Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for August 11, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), and Vessel (troll brawler).

Within the compound, Team MACHETE moved to the first door and kicked it open.  Within was a science lab with several scientists and technicians as well as four armed guards.  In glass tanks along the rear were two cybertooth tiger drones.  The team plunged into the room, bullets flying.  Scientists and techs went down in a hail of stray gunfire as the team opened up in full-auto mode.  The guards fought back viciously, also in full-auto.  The sound of brass hitting the tile floor tinkled quietly between the booming thunder of indoor gunfire.  Blood sprayed the walls as the team moved in and took down target after target.  Bernsen unleashed a devastating Power Ball to help seal the deal.

Using one of the living scientists, the team started a download of the system science data.  Network took control of the biodrone cybertooth tigers, sending one back toward the extraction point on remote along with his GM-Nissan Doberman drone.  The other, Network “jumped in” and controlled directly.

Just as the team started backing into the first room when the barracks doors opened and more metahuman troops poured through.  Network charged through to the attack, and Feast and Razor lobbed and launched grenades.  The effect on the furthest foes was best described as “chunky salsa.”  With two soldiers down and another injured, Feast moved in with a katana while the combat mages started lighting people up.  Unfortunately, one the elves proved especially dangerous, dropping the cybertooth tiger and several of the MACHETE team with a number of point-blank long bursts of APDS ammo.  With most of the team down, things looked bleak until the elf’s modified Colt M23 went dry.  Suddenly the team was upon him, and he died in a hail of blades and bullets.

Using first aid and Heal, the team was quickly patched up.  Demolitions charges were set throughout the building, and the team extracted.  Once a safe distance, Bersen clicked the remote to blow the place to pieces.  Team MACHETE slipped quietly into the jungle and disappeared, mission accomplished.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Game summary for August 4, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

The MACHETE team spread out around the entrance to the science base, protected by a number of soldiers and CorpSec, including a bunker.  The team decided to sneak close and use launched grenades to take out the guards.  Unfortunately, the guards were alert and noticed them coming.  In moments, long bursts of bullets ripped through the jungle.  Several of the guards went down from a distance to grenades and bullets.  Feast moved in with his katana and tore through the opposition as well.  Vessel found himself on the receiving end of several bursts, as was Napalm.  Bernsen set several of the enemies on fire, and the team cleared the area in a few moments.  A set of shaped charges later, and the team was in the base entrance.

Within, an assault team blasted away firing from behind crates, barrels, and other items.  Network’s drone lead the way, followed closely by Tango.  Feast and Razor moved in to work some disaster with their blades up close and personal.  After a brutal few moments, the gunfire died down as the last opponent fell.

Now within, the team needs to recover the cybertooth tiger data and examples of the technology!

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Game summary for July 28, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

With the location of the science base ascertained, the team prepared for an assault.  Aztechnology provided an additional four operatives to assist:  a cyber-enhanced ghoul named Feast, a combat mage named Napalm, an ork brawler named Razor, and a martial artist adept named Reaper.

The 8-man team headed into the Amazonia jungle approximately five miles from the base.  About a mile in, a trio of cybertooth tigers pounced from the foliage, their approach masked by chameleon camouflage.  One began mauling Feast, but the ghoul shook over the attacker and retaliated.  Napalm and Razor were incapacitated by the biodrones quickly, but the team rallied.  They used APDS rounds to get through the drones’ armored skins and soon took down all three.

Several team members were badly injured, and Feast and Tango went to work with first aid kits.  Bernsen used Heal to patch up the more grievous wounds.  After a short time, the team was back in good shape and pressed on through the jungle.

The firefight had drawn the attention of several Amazonia patrols, and it didn’t take long to run into one.  The MACHETE team discovered Saeder-Krupp elite CorpSec working with the Amazonia soldiers, and another firefight erupted.  Feast charged forward at an Amazonia elf infantryman, hunger in his eyes!  Vessel hurled a HE grenade at a troll, and Napalm unleashed a Fireball on the troll as well.  Bernsen used Flamethrower on the elf, and the rest of the team exchanged volleys with the remaining human.  With minimal injury to themselves the MACHETE team brought down the patrol and pressed forward.

