Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run [FINISHED] — Legacy Forums

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#161

Mortimer considered fleeing in blind panic, but realized it would get them nowhere. Until the others got them an exit, the best way was to shoot until you were out of bullets.

So saying, Mortimer started spraying bullets into the incoming horde. Accuracy did not truly matter when if you missed the first target, a second was behind it to receive your delivery.

No idea how many bullets I get off, so here are a bunch of rolls: (19:52:33) Minion: caesar193 rolls 5d100 and gets 54,7,93,82,28.
My small guns skill is at 40.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#162

Arrayed like a firing squad, the spacers fired at the charging G'Kraun. Rebecca's early warning helped coordinate the defense, and Phil and Mortimer's bullets hit the mutants like a lead hellstorm, decimating their front ranks. Then Angus' grenade rolled innocently under the charging fiends and just as Katherine's lone bullet bit into a G'Kraun trying to pick it up, it detonated.

The grenade went off with a fierce blast, and an G'Kraun head flew through the doorway and landed on the steel grid floor several meters behind them. Phil was hit in the mask by white intestines covered in black virulent blood. The infectious goo trickled down his googles, dripping off the tip of the mask.

***

Wionna had just put down the welding torch and bent over the side of the ship to see what was going on, when Rebecca veered into the silo wall and aimed an assault rifle at her. Gasping she did not have time to get into cover, and witnessed Rebecca empty her clip. Wionna wondered whether she was still alive or not when the gutted remains of a grey skinned monstrosity dropped from the silo wall. It had been right by her all the time, just some meters above her. Wionna let out a small screan and ran from the ladies room, locking the doors behind her.

***

Excepting Katherine they were all out of bullets and had to change ammo clips.

The hatch in the steel grid flooring burst open, and a diminutive G'Kraun burst out. Small as a child, it ran hissing towards the exposed party. It was followed by another, then another. Soon a host of dwarflike grey skinned horrors would be pouring out from down below.

Rebecca noticed the water was churning with frenzied mutants. They fought to be first up the steel rungs, some even snapped at her feet, fervently gripping the flooring and trying to bite her with their teeth. The steel flooring held tight, however, and they were unable to even stab her with their wristblades.

Then the vanguard was upon her; two horrid killers slashing horribly with their wristblades while hissing threateningly.

(10:16:57) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d100 and gets 24.
(10:47:40) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d100 and gets 47.
(10:48:49) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d6 and gets 1. + (10:49:07) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d4 and gets 4.
(10:49:00) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d6 and gets 5. + (10:49:12) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d4 and gets 3.
(10:50:21) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d20 and gets 11.
(10:50:25) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d20 and gets 7.

Rebecca is hit in the stomach for 5 damage, then in her left thigh for 8 damage.

The Assault Suit has 8 Armor Points, so all damage is absorbed by the armor. The armor is not torn or detoriorated in any way.

The knives hit Rebecca, but her new dark armor stopped their wristblades short. The momentum of the blades slammed her into the silo wall however.

Looking behind her assailants, Rebecca saw four more charging Phil's firing squad from the rear. They were still some five meters away. Another four stormed up Mary Sue's ramp.

There was a roaring sound, then Mary Sue thrust into the air. One of the boarding G'Krauns slipped and fell off the ramp. Then she rotated violently and the remaining three fell off.

***

"Engaging artificial gravity in all rooms except the Passenger Compartment", Wionna stood up, wondering what Mary Sue was about to do. Then she noticed the G'Kraun swarming up the cargo ramp into the passenger compartment, just as the doors slid shut. She felt herself spin a little and ran up to the cockpit. Looking out of the windows, she looked straight at Rebecca being swarmed by small grey skinned mutant savages.

***

"YOU'RE NOT TOUCHING OUR KATHERINE!", Frank Bradshaw-Brennan yelled as he squeezed the trigger of Mary Sue's gatling gun.

(10:59:04) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d100 and gets 66.
He has a big gun skill of 10.
He empties all 100 rounds into the silo.
His aim is not best, but not so poor as to actually hurt Becky (who is the only one out in the silo.
The rest of the party are just inside the door in the corridor.

