NationStates Jolt Archive

"Excellent," the cyborg replied. "If the brass gets a hold of that telemetry, they might establish a containment field. I've got schematics."

After getting through all the security checkpoints with his clearance cards the doctor proceeded to the Commander's quarters. The commander was taking a short snooze on his desk since this particular commission was tiring, there was a beep signifying that somebody was outside that wanted to speak with him. "Enter" he said. The door opened and the doctor entered.

Doctor: Sir, the metallic man from the WA says that he works Scientific Liason for the World Assembly Special Protocol Services who is sent in for missions alot like this one. He is as qualified and the boys and I and I would like to request that he is granted access. He would be a valuable asset to the team sir.

Commander: WA eh? *drinks a glass with an anti-depressant tablet in it* Heh! Do you know what kind of government secrets we have under my protection?! Have you forgotten the alien technologies we have excavated from the depths?! Are you seriously requesting that the WA get involved in this, our nation is being threatened by hostiles from above, from below and from a few smegging miles away.

Doctor: Be that as it may I highly doubt it is in the nation's best interest that we alienate the WA, that may warrant some unwanted results seeing that they have hundreds of member nations.

Commander: Grrrrr....fine, but he is still denied access to certain key points of the complex, and if he causes ANY trouble whatsoever you can expect time in the brig, am I making myself perfectly clear doctor???

Doctor: Yes sir!

Commander: Now get on with your smegging research...I'm getting to old for this smeg!

The doctor left after saluting the commander to return to his lab where TMM was waiting. The lab was filled with toys the team made on their free time with the alien technology they acquired, it was also quite obvious that new weapons were made as well because of all these weird looking tanks rolling out of the base blasting zombies with plasma blasts became a common sight. Also some of the marines were now using lazer cannons instead of their standard issue gaus guns.

The dividers did what they could to screen out the rest of the research facility. The team, hastily assembled, faced the Metal Man, who stood between a makeshift podium and a white board. Ten not-so-fresh faces stared tiredly but seriously back at him as he looked out across the room.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let's get started. I know that you've been working hard of late, and that many of you are tired. I'm tired, too. I've been inside of those caves, and I can vouch for the fact that we're dealing with an extremely dangerous biohazard.

"But we are in a special place in history. Right now, we've been presented with what may be the key to preventing this outbreak from going worldwide. For that reason, I need you all to reach down into that special place inside of you and pull up that little bit of extra alertness, that little bit of extra effort, so that, together, we can all come to grips with this challenge that is facing us.

"You know that we've got a special patient in quarantine. The enhancements that I've made to your communications equipment have allowed me to give you telemetry showing the patient's pathology. Refer to page four in your dossiers--," folders came off of desks, pages wagged, "--and you will see the most striking feature about it: the gravitic anomaly at the center of the woman's womb.

"Clearly, this is trans-dimensional technology. Equally clearly, whoever put it there has no compunctions about setting it up right in the most intimate part of a woman's anatomy. It is this combination of raw power and lack of concern that leads me to believe that we're best off establishing the maximum containment that our technology allows.

"We're going to be adding two layers to the quarantine. First, a gause shield. This works similar to the bug zappers that some of you may use in your back yards. It's a simple series of conductive posts with a potential voltage between them. Anything that gets too close lowers the resistance between the poles and causes an electrical arc, hopefully neutralizing it in the process. Inside of this, we're going to establish a primitive force field. Using a variation on the plasma cannons that you now use in your tanks, we will set up sheets of polarized gasses at each entry and exit point of the quarantine zone. This will permit normal gas exchange, allowing normal breathing, but will instantly vaporize anything larger than the smallest of viruses that may attempt to infiltrate or exfiltrate the zone. We're also going to be installing a set of gravitic sensors that I've prefabricated in my ship. Your people will get to keep this when the mission ends, and I presume that you'll waste no time in reverse-engineering it.

"Page ten is where the basic designs begin. We'll break down into four teams: one to build the electric fence, one for the plasma fields, one for the sensors and one to monitor the patient. Doctor Gannon, whom I met this morning, has already volunteered to work with me on the sensor package, which will also double as a non-invasive bioscanner when it is complete. Do I have volunteers for the other jobs?"

Commander: *clears his throat which causes everyone to look back at him surprised since they didn't notice he was there the whole time* *ahem* To do that I'd have to expand the perimeter so no one sees the use of such technology, God knows what our enemies will do once they find out about our new nifty toys. We have more than enough builders and engineers on this base. I have three construction crews on standby, the engineers and officers assigned to them can direct and inspect their work. Also our SLSC SCVs and MPVs should speed up these jobs. But first I must get permission from my superiors to make sure this stays under wraps.

"Fine," countered the Metal Man. "While you're getting permission, I'd like to do as much fabrication work in this concealed facility as possible. Hopefully, when you're ready, we'll be able to go in and snap everything together like a bunch of lego blocks. Obviously, the more people work on this project, the faster it'll get done, but the greater the risk of espionage. That's why I opted for this small nucleus. The people in this room all have exceptional security records. While I wouldn't dream to tell you how to do your job, I recommend that no one else be allowed intimate access to the technology, again for obvious reasons."

