Motorized Bounty Hunters
Background
Summary
Bounty hunters like going fast. Prey is fast. You have to be faster. You know what's fast as hell? A motorcycle. It's even faster than a car. They go up stairs? You go up the stairs. They go on a highway? You're on a highway. Alleys. Rooftops. Streets. Modern motorcycles can go anywhere, if you know how to use them properly.
Bounty hunters are hell on wheels. They can't quite take the heavier equipment of their foot-slogging brethren, preferring chain-colts, submachine guns, shotguns, and the occasional heavy assault rifle platform. But it's fine. Because remember, they're on a motorcycle.
They don't always get along with other bounty hunters, though. The fewer hunters, the bigger the bounty. They're also jerks, because they drive their motorcycles up on roofs and sidewalks, which is just disrespectful. But still. Motorcycle. Did we mention the motorcycle?
Context
There is a popular saying that goes: “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop,” referring to the dangers of boredom. Listlessness was one of the worst enemies of those stationed at the scientific outposts and mining facilities scattered throughout Helheim, the Antarctic continent of Concilium Prima. After their long workdays, there was little for them to do out there in the middle of nowhere. Going online on Maya seemed like the straightforward option, but many preferred to experience some real open air action after endless hours in the lab or down in the mine. Hence, when some prospectors posted at Kutka Station and some scientists from the neighboring Zonget Base realized they shared a passion for motorcycles, they soon organized a race between the two bases, across the icy plains of Helheim and through narrow passes between the cliffs of the nunataks—native rock formations—jutting out of the ice. It was a challenging relay race involving speed and endurance that became known as the Trans- Siberian, because the names of both bases were borrowed from deities of different cultures native to Siberia.
Although initially the racers used the snowmobiles available at their
bases, many of them soon had their own bikes brought in so that
they could train freely, without relying on the limited availability of the
base’s vehicles. Since the all-terrain systems of modern bikes worked
perfectly on the hard, frozen surface of the Helheim plains and were
faster, snowmobiles were soon obsolete in these races, used only
by rookies. Before long, other bases and mining compounds in the
region joined this craze for racing through the plains and nunataks
of southwestern Helheim, although the Trans-Siberian remained the
longest and toughest of all events. Over time, the Trans-Siberian
competition became very popular on Concilium Prima, to the point
that professional teams from all over the planet, and even from other
systems of the Human Sphere, came to participate in it.
All of this would be nothing more than an irrelevant fun fact from a
travel or adventure show on Maya, but the Cerberus Crisis broke out.
After the arrival of the Combined Army on Helheim and its unstoppable
deployment all across Náströnd, it seemed that not a single location
on that continent was safe from falling into enemy hands. However,
the staunch defense by the forces of humanity led by the impromptu
Concilium Coordinated Command succeeded in stopping enemy
advances on the eastern and western fronts, although at a great cost.
The Combined Army’s desire to capture the city of Breidavlik caused
its forces to charge against it, pushing far beyond the front line, which
in the northwest was stuck in the vicinity of Hammerens Feld, and in
the southwest was left even further behind, due to the concentration
of forces in Breidavlik. The obstinate defense at both Hammerens Feld
and the city of Breidavlik, which the alien forces have failed to take
except for its suburbs, has brought the conflict to a stalemate at these
two locations. As a result, the Combined Army leadership shifted its
attention to the neglected southwestern front, planning a pincer move
to finally encircle Breidavlik, and thus isolate its defenders and cut
them off from getting help or support from our forces. This maneuver
also threatens the Bay-Ulgan Air and Transorbital Control Station,
which is part of Concilium Prima’s planetary defense system.
These developments have put Kutka Station and Zonget Base in the
crosshairs of the Combined Army, and consequently, teams of armed
prospectors have begun patrolling the surrounding areas fearing an
imminent attack. However, the forces of the Concilium Coordinated
Command, alerted to the movements of the alien troops, have been
able to deploy units to reinforce that section of the front. The distinctive
features of the terrain, its plains sprinkled with nunataks, make it ideal
for motorized warfare, which is not common in other parts of Helheim.
This provides a tactical advantage over the Combined Army forces,
which—for now—don’t have such units in the Concilium theater of
operations, although some Speculo Agents disguised as mercenary
troops and riding bikes have been spotted reconnoitering the area.
This is why the Coordinated Command has dispatched motorized units
to the region, in order to take full advantage of this asset and to hunt
down those Speculo Agents. However, given how difficult it is to deploy
in Helheim, it has requested the assistance of volunteer personnel
from Kutka Station and Zonget Base who have already competed in
the Trans-Siberian, for support as guides and for advanced scouting,
as well as to ensure that the motorized Speculo Agents cannot escape.
So, it seems that this year the war is not going to put a stop to the
Trans-Siberian race; it will only make it a little more dangerous than
usual.
Quotes
"I love to chase my prey riding my bike; being in control of the chase, playing dirty, landing low blows, and chewing up the target. Two feels, full speed. The hunt is raw and brutal. Trust nobody but yourself. Trust me. It doesn't get better than that."
Except from inerview with Irene Zhang for the show "Freelance Hounds," on IngramNet: Look Into the Wild Side of the Sphere!"
Profile
N4
ISC: Motorized Bounty Hunters | Mercenary Troop | Light Infantry | ||||||
Fury: Impetuous | Training: Regular | Back-Up: Cube | ||||||
MOV | CC | BS | PH | WIP | ARM | BTS | W/STR | S |
8-6 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Skills and Equipment: Motorcycle, Booty(ReRoll), Dodge(+2"), Impetuous, Mimetism(-3) |
ISC: DISMOUNTED | Mercenary Troop | Light Infantry | ||||||
Fury: Impetuous | Training: Regular | Back-Up: Cube | ||||||
MOV | CC | BS | PH | WIP | ARM | BTS | W/STR | S |
4-4 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Skills and Equipment: Motorcycle, Booty(ReRoll), Impetuous |
Loadout | Special Skills | Weapons and Equipment | Melee Weapons | Points | SWC |
1 | Boarding Shotgun | Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6) | 11 | 0 |
2 | Submachine Gun, Chain-colt(+1B) | Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6) | 9 | 0 |
3 | Red Fury | Breaker Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6) | 16 | 0.5 |
Note: Introduced in N4. No profile in N3 or previous editions.