Slamurai

REGENESIS--- A Free Form RP?!

So what's the world actually like? You mentioned a blend of science and magic - what kind of technology is present? Is the aesthetic comparable to present-day, futuristic, or something more historical?

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

<Snipped quote by Aristo>

Ooof, looks like you've got me. I'll take the hit, hopefully the timing isn't so close that the old guy gets gibbed XD

@EmptyArmor

Quick, yank the big, yellow lever under the seat!

What's the chance of Kat's Zaruga picking up the pending explosion of the Barghest, either through the system or expectation,

Not thinking she can stop it, but offer a drive by to catch Bern and get a bit of distance or slightly shield him before the blast.

@Dark Light

So long as Bern leaves everyone an adequate "Oh, shit," message over the radio, someone can garner the initiative to go check him out!

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

Bern's in the Barghest about to blow, since he hijacked it, and our adversaries sure aren't going to leave evidence!

Ronin: Neo-Japan

Name: Karen Chung
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Nationality: Chinese-American
Alias/Handle: Swallowtail

Psychological Analysis:
Karen comes off as a harsh, no-nonsense Ronin, expecting the best from her teammates while on-duty. Results come first. She is perhaps the most likely out of the team to worry over their reputation. In this sort of business, one has to have a sterling image. Karen keeps a close eye on the rest of the team in the field, to better orchestrate the most successful outcome. She radiates authority, carrying herself with a haughty demeanor and steely confidence. She is loathe to display any kind of weakness, or failure to measure up to the rest of her team. On the inside, she is actually very reserved and apprehensive about herself, which is likely what drives her to perform at her peak. Of course, she makes no effort to reveal her softer side to her associates. Despite her reputation, she enjoys a laugh over drinks, and will not shy from an occasional insult in good humor.

Employment Record:
Karen was never an ambitious child. She was not wanting for friends, or hobbies or necessities, but she lacked enthusiasm in most things she did, save for hitting the gym, blogging and shooting guns with her father. Come her 16th birthday, she had no real aspirations to learn to drive. No real concern over jobs at 18. And when she graduated college at 21, she'd put off career-searching and largely kept to herself. With a niche degree and a desperate need for some form of income, she was forced to look into local job postings. The security corporation GSM had an opening, and without much to lose, Karen looked into it.

Following a seven-week-long period of training, Karen was employed by GSM as a full-time security officer. GSM had a strong presence in the States, providing surveillance and protection to client businesses; most of which were arms manufacturers or cybernetic companies. Karen was assigned to a posting at Ceres Aeronautics. Originally a designer and manufacturer of aircraft, Ceres had just taken the leap into the cybernetic market as well, taking licenses from designers to manufacture prosthetic limbs and implants.

Ceres's entering the biotech industry unnerved other local corporations, wary of the growing competition within the market. DynaCorp was especially anxious when Ceres unveiled its latest series of neural developments. DynaCorp was starting to lose a number of prospective clients to the upstart company. It hired a mercenary unit to assault Ceres's manufacturing plant with the intent to deliver the message “stay out of the industry.”

Karen was among the GSM personnel assigned to the facility, who had been caught off-guard by DynaCorp's attack. The mercenaries mounted a sudden, powerful offense and hammered Karen's partners into submission before totaling the plant. Her trips to the gun range with dad had paid off. Although she held out with a grim determination and downed a few of the hired guns, there were too many for her to deal with, and she was forced to hide and wait out the assault.

The incident prompted Ceres Industries to respond by hiring the same mercenaries that had been sent after them with an extremely lucrative contract. Not only did this get DynaCorp out of their hair momentarily, but it gave them a means to retaliate. The mercenaries took a liking to Karen, praising her for her performance during their raid. The leader, a Ronin, convinced Karen to quit her dead-end job at GSM and join his unit, following the expiration of their contract. He sensed potential in the girl, and he felt he owed it to himself and the fallen mercs to make use of it.

Karen was trained extensively by her new crew, molded from humble beginnings into a lethal professional soldier. She was taught the ins and outs of the Ronins' underground society; how to thrive, who to (dis)trust and how to do business. For what seemed like the first time in forever, Karen felt truly alive. By augmenting her body with credits earned from operations, she felt herself becoming stronger. There was a kind of euphoria in it, coupled with the danger, the prestige of being a Ronin. This was finally something she could dedicate herself to.

