>>4401702
(cont.)
05/17/200_: OPERATION IS OFFICIALLY DECLARED CRITICAL TO UNITED STATES SOVEREIGNTY. BLACK MESA INCIDENT IS INCLUDED IN PRESIDENTIAL BRIEFING. FOR COPY OF BRIEFING, CONTACT THE CIA DIRECTOR.

-Throughout the night, other agents are found, grouping into a full team. For full summary of the contact campaign with undercover spies, see attached documents.

-Agent “Gabriella Oppenheimer” and “Marietta Poskanzer” are declared dead. This is later redacted after regaining contact. Warning: Due to the nature of operation, the possibility of impersonation should not be discarded, however the subjects have yet to provide reason for ample suspicion.

-The undercover spies, not including Agent “Gabriella Oppenheimer” and “Marietta Poskanzer,” lead an ambush team led by, Agent “Mata Boyd,” attempts a capture and contaminant operation on Dr. Gordon Freeman. No further contact is made with any member other than Agent “Kim Reilly,” of the team.

-The ambush team is found to be mainly deceased, with only one surviving casualty, “Kim Reilly,” found with damage indicative of crowbar wounds.

-Agent “Gabriella Oppenheimer” provides evidence that extraterrestrial forces have an organized intelligence service acting through psychological manipulation.

-Military Command requests further aid, citing increased organization and combat intelligence among the aliens.

-The ISA is illegally deployed to aid in the Black Mesa incident. DoD internal affairs with the help of the ISA discovers twenty-two acts of friendly fire, five “danger-close” artillery strikes, and poor morale amongst special forces.

-Agent “Gabriella Oppenheimer,” is engaged by both alien and DoD intelligence simultaneously, managing to maintain contact with a now defected ISA agent “Kirchoff.”

-Citing the expertise of Dr. Isaac Kleiner, Agent “Gabriella Oppenheimer,” reports the possibility of a resonance cascade being extended by intelligent interference.

-Piltot “Heisenberg” along with ISA pilot put under pressure of law performs simultaneous extraction of Administrator Wallace Breen, drop off of Black Ops evacuation team, and paradropped radiation supplies.

-Agent “Gabriella Oppenheimer” requests Classified Permissions for Dr. Richard Guttman, who reportedly provided ample assistance throughout the Black Mesa incident.

-In accordance with recon assignment, Agent “Gabriella Oppenehimer” enters the anomalous materials labs sometime after the most recent contact.

THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO FURTHER AMENDMENT. IN THE EVENT THAT A MORE RECENT ITERATION IS AVAILABLE TO AN AUTHORIZED READER, THE READER IS TO SHRED AND BURN THIS COPY, BEFORE ACQUIRING THE MORE RECENT ITERATION.

AUTHORIZATION EX-03BB-PU87.7
(cont.)

>>4401705
(cont.)
At ground zero, the anomalous materials laboratory and its connected anomalous storage facilities, the resonance cascade has caused time and space to become loose, and tangled up in eachother. Whenever the migraine that has haunted you this entire operation seems to twist or contort in pain, its preceding a strange temporal anomaly where figures, ranging from intangible to solid depending on the time that’s passed since the event happened, replay past events.

Blocking your path is a pack of never before seen aliens, featuring razor sharp yet jagged spikes. As the next temporal anomaly manifests itself in the space before you, the creatures begin to attack the translucent figures. This time, once again you see the manifestation of Dr. Magnusson’s team of physicists, and now that despite not being fully solid, these alien creatures could put them in danger.

Having been helped by your vortal ally before, you look to the alien creature, who observes the scene just as you did with great interest. Keeping your words simple once again as you speak to the creature, you explain, “Vorty, that group needs to be kept safe. Can you help with that?”

The creature simply nods affirmatively, then says something in its alien tongue.

“What exactly do you want it to do here?” Guttman responds. “I’m gonna be honest with you, I think the less we mess with this, the better. One hole in the universe is enough. ”

“That’s why I’m trying to prevent them interacting with the science team.” You explain quietly enough that the creatures can’t hear you over their own hunting tactics. “If they’re allowed to engage the science team, it’ll change things again.” As the migraine plateaus, your face starts to wince slightly. Suddenly, the sound of another flying spike pulls your attention.

When you turn back, you see that Vorts has begun to emanate a strange purple glow, the color seeming to ride across him as he performs some strange movement and alien chant.

“Is everyone alright?” You hear Dr. Magnusson sternly shout out. “What happened?”

The migraine seems to release its tension as the scene plays out. However, unlike the scene from before, you notice that the science team fails to become tangible, or have forces act upon them the moment they begin to move.

“Yeah.” One of the scientists responds, panting slightly. “Everyones here.” He continues to pant for a moment. “Did you see me shooting those things? Three in a row.”

“And I’m sure if your mathematical accuracy was like your firearms accuracy, you wouldn’t have smashed half of our prototypes Dr. Taylor.” Dr. Magnusson’s ghostly figure shouts. It’s difficult to make his words out amongst the noises of the alien creatures. “Now would you like to find the Micro-LIGA safely, or continue bragging about marksmanship while we’re in danger?”
(cont.)

>>4401711
(cont.)
The physicist just shakes his head, and the group continues on. The vortigaunt continues his chant until they begin to fade out, which is where you notice another figure. Through the haze and chaos of the pit-drones, you can just make out a suit, tie, and a hand adjusting it before it turns around, and continues walking.

As he does, you see another set of ghostly, fading figures move through him. The pit drones, coming from the direction you’re heading.

When the vortiguant releases his strange chant, you see him slump his shoulders down, as though he were exhausted. Without biometric data on vorts, you can’t tell his stamina in concrete terms, but he does look tired.

>Now that the science team is out of the way, it’s time to engage. (Roll 3d6+2 for yourself, and 3d6 for Guttman. Every point above an 11 will be a +1 to the first attack made.)
>You need to follow that guy, and that means getting the pack out of the way quickly. Throw a few grenades in. (Each creature will have to roll 3d6 for each grenade, wounded below a 14 and dying below an 11. Getting wounded twice will count as a kill.)
>There’s a lot of them clustered up, and they do have eyes. Play it smart, and start with a flashbang. (Each creature will have to roll two 3d6 to avoid both flashbangs. Lose accuracy below a 14, stunned below an 11.)
>Have Guttman check on Vorty before you do anything. What did he just do, and how did it affect him?
>You’ve observed the new aliens, now it's time to report them back before doing anything else. Pull out the radio and quietly call your team.
>Before he leaves, tell Dr. Guttman to get a read on the door where your mutual friend is currently walking through.
>Write in.

CIA-Paperwork Edition.
Previous threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Black+Mesa+Black+Ops+Quest%2C+Half+Life%2C++Collective+Game

>>4401715
>Before he leaves, tell Dr. Guttman to get a read on the door where your mutual friend is currently walking through.
And check on the Vorty yourself.

>>4401715
>Before he leaves, tell Dr. Guttman to get a read on the door where your mutual friend is currently walking through.
>You’ve observed the new aliens, now it's time to report them back before doing anything else. Pull out the radio and quietly call your team.

>Before he leaves, tell Dr. Guttman to get a read on the door where your mutual friend is currently walking through.
>You’ve observed the new aliens, now it's time to report them back before doing anything else. Pull out the radio and quietly call your team.

>>4401715
>Now that the science team is out of the way, it’s time to engage. (Roll 3d6+2 for yourself, and 3d6 for Guttman. Every point above an 11 will be a +1 to the first attack made.)

I’m writing the next update but power just went out, and data might go with it, so if I’m unlucky the next update may not be in a while due to inability to post.

>>4401796
>>4401904
>>4401996
>>4402011
Thank god, we're back. Apologies for the delay.
As you watch the figures pull away, and the pack of creatures start to search the area around their cannibalized fellow, you quickly tap on Guttman’s shoulder. His attention quickly flicks back around, having been watching Vorts do his strange temporal ritual. For a moment you’re concerned the shifting of his gear might alert the already alarmed pack of aliens, but you give your command anyway. You quickly wave your finger down over your right eye, miming the motion of flicking goggles over your eyes.

Dr. Guttman nods, pulling them back down over his face before slipping around you to the edge of the cover, and leaning out. You immediately watch as his still visible mouth contorts into a sneer of confusion. His right arm reaches up to flick through the settings, then flick right back to the one he was on before.

Wanting to keep a move on, and knowing there isn’t much you can do to help the reading of such an elusive subject short of putting the goggles on yourself, you pull back as you take out your radio. Quickly setting up the encryption systems for short range communications, you activate the receiver, and state, “Team, it’s Gabby, we’ve got new hostiles up ahead.”

“Hear you ghost cop. Don’t tell me the phantoms of Black Mesa past are hostile.” Agent Reilly responds.

“No.” You respond. “Thankfully they don’t respond to the present if you don’t deliberately interact with them.”

“New aliens then?” Really comments.

“Yeah.” You quietly respond. “Small, spiky bipedal creatures that move in packs. They’re aggressive and they attack by throwing the spikes on their faces.”

Guttman suddenly pulls back into cover. “Why didn’t those things see him?” He mutters to himself, before allowing you to finish you radio call.

“How did they act?” Really asks. “Do they seem intelligent?”

“They seem like pack animals. More like dogs than a sapient species.” You explain to your fellow agent. “They didn’t figure out the figures aren’t real, and they probably won't for a while.”

“So more space dogs?” Reilly adds. “ I can deal with that.”

“These ones seem more bug like than the other aliens.” You add. “That’s all I’ve got about them for now, but stay on the line for a minute.”

“Understood.” Reilly responds.
(cont.)

>>4402154
(cont.)
Turning the receiver off and turning to your resident neurologist, you ask Guttman, “What did you see with those.”

“A normal guy.” Guttman responds. “And the only thing in this corridor not glowing like a microwave.”

“What do you mean by that?” You ask.

“This whole corridor is soaked in a low dose of radiation, not enough to kill us as long as we don’t spend spring break in here.” Guttman explains. “It’s still enough to be visible with these though. It’s on you, me, and the aliens too. The only person it wasn’t on was that guy.” He points his fingers in the direction of the hallway. “Squeeky clean. While he was walking down the hall he gave me a weird look for a minute.”

“He looked directly at you?” You respond for confirmation.

“Yeah. Like a sex offender.” Guttman responds. “He also looked a little cold for someone his age, but you’d need a medical thermometer to figure that out definitively, might’ve just been the air. He creeped me out though. What’s he doing in here, and why didn’t the aliens see him?”

Looking over to Vorts, the alien seems to slowly be regaining his balance, and catching his breath.


>Now that the science team is out of the way, it’s time to engage. (Roll 3d6+2 for yourself, and 3d6 for Guttman. Every point above an 11 will be a +1 to the first attack made.)
>You need to follow that guy, and that means getting the pack out of the way quickly. Throw a few grenades in. (Each creature will have to roll 3d6 for each grenade, wounded below a 14 and dying below an 11. Getting wounded twice will count as a kill.)
>There’s a lot of them clustered up, and they do have eyes. Play it smart, and start with a flashbang. (Each creature will have to roll two 3d6 to avoid both flashbangs. Lose accuracy below a 14, stunned below an 11.)
>While the line is still open, explain to Reilly, and in turn to Marietta, that you spotted your mutual friend.
>While the line is still open, explain that Dr. Magnusson’s team seem to be intent on finding a “Micro-LIGA device.”
>Quickly explain to Guttman that whoever that person is, it’s well within the realm of possibility that they have access to teleportation.
>Quickly explain to Guttman what you know about Dr. Breen’s “Investor,” not including your “deal” with him.
>Quickly explain to Guttman what you know about Dr. Breen’s “Investor,” including your “deal” with him.
>Write in.

>>4402155
>state "I'll explain more after clearing the area." to those on the other end of the radio, and to Guttman.
>Now that the science team is out of the way, it’s time to engage. (Roll 3d6+2 for yourself, and 3d6 for Guttman. Every point above an 11 will be a +1 to the first attack made.)

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>>4402155
Will Guttman and our other allies "Level Up" too?

>“A normal guy.” Guttman responds. “And the only thing in this corridor not glowing like a microwave.”
Becareful. He is, relatively dangerous and important. I'm not even sure if he's actually human.

>state "I'll explain more after clearing the area." to those on the other end of the radio, and to Guttman.
>Now that the science team is out of the way, it’s time to engage. (Roll 3d6+2 for yourself, and 3d6 for Guttman. Every point above an 11 will be a +1 to the first attack made.)

Oh right, and for these kinds of enemies...let's switch to the shotgun. We haven't used it much so we should be good on ammo for it, and being able to reliably oneshot these shitters should be worth it.

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>>4402179
support

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377 KB JPG

>>4402164
>>4402167
>>4402179
>>4402189
“I’ll explain things a little bit once the area is clear.” You explain, reaching over your back for your Spas-12. “Just for the moment, be careful. The person you saw is probably dangerous, and definitely important.”

Guttman nods, then reaches over for his own weapon. “We going in?” He asks.

“In a second, let me hang up on the rear team.” You explain to Guttman, before pulling up your radio. “Reilly, before we say anything else, we need to make sure the area is clear. We’re gonna engage in a minute, we don’t wanna get caught by surprise.”

“You got it ghost cop.” Reilly responds. “Good luck up there. If you kill something scary looking, make sure you include a clip for me.”

“I’ll try.” Is all you leave her with before turning off the receiver, and manually scrambling the encryption as quick as you can with the cumbersome system. Once you’re done, you nod to Guttman, and hold your shotgun in both hands.

He nods back. You once again motion to Vorty that he’ll need to stay behind for the time being. The two of you start to silently move into combat, finding a good position in the hallway amongst the numerous pit-drones that prowl around, trying to understand the mystery of their disappearing human prey. Abusing their confusion, you move in first, followed closely by Dr. Guttman.

Four players roll a 2d6. The first d6 is for yourself, the second is for Guttman. The top three dice out of each will be added into a 3d6+2 and a 3d6 for yourself and Guttman respectively. Every point over the threshold of 11 will add an ambush bonus of +1 to the first shot taken in combat. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice, but I will still take unique rolls over second rolls.

Rolled 4, 6 = 10 (2d6)

>>4402293

Rolled 3, 6 = 9 (2d6)

>>4402293

Rolled 1, 3 = 4 (2d6)

>>4402293

Rolled 6, 3 = 9 (2d6)

>>4402293

>>4402297
>>4402298
>>4402301
>>4402304
Both you and Guttman move in close to the party, making use of the pack’s confusion. As they track a prey they never truly found, you move in behind them, using the storage rooms as nooks to hide in. Once you’re confident you can’t get closer, you line up the sights on your Spas-12, then peak out, quickly mapping out numerous shots in your head. Looking to your left, Guttman has his back leaned up against cover, and is waiting for the “Open fire.” signal.

You can once again feel a contorting, twisting pain overtaking the migraine. It’s a minor distraction now, but also a warning as to what’s to come. Combat with this strange, reality shifting fluctuation could be a strange and chaotic thing.

(Gabby)
(You currently have 59/100 health, and 32/50 armor power, and 50/50 cloak power)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(3), damage or wounds, concussion(3), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Fire at the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+12 ammo.)
>Fire at the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 9. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/8+12 ammo.)
>Kick the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Pit-Drone with one round from your Spas-12. (Roll 3d6+2. Kill on a 14, stun on a 10, Every point over an 8 reduces both thresholds by 1. Will leave you in melee range.)

>Cloak(+4 defense +2 stealth, -3 Cloak power per turn. Can be done alongside any action.)
>Pop smoke. (-1/3 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Glock. (Small, weak, but good for saving a bit of ammo.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have no grenades for.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Hivehand. (Generally low stopping power, but low wound threshold, and infinite ammo.)
>MK23 USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise. Built in aiming assistance provides a bonus.)
>Shotgun(Close range, reliable.)
>Rifle(Powerful, but unwieldy while close and very loud.)
>Swiss army Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)
(cont.)

>>4402335
(cont.)
(Guttman)
(85/100 health, and 40/100armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(2), damage or wounds, concussion(2), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions.)

>Fire at the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+5. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+1 ammo.If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Fire at the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+5. Kills on a 9. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/8+1 ammo. If you have a preference, please specify. )

>Pop smoke. (+3 to defense, +3 to stealth. -1/2 smoke grenades.)
>Use a medkit on oneself. (-1/1 medkits, +15 health.)
>Use a medkit on someone else. Leaves them free to spend non-movement actions, and can be done alongside any non-firing action. (-1/1 medkits, +15 health. Specify the target.)

(Changing weapons can be done any turn, and while performing any action that does not require both hands.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Shotgun(Reliable close range.)
>Grenade launcher. (Loud, and deadly towards armored targets.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo.)
>USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise.)

(Vorty.)
(Without any biometric data for Vorty, his health can only be estimated. He seems to be rather healthy for a recently freed slave.)

>Draw up a charge of energy. Stuns any enemies that enter melee range during this turn, and allows this one to fire next turn. Very noisy. After a turn of charge, an attack will be available with a low hit threshold, minor stun capabilities, and good stopping power, especially against any creature naturally hunted by this one’s kin, such as headcrabs and their grim creations.
>Call upon the vortessence to predict the next attack of any enemy currently engaged with the party, then attempt to convey it to the team with limited knowledge of english.
>Swipe at the creature with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on 24.)

