Special Delivery... for the Military!

Special Delivery... for the Military!
Part of Rad Wars 2024 Part of Arma Ex Machina
Date 2084-12-05 GM TidanShock Location SOX, France Status Threat Level: Extreme
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Major Corp
Bulldozer Eidolon Iron Red Ribbon Scarecrow Spriggan	Character1 Character2

Summary

A nice little road trip through the SOX makes you wish for a nuclear winter.

Background

Wishing to sell his weaponry before the conflict concludes, Arma Remington requests the aid of runners in and out of the SOX to deliver said weapons across the dangerous border and warzone of the SOX.

The Meet

Whilst the SOX would prove to be difficult to organize, the runners in Seattle had a relatively easier time grouping together. Whilst Scarecrow would have access to the SOX via their contacts who managed to secure a plane. Iron and Bulldozer would not have such luck and through a series of calls Scarecrow would collect 4k nuyen for their contact to allow passage for the minotaur and giant aboard their aircraft. A cramped flight sure but one that managed to be sped up by Iron's matrix capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Saeder-Krupp camp of the SOX would prove to be a bit more tricky as two runners, Eidolon and Red Ribbon went about their day. However whilst on guard duty atop one of the watch out towers Eidolon noticed a familiar red coated individual waving at him from the tree line. A DNI request later revealing it to indeed be Raytheon who had a message and proposition for Eidolon from Arma himself. Tossing over a burner commlink over the wall before cartoonishly sprinting back into the snow covered irradiated hellscape. Confused Azworai accepted a call from the burner comm to hear the familiar voice of Arma who offered him a run to pay off the chip as well as earn a nice payday given the danger provided should he succeed in this endeavour. Arma also stating the offer would be extended to a fellow runner in the Saeder-Krupp camp named Red Ribbon. After destroying the comm and giving it some thought, Eidolon approached Red Ribbon's usual hangout in the parking lot relaxing inside her roadmaster. After talking to her about the job Ribbon after some pondering Ribbon agreed given her previous experience with Arma out in Ohio. With the two runners on board with the run, all that remained was a talk with their commander currently on base. Known for being a bit of a hardass, Ribbon decided to take the lead and attempt to talk down the commander and hopefully get some time off in order to complete the mission assigned by Arma. After finding the commander teaching a squadron of SK soldiers in marksmanship, Eidolon aiding one of the soldiers in firing properly before him and Ribbon managed to bring the commander somewhere else to talk. After some tense yet manageable negotiations thanks to Ribbon, the commander reluctantly gave the pair 6 days off. Thankful for this the pair hopped in Ribbon's Roadmaster ready to see what plans Arma had in store.

Meanwhile yet again, at the Aztechnology headquarters a lone runner Spriggan was stuck in their own head as on-sight medical personnel tended to their wounds. A nurse leaving them their lunch along with an unasked for bag of soy-chips. Once Spriggan reached inside the bag they found a sealed foil bag with a burner comm inside it. A call emitting from the comm as they took it out. Spriggan picking up the comm heard the voice of one Arma Remington with a job offer for them should they accept, stating they needed but to ask for some days off to achieve the mission objective. Wanting to already leave the hellhole that was the SOX, Spriggan agreed with the pay being a nice added bonus. Some brief convincing later and given how the SOX was coming near to a close, she was relieved of duty. Relieved she headed towards the border where she met up with Eidolon and Red Ribbon near the edge of the SOX. Where the three saw a heavily modified Westwind car would bring the three to where Arma was. Ribbon taking control of the car for a time to have a bit of fun as they approached top speed for some fun as they rocketed towards the meet.

Meeting at a small border town where mercenaries and similar individuals met along the outskirts of the SOX, the runners were advised to head towards a higher-end sushi restaurant and to give a secret phrase. Iron choosing to attend the meeting only with their sprite "the Iron legion" acting as a proxy. After giving the passphrase and the restaurant was evacuated the runners were guided to the back and led underground where armed guards scanned and assensed the runners. After being let in they saw Arma sitting in wait alongside a nice banquet of fish and Sake. The runners were informed more specifically of the task they were to undertake. A shipment of Arma's own weaponry was to be delivered the UCAS military camp, where the anonymous buyer would be awaiting them by the entrance. Offering a base pay of 30,000 nuyen for the job, the runners managed to squeeze an additional 5,000 out of Arma given the difficulty of what was presented. They would be given a custom vehicle fortified for the work that lay in wait for them. A Dodge Rhino custom fitted with several defensive and offensive countermeasures. A dangerous storm was also said to be approaching the surrounding area. While proving dangerous would be the runners cover to get in without immediately being destroyed. With negotiations made on and under the table, all the runners headed out towards the SOX. Hopefully ready for whatever awaited them.

