RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to More Than Human

12:06, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Game: Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate.

Posted by The WatcherFor group 0
The Watcher
GM, 2651 posts
Knows, Sees, & Tells All
Above: 2 Truths, 1 Lie
Thu 7 Dec 2017
at 15:09
  • msg #1

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

Recap & Disposition

Team Titan

Kayla grips the viewscreen of her tablet tightly with one hand, the fingers of her other dancing across it as her eyes narrow in concentration. The screen flickers, and her persistence is rewarded by an explosion of colors and sound effects.

"Gotcha!" she laughs, shaking an errant strand of hair from her eyes with jubilation. "I told you spawn-camping would be the death of you."

Barachiel, seated nearby and glued to a tablet of his own, merely shakes his head.

"Death is just a shot at a new beginning," he says stiffly. "Perhaps I should be thanking you for the opportunity."

You've experienced 6 such opportunities thus far, to your opponent's 0. I recommend applying the lessons you've learned in reverse.

The words appear in the chat box unbidden, the work of Kayla's bracer-bound AI, Madisyn. The font is somewhat different than what she had been used to, but with Dynamis ostensibly still locked away with Persephone and its remaining crew on Venus along with Gestalt, Susan Darling, and Wendy Tyndall, she'd learned to live with it for the time being.

Rebecca and Fiernas are on hand, as well, though they are supposed to be preparing for their first official stint in the research lab the next morning. Fiernas's cyberpups lounge nearby, eager for a thorough petting from anyone willing to do so.

***

Team Kamikaze

Faust's old flagship, Goethe, is en route to Titan under the command of his second, Captain Vasquez. It contains two particularly important passengers: a Roshak and a Lith. Their estimated arrival is still about a month away, barring any unforeseen complications.

Billy and Xander , working in tandem with Viceroy and the SAGE commander Dr. Pryor, successfully constructed an experimental plasma drive and installed it onto a SAGE transport. They now stand aboard this new vessel, accompanied by two SAGE employees: Bradford, a mechanic, and Whitney, a technician. Together, this four-person crew is completing its final preparations for leaving Martian airspace behind.

Dr. Pryor's flagship, the Dichotomy, and Viceroy's Factory vessel are standing by. While Dr. Pryor will not be able to keep up with the transport if the engine works as planned, the Factory's engine parameters remain a closely held mystery.

An important-looking crystal rests in one of Billy's many pockets. It calls itself Muse, and has expressed strong opinions regarding the use of jump rings to anyone willing to listen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Fri 08 Dec 2017.
Kayla Wallin
NPC, 307 posts
Captain, Mechanic, Pilot
Reluctant Auger in Denial
Fri 8 Dec 2017
at 21:40
  • msg #2

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 1):

"Are you two ready for your big day tomorrow?" Kayla asks, flicking her eyes upward toward Fiernas and Rebecca. "Barachiel and I are still waiting to be given tasks of our own, so be sure to work twice as hard for us. In fact, you might want to sit down and blow off some steam first."

She motions to the remaining tablets, as though inviting others to join in the game.

The chat box blinks: Flux says: "What's the plan?"
Fiernas Holm
player, 427 posts
Why no puppies
in space?
Fri 8 Dec 2017
at 22:50
  • msg #3

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

Until the group gathers, Fiernas spends his time with the dogs.  Not playing or training, but something much more unusual.  He has taken a small metal package from his bag and unfurled it into a set of devices, looking like a cross between the inside of a computer and a tray of dentist's tools.  With a little coaxing, Leo pads over to where Fiernas sits and submits himself to being - very gently - poked and prodded with those tools while Fiernas studies the readouts on the machine carefully.

When Kayla calls them all for their covert tablet discussion, he gets right down to business.

