NationStates Jolt Archive

S-14, Not Too Far from the Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, David
David left the wreck of the Horizon a second time, making sure to clear out any furries from the medical section, and sealing it as best he could. He'd never get out of this mess without help, so he jetted off towards the 'ground' to investigate the railcars. As before, he took along a laser rifle and knife, just in case.
There's a cloud up ahead, and closing fast... catching David quickly, he finds himself in...
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg11.jpg
SHRIMP-THINGS! These insects are approximately twelve to fifteen centimeters long, greenish brown in color, and semi-transparent. Watching their internal organs work as they swim by is vaguely fascinating. There are absolutely hundreds of them, and they don't see too well either, given how they ricochet off David by the score.

And for anyone who remembers their marine biology, wherever there's krill...

S-14, Red Hive, 1.3G section of S-14's habitat, Snel Party
The fuzz was retracted, and, as the larva began re-solidifying its exoskeleton and unrolling, it said "Very well", and then proceeded to walk through the door.
The larva is led through several tunnels hewn into the living rock (and yes, it is rock) illuminated by oddly phosphorescent spheres. They eventually come to a circular door, where the guards usher the larva in singly followed by a single Red. The door closes behind the two with a series of metal thuds that has a definite "locking mechanism" ring to it.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp2.jpg
The room follows the standard pattern of a hexagonal cell surrounded by a ring of more cells, although this room is made up of perimeter rock walls with metal internal walls seperating the cells. The central cell is closed on four sides, with the other two sides opening into a small area to the south with a series of plants and some sort of living area to the southeast. The doors to the southwest, northwest, north, and northeast are closed.

The Red guard immediately wanders down to the southeast cell and toys with the console on the right-hand side. Speakers throughout the room begin piping a series of rhythmic cacophonic noises with a wind-instrument background, and an EM field of some sort fills the room, keeping time with the music. Throwing herself down on one of the ellipsoid cusions in the southeast cell, the guard reclines rather comfortably and idly toys with its long cylindrical weapon in one hand. "Get comfortable, look around... long wait."

S-14, Cargo Helicopter, In the Air (and getting shot at), Ma-tek Party
If that thing throws me out the door, I'll kill it, she thinks, somewhat amusingly. Although not to her... And you don't cut off the arm that straps you into a protective harness.
The cargo door does fly open, but probably because it was shot off of its hinges by another fighter pass. The Red slams the two agents into harnesses and quickly gets them arranged before getting herself into crash webbing. There is a loud pop, then an intense jolt, similar to that of a parachute opening. Looking out a porthole near his head, Sefrin can see the rotor autogyrating away from the craft, and several balloots deploying from the sides of what remains of the helo.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a26.jpg
The hold filling with fire-suppression foam, alarms of every possible description going off, it's a long fall to the bottom.

Slamming into the dirt nose-first, the hull of the helo screams in agony as it bends in ways it was never intended to--the reinforced cargo bay distorts but remains relatively intact. One of the incapacitated guards, not being secured properly, promptly flies out of its harness and splatters itself against the far wall. It is now relatively obvious from the (ex-)living anatomy lesson that the bugs are not truly exoskeletal, but rather have a thick external structure reinforced on the inside, much like heavy-duty bird bones. The other incapacitated guard flails about a bit more than seems safe.

Falling on its side, the helo slides down a ravine before grinding to a stop. The force of impact and the bumpy ride that follows is certain to cause bruises, scrapes, and probably minor lacerations. The Red who put everyone in their harnesses (hereby referred to as Warrior) immediately gets out of her own webbing and disengages everyone else. The two guards quickly lead the way out of the helo, one limping quite badly (hereby referred to as Basket Case).

The party is in a deep mountain ravine, and the apparent gravity is almost a third over Earth standard. A large debris trail in the left bank, starting with a rather large hole and, going through a large furrow down to the helo's current position, indicates the helo's terminal path. There is a relatively small stream passing through the middle of the ravine, surrounded by light brush. There are a few oddly-shaped trees sparsely scattered about.

Warrior points towards the right bank of the ravine, then begins to ford the stream. It is, at most, a meter deep. Basket Case prods the team along weakly with a tubular weapon. The weapon has a blocky casing at one end and an oddly-shapped emitter at the business end. There are no analogs to magazines nor power packs like the Reds' other weapons.

S-14, Cargo Helicopter, In the Air (and getting shot at), Ma-tek Party
If that thing throws me out the door, I'll kill it, she thinks, somewhat amusingly. Although not to her... And you don't cut off the arm that straps you into a protective harness.
The cargo door does fly open, but probably because it was shot off of its hinges by another fighter pass. The Red slams the two agents into harnesses and quickly gets them arranged before getting herself into crash webbing. There is a loud pop, then an intense jolt, similar to that of a parachute opening. Looking out a porthole near his head, Sefrin can see the rotor autogyrating away from the craft, and several balloots deploying from the sides of what remains of the helo.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a26.jpg
The hold filling with fire-suppression foam, alarms of every possible description going off, it's a long fall to the bottom.

Slamming into the dirt nose-first, the hull of the helo screams in agony as it bends in ways it was never intended to--the reinforced cargo bay distorts but remains relatively intact. One of the incapacitated guards, not being secured properly, promptly flies out of its harness and splatters itself against the far wall. It is now relatively obvious from the (ex-)living anatomy lesson that the bugs are not truly exoskeletal, but rather have a thick external structure reinforced on the inside, much like heavy-duty bird bones. The other incapacitated guard flails about a bit more than seems safe.

Falling on its side, the helo slides down a ravine before grinding to a stop. The force of impact and the bumpy ride that follows is certain to cause bruises, scrapes, and probably minor lacerations. The Red who put everyone in their harnesses (hereby referred to as Warrior) immediately gets out of her own webbing and disengages everyone else. The two guards quickly lead the way out of the helo, one limping quite badly (hereby referred to as Basket Case).

The party is in a deep mountain ravine, and the apparent gravity is almost a third over Earth standard. A large debris trail in the left bank, starting with a rather large hole and, going through a large furrow down to the helo's current position, indicates the helo's terminal path. There is a relatively small stream passing through the middle of the ravine, surrounded by light brush. There are a few oddly-shaped trees sparsely scattered about.

Warrior points towards the right bank of the ravine, then begins to ford the stream. It is, at most, a meter deep. Basket Case prods the team along weakly with a tubular weapon. The weapon has a blocky casing at one end and an oddly-shapped emitter at the business end. There are no analogs to magazines nor power packs like the Reds' other weapons.

As the helicopter goes down, the two RISE agents slump completely, as if passing out... with their eyes open. They aren't unconcsious; no. Instead, they are as relaxed as possible; yet another sign of their training rearing its head. If you're about to crash, then relax - apparently, it reduces the risk of major injury.

Once the heli hits the ground, the pair of RISE agents eye Warrior with a vague suspicion - after all, Millet, in one way of looking at it, did kill the Red that slammed into the wall on the way down; she knocked it unconscious. Although Warrior probably doesn't know that exactly, Millet remains wary.

The pair, although severely bruised, don't appear to mind all that much; perhaps their Nenyan constitution affords them better pain tolerance - or perhaps they're merely glad to be alive.

Sefrin eyes the stream with well-masked but still-evident fear. "I'm not going in there," he mouths, apparently now back to his full-senses.... and who wouldn't be fully awakened (assuming a lack of death or enforced unconsciousness), after being in a helicopter crash?

"Yes, you damned well are," Millet responds... but she eyes the stream with the same look. For such a succesful sea-faring people, Nenyans certainly do not seem to like water.

Although, maybe thats why they're so good on it. They have to be.

Any jitters are quickly dispersed, however, by the expedient of having a weapon pointed at one - it tends to do the trick most of the time, that. As they move forward (coerced by the weapon), however, Millet spends a moment glancing at the weapon; a flicker of suprise passes over her face, as, somehow, it seems vaguely familiar...

The pair do not expend any energy in the direction of Drawing the Shadows; they are in a place they do not know, and, apparently, there is no point. If they vanished, it would startle the attendant; who might well fire on them.

"This is a fine mess you got us into," Millet mouthed, clearly aiming the comment at Sefrin. Sefrin shrugs. And there is the vague sense that it won't be the last time Millet says that, either.

Medical Bay 3, Fourty-Two?

"The front of the ship? That is the domain of the Blues... and we do not know of what you speak. The computer may have told us, but it is not so important."

"Controlled by the Blues, I see. I think it would help us a great deal if you could explain to us what each faction is like and what they control. This would help us to avoid those areas and deal with the others if we should encounter them. So far, we've heard of Reds, Blues, and I think you belong to another - is that correct?"


<Communications to Fourty-Two?>
{
<< There does seem to be small personnel airlocks and large cargo airlocks nearby, but that is also close to where we lost contact with the Ma-tek party.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01
Political Director, S-14 Expedition


x Sauscony (ASCC, IEV Fourty-Two?)

Good. I'm thinking of mounting an expedition in to investigate that strange energy reading, and possibly to assist the Ma-tek team if they require help. We're trying to get more information from the alien personalities, but they don't seem all that familiar with low-level details and their testimony is more than a little bit biased, especially about each other.

S-14, Not Too Far from the Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, David
David left the wreck of the Horizon a second time, making sure to clear out any furries from the medical section, and sealing it as best he could. He'd never get out of this mess without help, so he jetted off towards the 'ground' to investigate the railcars. As before, he took along a laser rifle and knife, just in case.
There's a cloud up ahead, and closing fast... catching David quickly, he finds himself in...
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg11.jpg
SHRIMP-THINGS! These insects are approximately twelve to fifteen centimeters long, greenish brown in color, and semi-transparent. Watching their internal organs work as they swim by is vaguely fascinating. There are absolutely hundreds of them, and they don't see too well either, given how they ricochet off David by the score.

And for anyone who remembers their marine biology, wherever there's krill...


Unfortunately, David knew little marine biology, and didn't realize that larger things were probably nearby. But, he didn't immediately see anything else nearby, so he had little to be worried about anyway. Still, being whacked by thousands of little bugs isn't very pleasant, and David turned on the jets full-blast, intent on getting away from the little pests as quickly as possible.

Captain Rihad on the IDSS Retribution was, once again, scowling. There had been no 'call-in' signal from the RISE team since they had boarded S-14 - and that had been far too long ago. He hadn't wished to make his people seem inept, however...

...he now hoped that that wouldn't prove lethal to his people.

Flicking open the comms contact again, he mouthed into his LSR, "SHODAN. I think we have a problem... well, I know we have a problem, as we've naturally been monitoring comms traffic... but that's besides the point." Rihad is one of those that sometimes waffles when under pressure. "Our people still haven't reported in. Has any news reached you of their whereabouts or situation, friend?"

The Command probe notices the rail car out of the corner of it's optical sensors.
The three probes skitter around to the other side of the turret, hiding the best they can, two extend maniputaors around the edge of the turret, activating smaller optical sensors to watch the rail car, while the command probe tries to contact the human commanders.

S-14, Mountain Ravine, 1.3G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Any jitters are quickly dispersed, however, by the expedient of having a weapon pointed at one - it tends to do the trick most of the time, that. As they move forward (coerced by the weapon), however, Millet spends a moment glancing at the weapon; a flicker of suprise passes over her face, as, somehow, it seems vaguely familiar...
It does appear to be some sort of directed energy or sonic weapon.

The party crosses the stream (the Shadow shows a catlike dislike, even shaking itself off and attempting to re-streamline its cloak after leaving) and scrambles up the opposite bank, with Basket Case ending up further and further to the rear. At the top, a huge savannah stretches out as far as the eye can see, with a river in the far, far distance. Warrior takes out a spherical device and, peering into it, chatters a moment with Basket Case. The conversation gets rather heated until finally Basket Case throws his weapon to Warrior. Rubbing its antennae together, Warrior takes Basket Case's gear and, now looking quite the giant-ant Rambo, leads the way into the tall grass.

Basket Case painfully sits down and watches the sky, growing ever smaller in the distance as the party walks on.

Medical Bay 3, Fourty-Two?
"Controlled by the Blues, I see. I think it would help us a great deal if you could explain to us what each faction is like and what they control. This would help us to avoid those areas and deal with the others if we should encounter them. So far, we've heard of Reds, Blues, and I think you belong to another - is that correct?"
"Oh, yes, I am not of the Reds or Blues, nor the Little Ones," Allison laughs, "and I thank Our Most Ancient Mother for that. The Blues help us with the computer, and they control the fore, I believe. The Reds give us equipment, and they control the aft. The small ones assist us with our small devices when they break, and they are everywhere... so we are told. We have little cause to leave our own domain.

S-14SECZONE
x Sauscony (ASCC, IEV Fourty-Two?)

Good. I'm thinking of mounting an expedition in to investigate that strange energy reading, and possibly to assist the Ma-tek team if they require help. We're trying to get more information from the alien personalities, but they don't seem all that familiar with low-level details and their testimony is more than a little bit biased, especially about each other.
<Communications to Fourty-Two?>
{
<< Acknowledged. Let me know when you are ready.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01
Political Director, S-14 Expedition

S-14, Not Too Far from the Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, David
Unfortunately, David knew little marine biology, and didn't realize that larger things were probably nearby. But, he didn't immediately see anything else nearby, so he had little to be worried about anyway. Still, being whacked by thousands of little bugs isn't very pleasant, and David turned on the jets full-blast, intent on getting away from the little pests as quickly as possible.
As David leaves the cloud of shrimp, two massive leviathans enter into it.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg12.jpg
These immense--thirty meters long--whale-like mammals closely resemble humpback whales, and are feeding on the aerokrill using giant combs of baleen. They have massive eyes which slowly track David as he scoots out of the way. Someone with a sense of humor would probably swear that they wave at him with their flippers as they pass.

Trailing the whales in a simple wooden "raft" are seven ant-like insects who are tending to wooden boxes.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/greenbug.jpg
These ant-like insectoids have exaggeratedly long limbs and a more delicate structure than any previously seen. About two and a half meters long, their carapaces are a mottled green-yellow in color. Several sets of ludicrously small wings that beat incredibly quickly extend from their "shoulders." Wearing harnesses containing either simple tools or weapons of a sort, two of these green insects fly off of the raft with their wings and move to intercept David, manipulators open and empty.

S-14SECZONE
"SHODAN. I think we have a problem... well, I know we have a problem, as we've naturally been monitoring comms traffic... but that's besides the point." Rihad is one of those that sometimes waffles when under pressure. "Our people still haven't reported in. Has any news reached you of their whereabouts or situation, friend?"
S.H.O.D.A.N., who at least attempts to be considerate, replies using a secure tightbeam unobservable to the rest of the fleet.
<Communications to Captain Rihad, Secure Tightbeam>
{
<< Not yet, friend. We lost contact with them just after they observed several red insects. Cetaganda appears to be planning an exploration operation into their area and may learn some clues as to their fate.

<< I do know that the communications equipment the medical officer liason was carrying is powerful enough to transmit from almost any point inside S-14, meaning that she has not been able to use it. This could be from sheer inability to lack of opportunity. I do not advise doing anything rash, Captain. We'll find them.

>< Or at least we'll try.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01
Political Director, S-14 Expedition

S-14, Some Random Turret, Leading Surface of Torus, Berserker Probes
The Command probe notices the rail car out of the corner of it's optical sensors.
The rail car comes to a stop nearby and several space-suited aliens exit it via a cylindrical airlock on top. They head for the turret.

There is nothing preventing communication.

These ant-like insectoids have exaggeratedly long limbs and a more delicate structure than any previously seen. About two and a half meters long, their carapaces are a mottled green-yellow in color. Several sets of ludicrously small wings that beat incredibly quickly extend from their "shoulders." Wearing harnesses containing either simple tools or weapons of a sort, two of these green insects fly off of the raft with their wings and move to intercept David, manipulators open and empty.

(OOC: Oh, good. We finally get to meet the Greens, so scantily referred to earlier on...)

David, of course, had no way off communicating with them, but he didn't think they looked hostile, and it would save him a very long trip to make contact with these. So he slowed to a stop, thinking that they might take it as hostile action if he actively approached them.

S-14, Not Too Far from the Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, David
David, of course, had no way off communicating with them, but he didn't think they looked hostile, and it would save him a very long trip to make contact with these. So he slowed to a stop, thinking that they might take it as hostile action if he actively approached them.
They come up and gently grab David's suit, then maneuver it back to the raft. After chattering between themselves for a short period of time, they redirect the raft. After a short period, a sheltered community of huts is visible in the fringes of a section of null-g jungle. Mooring the raft to a woven reed platform, the Greens help David disembark.

The village is made up of spherical huts woven from organic materials such as long grass, reeds, and ivy. They are nestled within the tangled riot of plant growth and are thusly rather well camouflaged. The arrangement of huts causes a roughly-spherical "commons" in the center, where various Green villagers interact. The escorting Greens nudge David in the direction of a hut considerably larger than the others.

Inside that hut, cold green light emanates from a floating phosphorescent sphere. A wide variety of sealed containers is secured to a flat surface contoured into the sphere's inner wall, sharing space with cabinets, snaps, and restraints. Tapestries and scrolls grace one hemisphere, and what appears to be a very old and far more very badly scarred villager floats in the approximate center of the hut. Holding the phosphorescent light, she looks much like some sort of soothsayer.

S-14, Quarters, Red Hive, Snel Party
The Red guard waves an arm at the motionless larva. "Look around. Have fun. Enjoy." She points towards the southwest door. "Food there."

The Red guard waves an arm at the motionless larva. "Look around. Have fun. Enjoy." She points towards the southwest door. "Food there."

"Aha! I was just going to ask about that. Glucose and water?"

<<High-Power Private Transmission, Wave-form encoding: "Ship, the Red leader wishes to come aboard. Prepare for arrival. Suggest resynchronization of sentience as soon as possible. I feel ourself diverging.">

(OOC: If I may take some minor liberties...)

The Red guard looked over at the larva. "Did you hear something?"

"Like what?"

"Like a high pitched squeal."

"No." That response should've been an obvious lie.

S-14, Quarters, Red Hive, Snel Party
"No." That response should've been an obvious lie.
The guard merely shakes its head, gets off of the couch, and walks into the small garden. After pulling a purple fruit off of a tree, it begins munching. "I don't mind. Only makes sense you try to make contact." It pulls another fruit and tosses it to the larva. "Try this."

The larva grabbed the fruit with its two front appendages, felt it over with its antennae, and then curled its body around it, tiny fibers infiltrating the fruit and sucking out the water and sugars, and subsequently disolving the rest to use as body mass.

"It is suitable."

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

Rama: "Oberon, this is Supreme Coordinator aboard the Generational Ship Rama. Report."
Oberon: "We are honored by your presence, Coordinator. Coordinator of Clan Intaír, reporting. We have a Crana larva acting as envoy within S-14. It appears there are several waring factions aboard the vessel. Our envoy informs us that the leader of one of these faction has expressed a desire to converse with a Superior. Current plans are to receive the alien aboard this vessel."
Rama: "Understood, Coordinator. Proceed with caution. This may be an attempt to gain our favor for one faction over another."
Oberon: "Possible, but unlikely. The meeting was suggested by our envoy."
Rama: "Understood. Continue as planned, but be prepared to divert to the Coriantumr within Rama."
Oberon: "As is your wish, Coordinator."

S-14, Transport Car, Ever Closer to the Core, Karmabaijani Party
The transport car gives a chattering groan as it stumbles to a halt, finally dying. The upper hatch opens into an open topped balcony on the inner wall of a massive cylinder.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/s14core.jpg
This is the central core of S-14, a massive cylinder thirty kilometers wide and who knows how long. It stretches off into the distance as far as the eye can see to the fore and aft. In the center is a stalk upon which grows a dense jungle of tightly coiled plants. On the wall opposite the party, thirty kilometers away, is a vague image of something that looks like a satellite photo of a surface-based shipyard. Clouds of aeroplankton and aerokrill waft about, predated on by an entire food chain.

There is a stiff breeze, ruffling hair and clothing. The dull thrum of the ship's drive hundreds of kilometers away permeates through everything. Uluating cries and piercing shrieks and whistles waft from the tangled forest of distorted trees and gargantuan plants. It smells of plants... flowers and trees and grass and moisture.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a16.jpg
There are eight segmented vehicles here, tethered at one end of the cubicle. They have light tubular flames covered in laminated composites, two pairs of diaphanous, semi-transparent wings, and two three-bladed counter-rotating propellers in the rear. It looks like a dragonfly. Inside the "cockpit" of a dragonfly is an odd couch, a control stick, and an odd-looking pedal arrangement.

<<Incoming Transmission>>
"Hideki, this is Sato. What is your situation?"
<<Over>>

Inside that hut, cold green light emanates from a floating phosphorescent sphere. A wide variety of sealed containers is secured to a flat surface contoured into the sphere's inner wall, sharing space with cabinets, snaps, and restraints. Tapestries and scrolls grace one hemisphere, and what appears to be a very old and far more very badly scarred villager floats in the approximate center of the hut. Holding the phosphorescent light, she looks much like some sort of soothsayer.

Though his movement was limited in the EVA suit, David tried his best to use gestures to describe his situation. But, for all he knew, by the end of his flailing about, the Greens might've thought he was trying to tell them that he was in a desert and wanted to shoot a buffalo's butt. Eventually, he resorted to the Universal Gestures- Pointing to himself with both hands and saying "David", and then waving towards himself and subsequently pointing in what he thought was the direction of the Farspace Horizon, in a way that suggested "come, follow me".

<<VoiceLink>>
Sato, Hideki. We seem to be somewhere along the inner core axis. Can you pinpoint us based on the transmission? Im sending a video feed now.
:Begin Feed:
Anymore data from the other teams. Might give us a direction to head at least.
<<over>>

"Dochan, hop over to the common hailing freq and see if you can raise any of the other teams."

"On it."

S-14, Room With A View, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
<<VoiceLink>>
Sato, Hideki. We seem to be somewhere along the inner core axis. Can you pinpoint us based on the transmission? Im sending a video feed now.
:Begin Feed:
Anymore data from the other teams. Might give us a direction to head at least.
<<over>>
<<VoiceLink>>
Sato: Hideki, Sato. I pulled Rijil's ass (all due respect, sir no problem, Captain) outta bed and Shodey's here too, and we're getting good feed...
Rijil: Holy crap. Look at that thing.
SHODAN: *low whistle*
Sato: Collating triangulation data on your position and Cetaganda's density maps, you appear to be 280 klicks from the forward end of the central core, which puts you 100 klicks from the aft end. We know we lost Farspace Horizon in the forward end, but we lost contact with the Ma-tek party close to your position. Still, adding in time factor, Ma-tek could be anywhere, while I doubt Horizon has gone anywhere.
SHODAN: Look at all that biodiversity! I wish I was down there... I could have a bit of fun.
Rijil: Barges in the background, and airships... all this adaptation to null-gravity... it's fascinating...
Sato: Well, you're making the scientists happy. Keep in touch.
<<Over>>

"Dochan, hop over to the common hailing freq and see if you can raise any of the other teams."

"On it."
David is surely in range, even with a suit radio. The Snel party might hear, but has its own form of comms. The Sakkrans are on an entirely different ship. As for the Ma-tek party...

S-14, Savannah with Red Rambo, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Karena's communicator buzzes.

S-14, Mountain Ravine, 1.3G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Any jitters are quickly dispersed, however, by the expedient of having a weapon pointed at one - it tends to do the trick most of the time, that. As they move forward (coerced by the weapon), however, Millet spends a moment glancing at the weapon; a flicker of suprise passes over her face, as, somehow, it seems vaguely familiar...
It does appear to be some sort of directed energy or sonic weapon.

The party crosses the stream (the Shadow shows a catlike dislike, even shaking itself off and attempting to re-streamline its cloak after leaving) and scrambles up the opposite bank, with Basket Case ending up further and further to the rear. At the top, a huge savannah stretches out as far as the eye can see, with a river in the far, far distance. Warrior takes out a spherical device and, peering into it, chatters a moment with Basket Case. The conversation gets rather heated until finally Basket Case throws his weapon to Warrior. Rubbing its antennae together, Warrior takes Basket Case's gear and, now looking quite the giant-ant Rambo, leads the way into the tall grass.

Basket Case painfully sits down and watches the sky, growing ever smaller in the distance as the party walks on.


Sefrin and Millet don't go through the motions of shaking themselves, or any such thing - it would be undignified, their barely-masked expressions reveal - but they do look vaguely uncomfortable. And wet. Undignified or no, it might've been wiser to shake themselves.

And they begin to feel more than a little weary; the shift from low-g to above-Earth-g is not a pleasant one... their legs ache, and their very bones seem to utter complaints, the further they go. But they do not make any suggestion that they should rest; indeed, it might well be that they wouldn't even if they had the chance - impressions and all.

And so, onwards they march, ignoring the brief chattering between Warrior and Basketcase - although they do pause, both of them not masking their expressions very well; for they both glance at each other, and the look that passes is clearly a: 'could we get away now?' message.

Or something like that, perhaps.


S-14, Savannah with Red Rambo, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Karena's communicator buzzes.


And Millet, despite an urge to look at Karena, doesn't. She keeps looking straight ahead. Her demeanour is meant to state: 'What buzzing?'

Perhaps surprisingly, Sefrin does exactly the same. The two just... keep looking ahead.

Although, Millet does mouth, "That weapon looks a bit like an old US wand."

Sefrin mouths an affirmative.

* * *

S-14SECZONE
"SHODAN. I think we have a problem... well, I know we have a problem, as we've naturally been monitoring comms traffic... but that's besides the point." Rihad is one of those that sometimes waffles when under pressure. "Our people still haven't reported in. Has any news reached you of their whereabouts or situation, friend?"
S.H.O.D.A.N., who at least attempts to be considerate, replies using a secure tightbeam unobservable to the rest of the fleet.
<Communications to Captain Rihad, Secure Tightbeam>
{
<< Not yet, friend. We lost contact with them just after they observed several red insects. Cetaganda appears to be planning an exploration operation into their area and may learn some clues as to their fate.

<< I do know that the communications equipment the medical officer liason was carrying is powerful enough to transmit from almost any point inside S-14, meaning that she has not been able to use it. This could be from sheer inability to lack of opportunity. I do not advise doing anything rash, Captain. We'll find them.

>< Or at least we'll try.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01
Political Director, S-14 Expedition


Rihad sighed, quietly. Flicking open the contact again, he replies, "I've never been the rash type, SHODAN. Besides, we have one dropship, and that's deployed. Short of calling in the fleet - which, to my knowledge, isn't ready yet - there's nothing we can do here but wait."

Rihad clicks the contact closed, and, with a sigh, stands. "I'll be in my quarters. Inform me of any important changes."

Medical Bay 3, Fourty-Two?

"Oh, yes, I am not of the Reds or Blues, nor the Little Ones," Allison laughs, "and I thank Our Most Ancient Mother for that. The Blues help us with the computer, and they control the fore, I believe. The Reds give us equipment, and they control the aft. The small ones assist us with our small devices when they break, and they are everywhere... so we are told. We have little cause to leave our own domain.

S-14SECZONE

<Communications to Fourty-Two?>
{
<< Acknowledged. Let me know when you are ready.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01
Political Director, S-14 Expedition


"Ah, so you are part of a third group, but you're not at war with the other two," Aeryn says. She then tilts her head slightly, as if listening to something. "Hmmm. We're planning on sending a ship over to dock with Alpha, to attempt to locate a party who was captured by Reds. Do you know where the would likely be taken? Also, is there any way you could help us to get past the automated turrets?"

(OOC: It might be a bit before I post the team leaving, due to RL. I'm thinking about twenty people, including some Marines. They might have a few people in powered armor, unless you would rather I didn't use it.)

S-14, Savannah, 1.3G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
And so, onwards they march, ignoring the brief chattering between Warrior and Basketcase - although they do pause, both of them not masking their expressions very well; for they both glance at each other, and the look that passes is clearly a: 'could we get away now?' message... And Millet, despite an urge to look at Karena, doesn't. She keeps looking straight ahead. Her demeanour is meant to state: 'What buzzing?'
The party marches on through the long grass, eventually bursting into a clearing surrounding a pond where eight animals are resting, lapping up the water.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp1.jpg
These gazelle-like animals have four slender, strangely-jointed, legs; a long neck; large eyes; and constantly-moving long blade-shaped ears. They are light tan and black in color, with some white highlights. Immediately startled by Warrior's less-than-graceful bashing through the brush, they bound off into the savannah.

Giving chase is a group of four distinctively humanoid primates, similar in size to the terrestrial Australopithecus hominid. Carrying crude heat-treated wooden spears and stone knives, they splash across the pond completely oblivious to the presence of a giant bright-red insect, three wet humans, and a smear of charcoal-gray.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/beasts/evidence/prog4/images/evi_australopithecus_large.jpg
Giving up once the thoat-things are far off, the hominids grumble to each other in something approximating language. Turning around, they hop back with a start when they see the party.

Warrior brandishes her weapon threateningly towards the hominids. While the bug is distracted, Karena surreptitiously flips the transmit switch on her comm and lightly taps on the case.
<<VoiceLink>>
-.- .- .-. . -. .- / -. / -- .- - . -.- / .... .-. / ..- -. -.. .-. / .- .-. -- -.. / --. .-. -.. / ... .. - / -... .- -.. / -.-. -. - / -- .- .. -. - / -.-. -. - -.-. - / ... - -. -.. -... -.--
<<Over>>

Medical Bay 3, Fourty-Two?
"Ah, so you are part of a third group, but you're not at war with the other two," Aeryn says. She then tilts her head slightly, as if listening to something. "Hmmm. We're planning on sending a ship over to dock with Alpha, to attempt to locate a party who was captured by Reds. Do you know where the would likely be taken? Also, is there any way you could help us to get past the automated turrets?"
"Yes, we tolerate the existance of the Blues and the Reds. Eventually, they will die out, and the Norm will be re-established." Allison nods sagely. "I do not know where your party would be, but I think they may be taken to see the false Mothers. They are probably in danger.

"Turrets? What turrets? I'm sure the computer may have told us something about turrets at some time, but it is not so important."

(OOC: If you want to bring powered armor, that's your call.)

S-14, Savannah, 1.3G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
And so, onwards they march, ignoring the brief chattering between Warrior and Basketcase - although they do pause, both of them not masking their expressions very well; for they both glance at each other, and the look that passes is clearly a: 'could we get away now?' message... And Millet, despite an urge to look at Karena, doesn't. She keeps looking straight ahead. Her demeanour is meant to state: 'What buzzing?'
The party marches on through the long grass, eventually bursting into a clearing surrounding a pond where eight animals are resting, lapping up the water.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp1.jpg
These gazelle-like animals have four slender, strangely-jointed, legs; a long neck; large eyes; and constantly-moving long blade-shaped ears. They are light tan and black in color, with some white highlights. Immediately startled by Warrior's less-than-graceful bashing through the brush, they bound off into the savannah.

Giving chase is a group of four distinctively humanoid primates, similar in size to the terrestrial Australopithecus hominid. Carrying crude heat-treated wooden spears and stone knives, they splash across the pond completely oblivious to the presence of a giant bright-red insect, three wet humans, and a smear of charcoal-gray.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/beasts/evidence/prog4/images/evi_australopithecus_large.jpg
Giving up once the thoat-things are far off, the hominids grumble to each other in something approximating language. Turning around, they hop back with a start when they see the party.

Warrior brandishes her weapon threateningly towards the hominids. While the bug is distracted, Karena surreptitiously flips the transmit switch on her comm and lightly taps on the case.
<<VoiceLink>>
-.- .- .-. . -. .- / -. / -- .- - . -.- / .... .-. / ..- -. -.. .-. / .- .-. -- -.. / --. .-. -.. / ... .. - / -... .- -.. / -.-. -. - / -- .- .. -. - / -.-. -. - -.-. - / ... - -. -.. -... -.--
<<Over>>


Sefrin and Millet both ignore the animals, for the most part - although Sefrin does look mildly regretful. He probably would've wanted to scan them; but the oppurtunity does not look as if it will present itself.

Being Nenyans, the pair eye the hominids with distaste. That doesn't stop the pair of them from beginning to concentrate, however - but they never complete the thought, as it were. They glance at each other, a wordless decision passing between the two.

For they wonder: if they vanish, what will become of Karena? Would the Red kill her, out of some childish act of vengeance for losing the other captives?

Instead, they slowly move their hands towards the hilts of their shock-swords, moving them just close enough to react if necessary. And Millet mouths, "Be ready."

Other than that, however, they maintain the current stance of 'do nothing, and nothing bad will happen'.

(OOC: Well, damn *marks an X on the Evil GM Ideas List*. Ma-tek, check your telegrams. I need a plan Bravo.)

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Other than that, however, they maintain the current stance of 'do nothing, and nothing bad will happen'.
( :shock: at ludicrously low roll results on the parts of the hominids... and, using a percentile system, low == good)

The hominids, not taking too kindly to having their dinner chased off, begin hollering a bloody ruckus. As two walk around screaming and distracting Warrior, the other two actually throw their crude spears at Warrior.

( :shock: at even lower to-hit rolls and decent damage rolls)

One spear catches Warrior in the jaw, ripping out its left mandible in a sickening crunch and spray of ichor. The second embeds itself firmly a few centimeters deep in the Red's chest. Warrior retaliates with her weapon, firing silent blue-green energy wildly, but thrown back by the pain, the shots scatter widely into the sky.
Startled by the energy weapon's light, the hominids scatter into the underbrush; Warrior staggers to pursue. The Shadow, taking out a very nasty looking Bowie knife from somewhere inside its ninja-like tunic, gives it a casual flip into the air and carefully snatches it up by the blade as he leans back into a cautious stance. Karena flicks her left wrist, revealing a TYSS standard-issue vibroshiv, in the process dropping her active communicator.

<<VoiceLink>>
Whoooaaa! Gaag! *whack* *thunk* Clickityclok! Oooo ahhhh! *frightened screams* *metallic THUNK*
<<Over>>

S-14, Room With A View, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
R-Kilroy scans the sky, irises in its arrays of visual sensors fully retracted. "I see some vehicles wandering about that look a lot like those parked nearby. Seem pretty common... they're primarily manned by Reds like those we escaped earlier, as far as I can tell."

Thorvald waves his left arm around oddly. "Jeebus... the biodiversity around here is amazing! I think, if we get this entire civil war thing sorted out, that I'm going to move here. I'm pretty sure the TYCS won't be able to find me in that"--he points towards the jungle--"to unretire me again."

