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23:52, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Destination: Unknown.

Posted by StarMasterFor group 0
Kheaiftouaw
player, 521 posts
Aslan outcast
Wed 20 Sep 2017
at 20:52
  • msg #149

Re: Destination: Unknown

Hearing the broadcast Khea hurries to the cabin as fast as the bulky vacc suit allows half expecting the scout to have a hand in this.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 345 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 21 Sep 2017
at 03:47
  • msg #150

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 149):

Having only just finished the basic self-instruction course for drone operation, Vonon's focus on putting together the commands for exploring the interior of the airlock is so intense he barely reacts to Sir Walter's urgent call for aid...although he does mumble something as he sets the drone programming,

"Gee ... hope the dear Count didn't finish off the last of the good champagne ... then shoot himself in a depressed snit ..."

The still-space armored Vargr suddenly stiffens in his seat and sheepishly looks over his shoulder at those still on the Bridge.

"Urrr ... I didn't, actually, just say that out loud ... did I?"
Samantha Kilgore
player, 380 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Sun 24 Sep 2017
at 14:39
  • msg #151

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam sat bolt upright at Walters message. She wasn't going to assume anything, but just to be sure she commed Pablo "Pablo, find and detain the Scout, until we know whats going on. And Pablo" she paused slightly "Do it gently, this may be a coincidence. We're just hedging for now"

She then commed Walter "Walter, update ASAP please"

She turned to those on the bridge and opened a comm channel so all but the scout could hear her "This may be unrelated to the Scout or the Pyramid, but I am going to assume it isn't until we know more. I suggest we recall the drones and back off until we know more. Anyone disagree?"
Aimee Lavaud
player, 13 posts
Sat 30 Sep 2017
at 14:28
  • msg #152

Re: Destination: Unknown

Aimee had been in the Rec Room with most of the others, continuing to run discrete medical scans on Serge. The results were all positive--he was in good health.

Then Walter's comm alerted her to a problem with the Count.

She hurriedly excused herself and rushed down the hall to the Captain's Quarters.

Once more, she ran her medical scanner over the Count. All his vital signs were normal albeit a bit reduced due to his unconscious state... pulse, respiration, heartbeat... no wounds... no signs of trauma, disease, or poison.

It wasn't until she ran an EEG that something showed.

"There's some sort of problem with his brain activity. Alpha waves are hyperactive... beta waves severely reduced... theta waves are flatlined! Omega waves are steady... but they shouldn't be. I can't find any cause for it, though. No sign of seizures, no aneurysm. I don't detect any poison in his system."

"I need to move him to Medical."

Pablo Esteban Ryzov
player, 240 posts
End 8, Str 6, Dex 9
Gun for hire
Sat 30 Sep 2017
at 14:34
  • msg #153

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Relax, Sam," Pablo answers Samantha's call.

"Serge is sitting here with me, Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones in the Rec Room. Been here the whole time. He hasn't left once, not even to visit the Little Captain's room. I think Aimee said he was slightly dehydrated."

"Whatever happened to the Count, Serge didn't do it."

StarMaster
GM, 825 posts
Sat 30 Sep 2017
at 14:40
  • msg #154

Re: Destination: Unknown

Status update:

Sharik, Samantha, and Vonon are still on the bridge.

Walter, Aimee, Khea and the Count are in the Captain's cabin.

Pablo, Kaengarr, Valeska and Jones are in the Rec Room with Serge.


With Walter and Khea's help, Aimee moves the Count to the medical bay.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 346 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 1 Oct 2017
at 03:37
  • msg #155

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 151):

"Yes. I disagree." Vonon replies to Sam, then scrunches up his muzzle, "A disagreal? Disagreement? Anyway, I don't want to bring those drones back aboard until we can be sure they aren't, somehow, contaminated by that ship. A lot of what we've seen in that so-called ship bay - solid walls suddenly turning into hatches, tools and ship connections just flowing out of solid walls and floors - all that could be explained by nanite material manipulation. And by now those drones could be crawling with nanodrones."

Vonon gives a heavy shrug in his armored suit, "Might be a moot point, since we let that scoutship dock with us - and it's probably crawling with nanos, as well. But still..."
Walter Zeller
player, 414 posts
Merchant/Noble
Sun 1 Oct 2017
at 03:59
  • msg #156

Re: Destination: Unknown

+++Samantha, a bit busy. Will update when I have more info. Out+++ Sir Walter said over the intercom.

Checking out the Count as best as he could, when Aimee arrived, Walter stepped out of the way and let the Doctor do her job. At the command to move the Count to Medical, with Khea taking most of the weight, at best he was able to help keep the feet from dragging down the hallway.  Once the group arrived in the medical bay with Darrel, he helped Dr. Lavaud move him onto the examination table.

