You each get 3 XP to spend or save as desired.

You gather, exit the aircar and look around. You stand under the lander module.

On the southeast side of the module is a ladder leading up to a hatch that will take you to the research station control room.

As you gather yourselves, you pull up your digital maps of the Moraes. (See map post for rest of maps.)

T-Minus 13 minutes to take off.




MAP OF MORAES


This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

(IC)
  "Let's not waste any time, if one of the techs can check for security devices on the hatch, then either disable the security or unlock the hatch.  Leave it for me to open, just in case." Porter removes a dose grenade from his webbing and while he waits for the hatch to be unlocked, he takes out his gas mask.
  "Hammer, could you please add another note to my electronic diary?  Flashbangs!"  He turns to the rest of the team.  "I will lob this through the hatch first then follow up in case there are more robots.  If there is no resistance I will open the next door, go down the hallway and see if the hatch up to the next level is clear."
  Thinking inside their spaceship might not be the best place to use his machine gun, Porter reluctantly lays down the weapon and checks the magazines in his pistols, leaving his automatic rifle slung across his back for now.
  "I will engage any enemy targets but if any of you guys can push on, go for it, don't let them slow us down, just keep pressing forward.  Good hunting everyone."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:07, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

Hammer laughs a computerized laugh. "Not sure when I became the librarian of the group, but my psychosocial skills and robotic good looks probably gave that impression. I would think everyone is probably gathered on the bridge up top. Maybe we can delay the take off from the engineering deck. ALso, we have those two kidnap victims to think about. I don't know where they might be."

Hammer will hang back due to his extremely damaged body and mainframe.

S'Krllk approaches the hatch while instructing his bodycomp to scan for security devices and assess methods of entry.
"I'll be as quick as I can."

Bartja orders the maintenance robot to approach and take his techkit and medkit, then to follow.  This is all done through his link with the bot, but his flesh-half-face smirks as he gets confirmation of compliance from his new lackey.

"Once we're in the ship, doesn't matter if it takes off.  We'll not be stuck here in any event.  Let's not leave the airlocks open behind us - just in case."

Bartja pulls a tangler grenade from his belt and prepares for S'Krllk to open the hatch.

S'krllk goes to open the lock, which takes a minute...and begins muttering curses in what must be the Vrusk language. "Oops," he finally says in the common tongue. 08:36, Today: GM Heath rolled 100 using 1d100. (Critical miss.)

Alarms go off all over the ship. The lock gets a new banded layer of security. (Now it requires a Level 4 success plus a defeat security computer check at level 2. It will also eat up 2 minutes of time waiting until you can try a second attempt, plus a minute for each of the checks above.)

T-Minus 9 minutes to take off.

OOC: To Bartja's comment, keep in mind two things: First, the lander module stays on the ground and will not take off, so you would have to at least get to the second level (engineering), and second, you will not be strapped in for the G forces that will follow.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 23:45, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

Hammer says, not unkindly, to S'krllk, "Maybe you should let Bartja have a go at the hatch, my friend."

"Times flies!" Bartja growls as he takes a couple of minutes to open a techkit and select the proper tools.

"If the ship defenses hadn't let them Terry know we are here, that certain did.  Does anyone have explosives on them?  If we can't get through the landing module in time, we should scale and damage the ship hull to keep them from leaving.  If we have enough TD-19, we can shortcut this hatch opening business."

As he links his bodycomp and gets to work on the lock, Bartja adds, "If I get this open, be ready to blast the crap out of...whatever is behind this."

(IC)
  Still holding a dose grenade, Porter doesn't say a word, he just glares at Bartja as he waits for the hatch to be opened.

"Ready," Desiraye says as she stands ready.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:17, Wed 05 Aug 2020.

As S'Krllk focuses on defeating the computer security, he mentions to Bartja that he is doing so. "It's not my fault. This stupid thing reminded me of the hatches in the access corridor of my favorite pod back at my first hive. What sort of idiot puts a birthing pod door on a lander?!"

S'krllk has to get down off the ladder and let Bartja up to try, which takes a minute. Then Bartja's first attempt fails, but it is close and he can take another try. He then manages on his second attempt to bypass the computer and latch locks, and the latch swings open.

You all pile into the lander module, but the passage of time is getting really tight.

T-minus 6 minutes to take off.

You hear thrusters boosting.

The first thing you notice when you enter the lander module is that the entire deck is in complete darkness. All energy appears to have been rerouted to ensure take off of the ship. This will unfortunately cause some delays if you do not have a light source handy or find the light switches.

One thing you find odd is that the hatch leading to the central hallway is wide open.

The lander module appears to be completely empty (and dark). There is a closed hatch in the ceiling of the central hallway with a metal ladder leading up.

Alarms continue to go off.

Hammer runs to the hatch, happy to be so close, but he stops at the bottom of the ladder. "Bartja or S'krllk, I assume it's locked. Would one of you like to do the honors?" The mechanon, very aware of the passage of time in his calculator like mind, is antsy. While waiting, he feels around for the light switch.

(OOC)Refer to message # 2, nothing has changed for Porter

OOC: Referring back to #2 with updated info...

Porter, seeing no resistance, holds onto his doze grenade for now. He moves forward into the hallway, again sees it empty, and quickly checks the hatch going up to the engineering deck. He reports that it is locked.

After this, Hammer makes his comments below as S'krllk and the team move forward. Hammer finds the light switch and the lights flood the hall and deck. You notice at the end of the corridor is a digital read out on a screen on the wall. It reads:

5:10...5:09...5:08...

It is, of course, the countdown.

OOC: Moving this quickly here to avoid delays...

S'krllk jumps up the ladder and quickly goes to work, easily unlocking the hatch going up. 16:52, Today: GM Heath rolled 27 using 1d100.

OOC: Current situation: Hatch going up to engineering is unlocked now. Porter is ready at the bottom of the ladder. As I recall, he holds a doze grenade and pistol (though he will probably need the pistol holstered to climb the ladder). Everyone else is crowded down in the narrow passage in single file waiting to go up (i.e., lined up from the center of the map hatch going south toward the outside hatch), since it is only a 3 foot wide corridor. Given the narrowness, Appleburg and Orvo have to wait in the research station control room for their turn to go up.

Note that each deck is separately wired for lighting, so you will need to turn the lights on for each level you go up to see clearly, except the bridge.

(IC)
  With his gas mask still on, and his albedo screen activated, Porter lobs his dose grenade through the hatch, then draws his Auto-pistol and climbs through the hatch, ready to fire a burst at any opposition.

In reply to Sgt. Porter Min (msg # 16):
Desiraye Will follow Porter up the hatch.

Ooc: just wanted to let you know that I have not had power or internet for the past few days. I may not be getting power or internet as far out as the 11th of August. I'll try to keep up if not NPC me

Bartja gets in line to climb through the hatch into engineering, Tangler Grenade in hand.  He's certain there will be some resistance - eventually...

"Masks on, screens still up!  Whne you come up the ladder, cover a sector.  It's going to be tight so try not to bunch up too bad.  One grenade would take us all out," Desi says quietly over the team channel as they proceed up and further into the ship.

4:59...4:58...4:57...

S'krllk jumps off the ladder and squeezes to let Porter through. Meanwhile, Hammer is waiting just north of them where he found the light switch and the rest of the party is lined up as shown below.

Porter jumps up the ladder quickly and tosses a doze grenade through the hatch, ducking back down and closing the hatch to wait for it to go off. As it was dark up there, he couldn't see anything.

But just as you hear the doze grenade go off on the deck above, you notice the latch to the north of you (leading to Remote Robot Bay 2) opening, revealing an armed utility robot holding a laser pistol, which is aimed down the hall at you.

4:45...4:44...4:43...

You are stuck in a narrow 3 foot wide corridor with a utility robot aiming a gun down the aisle at you. Porter is on the ladder and the rest are lined in a row.

As you stare down the hall, you do a mental calculation. Terry had four utility robots. He used one for the aircar. This would be the second one, and there are two more somewhere on the ship.

Seeing the threat and that he is nearest to it, Hammer lunges forward toward the robot and tries to close the hatch and lock the robot in. "Get up the ladder, quick!" he says. Then to S'krllk and Bartja as he lunges, "Can one of you lock this please?"

(OOC)
  Porter had no intention of 'ducking back down' or closing the hatch, the reason he was wearing the gas mask was so he could throw the grenade and enter immediately.  I should be in the room above.

(IC)
  Porter climbs through hatch, pulling it wide open to let some light into the room and leaving the opening free for everyone to follow him.  Taking out his flashlight, Porter scans the room for enemies and doors.

OOC: I see. No problem there. He is up in the dark area of the engineering deck. Everyone else is as stated. Note also that putting on a gas mask means you have to remove the breathers that filter the atmosphere. Breathers, however, do not provide the protection of gas masks.

Note also that I posted all the maps for the Moraes in a separate maps thread, in case you want to plan ahead.