<<VoiceLink>>
-.- .- .-. . -. .- / -. / -- .- - . -.- / .... .-. / ..- -. -.. .-. / .- .-. -- -.. / --. .-. -.. / ... .. - / -... .- -.. / -.-. -. - / -- .- .. -. - / -.-. -. - -.-. - / ... - -. -.. -... -.--
<<Over>>


Hideki translates on the fly.

"KARENA N MATEK HR UNDR ARMD GRD SIT BAD CNT MAINT CNTCT STNDBY. Great, sounds like what we just got out of, wonder how close they are."

<<VoiceLink>>
Whoooaaa! Gaag! *whack* *thunk* Clickityclok! Oooo ahhhh! *frightened screams* *metallic THUNK*
<<Over>>

"Well, that sounds great. Dochan, any luck figuring out how that contraption works?"

Hideki walks over to the sled and begins to triangulate the incoming comm signal.

S-14, Room With A View, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Well, that sounds great. Dochan, any luck figuring out how that contraption works?"
The pedals run the propellors, and the simple control yoke tilts the wings left and right. It appears that the pedals can be modified, given time, to two-legged operation.
Hideki walks over to the sled and begins to triangulate the incoming comm signal.
It's coming from a point inside the torus at about 180 kilometers from the Karmabaijani party, at an angle (using the axis of rotation as the origin) of 40 degrees spinward (ie. looking at S-14 from the fore towards the aft, and drawing lines from the axis of rotation through Karma's sled and Karena's transmitter, the angle between those two lines would be forty degrees, and Karena's line is spinward relative to Karma's). In short, you know where they are.

Hideki glances at his accelerometer.

"Well, gravity is low enough that we can practically fly on the suit thrusters, but Thorvald and Kilroy would have a problem with that. They could ride the sled, or try and get one of these contraptions set up for bipedal use. Thorvald, your call. In the meantime:

<<CommonHailingFreq>>
Karena, this is Hideki on Fleet Common. Do you read?
<<over>>

S-14, Some Random Turret, Leading Surface of Torus, Berserker Probes
The Command probe notices the rail car out of the corner of it's optical sensors.
The rail car comes to a stop nearby and several space-suited aliens exit it via a cylindrical airlock on top. They head for the turret.

There is nothing preventing communication.

The probe's query:
[POSSIBLE AGRESSOR]
[UNLOCK CUTTING LASER PRGM. -SELF DEFENSE-]
To which the probe recieves a negative on the request and is commanded to avoid conflict.

The probe, in one last act ejects a small remote camera (about the size of a golf ball, with micro thrusters, and an antenna that trails it. Color black, mostly radar neutral materials) The camera floats above the turret where it stops itself and looks down on the turret. The probes then skitter away quickly putting distance between them and the aliens.

S-14, Room With A View, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Well, gravity is low enough that we can practically fly on the suit thrusters, but Thorvald and Kilroy would have a problem with that. They could ride the sled, or try and get one of these contraptions set up for bipedal use. Thorvald, your call.:
"Hell, I'll take the flying machine. I hate taking rides I can't control."

S-14, A Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
<<CommonHailingFreq>>
Karena, this is Hideki on Fleet Common. Do you read?
<<over>>
Karena growls as the Red turns to look at the talking communicator. "Yeah, sure. Thanks for blowing the ambush."

The Red engages the contact on its weapon and sprays the party with a stream of blue-green energy from the emitter. It tingles a little bit... tickles, rather... but doesn't seem to do much else. Warrior looks at the unfazed team, then her weapon, as if it didn't have the intended effect.

S-14, Some Random Turret, Leading Surface of Torus, Berserker Probes
The probe, in one last act ejects a small remote camera (about the size of a golf ball, with micro thrusters, and an antenna that trails it. Color black, mostly radar neutral materials) The camera floats above the turret where it stops itself and looks down on the turret. The probes then skitter away quickly putting distance between them and the aliens.
The aliens come up to the turret, flip open a hatch or two, and test circuitry with a small handheld device. Finding no fault, they wave their antennae at each other, close up the hatches, and walk back to the rail car.

Within the Farspace Horizon, a humanoid figure begins to move. It would've stood up, except for the absence of gravity. It would've said "I request instruction", but there was obviously nobody else around. So, instead, the figure floated its way to the door of the med lab, opened it, went out, eventually wandered to an airlock, opened it, went out, and floated idly, slowly drifting away.

(OOC: *sigh* Not much I can do with that except threaten more Chow. What about David in that Green hut? He could hear Karma's attempts to make contact [and he is waiting, according to IRC conversation])

(OOC: Oh, that's just for David, if and when he gets back. No need to do anything else with it. I was waiting for the Greens to do something, but...)

When he heard the Karmabaijani siganl over his suit radio, David got a surprised expression on his face. He motioned to the old Green, and jetted out into the open. Tiping his head towards the built-in microphone, he said "Hello? Can anyone hear me? Are you getting my signal? This is David, from the Farspace Horizon. We were shipwrecked, I'm the only survivor, but I've got FInn's mind saved, at least. I've made contact with some giant green insect things, but I can't talk to them. Hello?"

This bantering soon attracted a crowd, several members of which probably thought David had gone insane.

OOC: Okay. I'm going to assume that my group is heading back to the transport. They're going to have to plug in their suits somewhere for a recharge. We got the directions to Alpha, and the signed document. Wheee!

S-14, Big Spherical Hut in a Green Village, Central Core, Eniqcir Party
"Hello? Can anyone hear me? Are you getting my signal? This is David, from the Farspace Horizon. We were shipwrecked, I'm the only survivor, but I've got FInn's mind saved, at least. I've made contact with some giant green insect things, but I can't talk to them. Hello?"
At the sound of David's voice, the ancient insectoid (hereafter described as "Elder") raises its battered green head and pushes herself painfully over to a cabinet on the inner wall, retrieving a small, well-worn, black electronic device about the size of a paperback book. Pushing several small keys, the Elder looks at a panel that begins to glow softly.

Waving towards the sealed containers, the Elder chatters into the box. "Please, honor our tradition and eat, strange one. I am sorry I cannot look directly at you, but I find your soft fleshy body draped on a spindly framework of internal bones most upsetting. My apologies.

Spaceberg "Golf," Landing Pad, Surface
Okay. I'm going to assume that my group is heading back to the transport. They're going to have to plug in their suits somewhere for a recharge. We got the directions to Alpha, and the signed document. Wheee!
"Party, this is Shuttle Marie Curie, ready for dustoff."

The party returns to Yamato, and can redeploy whenever you want.

Waving towards the sealed containers, the Elder chatters into the box. "Please, honor our tradition and eat, strange one. I am sorry I cannot look directly at you, but I find your soft fleshy body draped on a spindly framework of internal bones most upsetting. My apologies.

David was even more surprised at this. "You can talk to me? Can you understand me, as well? How?" He slowly reached for one of the containers while saying "Will you allow me to take you to my ship?"

(OOC: Oh, that's just for David, if and when he gets back. No need to do anything else with it. I was waiting for the Greens to do something, but...)

When he heard the Karmabaijani siganl over his suit radio, David got a surprised expression on his face. He motioned to the old Green, and jetted out into the open. Tiping his head towards the built-in microphone, he said "Hello? Can anyone hear me? Are you getting my signal? This is David, from the Farspace Horizon. We were shipwrecked, I'm the only survivor, but I've got FInn's mind saved, at least. I've made contact with some giant green insect things, but I can't talk to them. Hello?"

This bantering soon attracted a crowd, several members of which probably thought David had gone insane.

<<Transmission>>
"David, Hideki here. Do you require assistance? We are triangulating your posititon right now. The Ma-Tek party seems to be having some difficulty, but I don't think we could get there in time to make a difference. Karena, if you are listening, break in at anytime. Greens you say? Interesting. We are equipped to communicate with them. Let me get a fix on your position."
<<over>>

The camera watches the suited aliens depart, relaying info to the command probe. The command probe sends out a signal to other probes on the S-14 hull.
And with that, the three nearest probes begin pursuit of the rail car.

The remaining six probes begin to jet across the hull, heading for the equatorial trench.

TDF Loki Moya
Commander John Crichton asks for Jacque's last known location.
(OOC: was he fore or aft?)

S-14, Green Elder's Hut, Central Core, David
David was even more surprised at this. "You can talk to me? Can you understand me, as well? How?" He slowly reached for one of the containers while saying "Will you allow me to take you to my ship?"
The Elder taps her antennae together and clicks at the box, which translates into English. It actually has a bit of intonation now, unlike the Stephen Hawking drone earlier. "The computer translates for us... it is most useful. As for your ship, I am far too old to travel. Still, tell me of it.

"Oh, and I hear that you are speaking to friends, I suppose. Tell them I said hello and wish them health."

S-14SECZONE
TDF Loki Moya
Commander John Crichton asks for Jacque's last known location.
"Moya, Hornet. Last known position was foreward of S-14."

S-14, Red Hive, Ring Plain, Snel Party
The Red guard twitches its antennae, then grabs a few more fruit and drops them into a pouch. "Time to move out. The Mother of Us All wants to speak with you again."

Another transition through rocky corridors, ending in the "audience chamber" dominated by the thick hexagonal window. Also in the chamber, sitting on a small chair, is a Human in a space suit looking thoroughly confused. The Red Queen, peering through the opposite side of the window, leads off.

"I suppose I was too emotional previously. Still, it is... hard to be objective when one suffers such oppression. So... do you have any questions?"

On the Yamato, Lossa looks over the recordings made on the trip to the Spaceberg "Golf", including the destination of the S-14 craft. Shuuta is analyzing the samples she brought back from the ice. Griimph is analyzing the samples taken from the inner wall of the access pipe. Krenn ponders the implications of the value of life as seen by other races, and writes down his findings.

Results are sent to the Empire of Sakkra's diplomatic offices, where hopefully the appropriate information will get to the right peoples.

"O.K. We need to get to the main craft, the Alpha. Make certain your suits are fully charged and ready. Bring some medical supplies, just in case."

Sakkran Scientific Findings, Spaceberg "Golf" Artifacts
On the Yamato, Lossa looks over the recordings made on the trip to the Spaceberg "Golf", including the destination of the S-14 craft. Shuuta is analyzing the samples she brought back from the ice. Griimph is analyzing the samples taken from the inner wall of the access pipe. Krenn ponders the implications of the value of life as seen by other races, and writes down his findings.
Recordings: By collating the recordings with EM patterns, watching the insects as they speak, and a keen sense of smell, it is now apparent that the communications mode of S-14 is made up of the synthesis of four distinct components: The RF "telepathy," aural speech, visual cues (primarily antennae movement), and olfactory cues (pheromones). All four aspects are used in communication whenever possible, but basic idea understanding is possible using only RF and aural communication while intonation and emotion are indicated by the visual and olfactory cues. Only when all four are combined is it possible to completely "understand" the speech with grammar and abstract constructs.

Ice: The spaceberg's saltwater ice is far denser than common terrestrial ice. Embedded within that small sample are thousands of microorganisms that appear to be surface or near-surface dwellers optimized for life around a blue giant star, given the nature of their photosynthetic structures (like terrestrial photosynthetic structures, they are stacks of photosynthetic nodes built into a chloroplast-like structure, but instead of being optimized for white light it has a definite overabundance (in terrestrial terms) of blue-sensitive structures). Genetically, the organisms are coded with double-helical deoxyribonucleic acid, except the nucleotides are almost completely different and there are six matching pairs. The only nucleotides shared with terrestrial DNA is adenine and thalamine.

Insulation: The insulation, under closer inspection, is actually made up of two layers: One is a very fine black sheet that appears to be a superconductor of heat surrounded in a white sheath. The other is a deeply textured organic polymer that is primarily made up of vacuum-filled spheres connected by a random mesh of fibers; it is a highly efficient insulator. The interface of the two substances is dominated by a lipid film where the water-shunning tails are oriented towards each other. In ASCII art:

Insulator
O <-- water-loving head
| <-- water-shunning tail

| <-- water-shunning tail
O<-- water loving head
Conductor

With little to no physical contact, the only heat loss from the conductor is from radiative energy, minimized by its white reflective sheath.

Poetry: Life is cheap but resources aren't.

(OOC: Well, damn *marks an X on the Evil GM Ideas List*. Ma-tek, check your telegrams. I need a plan Bravo.)

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Other than that, however, they maintain the current stance of 'do nothing, and nothing bad will happen'.
( :shock: at ludicrously low roll results on the parts of the hominids... and, using a percentile system, low == good)

The hominids, not taking too kindly to having their dinner chased off, begin hollering a bloody ruckus. As two walk around screaming and distracting Warrior, the other two actually throw their crude spears at Warrior.

( :shock: at even lower to-hit rolls and decent damage rolls)

One spear catches Warrior in the jaw, ripping out its left mandible in a sickening crunch and spray of ichor. The second embeds itself firmly a few centimeters deep in the Red's chest. Warrior retaliates with her weapon, firing silent blue-green energy wildly, but thrown back by the pain, the shots scatter widely into the sky.
Startled by the energy weapon's light, the hominids scatter into the underbrush; Warrior staggers to pursue. The Shadow, taking out a very nasty looking Bowie knife from somewhere inside its ninja-like tunic, gives it a casual flip into the air and carefully snatches it up by the blade as he leans back into a cautious stance. Karena flicks her left wrist, revealing a TYSS standard-issue vibroshiv, in the process dropping her active communicator.

<<VoiceLink>>
Whoooaaa! Gaag! *whack* *thunk* Clickityclok! Oooo ahhhh! *frightened screams* *metallic THUNK*
<<Over>>


Sefrin and Millet exchange a glance... and draw their shock-swords with a dull, but audible, kch-thang! Noting the weakness in the Red giving chase needlessly (as far as the RISE pair are concerned, that is), they do nothing else, however, but look warily at the 'action'. They mouth, almost in synch, "Fight or flight?"

They don't grin, though. The gravity has pissed them off too much for that.

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
They mouth, almost in synch, "Fight or flight?"
Karena mouths: "Well, seeing how it's already shot at us, I say fight."

On cue, the Shadow throws the knife. (Combat initiative: Shadow, Ma-tek, Karena, Warrior.) Your move.

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
They mouth, almost in synch, "Fight or flight?"
Karena mouths: "Well, seeing how it's already shot at us, I say fight."

On cue, the Shadow throws the knife. (Combat initiative: Shadow, Ma-tek, Karena, Warrior.) Your move.

Millet and Sefrin promptly dissolve into a vague blurred movement. And despite the gravity, they move fast - two flashes briefly light up their bodies as both of them click a contact on the base of the hilt of their shock-swords, as they move to bring their now-crackling-with-energy swords into contact with the Red...

[OOC: I almost want to type
+courage
+contest primitive arms/shock-sword +a vs Warrior's dodge

:lol: ]

*klaxon sound* Long Post Ahead! *klaxon*


Medical Bay 3, Fourty-Two?
"Ah, so you are part of a third group, but you're not at war with the other two," Aeryn says. She then tilts her head slightly, as if listening to something. "Hmmm. We're planning on sending a ship over to dock with Alpha, to attempt to locate a party who was captured by Reds. Do you know where the would likely be taken? Also, is there any way you could help us to get past the automated turrets?"
"Yes, we tolerate the existance of the Blues and the Reds. Eventually, they will die out, and the Norm will be re-established." Allison nods sagely. "I do not know where your party would be, but I think they may be taken to see the false Mothers. They are probably in danger.

"Turrets? What turrets? I'm sure the computer may have told us something about turrets at some time, but it is not so important."


"Thank you for your help," Aeryn says, nodding and smiling. "Here, you must be thirsty. Have a drink." Aeryn hands her a glass of water, which also happens to contain a drug to induce sleep.

Meanwhile, Fourty-Two? slips in close the the Stephen Hawking and docks with her. All of the psions are transfered to the larger ship (including Allison, if she goes to sleep), while a large assualt shuttle leaves a large bay and attaches to the side of Fourty-Two. A contingent of Fleet specialists and Marines also transfer to the small ship.
Once the transfers are completed, Fourty-Two? detaches from Hawking and heads back towards its previous position near to S-14.
As it moves, Fourty-Two? seems to undergo a transformation. Irises open around what had seemed to be laser rangefinders to revel CREWS emitters. Hidden panels slide back to show point defence emplacements, several cargo bays open to revel box missile launchers, and at the front of the ship the menacing shape of a gravitic imploder lance is revealed. (OOC: Nothing like a Q-ship to brighten someone's day.)
---
Inside the ship, the entry team is being briefed on what they on everything we know so far. The team is made up of:

Colonel Samuel Ashton - Party CO - Executive Officer, Fourty-Two?
Major Ellain Wilcox - Engineer
Lieutenant William Beneday - Engineer
Lieutenant Doctor Havelock Freisman - doctor, xenobiologist
Ensign Chris Barnon - Gravitics specialist
Medic 1st Bethaney Hemsman - medic
Chief Petty Officer Charles Meyers - scantech

Major Asheley Timberton - Party XO
Master Sargeant James Ekerts
nine more unnamed Marines

Major Jeremy Grant - Mage
Lieutenant April Lockery - Telekinetic
Lieutenant Robert Wheeler - Telepath

Everyone is in a skinsuit, which should provide some protection again light small arms fire. The suits have built-in comms, lifesign sensors, and small manuvering jets. Their computers include latest translation routines. All the none-marines have a stunner and a needler pistol, along with several clips and charge packs. Major Grant has a short sword. The specialists all have equipment, including various portable scanners. The two engineers have demo equipment as well.
Eight of the Marines are in standard battle armor (skinsuits with reactive armor, greater power resevers). Each one carries a heavy m/laser pistol, a nerve disuptor w/stun setting, a needler rifle, numerous grenades, and long molecular-edge combat knifes.
There are three (including Sarg. Ekerts) in powered combat armor. Each PCA suit is equipped with heavy m/lasers and wide-angle stunners on each arm, heavy needle tribarrel on the right arm, and a plasma torch on the left. They also have molecular-blade claws.
The suits are also being used to carry heavy equipment and supplies. Supplies include tents, food, water, ammunition: all the stuff you would expect for this kind of thing.
(OOC: Let's see a spacedy lion each that. It pays to be a slightly military-obssessed space empire.
And here's the important part.)

Once everything is prepared and loaded, the shuttle detaches and heads for the ports that SHODAN located for Sauscony. Fourty-Two? follows close behind, weapons ready and crew at battlestations. A signal goes out to the flagship, telling Sato and Shodey that our ships are going in.
Edit: On the Hawking, Aeryn orders the Healer to switch Allison to the (C) personality using the same procedures as before.

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet and Sefrin promptly dissolve into a vague blurred movement. And despite the gravity, they move fast - two flashes briefly light up their bodies as both of them click a contact on the base of the hilt of their shock-swords, as they move to bring their now-crackling-with-energy swords into contact with the Red...
(OOC: As RISE==elite, I'm assuming a base percentile of 80% to be adequate)
The Shadow's knife lands with a thunk in Warrior's left forearm, eliciting a screech. As it brings its weapon up in a poor attempt to parry, Sefrin's shock-sword practically lacerates one of Warrior's legs right off. Millet's blade, in true monster-slaying fashion, comes down upon the Red's bulbous brainpan like a machete on a watermelon. Warrior falls over and promptly expires, loose items of its gear bouncing out of pockets until they come to rest in the soil.

Karena, discovering there's no more fight, stows the vibroshiv, opens her case and begins assembling black-metal components. Within a few seconds, she has a fully operational maser energy weapon. Sliding a power cell into place, she says aloud, "Now what?"

Medical Bay 3, Fourty-Two?
"Thank you for your help," Aeryn says, nodding and smiling. "Here, you must be thirsty. Have a drink." Aeryn hands her a glass of water, which also happens to contain a drug to induce sleep.
"Why, thank you." *slurp* "My, that was tiring. It's almost as if that water contained a drug to induce *yawn* sleep..." *thunk*

Aboard TYWS-MCR Hornet
Once everything is prepared and loaded, the shuttle detaches and heads for the ports that SHODAN located for Sauscony. Fourty-Two? follows close behind, weapons ready and crew at battlestations. A signal goes out to the flagship, telling Sato and Shodey that our ships are going in.
Flag Captain Sato rubs her chin. "Well, one can always trust the Cetagandans to be... mmm... well-prepared. Comm, patch me in."

"Done, ma'am."

"Cetagandan force, Sato aboard Hornet. You are free to insert at aft-spar airlocks... just don't try to start any wars."

(OOC: Do you want to use the big cargo airlocks or the little personnel airlocks?)

"David, Hideki here. Do you require assistance? We are triangulating your posititon right now. The Ma-Tek party seems to be having some difficulty, but I don't think we could get there in time to make a difference. Karena, if you are listening, break in at anytime. Greens you say? Interesting. We are equipped to communicate with them. Let me get a fix on your position."

PLUS

The Elder taps her antennae together and clicks at the box, which translates into English. It actually has a bit of intonation now, unlike the Stephen Hawking drone earlier. "The computer translates for us... it is most useful. As for your ship, I am far too old to travel. Still, tell me of it.

"Oh, and I hear that you are speaking to friends, I suppose. Tell them I said hello and wish them health."

"Just a moment- Hideki, I don't think I require assistance, but it would be nice. The [i]Horizon is pretty much dead, but you can probably salvage some equipment from it. The Greens have some sort of computer that translates for them. Their leader says to tell you hello, and that she wishes you good health. Out."

David looke at the Elder again. "My ship, yes. It is, or was, a science vessel. We were investigating a hangar when we made the mistake of being seen by several defense turrets. They disabled the ship, and the only way to save ourselves was to use a Quantum Leap - I'll explain later - so we thought we might as well try to get inside S-14 - that's our name for this ship of yours - since we were going to have to leap anyway. But we crashed, I broke my leg, and Finn was killed by something in one of the jungles. I managed to save Finn's mind, but the situation isn't good."

"So... do you have any questions?"

"Just one." *waves at the spacesuited human* "Who is that?"

Loki Moya

The Moya circles the foreward spar, looking for a docking place. They what appear to be docking clamps, but they aren't the right size or shape.
Circling a few more times Commander Crichton notices what appears to be a personnel airlock. He points to it and orders the pilot to prepare for a soft-dock with the airlock. The Loki slows and settles a few meters from the hatch. Clamps from the Loki secure itself to the hull, as two concentric inflatable docking collars extend.

The team gathers around their hatch, waiting for the collars to seal and pressurize. Once that is done, "Sputnik" produces a card from his pocket. They cycle through the Loki's airlock, stepping onto the surface of S-14.

"Stash your weapons", Crichton commands.

Sputnik places the card into it's slot and hits a key.

The hatch opens, and the team cycles through the air lock.

Once they are inside, the Loki retracts the collars but maintains position, incase the team needs a quick egress.

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet and Sefrin promptly dissolve into a vague blurred movement. And despite the gravity, they move fast - two flashes briefly light up their bodies as both of them click a contact on the base of the hilt of their shock-swords, as they move to bring their now-crackling-with-energy swords into contact with the Red...
(OOC: As RISE==elite, I'm assuming a base percentile of 80% to be adequate)
The Shadow's knife lands with a thunk in Warrior's left forearm, eliciting a screech. As it brings its weapon up in a poor attempt to parry, Sefrin's shock-sword practically lacerates one of Warrior's legs right off. Millet's blade, in true monster-slaying fashion, comes down upon the Red's bulbous brainpan like a machete on a watermelon. Warrior falls over and promptly expires, loose items of its gear bouncing out of pockets until they come to rest in the soil.

Karena, discovering there's no more fight, stows the vibroshiv, opens her case and begins assembling black-metal components. Within a few seconds, she has a fully operational maser energy weapon. Sliding a power cell into place, she says aloud, "Now what?"


Millet and Sefrin cease concentrating as the Red flops down; as a consequence, they are quite visible once again. "Err," Sefrin mutters, now the action is over, quite clearly back to his usual self. With 'usual' meaning 'sluggish', of course.

Millet shoots him a look, looking up from regretfully gazing at the body of the fallen Warrior. "I suggest we get out of obvious sight, for one. And for another, I would suggest we get away from here, meaning this spot. And..."

She stoops, eyeing the equipment that has fallen from the Reds 'pockets'. She slips out her scanner, and, despite doubting that the items will prove useful in any way - and doubting that the scanner will actually tell her anything useful, for that matter - she proceeds to click her way to another US/laser scan routine.

Sefrin, however, kneels by the Red. "Sorry, old chap," he murmours, adding a few words in some odd-sounding tongue, presumably Nenyan: "nenani O esfati."

Near-literally translated: 'mighty are the fallen'.

S-14, Green Elder's Hut, Central Core, David
David looke at the Elder again. "My ship, yes. It is, or was, a science vessel. We were investigating a hangar when we made the mistake of being seen by several defense turrets. They disabled the ship, and the only way to save ourselves was to use a Quantum Leap - I'll explain later - so we thought we might as well try to get inside S-14 - that's our name for this ship of yours - since we were going to have to leap anyway. But we crashed, I broke my leg, and Finn was killed by something in one of the jungles. I managed to save Finn's mind, but the situation isn't good."
"I suppose we could send a drone or two to assist you, but they would not be of much help. We do not know about such things... they are not so important. Not as important as the crops, which keep their bodies fed and their air clean."

S-14, Red Audience Chamber, Ring Plain, Snel Party
"Just one." *waves at the spacesuited human* "Who is that?"
The Red Queen taps her antennae together. "We don't rightfully know. Several of my miners brought him in before we found you, but he doesn't speak our language, unlike you. He does speak something close, but different. Maybe you know?"

S-14, Personnel Airlock, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
The hatch opens, and the team cycles through the air lock.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp19.jpg
Coming from the north cell through the cylindrical interairlock, the central cell is dominated by a cylindrical ladder leading to a hatch in the ceiling and two shallow bowl-shaped depressions in the east and west corners of the cell. Large hexagonal doors lead to the northwest and southeast, while two small hexagonal doors lead to the southwest and southeast. From the Sakkran party, it is known that the large doors lead to EVA prep rooms and the small doors lead to machinery rooms.

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
She stoops, eyeing the equipment that has fallen from the Reds 'pockets'. She slips out her scanner, and, despite doubting that the items will prove useful in any way - and doubting that the scanner will actually tell her anything useful, for that matter - she proceeds to click her way to another US/laser scan routine.
The cylindrical weapon is some sort of directed energy weapon apparently designed to overload the EM sensing capability of a S-14 sentient insectoid. It is probably designed to stun much in the same way as nonlethal flash, retinal flare, and sonic weapons are.

Another small device appears to be made of a stabilized inner sphere marked with a yellow dot held inside a clear plastic shell with a layer of lubricant inbetween. Any way the sphere is turned, the yellow dot continues to point in the same three-dimensional direction. The outer shell is marked like a globe with what appears to be latitude and longitude markings.

A metal box about the size and shape of a WWII field phone appears to act as... a field phone. It has a liquid crystal display that shows odd pictures--think of a two digit display, but the "digits" look to be made of only two lines that change position--and a small grille that smells oddly. Somewhere between lotus flowers and dry wood-paper.

There is a package that can only be described as a K-ration: A few bricks of pure nutrition. They probably taste awful.

Warrior also carried several projectile weapons; a heavy assault rifle and two pistols. They are all extremely clunky and look quite Sten-gunnish in design philosophy and AK-47 in durability. The rifle is a bit difficult to wield with its size but the pistols seem managable... excluding the uncomfortable alien grip, of course. There is also plenty of ammunition for these things.

Finally there is a two-barreled weapon, with one large-caliber barrel and one small-caliber barrel. The large-caliber barrel fires the stickynets that entangled the party in the first place. The small-caliber barrel is connected to a pressure vessel and looks similar to a flamethrower without the pilot light.

Aboard TYWS-MCR Hornet
Once everything is prepared and loaded, the shuttle detaches and heads for the ports that SHODAN located for Sauscony. Fourty-Two? follows close behind, weapons ready and crew at battlestations. A signal goes out to the flagship, telling Sato and Shodey that our ships are going in.
Flag Captain Sato rubs her chin. "Well, one can always trust the Cetagandans to be... mmm... well-prepared. Comm, patch me in."

"Done, ma'am."

"Cetagandan force, Sato aboard Hornet. You are free to insert at aft-spar airlocks... just don't try to start any wars."

(OOC: Do you want to use the big cargo airlocks or the little personnel airlocks?)

Sauscony replies, "Don't worry, Flag Captain. We'll try not to make our buggy friends to unhappy." The two Cetagandan craft approach the one of the little personel locks, the larger ship leading slightly with battlescreens raised.

S-14, Personnel Airlock, Aft-Spar, Cetagandan Armada
Sauscony replies, "Don't worry, Flag Captain. We'll try not to make our buggy friends to unhappy." The two Cetagandan craft approach the one of the little personel locks, the larger ship leading slightly with battlescreens raised.
Their progress to the personnel airlocks remains unopposed. Assuming that everyone gets through the simple airlock puzzle (insert key in slot, push left button, remove key, enter airlock, insert key, push outboard button, pull blue lever, push inboard key, enter vessel; repeat in groups of 6), they all end up in a personnel airlock.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp19.jpg

"I suppose we could send a drone or two to assist you, but they would not be of much help. We do not know about such things... they are not so important. Not as important as the crops, which keep their bodies fed and their air clean."

"'Their'? Who do you mean? Who are 'they'?"

S-14, Red Audience Chamber, Ring Plain, Snel Party
"Just one." *waves at the spacesuited human* "Who is that?"
The Red Queen taps her antennae together. "We don't rightfully know. Several of my miners brought him in before we found you, but he doesn't speak our language, unlike you. He does speak something close, but different. Maybe you know?"

"I can try to communicate with him. Aside from that, do you now wish to visit my vessel? You were interested in meeting a superior, were you not?"

Loki Moya

The Moya circles the foreward spar, looking for a docking place. They what appear to be docking clamps, but they aren't the right size or shape.
Circling a few more times Commander Crichton notices what appears to be a personnel airlock. He points to it and orders the pilot to prepare for a soft-dock with the airlock. The Loki slows and settles a few meters from the hatch. Clamps from the Loki secure itself to the hull, as two concentric inflatable docking collars extend.

The team gathers around their hatch, waiting for the collars to seal and pressurize. Once that is done, "Sputnik" produces a card from his pocket. They cycle through the Loki's airlock, stepping onto the surface of S-14.

"Stash your weapons", Crichton commands.

Sputnik places the card into it's slot and hits a key.

The hatch opens, and the team cycles through the air lock.

Once they are inside, the Loki retracts the collars but maintains position, incase the team needs a quick egress.

Mary gives no thought to swift egress and immediately starts pushing on impatiently, confident that the team will keep up and inform her of any clues of Jacque's whereabouts.

click ...Visor down. brush Contacts live for action.

S-14, Green Elder's Hut, Central Core, David
"'Their'? Who do you mean? Who are 'they'?"
The Elder taps his antennae together. "The non-Norm, the deformed"--the word comes out with special care, as someone trying to gently describe someone physically disabled--"who fight so hard in their misunderstanding. I trust you have not met them?"

S-14, Red Audience Chamber, Ring Plain, Snel Party plus Someone Else
"I can try to communicate with him. Aside from that, do you now wish to visit my vessel? You were interested in meeting a superior, were you not?"
"Please. We've been trying to talk to him for <time period> and we just can't understand him. It's like he's singing in maps.

"As for visiting your vessel... I could send an envoy, but I am the life of our people. I cannot take the risk, you understand. Still, is there anything I can help you with?"

S-14, Access Tunnel, Foreward Spar, Mary
Mary gives no thought to swift egress and immediately starts pushing on impatiently, confident that the team will keep up and inform her of any clues of Jacque's whereabouts.
The hatch in the ceiling of the airlock leads into a large, wide access tunnel that runs fore and aft. There are more doors in the floor spaced out in regular intervals. In moderately-sized niche in the antispinward wall is a cylindrical ladder that leads up to a hatch in the ceiling.

The walls, floor, and ceiling are covered with a fine Velcro-like insulation, and there are small bowl-shaped depressions in the floor every so often. There are large colored symbols on the walls that are probably deck or section indicators.

The Elder taps his antennae together. "The non-Norm, the deformed"--the word comes out with special care, as someone trying to gently describe someone physically disabled--"who fight so hard in their misunderstanding. I trust you have not met them?"

"I have not, but there were reports of Reds and Blues before the accident that brought me here."

"Please. We've been trying to talk to him for <time period> and we just can't understand him. It's like he's singing in maps.

"As for visiting your vessel... I could send an envoy, but I am the life of our people. I cannot take the risk, you understand. Still, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Very well, an envoy is just as good as yourself. There is little more that you can do for me, although I am happy to assist if there is anything I can do for you. Talking to him, for instance."

<To the suited figure> "Do you understand English? Go dhu célí célíminé?" <-tack on greetings in various other languages.

Their progress to the personnel airlocks remains unopposed. Assuming that everyone gets through the simple airlock puzzle (insert key in slot, push left button, remove key, enter airlock, insert key, push outboard button, pull blue lever, push inboard key, enter vessel; repeat in groups of 6), they all end up in a personnel airlock.


Once inside S-14, the team slowly advances. They are looking for anything that looks like it would be a mass-transit system that could lead them towards the unidentified energy signature that was detected. They're also doing their best to avoid detection by the aliens, and are using motion and heat sensor to attempt to locate any that are nearby in order to do so.
Meanwhile, the assualt shuttle's crew has sealed their airlock. Fourty-Two? holds postion roughly two kilometers from S-14.

<To the suited figure> "Do you understand English? Go dhu célí célíminé?" <-tack on greetings in various other languages.

Jacque blinked. "Ah. Yes, as a matter of fact. And what are you, exactly?" He stared unabashedly at the larva, squinting momentarily.

"You don't quite appear to belong in the same phylum as the others here, if I dare say so myself..." Molecular Biology, not Zoology... oh well, I covered basics on that field anyway. Hmph.

S-14, Transport Car, Aft Spar, Cetaganda
Once inside S-14, the team slowly advances. They are looking for anything that looks like it would be a mass-transit system that could lead them towards the unidentified energy signature that was detected. They're also doing their best to avoid detection by the aliens, and are using motion and heat sensor to attempt to locate any that are nearby in order to do so.
Avoiding isolated areas of population they come to a signature that resembles the transport vehicles used by so many other parties. It is a tight fit, but everyone can squeeze inside the transport car. While the diagram on the display pedestal is just as confusing as ever, it is relatively obvious where the central core is by finding a large rectangular void. There seem to be some large voids just aft of the core, ahead of a spherical web of rooms. From Karmabaijani telemetry it is known that touching the light pen to the display activates the transport car.

