In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 786):

As Hadrian continues she decides to remain in tenor with him.

I am known as Nightmare, I'll be acting as the CSO on site...

She prattles on for a moment of fancy words the mean nothing.



She ends her monologue of her and Hadrian's accomplishments.

Please stand and state your name.

Whether or not the figure responds a cone of light lances out from Rebecca's EVA suit bathing the figure.

[Baxter's eye]

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 787):

The amalgam of armor and EVA suit slowly stands, scraping heavy gauntlets across the cell wall.

It pivots awkwardly to look from Hadrian to Nightmare, the helmet apparently having relatively little play.

A reinforced speaker on the chest of the suit crackles, then gives over to a tinny monotone.

They all dead then?  Forgotten about me?  Par for the course.

The suit twists, facing Nightmare.  Slowly, the right gauntlet closes into a fist, then relaxes.

Basil, my name is Basil.

The suit twists to face Hadrian again.

But I guess 'those responsible' erased that too?  What's left, just a number?  If you're here to torture me, I'll save you the bother.  I haven't left this cell in... well... and before that it was a different cell... and before that a different cell.  Whatever your questions, you know more than I do.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Wed 29 Aug 2018.

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 788):

Team Titan

As before (though I forget to note it), Rebecca is unable to get within close enough range to utilize Baxter's Eye while the viewscreen is in the way.

Team Diplomacy

"Warspheres merge with the Roshak who consumes it. To remove it is akin to ripping out the heart of human, so it is either done posthumously or is itself a mortal wound," the Lith replies. "Though we do not know how it reacts when a human consumes it, we hypothesize the process is much the same."

"YOU MAY BE PRESENT WHEN WE RECLAIM THE WARSPHERE," the Roshak concedes. "WHERE IS THE SECOND ONE NOW?"

"Yes, he made it clear that death was the only option last time," Billy waves dismissively at the Roshak in response to the Lith's explanation, "But it is most likely present in the biology.  It was...maleable when we saw it, absorbed by the body unusually quickly.  I just want to be sure it's not the case that the warsphere congeals upon death, it can be reclaimed at any time." He looks between the two aliens for any acknowledgement of this fact before moving on, "Before the warsphere is reclaimed by anyone, I think it is pertinent to discuss the issue of the Amgine.  For multiple reasons.  You said before we left that if they were definitively manipulating the forces on Titan to instigate the attack on the Roshak there would be consequences, right?  Well Apex met us on an Amgine ship, supported by Amgine enforcers and at her defeat a subordinate used the Amgine mindstone aboard to, apparently, communicate directly with Viceroy regarding the Amgine agenda.  She even contacted the Roshak fleet declaring herself empowered by Roy, or something.  You can confirm that yourselves.  Is that information actionable enough for alien politics?"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 791):

Basil... I like that name.

She quirks a smile.



The smile fades as she starts to put her EVA helmet on.

I have no plans to torture you.  I don't know why others did, unless it was in the poorly executed interests of scientific exploration...  We believe you to be an auger, and you have marked yourself as a hazard in many ways.  We do not have access to previous scientific results.  Are you an auger and do you have control over your abilities?

She turns to Hadrian hitting the mute button.

I can put my EVA suit on, go in there and scan him, it will give us a significant amount of information and we can send a hazmat team to scrub out the airlock. 
This message was last edited by the player at 11:11, Wed 29 Aug 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 792):

The suit's speaker makes a rattling noise that might be a sigh.

If the others were trying to explore science, they had a poor way of going about it.  I've been poked and prodded so much that I don't even remember it all.

The suit makes a move to shift, but halts.

I didn't mark myself, they did, for their safety.  I'm dangerous.  THEY made me this way.  I was supposed to die I suppose.  I'm no auger, I'm just the most toxic person alive, I... never wanted any of this... and if it were under my control, I'd have been gone long ago.

The suit shrugs slowly.

I'm tired of this dance, tired of tests, tired of answering questions and... so very tired of being trapped alone.  If you aren't here to let me our or kill me, I have nothing further to say.

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 793):

Team Diplomacy

"Potentially," the Lith rumbles, his tone grave. "The Amgine know the conventions better than any other member of the Consortium, and are irritatingly adept at skirting the repercussions of their actions based on technicalities -- often in laws they themselves proposed or amended."

He looks over at Billy for a moment.

"Regardless, this information is enough to lodge a formal complaint, and to begin an investigation into the matter. It is the beginning of what will certainly be a very lengthy process."

The Lith frowns thoughtfully.

"Was any Amgine asset present on Titan or in its airspace while not aboard an Amgine vessel?"

