The Characters

 

Scene 9: Chaos 6 - Random Event "Scene Interrupted"

Lt. Allen eyes Vickers carefully. He knows she is lying to him, but at the same time he has a job to do. He makes a mental note to look up this "Kincaid" character once this shit quiets down. He command's Vickers to grab the sticks. She starts the engine as Allen leaves the bridge.

Systems hum to life with anticipation. Control panels and screens displaying vital information. Energy courses through the ship's circuits, bringing it to life. Then out of the corner of her eye, Vickers sees a transmission come through on a private channel. She stares at it, willing it to go away, but it's taunting flash persists. She can only pray that Allen doesn't see it.

It comes through to her headset. The same man as before. Vickers has to pretend like everything is normal, even though it's been far from normal for a long time now.

"This is not a good time." Jill whispers quietly.

Suddenly a new flash overtakes the console. Something is very wrong.

"Shit. No sir.... I." Jill is juggling the worst of everything all at once. She flips switches and wants vague data scroll across her screen. "Malfunction... you've got to be." Vickers breathes to herself, forgetting shes on the line. "I can't update you now, I've got a ship malfunction." Jill cuts off Kincaid, a decision she already regrets.

"Lt. Allen come in."

"I know, Vickers."

"Malfunction. I can't take off."

"I know, Vickers."

He does but we don't. Whats the problem? I roll for "Sulphur." 

The Lt. detects sulphur at the back of the ship. Could be a thruster issue, fuck, it could be anything at this point! Allen decides he must suit up and check the ship's exterior. Vickers' fingers frantically tap, punch and swipe at her computer. She can't locate the problem. There is no way this is a physical issue. It must be something internal.

"Running interior diagnostic now." She says to no one in particular. 

Allen opens the hatch and observes the exterior of the ship. I have no clue what I'm looking for but I soon find out that the ship has encountered "Damaged" to the outer hull from "Blowing" debris from the storm. Sounds like minor component damage. 

"Come in, Vickers. We've got hull damage. Isolate the scan to the back end of the ship."
Minor component damage turns out to be "Docking Ramp"

Of course. It's obvious as Allen rounds the back of the ship. After the blur of stone and sand clears, he can clearly see that the docking ramp is down. Did Vickers leave it open? Probably not. The hydraulics were likely damaged in the storm.

"Fuck, Vickers. You really screwed us." Allen says off-comms. He's got to fix it, but working in a hurricane on a foreign planet is not going to be easy. He's going to get a -1 modification due to the "High Winds".

Lt. Allen - Heavy Machinery Roll - Strength (5), Heavy Machinery (3) - 1 Mod = 7 Base dice = 0 Success.

The Lt. knows his skills are not up to par for a job this big. He's no mechanic and Vickers is no better. Fuck. To try again would be pointless. Allen stands back with a look of defeat. They are sitting ducks.

"Vickers, suit up. I need you out here."

Scene 10: Chaos 7 - Random Event - "Scene Interrupted"

I roll for the scene interrupt and get "Enemies + Ambush." Oh no... this is going to be bad.

As Mason sprints through the dim corridor of the hive, his footsteps echoing off the damp walls, his focus is solely on reaching the exit. The air is heavy with an unsettling silence, broken only by his laboured breaths and the distant sounds of something dripping.

It's as good a time for an ambush as any. I roll for what type of enemy and get "Facehugger."

 Is there more than one? "Yes"
Are there two facehuggers? "Yes"

Suddenly, something stirs in the darkness, among the tendrilled black flooring of the structure. Its darts between debris. Then, they pounce.

Two facehuggers emerge from the shadows, lunging towards Mason with the speed of a bullet. Their sleek, elongated bodies and writhing appendages create a nightmarish spectacle as they close in.

 Since this is turning into combat I roll for initiative. Facehugger (FH) gets "6" Mason gets "2" FH "1" Since the teammates are still within the same zone and have line of sight, they also draw initiative. Capilano "5", Kitzmiller "9", Marlaina "8." Being a newbie, I totally screwed up the order here so bear with me. It is what it is now and I can't go back and fix it.

All squad members get +1 Stress at the sight of the hostile organism.

FH 1 Rolls "Skittering Menace."  

The facehugger skitters forward, single-minded and horrifyingly spider-like. Mason suffers + 1 Stress and must make an immediate panic roll. Mason does a panic roll and hold it together. 

 FH rolls for its next attack "Tail lash"

 The little monster comes for Mason, lashing out with its wicked tail. It attacks with five Base Dice, Damage 1. Aside from any damage the victim gets +1 STRESS LEVEL. 

Attack = 1 Success.

Mason loses 1 Health and  +1 Stress. 

Mason's heart races, adrenaline coursing through his veins as his survival instincts kick into overdrive. With reflexes honed by training and the desperation to avoid their deadly embrace, he swerves to evade their initial strikes, narrowly avoiding its groping fingers.

The facehuggers hiss and screech, their movements quick and unpredictable, as they relentlessly pursue Mason. Their elongated tails lash out, seeking to ensnare him, while their ovipositors twitch with a sinister intent.

Mason's training kicks in as he frantically reaches for his weapon, his fingers fumbling in the darkness. Time seems to slow down as he grasps his pulse rifle and swiftly brings it to bear against the relentless assailants. FAST ACTION. Mason attempts to aim at the attackers. SLOW ACTION.

 

Mason gets ambushed

FH 2 lunges towards him. Rolls "Skittering Menace."  +1 Stress for Mason again.
Mason gets a 7 on the panic table.

FH2 goes in for the attack. Rolls "The Final Embrace", it rolls for any successes with 6 base dice.
Suspense is killing me. It's not looking good for Mason. +1 Stress for Mason again.