With that task done, he stepped over to the intercom, and made a call, +++Valeska, please come to Medical and assist Dr Lavaud. Samantha and Vonon, please meet me in the conference room.+++ he said.

"Doc, we have somethings that need to be worked out with the Count incapacitated, let me know if you need anything and an update to his status when you can.  Care to join me in the meeting Khea?" he asked Kheaiftouaw.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 347 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Sun 1 Oct 2017
at 07:32
  • msg #157

Re: Destination: Unknown

Walter Zeller:
+++Samantha and Vonon, please meet me in the conference room.+++ Walter said.


Vonon looks back and forth from Sam to Sharik and back.

"Right, so...which room is the 'conference room' this week? The Rec Room where the scout-guy we just rescued is, or do you think he means the Mess Hall? Actually, I could go for a cup of Vilani Khaff, right about now. I hope he means the Mess - it's both closer to the Bridge and has snacks."

"Hey, wait! Can you leave the pilot station, Sam? Have we been station keeping over this five-sided piece of...rock...long enough that the autopilot can handle it, now?"

Sharik Kaagira
player, 290 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Mon 2 Oct 2017
at 23:20
  • msg #158

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik, having returned from escorting Serge into the waiting arms of Pablo and Kaer, plopped down into the navigator's chair (which, of course, doubled as the co-pilot's console).  She pulled on her five point harness over her tailored vacc suit and cinched the straps nice and snug over her light frame.

Unlocking her session and pulling up the secondary piloting controls on a display along side her navigational and sensor data feeds, the diminutive dilettante noted in response to Vonon's query, "Yeah, I got this.  You guys won't be that far away..."  Her fingers continued to danced over the dynamic holographically-configured displays as she watched the main viewports and tactical screens above.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 349 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Mon 2 Oct 2017
at 23:50
  • msg #159

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 158):

"Excellent. Oh! Wait! I've been looking for an excuse to try this out..." Vonon turns back to the Sensor Station cum Tactical Board and calls up a program. Opening the program, he makes a few changes, closes it, then makes a melodramatic swipe at his holographic display - as if pushing something over towards Sharik.

On Sharik's board, a big, shiny red button appears off to the side. The button is labelled "Oh Crap!" and it is slowly blinking a dull red.

"That's my version of a program we used in The Patrol, called Overwatch. I just automated it." Vonon explains, as he gets up from his console, "Right now the ventral turret is live and running hot. It's getting realtime feeds from all the sensors we have pointed at the - well, ship, for lack of a better word - we're hovering over. If anything moves down there - anything not carrying one of our drones transponders, that is - the turret will automatically lock onto it, then ask for permission to fire."

Vonon give ones of his silly dog-grins, "That big red button there will flash really fast and really bright. You press that button, when it's flashing fast, and all three ventral lasers will fire full power beams at whatever was moving until it either stops moving or you press the button to order a cease fire or the guns meltdown."

"Please don't melt down my guns." Vonon says, heading out.

But he pauses before fully leaving the Bridge,

"Oh, if you press the button now, while its pulsing slowly, the system will ask you to designate a target. And, yeah, I haven't finished building the interface for that, yet, so you can't designate a target - you just get caught in a logic loop. So, don't press the button unless it's flashing rapidly, 'kay?"
Sharik Kaagira
player, 291 posts
Freelance: ex-IISS, ex-IN
Serious about recreation
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 00:53
  • msg #160

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sharik gave her vargr friend a quick 'thumbs-up', raising her right hand above her head for a moment.  And though her face was turned away from him and watching the various displays and screens, he could pretty much see the smile that was obviously crossing her lips.  "By the way, Vo." she noted rather deadpan, "I think that you have a typo on the button..."

"Shouldn't it read: 'Frak it!'" the cosmopolitan socialite asked casually, the flat intonation never leaving her voice.
Kheaiftouaw
player, 522 posts
Aslan outcast
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 01:51
  • msg #161

Re: Destination: Unknown

Khea has followed Walther into the meeting but she is hardly listening to whats going on. Instead she mumbles several technical terms during the meeting while she tries to figure out what is happening here.

"First the missing grid and now missing brain waves. Something is taking us apart and it is now on the ship. We have to put distance between us and the pyramid and  need to run every scan possible on the Long Shot. Maybe we can also fill the ship with gas and track distortions in it? And in any case no one should wander around alone.

And vacc suits. Everyine should wear a vacc suit." she adds while putting on her helmet to seal the suit she is still wearing.

