Well, it looks like our GM has checked out. Sorry guys, I was having a lot of fun when everything was rolling along.
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Gunny moves to the nearest pod and scans its readout. Not that he'll know what any of it means, but Brynhildr will remember and be able to share with the brains later. If the crystal approaches quickly, he'll retreat further and check another. Just a moment Mr. Oschia. He looks about for any kind of computer or scanning device that might give them a clue about what happened here.
I really love this game. The idea behind it is awesome and the folks we've got (and even the folks we've lost) are awesome. We've really dropped back on posting rates, though. We're hitting about as many posts a week as we used to get a day. I'm certainly not claiming I'm free of blame here. I'm only available 5 days a week at this point and I've been posting for only one or two of those in any given week. That said, I'm making a resolution here. I'm going to start posting as close to every day as I can. It might wind up with Gunny just talking outloud to Brynhilde for a while until VitS or one of you guys respond, but hopefully we can pick things up a bit again. This has been a blast and I'd love for it to continue to be.
While egressing from the scene and keeping himself between the Doc and the crystaline growth, Gunny orders Brynhilde to keep the kids at home up to date. Shortly afterward she starts transmitting a panoramic image every other second from Gunny's PoV. Along with these images comes a general scan of the area every 5 seconds, giving them a map of the area and an idea what the situation holds. Just so ever'one's aware, Gunny transmits to anyone listening, We may be about t'lose a whole buncha friends.
I'd actually meant to put up a post about that and plumb forgot. I'll get around to that now. DM VitS might have more to say on the matter, though.
Gunny scrambles back from the mass of black crystals. This thing is advancin'. Gunny looks around, examining the situation. D'we have any way ah movin' these pods quick-like? Git 'em away from that thing?
Man... Things'd be way more exciting if that roll went poorly...
Gunny continues moving forward and, unless provoked otherwise by the crystalline structure, reaches out a hand to investigate.
Gunny approaches the dark form in the back of the chamber, picking up a bit of scrap from the hull as he goes. A couple of meters out he tosses the scrap so it will skitter past their guest, hoping to guage it's reaction.
Gunny advances, scanning the area with his weapon ready.
Mister Hayes, keep an eye on that thing and let us know if it comes up with any surprises.
My kindle overheated and sort of exploded last night. I won't really have access to the internet outside of my phone for the next 4 days (after CoB today). I'll try to post over those days, but they'll be... concise posts.
Gunny steps forward to open the door after repairs have been completed. His rifle is in hand, ready to be brought to bear on whatever might be inside.
I'm on it Royce. Pulling out his multitool, Gunny heads over to the nearest panel and begins working. Allen, keep an eye on that black thing. I don't trust it. TOo much chance for surprise.
Gunny is heading towards the pods, not necessarily directly there. He's going to keep an eye on the pod and the crystalline structure nearby. His destination might change depending on what's evident. Whatever the situation, he's going to ask Doc Chronis hold off by about 100m while the grunts investigate.
I've got a ton more footage and readings for you, Ma'am. I'm sure you and Doc will have a blast tearing through all of it. Maybe later we can get you a sample. For now though, on to the pods. Gunny says mounting his Jitney. The sooner we're there, the sooner we're back.
At this point, I'm not ruling anything out. Gunny says with bemusement as he helps the Doc out of the hidey hole. Let's get moving towards the pods before we get another surprise.
Gunny keeps an eye on the critter the entire time. As much as is possible at least. He captures images and video the entire time. His rifle still at the ready, Do we need a sample of this thing or are we alright to let it go by? When the critter is out of sight he climbs out of the cover. Congratulations everyone, we have Lindwurms.
If creature is w/i 1000m:
Duck and cover. Gunny hollars pointing towards the outcropping. He adds, more quietly, And hope this thing depends on eyes. If creature is outside 1000m: Good news Doc Williams! Gunny says before sending the clarified images. This planet can support life. With that he sends images of the worm.
@Bossman: Should we consider opening up a bit of recruitment to give personality to the folks in the pods? I doubt we can just crack them open (unless people have some kind of survival kit in their pod). Perhaps every pod has a personal storage area along with an evac suit? I just figured if we're shy some folks this might be a chance to fill the ranks. Sooner than later we'll be able to have a second outpost (Hopefully on that outcropping) and maybe leave our drifters at the original pod. Not really linked to the above: Any chance you've got any images of the world we're on, or images that call to what you're picturing?