Porter pops up in the room marked "3" on the map. There is a hatch to the west and another to the east. His flashlight shows him a power switch next to each hatch door.

There is also a ladder leading up to another hatch in the ceiling directly above him.

ENGINEERING DECK: The ship's life support and power sources are on this deck (see southeast corner), and could potentially provide some assistance if inspected--especially as to the engines. However, the bridge has separate self-contained emergency systems.




Hammer runs for the door to push it closed. But the robot gets a shot off first since it had surprise.  The shot is a direct hit on Hammer, even as Hammer slams into the door. 15:51, Today: GM Heath rolled 16 using 1d100 ((16)). The laser hits Hammer in the chest. 15:55, Today: GM Heath rolled 57 using 10d10 The Mechanon manages to slam the hatch closed, even as he slumps dead to the ground.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:56, Fri 07 Aug 2020.

As Hammer sees the hole in his chest and goes flying, he tries to use his body mass to keep the hatch shut so that everyone can evacuate safely without further robot attacks. "Take him down for me," he mutters as the light fades from his Mechanon eyes and his programming begins its shutdown procedures. "And keep my story alive." He sinks as his program flatlines.

(IC)
Porter flicks on the light switch for those following him, draws another dose grenade and pushes onward up the ladder to check if it is unlocked.

(OOC)
If the next hatch is not locked, Porter will open it, throw in another dose grenade and go through the hatch.  Was Hammer not wearing an albedo screen?  Damn!

Seeing the Mechanon go down from the laser blast, Desiraye yells over the comm channel, "FRAG OR TANGLE IT SARGE!  BREAK.  ORVO, UP!  HAMMER's DOWN!"

The countdown continues: 4:35...4:34...4:33...4:32...4:31...4:30...

With the robot hatch closed, you have about 30 seconds until the robot can manage to open it, or S'krllk or Bartja can try to lock it.

Porter quickly climbs up the ladder and checks the hatch above. It is locked.

Desi stands between the northern hatch to the robot (and Hammer's corpse) and the ladder, ushering everyone up the ladder.

Orvo pushes through quickly and goes up the ladder to the engineering deck.

T-minus 4:29...4:28...4:27...

OOC: Not sure about Bartja and S'krllk so I didn't put them up the ladder yet. It will take 3 seconds per person to climb a ladder to the next deck up (i.e., 1 turn for 2 people), assuming you go as quickly as possible.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:18, Sat 08 Aug 2020.

S'Krllk ignores the hatch and the utility robot behind it, mumbling something about there not being enough time. He ascends into the next section and starts scanning as soon as he is out of the way.

S'krllk climbs up and quickly starts trying to unlock the hatch above... He starts to sweat as he is having some problems.

Everyone else gets up to the engineering deck while the utility robot is struggling to open the hatch against the corpse of Hammer blocking it.

With S'krllk having trouble with unlocking the hatch, the rest of you see there is another digital read out on this wall showing the countdown.

S'krllk finally finishes, and successfully (but barely) unlocks the hatch going up. 16:16, Today: GM Heath rolled 80 using 1d100

DIGITAL READOUT: "3:36...3:35...3:34..."

OOC: Assuming everyone is closing the hatch below to lock out the utility robot and then waiting for S'krllk to finish his attempt, but you have about 30 seconds in the room waiting for S'krllk if you do anything while he is working on the lock, so just let me know.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:30, Sun 09 Aug 2020.

(IC)
  "Desi, get up here now!"  Porter urges his boss over the chronocom, while he waits for S'krllk to work on the locking mechanism.  "Never thought I'd say this about a Mechanon but I'm gonna miss that guy!" Turning to his team mates he asks, "Is it worth trying to get him in a Freeze Field?  How soon after 'death' do we need to get him in one?"

Desiraye moves up to where Porter is and calls out, "ON YOUR SIX!"

She looks down at the non-moving metal body of Hammer, touches it and checking her emotions for another moment.  Snapping herself out of the moment, "I don't know if freeze fields work that way on robots," she says choking back an emotional reply.  Taking a deep breath, she looks at Minh, "We've got to press on Sarge!  He's one of ours but, we need to look forward and try to end this.  It sucks but, we need to embrace the suck right now.

In three-and-a-half minutes, those of us still alive, are screwed royally!  We need to end this and quickly!  Any chance of maybe popping the hatches to keep the Moraes from taking off or I don't know, reasoning with Terry?"

"Once we're on the next deck, I'll get to the engine room and hit it with EMP from my hand. That should stop the takeoff and give us all the time we need for further action."
S'Krllk instructs his bodycomp to scan, wondering if there are robots awaiting them on the other side of the hatch.

"If you use an EMP, can we get the ship working again?"

"I'm pretty sure I can fix anything we break."
S'Krllk may sound confident, but there are some who may recall his preceding desire to ram the ship with the aircars.

S'krllk successfully unlocks the hatch going up from engineering to the lab deck. Then he gets out of the way to let Porter lead the way.

I'm assuming everyone stays congregated in the center area between the hatches.

Countdown: 3:03...3:02...3:01...



This message was last edited by the GM at 06:54, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

Reposting this map. (The maps are also in the separate thread.)

So you are all currently on the engineering level, having just come up from the lander module level. S'krllk just opened the hatch going up one more level to the lab level.

Communications and computer systems are on the recreation level, and the engines are on the engineering level--see control center in southeast of engineering deck map.


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:01, Sun 09 Aug 2020.

"Frak it, do it when you get the chance.  I trust you!"

She turns to Porter, "Sarge, S'Krllk has a plan.  I think we should give it a shot due to the time of lift off."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Sun 09 Aug 2020.

OOC Notes:

As seemingly suggested between the group, there appear to be three approaches: 1) saboutage the engines (either in engineering room or computer room upper deck), 2) raid the bridge for a shoot out, or 3) use the communication system on the recreation deck to try to talk to Terry.

Given the current time crunch, you may think about splitting up to try multiple strategies.

Also, in case you are wondering if the time countdown is a false threat, think again. I have three scenarios in mind depending on what happens--two of them if you fail and one if you succeed, depending on the ending situation.

(OOC)
Porter only know one way to tackle this problem, head on but I need a tech to open hatches for me.  I want to keep heading up to the bridge to kill Terry in the most gruesome manner possible.  If others want to split off and try other strategies I am cool with that, so long as someone can open hatches for.

"Okay, I'm gonna try to shut down the engines. You'll want to stay clear so it won't shut down your screens at the same time."
S'Krllk will head towards the engine room. If he meets up with a robot, he'll attempt to use his cybernetic hand to pulse the robot immediately.

In reply to S'Krllk (msg # 40):

(OOC)
I would have thought we would need the Spaceship skill "Engineering" to stop the engines.  is there another tech that can open doors for me?  Otherwise I will need explosives or I can't go any further.

I've got a Kilo of TD-19 and [3] timers

Bartja steps forward to go with Porter.

"I've seen S'Krllk do some amazing stuff with that tech arm of his.  Otherwise, I'd stay and work on shutting down the engines.

I'll go with you to take out Terry and can open the hatches, if there's time.  We owe him for destroying Hammer ... twice now.

When this is over, we'll see about repairing and booting Hammer back up.  I don't know much about the Mechanon race, but they can't be too far off from our robots in technology.  Their AI is impressive...or is it AI?"

In reply to Bartja Nemuco (msg # 43):

(OOC)
If biocort works on Mechanons, then who knows?  I don't think the game developer really thought things through when they made Mechanons available as a PC race :)

The party decides to split up.

As the others go up a floor to the lab deck, S'krllk (or is that pronounced "Scotty?" :)) goes east through the next hatch, which is unlocked, with a plan to go southeast to the engine controls for his EMP attempt.

S'krllk also scans for robots. He finds that his reception is very fuzzy here, as though partially blocked by something. However, it does not reveal any robots within a 10 foot radius of him.

OOC: There are two ways go get to engineering controls--(1) by going south to the aircar storage bay and then northeast, or (2) east into the airlock and then south. (See map below.) Please indicate which direction he is going.


Porter looks up into the lab deck area with his flashlight. He sees that the hatch going up to the next deck is already open. The two hatches on the sides are closed.

Everyone else (except S'krllk) is waiting in the central area of the engineering deck waiting for Porter's next move.

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:28, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

(IC)
  Porter lobs his dose grenade through the next hatchway and then drawing his autopistol, continues climbing up to the next level.

(OOC)
  Porter is still wearing his gasmask and his albedo screen is still activated.

(IC)
  "Contact!" Porter yells as loud as possible.  "Movement on the crew deck"

(OOC)
  Based on Heath's description I think the movement was on the crew deck level, if I have that wrong please advise.

S'Krllk  heads east, through the airlock. Scanning ahead and hoping the universe doesn't learn to shoot any better than it already has.

Desiraye follows S'Krllk, guns up, as they move away from Porter after giving him her explosives and timers.

Desi will try to engage anything thought hostile with a burst from her gyrojet rifle if she has opportunity.

OOC: Yes, it was from the crew deck.