Serge Baklanov
player, 15 posts
Marine/Scout
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 07:22
  • msg #162

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 158):

quote:
Sharik, having returned from escorting Serge into the waiting arms of Pablo and Kaer


Serge will not allow to touch him.
Kaengarr Ruzokh
player, 440 posts
Gvegh Vargr
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 13:52
  • msg #163

Re: Destination: Unknown

Pablo and Kaengarr had met Serge at the airlock when he came aboard, and 'escorted' him to the Rec Room. It's the only place on the ship that Serge had been yet.

"Don't sweat it, Serge," the Vargr says to the scout. "Sounds like you had the same problems with that alien ship as we're having... only, you didn't have anyone else to blame."

"They're just being paranoid that you might be a shape-changer, even though there's never been any evidence found that such a creature might exist."

"With the Count suddenly affected by something equally unknown, they are worried that you are doing something to him. Maybe not intentionally, but since you were on the alien ship for no one knows how long, maybe it did something to you."

"Personally, I don't think so. I'm not even sure I think the Count was specifically targeted by whatever it is that's affecting him. He's a rather unique individual."

"Just to be on the safe side, though, can you remember anything from when you were in the alien ship that might have been some sort of mental... stress? Headaches, sleepiness? It's possible that something over there was trying to contact you mentally. Yeah, like psionics. After all, it could be a Zhodani ship."

"If it is, it's not like anything I've ever heard of before."

Gregory Jones
player, 46 posts
Human CyberAgent
Shoot First
Tue 3 Oct 2017
at 14:17
  • msg #164

Re: Destination: Unknown

Jones listened to Aimee's explanation of what was happening to the Count. It was frustrating for him, as well as annoying. As the Count's bodyguard, he was perfectly capable of defending him against physical attacks, but even he was aware that there were methods undetectable... DNA-targeted poisons, diseases, even psionic attacks.

Some killed, but not all of them. Most took time to do that. It was the 'instant kill' method of assassins that he was good at stopping. Bullets, lasers, explosives... one way or another, they required a 'personal touch'. Those he could deal with.

"If he's stable, Doctor," Jones said to Aimee, "I can stay and watch him while you go talk to Walter."

As he understood it, nothing was physically wrong with the Count... just, his brain had shut down. If he didn't wake up soon, Aimee would have to put him on life support, since he couldn't eat or drink in his current state.
Serge Baklanov
player, 16 posts
Marine/Scout
Wed 4 Oct 2017
at 06:15
  • msg #165

Re: Destination: Unknown

Kaengarr Ruzokh:
"They're just being paranoid that you might be a shape-changer"


- Well, that's okay, I suppose - deep space often affects minds, - Serge chuckled.
- I am sure the Pyramid is not Zhodani ship - obviously its tech level is much higher. And if I was psionically tampered then I obviously would not remember that unless another psionic tests me. But this is "Russell's teapot" - neither your team can prove I was conditioned, nor I can prove the contrary. But I see no sense in it - too much gunpowder to target a single person on a single small freighter, unless your count is a really top kick, which I doubt. If I was a pirate - that makes no sense: the Pyramid costs probably several million times more than this ship. If I was an assassin - too much luck and cost in such approach. If I was a spy who wants to infiltrate human society - unreasonably complicated method, too.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Wed 04 Oct 2017.
Valeska Brandenberg
player, 54 posts
Wed 4 Oct 2017
at 13:08
  • msg #166

Re: Destination: Unknown

"Those are all good points," Valeska responded. She'd been one of those people with nothing to do that had met with Serge in the Rec Room.

"Of course, if it's truly an alien ship, then it might be impossible to say how an alien thinks."

"You are also right that it isn't a Zhodani ship... at least, none that I've ever heard of. But it could always be a prototype. There have been a few individuals over the centuries that have had the resources to construct their own private ship with their own unique design. The pyramid shape does suggest that. Or alien thinking."

"It does occur to me, though, that maybe something on the Pyramid is trying to establish contact with the Count, possibly psionically, and the Count's mind is either not compatible or it wasn't prepared. The method might also be using broadcast alpha waves or something similar. Again, though... incompatible."

"On the other hand, maybe this alien ship is trying to take over his mind, and he's resisting, and it's that which has rendered him unconscious."

"Another factor to consider: the ship does not appear to use a lanthanum grid. If it does, it's underneath the outer coating or shell. That's not something we can do."

"If it doesn't use lanthanum, then that might explain why it removed some from your Scout ship, Serge--it wanted to know what it was and what it was used for."