>Retreat and duck. This one shall fight then, which is indistinguishable from now. (+6 defense from any creature that doesn’t actively chase it down.)

>>4402338
gabby
>Fire at the first Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+12 ammo.)
guttman
>Fire at the second Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+5. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+12 ammo.)
vorty
>Draw up a charge of energy. Stuns any enemies that enter melee range during this turn, and allows this one to fire next turn. Very noisy. After a turn of charge, an attack will be available with a low hit threshold, minor stun capabilities, and good stopping power, especially against any creature naturally hunted by this one’s kin, such as headcrabs and their grim creations.

if i recall correctly, vortigaunts can steal health from their enemies by using their electric attack. So it's wise to have him rip the vortessence from these things to recover his energy.

>>4402335
Gabby
>Fire at the first Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+12 ammo.)

Guttman
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Frag)

Vorty
>Draw up a charge of energy. Stuns any enemies that enter melee range during this turn, and allows this one to fire next turn. Very noisy. After a turn of charge, an attack will be available with a low hit threshold, minor stun capabilities, and good stopping power, especially against any creature naturally hunted by this one’s kin, such as headcrabs and their grim creations.

>>4402352
This

>>4402352
>>4402359
>>4402379
Watching the creatures, you draw Guttman's attention, then mark out one of the creatures for him to take a shot. Taking your command, he kneels down, lines up the shot, his gun just barely leaning out of cover.

You then take your own target, one of the lesser aware creatures, with spikes still in its face. The creature begins to get bored of its fruitless search, and starts considering returning the grim meal left currently to the slowly migrating insects. As it turns around, your trigger pull reaches a critical reaches a critical threshold, and Guttman's follows soon later. Two rounds of buckshot are sent flying towards two separate alien creatures.

As the rounds fly, and the creatures reactively release intimidating screams, Vorts mutters a strange phrase of his own language. With a deep breath, his shoulders shift, and the alien begins to draw electrical energy seemingly from the ground, preparing to attack these extra dimensional locusts.

The migraine begins to grow further, visages of the creatures begin to seemingly materialize, as though a fog built in place perfectly into that shape. The dim emergency lighting, half covered by the xenian flora infesting these halls, smears their images across space.

Four players roll 2d6. The first roll is for yourself, the second is for Guttman. The top three rolls of each will be added into 3d6+6 and 3d6+5 respectively. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 1, 6 = 7 (2d6)

>>4402413

Rolled 2, 6 = 8 (2d6)

>>4402413

Rolled 3, 3 = 6 (2d6)

>>4402413

Rolled 3, 1 = 4 (2d6)

>>4402413

>>4402415
>>4402416
>>4402425
>>4402432
double kill, not bad
3 more bugs remaining

>>4402167
>Will Guttman and our other allies "Level Up" too?
Forgot to answer this, sorry. I've been passively increasing their stats to keep them on pace with you as time has gone on. Would you guys prefer more control over it? I was concerned it might seem a little crunch heavy.
>>4402415
>>4402416
>>4402425
>>4402432

Your buckshot round tears into the side of the inhuman creatures face, blowing apart the skill of the pit-drone. The inertia of the round immediately transfers its full force into the alien creature, pulling its light body off the ground, skidding it across the steel floor.

Guttman's round in turn blasts buck shot pellets center mass into the creature, blowing out its ribcage and sternum, and causing its own organs to shake themselves apart. In an instant, the creature almost appears to burst when its hits, slamming its head backwards as the inertia carries it away.

Vort's energy hits a crescendo, and from the back of the combat area, he considers his shots. With no choice but to either send a bolt of lightning into one of the creatures, or harmlessly dissipate it back into the environment, this one assesses his targets.

The three remaining creatures immediately spring into action the moment they see their fellow alien blown apart by the shells of a spas 12. Looking around, they immediately target the biggest, closest target around, currently dressed in a neurologist's casual wear. Two of them begin to sprint, however, the fifth of the pack, still featuring a few more spikes in its face, fires off a shot at the bright, crackling target at the end of the hall.

The fifth pit drone hits on a 15 and does 12 damage. The third and fourth pit drones are now in melee range.
(cont.)

Rolled 2, 6, 2 = 10 (3d6)

>>4402465
(cont.)
(Gabby)
(You currently have 59/100 health, and 32/50 armor power, and 50/50 cloak power)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(3), damage or wounds, concussion(3), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+12 ammo. If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 9. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/8+12 ammo.If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Kick the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-Drone. (Roll 3d6+2. Kill on a 14, stun on a 10, Every point over an 8 reduces both thresholds by 1. Will leave you in melee range.)

>Reposition. (3d6+2, above a 10, will move you out of melee range. Avoids grenades regardless of roll. Due to the tight environment, there is no chance of the enemy losing track of you.)

>Cloak(+4 defense +2 stealth, -3 Cloak power per turn. Can be done alongside any action.)
>Pop smoke. (-1/3 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Glock. (Small, weak, but good for saving a bit of ammo.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have no grenades for.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Hivehand. (Generally low stopping power, but low wound threshold, and infinite ammo.)
>MK23 USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise. Built in aiming assistance provides a bonus.)
>Shotgun(Close range, reliable.)
>Rifle(Powerful, but unwieldy while close and very loud.)
>Swiss army Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)
(cont.)

>>4402469
(cont.)
(Guttman)
(85/100 health, and 40/100armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(2), damage or wounds, concussion(2), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions.)

>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+1. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+1 ammo.If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+1. Kills on a 9. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/8+1 ammo. If you have a preference, please specify.)

>Reposition. (3d6, above a 10, will move you out of melee range. Avoids grenades regardless of roll. Due to the tight environment, there is no chance of the enemy losing track of you.)

>Pop smoke. (+3 to defense, +3 to stealth. -1/2 smoke grenades.)
>Use a medkit on oneself. (-1/1 medkits, +15 health.)
>Use a medkit on someone else. Leaves them free to spend non-movement actions, and can be done alongside any non-firing action. (-1/1 medkits, +15 health. Specify the target.)

(Changing weapons can be done any turn, and while performing any action that does not require both hands.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Shotgun(Reliable close range.)
>Grenade launcher. (Loud, and deadly towards armored targets.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo.)
>USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise.)

(Vorty.)
(Without any biometric data for Vorty, his health can only be estimated. He seems to be rather healthy for a recently freed slave.)

>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth pit-drone. (Roll 3d6+3, kill on a 9+, stuns on a 7+, sap the enemy on a 12+. Will need to recharge the shot.)
>Calmly allow the energy to dissipate.

>>4402470
Gabby
>Fire at the third Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12.

Guttman the TANK
>Fire at the fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12.

Vorty
>Fire at the fourth pit-drone.
It's in melee range

>>4402470
Gabby
>>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+6. Kills on a 12. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. -1/8+12 ammo.)

Guttman
>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+1. Kills on a 9. Every point over 3 reduces the next threshold by 1. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/8+1 ammo.)

Vorty
>Fire at the third, fourth, or fifth pit-drone. (Roll 3d6+3, kill on a 9+, stuns on a 7+, sap the enemy on a 12+. Will need to recharge the shot.)

>>4402490
seconding

Rolled 5, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5 = 31 (6d6)

>>4402490
>>4402521
>>4402538
Changing your tracking quickly, you swing the barrel of your shotgun around, tracking one of the creatures following Guttman. Depressing the trigger, you blast off a round just as the creature raises its two taloned arms up into the air. The gun releases a thundering sound, and the folding stock kicks like a mule into your shoulder.

Meanwhile, despite the two creatures currently rushing at him, Guttman maintains his calm, and instead focuses on the creature currently exposed elsewhere. The moment he realigns his iron sights, he changes targets to another one of the alien creatures.

Finally, Vorty releases his heavy beam of green, crackling lightning, muttering, "Churrr.." as the energy releases and arcs through the air towards his target. In the tight spaces of this hallway, this one's attacks are unlikely to stray from their destination.

As the two creatures sprint in on legs clearly not made for terrestrial gravity, they both raise their arms and release more warped barking and screaming sounds as they begin to swing. Unlike many of the other creatures you have faced, they don't stop their oncoming rush as they swing, pulling their arms back the moment they stop. If they aren't killed now, they'll likely get their attacks in, unless Guttman were to show a sudden spur of athleticism, especially in these tight corridors.

The two pit-drones each hit on a 9. If their roll is successful, they do 14 damage each unless they are killed this turn.

Four players roll 3d6. The first is for yourself, the second for Guttman, the third for Vorty. The top three rolls will be added into a 3d6+2, a 3d6+1, and a 3d6+3 respectively.

Rolled 4, 2, 4 = 10 (3d6)

>>4402558
What the FUCK is that roll, god damn

Rolled 2, 3, 5 = 10 (3d6)

>>4402558

Rolled 3, 3, 6 = 12 (3d6)

>>4402558

Rolled 2, 4, 6 = 12 (3d6)

>>4402558

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

>>4402560
>>4402562
>>4402569
>>4402584

Both Guttman's shots and your own connect, but just barely fail to kill. The heavy blast of buckshot nearly sends their bodies slamming into the ground, but the pellets fail to pierce vital organs. One of those targets, currently swinging at Guttman, slashes his talons across the neruologists body. The brunt of the damage is taken up by the man's PCV, but you still hear an audible grunt, and the man yell, "Shit!"

The twisting pain of the migraine finally begins to plateau, and the ghostly visages of the pit-drones begin moving. They once again swing at the team of Dr. Magnusson, who has yet to reappear in this temporal anomoly. Still, as the creatures swing around randomly, there is the possibility of someone being hit.

If the first d6 lands on a 6, Guttman will be hit by a phantom Pit-Drone. If the second lands on a 6, you will be hit by a phantom pit drone. Both do 14 damage.

The fifth pit-drone, just barely alive and standing, makes a new dash, this time towards its most recent aggressor, you. The creature releases yet more alien barks and growls as it moves in to attack.
(cont.)

>>4402618
(cont.)
(Gabby)
(You currently have 59/100 health, and 32/50 armor power, and 50/50 cloak power)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(3), damage or wounds, concussion(3), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Fire at the third, fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+2. Kills on a 3. -1/6+12ammo. If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Fire at the third, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+2. Kills on a 3. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/6+12 ammo.If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Kick the third, or fifth Pit-Drone. (Roll 3d6+2. Kill on a 8. Will leave you in melee range.)

>Reposition. (3d6+2, above a 10, will move you out of melee range. Avoids grenades regardless of roll. Due to the tight environment, there is no chance of the enemy losing track of you.)

>Cloak(+4 defense +2 stealth, -3 Cloak power per turn. Can be done alongside any action.)
>Pop smoke. (-1/3 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Glock. (Small, weak, but good for saving a bit of ammo.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have no grenades for.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Hivehand. (Generally low stopping power, but low wound threshold, and infinite ammo.)
>MK23 USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise. Built in aiming assistance provides a bonus.)
>Shotgun(Close range, reliable.)
>Rifle(Powerful, but unwieldy while close and very loud.)
>Swiss army Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)
(cont.)

>>4402621
(cont.)
(Guttman)
(80/100 health, and 31/100armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(2), damage or wounds, concussion(2), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions.)

>Fire at the third, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+1. Kills on a 3. -1/6+1 ammo.If you have a preference, please specify. )
>Fire at the third, or fifth Pit-drone with two rounds from your Spas-12. (3d6+1. Kills on a 3. The next shot will take a -3 recoil penalty, which will add up if you continue to shoot twice. -2/6+1 ammo. If you have a preference, please specify.)

>Reposition. (3d6, above a 10, will move you out of melee range. Avoids grenades regardless of roll. Due to the tight environment, there is no chance of the enemy losing track of you.)

>Pop smoke. (+3 to defense, +3 to stealth. -1/2 smoke grenades.)
>Use a medkit on oneself. (-1/1 medkits, +15 health.)
>Use a medkit on someone else. Leaves them free to spend non-movement actions, and can be done alongside any non-firing action. (-1/1 medkits, +15 health. Specify the target.)

(Changing weapons can be done any turn, and while performing any action that does not require both hands.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Shotgun(Reliable close range.)
>Grenade launcher. (Loud, and deadly towards armored targets.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo.)
>USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise.)

(Vorty.)
(Without any biometric data for Vorty, his health can only be estimated. He seems to be rather healthy for a recently freed slave.)

>Draw up a charge of energy. Stuns any enemies that enter melee range during this turn, and allows this one to fire next turn. Very noisy. After a turn of charge, an attack will be available with a low hit threshold, minor stun capabilities, and good stopping power, especially against any creature naturally hunted by this one’s kin, such as headcrabs and their grim creations.
>Call upon the vortessence to predict the next attack of any enemy currently engaged with the party, then attempt to convey it to the team with limited knowledge of english.
>Swipe at a creature with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on a 1, will leave you in melee range.)

>Retreat and duck. This one shall fight then, which is indistinguishable from now. (+6 defense from any creature that doesn’t actively chase it down.)

Last post of the night pals. See ya tomorrow.

>>4402623
Gabby
Shotgun the third drone. Should the bonus be +2 for our goggles, and +1 or +2 for Point Blank range with the shotgun?

Guttman
Shotty to number 5

Vorty
>Draw up a charge of energy.
Can the charged up energy be stored for an attack the next turn, or next combat phase?

>>4402632
>Shotgun the third drone. Should the bonus be +2 for our goggles, and +1 or +2 for Point Blank range with the shotgun?
Yeah that's fair, its coming right towards you, at point blank. Same with Guttman from here on out. Thanks for bringing it up, I probably should've applied it earlier.

>Can the charged up energy be stored for an attack the next turn, or next combat phase?
Yeah, that sounds reasonable, but I might think up a soft cap on how long Vorty can hold onto the electricity.

>>4402650
You forgot to write vorty’s attack in

>>4402658
I’m really retarded sometimes. One last amendment before I fall asleep. I’m sorry about that.
>>4402623
Vorty’s charge of energy emanates green at the highest point of charge, easily replacing the dim emergency lights with a radiating green glow, then, in an instant, a bolt of electricity arcs through the air, smashing into the fourth pit-drone. Immediately the creature loses all muscle control as the energy sears through neurological connections and tissue. The alien’s leathery hide blisters and burns as it falls to the floor. Even after death, the residual electricity burning out the alien’s muscle tissue causes it to squirm and spasm like a dying insect. The disgusting smell of electrically burnt out drone quickly permeates the corridor.

>>4402623
Gabby
>Kick the third, or fifth Pit-Drone. (Roll 3d6+2. Kill on a 8. Will leave you in melee range.)

Guttman
>Fire at the third, or fifth Pit-drone with one round from your Spas-12. (3d6+1. Kills on a 3. -1/6+1 ammo.If you have a preference, please specify.)
>Only shoot if one of the creatures is still alive after Gabby and Vorty do their attacks

Vorty
>Swipe at a creature with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on a 1, will leave you in melee range.)

>>4402710
supporting these.
Jesus their melee capability are abysmal. Vorty can kill them on a 1, and the least he can roll is a 3.

>>4402710
Supporting.
We should try to find Guttman a melee option soon. Maybe we can show him the right way to bash someone with the butt of a shotgun?

>>4402732
We could duct take a combat knife to the end of his shotgun so he could spear things with it, followed up by BLAMING them at point blank range. We should be able to find knives on some of the corpses of the marines.

>>4402742
You know deciding to stab an entity that doesn't immediately die from getting shot with a shotgun really just doesn't sound like a good idea. Stabbing a zombie isn't going to do anything to it unless you're going after the headcrab itself. And just being close enough to stab the myriad alien enemies is also far more likely to end up with your death if you decide to try and stab it first. Imagine stabbing an alien grunt for example.

>>4402632
>>4402710
>>4402715
I should have explained that vorties claws are more reactive to the enemy already being wounded. His claws killed on a 24 when the pit-drones were healthy, but now they're all the way down, because the pit-drones are hurt. Sorry about any confusion.
>>4402732
>>4402742
>>4402978
Swiping at nothing, the pit drone's phantom attacks don't show any harm to you, many of them are simply too far to worry about.

The pit-drone continues its rush towards you, raising both sharp talons into the air as it releases yet more alien sounds to intimidate you. At the same time, the pit drone still on Guttman takes another swing at the unlucky neurologist.

The two pit-drones each hit on a 9. If their roll is successful, they do 14 damage each unless they are killed this turn. The first three d6 are for the pit-drone attacking Guttman, the second set are for the one attacking you.

Not wishing to wait to charge up another bolt of green energy, Vorts begins to move in, his hoofs smacking against the steel and concrete of the corridor with every step forwards. Upon approaching the alien creature, this one swipes a primal attack, but allowing his claws to grow green with vortal energy the moment before, ensuring a solid execution, and defending Guttman.

Watching as the creature rushes towards you, you swing a kick around, attempting to time your boot to connect just as the creature enters distance. Its eagerness to attack you may simultaneously be its downfall, simply increasing the relative velocity of your boot.