Dastardly Stench;14369068']"Fine," countered the Metal Man. "While you're getting permission, I'd like to do as much fabrication work in this concealed facility as possible. Hopefully, when you're ready, we'll be able to go in and snap everything together like a bunch of lego blocks. Obviously, the more people work on this project, the faster it'll get done, but the greater the risk of espionage. That's why I opted for this small nucleus. The people in this room all have exceptional security records. While I wouldn't dream to tell you how to do your job, I recommend that no one else be allowed intimate access to the technology, again for obvious reasons."

Commander: Indeed...carry on. *leaves*

(half an hour later)

Commander: *activates visi-com and establishes a highly encrypted com-link* Sir I request permission to expand the perimeter and raise security.

???: Send over your progress report first.

Commander: Right here sir.

???:Excellent, these new technologies will serve South Lizasauria well. *link cut*

"Boss," Pete said over a secure comm line, "you do realize that, if that thing really is a transdim, and it decides that it doesn't want to stay were it is, these defenses of your will barely slow it down."

"Yes," the Metal Man sent, "but 'barely slowed down' is better than 'unimpeeded.' In the scenario that you mentioned, the sensors will hopefully give us an early warning, and the defenses might give us enough time to start implementing a counter-strategy. They Lizasaurians don't know this, but your Dimensional Transsubstantiation makes Brain Jar the only thing for miles around that that thing can't get through. You're the real defense strategy."

"Well, gee, thanks."

"I'm really hoping that it won't be necessary, though. I'm going to have to get next to the woman to set up the sensors. When that happens, I'm going to try to communicate with the transdim. If all goes well, we can come to an understanding. It seems to have some respect for individuals' rights. Perhaps conflict will not be necessary."

"Boss," Pete said over a secure comm line, "you do realize that, if that thing really is a transdim, and it decides that it doesn't want to stay were it is, these defenses of your will barely slow it down."

"Yes," the Metal Man sent, "but 'barely slowed down' is better than 'unimpeeded.' In the scenario that you mentioned, the sensors will hopefully give us an early warning, and the defenses might give us enough time to start implementing a counter-strategy. They Lizasaurians don't know this, but your Dimensional Transsubstantiation makes Brain Jar the only thing for miles around that that thing can't get through. You're the real defense strategy."

"Well, gee, thanks."

"I'm really hoping that it won't be necessary, though. I'm going to have to get next to the woman to set up the sensors. When that happens, I'm going to try to communicate with the transdim. If all goes well, we can come to an understanding. It seems to have some respect for individuals' rights. Perhaps conflict will not be necessary."

The woman lay on her side fatigued from fear, confusion, paranoia as the creature gave her the occasional kick. The creature anticipated TMM's peaceful visit.

OOC: It wants to make contact.

"See, Pete? They're every bit as concerned as we are."

"Good. Don't let 'em get lazy."

They army had wanted this to get done--and when the army wants something done, it gets done fast. It hadn't taken them quite a day to pull together all the exotic parts, including the container to keep prying eyes from the sensor package as it was moved from Brain Jar to the woman's room.

The Metal Man had no delusions--the same mechanism that Doc Gannon was drooling over (medical science was about to move ahead about twenty years in under a week, and Gannon was going to be a the one publishing the papers) would also be easily turned into devastating weapons targeting systems, surveillance devices that would make leave the Special Forces folks shaking their heads in wonder and cryptographic technology that would have made the Venicians who came up with the original spy cyphers proud. The Metal Man had seen something in South Lizasauria that he had liked, though. People were getting ahead on their own initiative. This was usually a very good sign. Thus, he was willing to go out on a limb for these people.

The plan was simple enough: bring in the device, send Gannon and the tech they provided back for the tools, and make contact. By now, the two men trusted the Metal Man enough to let him be alone in their place of work--and realized that, if he had wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn't be able to stop him anyway.

Fortunately, the girl was still awake when he got his moment.

"So," he asked, sliding the mechanism out of the drawer in the package, "what's your name?"

"Name?" the woman asked. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Don't you remember me?" the cyborg asked. "I'm the one who pulled you out of that field. They call me The Metal Man."

Her face lit up. "You!" she said. "My God! You've got to help me."

"That's what I'm here for," he replied. "So what's your name?"

"Oh," she said with a slight chuckle. "Straub. Catherine Straub. What is this thing inside of me? What is it doing?"

"Well, as best we can tell, it's a trans-dimensional being, and it's generated a miniature ecosystem within your body--don't be scared. It's been quite kind for a stow-away. It even repaired the hysterectomy that you had a few years back. If we can get it to let you go, you'll be able to have children again."

"What? You're kidding. They told me I'd never--oh my God."

"Now, from what I've seen, you're a very brave woman, Catherine. Do you think you could be brave just a little bit longer and let me try to talk with whatever is inside of you?"

"OK. I'll try. But the doctors have already tried it and nothing happened."

"Well, they didn't have this," the Metal Man said, pulling a wafer-thin device from his sleeve. For all intents and purposes, it could have been a pocket flashlight.

"What is that?"

"A graviton micropulser," the Metal Man replied. "Think of it as a beacon that can flash across the door inside of your body. It should get our friend's attention without causing any harm."

"Oh."

"So, when you're ready, just let me know and I'll press the button and we can see what happens."