WE WILL LEARN THE EFFECTS A WARSPHERE HAS ON HUMAN BIOLOGY TOGETHER. the Roshak says. YOU DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION: WHERE IS THE SECOND WARSPHERE NOW?

***

Team Titan

Hadrian quirks an eyebrow, alarmed.

"No, absolutely not. You can't go in there. You heard him -- he's toxic, and you can barely stand."

He extends his hand toward her.

"Give me the scanner. I'll do it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:25, Wed 29 Aug 2018.

Billy glances at Vasquez and the rest of the people present who were at the earlier debriefing before addressing the Lith's question, "There was something we don't fully have an explanation of.  When we went to Titan the first time, we encountered some Lith soldiers boarding an Amgine ship in orbit, they weren't as fluent in our language as yourself, but they seemed to be under the understanding that an Amgine mindstone is either functional, or destroyed with no real in-between. It can't be damaged without ruining it and potentially any Amgine using it.  Is that the case as far as your people are aware?"

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 793):

Nightmare's heart visibly breaks as Basil talks.  She looks at Hadrian and he notices her skin and hair become more pale; her voice is earnest, raw, and echoes with a psychic resonance that Hadrian associates with her at her most determined.

As Hadrian speaks she hits the opacity and mute buttons on the control panel and flips back the visor on her helmet.  She gives him a quick awkward kiss on the lips.

Sorry, but it's built into my EVA suit, I can't.  I'll be fine... and, naturally drawn to danger... right?  Go get ready to back me up.

She flips the visor back down and engages the EVA suit's full survival systems as if prepping for space while Hadrian gets ready.  If he says anything crosswise to her she shoots him a look where her eyes go almost pink in a very dangerous way.



She asks of Basil as the girl he's been talking to suddenly emerges from the blank wall stomping in her EVA suit.  The gears and stabilizers humming obviously holding the bulk of her weight.  She holds her posture fully erect as if injured and you can see several burn marks on her chest.

There.  Now you aren't alone... and I'm not scared of you.

Look at me.  I was like you once... just like you.  I honestly believed that I WAS dead, that I had no hope of moving on.  I HURT people... badly.  I'm not going to torment you like the others, because I KNOW what its like to be a test subject myself.

I'm going to get better results because simply put.  I. AM. BETTER. THAN. THEM.

If anyone can help you, its me.  Are you willing to let me try?

She calmly walks into range and a cone of light shines out again washing Basil with a dazzling light show.  She continues to move closer to Basil extending her hand out to  be taken by his.  (assuming he is chained in a way that would allow this, if not she holds her hand out to his helmet.)  She doesn't touch him, if he wants to he will have to move the last few inches.

[Truthseeker Scan]



She says both over her speakers and psychically...

You are not alone anymore.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Wed 29 Aug 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 796):

The suit is far too cumbersome to register any subtle reactions the occupant may have made to a random girl entering the cell.

When Nightmare extends her hand, the suit does not react other than to watch her with cold reflected glass eyes.

If I believe you, what does that mean?  What does your help look like?  As I said, I've already been helped by legions of scientists and sadists...

The heavy arms of the suit raise up slightly, gauntlets coming to rest on armored hips.

I don't know who you are, what you want, or where I even am.

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 797):

Though I'll say, the tinny voice adds, you're the first to actually come in.

The figure extends one arm to tap at the entrance, just testing to see if it's still solid.

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 798):

Team Titan

Rebecca's scan spits out information consistent with what she's already been told. The colored areas on the heatmap show energy- and chemical-based threats from head to toe, with overlaid areas of extra energy-based danger centered around his hands.

***

Team Diplomacy

The Lith nods at Billy's description of the mindstone.

"Yes. An Amgine mindstone is binary: functional or not. There may be an intermediary period during its construction, but we do not know for certain. The Amgine do not like to discuss the nuances of their mindstones, as they view them as both a source of great pride and a potential weakness."

"If you encountered Lith aboard the vessel, their general must have determined it to be a threat. I will inquire about this with my people and try to learn more."

"No, that was a while ago, we left them to do what they would as we agreed.  What we found was on Titan itself, underground. Apex didn't seem aware of it, so I assume it was part of the initial crash and aboard the Roshak ship before it went down," At this Billy turns to the Roshak who he has pointedly not answered, "One of the Roshak was still alive, but had a mindstone imbeded in it.  It was damaged, probably in the crash, but the Amgine was controlling the roshak somehow, or merged with it?  I'm not sure the details, but I would like very much to know why an active mindstone was aboard the Roshak ship in the first place."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Fri 31 Aug 2018.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 800):

She quirks a cocky smile at Basil.

