Fraternity of DOOM!!!

Game Master Xabulba

Jo's eyes widened as from the sky arrived an impressively large ship and for a moment she worried that perhaps it was something that belonged to the creatures, it did not exactly look like an insect space ship but then again she knew very little about the aesthetic preferences of horrible insect creatures, thankfully a voice over the radio alleviated her worries the ship belonged to whoever she had sent her message to and even better they had taken her advice, unfortunately they had done so in a manner that ALSO worked against her own radio. A bit of quick thinking on Jo's part kept the ship's jamming signal from completely blocking her out however it had still done a number on her radio communicator.

The trade off however was that if she had been right about how these creatures operated then it would almost certain hamper there ability to coordinate, they had displayed a sort of single minded no-deviation way of acting which meant that if some or all of them were cut off it would mean that they would potentially act incorrectly for whatever the person in charge of them wanted.

Eyes darting around the battlefield as her cowl continued feeding her critical information that her eyes alone would have normally missed Jo let out a groan as she watched one of the fighters get taken down by two of the insects she cringed noting that the one that went down was also the one that appeared to be a young girl in some sort of outlandish superhero style costume(not that Jo exactly had any room to talk) "If you can still hear me the girl near the blast just went down, repeat the girl near the blast just went down." Jo spoke into her radio hoping the call would still go through and to draw some form of additional aid, she could not very well let those things take a kid, especially not one who had displayed the ability to actually go toe to toe with them.

With that Jo would dash across the battlefield moving to place herself into a position wherein she could A) keep herself defensed properly and B) attempt to redirect an attack from the larger insect so that it would hit the smaller one rather than herself or potentially the girl, with any luck it would knock the other ones block off and then she could... attempt to grapple the bug? Would such a thing even actually WORK? Generally she just cut off the airway when forced into single combat until they finally passed out from lack of air.

Redirect/Trick, Deception vs Insight: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Using Defense(Improved) and Deception here's hoping this doesn't jsut end up with Jo getting knocked out as well! I'm cautiously optimistic that at the very least I'll be able to keep myself standing with Defense since at minimum I've got a 18(or 13 if defense action does not remove the -5 for a natural 1) and if they DO miss It might even get redirected if they do some damage!

I need to save vs Radio Dazzle too. But I think you have to run past me to get adjacent to Liberteen... So I probably see the woman in the Cat suit yelling into her radio...

Will save vs. Dazzle: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 Radio Sense Disabled

@Chris 114 - you only have a -1 and are mot staggered.
@Liberteen - I got you at staggered and -1 not incapacitated.

Cat moves to interpose herself between the two bugmen attacking Liberteen.

A.T.H.E.N.A.'s jamming signal blows out the Capt.'s radio communications as well as Cat's.

Capt. Cosmos - Dazed, -2
QNtetic
Bugman 2 - gun destroyed, staggered, -1, impaired
Cat
Chris 114 - vulnerable, -1
Big Bugman 3
Big Bugman 5
Bugman 5 - unaware
Bugman 3 - gun destroyed, impaired
Bugman 4 - gun taken, disabled
Liberteen staggered, -1
Big Bugman 2 - disabled
Big Bugman 1 - dazed , -1
Big Bugman 4 - disabled
Bugman 1 -disabled

Chris 114 you are up.

Okay, I see. The PL 6 was the effect value. Got it now, I think.

Okay, I see. The PL 6 was the effect value. Got it now, I think.

Yep, the PL of the attack in the first box and your RC in the second.

Chris 114 you're up.

Ah, so i am not staggered? That is welcome news.

114 attacks the one that shot him last, moving if necessary. Free action to change to hammerfist.

multiattack vs same target
hammerfist, better vs objects: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Chris 114 morphs his hand into a large fleshy mace and pulverizes BM2.RC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10, The sound of cracking carapace and snapping bone fills the air as 114's blow leaves BM2 incapacitated and twitching on the ground.