"Ok. Go ahead."

The cyborg pressed the button.

"See, Pete? They're every bit as concerned as we are."

"Good. Don't let 'em get lazy."

They army had wanted this to get done--and when the army wants something done, it gets done fast. It hadn't taken them quite a day to pull together all the exotic parts, including the container to keep prying eyes from the sensor package as it was moved from Brain Jar to the woman's room.

The Metal Man had no delusions--the same mechanism that Doc Gannon was drooling over (medical science was about to move ahead about twenty years in under a week, and Gannon was going to be a the one publishing the papers) would also be easily turned into devastating weapons targeting systems, surveillance devices that would make leave the Special Forces folks shaking their heads in wonder and cryptographic technology that would have made the Venicians who came up with the original spy cyphers proud. The Metal Man had seen something in South Lizasauria that he had liked, though. People were getting ahead on their own initiative. This was usually a very good sign. Thus, he was willing to go out on a limb for these people.

The plan was simple enough: bring in the device, send Gannon and the tech they provided back for the tools, and make contact. By now, the two men trusted the Metal Man enough to let him be alone in their place of work--and realized that, if he had wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn't be able to stop him anyway.

Fortunately, the girl was still awake when he got his moment.

"So," he asked, sliding the mechanism out of the drawer in the package, "what's your name?"

"Name?" the woman asked. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Don't you remember me?" the cyborg asked. "I'm the one who pulled you out of that field. They call me The Metal Man."

Her face lit up. "You!" she said. "My God! You've got to help me."

"That's what I'm here for," he replied. "So what's your name?"

"Oh," she said with a slight chuckle. "Straub. Catherine Straub. What is this thing inside of me? What is it doing?"

"Well, as best we can tell, it's a trans-dimensional being, and it's generated a miniature ecosystem within your body--don't be scared. It's been quite kind for a stow-away. It even repaired the hysterectomy that you had a few years back. If we can get it to let you go, you'll be able to have children again."

"What? You're kidding. They told me I'd never--oh my God."

"Now, from what I've seen, you're a very brave woman, Catherine. Do you think you could be brave just a little bit longer and let me try to talk with whatever is inside of you?"

"OK. I'll try. But the doctors have already tried it and nothing happened."

"Well, they didn't have this," the Metal Man said, pulling a wafer-thin device from his sleeve. For all intents and purposes, it could have been a pocket flashlight.

"What is that?"

"A graviton micropulser," the Metal Man replied. "Think of it as a beacon that can flash across the door inside of your body. It should get our friend's attention without causing any harm."

"Oh."

"So, when you're ready, just let me know and I'll press the button and we can see what happens."

"Ok. Go ahead."

The cyborg pressed the button.

A blue flash emanated from the woman's taught oversized belly. TMM then saw hmself in a strange dimension, everything seemed white blueish tint to everything. An eagle flew to the ground, became a scorpion, scuttled to TMM who then noticed he was in his original human form he looked back to see the scorpion become a man.

Man: Welcome *extends arms sagely* I've been expecting you.

Pierre smiled, his brown eyes gleaming in the effervescent glow. "I'm sorry if I kept you waiting," he said, "but I had no idea that--this," he indicated himself, "was possible. My genetic code was so badly scrambled that it was beyond my science to restore myself. Mon ami, I salute you."

He took the man's hand and embraced it warmly.

Dastardly Stench;14391509']Pierre smiled, his brown eyes gleaming in the effervescent glow. "I'm sorry if I kept you waiting," he said, "but I had no idea that--this," he indicated himself, "was possible. My genetic code was so badly scrambled that it was beyond my science to restore myself. Mon ami, I salute you."

He took the man's hand and embraced it warmly.

Man/creature:The woman that houses me and this world whom you may refer to as my mother is very blessed. If is now up to her to halt death as it marches on your world. However it cannot done from just this place alone, she must guide pieces of this world to yours so that the energies here may rejuvinate it *grip becomes strongly firm* I'll show you.

TMM experienced another flash, he opened his eyes and it was as though he was a jet test pilot, he moved swiftly at supersonic speeds, he saw the quarantined city he then passed over the caves and mountains, over forests, over the metropolis South Lizasauria city then to a pmeadow where they slowed down and landed. The creature's eagle like wings were sucked \ into his body by will. "Do you see it?" asked the creature.

"I see a place where life has arisen from death," Pierre said. "I know this place. Once, it was part of a forest, then, it was logged and finally poisoned by the refuse of a war machine. Then, other forces began their work. It was at this point that students of mine became involved, and at this point that, through them, I learned of all that had happened. Though I did not touch this place directly, the grace of those who did has destroyed the poison and healed the land. That is what I see.

"What is it that you want me to see?"

Below,
Untold
Minions
Palpitate.

Dastardly Stench;14396370']"I see a place where life has arisen from death," Pierre said. "I know this place. Once, it was part of a forest, then, it was logged and finally poisoned by the refuse of a war machine. Then, other forces began their work. It was at this point that students of mine became involved, and at this point that, through them, I learned of all that had happened. Though I did not touch this place directly, the grace of those who did has destroyed the poison and healed the land. That is what I see.

"What is it that you want me to see?"

OOC: Sorry 'bout the delay, RL is a rabid be#$% right now.