To be clear, you were opening the hatch on the engineering deck and peering up into the lab deck. You then saw in the hatch above you (leading to the crew deck) that there was movement of someone or something standing above the hatch to the crew deck as though looking down. The movement was technically in the crew deck looking down.

S'krllk begins opening the hatch to the airlock with Desi right behind him...

In the center area, Porter is lobbing a doze grenade up through the hatch above into the crew deck as he pulls himself up to the lab deck...

In midair, his grenade passes another grenade coming down at him from above. He has only a moment to try to dodge, and he dives to the ground.

The grenade coming down is an incendiary grenade, filling the center area of the data lab with sticky flaming liquid (napalm). Porter gets an avoidance check...(success)14:33, Today: GM Heath rolled 58 using 1d100....and dives away, receiving only half damage from the blast of napalm. (16 STA dmg.)

Before hitting the floor, Porter luckily is able to slam the hatch shut to protect his comrades below from splash damage.

Porter is now on the lab deck. The hatch above him is still open. Everyone else is one deck below. The napalm continues to burn. (1d10 dmg on the 2nd through 4th turns.)

Porter again sees the glimpse of something metallic moving above him...


S'krllk opens the hatch to the airlock. He and Desi enter and proceed to the next airlock leading to the engine room.


That's when they notice that the airlock pumps are on. It takes a moment to realize that this is not normal when the ship is on land.

But then the five grenades drop out of the airlock pumps, an obvious trap by Terry.

Desi sees the smoke coming her way but resists it. (For doze grenade, must pass a current stamina check to resist.) 14:41, Today: GM Heath rolled 43 using 1d100.

S'krllk, on the other hand, decides this is a good time for a nap. 14:41, Today: GM Heath rolled 83 using 1d100. S'krllk collapses from the doze grenade.

OOC: Note that doze grenades knock the individual out for 1d100 turns, but can be instantly revived by a stimdose shot.



T-minus 2:48...2:47...2:46...

(IC)
  Ignoring the burning pain from the Willie Pete grenade, Porter heads up the ladder to the crew deck.
  "I got a robot up here lobbing incendiary's down from the crew deck.  Engaging now!"

(OOC)
  If I get another look at whoever or whatever is up here I am blasting it with my autopistol in burst mode
Heavy Automatic Pistol [hit 75% burst 95%, dmg 2d10/5d10, RoF 3/1, Range 5/15/30/60/150, ammo 20/20/20]

Hearing that Desi and S'krllk may be in trouble, Orvo rushes to them to provide assistance.

Porter prepares to storm up the ladder as quickly as possible to take out the robot threat lobbing grenades down...

The hatch from engineering to the lab deck is closed, leaving Porter alone to scale the ladder (from lab deck to recreation deck) or take other actions. It will take one turn for him to climb the ladder, or two turns (12 seconds) to turn on the lights and climb the ladder.

In the engineering deck just below Porter stand Bartja and Appleburg. It will take one turn for them to scale the ladder and open the hatch to where Porter is at, or they can take other actions.


Meanwhile, Orvo runs through the hatches to find Desi waving away smoke from the doze grenade and S'krllk collapsed on the floor. He pulls out a stimdose and prepares to wake S'rkllk.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:14, Thu 13 Aug 2020.

(IC)
  Time being his driving motivation now, Porter moves as quickly as possible up the ladder to engage the robot.

Bartja considers his immediate options.  The hatch above is shut but he's sure the incendiary compound is still burning.  He looks around quickly for a fire extinguisher that is mandated on all ships.

His other option is to head towards the engine rooms and try to help shut down the ship to give them more time.  S'Krllk is capable of handling this and he has Desi to help.  Porter is alone up there in the flames, and that's where Bartja feels he's most needed.

PM

She puts her hand on Orvo's shoulder, "Once he's awake, get him going in the right direction and stay with him!  Looks like Terry has the ship rigged with booby traps.  Watch your backs, I'm going with Bartja and Minh."

After giving what might be her final orders to Orvo, she moves next to Bartja, "We don't have a lot of time.  I'll shoot, you do what you need to and see if we can't help the Sarge out!"

Orvo helps revive S'krllk, who sits up and blinks for a moment before coming to his senses. He gets up and starts to open the hatch, which remarkably, is not locked (or trapped).

Desi, Orvo and S'krllk step through the hatch down to the sliding doors, and into the engine control room. They stop in their tracks as they see what is spread out before them...


Porter, meanwhile, is rushing up the ladder from the lab deck...

From below, Bartja is covered in the all weather blanket and opens the portal hatch to the lab deck from the recreation deck, seeing Porter almost at the top of the hatch directly above him.

Porter sees a utility robot holding grenades near the hatch but shrouded in darkness. However, when Bartja opens the portal, it moves forward near the hatch.

Porter opens fire...11:33, Today: GM Heath rolled 39 using 1d100 He hits. The burst does 39 damage against the robot. 11:34, Today: GM Heath rolled 39 using 5d10
Oddly, the robot seems to ignore Porter and instead pulls the pin on a grenade as it once more approaches the hatch.

T-Minus 2:39...2:38...2:37...

Orvo, Desi, and S'krllk see the following in the Engineering, Power and Life Support Systems Control Room: there are two fire extinguishers on the walls; there is an intercom system with buttons to various rooms in the Moraes, including the bridge; there are the actual control computers for Engineering, Power, and Life Support, which includes emergency support such as sprinklers and antifire foam systems in each room; and then there are the booby traps. You know from experience that the bridge has separate life support and power controls and is like a self contained emergency unit.

But the booby traps...upon a second look, they do not look like traps. Instead, Terry has apparently tried to rewire much of the controls. With wires going in and out of everywhere, you see that the engines and fuel and so forth have been haphazardly connected, such that any interference (or attempt to take off), will likely cause the fuel tanks to explode and destroy the whole ship.

Orvo, Desi, and S'krllk realize that Terry's attempt to rewire has instead turned the ship into a ticking timebomb. As soon as he tries to take off, it will likely explode with everyone in it.

T-Minus 2:36...2:35...2:34...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:45, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

(IC)
  Porter empties his auto pistol clip at the robot, screaming in between bursts,
  "Look out below, incoming grenades!"  hoping the gas mask does not muffle his voice too badly.

Orvo says to S'krllk, "I don't think it would be wise to use an EMP. It might blow us all to smithereens. Can you disable what he has done here? I'm a doctor, not an engineer."

S'Krllk nods to Orvo, "if we can't shut it down, we need to get off this death trap, they need to know up top."
S'Krllk then starts on his bodycomp, requesting it scan the mechanical and electrical systems and indicate a method to prevent the explosion.

(OOC)
Obviously Porter is not down there but it seems to me that an EMP might be the one thing that actually could save us. If it shuts down all electrical stuff it should stop Terry from starting anything that could cause an electric current that would result in an explosion.  I ain't no tech so maybe a tech should look at that angle?

Bartja grabs the hatch handle and pulls it shut as he drops back down the ladder, kicking his feet free to make the fall and hatch closing as quick as he can.

"Look out below!" he shouts as he prepares for a hard landing and a possible concussion from the grenade above.

"See if the intercom system is working. I don't know if we're going to have enough time to get off this ship before it blows.  Maybe, just maybe we can talk Terry down before he kills every last one of us!  If anyone else has any better ideas now would be a good time!"

Porter suffers 6 more damage from the prior incendiary blast, which still burns him intensely. (2 turns of burning remain.)

Porter is now at the top of the ladder with his head and arms in the above deck firing a point blank range burst at the robot, which casually drops a grenade down the hatch below...

Porter's burst hits the utility robot 10:41, Today: GM Heath rolled 68 using 1d100 for 25 STA dmg 10:45, Today: GM Heath rolled 25 using 5d10.(36 STA remaining). The robot continues to ignore Porter. (Utility robots do not have combat programs installed.)

The grenade from the robot falls to the hatch below, where Bartja is trying to dive down and close the hatch in time (RS check...10:41, Today: GM Heath rolled 74 using 1d100....fail). The grenade splashes incendiary all over him. The all weather blanket halves the damage and prevents ongoing damage. 10:53, Today: GM Heath rolled 2 using 2d10 The hatch is then closed as the incendiary grenade blows up in the rest of the central chamber.

Porter, still not quite up the ladder, is also hit with splash damage. Porter tries to dodge by pulling himself up...(RS check...10:54, Today: GM Heath rolled 81 using 1d100...fail) and is hit in his lower parts (half damage) by the grenade's splash damage. (10:55, Today: GM Heath rolled 6 using 2d10 6 STA dmg.).

Porter finishes pulling himself up into the room above. It is pitch black, but he is inches from the utility robot. The utility robot is still ignoring him and is instead peering down the open hatch as it pulls out another incendiary grenade.


S'krllk starts a scan with his bodycomp, but it will take a minute because it is not an easy inquiry and will require his expert analysis...

Desi tests the intercom to the bridge. It appears to be fully functional.