Frank misses on the first 56 bullets. Then he hits with half of his bullets.

A hit by an gunship gatling is auto-death for the G'Kraun being hit.

Gunfire spray rule states that of those bullets that hit, half automatically miss due to the spray pattern.

So we have: 22 hits.
Rolling 1d22 to check how many were hit individually. 1 means all 22 bullets hit that one, 22 means a perfect spray, killing 22 G'Kraun.

(11:04:50) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d22 and gets 18. = 18 dead G'Kraun.

Frank shook violently, his excess body fat wobbling to the rhythm of gunfire.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY NIECE, YOU MUTANT FUCKTARDS!", Frank's face was contorted in rage. He was crying, tears running down his cheeks.

The storming G'Kraun fell through the air as the floor shook, then came loose as the bolts holding it up gave in. A stream of fire and lead poured from the gatling, and the G'Kraun were destroyed before Becky's eyes. Then the floor gave in under her feet, just as one of the G'Kraun she was facing was split asunder by a gatling bullet crushing its spine.

OOC: Rebecca has to roll below her Agility to react in a timely fashion and cling to the remains of the floor, or she will fall into the water with the other G'Kraun.

***

Yet more G'Kraun, these wearing worn assault armor like the armor worn by Phil, Rebecca and Mortimer, appeared into view. They halted in the silo on the other side of the corridor. For a split second they just stood there, while the spacer firing squad changed ammo clips. Then they dived out of view. A second later, the double doors were shut, hiding them from view.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#163

EchoMirage rolls 1d20 and gets 16. Becca's agility is 15. Chat-roller hates me and life sucks, but - on the bright side - it will be short.

"I haven't had a swim in a long time" Rebecca thought as she plunged into the cold water. Soviet equipment was great - the structural integrity of their architecture less so. What sort of grid that should hold a spacecraft gives way after a few shots?

The water was swarming with wounded and confused mutants, and the girl used all her wits just to gasp for a bit of air prior to the dive.
The sudden embrace of the foaming ice-cold pit left her no less bedazzled than the misshapen things that fell alongside her; where was up and where was down? The water shook as the detonation reverberated through the murky waves; barely discernible shapes flitted and twitched hence and forth.
EchoMirage rolls 1d100 and gets 83. Rebecca dislikes the disgusting water, and whatever she might have wanted to try fails. Yay.
"Luckily, they won;t be able to tell me from one of theirs in this mess..."

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#164

Cursing Russian architecture, she fell for what seemed an eternity. Her arms feebly grapsed for something to cling to, yet failed her.

Rebecca hit the water flailing her arms frantically. She tried to swim, but a falling G'Kraun slammed into her neck, sending her spiraling into the depths.

Thus I die, she thought.

***

"I feel that one of them is dying. I can taste her desperation, and the hunger of my children nearby", the overmind stated.

"Yet at what cost, mutant? Not guarding the old silos was a critical failure of this plan of yours", a female voice replied.

The overmind growled, but wisely kept his tongue.

Closing his eyes, he sent out his thoughts to his G'Kraun horde.

Come to me, children. Forget your hunger, come back to me, here down in the depths. Abandon the silo. Except Kithrasi. You stay, at the appointed location. Stay and teach these humans a lesson in mortality

***

The mutant G'Kraun swam like fiends from the abyss. It was a dark inferno, as ink clouds of black blood spread throughout the churning water, and insane with hunger the living G'Kraun feasted upon their dead.

Rebecca studied from the bottom of the silo. She witnessed as a particularly hungry mutant smelled blood, and bit deep into intestines floating in the water. Little did it know, that the intestines belonged to itself. Rebecca chuckled amused.

Then she realized. She was not dead. She was at the bottom of the silo, yet somehow she was breathing. How? Oh... The Assault Suit. It wasn't just a gas mask. It was also a rebreather, filtering oxygen from the water.

OOC: Rebecca has several choices. She can make a survival roll, and swim through the water and climb up using pieces of the destroyed floor that lean/ hang down the walls. Or she can use telepathy and contact one of her friends.
(16:52:12) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d100 and gets 23. (Luck roll for Rebecca)

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#165

While reloading, Phil turned to the frothing water where Rebecca had been standing, and apparently waging her own little war.

