In reply to Kala Sui (msg # 206):

Obviously, suggesting they break down the door seemed redundant. Considering how things were breaking down on Eros simply being out of sight long enough for all organised search and destroy efforts to collapse would greatly enhance their chances of survival.

Van sent the drone on a sweep of the area, trying to locate any infected and/or armed hostiles heading their way.

Yuri, and one of the large Belter’s who crewed with Kala on The Salisbury easily push open the door to a point where a pair of slimmer Belter’s from The Salisbury can squeeze through and move whatever is blocking the door.

As this is occurring Van keeps a lookout for any approaching infected, of which there are several. Alis sees the infected too, but they are far enough away (over 30 meters) to be a threat at the moment.

The door is soon opened all the way, revealing that a large (but empty) computer server rack was blocking the door. Beyond the door is small landing with metal grating as a floor then stair that leads down into a massive server farm that supports all (or nearly all) of the computerized gambling devices located on the Casino level.

The landing is quite small, with room for only a few people to stand on it at a time.

Thus, Yuri takes point and heads down the stairs first, shotgun in a raised position ready to fire if need be. The Male Pur n Kleen employee armed with the auto rifle follows behind him.

The cart carrying the wounded man has to be left behind at this point, and the group of four stretcher bearers follow the first few people who go down the stairs.

OOC: Decided to speed things up some, please note that I did not narrate anything being done to the door behind your group.

Alis makes sure that the door is returned to its closed and barred condition before they continue on, enlisting such aid as is needed to do so.

Yuri cautiously continues forward, scanning for signs of infected.

In reply to Darkside Trooper (msg # 208):

There was a problem.

"Cart will not fit down stairs. Will need to carry stretcher down stairs."

Van pulled rigged the tear gas grenade to the door. It would hopefully go off and fill the space with noxious CS powder to slow any pursuit. The infected seemed to be completely insane and did not value their lives, but maybe not being able to see or breathe might dissuade people from following, at least for a while.

21:46, Today: Nguyen Van Loc rolled 16 using 3d6 (6 stunt points) with the AGE System (({6}, 6, 4)).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

Kala retrieves one of the bottles of belter whiskey from the lower section of the cart and tucks it inside her jacket.

"For medicinal purposes," she growls.

Alis takes one as well. Something strong.

Yuri looks back and sees the bottles of booze being rescued from the cart.

"Uh, you mind grabbing one of those for me?"

In reply to Yuri Ivanovich (msg # 214):

"Take as many bottles as can. Make Molotov cocktail.

"Someone. Please help with getting stretcher down stairs. Hurry."

Putting the drone in "station-keeping" mode he helped get the stretcher down the stairs.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:31, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

Everyone, and everything to include the booze cart is eventually taken down the stairs, and the door leading back to the Casino Level is blocked again.

The server farm is quite large and has several rows of computer servers that are at least 2 meters high.

The room is cold, and those who look around will find there are two possible exits. Both are small vent grills. One grill has been removed and is sitting next to the wall. The other looks to be closed.

The booze cart is too big to get past the open vent as the ventilation shaft is a little cramped requiring people to enter/walk half bent over. While it is possible to get the stretcher in it will be quite a chore to move it through the vent shaft.

Alis looks over the server room, oh how shed love to have fun with it's contents, but they needed to go, so that was out of the question. She does of course look around to see if there is any posh tech of the hand held variety laying about that could be pocketed for later use.

"I think the two mice that you saw earlier Loc scurried off thru there." She points with her chin to the open grate. She takes a look at it as well, and the other one, to see if the open one is a red herring.

---

Perception: 14 {5}, 3, 4

In reply to Alis Syn (msg # 217):

When they left the cart Van took some bar towels to use as wicks for future Molotov cocktails. Fire was absolute anathema to any belter as they were as deadly and more damaging to vessels and stations than almost anything else. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

"I agree, Alis. Let's continue. Can even send drone in first."

He checked the diameter of the ductwork and then sent the drone in to scout ahead.

"And please, call me by first name: "Van"." He liked and trusted Alis, even if they were not as of yet on a first-name basis. This seemed like a good time to change that.