OOC2: Dang you guessed it, it defeats the point of having the creature show TMM all the horrors that occurred then. :p:(

IC:

Creature: I must be brought here and to three other locations besides this one. It is time to return, I'm sorry. Then at that point everything seemed to rewind until TMM saw another flash, he was back in the room with the woman, several medics were standing over him asking him if he was alright. He also noticed that he was back in his tin body, the whole thing seemed like a hallucination rather than a trans dimensional spiritual journey.

OOC: Tin? That body is more like a Terminator than the Tin Woodman! It's an organic skin over a composite chassis, with hydraulics and electronics thrown in for good measure.

IC:

"I believe that our guest has contacted us," he said, "and it has plans."

Dastardly Stench;14417992']OOC: Tin? That body is more like a Terminator than the Tin Woodman! It's an organic skin over a composite chassis, with hydraulics and electronics thrown in for good measure.

IC:

"I believe that our guest has contacted us," he said, "and it has plans."

OOC: I thought TMM was alot like a sentient combat suit when it came to appearances. :confused:

IC:

Ganon: What sort of plans? *holds out hand so that he could help TMM up*

"If we can trust it, it wants to stop the zombies. That's what it told me. It wants us to move it...to a specific location. When we arrive, it will transfer what it referred to as 'pieces of its world' to us. Besides an intimate view of that location, it gave me no other details. It's very used to getting its way.

"It has high praise for our patient, though. I don't think Ms. Straub was picked at random."

Dastardly Stench;14422561']"If we can trust it, it wants to stop the zombies. That's what it told me. It wants us to move it...to a specific location. When we arrive, it will transfer what it referred to as 'pieces of its world' to us. Besides an intimate view of that location, it gave me no other details. It's very used to getting its way.

"It has high praise for our patient, though. I don't think Ms. Straub was picked at random."

Straub looked down at her taut belly and rubbed it tenderly. She didn't know what to think.

OOC: Sorry for my lateness and short posts, I've been busy lately, I'll be able to post good ones on weekends though. :)

As the Metal Man looked at the woman, a deep compassion spread across his features. "Don't be afraid, Catherine. The being inside of you said that you were blessed, and that you would be able to guide his healing touch to the places where it had to go."

As he looked away from Catherine and toward Dr. Gannon, his expression changed to something more tense. "We're going to have to trust it for now. There's a meadow about five or ten miles due south of South Lizasauria City. It was in the news a few years ago when a group of environmental activists forced a government clean-up of there. You should know the place. It's our first destination.

"Fastest way to get there is my ship, but I'll let you people decide how you're going to deal with this situation. I will comply with your government's wishes--though I trust they won't try this thing's patience too much. It's even more powerful than I thought it was."

Dastardly Stench;14428892']As the Metal Man looked at the woman, a deep compassion spread across his features. "Don't be afraid, Catherine. The being inside of you said that you were blessed, and that you would be able to guide his healing touch to the places where it had to go."

As he looked away from Catherine and toward Dr. Gannon, his expression changed to something more tense. "We're going to have to trust it for now. There's a meadow about five or ten miles due south of South Lizasauria City. It was in the news a few years ago when a group of environmental activists forced a government clean-up of there. You should know the place. It's our first destination.

"Fastest way to get there is my ship, but I'll let you people decide how you're going to deal with this situation. I will comply with your government's wishes--though I trust they won't try this thing's patience too much. It's even more powerful than I thought it was."

Ganon: The only thing due south five to ten miles from here is a desolate wasteland, intelligence confirms a light infestation from the more malevolent creatures of the cave.

OOC: OK. YOU tell me where the $@*# thing is, then! :p :) :p

"Not south of here, doctor Gannon," the Metal Man said, "south of South Lizasauria City--past the mountain range and the forest beyond."

Dastardly Stench;14453258']"Not south of here, doctor Gannon," the Metal Man said, "south of South Lizasauria City--past the mountain range and the forest beyond."

Gannon: That too is nothing more than desolate wastelands. Only the ruins of abandoned industry and former safe houses.

OOC: OK. YOU tell me where the $@*# thing is, then! :p :) :p

OOC: It was where Gannon said originally. Due south there's a mountain range and then the desolate wasteland which was spreading at a steady rate before the government containment squads contained it.

"Well...that's where we need to go," the Metal Man said.

Dastardly Stench;14462043']"Well...that's where we need to go," the Metal Man said.

Commander: Is that so???

Gannon: *jumps in surprise since he didn't know the commander was behind him* good afternoon sir.

Commander: *looks at Gannon for a few seconds then grunts and faces TMM* It won't be easy, intelligence reports that the specified location is swarming with creatures. It'll take a couple armored battalions and many SLSC marine regiments.

"Not if we use Brain Jar," the Metal Man replied. "From the enemy's point of view, the ship is a tiny air superiority factory. With three attack helicopters as an escort, we should be able to establish a perimeter and set up shop in under an hour. I don't think it's going to take long for this thing to do what it's going to do. Look at how fast it regenerated the town."

Commander: regardless I am still assigning units to quarantining the area. There must always be a back-up plan, especially since the world is at stake here. Should the infection spread-

"Agreed," the cyborg replied.

Commander: We begin at twenty hundred.

