Episode 4 -- The High Ground / Nomad

What about the Ghost in the Shell video games? Discuss them here

Moderator: sonic

Locked
Slipstream
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:48 am
Location: Prince George

Episode 4 -- The High Ground / Nomad

Post by Slipstream »

EPISODE 4

Shinjuku Tower

The clear sky opens to the blue above. For a cold morning, it warmed up quite a bit. The Tower, huge in other cities, feels humble next to the others.

The 47th FLOOR, a mechanic, Jon, works underneath a Porsche. He reaches his hand out from under the car.
“Umm…Biff?”
“Yes sir?” Biff, the Asian bodyguard answers. Jon stands from the car.
“I have never heard of an Asian guy named Biff.”
“Juku’s little joke, sir.”

KABOOOOOM!!! From outside the building, Jon and Biff look up to see the top of the Dentsu Building explode. Something struck it. Splinters from the object scatter, striking other buildings.
An object slams through the top of Shinjuku HQ with ease.

It plasters through the Porsche like tin foil, leaving part of the trunk and the rear wheels intact. It drives through two levels below before stopping.

Biff dives for cover. Jon stands too shocked too move. He stares at the remains of the Porsche and the twenty-foot hole in it. Biff reaches for his radio. It’s loud and full of static. Biff puts the speaker to his ear.
“YEAH. Okay. Right away. (to Jon) All right, Mr. Friendly. We got to get our of here.”

Jon peers down the hole. Out of the debris appears to be a cylindrical object. Metal, about twenty feet long and fifteen feet wide.
“Mr. Friendly. Let’s go.”
Jon takes one last glance, verifying what he saw. He then follows Biff’s escort out.
“Tell Juku, his car might need a bit more work…”

The Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, NEC Supertower, Marunouchi Building, and Century Tower all sustained moderate to heavy damage. Damage to Shinjuku Tower One appears non-existent. The object crashed through the incomplete roof, concealing the damage.


THE HIGH GROUND / NOMAD

<a complex episode>


In the NEC Newsroom in the morning. An anchorwoman, Sarah Toyosu, reads off the news to the camera. A photo behind her displays the hole in the NEC Supertower.
“Newport was rocked by a tremendous disaster, as an object, probably an asteroid, crashed in the early hours. We have unconfirmed reports that several major buildings have been severely damaged. We now turn to Go Wutzke, in Newport.”

Go talks straight to the camera. Behind him, emergency crews work on the debris, sifting for survivors.
“We still have yet to get a confirmed report from rescue officials, but it seems like the object was an asteroid.” The cameraman pans away from Go, showing the mayhem. “It struck the Dentsu first and caused significant damage to the structure before going on. We believe it struck at precisely 9:05 in the morning…”

Another Radio broadcast replaces Go’s, using the same footage. Another female voice, but different.
“…Traffic has been halted and turned away by law enforcement ten blocks in every direction from the Dentsu Building. We believe the object fractured on impact, now this would contradict the report that a meteorite was the cause. The NEC Supertower, Marunouchi Building and half a dozen other large buildings have reported moderate to heavy damage…”

Another male voice overlaps and overtakes the radio transmission. The footage moves around and exposes the complete hole in the Dentsu Building.
“Rescue personal are still trying to recover bodies from the Dentsu Building after the impact of object from outer space. The object, thought to have been a meteorite, is now being theorized to have been a fallen piece of Space Junk. The body count from all the sources at last report has reached 48 and shows signs of increasing.” The footage shows several plumes of smoke from other damaged buildings. “The falling debris from the damaged buildings has been the confirmed source of at least 5 of those deaths…the media have not been allowed—“

New footage. A Newport News Network title bar appears at the bottom. Cars back for miles from intersections around 5th and 35th Street. A voice is the correspondent. A Female voice.
“Traffic Chaos ensues in downtown Newport as people rush to move to and from the impact sites after an object fell from the sky at about 9 o’clock this morning. An anonymous call phoned into the station hinted that the fallen object, thought to be a rock or space junk, was radioactive. The death toll has risen over 60 as more bodies are pulled from the debris.”