I take a deep breath.

Rolling....

0 Success.

Phew!

Mason fights it off, hitting it back with his rifle. The spidery thing is sent flying backward hitting the ground and losing the light in a black tangle of debris and shadow.

It's Capilano's time to play.

"Mason, take cover!"

Capilano draws his pulse rifle and fires.

Capilano - Ranged Combat Roll - Agility (4), Ranged Combat (2) Pulse Rifle Bonus (1) 7 Base dice + 1 Stress = 1 Success

A firing bursts of rapid projectiles eats away at the slimy creature (Deals 2 damage). Roll for Xeno damage on the injury table and get "Last Breath". The Facehugger is mortally wounded and contorts wildly. On its next initiative, it will try to kill the nearest victim, then die. If it’s wounded again before then, it dies instantly. 

FH2 jumps towards Mason for a final desperate attempt, but Mason is ready for it. He dodges it with skill and it flops to the ground like a chewed catcher's mitt. 

One down. Barely...

Marlaina shouts down the corridor, ordering him to stop panicking Slow Action. 

"Mason, stay still. Keep calm!!"

Marlaina - Command Roll - Empathy (5) 5 Base dice + 1 Stress = 0 Success

"Keep calm!! Are you fucking crazy?! Those things came out of nowhere." Mason barked.
Marlaina maneuvers with agility, utilizing every inch of her training to close the gap and head towards him.

Kitzmiller raises his smart gun toward the target. The bulky weapon fluidly fuelled by his adrenaline.

Kitzmiller - Ranged Combat Roll - Agility (5), Ranged Combat (4) Smart Gun Bonus (4) 13 Base dice + 1 Stress = 2 Success

Roll for Xeno damage on the injury table and get "Torn Apart".

The air fills with screeches of the wounded alien, as it pops like a puss filled balloon and dies in the blackness near their feet.

Mason's heart pounds in his chest as he searches for something to brace his weight. The team checks in on him and soon his breathing slows. He collect himself.

Kitzmiller checks his motion tracker for other hostiles.... Does he get a ping? "Yes" I roll a D6 to find out what zone it’s in. It's far enough away that they don't have to worry about it yet. Capilano assumes Overwatch just in case.

"Where's the signal, Kitzmiller?" Capilano raises.
"Far off, at least a zone or 2 over."
"You mean, about where the APC is?" Capilano glares at him. Kitzmiller eyes him with realization and put a finger to his comms device.

"Pakowski, come in. Do you copy? Pick up Pakowski. You're about to have a visitor."

But there's no answer. There’s only one other option.

Kitzmiller barrels towards the exit, his heart pounding. The echoing sound of his gear thunking dissipates down the winding halls.

Scene 11: Chaos 8 - Random Event - "NPC Negative"

Pakowski stirs awake on the cool floor of the APC. There are items scattered everywhere. The radio is blaring all kinds of voices, from Allen to Kitzmiller. They sound frantic and probing, but he can't understand what they're saying. Roll for NPC Negative I get "Pierced + Supplies." Maxx has done something to compromise their supplies on the APC.

He sees empty and smashed medical supplies strewn about the place. His memory is blank and he has no idea how long he's been out. He's groggy and downs a bottle of water from the mini fridge. Water Check.

Pakowski opens the door to the APC to vomit into the sand. The storm rages around him, much worse than before.

"Pakowski, do you copy? They're coming to you." The radio begs for his attention.

Lazily he plops himself in the chair and picks up. Kitzmiller tells him he's heading back to the APC and to be ready. Pakowski is beginning to awaken to the situation... The Storm... The Sensors.. Oh Fuck. He grabs his tools and attempts to repair the sensors one more time.

Pakowski - Heavy Machinery Roll - Strength (5), Heavy Machinery (3) 8 Base dice = 0 Success

"Pakowski! What the hell is going on!" Kitzmiller screams through the radio.

"Can't repair the sensors, the storm is too severe. I can barely hear you." He replies. The motion tracker ping is advancing. Kitzmiller looks at the viewfinder. Is it at the door? "Exceptional Yes."

"Pakowski, it's too late! It's there! It's at the door." Kitzmiller yells, his voice breaking in the mic.

Roll for Xenomorph... I get "Soldier."

Pakowski moves towards the door and peers into the storm. He can barely see. The sand and rock are like looking through a shower curtain. Then he sees it... A tall black figure approaching. Pakowski slaps the door control button and it closes, losing sight of the thing.

The storm engulfs the alien world with a malevolent fury. Dark, ominous clouds dominate the sky, swirling and churning with an otherworldly energy. As the storm intensifies, the air becomes thick and heavy, filled with a peculiar, acrid scent.

Kitzmiller leaves the hive and enters the brutal elements. Immediately he's caught in the ferocity of the storm. He pulls down his visor door to shield his eyes. The visibility is poor, making every step treacherous and disorienting. The wind howls relentlessly, whipping through the landscape with an unnerving force. Gusts of wind buffet Kitzmiller, threatening to knock him off balance and propel him into the unknown. All he can hear is the wind, his own breathing and the pelleting of stone and rock colliding with his suit.

Lightning crackles across the sky. The frequent flashes and rumbles only heighten the sense of urgency and perilousness and Kitzmiller begins to wonder if he made the right decision. He can barely see beyond a few feet in front of him. Every step feels like a blind gamble, with the constant risk of stumbling. 

Does Kitzmiller see the APC or will he get lost? If he fails to observe he is going to get lost.

Kitzmiller - Observation Roll - Wits (3), Observation (1) 4 Base dice + 1 Stress = 0 Success

Kitzmiller is lost in the storm...

Lost in the storm

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