Mission briefing:
The UPF starship is to precede to the Grunash star system and establish a military outpost in the system and build an exploration base on the moon Xilot.
The Grunash system: Located on the far side of the White Light nebula, Grunash is a red giant with 5 planets all gas giants, Hidel, Dridel, Nidel, Feidal and Ginny. Hidel the planet closest to Grunash is a hot gas giant with only one moon, Xilot. Xilot is a earth sized blue moon and receives most of it’s light and heat from Hidel instead of Grunash. The system was charted during the end of the second Sathar war by a scout ship piloted by Varak Grunash (all the planets and moons were named after his children). The scans of the system indicated that Xilot has a rich nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere capable of sustaining complex life forms and also holds large deposits of rare minerals.
The UPF military wished to build a outpost in the Grunash system in case of another Sathar incursion and several mega-corporations wished to exploit the resources of Xilot, none had the resources to do so alone so a consortium was formed between the UPF and the mega-corporations to defend, explore and colonize the system. The UPF would have control over all military operations, land, sea, air and space while the mega-corporations would establish a base colony allowing for the detailed exploration and exploitation of Xilot’s resources.
The UPF starship Kitzz’Itz, a troop transport during the second Sathar war, was overhauled and re-commissioned for the sole purpose of delivering all the equipment and personal needed to establish a permanent colony on Xilot.
End of brief>
It has been seven years since the end of the second Sathar war the inner colonies a booming, the Humma, Ifsnit and Osakar races and worlds have been admitted with full rights and responsibilities to the United Federation of Planets almost doubling the size of the UPF. With the Sathar threat diminished the UPF and its mega-corporations once again put exploration and colonization of new planets as their top priorities.
Rumors of a consortium being formed between the five largest mega-corporation and the UPF military to explore and colonize a distant world full of riches spread through out the UPF. When official word was released asking for volunteers from all fields to join the exploration and colonization of the blue moon Xilot millions answered but only 6,532 were chosen. Members of all races, specialists from all fields of study, corporate and independent exploration teams as well a UPF land and space forces and your character all assemble and board the UPF spaceship Kitzz’Itz. The two month trip on the crowded ship is stressful to personnel and equipment but disappears instantly when the captain announces the ship will be exiting hyperspace. The faint hum of the hyperspace engines rev’s up to a crescendo and a wrenching twist in your guts tells informs you that you have left hyperspace. The sounds of explosions forward and aft rock the Kitzz’Itz as alarms sound throughout the ship. Several more explosions wrack the ship before the order to abandon ship is sent. You grab your emergency kits and race to the nearest escape pod, when the six of you are seated the pod is ejected and you finally see the cause of the explosions. The Kitzz’Itz is under attack by unknown frigates, the bridge and engines belching flames and oxygen into space. Small fighter craft swoop in and begin shooting down the escape pods. The escape pod automatically begins evasive maneuvers dodging in and out of the wreckage heading for Xilot below.
Dazed by the crash-landing you stagger out of the pod in a daze into a dark dense forest. As you recover from the landing it dawns on each one of you that you are now stranded on a unexplored hostile planet with on way to contact help. The only ray of hope you have of rescue is a barely glimpsed class F landing pad you saw as you were crashing.
Once everything stops shaking, in my vision, head, and otherwise, I unstrap myself and try to move towards the front of the pod, to check if we have access to any scanners, readouts, or detachable equipment from the control section.
"Is everyone well? Does anyone know those ships were?"
"No idea. Just hope they don't come looking for us." Hanarin goes and begins pulling out weapons from the escape pod.
Trying desperately to keep her sun goggles on to avoid being blinded Tekkie barely manages to scramble out of the escape pod.
"I think I saw a space port somewhere over in that direction, do you think it belongs to whoever was behind that attack?" she asks gingerly stepping around the pod trying to access its current state and reviewing what could be salvaged since walking in the wilds wasn't something she had any experience with.
We should make inventory of available equipment. Fighters may come after pods escaped battle. Not good stay too long.
Also, I am Killikil Knikk, UPF Stellar Navy Systems Analyst. Who commands here?
We should make inventory of available equipment. Fighters may come after pods escaped battle. Not good stay too long.
Also, I am Killikil Knikk, UPF Stellar Navy Systems Analyst. Who commands here?
"Don't look at me I'm just a cadet probably the lowest rank on the ship!" Tekkie mutters back too engrossed to pay any more attention as she tries to see what's still working on the pod before getting to what can be salvaged.