"Hold on, " he hollered loudly over the comm as he looked about the armory for rope or loose cables.

survival roll, if applicable - (12:44:59) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d100 and gets 28. Senses is 32, so if that works...

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#166

Slowly, she scampered - first along the ground, then along the wall, up from the darkness, along the fringe of the foaming kettle of mutants. Do not draw attention, do not draw attention, do not.
I am not here. I am somebody else's problem. Not yours. A piece of rubble, not tasty. I am not the meat you are looking for.
In well-measured slow motions, she slunk up along the wall, and then, winding like a serpent, she crawled up above the free-for-all in the waters along the remains of the flooring.
EchoMirage rolls 1d100 and gets 7.

Hanging on to grooves and cracks in the wall, she slowly made her way up, not looking back, and spoke dispassionately into the comm.
"Captain, I... do not like it too much amongst the mutants below. Could you please throw me a rope - if you don't mind having me back?"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#167

"Right!" Phil snatched a spool of steel wire. Might be hard to grab, but better than nothing. He quickly threw a knot into the end of the line - his strength helped here and threw the weighted end into the frothing waters.

Hopefully he'd catch a Rebecca instead of the other things..

"Its coming down, heads up.."

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#168

Seeing the door close, the doc was ready to go after them when she was distracted by Rebecca falling, however there wasn't much Katherine could do about it. She ran instead to the armory to don a suit of her own and ready an assault rifle, then she ran back out to make sure Rebecca got up alright.

Not really sure what else to do, I'll help haul her up if she gets the wire thingie, and/or maybe ready a shot if something to shoot at pops up. (18:40:46) Minion: Gossamer rolls 1d100 and gets 37.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#169

Given the offered thread, Rebecca was able to scamper up swiftly.
"Thank you, Phil. I knew you wouldn't leave me behind as mutant-chow."

She turned around to the pit - or rather, watery grave. "They are leaving... I think their leader is calling them back. We might have to face something similar to the lone beast we met at the camp, again. This time though, in full power and with its lackeys in attendance."
Rebecca sighed, then continued: "And we can expect them to pester us along the way, looking for a sign of weakness."

Sitting down again, she surveyed the surroundings and sent her senses out again. Were the beasts indeed leaving, or just around the next corner, waiting for an ambush?
Do not get caught so easily anymore.
Dumping a Fate point into TP to upgrade to lvl 3, and scanning the surroundings for baddies.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#170

Rebecca sent her senses out. She felt the consciousness of the hive-mind, and it rebuffed her. There were so many, and under the guidance of this overmind they were strong. But their attention was focused elsewhere, and Rebecca once again felt it as it talked.

"Who comes?", she heard the words from the overmind through the ears of a lesser G'Kraun slave standing nearby. She did not risk detection from the Overmind, so she perched there for a very short while, and soon her vision blurred, and she saw through the eyes of the G'Kraun.

(21:24:58) Minion: Ancient_Gamer rolls 1d100 and gets 42. Rebecca successfully possessed a G'Kraun without alerting the hive mind

There stood a creature, much like the Prophet she fought just half a day earlier, but in so many ways different.

It's skin was dark grey, darker than any other G'Kraun she had seen this last half day. And it wore a Russian general's coat, though the left arm of the coat was torn off. It even had a gunbelt around it's waist. From that belt she noticed two machine pistols. She was talking to someone, and Rebecca made the lesser G'Kraun turn its head.

There stood a wonder. A 250 centimeter tall humanoid robot of some sort, with a shiny red colored surface. Then Rebecca realized it wasn't a robot. It was the powered armor they were looking for.

"Forgive me, Ekaterina, I do not know. A small fightercraft landed beside the gates of silo 3 a minute ago, but I do not know to whom it belongs"

Not risking more, Rebecca withdrew from the slave mutant.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#171

A few seconds of adrenaline - and suddenly, a deathly silence reigned in the silo again, interrupted but by the droning of the Mary Sue.
Rebecca made a step to lean against Katherine for support, to sheathe herself in the doctor's aura of confidence - and then realized that her armor was dripping with rather distasteful fluids.
"I... should take a shower... without undressing."