Guttman keeps his aim steady, calmly tracking the two creatures as he sees you and the vortigaunt attacking them. Using the moment to step back and line up shots, he's prepared to blast any of the creatures that aren't killed by the other attacks.

Four players roll a 3d6. The first d6 is for yourself, the second is for Guttman, and the third is for vorty. The top three rolls of each will be added into 3d6+2, a 3d6+1, and a 3d6. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 5, 2, 2 = 9 (3d6)

>>4403124

Rolled 2, 5, 3 = 10 (3d6)

>>4403124
Will we actually do better than our technically untrained civilian for once? Let's see.

Rolled 4, 5, 1 = 10 (3d6)

>>4403124

Rolled 5, 2, 6 = 13 (3d6)

>>4403124

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>4403156
>>4403160
>>4403208
>>4403215

The moment the pit-drone begins to drive its talons forward into you, its semi-spiked face is slammed with the weight of your body directed fully into your leg. Below the thick skin of the alien the skull fractures, causing it to yelp in pain. The force causes it's body, with legs designed for a low gravity environment, to quickly flip over itself. This only furthers the injuries as it rolls over itself. Wanting to insure a kill, you keep your distance close to the creature, and after its full roll, you slam down one last stomp from your boot. As you drop your foot, you angle it to ensure the kinetic noise dampening section of the soles are avoided, the full impulse of your leg slamming down on the already uninjured head.

Vorty grabs the wounded pit-drone in one hand, allowing an electrical charge to ground itself against the unearthly creature. The energy flows through the creature, stunning it to the ground and leaving it without muscle control before Vorty's other hand comes slamming down, releasing another bolt of energy as he slashes with his talons. The massive impulse of electrical power jolts every system within the creature's body, causing it to twitch one last time before every motion stops.

Guttman lowers his shotgun with all threats dead. “We’re clear?” He says before stepping back a bit, away from the ghostly visages of the pit-drones.

You sit silent for a moment, allow the ghostly visages to fade, then listen for anything coming. Now that the constant growling and screaming of the pit-drones has ended, you start hearing more clearly the sounds of conflict within the anomalous materials labs. The facility is alight with the sounds of alien conflict. Electrical crackling, unearthly howls, and massive footsteps can be heard up ahead, where the anomalous storage facilities open up into the laboratory offices.

The only other sounds you can make out among the slow electrical pulsing from the test chamber.

“For now it seems.” You explain. “If they heard us fighting, then I can’t hear them coming, but keep an eye out.”

Guttman nods, and flicks his goggles on to keep an eye on the door. “So then who was that guy in the suit, and why did he look at me like he knows I cheated on my medical exams?”

From the tone of his voice, Guttman sounds both like he is willing to push the subject somewhat, and didn’t actually cheat on his medical exams.
(cont.)

(cont.)
>Now that the area is clear, perhaps you ought to have your doctor investigate these creatures with a surgeon's understanding. Of course, he’s a human surgeon.
>Call up the team, it's time to have them move forward, and get ready to move into the actual laboratory, and explain some of the things you found up here in person before moving out.
>Call up the rear team again, but just explain to Reilly, and in turn to Marietta, that you spotted your mutual friend.
>Call up the rear team again, but just explain that Dr. Magnusson’s team seem to be intent on finding a “Micro-LIGA device.” Perhaps they could research things further?
>Extend reconnaissance a little further, see what’s just outside of the hallway, while trying to avoid detection. (Roll 3d6+2, avoid detection on an 11.)
>Write in.
(Optionally, respond to Guttman.)
>Explain the suited man’s connection to Dr. Breen as an “Investor.” It seems a lot like that strange man had something to do with this whole incident.
>Explain the suited man's connection to Freeman, how the ISA has been tracking him constantly around that physicists.
>Explain the deal you made with your mutual friend, perhaps leaving out the more personal aspects.
>Just simply tell him he's a suspect both the CIA and the military have been tracking, and that little is known about the guy except his demeanor and appearance.
>You’re not really sure yourself, but you’ve seen him look at the others the same way. Pretend you don't know anything.
>”He looked at you like that because you have video evidence of his existence. All you need to know is that you need to get more stuff like that.”
>Write in a response.

>>4403277
>Call up the rear team again, but just explain that Dr. Magnusson’s team seem to be intent on finding a “Micro-LIGA device.” Perhaps they could research things further?

>You’re not really sure yourself, but you’ve seen him look at the others the same way.
Hes an alien or something, or some bad dude with super space powers.

>>4403277
For guttman
>Explain the suited man’s connection to Dr. Breen as an “Investor.” It seems a lot like that strange man had something to do with this whole incident.
>Explain the suited man's connection to Freeman, how the ISA has been tracking him constantly around that physicists.
For action
>Call up the rear team again, but just explain to Reilly, and in turn to Marietta, that you spotted your mutual friend.
>Go to the place where you spotted 'your mutual friend' appearing. It's worth checking to see if his temporal clone will show up like everyone else's does.

>>4403277
>Call up the team, it's time to have them move forward, and get ready to move into the actual laboratory, and explain some of the things you found up here in person before moving out.
>Explain the suited man’s connection to Dr. Breen as an “Investor.” It seems a lot like that strange man had something to do with this whole incident.
>Explain the suited man's connection to Freeman, how the ISA has been tracking him constantly around that physicists.

File: Spoiler Image (9 KB, 591x85)

9 KB PNG

Rolled 1 (1d3)

Tiebreaker roll.

>>4403295 (1)
>>4403306 (2)
>>4403328 (3)

>>4403295
>>4403306
>>4403328
>>4403419
Apologies for the mix-up for anyone who saw that mistake, I'm retarded sometimes.

I should have put this caveat in before, but since these two prompts:

>Explain the suited man’s connection to Dr. Breen as an “Investor.” It seems a lot like that strange man had something to do with this whole incident.
>Explain the suited man's connection to Freeman, how the ISA has been tracking him constantly around that physicists.

for the dialogue options both got two votes, the tiebreaker roll only is in place for the action vote. Apologies for not explaining that in the original tiebreaker roll.

>>4403442
>Explain the suited man's connection to Freeman, how the ISA has been tracking him constantly around that physicists.

>>4403481
bruh

>>4403442
>Explain the suited man's connection to Freeman, how the ISA has been tracking him constantly around that physicists.

>>4403481
>>4403501
>>4403502
Just to be clear this isn't like a secondary voting prompt or anything like that. I'm currently writing, sorry for the delay.

>>4403295
>>4403306
>>4403328
>>4403419
>>4403442
>>4403481
>>4403502
“Whoever he is, he’s illusive.” You respond to Guttman’s comment as you keep a close eye on the area. “He’s been spotted around Black Mesa, but no one can track an identity on the man.”

“Well if you don’t know his name, then where has he been?” Guttman asks. He doesn’t sound offended that you haven’t told him about it, but he seems significantly more curious about this topic than anything else.

Communication sensitive information, you keep your voice low and professional. Remembering your personal connection with the man, you aren’t exactly on board with the idea of information like this being leaked through the ranks of aliens or rank and file. “When I interrogated Kirchoff, he told us about the ISA’s tracking of Dr. Freeman.” You explain.

You hear Guttman mutter, “It’s gotta suck to be that guy,” to himself.

“He told me that wherever Freeman goes, that figure you just saw is tracking him somewhere nearby.” You explain.

“So does that mean Freeman is nearby?” Guttman asks. “We should probably find him if that’s the case.”

“Probably not.” You respond. “He sticks to Freeman, but he seems to be able to go anywhere he’s interested.”

“And he’s interested in us?” Guttman asks.

“Apparently.” You respond. “Although I don’t think that makes us special. He seems to have his fingers in every pie around. Dr. Breen was in contact with the man as well. In fact, it was that character’s investment that made Black Mesa what it is today.”

“So he’s a teleporting bureaucrat?” Guttman says, seeming no less confused than when he started. “That’s insane.”

“It is.” You respond. “But so is everything about this incident. The administrator revealed it to me while I was interrogating him, before we sent him off. Apparently that guy was the one who supplied the early samples of the stuff they used in the test chamber. They would have needed exotic matter to start collecting exotic matter in the first place.“
“These labs have been here before I started working here.” Guttman responds. “You’re not suggesting this was planned was it?”

“It’s a definite possibility, but I can’t be sure yet.” You respond, leaving it deliberately vague. You start pulling out your radio. “That’s all I can say about the guy, we need to report back now.”

Guttman just shakes his head in confusion. “This is insane. Can’t get over the look he gave me.”

Reworking the encryption systems once again, you call the rear team once more over your radio. Flicking the receiver on, you ask, “Reilly, is everything alright back there?”
(cont.)

>>4403586
(cont.)
“You’re interrupting my tea party with my past self Ghost cop.” Reilly says when she picks the radio up. “Other than that, it's all clear. We did a good job blocking up the door behind us, so if the marines start following us, they’ll let us know with a breaching charge.”

“Good work then.” You say, smiling slightly at her tea party remark. “But pay close attention to those anomalies. Some of them are solid enough to be dangerous, and a few of them are able to repeat their past speech. According to repetitions of Magnusson’s team, they’re looking for something called a “Micro-LIGA.” Any idea what that might be? I don’t remember him mentioning it in the labs.”

“Either a piece of lab-equipment, or a prototype of course.” Reilly responds. “Although every weapon concept Magnusson sent into the range had Magnusson in the name somewhere, so probably the former if he does that with his other prototypes. If you’d like, we could call up the handler while we still have radio, have him ask Vance. It’ll probably be up by the time we can catch up with you.”

You can slowly feel the migraine start to twist once again.

>Tell Reilly and the group to move up, you want to make your move into the laboratory.
>Tell Reilly she should call up Dr. Vance for you, he’s a sociable man who knows these labs well, so he’ll probably know what it is.
>You’ll call up Dr. Vance yourself. With everything that’s happening, you only trust yourself with calling the man.
>Ask Reilly if she heard revolver rounds earlier from your fight with the gonome, if she doesn’t, then she was affected by the earlier time shift as well.
>Ask what’s going on with Shaffner, you want to keep a close eye on the quiet electrician.
>Extend reconnaissance a little further, see what’s just outside of the hallway, while trying to avoid detection. (Roll 3d6+2, avoid detection on an 11.)
>Write in any ideas.

Along with your vote, roll a 1d6. The best three rolls out of four will be added into a passive “spy-work” check of 3d6+2. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice. The roll succeeds above a 12.

>>4403589
>Ask Reilly if she heard revolver rounds earlier from your fight with the gonome, if she doesn’t, then she was affected by the earlier time shift as well.
>Go to the place where you spotted 'your mutual friend' appearing. It's worth checking to see if his temporal clone will show up like everyone else's does.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4403589
>Tell Reilly and the group to move up, you want to make your move into the laboratory.
>Ask Reilly if she heard revolver rounds earlier from your fight with the gonome, if she doesn’t, then she was affected by the earlier time shift as well.
>Ask what’s going on with Shaffner, you want to keep a close eye on the quiet electrician.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4403605
oh right my roll

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4403589
>Ask Reilly if she heard revolver rounds earlier from your fight with the gonome, if she doesn’t, then she was affected by the earlier time shift as well.
>Go to the place where you spotted 'your mutual friend' appearing. It's worth checking to see if his temporal clone will show up like everyone else's does.

>>4403605
>>4403612
>>4403621
>>4403705
Since there are soft degrees of success for this, if anyone wants to throw in one last roll, I'll get to writing.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4403784

By the way, we should invent witty codenames for everyone else as well. Guttman can be Overhead (since he's in way over his), Marietta can be Martin (after the corporation), Reilly can be Shirley (surely = really), Vorts can be Spark (self-explanatory) and Shaffner can be Locker (given where he spends most of his time) - if he deserves one, that is. Better suggestions freely accepted.

>>4403605
>>4403612
>>4403621
>>4403791
The phantom pit-drones having disappeared, you start moving forward as you continue to talk to Reilly. “Hold off on that for now Reilly.” You respond to her question.

“Fair enough ghost cop.” Reilly responds. Thinking about it, it is probably rather helpful that she is calling you “Ghost cop,” even if it is rather silly to say out loud. Further obfuscation to the enemy. A passing thought considers creating secondary codenames for more members of the team. Still, with other matters at hand, you shake away the thought for now. “But don’t forget that we don’t know how easy it’ll be to get a hold of comms in there. Wouldn’t want to see this place through Guttman’s eyes.”

“Just leave it for the moment Reilly.” You say once again, wanting to move onto other matters. “I understand the state of comms.”

As you say this, you approach the position you saw the suited man standing. There’s nothing here for the moment, but the time dilation has yet to manifest any new figures. The migraine is still slowly growing, a contorted pain building up in a non-existent muscle hanging just off the side of your brain. As you await for something to appear, you talk to agent Reilly. “I need to know if you heard a shot from a revolver round. One of the security teams Colt Python’s, chambered for a standard three-fifty-seven magnum.”

Among the muffled steps of an extraterrestrial war among the anomalous labs, you swear you hear the sound of shuffling equipment.

Any decent assassin is trained in identifying the report of gunshots, but with Reilly assigned to weapons testing, you have no doubt she’s heard the revolver fire plenty even before the Black Mesa Incident. It’s not exactly as though the gun’s sound is quiet as well. “I don’t think so.” She responds. With no way she didn’t hear it, it practically confirms that it didn’t actually happen for her.

You start considering telling her about what happened with Dr. Magnusson’s team, and the now deceased headcrabs, but as the pain of the migraine grows, you suddenly notice the ghostly visages of pit-drones have returned, about to repeat their recent actions, this time standing over their own corpses.

Quickly looking for the returning image of your mutual friend, your eyes dart around the corridor, until they settle at the end. With your goggles set to magnify and lowlight, you barely have the resolution to tell that, at the end of the corridor, is the frozen image of a familiar sunken face, with his hands on his tie. It's hard to see out there, especially as the low light has failed, but his frozen lack of motion makes it clear this is part of the coming temporal anomaly.
(cont.)

>>4403885
(cont.)
As the migraine approaches a plateau you take a moment to focus on your other senses. You take a quick moment to listen in once more, hoping that it may reveal more information. The last thing you want is to rush after this “investors” past image right into some sort of trap. As you do, you suddenly notice the sound of footsteps, military boots approaching. They’re coming closer, audibly approaching the door at the end of the hallway. You are about to be attacked. From this distance, and amongst other noise, it’s difficult to hear their numbers or indication of equipment, but that’s almost as revealing as loud noises. Whoever these marines are, they aren’t your average loudmouthed grunt. They have decent noise discipline, and are communicating either through whispers or non-verbally.

Quickly, you motion to Guttman and Vorty, pointing to the door.

(Gabby.)
>Move up further forward, towards the ghostly image and the entrance where the marines are coming in. Greet them in close range.
>Line up a shot on their entryway. (Provides a +3 to the first shot, but makes you more susceptible to flashbangs in the first turn.)
>The line is still open, tell your team to move up to provide back up, it’ll take some time for them to get here.
>Just hide, stay there, and wait for them to come to you. The marine's won't spot you if they breach.
>Try and get them on military emergency comms. Start by convincing them not to breach the door immediately, you can work your way up from there. (Roll 3d6+2, pass on a 15. A bonus will be given to convincing write ins.)
>Write in any clever ideas.
(Guttman.)
>Move up further forward, towards the ghostly image and the entrance where the marines are coming in. Greet them in close range.
>Line up a shot on their entryway. (Provides a +3 to the first shot, but makes you more susceptible to flashbangs in the first turn.)
>Just hide, stay there, and wait for them to come to you. The marine's won't spot you if they breach.
>Use the multi-spectrum goggles to count them out in infrared.
>Write in.
(Vorty.)
>Get in cover, hide the best this one can.
>Charge up another blast of electricity.
>Move up, will be audible to those coming, but will bring vorty into close range.
>Call upon the vortessence to warn the Oppenheimer of what comes.
>Temporaly protect the team from anything that might happen in the coming anomaly.
>Write in.

Can we just announce ourselves as government agents and them to hold fire and that Command sent you in here to get readings of ground zero. Try to make things as confusing as possible by telling them that there aren't even supposed to be any marines left this deep because most have pulled out already. Try to play up the anomalies to make it seem like they're been here longer than they should have.

>>4403977
You could announce yourself, and pull authority to get them to stand down. It would certainly get them to stand down without any significant fight. It'll still require some minor convincing, probably getting you by on a roll of 10, considering there's still an alien in your ranks, and it'll also mean giving up a decent amount of information to marines who may or may not be ordinary rank and file.

>>4403977
>>4403988
And all of the other parts you mentioned you could of course do, which would do a decent job of throwing them off their tracks until they regain contact with their own command.

>>4403886
>Move up further forward, towards the ghostly image and the entrance where the marines are coming in. Greet them in close range.
>Move up further forward, towards the ghostly image and the entrance where the marines are coming in. Greet them in close range.
>Get in cover, hide the best this one can.
and try what
>>4403977
suggested, but with the added caveat of informing them to briefly stand by because it's top priority to investigate "Subject G's temporal residue to learn vital information about the target."