S-14, Transport Car, Aft Spar, Cetaganda
Avoiding isolated areas of population they come to a signature that resembles the transport vehicles used by so many other parties. It is a tight fit, but everyone can squeeze inside the transport car. While the diagram on the display pedestal is just as confusing as ever, it is relatively obvious where the central core is by finding a large rectangular void. There seem to be some large voids just aft of the core, ahead of a spherical web of rooms. From Karmabaijani telemetry it is known that touching the light pen to the display activates the transport car.

Colonel Ashton and Major Timberton look at the display. "From what we know, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of activity in the core. Once there, we should be able to proceed quickly aftward towards the energy source."
"Agreed." Ashton touches the light pen to the core. "Stunners ready, just in case we meet someone at the other end."

Sakkran Scientific Findings, Spaceberg "Golf" Artifacts
On the Yamato, Lossa looks over the recordings made on the trip to the Spaceberg "Golf", including the destination of the S-14 craft. Shuuta is analyzing the samples she brought back from the ice. Griimph is analyzing the samples taken from the inner wall of the access pipe. Krenn ponders the implications of the value of life as seen by other races, and writes down his findings.
Recordings: By collating the recordings with EM patterns, watching the insects as they speak, and a keen sense of smell, it is now apparent that the communications mode of S-14 is made up of the synthesis of four distinct components: The RF "telepathy," aural speech, visual cues (primarily antennae movement), and olfactory cues (pheromones). All four aspects are used in communication whenever possible, but basic idea understanding is possible using only RF and aural communication while intonation and emotion are indicated by the visual and olfactory cues. Only when all four are combined is it possible to completely "understand" the speech with grammar and abstract constructs.

Ice: The spaceberg's saltwater ice is far denser than common terrestrial ice. Embedded within that small sample are thousands of microorganisms that appear to be surface or near-surface dwellers optimized for life around a blue giant star, given the nature of their photosynthetic structures (like terrestrial photosynthetic structures, they are stacks of photosynthetic nodes built into a chloroplast-like structure, but instead of being optimized for white light it has a definite overabundance (in terrestrial terms) of blue-sensitive structures). Genetically, the organisms are coded with double-helical deoxyribonucleic acid, except the nucleotides are almost completely different and there are six matching pairs. The only nucleotides shared with terrestrial DNA is adenine and thalamine.

Insulation: The insulation, under closer inspection, is actually made up of two layers: One is a very fine black sheet that appears to be a superconductor of heat surrounded in a white sheath. The other is a deeply textured organic polymer that is primarily made up of vacuum-filled spheres connected by a random mesh of fibers; it is a highly efficient insulator. The interface of the two substances is dominated by a lipid film where the water-shunning tails are oriented towards each other. In ASCII art:

Insulator
O <-- water-loving head
| <-- water-shunning tail

| <-- water-shunning tail
O<-- water loving head
Conductor

With little to no physical contact, the only heat loss from the conductor is from radiative energy, minimized by its white reflective sheath.

Poetry: Life is cheap but resources aren't.

OOC: Now that's some fine poetry there. heh.

The team recharges the batteries on their EVA suits, and dons them. They board the Marie Curie and prepare for take-off. "Pilot, make certain that the Alpha craft knows we're coming. We don't want them to blow us away without having a chance to be heard."

S-14, A Room With A View, Aft End of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Colonel Ashton and Major Timberton look at the display. "From what we know, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of activity in the core. Once there, we should be able to proceed quickly aftward towards the energy source."
"Agreed." Ashton touches the light pen to the core. "Stunners ready, just in case we meet someone at the other end."
The transport car hums for a moment, moves quite unerratically, and comes to a slow-braking stop. The top hatch opens up to a balcony-like cage open to the thirty-kilometer wide Central Core.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/s14core.jpg
It stretches out as far as the eye can see forewards, but it ends abruptly one kilometer to the aft in a giant domed cap with kilometer-wide tunnels along the inside that lead deeper aft. All around are barges, zeppelin-like constructions, and other assorted vehicles. There are several "dragonfly" vehicles tethered to the balcony.

S-14SECZONE, Transitioning from Yamato to S-14
The team recharges the batteries on their EVA suits, and dons them. They board the Marie Curie and prepare for take-off. "Pilot, make certain that the Alpha craft knows we're coming. We don't want them to blow us away without having a chance to be heard."
"Okay," the pilot of the Marie Curie called into the back, "we got squawkers on. Transmitting in English and bug-speak, saying that we're from the alien vessels and heading towards Sierra-Fourteen. If they can't hear us, they're deaf. Now, where do you want me to touch this thing down?"

OOC: Look at me, I'm the forum, I like to make life difficult for people!

S-14, A Room With A View, Aft End of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The transport car hums for a moment, moves quite unerratically, and comes to a slow-braking stop. The top hatch opens up to a balcony-like cage open to the thirty-kilometer wide Central Core.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/s14core.jpg
It stretches out as far as the eye can see forewards, but it ends abruptly one kilometer to the aft in a giant domed cap with kilometer-wide tunnels along the inside that lead deeper aft. All around are barges, zeppelin-like constructions, and other assorted vehicles. There are several "dragonfly" vehicles tethered to the balcony.
"

Colonel Ashton has his people examine the various vehicles, looking for ones that look easy to pilot and that could carry the entire party. They are also monitoring for any communications that can be detected, especially any from other parties.

S-14, A Room With A View, Aft End of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Colonel Ashton has his people examine the various vehicles, looking for ones that look easy to pilot and that could carry the entire party. They are also monitoring for any communications that can be detected, especially any from other parties.
The dragonfly-vehicles look big enough to hold one person and their gear (or two people very snugly), have a simple left-right control yoke that controls wing tilt and are pedal powered; with a simple modification they can be set up for bipedal use. There are twenty-five of them currently moored to the balcony.

Communications-wise, they can hear the Karmabaijani, Eniqciri (David), and Ma-tek parties. There is also constant RF chatter from the S-14 crew, but none of it seems too vitally important.

Loki Moya

The Moya circles the foreward spar, looking for a docking place. They what appear to be docking clamps, but they aren't the right size or shape.
Circling a few more times Commander Crichton notices what appears to be a personnel airlock. He points to it and orders the pilot to prepare for a soft-dock with the airlock. The Loki slows and settles a few meters from the hatch. Clamps from the Loki secure itself to the hull, as two concentric inflatable docking collars extend.

The team gathers around their hatch, waiting for the collars to seal and pressurize. Once that is done, "Sputnik" produces a card from his pocket. They cycle through the Loki's airlock, stepping onto the surface of S-14.

"Stash your weapons", Crichton commands.

Sputnik places the card into it's slot and hits a key.

The hatch opens, and the team cycles through the air lock.

Once they are inside, the Loki retracts the collars but maintains position, incase the team needs a quick egress.

Mary gives no thought to swift egress and immediately starts pushing on impatiently, confident that the team will keep up and inform her of any clues of Jacque's whereabouts.

click ...Visor down. brush Contacts live for action.
Crichton swears under his breath and motions for the team to follow. He catchs up with Mary and asks her to stop for a moment.

"Sputinik" comes up and takes of his pack. He extends a few flexible antenni on the pack, put the pack back on and looks intently at his data pad.
"I'm getting a faint return, I suggest we move further into the vessel, hopefully the return will pick up in strength."
Crichton looks at Mary.
"Ma'am, please slow down and at least allow me the 'semblance of control over this mission."
As it is though, since I'm guessing you may possess psionic abilities, please point your desired direction."

S-14, A Room With A View, Aft End of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The dragonfly-vehicles look big enough to hold one person and their gear (or two people very snugly), have a simple left-right control yoke that controls wing tilt and are pedal powered; with a simple modification they can be set up for bipedal use. There are twenty-five of them currently moored to the balcony.

Communications-wise, they can hear the Karmabaijani, Eniqciri (David), and Ma-tek parties. There is also constant RF chatter from the S-14 crew, but none of it seems too vitally important.

"I suppose these will have to do," Ashton says. He orders the dragonflies to be modified. Once that is done, he says, "I want everyone to keep their - fliers close together. No one get seperated from the group. If we have any difficulty keeping together, we'll just have to stop and work our way aft the oldfashioned way." The team sets out. They leave behind a carefully concealed comms rely, to make sure they can contact the other teams if they need to. A message is transmitted on a secure frequency informing the others that they are present and that they are headed aftwards.

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The team sets out.
As they launch their dragonflies out into the null-gravity core, they tumble slowly as their crews clamber into them and stabilize once the propellors start going. As they pass farther out of the wall of the core, they hit a jetstream going 20 kilometers per hour aftwards. Most of the party makes it through the transition, but six of them (your call who) tumble out of control, spinning towards the jungles in the central stalk. There's still time for them to right themselves, fortunately.

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
As they launch their dragonflies out into the null-gravity core, they tumble slowly as their crews clamber into them and stabilize once the propellors start going. As they pass farther out of the wall of the core, they hit a jetstream going 20 kilometers per hour aftwards. Most of the party makes it through the transition, but six of them (your call who) tumble out of control, spinning towards the jungles in the central stalk. There's still time for them to right themselves, fortunately.

As they tumble, the six people try to use their shoulder jets to halt their tumble. At the same time, the rest do their best to loop back towards the tumblers. Lt. Lockery, the telekinetic, also attempts to stablize the stricken craft.
(OOC: I'm going to say...Major Timberton, Lt. Beneday, Lt. Wheeler, Medic Hemsman, Sarg. Ekers, and another Marines.)

The team recharges the batteries on their EVA suits, and dons them. They board the Marie Curie and prepare for take-off. "Pilot, make certain that the Alpha craft knows we're coming. We don't want them to blow us away without having a chance to be heard."
"Okay," the pilot of the Marie Curie called into the back, "we got squawkers on. Transmitting in English and bug-speak, saying that we're from the alien vessels and heading towards Sierra-Fourteen. If they can't hear us, they're deaf. Now, where do you want me to touch this thing down?"

Griimph calls out as he straps in, "If we could land near the tallest peak of some place called The Ring of Plain, that would be optimal. I'm skinned if I know exactly what that is, but it's where the directions start us. Make any sense?"

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
As they tumble, the six people try to use their shoulder jets to halt their tumble. At the same time, the rest do their best to loop back towards the tumblers. Lt. Lockery, the telekinetic, also attempts to stablize the stricken craft.
(OOC: I'm going to say...Major Timberton, Lt. Beneday, Lt. Wheeler, Medic Hemsman, Sarg. Ekers, and another Marines.)
Of the six magnificent men in their flying machines (http://www.ksu.edu/mensglee/sounds/magnificent.mp3) four manage to right themselves, but between the conflicting efforts of mistimed suit thrusters and telekinetics two make their situation no better if not slightly worse. The two remaining stricken craft flutter closer and closer to the null-gravity jungle.

S-14SECZONE, Transitioning to S-14 from Hornet
Griimph calls out as he straps in, "If we could land near the tallest peak of some place called The Ring of Plain, that would be optimal. I'm skinned if I know exactly what that is, but it's where the directions start us. Make any sense?"
"The what of what?" the pilot calls back. "Are you talkin' on the inside of that thing? Well... there is that sea bottom in Rent Hotel... I could try pushing through it with the gravdrive... it's just never been done before, and I'm not sure it's the best idea I've ever had.

"Actually, no, the water would spin out and I'd kill everybody. Forget I said it. I'll find a cargo airlock or somethin' I can fit this thing in instead."

S-14SECZONE, Transitioning to S-14 from Hornet
Griimph calls out as he straps in, "If we could land near the tallest peak of some place called The Ring of Plain, that would be optimal. I'm skinned if I know exactly what that is, but it's where the directions start us. Make any sense?"
"The what of what?" the pilot calls back. "Are you talkin' on the inside of that thing? Well... there is that sea bottom in Rent Hotel... I could try pushing through it with the gravdrive... it's just never been done before, and I'm not sure it's the best idea I've ever had.

"Actually, no, the water would spin out and I'd kill everybody. Forget I said it. I'll find a cargo airlock or somethin' I can fit this thing in instead."

"That sounds as good as anything else. A lack of dying would also be a good thing. A cargo lock near Rent Hotel may actually put us on a good start."

S-14, Cargo Airlock Near Rent Hotel, Side of Torus, Sakkran Party
"That sounds as good as anything else. A lack of dying would also be a good thing. A cargo lock near Rent Hotel may actually put us on a good start."
The pilot finds a cargo airlock that doesn't seem to have been used in a while, from the scarring. Still, the doors look like they should function. Sending the copilot out to key the lock, the massive doors swing wide open outwards and the Marie Curie floats into the bay, returning to rest on the massive cargo doors. The reinforcing bolts ensuring the pressurizing airlock stays closed have to be a meter in diameter. As the shuttle takes up the spin of S-14, the apparent gravity rises to 1.3 gravities... not all too comfortable, but tolerable.

There is a large circular door in the ceiling that corresponds to the massive door in the floor, and there is a lift inset in the wall leading up to a smaller hexagonal door in the ceiling. The six-meter wide lift is currently on the level of the Marie Curie and its attendant console has one button.

From meters, the room is pressurizing, but given its volume (almost 400 meters a side) it will take a while. The shuttle pilot powers down the craft and walks into the back as the copilot radios in about the inside of the massive airlock. "It'll be a while, folks. Anyone know anything to pass the time?"

At the mention of some way to pass the time, Krenn pulls out a stack of thick cards, and some shining, triangular pieces of metal. "There is always the hu-man game Spades. It's a most fascinating game, with psychological undertones." Krenn starts dealing out the cards, 13 to each player. Lossa decides to bow out of it, and continues analyzing the language files. Perhaps I can mimic their movements to accompany their sounds enough to have a mock translation working.

Krenn looks at the shuttle pilot with a cocked head. "Are you familiar with the game?"

Crichton swears under his breath and motions for the team to follow. He catchs up with Mary and asks her to stop for a moment.

"Sputinik" comes up and takes of his pack. He extends a few flexible antenni on the pack, put the pack back on and looks intently at his data pad.
"I'm getting a faint return, I suggest we move further into the vessel, hopefully the return will pick up in strength."
Crichton looks at Mary.
"Ma'am, please slow down and at least allow me the 'semblance of control over this mission."
As it is though, since I'm guessing you may possess psionic abilities, please point your desired direction."

"Psionic?" Mary pauses, tasting the unfamiliar term and recognizing it after a moment. "No. But up into the belly of the beast seems right to me... he always did tend to find his way into the most amazing places." Having paused long enough for Crichton to catch his breath ... i]and start complaining again, I'll bet[/i]... she continued on (clamoring up ladders/hatches as available) with the resolute pace of a trained athlete who knows she can keep pressing on for miles of corridor on end without getting winded. And, at that rate, expects many more miles for the day.

"Semblance of control" indeed. She snorted at the thought.

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Cetagandan Party

(OOC: I'm going to say...Major Timberton, Lt. Beneday, Lt. Wheeler, Medic Hemsman, Sarg. Ekers, and another Marine.)
Of the six magnificent men in their flying machines (http://www.ksu.edu/mensglee/sounds/magnificent.mp3) four manage to right themselves, but between the conflicting efforts of mistimed suit thrusters and telekinetics two make their situation no better if not slightly worse. The two remaining stricken craft flutter closer and closer to the null-gravity jungle.
[/quote]

[OOC: *rolls two d6* Looks like it will be...Timberton and Beneday still heading for the spacedy jungle]

Realizing he was doing more harm than good, the kinetic stopped trying to assist. The two still heading for the jungle try continue to try to correct themselves, although not with jets, or at least to slow their approach. They also stop peddling. Everyone else has circled around and is heading back, although slowly due to the wind.

S-14, Downtime in the Marie Curie, Airlock near Rent Hotel, Sakkran Party
Lossa decides to bow out of it, and continues analyzing the language files. Perhaps I can mimic their movements to accompany their sounds enough to have a mock translation working.
Given time, it becomes apparent antennae movement does correlate to various messages, and so can be emulated in simple messages. With an improved understanding of the aural language and a basic grasp of the visual language, Lossa can now communicate in passable (albeit far from excellent) bugspeak.
Krenn looks at the shuttle pilot with a cocked head. "Are you familiar with the game?"
The shuttle pilot nods. "I know how it's played. Bring the hurt."

S-14, Who Knows Where, Forward Spar (Probably), Mary
...she continued on (clamoring up ladders/hatches as available) with the resolute pace of a trained athlete who knows she can keep pressing on for miles of corridor on end without getting winded. And, at that rate, expects many more miles for the day.
Probably getting thoroughly lost and seperated from the Berserkers in the process, she winds her way through access corridors, Jefferies tubes, "oh-look-at-that-hatch-gee-I-wonder-where-it-goes," et cetera. If there was ever a reason to randomize where someone ends up, this would be it.
Eventually, a hatch in the ceiling from a side access tunnel leads into a hexagonal room.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp9.jpg
The walls of the central hex are thickly lined with a dense foam-like material that absorbs sounds, and there are two small bowl-shaped depressions in the north-northwestern and eastern corners of the room. Closed hexagonal doors to the northwest, northeast, and south are the only other features in the atrium.

S-14, In The Air (Sorta), Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The two still heading for the jungle try continue to try to correct themselves, although not with jets, or at least to slow their approach.
One manages to right himself and even gets the hang of it enough so when he falls out of the slipstream near the central stalk he rides the winds like a champ, but one poor sap just doesn't have any luck as his dragonfly softly crashes into the furthermost bowers of the jungle, frightening out eleven cuttle-rats.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg9.jpg
The rats mostly just swim around looking confused, but three begin poking around the crashed dragonfly. Fortunately, the composite fuselage took the force of the landing instead of the thin wings, so it looks like it's still good to fly.

<all you phBB bugs belong to us>

S-14, In The Air (Sorta), Central Core, Cetagandan Party
One manages to right himself and even gets the hang of it enough so when he falls out of the slipstream near the central stalk he rides the winds like a champ, but one poor sap just doesn't have any luck as his dragonfly softly crashes into the furthermost bowers of the jungle, frightening out eleven cuttle-rats.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg9.jpg
The rats mostly just swim around looking confused, but three begin poking around the crashed dragonfly. Fortunately, the composite fuselage took the force of the landing instead of the thin wings, so it looks like it's still good to fly.

Major Timberton curses like...well, like a Marine. "Seventeen years as a Marine...qualified to pilot assault shuttles and attack fliers...can't even get flying paddleboat to go straight..." She then draws her sidearm and climbs out to inspect the damage. Seeing that it looks fine, she pushes the dragonfly off from the jungle, climbs back in, and very carefully starts peddling again. Meanwhile, everyone circles above her waiting. Someone waves to her, but fortuantly she can't see who.

Crichton curses under his breath. He orders the group to stop, they are in yet another hexagonal room.
He looks around (OOC: what do we have here)
Glancing at the team, he sees some of the scientists huffing and puffing, outta breath.
I enjoy a good race, and this missy was a good one indeed, but these science types are too F***ing slow. Goddamn civies.
R-Diana simply stands there, Well, at least the robot isn't tired
"Ten minute break to catch your breath."
"Willis, see if you can contact Mary, see that she is okay, and see about Jacques as well."

Jeff Cooper glances around, chuckling to himself about the other scientists I told them that they should work out more
With that he plops down next to one of the bowl shaped depressions, and begins checking it over.
What the hell are these things, and why are they all over the place

S-14, In The Air, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Seeing that it looks fine, she pushes the dragonfly off from the jungle, climbs back in, and very carefully starts peddling again. Meanwhile, everyone circles above her waiting. Someone waves to her, but fortuantly she can't see who.
She finally gets the hang of it, and passes into the slipstream successfully. (Actually, the roll failed again but who's keeping track?) Still, the rustling of the bower from pushing off causes some... thing to shoot out of a hollow in the jungle.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg6.jpg
It's seven meters long with a one and a half meter maw. Madly spinning tentacles around two conical organs in the rear propel it, and the tentacles around its maw grabs whatever poor cuttle-rats seem to be in the way and shove them into the maw, where rows after rows of sharp nasty lamprey-esque teeth do a good job of grinding them up.

Detecting the Major via the simple eye-spots covering its body, it changes direction with surprising agility and gives chase.

S-14, Who Knows Where, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
Crichton curses under his breath. He orders the group to stop, they are in yet another hexagonal room. He looks around (OOC: what do we have here)
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp5.jpg
The atrium is, other than being coated by the universal Velcro insulation, notable only for two of the equally universal depressions in the north-northwest and south-southwest corners of the room. Closed hexagonal doors grace four of the walls, with the other two opening to a darkened room to the southwest. There are strange noises from coming from the darkened room, as well as some dim fluctuations of light.
Jeff Cooper glances around, chuckling to himself about the other scientists I told them that they should work out more
With that he plops down next to one of the bowl shaped depressions, and begins checking it over.
What the hell are these things, and why are they all over the place
The bowl-shaped depression is made of a durable, slick ceramic and ends with a fist-sized drain at the bottom. It smells vaguely of chemical disinfectant.

As Willis sits tinkering with the comm. pack, Crichton wanders around the room. He approaches the darkened room cautiously, and soon realizes, that it is set up like a small conference room. The team notices the computer terminals about the various rooms.
The electronics/computer specialist(OOC: must look up name), sits down at one of the terminals.
(OOC: What does she see?)

S-14, Watering Hole in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
She stoops, eyeing the equipment that has fallen from the Reds 'pockets'. She slips out her scanner, and, despite doubting that the items will prove useful in any way - and doubting that the scanner will actually tell her anything useful, for that matter - she proceeds to click her way to another US/laser scan routine.
The cylindrical weapon is some sort of directed energy weapon apparently designed to overload the EM sensing capability of a S-14 sentient insectoid. It is probably designed to stun much in the same way as nonlethal flash, retinal flare, and sonic weapons are.

Another small device appears to be made of a stabilized inner sphere marked with a yellow dot held inside a clear plastic shell with a layer of lubricant inbetween. Any way the sphere is turned, the yellow dot continues to point in the same three-dimensional direction. The outer shell is marked like a globe with what appears to be latitude and longitude markings.

A metal box about the size and shape of a WWII field phone appears to act as... a field phone. It has a liquid crystal display that shows odd pictures--think of a two digit display, but the "digits" look to be made of only two lines that change position--and a small grille that smells oddly. Somewhere between lotus flowers and dry wood-paper.

There is a package that can only be described as a K-ration: A few bricks of pure nutrition. They probably taste awful.

Warrior also carried several projectile weapons; a heavy assault rifle and two pistols. They are all extremely clunky and look quite Sten-gunnish in design philosophy and AK-47 in durability. The rifle is a bit difficult to wield with its size but the pistols seem managable... excluding the uncomfortable alien grip, of course. There is also plenty of ammunition for these things.

Finally there is a two-barreled weapon, with one large-caliber barrel and one small-caliber barrel. The large-caliber barrel fires the stickynets that entangled the party in the first place. The small-caliber barrel is connected to a pressure vessel and looks similar to a flamethrower without the pilot light.

Millet eyes the sphere with the yellow dot (henceforth the SWTYD), and emits a tiny "Hmmm" noise. She hefts it, turning it over and examining it.

After roughly two or three seconds, she mouths, "Some sort of positioning device. Might be useful." She stows it.

She also takes up one of the pistols, and some ammunition, and slings them to Sefrin - who, after hefting the pistol a little, stows them. The only other thing she shows any interest in is the field-comms unit-like object. She takes that, and, slipping out her PDA, takes several snapshots of the 'digits' for later viewing with it's tiny onboard digital camera. She doesn't take the object in question, however.

Mouthing again, "Sefrin. Keep an eye out for those hominids, aye?"

Sefrin nods, once, and does so.

Standing, she takes another look around, this time more able to concentrate and look for the appropriate direction to head in; wherever that might be.

If it comes down to it, though, she'd probably just pick a random direction anyway.

Probably getting thoroughly lost and seperated from the Berserkers in the process, she winds her way through access corridors, Jefferies tubes, "oh-look-at-that-hatch-gee-I-wonder-where-it-goes," et cetera. If there was ever a reason to randomize where someone ends up, this would be it.
Eventually, a hatch in the ceiling from a side access tunnel leads into a hexagonal room.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp9.jpg
The walls of the central hex are thickly lined with a dense foam-like material that absorbs sounds, and there are two small bowl-shaped depressions in the north-northwestern and eastern corners of the room. Closed hexagonal doors to the northwest, northeast, and south are the only other features in the atrium.


Mary picks northeast, tossing a stray marble she found in her pocket in the northeastern depression as she tries the door.

Idiots got lost on me... oh well. She taps her headset to broadcast. "Crichton, you need to keep in better shape and stop getting lost."

Crichton chuckles, "Ma'am, I'm in excellent shape, and I'll race you any time you want." He pauses, "Unfortunately, some of these science types, don't share our military physique or enjoyment of running. It is my duty to watch these civies though, and I am a man of duty."
He sighs.
"Oh well, we're stopping here, we've found what appears to be a conference room and set of offices complete with computer terminals. We're going to stay awhile and check them out."

Near the wreck of the Farspace Horizon, the humanoid figure got bored, although it didn't realize what the emotion was at the time. Not having anything better to do, it initiated a genetic algorithm to figure out how to move. Inside the ship, the parts of Finn's replacement brain finished growing together, but that didn't do much good without someone else to put his memories back. And David might be a bit annoyed to come back and find that Finn's new body wandered off without him....

Meanwhile,


<To the suited figure> "Do you understand English? Go dhu célí célíminé?" <-tack on greetings in various other languages.

Jacque blinked. "Ah. Yes, as a matter of fact. And what are you, exactly?" He stared unabashedly at the larva, squinting momentarily.

"You don't quite appear to belong in the same phylum as the others here, if I dare say so myself..." Molecular Biology, not Zoology... oh well, I covered basics on that field anyway. Hmph.

"I am 1 of 1, primary contact vector for the mind of 2 of 3, secondary adjunct of engineering node 5, submatrix designation Oberon. In short, I am an envoy from the Snel party, not one of these natives."

"Have you selected an envoy yourself?" <-To the Red Mother

"Snel... Snel..." The image of a bicycle helmet flashed before Jacque's eyes momentarily. "Oh, Snel. I think I've heard of Snel before, but I've never met one before. These insectoids here seem to have a strange sense of humor from what I've gathered. I tried to get across the axioms of Peano arithmatic to one of them, and it just turned around and walked off. I'm not sure I'm getting through to them very well, they seem to have a poor grasp of mathematics... and then they seem to start laughing at the oddest moments. Hmph..."

His eyes brightened.

"Ahh... perhaps they're all bored with such elementary basics as I've tried so far. Perhaps I should try some more advanced material the next time I try broaching the topic of mathematics..." Jacque paused for long enough for the larva to get in a word edgewise.

It's been a little while since he actually talked to someone.

"Perhaps they are simply amused at your attempts to communicate. They tell me that they can barely understand a thing you say. Would you like me to translate for you?"

"Perhaps they are simply amused at your attempts to communicate. They tell me that they can barely understand a thing you say. Would you like me to translate for you?"

"Oh dear." Jacque stopped in his tracks. Mentally speaking, of course.

"Actually, could you send me your language database? That would be simpler in the long run... not to mention clearing up a few odd little things I'm curious about."

S-14, Office Room, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
Crichton wanders around the room. He approaches the darkened room cautiously, and soon realizes, that it is set up like a small conference room.
And inside there are several Blues having a conference. One, who was pointing at a pie chart being displayed using an overhead projector, simply drops her remote control and points. When the other Blues see what the presenter is pointing at now, they scramble to their computer terminals, carefully avoiding any surprised humans or robots, and begin accessing their terminals with insanely fast keystrokes.
The electronics/computer specialist(OOC: must look up name), sits down at one of the terminals.
(OOC: What does she see?)
On the screen, there is a floating blue crystal rotating slowly and something that appears to approximate a login screen. Maybe. That or an alien shopping list.

To her left is a large, blue insectoid alternately looking at her and the computer and fidgeting, tapping its antennae and hopping up and down a bit.

S-14, Wandering In the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet eyes the sphere with the yellow dot (henceforth the SWTYD), and emits a tiny "Hmmm" noise. She hefts it, turning it over and examining it.

After roughly two or three seconds, she mouths, "Some sort of positioning device. Might be useful." She stows it.

She also takes up one of the pistols, and some ammunition, and slings them to Sefrin - who, after hefting the pistol a little, stows them. The only other thing she shows any interest in is the field-comms unit-like object. She takes that, and, slipping out her PDA, takes several snapshots of the 'digits' for later viewing with it's tiny onboard digital camera. She doesn't take the object in question, however.

Mouthing again, "Sefrin. Keep an eye out for those hominids, aye?"

Sefrin nods, once, and does so.

Standing, she takes another look around, this time more able to concentrate and look for the appropriate direction to head in; wherever that might be.

If it comes down to it, though, she'd probably just pick a random direction anyway.
The SWTYD, when the equator is held parallel to the ground, appears to indicate that it is using some frame of reference on the Ring Plain (the vague direction of which will now be called "north"). To the north, there seems to be a break in the sea of grass that might be a river as the world slowly curves up to be lost in the sky. To the south are the rocky crags that the party landed in, which seem to be parts of an isolated chain (looking again at the ground curving into the sky). To the east, a sea bisects the Ring Plain. To the west are more mountains.

S-14, Room of Sounddampening Walls, Foreward Spar, Mary
Mary picks northeast, tossing a stray marble she found in her pocket in the northeastern depression as she tries the door.
The marble rolls down the drain.

The door opens up into a room made up of the northeast and southeastern cells. The northeast cell contains a small, flat black box with a faceplate covered in hundreds of glowing lights. It also holds four hexagonal racks that contain dozens of circular platters. The southeast cell contains a massive cube covered with a light rime of ice flanked by two small flat black boxes with lit front panels. A complicated console sits squarely in front of the massive cube and is connected to the cube by hundreds of ribbon cables.

S-14, Red Audience Chamber, Ring Plain, Snel Party + Jacque
"Have you selected an envoy yourself?"
"Yes. One my coordinators who oversees work on Engine Section Ninety-Seven should be adequate."

S-14, Downtime in the Marie Curie, Airlock near Rent Hotel, Sakkran Party
Lossa decides to bow out of it, and continues analyzing the language files. Perhaps I can mimic their movements to accompany their sounds enough to have a mock translation working.
Given time, it becomes apparent antennae movement does correlate to various messages, and so can be emulated in simple messages. With an improved understanding of the aural language and a basic grasp of the visual language, Lossa can now communicate in passable (albeit far from excellent) bugspeak.
Krenn looks at the shuttle pilot with a cocked head. "Are you familiar with the game?"
The shuttle pilot nods. "I know how it's played. Bring the hurt."


"Excellent. Let's begin. Griimph and I will team. So that leaves you and Shuuta." The cards are dealt and the hands are laid out while the team waits for the cargo bay to pressurize.

S-14, Downtime in the Marie Curie, Airlock near Rent Hotel, Sakkran Party
"Excellent. Let's begin. Griimph and I will team. So that leaves you and Shuuta." The cards are dealt and the hands are laid out while the team waits for the cargo bay to pressurize.
Unfortunately for Shuuta, the pilot does know how to play. Unfortunately, he does not know how to play well (just like me!) and so they lose by an almost embarrassing margin. Hopefully she takes losing well.

"Oh, lookit that, pressurization is done!"

Recap: Big door in the ceiling and a lift in the wall that leads up to a smaller door in the ceiling. Taking the lift leads to an equally large room with two large sliding doors like those found in aircraft hangars on the opposite sides of the room. A simple button next to each door probably controls them.

S-14, Downtime in the Marie Curie, Airlock near Rent Hotel, Sakkran Party
"Excellent. Let's begin. Griimph and I will team. So that leaves you and Shuuta." The cards are dealt and the hands are laid out while the team waits for the cargo bay to pressurize.
Unfortunately for Shuuta, the pilot does know how to play. Unfortunately, he does not know how to play well (just like me!) and so they lose by an almost embarrassing margin. Hopefully she takes losing well.

"Oh, lookit that, pressurization is done!"

Recap: Big door in the ceiling and a lift in the wall that leads up to a smaller door in the ceiling. Taking the lift leads to an equally large room with two large sliding doors like those found in aircraft hangars on the opposite sides of the room. A simple button next to each door probably controls them.

Lossa looks to the doors on opposite ends of the room, and decides on the left-sided one. "Does anyone have any idea of what this Ring of Plain is, or even what it might be like?" The whole team nods 'No'. "Great. We're going in blind, as always. Oh well..."

S-14, Cargo Access Tunnel, Inside the S-14 Torus Close to the Edge, Sakkran Party
Lossa looks to the doors on opposite ends of the room, and decides on the left-sided one. "Does anyone have any idea of what this Ring of Plain is, or even what it might be like?" The whole team nods 'No'. "Great. We're going in blind, as always. Oh well..."
The door opens into a mind-bogglingly long and seventy-five meters across. Coated in a thin velcro-like insulation, it extends as far spinward and antispinward as far as the eye can see it curve up into the ceiling. Along the fore and aft walls are massive doors similar to the one the party just left from, and on the ceiling are circular doors evenly spaced. Small amounts of lighting are provided by lamps in the ceiling, which illumines the center relatively well but keeps the sides in shade. The place is filled with echoing noises of vehicles and cargo doors opening and closing.

About fifty meters spinward there appears to be a motor pool, with open-topped electric carts constantly being pulled up and taken away by large red insectoids. These carts also constantly ferry cargo pallets through the corridors, but no one seems to see the party in the shadows. At the edge of the motor pool closest to the party is an enclosed, six-wheeled vehicle.

The team regroups, leaving the terminal, forming a circle facing out from the entrance.
Willis discreately snaps a few pictures of the charts and the terminals that the ants are at.
Then Willis quickly uploads the data through his comm. pack and the relay left at the first airlock, back to a vessel which forwards it to SHODAN.
John looks around at this room.
"This may not be good"

S-14, In The Air, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg6.jpg
Detecting the Major via the simple eye-spots covering its body, it changes direction with surprising agility and gives chase.