Heading off to do so, she turned around once more:
"One of the computers was displaying a camera feed - before it was turned off, I don't know how. As said, there is a leader, dressed up in a mockery of Russian attire - and the power armor is here as well, sadly inhabited by an accomplice of his... A Catharina, he called her."
Rebecca wasn't a good liar, but she hoped this seemed plausible enough, that none would question - technically, all she had said was true, too. Ah, here come the red ears, thank you helmet for hiding them.

"But we have a Katherine of our own, so it's fair, I'd say."
She scurried off then.
If this goes on, you will be eloquent one day.

"Mary-Sue, please start a decontamination cycle."
The foam washed over the armor, followed by a UV shower, hot air...

So much to do - but in five minutes. Not now.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#172

Rebecca noticed claw marks on the ramp, from the G'Kraun Mary Sue had forcefully ejected. As she came aboard, she was sterilized, the black blood and strips of meat and veins spiraling down into the drain.

***

"Doctor Bradshaw-Brennan, the analysis of your military belt is complete. I believe I have identified it from some footage from the Great War of the Ancients", Mary Sue's voice sounded on the internal comms of the Assault Suits.

***

Frank and Angelica came puffy faced down the ramp. It was obvious they had been crying.

"Kathy Doll...", Frank said, then stared from Phil, to Katherine, to Mortimer.

"Uh, Angus, which one is Katherine? I only recognize Phil, since he can't bloody well hide anywhere given his hulking size"

Having been pointed at Katherine by Angus, they almost hugged Mortimer, when Katherine's voice sounded from the other suit.

***

Wionna retrieved the welding torch from the water with steel wire and a hanger. OOC: It fell into the water when the Mary Sue performed evasive maneuvers After having sterilized it, she took put it on her back and resumed repairing the Mary Sue.

"Guys, if you can give me 7 hours, I can fix the hull of Mary Sue", she said on the comms.

***

"That only leaves the bay doors, and the Powered Suit, if we want that", Aunt Angelica said in her shaky elderly lady voice as she and Frank went back and forth to the armory, moving select equipment into the cargo bay of Mary Sue.

OOC: The Equipment will be listed in Mary Sue's manifest after some hours have passed in-game. The Manifest can be reached by clicking on the link in my signature.

***

The G'Kraun that had been sent to the surface never detected her. With a quick flick of her wrist, the Katana sent both heads flying and she ran quickly to where her sensors had detected them emerge.

A hidden back-entry-door.

Ah. The back door. How convenient.

She stretched in earth atmosphere for the first time in a very, very long while. Then she opened the door, and snuck down the stairs.

***

Berthold crawled slowly up the destroyed floor, his fingers bleeding and his leg hurting like hell. Finally he reached the edge. No one seemed to notice him, so he casually strolled aboard the Mary Sue, as if he had never left her.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#173

If Katherine found it strange that the commander of the enemies shared a likeness in name wasn't clear, the helmet covered all expression and she offered no comment.

Katherine removed her helmet and congratulated Frank. After some quick reassurances to both him and her aunt that everything was fine she went back to med-bay. Theo was there, Katherine managed an awkward smile then she turned her gaze to the ceiling as she often did when addressing Mary-Sue.

"Good, what did the scans show? And furthermore how long can we stay air-borne like this? Is it possible to anchor you to the walls?"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#174

"Well, that was..... something. " Phil too took the time to decontaminate. No need to muck up these new fancy duds.

To Winnona : "Yeah, get her fixed. "

"Can we get Mary sue patched into the base's systems so she could open the doors herself? Maybe some sort of radio?"

He was not quite sure which of the crew could run with this idea of his.

To Rebecca "You saw the armor? How big was it? Did it have a lot of guns and stuff?"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#175

"Good, what did the scans show? And furthermore how long can we stay air-borne like this? Is it possible to anchor you to the walls?"