>>4403886
Everyone just hide. Maybe we can get the marines and aliens to duke it out, then we can attack whoever survives.

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>>4403977
>>4404019
>>4404207
Today and tomorrow are gonna be light on updates. Work again.

“Reilly I’m gonna have to close comms, we got marines.” You explain quickly. “I’m gonna talk them down.”

“Good luck.” She responds. “Do you want us to move in?”

“Just stay there for a moment.” You say, before shutting off the receiver, undoing the encryptions, and flicking to military emergency frequencies. Turning the receiver back on, you immediately say, with a tone of authority in your voice, “Who exactly is attempting to breach the lab’s storage facilities?”

You hear the sound of movement at the end of the hallway stop for a moment, then through the radio you hear the sound of a receiver moving. “Who is this?” A male voice, audibly older than the average marine, so either around the rank of major, or not your average HECU grunt. “Repeat, what authority are you asking under?”

“The Central Intelligence Agency.” You respond sternly. “Who is breaching the door? No one is supposed to even be down here. I need you to hold back and stand down for the time being.”

Through the radio you can hear one of the men release a quiet, frustrated groan. “Come again? What do you mean by that?” He asks. His tone seems to shift, sounding slightly confused. You can’t tell whether or not it's an act, or genuine misunderstanding. “And what is the CIA doing down here?”

This marine is difficult to read, but regardless, you have authority on your side. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get the marines to stop their breaching and stand by, giving you a bit of peace of mind to investigate the current subject in the room, but occasionally under the stressors of a place like this, a soldier might still choose to do something unwise.

Four players roll a 1d6. The top three rolls will be added into a 3d6+2. On a 10+, the marines stand down, and will not breach the door without your allowance, a 15+ will be considered a critical success. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4404556
y'know, I've always wondered why we're CIA and not FBI, considering the CIA is the foreign intelligence service while the FBI is the one responsible for domestic affairs, at least as far as I understand as a non-burger.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4404556

>>4404561
Well, xenos have been involved with black mesa for a while, so it technically classifies as activity with foreign powers (REALLY foreign powers).
The ones who assigned gabi here may have caught wind of the xeno activity at some point and just put a bunch of agents all over Black Mesa for further intel gathering and, if necessary, sabotage.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4404556

>>4404577
>>4404563
>>4404561
A crit!
https://youtu.be/c3Bj1VpW49Q

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4404556
Well shit I didn't think we would actually say we're part of the CIA. A little. It of a faux PA but here's hoping it doesnt come back to bite us in the butt.

>>4404561
Aliens technically count as feign.

>>4404567
>>4404590
As far as I know, we'd just been posted as a mole/sleeper agent in BM's operations since well before the alieons got involved or anyone even suspected they might be. Maybe to root out evil Russian or Chinese spies or something.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4404556
Oh, and one more vote for the road because ynot

>>4404593
Not a sleeper agent if we've been aware of our role the whole time.

>we got a 17
Nice

>>4404601
A sleeper agent doesn't have to be of the Manchurian type. It just means an agent who isn't actively participating in intelligence-gathering activities or rgular communication with a handler, but rather hanging out and blending in with the scenery according to their mission until they're activated when needed. Commonly employed IRL with no brainwashing needed.

>>4404561
>>4404563
>>4404577
>>4404590
>>4404597
“I mean you aren’t supposed to be down here.” You respond sternly, more as a gesture of authority than an explanation. “I was informed that the marines were told to pull out before my activities came in. How long have you been down here?”

“A few hours.” He responds. “You were informed by the CIA?”

“The identity of my informants are above your clearance.” You continue to explain. “And you need to elaborate, since I’m not sure exactly how stable perception of time is. What time were you sent down here?”

“Thirteen-hundred, give or take.” The marine responds. “We’ve seen the anomalies, but haven’t had any indication of clocks coming out of sync.”

“Well it's midnight outside last time I saw, so you’ll need to check that again.” You explain, lying through your teeth to throw the marine’s off and confuse them. If they feel like they’re losing track of the situation, they’re significantly more likely to do what you say. “I wouldn’t be surprised if its changed further.”

“What are you talking?” The marine responds. “Listen ma’am, with all due respect, that’s a bold claim.”

“It’s no more bold than claiming that the past is repeating itself around us we speak.” You explain. “Now are you going to follow orders, or are you ready to catch hot water with the highest authority you’ll ever meet because you started talking Occamn’s Razor in the middle of a real alien invasion?”

“I’m pretty sure I already am in hot water with your bosses ma’am. We’re not exactly working together at the moment.” The marine responds. The way he says that immediately makes you think “ISA.” “But what if I forgot any of us ever heard you. Turn around, say the hall is clear, and then regain contact. We we're just gonna slip away when we first heard you drop authority, but now I want to cut you a deal. You forget about us, we forget about you. We’re both working for the same country here.”
(cont.)

>>4404657
(cont.)
“How can I trust you?” You ask. The man is well spoken, making you think he’s definitely working for the ISA. The migraine is starting to tighten to the point of making you cringe below the mask once again. You keep an eye on the figure of the suited man

The marine groans. “We’re both working for the same country here. If you really need it, I can give you a designation so you can track me as collateral..”

>You don’t need the marine’s designation as collateral, just let him go, you trust the both of you will forget you ever saw each other.
>Take the ISA operatives codename to enforce the deal if it bites you later, then let him go. He's far less likely to betray you if you have something that you can track him with. Ideally, you'll both just forget.
>Tell him no, that he needs to stay here so you can interrogate him in a moment. Of course, that will void any deal you make.
>Write in.
(Optionally, choose any extra “observations” you want to make on your mutual friends temporal ghost.)
>Tell vorty to temporally protect you in case it does anything strange.
>Reach out and touch it, like you did magnussons team.
>Try communicating with it? It’s certainly a longshot.
>Write in.

>>4404658
>Take the ISA operatives codename to enforce the deal if it bites you later, then let him go. He's far less likely to betray you if you have something that you can track him with. Ideally, you'll both just forget.
>Tell vorty to be on standby, while you try opening the ghost's briefcase. The contents are sure to tell you more about the mysterious figure and his goals.
It's risky, and I'm almost positive his ghost is going to react once his past self realizes there's interference from the future, but...knowledge is power. And we won't get a chance like this again anytime soon.

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>>4404561
>>4404567
The CIA in real life does do domestic investigations, especially when possible foreign threats could be involved, but then again valve also thought the spas-12 was a double barrel shotgun.
>>4404590
That's how I interpreted "announce ourselves as government agents," as revealing yourselves as CIA is something you've done before. I apologize if I misinterpreted the original write in.
>>4404614
The CIA never really gave you much information as to what you were looking for before the resonance cascade, so you don't know how little or how much they knew about Black Mesa's operations before your deployment.
>>4404584

How lewd is this quest?

>>4404676
Skintight suits is the extend of the lewdness so far

>>4404664
This for the keks

Next update might come pretty late today, I've got some other responsibilities before work today, but hopefully the latest it'll come is tonight. Apologies.

>>4404664
>>4404699
https://youtu.be/ktNS-Ec-Y3o

“Give me a name.” You respond quickly and sternly. “I won’t remember it if you don’t remember me.”

Through the radio, you hear a slightly distant murmur. “Why don’t we just get out of here man? Don’t give up any more than we already have.”

The leading marine groans, then quietly responds, “You wanna fuck with the CIA? We’re already in deep shit as it is. You’ve heard the grunts talking about people turning invisible. If they can do that they can record our call.”

The other marine just groans, and you hear the commanding marine say, “Frank Babbage.” Without a rank. The same with Kirchoff, it's probably only a codename, but you can still track that back to the pentagon and find him through there.

“I’ll remember this.” You reply, sounding slightly softer than before, as though the marine just earned a favor. “Now all of you should forget you heard anything. I’ve got vital investigations going on at the moment.”

You start feeling the migraine plateau further, the building of pain slows down, and you start watching the ghostly figure of your mutual friend. You start to move closer, looking down at the offhand currently holding a suitcase, featuring the black and orange logo of Black Mesa. .

“If she could do that then why does she need your name?” Another marine responds over the radio. “This isn’t freeman we’re dealing with here.”

You almost expect him to say something along the lines of, “If she’s negotiating, then we have the upper hand in combat,” but the commander simply responds “Shut up, let’s go, stow your gear away.” before the line goes quiet. You played up your own authority, and in turn, intimated them into leaving you alone. A bit more frightening is the fact that they’re intimidated by hearing stories of you from other marines. If word is being spread, that’s not good for you. Thankfully, it sounds like Freeman is still making enough noise to put you on the sidelines.

You start to hear the marines packing up what sounds like a breaching charge they were ready to place over the door. Now trusting that the men are leaving you to your investigations. You wave vorty up along with you, and hear him move up close to you. Quiet enough that the men behind the door can’t hear you, you ask him, “You see that one?” before pointing to the ghostly suited figure. If it weren’t for the familiar form, it would seem no different than any of the other anomalies, blurred, and almost smeared across space like a sunbeam emitting from the figure.
(cont.)

>>4406857
(cont.)
The vortigaunt reluctantly nods yes, then grumbles something in its own language.

“Gabby, what are you gonna try?” Guttman asks from the back. This is one of the rare times the man seems genuinely nervous, given that he’s typically either annoyed at the insanity of the world, or swearing at it. As you look back to him, you notice that as the group has moved up, he’s fallen directly into the gaze of the still, suited image of a man.

“It’s just a repetition of him.” You respond, surprised at the sudden shift in Guttman’s voice.

“Yeah, and remember what happened last time you messed with these things?” He responds. “And this is, according to what you just told me, the one guy with access to the universe destroying materials that caused all of this.”

“I know how risky it is, Guttman.” You respond. “Knowledge is power. If I can get even a blurred look at his briefcase, I’ll be able to learn more about him than anyone else has so far.” Not wanting to hear any further objections, you tell Vorty, “Be ready to try that trick again if we need you to protect us.”

Vorts nods, grumbling further in his own language. You turn back to the suited figure, feeling the migraine stop. The pain flashes in one last little pulse, then the suited man begins to move. You watch his hand simply adjust his tie. Moving quickly, you grab at the man’s suitcase.

It’s certainly a risky idea. This man spoke to you in your childhood about Black Mesa. A man with that ability has practically infinite options to find out about you, and get back. You have to push a few rather terrifying thoughts out of the way as you crouch down, and attempt to quickly wrestle away the suitcase.

Immediately, you feel and hear your own arms clap together. Looking at the scene, you suddenly notice that your arms have gone straight through the case as though the temporal anomaly was a few days old. Knowing that he was just in this position a moment ago, you swivel your head around the room.

The suited man begins to walk forward, moving through you as you spot the purple glow of your vortal ally, chanting as he performs his strange ritual. Guttman soon notices it too, shrugs, then says, “Maybe he doesn’t think you should be trying it as well.”
(cont.)

>>4406860
(cont.)
Even under the shrouded nature of the temporal anomaly, you can see the smug smile on the sunken face of the suited man. What the hell is he doing?

“Vorts, that’s not what I meant, I still need to be able to touch it.” You respond. The vortigaunt doesn’t seem to respond, perhaps ignoring you, or perhaps too caught up in it. Regardless, you know that the creature is intelligent. It seems like he’s directly defying you.

Still, at the same time you can’t get past that smile. Does he want the vortigaunt to do this? Does he want you to stop vorty? You can’t tell, you already know you’re trying to fight someone multiple turns ahead of you. It’s not possible to predict what this kind of subject wants on a moment to moment basis. A far more horrifying thought sits subtly screaming in the back of your head, that the subject in question already knows exactly what you’re going to do, and has planned around it.

>Simply demand that Vorts stand down, as the leader of the team. This is mission critical, and you can’t have a member of your team defying you right now. When he does, grab the suitcase.
>Try and tell Vorty that you think this is what the figure wants Vorts to do. You can’t prove that in any way, but perhaps you have a hunch. If Vorts stands down, grab the suitcase.
>Tell Vorty to stand down, you won’t touch the suitcase. You trust his judgement.
>Tell Vorty to stand down, then grab the suitcase. You’ll definitely get the suitcase, but you’ll also lose Vorty’s trust.
>Ignore Vorty and the suited figure for a moment, perhaps this is a distraction? Start looking around elsewhere. Of course, this will mean taking your eyes off of any information you can gain from those two.
>Tell Guttman to look around elsewhere while you do whatever you intend to do. Of course, that means taking your eyes off Guttman, so something might be done to him. (When choosing this option, please pick another alongside it.)
>Write in.

>>4406864
>Tell Vorty to stand down, you won’t touch the suitcase. You trust his judgement.
Vorty is the one who has to pull our asses out of the fire if we break time or something. I don't want to take on Gman right now with only Vorty as backup and no idea what is going on.

>>4406864
>Tell Vorty to stand down, you won’t touch the suitcase. You trust his judgement.

>>4406870
>>4406921
You look to the suitcase, then Vorty, then Guttman. The ghostly figure still has that smug look on his blurred face, continuing to Vorts. Vorts is the one who has to pull you out of the fire if you screw time up again.

It’s impossible to tell how, or perhaps even if, the suited man would respond. If he knows what’s going to happen, just like how he knew where you would end up in your childhood, would he really make going after him this easy? Perhaps you ought to not tempt fate.

“You can stand down Vorty.” You say. Initially, the creature continues his strange ritualistic chant, still not wanting you to mess with these sorts of powers. “I won’t touch the suitcase, you can drop it, don’t tire yourself out.”

Before Vorts ends his strange vortal chant, the releasing tension of the migraine suddenly, quickly builds back up. It’s not the deadly, torturous, and lasting pain of the migraine tearing itself apart like the last time. Rather, it’s almost like snapping a rubber band against your brain. It’s painful enough to make you flinch, out of surprise just as much as it is out of pain. Your eyes shut for a quick second, opening to see the purple light around Vorty fading. He looks to be mildly tired, as though he just sprinted down the hall.

His singular main eye nods closed in respect, almost like a bowing motion, of thankful respect. You smile back to the creature, then look over to Guttman.

Guttman’s posture has become suddenly tense. He’s taken an odd defensive stance that you haven’t seen him take before. When the CIA had you working in the middle east, you remember often seeing a similar look in the eyes of men whose families were threatened, but simultaneously knew they were outmatched.

His gaze shifts to the suitcase in your mutual friend’s right hand as he walks through Vorty. Then Guttman’s eyes move over to meet yours, then flick back to the suitcase. He repeats the action one more time, finally with one more look, saying with his face, “What do you think?”

The constant interference of your allies seems to be preventing this from being an easy decision. First, vorty prevents you from doing it, now something, somehow, has caused Guttman to change his mind about grabbing the suitcase. You don’t know what it was, or when it happened. Could it perhaps be connected to the snap of pain you felt? Could it be because of the stranger you’re seeing right now?

He doesn’t look to be crazed, or under some other being’s influence, but he does seem emotional. Looking at the neurologist, you can at least tell that Guttman himself is the one making the decision.
(cont.)

>>4407510
(cont.)
It’s certainly strange regardless, people don’t usually change their minds that fast. If you asked him to explain what happened, Breen’s “Investor” will probably be gone by the time you fully understand. He doesn't

>Tell Vorty to start the temporal protection again. This will tire vorty out further.
>Tell him to stand down, then place yourself in between him and the figure just in case.
>Stay where you are, but remind him he told you himself it’s a bad idea.
>Let Guttman make his own decision, stay silent.
>If his mind changed so suddenly, perhaps he has a good reason, just nod yes and watch him.
>Write in.

>>4407511
You can't take meaningful action against a walking plot device, as far as I can understand as a player. Let's do something foolish then.

>Write in.
Shoot the briefcase.

>>4407608
Do you feel like you're being railroaded at all? I'm not trying to use Gman as a way to take away choice, but please do call me out though if you feel I'm railroading you guys.

>>4407632
It's just the frustrating nature of this particular encounter. Any action you take can be interpreted as 'you're fucked'. I'm scratching my head here for good twenty minutes now as to what could possibly be good here.

The issue is with how agitated Guttman is. I have a feeling that he was subjected to gman's charming selling points of how you've fucked him and Earth and are basically Breen's right hand. You protect the briefcase and confirm that suspicion. You are shielded by Vorty and confirm that suspicion. He runs for the briefcase and it's empty, whoops, the whole thing was planned from the start, which gives some extra info to gman. And it somehow fucks vorty, who is being invaluable. Basically I feel like I'm presented with two (or more) potential losses and I can't even really pick which, because I don't know how it will turn out due to the time shenanigans.

Maybe I'm just not used to these kinds of choices, I don't play many quests. So the only solution I see to this is to do something stupid, which throws a wrench into the works, possibly collecting every loss in the process. This is good stuff you're writing, but boy I wish there were less factors in this encounter to make choice somewhat easier.

>>4407511
>Stay where you are, but remind him he told you himself it’s a bad idea.
Hmm...you know, I'm suddenly wondering how Diazepam would work for Vorts. It helps us with our mental trips, and the pain medicine worked for him earlier, so maybe...?