Always do Jack. The response is friendly and good spirited. Gunny is much more in his element now. Gunny catches a glimpse of a rock outcropping a few hundred meters ahead and hopes it'll be adequate. There. He says pointing. Think we can make it there before the 'storm' gits here? Brynhildr is on the same task as Jack, trying to sort out whatever she can about the oncoming 'storm.' Anything she sorts out is sent back to Jack as well. Base, this is Gunny. We're going to cut commo when this thing is a klick out. I don't want to draw somethings attention with the wrong signal. The transmission is to both the base and the away team. Outloud to the others he says, We're going to have to chat the old fashioned way. Hope we can all manage. He begins hoofing it towards the spotted cover, hoping to find a second within a few hundred meters of the first.
Gimme a tick, Doc. Brynhildr's having a rough time locking it down.
While Brynhildr is running the captured images through filters and analyzers, Gunny looks for some place to take shelter, in case shelter is necessary. Finally, he tasks Brynhildr with sending the captured images and footage to the crew back at the pod. Attached text message reads: If you can ID this, send it privately. Doc's a bit scared.
I'm not sure on what Doc Williams has found, but Brynhildr gathered that those storms are natural on this planet. We're likely going to see more of them.
Checking it out now, Oschia. He narrows his eyes instinctively as Brynhildr zooms in on the indicated area. Hmm... He instructs Brynhildr to capture an image of the object and send it back to Doc WIlliams and Jack. Arright, anyone have any idea what that thing is? Gunny doesn't slow his pace. They're still an hour out and he'd rather not face this planets weather outside the escape pod.
Gunny surveys the area with Mister Oschia, noting the pod bay in the distance. Doc, you think those pods survived that flare?
Gunny also tasks Brynhildr with doublechecking his scans and information. She points out a couple of key pieces of terrain that might be worth investigating later.
Welcome back, Jack. VitS, It might be worth botting the missing PCs until we get to a point that we can have 2 out posts. That way we can have some folks (those whose players disappear) off doing research / development off that-a-way. You may have another plan, which is also cool.
Gunny rides along, quiet and contemplative. He reads as much information on these pods as he can find, doubtful that a leg powered vehicle can actually haul one twenty miles over rough terrain. Hopefully we find something helpful at the pods. Some dark part of the Gunny's mind is even hoping that one of the pods has failed so they can at least bring some scrap metal with them. Absently, Gunny checks the rifle he grabbed from his cache on the escape pod. Hopefully there'd be no need to use it.
I'd say currently they're distracted. Yogh found something profoundly interesting in a Vexic story about something fairly similar to our current predicament. Aden is... a distracted young person and has headphones in. If one of them got distracted by RL, that's no reason to off their characters. They were both around less than 2 weeks ago. Life happens sometimes.
Steal all the camera time you like. My posting window seems opposite of most everyone else. I'm more than happy to be a bit quieter and broodier. That said, we can get the expidition on the road tomorrow (Game time) if folks are up for it. Though after today's fireworks, I don't know how soon anyone's going to want to spend a whole day outside the pod...
I'm seein' it Ma'am. I'm just ahrd pressed to believe it. When the "storm" is over, the Gunny moves from the workspace to what has become the main social area again. Arright, I'm about as lost as a ball in tall grass. What the Hell was that? [ooc] Still here boss.[/b]
The Cryopods are some twenty miles away, eh? I think we might need to wait for something a bit heftier than a trike before making that trek. We should probably hold off until we've got a rover of some sort. These hills are going to be hell in a pedal powered vehicle. As Jack heads back to the workshop, the Gunny follows. I don't know much about soldering circuits or boards, but I can weld and bolt well enough to lend a hand, I think.
We could all use some rest at this point, I think. I think it's worth waiting another day to have a third Jitney. The last word comes out almost as a question. He's still not sure on the name or it's origin, but an inventor should be able to name his invention. Same watches as last night. Miss Aden, you're with me to kick things off. Everyone else, you've got 8 hours to rest, with a 2 hour watch in there somewhere. Try not to strain yourselves, but don't fall asleep either.
