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01:39, 5th May 2024 (GMT+0)

IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS.

Posted by The GuardianFor group 0
The Guardian
GM, 403 posts
Wed 11 Jun 2014
at 11:37
  • msg #1

IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

VWORP
VWORP
K-CHUNK!

When the TARDIS crew opens the door and peers out, they're greeted by a small yet motley assortment of passersby surrounding the police box.  Several are holding up their phones and taking their picture; there is a smattering of applause; and a number of people toss change of various types and denominations that ding onto the pavement around them.

As the audience slowly begins to disperse, they have a chance to take in the city around them.  It is night on the moon of Estanve Gastem, but the lights on the boulevard dazzle everyone.  Signs shout VALSHAZZAR CASINO and THE MOLHARAN THEATRE and THE NEBULA REGENCY, and the facades on many of the buildings project glowing, animated holograms of everything from rakish rockets to grinning cartoon characters to scantily clad humanoid silhouettes of several attractive genders and configurations.  A broad brilliant swath of green-blue gas stretches across the sky.

And on the ground, people of all shapes and sizes go past intent on their own diversion.  Meklinites and humans, a cluster of rodentlike Pakhar tourists, Bandrils and Thoot and many more.  Even Sereth is surprised by the array of sentients -- there are some here even he doesn't recognize.

Smoke Alarm's eyes widen as she looks at the towers blazing with their own light, reaching up into the sky, with illuminated walkways snaking between them.  She spots, a short distance up, a pair of flying machines no bigger than her head zipping down the street.  They have bulbous clusters of lenses like eyes on their front, and big blue and red lights on their top.

Although Trav had set the coordinates for Old Town, a few hours before the appointment with Alden, Ffinch and Snv, the TARDIS -- for reasons known only to itself -- has landed them here on the Strip instead, with two days to kill.

From a street corner off in the distance, there's the sound of a saxophone playing.
The Traveller
player, 400 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 11 Jun 2014
at 15:54
  • msg #2

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav takes a bow, and then passes her hat and also collects up her change,then passes it out to her friends. "I also do weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Stan here does a great Elvis. Thank you, thank you!" She's rocking her little black dress with thigh boots. The fedora is gray with a black band. One must look their best in SPACE VEGAS.

Trav reaches back into the TARDIS and gets a OUT TO LUNCH sign, hanging it from the door. "Not bad. Kinda like Center. This place definitely seems like Corsi's kind of place."

"We have two days to kill. Let's walk down the strip, play some slots,and check this place out. I've never been here, should be fun!" Trav actually ponders getting a hotel suite.

She digs out her phone, and make sure people have downloaded visitor apps from the local tourism authority.

"Also, people, if you feel the need to gamble, make sure you're clear what you're gambling. I don't want someone coming back to the TARDIS without their head or the memory of their first real crush."

Trav hears the music. She ponders getting out her electric. It's been so long since she has played.

Trav forwards an e-mail to the law firm, indicating her arrival, and requesting a copy of the will so that she may review it in her role as executor.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Wed 11 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 403 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 02:53
  • msg #3

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Footing out of the talkiphone box, Smoke Alarm smiled and waved to the crowd. After all, she was a silly-britty back on Arsuran. She picked up the shiny coins, so she could get a fizz-ade or chock-late bar from a vending machine later.

Then, as the crowd scattered, she outlooked up and eyespied all of Space Vegas. 'Icehot!' she exclaimed in awe. The Kang immediately ran in circles around the street trying to eyespy everything and anything, from the lights-on towers to the huge picture-spouts on them, to the fluffy rat-people. 'High fabshion!' She even tried jumping up to catch the flying cleaners, but they bobbed out of her reach.

The Blue Kang darted off to eyespy the being playing the honkophone, and tossed some nice coins in the hat, heedless of their value. 'There are no other colours without the blues!'


OOC: Pakhars! :D
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Thu 12 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 402 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 05:27
  • msg #4

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is tossing a few of the coins she collected into the sax player's hat. The blues are eternal, it seems. She remembers Freddy Mercury telling her, after the horror they vanquished on Skaro, that music redeems and perseveres. That's why the Daleks were evil - they had no music.

She wishes Minmei could be here. She rolls her hips to the sweet sounds, and exclaims, "Decultcha!" in a Zentraedi accent. Originally used as a curse by full sized Zentran and Meltran when exposed to the decadent Micron culture, it was used by later generations of Earth Micronians and Earth allied Zentraedi alike to proclaim the beauty of music and other art.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:28, Thu 12 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 404 posts
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 23:56
  • msg #5

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
The Blue Kang darted off to eyespy the being playing the honkophone, and tossed some nice coins in the hat, heedless of their value. 'There are no other colours without the blues!'


The player turns out to be human, a man getting into his middle years.  He's wearing a sharp if slightly rumpled suit, with close-cut hair and an elaborate green tattoo over the right side of his face.  He nods to Smoke Alarm, and as he pauses between sets, he flashes her a curious set of gestures with his hand, and tells her, "Testify, sister."
The Guardian
GM, 405 posts
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 00:38
  • msg #6

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav forwards an e-mail to the law firm, indicating her arrival, and requesting a copy of the will so that she may review it in her role as executor.


Shortly, Trav's phone indicates that there's a response from the firm, acknowledging her RSVP.  It appears to have been composed by an AI or quasi-AI agent processing incoming business.

Attendance Acknowledged.  Welcome to Estanve Gastem, Traveller.

Disposition of the estate of "The Corsair", AKA Ms. Calamity Kidd, AKA Mr. Morgan Reed, is sealed against the personal biometric authorization of the executor.

Summary Of Parties To Execution of Will:

The Traveller ACKNOWLEDGED
The Whittington Foundation (Current Trustee or Agent) ACKNOWLEDGED
Michael Nguyen-Parker, heir or assign
The Valbreco Family (Capo or Authorized Agent) ACKNOWLEDGED
Ruthdal's Raiders, Current C.O. Or Adjutant

Summary Of Witnesses Authorized By Registered Syndicate Petition:

Major Felicity Villanueve, Office of the Inspector-General, Callistan Kleptocracy ACKNOWLEDGED
Stanley Newton
player, 102 posts
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 01:12
  • msg #7

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley follows the others outside, smiling politely at the group of onlookers. He waits for them to have dispersed, before correcting Trav, "Just for the record, impersonating Elvis isn't something I normally do. I swear it was the shark juice."

With the small crowd gone, Stanley takes the time to look at the wide variety of coloured lights and holographic advertisements. Space Vegas certainly looked like what he had imagined it to look like. Sort of. "Well, if we have some time to spare, I wouldn't mind visiting a casino. After all, it is not everyday you get to visit Space Vegas....You mean losing your head figuratively, right? They must have rules and regulations against that."
Smoke Alarm
player, 404 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 02:25
  • msg #8

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I'm not going to take a test!' Smoke declared with a grin, but continued listening to the honkophone for a while, before skipping back to the group.

She checked her talkiphone and found some yawny app Traveller had load-upped to her. She preferred to get lost-and-found, rather than follow the tracks and maps. 'My head's on tight. What's a ca-see-no?' she asked, balancing on the back of a park bench.
The Traveller
player, 405 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 11:00
  • msg #9

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
Trav forwards an e-mail to the law firm, indicating her arrival, and requesting a copy of the will so that she may review it in her role as executor.


Shortly, Trav's phone indicates that there's a response from the firm, acknowledging her RSVP.  It appears to have been composed by an AI or quasi-AI agent processing incoming business.

Attendance Acknowledged.  Welcome to Estanve Gastem, Traveller.

Disposition of the estate of "The Corsair", AKA Ms. Calamity Kidd, AKA Mr. Morgan Reed, is sealed against the personal biometric authorization of the executor.

Summary Of Parties To Execution of Will:

The Traveller ACKNOWLEDGED
The Whittington Foundation (Current Trustee or Agent) ACKNOWLEDGED
Michael Nguyen-Parker, heir or assign
The Valbreco Family (Capo or Authorized Agent) ACKNOWLEDGED
Ruthdal's Raiders, Current C.O. Or Adjutant

Summary Of Witnesses Authorized By Registered Syndicate Petition:

Major Felicity Villanueve, Office of the Inspector-General, Callistan Kleptocracy ACKNOWLEDGED



"Chibi baby? Please pull for me precis records of everyone on this list except for me, OK, baby? Also have the scutters deliver some of those hydro-diamonds to the nearest commodities broker here so we some money to play with." She always felt wrong with sonicing cash out of ATMs, like Boobie would do. "And go and have fun running around in the casino clouds, but DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. I don't need a bunch of Juldoon chasing us back to Sweet Boy because you had some fun rigging a schlemp race." Chibi was a somewhat exaggerated version of her second self, and when she wore glasses, she loved to hack. Hell, she still does.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Fri 13 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 406 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 11:04
  • msg #10

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
Stanley follows the others outside, smiling politely at the group of onlookers. He waits for them to have dispersed, before correcting Trav, "Just for the record, impersonating Elvis isn't something I normally do. I swear it was the shark juice."

With the small crowd gone, Stanley takes the time to look at the wide variety of coloured lights and holographic advertisements. Space Vegas certainly looked like what he had imagined it to look like. Sort of. "Well, if we have some time to spare, I wouldn't mind visiting a casino. After all, it is not everyday you get to visit Space Vegas....You mean losing your head figuratively, right? They must have rules and regulations against that."


Trav slips an arm around Stan's waist. "Look at the app I sent to your phones, baby. On various worlds, you can gamble anything away. I'm fine with you guys throwing a few coins at one armed bandits, but I'd like to avoid for once having a crazy chase back to Sweet Boy as we escape with our lives." In response to smoke - "bright and shiny places where people play games for money. Bad and nasty places, they're big people traps.  Stan, just keep it reasonable... hey, stop giving me that look, you know what I mean!"

Trav catches herself thinking of Al Capone, one of the loves of her life. She remarks to herself that he *really* would have enjoyed this place, and might have never left.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:09, Fri 13 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 408 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 14:04
  • msg #11

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav jots into her phone - "note to self - I do not know where your pulse is, Callistans, and I did not help the Corsair steal it, and you can't prove anything. That's my story and I'm sticking to it."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Fri 13 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 409 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 20:37
  • msg #12

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Smoke Alarm:
The Blue Kang darted off to eyespy the being playing the honkophone, and tossed some nice coins in the hat, heedless of their value. 'There are no other colours without the blues!'


The player turns out to be human, a man getting into his middle years.  He's wearing a sharp if slightly rumpled suit, with close-cut hair and an elaborate green tattoo over the right side of his face.  He nods to Smoke Alarm, and as he pauses between sets, he flashes her a curious set of gestures with his hand, and tells her, "Testify, sister."


Trav giggles. She thinks that Smoke has just been given a gang sign.
Stanley Newton
player, 103 posts
Fri 13 Jun 2014
at 23:21
  • msg #13

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 10):

"Nice description." Stanley shakes his head and looks at the tourist information app. "You are right of course, but I still want to go..."
The Guardian
GM, 408 posts
Sat 14 Jun 2014
at 00:00
  • msg #14

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Stanley is studying the app on his phone, he notices that he has an alert indicating an incoming message.

Looking at it, he sees that it details a discretionary fund account he hadn't known about, dating from his extremely brief stint as a deputized U.S. Marshal.  Even after multiple governmental crashes and currency revaluations over the many centuries, he sees that it has accumulated a number that seems to work out to several years' worth of salary from his attending physician position, back in the 21st century.

Looking back at the tourist app, he sees that it is now flashing an alert: YOUR COURTESY CREDIT SEARCH COMPLETE!
The Guardian
GM, 409 posts
Sat 14 Jun 2014
at 00:37
  • msg #15

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The data search turns up the following:

WHITTINGTON FOUNDATION: Benevolent association for the care and support of vagabonds, strays and orphans.

MICHAEL NGUYEN-PARKER: Unknown.

VALBRECO FAMILY: One of five Founding Families of the Gastem Syndicate, originally organized crime cartel; subsequently evolved into neo-feudal ruling conglomerate governing the Gastem Cluster.  See also: Ss'tenga Family, Ryzhkov Family, Belzeg Family, Bao Family

RUTHDAL'S RAIDERS: Regiment-strength private security organization operating out of the Gastem Cluster.  Chartered for pacification, punitive, and defense operations.  Exemplary record of adherence to the Laws of War established under the Brevas Compact.

CALLISTAN KLEPTOCRACY: Local stellar government governing four star systems.  Constitution characterized by Byzantine code of situational ethics.
The Traveller
player, 410 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 14 Jun 2014
at 01:47
  • msg #16

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The data search turns up the following:

WHITTINGTON FOUNDATION: Benevolent association for the care and support of vagabonds, strays and orphans.


Trav downloads their latest mission statement and bylaws.

The Guardian:
MICHAEL NGUYEN-PARKER: Unknown.


Trav flags that. Their could be billions of Michael Nguyen-Parkers across time and space. She certainly doesn't remember Corsi taking companions. Maybe a boyfriend or something more? She doesn't remember him naming his parrots.

The Guardian:
VALBRECO FAMILY: One of five Founding Families of the Gastem Syndicate, originally organized crime cartel; subsequently evolved into neo-feudal ruling conglomerate governing the Gastem Cluster.  See also: Ss'tenga Family, Ryzhkov Family, Belzeg Family, Bao Family


Trav remembers way way back when she was dating Al Capone in her first life. Al had only one word for the Gastem Syndicate - "fucking amatuers." This was back when she thought Corsi was a ghastly delinquent.

The Guardian:
RUTHDAL'S RAIDERS: Regiment-strength private security organization operating out of the Gastem Cluster.  Chartered for pacification, punitive, and defense operations.  Exemplary record of adherence to the Laws of War established under the Brevas Compact.


Trav writes into her phone - "Note to self - if Corsi thinks these guys are cool, build them giant robots and cool space fighters."

The Guardian:
CALLISTAN KLEPTOCRACY: Local stellar government governing four star systems.  Constitution characterized by Byzantine code of situational ethics.


Trav downloads their abbreviated version of that code. Back when she and Corsi stole their Pulse at the behest of the Time Lords, Corsi handled all the ethically challenging issues. "I'm a pirate, beloved, you're not." She wonders what the beautiful 5th Corsair would think of her now. Boobie was very upset - that was back in his cape and ruffles day. "Carrying on with the Corsair, committing crimes like some delinquent? Traveller, I am frankly astounded. I thought you above such truancy!"

Trav snaps her hat - now it's a pirate tricorn, in the same style that the Corsair wore!
This message was last edited by the player at 02:25, Sat 14 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 406 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 14 Jun 2014
at 06:08
  • msg #17

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav slips an arm around Stan's waist. "Look at the app I sent to your phones, baby. On various worlds, you can gamble anything away. I'm fine with you guys throwing a few coins at one armed bandits, but I'd like to avoid for once having a crazy chase back to Sweet Boy as we escape with our lives." In response to smoke - "bright and shiny places where people play games for money. Bad and nasty places, they're big people traps."


Smoke Alarm heard "bright", "shiny", and "games", and was only made more curious. 'I'm not going to get caught in any mouse-traps!' she declared, brave and bold. 'And I can hit a one-armed bandit with a coin!' Smoke Alarm pretended to shoot her arrowgun at them.

The others were busy playing on their talkiphones, and Smoke Alarms feets were all bouncy, so she took off running down the street to eyespy what she could eyespy. 'Build high for happiness!' the others heard her call back, Doppler effect and all. She had a jingly jangly pocket full of coins and she was brave and bold as a Kang could be. What could go wrong?


OOC: Hey, what do I have to roll find trouble? ;)
The Guardian
GM, 410 posts
Sun 15 Jun 2014
at 01:26
  • msg #18

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Smoke Alarm pelts down the street, she finds it hard to decide what to run to and look at next.  It's like every building is shouting at her, with bright-colored signs and a fascinating array of music and sounds all yelling "LOOK AT ME!  COME ON IN!"

Some are like the cat-see-no at the place that the TARDIS landed, with people continually going in and out, and from all of them there are sounds of people chattering and shouting, electronic sounds and other noises.

One of the buildings makes her stop and look for a moment: there are a pair of big glass tubes set vertically into its side among the dozen storeys of gleaming mirrored windows.  Through the glass of the windows, she sees people stepping into them -- and the people are whisked up in the one or down in the other, without any floors or cars like the alleviators that they had back in the Towers!  She can't see any way of getting into them, though.

She comes across a big, big picturespout set on the side of one of the buildings.  It looks like it must be playing recordings, because she sees it playing pictures of the TARDIS materializing and Smoke Alarm and her friends all popping out as the people watching threw their coins.

When she turns away from that, though, she spots something that is not shouting at her from the sides of the street.  Up atop one of the shorter buildings (one that is only eight storeys tall or so) Smoke Alarm sees a figure moving.  It's dark, almost like it is wearing something that sucks up all the light around it.  And it moves from spot to spot, from cover to cover, like a hunter.

OOC: In Soviet Russia Space Vegas, trouble finds you!
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Sun 15 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 411 posts
Sun 15 Jun 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #19

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav downloads their latest mission statement and bylaws.


Scanning the additional detail on the Whittington Foundation, Trav finds the joker in the deck.  The Foundation turns out to be a Humane Society serving distressed cats of any and all planetary origins, genus and species.
Smoke Alarm
player, 409 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 15 Jun 2014
at 02:56
  • msg #20

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked at the floor-less alleviators for a while, though she'd have to sneak her way into the building first before she ride them up and down. Mayhaps later. She laughed to eyespy a ginormous version of herself on the picture-spout-tower, waving at all the world.

Then Smoke Alarm eyespied the dark-fabshioned roof-runner, wondering what they were playing at. Mayhaps they were exploring the towers like she would be? But they were they also playing hide-and-seek. Also like she would be, mayhaps. Mayhaps it was some kind of Space Vegas Kang?

Deciding to outgo say how-you-do, Smoke Alarm outlooked for a way up the tower, then went, over the bins and up the fire-escape, through the window, and up the alleviator. Then out the window again and scaling the drain-pipe.


OOC: An elevator is an "alleviator", back in "Paradise Towers". The more you know. :)
The Traveller
player, 411 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 15 Jun 2014
at 05:55
  • msg #21

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav, as she is fiddling with her phone, is also sending a lockdown command to the TARDIS console. The TARDIS wasn't in the way of anything, but it would suck if staff of any of the nearby gaming houses decided to move it for whatever reason. The TARDIS is now fixed to that position in space, relative to everything else on the planet. No one was going to be able to move the TARDIS or simply load it up into a truck unless she wanted them to.

Trav makes a donation to the cat charity, and forwards the mission statement doc to C'Tesh as a funny.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Sun 15 June 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 104 posts
Sun 15 Jun 2014
at 21:21
  • msg #22

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 14):

Always nice to find money, you didn't know you had. Stanley uses the tourist information app and randomly selects one of the nearby casinos to visit. "I am going to a casino now, so see you later!" He says as he begins to follow the directions from the app.
Sereth
player, 222 posts
Sun 15 Jun 2014
at 23:02
  • msg #23

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth glanced about him briefly, actually in disdain. He'd heard of such gambling dens before of course; but it would not have done for one of his station to enter such. Let humans and their ilk be weak. Draconians would be strong, always and forever.

He just snorted briefly, and shook his head.

"Let's wrap up your business and be out of here. This place stinks of corruption and weakness."
The Guardian
GM, 412 posts
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 00:49
  • msg #24

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

When she finally gets to the roof, it takes a few moments for Smoke Alarm to find the person she spotted from the street: they're very good at playing hide-and-sneak.

In the scatter of light coming up from below, at first it looks to Smoke like the person is a sort of huge bug with big, bulbous eyes.  Then they put their hands up to their face, and it becomes clearer that they were wearing some sort of funny eye-covers.  Smoke remembers trying on a pair that her friend Wheely Bin once stole from a Caretaker maintenance locker, but all those did was make things dim and green.

The person had been watching down on the street, but now they are looking around at rooftop level, up around where Smoke Alarm is now.
The Guardian
GM, 413 posts
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 01:09
  • msg #25

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Stanley looks around inside the main gaming area of the Valshazzar, he's struck by how much the place both is and isn't like a similar place from his own time.

He sees a variety of games that are completely mysterious to him -- there's one that seems to involve the movement of colored holographic beams in an upright cylinder; there's what looks like a card game where the cards shift to translucent colored shapes when they're played onto the under-lit table, and scoring seems to be based on the colors formed as the shapes overlay onto each other.  But these sit side by side with perfectly recognizable tables for blackjack and roulette wheels.

The patrons are of a piece with this same observation.  Of course, there are lots of different non-human species walking around, and by now Stanley is pretty well able to master his surprise at seeing these very different sorts of people, but they're standing or sitting at the tables right next to humans in suit and tie little different in cut than he could see back home.

(Though there are a few surprises there.  Stanley's eye is drawn to one attractive woman in a glimmering sheath dress of iridescent scales, and can't help but notice as the colors of the dress slowly shift and flow around her form of their own accord.)
Smoke Alarm
player, 410 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 02:01
  • msg #26

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Getting onto the roof, Smoke crouched behind an air conditioning unit and eyespied the clockroach person, realising she was just wearing goggly eyespies. She remembered they made things fuzzy and green and made it hard to outlook sideways, but some things came up all lights-on, like Wheelie Bin and ovens. Mayhaps that was that these gogglies did?

Then she or he outlooked around to Smoke Alarm, so she ducked back behind the unit. This hide-and-seek could be fun. Eyespying back, she took a chance as the person looked away and rolled to the next unit, before crawling behind some ducks. These big, warm, metal things would give her a good hide-in against the gogglies.


OOC: Sneaking up on the person to get a closer outlook: 17
09:54, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 17 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,5. coordination (5) + subterfuge (3).
(I reused an old roll in the dice-roller, hence it says "athletics" in error.)
The Guardian
GM, 414 posts
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 03:08
  • msg #27

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm sees the person stop in mid-stride, looking straight in her direction with the goggles on.

Eye-spied!

The person freezes for a second.  Then they bolt, sprinting away across the rooftop parallel to the street, and not looking like they mean to slow down at all at the edge.  Smoke can see that the next building along the way is a good long jump away from this roof.  It extends up a couple of storeys higher than this rooftop.  Smoke can see that there's a maintenance ladder inset between two columns of windows, running up the side of the building.

When the figure starts to close on the rooftop, Smoke Alarm sees them pull something from their hip.  For a moment, it scares her -- it looks like a gun! -- but she sees the running figure aim it up at the adjoining rooftop.  There's a soft hiss, and Smoke sees the figure shoot a dark line up across the gap.  They leap out into space, and the line pulls them up and across!

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC Rooftop Person, rolled 21 using 2d6+12 with rolls of 4,5. Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(4) + Keen Senses(2) + Scan(2).

The figure will try making a stunt of difficulty 17.  Their grapple gun gives them a Story Point to use.

The Guardian, for the NPC Rooftop Person, rolled 26 using 4d6+8 ((4,4,4,6)).

Speed is 5 (Coordination 4 + Run for your Life!) and that was a Fantastic level success.
Smoke Alarm
player, 411 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 03:32
  • msg #28

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Hey! Come back!' Smoke Alarm called after the roof-runner, but mayhaps they didn't hear her. She chased after them. Then she watched in awe as the person pulled an arrowgun and shot a rope across to the next tower and swung out and over the street and up the next tower. 'Icehot!' she cheered. She wanted one. Mayhaps the other person could tell her where she found it?

Smoke Alarm kept running. She didn't have a rope-gun, but she had legs. Skipping onto the ledge, Smoke Alarm simply jumped right off the tower, letting her momentum carry her across the gap. She fell, of course, but she'd hit the fire-escape a few storeys down before she hit the ground. She was outgoing at it very fast. Mayhaps this wasn't such a good idea—


OOC: Speed 5 (no Run For Your Life, since I'm the one doing the chasing this time). Matching the stunt, 19, a "Yes, But..." success.
11:15, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 19 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 4,2. Coordination(5) + Athletics(4) + Jumping(2) + Kang Fu(2).
The Guardian
GM, 416 posts
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 04:06
  • msg #29

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm smacks into the ladder across the way, full tilt, and there's an awful moment when her hands are flailing to get a grip on the rungs.  At last, though, she catches hold.  She's about three storeys from the top, seven from the ground.  Looking up, she just sees the person she was chasing as they vanish over the lip of the roof.

Then she notices the lights reflecting off the walls and windows around her.  Red lights.  Blue lights.  One of the flying eye-spy machines seems to have noticed the unusual movement here, and is slowly making its ascent from close to street level, making sleepy bloop bloop noises.
Smoke Alarm
player, 414 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 16 Jun 2014
at 05:00
  • msg #30

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Hanging off the fire-escape and catching her breath, Smoke Alarm outlooked down to see what was making the pretty red and blue Kang lights. Flying cleaner! Quickly, she swung herself around onto the fire-escape, and footed up the stare-way at all speed, three steps at a time. Hopefully she could catch the rope-gun person before the flying cleaner caught her!

Space Vegas was fun!


OOC: Moving up, Speed 6.
Stanley Newton
player, 105 posts
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 00:16
  • msg #31

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley decides to check out the game with the holographic beams, so he walks up to one of the cylinders where it is played. Most casino games are purely luck-based, but it couldn't hurt to see how the game is played before trying it.
The Traveller
player, 413 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 01:43
  • msg #32

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is accompanying Stan, because this is an alien planet and she wants to make sure that he doesn't get ripped off, as well as a certain degree of curiosity.
The Guardian
GM, 419 posts
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #33

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm scampers up to the top of the building, outdistancing the flying cleaner, although it is still coming up.

Jumping over the lip of the rooftop and coming to a wary crouch, she hears a voice very near her.  "Krev!  Who are you?  I had a nice quiet riff running and now you've got flashers after us!"
The Guardian
GM, 420 posts
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 02:35
  • msg #34

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Watching several rounds of the game play out, Stanley's best appraisal of the game is that it's something like a semi-competitive mash-up of Jenga and Tetris.

Two players stand on opposite sides of the holo-tank.  Each puts up a stake and the house puts up a stake.  As new beams come in from the top of the tank, the game reads the players' mental concentration as they try to take control of the piece from the other, and add it to the structure they're building on their side of the tank.

First player to build the structure to the top of the tank takes the opponent's stake, minus a share for the house.  The strategy comes in where players can actually connect out to the opponent's tower across the tank, either bracing it or destabilizing it.  If both players reach the top of the tank with a connected structure, they split the house's stake, but if both players have their tower collapse, the house takes the whole pot.

As the current game ends and the players step away, there's a vacant space on Stanley's side of the tank.  He sees the woman in the color-shifting dress step forward on the other side.
The Traveller
player, 414 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 02:48
  • msg #35

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav actually thinks the game is kind of cool. She makes sure that she's that distance away so that it's clear that Stan is single.

This reminds her of when she was in the crowd at the arcade in Macross City, when she watched Max and Miriya duel for the first time!
Smoke Alarm
player, 416 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 04:50
  • msg #36

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm spun around to outlook at the talker. 'I eyespied you riff-running and wanted to say how-you-do. I'm Smoke Alarm. The flasher is a slowpoke. Where'd you get that icehot rope-gun?' she said in quick succession, because pace and flow were needless luxuries for those with cleaners on their heels.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:54, Tue 17 June 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 106 posts
Tue 17 Jun 2014
at 22:23
  • msg #37

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 34):

Stanley quickly steps forward and smiles politely at the woman. He wasn't really here to win money, so it didn't matter that he didn't know all the intricacies and tactics of the game yet. "Good evening! My name is Stanley, Stanley Newton." he says enthusiastically as he stands "I am kinda new here, but this game looks fun. Have you played this before?"
The Guardian
GM, 421 posts
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 01:10
  • msg #38

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The figure uncoils from its crouching position, backing away from Smoke.  "'Smoke Alarm'?  What sort of handle do you call that?  I thought sure I'd been swozzled by the Ryzhkovs -- thought Old Nikolai had sent a spetsnaz after me.  Who do you run for?"

Now that Smoke is closer she can see that the figure is wearing a mask over the lower part of their face, leaving just their eyes exposed.  The stranger is a bit taller and bigger than Smoke, but not much -- not as quite as tall as Doctor Stanley, much less Leg-it Sereth.  The figure is standing poised to run, with their hands spread out at their side for balance.

And despite the dark clothes and the hood, Smoke Alarm is pretty certain that he's a boy.

Reflections off the surrounding buildings warn Smoke that the "flasher" is nearing the top.  The boy comes to the same conclusion at about the same time she does.  "Krev!" he swears.  "It ain't in pursuit mode yet.  That'll change when it gets up here -- and worse luck, flashers got cameras."

He hesitates for a split second.  Then he dashes toward Smoke Alarm, which she finds alarming, until she realizes that he's racing past her, and then he clasps her hand and pulls her after him, which alarms her all over again.  "C'mon!" he says.

When Smoke finally orients in the direction she's being pulled, before she can react enough to shake herself loose, she sees there's something sitting among the ducting and radiators on the rooftop.  It's a little sky-cycle, and the stranger is running straight toward it.
The Guardian
GM, 422 posts
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 01:37
  • msg #39

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The woman's expression is unreadable for a moment, and then she flashes a dazzling smile.  "Well, I confess, I may have played a time or two," she says.  "My name's Vesha.  Vesha Sallenn."

She punches a few buttons on her phone and swipes it against the terminal on her side of the tank.  Stanley sees the top line of the display on his side light up, reading G$ 500.  "Why don't you step into the hotspot, Stanley, and we'll give it a whirl."  She winks.  "I promise, I'll be gentle."

After a puzzled moment, Stanley figures out how his phone's app is supposed to work with the game.  If he has the currency figured out right, five hundred dollars Gastem is somewhere between a token amount and a major one -- about the price of a nice dinner.

OOC: I actually worked out some rules for how to play this as an extended conflict (I should have known better than to put an unsuspected gambling game in as background fluff :D) but that may or may not interest you.  If you want to play, it's up to you whether you want to actually use my rules, if you want to just make a single roll to try to defeat Vesha, or if you want to try to work with her to beat the house.
Smoke Alarm
player, 418 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 02:13
  • msg #40

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'It's my name.' she returned, in a voice that suggested the boy was more than a bit of a dumb-dumb. She thought for a tick-tock, puzzled by the boy's odd speech — why couldn't everyone just talk like Kangs? — but worked it by the context. 'I run for the Traveller, but right now I'm running for myself.'

She outlooked back to the coming-in lights. 'The flying cleaner has a picture-taker?' She was startled when the man ran at her and grabbed her wrist, but she twisted her hand easily out of his. 'Why? Where are we outgoing? Will the flasher take us to the cleaners?'


OOC: Am I getting myself into trouble? Add Keen Senses for +2 if you think it appropriate.
10:15, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 10 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,1. awareness(4) + subterfuge(3).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:16, Wed 18 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 423 posts
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #41

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The boy skids to a halt, and even with his mask Smoke can read his pained expression.  "You stay for the flasher if you want!  I was just trying to do you a solid, even though you sort of busted my side-sank.  Don't know about any cleaners.  But even if you get away from the flasher, it'll send your picture to the Syndicate, and the Syndicate runs Vegas.  And they don't got so many pretty rules like cops in the outworlds."

Without waiting for Smoke to respond, he turns and runs and jumps on his bike, gunning the motor.

About that time, the drone clears the rooftop.  Smoke hears a tinny voice saying, "Attention: you have currently violated four safety and trespass regulations."

OOC: Sort of an indifferent result, but you're not getting a particularly bad vibe from him.
Smoke Alarm
player, 419 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 02:57
  • msg #42

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Now Smoke didn't know what was ongoing, but she knew what "trespass" meant and wasn't sticking around for cleaners and caretakers. She ran to the boy and the sky-bikecycle, jumping onto the back. She wished Mister Mop was here to explain these sorts of things to her. The Graske would know what sindy-cats were.
Stanley Newton
player, 107 posts
Wed 18 Jun 2014
at 23:19
  • msg #43

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 39):

OOC: Let's use your rules, since you already spent time on thinking them out. Oh and Stanley is definitely going to try to beat her.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:19, Wed 18 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 427 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 03:35
  • msg #44

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Stanley steps up to the tank and swipes his phone, the machine engages.  He feels a warm sensation on his scalp: slightly prickly, but not terribly unpleasant.

He can feel another presence faintly registering through that sensation -- Vesha, doubtless.  This isn't Stanley's first rodeo when it comes to mental contact, so he's not unduly startled by this, and in fact that presence feels light and cool amid the prickling that the machine creates

The tank hums, and a glimmering golden beam appears at the top of the tank.  It starts to descend.  Stanley feels Vesha's presence grow clear and bright as she tries to seize the falling beam.

See the OOC thread for a description of how the game works.  Feel free to get any confusing things clarified before you start making rolls: Vesha started out strongly.

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 17 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,6. Trying for game control, Round 1: Awareness(4) + Resolve(3).
The Guardian
GM, 428 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 03:45
  • msg #45

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The sky-cycle jumps into the sky, and Smoke Alarm isn't quite prepared for the sudden motion: she has to grab onto the coat of the boy in order to stay in her seat.

The cycle quickly picks up speed and roars out across the city.  The towers seem to go on forever, lit up against the night.  Wind roars past Smoke Alarm's ears and whips through her hair.

When she glances back, she sees that the lit-up flying cleaner is on their tail, and that another one has joined it.  The boy peers back over his shoulder and gives a curse.  He yanks down the mask from the bottom part of his face and puts a hand inside his coat for a moment.

He turns back to yell to Smoke Alarm as the cycle continues to barrel through the sky.  Now he's holding onto the handlebars one-handed, and Smoke sees that he's holding something up in his other hand: it's spherical and silvery, a little bigger than one of Smoke's fists.

"How are you at ball games?" he shouts over the wind.
Smoke Alarm
player, 421 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 03:59
  • msg #46

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm yelped as the sky-bikecycle took off, zooming through the air over the towers, clutching tight to the boy and the bike and whatever else wasn't going to fall off. This wasn't how Kangs were meant to run! But, after a while, she began to relax, realising what an icehot outlook she had, what a sense of total freedom. 'Icehot!' she said, the wind stealing her words.

The fun ended when the flying cleaners showed up. Smoke Alarm outlooked down at the ball as if the boy was mad. 'No ball-games!' she cried.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Thu 19 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 429 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 04:10
  • msg #47

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth watches Stanley and Trav disappear into the Valshazzar.  As he turns away, wondering what to do with himself until they've worked this foolishness out of their systems, he briefly wonders where Smoke Alarm has got herself off to.

Then he's distracted as he looks back down the street toward the TARDIS.  A couple of people are scrutinizing it carefully.  They're of medium height, but broad and massively built, reptilian in appearance, with finely scaled green hide, a vestigial spray of crest running up their foreheads, and eyes that swivel in small turretlike structures protruding from their faces.

The pair are wearing matching blue tunics with leather harnesses, and they're examining the TARDIS with heavy three-clawed hands.
Sereth
player, 228 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 04:17
  • msg #48

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller had absolute faith in the ability for her TARDIS not to get stolen. Sereth however, did not. He knew too well the cunning that thieves went to; and so saying, he approached the pair. Keeping himself calm as befitted a Draconian, he did speak quietly, but very deliberately.

"May I help you?"

OOC: Chances of recognising their race/species?
The Guardian
GM, 430 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 04:19
  • msg #49

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The boy stares back at Smoke for a moment before he remembers that he's nominally supposed to be steering the cycle, and weaves around a disturbingly tall building.

"What's wrong with-- Skip it; it's not really a ball, Smoke!  It's a spoofer.  Like a little bomb that makes a mag-pulse, wipes a flasher's brain and makes it reset, so it forgets it was chasing you!"  He checks the way ahead again.  "But you got to throw it really close to them!"

The little drones continue to creep closer to the cycle.

"Look -- either you've got to throw the spoofer, or we're gonna have to switch places, and you take the controls while I do it!"
The Guardian
GM, 431 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 04:40
  • msg #50

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

One of the people investigating the TARDIS turns to Sereth.  His eyes seem to be able to move independently of each other, doubtless giving him an exceptional field of vision.  "Are you responsible for this object?" he demands in a voice riddled with stray whistles and clicks.  "It is obstructing a public through-way, creating a safety hazard and an impediment to commerce!"

Now that he's closer and one of them has turned to look at him, Sereth can see that their harnesses have gleaming bronze badges affixed to them, as well as holsters holding short stubby guns, although neither of the apparent police seem to have even thought about going for their weapons.

Sereth:
OOC: Chances of recognising their race/species?


Does this help? :)



You're way out of your time period, but your Knowledge specialty probably helps you recognize all sorts of species, and you're looking from the right end of history, so we can assume that you recognize the Foamasi.

Incidentally, I'm usually assuming you've got your sword on you unless you say otherwise, but this is your chance to clarify.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:42, Thu 19 June 2014.
Sereth
player, 229 posts
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 04:56
  • msg #51

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Always carrying my sword yeah. I figure it would take something pretty special for him to remove it; something close to it's forbidden via culture to take the sword somewhere.

IC: He frowns; and though he felt his sword and could get it at an instant, he had no desire to fight here. He rarely did.

"It's not mine, no, but it belongs to a friend of mine. Look, we won't be here long, and once our business is concluded, I am sure we will move it before we leave. I am sure, for the brief period it's here, you can overlook it. I will make sure no accidents happen if it makes you feel any better."

He tapped his fingers carefully, recognising them. Foamasi.

OOC: Hey I forget, what time period is Sereth from? I know it's a fair bit later than the 26th century; but just trying to figure out -what- exactly I'd know about various races.

Dicerolling, in case needed:
14:55, Today: Sereth rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,4. Presence + Convince.
Smoke Alarm
player, 424 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 19 Jun 2014
at 05:00
  • msg #52

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke looked dubiously at the metal spoofer ball, but her driving the sky-bikecycle seemed an even worse idea, especially this high up. Wordless, she took the ball, considered its weight, then twisted around in her seat to eyespy the two flying cleaners. Just like throwing frapples at caretakers, she told herself. She drew back her arm and tossed the spoofer at the flashers.


OOC: I wasn't sure whether to roll Marksman or Athletics. Tthrowing seem to be more in Athletics, so I went with that. Rolled a 15.
12:56, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,2. coordination (5) + athletics (4).
Stanley Newton
player, 108 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 00:02
  • msg #53

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 44):

OoC:
Sorry for this lengthy OOC block, maybe I should have posted it in the OOC thread.

I have rolled for three rounds/blocks, for each block the awareness+resolve roll to take control, then what Stanley does if he wins the control and if he loses and then the reaction rolls. I hope this is what you meant with outline a whole set of rolls.

First block
The first Awareness(4) + Resolve(2) roll to take control of the block:
quote:
01:14, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 10 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 2,2. Awareness(4) + Resolve (2) First round.

and it seems that Stanley won't be controlling the block this round. He also isn't going to try to psych out Vesha this round.

Reaction rolls:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Sabotage reaction Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4):
quote:
01:38, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,4. Awareness(4)+Ingenuity(4). Sabotage Reaction 1.

Psych out reaction Presence(3) + Resolve(2):
quote:
Today: Stanley Newton rolled 14 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 6,3. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 1.



Second block.
Another Awareness + Resolve roll:
quote:
01:17, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 12 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 2,4. Awareness(4) + Resolve(2) Second round.

Slightly better this time.

In case Stanley wins:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Trying to place the block on my own tower:
quote:
01:20, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 18 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,6. Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4). Block Placement.


In case Stanley loses:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Psych out roll
quote:
01:26, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 12 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 4,3. Presence(3) + Convince (2). Psych out roll.

What Stanley says:
quote:
"Ahem...just some advice, but I would put the next block over there." he says pointing at a random location on Vesha's tower.



Reaction rolls:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Sabotage reaction Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4): 01:38, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,4. Awareness(4)+Ingenuity(4). Sabotage Reaction 2.  </quote>
Psych out reaction Presence(3) + Resolve(2):
quote:
01:41, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,5. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 2. .




Third Block:
quote:
01:23, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 1,4. Awareness(4) + Resolve(2) Third round.


In case Stanley wins:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Trying to sabotage Vesha's tower:
quote:
01:29, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 5,1. Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4). Sabotage roll.


In case Stanley loses:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Not going to do anything except frown :).



Reaction rolls:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Sabotage reaction Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4):
quote:
01:38, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 12 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,3. Awareness(4)+Ingenuity(4). Sabotage Reaction 3. 

Psych out reaction Presence(3) + Resolve(2):
quote:
01:41, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 8 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,2. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 3.



This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Fri 20 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 434 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 01:08
  • msg #54

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Foamasi police turn to face Sereth squarely, puffing out their chests a bit.  Even before they speak, Sereth realizes he might have picked the wrong gambit -- these two are quite full of their own petty power, and his reasonable tone may have encouraged them.

"Maybe you don't understand how things work on Esteve Gastem," the spokes-lizard says, taking on the air of a tough guy.  "People come from all over the Cluster and beyond, to enjoy themselves.  Whether it's doing a little friendly gaming, taking in the shows... finding a little companionship... the Families want to make sure that nothing get in the way of them having a good time, see?  They don't want them bothered by people coming and parking, ah...."  He glances back at the lettering on the TARDIS.  "...Police Public Call Boxes on the sidewalks."

His partner speaks up.  "That right there could be breaking the law, see.  The Families pay for the police here.  We're Ss'tenga Lodge, and that means we're the police here."  He pats his sidearm meaningfully.

The first Foamasi goes on:  "Now, we don't want to make a real fuss about this, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ticket you."  Pause.  "But it's a real hassle, going to court and paying off your fines, and chances are you didn't know better.  My partner and I could make that problem go away for you.  Take care of your fines, you see.  I think they'd come to about...."

"A thousand gee-bucks," puts in his partner.

"...Exactly, a thousand gee-bucks sounds right."

The Guardian, for the NPC Foamasi, rolled 18 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 6,6. Taking the hint?  Convince(3) + Resolve(3).

Hilarious roll, considering what these guys' actual objective is.
Sereth
player, 231 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 01:18
  • msg #55

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Of course. He should have known better than to expect a gambling den to have any kind of police force except corrupt weaklings who weren't good enough for -real- work.

"Oh I understand you quite clearly, -friend-. I was just hoping I was wrong."

His sword was still nearby, but he still wanted to give them a chance to escape.

"I am a Draconian noble; and do not deal with criminals, no matter what semblance of legitimacy corrupt families money has given them."

If he sees either of them prepare to take out a gun, he'll attack; though not with his sword.

OOC: Sigh. Oh well.

Edit: Dicerolling: 12:45, Today: Sereth rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,4. Presence + Convince.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Fri 20 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 436 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 01:29
  • msg #56

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm throws the spoofer squarely into the space between the flashers, who have split out to the left and right.  Icehot!  There's a brief brilliant burst like a light bulb popping, and Smoke sees blue sparks play over the flashers.

The flashing lights on the flying cleaners wink out, and the two machines abruptly lose speed, falling behind the sky-cycle.

Smoke Alarm is so pleased with her throw and the fact that the spoofer seems to have taken the cleaners to the cleaners, that she doesn't register the same sparks playing over the tail end of the bike and the way its tail-light flickers and goes out, not until she hears the boy's confused, "Hah?", and the cycle starts to plummet toward the ground.

The Guardian, for the NPC Police Drones, rolled 14 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,3. Dodging the spoofer: Awareness(3) + Coordination(3).

That's a "Yes, But" result.  We'll make things a little more exciting, thus reinforcing the Kang credo of NO BALL GAMES.
Smoke Alarm
player, 425 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 02:03
  • msg #57

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke outlooked down at the sputtering sky-cycle, realising with growing alarm what had happened. No ball-games, no fly-posts, no ball-games! She slapped the boy on the shoulder, deciding it was his fault. 'Your spoofer-ball spoofed the bikecycle. It's broke! Fix it!' she ordered, then frantically outlooked for a fire-escape.


OOC: How high up are we? Are there any buildings or other structures nearby? Does the guy have the grappling-hook gun handy and ready to use?
The Guardian
GM, 437 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #58

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley is just starting to get the hang of the way that you're apparently meant to concentrate, in order for the mental sensors of the game to interpret it as taking the beam or block, when he feels the block plucked deftly from his attempt to grab it.

For those first few blocks that the machine generates at the top of the tank, Vesha doesn't seem to be making a serious attempt to build up her own tower, as this apparently does not penalize her until she gets a proper foundation built -- it feels a bit like she's toying with Stanley, or perhaps teasing is a better word.  "Goodness," she says, leaning slightly toward the tank and giving him a smile that hovers right between cheerful and smug, "you are new at this.  I'll have to see about how I can make it up to you, once I take your money."

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 11 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 3,1. Round 1: placing block: Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(3).

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 12 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,3. Round 1: distracting Stanley: Presence(3) + Convince(4).  No bonus for her.

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 18 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 5,6. Round 2, taking the block: Awareness(4) + Resolve(3).

I'll stop there to let you narrate something in response, and you can change your rolls around (e.g. adding a story point) if you want, as I posted in OOC.

The Guardian
GM, 439 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 02:58
  • msg #59

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Fix it!  In midair?"

Smoke's pilot is frantically trying the starter.  After several tries the cycle has dropped from well over the rooftops of the highest Towers to just over the steel canyons below.  Smoke Alarm finally sees him pop open a panel on the side of the steering column and reach into it one-handed.  She doesn't see exactly what he does, but there's a spark, and he jerks his hand back -- but the cycle's engine hums back to life!

However, it is still falling.

"I dunno if I can pull out in time!" he shouts.  "Take my grapple and bail!"

Smoke sees the boy's icehot line-gun in a holster on his hip.  She wouldn't have any problem just yanking it out and taking it,  They're falling past a big rooftop billboard proclaiming FIZZ-ADE!, held up by a complicated open structure of girders.  Not tough to hook onto, probably.  But there's no time to talk it over!

The Guardian, for the NPC Cycle Pilot Boy, rolled 18 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,4. Emergency restart?  Ingenuity(3) + Transport (AoE: Skycycle) (5).

The die roller is being very kind to the NPCs tonight.
The Guardian
GM, 440 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 03:07
  • msg #60

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Seeing the Draconian's wholly unimpressed reaction to their bluster, the Foamasi shrink back a little.  They turn a little gray, and their eyes start twitching and looking around nervously.

One of them even puts his hand on his pistol, but the other one -- the first one that addressed Sereth -- catches it.  He gives a couple of head-shakes, indicating the still substantial crowds around them to his compatriot.

He turns back to Sereth.  "Er," he begins, and trails off into a series of whistles and clicks.  "Yes, well.  We'll let you off with a warning this time," he says, raising his voice, perhaps for the benefit of a handful of rubbernecking onlookers.  "Just make sure you relocate this nuisance promptly!"

The Guardian, for the NPC Foamasi, rolled 11 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 1,4. Not the mark they were expecting: Convince(3) + Resolve(3).
Smoke Alarm
player, 427 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 03:20
  • msg #61

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm snatched the rope-gun from the holster. 'What about you?!' she shouted in his ear over the rushing wind.
Sereth
player, 236 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 03:25
  • msg #62

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh of course." A shake of his head. All bluster. Still; no sense antagonising them.

Rather than leave the area, he sent Trav a quick message.

"Make your business quick; so-called police sniffing at your TARDIS."
The Guardian
GM, 442 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 04:27
  • msg #63

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'What about you?!' she shouted in his ear over the rushing wind.

"I can't just let the bike fall, there's people down there!  GO!"

OOC: It's kind of up to you which way this plays out.  You could probably yank him off the bike against his will.  Alternately, it's not a foregone conclusion that he would crash whether or not Smoke jumps.  You can make his roll (which would be Coordination(5) + Transport AoE: Skycycle(5); flying the bike is really his Thing) and add your own story point(s) to it if you want.  Call it a Difficulty 21.

To grapple the sign, call it a Marksman roll at 18.  Your other skills for getting to safety once you make the shot are good enough that it doesn't matter, as long as you catch the sign.  Your Crack Shot trait will work for that as well.

EDIT: Also remember, for the sake of argument, that it's possible to give support to another character's roll.  That's just a +2, but it could be an important +2.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:43, Fri 20 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 417 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 04:46
  • msg #64

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"Oh of course." A shake of his head. All bluster. Still; no sense antagonising them.

Rather than leave the area, he sent Trav a quick message.

"Make your business quick; so-called police sniffing at your TARDIS."


Trav blinks as she notices that on her phone. "Stan, gotta run. You have fun, be back in a bit." She gives him a smooch on the cheek as she runs out of the casino and back to the TARDIS. She rapidly texts to Sereth, "thanks, omw."

They weren't supposed to notice that. She's had crowds file around her TARDIS during political rallies and parades. What were local mugs doing bothering her time machine?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Fri 20 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 428 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 06:01
  • msg #65

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked down; the floor was coming up faster than an alleviator now and there were tiny little people down there. 'No! I got you into this to-do, I'm getting you out!' she yelled, reaching under his arm to grab the handle-bar tight. Aiming sideways, she shot the rope-gun at the Fizz-Ade sign on the tower. The hook and rope arced high through the air.

Frantically, she kicked the bikecycle beneath her. 'Give us lift! Now! Now-now-now-now!' The boy revved the falling skycycle furiously.

The grapple snagged on the girder.

The cable snapped taut. Smoke's arm was yanked up.

Then the skycycle jumped into the air, countering the violent deceleration and saving Smoke's arms from being pulled out of their sockets like an old dolly's. Even so, the Kang was stretched like rubber between bike and rope-gun. 'Make us fly!' she growled, teeth gritted. Mayhaps I should have just grabbed those flying cleaners.


OOC: Let's do both! :D This seems something unlikely or impossible, so I'll spend a Story Point as per “Hang on, I have an idea!” or “You’re the most remarkable..." to make it happen.

Shooting the grappling hook: Coordination + Marksman + Crack Shot = 21, Success, "Yes, But"
13:41, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 21 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 4,4. Coord(5) + Marksman(3) + Crack Shot(2).

Stranger getting the bike going. I'll spend a story point for +2d6. Coordination + Transport (AoE: Skycycle) + 2d6: 29, Good, "Yes"
13:43, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 29 using 4d6+10 with rolls of 3,6,5,5. Coordination(5) + Transport AoE: Skycycle(5) + 2d6.
I don't have the Transport skill to assist.
The Guardian
GM, 443 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 11:34
  • msg #66

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

There's a faint groaning noise from above them, as everything is stretched to its limit: the cable, the anchors holding the sign down to the building, Smoke Alarm's arms around the boy whose name she doesn't even know yet and her arm on the cable.

Everything holds.