(hours later)

A zombie moaned and lurched toward an anonymous target when suddenly it's head burst. A dozen armored marines blasted through the horde.

Squad leader: Commander! We are in position.

A large SLSC support vessel landed then transformed into a hangar bay which housed transports and air support.

Brain Jar hovered overhead. So far, there had been no signs of any airborne resistance--and Pete was under instructions to keep it that way. Catherine and the Metal Man had traveled with the soldiers. They had thought it best that they not cross the threshold into the ship's dimension-altering insides again until this was over.

The next step was the most difficult: in a great leap of faith, they all had to let Catherine go by herself into the middle of the clearing. The Metal Man knew all too well what could happen if he was too close. He didn't understand the mechanism involved in his anti-esper-ness, but he knew that it would impede the progress of a being whom he trusted.

This was not to say that he had come unprepared. No longer an old man, he had changed suits back to his levitating weapons platform. Fortunately, Catherine had quickly grown used to a two-meter double cone with four arms chock full of weapons that floated a few feet off the ground. It hadn't been so easy with the soldiers. He had needed to give them an abort code to disable the weapons systems. Fortunately, they had treated him with the same trust that he had shown them.

Thus it was that a small escort of Special Forces troops set off, keeping Catherine close, for the center of the darkened field.

Dastardly Stench;14496173']Brain Jar hovered overhead. So far, there had been no signs of any airborne resistance--and Pete was under instructions to keep it that way. Catherine and the Metal Man had traveled with the soldiers. They had thought it best that they not cross the threshold into the ship's dimension-altering insides again until this was over.

The next step was the most difficult: in a great leap of faith, they all had to let Catherine go by herself into the middle of the clearing. The Metal Man knew all too well what could happen if he was too close. He didn't understand the mechanism involved in his anti-esper-ness, but he knew that it would impede the progress of a being whom he trusted.

This was not to say that he had come unprepared. No longer an old man, he had changed suits back to his levitating weapons platform. Fortunately, Catherine had quickly grown used to a two-meter double cone with four arms chock full of weapons that floated a few feet off the ground. It hadn't been so easy with the soldiers. He had needed to give them an abort code to disable the weapons systems. Fortunately, they had treated him with the same trust that he had shown them.

Thus it was that Doctor Gannon and a small escort of Special Forces troops set off, keeping Catherine close, for the center of the darkened field.

Gunshots were fired as several zombies moved in. Luckily every time they got too close Catherine's swollen belly would emanate bluish lightning that would revive the undead and partially revitalize the local area. Catherine clutched her belly, the time would be soon, the creature squirmed and moved for minutes on end. Catherine had to rest for a few minutes before the armored infantry could continue.

"This may sound crazy," the Metal Man said from his observer post, "but it might just be the best thing for your men to back off the perimeter and hold their fire. Look at what happens to anything that gets too close to our courier. Are we just putting good men at risk by having them defend her?"

Dastardly Stench;14501879']"This may sound crazy," the Metal Man said from his observer post, "but it might just be the best thing for your men to back off the perimeter and hold their fire. Look at what happens to anything that gets too close to our courier. Are we just putting good men at risk by having them defend her?"

Field Commander: *via com* How so Metallic one? Have we not confirmed that that THING in her can only bring forth life?

Gannon: *via com* Negative, that creature holds power over both life and death.

Field Commander:*via com* Why the smeg am I the last to learn of these things?

Gannon:*via com* Don't kill yourself it was classified mate.

OOC:

Gannon is back at HQ observing the operation via satellite, the field commander is in a headquarters located near the mobile hangar.

"It was just an observation, sir," the Metal Man said. "In fact, now that I think of it, we may be better off with the defensive perimeter anyway.

"The ONE thing that could go horribly wrong with this mission right now would be for us to run into a Lesbanian patrol. If we do, we're going to need all the firepower that we can muster just to keep them from starting another war--if it's possible to prevent it."

Dastardly Stench;14509235']"It was just an observation, sir," the Metal Man said. "In fact, now that I think of it, we may be better off with the defensive perimeter anyway.

"The ONE thing that could go horribly wrong with this mission right now would be for us to run into a Lesbanian patrol. If we do, we're going to need all the firepower that we can muster just to keep them from starting another war--if it's possible to prevent it."

Commander: War is inevitable, when it does start I hope we slaughter as many of those puffed up sons of bitches as possible.

(SLBC)

After recent confrontations between the Reconnaissance Islands navy and the Lesbanians, South Lizasaurian officials warned that should Lesbania attack they will declare war.

In other Godhavic news rumors have it that there have bee multiple skirmishes between various black ops and special forces divisions of South Lizasauria's finest and the notorious and evil Lesbanians in the mountains over some magical cave. Meritocratic officials affirm that this is all a bunch of superstitious nonsense and that the South Lizasaurian armed forces take absolutely no interest in ancient caves.



(field)

Catherine: Ugh *takes breath* It's calmed down now...let's go...

The armored soldiers and Catherine were on the move once more.

"You're not getting me, sir," the cyborg said. "If that war starts now, our friend could lose interest in helping us. If that happens, you, me AND Lesbania are going to have a common enemy to fight, and we'll be doing it without our strongest potential ally. You really think those zombies care what country you're from?

