New Ally

[Trax]

Everyone of us should have a vibro knife.  Trax got nailed with 3 of them during Mission 6: Wing Clipping (incorrectly titled as Hard Beginnings right now) and I've only got one listed on my CS so the only thing I can think of is that he gave one to each Niil and Jex.  Just a thought though, a standard knife has a difficulty of 5 to hit, a vibro knife is 15.  Trax will be carrying both, as well as his neural whip.

Trax has 7 medpacks on him, but some stims would be handy as well.

For extra troopers, I'd say 2 to 4 and they stay with the shuttle on the roof (if the shuttle is staying).  They can use the light repeaters to deter any ground re-enforcements that try to get in as well as keep the shuttle secure if anyone gets past us and onto the roof in an attempt to keep us from getting away.

Craig, I've got something listed as an assault rifle, ranges 3-10/75/200, 25 rounds per pack and does 6D damage but can't find any reference to such an animal anywhere.  When you have a moment, can you verify that there is such a beast for me?

[GM Craig]

There are many models of rifle - far more than the book provides. Yes, it's a heavy assault rifle. Short range, but it packs a punch.

[Trax]

Is it possible the building itself would have any type of energy shielding (asking here in case the idea is far fetched) and are the roof emplacements manned or unmanned?

[Collan]

I'm as ready to move on as I can be. I still can't find my CS. I think my copies were toasted with my old PC.

[Jex]

These gun emplacements on the roof, are they hardened, or just man-movable units placed on the roof? If not hardened, why not just land the shuttle right on top of one ...

[GM Craig]

Well, your shuttle is not armoured, and landing on top of a blaster emplacement is as likely to damage the shuttle as it is the gun.

The guns on the facility are corner-mounted jut-outs that provide full fields of fire on two sides of the building. They are not man-portable guns, but they are designed to be rapid-fire anti-personnel weapons, similar to a light repeater. They provide cover for the operator through blast shielding, and include electronics to aid with targeting and contact tracking. They are definitely a fixed weapon emplacement. The cover provided to the operator is from the front arc only, the back of the gun is wide open.

[Trax]

Does that mean if the shuttle makes it onto the roof they can't fire at it?

[GM Craig]

No information on that. It's possible they have only 270 degree fields of fire. It's also possible they have 360 degree fields of fire.

[Trax]

I guess if there's an actual landing pad on the roof it's more likely they'd have a full 360, but really there's nothing we can do about it other than be prepared.

When the time calls for it, Trax will target the two furthest emplacements, one because in theory their 'back' should be exposed to him, and two, if they have a full 360, then the nearest two should become exposed when they turn to fire on the shuttle.  It would be a good idea (if possible) for the shuttle to approach from the opposite side Trax is firing from.

[GM Craig]

The opposed approach is doable, but you'll have to be careful as they'll be flying into your line of fire. It's easier for a stray shot to damage the shuttle, since they'll be coming in low and fast.

[Trax]

That's assuming the shot that hits the shuttle is a stray 

Need an evil smiley on this board...

If the shuttle doesn't make it's approach until Trax takes his first shot, maybe two rounds worth so possibly three shots, because even the building is near the edge of extreme range the shuttle should be pretty safe.  It also doesn't have to come from an exact opposite angle of approach.

[Niil Spaar]

Is there anything that could spoof the targeting/tracking of those gun emplacements?  Chaff grenades or something similar?

[GM Craig]

It's more of an assist to the gunner than actual targeting. You may be able to kill their bonus (or reduce it) but the guns are still workable without the fire control bonus of the electronics.

[GM Craig]

Ok, you guys good to go?

[Trax]

I am.