T-minus 2:30...2:29...2:28...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:02, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

"Frak," Desiraye says before queing the intercom.  "Hey, hey Terry!  It's Desiraye from the landing party you stranded.  Listen, I know this may be hard to believe but, the ship is going to blow the hell up if you continue with the launch!  Killing everyone, including yourself.  Can we at least stop the count down and talk about it Terry?  The captain, he's still alive in the wilderness.  You want to see him die too?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

Bartja tosses the protective blanket aside to let it burn apart from him and pauses for a moment to listen to the second incendiary grenade splash and burn just above.

"If I could get at that service robot, I'd just shut the litle mofo off!" he says in the com.

He listens to Desi's reasoning with Terry and half of his face (now seared) scowls.  "Des, Terry can't be thinking straight.  From what S'krllk described and the randomness of these traps, I'd say he's on drugs.  I've seen this kind of haphazard rigging on vehicles and robots rigged by meth-heads back home."

(IC)
  Porter ignore the burning sensation from the white phosphorous as he hauls himself through the hatch.  He stands and walks around behind the robot as he reloads his autopistol.  Aiming the muzzle of his weapon directly at the center mass of the rear of the robot, Porter fires another burst at point blank range.

(OOC)
 If the third burst does not finish off the robot I will empty the clip again.  When the robot has been dealt with Porter flicks the light on and heads up the ladder to see if there are any obvious booby traps on the next hatch.

"We know somethings got to be up with you Terry.  Somethingisoff with you.  Captain Marlboro, even said so himself before we had to put him in a freeze field.  He knew you couldn't be responsible for all of this, it wasn't you.  Even if you make it out of here, someone is going to come here looking for us and what happened to everyone!  The Captain still has a chance at making it if we get back to him in time with some medical help.

Please, at least stop the count down and lets talk?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

Porter suffers 4 more damage from the prior incendiary blast. (1 turn of burning remains.)

Porter, Bartja, and Appleburg hear Desi talking over the intercom.

Porter pulls himself up and fires a point blank range shot at the robot in the back of the head. The robot drops to the ground. Its incendiary grenade also drops. Luckily, it had not pulled the pin yet.

Bartja hears the sizzling of the prior incendiary grenades burn off and he climbs up the hatch to the Lab Deck.

Porter turns on the lights. He is now in the center of the crew deck (#6). The broken robot is at his feet, along with 8 incendiary grenades.

He beings climbing the ladder up to check out the recreation deck above...



While Porter is moving up and clearing out the central areas, Desi's group is still in the engine room.

Desi says into the intercom, "Hey, hey Terry!  It's Desiraye from the landing party you stranded.  Listen, I know this may be hard to believe but, the ship is going to blow the hell up if you continue with the launch!  Killing everyone, including yourself.  Can we at least stop the count down and talk about it Terry?  The captain, he's still alive in the wilderness.  You want to see him die too?"

There is a moment of silence filled in by Bartja's statement into your personal coms, "Des, Terry can't be thinking straight.  From what S'krllk described and the randomness of these traps, I'd say he's on drugs.  I've seen this kind of haphazard rigging on vehicles and robots rigged by meth-heads back home."

Desi then says into the intercom, "We know somethings got to be up with you Terry. Something is off with you.  Captain Marlboro, even said so himself before we had to put him in a freeze field.  He knew you couldn't be responsible for all of this, it wasn't you.  Even if you make it out of here, someone is going to come here looking for us and what happened to everyone!  The Captain still has a chance at making it if we get back to him in time with some medical help. Please, at least stop the count down and lets talk?"

Leadership check: 12:33, Today: GM Heath rolled 77 using 1d100. FAIL

When Terry comes over the intercom, it seems Desi has merely made him mad. "Captain? The only captain I need is right here, and we are getting off this planet in two minutes. I hope you are strapped in."

In response to his "captain" remark, you hear a familiar voice say, "My friends, you sure have followed me a long way. I am still recovering from you killing my cats. Once again, the timer is running out for you. Are you hear to 'arrest' me again?" LeGrange laughs. "Last time, you shot up my hologram. That was a fun sight. You won't be so lucky this time."

Terry then comes back on the intercom. "Just leave my ship and you can live on the planet. No one needs die today."
NOTE: Each person has one chance to talk to Terry and try to convince him. Each unsuccessful attempt will subtract 20% from the next person's LDR attempt roll (never to go lower than 10% success). Certain topics will add bonuses to the attempt.


Up above, Porter peeks through the hatch to the Recreation Deck. The area is in darkness except for a sliver of light coming through the northern hatch door, which is wide open. All other hatches are closed.

TURN 1

A robotic arm casually tosses a grenade through the open hatch toward the central hatch which is partly open where Porter still stands primarily on the lower deck ladder.

Porter instantly ducks back down and slams the hatch shut. (RS check success.) He hears the explosion of a fragmentation grenade (not an incendiary one) go off above, leaving him unharmed.


T-minus 2:15...2:14...2:13...2:12...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:51, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

MAP REMINDER:

Locations:
So currently Orvo, S'krllk and Desi are on the engineering deck.

Bartja and Appleburg have moved up to the Lab Deck.

Porter is on the crew deck checking out the hatch going up to the recreation deck.

Orvo says, "Let me give it a shot." He says into the intercom, "Terry, this is Orvo, the medic you sent out. Look, we discovered evidence of Sathar on this planet and that they are putting in more implants on people. We think you and LeGrange have these implants, which is causing you to act like this. We have a doctor here who can remove the implants and return you to your normal self. We need you to please stop the countdown so we can fix this. Otherwise, you risk killing us all. Please listen to reason. LeGrange too. Please."

14:37, Today: Secret Roll: Orvo rolled 98 using 1d100. Not looking too good.

(IC)
  "Le Grange, you have to be the dumbest genius in the Frontier.  You guys have completely botched the job you did downstairs.  This ship going to blow as soon as you ignite the engines, in which case we ALL die.  If by some miracle the engines don't explode, I have enough TD-19 here to blow a decent size hole in the hull of this ship, in which case we ALL die.  All of that assumes I don't get to the bridge and kill both of you inside the next 2 minutes, in which case just you guys die.  I like my chances but yours are looking pretty slim right now.
  So Terry, this is your last chance to stand down.  Let us deal with Le Grange and we will speak in your defence to Star Law.  Or you can die along with everyone else.  It's your call.  But remember, despite everything you have done, we have overcome every obstacle, we are on your ship and we have the means and motivation to stop you before you can reach orbit."
  Porter switches his comms back to the team channel,
  "I am gonna need a medic up here guys.  I got one more robot to take down, I'll try and take it out now." Porter takes out a tangler grenade.

(OOC)
 I am down to 18 stamina with another round of incendiary damage to go.

 Looking at the map for the recreation deck there is a central tube with the ladder (8) and two hatches, north and south that is surrounded by a circular corridor with 6 more doorways.  Is it the northern hatch of the central tube that is open with a robot throwing grenades through it?  The orbot is in the hallway?  If so, does the hatch open in toward me or out towards the attacking robot?

S'Krllk continues to work on preventing an explosion, disconnecting anything that his bodycomp indicates as a bad connection while trying to identify which electronics an EMP would work on, and as he works, he attempts to speak through the intercom. "Is that LeGrange? Then I changed my mind. You guys get out, I'm not shutting this mess down, now."
"Terry! You go ahead and launch this thing, you rancid fleshball! At zero, your worthless hide will just be another ash in a bright orange fireball no matter HOW you wired this. Oh, and tell that genius doctor exactly what his ashes will be mingled with. This universe may need someone else to skim off the dross, but I'm stayin' right here to provide the refining fire!"

OOC: Sorry, Porter, but there is no direct comm from the central area to the bridge. The communications, intercoms mics are in the main rooms. You only have a speaker in the central passage. If you go to one of those rooms, I will have your message broadcast. However, your team coms still work to talk to each other.

S'krllK: As a reminder, if LeGrange dies, the transdimensional beings will invade and likely destroy the known galaxy as you know it, or at least put Sathar in charge. His death would be considered a mission failure.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:03, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

Appleburg makes his way up with his meds to help out Porter.

Bartja waits for the phosphorous to die out and grabs his medkit to climb the ladder through the hatches to Porter.

"Coming up with some meds for you Porter.  Let me know if you find a mic to Legrange.  I want to have my final words for him as well.  He should know that we don't die that easily.

It's also obvious he has every hatch booby-trapped on the way up to the bridge.  Think ahead on how to defeat whatever is waiting above the next hatch.  That EMP pulse of S'krllk's would sure be handy up here about now."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

S'Krllk calmly steps back and send an EMP through the Engineering, Power, and Life Support Systems Control console. Then continues to redirect Terry's wiring into something less lethal as he says to Orvo and Desi, "I know we can't kill LeGrange without letting the Sathar invade, but I don't know if Terry or LeGrange will realize I know that. If he checks any of his indicators, he could realize the ship is set to blow up and stop the countdown, if only to clear us out of this control room."

