[21:07] <> [21:08] <> [21:08] <> [21:09] (>.>) [21:09] <> [21:09] (What?) [21:11] <> [21:11] (Wait...) [21:12] (Waiting.( [21:13] <> [21:13] ( AGH. Sorry. Mom wanted something. ) [21:13] ('sokay. We just started anyways.) [21:14] * Isis is highlighting a book again. This one happens to be Ann Coulter's "Treason"> [21:15] * Tim sits near the coffee machine, looking like he didn't sleep enough but doesn't mind terribly. [21:15] * Vernon is consuming a donut and coffee. He actually looks alert this morning, strangely enough. [21:15] * Charlie 's got donuts!.. One in each hand. [21:16] -herring.sandwich.net:@#atc- Chamelaeon invited Dicesuke into channel #atc. [21:16] *** Dicesuke (dice@12-213-43-67.client.attbi.com) has joined #atc [21:16] * Taluun`tzo is consuming donuts... About four of them at once, actually. Despite this, he's managing to keep himself relatively crumb-free. He looks a bit more relaxed than before. Maybe kicking some ass was good for his soul? [21:16] (Enter the asshole.) [21:17] (... No, I can't do dicesuke right. I'm not that mean. ^^;) [21:17] * Chako is awake and padding away. [21:18] ( Uh.. UH... ) [21:18] ( *BOTH* of those comments need serious rewording. ) [21:18] <> "Still no word from the Cube." [21:18] (... I suppose they do.) [21:18] (... Only if you've got that sick of a mind, Todd. <.<) [21:18] (Heh.) [21:18] (If you liked to kiss other boys, Kevin, you'd notice it right off too, thank you very much.) [21:19] (I didn't though. You had to point it out.) [21:19] ( If Kevin liked to kiss *anyone*...) [21:19] * Tim nods absently at Rondure's comment. [21:19] Hmm... [21:19] * Tim tilts his head back and pours more coffee down his throat, after allowing it to cool enough. [21:20] <> [21:20] * Charlie polishes off one donut "Were we expecting something from him?" [21:20] * Chako frowns. "Well, if that's what he wants." [21:20] * Taluun`tzo finishes off a stack of doughnuts. "Mmm... doughnut." [21:20] 2d6-1 [21:20] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (2d6-1) and gets 2. [21:20] ( Made it, shockingly. ) [21:20] <> [21:21] * Taluun`tzo looks at Tim questioningly. "Are you sure that is wise to do?" [21:22] Impressive. [21:22] We're techs, so more coffee is always wise. [21:23] * Chako puts her datapad down and rubs her temples. "Augh. Setting up emergency orders is a pain." [21:23] * Tim ticks slightly. "Of course it isn't wise to do. My kidneys are rebelling as we speak. But in the short term, I'd like to be awake just now." [21:23] * Isis rubs her eyes and sets the book down. "I expect the Cube to do something other than rant about stuffed spiders. Silence is disquieting, haha." [21:24] Perhaps he wishes to rant about live spiders. [21:24] <> [21:25] ...poor Prag. [21:25] I am going to absolutely kill that bird. [21:25] Fate demands it. [21:25] * Charlie caughs on a piece of donut. [21:25] (coughs, rather) [21:25] ... [21:25] * Taluun`tzo eyes the bird. [21:26] You'll be doing the universe a favor, Isis. I insist that Lenin is humanity's single biggest threat, right now. [21:27] * Chako smirks. [21:27] Humanity's biggest threat, or just yours? [21:27] ...yes. [21:27] <> "Uh... guys?" [21:28] * Vernon raises an eyebrow. "What's up?" [21:28] * Taluun`tzo looks in no direction in particular. "Yes Pragmatic?" [21:28] * Isis raises an eyebrow. Alarm = danger, Chako Robinson. [21:28] (s/Pragmatic/Rondure. @_@) [21:29] "Hate to break up breakfast, but there's a party of Bugs who just d-shifted into the barracks area, and they don't seem interested in being good houseguests." [21:29] * Chako waits for the damn report, and then frowns. "Send out the order for defense plan B-2, and tell them it's bugs. Let's move!" [21:30] (Chako got a bingo. Hooray.) [21:30] (Congrats! What did she win?) [21:30] "Done. The troops are suiting up." [21:30] * Isis stands up and rubs her shoulder. "And so should we be." [21:30] (SHE WIN A TRIP TO CHINESE BUFFET FOR EIGHT!) [21:30] * Vernon grabs his stuff and