Updated Map

BBM3 tries to grab Chris 114 atk: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 and fails

BBM5 slashes at Capt. Cosmos atk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 and misses.

BM5 wanders around confused

BM3 slashes at Chris 114 atk: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 2 = 20 and manages to hit, make a resistance check vs PL6

BM4 Blindly lashes out at QNetic atk: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 5 = 21 and somehow manages to crit QNetic, make a resistance check vs PL11

Liberteen is up.

@Xabulba: I don't understand how he hit with a 16 when my Parry and dodge are both 12 so the DC to hit me is 22. Does he have some sort of bonus that isn't shown in the calculation?

@Xabulba: I don't understand how he hit with a 16 when my Parry and dodge are both 12 so the DC to hit me is 22. Does he have some sort of bonus that isn't shown in the calculation?

I forgot to add 10 is why. Corrected

@Xabulba: Thanks! You have a lot to keep track of... "YAY! I'm a nimble little minx"

Liberteen puts everything she has into a kick on the smaller of the bugmen, trying to demonstrate that they are not unbeatable.

Liberteen vs. Bugman: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 (DC 17)

QNetic Toughness Check 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Nice try, bugman

QNetic's quantum powered speed allows him to deftly avoid BM4's crit.

Liberteen does a round house kick to BM1, RC: 1d20 + 7 - 6 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 6 = 6, knocking it unconscious.

BBM2 moves over to BM2 and cradles it's broken form like a mother holding an injured child.

BBM1 tries to attack Liberteen but Cat's distraction causes it to leap-attack BM5, atk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18, and hit it.

BBM5 tries to resist BBM1 grab, save vs grab: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27, it easly avoid the grab but the bugmen end up in a tangled pile.

BBM4 stands and stairs blankly into space.

Capt. Cosmos - Dazed, -2
QNtetic
Bugman 2 - gun destroyed, staggered, -1, impaired
Cat
Chris 114 - vulnerable, -1
Big Bugman 3
Big Bugman 5
Bugman 5 - unaware
Bugman 3 - gun destroyed, impaired
Bugman 4 - gun taken, disabled
Liberteen staggered, -1
Big Bugman 2 - disabled
Big Bugman 1 - dazed , -1
Big Bugman 4 - disabled
Bugman 1 -disabled

Chris 114 still need a resistance check vs PL6

end of 3rd round, Capt. Cosmos is up.

@Xabulba: Do the two dazes stack or have I had my one round since damage and I am no longer dazed?

Failure (two degrees): The target is dazed until the end of their next turn and has a –1 circumstance penalty to further checks against damage.

They're on the ropes, let's see if I can finish them and help someone else out.

Qnetic swings his arm, unleashing a shaped qnetic burst, enveloping BM4 and BBM4.

Shaped Area Strength-Based Damage; DC 13 Dodge check to reduce from PL7 effect to PL4 effect.

The Zephyr lets off another jamming pulse hoping to further confound the bug men. Meanwhile, Cosmos combat rolls away from his attackers toward the woman in a cat mask that is taking on these creatures unarmed. Careful to stay out of arms reach he says, "Excuse me, are you "Cat?" I'm Zed," he punctuates the introduction by blasting at big bug-man 5. Noticing the bug-man crumpled from Liberteen's kick, "Is she with you?"

Dazzle effect is still DC 20 and cumulative; if anyone fails, it gets that many degrees worse.

blast (ignore if still dazed)PL10: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
save vs. Dazzle: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

@Capt. Cosmos - They don't stack they get bumped up to the next condition level; Dazed, Staggered, Incapacitated. Unless you have regeneration or spend a hero point to recover you're still dazed.

