Star Trek: Amity (Inactive)

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Tira smiles weakly. Her eyes are shinier than they should be, wet and weeping. "Gullerg! What are you doing here? Oh, don't be so concerned. I've been dosed. I'm already feeling much better. The doctor's say I'll be able to go home tomorrow." She holds our her hand, weakly, and Gullerg notices a strange silver line running across the pad of her palm near her thumb. It looks almost metallic.

Good question.

[dice=Insight + Medicine]2d20

Two successes. What say you GM?

K'Rist scans the supplies with her medical tricorder. I is compounded slightly differently than what you were carrying, but it should still be an effective treatment.

I understand this is hard in a play by post. I suspect around a table, it would be easier to proceed because conversation would be more natural. You guys can propose directions that you want to take. There is a medical mystery here on the planet, there is a medical problem of treating all of the sick. Security could provide logistical support, or investigate what the Orions were up to while they were here. The path isn't quite as clear, it's very sandboxy. Sandboxes often cause trouble in play by post games, but the way out of that trouble is discussion.

The Captain nods at Gullerg and starts to talk to Jaath and says, "Engineer Jaath, could you tell me what the Orions were doing when they came to help? Was there anything they were looking for? Were there any member of their group who went off on their own?"

"They arrived out of the void with a supply of medicine. Said they had heard our distress calls and were nearby. I'm sure they saw it as an opportunity for profit. I held them off for a day, but once you didn't arrive on time, I had little choice but to trade for the medicine. All they wanted in return was a stock of the orchids that are native to the planet. I told them they won't grow anywhere else, but they said they didn't care. They never actually beamed down to the surface. Everything was handled through comms and transporters."

Gullerg takes her hand and nods at her.
"I'll get your doctors a bottle of the best Andorian Whisky I can find! I am so glad you are fine!"
When he notices the silver line he examines it.
"Tira, what is this?"
In case a roll is needed, how about Insight (9) + Science(3)?
Gullerg Roll (12): 2d20 ⇒ (6, 12) = 18

The captain now more intrigued, "Can you tell me about these orchids and show them to me?"

The silver line is hard under your finger. When you press on it, Tira winces noticeably.

It looks like a filament of some sort of metal embedded in her hand.

Jaath replies, "There aren't any native mammals here, just some reptiles and an abundance of insect species. The oceans are full of all manner of life. But what the planet has are plants in abundance. All sorts of highly differentiated species. I'm sure the medical things can handle things here. There is an arboretum quite nearby. I'll give you a tour."

Aytthi nods her head and says, "That would be most pleasant Engineer. Is there anything special about these Orchids that would make the Orions so interested in them?" as she follows him in the aboretum.

Can I make knowledge Plants check or something or an insight criminal check or something

Insight SCience or insight command maybe 2d20 ⇒ (6, 11) = 17

Does Gullerg gets something out of his rolls? Or just that?
Does Tira answer him?

I assumed you were just looking at it, and in that case, yes, that is all you can see. It isn't any sort of tech that should be there. It is something integrated into her hand.

"Ow! Khebloss, why so hard? What is what? I don't know, I haven't seen that."

What is in the Arboretum?

It is a domed enclosure, sort of a massive greenhouse.

I know what an Aboretum is, I was asking for a description of its contents and the orchids more specifically. :)

Gullerg huffs, not liking that metal piece.
"I don't know. Let me check it."
He gets out his tricorder and analyzes it.
Rolling Insight (9) + Science(3) again.
I think his Incisive Scrutiny Talent You have a knack for finding weak spots in arguments, theories, and machines alike to glean information from them, learning about things by how they respond to pressure against vulnerable points. When you succeed at a Task using Control or Insight, you gain one bonus Momentum, which may only be used for the Obtain Information Momentum Spend.
Gullerg Roll (12): 2d20 ⇒ (12, 9) = 21

Janet Maxwell, one of the ratings in the medical staff, makes sure to scan as the medicine is deployed.

Reason: 11 + Medicine: 4 and her focus of either Xenobiology or Forensic Science might kick in.

Target 15: 2d20 ⇒ (15, 7) = 22

K'Rist notices the commotion and comes over to investigate. Seeing the metal, she frowns and makes a scan with her tricorder.

