Play@YSDC

The journey gets progressively rougher as you get closer to the Byrranga Mountains of the desolate Taymyr Peninsula.

At this time of the year the sun is well above the horizon by 05:00, but the An-124 is on-station approximately half an hour before sun-up.



At about 04:30, the pilot calls through to the passenger compartment from the cockpit as he announces;

"We are getting very close to the disembarcation point. Unfortunately we need the sun to be able to find a suitable place to landing, so once the sun rises we can start to search for a suitable landing site that presents a credible chance for a decent open-field landing."

At about 04:55, he calls out again and announces that,

"Well Comrades, the sun is now up and we are s looking for a suitable landing spot. We will be doing a lot of turns as we search the area, so hang onto your sorry asses."

Little over twenty minutes later he calls through from the cockpit and announces;

"We have found what we believe is a suitable site and will be descending once we line ourselves up - Hang on Brothers, this may not be pretty but we'll get you down."

Looking through the cockpit;s windshield you can see little other than the mother of all storms ahead, then your landing field comes into view.

Finally the plane is lined up and it starts to judder and shake as it begins it's descent into the field ahead of you.

OOC:   Listen roll please everyone

Those that pass,You think you can hear the pilots reciting the a Russian Orthodox prayer

Those that fail,You cannot hear anything over the roar of the planes four engines.

OOC:   Can we make either spot hidden, Navigation or Military Science rolls, whichever you prefer.

Viktor begins to pray, echoing the words he is hearing from the cockpit. Then he notices something.

Vlad has other things on his mind these days apart from god, zrazy for instance, but he grew up in an orthodox household and knows what a heart felt plea to a deity for help sounds like. And what he sees out of the window prompts him to remember the prayers his mother and grandmother taught him when he was small and to consider that divine help might be very welcome with what's to come.

Nick Korovin hears the prayers, but as an atheist he doesn't join in. Back in the days, a platoon of praying Spetznaz and pilots would have been considered a serious infringement, but nowadays religion is accepted.

He also notices something else...

OOC:   Both checks passed viewtopic.php?f=406&t=5966#p191644

You notice that the tech heads from the Strategic Command sit apart from everyone else during the flight and do not respond to any attempts to draw them into conversation, other than fixing you with a disdainful glower.

As you sit strapped into your seats you can hear a sudden hiss, and looking out through the portholes in the passenger compartment you can observe that the pilots are dumping the plane's fuel. This makes the compartment, and presumably the rest of the plane smell strongly of aviation fuel.

"Brace for Impact!" someone shouts above the noise of the plane being tossed like a rag-doll by the storm. Though how something this big could be manhandled by the winds does strike you as being somewhat worrying for the mission ahead.

Those that pass their chosen roll,You notice that the plane's chosen landing site is about 300 meters too short for an aircraft of this size, you can also hear the fuel being jettisoned from the plane. SAN roll please (0/1)

Seeing the plane comings closer and closer to the ground, the less 'disciplined' soldiers start to panic, shouting and screaming about their situation. Several unbuckle themselves and some start to head forwards towards the cockpit, a route that will take them past where your group are sitting. To try and stop them would mean your releasing at least part of your 'bracing for impact.' Other soldiers head aft towards the rear of the plane, a look of fear on their faces.

Three of the four mighty engines splutter and die one by one until there is only the port inner engine running, and that is coughing and will not run much longer.

Those who head towards the rear of the plane descend into the cargo hold. The final engine coughs and dies.

As the plane comes closer to the ground the plane is being buffeted by increasingly strong winds. The view out of the cockpit windshield is more or less total white-out with occasional flashes of shadow and darkness. Suddenly you can hear the pilots start to sing the Russian National Anthem. (Translated here into English)

"Union of freeborn's Unbreakable Republics,
Great Russia has welded forever to the stand.
In Struggle by Created of will of the people,
United and the mighty, Our Soviet land!

To the Motherland Sing, home of the free,
Bulwark of Peoples in brotherhood strong.
Party of Lenin View Blog About, the strength of the people,
the To Communism's triumph's the lead on us!

Tempests the sunrays Through of freedom have cheered us,
Along, the new path where clause great ..."

At the last moment the pilots raise the nose slightly and there is a loud grinding noise as the rear of the plane hits the ground. Hard! Lights go out and most of the troops in the passenger cabin start screaming in outright terror.

As the tail hits the ground, the nose pivots down into the ground, deep beneath the snow. Those who were trying to get to the pilots get their wish as they are catapulted forwards.

OOC:   The jet's top speed is 537 mph, assuming the pilots were slowing it down and when the tail impacted the plane was doing 1/2 the speed, which I reckon would be at about 180 mph, which would have been the impact speed as they hit the windshield.

This coupled with the impact stress of the crash simply shatters the nose of the plane, concertinaing the front cabin instantly, crushing it like a fly on a windscreen. Debris, snow, ice and rock have been forced through the gangway into the passenger compartment.

Those that went astern met what sounded like a similar fate to their forward bound companions. A loud screeching, followed by screams punctuated with loud bangs emanates from the rear of the plane. A lone voice whimpers. While it is intelligible you can all make out "Please Dear Holy Mother Save your son Yuri Zolnerowich." It soon degenerates into meaningless babbling. You have all served with, and liked Yuri Zolnerowich, who also served as a radio man with the 11th Detached Special Operations Brigade for a few tours in Afghanistan but was cashiered to the general army for knocking out a Major, with one single blow. The fact that Major fully deserved it did not matter a jot because he just happened to do it in front of a lot of witnesses, many of who had personal grudges against Zolnerowich. Hearing this costs you 1/D2 SAN.

There is a muffled whumph from outside, and flames can be seen from the few portholes that remain intact. The flickering light from the flames is the only illumination available inside the craft. But noise - oh yes there is plenty of noise. Loud, pitiful screams can be heard from the injured and dying. The plane seems to be sitting atop a ridge as it rocks and the cargo section falls down with a loud crash, dropping some ten feet or so. The outside world can just be seen peeking through the crack. Wind howls through the gap and the temperature, already cold, drops alarmingly, as snow starts to swirl at the top of the cabin.

A loud crack emanates from the bulkhead above and electrical cables sweep down showering sparks wherever they touch a convenient earth point, Sometimes it is the deck, other times a soldier, and as they scream in muffled agony as the cable ends burn deep into their flesh or causes them shock damage in other ways, through their helmets for example, then the smell of feces and burnt flesh hits you in waves. Some fool had his finger on the trigger of his AK-47, which fortunately was not on continuous mode. As his muscles contracted due to electrification, his gun went off at random instances adding to the death toll. Fortunately whoever was near him managed to knock the cable away from where it had made contact with him, probably saving numerous lives. Suddeny several loud bangs, followed by a hissing sound can be heard, just under the panicked shouting and screaming in the confined space.

Now you can hear several agonised cries as something slick and slippery coats the deck, a light fog is starting to fill the passenger compartment, and it is getting denser, starting to coalesce upon your clothing.

OOC:   Can I please have two Idea rolls from everyone.

Those that pass either of their idea rolls,You recognise the liquid and vapour as hydraulic fluid, which is of course highly inflammable. This, coupled with the increasingly violent flames outside the plane do not make for a good resolution.