sets down his coffee mug. [21:30] Righto. [21:30] * Charlie stuffs the rest of the second donut in his mouth and brushes off his hands. [21:30] (Y'all are remarkably calm. o_O) [21:31] (Hey, for Chako? It's what she does. ^_^;) [21:31] Shall we suit up, or do you think your guys can handle this, Chako? [21:31] * Chako shakes her head. "Maybe, maybe not. Better to be suited up for the worst case." [21:31] I'll definitely want my suit. [21:31] * Chako starts running. "Rondure, how many are there?" [21:32] "Twenty and more on the way." [21:32] * Taluun`tzo dumps two more doughnuts into his mouth. "Time to squish some bugs." He starts running and suits up on the way. [21:32] "Mostly low-class but a few mid-class." [21:33] Works for me. [21:33] * Tim suits up! And goes! [21:33] * Vernon suits up as well. "Time for violence." [21:34] (Are all of you suiting up?) [21:34] * Chako rubs her head. "I've got to get used to this suit thing." She shifts into the suit. [21:34] * Charlie suits up. "Just in time to try out the new gear" [21:35] * Isis does the whole pre-flight check thing. "To think I used to enjoy this line of work." [21:35] You do not enjoy it anymore? [21:35] * Isis sighs and flexes her fingers. "I'm... a bit tired." [21:36] Can't blame you... [21:37] It's okay. I'll see this through, at least. I have to. [21:37] * Vernon nods. [21:37] This is about as good as it gets anyway. If a whole hell of a lot weirder. [21:37] * Charlie stretches somewhat in his suit. "Not bad. Odd, but not bad." [21:38] <> [21:38] * Isis raises an eyebrow, drawing her sword. "Our boys work quick. They're growing up so fast." [21:39] * Taluun`tzo raises his force field. "Improvisation. Impressive." [21:39] * Chako grins and her weapons whirr. "Yeah. It'll be a pisser when this is over and they put me back on doing normal stuff." [21:39] * Vernon draws his sword as well. "Well done indeed." [21:39] << There are about a dozen men on your side of the barricade, some of them not even entirely in-suit. There is definitely something on the other side of the barricade, too, and it wants through BADLY. You can hear faint "KKKKKZKXXXKZKZKX"-type sounds, along with intermittent blaster fire, but the beds are holding for now.>> [21:41] <> ~Lieutenant!~ [21:41] Aww. They sound so cute. [21:41] * Chako comms, ~Soldier. Have the naked ones fall back and get prepared. The rest will hold here!~ [21:42] On the contrary. They sound like large, well, bugs. [21:43] Well, yeah. I was making an attempt at sarcasm. [21:44] ~Yes, sir!~ <> [21:44] Ah, sarcasm. Of course. [21:45] * Isis looks toward the beds. "Well... I'd wonder how we get to them without letting them through the barricade." [21:45] * Vernon ponders. "I wonder how they'd react to high-frequency tones." [21:46] * Taluun`tzo looks at the beds and assumes a defensive stance facing said beds. "Poorly, I think." [21:46] To our advantage or not, is what I'm wondering. [21:47] <> [21:47] <> [21:47] Why not try it? They'll probably be through soon. [21:47] d6+9 [21:47] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (d6+9) and gets 14. [21:47] d6+8 [21:47] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (d6+8) and gets 12. [21:47] ~Ronnie! Can you try playing some high-frequency tones that won't hurt us?~ [21:47] d6+6 [21:47] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Vernon (d6+6) and gets 9. [21:48] d6+9 [21:48] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (d6+9) and gets 13. [21:48] I'd say they're through right now. [21:48] d6+7 [21:48] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chako (d6+7) and gets 8. [21:48] d6+8 [21:48] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (d6+8) and gets 14. [21:48] (Jay-sus.) [21:48] (*lays back* Tell me when combta gets here. ^_~) [21:49] (The numbers are all over the place. ^^;) [21:49] <> [21:49] <> [21:49] <> [21:50] * Isis smirks and leaps at whichever spider's closest to the people who can't defend themselves. [21:50] 2 2d6-4 [21:50] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (2 2d6-4) and gets 5 3. [21:50] * Tim doesn't have melee weapons, sadly. He waits to see if Isis can paste 'em all on her own, hoping to do something about the big bug instead. [21:50] ( Yes, and yes. ) [21:51] <> [21:51] (Holding action, Tim?) [21:52] ( Nah. ) [21:52] (... okay!) [21:53] <> [21:53] (one left?) [21:53] 2d6-2 [21:53] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (2d6-2) and gets 7. [21:57] <> [21:58] (... 