ND Cragsand S3E18: Calm before the storm

:Return to character article: Sten Berglund
==Season 3: Neon Divide==
===Episode 18: Calm before the storm===
====Things to do====
Starting work disassembling scrap guns, Sten is awokened by Fee-Bee. He overhears her reporting to her "admiral" about the technojunkie raiders and their intentions to destroy or overtake scrap town. To prepare for the attack, she moves a crate of ammunition for locals to restock over to the gate. Using the scrap recovered Sten makes a harpoon gun so that there's one in stock at the ready.
:-3 Scrap pistols
:-1 Scrap shotgun
:+4 Scrap metal
Pillbugs enter and this time they carry a salvage part, a battery and some crusted old GEB cube. After some barter they agree on trading a revolver for the salvage part. After making sure they have the safety on and don't drink the battery acid Sten breaks open the salvage part. It turns out to contain a high tech part which is very valuable. Maxie expresses interest and lacking any use for it Sten offers it as an advance on his salary and sells the medium ones.
:+1-1 High tech part
:-2 Medium tech parts
:+50,000 credits
Prowler collects his armor and is charged a small free. Norbert restocks on some pistol ammo. 
:+5000 for armor labor 
:+4000 for ammo
Phineas trade of the day is a magic glove called "sinister glove" with unknown properties. 
With all the armor orders Fee-Bee and Maxie continue and head out to gather nitrolium for making kevlar.
Henderson has some potentially troubling news. He's heading out on a dangerous mission and tells Sten that he's nominated him to take his place in case he doesn't make it back. Too busy to elaborate he storms off.
The council has another announcement and going for breakfast at the Oasis Grille, Sten asks Jyggal what today's special is. She says porridge and fruit so that it is. Bringing a chair, Maya steals it and acts inconspicuous and denies taking it but Sten humors her and she eventually returns it.
:-350 food
====Council announcement====
The announcement is the reiteration of the raider bandit lord Bloodshiv, announcing their intent to attack. Hadwyn explains that Henderson is working on constructing barricades in town as well as a secondary fallback perimeter at the bridge where the smithy has weapons and the grill food supplies. A third fallback point is the barricades leading into the city and Hadwyns botanical laboratory. Maya asks about getting help from the city and offers to go gather what she can. There are also plans in place for recruiting assistance from the city. 
Coordinating the smithy and enclave Sten tells everyone who is unarmed to check by the shop that they will be lent a firearm. Asking for scrappers and volunteers ready to fight who are aware of the risks involved are asked to raise their hands. Among the able are Maya, Sten, Fee-Bee, Torok, Crunch, Ty, Skully and Reeza. Crunch, asking if they have any delicious brains to consume, Mercury explains to that they're part machine, known as rippers, cyborgs or technojunkies. Hungry at the prospect Crunch compares them to delicious lobsters, hard shell and soft insides. Eugh. 
Sheila offers to bring Crabby and is welcomed. Phineas asks why not just turn over the town to them willingly and is met with protests of him be dumb and suggestions of throwing him out. Fee-Bee has prepared a create with spare ammo at the gate where anyone participating in guarding can restock. 
====Gearing up the locals====
Anna lacking a gun, considers herself a good shot. Having never seen her shoot before Sten has his doubts but still sells her a pistol for cheap after asking her some questions of hypothetical situations. 
# Henderson approaches you looking dangerous, do you shoot? "No." 
# If you see a stranger at the gate shouting, would you shoot at them? "Not unless they're hostile." 
# If someone is shooting at you, would you shoot at them? "Of course." 
Satisfied with the answers, it was not enough for Herk. Hearing about it he went through it in great detail. Maxie interjects that she seems to panic to loud noises. That probably makes arming her not the best idea.
:+5000 credits
:-1 Pistol
Ty spots and seems to set her sights on the sniper on the top shelf. Questioned if she considers herself a good marksman, it does require some skill to use she claims so. Having never seen her shoot before, Sten hopes so and agrees on a good discount.
:+100,000 credits
:-1 Sniper rifle
Fee-Bee takes the initiative and starts working on armor with Maxie using materials from her private collection. Making kevlar and a titanium armor. She asks Sten to help determine who in town to equip with it and after discussing they decide on Skully. Insisting on getting Hendersons permission they do it anyway. Skully also asks to have a scrap shotgun repurposed for him but at it, Sten repurposes a row shotgun instead. That should serve him better in defending the town. 