Told you I was different... Look I can tell you my credentials, my name, my affiliations... would that mean anything to you?  Would that change anything?  The only way you find out who I am is by watching me work...this is what my help looks like.

You are definitely an auger.

The chemical classifications appear to be correct... the biohazard classifications are a misnomer your powers appear to be chemically based (/OOC: Not seeing any biohazard threats correct?).  Additionally you appear to have some kind of energy threat present primarily in your hands... likely in the form of radioactivity (/ooc: would the eye distinguish radioactive from other energy?).  You likely have an involuntary utilization of your powers leading to your toxicity.  You can't turn it off....

She taps a finger to her lips... or their equivalent on her face shield.  It seems like multiple ideas strike her at once...

I have seen the opposite where someone intermittently used their powers without knowing it.  Unfortunately it required a combat situation to be able to bring conscious control to her talents.

I was also much like you where I would phase in and out of the tangible world involuntarily and I still at time lose control of my newer abilities.

I think we can fix you...

She nods appraisingly



She locks eyes on Basil's helmet.

so... are you willing to let me work with you?

She smiles a hungry smile at him, he is definitely reminded of scientists before, but there is a joy in her smile that is a bit different.

Team Diplomacy

"Humans are a novel species," the Lith murmurs. "They are able to use Warspheres. They are able to use Mindstones. They are willing to perform the dance of war to defend themselves. The Consortium should know of this. It is plain to see why the Amgine would want to keep this sector under their exclusive control, and the answer is not benevolence."

The Lith cocks his head to one side as Billy speaks, then looks over at the Roshak.

"If this is true, I would be interested to learn the answer as well."

The Roshak vents steam from his shoulder ports.

DIRECT CONTACT WITH A MINDSTONE CONNECTS THE MINDS ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION.

"No, but you're hedging," the Lith presses. "The object reacts differently to different species. It causes my people great and unrelenting agony to be near one. I had thought it affected the Roshak in a similar way?"

IT DOESN'T CAUSE PAIN. BUT BEING NEAR A MINDSTONE CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO HEAR YOUR WARCALLER. BEING IN CONTACT WITH ONE CONFUSES YOUR ORDERS. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CAPTURE A WORKING MINDSTONE TO STUDY THIS. TO BECOME IMMUNE TO IT, OR LEARN TO TURN IT UPON THE AMGINE.

The Roshak vents additional steam.

WE KNEW YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE OR WILLING TO ASSIST WITH THIS, GIVEN HOW THE MINDSTONE AFFECTS YOUR PEOPLE. AND SO WE DID NOT THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION IT AT ALL.

"You are incorrect. We will discuss this in greater detail at our next bilateral summit."

The rocky humanoid puts a finger to his forehead in thought.

"So you managed to capture one, and then what? The ship crashed, the stone became lodged within one of your people, and the Amgine on the other side of the Mindstone became that individual Roshak's Warcaller?"

BEST ESTIMATE. WOULD NEED TO STUDY THE HYBRID TO KNOW FOR SURE. IS IT STILL ON TITAN? AND WHERE IS THE SECOND WARSPHERE?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:46, Fri 31 Aug 2018.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 802):

The suit stares back impassively, largely motionless.

Do I have a choice? the voicebox finally asks.

I can't leave, and they haven't let me die.  I've given up hope of any sort of repair for what they did.  You'll do whatever you're going to do, and that will tell me who you are.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:12, Fri 31 Aug 2018.

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 803):

You do...

If you are unwilling I would not force treatment or tests upon you... I would move on to other duties, and your care would pass along the chain much as it has in past.  Those individuals may be different may be more of the same.

If you are willing and actively work with me we could at least make an attempt to control your powers.  There are several methods capable of this and I would refine your diagnosis; and attempt to ascertain how to best protect others from your toxicity...

She trails off



She cocks her head to the side.



Her eyes are watery as she blinks away tears.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 804):

The helmet sways slowly from side to side as the voicebox makes the crackling sigh once again.

I don't have to trust you, as I said I have no choice.  You'll find I cooperate when nobody's threatening me.

If you help me, I would be eternally grateful.  If you let me go, I would be equally grateful, but... I AM a danger to others, and I don't want to see anyone else hurt.  Not aagain.

The suit takes several careful steps back until plated shoulders brush the cell wall.  Slowly and laboriously it sinks down into a sitting position.

I am tired of this dance: treatment, promises, torture, isolation, denial.  I don't want to die, but it would be better than this.