The bike slews sideways a little as it swings down, down, down through the arc defined by the limit of the cable -- but the pilot keeps control, straightens the bike out as it swoops just a few dozen feet over the heads of the people down on the Strip.  Then it's arcing skyward again, and Smoke Alarm can't remember the last time she's been so relieved about something.  She can feel her heart thrumming hard against the boy's back and feel his too.

"Hit the release!" he yells, and Smoke Alarm finds the switch that lets the cable snap free of the line-gun, letting the bike fly free again.  The boy steers it around in a big loop and circles to bring it in for a landing, hiding behind the Fizz-Ade sign.

The boy just sits there, hugging the steering column, and after what has just happened Smoke Alarm doesn't feel much like letting go either.

"Can we start again?" he says weakly.  "I'm Dev.  Dev Farron."
Smoke Alarm
player, 429 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 13:13
  • msg #67

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I-I-CE! HO-O-OT!' Smoke Alarm screamed as the sky-cycle flew wildly through the air once released from its tether, all her relief and joy bursting out. 'Whoo!' she continued to wail until the boy landed the sky-cycle on the rooftop. Then she realised how close she'd come to being made unalive and going to the Great Pool in the Sky, and sat still for a while in shock.

'I'm still Smoke Alarm. How you do.' she greeted Dev at last, climbing weakly off the bikecycle.

She couldn't seem to move her right arm, and it swung loose like when Puddy's paw nearly came off. And it hurt like crazy. Half-shrugging, the Kang footed over to one of the girders, leaned against it on the broken arm, then pushed hard with all speed. Just like fixing a dolly. The arm popped back in and moved normally, though it still hurt a bit. Smoke hadn't jumped off as many as things as she had without having a few falls and hurts, and some rough DIY fixes. 'Let's do that again!' she cheered at Dev, waving with her now fixed arm.

Thinking fast, she lost-and-found where the rope still hung from the hook and over the side of the tower. She outlooked over the side to see if anyone had eyespied them, then hauled the rope back up.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Fri 20 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 419 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 15:24
  • msg #68

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is literally skidding around a corner when she sees the thugs leaving after the stern rebuke by Sereth. "Oh, thank you, sweety." She isn't on smooching or baby terms with the Draconian yet.  "I hate it when Sweet Boy gets stolen. There was this dude who offered me 4 Billion Center credits for Sweet Boy here. He was a Naruni - I think he was more upset that there was something he simply couldn't buy, like his money gave him some kind of authority." She trots up and inserts the key, opening the door.

"Normally, this isn't supposed to happen," she says as she waves Sereth inside. "my TARDIS emits a psychic field that makes it ignorable, for lack of a better term. It might be malfunctioning."

Trav checks to see if the Scutters had delivered the hyper diamonds yet. If they did, and if she had an account balance with the local banking institutions, she immediately rents out a private parking space with security for 4 days. She double checks what passes for law here - she doesn't want her sweet boy stolen. This is the Kallistan Kleptocracy.

While stealing back her TARDIS could be fun, she had real business here on Estanve Gastem. Even wacky romps had their time and place.

She turns back to Sereth. "I'm sorry if you find this place absolutely dreadful. I can imagine that a wretched hive of scum and villainy like this must be really distasteful to you. Again, thank you for watching out for me." Trav ponders a moment, and then asks - "Let's grab dinner, you and me, after I park the TARDIS? I really want to know you better, Sereth, and ever since I picked you up at Farhaven, we've been running."
Stanley Newton
player, 110 posts
Fri 20 Jun 2014
at 23:39
  • msg #69

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley shakes his head at Vesha's remark. "It's true that I haven't played this game before, but that doesn't mean I won't win."

He focuses on the next block that appears and manages to take control of it. "Hah! " he shouts out triumphantly as he moves the block to form the first part of his tower.


OoC:
I am only going to use a SP for the taking control roll and recycle the rest of the rolls.

Psych out Reaction roll (round 1) (old roll):
>Today: Stanley Newton rolled 14 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 6,3. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 1.

I am going to spend one SP (11 left) to try and improve my "taking the block", so that is +2d6(new roll) + the old roll:
>01:16, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,5. Story point roll to improve taking the block roll.
>01:17, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 12 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 2,4. Awareness(4) + Resolve(2) Second round.
gives 12+10 = 22.

Stanley is going to place the block on his tower using the (old roll):
> 01:20, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 18 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,6. Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4). Block Placement

Not going to add anything to the psych out reaction roll (round 2), just going to use the old roll so that's 11.
>01:41, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,5. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 2

The Guardian
GM, 444 posts
Sat 21 Jun 2014
at 03:55
  • msg #70

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh, my.  I guess I shouldn't have counted you out so soon..." Vesha says, as Stanley runs several blocks together, until his tower reaches about a third of the way up his side of the tank.  Her tone betrays some surprise and maybe even alarm.

Stanley realizes as the next block starts to fall that this was a ploy, though, as her swift and strong grasp on the block attests.

With 18 vs. your initial difficulty of 12, you've now got 2 points / levels built.

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,5. Round 2, distracting Stanley: Presence(3) + Convince(4).  With that against your 11, she'll add +2 to take the block in round 3.

And here is that roll:

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 14 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,1. Round 2, taking the block: Awareness(4) + Resolve(3) + Psych Bonus(2).  Beats your 11, if you leave things as they are.
The Guardian
GM, 445 posts
Sat 21 Jun 2014
at 04:07
  • msg #71

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Checking the area around the building they're now parked on, Smoke Alarm sees that their fall and swing may have attracted some attention from the people down on the street, but she doesn't see any more of the flying cleaners coming.

"Smoke Alarm," says Dev.  "Huh."  He straightens on the bike and folds his arms, like he's trying to affect a nonchalance at odds with his relief a few moments ago.  "If it's all the same, I could go for a long while without trying that gimmick again.  Free fall isn't what I'm best at."

He eyes her curiously.  "So, like I was wondering before those flashers interrupted us, why'd you come climbing up onto the roof of the Rialto after me?  You said before about saying 'how-you-do', but, you know, there's lots of more convenient people down on the Strip."
Smoke Alarm
player, 430 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 21 Jun 2014
at 04:42
  • msg #72

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Scaredy cat.' Smoke Alarm told Dev with a teasing grin.

Once she was done, Smoke dropped the coiled cable on the roof, then scaled the scaffolding to get the hook down. Hand over foot, she climbed the framework like a monkey, then tightrope-walked along the narrow beam over to the hook. 'I wanted to eyespy what you were doing up there, roof-running and going hide-and-seek. It looked like fun.'


OOC: Short post, I'm at a convention.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Sat 21 June 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 111 posts
Sat 21 Jun 2014
at 22:29
  • msg #73

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Just when I thought I was going to win." Stanley sighs as Vesha wins the mental struggle. Doesn't matter much, because he still has an advantage in tower height and he suspects that Vesha is going to build up her own tower. He hopes that she is not going to try and sabotage his tower. He begins to mentally prepares himself for quickly taking control of the blocks next round by clearing his mind and concentrating on where they are going to appear.

OOC:
Not going to change anything to my rolls.

Sabotage reaction(old): 12
Psych out reaction(old): 8

I am going to spend a SP(10 left) for the next taking control roll:
00:26, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 21 using 4d6+6 with rolls of 4,6,2,3. SP(+2d6) + Awareness(4) + Resolve(2). Fourth round.


The Guardian
GM, 447 posts
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 00:45
  • msg #74

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley notices that the tempo of the game has picked up a little.  Vesha, for her part, seems to have begun focusing more intently on catching up to Stanley: she makes gains on him, but hasn't exactly caught him yet.

This gives Stanley time to wait out her playing of the pieces she's controlling, and when the game drops the next, he's ready, taking it when Vesha has scarcely reacted to it.

OOC:

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 14 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 6,1. Round 3: placing block: Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(3).  This just hits her target of 14, so the score is Stanley 2, Vesha 1

The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 13 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,2. Round 4: taking the block: Awareness(4) + Resolve(3).  You take it handily.  This is your second round for placing, so your difficulty is 14 now.

You should expect that Vesha is going to try to get you off stride again now, so make a Psych reaction roll with whatever you opt to do.
The Guardian
GM, 448 posts
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 00:58
  • msg #75

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Trav checks over the TARDIS systems, she finds -- much as she suspected -- that the cognitive oscillation rectifier has blown.  Again.

(This is all the Doctor's fault.  He swore up and down that a cognitive oscillation rectifier was a perfectly adequate substitute for a cognitive rectifying oscillator; and besides, he could get her a job lot of the former!  He neglected to mention exactly how prone they were to burnout.)

When Trav heads down to the master main spares locker for a replacement, she finds that the cupboard is bare.  This surprises her a little, because as best she remembered she had some remaining, but in the racks of components tied up in their helpful color-coded identifying tapes, between the red-bound lateral feedback compensators, harmonic field resonators done up in green, and primary loop capacitors in violet, there are no blue-ribboned cognitive oscillation rectifiers at all.

Looking through her other racks of parts and components, she finds that she has most of what she would need to build a proper, new cognitive rectifying oscillator, but it really needs a lithium-doped vanadium coil.  Of which she has none.

If this were an emergency, she's sure she could lash something up, but it's best to get things right this time.  After all, when your perception filter goes out of phase, your TARDIS might start projecting a telepathic signal making it attract attention.  The last time that happened, someone ended up making a reality show about it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:35, Sun 22 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 449 posts
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 01:10
  • msg #76

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Fun?" Dev echoes Smoke Alarm.  "Kind of dull, really.  It was just a little job one of my partners told me was in the wind -- a little surveillance work.  Someone got tipped that a big player in the Bao family was seeing some action on the side; people are willing to pay good for insurance like that."

He pulls the spy-goggles out of his jacket and pushes a couple of tiny buttons on them: they project a tiny picture-spout showing a man walking out of a hotel and immediately getting into a big hover-car in the company of a stately blond woman.

He cocks his head at Smoke.  "Y'know, you're not half bad at running roofs... I bet if you met with Kellnar, he'd be able to find you some jobs.  You got to be careful not to dig into Syndicate business to far, but as long as you don't call down too much heat, Kellnar always plays square with you."
Smoke Alarm
player, 432 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 02:26
  • msg #77

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Outlooking at the picture-spout, Smoke Alarm realised that Dev was a picture-taker, though she didn't knowhow what the to-do was with the Inbetweens getting into the fly-car, or what insurance was.

'Blue Kangs are best at running.' she boasted proudly. Then she thought about these jobs with Kellnar, thinking of her last job moving and counting boxes with Mister Mop on the Exeter, before she'd been thrown through all the tick-tocks. 'Thanks, but it sounds yawny. I cameout here on holly-day with Traveller and friends. They're outgoing to catsinos and a meeting-square... I should be outgoing back. They'll only get into a to-do without me.' she declared boldly.

She pointed at Dev's holster. 'Where did you find that icehot rope-gun? It would save me falling off towers.'
Stanley Newton
player, 112 posts
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 21:25
  • msg #78

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha is slowly catching up and Stanley briefly considers trying to sabotage her tower or distract her in some other way. Not wanting to risk losing his advantage, he decides to just place the block on his tower.

OOC:
Spending SPs on a casino game (even though skill plays a role in this one) sort of feels like cheating :). I don't want to spend too many SPs, so these are just normal rolls:

Placing the block
22:49, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,2. Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4). Block Placement 2.

Psych out reaction:
23:21, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 10 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 2,3. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 4.

Taking control:
23:23, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 18 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 6,6. Awareness(4) + Resolve(2). Round 5.

Sereth
player, 241 posts
Sun 22 Jun 2014
at 22:47
  • msg #79

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He regards Traveller for a very long moment.

"If I may be blunt, just for a moment?" He frowns. "I'm not worried about this kind of place. I've had to deal with the like before. Yes, I find it distasteful, but you and I both know that occasionally you have to deal with the worst elements to get the job done. What I'm concerned about is are your other companions prepared? Doctor Newton, in particular, seems naive, and innocent, and you have a responsibility to him, to make sure he doesn't get taken advantage by the criminal element here. Or worse. Smoke Alarm would escape well before things got too nasty if it came down to it; you fit in anywhere, and it would truly be overwhelming odds before I needed to worry about being grabbed."

When she offers dinner he pauses. "Could it wait till we've left here? As I said, I am worried about your friends in this place. They could get over their heads in a rather major way, and we need to be there to bail them out if necessary."
The Guardian
GM, 450 posts
Mon 23 Jun 2014
at 00:47
  • msg #80

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev looks a little deflated that Smoke Alarm's interest seems to be concentrated on his line-gun.

"Oh, there's just a guy I know, specializes in getting his hands on stuff to help a guy keep a step ahead of the law."  He makes a face.  "Though I might have a little talk with him about the range on the spoofers he sold me."

He shrugs, and brightens.  "Hey, tell you what.  Even though I guess we kind of got each other into that mess with the flashers, you sure saved our butts -- and my bike.  It wouldn't be too tough for me to lay my hands on another one of these."  He snaps the holster off his belt.  "I'd be willing to trade ya, you know, kind of a keepsake.  What've you got to offer?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 433 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 23 Jun 2014
at 02:02
  • msg #81

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

After thinking for a tick-tock, Smoke Alarm fished inside her jingly pocket for a fistful of coins. 'I've got some shiny coins.' she offered eagerly, unaware that her coins and credit sticks — picked up from a number of worlds and some dating back to the 21st century, including the rare Kroagnons — might actually be worth a fortune to a numismatist.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Mon 23 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 423 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 23 Jun 2014
at 02:58
  • msg #82

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
As Trav checks over the TARDIS systems, she finds -- much as she suspected -- that the cognitive oscillation rectifier has blown.  Again.

(This is all the Doctor's fault.  He swore up and down that a cognitive oscillation rectifier was a perfectly adequate substitute for a cognitive rectifying oscillator; and besides, he could get her a job lot of the former!  He neglected to mention exactly how prone they were to burnout.)

When Trav heads down to the master main spares locker for a replacement, she finds that the cupboard is bare.  This surprises her a little, because as best she remembered she had some remaining, but in the racks of components tied up in their helpful color-coded identifying tapes, between the red-bound lateral feedback compensators, harmonic field resonators done up in green, and primary loop capacitors in violet, there are no blue-ribboned cognitive oscillation rectifiers at all.

Looking through her other racks of parts and components, she finds that she has most of what she would need to build a proper, new cognitive rectifying oscillator, but it really needs a lithium-doped vanadium coil.  Of which she has none.

If this were an emergency, she's sure she could lash something up, but it's best to get things right this time.  After all, when your perception filter goes out of phase, your TARDIS might start projecting a telepathic signal making it attract attention.  The last time that happened, someone ended up making a reality show about it.



"Boobie, if you weren't dead I would fucking KILL YOU." Hand in face, blowing blond locks out of her eyes.

Of course, she never got the damned thing fixed while in R-Space because the quantum spin of the native materials didn't match, and she didn't want to attach techno-wizards devices to Sweet Boy.  She tossed in her hand a part that was literally 400 years old, which is the equivalent of getting an oil change for a TARDIS.

So, she runs back up the spiral staircase. "CHIBI." Chibi should know what's happening. Giving the holo a kiss on her head, she sends the AI off to find where there might be a lithium doped vanadium coil, or, failing that, raw materials so that she could put one together down in the shop.

She smiles apologetically to Sereth. "This is the part that helps people ignore my ship. It's burnt out - that's why those thugs were able to find it so easily. That's why I'm renting us out some parking space. If we want to stay discrete, we need to find a
lithium doped vanadium coil."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Tue 24 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 452 posts
Mon 23 Jun 2014
at 03:59
  • msg #83

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev makes an odd face, but looks through the coinage that Smoke Alarm is showing him.

"How about this one?" he says, holding up a brass-colored coin.  Smoke Alarm recognizes it -- it's a dollar coin that Old Gaross gave her once, to go and fetch back some odds and ends from the grocery.  But at the time Peet had told her that it was funny, because the face on the coin, even though it was really supposed to be some olden-times woman who stopped a war or something, looked so much like Smoke Alarm herself.

By the time she'd gotten to the grocery, she'd decided she liked the coin so much that she wanted to keep it, so she'd just lost-and-found what she needed.  (But she left some of her other coins instead.  Some of them were even from Arsuran!)
The Traveller
player, 424 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 23 Jun 2014
at 07:06
  • msg #84

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
He regards Traveller for a very long moment.

"If I may be blunt, just for a moment?" He frowns. "I'm not worried about this kind of place. I've had to deal with the like before. Yes, I find it distasteful, but you and I both know that occasionally you have to deal with the worst elements to get the job done. What I'm concerned about is are your other companions prepared? Doctor Newton, in particular, seems naive, and innocent, and you have a responsibility to him, to make sure he doesn't get taken advantage by the criminal element here. Or worse. Smoke Alarm would escape well before things got too nasty if it came down to it; you fit in anywhere, and it would truly be overwhelming odds before I needed to worry about being grabbed."

When she offers dinner he pauses. "Could it wait till we've left here? As I said, I am worried about your friends in this place. They could get over their heads in a rather major way, and we need to be there to bail them out if necessary."


"Well, Stan was with a young, attractive woman, and it's not my way to get in the way of people when things like that are happening. Yeah, let's head back to that casino and round up Stan and his new lady friend."
Smoke Alarm
player, 435 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 23 Jun 2014
at 11:34
  • msg #85

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Taking it back, Smoke Alarm outlooked at the coin for a long long time, chewing her lip and trying to decide whether to part with it or not. That coin had memories in it, and sometimes Smoke liked to day-dream that that lady on it was her, all shiny and important.

But it wasn't an icehot rope-gun.

She handed it over, very carefully putting it in Dev's hand. 'Okay. But please care-take it. It's worth lots to me.' she said solemnly. Yet somehow she immediately seemed to regret the decision.
The Guardian
GM, 453 posts
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 00:52
  • msg #86

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

ChibiTrav has identified several storage facilities in the sprawl around Estanve Gastem's tourist district.  One calling itself Covenant Station, Bonded Secure Depository apparently specializes in this sort of thing.  They're not cheap, but their fees will hardly break Trav in several days, and their e-literature boasts of their security measures and expansive property defense warrants, is anxious to assure potential customers of their "Platinum Grade Enforcement License", which seems to amount to a hefty governmental fee or protection payment putting them at the head of the line for Syndicate police assistance.

Prospects for locating a vanadium coil are less clear-cut, but local reviews seem to speak well of 7152C's Emporium of Technological Utility, a Meklinite electronics repair shop and parts broker.  (Trav recognizes the Meklinites by repute: a self-aware, largely benign AI machine race.)
The Guardian
GM, 454 posts
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 00:56
  • msg #87

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev takes the coin just as solemnly and brings it up to his lips to kiss it, watching Smoke the whole time.  "Of course," he tells her. "Plain old money you can get lots of places.  You can't do that with memories."

Then he slips the coin inside his jacket, and puts the line-gun in her hands.

"So," he says, "is there anywhere I can drop you off to meet your friends?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:58, Tue 24 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 436 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 03:09
  • msg #88

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm curiously eyespied the icehot rope-gun, turning it all over in her hands to find out how it worked. She took up the rope and grapple she gathered earlier, and wondered how to put them back together. 'Mayhaps you can show-and-tell me how to use it?' she asked.

At Dev's question, she outlooked at all the flashy towers around her. The sky-cycle had flown a long way away, and she hadn't had time to learn all the streets and carrydoors, so she couldn't track back to the talkiphone box with all speed. 'Can we track back to the Rialto tower? I can find my way from there.'
The Guardian
GM, 455 posts
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 04:05
  • msg #89

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev shows her how the line reattaches to the reel, and the take-up switch that rewinds it.  "Power's not a big deal.  It's got a, what do they call it, regenerating battery.  Charges up from your movement, as you walk or run or move around, and I'm betting you do a lot of moving...."

After they get back on Dev's bike and drop off the back side of the building -- at a more sedate rate of descent this time -- he takes her on a roundabout route back to the back street behind the Rialto.  Maybe it's longer than it strictly has to be to avoid any direct attention.

Finally, he stops the bike and it settles to rest. "Here you go," he says.  "Well... guess this is it, Smoke.  Or maybe I'll see you around?"
The Traveller
player, 426 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 05:04
  • msg #90

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
ChibiTrav has identified several storage facilities in the sprawl around Estanve Gastem's tourist district.  One calling itself Covenant Station, Bonded Secure Depository apparently specializes in this sort of thing.  They're not cheap, but their fees will hardly break Trav in several days, and their e-literature boasts of their security measures and expansive property defense warrants, is anxious to assure potential customers of their "Platinum Grade Enforcement License", which seems to amount to a hefty governmental fee or protection payment putting them at the head of the line for Syndicate police assistance.

Prospects for locating a vanadium coil are less clear-cut, but local reviews seem to speak well of 7152C's Emporium of Technological Utility, a Meklinite electronics repair shop and parts broker.  (Trav recognizes the Meklinites by repute: a self-aware, largely benign AI machine race.)



Trav pats Chibi on her head. "Great job, baby. Now, go have fun in the Yaoi manga." Trav makes the appropriate arrangements with Covenant Station to park the TARDIS for a week.

Then she calls up the rest of Team TARDIS. She texts to Stan - "You still playing that game, sweety? And did you get the pretty lady's phone number?"

Another text to Smoke - "Having fun outgoing into space vegas? hope you're having fun wallscrawling and gameplaying. Be careful, lots of caretakers in this town. Come grab dinner and tell us all about your adventures?"

With a nod to Sereth, she takes the TARDIS to the supplied coordinates from Covenant Station once the transaction goes through.
Smoke Alarm
player, 437 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 24 Jun 2014
at 06:38
  • msg #91

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm climbed off the bike-cycle, rather glad to set her own feet on the ground again. 'Mayhaps. Here.' She took out her talkiphone, thumbed through the display, and show-and-telled Dev her talkiphone number, once the superphone had interfaced with the local communications systems. 'Call me if you need anything. Like if your fly-cycle falls out of the sky again.' she teased. Dev seemed like a good person, and almost Kangish for a boy. She wouldn't mind running with him again, if his sky-cycle didn't break again. ''Ware those flashers and spoofers!'

Smoke Alarm patted her shiny new rope-gun holstered in her belt. 'Ta for this. It was fun. Build high for happiness!' she fairwelled, making the hand-on-hand gesture before skipping away. It had been a fun night. Now to see what yawny things the others were doing.

Smoke Alarm:
From: Smoke Alarm
To: Trafella

Lots of fun! I thru a spoofer at a flasher and swinged a sky-cycle and got a rope-gun for a coin! Will ware caretakers and track back to talkiphone box. BHFH

This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Thu 26 June 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 457 posts
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 02:38
  • msg #92

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Stanley works to maneuver the block into a good position, he sees that Vesha is intent on his actions and waiting for the game to register when it locks into place.  He's a little disturbed that she is suddenly seeming to take the game so seriously.

That makes him hesitate a little when the next block does appear, and though he is definitely getting the hang of the game, Vesha pounces as quickly as he does, and he has a struggle on his hands.  Her mental grasp slips a hair and he takes the block away, and now he has even less time than before to place it.

OOC: Stanley: apologies.  I made these rolls Sunday and thought I had posted this response.  Score is now Stanley 3, Vesha 1.  Stanley's target is now 16.

19:27, Sun 22 June: The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 11 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,2. Round 4: Psych out: Presence(3) + Convince(4)

19:32, Sun 22 June: The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 17 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,5. Round 5, taking the block: Awareness(4) + Resolve(4) + 1 (Psych).
The Guardian
GM, 458 posts
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 02:43
  • msg #93

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Smoke foots it back toward the TARDIS, she sees a crowd gathered around the big picture-spout she saw before.  As she looks up at it, she gulps.  It's showing her and Dev on his sky-cycle as it strains to pull out of its fall, swinging off the big building below the sign.

Scrolling words going across the picture read: HAZARDOUS HIJINKS: FIZZ-ADE PUBLICITY STUNT?
Smoke Alarm
player, 439 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 03:07
  • msg #94

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

At first Smoke beamed to see her icehot stunt all over again on the tower's picture-spout. She'd be famous like on Arsuran! But then she remembered they were trying to fire-escape from the cleaners and caretakers of Space Vegas, meaning they'd be outlooking for her now. And she couldn't count on the Space Vegans to not dob her in like she could the Arsurans.

Draping her wild blue hair over her face, she footed it with more speed toward the talkiphone box.

And found it outgone. The talkiphone box was nowhere they'd left it. Getting increasingly unbrave, Smoke Alarm outlooked everywhere, around the corner, behind the bins, in the air, and even under a can. Lost! Had they all left her behind because of what was on the tower picture-spout? Footing it into an alley, Smoke Alarm pulled out her talkiphone and called Traveller. 'Traveller! The talkiphone box is lost!'
The Traveller
player, 427 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 12:37
  • msg #95

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

With that, the TARDIS rumbles and appears right behind Smoke. After the machine materializes, and she pokes head head out of the door. "I'd never let my sweet boy get lost, baby! He always knows where he's going. Sometimes I don't know, however. Come on! Some mean people we're giving sweet boy a hard time, but the Leg-it gave them a stern to-do. Now, let's get my sweet boy parked." She beckons Smoke to come inside. She peers as she sees Smoke's image on the space jumbo tron - "who is the cute boy? Were you out doing shenanigans? Heh, you should be the official fizz-ade spokeskang."
Smoke Alarm
player, 442 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 14:02
  • msg #96

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm spun around at the honking of the talkiphone box, and quickly footed it inside, hugely relieved. 'Lost and found!'

She outlooked back on Traveller's shoulder at the tower picture-spout again. 'Oh, he's Dev. He's good. He's brave and bold for a boy. We went roof-running and flied around on a sky-bikecycle away from flying cleaners, then he traded me this icehot rope-gun for a coin.' Smoke Alarm turned her hip to proudly present the grappling hook gun holstered at her belt, opposite to her arrow-gun. 'Yeah, they could give me a fizz-ade! I'm thirsty. Can I get a fizz-ade?'
The Traveller
player, 428 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 14:42
  • msg #97

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav never ceased to be amazed by Smoke Alarm.

Out in the main control room is now a beaten up Fizz-Ade machine that dispensed cans for free - in 9 fruit flavors, cola, diet, and schlurp. "I had the Scudders bring that up." (OOC - Gary, I'll spend an SP on the TARDIS "big pockets" ability if you feel that's necessary for a Fizz-Ade machine.)

"Oh, so you have your *own* sweet boy now. Brave and bold, hm? Brave enough to try to kissy kiss?" Trav playfully teases the Kang as they come inside.

If Smoke will let her, she checks out the rope gun. "ooh, yeah, Ice Hot. If you want, I can make it better. Throw on a scope, magnetic clamps, cartidge and liquid cable dispenser."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Wed 25 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 443 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 15:11
  • msg #98

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Handing Traveller the rope-gun to outlook at, saying 'Mayhaps.' Smoke Alarm pounced on the vending machine, feeding in coins of about the right size until it spat out a can of green fizz-ade and some other coins. She'd be great at the poker machines. Then she outlooked at Traveller as she if was mad, and pulling a face at the concept. 'What, like sitting in a tree? But what about boy germs?!'
The Traveller
player, 430 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 16:42
  • msg #99

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav cackles at the notion of "boy germs." "Well, you want to make sure that you don't have any little Kangs." Trav plops down onto the couch. "Do you know about how babies are made, Smoke?Toss me a Fizz-ade, please?"
Stanley Newton
player, 113 posts
Wed 25 Jun 2014
at 23:21
  • msg #100

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Even though he has less time to place the block, Stanley still manages to manoeuvre it to a favourable position. He smiles as his tower gets ever closer to the target height. It was probably beginner's luck, but the game had been quite easy so far.

OOC: No problem.

I am going to spend one SP(9 left) on the build roll:
>00:35, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 20 using 4d6+8 with rolls of 2,1,6,3. SP(+2d6) + Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(4). Block Placement 3.

Psych reaction(these keep getting worse:( ):
>01:00, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 7 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,1. Presence(3) + Resolve(2). Psych out reaction 5. .

Taking block round 6.
>01:02, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 3,2. Awareness(4) + Resolve(2). Taking block Round 6. .
 
The Guardian
GM, 460 posts
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 02:11
  • msg #101

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
(OOC - Gary, I'll spend an SP on the TARDIS "big pockets" ability if you feel that's necessary for a Fizz-Ade machine.)

OOC: If you wind up needing to use a Fizz-Ade machine to defeat an adversary, spend a story point.

On second thought, if you wind up using a Fizz-Ade machine to defeat an adversary, take a story point for FREE.
The Guardian
GM, 461 posts
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 02:35
  • msg #102

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley is able to seize several blocks in a row and place them.

He's working so fast that he's startled when a chime sounds from the game machine.  The blocks in the tank flash, and the small stack on Vesha's side of the tank dissolve into colored mist that drops to the bottom of the tank.  On the display showing the stakes, Stanley sees Vesha's side drop to G$ 450 as the house cut is extracted; then, it drops to zero as his own changes to G$ 950.  Then it flashes again, zeroing the display, and Stanley's phone indicates a new message, which shows that his account has been credited.

Vesha smiles ruefully.  She circles the tank to stand at arm's length from Stanley and extends a well-manicured hand.

"Tell the truth, now, Stanley," she says impishly.  "Was all that 'do you know how to play this game' for real?  Were you having a little joke on me, or are you just a natural?"

She adds, "No hard feelings either way, I hope."

OOC: You beat the target by 4, which is a Good success.  So you add 2 to your score by the rules, reaching 5, and you win.

Now, you have spent 3 story points into winning a small amount of money which you don't particularly need at the moment.  You've earned some related narrative bonus here, but at the moment inspiration is escaping me.

I think Vesha could be tied into the situation that Trav is here to deal with, via the sort of staggering coincidence that sometimes turns up in a Who story.  If you have a particular idea along those lines or particular information she might be able to supply, let me know.  Other than that, we can proceed with this scene as you wish.
Smoke Alarm
player, 444 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 02:46
  • msg #103

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm passed Traveller a can of schlurp, then flopped onto the couch beside her, wondering where this talk was outgoing. Traveller was getting that voice Inbetweens had when they tried to teach her things. 'Oldster Rezzies say things about girls and boys in a tree sitting and kissing and babies in baby carriages... Then it gets all weird and icky. Door Knob and No Smoking tried it and couldn't make any babies. Rezzies are full of untruths.' she explained sourly.

Her tone turned superior as she declared 'Kangs knowhow that a Ship will comeout to Paradise Towers and drop new little Kangs down the air ducks like it did before time start. Then the little Kangs will pick each other for teams and put on colours: blue and red and yellow and green and pink...'

'And boys come up through the waste disposal shoots or something.'
Sereth
player, 246 posts
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 02:48
  • msg #104

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth just gave Smoke Alarm a long, considering look, before turning to Traveller. His gaze was unmistakeable - careful how you proceed.
The Traveller
player, 431 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 05:31
  • msg #105

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav just smirks. "I'll tell you later.  You'll be surprised, but it's scary and fun." Trav has that smile of a mother, a woman who has had children. She's obviously taking it slow and gentle.
Smoke Alarm
player, 446 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 26 Jun 2014
at 06:15
  • msg #106

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Scary and fun? Smoke pulled a face. She was as brave and bold as a Kang could be, but she figured making babies would be all yawny. Mayhaps it was like when kittens came from the fat-cat. 'I don't want a cry-baby anyway. I've got a Puddy!' she proclaimed, raising the forlorn stuffed cat high. 'Puddies are much better than dollies and cry-babies.'

She had a drink of her blue fizz-ade, then outlooked around. 'Where's Stanley?'
Stanley Newton
player, 114 posts
Fri 27 Jun 2014
at 00:28
  • msg #107

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He looks at the alert on his phone and sees that Trav had sent a message, he hadn't even noticed that she had left the casino. He quickly replies to the message Trav had sent, or the first question at least. - "I won."

He looks back at Vesha. "No, no. This really was the first time I played this game." Stanley says sounding almost apologetic. "I don't think I am natural, I just watched a couple of matches and beginner's luck probably played a large role...I think."

"Yeah, of course no hard feelings." he says as he shakes her hand. "uhm... yeah it was fun, but I guess that I must be getting back to my friends."


OOC: Yeah, I spent 3 SP for money I don't need... Seems like the house always wins :)
The Guardian
GM, 463 posts
Fri 27 Jun 2014
at 03:12
  • msg #108

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha keeps hold of Stanley's hand for just a bit longer than politeness demands, and he notices that her dress ripples through a wave of golds and reds as she does.  "Very well, Stanley," she says.  "I'm in town for some time as yet, so perhaps we'll see each other around."

She glances back and smiles at him one last time as she saunters off into the crowd.
The Traveller
player, 433 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 27 Jun 2014
at 13:35
  • msg #109

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Scary and fun? Smoke pulled a face. She was as brave and bold as a Kang could be, but she figured making babies would be all yawny. Mayhaps it was like when kittens came from the fat-cat. 'I don't want a cry-baby anyway. I've got a Puddy!' she proclaimed, raising the forlorn stuffed cat high. 'Puddies are much better than dollies and cry-babies.'

She had a drink of her blue fizz-ade, then outlooked around. 'Where's Stanley?'


Trav laughs! Laughing hard on the couch, she says, "Baby, you are right in some ways - I bet Puddy has never bummed money off of you, lied to to you, or ever stole the covers. Anyway, Stan is -getting his game on-." Trav makes quote signs with her fingers, which Sereth probably gets but which might be baffling to Smoke.

"Allright, I'm gonna park Sweet Boy, then let's catch up with Stan. Also, I have shopping to do, or, if they fail to have what I need, I need to hit up a junk yard."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:00, Sun 29 June 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 115 posts
Fri 27 Jun 2014
at 22:46
  • msg #110

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Yeah, maybe we will." Stanley waits until he can't see Vesha anymore, before exiting the casino and heading back to the Tardis. It was only a short walk back, but to his surprise the Tardis isn't there. He isn't that concerned and sends a message to Trav -- "Tardis is gone? Where do we meet?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 449 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 28 Jun 2014
at 02:22
  • msg #111

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'No?' Smoke Alarm agreed, knowing that Puddy had not done any of that, if only because she wasn't quite sure what bummed money or stolen covers were. Yawny talky Inbetween stuff, probably.

'Stan-man's playing a game? Can we play?' Smoke Alarm asked eagerly. Running around with Dev meant she'd missed the shiny flashy games in the catsinos. She'd have to try to play them later. 'I have to get Doctor Stan to outlook at my arm. It came off on the swing.' she noted, rotating her still clearly attached left arm.

She jumped off the couch after Traveller. 'Junk yard! I'll comeout with you. Blue Kangs are best at dumpster-diving and recycle-binning. I'll lost-and-find what you need.'
The Traveller
player, 435 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 28 Jun 2014
at 16:09
  • msg #112

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav hops up and grabs the phone on TARDIS control panel. "Stan! Hey baby. So, didja get lucky? Get her number? Huh, huh?" She titters as she locks in on Stan's position. "Had to move sweet boy. Coming to get you, baby."

Trav pinpoints Stan's position, and in a few moments the TARDIS arrives.
Stanley Newton
player, 116 posts
Sat 28 Jun 2014
at 23:23
  • msg #113

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 112):

"Uhm...no I didn't ask for her number. Should I have? Maybe, I mean she was very...Stop giggling, Trav!" Stanley says slightly embarrassed. "That is not what I...never mind. I am just going to wait until the Tardis gets here."

When the Tardis appears, Stanley takes a quick look around before stepping inside. "Yeah, the casino was...uhm...fun." he begins to tell others, "I played a game where you had to build a tower from falling blocks. A bit like Tetris, but for two-players...oh, I just realised that Smoke and Sereth probably don't know what Tetris is. Doesn't really matter, long story short: I won."

"So, what have you all been up to?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 450 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 29 Jun 2014
at 03:19
  • msg #114

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'You builded a tower?!' Smoke Alarm exclaimed in awe at Stanley's feat. 'Can I eyespy it? Can Rezzies and Kangs live there? Can I build a tower too?' the Kang assaulted him questions about the tower-building, picturing Stan commanding builders and cleaners to assemble it.

'I knowhow what Tetris is. I have it on my talkiphone.'

Naturally, she was the first to describe her adventures. 'I went roof-running with Dev and threw a spoofer at a flasher and swung a sky-cycle off a tower and got this icehot rope-gun for a coin and lost-and-found the talkiphone box and taught Traveller where babies comeout from because she didn't knowhow.'

'Oh, and my arm popped off like a dolly's. Do you want to outlook at it, dolly-doctor?' She waved her limp left arm at him.
The Traveller
player, 437 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 29 Jun 2014
at 09:01
  • msg #115

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav boggles as Smoke displays an injury that would have her howling in pain. "Gah! Yeah, Stan, look at her please?"
The Guardian
GM, 466 posts
Sun 29 Jun 2014
at 12:44
  • msg #116

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: As described in post 67, she dislocated her shoulder and it's now actually back in place; right now she's miming to indicate what happened, though it surely still hurts.

I made nothing of it at the time, since Smoke completely made it up, but depending on what Stanley says when he looks at it, Smoke Alarm can choose to get a Story Point at the cost of translating this to a cost of 1 point of Coordination damage for this adventure.  Up to Smoke.
Stanley Newton
player, 117 posts
Sun 29 Jun 2014
at 18:49
  • msg #117

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Well it is not a real tower." Stanley explains. "The blocks are holographic and they disappear when someone wins the game. So no "eyespy" I'm afraid. It wasn't even that impressive. Only about this high." he says, using his hand to show the approximate height.

As Smoke starts telling about her adventures, Stanley listens trying to understand what she says, but with Smoke's unique way of talking and made-up words that's not easy. "Sounds like you have been busy."

"Yeah, let me take a look. Did you "pop" it back in yourself?" He asks as he inspects Smoke Alarm's shoulder. "Can you move your arm up a bit? Does it hurt?...
You dislocated your shoulder, but you put it back, correctly, so that should be fine. I can give you some medicine against the pain. You shouldn't use your arm too much, don't try to climb or use a rope-gun with your arm."
The Traveller
player, 438 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 29 Jun 2014
at 21:14
  • msg #118

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

If Smoke handed over her rope gun, Trav is working with a tool box and her sonic. The rope gun is getting a liquid cartridge dispenser, so she has effectively unlimited line, an infrared scope, and a CO2 cartridge launcher system, all nice and minituarized.
Smoke Alarm
player, 453 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 30 Jun 2014
at 01:40
  • msg #119

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Aww.' Smoke said, disappointed at Stanley's description of the tower.

Smoke Alarm raised and rotated her arm as the doctor requested, feeling like a dolly herself. 'Yep, it in-went right back. Pop! Just like when I fell off a tower once. It hurts a bit, but doesn't feel broke. No red paint.' she reported. But Stan's recommendations dismayed Smoke. 'No ball-games, no fly-posts, no climbing?! But that's like all I do!' she protested, then submitted 'Okay, okay, I knowhow: lefty loosey, righty tighty.'
Smoke Alarm
player, 457 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 02:23
  • msg #120

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

She rolled her sleeve down over a skinny arm. 'So, are we outgoing now? We could track back to the catsino. Or mayhaps outgo and eyespy the ecks-ecks-ecks dancing girls.'
Sereth
player, 255 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 02:29
  • msg #121

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A grunt from the Draconian, before adressing Traveller.

"As I stated before, we need to do what you're here for and get out. Even ignoring my lofty standards; this place is a cesspit of corruption; just waiting for your friends to fall into."
The Traveller
player, 446 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 03:43
  • msg #122

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"I still need to make some repairs, but actually, Sereth, I need a favor from you. Would you mind being my representation? From my understanding, you're a diplomat and a legal scholar. I'm afraid that these jokers may try to flim flam me, and as smart as I am I find legal bullshit extremely boring. I'd be honored and pleased if you'd accompany me to the reading of the will. Once that's out of the way, and I find the part I need, we can leave."

She turns and points to Stan and Smoke. "Which brings me to you two. Would you too pick up the part for me? It's a platinum-soaked vandium coil, which I need to fix the TARDIS' stealth systems. There's a shop here that has a good chance of having the party, and if not, I'm sure that Smoke and I will have a fun time crawling around one of the local junk yards." Trav makes crawling around a junk yard for parts as if it's one of the coolest things you can do in Space Vegas.
The Traveller
player, 447 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 03:47
  • msg #123

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
She rolled her sleeve down over a skinny arm. 'So, are we outgoing now? We could track back to the catsino. Or mayhaps outgo and eyespy the ecks-ecks-ecks dancing girls.'


Trav purses her lips. "Smoke, maybe you like girls, but I have millions of hours of that stuff if you want to see that in Holo. It's part of the residual crud that you get when you download entire planetary databases. It's much more fun to see people nekkid when they're doing it for free. I mean, I like both pretty girls and boys, and I've even been to brothels, but I like more higher class places."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Thu 03 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 257 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:02
  • msg #124

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth merely nodded.

"It would be my pleasure."

There's a subtle change in stance; and he moves his sword. It was no more accessible; though maybe not much less either. But it is clear now that it was less of a weapon when required; than a badge of office.

"You will get your due."

OOC: Err, you may want to check your last post. "Trav, maybe you like girls,"?
The Traveller
player, 449 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:07
  • msg #125

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

She sighs. "Sereth, this means a huge amount to me. I really don't care about money. I care about doing what a person I loved would wanted me to have done. I also want to make sure that his will is carried out according to it's spirit. I also have a concern that none of the legacy or technology of the Time Lords fall into the wrong hands."
Sereth
player, 258 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:12
  • msg #126

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"In that case, he will get -his- due. We'll make sure the will is carried out according to the spirit was intended."

He paused and gazed at her for a long moment.

"You're like a story come to life."
The Traveller
player, 450 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:17
  • msg #127

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav smiles softly and sadly.

"Oh, Sereth, you're sweet. But let me tell you a secret. *Everyone* is a story come to life. That's part of why I travel."
Sereth
player, 259 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:24
  • msg #128

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He didn't respond at first.

"You misunderstand me. THere's a story amongst my people; of a man who served our people twice. No-one else that was not Draconian has ever been made a noble. Your spirit reminds me of this story. I was only a child when I first heard it."

He then nodded.

"Smoke, try not to let Stanley get into too much trouble, okay?"
The Traveller
player, 451 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:34
  • msg #129

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
He didn't respond at first.

"You misunderstand me. THere's a story amongst my people; of a man who served our people twice. No-one else that was not Draconian has ever been made a noble. Your spirit reminds me of this story. I was only a child when I first heard it."

He then nodded.

"Smoke, try not to let Stanley get into too much trouble, okay?"



Trav blushes again. "I apologize for misunderstanding - thank you for such a comparison. If that is who I think you're talking about, I will never be his equal. Colleague, enemy, lover for a short time... but never an equal."

Trav hops off of the couch and heads to the control column. "I'm going to bring us to a half hour before the reading, and park us." She is tapping into the keyboard a quick e-mail, informing the law firm that she is bring with her a legal representative from the Draconian empire to provide counsel, passing through Sereth's identification details.
The Guardian
GM, 473 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 04:58
  • msg #130

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth & Trav:

Compared to the Strip, Old Town in its present state subscribes to a far more refined and understated standard of taste, suggesting that this is where the real money and power move on Estenve Gastem.  Sereth and Trav find that the offices of Alden, Ffinch and Snv are located in a modest fifteen-story tower with a subtly elegant design.

Upon entering the offices, they are greeted by a hulking being, over two meters tall and armored with a carapace of angular green plates, but it greets them with a sweet contralto.  "Welcome to AF&S!" the receptionist says perkily.  The name plate on her (?) desk says TRIX.

Once Trav establishes her bona fides, the pair are conveyed to a conference room where the three managing partners introduce themselves:  Samantha Alden, a human woman whose dark hair is just turning to silver; Darius Ffinch, a handsome dark-skinned human male who Trav would place in his forties; and Xavvic'tok Snv, a member of an arthropod species with a brilliant iridescent exoskeleton.  Trav can't quite place Snv's species: possibly an offshoot from the Metatraxi.

"We're very pleased that you could attend this reading to ensure Ms. Kidd's directives are respected," chitters Snv.  "I shall be responsible for facilitating the reading, and the eventual transfer of assets."
The Guardian
GM, 474 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 05:01
  • msg #131

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke & Stanley:

Smoke and Stanley manage to navigate their way to 7152C's Emporium of Technological Utility without much difficulty.  It's pretty easy to flag down a hover-taxi and give the directions that Trav passed on: the place is in the outskirts of the city, well away from the tourist center and Old Town, so the streets and buildings don't have that polished-fresh-daily look, but the area still seems respectably well-to-do.

The business itself is a free-standing shop with a fenced yard in back of it.  Both Stanley and Smoke can see sheds and metal awnings back of the shop suggesting that there may be a storage area protecting larger equipment or material.

They enter through the shop front, and see that there are some racks and bins containing electronic and other parts out in front of the service counter; behind that they can see a set of doors that lead toward the back part of the building.  What is of rather more immediate concern is the figure behind the counter that sees them and then flips up a folding section of the counter to advance a short way toward them.

It is slightly less than Stanley's height, and he almost wants to laugh to see it: it's built on a roughly humanoid chassis though it runs on triangular tank treads, and above that tracked assembly it is almost completely asymmetrical -- its left arm is thick and Stanley notices powerful-looking pistons that make it look like it can exert considerably force, but its right arm branches out into three separate articulated forearms, each one with its array of fold-out tools and manipulators.  The sensory cluster atop the robot is similarly packed with a lopsided assortment of different receptors and probes, including binocular eyes with mechanical irises and wide projecting panels that look like cartoonish metal ears.

Smoke's reaction takes in far less of this detail.  IT'S A CLEANER!

A tinny yet cheerful-sounding mechanical voice comes from it.  "Greetings, bioformed consumers!" it says.  "Does the present daycycle find you fulfilling your evolutionary imperatives?  I am identi-coded 7152C, proprietor and solutions director.  What manipulation of the physical universe may I assist you in implementing?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 459 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 05:12
  • msg #132

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav purses her lips. "Smoke, maybe you like girls, but I have millions of hours of that stuff if you want to see that in Holo. It's part of the residual crud that you get when you download entire planetary databases. It's much more fun to see people nekkid when they're doing it for free."


Smoke was confused, which getting to be rather regular on Space Vegas. 'Huh? Nekkid? They don't wear two-twos?' She didn't knowhow it would be dancing without high fabshion. Mayhaps the pole-dancing was just climbing and swinging on lamp-posts like Kangs did.

Her query went unheard as the talk went on. She nodded solemnly to Traveller's request. 'Platty numb soaked vanady-yum coil, okay. And that will make the talkiphone box go hide-and-seek? I will lost-and-find it! And I will keep Stan out of all to-dos.' she promised.


OOC: I think you meant a lithium-doped vanadium coil. ;)
Smoke Alarm
player, 460 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 05:31
  • msg #133

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Outgoing to 7152C's Emporium of Technological Utility was largely a matter of Smoke leading Stanley there, or at least trying to. The Kang was like the world's worst GPS, always suggesting a route down a dark alley or insisting that going over a building was a suitable short-cut. Stanley seemed something of a slow-poke for not wanting to go such simple ways.

Inside the shop, Smoke started in alarm, yelping 'Ware cleaner!' She pushed Stan behind her and raised her arrowgun at the menacing machine. 'Stop sign, cleaner!'
The Traveller
player, 452 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 13:49
  • msg #134

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Sereth & Trav:

Compared to the Strip, Old Town in its present state subscribes to a far more refined and understated standard of taste, suggesting that this is where the real money and power move on Estenve Gastem.  Sereth and Trav find that the offices of Alden, Ffinch and Snv are located in a modest fifteen-story tower with a subtly elegant design.


Trav today is understated business elegance as well, wearing her trademark Fedora. This is one of the suits she wore back when she had her first face, when she adventured with Al Capone. She does however wear a small skull and crossbones pin - this was something that the Corsair had all her companions wear when travelling on her TARDIS.



The Guardian:
Upon entering the offices, they are greeted by a hulking being, over two meters tall and armored with a carapace of angular green plates, but it greets them with a sweet contralto.  "Welcome to AF&S!" the receptionist says perkily.  The name plate on her (?) desk says TRIX.


"Hi Trix! I'm the Traveller, but you can call me Trav. This is Ambassador Sereth of Draconia, he's going to be acting as adjutant counsel. Please, lead the way."

The Guardian:
Once Trav establishes her bona fides, the pair are conveyed to a conference room where the three managing partners introduce themselves:  Samantha Alden, a human woman whose dark hair is just turning to silver; Darius Ffinch, a handsome dark-skinned human male who Trav would place in his forties; and Xavvic'tok Snv, a member of an arthropod species with a brilliant iridescent exoskeleton.  Trav can't quite place Snv's species: possibly an offshoot from the Metatraxi.

"We're very pleased that you could attend this reading to ensure Ms. Kidd's directives are respected," chitters Snv.  "I shall be responsible for facilitating the reading, and the eventual transfer of assets."


"And thank you. It seems that Corsi had a lot of foresight in picking your firm. I'm the Traveller, of the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterbouros. This is Sereth, Legate of Draconia and direct servant of the Draconian Throne. He is here as a courtesy to review all of the proceedings and advise me in regards to the probate of the will. I trust this won't be an issue?" Trav has made available to Sereth all of the materials concerning Kallistan probate law, and has tasked Chibtrav to act as his research assistant.
Stanley Newton
player, 119 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 18:20
  • msg #135

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav had told them to go here to pick up a platinum-soaked vandium coil. Just be sure, Stanley has that written down.

Entering the 7152C's Emporium of Technological Utility, Stanley is amused by the robot behind the counter: the way it moves and the silly things that look like metal ears.  The mechanical sounding voice just completed the picture. A perfect advertisement for a shop like this, Stan thought. He was about to greet the "shopkeeper" back and ask him about the coil, when Smoke pushes him back and draws her arrowgun.

"What!?" Stanley utters confused. His confusion turns into concern when he sees that she is pointing her weapon at the robot."Put that thing away, Smoke! He is friendly. Friendly! He said that he wants to assist us. Help us.. he wants to help us!"
The Guardian
GM, 476 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 19:49
  • msg #136

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

7152C's treads shift into reverse, and he jerks backward, smacking into the counter that has just dropped level behind him with a clang.  All his arms swing up and reach for the ceiling.

"Yes!  Sir or madam, please restrain your sproutling!  I currently have the full complement of input ports defined in my specification, and do not require new ones!"
The Guardian
GM, 477 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 20:12
  • msg #137

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Snv peers curiously at Sereth.  "It is irregular, but allowable under the Syndicate Compact."  He bobs a bow to Sereth.

