Otagia
07-03-2006, 01:02
The scout craft soared through the blackness of space, blinking in and out of the Mobius Continuum as it went on its merry way, taking preliminary readings of hundreds, if not thousands, of planets. The computer did its work within seconds of dooring into the system, allowing the crew to relax and play cards in the mess hall.
"Five card draw, no wilds. Starting ante of ten creds."
Dealing the cards, Captain Simmons looked at his hand, and smiled to himself. Three major arcana were staring back at him, the Tower, the Star and the World. Throwing the minors to the table face down, he pulled two more, and could barely contain his grin: The Sun and the Moon. A Solar System on his first hand.
"Well, want to sweeten the pot a bit? Say, another fifteen creds?"
"You need a new poker face, Alex. The whole eager beaver thing ain't a very good bluff. I match you, and raise another ten."
"I'm fine with that. The rest of you in?"
The rest of the crew nodded, just interested in seeing where this was going.
"Well, Alex, sorry to disappoint, but you might as well fold. Four aces, king high."
"Damn, that is a good hand. I'd just give it to you now, but I might as well put down my cards first, ne?"
Laying his cards face down on the table, he began to sweep in his winnings amid the cursing of his crew. From the corner of his eye he noticed the resident Necroscope standing in the stairwell, watching in amusement.
"Hey, Archer, shouldn't you be, you know, teleporting us around the universe? Or is it that you want in on the game?"
"I would, if I didn't have a decided advantage, Mr. Simmons. You have no idea how many people from the Great Majority are following you. Seems you're rather entertaining."
"I try my best. So, what's up? I assume you're out of your sepulcher for a reason?"
The necroscope set a datapad down on the table, and pressed a few holobuttons. The 3d display sprung to life, showing the world they were currently surveying.
"Looks pretty normal to me, Archer. Doesn't look inhabited, no lights or anything. Why we stopped?"
"Because it was inhabited, and isn't anymore. Here, let me zoom in. You see the city now? It's completely abandoned. No movement, none at all."
"So a race had a mass extinction. Probably stemmed from that four thousand story arcology in the center. Biolabs, overcrowded conditions, they would be ripe for a plague."
"That's part of it. While I'm reading no life signs, every system in that giant building is completely active. I'm thinking it's running either on ZPMs or geothermal power. Think it's worth checking out?"
"Draco, you've piqued my interest. Count me in. Oh, and call QUETZAL, will you, I want them to know what we found. Maybe send some Marines in case we need back-up."
"Will do, Cap."
Turning, the Necroscope jogged back up to his sepulcher to dial up QUETZAL. Simmons turned back to the table, the excitement causing his grin to nearly split his face in half.
"So gents, where were we? Ah yes, I was about to collect my winnings..."
"Five card draw, no wilds. Starting ante of ten creds."
Dealing the cards, Captain Simmons looked at his hand, and smiled to himself. Three major arcana were staring back at him, the Tower, the Star and the World. Throwing the minors to the table face down, he pulled two more, and could barely contain his grin: The Sun and the Moon. A Solar System on his first hand.
"Well, want to sweeten the pot a bit? Say, another fifteen creds?"
"You need a new poker face, Alex. The whole eager beaver thing ain't a very good bluff. I match you, and raise another ten."
"I'm fine with that. The rest of you in?"
The rest of the crew nodded, just interested in seeing where this was going.
"Well, Alex, sorry to disappoint, but you might as well fold. Four aces, king high."
"Damn, that is a good hand. I'd just give it to you now, but I might as well put down my cards first, ne?"
Laying his cards face down on the table, he began to sweep in his winnings amid the cursing of his crew. From the corner of his eye he noticed the resident Necroscope standing in the stairwell, watching in amusement.
"Hey, Archer, shouldn't you be, you know, teleporting us around the universe? Or is it that you want in on the game?"
"I would, if I didn't have a decided advantage, Mr. Simmons. You have no idea how many people from the Great Majority are following you. Seems you're rather entertaining."
"I try my best. So, what's up? I assume you're out of your sepulcher for a reason?"
The necroscope set a datapad down on the table, and pressed a few holobuttons. The 3d display sprung to life, showing the world they were currently surveying.
"Looks pretty normal to me, Archer. Doesn't look inhabited, no lights or anything. Why we stopped?"
"Because it was inhabited, and isn't anymore. Here, let me zoom in. You see the city now? It's completely abandoned. No movement, none at all."
"So a race had a mass extinction. Probably stemmed from that four thousand story arcology in the center. Biolabs, overcrowded conditions, they would be ripe for a plague."
"That's part of it. While I'm reading no life signs, every system in that giant building is completely active. I'm thinking it's running either on ZPMs or geothermal power. Think it's worth checking out?"
"Draco, you've piqued my interest. Count me in. Oh, and call QUETZAL, will you, I want them to know what we found. Maybe send some Marines in case we need back-up."
"Will do, Cap."
Turning, the Necroscope jogged back up to his sepulcher to dial up QUETZAL. Simmons turned back to the table, the excitement causing his grin to nearly split his face in half.
"So gents, where were we? Ah yes, I was about to collect my winnings..."