"Could be that your friend Cala, the 'reformed' Sentinel, was the traitor."

Jinx looks at Codec for a moment.  "They're going to want to look at you, you know.  The information uploaded from the Awakened allowed us to import your programming into an empty shell.  You got the body of a good friend of mine who died when his plug was pulled by the attacking Sentinels.  Use it wisely.  Unfortunately, that was part of the information lost on upload to this disk."

He starts to lead you out, and you see that the Nautilus is little more than a shell of a ship, having been gutted and nearly destroyed by the wave of Sentinels.  Bodies line the halls as you walk through.

Then you hear a voice.  "Help me," it says.

You look down as you're walking.  Someone is trapped under rubble and machinery.  He is badly injured.

Jinx is ahead of you and didn't hear the person call out for help.  Jinx is moving quickly and you will be left behind if you do not rush to catch up.  The sound of machinery and engines and the whine of the Sentinels behind you is deafening.  You are lucky to have heard the cry for help at all, and Jinx is unlikely to hear you if you call out to him.  He has already moved through the next bulkhead.

Looking through the hole in the wall, you estimate that the Sentinels will reach you in about 90 seconds.

90 seconds

Dracos keeps moving, knowing that if they stop, it'll likely be a lot more than just that one person trapped in the rubble. He speeds up to try and get halfway between the rest of the group and Jinx

"Cala, the traitor?  I guess it's possible.  I didn't know her very well.  Of course, I don't really trust Jaguar either.  The traitor does not necessarily need to be on this side."

Codec?  A strange look appears on Screed's face when the information about him is dispensed.  Looking at him, he asks, "Can you translate what was just said into English?"

And then they are moving, fast.  Things are a blur as he tries to keep up and then comes the voice.  Dracos obviously makes his decision and keeps moving.  Somone else in the group may want to stop though.  Screed, weak as he is, knows he is not going to be of much use do dig someone out of the rubble.  In order to play lookout, he pauses long enough to see if anyone is going to go after the voice.  He intends to keep moving if everyone else does, quickly.  3 seconds pausing is long enough to see if anyone else is stopping.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Sun 21 May 2006.

Shadow hears the voice, drops his rifle and begins to try and free whoever is under the rubble.  "Would you want to be left behind?" Shadow aims his words at any nearby.

Jade sees Screed stop and stops with him, looking down.  "Do we leave him die or take our chances to save him?"  She tries to see how long it might take to help the person out of the rubble.

To free him, it will take 75 seconds minus the STR of each person assisting, with a minimum of 15 seconds.

Screed drops his weapon with a curse, "FRAG!"  He drops down and begins lending his mediocre strength to the effort.  "Help us, quickly.  Hey, we're coming to help you.  Hold on.  But you better be able to run, cause I'm not carrying you!"  He grimaces at the half-joke as he tries to move the debris.

ST 9
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Sun 21 May 2006.

Jade also jumps in to help.

ST 10

Dracos looks back, and shakes his head, heading off towards their own ship regardless.

Codec rushes in to help.

OOC: Can I use the EM Rifles w/o killing myself?

ST 10

Screed looks over at the other two helping and at the direction that they will have to move trying to estimate whether or not they will be able to make it as he quickly looks from some tool to help the process move faster.

Shadow begins moving the rubble with the others in a frenzied pace.  "Not gonna worry about any pulled muscles, eh?"  He half-smiles as he continues to move chunk after chunk.

ST 13

Screed smiles back, "Nah, there's plenty of time to sleep in the Matrix.  I think I'll write a napping program when I get back to the ship."  He seems to be a bet more settled with a task in front of him.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:27, Mon 22 May 2006.

67 seconds remaining

You are able to free up a young man in the rubble.  He is limping and sore, but says, "Thanks.  My name's Twitch."



65 seconds remaining.

Screed scrambles up, "Hello, Twitch, I'm Outta Here!"  With a smirk, he bends down, picks up his gun and takes off.

Jade says, "Yeah, we gotta go.  Those Sentinels are climbing up our butts."  She points in that direction before following Screed.

Looking down at the man's leg Shadow sighs and offers him a shoulder and arm to use so that he might move faster.

"If you're going to the umbilical between ships, I know a shortcut," Twitch says, pointing down the corridor to the right instead of the direction Screed and Jade are headed.

"I like shortcuts.  And if I'm alive I'm really happy. So shortcut it is."

Jade stops and follows them.  "Sounds good to me."

Screed skids to a stop as he realizes the others are changing directions.  Confused, he finally decides, "Gotta keep the team together," and he takes off following the others to the "shortcut."

"Whatever gets us away from the squids..."

OOC: Can I use the EM Rifle w/o killing myself?

Yes, you are in a human body taken over in the data transfer.  The EM rifle has no effect on you unless you point it at yourself...then you get some nasty burns.

"Let's hurry up and catch Jinx before the calamari tear us to shreds."

PM

PM

After noticing their path diverging, Dracos calls ahead, "Jinx, they seem to have a different path in mind!"

He waits a moment before moving to join up with them once again.

Jinx is beyond hearing.  He is moving quickly through the large ship, and all the noise drowns out most of the sound.