They soon found the entrance to the science base, guarded by a number of soldiers.  They fell back to plan the assault.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Game summary for July 12, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), and Tango (ork tank).

Note:  This post has been edited for the Internet and is rated PG-13.  Details are omitted to protect the guilty.

After learning that Dr. Escobar only frequents the Handy Mandy Club every few nights, the team decided to return and lay in wait.  Network again set up outside the club in the old Nissan-Holden Brumby with the Ferret RPD-1X drone at the rear entrance.  Meanwhile, Tango and Bernsen entered the establishment and began drinking and blending in.  Tango made some small talk with a local Mr. Johnson and subtly confirmed the link with the club and the Andes Cartel.

Tango and Bernsen discussed trying to bribe the bartender into helping them slip a knockout drug into the drink of Dr. Escobar, when he arrives.  However, Tango happened to oversee a little exchange between her and Nicolas Salazar, the Cartel leader in this area, and realized that would be a very bad plan.

The two get friendly with the dancers Zorra and Honey Dowell, and Network warned them of the arrival of Dr. Escobar outside.  He came in and quickly went to the back area.  Tango decided a visit to the VIP area would be in order, perhaps giving him a chance to grab the doctor in the back rooms.  However, when Honey led him to the back, he found that the good doctor was throwing nuyen around in the dressing/shower area.  Thinking quickly, Tango bought his way to the same area and had Honey fetch his buddy Bernsen and lots of drinks.

In the back area, thanks to their free distribution of nuyen and booze, a party broke out.  In the chaos and confusion, Tango slipped the knockout drug into a drink and offered it to Dr. Escobar.  The doctor drank and soon passed out.  Bernsen and Tango carried him to the hallway where they were confronted by the massive (and armed) ork security guard.  Tango flashed him and the girls his fake DocWagon EMT license and convinced them he needs to get the man some air out back and the ork needed to go up front and fetch someone in charge.  Buying this line of crap, the ork went up front while Network pulled up around back.  The trio dumped Dr. Escobar into the Brumby, grabbed the Ferret, and fled the scene.

Back at the warehouse, they learned their fixer, Gilberto would soon have them passage on a ship going to Uruguay.  Meanwhile, Network decided to begin the interrogation.  She did a remarkable, if disturbing, job of making the man talk, and he revealed the location of the science lab.  Unfortunately, they learned that an easy entrance may not happen due to the randomized passkey sequence on Dr. Escobar’s commlink—which was left in his pants back at the Handy Mandy Club.

Undaunted, the team smuggled Dr. Escobar out of Argentina and into Uruguay where they now plan their infiltration/assault on the science research facility.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Game summary for July 7, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

Note:  This post has been edited for the Internet and is rated PG-13.  Details are omitted to protect the guilty.

Following the successful UNDER THE RADAR mission, Team MACHETE was delivered a new missive.

Aztechnology has intercepted some classified reports of advanced bio-cybernetic research being done by Amazonia in order to perfect living weapons of war.  The report indicates Amazonia scientists have taken the Shiawase Cybertooth Tiger biodrone template and taken it to another level.  Using genetic material samples, they have engineered warform smilodon populator (sabre-tooth cats) and fitted them with state-of-the-art advanced versions of Computer-Assisted Sensory Translation (CAST), Tactical Recognition and Analytical Capability Expert System (TRACES), and Supplemental Environment Interaction Expert System (SEIES).  The report provides evidence that these may be on a second or third generation, with full adaptation to SEIES input and interaction.

This could mean disaster for the war effort.  If Amazonia has access to such an advanced model of biodrone, they may well gain the upper hand in jungle engagements.  Even more disturbing is the report is incomplete but indicates other research is being done as well.  Aztechnology suspects they may also be working with biodrone technology involving paranormals as well.