"It's not that I begrudge you your conflict. You have obviously worked very hard for a number of years to get to this point, sir. I just don't want to jeopardize our current campaign in order to rush into a future one."

Dastardly Stench;14522927']"You're not getting me, sir," the cyborg said. "If that war starts now, our friend could lose interest in helping us. If that happens, you, me AND Lesbania are going to have a common enemy to fight, and we'll be doing it without our strongest potential ally. You really think those zombies care what country you're from?

"It's not that I begrudge you your conflict. You have obviously worked very hard for a number of years to get to this point, sir. I just don't want to jeopardize our current campaign in order to rush into a future one."

Commander: I'd rather be bludgeoned to death by a clown armed with a rather large cactus that side with those Lesbanian scum! I thank God that we will never ever have to place our trust in them, they are led by a cult dictatorship headed by a queen with more phychological disorders than all the loonies in South Lizasauria and Lesbania combined. Besides, this task force is more than capable of containing this threat.

Private: How exactly would war with those Lesbanian wolf-shaggers cause junior here *points at Catherine's swollen womb* to turn on us?

Catherine glared at him while rubbing her belly tenderly.

"I never said you'd have to join forces, commander," the Metal Man replied. "I merely pointed out that it would be a war with three distinct sides. And I don't think that junior, as you call him, would turn on us directly but he would probably stop helping. How much longer before you're in position, anyway?"

Dastardly Stench;14529823']"I never said you'd have to join forces, commander," the Metal Man replied. "I merely pointed out that it would be a war with three distinct sides. And I don't think that junior, as you call him, would turn on us directly but he would probably stop helping. How much longer before you're in position, anyway?"

Catherine: We're close, very close...I-I can feel it, it's as though he's guiding me...

"Good. Let me know when you're ready."

Something in the not-too-far back of the Metal Man's mind was telling him that this was too easy. He decided to bring his main generators all online and warm up his maglevs just in case.

Catherine: This way....

*a revived man screams in the distance as the undead return him to his undead state*

Marine: Yo sergeant! we're not going to continue leaving those poor bastards lying around are we?!

Sergeant: Shut the fuck up private!!! We have a job to do!!



(quarantine outpost #74)

There has been minimal activity for days, two terran South Lizasaurians played a game of cards on an empty crate of army supplies. A lizasaur and two human soldiers were assigned to guarding supplies, they rested on the crates. A human soldier on a lookout post was falling asleep but stayed awake through force of will, he saw a dot in the distance moving around.

Private: Hey sarge! Yo sarge! Sergeant!

Sergeant: You will tell me immediately why you called my from my desk private or I will shove my shiny boots so far up your ass that you and my boots will become "sole" mates! Clear?!

Private: Sir, there's someone out in the distance, they look injured.

Lizasaur (corporal): *sniffs the air* Damn, you humans are disgusting.

Human guard #1: what the hell are you wheezing about?...sir...

Lizasaur: Admit it you committed the act of "ripping it"

Human: It's "ripping one" actually and the one who smelt it dealt it.

Little did they know that the smell came from the large army of undead headed their way.

Gaurdpost private: Sir, are you sure you don't want to come up.

Sareg: dammit private I can see pretty well from here! *holds up binoculars for a few seconds when suddenly a zombie jumps up at him and pulls him over the barricade*

By then everyone was on full alert. The zombies came in legions taking out the barricade, the detachment assigned to the outpost fought hard but they were hopelessly outnumbered. Within minutes the facility was compromised, marine after marine fell and got decapitated by the ravenous undead horde. With the entire detachment now infected and the outpost comprimised the undead were free to march into the nearest nation to Godhaven hence spreading the infection.

mood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oidOcomT4Ow&feature=related)

Many caves were connected to the key cave, many of the cave mouths were in nations unaware of the danger. Though South Lizasauria's elite military forces kept the infection contained on their end the other nations were unaware of the threat so thus they didn't prepare for it. Zombies and creatures manage to escape through other mouths with minimal or no resistance.

The infection managed to get out into the world...


OOC: This could spice things up, also this could also account for all the zombie outbreaks occurring simultaneously on NS earth.

"Boss?"

"Yes, Pete."

"You're not going to like this..."

"Not going to like what?"

"I've got incoming communique from WASPS HQ."

"Losing containment, aren't we?"

"You have no idea. We've got red zones popping up all over the globe."

"Roger that. I'll make sure that this gets relayed to our commander. He can pop it up the line if need be."

He made sure.

Commander: Somebody is going to tell me what the hell just happened...STAT!!!!

Lieutenant: Sir, it seems that one of our outposts was overrun, it was as though some force from below directed them to attack that point, how would a mindless zombie know right?

commander: Are you saying this is our fault???

Lieutenant: Negative sir, even if all points were held the infection would have spread via the other cave exits.

(ground)

Catherine: *finds a large stump and sits back on it* Alright you guys go do your thing alright.

Marine: Are you sure you wouldn't wa-

Catherine: A little privacy please....

Gannon: My assistants and I are the only ones who know the most about this thing in the vicinity, it would be foolhardy to refuse our assistance.

Catherine: I'm not doing this around them *points at the marines* A little privacy please. *grabs belly* Ugh!

