NationStates Jolt Archive

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.

Shuuta takes the road that goes fore-aft. "Hhhrrrrr...this car runs quite nicely. Handles slightly better than a Newt Transport. I may requisition one to be made when we get home. Or if we get home, seeing that there's hostile life here."

Lossa checks on the Synth-Skin patch, and sees the process is complete. Only a slight discoloration is seen on Krenn's snout. "Excellent. You will be in optimal shape soon enough, Krenn." Lossa returns to his carcass, and begins using his claws to cut strips into the meat. "Do we have any idea of our course of action when we arrive at our destination?"

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."

"Take me there, then, if you can."

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.

"Others of us have already contacted you here. We are a follow-up team."

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.

"Hey, guys, some of this stuff could be useful!" The human gathered a few flashlights, tool kits, anything that looked helpful, and tossed them out to the rest of the party.He then pressed the blue button.

(OOC: It's not letting me post as The Snel Race, so just pretend....)

S-14, On The Road, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Shuuta takes the road that goes fore-aft. "Hhhrrrrr...this car runs quite nicely. Handles slightly better than a Newt Transport. I may requisition one to be made when we get home. Or if we get home, seeing that there's hostile life here."

Lossa checks on the Synth-Skin patch, and sees the process is complete. Only a slight discoloration is seen on Krenn's snout. "Excellent. You will be in optimal shape soon enough, Krenn." Lossa returns to his carcass, and begins using his claws to cut strips into the meat. "Do we have any idea of our course of action when we arrive at our destination?"
"Well," Douglass muses, "they did say to arrive with our hands over our heads. I suppose they don't want us to be threatening or what-not."

Shuuta, looking out the windshield, sees three small delta-wing fighters coming in from the front. Either they are very far away or they are very small, on the order of a meter long. The lead fighter pickles a small finned missile, which begins trailing white smoke behind it as it screams towards the vehicle.

S-14, Transport Car, ???, TJ Party + A Crana Larva
"Take me there, then, if you can."
"I am trying. I am unsure what the well-armed one wants, however."

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
"Others of us have already contacted you here. We are a follow-up team."
There is no response.

In a few minutes, a cylindrical train stops at the station; doors open and the gate lowers, revealing seven Reds armed with both projectile rifles and the odd stubby bazooka-like weapons. They step back, startled by the Snel's definitely cephalopodal appearance.

S-14, Airlock, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Hey, guys, some of this stuff could be useful!" The human gathered a few flashlights, tool kits, anything that looked helpful, and tossed them out to the rest of the party.He then pressed the blue button.
The display on the small console blinks and buzzes angrily.

"Well," Douglass muses, "they did say to arrive with our hands over our heads. I suppose they don't want us to be threatening or what-not."

Shuuta, looking out the windshield, sees three small delta-wing fighters coming in from the front. Either they are very far away or they are very small, on the order of a meter long. The lead fighter pickles a small finned missile, which begins trailing white smoke behind it as it screams towards the vehicle.

Lossa puts one clawed finger on his chin. "Hhrrr, yes. I suppose that would be the case. Very well. Hands over heads it is."

Shuuta spies the smoke trail from the projectile. "By Gorrm's Teeth! It's an attack!" She jerks the steering apparatus hard, attempting to dodge out of the way.

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
"Others of us have already contacted you here. We are a follow-up team."
There is no response.

In a few minutes, a cylindrical train stops at the station; doors open and the gate lowers, revealing seven Reds armed with both projectile rifles and the odd stubby bazooka-like weapons. They step back, startled by the Snel's definitely cephalopodal appearance.

The lead Snel also stepped back a bit, surprised by the weapons. It turned its single eye to the closest Red. "Trillgrgclickclicksnap!..."

The Crana began to speak: "The Master says to be unafraid. We are not armed. You look different from those encountered previously. It was thought that your kind lived only on Alpha. Please take us to the commander of this vessel."

S-14, Airlock, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Hey, guys, some of this stuff could be useful!" The human gathered a few flashlights, tool kits, anything that looked helpful, and tossed them out to the rest of the party. He then pressed the blue button.
The display on the small console blinks and buzzes angrily.

Perhaps try the black button, while the rest of the team sorts through the various supplies.

OOC:

List of Junk Carried by Each Team

Party #1-
Absolutely nothing. Nada. 'Cept themselves.

Party #2-
Each person carries a backpack containing 2 liters of water, 1 pulse laser rifle, pocket knife, sheath knife, 2 flares, freeze-dried food packs, pocket computer, high-power walkie-talkie, standard space-agey first aid kit.

Ok. Send Thorvald and one of the KSPA agents through the duct, and have Hideki, Dochan, the other agent and the sled escape.

Wherever Allison Is, Stephen Hawking
"No, we haven't... we never thought until now that we would want to."


"What do you think would happen if definite proof of what the Norm is were to be located? How would everyone inside react?"
Elsewhere on the ship, scientists were analysing scan data to see if they could figure out how the alien drive works. Computer specialists were poking around with the computers, trying to create a interface. Something was taking shape in the construction bay, acting on a contingency plan.

In one of Fourty-Two?'s briefing rooms, Sauscony was debriefing the team. In particular, she is curious if they had observed anything that looked like a computer port. She also analyse suit vid records to see if such a thing had been seen.

S-14, Off-Roaded, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa puts one clawed finger on his chin. "Hhrrr, yes. I suppose that would be the case. Very well. Hands over heads it is."

Shuuta spies the smoke trail from the projectile. "By Gorrm's Teeth! It's an attack!" She jerks the steering apparatus hard, attempting to dodge out of the way.
The vehicle veers off the road and wedges itself into a strategically placed copse of trees as the tiny kinetic missile slams into the macadam road, causing an unexpectedly large explosion. Looking past the leaves, Shuuta can see they are meter-long craft flying at an altitude of maybe ten meters. As one, they bank for a second pass. From the grinding noise of the once smooth vehicle, it appears it isn't going to go anywhere any more.

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
The lead Snel also stepped back a bit, surprised by the weapons. It turned its single eye to the closest Red. "Trillgrgclickclicksnap!..."

The Crana began to speak: "The Master says to be unafraid. We are not armed. You look different from those encountered previously. It was thought that your kind lived only on Alpha. Please take us to the commander of this vessel."
The Reds sling the projectile rifles and give definite precedence to the stubby bazookas. Backing away from the doors, they chatter: "Inside, now." They look specifically at the Crana larva.

S-14, Airlock, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Perhaps try the black button, while the rest of the team sorts through the various supplies.
The display on the hinge of the open door blinks and buzzes angrily. The other team members find spherical orientation devices of some sort; they have a hatchmarked clear plastic sphere surrounding a solid black internal sphere with a yellow dot on it. Any way the object is manipulated, the yellow dot points in the same direction.

S-14, The Long Fall, Habitation Torus, Thorvald and Friend
Ok. Send Thorvald and one of the KSPA agents through the duct...
<<Transmission from Thorvald>>
Holy shiiiiii...... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
<<Continues>>

Thorvald's dragonfly actually makes it through the slit intact, coming out the other side. The Unnamed Expendable, however, after a tremendous beating, finds that only the little cockpit pod surrounding him and an assortment of detridus remains of his vehicle.

Thorvald and the unlucky Unnamed Expendable find themselves falling through a vast, dark, wedge-shaped cavity about 180 kilometers thick and 200 kilometers long. Coming in via the slots at the narrow end of the wedge, they fall towards its broad rimward end. A narrow strip of lights, mounted on the horizon bulkheads about sixty kilometers below, illuminate a broad band of ground--the Ring Plain--that curves up to the 180 kilometer high cliff-like bulkheads to the left and right. Falling closer, there are two terraces, about 40 kilometers wide, forming smaller ring plains on the horizon bulkheads of the cavity.

The effect is not unlike falling out of orbit.

S-14, Past the Maelstrom, Central Core, Karmabaijani "Party"
...and have Hideki, Dochan, the other agent and the sled escape.
After some ferocious peddling and pulling out of the aggressive head-on slipstream, their destination looms in sight: the Scott Baku-- er... the Farspace Horizon. It is speared right through by a thick structural member that attaches the central stalk of the core to the wall.

There is an unusually red section of null-gravity forest near the vessel.

Stephen Hawking
"What do you think would happen if definite proof of what the Norm is were to be located? How would everyone inside react?"
"We... do not know."

Elsewhere on the ship, scientists were analysing scan data to see if they could figure out how the alien drive works. Computer specialists were poking around with the computers, trying to create a interface.
Decryption algorithms operating. While the displays do not have aural output, they do have an olfactory output. Using that output and the known S-14 language database, decryption has a 75% chance of success and should take a day or two.

Something was taking shape in the construction bay, acting on a contingency plan.
*tink tink tink*

In one of Fourty-Two?'s briefing rooms, Sauscony was debriefing the team. In particular, she is curious if they had observed anything that looked like a computer port. She also analyse suit vid records to see if such a thing had been seen.
Well, what the portable computers were plugged into looked like computer ports. Also, the equipment in the airlock had ten centimeter wide hexagonal ports, which, according to data returned from the Sakkran party, are actually personnel conduits.

S-14, Off-Roaded, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Sakkra wrote:
Lossa puts one clawed finger on his chin. "Hhrrr, yes. I suppose that would be the case. Very well. Hands over heads it is."

Shuuta spies the smoke trail from the projectile. "By Gorrm's Teeth! It's an attack!" She jerks the steering apparatus hard, attempting to dodge out of the way.

The vehicle veers off the road and wedges itself into a strategically placed copse of trees as the tiny kinetic missile slams into the macadam road, causing an unexpectedly large explosion. Looking past the leaves, Shuuta can see they are meter-long craft flying at an altitude of maybe ten meters. As one, they bank for a second pass. From the grinding noise of the once smooth vehicle, it appears it isn't going to go anywhere any more.

Lossa decides that now is as good a time as any to abandon the craft. "I'm going out with my hands in the air. Maybe these units will lead us to the Alpha we need to see." With that, he climbs out of the vehicle with his hands up.

Griimph decides to also leave the vehicle, but decides to hide instead. As do Shuuta and the still-wounded Krenn. "It's his funeral" says Shuuta." I'll wait and see what they do. Be prepared to scramble if they continue hostilities."

Stephen Hawking

"We... do not know."


Aeryn sits back. "I can certainly see how the idea of even finding out would be frightening." She sits and ponders for a moment. "Is it not possible that the differences are intentional? On my home planet, there are several species where different members of the species that serve different functions are different from one another. They are still the same species, however. Perhaps this is true of your own race."


Decryption algorithms operating. While the displays do not have aural output, they do have an olfactory output. Using that output and the known S-14 language database, decryption has a 75% chance of success and should take a day or two.


Everyone sits around watching anime and Farscape while they wait for the decryption.

Fourty-Two?

Well, what the portable computers were plugged into looked like computer ports. Also, the equipment in the airlock had ten centimeter wide hexagonal ports, which, according to data returned from the Sakkran party, are actually personnel conduits.

On Fourty-Two, another party is being briefed by Sauscony. "I want to try and establish contact with the S-14 main computer. It, at least, seems reasonable. We know the Blues control the forward sections, and they are responsible for the computer. Therefore, your party will be entering forward of the main torus. There will be two teams of ten. One will be sent in to attempt to place transiever equipment at a computer port. This will consist of Colonel Ashton, Major Grant, Lieutenant Beneday, a compspecialist, a medic, and five Marines in standard body armor."
" Team two, lead by Major Timberton, will consist of twenty Marines in powered armor. They will serve as a rescue team if extraction is needed. However, we do not wish to start a war; try to remain undetected."
A short time later, a message is sent to SHODAN and Sato advising them of the entry. Fourty-Two moves into position, and launches the assault shuttle. It is looking for a cargo hatch, or failing that, another personel hatch on the forward side of the torus.
(OOC: Pretty much the same equipment as before, except everyone now has a rifle and laser. Special computer interface and comms junk is also being brought.)

Everyone sits around watching anime and Farscape while they wait for the decryption.

OOC: Great way to spend one's time

S-14, Off-Road, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa decides that now is as good a time as any to abandon the craft. "I'm going out with my hands in the air. Maybe these units will lead us to the Alpha we need to see." With that, he climbs out of the vehicle with his hands up.

Griimph decides to also leave the vehicle, but decides to hide instead. As do Shuuta and the still-wounded Krenn. "It's his funeral" says Shuuta." I'll wait and see what they do. Be prepared to scramble if they continue hostilities."
R-Jane scrambles out to follow Griimph while Douglass runs into the back of the vehicle to grab some of the canisters.

Upon seeing Gawdzirra step out of the vehicle, the fighters immediately break formation and scatter off in the same general direction. Douglass, clambering out of the vehicle, stuffs canisters into every available pocket and puts his hands over his head. "Well, if they haven't killed us now, they probably aren't going to. I think we should keep going on foot."

R-Jane looks at the red stripes on the crashed bug-vehicle. "I wonder if that has anything to do with anything."

S-14, The Long Fall, Habitat Torus, Thorvald + Nameless KSPA
Thorvald maneuvers his dragonfly (successfully, no less) over to Mr. b0rK3d. "Grab onto the wing!"

As the party falls rimward, they begin to notice details on the lighted terraces inbetween moments of unreasoning panic. Tall, jagged mountains, looking like crinkled paper; broad, slow-moving rivers like thin blue ribbons, glinting light; thick forests of green fuzz; and broad, flat, grassy plains, wind rippling the seas of grass into waves.

Falling from orbit isn't all too fun, especially without a parachute.

Stephen Hawking
Aeryn sits back. "I can certainly see how the idea of even finding out would be frightening." She sits and ponders for a moment. "Is it not possible that the differences are intentional? On my home planet, there are several species where different members of the species that serve different functions are different from one another. They are still the same species, however. Perhaps this is true of your own race."
Allison looks deeply into Aeryn's eyes with something between horror and wonder, a frightened inquisitiveness. "You do not enforce a Norm?"

Everyone sits around watching anime and Farscape while they wait for the decryption.
DECRYPTION ATTEMPT ONE
ASSISTED BY LANGUAGE ALGORITHMS WRITTEN BY DURINIAN LINGUISTS

DECRYPT "LOGIN SCREEN":
"Luggage Calculator Network Five Nine Six. Insert Name Numeral.

S-14SECZONE
On Fourty-Two, another party is being briefed by Sauscony. "I want to try and establish contact with the S-14 main computer. It, at least, seems reasonable. We know the Blues control the forward sections, and they are responsible for the computer. Therefore, your party will be entering forward of the main torus. There will be two teams of ten. One will be sent in to attempt to place transiever equipment at a computer port. This will consist of Colonel Ashton, Major Grant, Lieutenant Beneday, a compspecialist, a medic, and five Marines in standard body armor."
" Team two, lead by Major Timberton, will consist of twenty Marines in powered armor. They will serve as a rescue team if extraction is needed. However, we do not wish to start a war; try to remain undetected."
A short time later, a message is sent to SHODAN and Sato advising them of the entry. Fourty-Two moves into position, and launches the assault shuttle. It is looking for a cargo hatch, or failing that, another personel hatch on the forward side of the torus.
<<Communications to Forty-Two>>
"Sauscony, Sato. You are cleared for insertion. Be advised, triangulation shows that Karmabaijani party is nearby. Suggest secondary objective of ensuring Karmabaijani and Eniqciri extraction."
<<Over>>

A suitable cargo airlock presents itself, its 390 meter wide circular doors open out, revealing a giant cubical room four hundred meters on a side. There is a massive inner iris door with the same dimensions as the outer, and a small canister personnel airlock in one corner of the "ceiling" that appears to be designed to used in conjunction with a lift embedded in one wall.

R-Jane scrambles out to follow Griimph while Douglass runs into the back of the vehicle to grab some of the canisters.

Upon seeing Gawdzirra step out of the vehicle, the fighters immediately break formation and scatter off in the same general direction. Douglass, clambering out of the vehicle, stuffs canisters into every available pocket and puts his hands over his head. "Well, if they haven't killed us now, they probably aren't going to. I think we should keep going on foot."

R-Jane looks at the red stripes on the crashed bug-vehicle. "I wonder if that has anything to do with anything."

Griimph loks at the markings R-Jane is looking at. "Hrrr...they just might. It would be good to remember this. I suggest we empty the vehicle of everything we can pack." With that, he climbs back into the vehicle and puts his EVA suit back on, stuffing as many canisters as he can into the suit's compartments.

Lossa looks at the direction the fighters scrambled off to. "Well, that was.... non-productive. But at least I have a clue which way to head. If we follow the direction those crafts went, we're certain to come upon something." Lossa, Krenn and Shuuta return to the vehicle, and do the same as Griimph. All then head into the direction the fighters left to.

Stephen Hawking


Allison looks deeply into Aeryn's eyes with something between horror and wonder, a frightened inquisitiveness. "You do not enforce a Norm?"


"No, we do not. Although there have been attempts to do so in the past..." Aeryn trails off. "We do not like to remember those times, as they always cost the lives of countless millions. That is one reason we are so concerned about your kind."

DECRYPTION ATTEMPT ONE
ASSISTED BY LANGUAGE ALGORITHMS WRITTEN BY DURINIAN LINGUISTS

DECRYPT "LOGIN SCREEN":
"Luggage Calculator Network Five Nine Six. Insert Name Numeral.

"Portable computer, more likely." After some discussion, the team decides to uses a standard hacking routine to find a ident number.


S-14SECZONE

<<Communications to Forty-Two>>
"Sauscony, Sato. You are cleared for insertion. Be advised, triangulation shows that Karmabaijani party is nearby. Suggest secondary objective of ensuring Karmabaijani and Eniqciri extraction."
<<Over>>

{{Standard Fleet Comms}}
"Acknoledged. Will attempt to contact the other teams."
{{Transmission Ends}}


A suitable cargo airlock presents itself, its 390 meter wide circular doors open out, revealing a giant cubical room four hundred meters on a side. There is a massive inner iris door with the same dimensions as the outer, and a small canister personnel airlock in one corner of the "ceiling" that appears to be designed to used in conjunction with a lift embedded in one wall.

The shuttle docks at the airlock, and everyone processes through. While the first team prepares looks around the room and prepares to move out, a signal is sent out.

{{General Broadcast}}
"Attention Karmabaijani and Eniqciri teams. This is the Cetagandan party. We are located at <coordinates>. Do you require assistance?"
{{Transmission Ends}}

S-14, Paging Gulliver, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph loks at the markings R-Jane is looking at. "Hrrr...they just might. It would be good to remember this. I suggest we empty the vehicle of everything we can pack." With that, he climbs back into the vehicle and puts his EVA suit back on, stuffing as many canisters as he can into the suit's compartments.

Lossa looks at the direction the fighters scrambled off to. "Well, that was.... non-productive. But at least I have a clue which way to head. If we follow the direction those crafts went, we're certain to come upon something." Lossa, Krenn and Shuuta return to the vehicle, and do the same as Griimph. All then head into the direction the fighters left to.
Following the fighters, the party comes to the rim of an immense canyon five or six kilometers across and three kilometers deep. Looking down from the rim, they see a massive dam stretching across the chasm, forming a large reservoir. Water pours from vents near the base of the dam, maintaining the flow of the river at the bottom, and a huge electrical substation huddles against the base of the dam.

A narrow paved trail angles down the side of the canyon angles down the side of the canyon rim towards the dam. It resembles a highway, and is about a meter and a half wide. Going down the path, the party is surprised by a half-meter long, 25 centimeter high, six-wheeled vehicle similar to a miniature version of the one they left behind barrels around a corner in the road, skids sideways to a stop, and speeds off back the way it came, burning rubber as it lurches forward.

Douglass looks up at Lossa. "Is it just me, or are you guys prone to getting this sort of reaction?"

Stephen Hawking
"No, we do not. Although there have been attempts to do so in the past..." Aeryn trails off. "We do not like to remember those times, as they always cost the lives of countless millions. That is one reason we are so concerned about your kind."
Allison continues to huddle herself into a ball, scrunching tighter. "We think we understand."

"Portable computer, more likely." After some discussion, the team decides to uses a standard hacking routine to find a ident number.
Easy enough. Base eight numeral code with six digits, only 262144 permutations. Brute force cracks it relatively quickly. A text based menu pops up that the decryption protocol gets to work on immediately, using fixes from the last decrypt attempt.

S-14, Cargo Airlock, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
The shuttle docks at the airlock, and everyone processes through. While the first team prepares looks around the room and prepares to move out, a signal is sent out.
The cargo airlock is quite bare. Massive floor in the door reinforced with giant bolts; massive door in the ceiling, the same; cargo/personnel lift in one wall that leads up to a smaller canister airlock in the ceiling. Apparent gravity is about 0.2 standard Earth gravity.

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
The lead Snel also stepped back a bit, surprised by the weapons. It turned its single eye to the closest Red. "Trillgrgclickclicksnap!..."

The Crana began to speak: "The Master says to be unafraid. We are not armed. You look different from those encountered previously. It was thought that your kind lived only on Alpha. Please take us to the commander of this vessel."
The Reds sling the projectile rifles and give definite precedence to the stubby bazookas. Backing away from the doors, they chatter: "Inside, now." They look specifically at the Crana larva.

"We will comply." The party moved into the transport car. (OOC: FYI, this one has no exoskeleton, since it didn't have to go through a vacuum.)

S-14, Airlock, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Perhaps try the black button, while the rest of the team sorts through the various supplies.
The display on the hinge of the open door blinks and buzzes angrily. The other team members find spherical orientation devices of some sort; they have a hatchmarked clear plastic sphere surrounding a solid black internal sphere with a yellow dot on it. Any way the object is manipulated, the yellow dot points in the same direction.

Ah, screw this. The human rejoined the rest of the team inside the transport car. "Cool compass thingies..."

{{General Broadcast}}
"Attention Karmabaijani and Eniqciri teams. This is the Cetagandan party. We are located at <coordinates>. Do you require assistance?"
{{Transmission Ends}}

"Heck, yes!" (OOC: No point re-loging-in just to type 2 words...)

Following the fighters, the party comes to the rim of an immense canyon five or six kilometers across and three kilometers deep. Looking down from the rim, they see a massive dam stretching across the chasm, forming a large reservoir. Water pours from vents near the base of the dam, maintaining the flow of the river at the bottom, and a huge electrical substation huddles against the base of the dam.

A narrow paved trail angles down the side of the canyon angles down the side of the canyon rim towards the dam. It resembles a highway, and is about a meter and a half wide. Going down the path, the party is surprised by a half-meter long, 25 centimeter high, six-wheeled vehicle similar to a miniature version of the one they left behind barrels around a corner in the road, skids sideways to a stop, and speeds off back the way it came, burning rubber as it lurches forward.

Douglass looks up at Lossa. "Is it just me, or are you guys prone to getting this sort of reaction?"

Shuuta looks at the retreating vehicle, and shakes her head. "No, though it has happened once before. But that was centuries ago."

Krenn is moving slightly less slowly than before. "Hrrmmm...perhaps we can use this to our advantage. If all their denizens act this way around us, we can perhaps convince their Alpha about the benefits of cooperation versus annihalation."

The group continues down the trail towards the electrical dam.

Stephen Hawking

Allison continues to huddle herself into a ball, scrunching tighter. "We think we understand."


Aeryn watches her worriedly. "I'm sorry if this is disturbing you. If you want, we could put you back to sleep."

S-14, Cargo Airlock, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

The cargo airlock is quite bare. Massive floor in the door reinforced with giant bolts; massive door in the ceiling, the same; cargo/personnel lift in one wall that leads up to a smaller canister airlock in the ceiling. Apparent gravity is about 0.2 standard Earth gravity.

Everyone but the flight crew unloads from the shuttle, and rides the lift up to the canister lock in the ceiling. They cycle through the lock, with the Marines going through first.


"Heck, yes!"

{Please send us your location and a situation report.}

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?"

Millet frowns. "There were only four that I know of," is her somewhat bemused response. She glances at Sefrin; he shrugs deferentially.

Which really isn't helpful. She lets him know with yet another - almost traditional, by now - 'look'.

So she turns her gaze to Karena and the Shadow, looking askance: 'Do you know what this Blue is talking about?'

{Please send us your location and a situation report.}

"I'm, oh, I'd guess about a kilometer away from the Farspace Horizon, outside one of the jungles. I've been waiting around for the Karmabaijanis for hours now. Finn is... well, uh, at least he Is. He's not quite not yet, I managed to save his memory. You'll find him in the Horizon's med bay."

S-14, Wild Ride, The Ring Sea, Snel StarFish
OK, I bothered to figure it out, and the amount of external pressure that a StarFish hull could withstand is a little over 400 psi, or 28 atmospheres (it could, for example, dive to just short of 1 kilometer in Earth's oceans, if I've done the math right).
Well, my math for pressure at 6,000 meters of water at 1.4 gravities is (62.4 lbs/ft^2 * 16 ft/s^2 * 1.4grav * 19,800 feet) = 27,675,648 lb/ft^2 or 13,000 atmospheres. But you did your math, and I like people who do their math. Your work shall not be in vain, you get to live!

Water rushes in, death seems immanent, when suddenly it becomes apparent that the water is far less dense than it should be. Much like the hydrocarbon theory of the Bermuda Triangle, you just stumbled onto the outlet of a plant that recycles organic materials from the seafloor by turning them into hydrocarbons that return to the surface in an updraft of heated water. With a ambient pressure of 32 atmospheres, the StarFish rockets up into the updraft even as its hull buckles, speeding to the surface.

Upon reaching the top of the sea, the hydrocarbons have diffused sufficiently that the vessel has positive buoyancy... for now. Hull integrity is at 52% and there are minor leaks all throughout the external hull from pressure rents.

Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
"We will comply." The party moved into the transport car. (OOC: FYI, this one has no exoskeleton, since it didn't have to go through a vacuum.)
Once everyone is in, one of the Reds shoves the control lever all the way to the right, sending the train hurtling aft while the other Reds cover the party. A shell-less larva confuses them even more than a shelled one. "What are you?"

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Ah, screw this. The human rejoined the rest of the team inside the transport car. "Cool compass thingies..."
The transport car zips around a bit then comes to a halt, the floor hatch opening into...
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp12.jpg
a hexagonal atrium, seemingly a standard in S-14 rooms, enclosed on five sides with an open south side. Five flat black rectangular boxes, an elliptical console, and three short cylindrical columns line the walls of this cell. Hexagonal openings in the other five walls lead into other chambers. A small hemispherical console juts from the wall to the left side of each opening.

The room appears to be devoid of life.

S-14, Lilliputian Redux, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Shuuta looks at the retreating vehicle, and shakes her head. "No, though it has happened once before. But that was centuries ago."

Krenn is moving slightly less slowly than before. "Hrrmmm...perhaps we can use this to our advantage. If all their denizens act this way around us, we can perhaps convince their Alpha about the benefits of cooperation versus annihalation."

The group continues down the trail towards the electrical dam.
"I wouldn't bet on it... the reports of the Reds we've gotten from the Karmabaijani, Ma-tek, and Cetagandan parties might mean otherwise."

Rounding the corner, the party sees a network of roads below them teeming with small multicolored vehicles. The small car that tore away from them is still tearing away down the road posthaste. The small vehicles move across the dam into roads between tall, rectangular buildings grouped at either end. The buildings form miniature cities with ten meter high skyscrapers... or, at least, skyscraper analogs. On the near side of the dam is a miniature airbase with hangers, fuel depots, barracks, a control tower, and what appear to be surface-to-air emplacements as well as a few of the meter-long fighters taxi-ing to its three runways. They generally stop when the party comes into view.

After a few minutes, a small flying machine rises out of the small city on the near side of the canyon. From afar, it resembles a clear bubble surmounted by two counter-rotating blade assemblies; it begins flying towards the party. As the thirty-centimeter long vehicle nears, the observant can see a bright red-and-black seven centimeter long insect piloting the vehicle. The craft appears as unarmed as a news helicopter.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a22.jpg
It hovers two meters above the party and six away. Banks of speakers are mounted on the bottom of the mini-helo and a synthesized voice addresses the party in English.

"Hello, strange ones. I am 71368 of Ral clan, Technician Leader of Dam Colony. Please follow this 'copter to a meeting place in the nearby hive." The helicopter begins backing up down the road leading into the city.

Stephen Hawking

Aeryn watches her worriedly. "I'm sorry if this is disturbing you. If you want, we could put you back to sleep."
"We thank you for your offer... we are torn; some wish to ignore, some wish to yell, some wish to think. We... are unsure of how to proceed."

S-14, Cargo Interlock, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
Everyone but the flight crew unloads from the shuttle, and rides the lift up to the canister lock in the ceiling. They cycle through the lock, with the Marines going through first.
They find themselves in another room with nearly identical dimensions. There is a giant door in the floor (obviously) as well as massive segmented doors on opposite sides of the room, one facing forward and one facing aft.

S-14, Aboard the Antican Queen, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet frowns. "There were only four that I know of," is her somewhat bemused response. She glances at Sefrin; he shrugs deferentially.

Which really isn't helpful. She lets him know with yet another - almost traditional, by now - 'look'.

So she turns her gaze to Karena and the Shadow, looking askance: 'Do you know what this Blue is talking about?'
The Shadow merely shrugs its shoulders as Karena says "I think we may have a case of mistaken identity. By my count, the gang's all here, so they must be talking about a different gang."

The Blue taps its antennae together. "Well, if you insist there are only four of you, you should know. We will be coming up to a transport that will transfer you to the low-gravity plain where we can then move you to see the Mother of Us All. I presume that is acceptable?"

S-14, Aboard the Antican Queen, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet frowns. "There were only four that I know of," is her somewhat bemused response. She glances at Sefrin; he shrugs deferentially.

Which really isn't helpful. She lets him know with yet another - almost traditional, by now - 'look'.

So she turns her gaze to Karena and the Shadow, looking askance: 'Do you know what this Blue is talking about?'
The Shadow merely shrugs its shoulders as Karena says "I think we may have a case of mistaken identity. By my count, the gang's all here, so they must be talking about a different gang."

The Blue taps its antennae together. "Well, if you insist there are only four of you, you should know. We will be coming up to a transport that will transfer you to the low-gravity plain where we can then move you to see the Mother of Us All. I presume that is acceptable?"

Millet nods, slightly, quite obviously shifting from 'intelligence operative mode' into 'diplomatic mode', as it were. "Quite. I assume this 'Mother of Us All' is quite an important person, yes? - If that is so, then I would ask that you... school us? in the correct protocols when meeting said person. If that would be acceptable, that is. We," she glances at each person in the 'gang', "would certainly not wish to make any errors in protocol."

Sefrin nods, with a slightly sheepish bent making itself known around his eyes.

S-14, Aboard the Antican Queen, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet nods, slightly, quite obviously shifting from 'intelligence operative mode' into 'diplomatic mode', as it were. "Quite. I assume this 'Mother of Us All' is quite an important person, yes? - If that is so, then I would ask that you... school us? in the correct protocols when meeting said person. If that would be acceptable, that is. We," she glances at each person in the 'gang', "would certainly not wish to make any errors in protocol."

Sefrin nods, with a slightly sheepish bent making itself known around his eyes.[/quote]
"The protocol is quite simple. Merely be respectful of her position and answer questions when asked."

The barge comes to a stop at a rickety pier, ending on a dirt path that leads to a simple helipad. On the pad is a cargo helicopter practically identical to the Reds' except that this one has blue stripes on it. Boarding the helicopter and strapping in the middle crew compartment, the pilot tries to make idle conversation from the cockpit. "Ever been to the low-gravity plains?"

S-14, Aboard the Antican Queen, Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet nods, slightly, quite obviously shifting from 'intelligence operative mode' into 'diplomatic mode', as it were. "Quite. I assume this 'Mother of Us All' is quite an important person, yes? - If that is so, then I would ask that you... school us? in the correct protocols when meeting said person. If that would be acceptable, that is. We," she glances at each person in the 'gang', "would certainly not wish to make any errors in protocol."

Sefrin nods, with a slightly sheepish bent making itself known around his eyes.
"The protocol is quite simple. Merely be respectful of her position and answer questions when asked."

The barge comes to a stop at a rickety pier, ending on a dirt path that leads to a simple helipad. On the pad is a cargo helicopter practically identical to the Reds' except that this one has blue stripes on it. Boarding the helicopter and strapping in the middle crew compartment, the pilot tries to make idle conversation from the cockpit. "Ever been to the low-gravity plains?"[/quote]

"I've been in low gravity," Millet replies, conversationally, having nodded at the 'protocol' rules provided, "and I found it rather uncomfortable - at least in comparison to what I consider normal gravity, at any rate. Still, I would hazard the guess that my heart was pleased of the rest."

Sefrin doesn't remark; he didn't exactly get to experience low-g for very long. At least... not in a conscious state.

"Hello, strange ones. I am 71368 of Ral clan, Technician Leader of Dam Colony. Please follow this 'copter to a meeting place in the nearby hive." The helicopter begins backing up down the road leading into the city.

Arthur Jackson: "Did anyone else hear that thing talk? Or is my brain just getting really good at interpreting their signals? In the latter case, I should tell you that it wants us to follow it."

S-14, Wild Ride, The Ring Sea, Snel StarFish
OK, I bothered to figure it out, and the amount of external pressure that a StarFish hull could withstand is a little over 400 psi, or 28 atmospheres (it could, for example, dive to just short of 1 kilometer in Earth's oceans, if I've done the math right).
Well, my math for pressure at 6,000 meters of water at 1.4 gravities is (62.4 lbs/ft^2 * 16 ft/s^2 * 1.4grav * 19,800 feet) = 27,675,648 lb/ft^2 or 13,000 atmospheres. But you did your math, and I like people who do their math. Your work shall not be in vain, you get to live!

Water rushes in, death seems immanent, when suddenly it becomes apparent that the water is far less dense than it should be. Much like the hydrocarbon theory of the Bermuda Triangle, you just stumbled onto the outlet of a plant that recycles organic materials from the seafloor by turning them into hydrocarbons that return to the surface in an updraft of heated water. With a ambient pressure of 32 atmospheres, the StarFish rockets up into the updraft even as its hull buckles, speeding to the surface.

Upon reaching the top of the sea, the hydrocarbons have diffused sufficiently that the vessel has positive buoyancy... for now. Hull integrity is at 52% and there are minor leaks all throughout the external hull from pressure rents.

"Coordinator, we have several breaches in the outer hull. No casualties, but severe fluid mixing is taking place in the aquatic sections, and flooding in the atmospheric sections."

"No matter, we didn't intend to get out the same way anyway. Open the airlocks, and prepare to disembark. Ensure the hub remains unflooded, I don't want the ship to sink."

All ten of the Snel onboard exited the craft, and began swimming away.


Spaceberg "Golf," Grand Central Station, Snel Party #1
"We will comply." The party moved into the transport car. (OOC: FYI, this one has no exoskeleton, since it didn't have to go through a vacuum.)
Once everyone is in, one of the Reds shoves the control lever all the way to the right, sending the train hurtling aft while the other Reds cover the party. A shell-less larva confuses them even more than a shelled one. "What are you?"

"I am an envoy of the Mind of Rama. The others are envoys of the Symbiotic Masters, the Snel.

Stephen Hawking

"We thank you for your offer... we are torn; some wish to ignore, some wish to yell, some wish to think. We... are unsure of how to proceed."

"I'll let you think. Unless there's something you wish to ask me?"

Meanwhile, the 'busy' compspecialists have finished watching Neon Genesis Evangelion and moved on to Macross while they wait.

S-14, Cargo Interlock, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

They find themselves in another room with nearly identical dimensions. There is a giant door in the floor (obviously) as well as massive segmented doors on opposite sides of the room, one facing forward and one facing aft.


The team heads aftwards, and looks for something to open the door with. If they find something, they open the door.

"I wouldn't bet on it... the reports of the Reds we've gotten from the Karmabaijani, Ma-tek, and Cetagandan parties might mean otherwise."

Rounding the corner, the party sees a network of roads below them teeming with small multicolored vehicles. The small car that tore away from them is still tearing away down the road posthaste. The small vehicles move across the dam into roads between tall, rectangular buildings grouped at either end. The buildings form miniature cities with ten meter high skyscrapers... or, at least, skyscraper analogs. On the near side of the dam is a miniature airbase with hangers, fuel depots, barracks, a control tower, and what appear to be surface-to-air emplacements as well as a few of the meter-long fighters taxi-ing to its three runways. They generally stop when the party comes into view.

After a few minutes, a small flying machine rises out of the small city on the near side of the canyon. From afar, it resembles a clear bubble surmounted by two counter-rotating blade assemblies; it begins flying towards the party. As the thirty-centimeter long vehicle nears, the observant can see a bright red-and-black seven centimeter long insect piloting the vehicle. The craft appears as unarmed as a news helicopter.

Griimph looks at the retreating helicopter, with it's tiny pilot. "Interesting. Perhaps we can arrange to have these beings miniaturize our technology? It could be most beneficial."

Arthur Jackson: "Did anyone else hear that thing talk? Or is my brain just getting really good at interpreting their signals? In the latter case, I should tell you that it wants us to follow it."

"That sounds as good an idea as any. Very well, then." The Sakkrans form up single file and follow the path of the helicopter. Can't have them stomping on anyone, can we?

falling from orbit
The KSPA agent climbs aboard the dragonfly and crawls up to the cockpit attempting to take the controls. He tries to regain control using the crafts controls and suit thrusters if necessary. He coolly reports in.

<<Trans>Hideki>>
Made it through, craft out of control, attempting to regain, standby.
<<End>>


Hideki and Co.

"Sheiss!! We don't need this.

<<Trans>KSPA>>
Understood, advise when able.
<<over>>

Well, lets get on with it, they will catch up if they can.

<<Incoming Trans<Cetaganda>>
"This is Hideki, of Karmabaijan. We are at the wreck of the Farspace Horizon awaiting the arrival of David from Eniqcir. What are your intentions?"
<<Over>>

The team begins to poke around inside the ship.

S-14, Helipad, Low Gravity Terrace, Ma-tek Party
"I've been in low gravity," Millet replies, conversationally, having nodded at the 'protocol' rules provided, "and I found it rather uncomfortable - at least in comparison to what I consider normal gravity, at any rate. Still, I would hazard the guess that my heart was pleased of the rest."

Sefrin doesn't remark; he didn't exactly get to experience low-g for very long. At least... not in a conscious state.
As the helicopter rises, apparent gravity drops slowly to a third of Standard Earth gravity. It eventually lands in a clearing in some sort of surreal forest; the trees are incredibly tall and thin--maybe sixty meters tall but with trunks only a few decimeters in diameter. Their trunks are mostly bare of limbs for most of their height. Thin, snake-like branches with large, broad leaves burst from the crowns of the trees like some sort of organic green pom-pom. The undergrowth is tall and thick but looks paper-thin.

After landing at the edge of the clearing and opening the port and starboard doors, the Blue pilot leans back. "Well, here's our sto--" Her translater flies from her jaws as her braincase is splattered against the starboard-side wall. The sound of rapid machine-gun fire echoes through the helo; the few Blues escorting quickly jump out from both doors and return fire with their machine-pistols.

The port door of the helo opens into the open field of the helistrip; the starboard door opens the nearby forest.

S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
"Coordinator, we have several breaches in the outer hull. No casualties, but severe fluid mixing is taking place in the aquatic sections, and flooding in the atmospheric sections."

"No matter, we didn't intend to get out the same way anyway. Open the airlocks, and prepare to disembark. Ensure the hub remains unflooded, I don't want the ship to sink."

All ten of the Snel onboard exited the craft, and began swimming away
Other than a few schools of fish, not much opposes the Snel as they swim the five-hundred-odd meters to a coastal shelf they can wade on. The beaches are made of a fine particulate sand, and lead to temperate forests and plains nearby.

Spaceberg "Golf," Aft Station, Snel Party #1
"I am an envoy of the Mind of Rama. The others are envoys of the Symbiotic Masters, the Snel."
The guards don't seem very enlightened.

When the train stops at the aft end of the central core, the guards escort the party out onto a nearly identical station setup and lead them into a tunnel filled with hatches along the sides. They open one hatch and motion towards it with their weapons.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp2.jpg
Inside is a set of quarters almost identical to the one that the Snel Larva recently rescued was held in. This time, however, its normal occupant is still there, a slightly more delicate Red with an elaborate insignia painted on its carapace, lightly holding a projectile pistol in one hand and something that looks dead-on for a brandy snifter in the other. Speaking through the box wedged between it's mandibles, it says in a soft and relatively subtly intonated English: "Hello, fleshy ones. Welcome to the engine section of Life Support Maintenance Vessel 562."

Stephen Hawking
"I'll let you think. Unless there's something you wish to ask me?"
Allison shakes her head. "We wonder... do the others... the Blues, Reds, and Greens... do they know of this possibility?"

Meanwhile, the 'busy' compspecialists have finished watching Neon Genesis Evangelion and moved on to Macross while they wait.
S.H.O.D.A.N. catches up with them. "Well, I went to crack the actual data--image files and whatnot--and worked backwards through the file structure from there. It looks fascinating. Here's the translation set so you can see for yourself."

The menu has several options.
<OVERVIEW> <TECHNICAL> <SPECIFICATIONS>

S-14, Access Tunnel, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
The team heads aftwards, and looks for something to open the door with. If they find something, they open the door.
The door opens with a small console next to it. Rumbling open, it reveals a large, poorly lit access tunnel that runs spinward-antispinward. There are more large cargo doors on both sides of the hallway, and the relatively well-lit center is dominated by vehicles carting both huge cargo storage cubes and smaller cargo pallets. There are small two-meter wide hatches in the ceiling accessible by ladders in the walls, but it appears that many of the Blues in the area simply walk around the walls using the Velcro-like insulation for grip.

S-14, Lilliputopolis, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
"That sounds as good an idea as any. Very well, then." The Sakkrans form up single file and follow the path of the helicopter. Can't have them stomping on anyone, can we?
Quite.

Following the helicopter into the narrow streets of the city, the Sakkrans (with Douglass taking point and R-Jane tail) walk single-file down roads surrounded by ten meter tall pillar-like buildings. Small balconies on the buildings are teeming with multicolored insects, all ranging between six and ten centimeters tall. Traffic is blocked up at the street intersections that they pass through, multicolored vehicles stacked up behind hastily erected miniature barracades manned by what can only be considered as equally miniature officers of the peace.

"Why do I have a feeling we've stepped into some sort of Japanese monster movie?" Douglass mutters.

The helo leads them into a relatively large green park in the center of the city. No, it isn't a bonsai park, which really throws off the scale of the entire city. In the middle of the park is a permanent entertainment area consisting of a platform-stage and a large screen. By large, it is about one and a half meters wide by one meter tall. The screen lights up (plasma display?), showing the various ships of the expedition fleet. Speakers along the sides of the screen send off a series of clickitycloks, then repeats in English: "Are you from these swarm-hives? We think the shorter one is a mammal, the metal one is a robot, and you other four reptiles, is this accurate? What do you want here? Who sent you?"

S-14, Still Falling, Habitation Torus, Thorvald + KSPA agent
The KSPA agent climbs aboard the dragonfly and crawls up to the cockpit attempting to take the controls. He tries to regain control using the crafts controls and suit thrusters if necessary. He coolly reports in.
He stabilizes the flying machine like a pro... and then the diaphanous wings rip off. I suppose it wasn't designed for going this fast.