"Come.  Several of the other inheritors named in the will have already arrived, so I will make introductions."

He leads Sereth and Trav into an adjoining room, where more comfortable furniture is arranged around a central holo-display.  Three people, all apparently human, are sitting and waiting, and they rise to meet the pair.

Snv turns first to an older man, balding with a fringe of white hair, wearing a slightly threadbare suit.  "This is Michael Nguyen-Parker, a former personal associate of Ms. Kidd.  Mr. Parker, Legate Sereth and the Traveller."

Nguyen-Parker nods to Sereth, and takes Trav in with a certain wariness that says to her that he recognizes the name.  Trav spots the skull-and-crossbones on his lapel and about the same time that he notices hers.  "Charmed," he says, offering a handshake to both.

The second person Snv introduces is a younger man with blond hair, wearing round-rimmed spectacles.  The right shoulder of his suit jacket is built up with a thick pad upon which is drowsing a silver-gray moggy.  The man offers his handshake with a care that says he has considerable practice at balancing for the benefit of his passenger.  "Mr. Hamilton Blake," Snv says, "counsel representing the Whittington Foundation."

The final individual in the room is a woman with dark hair and complexion, wearing a forest green uniform and a badge.  Trav thinks her features would be attractive, except that they seem to perpetually fall into an unhappy expression.  She regards the pair with a closed look, and speaks before Snv can.  "Major Felicity Villenueve," she says, "Callistan Inspector General's Office."
Sereth
player, 261 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 23:01
  • msg #138

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth simply smiles. Introductions were very important, but Traveller had made his. He'd spent the time in travel making sure he was up to the legalities involved here; and today, he was not the Sereth she'd met at first; nor even the one so instrumental in setting things right with the Fists.

Today? Was all business.
The Guardian
GM, 478 posts
Thu 3 Jul 2014
at 23:27
  • msg #139

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Although the people at Alden, Ffinch and Snv were presenting themselves like legal firms that Sereth had dealt with on a variety of worlds, he had found his overview of the "Syndicate Protocols" to uncover some idiosyncratic provisions, likely owing to the government's roots in a cartel of gangsters made good....

OOC: You can make a roll on Ingenuity + Knowledge(Cultures & Politics).
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Fri 04 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 262 posts
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 00:06
  • msg #140

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Oh he'd spent a great deal studying it as the case may be...


10:06, Today: Sereth rolled 20 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,6. Legal tricks?
The Guardian
GM, 479 posts
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 01:46
  • msg #141

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

What struck Sereth most about the laws -- although he might not find this precisely surprising -- was how much leeway there seemed to be for property to be seized via "eminent domain" or to fall under "unclaimed bequest" provisions in the legal code.  It's likely that some of this language was written into law for the founding criminal enterprises of the government to legitimize the acquisition of some of their wealth -- that obtained through outright crime of one sort of another -- in an ex post facto fashion and prevent appeals by those with a superseding claim.

Normally, it seems, people transferring property under this polity arrange for an iron-clad direct handover to prevent other interests from sticking their hands in.  In the present situation, it seems the Traveller's associates has left a number of assets in concealed or ambiguous locations, to be revealed only with the opening of the will.  It's possible, depending on what is revealed in the will, that it may kick off a sort of "finders keepers" scramble.
Smoke Alarm
player, 463 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 01:49
  • msg #142

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

At Stanley's words, Smoke Alarm lowered her arrowgun and pouted fiercely at the cleaner, still 'waring it. She'd eyespied Traveller's scutters and all sorts of robots since leaving Paradise Towers, and not many had attacked her or her friends. But she still couldn't forget the big white Cleaners bundling up her Kang sisters and taking them to the cleaners or down to waste disposal. 'Okay... But you better not take us to the cleaners, or try to bundle us up into a rubbish bin. Or we'll have a to-do.'
The Guardian
GM, 481 posts
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 02:16
  • msg #143

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

7152C lowers his arms cautiously, carefully watching Smoke Alarm and the arrowgun to make sure this is going to be allowed.

"Thank you.  I am certain this has only been a momentarily infelicitous breach of signal integrity.  No disposal or sanitizing of your persons has been contemplated."  There's a ripple of activity in all of the Meklinite's actuators and tools, and his indicator lights all blink; it reminds Stanley of seeing equipment running through a reset cycle.

"Now, may we begin again?  What failing in the great networked dance of mind, machine and logic may I help you correct?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 465 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 02:45
  • msg #144

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm hitched her arrowgun on her belt, and stood back while Stan got talky with the cleaner, outlooking warily for scrubbers or sprinkle-gas jets.
Stanley Newton
player, 120 posts
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 15:11
  • msg #145

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Sorry, I am sure she won't cause any more trouble." Stanley apologises to 7152C.  "We are here because we are looking for a platinum-soaked vandium coil."
The Traveller
player, 456 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 15:58
  • msg #146

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Snv peers curiously at Sereth.  "It is irregular, but allowable under the Syndicate Compact."  He bobs a bow to Sereth.

"Come.  Several of the other inheritors named in the will have already arrived, so I will make introductions."

He leads Sereth and Trav into an adjoining room, where more comfortable furniture is arranged around a central holo-display.  Three people, all apparently human, are sitting and waiting, and they rise to meet the pair.

Snv turns first to an older man, balding with a fringe of white hair, wearing a slightly threadbare suit.  "This is Michael Nguyen-Parker, a former personal associate of Ms. Kidd.  Mr. Parker, Legate Sereth and the Traveller."

Nguyen-Parker nods to Sereth, and takes Trav in with a certain wariness that says to her that he recognizes the name.  Trav spots the skull-and-crossbones on his lapel and about the same time that he notices hers.  "Charmed," he says, offering a handshake to both.

The second person Snv introduces is a younger man with blond hair, wearing round-rimmed spectacles.  The right shoulder of his suit jacket is built up with a thick pad upon which is drowsing a silver-gray moggy.  The man offers his handshake with a care that says he has considerable practice at balancing for the benefit of his passenger.  "Mr. Hamilton Blake," Snv says, "counsel representing the Whittington Foundation."

The final individual in the room is a woman with dark hair and complexion, wearing a forest green uniform and a badge.  Trav thinks her features would be attractive, except that they seem to perpetually fall into an unhappy expression.  She regards the pair with a closed look, and speaks before Snv can.  "Major Felicity Villenueve," she says, "Callistan Inspector General's Office."


Trav politely shakes the hands that are proffered.  "After the reading of the will and the inevitable brouhaha that will surround the division of the assets, I'm going to be organizing a wake. The Corsair was among the greatest of my people, and I am sure she'd want her passing to be marked by a huge, happy ass party. I loved him and I will mourn him like a thunderstorm - presuming that I find the means of confirming her dead satisfactory. If anyone here know anything about me or him, then I expect that Corsi will pop out of a fucking cake wearing nothing but her tricorn. This isn't the first time he would have faked his own death for a laugh."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Fri 04 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 483 posts
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 21:33
  • msg #147

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The next arrival enters the conference room about five minutes later.  He's a tall, lean nonhuman with a shaggy pelt and a long drooping muzzle that reminds Trav of an airedale.  He's also wearing a crisp black uniform with gold piping.  "Captain Hrrekthot, Ruthdal's Rangers," he introduces himself.  The cat on Hamilton Blake's shoulder perks up and watches him with slitted eyes.

Snv consults his datapad, and says, "Ah.  The final inheritor is just on their way up."

When the door opens this time, both Sereth and Trav recognize the first figure through the door at once -- he's a big, thick-built nonhuman with a bald, dark scalp and brutish features, and his pinstriped suit hangs on him like a tent.  An Ogron!

But he takes up a station just inside the door to make way for the last person to enter -- and she immediately stares at Trav, and Trav recognizes her as well.  It's the woman from the casino the prior night, though she's wearing a gray jacket over a sleek blue bodysuit, not the Stan-trap man-trap of a dress she had on before.

"Vesha Sallenn," says Snv, oblivious to the looks going back and forth between the two women, "representing Marco Valbreco and the interests of the Valbreco Family."

"You!" says Vesha.
The Guardian
GM, 484 posts
Fri 4 Jul 2014
at 21:43
  • msg #148

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

7152C whirrs for a moment.  "'Platinum soaked vandium coil'..." he echoes.  "Inventory shows none... permit me to validate...."

He starts to roll along the racks of parts, peering at the stores in several locations.  Then he says, "I am afraid the retail stock does not contain your component.  However, my process and fabrication databases suggest a possible method of devising the item, if you approve the fee.  I will need to direct my offspring in a search of our salvage stocks.  Do you find this approach salutary?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 466 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 5 Jul 2014
at 00:01
  • msg #149

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Platty numb soaked vanady-yum coil.' Smoke Alarm stressed carefully in case the Cleaner hadn't understood. It was trying to be tricky with them, she was certain. She leaned into Stan, whispering 'Do you knowhow what it looks like? Did Traveller show-and-tell you?'
Stanley Newton
player, 121 posts
Sat 5 Jul 2014
at 13:21
  • msg #150

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh. We sort of really need that part, so....wait before I agree to anything: how much is the fee?" Stanley ask, remembering that this was Space Vegas and it couldn't hurt to be cautious.

"It is called a coil, so I guess it looks like a coil. Lots of metal wires wound around a...uh... thing. I think." he answers Smoke.
The Guardian
GM, 485 posts
Sat 5 Jul 2014
at 17:05
  • msg #151

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Have no trepidations, seeker after solutions.  7152C's Emporium of Technological Utility strives for maximal economy for consumer and proprietor both."

A small projecting lens on 7152C's head lights up blue, and a 3D image appears in front of him.  It displays a likely-looking widget: a U-shaped metal bar with thick wire wrapped around it, a small indicator light, and a set of leads.  To the side of the coil, the projection shows an itemized parts list.  There is also something in the list called a "Design Use Fee" and an "On-Site Fabrication Fee".  The total is G$ 375.

An orange light on 7152C's head starts to blink.  He rolls to one end of the counter where there is a package about the size of a large shoebox.  The Meklinite deftly opens the package, explaining, "My new offspring was just delivered this pre-zenith period, and I had yet to input his activation codes," he explains, as if this makes perfect sense.  "He should be able to assist the others in your required materials salvage, if you approve the charges."  From the opened package, amid a scatter of tiny foam packing pellets, 7152C lifts something that looks like a silvery spider about the size of a loaf of bread; on its dorsal surface there is a sensory cluster like 7152C's and a pair of small tool arms.

7152C holds the thing up.  A green light appears on 7152C's head, and a matching light on the smaller robot answers it.  There is a brief squeal of noise, and then the smaller robot's legs all start to wriggle and ripple.  7152C sets it down on the counter, and rolls back a bit, regarding the new robot proudly.
Stanley Newton
player, 123 posts
Sat 5 Jul 2014
at 23:05
  • msg #152

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley looks closely at the holographic projection. He has no idea what a reasonable "Design Use Fee" would be, but the total is less than the amount he has won in the casino. Even if the robot is charging too much, they could easily miss the money.

Stan nods along when 7152C talks about and to his "offspring". "Yeah, we'll approve the charges. Let's see what it and the others can do!"
Smoke Alarm
player, 467 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 6 Jul 2014
at 03:53
  • msg #153

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked on in horror as the cleaner brought out another cleaner, some kind of crawler by the outlooks of it. She tugged at Stan's sleeve. 'I don't knowhow. The cleaner could be taking us to the cleaners.' For once, Smoke's use of the phrase had entirely the correct meaning in the circumstances. 'Mayhaps we should ask Traveller?' she suggested, taking out her talkiphone. Would Traveller want to be interrupted?
The Traveller
player, 458 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 6 Jul 2014
at 05:55
  • msg #154

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"Vesha Sallenn," says Snv, oblivious to the looks going back and forth between the two women, "representing Marco Valbreco and the interests of the Valbreco Family."

"You!" says Vesha.


Trav smirks. "Yes, me!"

She can't wait to hear the stories of how Corsi got involved with all of these people.
Stanley Newton
player, 124 posts
Sun 6 Jul 2014
at 21:59
  • msg #155

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley shakes his head, both at the suggestion to call Trav and Smoke's concern about the robot. "There is no need to call Trav. She sent us on a simple errand: go here and buy a platinum-coated vandium coil. That is exactly what we are doing. Mister 7152C, who has been very helpful so far, is going to send his little robots and they are going find stuff and make the coil. Nobody is going to get taken to the cleaners or put in a rubbish bin or whatever it is you think robots do."
Sereth
player, 266 posts
Sun 6 Jul 2014
at 22:14
  • msg #156

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth looked quizzically at the Traveller for just a moment when she recognised Vesha, but the expression was only there for a moment. FOr now, he watched, listened; waiting to see if they were all above board... or were going to try to put one over.
The Guardian
GM, 487 posts
Sun 6 Jul 2014
at 23:17
  • msg #157

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav & Sereth:

"I believe that is everyone," says Snv.  "Shall we begin?"

As the last newcomers settle down, Snv goes on.  "The text of Ms. Kidd's bequest is being sent to each of your personal comms," he says, "with particular details and instructions.  We will review the general provisions, answer and questions, and discuss additional steps shortly; first, Ms. Kidd's directives require the following message to be shown."

The big display in the center of the room flickers to life.  The image is of a young man with wavy brown hair and a roguish smirk, slowly rotating to look at everyone in the room.

"Well, here it is," he says, "the moment that no one ever expects, and some of us with less reason than most.  Sometimes we do get a little warning, and when that happens, it's best to put one's affairs in order -- because whatever else I have been in my times and lives, I always paid my debts."

The image shifts to a man with broad features and reddish hair, sporting fierce mustachios and wearing an eyepatch.  It orients on Captain Hrrekthot.  "It looks like Ruthdal's Raiders have sent someone to the party.  Capital!  I hope that's yourself, Ruthdal, but if it's not, I hope whoever it is will pass along my thanks to the Commandant.  We raised some hell out around the Jekento Rim, didn't we?  And left some incredibly flustered Rutans behind while we were at it."  The expression sobers a little.  "Now, I'm putting you in charge of that little chain of border stations we 'liberated' together, and it's my intention that you keep on fighting the good fight.  There just might be some tracer systems in place to check up on you.  Good luck!"

Now the picture changes to a sharp-featured woman with aging features, wearing a bush hat.  It turns until it's looking at Hamilton Blake and the cat.  "Since the Whittington Foundation has put in its appearance, I supposed the rest of you deserve some explanation.  It near killed me to have to leave poor Whit on Barsan on his lonesome, so when I stopped off some time previous to that, I dropped a few bars of the Ristotani Reserve hoard to make sure that there would be someone to look after him.  As this portion of the message has engaged, I see that my instructions about including a representative beneficiary as witness have been followed."  Her face suddenly gives a goofy smile, and the cat perks up.  "Who's a good beneficiary?  You!  Yes, you are!"

The next Corsair to appear is another man.  This one has a lantern jaw, bushy brows and an almost military look to him.  "Valbreco, or a Valbreco.  I can't say as your great-to-the-Nth ancestor and I always saw eye-to-eye on things.  But that doesn't matter a lot to me: like I said, all debts are paid.  You'll find the full sum credited, and not a penny more."

That Corsair pauses a moment.  "There's someone who wasn't asked to attend, but they may have shouldered their way in, anyhow.  Anybody with the Callistan Kleptocracy there?  If there is, I imagine you haven't found your confounded Pulse yet.  Archives of the Cloistered Deceivers, Section J, Row 5, Locker 7.  The keycode is 'Psych!'"

Now a gorgeous dark-skinned woman's face shows, and she speaks in a rich voice like dripping honey.  "Michael Parker-Nguyen," she says.  "I'll not embarrass you by goin' into scandalous detail in front of all these other folk; I know you were always a bashful boy.  An' I know you never asked anything of me, much as your gods know you deserved it.  Well, I'm well past being argued out of it, so you will take the gifts that I've left you, and remember me well."

Finally the display shifts to the Corsair that Trav remembers best: a woman with pale features, twinkling eyes, and a streak of violet through her jet black hair.  "Trav," she says.  "For you I've left a duty... and a part of me.  I recorded this when the High Council's priority signal came through, trying to call me home.  I'll be damned if I'll choose to fight in their stinking war, but that doesn't mean the war won't find me.  Who knows what will come of that?  Anyway, I know that you'll take what I've left you and keep it safe, and keep it wisely.  More wisely than I would."

The display flickers out.  There's a brief image, showing the Corsair's signature emblem of the ourobouros devouting its tail, laid around with sigils of Old High Gallifreyan.  Then that, too, fades away.

Trav's phone gives a beep.
The Guardian
GM, 488 posts
Sun 6 Jul 2014
at 23:17
  • msg #158

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm & Stanley

Picking up the little robot again, 7152C looks at Stanley and Smoke Alarm.  "Please, won't you come this way?"  A set of doors opens up, leading through the side of the shop, and 7152C rolls out and down a ramp, turning toward the salvage lot.

Once he's there, he sets the "offspring" down, and there is another squeal of transmission noise.  Several more small robots like the first one scurry out from one of the sheds.  Some of them start searching through covered bins and trays, and several start to crawl up and over several half-disassembled pieces of machinery -- something that could be an old heating unit, another that might have been a small portable generator, and one that looks to Smoke Alarm like a vehicle similar to Dev's fly-cycle.

7152C turns to Stanley, and although the robot doesn't really have humanlike features to speak of, his manner makes it seem like he's beaming.  "Are they not industrious little fellows?" he says.
The Traveller
player, 460 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 01:44
  • msg #159

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

She thought she could be strong,but she can't.  She takes off her hat, and quietly weeps. She will wail later. That priority signal was sent by her, from her desk, marked by Rassilon's seal. He called her Trav, she always called her Trav.

He was the good one. I was a monster, but I'm here. She should have survived, not me.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:43, Mon 07 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 469 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 02:23
  • msg #160

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm pouted in annoyance at Stan's dismissal, but put her talkiphone away. 'Humph. If we get cooked in a furnace or mashed in a crusher, or get our brains sucked out by corpolektroscoppy, or worse, Traveller doesn't like the widget, I'll say I telled you so.' she complained. 'And it's va-nad-e-yum!'

She followed Stan and 7152C out into the scrapyard, hanging back and sulkily outlooking at the proceedings. She tried her very best not be amused by the sight of the little cleaner off-springs climbing over the scrapheaps like cleaner Kangs.

Finally, she wandered off to pick through the scrapheaps herself, well away from the cleaners, looking for something she could recycle or mayhaps gift to the Us, or just whatever looked icehot and interesting.
The Guardian
GM, 491 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 02:45
  • msg #161

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Finally, she wandered off to pick through the scrapheaps herself, well away from the cleaners, looking for something she could recycle or mayhaps gift to the Us, or just whatever looked icehot and interesting.


OOC:

I'm sure you can find something.

If you want Your Humble Gamemaster to think something up, give me a Awareness + Ingenuity + Keen Senses so I can figure out where it falls on the scale from "trivial" to "handy" to "world-destroying".

Also a Coordination + Subterfuge if you're trying for a five-finger discount.
The Guardian
GM, 492 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 02:55
  • msg #162

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Once Trav composes herself enough to check the message on her phone, she finds a secured image file there with the attached security credentials for a safe-deposit vault at a bank in Estanve Gastem, called the Spiral Secure Savings & Trust.

Before she can open the file, though, her phone's display breaks up into semi-random pixels for a moment, before returning to its previous contents.  Now a red warning tab pops up reading Intrusive Agent Detected.
Smoke Alarm
player, 471 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 03:52
  • msg #163

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: I'm not going to swipe from a cleaner in its own scrapyard! 'Sides, she's being the sensible one here. :p Looking for goodies: 18.
11:47, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 18 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,6. awareness(4) + ingenuity(3) + keen senses(2).
At a minimum, Smoke will look for spare crossbow parts and things she can use as bolts, or "artistic supplies".
The Traveller
player, 461 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 03:55
  • msg #164

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Once Trav composes herself enough to check the message on her phone, she finds a secured image file there with the attached security credentials for a safe-deposit vault at a bank in Estanve Gastem, called the Spiral Secure Savings & Trust.

Before she can open the file, though, her phone's display breaks up into semi-random pixels for a moment, before returning to its previous contents.  Now a red warning tab pops up reading Intrusive Agent Detected.


Of all the fucking times. She makes a mark in her personal red book. Whoever was doing this was going to feel some fury.

She thumbs an app button that immediately sets up into motion countermeasures. Using just her thumb, she's coding up a destructive countermeasures package that will burn out whatever machinery is launching this attack, after making a full flat image copy of the intruder's code and presence. She's not in the mood to be fucked with. The data that's been downloaded to her immediately gets encrypted, disassembled and shunted back to the TARDIS secure environment.

After that, a signal back to Chibitrav - Lock down the TARDIS systems and get your Code War gear, baby. She forwards to the agent the intrusion log. Remember Auntie Uncle Corsi? We're going hunting.

She sniffs. "Everyone, I'm sorry. Someone had the nerve to call me, during this."

OOC:Ingenuity+Technology+TARDIS roll?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:10, Mon 07 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 493 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 12:17
  • msg #165

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC:Ingenuity+Technology+TARDIS roll?

OOC: Sounds good.
The Traveller
player, 463 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 13:01
  • msg #166

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
OOC:Ingenuity+Technology+TARDIS roll?

OOC: Sounds good.


09:00, Today: The Traveller rolled 23 using 4d6+16 with rolls of 2,3,1,1. 2d6+Ingenuity 8+Technology 6+Research Capsule 2+Story Point.

I decide to spend a story point and get a crap ass die roll. *sigh*


Sereth
player, 268 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 13:13
  • msg #167

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

If Sereth gets any inkling of what Traveller is doing, he leaves her to it. However, he also eyes the others quite carefully - looking for any flicker, any pang of guilt, any flash of greed - anything to indicate that they were responsible.

OOC: Eh. He probably wouldn't as she's doing timelordy stuff; but just in case.
The Traveller
player, 464 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 13:29
  • msg #168

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
If Sereth gets any inkling of what Traveller is doing, he leaves her to it. However, he also eyes the others quite carefully - looking for any flicker, any pang of guilt, any flash of greed - anything to indicate that they were responsible.

OOC: Eh. He probably wouldn't as she's doing timelordy stuff; but just in case.



Trav does make sure that Sereth can see her phone. She tabs in text - Can you cover here for me? I need to get to that bank.
The Guardian
GM, 494 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 22:31
  • msg #169

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth and Trav are both seeing a fair amount of consternation from the other people in the room, checking their own data pads and devices, though no one has spoken up yet.
Sereth
player, 269 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 22:34
  • msg #170

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A nod towards the Traveller; before turning to the others and just -smiles-.

"My client has some urgent matters to take care of; she shouldn't be too long. I am sure, with most of you being businessmen as well as decent people, you can understand."

WElcome to -my- world now, boys. When dealing with the Fists; the Traveller had seen a glimpse of Sereth in his element. Now though, he was in full flow. His eyes and smile were welcoming, inviting, meant to put the others at ease. For one who were paranoid though? One who had something to hide? They also held a hint of daring. He was -daring- any who were trying to put one over on the Traveller to take him on, now. No-one who had heard stories of the Draconian legions in battle; would make the mistake of thinking Sereth was any less formidable in a battle for diplomacy, than their Knights were in battle of arms.
Stanley Newton
player, 125 posts
Mon 7 Jul 2014
at 23:20
  • msg #171

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Not going to happen, Smoke." Stanley replies to Smoke's "doom scenarios". "And I am sure Trav said vandium."

Smoke obviously has a deep-seated distrust of robots, probably with a good reason, but this was getting a bit ridiculous. 7152C had done nothing wrong so far, apart from bragging a little too much about his "offspring".

"Yeah...industrious." Stanley answers out of politeness, "Let's hope they can find what we are looking for."
The Guardian
GM, 495 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 01:23
  • msg #172

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"My client has some urgent matters to take care of; she shouldn't be too long. I am sure, with most of you being businessmen as well as decent people, you can understand."

Vesha Sallenn comes to her feet.  "Just one moment, Draconian," she says.  Her tone is even, but firm.  "What I understand is that someone just hacked me, and that means that they're trying to take a swipe at what the Valbreco Consortium is rightly due.  I don't think anyone should be going anywhere until we've gotten to the bottom of what's going on here."

She shoots a glance at Trav, and then a fierce look at Snv.  "Mr. Snv, would you care to explain how this happened?"

Meanwhile, her Ogron bodyguard sidles over to block the door.

Likely rolls for Sereth at this point, depending on your response:

Figuring out if anyone's faking their reaction -- Awareness + Subterfuge

Intimidating Vesha and her guard -- Resolve + Convince
Sereth
player, 270 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 01:37
  • msg #173

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth eyed Vesha very carefully. "Do you doubt the word of a noble of the Draconian court? I am -quite- sure a lady such as yourself would not doubt this. What reason would I have to descend into the petty squabbles of inferior beings? My word is my bond; and it is on my -word of honor- that I guarantee my client had nothing to do with this hacking. Indeed, she's probably your best bet at finding out where it did come from."




11:31, Today: Sereth rolled 7 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 2,1. Awareness+subterfuge.
11:32, Today: Sereth rolled 10 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,1. Resolve+convince.
The dice roller is broken!
The Guardian
GM, 496 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 01:38
  • msg #174

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
She thumbs an app button that immediately sets up into motion countermeasures. Using just her thumb, she's coding up a destructive countermeasures package that will burn out whatever machinery is launching this attack, after making a full flat image copy of the intruder's code and presence.

Trav's programs encyst the intruding software and send it back to the TARDIS secure systems without a hitch: whoever wrote it was good, but they're not as good as Daleks!

But the monitoring signals coming back to Trav show that her seek-and-destroy package is running wild in the planetary net: it's hitting hundreds of systems!

Too late, Trav realizes that she's been suckered: her opposite number tried to hide their presence by creating all these false copies of itself in vulnerable systems.  Trav's "antibody" registered these as the true instance and attacked -- probably doing a fair amount of incidental damage in the process.

She has no real way of knowing whether the original process and the system it was running on was among those hit by her counterstroke.  But she still has the captured code that attacked her phone, and that may well help her track down the culprit.

OOC:

The Guardian, for the NPC Virus Program, rolled 20 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 3,4. Ingenuity(5) + Technology: Hacking(6) + Technically Adept(2).

"Yes, But..."
The Guardian
GM, 497 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 01:57
  • msg #175

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The reactions of the different heirs all seem genuine enough to Sereth.  Either they are actually just as surprised by what has happened, or they're very good actors.

Snv, for his part, is profoundly flustered.  "This is disastrous.  Disastrous!" he chitters.  "I promise you all, I had no idea that our invitations to you could have been compromised!"

But Vesha meets Sereth eye to eye.  "Did I accuse your client?  Not at all.  I simply do not feel it appropriate to allow any possible party to this, for good or ill, to go off on their own prerogative.  Your client... I find it a considerable coincidence that she and I just happen to cross paths in the Valshazzar, and now there is a major breach in the security of these proceedings."

She considers for a moment.  "But neither am I foolish enough to insist in seeing malice where only simple chance may be present."  Looking at Trav, she says, "If you are as skilled as Master Sereth says, then by all means, investigate and show me what you find.  Only do it here."

OOC:

For your subterfuge check, I'm just taking that against a base difficulty.  You can't really tell if anyone is faking.

Technically you should get your Noble (because she's highly placed in society) and Voice of Authority on your roll against Vesha, so that is another +4 for a 14.  Which doesn't actually sway her, but it's good enough that she's willing to cooperate and give Trav a shot at figuring it out.

Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,5. Convinced by Sereth?
The Guardian
GM, 498 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 02:16
  • msg #176

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

7152C whirrs.  "I am confident in them," he says to Stanley.  "I confess my operating parameters are not optimized for reclamation work.  Their diligence is a credit to my co-genitor."  His projector activates again.  This time it shows a robot with the same arachnoid chassis, albeit a much bigger-seeming one, but with a bulky dorsal shell sporting armor-shielded visual pickups and what looks like a turreted gun.

"She is a patrol unit at the Spiral Secure Savings & Trust," 7152C adds.  If it was possible for a synthesized voice to turn a little dreamy, his does.  "Is her architectural configuration not mathematically aesthetic?"

Another one of his telltale lights starts to blink at that point, and he draws up straight.  "That is problematic," he tells Stanley.  "My auxiliary data store just suffered a major core failure...."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Tue 08 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 499 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 02:23
  • msg #177

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Smoke pokes through the scrap and machinery, she has to fight the urge to just start stuffing her pockets, even though it's likely the yawny cleaner would spot her and turn meany-face.  If she'd had even a tenth of all this for all the Blue Kangs back in Paradise Towers, they'd have all been rich!

She sees a number of nice shinies that she imagines the Us would be pleased to put in their Treasure, but then she notices several small devices that look like little spray-paint cans: yellow and red, green and blue.  Glancing to see if anyone is going to stop her, she picks up the blue can and experimentally pushes the spray button.  What happens then surprises her: it blurps out a bit of blue, right enough, but unlike ordinary wall-scrawl it doesn't stick to anything: a little smear of blue just hangs in the air, glowing.

It's air-scrawl.
Smoke Alarm
player, 473 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 04:05
  • msg #178

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Fascinated by all the icehot scrap, and wondering just what it all did, Smoke rummaged wildly through, paying no attention to the yawny talk between Stan and the cleaners. A goldy-coloured thingy that looked a bit like a bird for the Us, a sharpener rock for Sereth's sword, some arrowgun bits for herself. She outlooked to Stan's back; no, he could get his own recycles. Forget Stan and the cleaners, mayhaps she could even find just what Traveller wanted!

Then she found the air-scrawl paint, outlooking in amazement at the cloud of paint waiting in the air. 'Icehot!' she exclaimed, not so loudly that the cleaners would hear. It would be so much easier than Fadreen's paper-fly, she could make her air-scrawls on the run. She waited to eyespy how long it took for the cloud to fall down, then tested the other cans, before filling her arms with goodies and footing it back to Stan. Once, a can fell out, so Smoke knelt to pick it up, only to drop the birdy. She fished that up, but found she'd lost the stone, and turned around outlooking for it.

Eventually she wandered back.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Wed 09 July 2014.
The Traveller
player, 466 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 05:04
  • msg #179

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The reactions of the different heirs all seem genuine enough to Sereth.  Either they are actually just as surprised by what has happened, or they're very good actors.

Snv, for his part, is profoundly flustered.  "This is disastrous.  Disastrous!" he chitters.  "I promise you all, I had no idea that our invitations to you could have been compromised!"

But Vesha meets Sereth eye to eye.  "Did I accuse your client?  Not at all.  I simply do not feel it appropriate to allow any possible party to this, for good or ill, to go off on their own prerogative.  Your client... I find it a considerable coincidence that she and I just happen to cross paths in the Valshazzar, and now there is a major breach in the security of these proceedings."

She considers for a moment.  "But neither am I foolish enough to insist in seeing malice where only simple chance may be present."  Looking at Trav, she says, "If you are as skilled as Master Sereth says, then by all means, investigate and show me what you find.  Only do it here."

OOC:

For your subterfuge check, I'm just taking that against a base difficulty.  You can't really tell if anyone is faking.

Technically you should get your Noble (because she's highly placed in society) and Voice of Authority on your roll against Vesha, so that is another +4 for a 14.  Which doesn't actually sway her, but it's good enough that she's willing to cooperate and give Trav a shot at figuring it out.

Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Vesha, rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,5. Convinced by Sereth?


Trav clucks to herself. "Well, well, I fell for a school kid's trick. Got me, I admit." She immediately flips the program, and her agents start repairing the damage. Like Wyatt Earp said, Make sure you're shooting at the right person.

"I'll concede only because she would have wanted me too. Sereth, can you please handle this for me? I'll stay here." She immediately sends him the location and the file to his phone. "I entrust the Corsairs legacy to you. Please, hurry, Sereth."

Then she spins. "Allright!" Out comes the sonic. She activates a nearby holo display, showing the hack attempt. She looks at Vesha coldly. "Darling, you obviously don't know who I am. Be careful of the game you're playing. I'm not some two bit con mark. I don't know who you are or what your angle is, but if you or anyone else tries to interfere in the last legacy that the Corsair left to me, I will send you to where I sent the Time Lords and the Daleks. Even if you are straight, I don't kindly to being accused. No one here has anything I could even dream of wanting."

"Now, let's work together. We all have resources. If everyone is willing, once I track down the source of the hack, we can all go to the source, together. Is that agreeable?" She aims her sonic at the terminal, and harnesses to power of the local data node cluster to track down the multiple lines leading from each device, tracking down the hacks. "Let's find out what jackass did this, and come down on them like a ton of bricks."

OOC - Ingenuity+Technology+Sonic: Spending 1 SP, down to 3
01:05, Today: The Traveller rolled 34 using 4d6+16 with rolls of 5,4,4,5. Trav tracks down hacker - Ingenuity+Technology+Sonic.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:09, Tue 08 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 272 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 05:14
  • msg #180

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth frowned, and sighed. He felt like he'd let her down; this was meant to be them playing in his yard. He'd failed.

He moved out, after murmuring briefly to Traveller; though not exactly being discreet.

"Careful of the Ogron. He's probably too stupid to be afraid."

He then went to the location sent; if allowed; though making it clear he left because he -wished- it; not because the Traveller sent him away. And the meaning in his eyes were also obvious - if somehow they hurt her; he would hunt them down.
The Traveller
player, 467 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 05:29
  • msg #181

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
Sereth frowned, and sighed. He felt like he'd let her down; this was meant to be them playing in his yard. He'd failed.


Trav places her hands on his shoulders, smiles, shakes him a little, as if to say, Your being here is the most important thing. Her trust and faith in him is obvious.

Sereth:
He moved out, after murmuring briefly to Traveller; though not exactly being discreet.

"Careful of the Ogron. He's probably too stupid to be afraid."


She whispers back, "I'll toss a case of Kronkburgers at him. Worked the last time."

She then spins around, makes her pronouncement, and begins her hack.
Stanley Newton
player, 126 posts
Tue 8 Jul 2014
at 17:06
  • msg #182

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"I'll take your word for it." Stanley says when 7152C shows him the projection. "I'm afraid I don't really have an eye for architecture. Mathematical or otherwise. My interests are more biological...and by that I mean that I am medical professional. She does look dangerous, though, with that gun thingy."

Stanley frowns when 7152C tells him about the reason for the blinking light. "Auxiliary data core? That sounds bad." he says, more concerned about possible delays than 7152C. "Should I be worried?"
The Guardian
GM, 500 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #183

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"No," 7152C tells Stanley, "I transferred the design for your part down to on-board storage once you had approved the project, and my personal firewall has not been breached.  It will simply be tedious to restore from my holographic backups, later.  It might take minutes!"

The crawlers are starting to gather next to 7152C and Stanley.  Several of them have small electronic components grasped in their manipulators; others have parts and chunks of metal that are clearly nothing like pieces of the coil design.  "Ah, good," 7152C says.  "We can proceed to the fabricator, render down the base materials I will need, and then start printing the component for you to enjoy and cherish."

It's at that point that Smoke Alarm comes back, her arms cradling an assortment of interesting bric-a-brac.  7152C turns to her.  "What's this?" he asks.  "Did you have additional requirements?  I should warn you, a change order in your project at this point will necessitate a premium redesign fee and a possible delay."
The Guardian
GM, 501 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 01:37
  • msg #184

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha considers what Trav tells her, though she doesn't seem notably intimidated by the Time Lord, either.

"Let me make a different proposal.  If someone is indeed making an attempt to put their hands on the bequest left to you, that someone is of interest to both of us."  She indicates the Ogron.  "May I suggest that Rishstak accompany your companion to investigate?  That way we all can have some confidence in each others' motives, and if our mutual opponent is making their move against you, Master Sereth will have some assistance."

She taps at her phone.  "I'm calling for additional Consortium agents to assist us here, but it will take some time for them to respond."
Smoke Alarm
player, 475 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 01:47
  • msg #185

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'No!' Smoke Alarm exclaimed as if the cleaner had just threatened her. She dropped her load with a great crash and clatter, and a spring jumped away while a gear rolled. 'These aren't for the coil. These are for recycling. Can you vend them to us?' she answered as she hopped around fetching up her escaping scrap.
The Guardian
GM, 502 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #186

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh."  7152C peers at the collection on the ground, and his little projector starts to itemize it.  "Yes, I hold a Syndicate license for scrap resale, even though it is not my primary trade.  With my standard fifteen percent reseller fee, your selected items come to a total of one hundred and seven Gastem dollars.  Shall I add that to your total?"

He rolls a short distance away to a cabinet outside the rear entrance to the shop, and comes back with a small cardboard carton, holding it out to Smoke Alarm with his load-bearing arm.  "Here, this will allow a more efficacious conveyance of your repurposed hardware."

Note that Trav did transfer some walking-around money right to Smoke Alarm.  Although she'll have to figure out how to use her big talkiphone handset to pay it. :)
Smoke Alarm
player, 476 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 02:50
  • msg #187

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

While the cleaner rolled away, Smoke Alarm outlooked to Stan. 'Is that a lot?' she asked wonderingly at the price.

Trying not to get too close to the cleaner, she reached out as far as she could and gingerly took the box from its vicious steel claws, snatching it back before it could snatch her. She loaded up the box with her goodies.
The Guardian
GM, 504 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 03:22
  • msg #188

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Incidentally, I am not ignoring Trav's follow-up roll, but I want to see where things go with Sereth before I move ahead there, and it will also take her some time to work before she gets some sort of answer.
Sereth
player, 276 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 03:55
  • msg #189

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth watched Vesha carefully, but left the decision up to Traveller. If there was some treachery afoot; he would back himself to deal with an -ogron- if he had to.

OOC: Traveller's call. Sereth feels slightly insulted that Vesha thinks he needs an Ogron as backup.... but he's not arguing; if it makes Vesha happy it's probably the right thing.
The Traveller
player, 469 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 04:12
  • msg #190

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
OOC: Incidentally, I am not ignoring Trav's follow-up roll, but I want to see where things go with Sereth before I move ahead there, and it will also take her some time to work before she gets some sort of answer.

OOC: I'm fine with the camera being on the companions! This is a team show!
The Traveller
player, 470 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 04:17
  • msg #191

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Vesha considers what Trav tells her, though she doesn't seem notably intimidated by the Time Lord, either.

"Let me make a different proposal.  If someone is indeed making an attempt to put their hands on the bequest left to you, that someone is of interest to both of us."  She indicates the Ogron.  "May I suggest that Rishstak accompany your companion to investigate?  That way we all can have some confidence in each others' motives, and if our mutual opponent is making their move against you, Master Sereth will have some assistance."

She taps at her phone.  "I'm calling for additional Consortium agents to assist us here, but it will take some time for them to respond."


Trav snorts. "Actually, the ambassador takes care of *me*, and I'm the better for it. If he's fine with your friend accompanying him, then I am too." Trav still has her sonic pointed at the terminal, as the entire contents of the law firm's data node is archived away, and then is reconfigured into a structure suited towards Trav's purposes. "This is gonna take some time. If everyone else can gather their resources as well. I'm inclined to trust all of you to a certain degree... because he did. I'm open to suggestions."

Trav makes sure to send her complete biometric information instantly to Spiral Savings and Trust, with an electronically signed doc for that designates Sereth as her appointed agent, along with a lockdown request over any assets that are held in safekeeping.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Wed 09 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 505 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 05:11
  • msg #192

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Sereth, you can narrate making your way to Spiral Secure Savings & Trust, making your preliminary check of the situation, and / or dealing with Rishstak on the way.  The place is about a half hour away through traffic and is roughly what you'd expect of a high-end bank.  Feel free to invent any minor NPCs or details that seem appropriate.

Sizing up the security of the place would be Ingenuity + Subterfuge; establishing your bona fides to its employees and officials would be Presence + Convince + Voice of Authority.

We may pause you to get in sync with Smoke Alarm and Stanley, depending on what they do in the near future.
Sereth
player, 278 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 05:13
  • msg #193

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: I'll post tonight or tomorrow morning. It's almost home time for me; so don't want to start getting into an involved post.
Stanley Newton
player, 127 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 14:24
  • msg #194

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley is glad to hear that the auxiliary data core malfunction isn't going to cause any serious problems.

"Maybe? I couldn't tell you what it is worth in pounds, let alone Gastemian dollars." Stanley replies to Smoke. It looks like a collection of useless things, so maybe 107 dollars is a bit much. "We can easily afford it though. If you really want it, I'll buy it for you."
Smoke Alarm
player, 478 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 14:34
  • msg #195

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I have coins.' Smoke retorted to Stan. Fishing around in her pockets, she pulled out a handful of grubby coins and a bottle-cap, then held them out to the cleaner, open hands together. 'Is this enough?'
The Guardian
GM, 506 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 23:04
  • msg #196

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

7152C scans the contents of Smoke Alarm's hands.

"Nothing you are presenting is legal tender within seventeen adjacent star systems," he says.  "Perhaps you have a GastemLinkTM registered networked payments account, as your associate does?"

OOC: Well, maybe that's a bit of a harsh shut-down.  If one of you can "identify" something Smoke is holding as "valuable salvage", either legitimately or not, that could work too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:20, Wed 09 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 279 posts
Wed 9 Jul 2014
at 23:25
  • msg #197

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As he left with Rishtak, he spoke quietly.

"Let me make things perfectly clear. I understand you have to be sure for your employer I'm not the one she needs to be worried about. But when we go dealing with these people, you are to keep your mouth shut."

He moved forwards through the traffic; whilst discussing his plans.

"You're going to be my 'bodyguard'. Just in case there is something suspicious going on; but don't act until you have to. We're going to be going through the front door of course; I would find it highly unlikely, not to mention suspicious, if they don't accept what I say from the word go."

Eventually they got to the bank; and he proceeded in, with his noble bearing fully on.

"I need to speak to someone in authority, now please. I have been sent on a very important mission to retrieve something on behalf of my client. I am sure you understand it is of the utmost importance."

He had of course, looked at the phone to be sure he knew what he was looking for.

OOC: SOmewhat vague; because Sereth probably understands a bit better what he's meant to be doing than I do.


09:24, Today: Sereth rolled 18 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 3,5. Presence + Convince + VoA.
The Guardian
GM, 508 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 02:07
  • msg #198

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The message that Trav passed on to Sereth describes a "stasis module" preserving a "biological sample".

Sereth has a passing knowledge of stasis technology from his home time period, although even at that point in the relative future the technique requires bulky equipment and expensive power requirements.  It's not clear from the message whether what he's been sent to fetch is comparable, although given the technology available to Trav he has to imagine that it need not be.

Rishtak answers Sereth's directions with a gruff, "Understood, sir."  Apparently the Valbrecos screened their heavyweights at least for a minimal ability to behave in a civilized manner.

The lobby of SSS & T is immaculate with floors and walls tiled in dark marble.  Clerks are stationed at a number of free-standing podiums with data projectors and voice-actuated terminals, and Sereth notes discreet electronics that probably serve as sensors for some sort of security measures.  When he makes his request known, the polite young man in the well-cut and conservative suit that he addresses answers him, "Certainly, sir," and murmurs under his breath briefly.  It's only about a minute after that when an older, distinguished-looking human approaches Sereth, saying, "I understand you have a secure deposit box you wish to access.  Please follow me."

The man leads the way to a sliding door along one wall that reveals a lift adequate to carry Sereth, Rishtak and the manager easily.
Sereth
player, 280 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #199

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Well, that was surprising, though he shouldn't have been. Maybe they could pull this off then.

He followed the human, this wasn't at all surprising, and entered the lift. He wasn't tense; but he wasn't at his ease either; not to the point he would be easily taken by surprise.

Traveller had talked as though it was simple to get; so he wouldn't be at all surprised if the technology was smaller and more compact.
The Guardian
GM, 509 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 02:16
  • msg #200

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

All the people left in the meeting room at Alden, Ffinch & Snv (including the anxious Snv himself) gather around Trav as she starts to work.  Whoever ran the hack was a smart cookie, so it takes some time, but Trav's persistence pays off: eventually she is able to trace the data stream back to its originating processor.

She maps the address to a physical location by cross-linking to the planetary comm net, and feels her scalp prickle.  The originating processor tied into the the network by a microwave transmission from within the very room she's sitting in.
Smoke Alarm
player, 480 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 03:24
  • msg #201

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke remembered how Traveller had show-and-telled her something on the talkiphone. She pulled it out, thumbed through, and found a list of numbers. It was a big list, so she presumed it was enough. She showed Stan. 'Is that enough?'

Then she fixed the cleaner with a steely eyespy. 'How about... eighty dollars?' she began to haggle.
The Guardian
GM, 510 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 03:53
  • msg #202

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

While talking with Smoke Alarm, 7152C has rolled back inside the building with the scavenged material the little crawlers collected, motioning Smoke and Stanley to accompany him.  "Understand, small person, that every business must clear its overhead or shortly it will be unable to serve the public; for example, in the noble pursuit of furthering the general welfare through applied engineering.  Only by building the necessities and comforts that people of all phyla and logical systems require can we best heighten their satisfaction and happiness."

Much of the room that he leads them to is taken up by a large machine.  There are several hoppers on its side, into which he puts the sorted raw materials.  Then he transmits to the machine.  The floating image of the coil appears, projected by the machine this time, and it starts making a humming and grinding noise.  A floating progress bar with the legend MATERIALS REDUCTION appears and starts to inch down.

"Unless there is some in-kind service you can provide?"

A screen on the wall lights up and begins showing a news feed.  "Oh, my," 7152C says, apparently distracted from his conversation with Smoke Alarm.  "The core failure I experienced seems not to have been an isolated incident.  Data strikes and outages are being reported all over the city.  I should switch to minimal networking mode; I don't want to risk...."  His voice drops nearly to a metallic whisper.  "Corruption."

You can come back with another angle on your negotiation if you like, and roll Presence + Convince.

The Guardian, for the NPC 7152C, rolled 14 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 4,5. Negotiating with Smoke: Resolve(3) + Convince(2).
Smoke Alarm
player, 482 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 04:33
  • msg #203

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked warily around the cleaner's basement, all filled with strange machines: bins and burners and mashers and pipes. She didn't doubt they coud mince and cook a Kang and recycle them into soylent green. But she didn't see any people in the bins, so she guessed it was okay? Stan seemed to think it was, but he was a Boy and, as show-and-telled, they weren't very clever.

She thought carefully about what 7152C had said. 'How about... seventy-two dollars?'


OOC: 12:33, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,4. presence(2) + convince(0).
The Traveller
player, 475 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 05:09
  • msg #204

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
All the people left in the meeting room at Alden, Ffinch & Snv (including the anxious Snv himself) gather around Trav as she starts to work.  Whoever ran the hack was a smart cookie, so it takes some time, but Trav's persistence pays off: eventually she is able to trace the data stream back to its originating processor.

She maps the address to a physical location by cross-linking to the planetary comm net, and feels her scalp prickle.  The originating processor tied into the the network by a microwave transmission from within the very room she's sitting in.



Trav re-routes and double checks. She'd have Chibi do it, but Chibi is protecting the TARDIS. She takes a moment to pull up relevant Kallistan case law involving the deliberate interference in the probate of a lawfully carried out will.

Then, after making sure, she has three large red holographic arrows point right to where the transmitter is located. "The source of the hack is right there. Look at the code, my methods are transparent and can be cross referenced."
The Guardian
GM, 512 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 05:24
  • msg #205

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The arrows point at Michael Nguyen-Parker's left knee.

The old man stares down, flabbergasted.  "What?" he splutters.

Blake and Vesha are on their feet, confronting the Nguyen-Parker.  Hrrekthot is peering at Trav's code.  "Not seeing any fault with what you have here, Traveller," he says thoughtfully.  "That's... a peculiar place for a transmitter."
The Traveller
player, 476 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 05:52
  • msg #206

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav aims her sonic at the knee piece. "This doesn't mean that this gentleman did it, it just means that the transmitter is located in his knee. He could just be as much a victim as we are."

Trav analyzes the transmitter.

OOC: 01:52, Today: The Traveller rolled 28 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 6,6. Ingenuity (8)+Technology(6)+Sonic(2) - Analyze knee transmitter.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Thu 10 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 513 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 12:40
  • msg #207

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav's scan reveals that Nguyen-Parker has a fairly sophisticated, servomotor-driven cybernetic replacement for his knee joint.  She sees where the transmitter and its processor has been spliced in to the regenerative power systems that drive the joint.

"I just had to go in to get it serviced a month ago," Nguyen-Parker says.
The Traveller
player, 477 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 14:14
  • msg #208

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

She nods. "Would you mind if I extracted this from your knee? I promise not to mess with anything else." Already, the sonic is mapping out the transmitter. "Also, the name and address of your cybernetics specialist would be a real help, as well as the exact date of when your last maintenance took place." Trav is thinking it might be time for some TARDIS based investigation.
Stanley Newton
player, 129 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 14:24
  • msg #209

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"The core failure I experienced seems not to have been an isolated incident.  Data strikes and outages are being reported all over the city.  I should switch to minimal networking mode; I don't want to risk...."  His voice drops nearly to a metallic whisper.  "Corruption."


"Does that sort of thing happen often?" Stanley asks, wondering if this was a regular occurrence on Estanve Gastem. "The outages I mean."
The Guardian
GM, 514 posts
Thu 10 Jul 2014
at 22:19
  • msg #210

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Does that sort of thing happen often?" Stanley asks, wondering if this was a regular occurrence on Estanve Gastem. "The outages I mean."

"No.  The Syndicate likes commerce to flow with a minimum of fuss, and they do not tolerate unlicensed data-hijacking or disruption of the networks.  Something quite out of the ordinary must be going on, certainly something that they did not plan for.  I do not envy whoever was responsible, once they have caught the perpetrator."  7152C's posture rearranges, in a way that Stanley is starting to recognize as a shrug.  "It should not affect our operation here, however."

The fabricator is starting its work in earnest now.  The machinery itself is sealed, but Stanley can hear churning noises from inside it, and on the display he can see a representation of the part being built up and turned along all its axes as different layers of metal and ceramic composite are laid down.
The Guardian
GM, 515 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 01:07
  • msg #211

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Nguyen-Parker gives Trav a canny look, one that reminds her that he ran with Corsi once upon a time.  "Sure, I see where you're going with that."  He punches up some details on his phone, as he sits down to roll up his trouser leg.  "My regular doc is Philena Patterson at the Halen Clinic, but the last time I went in to get the servos aligned, she had a temp cyber-tech working with her.  And yeah, that was on the eighteenth of Messidor, just a few days after I got contacted by Alden, Ffinch & Snv."  Looking at the phone, he says, "Says here the technical outsourcing was to... Azure Technologies."