2.5 minute ping. Yesh.) [21:59] (Someone else was complaining of problems earlier, too...c_c; My conn is fine, though.) [21:59] (I'm getting problems with both my /nicks.) [21:59] (Anyone else had trouble today?) [21:59] (It's ATTBI. Now ROLL, dammit!) [22:00] 2d6-3 [22:00] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (2d6-3) and gets 6. [22:00] 2d6-3 [22:00] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (2d6-3) and gets 9, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "Looks like your thread just got cut. Sorry." [22:00] ( Nope, sadly. ) [22:00] (...) [22:00] (Dodged into it! Good jorb.) [22:00] <> [22:01] <> [22:01] ( Zeeg, you do realise that you're in a position where you can actually go and kick Dicesuke? ) [22:01] (Very much so. But then I'd get weird looks from my parents.) [22:02] * Taluun`tzo eyes the one grabbing Isis's leg and grabs at it, trying to pry it off. (Next action TBA pending success of this one.) [22:02] 2d6-2 [22:02] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (2d6-2) and gets 1. [22:02] <> [22:03] * Taluun`tzo chucks the spider he grabbed at the head of the giant spider-thingie. [22:03] <> [22:04] * Taluun`tzo shrugs. Worth a shot. [22:04] ( Can I take my turn now? Pwiddy pweze? ) [22:05] (.... yes, but I'm being nice. You said you weren't holding action.) [22:05] <> [22:05] ( Er? I meant I wanted to take it then. ^^; ) [22:06] (*rubs temples* You vex me. But go.) [22:06] * Tim aims for the Big Big Bug with a trio of now-spinning barrels on his suit's right arm. [22:07] 2d6-3 [22:07] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (2d6-3) and gets 4. [22:07] ( ...I made it. I think. ) [22:07] (That the autofire?) [22:08] ( Yup. ) [22:08] <> [22:09] <> [22:09] * Vernon steps forward and slices at the big bug with his wakizashi. [22:09] 2d6-3 [22:09] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Vernon (2d6-3) and gets 8. [22:09] (Nope. :/) [22:10] (Short sword! Yay!) [22:12] <> [22:12] * Isis grins at Taluun. "Handy. My thanks. It looks like the big one is all Chako, though." [22:13] <> [22:13] * Taluun`tzo smirks. "Let's see her do her stuff, then." [22:14] * Chako brings both arms to bear on the big bug as a blue laser slices from her left arm, and a red one from her right palm. [22:15] 2d6-3 [22:15] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chako (2d6-3) and gets 4. [22:15] 2d6-3 [22:15] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chako (2d6-3) and gets 6. [22:15] (Dicey didn't cause my beams to reflect back at me. I am pleased.) [22:15] <> [22:16] Nice. [22:16] Thanks! [22:16] ( ...Chako took Antipode as a weapon. ) [22:16] (Sadly not.) [22:16] Very nice. [22:16] (I should!) [22:16] Nice shot. [22:17] * Chako grins. "Whoo. This thing has more lasers than... uh... my last suit." [22:17] <> "That's it for this barricade! The other one almost has the rest killed off!" [22:17] <> [22:19] * Tim shoots at one of the crickets! Simple. ^_^ [22:19] 2d6-3 [22:19] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (2d6-3) and gets 5. [22:19] ( Made the roll by 1. ) [22:20] <> [22:21] (Amazing what a little training can do. Er, Isis?) [22:21] ( Um. ) [22:21] * Isis takes a whack at the other cricket. Two whacks, actually. [22:21] 2 2d6-4 [22:21] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (2 2d6-4) and gets 3 6. [22:22] ( Yes and yes. ) [22:22] (Whack whack!) [22:23] <> [22:23] <> [22:23] (Heh.)