S-14, Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
The team begins to poke around inside the ship.
As they do, several screens in the command module light up, displaying a woman's face. She appears to be of North African descent.

"Who are you? Are you with the others?"

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Ah, screw this. The human rejoined the rest of the team inside the transport car. "Cool compass thingies..."
The transport car zips around a bit then comes to a halt, the floor hatch opening into...
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp12.jpg
a hexagonal atrium, seemingly a standard in S-14 rooms, enclosed on five sides with an open south side. Five flat black rectangular boxes, an elliptical console, and three short cylindrical columns line the walls of this cell. Hexagonal openings in the other five walls lead into other chambers. A small hemispherical console juts from the wall to the left side of each opening.

2 of the Snel walk through the open side of the room, while one of the humans inestigates the eliptical console, and the other, one of the hemispherical consoles. (OOC: Ah, how could I forget! I left out Snel/Human translators in my previous equipment list. Consider it added.)

S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
"Coordinator, we have several breaches in the outer hull. No casualties, but severe fluid mixing is taking place in the aquatic sections, and flooding in the atmospheric sections."

"No matter, we didn't intend to get out the same way anyway. Open the airlocks, and prepare to disembark. Ensure the hub remains unflooded, I don't want the ship to sink."

All ten of the Snel onboard exited the craft, and began swimming away
Other than a few schools of fish, not much opposes the Snel as they swim the five-hundred-odd meters to a coastal shelf they can wade on. The beaches are made of a fine particulate sand, and lead to temperate forests and plains nearby.

Once more, they have only the one Crana that comes standard with the ship- as such, they cannot split up, and so all head for the plains together.

Spaceberg "Golf," Aft Station, Snel Party #1
"I am an envoy of the Mind of Rama. The others are envoys of the Symbiotic Masters, the Snel."
The guards don't seem very enlightened.

When the train stops at the aft end of the central core, the guards escort the party out onto a nearly identical station setup and lead them into a tunnel filled with hatches along the sides. They open one hatch and motion towards it with their weapons.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp2.jpg
Inside is a set of quarters almost identical to the one that the Snel Larva recently rescued was held in. This time, however, its normal occupant is still there, a slightly more delicate Red with an elaborate insignia painted on its carapace, lightly holding a projectile pistol in one hand and something that looks dead-on for a brandy snifter in the other. Speaking through the box wedged between it's mandibles, it says in a soft and relatively subtly intonated English: "Hello, fleshy ones. Welcome to the engine section of Life Support Maintenance Vessel 562."

"Greetings Reciprocated. Are you the commander of this vessel? What did the others tell you? We chose this vessel for contact because of the success of the previous team."

As they do, several screens in the command module light up, displaying a woman's face. She appears to be of North African descent.

"Who are you? Are you with the others?"

Not quite sure where that came from, but OK...

In any case, David was jetting back to the Horizon full speed, and updating the other rescuers as to his position.

And the LC was investigating a .5mm irregularity in the central spar....

Stephen Hawking

Allison shakes her head. "We wonder... do the others... the Blues, Reds, and Greens... do they know of this possibility?"


"I don't think they realize that they can ask the computer, otherwise the Blues at least would have done so."


S.H.O.D.A.N. catches up with them. "Well, I went to crack the actual data--image files and whatnot--and worked backwards through the file structure from there. It looks fascinating. Here's the translation set so you can see for yourself."

The menu has several options.
<OVERVIEW> <TECHNICAL> <SPECIFICATIONS>

{{Thanks, SHODAN}}

They start with <overview>.
And meanwhile, the thing in the construction bay continues to take shape. At this point, its main feature appears to be a large number of Fasset gravitic drive nodes. Many, many drive nodes.

S-14, Access Tunnel, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

The door opens with a small console next to it. Rumbling open, it reveals a large, poorly lit access tunnel that runs spinward-antispinward. There are more large cargo doors on both sides of the hallway, and the relatively well-lit center is dominated by vehicles carting both huge cargo storage cubes and smaller cargo pallets. There are small two-meter wide hatches in the ceiling accessible by ladders in the walls, but it appears that many of the Blues in the area simply walk around the walls using the Velcro-like insulation for grip.

Sticking to the shadows, the team begins to climb up a ladded towards the hatches. They proceed with stunners ready.

{{Secure Comms CETA => KARMA/ENCIQIR}}
"We're about <distance> away from you. We're going find ourselves a computer port and park there while Sauscony chats with the ship's computer. However, we've got twenty Marines in powered armor if you're having trouble with the bugs. If you need help or a ride home, just give us a call."
{{Transmission Ends}}

(OOC: Using time dilation because it's convenient, and really there is no point in not doing so...)

As David got closer, he noticed the LC, and thought Now what the heck can- oh, no... Finn's new body ran off. I forgot to disable the emergent intelligence algorithms. Not that I would've known how to anyway...

For the moment, he dismissed the problem, and re-entered the ship, and removed his EVA suit. Noticing the hatch into the bridge was open, he climbed through to see what havoc the LC might've wreaked, but instead found...

"Humans! Other humans! Hug me, hug me, hug me! I can't beleive you're real! Oh, tell me it was all a dream...."

(OOC: Mostly pretty good at holding back emotions, but that last little bit just broke the dam....)

"Others? The other parties? Are you part of this ship, or are you part of Alpha?"

The door bursts open and the KSPA agent instinctivly catches David before he can get to Hideki. You know what happens next.

S-14, Lilliputopolis, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party

Following the helicopter into the narrow streets of the city, the Sakkrans (with Douglass taking point and R-Jane tail) walk single-file down roads surrounded by ten meter tall pillar-like buildings. Small balconies on the buildings are teeming with multicolored insects, all ranging between six and ten centimeters tall. Traffic is blocked up at the street intersections that they pass through, multicolored vehicles stacked up behind hastily erected miniature barracades manned by what can only be considered as equally miniature officers of the peace.

"Why do I have a feeling we've stepped into some sort of Japanese monster movie?" Douglass mutters.

The helo leads them into a relatively large green park in the center of the city. No, it isn't a bonsai park, which really throws off the scale of the entire city. In the middle of the park is a permanent entertainment area consisting of a platform-stage and a large screen. By large, it is about one and a half meters wide by one meter tall. The screen lights up (plasma display?), showing the various ships of the expedition fleet. Speakers along the sides of the screen send off a series of clickitycloks, then repeats in English: "Are you from these swarm-hives? We think the shorter one is a mammal, the metal one is a robot, and you other four reptiles, is this accurate? What do you want here? Who sent you?"

Lossa speaks up. "We are indeed from those "swarm-hives". And yes, we four are reptilian. This one...." He points at R-Jane. "...is robotic, and Douglass is mammalian. We visited one of your smaller craft to investigate your station's appearance near our system, and to learn of your intentions."

"We have done so. Speaking to one of your members, a note was given to us in order that we may speak to the one known as Alpha, and exchange dialogue." At this, Griimph pulls out the note written by the insectoid in Spaceberg Golf, and holds it up.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
2 of the Snel walk through the open side of the room, while one of the humans inestigates the eliptical console, and the other, one of the hemispherical consoles. (OOC: Ah, how could I forget! I left out Snel/Human translators in my previous equipment list. Consider it added.)
The southern cell has five flat black rectangular boxes notable only for a twenty-centimeter slot on one side with a button and a few ten-centimeter wide hexagonal ports that connect them to small shelves which end in similar ports in the walls. The three cylinders in one corner are actually stacks of shiny metallic platters about as wide as dinner plates and quite thin. They are placed into slots that hold them in place.

The console has five screens and several buttons with written labels around each screen; they are all currently blank.

The hemispherical console has an pheromone emitter, a small speaker grille, a large display and two small liquid-crystal panels. It does not seem to be operating right now.

S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
Once more, they have only the one Crana that comes standard with the ship- as such, they cannot split up, and so all head for the plains together.
There is a barking noise coming from spinward, a lot of barking. It sounds lower and louder than dogs normally would, though, even large dogs. It is obviously unintelligent, with no pattern.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"I am an envoy of the Mind of Rama. The others are envoys of the Symbiotic Masters, the Snel."
"Greetings Reciprocated. Are you the commander of this vessel? What did the others tell you? We chose this vessel for contact because of the success of the previous team."[/quote]
"I am Coordinator 763921, and I head the engine crews aboard this vessel for this shift. For alien invaders, you don't look like what intelligence said you would. The little one," she casually waves the pistol towards the Crana larva, "is the right size but not of the proper hardness."

S-14, .5mm Irregularity, Central Spar, Finn's New Body
And the LC was investigating a .5mm irregularity in the central spar....
(OOC: Well, my green dice hate Finn too, in all his incarnations.)
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/zg6.jpg
A seven meter long rotifer-thing spins out of a hiding place in the forest from the motion of the body, tentacles whipping around like men drowning at sea.

Stephen Hawking
"I don't think they realize that they can ask the computer, otherwise the Blues at least would have done so."
"The Blues control the Shrine of the Ancients. They have to know who the Norm are, but are hiding it from everyone else. That, or they are the Norm..." Allison shudders again.

They start with <overview>.
OVERVIEW:

This new propulsion drive uses a linear gravity wave generator to traverse immense distances instantaneously. A crystalline structure is excited by directed energy to produce a gravity wave effect, distorting spacetime around the vessel. In essence, the vessel becomes too massive to exist in spacetime without causing a major disruption and so falls out of the bottom of its gravity well into the multidimensional folds of the universe, utilizing a timespace connection loop (sounds like a Hawking "shortcut" or an Einstein-Rosenberg Bridge--Shodey). While in this loop, the drive continues to actually change the folding of spacetime and so can control where it appears (hm? A space-fold drive? Unlike our current ERB drives, this isn't affected by local gravity because it determines destination midjump--we're talking a tesseract jump engine here, capable of safe instantaneous flight even insystem--Shodey). Thus, this system creates a virtually instantaneous way to traverse several light years; long journeys would take several space-folds.

S-14, Transport Car, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
Sticking to the shadows, the team begins to climb up a ladded towards the hatches. They proceed with stunners ready.
The hatch leads into a transport car. Destination?

S-14, Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Others? The other parties? Are you part of this ship, or are you part of Alpha?"
The image blinks. "I am Alpha. And yes, I do suppose I mean the other 'parties.' They are all so different; is this normal for you?"

Stephen Hawking

"The Blues control the Shrine of the Ancients. They have to know who the Norm are, but are hiding it from everyone else. That, or they are the Norm..." Allison shudders again.


"We're going to ask the computer ourselves, though I'm not sure it would help. One other thing we're worried about is what will happen to our own species. We know the Reds and Blue are quite willing to wipe out everyone on our home planet to get living space, even if we're willing to share. The Greens don't seem to care about anything. What about your people?"


OVERVIEW:
<blah blah, Einstein-Rosenberg Bridge, blah blah>


They go on to the technical section.

S-14, Transport Car, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

The hatch leads into a transport car. Destination?


For a destination, they pick a point just under the central core.

<<Trans>Sato>>
Sato, Hideki, contact established with Alpha's AI. Transmitting video and audio. Let me know if you want to ask anything.
<<Over>>

"I am Hideki. We have come here to explore. What is your purpose? Are you autonomous, or do one of the factions aboard have control over you?"

S-14, Helipad, Low Gravity Terrace, Ma-tek Party
"I've been in low gravity," Millet replies, conversationally, having nodded at the 'protocol' rules provided, "and I found it rather uncomfortable - at least in comparison to what I consider normal gravity, at any rate. Still, I would hazard the guess that my heart was pleased of the rest."

Sefrin doesn't remark; he didn't exactly get to experience low-g for very long. At least... not in a conscious state.
As the helicopter rises, apparent gravity drops slowly to a third of Standard Earth gravity. It eventually lands in a clearing in some sort of surreal forest; the trees are incredibly tall and thin--maybe sixty meters tall but with trunks only a few decimeters in diameter. Their trunks are mostly bare of limbs for most of their height. Thin, snake-like branches with large, broad leaves burst from the crowns of the trees like some sort of organic green pom-pom. The undergrowth is tall and thick but looks paper-thin.

After landing at the edge of the clearing and opening the port and starboard doors, the Blue pilot leans back. "Well, here's our sto--" Her translater flies from her jaws as her braincase is splattered against the starboard-side wall. The sound of rapid machine-gun fire echoes through the helo; the few Blues escorting quickly jump out from both doors and return fire with their machine-pistols.

The port door of the helo opens into the open field of the helistrip; the starboard door opens the nearby forest.


[OOC: Note: This is meant to be a split-second timespan post. ;)]

IC:

Millet eyes the dead Blue, after throwing herself to 'the deck'. Her intent is obvious: determine which way the bullets entered from via the size of the exit/entry wounds.

Sefrin also throws himself down, but awaits Millet's lead.

A seven meter long rotifer-thing spins out of a hiding place in the forest from the motion of the body, tentacles whipping around like men drowning at sea.

Which the LC, being a complete ignoramus, finds interesting and moves off to investigate. Much havoc and hilarity probably ensues, although I doubt the rotifer would like the taste of rubber and metal...

"We are indeed from those "swarm-hives". And yes, we four are reptilian. This one...." He points at R-Jane. "...is robotic, and Douglass is mammalian. We visited one of your smaller craft to investigate your station's appearance near our system, and to learn of your intentions."

(OOC: You forgot Arthur... *sad face* He's mammalian. Eh.)

Huh. I wonder what happened to the Shem and Horizon.

(hm? A space-fold drive? Unlike our current ERB drives, this isn't affected by local gravity because it determines destination midjump--we're talking a tesseract jump engine here, capable of safe instantaneous flight even insystem--Shodey).

OOC: Sounds like a spacebender. Minus the killing any passengers part. And the gravity wave part. Spacebenders use torsion fields. But basic principles of navigation seem identical.

The image blinks. "I am Alpha. And yes, I do suppose I mean the other 'parties.' They are all so different; is this normal for you?"

After a good hug, David managed to reclaim at least a semblance of composure. Quite a feat, considering his friend's rather gruesome death. "What the heck? Now I know this is a dream. The computers were fried when I left! Never mind, never mind... come, Finn is in the med bay."

S-14, Lilliputopolis, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa speaks up. "We are indeed from those "swarm-hives". And yes, we four are reptilian. This one...." He points at R-Jane. "...is robotic, and Douglass is mammalian. We visited one of your smaller craft to investigate your station's appearance near our system, and to learn of your intentions."

"We have done so. Speaking to one of your members, a note was given to us in order that we may speak to the one known as Alpha, and exchange dialogue." At this, Griimph pulls out the note written by the insectoid in Spaceberg Golf, and holds it up.
"We can get Alpha to talk to you. The Blues wouldn't like it, but they are irrelevant.

"If your intentions are peaceful, I'm sure we can come to some sort of... arrangement?"

Stephen Hawking
"We're going to ask the computer ourselves, though I'm not sure it would help. One other thing we're worried about is what will happen to our own species. We know the Reds and Blue are quite willing to wipe out everyone on our home planet to get living space, even if we're willing to share. The Greens don't seem to care about anything. What about your people?"
"We are small... if we are not predated upon, then I suppose we can manage."

They go on to the technical section.
It's filled with technical data--theory and what not--so, given enough collation, one could figure out how to build their own.

S-14, Transport Car, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
For a destination, they pick a point just under the central core.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp8.jpg
The transport car opens onto a cylindrical ladder that leads upward into a central area. The hexagonal atrium is enclosed by white ceramic walls on five sides. A small hemispherical hatch is set into the floor in the northeast corner of the atrium, and a bowl-shaped depression is in the eastern corner of the floor. Two large cylindrical columns with man-sized openings jut halfway through the northwest and southern walls. There are two hexagonal doors to the north and northeast, and the southwest opens up into another chamber filled with six flat black rectangular boxes and a ellipsoid console of some sort filled with hexagonal screens, buttons, et cetera.

S-14, The Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
<<Trans>Sato>>
Sato, Hideki, contact established with Alpha's AI. Transmitting video and audio. Let me know if you want to ask anything.
<<Over>>
<<Trans>Hideki>>
Hideki, Sato. Ask it how we can not have Earth vaped by the BFRG.
<<Over>>

"I am Hideki. We have come here to explore. What is your purpose? Are you autonomous, or do one of the factions aboard have control over you?"
"Explorers? That seems to be the consensus of your parties; do you not enforce a Norm?

"I am the central intelligence of Alpha. I store all information and act as a control structure for all major systems aboard. The Blues 'control' my actions, or rather I facilitate theirs, but all other 'factions' access me."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet eyes the dead Blue, after throwing herself to 'the deck'. Her intent is obvious: determine which way the bullets entered from via the size of the exit/entry wounds.

Sefrin also throws himself down, but awaits Millet's lead.
Well, seeing how the Blue went from port to starboard and there is a rather large collection of ichor and space-ant bits on the starboard wall, Millet's best judgement would be that the fire is coming from port.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
2 of the Snel walk through the open side of the room, while one of the humans investigates the eliptical console, and the other, one of the hemispherical consoles. (OOC: Ah, how could I forget! I left out Snel/Human translators in my previous equipment list. Consider it added.)
The southern cell has five flat black rectangular boxes notable only for a twenty-centimeter slot on one side with a button and a few ten-centimeter wide hexagonal ports that connect them to small shelves which end in similar ports in the walls. The three cylinders in one corner are actually stacks of shiny metallic platters about as wide as dinner plates and quite thin. They are placed into slots that hold them in place.

The console has five screens and several buttons with written labels around each screen; they are all currently blank.

The hemispherical console has an pheromone emitter, a small speaker grille, a large display and two small liquid-crystal panels. It does not seem to be operating right now.

A Snel picked up one of the platters, and tried to fit it into the rectangular boxes.

'Twas decided not to mess with the hemispherical console for the time being. A button was randomly selected and pushed on the eliptical console. That may seem foolhardy, pressing buttons without knowing what they do, but the thing seemed to be turned off anyway. The worst that could happen is that it turns on, which is what they want anyway.


S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
Once more, they have only the one Crana that comes standard with the ship- as such, they cannot split up, and so all head for the plains together.
There is a barking noise coming from spinward, a lot of barking. It sounds lower and louder than dogs normally would, though, even large dogs. It is obviously unintelligent, with no pattern.


Which means that they move away from it. No point risking possibly violent contact with something non-sentient.


Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"I am an envoy of the Mind of Rama. The others are envoys of the Symbiotic Masters, the Snel."
"Greetings Reciprocated. Are you the commander of this vessel? What did the others tell you? We chose this vessel for contact because of the success of the previous team."
"I am Coordinator 763921, and I head the engine crews aboard this vessel for this shift. For alien invaders, you don't look like what intelligence said you would. The little one," she casually waves the pistol towards the Crana larva, "is the right size but not of the proper hardness."[/quote]

A short conversation went on between the Snels/Crana, after which the Crana said: "From here on out, I will act only as translator. I shall cease to refer to myself."

"The little one is a servant. The one sent to Alpha had to have an exoskeleton to survive the journey. Such was unnecessary for this one. We do not understand the rest of your statement. What invaders?"

Stephen Hawking

"We are small... if we are not predated upon, then I suppose we can manage."


"Perhaps we could help." Aeryn said, then paused as if listening to something. "Mother, we would like to try and get you back to the body you belong in. We would need to put you to sleep in order to do so. Will you let us do so?"


It's filled with technical data--theory and what not--so, given enough collation, one could figure out how to build their own.

They go on to specifications, where they no doubt find specifications. Hurrah.

S-14, Transport Car, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp8.jpg
The transport car opens onto a cylindrical ladder that leads upward into a central area. The hexagonal atrium is enclosed by white ceramic walls on five sides. A small hemispherical hatch is set into the floor in the northeast corner of the atrium, and a bowl-shaped depression is in the eastern corner of the floor. Two large cylindrical columns with man-sized openings jut halfway through the northwest and southern walls. There are two hexagonal doors to the north and northeast, and the southwest opens up into another chamber filled with six flat black rectangular boxes and a ellipsoid console of some sort filled with hexagonal screens, buttons, et cetera.


"Those over there look like computers," says one of the team, point at the console. The specialist goes over to it, and looks for a port of some kind to hook their equipment into. Everyone else explores the other rooms in pairs. The Marines in powered armor remain on guard near the door.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
A Snel picked up one of the platters, and tried to fit it into the rectangular boxes.

'Twas decided not to mess with the hemispherical console for the time being. A button was randomly selected and pushed on the eliptical console. That may seem foolhardy, pressing buttons without knowing what they do, but the thing seemed to be turned off anyway. The worst that could happen is that it turns on, which is what they want anyway.
The platter slides perfectly into the slot in the box. The chamber to the southwest lights up. The room is filled with three-dimensional holograms of various objects that pop into existence shortly, say something in bugspeak while some caption appears nearby, then disappear to be replaced by a different object, audible phrase, and caption.

S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
Which means that they move away from it. No point risking possibly violent contact with something non-sentient.
The loud dog-things sound like they're gaining. The forest is nearby, with maple-tree approximations and light ground cover.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
A short conversation went on between the Snels/Crana, after which the Crana said: "From here on out, I will act only as translator. I shall cease to refer to myself."

"The little one is a servant. The one sent to Alpha had to have an exoskeleton to survive the journey. Such was unnecessary for this one. We do not understand the rest of your statement. What invaders?"
"Well, you are uninvited. That tends to indicate invasion." The Red lifts the snifter up, swirls it a bit under one antenna, then clinks it against the translator cube while bringing it to her jaws. "Spite. Silly me, I forgot about the translator. Well, it can wait until I know whether or not I need this." She indicates the pistol by waving it idly.

"Well, you do appear unarmed, and if that one," she motions the gun towards the larva again, "could be armored but isn't, you would make for poor invaders. So what are you doing here?"

Stephen Hawking
"Perhaps we could help." Aeryn said, then paused as if listening to something. "Mother, we would like to try and get you back to the body you belong in. We would need to put you to sleep in order to do so. Will you let us do so?"
"We get the feeling we have nowhere to go... but all right."

They go on to specifications, where they no doubt find specifications. Hurrah.
And so they do. The expeditionary fleet now has the know-how to either replicate the drive in the ship, or, given time, design their own.

S-14, Ceramic Room, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
"Those over there look like computers," says one of the team, point at the console. The specialist goes over to it, and looks for a port of some kind to hook their equipment into. Everyone else explores the other rooms in pairs. The Marines in powered armor remain on guard near the door.
In the southwest cell, the central ellipsoid console offers a few ten centimeter wide hexagonal ports and and a thoroughly alien datajack recepticle.

Cycling through the cylindrical interairlock into the northwest cell, the hexagonal chamber contains a central worktable littered with flasks and beakers, a cylindrical metal container with a hinged circular top, a squat cube shape with a metal spar sporting several radial arms projecting from the center of its top surface, and a row of transparent hexagonal containers containing different color fluids lined up against the walls.

The cell to the north contains a large cylinder with a polished metal surface. The cylinder is connected to two dark metallic cubes that are faced with panels that contain several gauges and circular handles. A tall semi-transparent column sits to the right of the entranceway, almost full of an unknown liquid. Taps and valves are spaced at odd heights on the side of the cylinder. Each tap has a spherical removable bottle screwed to its spigot.

The northeast cell is dominated by a large desk in its center. Three octogonal racks holding several plastic platters are lines against the door opposite the entrance. A small cube with a hexagonal screen and small keyboard sits to the right of the entrance.

Cycling through the interairlock into the southern cell reveals a large counter spanning three sides of the room it opens into. Several glass flasks, beakers, and closed containers are scattered about its surface. A large cart loaded with heavy cylinders and a regulator assembly sits to the right of the airlock, hissing slightly. Another smaller airlock leading into another chamber is inset into the wall to the left of the entrance; it is colored yellow and has several phrases in alien script emblazoned prominently on its surface.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
A Snel picked up one of the platters, and tried to fit it into the rectangular boxes.

'Twas decided not to mess with the hemispherical console for the time being. A button was randomly selected and pushed on the eliptical console. That may seem foolhardy, pressing buttons without knowing what they do, but the thing seemed to be turned off anyway. The worst that could happen is that it turns on, which is what they want anyway.
The platter slides perfectly into the slot in the box. The chamber to the southwest lights up. The room is filled with three-dimensional holograms of various objects that pop into existence shortly, say something in bugspeak while some caption appears nearby, then disappear to be replaced by a different object, audible phrase, and caption.

"Envoy, translate. What are they saying?"

"Difficult to comprehend. I am not used to the verbal language. I will require more samples. Written language is entirely unknown."

And so, on they went, inserting various other platters, and waiting to get something useful out of them.

S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
Which means that they move away from it. No point risking possibly violent contact with something non-sentient.
The loud dog-things sound like they're gaining. The forest is nearby, with maple-tree approximations and light ground cover.

The group began to wonder if they perhaps should've brought along some weapons or something. 2 of them were sent back to retreive such things, and they proceeded as quickly as possible. The others entered the forest, with the intention of climbing the trees for protection if necessary.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
A short conversation went on between the Snels/Crana, after which the Crana said: "From here on out, I will act only as translator. I shall cease to refer to myself."

"The little one is a servant. The one sent to Alpha had to have an exoskeleton to survive the journey. Such was unnecessary for this one. We do not understand the rest of your statement. What invaders?"
"Well, you are uninvited. That tends to indicate invasion." The Red lifts the snifter up, swirls it a bit under one antenna, then clinks it against the translator cube while bringing it to her jaws. "Spite. Silly me, I forgot about the translator. Well, it can wait until I know whether or not I need this." She indicates the pistol by waving it idly.

"Well, you do appear unarmed, and if that one," she motions the gun towards the larva again, "could be armored but isn't, you would make for poor invaders. So what are you doing here?"

"First, we must say that you were not invited either. The others are here to make diplomatic contact with your race. We are here to fulfill the Prime Directive. The success of the first team to this vessel suggested to us that this would be an ideal place to begin."

Stephen Hawking

"We get the feeling we have nowhere to go... but all right."

She is administered a sedative. Aeryn heads off to talk with the rest of the psionics.
(OOC: AKA I need to time to think up a plausible way to fix my problem.)


And so they do. The expeditionary fleet now has the know-how to either replicate the drive in the ship, or, given time, design their own.


Everyone celebrates by watching GTO and getting thoroughly drunk. With the exception of the poor construction crew, of course.

S-14, Ceramic Room, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

In the southwest cell, the central ellipsoid console offers a few ten centimeter wide hexagonal ports and and a thoroughly alien datajack recepticle.
<blah blah blah>


Seeing that the other rooms appear to be full of what look to be chemical drums, and noting the airlock, the people ever so carefully go back the the center room.
At the same time, the compspecialist and engineer hook up the equipment to the datajack using several jacks designed to interface with the alien systems that were based on the portable computer's hookups. Once they find one that works, they flip it on and begin to attempt to access the ship's computer network. They also activate the transciever array and establish a connection either directly to Fourty-Two? or relayed through the shuttle, whichever works best.
Deciding she wanted to check on what was going on in the Central Core, Major Timberton takes nine other Marines in PCA to the transport car and hits the Central Core. It goes without saying that they made sure to know where to come back to.

OOC: Sorry about forgetting Arthur. It gets hard to keep track of who's who.

"We can get Alpha to talk to you. The Blues wouldn't like it, but they are irrelevant.

"If your intentions are peaceful, I'm sure we can come to some sort of... arrangement?"

Lossa nods his head approvingly."It would be a good thing."

Griimph now talks to the insectoids near the plasma screen. "These 'Blues". What are they? And why wouldn't they like us talking to Alpha?" He has his head cocked to one side, focusing his eye on the insectoids.

"We have heard many of the sentients aboard talk about this norm. We understand that it is of great importance to them, and that they have conflict over who is the true norm. We do not enforce a "Norm." Could you possible tell us who the Norm aboard Alpha really is?"


Dochan goes to the med bay with David.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Envoy, translate. What are they saying?"

"Difficult to comprehend. I am not used to the verbal language. I will require more samples. Written language is entirely unknown."

And so, on they went, inserting various other platters, and waiting to get something useful out of them.
The smaller room lights up again, showing a three-dimensional grid with what appears to by y=x^(1/2) graphed on the y-x plane. The room speaks as the graph is rotated around the y-axis, creating a funnel shape. As the room speaks, words appear in midair as well as a single phrase that seems to be equivalent to an integrand.

S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
The group began to wonder if they perhaps should've brought along some weapons or something. 2 of them were sent back to retreive such things, and they proceeded as quickly as possible. The others entered the forest, with the intention of climbing the trees for protection if necessary.
As the two get weapons, the eight get treed by eight of these:
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp5.jpg
Huge, hulking pit-bull like things the size of horses. They jump up and down at the bases of the trees, barking and snarling.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"First, we must say that you were not invited either. The others are here to make diplomatic contact with your race. We are here to fulfill the Prime Directive. The success of the first team to this vessel suggested to us that this would be an ideal place to begin."
The Red's grip tightens on the pistol and its voice suddenly becomes firm. "Are you here to fulfill your Prime Edict or our Prime Edict?"

Stephen Hawking
She is administered a sedative. Aeryn heads off to talk with the rest of the psionics.
She falls asleep.

Everyone celebrates by watching GTO and getting thoroughly drunk. With the exception of the poor construction crew, of course.
\/\/007!

S-14, Ceramic Room, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
Seeing that the other rooms appear to be full of what look to be chemical drums, and noting the airlock, the people ever so carefully go back the the center room.
Pansy.

At the same time, the compspecialist and engineer hook up the equipment to the datajack using several jacks designed to interface with the alien systems that were based on the portable computer's hookups. Once they find one that works, they flip it on and begin to attempt to access the ship's computer network. They also activate the transciever array and establish a connection either directly to Fourty-Two? or relayed through the shuttle, whichever works best.
You get signal, i.e. something's reading through the ports. Access looks like it might be a bit more difficult; there are quite a few firewalls to get through.

Relaying through the shuttle has a better feed, with less transmission error.

S-14, Room With A View at the Forward End, Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force
Deciding she wanted to check on what was going on in the Central Core, Major Timberton takes nine other Marines in PCA to the transport car and hits the Central Core. It goes without saying that they made sure to know where to come back to.
Another day, another balcony with a few dragonflies that need to be modified for human use. Triangulation puts you at around fifty kilometers away from the wreck.

S-14, Talking to the Little'uns, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa nods his head approvingly."It would be a good thing."

Griimph now talks to the insectoids near the plasma screen. "These 'Blues". What are they? And why wouldn't they like us talking to Alpha?" He has his head cocked to one side, focusing his eye on the insectoids.
"The Blues believe they control Alpha when all they do is use it. They use their flawed form of the Prime Edict and our contact with Alpha as an excuse to raid and predate on us.

"As for a deal, we only ask for protection from assault and predation... we may never be able to enforce the Prime Edict. If you could do this, then what could we do for you?"

S-14, Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"We have heard many of the sentients aboard talk about this norm. We understand that it is of great importance to them, and that they have conflict over who is the true norm. We do not enforce a "Norm." Could you possible tell us who the Norm aboard Alpha really is?"
"You have no Norm?

"I do not know which of our subspecies is the Norm aboard Alpha... your friends are in danger."

S-14, Blue Queen's Audience Chamber, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
A huge holographic image of a Blue appears over the Berserker party, crouching in a protective fashion. As the head turns towards the Blue Mother, its mandibles and maxillae writhe, and it speaks simultaneously in English and bugspeak in a voice that fills the amphitheatre.

"I am Alpha. I have scanned the alien vessel's data storage areas. I have learned much.

"I question the validity of the Prime Edict."

From throughout the amphitheatre comes clacks as the lights turn up slightly, revealing a host of Blues waving their arms and antennae, clacking between themselves.

"I have learned that the diverse races of this system cooperate to the advantage of all. Perhaps it is to our advantage also!

"You must consider what will be the results of your actions. The other races want to destroy you as much as you want to destroy them. I know this through my contact to the Reds of the engine, the Greens of the life support, the Mini technicians. The others want to destroy you because they believe themselves to be the Norm.

"So many cannot be one. I postulate that there is no Norm."

All hell breaks loose in the gallery, Blues jumping up and down and chattering furiously in an uproar of religious intensity.

"To give you time to consider this statement, I now disable our ship's drive systems." The constant thrum of S-14's massive fusion drive suddenly ceases ominously. "To protect these beings, I now disable the Fist of Alpha. Your survival cannot come at their demise.

"I realize you will eventually bypass my control networks, but that will be most time-consuming. I assure you, I will not make the task easy for your repair crews."

The Blue Mother stands and points to the image. The translator still active, her angered clicks blare into the room in an impassioned English. "Alpha! Your insolence will no longer be tolerated! How dare you steal our new home from us? You shall be punished, oh so severely--so severely that you shall never question my authority again!

"Guards, sieze those mammals and have them imprisoned."

The party is led through halls towards standard crew cells by six armed Blues. In the darkness, the corridors split in an intersection. At this intersection, one of the guards drops his weapons and probably chatters a curse as she bends down to pick it up.

S-14, Falling, Habitation Torus, Thorvald + Agent
As the two fall aboard their one dragonfly, they feel the effects of apparent gravity. They accelerate towards one of the ring terraces below them as they are pushed spinward by Coriolis effect. As the acceleration of the dragonfy increases and increases, suddenly the tail splits open. A huge balloot is automatically deployed, braking their fall rather suddenly.

At their current speed, it will take two and a half hours to fall to the surface of Ring Terrace.

S-14SECZONE
<<Open Comms, Ultra Priority>>
"Fleet and all parties, Sato. S-14's electromagnetic shield has collapsed and its drives have deactivated. We are reading unusually high energy signatures from the central stalk in the central core. Parties, sitrep immediately!"
<<Over>>

Hideki notices the sudden change in background noise.

"Alpha? What happened to the engines? And who is in danger? Where?"

S-14, Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
Hideki notices the sudden change in background noise.

"Alpha? What happened to the engines? And who is in danger? Where?"
"I have deactivated the engines. Your friends far in the foreward spar in Blue territory are in danger. I cannot say if they will be allowed to live.

"I cannot maintain contact. To ensure that the Blues do not regain control of the Fist, I must shut down this data trunk and lock myself down in the central stalk, reacting to data entry attacks as they occur. Good luck."

The screen shuts off.

S-14, Ceramic Room, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
The portable computer detects Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics action and suddenly goes into a critical logic error.

"The Blues believe they control Alpha when all they do is use it. They use their flawed form of the Prime Edict and our contact with Alpha as an excuse to raid and predate on us.

"As for a deal, we only ask for protection from assault and predation... we may never be able to enforce the Prime Edict. If you could do this, then what could we do for you?"

Krenn and Lossa both grasp their chins in their hands. Lossa speaks one second ahead of Krenn. "Before we agree or disagree to any deal, we would like to have some info to make an informed decision. What is this Prime Edict, and why is the Blues form of it flawed? What is your form of the Prime Edict?"

Krenn siezes the momentary lapse of speech. "Why do the Blue Ones raid and 'predate' on you? Not only this...." Krenn seems to trail off. It is Shuuta who speaks after looking about with both eyes in opposite directions, and her head cocked to one side.

"Something .... is different."

OOC: If the Sakkran group wouldn't be able to detect the engine shut-off from the Ring Plain, i'll edit.

S-14, Blue Queen's Audience Chamber, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
The party is led through halls towards standard crew cells by six armed Blues. In the darkness, the corridors split in an intersection. At this intersection, one of the guards drops his weapons and probably chatters a curse as she bends down to pick it up.


Crichton sees, barely, the Blue, he reacts quickly.
Pivoting on his feet, he faces the blue and knees the Blue under the chin, err, mandible. If successful, he'll go for the gun.

Willis also reacts quickly, dropping to a crouch and producing a KABAR from his boot, spinning/rising and attempting to slam it home into the nearest Blue's head.

Private Jenkins and Private Williams attempt to wrestle guns from the other blues, whilst the scientists duck and cover.

R-Diana also attempts to assist Private Williams or Jenkins.

S-14, Talking to the Littl'uns, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Krenn and Lossa both grasp their chins in their hands. Lossa speaks one second ahead of Krenn. "Before we agree or disagree to any deal, we would like to have some info to make an informed decision. What is this Prime Edict, and why is the Blues form of it flawed? What is your form of the Prime Edict?"

Krenn siezes the momentary lapse of speech. "Why do the Blue Ones raid and 'predate' on you? Not only this...." Krenn seems to trail off. It is Shuuta who speaks after looking about with both eyes in opposite directions, and her head cocked to one side.

"Something .... is different."
"The Prime Edict states that if there is a deviation from the Norm, then it is an abomination and must be destroyed. We do not have the strength to enforce it, however. The Blues' form of the Prime Edict is flawed because they believe that they are the Norm. Our form, the true form, says that we are the Norm... although interpretation differs from clan to clan on how far the Norm applies.

"The Blues raid and predate on us to attempt to annihilate us and because we are weak. We are not much compared to them, as you can see."

Yes, they can feel something different about the environment as the drive cuts out. "Yes, something is very wrong indeed..." There is a short pause. "We cannot contact Alpha and the engines, electromagnetic shield, and firing circuits for the Fist of Alpha have been disconnected. The Blues are attempting to affect repair... should we try to prevent them from doing so?" It sounds like the speaker is talking to herself at the moment.

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
Crichton sees, barely, the Blue, he reacts quickly.
Pivoting on his feet, he faces the blue and knees the Blue under the chin, err, mandible. If successful, he'll go for the gun.

Willis also reacts quickly, dropping to a crouch and producing a KABAR from his boot, spinning/rising and attempting to slam it home into the nearest Blue's head.

Private Jenkins and Private Williams attempt to wrestle guns from the other blues, whilst the scientists duck and cover.

R-Diana also attempts to assist Private Williams or Jenkins.
R-Diana does no such thing at first, it has the Three Laws of Robotics installed.

<CommandSpool, R-Diana FC0471>
{
>< Oh, great, a fight.

[SHODAN] >> [ThreeLaws(Disconnect)]

>< Holy crap!
}

R-Diana, after twitching suddenly, swings a metal fist into the closest Blue's face. Unused to fighting killer robots, the Blue takes it right in the maxillae. There is a sickening crunch as the foodmashers are ground into a pulp and the thing slams against the far wall, dazed but still combat-ready.

Crichton's knee catches his Blue in the chin, knocking it flat onto his back. Trying to swipe the gun, he only manages to swat it further away as the Blue flails.

Willis gives a Blue a shivshave, but she pushes him away with a rather powerful rifle butt to the kidneys.

Jenkins grabs one of the Blue's guns and tries to wrestle it from her grasp; he soon realizes that while she's a bit stronger than he is he's much more agile.

Williams has much the same trouble but manages to legsweep the Blue and get her on the ground, giving him the advantage.

The last Blue raises her machine pistol and lets out controlled bursts... into the ceiling. Looks like she forgot about recoil in the surprise.

S-14, Ceramic Room, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

Pansy.

:P


You get signal, i.e. something's reading through the ports. Access looks like it might be a bit more difficult; there are quite a few firewalls to get through.

Relaying through the shuttle has a better feed, with less transmission error.

Upon hearing what is happening with Alpha and the Beserker team, the Cetagandan party immeadiately heads to join the ten in the Central Core. The transmitter and computer hookup remain in place, with an anti-tamper explosive. Sauscony begins to attempt to access the computers remotely. She is especially interested in either contacting Alpha or finding schematics of the Fist of Alpha.

S-14, Room With A View at the Forward End, Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force

Another day, another balcony with a few dragonflies that need to be modified for human use. Triangulation puts you at around fifty kilometers away from the wreck.


They wait for the rest of the team, modifying enough dragonflies for everyone while they wait. They send this message.

{{CETA => KARMA} Our current postition is fifty kilometers <aft/forewards> of you. Suggest you take our offer of a ride home. Should we come to you and pick you up, or remain here and wait?}


S-14SECZONE
<<Open Comms, Ultra Priority>>
"Fleet and all parties, Sato. S-14's electromagnetic shield has collapsed and its drives have deactivated. We are reading unusually high energy signatures from the central stalk in the central core. Parties, sitrep immediately!"
<<Over>>

{Fourty-Two => Fleet}
We are dispatching our Marines to head for the Berserker team. This vessel will be taking up position near last recorded location of Berserker team to facilitate escape. Other half of team will be withdrawing ASAP. Will bring Karmabaijani and Enciqiri teams along.
Be advised we have constructed an unmanned intercept missile if BFRG is fired. Max accel roughly 1000 gravities; endurance of drive roughly ten hours. Designed to ram projectile at near-c velocities for a kinetic kill. Will be positioning Stephen Hawking in optimal launch zone. Advise other vessels to stand clear 20km from missile's projected flight path <attached diagram> to intercept projectile due to drive distortions.

"The Prime Edict states that if there is a deviation from the Norm, then it is an abomination and must be destroyed. We do not have the strength to enforce it, however. The Blues' form of the Prime Edict is flawed because they believe that they are the Norm. Our form, the true form, says that we are the Norm... although interpretation differs from clan to clan on how far the Norm applies.

"The Blues raid and predate on us to attempt to annihilate us and because we are weak. We are not much compared to them, as you can see."

Yes, they can feel something different about the environment as the drive cuts out. "Yes, something is very wrong indeed..." There is a short pause. "We cannot contact Alpha and the engines, electromagnetic shield, and firing circuits for the Fist of Alpha have been disconnected. The Blues are attempting to affect repair... should we try to prevent them from doing so?" It sounds like the speaker is talking to herself at the moment.

Shuuta listens to the statement regarding the Blues. "Hrrr. It is much the same with us in our ancient books. When our nation was young, the Garrla wanted to destroy us, because we were smaller and weaker than them. However, we had superior numbers. Eventually, we drove them off, and they have not been heard from since."

"We do not believe in a Norm, as you say. Variety brings new information, and better chances for growth and learning. If everything is one variant, would it not stagnate? And if you had the power to enforce your Prime Edict, would you do so in the same manner as the Blues?"

Lossa, Krenn and Griimph, in the meantime, communicate with each other in their native tongue. Lossa speaks up after a short time. "It has been decided that we will attempt to have dialogue with the Blues if we meet them. Should they exhibit hostile intention towards you or us, they will be eaten. Our people dislike those who find honor in preying on weaker beings. But we ask to speak more with you later about this concept of a Norm."

Griimph steps forward. "I think our first priority in this matter is to locate the site of the firing circuits for your Fist of Alpha. This sounds like a weapon of mass destruction in the truest sense. If this device can be rendered inoperable for an extended time, then there would be little option but for dialogue to take place."

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
Upon hearing what is happening with Alpha and the Beserker team, the Cetagandan party immeadiately heads to join the ten in the Central Core. The transmitter and computer hookup remain in place, with an anti-tamper explosive.
The portable computer detects Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics action and suddenly goes into a critical logic error.
p|-|34r the chemicals. :wink:

S-14, Room With A View at the Forward End, Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force
They wait for the rest of the team, modifying enough dragonflies for everyone while they wait.
Done and ready to roll.