Vesha is also fiddling with her retrieval pad, and comments, "Hm.  Halen and Azure are both holdings of the Ss'tenga Lodge.  It might mean nothing, but...."

OOC: French Revolutionary Calendar FTW!
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:19, Fri 11 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 516 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 01:18
  • msg #212

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
She thought carefully about what 7152C had said. 'How about... seventy-two dollars?'

"Ah... seventy-two is less than eighty."

OOC: Smoke Alarm has plainly mastered the fine points of capitalism.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:18, Fri 11 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 517 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 01:49
  • msg #213

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The manager, having introduced himself as Gregor Alvin, keys in a code to the elevator's controls, and it starts accelerating smoothly upward.

Less than a minute later, there's a CHUNK! and a squeal of machinery, and the lift's lighting blinks out and then on again.  Sereth and the others in the car are thrown off balance momentarily as the lift sheds its momentum.

When Mr. Alvin gains his composure again, he looks at Sereth.  "I am dreadfully ashamed at this inconvenience, sir," he says.  "I will get in touch with maintenance to resolve this at once."

First Mr. Alvin presses the elevator's CALL button, and after a wait of a minute or so, tries again.  Neither attempt gets a response.

Then he takes out his phone, and tries to make a call.  Again, there is no response.  Alvin is starting to grow less politely apologetic, and more frustrated.

"I can't understand it," he says.  "Our institution has a full emergency maintenance team on standby; nothing but the best for our clients!  But they do not answer."
Sereth
player, 283 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 02:04
  • msg #214

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

For a moment, Sereth wondered if Gregor was involved; but he soon dismissed it.

"You've been compromised. Either your maintenance team has been... replaced... or they've been paid off."

He glances about warily.

"Any way of telling where we are? Or any way of forcing exit?" He glances to the ceiling; before the doors.

OOC: No signal in lifts right? Or does Trav's supaphone still have signal?
The Guardian
GM, 518 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #215

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The control pad in the elevator still looks like it's operating, even though it couldn't summon help.  Its display reads 14.  "We're a dozen floors below the secure deposit area," Mr. Alvin says.

Looking up, Sereth sees that the paneled ceiling has a spot where the panel is meant to punch out to a maintenance hatch.  There's also a maintenance cover below the elevator controls.

The telltales on Sereth's Trav-modified phone are claiming that it's still available for use.
Sereth
player, 284 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 02:25
  • msg #216

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A frown. He sent a quick message.

"You were anticipated."

He then moves to the maintenance cover, and works to remove it.

"I'm sorry Mr. Alvin; you're going to have to trust me. Because I'm your best bet for getting out of here now."
The Traveller
player, 481 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 03:56
  • msg #217

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
A frown. He sent a quick message.

"You were anticipated."

He then moves to the maintenance cover, and works to remove it.

"I'm sorry Mr. Alvin; you're going to have to trust me. Because I'm your best bet for getting out of here now."


Trav texts back: "Understood. Getting sweet boy, stand by."

As Trav deftly removes the transmitter, Trav says, "There's a team already assaulting Spiral Trust. They seem to have inserted a maintenance crew. My man may not make it in time."

Trav sends a quick text back to Smoke and Stanley, asking them to head back to the TARDIS as quickly as they can. Downloading into their phones is a block of complicated code - instructions for the TARDIS to appear here.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Fri 11 July 2014.
The Traveller
player, 482 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 04:06
  • msg #218

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Nguyen-Parker gives Trav a canny look, one that reminds her that he ran with Corsi once upon a time.  "Sure, I see where you're going with that."  He punches up some details on his phone, as he sits down to roll up his trouser leg.  "My regular doc is Philena Patterson at the Halen Clinic, but the last time I went in to get the servos aligned, she had a temp cyber-tech working with her.  And yeah, that was on the eighteenth of Messidor, just a few days after I got contacted by Alden, Ffinch & Snv."  Looking at the phone, he says, "Says here the technical outsourcing was to... Azure Technologies."

Vesha is also fiddling with her retrieval pad, and comments, "Hm.  Halen and Azure are both holdings of the Ss'tenga Lodge.  It might mean nothing, but...."

OOC: French Revolutionary Calendar FTW!


Trav says to Vesha as she works - "I'm a bit occupied. They're one of the crime syndicate families, right? I never ran in those circles. I was usually shot at by them. What can you tell me about them?"
The Guardian
GM, 519 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #219

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

When Sereth removes the maintenance cover, he finds a set of fuses and connector ports for diagnostic equipment.  There's also a hex socket and a metal crank handle that fits into it.  Although when he tries the door controls on the panel they give him a red light with the warning legend BETWEEN FLOORS and nothing happens, when he puts the crank handle in place it seems like it will get the door open, albeit slowly.
The Guardian
GM, 520 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 04:37
  • msg #220

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha says, "They're a Foamasi hive.  My understanding is that they were good and proper gangsters, back in the day, but now that we're all refined businesspersons and statesmen in these parts, they contract out quite a bit of their extracurricular activity.  Of course, the connections to Mr. Parker-Nguyen could well be coincidence, or it could be another false trail being laid down."
Smoke Alarm
player, 483 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 04:40
  • msg #221

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Haggling was delayed while the cleaner started talking about failure and corruption, which in Smoke's experience was usually the point where they started hurting people with buzz-saws.

The Guardian:
"Ah... seventy-two is less than eighty."


'Is it.' Smoke returned. It wasn't quite a question. 'Well, you don't want to carry all those numbers around, do you?' It was a fair comment. A pocket full of coins was heavy and jangly and pulled your pants down, so Kangs didn't like to have too many of them. She wasn't sure how much numbers weighed, but she guessed they got tricky after a while.

'Okay, eleventy dollars, final offer.'


OOC: I'll wait for GM confirmation that Trav's message arrives.
The Guardian
GM, 521 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 05:16
  • msg #222

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

7152C starts looking between Smoke Alarm and Stanley in utter confusion.

"....Eleventy?...."

Before he can formulate a proper response to Smoke Alarm, her talkiphone handset alerts her of a message with a strident BRRRRING!

The message is from Trav, asking them to head back to the TARDIS and briefly explaining how Sereth is in a bit of a pickle.
Smoke Alarm
player, 485 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 08:40
  • msg #223

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Quickly scanning the text, Smoke Alarm summarised it for Stan. 'It's from Traveller. She wants us outgoing back to the talkiphone box with all speed. The egg-head's gotten into a to-do.' Of course. She eyespied an attached update for the TARDIS app, so she pressed OK to install. It would probably make the talkiphone box outgoing off somewhere or something. Traveller would know best.

'Eleventy dollars it is!' she agreed quickly, taking the cleaner's repeat for acceptance and not having time to haggle further. She pointed the talkiphone at 7152C and fired $110 at it before picking up her box of scrap, bouncing and ready to foot it.
The Traveller
player, 483 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 12:59
  • msg #224

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Vesha says, "They're a Foamasi hive.  My understanding is that they were good and proper gangsters, back in the day, but now that we're all refined businesspersons and statesmen in these parts, they contract out quite a bit of their extracurricular activity.  Of course, the connections to Mr. Parker-Nguyen could well be coincidence, or it could be another false trail being laid down."


Trav smirks as she sticks the transmitter piece into a tube from her bag and after scanning it with the sonic. "Yeah, Al had a running thing with those guys. Al Capone was an old boyfriend of mine, and when I met him he was already a time traveller, but he never told me how. He never had any high tech on him, but all I know is that when we were having dinner on the moons of Fantabula these insect gangsters show and he flips up the table. A perfectly romantic date night that was interrupted by a mob hit." Al Capone owuld be perfect for this kind of trouble.

Trav plays with the idea of tracking down and picking up Al, but then they'd have to finish that fight. Al travelled for a time with Boobie, specifically when he needed backup against her, as the Marshall. The last time she saw Al was when he, the Doctor and the Castellan  had her locked away in a cell in the Citadel.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:04, Fri 11 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 286 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 13:53
  • msg #225

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He shook his head.

"Too slow. Whoever's behind this is one step ahead - we can't let them get further ahead."

He moved and pushed up the panel to open into the maintenance hatch.

"You're free to wait or not. But I intend on finding out who's responsible for this; and making sure they fail. THat doesn't mean waiting around for help to arrive."

Assuming he would fit; he then attempted to get up into the hatch.
Stanley Newton
player, 130 posts
Fri 11 Jul 2014
at 14:05
  • msg #226

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley notices 7152C looking at him, but Stan is just as confused as him about "eleventy".

"Oh? Back to the Tardis, with all speed?" Stanley looks at the holographic representation of the coil, projected by the machine. If Trav wants them to get back to the Tardis asap, they don't have the time to wait for the machine to finish construction. He quickly apologises to 7152C. "Sorry 7152C, something urgent has come up, we really need to go now. Would it be possible for us to come back later to pick up the coil?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:05, Fri 11 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 522 posts
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 03:52
  • msg #227

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"You're free to wait or not. But I intend on finding out who's responsible for this; and making sure they fail. THat doesn't mean waiting around for help to arrive."

Assuming he would fit; he then attempted to get up into the hatch.

Mr. Alvin looks dubiously up at the hatch.  "I'll keep trying here, I think...."

But Rishtak, when he sees Sereth going for the hatch, grunts.  "Got my orders to stick with you, sir.  Don't care a lot where that takes us."  He gives Sereth a boost to help him up through the hatch, then squirms his broad shoulders through himself to follow.  The pair of them end up standing atop the car.

Looking around, Sereth can see the outer elevator doors going up level by level, the cable for the adjacent car, and a metal maintenance ladder extending up the shaft.  Everything is quiet; there is no sound of the other car and the smallest movement creates an echo.  Tiny emergency lights extend up and away.
The Guardian
GM, 523 posts
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 03:56
  • msg #228

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
He quickly apologises to 7152C. "Sorry 7152C, something urgent has come up, we really need to go now. Would it be possible for us to come back later to pick up the coil?"

"Certainly, sir."

Before either Stanley or Smoke Alarm can react, 7152C levels his manipulator arms at them.  A blue light comes on at the end of one of them, and there's a brief high-pitched whine.

Then each of their phones ding, as the receipts for their purchases are delivered.

To Smoke Alarm, he adds, "May your recycling enjoy synergy!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:06, Sat 12 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 487 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 05:06
  • msg #229

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Ware zap-guns!' Smoke yelped as the cleaner levelled its claw-arm at them, blue light glowing menacingly. She pushed Stan out of the way before she ducked and rolled to the side. Then her talkiphoned dinged. Hopping up, Smoke checked it to see the note. 'Okay, ta. Build high for happiness!' she returned quickly, intending to escape with all speed. She grabbed Stan's hand to lead the slow-poke away, though neglecting the difference in speed between the two of them.
Sereth
player, 289 posts
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 05:13
  • msg #230

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth nodded, and started to climb. 14 floors below the safety deposit boxes? Long climb.
Stanley Newton
player, 131 posts
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 15:57
  • msg #231

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Once again Stan is taken by surprise by Smoke's actions and he only barely manages to keep his balance when she pushes him away. He is about to say something about it when he is distracted by his phone dinging. He reads the receipt, but before he can study it in detail Smoke is already leading him away.

"Uhm..Yeah, we will be back later." he shouts back at 7152C, whilst trying to keep up with Smoke. "Smoke Alarm, did the message say what sort of trouble Sereth was in?"
The Guardian
GM, 525 posts
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 18:47
  • msg #232

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: It may be worth thinking about how Smoke and Stanley are getting back across town to the storage facility where the TARDIS is.  It's likely to influence how long Sereth is going to be solo here.
Stanley Newton
player, 132 posts
Sat 12 Jul 2014
at 22:44
  • msg #233

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OoC: It would be quickest to take a hover-taxi back to the Tardis, but Smoke is leading the way, so probably lots of so-called "shortcuts" :).
Smoke Alarm
player, 489 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #234

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Dunno. Traveller only said Sereth is in a pickle... Well, he does look like a pickle.' she reflected philosophically as she hurried along the foot-path, dragging Stanley behind her.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Sun 13 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 527 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #235

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

At SSS&T, Sereth has finished the long climb up to the twenty-sixth floor.  Rishtak is huffing a bit as he catches up: he has the powerful physique of his species, but that's still a considerable amount of Ogron to lift that far.

From the quiet, Sereth suspects that the main power is out -- there may be security systems with their own isolated power, but the secured areas probably have a lockdown mode that engages in situations like this.  The outer elevator door leading out of the shaft can likely be forced by hand, particularly with both Sereth and Rishtak to try to shift it.  The inner walls of the shaft have a bit of a lip that they can brace against, so they're not trying to do this while clinging to the ladder.
Sereth
player, 290 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 06:33
  • msg #236

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A nod to Rishtak, and they work on trying to open the doors.

"Be ready. I'm hoping they won't have expected us to do as we did so won't expect us yet but - they would have been foolish to not expect some trouble."
The Traveller
player, 488 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 17:57
  • msg #237

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav now reaches into her bag. She does a pirotette, and her business skirt suit turns into a more comfortable T shirt and jeans ensemble with a skull and crossbones over an american flag on the shirt. She snaps her hat, and it turns into a pair of ray bans.

"I will be in touch with you all later, gentlebeings, but right now some scumbags are trying to steal the stuff that Corsi left me. We're still on for that wake, no matter what happens. Ja Ne!" Coming out from her bag are her turbopistols and belt. She straps them on as she breaks out into a run, heading towards the bank!
Stanley Newton
player, 133 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 22:33
  • msg #238

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

After following Smoke for a while, Stanley stops walking. "Wait a sec. I'll send Trav a text, telling her that we are on our way to the Tardis and that the coil isn't finished yet."
The Guardian
GM, 529 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 23:08
  • msg #239

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

With Rishtak's help, Sereth pulls the elevator doors apart and warily steps out into the hallway.  Rishtak puts a big paw inside his jacket and pulls out a massive handgun.  "Got you covered."  He holds the gun in both hands, pointed barrel down, and watcher for Sereth to take the lead.

Just beyond the elevator, there's a security station.  A uniformed guard is sitting behind a panel of dead controls, slumped and unconscious.  A corridor heads away from the elevator, ending in a "T" junction.  Along the walls, Sereth can see security doors with inert keypads.  He glances again at the information Trav gave him: Deposit Vault 9K-122.  From the signs numbering the doors, it looks like he's looking for room 9K.

The floors have a solid feel and the walls are covered with some sort of acoustic tiles.  Now that they're out of the elevator, there are some more ambient noises and echoes.  There's what might be some clattering from above the ceiling or through the walls.  There is also the muffled sound of something moving along the floor down one of the hallways -- the impacts are sharper, heavier and more numerous than Sereth would expect from ordinary footsteps.
Sereth
player, 292 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 23:12
  • msg #240

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He moved quietly onwards, glancing both ways; trying to figure out which way would lead towards room 9K; reading the signs on the doors. He was alert with those 'footsteps'; he didn't trust this at all.
The Guardian
GM, 530 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 23:12
  • msg #241

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"I will be in touch with you all later, gentlebeings, but right now some scumbags are trying to steal the stuff that Corsi left me. We're still on for that wake, no matter what happens. Ja Ne!" Coming out from her bag are her turbopistols and belt. She straps them on as she breaks out into a run, heading towards the bank!


"Hang on there, Traveller!" says Vesha.  "I'll make you a deal.  I want a piece of whoever's behind this.  If you'll play ball, we can take my hover, and be there in a few minutes."
The Guardian
GM, 531 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 23:38
  • msg #242

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
He moved quietly onwards, glancing both ways; trying to figure out which way would lead towards room 9K; reading the signs on the doors. He was alert with those 'footsteps'; he didn't trust this at all.

OOC: With someone or something possibly hunting you, I'll give you a choice for which way to roll: you can try staying away from them while you look for the right door, or you can try and maneuver to get the drop on them and see who they are while looking for the door..  The first would be an Awareness or Coordination + Subterfuge roll, but for the second I'll let you use Awareness + Swordsmanship.
Sereth
player, 293 posts
Sun 13 Jul 2014
at 23:47
  • msg #243

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Hah. LIke there's a choice...

Try to get the drop on them.


09:47, Today: Sereth rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 5,3. Awareness + Swordsmanship.
The Guardian
GM, 532 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 01:11
  • msg #244

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Motioning Rishtak to follow quietly, Sereth treads softly along the hallway.  He hears the clattering steps down a side passage to the left, and he and Rishtak slip past to a junction, circle left and left again to come up behind whatever is making the sounds.

What they see is a robot, about chest-high to Sereth, with an arachnoform chassis and a dorsal sensor / weapon turret.  It is heading down the hall back toward the elevator and the security post, its turret scanning back and forth ahead of it.  It doesn't seem to have registered their presence yet.

The robot doesn't appear to have enough space to quickly reverse its direction in the hallway, although from what Sereth can tell of the design, the turret may be capable of a full 360-degree traverse.

Rishtak is covering the robot with his gun, though he says nothing and continues to watch Sereth for his cue.

The Guardian, for the NPC 9921A, rolled 8 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 1,1. Detecting Sereth: Awareness(3) + Subterfuge(3).
Sereth
player, 294 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #245

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Damn. He hoped it wasn't a bank security robot; but either way, that kind of firepower had to be disposed of before he pushed ahead. He turned and signalled to Rishtak to fire; but he was rushing forward even as he did so, though making sure the shot was fired before he got there. His goal was to make sure that gun turret never got a chance to aim before it was disposed of - as quickly, and silently as possible.
Smoke Alarm
player, 491 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #246

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
After following Smoke for a while, Stanley stops walking. "Wait a sec. I'll send Trav a text, telling her that we are on our way to the Tardis and that the coil isn't finished yet."


Smoke Alarm stopped, outlooking impatiently back at Stan. Kangs didn't like to wait around anywhere. 'Can't you text and foot-it at the same time, slow-poke?' she teased, but waited for Traveller's response all the same. 'Ask if we should be outgoing straight to Sereth.' she suggested.
Sereth
player, 297 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 03:03
  • msg #247

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Springing into action, the Draconian's sword came slicing at the robot, trying to disable it fast; hoping Rishtak fired sooner.

13:01, Today: Sereth rolled 18 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,6. Attacking robot.
The Guardian
GM, 534 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 03:51
  • msg #248

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

There's a FOOM! as Rishtak's weapon discharges.  The sizzling energy beam flashes Sereth and only grazes the robot.

Sereth, hard on the heels of the blast, hurtles over the scuttling legs of the machine and lands a solid blow atop the robot's armored dome.  He's dismayed to see that despite the deep furrow gouged into the robot by his family honor blade, it hardly appears slowed by the assault.

"Alert!  ALERT!" buzzes the modulated voice of the robot.  "Patrol drone is under assault.  Use of nonlethal antipersonnel measures ENGAGED."

OOC:

22:20, Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Rishtak, rolled 12 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,6. Firing on the robot: Coordination(2) + Marksmanship(3).
22:21, Today: The Guardian, for the NPC 9921A, rolled 14 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,3. Reaction against blaster shot: Awareness(3) + Coordination(3).
22:29, Today: The Guardian, for the NPC 9921A, rolled 17 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 5,4. Reaction against sword attack: Strength(5) + Fighting(3).

With an ordinary success, Sereth does half damage from his 8 (Strength 4 + Sword 4) but the robot has armor of 5.

What I might suggest, since the math works out that you need to reach a Good (+4 or better) success to cause damage this way, is that you have Rishtak just act in support of Sereth in some way.

The robot's Strength is 5, so if you can hit a Fantastic (+9) success, that will do 12-5 = 7 to the robot and disable it.
Sereth
player, 301 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 04:59
  • msg #249

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A growl.

"Hold. Him. Still."

If Rishtak can hold the robot steady for a few moments, he then quite deliberately aims for any weaknesses in the armor, or vital spots he can see.

OOC: My idea is that if Rishtak can hold it still so it struggles more to get away than trying to dodge the blows, I can target it better. I'm not asking he sacrifices himself by letting it shoot him straight on though; I'm hoping that at close range, a robot is going to struggle to aim.


14:58, Today: Sereth rolled 15 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,3. Attacking robot; take 2?
+23:36, Today: Sereth rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,3. Bonus story point on last roll. So 21.

Gah.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:37, Mon 14 July 2014.
The Traveller
player, 490 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 06:03
  • msg #250

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
After following Smoke for a while, Stanley stops walking. "Wait a sec. I'll send Trav a text, telling her that we are on our way to the Tardis and that the coil isn't finished yet."


A text comes in from Trav - Sereth is in trouble. Bank is closer - meet me there? A map location is attached that should locate the bank from wherever Smoke and Stan are. If you're closer to the TARDIS, go for it, otherwise meet me here. The little dot on VortexMaps shows Trav's dot, yours, and the bank and TARDIS locations.
The Traveller
player, 491 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 06:06
  • msg #251

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
"I will be in touch with you all later, gentlebeings, but right now some scumbags are trying to steal the stuff that Corsi left me. We're still on for that wake, no matter what happens. Ja Ne!" Coming out from her bag are her turbopistols and belt. She straps them on as she breaks out into a run, heading towards the bank!


"Hang on there, Traveller!" says Vesha.  "I'll make you a deal.  I want a piece of whoever's behind this.  If you'll play ball, we can take my hover, and be there in a few minutes."


Trav spins around, and gives her an appraising look. This did remind her of a Corsair caper. She wouldn't be surprised of she had planned it all along. "Allright. But you only get *your* peice, not mine. Didn't he leave you anything? And if there's any double cross bullshit, I'll stun you into next year." She smiles. "You also have to tell me about how the Corsair seduced you. Now, where's your ride?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Mon 14 July 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 134 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 11:51
  • msg #252

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"I could try to text and foot-it, but that would end with me tripping over something or a message full of mistakes. Probably both." Stanley jokes whilst he is waiting for Trav's reply.

"Sereth is at...the bank apparently. Trav wants to meet us there" Stanley says, showing Smoke the map.
Smoke Alarm
player, 494 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 12:14
  • msg #253

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'The bank? Sounds yawny... You can get pickles at a bank?' Smoke wondered as she eyespied the map, tracing a bony finger from one point to the next and outlooking for a shortcut or unseen way to Sereth's pickle-bank, so that she could be outgoing there with all speed.


OOC: Can Smoke find a short-cut to the bank?
20:08, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 1,6. awareness(4) + ingenuity(3) + sense of direction(2).
Stanley Newton
player, 135 posts
Mon 14 Jul 2014
at 14:10
  • msg #254

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Well, they managed to get the whole economy in a pickle, so I'd say yawny, but dangerous." Stanley replies. "That was a long time ago though. I don't know how much the banks have changed in the meantime."
The Guardian
GM, 538 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 01:17
  • msg #255

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

With Sereth standing toe-to-toe with the patroller drone, its turret starts to whip around to aim at him.  That, however, is when Rishtak barrels into it from behind.  It shakes and twists, trying to buck him off, while he struggles to hold the turret aimed away from Sereth (and himself).

With the robot thus distracted, Sereth focuses on the vulnerable join of the turret mechanism, and giving a fierce Draconian ssel'fang hiss, strikes!  The honor blade shears through the composite armor into the circuitry and mechanism beneath.  Sparks fly, and the robot gives an anguished warble.

OOC: Lots of rolls:

Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Rishtak, rolled 17 using 2d6+11 with rolls of 5,1. Rishtak holding robot: Strength(6) + Brawling(5).
Today: The Guardian, for the NPC 9921A, rolled 8 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,1. Robot shooting Sereth: Coordination(3) + Marksmanship(4) -4 (third action).
Today: The Guardian, for the NPC 9921A, rolled 11 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 2,3. Robot shaking off Rishtak: Strength(5) + Fighting(3) -2 (extra action).
Today: The Guardian, for the NPC 9921A, rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,4. Reaction against sword attack: Strength(5) + Fighting(3).

Rishtak is actually giving you a +2 bonus for wrestling the patroller drone, so your total is a 23.  That's just short of the Fantastic result.  However, you still got a Good result, doing your damage of 8, and once you take off the armor that goes to a 3.  This takes the robot's Strength down to a 2.

Rishtak's struggles with the robot also make it use up an action trying and failing to break free of him, and when it tries to shoot Sereth, its total is an 8.  With your Awareness + Concentration of 6, you can't actually fail to win that roll, so you're fine.
The Guardian
GM, 539 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #256

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm traces a zigzagging path through the streets of the city and sets off, dragging the slowpoke Stanley behind her.  She shaves off some time by pulling him through a big drain conduit, where Stanley has to run hunched over to keep from braining himself.  Then she pelts up an arched foot-bridge that runs over a wide, busy street.

From here it's a straight shot up to the pickle-bank building, according to Stanley's map, but it's still a pretty long way.  There are sidewalks running to either side of the six lanes of ground vehicles now hurtling beneath their feet.
Sereth
player, 305 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 01:25
  • msg #257

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth easily dodged the blast, and nodded.

"Well done Rishtak."

But sparing no more time for words; he steps forward once again; to try to slice into it... and hopefully finish it off.

OOC: Gah. Keep trying to finish it off. Assuming Rishtak still giving me the +2; that'll be an 18.
11:22, Today: Sereth rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,4. Finish it off?
The Guardian
GM, 540 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 01:35
  • msg #258

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Seduced me?" Vesha says, as she and Trav hurry down the stairwell toward the lobby of the building.  "Never met the man.  He took Great-Uncle Domingo for a quarter of a million bucks, back when that was real money to the Family.  I'll give him credit -- the accountants tallied up what he owed, figuring in interest and return over the last eighty years.  He was off by about the price of a cappucino."

The pair of them pelt through a swarm of surprised businesspeople out to the front steps.  Vesha is holding a key fob aloft as she takes the steps down to the street.  Descending gently from above and rotating neatly into a curbside spot is a candy-apple red convertible '55 Romasi Valera in spotless condition.  Vesha vaults nimbly over the door into the driver's seat.

"Well, get in, sister," she says, "and hold on to your psychomorphic hat!"
The Guardian
GM, 541 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 02:20
  • msg #259

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The robot rears up the front legs facing Sereth to try to fend him off, but the Draconian's blade splits through the middle of the thing's defense, right into the open "wound" he opened moments earlier.  Something shorts, and there's a whiff of acrid smoke from the machine.  It slumps, and its glowing photoreceptors dim and fade.

Rishtak retrieves his gun and returns to Sereth.  He flexes his shoulders with an audible pop, and straightens his jacket.  While he didn't precisely discount the Draconian legate before this, now he gives Sereth more of an appraising look.  "Not bad with that cleaver, mister," he says.

After the brief struggle, the unidentified noises around this floor of the bank seem to have stopped.
Smoke Alarm
player, 495 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #260

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Well, the banks won't con-a-me! I keep my coins in my pocket. And I don't like pickles.' Smoke Alarm said wisely, then led Stanley off on an impromptu mystery tour of Space Vegas, a maze-like route through the backstreets, down the kind of dark alleys only a Kang would brave, and even downstairs through drains and tunnels.

Finally, Smoke Alarm footed it swiftly up the bridge, leading Stanley after her, then stopped at the peak to decide her next way. The pickle-bank was that way, down the street. She leaned over the rail, watching the big roller-cars go past at all speed. Then she outlooked at Stanley with a dangerous grin. 'You thinking what I'm thinking?'
Sereth
player, 306 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 02:51
  • msg #261

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A nod.

"Well, the element of surprise is somewhat lost. Maybe they'll think it killed us?" A smile. "It is required for all nobles to undergo basic sword training. My duties required it be a bit more extensive."

He returned at that point to looking for the door; though definitely alert at this point. It was too quiet.
The Traveller
player, 493 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 05:17
  • msg #262

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"Seduced me?" Vesha says, as she and Trav hurry down the stairwell toward the lobby of the building.  "Never met the man.  He took Great-Uncle Domingo for a quarter of a million bucks, back when that was real money to the Family.  I'll give him credit -- the accountants tallied up what he owed, figuring in interest and return over the last eighty years.  He was off by about the price of a cappucino."

The pair of them pelt through a swarm of surprised businesspeople out to the front steps.  Vesha is holding a key fob aloft as she takes the steps down to the street.  Descending gently from above and rotating neatly into a curbside spot is a candy-apple red convertible '55 Romasi Valera in spotless condition.  Vesha vaults nimbly over the door into the driver's seat.

"Well, get in, sister," she says, "and hold on to your psychomorphic hat!"


Trav hops in. "He probably seduced Great-Uncle Domingo. God, that boy could never keep it in his pants." The Corsair taught her how to be an adventurer. If it wasn't for the Corsair making her into a woman, she wouldn't have been ready for either Al Capone or Abe Lincoln (although her relationship with Abe was exceedingly chaste.) The Corsair taught the Traveller how to be bold.

"I'll make up that Cappucino once we get those jackasses. But why are you so keen to pursue this? If you never met Corsi, this certainly can't be personal, unless it's a family affair."

Trav vaults in, smiling madly.
The Guardian
GM, 542 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 05:44
  • msg #263

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth and Rishtak encounter no further disruptions as they follow the numbered vault plaques to 9K.  Sereth notices at once that the card swipe / keypad outside this door is powered and armed, where all the others have been dead.
The Guardian
GM, 543 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 05:49
  • msg #264

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Valera surges ahead with the sort of acceleration that should properly only follow a candlelit dinner and a rumba.

"If the Ss'tenga are playing shenanigans, it's my business to find out why.  The Syndicate only works so long as all the Families keep the crossfire down to a dull roar.  They wanted something, bad, and a quarter million is... not chump change, but not worth throwing down the gauntlet, either."

The Valera rips madly through traffic like laws are only a passing fancy.  Trav notices the little police hover-bots, watching it flash by without so much as a whine of protest.

"So I'm thinking it's most likely whatever a Time Lord left a Time Lord.  Don't get in a bunch," she adds at Trav's reaction to that.  "I don't mean to hijack whatever it is, not now, and not without fair warning.  Word of the Valbreco," she says, like it's some ritual oath.  "Just need to find out if it's really them, and what they're up to."

As the car speeds on, Vesha adds, "So.  Stanley.  Cute, in that trapped-in-the-headlights way.  You and him...?  I flatter myself I can bait a hook, but he wasn't biting."
Sereth
player, 308 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 06:04
  • msg #265

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He shook his head.

Interesting.

He probably should have gotten the details first; but he examines the keypad; to see if there was a way of bypassing it.

OOC: Gah. Where's the sonic when you need it?
The Traveller
player, 494 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 15:00
  • msg #266

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Valera surges ahead with the sort of acceleration that should properly only follow a candlelit dinner and a rumba.

"If the Ss'tenga are playing shenanigans, it's my business to find out why.  The Syndicate only works so long as all the Families keep the crossfire down to a dull roar.  They wanted something, bad, and a quarter million is... not chump change, but not worth throwing down the gauntlet, either."

The Valera rips madly through traffic like laws are only a passing fancy.  Trav notices the little police hover-bots, watching it flash by without so much as a whine of protest.

"So I'm thinking it's most likely whatever a Time Lord left a Time Lord.  Don't get in a bunch," she adds at Trav's reaction to that.  "I don't mean to hijack whatever it is, not now, and not without fair warning.  Word of the Valbreco," she says, like it's some ritual oath.  "Just need to find out if it's really them, and what they're up to."

As the car speeds on, Vesha adds, "So.  Stanley.  Cute, in that trapped-in-the-headlights way.  You and him...?  I flatter myself I can bait a hook, but he wasn't biting."


Trav rolls her eyes. "If he's interested in me at all, he hasn't signaled. He's a good guy, and I have centuries of baggage. It's one of the reasons I split when you two were playing against each other. I watch out for my peeps, but I don't block."

She nods to that. "Understood, and thanks. Thing is, whatever she left me might be The Big Prize, at least as far as the Ss'tenga are concerned - so big that they think it's worth more than anything else. Or, it could be just part of some vengeance on Corsi. That crazy girl did have a talent for breaking hearts. I once tracked her down across time and space by  tracking down her trail of break ups."

A thought crosses the Time Lord's mind as they soar across space vegas. "This smells to me that whoever is behind this has access to time travel. Do you think the Ss'tenga are fooling around with temporal technology, or are acting on behalf of someone else? If memory serves, you guys usually stay out of that stuff."

It occurs to her that Corsi may have subjected herself to the Chameleon arch, like she did long ago to hide on Rifts Earth from the Shedraya time demons. If that's so, and if their opponents knew what they were after, they could be going for an ultimate prize - the memories and knowledge of an ancient Time Lord who was senior to herself and the Doctor.

She doesn't say anything, but her knuckles go white as she grips the door of the flying convertible.

Trav takes a good, hard look at Vesha. Would she take the offer of the key once this was all over?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:06, Tue 15 July 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 136 posts
Tue 15 Jul 2014
at 18:28
  • msg #267

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"No." Stanley's eyes widen in surprise, when he thinks he gets what Smoke is suggesting. Smoke's  route so far had been reasonable easy to follow, apart from that tunnel bit, where he had to watch his head, but this was impossible. "No, I am not thinking what you are thinking. Not at all."

He looks over the edge of the bridge at the traffic, convincing himself that jumping down and catching a ride on top of a vehicle just wouldn't work. He shakes his head, "That's...that's incredible dangerous and probably illegal. We should just walk the rest of the way."
The Guardian
GM, 544 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 01:12
  • msg #268

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
He probably should have gotten the details first; but he examines the keypad; to see if there was a way of bypassing it.

"Could try blasting it," says Rishtak, but his tone implies that even he doesn't think that's a particularly likely solution.

The security door probably has some sort of deadbolt locking mechanism, which would make entering by brute force extremely difficult.

Chances are that the lock could be overridden from the guard station, which could be done by restoring power and patching in the right override signal.

If this lock is active while the others are all off and locked down, that suggests that it's getting its power somewhere other than the standard power supply.

Of course, the guard himself probably has an emergency override code, though he would have to be conscious and agreeable to use it.  The disabled patrol robot might be a trifle difficult to explain.

OOC: Figure that bypassing the lock would be a Hard Ingenuity + Technology roll; figuring out how to manually force it and doing so would be Strength + Athletics in the 20s.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:16, Wed 16 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 545 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 01:23
  • msg #269

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
A thought crosses the Time Lord's mind as they soar across space vegas. "This smells to me that whoever is behind this has access to time travel. Do you think the Ss'tenga are fooling around with temporal technology, or are acting on behalf of someone else? If memory serves, you guys usually stay out of that stuff."

Vesha laughs nervously.  "Time travel?  Lady, my mama quit telling me bedtime stories about boogeymen and Daleks when I was six.  No offense; I guess you and the Corsair make for proof enough that things like that exist, or did, once upon a time.  But most of the people in the circles I move in have no use for living anywhere but the here and now."
Smoke Alarm
player, 496 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 01:57
  • msg #270

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked quizzically at Stanley and all his denials. 'Foot it, like a slow-poke? I was thinking we should ride a taxi. What were you thinking?'
The Traveller
player, 495 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 02:28
  • msg #271

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
A thought crosses the Time Lord's mind as they soar across space vegas. "This smells to me that whoever is behind this has access to time travel. Do you think the Ss'tenga are fooling around with temporal technology, or are acting on behalf of someone else? If memory serves, you guys usually stay out of that stuff."

Vesha laughs nervously.  "Time travel?  Lady, my mama quit telling me bedtime stories about boogeymen and Daleks when I was six.  No offense; I guess you and the Corsair make for proof enough that things like that exist, or did, once upon a time.  But most of the people in the circles I move in have no use for living anywhere but the here and now."


When Vesha says -did-, she starts to titter and laugh. "Oh god. You said *did*. Oh, that's so funny. Oh, baby, I'm not laughing at you. The past and the future are my here and now. History isn't imaginary or not relevant or just stories, baby, it's *real* and it's happening right NOW." She grins that manic grin again.

"After this is over, come and take a little trip. That is, if you aren't scared of a little here and now."
Sereth
player, 309 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 02:39
  • msg #272

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Brute force isn't going to work; not even with you. They've somehow got a separate power supply; might be our way in."

OOC: Trying to bypass the lock; spending a story point.

12:39, Today: Sereth rolled 15 using 4d6+6 with rolls of 3,1,1,4.

And why bother.... bleah.
The Guardian
GM, 546 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 03:00
  • msg #273

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth pops the cover off the electronic lock and studies the leads coming off the touch screen.  Now, if I simply short across here....  Sheathing his sword and taking out a penknife, he pries several of the wires free of their connectors, then prepares to trip the circuit by hand.  If he's right, it should interrupt the power feed and cause the door to cycle.

He's not quite right.  There's a bright blue spark and a puff of smoke.  The power does trip out momentarily, and it even engages the door release.  However, it hasn't opened a fraction before a fail-safe kicks in: the heavy bolts slam back in place with a CHUNK and part of the panel's circuitry burns out.  When Sereth jumps back, the touch pad hangs loose, flashing with red warning lights.

Sereth ponders the lock in disgust.  For about a minute he studies it trying to decide if there's any way to salvage it and try again.

Then, without him doing anything, the touch panel flickers and a green light comes on with a happy ding.  He hears the door mechanism start to cycle open.

Rishtak's gun comes up to aim at the door and he backs away from it.  "You do that?" he asks.

OOC: "No, but...."  Draw your own conclusions about the door....
Sereth
player, 310 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #274

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"No." THe Draconians words were short, and wary. "But let's find out what we have?" He grimaced, as he moved to the door now. "Be prepared for the worst."
Stanley Newton
player, 137 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 15:08
  • msg #275

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'Foot it, like a slow-poke? I was thinking we should ride a taxi. What were you thinking?'


"Oh, a taxi." Stanley laughs nervously. "No..yeah..well, I thought...jump....Doesn't matter! Taking a taxi sounds like a good idea. Let's do that. "
Smoke Alarm
player, 498 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 15:16
  • msg #276

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Jump?! That's an icehot idea!' Smoke exclaimed, eagerly throwing a leg over the railing...


OOC: Waited a day and a half for that joke. :p
Stanley Newton
player, 138 posts
Wed 16 Jul 2014
at 19:23
  • msg #277

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"No! Stop, that is dangerous." Stanley shouts, taking a step forward. Then he hesitates, not sure if Smoke really thought that would work or if she was just messing with him. "You...you are kidding, right? Even you know must know that that is not an "icehot" idea."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Wed 16 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 499 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 01:55
  • msg #278

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke paused with her leg on the rail, outlooking wonderingly at Stan. Didn't he get it? 'I won't know-how until I try...' she returned with all the defiance and confidence of a Kang. But she took her foot off and start footing it across the bridge alongside him. Stan was no fun at all! 'Fine! We'll outgo the slowpoke's way and mayhaps Sereth won't be mashed into pickles when we get there... I dunno. First you say don't jump, then you say jump, then you don't jump. It's hard keeping up with you.' she complained even as she ran ahead down to the road.

Once down the bottom, she stepped onto the road and waved her hands at the oncoming cars. 'Taxi! Stop-sign! Taxi!'
The Guardian
GM, 547 posts
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 01:57
  • msg #279

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As the door to the safe-deposit room opens up, Sereth gets a glimpse of an upturned metal table with two people crouching behind it -- a lanky male human, and a more solidly built humanoid female with green skin and cactuslike spikes on her face and scalp.  They've got a grim, desperate look to them.  Sereth realizes that his mishap with the door must have alerted them, allowing them to set up an ambush.  They raise their guns!

OOC: The intended actions for these two is to shoot (one at Sereth, one at Rishtak) and to resist any actions against them.  You can plan out any actions you like and generate rolls for them -- remember that you start adding -2 for each additional action, but that reaction rolls only count once.  Rishtak will again act as you choose.

In addition, you can make a free Awareness + Ingenuity roll to determine if you notice something.  Difficulty is Normal (12).
The Guardian
GM, 548 posts
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 02:05
  • msg #280

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha glances at Trav (though at their rate of travel Trav probably wishes she'd watch the road.)  "Mmm, right, I've kind of got a job," she says. "Let's focus, okay?"

She pulls the Valera in right in front of the Spiral Trust.  Vesha climbs out of the car, and when Trav joins her she uses her key again to set the vehicle heading skyward to auto-park.

Vesha leads Trav into the expensively appointed lobby, striding in like she owns the place.  The two of them find the main lights off and a number of the customers and banks attendants standing around chatting.  At one of the central workstations, Trav spots a distinguished-looking man talking to a man and a woman who are wearing matching black fatigues and berets.
The Guardian
GM, 549 posts
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 02:11
  • msg #281

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

It only takes a couple of minutes before Smoke Alarm flags down a hover-taxi.  The driver is a tusked and snouted non-human, wearing an incongruous red-and-gold checked shirt and a brown Scots bonnet.  He punches a button on his steering yoke, and the rear door on Smoke's side of the car unlatches and flips up overhead.

"Where ya headed, little lady?" he asks.  Stanley nearly laughs out loud at the alien's flawless Brooklyn accent.
Smoke Alarm
player, 500 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 02:59
  • msg #282

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'The big bank tower, with all speed!' Smoke ordered, pointing at the tower she figured was the one Sereth was being pickled in. She waited for Stan to get in before she piled in after him.
Sereth
player, 312 posts
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 03:56
  • msg #283

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Close! Don't let them get their guns to bear."

OOC: Move quickly; try to push the table down on them if possible. Figure the table can act as cover against them as well as it is for them; especially as I don't intend to get into a gun fight.

13:55, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,2. Awareness + Ingenuity. Noticing.
The Traveller
player, 496 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 14:20
  • msg #284

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Vesha glances at Trav (though at their rate of travel Trav probably wishes she'd watch the road.)  "Mmm, right, I've kind of got a job," she says. "Let's focus, okay?"


Trav laughs even harder at that. "Baby, I can take you away for years and have you back in 5 minutes. Time travel!"

The Guardian:
She pulls the Valera in right in front of the Spiral Trust.  Vesha climbs out of the car, and when Trav joins her she uses her key again to set the vehicle heading skyward to auto-park.

Vesha leads Trav into the expensively appointed lobby, striding in like she owns the place.  The two of them find the main lights off and a number of the customers and banks attendants standing around chatting.  At one of the central workstations, Trav spots a distinguished-looking man talking to a man and a woman who are wearing matching black fatigues and berets.


"Excuse me. I'm the Traveller, and I'm here for my property."

Nothing like being a loud mouth bitch to get attention.
Stanley Newton
player, 139 posts
Thu 17 Jul 2014
at 22:34
  • msg #285

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Hard keeping up with me? Look who's talking." Stanley mutters as Smoke races off down the road to hail a cab.

Smoke Alarm:
'The big bank tower, with all speed!'


"She means the Spiral Secure Bank." Stanley adds, as he gets in the taxi. "And don't take 'all speed' too literally. Yes we are in hurry, but don't drive dangerously fast, okay? Oh and I couldn't help but notice your accent: have you lived on Earth, if you don't mind me asking?"
The Guardian
GM, 551 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:07
  • msg #286

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Sereth and Rishtak rush the two thieves, Sereth catches a noise of motion to his right as he enters, and spots someone moving out of the corner of his eye.  His training doesn't register the third person as either being in a shooting stance or rushing him, so they're probably safe to ignore, momentarily.

OOC:

The Guardian, for the NPC Male Thief, rolled 14 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 3,6. Shooting at Sereth: Coordination(3) + Marksmanship(2).
The Guardian, for the NPC Female Thief, rolled 13 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 3,5. Shooting at Rishtak: Coordination(3) + Marksmanship(2).
The Guardian, for the NPC Rishtak, rolled 23 using 2d6+11 with rolls of 6,6. Punching Male Thief: Strength(6) + Brawling(5).
The Guardian, for the NPC Rishtak, rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 5,6. Dodging shot: Coordination(2) + Awareness(3) +2  (Cover) -2 (Second Action)
The Guardian, for the NPC Male Thief, rolled 15 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 6,5. Blocking Rishtak: Strength(3) + Fighting(3) -2 (2nd Action).
The Guardian, for the NPC Male Thief, rolled 9 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 4,1. Blocking Sereth: Strength(3) + Fighting(3) -2 (2nd Action).
The Guardian, for the NPC Female Thief, rolled 14 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,5. Blocking Sereth: Strength(2) + Fighting(3) -2 (2nd Action).

What you need to worry about from all that:

Rishtak dodged the shot at him and hit the male thief with enough damage to cold-cock him.

You have an incoming blaster shot with a 14.  You get a +2 for Cover from the table for your Coordination + Awareness defense as you described.

You also need to make attacks against the two thieves for slamming the table into them: that is your Strength + Fighting.  For using the table you get to attack them both without a multiple action penalty.  It is basically moot on the male human.  The table as a weapon will give you +2 damage if you hit.

You do need to pick one of these for your first action and one for your second, which will get a -2.

And your Awareness check to pick up the third person was good enough to know that they're not fighting this turn.

If you fail to dodge the shot, remember you can soak up damage with 1 story point per level of injury.
The Guardian
GM, 552 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:14
  • msg #287

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"Excuse me. I'm the Traveller, and I'm here for my property."

As Trav barges into the conversation between the bank official and the security officers, Vesha walking up behind her, the manager looks at Trav.  He notes her gunbelt, and his face takes on a look of disdain.

"Indeed," he says.  "Of course you are.  You may have noticed that we have a small technical issue that we are presently dealing with, and a large number of patient patrons are already waiting to be served.  Please be so kind as to emulate their example."

OOC: You can hit this guy with a Presence + Resolve roll.  If you want to tie Vesha into it with some further narration, you can get a +2 for her, ahem, "connections".
Sereth
player, 313 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:19
  • msg #288

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Using the defense as first action; attack as the second.

12:15, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 2,3. Co-ordination + Awareness + Cover.
12:17, Today: Sereth rolled 11 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 2,4. STrength + fighting -2 (2nd action.

So only missed the reaction by 1, so I'll use a story point. 7 left.
The Guardian
GM, 553 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:24
  • msg #289

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"She means the Spiral Secure Bank." Stanley adds, as he gets in the taxi. "And don't take 'all speed' too literally. Yes we are in hurry, but don't drive dangerously fast, okay? Oh and I couldn't help but notice your accent: have you lived on Earth, if you don't mind me asking?"


The cabbie thumbs another switch as he pulls out smartly into traffic again, driving smoothly and assertively, though well short of recklessness.  Stanley can see the cab's meter projected onto the windscreen's heads-up display, along with a traffic map and a few advertisements.

"Naw, never been, buddy," the driver says to Stanley.  "Just sorta picked up the lingo from my old man.  He was a dockhand on the Terra - Arcturus line.  But I hope to save up the dough to go see it someday, ya know?"

Less than ten minutes later, the cab pulls up at the curb.  Stanley and Smoke Alarm can see a police vehicle in front of the skyscraper, as well as a few of the hovering police-bots.

"That'll be fifteen bucks, pal," says the cabbie.  "Huh.  Cops.  Sure you want off here?"
The Guardian
GM, 554 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:33
  • msg #290

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth slams the table across the room with a skreee, but the spine-headed woman slides under the table and rolls away from Rishtak as best she can.  Meanwhile, Rishtak's right hook snaps the man's head back, and Sereth winces at the crack as the man slumps.

Turning to get a better picture of the third person while keeping the woman in view, Sereth sees that it's a younger human female, maybe about as old as Smoke Alarm, with some obvious cybernetics embedded in her scalp and her left hand.  One of the safe-deposit cases is hanging open, and the cyborg girl is holding a flat black metal case about the size of a hardback book.  She's moving for the corner of the room, where a black steel grate is leaning against the wall beneath an open hole in the ceiling.

OOC: Sereth, that die roller truly hates you.
Smoke Alarm
player, 501 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:35
  • msg #291

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

On the short drive, Smoke Alarm wound down the window and stuck her head out, trying to get a good outlook at the big bank building. 'Caretakers and cleaners!' she exclaimed in dismay as she saw the flashers and police outside. What kind of pickle was Sereth in now? Smoke really couldn't take her outlooks off any of them for a tick-tock, could she?

As the taxi pulled up to the curb, and hadn't even quite stopped, Smoke dove fluidly out the window, rolled along the footpath, and hopped to her feet, leaving Stanley to pay the fare. She outlooked around, eyespying the situation and wondering if the caretakers and flying cleaners would try to chase her. Where was Sereth?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Sun 20 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 555 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:39
  • msg #292

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Smoke Alarm, you can spend a story point or try making a Hard (18) Awareness + Subterfuge + Keen Senses roll to see if you notice something....
Smoke Alarm
player, 502 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:42
  • msg #293

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Those are all my specialties! Got an 18.
10:41, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 18 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,6. awareness(4) + subterfuge(3) + keen senses(2).
The Guardian
GM, 556 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 02:49
  • msg #294

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Smoke Alarm squints up to study the bank building, she notices way, way up at the top, a bit of motion, like someone looking over the edge.  It's much too distant to make out any detail -- but she looks again and the form is gone, but she's sure there was something up there.

The skyscraper is no Paradise Towers, but it's still plenty tall.  She's pretty sure not even her line-gun would suffice to get her more than a quarter of the way up, and the building's not too conveniently designed for climbing on.
The Traveller
player, 497 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 03:19
  • msg #295

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
"Excuse me. I'm the Traveller, and I'm here for my property."

As Trav barges into the conversation between the bank official and the security officers, Vesha walking up behind her, the manager looks at Trav.  He notes her gunbelt, and his face takes on a look of disdain.

"Indeed," he says.  "Of course you are.  You may have noticed that we have a small technical issue that we are presently dealing with, and a large number of patient patrons are already waiting to be served.  Please be so kind as to emulate their example."

OOC: You can hit this guy with a Presence + Resolve roll.  If you want to tie Vesha into it with some further narration, you can get a +2 for her, ahem, "connections".


Trav snorts. "Vesha, sweety, would you be kind enough to explain to these clowns concerning your, ahem, diplomatic status and how that the staff here is not qualified to deal with the current break-in? I mean, if the bad guys want to steal my stuff, then they may help themselves to whatever else is in the vaults and computer systems. If they want *everyone* in this and the surrounding galaxies to know about this, then I'll wait."

OOC: 23:20, Today: The Traveller rolled 18 using 4d6+7 with rolls of 6,3,1,1. Trav scares the bank officials with bad PR - 2d6+Presence(3)+Convince (2)+Vesha(2)+SP. down to 2 SP.