Overlapping and overtaking the previous TV broadcast, the NNN changes to a CNN title bar without a change in the scene. Yet a different voice.
“…The circumstances around the impact do indicate that this was not a meteorite nor a fragment of a larger comet, MK 97, passing by the Earth-Moon system right now. It is unclear what exactly impacted but more reports coming in point to an old piece of Space Junk, possibly maybe even a fallen satellite.”

New footage shows Police rallying people away from the damage and debris. Still showing CNN. An English woman’s voice.

The object is too large to be a satellite since the damage caused would mean it would be about the size of the Hubble Space Telescope. There are no known objects currently in orbit of that size. At least, none that Japan has launched. The old Soviet Union--”

A black reporter wearing a trench coat stands beside The NEC Supertower. He reads off a paper in his hand. He holds a microphone in the other.
“--A possible military satellite either from the US, Russia, or China. 5 hours after the disaster occurred, the entire island of Newport is still in state of shock. Many roadways are clogged with people leaving the city, many, on the basis of the rumor that the fallen object was radioactive, though we still have no confirmed reports on that. “ The reporter looks behind him. Fire trucks roar past, sirens WAILING. He waits until the noise subsides. “The entire impact site has been evacuated of all civilian personal. No camera crews are allowed inside the zone. The zone stretches from 7th Ave and from 27th to 44th Street. Rescue personnel are still sifting the wreckage but have orders not to approach the impact crater inside the NEC Supertower, where part of the object is thought to have landed. All civilians have been evacuated from the tower and luckily no casualties were reported from there—“

Sarah Toyosu cuts back in, “--We have just received an unconfirmed report from the JGSDF that all civilian law enforcement personal and all remaining rescue personal are evacuating the blast site. We have no information as to why or for how long. It is unclear if the search for survivors has been called off. Almost 4 square miles of Newport have already been completely evacuated and traffic on both sides have halted--

KTV Newsroom. Now a Male Newscaster, Akimoto Akira in the appropriate newsroom interrupts the previous channel.
“--Right…we appear to be switching to Fujiwara Taiki in Newport for a special report.” Taika stands about five feet with a moustache and an expensive suit. He reports, “The SDF has called a press conference for an emergency announcement for 3:30. We will carry the conference live, followed by a special summary report after its conclusion.” After the announcement, in a very plain hallway outside the conference room, Taika recaps into a cameraman. “--I repeat, the SDF has confirmed that a Chinese spy satellite has crashed in Newport. The Chinese government has issued an official statement saying that they do not orbit spy satellites over Japan, but this would lead to the contrary. “

Just a wide view of the whole island. A male radio broadcast comes on.
“--from the DOD has issued this statement: It is imperative that all civilians still Within ten miles of the crash site leave within the next 48 hours or move south, across the bay. This, of course,
is the bulk of Central Newport. All those without access to transportation, can access—“

A female voice cuts in the radio… “--City personal are remaining overnight, assuring that no civilians are inside The Quarantine which now stretches as far South as—“

The first female radio voice heard finishes it.
"That ends our report on the impact in Newport, we will keep you up informed of developments…

Several treaded vehicles roll across a bridge. The incredible moving mass shakes the supports. Like a thousand elephants, the trampling of metal plates POUNDS the surface.

A group of four Type 102 Walking Tanks roll off the bridge first. More fitting for the city, come four of the massive six-wheeled All terrain APCs.

At the edge of the bridge, a half-dozen Police cars sit parked. Their drivers observe in astonishment at the weapons of war rolling into their city. One driver walks towards another parked next to the road. More Bradleys make their way into Newport. Not simple APCs, these are equipped with a pair of M270 Launchers loaded with 12 surface-to-surface rockets.

One Officer turns the one approaching.
“All just for a satellite?”
“You know, if this has a nuclear reactor, why is nobody evacuating us or giving us suits or something?”
“We are getting hazard pay for this?”