60 seconds

Screed remains alert looking as much for the validity of this "shortcut" as he is for the squid.

Codec stops abruptly. Something clicks...[2 different paths?! oh crap...]Fearing Jinx is in trouble he rushes down the 'long route' to help him if he gets into trouble. Codec's EMR is readied for action.
[there better not be squiddies at the end of the tunnel, he worries...]

Screed calls out to Twitch, "Hey, Twitch, *huff* how did you *puff* get on the ship and contact the squid without getting caught?"

Codec is now running, ALONE, through the twisted corridors to catch up to Jinx, who is 25 seconds ahead of him.  After 5 seconds, Codec runs into a branching hallway.  He may go straight, right, or left (or back).  An indicator sign on the wall points left and says:  "communications."  To the right, a sign says, "bridge."  It points backwards to "engineering," and it points forward to "portways."

The kid answers Screed, "I'm just an engineering assistant.  I didn't contact anyone.  I was just suddenly hit by a crash and trapped underneath when they attacked us."

The group continues following Twitch.

55 seconds
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 22:17, Wed 24 May 2006.

Hmmmm, okay, fine.  "Let's hurry then," and he hurries, trying to make sense of where they are going.

[oh great...3 paths...Why would he go to Comm? Definitely not the Pathways {whatever that is}. Wait, let's think...]

Codec stops, holds his breath, listens. This way he may be able to hear any approaching Sentinels, but more importantly to hear which path Jinx traveled down.

The sounds of the damaged engine are very loud.  The buzzing of the Sentinels is also growing in your ears.  It is difficult to hear much at all, and you cannot hear which way Jinx went.  However, you can communicate by your radios.

Note: It is "portways," not "pathways."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:08, Thu 25 May 2006.

[come on, come on, come on...]

Speaks into his radio, "Jinx which path did you take? Portways, Comm, or the Main Deck?"

X says, "Jinx does not have a radio.  He is not part of your group.  He is a member of the Nautilus, not the Hyperion.  Good to hear you guys are back.  Now get over here ASAP!"

Oh, oh, radio, cool.  Screed pipes in quietly hopefully, "Hey, we're on our way also.  Twitch is leading us on a shortcut."

Codec takes a run towards Communications.

"Twitch?  He's not from our ship, but get any survivors over here.  The Nautilus is out of commission.  A total loss.  Make your way to the port umbilicals, pronto.  We've got less than a minute before we're covered in squid."

Screed replies, We're trying and Twitch is supposed to be from the Nautilus.  We're separated from Jinx and Codec."  He proceeds to pass on the information as to their location and direction as they run along.

"Can't introductions wait until we are aboard?  I really dont wanna be squid food."
Shadow nearly drags Twitch along in an effort to get to the ship quicker.
"Hope Jinx makes it here with that disk, or all that we just did we go right down the toilet."
Looking at Screed "We lost too many as it is."

Codec starts toward Communications.  Just then, he hears yelling behind him.  "Over here!"  He turns back and sees Jinx at the intersecting corridors.  Apparently, Communications is not the right way.  "Where is everyone?" Jinx yells.  "We have to hurry."  He points down toward the Portways and begins to lead Codec away.


Meanwhile, the others follow Twitch.  "We have to go through here," he says, pointing to a narrow engineering cavity.  He turns sideways and begins to squeeze through.

35 seconds.

Screed continues to report their location and progress to X for tracking and verification.  "Okay looks like a tight fit here."  He scrambles through as best he can.

X is reporting back, "We have to hit the EMP by the time the Sentinels reach us.  You've got to hurry or all power will be off and the umbilical will become unstable.  I don't know what will happen to you in that case."

Shadow looks at the narrow cavity

"Through there? Are you crazy?"

Sighing to himself as the others pass through.

Shoulda skipped lunch...

And then proceeds to squeeze himself in and, hopefully, out the other side.

Dracos reach out to grab Screed, before he goes through, "He's injured, let him go first..." he motions to Twitch.

"Please go on, we'll make sure you don't get stuck by following you in," he said, looking to Twitch.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Wed 31 May 2006.

Screed scurries into the hole.  "Scrawny as I am, I'm not getting stuck," he says as he heads first into the hole, leading the way.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Wed 31 May 2006.

Twitch has already started through the narrow opening.  Screed follows closely behind, followed by the others.  You have to hold your guns at your side to fit through.

Twitch makes it through and coaxes you forward.  Just then, you see something mechanical moving.  Twitch turns, horror etched on his face.

Then you see it.  A sentinel is rising up from the rubble, its red eyes glowing and focused on Twitch.

"Noooo!" screams Twitch, but it is too late.  The sentinel leaps on him, and he collapses dead to the ground.

Screed, Dracos and Shadow are squeezing through the narrow opening.  The sentinel turns toward the opening, its red eyes fixing on Screed, who is almost through.

Screed can see a sign on the other side of the sentinel.  It reads:  "Umbilicals."

Codec and Jinx are running down the corridors in another section of the ship.

28 seconds

Shadow yells to Screed

"Decision time boss. Forward or back ?"