As the cables sweep down, arcing amidst the vapour soldiers suddenly feel the need to be away from the passenger compartment, preferable in one of the troop transports and not in the burning wreck of the plane. The lead specialist from the strategic command centre unbuckles himself and comes close to Babenko and Kozlov, shouting to make himself heard he says;

"I recognise the smell and feel of the vapour Kapitan, as it looks like they have indeed blown comrade, then we have got to get out of here as quickly as possible. Some of the oils used are highly inflammable, others toxic, especially in vapour form. We should make a move to get away as soon as possible - Move your men Kapitan, they won't listen to me!"

"I agree, Comrades," says Viktor. "We need to get out now."

Babenko is still dizzy but he recognizes danger when he sees it.

"Yes Kapitan, we must leave quick this place before it explodes!"

Melnikov unbuckles himself, grabs his gear, and heads toward the troop transports. "Time to leave comrades!"

Viktor unstraps himself and collects his gear, anticipating the Kapitan's orders.

Time to leave Men, this place is likely to become a little too hot for us. NOW MOVE IT!!
Kozlov grabs his gear and leads his men away from the plane wreck far enough to be safe from any explosions.

AN-124,s have several exits available to you. You can disembark through the nosecone, though as stated the front of the plane is a no go area due to the cockpit being crushed and filled with rock and ice that protrudes into aisle of the passenger compartment. The tailgate and several side exit doors are all the realistically remain as options to you. What you remember from the sight through the cockpit's windscreen before the 'landing' you reckon that you would not survive more than 20 minutes out there without shelter, and the only shelter would be the MT-LBVs. One of the soldiers opens a side door and it reveals a solid wall of hard packed ice and rock. Another hatch is opened further towards the rear of the plane and flames immediately catch hold on the unfortunate who opened the door, He tumbles out of the plane, screaming. The cold arctic conditions come into play now as the wind howls through the open hatch blowing snow and ice into the plane, as well as spurts of burning aviation fuel from somewhere.

Moving towards the rear of the plane the rear doors are mangled and seem to be glowing in places, probably from the flames outside. In the rear of the plane are four MT-LBVs, three of which escaped their moorings during the crash. This caused the crushing of several of the soldiers, including poor Zolnerowich whose legs and hips are now trapped beneath the tracks of one of the vehicles.By some miracle he is still alive - though one of the medics assesses the situation and grimly pushes his knife through his heart whilst speaking softly to him.

Once the forward part of the passenger compartment has been evacuated, you can all see that something like an electrical cable starts a small fire in a pocket of hydraulic fluid. Time seems to be against you now.

Kozlov surveys the chaos.
Kriptoshenko get one of those vehicles started, Babenko get the rest of the men in the back. Kozlov joins Kriptoshenko in the front of the MT-LBV he picks and waits for Babenko to signal through the radio headsets that everyone is aboard and then tells Kriptoshenko to get them out of the wreckage.

As soon as Kriptoshenko selects a vehicle, Viktor heads for the back of it to climb inside.

OOC:   Sorry Vlad - I'm taking Kozlov over for this post to keep the pace up (he'll sets up a home base and organise the groups). MT-LBV's can carry 11 personnel in the rear in real life, I've adjusted this part of the scenario to suit by saying it's been modified, but still it is a tight fit.

The medics went round and gave the final release to those too wounded to survive after the mission in a manner similar to Yuri Zolnerowich, using their knives as they know a gunshot may well set off an explosion with all the vapour in the air. It has been discovered that only two of the four MT-LBV's are still operational, the others being too badly damaged when the plane came down. Kozlov does a quick head-count of those able to continue, and from the initial 80 that left the airfield, only 37 survived the landing and are able to continue, of these 14 have their own injuries, broken arms and the like. He calls out,

"All uninjured personnel are to embark the two functional Emtee's, 3 scientists per vehicle, skeleton crew complements each and the rest equally divided Spetsnaz. Raventonich; you will be i/c the first LB-MTV. The rest of you are to stay behind and secure the fuselage. Once the hatch is open, the fumes will dissipate and you will be good. We need you to hold this place as a fallback base, our success depends on your tenacity. You!", he wheels around and points at the highest ranking injured man, "You' are in charge here when we're gone, Comrade Felanivich."
The soldier you point to, Felanivich, pales a little at his being in command, but his chest soon swells with the pride of being placed in charge, He stands stiffly to attention and salutes as best he can with a broken arm. "Da comrade Kapitan, I will do what needs to be done to make our mission a successful one. I will try to raise a rescue attempt for us and get them to return for you after your glorious return after the undoubted success of your mission!"
Kozlov puts his hand on Felanivich's shoulder and looks him squarely in the eyes.

"No, chelovek, it is imperative that you maintain radio silence until we reach the missile base. I need you to wait six hours before establishing contact. We need you to do this, Felanivich, otherwise we'll endanger the mission. Can I count on you?"

The response is instantaneous,

"Da Comrade Kapitan, it will be as you request. I will wait six hours after you depart before establishing what contact I can in this foul weather."

Kozlov gives a crisp salute before turning on his heel and barking out orders for everyone to load up.

Once the survivors are aboard the remaining vehicles it is decided that the first MT-LBV will ram the rear cargo doors. The smoke from the low temperature fuel burning from the two MT-LBV's quickly fills the confines of the cargo hold. Suddenly a loud bang, followed by the screeching of metal tearing against metal. The left hand door is now wedged against a snow or ice bank, whilst the right hand door is hanging by it's top hinges, the lower ones being split apart. The frigid air quickly disperses the fog of burnt fuel from the vehicles as the icy wind swirls round the cargo bay. After four further attempts, the first MT-LBV charges out the door and lands with a loud bang onto the packed ice and struggles away up the rut left by the plane crash-landing. "Clear" comes Raventonich's voice on the radio.

Your driver calls down "Ready Comrades, here we go - it look as though it is a rough bump." as the vehicle lurches forwards. Looking out the window, you can all see the soldier with the broken arm saluting as you leave. Your MT-LBV flies into space and with a jolt that rattles your teeth, you land and after a minute the vehicle struggles up the furrow where the other vehicle is waiting. The two vehicles quickly drive off North, hoping to get as much distance between the plane and them as possible. After a few minutes there is a loud explosion behind them and bit's of debris start to land around them. The scientists look at each other, their wide-eyed faces now ashen. Suddenly a large part of one of the An-124's jet engines comes to land just in front of the lead vehicle causing your MT-LBV to swerve to avoid it.

Spetsnaz in the MT-LBV
There are also three of the strategic rocket group on board;
The LB-MTV's are populated as follows

MT-LBV one
3 Scientists
4 General Soldiers (drivers / navigators)
12 Spetsnaz (Ravetonich i/c)

MT-LBV two
3 Scientists (Stepanov, Egorov and Semenov.)
4 General Soldiers (drivers / navigators)
12 Spetsnaz (Kozlov, Babenko, Krisoshenko, Korovin, Melnikov, Muradov and six others as shown above.)

The first thing that hits you when you exit the plane is the sound of the wind, the second is the sudden drop in temperature. The wind howls like a mournful ghost. The weather outside is getting rapidly worse, the blizzard increasing more and more. Visibility is often below 100m, making getting your bearings difficult, if not impossible. Your outside temperature gauge reads -6 degrees celsius, and dropping. Even quite large features are difficult to spot. The windows start to freeze up as does the driver's periscope. This means that someone has to open the hatch, climb out and clear the periscope and drivers windscreen at least or risk tumbling the vehicle into a ravine or getting it hung up on boulders. The sky is not visible through the storm. The sun barely registers as a smudge of illumination while it is above the horizon. Clearing the periscopes / windscreens etc has to be done every 30 minutes at the moment.