:-2 Steel
:-1 Titanium
Hadwyn leaves off his broken armor from last year and Sten gets to work repairing it. Initially thinking it simple it proves more difficult than intended. The councilman commends Fee-Bee for sticking around after suddenly appearing last year during bad circumstances in the middle of an invasion. She reveals that she was posted involuntary in Scrap Town against her wishes but changed her mind eventually. For the armors Fee-Bee supplies some additional material. 
:-1 Carbon fiber 
:-1 Steel
Crunch purchases some ammo for his hand canon and some iron for a mask he's wishes to forge himself before going into battle. Lending him the forge he crafts something that looks like it came out of a horror film. Maya supplies 3 scrap and 2 pistols she "found" in the city. She's proving herself!
:-1 Iron
:+3 Scrap
Hearing a familiar voice, Willie returns from his trip in the city. Welcoming him back Sten tells him on the current events in town. On his way he siphoned some fuel from some parked vehicles to refill and work on cartridges for flamethrower weapons. He also brought a GEB cube that was jammed in a bridge. Looking disgusting it's probably not edible. Apparently there's litters of them all across town for unknown reasons.
====It begins====
A radio call from Sheriff Mercury calls out that Speedy has returned from the wastes being under gunfire. Requesting assistance in defenses Sten continues on gearing up locals. Crunch has an idea to lead the maw into the raiders which could work with enough flare guns. 
The mercenary going by "Venna" places an order for another sniper rifle but being out of materials Sten can't supply them. Instead, asking for their going rate, Sten hires them and pays them up front with the shop funds to aid in defending the town for the day. 
:-50,000 credits 
Reeza lacks ammo for the Shometsu pistol she has, and being unsure of Fee-Bee's production Sten lends her a revolver for free in the meanwhile. Preferring to use her sword she can at least do something at a range. 
:-1 Revolver
To relieve the stress of the imminent attack Sten rummages through the shop shelves, looking for a bottle of booze he hid away before. While probably a bad time to drink, he doesn't care. Finding what he's looking for he chugs it. 
Asking Maxies where he got it his water canteen with the scrap town logo on it, he bought it initially at the general store, then fashioned the design himself. Liking the look he tells Sten that he could probably make more from some steel and scrap. 
Checking on the gate, Henderson has been leading efforts to add barricades inside the gates, as well as walling off the ramps leading directly to the garage and town. To get inside any attacked would need to take a long route. Sten goes to offer the huge shield that's been kept in storage since Hanz ordered it but never picked it up. 
Phineas sells some scrap.
:+2 Scrap metal
:-4000 credits 
====Corporate involvement====
Two representatives sporting Shometsu colors ask to speak to Sten in private. Daitus, Sten recognizes as being familiar with Fee-Bee then his companion Lenon. Lenon, seems to be of an aquatic species and he's having some difficulty in the warm desert. Inviting them both to the shop they tell him that they're interested in supporting and sponsoring an expedition to the volcano. Trusting them as Fee-Bee mentioned it previously, Sten tells them that everytime they go out scrapping there's always armed Valkyrie guards blocking their path to the volcano, preventing them from gathering valuable materials there. Sten tells them that he'd prefer to find a non-lethal solution to trick them to leave their posts but if there's no other option it would have to be violent. Asking them what they can do, they offer to lend weapons and supply explosives, even EMP weapons. Using EMP:s would be useful to knock out their communication, preventing them from calling for backup. Using disguises getting the hold up on the guards they could be held captive then released back in the city. In the situation that Valkyrie is chased off, in exchange for supporting this endeavor Shometsu would like to take up the location of holding the outpost. Sten agrees to this, as long as scrap town continues to get free access to the volcano. Not occurring today, since the town is under lockdown Daitus leaves contact info in the shops registry so they can be contacted when it goes down. 
Hadwyn comes to pick up his repaired armor. Because lacking enough materials, the patch job isn't the best but it will have to make due. Along with him he has two GEB representatives also assisting in providing security for the town. Sten recognizes them from the party who landed outside the gates some days back and they seem friendly enough. The woman asks about the GEB cube in the corner which Willie brought in before. Sten tells her it seems to have fallen from the sky and that she is welcome to take it with her. Bringing out a vibroknife to take a sample back, the whole thing falls into rotten mush as she cuts it. A foul rancid stench fills the whole store. Speculating where they came from Hadwyn and her speculate it may be some waste disposal dumping them in the city and some storm blew them out over scrap town. Hearing that shots are fired on the radio Sten wishes them luck and starts to sweep out the mess with a broom. 