The Major spies it coming and shouts for help over the comms. Anyone who has a clear shot and feels confident that they can do so without loosing control of their craft opens fire. However, three in powered armor do not use their plasma arcs or any rockets, so that they don't risk hurting their own vehicles.

[OOC: Needlers for any non-marines, needle rifles or lasers for the Marines (whichever is easier for them to do), and tribarrel and heavy maser/lasers from the powered armor, with computer-assisted aiming, of course. If you need a better description of the weapons, ask.]

Hideki tries one last time to raise Karena.

<<Tranmission:Fleet Hailing>>
"Karena, Hideki, do you copy?
<<Over>

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
The team regroups, leaving the terminal, forming a circle facing out from the entrance.
Willis discreately snaps a few pictures of the charts and the terminals that the ants are at.
Then Willis quickly uploads the data through his comm. pack and the relay left at the first airlock, back to a vessel which forwards it to SHODAN.
John looks around at this room.
"This may not be good"
The Blue so anxious to get to its terminal gets to it and immediately powers through it, touchtyping at maybe three hundred words a minute.

One of the Blues rummages in its desk and brings out a small black device with a large lens on the front. It points the lens towards the party and raises the device.

S-14, In the Air Chased By Some Macro-Rotifer, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The Major spies it coming and shouts for help over the comms. Anyone who has a clear shot and feels confident that they can do so without loosing control of their craft opens fire. However, three in powered armor do not use their plasma arcs or any rockets, so that they don't risk hurting their own vehicles.
The Major slings back her needle rifle one-handed and tries to spray the rotifer, but misses quite badly, but, luckily, not bad enough to shoot her own Dragonfly. Three marines open up with needle rifles, three open up with lasers, and the three in suits just go hell-for-leather. The needles pockmark the macro-rotifer's hide, but the tips of its tentacles latch onto the Major's dragonfly just as two lasers burn good-sized holes into it and the tribarrels vape whatever's left. So, other than a few bleeding streamers and some goo in the sturdy propellor, everything's fine.

Except, of course that it made quite a bit of noise and a very small section of the jungle is now smoldering from the laser misses. Several of the larger air-barges seem to slowly be changing course towards the team...

S-14, In the Savannah, Ring Plain, Karena
Hideki tries one last time to raise Karena.

<<Tranmission:Fleet Hailing>>
"Karena, Hideki, do you copy?
<<Over>
<<Transmission>>
"Hideki, Karena here. Damn, that was a sight to see. Fragging Lucies speared our guard and then our Ma-tek friends gave 'er a shiv in the McRibs. Still, we're all alive... even though we've been captured and our helicopter crashed and we just fought a giant bug."
<<Over>>

<<Transmission>>
Good to hear. Any idea where you are headed? We are in the Ring Plain as well, and don't really have a direction at this point, although we may go investigate the Greens that David found.
<<Over>>

S-14, In the Air Near Some Smoking Jungle And Floating Rotifier Parts, Central Core, Cetagandan Party


Except, of course that it made quite a bit of noise and a very small section of the jungle is now smoldering from the laser misses. Several of the larger air-barges seem to slowly be changing course towards the team...


"Oh, hell." Colonel Ashton says, spying the air-barges. "Everyone, form up and get heading aft again. Grant, Wheeler, try to hide us or something." The team acknolodges and forms up. Lt. Wheeler, the telepath, begins to send out waves of 'We're Not Here' towards the barges. Major Grant, the mage, casts a spell that attempts much the same thing, as well as some more spells to attract addtional attention to the smoking section of the jungle, including some illusionary humans.

OOC: Same basic sort of thing as the Ma-tek party for the psion, and a Somebody Else's Problem feild from the mage.

S-14, Savannah, Ring Plain, Karena
<<Transmission>>
Good to hear. Any idea where you are headed? We are in the Ring Plain as well, and don't really have a direction at this point, although we may go investigate the Greens that David found.
<<Over>>
<<Transmission>>
Um... I'm following the Ma-tek peoples.
<<Over>>

S-14, In the Air Near The Aft End, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
"Oh, hell." Colonel Ashton says, spying the air-barges. "Everyone, form up and get heading aft again. Grant, Wheeler, try to hide us or something." The team acknolodges and forms up. Lt. Wheeler, the telepath, begins to send out waves of 'We're Not Here' towards the barges. Major Grant, the mage, casts a spell that attempts much the same thing, as well as some more spells to attract addtional attention to the smoking section of the jungle, including some illusionary humans.
The barges head toward the obvious evidence (the smoking jungle) and ignore the simple and very, very common dragonflies. The end of the central core comes relatively soon, and there is no way further aft except through one of the large kilometer-long ports. They are poorly lit compared to the central core, with only a few track lights indicating its edges.

S-14, Cargo Access Tunnel, Inside the S-14 Torus Close to the Edge, Sakkran Party
Lossa looks to the doors on opposite ends of the room, and decides on the left-sided one. "Does anyone have any idea of what this Ring of Plain is, or even what it might be like?" The whole team nods 'No'. "Great. We're going in blind, as always. Oh well..."
The door opens into a mind-bogglingly long and seventy-five meters across. Coated in a thin velcro-like insulation, it extends as far spinward and antispinward as far as the eye can see it curve up into the ceiling. Along the fore and aft walls are massive doors similar to the one the party just left from, and on the ceiling are circular doors evenly spaced. Small amounts of lighting are provided by lamps in the ceiling, which illumines the center relatively well but keeps the sides in shade. The place is filled with echoing noises of vehicles and cargo doors opening and closing.

About fifty meters spinward there appears to be a motor pool, with open-topped electric carts constantly being pulled up and taken away by large red insectoids. These carts also constantly ferry cargo pallets through the corridors, but no one seems to see the party in the shadows. At the edge of the motor pool closest to the party is an enclosed, six-wheeled vehicle.

Hhhmmmm....we could take that vehicle, but will we have any idea of where to go? Whispering to the group, Lossa decides on getting a closer look. "We should get a better idea of which way to go from there."

S-14, Cargo Access Tunnel, Inside the S-14 Torus Close to the Edge, Sakkran Party
Hhhmmmm....we could take that vehicle, but will we have any idea of where to go? Whispering to the group, Lossa decides on getting a closer look. "We should get a better idea of which way to go from there."
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a27.jpg
Approaching the vehicle, its scale becomes more obvious. It is about four to five meters tall by about thirteen meters long. The sides have a textured surface similar to felt, and the entry appears to be a large hatch on the top of the spine. It rides on six large pneumatic tires and the "legs" seem to act as suspension.

The vehicle is easily large enough to hide behind, and no one seems to be using it because it can't tow cargo. Carts still come and go from the motor pool, and the drivers nary exchange a word. From the new vantage point, there appears to be a rather large niche spinward of their current position. It seems to act the purpose of vehicle elevator.

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
The team regroups, leaving the terminal, forming a circle facing out from the entrance.
Willis discreately snaps a few pictures of the charts and the terminals that the ants are at.
Then Willis quickly uploads the data through his comm. pack and the relay left at the first airlock, back to a vessel which forwards it to SHODAN.
John looks around at this room.
"This may not be good"
The Blue so anxious to get to its terminal gets to it and immediately powers through it, touchtyping at maybe three hundred words a minute.

One of the Blues rummages in its desk and brings out a small black device with a large lens on the front. It points the lens towards the party and raises the device.


Crichton whispers to the team, "get ready to jump down that hatch, scientists first," casting a sideways glance at one of the other military members, "the estr rovidep overc iref and gresse."
The men nod ever so slightly.
"But only if I command"

Aloud he begins speaking, Here goes nothing "We mean you no harm, we are simply looking for a lost explorer."God I hope they understand english. Ha, yeah right.

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
Aloud he begins speaking, Here goes nothing "We mean you no harm, we are simply looking for a lost explorer."God I hope they understand english. Ha, yeah right.
The computers click to their attendant Blues, who look back at the squad and click towards their computers. Out of the computer speakers flows a modulated androgynous voice, a very good reproduction of English including intonation and maybe a wry sense of humor.

"Ah... sorry, we weren't expecting company. We'd been warned that... endoskeletal mammals... were roaming the halls but..." The one who seemed to be the leader, with some sort of insignia painted on her carapace, tapped her antennae together. "The Mother of Us All wants to know more about you; but we do not know of your lost explorer. Would it be the other group of armed people? We need more information."

S-14, Wandering In the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet eyes the sphere with the yellow dot (henceforth the SWTYD), and emits a tiny "Hmmm" noise. She hefts it, turning it over and examining it.

After roughly two or three seconds, she mouths, "Some sort of positioning device. Might be useful." She stows it.

She also takes up one of the pistols, and some ammunition, and slings them to Sefrin - who, after hefting the pistol a little, stows them. The only other thing she shows any interest in is the field-comms unit-like object. She takes that, and, slipping out her PDA, takes several snapshots of the 'digits' for later viewing with it's tiny onboard digital camera. She doesn't take the object in question, however.

Mouthing again, "Sefrin. Keep an eye out for those hominids, aye?"

Sefrin nods, once, and does so.

Standing, she takes another look around, this time more able to concentrate and look for the appropriate direction to head in; wherever that might be.

If it comes down to it, though, she'd probably just pick a random direction anyway.
The SWTYD, when the equator is held parallel to the ground, appears to indicate that it is using some frame of reference on the Ring Plain (the vague direction of which will now be called "north"). To the north, there seems to be a break in the sea of grass that might be a river as the world slowly curves up to be lost in the sky. To the south are the rocky crags that the party landed in, which seem to be parts of an isolated chain (looking again at the ground curving into the sky). To the east, a sea bisects the Ring Plain. To the west are more mountains.


Millet doesn't pay the east any more attention than it is due; the sea lies that way, and she doesn't plan on swimming anywhere. The west holds more appeal; mountains could provide cover... but on the other hand, they could just as easily provide a swift fall and death, or an ambush.

South is the way they just came from, Millet guesses, and rules that direction out mentally as dangerous.

That leaves north and west.

"North or West," she mouths, "anyone have any particular preference?"

She eyes the west, quite plainly.

Sefrin, however, mouths, "North."

Millet frowns, mouthing, "North?"

Sefrin shrugs. "I think we were headed that way, is all. But I was pretty unconscious at the time, so..."

"Actually, could you send me your language database? That would be simpler in the long run... not to mention clearing up a few odd little things I'm curious about."

"That would be difficult. Their language is largely based on direct concept-transfer through radio telepathy. Not a problem if you don't mind a few implants, but that's probably not what you had in mind."

"Yes. One my coordinators who oversees work on Engine Section Ninety-Seven should be adequate."

"Very well. We will depart on your command. Should the human wish it, may he accompany us?"

<Wave-form encoded transmissions:>
Larva-Oberon: Prepare to recieve alien envoy. Possibility of an accompanying human captured by the aliens.
Oberon-Larva: Understood.
Oberon-Rama: Alien envoy should be arriving soon, possibility of an accompanying human captured by the aliens. Advise.
Rama-Oberon: Divert alien envoy to Rama. The Supreme Coordinator has chosen to meet with it herself. The human may be returned to his people from here.

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
Aloud he begins speaking, Here goes nothing "We mean you no harm, we are simply looking for a lost explorer."God I hope they understand english. Ha, yeah right.
The computers click to their attendant Blues, who look back at the squad and click towards their computers. Out of the computer speakers flows a modulated androgynous voice, a very good reproduction of English including intonation and maybe a wry sense of humor.

"Ah... sorry, we weren't expecting company. We'd been warned that... endoskeletal mammals... were roaming the halls but..." The one who seemed to be the leader, with some sort of insignia painted on her carapace, tapped her antennae together. "The Mother of Us All wants to know more about you; but we do not know of your lost explorer. Would it be the other group of armed people? We need more information."
Crichton relaxs, motioning for everyone to stand down.
He begins speaking slowly so as not to cofuse the computer.
"We came aboard this vessel, to learn more of it and the inhabitants, as well as find a fellow," tasting the word,"uh, endoskeletal mammal."
"We believe that he was brought inside from his ship some time ago."

Meanwhile, Jeff Cooper R-Diana stare intently at the "commanding" blue.
Fascinating

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
Aloud he begins speaking, Here goes nothing "We mean you no harm, we are simply looking for a lost explorer."God I hope they understand english. Ha, yeah right.
The computers click to their attendant Blues, who look back at the squad and click towards their computers. Out of the computer speakers flows a modulated androgynous voice, a very good reproduction of English including intonation and maybe a wry sense of humor.

"Ah... sorry, we weren't expecting company. We'd been warned that... endoskeletal mammals... were roaming the halls but..." The one who seemed to be the leader, with some sort of insignia painted on her carapace, tapped her antennae together. "The Mother of Us All wants to know more about you; but we do not know of your lost explorer. Would it be the other group of armed people? We need more information."
Crichton relaxs, motioning for everyone to stand down.
He begins speaking slowly so as not to cofuse the computer.
"We came aboard this vessel, to learn more of it and the inhabitants, as well as find a fellow," tasting the word,"uh, endoskeletal mammal."
"We believe that he was brought inside from his ship some time ago."

Meanwhile, Jeff Cooper R-Diana stare intently at the "commanding" blue.
Fascinating

"That would be difficult. Their language is largely based on direct concept-transfer through radio telepathy. Not a problem if you don't mind a few implants, but that's probably not what you had in mind."

"Not a problem at all... I have headware, and its proved perfectly capable of being misunderstood on their wavelength just fine."

Jacque sniffed. Dear me, what does it think I've been transmitting click/tap patterns on? A suit headset? He snorted.

And as for Mary:

Mary checks the room for more exits, carefully not touching the mystery machinery. If she fails to find one or some creature comering in the corner that she thinks capable of being interrogated, she will proceed to the next room clockwise and try that one.

"Not a problem at all... I have headware, and its proved perfectly capable of being misunderstood on their wavelength just fine."

"And just where are those implants located? You will need a transceiver connected to your Wernicke's and Broca's areas. Any other implants are useless."

"Not a problem at all... I have headware, and its proved perfectly capable of being misunderstood on their wavelength just fine."

"And just where are those implants located? You will need a transceiver connected to your Wernicke's and Broca's areas. Any other implants are useless."

"Hm? Can't recall, but I should be able to manage. It's a rather flexible broadcast/reception kit with some computationals affixed; I would rather doubt I should have trouble communicating in it once I have a database to work from."

OOC: Signal in, signal out. Jacque doesn't have all those doctorates for nothing, and his headware can (and has) proven capable of dealing with the signals used. There's just been this small problem of not knowing what the signals meant.

"There is no database. There is no translation. Only transfer of concepts."

"There is no database. There is no translation. Only transfer of concepts."

How do I get through to this thickskinned larva? Perhaps it is not so fluent in English after all...

"In any form of communication, a signal possesses a meaning. A list of correlations of signal to meanings is called a vocabulary, or database. If it is the case that it directly describse objects spatially, there is an algorithm by which the signal represents an object. Where my implants are located have nothing to do with this; I recieve a signal, which has meaning, and can send a signal, which has meaning. What I am trying to understands here is exactl/y how meaning maps onto signal, and you - whether you comprehend it or not - appear to possess this key algorithm or database. I can see the patterns of these signals for myself, I simply do not have the link."

Jacque restrained himself. "What I need is a vocabulary - a list of signals to meanings - or algorithm - to acquire meaning from signal and vice versa. If you don't comprehend the concept I speak of, then perhaps we could start with you showing me simple translations of what I say to you."

OOC: You aren't making too much sense...

(OOC: Sorry for not being present, but I was writing another chapter for my novel.)

S-14, Wandering In the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
"North or West," she mouths, "anyone have any particular preference?"

She eyes the west, quite plainly.

Sefrin, however, mouths, "North."

Millet frowns, mouthing, "North?"

Sefrin shrugs. "I think we were headed that way, is all. But I was pretty unconscious at the time, so..."
Wandering through the thick grass, they come across another herd of gazelles passing through. Continuing on, there is obviously a river to the "north" that cuts across the savannah. The trees are a bit denser here; there seems to be a river to the northeast. West is still mountains, and east is still the direction of the sea.

S-14, Red Audience Chamber, Ring Plain, Snel Party + Tahar Joblis
"Very well. We will depart on your command. Should the human wish it, may he accompany us?"
The Red Queen seems to think for a moment. "Well, leave if you must."

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
"We came aboard this vessel, to learn more of it and the inhabitants, as well as find a fellow," tasting the word,"uh, endoskeletal mammal."
"We believe that he was brought inside from his ship some time ago."
"Oh, only one? We believe the Reds have him. That is quite unfortunate, he is probably in a great deal of danger. If you will accompany us," she points towards the hatch leading to the transport car, "we can take you to see The Mother of Us All. She wants to speak with you."

S-14, Soundproofed Room, Foreward Spar, Mary
Mary checks the room for more exits, carefully not touching the mystery machinery. If she fails to find one or some creature comering in the corner that she thinks capable of being interrogated, she will proceed to the next room clockwise and try that one.
She does run into a Blue computer technician. Literally run into. The technician almost does a forward flip but doesn't quite, and quickly rolls off of its back onto its feet.

(OOC to the Larva/Jacque debate: You are both right, after a fasion. There is concept-telepathy via RF, but it is generally very crude. There appears to be a higher form, but that one is so complex as to be nonunderstandable. This is why early communications were "Warning" and "Danger" and generally very basic. There are also aural (the clicking), olfactory (pheromones), and visual cues (antennae) to add to the mix, which combined give the language full meanings. Snel, as you got used to attaching signals to RF-telepathy concepts, then communication became easier albeit subconsciously (like language immersion). Jacque's brain isn't quite wired right, but he is correct when saying their aural language has a definite pattern and a vocabulary.)

<all your phBB bug...>

[b]S-14, In the Air Near The Aft End, Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The barges head toward the obvious evidence (the smoking jungle) and ignore the simple and very, very common dragonflies. The end of the central core comes relatively soon, and there is no way further aft except through one of the large kilometer-long ports. They are poorly lit compared to the central core, with only a few track lights indicating its edges.

As the Cetagandan party nears the large ports, they use the lidar on one of the PCA suits to see how long they are and to make sure there's no large nasty fans or anything (OOC: Hey, there has to be a reason for that breeze). Assuming there's nothing like that, they head down one of them, using there skinsuit visors' light-enhancement mode to see better.

Oh, more stuff.

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
Allison (Personality C) awakes. Twitching for a moment, she looks around suspiciously. "Now, I know I'm not supposed to be where I normally am, but this isn't even that. I know you, and I know why you're here, and I know I've been through this before, but I'd still like to hear it for myself. Who are you, where am I, and why do you hold me here?"

S-14, Green Elder's Hut, Central Core, David
"I am very sorry I cannot help you with your ship or friends... one moment..." She waves her antennae about and tilts her head as if listening. "Oh, the Reds are coming. I doubt they're looking for you, but you would best not be seen. I'd suggest leaving immediately."

S-14, Big Dark Tunnel, Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
As the Cetagandan party nears the large ports, they use the lidar on one of the PCA suits to make sure there's no large nasty fans or anything (OOC: Hey, there has to be a reason for that breeze). Assuming there's nothing like that, they head down one of them, using there skinsuit visors' light-enhancement mode to see better.
With no big fans and no nasty grilles, the party moves through the Big Dark Tunnel. Vague shapes of massive things fill the edges. There appear to be pits all along the inside of the tunnel, and there is a very large pit indeed up ahead.

"OK, start modifying these contraptions, lets head towards David and the Scott Bakula or whatever his ship is called."

<<Transmission:FleetCommon>>
"David, Hideki, we are moving towards your position, where would you like us to meet you?"
<<Over>>

S-14, Soundproofed Room, Foreward Spar, Mary
She does run into a Blue computer technician. Literally run into. The technician almost does a forward flip but doesn't quite, and quickly rolls off of its back onto its feet.


With a blinding blur, the Blue finds a level nozzle pointed at it. The gaping maw of the stubby two handed needler rifle [OOC: ala MW2e] appears very steady.

Mary addresses the bug gently but firmly in English. The crosshairs indicating the center target with drop for range and local "gravity" as well as total spread of the plastic shards rests squarely between its eyes.

"Where is Jacque? He was taken into this vessel not long ago, and a picture of his face can be seen pinned to my left vest pocket here. Don't, by the way, make any suspicious or sudden moves. I don't want to hurt you."

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
Allison (Personality C) awakes. Twitching for a moment, she looks around suspiciously. "Now, I know I'm not supposed to be where I normally am, but this isn't even that. I know you, and I know why you're here, and I know I've been through this before, but I'd still like to hear it for myself. Who are you, where am I, and why do you hold me here?"


Aeryn answers her. "I am Colonel Aeryn Fletcher, of the Cetagandan Space Service. You are onboard a spacecraft, Stephen Hawking, six hundred kilometers from the S-14 artifact, which you call Alpha. You are here because of an accident that occured when we tried to telepathically contact your people. Am I correct in assuming I address the Red Mother Of Us All?"


S-14, Big Dark Tunnel, Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party

With no big fans and no nasty grilles, the party moves through the Big Dark Tunnel. Vague shapes of massive things fill the edges. There appear to be pits all along the inside of the tunnel, and there is a very large pit indeed up ahead.

The team heads for the very large pit.

S-14, Room With a View, Aftish Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"OK, start modifying these contraptions, lets head towards David and the Scott Bakula or whatever his ship is called."
The dragonflies are quickly modified and are ready to fly.

S-14, Sound Suppression Room, Foreward Spar, Mary
With a blinding blur, the Blue finds a level nozzle pointed at it. The gaping maw of the stubby two handed needler rifle [OOC: ala MW2e] appears very steady.
The Blue goes, "Click!"
"Where is Jacque? He was taken into this vessel not long ago, and a picture of his face can be seen pinned to my left vest pocket here. Don't, by the way, make any suspicious or sudden moves. I don't want to hurt you."
The Blue goes, "Clokity click! Clickclickityclokityclokclickityclokclok!"

A smooth feminine voice says, "You know, she doesn't speak your language. I would prefer that you not harm her."

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
Aeryn answers her. "I am a flabby exoskeletal spacedy-monkey. You are as far away from true insectoid civilization as you'd ever care to be. We completely botched trying to rape your mind and so you're stuck here in an ugly smelly squishy monkey worm body. Am I correct in assuming I address the Red Mother Of Us All?"
"What do you mean, the Red Mother Of Us All? You act as if the claims of the Blue oppressors and the Green kulaks have some validity. I am the true Mother Of Us All, Commander Aeryn Fletcher of the Cetagandan Space Service."

S-14, Very Large Pit, Tunnel Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/shipyard.jpg
This giant pit appears to be some sort of shipyard. Inside it is a slender, smoothlined thing that can only be a spaceship. It is immense, almost two kilometers long but very, very narrow. The aft end does not have any of the thrust cones apparent on other S-14 craft, and the fore end does not have any sort of hydrogen intakes.

Cargo handling pods, powered by small, powerful maneuvering fans, use multiple manipulator arms to move large components. The pods mate the components to an assembly track that runs through the center of the pit. Articulated mechanical arms within the pit manipulate the item being manufactured. There are a plethora of specialized tools on the arms that appear to perform gamma ray welding, phase transition bonding, surfacing, and forming functions.

Controllers sit in cylindrical compartments mounted into the bases of the mechanical arms.

S-14, Sound Suppression Room, Foreward Spar, Mary
With a blinding blur, the Blue finds a level nozzle pointed at it. The gaping maw of the stubby two handed needler rifle [OOC: ala MW2e] appears very steady.
The Blue goes, "Click!"
"Where is Jacque? He was taken into this vessel not long ago, and a picture of his face can be seen pinned to my left vest pocket here. Don't, by the way, make any suspicious or sudden moves. I don't want to hurt you."
The Blue goes, "Clokity click! Clickclickityclokityclokclickityclokclok!"

A smooth feminine voice says, "You know, she doesn't speak your language. I would prefer that you not harm her."

Mary turns to determine the source of the voice, keeping an eye (and the gun) carefully trained on the Blue for the moment with one hand. Her right hand movs to her left vest pocket, pointing.

"Where is Jacque? Tell me then, as she (nod towards the Blue) can't, you say."

S-14, Sound Suppression Room, Foreward Spar, Mary
Mary turns to determine the source of the voice, keeping an eye (and the gun) carefully trained on the Blue for the moment with one hand. Her right hand movs to her left vest pocket, pointing.

"Where is Jacque? Tell me then, as she (nod towards the Blue) can't, you say."
The voice appears to be coming from near one of the computer terminals. "Ah. I have observed that one in my peripherals in the Red hive. He is safe for now, they have no interest in him as they have not been able to communicate."

S-14, Office Space, Foreward Spar, Berserker Party
"We came aboard this vessel, to learn more of it and the inhabitants, as well as find a fellow," tasting the word,"uh, endoskeletal mammal."
"We believe that he was brought inside from his ship some time ago."
"Oh, only one? We believe the Reds have him. That is quite unfortunate, he is probably in a great deal of danger. If you will accompany us," she points towards the hatch leading to the transport car, "we can take you to see The Mother of Us All. She wants to speak with you."

Crichton casts a glance at the group, and looks back towards the blue.
"Alright, erm, take us to your leader."
As they start to move, Crichton motions to Willis who quietly types a message into his PDA, which is relayed back trough dropped relays (marble sized objects) back to the main relay outside the outer airlock, and to the nearest science vessel. CONTACT. BLUE. VISIT MOTHER. INFO?

The voice appears to be coming from near one of the computer terminals. "Ah. I have observed that one in my peripherals in the Red hive. He is safe for now, they have no interest in him as they have not been able to communicate."

"Really?" Mary allows a hint of incredulousity to creep into her tone.

"Can you show him to me then, chip?" Best ask for directions... "And where the Red hive is?" Proof, voice from wall, proof. I don't trust voices from boxes in alien ships that I've never been in before.

The needler rifle hovers on the doubtless terrified Blue still, steady as a rock. Some habits don't die easily, and covering possible hostiles is one of them.

"And who - and what - are you?"

S-14, Transport Car, Who Knows Where, Berserker Party
Crichton casts a glance at the group, and looks back towards the blue.
"Alright, erm, take us to your leader."
"That we shall." The Blues escort everyone into the transport car and set it to move. It's a long trip, apparently.

S-14, Sound Suppressing Room, Forward Spar, Mary
"Can you show him to me then, chip? And where the Red hive is?"
"I do not believe that to be wise. The Reds have several copies of a mobile translator unit I made and are copying it to their own ends. Once they have communicated with him, they might see him as an asset and attempt to hold him by force. Also, they might see you as an asset, for by the time you get there it will be certain that they have determined this technology.

"I ask a question: Are all these varied parties aboard this vessel aligned in any way, or are they hostile to one another like the inabitants of this vessel? From intercepted communications I would like to believe the former, but external logs showing weapons fire would tend to indicate the latter."

A screen on a nearby terminal flickers to life and displays the face of an attractive woman of North African descent. "Me? I am Alpha, the central intelligence of Swarm Hive, the vehicle you call S-14. I have chosen this image to represent myself. It is based upon data obtained from the central intelligence of the Karmabaijani Heavy Carrier Asgard."

S-14SECZONE
"Scanners detecting a launch from S-14, sir!"
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a19.jpg
"It's not heading towards much of anything... ten kay klicks from S-14, twenty kay klicks S-14... wait... picking up gravity waves... it's gone, sir."

Earth Orbit
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a19.jpg
Guess who...

"In any form of communication, a signal possesses a meaning. A list of correlations of signal to meanings is called a vocabulary, or database. If it is the case that it directly describse objects spatially, there is an algorithm by which the signal represents an object. Where my implants are located have nothing to do with this; I recieve a signal, which has meaning, and can send a signal, which has meaning. What I am trying to understands here is exactl/y how meaning maps onto signal, and you - whether you comprehend it or not - appear to possess this key algorithm or database. I can see the patterns of these signals for myself, I simply do not have the link."

Jacque restrained himself. "What I need is a vocabulary - a list of signals to meanings - or algorithm - to acquire meaning from signal and vice versa. If you don't comprehend the concept I speak of, then perhaps we could start with you showing me simple translations of what I say to you."

"I am perfectly aware of what you mean. I am well versed in linguistics, as I have the full knowledge of the collective at my disposal. But I can give you no such list, as I have no such list. The signals are fed directly into my Wernicke's area, which results in instantaneous conveyance of concepts, with no intermediate step - no words, no vocabulary, only mental concepts. Unless you are speaking of the aural language- that I cannnot comprehend myself, and therefore still cannot assist you. By the way, the Red Queen says that you may accompany me away from S-14, and from there we may be able to return you to your own people."

(OOC to the Larva/Jacque debate: You are both right, after a fasion. There is concept-telepathy via RF, but it is generally very crude. There appears to be a higher form, but that one is so complex as to be nonunderstandable. This is why early communications were "Warning" and "Danger" and generally very basic. There are also aural (the clicking), olfactory (pheromones), and visual cues (antennae) to add to the mix, which combined give the language full meanings. Snel, as you got used to attaching signals to RF-telepathy concepts, then communication became easier albeit subconsciously (like language immersion). Jacque's brain isn't quite wired right, but he is correct when saying their aural language has a definite pattern and a vocabulary.)

OOC: That's stuff that I knew, but the character didn't and doesn't. So I couldn't put it in. And I still can't, so thanks for doing so for me, OOC.

"I am very sorry I cannot help you with your ship or friends... one moment..." She waves her antennae about and tilts her head as if listening. "Oh, the Reds are coming. I doubt they're looking for you, but you would best not be seen. I'd suggest leaving immediately."

"Leaving? Where would I go?"

"David, Hideki, we are moving towards your position, where would you like us to meet you?"

"Ah, never mind. I shall meet with my own kind. Hideki, David, meet me just outside the jungle canopy. We can proceed to my ship from there."

Guess who...

"Ganges to DS Control, we have an unidentifiable craft entering Earth orbit. Video feed momentarily... check. Advise. Due to time-delay, the object should be visable to earth-based observatories by now."

"Ah, never mind. I shall meet with my own kind. Hideki, David, meet me just outside the jungle canopy. We can proceed to my ship from there."
Problem... you're in the fore-ish end of the central core. Karma is in tha aft-ish end. Maybe... something else is order.

Aboard the Dæmon, Dr. Tom Cobbler bolts upright in his seat.
"HOLY SHIT!"
"Replay video"
They watch in slow motion as the probe disappears.
"Any trace of it?" He shouts

"No sir, it's gone." Came a reply

"Possible destination? Trajectory" Dr. Cobbler says, still frantic.

The officer pauses, almost afraid to speak.
"Trajectory indicates," he hits a few keys as a map grip appears, tracing, the trajectory through the Sol system.
The room gasps.
"Earth, It's headed for Earth"

The team hops into the craft and begins making their way forward, with the sled following them with its thrusters.

The team sits where they can in the transport, and waits till they get to the stop.
Willis attempts small talk.
"So, ummm, nice ship you got here."

S-14, Sound Suppressing Room, Forward Spar, Mary
"Can you show him to me then, chip? And where the Red hive is?"
"I do not believe that to be wise. The Reds have several copies of a mobile translator unit I made and are copying it to their own ends. Once they have communicated with him, they might see him as an asset and attempt to hold him by force. Also, they might see you as an asset, for by the time you get there it will be certain that they have determined this technology.

"I ask a question: Are all these varied parties aboard this vessel aligned in any way, or are they hostile to one another like the inabitants of this vessel? From intercepted communications I would like to believe the former, but external logs showing weapons fire would tend to indicate the latter."

A screen on a nearby terminal flickers to life and displays the face of an attractive woman of North African descent. "Me? I am Alpha, the central intelligence of Swarm Hive, the vehicle you call S-14. I have chosen this image to represent myself. It is based upon data obtained from the central intelligence of the Karmabaijani Heavy Carrier Asgard."


"Well, Alpha, the various parties on board are varied, but I don't think that any are on hostile terms with one another." Although I shouldn't discount the possibility of it, come to think of it. Paranoia has always helped me. "Most are affililated in some way with one another, I suspect, although some more than others."

She paused and glared at Alpha.

"And if they may start 'holding onto him by force' then it becomes a very good idea to get him away from them as soon as possible, before they start to do so. Jacque is very smart, but I doubt he'd escape on his own. I suggest that you show me where he is." An ominous click came from the gun... and then it lowered, slowly. "And, if the Reds are such a hazard, armed backup might be nice. Even better would be turning them off, separating them from Jacque, or disabling them all with a sedative gas."

S-14, Cargo Access Tunnel, Inside the S-14 Torus Close to the Edge, Sakkran Party
Hhhmmmm....we could take that vehicle, but will we have any idea of where to go? Whispering to the group, Lossa decides on getting a closer look. "We should get a better idea of which way to go from there."
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a27.jpg
Approaching the vehicle, its scale becomes more obvious. It is about four to five meters tall by about thirteen meters long. The sides have a textured surface similar to felt, and the entry appears to be a large hatch on the top of the spine. It rides on six large pneumatic tires and the "legs" seem to act as suspension.

The vehicle is easily large enough to hide behind, and no one seems to be using it because it can't tow cargo. Carts still come and go from the motor pool, and the drivers nary exchange a word. From the new vantage point, there appears to be a rather large niche spinward of their current position. It seems to act the purpose of vehicle elevator.


Lossa spies the hatch. "Does anyone have a remote chance of being capable of operating this vehicle?" Shuuta raises a clawed hand. "I could fathom it, possibly. I've worked with all manners of transports on Earth.

"Very well then. We need to get to this Ring of Plain fast. Of course, we still have no clue where it is, but we'll cover more ground in this thing. Everyone in." With that Lossa climbs the vehicle and tests the hatch.

S-14, In The Air, Central Core
The team hops into the craft and begins making their way forward, with the sled following them with its thrusters.
(OOC: My dice like Karma better than Ceta. Odd.)
Everyone pushes off and gains control perfectly well, even when entering a slipstream that pushes them foreward at about 20 kilometers an hour. Estimated time to arrival: Fourteen hours.

Up ahead are portions of zero-gravity forest and some animals.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg1.jpg
There appear to be five sleek one meter long seal-like creatures up ahead. Covered in dark fur and having siphon pumps instead of rear legs, its tail ends in a flat leaf-shaped fluke. They come up to the dragonflies and start cavorting, swimming around the party and basically being playful.

S-14, Transport Car, Who Knows Where, Berserker Party
"So, ummm, nice ship you got here."
"We like it."