Half a dozen Oniyama and Jigabachi Helicopters soar overhead. They disperse and conduct their sorties on lone streets.
Section 10 is at base, watching TV, as many are right now. They wait for the eventual phone call…that finally arrives. Aramaki’s trip to Bertarve will have to wait and Section 9 is out of the country on another mission. Section 10 will have to travel to Newport. Aramaki reveals the unfortunate truth, it is not a spy satellite. What really crashed was Chinese Nuclear Weapon’s platform armed with dual 40-megaton space-to-surface missiles. The team must retrieve these warheads clandestine before the Chinese NEST members and the UN inspection team arrives. Obviously, this is very hush hush…but the order has comes down for Public Security to steal these weapons. The Japanese government has not been informed of the real identity of the satellite and the Chinese government is refusing to extrapolate. China, as every other country, denies the existence of Nuclear warheads in space. China wants this removed before suspicion arises.

Aramaki does not reveal how Public Security discovered the truth of the satellite. However, neither the Chinese NEST team, nor the JGSDF is aware of Public Security’s knowledge, nor their mission to retrieve the warheads. Therefore, this mission will be covert. Further, Aramaki’s contact in China revealed that since the NEST team is accompanied by UN inspectors (in order to help diplomatic relations between Japan and China), China has hired an independent mercenary group to infiltrate the quarantine zone early to remove the warheads before the team’s arrival. Two guesses the name of the team that China hired…Orthus—the WWIV group hired by China, supposedly killed by the Russians, and seemingly infiltrated Japan last week.

Shinjuku tower is actually twin buildings, both unfinished, and feature one of the most advanced computer systems on the planet. Satellite topography has revealed it’s the strike point but it will be several hours before the GSDF slowly shrink their circle, as they remove all the other pieces of debris scattered about Newport.

The plan is to approach through sublevel maintenance ducts and sewers. Leaving will not be as easy. It will be quick and dirty. The Yodanari will be equipped with a grapping device and the group will be supplied with backpacks. When the cue is given, lighter than air bags inflate and lift from cables. The plan will not slow down, snagging the balloons and “bunjy-ing” the group quickly to safety. Katana will remain outside the quarantine zone, in hiding, until the signal is given (by flare)…she should arrive within two minutes. Oh, yes, and there is a Jamming barrier over the whole quarantine zone, so communication lines will be cut.

Greg hacks into the buildings security and gains access to the lower level-parking garage. Shinjuku is extremely advanced with many levels of security even though the top floors are not finished. Greg must gain access to the main lobby security terminal to control the rest of the building. Sharron infiltrates the base level and subdues the single guard standing by the black, featureless desk. Greg hacks in but realizes that the entire building can be controlled by remote from a portable link-up found in the console.

Outside, the GSDF approaches. Greg activates the security lockdowns.

All off them. Every emergency. Greg makes the place believe its being broken into while on fire in a Hurricane during an Earthquake.

Red strobes flicker. A horn WAILS. From in front of the glass doors and full pane windows, huge sheets of bulletproof Kevlar launch up with lightning reflexes. Darkness instantly bathes the Lobby.

It doesn’t stop there. From inside, sets of massive iron shafts spring horizontally and vertically. Behind those, barrages of red alarm lasers activate. Passageways to the elevators cut off by a massive dropping metal divider. Huge locks snap the staircase doors shut.

One storey after another seals up. At every floor, every window locks. Metal drapes lower and seal the glass. This continues up every floor.

On some unimportant hallway on an unimportant level, security lasers activate. Primary lighting shuts off. Emergency lights spin around. Huge metal seals close off the hallway in twenty-foot sections. Every door locks tight. One of the poor guards gets sealed off in a computer room.

A slot opens in the desk and a long, thin radio remote control, with about fifty-seven buttons, pops up. Greg retrieves the link up and the group their way to the elevators. Every lift gets locked in its place, sealing the shaft and prohibiting its use. Bars slide over the access panels and the hatch atop the elevator. With the press of a button, Greg deactivates one lift. The enter the lift rises. As they leave, the whole hallway illuminates with security lasers.