Billy looks at the Roshak for a long moment before swallowing deliberately, "I would like to believe that the only reason you had a mindstone aboard was to study it, because I would prefer if we could establish relations with alien species that involve neither war nor subjugation.  To that end I have a proposition."  He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, "The second warsphere was claimed by another human.  The one who served as Apex's advocate during our trial.  He was part of our team when trying to recover her warsphere, he doesn't share Apex's view or opinions but because we were not aware of the extent to which your technology interacts with human biology Apex was able to, as his warcaller, order him to betray us.  He is still on Titan, and still acting out whatever orders she, and possibly Viceroy gave him.  If you can provide us a warcaller of sufficient rank, all we need to do is countermand the orders he was given.  He can be stopped without bloodshed or violence.  Also, If you are willing, I would like to request his warsphere not be reclaimed violently." He looks at Vasquez, "I don't want to overstep, but I think an alliance with you, or a pact similar to the one between your races would benefit us as well.  If you're amenable, I think the one who claimed the warsphere could serve as an ambassador, of sorts.  Would you be willing to accept a human warcaller among your ranks?"

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 805):

I never asked for trust.  Just cooperation.  In my limited interpersonal experience trust is best to be developed and not something that can be asked for.

She says sitting down next to him.

OK... so some crappy record keeping is making you a mystery to me.  It sounds like you have lost track of time, do you have a best guess for how long you've been here?  Months?  Years?  Decades?  When were you born?  We can calculate your age from that? 

She turns to look at him, seious.



She collects as much biographical data as she can on Basil, birthplace, height, weight, age, job history, where he was when this happened.  She then gets very serious.

Was there a gradual development of your powers, or was it sudden?  Did an event trigger it? Are you able to tell me the story? 

She treads lightly having been in Basil's shoes before her usual laser focus is diffused and blunted by sympathy.  She speaks softly.  Sometimes long silences swell between them, she continues to sit with him and let it linger, just him not being along not being isolated.  Its a halting interview and she takes her time building up to the last question.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 807):

The suit remains still.

If you're telling me the truth about the current date, I've been in treatment or captivity for almost two years and I'm 38.

Records have been erased, they told me that much.

There was no event, they made me this way.  I was dying.  Cancer, multiple types, possibly from my work, I never found out.  They tried to fix me: not sure who funded it, but the aboveboard docs all had given up.

I didn't die of cancer, but these were the side-effects.  A few doctors and techs died before they figured it out, got me quarantined.  For a while they tried to cure me, or to at least reverse the other cure.  Then it got too expensive, too dangerous, no payoff.

I got shuffled around a lot, mostly in isolation, but they always kept me locked up.  I don't know how long I've been here or how many places I've been.

Basil pauses for some time.

Who are you?  If they didn't send you, who did?  You're an auger, is that why?

Team Diplomacy

The Roshak is silent for a long time -- enough that several venting cycles pass before it responds.

I MUST CONFER WITH A WARCALLER OF SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY, BUT I SUSPECT IF THE HUMAN LIVES HE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETAIN THE WARSPHERE UNLESS HE CAN DEFEND IT. THESE ARE THE SAME RULES THAT APPLY TO ANY WARCALLER. IN ADDITION, YOU WOULD LIKELY NEED TO ACCEPT A ROSHAK OF EQUAL RANK AT AN EQUAL PLACE WITHIN THE HUMAN COMMAND CHAIN. RECIPROCITY.

"And either way, any pacts and alliances would be strictly hypothetical until the Consortium approves your membership. But I would advocate strongly for it."

THE ROSHAK'S ADVOCACY DEPENDS UPON SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF THE MISSING WARSPHERES, AND THE LOCATION OF THE HYBRID. WE CANNOT ALLOW SUCH A CREATURE TO FIND SAFE HAVEN ON TITAN.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:45, Fri 31 Aug 2018.

"The hybrid is dead," Billy states flatly, "Your desire for reciprocity is fair, I'm sure something could be worked out.  If he can be granted leniency long enough to be instructed on how the warsphere is meant to be used, I'm confident he would be capable of defending it.  The only reason he claimed the wasphere is because he feared for his life, he sought to use its power to protect himself.  You said before that to claim a warsphere is to defend it until death.  That much, he is capable of."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 810):

Team Diplomacy

"ANYONE CAN POSSESS IT UNTIL DEATH" the Roshak replies. "THE TIME OF POSSESSION TENDS TO BE BRIEF AMONG THE UNWORTHY. WE WILL DISCUSS IT WITH HIM."

The conversation continues, covering the topics you'd discussed with Captain Vasquez previously, until everyone at the table is on the same (agreed upon) page.


"So. How do you propose to handle the ongoing situation on Titan?" the Lith rumbles. "There is a human warcaller, the body of this hybrid, and at least one Mindstone there."