Greetings cadet. Are you familiar with pod type vessel? Where emergency beacon be located?
Well, I managed to get a few helpful scanners from the ship as I was in O.R when this happened; I just threw some other stuff in a bag; med tabs and stuff and grabbed the suvival kit. Can someone hand me the pod med kit; you never know on old units like this if someone actually restocks these things.
Did anyone get a chance to read any preliminary reports of the flora and fauna here?
Did anyone else get the feeling that those ships attacking our transport was a lot like antibodies attacking a germ; now here we are, foriegn invaders in the local subsystem...
Ok; guess not; everyone ok; anyone injured; Who'se in Charge here?
I highly recommend that everyone check themselves for scratches and cuts of any kind; as invaders in a new microsystem, we cannot be to careful. Both animals and insects can scent such things and we dont know if blood will attract or repel them; but in most systems it is a sign of weakness.
<adjustes his goggles>
so; any ideas how long till someone comes to get us?
Tekkie: repair vehicle would be fine.
Killikil Knikk: Give me a Computers: Access & Operate roll.
Included in the pod are 2 survival packs each include a survival tent a water purifier and a one complete med kit and tool kit.
Edit: one short range transcever (500 mi range).
Understood doctor. I appear unharmed. Attempting recover pod data. Two months was journey. Longer still expect rescue.
Should disable emergency beacon yes? Not want attackers locating pod. Is good we land in dense forest cover.
<inspects and closes the med kit> Ok, this medkit is full, amazing; someone other than I should carry it as I already have one and, hmm, you know,hmm if something happens; well; we shouldnt loose both. If we get separated one should go with each team.
<looks around to see how many were in our pod and if any other pods landed near us>
did anyone see any other pods; did any others land near us?
<holds it out for someone to carry>
I was keen on the idea that someone from the base we saw might come get us; hmm, you think not? If you disable the beacon; then our side will not find us either; hmm.
Perhaps one can take beacon. Activate when helpful to rescue.
I would like to blood sample from each of you; if we are walking through this mess it will be helpful to have a baseline sample in case of infection.
Also; hmm, I am a doctor not a wilderness guide so I am unskilled in this environment so would appreciate the help of those of you who hopefully are masters of this sort of thing.
in addition; I have no noteworthy skill with weapons, but I do know that each of you and myself are standing in something very similiar to Aegilops Cylindrica.
"The name is Hanarin mates," the large sentient kangaroo says. "I can shoot straight and hack security systems. I'm not to great in the wild though." She offers her arm to the doc for a blood sample.
Tekkie has great difficulty trying to see in what shape the escape pod is in let alone seeing if anythings worth salvaging mostly due to the fact she was never allowed near one for the entirety of the trip...
"Sorry what did you say about blood sample?" she asks absentmindedly as she tries to focus on the job at hand and finding it difficult to say the least!
<takes Hananin sample>
Blood sample; need one to baseline data in case of things such as viral; spore; or toxic infections from the local uncharted flora and fauna of this region.
<takes a moment away from the pod control systems and computer to approach the doctor>
Pleased providing fluid sample. Will carry spare medkit should no other else wish.
<takes the medkit and puts it in his pack. Heads back to the control section to observe readings results.>
Zer Gut; two samples registered; it will just take a moment of you time TeKKie...
Zer Gut; two samples registered; it will just take a moment of you time TeKKie...
"Huh?...OW!!!" Tekkie squeaked.
Ok; that didnt hurt; calm down; tell me; what is your Clan Tekkie? <ready a hypo spray aenestetic and sleep agent just in case, yikes>
<nervously> and greetings to the rest of you. I am Dr. Wizfixt assigned to this mission by All Day Medical Services Corp; GTF. I will do my best to care for you on this hopefully blissful and uneventful stroll back to base.
"Thought there were more of us," Hanarin says. "Did anyone see where the other blokes wandered off to?"
Otto stumbles out of an escape pod. "I'm here, I'm here. Just had trouble with the door. I'm Otto Samir, by the way. Geologist."
"Hey, a short-range transceiver! I used to work with these things all the time! Mind if I take it?"
Otto, base line sample please; for you own protection. Are you injured; check yourself well for bleeding since you probably did not hear my earlier announcement; this is new microcosm to our bodies and even small scrapes may react to any new organisms; we should play it extra safe until we discover the dangers.