S-14, Major Computer Center, Forward Spar, Mary
"Well, Alpha, the various parties on board are varied, but I don't think that any are on hostile terms with one another." Although I shouldn't discount the possibility of it, come to think of it. Paranoia has always helped me. "Most are affililated in some way with one another, I suspect, although some more than others."

She paused and glared at Alpha.

"And if they may start 'holding onto him by force' then it becomes a very good idea to get him away from them as soon as possible, before they start to do so. Jacque is very smart, but I doubt he'd escape on his own. I suggest that you show me where he is." An ominous click came from the gun... and then it lowered, slowly. "And, if the Reds are such a hazard, armed backup might be nice. Even better would be turning them off, separating them from Jacque, or disabling them all with a sedative gas."
"All I can do is disable alarms. I do know the Reds are experimenting with some sort of mind control device and are adapting it to the segmented creature with Jaque.

"If you must go, here is where you can find it on the Ring Plain. <insert detailed directions here>. Go to the nearest transport car; I will brief you further there and take you as close as I can."[/quote]

S-14, Inside that Vehicle Thing, Access Tunnel, Sakkran Party
Very well then. We need to get to this Ring of Plain fast. Of course, we still have no clue where it is, but we'll cover more ground in this thing. Everyone in." With that Lossa climbs the vehicle and tests the hatch.
The hatch opens easily, and it's safe to assume everyone gets on without trouble.

The control console is actually relatively simple. There is a switch, a central control column and a lever to the left. Both are easily within reach from the ellipsoid couch set in front of them.

(OOC: Sorra, but I gotta fly. Someone else needs the connection.)

S-14, Inside that Vehicle Thing, Access Tunnel, Sakkran Party
Very well then. We need to get to this Ring of Plain fast. Of course, we still have no clue where it is, but we'll cover more ground in this thing. Everyone in." With that Lossa climbs the vehicle and tests the hatch.
The hatch opens easily, and it's safe to assume everyone gets on without trouble.

The control console is actually relatively simple. There is a switch, a central control column and a lever to the left. Both are easily within reach from the ellipsoid couch set in front of them.

(OOC: Sorra, but I gotta fly. Someone else needs the connection.)

"Okay Shuuta. Let's aim for that vehicle niche there, and see where it takes us." Lossa sits back down, and investigates the interior of the craft. Griimph seems to be rummaging around, looking at any contents.

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"What do you mean, the Red Mother Of Us All? You act as if the claims of the Blue oppressors and the Green kulaks have some validity. I am the true Mother Of Us All, Commander Aeryn Fletcher of the Cetagandan Space Service."

"Really? You see, that's exactly what the other two said as well. I really wish you would explain exactly what this schism is about and how it came into being."


S-14, Very Large Pit, Tunnel Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party

This giant pit appears to be some sort of shipyard. Inside it is a slender, smoothlined thing that can only be a spaceship. It is immense, almost two kilometers long but very, very narrow. The aft end does not have any of the thrust cones apparent on other S-14 craft, and the fore end does not have any sort of hydrogen intakes.

Cargo handling pods, powered by small, powerful maneuvering fans, use multiple manipulator arms to move large components. The pods mate the components to an assembly track that runs through the center of the pit. Articulated mechanical arms within the pit manipulate the item being manufactured. There are a plethora of specialized tools on the arms that appear to perform gamma ray welding, phase transition bonding, surfacing, and forming functions.

Controllers sit in cylindrical compartments mounted into the bases of the mechanical arms.


Everyone gets out of their dragonflies, leaving them at a convient wall. They then begin to move along the wall down the bay, looking for any sign of an entrance in the object. They are very careful to stay out of the way of those arms.



S-14SECZONE
"Scanners detecting a launch from S-14, sir!"
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a19.jpg
"It's not heading towards much of anything... ten kay klicks from S-14, twenty kay klicks S-14... wait... picking up gravity waves... it's gone, sir."

Earth Orbit
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a19.jpg
Guess who...

IMV Erwin Rommel, Cetagandan Third Fleet, Low Earth Orbit

"What the hell is that?" In Rommel's flag deck, all eyes turned towards the central plot, where a strange ship had just appeared. Admiral Conrad Mazian, commander of the Third Fleet, was less than pleased to be interupted from counting his earnings from the recent Melkor conflict.
One of the intelligence officers turned towards the admiral. "Sir, I think it may from that S-14 thing. Seems similar to craft observered there."
Mazian frowned. "I thought they used only fusion, not...whatever that was. Comms, get a link to First Command, and see if they have any translation packages yet." He turned to his link to the bridge. "Captain Keeferman, fleet orders. Shift orbit to intercept new contact, but maintain a distance of 1,000 kilometers."

The numerous ships of the Third Fleet light up their main drives, manuvering to their new position. Once there, a hail is sent in various languages, including English, Cetagandan Common, Cetacean, Quenya, Black Speech, the Hero's Tongue, and various machine languages.

S-14, Major Computer Center, Forward Spar, Mary
"All I can do is disable alarms. I do know the Reds are experimenting with some sort of mind control device and are adapting it to the segmented creature with Jaque.

"If you must go, here is where you can find it on the Ring Plain. <insert detailed directions here>. Go to the nearest transport car; I will brief you further there and take you as close as I can."

"Trying to control the modified wind spider? Oh dear... or is that another segmented creature with Jacque?" Fortunate that we built a weakness into them... usually it only obeys Jacque, but I suppose they might manage a way... and that IS a marvelous piece of bioengineering.

Mary frowned. If the "segmented creature" is something else, we may be in real trouble. Well, maybe they could be trying to mind control Jacque... that might be worse. She laughed. Then again, not even Jacque can control Jacque's mind... genius or not. I doubt they would have more luck.

"Anyway, before I leave.. would you mind making sure that Miss Clicky in the corner doesn't alert the Reds, or am I going to have to make my own assurance on that count?"

(After a reply [I presume negative on the count of her having to insure the silence of the Blue], she will continue according to the directions. As quickly as possible. And thinking about her small bag. And perhaps wondering what a half dozen concussion grenades fired into a small room would do to an equal number of large Jacque-stealing bugs.)

S-14, Inside that Vehicle Thing, Access Tunnel, Sakkran Party
"Okay Shuuta. Let's aim for that vehicle niche there, and see where it takes us." Lossa sits back down, and investigates the interior of the craft. Griimph seems to be rummaging around, looking at any contents.
Lossa sees that the inside of the vehicle is quite simply laid out, much like the inside of a cargo helicopter. Structural support beams and cargo webbing grace the walls as well as cargo latches in the floor. Cloth covers bulky machines that seem to be designed to lift up on hinges and point out covered slots in the sides. There are a great many boxes in the back.

Griimph sees that the boxes are filled with devices. There are canisters about fifteen centimeters long and eight centimeters wide with large switches on top held in place with a metal pull-tab. The canisters come in yellow, red, and black and have colorful scripty writing in white boxes down the side. There are also meter-long cylinders with a strange set of handles, a boxy casing on one end, and a strange emitter on the other. Along with the cylinders are weapons of some sort that look like a stubby bazooka with a comical stumpy magazine set into one end and with a flamethrower-esque nozzled tube that ends in a pressurized canister on the bottom. Two different triggered grips seem to control the two weapons.

Shuuta finds the controls rather simple; the switch turns it on, the control column turns the vehicle, and the lever acts as a throttle. The vehicle, after some experimentation, rides easily into the niche, where a cargo elevator lifts it into a cargo transport car. The cargo car shoots coreward, apparent gravity lessening in the process, passing deck after deck after deck until it finally slows to a stop and disgorges the vehicle in a large walled ramp. Something approximating sunlight shines down from the top of the ramp.

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"Really? You see, that's exactly what the other two said as well. I really wish you would explain exactly what this schism is about and how it came into being."
"Well, I'm sure the other two told you," Allison growls, "that they are the true Norm following the Prime Edict and the other subspecies are genetic mutants of their stock; accurate except for they are not the True People. Given hundreds of thousands of generations and the lassitude of our foreMothers in following the Prime Edict, it was practically destined that mutants appear over time. We simply failed to act until it was too late; and were usurped."

S-14, Big Shipyard, Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Everyone gets out of their dragonflies, leaving them at a convient wall. They then begin to move along the wall down the bay, looking for any sign of an entrance in the object. They are very careful to stay out of the way of those arms.
There are well lit operational airlocks connected to the gantries and construction units by gangplanks. Being in construction, there are also gaping voids in the superstructure.

Earth Orbit
The numerous ships of the Third Fleet light up their main drives, manuvering to their new position. Once there, a hail is sent in various languages, including English, Cetagandan Common, Cetacean, Quenya, Black Speech, the Hero's Tongue, and various machine languages.
The probe continues on in its medium Earth orbit, quietly listening but not responding.

S-14, Major Computer Center, Forward Spar, Mary
"Trying to control the modified wind spider? Oh dear... or is that another segmented creature with Jacque?
"The 'wind spider?'" Alpha frowns in thought. "Oh, you mean the arachnid. No, they have done nothing with it. The one you call Jacque has it. No, the segmented creature resembles what you call... a pillbug, except much larger."
"Anyway, before I leave.. would you mind making sure that Miss Clicky in the corner doesn't alert the Reds, or am I going to have to make my own assurance on that count?"
"She would never tell the Reds anything of her own free will. She hates them as non-Norm. I do, however," Alpha mutters to herself, "doubt the Prime Edict's validity. If it will make you feel better, clickityclokclokityclokclokclickclickity."

The Blue slowly backs away from Mary and settles down in the corner, hands flat on the floor.

"Please, to enter the transport car." When Mary enters it, Alpha's 'face' appears on the display and the car begins moving automatically. "I will drop you off in the Red hibernaculum section. It is poorly guarded. When the car stops, leave through the bottom hatch into the access tunnel and go through the nearest hatch on the floor. This will lead to the egg storage chamber. Avoid the drones that regularly carry eggs to the hibernaculi and get to the circular elevators. Take it up into the Red Mother's habitat, then go through the interairlock nearest the elevator. Be quiet, the Red Mother is there. Once through the interairlock, take the access hatch in the ceiling; this opens to the corridor to the audience chamber. There are three guards and the door is open, I will create a distraction. Run into the chamber and collect your friends; you will probably do so right in front of the Red Mother and she will alert the guards. Take the same route out that you did in; I will cause nonfatal errors in hibernaculi sensors to distract guards if need be.

"The best way to succeed is to not be seen. Please do not kill any of the sentients I was sworn to protect."

"DS Control to Ganges, we have visual contact with the object. Still unable to identify. Please relay our signal to Valhalla and the Cetagandan Fleet. We're working on pinpointing the origin of some recent unscheduled gravitational distortions. We'll inform you if we find a link."

Lossa sees that the inside of the vehicle is quite simply laid out, much like the inside of a cargo helicopter. Structural support beams and cargo webbing grace the walls as well as cargo latches in the floor. Cloth covers bulky machines that seem to be designed to lift up on hinges and point out covered slots in the sides. There are a great many boxes in the back.

Griimph sees that the boxes are filled with devices. There are canisters about fifteen centimeters long and eight centimeters wide with large switches on top held in place with a metal pull-tab. The canisters come in yellow, red, and black and have colorful scripty writing in white boxes down the side. There are also meter-long cylinders with a strange set of handles, a boxy casing on one end, and a strange emitter on the other. Along with the cylinders are weapons of some sort that look like a stubby bazooka with a comical stumpy magazine set into one end and with a flamethrower-esque nozzled tube that ends in a pressurized canister on the bottom. Two different triggered grips seem to control the two weapons.

Shuuta finds the controls rather simple; the switch turns it on, the control column turns the vehicle, and the lever acts as a throttle. The vehicle, after some experimentation, rides easily into the niche, where a cargo elevator lifts it into a cargo transport car. The cargo car shoots coreward, apparent gravity lessening in the process, passing deck after deck after deck until it finally slows to a stop and disgorges the vehicle in a large walled ramp. Something approximating sunlight shines down from the top of the ramp.

Griimph looks over the devices that appear to be weapons of some manner, probably flame-projecters. "I found some armament here. We may want to take some of these for now." He then pulls a tab holding an 8 centimeter wide canister and looks it over.

The other team-members look at Griimph's find, and take a projecter each. Shuuta returns to the controls of the craft and proceeds into the sunlit area. "We seem to have come to some manner of arboretum or something. Keep on your toes in this area."

S-14, Airbase, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph looks over the devices that appear to be weapons of some manner, probably flame-projecters. "I found some armament here. We may want to take some of these for now." He then pulls a tab holding an 8 centimeter wide canister and looks it over.
The switch on the canister is now free to be flipped. It is a dense object and surprisingly heavy for its size.
The other team-members look at Griimph's find, and take a projecter each. Shuuta returns to the controls of the craft and proceeds into the sunlit area. "We seem to have come to some manner of arboretum or something. Keep on your toes in this area."
At the top of the ramp appears to be a small airfield. There are several large stubby propellor-driven aircraft with two sets of thick but short wings, one in front of the other, that sit in a row near a short runway. There are several large buildings that look like hangars and more cargo-carrying carts and pods.

The greater view is that of a giant ribbon-like plain, curving off into the sky in wedges of light and dark, bisected by a ribbon-like blue sea. Isolated chains of mountains, patches of forests and vast plains make up the Ring Plain. The airstrip lies atop a very tall mountain, and roads snake down its sides to the ground below. There are other mountains in the area, but they don't appear to be as high.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
The transport car comes to a stop and opens up into the bottom of a large, dark, bowl-shaped amphitheater. As the party gets out, they are illumined by a bright spotlight high above them. Other than that spotlight, the amphitheater is dark.

(OOC: Sorry for not being present, but I was writing another chapter for my novel.)

S-14, Wandering In the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
"North or West," she mouths, "anyone have any particular preference?"

She eyes the west, quite plainly.

Sefrin, however, mouths, "North."

Millet frowns, mouthing, "North?"

Sefrin shrugs. "I think we were headed that way, is all. But I was pretty unconscious at the time, so..."
Wandering through the thick grass, they come across another herd of gazelles passing through. Continuing on, there is obviously a river to the "north" that cuts across the savannah. The trees are a bit denser here; there seems to be a river to the northeast. West is still mountains, and east is still the direction of the sea.


The RISE pair eye the trees with fondness every now and then; although water is unliked, clearly forests are very much liked in the Empire. If only there were more of them left; the nigh-on endless Conquest Wars that built the original Nenyan Empire (which EOTED is built upon) reduced most of the forests to ash.

Trees are growing, once again, however... but not with quite the same intensity as they once did.

All this passes over the faces of the RISE agents as they walk; they continue north, deriding the mountains and the sea - although Millet does mouth, "Perhaps those mountains would be safer. Less exposed. But... perhaps not."

She shrugs, and makes no sign to change the path that the party is taking... and so, they strike on.

The RISE pair do not Draw the Shadows, however; being invisible would only startle wildlife more than the quiet-footed Nenyans and co might do already; an invisible person making noise is far more terrifying than a visible person, after all.

Hideki begins looking for a place to allow the team a rest break.

"Lets set 'em down for a bit, don't want to kill Mr Thorvald."

<<Transmission:FleetCommon>>
David, we are making good progress foward. Any idea on a new meeting location?
<<Over>>

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
She shrugs, and makes no sign to change the path that the party is taking... and so, they strike on.
The party makes it to the edge of the river. Standing in the reeds, they see a barge floating down the river towards the sea. It carries several small shoring boats and quite resembles the flat-bottom marsh patrol boats of years past. Several Blues lounge about the deck and scuttle about doing random chores.

S-14, Null-Gravity Jungle, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
Hideki begins looking for a place to allow the team a rest break.

"Lets set 'em down for a bit, don't want to kill Mr Thorvald."
Thorvald turns a light shade of red and puffs, "Always have to blame it on the civvie, eh?" With that, the UV lights go out, turning their section of Core dark.

The curved inner wall of this section of the central core seems heavily industrialized. With the lights off, details can be seen on the massive structures nestled between the sunlamp fields. The light-fields start beneath them and arcing over their heads, following the curve of the outer wall. The scene is reminiscent of a city shrouded in the darkness of night as seen from an airplane high above.

The null-gravity jungle quiets down and a hollow presents itself, oddly quiet and relatively devoid of life. Some lights flicker on and off in the tangled web of foliage, but they are in the far distance. Peddling into the harbor, the party sees a massive, gnarled tree jutting out. It looks like a good place to dock and its branches should provide good camouflage and cover.

The other team-members look at Griimph's find, and take a projecter each.

Except for Arthur. He never picked up a weapon before, and, even if he wanted the first time to be now, he wouldn't've had a clue how to use it.

David, we are making good progress foward. Any idea on a new meeting location?

"How long do you expect to take to get here? Perhaps I should start off towards you, and we can meet in the middle somewhere. But that would put us farther from the Horizon... your call."

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
She shrugs, and makes no sign to change the path that the party is taking... and so, they strike on.
The party makes it to the edge of the river. Standing in the reeds, they see a barge floating down the river towards the sea. It carries several small shoring boats and quite resembles the flat-bottom marsh patrol boats of years past. Several Blues lounge about the deck and scuttle about doing random chores.


Millet shoots Sefrin a sly look. "No scanning them, this time," she mouths.

Now the pair Draw the Shadows. Better not to be seen, probably.

Sefrin speaks up, now. "I think it would be best if we remained out of sight. Those look different, but they might be even less friendly than the Reds were. Hmmm. Reds. Blues. That seems familiar, somehow. Don't the different parties back home colour co-ordinate?" Sefrin actually emits a small 'hmmm' sound, but in the grand scheme of things, it truly is a tiny sound.

After a few moments, he suggests half-jokingly - still mouthing only, "What are the chances that some sort of eugenics scheme of whoever owns this place resulted in differentiated colour according to political affiliation?"

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"Well, I'm sure the other two told you," Allison growls, "that they are the true Norm following the Prime Edict and the other subspecies are genetic mutants of their stock; accurate except for they are not the True People. Given hundreds of thousands of generations and the lassitude of our foreMothers in following the Prime Edict, it was practically destined that mutants appear over time. We simply failed to act until it was too late; and were usurped."

"Well, if you say so..." Aeryn says, nodding. "In any case, while we try to figure out how to get you back where you belong, I'd like to ask a few questions. In particular, what are your intentions regarding the habitable planet in this system? As you no doubt have guessed by now, its already occupied."


S-14, Big Shipyard, Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
There are well lit operational airlocks connected to the gantries and construction units by gangplanks. Being in construction, there are also gaping voids in the superstructure.


Colonel Ashton looks around. "Does anyone see anything that looks like a control center or a comp terminal around here?"


Earth Orbit
The probe continues on in its medium Earth orbit, quietly listening but not responding.


By this time, a translation package has arrived, and a request for identification is sent to the ship in the bug language.

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin speaks up, now. "I think it would be best if we remained out of sight. Those look different, but they might be even less friendly than the Reds were. Hmmm. Reds. Blues. That seems familiar, somehow. Don't the different parties back home colour co-ordinate?" Sefrin actually emits a small 'hmmm' sound, but in the grand scheme of things, it truly is a tiny sound.

After a few moments, he suggests half-jokingly - still mouthing only, "What are the chances that some sort of eugenics scheme of whoever owns this place resulted in differentiated colour according to political affiliation?"
The barge floats idly by... until the distinctive oscillating thrum of helicopter blades wafts in on the breeze. The Blues tear cloth covers off of deck guns and begin panning them across the sky. From behind the forest, a red-striped attack helicopter pops up and begins speeding towards the party. This leaves it wide open to the ack-ack and machine guns on the barge, which quickly knock it out of the sky.

The Blue crew then pulls out some sort of imaging device like a bulky set of field glasses and begin scanning the coast that the helicopter was heading for.

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"Well, if you say so..." Aeryn says, nodding. "In any case, while we try to figure out how to get you back where you belong, I'd like to ask a few questions. In particular, what are your intentions regarding the habitable planet in this system? As you no doubt have guessed by now, its already occupied."
"Yes, and I personally plan on colonizing that planet assuming that it can be trimmed down a bit first. Unfortunately, that needs the Blues. I must find a way to take the Fist of Alpha from them."

S-14, Big Shipyard, Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Colonel Ashton looks around. "Does anyone see anything that looks like a control center or a comp terminal around here?"
There appears to be a powered portable terminal in a small niche in a partially-completed section of superstructure.

Earth Orbit
By this time, a translation package has arrived, and a request for identification is sent to the ship in the bug language.
The probe listens politely and continues to actively scan Earth.

(OOC: The next time the Trium is on IRC, we need to talk)

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"Yes, and I personally plan on colonizing that planet assuming that it can be trimmed down a bit first. Unfortunately, that needs the Blues. I must find a way to take the Fist of Alpha from them."

"And what if we object to you 'trimming?'" says Aeryn, trying to maintain a cool face.

{PRIORITY TRANSMISSION}
x Sauscony (ASCC, IEV Fourty-Two?)
o Hornet, <that other ship>

Flag Captain Sato, SHODAN, the Red Queen just made a statement about Earth that greatly concerns me. <recording> I think it would be best to pass this up the chain of command back home. Do you agree?


S-14, Big Shipyard, Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party

There appears to be a powered portable terminal in a small niche in a partially-completed section of superstructure.

They head over to the console, and examine it to see if they can get it to work. As they do so, Lt. Wheeler pauses a moment. "Colonel, orders from Sauscony. We are to avoid Red aliens at all costs. Reds are to be considered highly dangerous. Team survival is top priority, use of excessive force authorized."

Earth Orbit
By this time, a translation package has arrived, and a request for identification is sent to the ship in the bug language.
The probe listens politely and continues to actively scan Earth.


"They're not responding?" Mazian was becoming increasingly angry with the bug creature. "I'm not going to sit here and watch while some, some spacedy real-estate agent looks at Earth."
He turns to one of the comm screens, roaring, "CAPTAIN MITKELION! Launch a fighter squadron and a LAC detail. Bring that craft aboard your vessel."

A ten-fighter squadron and a light attack craft outfitted with capture systems launch from the fleet carrier Ark Royal, speeding towards the alien craft. They begin to attempt to attach to it and bring it back to one of the carrier's bays.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
The transport car comes to a stop and opens up into the bottom of a large, dark, bowl-shaped amphitheater. As the party gets out, they are illumined by a bright spotlight high above them. Other than that spotlight, the amphitheater is dark.
The group sheild their eyes from the light (except for R-Diana, whom simply changes her iris sizes and sensitivites.)
Crichton looks at the nearest blue.
"Is this the audience chamber you refered to, and how should refer to your leader?"

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"And what if we object to you 'trimming?'" says Aeryn, trying to maintain a cool face.
Allison calmly sizes up Aeryn. "Then it will be difficult for you."

S-14SECZONE
{PRIORITY TRANSMISSION}
x Sauscony (ASCC, IEV Fourty-Two?)
o Hornet, <that other ship>

Flag Captain Sato, SHODAN, the Red Queen just made a statement about Earth that greatly concerns me. <recording> I think it would be best to pass this up the chain of command back home. Do you agree?
<Communications to Sauscony>
{
[SHODAN] << Well, it is only--
[Sato] << Hrm?
[SHODAN] << --but as I was saying, we can't let billions (trillions?) of innocents die. Still, I don't think we should relay it up because it may cause an unwanted escalation. I can't believe I'm arguing for this, but we must exhaust the diplomatic option first.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01; Political Director, S-14 Expedition
Flag Captain Hitome Sato; Military Director, S-14 Expedition

S-14, Big Ship, Pit in the Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
They head over to the console, and examine it to see if they can get it to work.
Power feeds into it, but it appears to be a text-based interface.

Earth Orbit
"They're not responding?" Mazian was becoming increasingly angry with the bug creature. "I'm not going to sit here and watch while some, some spacedy real-estate agent looks at Earth."
He turns to one of the comm screens, roaring, "CAPTAIN MITKELION! Launch a fighter squadron and a LAC detail. Bring that craft aboard your vessel."

A ten-fighter squadron and a light attack craft outfitted with capture systems launch from the fleet carrier Ark Royal, speeding towards the alien craft. They begin to attempt to attach to it and bring it back to one of the carrier's bays.
The probe, detecting action being taken against it, disappears. A gravitic trail instantly appearing from a straight line in space points directly to...

S-14SECZONE
The odd probe returns.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
Crichton looks at the nearest blue.
"Is this the audience chamber you refered to, and how should refer to your leader?"
"You may refer to me as the Mother of Us All." High up on one side of the ampitheater, a thickly-glassed booth lights up dimly, showing a massive blue queen insectoid in forebodingly surreal light. Above the party appear images of the various vessels of the expedition fleet. "Which one of these vessels are you from? You were not invited into our ship. Why are you here? Your vessels have impeded our progress. Why?"

"Assuming Mr Thorvald is ready, I say we make like a tree and get the fugg outta here. Finish up your flora/fauna scans and mount up."

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Assuming Mr Thorvald is ready, I say we make like a tree and get the fugg outta here. Finish up your flora/fauna scans and mount up."
The tree yields scrumptiously tangy fruit and potable water that smells of peaches.

Departing the arboreal harbor, the party once again enter the slipstream. Two members have become dragonfly experts and easily catch the draft. The other two nearly spill, but after some unpleasant jinking get themselves into some semblance of stability. Thorvald enters the slipstream with ease, but R-Kilroy's craft is taken up and blown about like some sort of oddly-shaped leaf.

R-Kilroy shakes its head as it fights with the controls. "Well, this sucks."

<<Transmission>>
"Hideki, Sato. We read you to be 160 klicks out from the Eniqciri signal. ETA eight hours. Status?
<<Over>>

The LC from the Horizon swam through the air along the central stalk, after determining that it was the most interesting thing in the vicinity, and began doing what almost no human would: carefully studying the most pointless details, such as a slight denting about 50 meters off. It began moving towards the aft.

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin speaks up, now. "I think it would be best if we remained out of sight. Those look different, but they might be even less friendly than the Reds were. Hmmm. Reds. Blues. That seems familiar, somehow. Don't the different parties back home colour co-ordinate?" Sefrin actually emits a small 'hmmm' sound, but in the grand scheme of things, it truly is a tiny sound.

After a few moments, he suggests half-jokingly - still mouthing only, "What are the chances that some sort of eugenics scheme of whoever owns this place resulted in differentiated colour according to political affiliation?"
The barge floats idly by... until the distinctive oscillating thrum of helicopter blades wafts in on the breeze. The Blues tear cloth covers off of deck guns and begin panning them across the sky. From behind the forest, a red-striped attack helicopter pops up and begins speeding towards the party. This leaves it wide open to the ack-ack and machine guns on the barge, which quickly knock it out of the sky.

The Blue crew then pulls out some sort of imaging device like a bulky set of field glasses and begin scanning the coast that the helicopter was heading for.


[OOC: What happens next depends on which coast that was. I'd assume the coast that Sefrin and Millet are on, but... :? ]

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking

Allison calmly sizes up Aeryn. "Then it will be difficult for you."


"Well. That's...unfortunate. I suppose that means you won't be answering any questions regarding your ship's capabilities?"


S-14SECZONE
<Communications to Sauscony>
{
[SHODAN] << Well, it is only--
[Sato] << Hrm?
[SHODAN] << --but as I was saying, we can't let billions (trillions?) of innocents die. Still, I don't think we should relay it up because it may cause an unwanted escalation. I can't believe I'm arguing for this, but we must exhaust the diplomatic option first.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01; Political Director, S-14 Expedition
Flag Captain Hitome Sato; Military Director, S-14 Expedition


x Sauscony (ASCC, IEV Fourty-Two?

As you wish.


S-14, Big Ship, Pit in the Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
They head over to the console, and examine it to see if they can get it to work.
Power feeds into it, but it appears to be a text-based interface.

"Only text? Well, maybe there will be something easier inside." The team heads for one of the gangways, going onboard and looking for a bridge or computer core. Two normal Marines and one in powered armor remain outside on watch.

Earth Orbit

The probe, detecting action being taken against it, disappears. A gravitic trail instantly appearing from a straight line in space points directly to...

S-14SECZONE
The odd probe returns.


"Sir, probe has disappeared."
"Hmph. Well, not our problem anymore."

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Assuming Mr Thorvald is ready, I say we make like a tree and get the fugg outta here. Finish up your flora/fauna scans and mount up."
The tree yields scrumptiously tangy fruit and potable water that smells of peaches.

Departing the arboreal harbor, the party once again enter the slipstream. Two members have become dragonfly experts and easily catch the draft. The other two nearly spill, but after some unpleasant jinking get themselves into some semblance of stability. Thorvald enters the slipstream with ease, but R-Kilroy's craft is taken up and blown about like some sort of oddly-shaped leaf.

R-Kilroy shakes its head as it fights with the controls. "Well, this sucks."

<<Transmission>>
"Hideki, Sato. We read you to be 160 klicks out from the Eniqciri signal. ETA eight hours. Status?
<<Over>>

<<Transmission>>
"Good to go, we are making our way towards that Eniqcir ship...the Scott Bakula or whatever it was. Meeting up with one of the crew their hopefully. Is the video link holding up?
<<over>>

(OOC: Sorry for not being around all day, but I was off pulling capers with friends.)

S-14, Null-Gravity Jungle, Central Core, Finn Mk II's Body
The LC from the Horizon swam through the air along the central stalk, after determining that it was the most interesting thing in the vicinity, and began doing what almost no human would: carefully studying the most pointless details, such as a slight denting about 50 meters off. It began moving towards the aft.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg5.jpg
A pod of eight of these small, furry narwhal-like creatures begin swimming with the LC, seemingly uncertain of what it is. A single spiral horn justs from its broad forehead, and a highy-specialized propellor-like tail whizzes back and forth to push the creature forward. They are approximately three meters long and have mottled black and white fur.

They seem mostly curious right now.

S-14, Bank of the Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
[OOC: What happens next depends on which coast that was. I'd assume the coast that Sefrin and Millet are on, but... ]
It is the coast that the party is on. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Wherever Allison Is Now, Stephen Hawking
"Well. That's...unfortunate. I suppose that means you won't be answering any questions regarding your ship's capabilities?"
"Nothing comes for free. Information might be forthcoming, with a definite assurance of... assistance in our struggle."

S-14, Big Ship, Pit in the Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
"Only text? Well, maybe there will be something easier inside." The team heads for one of the gangways, going onboard and looking for a bridge or computer core. Two normal Marines and one in powered armor remain outside on watch.
The gangways are well-lit by external lighting and the airlocks they connect to are open by default. As the party pokes around inside the ship, the doors on the dock-end of the gangway open up and a large number of Reds carrying tool harnesses and various bits of equipment emerge.

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
<<Transmission>>
"Good to go, we are making our way towards that Eniqcir ship...the Scott Bakula or whatever it was. Meeting up with one of the crew their hopefully. Is the video link holding up?
<<over>>
<<Transmission>>
"Hideki, Sato. Link is fine. Keep in touch.
<<Out>>

R-Kilroy is still having a great deal of trouble with its dragonfly, but at least manages to get it tumbling so its pushed along with the draft. "A little help here, maybe?"

As the party sails forward on the slipstream. they observe a huge, curved, translucent blue arc jutting out from the jungle in the distance. As they move closer, the arc resolves into an immense sphere of water, almost twenty kilometers across. Small swells ripple across the surface of this "miniature" Null-Gravity Sea.

Up ahead is a green cloud that quickly defines into thousands of aerokrill.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg11.jpg
Hundreds of the little translucent buggers ping off the sides of the dragonflies, the fronts of suits, and faces. R-Kilroy's dragonfly, for all intents and purposes out of control, is battered by the things, spun and tapped in almost every direction. "If it isn't asking so much," the android calls calmly, "could someone please get me the frag out of this?" Its voice belies panic near the end of the sentence.

OOC: Hey. Did I get lost in the shuffle?

OOC: Hey. Did I get lost in the shuffle?
S-14, Airbase, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph looks over the devices that appear to be weapons of some manner, probably flame-projecters. "I found some armament here. We may want to take some of these for now." He then pulls a tab holding an 8 centimeter wide canister and looks it over.
The switch on the canister is now free to be flipped. It is a dense object and surprisingly heavy for its size.
The other team-members look at Griimph's find, and take a projecter each. Shuuta returns to the controls of the craft and proceeds into the sunlit area. "We seem to have come to some manner of arboretum or something. Keep on your toes in this area."
At the top of the ramp appears to be a small airfield. There are several large stubby propellor-driven aircraft with two sets of thick but short wings, one in front of the other, that sit in a row near a short runway. There are several large buildings that look like hangars and more cargo-carrying carts and pods.

The greater view is that of a giant ribbon-like plain, curving off into the sky in wedges of light and dark, bisected by a ribbon-like blue sea. Isolated chains of mountains, patches of forests and vast plains make up the Ring Plain. The airstrip lies atop a very tall mountain, and roads snake down its sides to the ground below. There are other mountains in the area, but they don't appear to be as high.

S-14, Airbase, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph looks over the devices that appear to be weapons of some manner, probably flame-projecters. "I found some armament here. We may want to take some of these for now." He then pulls a tab holding an 8 centimeter wide canister and looks it over.
The switch on the canister is now free to be flipped. It is a dense object and surprisingly heavy for its size.
The other team-members look at Griimph's find, and take a projecter each. Shuuta returns to the controls of the craft and proceeds into the sunlit area. "We seem to have come to some manner of arboretum or something. Keep on your toes in this area."
At the top of the ramp appears to be a small airfield. There are several large stubby propellor-driven aircraft with two sets of thick but short wings, one in front of the other, that sit in a row near a short runway. There are several large buildings that look like hangars and more cargo-carrying carts and pods.

The greater view is that of a giant ribbon-like plain, curving off into the sky in wedges of light and dark, bisected by a ribbon-like blue sea. Isolated chains of mountains, patches of forests and vast plains make up the Ring Plain. The airstrip lies atop a very tall mountain, and roads snake down its sides to the ground below. There are other mountains in the area, but they don't appear to be as high.

OOC: Oops. Didn't catch that. Sorry.

IC: Lossa looks around as Shuuta drives the vehicle through the airfield. "What were those directions we got from the small creature? 30 kilometers anti-spinward and then straight on from the tallest peak? Griimph, you still have that note, right?"

"Of course I do." Griimph looks at the switch, and decides it would be a bad idea to flip it. He places the tab back on the device, just in case they might need it later. Krenn is looking out the windows in the cockpit. "Wow. Look at all this. Fantastic. It's almost like a Dyson-sphere from those old hu-man science-fiction novels."