BM2 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 2 = 20, impaired
BM2 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 2 = 5, impaired
BM3 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 2 = 13, Incapacitated
BM4 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 5 = 18, Incapacitated
BBM1 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26, no effect
BBM3 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25, no effect
BBM4 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11, unaware
BBM5 save vs jam:: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19, impaired

BBM4 save vs dodge: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
BBM4 RC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
QNetic's quantum burst has no effect on BBM4 and only pushes BM4 further into unconsciousness.

Capt. Cosmos - Dazed, -2
QNtetic
Bugman 2 - gun destroyed, staggered, -1, impaired
Cat
Chris 114 - vulnerable, -1
Big Bugman 3 - Incapacitated
Big Bugman 5
Bugman 5 - unaware
Bugman 3 - gun destroyed, impaired
Bugman 4 - gun taken, Incapacitated
Liberteen staggered, -1
Big Bugman 2 - disabled
Big Bugman 1 - dazed , -1
Big Bugman 4 - disabled
Bugman 1 -disabled

toughness resistance, impervious 10: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 vs PL 6

Cat whips around at the sounds of a voice stopping herself from lashing out only by a mixture of recognition and lack of the voice being quite close enough to immediately get her hands on her pause gave 'Zed' jsut long enough to get out his question and give Jo enough time to recognize him as one of the others who had been fighting and furthermore one of the voices from over the radio. "That's me the one and only, the girl's not with me I mostly just dashed over here because it looked like things were about to go south... apparently I was wrong." Cat said with a grin as the girl single handedly took down one of the insects.

Her own efforts had caused the larger insect to leap onto another of its kind a bit further away, where Zed had been before. It was perhaps a stroke of luck that it appeared from Zed's tone that he did not actually know who she was, now if only she could be as lucky with the others. "I'm not much for fighting myself but I'll try and keep them off you so long as you keep blasting them." Jo said and assuming Zed made no further moves she would take up a defensive position between him and the nearest insects, thankfully those insects were still presently tangled up with each other. "Are you still good to go?" Cat said over her shoulder directing the question to the youngest and yet somehow the most physically capable of there trio.

Somehow Some of my last post got lost, here it is again w/extras.

QNetic lets out a burst of quantum energy at BM4 however BBM4 is uneffective and BM4 is smashed further into unconsciousness.

Chris 114 is bruised by BM3's attack. You didn't apply the -1 to your resistance check, I caught it though. you're now at vulnerable, -2

Capt. Cosmos - Dazed, -2
QNtetic
Bugman 2 - incapacitated
Cat
Chris 114 - vulnerable, -2
Big Bugman 3 - Incapacitated
Big Bugman 5
Bugman 5 - unaware
Bugman 3 - gun destroyed, impaired
Bugman 4 - gun taken, Incapacitated
Liberteen staggered, -1
Big Bugman 2 - disabled
Big Bugman 1 - dazed , -1
Big Bugman 4 - disabled
Bugman 1 - incapacitated

New Map

Chris 114 is up.

if the attack is PL6, then the DC should be 16? even at a -1 i should have passed with a 17? otherwise i dont get it.

attack versus the next nearest bugman
blade, penetrating 10: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

if the attack is PL6, then the DC should be 16? even at a -1 i should have passed with a 17? otherwise i dont get it.

toughness save dcs are 15+PL

Chris 114 cuts into BBM2, RC: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 5 = 12, staggering and bruising it.

BBM5 does a leap attack at Cat attempting to grab her, atk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17, hit. Cat save vs grab DC20

BM5 awkwardly tries to disentangle itself from BBM1.

BM3 claws at Chris 114, atk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18, Hit. Chris 114 resistance check vs PL6

Capt. Cosmos - Dazed, -2
QNtetic
Bugman 2 - incapacitated
Cat
Chris 114 - vulnerable, -2
Big Bugman 3 - Incapacitated
Big Bugman 5
Bugman 5 - unaware
Bugman 3 - gun destroyed, impaired
Bugman 4 - gun taken, Incapacitated
Liberteen staggered, -1
Big Bugman 2 - disabled, staggered, -1
Big Bugman 1 - dazed , -1
Big Bugman 4 - disabled
Bugman 1 - incapacitated

Liberteen is up.

