Vadim takes a shot at opening the hatch.

OOC

21:48, Today: Vadim tul Mhora rolled 46 using 1d100.  security?

It's 50% plus skill level (x10) minus alarm level (x10). So here it is 20% plus your skill level. Vadim is level 1 so he needs 30% or less to succeed.

Unfortunately, he also fails to open the security lock.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:25, Sun 23 May 2021.

"Frak," Desi says as another failed attempt at the lock is obvious.  She looks around, "Next?

Can we take a picture of what we're dealing with and send it to Bartja & the others?
 Maybe they can shed some light on this short of us blasting our way in?"

'Less time shooting, more time on tech Desi,' she thinks to herself.

"I can give it a try." Gregor carefully looks over the alien mechanism and carefully hits several of the buttons.

Trying to follow the drama from afar through the communicators, Bartja chuckles in relief to hear Desi back on the coms.

OOC:  Just returned from vacation and getting caught up!

Using the communicator, Bartja chimes in:
"This would be a perfect situation in which I could send Shemp to help you.  He's pretty good on his own, but with my Link to help him, he becomes my eyes and hands in these situations.  If I can get him working again, I'll send your way.

For now, someone put a camera on that lock and let me see what you're dealing with."

S'Krllk wanders up to Bartja with a few cleaned and re-purposed magnetic couplers. "Why they insist on using these outdated magnetic things is beyond me. The quantum entangled clasps aren't any more expensive than these magnetic things."
He takes a look at the screen, and shrugs, "airlock doors like that usually have a manual override bypassing the security. Otherwise, it's too easy to use as a weapon."

"Copy.  Stand by," Desi replies back relieved that they could possibly get some help from the tech people who know what they were doing.  She will hold her device so that they can see what's holding them up and wait for a solution to get them into the Sathar ship.

OOC: Welcome back from vacation!  Just in time...

Vadim readies his sidearm for when the hatch cycles.

OOC
I think Gregor popped the Security on Sunday with his roll.


11:31, Sun 23 May: Gregor Trask rolled 12 using 1d100.  security.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:47, Wed 26 May 2021.

After the other failures, Gregor steps up. To him, the solution comes rather quickly, and the airlock begins to cycle open. (Success.)

Even though the airlock is successfully cycling, you notice the amber lights are still on and flashing around the doors and the top of the chamber.

But the inner airlock door opens to reveal the interior of the ship.

Immediately, you realize that the amber lights had nothing to do with the airlock doors. They were instead a notification that the security system had been tripped--effectively a red alert.

As the airlock door opens, you see that the compartment beyond contains storage containers and empty racks, and two cockroach-like robots 1 meter long and .5 meters wide. Each robot has a large central turret and four miniature turrets evenly spaced around its oval upper surface. The four smaller turrets apparently hold weapons. The robots are on ceiling tracks.

Because your clumsy entry tripped the alarm, the robots are waiting with weapons pointed at you (i.e., robots get initiative).

OOC: You can, of course, fight the robots. Another option would be to try to close the airlock door (30% plus skill level to immediately close, +30% bonus for Gregor) while dodging to the side so you can reopen them when ready. Of course, you have only a split second to decide what to do. Whoever attempts to close the door will be exposed to fire.)


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:38, Thu 27 May 2021.

"Belgium!" Vadim swears as he keys his screen and toggles his laser pistol to max, "Well we didn't come here to sight-see..."

OOC

23:33, Today: Vadim tul Mhora rolled 9 using 1d10+5.  Initiative.

Assuming activating Albedo screen and setting laser pistol to 10 take his action.

"This new guy has potential,' Desi thought to herself with a smirk as she leveled her laser pistol at one of the robots (if careful aim isn't an option, [2] shots at [1] robot)

00:24, Today: Desiraye Lipost rolled 8 using 1d10+6.  Initiative.
PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 62/62
[1] 10 SEU shot at a robot w. Careful Aim
OR
[2] 10 SEU shots w.out Careful Aim

DAMAGE: 10d10+20 for each [10] SEU shot hit

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [90/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] LE-1500 Laser Pistol (#13 p.5)
- [1] Recognition Grip  [+230 cr]
- [7] 20 SEU clips
- [1] Spring Holster
- [0] Empty 20 SEU clips

Game Notes:
Laser pistol in Alpha Dawn with increased damage per SEU setting.
1d10+2 per SEU / LE-1500 DAM: 1d10+2/SEU / SEU 1-10/shot

I bet you are all glad now that the dive bag was unloaded. That saves you a round of getting out your equipment and weapons.