( [22:23] (...) [22:24] * Charlie shoots at a bad guy! (auto) [22:25] 2d6-3 [22:25] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (2d6-3) and gets 2. [22:25] (yesh.. 5 hits) [22:25] (Impressive.) [22:25] <> [22:26] <> [22:26] ( Battlechess! XD ) [22:26] * Taluun`tzo jumps over to one, and pretty much tries to beat the shit out of it. [22:26] (that's what.. the second time I've hit something with that weapon? ^_~) [22:26] 2 2d6-3 [22:26] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (2 2d6-3) and gets 4 0. [22:27] <> [22:27] < (Nonsense! There's always more bugs to kill!) [22:28] < Wow, that was quick. [22:28] (+>>, dammit.) [22:28] ( Quickly, Taluun! Use your Pummel attack! ) [22:29] * Taluun`tzo throws the corpse of the pummeled spider against the wall. "Perhaps we have over-estimated them." [22:29] Eh. Small gate, I guess. Hopefully we won't have to deal with more in a theoretical 'next time'. [22:30] * Vernon nods. [22:30] <> "The other barricade is almost done, and that's the last of the bugs, but I managed to isolate something odd in one of the barracks." [22:30] What is it? [22:30] Oh? [22:31] "I appear to have... stuck my foot in the door, so to speak. The gate they used is still open." [22:31] * Vernon blinks. [22:31] * Isis blinks. "I had no idea you could toy with dimensional shift gates." [22:31] "Neither did I." [22:32] * Chako whistles. "Well, that answers my question about why they can jump right into my base." [22:32] I think we should pay them a visit. [22:32] * Tim blinks. "...nice. Very, very nice. Do you have any idea as to how long you can hold it open?" [22:32] This will be useful. [22:32] "Uh, probably not much longer. They're working to force it closed, I can feel it." [22:33] Alright. Then we'll have to go now, if we want to go. Or wait for another to open. [22:33] Return odds? [22:33] Are we going to be able to flee if we get into deep trouble? [22:33] 'S too bad, really. I was hoping we could chuck in a nuke or something to warm up the audience. [22:34] "I imagine you can use whatever they used to get here to return. Failing that, I bet I could make another one of these, but it'd burn out half the power circuits in the base." [22:35] Going doesn't sound like the best idea. Explosives are good though. [22:35] * Chako frowns. "Alright, then. Quickly. How long should we give it before returning?" [22:36] I think going is the only way to ensure our objective is completed. [22:36] I think... I'd rather end it now than drag it out. [22:36] I agree...but on the other hand, I'd rather not die. [22:36] Sure. [22:36] * Chako says tersely. "I wasn't asking whether we'd go. I was asking how long it'd take us to wipe them out so we can tell Rondure when to get us back if we can't find their machine." [22:37] "With your current suits and an assumption of the number of bugs inside, I estimate it'll take a little under two hours to find the Pyramid, kill her, and get out." [22:38] Wow. [22:38] * Isis eyes Chako warily. "I think assuming we'd all go into a potential suicide mission is a big unnerving." [22:38] Good thing I had all that coffee. [22:38] That long? [22:39] * Chako chuckles. "Nobody's gonna gonna hold a gun to your head and make you jump, Isis. I just knew that I was going. Two hours, then." She comms, ~Alright, Franklin? You're in charge until we get back. Keep on your toes.~ [22:40] ~Sir, yes sir!~ <> [22:40] * Taluun`tzo nods. "We cannot squander this opportunity. I am ready to leave right now, if need be." [22:41] Ronnie... tell the Cube to muster ATC forces, just in case. If he says why he should do what he ask, tell him without humanity to boss around he'll be really, really bored. [22:41] "I'll do what I can, but I bet he's sulking and watching 'Three's Company' reruns." [22:42] I'm with y'all, but I don't like the idea of being trapped there.. just so ya know. [22:42] Same here. [22:42] ...and this is what's been running humanity for all these decades? No wonder everything's so screwed up. [22:42] "I can get you out. All you've got to do