OOC: CRAP, that was Presence+Resolve, not Convince. Trav has a Resolve of 4, making that a 20. Sowwy!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Fri 18 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 503 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 03:32
  • msg #296

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Outlooking up to the roof, and eyespying the person outlooking down, Smoke was reminded of Dev on the rooftops last night. Was it someone in the to-do with Sereth? Well, there was no outgoing up the outside, she'd have to take the stairs or alleviators.

She ran past the caretakers and flashers, to the big glass doors of the lobby.


OOC: Entering the building. I'm not sure if the police will try to stop Smoke, so leaving it there. She'll evade, naturally. :) Will Smoke see Traveller inside?
Stanley Newton
player, 140 posts
Fri 18 Jul 2014
at 17:48
  • msg #297

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"That'll be fifteen bucks, pal," says the cabbie.  "Huh.  Cops.  Sure you want off here?"


"Yeah, this is definitely the place." Stanley says, looking through the window at the police vehicles. What exactly has Sereth gotten himself into? He uses the app on his phone to pay the fare, apologising to the cab driver for Smoke jumping out of the window. "Sorry for that unusual way of exiting your vehicle, that girl has way too much energy. Oh well, thanks for the ride."

Stanley gets out of the cab, but doesn't follow Smoke in trying to get to the building. Instead  he cautiously approaches the police vehicle, trying to find a policeman and ask what is going on inside.
The Guardian
GM, 557 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 02:29
  • msg #298

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The manager looks as though he's preparing to dig in his heels, but for a moment he catches sight of something in Trav's expression that makes him blanch -- and that's when Vesha steps in.  She shows him a small leather wallet with a gold card showing through a clear window, adding, "If you'd care to call the number on that card, I'm sure you'd be satisfied of our credentials."

He steps back, recovers a bit, and clears his throat.  "Yes.  Well."  Glancing at the senior security officer with him, he says, "Chief Ralston, perhaps you'd be so good as to explain the difficulties?"

Ralston eyes Trav skeptically, but shrugs.  "The building has been compromised by a fairly sophisticated attack.  Both the primary junction to the city power main, and the auxiliary generator have been disabled; our techs think by EM micropulse devices.  There seems to have been a hack of our systems controller that reset the override codes and caused a lockdown of the security doors when the power cut out.  And we have no contact with the duty officers on floors twenty-two through twenty-six and the security center on twenty-one."  His assistant bends in close to whisper something to him.  "We've called in a consulting team from the building contractor to bypass the lockouts in the main stairwell, but they're about thirty minutes out on a suborbital shuttle."

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC SSS and T Manager, rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,2. Opposing Trav's intimidation: Convince(4) + Resolve(4).
The Guardian
GM, 558 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #299

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Hey!  You!  Stop!  This is a crime scene under investigation!"

Smoke Alarm dashes past a uniformed Caretaker to the big spinning glass door at the front of the building, and she's through it before he can stop her.  It's dim inside, but Smoke Alarm has no problem spotting Trav in the middle of a collection of very frowny in-betweens and Caretakers.
The Guardian
GM, 559 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 02:38
  • msg #300

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Sorry for that unusual way of exiting your vehicle, that girl has way too much energy. Oh well, thanks for the ride."

"Pleasure havin' ya on board, buddy.  Be seein' ya!"

quote:
Stanley gets out of the cab, but doesn't follow Smoke in trying to get to the building. Instead  he cautiously approaches the police vehicle, trying to find a policeman and ask what is going on inside.

"It's a little confused, sir, but it appears that someone tripped the security system and put part of the building into lockdown.  If you have business to conduct, you'd probably be better off coming back later, and at the moment we're denying entry to anyone with less than a Class Three sovereign rights license."
Smoke Alarm
player, 504 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 02:44
  • msg #301

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I'm investigating!'

Smoke Alarm loved these spinny doors, and she ran around it twice before slipping out. She gave the spinny door a push to make it go extra fast and slow down the caretakers. 'Traveller!' She ran across the lobby, vaulted a rope strung across in a vain attempt to slow down Kangs, and skidded along the marble floor until she arrived at her friend. 'What's the to-do?'
The Traveller
player, 498 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 03:19
  • msg #302

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The manager looks as though he's preparing to dig in his heels, but for a moment he catches sight of something in Trav's expression that makes him blanch -- and that's when Vesha steps in.  She shows him a small leather wallet with a gold card showing through a clear window, adding, "If you'd care to call the number on that card, I'm sure you'd be satisfied of our credentials."

He steps back, recovers a bit, and clears his throat.  "Yes.  Well."  Glancing at the senior security officer with him, he says, "Chief Ralston, perhaps you'd be so good as to explain the difficulties?"

Ralston eyes Trav skeptically, but shrugs.  "The building has been compromised by a fairly sophisticated attack.  Both the primary junction to the city power main, and the auxiliary generator have been disabled; our techs think by EM micropulse devices.  There seems to have been a hack of our systems controller that reset the override codes and caused a lockdown of the security doors when the power cut out.  And we have no contact with the duty officers on floors twenty-two through twenty-six and the security center on twenty-one."  His assistant bends in close to whisper something to him.  "We've called in a consulting team from the building contractor to bypass the lockouts in the main stairwell, but they're about thirty minutes out on a suborbital shuttle."

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC SSS and T Manager, rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,2. Opposing Trav's intimidation: Convince(4) + Resolve(4).


"Good. I might still keep banking here. I'm waiting for some more members of our team to show up, but I think I can get past your locked doors in, oh, a few seconds."

Trav texts - "ETA, beautiful people?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 505 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 03:38
  • msg #303

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A tell-tale talkiphone ring went off behind Traveller's back, as Smoke Alarm tried to get her attention. 'Here I am! Stan's outside like a slowpoke.'
The Traveller
player, 499 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 04:47
  • msg #304

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
A tell-tale talkiphone ring went off behind Traveller's back, as Smoke Alarm tried to get her attention. 'Here I am! Stan's outside like a slowpoke.'


Trav gives Smoke a hug. "Hey baby!" She shoots a look at the bank manager. "This girl is with me, she's part of my staff."

Up comes the phone. "Hey Stan, hustle! Where are you, sweety?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 506 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 06:41
  • msg #305

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Yep, she's got lots of stuff, and I'm in it.' Smoke Alarm boasted proudly to the bank man. While Traveller got on the talkiphone, she decided to handle talky time with the bank man. 'Mister Bank Man, I eyespied a person on the roof — do you have a Great Pool in the Sky up there? Or are they playing hide-and-seek?'
Stanley Newton
player, 141 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 13:41
  • msg #306

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The cops didn't seem to happy with Smoke dashing past them and Stanley was pretty certain that he didn't have a Class Three sovereign rights license. Hopefully they would still let him through.

"Okay, that is actually why I am here. The people currently inside have requested my presence and they wanted me to bring this." Stan says holding up the box with the stuff Smoke got from the scrapyard. His phone rings. "I have to go now, thanks for the information."

OoC: Presence 3 + Convince 2 + VoA (+2):
15:37, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 3,6. Persuading cop. Presence (3) + Convince(2) + VoA(2).
 
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Sat 19 July 2014.
The Traveller
player, 500 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 14:10
  • msg #307

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav waves to Stan. "Yes, he's one of my people, let him in!"

She turns to the bank manager. "I need access to your systems. I and my team are going in down there to deal with your problem! Free of charge, may I add! Although if Vesha wants to invoice you that's not my problem."
The Guardian
GM, 560 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 14:51
  • msg #308

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Okay, that is actually why I am here. The people currently inside have requested my presence and they wanted me to bring this." Stan says holding up the box with the stuff Smoke got from the scrapyard. His phone rings. "I have to go now, thanks for the information."


The policeman looks dubiously at Stanley, but he looks at one of the others and says, "Hey, I'm going to walk this guy in and make sure he's cleared.  Keep an eye on things."

He and Stanley join Trav and the others, and after a brief confirmation, leaves Stanley with Trav and Smoke Alarm.

OOC: 16 and a +2 from Trav for an 18!

The Guardian, for the NPC Street Cop, rolled 15 using 2d6+5 ((5,5)).
The Guardian
GM, 561 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 14:55
  • msg #309

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
<blue>'Mister Bank Man, I eyespied a person on the roof — do you have a Great Pool in the Sky up there? Or are they playing hide-and-seek?'</blue

"The roof?" the manager echoes.

Ralston -- the tall man standing with Trav and the manager, who looks to Smoke like he must be some sort of Deputy Assistant Chief Caretaker, looks at Smoke Alarm.  "Shouldn't be anyone up there.  That might have been the direction they infiltrated from, and they left a lookout, or their getaway vehicle.  We need to get a team up there ASAP."

The Caretaker lady next to him winces, perhaps thinking of climbing all those stairs.
The Guardian
GM, 562 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 14:59
  • msg #310

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"I need access to your systems. I and my team are going in down there to deal with your problem! Free of charge, may I add! Although if Vesha wants to invoice you that's not my problem."

Ralston adds, "That's kind of the problem: we don't exactly have access to our systems.  If you think you can bypass the lockouts, I'll head up to twenty-one with you and we can start trying to work on it from the security center."

Vesha smirks a bit.  "Don't worry, Traveller; they've already been billed for their, mm, insurance."

She sees Stanley approaching and shoots him a wry smile.  "Well, hello there, Stanley.  Small world, isn't it?"
The Traveller
player, 501 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 20:21
  • msg #311

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

She dials her phone again. "Madame, show me an interface." On the phone, on the encrypted vortex line - "Sereth! Hey baby, Cavalry is here. What's the sitch?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Sat 19 July 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 142 posts
Sat 19 Jul 2014
at 23:12
  • msg #312

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Vesha?" Stanley is very surprised to see her again. "Wow, small world indeed.  What are you doing here?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 508 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 02:39
  • msg #313

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke outlooked between the bank caretakers, wondering what was stopping them. 'Are alleviators sound and safe? With alleviators we could go upstairs with all speed... And where is Leg-it Sereth?'
The Guardian
GM, 563 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #314

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Vesha?" Stanley is very surprised to see her again. "Wow, small world indeed.  What are you doing here?"

"Ah."  She glances at the Traveller.  "My line of work seems to have crossed paths with your friend's reason for visiting Estanve Gastem.  Someone clearly had made, is making, an attempt to hijack the different bequests of the Corsair."

She hesitates.  "I believe that there's nothing more sinister about the two of us having already met on opposite sides of a Spire tank.  I know I was just out to enjoy myself for a night before taking care of my business here.  To be honest, if it was not coincidence, it suggests that someone is playing a deep game indeed."
The Guardian
GM, 564 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 03:08
  • msg #315

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'Are alleviators sound and safe? With alleviators we could go upstairs with all speed...'

Ralston looks puzzled for a moment, then says, "The alleviators... elevators are disabled.  But I agree; we're not getting any closer to the culprits standing around here."
The Traveller
player, 502 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 04:48
  • msg #316

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Let's go, then." To the manager- "Madam, if you would please? Lead the way."

She uses her phone to triangulate where Sereth and his Ogron buddy is.

"Mister Ralston, if you and the manager can show us where the system interface is, I think I can get your stuff up and running. Also - anyone here ever see the beginning of Return of the Sith? Sounds like some climbing or other shenanigans might be in order."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Sun 20 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 315 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 21:47
  • msg #317

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Draconian groaned; and his sword came whistling out, as he tried to lean over and finish off the thief.

"Silent but deadly Rishtak."

OOC:
If it's doable, chop down over the table at the thief; otherwise get Rishtak to take that one; and I'll move to the third person who's currently not fighting.

07:46, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 3,4. Potential co-ordination + awareness.

07:46, Today: Sereth rolled 14 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 1,6. Strength + Swordfighting - 2 (2nd action).

Clearly, the diceroller prefers me doing diplomacy to fighting as well.
Stanley Newton
player, 143 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 22:27
  • msg #318

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh, work. Explains why we are at a bank." Stanley didn't ask any further. "I agree, it doesn't feel like I am being manipulated to meet you. Just a lucky coincidence."
The Guardian
GM, 565 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 22:42
  • msg #319

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The spike-headed thief's acrobatic roll away from Rishtak brings her out on the side of the table -- where Sereth's swing is waiting for her.

Rishtak stumbles for a moment, trying to get around the table toward the second target; failing this, he backs across the room after the cyborg girl.  The latter makes a surprising leap for the overhead vent, and starts to wriggle up into it.  Rishtak's awkward grab slips off her boot, but it slows her enough that she can't yet get out of the room completely.

Sereth's snap assessment of the vent is that he would likely have some difficulty going into it after the smaller female.  Rishtak, on the other hand, simply would not fit.

OOC: The thief you went after didn't take a shot; seeing which way things were going, she was trying to be defensive, but in the space as I envisioned it she didn't have many options to get around anyone.  So your swing didn't take a -2; your result is a 16, which is an ordinary (half damage) success.

You can narrate what happens there.  You have the option of hitting her with the flat, particularly given your swordsman training.  I'm going to say, judging by the rules for added damage on HTH weapons, that if you whack someone with the flat you'll do Strength + 2.  So half damage is either 3 (flat) or 4 (blade).  Either one will incapacitate her; the latter will have some consequences that are good (potential intimidation of the last person in the room) and bad (she's bleeding and needs medical help).

17:14, Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Cyborg Girl, rolled 15 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 6,2. Evading Rishtak: Coordination(4) + Athletics(3).
17:14, Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Rishtak, rolled 13 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,4. Chasing cyborg girl: Coordination(2) + Athletics(2).
17:10, Today: The Guardian, for the NPC Female Thief, rolled 15 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 6,4. Blocking Sereth: Strength(2) + Fighting(3).
The Guardian
GM, 566 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 22:48
  • msg #320

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Sereth, it is up to you at what point your phone starts buzzing from Trav's call.
The Guardian
GM, 567 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 22:53
  • msg #321

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"I agree, it doesn't feel like I am being manipulated to meet you. Just a lucky coincidence."

"'Lucky'?"  Vesha chuckles ruefully.  "Well, perhaps we shall see.  Business before pleasure, as they say."
The Guardian
GM, 567 posts
Sun 20 Jul 2014
at 23:33
  • msg #322

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
She uses her phone to triangulate where Sereth and his Ogron buddy is.

"Mister Ralston, if you and the manager can show us where the system interface is, I think I can get your stuff up and running. Also - anyone here ever see the beginning of Return of the Sith? Sounds like some climbing or other shenanigans might be in order."

OOC: It's trivial for Trav to get that Sereth and Rishtak are on the same floor as the deposit box where the Corsair's bequest to her was.  The ball is in the collective court of Trav, Stanley and Smoke Alarm.  Form a plan that is not too silly with reasonable objectives and the NPCs will run with it.
This message was last updated by the GM at 23:33, Sun 20 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 509 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 21 Jul 2014
at 03:17
  • msg #323

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke peered over Traveller's shoulder at the talkiphone's picture-spout, quickly getting a sense of which floor Sereth was on and the floor-plan of the bank tower, locations of stair-ways and alleviators and big carry-doors. She knew well that alleviators had escape hatches in the roofs, and you could climb out and up that way. But they didn't have them in the floors, meaning a Kang could get stuck underneath. And if they moved... The stairs, then. 'Okay, hide and seek! Up the stairs, lickety-split!' Smoke rallied the team.

Then she raced off to the stairs — not the cramped fire-escapes, but the shiny, spacious front stairs. The Kang drew her icehot new rope-gun on the way, intending to launch herself up the space between the stairs, and anyone who came with her.


OOC: Impulsive trait: not waiting around for plans!
Smoke would like to use her grappling hook gun to rise up the stairway. I'm picturing a set that has a large clear space up the middle.
The Guardian
GM, 568 posts
Mon 21 Jul 2014
at 03:31
  • msg #324

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC:

I hate to arbitrarily shut Smoke Alarm down, here.  However, my notion of the security design for the place at least had in mind that the floors with secured customer deposit boxes, etc. would be physically isolated from the general access parts of the building.

I would be comfortable with the building having main stairs as described that allow Smoke, using the gun, to get a good head start up the building, up to within a few floors of the security center level.
Smoke Alarm
player, 510 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 21 Jul 2014
at 05:41
  • msg #325

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Sure, that sounds fine. Smoke could always run into the back part of the bank if the stairs are there. It's not like anyone can stop her. :)
The Traveller
player, 503 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 23 Jul 2014
at 14:30
  • msg #326

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav runs after the blue haired girl. "Lead on, Smoke! Brave and bold as a Kang should be!"

Part of her thinks that Corsi staged this entire fiasco, and is smiling with Boobie from whatever heaven Good Time Lords go to.
Smoke Alarm
player, 513 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 00:11
  • msg #327

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke ran around and around the bank, looking for a stairway with a big enough wellhole that she could use the rope-gun to fly right up with all speed. But she found only poky little fire escapes. Then, she realised, outlooking up, she was standing in one. The atrium was a great big square that went up and up past lots of floors.

Bracing herself, raised the rope-gun in two hands to aim at the topper-most floor, concentrating with her tongue poking out of her mouth. This was her first time using it, so she wanted to do it right. Just like shooting an arrowgun, she supposed. Relax, breath out. Fire. Foop! The grapple launched up through the air, the rope snaking after it. Fortunately, the two were still attached.


OOC: Firing the grappler:
08:07, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 5,1. Coord(5) + Marksman(3) + Crack Shot(2).
Sereth
player, 317 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 00:34
  • msg #328

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth downed the other with the flat of his blade; before trying to corner the other.

"Give it up missy. We don't want to hurt you; but we need some answers."

Of course, it was at that moment the phone rang.

"Traveller. There's problems; you've had a break-in of your vault. Trying to apprehend the one still remaining."
The Guardian
GM, 575 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 02:26
  • msg #329

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm hears a muffled clank from far above her in the dim heights of the Tower, and the gun starts to reel up the slack: it's plainly got a safe purchase.

Trav comes pelting up behind her, and the manager and security officers are just now getting over their surprise at Smoke Alarm's maneuver.

For a moment Smoke Alarm wonders about the weight the line-gun can lift... but Trav as probably not much heavier than Dev was, and then there had been the fly-cycle on top of Smoke and Dev, and the line had held.  And that was before Trav betterized it!
The Guardian
GM, 576 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 02:33
  • msg #330

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:

"Give it up missy. We don't want to hurt you; but we need some answers."

"Don't want to hurt me?" comes the incredulous female voice.  "You just beat the hell out of my partners!"

OOC: Presence + Convince + Voice of Authority, in all likelihood.

I goofed and generated a 2D6=7 roll for the cyborg girl before I'd filled everything out in the roller, but she was meant to have a Convince 3, Resolve 3.  So you're looking at a 13.

Since Talkers -> Movers, you get a shot at talking her down before she tries to scamper up into the ducts.
The Guardian
GM, 577 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 02:38
  • msg #331

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha watches Smoke Alarm and Trav race off and start firing grappling guns, and shares a quizzical glance with Stanley.  "I don't think I want any part of that; it looks monstrously undignified."

She takes out what looks like a set of car keys with a large fob, obviously some electronic device.  "The blue girl said that part of their gang might be waiting for them up top.  Stanley... you're a good man with towers.  Want to come have a look?"
Sereth
player, 318 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 02:51
  • msg #332

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: 12:50, Today: Sereth rolled 17 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 4,3. Convince + Presence + VoA.

The diceroller -does- like me trying to talk though.
The Guardian
GM, 578 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 03:41
  • msg #333

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

There's a long pause as Sereth and Rishtak wait... though the girl doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  Finally she sighs, and drops back to the ground.

To Sereth she looks as if she might be slightly older than Smoke Alarm.  He can see that her right eye is plainly artificial, and the metal portions of her scalp and hand look like have what might be embedded data ports.  She meets Sereth's eye as she holds her hands up above shoulder level, one of them still holding the case.
Sereth
player, 319 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 04:46
  • msg #334

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Draconian stepped forward, and very gently grabbed the case; sending a message to Traveller.

"Caught one. How long do you expect to be?"

He then focused his gaze on her.

"Well now. What a conundrum. I don't really like fighting, just thankful no-one got killed."

Directing Rishtak to close the grate now.

"Well now, what were you stealing? And why?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 515 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 06:53
  • msg #335

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Icehot!' Smoke exclaimed as the grappler grabbed onto the rail, up around the eighteenth floor. The rope-gun pulled back on the cable until it was strung taut, and Smoke gave it a few test tugs. She remembered "righty tighty, lefty loosey" and got a firm grip with her right hand. 'Hug on, Traveller! We're outgoing upstairs, lickety-split!' Smoke called, outlooking back to check that Traveller was shape-ship and ready holding onto her before she hit the ascend button. And up they went, all speed!

'WHEEEEE!'
The Guardian
GM, 579 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 13:13
  • msg #336

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"Well now, what were you stealing? And why?"

She folds her arms: it's a defensive posture rather than a belligerent one.

"I don't know what's in the case.  We just got the vault number and the date when the job was lined up.  We worked out how to crack the bank's system, but we had to wait to roll until the client sniffed out the vault code for us."  She says the last of that with a hint of smugness.  "And, sorry, but I don't know who the client was.  Working the deal isn't my job, and the boss keeps that stuff to himself.  For just such a case as this."
Sereth
player, 320 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 13:26
  • msg #337

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A snort.

"Of course. Wouldn't expect any less from such criminal masterminds as yourself." A glance. "Not particularly interested in torturing you; so why don't you tell me who the 'boss' is, then we can consider letting you go. Without, of course, the case." His hand reached out in an attempt to simply pluck the case from her hand.
The Traveller
player, 505 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 13:54
  • msg #338

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke ran around and around the bank, looking for a stairway with a big enough wellhole that she could use the rope-gun to fly right up with all speed. But she found only poky little fire escapes. Then, she realised, outlooking up, she was standing in one. The atrium was a great big square that went up and up past lots of floors.

Bracing herself, raised the rope-gun in two hands to aim at the topper-most floor, concentrating with her tongue poking out of her mouth. This was her first time using it, so she wanted to do it right. Just like shooting an arrowgun, she supposed. Relax, breath out. Fire. Foop! The grapple launched up through the air, the rope snaking after it. Fortunately, the two were still attached.


OOC: Firing the grappler:
08:07, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 5,1. Coord(5) + Marksman(3) + Crack Shot(2).


Trav hadn't been shooting in a while, she was a better shot back on RIFTS Earth and when she wore glasses (her old glasses actually had targeting systems in them.) Raising her Turbpopistol one handed, she fires out a line shell, mechanically different but functionally the same as the system she designed for Smoke. Smoke was no doubt the better shot, but Trav was no slouch.

OOC: 09:55, Today: The Traveller rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,3. 2d6+Coordination 4+Marksman 3+Turbopistol 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Thu 24 July 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 146 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 21:53
  • msg #339

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"I don't think I want any part of that; it looks monstrously undignified."


"Better than climbing lots of stairs." Stanley says, looking at Smoke and Trav using their grappling guns. "But I guess you could call it undignified."

The Guardian:
"The blue girl said that part of their gang might be waiting for them up top.  Stanley... you're a good man with towers.  Want to come have a look?"


"Sure!" Stanley replies, perhaps a little too quickly. What if Sereth or someone else was injured? Maybe it would be better to follow Trav and Smoke. On the other hand he is interested to see how Vesha is planning to get to the top of the tower. "Sure, let's have a look. I assume you have thought of a "dignified" way to get us there?"
The Guardian
GM, 580 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 22:21
  • msg #340

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Sure, let's have a look. I assume you have thought of a "dignified" way to get us there?"


"This way," she says, and starts striding back toward the bank entrance.  Shortly before she reaches the rotary door, she flourishes the key fob, and as Stanley follows her out he sees a vehicle descending into an empty space left in front of the building by the police.  Stanley, following her out, sees that it's a hover-car like the taxi... and yet not like it, as it's a red convertible, rakishly styled, and looks sinfully fast just hovering there.

Vesha flashes a card at the police officer who is coming up to protest this.  "I think you'll find this is in order, gentlemen," she says, and they look surprised, almost shocked.  In any event, they back off.

Vesha gestures for Stanley to get in on the passenger's side, and once he and Vesha are both belted in, she takes the controls, there's a whine of engines and the car starts to ascend again, almost straight up.

"I don't know about 'dignified'," she confides, "but it's an awful lot of fun."

OOC: Stanley, you can roll an Awareness + Subterfuge or an Awareness + Ingenuity as the hover-car starts heading up.
Stanley Newton
player, 147 posts
Thu 24 Jul 2014
at 23:33
  • msg #341

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Ah, those cars go higher than I thought." Stanley remarks as the car descends. Apparently they could hover quite a distance off the ground.


01:11, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,6. Awareness (4) + Ingenuity (4).
The Guardian
GM, 581 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 01:22
  • msg #342

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav and Smoke Alarm find themselves in the open concourse on the building's eighteenth floor.  The area is surrounded by offices with large windows, and comfortable lobby furniture sits near the top of the stairs.

The area is dimly lit, but Smoke Alarm spots a secure-looking door with a card reader, and a sign reading SECURITY ACCESS ONLY in big block letters.  When she tries the door, she finds it firmly shut.
The Guardian
GM, 582 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #343

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The girl surrenders the black case to Sereth without resistance.  But she gives Sereth a canny look when he brings up naming her boss.  "Your word on that?  You'd just let me walk?"  She bites her lip.  "Word gets out that I ratted on my crew, my rep isn't going to be worth much in this town."

Rishtak looks at Sereth, and glances over at the unconscious thieves across the room.  "We have got spares, if we need them," he says.
The Guardian
GM, 583 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 01:39
  • msg #344

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha is counting floors and concentrating on the car's steady ascent, but Stanley has more of an opportunity to look around as they're headed up.  It's an interesting experience, certainly, but not nearly as breathtaking as riding on the back of the dragon Eshkavarun, back on the gas world of Arden.

So he happens to be looking up when he catches sight of a form ducking out of sight atop the roof of the building.  Moments later, he can just catch the rumble of an engine starting far over head, and the higher-pitched noise of lifters like the ones on Vesha's car.  He sees a form like an elongated bike pitch over the lip of the roof and bank sharply away from Vesha's car, diving toward street level.
Sereth
player, 321 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 01:42
  • msg #345

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

He tapped his foot, and glanced over.

"Let's be blunt. I want your boss. And if I were you, I'd get out of town. Because one way or another, I -will- find out your boss." His eyes glittered. "As my colleague points out, we have spares. They may not be so willing to undergo whatever I might have in mind to get the information out. And your boss will regret the day he crossed me." A shrug. "But yes, the idea of letting you walk for -this- time, has crossed my mind."
Smoke Alarm
player, 516 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 01:51
  • msg #346

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke was a little surprised to see that Traveller had her own rope-gun, and disappointed that they wouldn't be flying up together.

As she whooshed through the air, the cable soon swung her dangerously towards all the rails and floors of each level, threatening to smash her into and drag her across them. Smoke quickly sidewaysed herself, landing with her feets, then ran and skipped up the side of the atrium, laughing all the way. As she reached the toppermost floor, the rope-gun slowed, and she grasped the rail, deftly hauling herself up and over, before footing over to help Traveller, who was an oldster.

Outlooking, she soon found the security door, and found it locked. 'Locked doors, authorised personal only.' she complained, rattling the doorknob. 'Is this where the egghead is?' she asked Traveller.
The Guardian
GM, 585 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 02:17
  • msg #347

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth's captive sags, losing quite a bit of her defiance.

"Kellnar," she mumbles at last.  "Mallac Kellnar."

Rishtak grunts.  When Sereth looks over at him, Rishtak adds, "Small-timer.  Likes to call himself his own man, but he feeds off scraps the Families throw him.  Jobs they don't want to look like they're involved with."
Sereth
player, 322 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 02:21
  • msg #348

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Secure the other two."

A nod at Rishtak's comments.


"So of course the path leads beyond him."

He doesn't touch the captive at this point - he had every intention of letting her go free, though with a warning to get out of this business she was in.

"We'll most likely have company soon."
The Traveller
player, 507 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 05:00
  • msg #349

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Trav and Smoke Alarm find themselves in the open concourse on the building's eighteenth floor.  The area is surrounded by offices with large windows, and comfortable lobby furniture sits near the top of the stairs.

The area is dimly lit, but Smoke Alarm spots a secure-looking door with a card reader, and a sign reading SECURITY ACCESS ONLY in big block letters.  When she tries the door, she finds it firmly shut.


Trav neatly does a tumble roll, following Smoke. She was gawky and awkward but much more athletic when she had glasses and a big butt. It was nice getting to go this again. She smiles as Smoke helps her up.

"Huh. Guess what? We have security access, babe."

Out comes the sonic!

OOC: 01:01, Today: The Traveller rolled 21 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 4,1. 2d6+Ingenuity+Technology+Sonic.

As she sonics the door she raises Sereth on her phone. "Sereth, sweety, how are you? We're close to you." She notes his location on her phone.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:07, Fri 25 July 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 148 posts
Fri 25 Jul 2014
at 22:46
  • msg #350

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley is just looking around and enjoying the view. when he spots the person on top of the tower. Why was he ducking away? Stanley leans forward and intently watches the edge of the building, hoping to see any indication of what that other person was doing.

"Over there!" Stanley shouts, pointing at the fleeing vehicle. "He's trying to get away. That bike over there."
The Guardian
GM, 586 posts
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 03:10
  • msg #351

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"We'll most likely have company soon."

Eyeing Sereth, the girl edges toward the half-open door.  She has a clear path once Rishtak moves to handle the downed thieves, and it looks to Sereth like she's judging her chances if she just bolts.
The Guardian
GM, 587 posts
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 03:14
  • msg #352

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The door in front of Trav opens with a chunk!  As she peers inside, she finds a narrow stairwell leading further up.  It's even dimmer inside here than out on the landing.

As Smoke Alarm peers inside as well, they hear a whirr and clanking noises of metal on metal from up above.
The Guardian
GM, 588 posts
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 03:23
  • msg #353

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha looks at Stanley.  "Hold on!"  The car wheels around after the fleeing bike, then rapidly plummets, picking up an alarming amount of speed in a hurry before the lifters kick in fully to pull the vehicle out of its dive, weaving through the buildings just a couple of stories off the ground.

Looking at the fleeing biker, Stanley sees that it's a relatively slight form -- maybe a lightly built woman or a teenaged young man.

Vesha holds the steering yoke with one hand while she fumbles with something hanging under her short jacket, trying to pull it out.  An unexpected building looms up ahead of them, the result of a split street below.  "Blast it," Vesha hisses as she abandons whatever she's reaching for, taking the yoke in two hands to veer around the building in pursuit of the biker.  "Stanley!  How's your driving?  Take the wheel, on three!"
Smoke Alarm
player, 519 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 04:04
  • msg #354

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Ware cleaners!' Smoke hissed to Traveller in alarm, drawing her arrowgun. 'I'll hide and seek.' The Kang took point, sneaking stealthily up the stairs...
The Traveller
player, 508 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #355

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav nods. "Build high for happiness, baby. Don't go too far! Yell if you see any bad guys."
Stanley Newton
player, 149 posts
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 21:12
  • msg #356

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"What! I guess my driving is decent. What are you going to do?" Stanley asks surprised. Working in London means that it is often more practical to take the tube, so it has been a while since he has driven a car. And now Vesha asks him to steer a flying car. Nevertheless, he prepares to take over the wheel and waits for Vesha signal.
The Guardian
GM, 589 posts
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 23:03
  • msg #357

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm ascends two flights of stairs before she sees it.  It is holding itself braced in the stairwell with four pairs of metal legs, with a gun pointing down to cover the stairs below it.  Except for the gun, it looks astonishingly like a grown-up version of the little crawlers that 7152C set to searching through his junk piles.

"ALERT," it says.  "Security network compromised and offline.  Patroller 9866A operating in autonomous defense mode.  Present security credentials or be detained.  Non-lethal antipersonnel countermeasures are engaged.  This is your only warning."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:29, Sun 27 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 590 posts
Sat 26 Jul 2014
at 23:43
  • msg #358

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
What are you going to do?"

"I need to convince this guy that we mean business," Vesha says, "and ring up some help if he's not buying it."  She waits until Stanley has a grip on the controls.  "All right.  Swap on three.  One... two... three!"

On three Vesha releases the controls and slithers behind Stanley into the passenger's seat.  While he may not have had exactly enough time to prepare for this, Stanley does have the presence of mind to quickly (if awkwardly) clamber past her into the driver's seat and take the controls.

Thankfully, it only takes him a few moments to figure out that the controls behave mostly like a twenty-first century automobile, with accelerator and brake pedals and a yoke to bank and steer.  He discovers -- after a stomach-wrenching dip -- that pushing the steering yoke in and out controls the lifters.

When he glances back at Vesha he sees that she's leaning out over the passenger door with the air whipping her dark hair back.  She has a phone pressed to her ear and a snub-nosed gun in her hand.

"Just stay with him!" she says.

Chase time!

Right now you're behind the bike by 2 Areas and your driving difficulty (Coordination + Transport) is 12, for normal daytime traffic.  The car has a speed of 5 to the bike's speed of 4.  If he gets more than 6 areas away, he escapes.  Otherwise you'll need to keep him in range for three rounds until assistance shows up to further impede him.

Unless you tell her to do something different, Vesha is going to fire at the biker in a way that isn't meant to hit him so much as to make his escape more difficult -- so she's giving you a +2 in support.

Since you've already got some experience with out-of-period technology, you're not taking any penalty.  However, you're pretty sure that the bike rider is considerably better than you even accounting for that.
Smoke Alarm
player, 521 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 27 Jul 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #359

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Okay.' Smoke acknowledged Traveller crisply; the Kang girl seemed almost military with her careful movements and terse signals. Carefully, she footed off up the stairs, first one level then another, counting the floor numbers as she went.

Then she eyespied the cleaner. Instantly, Smoke crouched for cover behind the railing and the stair, but too late, it had eyespied her too! It was a very big cleaner, with a very big gun. Much bigger than the off-springs at the scrapyard. Smoke didn't think her arrowgun could stop it. 'We have security access!' Smoke returned, repeating what Traveller had said when she opened the door with her screwdriver. The Kang poked a free hand through the rails trying to wave to Traveller and beckon her up; she could probably hear the talk. 'We're behind the locked authorised personal doors, aren't we? Big bank bosses let us.' she said, no untruths.


OOC: Talking. I'm not sure if I should roll something yet, it might go badly for me. :)
The Guardian
GM, 592 posts
Sun 27 Jul 2014
at 02:32
  • msg #360

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
OOC: Talking. I'm not sure if I should roll something yet, it might go badly for me. :)

OOC: I'd say you're well within your rights to wait for backup.  Technically, the patroller would go ahead and try to stun you at this point, but any response from Trav will probably come before its turn to attack.
Stanley Newton
player, 150 posts
Sun 27 Jul 2014
at 21:04
  • msg #361

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Wow...okay, I think I've got this figured out." Stanley says after getting the car back to the right height, after that small dip. He looks over to Vesha and seeing her hold that gun slightly worries him. "Be careful with that."

He puts his foot down and accelerates, wanting to catch up with the biker, before he tries anything tricky.

OOC: I am happy that I didn't fail this roll, wouldn't want something to happen to Vesha's car :).
22:37, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 18 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 6,5. Coordination (3) + Transport (2) + Vesha's assistance (2).
The Guardian
GM, 593 posts
Sun 27 Jul 2014
at 22:48
  • msg #362

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Just a little something to help keep him occupied!" Vesha insists, over the roar of the wind.  "We definitely want this guy in shape to answer some questions!"

At first, the bike is making steadily for the edge of the city sprawl, swerving past billboards and buildings to try to shake Stanley and Vesha.  Even as new as he is to this, Stanley finds the car amazingly responsive, and he's able to stay with their quarry with surprising ease.  The sports flyer's powerful engines eat up the distance between the vehicles.  They're gaining!

Stanley sees the cycle pilot glance back.  By now they're close enough that Stanley can make out the goggled face of a young man.

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC Escaping Cycle Pilot, rolled 19 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 5,4. Coordination(5) + Transport AoE: Skycycle(5).

Both pilots got in the same success category (Good), so the faster sports car gains on the bike.  You're now 1 area back.

Stanley Newton:
OOC: I am happy that I didn't fail this roll, wouldn't want something to happen to Vesha's car :).

You're pretty sure it's really expensive. :D
The Guardian
GM, 594 posts
Sun 27 Jul 2014
at 22:55
  • msg #363

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The bike veers left, and Stanley is horrified by what he sees -- the bike shoots diagonally through a city block that is one big construction site, in and out of a big framework of girders.  Stanley doesn't think Vesha's car will even fit!

OOC: The biker pulled a Stunt with difficulty 15.  The only mechanical difference since chases are all relative is where the result falls on the success / failure scale and possible implications -- you do not want to get as low as a Bad result....

The Guardian, for the NPC Escaping Cycle Pilot, rolled 18 using 2d6+10 ((2,6)).  Plain Success for him.
Sereth
player, 323 posts
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 00:23
  • msg #364

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"I wouldn't."

He murmured to the girl; his sword not put away.

"As I said, I do intend to let you go for this crime. But if you run away, well, I can't promise for my compatriots who are on their way."
The Traveller
player, 512 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 05:37
  • msg #365

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Aw crap. We don't have time for this. Bless the shrivelled little hearts of the Time Agency that they made her go through all the trouble of inventing this gun function for them. Trav fires the Turbopistol at the door right in front of her, making a huge gaping square hole. She urges Smoke to run in with her. As they are pursued in by the robot, she fires again, and the door is replaced. "See? No harm done, lickety split." She smiles to Smoke as they turn around.

What do they see?

OOC: Coordination+Marksman+Turbpistol, plus 1 SP expenditure from pistols for squareness gun function? Also, I presume that this would be part of the "run" phase. I'll be out the SP I spent soniccing the door, but ah well.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Mon 28 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 526 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 11:17
  • msg #366

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked in awe as the door and part of the wall suddenly disappeared up Traveller's gun. She could see the concrete, rebar, and spark-wires and everything inside the tower.  'Icehot!' With a hole-gun like that, she could go anywhere in a tower, in and out of locked rooms, across carrydoors, drop through floors, anywhere. She had to be dragged through the hole, however. 'But I was show-and-telling the cleaner we had security access...' she complained, trailing off as the hole was restored. Accepting Traveller's explanation, she turned to see what carrydoor they were in now.
The Traveller
player, 515 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 11:48
  • msg #367

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav frowns. "You are the sweetest Kang, baby, but we are in a rush. Also, machines like that usually don't like to listen."
Smoke Alarm
player, 527 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 12:08
  • msg #368

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I knowhow that!' Smoke exclaimed, then outlooked at the floor, long unkempt blue hair draping over her face, talking all mumbly as she admitted 'Stan and me had a to-do when we went to get the platty-numb soaked vanadium coil. The scrap-man was a cleaner. I 'wared it, but Stan said not to.' The Kangs, it seemed, could really work up a great sulk.
The Traveller
player, 517 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 21:00
  • msg #369

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"And you did great! Some cleaners are smarter than others! I'd like to meet this nice cleaner that you met." She has both her hands on Smoke's shoulders. "Now, let's get outgoing. Time's a wastin!" A big bright smile!
Stanley Newton
player, 152 posts
Mon 28 Jul 2014
at 22:20
  • msg #370

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley hesitates and even brakes a little. He knows that that guy is getting away, but he can't see an other opening big enough for him to steer the car through and going around or above the construction block would take too long. Suddenly, he steers the car down and flies into the first opening that seems manageable.


OoC: Nooooo, somehow I had a feeling I would roll a 13.
23:51, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 13 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 4,4. Coordination (3) + Transport (2) vs Stunt (15).

The Traveller
player, 518 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 00:49
  • msg #371

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

ooc: No +2 that we can find somewhere? Bueller?
The Guardian
GM, 595 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 01:26
  • msg #372

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
ooc: No +2 that we can find somewhere? Bueller?

Well, he's not into Wipeout! territory, or I would recommend him throwing story points to boost his outcome; he just fails to close in the chase, since the speed difference still helps him.

Though he may suffer an awkward sense of obligation....

The gap that Stanley picks is not quite wide enough to accommodate Vesha's flyer, or else his aim wan't quite true: there's a terrifying SKREEEEE and a spray of sparks along the driver's side of the flyer as it careens through the construction.

Then they're out the other side, and still hard on the cycle's tail.

Vesha yelps.  "My Romasi!" she wails, clutching her head for a moment and staring at Stanley in horror.  Then she does a double take.  "Hey -- you okay?  Good!  Never mind the car.  Just stay on him!"

OOC: Still 1 area back and 1 roll to go.  You'll probably be okay as long as you don't do terribly at it, but I'll give you the option to try to come up with your own maneuver to try and catch him if you want to redeem yourself.
The Guardian
GM, 596 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 01:48
  • msg #373

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm and the Traveller find themselves in an area illuminated by dim standby lighting.  They can see several big banks of monitors and touchscreen displays, all silent, "attended" by slumped security officers.  Counting floors in hindsight, Trav realizes that they've made it up as far as the security center.

A quick scan of the controls shows that they've suffered from an EMP burnout.  It may be feasible to get them operating again on a temporary basis, but they won't stay that way for long.

The guards appear to be breathing and stable, though neither Trav nor Smoke is clear on what has happened to them.

The Traveller:
OOC: Coordination+Marksman+Turbpistol, plus 1 SP expenditure from pistols for squareness gun function? Also, I presume that this would be part of the "run" phase. I'll be out the SP I spent soniccing the door, but ah well.

OOC: I would have preferred to make this a reflex contest to see if you could make it through your gap before the patroller intercepted you, or if it could get through the hole before you closed it, but since you used a story point and have gone on with the narrative anyway I don't want to rewind that far at this point.
The Guardian
GM, 597 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 02:05
  • msg #374

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"As I said, I do intend to let you go for this crime. But if you run away, well, I can't promise for my compatriots who are on their way."


Cowed, the girl moves away from the door and sits on the floor.
Smoke Alarm
player, 528 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 02:25
  • msg #375

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'And the cleaner had off-springs that looked like that one but smaller.' Smoke added, but picked herself of the wall, quickly cheering at Traveller's words and eager to get on. 'Well, the cleaner's making the coil, but it costs like a millionty bucks.' she explained, footing after Traveller.

She outlooked around the room, eyespying the puters and picture-spouts, all broken. And there were caretakers, all asleep or unalive. 'The caretakers' brainquarters!' Smoke Alarm exclaimed, with the fearful, awed sense of being in an authorised personal only place. 'Are they unalive?' She checked the unmoving caretakers, but found them only sleeping. 'Sleep tight.'

Quickly, she outlooked around for a door in the lights-off room. 'Which outway to Sereth now?'
The Traveller
player, 519 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 03:00
  • msg #376

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Smoke Alarm and the Traveller find themselves in an area illuminated by dim standby lighting.  They can see several big banks of monitors and touchscreen displays, all silent, "attended" by slumped security officers.  Counting floors in hindsight, Trav realizes that they've made it up as far as the security center.

A quick scan of the controls shows that they've suffered from an EMP burnout.  It may be feasible to get them operating again on a temporary basis, but they won't stay that way for long.

The guards appear to be breathing and stable, though neither Trav nor Smoke is clear on what has happened to them.

The Traveller:
OOC: Coordination+Marksman+Turbpistol, plus 1 SP expenditure from pistols for squareness gun function? Also, I presume that this would be part of the "run" phase. I'll be out the SP I spent soniccing the door, but ah well.

OOC: I would have preferred to make this a reflex contest to see if you could make it through your gap before the patroller intercepted you, or if it could get through the hole before you closed it, but since you used a story point and have gone on with the narrative anyway I don't want to rewind that far at this point.


OOC: as a show of good faith I'll be happy to give up 1 SP of my own and 2 SP from the pistols, fair?

Trav quickly checks the guards to make sure they're OK. She needs to know where the bad guys are! "Whoever did this was thorough, and was probably expecting it to be me to be chasing them. Someone is going to be getting a Time Lord boot coming so far up their ass as to come up out of their throat."

"Smoke, can you help out these guys? I'm going to try to get the cameras working." Trav feels that it'd be useless haring off unless they had somewhere to hare off -to-.

Out comes the Ipad. Instead of relying on the burnt out panels, Trav tries to link directly into the wireless, making her Ipad into one of the network nodes, bypassing the need for a console completely. She needs to find a router she can hijack, and then trace the source of the attack, or at least get access to the functioning cameras.

"Sereth? Damn it, Sereth? Stanley?" Are the phones being blocked? If that was the case, then there was real trouble. Those were quantum-entangled superphones.

OOC: Ingenuity+Tech+Sonic?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Tue 29 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 325 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 03:10
  • msg #377

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Just confirming the call is receceiving first.
The Guardian
GM, 599 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 03:18
  • msg #378

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC: as a show of good faith I'll be happy to give up 1 SP of my own and 2 SP from the pistols, fair?

OOC: Don't sweat it.

quote:
Trav tries to link directly into the wireless, making her Ipad into one of the network nodes, bypassing the need for a console completely. She needs to find a router she can hijack, and then trace the source of the attack, or at least get access to the functioning cameras.

OOC: Ingenuity+Tech+Sonic?

OOC: Sure.  Difficulty is 15, largely just because much of the system is fried and/or not getting power.

quote:
"Sereth? Damn it, Sereth? Stanley?" Are the phones being blocked? If that was the case, then there was real trouble. Those were quantum-entangled superphones.


Three floors up, Sereth's phone buzzes.

So does Stanley's, miles away and far above the city, but he's a trifle occupied....
Sereth
player, 326 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 03:23
  • msg #379

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

WHilst he moved to make sure the girl couldn't get past him easily; he picked up the call.

"Traveller? I'm down in your vault; three prisoners. A name of their boss; though obviously not their clients. Boss seems like an intermediary as well. You have -enemies-."
The Traveller
player, 520 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 03:54
  • msg #380

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
WHilst he moved to make sure the girl couldn't get past him easily; he picked up the call.

"Traveller? I'm down in your vault; three prisoners. A name of their boss; though obviously not their clients. Boss seems like an intermediary as well. You have -enemies-."


Trav laughs as she works. "I'm glad you and you're Ogron friend are all right. Thank you for your hard work. As for me having enemies - you don't know. Smoke and I are in the security center. Hold on - I think I have the security feed almost ready. Did they get what they were after? And what was the name?"

OOC: 23:55, Today: The Traveller rolled 23 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 2,5. Trav gets the security system working - Ingenuity 8+Technology 6 +Sonic 2
This message was last edited by the player at 03:56, Tue 29 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 327 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 04:01
  • msg #381

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"GOt what they were after. Mallac Kellnar is the name; RIshtak says he's just a small-timer. SO he's not the last step. This has -layers-." He -just- managed to keep the 'I told you so' note out of his voice.
Smoke Alarm
player, 530 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 04:07
  • msg #382

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Okay.' Smoke Alarm agreed, though she wondered if it was really such a good idea to wake up sleeping caretakers in their own brainquarters. Mayhaps, like the cleaner, they'd say they were unauthorised and tried to bundle them up and take them to the cleaners. While Traveller talked and worked, Smoke found one sleeping caretaker, lifted her to sitting up in her chair, and shook her shoulders. 'Wakey-wakey! Shine and rise!'
The Traveller
player, 521 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 04:20
  • msg #383

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"GOt what they were after. Mallac Kellnar is the name; RIshtak says he's just a small-timer. SO he's not the last step. This has -layers-." He -just- managed to keep the 'I told you so' note out of his voice.


Trav is working with the last pieces of the net code. "Sereth, have you ever lived with being evil for so long, even when you are good again, you find being good sometimes unfamiliar?" She closes her eyes, and has to reach back, dig back deep, past the Marshall, back to her very first face. The First Traveller, nearly forgotten, is now behind the Second, staring down the Marshall inside of her. She exhales and smiles a bit. "Fear not, Ambassador, we shall deal with this in an exemplary and upright manner. Please pardon the whimsical fancies of an old woman." That comes out in an absolutely different pitch - yet unlike the cold, menacing voice she sometimes evidences, it's warm and affectionate and rich. "Ah, yes, layers indeed. Absolutely capital! Well, this old woman does not take well being stolen from. Let us see where the chase leads." Trav lets herself talk in her 700 year old cadence - it's comforting, as the holo projects up from the I Pad. "Let us see what these bounders look like."
The Guardian
GM, 600 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 04:25
  • msg #384

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav manages to bypass the high-level security protocols controlled by the blown controls, and get access to the base functions wired in to the system firmware.  This includes control over alarms, lights, fire systems, door and vault locks, and computer networking among other things.  She also notes that this includes the command overrides for the patroller robots, though not the robots themselves.

She's getting a fair picture of the system status throughout the building, which seems to match up pretty well to the assessment Ralston gave her.  The building seems to have a remote transonic stunner system, which has been engaged within the last hour, and is probably responsible for the incapacitated guards.

She's also keenly aware that she's attempting to drive the entire security system of a thirty-story skyscraper off the power of the sonic, with the generator out of action.

OOC: See message 298 for Ralston's information.

You got a Good success against the difficulty, just shy of Fantastic.  For that, you can get log and status information out of the system.  You can also get the system to perform three discrete wishes tasks for you, each as global or as local as you like.  Then the sonic will shut down until you can recharge it in the TARDIS.  You can have a plot point for the inconvenience.

(If you like, you can swap in a pistol to provide power instead.)
The Guardian
GM, 601 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #385

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: From Trav's last post: you're not finding any data that indicates other intruders in the building besides the ones that Sereth captured.  It looks like they got a hard-wired tap into the building network from the roof, at which point they took control of the security system, gave themselves a safe route to descend to the level he's on, and put the system into its current state.  There's no indication of interference from the planetary network.
The Traveller
player, 522 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 04:51
  • msg #386

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

<OOC: She wants a list of what was actually held in that vault in her name, for her, deposited by the Corsair, a security recording of the assault that actually seized the goods, and she will use the remaining power as a courtesy to keep things running until the secondary generators can be brought back on line, as well as switching all systems to emergency services mode, so that people can be rescued and whatnot. She forwards this information to Ralston, and indicates via text that she wants to question the people who Sereth captured before they are turned over to them. In exchange, she will be very pleased *not* to file an insurance claim. Let's assume that her pistols are drained - that's reasonable to run the systems of an entire building, I think.>

Trav trots over to Smoke and the Guards. "These poor fellows seem to have been incapacitated by the security system. Fear not, my fearless blue kang, we shall be outgoing and shall catch these bounders yet. You have been so brave and bold and have tried so hard, never have I met a braver or bluer girl. The tag game is not over yet, yes? We shall win this yet!"