>>4407698
I think I was unclear on a few things, so I apologize.
Vorty's ability to "temporally protect" the group is the same thing he used to prevent you from touching the suitcase earlier. If you were to command him to use it, Guttman would simply be unable to touch the suitcase, but as you've seen, it seems to take a toll on the creature.

When Guttman looks to you, he doesn't seem to be directing his anger at you, it seems more like he's for affirmation. Whether or not he'll listen to a lack of affirmation is something you're unsure of.
Of course, you are free to throw a crowbar in the works if you so choose.
>>4407733
You're free to try it. Diazepam prevents the migraine from inducing the seizures it uses to stop you. If the vortigaunts can be afflicted by anything similar, it may help.

>>4407779
Yeah, I'll add slipping Vorts a diazepam pill to my vote.
Honestly, protecting him from psychic attack is wise given how he's our ticket for protection from a lot of shit down here.

>>4407789
Switching to supporting this then.

>>4407608
>>4407698
>>4407733
>>4407789
>>4407809
You just stay where you are, nodding no to Guttman, and holding out an arm to signify that he needs to calm down. “Don’t do it Guttman.”

He seems almost shocked at this, having expected you to encourage him. “You were just all for messing with this asshole.” He responds. “We’ve got him right here, we can fuck with him all we wants and he can’t see us.”

“And you were just against it only a minute ago.” You respond. “Either you’ve had a very quick change of heart, or you’ve seen something I haven’t. Either way, you yourself said that we shouldn’t be messing with time.”

“Well I think you would make the same exception I am.” He says, getting louder.

“You need to stay quiet Guttman, you’re smarter than this. We can’t attract more attention.” You say calmly. “Again, you told me just a minute ago that this is the guy with access to universe destroying materials. You’re not gonna get anything out of a suitcase if that’s true, he’s planned for this.” You don’t actually know if it's true. You remember that, during his childhood meeting with you, he mentioned that he had to do it the way he did due to certain agreements. As well, both times he has appeared was when Vorty was focused on temporally protecting the team.

As you talk to him, you notice that he doesn’t seem to be getting any less angry. He doesn’t seem any worse, but you don’t feel like you’re getting any further with him. “Don’t screw with these things over a meaningless victory.” The pain of the migraine is releasing even further. Perhaps you don’t need to get to him, just stall until the anomaly fades.

“Well what should I do here?” He asks, even louder, almost seeming to forget that you don’t know what put him into this state.

“Well, do you want to tell me what you saw?” You say, then repeat, “You were just against touching him a minute ago. What changed your mind so quickly?”

“I…” He stammers for a moment. In the two days that you’ve known him, you haven’t seen him like this. “I- I don’t know.” He responds. “I don’t know if I can. I guess I have to keep quiet.”

“Why is that?” You respond. “Are you being threatened by someone?”


“Y-no. No.” He responds, still tripping over his words. “Just… I got one chance to do something here, will you let me just-” He peers around the corridor. “Oh you bastard.” You’re not sure if he’s saying that to the suited man, he recently faded away just a second ago, or you.
“Guttman, you need to calm down for a minute, alright?” You command, knowing that you’re finally in the clear. “Take a breath and get your emotions under control. I need to talk to the vortigaunt.”
(cont.)

>>4408052
(cont.)
Guttman leans up against one of the fungally infected walls, being already covered in alien gore. “Sure.” Is all he responds. He starts looking around the room, and as he has some time to cool off, you notice that there is a second emotion developing in his expressions, what appears to be fear. Whatever he just saw, it shook him.

You give him a moment to cool off, pulling away from the confused neurologist to talk to your Vortal ally. “Vorts.” You say quietly. “Thanks for the help there. You’re my only protection from a lot of the crazy stuff down here. I need to keep you safe down here.”

The vortigaunt looks at you curiously as you pull a bottle out of your bag. “This is human medication, used to heal the mind, like Guttman.” You shake out one pill into your hand. “If you take one of these, it’ll prevent anything from inducing seizures.”

The vortigaunt simply nods, seeming slightly confused, and takes the pill out of your hand. It inspects it curiously, then eats it. You see its face wince at the taste, but it swallows it regardless.

Without any biometric data on Vorts, you can’t tell exactly how the medicine affected him, since nothing’s actively attacking him.

Turning around to look at Guttman again, he’s definitely still angry, but also more scared than he was before. Perhaps him going for the suitcase was more about simply about the fact that it was the only thing he felt like he could do.

>Call up the team, it's time to have them move forward, and get ready to move into the actual laboratory, and explain some of the things you found up here in person before moving out.
>Offer Guttman a trade, if he tells you what he saw, you tell him about your “deal” with your mutual friend. Of course, you don’t know how that will affect the deal itself, but it’s likely to get him to give up information.
>Reilly mentioned that you could still call Dr. Vance about Magnusson’s device, pull out your radio and call Dr. Vance about it now.
>The two times the suited figure appeared, he was distracted, ask Vorty about the correlation.
>Peak out the space up ahead before doing anything else, preventing any more surprises. (Roll 3d6+2, avoid detection on an 11.)

>>4408054
>Offer Guttman a trade, if he tells you what he saw, you tell him about your “deal” with your mutual friend. Of course, you don’t know how that will affect the deal itself, but it’s likely to get him to give up information.

>>4408054
>>4408060
Scratch that, altering my vote because i realized that our temporal clones are still audible so this information won't be secure if someone comes along them.
Go with this instead:
>Call up the team, it's time to have them move forward, and get ready to move into the actual laboratory, and explain some of the things you found up here in person before moving out

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The vote is still open and everything like that, I just wanted to say this real quick, I just like to tell you guys the standards I want to hold myself to. It makes me feel more obliged to follow them.

It's not exactly a secret that I get really nervous over this quest. I don't know why, but for whatever reason, these last few days have had me completely neurotic. I had a hard time writing that last two updates because I was so nervous over updates that came before them. You guys have been nothing but supportive, so I don't have anyone to blame but my own internal fears.

I'm gonna start making a bigger effort to calm myself down, and not panic with every update. Hopefully I'll stop being so anxious all the time.

Thanks for the help making the quest what it is guys. Also thank you to the guy in QTG who called me out on it on my lack of confidence in spoiler text.

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>>4408103
>He goes to QTG

>>4408119
Its probably part of the issue.

>>4408054
>Call up the team, it's time to have them move forward, and get ready to move into the actual laboratory, and explain some of the things you found up here in person before moving out.
I never played the HL games so I can't metagame this stuff, but I feel we're even further in over our heads than usual here. The sooner we get out, the better.

>>4408060
>>4408061
>>4408121
You pull out your radio, returning the encryption to the standard of short range inter-operative communication, then setting the frequency to Reilly’s comms once again. Keeping an eye on your neurologist ally, you turn the receiver back on, and say into the radio, “Reilly, is your team alright back there? Are you good to move up?”

“You got it ghost cop.” Reilly says in response. “How’s the scout team up there? Is everything alright up there?”

“It’s certainly freaky up here.” Is all you say as you continue to keep a close eye on Guttman. Whatever your mutual friend showed him, it hit him bad. When you were escorting Enrico back to the infirmary, the occasional grim thought would cross your mind, asking “How would it affect Guttman’s morale if the boy was hurt?” The mannerisms of Guttman at the moment bear some similarity to what you could imagine. “But we’re not injured. Took a hit to morale, but I think we need to move out. We’re in over our heads already, and only gonna go deeper, we shouldn’t take too long out here.”

“Understood.” She responds. You can hear her occasionally pulling away from the receiver to tell the team to move forward. “It might be a good idea to suit up before we head in. Those hazmat suits you grabbed won’t provide the same kind of finesse or protection as the stealth suit, but you’ll want to change somewhere safe. Don’t wanna get caught with your pants down.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” You respond. “I’ll talk to you when you get here Reilly, we cleared out everything for you already, so it shouldn’t take long.”

She just responds, “Alright.”

Guttman is slowly processing whatever it was he saw, and starting to return to his old self, likely with the knowledge that more people will be coming. You doubt he wants the team to question his fitness. It only takes a minute for you to start hearing the incoming footsteps of Marietta, Reilly, Kirchoff, and finally Shaffner. As they come down the corner, you first see Marietta with an MP5 in her hand, then Shaffner, then Reilly, then Kirchoff with his rifle, often checking behind him to ensure no-one attempts any sort of surprises.

“Are we moving in?” Guttman asks.

“You don’t have any last things you want to brief us on do you Gabby?” Marietta asks. “Or are we just gonna breach into the labs?”
(cont.)

>>4408269
(cont.)
>Breach in covertly, with your team moving in first. (Roll 3d6+2, the test chamber team will not be detected on an 11+, and be able to make decisions from concealment.)
>Breach in with a flashbang. (-1 flashbang. Anything inside will be assumed taken by surprise, and disoriented.)
>You don’t want to waste any resources or time lockpicking, just kick the door open with your boot. (Roll 3d6+2, on a 13+, the door opens on the first kick, and every enemy inside will have to roll a surprise check.)
>You should put on your suits before entering the labs. (CIA Hazmat suits protect you from radiation, but give no agility bonus, and cannot cloak with only 50 armor power. You don’t know when you’ll get another safe position to suit up. Pick this option alongside another.
>Write in.
(Optionally, brief the team on any things you’ve seen in here before moving out. Information is security.)
>Quietly ask if Shaffner’s done anything odd, or strange.
>Explain to Reilly, and in turn to Marietta, that you spotted your mutual friend.
>Quietly explain to Reilly what happened with Guttman, since she’s on his section of the team.
>Write in.

>>4408271
>You should put on your suits before entering the labs. (CIA Hazmat suits protect you from radiation, but give no agility bonus, and cannot cloak with only 50 armor power. You don’t know when you’ll get another safe position to suit up. Pick this option alongside another.
>Breach in covertly, with your team moving in first. (Roll 3d6+2, the test chamber team will not be detected on an 11+, and be able to make decisions from concealment.)
>Quietly ask if Shaffner’s done anything odd, or strange.

>>4408271
>Breach in covertly, with your team moving in first. (Roll 3d6+2, the test chamber team will not be detected on an 11+, and be able to make decisions from concealment.)
>You should put on your suits before entering the labs. (CIA Hazmat suits protect you from radiation, but give no agility bonus, and cannot cloak with only 50 armor power. You don’t know when you’ll get another safe position to suit up. Pick this option alongside another.
>Quietly ask if Shaffner’s done anything odd, or strange.
>Explain to Reilly, and in turn to Marietta, that you spotted your mutual friend.
>Quietly explain to Reilly what happened with Guttman, since she’s on his section of the team.

>>4408297
>>4408302
“We’ll be pushing in in just a minute.” You announce to the team. “First I want everyone who’ll be moving into the test chamber to gear up. We don’t know when we’ll get another clear moment.”

“Alright.” Kirchoff says. “You’ve got the suits right?”

You nod, and start pulling the three hazardous material suits out of your bag. A far cry from the advanced HEV suits that you saw the science team wearing, but it’ll still do a great job protecting you from the numerous types of radiation within the test chamber. Handing them out, you also distribute some of the radiation medication, saying, “Save it for a breach in the suits.”

They both nod, and Kirchoff and Marietta both unbuckle their PCV’s, leaving only the fatigues below. As you follow after them, pulling at the straps of your gear to drop it to the floor before packing it, you pull Reilly and Marietta over, quietly asking, “What’s Shaffner been up to in the meantime?”

“He’s started asking a few more questions.” Marietta responds, as her armor drops to the ground. When it hits the floor, something accidentally clicks the cloak on and she has to feel around for it in the lowlight corridor.

Reilly picks up the slack. “I think it may just be nerves, since most of it was about the stuff going around us, but when we first entered, he started asking about the labs himself. He stopped when he realized we didn’t know all too much outside of the briefing you gave us.”

“Has he been slipping away?” You ask, as you pull the suit up, over your fatigues. It’s certainly more tight fitting and smooth than the typical rubber and lead radiation suits used by civilian and military teams to clean up nuclear accidents, but its lining will still prevent you from performing the same acrobatics you could perform in the stealth gear, and you will miss the ability to turn invisible. Still, the inbuilt PCV will do a good job of keeping you healthy, so long as you keep it charged.

“Not really, but he does keep to himself.” Marietta says as she continues to equip her hazmat gear alongside you. “Definitely been taking a lot of looks into the storage rooms.”

It may just be natural curiosity, but it does sound like the man has a rather large interest in the laboratories themselves. It does seem somewhat strange for someone who apparently just wants to keep his head on his shoulders to have those interests, but you would expect them to be more interested in your team particularly if he wanted to spy on you. Pulling off your optics, you slide the gas mask over your face, then as you replace your goggles, you ask, “Are we all ready to go?”
(cont.)

>>4409106
(cont.)
Your team responds affirmatively, and with Kirchoff and Marietta also protected by their equipment, you get to lockpicking the door.

The worst an infiltration could possible go is if someone, or something was on the opposite side of the door. While the odds are low that your picking would be heard in a breach, its still a chance. Worrying you further is opening the door, and entering will get you spotted.

Four players roll 1d6. The top three rolls will be added into a 3d6+2. If the total is an 11+, the roll succeeds and your team won’t be spotted by anything on the other side of the door. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4409110

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4409110

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4409110

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4409110

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>>4409113
>>4409132
>>4409229
>>4409235
Working quickly, you quickly manipulate the lock open. Thankfully, the growth of xenian wildlife hasn’t made its way into the mechanism, which could throw off your ability to feel for pins setting into place. The core turns open in less than a minute, letting you slowly open the door. You listen closely to the sound of alien shuffling outside as you open it, hoping you don’t hear the sounds of alarm.

When the door is pushed halfway open, you consider it clear enough to peek through. Snaking your gas mask covered face out of the door, you see the corridor outside the door grow far wider, and split off in two directions. The ever infectious xenian wildlife has spread down through the anomalous materials lab’s offices, holding shut some of the doors and allowing barnacles to grow amongst the roof tiles. Still, you notice a distinct lack of xenian fauna, other than the corpses of a few bull squids, having been peppered by nine millimeter rounds at some point. Perhaps those marines you talked to had silencers bored for their submachine guns.

Down the section heading further into the laboratories themselves, you’re greeted by small, fleshy little creatures that seem to stumble around. The xenian wildlife has been piled up into what you can only describe as some sort of nest. Somehow, power is still making its way into an adjacent lab space, where the broken window allows light to occasionally flicker onto the creatures, causing them to avert their eyes and let out a small yelp. Judging by their small and seemingly undeveloped bodies, these are the infantile versions of something much larger, having apparently left them behind at some point.

You wave to your group to make a move in so you can get a better look in, and start by silently prowling into the laboratory. Kirchoff follows right after you, then Vorty, then trailed by Marietta guarding the rear. You take cover up against the wall, Vorts, keeping his distance, moves behind you, further down the same wall. Kirchoff, dedicated to keeping a good bead on the largest possible threat with his rifle, takes his position in an office not far from the door. Finally comes Marietta, who attempts to move to cover initially against an extruding mass of xenian flora, but as she approaches it, you hear a set of strange, beak-like snapping sounds. You quickly glance over to her, seeing that a section of the wall she attempted to use was covered in some sort of predatory or perhaps territorial flora that are now snapping at the air as she quickly moves away.
(cont.)

>>4409362
(cont.)
Immediately you start watching the group of aliens. With the creature's ears likely undeveloped, or simply lacking the experience to identify a threat, they don’t make their move. However, as the sound moves through the hallway, you hear a few alien words muttered, unlike any you heard before. The face of some sort of large, vortigaunt like creature with a single catlike eye. Judging by the amount of alien voices however, he is accompanied by an ally. The room he’s in provides difficult cover. It might be difficult attacking them without making a move into that room. Thankfully, the creature fails to see you, and doesn’t follow after Marietta.

(You, Marietta, Kirchoff, and Vorty.)
>Prepare for an ambush into the baby voltigore nests, and the shocktrooper encampment. (Roll three 3d6+2, every point above a 12 will add a +1 to the first shot. Vorty will not be given any ambush bonus due to poor stealth, but will be a part of the fight.)
>They don’t seem to like the light all too much, give the infantile aliens a flashbang. (All six baby voltigores will be stunned. The two shocktroopers will have to roll to avoid as normal. -1 Flashbang.)
>Maybe try luring the shocktroopers into close range. Have Marietta excite those creatures again.
>Pull back, try to find Kleiner’s office in the mess of alien flora.
>Pull back, try to find Vance’s office in the mess of alien flora.
>Write in.
(Guttman, Reilly, Shaffner.)
>Join in with whatever attack the first group tries.
>Try to find Kleiner’s office while the first group attacks, to speed things up.
>Try to find Vance’s office while the first group attacks, to speed things up.
>Write in.

>>4409364
>Maybe try luring the shocktroopers into close range. Have Marietta excite those creatures again.
>Join in with whatever attack the first group tries.
Imagine if one of the shockbugs attached to Shaffner.

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>>4409377
Having seen the snapping noise affect the large, barely seen troopers inside the lab, but be ignored by the infantile aliens despite being in the significantly closer nest, you quickly recognize the opportunity to pick off your targets individually. If those creatures really are an infantile form of their species, then it's possible there's a mother who you’d rather not face while fighting a brand new species of alien warriors.