"I am equipped with two miniaturized nuclear reactors, Doctor Bradshaw-Brennan. I can hover like this for a very long time. Even though the mists I am creating by boiling the water below may not be the most beneficial in the long run, given the level of contamination down there. I also believe that the ventilation is not sufficient to keep the temperature down, and in the long run you might all be roasted alive. As for the scans, it may seem odd, but I believe you have acquired a Holtzmann belt. It was an Austrian design, and only used in the final days of the war, in the battle of Neo-Vienna. The fact that you found it here suggest that either someone from that fight made it back to this facility in the Urals, or that this place has been inhabited since then. Perhaps it is not that long ago, that the G'Kraun overran this facility?"

Mary Sue paused for a bit, then chuckled over the comms.

"Yes, yes, I know you are anxious to learn WHAT it actually is. The Holtzmann belts were designed to generate a yellow semi-translucent energy shield that blocks fire from plasma and laser weaponry. As it is, it got a reputation for malfunction during early product testing. How the belts fared in actual combat I do not know, as I miss data from the end events. My footage only show a brigade of marching soldiers wearing these"

"Can we get Mary sue patched into the base's systems so she could open the doors herself? Maybe some sort of radio?"

"Captain Phil, Sir! Since there is no wifi here, I believe we must connect to the mainframes through some sort of cable, or perhaps plug a wifi card into the mainframe. I found some suitable cables in the armory, or storage area, Sir!", Wionna reported in over the comms.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#176

Angus took this ever-so-brief down time to don one of the Drakonov suits from the armory. What the hell was he thinking before? Nevermind he decided, he wasn't thinking before.

He also pocketed another six frags, and hefted the AK-1047 Assault Rifle. He decided he liked its weight, and grabbed two magazines to go with it. Additionally, he carried the gasoline tanks back to the Mary Sue. "You never know when this might come in handy. Boom! Amirite?" He said to no one in particular.

Angus palmed his phone then and offered it to Phil. "We can use this too, Cappo." he deadpanned, ignoring the fact that he had never bothered to mention the mobile before.

Looking around, he found himself ignoring the "reunion" until he heard old lady Angelica speak, as she and Frank dipped in and out of the armory, along with Angus.

"That only leaves the bay doors, and the Powered Suit, if we want that"

"Yes, we want it. Who's with me? Let's go!" He announced. He needed to keep busy to not think about cocaine.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#177

"Hold your horses there Angus ! I'm really starting to hate surprises, so I'd like to get Mary patched in like Winnona says to see if we can get some better intel."

Phil looked at the phone curiously, not entirely sure what he was supposed to do with it...

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#178

"Get Mary patched in, Cap, to see if we can get some better intel", Angus added mimicking Marion's voice and grinning.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#179

Katherine nodded while she worked, she had fetched an old blood sample from Theo, and now introduced the G'kraun blood into the petri-dish.
"I see. Mary, First of all close the ramp, please. I don't want anyone entering or leaving until further notice, implement quarantine protocol, authorization code, five zero delta nine K. Additionally I want you to assist Theo in learning the incubation period of this disease we're dealing with, and if at all possible we need to start working on a cure, or at the very least a temporary fix. From now on, I'm introducing a new protocol, I want you to scan all crew-members within 30 minute intervals, check for abnormal changes in temperature, anything that can't be rationalized away. This protocol will remain active until further notice."

With that she flicked on the intercomm.

"Attention all personnel, report to med-bay immidiately, no exceptions." She switched off the intercomm.

"I want new blood samples taken, these are to be mandatory for all." With that she took out a clean syringe, removed the wrapper and pricked herself, as her blood filled the vial she spoke again.
"And anyone who didn't leave the Sue during the battle is to be equipped with a firearm or similar, anyone else is to be monitored closely." At that, she handed Theo a gun. "Here. If you're not familiar with it, take some potassium chloride syringes, I don't want you unarmed when anyone could potentially be infected." - "Sue, I want a log of all personnel that was outside during the battle."