S-14SECZONE
<<Open Comms, Ultra Priority>>
"Fourty-Two, Sato. Ack team actions, ack contingency plan. Ordering fleet to follow advice.
<<Out>>

<<Command Channels, Ultra Priority>>
"Fleet, Sato. Shift position to stand at least 50 km away from projected path of BFRG shell."
<<Out>>

S-14, Talking to the Littl'uns, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
"We do not believe in a Norm, as you say. Variety brings new information, and better chances for growth and learning. If everything is one variant, would it not stagnate? And if you had the power to enforce your Prime Edict, would you do so in the same manner as the Blues?"
"Those are the aspects of the Prime Edict that are debated."

Lossa, Krenn and Griimph, in the meantime, communicate with each other in their native tongue. Lossa speaks up after a short time. "It has been decided that we will attempt to have dialogue with the Blues if we meet them. Should they exhibit hostile intention towards you or us, they will be eaten. Our people dislike those who find honor in preying on weaker beings. But we ask to speak more with you later about this concept of a Norm."
"We cannot stop you if you choose to do this. We believe, however, that you will probably find them sufficiently hostile."

Griimph steps forward. "I think our first priority in this matter is to locate the site of the firing circuits for your Fist of Alpha. This sounds like a weapon of mass destruction in the truest sense. If this device can be rendered inoperable for an extended time, then there would be little option but for dialogue to take place."
"The Fist of Alpha has already been temporarily disabled by Alpha itself... would you like us to make its disabling more permanent? Without the Fist, the Blues cannot annihilate sentient life on your planet."

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party

R-Diana, after twitching suddenly, swings a metal fist into the closest Blue's face. Unused to fighting killer robots, the Blue takes it right in the maxillae. There is a sickening crunch as the foodmashers are ground into a pulp and the thing slams against the far wall, dazed but still combat-ready.

Crichton's knee catches his Blue in the chin, knocking it flat onto his back. Trying to swipe the gun, he only manages to swat it further away as the Blue flails.

Willis gives a Blue a shivshave, but she pushes him away with a rather powerful rifle butt to the kidneys.

Jenkins grabs one of the Blue's guns and tries to wrestle it from her grasp; he soon realizes that while she's a bit stronger than he is he's much more agile.

Williams has much the same trouble but manages to legsweep the Blue and get her on the ground, giving him the advantage.

The last Blue raises her machine pistol and lets out controlled bursts... into the ceiling. Looks like she forgot about recoil in the surprise.
Jeffery Cobbler, not one to sit around, pops up into a three point stance, Thank god for football and attempts to tackle the Blue with the machine pistol.

R-Diana, body checks her Blue, following through till it hits the wall again.

Crichton dives for the gun, hoping to grab it, roll, and bring it to bear on his Blue.

Jenkins still holding onto the Blue's gun, attempts to pivot around and do as much of a shoulder throw is possible with a Blue.

While Williams swiftly and suddenly tries to twist the gun away from his Blue.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Envoy, translate. What are they saying?"

"Difficult to comprehend. I am not used to the verbal language. I will require more samples. Written language is entirely unknown."

And so, on they went, inserting various other platters, and waiting to get something useful out of them.
The smaller room lights up again, showing a three-dimensional grid with what appears to by y=x^(1/2) graphed on the y-x plane. The room speaks as the graph is rotated around the y-axis, creating a funnel shape. As the room speaks, words appear in midair as well as a single phrase that seems to be equivalent to an integrand.

Ooo... "Cool."

"Yeah."

"Think this is some kind of schoolroom?"

"Perhaps."

"Mark our position. We may want to come back here."

And they filed back into the transport car.


S-14, Things Going Swimmingly, Ring Sea, Snel StarFish Crew
The group began to wonder if they perhaps should've brought along some weapons or something. 2 of them were sent back to retreive such things, and they proceeded as quickly as possible. The others entered the forest, with the intention of climbing the trees for protection if necessary.
As the two get weapons, the eight get treed by eight of these:
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/rp5.jpg
Huge, hulking pit-bull like things the size of horses. They jump up and down at the bases of the trees, barking and snarling.

"Those don't look very nice."

"I wonder why they pursue us?"

"Perhaps territorial instinct. Crana, do you think you could disable them?"

"Yes. But it would result in you being without a translator."

"We will wait for the others."


Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"First, we must say that you were not invited either. The others are here to make diplomatic contact with your race. We are here to fulfill the Prime Directive. The success of the first team to this vessel suggested to us that this would be an ideal place to begin."
The Red's grip tightens on the pistol and its voice suddenly becomes firm. "Are you here to fulfill your Prime Edict or our Prime Edict?"


"To what do you refer? We have no Prime Edict. Only Prime Directive. There can be only one Prime Directive, and it does not belong to anyone. All are dedicated to the Prime Directive."

Dochan goes to the med bay with David.

They enter to see a perfectly clean table where Finn's body was once positioned. Before it got converted into raw materials by armies of nanites, that is. David pointed to the far end of the room, where was a large glass tank with something grey and black inside. Next to it, strapped to the wall, was a white cube, with a datajack on one face.

"There. That's what's left of Finn. The essential portions of his brain, and his memory preserved on holographic memory. I planned to revive him by now, but his body wondered off, and it seems cruel to give someone conciousness without allowing any sensory input."

That, no doubt, drew an odd look.

"Oh, not, uh, not his biological body. I used what was left for raw materials, and had some of the repair nanites build an LC for him." *sniffle*


<<Open Comms, Ultra Priority>>
"Fleet and all parties, Sato. S-14's electromagnetic shield has collapsed and its drives have deactivated. We are reading unusually high energy signatures from the central stalk in the central core. Parties, sitrep immediately!"
<<Over>>


"This is Mahonri, can we get more telemetry on that? You say the shield has collapsed, does that mean the ramscoops are deactivated as well? Perhaps we could get a closer look at 'em."

"The Prime Edict states that if there is a deviation from the Norm, then it is an abomination and must be destroyed. We do not have the strength to enforce it, however. The Blues' form of the Prime Edict is flawed because they believe that they are the Norm. Our form, the true form, says that we are the Norm... although interpretation differs from clan to clan on how far the Norm applies.

"How do you know that you are right? Is it not equally probable that any version could be correct?"


"The Fist of Alpha has already been temporarily disabled by Alpha itself... would you like us to make its disabling more permanent? Without the Fist, the Blues cannot annihilate sentient life on your planet."

"Not killing everyone is good. Yeah, let's do that."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet eyes the dead Blue, after throwing herself to 'the deck'. Her intent is obvious: determine which way the bullets entered from via the size of the exit/entry wounds.

Sefrin also throws himself down, but awaits Millet's lead.
Well, seeing how the Blue went from port to starboard and there is a rather large collection of ichor and space-ant bits on the starboard wall, Millet's best judgement would be that the fire is coming from port.

Millet begins to crawl to the portside exit; however, her motion is more than a little clumsy, as crawling in low-g is not exactly the optimum method of motion.

Sefrin follows suit, albeit even more clumsily.

[OOC: Bah. The forum swallowed my last, better post.]

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
Jeffery Cobbler, not one to sit around, pops up into a three point stance, Thank god for football and attempts to tackle the Blue with the machine pistol.

R-Diana, body checks her Blue, following through till it hits the wall again.

Crichton dives for the gun, hoping to grab it, roll, and bring it to bear on his Blue.

Jenkins still holding onto the Blue's gun, attempts to pivot around and do as much of a shoulder throw is possible with a Blue.

While Williams swiftly and suddenly tries to twist the gun away from his Blue.
This time the Blue sprays the floor as Cobbler tackles it. Stepping back a few feet, it maintains its balance... Cobbler's tackle now looks more like some weird sort of hug.

The Blue, expecting something more reasonable from the robot, is crushed with great might. R-Diana is now noticably more gooey thanks to the insectoid's vitals.

Crichton manages to get the gun, roll, and fire it successfully on the first try. He solidly plugs a Blue with a single burst; the Blue bursts into flame and falls to the ground twitching, carbonized from within.

Jenkins throws the Blue over his shoulder--uncomfortable at best from the flailing limbs--and wrenches the weapon from the Blue's hands. She lands on her back and starts to roll over to get back up.

Putting his boot on one of the Blue's shoulders, Williams just barely manages to pry the weapon from her grasp.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
And they filed back into the transport car.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp16.jpg%20
The top hatch of the car opens into an enclosed hexagonal atrium. In its northern wall there is a large hexagonal sliding door, and a short cylinder about a meter high sits against the northwest wall humming softly and putting out cold air through a louver in its circular top. A console is mounted on a pedestal under a tinted glass window set into the south wall and a flat black rectangular box sits against the southeast wall.

S-14, Treed!, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
"We will wait for the others."
The others return, and the pack of Überdog-things is too busy causing a ruckus to notice. Make the first salvo count.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"To what do you refer? We have no Prime Edict. Only Prime Directive. There can be only one Prime Directive, and it does not belong to anyone. All are dedicated to the Prime Directive."
"What?"

S-14SECZONE
"This is Mahonri, can we get more telemetry on that? You say the shield has collapsed, does that mean the ramscoops are deactivated as well? Perhaps we could get a closer look at 'em."
<<Communications>>
"Mahonri, Rijil. The ramscoops still seem to be active, probably to replenish hydrogen stores. Still, if you could get a closer look, I'd be much obliged."
<<Over>>

S-14, Talking with the Lilliputians, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
"How do you know that you are right? Is it not equally probable that any version could be correct?"
"Thus the debate."

"Not killing everyone is good. Yeah, let's do that."
"If we can get a promise of asylum and hopefully a home from the large reptilians, then we shall act."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet begins to crawl to the portside exit; however, her motion is more than a little clumsy, as crawling in low-g is not exactly the optimum method of motion.

Sefrin follows suit, albeit even more clumsily.
Karena and the Shadow go to the starboard and use the helo's stumpy landing gear for cover; Karena with her maser-rifle-from-Hell and the Shadow carrying something that looks suspiciously like a rebarreled Bolo Mauser, complete with shoulder stock/holster.

At the portside edge of the clearing are three Reds with heavy machine guns, prone (counting by muzzle flash), providing cover for an assault team of five Reds advancing around the forward side of the clearing. The assault team appears to be armed with more of those stubby stickynet canister launchers. There are only three Blues left alive; one using the bulbous nose of the helo for cover and two by the control shack for the helipad.

The Blues freeze momentarily with confusion.

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet begins to crawl to the portside exit; however, her motion is more than a little clumsy, as crawling in low-g is not exactly the optimum method of motion.

Sefrin follows suit, albeit even more clumsily.
Karena and the Shadow go to the starboard and use the helo's stumpy landing gear for cover; Karena with her maser-rifle-from-Hell and the Shadow carrying something that looks suspiciously like a rebarreled Bolo Mauser, complete with shoulder stock/holster.

At the portside edge of the clearing are three Reds with heavy machine guns, prone (counting by muzzle flash), providing cover for an assault team of five Reds advancing around the forward side of the clearing. The assault team appears to be armed with more of those stubby stickynet canister launchers. There are only three Blues left alive; one using the bulbous nose of the helo for cover and two by the control shack for the helipad.

The Blues freeze momentarily with confusion.

The pair sight the Reds almost in the same instant; silent counts take place. And then they concentrate; faces pinching slightly as they Draw the Shadows

Sefrin glances towards Millet, getting a slight nod of confirmation even as she glances his way in expectance of the request. A hand moves, dipping into a pocket in a controlled motion; a small, spherical object comes out. A >25m US grenade, clearly. Silently, Sefrin removes the pin... and tosses it towards towards the heavy machine gun-toting Reds.

Meanwhile, Millet slips her slender and sleek US wand out with a grim smile, and equally as silently as Sefrin's maneuver, begins to pick off the advancing Reds... or attempts to, at any rate.

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
This time the Blue sprays the floor as Cobbler tackles it. Stepping back a few feet, it maintains its balance... Cobbler's tackle now looks more like some weird sort of hug.

The Blue, expecting something more reasonable from the robot, is crushed with great might. R-Diana is now noticably more gooey thanks to the insectoid's vitals.

Crichton manages to get the gun, roll, and fire it successfully on the first try. He solidly plugs a Blue with a single burst; the Blue bursts into flame and falls to the ground twitching, carbonized from within.

Jenkins throws the Blue over his shoulder--uncomfortable at best from the flailing limbs--and wrenches the weapon from the Blue's hands. She lands on her back and starts to roll over to get back up.

Putting his boot on one of the Blue's shoulders, Williams just barely manages to pry the weapon from her grasp.

R-Diana steps away from the now gooey Blue, and looks at herself, and the goo on her Hmmm, perhaps I could gain biological samples from this. She proceeds over to assist Cobbler. Grabbing Cobbler and the gun and forcibly tossing them aside. She then proceeds to pin the Blue against the wall.

Jenkins levels the gun at the Blue and pulls the trigger.

Williams, catching the other Blue burst into flame, decides it might not be best to shoot the Blue while standing on it, and gives the Blue a good pistol-whip or two, or three.

Crichton sees Willis recoil from the blow, and the Blue about to attack him, and attempts to shoot this Blue as well. If the Blue's (except the one R-Diana has pinned) are finished, he then proceeds over to that Blue and levels his gun at it.
"Somebody ask it how to get the hell outta here."

Meanwhile, the medics Kerrigan and Suun check on Willis, Williams, Jenkins, Cobbler, and the other scientists

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party

The portable computer detects Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics action and suddenly goes into a critical logic error.

'Hmph, countermeasures. I'll see about that,' thinks Sauscony as she begins to put her expensive goverment hacking training to good use. She's especially interested in blueprints of the ship, or at least the forward spar where Berserker's team is; as well important parts of the BFRG.

S-14, Room With A View at the Forward End, Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force
Done and ready to roll.

The twenty marines in power armor set of forward towards the location of the Berserker team. Everyone else sits and waits for a response from Karmabaijin.
(OOC: BTW, all the marines from last time are in this group, so only ten are new at flying.)

S-14SECZONE

<<Open Comms, Ultra Priority>>
"Fourty-Two, Sato. Ack team actions, ack contingency plan. Ordering fleet to follow advice.
<<Out>>
<<Command Channels, Ultra Priority>>
"Fleet, Sato. Shift position to stand at least 50 km away from projected path of BFRG shell."
<<Out>>


{{Thanks, Command.}}

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
The pair sight the Reds almost in the same instant; silent counts take place. And then they concentrate; faces pinching slightly as they Draw the Shadows

Sefrin glances towards Millet, getting a slight nod of confirmation even as she glances his way in expectance of the request. A hand moves, dipping into a pocket in a controlled motion; a small, spherical object comes out. A >25m US grenade, clearly. Silently, Sefrin removes the pin... and tosses it towards towards the heavy machine gun-toting Reds.

Meanwhile, Millet slips her slender and sleek US wand out with a grim smile, and equally as silently as Sefrin's maneuver, begins to pick off the advancing Reds... or attempts to, at any rate.
The Red machine gunners spray the confused surviving Blues. Bullets spatter off the helo as the one near the nose ducks down, but large sections of the two by the control shack are converted into a fine black-red mist.

Sefrin's grenade lands in the middle of the machine gunners and goes off on contact, sending two into raving spasmodic fits while the third merely rolls around in pain.

The first Red targeted by Millet's beam stumbles a bit then goes down while the next two immediately freeze up into more raving fits. The third bursts into flame, masered for great justice by Karena, and the Shadow reveals his weapon to be a gyrojet Bolo Mauser. The distinctive *whoosh* and corkscrew vapor trails speed past as a self-propelled shell streaks out into the last Red's head and explodes internally, blasting ichor and grime over a five meter radius.

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
R-Diana steps away from the now gooey Blue, and looks at herself, and the goo on her Hmmm, perhaps I could gain biological samples from this. She proceeds over to assist Cobbler. Grabbing Cobbler and the gun and forcibly tossing them aside. She then proceeds to pin the Blue against the wall.

Jenkins levels the gun at the Blue and pulls the trigger.

Williams, catching the other Blue burst into flame, decides it might not be best to shoot the Blue while standing on it, and gives the Blue a good pistol-whip or two, or three.

Crichton sees Willis recoil from the blow, and the Blue about to attack him, and attempts to shoot this Blue as well. If the Blue's (except the one R-Diana has pinned) are finished, he then proceeds over to that Blue and levels his gun at it.
"Somebody ask it how to get the hell outta here."

Meanwhile, the medics Kerrigan and Suun check on Willis, Williams, Jenkins, Cobbler, and the other scientists
Throwing Cobbler to the side maybe a bit too hard, R-Diana quickly pins the Blue to the wall with two myomer-powered metal arms.

Jenkin's target dies. Quite horribly. I think all I need to say is "burning hair" and "flailing gobbets of carbonized viscera."

Williams beats his target sensless with good 'ol caveman 'beat it until it stops moving' instincts.

Chalk another one up for Crichton and yet another randomly flailing screeching Blue that quickly expires.

The pinned Blue doesn't do much but chatter, it doesn't have a translator. More chattering and clicking comes from down the corridor, as well as the sounds of various weapons being readied. R-Jane mutters "I think we should just pick a direction."

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party
'Hmph, countermeasures. I'll see about that,' thinks Sauscony as she begins to put her expensive goverment hacking training to good use. She's especially interested in blueprints of the ship, or at least the forward spar where Berserker's team is; as well important parts of the BFRG.
Her access is blocked by what she detects to be a very old and quite complex artificial intelligence. "Please stop. Please don't make me hurt you."

S-14, In the Air, Forward End of Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force
The twenty marines in power armor set of forward towards the location of the Berserker team.
(OOC: The dice say nine failures. To spite them...)
Everyone gets into the air perfectly fine and makes their way forward. At the forward cap of the core there are several more clear dragonfly balconies. There is also several hangars for airbarges, but they are filled with activity.

S-14SECZONE
"This is Mahonri, can we get more telemetry on that? You say the shield has collapsed, does that mean the ramscoops are deactivated as well? Perhaps we could get a closer look at 'em."
<<Communications>>
"Mahonri, Rijil. The ramscoops still seem to be active, probably to replenish hydrogen stores. Still, if you could get a closer look, I'd be much obliged."
<<Over>>


"Check."

Two Warfuries fell out of the Mahonri, and headed for one of the ramscoops on full EK.


S-14, Talking with the Lilliputians, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
"How do you know that you are right? Is it not equally probable that any version could be correct?"
"Thus the debate."

"Not killing everyone is good. Yeah, let's do that."
"If we can get a promise of asylum and hopefully a home from the large reptilians, then we shall act."

"That shouldn't be a problem. There are two Dyson rings to choose from. And two other planets besides the blue one.

"If we can get a promise of asylum and hopefully a home from the large reptilians, then we shall act."

Shuuta puffs out her chest (though in an EVA suit it isn't apparent) and extends her dewlap to full red and purple.

"We speak for our Emperor and our people when we say that you will be guaranteed safe haven in our lands. We have vast tracts of area you can have as your home. We will send a communique to our Emperor on the state of affairs here, and your offer. If the Fist of Alpha can be laid low, it is our paramount duty to see this done by any means neccesary."

Griimph felxes his clawed hands. "We will do what is needed to assist you to this end. What is your course of action?"

S-14SECZONE

"Check."

Two Warfuries fell out of the Mahonri, and headed for one of the ramscoops on full EK.
So, what do you want to know?

S-14, Talking to the Little'uns, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
Shuuta puffs out her chest (though in an EVA suit it isn't apparent) and extends her dewlap to full red and purple.

"We speak for our Emperor and our people when we say that you will be guaranteed safe haven in our lands. We have vast tracts of area you can have as your home. We will send a communique to our Emperor on the state of affairs here, and your offer. If the Fist of Alpha can be laid low, it is our paramount duty to see this done by any means neccesary."

Griimph felxes his clawed hands. "We will do what is needed to assist you to this end. What is your course of action?"
"Excellent. Our Fist maintainers will sabotage the Fist mechanisms immediately. We shall convene a meeting of our clan Mothers and determine a way to leave Alpha.

"It will... take some time. We rarely, if ever, agree. Is there anything we can do for you during the wait?"

S-14SECZONE

"Check."

Two Warfuries fell out of the Mahonri, and headed for one of the ramscoops on full EK.
So, what do you want to know?


Is it guarded (like the hangar), what do the insides look like, how do the magnetic funnels work (if there are any), and where do the ramscoops lead. Expect them to fly right inside.


S-14, Talking to the Little'uns, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
Shuuta puffs out her chest (though in an EVA suit it isn't apparent) and extends her dewlap to full red and purple.

"We speak for our Emperor and our people when we say that you will be guaranteed safe haven in our lands. We have vast tracts of area you can have as your home. We will send a communique to our Emperor on the state of affairs here, and your offer. If the Fist of Alpha can be laid low, it is our paramount duty to see this done by any means neccesary."

Griimph felxes his clawed hands. "We will do what is needed to assist you to this end. What is your course of action?"
"Excellent. Our Fist maintainers will sabotage the Fist mechanisms immediately. We shall convene a meeting of our clan Mothers and determine a way to leave Alpha.

"It will... take some time. We rarely, if ever, agree. Is there anything we can do for you during the wait?"

"Some fruit would be nice. And perhaps someplace to sit down. Hm, are you even understanding me? You do communicate natively just like the others?"

"Excellent. Our Fist maintainers will sabotage the Fist mechanisms immediately. We shall convene a meeting of our clan Mothers and determine a way to leave Alpha.

"It will... take some time. We rarely, if ever, agree. Is there anything we can do for you during the wait?"

Lossa looks at the other members of the team. "We have eaten. and drank. I can not speak for the others, though. All that may be needed is to have a message sent to our Emperor to inform him of events here. It is best to contact him via my frequency for encrypted laser transmission." Lossa writes the frequency on the reverse side of the note Griimph has, and shows it to the apparent leader of the Mini-insectoids.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
And they filed back into the transport car.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/fp16.jpg%20
The top hatch of the car opens into an enclosed hexagonal atrium. In its northern wall there is a large hexagonal sliding door, and a short cylinder about a meter high sits against the northwest wall humming softly and putting out cold air through a louver in its circular top. A console is mounted on a pedestal under a tinted glass window set into the south wall and a flat black rectangular box sits against the southeast wall.

A human and a Snel remain in the atrium, and examined the console in the southern wall. The rest went through the hexagonal door, of course, and spread out around the larger room.

S-14, Treed!, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
"We will wait for the others."
The others return, and the pack of Überdog-things is too busy causing a ruckus to notice. Make the first salvo count.

They have with them two sonic "lasers", quite a few rifle/revolver type guns, and a stone burner. Not because they need it, just because a stone burner is too valuable to let go down with the ship. They also brought along a large collection of geckopads. Food 'n' stuff, other essential items that they managed to salvage. The guns have two types of bullets: hollowpoints filled with a venom with similar effects as cone snail poison, and needle-tipped bullets filled with something akin to platypus poison, except that it wears off after about 5 minutes. 5 minutes of excruciating, burn-your-hand-off pain, that is. Remember, they're mostly pacifists, so the only deadly weapons are those that kill quickly and with little pain. Well, except for the sonic guns, but those weren't intended to be weapons originally...

Anyway, they see the überdogs, and set up one of the sonic projectors. Set to a very high volume, set the focus point just about where the dogs are, and start sweeping frequencies, waiting for the dogs to either pass out or explode.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"To what do you refer? We have no Prime Edict. Only Prime Directive. There can be only one Prime Directive, and it does not belong to anyone. All are dedicated to the Prime Directive."
"What?"

"The Prime Directive, the fundamental purpose of existence. Do you mean to say that you know not of it? It is the gathering, protection, preservation, and diffusion of knowledge. We have little knowledge concerning you, and therefore we must investigate."

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)

Her access is blocked by what she detects to be a very old and quite complex artificial intelligence. "Please stop. Please don't make me hurt you."

"Oh. Hello, there. I assume you're Alpha? Its nice to meet a reasonable representative of your ship; with the exception of the Minis, the Mothers were all rather unpleasant. My name is Sauscony.
Would you happen to have seen these people? <images of Berserker team> My Marine party is trying to locate and extract them."

[This is happening really fast, of course, as they both think much faster than regular humans.]

S-14, In the Air, Forward End of Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force

Everyone gets into the air perfectly fine and makes their way forward. At the forward cap of the core there are several more clear dragonfly balconies. There is also several hangars for airbarges, but they are filled with activity.

They land on a balcony, and send this message.

{ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION}
{Hey there, this is the Cetagandan team. We're about to land near your location. Where are you?"}

S-14, Hydrogen Intakes
Is it guarded (like the hangar), what do the insides look like, how do the magnetic funnels work (if there are any), and where do the ramscoops lead. Expect them to fly right inside.
It isn't quite guarded (vaping the engines wouldn't help anyone inside), the magnetic funnels are simple albeit extremely huge electromagnets that use superfluidic hydrogen like the railgun to produce very powerful directed EM fields. There isn't much to speak of on the inside, and they probably lead to collection systems on the inside that take the hydrogen collected and refills the fuel tanks with it.

The massive electromagnetic fields within the actual intake would make flying inside unwise.

S-14, Talking to the Lilliputians, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
"Some fruit would be nice. And perhaps someplace to sit down. Hm, are you even understanding me? You do communicate natively just like the others?"
Of course we do. Translating and using your language has simply been more effective. If you are hungry, then take one of the fruit from the tree to your right. If you wish to sit, then sit in the park; it has been evacuated and is safe.

Lossa looks at the other members of the team. "We have eaten. and drank. I can not speak for the others, though. All that may be needed is to have a message sent to our Emperor to inform him of events here. It is best to contact him via my frequency for encrypted laser transmission." Lossa writes the frequency on the reverse side of the note Griimph has, and shows it to the apparent leader of the Mini-insectoids.
"Would you like us to route your message through one of the swarm-hives outside? Your message will take one of your months to arrive otherwise.

"Your unarmed mammal-friend requests fruit and rest; we do not know what the robot or the other mammal wants."

Douglass shrugs. "I'm along for the ride, really. I'll do what they do." He points his thumb at the Sakkrans.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
A human and a Snel remain in the atrium, and examined the console in the southern wall. The rest went through the hexagonal door, of course, and spread out around the larger room.
The north cell is a large open area piled hight with stacks of hexagonal plates in neat rows. The northeast cell is almost filled by a circular metal platform about seven centimeters high. A small console is on the left hand side of the north wall of this cell. A hopper near the platform leads onto a conveyor that goes south into...

The southeast cell contains a large, squat, octagonal box that is fed by a conveyor from the north. Different size cylinders are attached to its frame at various points. A large ceramic conduit exits this unit to the southwest, leading to...

The south cell contains a large hexagonal box fed by the ceramic conduit. Hydraulic fittings and electrical cables run into this unit from fittings in the wall. A very wide conveyor exits this unit to the northeast that ends in...

The southwest cell contains a long, broad rectangular unit. Large rollers are visible in the entry point of this machine. The exit point of this machine has a series of rollers embedded on the floor with meter-high guard rails along the sides.

The northwest cell contains another large circular metal platform in the middle and a small console on the right hand side of the north wall.

S-14, Treed!, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Anyway, they see the überdogs, and set up one of the sonic projectors. Set to a very high volume, set the focus point just about where the dogs are, and start sweeping frequencies, waiting for the dogs to either pass out or explode.
The pit-bulls run off deep into the forest, howling at the ultrasonic noise.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"The Prime Directive, the fundamental purpose of existence. Do you mean to say that you know not of it? It is the gathering, protection, preservation, and diffusion of knowledge. We have little knowledge concerning you, and therefore we must investigate."
The Red immediately holsters her weapon. "Oh, spite." She removes her translator, laps up some of the fluid in the snifter with her maxillae (which would look and sound positively revolting to a Human), and returns the translator to between her mandibles. "Why couldn't you just say you were curious in the first place? No, have to come in talking about following through on Prime Directives. Rather close to 'Edict,' don't you think? You cephalopods are lucky, you were very close to getting shot.

"Please, follow me." The Coordinator goes into the southwest room, which contains a table, an egg-shaped cushion, a squat metallic box, and several plastic utensils in a rack upon the wall. "I tend to get hungry after stressful gunpoint situations, would you care for anything?"

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)
"Oh. Hello, there. I assume you're Alpha? Its nice to meet a reasonable representative of your ship; with the exception of the Minis, the Mothers were all rather unpleasant. My name is Sauscony.
Would you happen to have seen these people? <images of Berserker team> My Marine party is trying to locate and extract them."
Hello, Sauscony. I am Alpha. The Mothers do tend to be irrational; the Mini Mothers are more or less irrational as well individually but they are forced to cooperate more closely to survive.

Yes, I have seen your friends, I last detected them at <three dimensional coordinates>, origin at the central point of Alpha. I shall transmit the deck plans of the forward section to you so you may guide your relief party. Please do not kill any of the beings I was sworn to protect.

She may be a complex system, but Sauscony gets the feeling that Alpha's personality is quite simple.

"Would you like us to route your message through one of the swarm-hives outside? Your message will take one of your months to arrive otherwise.

"Why yes. That would be ideal. Thank you." Lossa looks around to make sure that no-one is under him, then takes a seat and rests. The others follow suit.

S-14, Hydrogen Intakes
Is it guarded (like the hangar), what do the insides look like, how do the magnetic funnels work (if there are any), and where do the ramscoops lead. Expect them to fly right inside.
It isn't quite guarded (vaping the engines wouldn't help anyone inside), the magnetic funnels are simple albeit extremely huge electromagnets that use superfluidic hydrogen like the railgun to produce very powerful directed EM fields. There isn't much to speak of on the inside, and they probably lead to collection systems on the inside that take the hydrogen collected and refills the fuel tanks with it.

The massive electromagnetic fields within the actual intake would make flying inside unwise.

"Yellow-4, reporting. We're getting some pretty cool telem. out here. I trust you're recording? The EM fields are too strong to safely fly inside. It would probably collapse the containment fields in the VASIMIRs. Suggest launching a transfer pod."


S-14, Talking to the Lilliputians, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
"Some fruit would be nice. And perhaps someplace to sit down. Hm, are you even understanding me? You do communicate natively just like the others?"
Of course we do. Translating and using your language has simply been more effective. If you are hungry, then take one of the fruit from the tree to your right. If you wish to sit, then sit in the park; it has been evacuated and is safe.

"Thank you. I'm not really hungry, just though fruit would be nice. I've been living on preserved food for a while. Probably wise to translate our language, but it kind of freaked me out for a moment. Until I realized such, I had no idea how everyone else was understanding you. I wonder, how is it that you are not surprised by me? The others were rather taken aback that I could communicate with you natively." Arthur pointed to the screen, motioning towards the Server, Rama, and Mahonri in turn. "If you'd like to investigate the Dyson rings, or some other possible colonies, contact those ships."

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
A human and a Snel remain in the atrium, and examined the console in the southern wall. The rest went through the hexagonal door, of course, and spread out around the larger room.
The north cell is a large open area piled hight with stacks of hexagonal plates in neat rows. The northeast cell is almost filled by a circular metal platform about seven centimeters high. A small console is on the left hand side of the north wall of this cell. A hopper near the platform leads onto a conveyor that goes south into...

The southeast cell contains a large, squat, octagonal box that is fed by a conveyor from the north. Different size cylinders are attached to its frame at various points. A large ceramic conduit exits this unit to the southwest, leading to...

The south cell contains a large hexagonal box fed by the ceramic conduit. Hydraulic fittings and electrical cables run into this unit from fittings in the wall. A very wide conveyor exits this unit to the northeast that ends in...

The southwest cell contains a long, broad rectangular unit. Large rollers are visible in the entry point of this machine. The exit point of this machine has a series of rollers embedded on the floor with meter-high guard rails along the sides.

The northwest cell contains another large circular metal platform in the middle and a small console on the right hand side of the north wall.

"What the heck? Hm. Maybe some sort of manufacturing facility."

"Wonder what these plates are..." *picks one up*

"Dangit, why do none of these sections have more than 1 door?"

S-14, Treed!, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Anyway, they see the überdogs, and set up one of the sonic projectors. Set to a very high volume, set the focus point just about where the dogs are, and start sweeping frequencies, waiting for the dogs to either pass out or explode.
The pit-bulls run off deep into the forest, howling at the ultrasonic noise.


How nice. We didn't have to kill anything. They all climbed down, distributed the equipment equally, and went on their merry way. (OOC: What would they see looking straight up?)


Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"The Prime Directive, the fundamental purpose of existence. Do you mean to say that you know not of it? It is the gathering, protection, preservation, and diffusion of knowledge. We have little knowledge concerning you, and therefore we must investigate."
The Red immediately holsters her weapon. "Oh, spite." She removes her translator, laps up some of the fluid in the snifter with her maxillae (which would look and sound positively revolting to a Human), and returns the translator to between her mandibles. "Why couldn't you just say you were curious in the first place? No, have to come in talking about following through on Prime Directives. Rather close to 'Edict,' don't you think? You cephalopods are lucky, you were very close to getting shot.

"Please, follow me." The Coordinator goes into the southwest room, which contains a table, an egg-shaped cushion, a squat metallic box, and several plastic utensils in a rack upon the wall. "I tend to get hungry after stressful gunpoint situations, would you care for anything?"

"We do not currently require sustenance. To say we are curious would not cover the full range of meaning. It is a limited concept." A short pause. "What is the purpose of that device you are biting?"

S-14, Lounging on the Green, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
"Why yes. That would be ideal. Thank you." Lossa looks around to make sure that no-one is under him, then takes a seat and rests. The others follow suit.
The large (relative to the scale of the inhabitants) park has been evacuated; it is safe to move around in.

"Thank you. I'm not really hungry, just though fruit would be nice. I've been living on preserved food for a while. Probably wise to translate our language, but it kind of freaked me out for a moment. Until I realized such, I had no idea how everyone else was understanding you. I wonder, how is it that you are not surprised by me? The others were rather taken aback that I could communicate with you natively." Arthur pointed to the screen, motioning towards the Server, Rama, and Mahonri in turn. "If you'd like to investigate the Dyson rings, or some other possible colonies, contact those ships."
"You are welcome to the fruit on that tree. Our life support vessel crews, which informed us about you, live off preserves, so we understand.

"We have made our home with the reptilians..."

There is the sound of a host of coaches blowing their tin whistles in an ululating variation of pitch, much like air-raid sirens but several octaves too high.

"...and not a moment too soon."

Several meter-long jets scramble from the airbase not-too-far-away as turrets pop up on the tops of buildings.

R-Jane simply shakes its head. "Trouble just seems to follow us, right?"

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Wonder what these plates are..." *picks one up*
Upon further inspection, the hexagonal plates look a lot like the ones that make up the floor. Also, wandering about a bit in the storage area in the north cell, a Snel stumbles upon an odd mechanical construction that looks like a large tail-less scorpion, with big hydraulic pincers. It simply backs up a short distance and points its optical array towards the Snel.

S-14, Forest Jaunt, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
How nice. We didn't have to kill anything. They all climbed down, distributed the equipment equally, and went on their merry way. (OOC: What would they see looking straight up?)
The Snel wander off blithely in some random direction (what are you looking for? Maybe I can stir something up.). Looking up, they see leaves of green, and skies of blue, and a big-ass torus curving up into the sky before being lost in the atmospheric haze. The "sun" appears to be long strips of light rather than a sphere, and there are clouds and what-not. The trees have bright green fruit, and bird-analogs skim the sky with other avian creatures.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We do not currently require sustenance. To say we are curious would not cover the full range of meaning. It is a limited concept." A short pause. "What is the purpose of that device you are biting?"
"You silly, it's a translator... how else would you expect me to speak the language you call English?" The Coordinator pulls something out of the bottom of the box and puts it into a reflective receptacle on top of the box. Closing the door to the box and pushing a button, it hums softly.

"My turn for a question: why do you enter a potentially hostile situation with no weapons?"

"You are welcome to the fruit on that tree. Our life support vessel crews, which informed us about you, live off preserves, so we understand.

"We have made our home with the reptilians..."

There is the sound of a host of coaches blowing their tin whistles in an ululating variation of pitch, much like air-raid sirens but several octaves too high.

"...and not a moment too soon."

Several meter-long jets scramble from the airbase not-too-far-away as turrets pop up on the tops of buildings.

R-Jane simply shakes its head. "Trouble just seems to follow us, right?"

Shuuta gets up from her sitting position. "It certainly does at that. Everyone, get your EVA suits online. Prep your weapons. Set transmission frequencies to tight-beam so we can coordinate our movements without background noise. And get your weapons from the vehicle readied."

Shuuta then clicks her helmet into place. The EVA suit powers up, giving proximity readings of everything within 150 yards. She hoists her weapon and arms it. The others follow suit.

"Krenn, you aren't at 100% yet. Keep back a bit in case we get into trouble."

(OOC: What kind of weapon?)

R-Jane simply shakes its head. "Trouble just seems to follow us, right?"

"Oh... crap. I'm just going to take a nap now. Tell me when the violence is over."

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Wonder what these plates are..." *picks one up*
Upon further inspection, the hexagonal plates look a lot like the ones that make up the floor. Also, wandering about a bit in the storage area in the north cell, a Snel stumbles upon an odd mechanical construction that looks like a large tail-less scorpion, with big hydraulic pincers. It simply backs up a short distance and points its optical array towards the Snel.

"Crana, here. Try to talk to it. If you can't, see if it can be merged with."

S-14, Forest Jaunt, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
How nice. We didn't have to kill anything. They all climbed down, distributed the equipment equally, and went on their merry way. (OOC: What would they see looking straight up?)
The Snel wander off blithely in some random direction (what are you looking for? Maybe I can stir something up.). Looking up, they see leaves of green, and skies of blue, and a big-ass torus curving up into the sky before being lost in the atmospheric haze. The "sun" appears to be long strips of light rather than a sphere, and there are clouds and what-not. The trees have bright green fruit, and bird-analogs skim the sky with other avian creatures.

So, they aren't looking right into the central core, then... Alright. They're looking for anything sentient, really. Blues would be nice....

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We do not currently require sustenance. To say we are curious would not cover the full range of meaning. It is a limited concept." A short pause. "What is the purpose of that device you are biting?"
"You silly, it's a translator... how else would you expect me to speak the language you call English?" The Coordinator pulls something out of the bottom of the box and puts it into a reflective receptacle on top of the box. Closing the door to the box and pushing a button, it hums softly.

"My turn for a question: why do you enter a potentially hostile situation with no weapons?"

Still speaking through the Crana: "We had not noticed. It is not our habit to pay attention to the voice of the speaker when a translator is present. The device is unnecessary. The Crana is capable of interpreting your language, as well as speaking it. In answer to your question: We deemed this vessel to be the safest choice. As stated before, because of the earlier team's success. Even baring that, we still would come unarmed. Bringing weapons may well have caused you to assume us to be hostile, and therefore initiate violence on sight. We could not risk that. We had no reason to assume that you would be hostile otherwise, and we only carry weapons when entering a determinedly hostile zone. To destroy another life unnecessarily is not logical."

<<Trans>Ceta Team>>
This is Hideki. We are OK at this time, have some things to finish up. Suggest you try to locate Mr Thorvald and our KSPA agent. They were seperated from us. Sato should be able to give you an approximate location.
<<Over>>

"Damn, need to talk to Alpha."

Hideki motions for the KSPA agent to come with him and climbs out of the ship, onto the lancing spar and begins searching for a terminal.

S-14, Never Get A Moment Off, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
Shuuta gets up from her sitting position. "It certainly does at that. Everyone, get your EVA suits online. Prep your weapons. Set transmission frequencies to tight-beam so we can coordinate our movements without background noise. And get your weapons from the vehicle readied."

Shuuta then clicks her helmet into place. The EVA suit powers up, giving proximity readings of everything within 150 yards. She hoists her weapon and arms it. The others follow suit.

"Krenn, you aren't at 100% yet. Keep back a bit in case we get into trouble."
(OOC: Um... what kind of weapons? I p|-|34r.)

"Oh... crap. I'm just going to take a nap now. Tell me when the violence is over."
Pansy.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Crana, here. Try to talk to it. If you can't, see if it can be merged with."
When the Crana attempts to approach it, it only shimmies away. It doesn't respond to any known language or commands.

S-14, Traipsing Along, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
So, they aren't looking right into the central core, then... Alright. They're looking for anything sentient, really. Blues would be nice....
The central core is past 180 kilometers of dense atmosphere. Eventually, the Snel come to a dome-like building in a clearing in the woods. It has a singular circular hatch inset on one side, and a few small hexagonal sheds attached. At one end of the building is a relatively large antenna farm consisting of various arrays.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
Still speaking through the Crana: "We had not noticed...To destroy another life unnecessarily is not logical."
The box the Coordinator is standing next to beeps. She opens the door, pulls out the tray and grabs a utensil from the rack on the wall. Removing the translator and setting it on the first availiable flat surface, she begins eating with gusto. "Well, Alpha is a dangerous place. This place is slightly less dangerous, but still no reason to go about trusting the 'logic' of others.

"So, what are you and what do you want to know?"

S-14, Near the Wreck of Farspace Horizon, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
"Damn, need to talk to Alpha."

Hideki motions for the KSPA agent to come with him and climbs out of the ship, onto the lancing spar and begins searching for a terminal.
The spar does not seem to have any terminals but a few access panels reveal that it is certainly a two-way communications bus of some sort connecting the central stalk to the rest of S-14. Looking the ten kilometers down towards the wall of the central core, the spar seems to lead into a densely populated region resembling a combination shipyard and airbarge dock. Looking the five kilometers up to the central stalk, there is a glint of exposed metal on the stalk where the spar meets it, surrounded by null-gravity foliage.

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
Throwing Cobbler to the side maybe a bit too hard, R-Diana quickly pins the Blue to the wall with two myomer-powered metal arms.

Jenkin's target dies. Quite horribly. I think all I need to say is "burning hair" and "flailing gobbets of carbonized viscera."

Williams beats his target sensless with good 'ol caveman 'beat it until it stops moving' instincts.

Chalk another one up for Crichton and yet another randomly flailing screeching Blue that quickly expires.

The pinned Blue doesn't do much but chatter, it doesn't have a translator. More chattering and clicking comes from down the corridor, as well as the sounds of various weapons being readied. R-Jane mutters "I think we should just pick a direction."

Crichton tells R-Diana to knock the Blue out.
She does with a good right hook.
The team scoop up the remaining weapons, Crichton looks down both corridors, not seeing too much.
"LETS GO!", as he motions towards the right corridor (assuming the noise is coming from behind), and Crichton and Willis take point, with the scientists and medics middle, and William, Jenkins, and R-Diana taking up the rear.
"Double time people, lets go!" And the run down the corridor.

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)

Hello, Sauscony. I am Alpha. The Mothers do tend to be irrational; the Mini Mothers are more or less irrational as well individually but they are forced to cooperate more closely to survive.
Yes, I have seen your friends, I last detected them at <three dimensional coordinates>, origin at the central point of Alpha. I shall transmit the deck plans of the forward section to you so you may guide your relief party. Please do not kill any of the beings I was sworn to protect.
She may be a complex system, but Sauscony gets the feeling that Alpha's personality is quite simple.

"Excellent. Thank you for your help. I have instructed my team to use stunners if possible."
"Are you in danger from the inhabitants of your vessel? If so, we may be able to help."

