Corporation - Redemption Spire Episode 2

The second episode opened in a briefing room back in Drome Spire. A further two agents had been drafted in to Division Alphanor and despatched to assist; as intelligence reported that there were higher levels of security than originally planned for and that the original exit route had been compromised.

The new Agents were Stoopod (Daniel), a gunbunny toting an M50 and Grave (Jon), a Teccie. They were given the same entrance route and took the next scheduled sub-orbital flight. Exiting over Redemption Spire, Grave landed safely but Stoopod was caught in the thermal updraughts and had to make a second attempt. On the balcony they found the rope the first Team had left and quickly abseiled down to the 643rd level. Making contact by smeaker they joined the others outside the door to the laboratory. Stoopod and Grave went to the guardroom and looted the bodies of their handguns.

This is where things started to go wrong. Moving down to the next set of doors and seeing the two guards; Stoopod eased the doors open and threw in a frag grenade. Unfortunately he missed his aiming point and the grenade fell the wrong side of the security station. It exploded but did little damage. It did, however, set off an alarm and alert the guards. The Division burst in through the door and a firefight started; then, with a tremendous roar, Stoopod cut loose with his M50, blowing both guards to pieces in short order. Riku shot out the (previously unnoticed) security camera. Searching the remains of the security station they found an X-Ray scanner (linked to the device round the door) and a commlink.

Stoopod opened the door behind the guardpost; he was hit several times by gunfire from a door across what appeared to be an engineering lab. He slammed the door; Grave tried to throw in a grenade but was hit as soon as he opened the door.

The commlink crackled to life:- "G74, report status...... G74 please respond...." Winter was designated to respond but was unable to think of anything to say (he had been busy applying a medpack at the time). "G74, please report status.....G74, please respond....". Winter finally thought of something... "Uh... hello" , he said. A general alarm went off (klaxons, flashing strobes, steam jets(!), the lot). "General alert...security breach on Level 643... Squads 365 and 568 to investigate"

It gradually dawned on them that perhaps the mission was FUBAR, so they made plans for escape. Picking the lock on the double doors at the end of the corridor, they exited onto an L-shaped corridor; facing a bank of elevators and some stairs. The indicator on the elevator showed it was on its way up.

Now things got worse. Stoopod, Riku and Grave took positions facing the elevator doors; whilst the others ran off down the corridor. The doors opened and two guards wearing full combat armour, carrying machine pistols, exited the elevator. Stoopod let fire a full burst at the nearest guard; only to see with dismay the flickering glow of an ion field take most of the damage. The guards returned fire, injuring Stoopod and Grave. Riku moved back into the corridor leading to the laboratory and climbed out of the window.

Grave tried a dive and roll to get past the guards and ended up next to one of the huge glassteel windows.Stoopod ran off down the corridor, bullets zipping past him.

Meanwhile, Winter and the others ran up the stairs to find a helipad with a Gates-Learjet GL61 helicopter. At the opposite side of the helipad a squad of guards were exiting a stairwell. They piled into the 'copter and tried to get it started. Stoopod joined them. Grave tried to gapple a guard and take him as a hostage but he messed it up and had to run for his life up to the roof.
The helicopter took off with Grave flying. Riku called via smeaker for pickup; there was some debate over this but Grave hovered the 'copter over the balcony and Riku climbed in. It was then that Ilyana, in the co-pilot seat, noticed on the radar two blips closing fast. Her PDA identified them as X40 Pursuit helicopters, armed with RPG's. Stoopod opened fire on them with his M50 but did little damage. A few RPG's were fired; then Riku climed into the co-pilot's seat and took over. With his piloting skills they escaped and rendezvoused with an E.I flying wing carry-all out over the South Atlantic.

The debriefing session:
Colonel Kazan reviewed the Mission statements and reports. There were a lot of accusations thrown (GM: this was a fun bit to listen to; basically everyone blamed James for setting off the alarm; but he didn't. Players, please take note: NPC's are not stupid. As soon as the grenade went off, one of the guards triggered a local alarm linked to a central security station. Hence the call on the comlink.)
Riku handed over the 500c scrip and the ODESSA file.

Board of Review Findings:

1. The Mission was a failure
2. The killing of the two unconcious guards was unecessary. Missions must incur the minimum collateral damage; these people could be EI customers
3. The use of heavy weapons on Missions of this nature is to be reviewed
4. There was evidence of insubordination within the Division. Refusal to follow a Division Leader's orders is a disciplinary offence. It is the judgement of the Board of Review that this was the prime cause of the failure of the Mission.

. The Divison are insubordinate, belligerent and uncordinated. Deep cover traing is to start immediatly
===================================================================

Well, that was my second session of Corporation and it went with a blast! Having gained two extra players during the break; I had to get them there somehow. However; it was clear right from the outset that Daniel was not going to accept Ben as a Division Leader.

GM's thoughts:
There was a marked tendency and train of thought to fight to the bitter end. I think this is a legacy of computer games. One all the alarms started going off; they were all for fighting it out. When I suggested the possibilty of escape; most of them looked blank; or said they would get shot to pieces.