Pippimi shakes akata-ooze off her doshko, commenting "Good thing doshko is easy clean type! These things very gross." She draws herself back and then swings in for another blow at the remaining akata.
But her does little but draw sparks from the metal floor of the Acreon...
Zoran grits his teeth and fires again.
"That...that is a dog? If you say so."
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Zulu slashes at the remaining Akata twice, drawing blood with his knife. The blade pierces the blue skin, unlike the laser fire coming from Clank's little rifle. Overwhelmed by pain, Lenny is a little slow on the draw. His solar blade slashes into the ship deck as the Akata deftly avoids his swing.
Meanwhile, Davrin performs a two-step which reminds you a little of a tango. The blue "dog" lifts it's head, shaking slightly as it tries to track the little man. Before it knows what's happening, Davrin's bullet is lodged deep into its shoulder. The resulting scream echoes through the floor and into your suits, distracting Pippimi and Zoran before they can make the killing blow!
Blood gushing everywhere, limping on it's wounded shoulder, the Akata looks down at it's fallen companion. With a shake of the head, the Akata turns towards the metallic-y food with the long claw and bites!
It's mouth connects with the outside of Zulu's armor, creating a large dent. As the beast pulls away, it leaves a thin coating of black dust near the crack.
Davrin
Zulu 0/7 SP
Zoran
Pippimi
Lenny 0/8 SP 9/11 HP
Clank
Red Akata 15 dmg
Blue Akata 24 dmg
Staggering under the continued attacks from the blue beast, Zulu responds with a pair of slashes with his survival knife.
As he slashes he raps out, "Did anyone bring that autotarget rifle? Melee .. not my thing"
"You stop doing that, tentacle dog! Zulu not chew toy!" Pippimi attempts to discipline it with her doshko.
Apparently she attempts to discipline it with the blunt end. Not that the blow isn't effective, but it lacks the akata-piercing power of her last two.
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Zulu swings wildly with his knife, catching nothing but air. The reason quickly becomes obvious as his wracking coughs fill the squad frequency. The perceptive among you see small black dust particles coat the inside of his helmet with each cough.
Pippimi is not distracted by the coughs however! After all, what is a little coughing compared to a traditional vesk business duel taking place one cubicle over? The ever helpful skittermander uses just the right amount of force to cave in the Akata's head with her doshko. One corpse falls atop the other with barely a whimper.The engineering bay is silent, except for the coughing which is beginning to subside.
COMBAT OVER!
Numerous green resinous shards litter the floor of the engineering bay, which you stand in. They are rather pretty, shining in the light. Picking them up, they are rather light.
Clank recognizes Zulu's cough, and the black dust that created it. Zulu has contracted the deadly dog disease, Void Death. After a few days, it's victims die a horrible death and are re-animated as Void Zombies. There is no cure, only a strong body can fight it off.
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Zulu is immensely confused as his body is wracked by spasms. Unable to understand what was happening a quick consultation with his exocortex Indicated the spasms were coughs.
Managing a few moments between spasms, Zulu manages.
"Data indicates coughing. Troubling. I do not breathe. How... do I .. cough. Most unpleasant."
Gathering himself the android looks about the room. "No idea about the green strands. There is a flame pistol on the floor over there, under the table." he points out.
Hearing Clanks description of his affliction Zulu immediately becomes fascinated. Muttering "Void death. Fascinating. Affects androids as well. Will have to take notes." and immediately sets his exocortex to begin recording operating data on his body as well as working up algorithms to track the progress of the disease, as well as pre setting recording and reporting instructions in the case he suffered void death.
Noting the group standing around he wonders out loud, "Sustained some damage, press on or catch breath. So to speak?"
Zoran too notices the and realizes those things might be why it was tossed aside. More importantly he hears the muttering of Zulu after the news of his new disease.
"There are even androids in the borais groups. Looks like diseases nor twisted magic cares for the specifics. We should get that seen too as soon as possible." he adds and nods to Zulu in a low voice.
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Pippimi shakes her doshko free of akata innards and then moves over to Zulu to rubs his lower back "Coughing very bad, but Pippimi believe you can get better! Anyone have medic training? Pippimi hear that medic kits have cough syrup and other goodies for sickness!"
While people check their packs for medical gear, Pippimi reaches down and picks up a shard. "Pippimi not sure what green crystals are, but she get feeling deep down that she need to hide them in deep grass..."
Zulu shakes his head at the Skittermander. "No, I am a trained medic. Nothing in my kit will help."