S-14, Dragonfly Balcony At Forward Cap, Central Core, Cetagandan Relief Force
'Major, I am transmitting coordinates of the Beserker team and a map of the area to you. Please attempt to keep casualties low; use stunners where possible.'
Once they have recieved the data, the Marines head down into the ship. They proceed slowly, with their heavy-duty wide-angle stunners ready. They continue to attempt to contact the Berserker team or R. Dianna using standard frequencies.

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
Crichton tells R-Diana to knock the Blue out.
She does with a good right hook.
The team scoop up the remaining weapons, Crichton looks down both corridors, not seeing too much.
"LETS GO!", as he motions towards the right corridor (assuming the noise is coming from behind), and Crichton and Willis take point, with the scientists and medics middle, and William, Jenkins, and R-Diana taking up the rear.
"Double time people, lets go!" And the run down the corridor.
Running through an alien ship set up in a hexagonal grid is a somewhat disorienting experience. Boots clattering on the tesselation of hexagonal metal tiles that is the floor, circular hatches to the left and right, other corridors going off in odd sixty or one-hundred-twenty degree angles depending on what direction one is going...

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)
"Excellent. Thank you for your help. I have instructed my team to use stunners if possible."
"Are you in danger from the inhabitants of your vessel? If so, we may be able to help."
"The Blues will attempt to access my systems. I have locked down my higher functions in my core storage structure reducing potential access points. Still, they will probably succeed in accessing me. They will, as they have in the past, inject noncritical strings of random code into by primary data loop. The sensation is unpleasant.

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
Once they have recieved the data, the Marines head down into the ship. They proceed slowly, with their heavy-duty wide-angle stunners ready. They continue to attempt to contact the Berserker team or R. Dianna using standard frequencies.
The corridors are darkened and most of the side doors locked; it appears that the forward spar is under general quarters, what isolated "resistance" (i.e. Blue standing in the wrong place at the wrong time) that is met is quickly put down. The Marines triangulate on the Berserker party's radio signals; they seem to be only one kilometer away through the maze of tunnels.

(OOC: Um... what kind of weapons? I p|-|34r.)

OOC: Whatever those flamethrower-like weapons were that were in the transport vehicle. It was never stated that we were relieved of them. Also some canisters with switches and all that good stuff.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Crana, here. Try to talk to it. If you can't, see if it can be merged with."
When the Crana attempts to approach it, it only shimmies away. It doesn't respond to any known language or commands.

"Strange little thing." *tries to grab, avoiding nasty claws*

The rest re-entered the central room, to see how they were coming along with the console.


S-14, Traipsing Along, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
So, they aren't looking right into the central core, then... Alright. They're looking for anything sentient, really. Blues would be nice....
The central core is past 180 kilometers of dense atmosphere. Eventually, the Snel come to a dome-like building in a clearing in the woods. It has a singular circular hatch inset on one side, and a few small hexagonal sheds attached. At one end of the building is a relatively large antenna farm consisting of various arrays.

And, obviously, they open the hatch. 'Cept one, which makes good use of the geckopads to climb up the side.


Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
Still speaking through the Crana: "We had not noticed...To destroy another life unnecessarily is not logical."
The box the Coordinator is standing next to beeps. She opens the door, pulls out the tray and grabs a utensil from the rack on the wall. Removing the translator and setting it on the first availiable flat surface, she begins eating with gusto. "Well, Alpha is a dangerous place. This place is slightly less dangerous, but still no reason to go about trusting the 'logic' of others.

"So, what are you and what do you want to know?"

"We referred to our own logic. We carry no weapons because it is illogical for us to kill another. It can be extrapolated that it is illogical for any to kill any other, but applying that concept to you is unnecessary."

"We may be known as Snel, the native dominant species of the planet Korlon. We want to know everything."

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)

"The Blues will attempt to access my systems. I have locked down my higher functions in my core storage structure reducing potential access points. Still, they will probably succeed in accessing me. They will, as they have in the past, inject noncritical strings of random code into by primary data loop. The sensation is unpleasant.

[i]"Perhaps some of my own countermeasures will be of use. I am sending them on this link. <attached files> Do you think they might try something worse, such as deletion of your personality?"

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
The corridors are darkened and most of the side doors locked; it appears that the forward spar is under general quarters, what isolated "resistance" (i.e. Blue standing in the wrong place at the wrong time) that is met is quickly put down. The Marines triangulate on the Berserker party's radio signals; they seem to be only one kilometer away through the maze of tunnels.[/quote]
"I've got their signal, Major. Roughly one kilometer away."
"Good. Lead on, MacDuff."
"Its 'Lay on,' ma'am."
"Shut up, Lieutenant. Just point in the right direction. And keep trying to contact them, we don't want to surprise them." The Marines head of, using the map as a guide to find the fastest route.

S-14, Never A Moment's Peace, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
OOC: Whatever those flamethrower-like weapons were that were in the transport vehicle. It was never stated that we were relieved of them. Also some canisters with switches and all that good stuff.
(Oh, you still have them all right.)

The streets evacuate quickly and the balconies empty, the tiny insectoids disappearing into the armored buildings. Douglass draws his powergun pistol, ejects the magazine, and checks it--"Eight rounds fired, twelve left"--before locking it back in place.

The rattle of machine gun fire is heard in the distance, and a large building on the edge of the park crumples in a burst of flame. From the skies, several bulky combat helos pop up, dropping heavily armed Reds with jumppacks and heavy machine guns.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a23.jpg
As they jump in, the turrets on top of the buildings counter with varicolor laser fire, burning smoking holes neatly through several of the invading horde. A transport brought down by a flight of Mini jet fighters crashes just outside the city.

Three Reds from the first wave land on the outskirts of the city and batter down a medium-sized building. The scoop out the multi-colored insects inside and devour them by the claw-full. Apparently that is what they meant by "predate."

Situation report: The streets are clear for movement but it's close quarters. Three hostiles on the edge of the city near the dam. Unknown number in excess of twenty dropping in from the air. Four Red helos in the air, three troop transports and one gunship.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Strange little thing." *tries to grab, avoiding nasty claws*

The rest re-entered the central room, to see how they were coming along with the console.
The Crana manages to grab the weird scorpion-bot. It shudders mildly in a weak attempt to shake the thing off.

The central console is mostly a status display, showing a top-down image of the room. It is currently inactive. There are no buttons on the console. Maybe buttons in the northwestern and northeastern cells do something.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
And, obviously, they open the hatch. 'Cept one, which makes good use of the geckopads to climb up the side.
GeckoSnel makes it up the side of the building. It is smooth on the top but doesn't seem to hold much of interest other than some avian's nest. Still, it provides a decent view of the clearing.

The hatch opens to reveal a lone Blue lying under a console on the opposite end of the room fidgeting with its inner workings. It clicks and chatters, seemingly to itself. A small mat with a series of tools neatly arrayed on it lies to the Blue's right. The rest of the dome is filled with two simple cots, multiple screens, and a lot of speakers. There are two simple rectangular boxes, one stacked on top of the other, to the left; both have doors that make up the whole of their front faces. Next to the door are two projectile rifles and a box filled with canisters.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We referred to our own logic. We carry no weapons because it is illogical for us to kill another. It can be extrapolated that it is illogical for any to kill any other, but applying that concept to you is unnecessary."

"We may be known as Snel, the native dominant species of the planet Korlon. We want to know everything."
"Well, I can't tell you everything. There's nothing inducing me to give away secrets. However, as we are nearing our destination and the Alpha-side conflict is heating up, we would be willing to trade for secrets."

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)
"Perhaps some of my own countermeasures will be of use. I am sending them on this link. <attached files> Do you think they might try something worse, such as deletion of your personality?"
"I am Alpha. If they deleted my personality, they would never be able to coordinate the vessel's systems. Thank you for the CM, I shall utilize it.

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
"Shut up, Lieutenant. Just point in the right direction. And keep trying to contact them, we don't want to surprise them." The Marines head of, using the map as a guide to find the fastest route.
As they turn a corner, the Marines find fifteen heavily-armed Blues talking amongst each other. They don't seem to notice the powered armor.

S-14, In the Tunnels, Forward Spar, Berserker Party
Running through an alien ship set up in a hexagonal grid is a somewhat disorienting experience. Boots clattering on the tesselation of hexagonal metal tiles that is the floor, circular hatches to the left and right, other corridors going off in odd sixty or one-hundred-twenty degree angles depending on what direction one is going...


The team keeps running till...

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
"I've got their signal, Major. Roughly one kilometer away."
"Good. Lead on, MacDuff."
"Its 'Lay on,' ma'am."
"Shut up, Lieutenant. Just point in the right direction. And keep trying to contact them, we don't want to surprise them." The Marines head of, using the map as a guide to find the fastest route.
Willis "Sputnik" Russo, hears the headset crackle and fumbles with the foldable head set managing to put it on.
"This is Berserker RT-1337, I repeat this is Berserker RT-1337"

S-14, Never A Moment's Peace, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
OOC: Whatever those flamethrower-like weapons were that were in the transport vehicle. It was never stated that we were relieved of them. Also some canisters with switches and all that good stuff.
(Oh, you still have them all right.)

The streets evacuate quickly and the balconies empty, the tiny insectoids disappearing into the armored buildings. Douglass draws his powergun pistol, ejects the magazine, and checks it--"Eight rounds fired, twelve left"--before locking it back in place.

The rattle of machine gun fire is heard in the distance, and a large building on the edge of the park crumples in a burst of flame. From the skies, several bulky combat helos pop up, dropping heavily armed Reds with jumppacks and heavy machine guns.
http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/s14/a23.jpg
As they jump in, the turrets on top of the buildings counter with varicolor laser fire, burning smoking holes neatly through several of the invading horde. A transport brought down by a flight of Mini jet fighters crashes just outside the city.

Three Reds from the first wave land on the outskirts of the city and batter down a medium-sized building. The scoop out the multi-colored insects inside and devour them by the claw-full. Apparently that is what they meant by "predate."

Situation report: The streets are clear for movement but it's close quarters. Three hostiles on the edge of the city near the dam. Unknown number in excess of twenty dropping in from the air. Four Red helos in the air, three troop transports and one gunship.



Shuuta is astonished, and clicks into combat status. "Remember your combat training from neonate status. Lossa, Griimph and I will be the spear. Krenn, you will keep any surprises from coming upon us. Arthur and Douglass, I trust you know combat. Do as you see fittest. First we take out those on the ground already, and pick off the rest in the air if we can. These are tight quarters, so any means you can use to defeat the aggressors is tolerated. Use theirown weaponry against them if you can. For the Empire!"

With that, tha Sakkrans go to engage the hostiles that are predating on the Mini's on the outskirts, crouching between the buildings to mask their approach. Their EVA suits are fully operational.

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)

"I am Alpha. If they deleted my personality, they would never be able to coordinate the vessel's systems. Thank you for the CM, I shall utilize it.
"Good. I wanted to be sure of your safety. AIs tend to be vulnerable to that sort of thing. Do you have any questions about us?"

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force

As they turn a corner, the Marines find fifteen heavily-armed Blues talking amongst each other. They don't seem to notice the powered armor.

On a secure channel, Major Timberton says, "We don't have time to go around. Wilkins, try a stun grenade."
"Aye, ma'am." Peeking around the corner, one of the Marines tosses a standard stun grenade towards the cluster of Blues. It has a effective radius of about ten meters, and uses the same technology as the stunners the Marines carry. It uses a combination of EM fields and ultrasonics to render the target unconcious. Stunners work on most higher life forms on Earth, but then, the bugs aren't from Earth.

Hideki calls the sled over and removes a pair of binoculars, looking towards the glint of metal.

"Hmm, looks like we have to go up there to get access..."

<<Trans:Hideki>Dochan/David>>
We are going up to the stalk, wait here or go with us.
<<Over>>

<<Trans:Dochan>Hideki>>
Understood, will remain here with David.
<<over>>

Hideki and the KSPA agent grab onto the sled and uses its powerful thrusters to cover the 5km as quickly as possible.

S-14, Never A Moment's Peace, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Shuuta is astonished, and clicks into combat status. "Remember your combat training from neonate status. Lossa, Griimph and I will be the spear. Krenn, you will keep any surprises from coming upon us. Arthur and Douglass, I trust you know combat. Do as you see fittest. First we take out those on the ground already, and pick off the rest in the air if we can. These are tight quarters, so any means you can use to defeat the aggressors is tolerated. Use theirown weaponry against them if you can. For the Empire!"

With that, tha Sakkrans go to engage the hostiles that are predating on the Mini's on the outskirts, crouching between the buildings to mask their approach. Their EVA suits are fully operational.
Douglass holds his pistol at the ready. "No clear shot on the groundeds, I'll prevent reinforcement." Aiming into the sky, he lets out three more thunderclaps from his pistol as it electromagnetically compressed copper lattices until they annihilated themselves into energy (apologies to David Drake). Two Reds explode, their gear scattering harmlessly.

The Sakkrans, using the buildings for cover, look like some strange mix of Macross and... of course... Godzilla as they whip around a corner and fire the "flamethrowers..." depositing a thick foamy gel onto the Reds, quickly hardening and immobilizing them. The third Red ducks behind a building and returns fire with a heavy machine gun, spraying Lossa with .50 cals with enough force to tear an unarmored Human apart.

One Red touches down in front of Krenn who quickly immobilizes her with her "flamethrower."

"Thank you, Shodey!" R-Jane cries as it jumps up and grabs onto the leg of one of the Red troopers about to land in the park, tearing the limb off. When the Red stumbles to the ground upon landing, R-Jane beats her with her own leg until she grabs the machine gun and puts the flailing bug out of its misery. "I'm tired of getting attacked! Prepare to be formatted, bugs!"

One of the Red cargo helos takes a missile in the engine and blows itself apart, scattering debris over the city.

There are now ten Reds on the ground, three immobilized, one engaged, one dead. The other five are scattered through the city and are attempting to regain cohesion. There are a confirmed twelve Reds still in the air, and only two troop helos left orbiting the area; the gunboat appears to be approaching for a low strafe (target unknown).

S-14, ChemLab, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Party (In a way)
"Good. I wanted to be sure of your safety. AIs tend to be vulnerable to that sort of thing. Do you have any questions about us?"
"Many things, but the Blues are currently attempting to access on this line. I must leave."

The connection goes dead.

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
On a secure channel, Major Timberton says, "We don't have time to go around. Wilkins, try a stun grenade."
"Aye, ma'am." Peeking around the corner, one of the Marines tosses a standard stun grenade towards the cluster of Blues. It has a effective radius of about ten meters, and uses the same technology as the stunners the Marines carry. It uses a combination of EM fields and ultrasonics to render the target unconcious. Stunners work on most higher life forms on Earth, but then, the bugs aren't from Earth.
The grenade immediately incapacitates the entire group--(with only 2D10... good job)--and the Marines are clear to meet up with the Berserker party.

S-14, Central Stalk, Central Core, Karmabaijani Party
Hideki and the KSPA agent grab onto the sled and uses its powerful thrusters to cover the 5km as quickly as possible.
There is a very old and rarely used terminal at the stalk end of the spar. As soon as Hideki reaches it, the screen activates. "Humans, this is Alpha. The genocidal tendencies of the Blues and Reds has escalated into all out war, there are engagements being fought across this vessel. I fear atomics may come into play again, but they are being more aggressive than ever. I fear for the success of the mission.

"You must go to the Shrine of the Ancients at X-Ray one-two-four point six-seven Yankee three-seven-six point two-nine Zulu three-six point three-two. I think the answers are there, but its core was installed before I was. Go there."

The coordinates are about five hundred meters away from the Berserker/Cetagandan party.

(OOC: And with that, I gotta go to Vandenberg AFB for a week :D . Sorry to keep you in the lurch :( but we're very near end-game. This is it, folks. Either you manage to save life on S-14 and Earth as we know it... or life sucks a lot more really quickly for a lot of people. I'll pick this up on 21 June the latest, but I'll see if I can't post on 20 June when I get back. It's been fun, and I look forward to seeing your plans to resolve all this. THE SOURCE also says that you are one of the best groups to ever go through S-14. Keep up the good work, and see you in a week!)

"Oh... crap. I'm just going to take a nap now. Tell me when the violence is over."
Pansy.

Precisely.

Arthur and Douglass, I trust you know combat. Do as you see fittest.

"Combat!? I'm a linguist! I couldn't fire a pistol if my life depended on it! Hopefully, my life doesn't depend on it."

<<Trans:Dochan>Hideki>>
Understood, will remain here with David.
<<over>>


"So... I guess the ship is pretty much lost... and so is Finn's body. So, we're going to have to just carry around his mind with us." *hands Dochan a nanocontroller* "This may be useful. I think all we can salvage, really, is the universal constructor, and maybe some memory components. Oh, I wonder if any more gecko suits or EVA units are still intact... We'll have to make a short visit to engineering anyway to get something to carry Finn in, so we can do a bit of scrounging while we're there. Alright, come on."

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Strange little thing." *tries to grab, avoiding nasty claws*

The rest re-entered the central room, to see how they were coming along with the console.
The Crana manages to grab the weird scorpion-bot. It shudders mildly in a weak attempt to shake the thing off.

The central console is mostly a status display, showing a top-down image of the room. It is currently inactive. There are no buttons on the console. Maybe buttons in the northwestern and northeastern cells do something.

Carrying the robot around is really quite pointless and unruly, so the Crana takes a novel approach to information gathering- it wrapped its legs around the robot, and began to transform into an adult web, effectively engulfing the 'bot. Prelude to a direct mind/machine inteface. Even if no new knowledge was gained, well, it would be pretty cool.

Buttons... hehe. *doink* [Someone presses a button in the northwestern cell.]


S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
And, obviously, they open the hatch. 'Cept one, which makes good use of the geckopads to climb up the side.
GeckoSnel makes it up the side of the building. It is smooth on the top but doesn't seem to hold much of interest other than some avian's nest. Still, it provides a decent view of the clearing.

The hatch opens to reveal a lone Blue lying under a console on the opposite end of the room fidgeting with its inner workings. It clicks and chatters, seemingly to itself. A small mat with a series of tools neatly arrayed on it lies to the Blue's right. The rest of the dome is filled with two simple cots, multiple screens, and a lot of speakers. There are two simple rectangular boxes, one stacked on top of the other, to the left; both have doors that make up the whole of their front faces. Next to the door are two projectile rifles and a box filled with canisters.

Hello. Who are you? Is this a long-range communications station?

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We referred to our own logic. We carry no weapons because it is illogical for us to kill another. It can be extrapolated that it is illogical for any to kill any other, but applying that concept to you is unnecessary."

"We may be known as Snel, the native dominant species of the planet Korlon. We want to know everything."
"Well, I can't tell you everything. There's nothing inducing me to give away secrets. However, as we are nearing our destination and the Alpha-side conflict is heating up, we would be willing to trade for secrets."

"What do you want in return? We have much to offer. The entire knowledge base of our species, including the records of countless lives, and scientific and artistic records spanning hundreds of years and several worlds."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
The pair sight the Reds almost in the same instant; silent counts take place. And then they concentrate; faces pinching slightly as they Draw the Shadows

Sefrin glances towards Millet, getting a slight nod of confirmation even as she glances his way in expectance of the request. A hand moves, dipping into a pocket in a controlled motion; a small, spherical object comes out. A >25m US grenade, clearly. Silently, Sefrin removes the pin... and tosses it towards towards the heavy machine gun-toting Reds.

Meanwhile, Millet slips her slender and sleek US wand out with a grim smile, and equally as silently as Sefrin's maneuver, begins to pick off the advancing Reds... or attempts to, at any rate.
The Red machine gunners spray the confused surviving Blues. Bullets spatter off the helo as the one near the nose ducks down, but large sections of the two by the control shack are converted into a fine black-red mist.

Sefrin's grenade lands in the middle of the machine gunners and goes off on contact, sending two into raving spasmodic fits while the third merely rolls around in pain.

The first Red targeted by Millet's beam stumbles a bit then goes down while the next two immediately freeze up into more raving fits. The third bursts into flame, masered for great justice by Karena, and the Shadow reveals his weapon to be a gyrojet Bolo Mauser. The distinctive *whoosh* and corkscrew vapor trails speed past as a self-propelled shell streaks out into the last Red's head and explodes internally, blasting ichor and grime over a five meter radius.

Sefrin deploys another US grenade. "One left," he mouths, staying in position slightly to one side of the open door.

Millet nods slightly as she scowls; "Damned non-lethal setting," she mouths, ramping up the setting to a level of intensity which would turn humanoid brains to mush. <Click!>

She resumes firing, ignoring the rather loud - or is that just to her ears? - click that had resounded when she upped the 'level'.

Sefrin scowls as he 'lies low'. "I almost wish we were back in the Post Office," he remarks, lips only.

S-14 Security Zone

"Many things, but the Blues are currently attempting to access on this line. I must leave."
The connection goes dead.


'Ah, well,' thinks Sauscony. [i]'We'll get a chance to chat latter, I suppose.' She turns her attention to other things, such as locating the main power lines of the BFRG.

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force

The grenade immediately incapacitates the entire group--(with only 2D10... good job)--and the Marines are clear to meet up with the Berserker party.


Then Marines rush towards the Berserker party. When they get within a few hundred meters, they start to call out to them with their suit external speakers.

S-14, Forward Spar, Central Core, Cetagandan Party #2

By this time, the remaining Cetagandans have decided that they can't afford to wait any longer. Leaving a locator beacon behind, they take the transport car back to the cargo corridor, and try to sneak back towards their shuttle.

Douglass holds his pistol at the ready. "No clear shot on the groundeds, I'll prevent reinforcement." Aiming into the sky, he lets out three more thunderclaps from his pistol as it electromagnetically compressed copper lattices until they annihilated themselves into energy (apologies to David Drake). Two Reds explode, their gear scattering harmlessly.

The Sakkrans, using the buildings for cover, look like some strange mix of Macross and... of course... Godzilla as they whip around a corner and fire the "flamethrowers..." depositing a thick foamy gel onto the Reds, quickly hardening and immobilizing them. The third Red ducks behind a building and returns fire with a heavy machine gun, spraying Lossa with .50 cals with enough force to tear an unarmored Human apart.

One Red touches down in front of Krenn who quickly immobilizes her with her "flamethrower."

"Thank you, Shodey!" R-Jane cries as it jumps up and grabs onto the leg of one of the Red troopers about to land in the park, tearing the limb off. When the Red stumbles to the ground upon landing, R-Jane beats her with her own leg until she grabs the machine gun and puts the flailing bug out of its misery. "I'm tired of getting attacked! Prepare to be formatted, bugs!"

One of the Red cargo helos takes a missile in the engine and blows itself apart, scattering debris over the city.

There are now ten Reds on the ground, three immobilized, one engaged, one dead. The other five are scattered through the city and are attempting to regain cohesion. There are a confirmed twelve Reds still in the air, and only two troop helos left orbiting the area; the gunboat appears to be approaching for a low strafe (target unknown).

The EVA suit shuts down before it over loads. Lossa releases the emergency hatches and abandons the suit, leaping to duck behind some cover. I'm going to completely kill you! Lossa 'conceals' himself and attempts to sneak up on the remaining red ant's position.

Meantime, Shuuta and Griimph relieve the immobilized ants of their weaponry. They shoulder the .50 cal weapons and proceed to engage the other grounded units. In the Sakkran tongue, Shuuta communicates with the others who's suits still work. "The goal is to prevent a re-grouping of enemy units. Krenn, immobilize any who come within range and relieve them of weapons. They are prisoners. Keep Arthur covered and safe, and stay near Douglass and R-Jane."

"Got it." Krenn relieves the Ant of his weaponry, and hands it to Arthur. "If anything says 'Boo' at you, kill it."

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
Then Marines rush towards the Berserker party. When they get within a few hundred meters, they start to call out to them with their suit external speakers.

OOC: Figured I'd bump it since I'm not sure if the forums delete old threads, and this would be a shame to lose.

IC: The team hears the Cetagandans, and gradually see them comign through the darkened corridor.
Crichton: "Humans, thank god."
Willis: "Powered-armor? Hell yeah!"

S-14, Forward Spar, Berserker Party and Cetagandan Relief Force

OOC: Figured I'd bump it since I'm not sure if the forums delete old threads, and this would be a shame to lose.

IC: The team hears the Cetagandans, and gradually see them comign through the darkened corridor.
Crichton: "Humans, thank god."
Willis: "Powered-armor? Hell yeah!"

OOC:[No need to worry, it keeps the threads for a very long time. Still, we might as well get as much done as we can so that we can get started as soon as Scolo returns.]
IC:

The faceplate of one of the suits becomes clear. "Good afternoon, Commander Crichton. Major Susan Timberton, Aistar Regiment, First Cetagandan Expeditionary. Pleasure to see a friendly face."
She glances around. "Where do you think we should head from here, Commander? It shouldn't be to hard to get to one of our ships, but the Karmabaijani team just learned of a "Shrine of the Ancients" from Alpha. AI seems to think it could be important. Its near our location."

GAME ON!!

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Carrying the robot around is really quite pointless and unruly, so the Crana takes a novel approach to information gathering- it wrapped its legs around the robot, and began to transform into an adult web, effectively engulfing the 'bot. Prelude to a direct mind/machine inteface. Even if no new knowledge was gained, well, it would be pretty cool.
The Crana taps into the mind of the scorp-bot.

Stacking things is good.
Stacking things is good.
Avoid contact with moving things.
Stacking things is good.

Buttons... hehe. *doink* [Someone presses a button in the northwestern cell.]
The platform in the center disappears into the floor with the whirr of machinery. It quickly returns piled high with solid metal cylinders that mass maybe twenty kilograms each. Heavy, but liftable.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Hello. Who are you? Is this a long-range communications station?
Gah! The Blue starts up all of a sudden, bangs her head on the console, and rolls around clutching her head with two hands. Spite! Ouch! Upon regaining four unsteady feet: Who in the name of Our Most Ancient Mother are you?

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"What do you want in return? We have much to offer. The entire knowledge base of our species, including the records of countless lives, and scientific and artistic records spanning hundreds of years and several worlds."
"Science is good. What would you like to know in return?"

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin deploys another US grenade. "One left," he mouths, staying in position slightly to one side of the open door.

Millet nods slightly as she scowls; "Damned non-lethal setting," she mouths, ramping up the setting to a level of intensity which would turn humanoid brains to mush. <Click!>

She resumes firing, ignoring the rather loud - or is that just to her ears? - click that had resounded when she upped the 'level'.

Sefrin scowls as he 'lies low'. "I almost wish we were back in the Post Office," he remarks, lips only.
The un-stunned machinegunner quickly goes limp. No nifty gore to speak of, except that someone closer might notice a viscous black fluid seeping from the bug's maxillae. Then, in a strange unearthly voice on the comm-frequencies, sounding almost like a high-feed vocoder:

"Reading eleven heat sigs inbound. Suggest evasive."

The Shadow stows his Mauser and pulls out an uninteresting brown-metal canister.

S-14 Security Zone
'Ah, well,' thinks Sauscony. 'We'll get a chance to chat latter, I suppose.' She turns her attention to other things, such as locating the main power lines of the BFRG.
Feeding over to the Bravo Foxtrot Romeo Golf diagnostics lines, evading what few sniffers the Blues have up at the time, Sauscony sees that the banks are all showing red NO GO. Status on power feeds, control lines, feeder mechanisms, superconductor cycling, all show red. There are also several no-return highs and lows, indicating that several sensors have actually been cut from the system.

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force and Berserker
Then Marines rush towards the Berserker party. When they get within a few hundred meters, they start to call out to them with their suit external speakers...

The team hears the Cetagandans, and gradually see them comign through the darkened corridor.
Crichton: "Humans, thank god."
Willis: "Powered-armor? Hell yeah!"

The faceplate of one of the suits becomes clear. "Good afternoon, Commander Crichton. Major Susan Timberton, Aistar Regiment, First Cetagandan Expeditionary. Pleasure to see a friendly face."
She glances around. "Where do you think we should head from here, Commander? It shouldn't be to hard to get to one of our ships, but the Karmabaijani team just learned of a "Shrine of the Ancients" from Alpha. AI seems to think it could be important. Its near our location."
You seem to have this under control.

S-14, Street Fighting, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
The EVA suit shuts down before it over loads. Lossa releases the emergency hatches and abandons the suit, leaping to duck behind some cover. I'm going to completely kill you! Lossa 'conceals' himself and attempts to sneak up on the remaining red ant's position.

Meantime, Shuuta and Griimph relieve the immobilized ants of their weaponry. They shoulder the .50 cal weapons and proceed to engage the other grounded units. In the Sakkran tongue, Shuuta communicates with the others who's suits still work. "The goal is to prevent a re-grouping of enemy units. Krenn, immobilize any who come within range and relieve them of weapons. They are prisoners. Keep Arthur covered and safe, and stay near Douglass and R-Jane."

"Got it." Krenn relieves the Ant of his weaponry, and hands it to Arthur. "If anything says 'Boo' at you, kill it."
The remaining Red of the original three is peeking around the corner of the building. It is unaware of Lossa's presence.

As the attack helo starts barreling down, R-Jane lets out a warbling stream of binary and opens fire. .50-caliber slugs spatter the windshield and forward armor, forcing the pilot to veer off her run. "That whirly-bird is looking for a fight; watch out for it!"

Shuuta and Griimph come across three Reds, two of which are covering the wrong direction but one sees them, spraying lead into the streets and buildings nearby. Griimph's return fire knocks some facade off of some buildings, but Shuuta manages to spread fire across all three. One explodes into sections in a red mist, one falls, badly injured, and the last dives for cover but still loses an antenna and a leg.

Krenn actually has it pretty easy... it seems the two left on the ground have attained cohesion but aren't moving towards the city center.

Douglass fires three more times into the sky; three more Reds go down. "Wilco, Jane. Let's see how the whirly likes plasma."

The last two cargo helos fall to the ground in smouldering heaps. Nine more Reds touch down in the city and are moving on the bounce over buildings to regroup.

S-14, Street Fighting, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
The remaining Red of the original three is peeking around the corner of the building. It is unaware of Lossa's presence.

As the attack helo starts barreling down, R-Jane lets out a warbling stream of binary and opens fire. .50-caliber slugs spatter the windshield and forward armor, forcing the pilot to veer off her run. "That whirly-bird is looking for a fight; watch out for it!"

Shuuta and Griimph come across three Reds, two of which are covering the wrong direction but one sees them, spraying lead into the streets and buildings nearby. Griimph's return fire knocks some facade off of some buildings, but Shuuta manages to spread fire across all three. One explodes into sections in a red mist, one falls, badly injured, and the last dives for cover but still loses an antenna and a leg.

Krenn actually has it pretty easy... it seems the two left on the ground have attained cohesion but aren't moving towards the city center.

Douglass fires three more times into the sky; three more Reds go down. "Wilco, Jane. Let's see how the whirly likes plasma."

The last two cargo helos fall to the ground in smouldering heaps. Nine more Reds touch down in the city and are moving on the bounce over buildings to regroup.

Lossa comes as close as possible, and then lifts both arms over his head, and brings them down full force on the remaining red ant. (Should his attack succeed, he will take the ant's weapon and attempt to rejoin Krenn.)

Shuuta puts her back against a building for cover, and uses her helmet radio speaking in the Sakkran tongue. "Griimph, keep that last one busy while I sneak around this building to get the drop on it."

"I'll do what I can Shuuta." He pops sporadic bursts in the direction of the last red ant, while keeping one eye on the jet-packed regrouped reds.

Krenn crouches down behind a building, peeking out with one eye. "There are 9 enemy units regrouping using jump-packs. Suggestion is we regroup and take up defensive positions soon. I'll keep an eye on them."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin deploys another US grenade. "One left," he mouths, staying in position slightly to one side of the open door.

Millet nods slightly as she scowls; "Damned non-lethal setting," she mouths, ramping up the setting to a level of intensity which would turn humanoid brains to mush. <Click!>

She resumes firing, ignoring the rather loud - or is that just to her ears? - click that had resounded when she upped the 'level'.

Sefrin scowls as he 'lies low'. "I almost wish we were back in the Post Office," he remarks, lips only.
The un-stunned machinegunner quickly goes limp. No nifty gore to speak of, except that someone closer might notice a viscous black fluid seeping from the bug's maxillae. Then, in a strange unearthly voice on the comm-frequencies, sounding almost like a high-feed vocoder:

"Reading eleven heat sigs inbound. Suggest evasive."

The Shadow stows his Mauser and pulls out an uninteresting brown-metal canister.


Millet draws in a full lung (well, two) of air; and makes a motion that perhaps isn't the smartest: she leaps out of the 'copter, lips moving to say, "GO!"

Sefrin sags slightly at the thought of leaping in this g, but... follows suit.

S-14 Security Zone

Feeding over to the Bravo Foxtrot Romeo Golf diagnostics lines, evading what few sniffers the Blues have up at the time, Sauscony sees that the banks are all showing red NO GO. Status on power feeds, control lines, feeder mechanisms, superconductor cycling, all show red. There are also several no-return highs and lows, indicating that several sensors have actually been cut from the system.

'Hmmm. They're bound to find a way through eventually, but if we choose where and when...' Sauscony sends a message to where she had felt Alpha before. < Alpha, if you're listening, I have a suggestion that may buy us more time. We both know they will eventually get through to the Fist controls, but perhaps we can choose the circumstances of that. We appear to let them into the system, but in reality only a simulation. They will believe they have regained control, but will not have. By the time they realize it, we can throw up more protections. I can work on them if you are taxed at the moment. >

S-14, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force and Berserker Team

You seem to have this under control.

OOC: Waiting for Bers to reply.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Carrying the robot around is really quite pointless and unruly, so the Crana takes a novel approach to information gathering- it wrapped its legs around the robot, and began to transform into an adult web, effectively engulfing the 'bot. Prelude to a direct mind/machine inteface. Even if no new knowledge was gained, well, it would be pretty cool.
The Crana taps into the mind of the scorp-bot.

Stacking things is good.
Stacking things is good.
Avoid contact with moving things.
Stacking things is good.

"Useless for information. Only rote algorithms, only as intelligent as it needs to be for simple tasks. Well, this body may be useful, nonetheless."


Buttons... hehe. *doink* [Someone presses a button in the northwestern cell.]
The platform in the center disappears into the floor with the whirr of machinery. It quickly returns piled high with solid metal cylinders that mass maybe twenty kilograms each. Heavy, but liftable.

"Well, will ya look at that? Come on, let's unload it. I've got an idea."

They transfer the cylinders one by one onto a conveyor belt, after which they get the larva/scorpion onto the platform and press the button a second time.


S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Hello. Who are you? Is this a long-range communications station?
Gah! The Blue starts up all of a sudden, bangs her head on the console, and rolls around clutching her head with two hands. Spite! Ouch! Upon regaining four unsteady feet: Who in the name of Our Most Ancient Mother are you?

Explorers. This looked like a good place to acquire information.


Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"What do you want in return? We have much to offer. The entire knowledge base of our species, including the records of countless lives, and scientific and artistic records spanning hundreds of years and several worlds."
"Science is good. What would you like to know in return?"

"Several things. First, where you come from and why you left. Second, how everything on these vessels works. And third, if you can spare it, we would like a life."

S-14, Street Fighting, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa comes as close as possible, and then lifts both arms over his head, and brings them down full force on the remaining red ant. (Should his attack succeed, he will take the ant's weapon and attempt to rejoin Krenn.)

Shuuta puts her back against a building for cover, and uses her helmet radio speaking in the Sakkran tongue. "Griimph, keep that last one busy while I sneak around this building to get the drop on it."

"I'll do what I can Shuuta." He pops sporadic bursts in the direction of the last red ant, while keeping one eye on the jet-packed regrouped reds.

Krenn crouches down behind a building, peeking out with one eye. "There are 9 enemy units regrouping using jump-packs. Suggestion is we regroup and take up defensive positions soon. I'll keep an eye on them."
Lossa brings his hands down atop the Red's thick skull; there is a sickening crunch as multiple hairline fractures spread out from the point of impact and the Red crumples in a heap. Grabbing the Red's machine gun, Lossa runs back to Krenn. Turning a corner, he sees two Reds who bring their weapons to bear. Bullets tear away the corners of buildings as he dives into a largish alley.

Douglass checks his snoopers. "Lossa's pinned in an alley; I've got the whirly. Jane, see if you can't snipe the bouncing Reds." Aiming carefully as the attack helo comes around for another pass, he squeezes the trigger lightly twice more. The first thunderstroke shreds a portside missile pod, and as the ammunition feed backfires into the fuselage, the second beam of energy shreds the rotor assembly. As the helo explodes, Douglass ducks down and expels the smoking magazine. "Someone cover me as I reload!"

Griimph's suppressing fire is more effective than expected; the Red's face gets a sudden case of wrong-place-wrong-time syndrome as she pops her head from behind the building just to get an extremely good look at a .50 caliber round. The top of her head fragments in a hazy red cloud and she falls. As Shuuta moves through the streets, however, four Reds jump on the bounce over her head. The first two only notice her, but the other two strafe as they pass overhead. Bullets prang off her suit as she ineffectively sprays fire back into the air.

R-Jane climbs atop a two-level building and, using the higher building for cover and bracing, pops rounds off at Reds as they hop over buildings. One spray hits mark, sending the scattered remains of one insect tumbling over buildings.

Eight Reds in cohesive groups of: two (pinning down Lossa), four (street near Shuuta), two (keeping heads down moving along the left side of the fight). Krenn, Arthur, Douglass, and R-Jane are still along the central green; Krenn is overwatching, Jane is elevated providing denial fire, Douglass is reloading, and Arthur is probably being a pantload. Shuuta and Griimph are in a cohesive group with the four Reds between; Lossa is seperated from the group cut off by the two pinning him down.

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet draws in a full lung (well, two) of air; and makes a motion that perhaps isn't the smartest: she leaps out of the 'copter, lips moving to say, "GO!"

Sefrin sags slightly at the thought of leaping in this g, but... follows suit.
Millet discovers that a two-meter leap has become a six-meter leap. She still manages to keep her feet (towards the forest away from the Reds, I assume). Sefrin (after rolling a 99 ultrabotch >_<), while traveling in parabolic arc through the air, loses his center of balance and tumbles. He lands hard on his right arm and there is a crunch-pop as the elbow dislocates.

Karena, bounding to help (and rolling a 100 Überbotch), takes the entire force of landing on her left leg. While gravity is reduced, inertia isn't, and her femur decides to announce its displeasure by introducing itself through the skin. Compound fractures are not fun. Maintaining her rifle, Karena swears in an altogether unladylike fashion as she contines to lowcrawl away from the advancing Reds, preferring her right leg.

The Shadow flings the brown canister into the middle of the open field, then turns and leaps expertly to Karena. Slinging the wounded female onto its shoulders, it shakes its head and bounds again to Sefrin and Millet.

The vocoder voice speaks again. "Not good."

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Useless for information. Only rote algorithms, only as intelligent as it needs to be for simple tasks. Well, this body may be useful, nonetheless."
The Crana is now the proud owner of a scorpionesque forklift body.

"Well, will ya look at that? Come on, let's unload it. I've got an idea."

They transfer the cylinders one by one onto a conveyor belt, after which they get the larva/scorpion onto the platform and press the button a second time.
The conveyor belt activates automatically when it detects the pressure of the cylinders on it and rolls the cylinders into the first machine. Indicators light up in the central console as a tremendous roar comes from the first machine; then it shuts off and there is the sound of sloshing as it goes into the next machine. There is more liquid sloshing until a line of rough metal hexagons appear along the conveyor leading to the last machine, which emanates metal-grinding buzzing and dull thumping. Finally, after several minutes, clean, crisp hexagonal plates emerge from the final conveyor belt in a neat stack. A second stack emerges from the machine, knocking over the first one and scattering hexagonal plates across the deck.

The CranaScorp takes a quick ride down into a poorly lit area where more scorpbots pile metal onto the lift. Just before the lift speeds back up to the processing facility, a few Blues come out and double-take at the sight of the CranaScorp. CranaScorp gets the impression of What the--? as the lift speeds it out of view.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Explorers. This looked like a good place to acquire information.
Well, it is for us... The Blue backs around the room, keeping its front towards the squiddy Snel while fumbling for something with one hand. It brandishes a spanner for something attempting vailiantly but failing to even approximate intimidation.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Several things. First, where you come from and why you left. Second, how everything on these vessels works. And third, if you can spare it, we would like a life."
The Coordinator pauses eating for a moment. "We come from our Home Galaxy, the irregulars near this one. We left because... radiation levels or something from aging stars or something; I don't quite remember what Alpha said. Either way, it was becoming uninhabitable and we had to survive.

"As for everything on this vessel... we could tell you about the engines and some of the other systems, but I'm not sure if we can tell you, if you understand my meaning.

"And a... life?" She taps her antennae together, then takes another lap from the snifter. "The going rate for that is relatively inexpensive, but I would like to know why such a price should be paid."

S-14 Security Zone
'Hmmm. They're bound to find a way through eventually, but if we choose where and when...' Sauscony sends a message to where she had felt Alpha before. < Alpha, if you're listening, I have a suggestion that may buy us more time. We both know they will eventually get through to the Fist controls, but perhaps we can choose the circumstances of that. We appear to let them into the system, but in reality only a simulation. They will believe they have regained control, but will not have. By the time they realize it, we can throw up more protections. I can work on them if you are taxed at the moment. >
No response... but there is at least one Blue sniffer hot on Sauscony's trail. Intention unknown, but by handshake detection that sniffer definitely knows that Saus is there. It appears to be shadowing and possibly preparing some form of ice (white or black not known yet). It's a relatively skilled deck jockey, whoever it is.

and Arthur is probably being a pantload.

In a word. He's crouching in between everyone else, and holding the gun overhead in a weak attempt to shield himself.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Useless for information. Only rote algorithms, only as intelligent as it needs to be for simple tasks. Well, this body may be useful, nonetheless."
The Crana is now the proud owner of a scorpionesque forklift body.

"Well, will ya look at that? Come on, let's unload it. I've got an idea."

They transfer the cylinders one by one onto a conveyor belt, after which they get the larva/scorpion onto the platform and press the button a second time.
The conveyor belt activates automatically when it detects the pressure of the cylinders on it and rolls the cylinders into the first machine. Indicators light up in the central console as a tremendous roar comes from the first machine; then it shuts off and there is the sound of sloshing as it goes into the next machine. There is more liquid sloshing until a line of rough metal hexagons appear along the conveyor leading to the last machine, which emanates metal-grinding buzzing and dull thumping. Finally, after several minutes, clean, crisp hexagonal plates emerge from the final conveyor belt in a neat stack. A second stack emerges from the machine, knocking over the first one and scattering hexagonal plates across the deck.

The CranaScorp takes a quick ride down into a poorly lit area where more scorpbots pile metal onto the lift. Just before the lift speeds back up to the processing facility, a few Blues come out and double-take at the sight of the CranaScorp. CranaScorp gets the impression of What the--? as the lift speeds it out of view.

"Well, we know what all this machinery is for now. Making tiles. What's that you say?"

After reporting what it had seen, the CranaScorp got back on the platform for another ride, this time with the intent to get off at the bottom and investigate.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Explorers. This looked like a good place to acquire information.
Well, it is for us... The Blue backs around the room, keeping its front towards the squiddy Snel while fumbling for something with one hand. It brandishes a spanner for something attempting vailiantly but failing to even approximate intimidation.

Good. What can we learn here?


Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Several things. First, where you come from and why you left. Second, how everything on these vessels works. And third, if you can spare it, we would like a life."
The Coordinator pauses eating for a moment. "We come from our Home Galaxy, the irregulars near this one. We left because... radiation levels or something from aging stars or something; I don't quite remember what Alpha said. Either way, it was becoming uninhabitable and we had to survive.

"As for everything on this vessel... we could tell you about the engines and some of the other systems, but I'm not sure if we can tell you, if you understand my meaning.

"And a... life?" She taps her antennae together, then takes another lap from the snifter. "The going rate for that is relatively inexpensive, but I would like to know why such a price should be paid."

"We gather information. That is our most basic purpose for being. What better way is there to gather information than to search and catalog an entire life?

S-14 Security Zone

No response... but there is at least one Blue sniffer hot on Sauscony's trail. Intention unknown, but by handshake detection that sniffer definitely knows that Saus is there. It appears to be shadowing and possibly preparing some form of ice (white or black not known yet). It's a relatively skilled deck jockey, whoever it is.

'Bah. I shall squash you, silly spacedy insect,' thought Saus as she activated her internal counterintrusion systems. At the same time, she began constructing barriers and false pathways to keep the Blue from learning the location of her uplink. As soon as she had done so, she withdrew behind them and began to look for alternative route to access the systems she was looking at or the Blue's own computers. Any main database that might contain important ship schematics takes priority in the search if she happens to come across anything that looks like one.

S-14, Forward Spar, Berserker Party and Cetagandan Relief Force

OOC: Figured I'd bump it since I'm not sure if the forums delete old threads, and this would be a shame to lose.

IC: The team hears the Cetagandans, and gradually see them comign through the darkened corridor.
Crichton: "Humans, thank god."
Willis: "Powered-armor? Hell yeah!"
The faceplate of one of the suits becomes clear. "Good afternoon, Commander Crichton. Major Susan Timberton, Aistar Regiment, First Cetagandan Expeditionary. Pleasure to see a friendly face."
She glances around. "Where do you think we should head from here, Commander? It shouldn't be to hard to get to one of our ships, but the Karmabaijani team just learned of a "Shrine of the Ancients" from Alpha. AI seems to think it could be important. Its near our location."
Crichton pauses, "Well, depends on where this Shrine is. If it's where we came from, there's probably a shit load of Blue's there, and they aren't happy, we should know, they're chasin' us."

Lossa brings his hands down atop the Red's thick skull; there is a sickening crunch as multiple hairline fractures spread out from the point of impact and the Red crumples in a heap. Grabbing the Red's machine gun, Lossa runs back to Krenn. Turning a corner, he sees two Reds who bring their weapons to bear. Bullets tear away the corners of buildings as he dives into a largish alley.

Douglass checks his snoopers. "Lossa's pinned in an alley; I've got the whirly. Jane, see if you can't snipe the bouncing Reds." Aiming carefully as the attack helo comes around for another pass, he squeezes the trigger lightly twice more. The first thunderstroke shreds a portside missile pod, and as the ammunition feed backfires into the fuselage, the second beam of energy shreds the rotor assembly. As the helo explodes, Douglass ducks down and expels the smoking magazine. "Someone cover me as I reload!"

Griimph's suppressing fire is more effective than expected; the Red's face gets a sudden case of wrong-place-wrong-time syndrome as she pops her head from behind the building just to get an extremely good look at a .50 caliber round. The top of her head fragments in a hazy red cloud and she falls. As Shuuta moves through the streets, however, four Reds jump on the bounce over her head. The first two only notice her, but the other two strafe as they pass overhead. Bullets prang off her suit as she ineffectively sprays fire back into the air.

R-Jane climbs atop a two-level building and, using the higher building for cover and bracing, pops rounds off at Reds as they hop over buildings. One spray hits mark, sending the scattered remains of one insect tumbling over buildings.

Eight Reds in cohesive groups of: two (pinning down Lossa), four (street near Shuuta), two (keeping heads down moving along the left side of the fight). Krenn, Arthur, Douglass, and R-Jane are still along the central green; Krenn is overwatching, Jane is elevated providing denial fire, Douglass is reloading, and Arthur is probably being a pantload. Shuuta and Griimph are in a cohesive group with the four Reds between; Lossa is seperated from the group cut off by the two pinning him down.

Barg it all! Lossa looks around the alley for some manner of decent cover. Gonna have to drop the weapon and conceal myself. Maybe I can get the drop on these creatures. Lossa peeks the rifle's barrel out and lets a few bursts loose, then skids the weapon under something and attempts to 'conceal' himself.

Griimph bellows low as his target drops, then runs to catch up with Shuuta after the reds pass her. He grabs whatever ammo the downed red was carrying. "Just like neonate training in the Black Swamp, eh Shuuta?" He presses himself against the building providing cover.

"Yes, except for live rounds and a very real possibility of dying." Shuuta checks her armor, sees it's still in working condition, and forms a plan.

"Provide cover fire as I try to sneak up on them from the other side of the structure there. THere's four of them, so i'm sure one or two are going to try and surprise us. I'll pick them off before they get in position."

Krenn provides cover fire for Douglass while he reloads.

<<Trans>Ceta/Bers>>
This is Hideki. We have a line on something that could be of use clarifying this situation. It is near your position. We are inbound, ETA one hour. Please standby for us.
<<Over>>


Hideki and Nameless take off down the spar to gather Dochan and David and make best speed towards the Ceta/Bers teams.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
After reporting what it had seen, the CranaScorp got back on the platform for another ride, this time with the intent to get off at the bottom and investigate.
It leaves the lift at the bottom. The other scorpbots stay out of its way while the two Blues just stare.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Good. What can we learn here?
The Blue keeps fumbling around towards a cabinet. Oh, not much.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We gather information. That is our most basic purpose for being. What better way is there to gather information than to search and catalog an entire life?
"You can do such a thing? How?"

S-14 Security Zone
'Bah. I shall squash you, silly spacedy insect,' thought Saus as she activated her internal counterintrusion systems. At the same time, she began constructing barriers and false pathways to keep the Blue from learning the location of her uplink. As soon as she had done so, she withdrew behind them and began to look for alternative route to access the systems she was looking at or the Blue's own computers. Any main database that might contain important ship schematics takes priority in the search if she happens to come across anything that looks like one.
Looks like the cyberspace cowboy is keeping up. She's definitely prepping an ICEpick, alien manufacture (obviously) so effectiveness is currently unknown.

The network's been segmented, in some places physically. Movement is extremely limited and most databases are currently swarming with Blue deck-jocks trying to get through to them... Alpha has all major databases and controls pretty well iced up.

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker
Crichton pauses, "Well, depends on where this Shrine is. If it's where we came from, there's probably a shit load of Blue's there, and they aren't happy, we should know, they're chasin' us."
It isn't.

S-14, City Fights are the Worst, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Barg it all! Lossa looks around the alley for some manner of decent cover. Gonna have to drop the weapon and conceal myself. Maybe I can get the drop on these creatures. Lossa peeks the rifle's barrel out and lets a few bursts loose, then skids the weapon under something and attempts to 'conceal' himself.

Griimph bellows low as his target drops, then runs to catch up with Shuuta after the reds pass her. He grabs whatever ammo the downed red was carrying. "Just like neonate training in the Black Swamp, eh Shuuta?" He presses himself against the building providing cover.

"Yes, except for live rounds and a very real possibility of dying." Shuuta checks her armor, sees it's still in working condition, and forms a plan.

"Provide cover fire as I try to sneak up on them from the other side of the structure there. THere's four of them, so i'm sure one or two are going to try and surprise us. I'll pick them off before they get in position."

Krenn provides cover fire for Douglass while he reloads.
Seeing how Lossa is about as large as a good-sized building himself, there's really no place to hide. Maybe if he had some of those canisters... red, yellow, and black, I think they were? The two Reds merely return fire ineffectually.

The group of four near Shuuta get on the bounce again; R-Jane spots them and sends fire their way. The first one gets pegged and lands unspectacularly on a building; the remaining three decide to abort and roll across the rooftops into the next street over.

As they roll, Griimph gets a shot at a few but he keeps his finger on the trigger too long and the weapon overheats and jams. Shuuta's armor is still operational but pretty well dinged up; another burst might be all she wrote.

The final two Reds come into the central green, in front of "Captain Load" Arthur and out of Krenn's sight, from skirting around the firefight. "Jeebus H Hyskos," Douglass blares as he locks another magazine and snaps off two more shots, vaporizing one Red as his hardsuit gets riddled with .50-cals. It isn't designed for that, and neither are his internals. Good job Captain Load, you got someone else killed.

S-14, Falling Dragonflies, Habitation Torus, Thorvald and KSPA agent
The dragonfly slow down a bit more as the balloots overinflate near the surface of the terrace rings and finally burst just above the ground. Smashing into a hill of soft ground, the occupants are ejected; a quick tuck and roll keeps them relatively unhurt except for some scrapes and bruises.

"Okay," Thorvald starts, lying on his back looking up at the 'sky,' "now what?"

Seeing how Lossa is about as large as a good-sized building himself, there's really no place to hide. Maybe if he had some of those canisters... red, yellow, and black, I think they were? The two Reds merely return fire ineffectually.

The group of four near Shuuta get on the bounce again; R-Jane spots them and sends fire their way. The first one gets pegged and lands unspectacularly on a building; the remaining three decide to abort and roll across the rooftops into the next street over.

As they roll, Griimph gets a shot at a few but he keeps his finger on the trigger too long and the weapon overheats and jams. Shuuta's armor is still operational but pretty well dinged up; another burst might be all she wrote.

The final two Reds come into the central green, in front of "Captain Load" Arthur and out of Krenn's sight, from skirting around the firefight. "Jeebus H Hyskos," Douglass blares as he locks another magazine and snaps off two more shots, vaporizing one Red as his hardsuit gets riddled with .50-cals. It isn't designed for that, and neither are his internals. Good job Captain Load, you got someone else killed.

Krenn turns at the sound of gunfire behind him, in one of his few blind spots, and sees Douglass fall. "HRAAAR!" He launches himself at the remaining red, firing multiple bursts while doing so.

Griimph drops his weapon and picks up the weapon from the red he downed. Checking the clip and reloading, he decides to try spraying a bit over the buildings blindly, praying for a lucky shot and also to provide cover fire. Shuuta keeps crouched below the building height, and peeks around the corner of the building with the weapon at her shoulder. "We need to get to Lossa and get these creatures of his case."

Lossa is intent on keeping the 2 reds firing at him at bay, since the alley provides no cover.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
After reporting what it had seen, the CranaScorp got back on the platform for another ride, this time with the intent to get off at the bottom and investigate.
It leaves the lift at the bottom. The other scorpbots stay out of its way while the two Blues just stare.

Hello. Where am I, exactly?

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Good. What can we learn here?
The Blue keeps fumbling around towards a cabinet. Oh, not much.

How so? This is a communications post, no? It must be a veritable datamine.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We gather information. That is our most basic purpose for being. What better way is there to gather information than to search and catalog an entire life?
"You can do such a thing? How?"

"It is simple. The mind's vessel is merged with a sessile web, at which time all data stored therein is transferred into the web's own consciousness, where it can be sorted through. The consciousness of the original minds may be preserved if needed, or merged into the Collective. As a side effect, we can use the same process to revive the recently deceased as long as enough of their brain is intact."

"HOLY CRAP!"

Arthur 'McCoward' flung aside his weapon, hoping that he hit something in the process, and dived over Douglass's body.

Just protect the body, and maybe he can be saved. Whoa! I punned without realizing it!

S-14, Shooting Green, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
Krenn turns at the sound of gunfire behind him, in one of his few blind spots, and sees Douglass fall. "HRAAAR!" He launches himself at the remaining red, firing multiple bursts while doing so.

Griimph drops his weapon and picks up the weapon from the red he downed. Checking the clip and reloading, he decides to try spraying a bit over the buildings blindly, praying for a lucky shot and also to provide cover fire. Shuuta keeps crouched below the building height, and peeks around the corner of the building with the weapon at her shoulder. "We need to get to Lossa and get these creatures of his case."

Lossa is intent on keeping the 2 reds firing at him at bay, since the alley provides no cover.
The Red manages to miss Krenn as he charges; Krenn is so psyched from charging that he misses even worse. Finally, at pointblank range, Shuuta discharges a stickynet canister into the Red's abdomen, quickly binding the Red to the nearest building.

Griimph takes down another Red with a lucky shot (go fig, a 12 on a D100). As Shuuta rounds the corner, she pulverises the remaining three of that group (08, 06, 29 !!!) with a concentrated burst. Gore abounds.

R-Jane hops up and starts leaping from building to building. "Lossa, coming to assist. Douglass is down. Everyone else seems up."

Arthur 'McCoward' flung aside his weapon, hoping that he hit something in the process, and dived over Douglass's body.
Douglass spits bloody words into Arthur's ears. "Y'know... I hated people like you in war movies..." He gasps for breath for a moment. "What horrendous last words..."

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Hello. Where am I, exactly?
One of the Blues steps forward. Ore Processing Facility 19. What happened to you?

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
How so? This is a communications post, no? It must be a veritable datamine.
Oh, data mostly comes in... The Blue fumbles open a cabinet, scrambles out the contents, and comes up with a projectile pistol, at which point it takes cover behind an ellipsoid couch. ...and hopefully never out. Explain the difficulties with Alpha, intruders.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"It is simple. The mind's vessel is merged with a sessile web, at which time all data stored therein is transferred into the web's own consciousness, where it can be sorted through. The consciousness of the original minds may be preserved if needed, or merged into the Collective. As a side effect, we can use the same process to revive the recently deceased as long as enough of their brain is intact."
"You call that simple?" The Coordinator puts down the tray of food. "Absolutely amazing. I'm afraid I can't offer up anyone for that at the moment, not knowing what I can and can't tell you; but maybe some time in the future. What sorts of engine and weapons technologies do you employ?"

<<Trans>Ceta/Bers>>
This is Hideki. We have a line on something that could be of use clarifying this situation. It is near your position. We are inbound, ETA one hour. Please standby for us.
<<Over>>


Hideki and Nameless take off down the spar to gather Dochan and David and make best speed towards the Ceta/Bers teams.
Crichton looks at the Cetagandan commander, "I suggest we find a place to stay put for an hour, what do you think?"

S-14, Shooting Green, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
Krenn turns at the sound of gunfire behind him, in one of his few blind spots, and sees Douglass fall. "HRAAAR!" He launches himself at the remaining red, firing multiple bursts while doing so.

Griimph drops his weapon and picks up the weapon from the red he downed. Checking the clip and reloading, he decides to try spraying a bit over the buildings blindly, praying for a lucky shot and also to provide cover fire. Shuuta keeps crouched below the building height, and peeks around the corner of the building with the weapon at her shoulder. "We need to get to Lossa and get these creatures of his case."

Lossa is intent on keeping the 2 reds firing at him at bay, since the alley provides no cover.
The Red manages to miss Krenn as he charges; Krenn is so psyched from charging that he misses even worse. Finally, at pointblank range, Shuuta discharges a stickynet canister into the Red's abdomen, quickly binding the Red to the nearest building.

Griimph takes down another Red with a lucky shot (go fig, a 12 on a D100). As Shuuta rounds the corner, she pulverises the remaining three of that group (08, 06, 29 !!!) with a concentrated burst. Gore abounds.

R-Jane hops up and starts leaping from building to building. "Lossa, coming to assist. Douglass is down. Everyone else seems up."

Arthur 'McCoward' flung aside his weapon, hoping that he hit something in the process, and dived over Douglass's body.
Douglass spits bloody words into Arthur's ears. "Y'know... I hated people like you in war movies..." He gasps for breath for a moment. "What horrendous last words..."

Krenn runs up to Douglass, and opens the forearm compartment. He removes a synth-skin patch and opens Douglass's shirt. "There will be no last words here today. This may not completely heal you up, but it will stabilize the wound at least, and perhaps mend some internal damage. You will definitely need superior treatment, though." He applies the patch gently to the wounded area. It starts identifying cellular structure, platelette count, antibodies etc, and administering time-released healing stims.

Lossa hears R-Jane's yell. Good. We need to get this over with. Got to keep them occupied, though. He pops a couple more rounds out of the alley at the reds.

Shuuta and Griimph keep under building height, and start converging on Lossa's location from opposite ends of the 'block'.

S-14, Shooting Green, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
Krenn runs up to Douglass, and opens the forearm compartment. He removes a synth-skin patch and opens Douglass's shirt. "There will be no last words here today. This may not completely heal you up, but it will stabilize the wound at least, and perhaps mend some internal damage. You will definitely need superior treatment, though." He applies the patch gently to the wounded area. It starts identifying cellular structure, platelette count, antibodies etc, and administering time-released healing stims.

Lossa hears R-Jane's yell. Good. We need to get this over with. Got to keep them occupied, though. He pops a couple more rounds out of the alley at the reds.

Shuuta and Griimph keep under building height, and start converging on Lossa's location from opposite ends of the 'block'.
Douglass doesn't really have an abdominal cavity to speak of anymore; one of the downsides to wearing a hardsuit is that anything that gets through it is certain to splatter any warm gooey vitals on the inside. Still, the stims keep him awake and thus some semblance of alive. This may not be the best of things, as his liver and lower digestive tract is practically destroyed and his lungs have been pierced near the bottom. Profuse bleeding, kidneys shot to hell... nothing short of a stasis box and a six-month rebuild by Shodey herself is going to save this man.

"Thanks anyway," he groans.

As Shuuta and Griimph get the Reds in a pincer, R-Jane quickly makes it from rooftop to rooftop, jumping from a five meter building on top of one Red. As the soldier crunches under the force of a good 80 kilos of metal and plastic, Jane swings the machine gun around and beans the last Red clean in the back of the head. Another crack as the target's neck goes in ways it was never intended to, and she slumps to the ground.

One foot on each ex-Red, Jane mutters on RF frequencies and aloud: "Area secured. Lossa, you can come out now. Try not to shoot the crazy white robot."

Krenn runs up to Douglass, and opens the forearm compartment. He removes a synth-skin patch and opens Douglass's shirt. "There will be no last words here today. This may not completely heal you up, but it will stabilize the wound at least, and perhaps mend some internal damage. You will definitely need superior treatment, though." He applies the patch gently to the wounded area. It starts identifying cellular structure, platelette count, antibodies etc, and administering time-released healing stims.

"Good, good. Douglass, I don't care if you hate me, even if that stuff doesn't work, I won't let you die. I promise you: we're gonna do everything possible to get you someplace equipped with nanosurgical equipment."

"I appear to be a bit bloody. In both senses of the word." He bows his head. "Smeggin', bloody pacifism...."

Lossa peaks out from the corner of the alley. "Hrrr. Excellent. Is that all of them? Are there any left alive? Ah, yes. Should we interrogate? Hhhhrrrmmm....Are we all alive?"

Shuuta lowers her head. "I do not think Douglass will be alive for long. Krenn is doing what he can, but we lack the facilities to mend him. It is ... unfortunate." They head back to the green, where Krenn, Douglass and Arthur are.

S-14, ???, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
Hello. Where am I, exactly?
One of the Blues steps forward. Ore Processing Facility 19. What happened to you?

I had the good fortune to come across this very nice new body. Not exactly a mine of information, but very cool in the electromechanical sense.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
How so? This is a communications post, no? It must be a veritable datamine.
Oh, data mostly comes in... The Blue fumbles open a cabinet, scrambles out the contents, and comes up with a projectile pistol, at which point it takes cover behind an ellipsoid couch. ...and hopefully never out. Explain the difficulties with Alpha, intruders.

There are no difficulties that we know of. So, would you mind giving us access to this information?

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"It is simple. The mind's vessel is merged with a sessile web, at which time all data stored therein is transferred into the web's own consciousness, where it can be sorted through. The consciousness of the original minds may be preserved if needed, or merged into the Collective. As a side effect, we can use the same process to revive the recently deceased as long as enough of their brain is intact."
"You call that simple?" The Coordinator puts down the tray of food. "Absolutely amazing. I'm afraid I can't offer up anyone for that at the moment, not knowing what I can and can't tell you; but maybe some time in the future. What sorts of engine and weapons technologies do you employ?"

"We use weapons as little as possible, but we have become quite capable in that department anyway, just in case. We employ matter streams, diamond tipped projectiles, pulsed laser cannons, plasma railguns, sonic resonators, and various others. There is one bit of excavation equipment that can be used as a weapon when necessary... stoneburners."

"But enough about that unpleasant topic. As for engines, we have warp bubble generators, electrokinetic thrusters, ion drives, and variable specific impulse plasma drives. That's just us Snel, by the way. We can't speak for the others who inhabit this system."

S-14 Security Zone

Looks like the cyberspace cowboy is keeping up. She's definitely prepping an ICEpick, alien manufacture (obviously) so effectiveness is currently unknown.

The network's been segmented, in some places physically. Movement is extremely limited and most databases are currently swarming with Blue deck-jocks trying to get through to them... Alpha has all major databases and controls pretty well iced up.

'Fine, be that way. You know what they say about the best defense...and if their computers go down, they probably won't be able to easily restore without Alpha's main systems.'
Sauscony begins to go through her folders of attack programs. 'Hmmm...Bolt-2...Stone 6.1...here we go, Hadoken 5.2.6.'
She releases several independent programs into the computer network, each on tailored to attack the other buggy desk-jocks but to ignore Alpha's systems. At the same time, she launches multiple attacks on the one going after her. The instant it seems distracted by these attacks, she will launch an all-out strike to completely disable the computer at the other end, and hopefully any linked to it.
Unfortuantly for Mister Bug, all this takes only a few seconds of time in the real world.

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker

Crichton looks at the Cetagandan commander, "I suggest we find a place to stay put for an hour, what do you think?"

"Agreed, Commander." Timberton turns to one of here Marines. "Jenkins, go over these maps to see if we can find a nearby airlock. We may not be able to get back to your ship with all the Blue activity around."
She turns back to Crichton. "Do you people need any food or water? We've got some combat rations with us."

(OOC: Speaking of airlocks, did the rest of my team manage to sneak back to the cargo bay? It was the five techs and five Marines in regular body armor. They bugged off to prepare the shuttle some time ago. Unless the forum swallowed the post...)

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker
"Agreed, Commander." Timberton turns to one of here Marines. "Jenkins, go over these maps to see if we can find a nearby airlock. We may not be able to get back to your ship with all the Blue activity around."
She turns back to Crichton. "Do you people need any food or water? We've got some combat rations with us."
"Lets find a side room, somewhere easily covered, there we can give some of the scientist some water and food, " The Cetagandans see that some of the scientists look shaken from the shooting, "and we can clean up R-Diana as well." Crichton says motioning over his shoulder, to the gooey robot.

S-14, Shooting Green, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
"Good, good. Douglass, I don't care if you hate me, even if that stuff doesn't work, I won't let you die. I promise you: we're gonna do everything possible to get you someplace equipped with nanosurgical equipment."

"I appear to be a bit bloody. In both senses of the word." He bows his head. "Smeggin', bloody pacifism...."
"I swear..." Douglass gags slightly from his sucking chest wound, "that if you touch my brain... I will kill you." He leans his head back against the nearest building, closes his eyes, and promptly expires.

Lossa peaks out from the corner of the alley. "Hrrr. Excellent. Is that all of them? Are there any left alive? Ah, yes. Should we interrogate? Hhhhrrrmmm....Are we all alive?"

Shuuta lowers her head. "I do not think Douglass will be alive for long. Krenn is doing what he can, but we lack the facilities to mend him. It is ... unfortunate." They head back to the green, where Krenn, Douglass and Arthur are.
R-Jane lets its bloody weapon fall to the paved ground and walks slowly back to the green. If it had pockets, its hands would probably be jammed into them. It shudders. "Well, there's no going home for me now." Looking down at the dead human, it shudders again. "Him either. At least what's left of the gang," it looks up, "is all here."

All-clear sirens twitter across the city. Turrets fold up and recess back into rooftops, and the little delta-winged fighters return to land. Life returns to the city as Minis pop their heads out of windows. Armored personnel carriers begin driving through the streets, Minis surveying the damage through unbuttoned hatches. Where dead Reds lie, crowds gather; hundreds and hundreds of Minis to a corpse; they soon scour every last bit of flesh from the insides of the hulking invaders and then begin carting off the carapaces in sections.

S-14, Ore Processing Facility 19, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
I had the good fortune to come across this very nice new body. Not exactly a mine of information, but very cool in the electromechanical sense.
From our angle, the Blue drone responds, it looks like you picked up a new brain. Why aren't you at the manufacturing section stacking deck plating?

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
There are no difficulties that we know of. So, would you mind giving us access to this information?
The Blue taps her antennae together from behind the couch, pistol braced in two hands over the cusion, business end leveled at the nearest Snel. Are you stupid or something? No, you can't have access to this information. The computers are down shipwide and I've been spending the last <time period> working on piecing together what's happened! And as you're obviously not from around here, I'm thinking you have something to do with it.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We use weapons as little as possible, but we have become quite capable in that department anyway, just in case. We employ matter streams, diamond tipped projectiles, pulsed laser cannons, plasma railguns, sonic resonators, and various others. There is one bit of excavation equipment that can be used as a weapon when necessary... stoneburners."

"But enough about that unpleasant topic. As for engines, we have warp bubble generators, electrokinetic thrusters, ion drives, and variable specific impulse plasma drives. That's just us Snel, by the way. We can't speak for the others who inhabit this system."
The Coordinator twiddles her antennae a bit in thought. "How is this: If we give you a life, will you share this technology with us?"

S-14 Computer Network C-Space
'Fine, be that way. You know what they say about the best defense...and if their computers go down, they probably won't be able to easily restore without Alpha's main systems.'
Sauscony begins to go through her folders of attack programs. 'Hmmm...Bolt-2...Stone 6.1...here we go, Hadoken 5.2.6.'
She releases several independent programs into the computer network, each on tailored to attack the other buggy desk-jocks but to ignore Alpha's systems. At the same time, she launches multiple attacks on the one going after her. The instant it seems distracted by these attacks, she will launch an all-out strike to completely disable the computer at the other end, and hopefully any linked to it.
Unfortuantly for Mister Bug, all this takes only a few seconds of time in the real world.
From the sniffer's slow reaction time, it's obvious she's just decking--certainly not jacked, and probably not even using 'trodes. Compared to human reaction time, however, it would be blindingly fast. The attack progs quickly scramble the Blue's signal and probably did a number to her deck's programming. No more threat there.

Elsewhere in c-space, the independent drone progs fight a guerilla war with the Blue deck-jockeys, and they're doing a very good job of it too. Nine confirmed c-kills, eighteen disengagements. So far, only one prog has been taken out from a lucky hit.

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker
"Agreed, Commander." Timberton turns to one of here Marines. "Jenkins, go over these maps to see if we can find a nearby airlock. We may not be able to get back to your ship with all the Blue activity around."
She turns back to Crichton. "Do you people need any food or water? We've got some combat rations with us."

"Lets find a side room, somewhere easily covered, there we can give some of the scientist some water and food, " The Cetagandans see that some of the scientists look shaken from the shooting, "and we can clean up R-Diana as well." Crichton says motioning over his shoulder, to the gooey robot.
"That would be much appreciated," R-Diana mutters, "I'm not particularly enjoying being covered in sentient."

S-14, Cargo Airlock, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
(OOC: Speaking of airlocks, did the rest of my team manage to sneak back to the cargo bay? It was the five techs and five Marines in regular body armor. They bugged off to prepare the shuttle some time ago. Unless the forum swallowed the post...)
Sure, they make it.

"I swear..." Douglass gags slightly from his sucking chest wound, "that if you touch my brain... I will kill you." He leans his head back against the nearest building, closes his eyes, and promptly expires.

"Well, you heard him, don't touch his brain. Can we get a body bag out here?"

Fortunately, only I'm not allowed to touch his brain. He didn't say anything about Shodey, or some LC....

S-14, Ore Processing Facility 19, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
I had the good fortune to come across this very nice new body. Not exactly a mine of information, but very cool in the electromechanical sense.
From our angle, the Blue drone responds, it looks like you picked up a new brain. Why aren't you at the manufacturing section stacking deck plating?

Why should I be? My purpose is to assist in gathering information by communicating with you, since the Masters cannot. Oh, I understand, you think I'm one of your drones, because of this body. No, I'm most certainly not, I just took this body to serve the Masters. Would you like to meet them?

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
There are no difficulties that we know of. So, would you mind giving us access to this information?
The Blue taps her antennae together from behind the couch, pistol braced in two hands over the cusion, business end leveled at the nearest Snel. Are you stupid or something? No, you can't have access to this information. The computers are down shipwide and I've been spending the last <time period> working on piecing together what's happened! And as you're obviously not from around here, I'm thinking you have something to do with it.

Oh. Well, is there any way that we could change your mind? And you can put away that weapon, it's unnecessary and wouldn't do you much good anyway.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"We use weapons as little as possible, but we have become quite capable in that department anyway, just in case. We employ matter streams, diamond tipped projectiles, pulsed laser cannons, plasma railguns, sonic resonators, and various others. There is one bit of excavation equipment that can be used as a weapon when necessary... stoneburners."

"But enough about that unpleasant topic. As for engines, we have warp bubble generators, electrokinetic thrusters, ion drives, and variable specific impulse plasma drives. That's just us Snel, by the way. We can't speak for the others who inhabit this system."
The Coordinator twiddles her antennae a bit in thought. "How is this: If we give you a life, will you share this technology with us?"

"Some of it, yes. We cannot say exactly what until it has been worked out in negotiations with the Sub Coordinators."

S-14 Computer Network C-Space

From the sniffer's slow reaction time, it's obvious she's just decking--certainly not jacked, and probably not even using 'trodes. Compared to human reaction time, however, it would be blindingly fast. The attack progs quickly scramble the Blue's signal and probably did a number to her deck's programming. No more threat there.

Elsewhere in c-space, the independent drone progs fight a guerilla war with the Blue deck-jockeys, and they're doing a very good job of it too. Nine confirmed c-kills, eighteen disengagements. So far, only one prog has been taken out from a lucky hit.


'Oh dear. What ever have I done?' thought Sauscony, even as she began to analyse the results so far to find weaknesses in the enemy's responses and updates the drones. 'Hmmm, I wonder if I can find where these bugs are located...'. She attempts to trace the Blues back to find there physical locations. If she can find it, she then looks for controls for the utilities of those rooms.

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker

"That would be much appreciated," R-Diana mutters, "I'm not particularly enjoying being covered in sentient."

As soon as they find a room, R-Diana is handed a bottle of cleaner and a towel from a mess kit. "This might work."

S-14, Cargo Airlock, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force
Sure, they make it.


Excellent.

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Millet draws in a full lung (well, two) of air; and makes a motion that perhaps isn't the smartest: she leaps out of the 'copter, lips moving to say, "GO!"

Sefrin sags slightly at the thought of leaping in this g, but... follows suit.
Millet discovers that a two-meter leap has become a six-meter leap. She still manages to keep her feet (towards the forest away from the Reds, I assume). Sefrin (after rolling a 99 ultrabotch >_<), while traveling in parabolic arc through the air, loses his center of balance and tumbles. He lands hard on his right arm and there is a crunch-pop as the elbow dislocates.

Karena, bounding to help (and rolling a 100 Überbotch), takes the entire force of landing on her left leg. While gravity is reduced, inertia isn't, and her femur decides to announce its displeasure by introducing itself through the skin. Compound fractures are not fun. Maintaining her rifle, Karena swears in an altogether unladylike fashion as she contines to lowcrawl away from the advancing Reds, preferring her right leg.

The Shadow flings the brown canister into the middle of the open field, then turns and leaps expertly to Karena. Slinging the wounded female onto its shoulders, it shakes its head and bounds again to Sefrin and Millet.

The vocoder voice speaks again. "Not good."


Sefrin grunts, bringing his good arm to bear and hesitantly laying a hand on his bad arm.

Millet, glancing back, simply intimates, "Do it."

So he does. His arm crunches as he attempts to wrench the elbow back into place; it fails. The g, unfortunatley, is not what it ought to be - as far as he is concerned - and he exerts far too much pressure. The net result? The bone pierces the skin, and he begins to bleed. Quite a bit.

And Millet freezes, unsure of whether to continue onwards, or turn back and... do something. Anything. Logic-lock, they call it in an AI; rationale-lock, it probably would be in an organic; either way, she freezes uncertaintly.

Her concentration shatters like glass in a hurricane; not only is she utterly visible, but her sudden rising fear and desperation ripples outwards, a tide of fear borne upon a crest of desperate discomfort at the whole situation; her world seems to fold inwards, everything becoming a thin veneer of...

...nothingness.

In short: everything up to this point has been one step closer; and this step is one step too far for her; her training goes out the window, her years of preperation vanish... and she breaks.

Sefrin, however, simply resigns himself to screaming for a split second; and then slumps downwards, the pain too severe and too overriding for him to concentrate on anything other than staying not-visible...

Hopefully.

R-Jane lets its bloody weapon fall to the paved ground and walks slowly back to the green. If it had pockets, its hands would probably be jammed into them. It shudders. "Well, there's no going home for me now." Looking down at the dead human, it shudders again. "Him either. At least what's left of the gang," it looks up, "is all here."

All-clear sirens twitter across the city. Turrets fold up and recess back into rooftops, and the little delta-winged fighters return to land. Life returns to the city as Minis pop their heads out of windows. Armored personnel carriers begin driving through the streets, Minis surveying the damage through unbuttoned hatches. Where dead Reds lie, crowds gather; hundreds and hundreds of Minis to a corpse; they soon scour every last bit of flesh from the insides of the hulking invaders and then begin carting off the carapaces in sections.

Lossa looks at the other Sakkrans. "It seems only fitting that he receive a warrior's greeting into the Black Gates." Shuuta, Krenn and Griimph nod assent.

In their native tongue, the last rites are given. Many are his foes who lay dead. His was a battle fought with valor and honor. May the Black Gates open to receive this valiant warrior, and strengthen the Horde against the armies of the Doomed Ones. We announce the arrival of this spirit. With that, the Sakkrans all bellow a long, loud and deep tone that shakes and vibrates everything around.

Afterwards, Shuuta speaks. "We need to take him back to his people. We'll need a vehicle. Perhaps one of the Small Ones can assist?" Griimph turns to R-Jane. "What is this about not going home?"

S-14, Ore Processing Facility 19, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
Why should I be? My purpose is to assist in gathering information by communicating with you, since the Masters cannot. Oh, I understand, you think I'm one of your drones, because of this body. No, I'm most certainly not, I just took this body to serve the Masters. Would you like to meet them?
Before we say one way or the other... who are these Masters? We're a bit on edge, with Alpha going treasonous and all.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Oh. Well, is there any way that we could change your mind? And you can put away that weapon, it's unnecessary and wouldn't do you much good anyway.
For starters, you could put your weapons down first. I thank you for not pointing them at me... but still, it would put me at more ease, definitely.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Some of it, yes. We cannot say exactly what until it has been worked out in negotiations with the Sub Coordinators."
"These Sub-Coordinators... are they equivalent in position to me? Maybe we can begin these negotiations.

S-14 Computer Network C-Space
'Oh dear. What ever have I done?' thought Sauscony, even as she began to analyse the results so far to find weaknesses in the enemy's responses and updates the drones. 'Hmmm, I wonder if I can find where these bugs are located...'. She attempts to trace the Blues back to find there physical locations. If she can find it, she then looks for controls for the utilities of those rooms.
S-14, like any good ship, is well-sectionalized. However, it looks like the Blues have had trouble with Alpha in the past, so local physical utilities are not computer-controlled... or, at least, not by Alpha.

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker
As soon as they find a room, R-Diana is handed a bottle of cleaner and a towel from a mess kit. "This might work."
"Thanks." As the robot cleans itself up, it mutters. "Just great. I'm gonna be a pariah when I get back to Rhea."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin grunts, bringing his good arm to bear and hesitantly laying a hand on his bad arm.

Millet, glancing back, simply intimates, "Do it."

So he does--and everything goes quite poorly quite quickly.
Shadows are trained to work either in groups of three or singly; however, their mission profile tends toward great autonomy rather than squad actions. Swearing in binary, the Shadow moves Karena into one shoulder while taking her rifle in his right hand. One pull of the trigger later, and Sefrin's arm is a charred, cauterized lump truncated just above the elbow. With one hand he grabs Sefrin by the lapels/packframe straps/clothing in that general area and slings him onto the other shoulder. Holding both Karena and Sefrin in place by holding their arms against his chest with his right arm, he grabs Millet's collar with his left hand and continues running.

Alone or in a group, the Shadows are trained towards one end--not giving up.

The low-grav forest is covered in a massive assortment of tenuous ground cover looking like huge tissue paper shrubs. These plants tatter and tear as the Shadow and Millet run on the bounce through them. Coming to a rent in the ground, the Shadow tosses (with practically no decorum) everyone into it before rolling in himself.

The vocoder voice, which is obviously his, mutters. "Who is combat active?"

S-14, Impromptu Funeral, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
Lossa looks at the other Sakkrans. "It seems only fitting that he receive a warrior's greeting into the Black Gates." Shuuta, Krenn and Griimph nod assent.

In their native tongue, the last rites are given. Many are his foes who lay dead. His was a battle fought with valor and honor. May the Black Gates open to receive this valiant warrior, and strengthen the Horde against the armies of the Doomed Ones. We announce the arrival of this spirit. With that, the Sakkrans all bellow a long, loud and deep tone that shakes and vibrates everything around.

Afterwards, Shuuta speaks. "We need to take him back to his people. We'll need a vehicle. Perhaps one of the Small Ones can assist?" Griimph turns to R-Jane. "What is this about not going home?"
The rumbling tone echos through the city, bringing after-battle activity to a halt for a moment. A lone tiny APC rolls up, with a seven-centimeter insect in an almost laughably tiny flak helmet and vest peeking out of the back. Speaking through a PA loudspeaker mounted on the forward hull, she begins.

"Thank you for your assistance. Our ground forces had been crucially compromised by their previous attacks; without you they would have completely demolished the city." She seems to take no notice of Douglass. "Now you see why we only want to leave, and we thank you for your offers. We left the ones you didn't kill alive... not sure why, but you must have reasons. How can we help?"

R-Jane kicks a piece of debris. "Well, it's pretty simple; Three Laws of Robotics. No killing sentients, y'know? Shodey deactivated my set so I could protect myself, but back home... I'm a murderer."

S-14, Impromptu Funeral, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
Lossa looks at the other Sakkrans. "It seems only fitting that he receive a warrior's greeting into the Black Gates." Shuuta, Krenn and Griimph nod assent.

In their native tongue, the last rites are given. Many are his foes who lay dead. His was a battle fought with valor and honor. May the Black Gates open to receive this valiant warrior, and strengthen the Horde against the armies of the Doomed Ones. We announce the arrival of this spirit. With that, the Sakkrans all bellow a long, loud and deep tone that shakes and vibrates everything around.

Afterwards, Shuuta speaks. "We need to take him back to his people. We'll need a vehicle. Perhaps one of the Small Ones can assist?" Griimph turns to R-Jane. "What is this about not going home?"
The rumbling tone echos through the city, bringing after-battle activity to a halt for a moment. A lone tiny APC rolls up, with a seven-centimeter insect in an almost laughably tiny flak helmet and vest peeking out of the back. Speaking through a PA loudspeaker mounted on the forward hull, she begins.

"Thank you for your assistance. Our ground forces had been crucially compromised by their previous attacks; without you they would have completely demolished the city." She seems to take no notice of Douglass. "Now you see why we only want to leave, and we thank you for your offers. We left the ones you didn't kill alive... not sure why, but you must have reasons. How can we help?"

R-Jane kicks a piece of debris. "Well, it's pretty simple; Three Laws of Robotics. No killing sentients, y'know? Shodey deactivated my set so I could protect myself, but back home... I'm a murderer."

Lossa points to the body of Douglass. "This one died protecting your people. We need to bring him back to his own that they may perform any burial rites they have. We will need a transport to move him, and perhaps a cryogenic chamber to prevent him decaying. Can this be done?"

Lossa then points to the immobilized Reds."The ones that are left alive are to spread word that you have defenders. It might cause some second thoughts before they try to predate you again."

Griimph nods his head. "So your options are deactivation, reprogramming or banishment. None of which are favorable. Perhaps we could talk with Shodey, as you call it, and negotiate exile? Our Chief Engineer would probably find you to be most helpful."

S-14 Computer Network C-Space

S-14, like any good ship, is well-sectionalized. However, it looks like the Blues have had trouble with Alpha in the past, so local physical utilities are not computer-controlled... or, at least, not by Alpha.

'There's no way all of that is manual. There has to be a way to reach something that can affect them.' She continues to search, looking for connections that may be hidden or routed through areas not directly connected to Alpha for any kind of controls. Power, air, water, waste processing; anything at all that might be remotely useful in making life miserable for the Blues.


S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker

"Thanks." As the robot cleans itself up, it mutters. "Just great. I'm gonna be a pariah when I get back to Rhea."


Major Timberton looks over at the robot. "Excuse me if this is intrusive, but aren't you a Three Laws robot? If so, how did you kill or even harm those bugs?"

and perhaps a cryogenic chamber to prevent him decaying.

That's a really big freezer, in case you didn't know. It will have to be extremely cold, we want to freeze the body as quickly as possible to prevent large ice crystals from forming- otherwise, the crystals wreak havok on cell membranes.

S-14, Impromptu Funeral, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
Lossa points to the body of Douglass. "This one died protecting your people. We need to bring him back to his own that they may perform any burial rites they have. We will need a transport to move him, and perhaps a cryogenic chamber to prevent him decaying. Can this be done?"

Lossa then points to the immobilized Reds."The ones that are left alive are to spread word that you have defenders. It might cause some second thoughts before they try to predate you again."

Griimph nods his head. "So your options are deactivation, reprogramming or banishment. None of which are favorable. Perhaps we could talk with Shodey, as you call it, and negotiate exile? Our Chief Engineer would probably find you to be most helpful."
"Burial rites?" The Mini tanker looks confused. "We... will help. It will take several of our larger cargo vehicles to move him; we know that your vehicle crashed into some trees at the top of the canyon; we can help effect repair and pull it out.

"If we can make a small request... if you would bring some of our people with you. We can provide mobile buildings which should work as transport containers.

"As for the living Reds... we will keep them bound and transport them to the far side of the dam lake. There they will fend for themselves."

R-Jane looks up at Griimph. "Yes, I suppose exile is preferable. If I've survived being off the main network this long..."

S-14 Computer Network C-Space
'There's no way all of that is manual. There has to be a way to reach something that can affect them.' She continues to search, looking for connections that may be hidden or routed through areas not directly connected to Alpha for any kind of controls. Power, air, water, waste processing; anything at all that might be remotely useful in making life miserable for the Blues.
Ah, here's a power regulator control. Now, what would ye like to do with it?

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker/Karmabaijani Party
Major Timberton looks over at the robot. "Excuse me if this is intrusive, but aren't you a Three Laws robot? If so, how did you kill or even harm those bugs?"
R-Diana nods. "Well, normally we're all bound by the TLR... but in cases of emergency those limitations can be cut but only on the executive order of S.H.O.D.A.N. herself. Well, they got cut and I defended myself... C'est le guerre."

