Braydn, I don't want to use that method because then I won't see it if Daniel starts it back up.
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Also, please close the thread from the Campaign Info tab. Thanks!
Daniel: I hope you feel better soon! Look us up when you do. All the best, Scott / Tarondor
[b]"You know I'm in, sir" says Marcus.
"Hello, Emilyene," says Marcus. "It's good to see you again, too." If Marcus notices the liberties she's taken, he doesn't show it. In fact, it seems he might be less cool towards her than previously, now that they've been through the wringer together. "Flint, Cole," he says casually. He's come to think of these men as reliable and part of something important. Whatever disdain he may once have had has become something more like a comfortable rivalry, even a grudging camaraderie. "Doctor," he says, holding out a hand. "I'm Marcus Cole, station security. If we're doing what I think we're doing, I'm glad to have you along."
If Rho is a male, you've chosen a funny avatar for him.
Look for any information about "The Event" that might be hidden in some security documents? Get a new ACR from the arsenal. Go talk to Doc Beaumont and tell her how I feel because I'm not sure any of us have any more time to take it slow.
I think we should recruit, and that person should be free to build their own character. However, yes, we could use a Doctor/Scientist. I used my two points to improve Vacc Suit and Persuasion. I'm basically Guns and Talking. I hope there's some talking in our future. :-)
"The base we just left is infected with two viruses," says Marcus, falling into the comforting rhythm of a report. "One biological and the other electronic. The biological virus seems to have affected the station personnel by making them bestial and aggressive. Monsters, in short. I'm sure the doc will be able to put a finer gloss on that, but there it is." "The computer virus is the worse threat. It appears to be sentient and very aggressive. It's in control of the base we just left. We managed to trick it temporarily in order to escape. I believe the AI is in the Downstation and had infected the laboratory base computers. I think those nukes were meant for us. the moment that thing figures out that humans are living here, it will nuke us, too."
"Can you tell where they came from commandant?" says Marcus. "That's the immediate question."
"So why didn't they? asks Marcus, suspiciously. "Do we know who's on duty over there?"
Marcus frowns at Flint but says nothing.
"Fair enough," agrees Marcus. "Speaking of which, let's go pick up the Doc."
"What reason would the researchers have to set up that elaborate a hoax? The notes may be incomplete, burin doubt they'd create a lie just so we'd come along and inject ourselves," says Marcus.
"I've never heard of a side-by-side modular cutter before, and that matches the description of the virus lab pretty exactly. I say we shoot the samples and lab records into the sun, then return to Thoth with the supplies."
"We need to have a serious talk," says Marcus. "In our hold is a lab experiment that killed an entire moonbase. I don't think we want to bring any part of this back to Moonbase Thoth. I'm thinking the sun is a better place to send it."
Marcus sits down heavily and looks around, unable to help with either lock or piloting. "Emilyene, tell me this ship isn't the one with the plague lab in it. Please."
Then he pulls his survival knife and falls back behind Ephraim and Flint.
Are the supplies here that we came for?
Hey, gang. My computer has died. I still have my iPad and occasional access to a laptop (like now), but it's going to be slow going until I manage to fix or replace the computer. I'll do my best to keep up, but please pay through if necessary.
Marcus continues to cover the others as long as he can, giving ground only slowly. The report of his rifle is thunderous in the confined space.
"They might be coming from more than one direction. Keep going." says Marcus, who contributes to recover their rear with his ACR.
Marcus covers the door with his ACR. "There don't seem to be many options. Everyone into the crawlspace, quick!"
Marcus was going to say that they should look for another route, but with Ephraim and Flint falling back to the generator room, he follows along, knowing that keeping a level head and staying together is more important than any specific plan.
"Fall back! Fall back!" says Marcus, determined to be the last of the group to retreat but eager nonetheless to find better ground. "Get us to a doorway where we can hold them off!" He brings up the muzzle of his Advanced Combat Rifle and lays down a furious field of fire.
"I'm sure that's good news, right?" asks Marcus. "Move it, people! He hustles along towards the vehicle.