About 45 minutes out from the plane, Ravetonich's agitated voice comes across the radio.
"Comrade Kapitan. Something unusual to report, I think Sir. If you look out the right hand side you can see a herd of Reindeer caught in this severe storm. I have seen several herds already as well as some huge muskoxen all seemingly killed by the temperature drop."

"I don't think I've ever seen the like," says Viktor, "and I'm from Siberia. It's not usually that cold in August, at least for me. Be glad it's not January or February."

Semenov, one of the scientists leans in to have a closer look. With a tight smile on his face he turns to Viktor and says;

"I too am from Siberia Comrade, and I can never remember anything that would catch a herd of wild animals this unexpectedly. They would normally avoid really severe weather, and look - see how they have tried to protect their young by forming a protective circle round them, and they still died. This must have come very suddenly upon the herd, probably upon the region as well. Something doesn't feel right though, and like you say it's not even January or February yet!"

Viktor smiles back, pleased to meet someone from his neck of the woods. "Just so, Comrade," he says. "It seems most...unnatural. Do you know of any way the weather could have been altered artificially?"

Semenov shakes his head sadly "Niet Comrade, that is beyond me, and as far as I am aware beyond all men. However, this is not my field so I probably know as much as you do about this - Now our rocket systems," he inclines his head to look at you, and you can see none of the usual Russian bravado or boasting on his face, "our strategic rocket systems, these are known intimately to me. Tell me comrade - do you hunt. I used to love to go out with my deda and Dyadya Vanyatoski stalking reindeer, wolves, elk and bear. Sometimes we'd kill them other times just stalk them and see how close we could get. My Dyadya could usually get the closest. I am Ivan Semenov"He says as he thrusts his hand out towards you.

Behind you you can hear the sharp intake of the other scientists, who obviously consider themselves a step above you on the food chain.

"Viktor Sergeyevich Muradov," says Viktor, gripping his hand and shaking it firmly as he smiles with the memories. "Yes, I love hunting, and it is a pleasure to do it with my family! My grandfather taught me to hunt from an early age, and I have a natural talent for it. I've always been skilled at stalking prey, but accurate shooting is my true strength. Becoming a sharpshooter in the Spetsnaz was inevitable. My grandfather was a hero in the Great Patriotic War, where his hunting skills were very useful."

Babenko doesn't care much of the dead animals. Cold is cold, and just a nuisance to his mission. Well, in this case a major nuisance, since they lost so many people already and they even haven't found their target yet...

"Was your grandfather a sniper? I read some amazing stories of their exploits against the fascists!"

The journey gets harder as you go further forward. Snow and ice form and it needs to be cleared from the windshields and periscopes every 10 - 20 minutes now and the outside temperature has dropped to about -15. Two hours after leaving the plane, about 07:15 hrs, the radio bursts into life once more as transmissions from the Mi-26 Helicopter carrying the other half of your company led by Starshiy Leytenant Poliakov starts to cut through though the heavy static. At first the radio, once it has been correctly tuned in, indicate the pilots arguing with some officers who are clearly safe and snug at the Norilsk Air Defense Base.

Leytenant Poliakov (Highly agitated);- "Norlisk Base, This is Leytenant Poliakov We cannot penetrate any further into this blizzard - conditions are simply <static> ... gerous to continue further"

Pilot 2 (in background);- "Mayór, the rotors <static> cing up - we need to turn back now sir"

Norlisk Base (calm and collected, after a slight pause);- "Negative Leytenant Poliakov. You are to continue as ordered you MUST try <static> you understand?"

Leytenant Poliakov (voice rising);- "I respectfully ask you <static> re-appraise the situation Sir ... I have never seen anything this severe at this time of year <static> I grew up around here."

Norlisk base (after a longer pause);- "Negative Leytenant Poliakov, we demand that you continue. The safety of the Soviet Union may be at stake here I order you to <static>"

Pilot 2 (in background);- "Sir even the fuel <static> freeze"

Leytenant Poliakov (shouting);- "Negative Norlisk base - I refuse to endanger the lives of these men and this helicopter <prolonged burst of static> errand. When the storm passes we can go in without <static>, but to try now would be suicide, and murder on your behalf if you continue to force us."

A new voice comes on the radio all but shrieking wildly at the helicopter crew.

New voice;- "This is Leytenant General Konstantin Pavelovish Suslin of the Strategic Rocket Forces, you may remember me as the man who ran the mission briefing back at Norlisk airbase. If you continue with you treacherous talk about abandoning your mission you will be treated as deserters and your helicopter will be intercepted and shot <static>. Furthermore, the wives, parents, siblings and children of any deserters will undoubtedly meet with the gravest possible consequences for your cowardly actions, do I make myself clear Starshiy, Leytenant, Poliakov."

Leytenant Poliakov (shouting);- "Lt. General <static> greatest respect, these orders are totally insane and I believe the man issuing them equally mad."

Leytenant General Suslin (voice now a loud roar with each word accented) ;- "Poliakov get your f*%!ing helicopter to site 6 as ordered or I'll personally flay you, your wife and your children," (his voice lowers back to a dull roar), I will pay special attention to your new born boy Кирилл (Kirill) who I will take a personal interest in if you <static> Poliakov, you have a simple choice to make! Oh how he will suffer!"

Leytenant Poliakov (shouting above the noise of the helicopter, but very calm and collected, like a man who is resigned to his fate);- "Leytenant General Suslin Sir, My fervent wish is that you may burn in the deepest pits of your own personal Hades. I just hope I <static> your tormentors, a role <static> relish. You have left us no choice but to follow your orders. I wish to state that ...

The radio goes dead.

OOC:   Psychology rolls from everyone please.

"Da, Comrade," says Viktor to Babenko with a grin. "He was a sniper, and he killed many fascists protecting the rodina." Then the radio conversation begins, and it has his full attention.

Melnikov only vaguely registers that the radio has come on as he is much too busy attempting to stay warm and imaging what it would have been like to fight in the Great Patriotic War.

Babenko is too busy recreating mentally the battles of the Great Patriotic War to pay much attention to the words of a coward. What a contrast of times!

Listening to the radio conversation Kozlov begins to think they are on their own on this mission. It seems very unlikely the airborne team will make it to the target.

Psychology Rolls please (with a +10 bonus).

Approximately ten minutes later the following radio transmission comes through;

"All Bands this is a Mayday call from Mi-26 GR9624M, I repeat Mi-26 GR9624M - Mayday Mayday." <static> "...sition 75*34' N by 104*35' E We are exp..." <static> "Suslin and his sychophants are nothing but f&+£ing arseholes whose mothers sleep with goats! Our rotors are iced up and the fuel is freezing..." <static> "going down hard at 75*34' N by 104*35' E. Mayday Ma..." The radio goes dead.

After a minute or so you hear Norlisk Air Defence Base vainly attempting to raise the helicopter on the radio for about thirty minutes before they abandon the effort.

The convoy then receives the following radio message;

"Kapitan Kozlov, with the apparent sad loss of our comrades on the Mi-26, it has now come to be imperative that you redouble your efforts to reach site 6. The ssuccess of the mission is to be your over-riding aim - by any means neccessary, amd this is a direct quote from Leytenant General Suslin of the Strategic Rocket Forces, who adds sin the gravest terms that the future of the U.S.S.R. depends upon your success."

