sight line into the courtyard over the walls.
(OC: The darkness penalties is 0 around the bonfires, -3 for areas just far enough away from the bonfires.)
There are tall buildings around, but climbing up them could be dangerous and difficult.
The building itself has been fortified mostly around the entry doors (barricades and a checkpoint) but the inside could further fortified. It is two stories tall, all the windows are boarded up with metal. The building itself seems to be solidly built since the Old World days, thick walls and tough doors. Maybe valuable stuff used to be stored inside?
No vehicles are in sight.
The slaver guards are carrying rifles and SMGs, they are armored around their limbs, torso and extremities. You can tell they are slavers by the shackles and handcuffs some of them are carrying on their belts and lying on equipment tables. There's also an empty metal cage, big enough for a human to stand in, placed in the center of the courtyard, besides a few tents and a bonfire.

[u-b]

When everyone is ready and have aimed their guns, Sean sneaks in to take a long burst from the darkness. It does not go quite well...

Spoiler

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Crouched. Will use extra effort on all dodges. No drop. Landing, like, two hits and then ouch. Presumably, only 4 bullets expended.

[Shoot Da Moon]

TURN 1

The aborted spray hits two guards sitting around a bonfire, in their hearts. The surprise attack claims their lives.

(OC: Richard acts now, then Bart, then Tariq. Then a new turn, then the bad guys act on the same Speed as Sean and Richard...)

Too bad Sean's sloppy handling fumbles his gun...

[Volthawk]

From his current position, Richard doesn't have a line in on the slavers in the courtyard but figures that now Sean's got their attention they'll be on the move now, so he stands ready to fire on anyone who crosses into his sights.

Spoiler

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Assuming from what's been said that Richard can't see anyone yet, so he's taking a Wait manuever for opportunity fire covering the visible 1-yard area (so he can still use his aim bonus) closest to where the slavers are sitting.

[u-b]

Bart makes one shot at the guard near the courtyard entrance. The needle-like flechettes cluster mostly to his lower left. Tariq places a flashbang into the lower part of the wall of the building itself, from where it potentially affects the whole courtyard and potentially some people inside, then follows with a gas grenade into the same exact spot for good measure.

Spoiler

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Okay, it seems I should post for both Bart and Tariq. I'll do it with an assumption that they have some view through the courtyard entrance and maybe at the building entrance, but a least at one guy. This does not quite match Volthawk's understanding, so please confirm and clarify. Waffle House people will take Wait maneuver covering three most promising windows, one man each.

One unrelated question: can Sean use Fast Draw (Long Arm) in this situation to try readying the rifle without spending a round?

[Shoot Da Moon]

Spoiler

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Okay, it seems I should post for both Bart and Tariq. I'll do it with an assumption that they have some view through the courtyard entrance and maybe at the building entrance, but a least at one guy. This does not quite match Volthawk's understanding, so please confirm and clarify. Waffle House people will take Wait maneuver covering three most promising windows, one man each.

One unrelated question: can Sean use Fast Draw (Long Arm) in this situation to try readying the rifle without spending a round?

Spoiler

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From outside, one can indeed see the building entrance. There are no people inside the building that you can see from the outside. Volthawk is a little wrong, but he is covering the opening in the courtyard wall which is valid.

You can roll Fast Draw to ready the rifle.

Bart's shotgun blast tears through his target, knocking him out as the pellets cripple his left leg and clip his groin and left arm.

Tariq's explosion catches everyone in the courtyard in a great flash, stunning them. The subsequent smoke cloud is less effective, but it does make them unable to see what is what.

TURN 2

The enemy is in disarray!

(OC: Sean and then Richard, take your turn now, then we roll for the bad guys...)

[u-b]

Sean manages to get the rifle ready quickly as he hurries forward and a bit to the left, to use a part of the courtyard wall as cover from half of the opposition and target the other half. His quickly-restored grip of the rifle turns out to be not solid enough, so this time, after four shots, he drops it altogether.

Spoiler

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Sean is standing up in the smoke not far from the entrance to the courtyard. Will use extra effort to dodge.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean hits one guard in the vitals, eliminating him.

Another is shot in the belly, and dies in pain.

(OC: Richard...)

[Volthawk]

Richard fires a burst into the courtyard, switching on his powerful flashlight to hopefully keep the disarray and confusion about the situation among the raiders going.

[Shoot Da Moon]

The spray of hot lead hits two targets and blows through their abdomens with terrifying vigor. They both fall down and pass out of the fight.
The rest of the burst suppresses the bad guys as the air is torn and the bullets ricochet.

The enemies in the courtyard do not recover from blindness or stunning. And they do not manage to fight back yet.

(OC: Bart the Hunter, then Tariq, then the Waffle House backup NPCs.)

[u-b]

Bart and the rest watch four most promising windows and plan to do that for the rest of the fight unless things really happen. Tariq keeps his MGL aimed at the same spot as the first time to add more stunning as needed (e.g. if requested by Sean).

Spoiler

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Bad guys try to recover from stun (12)

The enemies in the courtyard do not recover from blindness but 8 do recover from stunning

Note 7 on HT192 says "roll against HT-5 to recover each turn". Assuming HT stat of 12 and no protected senses, the target to beat would be, like, 7... (that is, if I get it right)

[Shoot Da Moon]

TURN 3

The enemy is still in disarray!

(OC: Sean and then Richard, take your turn now, then we roll for the bad guys...)

[u-b]

Sean stays in place and picks up the rifle.

[Volthawk]

Conscious of the amount of ammo he has remaining and Sean being down with you, Richard fires a more restrained burst this time at the slavers on the other side of the courtyard from Sean.