<Nightmare, how'd you know that the video was a lie?>
Billy Laser Fist
player, 1977 posts
After market upgrades
fix all life's problems
Fri 8 Dec 2017
at 23:21
  • msg #4

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

Looks like you’re driving,” Billy swats Xander’s arm before plopping himself into a seat that isn’t behind the wheel.  He gives a nod at Whitney “If you’re already getting hot and bothered this might not be the mission for you.
Nightmare
player, 2126 posts
Easier to mourn than to
fix the mess left behind
Sun 10 Dec 2017
at 19:31
  • msg #5

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 4):

<I don't know.  I can't tell if its fake or not but it didn't feel right.  For lack of a better term.  I'm suspicious.  What parts do you think are fake?  Were the parts with me real?  I could barely recognize myself.

Also Dale and Scarlet appear to be augers.  Apex is more akin to Viceroy than she is an auger.  I think she was lying saying that the eyes are an affectation.  I think its like my albinism.  I wonder how she acquired her powers.

Fiernas what did you see?>


She physically winces as Barachial frags her at her spawn location.

One more time!  And I will dedicate myself to making sure you don't win!

Oh, and I asked Apex about her eye modifications, how she made them look that electric blue.  She is going to put me in touch with her person.  I... uhhh.... I think its time for a change...


She then types

<if this person exists.  I'm calling her bluff.>
Fiernas Holm
player, 429 posts
Why no puppies
in space?
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 07:26
  • msg #6

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

<Forget what you saw in the video.  I smelled the real version of what happened.  Apex stinks of it.  Lots of important parts of that video are total lies.  You didn't swallow any Roshak.  Apex snuck onto the ship and fused Roshak power cells with her own body.  She's full auger.  Psychokinesis of some kind.  She used the dead Roshak as cadaver puppets to wipe out the rest of the board and then make it look like she stopped them after the fact.  The Roshak didn't draw first blood.  They came here in peace and she butchered them out of greed and spite.  This war is just them defending themselves and seeking justice for human aggression.>

<New rule for everyone: If Apex thinks something is dangerous, that's what we do.  If she thinks it's a bad idea, that's what we do.  If we can stall her research, we do it.  If we can hamstring this base, we do it.  And we absolutely have to find some way to talk to the Roshak.>

<Oh, and your boyfriend has a secret lab with some neat Roshak stuff in it.  He's a pretty bad kid.  I can access it, as long as there aren't any cameras watching.  We'll need to find out what the extent of their security pattern is like.>

Kayla Wallin
NPC, 308 posts
Captain, Mechanic, Pilot
Reluctant Auger in Denial
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 15:22
  • msg #7

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 6):

Kayla continues to play the game, though she misses a few easy shots while she's typing.

>> Flux says: "That's...terrible! I knew there was something off about that woman."

She lobs a frag grenade and hops over a barrier.

>> Flux says: "Don't take this the wrong way, but are your visions always accurate? There's no chance you're wrong about this? DAMMIT, did you SHOOT ME?!"

Kayla glares at Barachiel, who smiles and shrugs.

"You're gonna pay for that," she says aloud.

>> Flux says: "If Hadrian has information or equipment we could use, maybe we can get him to help us. Especially if date night goes well..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Mon 11 Dec 2017.
The Watcher
GM, 2660 posts
Knows, Sees, & Tells All
Above: 2 Truths, 1 Lie
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 15:28
  • msg #8

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 7):

Team Kamikaze

"Excuse me?" Whitney says, her eyes widening and her nostrils flaring a bit at Billy. "Excuse me?! Not the mission for me?!"

She puts one hand on her hip and wags the other's index finger at Billy to emphasize her points while she talks.

"I have been working on this project for my ENTIRE career. I am GOING to see whether or not it works in PERSON, even if it means driving us through a STAR. Is that clear?"

Her outburst concluded, she turns on her heel and heads over to the engine room.

"She, uh. Yeah. That's Whitney," Bradford says, watching the woman leave without making the slightest movement at following her. "She's better at working with tech than with people. She'll be fine. Don't, uh. Don't take it personally."

He glances over at Xander.

"So. Um. We gonna take off, chief, or what?"
Nightmare
player, 2127 posts
Easier to mourn than to
fix the mess left behind
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 16:35
  • msg #9

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 8):

>> Ghost says: HE"S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!!111

>>Ghost says: Is he genuinely bad or just misguided?  Kids come out of the accelerated program all kinds of screwed up.  Its designed to do that... something I've learned recently.  I'm hoping to get into the lab tonight. 