Gannon: They're a bunch of horny brummy trigger happy smegpots that can't wait to see my-

Marine: Hey we risked our lives for you- you fucking bi-

Gannon: Go form a perimeter and make sure nothing comes through! alright!?

Catherine: *grabs her belly as water streams down from between her legs* Aaaaaahhhh......*grabs Gannon's hand*

"Anybody mind if I go airborne and reinforce the perimeter?" the Metal Man asked.

Dastardly Stench;14579458']"Anybody mind if I go airborne and reinforce the perimeter?" the Metal Man asked.

Sergeant: We can use some air cover in this shit-hole!!! Sir?

Gannon: Yes, I believe air support would be much appreciated.

Catherine: AHHhhh! *some water sprays out*

Soldier #1: Oh fuck I gotta take a piss so bad oh God oh God...

Soldier #2: Will you shut the fuck up and do your damn business already? Je-SUS! The fuckin' tree's gonna--.

Zombie #1: Mmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

Soldier #2: Oh SHIT! You asshole! You let 'em get behind us!

Zombie #2: Mmmm...::gagh!! Ack!!!::

Zombie #1: ::choke choke!!::

Metal Man (hovering by): As you were, gentlemen.

Soldier #2: Hey, Metals! You wanna get this asshole a new pair of pants while you're at it?

Metal Man: You're welcome.

OOC: ROFL

IC:

A small horde of zombies come in from all sides. Meanwhile at the stump Catherine screamed here way through a contraction.

Things were starting to heat up, the Metal Man noted. It was a crying shame that the armed forces had to engage these creatures, considering that a few feet in the direction they were all going in anyway was something that could cure every last one of them. It was a testimony to the limits of the cyborg's intellect that, with all the science available to him, the best that he could do by himself was to destroy people who would be perfectly good if only he could mend the parts of them that were broken. This failure was entirely his.

Thus it was a grim little war machine that moved over the thickets, rooting out the enemy where he was hardest to find and raining death upon those unlucky enough to be there. These troops were well trained--he had every confidence that, with his air support, they would have no trouble holding the line--and he was like the granddaddy of all attack helicopters. Swift. Silent. Surgical. But it tore a little chunk out of his heart every time he loosed a plasma blast on a poor, unsuspecting zombie.

And it tore him up to hear Catherine scream. And it made him wonder.

Normally, a human gives birth about once every other year. Much more than that taxes the body beyond its limits. If Catherine was going to have to go through this process several times over the next few days, what were her chances for survival? Did that thing inside of her have any inkling of what it was putting her through? And, most importantly, what would happen to her in the event that this was all successful?

A strange liquid splashed out from between Catherine's legs, is it hit the ground the ground became fertile and grass and small plants sprung up. Gannon was startled when he heard the wildlife from the other world making a ruckus. Various animal noises emanated from Catherine's womb. To Gannon's amazement her belly grew to enormous size, a bear slipped out from between her legs, along with a deer, and other woodland wildlife. Then there was a familiar blinding flash as an energy emission regenerated the area and revived all zombies. Catherine's belly resumed it's original size before the labor began, she had no wounds. The desolate wasteland was once again a natural paradise.

OOC: Sorry for my lateness, the last two weeks were extremely busy for me. I know that usually the event that just transpired would usually kill a woman but one must keep in mind that the creature has given her some elasticity and regenerative powers.

"Seargent, we have incoming!"

"I see them, Sanders. Hold fire until they're close enough to--."

This is the Metal Man. All soldiers stand down. Every zombie within three clicks has been revived. Hell, it even brought back the ones we gunned down earlier. They're noncoms now! Repeat, THEY ARE HUMAN. DO NOT FIRE ON THEM!

"Sarge, I think we don't have a problem any more."

"Speak for yourself, Sanders. Who's going to feed and clothe these civilians? And who's to stop them from being turned again? And why are we taking orders from that @$##@$ cyborg, anyway?"

"Because he's right, Sarge. Look!"

"Wha--what am I doing here? What happened?"

"Alright. Round 'em up and take 'em in for observation."

It didn't take long for the real chain of command to catch on to the situation. By the time the Metal Man got back to the makeshift headquarters, they weren't even swearing at him. He got a few deadpan looks, but nothing more.

And that left debriefing Catherine and Gannon. Somehow, the Metal Man managed to talk his way into it--combat suit and all. Fortunately, the two newest members of his circle of acquaintances had begun to take in stride the way that his appearance could change.

The Metal Man didn't know what to expect. The way their erstwhile ally had been, he felt that there would be another set of coordinates coming--but he didn't know whether they would just appear or whether whatever it is would draw the cyborg back into its dimension. Still, the talk was lively.

"...a BEAR! And God knows why it hasn't attacked anybody, but it was minding its own business."

"I've been a doctor for decades, and I've never seen anything like this. Not even a stretch mark! In fact, the scars from a hernia operation she had as a child have disappeared. It's miraculous."

"What do you think, Catherine," the Metal Man said, moving his huge, metal hand over hers.

"I think I've gotta finish this," she said, wrapping her hand around one of the fingers. "But I'm not afraid any more. I think I can finish this."

OOC: I apologies for my lateness. I have been really busy lately. However to make it up to you I'm going to make my next post great. ;)

(hours later)

The revived were rounded up and forced onto armored trucks which would report to the quarantine zone at base. They would then be screened, tested and held at the base until further notice.