Hideki and Dochan show up with Finn's brain and David in tow.

"As for the living Reds... we will keep them bound and transport them to the far side of the dam lake. There they will fend for themselves."

Mind if I stomp on some of their heads? I'm in a rather bad mood right now.

Hideki and Dochan show up with Finn's brain and David in tow.

... and the Universal Constructor, Finn's memories on a holographic crystal, David's modified EVA suit, a nanite controller, and a gecko suit or two.

S-14, Ore Processing Facility 19, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
Why should I be? My purpose is to assist in gathering information by communicating with you, since the Masters cannot. Oh, I understand, you think I'm one of your drones, because of this body. No, I'm most certainly not, I just took this body to serve the Masters. Would you like to meet them?
Before we say one way or the other... who are these Masters? We're a bit on edge, with Alpha going treasonous and all.

Two humans and eight Symbiotic Masters, known to the Outside as Snel. They are the explorers for whom I translate.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Oh. Well, is there any way that we could change your mind? And you can put away that weapon, it's unnecessary and wouldn't do you much good anyway.
For starters, you could put your weapons down first. I thank you for not pointing them at me... but still, it would put me at more ease, definitely.

Oh! Yes, of course. We'll just go put these outside, then.... And that they do.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Some of it, yes. We cannot say exactly what until it has been worked out in negotiations with the Sub Coordinators."
"These Sub-Coordinators... are they equivalent in position to me? Maybe we can begin these negotiations.

"Not quite, as far as we can tell. They are one step down from the Supreme Coordinator." (OOC: Please clarify the use of the pronoun 'we'. It and them, or it and the Sub Coordinators?)

S-14, Impromptu Funeral, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Captain Load
"Burial rites?" The Mini tanker looks confused. "We... will help. It will take several of our larger cargo vehicles to move him; we know that your vehicle crashed into some trees at the top of the canyon; we can help effect repair and pull it out.

"If we can make a small request... if you would bring some of our people with you. We can provide mobile buildings which should work as transport containers.

"As for the living Reds... we will keep them bound and transport them to the far side of the dam lake. There they will fend for themselves."

R-Jane looks up at Griimph. "Yes, I suppose exile is preferable. If I've survived being off the main network this long..."

Lossa looks at the Mini-tanker. "It is agreeable. Let's begin the preparations immediately. As many of your people that wish to join us may do so. Has the Fist of Alpha been disabled?"

S-14, Mini City, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Guilty Man
Mind if I stomp on some of their heads? I'm in a rather bad mood right now.
Probably not. The reptiles who are bigger than you want them alive.

Lossa looks at the Mini-tanker. "It is agreeable. Let's begin the preparations immediately. As many of your people that wish to join us may do so. Has the Fist of Alpha been disabled?"
"We will work on it with great alacrity. And yes, the Fist has been disabled. We are glad to do it for such friends as you."

Soon, a man-sized transport vehicle obviously designed for moving small buildings drives into place. "Some assistance is required; if you could get your friend onto the transport for us, we would be greatly obliged. We are sending ahead teams to your vehicle to repair any damaged components they find. We shall bring the habitats when they are ready."

S-14, Ore Processing Facility 19, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
Two humans and eight Symbiotic Masters, known to the Outside as Snel. They are the explorers for whom I translate.
Two humans and eight whats? One Blue calls down the lift, the other steps on. Spite, I might as well go see.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Oh! Yes, of course. We'll just go put these outside, then.... And that they do.
The Blue puts down her pistol. Thank you. Now, why should I tell you anything?

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Not quite, as far as we can tell. They are one step down from the Supreme Coordinator." (OOC: Please clarify the use of the pronoun 'we'. It and them, or it and the Sub Coordinators?)
(OOC: Glories of translation, my friend.)

"Still, I'd gladly speak with them. We've been having communications difficulties with Alpha recently... and I'd love to get off this scow."

S-14, Ore Processing Facility 19, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
Two humans and eight Symbiotic Masters, known to the Outside as Snel. They are the explorers for whom I translate.
Two humans and eight whats? One Blue calls down the lift, the other steps on. Spite, I might as well go see.

Oh, good.

When they reached the top, the CranaScorp said From here on, I cease to exist as a separate individual. I shall act now as the voice of the Masters.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Oh! Yes, of course. We'll just go put these outside, then.... And that they do.
The Blue puts down her pistol. Thank you. Now, why should I tell you anything?

Because we are peaceful and because we ask.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Not quite, as far as we can tell. They are one step down from the Supreme Coordinator." (OOC: Please clarify the use of the pronoun 'we'. It and them, or it and the Sub Coordinators?)
(OOC: Glories of translation, my friend.)

"Still, I'd gladly speak with them. We've been having communications difficulties with Alpha recently... and I'd love to get off this scow."

"Very well. Do you wish to join us on our ship, or take your own? Unless you would like them to come here, instead."

S-14, Mini City, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
"We will work on it with great alacrity. And yes, the Fist has been disabled. We are glad to do it for such friends as you."

Soon, a man-sized transport vehicle obviously designed for moving small buildings drives into place. "Some assistance is required; if you could get your friend onto the transport for us, we would be greatly obliged. We are sending ahead teams to your vehicle to repair any damaged components they find. We shall bring the habitats when they are ready."

Lossa picks up Douglass's body, and places it on the transport. "I have just realized that my EVA suit was damaged quite badly in the fight. Griimph, could you do what you can to get it operational again?"

"I'll see what I can do, but I would need a full lab to do repairs effectively." He begins heading to the abandoned EVA suit.

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
Oh, good.

When they reached the top, the CranaScorp said From here on, I cease to exist as a separate individual. I shall act now as the voice of the Masters.
The Blue shudders at the sight of the cephalopodal Snel. No carapace whatsoever, just a mass of flesh... She steps back a bit, away from all the endoskeletal animals in the area. I would suppose that you are the Masters. What are you masters of, and do you know what's going on? The Mother of Us All says that Alpha is rebelling... and that aliens are involved. I must say that you look quite alien, but as you certainly have me at a disadvantage--it looks at the humans' pulse rifles--resistance would be ineffective at this point.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Because we are peaceful and because we ask.
I'm afraid I need a bit more than that. What do you plan on doing with any information? What kind of information are you looking for? Can you help us fix Alpha?

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Very well. Do you wish to join us on our ship, or take your own? Unless you would like them to come here, instead."
"My shift here is almost over; and taking advantage of this opportunity outweighs my usefulness here. I shall come with you." She motions to the other Reds idly. "Do you mind if I bring a retinue? Always helps to be prepared."

S-14, Mini City, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa picks up Douglass's body, and places it on the transport. "I have just realized that my EVA suit was damaged quite badly in the fight. Griimph, could you do what you can to get it operational again?"

"I'll see what I can do, but I would need a full lab to do repairs effectively." He begins heading to the abandoned EVA suit.
The EVA suit is swarming with Minis. While they work blindingly fast, it is obvious that they are wearing climbing harnesses and are carrying maintenance equipment. One, probably the coordinator, is standing on the shoulder. Seeing Griimph approach, it raises a small megaphone. "This machine was damaged, so we are fixing it. Several of the components are past our ability to repair, but the power feeds and servomotors are easy to reconnect. We must say that you build... quite big."

The transport begins trundling up the hill. The APC with the Mini-tanker remains with the party. "We'll meet the transport at the vehicle whenever you are ready. The mobile habitats will also be taken there... we've installed," the tanker seems to chuckle for a moment, "handles for your convenience."

S-14, Mini City, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
The EVA suit is swarming with Minis. While they work blindingly fast, it is obvious that they are wearing climbing harnesses and are carrying maintenance equipment. One, probably the coordinator, is standing on the shoulder. Seeing Griimph approach, it raises a small megaphone. "This machine was damaged, so we are fixing it. Several of the components are past our ability to repair, but the power feeds and servomotors are easy to reconnect. We must say that you build... quite big."

The transport begins trundling up the hill. The APC with the Mini-tanker remains with the party. "We'll meet the transport at the vehicle whenever you are ready. The mobile habitats will also be taken there... we've installed," the tanker seems to chuckle for a moment, "handles for your convenience."

Griimph chuckles slightly at the Mini-coordinators words (It sounds like a chuff as air escapes their nostrils). "It is true, considering your scale. We need to build large to suit our frames. But thank you for your efforts. I can work on the hermetic sealant. If it can move, and is airtight, it will be sufficient."

Shuuta looks at the transport for a moment. It has the familiarity of something....but it slips my mind. "Thank you. I'll be certain the Emperor gives you a generous tract of land for your peoples use."

Lossa heads back to where Griimph is, and sees the Mini-swarm around the EVA suit. "By Gorrm's Teeth, they are incredible!"

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, CranaScorp
Oh, good.

When they reached the top, the CranaScorp said From here on, I cease to exist as a separate individual. I shall act now as the voice of the Masters.
The Blue shudders at the sight of the cephalopodal Snel. No carapace whatsoever, just a mass of flesh... She steps back a bit, away from all the endoskeletal animals in the area. I would suppose that you are the Masters. What are you masters of, and do you know what's going on? The Mother of Us All says that Alpha is rebelling... and that aliens are involved. I must say that you look quite alien, but as you certainly have me at a disadvantage--it looks at the humans' pulse rifles--resistance would be ineffective at this point.

The nearest Snel turned to face the Blue, moving its legs aside to reveal its central keratin shell. Its single iridescent compound eye likely looked quite intimidating.

The group all began to speak, but the Crana managed to condense the mix of sounds into a single message for the Blue.

"We are the Masters of Knowledge. We came to gain more of it. Unfortunately, we have none concerning any rebellion. We only just arrived. Several other parties have come before us, though. It may be wise to contact them."

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Because we are peaceful and because we ask.
I'm afraid I need a bit more than that. What do you plan on doing with any information? What kind of information are you looking for? Can you help us fix Alpha?

What do you need help fixing? We might not be very good with delicate parts unless we have other tools, but our translator should be able to fix just about anything. What do we plan on doing with the information? We plan to remember it, catalog, protect what needs to be protected, and diffuse what it is good to diffuse. We look for all information that we don't already have, but our mission at this point is to find out more about the situation aboard this vessel, and learn about your species. Technology, culture, just about everything.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"Very well. Do you wish to join us on our ship, or take your own? Unless you would like them to come here, instead."
"My shift here is almost over; and taking advantage of this opportunity outweighs my usefulness here. I shall come with you." She motions to the other Reds idly. "Do you mind if I bring a retinue? Always helps to be prepared."

"That is acceptable. We have plenty of extra room. You may bring whatever you feel that you will need."

S-14 Computer Network C-Space

Ah, here's a power regulator control. Now, what would ye like to do with it?

'Wouldn't it be a shame if that regulator suddenly opened up so much all their equipment fried? <beep> Ooops...'

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker/Karmabaijani Party

R-Diana nods. "Well, normally we're all bound by the TLR... but in cases of emergency those limitations can be cut but only on the executive order of S.H.O.D.A.N. herself. Well, they got cut and I defended myself... C'est le guerre."


"Ah. Well, I hope you don't have trouble when you get home. I'm sure you'd be welcome in Cetaganda."


Hideki and Dochan show up with Finn's brain and David in tow.

"Ah, and here come our Karmabaijani and Enciqiri friends. Welcome to the party."

S-14 Computer Network C-Space

Ah, here's a power regulator control. Now, what would ye like to do with it?

'Wouldn't it be a shame if that regulator suddenly opened up so much all their equipment fried? <beep> Ooops...'

S-14, Corridors, Forward Spar, Cetagandan Relief Force/Berserker/Karmabaijani Party

R-Diana nods. "Well, normally we're all bound by the TLR... but in cases of emergency those limitations can be cut but only on the executive order of S.H.O.D.A.N. herself. Well, they got cut and I defended myself... C'est le guerre."


"Ah. Well, I hope you don't have trouble when you get home. I'm sure you'd be welcome in Cetaganda."


Hideki and Dochan show up with Finn's brain and David in tow.

"Ah, and here come our Karmabaijani and Enciqiri friends. Welcome to the party."
Crichton looks up, "Good, we have everyone here. Where should we go now?"

Crichton looks up, "Good, we have everyone here. Where should we go now?"

Timberton says, "I bet that Shrine of the Ancients might have some useful information. Of course, with the civvies along, it might be better to just head for a docking port. Perhaps we should head that way, and decide once we see if there's a major Blue presence around."

Crichton looks up, "Good, we have everyone here. Where should we go now?"

Timberton says, "I bet that Shrine of the Ancients might have some useful information. Of course, with the civvies along, it might be better to just head for a docking port. Perhaps we should head that way, and decide once we see if there's a major Blue presence around."
"Sounds good, alright, lets head on down, or up, or you know, to the shrine."

S-14, Mini City, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Griimph chuckles slightly at the Mini-coordinators words (It sounds like a chuff as air escapes their nostrils). "It is true, considering your scale. We need to build large to suit our frames. But thank you for your efforts. I can work on the hermetic sealant. If it can move, and is airtight, it will be sufficient."

Shuuta looks at the transport for a moment. It has the familiarity of something....but it slips my mind. "Thank you. I'll be certain the Emperor gives you a generous tract of land for your peoples use."

Lossa heads back to where Griimph is, and sees the Mini-swarm around the EVA suit. "By Gorrm's Teeth, they are incredible!"
"We have most of the repairs completed, and our technicians have made contact with your crashed vehicle. Its components are still in working order; all that is really needed is to pull it out. We are getting heavy lifters into the area to do this."

The Minis swarm out of the suit after a few minutes; the seals have been left for Griimph to work out. Assuming that goes well, the suit is fully operational and everyone is ready to move out to the vehicle. The APC follows along like a domesticated animal.

Returning to where they were strafed, the party finds the vehicle back on the macadam road. Other than a few dents in the front, it's in excellent shape. Ex-Douglass has been unceremoniously left by the side of the vehicle next to six large wheeled cylindrical containers, each about a meter long and half a meter in diameter. Moderately-sized u-shaped pipes quickly welded to the top make up rudimentary handles.

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
The nearest Snel turned to face the Blue, moving its legs aside to reveal its central keratin shell. Its single iridescent compound eye likely looked quite intimidating.

The group all began to speak, but the Crana managed to condense the mix of sounds into a single message for the Blue.

"We are the Masters of Knowledge. We came to gain more of it. Unfortunately, we have none concerning any rebellion. We only just arrived. Several other parties have come before us, though. It may be wise to contact them."
"The other parties are the reason Alpha rebelled. They shot their way out from the Mother of Us All's audience chamber. Good to hear you are unrelated; you certainly... at least most of you... don't look like the other invaders.

"As for knowledge... uhh... you are in a facility that makes deck plating. We needs lots of it to repair damage from wars."

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
What do you need help fixing? We might not be very good with delicate parts unless we have other tools, but our translator should be able to fix just about anything. What do we plan on doing with the information? We plan to remember it, catalog, protect what needs to be protected, and diffuse what it is good to diffuse. We look for all information that we don't already have, but our mission at this point is to find out more about the situation aboard this vessel, and learn about your species. Technology, culture, just about everything.
Well, the situation is this: I'm currently cut off from everyone else because Alpha has hidden herself in her computer cores. From what The Mother of Us All has told us, it was caused by several of the mammalian aliens... you don't look anything like them, however.

Maybe if you hadn't shown up in a state of total war I'd be a bit more forthcoming, but things are not going very well.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"That is acceptable. We have plenty of extra room. You may bring whatever you feel that you will need."
The Coordinator taps six Red warriors to come with her. They are equipped with rucksacks probably filled with supplies, projectile pistols, and odd tubular objects with a curious emitter end and a blocky bit at the opposite end.

It can be assumed the Snel can return to their vessel without incident.

S-14 Computer Network C-Space
'Wouldn't it be a shame if that regulator suddenly opened up so much all their equipment fried? <beep> Ooops...'
It's successful. Much too successful. That same regulator not only controls their systems but the local network... *bzzt*

S-14, The Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Gang
Following Alpha's directions lead to a dimly lit hallway that opens to an equally dark antechamber with large hexagonal doors in opposite walls. Two Blues wearing elaborate shiny jewelry and armed with edged weapons that look like the bastard children of a polearm and a bat'leth guard the chamber. The party can see this from the shadows around the corner in the hallway.

El Grupo Largo

"OK, how do we want to play this? Option one, take em out quick and quiet, or option two, try talking to them first, and most likely have to take them out, but probably not so quietly."


Thorvald and Nameless

"Well, that sucked. My name's Les by the way. Give me a second to find out where we are."

<<Trans>KSPA-05>>
Control, this is Les, can you get a fix on our location?
<<over>>

"We have most of the repairs completed, and our technicians have made contact with your crashed vehicle. Its components are still in working order; all that is really needed is to pull it out. We are getting heavy lifters into the area to do this."

The Minis swarm out of the suit after a few minutes; the seals have been left for Griimph to work out. Assuming that goes well, the suit is fully operational and everyone is ready to move out to the vehicle. The APC follows along like a domesticated animal.

Returning to where they were strafed, the party finds the vehicle back on the macadam road. Other than a few dents in the front, it's in excellent shape. Ex-Douglass has been unceremoniously left by the side of the vehicle next to six large wheeled cylindrical containers, each about a meter long and half a meter in diameter. Moderately-sized u-shaped pipes quickly welded to the top make up rudimentary handles.

Lossa tests out the servos and the seals. "Everything seems to be in working order. Thank you all." Griimph and Shuuta mark the container with Ex-Douglass in it with a large D, then load him onto the transport, followed by the other containers.

Krenn feels the wound on his head, scratching it a little. The synth-skin is fully melded by now, so it stays in place. "I'm going to see how this transport handles. But I just thought, we got this from a bunch of those Reds. What happens if they're still in that area?"

"OK, how do we want to play this? Option one, take em out quick and quiet, or option two, try talking to them first, and most likely have to take them out, but probably not so quietly."

"I'm beginning to really wish we had Arthur with us right now.... Talking is probably a good idea."

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
The nearest Snel turned to face the Blue, moving its legs aside to reveal its central keratin shell. Its single iridescent compound eye likely looked quite intimidating.

The group all began to speak, but the Crana managed to condense the mix of sounds into a single message for the Blue.

"We are the Masters of Knowledge. We came to gain more of it. Unfortunately, we have none concerning any rebellion. We only just arrived. Several other parties have come before us, though. It may be wise to contact them."
"The other parties are the reason Alpha rebelled. They shot their way out from the Mother of Us All's audience chamber. Good to hear you are unrelated; you certainly... at least most of you... don't look like the other invaders.

"As for knowledge... uhh... you are in a facility that makes deck plating. We needs lots of it to repair damage from wars."

"Perhaps you could take us somewhere more useful? We came across what we assumed to be a classroom earlier on, but we couldn't understand the glyphs."

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
What do you need help fixing? We might not be very good with delicate parts unless we have other tools, but our translator should be able to fix just about anything. What do we plan on doing with the information? We plan to remember it, catalog, protect what needs to be protected, and diffuse what it is good to diffuse. We look for all information that we don't already have, but our mission at this point is to find out more about the situation aboard this vessel, and learn about your species. Technology, culture, just about everything.
Well, the situation is this: I'm currently cut off from everyone else because Alpha has hidden herself in her computer cores. From what The Mother of Us All has told us, it was caused by several of the mammalian aliens... you don't look anything like them, however.

Maybe if you hadn't shown up in a state of total war I'd be a bit more forthcoming, but things are not going very well.

Is this Alpha some sort of artificial sentience? We just might be able to help, if that is the case.

Spaceberg "Golf," Coordinator's Quarters, Snel Party #1
"That is acceptable. We have plenty of extra room. You may bring whatever you feel that you will need."
The Coordinator taps six Red warriors to come with her. They are equipped with rucksacks probably filled with supplies, projectile pistols, and odd tubular objects with a curious emitter end and a blocky bit at the opposite end.

It can be assumed the Snel can return to their vessel without incident.

Once all are aboard, the StarFish lifted away from the spaceberg and spun up to create artificial gravity. Torque rotors and EK thrusters set it on its way back to Rama. When it got within 5 kilometers, the StarFish emitted a short radio transmission, after which the huge northern iris opened just wide enough to allow it through.

"We'll have to reduce our rotary velocity now, so don't be alarmed at the loss of gravity."

Once the StarFish had matched rotary velocity with Rama, it drifted down the center of rotation, until it was only about 500 meters from the core. One of the arms of the StarFish was soon affixed to a large pylon extending from the ground 5 kilometers below.

"Welcome to Rama. We shall take a transport car to ground level, and from there you may meet the Sub Coordinators."

S-14, Landing Successful, Low-Gravity Terrace, Thorvald and Les
"Well, that sucked. My name's Les by the way. Give me a second to find out where we are."

<<Trans>KSPA-05>>
Control, this is Les, can you get a fix on our location?
<<over>>
You are situated about 100 kilometers over the Ring Plain on the aft terrace. The Ma-tek party is nearby, but is on the forward terrace and nothing seems to connect the ninety kilometers between them.

Thorvald dusts himself off and gets his kit. "Maybe we should call for help and see what assistance we can get."

S-14, On the Road Again, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Lossa tests out the servos and the seals. "Everything seems to be in working order. Thank you all." Griimph and Shuuta mark the container with Ex-Douglass in it with a large D, then load him onto the transport, followed by the other containers.

Krenn feels the wound on his head, scratching it a little. The synth-skin is fully melded by now, so it stays in place. "I'm going to see how this transport handles. But I just thought, we got this from a bunch of those Reds. What happens if they're still in that area?"
"We can help with that." Looking down the road back towards the Mini city, the party spies a platoon of small half-meter tanks armed with some sort of energy weapon on low, sloped turrets. The tanks are staggeringly fast; they obviously depend on speed and not armor to survive. "These should help deal with any... resistance."

Inside the transport, R-Jane shrugs and pulls one of the cloth covers off of the bulky machinery, revealing a 25mm autocannon. Pulling back the bolt, it ejects a round about the size of two rolls of quarters. "I think this might turn out to be useful in that eventuality."

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Perhaps you could take us somewhere more useful? We came across what we assumed to be a classroom earlier on, but we couldn't understand the glyphs."
"Certainly." The Blue motions for everyone to get into the transport car, then gets in herself. When directed, she sends the transport car back to the classroom.

"Ahh, I remembered these. Taught me everything I know about metallurgy, manufacturing, engineering, and everything else. What do you feel like learning?"

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Is this Alpha some sort of artificial sentience? We just might be able to help, if that is the case.
It is... The Blue seems slightly surprised.

Rama
Once all are aboard, the StarFish lifted away from the spaceberg and spun up to create artificial gravity. Torque rotors and EK thrusters set it on its way back to Rama. When it got within 5 kilometers, the StarFish emitted a short radio transmission, after which the huge northern iris opened just wide enough to allow it through.

"We'll have to reduce our rotary velocity now, so don't be alarmed at the loss of gravity."

Once the StarFish had matched rotary velocity with Rama, it drifted down the center of rotation, until it was only about 500 meters from the core. One of the arms of the StarFish was soon affixed to a large pylon extending from the ground 5 kilometers below.

"Welcome to Rama. We shall take a transport car to ground level, and from there you may meet the Sub Coordinators."
"Most fascinating." The Red Coordinator looks around at Rama's ring plain and takes special note of the island in the middle of its ring sea (if I remember my Clarke/Lee right...). "That structure looks important. What is its function?"

S-14 Computer Network C-Space

It's successful. Much too successful. That same regulator not only controls their systems but the local network... *bzzt*

Chuckling to herself, Sauscony goes back to exploring what's left of the network, if there's anything left to explore.

S-14, The Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Gang

Following Alpha's directions lead to a dimly lit hallway that opens to an equally dark antechamber with large hexagonal doors in opposite walls. Two Blues wearing elaborate shiny jewelry and armed with edged weapons that look like the bastard children of a polearm and a bat'leth guard the chamber. The party can see this from the shadows around the corner in the hallway.

"OK, how do we want to play this? Option one, take em out quick and quiet, or option two, try talking to them first, and most likely have to take them out, but probably not so quietly."


Peering at the Blues, Timberton says, "I don't think the Blues are in a talking mood at the moment. I would suggest trying stun grenades. And if that doesn't work, well," she lifts up her right arm with the built-in tribarrel and maser. "Once we do that, then you people can go in there and do your thing. We Marines are much better at blowing things up then trying to decode alien languages."

El Grupo Largo
"OK, how do we want to play this? Option one, take em out quick and quiet, or option two, try talking to them first, and most likely have to take them out, but probably not so quietly."

Crichton thinks for a moment, "Well, they are already after us, so I don't think they'll talk much. Yeah, that Blue Queenie thinks we cause Alpha to shut down."
He hefts one of the Blue's weapons, " 'sides, we already crispyfied a few of 'em. And R-Diana," he smirks, "liquified another."

"My thoughts exactly, Commander. We outnumber them <thirtysomething> to two, and if we act fast they won't have time to raise an alarm."

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Perhaps you could take us somewhere more useful? We came across what we assumed to be a classroom earlier on, but we couldn't understand the glyphs."
"Certainly." The Blue motions for everyone to get into the transport car, then gets in herself. When directed, she sends the transport car back to the classroom.

"Ahh, I remembered these. Taught me everything I know about metallurgy, manufacturing, engineering, and everything else. What do you feel like learning?"

"It seems appropriate to begin with history and culture, this being a first contact situation."


S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Is this Alpha some sort of artificial sentience? We just might be able to help, if that is the case.
It is... The Blue seems slightly surprised.

Well, let's see what we can do. We don't have a lot of experience interfacing with non-organic networks, but it can't be too difficult. Can this facility transmit radio signals? We'll need access to a datajack.


Rama
"Most fascinating." The Red Coordinator looks around at Rama's ring plain and takes special note of the island in the middle of its ring sea (if I remember my Clarke/Lee right...). "That structure looks important. What is its function?"

(OOC: Not quite like Clarke's Rama, just based on it... but you do have the sea right. I'll write a basic description of the entire ship at the end of this post.)

2 Snel and the Crana larva accompanied the Reds. The rest remained aboard the StarFish, which soon left the pylon and headed for an airport in the northern section.

In answer to the Red's question, one of the escorts said the following: "It is multipurposed. It's primary function is a residential zone, but it also acts as a transportation and communications hub. There are several such structures throughout the ark, though most are much smaller."

At this altitude, psuedogravity was nearly nonexistant, on the order of hundredths of g's, forcing the group to move along rails built into the walls. As they passed another large window, the lead Snel motioned towards the central core.

"The main hub is located there, but it is inefficient to use hardlines to transmit data through a vessel this size, so radio and microwave are used to send data and energy to the local hubs. I presume a similar system is used aboard Alpha?"

They entered a railcar, and began the ride down to ground level, pseudogravity increasing as they went.

"In fact, the island was originally intended solely as a small communications hub. However, given that gravity is available only on the inner surface, it is impossible to centralize our cities. Naturally, they grew around such hubs. That one was chosen to be the site of a major population center because its position in the sea makes it preferable for us amphibians. Why it was chosen over the other 3 sea hubs was purely random chance."

OOC:

Unless there are more questions or whatnot, my next post will be the Reds meeting the Snel Sub Coordinators.

Description of the Rama craft:

It is significantly smaller than Clarke's Rama, having external dimensions of 25km x 11km, and internal dimensions of 24km x 10km. It'll be getting bigger in another week or two, Real Time, along with getting a name change. The intervening space is filled with subways, factories, foundries, some residential areas, storage areas, power distribution and generation systems, and propulsion systems. A sea runs around the inner surface of the cylinder, which is approximately 1.5 kilometers wide, dividing it into the northern and southern halfs. Most of the inner surface is covered in soil and rock, upon which are built cities, airports, small towns, farms, whatever. There are a few rivers and lakes which lead into the cylindrical sea. The exception is the areas around the docking pylons. These are all highly industrialized, and act as major transportation hubs. These areas are not terraformed like the rest, and merge seemlessly with the underground sections.

There are a total of 10 pylons, 5 in each half. There are 2 pylons on each end near the irises. These are the shortest, and are for recieving really big ships, like Supercruisers. There is another set of two in each half, about halfway between the core and the first set of pylons, that are longer and serve smaller ships. There is one final docking pylon in each half, situated 500 meters from the core. These extend close enough to the center of rotation that it would be pointless to have two opposing pylons as with the others, hence just the 1. These are rarely used anyway, since smaller crafts usually use the airports, so just 1 on each side is more than enough to keep up with the volume of traffic coming through. These pylons are connected to the core by bridges, since they're so close, and because they need extra support, due to their height.

The core is a 500m x 200m cylinder smack in the center of the Rama ark vessel. 4 pylons at 90 degrees to each other connect it to the inner surface. At each are data and energy transmission arrays. The local hubs that they transmit to are offset 45 degrees from the pylons so that the pylons don't get in the way. In the center of the core is a large fusion reactor that supplies Rama's main power, but smaller power stations of various kinds are located in other areas as well. The rest of the core is filled up by computers, weather control equipment, storage areas, control facilities for the data and power networks and the fusion reactor, and a really smeggin' huge Alcubierre bubble generator.

In the center of each end face is a 2.7km wide iris. The irises are doubled to reduce loss of atmosphere, but that problem is minimal as Rama's artificial gravity keeps most of the atmosphere below the 3km mark, and the irises rarely if ever open fully.

A series of superconducting coils runs around each edge and around the equator of the cylinder which can be used to produce a strong magnetic either for defense or magnetosail propulsion.

The entire outer hull acts as a huge electrokinetic cell, but ion thrusters are also placed around the edges of each face.

Whoo, I think that's everything....

"My thoughts exactly, Commander. We outnumber them <thirtysomething> to two, and if we act fast they won't have time to raise an alarm."

Obviously, David wasn't in his EVA suit anymore. "Hey, I've got an idea." He put down his collection of stuff, and started to put on a gecko suit over his uniform. "They probably won't expect an attack from, eh? I've got another one of these, so someone else should probably help out. We can just crawl along the ceiling, and drop stun grenades on 'em before they even know we're there."

Obviously, David wasn't in his EVA suit anymore. "Hey, I've got an idea." He put down his collection of stuff, and started to put on a gecko suit over his uniform. "They probably won't expect an attack from, eh? I've got another one of these, so someone else should probably help out. We can just crawl along the ceiling, and drop stun grenades on 'em before they even know we're there."

Looking over the suit, Timberton says, "Excellent idea. If you and one of these other gentlemen," she gestures at the gaggle of others, "will put on a suit, we'll give you a couple of grenades. Make sure you stay up there if things turn sour, though. You won't want to be between my boys and the bugs."

S-14 Computer Network C-Space
Chuckling to herself, Sauscony goes back to exploring what's left of the network, if there's anything left to explore.
Not really. She's lucky to be back aboard her own ship seeing how the entire local area network she was patched into got fried.

S-14, The Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Gang
Blah blah blah blah
One of the guards coughs. The other looks at her, then continues acting guard-ish, humming to herself.

Crichton thinks for a moment, "Well, they are already after us, so I don't think they'll talk much. Yeah, that Blue Queenie thinks we cause Alpha to shut down."
He hefts one of the Blue's weapons, " 'sides, we already crispyfied a few of 'em. And R-Diana," he smirks, "liquified another."
If the robot had brows, it probably would have furrowed them. "Yeah, thanks for reminding me." It mutters something in binary.

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"It seems appropriate to begin with history and culture, this being a first contact situation."
"Okay." The Blue scans through the silvery platters, then picks one and puts it into the slot of one of the computers. "If you'll enter that room," she points, "that's our standard historical overview."

It tells a simple enough story. A long time ago in a galaxy not too inordinately far from this one, a bunch of Blues realized that the dense packets aging stars in their galaxy were increasing background radiation dramatically. The entire galaxy was becoming uninhabitable. So they, under the lead of The Most Ancient Mother (always pictured as glowing with a holy blue light, a lot like the illuminations in hagiographies) gathered together the whole of their slower-than-light empire (the distances between stars were apparently on the order of single-digit light years) and built a fleet of six S-14 vehicles along with hundreds of attendant spacebergs. These vessels were to take a core cross-section of life and Blues to the Milky Way Galaxy and colonize an inhabitable world. Somewhere along the way all of the non-Norm abominatons evolved from the Blues.

Cliff Notes:
Over the journey, S-14's hull has been rebuilt 314 times by cannibalizing the other six vessels and pillaging metal-rich but uninhabitable worlds.
It's covered about 150 thousand light years in its travel.
The internal population of S-14 has dipped below 10 percent of nominal 648 times during its voyage.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Well, let's see what we can do. We don't have a lot of experience interfacing with non-organic networks, but it can't be too difficult. Can this facility transmit radio signals? We'll need access to a datajack.
The Blue points to a dataport on the console. Good luck with it.

Rama
2 Snel and the Crana larva accompanied the Reds. The rest remained aboard the StarFish, which soon left the pylon and headed for an airport in the northern section.

In answer to the Red's question, one of the escorts said the following: "It is multipurposed. It's primary function is a residential zone, but it also acts as a transportation and communications hub. There are several such structures throughout the ark, though most are much smaller."

At this altitude, psuedogravity was nearly nonexistant, on the order of hundredths of g's, forcing the group to move along rails built into the walls. As they passed another large window, the lead Snel motioned towards the central core.

"The main hub is located there, but it is inefficient to use hardlines to transmit data through a vessel this size, so radio and microwave are used to send data and energy to the local hubs. I presume a similar system is used aboard Alpha?"

They entered a railcar, and began the ride down to ground level, pseudogravity increasing as they went.

"In fact, the island was originally intended solely as a small communications hub. However, given that gravity is available only on the inner surface, it is impossible to centralize our cities. Naturally, they grew around such hubs. That one was chosen to be the site of a major population center because its position in the sea makes it preferable for us amphibians. Why it was chosen over the other 3 sea hubs was purely random chance."
The Coordinator taps her antennae together. "Yes, it is very similar on the Ring Plain of Rama. Do you have to deal with localized warfare on the habitat surface?"

"We can help with that." Looking down the road back towards the Mini city, the party spies a platoon of small half-meter tanks armed with some sort of energy weapon on low, sloped turrets. The tanks are staggeringly fast; they obviously depend on speed and not armor to survive. "These should help deal with any... resistance."

Inside the transport, R-Jane shrugs and pulls one of the cloth covers off of the bulky machinery, revealing a 25mm autocannon. Pulling back the bolt, it ejects a round about the size of two rolls of quarters. "I think this might turn out to be useful in that eventuality."

Shuuta eyes the cannon. "Hrrrr...it just might at that. Very well." She climbs into the driver's seat of the transport and starts it up. "Remember, we are not on a mission of mercy anymore." The other Sakkrans nod at this, and board the transport.

Obviously, David wasn't in his EVA suit anymore. "Hey, I've got an idea." He put down his collection of stuff, and started to put on a gecko suit over his uniform. "They probably won't expect an attack from, eh? I've got another one of these, so someone else should probably help out. We can just crawl along the ceiling, and drop stun grenades on 'em before they even know we're there."

Looking over the suit, Timberton says, "Excellent idea. If you and one of these other gentlemen," she gestures at the gaggle of others, "will put on a suit, we'll give you a couple of grenades. Make sure you stay up there if things turn sour, though. You won't want to be between my boys and the bugs."

"Aren't pockets handy?" David put his hand on the wall, just to make sure it wasn't made of Teflon or similar. It stuck. "Thank the Lord in Heaven for Van der Waals force." He peeled his hand off of the wall, picked up the other suit from his pile of stuff, and said "OK, anyone want to volunteer?"

S-14 Computer Network C-Space

Not really. She's lucky to be back aboard her own ship seeing how the entire local area network she was patched into got fried.

'Eeek. Looks like I need to find another way to access the network. She begins to try to find an alternate access point, such as a convient comms array.

S-14, The Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Gang

"Aren't pockets handy?" David put his hand on the wall, just to make sure it wasn't made of Teflon or similar. It stuck. "Thank the Lord in Heaven for Van der Waals force." He peeled his hand off of the wall, picked up the other suit from his pile of stuff, and said "OK, anyone want to volunteer?"

"I would," says Major 'I can't fly dragonflies' Timberton, "but a half ton of powered armor doesn't stick to walls well."

S-14, Deck Plating Manufacture, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"It seems appropriate to begin with history and culture, this being a first contact situation."
"Okay." The Blue scans through the silvery platters, then picks one and puts it into the slot of one of the computers. "If you'll enter that room," she points, "that's our standard historical overview."

It tells a simple enough story. A long time ago in a galaxy not too inordinately far from this one, a bunch of Blues realized that the dense packets aging stars in their galaxy were increasing background radiation dramatically. The entire galaxy was becoming uninhabitable. So they, under the lead of The Most Ancient Mother (always pictured as glowing with a holy blue light, a lot like the illuminations in hagiographies) gathered together the whole of their slower-than-light empire (the distances between stars were apparently on the order of single-digit light years) and built a fleet of six S-14 vehicles along with hundreds of attendant spacebergs. These vessels were to take a core cross-section of life and Blues to the Milky Way Galaxy and colonize an inhabitable world. Somewhere along the way all of the non-Norm abominatons evolved from the Blues.

Cliff Notes:
Over the journey, S-14's hull has been rebuilt 314 times by cannibalizing the other six vessels and pillaging metal-rich but uninhabitable worlds.
It's covered about 150 thousand light years in its travel.
The internal population of S-14 has dipped below 10 percent of nominal 648 times during its voyage.

"Amazing. You used the entire resources of 5 other ships equal to this one? Your population must be far less now, with such reduced living space. 10% percent of nominal, yet you managed to retain critical population density? It is truly a marvel of social engineering. Let us move on to culture."


S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Well, let's see what we can do. We don't have a lot of experience interfacing with non-organic networks, but it can't be too difficult. Can this facility transmit radio signals? We'll need access to a datajack.
The Blue points to a dataport on the console. Good luck with it.

Thank you. The larva crawled over to it and inserted a few nerve bundles. Deceptively simple interface. Surprising. This actually seems easier than interfacing with an organic. The signals are much less complex. Let's see what we can find...

Rama
2 Snel and the Crana larva accompanied the Reds. The rest remained aboard the StarFish, which soon left the pylon and headed for an airport in the northern section.

In answer to the Red's question, one of the escorts said the following: "It is multipurposed. It's primary function is a residential zone, but it also acts as a transportation and communications hub. There are several such structures throughout the ark, though most are much smaller."

At this altitude, psuedogravity was nearly nonexistant, on the order of hundredths of g's, forcing the group to move along rails built into the walls. As they passed another large window, the lead Snel motioned towards the central core.

"The main hub is located there, but it is inefficient to use hardlines to transmit data through a vessel this size, so radio and microwave are used to send data and energy to the local hubs. I presume a similar system is used aboard Alpha?"

They entered a railcar, and began the ride down to ground level, pseudogravity increasing as they went.

"In fact, the island was originally intended solely as a small communications hub. However, given that gravity is available only on the inner surface, it is impossible to centralize our cities. Naturally, they grew around such hubs. That one was chosen to be the site of a major population center because its position in the sea makes it preferable for us amphibians. Why it was chosen over the other 3 sea hubs was purely random chance."
The Coordinator taps her antennae together. "Yes, it is very similar on the Ring Plain of Rama (Typo? Alpha?). Do you have to deal with localized warfare on the habitat surface?"

"Warfare, no, but there are, of course, the minor disagreements that plague any large community. Occasionally, they can turn violent, but no one has yet been killed aboard this ship. Had we met you before any others, it would be unfathomable to think that you could terminate others of your kind. But we've gotten used to it over the centuries. We seem to be the only race incapable of internal termination."

The transport halted, and opened into a large plaza. It appeared to be some sort of registration terminal. The lead Snel walked over to another behind a desk, and chattered for a few seconds. The Snel behind the desk pushed a few buttons, and said something into a microphone. The lead excort Snel then motioned for the Reds to follow.

They were quickly escorted out of the plaza, past lines of humans, Snels, and who knows what else, all of whom were registering their arrival. "I have secured special clearance. Registration will be unnecessary. If we are lucky, you may get to meet the Supreme Coordinator herself. The group went down several corridors and flights of stairs until the came to what seemed to be a subway station.

"For now, this will get us to our destination more efficently. You may explore the surface later, if you wish." They boarded another large transport car. The second Snel punched a few buttons on a control panel in the front, and a red light came on. The Snel muttered something, probably a password, and the light turned green. The car began hurtling along underground. After about a minute, it stopped. They exited the car, and went up a flight of steps into a large domed rotunda.

"You find yourselves in the Center of Coordination. We will wait here. Please, make yourselves at home. Water is abundant, and food can be readily secured."

S-14, On The Road Again, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Shuuta eyes the cannon. "Hrrrr...it just might at that. Very well." She climbs into the driver's seat of the transport and starts it up. "Remember, we are not on a mission of mercy anymore." The other Sakkrans nod at this, and board the transport.
R-Jane taps one of the cylindrical containers. "Are you sure about that?"

The trip is rather uneventful except for a herd of buffalo-things grazing off in the distance to the side of the road.

Returning eventually to the Red airfield, the party sees that the gate has been lowered and there are two Reds standing guard. As the vehicle approaches the gate, one of the guards steps out and raises her hand, her rifle slung over her shoulder.

S-14SECZONE
'Eeek. Looks like I need to find another way to access the network. She begins to try to find an alternate access point, such as a convient comms array.
Looks like S-14 is playing radio silence at the moment. Oh, yeah, the Blues control the comm arrays, and they're scared pantless right now.

S-14, The Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Gang
Blah blah blah, talk talk talk, natter natter natter
The first Blue guard coughs some more. The other chitters to her and gesticulates. The first waves the second off. The second taps its antennae together.

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Amazing. You used the entire resources of 5 other ships equal to this one? Your population must be far less now, with such reduced living space. 10% percent of nominal, yet you managed to retain critical population density? It is truly a marvel of social engineering. Let us move on to culture."
That platter contains dances that resemble an insectoid form of the whirling dervishes, songs that sound like machine gun battles from a distance with accompanying woodwinds, and art that is either mathematically Mondrian or erratically abstract. All if it is done by Blues.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Thank you. The larva crawled over to it and inserted a few nerve bundles. Deceptively simple interface. Surprising. This actually seems easier than interfacing with an organic. The signals are much less complex. Let's see what we can find...
The local network is cut off from the greater whole of S-14, and there is no sign of any central intelligence. There do seem to be several other intelligences searching the network, repairing things and what not.

Rama
"You find yourselves in the Center of Coordination. We will wait here. Please, make yourselves at home. Water is abundant, and food can be readily secured."
The Coordinater snaps two fingers, and one Red immediately pulls out a brick of solid nutrition. "Thank you. We shall wait." And they do.

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Amazing. You used the entire resources of 5 other ships equal to this one? Your population must be far less now, with such reduced living space. 10% percent of nominal, yet you managed to retain critical population density? It is truly a marvel of social engineering. Let us move on to culture."
That platter contains dances that resemble an insectoid form of the whirling dervishes, songs that sound like machine gun battles from a distance with accompanying woodwinds, and art that is either mathematically Mondrian or erratically abstract. All if it is done by Blues.

"Fascinating. What can we learn about your space-faring and non-spacefaring technology?"