Rebecca picks up a grenade and attempts to throw at back over the barrier only to have her timing interrupted by Madisyn, the grenade blows up in her hand, killing her.

I hope thats not indicative of whats going to happen tonight...

>>Ghost says: I wonder what the larger implications are of the Roshak coming in peace vs. what we have heard and seem from the Amgine.  I'm getting more concerned about our pact with Roy...

>>Ghost says: Flux is right, we don't have a large enough sample size to determine the %veracity of your senses without further information.  Do you know how accurate your sense are.  Anecdotally? 

Fiernas Holm
player, 431 posts
Why no puppies
in space?
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 17:52
  • msg #10

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

<You ever walked into a house and smelled them cooking spaghetti, but it turns out they were actually making lasagna?  It's accurate down to that level.  I trust my sense the way that you trust your eyes.  Doesn't mean it can't be fooled, but it would take really special skills and even then it would be a major mindfuck.  I've got 30 years of sample size on this, day in and day out.>

Fiernas's character happily snipes Kayla from across the map, then displaces to a new location.

<If somebody chops at me with an axe, I don't care if he's evil or misguided, I just fight back.  The shit this kid is doing ain't good.  You wanna try to rehab him?  Fine.  But we're talking brainwash psycho slavery stuff here... Don't get stars in your eyes.>


<I get the sense that the Roshak don't take shit from anyone, but they're happy to coexist with worthy civs.  Worthy meaning strong, reliable, real chest bumpy stuff.  But you bare teeth at em, theyre coming for you.>

He snipes Kayla again moments after her respawn.

"Get it together, girlfriend," he taunts her out loud.
The Watcher
GM, 2661 posts
Knows, Sees, & Tells All
Above: 2 Truths, 1 Lie
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 18:15
  • msg #11

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 10):

Team Kamikaze

Xander plops down into the pilot's seat and activates the warm-up sequence. Sophia's voice echoes around the ship.

Integration complete. Shall we?

Xander nods, adjusts the controls, and the transport rumbles to life.

The ship has no trouble breaking free of Martian airspace, and Xander can immediately tell the difference in throttle between the current engine and those he's controlled in the past. Unlike the last time the team used a plasma drive, which involved the press of a button and unimaginable acceleration, this time there's no on/off switch. The drive is fully integrated.

The overall effect is a ship that moves much more quickly, but it responds somewhat slower to the steering. This, Xander quickly learns, will takes some getting used to.

OOC: This ship is difficult to pilot. Pilots suffer -2CS to their piloting rolls until they've spent a cumulative 40 hours behind the controls.

I've finished checking the systems. Everything looks good.

Dr. Pryor and Viceroy both call to wish you good luck, with the latter saying he'll meet you there and the former reminding you once more to send over any data regularly.

With that accomplished, all that's left to do is punch it.

Setting a course to Titan? Sophia asks aloud. Or did you want to go somewhere else first? As of this moment, we're the fastest ship in the sector. There are possibilities before us...

[Crossroads - Billy, Xander]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:16, Mon 11 Dec 2017.
Billy Laser Fist
player, 1981 posts
After market upgrades
fix all life's problems
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 21:00
  • msg #12

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

Please don’t drive us through a sun!” Billy shouts playfully after Whitney before waving off Bradford’s explanation, “Then she’ll get along great with the pilot, he talks to technology all the time,” he grins, looking at Xander sidelong.

When Viceroy and Pryor say their goodbyes Billy perks up, “Yeah, okay, bye mom and dad,” he says, waving at the display dismissively.  Then he leans forward and sends a message to the Dichotomy, Pryor, if you’re interested in being part of that business I proposed during the peace summit lunch I was hoping you could do me a favor.  My ship, the Persephone, should show up near Venusian space or past Ceres on the way to the center, if you could get SAGE to keep an ear out and let me know if you find my ship I’d appreciate it.
Nightmare
player, 2128 posts
Easier to mourn than to
fix the mess left behind
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 21:17
  • msg #13

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 11):

Fiernas’ screen goes red and shows ghost with a knife standing over him.