Lossa looks around as Shuuta drives the vehicle through the airfield. "What were those directions we got from the small creature? 30 kilometers anti-spinward and then straight on from the tallest peak? Griimph, you still have that note, right?"

"Of course I do." Griimph looks at the switch, and decides it would be a bad idea to flip it. He places the tab back on the device, just in case they might need it later. Krenn is looking out the windows in the cockpit. "Wow. Look at all this. Fantastic. It's almost like a Dyson-sphere from those old hu-man science-fiction novels."
A road seems to lead antispinwardish into some rolling hills. Looking from this vantage point, an estimate would place the destination near a rather large lake nestled in a flood plain around several hills.

R-Jane notes, "It's more akin to a ringworld or a concept space-habitat than a Dyson sphere..."

Commander Douglass shrugs. "I don't think it's that important, Jane."

A road seems to lead antispinwardish into some rolling hills. Looking from this vantage point, an estimate would place the destination near a rather large lake nestled in a flood plain around several hills.

R-Jane notes, "It's more akin to a ringworld or a concept space-habitat than a Dyson sphere..."

Commander Douglass shrugs. "I don't think it's that important, Jane."


As Shuuta drives on the road to the rolling hills, Griimph ceases rummaging through the contents of the craft. "I wonder what manner of life they have in this place? All this woodland-like area has to have some animal life."

A loud, rumbling sound suddenly penetrates the relative quiet. As most of the group looks about, Krenn suddenly appears sheepish.

"Sorry. It's been some time since I last ate. Did anyone bring some food with them?"

As Shuuta drives on the road to the rolling hills, Griimph ceases rummaging through the contents of the craft. "I wonder what manner of life they have in this place? All this woodland-like area has to have some animal life."

A loud, rumbling sound suddenly penetrates the relative quiet. As most of the group looks about, Krenn suddenly appears sheepish.

"Sorry. It's been some time since I last ate. Did anyone bring some food with them?"
Animal life coming right up.

Commander Douglass looks at Krenn somewhat oddly. People tend to be somewhat nervous around large, hungry things with sharp teeth. Opening his metal survival kit, he rummages around and pulls out several small square sandwiches that look a lot like the ones on the moonbus in 2001. "What'll you have? We have roast beef, chicken, and the 'ol peanut-butter-and-strawberry-jam."

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp1.jpg
Four gazelle-like creatures bound out into the road right in front of the transport! Look out, Shuuta!

"Sorry. It's been some time since I last ate. Did anyone bring some food with them?"

"Are Snickers bars OK?"

As Shuuta drives on the road to the rolling hills, Griimph ceases rummaging through the contents of the craft. "I wonder what manner of life they have in this place? All this woodland-like area has to have some animal life."

A loud, rumbling sound suddenly penetrates the relative quiet. As most of the group looks about, Krenn suddenly appears sheepish.

"Sorry. It's been some time since I last ate. Did anyone bring some food with them?"
Animal life coming right up.

Commander Douglass looks at Krenn somewhat oddly. People tend to be somewhat nervous around large, hungry things with sharp teeth. Opening his metal survival kit, he rummages around and pulls out several small square sandwiches that look a lot like the ones on the moonbus in 2001. "What'll you have? We have roast beef, chicken, and the 'ol peanut-butter-and-strawberry-jam."

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp1.jpg
Four gazelle-like creatures bound out into the road right in front of the transport! Look out, Shuuta!

The gazelle-like creatures bound out, and Shuuta applies the brakes. A wierd gaze seems to wash over her face. In something like a whisper, she says "Gentlemen, you may hold on to your food stores. We have prey." Her tail starts twitching erraticly as she gets up from her seat and removes her EVA suit.

The other Sakkrans advance to the window, and the same look comes over them. All their EVA suits are off, and they exit the hatch of the craft. "Conceal yourselves. pick your target." The Sakkrans begin to fade from sight as they use their chameleon ability and attempt to creep closer up to the creatures

"Nothing comes for free. Information might be forthcoming, with a definite assurance of... assistance in our struggle."

Aeryn smiled. "I think an equitable arrangement might ber reached." Even as she said that, she sent a message with her comms implant. A moment later, there was a hum as a carefully concealed stunner fired, sending Allison into unconciousness.
Aeryn scowled and shook her head in disgust. "I'm through dealing with that...creature. Wake the final personality once her body has recovered from the stunner beam."



S-14, Big Ship, Pit in the Tunnel Just Aft of Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The gangways are well-lit by external lighting and the airlocks they connect to are open by default. As the party pokes around inside the ship, the doors on the dock-end of the gangway open up and a large number of Reds carrying tool harnesses and various bits of equipment emerge.

The Marines who remained outside quickly hide behind machinery. "Sir, there's a number of Reds heading you way. Looks like a work party."
Inside, Colonel Ashton told the rest of the party, "Ok. We'll try to avoid them if possible, but have your stunners drawn. We'll try to get out without lethal force if we can. Hold your fire unless threatened."
The team takes off running towards where they think the next gangway would be.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
Crichton looks at the nearest blue.
"Is this the audience chamber you refered to, and how should refer to your leader?"
"You may refer to me as the Mother of Us All." High up on one side of the ampitheater, a thickly-glassed booth lights up dimly, showing a massive blue queen insectoid in forebodingly surreal light. Above the party appear images of the various vessels of the expedition fleet. "Which one of these vessels are you from? You were not invited into our ship. Why are you here? Your vessels have impeded our progress. Why?"
Crichton looks at the various images. "That one," he points, "the TDF Pathfinder."
"Our allies detected your ship, "Mother of Us All". And, well, we are all terribly curious."
"We seek only answers to questions, and appologize for any inconvienences."

S-14, Some Area of Forest, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
The other Sakkrans advance to the window, and the same look comes over them. All their EVA suits are off, and they exit the hatch of the craft. "Conceal yourselves. pick your target." The Sakkrans begin to fade from sight as they use their chameleon ability and attempt to creep closer up to the creatures
R-Jane watches the crazy lizzies scuttle up and out of the vehicle. "Why can't they just shoot them?"

Douglass shakes his head. "No idea, my mechanoid friend." He takes one of the stubby bazooka-things and leans out the hatch, scanning for targets. "But, like my momma always said, provide overwatch for your buddies."

The Sakkrans trail the gazelle-things a short distance to a nearby pool where the creatures begin lapping up water. Shuuta and Griimph both pounce upon their prey completely by surprise, taking them unawares and quickly taking them down and immobilizing them. Lossa's target leaps into the pool from the commotion, so he only gets a face full of dirt, and Krenn's turns the wrong way, and wow, those antlers look like they hurt. While long and thin, they are also very sharp, and Krenn's face now has some profusely bleeding flow-through ventilation. On the plus side, the force of the horn plowing through the front of Krenn's skull and ramming into the soft palate snapped off most of the gazelle-thing's skull along the non-mobile joint lines. This is instantly lethal for the gazelle.

On the other hand, Krenn's not dead... yet.

[2 successes (70%, 65; 58%, 10); 1 fail (53%, 63); 1 botch (60%, 99); hit location for botch is 2 (critical), 20 (head)... ugh... Ceta, you can no longer say that the dice don't like you, victim is (1=Lossa, 2=Krenn, 3=Shuuta, 4=Griimph) Krenn; gazelle attack roll (16%, 99) = botch]

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"I'm through dealing with that...creature. Wake the final personality once her body has recovered from the stunner beam."
Allison awakes. "Ah, our head... wait a minute, our head? That doesn't make sense. Well, adapt and conquer, we guess."

S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
Inside, Colonel Ashton told the rest of the party, "Ok. We'll try to avoid them if possible, but have your stunners drawn. We'll try to get out without lethal force if we can. Hold your fire unless threatened."
The team takes off running towards where they think the next gangway would be.
The fifty-strong Red work crew shuffles into the ship completely oblivious to the marines outside. Inside, the party happens to be exceedingly lucky, avoids contact, and stumbles into what appears to be an engine room. The room lacks any fusion equipment, but a large cylindrical core set on its side facing fore-aft stretches below the deck along the centerline of the ship and can be assumed to be the drive. Various large, cover-providing components lie about the maze of catwalks and platforms arrayed around the core. Portable terminal stations, alien meters, and what not are scattered about.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
Crichton looks at the various images. "That one," he points, "the TDF Pathfinder."
"Our allies detected your ship, "Mother of Us All". And, well, we are all terribly curious."
"We seek only answers to questions, and appologize for any inconvienences."
"We also want answers to questions. Where are the dominant insectoid exoskeletal races of your galaxy? You can't be the dominant lifeforms, with your frail endoskeletal bodies. The thought of your organs hanging outside your skeletal shell... sickening."

A hologram of Earth, first quite blurry as if seen through long-range telescopes, then much larger and clearer as if imaged from orbit, appears. "It would be safe to assume that this world is the one you hail from? Its communications patterns, in part, match yours."

S-14, Some Area of Forest, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
The other Sakkrans advance to the window, and the same look comes over them. All their EVA suits are off, and they exit the hatch of the craft. "Conceal yourselves. pick your target." The Sakkrans begin to fade from sight as they use their chameleon ability and attempt to creep closer up to the creatures
R-Jane watches the crazy lizzies scuttle up and out of the vehicle. "Why can't they just shoot them?"

Douglass shakes his head. "No idea, my mechanoid friend." He takes one of the stubby bazooka-things and leans out the hatch, scanning for targets. "But, like my momma always said, provide overwatch for your buddies."

The Sakkrans trail the gazelle-things a short distance to a nearby pool where the creatures begin lapping up water. Shuuta and Griimph both pounce upon their prey completely by surprise, taking them unawares and quickly taking them down and immobilizing them. Lossa's target leaps into the pool from the commotion, so he only gets a face full of dirt, and Krenn's turns the wrong way, and wow, those antlers look like they hurt. While long and thin, they are also very sharp, and Krenn's face now has some profusely bleeding flow-through ventilation. On the plus side, the force of the horn plowing through the front of Krenn's skull and ramming into the soft palate snapped off most of the gazelle-thing's skull along the non-mobile joint lines. This is instantly lethal for the gazelle.

On the other hand, Krenn's not dead... yet.

[2 successes (70%, 65; 58%, 10); 1 fail (53%, 63); 1 botch (60%, 99); hit location for botch is 2 (critical), 20 (head)... ugh... Ceta, you can no longer say that the dice don't like you, victim is (1=Lossa, 2=Krenn, 3=Shuuta, 4=Griimph) Krenn; gazelle attack roll (16%, 99) = botch]

Lossa races over to Krenn, who is bleeding from his mouth and head from the Gazelle's horn. "Shuuta, Krenn needs medical attention. Get the medical kit from the EVA suits."

Shuuta gets the kit, and applies pressure to the wound from the top and bottom of Krenn's mouth. "We'll need to cauterize the wound, or infection will set in."

S-14, Some Area of Forest, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa races over to Krenn, who is bleeding from his mouth and head from the Gazelle's horn. "Shuuta, Krenn needs medical attention. Get the medical kit from the EVA suits."

Shuuta gets the kit, and applies pressure to the wound from the top and bottom of Krenn's mouth. "We'll need to cauterize the wound, or infection will set in."
R-Jane, carrying its medkit, runs back to Krenn with Shuuta as Douglass keeps overwatch in the vehicle. The android averts it's wolf-spider optical array for a moment. "Gah, he's a mess. You need to cauterize the wound to keep him from bleeding to death."

Kneeling down, the android pulls several tools out of its kit. "First step will be to take out the horn; if we don't, we have a serious chance we can't take it out later and then there will be tissue rejection to deal with. Then we have to cauterize the wound, probably with this"--it pulls out a flashlight-esque maser. "I would do it myself, but I lack knowledge of Sakkran physiology."

Douglass calls over his throat-mic. "I've got motion contact, looks like eight of 'em, coming through the long grass towards your position. Whatever you're doing, do it fast--I'm probably out of range with this bazooka-thingie. Switching to the handy powergun pistol."

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin speaks up, now. "I think it would be best if we remained out of sight. Those look different, but they might be even less friendly than the Reds were. Hmmm. Reds. Blues. That seems familiar, somehow. Don't the different parties back home colour co-ordinate?" Sefrin actually emits a small 'hmmm' sound, but in the grand scheme of things, it truly is a tiny sound.

After a few moments, he suggests half-jokingly - still mouthing only, "What are the chances that some sort of eugenics scheme of whoever owns this place resulted in differentiated colour according to political affiliation?"
The barge floats idly by... until the distinctive oscillating thrum of helicopter blades wafts in on the breeze. The Blues tear cloth covers off of deck guns and begin panning them across the sky. From behind the forest, a red-striped attack helicopter pops up and begins speeding towards the party. This leaves it wide open to the ack-ack and machine guns on the barge, which quickly knock it out of the sky.

The Blue crew then pulls out some sort of imaging device like a bulky set of field glasses and begin scanning the coast that the helicopter was heading for.


The two RISE agents become chock-still, in the manner of the Imperial Guard whom stand outside the Palace in Nenya - for hours on end. And seeing as RISE agents must serve in the IG for at least a year before 'qualifying'...

...the pair are very good at standing still for quite a long time. They do not even speak; lip movements might attract attention, after all. Saliva on the lips is every RISE agents enemy; a sliver on the lip and a glint of the sun could easily spell disaster, after all.

So; still they remain. And mentally, they cross their fingers.

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
The two RISE agents become chock-still, in the manner of the Imperial Guard whom stand outside the Palace in Nenya - for hours on end. And seeing as RISE agents must serve in the IG for at least a year before 'qualifying'...

...the pair are very good at standing still for quite a long time. They do not even speak; lip movements might attract attention, after all. Saliva on the lips is every RISE agents enemy; a sliver on the lip and a glint of the sun could easily spell disaster, after all.

So; still they remain. And mentally, they cross their fingers.
One of the Blues points towards the party's position and clicks to another. Taking the field glasses and scanning the shore, the other Blue clicks back over to the first one, who hops into one of the small boats and winches it into the water. The small electric-powered craft putters softly towards the bank. The Blue on board seems to only be armed with a pistol (holstered) and one of those useless stun emitters.

(OOC: :shock: What is with my dice today? 15% chance of detection, so I roll an 18 (graze) and a 12 (detect)? That and Krenn's head up there, with two 99 ultrabotches, a critical hit, and a head shot... weird.)

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
The two RISE agents become chock-still, in the manner of the Imperial Guard whom stand outside the Palace in Nenya - for hours on end. And seeing as RISE agents must serve in the IG for at least a year before 'qualifying'...

...the pair are very good at standing still for quite a long time. They do not even speak; lip movements might attract attention, after all. Saliva on the lips is every RISE agents enemy; a sliver on the lip and a glint of the sun could easily spell disaster, after all.

So; still they remain. And mentally, they cross their fingers.
One of the Blues points towards the party's position and clicks to another. Taking the field glasses and scanning the shore, the other Blue clicks back over to the first one, who hops into one of the small boats and winches it into the water. The small electric-powered craft putters softly towards the bank. The Blue on board seems to only be armed with a pistol (holstered) and one of those useless stun emitters.

(OOC: :shock: What is with my dice today? 15% chance of detection, so I roll an 18 (graze) and a 12 (detect)? That and Krenn's head up there, with two 99 ultrabotches, a critical hit, and a head shot... weird.)

Sefrin mouths, somewhat obviously, "I would say we've been seen."

Millet would shoot him one of her looks, but she is still remaining still; for the most part, at any rate. Slowly, a hand delves into one of her suits slits, and fingers a US grenade. She ponders. To throw... or not to throw.

She doesn't throw. She waits. These are, after all, not confirmed as hostile; it might be best to let rational heads prevail.

This time.

She mouths, "Sefrin. If you do something stupid again, I swear I'll kill you myself."

Sefrin does not reply, but does his best to look meek. Which is useless, seeing as Millet is not looking at him. But she gets the idea from his silence, anyway.

S-14, Some Area of Forest, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa races over to Krenn, who is bleeding from his mouth and head from the Gazelle's horn. "Shuuta, Krenn needs medical attention. Get the medical kit from the EVA suits."

Shuuta gets the kit, and applies pressure to the wound from the top and bottom of Krenn's mouth. "We'll need to cauterize the wound, or infection will set in."
R-Jane, carrying its medkit, runs back to Krenn with Shuuta as Douglass keeps overwatch in the vehicle. The android averts it's wolf-spider optical array for a moment. "Gah, he's a mess. You need to cauterize the wound to keep him from bleeding to death."

Kneeling down, the android pulls several tools out of its kit. "First step will be to take out the horn; if we don't, we have a serious chance we can't take it out later and then there will be tissue rejection to deal with. Then we have to cauterize the wound, probably with this"--it pulls out a flashlight-esque maser. "I would do it myself, but I lack knowledge of Sakkran physiology."

Douglass calls over his throat-mic. "I've got motion contact, looks like eight of 'em, coming through the long grass towards your position. Whatever you're doing, do it fast--I'm probably out of range with this bazooka-thingie. Switching to the handy powergun pistol."

Lossa and Griimph decide to pull watch. The 'conceal' themselves (sort of a mimetic camoflauge) and keep their eyes peeled. They go to either side of the group.

Shuuta places the tips of her claws on the horn. "We have lived through worse. R-Jane, be ready to apply disinfectant to the wound area. I'm going to yank this object out with one hand, then cover the wound after it has been disinfected to stem bloodflow with these patches."

She pulls two synth-skin patches from the med-kit with her free hand, resembling scales. "These will act as well as cauterizing the wound, without burn damage. They're made with Paroo sap as adhesive, which is quite powerful, yet safe." Shuuta waits for 3 seconds, then pulls the horn.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"We also want answers to questions. Where are the dominant insectoid exoskeletal races of your galaxy? You can't be the dominant lifeforms, with your frail endoskeletal bodies. The thought of your organs hanging outside your skeletal shell... sickening."

A hologram of Earth, first quite blurry as if seen through long-range telescopes, then much larger and clearer as if imaged from orbit, appears. "It would be safe to assume that this world is the one you hail from? Its communications patterns, in part, match yours."
"We have encountered a few quazi-exoskeletals in our time, but for the most part we have looked on each other as equals."
"And being endoskeletal isn't all that bad. It has it's advantages."

Some of the group gasp at the hologram.

Crichton looks at it, then back at the "Mother of Us All".
"Well, yes, my species is originally from that planet you see, however, most of the explorers and vessels around her are from peoples that have long since left that small blue rock"

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin mouths, somewhat obviously, "I would say we've been seen."

Millet would shoot him one of her looks, but she is still remaining still; for the most part, at any rate. Slowly, a hand delves into one of her suits slits, and fingers a US grenade. She ponders. To throw... or not to throw.

She doesn't throw. She waits. These are, after all, not confirmed as hostile; it might be best to let rational heads prevail.

This time.

She mouths, "Sefrin. If you do something stupid again, I swear I'll kill you myself."

Sefrin does not reply, but does his best to look meek. Which is useless, seeing as Millet is not looking at him. But she gets the idea from his silence, anyway.
The flat-bottom boat grounds itself on the bank, the Blue stepping out and wading through the reedy marsh. Looking down at the well-armed party slightly covered in ex-Red gore, she slowly brings out a metal cube and puts it to her maxillae. "Umm... would you mind coming with us, please? Purely optional at this rate."

S-14, Some Area of Forest, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa and Griimph decide to pull watch. The 'conceal' themselves (sort of a mimetic camoflauge) and keep their eyes peeled. They go to either side of the group.

Shuuta places the tips of her claws on the horn. "We have lived through worse. R-Jane, be ready to apply disinfectant to the wound area. I'm going to yank this object out with one hand, then cover the wound after it has been disinfected to stem bloodflow with these patches."

She pulls two synth-skin patches from the med-kit with her free hand, resembling scales. "These will act as well as cauterizing the wound, without burn damage. They're made with Paroo sap as adhesive, which is quite powerful, yet safe." Shuuta waits for 3 seconds, then pulls the horn.
R-Jane immediately applies disinfectant and follows up with a burst from the flashlight-esque maser it produced from its kit earlier.

Lossa and Griimph hear something akin to dog-like panting.

Douglass lets off one shot with his pistol--a flash of light and a thundercrack of superheated air--and there is a stifled yelp followed by barking and whining. He smirks and whispers into his throat-mic. "One down, seven left, moving chaotically--I probably bought you some time, at least."

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"We have encountered a few quazi-exoskeletals in our time, but for the most part we have looked on each other as equals."
"And being endoskeletal isn't all that bad. It has it's advantages."

Some of the group gasp at the hologram.

Crichton looks at it, then back at the "Mother of Us All".
"Well, yes, my species is originally from that planet you see, however, most of the explorers and vessels around her are from peoples that have long since left that small blue rock"
"Ah. You see, I have a problem. That 'small blue rock,' as you put it, should be our new home. I am uncertain that we have the resources to proceed to a new world; our fleet has diminished greatly over the hundreds of thousands of generations. We are entering the firing window of the Fist of Alpha, and we have heard that the peoples of that world are warlike and probably less than willing to greet us. Now, I could fire the Fist now and as we begin our several-generation braking procedure to achieve its orbit we would naturally wait out the climactic changes it would cause. Since you do not live there, would you mind so much if we did this?

"Yet you are advanced, and there is the problem of the Reds and the Greens and the Minis. Maybe an arrangement can be reached."

(OOC: Bers, I know you're a good argumentalist. This would be a good time to start entering that mode.)

(OOC: You might also mention the terraforming efforts on Venus. Perhaps they wouldn't mind settling there, instead.)

"I await your signal, but you are certainly taking your time. Perhaps it would be best if I were simply to leave now, and you may send an envoy when you are ready?"

<Wave-form encoded transmissions:>
Larva-Oberon: Suspicious activity by the Red Queen. Recommend emergency evacuation.
Oberon-Larva: Understood. Mindlink commencing...
Larva-Oberon: ... sentience resynchronized. Evacuation complete.
Oberon-Rama: Alien envoy may be subterfuge. Recommend sending second contact team to establish relations with other factions.
Rama-Oberon: Understood and authorized. We will launch a StarFish.
<End>

The Southern Iris opened just wide enough to permit the exit of a single Minor-class StarFish. It began searching for an airlock in the forward section of S-14.

(OOC: Note to self... never tell players that an NPC is lying ever again.)

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"Ah. You see, I have a problem. That 'small blue rock,' as you put it, should be our new home. I am uncertain that we have the resources to proceed to a new world; our fleet has diminished greatly over the hundreds of thousands of generations. We are entering the firing window of the Fist of Alpha, and we have heard that the peoples of that world are warlike and probably less than willing to greet us. Now, I could fire the Fist now and as we begin our several-generation braking procedure to achieve its orbit we would naturally wait out the climactic changes it would cause. Since you do not live there, would you mind so much if we did this?

"Yet you are advanced, and there is the problem of the Reds and the Greens and the Minis. Maybe an arrangement can be reached."

(OOC: Bers, I know you're a good argumentalist. This would be a good time to start entering that mode.)

A few gasp at these comments. Willis "Sputnik" begins to step forward, but Crichton holds up his arm, stopping him.
"I see. Yes, they do appear warlike. Indeed, that is why some of us left, searched for a better home." Crichton begins pacing. "And by that matter, they have burned up most of the resources on that rock. Natural resources dwindling, before long, there won't be anything there worth colonizing."

OOC: (not finished with the speaking, but waiting for a response.)

R-Jane immediately applies disinfectant and follows up with a burst from the flashlight-esque maser it produced from its kit earlier.

Lossa and Griimph hear something akin to dog-like panting.

Douglass lets off one shot with his pistol--a flash of light and a thundercrack of superheated air--and there is a stifled yelp followed by barking and whining. He smirks and whispers into his throat-mic. "One down, seven left, moving chaotically--I probably bought you some time, at least."

Lossa looks about, and spies the carcasses from their kill. "Probably scavengers looking for a free meal. Griimph, keep on your toes, and remember your combat training. I need to stow our food close to the vehicle." Lossa grabs the two antelope bodies and lifts them up, carrying them to the craft. "And if anything moves suddenly, I would expect it dead with all speed."

Meanwhile, Shuuta apllies the synth-skin patches to the top and bottom of the wound area. After a short time, the color and texture of the patches begins to change, and soon looks almost exactly like Krenn's scale pattern. Almost, but not quite. "The coagulent agents in the skin-patch should help speed his healing, but he's going to have to move relatively slowly so blood-flow doesn't increase, and rupture the wound internally before the patch works fully."

(OOC: Oh, pish tosh. I'd've posted it about a page later anyway, your affirmation of my suspicions just allowed it to come about sooner instead of later.)

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"I see. Yes, they do appear warlike. Indeed, that is why some of us left, searched for a better home." Crichton begins pacing. "And by that matter, they have burned up most of the resources on that rock. Natural resources dwindling, before long, there won't be anything there worth colonizing."
"All the more reason to act now, don't you think? No one there can oppose us fully, according to what we know; so we can stop their wantoness now. Even then, it is a world, and it has resources... more than this vessel, at least. With our obviously superior management, its resources should last long enough that we can reexpand our empire."

S-14, Some Area of Forest, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa looks about, and spies the carcasses from their kill. "Probably scavengers looking for a free meal. Griimph, keep on your toes, and remember your combat training. I need to stow our food close to the vehicle." Lossa grabs the two antelope bodies and lifts them up, carrying them to the craft. "And if anything moves suddenly, I would expect it dead with all speed."

Meanwhile, Shuuta apllies the synth-skin patches to the top and bottom of the wound area. After a short time, the color and texture of the patches begins to change, and soon looks almost exactly like Krenn's scale pattern. Almost, but not quite. "The coagulent agents in the skin-patch should help speed his healing, but he's going to have to move relatively slowly so blood-flow doesn't increase, and rupture the wound internally before the patch works fully."
( :shock: I rolled an 01 for critter morale? Sakkra, my red dice hate you.)
Commander Douglass peers through his suit snoopers. "Bad news, friends. They're coming in fast and furious now. I'll try to take a few more out." Three more thunderstrokes of light come from the barrel of the one centimeter pistol, another animal goes down.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp5.jpg
The remaining six of these dog-things burst out into the clearing. Squat, with hulking shoulders and large square heads, the barking jaws seem quite powerful and are full of very sharp fangs. They have short mottled yellow fur coats and are about 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder. They attempt to surround the Sakkrans.

R-Jane takes the medical maser, twists one knob as far as it will go, and fires at one dog-thing that passes next to it. Missing, the rush of superheated air burns a small crater into the ground. "Dogs! I hate dogs."

( :shock: I rolled an 01 for critter morale? Sakkra, my red dice hate you.)
Commander Douglass peers through his suit snoopers. "Bad news, friends. They're coming in fast and furious now. I'll try to take a few more out." Three more thunderstrokes of light come from the barrel of the one centimeter pistol, another animal goes down.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp5.jpg
The remaining six of these dog-things burst out into the clearing. Squat, with hulking shoulders and large square heads, the barking jaws seem quite powerful and are full of very sharp fangs. They have short mottled yellow fur coats and are about 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder. They attempt to surround the Sakkrans.

R-Jane takes the medical maser, twists one knob as far as it will go, and fires at one dog-thing that passes next to it. Missing, the rush of superheated air burns a small crater into the ground. "Dogs! I hate dogs."
( OOC: And I hate your red dice. Grrrrrrr.)

Shuuta manages to get Krenn back to the vehicle, hoping he can make it the rest of the way in on his own. She turns as the dog-things begin to surround the group. She makes her way back to the others.

"Back to back. This is going to be interesting." She crouches down and gives out a loud bellow, followed by Griimph and Lossa. The air is veritably reeking of combat pheremones now and all three of their tails are twitching furiously.

The Odin previously exploring Rent Hotel returned to Rama. The Southern Iris opened once more to allow the Living Ship inside, while at the same time deploying a second and third StarFish.

One Starfish made its way to Rent Delta (OOC: I think, correct me if I'm wrong) to further investigate the sea there.

Envoy stepped its metabolism, and moved in towards the ice, intending to melt its way through. The StarFish waited just beyond the edge of the rent, while the Snel inside tried to work out a way to get through the ice themselves without cutting a whole in Envoy.

Eventually, they settled on this: Have Envoy burrow in until there is just enough ice left to hold back the water. Envoy comes back out, the StarFish goes in, and Envoy seals the hole from the top. The StarFish burrows through the remaining thin ice, and then they just float to the surface.

How long this will take, is, unfortunately, unknown.

The other StarFish proceeded towards Spaceberg Golf, under the assumption that the inhabitants couldn't be very hostile, since the Sakkrans came away alive.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party

"All the more reason to act now, don't you think? No one there can oppose us fully, according to what we know; so we can stop their wantoness now. Even then, it is a world, and it has resources... more than this vessel, at least. With our obviously superior management, its resources should last long enough that we can reexpand our empire."

"But, it's what you do not know that will often defeat you. Many of the inhabitants of that planet have their own empires, streching into the stars, and many would throw their entire empires at you to stop you. Many have amassed huge stockpiles of weapons which could be turned againt their enemies. And, while many are warring, they would drop thier quarrels and disagreements and unite creating a force that even a powerful being like yourself would be loathe to deal with.

OOC: again pause for response

S-14, Rent Hotel, Side of Torus, Snel StarFish 1 and Envoy
One Starfish made its way to Rent Hotel (OOC: I think, correct me if I'm wrong) to further investigate the sea there.

Envoy stepped its metabolism, and moved in towards the ice, intending to melt its way through. The StarFish waited just beyond the edge of the rent, while the Snel inside tried to work out a way to get through the ice themselves without cutting a whole in Envoy.

Eventually, they settled on this: Have Envoy burrow in until there is just enough ice left to hold back the water. Envoy comes back out, the StarFish goes in, and Envoy seals the hole from the top. The StarFish burrows through the remaining thin ice, and then they just float to the surface.

How long this will take, is, unfortunately, unknown.
The ice is very, very thick. Radar imaging suggests that it is at least several hundred meters thick, probably in excess of a kilometer or two. Still, the burrowing continues.

Spaceberg "Golf," Snel StarFish 2
The other StarFish proceeded towards Spaceberg "Golf," under the assumption that the inhabitants couldn't be very hostile, since the Sakkrans came away alive.
The StarFish makes it to the spaceberg unchallenged.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"But, it's what you do not know that will often defeat you. Many of the inhabitants of that planet have their own empires, streching into the stars, and many would throw their entire empires at you to stop you. Many have amassed huge stockpiles of weapons which could be turned againt their enemies. And, while many are warring, they would drop thier quarrels and disagreements and unite creating a force that even a powerful being like yourself would be loathe to deal with.
"That does seem a possiblity--your vessels have many different design philosophies, and yet you seem to work together. Also, a cornered creature fights the hardest." The Blue Mother thinks for a moment. "The window for action is long, so we can debate this somewhat for now.

"Before we proceed, do you have any questions of me I always enjoy enlightening."

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party

"That does seem a possiblity--your vessels have many different design philosophies, and yet you seem to work together. Also, a cornered creature fights the hardest." The Blue Mother thinks for a moment. "The window for action is long, so we can debate this somewhat for now.

"Before we proceed, do you have any questions of me I always enjoy enlightening."
Crichton smiles, for a second. He glances around at the team. "I'm sure many of this team have questions."
"But, I would like to ask one first. What is your culture like. Do you have things like art, music, ideals, beliefs, things along that line."
"If it is a subject you wish to avoid, you don't need to answer, you are the host as it is."

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
Crichton smiles, for a second. He glances around at the team. "I'm sure many of this team have questions."
"But, I would like to ask one first. What is your culture like. Do you have things like art, music, ideals, beliefs, things along that line."
"If it is a subject you wish to avoid, you don't need to answer, you are the host as it is."
"I am the font of culture and society for the True People. Our art and music relates directly to our duties here, namely being the computer technicians. Maintaining all computerized systems and controlling most of Alpha's functions are our primary prority; our art reflects this. Our beliefs are the beliefs of hard fact and of science; we are the True People, the Norm, the original species that set out from our galaxy to colonize and survive.

"Is it not obvious that we are the Norm, as given by the Prime Edict? We coordinate all functions of this complex system you call 'S-14.' It is us, and us alone, who have made it possible for this vessel to cross intergalactic space. Without us, Alpha would fail; S-14 would soon collapse thereafter, aimless and control-less in the intergalactic void. Now there only remains our final enforcement of the Prime Edict, and the colonization of a new world."

Spaceberg "Golf," Snel StarFish 2
The other StarFish proceeded towards Spaceberg "Golf," under the assumption that the inhabitants couldn't be very hostile, since the Sakkrans came away alive.
The StarFish makes it to the spaceberg unchallenged.


(OOC: Should really be #3, there's another looking for an airlock on S-14, but, whatever, you da GM.)

The StarFish approached and landed near one of the airlocks used by the Sakkrans. An airlock opened on the arm closest to the airlock, and a single suited figure came out. It attached a boarding tube to the StarFish airlock, and then connected the other end to the Spaceberg airlock. It then made its way back inside the StarFish. Moments later, the boarding tube inflated like a balloon, and three unsuited Snel could be seen through the translucent walls. They brought along a Crana larva for translation, and cycled through the airlock and into the Spaceberg.

Spaceberg "Golf," Surface Airlock, Snel Party 2
The StarFish approached and landed near one of the airlocks used by the Sakkrans. An airlock opened on the arm closest to the airlock, and a single suited figure came out. It attached a boarding tube to the StarFish airlock, and then connected the other end to the Spaceberg airlock. It then made its way back inside the StarFish. Moments later, the boarding tube inflated like a balloon, and three unsuited Snel could be seen through the translucent walls. They brought along a Crana larva for translation, and cycled through the airlock and into the Spaceberg.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp19.jpg
It's an airlock with two interairlocks, two sets of large doors (to lockers), two sets of small doors (to machinery) and a hatch in the floor.

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin mouths, somewhat obviously, "I would say we've been seen."

Millet would shoot him one of her looks, but she is still remaining still; for the most part, at any rate. Slowly, a hand delves into one of her suits slits, and fingers a US grenade. She ponders. To throw... or not to throw.

She doesn't throw. She waits. These are, after all, not confirmed as hostile; it might be best to let rational heads prevail.

This time.

She mouths, "Sefrin. If you do something stupid again, I swear I'll kill you myself."

