"Help me!  Help me!"
Hammer (a mechanon humanoid -- ie 2 arms, 2 legs, head, etc -- of medium build & not at all threatening in appearance) struggles in his restraints.  The robots appear to be dissecting him.  They've already messed up one of his central devices.

"Robots, listen to me.  You are acting against your best interest.  We Mechanon are assets to all cultures, if utilized properly, including potentially your virally-corrupted hive-mind culture.  However, based on your current actions, my concern is that your are in need of help as well.  So release me and then maybe I can help you?"

Realizing the futility of his predicament, Hammer gets frustrated.
"Do you process, you semi-sentient primitives?  Hello?
Do you process?  Are you even receiving input?"

Hammer notices Bartja, but doesn't reveal the observation.
"Oh, I'm in trouble.  Help me!  Help me, anyone!!"

Waiting weaponless and extremely nervious Kri'lik's insectoid body twitches in anticipation of conflict. "Do we have time for this?" He says. "Whats going on Bartja, what do you see?" He ask as he can not see what the cyborg has found from his position.

Desiraye watches and listens to the events folding in front of her and eyes the Mechanon with some suspicion but, she reacts by bringing the borrowed laser pistol up to bear on one of the robots on the Mechanon, and fires off a shot at it (4 SEU).  "To hell with this!  Just hope I'm shootin' the right one."

Beam Weapons: 6
DEX: 30
STA: 62/62
This message was last edited by the player at 01:21, Tue 29 Mar 2011.

Once Desi fires, S'Krllk decides it's time to move in and moves towards the nearest robot to attempt to deactivate it. Lacking normal tools, he attempts to use his new hand in order to compensate.

Bartja begins shutting off the robot.  It begins to turn, and Desi hits it with a laser blast.  That distracts it, and Bartja successfully shuts it down.

The Mechanon, you recall, was a mechanical race you encountered back on Volturnous.  They were not too friendly then, but warmed up after your intentions were clear.  The Eorna have helped smooth things over as well.  The mechanons are sentient robots.

Bartja instinctively ducks as the laser blast strikes the robot he's working on.  The blast seemed too close for his comfort and he only hoped it was friendly fire.  The robot was distracted by it and that gave him enough time to deactivate it before it got into Restrain mode.

He looked up to see what the other robots were doing now.  If they could also be distracted by his companions who WERE 100% fleshy, maybe he would get a chance to shut them down as well.  It was a relief to see S'Krllk moving in to help.  It was always a bad thing to be alone with a robot when the grappling started....

Bartja quickly moves to deactivate the next nearest robot...Hammer, and instead of deactivating him, deactivates the restraint system instead.

---

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

Bartja Nemuco rolled 3 using 1d100. Deactivate.

Robotics: Activate/Deactivate	120
Robotics: Remove Security Locks	120

---

"Can you move?  Let's go if you can!" he says, helping the Mechanon to its feet.  Provided the scientific bots don't interfere quickly, he makes a dash for the safety of the group cluster with the robo-victim in tow.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Wed 30 Mar 2011.

"Some of my systems are disabled, but I can move."
Hammer gets up, checks his body quickly, and then follows.

"Thank you so much.  My name is Hammer.  How do I refer to you?"

Desi looks the Mechanon up and down and then says to it, "You're welcome, Hammer.  I'm Desi.  What're you some kind of maintenance robot or something with that name?  What's your function?"

"A maintenance robot?  No doubt you don't intend to sound so offensive.
These robots and I have little in common, like you might with a monkey."
Hammer attempts to put together his exposed parts.  Hid midsection is clearly damaged.

"I'm a field researcher.  I've been working on my thesis, but I was waylaid.
My memory is blank as to how I wound up here, but I guarantee you
-- I share little in common with these stupid machines."
Hammer says stupid machines with a distinctly negative inflection.

Hammer shows you an imprint on his fore-arm, it's a security chip with the ByChem logo,
the gesture implies Hammer works for ByChem.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you either... I've had a hard day.
I greatly appreciate your assistance in freeing me.
I will attempt to get you a reward, if ByChem offers one, for rescuing me."

"Great. Welcome to the team. Now can we get out of here, I think I hear something coming up behind us..."

The general has little time for idle chitchat.  "Let's get out of here.  Hopefully, my readings about all the robots referred to these lab robots and not something more insidious."  He leads you out through the door on the far side, past the vats.

"Once we get past this door," he says, "I think we need to split up.  Shinsa and I will head left to try to retake the bridge.  You can head to the right.  There are two locker stations on the way where you can get weapons and equipment.  The override code is 'Ashe-admin-651' and that will open the lockers.  Then just follow the emergency sign to the escape pod.  Okay?"

As he has been talking, he has been punching codes into the closed door.  He hits it.  "Damn door.  It won't open."

Behind you, the lab robots have stopped their work.  You notice this by the sudden halting of their mechanical movements.  Turning, you see that the lab robots have all turned to look at you and are at a state of momentary pause as if receiving instructions.  There are 8 lab robots in all.  Each has four spidery arms, a rounded head with multiple visual attachments, and wheels attached to its body instead of legs.