Watch your back

She says primly. She has suddenly changed tactics favoring stealth and up close knife work it proves effective as she brutally latches onto the other two players in rapid succession

>>ghost says: can you elaborate on Hadrian?  Did he do something or is it a sense you get.  What do you mean slavery stuff?  I’ll need your help identifying cameras. Let’s get a map of the facility and superimpose a map of the cameras on it.

Muse
player, 990 posts
Ooh, shiny.
Mon 11 Dec 2017
at 22:23
  • msg #14

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 13):

...
Fiernas Holm
player, 433 posts
Why no puppies
in space?
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 02:44
  • msg #15

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

<spotting cameras can be tricky, depending on the tech.  But I should be able to find some.  Let's assume that every square inch of this place is covered.>

<Hadrian has a Roshak artifact.  Secret.  He can use it to hijack your mind, your motor functions.  Control you like a puppet.  And he uses it. That bad enough for you?>

This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Tue 12 Dec 2017.
Billy Laser Fist
player, 1982 posts
After market upgrades
fix all life's problems
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 03:40
  • msg #16

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

Billy sits back in his seat, then makes an uncomfortable face and digs into one pocket, “This thing’s digging into my butt, you hold it,” he declares before lobbing a fist-sized purple stone at Xander.
Nightmare
player, 2129 posts
Easier to mourn than to
fix the mess left behind
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 05:19
  • msg #17

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 16):

An avatar breaks from stealth and shortly afterword is shot in the head by Madisyn.

Nightmare takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, pulsing out of phase as she does so.

>> Ghost has disconnected.

She sets down the data pad and looks at her hands in her lap.

I'm done playing for now.  I have to get ready.  She sniffs and heads towards the bathroom

quote:
If we operate under the assumption that every square inch is surveilled, then you will never have your opportunity away from cameras. 

The Watcher
GM, 2662 posts
Knows, Sees, & Tells All
Above: 2 Truths, 1 Lie
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 13:10
  • msg #18

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 17):

Team Kamikaze


Xander has no trouble catching the gem, perhaps more by reflex than anything else.

(Still awaiting input on destination from Xander. And Billy, for that matter :P)
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:11, Tue 12 Dec 2017.
Muse
player, 991 posts
Ooh, shiny.
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 14:47
  • msg #19

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 18):

The purple stone hisses what sounds like a soft sigh of relief as it flies through the air.

The helm becomes much more intuitive to Xander.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Wed 13 Dec 2017.
Xander
player, 898 posts
On the Shoulder of Giants
Wanted
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 21:28
  • msg #20

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

Xander cracks a smile. Yeah, but I still haven't figured out if it makes me more or less crazy when the technology actually talks back.

He nods to Whitney.

If you have a mind for mechanics, we're going to get along just fine. Strap in everybody.

Xander activates the drive slowly, providing consistent pressure as the engine spins up.
Fiernas Holm
player, 434 posts
Why no puppies
in space?
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 22:14
  • msg #21

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In game, Fiernas quickly loots Ghost's corpse, then moves on.

<She met the kid for 20 minutes.  She'll get a grip.>

<The more we can learn about their security coverage, the better.>
The Watcher
GM, 2665 posts
Knows, Sees, & Tells All
Above: 2 Truths, 1 Lie
Wed 13 Dec 2017
at 16:36
  • msg #22

Chapter 10 - A Titanic Mandate

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 21):

Team Kamikaze

Xander points the still-unnamed vessel in the general direction of what he hopes is Titan (Sophia helps a bit with this), and the group blasts off toward the unknown...

The plasma drive works like a charm, hurtling through space at a rapid clip.

OOC: You have just shy of 2 weeks to spend in the shuttle. Anything you want to accomplish en route? This would qualify as "down time" for karma purposes.
Sign In