Damn, it felt good getting one's eccentric on.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Tue 29 July 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 532 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 05:21
  • msg #387

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm was outlooking for some water to splash the caretakers with when she stopped and stared at Traveller. Bemused, she said 'Are you okay? You talk funny.' Like the Kang could talk, but she hadn't suddenly switched voices.
The Guardian
GM, 602 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 12:25
  • msg #388

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The caretaker that Smoke Alarm is attempting to rouse groans and looks up at her sluggishly.  "Urrrrgh...."  She blinks; her eyes are bloodshot.  "Guh.  'M I halluc'natin' you?"
The Guardian
GM, 603 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 12:30
  • msg #389

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is able to get the security system largely responding to the controls laid out through her iPad.  She is able to pull down the security recordings and information on the intruders, such as they are: they seem to have done a decent job of covering themselves on the way in.

The records that she finds on the deposit vault opened by the Corsair match up to what Sereth seems to have retrieved: one self-contained stasis unit for the preservation of biological samples.  The records don't specify the nature of the samples.
The Guardian
GM, 604 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 12:41
  • msg #390

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Sereth, Smoke Alarm and Trav can link up with each other with no further trouble.
Smoke Alarm
player, 533 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 12:44
  • msg #391

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Traveller! I got one!' Smoke didn't knowhow what halloosnating was, so she said 'Mayhaps. How you do.' She splashed a cup of water in her face anyway, then helped her sit up. 'Bank man Ralston sent us. Your tower's been shoplifted. Traveller's getting the puters and picture-spouts to work.' she explained quickly, getting the caretaker filled in, such as it was. 'Okay, what's the comeout?'
The Traveller
player, 524 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 13:48
  • msg #392

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"No, sir, despite her colorful nature, I assure you that Miss Smoke Alarm is quite the reality as opposed to the dream."

"Ah, thank you, Master Sereth. I can guess what the bandits were after - Time Lord DNA, most likely. They are taking a piece of my beloved for foul purposes and this puts me in a terribly dark mood. It is well for them that I am in one of my youngest frames of minds - I would be tempted to take upon them reprehensible censure were I of my more military composure. Do you have the scalliwags available for gentle questioning?"

OOC: Just so I am clear - did the bad guys get away with a sample stasis unit, or did Sereth stop them and now how one himself?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Tue 29 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 328 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 15:48
  • msg #393

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"We do. That one there has been most helpful; and in reality, I would like you to be sparing of that one. She was the one who gave up her bosses name after all."

A shake of his head.

"Be easy on these ones in general. As reprehensible as 'just following orders' is; they are -not- who you want. It's not even their boss I suspect."

Amazingly, there had been no casualties.

OOC: I read that I have one. If there were more than three crims they may also have one though.
The Traveller
player, 526 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 16:02
  • msg #394

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"We do. That one there has been most helpful; and in reality, I would like you to be sparing of that one. She was the one who gave up her bosses name after all."

A shake of his head.

"Be easy on these ones in general. As reprehensible as 'just following orders' is; they are -not- who you want. It's not even their boss I suspect."

Amazingly, there had been no casualties.

OOC: I read that I have one. If there were more than three crims they may also have one though.


"Fear not, Master Sereth. The mark of the superior man or woman is kindness and civility in all things. One should not hold the hand accountable for what the heart renders. Now, I and bravest Blue shall join you presently."

She texts off to Stan quickly - <<Dearest Stanley, I trust that you are safe? Please advise as to your present status.>>
The Guardian
GM, 605 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 22:10
  • msg #395

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC: Just so I am clear - did the bad guys get away with a sample stasis unit, or did Sereth stop them and now how one himself?

OOC: These are the relevant facts such as you're aware of them:

1. Security data says three perps entered the building.  Three got into the vault.  All three are now accounted for.
2. There was one sample listed in the manifest that came over to you at the law office, one listed in the bank records, and one in Sereth's hand right now.

Any further conclusions are up to you.
The Guardian
GM, 606 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 22:11
  • msg #396

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
Amazingly, there had been no casualties.

OOC: The guy with the broken jaw that Rishtak got at may disagree as to whether he's a casualty. :D
Sereth
player, 329 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 22:20
  • msg #397

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: At least he's alive to complain.
Stanley Newton
player, 153 posts
Tue 29 Jul 2014
at 22:27
  • msg #398

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley clenches his teeth when he hears the car grind against the side. This is bad! He tries his best to keep the damage to a minimum and, more importantly, get them safely to the other side of the block.

quote:
Vesha yelps.  "My Romasi!" she wails, clutching her head for a moment and staring at Stanley in horror.


"I am sorry, Vesha. I truly am." Stanley apologises, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. He has just damaged Vesha's very expensive car, but hopefully the damage was only cosmetic. At the very least it wasn't so bad that they couldn't continue the chase.

quote:
Then she does a double take.  "Hey -- you okay?  Good!  Never mind the car.  Just stay on him!"


"Yeah, yeah..I am okay." He replies, getting ready to continue pursuing the biker. Someone, probably Trav, is sending him a message, but he really shouldn't be texting and driving right now. He grabs his phone and gives it to Vesha, but keeps his eyes on the bike. "Could you check that message. I think it is from Trav. Eh... but first can you distract him with that gun, like you did before?"


OOC: After that I am not going to try anything tricky :)
00:21, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 3,6. Coordination (3) + Transport (2) + Vesha's assistance (2). .

This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Tue 29 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 607 posts
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 01:06
  • msg #399

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The chase is getting more and more hairy, with the biker trying everything he can think of to shake Stanley and Vesha.  But the Romasi continues to close in.

Vesha, looking at a navigation app on her phone, points to an intersection up ahead.  "Swing out on his left!  Fake him into making that turn, and then close on him!"

When Stanley does that, he has to bank distressingly high to follow the cycle into the turn, but manages to avoid a further mishap -- and then he sees why Vesha suggested he do this.  The right-hand street makes a cul-de-sac in a U-shaped office complex.  As the biker brakes into a sideways stop, the Romasi comes up behind him, slowing and blocking him off.  Stanley sees a shadow descending from above: another car, this one a big luxury sedan.  There's a heavy-set, apelike nonhuman that Stanley doesn't recognize, leaning out the sedan's window and aiming a weapon down at the biker.  Another big car closes in from below.

The bike squares around to point straight at Stanley and Vesha, and they're close enough that Stanley can see the desperate look on the young man's face.  The kid revs the engine of his bike....

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC Escaping Cycle Pilot, rolled 20 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 6,4. Coordination(5) + Transport AoE: Skycycle(5).

That's +8 (Good) against the 12 difficulty, against Stanley's +4 (Good).  Despite the lower value, the result is that the car's speed closes.

You're actually close enough for a number of options at this point, including talking to him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:38, Wed 30 July 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 608 posts
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 02:35
  • msg #400

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'Okay, what's the comeout?'

The groggy Caretaker spends a moment to collect herself, then calls someone on her phone.  "Chief?  Yeah, they're here.  ....Really?  Yessir."

She looks at Smoke and Trav.  "Okay, Chief Ralston gave me the thumbs up.  I'll try and organize the rest of my friends, see what we can patch together here."
The Guardian
GM, 609 posts
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 02:40
  • msg #401

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
<<Dearest Stanley, I trust that you are safe? Please advise as to your present status.>>

A message comes back: <<Stan's status is BUSY and OKAY but WRECKING MY RIDE, V! kthxbye>>
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:41, Wed 30 July 2014.
The Traveller
player, 527 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 03:28
  • msg #402

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is relieved that Stan is OK, but she does a distinctly 2nd Traveller foot stamp on the ground! "Fudge! Poop! Where's a Veritech or a Cyclone when you need one!"

She blinks a few times. "Hrmph," she says. "Sorry, everyone, personality wash. Something we Gallifrey people sometimes go through. Can't see. Hold on." She digs into her bag, and gets out a pair large, round glasses. "There, better!"

"Come on, Smoke! Let's go see those people Sereth caught!" Trav goes running off - lots faster than she usually does. "Stan needs our help. We don't have much time!"

OOC: How many SP would it cost to bring Sweet Boy here? Or do I need a special gadget for that? I think it's flying TARDIS time!
Smoke Alarm
player, 535 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 04:04
  • msg #403

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'And be sure to show-and-tell the cleaners— the robots about us!' Smoke told the caretaker lady, not wanting to be on the wrong end of a cleaner's super high-pressure bullet sprayer again.

The Kang bounced over to Traveller, 'Shape-ship and ready!' she declared, ready to go rescue Sereth and Stan. It figured that the boys would be the ones to get into a to-do and need girls to rescue them. That's why there were so few boys in Paradise Towers. She soon caught up to overtook Traveller, especially when she, yes, ran along the walls of the carrydoor. 'And I'm as brave and bold and blue as a Kang could be!' she chanted on the run, in response to Traveller's earlier praise. 'Because Blue Kangs are best!'
The Guardian
GM, 610 posts
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 04:10
  • msg #404

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

With the power still out, Trav and Smoke Alarm are forced to take the stairwell to Sereth's floor.  This time, however, when the patroller drone intercepts them, it merely scans them and says, "Bio-imaging: MATCH; Security Bypass: APPROVED."

The pair of them may be a bit more disconcerted when they reach the floor with the safe-deposit vault and, while navigating their way to meet up with Sereth, come across another of the patrollers, cut open like a tin of sardines.
The Traveller
player, 529 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 04:32
  • msg #405

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'And be sure to show-and-tell the cleaners— the robots about us!' Smoke told the caretaker lady, not wanting to be on the wrong end of a cleaner's super high-pressure bullet sprayer again.

The Kang bounced over to Traveller, 'Shape-ship and ready!' she declared, ready to go rescue Sereth and Stan. It figured that the boys would be the ones to get into a to-do and need girls to rescue them. That's why there were so few boys in Paradise Towers. She soon caught up to overtook Traveller, especially when she, yes, ran along the walls of the carrydoor. 'And I'm as brave and bold and blue as a Kang could be!' she chanted on the run, in response to Traveller's earlier praise. 'Because Blue Kangs are best!'


Trav, on the stairs, turns and asks Smoke - "Smoke, I've been meaning to ask you." She *blushes* a bright red - you've never seen Trav do that before - she's usually kind of pushy self confident. "What do I have to do to be an honorary Kang? A real Kang? I mean, you're so awesome, you remind me of when... I was like this!" Her eyebrows are all different too. Eyes all wide, she continues. "Like I was before the Daleks got me and I turned all bad, before the war, when everything was bright and shiny and beautiful. I know it's still like that, but it's hard to *see* sometimes. Can I be allowed to be outgoing and Brave and Bold and have blue hair? Make wallscrawl and climb and run? And talk like a Kang?" It's almost like a part that she's been holding back is finally meeting Smoke Alarm. "How do you do! I'm The Traveller! I want to be a Blue Kang, because Blue Kangs *are* best!"
Smoke Alarm
player, 537 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 06:07
  • msg #406

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

This time, Smoke Alarm poked her tongue out at the cleaner, taunting 'I told we was approved!' before quickly scurrying past it up the stairs before it could change its mind.

Then Traveller changed hers, again. Smoke stopped and stared, increasingly bewildered, her feets itching to run. Now? The tocks were ticking and Sereth and Stan needed saving, and the Kang didn't like to stand still. Traveller had been talky about wanting to be a Kang before, but not so bold as she was now. Smoke tried to think of an answer, but couldn't remember when she hadn't been a Kang. The Kangs had been Kangs since before time start, and they'd just sort of been Kangs. How do you become a Kang? She'd made Fadreen and the other girls on Arsuran Kangs, but mayhaps they weren't true Kangs, not yet, not as brave and bold as they could be. She remembered the Choosing, of course, but that only made them Red and Blue and the rest, it wasn't what made them Kangs.

Traveller's questions and her words of Daleks and badness and war took Smoke back through the tick-tocks to her own lights-off times in Paradise Towers, the broke-downs and splosions, sprinkle gas, being taken to the cleaners, the hunger, the fighting and running, the unalive. "...nasty, wicked gangs!" And Smoke Alarm, small and lost didn't want to go back there. Suddenly, she spun around, turning her back on Traveller, very much a formal shunning gesture. After a moment, she turned back, yelling 'Wrong way! You don't become a Kang! You be a Kang!'

'And Kangs run to save their friends! Come on! All speed!' she urged, turning again and pelting up the stairs, expecting Traveller to follow. And she'd have to follow if she wanted to be a Kang.

In the carrydoor, she soon skidded to a stop at the broken cleaner, all cut open like a tin can or a dead dog. 'The cleaner's been taken to the cleaners.' Smoke remarked, then hared off again, calling 'Leg-it Sereth! Where are you?'
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Wed 30 July 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 154 posts
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 23:12
  • msg #407

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"It's over! You are surrounded and there is nowhere left to run. It is in your best interest to cooperate." Stanley shouts at the biker, glad that the chase seems over. The presence of the help Vesha called in gives makes him confident that the biker isn't going to get away. Stanley only hopes that he is able to convince the biker before he tries anything desperate and gets shot. "I have no intention of hurting or killing you, we only want to talk. Cooperate and please don't try anything funny, because if you do....lets just say I wouldn't fancy you chances. Besides, my team back at the bank has captured your accomplices, so the game is up, whichever way you look at it."

"Who are these people?" Stanley whispers to Vesha, giving the biker a little time to think things over. He goes back to addressing the biker, this time trying to sound more friendly, "So...what's your name? My name is Stanley."


OOC: Roll to convince to the biker to cooperate and I am going to use a SP(8 left).

01:06, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 27 using 4d6+5 with rolls of 6,4,6,6. Convincing the biker to cooperate. Presence(3)+Convince(2) + SP.

Wow, what a good roll. Sereth do you want to borrow some of my luck :D ?

This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Wed 30 July 2014.
Sereth
player, 331 posts
Wed 30 Jul 2014
at 23:23
  • msg #408

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Oy!
The Guardian
GM, 611 posts
Thu 31 Jul 2014
at 01:44
  • msg #409

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Who are these people?" Stanley whispers to Vesha, giving the biker a little time to think things over.

She blinks at Stanley, as if she's a bit surprised by his assured and confident manner in trying to talk the biker down.  "Just soldiers for the Family," she says.  "I thought about police, but police sometimes get confused about where their loyalties belong.  Simpler this way."

quote:
"So...what's your name? My name is Stanley."

"Dev," the kid says, "Dev Farron."  He sighs.  "Okay, I know when I'm rumbled.  Your word of honor?  No rough stuff?"

"The word of the Family," Vesha puts in, "if, as my associate pointed out you cooperate."

Dev shrugs.  "Not likely to torque off Ogrons or the Valbrecco, not like this, am I?"

His bike revs down and it slowly descends to the street at the end of the cul-de-sac.  As the other cars follow it, Vesha motions that Stanley should follow.  Thankfully, the Romasi seems to have a safety feature that kicks in to automate the touchdown, so that passes without incident.

(The side panels of the Romasi look fairly horrific.  Stanley thinks they look like the dragon Eshkavarun that he met back on Arden dragged his claws the length of the vehicle.  Vesha winces when she surveys it.  "Hmmm," she says, "perhaps we can put that on the books as an 'educational expense'.")

One of the Ogrons has a light but implacable hold on Dev's shoulder.  The young man looks uneasily at Stanley and Vesha.  "Um, well, what now?" he asks.

OOC: We can assume that Stanley, Sereth and the other PCs sync up to the point of discussing next steps.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:48, Thu 31 July 2014.
The Traveller
player, 531 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 31 Jul 2014
at 15:03
  • msg #410

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
This time, Smoke Alarm poked her tongue out at the cleaner, taunting 'I told we was approved!' before quickly scurrying past it up the stairs before it could change its mind.

Then Traveller changed hers, again. Smoke stopped and stared, increasingly bewildered, her feets itching to run. Now? The tocks were ticking and Sereth and Stan needed saving, and the Kang didn't like to stand still. Traveller had been talky about wanting to be a Kang before, but not so bold as she was now. Smoke tried to think of an answer, but couldn't remember when she hadn't been a Kang. The Kangs had been Kangs since before time start, and they'd just sort of been Kangs. How do you become a Kang? She'd made Fadreen and the other girls on Arsuran Kangs, but mayhaps they weren't true Kangs, not yet, not as brave and bold as they could be. She remembered the Choosing, of course, but that only made them Red and Blue and the rest, it wasn't what made them Kangs.

Traveller's questions and her words of Daleks and badness and war took Smoke back through the tick-tocks to her own lights-off times in Paradise Towers, the broke-downs and splosions, sprinkle gas, being taken to the cleaners, the hunger, the fighting and running, the unalive. "...nasty, wicked gangs!" And Smoke Alarm, small and lost didn't want to go back there. Suddenly, she spun around, turning her back on Traveller, very much a formal shunning gesture. After a moment, she turned back, yelling 'Wrong way! You don't become a Kang! You be a Kang!'

'And Kangs run to save their friends! Come on! All speed!' she urged, turning again and pelting up the stairs, expecting Traveller to follow. And she'd have to follow if she wanted to be a Kang.

In the carrydoor, she soon skidded to a stop at the broken cleaner, all cut open like a tin can or a dead dog. 'The cleaner's been taken to the cleaners.' Smoke remarked, then hared off again, calling 'Leg-it Sereth! Where are you?'


Trav runs up behind Smoke, making all due speed. While she's not in bad shape, she's still working to catch her breath. "Oh goodness! Hello, Mister Sereth!" She drops down to one knee as her eyes widen at the sliced open security robot. "Goodness. It looks like a Splugorth Kittani runeblade was had at this poor boy. Maybe it was a molecular or quantum blade weapon. Here, let me take a look." Out comes the sonic. As she scans, she conducts a materials analysis, and she dumps the contents of it's logic unit and log recordings to her Ipad for later analysis. She does this quickly as time is of the essence.

She also pings to Sereth their location, so he can quickly join them.
Stanley Newton
player, 155 posts
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 00:11
  • msg #411

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"You've got some pretty impressive flying skills, Dev." Stanley says, trying not to look at the damage to Vesha's car. "Of course, that's why they hired you for this job. We have lots of questions about the job and who you are working for. First, though, I suggest we go back to the bank. Meet the rest of our team and then answer our questions."
The Guardian
GM, 612 posts
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 00:49
  • msg #412

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Off to the side, Vesha is talking to one of the Ogrons.  When she finishes, he gets into her car and takes off.  Meanwhile, one of the others opens the rear door of the big sedan and gestures to Stanley that he should get in with Dev.  Vesha joins them, sitting next to Stanley, and a brief ride later they're back at SSS & T.

When they head inside -- Dev bracketed between Stanley, Vesha, and her new bodyguard -- they see that progress has finally been made toward getting temporary power reestablished in the building.  With the security chief, Ralston, they're able to meet with Trav, Smoke Alarm, Sereth and his three captives.

The two thieves subdued by Sereth and Rishtak have regained consciousness, though one is being prepared for transportation to a hospital under police supervision.
Sereth
player, 333 posts
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 00:58
  • msg #413

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

When they met up; the first thing SEreth did was move over to Traveller.

"Yours, I believe."

Handing over the case, he then eyed the remains of the robot.

"Sorry about that. Needed to get past it; and I'm really not good enough at sneaking. The girl; she's been helpful."

He looked more serious now.

"This was a good operation. THey knew what they wanted, exactly what they wanted, and planned how to get it. I -hate- places like this."
Smoke Alarm
player, 539 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 02:30
  • msg #414

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Mayhaps it was Sereth's kitchen knife?' Smoke Alarm suggested of the broken cleaner when Traveller started eyespying it.

They soon met up, and Smoke was pleased to see the egg-head was sound and safe and no longer in any kind of pickle. And he had the shoplifters with him. 'Icehot scrap-metal fabshion.' she complimented the girl her age, though she was sure it would be all kind of hurts to have all that sticking into her.

Then they met up with Stan, also sound and safe and not in a pickle, also with the shoplifters. Smoke was wondering what all the to-do had been, when she eyespied a familiar face with them. 'Hey, Dev! How you do!' she called happily, running over. 'So it was you on the roof. You've got to hide-and-seek better.' she teased, but slowly became aware that there was something wrong. 'What happened?'
The Guardian
GM, 613 posts
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 02:55
  • msg #415

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev shrugs, a little dejectedly.  "I broke the number one law of New Vegas: I got caught," he says.  "I dunno what they're going to do with me in the long run.  I'm just hoping it's something better than ending up a stain on the pavement."

He glances over at Stanley before adding to Smoke Alarm, "And the number two law: never assume you're crazier than the other guy."
Smoke Alarm
player, 541 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 03:17
  • msg #416

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Caught?! They're taking you to the cleaners?!' Smoke Alarm exclaimed in dismay, upset to see her new friend caught like a rat, angry that her other friends had had a hand in chasing him down, guilty that she herself could be responsible. She'd eyespied Dev on the roof! She'd show-and-telled them all and gotten Dev grabbed by caretakers. It was hard to be a Kang, to do what was good for all her friends. 'Okay, game's over, let him go.' Smoke ordered Stan, the Inbetween lady, and the monkey-man.
The Guardian
GM, 614 posts
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 04:00
  • msg #417

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'Okay, game's over, let him go.' Smoke ordered Stan, the Inbetween lady, and the monkey-man.

The lady looks at Smoke Alarm with an expression that's either puzzled or amused.  "You'll note, young woman, that your friend is not in the custody of the Estanve Gastem police, not at present.  Put him behind bars and he does not serve my interests.  I don't throw away anything that might be useful, and I don't deal out revenge when real harm has been prevented.  Whether Mr. Farron takes advantage of these facts is entirely up to his choice."
Smoke Alarm
player, 542 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 09:08
  • msg #418

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm was hardly mollified, mostly because she didn't know what the lady was talking about. But she didn't like the talk of him being "useful". 'And what do you plan to do with Dev? You're not going to eat him, are you?'
Stanley Newton
player, 156 posts
Fri 1 Aug 2014
at 22:53
  • msg #419

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"You two know each other?" Suddenly Stanley realises where he had heard the name Dev before. "Oh then you must be the guy who gave Smoke Alarm that grapple gun."

The Guardian:
"And the number two law: never assume you're crazier than the other guy."


Stanley wants to say something back, but doesn't. Dev might have a point, just look at the damage on the car.

Smoke Alarm:
'Okay, game's over, let him go.' Smoke ordered Stan, the Inbetween lady, and the monkey-man


Smoke Alarm:
'And what do you plan to do with Dev? You're not going to eat him, are you?'


"Don't be silly Smoke, Vesha isn't going to eat Dev. As a matter of fact, no one is going to eat him or anyone else. Why would you even think that? Vesha is a nice person....but that is not the point. The point is that we only want to ask him some questions." Stanley turns to Dev. "Don't worry, I meant it when I said that we have no interest in hurting or killing you. We don't want revenge."

Stanley looks back at Smoke, "Smoke Alarm, I want you to understand that he is a criminal. He did something that is against the law, something illegal. He helped the people who robbed the bank and tried to steal something that belongs to Trav. Dev knew, when he accepted the job, that he could get caught. You don't have to defend him."
Smoke Alarm
player, 544 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 2 Aug 2014
at 02:17
  • msg #420

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I do too! He's my friend and I life-saved him.' Smoke declared boldly. 'And I also wall-scrawl and shop-lift and trespass and enter-and-break and be chased by caretakers. Am I a crinimal too? I do it for food and water and to survive and I know lots of people who've been taken to the cleaners or eaten right up. Mayhaps Dev does too?' she insisted passionately, wanting respect at least for Dev. Of course the Kang came down on the side opposing authority and wealth; they'd always been on the wrong side of it.

'Ask your questions. But I'm eyespying like a picture-taker.' she warned, pointing to her wide right eye.
The Guardian
GM, 615 posts
Sat 2 Aug 2014
at 03:57
  • msg #421

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Stanley begins to earnestly lecture Smoke Alarm on the consequences of crime, Trav and Sereth notice Vesha putting her hand to her mouth, as if to conceal her reaction.  By the time Smoke Alarm has finished her rebuttal, Vesha bursts into delighted laughter.

As everyone stops to stare at her, Vesha shakes her head.  "I'm sorry, Smoke Alarm, Stanley," she gasps, "I'm truly sorry and I don't mean to make fun; it's just that... crime... on Estanve Gastem... let me just say that there are old, old traditions to do with its practice and its outcomes and punishments.  Smoke Alarm, you are wonderful, and please accept that I certainly think no less of you for being a 'crinimal'.  Nor Mr Farron.  Your loyalty speaks very highly of you, and his talents of him... if all this is resolved satisfactorily, in fact, I think he, and the other young lady--"

"Jenfer," interjects the cyborg girl.

"--may find quite gainful employment in my organization, should they wish."  She sobers.  "Now.  What do we know?  I have made a few discreet contacts to attempt to keep the outcome of these events temporarily obscured from public knowledge.  This may give us a window in which to act before the movers behind this theft are aware of it."
The Traveller
player, 535 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 2 Aug 2014
at 19:33
  • msg #422

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Ah, Sereth." She puts away the sonic when it becomes clear.

She walks up to the group. "Thanks for your hard work, everyone. Stan, dammit, Roy and that jacket are rubbing off on you. I think I may finish fixing up that Valkyrie downstairs for you, or even better - find a CVE to M-Space, and you can meet my Robotech family, and learn how to fly from the best."

She squats down to Dev and Jenfer. "Howdy, I'm the Traveller. It's OK, we won't hurt you, I'm sure that Vesha means that when she says that. But someone went and is planning something really awful with the remains of a friend. If you can tell us who planned this and who your client was, I can help both of you make it off this crummy rock and hit the real, big time! Also, you can run with one of the bravest, prettiest girls I know for a while." She smiles over at Smoke. "Also, I'm sure that Vesha will pay double whatever you were being paid for this job." Jenfer reminds her of the several cyborgs she's known throughout her travels.

Trav would rather have them cooperate. "These can't be good friends of yours if they just ditched you here like this."

OOC: Convince roll of some type?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Sat 02 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 536 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 2 Aug 2014
at 19:39
  • msg #423

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'I do too! He's my friend and I life-saved him.' Smoke declared boldly. 'And I also wall-scrawl and shop-lift and trespass and enter-and-break and be chased by caretakers. Am I a crinimal too? I do it for food and water and to survive and I know lots of people who've been taken to the cleaners or eaten right up. Mayhaps Dev does too?' she insisted passionately, wanting respect at least for Dev. Of course the Kang came down on the side opposing authority and wealth; they'd always been on the wrong side of it.

'Ask your questions. But I'm eyespying like a picture-taker.' she warned, pointing to her wide right eye.


Trav snickers. "It sounds like an honest gosh date to me! He's cute too." She pushes those big glasses up her nose. "Don't worry, nothing bad's going to happen to Dev. He looks like a good guy caught in a bad situation." Her body language is entirely different. "Hi, Jenfer! こんにちは！私は旅行者だ!" She finds herself slipping into Japanese, which she spoke primarily in her 2nd life."oops, I'm the Traveller! Sorry, the nihon-ju came out."
The Guardian
GM, 616 posts
Sun 3 Aug 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #424

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC: Convince roll of some type?

OOC: You (or someone) can roll a Presence + Convince if you want.

This is not so much to sway the two into cooperating with all of you -- Sereth has pretty much already convinced Jenfer that her best bet is cooperating with you and they've both already had a fair sized carrot hung out in front of them -- as it for me to judge whether one of them might have some actionable information that goes beyond where their meet with Kellnar was supposed to be, if their mission was a success.
The Traveller
player, 537 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 3 Aug 2014
at 07:44
  • msg #425

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
She sobers.  "Now.  What do we know?  I have made a few discreet contacts to attempt to keep the outcome of these events temporarily obscured from public knowledge.  This may give us a window in which to act before the movers behind this theft are aware of it."


"I have a few resources too, but your a native. So, tell me about this Kellnar."

She is getting ready an e-mail to Dorium Maldovar.

From: trav@sweetboy.tardis
to:dorium.maldovar@bluebar.vortex

Hey Dor Dor,

Please get me a price quote for some info - Please tell me about a clown named Kellnar. He's a middle agent for someone who's trying to steal the inheritance that the Corsair left me. Yes, that Corsair, who you were crushing on for 10 years. You know I always give you fair trade. Any info would be awesome.

Are you still doing business with that wannabe archaelogist chick whose biting off of me and Benny Summerfield? I should come and kick her posuer ass. Hmph.

OOC: Spending an SP to active Major Friends talent. Back down to 2 personally.
Sereth
player, 334 posts
Sun 3 Aug 2014
at 21:46
  • msg #426

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A shrug.

"Indeed. Places like this are pits of corruption and crime; no need to embark on a crusade to clean -this- hole up."

A snort.

"I'm kind of more interested in where they were going to meet Kellnar. He's the next step up; but from what I hear, he's likely to just be a higher brand of pawn."
The Traveller
player, 539 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 3 Aug 2014
at 21:53
  • msg #427

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav: "Yeah, that poopyhead is a roadbump. I went and sent an E-mail to an old D&D pal, but I'm not sure if it'll get back in time. Unless anyone else has any better ideas, he's our best lead."
Stanley Newton
player, 157 posts
Sun 3 Aug 2014
at 23:29
  • msg #428

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
As everyone stops to stare at her, Vesha shakes her head.  "I'm sorry, Smoke Alarm, Stanley," she gasps, "I'm truly sorry and I don't mean to make fun; it's just that... crime... on Estanve Gastem... let me just say that there are old, old traditions to do with its practice and its outcomes and punishments.  Smoke Alarm, you are wonderful, and please accept that I certainly think no less of you for being a 'crinimal'.  Nor Mr Farron.  Your loyalty speaks very highly of you, and his talents of him...


Stanley isn't really comfortable with the way Vesha seems to respect criminals. He knows Estanve Gastem's society has different values, but still... Smoke's a criminal, Dev is definitely a criminal and Vesha is a criminal too. He sighs, knowing that he is in the minority here.  "It doesn't matter that you are a criminal, Smoke, as long as you do it for the right reasons and don't hurt anybody....I guess."

The Guardian:
She sobers.  "Now.  What do we know?  I have made a few discreet contacts to attempt to keep the outcome of these events temporarily obscured from public knowledge.  This may give us a window in which to act before the movers behind this theft are aware of it."


"A very short window. I suspect that Kellnar already knows that the mission failed. Dev, you weren't paid the full amount up front, right? After making sure that you got the right thing, Kellnar would pay you the rest. If you don't show up, Kellnar will panic. This means, that if we can find Kellnar he will lead us directly to the people pulling the strings. They have to tell him what to do next." Stanley shrugs. "At least, that's how it goes in the movies. Not a criminal myself, so I don't know if that's how it really works."
The Guardian
GM, 617 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 02:11
  • msg #429

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev looks at Trav and her friends.

"There was a primary meet spot where Kellnar was going to meet the team for the handover and payment," he says.  Trading a look with Jenfer, he adds, "Then he arranged a secondary meet for each one of us, individually.  This was supposed to be what we'd use if things went south on us, but someone still managed to get away with the goods.  So anyone hooked by the cops... or anyone else... couldn't blow the deal.  Each one of us got our own panic code that we could send to signal for the secondary meet." He holds up his phone.

"The primary meet was going to be 2 AM at the roof garage at the Caravanserai Neda -- that's a commercial hotel by the starport, short term lodging for spacers passing through, not tourists.  My fallback was the lot at the Sz'sen shipping depot, same general part of town."

Vesha looks thoughtful.  "Both Ss'tenga holdings, if I recall correctly, though that might mean nothing."

Dev lets a breath go, as if he's pretty much spent everything he has of value.

Jenfer gets a worried look.  "Um.  That's the same information I had about the main meet.  I got my own secondary drop, but of course two of those won't be any use to you.  I can tell you, Kellnar has a couple of bolt-holes around the city.  One I know about is in a Foamasi mist dive out in the Barrens."  (Trav is familiar with this particular strain of vice -- the reptilian species' primary choice of intoxication is inhaling exotic chemical vapors.)

Jenfer taps her metal hand against her metal skull-plate.  "He took me there once to handle a little work on his data rig.  Kellnar keeps his critical stuff off-grid."
The Guardian
GM, 618 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 02:14
  • msg #430

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC: Spending an SP to active Major Friends talent. Back down to 2 personally.

OOC: Not sure what, if anything, to do with this at the moment.  I've sort of waffled about it since I read the post, but I keep coming back to thinking that Maldovar, in his particular space/time location, wouldn't have much on someone as low on the food chain as Kellnar.  I'll leave this out there until something relevant occurs to me.
Smoke Alarm
player, 548 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 02:42
  • msg #431

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

At Vesha's laughter, Smoke Alarm outlooked darkly at her, wondering if she was being teased and not having the knowhow of all that was being talked about. But it seemed Vesha had no to-do with Dev, and even wanted him to join her team, and Traveller said there was no to-do. Okay. Smoke Alarm footed aside and let everyone talk on without her, though she did eyespy them like the proverbial picture-taker. 'Mayhaps I have.' she muttered in answer to Stanley, thinking of the to-dos when time start.

Then she outlooked over to Dev as he told them all this Kellnar's hide-ins. Concerned, she asked 'What's the comeout for you two if Kellnar knows you show-and-telled us his hide-ins? Will you be swozzled, like Old Nikolai and the spit-snazz?' Smoke remembered Dev's words last night; though she didn't know what swozzling and a spit-snazz were, she could guess they were bad. She didn't want her new friend getting hurt for some shiny scrap. 'What did Kellnar want with Traveller's scrap anyway?'


OOC: Throwing my roll in for general persuasion, just managed something decent.
10:28, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,4. presence(2) + convince(0).
The Guardian
GM, 619 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 03:17
  • msg #432

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Then she outlooked over to Dev as he told them all this Kellnar's hide-ins. Concerned, she asked 'What's the comeout for you two if Kellnar knows you show-and-telled us his hide-ins? Will you be swozzled, like Old Nikolai and the spit-snazz?'

Dev shrugs and gives her a serious look.  "Smoke, I am well swozzled now.  The state I'm in, you play ball--"  He stops, seeing her look of dismay, and perhaps remembering her reaction the other night.  "You co-operate and you hope the people you're getting in with will deal square with you.  Though she's not said so proper, I think Miz Vesha must be someone with pull in the Valbreco clan -- those were Valbreco goons she caught me with, anyway -- and working for the Valbreco is a big step up from working for Kellnar.  The way it looks like this might go down, there might be no Kellnar to work for, in a real short time."

He pulls something out of his pocket and flips it -- it's the coin Smoke traded to him.  "Though it turns out I was pretty lucky to run into you.  Pretty sly, not to let on you had connections."

"Far as this job goes, I dunno.  Knowing who Kellnar sells stuff on to isn't what he hired me for."

OOC: Your roll doesn't really shift anything.  Though it does tend to renew Dev's interest in Smoke.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:31, Mon 04 Aug 2014.
Sereth
player, 335 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 03:48
  • msg #433

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Draconian looked, and sounded, grim.

"I can assure you, there -won't- be a Kellnar to work for if I have anything to say about it."

A shake of his head towards Stanley.

"Whilst I share your concerns; there is no point in debating legalities when it comes to this place. It is what it is, and if you worry too much about who of your companions are criminals, I suspect you might find I'm the only one that has a hope of meeting your standards." Gesturing towards the remains of the robot, "Even so, that was wilful damage of private property. I had my reasons, and I don't think they'll carry on about it, but still."

OOC: -facepalm- Well, I was more trying to make Smoke look better to Dev anyway...
13:47, Today: Sereth rolled 10 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,1. Presence + Convince.
The Traveller
player, 540 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 05:10
  • msg #434

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
OOC: Spending an SP to active Major Friends talent. Back down to 2 personally.

OOC: Not sure what, if anything, to do with this at the moment.  I've sort of waffled about it since I read the post, but I keep coming back to thinking that Maldovar, in his particular space/time location, wouldn't have much on someone as low on the food chain as Kellnar.  I'll leave this out there until something relevant occurs to me.


OCC: Well, I figured that if Maldovar does business with people like River and the Time Agency, then he may know interesting things across time and space. But I'll take that SP back and we can skip it of you like. Heh, maybe he's getting a burp in his wireless in the 7th transept.
Smoke Alarm
player, 549 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 06:15
  • msg #435

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Okay... Well, I'm sorry you got caught by my friends.' Smoke Alarm apologised, voice all mumbly as she outlooked down at her runners, blue hair draped around her face. She felt all lights-out and guilty for even her minor role in getting Dev caught, even if he had been helping the others shoplift from the Traveller... Actually, this was the second time she'd gotten Dev almost caught. Oops. Then she outlooked up, her outlook brighter. 'But I wish it had been me chasing you again. Then we'd see who's faster. I'd catch you if I can.' she said with her old cheek.

'I told you I ran with the Traveller.' Smoke pointed out, watching the coin flip up and down. 'That's my lucky coin.' She pulled out her rope-gun. 'Did you want to swap this back?'
The Traveller
player, 541 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 07:32
  • msg #436

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Mission failed? They got what they wanted, didn't they? We need to get moving, now. Where can we find this Kellnar?"
Sereth
player, 336 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 09:07
  • msg #437

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: How did they get what they wanted? I'm a bit lost...
The Guardian
GM, 621 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 11:26
  • msg #438

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"Mission failed? They got what they wanted, didn't they? We need to get moving, now. Where can we find this Kellnar?"

Sereth:
OOC: How did they get what they wanted? I'm a bit lost...

OOC: Someone is lost here, but I don't think it's Sereth.  Trav, I suggest you review post 395 and post 429.
The Guardian
GM, 622 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 11:30
  • msg #439

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'I told you I ran with the Traveller.' Smoke pointed out, watching the coin flip up and down. 'That's my lucky coin.' She pulled out her rope-gun. 'Did you want to swap this back?'

"No, I think I'll hold onto this."  Dev's grin is wide.  "Seems like I'm going to need all the lucky I've got for the near future."

(Over on the other side of the room, Jenfer can be seen rolling her eyes.)
The Guardian
GM, 623 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 12:12
  • msg #440

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OCC: Well, I figured that if Maldovar does business with people like River and the Time Agency, then he may know interesting things across time and space. But I'll take that SP back and we can skip it of you like. Heh, maybe he's getting a burp in his wireless in the 7th transept.

OOC: Just for the record, I have no qualms about how he might know something from this period, simply whether Kellnar is actually noteworthy enough that he would.
The Traveller
player, 542 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 12:42
  • msg #441

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
"Mission failed? They got what they wanted, didn't they? We need to get moving, now. Where can we find this Kellnar?"

Sereth:
OOC: How did they get what they wanted? I'm a bit lost...

OOC: Someone is lost here, but I don't think it's Sereth.  Trav, I suggest you review post 395 and post 429.


OOC: Sorry, so much text flying it was hard for me to keep track.
The Traveller
player, 543 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 12:46
  • msg #442

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh. You have it. May I see it, please?</i>

Presuming that Sereth presents the sample, Trav peers close, adjusting those big spectacles, peering like an owl. She quickly examines it with her sonic.

"Oh, Sereth. All of you have a *huge* marker with me. Thank you, everyone."

What exactly is it? Aside from what she suspects?
The Guardian
GM, 624 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 13:01
  • msg #443

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The stasis case is a familiar design to Trav.  She quickly finds the control interlocks that allow inspection of the contents without breaking the stasis field.

When she opens the lid of the case, she (and anyone peering over her shoulder for a look) finds a flat transparent area framed by glowing blue bars that indicate the field is active.  The area beneath the field holds a patch of pale skin, about three inches square.  Impregnated in the skin, in pale blue ink, is the image of a serpent devouring its tail, surrounded within and without by coded Gallifreyan script.

While the active field interferes with a direct, in-depth scan, the skin and tattoo look like a fresh graft sample.  Given the stasis field, it's possible that the sample contains viable stem cells.
The Traveller
player, 544 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 13:06
  • msg #444

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav takes off her glasses, and is weeping silently. She *knows* that tattoo.

"To the TARDIS. Quick. We have to keep this safe. *sniff*. HONNK*"

Her eyes express her gratitude in ways that words can't.
Smoke Alarm
player, 551 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 13:23
  • msg #445

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"No, I think I'll hold onto this."  Dev's grin is wide.  "Seems like I'm going to need all the lucky I've got for the near future."


Smoke grinned. 'Maybe you'll get lucky?' she said, entirely innocently. 'You could go to the catsino.'

Then she eyespied Traveller opening a box, and had to go outlook. Naturally, she was the one outlooking over her shoulder. Then Smoke eyespied — a piece of skin. With a drawing of a snake-worm on it. 'Eww!' She backed away, then tripped over her box of scrap left abandoned in the fuss earlier. She picked it up. 'My scrap isn't all gross.'
The Traveller
player, 545 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 13:40
  • msg #446

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"If we ever see the Corsair again, I'll remind her you said that, Smoke." Trav, urging everyone else to come along, heads immediately back for Sweet Boy.
Smoke Alarm
player, 552 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 14:19
  • msg #447

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke jumped in front of Traveller, having a better idea. 'Mayhaps me and Dev could be outgoing on the sky-cycle to the Sweet Boy talkiphone box. Then I use the talkiphone app to make Sweet Boy comeout here. Then you just loiter here with your yucky piece of skin. That way you get to the talkiphone box with all speed.' she suggested. The Kang had a finely tuned sense for transport and all the ways it could be achieved.
The Traveller
player, 546 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 15:03
  • msg #448

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav smooches smoke on the forehead, and hands her the sonic. "Press this here, and aim it at the control console. Go ahead, you two! Be outgoing with all due speed! Blue Kangs are Best!"
Stanley Newton
player, 158 posts
Mon 4 Aug 2014
at 23:17
  • msg #449

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"Whilst I share your concerns; there is no point in debating legalities when it comes to this place. It is what it is, and if you worry too much about who of your companions are criminals, I suspect you might find I'm the only one that has a hope of meeting your standards." Gesturing towards the remains of the robot, "Even so, that was wilful damage of private property. I had my reasons, and I don't think they'll carry on about it, but still."


"Yeah...I understand." Stanley looks at the damaged robot. "Good reasons, I suppose."

The Traveller:
Trav smooches smoke on the forehead, and hands her the sonic. "Press this here, and aim it at the control console. Go ahead, you two! Be outgoing with all due speed! Blue Kangs are Best!"


"Be careful." Stanley looks worried. He still doesn't completely trust Dev and this would be a great opportunity for him to try something.
The Guardian
GM, 626 posts
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 00:34
  • msg #450

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha eyes Stanley at his last comment.  "A moment," she says as Dev and Smoke are about to dash off.

She draws Dev aside, saying, "I am going to hold you to your oath of honor to carry out the task the Traveller has set you, and return faithfully.  In return, I am going to accept your service to the Family.  Do you understand how this tie will bind you?

Dev gulps and nods, holding out a hand.  Rishtak wordlessly produces a small knife and a white cloth.  Vesha holds her hand in Dev's, and Rishtak pricks them both, enough to draw blood, that mingles on the cloth as he binds it around their hands.  Then he releases them, folding the cloth neatly and handing it to Vesha, who tucks it inside her jacket.

Dev takes Smoke Alarm's hand and quickly leads her away to where the big sedan -- and Dev's bike -- are waiting.
Smoke Alarm
player, 554 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 01:53
  • msg #451

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

After checking she had the button right, Smoke Alarm took the screwdriver with great care, and tucked it into an inside pocket of her raggedy shirt. She wore it inside out to keep the pockets from spilling stuff when she jumped around. 'Build high for happiness!' she fairwelled, making the fist-on-fist gesture before rushing off to grab Dev's hand and drag him away with her.

Foot tapping, she waited impatiently for Vesha to be done with Dev. She didn't like the knife and almost jumped in to pull Dev away, stopped by a look from him. It seemed he was in her gang now. Mayhaps he would be sound and safe with them.

Then she footed off with Dev to the sky-cycle, remembering the outway to the talkiphone box on the map earlier.
The Guardian
GM, 627 posts
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 02:49
  • msg #452

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke and Dev zoom off above the streets of New Vegas, headed for the "Covenant Station" where Trav parked the talkiphone box.

Smoke Alarm remembers there being a great to-do about the "Station" being some super-secure place to get into, but it's not too difficult for her and Dev to get in past their outlooks.  Dev sneaks his bike in and gets it into the talkiphone box after Smoke uses her key.  He took a little convincing that his bike would fit inside with both him and Smoke Alarm, though curiously he didn't seem all that reluctant to try fitting inside with just Smoke.

Once they're inside, though, Dev just stands there looking around, baffled.  "Hey!" he says.  "There's no way all this can fit inside that little blue shed!"

Smoke Alarm is distracted, though, because there are three of Us standing on the console of the talkiphone box.  They're all wearing snazzy new blue ribbons tied around their necks, and two of them are holding a little electric-y widget over a squarish hole in the console, like they're trying to figure out how it fits in.

"Meep!  Meep!"  (Smoke Alarm!  Smoke Alarm!)
"Mee...eep?" (Who's that?)
"Meep?" (Is it one of Us?)
Smoke Alarm
player, 555 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 03:16
  • msg #453

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'It fits!' Smoke Alarm insisted, helping to roll the bikcycle in behind Dev and nudging him until he budged forwards. She didn't get what the to-do was herself. She'd grown up in the Towers since before time start, and was used to small doors leading to spacious apartments, to vast foyers leading to poky broom cupboards, and long carrydoors wrapping around them all. It had been many tick-tocks since she'd seen outside, but the Towers still seemed bigger inside that the garden outside. The Kang pictured the world around her in terms of the way that rooms and carrydoors were arranged, in time and speed and as far as she could jump, not space and volume. This was all perfectly normal. Even new worlds appearing outside every time they materialised seemed unremarkable. 'It has a "deceptively spacious design". You know: artchitecture.'

She stopped short as she saw the Us on the big puter console. The Kang smiled wide, delighted to see the little furry friends. And they wore blue colours! But what were they doing? 'How you do! This is Dev, he's not one of Us, not yet anyway. Dev, this is Us.' she introduced, waving one to the other. 'What are you doing?' she asked the Us while she fished around inside her shirt for the screwdriver.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Tue 05 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 628 posts
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 03:58
  • msg #454

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Us borrowed this,' meeps the biggest Us.

'Many of this,' clarifies another.

'But the Oldest of Us said it was not Treasure.'

'Us had to put them back.'

'But when Us went to put them back in the holes they came from, one of the holes was gone!'

'Us have been looking for another hole.'

'This hole looks right to Us... sort of....'  The Us trails off doubtfully.

When Smoke Alarm looks at what they're holding, the component looks like it's the right shape for the socket, except that it has a tab to guide the correct orientation and they've had it turned clockways such that it doesn't fit.
Smoke Alarm
player, 557 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 05:05
  • msg #455

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Leaving Dev to outlook like a blank wall, Smoke wandered over to have a look at the widget or thingamabob or whatever it was. 'How can it not be Treasure? It's all elektricky!' she exclaimed. She contemplated the hole, wondering whether a hole had disappeared or whether it had been filled with something else. Then she saw the tab that locked the plughole, and realised how to make it fit. Then she loitered and wondered if she ought to wait until Traveller was back. Traveller would knowhow to install the widget the right way. But what if the talkiphone box wouldn't work without it?! Traveller wanted the talkiphone box right now so she could put her gross bit of snake-skin away. She collected some weird stuff.

Smoke Alarm jiggled anxiously by the console, trying to solve the puzzle. To-do or not to-do? No! No ball-games, no fly-posts, no loitering! All speed! She reached into the hole and flicked the tab, then jammed the gadget in until it clicked. 'Shape-ship and ready!' she declared to the Us and Dev, and lifted the furry little Us off the console just in case it did asplode.

Finally, she took out the screwdriver, then stopped to outlook back to Dev, feeling sad. 'Dev. Do you want to take the outway now? Fire-escape from Vesha and Valbrecos?' she offered. While they were away, it was a good chance for him to take an unseen outway from the caretakers of this city.


OOC: Impulsive, Insatiable Curiosity FTW! :D
The Guardian
GM, 629 posts
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 11:46
  • msg #456

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
She reached into the hole and flicked the tab, then jammed the gadget in until it clicked. 'Shape-ship and ready!' she declared to the Us and Dev, and lifted the furry little Us off the console just in case it did asplode.

It seats home with a click and the console gives off a bloop and a fresh hummmmm.  It had clearly done something, and that something did not seem scary at the moment.  Win!

quote:
'Dev. Do you want to take the outway now? Fire-escape from Vesha and Valbrecos?' she offered. While they were away, it was a good chance for him to take an unseen outway from the caretakers of this city.

Dev looks down at the the little cut on his hand and then looks at his bike.

"I dunno," he says.  "What else is there to do and where else to go?  All I really like is flying my bike.  I got it 'bout four years ago... there was a dust-up and there was a guy who, who didn't need it any more."  He shrugs.  "I could use the bike to get jobs, from people like Kellnar, to get some dosh to fix the bike and make it better, and maybe get a little to eat.  It's a good bike and I'm good at flying it.  But I don't know so much about finding jobs for myself.  Long as Miz Vesha wants me to fly, it wouldn't be so bad."
Smoke Alarm
player, 558 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 5 Aug 2014
at 13:00
  • msg #457

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

An eager-beaver, Smoke Alarm outlooked to see what would happen. In the talkiphone box, she'd find even a splosion to be worth eyespying. As the puters gave off a happy hum, Smoke Alarm whooped. 'Yeah!'

She listened more carefully to Dev as he made his plans, but he seemed unbrave and unbold about it. What could she say? Some people had yawny issues that Kangs never thought about. 'You are a good sky-cycle flier. And if it's fun and icehot and you love it, you should keep doing it. But you have to fly for yourself, always. Mayhaps you could be a courier or a pizza poster or a sky-cycle racer. Miz Vesha is Traveller's friend, so mayhaps she has a good gang to run with. But just keep flying, please?' She laid a hand on his shoulder and made him promise.
The Guardian
GM, 630 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 00:46
  • msg #458

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Oh, yeah.  Any time someone wants to tie me down and stop me flying?  That's when I fly out on them."  Dev grins.  "Cross my heart and hope to die."
Smoke Alarm
player, 559 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 01:14
  • msg #459

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'No! Hope to live! Always time to fly!' Smoke cheered, already spinning around and bounding back to the console and the bouncing Us. She extended the screwdriver and pressed the button — the right button — and pointed it at the console, just as Traveller had show-and-telled her. 'Time for the talkiphone box to fly!' she shouted, excited to fly the Sweet Boy herself. This was icehot!
The Guardian
GM, 631 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 01:30
  • msg #460

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The engines of the old timeship roar to life, and the Us jump and scurry in excitement.

