You all go together to the (late) captain's cabin...

Refresher on the current maps.  You are on Moneyspider, which is connected to Snobol:

MAP OF MONEYSPIDER



MAP OF SNOBOL



The captain's cabin consists of rooms M5a and M5b (near the bridge, which is M3), on Deck 2.

Ellen looks in the locker of the captain's cabin (M5b), and pulls out the manual.  She begins looking through it with you helping.

You have also started raising the heat signature.  One thing that appears odd in the computers is that it appears a little different than back on Jetsom.  There, the strangeness in the computer was showing a "systems failure."  Here, however, Yag and S'Krllk find that there are errors appearing, but they are showing up as "hardware fault."

As you ponder that fact, Ellen says, "This is odd."  She points to the manual.  "Baralou is actually listed as one of the ship's robots.  I bet only the captain knew that, and he was first to be killed.  She--it, I should say--is listed as a female Yazirian cybernetic robot.  Her programs are listed as Security Lock, Attack/Defense, Computer Link, and..."  She pauses, then continues and reads the word you already see:  "Classified."

You notice that the cabins have not actually been heating up as they should.  Checking the computers, you see that the heating command has been disengaged.  Someone--or something--is blocking your ability to use the computers on the ship.

"I knew it. That certainly is not Baralou back in medical. This cybernetic must be responsible."

Sergi adds, "And she has computer link and security programs in her, so she's probably also messing with the systems and preventing us from doing what we want."

"That explains the Cluster FCUK we've got going on around here.  We need to put an end to this now!  Not a lot of options here.  We're going to have to Sweep and clear the entire ship one compartment at a time.  Load up on ammo and powerpacks for screens and weapons.  It might not just be the 'Cyber Baralou' but other robots on the ship too.  We might have to dismantle or destroy them also.

I know this is your ship and command Ellen so if you have any input on what needs to be done, I suggest you speak up and sorry if we thought it was your crew doing this.  I want to get you and the rest of my crew out of this, including you," Desiraye says to Ellen recognizing that this is still her ship & command.

Ellen is uncharacteristically silent and humble.  She leads it up to you and will just tag along with a laser pistol handy.

"One thing's for sure," she says, looking up and around in paranoia, "she can hear every word we say and see everything we do."  She points to the multiple security cameras and the intercom system.  "Surprise won't be on our side, so we have to sweep the place in a way that won't let her move around."

"Great. Just when we need a nice little electronic virus to take out a robot we've gone and snuffed the only one available."
"Before we go wasting our time trying to corner a death-dealing security bot that hears our every plan, let's see if we can't come up with a better way."
"Does anyone here know how stable the ship's position is? If we kill the power, the robot wouldn't be able to use the security cameras."

"Any ideas Ellen?"

"The ship is attached to Snobol by the tether. If power was shut off the vessel would still orbit the asteroid and allow gravity. Life support could become a problem however."

"That won't work, then. If there were available life support modules the killer would have already trashed all but one and shut off life support. That way we can all be done in at one time."
"Having said that, if there are suits or other gear on board, we should rush to them to catch the robot with it's secret modification   that    renders     it      invisible?"
S"Krllk is obviously thinking out loud.

Ellen states that with Baralou's programming, attempts to alter the ship such as turning off power will be preempted and blocked, so it's unlikely to be possible to do it, even if it would work.

Sergi says, "If we need to do a sweep, let's sweep the level where the holes were blown in the big canisters first, since we know someone's been there most recently."

S'Krllk looks askance at Ellen. "I didn't mean turn the switch, I meant kill, as in disable, the power source. Even if we fail, it would force a confrontation with the robot."

Sergi says, "That sounds pretty dangerous to me, especially if we can't get the power source up again.  But aren't the main controls in that secured area we couldn't get to before?  Now that we have Ellen with us, she could let us in."

His head cocked sideways, S'Krllk looks at Sergi. "I always thought it was human fiction, but you really would allow the killer to nibble the edges of your hive away rather than face a confrontation in which the dieing is done in full view."
Despite the situation, S'Krllk begins to make some notes on his comp while he murmurs the word 'interesting' with several varied tonalities.

Sergi is likely referring to the Strongroom (M15).  That's where the chemical storage tanks were damaged.  It is across from the sick bay (M13).

Ellen says, "Yes, I could let you into that area.  It's where the tanks were shot, but that should be clear now.  Some of the tampering had to also be done in the maintenance area (M8), and that would offer the most room to hide, I think."

She punches a few things in the computer to pull up the cabin areas.  You see the following on the maps:

Moneyspider Crew Cabins.
· M20 *(unoccupied). 2nd Officer: Parl Kopta
(Human, dead).
· M21 *(occupied). Chief Engineer: Ellen
Coopermann (Human).
· M22 (unoccupied). Astrogator's Assistant: Tak-
Arbork (Vrusk, dead).
· M23 (occupied). Technician: Fiator Geauis
(Dralasite, dead).

(Currently, you are at the captain's cabin (M5a-b).)

"Hmm, that's odd," Ellen says.  "I also see that the elevator to Snobol has been returned to normal operating conditions.  It's blocking me out, but I think I caught a glimpse of data that the elevator went up to Snobol again."

Ellen is averse to trying to shut down the power completely.  "Not only will that mess up our mining operation, but it could be very dangerous for all of us.  After all, if Baralou is a robot, she can just prevent us getting our power sources back or manipulate the system."

"Just a thought, but if I wasn't the first to get the idea of killing the power on the ship to deal with its occupant, wouldn't the logical safe place to go be Snobol", S'Krllk muses.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Sat 06 Nov 2010.

Sergi says, "I say we go to the maintenance area first.  We can always go to Snobol later, but first I'd like to feel safe that the elevator won't get sabotaged again."

"Im all for that. That last ride on the life was almost my last!"

The doctor takes a moment to make sure his screen is still on and his pistol is ready for action.

"Arrghh. Fine with me," growls Yag.

"Screens & weapons hot and ready to go!  Ellen, what would be the best places to strike at us in the ship and I'm looking for any suggestions.  I don't think going back to Snobol will do us any good and only isolate us there."

Ellen says, "I guess the maintenance area has the most free space to move around and hide in."