So Rob is going to go around the jeep despite the warnings from the robot?  The debris was on the far side of the jeep.

OOC: Sorry, I missed that Part. He's just waiting.

Rob is waiting.  Who else is waiting and who is going back to the intersection of trails?

Copper is heading back up the trail ... filming the happy and loyal tactical withdrawal from the warbots.

Johnny is also documenting the loyal relocation of manual labor as we follow our leader and return to the different paths.

Gene reminds everyone to keep sanitizing their hands as he follows back up to the fork in the trail.

... POP !! ... Crackle ! Pop ! ...

OOC: So reading back over the posts, it looks like Johnny, Team Leader Vilfred, and Rob are staying at the overturned jeep to wait for the Stasis Bots and Warbots to arrive, and everyone else (including Team Leader Justin) is going back to the trailhead where the fork was at to avoid a confrontation.  I will go with that for tomorrow's post unless someone says otherwise.

If possible, I try to post a big move on Fridays that will somehow advance the game--new room or area, new bad guy or puzzle, or something that will get you moving.  This is partly because I rarely post on weekends, and partly to make sure we have a steady advancement of the game.

So for those up at the trailhead, please also indicate which trail you want to follow, and I will advance that tomorrow too.

Vilfred follows her fellow troubleshooters back to the other trails. (My previous post suggested everyone move out to head back to the trails. That's where she's going.)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Thu 30 Jan 2014.

Sorry, I missed that.  I interpreted attaching your laser barrel as staying and gearing for a fight.

Since both team leaders are going back to the trailhead, I will assume everyone goes back there...unless they are not going to follow their assigned team leader, which will not go unnoticed, I'm sure.

Standing near the door Cop-R-Iss-1 jockeys around looking for the best angles and which trail has the best lighting to film the assumed approach of the remainder of the team and the warbots. ... Hmmmmm ... I wonder how big a warbot actually is ... heck I haven't even seen a combatbot ... but they made a terrible mess of cafeteria 212-3 in IST sector a while back.

"Remember, everyone, retreating makes us happy!" Mark says as he helps lead the pack back to the entrance.  "I suggest we take the right path because right is always right.  Right?"

[OOC: Yeah, Johnny is going back up the trail as well.]

Gesturing towards the path to the right, Justin nodded to Mark.

If almighty computer wants us to be happy,
It is treasonous to disobey.
To the right, our happiness officer says, crappy
Lives he's paid to fix, so, put bluntly, that way.

He ends this particular rhyme pointing at the right-hand path, conscious of the crappy rhyme he's just delivered...

"That way?" Vilfred says. "Right as red. Let's get off the main road."

As you leave the robot to go back to the entry area, the robot says, "Don't worry.  We'll be right behind you."  It stays and waits at the jeep while you move on.

Back at the fork, you follow the trail to the right (southwest).  It slopes down for about 100 meters before leveling out.  It continues to move more to the right than to center, meaning that it is not exactly leading you to the center where EVE is at.

The trail is a dirt trail, much less conducive to good clone hygeine than the sanitary walls of Alpha Complex's main areas, and certainly more likely to make your equipment get some dust or sand inside.

You have stopped about 120 meters down the trail because you have found something very strange.

In front of you is a decontamination suit, sometimes used for insulating a person against radiation or other toxins.  The suit is empty and laying on the trail as though someone stripped out of it and ran away.  Next to the suit, you see some personal effects, also just sitting there as though abandoned.  They include:

1 laser pistol barrel
1 set of sunglasses
1 tube of "Tan Away" with the label "Never let suntans be the reason you are called a Commie again!"
1 unlabeled aerosol can
2 six sided dice
1 belt pouch that is closed.  The top has a tag that reads "Yellow Access Only"
1 red crystal
1 yellow crystal

The two crystals are about the size and length of a ballpoint pen, and they are translucent.

To your left, you see an even stranger sight.  Among the bushes and smaller trees, a large tree has grown.  You have rarely seen trees except the well pruned one in Alpha Complex courtyards.  This one is not well pruned.  It is about 25 feet tall with myriad branches, covered with leaves, in need of a good pruning.

But it is what is at the base of the tree that is so odd.  You see 4 Alpha Complex uniforms, all of Green clearance.  Their owners are nowhere in sight, but the uniforms are covered with some dark stains.  Next to the uniforms, you see 4 laser pistols (with barrels).

The trail continues forward for about 30 more meters before splitting off to the left (southeast) and right (west).

Copper reaches down and takes the single barrel in the trail and pockets it. Then he clicks on the multicorder and starts filming ... Got to record the findings ... for posterity !

Then he turns to the uniforms at the base of the tree and takes a good look at them and the laser pistols, retrieving on of them. He also records the uniforms taking time to focus on any name patches or service group labels.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:13, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

Gene begins laughing hysterically. "Empty suits!  What a riot.  Hee-hee.

He takes the yellow pouch but makes certain not to open it.  "At a minimum, we should make sure this pouch is cleaned and returned to its owner, and I volunteer to do just that.  Please, everyone, wipe down your boots and uniforms for a cleanliness inspection in five minutes.

Upon seeing the uniforms, he walks over next to Copper and says, "I wonder what caused these unfortunate stains.  That is very unhygenic.  I hope you are recording this, Copper.  I bet these stains were put there by Commies.  He will investigate the suits and stains.

Justin looks over the remaining effects that Gene didn't remove. Waving to Cop, Justin gestures towards the scene with the decon suit and the items.

Recording officer, I must request
A moment of your time.
As you scan that scene so roughly messed,
Could you take a look at mine?

Curiosities are all around
And there are details to be noted.
And I think that these curiosities we have found
Could relate to EVE's treasonous motive.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Sat 01 Feb 2014.

(Copper already took the laser barrel in the debris.)

And it is a generic barrel that can be used on any laser pistol regardless of clearance.

Fletch-R walks up to the remaining items and picks them up. These items must receive maintenance and be cataloged.

We only have four people doing something?

Fletch and Justin are looking at the dropped equipment.  Fletch is looking at the crystals.  (He can't determine what they are, but they look exactly the same size and shape, so they are obviously used for something.)

Gene and Copper head over to the very large tree with all the branches, vines and leaves.  Gene looks at one of the suits, examining the stain just long enough to realize it is a bloodstain, and then things start happening.

The branches and vines on the tree move quickly--very quickly.  Copper ducks out and under from the branches, escaping them.  Gene, however, is entwined by a vine around his spine.  He begins to whine...

...but it is more of a wheesy sound because the air is being squeezed out of him as the vines constrict.  An area of the tree's trunk opens up, displaying sharp pointed branches resembling teeth and an open maw.

You realize Gene only has about 5 rounds before he is either crushed or eaten.  Gene has one arm trapped and one arm free.

5 Rounds Remaining Until Gene Dies

Copper grabs his laser pistol, attaches the new barrel he got ... then thinks about it for a second ... he slips the barrel into his belt and aims the multicoder at Gene ... Say something heroic !

Gene says, "Gurgle, gurgle!  Get me out of here or you will be wasting a valuable Computer resource that is now being recorded for posterity!"