Freezing Shadows, Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Execute

It was almost midnight. Lucky for us, it was cloudy tonight, which helped cover our approach. Babydoll had three flying drones up and in the air, but only one was armed. The other two were pretty much there for surveillance, and to extend our personal networks, giving us a bit more flexibility. In the boat, we were going slow, the electric engine barely making a sound as we crept forward.

That wasn’t just to keep from raising any alarms, of course. That was a bonus, of course, but it wasn’t the main reason. The real reason we were going slow was so that I could properly gauge when we passed through the ward, and give me enough time to prep for the fight. We were expecting trouble, so we needed to be at our best.

Once we slid past the ward, I took a couple moments to re-activate my foci. That took about nine seconds. Nothing much, but nine seconds could be forever in a gunfight. I took a breath, and then cast the spell to speed my own reflexes.

Iceblade casts Increase Reflexes (Force 3)

Iceblade’s Spellcasting roll: 10d6 = 4 hits, 0 Miss

Increase Reflexes: +2 Initiative, +2 Initiative Passes

Resist Drain (3S): 13d6 = 5 hits, 3 Miss (Resists Drain)

Good enough to get me up to speed, and I didn’t suffer any damage from the drain. I let the spell settle into my sustaining focus, and felt the burden lift from me. And, just in case the mage was around, or had spirits ready to send our way, I extended my Counterspelling ability to those of us going ashore. It would only give a couple extra dice to everyone’s defense, but that was better than nothing. “Ready,” I subvocalized into our comm net.

“Moving forward,” Babydoll’s voice said, even though she was curled up on the floor of the boat, seemingly unconscious. She was operating in full VR, to speed her reactions, even though she was only operating the boat and the drones remotely. Well, she could ‘jump into’ the drones, but the boat wasn’t equipped for that. Most vehicles needed special mods for that, after all.

“I’m in the node, with a sprite,” Twilight said over the link. Her body was still back in our base, but she didn’t need to be in the line of fire for this. “Internal security cameras show five guards inside. Target in home office on second floor, reading reports. Two guards outside, walking the perimeter. Opposite directions. They’re at the front, now, heading towards the back. I am editing sensors in real time, they don’t notice you, yet.”

There was silence as we landed the boat on the rocky beach. “Babydoll, do you have eyes on the roamers?”

“Yes. I can only get one from my sniper drone, though. Right side, as you’re looking at the house.”

“Sexkitten, do you have eyes on the other?”

“Yes, just coming into view around the side of the house.”

“Take the shot, simultaneously, if you can.”

“Got it.” “Roger that, boss.”

Sexkitten’s attack roll (Guard 1): 14d6 = 3 Hits, 3 Miss

Guard 1’s Reaction: Surprised, no Defense (3 Net Hit)

Semi-Auto: 10P, -5AP

Guard 1’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 3 Hits, 2 Miss (7P Damage)

Sexkitten’s attack roll (Guard 1): 14d6 = 4 Hits, 1 Miss

Guard 1’s Reaction: Surprised, no Defense (4 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 11P, -5AP

Guard 1’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 3 Hits, 1 Miss (8P Damage)

Guard 1: 15/10 Physical Monitor (Dead)

Babydoll’s attack roll (Guard 2): 9d6 = 6 hits, 1 Miss

Guard 2’s Reaction: Surprised, no Defense (6 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 13P, -7 AP

Guard 2’s Damage Resistance: 3d6 = 1 Hit, 1 Miss (12P damage)

Guard 2: 12/10 Physical Monitor (Dying)

Two shots from Sexkitten’s rifle barked out, very subdued, thanks to the integral suppressor on the rifle. I never even heard the sniper rifle on the drone overhead fire. Nice and clean, just like we wanted.

“Target down.” “Guard neutralized.”

“Twilight?” I asked, scanning the house for any signs of a reaction.

“Guards on alert. Two members dropped out of their network. They’re scanning cameras now, but you’re still clear, for now. They’re moving towards the rear of the house.”

“Transmitter status?”

“Sprite and I blasted it when you ordered the shots taken. Transmitter is bricked. Sending sprite back to the resonance, and setting off lockdown protocol… now.” There was a squelching sound as the connection was forcibly redirected. “Ugh. No damage, but I’m not doing any hacking for the time being. Signing off.”