What a horrible spot for a gunfight with a squiddie.

Shadow stops and waits on which direction the others will go.

"Forewards, we either all attack while it gets Twitch, or we get to the ship," Dracos tosses in his two cents.

"God DAMN SQUIDS!"

"No time for talk!"  Jade pushes through, even though that means pushing her friends through toward the squid.  "Guns ready!" she yells.

Dracos nods and aims at the squid as well after he's out, he wasn't that good with guns in this world but it was better than nothing...

Great!  "Kill it!" Screed drops to the ground allowing whomever was next to fire over him, aims, and fires at the sentinel twice.

OOC: Sorry, was gone unexpectedly, am back now.

Jade  pushes everyone out.  Screed falls to the floor as Dracos and Shadow stumble over him.

Jade reaches around to fire the EMP rifle while the Sentinel is finishing off Twitch.  Dracos, Shadow and Screed follow in kind.

Jade fires and hits but does not finish it off.

The Sentinel turns to you.  Tentacles shoot out at Jade.  One hits her.  (5 ht dmg).

Screed makes a dead on shot and takes the Sentinel out.  It crumples to the floor.

"Come on!"  It is X's voice.  "Almost out of time!"

20 seconds

Dracos starts to sprint towards the ship, dropping his rifle to allow for more speed.

Shadow follows the others towards the ship

"What about Codec and Jinx? Did they make it yet?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Mon 05 June 2006.

Screed stumbles up fairly adeptly, helping others as he can.  He checks on Jade to make sure she can still make it and helps her along if she is having trouble.

You begin running down the path.  Jade is up to it.  Unfortunately, the delay took longer than Twitch could have guessed.

Codec and Jinx run up the umbilicals, climbing into the Hyperion.  "Where are the others?" he asks.

X is waiting there.  "On their way, I guess," he answers.
10 seconds.
You see the end of the umbilical and begin running harder.
9 seconds
"No time!" X yells.

You run harder, but it seems so far away.
8 seconds
Above, you can see hundreds of Sentinels descending on the ship like killer bees.  Their buzz is deafening.  You continue to run.
7 seconds
"Hit the switch!" X screams to Silicon as he sees the swarm nearly to you.

You are running through the umbilical, which is a long round platform connecting the semi-permanent Nautilus to your ship, the Hyperion.  It is a soft, semi-permeable tunnel, like you are running through a clear plastic bubble or hose.
6 seconds
You can see Silicon's face and X's face.  Silicon jumps back to go hit the EMP button.

You are not going to make it.  The tunnel is 100 feet long.  Yet you run harder.
5 seconds
The Sentinels are fully in view.  You can see their many eyes and tentacles as they propel themselves forward.

You are nearly halfway across.
4 seconds
You keep running.  Several Sentinels land on the Hyperion.  You hear many clunk against the Nautilus behind you.

Others are aiming toward the umbilical.
3 seconds
40 feet to go and 3 seconds, but you still have to climb up the ladder and close the hatch once everyone is inside.

Screed is in front, followed by Dracos, then Shadow, with Jade pulling up the rear.
2 seconds
20 feet to go.

A Sentinel slams into the back part or the umbilical, breaking through it.  The whole thing shakes, knocking you off balance.

Screed falls to the ground (2 dmg)...Dracos manages to keep steady...Shadow manages to keep steady...Jade falls to the ground (1 dmg).

Screed and Jade feel the slam of the metal walkway.
1 second
You hear the EMP charging up.

10 feet to go.  The fall and impact has slowed you down.  Jade has 20 feet to go while Screed has 10.

Screed and Dracos jump into the ship.  Another Sentinel slams into the umbilical just behind Jade.  Shadow is knocked to the ground. (2 dmg)  Jade is again knocked to the ground. (1 dmg)  The Sentinel turns on Jade...
0 seconds
The EMP flashes above you, and its impulse reverberates.  The whole ship goes off.  The Sentinel above Jade drops to the ground.

But this has left open the Nautilus to its fires without containment.

"Hurry!" X says.  "It's going to blow!"

He reaches out to help Screed and Dracos climb up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:23, Wed 07 June 2006.

OOC:  Cool...  I need an explanation, though.  What is the danger?  The ship is shut down when the EMP goes off, correct?  What are the fires?  Thanks...  :)

The Nautilus was seriously damaged in the first wave, and some of its fires were contained through EM and shielding.  There is a third wave on the way.  The Nautilus is now open to its fires and will soon explode.

You are in danger from both the third wave (and the Hyperion has to be up and running before then) and from the imminent explosion of the Nautilus.  As you can see, had you not made it to the umbilical in time, then you would have also faced difficulty in getting from the Nautilus to the Hyperion.

Thanks.

Screed pauses not a bit in his climb.  He attempts to clamber as quickly as he can up and out of the way so the others reaching down can hurry Jade in.  "Let's go, let's go, let's go."  His eyes are wide with worry tinged with fear.

Shadow pulls out his rifle and covers those still in the umbilical.

"Hurry up, we HAVE to go NOW!"

He waits for Jade, before slamming the door shut behind her and heading to the nearest terminal to help start getting the ship up and running.