Note that Orvo will be at -10% to fire because he left his suit on.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:51, Thu 27 May 2021.

Gregor quickly ducked for cover behind the bulkheads and swung his rifle around and cracked off two laser blasts. "Holy shit!"


[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [50/50]
[1] Albedo Screen with Beltpack [50/50]
[1] Laser Rifle on Backpack [80/100]
[1] Laser Pistol with Power Clip [20/20 SEU]
[1] (concealed) Laser Pistol with Power Clip [20/20 SEU]
[10] Spare Power Clips [20/20]]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Fri 28 May 2021.

For those who haven't posted, I'll just NPC you, which I typically have as a rule anyway if postings aren't made within 2 days. I just haven't been enforcing it much because life has been crazy for me too...I get it.

Vadim, Gregor, Orvo and Desi fire at the "cockroach" robots on their rails but do not get initiative since they were surprised. Each of the cockroach robots has four dorsal turrets, one each of: laser pistol, electrostunner, sonic stunner, and needler pistol. In your quick glance during the initial shots, you see that the central turret appears to have sensors and scanners.

The robots fire...four shots each...coordinated apparently through their alien version of wifi since they each fire two each at separate individuals...

NOTE: These do not account for screens/suits, so please adjust damage and record dispersion of such damage in your record sheets accordingly, if they apply.

At Gregor, the laser shot misses but hits the wall near his head. The electrostunner shot also misses.

At Vadim, the sonic shot goes very wide, not even close. However, the needler shot hits. The needle is barbed (8 STA damage).

At Orvo, the laser shot lands in the wet floor next to him. The electrostunner is set on blast mode and hits Orvo (20 STA damage).

At Desi, she dodges both shots.

You open fire in return, taking what minimal cover you can.

Vadim is setting his Albedo suit and setting his pistol to SEU 10 as he steps to the light cover by the doors.

Desi has no time to make adjustments or careful aim, so she just takes two quick shots at the first cockroach robot (point blank). Both shots hit their mark. The first robot is destroyed by her second shot. (56 and 78 damage respectively)

Gregor is moving quickly and firing his rifle (-10 to hit due to simultaneous actions). His first shot goes wide, but his second shot hits. (65 dmg.)

Orvo fires his laser pistol twice (at his normal 3 SEU setting) with penalties. His second shot hits. (23 dmg.)  The second cockroach robot is also disabled.

With both robots smoking and you being relatively unscathed in the assault, you are all smiles as the coast is clear. OOC: Amazing what twists of fate the dice rolls can have. I expected this to go a few rounds. In retrospect, I should have had you identify your targets instead of assuming you attack the undestroyed one, since the attacks were virtually simultaneous. That might have made the second one last longer.

You advance to the room marked 3 as the cockroach robots still smoke above you.

The compartment contains storage containers and empty racks. Locked hatches lead to the bridge (north at #4) and the rear common areas (to #5).


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:21, Tue 08 June 2021.

"Nice shootin'," Vadim nods to Desi, Gregor, and Orvo with a smile, "You okay Orvo?"  He glances down at his own wound and notes it looks pretty superficial, the skeinsuit doing it's job.

The New Pale scout glances left and right, noting the compartment's contents, "She's big enough to have a computer room.  That's probably not directly aft with engineering but port or starboard.  Suggest we try to find that first to shut down any more security responses."  Vadim leaves his screen on, ready to move.

Note that Orvo's suit absorbed 10 points of damage but is now useless as a water or vacuum proof suit.

Gregor waits for the boss to direct him. Once she does he follows her instructions to the letter.

While he waits he keeps his blaster rifle pointed at the opposite direction of his companions. Making sure that they are not all facing the same direction.

Orvo says, "Okay, time to take off this spacesuit. So we go south?" Going to #5, it looks like. He will take off the spacesuit first and be ready to fire.

Vadim looks around as Orvo gets out of his spacesuit. The compartments are mostly empty as if awaiting storage for things that were never put there. There are only a few odds and ends, but you don't know what they are--except that they are clearly of Sathar origin.

You realize now, a little too late, that the amber lights in the airlock were not about whether the doors were locked or unlocked, but instead were the security alert system. Apparently, your entry was not so stealthy. You realize that because there are additional amber lights flashing in the corner of this room.

It sounds like the general consensus is to go south (aft). In inspecting the doors, you see that both the north and south doors are secured by the equivalent of a level 3 security lock (again, secured in Sathar language and technology). So you will need to make attempts at opening it as before.

You're really wishing about now that you had brought your technology guys along...