Where the group is waiting back at SSS & T, a great trumpeting wind booms through the hallways and the hallways brighten with the flashing of the battered call box's lamp.  The TARDIS materializes with a whump!

Back inside, the Us perform oddly inverted how-you-dos to Dev and Smoke Alarm.  "Build happy for highness!"  They scurry off out of sight.
Smoke Alarm
player, 562 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 01:39
  • msg #461

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

And Smoke Alarm jumped and scurried with them. Success! No splosions, no getting found-and-lost! 'Build happy for highness!' she returned, building her fists up and throwing one over her shoulder in fairwell to the Us as they dashed away, soon disappearing into the roundels and AC ducks.

She pressed the automatic door button on the console, and went back to Dev. 'Us are fun!'
The Traveller
player, 550 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #462

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is fairly dancing as she takes the case into the TARDIS. "Smoke, baby, of course, we're fun!" She has no idea that the tribe of small creatures has just scurried out of sight.

The sonic included instructions to activate the sound system. As Trav dances in, lights come, and it's fairly like a disco. Back on Rifts Earth, as Louise she made a copy of a pair of wonderful cassette tapes from a cat named Peter Quill. As Redbone plays, she holds the the case over her head, as she dances down into the labs, swinging down into the spiral staircase. If the Us ever saw the 1st and 2nd Travellers, she danced like that when she was very happy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...V4aFgCjw&index=8

If this what she thinks it is - if that coded Gallifreyan script is the Corsairs biodata, then she will have assisted the Corsair in pulling off hir most magnificent scam yet. This showed that the Corsair had faith in her, even at the height of her terrible fury as the Marshall, she trusted her. If this was something else, and the Corsair was at rest, it was still a magnificent, glorious legacy - the potential rebirth of the entire Gallifreyan people, in some form or another. One way or another, she wouldn't be alone any more.

As Trav secures this most precious treasure in the vault, a crazy thought occurs to her - she laughs, delightedly.

Perhaps she makes Warlock. Yes, Phillipe undergoes massive pain, but as Fortuna said, the best days were to come yet.

There were still some ethical concerns. She'd never do that to Phillipe without his consent.

After she comes back upstairs, it's snugs and kisses and caresses for everyone.

"Well, well, well." She digs into her pouch, and pulls out a poker chip. She sonics it, and flips it Vesha.

"Vesha, I owe you beyond words. Like my beloved Corsair and Doctor always said, all debts are paid. You now have a marker. Gimme your phone." If Vesha assents, she modifies Vesha's phone into a limited form of superphone, so that Vesha can communicate via text or recorded video message across time. "Call me, I'll come."

She turns to Jenfer and Dev. "As for you two, if Vesha is willing to take care of you, I'm fine with forgetting this whole thing, and you're both helping out in us tracking down the jerk who wanted to rob me. I think you both deserve a present. Can I see your bike?"

Trav shoos everyone out of the TARDIS. "Back in 5 minutes." The time machine roars to life, and disappears. On cue, it reappears. Wearing a different set of clothes, Trav rolls out a new bike for Dev. "I took your old ride and gave her some upgrades. Of course, you don't have full blown Robotech weaponry, but the transformation systems should work fine. The onboard manuals should enable any good mechanic to keep her ship shape. The fusion cell is self charging." Dev now has a flying, transforming version of his bike with smoke dispensers, grapple launchers, and a relatively strong laser rifle.



"Vesha. Do you want to see this business through, to the end?" She gestures towards the open door of her time machine.
The Traveller
player, 551 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 03:06
  • msg #463

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
And Smoke Alarm jumped and scurried with them. Success! No splosions, no getting found-and-lost! 'Build happy for highness!' she returned, building her fists up and throwing one over her shoulder in fairwell to the Us as they dashed away, soon disappearing into the roundels and AC ducks.

She pressed the automatic door button on the console, and went back to Dev. 'Us are fun!'


Trav beams. "Great job, Smoke! You and your boyfriend are naturals!"
The Traveller
player, 552 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 03:11
  • msg #464

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
Sereth:
"Whilst I share your concerns; there is no point in debating legalities when it comes to this place. It is what it is, and if you worry too much about who of your companions are criminals, I suspect you might find I'm the only one that has a hope of meeting your standards." Gesturing towards the remains of the robot, "Even so, that was wilful damage of private property. I had my reasons, and I don't think they'll carry on about it, but still."


"Yeah...I understand." Stanley looks at the damaged robot. "Good reasons, I suppose."


"Oh Stan, don't worry, I'll fix the robot!" She gets that little weird scrunched face, which would be very familiar to Henry Gloval's crew back on Macross Island. Trav sets herself to repairing the robot while they wait for Smoke and Dev to return with the TARDIS.

Stanley Newton:
"Be careful." Stanley looks worried. He still doesn't completely trust Dev and this would be a great opportunity for him to try something.


As Smoke and Dev zoom off, Trav giggles as she starts soniccing the innards of the wrecked bot. "Smoke won't let him get away with anything. Also, look at him. He's trying to play it cool, but he's smitten."

If anyone thinks a little, it's obvious that Trav has given them a police box to play patty cake in for a while, all alone.
Smoke Alarm
player, 564 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 03:32
  • msg #465

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"Smoke, baby, of course, we're fun!" She has no idea that the tribe of small creatures has just scurried out of sight.


Smoke Alarm quickly footed in front of a stray furry tail, covering the Us until it got into the hide-in. 'Yes, lots of fun.' she said hastily. If the Us wanted to hide from Traveller, then she wasn't going to stop them. She outlooked bemused and confused as Traveller started playing music and dancing. It was a lot of a fuss for a manky old piece of someone's skin. She shrugged to Dev, unable to explain all Traveller's weird behaviour.

Then she outlooked in awe as she rolled out the icehot new sky-cycle. 'Icehot! Mayhaps it won't fall out of the sky-ceiling now.'
This message was last edited by the player at 05:09, Wed 06 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 632 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 04:44
  • msg #466

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
""Vesha. Do you want to see this business through, to the end?" She gestures towards the open door of her time machine.

"Absolutely.  Even if the rest of it was just a smokescreen for the operation here at the Trust, someone is still making a steaming mess right in the Family's back yard.  That someone needs to be taught an unequivocal lesson."

She folds her arms, standing hipshot before the TARDIS.  "So.  Floor's open, I suppose: what's your play?"
The Guardian
GM, 633 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 04:52
  • msg #467

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav shoos everyone out of the TARDIS. "Back in 5 minutes." The time machine roars to life, and disappears. On cue, it reappears. Wearing a different set of clothes, Trav rolls out a new bike for Dev. "I took your old ride and gave her some upgrades. Of course, you don't have full blown Robotech weaponry, but the transformation systems should work fine. The onboard manuals should enable any good mechanic to keep her ship shape. The fusion cell is self charging." Dev now has a flying, transforming version of his bike with smoke dispensers, grapple launchers, and a relatively strong laser rifle.

Dev's expression is hard to read.  It looks like he's torn between fascination for the new and shiny vehicle that has been rolled out in front of him, and horrified mourning for the wholesale reinvention of his ride.

"Uh, um, thanks, I think?" he says.  "It's... I hardly recognize it any more.  I'm sure it's really spiff and I'll get used to it...."
The Traveller
player, 557 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 04:57
  • msg #468

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Baby - start her up. Listen to her heart. If you feel the vibrations and feel it, you know she is still your ride. Come on, sit. Fire her up."
The Traveller
player, 558 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 05:02
  • msg #469

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
""Vesha. Do you want to see this business through, to the end?" She gestures towards the open door of her time machine.

"Absolutely.  Even if the rest of it was just a smokescreen for the operation here at the Trust, someone is still making a steaming mess right in the Family's back yard.  That someone needs to be taught an unequivocal lesson."

She folds her arms, standing hipshot before the TARDIS.  "So.  Floor's open, I suppose: what's your play?"


She looks at Stan, Sereth, and Smoke - she trusts their judgement. Vesha hasn't earned her key, yet - she's on audition.

"Well, this might end up to be much bigger than local trouble. Universally big. But for right now, I'd like to ask you to coordinate amongst all the other inheritors. Was I the only one stolen from?"

She's changed from her her business skirtsuit into a blue polka dot short sleeved pleated sundress with cowboy boots. She snaps her hat and it changes color to match her ensemble. "Unless anyone has any other ideas, I think we need to pay our boy Kellnar a visit next."
Sereth
player, 345 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 05:06
  • msg #470

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"OH aye. Kellnar needs a visit. Needs to learn some manners." A thoughtful pause. "From memory, just before I left, it was apparent it was not only your phone that was hacked - you were just the only one able to track it back. Now, it's possible this was a diversion to disguise the fact they were specifically going after you. It is also possible though; that they were going for the big score."
The Guardian
GM, 634 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 05:06
  • msg #471

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Doubtfully, Dev gets on the bike, and finds that his starter key still works.  He leans flat against the bike with his ear to the fuselage, and revs the throttle.

VVVVVROOOOM!

The look of relief on his face is right up there with a mother who's just been handed her child by a firefighter clambering out of the ruin of a burning building.  "You're right.  It's still mine."

Chief Ralston, who has been observing all this while his people have been working to get the security measures on the safe-deposit level back in place and verifying that no other boxes have been breached, observes, "It is not, however, an indoor toy."

OOC: Nice save. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:07, Wed 06 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 635 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 05:29
  • msg #472

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"Well, this might end up to be much bigger than local trouble. Universally big. But for right now, I'd like to ask you to coordinate amongst all the other inheritors. Was I the only one stolen from?"


Vesha takes out her phone and works with it for a while.

"Complicated.  The Whittington Foundation, the Family, and Mr. Nguyen-Parker were designated for monetary transfers, and intercepts were attempted in all three cases, but they could be blocked fairly simply through standard banking protocols.

"The transfers to Ruthdal's Raiders were in the form of authority codes to the shuttered Jekento Rim outposts that the Corsair had locked down a couple of decades back.  If those codes got out, they could have a race on their hands to take possession.  Captain Hrrekthot says he has put out an alert and mobilized the Raiders.  At hyperspace speeds it will probably be days before anyone knows what has happened out there."
Sereth
player, 346 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 05:35
  • msg #473

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A drumming of his fingers.

"They would have known surely those monetary transfers were going to be blocked? I suspect those three, at least, were a diversion."

A pause.

"Who knew? Besides the people invited, who knew about this hearing? And out of those, who would have any cause to suspect what the inheritances were going to be?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 567 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 05:59
  • msg #474

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm patted Dev on the shoulder in consolation as he didn't seem so happy with the changes to his sky-cycle. 'I knowhow. You should eyespy what she did to my talkiphone, and the rope-gun.' she shared solemnly. She was keeping her arrowgun away from Traveller's clutches! But happily Dev seemed to like it once he tried it and made it vroom. 'Icehot!'

She found that Traveller's new blue-and-white dotty dress reminded her of Melanie, Who Was Not A Kang.

She drifted back to listen to the comeout of the shoplifters' raid on the bank cupboards. Though not there for all of it, she figured she'd heard enough to get the knowhow of it. 'A diversion? Like when Kangs go out wall-scrawling all brave and bold and get the caretakers to chase them, while other Kangs hide-and-sneak in to raid the food cupboards?' she suggested. 'We're at the bank cupboards, so mayhaps Kellnar's gang are wall-scrawling some place else? Where were you before?'
The Traveller
player, 559 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 06:05
  • msg #475

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Well, well, well. Someone -really- had a hard on hate for Corsi, maybe. The problem is that, well, she had a lot of secrets. Hell, I've had people shoot at me because they thought *I* was him. I'm like 'Hey, fedora, not tricorn!'"

She hits the door close button, and then throws down three levers and spins a wheel. "So then! Vesha, if you can act as a go between for all of us inheritors, that would be awesome. Also, I'm pretty sure I can get you guys some stock tips that won't screw with the time stream much, so that your syndicate will be properly compensated."

She notes Sereth's suggestion about the phone. "Very good point, Ambassador. Someone who can hack *me* is probably not native to this time zone or maybe even this dimension." Old enemies of hers from Phase World or Rifts Earth, she thinks? No, any spellcasters employeed by the Splugorth or the Naruni would be powerless here in N-Space - it was ironic that her home would be an iron fortress from the magical terrors she struggled with on Rifts Earth. One other possibility were the likes of the Robotech Masters or the Haydonites, but neither of them had dimensional breaching technology - indeed, the only people she knew of who could artificially create CVEs were the very Time Lords themselves, using the Eye of Harmony - the one group of people who would be uninterested in the Corsairs remains, were they even alive. Also, her R-Space foes had never met the Corsair.

"Vesha, if you can contact Captain Hrrekthot, I can route his communications through Sweet Boy and he can talk to his people or even send those codes instantly. Or, even better yet, I can brings us to those outposts right now. Although, we should be on our guard. They were certainly expecting me and probably figured my TARDIS into their plans."

"So, then - The Jekento Rim outposts, and hope to get a jump on the bad guys, or Kellnar?"
The Traveller
player, 560 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 06:08
  • msg #476

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Doubtfully, Dev gets on the bike, and finds that his starter key still works.  He leans flat against the bike with his ear to the fuselage, and revs the throttle.

VVVVVROOOOM!

The look of relief on his face is right up there with a mother who's just been handed her child by a firefighter clambering out of the ruin of a burning building.  "You're right.  It's still mine."


Trav smiles benevolently. "Fighter and giant robot pilots have trusted me with their rides for centuries, baby. From miles long battle fortresses to transforming motorcycles, I know machines and their hearts. I would never have changed your girl's beating heart. Tuned up a little, maybe."
Stanley Newton
player, 159 posts
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 23:33
  • msg #477

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
"So, then - The Jekento Rim outposts, and hope to get a jump on the bad guys, or Kellnar?"


"Why were those outposts locked down? How important are those access codes?" Stanley asks. "Still, Vesha said something about travelling there, even with hyperspeed, takes days. That means that we can easily go after Kellnar now and when that's done use the Tardis to get to the outposts. So I'd vote we go to Kellnar, before the person who hacked you manages to cover his or her tracks."
The Traveller
player, 562 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 6 Aug 2014
at 23:35
  • msg #478

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav: "Kellnar is local, isn't he? If he is, we can pay him a visit, right now. I just need to know where he is."
The Guardian
GM, 636 posts
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 01:04
  • msg #479

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
"Who knew? Besides the people invited, who knew about this hearing? And out of those, who would have any cause to suspect what the inheritances were going to be?"

"The invitations were sent out over standard comm channels," Vesha says.  "So identifying the where and when would only have required the ability to defeat basic quantum encryption -- not something to be accomplished casually, to be sure, but feasible with enough dedicated computing power.  That presupposes some knowledge that the Corsair was associated with Alden, Ffinch, and Snv."

Vesha frowns.  "As far as the inheritances... That would require an invasion of their data stores, either as an inside or an external job.  Identifying things like the existence of the deposit box here would have meant digging for traces of the Corsair through a large number of datasystems, and a fairly widespread effort."
The Guardian
GM, 637 posts
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 01:08
  • msg #480

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav: "Kellnar is local, isn't he? If he is, we can pay him a visit, right now. I just need to know where he is."

Dev and Jenfer both look at the Traveller.  Jenfer cocks her head.  "Like I said, we don't know where he is right now, but we have got several places where we might arrange for him to be."
The Traveller
player, 563 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 03:41
  • msg #481

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav grins a mad grin. "Continue, please, my young compatriots. Share the 411. Besides, I want to stun the fuck out of someone with my turbopistols. I presume that you want to arrange for what would normally be the drop, and then we get the drop on Kellnar? It's your play, younglings."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Thu 07 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 564 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 03:54
  • msg #482

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Sereth:
"Who knew? Besides the people invited, who knew about this hearing? And out of those, who would have any cause to suspect what the inheritances were going to be?"

"The invitations were sent out over standard comm channels," Vesha says.  "So identifying the where and when would only have required the ability to defeat basic quantum encryption -- not something to be accomplished casually, to be sure, but feasible with enough dedicated computing power.  That presupposes some knowledge that the Corsair was associated with Alden, Ffinch, and Snv."

Vesha frowns.  "As far as the inheritances... That would require an invasion of their data stores, either as an inside or an external job.  Identifying things like the existence of the deposit box here would have meant digging for traces of the Corsair through a large number of datasystems, and a fairly widespread effort."


"That means I may have inherited more than just a patch of the Corsairs skin - I may have inherited one or more of his heavy duty opponents. The Corsair was no slouch - he was every inch the equal of the Doctor, back in the day. This can escalate to very dangerous very quickly. If anyone here wants to back out, I won't think any less of you."
Smoke Alarm
player, 568 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 04:54
  • msg #483

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Psst, Trav, they mentioned their locations in #429. Though mayhaps Trav forgot when she disappeared for several days hotting up Dev's bike? :p

Smoke Alarm outlooked on quietly, most of the yawny details going over her blue-haired head. A Corsi or a Corsair (she? he? what?), a Kellnar, a piece of scrap skin? They had a baddie, so why not just go jump him? At last she had an opportunity and jumped in to say 'Let's be outgoing then! Mayhaps we outgo check on the heritors, then let's set a mouse-trap for this Kellnar.'
The Traveller
player, 565 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 06:20
  • msg #484

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav nods. "That's the idea, Smoke. It's up to Dev and Jenfer when and where."
Stanley Newton
player, 161 posts
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 22:55
  • msg #485

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Dev and Jenfer both look at the Traveller.  Jenfer cocks her head.  "Like I said, we don't know where he is right now, but we have got several places where we might arrange for him to be."


Stanley turns to Jenfer. "That reminds me: you never told us the location of your secondary meet, Jenfer."
The Guardian
GM, 638 posts
Thu 7 Aug 2014
at 23:29
  • msg #486

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"That reminds me: you never told us the location of your secondary meet, Jenfer."

"There's a bar and grill called Sally's, out west of Old Town.  I wanted to be somewhere there were going to be people around, in case Kellnar tried to pull a fast one.  And Sally owes me one, so I figured she'd at least tip me off if she knew that he was."

OOC: Folks, you're the PCs here, so you can make this call: I wouldn't have thrown out multiple options otherwise.  If you want to say that Dev or Jenfer actually make the choice, we can do it that way.
The Traveller
player, 566 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 01:39
  • msg #487

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Well, considering there's just been a dust up, the secondary location seems reasonable. Also, nothing like a shoot out in a bar. Reminds me of Dodge City. First learned the can-can in Dodge City. Oh, so scandalous, especially for little old me! When I got back to Gallifrey it scandalized my folks so *much*. Did you know that Cybermen are lousy gun fighters, and look silly in 10 gallon hats?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Fri 08 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 639 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #488

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

VWORP
VWORP
VWORP

The police box materializes in a section of town that has gone slightly to seed.  A scattering of vehicles sits outside the ground-level lot outside a real brick-and-mortar building with a big cheery arc-lit sign reading SALLY'S.  An old-style neon tube in the window reads OPEN, and there are a few plastic news flimsies and empty bottles scattered around the lot.

The building, and the whole block around it, look as if the were originally built to evoke someone's idea of nostalgic charm, but have since accumulated decades' worth of genuine age.  Still, there's a slight chatter of music, talk and laughter coming fomr inside of Sally's.

Jenfer and Dev -- especially Jenfer -- look at Trav and Sereth.  "So," the cybered girl says.  "You have a plan for this?  I think I ought to have something likely-looking in my hands, at least: he might get spooked if he doesn't think I've got the goods on me."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Fri 08 Aug 2014.
Sereth
player, 347 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 02:17
  • msg #489

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Draconian shook his head.

"I'll stick out here; but you may need me."
Smoke Alarm
player, 569 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 02:23
  • msg #490

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Ah, I was going to suggest something different.

Smoke Alarm thought over the possible hide-ins, using her knowhow of urban guerrilla warfare as a sensible starting point. So naturally, she had a rather more cautious approach than Traveller, and warned 'Shooting out a bar and griller full of people is going to make people hurt. Plus properly damage. Mayhaps we should try another of the hide-ins?' But, too late, they'd come-out to the Old Town bar and griller. 'Oh.'
The Traveller
player, 567 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 04:58
  • msg #491

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: My bad.  I honestly forgot I'd put that in Jenfer's comment, as it was a week ago and there has been a lot of kibbitzing since then, such that I lost track.

Smoke, I'm going to just delete your post and fix this so it makes sense accordingly, instead of trying to retcon my mistake in character.

Comprehension dawns on Sally's face.  "Oh...."  Her eyes flick toward the girl in the corner momentarily.  She gives Smoke Alarm a stern look, but not really a mean one.  "Okay.  If this is for Jen, you play it out as you and her have got it figured.  Just don't bilk any of my customers, and if they put in orders, you bring 'em right to me.  Clear?"  She lets Smoke Alarm's arm go.  "And afterwards, me and Jen are square."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:07, Thu 14 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 640 posts
Fri 8 Aug 2014
at 12:34
  • msg #492

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Jenfer takes a deep breath.  "Here goes," she says.  "Who's my backup?"

Dev observes, "I ought to hide myself outside somewhere.  Kellnar might be suspicious if I'm hanging around when Jenfer called him for an individual meet."
Smoke Alarm
player, 570 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 9 Aug 2014
at 01:47
  • msg #493

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked stunned at Traveller. 'Ambush? Me? Um...' She had the knowhow of outlooking for caretaker ambushes, walking into them, and getting out again, but as for making plans for one... She outlooked hopefully to Sereth, expecting the egg-head would know and drawing ideas from him. 'Well, what are we outgoing to do? Catch Kellnar if we can, or snatch a thing from him? she asked, trying to get the talky time going.

To Jenfer and Dev, she asked 'How many does Kellnar have in his gang? What weapons?'
The Guardian
GM, 643 posts
Sat 9 Aug 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #494

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev shakes his head.  "Kellnar doesn't have 'a gang', not like a bunch of people that work for him and only for him.  Kellnar's got contacts: people bring him jobs and he finds the people that can carry them out."

"That's not to say he doesn't keep bodyguards around," Jen says.  "But they're just people he pays to watch his back at any given time -- I've seen a bunch of them and they cycle in and out.  I'd bet he'll have a few people on tap for this, but they're probably going to be no one special; they'll have guns, 'cause it's pretty easy to have a gun on New Vegas if you've got a little dosh, but they won't be like sharpshooters or anything."

"He'll probably have a getaway plan, since he already knows the job didn't go off perfect," adds Dev.
Stanley Newton
player, 163 posts
Sat 9 Aug 2014
at 23:04
  • msg #495

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"We want to catch Kellnar." Stanley answers Smoke.

He turns to Dev, "What exactly do you mean with 'pretty easy to have a gun'? What about the other customers, do you think they have weapons?"
The Guardian
GM, 644 posts
Sat 9 Aug 2014
at 23:39
  • msg #496

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev shoots a meaningful look over in Vesha's direction.  "Yeah, you know these people with their 'sovereign rights licenses'?  The right to bear arms is for sale in Syndicate space just like everything else."

"True enough," Vesha says, "if not quite the way that I'd put it, Mr. Farron.  But I think the Traveller is letting a few of her more romantic notions run away with her.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr. Kellnar is armed, but I would be surprised if he chose to provoke an indiscriminate shoot-out.  A weapon is only as dangerous as the will of the person that holds it, and courage and will may prevail without any weapon at all."
The Traveller
player, 569 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 10 Aug 2014
at 03:20
  • msg #497

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Kid, do you think I should hang my pieces up in here? Maybe I am being too trigger happy, and he'll roll over for the right amount of dosh, or other incentives."

It occurs to her that she was never this eager to shoot, even back on Rifts Earth. It wasn't just the Marshall in her - she was legitimately furious that someone would try to steal a loved one's remains from her, she found herself wanting to punish someone.

"Vesha, there's nothing romantic about firearms, but you are otherwise right. Heroism died with the machine gun."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Sun 10 Aug 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 571 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 10 Aug 2014
at 06:28
  • msg #498

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Dev shakes his head.  "Kellnar doesn't have 'a gang', not like a bunch of people that work for him and only for him.  Kellnar's got contacts: people bring him jobs and he finds the people that can carry them out."


Smoke Alarm pounced on the last part. 'Is he a middle-man then? Mayhaps he's not the one who wants Traveller's skin thingy. Mayhaps he wants to swap it to someone else.' she wondered, thinking through the strange games here on New Vegas. This, it seemed, was a scavenger hunt, with a few steps of truth-and-dare. 'Does Kellnar even knowhow what it is? Did he describe it to you and Jenfer? Or just to shoplift whatever was in the cupboard?' she poured out the questions like an eager-beaver. 'Mayhaps Kellnar won't knowhow what we give him!'
The Guardian
GM, 645 posts
Sun 10 Aug 2014
at 14:11
  • msg #499

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'Does Kellnar even knowhow what it is? Did he describe it to you and Jenfer? Or just to shoplift whatever was in the cupboard?' she poured out the questions like an eager-beaver. 'Mayhaps Kellnar won't knowhow what we give him!'

"He didn't seem too sure when he first laid out the job," Jenfer answers.  "He did tell us we were probably looking for a sample case, and we were not to open it under any circumstances.  But that was only after we got the go signal, early today."
Sereth
player, 348 posts
Sun 10 Aug 2014
at 22:12
  • msg #500

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"I'm pretty sure he's only the middle man as you say. As such, he is weak, if you corner him. He doesn't want to die for this; whatever it is. He'll keep quiet if he can; he just needs to be persuaded that staying quiet is more dangerous to him than speaking."

A shrug.

"Men like Kellnar are a dime a dozen. Threaten them enough; give them enough incentive, they roll over. They are not -noble- men. It is for reasons like that the human empire is constantly vulnerable to falling from within."

A sigh.

"Look, you find the people he's brought with him. YOu encourage them to abandon him. You make sure all exits are blocked. You send in the girl. Once he realises he's captured; he'll surrender rather easily."
Stanley Newton
player, 164 posts
Mon 11 Aug 2014
at 23:32
  • msg #501

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Okay, making sure all exits are blocked." Stanley pauses. "I guess, I'll take the back of the building. We want the people who can actually shoot to be inside."
Smoke Alarm
player, 572 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 12 Aug 2014
at 03:42
  • msg #502

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm was still feeling unbrave and unbold about this ambush, after Traveller had put it on her to plan it. She didn't have the knowhow, and what if it went wrong or became a to-do? Someone could get hurt. Thinking carefully, listening to what Sereth and the others said, Smoke Alarm tried to work out the rules of this ambushing game, thinking back to similar to-dos in Paradise Towers. She supposed it would be just like getting into the Red Kang Brainquarters: eyespy them, hide-and-seek past their outlooks, wait until the Red Kangs were distracted, then jump in, taunt them a bit, and take some of their food and shinies. Mayhaps not. More, this was like when the Doctor and Mel and the Kangs and the Rezzies and the Caretakers had set a trap for the Chief Architect. Except then they'd had the Doctor to show-and-tell them how. Except he hadn't, had he? He'd just said what they needed, and the Kangs and the Rezzies and the Caretakers had comeout with their own plans. They'd just needed the Doctor and show-and-tell them how to put it all together. Now they'd all comeout with their own plans, and now Smoke Alarm had to show-and-tell them how to put it all together.

Her thoughts turned to words as she made them real, growing brave and bold with her plan. 'Okay. So Stanley makes outlook at the back door and blocks the fire-escape. And Dev makes outlook out in the street and outlooks for backups. I'll find you good outlooks. Make reports on talkiphone if safe-and-sure, or if you eyespy backups.'

'Sally's bar-and-griller is the meeting square for Jenfer and Kellnar, and our mousetrap. Sereth's too big and strong, he'd make Kellnar unbrave, so he can lurk in the kitchen, 'cause he has the kitchen-knife,' she gestured to his sword. That left Traveller and Vesha and Smoke Alarm. 'Me and Traveller and Vesha can loiter in the bar, and we hide-and-seek our weapons. Traveller and Vesha can be customers of Sally, mayhaps, eating frapple pies and drinking fizz-ades and whatnot. And I can be a waitress, so I can foot around and eyespy.'

'Then, if all is sound-and-safe, we set the mouse-trap and jump like cats!' Smoke Alarm outlooked around to the others, to eyespy what they thought of her plans. 'Mayhaps?' She remembered one problem with the trap for the Chief Architect. Pex was made unalive.


OOC: I'm not sure if I should roll something for the ambush plan or not. Anyway, Ingenuity + Subterfuge: 3.
11:40, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 4,5. ingenuity(3) + subterfuge(3).
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Tue 12 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 572 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 12 Aug 2014
at 13:14
  • msg #503

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav nods in approval. "See? You're a smart Kang, blue haired girl. You're better at this than you might have thought you were." Letting the companions run the show was an early lesson the Doctor taught her, back in the old days.
Smoke Alarm
player, 576 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 12 Aug 2014
at 13:41
  • msg #504

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'I am?' Smoke Alarm began, surprised, before quickly deciding with a bold grin 'I know.'
The Guardian
GM, 648 posts
Wed 13 Aug 2014
at 01:18
  • msg #505

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: I figured I would go ahead and place you all, give you a chance to scope out the setup and react, and then respond with Kellnar's entrance once that's done.  I'm plugging some words into your mouths; hope you don't mind.


Smoke Alarm's plan lurches into motion.

***

Vesha vanishes into the TARDIS wardrobe for a few minutes, once the Traveller shows her the way.  When she comes out, she has traded her designer jacket for a shabbier one, she has a couple of new smudges on her jumpsuit, and she has ruffled the stylish hairdo that had previously managed to survive an open-air car chase.

"I'll be at the bar," she says.

"I'll follow you after a few minutes," Jenfer puts in, "and find a booth in your sight line; then Trav can follow us in to cover me."

"And us others'll in-go through the back and make our mousetrapping that way!" Smoke puts in.

***

The alley behind Sally's is relatively clean as they go, but there are a few big cartons piled up beside the big wheely-bin.  Stanley detects a certain wistful nostalgia in Smoke Alarm's manner as she arranges the cartons to make a nice hidey-space for him with a clear line of sight to the bar's rear entrance.

"Such nice boxes and they're just leaving them for the cleaners," Smoke says.  "Mayhap I'll just take them back to the talkiphone box when we're done.  Juuust in case."

Once Stanley is situated, Smoke Alarm and Sereth foot it to the back-door.

***

The fry cook, a middle-aged human with frizzed graying hair, looks up as Sereth edges into the kitchen and looms over him.

"Continue to handle your orders, and say nothing," Sereth warns him.  "I swear to you: neither you nor any here will come to harm while I can still lift a blade."

As Sereth takes up his station from the shadows, where he has a good view into the main dining area -- and where he can see Jenfer already sitting and waiting -- he muses that the cook has accepted this situation with scarcely more alarm than one would encounter for, say, a monthly health inspection.  This, of course, merely confirms Sereth's appraisal of the prevailing moral fiber of Estanve Gastem.

***

Trav enters the front door casually and notes Jenfer sitting alone in a small booth, with a wall at her back.  Jenfer meets her eyes casually.  There's a small empty table for two, three tables away from Jenfer.

The place is cozy, a little on the worn-in side but clean, and there's a fairly friendly bustle to it at the moment.  The people are a mix: some are plainly working-class types, but there are a fair number of middle-income white-collar types enjoying themselves, too.  At one end of the room is a tiny stage where a Hath musician is picking out an eerie tune on an electric sitar, with a human woman gives him light backing accompaniment with a bodhran.

Behind the bar is a rangy, broad-shouldered woman with steel-gray hair, serving out drinks while she passes orders back into the kitchen.  Trav sees Vesha making earnest conversation with the barkeeper, keeping her attention engaged,

***

Having left Sereth to turn off the short hallway between the back-door and the main part of Sally's, Smoke Alarm creeps forward.  Just before the doors with corresponding Girl and Boy pictures that indicate restrooms, Smoke Alarm spots it -- there's a row of pegs on the wall where there are some clothes hanging and, yes, a blue apron with an order pad and pencil in the pocket.

Not high fabshion, mayhap, but blue!  It looks like it would hide her arrowgun if she arranged it right....
Smoke Alarm
player, 577 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 13 Aug 2014
at 01:31
  • msg #506

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Should I make any checks for hiding the others, or assistance checks to give them a bonus to their own checks on hiding and outlooking?

Also, did Smoke find a spot for Dev to hide and watch the street?
The Guardian
GM, 649 posts
Wed 13 Aug 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #507

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
OOC: Should I make any checks for hiding the others, or assistance checks to give them a bonus to their own checks on hiding and outlooking?


OOC: They can have a +2 for such things if and when they need to make individual rolls, though your 15 will do in a lot of cases.

quote:
Also, did Smoke find a spot for Dev to hide and watch the street?

OOC: Yes.  I figure you were able to arrange similar concealment as for Stanley; Dev would be farther away, but would have his bike nearby.
Smoke Alarm
player, 578 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 13 Aug 2014
at 02:50
  • msg #508

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

An eager-beaver, a busy-bee, Smoke Alarm footed all around the eatery and the street, eyespying hide-ins and outlooks and putting everyone in their places, and considering all the ways she might run and jump over it all. She read the graffiti in the alley and hidden corners, to see if this gang territory. She also ensured that nothing was disturbed afterwards, even carefully re-littering the footpath, while shifting a few things about: a bin there, a bikcycle shifted here, all according to her cryptic designs.

OOC: Just setting up the possibility of stunts or lucky breaks via story points later...

*

Coming out of the mens' restroom — she didn't wear a skirt, after all — Smoke Alarm eyespied the apron the waiterers wore. A cosplay! She put it on over her Kang fabshion, tied it around the back, then hid her arrowgun in the pocket. Her other bits and bobs she hid; her rope-gun was a bit big so it was in her backpack, stashed in the staff area.

*

The Kang waitress emerged, her regular shabby black clothes under the bright blue apron, her blue-black hair pulled back in a pony-tail. Pinned to her chest was a name-tag proclaiming: "Hello! My name is: SmoKe ALarM" in scribbled texta.

This was the best plan ever!

Giving a friendly smile and nod to Miss Sally, Smoke Alarm footed it through the bar and up to Traveller. Act normal. 'How you do! My name is Smoke Alarm. Can I take your order?' she greeted cheerily. She'd spent enough time working for Mrs Maglup to know the act.


OOC: Texta is a marker pen in Australia.

This seems an opportune time to mention my Distinctive trait. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Wed 13 Aug 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 165 posts
Wed 13 Aug 2014
at 23:18
  • msg #509

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
The alley behind Sally's is relatively clean as they go, but there are a few big cartons piled up beside the big wheely-bin.  Stanley detects a certain wistful nostalgia in Smoke Alarm's manner as she arranges the cartons to make a nice hidey-space for him with a clear line of sight to the bar's rear entrance.

"Such nice boxes and they're just leaving them for the cleaners," Smoke says.  "Mayhap I'll just take them back to the talkiphone box when we're done.  Juuust in case."

Once Stanley is situated, Smoke Alarm and Sereth foot it to the back-door.


"Thanks, Smoke." Stanley says, sitting down underneath the cardboard construction and checking that he can easily see the back entrance. "I don't think I could have built a hiding place half as good as this one."

Stanley tries to find a slightly more comfortable position to sit in, whilst Smoke Alarm makes her final adjustments to the stuff in the alley. "Okay, I am going to pretend I am not here for a while, but before I go silent, I just want to wish you two good luck!"
The Guardian
GM, 650 posts
Thu 14 Aug 2014
at 02:10
  • msg #510

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Giving a friendly smile and nod to Miss Sally, Smoke Alarm footed it through the bar and up to Traveller. Act normal. 'How you do! My name is Smoke Alarm. Can I take your order?' she greeted cheerily. She'd spent enough time working for Mrs Maglup to know the act.

Miss Sally does a double-take.

Then, with understated efficiency, she excuses herself from behind the bar and comes up next to Smoke Alarm, taking her upper arm in a firm grip.  "Just why is it that you've got Allysen's uniform on, and what is it that you're playing it?" she asks in a low voice.  The musicians are still playing and there hasn't been a great deal of notice taken of her actions... yet.
Smoke Alarm
player, 579 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 14 Aug 2014
at 02:20
  • msg #511

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm wasn't one to be put off, though Miss Sally lifted the small Kang off her feet. She could wiggle out easy-peasy. 'I'm incoming to work for today, get some coins... Didn't Jenfer tell you?' She twisted her head to where Jenfer sat. Smoke was annoyed the metal-head girl hadn't given Sally the knowhow of what was ongoing here.
The Guardian
GM, 651 posts
Thu 14 Aug 2014
at 02:25
  • msg #512

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: This was my bad: after all the OOC discussion since I posted that detail last week I had forgotten that Sally was supposed to owe Jenfer a favor.

Smoke, rather than try to retcon your post in character, I have deleted it and fixed Sally's reaction here.

"Oh. Jenfer."  Sally's eyes flick to the girl in the corner.  She goes on, her voice still stern but not unkind.  "No, she didn't tell me anything, in fact.  This is something for her?  Okay.  You don't scam my customers, and if any of them flag you down for an order, you just bring it straight to me and I'll handle it.  Clear?"

She lets Smoke's arm go.  "Oh, and one other thing.  You tell Jen that we're square now, however this comes off."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Thu 14 Aug 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 581 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 14 Aug 2014
at 03:28
  • msg #513

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke nodded up and down to Sally with all speed. 'All clear. No scams and I bring all flags to you.' Though she didn't eyespy any flags... Finally let go, she rubbed a sore arm where Sally had clamped her. 'Okay.'

With a dark look, she footed back through the bar, passing Jenfer's table. 'Sally says your squares now.' she hissed before returning to take Traveller's order. Despite this just being a cosplay for a mouse-trap, she was determined to be the bestest at waitering.
The Guardian
GM, 654 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 00:55
  • msg #514

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A short time passes.  A few customers cycle in and out of Sally's.  Smoke Alarm fields a few orders successfully, although some of the customers give her odd looks.

Finally, a man comes in and seats himself opposite Jenfer.  He's a big man, perhaps in his forties and not exceptionally athletic looking, and he's wearing a scuffed tan-colored jacket.

Trav and Smoke Alarm are close enough to hear him speak.

"You made it with the goods then, kid," he says to Jenfer.  He eyes the case she has sitting before her.

He reaches out for it, but she keeps her hand atop it and pulls it out of reach.  "Not so fast," she says.  "We had a deal.  Flat fee retainer and the balance on delivery.  Minus the five hundred up front, I make that fifty-five hundred you owe me."  She waves at him with her phone in her other hand.

"Six grand was agreed for your team.  I only see the one of you here, and the others getting caught was sloppy.  Gonna make me move quick.  We'll just write off the advance on their ledgers, so that's fifteen hundred to you."

"Six grand was for the goods."

"Hmph.  So let's see 'em."

Jenfer pushes the false case forward, and Kellnar takes out a gadget about the size of a big vidconsole remote.  He waves it across the case, and Trav is sure that he's got some preprogrammed scanner that will detect some of the telltales of an active stasis field -- the same telltales that she has build her fake case to emit.  "Looks legit," he says.  "Two grand."

"Five."

"Two and a half."

Jenfer and Kellnar continue to haggle over her payment.

OOC:

The Guardian, for the NPC Kellnar, rolled 15 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 3,6. Scanning the fake: Ingenuity(4) + Technology(2).  Trav's 23 beats this handily.

Additionally, Trav, Smoke Alarm, and Sereth can all make checks to see if he has any support on hand: possible options are Awareness + Subterfuge, Ingenuity + Subterfuge, or Awareness + Fighting.
The Guardian
GM, 655 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 00:59
  • msg #515

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Out where he is concealed in the alley behind Sally's, Stanley sees a roughly dressed man walk up and consider the back of the building.  He's wearing a shapeless duffel jacket.

He looks around at the ground for a moment and frowns, and spends a few more seconds studying it.  Stanley holds his breath -- he's looking around at some of the same area where Smoke Alarm was rearranging things to make Stanley's hiding spot; has the man detected that?

But eventually, the man looks all around him in a big circle, shrugs, and folds his arms, watching the back door.

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC Guy in Alley, rolled 15 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 6,5. Awareness(2) + Subterfuge(2).  Smoke Alarm's 15 beats the NPC's 15.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Fri 15 Aug 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 583 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 02:55
  • msg #516

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke wasn't a bad waitress, really. She might not have got the orders clearly, but she was quick to foot it across the bar, didn't drop or spill anything, and could vault over a chair with a full bowl of soup. She even got some coins as tips. She made a point of footing close by Jenfer and Kellnar, earspying on their talk and outlooking through the windows.


OOC: Awareness and Subterfuge 13 (I'm away from my PC)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Mon 18 Aug 2014.
Sereth
player, 350 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 03:06
  • msg #517

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

SEreth kept a wary eye on proceedings, but also watching out for back-up. When things went sour, he wanted Kellnar scared, not cocky.

13:05, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 3,4. Awareness + Fighting.
The Traveller
player, 573 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 04:38
  • msg #518

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is looking bored, because she is bored. But this is Smoke's play. She's curious as to what the Kang has planned. She leans back on the bar, waiting for Smoke's signal. She can't wait to question this guy. She wasn't near sighted like she was back in the past, but she had the attention span of a fly. As Louise and The Marshall, she was able to much better concentrate and pick up on cues.

She takes a look around. She misses her old glasses. She thinks she might rebuild them.
OOC:00:39, Today: The Traveller rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,2. Awarness 2+Subterfuge 1 - Trav's notice check (yeah right).
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Fri 15 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 656 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 11:47
  • msg #519

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth carefully checks the ideal spots in the bar for someone to cover Kellnar from.  Sure enough, in one spot several booths back from where Jenfer and Kellnar are (and slightly behind and to the right of Trav) there's a woman of some near-human species, with wavy green hair, light whiskers and muttonchops.  She's been there since about five minutes before Kellnar came in, and has been paying nonchalant attention to Kellnar's booth since he came in, simply nursing a cup of coffee all that time.

Smoke Alarm has noted this woman as well.  When she stopped off to deliver the woman's coffee before Kellnar's arrival, she noticed that the woman was hiding a small gun.

With Trav's angle, she hasn't had an opportunity to observe Kellnar's backup clearly, but she has noticed Kellnar's manner -- he took the spot with his back to most of the room without seeming worry for any vulnerability and is fairly well relaxed.

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC Woman in Bar, rolled 9 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 1,4. Ingenuity(2) + Subterfuge(2).
Smoke Alarm
player, 584 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 12:47
  • msg #520

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Enjoy your mealworms.' Smoke Alarm said as she set down a plate of wiggling spice worms for one frog-person. She'd tried one, but had thought it entirely meh.

With that last customer served and fed, she could take a break and really get down to setting the mouse-trap. While Kellnar and Jenfer threw numbers at each other, the Kang perched on the edge of an empty table right between Kellnar and the green-hair lady, took out her talkiphone, and sent a text out to her team.

Eyespied green hairy lady has gun. Kellnar outlook.

Dev n Stan outlooks report. All safe and sure?

Working with Smoke Alarm to set her planned ambush, or mouse-trap, they'd learned a little Kang-speak. An "outlook", when used as a noun, was basically a lookout, a Kang posted to keep watch over an area. When used as a verb, it meant to look around in a general sense, though not at anything specific. An "eyespy", meanwhile, was a Kang who eyespied, that is, watched, spied on, searched for, or discovered something specific or interesting. Outlooks outlooked and eyespies eyespied. An outlook could become an eyespy if they eyespied something, but an eyespy could not be an outlook. Smoke Alarm was very particular about which she used in any given circumstance.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Mon 18 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 574 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 14:38
  • msg #521

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav looks like she's fiddling with her Ipad, but she had her sonic hidden up her sleeve. <<ready,>> she texts.

She fights the urge to scan the place, and the woman, because that might trip other devices. She simply keeps her sonic ready, so as to disable any weapons that are brought out.
Sereth
player, 351 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 15:17
  • msg #522

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth taps in a quick response.

"Seen her. Ready."

Gunplay was not his forte; but then, his idea was to scare them into surrender rather than engaging in a gunfight.
Stanley Newton
player, 166 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 20:57
  • msg #523

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley waits, until he is absolutely sure that the man hasn't noticed him, before replying to Smoke:

Spotted a suspicious man here. He is watching the back door. Hasn't seen me.
The Guardian
GM, 657 posts
Fri 15 Aug 2014
at 22:12
  • msg #524

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Dev texts back to the group: Saw one come in with Kellnar's flyer, she led him in by a little bit.  Nobody else I see.

OOC: All messages get to their recipients without alarming anyone else nearby.  The ball remains in the PCs' court.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:29, Sat 16 Aug 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 586 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 16 Aug 2014
at 07:03
  • msg #525

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

So, two outlooks who could comeout to Kellnar's alarm. Smoke had a bigger team, so they should win the game easy-peasy. But Stan was unbold and unbrave and possibly a scaredy-cat; he would need backup to be sound and safe. Sereth would do. Kellnar and the green hairy lady could be caught in the mouse-trap by her and Traveller and Vesha and mayhaps Jenfer if she didn't become a cowardly cutlet. Smoke Alarm texted her plans to the teams.
Dev: was outlook green hairy?

Stan eyespy reports Kellnar outlook out n lurking in alley.

On my start:
* Sereth plz outgo 2 Stan, catch outlook
* Trav n Vesha catch Kellnar
* I stop green hairy outlook from bringing gun to knife fight


The others were probably expecting Smoke Alarm to have a big, fully detailed plan with every contingency. In fact, she was making this up on the fly, staying fast and flexible. Only now she decided what to do to start the to-do.

Smoke Alarm returned back to the window into the kitchen, asking the cook 'Please more hot mealworms.'


OOC: Just leaving it there to confirm we're all ready?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:58, Mon 18 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 576 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 16 Aug 2014
at 19:38
  • msg #526

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav taps out another text on her I Pad while she nurses a root beer. << K.K. Vesha, how do you want to deal with him?>> Trav thinks to herself that maybe she will get to stun the fuck out of Kellnar after all.
The Guardian
GM, 658 posts
Sat 16 Aug 2014
at 21:16
  • msg #527

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
Trav taps out another text on her I Pad while she nurses a root beer. << K.K. Vesha, how do you want to deal with him?>>

Out of the headlines?  You talk, I'll cover.  Leave the Family for a trump card.
Smoke Alarm
player, 587 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 18 Aug 2014
at 06:11
  • msg #528

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

It wasn't many ticktocks at all before Smoke Alarm got another bowl of warm and wiggling mealworms; after all, they didn't really need much cooking, just to be mixed up with the spice and veggies. She looked upon her dish with delight, and pinched another worm for herself, crunching it up and swallowing it down. It would be a shame to waste decent food.

The Kang waitress speeded over to the booth where Jenfer and Kellnar were sat. 'Here are your mealworms!' she said cheerily, setting the bowl down before Kellnar.
Sereth
player, 352 posts
Mon 18 Aug 2014
at 23:14
  • msg #529

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

THe Draconian snorted; and rolled his eyes, before proceeding out to where Stanley was, looking for the lookout. He cast one last glance back towards Kellnar, and scowled.
The Guardian
GM, 660 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 00:30
  • msg #530

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Dev: was outlook green hairy?

Yeppers.
The Guardian
GM, 661 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 00:57
  • msg #531

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Startled, Kellnar looks up at Smoke Alarm.  "What is this, some kind of joke?" he snaps.

From the corner of her eye, Smoke Alarm sees the green woman come alert, her attention caught by Kellnar's motion.

Trav sees, over at the bar, Vesha nonchalantly toss down a pile of bills and start drifting toward the door, via a diagonal path that will lead her close to where Kellnar and Jenfer are seated.

As Sereth opens the back door to the alley, he finds a human male standing there flat-footed, maybe ten paces away.  His arms are crossed, but when he sees Sereth, one hand slips inside his duster....

OOC:

Vesha is about to veer off and put a gun against Kellnar's back, screening the action from most of the room with her body.

Trav will need a Presence + Convince to get him to stand down as per the earlier discussion.  She gets a +2 from Smoke's distraction and another +2 from Vesha moving in.  She probably has other traits that would apply.

Meanwhile, if Smoke is going to move to cover the green woman as described, she'll need to succeed at a Presence roll to get her not to shoot, given the two women rushing Kellnar.  I'll let Presence + AoE: Crossbows work for that.  Of course you could just try to staple her clothing to her seat, though that's a different sort of escalation.

The guy that Sereth surprised in the alley is startled enough that he'll try to pull a gun, though he means to threaten Sereth with it instead of immediately shooting.  That would be a Presence + Convince against Sereth's Resolve + Convince + Brave.

(If Sereth also performs the equivalent, it would be the same set of rolls in reverse.  It would be the second roll for both characters, so we can just cancel any penalty.  Sereth would get Voice of Authority on this, and also +2 from Smoke's set-up of the scene.)
Sereth
player, 353 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 01:23
  • msg #532

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

THe Draconian is not so surprised; and he just glowers.

"Do you -really- want to go down that route, right now?"

He brought himself up to his full height, and stared.

"Your best bet, right now, is to surrender, because I have had enough of you low-life scum trying to dictate to a Draconian Noble and expecting that to be something I will look over due to my sense of honor. If you surrender, now, you will be given all honor due to you. If you fight, you will find out what it is like to fight a Draconian Soldier in battle. I know which I'd choose."






11:15, Today: Sereth rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 1,6. Resolve + Convince + Brave.
11:22, Today: Sereth rolled 15 using 2d6+12 with rolls of 1,2. Presence + Convince + VoA + 2.

OOC: Oh for crying out loud. Post can be edited depending on die rolling.
The Guardian
GM, 662 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #533

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The gunman fumbles slightly as he pulls his gun.  "Wha... hey, hold it...."

His nerve breaks as Sereth glares him down, and by reflex he raises his hands, with the gun held by the barrel (not the grip and trigger), even though Sereth hasn't even drawn a weapon.

"What -- who are you with?  What did I get myself into?"

Oh, ye of little faith.  Criminals are a cowardly, superstitious lot.

Today: The Guardian, for the NPC NPC Hood in Alley, rolled 7 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,1. Standing up to Sereth: Resolve(3) + Convince(2).
Today: The Guardian, for the NPC NPC Hood in Alley, rolled 9 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 3,1. Intimidating Sereth: Presence(3) + Convince(2).

Even with a 3 on the dice, you get full "Presence" damage of 5, which breaks him.

Sereth
player, 354 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 01:53
  • msg #534

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A grim smile towards the gunman, as he takes the gun off him.

"Well you got yourself involved with Kellnar. Mistake number 1. Luckily; you've kept it to one mistake. Who Kellnar is involved in is more what I'd like to know. Stanley, do me a favor and let Smoke know the look-out is neutralised."