"Sorry, guys. No time for chats, there's still work to be done." Flexing her leg muscles, she launches herself high into the air, coming down hard on BBM1.

Leaping 120 straight up, coming down on BBM1 at 30 mph.

HTH: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 1 = 18

Liberteen, I think that -1 is only on toughness checks.

Whoops! You're right!

Liberteen does an plummet punch to BBM1, RC: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 1 = 18, dealing more bruises to the creature.

BBM2 weakly claws at Chris 114, ATK: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 5 = 4, Chris 114 merely takes half a step to the left to avoid the pathetic attack.

BBM1 counter attacks Liberteen, ATK: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7, but can't hit the girl riding it's back.

BBM4 grabs at QNetic, ATK: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 5 = 9, BBM4 must have attacked a quantum ghost because it's grab was nowhere near QNetic.

Capt. Cosmos - Dazed, -2
QNtetic
Bugman 2 - incapacitated
Cat
Chris 114 - vulnerable, -2
Big Bugman 3 - Incapacitated
Big Bugman 5
Bugman 5 - unaware
Bugman 3 - gun destroyed, impaired
Bugman 4 - gun taken, Incapacitated
Liberteen staggered, -1
Big Bugman 2 - disabled, staggered, -1
Big Bugman 1 - dazed , -2
Big Bugman 4 - disabled
Bugman 1 - incapacitated

At this point you would easily take down the rest so I'm calling the fight to prevent combat grind. Total fight time 5 rounds equal to about half a minute

With half of the bugmen's numbers taken out and the rest barley able to defend themselves the 5 heroes are able to take the rest down with very little trouble. When the calm of after battle settles in the heroes are able to take a short breather, 4 minutes, before the NYPD and NYFD show up to "take control" of the situation.

Everyone give me two perception tests one DC25 the other DC35

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Liberteen notices that the US flag teeters on the edge of the ruined corner of the building. "Excuse me a moment," she says to the assembled. With a mighty leap, she clears the top of the building, snagging the teetering flagpole and putting it firmly back in place, bracing it with rubble. She pauses for a salute before leaping back down to rejoin the group.

The 6-foot tall blond and somewhat vacant looking man steps forward and holsters his ray gun. His body seems to shimmer slightly like he is slightly underwater...
He is wearing a bright read turtleneck, black pants with knee-high boots, and a black leather flight jacket with a shoulder patch with a yellow rising sun on a black background. There is a matching motif on his very technical looking belt, and the small bits of jewelry at his neck. He toggles a switch on the belt and the shimmer disappears.

He speaks to the group assembled on the ground. "I'm just glad all of you were here. I couldn't have handled those guys alone. My name is Zed Cosmos. I'm the Captain of the Astral Zephyr, it's the ship that is hanging above us."

Can't make either of those DCs

Might as well roll for the 25, if you get a 20 I believe you add +5 to the roll unless that is just for combat/resistance rolls

It did not take much longer for them to dispatch the remaining insects and throughout the remainder of the 'battle' Jo found herself progressively happier that she was not the only one fighting back against these creatures, they were tough as nails and had it not been for Zed's ship being able to jam the radio signal they used they would have also been incredibly organized.

Raising an eyebrow as the young girl in the costume proceeded to leap from the street to the TOP of a building earning a dumbfounded look from Jo as she then adjusted a flagpole as if what she had just done was as casual as stepping up a ladder to do so, as the girl saluted the flag Zed spoke up and now that the battle was over Jo had an opportunity to really look the man over and unsurprisingly considering her own manner of dress and the girls he was dressed a bit... odd, he introduced himself to everyone completely informing them that he was the captain of the ship floating overhead.

