In reply to Muse (msg # 945):

The Omega commander frowns, lost in thought.

"We will accompany you and see how amenable Dr. Olsen is to answering what appear to be legitimate questions. My men represent a significant portion of the security personnel at this station. Our absence would be noted and difficult to write off. And she knows it."

His visor reactivates, shielding his face.

"We don't have enough time to custom-fit the spare suits to your sizes. Instead, let's have Deuce, Trips, and Quad mod your EVA suits to resemble ours. It's much faster."

True to his word, the Omegas quickly run your IDA-issued suits through the process they used to make their EVA suits match in the first place. The suits are quickly blast-painted and adorned with fresh call signs.

"Welcome to Omega Squadron, units 5 (Billy), 6 (Xander), 7 (Rebecca), and...Deuce, you think you're funny, painting 8's (Battalion's) symbol on its side like that (∞)?"

"Yessir, I do."

The commander pauses.

"Well, you're right. Suit up -- you too, Muse. If we're gonna do this, we're gonna do this right. With any luck, we can avoid fighting. On BOTH sides, so don't go throwing punches down there. Now, let's have a look at that map."

Map: https://docs.google.com/drawin...3pQo3dDiDzr57MPkeHNM
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:10, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

Xander sits up and blinks. First one eye, then the next. He reaches a hand to touch his face, hesitantly, and it comes away wet with...a teardrop? When he speaks, it is in Xander's voice pitch and timbre, but with an entirely different speech pattern.

I think I was able to shield Xander from the worst of the neural feedback, he (she?) says in a refined and urbane British accent. With luck, he will have avoided any permanent damage to his cognitive function. His neural pathways seem intact, if overloaded. Our Doctor Olsen is a rather clever girl indeed. And Xander is quite lucky I was with him, or he would certainly have been killed outright.

Though the voice is clinical and detached, you catch the faintest hint of...regret? Wistfulness?

Sophia stands slowly, wobbling with the awkwardness of either a drunk or somebody unused to their own body. Let's see about those data files now, shall we?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

"Wait...Sophia?" Billy hazards after Xander wakes up after his digital incident, "What the hell, I thought he just liked being a girl online," he boggles at what goes on in Xander's head.

"I think 7 might be easier to explain in plainclothes," Billy points at the shortest Omega, "Plus Muse said Olsen wanted the kid in her lab, I figured she might be more amenable to us bringing the girl than to an armed force coming to question her."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 948):

"Billy's got a point, Commander. Confronting her outright could cause problems. What if you and your men were elsewhere, looking for Billy? Or... is there a way to lure her out?"

In reply to Muse (msg # 949):

JJ pushes back from the table, hand on his sidearm.

A soldier duplicate appears in front of him, weapon ready.

The fuck Xander... you in here?

In reply to Batallion (msg # 950):

The Omega commander shakes his head.

"Given all that's happened today, a concerned security detachment shouldn't be unreasonable. Besides...I want to be there just in case you decide to be unfriendly down there."

He points at Nightmare.

"If she wants to go in plainclothes, that's fine by me. But we have no idea whether there's vacuum between here and there. The only person who definitely went that way, we suspect, is Dr. Olsen, and she was in a full EVA kit."

He blinks at Battalion.

"Wait...did something happen here that was strange even by your standards? And get that GUN out of here!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

Sophia wobbles to the table, picking up the datapad. He's in here, yes, she replies absently, but he can't hear you presently. His mind needs time to recover from the trauma he foolishly exposed it to. I kept telling him it was unwise to interface directly with unknown computer systems, but what do I know? I'm just an AI. She heaves a sigh. He should be awake soon enough. In the meantime, we cannot afford to wait around for him to take a nap.

Particularly if Braeburn is coming, she adds ominously.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

"What?  Why is Braeburn coming?" Billy looks incredulously at Xander, "Can we not have one megacorporation falling on our heads ar a time?"