Aztechnology has learned Dr. Leopoldo Escobar, a leading Amazonia bio-cybertechnology researcher, is on vacation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Despite a strong Aztechnology presence in the nation, other corporations are likewise represented.  Dr. Escobar has a very strong contingent of protection provided by Amazonia and Saeder-Krupp South America.  It is assumed S-K is providing some of the technology and funding leading to some of Amazonia’s achievements.  The weakest link in his protection seems to be his penchant for visiting the Handy Mandy Club fairly frequently, and this is an obvious location to attempt a kidnapping.  The Handy Mandy Club is operated by the Andes Cartel, which frowns heavily upon CorpSec in their establishments.  They have a particular dislike for Aztechnology and will not knowingly do business with our assets.

Primary Objectives

• Buenos Aires – The team will infiltrate into Buenos Aires, Argentina aboard commercial aircraft using provided faked SINs, passports, and permits.  Exfiltration must be arranged by the team.  The team has been setup with the following fake identities:

1. Altrus “Vessel” Bloodstrike – Manuel Solis, German translator from Hannover, Allied German States.
2. Mayorga “Tango” Durran – Alarico Carrera, DocWagon EMT from Denver, Front Range Free Zone (FRFZ).
3. Roger “Bernsen” Dorn – Anthony Willis, talismonger from Seattle, UCAS.
4. Rosa “Network” – Catalina Palomo, commercial pilot from Santiago, Chile.

• Dr. Leopoldo Escobar – It is imperative the team kidnap Dr. Escobar.  The more low-key this kidnapping, the better.  Leaving the country with Dr. Escobar is a priority.

• Research Facility – Dr. Escobar will know the location of Amazonia’s primary research facility, suspected to be located outside of Porto Alegre, Amazonia.  Extract from Dr. Escobar the location and method of entry into the facility.

• Data Recovery – Infiltrate or penetrate into the research compound and acquire Amazonia’s research data.  Use your discretion to determine if a full-on assault or clandestine operation is most appropriate.  If possible, extract DNA samples of any biodrones as well as current models of their CAST, TRACES, and SEIES technology.  Live specimens would also be a plus.

Secondary Objectives

• Conversion – Dr. Escobar is a valuable asset and should survive his kidnapping and interrogation.  He will be a useful tool in implementing Aztechnology’s own biodrone program.

• The Andes Cartel – The Andes Cartel already has a contract on the head of Aztechnology’s Chief Operating Officer, Diego Chavez.  Do not further escalate hostilities.  Preferably, the Andes Cartel should have no evidence or indication Aztechnology was involved.

• Destruction – Destroy utterly the Amazonia research facility, after the data is collected.  Destruction of the information is unacceptable.

Support

• Gilberto Zambrano – Mr. Zambrano is a freelance fixer in Buenos Aires.  He has a number of contacts that could be of use and will assist the team by providing clean weapons and so on.

After landing in Buenos Aires, the team met up with Gilberto Zambrano and received their equipment, including a collection of vintage reproduction firearms.  Vessel, dissatisfied with the firepower, began examining his MAC-10 for options and promptly broke it.  He asked Gilberto to start trying to locate a light machinegun.  The team decided they would need a boat for extraction and set Gilberto on that as well.  Several rigged some crude boxes to mount under the seats of their vehicle and placed the functioning MAC-10s inside.

They then got in the old Nissan-Holden Brumby and headed to the Handy Mandy club.  Network setup surveillance with eyes on the front door and a Ferret RPD-1X drone at the back.  Tango and Bernsen left their weapons in the van and headed inside.  They were met in the entranceway by a minotaur bouncer who searched them for weapons, informed them of the three drink minimum and sent them inside.  A couple patrons were already present, and Honey Dowell was onstage entertaining with a little number involving actual honey.

The pair sat at one of the back tables and opened communication with subvocal mics back to Network and Vessel.  The two began talking to the waitress and the elven dancer, Ravishing Raven.  That is, Tango did a lot of talking, and Bernsen often made Spanish-like sounds.  They eventually learned that the muscled, tattooed, cigar-smoking dwarf with the neon color-shifting Mohawk was the owner, Gerardo Martinez.  They met several of the other dancers and did their level best to blend in and pretend to enjoy themselves.

