Entry #005:
The Custodian

Unfortunately, he didn't have enough time to hide before the port-side turret recharged. Still hanging from the turret and praying that he had timing right, he curled up his legs and twisted his body to get as much of it behind the machine.

React under Fire [Strong Hit: 5 + 2 + 0 = 7 vs 5 | 1]

The friendly-fire countermeasures kicked in, and the turret fizzled out. Claudius jumped down, leaving the knife wedged in the turret's servomotors. He hoped it would prevent it, from shooting him in the back, as he handled the second one. He ducked in the corridor as the whizzing sounds stopped...

Gain ground [Weak Hit: 5 + 1 + 0 = 6 vs 5 | 6] > +1 forward

Even better than he thought - the damaged turret's sensors still locked target in him, but its aim was off - the plasma blasts went well over his head. Claudius grinned, and jumped out into the corridor, racing toward the port turret, he counted in his mind "whizz, shoot, recharge, whizz... jump!"

Gain ground [Weak Hit: 2 + 2 + 1 = 5 vs 5 | 4]
[Mark Progress: Raven's Claw defense turrets :3 boxes]

A shot went a bit off, but close enough to shoot of a piece of armour plating off the turret above Mongoose. Breathing heavily, sweat getting into his eyes, Claudius heaved, wrapped his legs around the turret and jammed his gauntlet into the opening.

Strike [Miss: 3 + 3 + 0 = 6 vs 8 | 10] > -2 Momentum

An electric bolt went through his body, shutting down suit's systems. He slammed to the floor, feeling air escaping his lungs. He saw a flash behind his eyes, and when it cleared he saw a nuzzle of the turret right above him. Whiiiiiizz...
He stayed perfectly still, and trusted his instincts...

React under fire [Weak Hit: 3 + 2 + 0 = 5 vs 4 | 9]

The stern turret shot first. It hit the canon above Mongoose - not enough to damage it, but enough that the second shot only grazed the mercenary.
Claudius got to his feet, reached for the tool belt. He took out a welding gas capsule and jammed it into the turrets gap in plating.

Check your Gear [Weak Hit: 5 + 3 + 0 = 8 vs 3 | 8] > -1 Supply
Clash [Weak Hit: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 vs 5 | 10] > -2 Health
[Mark Progress: Raven's Claw defense turrets :4 boxes]

The turret went into flames, the explosion shook the corridor, Claudius flew a good couple of meters back. He got to his feet, and felt a pang of pain - his suit was punctured with a piece of shrapnel, blood gushing out. Not good.
Gritting his teeth, he slammed against a wall, and when the shot went past him, moved toward the stern, hoping to be quick enough...

React under Fire [Weak Hit: 5 + 2 + 1 = 8 vs 9 | 4]
Endure Stress [Miss: 2 + 3 + 0 = 5 vs 5 | 6]

The turret kept missing, but the algorithm that controlled it were starting to accommodate for the broken hydraulics, it came closer and closer, but so did Claudius. One last leap...

Clash [Miss: 1 + 3 + 1 = 5 vs 10 | 10] 

He didn't have enough strength anymore to jump to the turret, he needed to rest, recuperate. Claudius slid to the side room, slumped to the floor breathing heavily and then saw a metal and flesh monstrosity enter the room from the other side! A size of a large dog, but more massive, crab-like with 6 pairs of legs and massive pincers. It's shell covered in multifaceted eyes. It stopped, seemed to analyse Claudius, and it charged!

React under fire [Weak Hit: 3 + 3 + 0 = 6 vs 4 | 7]

Mongoose managed to get to his feet, and block the charge - but he underestimated the creature's weight. The ground flew from beneath his feet and he landed in the middle of the corridor, right in the sight of the turret.
He saw his opportunity, his trusty knife fell down due to erratic movement of the turret. It laid in the pool of slick oil just a few meters away. He waited for the next charge of the alien crab, amortized the impact and skidded towards the knife.

React under Fire [Strong Hit: 2 + 3 + 0 = 5 vs 4 | 4]

Claudius grabbed his knife from the slick oil and waited. The mechanical crab started running. Thump, thump, whizz... Claudius moved just as the canon was about to shoot, the crab pounced, Claudius slid on the oil.

Gain ground [Weak Hit: 4 + 2 + 0 = 6 vs 6 | 5] > (Weaponmaster) Strong Hit
[Mark Progress: Raven's Claw defense turrets :5 boxes]

Plasma blasted through crab's carpace, as Claudius slides from beneath it. In a split second he was back in his feet and on the best bringing the knife down.

Strike [Strong Hit: 5 + 3 + 2 = 10 vs 6 | 4]
[Mark Progress: Raven's Claw defense turrets :6 boxes]
[Mark Progress: Raven's Claw defense turrets :7 boxes]
Progress Roll:  Raven's Claw defense turret [Weak Hit: 1 + 7 + 0 = 8 vs 9 | 6]

Alien monstrosity tried to throw Claudius off, but the mercenary held fast and kept bringing his knife down, cutting wiring, weird biomechanical parts/organs and tubes oozing grey, oily substance. After what seemed like hours, the crab fell down motionless... and so did the turret! The light in the corridor changed colour from calm green to neon orange and a ominous rumble could be heard and felt throughout the ship. Claudius slid down from the mangled carapace and laid motionless for a long time, trying to catch his breath.

The beast he killed must have been something more than a guard - more like a custodian trying to maintain the broken ship. Good for Mongoose's mission of destroying the derelict ship, worse for him flying off with the Rock-hopper disabled by the alien defenses. But first, he needed to rest...

[Mark Progress: Disable alien derelict in 30NE Arch of Minerva belt :4 boxes] Defeat defense turrets, gaining access to engine room
[Mark Progress: Disable alien derelict in 30NE Arch of Minerva belt :5 boxes] Find out about the Custodian
[Mark Progress: Disable alien derelict in 30NE Arch of Minerva belt :6 boxes] Defeat Custodian