Kozlov addresses the men.
The future of the USSR depends on our actions in this mission, we all have the best training the Soviet Union can provide and I know you will all give your all for our homeland. Many of our comrades have already given their lives for this mission we owe it to their memory to complete this mission and secure our glorious state's security in this uncertain period. The Soviet Union is depending on us, let's not let them down.
Turning off the radio he thinks to himself this bullshit mission is so screwed. Checking his mission documents he confirms their course to the drivers and ensures someone is given the job of keeping the windscreens and periscopes clear to ensure the party's safety.
When we are approximately 500 metres from the base halt the vehicles.

"I serve the Soviet Union, Comrade Kapitan!" says Viktor, standing ramrod straight and saluting. He knows it is likely to be a suicide mission, but he is determined that their lives and the lives of their comrades will not have been spent in vain.

Babenko is thinking how lucky he was to get in this group . Ate least he is alive for now, and near the place. As soon as they get to the base, it will resume to fighting the enemy.

Previous Psychology rolls,Sorry I forgot about the Psychology rolls from earlier - Those that passed have the strong feeling that despite what you have been told - it is not the full story. There is definitely something being held back

As you pause once moer to have a clearance of the periscope and windscreen, you take the time to really take notice of the weather.

In the blizzard visibility quickly drops to less than 100 meters. Even quite large features are difficult to spot. Visibility inside the MT-LBVs is even worse, with the driver’s periscope and windows icing up, forcing them to open the hatches to get a decent look or risk tumbling the vehicle into a ravine or getting it hung up on boulders. The sky is not visible through the storm. The sun barely registers as a smudge of illumination while it is above the horizon.

The weather conditions are not merely miserable, but actually life-threatening. Anyone outside in the winds would not last more than fifteen minutes, before suffering hypothermia and frostbite. With sustained winds blowing at over 65 kph the summer temperatures outside have been driven down from 4 degrees C (39 F) to –25 degrees C (–13F). Hypothermia and frostbite will begin to affect any exposed skin in less than an hour. Proper Arctic winter clothing will protect a wearer almost indefinitely, so long as they remain dry—but with the winds pushing so much snow and ice around, even the soldiers in their winter gear will get wet and suffer from hypothermia and frostbite within five hours. During this stop, when you reckon you should be approximately ten miles from where you believe Site 6 to be located, the radio suddenly bursts into life once more.

Transcript of Radio Message

[First Voice: Hello? Hello? I am broadcasting to the men of the 4th Special Purpose Brigade, 82nd Special Purpose Airborne and Arctic Warfare Company. Captain Koslov, I have supplementary intelligence concerning Operation White 36 that was not included in your briefing. My name is Major Dimitri Grigorivich Kishenko. I am an intelligenceofficer with the GRU. I am violating orders by contacting you and I will be arrested for having done so. But there are things your team must know. Things your commanders simply do not believe.

There is a strong indication that Site 6 was not compromised by conventional forces. The blizzard is proof of that. A Perimeter Counter-Strike base is attacked and captured just hours after Premier Gorbachev was deposed, and then a storm descends over Site 6 and cuts it off from the rest of the Soviet Union? Not a storm front, comrades. A storm. Out of nowhere. Right on top of your objective. While the rest of the Arctic Theater of War reports fair summer weather, your objective is blanketed in whiteout conditions. This storm is no accident. You need to remember that as you approach Site 6.

You must take special care to observe any signs of the presence of Siberian native peoples. This is critically important to the success of your mission. The Saamdi or Nenet people in particular. They will appear as Asiatic reindeer herders, but the ones you need to concern yourself with will likely exhibit signs of prolonged inbreeding due to their isolation and limited gene pool. They will likely be nomads, with no permanent camps. Do not trust them. Treat them as hostiles.

***SOUNDS OF FISTS POUNDING ON A DOOR.***

Second Voice: Open the fucking door! Open it right now or we’re shooting the lock off!

First Voice: (Speaking more quickly but trying to speak clearly.) Look for signs of
pagan religious offerings. And look to their feet. Make them show you their feet. Any
signs of malformation, disfigurement, or extensive amputation are a direct sign that
they are compromised and must be killed immediately.

Second Voice: Open the door! This is your last warning!

First Voice: Do you hear any howling? Anything on the wind. Not wolves. It’s not wolves. It’s them. They run on the air. Keeps yours eyes up. Watch the skies. Without feet they don’t touch the ground any more. They move like lightning. They run on the wind. They serve the wind.

***SOUNDS OF WOOD SPLINTERING AND THE DOOR CRASHING OPEN. MULTIPLE VOICES SHOUTING FOR THE COMRADE MAJOR TO PUT THE RADIO DOWN!***

First Voice: Their hearts are frozen. They fear fire. Use it! Use it! Burn their frozen dead hearts!

***SOUNDS OF A PHYSICAL SCUFFLE. THE FIRST VOICE IS YELLING ABOUT HEARTS WHILE OTHER VOICES TRY TO SHOUT HIM DOWN.***

Third Voice: Comrade Major Kishenko! You are under arrest for treason against the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics! Get him out of here! Get him out of here now!

Fourth Voice: What the hell was he doing?

Third Voice: Sabotage! He’s trying to sabotage the mission! He’s an American spy!

Fourth Voice: Could they be doing this? To make it look like we fired first?
Wait?
This is still transmitting!

Third Voice: Turn it off, you fool!]

(A recording of message can be downloaded by following the link below thanks to Thaddeus Stoklasa and the good folks at The Unspeakable Oath)

http://theunspeakableoath.com/home/2013 ... ler-alert/

"Are all american spies amateurs?"- says Babenko to no one in particular,
"Or is everyone in the base insane?"- thinks to himself Babenko. Too much time in the secretary probably.

"Bozhemoi!" gasps Muradov, though he says nothing else - which is probably wise.

Men we have a mission to complete, the ravings of a mad man are to be ignored. As soon as we have visibility and you can get a bearing proceed to our objective driver. Deep down Kozlov feels anxiety growing, what is happening here? There is more going on here than the generals let on, unnatural storms, madmen talking about men with no feet flying on the wind, and potentially imperialist forces taking control of nuclear weapons. Kozlov rubs his temple as he feels a headache brewing. The world is going mad, he looks around at the men, he knows he can rely on his spetsnaz troops but the others are unknown.

Suddenly out of the gloom and swirling ice, it is no longer snow, you almost drive into a barbed wire fence. Upon clearing the periscopes and windshields, and taking a look outside for yourselves you can see another fence, 20 feet from where the outside fence lies and yet another fence some ten feet further beyond this. Guard towers are visible at the edge of your vision in either direction, though there is no sign of movement upon them. The first thing the convoy encounters
is the outer fence, topped with spooled razor-wire angled inward.

OOC:   Military Science roll please

A second thing that stands out about the fence is the multiple articles of clothes that are caught in the barbed wire. Striped shirts and pants have been blown into the fence by the powerful winds (which are a steady 70 kph with gusts over 100 kph).

OOC:   Navigation and a Spot Hidden rolls please

A quick search reveals a sign some twenty yards away from the vehices that reads;

OOC:   What now my brave Spetsnaz?

Something about this situation does not feel right, and Melnikov, wary of an ambush, takes a long hard look at the area outside the vehicle.

Kozlov checks his mission map to see if the camp is marked and it's position in relation to the target, if it is marked he shows this to the driver to check their course and position. Kozlov then orders his men to be alert for any trouble, he has memories of Afghanistan bubbling at the back of his mind.