The Plan

Investigating the route ahead via the matrix and astral, it was revealed the path Arma chose was pretty sound, not heading directly towards the SOX but still direct enough time would not be too huge a factor in the proceedings. Though various toxic groups would likely be patrolling the surrounding areas they were to cross. With the information in hand and not much else to go off of. The runners entered the Rhino and sped towards the UCAS encampment.

The Run

As the wind and snow began to pepper the car the runners managed to detect an ambush that lay in wait consisting of 3 vehicles filled with 3 cultists each. A mounted gun at the top of each vehicle. Using the cover of snow and invisibility. Iron ventured out and found a trap along the road that may have spelt the end for their vehicle. A liquid explosive he and Spriggan then managed to defuse before heading back to the truck. Realizing though that they likely would be caught no matter what the runners made their presence known and attacked the Shamans that planned to ambush them. The shamans caught by surprise were a relatively easy fight to manage given the runners firepower. Also Eidolon shooting out the enemies vehicles engine block also put a stop to several things. The runners after the battle choosing to spare one injured driver sped off towards their next destination.

The night passed and the storm picked up in intensity. Bits of hail mixed in with the irradiated white powder hung outside the window as the runners continued along their path. Though as Scarecrow's Ally Spirit began getting a bad feeling of what may lie ahead the runners decided to do some astral and matrix reconnaissance ahead. Finding the presence of heavy toxic energy and a rigger hooked into a stolen and augmented MET 2k roadmaster. Also seeing nearby a MET 2K outpost decimated with countless equipment and supplies gone, leaving nothing but corpses and a crater. However, after spotting the vehicle and the rigger hooked therein, Iron with the aid of the Iron Legion, data spiked the vehicle and rigger to the point in meat space smoke could be seen emitting from the engine block. Realizing the now on-alert guards would be on them shortly the runners once again charged into battle. Iron and Bulldozer tanking most of the hits as the fighting ensued. Scarecrow left to fend for herself against an onslaught of 3 toxic spirits of significant force attacking her at once. The towering radiation spirit proving most challenging of all but still managing to dodge nearly every hit the spirits dealt as well as the volley of gunfire from the car they battled upon. The fight however causing Scarecrow to shift into their drake form in order to combat the onslaught. Whilst that was going on and with several engines out of commission thanks to Eidolon's sharpshooting, Spriggan prowled the battlefield in search of the few that managed to escape the vehicle. Bulldozer also having fun continuously dodging the buggy's as they attempted to ram into his body. Thankfully the large armored individual was still nimble enough to avoid the collision. Iron peppering the enemies that surrounded the runners with their gatling gun... as best as he could. However as Scarecrow realized that their fight may be a bit too much they found the astral signature linked to two of the toxic spirits were tied to a figure in the back of the Roadmaster Iron matrix nuked not too long before now. Spriggan acknowledging this along with their explosive ordinances charged towards the armored vehicle full speed, unable to escape the immediate blast radius proving to be but a strong inconvenience to Spriggan as she stood tall through the flames and continued the fight. With the mage now removed from the current plane of existence one toxic spirit simply disappeared but one gained freedom, choosing to use said freedom to peace out of the current engagement given how 3 spirits and a machine gun were not enough to damage the drake now standing in front of them. Yet the radiation monster seemed unaffected by this giving evidence of another caster far away from the current battle. Regardless though the enemies dwindled one by one via various forms of led and attacks. After victory was attained Scarecrow and the other runners chose to interrogate the soul surviving member of the group that assailed them. Only to immediately choose retreat as their questions slowly revealed the group of shamans they were attacking had far more power than they thought. Instead choosing to flee from the battle and finish their objective before time ran out. The runners now continuing on as the eye of the storm approached ever closer.