-

As everyone was gathered, Katherine started by quietly telling Phil her intentions, then she turned and addressed them all.
"Listen up! From now on all non-millitary personnel operates under the buddy system, nobody goes anywhere without company. And nobody enters the ship without another group to welcome then. Though preferably nobody should be outside unless it can't be helped, the fumes outside are hazardous to inhale, take special precaution if you choose to exit. Now, form two orderly lines, we must collect blood samples from all of you, we're dealing with a highly contagious and virulent disease. This test is mandatory, I don't want to hear any objections."

Summary

What I want from Sue, implement quarantine for the time being.
A log of everyone who left the ship during the battle, these are to be closely monitored.
Check incubation period of the G'kraun disease, if possible I want Theo and Sue starting on a cure, vaccine or temporary fix.
Implement 30 min interval Scans of all personnel.
Blood samples collected from all personnel.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#180

Standing next to Phil while being poked with needles, Rebecca finally got to answering his question.
"The power suit was red..."
She received an incredulous look, so swiftly continued: "More than two meters tall, without obvious armaments. Perhaps it just carries guns, or they are attachable. Conceivably, smaller calibers may be incorporated in the design and deployed at need."

Truth be said, she liked how the suit looked, red and glossy, sleek and intimidating. Only, if it was not inhabited by Evil Katherine.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#181

"My veins are sensitive, Doc" Angus said as he approached Katherine for his shot. "Perhaps the buttocks?" He began undoing his pants. "Nothing you haven't seen, my dear, amirite?" he nodded toward Theodora.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#182

Phil had previously handed off the phone to Winonna and was now trying to unsee the proceedings...

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#183

She casually walked forward, dragging the Katana after her, letting the tip barely touch the floor as she did so. Looking down she noticed two rocket backpacks. She smiled nostalgically, bent down and touched the engine.

"Ракетно Рюкзак. Model 2107 I believe. It has been a long time since I used on of those."

She looked wistful for a short time. Then she noticed the trembling of the steel grid floor. Looking up she saw an enormous G'Kraun. It looked around, scouting for enemies.

Did it smell me? Oh... It heard me.

She thought about beheading it, but decided against it. The thing was enormous, and she left it alone.

***

"Mary Sue, can you please inform Captain Phil Marion that he has a guest that wants to enter?", she said.

***

Katherine squirted with the syringe, removing oxygen, when Mary Sue spoke.

"Captain Phil, we have a visitor outside. She wants to enter. Shall I lower the ramp?"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#184

"No on the ramp, not until I give the order."

"Mary Sue, can you scan our potential guest for weapons or whatever? Can you patch me through?"

An affirmative.

"Greetings guest. This is Captain Phil Marion of the Mary Sue. Please identify yourself and state your intentions."

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#185

"Mary Sue, can you scan our potential guest for weapons or whatever? Can you patch me through?", Phil said.

"I have already done so, Captain Phil. I cannot find her, though judging from her voice, she should be right outside. I am blind to her, Captain"

***

"Greetings guest. This is Captain Phil Marion of the Mary Sue. Please identify yourself and state your intentions.", the Captain demanded.

"This is Professor Sandra van de Wiel, formerly of the Copernicus. I wish to speak with you, poor, lost children. Please let me in. Don't led an elderly lady wait at the doorstep. I merely wish to parlay"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#186

'Elderly lady, my ass!" he said, rubbing his backside after Katherine's needle torture.

Angus scanned his mind for everyone he had ever known inside the Copernicus...

"Nope, never heard of a van de Wiel, Cap." he shrugged, "Then again, my brain isn't working at its maximum capacity at the moment."

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#187

"I would love to let you in, however you would need to submit to our current rigorous quarantine procedures due to a biological threat in the area. And since every person or thing on this damn planet we have met so far has tried to kill us, I would like to know a little more about you - for one, why we cannot see you. There are aliens about, perhaps you are one."

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#188

Fair enough.

"Decloak", she said, and the impressive outline of a work of art appeared.

She was shaped like a supermodel. Thin, elegant, high heels and the air of superiority. She wore a tight fitting latex suit, and only her face was visible; an utterly wrinkled old lady. Parchment skin, pulled over and over, till it was so thin the very veins inside were clearly visible. She might have been pretty once, but now she looked so old, so sick, with her yellow wrinkled skin full of veins.