He then grabbed him.

"Wonder how brave Kellnar is without his back-ups?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 589 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 01:53
  • msg #535

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm snatched back up the bowl. 'What's wrong with them? They're good!' she retorted, as if personally affronted, then ate one to demonstrate. She eyespied the green hairy lady move, heard others footing about behind her. She couldn't loiter any more on this. Time for a to-do!

'Enjoy!' she giggled, tipping the bowl of worms all over Kellnar!

Amidst the worms, her arrowgun tumbled out of the bowl and into Smoke's waiting hand. With all speed, she was pointing it at the green hairy lady. 'Ah-ah-ah! No ball-games, no fly-posts, no guns!' she ordered, worms still inching over the crossbow. The Kang started footing it away from wormy Kellnar, to give Traveller and Vesha room to catch him.


OOC:
First action: Doer phase, I suppose. I used Marksman for the quick draw. Since it'll be a stand-off as to who'll fire first, a matter of resolve, I also added my Brave trait, if that's okay. I rolled pretty well anyway, 19.
09:36, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 19 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 5,5. presence(2) + marksman(3) + AoE:crossbow(2) + Brave(2).

Second action: Just move away from Kellnar, to make some space.
The Guardian
GM, 663 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 02:11
  • msg #536

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The green woman stands in her seat and her gun flashes out of her holster to point toward the table with Trav and Vesha, Jenfer and Kellnar -- but Smoke's interruption freezes her in place, gun still raised with her finger on the trigger.

"Who--?"

OOC:

Green Woman, rolled 17 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 6,5. Standing up to Smoke Alarm: Resolve(3) + Convince(3).

She rolled pretty well too.  Since you beat her, she does not shoot this turn.  With a +2 success, you do half Resolve "damage", taking her to 2.

We'll see how Trav does and then go to further actions if necessary.  Next round, if things are still unsettled, you will have the option to try and break down her resolve again, and / or shoot.  You'll be able to keep her from shooting as long as you don't actually lose a Presence roll.
The Traveller
player, 578 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 11:40
  • msg #537

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Sorry to have not been monitoring, yesterday was a bad client day.
07:41, Today: The Traveller rolled 22 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 3,3. Trav momentarily deactivates enemy weaponry - Ingenuity 8+Technology 6+Sonic 2.

"As much as I want to play this like the OK Corral, good people died that day, and none of this is worth dying over." The sonic drops down into her hand, and emits it's characteristic whirr. Trav is attempting to make triggers seize and firing mechanisms lock, cartidges eject and for powered weapons to refuse to function. She subjects Kellnar and his partner to a state of temporal grace! This includes Vesha's weapon - although the bad guys don't know that.

"Both of you, BACK IN YOUR SEATS. You, Mister Kellnar, aren't worth that much of my time. I just need to ask you a few questions. No one is going to get hurt, if I have anything to say about it." Her cowboy boots clomp on the hardwood floor.

She pulls up a chair. SNAP, and her hat is now a 10 gallon. "Mister Kellnar. I'm called the Traveller. I'm the very last Time Lord, in the flesh, sitting in front of you. Do you understand what and who I am, what it is that you tried to steal from me, who she was, and what this is all about? You should have done your due diligence before hiring people to bust into banks." She pauses, letting everything sink in, as she gives him that terrifying Louise grin - the one she gave Coalition hardcases in the Pecos Badlands on Rifts Earth. "All I want to know is who hired you. I will find out, one way or another. I'd rather not that you'd be hurt in the process. In fact, I'd rather you not be involved at all. Whatever you're being paid, disrupting my kind and considerate nature is not worth any amount of mere money, anywhere in time and space, as many across the aeons have learned. I'm not a Naruni, Mister Kellnar, and I do not dicker. So, please. Tell me who hired you."

07:44, Today: The Traveller rolled 30 using 4d6+7 with rolls of 6,5,6,6. Trav convinces Kellnar - Presence 3+Convince 2+Voice of Authority 2+Story Point. Drop down to 28 for a multi-action penalty.

She slaps some coins on the table. "Barkeep, a round for the house!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:25, Tue 19 Aug 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 169 posts
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 14:48
  • msg #538

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Will do." Stanley replies from under the cardboard, still hidden. He immediately starts to type a message to Smoke.

Suspicious man dealt with. No problems.
The Traveller
player, 583 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 19 Aug 2014
at 15:35
  • msg #539

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"Will do." Stanley replies from under the cardboard, still hidden. He immediately starts to type a message to Smoke.

Suspicious man dealt with. No problems.


Travtext:<<Stan, if it wouldn't ruin our amazing partnership, I'd date you,you're so awesome.>>
The Guardian
GM, 664 posts
Wed 20 Aug 2014
at 00:34
  • msg #540

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Kellnar's play for his own gun is rapidly aborted, with Vesha literally breathing down his neck, and Trav's bravura entrance.

He stares across the table and Jenfer.  "You little...  This was a set-up.  You better hope your new friends can watch out for you, girl, 'cause your name's not going to be worth a torn dollar after this."

"Oh," Vesha purrs, "I think that quite likely."

"All right, all right," Kellnar grumbles.  "Seressasto, stand down."  He slowly takes his own pistol out and sets it out on the table, while the green woman reverses hers and holds it grip-first toward Smoke Alarm.

Kellnar looks at Trav.  "I don't know from 'last of the Time Lords'," he says.  "I got this job from the Mailman."

Vesha's eyes widen with interest.  When Trav reacts with incomprehension, Vesha makes an encouraging motion with her gun and says, "Explain the Mailman for the nice lady, Kellnar.  She isn't what you'd call local."

"Right, well, the Mailman is this fringe player, sets out the odd job here and there, all through Syndicate space and beyond.  He, or she, or it, puts down postings of objectives at hidden places on the Black Net: sets out a bounty for materials to acquire, jobs to pull, transfers to arrange."  He eyes Vesha.  "Keeps himself two steps ahead of the Syndicate's best hackers... or so I'm told.  Anyway, at one of the Mailman's temporary drops there was a posting.  It told about this will and the fact that the transfer codes would get transmitted out to the heirs following the reading.  The Mailman was specific -- he wanted what was in the vault at SSS & T; if you could figure out a way to make good on the money transfers or the outpost codes, good for you: that'd be gravy; but the Mailman was putting up a hundred grand for a stasis-locked case out of the vault."

Jenfer snorts.  "And you were haggling over forty-five hundred."

"I had to contract out the work on the lawyers' system, and that wasn't cheap... besides, man's got to make a living, doesn't he?"

OOC: The Guardian, for the NPC Kellnar, rolled 17 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 5,2. Reaction against Trav: Resolve(4) + Convince(4) + Brave(2).
Smoke Alarm
player, 594 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 20 Aug 2014
at 04:22
  • msg #541

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

All told, Mister Kellnar seemed to take having a bowl of worms tipped over him rather well. As Traveller took charge of the situation, Smoke covered the green hair lady with her arrowgun. She 'wared her as she took away her nasty gun, and Kellnar's, and put them both far away in one of the boxes she'd lost-and-found earlier. Sorted. Smoke Alarm sat on one of the empty tables, then texted to Sereth and Stan to say Mousetrap success. All caught.
The Traveller
player, 587 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 20 Aug 2014
at 04:31
  • msg #542

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav spins her sonic in her sonic in her hand, as she sends a quick text to Sereth, asking him to come in.

From her I pad, that little cartoon Chibi hops up, and whispers to Trav. She nods. She looks like she's undergoing some kind of struggle.

"You know, Kellnar, I wanted to *smash* you. Turn you into a pauper, ruin your life. You did essentially rob the grave of one of the three people in the world I loved most of all. They're all gone now."

Chibi Trav hops down back into the Ipad. "But, lucky for you, all three of those dead people would express extreme displeasure at me ruining your life - my dead husband, The Corsair, and most especially The Doctor. You almost pulled it off. If it weren't for my beloved crew, if I had been alone, you and your people would have pulled it off. For that, I salute you. Corsi always loved a good robbery."

She shows Kellnar the Ipad.



"Look at her, Kellnar. She was so beautiful. She had this code. I have to follow it, at least in regards to her. I don't expect you to understand what any of this means."

"So, then. I will pay you double whatever this Mailman is offering you, on the condition that you promise to leave Jenfer and Dev alone, and to stay out of this for good. This will get very dangerous, you probably want to, anyway. Also, you turn over any data you have concerning the Mailman. I'll protect you from him. How does that sound? You make out, and are able to walk away. At the end of the day, your ledgers are black."

00:41, Today: The Traveller rolled 22 using 4d6+7 with rolls of 4,6,2,3. Presence 3+Convince 2+Charming 2+SP. Down to 0 SP
This message was last edited by the player at 04:42, Wed 20 Aug 2014.
Sereth
player, 361 posts
Wed 20 Aug 2014
at 04:45
  • msg #543

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth grimaced for a moment; then nodded.

"No clever business; we're going to see your boss."

He then moved into the establishment - gripping the gunman if he doesn't fight hard; if he does, leaves him to Stanley.

His eyes regarded Traveller for a moment, then nodded.

"Answer the good ladies questions. She's being more generous than you deserve."

HIs own eyes just as uncompromising; if for differing reasons.

OOC: If the gunman puts up too much of a fight; get Stanley to watch him. Otherwise, push him in to ram through the point Kellnar has no support left.
Stanley Newton
player, 170 posts
Wed 20 Aug 2014
at 22:55
  • msg #544

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Uhm...Trav says good job." Stanley says to Sereth, after reading Trav's message. Upon receiving Smoke's confirmation that the "mousetrap" is successful, he pushes aside the cardboard and stands up. "Seems like everything is going to plan."

Stanley follows Sereth inside, keeping a close eye on the gunman.
The Guardian
GM, 668 posts
Thu 21 Aug 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #545

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

By now the crowd around the table is causing a minor stir through the rest of the bar, and Sally is watching closely from across the room.

Kellnar regards Trav with a steady eye, as if he's trying to figure out if there's a deeper game that she's playing.  For a small-time crook, he seems to be a fairly cool customer, and Trav wonders whether she might have played it too soft with him.

"All right," he says at last, "I've got to admit, that's quite a handsome offer."  He spares a glance for Vesha as well.  "I can see where this would mean a lot to you."  Still moving slowly, he pulls out his datacomm and sets it on the table in front of him.  He calls up a set of files.

"This is a record of the contacts that I've had from the Mailman on this job.  You can see they've got the full routing codes, as far back as a repeater node out past the edge of Syndicate space that butts up against the Coal Sack.  Insurance, you know."  He smiles slightly.  "And here..."  He brings up another encrypted file.  "This is the address and access code that the Mailman set up for me to contact and arrange delivery.  I've had a couple of dealings before.  Every time before, when something was to be transferred, I got directions to pick up a sealed hypercapsule.  The capsule would scan the contents added to it and then forward a payment before it ported away."

Vesha says, "Don't think we won't be watching you, Kellnar.  If any of this isn't on the up-and-up, you really shouldn't expect to live long enough to spend what you've been paid."

The Guardian, for the NPC Kellnar, rolled 21 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 5,6. Reaction against Trav: Resolve(4) + Convince(4) + Brave(2).

Technically Sereth should give you a bonus too, but it doesn't really matter.  It's a better roll than I expected him to get, so I largely reflected that in how cool he plays it.
Smoke Alarm
player, 596 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 21 Aug 2014
at 02:24
  • msg #546

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm sat on the table and swung her long skinny legs, trying her best to outlook fierce at Kellnar and Seress-ass-something. After all, the Kang was the muscle in this gig, scrawny as she was, and she was trying to cosplay the role. She pulled a dark face as Traveller made her generous offer to Kellnar: lots and lots of coins, for shoplifting from her and getting caught? He'd played a game against her lost, he didn't need a prize. Smoke Alarm figured she could have made him talk much better.

She pointed her arrowgun at Kellnar as he pulled something out of his pocket, ready to shoot it out of his hands if it was hazardous, and relaxing when it turned out not to be.
The Traveller
player, 589 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 21 Aug 2014
at 19:18
  • msg #547

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav reaches into her pocket and draws out two of the nebula hyper diamonds she'd been carrying. Harvested from the quantum impacted carbon that forms at the accretion disk of certain black holes, this was their vacation and bail money. She waves her sonic over it to clean it of the nanite trackers she had installed to deter casual thieves. "Price these, please? If these are good, you get the rest right now in exchange for what you described, and then I won't bother you any more."
The Guardian
GM, 669 posts
Thu 21 Aug 2014
at 22:25
  • msg #548

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Even as much as he's obviously trying to pretend to be unfazed by the situation, Kellnar's facade doesn't hold up to being confronted with diamonds.  He lets out a low whistle.  "Lady, you must want the Mailman bad for messing with your friend."

After a brisk round of conversation in which Trav and Kellnar agree as to the value of the diamonds, Kellnar transfers the data on the Mailman over to Trav's iPad.

What he has described appears to be on the level.  The tracking data looks legitimate to Trav, although as he described it only leads back so far.  If there really is a hypercapsule at the other end of his contact address, though, there should be a couple of ways to trace it back to its destination.  The devices are like a jump torpedo from Trav's bad old warlord days.  They'll have an encoded set of coordinates wired into their programming (which would entail disabling the device and getting around its tamper-proofing and encryption to figure out.)  Or it would be feasible to simply let the device engage and track it: nearly impossible for the present-day technological level, but not tough for Trav and the TARDIS.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:16, Fri 22 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 595 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 22 Aug 2014
at 14:47
  • msg #549

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

For a moment, Kellnar can see the ancient weariness behind the Traveller's eyes. "Money comes and goes. Family, you go to the ends of time and space for."

Jump torpedoes. She remembers using those as anchors, so as to send Exigency teams through. Izzy, Norton, Tarys, Dalin, Destrii. He promised that he sent them away, safe. Mercy. They were her soldiers and agents. They were magnificent.

Damn you, Boobie.

She rubs her eyes.

Trav abruptly stands from the table.

"I think we're done. Let's go."

Trav locks up what Kellnar has given her in a case, and turns to stride out.

Stanley, who has been with her the longest, can see she has that haunted look on her face again.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Fri 22 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 596 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 22 Aug 2014
at 15:11
  • msg #550

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

As Trav walks out of the bar, carrying the case - presumably walking back towards the TARDIS, she says, "Hey Stan, remember way back in 2013, when we first met? When we worked with the Chamber, Fortuna and Evers to unwinds that big chronal backwash? Someone tried to hack the devices that the Chamber were using. Phillipe caught that. I encrypted the signal, and then we wrapped up. You remember that, right? Do you think there's any connection between that, and this 'Mailman'?"

She shakes her head. "Mailman. Can't be one of my people. That'd be like one of my people calling themselves 'The Cable Guy'."

Once back in the TARDIS, Trav walks Kellnar's materials down to the Lab and secures them for later work. Then, she comes back up. "I don't know what I would do without you people. I always get far better people surrounding me than I deserve.' Everyone gets snugs - reverent, serious ones.

"Now, this is going to get very serious. I know I keep saying that, but danger and adventure go hand in hand with me. I'm going after this Mailman. I also need to stop by Karn again, alone. I think some of you might want to take a short break - Sereth, you may want to report in to the Draconian emperor, Stanley, you may want to see your mother. Smoke - I promised I would help you find Paradise Towers. I want to see all the other Blue Kangs. I think we can also help the other inheritors get their cash, but I don't want to burn all of you out. This might be my ship, but we are a team. Vesha, if you can check to see if the other stuff of the various inheritors is covered by insurance, I'd be grateful. It seems that the primary target of the Mailman was the skin sample." She can't but help and think that this may somehow be tied to Phillipe-Warlock-Fortuna-Evers.

She plops down onto one of the beat up couches in the control room. "I am deeply humbled by how you guys have had my back during this whole thing. How would you like to play the next step?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 600 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 22 Aug 2014
at 15:48
  • msg #551

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm loitered in the bar while Traveller and the others left, covering their exit and keeping her arrowgun trained on Kellnar and the green hair lady, She didn't want them getting brave or bold while they were set free from the mouse-trap. And the Kang had other ideas.

When they were alone, she sat in front on the back of the booth in front of Kellnar, still with the arrowgun pointed at him. 'How you do.' she greeted with a dangerous smile. 'So, you shoplifted some scrap for shinies. I knowhow it is. I done it too. But you lost the game, you got my friends in a to-do, and you're a cowardly cutlet! You don't deserve them shinies,' she accused, pointing at the diamonds. 'But Traveller's too nice and generous, she's not brave and bold.'

'But me, I am brave and bold, and I can be mean.' Her finger rubbed on the trigger of the arrowgun. It was decorated with stickers and doodles of flowers and rainbows and a lot of pink. "Smoke Alarm's Arrowgun — No tuching!" was scrawled down one side. A pencil fitted with a crude metal arrowhead was mounted in it. It eased forward. 'This is my arrowgun. There are no others like it. I can put an arrow in a rat down a carrydoor. If I didn't, I didn't eat. I done this since before time start. You make a to-do for Traveller or Dev or any of us after this, you'll find out how.'

The Kang slid off the seat, then pulled off her apron, tossing it onto a table. She kept her name-badge, though. 'Build high for happiness!' she waved happily to Miss Sally, then stole a leftover sandwich from someone who'd made an escape when the mouse-trap was sprung. He wasn't coming back for it.

And the Kang skipped out the door.


OOC: Threatening Kellnar: 6. Hugely appropriate. I'll spend a Story Point to bump that up as necessary.
23:28, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,2. presence(2) + convince(0).
Stanley Newton
player, 171 posts
Sat 23 Aug 2014
at 15:25
  • msg #552

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
As Trav walks out of the bar, carrying the case - presumably walking back towards the TARDIS, she says, "Hey Stan, remember way back in 2013, when we first met? When we worked with the Chamber, Fortuna and Evers to unwinds that big chronal backwash? Someone tried to hack the devices that the Chamber were using. Phillipe caught that. I encrypted the signal, and then we wrapped up. You remember that, right? Do you think there's any connection between that, and this 'Mailman'?"


"Of course I remember that day." Stanley replies, being reminded of the day when he first came in contact with all this weird time travel and space cult stuff. That had been a weird day. "Can't say I really remember the hacking attempt. Sorry, but I was a bit preoccupied with monitoring the patients and coordinating the medical teams. Also, I don't know much about hacking and computers, so I can't tell you if the Mailman is behind the hacking attempt in 2013."

Stanley shrugs. "I am sure you already looked for similarities, like using the same programs or protocols or something. The only similarity I see is that both attempts had you as a possible target."
The Traveller
player, 598 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 23 Aug 2014
at 16:57
  • msg #553

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Hm. You were beautiful, that day, Stan. I'm so glad you decided to come along." She plants a smooch on his cheek. "But if this 'Mailman' is indeed one of my people who has just been hiding beyond my sight, I'll have to give them a nut kick or titty punch because that is the lamest Time Lord title ever."
Smoke Alarm
player, 602 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 24 Aug 2014
at 08:45
  • msg #554

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm caught up with the others, not saying anything about why she'd loitered in the bar. After all, it wasn't uncommon for Smoke Alarm to wander off and outlook at things. She hadn't wanted any to-do to track back to her friends, and sometimes a Kang had to taunt and tease and be a meanie-head to make sure of that. And if Traveller wasn't brave and bold for it, then she didn't have to knowhow. And the Traveller could stay the nice girl with butter in her mouth. She was too good for all this.

She listened to Traveller talk, thinking she'd found a hole in her plan. 'But a mailman just brings junk mails and paper texts and puts them in ladder-boxes, and gets chased by dogs. So mayhaps this Mailman only sent the texts to Kellnar, and someone else wants the snakey-skin.' she explained wisely. Really, did she have to be smarty-pants one around here?

*

Smoke Alarm felt squished like a bug in a rug by Traveller's hug snug. 'I don't have to track back to Paradise Towers with all speed. I'm getting lost-and-found before I go home-sweet-home.' Because if she went home-sweet-home, she knew she would stay there, and she wasn't ready to stop the talkiphone box travel now.

She stayed quiet as a mouse on having Traveller's back. 'We're not going back to the catsinos?' Smoke Alarm was disappointed; she wanted to eyespy.
The Traveller
player, 599 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 24 Aug 2014
at 16:35
  • msg #555

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke Alarm caught up with the others, not saying anything about why she'd loitered in the bar. After all, it wasn't uncommon for Smoke Alarm to wander off and outlook at things. She hadn't wanted any to-do to track back to her friends, and sometimes a Kang had to taunt and tease and be a meanie-head to make sure of that. And if Traveller wasn't brave and bold for it, then she didn't have to knowhow. And the Traveller could stay the nice girl with butter in her mouth. She was too good for all this.

She listened to Traveller talk, thinking she'd found a hole in her plan. 'But a mailman just brings junk mails and paper texts and puts them in ladder-boxes, and gets chased by dogs. So mayhaps this Mailman only sent the texts to Kellnar, and someone else wants the snakey-skin.' she explained wisely. Really, did she have to be smarty-pants one around here?

Smoke Alarm felt squished like a bug in a rug by Traveller's hug snug. 'I don't have to track back to Paradise Towers with all speed. I'm getting lost-and-found before I go home-sweet-home.' Because if she went home-sweet-home, she knew she would stay there, and she wasn't ready to stop the talkiphone box travel now.


Trav used to run a crew of killers when she was The Marshall, she knows *exactly* what Smoke is doing, and loves her for it. Ity's a mercy on Kellnar that Smoke is threatening. Her trouble wasn't that she couldn't be threatening, it's that she didn't want to expose to her companions a side that was so terribly, terribly dark.

"Exactamundo, babe. It might be this Mailman, it might be a bunch of bosses, it might even be future me, we don't know. But It was left to me by my old babe the Corsair. It's really important but very yawny to explain. But I have a little money left, I just won't be able to bail anyone out is all. No reason why we can't stay a bit and spin the wheel. And I do have the get the chamelon circuit fixed. Which reminds me - did you guys ever find that coil at the junk yard?"

Smoke Alarm:
She stayed quiet as a mouse on having Traveller's back. 'We're not going back to the catsinos?' Smoke Alarm was disappointed; she wanted to eyespy.


"I see no reason why not, for a little while! I'm sure Vesha knows Estanve Gastem better than anyone! But how about everyone else?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Sun 24 Aug 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 172 posts
Sun 24 Aug 2014
at 23:33
  • msg #556

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"The coil." Stanley checks his phone. He should have asked 7152C to notify him when they could pick it up. "I suppose it is finished by now. The place you sent us to didn't have one in stock, so we had 7152C, er..that's the owner, manufacture one for us. Recycled materials, of course. "

The Traveller:
"I see no reason why not, for a little while! I'm sure Vesha knows Estanve Gastem better than anyone! But how about everyone else?"


"Yeah...I don't really want to leave right now." Stanley looks at Vesha. "There's still something that I have to do."
The Guardian
GM, 676 posts
Sun 24 Aug 2014
at 23:44
  • msg #557

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha's brows go up inquiringly as she looks back at Stanley.
The Traveller
player, 600 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 01:54
  • msg #558

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
"The coil." Stanley checks his phone. He should have asked 7152C to notify him when they could pick it up. "I suppose it is finished by now. The place you sent us to didn't have one in stock, so we had 7152C, er..that's the owner, manufacture one for us. Recycled materials, of course. "

The Traveller:
"I see no reason why not, for a little while! I'm sure Vesha knows Estanve Gastem better than anyone! But how about everyone else?"


"Yeah...I don't really want to leave right now." Stanley looks at Vesha. "There's still something that I have to do."


Trav smiles brightly at that. "That's fine. By the way, I did say lithium-doped vanadium coil, right?"
The Guardian
GM, 677 posts
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 03:01
  • msg #559

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Even as Trav queries Stanley about the coil she'd sent him to obtain, she reflexively glances toward the console socket for the cognitive oscillation rectifier.  Even though the blown unit is still in her pocket, there's another unit now in place, with the corresponding status lights on the console showing green.
Smoke Alarm
player, 604 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 03:04
  • msg #560

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm shook her head, blue hair flying. 'No, you said "platinum-soaked vanadium coil". I rememberised it. That's what he got.' she explained, pointing at Stan like it was now all his fault for not double-checking like she'd suggested. Now they'd spent a lot of coins on the wrong widget and the talkiphone box woudn't go hide-and-seek.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Mon 25 Aug 2014.
Sereth
player, 369 posts
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 03:07
  • msg #561

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

A snort.

"Looks like even the Traveller can make mistakes. It comes from an unfortunate accident of birth - she's not Draconian."

One of the few times Sereth displays his belief in the Draconian ideal so outwardly; though not the first time he'd thought it.
The Traveller
player, 602 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 11:21
  • msg #562

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Um. Well, herp de derp. Hey, if it works, it works. Although I will not pull a "I meant to do that", I am not boobie."

She triples checks with the sonic. "Hrm."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:56, Mon 25 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 679 posts
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 12:24
  • msg #563

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The component is functioning perfectly, even if Trav can't figure out how it got there.  The TARDIS playing one of its little pranks, perhaps.
The Traveller
player, 603 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 12:38
  • msg #564

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Sereth:
A snort.

"Looks like even the Traveller can make mistakes. It comes from an unfortunate accident of birth - she's not Draconian."

One of the few times Sereth displays his belief in the Draconian ideal so outwardly; though not the first time he'd thought it.


"Sereth, I'll remember that, when it comes time to get outside and push." That is said with a smile, as Trav crawls underneath the TARDIS panel to check the coil.

He may be more right than he knows - the Time Lords are gone, and the Draconian people may be one of several sets of successors in the Parliament of Time.
Smoke Alarm
player, 607 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 13:02
  • msg #565

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm outlooked to where Traveller was fiddling with the console, eyespying the coil thingey she had slotted in for Us earlier. Uh oh. Was is it the right widget, or the wrong gadget? She shuffled unboldly as Traveller got to work on it, and outlooked to Dev with Outlook that said to stay quiet as a mouse. 'Is something broke with it?'
This message was last edited by the player at 03:03, Tue 26 Aug 2014.
The Traveller
player, 605 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 25 Aug 2014
at 17:00
  • msg #566

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav pops out from under the console, and slaps a button. Green lights! "See? All outstanding. You guys did great. Talkiphone box is feeling fine."

She runs around the console, working levers and hitting buttons. "Next, we hit the Yum Yum palace, get some ice cream, and then it's the Strip! Vesha, I've heard about great things about Estanve Gastem's legendary Elvis Revue. 100 Elvises in a Cirque De Soleil extravanganze I hear is not to be missed, right? Especially the audience participation sequence, with the motorcycle jump! I've only seen it on Spacetube. Can we? Please?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:01, Mon 25 Aug 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 173 posts
Tue 26 Aug 2014
at 00:00
  • msg #567

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
Vesha's brows go up inquiringly as she looks back at Stanley.


"The...incident with the car." Stanley clarifies. "I feel bad for damaging it, so I have to find a way to make it up to you."
The Guardian
GM, 680 posts
Tue 26 Aug 2014
at 04:02
  • msg #568

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Vesha's lips twitch and she smiles slightly.  Stanley gets the sense that she finds his concern amusing, but that she takes it seriously enough not to laugh at him.

"Stanley, truly, do not worry about the car.  It's nothing but stuff.  Perhaps having access to a great deal of wealth, to have one's very job be concerned with making sure that all that wealth is safeguarded, can skew a person's perspective, but it does remind one that stuff is replaceable; that more abstract things like loyalty and family and purpose are where you find real value.

"And, you realize, you saved me a great deal of difficulty, right after that.  You talked that kid down when everybody could see he was working himself up to trying something really foolish, getting himself hurt, or getting bystanders hurt.  You might not think, after what you've learned about my line of work, that that's something that concerns me so much, but I assure you it does.  The way we do things here is different from where you come from, but it has the same ends in mind -- to make it possible for people to go about their lives in some sort of orderly way."

She glances at the others.  Trav and Smoke Alarm, at least, seem enthusiastic about seeing some more of the city before heading off elsewhere, though that seems like it isn't precisely decided yet.

"Tell you what," she says.  "I know for a fact that you've got the price of two dinners at Karanevo's on your account.  It's a cozy place off the strip, not too formal, does a brilliant Procyonese sailback.  If your friends are planning on sticking around to see the sights, maybe you'd care to join me there, and you can tell me a little bit about what Old Earth was like, back in the day.  Sound like fun?"
The Traveller
player, 607 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 26 Aug 2014
at 05:57
  • msg #569

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"Tell you what," she says.  "I know for a fact that you've got the price of two dinners at Karanevo's on your account.  It's a cozy place off the strip, not too formal, does a brilliant Procyonese sailback.  If your friends are planning on sticking around to see the sights, maybe you'd care to join me there, and you can tell me a little bit about what Old Earth was like, back in the day.  Sound like fun?"


Trav gets an incredibly mischevious look on her face. She grins broadly.

She runs up to the TARDIS controls. SNAP SNAP SNAP TWIST TWIST THUNK THUNK THUNK. The Time Rotor starts!

"Stan. I have here a gift card for Peter Lugars. Why don't you show the young lady what real 21st century beef tastes like, and then give me a call when Vesha is ready for a lift home. In the mean time, the rest of us will have fun in Space Vegas."

She strides across the TARDIS deck, and hands Stan the gift card. As she walks past him, she opens the door.

Outside, she gestures to the glittering lights of Times Square - August, 2014.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Tue 26 Aug 2014.
Sereth
player, 373 posts
Tue 26 Aug 2014
at 12:22
  • msg #570

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Draconian simply shook his head. People would get into trouble here; but it was his job to make sure things didn't get too out of hand. He checked to make sure his 'kitchen knife' hadn't been badly damaged by cutting into the robot; then he simply nodded; with close to a half-bow to the Traveller.
Smoke Alarm
player, 608 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 26 Aug 2014
at 13:08
  • msg #571

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Feeling rather relieved that the talkiphone box was all shape-ship and sound, Smoke calmed. At least the Us and herself would get into a to-do. She outlooked in confusion as Traveller ran around the puter and set the controls and yammered on about elvises, and then took them to some place else. She outlooked through the doors at the city beyond — not as many aliens or flycars or holos as on Space Vegas. 'Outlook's yawny.' But they were outgoing back to Space Vegas for icecream!

Remembering her goodies, Smoke Alarm picked up her box of scrap and went around the room handing out her prezzies. 'I buyed some scraps. Here you go. Sereth, a sharpener rock for your kitchen knife.' It was actually a decent whetstone, 'Traveller, I figured you'd like this kir-kewee-try. Outlookit, it's all shiny and wirey.' The old circuit board did indeed have shiny components and wires hanging off it. 'Oh, Dev! I got you a new panel for the sky-bike. I kicked a dent in the old one last night. Mayhaps you don't need it now Traveller renovated it, but...' Smoke shrugged and passed him the replacement panel.
The Traveller
player, 608 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 26 Aug 2014
at 14:13
  • msg #572

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Feeling rather relieved that the talkiphone box was all shape-ship and sound, Smoke calmed. At least the Us and herself would get into a to-do. She outlooked in confusion as Traveller ran around the puter and set the controls and yammered on about elvises, and then took them to some place else. She outlooked through the doors at the city beyond — not as many aliens or flycars or holos as on Space Vegas. 'Outlook's yawny.' But they were outgoing back to Space Vegas for icecream!


(presuming that Vesha and Stan take the $500 gift card to steakhouse)

Trav waves at the two. "Oh, New York throughout history is damned exciting. But it's back to Space Vegas. Those two need their privacy."

Smoke Alarm:
Remembering her goodies, Smoke Alarm picked up her box of scrap and went around the room handing out her prezzies. 'I buyed some scraps. Here you go. Sereth, a sharpener rock for your kitchen knife.' It was actually a decent whetstone, 'Traveller, I figured you'd like this kir-kewee-try. Outlookit, it's all shiny and wirey.' The old circuit board did indeed have shiny components and wires hanging off it. 'Oh, Dev! I got you a new panel for the sky-bike. I kicked a dent in the old one last night. Mayhaps you don't need it now Traveller renovated it, but...' Smoke shrugged and passed him the replacement panel.


Trav's eyes go wide like it was christmas morning. "Trilinium mono-circuitry with 3 quad-plex capacitors! Video game system upgrade time! Yer a babe, Smoke!" She aims her sonic at the TARDIS control panel, and the Time Rotor starts up again. "Oh,Sereth, lighten up. I'm sure there's stuff out there that can even make a Draconian smile. In fact, I was thinking 13th Century China might be cool after this. Confucianism, the 100 schools, and lots and lots of Kung Fu, the birth of Shao Lin temple, floating maidens and brides with white hair! One of these days I'm gonna learn Kung Fu. Maybe Kang Fu! And hey Dev - now you and Jenfer can actually say you've time travelled."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Tue 26 Aug 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 682 posts
Wed 27 Aug 2014
at 01:22
  • msg #573

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
'Oh, Dev! I got you a new panel for the sky-bike. I kicked a dent in the old one last night. Mayhaps you don't need it now Traveller renovated it, but...'

"What's that they say?  It's the thought that counts?"

Dev shrugs, and looks over at Jenfer.  "I wish Miz Sallenn hadn't run off so sudden.  I'm kinda vague on how this whole 'working for the Valbreco Family' is supposed to work.  Well, I guess if anyone can find us again, it's her."

The Traveller:
"And hey Dev - now you and Jenfer can actually say you've time travelled."

"Huh.  Feels kinds of... exactly the same, no offense."  But then he grins.  "But the bike, now, that is krivv.  Smoke Alarm!  You want to go for a ride?  Maybe we can get some more copbots to chase us!"
Smoke Alarm
player, 610 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 27 Aug 2014
at 02:16
  • msg #574

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm grinned as Traveller thought that her shiny prezzie was icehot. Mayhaps it would even be useful.

She thought that visiting this China land would be interesting, with Confusionism and Kang Fu, and mayhaps they could meet Zheng Ru and the other Orange Kangs again.

'Yeah, travelling through ticktocks is like that. We have to outgo outside to really time travel.' she with the wisdom of one who'd made three whole time travels.

Her eyes widened at Dev's offer of a ride on the new hotted-up sky-cycle. 'Icehot! ...But I think mayhaps we have to outgo eyespy some elvises first.' she hesitated, torn between hanging out with new and old friends. Icecream or skycycles?
Stanley Newton
player, 174 posts
Wed 27 Aug 2014
at 23:36
  • msg #575

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Guardian:
"Stanley, truly, do not worry about the car.  It's nothing but stuff.  Perhaps having access to a great deal of wealth, to have one's very job be concerned with making sure that all that wealth is safeguarded, can skew a person's perspective, but it does remind one that stuff is replaceable; that more abstract things like loyalty and family and purpose are where you find real value.


Stanley nods. "You're right: it is only 'stuff' and other things are more important. Like how nobody got hurt.....It is not only that I damaged your car, but also that I damaged it in such a stupid way. I knew, I saw that the car was too big for that opening."

"Thanks for not being mad at me. Some people I know would react very differently. Don't scratch expensive cars near hospitals...okay that was weird advice. I meant to say that some of my colleagues care an awful lot about their cars. "

The Traveller:
"Stan. I have here a gift card for Peter Lugars. Why don't you show the young lady what real 21st century beef tastes like, and then give me a call when Vesha is ready for a lift home. In the mean time, the rest of us will have fun in Space Vegas."


"Thanks Trav! Visiting 21st century Earth is better than just talking about it." Stanley says enthusiastically, as he accept the gift card. He turns to Vesha "Um...I can't wait to show you Earth as I know it."
The Guardian
GM, 684 posts
Thu 28 Aug 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #576

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
Stanley nods. "You're right: it is only 'stuff' and other things are more important. Like how nobody got hurt.....It is not only that I damaged your car, but also that I damaged it in such a stupid way. I knew, I saw that the car was too big for that opening."

Vesha chuckles.  "Well, sometimes you'll never know whether to play it safe until you try...."

quote:
He turns to Vesha. "Um...I can't wait to show you Earth as I know it."

She looks around at the lights of New York, bright-eyed and startled.  It takes years off her features.

"Che bello!" she exclaims.  "I... you know, it's one thing to say 'This person is supposed to be from another time', and it's something else to actually step out into the middle of another time."

Beaming at Stanley, she adds, "Well, lead on!  What are we waiting for?"
The Guardian
GM, 693 posts
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 00:43
  • msg #577

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

After saying their farewells to Vesha and Dev and Jenfer,  Trav sends the authentication codes to the Mailman's drop address.

She and the others have to wait less than an hour before her iPad returns a reply with a set of coordinates.  At a derelict fueling depot around the outermost world of the Estanve Gastem, they find the jump torpedo waiting for them.  It sits in the center of a hangar open to space, scarred by micrometeors, by frost and rust that must be the residues of the last atmosphere the station ever held.  The system's star gleams coldly into the hangar from far, far away.
The Traveller
player, 627 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 06:18
  • msg #578

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The actual sample of the Corsair's tissue is locked away safely, deeply in the TARDIS, where the Traveller keeps secrets even she'd prefer not to remember.

Instead, she has a fake sample prepared. Her sonic is at the ready, with a spoof program that will simulate Kellnar's visual image and biodata to the capsule's sensors, if need be.

She extends the TARDIS atmosphere field, so that they can approach the torpedo safely.

"I can't believe I used these back in the old days." She winces at the mean streak she had. Immediately, the sonic is out, and the turbopistol is in the other hand.

"Well, well. Hello there, little fella. Here, I have a present for ya."

Immediately, the sonic goes to work, identifying her and her team as Kellnar and crew, and opening it. She's scanning the torpedo for data, and opening it, to insert the sample as per the hand off protocol.

OOC: Ingenuity+Technology+Sonic?
The Guardian
GM, 694 posts
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 11:28
  • msg #579

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC: Ingenuity+Technology+Sonic?

Sounds right.
Smoke Alarm
player, 615 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 12:07
  • msg #580

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Tick-tocks tracked back...

On the questions of ice-scream or sky-cycles, Smoke Alarm decided she could just do both, having a joyride with Dev then tracking back to the gang later for ice-scream and the Elvis Review. Sorted. So, while Traveller went about her yawny skin business, Smoke Alarm ran off with Dev for a joyride, leaping on his sky-cycle and zooming off into the city, down the streets and up the towers. She loved a city at night, all bright-lights against the darkness, rising up to meet the stars. Home-sweet-home and beauty-full.

Her escapades with Dev, cruising the city and raising havoc, were mayhaps best not show-and-telled to Sereth and Stan. Dev took her clubbing, and Smoke Alarm danced wildly and treated everyone to some Kang hiphop. 'Blue Kangs, Blue Kangs, Blue Kangs are best!' Though the drinks made her brain and tummy feel funny. Later, Smoke Alarm put some wallscrawl on a blank wall, show-and-telling the story of mousetrapping Kellnar in bright, child-like designs. That was until they were chased by flasher copbots, but they fire-escaped them in Dev's new hotrodded sky-cycle, easy-peasy. Finally, she tracked back to the others. Dev mayhaps seemed to want to show-and-tell Smoke something, but he seemed unbold about it. Smoke felt funny and warm herself, but mayhaps it was the sprinkle drinks. So Smoke waved goodbye with a cheery 'Build high for happiness.' and departed, wondering if she would meet him again.

*

After a fun but bewildering Elvis Review, and as much different kinds of icecream (no sprinkles!) as a tipsy Kang could handle, they tracked back to pick up Stan and Vesha. Smoke kinked her head sideways to Stan, wondering what it had all been about and asking curiously 'Did you make a baby?'

Nowatimes...

Smoke Alarm footed out of the talkiphone box, looking dismally around the empty hangar. It was cold and the walls were bare and bleak. No-one had been for a very long time. 'Brrr. Aircon's too low.' she commented, hugging her arms to herself and tucking Puddy back inside her pack. She outlooked to the stars at the edge of the hangar, but Traveller had warned not to go beyond the wobbly window around the talkiphone box.
The Traveller
player, 628 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 16:15
  • msg #581

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav takes off her duster and scarf and hands it to Smoke. "Bundle up, sweety." She squats down and carefully works with the torpedo. "Hey Stan, do you have the sample?" Tody she wears a beat up American flag T shirt, a pair of Levis from 1865, and mid-thigh flat heel suede boots, with fingerless driving gloves. She's using that reverse handed method of wielding her sonic. The hat is a black stetson today with a grey band.

12:06, Today: The Traveller rolled 26 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 5,5. Trav scans and reprograms the torpedo - Ingenuity 8+technology 6+ Sonic 2.
Stanley Newton
player, 177 posts
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 20:56
  • msg #582

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke kinked her head sideways to Stan, wondering what it had all been about and asking curiously 'Did you make a baby?'


"What?" Stanley gets red in the face."You..what...you shouldn't ask that. That is none of your business."

The Traveller:
"Hey Stan, do you have the sample?"


"Yeah, here it is." Stanley replies as he hands Trav the fake sample.
The Traveller
player, 629 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 21:10
  • msg #583

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Stanley Newton:
Smoke Alarm:
Smoke kinked her head sideways to Stan, wondering what it had all been about and asking curiously 'Did you make a baby?'


"What?" Stanley gets red in the face."You..what...you shouldn't ask that. That is none of your business."


Trav: As the sonic whirrs, giggle. giggle. Tee hee! SNERK.

"Hey Stan, do you have the sample?"
Stanley Newton:
"Yeah, here it is." Stanley replies as he hands Trav the fake sample.


"Thank you sweety." Trav is wearing a shit eating grin as she takes the case from Stan.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:12, Wed 03 Sept 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 695 posts
Wed 3 Sep 2014
at 23:09
  • msg #584

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav takes a surprising amount of time to rewire the jump torpedo.  She was able to find and defuse a pair of anti-tampering devices, either of which could have blown up in her hands or slagged the torpedo's guidance system, as well as an etheric transmitter set to remotely signal the torpedo's destination.

In the end, however, she is able to gain full access to the torpedo's master control routines.  She finds the destination coordinates -- about thirty parsecs away -- and can either trigger the torpedo without the notification signal going off, or leave it and use the coordinates to navigate the TARDIS.

The torpedo's technology, though sophisticated and clearly reworked by an expert, seems to be largely off-the-shelf for this period.  There's no sign of any temporal displacement capability.

The Guardian, for the NPC The Mailman, rolled 20 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 6,1. Torpedo tracking countermeasures: Ingenuity(5) + Technology(6) + Technically Adept(2).
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Wed 03 Sept 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 616 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 4 Sep 2014
at 01:21
  • msg #585

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm shrugged at Stan's red-face response, deciding she wasn't really interested after all. He was an Inbetween, and Inbetweens were old and yawny and had forgotten all about being babies and youngsters and where they came from. So, if he didn't knowhow and didn't want to say, then she wouldn't poke into "his business". Kangs were respectiful like that.

She pulled on Traveller's coat, which seemed like a great big blanket on her small body, and wrapped the scarf around her waist as a belt. With nothing else to foot off and go look at, Smoke hovered over Traveller's shoulder, outlooking into the jumping torpedo, but she found all the puter stuff and kircuitry confusing and yawny. Other Kangs had been much better at fixing picturespouts, talkiphones, and vending machines. But eyespying Traveller at work, with all her knowhow, made Smoke Alarm wished she had the knowhow too. 'Does it work? All shapeship and sound?'
The Traveller
player, 630 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 4 Sep 2014
at 04:12
  • msg #586

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav is working with tweezers and hairpins, occasionally holding the sonic in her mouth. "Whoever did this," ZZZT, "is pretty good." zzzt. "A ha, logic center. Hand me the clamp in my left pocket, baby?" Trav, like her mentor the Doctor, likes carrying junk in her pockets. "Stand back, this is like a bomb. This piece here," she casually yanks out a bright red square and tosses it away, "would have melted a hole in the floor. And this," she pulls out something that looks like a spring, "would have signaled the bad guys. But, that is the master brainy peice. I am now talking to it," the sonic goes whirr, whirrr, "and telling it we're Kellnar.  Chibi, catch!" Chibi pops up out of the Ipad, and happily catches a bundle of code. "And that - Oh, Jelly babies. And those are Jolly Ranchers. She sniffs at them - still fresh! Want one?" She takes a Jolly Rancher into her mouth and smiles, and offers Smoke, Sereth and Stan candy. "What? It's still fresh!" She inserts the sample, and slaps the case closed. "Later, Smoke, if you want, I'll show you all about circuits and computers and machines. I love em!"

"There. When this arrives, it will send a signal back to us and will let us know it arrived. Then, we come on in, and have a conversation with that jerk. Then, I decide if I want to drop the hammer on him. I need to know if he's a threat. Any ideas for once we arrive? He might not be as much a cowardly cutlet as Kellnar was. All shipshape and sound now."

OOC: I forgot that Trav has Resourceful Pockets. Who knows what Smoke will find in her duster!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Thu 04 Sept 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 697 posts
Thu 4 Sep 2014
at 05:09
  • msg #587

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The capsule hums and levitates itself a short distance on its repulsors, then rotates to orient itself horizontally and boosts itself through Trav's force screen and gently out of the hangar.  It's still visible when a coruscating globe of light envelops it momentarily.  Then it's gone.

Not long afterwards, Trav's iPad chimes and the Chibi avatar waves for her attention.  Checking the report, Trav finds that the avatar has intercepted a bland message acknowledging receipt of the package.  (It also appears that the Mailman has forwarded credit codes to Kellnar's account, comprising his payment in full.)

Meanwhile, the modified capsule has also sent back telemetry giving a precise fix on its arrival coordinates.  According to the TARDIS's navigational data for this era, there's a white dwarf star system there, with a collection of unimpressive, rocky cinders and no known inhabitants.

I'm not sure if there was something else you were interested in finding out from this.
Smoke Alarm
player, 617 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 4 Sep 2014
at 07:57
  • msg #588

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Okay.' Having the coat inside out, Smoke Alarm stuck a hand into the right pocket — much deeper than seemed physical — and fished about, feeling all the strange things inside. 'What have you got in your pocketses?' she wondered, more curious than exasperated. The Kang would find out if she could dump it all over the floor. She pulled out some kind of whirligig, a little robot spider currency, and something that might best remain unmentioned, but not a clamp. 'Um.' At last, a little furry paw handed her the clamp. 'Lost and found!' she reported, smiling knowingly and handing it over.

Given the foods she was used to scavenging and consuming, Smoke didn't hesitate to take the lollies, sucking on them as she whirled the whirligig. She wondered how and why Traveller was responding to something she hadn't said outside her brain. Traveller did weird things like that, she'd found. 'Oh, no worries.' she demurred, and watched the jumping torpedo jump up and jump away.

'Us will get the signal?' Smoke asked, confused, then realised it was the other kind of us, and quickly recovered. 'Okay. We'll need to find a hammer. And a dog. Dogs chase mailmans, catch them if they can. And mayhaps first I could go hide-and-seek in the Mailman's tower, lose-and-find his brainquarters and hide-ins and unseen outways. I could eyespy the hazards and keep outlook for you.' she volunteered.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:03, Thu 04 Sept 2014.
The Traveller
player, 634 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 4 Sep 2014
at 15:20
  • msg #589

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

"Yeah, we'll get the signal. I used to own 3 dogs back in a town I used to live in."  She frowns, and was remembering her Basset hound Jake from RIFTS Earth, back when she was Louise the human girl. Jake peed on Cyborgs and barked back at Coalition Dog Boys. She missed Jake so much.

"But, I don't have a dog right now, but the rest of it sounds solid."

As they trot back to the TARDIS, Trav explains, "We'll be going in blind. They will probably be shooting at us. This will be dangerous, and may very well be a trap, for me. Just so you know." She smiles widely.
The Guardian
GM, 699 posts
Fri 5 Sep 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #590

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

OOC: Feel free to talk out how you're going in, everyone.  It sounds like Trav is contemplating materializing close to the destination coordinates.  When you've hashed things out among yourself and commit to throwing the Big Lever, I'll open a new thread.
Smoke Alarm
player, 621 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 6 Sep 2014
at 03:05
  • msg #591

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

'Three dogs?!' Smoke exclaimed, impressed and alarmed and confused. She wondered how could anyone own dogs, and naturally said so. 'How do you own dogs? They're mean and smelly and bitey.' Smoke Alarm complained, fingering her fang necklace — dog teeth — and thinking of the day those fangs had stuck in her leg. The dog was big and savage and snarly, and there'd been so much hurt when it chomped her and shook her. Smoke had felt so unbrave, she thought she'd be dog-food, but she'd had her arrowgun and her sister Kangs to rescue her. Then they'd gotten their own back... 'They don't even taste very good.'

She thought on what Traveller said about the coming brainquarter invasion, declaring 'I'm brave and bold as a Kang should be. I can play blind woman's bluff and trip the mouse-trap... But mayhaps we should eyespy the Mailman's tower first.'


OOC: As we don't know what kind of place we're going to, there doesn't seem much point planning at this stage.
The Guardian
GM, 700 posts
Sat 6 Sep 2014
at 03:29
  • msg #592

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
OOC: As we don't know what kind of place we're going to, there doesn't seem much point planning at this stage.

OOC: I don't disagree, but it sort of makes a difference in setting the scene as to whether the crew jumps in commando style, or stops nearby to take a look at the place first.
Stanley Newton
player, 179 posts
Sat 6 Sep 2014
at 10:35
  • msg #593

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Smoke Alarm:
She thought on what Traveller said about the coming brainquarter invasion, declaring 'I'm brave and bold as a Kang should be. I can play blind woman's bluff and trip the mouse-trap... But mayhaps we should eyespy the Mailman's tower first.'


"I know how much you love walking into traps Trav." Stanley says jokingly. "But Smoke's suggestion might not be a bad idea. Eyespying the place first gives us information, that could be useful if it turns out to be a trap."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Sat 06 Sept 2014.
The Traveller
player, 636 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 7 Sep 2014
at 23:43
  • msg #594

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

Trav strides into the TARDIS control room. "That is the reason I need people like you to be my good sense. I'll place us 10 klicks away from the torpedo's drop point, and we'll take a passive scan."

Trav notes how everyone is picking up Kang slang.

Trav is calling up on the charts maps of the local vicinity near the drop point.

OOC: The torpedo is staying local in terms of time, right? This is "local", for lack of a better term?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Sun 07 Sept 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 701 posts
Mon 8 Sep 2014
at 00:57
  • msg #595

Re: IC: Estanve Gastem: SPACE VEGAS

The Traveller:
OOC: The torpedo is staying local in terms of time, right? This is "local", for lack of a better term?

OOC: Correct.  I mentioned that with the torpedo itself, but I suppose this is to confirm that it doesn't pull a time jump out of its metaphorical hat.
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