Those that pass the Military Science Rolls,The outer fence is designed more to keep something in rather than something out - surely not the sort of fence you would expect at Site 6.

Those that pass the Navigation Rolls,The camp is not where the location of Site 6 is supposed to be.

Those that pass the Spot Hidden Rolls,While examining the map, you notice that there are a few abandoned facilities scattered around the Taymyr Peninsula, there are no man made constructions this close to Site 6

"This is not where Site 6 is supposed to be," says Viktor.

You have approached the fence at an angle of about 45 degrees and you follow the fence. Th guard towers on the middle fence are unmanned as you go past. After about 250 yards, the s two inside fences veer away to the centre of the compound, leaving just the external fence.

Inside the inner fence there were some buildings and just before the corner, you can see what looks like mounds of snow covered black rock, presumably coal. After the corner of the inner fences are some more buildings.

"So long as we can get back on course for Site 6," says Viktor, "it should not be necessary to enter the camp at all. We can simply bypass it. Our mission has the highest priority, and whatever is going no here can wait."

Following the fence to the corner, you turn and follow the fence until you come across a gateway into the gulag.
From outside the gates you can see the large radio mast for the gulag and ... and - just what the hell is that half hidden by a building?

OOC:   Who is looking at what lies beyond the gate?

Melnikov certainly is.

"To the wounded?"-Babenko looks at his superior like if it was a waste of time, but complies.

"This is from the 4th Special Purpose Brigade to the corrective labor camp 234, we are outside your fence, we need that you send some men to the south, there was a crash with wounded man."

Continuing on to the site the weather worsens, if this is at all possible. Then suddenly you can hear a distant sound, somewhat akin to howling, even above the blizzard like conditions. As you advance the sound starts to get louder.

OOC:   Idea rolls please

Suddenly, as you are ascending a hill, about halfway up, you can see a barbed wire fence on the slope before you. Here the 'howling' is really loud.

Viktor has no clue what is going on here.

OOC,Idea roll (75% stat) at the fence: [dice]0[/dice] EDIT: Oops, sorry! I forgot we were supposed to roll in the other thread for this scenario.

Nick Korovin

The howling sound rings like something he might have heard before... maybe in a bad dream?

OOC:   Idea roll passed

Kovlov begins to form an idea as to what the hell is going on here.

OOC:   idea roll passed

Those that pass their idea rolls,What was it that the madman on the radio said about sounds of howling on the wind again?

Someone from the lead vehicle gets out and tries to look through the fence, but after a few minutes returns to the vehicle. He reports via the radio that although he can see vague shapes of buildings inside the fence, nothing can be properly identified due to the poor visibility outside.

OOC:   Wither now my brave soldiers of the state? Oh by the way - I feel I better tell you that your actions are being timed now - prevarication will prove deadly for you, very deadly indeed, you have been warned!

Try as he might Melinikov can't keep the madman's words from worming their way into his mind. Something is very wrong with all of this. "Kapitan, with all do respect, I do not think that this place is mission critical. Perhaps it is best if we move on."

"I agree, Comrade," says Viktor. "We only have a limited amount of time to accomplish our mission."

Thank you for the input comrades, but I believe I have already ordered the driver to continue to our objective, as curious as this place is our mission comes first. The Rodina is relying on us to safeguard our nation's weaponary from hostile forces. Driver, once more, onwards to our objective, but men keep alert something feels wrong about this place. Kovlov checks his weapons and orders vigilant observation of the surrounding area.

"Sir,we seem to be at our objective according to the maps co-ordinates I was given at the briefing." the Driver chips in diffidently. "I believe that this to be Site 6, or within a very short distance of it!"

Travelling along the perimeter you come across the entrance to the complex which does indeed announce that it is Site 6 and the sign warns that all trespassers will be shot on sight. However, other than the howling on the wind, which is getting on everyone's nerves, there is no sign of any form of life in the camp. The front gate is closed, but is easily opened, (no roll required)

Ravetonich you and your men disembark and head towards the gate. Keep your scientists safe and keep an eye out I have a bad feeling about this place. We will provide cover. Kovlov addresses the men in his vehicle. Ok men everyone out, we will provide Ravetonich cover, remember our mission and ensure our scientists remain safe. Ok let's move. Kovlov leads his men outside to take up supporting positions covering Ravetonich's squad. He also nervously watches the sky holding his AKS-74 ready for action.

Viktor gathers his equipment and moves out as ordered, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Melnikov moves into position, his eyes and weapon trained in the direction of the howling.

Nick Korovin

The howling sound gives Korovin shivers - he vaguely recalls the madman on the radio. "It’s not wolves. It’s them. They run on the air. Keeps yours eyes up. Watch the skies..." "...Their hearts are frozen. They fear fire..."

"The enemies might be airborne," he relays the mad ramblings in a sober military style, to calm himself as much as his comrades. He scans the skies carefully.

He thinks about sources of fire. They don't have flamethrowers in their equipment... But he thinks he might be able to turn some chemical light sticks into makeshift incendiary grenades.

Babenko put himself in position watching for any threat.

Kovlov radios Raventonich Raventonich advance your men towards the gate if open enter the base we will cover you

The gate swings open and Raventonich orders the deployment of his men to cover as many angles as possible. They advance slowly. After about two minutes, the timbre of the howling changes.

OOC:   You can assume that there are two Spetsnaz with flamethrowers, one per armoured vehicle. Also, Spot Hidden roll please for anyone "lucky" enough to be outside one of the MT-LBVs.

Those who pass the spot hidden rolls,You think you can catch a glimpse of something, high up above you in the sky, some shapes moving. You think that you see, just before the change in the tone of the howling takes place, a pair of carmine eyes framed by a skull-like face of grey flesh, or is it blue? But this is about twenty feet up in the air! [center][url=http://s255.photobucket.com/user/Cearlan/media/Cold%20Dead%20Hand/Thrall_zpsmspkx0df.png.html][img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh150/Cearlan/Cold%20Dead%20Hand/Thrall_zpsmspkx0df.png[/img][/url]Thrall[/center]

Those who pass the Spot Hidden with a hard success or better,The creature you see has a bilaterally symmetrical human form, but it's flesh appears to glisten as though it is frozen, whilst it is grey or almost bluish in color. Although human-like it is very tall and it's arms appear disproportionately longer as they protrude from their tattered sleeves. Their shoulders are very wide, pulling their shirts open, but their rib cages flatten, with ribs and collarbones clearly visible. It's jaw looks to be distended and the muscles that control it's lower mandibles bulge on the sides of an otherwise emaciated skull. Facial features have become bestial, with eyes sunk deep into their sockets and teeth growing large enough to protrude from between stretched lips. It's mouths seems to be so over-loaded with teeth that it simply lets it hang open, slack-jawed. The neck seems thin and weak and the head hangs low, leaving it's chin almost resting on the chest. [center][url=http://s255.photobucket.com/user/Cearlan/media/Cold%20Dead%20Hand/Thrall_zpsmspkx0df.png.html][img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh150/Cearlan/Cold%20Dead%20Hand/Thrall_zpsmspkx0df.png[/img][/url]Thrall[/center]

"Bozhemoi!" cries Viktor,instinctively aiming his Dragunov at the flying creature. "Comrades, up there!"

Kozlov gives the order to his men to fire, including the flame thrower, he then fires two rounds from his AKS-74 at the creature.

"What is that???"

Babenko immediately starts shooting but the damned thing is always moving and he misses.