Sophia turns to regard Billy quizzically, nearly falling over in the process. It is entirely possible that the information that Braeburn was linked to the sabotage here was falsely planted to mislead us. However, a simple risk table analysis indicates that, even if the probability of Braeburn's involvement was as low as 7%, the detriment we would suffer as a result requires us to take action to enact precautions.

She studies Billy's face. Put simply and in terms you all seem to prefer, if Braeburn is involved, then we are all quite fucked.

So even if they probably aren't, the chance that they might be means we should be very, very careful.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

In reply to Sophia (msg # 954):

... right that's... just typical...

JJ keeps his place beside the exit.

He curls his lip at Omega, then replaces the armed duplicate with a pair of duplicates in suits, which he promptly uses as cover.

There... happy fancy pants?

"What kind of risk analysis involves taking a jackass as a reliable source?  He was paid by some people who said they worked for Braeburn with no credentials.  What kind of shitty espionage involves telling your fall guy who's paying him?  Braeburn is being name dropped to cover up an internal clusterfuck because SAGE upper management is going to act exactly like you are at the slightest suspicion that the competition could sink their colony out from under their nose.  It makes absolutely no sense for them to be coming here!"

In reply to Sophia (msg # 954):

"What would Braeburn want with Ceres?" Muse asks as he starts to realize that the situation may be beyond his ability to manage.

He looks over at Battalion.

"Your self-preservation instinct is even stronger than mine. Relax. Calm is contagious."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

[OOC Braeburn is another mega corporation. I think Aaron put a description of them in the background stuff somewhere, but it's basically Apple, Google, Facebook, and General Electric all rolled into one, with some Lockheed Martin thrown in for good measure. Muse would almost certainly at least be familiar with it, unless there's a story reason why he wouldn't.]

It's not 'shitty espionage' if the power of your brutal reputation alone ensures your informant doesn't cross you, Sophia replies ominously. At any rate, I'll admit that your scenario is far more likely. But I am unwilling to write off the possibility of Braeburn's involvement, simply because of how catastrophic it would be if it were true. I don't like gambling, Mr. Leseur-Fisch. I like my contingencies to have contingencies. And this is too much of an unknown to disregard.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

Sophia picks up the datapad and walks over to a computer terminal on the far wall. As she walks, she becomes noticeably more coordinated as she seemingly adapts to running Xander's body. She plugs the datapad into the computer.

This time for an additional layer of security. Slower, yes, but ultimately safer. I'm quite reticent to risk Xander further at this point. At this point, one might almost pick up a not of certain fondness in her voice. Or one might be imagining it entirely.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Mon 19 Dec 2016.

In reply to Sophia (msg # 959):

[OOC Updated, thank you.]

"Sophia, what would satisfy your conditions for a contingency? What if Omega held the fort while we went in to get Olsen?"

"Don't humor paranoia, it'll just make it worse," Billy moans at Muse, shaking his head and giving up on actually arguing with Sophia.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 961):

As soon as the Omega team starts to deal with everyone's EVA suit, Nightmare refuses, remembering her position as bait...  she holds up the doll

Do Percy!  He wants to be part of the team!

Her giggle is infectious as it cuts the tension in the room.

Though could I get a brush off and recharge? (/ooc fix any of the damage I have already sustained?)

Once Xander goes down she gasps first and loudest... considering it was directly in your brain.  After this all humor drains from her.

She watches like... well like a scientist as Sophia takes over.  Her face relaxes some but there is still a murderous gleam in her eyes.  Her voice remains in your head

Sophia wait.  Can you please play some excerpts from my interview with Olson for the boys while I try to establish a contingency about the tablet for you?  Specifically those involving anal leakage?

/ooc if Strigoi has no input then Sophia can go ahead if he does then we can do the Ouija board.

she aims a question at Strigoi

Do you know how to get into the tablet? Do you know about any of the defenses?  Do you know how to use it? Is there anything else we should know?

