"Desiraye, you ok?  Looks like we have to run!"

OOC: ROFL

Bartja successfully gets the subspace transmitter working.  He contacts Truane's Star and tells them what has happened, and that you are all stranded on the planet!

"Survivors?  We though everyone died," the person on the other end says.  When they hear of the approaching Sathar Fleet, they promise to send warships right away, but they doubt the ships can arrive in time, although when they do arrive, they will gladly rescue you from the planet.

Bartja gets ready to say something else when he is interrupted.

Your polyvox translates the Sathar voice interrupting him as it broadcasts over the speakers: "Robot 57230-67209, please enter security code within 60 seconds to avoid self-destruction countdown."

"59...58...57..."</quote>OOC: LOL!  WOW!  Didn't even know it came out like that but, probably not far from the truth in the current siuation they're in right now...

BIC: Desiraye's head snaps up when she hears Sergi ask her if she's all right.  She begins to stand and get her bearings again, "Yeah, seems like that's all we've been doing is running.  What's another sprint out of the jaws of death," she says wearily as she slings her blaster rifle and begins to move out of the room back the way they came in.

Bartja nods to the new freeman S'Krllk.  "Good to see you!  Now, if we all want to live, we'd better get as far away from this giant robot as we can."  It wasn't unlike what he knew of the Sathar to self-destruct this huge robotic beacon - on the contrary - it was totally within their known character!  He begins sprinting back towards the entry to the complex, hoping to make it far far away before the artifact goes nuclear....

"Great another mad sprint to god knows what waits for us. Right behind you!"

"At least we're getting good at it," Becka grinned, moving into a spot near Inta.

"I just hope there is somwthing left of us when the marines land."

Your impression is that it is not the robot itself that will self destruct, but at a minimum the device in the room...and maybe a much larger device in the entire process.

Meanwhile, you have spend a lot of time talking...

33...32...31...

A mechanical voice says over the intercom, "Securing doors and exits.  Please input security code immediately to avoid commencement of countdown sequence."

One thing you are quite sure of...no one there has the knowledge of how to input the security code or rig the computer.

You head out the way you came but find the door leading west into Room 9 has closed.  You will have to go north up the hallway to find the exit.

OOC: I'm out of town and don't have the map in front of me, which is why this isn't updated.  As you'll recall, you were in the bottom southeast corner when you fought the robot.  You are now where the hallway splits either north or west, two squares east of room 9.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Thu 28 Feb 2008.

"Can things get any worse? No wait don't anyone answer that!!" Says Kri'lik as he runs along side the others.

OOC:We can't run and holler to each other?

That's how you got where you did, but it's taken about 30 seconds total to figure all this out and get to that corner.

Drawing his laser pistol as he turns back from the door, Bartja ejects the empty SEU clip and inserts a partial one as he turns the corner north.  "At the very least we should get as far away from the constructed parts of this place as we can.  Maybe these tunnels will protect us, but I have my doubts" he adds as he breaks into a run northward, heading for the last bend in the tunnel that turns back to the west.

Sergi joins the general exodus, checking his weapon as he goes.  He covers each turn, left and right as he moves up the corridor.

"Watch your flanks, dying as we escape would be embarrassing...and painful!"

You follow Bartja to the far north and then west.  You find a long, empty hallway that leads back to the tunnels where you killed the cyboslugs.

As you exit into those chambers, the computer continues its countdown over the intercom.  "3...2...1..."

"Initiating countdown sequence.  Full security engaged.  Input override code to cancel countdown.  5 minutes to remote station 672098-35 self destruct."

Another countdown begins, and the door exiting out begins to close.  You rush forward...diving for the door...and rush out into the underground tunnel that goes around the complex.  You do not stop to look back but run and run until you get to the ladder up.  You climb up and out and into fresh air.  A minute or two has passed, but you cannot hear the countdown now that you are out of the complex.

At least the fresh air and freedom from the complex gives you renewed energy, but you hear a dim beeping sound echoing throughout the complex from the pyramid-like structure.

In the distance, you see your jetcopter.

"LET'S GO PEOPLE!  MOVE IT LIKE YOU GOT A PURPOSE," Desiaraye shouts out to everyone as she finally gets back into her survival mindframe and snaps out of the momentary funk she was in back inside the complex.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sat 01 Mar 2008.

"Last one to the copter is a gooey mess!"

Sergi moves off, arms and legs pumping, moving like a man with a goal in life...to keep living!

S'Krllk attempts to move as fast as possible without outrunning the individuals that might be able to lead him to a form of conveyance.

"Hey!!  I resemble that remark!!"  Lerku begins chortling at his own joke, even as he continues to sprint for his life.

Becka runs along with her companions, glancing over her shoulder from time to time to make certain no one is falling back.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:09, Sun 02 Mar 2008.

The aged Vrusk does his best to keep up with the rest of the group. he dose chance a glance back at the artifact however. "Two weeks I have been trapped in there, boy its good to get outside again!"

Bartja sprints behind the others, lugging his kits and gear which suddenly seems very burdensome.  As he begins to fall behind he pants to the nearest of those fleeing; "we can't all fit in the jetcopter.  We'll need to find solid cover before that thing blows!"

As Desiraye continues to run, she looks back to see Bartja and falls back to help.  "C'mon!  We need to find some cover quickly!  Might be safer on the ground for some silly reason anyways," Desi says taking a kit from Bartja to try and help to keep up.

OOC - Admittedly I am pretty bad with locations, but if Becka is near Bartja and Desiraye she'll help with the equipment, too!

Suddenly, the ground buckles beneath you before you can make it all the way to the jetcopter.  You fall to the ground and stare back.

An explosion has rocked the artifact, and smoke billows up.  As you watch, the artifact begins to crumble in on itself.  Cracking and straining, with the sounds of metal and stone and other elements, the artifact implodes until it is nothing more than a giant pile of rubble.

You get back to the jetcopter and squeeze in as tightly as you can.  You realize there is only one place to go.

You must warn the Eorna and tell them what is happening.  Maybe they can help.  Otherwise, in two weeks' time, the Sathar will arrive to destroy everything.

THIS ENDS THE SECOND VOLTURNUS ADVENTURE.  THE LAST WILL BEGIN SHORTLY.

Experience points:

OOC:I'm so far behind!UGH!

Since we're starting a new adventure, it's your opportunity to start fresh.  These are short, isolated encounters with the races, so it should be easy to keep up on the story line at least.