It is the northern hatch of the central tube that is open with the robot throwing grenades. The robot is in the hallway just past it. The hatch opens inward toward the center.

TURN 2
T-Minus 2:06...2:05...2:04...
Orvo says, "Terry, this is Orvo, the medic you sent out. Look, we discovered evidence of Sathar on this planet and that they are putting in more implants on people. We think you and LeGrange have these implants, which is causing you to act like this. We have a doctor here who can remove the implants and return you to your normal self. We need you to please stop the countdown so we can fix this. Otherwise, you risk killing us all. Please listen to reason. LeGrange too. Please."

Orvo's attempt to talk to Terry is a disaster, and Terry responds, "You blame my actions on implants? This has been out of conviction. Some must fall so that right can prevail."

S'krllk says over the intercom channel, "Terry! You go ahead and launch this thing, you rancid fleshball! At zero, your worthless hide will just be another ash in a bright orange fireball no matter HOW you wired this. Oh, and tell that genius doctor exactly what his ashes will be mingled with. This universe may need someone else to skim off the dross, but I'm stayin' right here to provide the refining fire!"

After S'krllk's statement, there is a slight pause. 13:22, Today: GM Heath rolled 11 using 1d100. (Success!)

Terry says flippantly, "You think you know--"
Then LeGrange's voice cuts in, "Terry, what did you do to this ship?"
Terry says, "I enhanced its capability. I--"
The intercom shuts off.

T-Minus 2:00...1:59...1:58...

Porter has pulled out a tangler grenade. Above him, another fragmentation goes off harmlessly as he ducks down on the ladder into the Lab Deck. He now just has to climb one deck up to get to the bridge, but as he most likely presumed, it will be locked and will need a technician to unlock it (Level 3).

Bartja is climbing up.

Appleburg administers a biocort dose to Porter, who is still on the ladder.  (+10 STA.)

Porter, Appleburg and Bartja are now all on the Lab Deck, with Porter on the ladder at the hatch above.

T-Minus 1:55...1:54...1:53...

The timer suddenly stops at 1:52.

LeGrange's voice comes back over the intercom. "I am interested in what you have to say," he says calmly. "We will not blow up this ship...unnecessarily. Please come to the bridge. What is this about Sathar anyway? I have questions."

Terry says, "What about the booby traps?"

LeGrange says, "Seriously? You booby trapped the ship that we are all on?" Then to you, he says, "Look, if you can safely make it to the bridge, let's talk. We can't dismantle traps from here. But don't try anything funny. We have two hostages."

As Porter peeks up from the hatch below, he sees the lock light on the hatch to the bridge go from red to green.

OOC: I'm going to hold back on this post for the moment:

S'krllk:

S'Krllk calmly steps back and send an EMP through the Engineering, Power, and Life Support Systems Control console. Then continues to redirect Terry's wiring into something less lethal as he says to Orvo and Desi, "I know we can't kill LeGrange without letting the Sathar invade, but I don't know if Terry or LeGrange will realize I know that. If he checks any of his indicators, he could realize the ship is set to blow up and stop the countdown, if only to clear us out of this control room."

It may not be necessary due to S'krllk's successful roll for his previous post, and I may not have been clear above that it will likely cause a huge explosion, since it will only affect the electronics, not the chemical reactions currently going on in the engines, which will all be thrown off balance.

Bartja puts a hand on Porters shoulder, hoping to prevent the warrior from rashly climbing to the bridge alone.

"Let's wait for the others to get here.  They're armed up there and sure to be aiming at us if we go up one at a time.  Better we should open the hatch and talk through it than face off with the rest of the crew while they have the height advantage over us."

Bartja flips the medkit back over his back and sets his doze grenade to pop on impact (but doesn't arm it yet).  He then plucks the tangler off his belt to hold in his hand while they wait for the rest of the gang to make their way up.

As he prepares to EMP the controls, S'Krllk has second thoughts and begins muttering to himself. Changing the bionic finger pointing at the control panel, he steps forward to the Engineering section, and interfaces his hand with the panel. Over his shoulder, he says, "go talk to them, if I go up there they'll be too busy hating me to discuss anything rationally. This, I can do."
While his friends talk on the bridge, S'Krllk will attempt to return the Engineering to a safe state.

"Give us a few minutes to find, remove or, get around the traps.  Can you at least tell us where they are Terry so we don't trip any ore?  Can you shut the robots down as well?

We can talk, there's already been enough violence!"

TURN 3
Porter pops up and tosses his tangler grenade through the north open door. He successfully lobs it through the opening and hears it explode its sticky tangles, but he is unsure if it snagged the utility robot on the far side that is lobbing frag grenades at him.

Over the intercom, Terry says, obviously angered that LeGrange is calling him down, "I don't know what you set off or not. The robots cannot be controlled remotely. Just deal with it...if you can. At least try to impress me by surviving."

Desi and Orvo move to the center area to begin climbing up to the Lab Deck.

TURN 4

Porter is still at the top of the ladder leading from the Lab Deck to the Recreation Deck. He closes the hatch as yet another frag grenade comes his way, mumbling, "He'll run out of them eventually."

Bartja and Appleburg help Desi and Orvo up to the Lab Deck.

Everyone is now in the center of the Lab Deck except S'krllk, who is closely examining the engine rewiring of Terry to see if he can fix the problem. OOC: This will take a few minutes, so as he is doing so, the others can continue.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:49, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

Bartja speaks without the radio to Appleburg, but loudly enough for all to hear.  "I doubt they'll volunteer to have their implants removed.  What do you think you could say that would create that seed of doubt in their apparent mission?  We need at least one of them to realize he's being played, and if we can remove his implant, the other should be easier to reach.

Any way this goes, all is lost of we don't keep LeGrange alive and convince him to help us instead of...them"

Appleburg reminds you that he has a Sathar version of a sonic stunner pistol and a three shot Sathar laser pistol that he stole when escaping their compound. (See Day 2, msg 122.)

He also says your tanglers or doze grenades could come in handy if timed right. He doesn't know about the two hostages or their situation, so that's always a potential collateral damage issue.

Remember also that Appleburg has manacles and an extra Sathar Sonic Stunner (2 total).

I added these as new weapons under the Wiki: http://wiki.rpol.net/?edit=668..._nonstandard_weapons
This message was last edited by the player at 00:50, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

As soon as he hears the blast from the frag grenade, Porter will open the hatch enough to throw his own frag grenade at the robot, then shut the hatch again and count the seconds between explosions, thinking the robot might throw again.  A pattern might emerge.

TURN 5
Porter lets his own fragmentation grenade fly. It makes a perfect arc and he hears it clank against metal on the far side of the door. As he closes the hatch and hears it go off, he is pretty sure he made a solid hit on the robot. (11:49, Today: GM Heath rolled 5 using 1d100.)

Porter waits for a reaction frag from the robot.  About ten seconds in, he opens the hatch to see if the robot is still there.  If it is, he will throw another frag and close the hatch.  If not, he will climb up.

Porter almost immediately hears the explosion of a grenade directly above him.

Hearing an incendiary, Porter will wait about 30 seconds to open the hatch.  Then he will toss in another frag at whatever he sees and slam it shut.

He mutters to himself, "This is taking too long!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

Waiting about 30 seconds, he pops up the hatch to the recreation deck. He still sees nothing but the northern hatch ajar and the light coming from it.

Needless to say, the central room is in ruins from multiple frag grenades and an incendiary grenade.

Porter does not see a robot or any sign of movement.

OOC: Not sure what you want to do with the frag or if you want to throw it through the open hatch like the tangler and the prior grenade.

Seems like this isn't a robot, but Terry trying to slow me down.   I  will change to a tangler and run up to the hatch,  pop it open and throw it at him, closing the hatch in case he tries to retaliate.

Feeling like they might be able to achieve their final goal without more losses, Porter changes to his automatic pistol and climbs the ladder.  Maybe he can reason with them, even if at gunpoint.  At the very least, he will try his best.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

I wait behind porter at the bottom of the ladder "porter stop playing about will you"

"once we are up there I'll take a look at your scratches"

When Porter clears the hatch, Bartj scrambles up the ladder and into the Recreation deck as well.

Responding to Appleburg, Bartja adds "Well, violence it is then.  We'll try subdual methods first.

Any idea who the hostages are?  Probably crew, but Terry is over-calculating if he's convinced we'll spare collateral damage to stop him."

To emphasize his point, Bartja turns his face away so that only his machine-half is seen.  He slips one hand into a pocket of his skeinsuit and withdraws it again, brass knuckles in place as he plucks the grenades from his belt once again.

"Breath deeply before we head into the bridge.  Besides a Tangler grenade, I'm going to activate a Doze.  If I fall before throwing it, its still going to go off."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

Desiraye Will also climb up the ladder and onto the recreation deck with her gyrojet rifle out and pointed in the direction most likely that there might be contact with a threat.  She provides cover in that direction and then finally puts on her gas mask.  "Remember, we're kind of under a truce here so make sure if you have a threat it's an actual threat before you fire. we could all go up in a fireball if they reactivate the countdown!"