"On the other hand, without a lanthanum grid, that presents us with some interesting possibilities: 1) it is not capable of jump travel, which means it has been traveling through normal space for a very long time... possibly a generation ship or possibly fully automated."

"2) It has another method of FTL travel. The intense gravity field suggests it might be using a gravity drive."

"3) It is capable of jump travel, but uses a completely different method of doing so, one that does not require a lanthanum grid, which puts us back to why it removed part of the grid."


As a fellow scout, she understood all too well the dilemma in which Serge had been placed. It's not so much that she took him at face value as that she empathized with him. Nothing he'd said or done was inconsistent with his story, and that would have been nearly impossible it it wasn't true.

They were also supposed to be keeping an eye out for... anomalies, unusual events. This Pyramid ship certainly qualified on that count.
Walter Zeller
player, 416 posts
Merchant/Noble
Wed 4 Oct 2017
at 20:23
  • msg #167

Re: Destination: Unknown

[Wardroom}

Once the others arrived at the wardroom, Walter addressed them. "Alright, we have a serious problem. For some reason Count Cromwell has been struck down and is unable to command the ship. Dr. Lavaud is not sure what the cause is but is has messed up his mind and for the time being, he is unconscious."  he said.

"Doc states that it does not seem to have been a heart attack, seizure or any poison that she has found in his system, just his brain activity. For that reason I have called you here. We have been adventuring for a while and are in a bit of a bind. We do not know what that pyramid is capable of and are not sure if it is causing Darrell to be knocked out. We have been operating as sort of a loose collective but in this case, while I mostly dealt with the operations side, I will have to step over to command until Count Cromwell is given a clean bill of health from the Doctor." Walter said.

"With that in mind, Vonon, I want you to be the XO. Take a boarding party over to the object and check it out. See if you can find out what is going on. For all we know, it could prevent us from leaving. Don't take the whole crew but enough that you can safely investigate it. I will stay here with the others to monitor the situation and act as back up if something goes wrong. Questions?" he asked the assembled.
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 350 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 04:19
  • msg #168

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 167):

"Uh...no, sir." Vonon responds, "No questions. I, uh, have a boarding team already assembled and in place, ready to go as soon as I issue the order. I will do so A.S.A.P."
Serge Baklanov
player, 17 posts
Marine/Scout
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 06:15
  • msg #169

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 167):

OOC:
I am a bit confused - where is the meeting with Walter speaking and where is Serge?
Samantha Kilgore
player, 382 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 07:52
  • msg #170

Re: Destination: Unknown

Sam sat at her console, and rubbed her temples, as she heard Walter call for a meeting.

She didn't get up but stayed staring at her console after a while she said "Frak it"

Firing up the maneouver drive she began piloting the Long shot and the Scout ship away from the Pyramid. She took the ship away some distance, but maneouvered in such a way as to keep the sensors on target so the feed was constant

On Comms she said "Vonun, what the maximum range for control of the drones?"

ooc

08:41, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,3.  Pilot 2. int or Dex 1.

Sorry for delay in posting - was out of town a few days, with the normal posting rate didn't think it would matter too much! ; )

StarMaster
GM, 826 posts
Thu 5 Oct 2017
at 14:28
  • msg #171

Re: Destination: Unknown

Serge is in the Rec Room (#13) with Valeska, Pablo and Kaengarr at the moment.


Walter called a meeting of the crew in the 'Wardroom'--what's listed on the map as Mess (#8).

At the moment, only Walter, Vonon, Aimee and Khea are there.

Sharik and Samantha are still on the bridge.

Jones and the unconscious Count are in the Medical Bay (#11).
Vonon Ronkunu
player, 351 posts
Vargr and Spacer
ex-Patrol Commander
Fri 6 Oct 2017
at 01:16
  • msg #172

Re: Destination: Unknown

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 171):

OOC: Not exactly sure about control range on the drones, Sam, but they were designed to be let loose on an asteroid to go out prospecting while the mothership sat and waited for a drone to find something; also designed to be controlled through several meters of rocky asteroid material while mining. So, at a guess, maybe 5 miles, or 9-10 kilometers? Given the nature of this beast's hull material, I'd say add keep them in line of sight, as well.
I've got the books buried, somewhere. I'll look it up and append this OOC. Or I'll crack open another Angry Orchard and watch football with StarMaster. Could go either way...

Samantha Kilgore
player, 383 posts
Pilot and Security expert
With more hidden talents
Fri 6 Oct 2017
at 07:15
  • msg #173

Re: Destination: Unknown

Over open comms Sam says "Guys, Ive pulled us back on the hunch that the pyramid may be affecting Darrell. Doesn't really change anything, but it might help him, and give us more room to react"
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