Waving at Prowler about the status he tells that some sniper is held up outside the old Titan bunker from last year. It was sealed up but some corpos showed interest in getting in there. If the techjunkies has a way in, that could explain how they can be so well equipped. Mentioning that they're Shometsu, Sten brings Prowler aside in private and tells him of the deal with the volcano. Regardless if they're trustworthy, them getting access to Titan's technology would be bad, he argues. Asking Prowler what he thinks about making another deal about sharing in case they do break down, he advises against it. One known as "Phil" from Shometsu is involved and Prowler seems worried, though Sten doesn't know of him. Their conversation is interrupted by Willie reporting that Skully is down over at the Oasis, and is being evacuating him back for repairs.
Spotting more GEB cubes around Anna is carrying one around and using her flight thrusters to get one loose from a wall. Stopping, Sten lends her his crowbar and she manages to pry it loose. How can anyone eat these things? They're hard like concrete. After prying one lose Sten warns everyone not to eat them. Anna calls them new friends and Maxie jests at Norbert that he should try talking to it. Sten joins in poking him to try, maybe they'd learn where they actually came from. For being someone who speaks to inanimate objects Norbert questions their prodding. Getting ready for Skully needing repairs Sten tells Norbert about his weakness towards alcohol. It gives him comfort. In private he talk to himself and addresses the bottle. Not feeling up for fighting today he thanks it as an old friend. Spotting a pillbug walking about alone Sten asks Anna if she saw it. Not so, she tells that they even offered to fight with them. That's good to know, much better than them being mischievous and stealing stuff. 
Skully is brought back and is missing a head again from his damages. Aiding in the repairs with Prowler and Norbert he attempts to gesture something but they can't figure it out so they rush to get a new voice modulator for him. Regaining speech Skully tells that there is a copy of his chassis over in Henderson's yard. Calling after him on the radio Mercury reports he's unreachable way on some business. Hadwyn interjects and grants permission to enter the scrap yard in Hendersons absence. Overriding the yard locks they find the chassis in a corner. Following Prowler and Norberts instructions Sten helps transfer the power core and they do so successfully. Being a risky thing it could wipe all his memories. Prowler gives Skully a stern new directive, to stay and defend the town foremost. Completing the job Sten brings the armor to his shop for repairs. Listening on the radio Hadwyn informs that someone has gained access to the Titan bunker. Norbert asking what that is, told what happened last year with giant robots attacking the town. 
Seeing the barricades put in place in town, Sten recalls the huge shield he made for Hanz weeks ago and starts pushing it into place. Too heavy to carry Sten asks passersby for help. Anna tries to help but they don't move it much until Skully moves and picks it up with no issue whatsoever. 
====Strange occurrences====
Hearing a singing voice Sten finds a humming woman floating in the air. Sten approaches her and does his usual advertisement for the smithy. She asks for Crunch and explains that she is blind. Sharing a resemblance with Stellar, Sten asks if they're related. Confirming that she is his sister, she introduces herself as Bae Nadda Bloke, or Bae for short. Unsure how to proceed showing her where the shop is, Herk suggest taking her by the hand and leading her around town so Sten does. Leading her to the shop Sten tells her that he knows another person named Chester who is also capable of some kind of magic flight. Reaching the store she senses a blob where the sign should be and explains she can magically sense her surroundings to a degree except after being spun around. Being blind, Sten realize that she can't use a firearm and she tells him she thinks technology is "ew" anyway. Unsure how to help her further except continuing to lead her around town Sten tells her to avoid the gate while they're under attack. 
Speaking of the strange flight, in the distance one of the GEB cubes starts twitching suddenly. Approaching Sten tries to address it, calling out that Norbert almost spoke to it before and asking if it's sentient. Not getting any response aside from twitching on its own, he backs away slowly. Finding a gathering on the other part of town Willie gives a recap of events what happened out there with Skully. They went out to collect a Shometsu rifle that Fee-Bee recalled one of the Astral soldiers dropped yesterday. They managed to find it but were attacked by the cyberjunkies. Fee-Bee took it to the Upper City, performed repairs on it and can even make ammunition that fits. Commending her work their talk gets interrupted by more GEB cubes moving by themselves. Among the gathering with Willie, Anna, Norbert and a pillbug, Stellar is convinced that the cubes are alive. Expressing worry and shouting one jumps around to the onlookers dodging. Clutching his crowbar Sten goes for the attack, squishing it with Willies using his saw and the pillbug joining in. 
Customers at the shop Reyna has the materials for a high revolver and places an order to have one made. Getting to work right away Sten gives her an estimate to have it done by tomorrow. As a sign of trust she even pays up front.
