RedSkull said:

While I would totally agree on running it this way (it MAKES more sense!), the book stats the "Pilgrims" to throw around grenades (!). Make sure to change this as well.

Talking the pc giving a run for it:
A good point! I forgot about my players tendency to call for help. I would say "let them run to the astropath", but declare Quaddis to be remote enough that an answer to the call in the form of arriving help would take take weeks. But make an answer be available within a matter of days: "Help will arrive within the next weeks. Start to investigate by your own. This matter calls for attention immidiately!"

Talking about the landers:
The oath to "Mr. K." should keep them from leaving the planet. If they really try to simply run for there lives... perhaps they are able to reach one of the ships around the planet. Perhaps they manage to get onboard and use it to leave. If so, the game ends. Give them the news about the massaker that happend and make all of them lose a fate point permanently.

If they do not want to steal it in order to leave...allow them to have one! The following things can be used to keep it tough, so:

• the controls are MIU only (because only servitores or top-notch-pilots are employed by the nobles)
• the security of the cockpit is very sophisticated (hard checks to security be able to operate this thing at all!)
• the guards of the (private) airfields are actually on guard, do not do stupid mistakes and are vox linked. Checking in on vox every 30minutes
• the perimeter security of the private airfields are top-notch as well.
• besides some "small air lanes", most "air" belongs to estate and is guarded fiercely!
• and so on....

I'm just not sure how a couple of my PCs are going to handle being laughed at if they flash the =][=...... I think since they have been able to drop that bomb and people become shaken. Being on a planet that does not really have a strong tie to the Imperium should throw them for a loop. Just one of them being a redemptionist will cause problems. I don't want to kill him off, but from the way he plays his role he is more then likely going to try and stir up trouble.

Sadly I guess if it comes down to it his soul will be sent to the Emperor.

@Friend
Sorry, missed your post about the "Escape"

Higher off then the Arbites would be a fine problem. Only the Arbites have ruling about the Arbites (they are the law!), and they WILL know their "higher ups".

Where is Chaco actually held?
The Arbites Station is a tough one. Only accessable by very controlled routes. ... but how about making him flee by himself? He is looked away, but not handcuffed, right? Give him a hidden body cavity. Enough room for a small lock-picking device and a very very small (and sheated!) monoblade (switchblade the size of an index finger). As most of the Arbites will leave the station as the zombie onslaught starts, Chako will see his change and use it...

Gregorius21778 said:

Yeah you guessed correctly, the op senter was the likely place for holding the operative. And yeah the Arbites hierarchy and bureaucracy makes it difficult for the SQ to infiltrate the organization or impersonate their superiors (one good thing about red tape). Not impossible, but slightly unllikely.

Chaco could justifyably have the skills necessary to escape the cell (although can't see why the cell need to be openable from the inside at all), but the acolytes did search her so only subdermal hidden compartments could work. Maybe a small set chaped charge? It would still need the zombie holocaust to pull off though. For a twist it could be fun to have Chaco along for the next adventure (in the red cages) as well, athough I suspect the PCs will kill her unless she has some kind of leverage. It would be amusing that the woman they have recently captured and tortured, and whom the Scum holds a serious grudge to, is now helping them survive. And yeah Chaco sounds like a boy's name so I understand the confusion, but it is a female NPC with previous romantic and criminal ties to the Scum. See the baron Hopes thread for more details, it's not really my NPC.

@The cell & the escape

Since the planet is rather primitive, how about an old "western style" door? The once known from "Slammers" like Alcatraz as well. This would allow for manipulation from the inside. "Small charges" are fine as well. Perhaps even better! . Like "to component melta gel" or something. Could work very well (and will even help to destroy the lock of "real security doors"). Meltagel is better since it doesn´t make that much noise.
Chako can sneak out, afterward. Perhaps killing a lonesome guard from behind with his mono blade.

About the "hidden cavity": I n "Edge of Darkness" (Briefing/Autopsy) a missing lung was assumed to be the result of the prequesit operation for a "smuggling cavity". While this is drastic, how about removing one on the rips (right part of the cage) to make room for a caviity. The "whole" is covered with pseudo-flesh (no bodypart; not bleeding) and filled with the two-component-stuff and the said mono-mini-blade.

All Chako would need from there on would be a sharp object to cut the pseudoflesh away. Perhaps a spoon sharpend against cell walls will do.

The meltagel is a good idea, it makes it concievable to escape even while under guard. Oh, and BTW, stop calling her for "he."

Instead of trying to hide some sort of razor blade inside the body why not just have some kind of blade in a hand augmentation? Think cyberware from shadorun, with either spurs or nail razors (mono of course). They might even be used with poisons or sedatives and not just rely on brute force (after all killing someone with a dagger in this system is next to impossible in one slice).

Talking cybernetic:
I would refrain from a cybernetic augmetic since this kind of stuff is "pretty advanced". At least, if it seems to be "normal" to a casual inspecton. The Logicians use things like this in one of there "brand new monsters" (Ashentear), but I do not know...

Talking assasination:
Yes, the combat system makes it impossible to kill with one strike. But have a look at the errata for sniper weapons. I think, the same can be used for "unaware targets"if an assasine sneaks up from behind. Always remember: the combat system is for combat. Assasination is NOT combat.

Heck! Shooting a guy into the forhead with a 357. while touching the skin with the barrel would not kill in instant. Because even if he is holding completely still, all you have is 1d10+3,the guy has an TB of 3 , perhaps 10 wounds and in 90% of the cases you will not role a 10. So, keep the combat system for combat and use story telling for the story

Gregorius21778 said:

Cyber: SQ has access to xeno tech... spikes coming out of the body seems fairly Dark Eldar to me, no?

Even with extra dice... hmm ok extra d10s.. hmmm . But yeah in narrative combat everything can happen. But it was so fun in RfyaT when the villain shot an npc in narrative time (with an autopistol), and then proceeded to Righteous Fury the Noble PC in the head, taking him down in one shot! Epic SOOO not gonna happen with a dagger.

Mind you.. extra d10 for every two level of success

Four Level of Success = 1d5+2d10+STB

Sneaking up/unaware Target = +30
"Aim" manoveure (preparation;full turn/3sec) = +20
Attacking from behind (should give a better bonus, teh attacking from above) +20

All in all, (using this "house rules") an assasine with Melee 35 should go up to 95. Fair chance (55%) to to get four levels (which would be about 15 dmg with pen3/non primitive if mono... you could rule that this will down an npc without being "unfair"

@Cybernetic
Still, I am not about "the weapon" but "concealing". But if you are want a concealed implant weapon, so why not?

Gregorius21778 said:

Yeah I know the rules. However, I think your invented "attack from behind" bonus is not justified as "uanware target" acounts for this. The only drawback in being attacked from behind is that you can't see the attack, otherwise the back is just as fragile/solid as the front of the human body. Cutting the throat is in no way less dangerous than cutting the neck.

Even so, DoS might get pretty high if you allow the "Accurate" rule.

BTW, it worked well. While the acolytes were out investigating hideouts and the arbites investigating the first bombing, the operative excaped with bomb and killed an acolyte in the process.