Reason + Medicine: 2d20 ⇒ (8, 16) = 24

Gullerg and K'Rist: 2 Successes for Gullerg. Generates 1 extra Momentum. I'll treat K'Rist's roll as an assist. You can ask 3 questions about the scan.

The metal filaments are actually scattered throughout Tira body. Around each of them is a cluster of the virus, but there is something strange about the virus. It's molecular structure is typical, but there is something different at a sub-atomic scale.

Maxwell finds that the medicine looks good an effective. Where the Federation version is 100% pure, this is only about 98% pure, but that could be attributed to sloppy manufacturing.

Only after she is finished scanning does she notice a strange silvery line running along the side of her left index finger...

Janet quickly scans herself, and immediately sends the findings to K'Rist.

So do I find out anything about the orchids and why the Orions would want them as payment?

Really was waiting for follow up from K'Rist and Gullerg. Kind of need our CMO for this medical mystery.

How did the metallic filaments get there, did they grow inside her?
Can the metallic filaments be removed? How?
The filaments generate power, draw power, or are passive?
On the other hand, can Gullerg use his Obtain Information Momentum? What does he need to roll?
Incisive Scrutiny Talent You have a knack for finding weak spots in arguments, theories, and machines alike to glean information from them, learning about things by how they respond to pressure against vulnerable points. When you succeed at a Task using Control or Insight, you gain one bonus Momentum, which may only be used for the Obtain Information Momentum Spend.

I included the Talent in your Momentum generation. That basically gives you one extra Momentum that you can only use to ask a question.

The filaments are being constructed from a quantum level up within her body. They could be removed surgically. It would be a very delicate surgery given that they are spread throughout her body. The filaments are slightly power positive, meaning they are putting out more energy than they are drawing in. Where that energy is coming from is unclear.

Jaath takes Tharhat (and possibly some security officers?) out of the makeshift field hospital. A few corridors and some sort of monorail pod journey later, the Captain finds herself in a massive geodesic dome, about 2 miles across. There is a small forest here filled with spindly trees. Leading you to a branch covered in black plants with fiercely striped yellow and violet blooms at the end of a long stalk.

"As you might guess, the orchids are called that because they are epiphytic. They live largely nutrient starved on the branches of trees, usually high in the canopy. We have simulated those conditions here. The black stems absorb solar energy, converting it into chemical energy. This particular species, the one the Orions were interested in, are slightly mobile. At certain times of year they can dislodge themselves and powerful winds can move them to other areas. They also contain psychotropic compounds. Perhaps the Orions wish to run them into some sort of narcotic."

I imagine Sobek would come and may be one or two more.

The Captain says, "Engineer Jaath, may I and my team take some of these orchids with us to do some extra testing on them?"

She then says, "Tell me about the timeline of the outbreak. When did it start, how quick did it spread? Were there any suspicious visitors around the time or shortly before that come to mind? If so, who and what ships they come from?"

Gullerg huffs, unsure of why isn't everyone alarmed about the filaments.
"Tira, I am glad to see you. Besides the sickness, how have you been?"
He is unable to restrain himself.
"Did you get married? Did you had children?"

Consulting with Gullerg and discussing his findings, K'Rist strokes her whiskers. She makes a casual scan of the remainder of the serum, comparing the results to her scan of Tira.

Insight + Medicine: 2d20 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

I imagine Sobek would come and may be one or two more.

The Captain says, "Engineer Jaath, may I and my team take some of these orchids with us to do some extra testing on them?"

She then says, "Tell me about the timeline of the outbreak. When did it start, how quick did it spread? Were there any suspicious visitors around the time or shortly before that come to mind? If so, who and what ships they come from?"

"Of course, they are quite common, it would of no consequence to give you more sample orchids. As for the outbreak, it began two weeks ago. Initially, we were able to keep up with treating the infections, but the outbreak was more widely dispersed than is typical in previous instances. As it did not exist previously on the planet, it must have come in through some sort of trade goods. We have been too busy responding to make a thorough epidemiological study."

Gullerg huffs, unsure of why isn't everyone alarmed about the filaments.

"Tira, I am glad to see you. Besides the sickness, how have you been?"
He is unable to restrain himself.
"Did you get married? Did you had children?"

"No, Gullerg. I came here to get away from all of that. Here there is just work. A neverending array of plant and insect life."