OOC: Remember the following:

1) The two hostages are the two additional crew members.
2) There are two hostiles: both Terry and LeGrange, so one tangler may only solve half the problem.
3) The air breathers for the atmosphere will not stop doze grenades (as S'krllk found out). You would need to use gas masks and remove the breathers.
4) Only one person can go up the ladder at a time. However, Terry/LeGrange are letting you come up to the bridge to try to explain to them the issues (although they seem more concerned with whether the ship will blow up than all the Sathar/implant issues).

If you need to adjust any posts based on the above, feel free to do so. I have not made any rolls yet, but will likely do so later today.

Post modified.

As Porter starts to ascend, Appleburg offers him one of the sonic stunner pistols for a less lethal option.

"Thanks, I hope it won't come to that."

Everyone (except S'krllk) climbs up to the recreation deck as Porter is getting ready to go to the bridge.

A quick inspection shows that the utility robot (which is through the north hatch in the central circular hallway) had been caught in Porter's initial tangler and then torn apart by his frag grenade. Seven frag grenades lay near the robot.

The incendiary grenade that went off appears to have been strung to the hatch with a delay timer, another booby trap by Terry that had nothing to do with the robot but had been placed earlier.

Porter takes the Sathar solar sonic stunner (forgive the alliteration) and inspects it a moment since it is a Sathar artifact weapon. It is easy to operate but takes a few seconds to come to full charge with the trigger held so will not be a snap and fire weapon. Porter also has his regular pistol just in case. (One in each hand akimbo? One holstered?) Porter has to tuck both away to climb the ladder and open the hatch above, so any drawing and firing will have to be done directly from the bridge.

While you make preparations, LeGrange's voice comes over the intercom again as if reading your minds. "Don't try anything funny. We've got two hostages and a finger on the trigger of the engine countdown just waiting to be restarted. We are also armed."

Terry then says, "I also have a dead man's switch. Any attempt to take me, dead or alive, will result in the entire bridge blowing up."

Down in the engineering deck, S'krllk is alone, still trying to work out if he can essentially undo the potential explosion.

Two options here if he tries to defuse: Demolitions Skill (military) or Deactivate Defense (technological).

Demolitions Check will use skill setter level of 5, so: 50% + skill level - 50%.

Deactive Alarms/Defenses will use alarm level 5. (I.e., 40% + skill level - 50%.)

BUT: For either check, the modifier decreases 5% for every minute S'krllk studies it closely, to a max of -20% (Level 2 alarm).

Also, if he has any skill level in one of the skills, he gets a minimum 10% chance to succeed.

Failure by over 40% gap, or 95% plus roll, whichever is lower, means it explodes. Otherwise, no effect.

S'krllk gets only one chance to try to disarm if he tries. Choose wisely.

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:05, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

You stand at #8 on the Recreation Deck (except S'krllk).

Maps of recreation deck and bridge above you are below.

Note that when you climb to the bridge, you will still have two hatches (east and west) to get through before getting to where LeGrange and Terry are at. Please be specific about where you will be going, what you will be doing once on the bridge.

The central area of the bridge is empty, so you can climb up there freely before making your final (or not so final) moves.




This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

Porter picks up the frag grenades, "these will come in handy, sometime."  Then he climbs the ladder.  He will charge the sunner and open the hatch to the west, towards the engineering station, stunner in hand and aimed through the hatch.  He is prepared to close it quickly if he sees anything coming his way.

"Look, I just want to talk, okay?"  If he sees either Terry or Legrange, he will take a bead on them, but sidle off to the outer wall, away from the door.

"You have to admit, this behavior is not normal for you.  You have a Sathar cybernetic implant controlling you.  We want to help you get it out and restore order.  The only other options are, someone, or every one dies.  If you start the countdown, we all die.  If you explode the ship, we all die, if I shoot you, only you die.  I don't want to do that.  Please, release control and let us help you.  We need you alive for the best chance of overcoming what is going to happen here."

(OOC)
I hope I am reading all the background correctly.  Please let me know if I got something wrong.

S'Krllk instructs his Master Comp to initiate scans with the Duo-CAS and keep an updated diagram of the Engineering control systems on the small screen available. Then he walks back to the hatch that leads to the rest of the ship, and locks it down. The doors to the Engineering section are, similarly, locked.
Able to focus on the task at hand, S'Krllk builds a simulation of the Engineering control console within his bodycomp and uses this to devise a method of eliminating the possible explosion.


S'Krllk is level three technician, so he'll be using Deactive Alarms/Defenses, and spending a good 10 minutes scanning with his electrical and mechanical CAS to figure out how to safely undo the horror wrought by Terry

With the immediate threat of launch or explosion stalled and Porters major wounds patched, Bartja opens a com with S'Krllk.

"Would it help to have a second set of eyes on that mess Terry created down there?  I'll open a port so you can upload your scans and simulation to me, then I'll process on my end and give you my opinion."

OOC: ie. can we add our Tech skils together to increase our chances of figuring it out?

Waiting on Desi and Orvo. Will check in later tonight.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 106):
"We Don't have to blow anybody up or kill each other here. It seems that we've gotten ourselves into a situation that it looks like we may not be able to get out from.  We all don't need to die here!  The both of you are tops in your fields of studies this is very unusual for two people in your positions to be acting like this.  What else can we do to convince you that something is off and we can help you?"

Ooc : Best I can do for my phone

Desi, Porter, and Orvo go up to the central bridge area. The hatches to the east and west are closed but there is a communication button next to them. No one will be in sight until you open the hatches.

Bartja and Appleburg remain on the Recreation Deck center area, and S'krllk is still down in the Engine room.

Bartja has a quick exchange with S'krllk, waiting for a reply.

Porter pushes the button and says: "Look, I just want to talk, okay? You have to admit, this behavior is not normal for you.  You have a Sathar cybernetic implant controlling you.  We want to help you get it out and restore order.  The only other options are, someone, or every one dies.  If you start the countdown, we all die.  If you explode the ship, we all die, if I shoot you, only you die.  I don't want to do that.  Please, release control and let us help you.  We need you alive for the best chance of overcoming what is going to happen here."

07:47, Today: GM Heath rolled 53 using 1d100. OOC: Porter's leadership is 55, with his personality reduced to 35 by the original creator. It paid off with this roll!

Desi says, "We Don't have to blow anybody up or kill each other here. It seems that we've gotten ourselves into a situation that it looks like we may not be able to get out from.  We all don't need to die here!  The both of you are tops in your fields of studies this is very unusual for two people in your positions to be acting like this.  What else can we do to convince you that something is off and we can help you?"

A tense moment passes, and then LeGrange says, "Come on in. I...I have had some blackout times and an irrational hatred of Vrusk. I just...just hate them. But we do have a deadman switch, so no sudden moves."

"I'm not buying it," Terry says. "Don't trust them!"

To that, LeGrange says, "Shut up." Then the intercom clicks off again.

Porter will cycle the hatch and step in.  He will have the stunner at the ready, but hold off using it unless necessary.  He will step to the left, away from the door to allow the others in.

"Please, shut that thing down.  We will talk, but we have no desire to die today, and I am sure you don't either.  We just want to move on and get ready for what is sure to come."

S'Krllk affirms Bartja's idea, and begins sending him the scans of the system as he tries to work out how to undue the damage.

Please indicate east or west hatch. That will determine who you are facing when you go in and what you see. (You don't know who is on what side at the moment.)

Porter is going in the west hatch.

Bartja holds back as the scans and information from S'Krllk comes in.  He begins studying them as the others go up to the bridge.

Porter and the others are preparing while S'krllk and Bartja are combining talents. (+5% per roll per minute analyzed.) Two minutes have passed.

Porter heads through the west door...



At the chair (marked "h"), he sees one of the hostage crew members tied up and looking panicked.

Behind the hostage and the next chair over (marked "j") you see Terry, who is using both the crew member and bridge launch chairs as cover (hard cover). Terry is holding a pistol in one hand and something else in his left hand--what appears to be some sort of switch or button. From this switch run wires around to the north stringing together frag grenades that are strapped to the wall. The amount of grenades, if detonated, would surely destroy the entire bridge and likely kill everyone in it.

"Now just what is it you think you have to say to us?" Terry says.

You do not see LeGrange or the other hostage but assume they are through the east door on the far side of the bridge.

Porter keeps his eyes on Terry, and says, loud enough for the rest to hear, "Terry, is this what you signed on for?  To murder people?  Suicide?  Does this even make sense to you?  You have an implant in your head that is telling you to do things you wouldn't do.  You have to fight it.  If you want to live, you have to disable your trap and let us help you."  Porter will slowly move between Terry and the hostage as he talks.

Bartja has never been good with people (LDR 35) so he stays off the bridge as the tensions build.  Instead, he opens a link with S'Krllk to work with him on figuring out the mess in Engineering.  He'll stay where he is until S'Krllk is ready to chance making some changes or the boys above need a hand in a firefight.