Otto stumbles out of an escape pod. "I'm here, I'm here. Just had trouble with the door. I'm Otto Samir, by the way. Geologist."
"Hey, a short-range transceiver! I used to work with these things all the time! Mind if I take it?"
"Excuse me... excuse me... watch out for the needle! Don't say I didn't warn you!" she mutters as she quickly puts as many people as she can between her and the needle wielding maniac... sorry medic!
Otto stumbles out of an escape pod. "I'm here, I'm here. Just had trouble with the door. I'm Otto Samir, by the way. Geologist."
"Hey, a short-range transceiver! I used to work with these things all the time! Mind if I take it?"
"Be careful I think they were shooting down all of the other escape pods... well I thought they were the other escape pods so if they noticed we got through they might be able to triangulate where we landed from any transmissions we make..." Tekkie mutters to Otto in passing.
One wonders if your a disguised Sathar or perhaps some biocontrolled plant with such a reaction; not typical in this day and age. Is there some reason to resist a blood sample?
hmm; this is borderline psychotic behavior; normally I would pull your charts. How did you get profiled for spaceflight without a medical exam; are you a stole-away or a pirate trying to hide; there has been an outbreak of sythezoid nueral plants of parasitic organisms by the Sathar to control behavior; such modifications were used on a person to make them attempt an assassination of Queanee Kloonanu 111FY?
At this point I really must insist on compliant behavior.
One wonders if your a disguised Sathar or perhaps some biocontrolled plant with such a reaction; not typical in this day and age. Is there some reason to resist a blood sample?
hmm; this is borderline psychotic behavior; normally I would pull your charts. How did you get profiled for spaceflight without a medical exam; are you a stole-away or a pirate trying to hide; there has been an outbreak of sythezoid nueral plants of parasitic organisms by the Sathar to control behavior; such modifications were used on a person to make them attempt an assassination of Queanee Kloonanu 111FY?
At this point I really must insist on compliant behavior.
"Phobia...of...needles!" Tekkie gasps back as she continues to evade as she tries to continue her check on the escape pod.
"Someone...ought...to...keep...a...look...out...in...case...they...send...o ut...anything...to...find...us!" Tekkie adds as she continues her check and evade the good doctor.
ok; I need some of you to assist as Orderlies for all of our safety.
Tekkie; you may fear needles; but there is no needle involved; we are not barbarians, we use a microvacuum. Besides; do you really want to experience first hand what a parasitic invasion does to a body as it breaks down your body for compost as it shuts down your autonomic functions? I think not.
<If the computer use goes well, Killikil enters the coordinates of any pod landing sites into his chronocom as comm addresses, using the Vrusk phonetic alphabet as names, and the long/lat followed by distrance from this pod as the comm code, closest to furthest alphabetically. If he detects the coordinates of the F class port, he enters it as Tegrat, and any unusual features denoted starting from the opposite end of the phonetic alphabet.>
Compiling pod sensor data records. We should ready pod. Records indicate many pods destroyed by enemy. Fear enemy will hunt down survivors.
Inventory of supplies ready, yes?
Equipment salvaged, yes?
"Oh, excuse me!" Tekkie mutters as she changes her direction and narrowly avoids running in front of Hanarin, of course if Hanarin is playing one of those carnivorous kangaroos then the actual distance involved in avoiding running into Hanarin would have been much greater but not as great as Tekkie is avoiding giving blood...again...
Well I am not going anywhere with that <points at Tekkie> until this matter is settled; if and when we get back; I will consider putting her into medical quarantine. This behavior is inexcusable <getting excited and near rage>
<begins running analysis of the samples he does have, keeping a wary eye on the abberant one>
Is inventory accurate? Who wishes to assist packing gear?
- 2 Machete
- 2 boxes Matches
- 2 All-Weather Blankets
- 2 First Aid Packs
- 2 Chronocoms
- 16 days Ration Pills
- 2 Tangler Grenades
- 2 Compass
- 2 Life Jackets
- 20 Salt Pills
- 2 Pocket Tools
- 2 Flashlights
- 2 Doze Grenades
- 2 coils 10m Rope
- 2 ToxyRad Gauges
- 16 liters Water
- 2 pair Sungoggles
- 2 pair Utility Coveralls
- 2 PolyVox
- 2 Laser Pistols
- 2 20 SEU Clips
I will carry what can but not wish to be chinchakik of burden.
I suppose some of that would be good to have; but I dont know how to use most of it. I could carry a blanket maybe and some rope in addition to what I already am carrying.