The unfinished roof opens a small hole to the sky, and the massive crane above. The security at this level is incomplete so the seals are not activated. The group looks across the four lanes to Tower 2…and the army approaching below.

The find themselves in a car museum. Obviously the tower owner likes cars. Whoever he is, he owns a very small, nicely painted, highly polished collection of Italian, British, and German junk. One thing that is not here is a Satellite. Meanwhile, two Jigabachi helicopters approach to scan the building. The group realizes the truth. Someone used the crane utilizes to help build the building to move the satellite over to the other building. Greg hacks into the crane and the group swings over to the other side.

There they find the satellite but Greg must bring down the AI system before it will allow him to remove the warheards, or the weapons will “lock-up” and be useless, or destroy themselves. Sharron notices instantly, the clean hole through the guidance system of the satellite…it was shot down. By the looks of it, a railgun shot made a clean hole. No countries officially operate railguns in space. Only Imperial America and Russian are known to have them. Rumors hold that China may also operate one as well…but why would they shoot down their own warhead and create an incident, which may push their back to the wall?

A depleted uranium shell from one of the tanks barrels through Kevlar barricade like it was tin foil. The smoke clears. The hole makes more than enough room for the assault team. Six men with rifles and body armor donning low-light headgear storm in through the cloud.

They enter with precision and spread out among the entrance until all six have broken through. They stalk forward, past the bent open bars. One creeps past and breaks one of the security lasers. Vents open from the corner of the room and tear gas blows into the room quickly.

One inhales. He contorts instantly, coughing and wheezing.
“Pull out!” They run slowly and erratically back to the street.

The Captain outside turns to his subordinate, “The Pentagon isn’t this well defended.”

Greg goes about stripping the barriers on the Satellite AI. Meanwhile the Wasps outside break off. The group wonders why but those are answered soon enough when a Tilt-Rotor with no markings approach. Orthus?

The group stages an ambush. However, the team on the Tilt-Rotor is well trained and approach by entering from two levels below the group as well as from above. Sharron stages an ambush with Ben and injures one enemy. However, one female in Therm-Optics jumps both of them. Sharron lures one into the stairwell after dusting the lower level with a smoke grenade. He drops from above with his garrote in an attempt to strangle. What he encounters is 600 lbs of solid Class A Cyborg…that picks him up and tosses him up the stairs. Ben escapes and guards Greg as he continues his dive.

The female cyborg attacks him and only Ben’s super tough body prevents instant death. He buys enough time for Greg to crack the last barrier and turn off the Satellite AI’s security system. Both warheads detach. Sharron drops the remains smoke grenades to cover the group’s escape to the roof, where Ben blows the flare. Greg locks down the building in hopes to keep Orthus at bay.

They strap on the backpacks the balloons lift to the sky. Katana soars down and snatches them all. Just when the enemy breaks down the barricade and makes it to the roof, the only have a split second before Section 10 vanishes, catapulted into the sky.

They are ratcheted in. Inside, the group sit back, relaxed at another barely-scrapped victory. Ben rubs his “bruised” cyborg parts and finds something in his pocket…an indent card. It has a picture of the female cyborg he fought. Did she slip this in during the fight?

It has a barcode on it that decodes to read, “It’s all fake. Section 9”
Creator, Ghost in the Shell D20 RPG
www.serenadawn.com
Image
User avatar
Gillsing
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 8:58 pm
Location: Karlstad, Sweden

Post by Gillsing »

&#8220;It&#8217;s all fake. Section 9&#8221;
Ohhh. :o
Recommended cyberpunk:
ImageImage
Slipstream
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:48 am
Location: Prince George

Post by Slipstream »

Yeah, my players felt kicked in the cock with that one. Tune in next week for another exciting episode. ;)
Creator, Ghost in the Shell D20 RPG
www.serenadawn.com
Image
Locked