"How many more days until the relief ship gets here Ellen?"

Ellen answers Desi through the intercom.  "Eleven days.  And I don't like the sounds of this message.  HKK-R2 is another of those ice cutter robots.  And it looks like it's heading your way from the ice tunnels."

"Can't block the tunnel.  Used the last of the Kaboomite back on the Moneyspider.  How long before it gets to us Ellen and can it get to you guys down there if we take the transport back?"

Ellen says, "It depends on how extensive the caves go.  I think at a minimum it can cut through the walls from the caves to get at us.  The caves were recently pressurized and added oxygen.  Someone had the bright idea of putting the sapes to work back there assisting the HKK-R2 robot.  From what I recall, Baralou had been talking a few times about setting brainwave communication devices in the sapes so they would obey commands.  We might not want to be split up right now, not if Baralou has set them to guard the place.  That's 8 sapes and another ice cutter robot after us."

Desiraye unslings her laser rifle and hits the chronocom to transmit, "OK, we're on our way back in a couple of minutes.  Be prepared for a fight.  We need to decide how to handle this.

Yag, get what you think we'll need and let's get back to the others.  I'll cover you."

Even as Desi is talking, you realize it is too late.

The ice mines have an entrance to and from S5 located in what would be the ceiling area (though this is zero gee, so that is not relevant).

Desi and Yag hear sape chatter and approaching metallic movement from above them inside the nearby room as the hatch to the caves opens.

Here is a map to show locations.  The ice cave opens up into the room between the transport tubes and has a pressurization hatch as shown.

Desi reaches down and powers up her Albedo screen as she taps Yagrith on the shoulder, "We need to get out of here now Yag!"  Desiraye makes sure her rifle is set on [10]SEU output as they look to make thier way back to the rest of the group.

Yag looks panicky. He is low on stamina and has only the remnants of a skeinsuit to protect him. He gets in the transport tube motioning for Desi to join him (assuming the tube is is still here) and hits the button to send it back to the rest of the group.

Getting in the tube, you find that it has been locked in place under a security lockdown.  You are stuck.

You hear a robotic voice say, "Search the other bays."  Then you hear footsteps going off in the other direction and the clunking of metal coming down in the area between the tubes.

OOC: FYI, the ice caves are very cold (hopefully you have your chillsuits on), but they are transversable if you can get up to them.


From the far room, the other party members can only watch with horror on the screen, helpless to do anything.

That is, until they realize they will soon have their own problems coming their way.

In reply to GM Heath (msg #60):

"I know you're in no shape to fight so we're going to have to hide it out.  Find us a place for now then we can try to sandwich them in between the others!"

OOC: There is the one shuttle on the "south" side of the dock that can be entered.  Otherwise, you'll need to be specific on how you're going to hide.

The shuttle it is then

The others hear the opening of hatch doors.  You see that there has been a makeshift hatch installed directly overhead (where the letters L1 are located).  It is mostly obscured due to the earlier explosion, but that's where your visitors are coming from, and they will be here...soon.

Ellen is beginning to get afraid again.  She pulls out her laser pistol and says, "I didn't know they had expanded the ice caves to be so expansive and reach every area.  That must have been part of Baralou's plan."

As they make their hide sight in the shuttle, Desiraye tries to contact the others using the chronocom on low volume.  "Try to use grenades as much as you can.  frags first to wear them down then try the doze and tanglers to incapacitate the Sapes.  Direct damage from the frag grenades should bring down their health enough for the tangler & doze to take better effect.

Robots a totally different problem.  We may be able to knock out the robot and that will knock out the control of the Sapes.

We'll try to sandwich them between us and attack them as long as they dont find us first.  Don't forget we got those grenades and stuff from the turrets that may help!"

S'Krllk goes to the computer, and begins to work on it. "Maybe I can use the same communications path that gave the HKK robot a command to get us and tell him to lay off. If not, perhaps there's some way to control the sapes from here."
"Anyway, there's nothing obvious to shoot, yet, so I might as well put the time to use."

Following Desi's advice Doctor Kri'lik readies two frag grenades, one in each hand. Once he has identified hostile targets he throws both in the same direction yelling "Grenade!"

No throwing weapons skill...

Yag and Desi:

Yag and Desi find that one ice cutter robot and two sapes are descending (in zero gee).

Yag and Desi run to the shuttle.  The hatch leading to the shuttle is locked with a security 3 lock and will need to be bypassed to get into the shuttle.

The robot and 2 sapes are at the point marked S5 on the map.


The others, including Ellen, find that 6 sapes are opening the hatch door and descending.

Kri'lik throws a frag grenade into the opening. (Remember, in zero gee, you have to roll a reaction speed check in addition to your roll to avoid losing balance and spinning.  You have to regaing control by making a reaction speed check.)  Kri'lik failed to make his grenade go into the opening with the sapes.  The grenade bounces off, flies in zero gee, and explodes near the transport tube area.  The grenade does not hurt anyone but does manage to damage the transport tubes.

Kri'lik has also thrown himself off balance and begins to spin out of control.

S'Krllk goes to the computer, but the only really working computer is the one where Yag and Desi were at, so he is unable to do anything there.

The 6 sapes begin descending into the area just west of the transport tubes.

One thing everyone notices that is different about the sapes is they all seem to have mechanical devices surgically implanted on one sides of their heads like half size football helmets.

Desi knows her mags are topped off in her weapons so she takes a minute to try and figure out a plan with Yagrith so they're on the same page.  "OK Yag, we're inside a rising bucket of crap and they're isn't much help in sight.  I know you're still hurting pretty bad but we got no one else to help us right now but ourselves.  I think we need to get by them and lose 'em in the caves for awhile until I can try and whittle them down.

We can try and hide you in the shuttle and I can try and divert them away from you and even if I can, there's no telling that that's going to work.  I think there might be some stuff in the shuttle that Parson and Sergi left there but again, I'm not sure.

I need to know what you're capable of handling right now!  I can try and go at 'em with the rifle and see what I can do before we try and get past them.  I still have some grenades left but, we don't have a lot of time.  We need to help ourselves before we can help the others.  Talk to me Yag."

Yag and Desi will have approximately 2 free rounds before the robot and 2 sapes reach them.  The only weapon the sapes have is their arms, and the only weapon the ice cutter has is its powerful laser for excavating.

The other group gets one free attack on the approaching 6 sapes.  What is happening is that they have to come through the hatch one at a time to fit.  A well lobbed grenade throw still might do substantial damage if it can get into the hatch.

S'Krllk mutters, and fumbles with the needler as he realizes it was not reloaded after being uselessly emptied previously. Finally, his last clip is in and he's ready to shoot.

"That, that’s why I'm a doctor!" Yells the spinning and twisting Vrusk as he floats about in zero-g. With his free hand he does his best to try and regain some control and stabilize himself. Once he does so he braces his body against a structure and if there is still time will try and throw his other frag grenade at the approaching sapes.

[OOC: Sorry, have been out of town since Thurs. Will read up and post ASAP, hopefully tomorrow (Tues).]

Doesn't Desi have any grenades on her?  If I were you, I'd probably take my two free attacks with grenades or high powered rifles, then try to circle around and run, throwing grenades or otherwise keeping them at a distance but engaged.

Same is true with the others.  If you all go to the western sided room, the sapes will have to go single file to get to you.  Snipe shoot anyone?

OOC: Desi does indeed have grenades and a scoped laser rifle.  I'm just trying to get Yag involved