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Thank you. The larva crawled over to it and inserted a few nerve bundles. Deceptively simple interface. Surprising. This actually seems easier than interfacing with an organic. The signals are much less complex. Let's see what we can find...
The local network is cut off from the greater whole of S-14, and there is no sign of any central intelligence. There do seem to be several other intelligences searching the network, repairing things and what not.
Hello, little programs. Might you know what is wrong with Alpha, or how to get out of this network?

Rama
"You find yourselves in the Center of Coordination. We will wait here. Please, make yourselves at home. Water is abundant, and food can be readily secured."
The Coordinater snaps two fingers, and one Red immediately pulls out a brick of solid nutrition. "Thank you. We shall wait." And they do.
After nearly half an hour, during which time several humans and other Snels had been taking messages back and forth, a lone human in a black military uniform appeared. Speaking through the Crana larva, he said:

"The Sub Coordinators will see you now. It seems that you've gotten lucky. The Supreme Coordinator is also present. Come with me."

Leaving the Snel escort behind, the human led the Red party out of the rotunda and into a smaller, but still impressive, room, containing the Coordinators. 18 sat on ornate stools in a semi circle facing the doorway, and a 19th sat in the center. This one stood out quite a bit due to her deep purple coloring, as opposed to the far more common greens and light purples. She stood and said "Welcome to our home. I am Supreme Coordinator. We understand that you wish to trade technology. We are listening."

Obviously, David wasn't in his EVA suit anymore. "Hey, I've got an idea." He put down his collection of stuff, and started to put on a gecko suit over his uniform. "They probably won't expect an attack from, eh? I've got another one of these, so someone else should probably help out. We can just crawl along the ceiling, and drop stun grenades on 'em before they even know we're there."

Looking over the suit, Timberton says, "Excellent idea. If you and one of these other gentlemen," she gestures at the gaggle of others, "will put on a suit, we'll give you a couple of grenades. Make sure you stay up there if things turn sour, though. You won't want to be between my boys and the bugs."

"Aren't pockets handy?" David put his hand on the wall, just to make sure it wasn't made of Teflon or similar. It stuck. "Thank the Lord in Heaven for Van der Waals force." He peeled his hand off of the wall, picked up the other suit from his pile of stuff, and said "OK, anyone want to volunteer?"
Crichton shrugs, "Eh, might as well. What do I need to do?"

Returning eventually to the Red airfield, the party sees that the gate has been lowered and there are two Reds standing guard. As the vehicle approaches the gate, one of the guards steps out and raises her hand, her rifle slung over her shoulder.

"If those things come at us, I'm so going to blow their heads off, to Hades with pacifism! It's just fine normally, but it really sucks when someone else gets killed. May as well try to be peaceful at first, though."

Excuse me, we'd like to get through, if it's not too much trouble.

Crichton shrugs, "Eh, might as well. What do I need to do?"

"Just slip on the jumpsuit. Might want to take off your boots first. Put your hand or foot flat against the wall, and you sticks. Angle it, and you unstick. Watch." David placed one hand on the wall again, and one foot. He pulled himself up, and then attached the other hand and foot. He peeled off the first hand and foot... etc. Once he was hanging from the cieling, he looked down and said "See? It's easy. You'll get the hang of it pretty quick. Pun not intended."

"Is it just me, or is being in the same room as the stun grenades are when they go off a bad idea? I'd rather not chance you being seen and them bringing more gaurds down on us...so, how about this."

Hideki turns to the sled and opens a side panel, revealing a sizeable weapons locker. He removes 2 suppressed sub-machine gun type weapons and hands one to the KSPA agent.

"Here is the plan. We pop around the corner, "suppress" the blues and move on. If a few of you marines would like to back us up, we would appreciate it."


OOC: The weapons are sound suppressed firing a subsonic round. It has a collapsible stock, that both extend and mount expertly into their shoulders in a combat carry. Both Hideki and the Agent take advantage of the weapons internal smartlinks, with targeting information patched to their cybereyes. They get into position at the edge of the corner.

R-Jane taps one of the cylindrical containers. "Are you sure about that?"

The trip is rather uneventful except for a herd of buffalo-things grazing off in the distance to the side of the road.

Returning eventually to the Red airfield, the party sees that the gate has been lowered and there are two Reds standing guard. As the vehicle approaches the gate, one of the guards steps out and raises her hand, her rifle slung over her shoulder.


Shuuta looks back at the group. "No good will come of this. Prepare yourselves. I don't think being stealthy is an option here." Krenn, Lossa and Griimph put their helmets on and activate their suits. Weapons are prepped for firing. Shuuta steels herself for the Red Ant. Perhaps momentary confusion will be to our advantage. "Protect the Mini's at all costs."

Timberton sighs. "He's righ about the grenades. They shouldn't affect us this far away, but those of you not in harded suits might have trouble. Especially those gecko suits, who knows how the EMF from the grenades might affect them." She gestures to two of the marines. "Jenkins, Elbert, assist these gentlemen. Antipersonel rounds and masers only, we don't want to damage anything of interest." The two marines move into position by the two Karmabaijani, switching their tribarrels from standard armor-piercing darts to flechettes and lowering the maser output. "Whenever you're ready, Hideki. Maybe we should choose a leader once we've dealt with this. Command by democracy won't do us any good in a firefight."

(OOC: Assume that, when Karma makes his move, my marines spring around the corner with them and spray the spacedy bugs with some flechettes and maser bursts. Computer targ assist and implants, as usual.)

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Fascinating. What can we learn about your space-faring and non-spacefaring technology?"
That platter contains information on crystalline matrix computational cores, solid-state networks, optical connections, transmitter arrays, computer interface technology, higher forms of data organization and manipulation, and a small "how-to" section on chemical-based engines, metallurgy, and vessel operation.

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Hello, little programs. Might you know what is wrong with Alpha, or how to get out of this network?
One of the "little programs," quite startled, zaps the Crana with a random code-splice combat soft. It dissipates itself harmlessly against the Crana's natural ice (which it had better have if it's going to go punch deck in an alien computer system).

Rama
After nearly half an hour, during which time several humans and other Snels had been taking messages back and forth, a lone human in a black military uniform appeared. Speaking through the Crana larva, he said:

"The Sub Coordinators will see you now. It seems that you've gotten lucky. The Supreme Coordinator is also present. Come with me."

Leaving the Snel escort behind, the human led the Red party out of the rotunda and into a smaller, but still impressive, room, containing the Coordinators. 18 sat on ornate stools in a semi circle facing the doorway, and a 19th sat in the center. This one stood out quite a bit due to her deep purple coloring, as opposed to the far more common greens and light purples. She stood and said "Welcome to our home. I am Supreme Coordinator. We understand that you wish to trade technology. We are listening."
The Red Coordinator clacks her mandibles approvingly; finally, someone who gets down to business. "I am Coordinator 763921. We wish to gain your advanced propulsion and defense technologies. In exchange, we will offer this life"--she slaps one of her retinue on the shoulder--"that has a great deal of experience with our own technology. We will also offer optical data storage medium with information on the other topics your envoys stated an interest in, such as culture."

S-14, Security Gate, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Excuse me, we'd like to get through, if it's not too much trouble.
The guard looks down at a clipboard and ruffles through a few sheets. This transport is unscheduled. What is your point of origin, cargo, and destination?

Shuuta looks back at the group. "No good will come of this. Prepare yourselves. I don't think being stealthy is an option here." Krenn, Lossa and Griimph put their helmets on and activate their suits. Weapons are prepped for firing. Shuuta steels herself for the Red Ant. Perhaps momentary confusion will be to our advantage. "Protect the Mini's at all costs."
The Red guards obviously haven't seen the Mini tanks, which are riding low under the transport's high carriage. The gate is a simple chain-link fence with a large yellow sign that probably says 'STOP' on it. The guardhouses on either side are actually concrete pillboxes with machine-gun muzzles sticking out, so that would cause some pause.

R-Jane flips her starboard-side cannon into the up and ready position with a sigh. "Just can't get anywhere without killing these days, can we?"

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Posse
Wait a min; let's just cap 'em.
I know Karma, and he'd fire. Suppressed subsonics, sped on by die rolls of 02 and 11, immediately give the Blues flow-through brain ventilation. Then the Marines whip out, get suckier die rolls, and plaster the far wall with Blue.

Proceeding into the antechamber (finally!) there are two doors on opposite ends of the room. Both are ornately carved, but one has a green gem in the center. In the pile of gore that was the Blues, something twinkles. The wall opposite the hallway is covered in ichor and creamed vitae, and also has a rather tasteless gold plating thanks to the Marines' masers.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Posse
I know Karma, and he'd fire. Suppressed subsonics, sped on by die rolls of 02 and 11, immediately give the Blues flow-through brain ventilation. Then the Marines whip out, get suckier die rolls, and plaster the far wall with Blue.

Proceeding into the antechamber (finally!) there are two doors on opposite ends of the room. Both are ornately carved, but one has a green gem in the center. In the pile of gore that was the Blues, something twinkles. The wall opposite the hallway is covered in ichor and creamed vitae, and also has a rather tasteless gold plating thanks to the Marines' masers.
Jeff Coobler spots a glint out of the corner of his eye, and leans over and examines the blue, looking for whatever caused it.

Crichton steps up to the door with a green gem, and gingerly pokes it with a finger. If it doesn't shock/burn/kill/and/or other adverse health affects, he runs his hands along the carved surface, examining it.

I know Karma, and he'd fire. Suppressed subsonics, sped on by die rolls of 02 and 11, immediately give the Blues flow-through brain ventilation. Then the Marines whip out, get suckier die rolls, and plaster the far wall with Blue.

"Well, I would've preferred not killing them, but I guess it's a bit late now."

"I still could've shot 'em from above, and avoided spraying guts all over. You need to get more style. :wink: "

David dropped off the cieling next to Jeff. "Wutcha lookin' for? Ew. That's really gross. I think I'll just go look at that other door...."

The guard looks down at a clipboard and ruffles through a few sheets. This transport is unscheduled. What is your point of origin, cargo, and destination?

Just a moment. "Guys, we need to think a plausible origin, cargo, and destination."

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Fascinating. What can we learn about your space-faring and non-spacefaring technology?"
That platter contains information on crystalline matrix computational cores, solid-state networks, optical connections, transmitter arrays, computer interface technology, higher forms of data organization and manipulation, and a small "how-to" section on chemical-based engines, metallurgy, and vessel operation.

"Impressive. Nearly on par with our own. Would your leaders be receptive to the idea of exchanging technology?"

S-14, Radio Hut, Ring Plain, Snel StarFish Crew
Hello, little programs. Might you know what is wrong with Alpha, or how to get out of this network?
One of the "little programs," quite startled, zaps the Crana with a random code-splice combat soft. It dissipates itself harmlessly against the Crana's natural ice (which it had better have if it's going to go punch deck in an alien computer system).

Not quite ice, but stuff just as good.

<Internal Thoughts>
Incoming data- unknown data type. Non decodeable.

<Public Thoughts>
Excuse me, that transmission seems to have been corrupted. Would you mind resending it?


RamaThe Red Coordinator clacks her mandibles approvingly; finally, someone who gets down to business. "I am Coordinator 763921. We wish to gain your advanced propulsion and defense technologies. In exchange, we will offer this life"--she slaps one of her retinue on the shoulder--"that has a great deal of experience with our own technology. We will also offer optical data storage medium with information on the other topics your envoys stated an interest in, such as culture."

"Ah... a good deal, I am sure. We rarely acquire that much data in a first contact situation. It is a most tempting offer. What do you think of this: in exchange for the optical storage, we will give you information on our reactionless drives, ion and plasma engines, and other civillian spacefaring technology. In exchange for the life record, we will provide you with space warp technology, defensive weapons, and a ship for you to reverse engineer. Do you have any objections to this proposal?"

The Red guards obviously haven't seen the Mini tanks, which are riding low under the transport's high carriage. The gate is a simple chain-link fence with a large yellow sign that probably says 'STOP' on it. The guardhouses on either side are actually concrete pillboxes with machine-gun muzzles sticking out, so that would cause some pause.

R-Jane flips her starboard-side cannon into the up and ready position with a sigh. "Just can't get anywhere without killing these days, can we?"


"No, it would seem not." Shuuta nods her head, preparing to dive for cover. "There are high-powered machine-guns in those guard houses. I suggest we be ready."

S-14, LZ NOT Cleared, Low-G Ring Plain, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin grunts, bringing his good arm to bear and hesitantly laying a hand on his bad arm.

Millet, glancing back, simply intimates, "Do it."

So he does--and everything goes quite poorly quite quickly.
Shadows are trained to work either in groups of three or singly; however, their mission profile tends toward great autonomy rather than squad actions. Swearing in binary, the Shadow moves Karena into one shoulder while taking her rifle in his right hand. One pull of the trigger later, and Sefrin's arm is a charred, cauterized lump truncated just above the elbow. With one hand he grabs Sefrin by the lapels/packframe straps/clothing in that general area and slings him onto the other shoulder. Holding both Karena and Sefrin in place by holding their arms against his chest with his right arm, he grabs Millet's collar with his left hand and continues running.

Alone or in a group, the Shadows are trained towards one end--not giving up.

The low-grav forest is covered in a massive assortment of tenuous ground cover looking like huge tissue paper shrubs. These plants tatter and tear as the Shadow and Millet run on the bounce through them. Coming to a rent in the ground, the Shadow tosses (with practically no decorum) everyone into it before rolling in himself.

The vocoder voice, which is obviously his, mutters. "Who is combat active?"

Sefrin grunts, waves of pain sweeping through him. His lips move, but no sound comes out; thanks to the LSR, however, the words still ring through.

"I... can manage... I.. think."

Millet lays sprawled, gasping air into her lungs in an effort to bring her many conflicting emotions under control; images rise unbidden in her mind, images of blood, images of pain and death...

...she sees the revolution, the birth of the Empire, through eyes that few saw through. She sees the pain of the falling regime; the assasinations, the murders... Stars, so many dead...

...she doesn't manage to answer. In fact, it's not even clear whether she heard the question. Yet her clenched fists, perhaps, pay testiment to her effort to regain control.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Posse

Wait a min; let's just cap 'em.
I know Karma, and he'd fire. Suppressed subsonics, sped on by die rolls of 02 and 11, immediately give the Blues flow-through brain ventilation. Then the Marines whip out, get suckier die rolls, and plaster the far wall with Blue.

Proceeding into the antechamber (finally!) there are two doors on opposite ends of the room. Both are ornately carved, but one has a green gem in the center. In the pile of gore that was the Blues, something twinkles. The wall opposite the hallway is covered in ichor and creamed vitae, and also has a rather tasteless gold plating thanks to the Marines' masers.

Some of the marines place motion sensors on the approaches and then head into the antechamber. Five head for the door without the green thingy and open it, if there's any obvious controls. The rest stand around.
"Huh. Looks sort of like that rotifer did after we finished with it," says one of the Marines, poking a gob of bug with a boot.

S-14 Security Zone
Meanwhile, Sauscony twiddles her thumbs and regrets frying the computer system so badly. Well, that's what she would do if she had actual thumbs. After a few minutes of such activity, she launches a probe at a convienient comms array, with instructions to latch onto the hull next to it.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Posse
Jeff Coobler spots a glint out of the corner of his eye, and leans over and examines the blue, looking for whatever caused it.

Crichton steps up to the door with a green gem, and gingerly pokes it with a finger. If it doesn't shock/burn/kill/and/or other adverse health affects, he runs his hands along the carved surface, examining it.
The glint appears to be a greenish cut gem, fist-sized. It was hanging on a gold chain; that has been melted away, leaving only a small bit of burnt gold plating on one end.

The gem does zap him, but no more than the shock someone gets from touching a doornob on a cold day after wandering around a shag carpet while wearing wooly socks. As for the carvings, they resemble a mix between a floral pattern and a circuit board, expertly done. The door is made of a dense metal.

David dropped off the cieling next to Jeff. "Wutcha lookin' for? Ew. That's really gross. I think I'll just go look at that other door...."
Some of the marines place motion sensors on the approaches and then head into the antechamber. Five head for the door without the green thingy and open it, if there's any obvious controls. The rest stand around.
"Huh. Looks sort of like that rotifer did after we finished with it," says one of the Marines, poking a gob of bug with a boot.
The gemless door is operated by a touchpad to its right; the dioor slides silently upward into a recessed pocket. It opens onto a stair landing that overlooks a dark four-segmented chamber filled with quiet shapes. Each segment holds a different type of insectoid: Reds, Greens, Blues, and Micros. They appear to be bowing silently... odd.

S-14, Idling at the Gates, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
Just a moment. "Guys, we need to think a plausible origin, cargo, and destination."
"No, it would seem not." Shuuta nods her head, preparing to dive for cover. "There are high-powered machine-guns in those guard houses. I suggest we be ready."
Got to check your notes? I understand, sister. Paperwork is a hassle.
Looking out at the airstrip, it seems that it has a lot less helicopters than it did when the party left it last.

R-Jane shrugs and quietly opens the gunport on the side of the vehicle.

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Impressive. Nearly on par with our own. Would your leaders be receptive to the idea of exchanging technology?"
"You are far more understanding than the other aliens. They refused us trade... the Mother of Us All is very interested in exchanging technology, especially in computers and weapons."

S-14 Local Area C-Space
Not quite ice, but stuff just as good.

<Internal Thoughts>
Incoming data- unknown data type. Non decodeable.

<Public Thoughts>
Excuse me, that transmission seems to have been corrupted. Would you mind resending it?
Finding that its combat soft is doing nil against whatever ice this bug has, the unidentified decker comes up with and deploys an advanced icepick soft. When you absolutely need intrusion countermeasure electronics circumvented, you absoutely need the BugSoft I.C.E.-Drill v5.7.

Rama
"Ah... a good deal, I am sure. We rarely acquire that much data in a first contact situation. It is a most tempting offer. What do you think of this: in exchange for the optical storage, we will give you information on our reactionless drives, ion and plasma engines, and other civillian spacefaring technology. In exchange for the life record, we will provide you with space warp technology, defensive weapons, and a ship for you to reverse engineer. Do you have any objections to this proposal?"
"Not at all."

S-14, In Deep... Ditch, Low-Grav Terrace, Ma-tek Party
Sefrin grunts, waves of pain sweeping through him. His lips move, but no sound comes out; thanks to the LSR, however, the words still ring through.

"I... can manage... I.. think."

Millet lays sprawled, gasping air into her lungs in an effort to bring her many conflicting emotions under control; images rise unbidden in her mind, images of blood, images of pain and death...

...she sees the revolution, the birth of the Empire, through eyes that few saw through. She sees the pain of the falling regime; the assasinations, the murders... Stars, so many dead...

...she doesn't manage to answer. In fact, it's not even clear whether she heard the question. Yet her clenched fists, perhaps, pay testiment to her effort to regain control.
The Shadow has said more in the last ten minutes than he has in the last three months; cursing in binary, he tosses Karena's medkit to Sefrin. Pointing to the grunting human female, he says "Help her fix herself." Ignoring Millet, the Shadow brings Karena's maser rifle to the ready and peeks over the brim. "They're spreading. Keep quiet."

Karena mouths silently into the lipreader as she puts one hand on her shin above the compound fracture and the other on Sefrin's handless shoulder. "First thing's first--put the bone back in place." She then points to items in the kit. "Then take that thick metal device with the cone, put it onto the break in the bone, then push the button. Take the aeroinjector with the blue label and spray it over the wound, then take the long centipede-looking plastic thing, break it to the proper length, and close the wound with it." She gasps for air, then continues. "Then spray the wound again with the blue and follow it up with some foam from the foam projector bottle."

Panting from the effort, she looks over to Millet. "Now she's in a bad way."

S-14SECZONE
Meanwhile, Sauscony twiddles her thumbs and regrets frying the computer system so badly. Well, that's what she would do if she had actual thumbs. After a few minutes of such activity, she launches a probe at a convienient comms array, with instructions to latch onto the hull next to it.
Probe deployed and latched.

"No, it would seem not." Shuuta nods her head, preparing to dive for cover. "There are high-powered machine-guns in those guard houses. I suggest we be ready."

"Alright, just be discreet. If we can fool these ants, we might not have to kill anything more for a while. Maybe the minis can give us some plausible data to get us through here."

The gemless door is operated by a touchpad to its right; the dioor slides silently upward into a recessed pocket. It opens onto a stair landing that overlooks a dark four-segmented chamber filled with quiet shapes. Each segment holds a different type of insectoid: Reds, Greens, Blues, and Micros. They appear to be bowing silently... odd.


"Whoa." David soon found that putting on the gecko suit wasn't pintless- it allowed him to crawl on the cieling over the chamber, and avoid disturbing the occupants.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Posse
The glint appears to be a greenish cut gem, fist-sized. It was hanging on a gold chain; that has been melted away, leaving only a small bit of burnt gold plating on one end.

The gem does zap him, but no more than the shock someone gets from touching a doornob on a cold day after wandering around a shag carpet while wearing wooly socks. As for the carvings, they resemble a mix between a floral pattern and a circuit board, expertly done. The door is made of a dense metal.

Jeff picks up the gem and wipes it off, he stands and looks around, spotting the door with the green gem, "Hey, Crichton, err, Commander Crichton, I think this might be related somehow." He holds up the gem.

Crichton looks over his shoulder, "Eh, bring it over."

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Impressive. Nearly on par with our own. Would your leaders be receptive to the idea of exchanging technology?"
"You are far more understanding than the other aliens. They refused us trade... the Mother of Us All is very interested in exchanging technology, especially in computers and weapons."

"Very good. Who must we meet to arrange a trade agreement?"


S-14 Local Area C-Space
Not quite ice, but stuff just as good.

<Internal Thoughts>
Incoming data- unknown data type. Non decodeable.

<Public Thoughts>
Excuse me, that transmission seems to have been corrupted. Would you mind resending it?
Finding that its combat soft is doing nil against whatever ice this bug has, the unidentified decker comes up with and deploys an advanced icepick soft. When you absolutely need intrusion countermeasure electronics circumvented, you absoutely need the BugSoft I.C.E.-Drill v5.7.

Incoming data- digital executable program. Filing for later analysis.
Perhaps it would help you to know that I'm biological, not electronic. Don't try sending me any more programs that I can't run. I just want information.


Rama
"Do you have any objections to this proposal?"
"Not at all."

The Supreme Coordinator momentarily turned to face the other way. "Does the advisory approve?"

"Very well. It is now just a matter of selecting exactly what information and devices each of us most desires. Do you wish to visit the Port or the Armory first?"

And now, to ressurect an old forgotten character:

The Crana larva in the transport car with the two humans from Tahar Joblis waited a moment, and then looked at the screen again. "So, Alpha... how long until we get to the Blue Mother?"

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, El Grupo Largo
"Whoa." David soon found that putting on the gecko suit wasn't pintless- it allowed him to crawl on the cieling over the chamber, and avoid disturbing the occupants.
Are you certain that's a wise idea?

You get a better look of the occupants--they're all insectoids, and they're all seemingly praying or something. At one end there seems to be a long bar that supplicants come to, beyond that is difficult to see.

Jeff picks up the gem and wipes it off, he stands and looks around, spotting the door with the green gem, "Hey, Crichton, err, Commander Crichton, I think this might be related somehow." He holds up the gem.

Crichton looks over his shoulder, "Eh, bring it over."
When the mobile green jem is placed against the door's green jem, the door opens into a large hemispherical chamber illuminated by glowing red hexagonal panels inselt into the slightly padded walls. Carefully preserved in niches in the wall are some sort of optical assembly, a battered computer core, a heavy gold necklace, some strange mechanical device, and an oddly-shaped helmet.

A large circular platform in the center of the chamber is surrounded by a circular rail. Four walled-off sections meet here, one for each type of inhabitant of S-14. Supplicants come to the rail, where six Blues that can only be described as priestesses from their robes and jewelry perform rituals for them on the dais. Occasionally, different beings slowly move away from the rail and leave the shrine through a shrouded exit in the rear of the chamber.

At the sound of the door opening, one of the priestesses looks up and chatters a warning to the rest. They pull out long, slender cylindrical devices with an odd emitter on one end and a boxy bit on the other as the insectoids at the rail bolt for the exits.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, El Grupo Largo
When the mobile green jem is placed against the door's green jem, the door opens into a large hemispherical chamber illuminated by glowing red hexagonal panels inselt into the slightly padded walls. Carefully preserved in niches in the wall are some sort of optical assembly, a battered computer core, a heavy gold necklace, some strange mechanical device, and an oddly-shaped helmet.

A large circular platform in the center of the chamber is surrounded by a circular rail. Four walled-off sections meet here, one for each type of inhabitant of S-14. Supplicants come to the rail, where six Blues that can only be described as priestesses from their robes and jewelry perform rituals for them on the dais. Occasionally, different beings slowly move away from the rail and leave the shrine through a shrouded exit in the rear of the chamber.

At the sound of the door opening, one of the priestesses looks up and chatters a warning to the rest. They pull out long, slender cylindrical devices with an odd emitter on one end and a boxy bit on the other as the insectoids at the rail bolt for the exits.
"UHH GUYS."

"Alright, just be discreet. If we can fool these ants, we might not have to kill anything more for a while. Maybe the minis can give us some plausible data to get us through here."

"An excellent idea." Shuuta turns to the Minis. "Do you have a good story we can use to convince these?"

S-14SECZONE
Probe deployed and latched.
The probe deploys a man-sized spider-like robot, which walks over to the comms array and begins to cut into the base with a laser cutter, making a hole to get into the array's innards.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Posse

The gemless door is operated by a touchpad to its right; the dioor slides silently upward into a recessed pocket. It opens onto a stair landing that overlooks a dark four-segmented chamber filled with quiet shapes. Each segment holds a different type of insectoid: Reds, Greens, Blues, and Micros. They appear to be bowing silently... odd.

The five marines back out silently, letting David do his thing, but ready to help him in needed.


<blah blah room description blah blah>
At the sound of the door opening, one of the priestesses looks up and chatters a warning to the rest. They pull out long, slender cylindrical devices with an odd emitter on one end and a boxy bit on the other as the insectoids at the rail bolt for the exits.

At the sight of the devices being raised, Timberton grabs Crichton and pull him behind her. She signals to her marines, and six of them burst through the door. "PUT THE WEAPONS DOWN!" they shout, with external speakers at full and (hopefully) their words being translated to bug-talk. They aim their weapons in the direction of the bugs, in the hopes that that would be even clearer.

David was about to explore further back, when he heard the other door open, followed by this
"UHH GUYS."
and this

"PUT THE WEAPONS DOWN!" they shout, with external speakers at full and (hopefully) their words being translated to bug-talk. They aim their weapons in the direction of the bugs, in the hopes that that would be even clearer.

He quickly crawled back out of the room, and past the 5 marines, and into the other room. "Y'know, it might not have been a very good idea to do all that yelling." Well, if it gets too violent, I'll just go back to the first room. This one looks pretty interesting, though. Hmm, computers....

(OOC: Who can guess what David thought about the computers? :wink: )

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Very good. Who must we meet to arrange a trade agreement?"
"I shall bring you to a Coordinator, as the Mother of Us All does not want to meet visitors right now."

The Blues bring the Snel to some coordinator's quarters via a transport car. There, a Blue Coordinator with an elaborate insignia painted on her carapace greets them. Start your pitch!

S-14 Local Area C-Space

Incoming data- digital executable program. Filing for later analysis.
Perhaps it would help you to know that I'm biological, not electronic. Don't try sending me any more programs that I can't run. I just want information.
Oh no you don't. It stings. Quite a bit.

Meat damage is a bad thing for a decker, even one using bioware; the Crana has just lost a large amount of its long-term memory.

Rama
The Supreme Coordinator momentarily turned to face the other way. "Does the advisory approve?"

"Very well. It is now just a matter of selecting exactly what information and devices each of us most desires. Do you wish to visit the Port or the Armory first?"
"Armory."

S-14, Transport Car, ???, That Poor 'Ol Larva and TJ
The Crana larva in the transport car with the two humans from Tahar Joblis waited a moment, and then looked at the screen again. "So, Alpha... how long until we get to the Blue Mother?"
There is no response. The car glides to a stop.

S-14, Enemies at the Gates (couldn't resist), Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
"An excellent idea." Shuuta turns to the Minis. "Do you have a good story we can use to convince these?"
One of the Minis, looking out of a very thick window, speaks into a microphone. "They did just launch a raid to our city, and obviously we were the goal... if appropriate, then tell the truth."

S-14SECZONE
The probe deploys a man-sized spider-like robot, which walks over to the comms array and begins to cut into the base with a laser cutter, making a hole to get into the array's innards.
Lookit that, a remotely operated communications/power bus relay, currently disconnected.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, David
The five marines back out silently, letting David do his thing, but ready to help him in needed.
All of the praying insectoids in the room catch a wave of routing insectoids, and the room becomes a seething mass of limbs as they panic and begin rushing towards the exit.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Everyone Else
At the sight of the devices being raised, Timberton grabs Crichton and pull him behind her. She signals to her marines, and six of them burst through the door. "PUT THE WEAPONS DOWN!" they shout, with external speakers at full and (hopefully) their words being translated to bug-talk. They aim their weapons in the direction of the bugs, in the hopes that that would be even clearer.
He quickly crawled back out of the room, and past the 5 marines, and into the other room. "Y'know, it might not have been a very good idea to do all that yelling." Well, if it gets too violent, I'll just go back to the first room. This one looks pretty interesting, though. Hmm, computers....
The Blues immediately shoot the strangest thing they see--Gecko Boy--with their ultrasonic stun weapons. Getting hit with one is bad enough. Getting hit with three is worse. Getting hit with three, and one of them being critical, is far worse. Not only is David stunned, he is also suffering from internal bleeding in his limbs as capillaries across his body are disrupted.

The Marines quickly dispatch five of the Blue priestesses, jellifying them quite nicely. The sixth charges in front of the dais, bringing a nasty-looking bladed weapon from under her robes.

"The truth. How.....interesting. Very well, let's see if they can be fooled with the truth."

S-14SECZONE

Lookit that, a remotely operated communications/power bus relay, currently disconnected.

The remote studies the relay, then attempts to reconnect it.
(OOC: Its a maintenence drone, so it has repair equipment along with it.)

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Everyone Else


The Marines quickly dispatch five of the Blue priestesses, jellifying them quite nicely. The sixth charges in front of the dais, bringing a nasty-looking bladed weapon from under her robes.

Timberton sighs, and tells her men, "Just stun the silly thing." While they'd rather use their suit combat claws or heavy weapons, they comply.

S-14, Comm Array, Forward Antenna Farm

The remote studies the relay, then attempts to reconnect it.
(OOC: Its a maintenence drone, so it has repair equipment along with it.)
Oh, with enough fiber optics and such, a quick patch is made. The comm array is now powered.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Everyone Else
Timberton sighs, and tells her men, "Just stun the silly thing." While they'd rather use their suit combat claws or heavy weapons, they comply.
They quickly incapacitate the last priestess.

One of the Minis, looking out of a very thick window, speaks into a microphone. "They did just launch a raid to our city, and obviously we were the goal... if appropriate, then tell the truth."
"Well, I'll get as close as possible, at least."

Sorry about the delay... I have no idea exactly where we're supposed to go, it got lost in the mayhem. But we've just come from the mini city, and we're carrying some captured aliens.

The Blues immediately shoot the strangest thing they see--Gecko Boy--with their ultrasonic stun weapons. Getting hit with one is bad enough. Getting hit with three is worse. Getting hit with three, and one of them being critical, is far worse. Not only is David stunned, he is also suffering from internal bleeding in his limbs as capillaries across his body are disrupted.

Well, now I'm actually glad that he broke his leg earlier on.

As soon as he could, he painfully crawled off the cieling and out of the room.

"Dochan! Where's that nanocontroller I gave you! I'm in pain, here!"

David slumped against the wall, slightly delirious. "Why d'you people always have to take the hard way? We could've at least tried being nice."

S-14, Comm Array, Forward Antenna Farm

Oh, with enough fiber optics and such, a quick patch is made. The comm array is now powered.


Withdrawing the remote back to the probe, Sauscony taps into the comms array and begins to try accessing the network again. This time she is she is not moving her conciousness around inside, but just extending feelers. She knows she won't be as effective, but the near-injury she had in the last network has made her more cautious.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Everyone Else

They quickly incapacitate the last priestess.

Timberton turns to Hideki and the rest of the group. "Well, we'll just get ready for the inevitable reinforcements. I suggest you gentlemen do your thing quickly."


As soon as he could, he painfully crawled off the cieling and out of the room. "Dochan! Where's that nanocontroller I gave you! I'm in pain, here!" David slumped against the wall, slightly delirious. "Why d'you people always have to take the hard way? We could've at least tried being nice."

The Cetagandan medic kneels beside David. "Just a minute, I'll try and patch you up. Do you have any nanomeds or implants in your body or recently taken any drugs?"

S-14, Classroom, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Very good. Who must we meet to arrange a trade agreement?"
"I shall bring you to a Coordinator, as the Mother of Us All does not want to meet visitors right now."

The Blues bring the Snel to some coordinator's quarters via a transport car. There, a Blue Coordinator with an elaborate insignia painted on her carapace greets them. Start your pitch!

"Hello. Is it correct to assume that you attempted to organize trade with the others? You may find us more accomodating. We are interested in acquiring large amounts of information, and, in return, we can provide you with advanced technology in nearly all fields."

S-14 Local Area C-Space

Incoming data- digital executable program. Filing for later analysis.
Perhaps it would help you to know that I'm biological, not electronic. Don't try sending me any more programs that I can't run. I just want information.
Oh no you don't. It stings. Quite a bit.

Meat damage is a bad thing for a decker, even one using bioware; the Crana has just lost a large amount of its long-term memory.

Oh yes I do. But that doesn't preclude damage. The program itself can't do anything, since it's trying to attack an incompatible system- but the ability of a brain to re-wire itself becomes nuisance when it starts doing it when it's unneeded. Some of the electrical pulses were misinterpreted as sensory input, leading to temporary aphasia. When the Crana recovered., which it didn't realize that it had, not knowing that anything was wrong to begin with, it discovered that part of its memory was missing.

Well, that wasn't very nice. Hmm. Let's see if I can tap into an amplifier....


Rama
The Supreme Coordinator momentarily turned to face the other way. "Does the advisory approve?"

"Very well. It is now just a matter of selecting exactly what information and devices each of us most desires. Do you wish to visit the Port or the Armory first?"
"Armory."

"Guard," The human re-enters the room. "Escort our guests to the Personnel Armory. Simply make a list of the items you would like, and we shall try to secure them for you."

(OOC: And now, I have to write out a list of all the stuff available....)

S-14, Transport Car, ???, That Poor 'Ol Larva and TJ
The Crana larva in the transport car with the two humans from Tahar Joblis waited a moment, and then looked at the screen again. "So, Alpha... how long until we get to the Blue Mother?"
There is no response. The car glides to a stop.


And so, the larva crawls out.

The Cetagandan medic kneels beside David. "Just a minute, I'll try and patch you up. Do you have any nanomeds or implants in your body or recently taken any drugs?"

"Yes, in my leg. Nanites, repairing the bone. You should be able to reprogram them to repair blood vessels, too, with the controller...."

S-14, Gate Check, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
Sorry about the delay... I have no idea exactly where we're supposed to go, it got lost in the mayhem. But we've just come from the mini city, and we're carrying some captured aliens.]
The guard looks up from her clipboard. Aliens?

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Lotsa People
The area seems to be completely vacant; motion sensors are detecting no motion towards the party's position.

The central dais has a cylindrical column in the middle of it about a meter in diameter and a meter tall. On its top is a transparent hemispherical cover that contains hundreds of small hexagonal containers that resemble petri dishes. There is a small press-tab on the side of the column facing a blank wall.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Hello. Is it correct to assume that you attempted to organize trade with the others? You may find us more accomodating. We are interested in acquiring large amounts of information, and, in return, we can provide you with advanced technology in nearly all fields."
"Excellent. What sort of information do you desire in exchange for your weapons and computer technology?"

S-14 Local Area C-Space
Oh yes I do.
*brandishes the Point-ed GM Stick*
But that doesn't preclude damage...

Well, that wasn't very nice. Hmm. Let's see if I can tap into an amplifier....
Sorry... I must be having a dense moment--I'm not catching the relevance. Or, in text-based adventure terms: "What are you trying to do again?"

Rama
"Guard," The human re-enters the room. "Escort our guests to the Personnel Armory. Simply make a list of the items you would like, and we shall try to secure them for you."
The Red Coordinator taps her fingers together. "Eeeeexcellent."

S-14, Transport Car Access Tunnel, ???, That Poor 'Ol Larva and TJ
And so, the larva crawls out.
It finds itself in a long access tunnel in the middle of nowhere. It snakes out in every concievable direction, with hundreds of hatches on the ceilings and floors.

The guard looks up from her clipboard. Aliens?

That's what I said. A couple mammals and a few giant lizards.

The central dais has a cylindrical column in the middle of it about a meter in diameter and a meter tall. On its top is a transparent hemispherical cover that contains hundreds of small hexagonal containers that resemble petri dishes. There is a small press-tab on the side of the column facing a blank wall.

Jeff Cobbler and R-Diana approach the column.
"R-Diana, do you suppose that these might be genetic samples? Like keeping eggs in cryo for later use?"

R-Diana runs any scans if she can.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Hello. Is it correct to assume that you attempted to organize trade with the others? You may find us more accomodating. We are interested in acquiring large amounts of information, and, in return, we can provide you with advanced technology in nearly all fields."
"Excellent. What sort of information do you desire in exchange for your weapons and computer technology?"

"Anything that we do not already know is fair game. And that includes nearly everything about your race. Our escort was kind enough to give us an overview of your history, basic technology, and culture, but we prefer something more comprehensive. Perhaps you have original records, old journals or similar from the original inhabitants and builders of this vessel, or perhaps you could lend us your obvious expertise in logistics and social engineering."


S-14 Local Area C-Space
Oh yes I do.
*brandishes the Point-ed GM Stick*

*Chuckle*


But that doesn't preclude damage...

Well, that wasn't very nice. Hmm. Let's see if I can tap into an amplifier....
Sorry... I must be having a dense moment--I'm not catching the relevance. Or, in text-based adventure terms: "What are you trying to do again?"

Well, it was trying to find Alpha, but now it's just trying to find an amplifier so that it can contact someone outside and get its memories back.


Rama
"Guard," The human re-enters the room. "Escort our guests to the Personnel Armory. Simply make a list of the items you would like, and we shall try to secure them for you."
The Red Coordinator taps her fingers together. "Eeeeexcellent."

When they get to the armory, the human escort spoke again. "You will find that Snels do not like killing other things. There is little in the way of lethal weaponry that can be found in their catalog. But, of course, us humans have supplied Rama with quite a suitable collection."

They begin going through the rows of weapons, where they can see things such as the following:

Tasers, Masers, Pulse Laser Rifles, sonic beam weapons, dart rifles and pistols (2 types of darts, one containing instantly lethal poison, the other containing poison designed to cause extreme agony for a short period of time), kevlar suits (of course, those would have to be specially re-made for the space-ants), stun grenades, Green Blinders, and a few small vials marked "Blue", "Red", and "Khaki Gold".


S-14, Transport Car Access Tunnel, ???, That Poor 'Ol Larva and TJ
And so, the larva crawls out.
It finds itself in a long access tunnel in the middle of nowhere. It snakes out in every concievable direction, with hundreds of hatches on the ceilings and floors.

Choices, choices. It decides to follow a semi-random algorithm until it finds something useful. Forward for (R) distance, turn right or left. Forward for (R) distance, go up. Forward for (R) distance, turn the other way. Forward for (R) distance, go down. Repeat.

S-14, Outside the Gates, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
That's what I said. A couple mammals and a few giant lizards.
The guard taps her antennae together. Do you require additional security forces? We lost contact with the rest of the expedition. What can you report?

S-14, Shrine of The Ancients, Forward Spar, Giant Party
Jeff Cobbler and R-Diana approach the column.
"R-Diana, do you suppose that these might be genetic samples? Like keeping eggs in cryo for later use?"

R-Diana runs any scans if she can.
R-Diana removes the cover and examines one of the petri dishes. "Well," it says, "each one has a unique strain of virus inside. They appear to have been genetically engineered but are biologically inert... for all intents and purposes, dead. From what I can make out they're harmless; they lack the binding points needed to enter cells."

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Anything that we do not already know is fair game. And that includes nearly everything about your race. Our escort was kind enough to give us an overview of your history, basic technology, and culture, but we prefer something more comprehensive. Perhaps you have original records, old journals or similar from the original inhabitants and builders of this vessel, or perhaps you could lend us your obvious expertise in logistics and social engineering."
"We have a great deal of historical relics in the Shrine of the..." The Coordinator freezes, then begins drumming its fingers together. "Spite. Things are going very poorly for us at the moment. Would you mind so very much if you simply lent us some weapons for the moment and we pay you back in information later?

S-14 Local Area C-Space
Well, it was trying to find Alpha, but now it's just trying to find an amplifier so that it can contact someone outside and get its memories back.
It can interact with the speaker on the console that it is jacked into. When the Crana larva flees, the Blue decker doesn't pursue.

Rama
The fleshy one speaks a bit, then gets to the point. Tasers, Masers, Pulse Laser Rifles, sonic beam weapons, dart rifles and pistols (2 types of darts, one containing instantly lethal poison, the other containing poison designed to cause extreme agony for a short period of time), kevlar suits (of course, those would have to be specially re-made for the space-ants), stun grenades, Green Blinders, and a few small vials marked "Blue", "Red", and "Khaki Gold".
"Excellent." The Red begins pointing to several items. "The ones you identified as directed microwave weapons (masers) and the pulsed laser weapons seem most interesting. Can they be easily scaled up for vehicle-mounted weaponry?"

S-14, Totally Smegging Lost, ???, Crana Larva
Choices, choices. It decides to follow a semi-random algorithm until it finds something useful. Forward for (R) distance, turn right or left. Forward for (R) distance, go up. Forward for (R) distance, turn the other way. Forward for (R) distance, go down. Repeat.
Lacking any sort of external reference points, the Crana is completely lost. Each tunnel merely leads to more tunnels. From the apparent gravity of 1.3 Earth standard the Crana can tell that it's still relatively near the rim of S-14's habitation torus. Other than that, anything else is mere fancy.

The guard taps her antennae together. Do you require additional security forces? We lost contact with the rest of the expedition. What can you report?

Well, that's easily explainable. The rest are most likely dead. The aliens seemed to waste all their energy on killing the others, though, leaving us to pick 'em up. They're sedated and securely bound.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Anything that we do not already know is fair game. And that includes nearly everything about your race. Our escort was kind enough to give us an overview of your history, basic technology, and culture, but we prefer something more comprehensive. Perhaps you have original records, old journals or similar from the original inhabitants and builders of this vessel, or perhaps you could lend us your obvious expertise in logistics and social engineering."
"We have a great deal of historical relics in the Shrine of the..." The Coordinator freezes, then begins drumming its fingers together. "Spite. Things are going very poorly for us at the moment. Would you mind so very much if you simply lent us some weapons for the moment and we pay you back in information later?