"So, my children. I have nothing to hide. Please let me in, so we can speak", her voice was quivering.

***

"van de Wiel. Access denied. Access denied. The personell file is restricted, Captain. But my scan shows she is 90% machine, 10% human", Mary Sue said.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#189

"Do we still have any rounds in the gatling?" Rebecca whispered to Angus. The scientists had found them, and she was not happy with the idea at all.
"I would ever so much prefer if they let us to do as we will. Strange - they wish to murder us or sell us as slaves at first, then suddenly, we're so precious they follow us into the lion's den. No trust wasted on the guest at the door."

And no trust wasted on guests inside, either. She didn't invite the Overmind in - but then, Berthold's infected blood did. Rebecca interposed herself nonchalantly between the sick man and Katherine, then whispered to the doctor. "Berthold has it."
She did not leave her eyes off the old man, but attempted to intervene in the siren call.

Just as a safety precaution, the muzzle of the assault rifle rose in his direction.

Truth be said, she did not have the guts to shoot him... but might have to.
If I fail at intervention, and he tries anything funny, pew pew.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#190

"Berthold has it." - Rebecca whispered. Katherine nodded gravely and took out her revolver, aiming for Berthold's skull. "Angus, cuff him. Sorry about this, Berthold, but you need to be restrained. " - She whispered to Angus, but kept her eyes on the infected man. "After the cuffs, wrap him in steel wire, I don't want to take any chances."

If he moves I shoot him.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#191

Phil made a decison. He would not risk the, but he needed to know.

"
Okay, Rebecca, you are in charge if I don't come back. I'll go talk to her outside. Ask her to step well away from the door so I can get out. Gatling still ready to go?"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#192

"Do we still have any rounds in the gatling?"

"M-hm. Frank was quite bold in his defense of the Doc, but we have enough to take out an old cyborg lady."

"Angus, cuff him. Sorry about this, Berthold, but you need to be restrained."

"Sorry, Yorkie, but this is best for you...and us." Angus said it casually, but moved very quickly to apprehend and lock-down Berthold.

"If you open the door for that scientist assassin, Cap, I'm starting a mutiny." He added to Phil, as he waited for the Doc to tell him what to do with Berthold next.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#193

Phil stopped for a moment. He adressed the woman from the comm again, his plan to leave abandoned.

"Why, pray tell, should we trust you one iota? The fiction you are a helpless old lady does not hold up.

Why are you here. "

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#194

"Atta boy!" Angus mumbled to himself, as heard Captain Phil come to his senses, while Angus was escorting Berthold away.

"Frank, join me, won't you? I'll need help taking the guns out of the hold, before depositing Yorkie inside."

---------

"Welcome to your temporary room, Yorkie. Again, I apologize, but you've been infected you see, and Doc can't have you running around the Sue, infecting others. You understand don't you? Don't start crying now, I have no empathy for crying men. Only crying women."

to Frank: "M'kay, thanks, bye now."

---------

Alone again, Angus decided to try something.

"Mary Sue, can you patch me in to Baron Rembrandtplein?"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#195

"Why, pray tell, should we trust you one iota? The fiction you are a helpless old lady does not hold up.

Why are you here. "

"Oh my, I traveled a long way to meet you children. I do not expect you to remember me, you were just 5 years old after all. But I've changed diapers on you all, including your parents, your grandparents, and... Oh. It doesn't matter. Look here...", Cyborg Sandra held up a cube, a sleek brushed aluminium cube no larger than her fist. "I will leave this for you... here", she put the cube down on the other side of the cut open door, then she bowed with a gracious flourish and uttered a single word. "Cloak". Then she was gone.

***

Berthold didn't register much of what was being said. Katherine observed him as he foamed around his mouth, and as the blood vessels in his eyes started to pop, virulent red blood mixing with black, oozing down his cheeks.

"I got an idea", Theodora said and led Angus to the aft compartment in the cargo, where Berthold's cryostasis coffin was.

"Shove him in there", Theodora said.

When Angus left, Berthold finally settled in, cuffed and wired in his cryostasis coffin.