Sefrin does not reply, but does his best to look meek. Which is useless, seeing as Millet is not looking at him. But she gets the idea from his silence, anyway.
The flat-bottom boat grounds itself on the bank, the Blue stepping out and wading through the reedy marsh. Looking down at the well-armed party slightly covered in ex-Red gore, she slowly brings out a metal cube and puts it to her maxillae. "Umm... would you mind coming with us, please? Purely optional at this rate."


Millet ceases Drawing the Shadows, at this point, seeing as it's a waste of energy.

"I assume that thing translates two ways. - Would our co-operation remain 'optional' if we refuse? Or is it actually optional? - I don't care either way, but it's always nice to know."

She seems to be finished, but then adds, "I think we'll probably be co-operating anyway, just so you don't decide to stun us or something because you think we might not."

Best to be safe.

Sefrin, for his part, remains meekly silent. Probably best not to screw up for a second time today, he muses.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking

Allison awakes. "Ah, our head... wait a minute, our head? That doesn't make sense. Well, adapt and conquer, we guess."

Aeryn looks up at her. "Good morning. With whom am I speaking now?"

S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
The fifty-strong Red work crew shuffles into the ship completely oblivious to the marines outside. Inside, the party happens to be exceedingly lucky, avoids contact, and stumbles into what appears to be an engine room. The room lacks any fusion equipment, but a large cylindrical core set on its side facing fore-aft stretches below the deck along the centerline of the ship and can be assumed to be the drive. Various large, cover-providing components lie about the maze of catwalks and platforms arrayed around the core. Portable terminal stations, alien meters, and what not are scattered about.


"Well. I think we may have found what we're looking for." After placing motion sensors outside any hatches they can find so that they're not surprised by insects, the team sets up a number of portable scanners. These are engineering devices that are looking at the internal structures and energy flows of the drive. Several people also look around at the computers, looking for anything that isn't text-based (and especially anything that looks like schematics).

Not much interested in anything other than the aliens, the Snel party attempted to open the hatch.

"Mahonri to Server, it's getting rather boring out here. Everything's shifted focus to the contact teams. Is there really anything else for us to do, or should we just leave the rest to the contact teams and get on with our next assignment? We're due at Desdemona in another week."

OOC: Dang, I don't think I speeled that right...

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet ceases Drawing the Shadows, at this point, seeing as it's a waste of energy.

"I assume that thing translates two ways. - Would our co-operation remain 'optional' if we refuse? Or is it actually optional? - I don't care either way, but it's always nice to know."

She seems to be finished, but then adds, "I think we'll probably be co-operating anyway, just so you don't decide to stun us or something because you think we might not."

Best to be safe.

Sefrin, for his part, remains meekly silent. Probably best not to screw up for a second time today, he muses.
The Blue points first to her small pistol, then waves a manipulator at the party's rather prodigious arsenal. "Your compliance is completely optional... not much of a way I could force you, now, is there?

"Still, if you'd wish to join me aboard the boat here..." it motions towards the electric-powered flat-bottom boat.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
Aeryn looks up at her. "Good morning. With whom am I speaking now?"
"This gives us such senses of deja vu... well, normally we would say that we are The Mothers of Us All, but obviously such a plurality is internally flawed. Fails to compile, in a sense. Just thinking about it brings up internal dissent. It is quite... disturbing.

"We apologize if we are not making much sense, but our head hurts and it is obvious to us that we are not in a body we know much about. Can you help us in this?"

S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
"Well. I think we may have found what we're looking for." After placing motion sensors outside any hatches they can find so that they're not surprised by insects, the team sets up a number of portable scanners. These are engineering devices that are looking at the internal structures and energy flows of the drive. Several people also look around at the computers, looking for anything that isn't text-based (and especially anything that looks like schematics).
Scans reveal that there's a mild gravity-induced (like there's any other?) spacetime distortion anomaly nearby. Wait, no, you're practically standing in it. The drive appears to be similar to a Seiki gravity wave field generator, although its exact mode of operation is unknown. While its size belies the fact that it is a first-generation drive, it follows a principle different to all currently known gravitic drives.

The computers are primarily text-based as the permanent systems haven't been installed yet. Still, they are portable...

The motion sensors are still blank.

Spaceberg "Golf," Ice Tunnel, Snel Party 2
$> Open hatch.
The hatch opens up to a several hundred meter long tunnel of ice that leads down to a metal bulkhead with a circular hatch in it. A ladder has been cut into the ice, and there are several tubes buried just under the ice. It appears that some of the ice has been dug away, exposing one section of pipe, close to a meter-wide sphere that is under about thirty centimeters of ice.

S-14SECZONE
"Mahonri to Server, it's getting rather boring out here. Everything's shifted focus to the contact teams. Is there really anything else for us to do, or should we just leave the rest to the contact teams and get on with our next assignment? We're due at Desdemona in another week."
<Communication to Mahroni>
{
<< Proceed at your own discretion. We have made contact with the survivor of Farspace Horizon and can ship him to you when we retrieve him.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0; Political Director, S-14 Expedition

S-14, In The Air, Central Core
S-14, Major Computer Center, Forward Spar, Mary
"All I can do is disable alarms. I do know the Reds are experimenting with some sort of mind control device and are adapting it to the segmented creature with Jaque.

"If you must go, here is where you can find it on the Ring Plain. <insert detailed directions here>. Go to the nearest transport car; I will brief you further there and take you as close as I can."

"Very well then."

On the way, Mary opens up the small bag and carefully selects and loads several clips for her automatic grenade launcher. One goes in it immediately. Smoke, screamer, hmm...

"If they do get in the way, I won't pull any punches. You'd best hope that you can prevent them from taking action."

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"This gives us such senses of deja vu... well, normally we would say that we are The Mothers of Us All, but obviously such a plurality is internally flawed. Fails to compile, in a sense. Just thinking about it brings up internal dissent. It is quite... disturbing.

"We apologize if we are not making much sense, but our head hurts and it is obvious to us that we are not in a body we know much about. Can you help us in this?"

"Its quite all right. Your're in the body of a telepath, who was attempting to contact the sentients inside Alpha. Several personality fragments overwhelmed her and, for lack of a better term, took up residence inside her head. You're one of them. The Blue, Green, and Red beings who also call themselves "Mother of Us All" are also present. I'm...not entirely sure who you are."


S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party

Scans reveal that there's a mild gravity-induced (like there's any other?) spacetime distortion anomaly nearby. Wait, no, you're practically standing in it. The drive appears to be similar to a Seiki gravity wave field generator, although its exact mode of operation is unknown. While its size belies the fact that it is a first-generation drive, it follows a principle different to all currently known gravitic drives.

The computers are primarily text-based as the permanent systems haven't been installed yet. Still, they are portable...

The motion sensors are still blank.


Ensign Barnon looks up at the Colonel from examining the scans. "It really quite interesting. Its not like either a Menelmacari-style gravitic drive or one of our Fasset drives." Meanwhile, the other engineers have very carefully detached several of the computers and stored them away inside safety cases.
As they work, Colonel Ashton turns to the telepath. "We need to get out of here soon. Can you check for a clear path to any nearby gangways?" She nods, and begins a light mental scan around the area.

S-14, Red Hibernaculum Access Tunnel, Ring Plain, Mary
"Very well then."

On the way, Mary opens up the small bag and carefully selects and loads several clips for her automatic grenade launcher. One goes in it immediately. Smoke, screamer, hmm...

"If they do get in the way, I won't pull any punches. You'd best hope that you can prevent them from taking action."
The transport car stops. "The access tunnel is clear. Please be careful."

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Its quite all right. Your're in the body of a telepath, who was attempting to contact the sentients inside Alpha. Several personality fragments overwhelmed her and, for lack of a better term, took up residence inside her head. You're one of them. The Blue, Green, and Red beings who also call themselves "Mother of Us All" are also present. I'm...not entirely sure who you are."
"Oh, we aren't them... we despise them. They always crush us and our cities, so we hate them. We... seeing how you've met them, we would probably best be known as the Minis. We fix the machines that their giant manipulators are too clumsy to handle."

S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
Ensign Barnon looks up at the Colonel from examining the scans. "It really quite interesting. Its not like either a Menelmacari-style gravitic drive or one of our Fasset drives." Meanwhile, the other engineers have very carefully detached several of the computers and stored them away inside safety cases.
As they work, Colonel Ashton turns to the telepath. "We need to get out of here soon. Can you check for a clear path to any nearby gangways?" She nods, and begins a light mental scan around the area.
The work parties primarily seem to be working in the forward section, but there are also several parties coming in from the aft gangways. Still, there is a free route; drop onto the deck just below the core and follow it to the first major power junction on the starboard side, which leads to a gap in the superstructure. From there it's a climb down using several structural spars.

The portable computers make great additions to the inventory.

Spaceberg "Golf," Ice Tunnel, Snel Party 2
$> Open hatch.
The hatch opens up to a several hundred meter long tunnel of ice that leads down to a metal bulkhead with a circular hatch in it. A ladder has been cut into the ice, and there are several tubes buried just under the ice. It appears that some of the ice has been dug away, exposing one section of pipe, close to a meter-wide sphere that is under about thirty centimeters of ice.

(OOC: Don't feel like logging out/in)

$Crana> Float "down the tunnel"
$Crana> logout
$> login "Snel 1"
$Snel1> Squeeze "into tunnel"
$Snel1> logout
$> login "Snel 2"
$Snel2> Wait
$Snel2> logout
$> login "Snel 3"
$Snel3> Wait

(OOC: You've unleashed a monster! Eh, I won't do that again, but the opportunity was too good to pass up just this once.)


S-14SECZONE
"Mahonri to Server, it's getting rather boring out here. Everything's shifted focus to the contact teams. Is there really anything else for us to do, or should we just leave the rest to the contact teams and get on with our next assignment? We're due at Desdemona in another week."
<Communication to Mahroni>
{
<< Proceed at your own discretion. We have made contact with the survivor of Farspace Horizon and can ship him to you when we retrieve him.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0; Political Director, S-14 Expedition

"Survivor, singular? That doesn't sound too good. Well... I'll stay, at least. The Shem, however, seems unnecessary. I shall suggest that it depart shortly."

S-14, Savannah River, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet ceases Drawing the Shadows, at this point, seeing as it's a waste of energy.

"I assume that thing translates two ways. - Would our co-operation remain 'optional' if we refuse? Or is it actually optional? - I don't care either way, but it's always nice to know."

She seems to be finished, but then adds, "I think we'll probably be co-operating anyway, just so you don't decide to stun us or something because you think we might not."

Best to be safe.

Sefrin, for his part, remains meekly silent. Probably best not to screw up for a second time today, he muses.
The Blue points first to her small pistol, then waves a manipulator at the party's rather prodigious arsenal. "Your compliance is completely optional... not much of a way I could force you, now, is there?

"Still, if you'd wish to join me aboard the boat here..." it motions towards the electric-powered flat-bottom boat.


Millet smiles slightly at that. "I'm sure you couldn't," she states with a modicum of sarcasm - after all, a pistol will put a hole in someone whether bigger guns are pointed at it or not - and continues in a more level tone, "I will require your word of honour that our companions will not be harmed, however." She waves a hand at Sefrin.

"He and I are our own concern. But I will not have the blood of others on my hands."

She takes a few steps towards the boat, however, to display willingness. Sefrin follows suit, eyeing the Blue skeptically.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"I am the font of culture and society for the True People. Our art and music relates directly fact and of science; we are the True People, the Norm, the original species that set out from our galaxy to colonize and survive.

"Is it not obvious that we are the Norm, as given by the Prime Edict? We coordinate all functions of this complex system you call 'S-14.' It is us, and us alone, who have made it possible for this vessel to cross intergalactic space. Without us, Alpha would fail; S-14 would soon collapse thereafter, aimless and control-less in the intergalactic void. Now there only remains our final enforcement of the Prime Edict, and the colonization of a new world."
Jeff Cobbler looks about, "Interesting. What is this Prime Edict you speak of?"

Spaceberg "Golf," Ice Tunnel, Snel Party 2
$Crana> Float "down the tunnel"
$Crana> logout
$> login "Snel 1"
$Snel1> Squeeze "into tunnel"
$Snel1> logout
$> login "Snel 2"
$Snel2> Wait
$Snel2> logout
$> login "Snel 3"
$Snel3> Wait
Other than it being rather cold, the six-hundred meter distance of the tunnel is traversed without incident. At the opposite end is a circular hatch. A track-light rim around its perimeter glows blue.

S-14SECZONE
"Survivor, singular? That doesn't sound too good. Well... I'll stay, at least. The Shem, however, seems unnecessary. I shall suggest that it depart shortly."
<Communications to Mahroni>
{
<< Yes, unfortunately, "survivor" is singular. The Karmabaijani are arranging retrieval and extraction.

<< Understood on Shem's departure. Hopefully their trip will be uneventful.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0; Political Director, S-14 Expedition

S-14, Riverbank in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet smiles slightly at that. "I'm sure you couldn't," she states with a modicum of sarcasm - after all, a pistol will put a hole in someone whether bigger guns are pointed at it or not - and continues in a more level tone, "I will require your word of honour that our companions will not be harmed, however." She waves a hand at Sefrin.

"He and I are our own concern. But I will not have the blood of others on my hands."

She takes a few steps towards the boat, however, to display willingness. Sefrin follows suit, eyeing the Blue skeptically.
The Blue tilts its head. "Word of honor? I assure you, we will not harm your companions."

The Blue steps into the boat and sits at the tiller.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
Jeff Cobbler looks about, "Interesting. What is this Prime Edict you speak of?"
"Our Most Ancient Mother realized that time and evolutionary forces would cause the crew of this vessel to be an entirely different species upon arrival at our destination. As the fleet was constructed to ensure the survival of our species, this could not be allowed. Only uniformity could be tolerated; mutants could never be accepted by the True People.

"The Prime Edict, the rule by which the True People live, states 'All deviations from the Norm are an abomination, and must be destroyed.'"

S-14, Riverbank in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet smiles slightly at that. "I'm sure you couldn't," she states with a modicum of sarcasm - after all, a pistol will put a hole in someone whether bigger guns are pointed at it or not - and continues in a more level tone, "I will require your word of honour that our companions will not be harmed, however." She waves a hand at Sefrin.

"He and I are our own concern. But I will not have the blood of others on my hands."

She takes a few steps towards the boat, however, to display willingness. Sefrin follows suit, eyeing the Blue skeptically.
The Blue tilts its head. "Word of honor? I assure you, we will not harm your companions."

The Blue steps into the boat and sits at the tiller.


Millet bows her head slightly in acceptance of that. "Very well."

She strides to the boat and, eyeing it somewhat skeptically - surface boats! - she hops on board.

Sefrin follows suit, with equal hesitation.

S-14, Riverbank in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet bows her head slightly in acceptance of that. "Very well."

She strides to the boat and, eyeing it somewhat skeptically - surface boats! - she hops on board.

Sefrin follows suit, with equal hesitation.
Everyone aboard, the boat putters back to the barge, where it is winched back aboard. "Welcome to our humble little barge. Make yourselves comfortable." A few Blues bow shortly as the party boards, then return to whatever they were doing.

S-14, Riverbank in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet bows her head slightly in acceptance of that. "Very well."

She strides to the boat and, eyeing it somewhat skeptically - surface boats! - she hops on board.

Sefrin follows suit, with equal hesitation.
Everyone aboard, the boat putters back to the barge, where it is winched back aboard. "Welcome to our humble little barge. Make yourselves comfortable." A few Blues bow shortly as the party boards, then return to whatever they were doing.

Sefrin raises an eyebrow. "I like these people. They didn't shoot me yet," he mouths.

Millet shoots him a look. For the hundredth time. She begins to realise exactly why RISE agents generally travel singuarly-

-because RISE agents are so damned irritating. Herself included, no doubt.

She eyes the barge with skeptical eyes - although she politely tries not to show it - and quite obviously looks for somewhere to sit.

She certainly doesn't have sea-legs.

Mary grimly set off down the access tunnel, keeping an eye out. Probably waiting and going a bit behind one of the drones woulrd be a good idea...

The Plan So Far:

When arriving in egg chamber, wait hidden for a while; try following thirty seconds after a drone leaves (more/less if pattern of traffig suggests). Sneak quietly and fill the chamber Jacque is in with smoke using smoke grenades as enter; use relatively quiet needler rifle to dispose of anything that looks to be running to get the guards or shooting until entrance into room with Jacque in it.

Other than it being rather cold, the six-hundred meter distance of the tunnel is traversed without incident. At the opposite end is a circular hatch. A track-light rim around its perimeter glows blue.


As the Crana tried to open the hatch, the Snel called to the others to follow. Upon entering the tunnel, both of the other Snels began to wish they had brought vacuum suits, just to keep them moist. Cold air has a way of drying things out.

Envoy began backing out of the whole it had been boring into the ice, and the StarFish began moving in.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Oh, we aren't them... we despise them. They always crush us and our cities, so we hate them. We... seeing how you've met them, we would probably best be known as the Minis. We fix the machines that their giant manipulators are too clumsy to handle."


"I don't think any of our teams aboard Alpha have met any of your kind yet, and the other minds only mentioned you in passing. They were more concerned about saying how much they wanted to kill the other colors. I suppose they think you're a 'deviation from the Norm' as well?"


S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party

The work parties primarily seem to be working in the forward section, but there are also several parties coming in from the aft gangways. Still, there is a free route; drop onto the deck just below the core and follow it to the first major power junction on the starboard side, which leads to a gap in the superstructure. From there it's a climb down using several structural spars.

The portable computers make great additions to the inventory.

Quickly disassembling the scanners, the team follows the route suggested by the telepath, being as stealthy as they can be. They proceed with their weapons drawn.

S-14, In the Air, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
<<Transmission>>
"Good to go, we are making our way towards that Eniqcir ship...the Scott Bakula or whatever it was. Meeting up with one of the crew their hopefully. Is the video link holding up?
<<over>>
<<Transmission>>
"Hideki, Sato. Link is fine. Keep in touch.
<<Out>>

R-Kilroy is still having a great deal of trouble with its dragonfly, but at least manages to get it tumbling so its pushed along with the draft. "A little help here, maybe?"

As the party sails forward on the slipstream. they observe a huge, curved, translucent blue arc jutting out from the jungle in the distance. As they move closer, the arc resolves into an immense sphere of water, almost twenty kilometers across. Small swells ripple across the surface of this "miniature" Null-Gravity Sea.

Up ahead is a green cloud that quickly defines into thousands of aerokrill.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg11.jpg
Hundreds of the little translucent buggers ping off the sides of the dragonflies, the fronts of suits, and faces. R-Kilroy's dragonfly, for all intents and purposes out of control, is battered by the things, spun and tapped in almost every direction. "If it isn't asking so much," the android calls calmly, "could someone please get me the frag out of this?" Its voice belies panic near the end of the sentence.


"Mister Kilroy, please shutdown any blocks you have and allow (expert pilot that has a decking rig) to take control for a moment."

The KSPA agent, adept at controlling remote vehicles attempts to remote into Kilroy and help get him stable.

"Now, lets get around this sea, and make our rendezvous. This spacedy shrimp has me a bit worried though, so everyone keep an eye out. Dochan, be ready on the sled controls if we need some backup."

S-14, Riverbank in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet bows her head slightly in acceptance of that. "Very well."

She strides to the boat and, eyeing it somewhat skeptically - surface boats! - she hops on board.

Sefrin follows suit, with equal hesitation.
The barge floats lazily down the river towards the sea. "We will be taking you to a transition point so we can bring you to Our Mother, as was originally planned... oddly enough, there seems to be two less of you than we remember. Do the Reds still have them?"

S-14, Sneaking Around the Reds Real Quiet-Like, Ring Plain, Mary
Mary grimly set off down the access tunnel, keeping an eye out. Probably waiting and going a bit behind one of the drones woulrd be a good idea...

The Plan So Far:

When arriving in egg chamber, wait hidden for a while; try following thirty seconds after a drone leaves (more/less if pattern of traffig suggests). Sneak quietly and fill the chamber Jacque is in with smoke using smoke grenades as enter; use relatively quiet needler rifle to dispose of anything that looks to be running to get the guards or shooting until entrance into room with Jacque in it.
The drones skittering about carrying the grapefruit-sized eggs are completely oblivious to Mary's presence. She eventually makes it to a cavernous, cold room where the dull brown ovoids are stacked on shelf after shelf, with a slight dusting of frost.

Taking the nearest circular cargo lift, she goes up several decks before it ends in a smaller room that smells faintly of wet grass. The room, carved from the living rock, extends to the left and is mostly hidden by a jutting wall. The room is softly illumined by phosphorescent spheres which give a steady but cold bluish light. There are two large doors to her right at one end of the room and to her immediate left, set into a wall, is a cylinder with a door in it.

Spaceberg "Golf," Transport Car, Snel Party 2
As the Crana tried to open the hatch, the Snel called to the others to follow. Upon entering the tunnel, both of the other Snels began to wish they had brought vacuum suits, just to keep them moist. Cold air has a way of drying things out.
The hatch opens into a standard transport car; the only difference is that this one has a single simple button on the pedestal. When depressed, the green track light on the ceiling hatch turns off and the car falls down to the central core passing through the spaceberg, eventually slowing to a stop. The blue track light on the floor hatch then glows softly.

S-14, Ice Beneath the Ring Sea, Some Starfish
Envoy began backing out of the hole it had been boring into the ice, and the StarFish began moving in.
The transfer goes without a hitch. Radar imaging indicates that the water past the ice may be as much as ten kilometers deep.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"I don't think any of our teams aboard Alpha have met any of your kind yet, and the other minds only mentioned you in passing. They were more concerned about saying how much they wanted to kill the other colors. I suppose they think you're a 'deviation from the Norm' as well?"
"Probably... but then again, each component of us thinks that we are non-Norm. A single non-array variable cannot have multiple values; all of us cannot be the Norm. This means either only one of us is Norm or none of us are Norm. Both are... disconcerting.

S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
Quickly disassembling the scanners, the team follows the route suggested by the telepath, being as stealthy as they can be. They proceed with their weapons drawn.
The escape is affected perfectly. One could swear that the music from "The Sting" could be heard in the background. Just one problem--how to move the marines on the gangplank and everyone else over to the dragonflies, which, while parked in the shadows, are surrounded by lights and all routes easily visible to those canister-like control modules on the robot arms.

S-14, Skirting the Ring Sea, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Mister Kilroy, please shutdown any blocks you have and allow (expert pilot that has a decking rig) to take control for a moment."

The KSPA agent, adept at controlling remote vehicles attempts to remote into Kilroy and help get him stable.

"Now, lets get around this sea, and make our rendezvous. This spacedy shrimp has me a bit worried though, so everyone keep an eye out. Dochan, be ready on the sled controls if we need some backup."
R-Kilroy sighs convincingly. "All right..."

With the assistance of Spacedy-Pedal-Powered-Dragonfly-Roy-Fokker, the android's craft is brought under control in an almost embarrassingly short time. "Wow," muses R-Kilroy, "I'm almost embarrassed. I think I can deal with it from here on out, though. May I have my body back?"

Under the surface of the Spherical Sea the party can see odd shapes similar to stories of the Loch Ness Monster floating about with tropical fish of every description, rays, and all other kinds of aquatic life. A cloud of fish chased by an indistinct shadow bursts through the gently rippling surface and begin, tumbling through the air flailing their tiny fins in vain. The party is now in a cloud of two-meter long fish that resemble something between clown fish and catfish.

Spaceberg "Golf," Transport Car, Snel Party 2
The hatch opens into a standard transport car; the only difference is that this one has a single simple button on the pedestal. When depressed, the green track light on the ceiling hatch turns off and the car falls down to the central core passing through the spaceberg, eventually slowing to a stop. The blue track light on the floor hatch then glows softly.

Once more, they open the hatch and crawl through, with the Crana broadcasting a call of "Hello? Anybody here?"

S-14, Ice Beneath the Ring Sea, Some Starfish
Envoy began backing out of the hole it had been boring into the ice, and the StarFish began moving in.
The transfer goes without a hitch. Radar imaging indicates that the water past the ice may be as much as ten kilometers deep.

"Envoy, are you secure?"

"Affirmative. Van der Waals fibers are functioning, the gap is sealed. I should be able to hold back whatever pressure you throw at me."

The StarFish activated its 5 CO2 lasers, and began tracing a circle in the ice, as well as carving several channels across the circle so that the ice would break up, and not slam into the ship in one large peice when it finally broke through.

S-14, Sneaking Around the Reds Real Quiet-Like, Ring Plain, Mary
The drones skittering about carrying the grapefruit-sized eggs are completely oblivious to Mary's presence. She eventually makes it to a cavernous, cold room where the dull brown ovoids are stacked on shelf after shelf, with a slight dusting of frost.

Taking the nearest circular cargo lift, she goes up several decks before it ends in a smaller room that smells faintly of wet grass. The room, carved from the living rock, extends to the left and is mostly hidden by a jutting wall. The room is softly illumined by phosphorescent spheres which give a steady but cold bluish light. There are two large doors to her right at one end of the room and to her immediate left, set into a wall, is a cylinder with a door in it.


She quietly tries the door, flattened against the wall. If it opens without trouble, she will wait a moment without going in to the side, then take a quick look. Barring any sightings, she will proceed to enter and look for the ceiling access hatch previously mentioned and see how quietly that may be opened.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Probably... but then again, each component of us thinks that we are non-Norm. A single non-array variable cannot have multiple values; all of us cannot be the Norm. This means either only one of us is Norm or none of us are Norm. Both are... disconcerting."


"I think I understand. Still, I don't see why there is such hatred between all the groups, except in your case. Is there really any difference between them besides the color?"


S-14, Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
The escape is affected perfectly. One could swear that the music from "The Sting" could be heard in the background. Just one problem--how to move the marines on the gangplank and everyone else over to the dragonflies, which, while parked in the shadows, are surrounded by lights and all routes easily visible to those canister-like control modules on the robot arms.


The team holds their postion. The some people look around, trying to see if there is anything visible in the opposite direction from where they want to go that looks like it wouldn't like being hit with an energy weapon. Other people look for hatches and such that might be a back way out. This includes one of the engineers, who pulls out a hand-held scanner and checks to see if there's any passages behind the wall.

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party 2
Once more, they open the hatch and crawl through, with the Crana broadcasting a call of "Hello? Anybody here?"
The hatch opens up into an empty set of metal trusses in a hollow cylinder that stretches as far as can be seen for and aft. The trusses dissect the circular cross-section into six equal wedges, and in the center of the arc length of each cross section is a single rail. At the ends of the trusses are small gates set up to consoles; the consoles have one large metal button and one small black plastic button.

S-14, Ice Beneath the Ring Sea, Some Starfish
The StarFish activated its 5 CO2 lasers, and began tracing a circle in the ice, as well as carving several channels across the circle so that the ice would break up, and not slam into the ship in one large peice when it finally broke through.
There's still quite a bit of ice to go through, but it should be broken through soon.

S-14, Sneaking Around the Reds Real Quiet-Like, Ring Plain, Mary
She quietly tries the door, flattened against the wall. If it opens without trouble, she will wait a moment without going in to the side, then take a quick look. Barring any sightings, she will proceed to enter and look for the ceiling access hatch previously mentioned and see how quietly that may be opened.
Entering the cylindrical interairlock, it pivots around with a soft hiss instantly. The ceiling access hatch is in the dead center of the next room in plain sight with a cylindrical ladder leading to it and it opens silently. As she peers into the hallway, an alarm goes off down the corridor and three Red drones run out of a door analogous to the one Alpha described as leading to the audience chamber and skitter down the hall, away from Mary.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"I think I understand. Still, I don't see why there is such hatred between all the groups, except in your case. Is there really any difference between them besides the color?"
"Well, we hate ourselves too, and them... but, again, this experience is mind-expanding. They are all genetic mutations of us, but, by that logic, we are all genetic mutations of us. They also have different functions, while our functions are all similar..."

S-14, Just Outside The Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
The team holds their postion. The some people look around, trying to see if there is anything visible in the opposite direction from where they want to go that looks like it wouldn't like being hit with an energy weapon. Other people look for hatches and such that might be a back way out. This includes one of the engineers, who pulls out a hand-held scanner and checks to see if there's any passages behind the wall.
There are no passageways, but there does appear to be a large transformer array on a section of shipyard on the side of the vessel opposite the party.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"Our Most Ancient Mother realized that time and evolutionary forces would cause the crew of this vessel to be an entirely different species upon arrival at our destination. As the fleet was constructed to ensure the survival of our species, this could not be allowed. Only uniformity could be tolerated; mutants could never be accepted by the True People.

"The Prime Edict, the rule by which the True People live, states 'All deviations from the Norm are an abomination, and must be destroyed.'"
"I see" he continues, "and what is it these other colors do exactly?"

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Well, we hate ourselves too, and them... but, again, this experience is mind-expanding. They are all genetic mutations of us, but, by that logic, we are all genetic mutations of us. They also have different functions, while our functions are all similar..."


"Your function is maintenence, while they don't have a specific one. Tell me, what will happen to your kind once Alpha reaches its destination?"


There are no passageways, but there does appear to be a large transformer array on a section of shipyard on the side of the vessel opposite the party.

"Sargeant Major," said Aston, turning to the woman in powered armor, "would you be so kind as to put a plasma bolt through that transformer?"
"Aye, sir." She raised up her arm, leveling the plasma arc at the indicated object. She takes several seconds to get the shot perfectly lined up. There is a sudden crack and a brilliant blue bolt of light connects the weapon to the other side of the bay, where...

S-14, Sneaking Around the Reds Real Quiet-Like, Ring Plain, Mary
Entering the cylindrical interairlock, it pivots around with a soft hiss instantly. The ceiling access hatch is in the dead center of the next room in plain sight with a cylindrical ladder leading to it and it opens silently. As she peers into the hallway, an alarm goes off down the corridor and three Red drones run out of a door analogous to the one Alpha described as leading to the audience chamber and skitter down the hall, away from Mary.


Smoothly Mary pads to the door, steps instinctively timing with some of the many footfalls of the departing drones, reholstering the needler in favor of the automatic grenade launcher.

The alarm is a good sign... now, just to make sure of things... A smoke grenade set on a ten second delay rolled out of the barrel onto the floor in the hallway with a tink a moment before several bursts of smoke and "screamer" grenades preceded Mary into the room. As she locates Jacque, a pair more of smoke grenades ping off down the two direction of the hallway she came from and a fresh clip slams into the AGL.

Very quickly the room will fill with thick black smoke and a hellish racket...

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"I see" he continues, "and what is it these other colors do exactly?"
"They serve various purposes around S-14, all subordinate to our own. The Reds maintain the engine, although we tell it where to go; the Greens run the hydroponic gardens, although it is only through our global resource management that they survive; the Minis maintain Alpha and delicate parts although it is us who design the parts and control Alpha."

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Your function is maintenence, while they don't have a specific one. Tell me, what will happen to your kind once Alpha reaches its destination?"
"Well... we will escape Alpha and continue to live, er suppose... although we are unsure how we shall manage for food."

S-14, Just Outside The Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
"Sargeant Major," said Aston, turning to the woman in powered armor, "would you be so kind as to put a plasma bolt through that transformer?"
"Aye, sir." She raised up her arm, leveling the plasma arc at the indicated object. She takes several seconds to get the shot perfectly lined up. There is a sudden crack and a brilliant blue bolt of light connects the weapon to the other side of the bay, where......it explodes in a giant-hamfisted explosion. Then again, what can you expect from a bunch of jarheads? (OOC: Marines are cool! Yay Marines!) That, the accompanying fire and wails of sirens, and the total darkness as the lights lose power, should provide adequate cover for a getaway.

S-14, Blatantly Causing A Ruckus With The Reds, Ring Plain, Mary
Smoothly Mary pads to the door, steps instinctively timing with some of the many footfalls of the departing drones, reholstering the needler in favor of the automatic grenade launcher.

The alarm is a good sign... now, just to make sure of things... A smoke grenade set on a ten second delay rolled out of the barrel onto the floor in the hallway with a tink a moment before several bursts of smoke and "screamer" grenades preceded Mary into the room. As she locates Jacque, a pair more of smoke grenades ping off down the two direction of the hallway she came from and a fresh clip slams into the AGL.

Very quickly the room will fill with thick black smoke and a hellish racket...
There are several non-screamer squeals as the Red guards writhe in agony. Good job, you've not only blown your cover but also made it completely impossible for the opposition to do jack about it. Now move.

The room contains Jaque (unhappy) and a pillbug-esque Snel larva (also probably unhappy). Through a hexagonal window is a very large Red insectoid holding her antennae and shaking her head erratically (very unhappy).

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party"They serve various purposes around S-14, all subordinate to our own. The Reds maintain the engine, although we tell it where to go; the Greens run the hydroponic gardens, although it is only through our global resource management that they survive; the Minis maintain Alpha and delicate parts although it is us who design the parts and control Alpha."
Jeff nods, "What do you intend to do with them once you find a planet to live on."

S-14, Blatantly Causing A Ruckus With The Reds, Ring Plain, Mary

There are several non-screamer squeals as the Red guards writhe in agony. Good job, you've not only blown your cover but also made it completely impossible for the opposition to do jack about it. Now move.

The room contains Jaque (unhappy) and a pillbug-esque Snel larva (also probably unhappy). Through a hexagonal window is a very large Red insectoid holding her antennae and shaking her head erratically (very unhappy).

Mary wastes no time rushing in and grabbing Jacque by the arm. With determined yanking, Jacque follows with some initial reluctance and no small amount of confusion. Once outside the room into the now smoke-filled hallway, she pulls up her visor to give him a short fierce kiss - and inject a blast of pure clean oxygen into his lungs - and a whispered "Shut up!"

The two rush back the way she came, choking black smoke put behind them only breifly as Mary fired more smoke rounds intermittantly, in between toggling the smart AGL to screamer rounds to incapacitate any sudden rush of guards coming up in their way, just in case the heavy concealment of smoke doesn't do its job.

The screamers did better than I'd hoped... looks like I probably won't have to blow any heads off.

"I don't like this...these are bait fish. Bait for what, who knows."

"Agreed. Field generator?"

"Give it a shot, Dochan, else, we pedal like crazy."

Dochan takes control of the sled and fires up the broad spectrum field generator. He oscillates the variables (sound(sub-ultra sonic), light(full spectrum), and EM looking for something that the spacedy-bait does'nt like, hoping to scare it off.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Well... we will escape Alpha and continue to live, er suppose... although we are unsure how we shall manage for food."