As the storm reached its apex the runners approached near the edge of MET 2K territory. The runners having to choose between one of two evils, either one, deviate off course and potentially miss the deadline as well as having Eidolon and Red Ribbon's team having a form of retribution in wait for them. And... Saeder-Krupp is known for many things, hospitality and mercy are not among them. The other route being a close drive through the border of MET 2K territory. Needing the delivery done in time with some wiggle room to ensure safety that the runners could return to where they needed to be. So the runners charged straight ahead, cautiously scouting whatever may lie in wait. Iron through the snow and noise able to detect an imposing prototype tank nearly invisible as it hovered over the snow. Preparing for the worse the runners as a team united using every last spare bit of knowledge they had to turn their earlier attained liquid explosive into one of the most deadly bombs any shadowrunner had ever devised. With Spriggan being the one tasked to deliver the payload and Eidolon acting as ranged support. Even with Scarecrow's magic and the aid of the storm the elite trained crew managed to spot Spriggan and began opening fire. The runners doing everything in their power to aid Spriggan as an onslaught of projectiles hailed them. A small group of HTR beginning to leave the tank and assail Spriggan as she charged the tank. Despite grievous wounds and the odds stacked against her, Spriggan managed to charge towards the military vehicle and attach the bomb on its exterior. As the explosion resounded for kilometers and snow lined the sky in a mushroom cloud. The runners stood in awe as Spriggan emerged from the wreck and shrapnel. As the runners rushed over to tend to her wounds they noticed one HTR member alive and after a swift shot from Eidolon in the leg, said HTR raised their hand in surrender. Spriggan enraged and wishing for the head of the man was calmed by the others stating the rules of engagement still applied and surrender was to be taken seriously. Scarecrow lying to Iron about the figures awakened status as an Adept allowed them to carry on as the runners rushed back to the Rhino, to hopefully reach their destination without future problems.

Aftermath

As they passed the eye of the storm and neared the UCAS encampment. Eidolon and Ribbon bid their farewell as they headed back towards the Saeder-Krupp encampment in a rush. Making it in time. Meanwhile Iron and the others met with one Le Bourguinion who ordered the shipment for the N-51 given how intense events had gotten in preparation for Operation Poseidon. Iron managing to convince the man to offer a cargo plane for return transportation to Seattle as a bonus for a job well done. Spriggan also hopping aboard the plane to escape the hellshow that surrounded her. And with yet another successful run under their belts, the runners returned to their respective dwellings where only the results of the war awaited them.

Rewards

65 RVP (30 x 2.17)

• 40k Nuyen (20 RVP) (Have a little bonus, courtesy of Arma)

+5k (Negotiations)

• 35 Karma (35 RVP)

+5 Karma (you killed a "run away from this you can't win" boss fight. You have become death, destroyer of that fucker in particular.)

• 20 CDP (10 RVP)

+2 base CDP

• Gear rates for weapons/accessories/ware up to avail 24 (restricted AND forbidden included)

• Initiation/Ascension/Submersion for anyone involved.

OPTIONAL REWARDS

• Dodge Rhino + 3k Nuyen (57 RVP)

OPTIONAL CONTACTS

• Le Bourguinion (C6/L2) (7 RVP)
• Arma Remington (C9/L1) (9 RVP)

RUN CONDEQUENCES

• Red Ribbon owes Arma Remington 4 Chips for (REDACTED)
• Eidolon removes 1 chip from Arma, congrats buddy!

OPTIONAL QUALITIES

• Adrenaline Surge for Scarecrow (12 RVP)
• Secondary Modifications for Eidolon (5 RVP per rank)
• Tough as Nails (Physical or Stun) at chargen rates for Spriggan (5 RVP per Rank)
• Toughness at chargen rates for Spriggan (8 RVP)
• Sharpshooter at chargen rates for Spriggan (4 RVP)
• Strive for Perfection for Spriggan at chargen rates (12 RVP)
• Sense of Direction for Red Ribbon at chargen rates(3 RVP)
• Aptitude: Sneaking at chargen rates (7 RVP)
• Ronin Samurai Way for Bulldozer at chargen rates (10 RVP)

Game Quotes

"Are you telling me a Shrimp Fried that car?"

[Bulldozer]

surprisingly a lot of cars tried to ram me over at once.. while honestly most likely i could have taken them head on its best not to try to play around while on the job, beyond that doing security is always fun.