Karen's team has been involved in many operations since her induction, and has had a moderate turnover rate since. Ronins have come and gone before her eyes, and even her mentor was consigned to meet his end. At the moment, it consists of only a handful of Ronin; some new, some old; each one a finely-honed instrument of their client's will. Karen's hope is to mold the group into the most effective team as possible, aiming to uphold the honor and legacy of its Ronins before her.

Enhancements:

• A-grade cybernetic optical implants – Karen's eyes feature an advanced HUD, giving her access to thermal, night and infrared vision. They interface with high-grade weapons with the proper software to allow for precision aiming and target acquisition. They also have recording software and 63x zoom. Karen can interface with TVs and monitors to display and record visual data. The eyes' most impressive feature is probably its 'smart vision' – enabling the user a degree of x-ray vision through thin walls and objects with thermographing technology. 10,000Cr
• B-grade dermal armor – Karen's body has been modified with a composite, microfiber weave, suspended in a dilatant fluid beneath the skin in vital parts of the body. The fluid becomes rigid when struck with kinetic energy. It also protects against fire and electric damage through conductive elements woven into the armor. This enables resistance from EMP attack. 5,000Cr
• B-grade arm prosthesis – Artificial arms made of myomers, and held together by a polymer and metal frame, interface with high-grade weapons to provide shooters with a rock-steady firing platform, even on the move. They also grant the user considerable strength and reaction time beyond what would normally be possible. 10,000Cr (Left/Right)
• A-grade thermo-optical camouflage – This system consists of a series of wires that link the brain to a control implant located along the ribcage. The grid is layered beneath the surface of the skin and over prosthesis. When activated, the implant generates a precise electromagnetic field that manipulates the EM radiation in the user's immediate vicinity. The result is a high-quality optical cloak, that bends the light hitting the user. It affects all wavelengths, rendering detection through lasers or infrared and ultraviolet light impossible. Temperature regulatory systems mask the user's thermal signature, making them difficult to spot, if not invisible, through thermal optics. 10,000Cr

Equipment:

• Combat-grade armor. 5,000Cr
  
  Armor Appearance

  
• Kryton CR12 carbine (A-grade) – The CR12 features a helical magazine across the length of the barrel, much like a P90, and a bullpup action with a forward-facing ejection port. Although the weapon is very light and compact, it retains the barrel length and accuracy of a conventional rifle. It fires a 6.5x39mm armor-piercing round, with up to fifty in each magazine. The weapon has Picatinny rails for mounting various accessories. Karen typically equips it with a silencer, laser aimpoint and holographic sight. As an A-grade firearm, it features a complex suite of recoil-dampening systems, and interfaces with Karen's implants for easy target acquisition and auto-stabilization. 5,000Cr
• Seburo M-5 (C-grade) – The Seburo M-5 is a simple, 5.45×18mm handgun. It has a concealable 3.5-inch barrel and fires using a rotating breech locking mechanism. It is a common firearm in the hands of security and law enforcement personnel, and is ideal for anyone requiring a light, concealable weapon. Its 5.45×18mm round is capable of penetrating multiple layers of kevlar. Karen's magazines hold twenty rounds in a double stack pattern. 250Cr
• Standard combat knife. 250Cr
• 4x E-nades. 1,000Cr
• Trade tools – Karen carries an array of virus and data-hacking software loaded into portable USB drives, through which she can overload or invade encrypted systems. Useful for causing havoc to security networks or digging up secure data. 1,000Cr
• 4x PharmaCon Medical Gel. 1,000Cr
• PharmaCon Emergency Trauma Solution. 1,000Cr
• Street Chems – Karen doesn't use them herself, but she carries a handful of substances that could be used to... entice locals into owing her favors. 500Cr

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

The story continues! Huehuehuehue...

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

Cecilia winced as she saw Sarah go down just meters away. The Barghest's rounds had caught her as the pair crossed the street, doing severe damage to the FRAME's structural and systemic integrity. Cecilia extended her machine's hand to the crippled Handou, pulling it back into cover with her. A moment later, and Sarah popped the hatch. "I wish to make my way to the Cradle building, I have my PDW and some thermal grenades, either way I'm out this fight!"

"That's a negative!" Cecilia shot back. "It's too dangerous to charge in there alone! We don't know what their strength is, and according to Richard, they're the real-deal; spec-op types. Get to cover and sit tight until this is over."