The following should help in visualizing respective positions.

(MINUTE 3 OF S'KRLLK'S ANALYSIS):

RECREATION DECK
Bartja and Appleburg remain on the Recreation Deck. Bartja is trying to help S'krllk. (+10% added so far.)


ENGINEERING DECK
S'krllk is still working on a way to disable the accidental self destructive explosive on the engineering deck. (Please let me know at which minute into this process S'krllk will actually try to defuse, if he knows yet. You can retract, of course, any time prior to the post in that turn.)

Bartja and S'krllk also see a potential second option, which would be to remotely deactivate the deadman switch. If Bartja makes a robot check and S'krllk makes a successful computer check (as follows), then they can activate the utility robot remotely, which can then deactivate the switch through the ship computer on the bridge to eliminate that immediate risk through the computer system (which is currently cut off because the bridge computer system is independent of the rest of the ship):

Bartja: Removing Security Lock at level 4.
S'krllk: Bypassing Security Level 4. (Or technician deactivate alarm/defense at Level 5.)




BRIDGE DECK
And on the bridge...

Orvo for now remains in the central area. He can heal as needed or act however he wants. (Appleburg can also climb up to heal if needed.)

On the west side, Porter sees Terry, two hostages, and the string of grenades attached to the kill switch (deadman switch) held by Terry. Porter says, "Terry, is this what you signed on for?  To murder people?  Suicide?  Does this even make sense to you?  You have an implant in your head that is telling you to do things you wouldn't do.  You have to fight it.  If you want to live, you have to disable your trap and let us help you."

Porter is moving closer (and slowly) to bridge the gap.

Terry says, "Stop right there! No closer." He raises the deadman switch menacingly. The pistol in his other hand is pointed at Porter. He looks with confusion at LeGrange without responding to Porter's comments. He keeps looking back and forth between LeGrange and Porter.

(OOC: Sorry, I thought there were only two hostages, but in rereading the module, there are actually 3.) They are in locations as pictured in the map below.

Desi heads out the east hatch. She sees a hostage tied to an acceleration chair, and LeGrange behind him (as shown). Behind her is the last utility robot, which remains motionless for the moment.

She also sees the stringed grenades (as shown). Anywhere in the bridge except the central area (with hatches closed) will be within the blast radius of the grenades. The grenades are incendiary grenades.

LeGrange is dressed strangely, not in his normal uniform. After a moment, you see he is dressed in a vacuum suit, which protects against fire--in other words, the incendiary grenades.

Both Terry and LeGrange have a stack of laser pistols in front of them so that they can easily drop one and fire another at maximum SEU without pause.

LeGrange says, "No one wants to die, of course. But I can't say about Terry. He's got a death wish. So you see, this will not be suicide for me at all. I may be the only one to survive. And yes, we used those implants all the time at the sanitorium. You probably saw them yourselves. But to suggest that I may have such an implant? Ridiculous."


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

At Terry's command, Porter will stop, but as he looks at LeGrange, Porter will inch over towards the hostage seated in the Astrogation seat.  He will keep talking to Terry to keep him distracted.

"Look, I sure don't want to die, I am sure these folk don't want to either.  Is death what you want?  I sure don't want to kill anyone, I just want to help you.  Look at this situation, do you think this is normal?  Do you think this is sane?"

OOC: Oops, forgot one more detail. The hostages are in freeze fields.

OOC
How high up are the partitions between Terry and the first hostage?

I think the partitions are computer stations, so they are like desks. The top of the map is the "front" of the ship and the "ceiling" would be the forward with thrust, so I am imagining that there is a lot of computer equipment both looking "up" toward the ceiling as well as where the partition is at, with not a ton of space to move between.

OOC

If Porter moves to the right (Terry's left) would he be blocked from observation?  If so, he will attempt to disconnect the last 3 grenades on the chain without being seen.

He will be seen. I am picturing it like looking at the space between a desk and upper shelves, so there are about 4 feet of open space to see, shoot, talk or whatever through. Someone could maybe distract him or something.

"Orvo, can you please come here?  I need your help."

As soon as he appears at the door, and Terry's attention is taken, I will reach out and disconnect the line to the grenade at the junction of F and H as quickly as possible.

Bartja smirks on his fleshy-face as he sees another option.  Through the team channel he quietly says, "Guys, keep them talking and don't take any risks yet.  I've got control of the utility robot.

S'Krllk, if you can, take a moment to look at this feed I'm sending you from the bot, see if you can hack the computer through to bot and use it to deactivate Terry's dead-man switch."

Desiraye replies over the team comms, "Copy that!"

Porter will keep talking, keep telling Terry to give up and help them.  The steady cadence of his voice will be measured to keep his attention off of the rest, other than Orvo.  If the robot can get the other side, it will isolate Terry.

S'Krllk takes Bartja's suggestion seriously, and adds the task of hacking the computer through the robot to his list of priorities.

MINUTE 4

Porter keeps Terry occupied and calls Orvo. When Terry looks away to LeGrange and the other door, Porter clips the wire of the grenades.

The utility robot comes to life behind Desi. It then turns to the computer.

S'krllk begins working remotely to have the computer by the robot ready to remotely disconnect the dead man's trigger set by Terry...

08:34, Today: GM Heath rolled 11 using 1d100

Success! S'krllk successfully deactivates the dead man's trigger.

Bartja and S'krllk relay their success of this to everyone else, and you breathe a sigh of relief.

But Terry and LeGrange still have laser pistols and hostages.

Porter will inch closer to Terry, closing the distance while he is still distracted.

OOC: I imagine Porter is by the seat marked h. So I'm guessing he is going around the workstation. Regardless, the motion does not go unnoticed.

"One more step and I'll put a hole through you," Terry threatens.

LeGrange says, "They must be part of a conspiracy. They claim we actually have implants in our own heads. How would they even prove it?"

Terry is sweating and not responding. He just shakes his head, keeping his eyes closely on Porter now.

Porter says, "Would you have taken the crew hostage?  Is that normal?  Only an implant would make you do that.  Orvo, are you there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Thu 03 Sept 2020.

"If you don't believe us, why don't you inspect each other and or, yourselves?  You guys are smart, if you see or feel something, say something!  You would then know that we couldn't have done it.""

Bartja lets out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and returns his attention to the tanglidge of wiring that Terry has made of the Engineering consoles.

"We ready to try and disarm this ships engines or shall I head upstairs and join the...subdual of our future prisoners?"

OOC: Note that Bartja also has control of the utility robot upstairs. He can control the robot or move around himself, but only one at a time.

LeGrange responds to Desi, who now stands just 10-15 feet away, "As you will recall, the implants are undetectable without a brain scan or actual exploratory surgery. So just how do expect us to do what you ask?" His tone is derisive, as if talking to a young schoolgirl.

S'Krllk responds to Bartja, "I don't want to take any chances, maybe we could get the ship's computer to run a diagnostic on the engines."
Still working slowly and deliberately, S'Krllk is focused on preventing disaster, even at the cost of the ship's function.

Desiraye lowers her rifle to the low-ready and addresses LeGrange.  "We have a lab deck, would that suffice for a scan?  However you want to do it.  I don't think we have too many other options before we blow each other up.  I prefer the former option.  What do you suggest?  We also have a pending invasion creeping up on us as you know, Jack.""

Orvo moves through the hatch into the bridge deck.

He followed behind Porter but kept the other side of the hatch.

He keeps out of Terry's view and tries to get a look at one of the hostages behind Porter to assess their condition.

He also made ready a tranq. Injection from his medical kit.

If either Porter or Desi made to jump either Terry or Me grange he would follow them and try to sedate them

Bartja directs the utility robot to turn back to the computer station, then coms S'Krllk.

"I'm linking you to the utility robot who is at the computer console on the bridge still.  See if you can access the system to run the scan you need.  I'll keep studying the wiring and schematics to see if there's anything else I can figure out on that mess."

Porter moves back to where Orvo is.  This move might make Terry think he is safer, but there is method to the madness.

He will whisper to Orvo, "go around and see if you can help subdue LeGrange.  He seems less volitile, for now.  If you can get him down, disconnect the grenades on that side.  I want to isolate Terry."

Orvo nods at Porters suggestion and slid across the deck to the opposite hatch and indicated to Desi he was ready to act when signalled.

As Orvo moves off, Porter watches Terry.  He will try to inch a little closer, but keep the stunner lowered.  He will say, "Terry, there is no way for this to end well for you other than letting me help you.  If you will come with me to the lab, I will even let you keep your pistol.  You need to be checked out and then you will see that I wasn't lying."

The hostages all seem alive and well in freeze fields.

Porter and Desi both try to talk to Terry and LeGrange. (Both failed leadership rolls.)

LeGrange nods to Terry gravely, and Terry, almost in a panic, lets his thumb off the dead man switch while squinting, waiting for the end. Of course, nothing happens, and he opens an eye and looks around before pushing the button several times in confusion.