As Vadim and Gregor look further around and Orvo continues to pull himself out of his suit, they do spot a type of switchboard along the west (port) side. It is all in Sathar language and technology but has these three writings on it.



To the right of each of these lines are 8 additional symbols, which you quickly deduce are the numbers 1 through 8 in Sathar. In Sathar practice, only the numbers 1 through 8 are used. Each of the numbers is a touch sensitive button.

There are other writings in Sathar around the room, such as over each of the doors, by the compartments, next to the amber flashing lights, and so forth.

Next to the top line, the Sathar equivalent numbers of 358 is lit.
Next to the middle line, the Sathar equivalent of the numbers 267 is lit.
Next to the bottom line, the Sathar equivalent of the numbers 13468 is lit.

OOC: This gives an additional optional puzzle to solve, with results/rewards that should be interesting and helpful if solved, but not necessary for mission completion. If anyone knows Sathar, they may roll against their Intuition for each "line" to understand the interpretation, since these are not the Sathar language per se. For all others, roll against 1/2 Intuition for each "character".

Vadim scans the area but focuses on the glowing switchboard.  He really wishes the tech guys were here as he tries to get a sense of the lit up symbols.

OOC

22:09, Today: Vadim tul Mhora rolled 253 using 7d100 with rolls of 12,84,11,16,85,34,11.

22:08, Today: Vadim tul Mhora rolled 18 using 1d100.  Intuition half (25).

By character you mean each individual symbol in the image correct?  So 20 rolls total correct?

Rolls above from left to right starting at top line (so first, third, fourth, seventh, and eighth image successfully rolled)...and next 12...

22:21, Today: Vadim tul Mhora rolled 664 using 12d100 with rolls of 48,55,48,87,42,8,69,10,68,79,71,79.

(drat didn't have the record each individual die roll clicked...was a much better roll;-).

Spoiler tag with my guess so far and how I arrived at it so don't click to keep from biasing your solution/ideas.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

As a side not looks like a number series with the second line missing a number (and each sequence 1 addition number from the prior line...so 3, 4, and 5).  Not to bias anyone for the puzzle (in case I'm offbase....so 16, 15+x, and 22...so Vadim's guess would be 4 barring additional information).

Edit- Tho just to over think this in base 8, 19 would be 23 for the second line

hrm so 20, 17+x, and 26 so in that case Vadim's guess would be 3

2nd edit and it's been a long time since I've worked with anything other than base 10 so prolly screwing that up

3rd edit- and I'm probably barking up the wrong tree here but in base 8 the '1s' slot on the list of numbers on each line is a '0' (and there is no '8')

I'm assuming from my read each line has the Sathar numbers listed in sequence...so 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.  Sigh...too late to think....actually still looks like the octal answer is a 3 in that case.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Wed 09 June 2021.

Orvo has a level 2 psychosocial skill in Communication. He will try to use it to see what clues or understanding he can gain from the strange writings while the others look around.

He is glad to finally get that spacesuit off and is glad to have only taken minimal damage from the laser blast. "Maybe I can at least help with communication here. I studied a little bit of Sathar," he says.

COMMUNICATION
Success rate: 40% + skill level
This subskill can be used when a character must communicate with a creature whose
language he does not speak or understand. If the character uses this subskill
successfully, he can communicate using very simple messages.

Bartja listens to the chatter over the chronocom as he works until his curiosity gets the better of him.

"Someone send me a pic of what you're seeing there.  I don't read Sathar, but what it sounds like is a set of codes and the labels next to it are in Sathar, or possibly their alphabet."

Bart waits for an image to come through from someone looking at the screen, wishing their higher power and longer wavelength communicators were as fast as the short-wave higher frequency digital units of most developed planets.


Assuming someone does send him a pic, he muses on it for a few minutes, then comes back over the communicator:

"Looks like a 20 character alphabet to me.  Do these symbols repeat on other panels or writings you can see?  If not, it might be a heiroglyphic system." His voice trails off as he gives it more thought.

OOC: Sorry for my late posting and thanks for moving along.  I can't wait to retire next April...

BIC:  Desiraye strips the used powercell out of her laser pistol and quickly loads another, keeping her pistol on 'Safe'.  "OK, Let's get Orvo tended to quickly and start looking how to get this ship to the surface!"

Seeing that Vadim and Orvo are starting their own probes, Desi looks to Gregor, "OK Gregor, without touching too much, me and you are going to video document what we've got around us here, including those robots.  We try to figure it out ourselves but, I think the guys up top may be better suited to give us direction."