As she finished, Bernard's voice crackled in her headset, adding to her troubles. "Cecilia, I'm in a Barghest. I was just looking at it and suddenly I got this irresistible urge to get inside."

"You're what?! ... I won't ask," Cecilia groaned. She knew better than to expect anything else but the unexpected by now. "Make sure you adjust your IFF signal; wouldn't want to shoot you in the back. Now that you're playing dress-up, see if you can raise some hell."

Cecilia pieced the engagement together on her C3 monitor. Bern had freed up some breathing room for Ryder, who was in terrible shape. Sarah's FRAME was down. At least three of the five Barghests were still operational, and who knew how many more were lurking behind the next corner? Whoever they were up against weren't slouches. Not to mention Richard was still somewhere inside the HQ. A pair of unidentified FRAMEs had entered the fray; not Barghests, thankfully, but seemingly fighting on the Panthers' behalf. If only they were using the same radio frequency. Cecilia had more immediate concerns though, as the Barghest across the street sent another salvo of rounds her way.

-----

"Dammit, Shāyú-Yī is down! Rammed his gun right through his fucking FRAME. Èr, you're acting team lead."

"They got Jīn!? Shit... copy, Sān. We need to regroup. We can't wait for Beta Team." Shāyú's new CO backpedaled north, putting some distance in-between himself and the panthers, who were encroaching on the facility.

"What's the word inside? Please tell me you've found it."

"Copy, Shāyú-Èr, we're retrieving the last of the data now. Not enough time to haul the components, but we can reverse-engineer the HFI with the blueprints. ... Let's go, people! Fill those bags! Every harddrive, disk, PADD you can find! We're leaving in three!" ... Thanks for keeping them off our backs. Sorry about the losses."

"They won't have died in vain if your data is as valuable as they say. Let's wrap this up; you know the drill?"

"We'll handle it. Out."

As the operatives threw the last bits of data they could scour into jumbo-sized trash bags, they removed their gear and BDUs, replacing their garb with Cradle employee coveralls and lab coats. Hauling their goods, they exited the R&D wing as swiftly as they'd arrived, hopping out the rear entrance and piling into a pair of nondescript construction vans. The vehicles took off, under the cover of night.

"Shāyú-Èr to all units, mission is a success. Radio silence from here on out. See you topside. Out."

The remaining pilots switched on their thermo-optic camo suites, cloaking their Barghests and vanishing into the urban jungle. An uneasy calm settled over the battlefield, with the Panthers still on alert.

-----

"Can anyone hear me? Dr. Sammick? Reed? Anyone?!" Amelia wailed into her PADD, trying to get a grasp of the situation deeper in the facility. Her hails were met with static-lined silence.

"Fuck! All our research... It'll take decades to replace these losses!" She screamed, slamming a fist into the wall she leaned on for support. Bentz listened to her vent, none too enthusiastic about the turn of events either.

"Panthers? Do you copy?"

Upon hearing Richard's voice, Cecilia answered, "Richard?! Are you hurt?"

"Not a scratch. The intruders only went after the R&D wing. But we've heard nothing from that section of the building. I'm afraid we've lost this one. More importantly, are Ryder and Sarah alright?"

"Shit! Sarah made it out okay. Ryder's FRAME took a beating, but her vitals are good. All enemy contacts have vanished from sight. Nothing on the sensors, no visuals at all. It's like they just disappeared!"

"Be careful. Get everyone to regroup at Cradle. The Sodroyan Military just entered the district. We'll figure out where to go from here."

"Copy, Bentz. Glad you're alright."

-----

As the Barghests slinked into the darkness, a beeping tone emitted from the one disabled FRAME and Bernard's captured ride. A strange, red light flared on the console, which, Bernard could tell, was never the sign of anything good.

DEET. DEET. DEET. DEET. DEET. DEET. DEETDEETDEETDEETDEETDEETDEETDEET DEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

Exegesis

Aw yeah, Cthulupunk.
Pretty interested in the knightly class; more info on what sort of 'magitech' is commonly seen would tickle my fancy.

Steel Dawn - Nightfall

I'll hop on-board, if this is looking alive.

The Cries of Terra – 2350 C.E.

Are players solely intended to RP colonial societies of their respective nations, or are multi-national corporations alright?

Tangled Conspiracies

I didn't realize our OOC was open till now!