Instead, you quickly wave Marietta back, signalling to her to make a distraction. She takes a second to process the command, wondering why you would want her to do that, but then quickly makes the connection. She nods, then slowly begins to move back. Before the creatures start snapping away at her, you signal the other team in to take cover alongside you. You want a large amount of fire-power centered around these creatures, given that there’s so many unknowns involved.

As the creatures clap their clam like beaks away, attempting to threaten Marietta away like an unknown predator, you begin to hear the creatures converse among themselves. “Puhpurhyuka?” One says, starting to move throughout the room. “Dupdup.” The other answers in its inhuman voice. As the other team takes another spot right next to you, you see one of the shocktroopers peak its head out of the shattered window. It’s large, reptilian orange eye seems to glow in the low light as it swivels around, investigating the area. It’s mandibles and large fangs twitch for a moment as it speaks to its brother alien, before a massive, triple jointed leg raises up, its foot meeting the broken glass of the window, and it then hops its other leg over. The skin is tight to the muscle, making it all the more intimidating as you watch the second large creature hall itself over the windowsill.

Still communicating to each other in an indecipherable language, you pull back, listening to the sound of their footsteps growing closer. You hear the smaller voltigores occasionally make threatening sounds to the creatures as they disturb the nest, but knowing their place, don’t act on any of those threats.

As you see their large heads come around the corner, you also start to feel the tense pain of the migraine returning, slowly growing stronger.
(cont.)

>>4409724
>You have four silenced pistols between all of you, go for two shots on each head. (Roll a collective 3d6 for all parties shooting, if the roll is above a 14, both creatures die without attracting any attention. Above a 12, both creatures die, but they call out for help beforehand.)
>There are six humans between you. Three for each creature, silently pull them to the ground and execute them. (Roll two 3d6. For each 3d6 above a twelve, a creature dies, however, for each individual dice that rolls a 1, a party member will take damage in the attack.)
>Go loud, pick your targets, and take your shots. (If you have a preference, pick a weapon for yourself, Marietta, and Kirchoff, and vorts. For the sake of preventing combat from slowing down, Guttman, Reilly, and Shaffner will be considered a “third party” and be controlled more loosely as their own team.)
>Have Marietta pull out her grenade launcher, and fire two quick blasts into the creatures. (-2 HEDP grenades, but the incredibly loud noise will attract a lot of attention.)
>Write in any clever ideas.

>>4409731
>You have four silenced pistols between all of you, go for two shots on each head. (Roll a collective 3d6 for all parties shooting, if the roll is above a 14, both creatures die without attracting any attention. Above a 12, both creatures die, but they call out for help beforehand.)

>>4409753
As the creatures are coming towards the party, moving to be encircled by the concealed group, you pull out your silenced pistol, then make it visible to the other members of the party. You watch Reilly, Marietta, and Guttman all pull out their weapons. Once you see that they’re all armed, you quickly assign each of them a target, splitting up the left half of the ambush to focus on the first shock trooper, and the right half to gun down the second shock trooper.

With everyone understanding their targets, you keep your weapon in your hands with a round in the chamber and the safety undone while you listen to the footsteps of the large creatures. The sound of distant combat muddles the noise, and the growing migraine breaks your focus slightly, but you’re still able to slowly track the creatures. Knowing the team is waiting for your lead, you wait for one of their big, fanged heads to poke around the corner.

When a massive, reptilian eye pokes out behind the wall, you see it and it sees you, but you’ve already got your weapon trained on it. The second one following just after the creature, you watch its reactions kick in. It’s eye immediately dilates wide, taken in as much light as it possibly can from your jet black silhouette in the dark. Just as you see this, you pull the trigger on your pistol, and your team follows suit. A small cacophony of subsonic forty-five rounds are fired off in quick succession.

Four players roll a 1d6. The top three rolls will be added into a 3d6+2. If the total roll is greater than a 12, the creatures die, but will have an opportunity to make noise in the process. Above a 14, they make no noise whatsoever, and die. If neither thresholds are reached, they may still be wounded. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4410287

>>4410287

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4410287

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4410287

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4410287

>>4410292
>>4410298
>>4410299
>>4410403
>>4410405
Your first pistol shot fires only a second before the next from your team. The bullet quickly penetrates into the creature’s iris, and then as the alien recoils, you watch Guttman smack another round into the side of the creature's head. In the same moment, the second creature takes a shot from Reilly’s weapon, but the round skims across the head. While the creature certainly flinches, left with a large gash, its broken alien skull bone isn’t enough to prevent it from releasing a hefty scream in pain. Its strange jaw opens up when it releases a loud, warbled sound of pain, and then gets halfway through shouting out a warning, “Kssdit-” before the shot from Marietta is lined up and fired into the creature's neck. It doesn’t kill, but the creature makes a few final choking noises before Reilly puts out one final shot to kill the creature.

Just below the collapsed body of both shock troopers, you notice something blue squirming, however, your attention is pulled away by the sounds of alien alarm.

Immediately, the nest of adolescent voltigores is riled to alertness by the loud death of the shocktroopers. Despite being underdeveloped and weak, they seem to have no qualms moving towards the sound of danger. These unearthly creatures are clearly not intelligent, and apparently have a rather small drive for self preservation. They start to make small, but hoarse sounds as they move closer, further alerting other creatures to the presence of hostels.

As they make their calls, you start to hear the sound of footsteps far heavier than the shocktroopers and the grunts. The report of their heavy footsteps sounds closer to the footsteps of the incoming infantile aliens that just heard the death screams of the shock troopers.

You won’t be able to totally avoid direct confrontation with the coming creature or it’s aggressive children, but the slow speed of the juvenile aliens, and the distance of the larger creature gives you some time to prepare for the fight.
(cont.)

>>4410480
(cont.)
>Just dig in, don’t try anything too risky, but position yourselves to turn this into a more defensive choke point.(+2 Defense against any ranged attacks during the fight.)
>You’ve been holding onto these AT mines since the fight in the proving grounds. They require a heavy, tank sized weight to be set off. If anything can provide that, it’s whatever’s coming for you. Plant it down in the hallway. (-1/3 AT mines. If the large creature attempts a melee charge, it will need to make a difficult agility check to avoid hitting the mine. Makes a lot of noise.)
>Hide away quickly, attack from concealment. (Roll 3d6+2, if the total is above a 13, the creatures will not detect the party when they reach you.
>Cook up a flashbang, and drop it down the hall, you saw that the small creatures don’t seem to like light, perhaps the larger ones are the same. (-1 flashbang, all of the smaller creatures will be stunned, but the larger one will roll a 3d6, being stunned below a 14.)
>Tell Reilly, Guttman, and Shaffner to pull back and check out Vance’s office while you handle this.
>Tell Reilly, Guttman, and Shaffner to pull back and check out Kleiner’s office while you handle this.
>Write in any clever ideas.

>>4410483
I'd completely forgotten about the mines we'd been lugging around without even noticing (AT mines are hefty things (typically several kg each), Gabby confirmed to be stronk). What other items do we have in our inventory we might have forgotten about, and what's the environment around us like?

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>>4410495
>(AT mines are hefty things (typically several kg each), Gabby confirmed to be stronk).
It wouldn't be a true half life story if the MC wasn't able to carry a ludicrous amount of weapons around with no encumbrance.
>What other items do we have in our inventory we might have forgotten about
You do have a copy of Dr. Kleiner's book that you took from a desk in the school, and still have the laser designator that can call in air-strikes, but that won't do anything under ground of course. I don't believe there is anything else that's being forgotten about at the moment, but if anyone has a correction, I'd love to hear it.
>and what's the environment around us like?
The corridor you're currently in bends in a sort of "S" shape. The entire place is dark, the only lighting being from red emergency lights that have been partially covered by alien fungal life that has grown into the walls all around you. To your right the corrdidor is lined by the leading scientists offices, among which include Dr. Vance, Dr. Kleiner, and Dr. Keller's, the last of which you searched when you escaped the labs initially. Directly in front of you is a small corridor, that quickly turns to the left. Inside of that is what appears to be a sort of nest, xenian planlife has been gathered around a set of broken eggs, and small voltigore young run at you. Lining the left side of the corridor is a small laboratory space that you can only barely see in from cover. A bit of power still flickers the lights on in there occasionally. The door to it is on your side of the alien nest, and just beyond the door is a display window that was shattered at some point during the resonance cascade, allowing the xenian wildlife to infest the lab as well. From experience, you know that if you continue past that room, and turn left, you'd be brought further into the anomolous materials labs, bringing you past more rooms of whiteboards and the smaller, cheaper lab equipment that science teams make regular use of daily.

>>4410483
>Just dig in, don’t try anything too risky, but position yourselves to turn this into a more defensive choke point.(+2 Defense against any ranged attacks during the fight.)
We got so much firepower between us, so we should probably save the grenades and mines for something bigger or when we're split up.

The next update is gonna be delayed until at worst tonight due to a few responsibilities.

In the meantime, I wanna ask, what do you guys think about having the “second team” (Reilly Guttman and Shaffer,) being controlled far more loosely, like how three way fights are handled with certain parties being controlled by an overarching dice roll each turn. I just feel like, with the current combat system, seven people will be very clunky, and slow the game down. Anyone object?

>>4410483
>Dig in
>Have vorts prepare his lightning
I honestly thought this post went through

>>4410721
Oops, typed in my trips wrong.

>>4410483
>>Just dig in, don’t try anything too risky, but position yourselves to turn this into a more defensive choke point.(+2 Defense against any ranged attacks during the fight.)
Who's got the thermal goggles right now? Could we put them on and then shoot out the last of the lights?
>>4410531
I just prefer to think she's carrying around a large backpack full of explosives and junk and is /fit/ enough to shrug off the encumbrance.

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>>4410495
>>4410543
>>4410722
>>4410730
Guttman has the thermals, and Kirchoff has a thermal scope on his gun, however, the spies do have nvgs in their goggles. You could most certainly shoot out the lights however.

Quickly, you start to motion, “pull back, pull back,” with an inward motion with your arms. Quickly seeing this, Reilly joins in, assisting your leadership and having her part of the team drop down behind cover.

Thinking fast, Guttman drops prone behind an overgrown mass of xenian wildlife, spying on the mass of thermal light coming his way. Kirchoff simply pulls himself further into the room. Vorty, already in good cover, simply awaits you to move back as you take point in an office of your own. Each member of the team finds their own cover, a solid wall between them, or a mass of fungal biomatter that, by the time it ablates away, they will have moved. WIth the group protected from ranged attacks, you know that the creatures will have to come to you, but with the size of the incoming vortigore, you don’t know if that’s out of the question.

The larger creature, easily the size of a small truck or van, walks around the corner, needing to move carefully in places relatively cramped for its size. It releases a large, roaring screech, like an animal threatening those coming into its territory.

The smaller, juvenile voltigores move in. As they enter close range, they start charging up some sort of attack. Electricity arcs up towards them, then peters out. Perhaps it's a failed attempt, or perhaps they simply are physically unable to do it. Seeing these creatures fail at their first attack, you wonder if they will be anything more than a nuisance in this fight.

(cont.)

>>4410917
(cont.)
(Due to these creature’s light vulnerability, the minor effects of flashbangs will be registered as major effects, stunning them for a few turns.)
(Every turn, a 3d6 will be rolled to represent the progress of Reilly's half of the team. There effect can be guided by providing orders. Higher rolls will be better.)

(Due to these creature’s light vulnerability, the minor effects of flashbangs will be registered as major effects, stunning them for a few turns.)
(Gabby)
(You currently have 59/100 health, and 50/50 armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(3), damage or wounds, concussion(3), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(3), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Load armor penetrating rounds into your usp. (Greater armor penetration, great against marines and grunts. Does little against resilience through body mass, such as vortigores.)

>Fire your usp at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth baby voltigore. (3d6+4, kills on a 6. -1/11+24)
>Kick the baby voltigores. (3d6, kill on an 8, will put you in melee range of the baby voltigores.)
>Fire at the mature voltigore. (3d6+4, every point over 6 reduces the next kill threshold by 1, kill on a 30. -1/11+24.)

>Reposition quickly. (3d6+2, on a 12, the enemy loses track of your position. Avoids grenades.)

>Pop smoke. (-1/3 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Glock. (Small, weak, but good for saving a bit of ammo.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have no grenades for.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Hivehand. (Generally low stopping power, but low wound threshold, and infinite ammo.)
>MK23 USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise. Built in aiming assistance provides a bonus.)
>Shotgun(Close range, reliable.)
>Rifle(Powerful, but unwieldy while close and very loud.)
>Swiss army Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)
(cont)

Rolled 2, 6, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>4410918
(cont.)
(Orders can be made to allied teams alongside any action at all, and will affect the flow of wider combat more loosely, applying status affects, damage, and buffs as determined.)
>Tell Reilly to push her team to focus the smaller voltigores.
>Tell Reilly to flash the creatures.
>Tell Reilly to have her team suppress the creatures for you.
>Tell Reilly to pull back, stick behind your team.
>Order Reilly’s team to shoot out the lights. (In darkness, a -2 will be applied to anyone attacking without lowlight optics or thermals being Shaffner, and Vorty. Anyone with lowlight goggles, but no thermals, you, Reilly, Marietta, will take a -1. Kirchoff’s thermals are attached to his rifle, and as such will only be protected from the effects when using his M40.)
>Write in an order for Reilly’s team.
(cont.)

>>4410921
(Kirchoff)
(60/100 health, and 63/100armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(1), damage or wounds, flashbang(2), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions.)

(The sniper rifle is currently suffering a -2 due to short range.)

>Fire at the mature voltigore. (Roll 3d6+2. Every point over a 12 reduces the next threshold by three points. Kills on a 24. -1/5+15 ammo.)
>Fire at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth baby voltigore. (Roll 3d6+2, kill on a 12. -1/5+15 ammo.)

>Reposition quickly. (3d6+2, on a 12, the enemy loses track of your position. Avoids grenades.)

>Thermally cover yourself. (Prevents detection from any enemies with thermal vision when not moving.)
(Changing weapons can be done any turn, and while performing any action that does not require both hands.)
>M40 Sniper Rifle. (Powerful and accurate at long ranges.)
>Combat Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)

(Marietta.)
(73/100 health. 50/50 armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(4), damage or wounds, concussion(4), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(6), stuns or reduces aim, all creatures will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Load armor penetrating rounds into your usp. (Greater armor penetration, great against marines and grunts. Does little against resilience through body mass, such as vortigores.)

>Fire your usp at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth baby voltigore. (3d6+4, kills on a 6. -1/11+20)
>Kick the baby voltigores. (3d6, kill on an 8, will put you in melee range of the baby voltigores.)
>Fire at the mature voltigore. (3d6+2, every point over 6 reduces the next kill threshold by 1, kill on a 30. -1/12+20.)

>Reposition quickly. (3d6+2, on a 12, the enemy loses track of your position. Avoids grenades.)

>Pop smoke. (-1/6 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Shotgun(Reliable close range.)
>Grenade launcher. (Loud, and deadly towards armored targets.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have four grenades for.)
>USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise.)
(cont.)

>>4410922
(cont.)
(Vorty.)
(Without any biometric data for Vorty, his health can only be estimated. He seems to be rather healthy for a recently freed slave.)

>Temporarily protect the team. (Will prevent attacks from repeating themselves.)

>Draw up a charge of energy. Stuns any enemies that enter melee range during this turn, and allows this one to fire next turn. Very noisy. After a turn of charge, an attack will be available with a low hit threshold, minor stun capabilities, and good stopping power, especially against any creature naturally hunted by this one’s kin, such as headcrabs and their grim creations.

>Swipe at a baby voltigore with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on a 12, will leave you in melee range. The damage done by others is tripled for the threshold reduction on this attack. )
>Swipe at the voltigore with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on a 80, will leave you in melee range. The damage done by others is tripled for the threshold reduction on this attack. )

>Retreat and duck. This one shall fight then, which is indistinguishable from now. (+6 defense from any creature that doesn’t actively chase it down.)

>>4410924
GABI
>Throw a flashbang
>Swap to Shotgun
REILLY
>Tell Reilly to push her team to focus the smaller voltigores.
KIRCHOFF
>Fire at the mature voltigore. (Roll 3d6+2. Every point over a 12 reduces the next threshold by three points. Kills on a 24. -1/5+15 ammo.)
MARIETTA
>Fire at the mature voltigore. (3d6+2, every point over 6 reduces the next kill threshold by 1, kill on a 30. -1/12+20.)
>Switch to SMG
VORTY
>Temporarily protect the team. (Will prevent attacks from repeating themselves.)