Nick Korovin

Despite scanning the sky, Korovin only notices the uncanny entity after his comrades' warnings. He takes a shot with his Makarov, but misses. Instinctively he understands that these creatures (???) might be the howlers...

"Cover us with the flamethrowers! They won't come close to flames!" he shouts again, hoping that at least one of the flamethrower-weilding Spetznaz soldiers are around.

Viktor squeezes the trigger, his aim true as usual.

One of the creatures swoops down from the skies and picks up a soldier from the first armoured vehicle, was that Emil Sokolov, a true friend to you all. The monstrous form starts to feast on him as he screams his death throes. Firing point blank at the creature at first until the pain becomes unbearable and he dies in a swift fashion. Within a few moments the creature takes to the air again, it's face covered with blood and gore from the unfortunate soldier, poor Emil. The shots that you take that strike the creature, but seem to do little but annoy it, even though you can see chunks of their body being torn away

As the creature rises, it howls once more and you can see more shapes gathering at the edge of your vision, but as you turn your head, they are gone again, phantoms in the storm.

OOC:   Idea roll please.

Those that succeed,what did that madman say about where these creatures are vulnerable again?

"Aim for the heart!" calls Viktor, chambering a fresh round. "Use the flamethrowers!"

OOC,Idea roll (75% stat) at Site 6: [dice]0[/dice]

Everyone get under cover, head for the barracks. MOVE IT PEOPLE!! Kovlov runs to the first building inside the gate that is part of the enlisted barracks.

Melnikov hopes that the madman was right as he takes aim and fires at the heart of one of the creatures, hitting his mark.

Babenko obeys the order. Those are not american spies!

Nick Korovin

He fires a quick (almost blind) shot to cover his retreat and moves towards the barracks.

OOC:   Roll SAN #1 for those witnessing these horrible creatures - 1/1D6

One of the creatures falls out of the sky and lands with a muffled "whumph on the snow encrusted roadway between the barracks and the two silo hatches, just beyond the junction. Now you would expect that the snow would be crimson with the blood of the creature, but those who look just see the imprint of where it lies as it thrashes about ... oh it is not dead yet, that would be too easy. It howls in what can only be described as an agonizing wail of both terror, pain and rage.

OOC:   For those not in the MT-LBV's. San roll #2 1/1D3 to hear

Covering your ears does nothing, everyone, including those hiding in the MT-LBV's, must also make their rolls.

In fact those inside the vehicles suffer more, due to the mournful sound reverberating round the vehicle.

OOC:   and must make San roll #2 2/1D3+1

due to the mournful sound reverberating round the vehicle.

The creature starts to claw it's way towards you, but the others seem to have backed off, although the mournful howling has increased several-fold and seems to have an edge of what may be interpreted as panic, or maybe fear. Either way the creature is moving slowly towards where the soldiers are situated foot by slow foot.

Those that make it to the barracks,Inside the barracks you find that they originally could house 30 men in relative comfort with an appropriate number of bunk beds and closets. The walls and doors have been ripped apart and the interiors are ice palaces of vile crimson and grey, which you don't need to be a medic to identify as frozen blood and body parts. [ooc]San#3 0/1[/ooc]

Nick Korovin

No Spetznaz training can prepare a soldier for such sights... As the monstrous creatures swoop in from the sky, Korovin's blood freezes in his veins. He stumbles towards the barracks, hoping for a safe haven, but instead finding inside a slaughterhouse... One would think an explosions specialist has seen a fair share of body parts, but this is something much, much worse...

Total sanity: 62

babenko is in shock when he sees that creature, and he get even worst when he hears the screams. He starts loosing his wits...

sanity 48
OOC: what hapens to poor Babenko? Can he still arrive at the base?

Knowing true terror, Viktor doesn't hesitate. He sprints for the barracks as ordered.

The sight of carnage in the barracks causes Kovlov to momentarily pause, but as a seasoned special forces soldier he is able to control himself. Moving through the barracks until he can see the neighbouring warehouses he looks to see if the doors on the warehouses appear intact.

OOC:   Babenko can still function normally - running on adrenaline.

Sprinting into the barracks, Viktor gets behind the wall of the now open barracks nearest the gate.

Victor,Boy oh boy, starting to lose your wits already? Inside the barracks you find that they originally could house 30 men in relative comfort with an appropriate number of bunk beds and closets. The walls and doors have been ripped apart and the interiors are ice palaces of vile crimson and grey, which you don't need to be a medic to identify as frozen blood and body parts. Yet another SAN roll this time for 0/1 due to the horror in ice before you. Like Babenko though, the high adrenaline in your system means that you gave not processed everything yet. As soon as you res though ...

All ten barracks are in a similar condition to the first for those that care to look.

Meanwhile, outside, the howling has diminished a little, though it is still present in the background.

Viktor shudders, turning his back on the frozen gore and moving to the corner, where he readies his rifle and looks for a target.

OOC,My Sanity loss isn't too bad yet, as I haven't lost 5 from a single source or 20% overall yet. [b]Babenko[/b] is actually in decent shape, as his first Sanity roll succeeded after all.

Melnikov follows his retreating comrades into the barracks. Ignoring the butchered bodies he hunkers down training his machine gun on the door. "Seems the madman wasn't so mad after all. I think I may have hit one comrades, but they were so fast I can't be sure."

OOC:   Total San: 47

A loud crash sounds from behind you and through a 'gap' in the snowstorm you can see about five of the creatures land at the far end of the barracks and systematically rip what is left of them and throw them to the four winds. They move progressively closer each round.

Idea rolls please,Success allows you to remember that you have to actually enter the complex, probably through the entry portal at the end of the short roadway ahead of you.

"The entrance to the Site 6 complex is still ahead of us," says Viktor. "We should proceed."

Nick Korovin

Korovin is partially lost (Idea roll failed) but he clearly understands that they cannot stay here. He is ready to follow Viktor's lead.

"Let's move, comrades!"

Babenko follows his comrades, like an animal in an herd.

Kozlov never one to ignore suggestions from his men orders everyone to head for the entry portal, heavy weapons and flame throwers to give covering fire. He then heads for the portal as he as the entry codes.

Viktor sprints for the entrance. Once he gets there, he will take a shot at the heart of one of the creatures if there is time before the portal opens.

Entrance Portal: At first this appears to be nothing more than a mound of snow rising slightly higher than the ground around it. But your briefing included a map of the complex so you know where it is. Under the snow is a flat concrete pad about 5 m x 5 m with a steel floor set into it.

The steel floor has a large swing-up hatch that conceals a staircase down into the portal. Two steel doors open up like a drawbridge to allow the utility elevator to emerge onto the surface. Both the elevator’s doors and the staircase hatch are closed and the control panel to open them has been damaged. The elevator does not appear to be large enough or strong enough to pass a vehicle into the underground facility.

OOC:   You didn't really think it would be that easy guys?

Viktor takes up a defensive position and sets up his rifle so that he can cover the others while they repair the panel and get the portal open.

OOC,[b]Babenko[/b] and [b]Korovin[/b] have the best skills for dealing with the panel.

Nick Korovin

Nick quickly examines the damaged control panel. Is there anything he can do?

"If I cannot repair this thing, I'm going to blow the doors open," he shouts to the commander.

Kozlov shouts to his men, Form a defensive perimeter around the portal whilst Korovin attempts entry. He then takes up a position next to Korovin AKS-74 at the ready.