OOC: I'd like Kala and Yuri to post before I move on.

Kala is not happy about crawling into a tunnel when they have no idea where it goes -- if it goes anywhere. The fact that someone has gone that way before is a bit reassuring but given the sight of the infected people in the casino, not 100%.

In the end, however, she looks over her shoulder and realizes they have no choice. She nods her agreement to the plan but has no intention of going in there first.

While the three Earthers each take a bottle of Belter booze, the other three bottles are left alone, and some of the Pur’N Kleen employees begin to make do with Van’s suggestion to make Molotov cocktails from the bottles of booze.

Alis looks at the closed vent grill and sees that the screws that held it in place have been removed, indicating that someone at some point in time unscrewed the vent grill, and replaced it after entering the tunnel.

Van sends his drone down the open shaft and begins to track the telltale thermal signatures of the people who entered last. The shaft is pretty small for the firt 100 meters, but then opens up to the point where even a 2 meter plus tall Belter can walk without hunching down. The tunnel goes on for another 30 meters before becoming a ‘T intersection”. The thermals pick up more heat going to the left then the right.

The man with the auto rifle approaches Alis who is looking at the closed vent grill. The man looks at some scratches on the wall above the grill. "This is the way to the docks, whoever went the other way is going wrong way."

Alis nods at the belter, then toes the grate with her foot and lets it clatter to the ground. "Yeah, either they went the wrong way, or left that one open as a red herring." She looks over at Van. "Van...can you send Tink down this way instead? Think that one that was open wasn't the right way."

She takes a better look at the scratches, using her hand terminals 'flashlight feature' and clicks a pic for good measure.

In reply to Alis Syn (msg # 223):

Van nodded in thanks to the man with the auto-rifle.

"Is good suggestion, Alis. Will try to lead others in right direction. They have seen drone before, perhaps won't open fire."

He made sure everyone was in the vent before proceeding. Then (via telepresence) carefully moved the drone to where it could get a visual on the other group.

The guy with the auto rifle shakes his head as he watches Alis take a picture. “The markings are different, and there are false markings to lead security to wrong place.”

“Don’t worry I know what marks to look for.” The man then heads into the vent grill, but doesn’t rush off, he goes a bit and waits for others to enter.

Getting everyone into the vent grill passage takes a bit, and it is a tight fit the stretcher, which is reduced to only two people being able to lift it, one at each end.

But eventually everyone gets in and starts slowly going down the vent shaft.

The shaft goes aways before they come across another ventilation grill. This grill opens up to an old mechanical line tunnel that is about 2 meters wide and high. Some dim light bulbs provide some illumination, but not much.

The 2-meter width and height of the mechanical tunnel allows everyone to spread out a bit as the man with the auto rifle begins looking for the next marker.

Yuri stary behind with the Belter operating the drone and provides security.

OOC: Yuri is an NPC now.

In reply to Yuri Ivanovich (msg # 227):

"Ok. See them. Will try to guide."

Alis follows the belter into the ducts and and down in the passage way. She brings up the flashlight on the helmet (if there is one), barring that she'll clip the hand terminal she took that she can access and turns on it's flashlight and stuff that into her the breast 'pocket' of her armored vest to provide some more light.

She looks for the next marker as well, now that she knows, generally, what to look for.

---

PERC: 16 {5}, 5, 4 (5 SP)
Stunts Used:
Speed Demon (2) Accomplish Task in half the time
Pay Dirt (3) 

In reply to Alis Syn (msg # 229):

Van nodded in satisfaction.

"Ok, other crew is moving in our direction. Yuri, let's go."

He set the drone to retracing it's path slowly enough for them to follow. Then he began moving down the duct again so that (hopefully) he would meet them at that junction where they took a wrong turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

Kala keeps a tight grip on her claustrophobia in the narrow tunnels and breathes a deep sigh of relief when they open out a bit, enough to stand at least. The noise of their passage, booming and echoing in the metal ducts, makes it hard to listen for pursuit, and her heart beats a hurried tattoo of terror imagining a horde of the shuffling plague zombies creeping up on them in the darkness.

When Alys turns on her light, she moves as close to her as she can, grateful to not be alone.