Device Rating: 4 Data Bomb: 4
IC loaded with programs equal to Device Rating: Armor, Black Hammer, Stealth, Attack
SPRAWL
WILDS
. . .
This team has received specialized training in CBRN but it is not their primary duty. Other KE elements will react to the intelligence they provide. If this unit is attacked, KE will respond in kind. If survivors refuse to obey instructions, riot control units will deploy in a tightening perimeter.
2. Aft er containment they will seek
to evacuate survivors to less contami- nated areas. Survivors will generally be treated by specially trained KE and DocWagon medical units. Moving patients to local hospitals will only be done in the direst circumstances due to the threat of contamination. Th e CBRN teams understand that they may not be able to detect every kind of biological agent on scene so they will assume everyone is contaminated until proven otherwise.
Once survivors have been taken care of, they will attempt to verify the extent and type of agent used. As modern biological weapons are designed to avoid detection, this process can take hours or days. Th e runners emerge just as the initial Knight Errant team is dismounting from their Ares Citymaster (sidebar and p. 349, SR4A) fi tted with a turret that fi res Freeze Foam (sidebar and Arsenal, p. 82). Th e team is led by Christian Capiendo (p. 61) and composed of six additional CBRN technicians. Use Lone Star Police Squad Member (sidebar and p. 282, SR4A) or Police Patrols (p. 383, SR5). Each member is suited up in a Mitsuhama EE Suit (sidebar and Arsenal, p. 55) with an integrated hazmat/biological detection kit. In addition to these personnel, the Citymaster also includes two Steel Lynx Combat Drone (sidebar and p. 350, SR4A, or p. 466, SR5) mounted with LMGs loaded with gel rounds. An additional Steel Lynx is unarmed but modifi ed with manipulator arms and storage to act as the team’s utility drone. If the runners choose to fi ght this squad they have exactly fi ve Combat Turns before a Knight Errant Northrup Wasp (sidebar and p. 348, SR4A, or p. 465, SR5) arrives on scene to “secure” the area with APDS LMG fi re. Th e runners may choose to surrender as well. Th e situ- ation is confusing, so the Knight Errant team will do little more than strip obvious weapons, tag the runners, and toss them into the back of the decontamination Citymaster. Refer to Alternative
Embers, p. 55.
the ruins of the Goblin Market. Some are too old to move, some were injured in the rush to the exit, and others are just too scared to move. Play to the players’ emotions, and use these little tragedies to both fl esh out the scene and to provide additional challenge.
• Th e Goblin Market has many eateries; some of them use propane to cook their meals. Secondary explosions might be an excellent way to remind runners that time is running out. • A portion of the ceiling collapses. Th e runners must dodge out of the way or become trapped. Even if they escape harm, the resident of the Underground and Skraacha may not be so lucky. Th e runners will need to decide if they take time to free the people trapped beneath the rubble.
• Increase the dice pool modifi ers from the smoke as the fi re draws closer. Th is should also be used as a way of ratcheting up the tension.
• If there is a dedicated or talented hacker amongst the runners, feel free to increase the device rating and IC programs to provide an appropriate challenge. Just remember that this IC has been left as a booby trap to delay a hacker from fi xing the system, not to hold the node indefi nitely.
• Deep within the core of the fire is a group of free fire spirits who are taking great pleasure in stoking the fl ames. Particularly eff ective teams will certainly attract their atten- tion, particularly if they are channeling extensive magic to contain the fi re.
DEBUGGING
Do not hesitate to modify the thresholds or intervals for various tests. As always, good ideas and good roleplaying should modify thresholds or dice pools. Players with a plan should have an easier time than players who simply say “I use my skill on it.” Th is is a nail-biting battle for survival, so make whatever modifi ca-
tions are necessary to get players in that frame of mind.
Below is the information a Police Procedure Knowledge Test could reveal. It should also act as a framework for deciding how the police react to the runners should they try and book it. Knight Errant CBRN (Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, Nuclear) Rapid Response Team (Selected Stats for Vehicles and Personnel Below) Contacts Data Search Information
0 0 Who the hell are they?!
1 3 Not your run-of-the-mill KE patrol.
The bunny suits (environmentally sealed suits with internal air supply) mean they’re some sort of chemical- or biological-response unit.
2 6 Provide the runners with basic details
on the typical response team compo- sition. Teams are usually between fi ve to six members, with a team leader and some drone support.
3+ 10+ Th e runners have detailed knowledge
of KE biological warfare response protocols:
1. The initial team will be focused