"Who... can actually use those grenades?" she asks keeping her voice low.
The Management.
Tekkie, yes? Grenades can set impact detonation or timer. Toss to target and take cover. Grenade explodes. Doze grenade causes sleep. Tangler is chemical adhesive. Wish you to carry grenade, no?
<Hand a coil of rope and blanket to Dr. Wizfixt, if appropriate>
Take the rope and roll up the blanket. Otto; base line blood sample please.
<Killikil begans strapping some of the equipment to his coveralls or securing it into his equipment pack. He straps on a machete and one of the laser pistols, taking one of the two power clips.>
Remaining equipment share everyone, yes? Group should go soon. Starfighters may be inbound, yes? Is not any officer amongst us, no?
- 1 Machete
- 2 boxes Matches
- 1 All-Weather Blankets
- 2 First Aid Packs
- 2 Chronocoms
- 13 days Ration Pills
- 2 Tangler Grenades
- 1 Compass
- 2 Life Jackets
- 16 Salt Pills
- 2 Pocket Tools
- 2 Flashlights
- 2 Doze Grenades
- 1 coil 10m Rope
- 2 ToxyRad Gauges
- 13 liters Water
- 2 pair Sungoggles
- 2 pair Utility Coveralls
- 1 PolyVox
- 1 Laser Pistol
- 1 20 SEU Clips
<Killikil begans strapping some of the equipment to his coveralls or securing it into his equipment pack. He straps on a machete and one of the laser pistols, taking one of the two power clips.>
Remaining equipment share everyone, yes? Group should go soon. Starfighters may be inbound, yes? Is not any officer amongst us, no?
- 1 Machete
- 2 boxes Matches
- 1 All-Weather Blankets
- 2 First Aid Packs
- 2 Chronocoms
- 13 days Ration Pills
- 2 Tangler Grenades
- 1 Compass
- 2 Life Jackets
- 16 Salt Pills
- 2 Pocket Tools
- 2 Flashlights
- 2 Doze Grenades
- 1 coil 10m Rope
- 2 ToxyRad Gauges
- 13 liters Water
- 2 pair Sungoggles
- 2 pair Utility Coveralls
- 1 PolyVox
- 1 Laser Pistol
- 1 20 SEU Clips
Tekkie nods back as she claims one of the sun goggles, tool kits along with an utility coverall before sharing out the ration pills, water and salt pills.
"We better move once we're ready whose keeping watch?" she asks as she gazes at the escape pod wondering if they have time to cover it.
Otto; base line blood sample please.
"Oh, go ahead. I'll take the ammo. I'm a pretty good shot with a gun, if I do say so myself."
<As Otto recovers his share of the supplies>
Otto, yes? You have short wave comm gear, yes? While Hanarin secures area, can you scan frequencies, no? Chance possible we pick-up enemy communications, determine info about them.
<Looking to Dr. Wizfixt, while portioning out supplies for him>
Doctor, yes? Scans indicate area is safe from toxic, bio, or radiological threats, no? Maybe CAS scanners indicate possible nearby sources of potable stores.
<Looking to Tekkie as she skirts around to avoid the Doctor.>
Tekkie, yes? While Otto scans waves, can you assess additional pod equipment to salvage, no? Is possible to disable or destroy pod with available components, if necessary, no?
<Heads back into pod, leaving remaining stores outside for distribution.>
I'll take the laser pistol and the grenades. Maybe someone with some technical knowledge could rig up a sled and we take turns pulling the rest of the stuff.
I'll take the laser pistol and the grenades.
I'll take the laser pistol and the grenades.
I'll take the laser pistol and the grenades.
Hanarin, yes? Do you wish to carry the laser pistol? It would perhaps serve better in your skilled hands, yes?
Sure, I'll take it.
Sure, I'll take it.
<Hands the laser pistol and holster to Hanarin.>
Clip is active, weapon on safety. May I ask, are you attached to military or corporate security, yes?
"I was part of the militia back home," Nanarin says. "However, I left after my parents wanted me to mate. I'm not ready to have a child and turn male yet."
Understanding, yes. Many species turn from clutch and hive to lead singular lives.
<Attempting to call everyone together>
Uncertain who is leadership now. Next course of action should be chosen, yes? Is safe to stay with pod, no? Do unknown starfighters pose danger, yes? Should group head to other pods, yes? Seek out unidentified starport, no? Please to entertain group thought on matters.