As the boys start arguing she rolls her eyes.

If Braeburn is coming or not, our plan is still the same.  Go question the doctor... and quickly.  So it doesn't matter.

Exactly right, Sophia nods in agreement with Nightmare. I'm simply stating that we don't have time to dally.

With the press of a few buttons, Sophia replays the recorded audio files for the gathered room.

Upon request, she can replay the bit about the anuses a few times for effect.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 962):

"He seems to work better with 'yes' and 'no,'" Billy indicates as Rebecca starts interrogating the chains.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 964):

The other Omegas have finished gearing up, and are now re-affixing their helmets.

"You keep trying to find reasons for me and my team to be absent from this mission," the commander alleges. "Don't think I haven't noticed. Why don't you want us there? What are you planning on doing that you don't want security to know about? And why should I let you do it? Wouldn't the smarter play involve calling in the other security units, as well?"

The chains rustle fitfully, conveying no knowledge in the process.


Muse and the Omega commander's comms buzz at the same time.

"Olsen here," the doctor's voice rings out. "What's the status on the shuttle and the girl? You've both been dark for while, and Laser Fist is still running around somewhere with Baxter hostage. Unless that's changed, too?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:11, Tue 20 Dec 2016.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 965):

"Frankly, sir, because I don't want to get you and your men killed. Billy and his team asked to be in harm's way and I'm volunteering myself to go along. If you think a larger contingent will lead to less violence, think again. The moment Olsen realizes that the base has turned on her is the moment she had better be in custody -- outside of Depthcharge. We need Omega to set up containment for her and be our lifeline to the outside."

In reply to Muse (msg # 966):

Self preservation is the only reason I'm alive... JJ notes to Muse in an air that implies he feels it's a very Zen thing to say.  And besides, who the fuck are YOU?

The suited "guards" remain.

And if you get the sense we don't want you hanging off our asses like cheap butt plugs...you're absolutely right, he adds to the Omega commander.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 967):

Nightmare grabs the first four peices of Muse's makeshift ouija board.

Not my style but they'll do.

She pulls Sophia to the side, and says

There is a being over there at those chains.  He is trying to communicate but cannot as Olson fused his mouth shut.  You have heard us discuss him.  Are you able to get any readings whatsoever off of that being that we can interpret? 

She goes back into a corner beckoning Strigoi over

Multiple choice time...

Is the thing we should know to do with:

A. Olson herself
B. The facility
C. The datapad
D. Something else

In reply to Batallion (msg # 967):

"You just keep running your mouth at everybody. My name's Muse and I'm the reason your ship's not full of holes. You're more than welcome to go wait in it 'til this all blows over if you're feeling yellow." says Muse to Battalion, his native Texan finally coming through.

He decides to respond to Olsen toner the group more time to work things out.

"Can't talk now, Doctor, we're close to the girl. I'll update when there's news, unless you want to come help us subdue her. Baxter was recovered in Charles's room as I said before. No sign of Laser Fist."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Tue 20 Dec 2016.

In reply to Muse (msg # 969):

The chains rustle again.


Olsen's voice replies to Muse: "Baxter trusted you, and that counts for a lot. I'll leave you to it, Muse. Let me know when you've got her. I'll see about having someone retrieve Baxter."

After the transmission ends, the Omega commander turns to look at Muse and motions to the dynamic map on the wall.

"Have it your way. But only because I'm positive she has something like this down there, and I don't want her to see our dots moving toward that hallway. Yours would go unnoticed, as you're aware of its significance already. And these people aren't going to show up at all."

"So get her and bring her to debriefing, which you want us to fortify while you're fetching her? That's the plan? Fine."

His voice grows more authoritative.

"But I swear to God, if you get down there and shoot the place up like freelance mercs with no fear of collateral damage, I'm coming down there to drag you out by your ears...and into the nearest prison block."