I took a breath as she disconnected, and subvocalized, “All right, she did her part, now let’s get going.” We began moving, weapons at the ready, but had only crossed half the distance to the house when lights flooded the backyard, lighting us up, just as the guards came out the back door. Must have been a disconnected system, completely analog. Clever.

Initiative

Iceblade’s Initiative: 9d6 = 3 Hit, 2 Miss (Init 12, 3 Passes)

Berzerker’s Initiative: 9d6 = 1 Hits, 1 Miss (Init 10, 3 Passes)

Sexkitten’s Initiative: 9d6 = 1 Hits, 3 Miss (Init 10, 3 Passes)

Babydoll’s Initiative: 7d6 = 3 Hits, 2 Miss (Init 10, 3 Passes)

Shadowgirl’s Initiative: 9d6 = 3 Hits, 2 Miss (Init 12, 3 Passes)

Guard 3’s Initiative: 8d6 = 2 Hits, 0 Miss (Init 10, 2 Passes)

Guard 4’s Initiative: 8d6 = 6 Hits, 0 Miss (Init 14, 2 Passes)

Guard 5’s Initiative: 8d6 = 1 Hits, 4 Miss (Init 9, 2 Passes)

Guard 6’s Initiative: 8d6 = 3 Hits, 2 Miss (Init 11, 2 Passes)

Lieutenant’s Initiative: 8d6 = 2 Hits, 2 Miss (Init 10, 2 Passes)

Guard 4’s Attack Roll (Berzerker): 9d6 = 5 Hits, 3 Miss

Berzerker’s Reaction: 10d6 = 2 Hit, 2 Miss (3 Net Hits)

Short, Narrow Burst: 10P, -2 AP

Berzerker’s Damage Resistance: 19d6 = 8 hits, 4 Miss (2P Damage) (Converted to Stun)

Guard 4’s Attack Roll (Berzerker): 9d6 = 3 Hits, 2 Miss

Berzerker’s Reaction: 10d6 = 1 Hit, 0 Miss (2 Net Hits)

Short, Narrow Burst: 9P, -2 AP

Berzerker’s Damage Resistance: 19d6 = 10 hits, 2 Miss (No Damage)

Berzerker: 2/9 Stun Monitor

One of the guards was a little faster than the rest. Evidently, he decided that the girl with light machine gun on her hip was the biggest threat in the group. Not a terrible threat assessment, given the limited information. Two quick, three round bursts later, and I had a feeling that assessment was only getting reinforced, as Berzerker tanked the bullets like a champ.

Iceblade casts Orgy (Force 5)

Iceblade’s Spellcasting test: 10d6 = 5 Hits, 1 Miss

Orgy: Applies -1 modifier per net hit to all tests

Guard 3’s Resistance: 3d6 = 1 Hits, 1 Miss (4 Net Hits) (Incapacitated)

Guard 4’s Resistance: 3d6 = 1 Hits, 1 Miss (4 Net Hits) (Incapacitated)

Guard 5’s Resistance: 3d6 = 2 Hits, 1 Miss (3 Net Hits)

Guard 6’s Resistance: 3d6 = 1 Hits, 1 Miss (4 Net Hits) (Incapacitated)

Lieutenant’s Resistance: 3d6 = 1 Hits, 0 Miss (4 Net Hits) (Incapacitated)

Resist Drain (2S): 13d6 = 3 Hits, 5 Miss (No Damage)

Shadowgirl’s Attack Roll (Guard 5): 13d6 = 6 Hits, 1 Miss

Guard 5’s Modified Reaction: 2d6 = 0 Hits, 0 Miss (6 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 11P, -5 AP

Guard 5’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 3 Hits, 0 Miss (8P Damage)

Shadowgirl’s Attack Roll (Guard 5): 13d6 = 3 Hits, 1 Miss

Guard 5’s Modified Reaction: 2d6 = 1 Hits, 0 Miss (2 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 7P, -5 AP

Guard 5’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 2 Hits, 1 Miss (5P Damage)

Guard 5: 13/10 Physical Monitor (Dying)

This could get ugly if these guys decided that they all needed to focus fire. Especially if they focused on any of us that weren’t walking tanks like Berzerker. Unfortunately, the only damage-dealing spells I had were single-target. Something to work on, when I had enough karma. But I did have a ‘distraction’ spell that I could use, especially since the guards were still all grouped up by the back door.