OOC:   You can of course try to make an electrical repair roll, each roll taking one minute with one investigator at a time working on the panel. Of course the longer you take the more chance of another 'visitation.'

Looking around, you can faintly discern that there are actually two routes down here. A winding staircase descending down into the blackness below, and the elevator, but of course, you have to get past the damaged entry portal first.

A scream from behind you shows that not everyone is safe and sound out there.

Viktor sets up as ordered, ready to shoot any of the creatures that approach them.

OOC,[b]Babenko[/b] has the best skill at Electrical Repair.

All that gore has impressed Babenko, so he decide to start working in something else to distract himself. When he see the control panel, he immediately try to repair it with success.

The door panel crackles and sparks fly off with a smell of burning, but the doors open about three and a half feet before they stick again. This allows one person at a time to pass the portal. As you pass through you can confirm that there is in fact a stairway descending into Stygian blackness and a utility elevator, which is at the bottom of the shaft. The landing can hold about six people and their gear. More screams echo from outside.

OOC:   Are you going to take the elevator or the stairs?

Nick Korovin

Korovin lights a flare...

"I opt for the stairs. More space for maneuvers than the elevator if we are attacked."

"Da, good idea, Comrade," says Viktor. "I can bring up the rear in case they come up behind us. We'll want to seal the portal after us once we're all inside, but I don't know how long it will keep them out."

"That's a good question actually. How many of us are left?"- He doesn't complete the phrase "alive"

Nick Korovin

"Da, Captain," says Korovin and adds: "I can booby trap the entrance if needed, set a trap wire we can easily remove on our way out."

Once everyone is in you find that all the investigators, six of the other Spetsnaz operatives and only one of the scientists have managed to survive his way into the complex. Amongst the six Spetsnaz, are there are two flamethrower - armed soldiers who look exceptionally shaken. The lone scientist is in a worse condition, (after taking much harder SAN hits due to being in the LB-MTV when the creatures were howling and attacking and seeing his comrades being torn apart like rag-dolls - he's barely a functioning soldier). The elevator shaft is approximately 15 metres across and descends some 30 metres deep into the cold Siberian earth.

At the base of the stairwell is a set of huge blast doors, that open onto a brightly lit corridor some five metres diameter with a steel floor covering cabling that connects the base. The walls of the tunnels connecting the equipment terminals to the silos are filled with exposed racks that hold wiring and electrical buses, making them about one meter narrower. The floor-plates can be lifted.

Straight across from the blast doors is a map of the complex, though it is smeared with blood and what looks to be brain matter and is that ... is that the top of someone's head? Once this is cleared away you can see the following;
You are in a short corridor which ends to the right in a double door and to the left in a set of blast doors.

OOC:   The clock is most definitely ticking my bold comrades - just how long have you left till you have to complete the mission (hint - it's less than ... well that would be telling now ).

"I think we should head for the control dome first," suggests Viktor. "It's right past the two sets of blast doors."

Babenko close the door and try to be sure it is solid, so nobody will be able to open it from the outside.

Opening the first blast doors you enter a cross corridor with another blast door ahead of you and to your left and right. Above you to the right is an escape hatch, which you assume leads back to the surface.

If you proceed to open the door to the control dome you are confronted with a room that is roughly hemispherical in shape, some 30 meters in diameter at its base and 15 meters high. The interior area is inside divided into two floors connected by a spiral staircase.

Looking across the lower floor you can see:
• A large maintenance area with tools and repair supplies.
• A mechanical equipment room containing air processing equipment and the monitoring and control apparatus for services in the complex.
• An electrical equipment room for regulating the power needs of the control center.
• A kitchen, pantry and dining room.
• Enlisted men’s billet for ten men.
• Officers’ billet for six men. and
• A latrine.

A spiral staircase leads to an upper floor, which you believe must contain the operations room and possibly other rooms.

Oh, and the one thing I forgot to mention so far is that you can see three of the creatures from your position in front of the blast doors. Two are sitting on top of the operations room and one with his back to you 'eating' something. The one on the floor and one of the two on the operations room roof turn and look at you with glaring carmine eyes. The one on the floor rises slowly and levitates off the floor, a feral grin on it's face as some kind of meat and saliva fall from it's maw. The one that has seen you on the operations room roof also rises into the air and starts to descend towards you, howling as it glides down. This stirs the other one atop the operations room roof, who crawls to the edge of the roof before falling to the floor, which is when you notice that it has no legs or body below the stomach.

"Aim for the heart!" calls Viktor, raising his sniper rifle and taking a shot at the heart of the closest creature. While he hits it, it is not a good enough shot to hit it in the heart.

OOC,Unless I'm at point blank range. That's within 15 feet for me.

Melnikov pulls his sidearm hoping for a more precise shot on the creatures, but his aim is off.

Babenko hits the creature, but not at the heart.

The creatures move forward more slowly now, but still with purpose ... their purpose being to feast upon you all.

Viktor's second shot is far more accurate, striking the nearest of the creatures in the heart. "Get those flamethrowers up front!" he calls.

OOC,How much damage does my rifle do? The damage isn't listed on my character sheet.

OOC: Can Babenko throw a grenade?

OOC: But the explosion would probably hit the heart too?

Well you could always try it? Faint heart never won etc. After all what's the worst that could happen as has been said famously many, many times.

Babenko decides to finish the creatures throwing a grenade, but he is too nervous and fail.

Nick Korovin "Fire in the hole!" shouts Korovin, and hurls a second grenade towards the foul creatures.

The creature nearest the group is scattered by the explosions from the two grenades. one from behind that almost threw the creature forwards at a slight angle, but Korovin's grenade lodges between the creature and it's frozen clothing, then it explodes.

The force of the second explosion has another effect though. As the initial explosion forced the creature towards you, and slightly to one side the blast weakens a strut above your head, and dust and pieces of concrete rain down upon you all. Enter the two flamethrowers. Yelling without any pretence of control, the two Spetsnaz soldiers enter and burn the second creature to a flaming, flailing, screaming husk that falls to the floor, thick acrid smoke pouring from it as it's un-life flees it's earthly prison. At the end, once the smoke thins out a bit, you notice the third creature scuttling around the perimeter of the hemispherical chamber. It enters one of the side chambers and is lost to view.

OOC:   Roll luck please - if you botch the roll, then you take (half) damage from the grenades.

Nick Korovin

Nick's experience with explosions pays off - he evades the rain of shrapnel

Unfortunately, Melnikov is not quick enough to avoid the blast and shrapnel completely.

Astoundingly, not one piece of shrapnel comes near Viktor.

Babenko survived the explosion without a scratch.

OOC:   I'll change the damage taken to 1D6 - it won't really matter, and after all you may well need all those precious hit points soon enough. Although I'm not sure that anyone took any damage per-se.

The blast echoes round the room and your ears ring from the two detonations, one after the other.

Shaking your head to regain your equilibrium, you see the back end of the creature as it glides into a side-chamber. It is the one that looks as though it houses the air processors and other control apparatus.

One of the flamethrower soldiers reacts quickest and staggers over to the mouth of the chamber, unleashing a gout of flame into the room. Any who follow will see the following sight;

Viktor advances in the room just far enough to try to line up another shot.

Babenko will follow Viktor. Two guns are better than one, right?

Nick Korovin

Korovin cautiously follows the others, but instead of looking into the room, he turns around, scanning the main hall for any more intruding monsters. Pistol at ready.