After a while, a pair of ork goons arrived escorting an immaculately dressed ork in a black suit, shades, slicked black hair, and gold rings piercing his ears and tusks.  The man spoke with Gerardo for a bit and went to the back.  Tango learned from Raven this was a frequent visitor she suspected Gerardo worked for.  She said she thought his name was Nicolas Salazar.  Tango had Network look him up, and she discovered he was “allegedly” the head of the Buenos Aires operations for the Andes Cartel.

Before long, Vessel got bored and came to the club as well.  He tried to slip an extendable baton into the building and was immediately discovered by the minotaur guard.  He paid her a healthy bribe to let him in, without the baton, instead of turning him away.  Once inside, he ignored Tango and Bernsen and struck up a conversation with Honey Dowell, bought some drinks, and got to know the bartender, Anita Barrera, as well.  Vessel paid for a private dance from Honey, but once away from everyone, he bribed her for some information.  He showed her a picture of Dr. Escobar and found that he generally arrives every other day and was there the night before.

After spending some more time with the dancers, to be polite, the team then returned to Network’s van to plan their caper.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Game summary for June 30, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Network (dwarf drone rigger), and Tango (ork tank).

After the LAZARUS RISING fiasco, Team MACHETE was assigned a task in the jungle.  Amazonia forces have cleared a section of rainforest and put in a small airstrip.  They are using the location to bring in massive amounts of troops and supplies into a region Aztlan had nearly suppressed.  Two stealth bombing missions have failed, with the bombers being shot down from surface-to-air missile installations.  Security around these installations is heavy, more than at the base itself.  Due to its remote location and the number of troops in the area, it seems Amazonia is confident in the security from ground assault.

Studies of geological data have revealed a cave system near the airstrip.  A scout team has found a cave opening near the airstrip which can be used to infiltrate a clandestine team behind enemy lines and make an attempt to destroy the strip.

Also, Aztlan has learned that Colonel Mateo Rivera is in the area.  He would make a prime target of opportunity.

Primary Objectives

• Airfield – Aztlan will provide eight satchel charges that will fire a charge into the air and scatter into thousands of small explosives.  This will destroy the landing strip surface.  The airfield must be rendered unusable.

Secondary Objectives

• Colonel Rivera – Capture of the Colonel would be a valuable source of information.  If he cannot be extracted, his death would be preferable to his survival.

• Structures – Destroying the air base is a temporary solution, but the more damage done the better.  Destruction of all structures would be of benefit.

Bernsen, Tango, and one of Network’s GM-Nissan Doberman drones proceeded through the caves and emerged in the steaming jungle just as evening set.  The team was not especially stealthy and came upon an Amazonia patrol including a genetically-enhanced spectacled bear warform, a female troll warrior lieutenant, a male dwarf infantry, and a male human infantry.  Tango engaged the troll and bear, readily defeating both.  Network’s drone took two well-placed rounds and was temporarily disabled.  Bernsen took several rounds and unleashed a Flamethrower spell, knocking himself out with drain but setting an infantryman on fire.

With Bernsen and Network out of the battle, Tango unleashed with his assault rifle, clearing the battlefield.  He then used first aid on Bernsen.  Meanwhile, Network sent in one of his MCT-Nissan roto-drones to the team.  Using the drone’s camera, Network walked Tango through a jury-rigged repair of the Doberman.  Ready for action once more, the team proceeded to the airstrip.

They discovered a trio of guard towers, the runway, a hangar, and several barracks.  Under the cover of darkness, Tango and Network’s drone distributed satchel charges using stealth.  The watch tower guards overlooked them, but a dwarf infantry emerged from a barracks to smoke.  He stood within one meter of Tango, smoking; he flicked his cigarette butt right by his head and returned to the barracks.  Sighing with relief, Tango continued setting the scattered charges.  After setting six of the eight, another soldier emerged to meet up with one of the Amazon warriors for an evening tryst.  Again, they seemed to pay no notice to Tango crawling along the runway.

Soon, all the charges were set, and the team moved to the edge of the jungle.  Tango launched a HE grenade into the side of one of the barracks as Bernsen detonated all the charges.  The resulting explosion ripped through the encampment, destroying the runway and killing a number of soldiers.  During the chaos, Team MACHETE slipped back into the jungle and through the cave back to Network’s awaiting GMC Beachcraft hovercraft.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.