Seeing that the dead man switch was disarmed, LeGrange says, resigned, "Fine. Terry, go with them. But all of you keep in mind that with a push of this button, I will restart the countdown." He indicates the computer screen in front of him.

Terry drops the switch and picks up an extra laser pistol as he suspiciously follows Porter, keeping his distance and having his pistols ready.

Porter leads Terry to the lab and on the way, he calls for the right folk to get there ASAP.

OOC: FYI after the first successful LDR check, I wiped out the -20 modifier. Each additional success when trying to get them to do something will add 10% to everyone's LDR roll. But each failure will take off 10% (but not going less than normal LDR score since there was a successful one. Right now, you have to roll LDR +10% to get them to cooperate with any requested action.

Terry follows Porter down to the lab. When he sees Appleburg, he has a very negative reaction to Appleburg trying to put him under. 12:28, Today: GM Heath rolled 94 using 1d100. "You!" he says. "Not you. I know you. You let them take you."

Appleburg says, "You are wrong. Your mind has been altered by the implant. Just relax." Appleburg manages to anesthesize Terry.

Appleburg begins the procedure.

Upstairs, Desi is facing off against LeGrange, both waiting for news from below.

Orvo has moved around the far side and stands near where Terry was at before.

LeGrange is watching Desi but also checking the computer systems. You remember that he has his finger on the countdown button, which if pushed, will lead to the whole ship blowing up unless S'krllk dismantles the engine rigging.

S'krllk is still examining the rigging. (5 minutes observation.)

Orvo is being very slow in moving. LeGrange barks at him what he thinks he is doing, and Orvo responds that he is the medic and is just checking to make sure the crew members are okay in the freeze fields.
<purple>
<green>
Appleburg and Porter are in the lab, and Appleburg is doing surgery on Terry's head, stating, "Once I go in, I have to work fast because the device is so sensitive." Just a minute later, lights begin flashing and beeps begin beeping. 12:28, Today: GM Heath rolled 97 using 1d100. Critical miss. "Uh, oh," Appleburg says. Then Terry's pulse flatlines. Appleburg seems a little put out. "I knew there was a chance of failure, but...oh, no...now we've lost him."

Porter and Appleburg stare at the body of Terry. Then Appleburg quickly reaches in with his tools and pulls a small device from Terry's head. "These are explosive in the brain. I accidentally set it off, and it essentially splattered his cerebral cortex. He's gone."

You remember the Vrusk back on the train on Kraatar and how he had a similar demise.


Several more minutes have passed...(8 minutes examining the engine.) LeGrange is getting antsy, and Desi and Orvo are in front of him and to his left, respectively. Neither has a direct shot/access because of all the equipment, but you can all see each other.

"Simply fabulous!" Porter exclaims.  "Move the body out of sight.  I am still going to try to get LeGrange down here.  Maybe this time?"

Porter will rush back up to the bridge.

He will go to through the left hatch but have the stunner hidden.  He addresses LeGrange, "Terry is in recovery.  We were able to remove the implant in his head.  It was, indeed, a Sathar device.  We know you have one too and we need to get it out before it kills you.  We want to resolve this with no more violence."

Is Porter taking the device to show LeGrange or just talking to him?

He will take the device with him, but he will clean it of any blood and tell him it exploded in the sink they washed it off in.

LOL. I thought he might. This will give +20% to the roll.

I'll post again tomorrow to see if anyone else wants to make any moves first.

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 147):
"Why are you helping the Quantariate Jack?  What are they offering you?  You realize that they're going to try and kill every living being, probably including the Sathar in the end?"

Bartja hovers below the Bridge, seemingly staring at a wall and mumbling to himself.  In actuality, he's studying the schematics and the mess of wiring before S'Krllk through the feed as they try to puzzle out the rigging and get it dismantled before LeGrange presses that button....

"Qantariate?" LeGrange says. "I've never heard of such a thing. The Sathar offered an end to the Vrusk scourge and a path for my followers to freedom and prosperity. They are not at all as bad as the UPF attests. Demonize the enemy. That's the UPF modus operandi, is it not? I cannot begin to think what horrible things they said of me."

LeGrange listens to Desi, sees Porter and the device, and nods slowly. GM Heath rolled 27 using 1d100. "This will probably be the death of me, but I will let you scan for the implant."

He takes a deep breath and follows you down to the lab.

With him under, Appleburg begins the process while the bridge is secured. Appleburg breathes a sigh of relief as he plops the implant down in the nearby sink. 12:18, Today: GM Heath rolled 13 using 1d100. "We did it," he says. "It's out." He collapses into a nearby chair. "That's enough excitement for one day. He'll be awake within the hour, hopefully back to his normal irascible self. I've heard the rumors of LeGrange, you know. Quirky. Impatient. God complex. The normal stuff those geniuses seem to have even though we need their skills so much. But at least I hope he won't be a megalomaniacal genocidal raving lunatic."

Appleburg smiles and takes a long drink.

S'krllk, knowing that Terry is now dead and he is the only hope (along with Bartja) in defusing or otherwise disentangling the potential engine explosives, sets to task after having enough time for them to examine it. He starts to cut wires...first one: safe...second one: safe...third one: something begins to wind down, lights start to blink on and off, and you hear a low pulsing sound...and then the timer shuts down and the engines appear back to normal.

But they aren't. 12:18, Today: GM Heath rolled 80 using 1d100. S'krllk realizes he has failed. He tenses, wondering if he is ready to die... His eyes bulge with dread...



Yet after a moment, there is no explosion. Instead, he sees he has cut wires needed for take off and a power surge has overloaded the circuits. The engine mainframe blinks out. You will need a replacement part before these engines work again, and that replacement part may be light years away.

OOC: Any other actions here? I think it dragged on enough. We can wrap it up and then move to the next stage whenever everyone is ready. We can assume you successfully defuse the bombs and get the bridge under control, and anything else while waiting for LeGrange to wake up. The next stage will start with him waking up.

Hope you enjoyed my thought of what S'kllk's face was like when he was anticipating blowing up. Couldn't resist.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:31, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Bartja moves about the ship, collecting the maintenance robots that remain.  He then tries his hand at repairing the aircar and flies back to collect Shemp.

"If we can get this aircar in good shape, we need to go back and get the Captain before his freeze field is out of power.  We can use the ship medical facilities to try and save him here.  At least we're back at ground zero.

Then I suggest we go look for that alien ship Appleburg was talking about.  We're going to need parts for ours if we're ever going to get off this planet."

Porter will collect the grenades from the bridge and add them to his stash.

"Let's give a thorough search of the ship and see if there's any more surprises and what we've got access to and stuff that just doesn't work.

See if we can get the subspace radio up and running.  Maybe, just maybe, we can get some help out here!

Someone (or two) can go with Orvo and collect the Captain & Innesti and the rest of our gear we left at the crash site.

Sarge, I suggest either you or I handle that detail while the other stays here and goes over stores and keeps an eye on LeGrange.

What does everyone think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

I can handle the detail, you watch Lagrange.

"Do you want anyone other than Orvo?"

Appleburg says, "I need to watch after LeGrange anyway, for medical reasons. He needs to rest and be observed closely over the next 24 hours, so feel free to go about your business. Oh, and didn't you say you have people waiting for a rescue at the crash site?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

"Yes, the mission commander is down in the field and we left him with an engineer to watch him while in a freeze field.  We also left the majority of our gear there to lighten our loads while travelling.

You are goingto be in charge of monitoring LeGrange.  I won;t be more than a couple of compartments away taking stock of what we have to work with here.

Since we will have some free time, why don't you show us on a map where you were working Eddie?  We will want to check that site out!"

"I should be good with Orvo."

Appleburg puts LeGrange in a freeze field in the lab to ensure faster healing for the next 24 hours. It will also allow you time to explain Terry's death when he recovers his senses.

Meanwhile, you plan to rescue Marlborough and the engineer. Orvo is able to bring the three crew members on the bridge back from their freeze fields. They are groggy and don't remember much after being captured because they were almost immediately put in freeze fields.

S'krllk and Bartja begin examining the ship for repairs and for long distance communications. Engine repairs will be very difficult and take about 5 weeks, but it should only take about a day to get communications up and running again. To the extent Bartja and S'krllk want to do other things, the crew members can set about doing the repairs.


MORAES USEFUL EQUIPMENT:

The Moraes has one explorer and one fully functional aircar. The other aircar is badly damaged, and the survey airship was completely destroyed. I assume Orvo and Porter will be taking the aircar to pick up Captain Marlboro and Engineer Innesti.

It has one utility robot remaining, which can assist with repairs on the ship.

I will include further details about the Moraes in the Wiki and link to it.

I will open a new thread shortly.

"Good, take whatever supplies you need and keep in contact with us!  Check in at the bottom of the hour with a status report please.  Safe trip guys," Desiraye says as she extends her hand to each of them before they leave and she gets busy to go through stores and lets Bartja, Eddie, and the others do their jobs.