The creature descends at a rapid rate despite the flames engulfing it. It's screams echo deafeningly in the smaller chamber as it catches fire and falls to the ground, unfortunately taking out the flamethrower-wielding soldier with it's claw, neatly decapitating the unfortunate man.

But he had completed his task and the foul creature after crawling towards you a few feet eventually falls still. You wonder if you will ever get the stench of burning from your nostrils and perhaps more importantly from your mind.

Suddenly from behind you there comes the sound of screaming accompanied by the one sound you did not wish to hear - the sound that chills you to the marrow. There seems to be more of these creatures down here, more than the three you have killed in the bunker so far.

Korovin sees one of the rearguard soldiers get lifted from the ground screaming and fall back in two halves after the scream is suddenly truncated, just as another creature appears, it's face covered in the blood and entrails of Ludovic Afanasyev, a talented electrical engineer who seemed barely young enough to be away from his mothers apron, let alone be in the spetsnaz. You remember your last tour of Afghanistan with the fresh faced, open to the point of naivety with a mixture of fondness and sadness.

OOC:   Would Korovin be able to operate the flamethrower?

Korovin is filled with icy dread and a thirst for revenge... He stumbles over to the decapitated soldier and tries to get hold of the flamethrower - the most effective weapon against these beasts.

Viktor whirls about, trying to draw a bead on one of the creatures.

Nick Korovin

Nick picks up the flamethrower, and directs its muzzle in the general direction of the incoming beasts. He doesn't really hope to hit them, but rather wants to create a "wall of fire" to hold them back.

The creature backs away warily as the flames lick around it. It's outer garments sizzle and start to smoulder, but do not catch alight. It disappears off to the left hand side.

Nick Korovin

"Get to the controls! I'll hold back the beasts," he shouts to the others and guards the entrance to the control room.

Viktor nods and heads for the controls, keeping his rifle in his hands and his eyes open for any of the creatures.

Babenko follow to the control room, with his gun ready.

You climb the stairs without any concerns and can see the following;

• The operations room containing the consoles for activating and deactivating the Dead Hand system, the manual launch consoles, guidance computers, and the console for resetting the Dead Hand’s countdown clock.

• A communications equipment room, including a communication station and encryption scramblers.

• The launch complex office, which the duty officers have turned into a billet, lounge and entertainment room.

• A latrine and maintenance closet.

The communications array is all but destroyed and the controls related to the dead hand countdown and most of the other operations in the silos are also damaged, though to a lesser extent.

Idea roll please.

Those who pass,The damage seems to be focused on the communications equipment, but the seemingly random damage to other equipment might indicate that the creatures are not fully certain what is vital to the dead-hand controls, the missile launch, or the countdown.

"Communications got it the worst." says Viktor. "Other systems are damaged too, but I'm not sure if the enemy understands which ones are vital. We should go to operations first. If the countdown is running, we won't have much time."

"I hope there isn't a creature there. And how does creatures like that understand what missiles are? But let's go".
He continues with caution.

Viktor also proceeds carefully, but not too slowly, to the operations room, his rifle barrel leading the way.

Melnikov follows his comrades, pistol in hand, scanning the ceiling for floating monsters.

You can see no floating monsters in the control room at present, though you can start to hear them wailing and keening, and it sounds like it's in the ventilation system. Of course, this hides just how close or far away they are due to their cries echoing down the aircon tubes.

OOC:   A second idea roll please

Those that pass,Could there be a connection between these creatures and the missing personnel, both here and at the camp you left before?

"Bozhemoi!" says Viktor as the realization strikes him. "Could the base personnel have become these...things?"

Melnikov glances at Viktor, "Don't talk crazy comrade. How would that even happen?"

Nick Korovin

The mere idea of this brutal transformation makes Korovin shrug, and he chooses not to believe in it...

He is rather disturbed by the sounds coming from the ventilation system, though. He checks for any outlets leading to the room they are currently in.

"They might come at us from the vents," he says. "Like they do in the movies," he adds, revealing a good knowledge of contraband American VHS tapes.

"I think it's more probable that they killed our comrades from this base."
Babenko is more disturbed that he want to accept: what could transform regular soldiers in those creatures? Could that happen to them?

Viktor recalls having seen the American movie Aliens. It had been thrilling to watch, but he could have done without experiencing something similar for himself. He keeps a nervous eye on the vents as he proceeds.

Operations room
Vents are situated in the far walls of the room you are in. In the centre of the operations room ceiling, just above the consoles for the Dead Hand system, what you presume are the manual launch consoles, the guidance computers, as well as the console for resetting the Dead Hand’s countdown clock is another vent which is blowing cold, frigid air into the room. The vents on the walls seem to be exhaust vents. All vents have had their mesh covers ripped off, either from within the room, or from the ventilation shafts themselves, both scenarios fill you with trepidation. Suddenly everything goes quiet.

OOC:   Spot hidden please for those in the operations room

Downstairs
The only sound you hear is coming from the air conditioning vents, which suddenly start blowing frigid air out of them, though not powered by any fans that you can hear.

Suddenly everything goes quiet.

Babenko is relieved that the sound stopped and oblivious to anything else.

Nick Korovin

Korovin directs the flamethrower towards the vent and fires without hesitation...

Viktor also whirls and points his rifle at the vent, hoping to be able to line up a shot on the creature's heart.

Babenko fires his riffle against the creature hitting it, but without making being able to hit the heart..

The silence is becoming oppressive, jangling your already taut nerves. The flamethrower dies down but seems to have done little, if any damage. Similarly with the gunfire - there were some hits, but not enough to kill these Satan-Spawn.

OOC:   Those that have missed shots can out their poor aim down to the nervousness if they so choose

Suddenly a hand reaches out from one of the air vents and grabs Ludovik Maksim (NPC) lifting him up slowly towards the venting. He starts to yell out a warning to the rest of the party, a yell that turns to a scream as the creature starts to lift him towards the vent with what seems to be agonising slowness. Ludovik manages to get a few shots off but the creature somehow manages to swat his gun away. Unfortunately for him, the vent is a lot smaller than he is, especially with all his gear on. The result is that as his body is drawn slowly through the vent, the screams of terror escalate until they become screams of agony as his body is bent over backwards. Eventually his back breaks and he is drawn, still screaming into the air conditioning venting. His screams echo round and round the base until with a loud shriek they are cut off.

As the party are transfixed by this grisly spectacle another cry from the corridor sounds followed by a couple of shots, then silence reigns once more. The temperature has now plummeted and you can see your breath crystalising in front of your faces.
Suddenly, from behind you all, a pair of shots ring out and a young soldier cries out and falls to the floor, he is covered in steaming entrails. Young Max Fedorov lies covered in the steaming entrails, presumably from Maksim, and is trying to regain his feet enough to get away from the blood and guts, but his feet keep slipping out from under him. He opens his mouth to call for help when another part of poor Maksim, what looks like - is that a lung, lands on him? Blood and gore spatter into his mouth and his stomach contents joins the mess on the floor.

Ice crystals are starting to form on the surfaces that are wet.

"Comrades, we must hurry. Or try to burn this place to see if they cannot use against our nation".- says Babenko loosing all hope to survive this hell.

Viktor nods and proceeds to their objective, rifle ready and eyes alert.

Nick Korovin

Nick covers their advance, using the flamethrower if needed to create a "wall of fire". He doesn't hope to "hit" the monsters, but rather to keep them away.

He gets a flashback to an ancestral memory of sorts: a caveman with a torch trying to scare away a sabertooth tiger...