:+100,000 credits
====Another attack====
Over by the gate Torok is handing out blocks of wired C4 explosives, telling people to go out into the salt flats and bury them underground. Opening the gates the supporters run out to plant the trap. Torok looks terrible to put it frankly, with some dark corruption spreading across his face and chest. Asking him how he's doing, he tells that the runes that saved him before are now seemingly killing him. Offering to help if he can, Torok doesn't know how. Timely as ever shots start streaking towards the sky in the distance. The raiders are back. On the wall, Hadwyn is using a Shometsu rifle, and starts returning sniping shots. 
Unsure how to help with the enemy taking shots from far away and behind cover Sten takes up position on the gate near Bernard and sits down, drinking the remaining booze and too dizzy to do anything. Bernard asks for a rifle but Sten tells him that he already sold them all but haven't forgotten the order for a GU rifle he placed. He tells Gus and Ron about the cubes coming alive as well, but Fee-Bee doesn't buy it. Maya shows her bravery, chasing after them and sniping them with her rifle. It's for sure coming to use. On the radio it sounds like Maya got hit and Hadwyn picks up a brave chase, covering her. She comes sprinting back and collapses inside the gate. Sten and Shiloh picks her up and carries her to the hospital. Putting her down in a bed Sera is quick to treat her.
Returning to the gate, Herk reports that the attackers seem to have backed off for now and inside is Sheila riding her giant pet scorpion "Crabby". It's good to have him back. Any raider will think twice seeing such a giant beast. Cars return with Ty, Shura, Venna, Skully, Mercury, Peaches, Yuna and more. Crunch suddenly asks Sten how he's doing, startling him. Position on a viewpoint above he explains he lost some fingers in the fight and thought it looked cool with all the sinew visible. Supposedly his species can regenerate limbs. 
Ima shouts at Sten that first thing tomorrow morning, they're going up to Shometsu. Mercury interjects asking why, and Ima explains that he's going there inquiring for some parts and they asked for Sten to be accompanying him. It's about a certain mining facility and they told him that he should know the rest. Speaking to Ima in private, Sten tells him of the plans to raid the volcano facility. He seems to know more about it than he's telling Sten and mutters. 
Jeremy returns and thanks Sten for the armor, saying that it kept him safe.
The sandstorm starts to move in but another moving GEB cube appears. Sten starts trying to smash it with his crowbar but it keeps moving away. Eventually Crunch tires of the efforts, and much more agile picks it up and tosses it outside of the gate. Handing Sten a scrap shotgun he wonders if it can be modified to fit his large hand. 
:+1 Scrap Shotgun
Planning to overnight in the shop Fee-Bee rushes in and tells him not to be in the shop. She's going to work on a "bromine based firework" and tells him to evacuate. Complying he moves to his apartment to sleep. Trying to remember about Bromine, something in his head from reading about chemistry long ago tells him that is a very dangerous chemical. Is the shop going to be a complete mess tomorrow morning? Maybe that jumpsuit and gasmask will actually come in handy... if not under the best circumstances.
:Next Episode: S3E19: War - Season Finale!
==Inventory==
Sten personal inventory tracker after episode...
==Store inventory==
Store inventory tracker after episode... This is shared with employees, credits are stored in the smithing registry.
==Links==
*Twitch VOD: Neon Divide Season 3 Episode E18: Calm before the storm 
*YouTube VOD: Neon Divide S3 E18: Calm before the storm
===Twitch Clips===
*Inventory broom problems
*The GEB cubes are ALIVE?