Catherine walked out of the makeshift medical tent, her belly had grown a few more inches as the creature prepared her for the next revival however it was as tired as she was so growth would be slow until they both got rest.

The ground shook as trees rapidly matured in the distance where the team previously was. The feeling of death, hopelessness and dystopia that haunted the region were lifted and replaced by one of new hope, second chances and life. The South Lizasaurians looked at their revived land and thought "never again shall we allow our lands to fall into such a pitiful state, never again shall we plunder our land and deplete it's natural resources".

Catherine rubbed her belly gently.

(base, physics lab, the observation room)

Officer: Here is the data professor.

Commander: Is this going to work??? *stares coldly at the professor*

Professor: Of course, I've done all the calculation. Shall we begin?

Commander: Proceed....


Robotic arms with strange pointed tips aimed at holes within what looked like a large engine, yellow beams of energy blasted out of the arms into the engine, the engine powered up making a humming noise which grew louder until it sounded like a small jet engine, several components lit up making the engine look like one that was decorated by futuristic Christmas lights.

Scientist: Sir, the engine has taken in the plasma fuel from the robotic feeders, the energy output is ten times the amount of the intake.

Commander: And that is what exactly?

Professor: Compared to current technologies this is five hundred times more efficient. What once took dozens of portable generators may now only take three. Also with a greater power output our vehicles and facilities will have more power. And the data you sent our superiors has enabled us *walks over to a cabinet to pull out some top secret folders then walks back to hand them to the commander* to utilize new weaponry which are far more effective but require large amounts of energy. Also we have plants to built this...

OOC2: The designs are for a hover supertank with a vast array of plasma weaponry, special armor, amazing speed, firepower and defensive capabilities.

(hours later)

The revived were rounded up and forced onto armored trucks which would report to the quarantine zone at base. They would then be screened, tested and held at the base until further notice.

Catherine walked out of the makeshift medical tent, her belly had grown a few more inches as the creature prepared her for the next revival however it was as tired as she was so growth would be slow until they both got rest.

The ground shook as trees rapidly matured in the distance where the team previously was. The feeling of death, hopelessness and dystopia that haunted the region were lifted and replaced by one of new hope, second chances and life. The South Lizasaurians looked at their revived land and thought "never again shall we allow our lands to fall into such a pitiful state, never again shall we plunder our land and deplete it's natural resources".

Catherine rubbed her belly gently.

(base, physics lab, the observation room)

Officer: Here is the data professor.

Commander: Is this going to work??? *stares coldly at the professor*

Professor: Of course, I've done all the calculation. Shall we begin?

Commander: Proceed....


Robotic arms with strange pointed tips aimed at holes within what looked like a large engine, yellow beams of energy blasted out of the arms into the engine, the engine powered up making a humming noise which grew louder until it sounded like a small jet engine, several components lit up making the engine look like one that was decorated by futuristic Christmas lights.

Scientist: Sir, the engine has taken in the plasma fuel from the robotic feeders, the energy output is ten times the amount of the intake.

Commander: And that is what exactly?

Professor: Compared to current technologies this is five hundred times more efficient. What once took dozens of portable generators may now only take three. Also with a greater power output our vehicles and facilities will have more power. And the data you sent our superiors has enabled us *walks over to a cabinet to pull out some top secret folders then walks back to hand them to the commander* to utilize new weaponry which are far more effective but require large amounts of energy. Also we have plants to built this...

(hours later)

The commander entered his quarters, the robotic female voice of the installation's AI came on.

Voice: commander, a man from section 17 wishes to speak with you...

Commander: On screen

Dark governmenty figure: Greetings commander, when can we expect your next report, we are looking forward to it with great anticipation...

Commander: *folds hands* shortly....

figure: excellent, with the new data your boys down there have provided soon we'll possess the technological edge required to annihilate Lesbania and our other enemies. War is hell...that said we can't wait until we raise hell on them as they have to us. We trust that you won't let us down.

Commander: Of course not, you know want you and your little...group... to succeed.

Figure: Excellent, you are a true patriot, our plans will ensure a brighter, better future for South Lizasauria, even if it is at the cost of some foreigners.

OOC2: The designs are for a hover supertank with a vast array of plasma weaponry, special armor, amazing speed, firepower and defensive capabilities.
The transmission was on a highly secure channel or else they would have chose other means in which to communicate.

In the form of a man once again, the Metal Man sat at a videophone. On the monitor, Catherine smiled tiredly. Behind her, Doctor Gannon paced like a worried father. Farther back still, the sensor array that they had originally tried to use hummed, a dark, warm sound. It was working--and Lizasaurian computers were getting data by the terabyte.

"Things seem to be in hand," he said. "It may be for the best if I take my leave now."

"But...things have only just started," Catherine protested.

"No, they've started to turn for the better," the Metal Man replied. "Unless there's something dangerous here, I'll be needed elsewhere--and I've still got a Lesbanian soldier to repatriate. Unless something drastic happens, I think it's best that I not linger. I can only interfere with our friend."

----------------------

OOC: HINT.

BTW, you've got a slight double-up there on that last post... :) :) :)