>>4410917
>Guttman has the thermals, and Kirchoff has a thermal scope on his gun, however, the spies do have nvgs in their goggles. You could most certainly shoot out the lights however.
I should restate that, but more specifically since I don't think I answered your full question, you can shoot out the lights if you want, I put an option to order Reilly's team to do it for you as well, in the prompt, since I like clever writes in. I'll also say you can choose to swap equipment between people so long as they're at a reasonable distance, so it'll take your turn, but you can do pretty much all of that. Anyone with NVGs won't take the full brunt of the darkness penalty, and anyone with thermals won't take any.
>>4410939
>Fire at the mature voltigore. (3d6+2, every point over 6 reduces the next kill threshold by 1, kill on a 30. -1/12+20.)
>Switch to SMG
Swapping weapons can't be done at the same turn as firing, as that requires both hands, would you prefer to swap weapons, or fire? Keep in mind, there are other damaging things you can do in the same turn as swapping weapons if you'd like, such as throwing a grenade.

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>two entire screens and 7k characters worth of potential orders later
I'll go with >>4410939 because I see the reasoning and I'm kinda overloaded with options here without meta knowledge of how these foul xenos work.

Also, I think we should see about getting Kirchoff a weapon optimised for close range after this.

>>4410962
Darn, I assumed "spies" were just a class of enemy and not referring to us so I assumed it would turn into a blind knife fight with only a few on each side able to see. Reconsidering, who here on our crew does -not- have the ability to see in the dark?

>>4410962
It's a USP, isn't it? That's not the kind of gun that strictly requires two hands.

>>4410969
Oh, and to add what what would be the low-light penalty to those without dark vision were the lights to be destroyed?

>>4410964
>>4410969
>>4410981
In future quests, I fully intend to do some major hedge trimming on this system. It gets cumbersome quick. Shaffner and Vorty both lack any form of lowlight vision, and would be taking a -2 to all attacks.
>>4410974
Fair enough. Realistically you'd lose accuracy doing that, but I don't want to make the system more complicated then it has to be here.

>>4410991
I completely missed the line about removing the lights in the morass of orders while skimreading. I assume none of the aliens have night vision.

But in any case, I'll take still take the template of >>4410939 but with Reilly's team doing
>Order Reilly’s team to shoot out the lights.
instead

This section is giving me flashbacks to 3.5e character creation.

>>4411016
This would be metagaming, but vortigores are found in low-light areas all the time, including a sewer section that had a crapton of them in pitch dark conditions

Rolled 2 (1d2)

I'll just do a quick tiebreaker roll for the order before writing.

>>4410939(1)
>>4411016(2)

>>4411027
This is embarrasing, but I'm not gonna lie, I forgot about that, even after pointing out that they have a vulnerability to light I somehow didn't think about it. I'm just gonna ask you all to pretend that I'm a totally nefarious QM and not a moron.
You are right in that that would be meta-gaming, but just to reiterate my stance on meta-gaming, I don't really mind it all too much, since I know that it's kind of impossible to avoid with anyone who's played the game, so don't be too afraid of meta-gaming, it happens.
>>4410939
>>4410964
>>4411016
>>4411078
Re-holstering your silenced pistol with one hand, you pull a flash-bang from your belt with the other. As you temporarily kick up your mask to bite at the pin, you grab your shotgun off your back, grabbing it by the foregrip and slinging it by the shoulder. WIth the pin removed, you fling the flashbang away, towards the creatures. It lands smack in the center of the infantile creatures, but their slow movements leaves them with little chance to avoid the grenade. Right before the grenade bursts, you yell to Reilly, “Lights out!” as you point to the numerous emergency lights around you. Quickly, Reilly starts directing her team towards them, taking shots at them.

From behind, Kirchoff lines up his shot on the large, howling alien creature. The voltigore is a large, fleshy target. On infrared, it shows up as one hot lump, making it difficult to find any sort of weak point to target. Falling back on his military training to go for the sure shot, he focuses down center-mass, and pulls the crisp trigger of the bolt action and rifle.

Peaking out of cover, Marietta lines up a shot with one arm. The small size of the concealable assassination weapon makes it easier, but she still takes a moment to put her weight forward, ensuring the recoil transfers into her body rather than just her elbow. With her other arm free, she’s able to reach for the far more deadly submachine gun. Still getting as much use out of the USP as she can, she squeezes down the trigger until it releases a small burst, firing out a subsonic round from its silenced chamber.

Keeping back from the action, Vorty detects just as the migraine does, the straining of the all-in-one, and therefore the vortessence as well. Tired, but working hard, he returns to his chant, dedicated to keeping the team safe.

Four players roll a 2d6. The first d6 is for Kirchof, the second d6 is for Marrietta. The top three of each will be added into a 3d6+2 for both. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 4, 6 = 10 (2d6)

>>4411164
Does this mean the act of "kill lights" was not very effective on the aliens? Well, count this as an in-character learning experience (even if i am a bit miffed)!

Rolled 2, 6, 4 = 12 (3d6)

I forgot to do the avoidance roll for the mature vortigore. Combat seems to take to my intelligence like lead-poisoning. Sorry guys.
>>4411188
I do apologize if you feel like I led you on.

Rolled 4, 2 = 6 (2d6)

>>4411188

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d6)

>>4411164

Rolled 3, 6 = 9 (2d6)

>>4411164

>>4411188
>>4411385
>>4411413
>>4411462
Kirchoff’s shot connects with the creature first. While the extra penetrative power of a five-five-six NATO round doesn’t change much in a target protected by mass and skin more than chitin or kevlar, the weight and muscle velocity turn the round into a powerful, focused strike. It’s own size works against it, taking more of the bullet's energy and preventing over-penetration. The creature releases another pained roar, before it begins to gather up energy for an attack. Keeping its four, spiked legs flat on the ground, electricity arcs from its body as it charges up an attack .

Marietta’s shot also connects, flying just past the gathering ball of lightning, digging directly into a heavy alien rib, cracking apart the bone, and making the creature recoil for just a second. During that second, the entire team pulls their eyes away from the creatures, seeing your flashbang drop in the center of the alien brood. The flashbang bursts, and the creatures are all instantly blinded. The mature one, focused on its own attack, and the incoming fire, fails to even notice the grenade, recoiling at the bright sight, and allowing its energy to dissipate.

As this happens, Reilly points her team to their own targets, the lights. Quickly shooting out emergency lighting, they hope to gain the advantage with the teams own man-made low-light equipment.
(cont.)

>>4411512
(cont.)
(Gabby)
(You currently have 59/100 health, and 50/50 armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(3), damage or wounds, concussion(3), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(2), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Fire your shotgun at the baby voltigores. (3d6+1, kills on a 3. -1/8+10 ammo.)
>Kick the baby voltigores. (3d6-1, kill on an 8, will put you in melee range of the baby voltigores.)
>Fire your shotgun at the mature voltigore. (3d6+1, every point above a 3 wounds, kills on an 11 -1/8+10 ammo.)
>Fire your shotgun at the mature voltigore twice. (3d6+1, every point above a 3 wounds, kills on a 8. The next shot will have a -3 applied, until a turn is passed without shooting. -2/8+10 ammo.)

>Reposition quickly. (3d6+2, on a 12, the enemy loses track of your position. Avoids grenades.)

>Pop smoke. (-1/3 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Glock. (Small, weak, but good for saving a bit of ammo.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have no grenades for.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Hivehand. (Generally low stopping power, but low wound threshold, and infinite ammo.)
>MK23 USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise. Built in aiming assistance provides a bonus.)
>Shotgun(Close range, reliable.)
>Rifle(Powerful, but unwieldy while close and very loud.)
>Swiss army Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)

(Orders can be made to allied teams alongside any action at all, and will affect the flow of wider combat more loosely, applying status affects, damage, and buffs as determined.)
>Tell Reilly to push her team to focus the smaller voltigores.
>Tell Reilly to push in, help finish the mature creature.
>Tell Reilly to have her team suppress the creatures for you.
>Tell Reilly to pull back, stick behind your team.
>Write in an order for Reilly’s team.
(cont.)

>>4411515
(cont.)
(Kirchoff)
(60/100 health, and 63/100armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(1), damage or wounds, flashbang(2), stuns or reduces aim, all enemies will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions.)

(The sniper rifle is currently suffering a -2 due to short range.)

>Fire at the mature voltigore. (Roll 3d6+2. Every point over a 12 reduces the next threshold by three points. Kills on a 12. -1/5+15 ammo.)
>Fire at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth baby voltigore. (Roll 3d6+2, kill on a 12. -1/5+15 ammo.)

>Reposition quickly. (3d6+2, on a 12, the enemy loses track of your position. Avoids grenades.)

>Thermally cover yourself. (Prevents detection from any enemies with thermal vision when not moving.)
(Changing weapons can be done any turn, and while performing any action that does not require both hands.)
>M40 Sniper Rifle. (Powerful and accurate at long ranges.)
>Combat Knife. (Small, but precise melee weapon that can be especially useful against confused enemies. Not as quick on the draw as one’s boot, but also more lethal.)
(cont.)

>>4411516
(cont.)
(Marietta.)
(73/100 health. 50/50 armor power.)
>Throw a grenade at the creatures.(Specify between Frags(4), damage or wounds, concussion(4), stuns or incapacitates, flashbang(6), stuns or reduces aim, all creatures will have to roll to avoid, taking the major effects below an 11, taking lesser effects below a 14. Avoiding grenades always cancels certain actions. Throwing grenades will not nullify your ambush bonus.)

>Load armor penetrating rounds into your usp. (Greater armor penetration, great against marines and grunts. Does little against resilience through body mass, such as vortigores.)

>Suppress the group of baby voltigores. (Roll 3d6+1, if any members of this group attempt to move, that roll will be applied as an attack against them. -20+10 per attack/50+50 ammo. If the creatures don’t, or are unable to move, no attacks will be made.)
>Fire your MP5 at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth baby voltigore. (3d6+1, kills on a 4. -10/50+50)
>Kick the baby voltigores. (3d6-1, kill on an 8, will put you in melee range of the baby voltigores.)
>Fire an HEDP grenade at the group of voltigores. (Acts as a frag grenade in groups.)

>Fire at the mature voltigore. (3d6+1, every point over 5 reduces the next kill threshold by 2, kill on a 17. -10/50+50.)
>Fire an HEDP grenade at the mature voltigore. (3d6+1, hits directly on a 13, staggering and reducing all kill thresholds by twelve.)

>Reposition quickly. (3d6+2, on a 12, the enemy loses track of your position. Avoids grenades.)

>Pop smoke. (-1/6 smoke grenades. +3 to defense, +3 to stealth.)
>Use a medkit on yourself. (-½ medkits, +15 health.)

(Changing weapons can be done alongside any action that does not require two hands.)
>Revolver. (High wound threshold, low kill threshold.)
>Shotgun(Reliable close range.)
>Grenade launcher. (Loud, and deadly towards armored targets.)
>SMG. (All around multitool, chews through ammo, includes a small grenade launcher that you have four grenades for.)
>USP. (Stopping power lower than the revolver, but also makes no noise.)
(cont.)

>>4411517
(cont.)
(Vorty.)
(Without any biometric data for Vorty, his health can only be estimated. He seems to be rather healthy for a recently freed slave, but seems exhausted.)

>Continue to temporaly protect the team. (Will prevent attacks from repeating themselves upon temporal anomalies, or any other strange effects that may come from time looping in on itself.)

>Draw up a charge of energy. Stuns any enemies that enter melee range during this turn, and allows this one to fire next turn. Very noisy. After a turn of charge, an attack will be available with a low hit threshold, minor stun capabilities, and good stopping power, especially against any creature naturally hunted by this one’s kin, such as headcrabs and their grim creations.

>Swipe at a baby voltigore with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on a 12, will leave you in melee range. The damage done by others is tripled for the threshold reduction on this attack. )
>Swipe at the voltigore with this one’s talons. (Roll 3d6. Every point above a six reduces the kill threshold by one. Kills the creature on a 80, will leave you in melee range. The damage done by others is tripled for the threshold reduction on this attack. )

>Retreat and duck. This one shall fight then, which is indistinguishable from now. (+6 defense from any creature that doesn’t actively chase it down.)

>>4411519
One thing I should add with vorty’s temporal protection is that if you choose not to continue it, it will linger until the next turn.

>>4411515
>Fire your shotgun at the mature voltigore. (3d6+1, every point above a 3 wounds, kills on an 11 -1/8+10 ammo.)
>Tell Reilly to push her team to focus the smaller voltigores.
Kirchoff
>Draw the Combat Knife and go in to kill one of the baby voltigores while they're stunned
Marietta
>Fire at the mature voltigore. (3d6+1, every point over 5 reduces the next kill threshold by 2, kill on a 17. -10/50+50.)
Vorts/vorty
>Use the vortessence to bring the sight-bearing light back into this place. Communicate with the natives of the vortigore's inclination towards its absence, for they do not know any better.

Rolled 5, 2 = 7 (2d6)

>>4411533
With your shotgun now pointed at the creature, you pull away from the sights for a moment to tell Marietta to fire her submachine gun at the creature. Nodding, she begins firing off automatic bursts of nine-millimeter rounds in sets of three or four shots. Seeing her comply, you signal to Reilly, telling her to mop up the smaller creatures. As you hear her fire off her third burst, before you can even tell if the rounds hit, you pull the trigger on your spas-12, hoping to finish the creature off.

Kirchoff, having chambered another round in his bolt-action rifle, sees you and Marietta both gunning for the mature voltigore. Not wanting to waste ammo for his precious rifle, he pulls the combat knife off his belt, slings the gun over his shoulder, and goes for an easy kill on the creatures. With them all stunned blind from the attack, it's closer to putting down a wounded animal than fighting a threat, but he still moves quickly. He grabs the nearest creature, puts the knife right into its temple, and removes it. (Due to the easy nature of the kill, Kirchoff’s attack will not require a roll.)

Vorty, from his position of safety in the back, ends his rather tiring chant. This one knows hives and creatures well. The unruly flock, while a far cry from the territorial pests of the antlion, finds little differences in the minds of their more beastly minions. Vorty reaches into the vortessence, communicating with the confused and disoriented creatures, mimicking the instructions of the hive, he instructs them to ball up their energy, and create light, even as Vorts allies gun them down. The creatures slowly begin to attempt more of their electrical attacks, returning some light to the corridor. As they do, Reilly's team, with most of the work being done by Reilly and Guttman, blast away two of the creatures.

The pressure of the migraine is finally growing to a breaking point, the tension becoming more and more painful. As you fire at the voltigore, you notice the ghostly visages of the infantile creatures appearing, and the return of the shocktroopers to their encampment in the lab. Behind you, down the office, sits the still team of Dr. Magnusson’s.

Finally freed from under the shocktrooper’s bodies, the two squirming little creatures unbury themselves, then fling themselves off the ground like grasshoppers, searching for a new user. (A 1d6 will be rolled for each, determining who is pounced on by the shockroaches, in the order of You, Guttman, Marietta, Reilly, Kirchoff, Shaffner. If they both end up on the same person, the second will move down the line by one.)

Four players roll a 2d6. The first d6 is for Marietta’s SMG shot, the second is for Gabby’s shotgun shot. The top three of each will both be added into a 3d6+2. If rolling takes longer than 45 minutes, feel free to roll twice.

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d6)

>>4411977

Since it’s been longer than 45 minutes, rolling twice is open for anyone who’d like to do so.

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

>>4411977

Rolled 6, 5 = 11 (2d6)

>>4411977

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

>>4411977

Rolled 3, 4 = 7 (2d6)

>>4411977
Sorry for the lateness, I slept hella in

>>4411987
>>4412090
>>4412091
>>4412095
>>4412260
You're fine dude.
As the voltigore is peppered by a hail of nine-millimeter rounds, tearing apart the leathery skin and occasional parts of carapace on the stunned creature, you make your move. The buckshot of your spas-12 easily hits the wounded creature, blasting into exposed muscle and bloody wounds. Some of the pellets tear through gaps in the creatures' broken bones, slipping past the ribcage and landing in an inhuman lung. Already not evolved for this world’s atmosphere, the creatures’ breathing organs are left ruined, and destroyed . With its lungs punctured, the already blinded and dazed creature is quickly left immobile by the shotgun shells. It produces long roaring gasps as it finds itself unable to breath fully.

The migraine, continuing to plateau, suddenly begins to realise once again. When you felt the pain twist to a maximum, causing your eyes to twitch, you took a quick look around the area, then watched as it dropped. The pair of alien creatures you shot just a moment ago begin to move away from the laboratory, reinvestigating the area where they died just a few moments ago.

To your right, you begin to see Dr. Magnusson’s team moving on their own mission, keeping quiet. They don’t seem to be talking much, simply weaving between barnacles and growth of xenian fungus, likely fearing for their own lives. Still, breaking their self imposed noise discipline, one says, “We should be taking samples of these.”

“If you would like to risk your own skin for samples of a field you have zero expertise in, Dr. Gunther, please be my guest, but for right now, we need to find the documentation.”

“Well, if it’s not in your office, then where the hell are we going to find it Mags?” Another member of the science team responds.

“I promise you my dear, if I have to pry it from the hands of some gun-toting highschool drop-out, I am fully prepared to do so.” Magnusson responds sternly. “I won’t ask you to come with me for such a task, the readings are all I need from your assistance, but that documentation is my life’s work made reproducible. Without it, that device downstairs is likely the only version that will ever exist.”