Game summary for June 16, 2011; present characters included Bernsen (dwarf combat mage), Tango (ork tank), and Vessel (troll brawler).

After the successful assassination of Enrique Gonzales, the MACHETE team found a political nightmare brewing for Aztlan.  They were provided magical healing and sent on a new operation codenamed LAZARUS RISING.  In response to protests against Aztlan, the government has decided to plant an imposter Gonzales into power, claim the assassination attempt was a failure, and denounce Los Matan Gigantes.  Unfortunately, before any of this can happen, Aztlan needs to recover the corpse of Gonzales and eliminate anyone who could confirm he was actually dead.  Enter Team MACHETE.

Primary Objectives

• Enrique Gonzales – Acquire the corpse of Enrique Gonzales and get away with it without anyone being able to identify it.

• Witnesses – Kill everyone present at the morgue.  Leave no surviving witnesses, video, or audio recordings of your presence.

Secondary Objectives

• Structural Integrity – The clean-up team needs to be able to work quickly and clean up the mess.  High caliber weapons and explosives should not be used.

Bernsen, Tango, and Vessel scrambled to complete the mission.  They suited back up in their military armor and helmets but decided to utilize SMGs and handguns instead of assault rifles.  Vessel purchased a clunker car, and they drove the vehicle to the Los Muertos morgue.  Bernsen and Vessel investigated the side doors while Tango strolled in the front.  He walked into the office and began quizzing the receptionist at gunpoint.  Meanwhile, Vessel tried unsuccessfully to buzz himself in the side doors.  The doctor on duty called the police when Vessel began bodily hurling himself into the metal doors trying to break them open.  Tango attempted to have the receptionist avert suspicion, but he felt she tried to slip a coded warning to the others in the building.  So, he shot her.  Vessel likewise pulled a pistol with armor-piercing discarding sabot (APDS) rounds and began shooting out the door lock.

Tango progressed toward the family waiting area wherein he had heard crying earlier.  When he opened the door, a man with a machine pistol was covering the door.  A lovely, distraught woman was casting a spell, and a huge, obviously cybered, ork had pulled a sawed-off shotgun from a duffel.  Tango tried to give them the option of running away, but unbeknownst to him, an Aztlan military force had just killed El Gato, their shadowrunning companion.  Mistaking the heavily armored Tango for another Aztlan assault trooper, they pursued him into the hallway and gunfire erupted.

The man with the machine pistol kept a steady barrage of burst fire on Tango, buying time for the woman to hit him with an Acid Stream spell.  By then, the ork had emerged, taken cover at the corner of the wall and shot Tango at close range.  Tango was stunned to find himself badly wounded; the shotgun was loaded with EX-explosive rounds instead of flechettes!

Hearing the battle, Bernsen and Vessel began making their way across the building.  Tango, very injured, slid through a bathroom door for cover.  However, he was unable to go far into the bathroom before the shadowrunners began shooting him through the thin wooden door.  With a loud KABLAM! the door splintered as the ork put one last round through it and into Tango, slamming him into the far wall and incapacitating him.

Vessel moved into the hallway from the other side of the building and engaged the human at point blank range with his SMG.  The man went down in a heap.  In the meantime, Bersen was softening the opposition with magic only to find the woman counterspelling the effects.  Vessel quickly closed with the shotgun-toting ork but discovered the shotgun proved far more effective within a meter of one-another.  Collapsing in a heap, Vessel lost consciousness.

The ork came laughing around the corner and taunting the “little dwarf” Bernsen has he meticulously pushed new shells into the shotgun.  He continued to laugh as Bernsen turned and fled.  The last thing Bernsen saw behind the ork was the woman casting Heal on the downed human.  Bernsen got into the junk car and sped away as the sound of sirens drew nearer, two allies dead or grievously injured left behind.

The above summary is for a game session of Shadowrun: 20th Anniversary Edition played by the Phoenix Gaming Club.