Appropriating the autotarget rifle and ammo from whomever is carrying it and stowing his laser rifle, Zulu looks around.
"Rest or move. I am ready."
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After a brief respite, the group moves on. After all, that 24 hours of air is steadily ticking away in the corner of your HUD. The doors open at your touch, thanks to the emergency power. In front of you is the Acreon's drift engine! Perfectly intact, a moment's inspection reveals nothing wrong with the ship's propulsion. In fact, the only thing out of place in this room are a few laser scars along the walls and a blackened corner, probably from the flame pistol.
Driven onwards, the group moves through the next set of doors. This long corridor seems to run most of the length of the ship from bow to stern. Signs of battle — bullet holes, scorch marks, and droplets of blood — are clearly visible on the walls and floors. A small body in a space suit lies sprawled on the floor in the middle of a junction in the hallway. The body is the least of your worries, though, because another Akata just rounded the corner!
Zoran
Pippimi
Lenny
Red Akata 0 dmg
Davrin
Zulu 0/7 SP 10/10 HP
Zoran
Pippimi
Lenny 0/8 SP 9/11 HP
Clank
"Ack! Pippimi not expect to fight again so soon! Why is Acreon so full of tentacle dogs!?" Pippimi takes advantage of the akata's hesitation and rolls on past it, taking up a position behind the akata in the hallway.
"Come over Lenny! We use old fashioned vesk battle tactic of FLANKING and keep dog confused!"
Zoran changes his strategy to help the others.
Zoran scrapes his gun across the metal walls and yells at the Akata.
"Bad dog! HEEL!" barely keeping a straight face.
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Pippimi and Lenny work in concert, moving towards the Akata. Just as they approach, Zoran calls out to the dog.
Oddly enough, the creature didn't react to the yelling at all. Instead, it seems to have focused on the scraping gun.
The moment of weakness is enough, and Pippimi's metal doshko crashes down onto the beast's back! The akata dodges to the side, but to late. Limping slightly, it continues to prowl around Pippimi, lashing out with sharpened teeth.
But Pippimi shifts her weight and deflects the blow!
Davrin
Zulu 0/7 SP 10/10 HP
Zoran
Pippimi
Lenny 0/8 SP 9/11 HP
Clank
Red Akata 9 dmg
Pippimi follows after the akata, not allowing it to escape the flank. She tries to swing in with her doshko, but it simply impacts the floor with a resounding clang!
"Tentacle dog is very quick, but Pippimi deal with worse drunken co-workers before! It not getting anywhere!"
"Oh it looks like these pups don't rely on their hearing." Zoran adds noticing it ignoring the command.
Looks like back to Plan A, bullets.
Zulu staggers into the hallway before lining up a shot with his Autotarget rifle. Shaky from the immediate and overwhelming effects of the void plague or whatever the heck he had.
37% chance you do not survive this adventure.
Sighing and trying to ignore the data being fed to him from his exocortex, he triggers the slug rifle.
But the shaking coughs are just too much for his ability to hit the nig blue monster dog.
"If there are more of them they might be down the hallway it was trying to retreat down? Best to take them out now before they surprise us later." Zoran figures to the group.
"Phooo." Pippimi once again shakes her doshko clean. "That not bad idea Zoran. How about all go around door and open quick, see if tentacle dog comes out and then we all attack at same time." She heads a little down the hall to get in position.
"Pippimi wondering though, where tentacle dogs come from. Collective not hire tentacle dogs as guard dogs, maybe?"
"What's more fun than killing dogs? Getting paid to kill dogs! Let's move on and find the rest of the crew and the package."
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The group gathers around the door, ready for the inevitable blue onslought. When the door is nudged open… nothing. Beyond the door is the Acreon’s port cargo hold. It contains much of the ship’s supplies—extra food and water stores, replacement air filters, spare parts, and the like. There is also a shipping container, approximately 8 feet square and 4 feet tall, addressed to the Eoxian Embassy on Absalom Station. This is appears to be the “package” that Gevalarsk Nor asked you to recover for him. Apparently he forgot to mention it was larger than a ship’s lavatory!
The container is sealed and has no manifest detailing its contents… how mysterious. A quick examination reveals the box to have integrated lifters, allowing it to be moved by someone of usual strength.
"They tend to make their own definitions. We have been merely blessed with a bigger package to return." Zoran adds but then agrees with Davrin.
[b]"Lifters or not I don't see this thing just floating off on it's own or stolen by akatas. Let's go."
Zulu limps along with the group, still suffering the ravages of the disease slowing him down with frequent spasm fits.