“You’re gonna get yourself killed doing that Doctor.” The same physicist responds. “Let’s hope you just misplaced it.” When you were a security guard at Black Mesa, you did know that Magnusson wasn’t one to joke or change his mind. From what he’s saying, it sounds like he’s genuinely willing to fight the marines over the documentation to his prototype. You can't say you're surprised. If Magnnusson is looking to the future in all of this, he'd know that every piece of remaining work, or document of information he can get is another piece of leverage that could save his life, and career. You have no doubt that he has some plan in his head cooked up to begin operations in another country.
(cont.)

>>4412292
(cont.)
As you listen into their conversation, and deal with the remaining creatures, you suddenly hear a shout from Guttman and Kirchoff. Something blue, and glowing in its light color jumped from the corpses of the two shocktroopers, latching onto their arms not unlike how the hiv hands latch onto yours. Having just been finishing off a stunned baby voltigore, Kirchoff still has his combat knife in his hands, and without speaking, quickly gets ready to cut the creature loose.

At the same time, Guttman immediately shouts, “Eugghh!” as it’s legs curl around his forearm. “Fuckers gonna lay eggs in me!” He adds, before smacking at it with his gun.

Looking to the ghostly images of the shocktroopers you just killed, the creatures are being held almost like weapons, very similar to the way you hold your hive-hand when firing it.

At the same time, you still have the problem of the baby-voltigores. With only three of them left, and all of them dazed and stunned, they don’t present much more threat. You could probably just order your team to clean the rest up, or perhaps have vorty deal with it further.

The mature vortigore hasn’t yet actually died yet, you can hear it struggling for breath at the end of the hallway. It’s certainly a non-threat. Oddly enough, the closer it gets to death, the more you begin to hear rumbling in its body, as though gasses were building up inside.

>You may be the only one crazy enough to use an alien organism as a biological weapon, but that’s about to change. Convince them both not to kill the shockroaches, they must be weapons! Guttman might be a little harder to convince, given that allowing to attach itself is medically insane. (3d6+2, convince Kirchoff on an 10, convince Guttman as well on a 13.)
>Tell Guttman not to kill the creature on him, just get it off, you want to examine it for intelligence purposes.
>Ignore it, they can handle the creatures themselves. Go investigate the lab room.
>Ignore it, they can handle the creatures themselves, get a better look around the office corridor, and at Magnusson’s team.
>Ignore it, they can handle the creatures themselves, take a moment to examine both the shocktrooper ghosts, and corpses, know your enemy.
>Write in.
(Also, since all the baby voltigores are stunned and, and have a healthpool so low they will certainly not survive another round, choose how you would like to clean them up.)
>Just shoot them all quickly, the safest bet. (-3 total USP rounds.)
>Order your team to knock them unconscious with a few quick kicks, saves ammo.
>Have vorty demonstrate his abilities again. Put them into a longer lasting haze. (Roll 3d6+6 for vorty, succeed on a 12.0
>Kill all but one, giving you an opportunity to study the creature.

>>4412294
>You may be the only one crazy enough to use an alien organism as a biological weapon, but that’s about to change. Convince them both not to kill the shockroaches, they must be weapons! Guttman might be a little harder to convince, given that allowing to attach itself is medically insane. (3d6+2, convince Kirchoff on an 10, convince Guttman as well on a 13.)
If guttman doesn't get convinced, can we tell him to pry it off and throw it our way at least? For testing purposes of course.

>>4412311
I'll say it depends on how you roll. If you're close, then sure. Also, you didn't select anything for the secondary vote, do you have any preference for that?

>>4412294
>Kill all but one, giving you an opportunity to study the creature.
sorry about that haha

>>4412294
How large is a baby voltigore? Can we stuff one in a locker or cupboard to pick up on the way back (assuming we come back this way)?

File: Spoiler Image (611 KB, 556x400)

611 KB PNG

>>4412311
>>4412365
Don't worry about it.
>>4412461
They're not monstrous, but they are rather large. If you wanted to store them somewhere, there are plenty of offices whose doors wouldn't be too difficult to lock up by picking them shut.

As Marietta and Reilly turn their machine guns to the creatures, you quickly say, “Keep one alive, we ought to study these.”

“Here?” You here Shaffner respond, sounding confused by the thought. “You shot and it died, what’s more to know about it. We should be grabbing the documents and leaving.” As he says this, Reilly places her boot on one of the creatures, putting her weight on the confused alien as she guns down another. Marietta follows suit, finishing the other creature. As the one for capture starts moving and squirming more, Marietta as well places her boot on top. The creature begins to attempt futile electrical charges.

Behind you, you hear Dr. Magnusson’s team continue to move forward, into the lab. “I assure you I’ve kept track of these documents.” Magnusson responds. “Up until the moment of the incident.”

“What if it was eaten?” One of the physicists responds. “These creatures are in an unfamiliar environment, and paper is a form of bio-matter. Perhaps one mistook for something edible.”

As you see the two recipients of the shock-roaches grasp struggle, and attempt to cut the creatures away, you quickly order, “Don’t kill these things!” Looking for a case to convince them, you pull the hive-hand off of your back. At first, Kirchoff doesn’t respond, and Guttman responds by exclaiming, “Aghhh,” As he tries and fails to pull the creature off. “Guttman, Kirchoff!” You shout sternly, asserting yourself as the commander of the group to grab their attention. Guttman looks at you as he continues to pry at the individual legs, still making progress. The creatures seem rather desperate for a host. It would be rather convenient to have a gun that tracked you down. Still trying to find a position he can stab without hitting his own arm and puncturing his hazmat gear, he says, “What?” impatiently.

“These creatures are weapons.” You say, holding up the hivehand. “Not parasites. It's just like this thing.”

"And who says they're not parasitic weapons as well as alien guns." Guttman responds.

Four players roll a 1d6. The top three rolls will be added into a 3d6+2. If the total is a 10+, Kirchoff will be convinced, if it is a 13+, Guttman will be convinced.

>>4412478
I should've said this in the post just to be clear, the baby voltigore is the small pink creature in that image, just for a sense of scale. Otis, the zombie guard, and the zombie marine are all average size for a human.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>4412478

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4412478

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4412478

>>4412481
>>4412485
>>4412492
Second rolls are open, so if anyone wants to throw one more in, I'll get to writing.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4412479

>>4412572
>>4412485
>>4412492
a 12...
close!

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>4412481
>>4412485
>>4412492
>>4412572
>>4412581
“The aliens all use biological weapons like these.” You respond, once again showing the hivehand. “It makes tactical sense that your gun would want to be a gun. They’re probably driven to be carried as weapons.”

Below his gasmask, Kirchoff seems to give the thought some consideration. He still continues to pry at the legs of the creature with the sharp end of his knife.. Guttman, being all too used to parasites both alien and terrestrial, doesn’t buy it one bit, and is quickly making progress. You can admit to yourself that there’s not exactly mounting evidence to your case. You even hear Shaffner mutter, “Is she crazy?”

“It makes medical sense that you don’t let unknown creatures latch onto you.” He responds, clearly frustrated. “I get that you’ve got your reptilian overlords to please in the CIA, but not everyone is so welcoming towards aliens.”

Kirchoff, a rather open-minded man for a marine, starts investigating the creature more closely. “It’s not attempting to burrow through the suit.” He responds. “Though I don’t know if it even could.”

Finally peeling the thing off of his forearm, Guttman holds it up, as it attempts to scamper back towards him. “Little bastard. I’ve already got an ex-wife to suck my blood, find someone else.”

“Throw it over here, I want to take a look at it.” You say. Guttman shakes his head, and walks over to you with the strange creature in hand. It squirms, trying to find and latch onto a host, but starts to slow as it realizes the futility of the situation. You take the creature, a large, alien insect. As you begin to investigate it, you hear Kirchoff mutter, “How do I work you?”

Looking over, you look for some sort of membrane, muscle, or insertion point you can manipulate. As you do, you’re attention is suddenly dragged away by the sound of an electrical bolt smacking into the steel walls of the corridor. “That’s how it works.” Kirchoff responds. “Under the chin.” Feeling around, you find a small spot underneath the creature. By tapping it with your knuckles, the creature releases a charge of electrical energy. Thankfully not tracking like your hivehand to avoid friendly fire, the energy simply disperses into a spot of xenian wildlife.

(The Shock roach is similar to the hivehand, but with a higher wound threshold, but will slow charging enemies.)

Now that the creatures are all under control, you start to look around, taking a moment to assess your options. The ghostly figures from just a moment ago have faded, Dr. Magnusson and his team continued on their way, and out of the room. Since you’re already split into two teams with separate leadership, splitting up for now might not be the worst idea. The more time you spend in here, the more time there will be for further creatures to find you, or teleport into reality around you.
(cont.)

>>4412687
(cont.)
The migraine is already starting to twist again. You’re not entirely sure what triggers further pulses of temporal anomalies, but it doesn’t seem to be consistent. Whatever’s causing this is at least partially uncontrolled.

The dying voltigore is taking its time to die, but it's starting to look bloated as its labored breathing continues.

Down the is the offices belonging to the science team. Dr. Magnusson’s office has likely already been ransacked by magnusson himself, but the offices of Dr. Vance and Dr. Kleiner should be easy to find among them. From your own experiences working security in this area, personal offices are only given to high ranking members of a team. You doubt you’d find an office for Freeman.

Now able to get a better look at the lab, it’s hard to tell what’s actually in there from here. Mostly whiteboards that have been partially covered by xenian infestation, and pieces of lab equipment that have been ruined by the resonance cascade, you’d need to go in there to get a really good look. You can make out a few iterations of Dr. Magnusson’s name throughout the whiteboards.

Here in the labs, you should really be concerned about incoming teleportation, both deliberate, and accidental. The longer you stay here, the worse the situation might become.

(Hazmat team.)
>Hold down the baby voltigore, and get a few pictures of it to send back to the CIA.
>Lock up the infantile voltigore in one of the offices.
>Investigate the nearby lab. If you want to find Magnusson, you need to know his intentions, and that means knowing his work.
>Investigate Kleiner’s office. The guy was a genius, and he no doubt has some important papers in there.
>Investigate Vance’s office. Even if you don’t find as much work as Kleiner’s office, he’ll no doubt have some personal items in there he’ll thank you for.
>Continue on past the dying voltigore. Head further into the anomalous materials labs.

(Reilly’s Team. They will report back findings from an investigation upon completion.)
>Have Guttman study the live baby vortigore. He’s no biologist but he’ll understand it better than most.
>Investigate the nearby lab. If you want to find Magnusson, you need to know his intentions, and that means knowing his work.
>Investigate Kleiner’s office. The guy was a genius, and he no doubt has some important papers in there.
>Investigate Vance’s office. Even if you don’t find as much work as Kleiner’s office, he’ll no doubt have some personal items in there he’ll thank you for.
>Check out the dying vortigore, perhaps Guttman can figure out why it's becoming bloated?
>Continue on past the dying voltigore. Head further into the anomalous materials labs.

>>4412689
>Investigate the nearby lab. If you want to find Magnusson, you need to know his intentions, and that means knowing his work.
>Have Guttman study the live baby vortigore. He’s no biologist but he’ll understand it better than most.
Transfer Vorts into Reilly's team to assist with this task, since Vorts is more familiar with alien life...and not very familiar with searching through human labs.

>>4412689
>Investigate the nearby lab. If you want to find Magnusson, you need to know his intentions, and that means knowing his work.
>Have Guttman study the live baby vortigore. He’s no biologist but he’ll understand it better than most.
Achievement progress: Xenobiological Warfare - Aquire all of the alien bioweapons. (2/5)

>>4412711
>>4413028
My favorite are the snarks, but I don't know how they'd work in this system.
“Guttman, take a look over the specimen here.” You order your resident neurosurgeon. ‘You’re the closest we have to a biologist.”

“If it bites my finger off, I want a purple heart.” He quips. Kirchoff gives him a dirty look as he says that. “But where the hell were these things the rest of the invasion?”

“If the resonance cascade hasn’t stopped, it’s still probably pulling things through.” Marietta suggests. “It’s not impossible they are from somewhere else.”

“Or this is the interdimensional version of the UN coming to break up the conflict.” He says, clearly joking. “And we just shot them. The Federation can kiss my ass if they look like this.” He points down to the shocktroopers.

“I highly doubt that Guttman.” You respond. “But if they are totally new, there's plenty more reason to study them, get to work.”

Guttman just nods, sighs, then kneels down next to the creature. As he does, you shout, “Marietta, Kirchoff, you’re with me, I wanna find out what’s in this lab.”

Before Marietta steps off the contained creature, Reilly shouts, “Shaffner, over here, I need someone to help me hold this thing down.”

As he places his boot on the creature's head, allowing you, Marietta, and Kirchoff to move out, you hear Shaffner complain, “No chance I can instead take a look at the labs? You’ve got an actual marine here who can probably hold this thing down himself.”

You don’t hear the rest of the conversation as you move into the labs, worried about the amount of time you spend in one place and wanting to get a move on.

Within the lab, xenian life seems to have taken over much of the equipment. Occasionally, the lights flicker back on, causing your night-vision to glare white.

As you feel the twisting pain of the migraine grows, pulling against itself and contorting as another anomaly builds, Dr. Magnusson’s team begins to materialize in the labs once again. Among them, a group of cowering scientists. Looking at their faces, you realize they are include Dr. Magnusson’s team among them. The science team is watching themselves, at the time of the incident.

Scattered around the lab is numerous pieces of broken lab equipment, the floor covered in shattered glass and mechanical parts. Six filing cabinets line the walls, organized A-Z. Some easily cut through swaths of letters in one cabinet, but letters “E,” “R,” and “L” all feature their own, independent cabinets.
(cont.)

>>4413589
(cont)
On the far wall is a large whiteboard. It’s solid and artificial material has helped prevent even the hardy xenian growths from growing on it due to lack of nutrients. Still, it hasn’t avoided the blood splatter of a scientist who cowered in this room at some point. Leaning up against the wall, just below the whiteboard, his body became a haven for alien flora. You try to not let the gruesome sight distract from the importance of numerous equations and hypotheses covering the white-board, although you lack the expertise to understand any of it. However, it does spell out what “LIGA” in Magnusson’s “Micro-LIGA” stands for: “Laser Interferometer of Gravitational Anomalies.” You consider calling Dr. Vance, to see if he can help explain these things to you, but upon looking at your radio, you realize there’s heavy interference. It’d require some technical work to get a call in here.

Looking to the other side of the room from the dead white-board is a still collared vortigaunt, clearly dead quite a while after the scientist at the other side of the room. Oddly enough, the creature has died not from bullets or the attacks of other aliens. The only damage you can see is some burns, but they appear minor on the surface. Electrical burns are known to do their damage mostly internally rather than visible skin damage. That would make the most likely story that he was killed by the shock-troopers xenobiological weapons, given that they shoot electrical charges. Still, there could be a surprise.

Finally, one wall of the room is identified “Prototypes.” It features a row of what would look to a member of the CIA, like some sort of laser gun, although you doubt the veracity of that idea. They also seem to come with some sort of receiver or target, in some attached to the device, others independent from it. The prototypes are all smashed or burnt apart, except for one, “V6,” which is simply missing.

With all the documents, equations, bodies, and prototypes, you could probably spend days in this lab dissecting everything that happened here. It wouldn’t be wise to do so however, given that you’re in hostile territory. If something intelligent were to randomly be pulled into this place, then they might communicate it back to the invaders, meaning more will come through.
(cont.)

>>4413592
(cont.)
>Just focus on Magnusson’s team. Make sure you get their actions here recorded on your goggles.
>You have Kleiner’s book on hand. It’s far less comprehensive than Black Mesa documents, but perhaps you could use it to help understand some of the work here.
>Have Marietta try and get a call with Dr. Vance, so he can decipher the work here. (Roll 3d6+3 for Marietta, succeed on a 13.)
>Take a close look at some of the prototypes on the racks here. What exactly do they do?
>Search cabinet “E.”
>Search cabinet “R.”
>Search cabinet “L.”
>Perhaps Vorty can show you what happened to the currently dead vortigaunt, given that he’s connected through the vortessence. (Roll 3d6+3, pass on a 13.)
>Take a closer look at the dead scientist. Look for identification, cause of death, etc.
>Write in.
(Optionally, you can choose to temporarily transfer people from teams around, to distribute expertise.)
>Bring Guttman in here, he’s a doctor, he might be able to identity some of the causes of deaths of these bodies.
>Swap Shaffner out for Kirchoff, an electrician will be able to confirm electrical burns.
>Send Vorty out, his knowledge is better used understanding the aliens.
>Write in.

I've got work the next few days, so updates will be thin. As well, I'd love to hear any feedback people have, especially about things that can be improved.

>>4413596
>Just focus on Magnusson’s team. Make sure you get their actions here recorded on your goggles.
Be ready to interfere with the replays if necessary to secure the safety of Magnusson's team.
>Have Marietta and Kirchoff search through cabinets "E." and "R." for any documents that seem vital to recover.
and finishing up with a
>Send Vorty out, his knowledge is better used understanding the aliens.