Let's play: SCRAMming up!

[doom3607]

The cultist attempts to get back up and keep running for the fuel tanks.
Spoiler

Because all tropical beauties can throw knives expertly at a moving target. Which is damned near impossible. In any case, let there be fire!

[Scottish Ninja]

NOD to SYERGYEY. "He is not ours. Was stowaway. Or something. Though if you take him alive you may be able to sell him to intelligence agency. They may have interest in him."

[FaxModem1]

Spoiler

So wait, was it the Cultist or Historian who ran for the fuel tanks?

[PeZook]

February 23rd 2025
Sunday


ROUND 5.2

Okhotsk International Airport
Libertarian Russia

IVAN IVANOV Says: He is not ours. Was stowaway. Or something. Though if you take him alive you may be able to sell him to intelligence agency. They may have interest in him.

SYERGYEY IOSEFOVICH GRUNTS

SYERGYEY IOSEFOVICH AIMS and FIRES on the UNEXPECTED PASSENGER as he RESUMES his RUN.

UNEXPECTED PASSENGER feels the first few BULLETS whizzing BY. He STILL has at least THREE HUNDRED METRES to GO before he REACHES the FUEL TANKS. He also NOTICES not that he is CLOSER that the FUEL TANKS are FENCED.

And there are ARMED GUARDS wandering OUTSIDE. They have DOGS.

IVAN PYOTREVICH SAYS something INTO his COLLAR.

The ARMED GUARDS let their DOGS loose.

The DOGS look really MEAN.

IVAN PYOTREVICH Says: Now, I really hope he stowaway, da? Not Gulag prisoner to test our security. I hope you will not wander by the fuel tanks, da? Might have accident. Very dangerous, the fuel tanks.

The UNEXPECTED PASSENGER is YELLING like a LITTLE GIRL and RUNNING AWAY from several ANGRY DOGS.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST BREAKS from the SPECTACLE and ASKS IVAN IVANOV if he DOESN'T KNOW any HEAT SHIELD SPECIALISTS.

IVAN IVANOV MIGHT have CONTACTS. He PROMISES to CHECK.

IVAN PYOTREVICH Says: Now, excuse me. Have to take care of business. If you need tow for spaceplane, there is phone in hangar.

IVAN PYOTREVICH SNAPS his FINGERS at SYERGYEY IOSEFOVICH. They both LEAVE towards the SCENE of HORRIBLE THINGS that are HAPPENING to UNEXPECTED PASSENGER. There is much BLOOD. There is HORRIBLE SCREAMING.

TROPICAL BEAUTY is GOING to be SICK.

What do you do? _
Spoiler

Really, dude. What did you expect to accomplish? The game's a bit silly, but it does have some limits.

[Simon_Jester]

Spoiler

Cultist is running for the fuel tanks to do some bullshit. Historian is mostly sitting around and not giving anyone any crap, which is much better.

Also, I am surprised the dog is still alive. That is one tough doggie.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST has run into PROBLEM. The PROBLEM is of RANGE. The PROBLEM is SOLVED by DOODLING on a NAPKIN. It is DETERMINED that the MAGNIFICENT SPACEPLANE can cover about 7000 kilometres on SCRAM ENGINES when in ATMOSPHERE. It can only cover about 800 on ROCKET ENGINES alone if you don't WANT to BREAK the SOUND BARRIER.

SCRAM ENGINES only become EFFECTIVE at ALL at ABOUT MACH 3.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST has moment of REJOICING at PROBLEM solvable by NAPKING DOODLING.

"SCIENCE!"

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. However, MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST is worried about GOING AT MACH 3 while there is still HOLE IN HEAT SHIELD. Hypervelocity flight like that imposes thermal stresses on the plane too, though not as much as METEORIC REENTRY, and having a hole in the thermal protection worries me. Though the lower end of SCRAM speed might be OK, especially if we apply some more of that marvelous IMPROVISED PATCH MATERIAL to the hole.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not get involved in the COMBAT involving FILTHY STOWAWAY CULTIST, as he is already being chased by people who are clearly better at fighting than MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST. Including at least two people wiht GUNS. Also VICIOUS MANEATING DOGS.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST watches FILTHY STOWAWAY CULTIST get MOBBED by VICIOUS MANEATING DOGS with MILD SATISFACTION, then turns back to problems of HYPERSONIC FLIGHT and HEAT SHIELDING and whatnot. Also to HELPING REPAIR GUY.