"That would depend greatly on what sort of weapons you want. We are usually wary of trading weapons, since they have such a great potential for misuse. We could perhaps give you some of the lower-powered ones, though."


S-14 Local Area C-Space
Well, it was trying to find Alpha, but now it's just trying to find an amplifier so that it can contact someone outside and get its memories back.
It can interact with the speaker on the console that it is jacked into. When the Crana larva flees, the Blue decker doesn't pursue.

Not quite what I was looking for, but it'll have to do. Too bad I can't find the main transmitter. The Crana proceeded to set up a feedback loop between the speaker amplifier and its own radio transmitter, significantly boosting the signal.

<<Envoy, could you perhaps re-synchronize my memory? Or patch me through to someone who can?>>

Rama
The fleshy one speaks a bit, then gets to the point. Tasers, Masers, Pulse Laser Rifles, sonic beam weapons, dart rifles and pistols (2 types of darts, one containing instantly lethal poison, the other containing poison designed to cause extreme agony for a short period of time), kevlar suits (of course, those would have to be specially re-made for the space-ants), stun grenades, Green Blinders, and a few small vials marked "Blue", "Red", and "Khaki Gold".
"Excellent." The Red begins pointing to several items. "The ones you identified as directed microwave weapons (masers) and the pulsed laser weapons seem most interesting. Can they be easily scaled up for vehicle-mounted weaponry?"

"Well, we have much larger models for spacecraft, but I assume you mean ground vehicles. Yes, I suppose we could manufacture them on such a scale, but it would take a while."


S-14, Totally Smegging Lost, ???, Crana Larva
Choices, choices. It decides to follow a semi-random algorithm until it finds something useful. Forward for (R) distance, turn right or left. Forward for (R) distance, go up. Forward for (R) distance, turn the other way. Forward for (R) distance, go down. Repeat.
Lacking any sort of external reference points, the Crana is completely lost. Each tunnel merely leads to more tunnels. From the apparent gravity of 1.3 Earth standard the Crana can tell that it's still relatively near the rim of S-14's habitation torus. Other than that, anything else is mere fancy.

Seeing as it wasn't finding anything this way, and there wasn't likely to be anything interesting out here anyway, it started heading up, and hoped that it didn't run into a transport car along the way. It seemed most logical that these were transport tunnels, and it would really suck to get squashed.

S-14, Drive On Through, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur
The guard taps her antennae together. Do you require additional security forces? We lost contact with the rest of the expedition. What can you report?

Well, that's easily explainable. The rest are most likely dead. The aliens seemed to waste all their energy on killing the others, though, leaving us to pick 'em up. They're sedated and securely bound.
Good job. Take them to the airfield coordinator. The guard turns and waves to the other guard by the gate; the chain-link gate slides open.

R-Jane quietly slides the armored cover back into place over the gunport.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"That would depend greatly on what sort of weapons you want. We are usually wary of trading weapons, since they have such a great potential for misuse. We could perhaps give you some of the lower-powered ones, though."
"Could you spare us some personnel-portable anti-armor weaponry? We don't need many. We are somewhat... desperate, and time is critical."

S-14 Local Area C-Space / S-14SECZONE
Not quite what I was looking for, but it'll have to do. Too bad I can't find the main transmitter. The Crana proceeded to set up a feedback loop between the speaker amplifier and its own radio transmitter, significantly boosting the signal.

<<Envoy, could you perhaps re-synchronize my memory? Or patch me through to someone who can?>>
Transmission successful!

Rama
"Well, we have much larger models for spacecraft, but I assume you mean ground vehicles. Yes, I suppose we could manufacture them on such a scale, but it would take a while."
"That is acceptable. We have time."

S-14, Totally Smegging Lost, ???, Crana Larva
Seeing as it wasn't finding anything this way, and there wasn't likely to be anything interesting out here anyway, it started heading up, and hoped that it didn't run into a transport car along the way. It seemed most logical that these were transport tunnels, and it would really suck to get squashed.
It must be getting close to the hull of S-14--it can detect signals from the various Snel craft floating about.

S-14, Shrine of The Ancients, Forward Spar, You know who.
R-Diana removes the cover and examines one of the petri dishes. "Well," it says, "each one has a unique strain of virus inside. They appear to have been genetically engineered but are biologically inert... for all intents and purposes, dead. From what I can make out they're harmless; they lack the binding points needed to enter cells."

Jeff scratches his head, "Hmmm, what do you do with dead viruses?"
He pauses to think, "R-Diana, would you mind replacing cover, except, keep a dish sealed up safely outside of it."
She hermetically seals the dish she is holding (somehow, she's a bio-bot, so i'm assuming she has the means.) She then replaces the cover.
"Now what Mr. Cobbler?"

"This...", Jeff flips the switch on the side of the column.

Meanwhile, some of the others examine what they can like the optical assembly, computer core, gold chain, and helmet.

Good job. Take them to the airfield coordinator. The guard turns and waves to the other guard by the gate; the chain-link gate slides open.

R-Jane quietly slides the armored cover back into place over

Griimph looks at R-Jane after the transport moves past the chain-link fence. "That was some excellent subterfuge. Now it should be little trouble to get back to the hangar, yes?"

S-14 Security Zone
'What are the Snel doing?' thinks Sauscony. She'd noticed the heading ship heading from S-14 to Rama, and a simple scan had show things that were certainly not a known species. Given the size of her database, this left her with only one conclusion. 'Perhaps I should give the a call. And monitor their comms.'

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Hello, there. Sauscony here. I'm rather curious as to why you've ferried some our insect buddies onto your ship. Would you explain?


S-14, Shrine of The Ancients, Forward Spar, You know who.

The medic gives David a painkiller, and waits for the controller. Once she has it, the nanites are reprogrammed to heal the burst capilaries.
As they wait for something to happen with that column, Timberton says to Jeff, "If you need it, we can set up link to the fleet. I'm sure someone out there can do a quick analysis of the DNA."

S-14 Security Zone
'What are the Snel doing?' thinks Sauscony. She'd noticed the heading ship heading from S-14 to Rama, and a simple scan had show things that were certainly not a known species. Given the size of her database, this left her with only one conclusion. 'Perhaps I should give the a call. And monitor their comms.'

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Hello, there. Sauscony here. I'm rather curious as to why you've ferried some our insect buddies onto your ship. Would you explain?


S-14, Shrine of The Ancients, Forward Spar, You know who.

The medic gives David a painkiller, and waits for the controller. Once she has it, the nanites are reprogrammed to heal the burst capilaries.
As they wait for something to happen with that column, Timberton says to Jeff, "If you need it, we can set up link to the fleet. I'm sure someone out there can do a quick analysis of the DNA."
Jeff glances at R-Diana, "Sounds good."

Jeff glances at R-Diana, "Sounds good."

A transmitter is quickly assembled, and an analyser from the medic's medkit is attached. "Just stick your sample in here," she says, gesturing towards the machine, "and the data will automatically be relayed to both the flagship and to the xenobiology division on Hawking.

Griimph looks at R-Jane after the transport moves past the chain-link fence. "That was some excellent subterfuge. Now it should be little trouble to get back to the hangar, yes?"

"I'll say. I'm surprised it worked at all. Not to say anything about relieved... I'm surprised they didn't ask to see the aliens. Well, let's keep moving."

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"That would depend greatly on what sort of weapons you want. We are usually wary of trading weapons, since they have such a great potential for misuse. We could perhaps give you some of the lower-powered ones, though."
"Could you spare us some personnel-portable anti-armor weaponry? We don't need many. We are somewhat... desperate, and time is critical."

"What sort of anti-armor? Armor peircing rounds? I'm afraid we don't produce those. Only the humans have them. We can readily supply you with non-lethal weaponry. Green Blinders, sonic disruptors, ...although those can be stepped up to lethal power... pain inducing darts... I think that's about it."

S-14 Local Area C-Space / S-14SECZONE
Not quite what I was looking for, but it'll have to do. Too bad I can't find the main transmitter. The Crana proceeded to set up a feedback loop between the speaker amplifier and its own radio transmitter, significantly boosting the signal.

<<Envoy, could you perhaps re-synchronize my memory? Or patch me through to someone who can?>>
Transmission successful!

W00t! Ah, good. Thanks for the update. Keep watching the channel, I may require further assistance. The Crana went netdiving again... this time making sure to keep part of it's brain disconnected, just in case it needed to do a total reconstruction.

Rama
"Well, we have much larger models for spacecraft, but I assume you mean ground vehicles. Yes, I suppose we could manufacture them on such a scale, but it would take a while."
"That is acceptable. We have time."

"Very well. I'll put through your request, and we'll see what we can do. In the mean time, would you like to see the Port? Or perhaps some of our civillian equipment?"


S-14, Totally Smegging Lost, ???, Crana Larva
Seeing as it wasn't finding anything this way, and there wasn't likely to be anything interesting out here anyway, it started heading up, and hoped that it didn't run into a transport car along the way. It seemed most logical that these were transport tunnels, and it would really suck to get squashed.
It must be getting close to the hull of S-14--it can detect signals from the various Snel craft floating about.

Allo! Whichever craft you are, can you please tell me where the heck I am? The transport car just konked.

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Hello, there. Sauscony here. I'm rather curious as to why you've ferried some our insect buddies onto your ship. Would you explain?

"A large amount of valuable information is available from them."

"A large amount of valuable information is available from them."

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Ah. Which color are they? Do they want anything in return?

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Group
"Now what Mr. Cobbler?"

"This...", Jeff flips the switch on the side of the column.

Meanwhile, some of the others examine what they can like the optical assembly, computer core, gold chain, and helmet.
The tab opens a small door, revealing some sort of optical projection device. It has a small device that screws into a circular cup in the back, small controls on the side, and some sort of optical lens on top. There is a bit of alien writing near the circular cup.

From the burst of stale air and that comes out of the door, it's obvious it hasn't been opened in a long time.

A transmitter is quickly assembled, and an analyser from the medic's medkit is attached. "Just stick your sample in here," she says, gesturing towards the machine, "and the data will automatically be relayed to both the flagship and to the xenobiology division on Hawking.
R-Diana's analysis is accurate; they are biologically inert viral strains that show signs of genetic manipulation. The genome has a definite nonbiological pattern to it, much more structured than the pseudo-randomized collections of nucleotides normally found in viral RNA.

S-14, Sure Fooled Them, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party + Arthur the Con Man
Griimph looks at R-Jane after the transport moves past the chain-link fence. "That was some excellent subterfuge. Now it should be little trouble to get back to the hangar, yes?"
Shuuta pilots the transport at a non-suspicious speed towards the ramp that leads to the cargo elevator. The Red guard, watching the vehicle and noting that it isn't heading towards the airfield's headquarters building, starts jogging after it while waiving its arms in the air. Hey! To the Coordinator's office, not the cargo bays!

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"What sort of anti-armor? Armor peircing rounds? I'm afraid we don't produce those. Only the humans have them. We can readily supply you with non-lethal weaponry. Green Blinders, sonic disruptors, ...although those can be stepped up to lethal power... pain inducing darts... I think that's about it."
"No, we definitely need some sort of anti-heavy personnel armor weapon. Maybe a well-focused directed energy weapon, perhaps?"

S-14 Local Area C-Space
The Crana went netdiving again... this time making sure to keep part of it's brain disconnected, just in case it needed to do a total reconstruction.
Now, what be ye looking for? There's deckers swarming all over the place, and you probably don't want to meet any more of them.

Rama
"Very well. I'll put through your request, and we'll see what we can do. In the mean time, would you like to see the Port? Or perhaps some of our civillian equipment?"
"The Port interests us most at this time."

S-14SECZONE
Allo! Whichever craft you are, can you please tell me where the heck I am? The transport car just konked.
Transmission successful!

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"What sort of anti-armor? Armor peircing rounds? I'm afraid we don't produce those. Only the humans have them. We can readily supply you with non-lethal weaponry. Green Blinders, sonic disruptors, ...although those can be stepped up to lethal power... pain inducing darts... I think that's about it."
"No, we definitely need some sort of anti-heavy personnel armor weapon. Maybe a well-focused directed energy weapon, perhaps?"

"Ah, yes, we do have those. Masers and and Pulsed Laser Rifles are probably what you want. But we must be assured that you will use them only when necessary. No lost lives are to be attributed to our technology."


S-14 Local Area C-Space
The Crana went netdiving again... this time making sure to keep part of it's brain disconnected, just in case it needed to do a total reconstruction.
Now, what be ye looking for? There's deckers swarming all over the place, and you probably don't want to meet any more of them.

Just keeps looking for some way out of the local network. Perhaps a large amplifier that could blast a radio signal out of its normal channels, or a cleverly hidden hardline to tap.

Rama
"Very well. I'll put through your request, and we'll see what we can do. In the mean time, would you like to see the Port? Or perhaps some of our civillian equipment?"
"The Port interests us most at this time."

"Very well, follow me." They are led once more into a transport car, which zooms along beneath the surface until it comes to a stop at the edge of a large field. "This is the main port. There are smaller ones in each of the local hubs, but this should have everything you could ossibly need."

Control towers could be seen in the distance, near a system of runways and terminals. Where they were now, they could see row upon row of StarFish, 1- and 2-man skimmers, a few shuttle craft, a few human science vessels similar to the Farspace Horizon, and 1 or 2 very big Odins.

Transmission successful!

And consequently, the larva finds out that it is situated at...

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Ah. Which color are they? Do they want anything in return?

"Red. Of course they want something in return. They have asked for information about our propulsion and weapons technology. We have agreed to give them such information and specimens as is suitable for what they give us. Not to worry about the weapons- they have restrictions built into them. We are not keen on being the cause of a needless death, however indirectly."

Shuuta pilots the transport at a non-suspicious speed towards the ramp that leads to the cargo elevator. The Red guard, watching the vehicle and noting that it isn't heading towards the airfield's headquarters building, starts jogging after it while waiving its arms in the air. Hey! To the Coordinator's office, not the cargo bays!

"Whoa, Shuuta, pay attention! We don't want to blow our cover just yet. Go where it's telling us to, for now. We'll get to the bays later."

Dangit! Just a minute, we're having some trouble controlling these hunk of metal. The minis must have done some damage. There we go, I think we've got it.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Ah, yes, we do have those. Masers and and Pulsed Laser Rifles are probably what you want. But we must be assured that you will use them only when necessary. No lost lives are to be attributed to our technology."
"Excellent. Those should have the accuracy we need. How soon can we get ten of them?"

S-14 Local Area C-Space
Just keeps looking for some way out of the local network. Perhaps a large amplifier that could blast a radio signal out of its normal channels, or a cleverly hidden hardline to tap.
The local network has not only been physically disconnected from the S-14 network but the ports are now covered in layers of white ice; most of the Blue deckers are working on breaking through the white-iced up ports.

Rama
"Very well, follow me." They are led once more into a transport car, which zooms along beneath the surface until it comes to a stop at the edge of a large field. "This is the main port. There are smaller ones in each of the local hubs, but this should have everything you could ossibly need."

Control towers could be seen in the distance, near a system of runways and terminals. Where they were now, they could see row upon row of StarFish, 1- and 2-man skimmers, a few shuttle craft, a few human science vessels similar to the Farspace Horizon, and 1 or 2 very big Odins.
"Outstanding. Armaments?"

S-14, So THAT's Where It Is, Foreward Side of Habitation Torus, Crana Larva
And consequently, the larva finds out that it is situated at...
The larva is quite near a personnel airlock a few kilometers to the fore. From telemetry data, it seems like transport cars are slowly becoming operational in scattered sections of S-14, none of them remotely close to the Crana.

"Whoa, Shuuta, pay attention! We don't want to blow our cover just yet. Go where it's telling us to, for now. We'll get to the bays later."

Dangit! Just a minute, we're having some trouble controlling these hunk of metal. The minis must have done some damage. There we go, I think we've got it.


"Very well. We'll go to this Coordinator's office. I assume it is the guarded structure over there?"

OOC: Assuming that one of the buildings is guarded.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Ah, yes, we do have those. Masers and and Pulsed Laser Rifles are probably what you want. But we must be assured that you will use them only when necessary. No lost lives are to be attributed to our technology."
"Excellent. Those should have the accuracy we need. How soon can we get ten of them?"

"Depending on how long it takes the order to be processed, we can probably have them delivered in 5, maybe 6 hours."


S-14 Local Area C-Space
Just keeps looking for some way out of the local network. Perhaps a large amplifier that could blast a radio signal out of its normal channels, or a cleverly hidden hardline to tap.
The local network has not only been physically disconnected from the S-14 network but the ports are now covered in layers of white ice; most of the Blue deckers are working on breaking through the white-iced up ports.

"Well, it seems like the network is totally disconnected. Your counterparts weren't too nice, but they seem to be doing a fairly good job of clearing the firewalls. I'll keep looking for Alpha."

<<Recall- Program::Wildfire>>

The Crana released a multi-vectored worm/trojan into the network, copies of which were soon melting their ways through every iceblock in sight.

Rama
"Very well, follow me." They are led once more into a transport car, which zooms along beneath the surface until it comes to a stop at the edge of a large field. "This is the main port. There are smaller ones in each of the local hubs, but this should have everything you could possibly need."

Control towers could be seen in the distance, near a system of runways and terminals. Where they were now, they could see row upon row of StarFish, 1- and 2-man skimmers, a few shuttle craft, a few human science vessels similar to the Farspace Horizon, and 1 or 2 very big Odins.
"Outstanding. Armaments?"

"The standard StarFish is equipped witb 5 rotatable CO2 lasers, one at the end of each arm. The hull is capable of withstanding nearly 1000 meters of water pressure. The slightly larger Firestorms are designed specifically for combat, and have double the lasers, which can be set for automatic tracking and firing, has a point-deflector, and is also equipped with an EMP dish on the underside."

"The various skimmercraft are 1- or 2-man vehicles, and are capable of carrying a wide variety of armaments. Usually, they have a dual machine gun, a pulse laser, and a maser, but that's not always the case. Almost any weapon that can be made small enough can be mounted on them, even spheromak plasma guns, though we rarely use those."


S-14, So THAT's Where It Is, Foreward Side of Habitation Torus, Crana Larva
And consequently, the larva finds out that it is situated at...
The larva is quite near a personnel airlock a few kilometers to the fore. From telemetry data, it seems like transport cars are slowly becoming operational in scattered sections of S-14, none of them remotely close to the Crana.

The Crana larva began seeking out said airlock. Perhaps it could find a computer terminal, or map, or something useful there.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Group

R-Diana's analysis is accurate; they are biologically inert viral strains that show signs of genetic manipulation. The genome has a definite nonbiological pattern to it, much more structured than the pseudo-randomized collections of nucleotides normally found in viral RNA.

"Before we had access to nanotech genetic manipulation, we would sometime use viruses to perform medical gene alteration," says Medic Howard. "Its possible that this might be something similar, or some kind of biological information storage. Perhaps if we had a sample from one of the insects to compare to..." She looks over at a nearby splatter of bug. Taking a sample that looks like it wasn't hit by an energy weapon, she places in the analyser.

S-14 Security Zone

"Red. Of course they want something in return. They have asked for information about our propulsion and weapons technology. We have agreed to give them such information and specimens as is suitable for what they give us. Not to worry about the weapons- they have restrictions built into them. We are not keen on being the cause of a needless death, however indirectly."

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Ah. I assume these restrictions would prevent them from being fired on humans? There are a considerable number of people still aboard S-14, including a number of Marines in powered armor. I just want to make sure that the native don't get any weapons that might threaten them before they have been withdrawn.

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Ah. I assume these restrictions would prevent them from being fired on humans? There are a considerable number of people still aboard S-14, including a number of Marines in powered armor. I just want to make sure that the native don't get any weapons that might threaten them before they have been withdrawn.

"Target identification is not included. The weapons are restricted in power and 're-load' time. You people should have plenty of time to remove themselves from danger before the weapons are deployed, anyhow."

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Group
The tab opens a small door, revealing some sort of optical projection device. It has a small device that screws into a circular cup in the back, small controls on the side, and some sort of optical lens on top. There is a bit of alien writing near the circular cup.

From the burst of stale air and that comes out of the door, it's obvious it hasn't been opened in a long time.

R-Diana's analysis is accurate; they are biologically inert viral strains that show signs of genetic manipulation. The genome has a definite nonbiological pattern to it, much more structured than the pseudo-randomized collections of nucleotides normally found in viral RNA.

"Hmm, a microscope perhaps." Jeff puts the object together and holds it away from his face, and anyone else, no point in accidentaly lasing anything.

S-14, A Private Pyle Moment, Ring Plain, Sakkran Party
Dangit! Just a minute, we're having some trouble controlling these hunk of metal. The minis must have done some damage. There we go, I think we've got it.
Sorry to hear that; I'll get some techs to look into it.

"Very well. We'll go to this Coordinator's office. I assume it is the guarded structure over there?"

OOC: Assuming that one of the buildings is guarded.
The guard, seeing the vehicle swerve back towards the guarded headquarters building, returns to her post; line-of-sight to the gate is soon blocked by the hangars and attendant airfield buildings along the way. When approaching the HQ, the party notes a street that runs in front of it; going left would lead towards the cargo ramp while going right would head towards the flight line. Going straight would lead to what Shuuta assumes to be the HQ.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Depending on how long it takes the order to be processed, we can probably have them delivered in 5, maybe 6 hours."
"Five or six whats? How many <time intervals> is that?"

S-14 Local Area C-Space
<<Recall- Program::Wildfire>>

The Crana released a multi-vectored worm/trojan into the network, copies of which were soon melting their ways through every iceblock in sight.
Finding system integrity compromised by some sort of alien virus, the Blue deckers get the hell out. The ice seems to be doing quite well against the worms, but it eventually becomes apparent that it doesn't lead to much of anything at all.

Suddenly, a large portion of c-space a distance away merely flickers--disappearing for a moment and then recompiling into an empty room. The section next to it does the same thing. Then the section next to that.

The data port the Crana came in from is nearby.

Rama
"The standard StarFish is equipped witb 5 rotatable CO2 lasers, one at the end of each arm. The hull is capable of withstanding nearly 1000 meters of water pressure. The slightly larger Firestorms are designed specifically for combat, and have double the lasers, which can be set for automatic tracking and firing, has a point-deflector, and is also equipped with an EMP dish on the underside."

"The various skimmercraft are 1- or 2-man vehicles, and are capable of carrying a wide variety of armaments. Usually, they have a dual machine gun, a pulse laser, and a maser, but that's not always the case. Almost any weapon that can be made small enough can be mounted on them, even spheromak plasma guns, though we rarely use those."
"We will take as many as you are willing to give. I will even throw in this life here"--the Coordinator slaps a different Red on the back--"with experience in the very heart of our core systems if that will increase the number."

S-14, So THAT's Where It Is, Foreward Side of Habitation Torus, Crana Larva
The Crana larva began seeking out said airlock. Perhaps it could find a computer terminal, or map, or something useful there.
After a bit of wandering, the larva finds the airlock--a standard personnel model. There don't seem to be anything analogous to computer terminals or maps, but it is a means of escape.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Group
"Before we had access to nanotech genetic manipulation, we would sometime use viruses to perform medical gene alteration," says Medic Howard. "Its possible that this might be something similar, or some kind of biological information storage. Perhaps if we had a sample from one of the insects to compare to..." She looks over at a nearby splatter of bug. Taking a sample that looks like it wasn't hit by an energy weapon, she places in the analyser.
The ex-bug's DNA is completely different from the virus' RNA. Introducing the two to each other would be like introducing a limpet to a walking stick. Neither could do much about the other.

"Hmm, a microscope perhaps." Jeff puts the object together and holds it away from his face, and anyone else, no point in accidentaly lasing anything.
The odd optical device cannot be removed from its mounting on the pedestal. The scanning head is now affixed to where it belongs, its detectors pointing towards the sample dish.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"Depending on how long it takes the order to be processed, we can probably have them delivered in 5, maybe 6 hours."
"Five or six whats? How many <time intervals> is that?"

"We seem to be having trouble with units of measure. Oh well, that is to be expected. Hmm... one quarter of the rotational period of the 3rd planet. Do you know that?"


S-14 Local Area C-Space
<<Recall- Program::Wildfire>>

The Crana released a multi-vectored worm/trojan into the network, copies of which were soon melting their ways through every iceblock in sight.
Finding system integrity compromised by some sort of alien virus, the Blue deckers get the hell out. The ice seems to be doing quite well against the worms, but it eventually becomes apparent that it doesn't lead to much of anything at all.

Suddenly, a large portion of c-space a distance away merely flickers--disappearing for a moment and then recompiling into an empty room. The section next to it does the same thing. Then the section next to that.

The data port the Crana came in from is nearby.

When the Crana noticed data streams going dead, it double-checked that it wasn't going into involuntary transfer, kept its conciousness in its body where it belonged, and started investigating the most remote datastreams it could find, waiting for the icewall to crack. If the data port got cut, the Crana would lose sensory input for a moment while switching back to the real world, but no permanent damage would be done. (OOC: Note that it's only percieving datastreams, like a modem. It doesn't bother wasting processing power on a visual representation of c-space.)

Rama
"We will take as many as you are willing to give. I will even throw in this life here"--the Coordinator slaps a different Red on the back--"with experience in the very heart of our core systems if that will increase the number."

"Ah hah. Well, I'm not really the Authority the on that, but I'd estimate we can probably spare, oh, 5 StarFish, maybe 40 or 50 skimmer/sweepers. Firestorms are a bit pricey though, we can probably spare 2, but the higher-ups might not agree. Leave out something else, and I can almost guarantee a Firestorm. That just leaves the question of what armaments you would like on the skimmers. Standard, or do you want the spheromaks, or missile launchers and whatnot?"

S-14, So THAT's Where It Is, Foreward Side of Habitation Torus, Crana Larva
The Crana larva began seeking out said airlock. Perhaps it could find a computer terminal, or map, or something useful there.
After a bit of wandering, the larva finds the airlock--a standard personnel model. There don't seem to be anything analogous to computer terminals or maps, but it is a means of escape.

Escape wouldn't be very useful, so it just waited around for the cars to start up again. It would be dissapointing to miss meeting the Blue Mother.

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters, Forward Spar, Snel Party #2
"We seem to be having trouble with units of measure. Oh well, that is to be expected. Hmm... one quarter of the rotational period of the 3rd planet. Do you know that?"
"Oh." The Blue Coordinator folds her arms. "Any way we can speed that up?"

S-14 Local Area C-Space
When the Crana noticed data streams going dead, it double-checked that it wasn't going into involuntary transfer, kept its conciousness in its body where it belonged, and started investigating the most remote datastreams it could find, waiting for the icewall to crack. If the data port got cut, the Crana would lose sensory input for a moment while switching back to the real world, but no permanent damage would be done. (OOC: Note that it's only percieving datastreams, like a modem. It doesn't bother wasting processing power on a visual representation of c-space.)
Well, it got the Blues so creeped that they formatted the LAN. Thank goodness for backups and hardcopy, no?

Rama
"Ah hah. Well, I'm not really the Authority the on that, but I'd estimate we can probably spare, oh, 5 StarFish, maybe 40 or 50 skimmer/sweepers. Firestorms are a bit pricey though, we can probably spare 2, but the higher-ups might not agree. Leave out something else, and I can almost guarantee a Firestorm. That just leaves the question of what armaments you would like on the skimmers. Standard, or do you want the spheromaks, or missile launchers and whatnot?"
"We will leave out two StarFish for one Firestorm. We wish half of the skimmers to be equipped with standard weapons and half to be equipped with heavier weapons. The mix is at your discretion."

S-14, So THAT's Where It Is, Foreward Side of Habitation Torus, Crana Larva
Escape wouldn't be very useful, so it just waited around for the cars to start up again. It would be dissapointing to miss meeting the Blue Mother.
Might take a while. Hum-te-da-dummm...

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Group
The ex-bug's DNA is completely different from the virus' RNA. Introducing the two to each other would be like introducing a limpet to a walking stick. Neither could do much about the other.

The odd optical device cannot be removed from its mounting on the pedestal. The scanning head is now affixed to where it belongs, its detectors pointing towards the sample dish.

Jeff looks over, "Ask em' what the RNA is similar to."
Meanwhile other team members examine the niches in the wall, trying to examine as best they can the objects placed there.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Group
Jeff looks over, "Ask em' what the RNA is similar to."
Meanwhile other team members examine the niches in the wall, trying to examine as best they can the objects placed there.
The RNA is not... really similar to anything organic. It's looks like its coding something, but not anything that could ever possibly live.

The optical assembly is an ancient crystalline structure storage medium. It is meticulously maintained but unusable; the port that connects to it has been irreparably damaged.

The battered thing is exactly that--battered. It looks like was a computer core at one time, but it has been beaten beyond usefulness.

The heavy gold necklace is a wide-banded necklace with odd precious gems set into it.

The strange mechanical device is... well... very strange and obviously mechanical. It looks like a pepper grater stuck onto an adding machine.

The oddly shaped helmet has electrodes all over the inside and a big, long cable sticking out of one end.

S-14 Security Zone

"Target identification is not included. The weapons are restricted in power and 're-load' time. You people should have plenty of time to remove themselves from danger before the weapons are deployed, anyhow."
{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Another point I am worried about is what selling weapons might do to the situation inside S-14. The situation is already unstable, and giving any side an advantage could result in genocide of the others. I'm particuarly worried about what could happen to the Minis. They're being quite helpful, and I don't think I could honorably allow an action that might result in danger to them, especially if that action could endanger the lives of my team and my allies' teams. Couldn't you try to find an alternate source for the information you want.

{Fleet Comms: Tightbeam Transmission IEV Fourty-Two? => Hornet}
{M16 Security Protocols, TYCS Encryption Routines}

Flag Captain Sato, SHODAN, I'm very concerned over the actions of Snel. They seem to be preparing to sell weapons to at least the Reds and likely the Blues as well, given the last known location of one of their parties. I am extreamly worried about what this could lead to, especially for the Minis, the Sakkra party, and the party on the forward spar. While we have superior firepower there, that could change drastically if modern weapons are sold to them. As for the Minis, we know the Reds and Blues are already trying to wipe them out. Who knows what could happen if they get these weapons. I do not doubt that the Reds or Blues would use their newfound advantage to commit genocide.
I do not feel that we should allow our teams or our new Mini allies to be placed in such danger. Flag Captain Sato and SHODAN, as you are senior Triumvirate military officer and political representative on station respectively, I am formally requesting your permission to halt any weapons shipments to S-14.

S-14SECZONE
{Fleet Comms: Tightbeam Transmission IEV Fourty-Two? => Hornet}
{M16 Security Protocols, TYCS Encryption Routines}

Flag Captain Sato, SHODAN, I'm very concerned over the actions of Snel. They seem to be preparing to sell weapons to at least the Reds and likely the Blues as well, given the last known location of one of their parties. I am extreamly worried about what this could lead to, especially for the Minis, the Sakkra party, and the party on the forward spar. While we have superior firepower there, that could change drastically if modern weapons are sold to them. As for the Minis, we know the Reds and Blues are already trying to wipe them out. Who knows what could happen if they get these weapons.
I do not feel that we should allow our teams or our new Mini allies to be placed in such danger. Flag Captain Sato and SHODAN, as you are senior Triumvirate military officer and political representative on station respectively, I am formally requesting your permission to halt any weapons shipments to S-14.
<Tightbeam Communications - Hornet -> Fourty-Two>
SHODAN: Even I don't believe in making a few quid on other peoples' blood. Rijil, your opinion?

Rijil: Agreed... and the Cetagandan, Berserker, and Karmabaijani groups are in a vital location filled with ancient technology. We can't risk its destruction from some counterattack.

Sato: So we're all in agreement. Ma'am, can you cover the Snel?

SHODAN: Consider it done. S-14SECZONE QACF fleets diverted.

Sato: RCS Bravo will be redirected to blockade on the S-14 end. So, who's going to drop this on the Snel? If I do it, it could be percieved as a military threat.

Rijil: Don't look at me. I have nothing to do with this.

SHODAN: All right, I'm on it.
<transmission terminates>

<Communications to Rama>
{
<< It has come to my attention that you are providing weapons to the combatting forces in S-14. This will not do... last time I checked, our ideals told us to stop fights, not provide for them.

<< The QACF local forces have been redirected to blockade your vessel. Any craft you launch will submit to immediate search, to ensure the peace.
}

http://www.womengamers.com/dw/sshock2_rev.jpg
S.H.O.D.A.N. v3.0 : MCP, Q01

They know where they are, but not where to go

<<Open Hail>>
"Anyone near this position, [position], this is Naym Les, of the Karmabaijani KSPA. Please respond.
<<Over>>

Shrine of the Antients
"Could the RNA strand be an encoding of this "Norm" we keep hearing about?"

Shrine of the Antients
"Could the RNA strand be an encoding of this "Norm" we keep hearing about?"

The medic shakes her head. "Not unless its meant to be read by a computer or something. Have you tried putting them under that lens thingy?"

{Fleet Comms: IEV Fourty-Two? => Rama / RELAY => Flagship}
Another point I am worried about is what selling weapons might do to the situation inside S-14. The situation is already unstable, and giving any side an advantage could result in genocide of the others. I'm particuarly worried about what could happen to the Minis. They're being quite helpful, and I don't think I could honorably allow an action that might result in danger to them, especially if that action could endanger the lives of my team and my allies' teams. Couldn't you try to find an alternate source for the information you want.

"Unfortunately, weapons are the only things that they would accept. We have been reluctant, and only after the offer of a life were we persuaded to agree to their requests. But we do not sell lethal weaponry. You should know that. All of our truly powerful weapons are mounted on ships, which they could not take inside. If anything they acquire from this ship causes instability, take it up with the humans, for it shall be their weaposn that cause it. And we are making sure to trade with both sides as evenly as possible."

<< It has come to my attention that you are providing weapons to the combatting forces in S-14. This will not do... last time I checked, our ideals told us to stop fights, not provide for them.

<< The QACF local forces have been redirected to blockade your vessel. Any craft you launch will submit to immediate search, to ensure the peace.

"Thank you for your cooperation. If you ensure that the blockade is kept discreet until the final moment, it will work out best. Perfect- it will not amount to dishonesty on our part, since you are putting up the blockade, and yet it will also prevent our technology from causing terminance. A novel solution. Please congratulate whoever thought of it."

"Oh." The Blue Coordinator folds her arms. "Any way we can speed that up?"

"Unlikely."

Well, it got the Blues so creeped that they formatted the LAN. Thank goodness for backups and hardcopy, no?

Yes. Well, it seems your counterparts have completely cleaned and disconnected the network. This hub is dead. Perhaps we should move on?

"We will leave out two StarFish for one Firestorm. We wish half of the skimmers to be equipped with standard weapons and half to be equipped with heavier weapons. The mix is at your discretion."

"It shall be arranged. Now, we are left only with the civillian division. Come, I shall show you what technology we have to offer in non-combat areas."

Might take a while. Hum-te-da-dummm...

No problem for someone who lacks a human's limited attention span. It shall wait until waiting is filled.

The medic shakes her head. "Not unless its meant to be read by a computer or something. Have you tried putting them under that lens thingy?"

David, starting to stand rather unsteadily: "Hey! Maybe it's one o' them genetic-computer thingys."

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Party
"Could the RNA strand be an encoding of this "Norm" we keep hearing about?"
The medic shakes her head. "Not unless its meant to be read by a computer or something. Have you tried putting them under that lens thingy?"
After putting a viral sample into the cup, the party sees the ancient projector shimmy to life. A holographic image of a bizarrely shaped, multi-hued insect will appear. It seems to incorporate aspects from all S-14 races and has a brightly colored carapace in varying shades of red, blue, green, black, brown, and white. It speaks in an unintelligible language which Cetagandan translation protocols can only translate with a five-second lag.

"Operational mission briefing, New Home project. The objective of this mission are to bring our civilization to our new home, designated Mission, in the spiral galaxy adjacent to our own. Primary objectives is to ensure the survival of our species and our culture and to escape the increasing radiation levels of our own home galaxy due to the unexplained rash of stellar novae. The novae are increasings both in strength and frequency, and so we must escape.

"Fleet Status Report. All systems read operational aboard the New Home project flotilla. Central intelligences Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Lambda are fully operational aboard the six habitat vessels, and fourty-five thousand life support ice-water and microbiology tender vessels are complete. All colonists have boarded for the multigenerational journey and have been briefed, Commander.

"System Status Report. Aboard this flagship, Alpha, the electromagnetic shield is fully functional and the hydrogen ramscoops are ready for initialization. The fusion reactors have been fired up to 90% operational capacity and are ready for launch burn on your mark."

The image continues describing several systems in extreme detail.

"Primary objective report, Prime Edict. As you know full well, Commander, the extremely long time frame of this mission combined with our species' short generational span ensures that deviations will occur. All colonists have been briefed on this eventuality in the form of the Prime Edict: All variations from the genetic norm are to be minimized through the application of genetic modification and maintenance protocols. Any variation found to be detrimental or anathema to the survival of the species as a whole is to be destroyed."

"Hey! I was right! Cool. Are there any terminals in here? Control interface or datajack?"

S-14SECZONE
"Thank you for your cooperation. If you ensure that the blockade is kept discreet until the final moment, it will work out best. Perfect- it will not amount to dishonesty on our part, since you are putting up the blockade, and yet it will also prevent our technology from causing terminance. A novel solution. Please congratulate whoever thought of it."
<CommandSpool, QACF/HCR Black I.C.E>
{
[Rama] >> Understood. Will act with discretion.
}

QACF/HCR Black I.C.E.
Flag, QACF:S-14SECZONE

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters
"Unlikely."
"Spite. We will have to wait then."

S-14, Blue Communications Hut
Yes. Well, it seems your counterparts have completely cleaned and disconnected the network. This hub is dead. Perhaps we should move on?
The Blue technician taps her antennae together. They did? Do you know why?

Rama
"It shall be arranged. Now, we are left only with the civillian division. Come, I shall show you what technology we have to offer in non-combat areas."
The Reds follows, but with obviously less interest.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients
"Hey! I was right! Cool. Are there any terminals in here? Control interface or datajack?"
David is in no condition to be exuberant right about now. Being 90% bruised is pretty bad.

David is in no condition to be exuberant right about now. Being 90% bruised is pretty bad.

Oh, he's not exuberant- he's delirious. But he was right.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Party
"Could the RNA strand be an encoding of this "Norm" we keep hearing about?"
The medic shakes her head. "Not unless its meant to be read by a computer or something. Have you tried putting them under that lens thingy?"
After putting a viral sample into the cup, the party sees the ancient projector shimmy to life. A holographic image of a bizarrely shaped, multi-hued insect will appear. It seems to incorporate aspects from all S-14 races and has a brightly colored carapace in varying shades of red, blue, green, black, brown, and white. It speaks in an unintelligible language which Cetagandan translation protocols can only translate with a five-second lag.

"Operational mission briefing, New Home project. The objective of this mission are to bring our civilization to our new home, designated Mission, in the spiral galaxy adjacent to our own. Primary objectives is to ensure the survival of our species and our culture and to escape the increasing radiation levels of our own home galaxy due to the unexplained rash of stellar novae. The novae are increasings both in strength and frequency, and so we must escape.

"Fleet Status Report. All systems read operational aboard the New Home project flotilla. Central intelligences Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Lambda are fully operational aboard the six habitat vessels, and fourty-five thousand life support ice-water and microbiology tender vessels are complete. All colonists have boarded for the multigenerational journey and have been briefed, Commander.

"System Status Report. Aboard this flagship, Alpha, the electromagnetic shield is fully functional and the hydrogen ramscoops are ready for initialization. The fusion reactors have been fired up to 90% operational capacity and are ready for launch burn on your mark."

The image continues describing several systems in extreme detail.

"Primary objective report, Prime Edict. As you know full well, Commander, the extremely long time frame of this mission combined with our species' short generational span ensures that deviations will occur. All colonists have been briefed on this eventuality in the form of the Prime Edict: All variations from the genetic norm are to be minimized through the application of genetic modification and maintenance protocols. Any variation found to be detrimental or anathema to the survival of the species as a whole is to be destroyed."
Crichton looks over, "Well that explains everything."
He looks down, "Wait, this means that all the species are not the norm. Guys and gals, we may have an ace up our sleeves."

S-14, Blue Coordinator's Quarters
"Unlikely."
"Spite. We will have to wait then."

"Yes. Now then, where could we contact our vessel? Short of actually taking you there, the best thing would be a two-way radio transmission."


S-14, Blue Communications Hut
Yes. Well, it seems your counterparts have completely cleaned and disconnected the network. This hub is dead. Perhaps we should move on?
The Blue technician taps her antennae together. They did? Do you know why?

Undetermined. They simply shut down all datastreams. This station should still function as a broadcast point, but it is no longer part of the network. My prime projection is that a quarantine operation is being put into action.

The Reds follows, but with obviously less interest.

And is shown an assortment of sonic beam devices, geckopads, short-range cutting lasers, ranging equipment, spectrometers, three vials marked 'blue', 'black', and 'gold', and...

Engines. Basic grav engines, hall effect thrusters, EK thrusters, VASIMR engines, Ion drives, etc.

S-14, Low Gravity Terraces
<<Open Hail>>
"Anyone near this position, [position], this is Naym Les, of the Karmabaijani KSPA. Please respond.
<<Over>>
A strange vocoder-esque voice responds. "We are forward of your position, across the chasm between the terraces. We are a kilometer antispinward of the smoke."

Sure enough, across the chasm is a faintly visible string of smoke.

S-14, Low Gravity Terraces
<<Open Hail>>
"Anyone near this position, [position], this is Naym Les, of the Karmabaijani KSPA. Please respond.
<<Over>>
A strange vocoder-esque voice responds. "We are forward of your position, across the chasm between the terraces. We are a kilometer antispinward of the smoke."

Sure enough, across the chasm is a faintly visible string of smoke.


<<Trans>Unknown Party>>
"Station Calling, Identify yourself. If possible, authenticate Lima Echo Echo Tango."
<<over>>

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Party

Crichton looks over, "Well that explains everything." He looks down, "Wait, this means that all the species are not the norm. Guys and gals, we may have an ace up our sleeves."

"Or they all are the norm, and were intended to have some specialization. Still, better than nothing. Were there other disks to try?"

S-14, Low Gravity Terraces
<<Trans>Unknown Party>>
"Station Calling, Identify yourself. If possible, authenticate Lima Echo Echo Tango."
<<over>>
<<Communications>>
"I am with the Ma-tek party. We are in... trouble."
<<over>>

Ninety kilometers away, the Shadow cursed internally. Asking for help was not something it was intended to do.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Party
"Or they all are the norm, and were intended to have some specialization. Still, better than nothing. Were there other disks to try?"
The other disks are more technical reports and what not. They all show the odd multicolored insect as the Norm, making no mention of Reds, Blues, Greens, or Minis.

S-14, Shrine of the Ancients, Forward Spar, Big Party

The other disks are more technical reports and what not. They all show the odd multicolored insect as the Norm, making no mention of Reds, Blues, Greens, or Minis.

"Perfect. Now all we need to do is find a way to get this information out to the insects, especially the Mothers, in such a way that doesn't let them hide it from each other. Hideki, you've talked with the ship's intelligence, do you think it could help us?"