The General also notices the odd situation.  "If any of you can unlock security doors, now would be a good time to try."  He makes sure his rifle is ready for action.

In reply to General Ashe (msg #77):

Desiraye listens to General Ashe as he makes the point of splitting the group up and going two different directions and him not being able to open the door to get out of the lab.  "If you can't get us out using your code, how is it going to help if we need to get into the weapons locker General?  And, wouldn't it be better for us to all and try to take the bridge are you saying you want us to secure the escape pods when you come with us?"

Desi turns to the others and looks at the robots receiving what appears to be new orders.  She raises her laser pistol up and says to the others, "Now would be a good time to get us out of the room!  Hammer, can you move OK?"

Dropping to his knees, Bartja examines the security lock on the door before taking action.  This was going to be hard without the proper tools and it would take him a bit of time.  "Give me time, I'll see what I can do!" he nearly shouts in excitement as he alternates between punching keys and smashing his fist against the device.

Maybe if he can get it to break open.....

---

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

Security Systems: Open Locks (70)
rolled 56 using 1d100. Open Locks.

---

The General says to Desi, "The locker codes are not connected to the mainframe.  They are simple lockers.  I can't see them being locked out unless they are manually changed."

"Simple's good.  You sure you don't want us to come with you?  Do you want us to get out in the escape  pods or wait for you and Shinsa General?"

Shinsa shakes her head.  "The General is right.  The value of this ship is beyond the value of our simple lives.  We will either get it back under control and to Aurora, or we will have to take it down.  So get to the escape pods."

She hands communication ear-sets to each of you.  "We can communicate back and forth with these."

Then she reaches down and pulls a pistol from a holster while looking at the lab bots.  "I fear we will have to fight or get out of here very quickly."

Bartja holds up his hand in refusal when offered the ear-set and continues working on the security lock.  He points to his ear and smiles to show his canines.

"Just give me the frequency and I'll be tuned in with everyone else."  Maybe it would be simpler to just take the external device, but he didn't want to risk losing one in the heat of battle and then be stranded on his own.  That had happened once before....on Vulturnous....and he didn't care too much for the results.

"I'll head to the lockers and then the Pods.  Let's see if there are any toolkits to take, just in case.

That is unless you need me on the bridge captain" he adds looking back at General Ashe."

Desiraye accepts the earpiece and places it in her ear.  She also looks around for any melee type weapons she may be able to use in a pinch.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Fri 01 Apr 2011.

At the question of his fitness, Hammer says,
"I believe I can travel.  I have sustained some structural damage,
but my mobility is at 97% which is optimal."

Hammer looks at the earpiece, which clearly will not fit nicely into his sensor array.

"Hmmmm.  Well, what can we do?" 
He attempts to bend it and wedge it so it's near an audio port and a speaker.
It looks silly and bizarre, but another strange sensory device on Hammer is barely noticeable.

"Hmmm.  I seem to have a large gap in my memory banks.  I know my name, my physical parameters,
and some learned skills -- but other than that, I've been blanked.
Damn you, robots!"

Hammer doesn't have a weapon, but he does shout at the approaching robots.

"Uh oh, they look like they mean business.  I wish I had my laser online!"

S'krllk appears to be watching a tennis match. He turns his head towards the door, looking to see if the lock does give up, then turns back to look at the robots. Finally, he makes a decision, "I believe this might be a good occasion for one of those flanking maneuvers I keep reading about. It may not help defeat the robots, assuming they're hostile, but it would tend to draw them away from our method of egress."
Applying action to his words, he attempts to sidle left in order to provide a larger front for the robots to advance on.

"General, I thank you for your aid and wish you good luck. I hope you succeed." The doctor then takes the offered comm device and places it upon his ear.

"We'll try and work on your memory later.  For now, if we can't get your laser online, are you able to use other weapons Hammer?"

"My laser is disabled, but I have fired weapons before.
I'm not the best shot -- I'm a scientist -- but I can point and shoot."

As you figure out and take the hearing devices, the lab robots all detach from their lab work.

Bartja begins working on the lock.  Unfortunately, he doesn't get it open, although he determines it is a level 3 lock.  (S'Krllk can still try it, or anyone else with technician skills.)

The lab robots are beginning to come toward you.  They no longer look friendly.


Setting Reminder:

Facing back the way you came, the robots are in a line on the right.  The center of the room contains large vats of machinery with pipes running up to the ceiling and walls.  The left side of the vats looks clear.  The door you are trying to open is set in the center of the wall.

Bartja leaves the lock and returns to the group.  Noting the robots advancing, he takes a quick look at Hammer's laser.  "I think I can fix that if you give me a minute.  We need to do something quick and either shut down the rest of those lab bots or get out of here pronto!"

---

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

Robot Repair: 90
Rolled: 89

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This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 04 Apr 2011.