SUAVE PLAYBOY has realized he may have some TROUBLE if he plans to move on to a new GIRL. TROPICAL BEAUTY seems to have taken a rank in COMBAT GIRLFRIEND.

Spoiler

If she displays as much MARITAL PROWESS as she has MARTIAL PROWESS, keeping her around as COMBAT GIRLFRIEND may be a great idea.

[doom3607]

Spoiler

Well, I was hoping the game was silly enough to let me get thr Russians after the team, along with everyone else, by way of blowing up the fuel tanks. Use the metal-bending spell to open a hole, wait a moment for some fuel to come out, then use the small fire spell. But since I seem to have been killed, ah well.

[PeZook]

For now you are merely GREVIOUSLY and MESSILY WOUNDED.

Also the FUEL TANKS are located a GOOD DISTANCE AWAY and SPACED to AVOID any MASSIVE CARNAGE. They also contain mostly KEROSENE which doesn't EXPLODE VIOLENTLY but BURNS instead.

Also, EXPECTING important INFRASTRUCTURE in LIBERTARIAN RUSSIA'S environment of CUTTHROAT and very often VIOLENT COMPETITION to be UNGUARDED was SILLY.

[Force Lord]

HALLUCINATES that EXPLOSIVE BAGELS are EVERYWHERE. Starts SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY.

[FaxModem1]

REPAIR GUY winces.

"You know, that's why the Triads have made sure to always be polite to Russians or have position of strength, it pays off in the long run."

REPAIR GUY sees if he can taxi SPACEPLANE to hangar.

[doom3607]

In that case, if the cultist is alive, he attempts to teleport a couple hundred meters further away from the fuel tanks and summon a lightning weapon once there.

[PeZook]

There is BARELY any FUEL in the SPACEPLANE. It will not TAXI and NEEDS to be TOWED or REFUELLED.

[FaxModem1]

In that case, REPAIR GUY takes out WALLET and gets 300 DOLLARS AMERICAN to give to nearest RUSKIE to tow plane to hangar.

[Simon_Jester]

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST gives REPAIR GUY a HEARTY BACKSLAP.

"Don't worry, my good fellow! We'll split the cost!"

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST gets out WALLET too.

[Scottish Ninja]

PRODUCE a SMALL JINGLING BAG. POUR OUT a HALF a DOZEN MYSTERIOUSLY MARKED SILVER COINS.

"I will contribute too."

[FaxModem1]

REPAIR GUY counts funds.

"Thank you both, this is more than enough and might help pay for the spare parts as well. What currency is that anyway?"

[Force Lord]

HISTORIAN stops HALLUCINATING, pulls out WALLET, PRODUCES $100 DOLLARS.

"How's this?"

[FaxModem1]

Spoiler

We having a Frank Capra moment here?

[Zixinus]

Okay, just to be clear: where am I and what am I doing?

[PeZook]

I suppose you were finalizing the hangar deal outside the plane when cultist began his run.

[Eternal_Freedom]

SPACE PILOT recovers from TEMPORARY PARALYSIS.

OBSERVES SITUATION. DECIES the CULTIST/UNEXPECTED PASSENGER is TOO MUCH OF A DICK to LIVE.

GRABS GIFT WRAPPED AK. UN-GIFT WRAPS IT. In an ALARMINGLY SMOOTH MOTION, LOADS MAGAZINE, COCKS the WEAPON, and throws AMEX CARD neatly into PLAYBOY'S POCKET.

AIMS CAREFULLY. FIRES a SINGLE ROUND that MISSES all the DOGS but EXPLODERISES the CULTISTS HEAD. MOMENTARILY ENJOY BLOOD SPLATTER.

LOOK AROUND. See SHEPP still BOUND. SHOOT HIM TOO. In the NUTS. And BOTH KNEECAPS.

Also COMMEND the REMARKABLY TOUGH SPACE-DOGGIE.