As much as she wanted to consider the girl and Zed 'odd' for how they dressed Jo knew very well that her own style was certainly quite similar even if she'd made an effort to have her equipment all serve actual purpose, the majority of her body was covered in a tight black leather 'catsuit' complete with a cat-style 'hood' that kept her hair out of view and also out of her eyes, in addition to the hood was a mask that attached to the hood that do the job of covering her face and providing vast amounts of tactical information. Information such as the arrival of firefighters on the scene which heralded the arrival of the police.

"A pleasure to meet you Zed, I believe at this point you already know who I am. But those sirens mean I should.. probably.. go.." Jo said her last words slowly trailing off as something caught her eye(or other description of her sensing whatever it is the DC25 perception is)

Perception vs DC25: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Perception vs DC35: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
If relevent Jo's cowl provides
(Accurate Vision, Accurate Hearing, Analytical Vision, Darkvision, Distance Sense, Infravision, Ultra-hearing, Ultravision(UV))

Qnetic shifts back into his external focus form, the rising sun returning to above his eye, and he floats over towards the others, hair flowing in the wind.

Nicely done, folks. Gotta say, that trick with the wide beam that left them all stunned was a nice maneuver. We should probably go down the rabbit hole and see if we can figure out what sent them up, yes?

Perception 25: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Perception 35: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Cosmos is dumbstruck by the teenaged titan's ability to stage a photo op. I wish I had thought of that, bet she makes the cover of the Post. but only for a moment, "That was Cat's idea. I just happened to have a powerful transmitter hovering overhead.

I am up for exploring the tunnel, we have to figure out what those things were. If we are going to explore together, I think more introductions are in order."

Things everyone would notice now you're out of combat: Unless it's covered everyone is displaying the rising sun mark. The explosion blew out into the street from inside and up. The building the explosion came from is the NYU Medical Center, the largest teaching/research hospital in NYC and NY state.

@Chris 114 - forgot to add earlier you get a +5 circumstance bonus to the DC25 check.

The crusty brown humanoid melts down into the form of an 18-20 year old male wearing typical street clothes. He's got a bruise on his face and collar that start to fade, obviously healing. As the collar bruise fades, his sunburst is visible.

At the sound of the sirens coupled with Cat's last statement, Chris pulls up his hood and puts on some sunglasses.

"Name's Chris. Whatever we do, I'd like to get a move on as well. Maybe you should grab one of those guns for analysis, Captain Spaceman."

perception: 1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 5 = 26 (no special senses)

"Good idea Chris... Cosmos to ATHENA, Transport one of these guns aboard and see what you can figure out about it." A few moments later, there is a brief sizzle, followed by a gentle pop of imploding air as one of the guns vanishes.

With a shrug he adds,"The Zephyr isn't a lab ship, so I don't know how much information ATHENA will be able to get from it."

@Xabulba: What sort of check are you looking for for analysis?

@Capt Cosmos - a technology check would do.

ATHENA investigating the gun: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

A.T.H.E.N.A. reporting, The weapons use a bio-active catalyst to produce either a strong binding agent or a corrosive compound. Analysis indicates that it is of terrestrial manufacture. The Bio-active compound has a rapid decay rate indicating that the weapons themselves were manufactured no less than 3 months ago.

Investigation check needed for more info, DC20.

A.T.H.E.N.A. Investigation check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

As the group investigates the scene, preparing to go in the hole, the Captain's communicator chirps, "A.T.H.E.N.A. reporting, The weapons use a bio-active catalyst to produce either a strong binding agent or a corrosive compound. Analysis indicates that it is of terrestrial manufacture. The Bio-active compound has a rapid decay rate indicating that the weapons themselves were manufactured no less than 3 months ago.

"Great. See if you can find out anything else about it... and move out of the area and cloak the ship." He turns to the group, "Seems like they are from Earth. So heading into the hole makes more and more sense."