Gunny shuffles in with the rest of the gun bunnys and returns to a console near Micaiah. I'm going to see about drafting up some base programming for some more VALKyRIEs. Think you can give me a hand designing some hardware at some point? When we've got some more supplies, I'd like to see about handing the ladies out to Mister Royce, Oschia and Hayes. Couldn't hurt us to coordinate a bit more easily, eh?
Well done Mr. Royce. This is just the kind of innovation we're gunna need to survive down here. Think you can knock out a few more of these so we can send out a ranging party? I'm certainly willin' to lend a hand.
Certainly Ma'am. He starts with her as it's a bit more awkward putting something like this on another when you're already big and bulky in your own. It's mostly about the redundant seals. I don't really know what to expect from the air out there so being doubly sure we're not getting any seems like a decent enough idea. As he says the last his oculus brightens with a flurry of activity. He quiets for a moment while still helping her out with the suit. Oh... Well that's no fun at all. After a bit more fidgeting with her suit he nods in satisfaction. Gimme just a bit and we should be good to go. Isaacsohn takes his time getting into the suit eventually picks up his rifle, ready to depart. Ready when you are, Ma'am.
It'd be a pleasure ma'am. The sooner we know more about this rock, the sooner we can get out ofthis tin can.
Alright... He says with a touchof skepticism in his voice. S'long as you ain't tearing' up my ammo for it. Any chance you kin build me a portable array for a Loppy-Oppy? Err... Listenin' Post Slash Observation Post? There's a ridge South-South West a here that I think we might be able to get a better gander of the area at. Wouldn't hurt to have a better view of our surroundin's fer good out there. He tags a few files in Brynhildr's banks and has her toss them Socrates' way. It's just a place to watch from, all futuristic like with sensors and all. At the same time he sets Brynhildr to take an account of what they have at hand that might extend their air supply in the suits long enough to make it to that Sensor blip to the Southwest.
Watching Micaiah at work, the Gunny will approach and ask. What'cha workin' at there ma'am?
Hmm... Three miles south-west? The Gunny asks confirming. Brynhildr, check it out for me? After a few moments of reading and scanning the relevant info from his computer, he mutters mostly for others' benefit. Out of El-Oh-Ess, we'll have to take a walk. That'll be a bit of an issue at the moment. Given the terrain it's about an hour walk. We only get two hours of O2 per suit. We can run, but that'll likely use up more of that precious O2. He looks to the brains that are up and about. We have any way of scrubbing atmo into something we can breathe?
Brynhildr wakes the Gunny up four hours after the end of his watch. Their new planet didn't seem keen on the idea of four watches a night. Well, He says blearily to himself, Looks like everyone gets one in four nights off... Good Gods, he says to whoever is awake before him, Tell me someone grabbed a kaff machine on their way onto this Tin Can. He stretches and looks between the active doctors, So what's on the agenda? Anything int'restin' out there t'day?
VitS, I've got a question about my equipment. Long post about equipment:
In getting to know Isaacsohn better (we all go through that with characters, right?) I was going to ask about tweaking his equipment loadout before we got too heavy into stuff that depends on equipment. mostly I wanted to fold more stuff into his computer. I was going to ask about rearranging his weight a bit.