We head towards the vehicle with some very itchy trigger fingers.
"Yeah," says the security officer, rifle held to his chin as he scans for threats. "Secure the route, the vehicle and the supplies, in that order."
Marcus tries to lend a hand, but there's too many people at the door.
"How is a virus going to track down...Ohhhh..." says Marcus. "She doesn't mean the disease. She's talking about a computer virus."
Marcus, watching over Emilyene's shoulder, thinks for a moment. "It's an AI, isn't it? And the virus was 'released' onto someone or something? Wonderful. We are not leaving here without our supplies. Everyone at Thoth dies a slow agonizing death if we don't, so that is still our primary mission. We're just under a different clock." He looks around. "First priority is to get these doors open. There's a manual override, but it'll take some muscle power. Jasmine, you and Ephraim find that override. Then Ephraim's right. We need to secure the vehicle and a route between it and the supply depot." "Emilyene, we know there's a tunnel between here and Thoth. Look for something that would indicate where that tunnel is, in case we need a fallback plan." "Flint, you're on overwatch. Shoot anything that moves and isn't us." Marcus himself looks to see if there's a way to re-establish communications, either with Thoth Base or with the entity in the lab.
"When, not if, something horrible come for us, I'd be a lot happier if we were ready to drive away with the supplies Thoth Base need to survive another year," says Marcus. " We shouldn't split up, then. But we should definitely concentrate on our supplies. That's why we're here."
"Fine," says Marcus, agreeing with Ephraim. "But I want Flint to stay with Emilyene. She's going to try to get the power working. I'd rather use a loader than a hundred trips with a hand truck. You and Jasmine head into the main supply depot here," he says, indicating part of the base. "Doc and I'll go get the condensers from the maintenance wing, here. Buddy system."[/b] "Stay in communication. If you lose communication for any reason, head back here. Remember that Thoth needs these parts. Any other salvage is a waste of our resources, time especially."
"Okay." says Marcus. "Our priority is still to get our supplies. Let's hope they're nowhere near that lab. Somebody find me a manifest online and let's go get the stuff. We'll leave the virus for proper authorities."
Marcus emits a low whistle. "Marvelous," he says. He turns to Estelle. "Doc, are we at risk of infection where we are? Should we all seal up our vacc suits? Can you find out if the seals on that lab are in good shape? Also, what does 'sensitive to blood' mean?"
"Excellent," says Marcus. "Good job. Now somebody get on the computer and find our supplies. This place gives me the creeps."
"Well, at least we can all use the potty," says Marcus with a grin. "So there's a solar array and a geothermal plant? That's good. I think we'll all feel safer using that sort of power on a base this old. Techs, see what you can do to get the geothermal array online. I'm betting we'd have to go clean off the solar panels to get the array online." "The only reason we're here is to get those parts. We might find them if we can get power to these terminals back online."
"Well there's something you don't see every day," says Marcus. He checks his weapon and keeps it ready in both hands. "Everyone stay close. Flint, you take left guard, Ephraim, right. Whatever this is, it's not the supplies we came for. Does anyone see anything that looks like a data terminal?" Marcus moves forward a few meters to get a better look at the foliage and objects underneath.
"Emilyene, if we can get you to the reactors, do you think you can power them up?" asks Marcus.
Welcome aboard!
"Well," says Marcus, "This looks like what we came for. Everyone stay together for now and let's head for the office. There should be an inventory there." He leads the team in that direction.
Marcus just walks over and takes a look.
"Emilyene," says Marcus. "Can you get a read on that with your scanner?"
With Cole in the lead, Marcus moves to the rear, his rifle's light illuminating the group. "Look for admin, or a map. We need to figure out where the supplies are located."
"Good job," says Marcus, approaching the door and flipping off the safety of his advanced combat rifle. "There shouldn't be anyone or anything left alive in the base, but we're not going to take any chances. Follow me and stay together." "Doc? Secure the grav car and come join us, please." With that, he flips on his light and leads the team inside.
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