[Zixinus]

Okay then.

REINFORCE IVAN about STOWAWAY: they can do whatever he wants as far as I am concerned. The man tried to sabotage the Ravenstar for no reason, so fuck him.

Mention the idea that the person to receive the BRAND NEW AK with AMMO should be someone who would stay behind to oversee and guard the Ravenstar. Say Eternal Freedom, or SWARMY SAILOR if we are willing to trust him.
TALK BRIEFLY about the need to organise ourselves and priorities. My own thoughts are:
1. Get everyone to our ACCOMMODATIONS in our HANGAR.
2. Call a DOCTOR for SHEP, PHANT and others. Make a POINT with the DOCTOR about asking where I can buy certain MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
3. HAVE IVAN get us some TRANSPORTATION, preferably a VAN.
4. We need to get communications. Both to contact our client and between ourselves.
4. I'll go out and get SUPPLIES. This includes: medical supplies (to replenish MOSTLY USED UP FIRST AID KIT, a few other things and a certain few things for CUNNING PLAN), firearms, clothes, various equipment for repairs, parts and food for DINNER.

Visit following destinations in preferably this order:
- VET'S OFFICE to GIVE DOGGY LIFE-SAVING SURGERY. OR STRAIGHT to GRU'S ANIMAL CYBERNETIC DIVISION. Whichever is closer.
- A mobile shop where we buy a three pre-paid, disposable phones that we share between MYSELF, IVAN and/or REPAIR GUY (whoever will stay at the hangar).
- Back to HANGAR to give phone. Have DISCUSSION about clothing, any equipment needed, what should I get for DINNER. We should FURTHER DISCUSS our PLANS there, once we have a moment WITHOUT URGENCY. If DISCUSSION goes long, I'll just go out to get DINNER for EVERYONE and save my shopping trip for tomorrow.
- BANK where I may pick up our client's DEPOSIT, preferably while being GUARDED by SOMEONE WITH AK.

Then:
- Firearms/military dealer. I myself plan to get a small revolver with ratshot/glacer-safety-slug bullets.
- Medical supplies shop to refill MOSTLY USED UP MEDKIT to LARGE WELL-EQUIPPED MEDKIT, some other odds-and-ends (medicine, bandages for us as well), stuff for CUNNING PLAN. NOT DRUGS for SUAVE PLAYBOY though. HE CAN GET HIS OWN DRUGS.
- Clothing store. We need to look properly piloty for our clients.
- A local VERY HUNGARIAN STORE to REPLENISH my SUPPLIES of PÁLINKA. Replenishing UNHOLY MIXTURE will require some me to go trough some contacts.
- A computer store where I plan to get an equivalent of Toughbook 19, complete with spare battery and docking station with any additional equipment needed to interface with the RAVENSTAR. This will help with future communications, web-based activities and may be necessary for PHYSICIST to work WITH NAVIGATIONAL SOFTWARE SDK.
- Whatever stores necessary to get equipment or parts to fully REPAIR and if necessary, REFURBISH INTERIOR of RAVENSTAR.

[Eternal_Freedom]

VOLUNTEER to REMAIN and GUARD the SPACEPLANe with AK. I will use BADASSERY to STAY UP and ALERT ALL NIGHT LONG.

[Darkevilme]

SUAVE PLAYBOY has aquired the AMEX OF POWER and goes to provide COMBAT GIRLFRIEND/TROPICAL BEAUTY With a nice HOTEL STAY which he will also indulge himself in. Along the way he plans to purchase some NEW CLOTHES for both himself and TROPICAL BEAUTY.

[Scottish Ninja]

3. HAVE IVAN get us some TRANSPORTATION, preferably a VAN.

CALL some PEOPLE. ARRANGE to BUY a 1998 FORD ECONOLINE for FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS.


The van as it appeared in better years.


CALL a TAXI so ZIXINUS and I can GO to PICK UP the VAN and start RUNNING ERRANDS.

GET some PIROZHKI, SHASHLYK, and VODKA while OUT.

[Simon_Jester]

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST reverts to OBEY THE MUSTACHE mode. Begins acting as DE FACTO SECRETARY and fussing over LISTS OF THINGS WE NEED.