==Gallery==
ND Crag S3E18 01 Pillbugs.png
ND Crag S3E18 02 Sten GEB cubes all over scrap town.png
ND Crag S3E18 03 Jyggal.png
ND Crag S3E18 04 Scrap town council meeting Sten Mercury Hadwyn Herk Maya.png
ND Crag S3E18 05 Scrap town council meeting Sten Mercury Hadwyn Herk Maya.png
ND Crag S3E18 06 Scrap town council meeting Mercury Hadwyn Herk.png
ND Crag S3E18 07 Sten Reeza Prowler SHeila Ty Bae Stellar Shiloh R0n Gus Jyggal Torok.png
ND Crag S3E18 08 Scrap town council meeting Sten R0n Torok Mercury Hadwyn Herk.png
ND Crag S3E18 12 Sten Mercury Hadwyn Herk Maya.png
ND Crag S3E18 13 Maya stolen chair.png
ND Crag S3E18 14 Maya stolen chair from Sten.png
ND Crag S3E18 15 Scrap town council meeting Sten Maxie Fee-Bee Ty Bae.png
ND Crag S3E18 16 Sten Anna.png
ND Crag S3E18 17 Sten Anna.png
ND Crag S3E18 18 Sten Anna.png
ND Crag S3E18 19 Ty.png
ND Crag S3E18 20 Ty snipe rifle.png
ND Crag S3E18 21 Sten Skully Fee-Bee.png
ND Crag S3E18 22 Sten Crunch Maya.png
ND Crag S3E18 23 Sten Willie.png
ND Crag S3E18 24 Sten Fee-Bee.png
ND Crag S3E18 25 Sten Crunch mask.png
ND Crag S3E18 26 Crunch Mask.png
ND Crag S3E18 27 Sten Crunch mask.png
ND Crag S3E18 28 Sten Crunch Fee-Bee Willie.png
ND Crag S3E18 29 Sten Reeza.png
ND Crag S3E18 30 Sten scrap town barricade.png
ND Crag S3E18 31 Sten scrap town barricade.png
ND Crag S3E18 32 Scrap town barricade.png
ND Crag S3E18 33 Skully.png
ND Crag S3E18 34 Sten Daitus.png
ND Crag S3E18 35 Daitus.png
ND Crag S3E18 36 Lenon.png
ND Crag S3E18 37 Sten Daitus Lenon.png
ND Crag S3E18 38 Sten Elpizo Feall and Miranna Skylark.png
ND Crag S3E18 39 Sten Elpizo Miranna.png
ND Crag S3E18 41 Sten Miranna.png
ND Crag S3E18 42 Sten GEB cube Miranna.png
ND Crag S3E18 43 Miranna cutting into GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 44 Sten Prowler.png
ND Crag S3E18 45 Sten Anna GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 46 Anna GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 47 Sten Norbert GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 48 Sten speaking to his drink.png
ND Crag S3E18 49 Anna riding GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 50 Sten Skully Prowler.png
ND Crag S3E18 51 Sten Skully Prowler.png
ND Crag S3E18 52 Sten Skully Norbert.png
ND Crag S3E18 53 Sten Norbert Prowler.png
ND Crag S3E18 54 Sten Skully Prowler.png
ND Crag S3E18 55 Sten Skully new chassis.png
ND Crag S3E18 56 Sten Prowler Skully new chassis.png
ND Crag S3E18 57 Sten Prowler Skully new chassis.png
ND Crag S3E18 58 Sten Prowler Skully new chassis.png
ND Crag S3E18 59 Bae.png
ND Crag S3E18 60 Bae.png
ND Crag S3E18 61 Sten GEB cube moving by itself.png
ND Crag S3E18 62 Sten GEB cube moving by itself.png
ND Crag S3E18 63 Sten Stellar Maxie.png
ND Crag S3E18 64 Sten Anna GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 65 Willie.png
ND Crag S3E18 66 Phineas poking Annas GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 67 Willie flamethrower on a GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 68 Sten hunting moving GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 69 Sten attacking moving GEB cube.png
ND Crag S3E18 70 Sten Fee-Bee Shometsu Rifle Willie.png
ND Crag S3E18 71 Sten Fee-Bee Willie.png
ND Crag S3E18 72 Sten Scrap town Barricades.png
ND Crag S3E18 73 Torok handing out explosives.png
ND Crag S3E18 74 Sten Torok cursed or corrupted.png
ND Crag S3E18 75 Torok cursed or corrupted.png
ND Crag S3E18 76 Sten Torok cursed or corrupted.png
ND Crag S3E18 77 Sten Torok cursed or corrupted.png
ND Crag S3E18 78 Miranna Hadwyn.png
ND Crag S3E18 79 Sten Hadwyn sniper.png
ND Crag S3E18 80 Sten gunshots from raiders.png
ND Crag S3E18 81 Maya Sera.png
ND Crag S3E18 82 Crabbie and Sheila.png
ND Crag S3E18 83 Scrap town vehicle Shura Ty.png
ND Crag S3E18 84 Sten Ima Hadwyn Prowler.png
ND Crag S3E18 85 Sten returning truck.png
ND Crag S3E18 86 Sten Crunch.png
ND Crag S3E18 87 Sten Ima.png
ND Crag S3E18 88 Ima helmet.png
ND Crag S3E18 89 Sten Maxie lizard Jeremy.png
ND Crag S3E18 90 Jeremy armor.png
NeonDivideCreditsInfographicThingy.png|Neon Divide RP approximate prices infographic (outdated)
Category:Neon Divide Cragsand Episodes