"I can see how that could be a problem, if you're not experienced in getting food yourselves. Of course, its possible we could be of assistance. Its too bad we haven't made contact with your people inside...unless you could tell us where to find them?"


S-14, Just Outside The Strange Ship, The Big Pit, Cetagandan Party
...it explodes in a giant-hamfisted explosion. Then again, what can you expect from a bunch of jarheads? (OOC: Marines are cool! Yay Marines!) That, the accompanying fire and wails of sirens, and the total darkness as the lights lose power, should provide adequate cover for a getaway.


As soon as the chaos begins, the team quickly heads for their dragonflies. Assuming they make it, the climb aboard and head back through the shaft they came in by, heading forwards towards the platform that they started out at.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
Jeff nods, "What do you intend to do with them once you find a planet to live on."
"Well, we hope to ensure we aren't forced to share the planet like we are this vessel. We shall adapt and survive, and they will be exterminated."

S-14, Blatantly Causing A Ruckus With The Reds, Ring Plain, Mary
Mary wastes no time rushing in and grabbing Jacque by the arm. With determined yanking, Jacque follows with some initial reluctance and no small amount of confusion. Once outside the room into the now smoke-filled hallway, she pulls up her visor to give him a short fierce kiss - and inject a blast of pure clean oxygen into his lungs - and a whispered "Shut up!"

The two rush back the way she came, choking black smoke put behind them only breifly as Mary fired more smoke rounds intermittantly, in between toggling the smart AGL to screamer rounds to incapacitate any sudden rush of guards coming up in their way, just in case the heavy concealment of smoke doesn't do its job.

The screamers did better than I'd hoped... looks like I probably won't have to blow any heads off.
Whether the Snel larva decides to beat feet right about now remains to be seen...

Returning the way Mary entered--a quick jump down the hatch (harder than it looks at 1.3 gravities), cycle through the lock, and onto the cargo lift, reveals what appears to be a very fuming Red Mother hopping around until she trips on something and falls over, knocking herself cold.

(OOC: A... 100 Überbotch?)

The egg chamber at the bottom of the lift is deserted, but there are flashing lights along the walls and the wails of sirens echo through the caverns.

S-14, Among the Spacedy-Bait, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"I don't like this...these are bait fish. Bait for what, who knows."

"Agreed. Field generator?"

"Give it a shot, Dochan, else, we pedal like crazy."

Dochan takes control of the sled and fires up the broad spectrum field generator. He oscillates the variables (sound(sub-ultra sonic), light(full spectrum), and EM looking for something that the spacedy-bait does'nt like, hoping to scare it off.
The spacedy-bait continue to flail their fins wildly; they don't have any control on their motion except to worsen their multiple-axis tumbling.

There is a splash as another, much larger fish jumps out of the water. Brightly colored with fins the size of a grown man, it has a giant beak-like mouth and two well-adapted eyes. Thrusting its fins purposefully, its beak scrapes the fuselage of the ever-luckless R-Kilroy's dragonfly, bending the tail and sending the now-useless vehicle tumbling. "Why me, spite it all, why me?"

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"I can see how that could be a problem, if you're not experienced in getting food yourselves. Of course, its possible we could be of assistance. Its too bad we haven't made contact with your people inside...unless you could tell us where to find them?"
"That's just the problem... we live everywhere there are complex machines, which is everywhere. Each one of us is just as virulent as each other; we suppose the... tolerance you see in us is merely the result of us being forced to see each other and act as a unity. This has definitely complicated the Prime Edict for us.

S-14, In The Air, Aft End of the Central Core, Cetagandan Party
s soon as the chaos begins, the team quickly heads for their dragonflies. Assuming they make it, the climb aboard and head back through the shaft they came in by, heading forwards towards the platform that they started out at.
Oh, leaving the pit is easy enough in the chaos and the shaft is dark enough to sneak through. Only problem now are those air-barges that were investigating the smoldering forests have apparently been diverted to deal with the shipyard explosion. In other words, they're heading straight for the party, although they're still about five hundred meters off.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking

"That's just the problem... we live everywhere there are complex machines, which is everywhere. Each one of us is just as virulent as each other; we suppose the... tolerance you see in us is merely the result of us being forced to see each other and act as a unity. This has definitely complicated the Prime Edict for us.

"So you don't even have a single central speaker." Aeryn frowns. "Still, if this turns out to be the end of your journey, does the Prime Edict still apply?"


S-14, In The Air, Aft End of the Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Oh, leaving the pit is easy enough in the chaos and the shaft is dark enough to sneak through. Only problem now are those air-barges that were investigating the smoldering forests have apparently been diverted to deal with the shipyard explosion. In other words, they're heading straight for the party, although they're still about five hundred meters off.

Being sensible spacers, the team simply tries to go around them. The shaft is a kilometer across, after all.

<double>

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"Well, we hope to ensure we aren't forced to share the planet like we are this vessel. We shall adapt and survive, and they will be exterminated."

"What would happen if your engine broke down? What if the hydroponics and Alpha broke as well?" Jeff tilts his head, quizical.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"So you don't even have a single central speaker." Aeryn frowns. "Still, if this turns out to be the end of your journey, does the Prime Edict still apply?"
"The Prime Edict used to be very clear--'all variations from the Norm are an abomination and must be destroyed'--if variation, then destroy. Time is irrelevant. Still, either only one of us is the Norm, and the rest must be destroyed, or none of us is the Norm, and we must all be destroyed... very disturbing. But it compiles; that is the full set of solutions."

S-14, In The Air, Aft End of the Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Being sensible spacers, the team simply tries to go around them. The shaft is a kilometer across, after all.
The air-barge powers on by, none the wiser. What does manage to intercept you are two playful seal-things.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg1.jpg
They seem to get a kick out of swimming around the heads of the marines and doing rolls and loops around the dragonflies.

S-14, Blue Audience Chamber, Forward Section, Berserker Party
"What would happen if your engine broke down? What if the hydroponics and Alpha broke as well?" Jeff tilts his head, quizical.
There is a moment of silence, and then the Blue Mother repeats her previous statement like a creed: "We shall adapt and survive, and they will be exterminated."

(OOC: We need to pause you, Bers, and let Karma catch up for vital Plot Event.)

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"The Prime Edict used to be very clear--'all variations from the Norm are an abomination and must be destroyed'--if variation, then destroy. Time is irrelevant. Still, either only one of us is the Norm, and the rest must be destroyed, or none of us is the Norm, and we must all be destroyed... very disturbing. But it compiles; that is the full set of solutions."


"Then perhaps you should ask yourself exactly what the Norm is. What if the set that is the Norm includes a wider range of possibilities than you had considered? Two variations of your kind could be slightly different, but still fit."


S-14, In The Air, Aft End of the Central Core, Cetagandan Party
Being sensible spacers, the team simply tries to go around them. The shaft is a kilometer across, after all.
The air-barge powers on by, none the wiser. What does manage to intercept you are two playful seal-things.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg1.jpg
They seem to get a kick out of swimming around the heads of the marines and doing rolls and loops around the dragonflies.


"Awww, how cute." The team flies onward, not bothering the seals, but also on the lookout for any seal-eating creatures.

S-14, Blatantly Causing A Ruckus With The Reds, Ring Plain, Mary
Whether the Snel larva decides to beat feet right about now remains to be seen...

Returning the way Mary entered--a quick jump down the hatch (harder than it looks at 1.3 gravities), cycle through the lock, and onto the cargo lift, reveals what appears to be a very fuming Red Mother hopping around until she trips on something and falls over, knocking herself cold.

(OOC: A... 100 Überbotch?)

The egg chamber at the bottom of the lift is deserted, but there are flashing lights along the walls and the wails of sirens echo through the caverns.


Mary doesn't miss the opportunity to leave the Red Mother a time-delayed personal package of a screamer and a smoke grenade, both set for a minute - right by her. Jacque takes the chance to breathe deeply and rest his wobbling legs a moment before Mary starts dragging him again.

"Why?"

"Dangerous for you. Shut up and move."

Mary drops more time delayed presents along the access tunnel out of the egg chamber... including a few explosives later on... with fairly long timers (5-10 minutes) and a couple set to hair-trigger. The modified wind spider has no trouble keeping up with Jacque.

The Plan: Get back in the transport car and skedaddle.

"Weeeellll, Isn't that special. Dochan, lend him a hand please."

"On it."

Dochan maneuvers the sled as close as possible to the stricken craft trying to allow (thedicewantto)KILLroy to climb out and ride the sled to saftey.

OOC: I keep missing if there was an update on my part of the thread. Could you point me to it?

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Then perhaps you should ask yourself exactly what the Norm is. What if the set that is the Norm includes a wider range of possibilities than you had considered? Two variations of your kind could be slightly different, but still fit."
Allison shakes her head. "Similarity and difference are boolean. If one would admit degrees of variance, where would it end? Would we even count," she shudders, "the Blues, Reds, and Greens?"

S-14, A Room With A View, Aft End of the Central Core, Cetagandan Party
"Awww, how cute." The team flies onward, not bothering the seals, but also on the lookout for any seal-eating creatures.
The party returns to the balcony without incident. Just as it was left, there is a hatch leading to a transport car and several places to moor dragonflies.

S-14, Blatantly Causing A Ruckus With The Reds, Ring Plain, Mary
Mary doesn't miss the opportunity to leave the Red Mother a time-delayed personal package of a screamer and a smoke grenade, both set for a minute - right by her. Jacque takes the chance to breathe deeply and rest his wobbling legs a moment before Mary starts dragging him again.

"Why?"

"Dangerous for you. Shut up and move."

Mary drops more time delayed presents along the access tunnel out of the egg chamber... including a few explosives later on... with fairly long timers (5-10 minutes) and a couple set to hair-trigger. The modified wind spider has no trouble keeping up with Jacque.

The Plan: Get back in the transport car and skedaddle.
Well, there is one Red that gets in Mary's way. A quick punch to the face later and it isn't in her way any more (although the bruising on her free hand is going to be extensive from knocking an exoskeletal creature unconscious). With Alpha providing random alarms all throughout the hibernaculum, the dragged group quickly makes it into the transport car. Alpha shuts the hatch automatically and the car begins to accelerate tremendously, at maybe four gravities.

The Alpha-avatar face reappears on the pedestal. "Well, you kept your word. I do not think the grenades you left for the Red Mother were necessary."

S-14, Skirting the Spherical Sea, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Weeeellll, Isn't that special. Dochan, lend him a hand please."

"On it."

Dochan maneuvers the sled as close as possible to the stricken craft trying to allow (thedicewantto)KILLroy to climb out and ride the sled to saftey.
R-Kilroy jumps for the sled...

And misses.

Badly.

The white body of the mechanoid quickly disappears beneath the waves of the spherical sea. Fortunately for it, nothing is going to mistake it for food. Unfortunately for it, there is no way for it to escape.

<<Communications>>
"Well, this sucks, guys. Screw it. Just leave me down here; I'll transmit what I see and maybe I'll think up my own way out."
<<Out>>

(OOC: Ninety-fragging-four, difficulty of 70. Yes, the dice want R-Kilroy deadish.)

The aerial current the dragonflies have been riding seems much stronger now. The current widens the gap between the party and R-Kilroy, and this turns out to be a good thing--a Red air-barge is coming from around the spherical sea to the aft and, inbetween wide bursts of machine gun fire, blares orders to "stop!" The gap between the party and the barge is widening too, there's no way the compressed-air barge can keep up.

A roaring sound comes from the distance in the fore. The sound grows louder as the current becomes louder and louder, and turbulence increases rapidly as a tremendous vortex is outlined by the aeroplankton swirling in it. It appears to be generated by massive volumes of air being sucked through immense slots in the inner wall of the central core. It looks dangerous, but the only way seems to be through...

S-14, By A Lake With Dogs, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
( OOC: And I hate your red dice. Grrrrrrr.)

Shuuta manages to get Krenn back to the vehicle, hoping he can make it the rest of the way in on his own. She turns as the dog-things begin to surround the group. She makes her way back to the others.

"Back to back. This is going to be interesting." She crouches down and gives out a loud bellow, followed by Griimph and Lossa. The air is veritably reeking of combat pheremones now and all three of their tails are twitching furiously.
R-Jane, stuck with the Sakkrans, tries the medical maser and gets a clean hit on one of the horse-sized dogs. Stumbling around a bit with a red mist floating out of a twenty-centimeter deep hole in its shoulder, it quickly expires from shock.

Douglass follows Shuuta back to the group, power pistol drawn and firing as he runs in. Three more thunderclaps, one more dog down. Four left.
One of the pitbull-things takes a Sakkran each (excluding Krenn). The one attacking Lossa jumps but a quick sidestep makes it go wide; Lossa counters with a set of claws to the throat. Finding itself without a trachea, that dog falls to the ground and twitches. The dog attacking Shuuta overbounds, knocking the Sakkran over but exposing its soft underside to raking claws and feet and teeth and what not, gaining Shuuta a new disemboweled fur coat. The last dog actually manages to bite Griimph's forearm and latches on, not coming off despite having large hunks of flesh torn away by Griimph's claws. The last dog jumps R-Jane, who falls with it, rolls on top, and simply squeezes the life out of the pitbull's throat with its bare metal hands.

The surviving dog (attached to Griimph) probably has no chance to survive, whether it stays or no.

S-14, By A Lake With Dogs, Ring Plain, Sakkran PartyR-Jane, stuck with the Sakkrans, tries the medical maser and gets a clean hit on one of the horse-sized dogs. Stumbling around a bit with a red mist floating out of a twenty-centimeter deep hole in its shoulder, it quickly expires from shock.

Douglass follows Shuuta back to the group, power pistol drawn and firing as he runs in. Three more thunderclaps, one more dog down. Four left.
One of the pitbull-things takes a Sakkran each (excluding Krenn). The one attacking Lossa jumps but a quick sidestep makes it go wide; Lossa counters with a set of claws to the throat. Finding itself without a trachea, that dog falls to the ground and twitches. The dog attacking Shuuta overbounds, knocking the Sakkran over but exposing its soft underside to raking claws and feet and teeth and what not, gaining Shuuta a new disemboweled fur coat. The last dog actually manages to bite Griimph's forearm and latches on, not coming off despite having large hunks of flesh torn away by Griimph's claws. The last dog jumps R-Jane, who falls with it, rolls on top, and simply squeezes the life out of the pitbull's throat with its bare metal hands.

The surviving dog (attached to Griimph) probably has no chance to survive, whether it stays or no.

Griimph latches on to the back of the last dog-thing's neck, and bites down hard. Serrated teeth puncture flesh, and blood flows fast and free. He then works his claws into the dog's mouth and attempts to free it from his arm. "I despise these things. This skull will go on my wall as a trophy."

Shuuta pushes the carcass of the creature that knocked her down off, and proceeds to wipe gore off of her. "Now there is more than enough food to sate us for some time. I'll need to take some samples, of course. For the sake of science." She looks down at the canine, and whacks it with her tail.

Lossa moves to the small pond the antelope's were drinking at, and washes the blood off of his claws. He scoops some water up with his jaws and drinks. "Let's get some containers to take this water with us. Krenn will need to drink much to help him heal his wound."

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking

Allison shakes her head. "Similarity and difference are boolean. If one would admit degrees of variance, where would it end? Would we even count," she shudders, "the Blues, Reds, and Greens?"


"But there are always small degrees of variance, are there not? Slightly larger or smaller, slighty stronger or weaker, slightly faster or slower; never a perfect match for the Norm. If every difference was elimiated, the species would not survive because all members would have to be destroyed."


S-14, A Room With A View, Aft End of the Central Core, Cetagandan Party
The party returns to the balcony without incident. Just as it was left, there is a hatch leading to a transport car and several places to moor dragonflies.


The team moors their dragonflies and heads into the transport car. Once aboard, they set the destination for the airlock they came in at.

The room contains Jaque (unhappy) and a pillbug-esque Snel larva (also probably unhappy). Through a hexagonal window is a very large Red insectoid holding her antennae and shaking her head erratically (very unhappy).

...

Mary wastes no time rushing in and grabbing Jacque by the arm. With determined yanking, Jacque follows with some initial reluctance and no small amount of confusion. Once outside the room into the now smoke-filled hallway, she pulls up her visor to give him a short fierce kiss - and inject a blast of pure clean oxygen into his lungs - and a whispered "Shut up!"

...

The Alpha-avatar face reappears on the pedestal. "Well, you kept your word. I do not think the grenades you left for the Red Mother were necessary."


Of course, the Crana Larva (Snel Larvae look different) followed closely. Not like it had much other choice. It's reflex was to curl up into a protective ball again, but that turned out to be a bit of a help, allowing it to roll along in pursuit. Upon hearing the voice of Alpha, it said "Can someone tell us what is going on?"


The hatch opens up into an empty set of metal trusses in a hollow cylinder that stretches as far as can be seen for and aft. The trusses dissect the circular cross-section into six equal wedges, and in the center of the arc length of each cross section is a single rail. At the ends of the trusses are small gates set up to consoles; the consoles have one large metal button and one small black plastic button.

"Should we split up?"

"No. Best stay together, despite the reduced chance of peaceful contact. We have only one translator."

They picked a console randomly, crawled out to it, and pressed the plastic button. (OOC: We pressed the metal one last time, so let's see what the other button has to offer.)

StarFish to Rama: "Unable to locate airlocks in foreward section. Request Breacher Pod."
Rama to Mahonri: "Can we borrow a breacher pod for the foreward section?"
Mahonri to Server: "Server, are we authorized to use a breacher pod on the foreward section of S-14? Seems that the Snel are having trouble finding an airlock."

S-14, Riverbank in the Savannah, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet bows her head slightly in acceptance of that. "Very well."

She strides to the boat and, eyeing it somewhat skeptically - surface boats! - she hops on board.

Sefrin follows suit, with equal hesitation.
The barge floats lazily down the river towards the sea. "We will be taking you to a transition point so we can bring you to Our Mother, as was originally planned... oddly enough, there seems to be two less of you than we remember. Do the Reds still have them?"

[OOC: Didn't the Shadow and whats-her-name step onto the boat/barge also?]

S-14, By A Lake With Dogs, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph latches on to the back of the last dog-thing's neck, and bites down hard. Serrated teeth puncture flesh, and blood flows fast and free. He then works his claws into the dog's mouth and attempts to free it from his arm. "I despise these things. This skull will go on my wall as a trophy."

Shuuta pushes the carcass of the creature that knocked her down off, and proceeds to wipe gore off of her. "Now there is more than enough food to sate us for some time. I'll need to take some samples, of course. For the sake of science." She looks down at the canine, and whacks it with her tail.

Lossa moves to the small pond the antelope's were drinking at, and washes the blood off of his claws. He scoops some water up with his jaws and drinks. "Let's get some containers to take this water with us. Krenn will need to drink much to help him heal his wound."
The dog-thing's head, severed from most of its musculature, comes off.

Douglass, holstering his pistol, buttons up his helmet visor and dips his helmet into the pond. "R-Jane, if you'd be so kind as to haul your kill up to the vehicle, I'd appreciate it. I think we took a wee bit of a risk here so I really--no offense, my reptilian comrades--don't want these guys to end up hungry again anytime soon."

The robot shrugs, shoulders the horse-sized dog, and trots over to the vehicle. The first time it can gather Griimph's attention, it asks: "I'd like to learn how to field-strip this thing. Like you, I'd like something to remember this particular event by."

The party is ready to continue at your discretion.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"But there are always small degrees of variance, are there not? Slightly larger or smaller, slighty stronger or weaker, slightly faster or slower; never a perfect match for the Norm. If every difference was elimiated, the species would not survive because all members would have to be destroyed."
Allison continues to shake her head, but is visibly shaken. "But the original range of variance of the Norm is genetically based; it stands to reason that any abomination has a different genetic code; if only we knew..."

S-14, Personnel Airlock, Aft Spar, Cetagandan Party
The team moors their dragonflies and heads into the transport car. Once aboard, they set the destination for the airlock they came in at.
They get there with no opposition. Things are going surprisingly smoothly.

<<Communications>>
"Cetagandan party, S.H.O.D.A.N.. Welcome back. Find anything interesting about those power signatures?"
<<Over>>

S-14, Transport Getaway Car, ???, TJ Party + Crana Larva
Of course, the Crana Larva (Snel Larvae look different) followed closely. Not like it had much other choice. It's reflex was to curl up into a protective ball again, but that turned out to be a bit of a help, allowing it to roll along in pursuit. Upon hearing the voice of Alpha, it said "Can someone tell us what is going on?"
(OOC: *flips through Bartlett's Guide to Extraterrestrials* Honestly, I wouldn't know the difference between Snel and Crana larvae if they walked up and started insulting my lineage.)

The Alpha-avatar nods. "Your friend here has just saved you from the Red Mother."

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party
"Should we split up?"

"No. Best stay together, despite the reduced chance of peaceful contact. We have only one translator."

They picked a console randomly, crawled out to it, and pressed the plastic button. (OOC: We pressed the metal one last time, so let's see what the other button has to offer.)
A small speaker grille on the bottom of the console buzzes. "Transport assistance. What is your need?"

S-14SECZONE
Mahonri to Server: "Server, are we authorized to use a breacher pod on the foreward section of S-14? Seems that the Snel are having trouble finding an airlock."
<<Communications>>
"Mahonri, Server. We got away with it the first time, but at last report tensions are high in S-14. Try looking around where the Berserker party inserted."
<<Over>>

(OOC: Feel free to walk on in.)

S-14, Aboard the Antican Queen, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
[OOC: Didn't the Shadow and whats-her-name step onto the boat/barge also?]
Seeing Millet's lack of response and accurately ascribing it to confusion, the Blue continues. "When our people first made contact with you, there were six of you, right? Now there are only four," she waves to Sefrin, Millet, Karena, and the Shadow, "and what happened to the other two?"

The dog-thing's head, severed from most of its musculature, comes off.

Douglass, holstering his pistol, buttons up his helmet visor and dips his helmet into the pond. "R-Jane, if you'd be so kind as to haul your kill up to the vehicle, I'd appreciate it. I think we took a wee bit of a risk here so I really--no offense, my reptilian comrades--don't want these guys to end up hungry again anytime soon."

The robot shrugs, shoulders the horse-sized dog, and trots over to the vehicle. The first time it can gather Griimph's attention, it asks: "I'd like to learn how to field-strip this thing. Like you, I'd like something to remember this particular event by."

The party is ready to continue at your discretion.

Griimph responds to R-Jane's query, and waves the robot closer. "It's really quite simple when they no longer live. Take a claw, or other sharp implement, and slice along the jaw-line and trachea, up to the base of the skull on all sides. This weakens tendons and ligaments usually. Shove the implement into the base of the skull to separate it from the verterbrae. Then pull the skull free." With that, Griimph rips the dog's head free of its body. "Thus is the kill dressed in the field."

The rest of the carcass is shouldered, and Griimph, along with the rest of the team, make their way back to the vehicle. Krenn is laying on a mat, and eating an antelope carcass in huge bites. Shuuta takes the controls once again, and starts the vehicle up. "Okay, let's get to the tallest peak, and then continue on from there."

The Alpha-avatar nods. "Your friend here has just saved you from the Red Mother."

"How, exactly? It certainly wasn't very pleasant. Mind telling me what that stuff was? I'm having trouble metabolising and purging it. Perhaps you could take me to someone who is more receptive to first contact procedures? And, by the way, who are all of you?"

<Wave-form encoding, blah blah blah: "Intervention by outside force. Unable to confirm or deny use of subterfuge, but alien envoy definitely cancelled.">


A small speaker grille on the bottom of the console buzzes. "Transport assistance. What is your need?"

"We require contact with the inhabitants of this vessel."

<<Communications>>
"Mahonri, Server. We got away with it the first time, but at last report tensions are high in S-14. Try looking around where the Berserker party inserted."
<<Over>>

And, after a bit of flying around, shuffling people through airlocks, etc, 9 of the ten-man crew stepped out into S-14, leaving behind a Controller. Interestingly, 2 of them were human, and they brought along a Crana larva to interpret.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
Allison continues to shake her head, but is visibly shaken. "But the original range of variance of the Norm is genetically based; it stands to reason that any abomination has a different genetic code; if only we knew..."


Aeryn says calmly, "Can't you just do a simple genetic scan of each group and compare it to the Norm? Or do you no longer have the original code to compare to?"


S-14, Personnel Airlock, Aft Spar, Cetagandan Party

They get there with no opposition. Things are going surprisingly smoothly.

<<Communications>>
"Cetagandan party, S.H.O.D.A.N.. Welcome back. Find anything interesting about those power signatures?"
<<Over>>

{Standard Comms}
"We found a two-kilometer ship under construction. It had a gravitic drive, but of an unknown type. We grabbed some computers in the hopes of being able to find some schematics or something like that. We'd like to send one over to you, if you're willing. You've got a lot more computational power that we do. We'll be doing our own work, of course, but you might be able to decode the data in it faster." Assuming she agrees, one of the computers is sent over. Meanwhile, scientists begin to analyse both the computers and the scan data that was collected.

S-14, On the Road Again, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph responds to R-Jane's query, and waves the robot closer. "It's really quite simple when they no longer live. Take a claw, or other sharp implement, and slice along the jaw-line and trachea, up to the base of the skull on all sides. This weakens tendons and ligaments usually. Shove the implement into the base of the skull to separate it from the verterbrae. Then pull the skull free." With that, Griimph rips the dog's head free of its body. "Thus is the kill dressed in the field."

The rest of the carcass is shouldered, and Griimph, along with the rest of the team, make their way back to the vehicle. Krenn is laying on a mat, and eating an antelope carcass in huge bites. Shuuta takes the controls once again, and starts the vehicle up. "Okay, let's get to the tallest peak, and then continue on from there."
R-Jane nods. "Thank you, Griimph. I'm sure I will get quite the interesting packets when I tell my friends back home I killed this thing with my bare hands. Now, about that arm." Twisting the maser back to its non-explosive settings, R-Jane quickly cauterizes the wounds professionally, leaving only a thin line of charred blood outlining the bite.
Later, in the vehicle, the android walks up to the front with Shuuta. "From my observations atop the mountain, it seemed to be the highest peak in the area. I suggest we assume it to be the tallest peak in the vessel for now."

Douglass hands Krenn his helmet filled with water and puts a hand friendly-like on the Sakkran's shoulder. Wait... well, let's see if I get to keep the arm. "How are you feeling, friend? That was quite a spike you took back there."

S-14, Transport Car, ???, TJ Party + Crana Larva
"How, exactly? It certainly wasn't very pleasant. Mind telling me what that stuff was? I'm having trouble metabolising and purging it. Perhaps you could take me to someone who is more receptive to first contact procedures? And, by the way, who are all of you?"
Sounds like TJ's problem to me. Still--

"I am Alpha, the central computer of Swarm Hive."

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
"We require contact with the inhabitants of this vessel."
There is a short pause at the other end of the line. "We are inhabitants of this vessel. Transportation Assistance. Are you miners having difficulties surface-side?"

S-14, Airlock, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
And, after a bit of flying around, shuffling people through airlocks, etc, 9 of the ten-man crew stepped out into S-14, leaving behind a Controller. Interestingly, 2 of them were human, and they brought along a Crana larva to interpret.
They're in a personnel airlock, you know the drill. Hatch in floor, two large doors to locker rooms, two small doors to equipment rooms. Cylindrical interairlocks to the actual space-access rooms.

S-14, In the Ice Under the Sea, Snel Party #3
Radar imaging confirms sea is six kilometers deep at 1.4 gravities. Ice collapse imminent at current rate of disruption. Continue?

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
Aeryn says calmly, "Can't you just do a simple genetic scan of each group and compare it to the Norm? Or do you no longer have the original code to compare to?"
"No... we don't. Each of us only believes that I am the Norm, but multiple Norms are impossible, so most, if not all, of us have to be non-Norm..." Allison brings her knees to her chin and wraps her arms around her legs. "This is quite disconcerting, and it compiles; we don't want it to compile..."

S-14SECZONE
{Standard Comms}
"We found a two-kilometer ship under construction. It had a gravitic drive, but of an unknown type. We grabbed some computers in the hopes of being able to find some schematics or something like that. We'd like to send one over to you, if you're willing. You've got a lot more computational power that we do. We'll be doing our own work, of course, but you might be able to decode the data in it faster." Assuming she agrees, one of the computers is sent over. Meanwhile, scientists begin to analyse both the computers and the scan data that was collected.
<Communications to Stephen Hawking>
{
<< Oooh... this is nifty. Hey, Rijil, come look at this.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0; Political Director, S-14 Expedition.

Looks like you made Shodey's day.

R-Jane nods. "Thank you, Griimph. I'm sure I will get quite the interesting packets when I tell my friends back home I killed this thing with my bare hands. Now, about that arm." Twisting the maser back to its non-explosive settings, R-Jane quickly cauterizes the wounds professionally, leaving only a thin line of charred blood outlining the bite.
Later, in the vehicle, the android walks up to the front with Shuuta. "From my observations atop the mountain, it seemed to be the highest peak in the area. I suggest we assume it to be the tallest peak in the vessel for now."

Douglass hands Krenn his helmet filled with water and puts a hand friendly-like on the Sakkran's shoulder. Wait... well, let's see if I get to keep the arm. "How are you feeling, friend? That was quite a spike you took back there."

Krenn looks upon Douglass, holding a good-sized chunk of meat in his jaws. He flips the chunk up and swallows it woth two chomps. "Hrrr, been wounded worse. Ever wrestle a Sakkran Newt? Those things can swallow a hu-man whole. Very mean. Killed one with my claws. Only bad fortune got a hold of me today." Thanking Douglass for the water, Krenn takes the helmet and begins to drink deeply.

"Hrrrmmm. If that was indeed the tallest peak, then we need to continue many kilometers straight on." Shuuta puts the craft in motion and traverses the distance until the thing runs out of power (OOC: If it does. What does this bug-car run on?).

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking

"No... we don't. Each of us only believes that I am the Norm, but multiple Norms are impossible, so most, if not all, of us have to be non-Norm..." Allison brings her knees to her chin and wraps her arms around her legs. "This is quite disconcerting, and it compiles; we don't want it to compile..."


"Have you ever asked the central computer which one is the Norm? Surely it has records back that far."


<Communications to Stephen Hawking>
{
<< Oooh... this is nifty. Hey, Rijil, come look at this.
}

S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0; Political Director, S-14 Expedition.


"Glad to see you like your new toy. We'll keep this link open in case we organics find something first."

"I am Alpha, the central computer of Swarm Hive."

"Oh, good. Are you the leader of the natives of this vessel? I require audience with such a being."

"We are inhabitants of this vessel. Transportation Assistance. Are you miners having difficulties surface-side?"

"Misunderstanding. We are not your kind. We are explorers from the star system you are currently entering. We require personal contact with whomever is in command here."


They're in a personnel airlock, you know the drill. Hatch in floor, two large doors to locker rooms, two small doors to equipment rooms. Cylindrical interairlocks to the actual space-access rooms.

One of the humans enters a locker room, while the others open the hatch in the floor. They don't leave the human behind, mind you- pause action for the rest of the team until the human finishes exploring the locker room.


Radar imaging confirms sea is six kilometers deep at 1.4 gravities. Ice collapse imminent at current rate of disruption. Continue?

The StarFish moved in as close to the ice sheet as possible - no point letting the water build up momentum before slamming into it - and continued laser drilling. Just in case the ship did get torn to bits anyway, the Snels on board all moved into the central bridge, upper deck (away from the ice).

S-14, On the Road Again, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Krenn looks upon Douglass, holding a good-sized chunk of meat in his jaws. He flips the chunk up and swallows it woth two chomps. "Hrrr, been wounded worse. Ever wrestle a Sakkran Newt? Those things can swallow a hu-man whole. Very mean. Killed one with my claws. Only bad fortune got a hold of me today." Thanking Douglass for the water, Krenn takes the helmet and begins to drink deeply.

"Hrrrmmm. If that was indeed the tallest peak, then we need to continue many kilometers straight on." Shuuta puts the craft in motion and traverses the distance until the thing runs out of power (OOC: If it does. What does this bug-car run on?).
The bug car definitely doesn't run on gas, that's for sure, and its interior volume is a bit smaller than its exterior. Maybe fusion or fuel cell?

Douglass shrugs. "I can't say I have, honestly. Fought an alligator once, and I have quite the scar on my left bicep to prove it. Hope you start feeling better." Feeling a bit peckish himself, he retrieves one of his square-shaped sandwiches and starts munching.

The road continues on. Where the directions say to turn, there is a winding road that goes fore-aft.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"Have you ever asked the central computer which one is the Norm? Surely it has records back that far."
"No, we haven't... we never thought until now that we would want to."

S-14, Transport Car, ???, TJ Party + A Crana Larva
"Oh, good. Are you the leader of the natives of this vessel? I require audience with such a being."
"I am a facilitator. I do not lead... I suppose the Blue Mother would come closest to approximating what you need."

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
"Misunderstanding. We are not your kind. We are explorers from the star system you are currently entering. We require personal contact with whomever is in command here."
"Um..." Guessing from the grille going completely silent, no interference crackle even, it sounds like the line went dead.

There is a thrumming noise from the aft.

S-14, Airlock, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
One of the humans enters a locker room, while the others open the hatch in the floor. They don't leave the human behind, mind you- pause action for the rest of the team until the human finishes exploring the locker room.
There is a long counter above a set of shelves that contain various bits of alien gear--analogs to tool kits, patch kits, meters, flash lights, etc. A bank of lockers contain bug space suits and bug helmets. In the middle of the room is something that resembles a shower stall with a plexiglas gasket door, a pump on the bottom, and some plastic arranged along the inside. Near the hinge of the door is a small console with a screen, a blue button, and a black button.

S-14, Under The Sea, Snel StarFish
The StarFish moved in as close to the ice sheet as possible - no point letting the water build up momentum before slamming into it - and continued laser drilling. Just in case the ship did get torn to bits anyway, the Snels on board all moved into the central bridge, upper deck (away from the ice).
The ice gives way...

I'll get back to you when I figure out the pressure that causes. I know it's a lot.

S-14, In The Malestrom, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
Pushing through the vortex, Thorvald and someone else (your call) get dragged into the massive slot. The other two can either follow, or pedal with all their might to escape the aeroCharybdis.