***

When Theodora came back, Katherine was already studying the mutating blood cells. The blood cells were being destroyed at an incredibly rapid pace. It had only been 30 minutes, and already 10% of the cells had been turned, small wisps of black blood being visible to the human eye.

***

"Mary Sue, can you patch me in to Baron Rembrandtplein?"

"I am sorry, sir. I do not have any signals down here. If you were to patch me up to the command console, I might be able to connect to a comm and radar array on the surface!"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#196

Katherine was fully focused, carefully she applied a single drop of nanites into a petri dish with an infected blood sample. While this was by far the most expensive solution, one she hoped to avoid resorting to, she needed to know that SOMETHING worked. However initial testings were bleak, the fully infected sample remained unaffected. Then a thought hit her, and she brought out a fresh clean sample from the medical fridge and then introduced infected blood into it. After a while she applied another drop of nanites to this new sample. This time she was rewarded for her efforts, she could clearly see the black blood disintegrating, leaving nothing but a silvery metalic dust on the surface on the once again clean blood sample.

Katherine spoke into her pocket-recorder. "Initial testings of the G'kraun disease have shown a worryingly swift incubation period of minutes rather than days. It would seem that even nano treatment is ineffective on a subject with a fully developed infection, however during the transitional metamorphic phase the nanites can still tell the source material from the introduced parasitic tissue. Due to scarcity of nanites available, alternative means needs be explored. Subject Berthold Geronius Yorke has become infected ...I..."

Katherine paused and cleared her throat as well as her thoughts, then continued.

"Subject has been entered into cryo-stasis, current state of infection unknown. Further examination will follow, he...the subject..."

"Science damn it, I sound like a scientist..."

....Scientist....

At that, the doctor went and put her affairs in order, she once again reminded and cautioned Theo, both to look after herself and to start working on a cure. She also arranged for guard duty in two person teams for the civilians to guard the cargo hold, if anything climbed out of that cryo-box that wasn't Berthold, it should soon find itself full of holes. She reiterated her previous orders for everyone. And she promised her aunt and uncle that she would be careful, and said the closest thing to good bye she would allow.
-
After that, she suited up, full body armor, assault rifle and multiple clips at the ready with her doctor's kit to boot. Whatever that cyborg scientist had left for them, she would pick it up on the way, if it blew up, at least it would happen away from the ship. She eagerly awaited the rest to get ready.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#197

While the Doctor made her preperations, Phil wandered down to where Winnona was working.

"Could you patch Mary Sue in using this?" - he offered the phone Angus had given him. "Angus said you might be able to."

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#198

Phil walked into what used to be the men's room. Wionna was already in there, on her knees, welding a piece of metal to the wall. To the Captain's eyes it looked like the Mary Sue was already spaceworthy, since the hole had been completely covered by the last metal plate.

As if she could read his mind, Wionna spoke.

"It won't hold in space, Captain. I need 6 more hours to work on this baby, put on several layers, make sure the hull is prepped for space", she smiled, stroking the walls like it was her baby.

"Could you patch Mary Jane in using this?" - he offered the phone Angus had given him. "Angus said you might be able to."

"Sure, Captain! That or the fiberoptics cable I found. This is easier I guess. I'll get right on it, sir!", Wionna saluted and walked down to the exit. She walked through the living quarters, edging her way past Rebecca who stood steadfast beside Katherine.

"Folks, let me through. On a mission for Cap Phil!"

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#199

As Katherine prepared to pick up the scientist's 'gift', Rebecca had to voice something that's been bothering her.
"I am actually glad we did not fire at her. Most likely, it was most likely chicanery and legerdemain and not herself; one does not become as old and wicked by taunting in front of cannons. A robot puppet, perchance?"
She shrugged, and looked apologetically, not being able to offer a deeper insight.

"Perchance I should pick it up - in case it is a trap?"
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

Re: Copernicus One [Chapter 1] - Scavenger Run

#200

"Chicanery? Legerdemain?" Katherine smiled within her mask. "I'll pick it up, dear. Just be prepared to run if it starts ticking."