Seeing the mysterious cargo, the android simply mutters "Fascinating."
At the mention of the dead body, Zulu agrees and limps with the group towards the body, when they reach it he kneels to examine the body.
Though coughing fits make detailed examination difficult.
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Lenny follows his companions to the shipping container and then back to the body, gripping his solar blade the entire way. His head seems to be on a swivel now, as it darts back and forth looking for additional akatas along the way.
He squats down in front of the body, looking it over but not really sure what would be important.
I'm no doctor, but let's see if there's any obvious clues on this one. Maybe this is a good time for a short rest as we examine the body.
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Zulu moves forward, carefully turning the dead body over. Beneath the taped together space suit is a dead space goblin! His brief medical examination is unable to unearth the cause of death.
Davrin's probing fingers are able to tell a different story. The goblin's suit was pierced by several akata-sized teeth marks. He died from exposure to vacuum before he bled out. It is unclear if he was infected by void death before he passed.
Pippimi peers at the box in the storage room for a short bit before rejoining the party in the hallway. "Pippimi agree. We can come back for box later, when ship is safe. Very dangerous to carry big heavy box and get attacked by more tentacle dogs!"
Back at the intersection, Pippimi sits on the ground for a moment while Clank and Zulu and the other investigation-minded people look at the dead goblin. "Pippimi pretty sure that Hardscrabble not take on goblin members. Goblins for good for mining." and when Lenny settles down next to her to rest, she says "Rest very good idea. Good to balance workday exertion, that what Pippimi boss always say to tell coworkers. Pippimi sure that Blastwerks give regular breaktime to help keep medical insurance costs low." She grins, pleased to have realized the truth of the matter.
Zoran keeps his weapons up and watching the other two hallways while the team rests.
"I wonder if any of the other crew members are alive? We might just be picking up more goblin crewmates." he speaks amused at the thought.
Zulu rests with the rest of the group, continuing to examine the body idly.
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Pippimi peers down all the hallways from the intersection then springs to her feet. "Davrin, that sound very smart! Should make sure no tentacle dogs hiding behind us to sneak up and bite while we're distracted. Pippimi will lead the way!" She starts rolling starboard-ward as soon as everyone is done resting.
Once she gets to the door to room 4, she taps on it with her doshko "Any people alive inside? Pippimi here to rescue. If you tentacle dog monster, you no answer! Pippimi not here to rescue you."
"Well, it might save us time rounding up everything that wants us dead." Zoran adds.
Clank shakes his head, the goblin once again being a model of wise decision-making ability in the disparate group. Also wisely, he opts to remain in back so that -others- can be mauled by the blue tentacle dogs.
When he sees the deceased space goblin, he checks it over for any obvious signs of why it was here or how it got here (beyond the fact that it was very dead.) He also says a short prayer over it, "Blue eyes, take this one." and sets the body aside to recover later.
"Hey, there wasn't any mention of goblins here, was there? I really doubt that we're working with dogs, but I hope that goblins haven't taken over the ship. I'd hate to have to join with them against you guys in a coup." He grins widely and you get the feeling that he almost certainly joking. Mostly.
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The group decides, wisely, to double back and check the starboard cargo hold. Pippimi, using all of the grace, subtlety and complexity involved in a traditional vesk business deal - hammers on the door. Apparently Akatas don't speak common, or aren't very obedient, because the door suddenly shakes as two bodies slam into it in short succession. The snarling your microphones pick up is inhuman, and not at all like any dog you're used to.
Before the group can plan an ambush, an akata slams itself into the "open" button and the pneumatic door slides into the wall!
The two beasts lash out at Lenny and Pippimi, lunging for their throats!
Lenny dodges the first, the cosmos guiding him.
Unfortunately, Pippimi's arm was still extended from banging on the door! The Akata grabs a hold of her arm, bruising it beneath her armor. A small crack opens up, allowing the dreaded bacteria inside.
Davrin
Zulu
Zoran
Pippimi 1/7 SP
Lenny
Clank
Red Akata 0 dmg
Blue Akata 0 dmg
Zulu raises his rifle as the monsters inexplicably manage to open the door and sets his exocortex to target the beast in front of him, aiming over Pippimis head. Hoping the extra telemetry data flooding his vision will counteract the shakes from the disease, he works the trigger.
Pippimi cries out with a YEEEEOWCH! and shakes the akata loose. "Bad tentacle dog! No biting! No biting Pippimi especially!" Her voice calls out over the comm channel.
Now finally wary of the akatas, she leaps forward with her starknife for a pair of quick jabs!