Before I asked I went and built a spreadsheet and found that I'm actually at 52 lbs. My mistake. I'm going to make the same request I was going to originally and how I don't just need to drop 2 lbs from what I've got already. If the below doesn't work, I'll ask about switching out my armor instead. I do understand how it looks tossing away a weapon after securing a bunch on the way into the pod. I just realized it doesn't make as much sense for an instructor to be carrying a rifle as it does a sidearm. Remove: Nightvisioin Goggles(3 lbs) & Demega Rifle (12 lbs) Add: Ashram Pistol (in Drop Holster (4+1 lbs), VALKyRIE / Computer Add-Ons: Flashlight, Penlight (.5 lb), Smartphone (.5 lb), Binoculars, E-O (4 lb), Binoculars, RF (1 lb*), Walkie Talkie, Professional (1 lb), GPS Receiver (1 lb) Total weight removed: 15 lbs Total Weight added: 13 lbs Total weight: 50 lbs *The RF feature on Binoculars adds 1 lb to standard binoculars. I'm hoping I can justify it with just the weight it'd add. I'm also hoping that this doesn't make my little computer friend actually weigh 14 lbs but just uses up that much allocation. The Gunny just packed light. Final Loadout: Ashram Pistol (Masterwork) w/ Drop Holster, Knife, 200 Rounds Ammo, Tactical Vest (Masterwork), VALKyRIE (Tablet Computer (Masterwork), Upgrade x2, Compass, Penlight, Smartphone, Binoculars (E-O / RF), Walkie Talkie, Prof, GPS receiver), Fatigues, Multitool (Masterwork), Rangepack I wouldn't mind adding in some skill references as well. Namely Knowledge: Technology, Knowledge: Tactics, Perception and the Sciences. Well... is he not a... Jack-of-all-Trades?Thanks I appreciate it guys. I want to give the brilliant scientists as much game time as I can while also letting the gunjacks go outside and explore.Since Jack is neither a brilliant scientist nor a gun-jack, I can only hope that there will actually be room for him in there somewhere. :) You are fired. ... From Joke-Telling. GMing is a thing you are awesome at.
I'm planning on putting up some more banter for the watch. We can do that here, in spoilers or on the forums. Whatever you prefer. My kindle isn't being cooperative at the moment or id at least kick thins off here inspoilers.
Awesome! I cannot wait until we have some kind of fabber. I need more crafting skills... Any chance you can visit the FAQ while you're about?
Certainly ma'am. I worked my tail off for the title. I'd be glad to hear it a bit more often these days. His smile as he says this is genuine. When asked about his arm, he winces. He forgets just how obvious it is sometimes. Same thing that happened to my leg, He knocks on the other prosthetic. That and several organs. I caught what basically ammounts to 'Vexic Flu.' For them, it's the sniffles. For us, it starts rewriting your body's blueprints. Mine decided I had some excess bits. Not only did I lose an arm and a leg, but my body won't even accept vat grown replacements. Talk to machines? He asks with a chuckle. You mean Brynhilde? He taps the oculus on the side of his face. I guess so. She's my VALKyRIE. She helps me out in a lot of ways. Used to be combat. These days it's mostly informaton gathering. You?
Thank y'kindly ma'am. He says taking the bottle from Micaiah. He let's the girl make whatever small talk she desires before the others crash. They'll have two hours of near silence before their turns come up. Filling it with conversation might just help the time pass by a bit more quickly.
I'd really rather not Doc... The Gunnery Sergeant says looking at the hypo. As Micaiah begins to pick up her mess. Take your time Ma'am. We've got a couple of hours. I'd be happy t'take that mango off yer hands tho. He juts his chin at one of the bottle on Nurishall she's recovering.
I think Aden's a better match, actually. A techie and a grunt on each shift. Gunny / Aden
Bossman, is the stim required to stay up for 2 more hours or am I alright to go without? Gunny should be pretty cognizant of how beat he is.
Sorry son, but I think we need to spread out our strengths. Hows-about you rack out and you can take second watch? Ms. Aden, you up fer a stretch with this old tin soldier? If she agrees, he'll move on to Doctor Chronis. Doc, you up fer watching o'er us wit Oschia here? he looks to the others, There's eight a' us and four watch shifts. We can all get a decent night sleep while still keeping an eye on everything.
The gunny is stern and silent as they work. He's got an ear out for Oschia and an eye on Jack. For all they know there are acid spitting snakes running around this rock and a few seconds may be all they get to save someone's life. The work runs quick enough and soon they're heading back into the tin can. Bout time. Gunny says with a grin on a private channel to Jack. I had beans before everything went ass up.
The Gunny nods as he listens to her. He can tell there's more for her to say, but wants to wait before asking. She'll probably not want to talk about it in front of everyone. He'll pull her aside once she's had some rest. Well, Watch 27, I'mma take first watch. I figgered Royce'd want it, but he's already countin' sheep. I'd love for someone to watch my back. Anyone else up for it? I'd prefer one of the techies, if y'all dont' mind. 2 hour shifts should work out just fine.
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