Consulting with Gullerg and discussing his findings, K'Rist strokes her whiskers. She makes a casual scan of the remainder of the serum, comparing the results to her scan of Tira.

[dice=Insight + Medicine]2d20

There is no indication that the scans of the medicine are infected with anything unusual. But there is something unusual. A medical tricorder wouldn't normally be calibrated to detect it, but Gullerg's scans show that the filaments are emitting tetryons.

"No, Gullerg. I came here to get away from all of that. Here there is just work. A neverending array of plant and insect life."

Gullerg is incapable of hiding his relief at hearing her answer.

K'Rist finds the Captain and briefs her quietly. "Captain, one of the infected tellarites has strange metallic filaments running down her arm. I ran a scan and didn't find any connection to the serum, but the filaments are emitting tetryons. They do carry a slight electrical charge."

The Captain nods and says, "Jaath, come with me, my Chief Medical Officer wants to show us something."

After seeing the filaments on Gullerg's ex's arm, she says, "Engineer Jaath what exactly is going on here?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen anything like this."

He taps a communicator on his wrist. "Jaath to all medical personnel, check you patients for metallic filaments. I recommend full body scans. We seem to have an atypical new symptom presenting."

A note on wrist communicators. We see wrist communicators in The Motion Picture, but not after that. My explanation for this is that wrist communicators are not as powerful as the flip open communicators that most starfleet officers carry. But wrist communicators are convenient, especially for medical personnel, and all one needs for a fairly safe and reliable situation like a colony, where relays will carry your communications to the rest of the colony. Rules wise, wrist communicators allow you to use them while still having both hands available, but increase the difficulties of any Task attempted with them by 1. (Like punching through interference.)

The Captain rolls up her sleeves and says, "Alright, I am not the best medic in the galaxy but I put my hands at your disposal. Let me and my people help. Dr. K'rist jump in over here. Mr. Khleboss see how you can aid them. Sobek, help out over there."

Direct action Control+ Command Lead by Example 2d20 ⇒ (13, 10) = 23

She then flips open her communicator and says, "Tharhat to Mr. Xin. I think the Amity's sensors might be able to help out the full body scans or at least be able to better analyze the data."

Janet Maxwell, hits her wrist com. "Doctor K'Rist, I have noted one of the filaments encroaching into my own body. Please advise."

Sitting the captain's chair, Coop looks over to Xin and gives him a nod. "You heard the Captain. All yours Mr. Xin."

really just an excuse for him to use command to help.

Reason+Command: 1d20 ⇒ 8

That should be a success. Also Xin, with my Advisor talent, you'll be able to reroll one d20

Xin will need to make a Difficulty 4 Reason+Science Task assisted by the ship Sensors+Science (10). You have 2 Momentum and can also draw Threat if you want. Coop has given you 1 success from his command.

Milarin attempts to assist on the ship 1d20 ⇒ 12

Xin?

The Captain taps her communicator and after a short period says, "Mr. Xin, what is the status report on those scans?"

I guess Milarin can run lead on this one... 1d20 ⇒ 13

"Apologies Captain, I was attempting to focus the equipment."

Reason+Science--17: 2d20 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
Amity: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Xin-Yalix runs the data from your medical scans through the ship's computers and then uses that information to scan the surface. He finds that each of the infected is emitting tiny amounts of tetryon radiation, and that there are tetryons emitting from Janet Maxwell, and, to a lesser degree, from the rest of the away team members.

Tetryons can only exist in subspace, so they shouldn't exist on the planet.

"Captain, I am detecting tetryon radiation from the infected, and in lesser amounts from the away team. This is impossible under normal conditions, so something far more unusual than a plague is happening."

We should have garnered some momentum with the snake eyes that Xin rolled. So can we ask some questions: What causes Tetryons and would they most likely have stemmed from the disease itself or the cure the Orions gave them?

She says, "Thank you Mr. Xin."

Xin will need to make a Difficulty 4 Reason+Science Task assisted by the ship Sensors+Science (10). You have 2 Momentum and can also draw Threat if you want. Coop has given you 1 success from his command.

Difficulty 4 Task and 4 Successes. No Momentum.

What about the assists? Milarin had one success

The Captain uses her communicator if it is necessary to contact the Dr. and says, "Dr. K'rist, is there anything you can whip up to counteract the Tacyons in everyone's bodies?"