A.T.H.E.N.A. reporting, the weapon is similar to a prototype developed by VeriTech an advanced research and design company. VeriTech developed the weapons for the FSB (Russia's Federal Security Service) but were never put into production due to the decay rate issue that renders the gun useless after extended use. VeriTech is privately held company but if funded by governments, corporations and a few very wealthy individuals. VeriTech is known to fund research at NYC Medical Center.

Two awesome rolls, A.T.H.E.N.A. earned a Scooby-Snax.

Oh, right. I forget we haven't met here yet. I'm Qnetic. Pleased to meet you, Captain.

Cosmos nods in response to QNetic's greeting. Stopping suddenly, Cosmos takes another deeper look at QNetic. Then he points to the matching rising sun on his own buttons. "QNetic, are you from outer space?"

Moments later the Captain's com chirps again, "A.T.H.E.N.A. reporting, the weapon is similar to a prototype developed by VeriTech an advanced research and design company. VeriTech developed the weapons for the FSB (Russia's Federal Security Service) but were never put into production due to the decay rate issue that renders the gun useless after extended use. VeriTech is privately held company but is funded by governments, corporations and a few very wealthy individuals. VeriTech is known to fund research at NYC Medical Center."

Cosmos responds,"Aknowleged."

Moments later, the Astral Zephyr gently floats away and becomes transparent, then vanishes from sight.

Finding herself strangely fascinated with the creatures Jo approached one of the fallen 'insects' crouching close to allow herself an even better look as her cowl began to pick up something strange, small cracks and peeling in the exoskeleton that provided just enough of a look inside to reveal a rather startling bit of information. Beneath the creature's outer shell was what appeared to be a human "What the..." Jo muttered to herself as the cowl began analyzing all that it could take in, so focused on the task at hand Jo only nodded briefly to acknowledge Chris' introduction however it was Chris' approach that brought the strangest revelation.

The man inside was most definitely a Human and while her cowl could not yet specifically identify WHAT the exoskeletal armor was it DID identify that it was composed of the same material as what Chris apparently was, the young man seemed to reshape and shrink back to 'normal' human appearance as Jo took a long look at him, if Chris was made of the same sort of material as the 'insects' then what the hell did that make him? The others were presently too busy investigating one of the weapons rather than the 'insects' themselves though Chris did take a moment to look over one.

"Much as I am inclined to move out I think it might be best to get a few things cleared up, firstly these things" Jo gestured to the beaten forms of the 'insects' "are... well people.. the bug-bits are some sort of armor like coating over an actual person, I do not know specifically WHAT the 'armor' is made of... but my scanners indicate that whatever it is it's not the only thing around made of the same stuff." Jo said giving Chris a look as she paused "Chris, I'm hoping you've got a nice explanation for why you're made of the same stuff as these things." Jo said picking herself up from where she had knelt next to the insect picking up one of the stray guns regardless of its condition and if possible strapping it to her back, if no strap was present she would hold it to the side in a clear effort to show no current intention of using the weapon against Chris. Truthfully she was mostly just interested in taking it for later examination, it had been shown to be useful as a restraining device which fit very nicely with her preferred method of fighting, having a way to take down a target from a distance would make like MUCH easier.

"whoa... these guys were made the same place I was. I escaped. They called me Subject 114, so these guys are either before me or after me in the production line I guess. We're definitely different though. I didn't see them change their biomass, but I have more control over mine. I'm pretty sure these guys were homeless or pretty down and out. A hot meal was all it took to get them to hop in an unlabeled white van. VeriTech, you say... well, let's see what's down this hole then? Besides bugs, NYC always has more bugs, amirite?"

Outer Space? No, I's don't think any of me are from space. All the me's I's know of have the rebirth mark, however. That's what I've's been calling it, anyway. QNetic smiles.

"That's odd. It looks just like the marks that are on the Zephyr and all her equipment. I assumed they were a logo unique to the ship."

They both (or more in QNetic's case) hear Cat confronting Chris.

"Seems like something is going on between Cat and Chris."