Orgy was a fun spell. Basically, it overloaded the senses of anyone caught in the area of effect, and basically trapped them in a state of orgasmic bliss until the spell ended. Mechanically, it gave a -1 to pretty much everything except damage resistance for each net hit I got on the test, but there was a kicker: get more net hits than the target’s Willpower, and they are incapacitated, unable to do anything but cream themselves.

Which is precisely what happened to four of the five remaining guards. Their weapons fell from their hands as they collapsed to their hands and knees, moaning in pleasure. But one of the guards managed to keep his feet, if only barely.

Fortunately, Shadowgirl was quick on the uptake. Two shots from her silenced Predator, and the armor-piercing ammunition made quick work of the guard. Nice and clean.

Sexkitten’s attack roll (Guard 4): 14d6 = 8 Hits, 1 Miss

Guard 4’s Reaction: Incapacitated, no Defense (8 Net Hit)

Semi-Auto: 15P, -5AP

Guard 4’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 3 Hits, 1 Miss (12P Damage)

Guard 4: 12/10 Physical Monitor (Dying)

Sexkitten’s attack roll (Guard 3): 14d6 = 6 Hits, 4 Miss

Guard 3’s Reaction: Incapacitated, no Defense (6 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 13P, -5AP

Guard 3’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 1 Hits, 1 Miss (12P Damage)

Guard 3: 12/10 Physical Monitor (Dying)

Babydoll’s attack roll (Lieutenant): 9d6 = 2 hits, 1 Miss

Lieutenant’s Reaction: Incapacitated, no Defense (2 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 9P, -7 AP

Lieutenant’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 1 Hit, 1 Miss (8P damage)

Babydoll’s attack roll (Lieutenant): 9d6 = 2 hits, 2 Miss

Lieutenant’s Reaction: Incapacitated, no Defense (2 Net Hits)

Semi-Auto: 9P, -7 AP

Lieutenant’s Damage Resistance: 5d6 = 3 Hit, 1 Miss (6P damage)

Lieutenant: 14/10 Physical Monitor (Dying)

Berzerker’s attack roll (Guard 6): 13d6 = 5 Hits, 2 Miss

Guard 6’s Reaction: Incapacitated, no Defense (5 Net Hits)

Short, Narrow Burst: 13P, -5 AP

Guard 6’s Damage Resistance: 2 Hits, 1 Miss (11P damage)

Guard 6: 11/10 Physical Monitor (Dying)

What followed was an execution, pure and simple. Messy business, but at least the remaining guards were all feeling good as they checked out of life. There were far, far worse ways to go out.

I took a breath, and released the spell. We’d been loud, but even if the target had a second transmitter, or called a strike team from their commlink, we had time. Not much time, but time. A quick check on Berzerker, showed she was a bit winded, but fine. No other injuries. I turned to the back door, ready to go in and sweep for the target.

Of course, that is also when everything decided to go to shit.

YOU DARE! I WILL FLAY YOUR FLESH FROM YOUR BONES FOR THIS!

“Uh, guys,” Babydoll said through the comms, “target is on the second-floor balcony with what looks like a big watery blob guy. Not saying anything, but he looks angry.”

My blood went cold, and I wasn’t too proud to admit it. Suddenly, I had a VERY GOOD IDEA what our sponsor for this little hit was leaving out of the intel he gave us. This executive wasn’t a run of the mill suit. Hell, he wasn’t even your standard magician. We were dealing with a dragon. A fucking dragon.

“HOLY FUCK! Target just turned into some big snake with wings!”

“Dragon! EVERYONE GO AS HARD AS YOU CAN!”

Initiative

Iceblade’s Initiative: 9d6 = 3 Hit, 3 Miss (Init 12, 3 Passes)

Berzerker’s Initiative: 9d6 = 5 Hits, 1 Miss (Init 13, 3 Passes)

Sexkitten’s Initiative: 9d6 = 3 Hits, 2 Miss (Init 12, 3 Passes)

Babydoll’s Initiative: 7d6 = 2 Hits, 1 Miss (Init 9, 3 Passes)

Shadowgirl’s Initiative: 9d6 = 1 Hits, 4 Miss (Init 10, 3 Passes)

Spirit of Water’s Initiative: 16d6 = 7 Hits, 4 Miss (Init 23, 2 Passes)

Roaki’s Initiative: 16d6 = 7 Hits, 1 Miss (Init 23, 2 Passes)