Desiraye is saddened and aggravated over the situation and how it turned out.  She walks over to Kri'lik and puts his hand on the doctor's shoulder, "You did the best you could with what you had.  Try to collect evidence from the body so we have it to back up any claims so we don't get blamed for foul play.

I'm thinking we should have a chat with his news team and see what we can do?  Obviously, we need to return the body to them so they can return it to his family.  We need to get anything we can out of them.  Did we miss something?

I might be able to give you a hand Porter with the device.  I've had some demolitions training."

His two colleagues say that KitKat didn't pack much.  Other than his journalist equipment, he just brought a bag and some clothes.  They dump out the bag, but all you see there are personal effects and a card from the High Peaks Sanitorium.

The woman reporter says, "He was planning to go back to the Sanitorium once we got to Quazzt's Depression."  You see the address on the card is listed as "High Peaks" in Quaazzt's Depression.  "I guess he won't get that chance now, but his headaches started soon after he got back from there anyway."  She gathers his things to take them away.

S'Krllk begins to work at his bodycomp, and says to Kri'lik, "I'm going to see if I can't get this scanner to narrow its beam and scan that device. While I do, could you speculate on the possibility that such a device could be placed inside the head of a non-Vrusk?"
"I think this whole 'hate the other species' thing is making me think loopy."

OOC: attempting to use the bodycomp to scan the device for structure and function

OOC: Can we assist each other or is it just one of us that can do the check?  I only have a level 2 in Demolitions

BIC: "Whatever that device is, it was obviously planted there by somebody.  Can one of you check out any computer information on this Sanitorium to see if they offer put=patient surgeries?"

OOC: Also Level 2 Demolitions.  I'm happy to lead the process, since I offered first IC.  If Desi could help, though, that would be good.

Porter looks for someplace relatively safe to attempt to disarm the bomb without risking puncturing the walls of the train in case of a mishap.

OOC: All yours!

BIC: "We need to notify the train staff as to what's going on here, I would think?  We don't want them to think WE'RE the one's trying to blow up the train.  I'll handle that then see if we can get a place for Porter (or us) to try and work on it.  We could use a break in this case before the trail goes cold on us."

Desiraye will try to find a security person or a steward and tell them what is going on and try to get some kind of help or guidance for the team.

The device is a one time shot, since a missed roll will result in an explosion (albeit a rather small one) that will destroy the device.

If you have XP to spend, you can use them to upgrade demolitions or other skills during the game.  For example, examining the device closely may provide one with insights that would justify raising the demolition score if you have the XP.  Otherwise, we will proceed with Porter...

Porter successfully deactivates the device.  (21% roll.)  It opens up to reveal some small silicon chips and a tiny radio receiver, as well as an attached explosive charge.  The silicon chips would have to be examined by a computer specialist.

OOC: That worked out but, I did have the XP to make level 3 in demolitions if it was needed.

BIC: :Nice job Sarge!  Now we need to see what wqe can find out about this little baby."

Porter hands the chips to Desiraye.  "As for examining that, you'll need someone else.  I don't have any expertise in computers.  Hopefully it gives us some leads."

Orvo says, "I don't have any computer skills. Do we have the equipment to check them out?  Maybe they have important data in them.  But why were they in this Vrusk's head?"  After not speaking for awhile, Orvo had a lot to say.

S'Krllk looks at the device, "If you've wiped off all the bodily fluids, and you're sure it's done exploding, I could take a look. I have some skill with computers."
He continues attempting to scan or connect with his bodycomp as he waits to examine the device.

S'krllk examines the chips.  He discovers only that they contain a series of extremely sophisticated binary coded instructions, but has no idea as to their function.

The body is taken away by the medics, and the reporters take KitKat's personal items to return them to his family, thanking you.

You go back to the restaurant car for some lunch.  The familiar faces are here, the human woman Kirscht, the dralasite Blirdor who likes cards so much, the two human computer specialists who actively voiced their hatred for Kraatar and can't wait to get home, and another of others you've seen during your journey.

Given all that has happened on this ride on the monorail, you are glad that this is the last day.  You have already stopped at the last major city before Quazzt -- Mariga -- and your ride will soon end after it goes through the mountain passes.  You see the desert falling away behind you as the shadow of the mountains falls over you.

In addition to more signs as you go by, an announcement over the intercome reminds travellers that breathing apparatus is required to be safely secured and ready to use in case of emergency, as the air outside is thin. It also reminds you that emergency sets are stored in lockers between each carriage in case each person cannot reach his own personal apparatus.

Orvo checks to see if anyone is carrying their breathing apparatus at hand or if they're all just casual about it.  He will try to enjoy the last of the ride and ignore the strange people who were always up to no good like the dralasite and human woman.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 140):

"Any chance those computer techs we ran into might have an idea of what the chip is?"

"Never hurts to ask," Orvo says.

The humans look very curiously at the chips but say they've never seen anything quite like them before.  "Very unique structure," one says.  "Slightly curved with tendrils as if to stimulate different parts of an organic structure."

"Yeah," says the other, "and this binary code is uniquely programmed to whatever these chips are for.  These are specially programmed chips.  They're not something you can buy over the counter, that's for sure.  Where did you get them?"

"Would you believe they were implanted in someone's skull?" Desiraye says in a low voice to them as she leans closer to speak with them.

Porter flashes his Star Law credentials at the pair of humans.  He's out of his jurisdiction, but then they don't know that.

"We can't say more about it at this time," he also whispers.

One of the computer techs raises an eyebrow.  "In a skull?  Wow.  These must be medical chips.  Maybe he had some sort of mental or neurological disease they were trying to keep under control."

The other tech says, "Unless it was something more nefarious."

"Like what?"

"Mind control."

"No.  Come on.  You really think so?"

The other just shrugs his shoulders.  "Well, if it were medical, the person would know they were implanted in them and what they do, right?  If he didn't know, then it's got to be something secretly done to him.  I would check wherever he might have had medical treatment.  It seems fishy to me if the patient--or victim--didn't even know he had the implants.  Is he around?  You could ask him what they are."

When you inform him that the person is no longer living, he just nods in comprehension.  "See.  I'm going with mind control or human bomb or something terrorist-like.  I'm glad you got it out of him, but I wonder how many others have something similar in their brains and don't even know it."

They hand you back the chips as if they might be contagious.

Porter will take back the chip.  "It should be possible to scan for these chips, right?"

He also reexamines the explosive component of the chip.  Was it designed to be set off remotely, activated by the chip itself, or simply put as a booby trap to discourage removal?

OOC: if this requires another Demolitions roll, please roll for me, DM Heath!

"Well, I think we're coming up to the area where this sanatorium is pretty soon.  We can take a look into it while we're here and maybe do some research before we get there to see what they actually do."

The explosive part is supposed to completely destroy the chip and its container, and would likely kill anyone within whom it is implanted.  It appears that it can be set off remotely, but also is there to prevent tampering.

Getting rid of most of the evidence is pretty smart.  Is there any way we can get any more information off of it to tell where maybe it was constructed or developed by?  Can we search the net about the Sanatorium or is there a link up to do so on the train?

You cannot get more information about the chips where you are.

Regarding the High Peaks Sanatorium, all you find is the typical website page with address and contact information, and advertisement-like pages saying it is a high-class Vrusk convalescent home that specializes in stress alleviation therapy and is run by Dr. Martin Boot.