is call." [22:43] (Rondure! I need an exit!) [22:43] (Beam us up, Rondure.) [22:43] (If we knew how to call her over the distance, that'd help.) [22:43] Would that not take years for the light to reach you, though? [22:44] Well, the AI's can talk to each other over those distances, can't they? [22:45] "Yeah, ITT, remember? I've been working on ITT signal boxes. Grab one of the camera cubes in the hall there, press the red button on top when you're ready." [22:46] * Tim grabs one and stashes it somewhere safe. [22:46] * Vernon grabs one as well. [22:46] If we're goin, let's get goin' [22:46] Yes. Let us go. [22:46] * Isis nods. "I agree." [22:47] * Chako mutters, "Wish someone told me these things..." then nods. "Right. Rondure? Uh... open it up, or point us to it, or whatever." [22:47] "It's in the second barracks on the left." [22:47] * Taluun`tzo walks to the second barracks on the left! [22:47] * Chako jogs to the second barrracks on the left! [22:47] * Vernon follows Chako. [22:47] * Tim follows! [22:48] * Isis also goes. [22:48] <> [22:49] Oooh, fun.. Shall we? [22:49] There is no time like the current. [22:49] * Vernon nods. [22:49] Heck, I'll even go first. *he shimmers out* [22:50] I'm goin' through, maybe they won't spot me. [22:50] * Tim strolls in. "Nice." [22:50] * Chako chuckles, and walks through as well. "Gutsy." [22:50] * Vernon follows. [22:50] * Charlie steps through, not that anyone can see. [22:51] * Taluun`tzo tromps thru, like the big lizard he is. [22:51] * Isis enters the thingy. [22:52] <> [22:53] <> [22:54] Nice. [22:55] < (Uh... in any order?) [22:55] (No order! Go!) [22:55] * Tim shoots! [22:56] 2d6-3 [22:56] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (2d6-3) and gets 8. [22:56] * Vernon slices! Vernon dices! [22:56] 2d6-3 [22:56] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Vernon (2d6-3) and gets 6. [22:56] (Oh yeah!) [22:56] * Isis plants her feet and just swings her sword like a bat. [22:56] 2d6-3 [22:56] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (2d6-3) and gets 3. [22:56] 2d6-2 [22:56] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (2d6-2) and gets 2. [22:56] ( Ayup. The knockback kensei thing. ) [22:56] * Taluun`tzo swings his tail around to smack at them. [22:56] (4 hits) [22:56] 2 2d6-2 [22:56] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (2 2d6-2) and gets 5 7. [22:57] <> [22:57] * Charlie sprays some plasma into the room! [22:57] (They're dead. <.<) [22:57] ("Backup! Send backup!") [22:59] * Chako gestures towards the big corridor. "Alright. Me on point, Vernon and Isis flanking, Charlie to the rear, Tim in the middle. Let's tear 'em up." [22:59] * Taluun`tzo ...'s. "Forgetting someone?" [23:00] * Charlie nods and shimmers back in. The shimmer effect is a bit faster than it used to be with the old suit. [23:00] * Isis grins. "Where does a 2000 pound Sleythin sleep?" [23:00] * Vernon nods. [23:00] * Chako blinks, and looks almost sheepish. "ATC mindset, sorry. Me, Isis, and Taluun in front, and the other three in the back hemisphere." [23:01] Not here. And I most certainly do not weigh a ton. [23:01] * Tim nods. [23:02] <> [23:02] * Taluun`tzo nods. "It is acceptable. We have work to do." [23:02] And you guys in the back are gonna get a workout! Now let's move! [23:02] * Chako proceeds to move, on the assumption that others will move! [23:03] * Isis nods and takes off. Not at top speed, since that would be sort of rude. [23:03] (Meet you at the pyramid! *zoom*) [23:03] Oh, good, a workout. I was thinking we might do something strenuous instead. [23:03] * Taluun`tzo moves as well! Probably at top speed if they're moving at speed level 1. <.< [23:03] * Vernon follows! [23:03] * Tim follows! [23:04] * Charlie heads up the rear [23:04] <> [23:05] * Taluun`tzo observes said tunnel while keeping pace. [23:06] What are the odds that we meet the Pyramid at the end of this corridor? [23:06] <> [23:07] Somehow this seems a little too easy, doesn't it? [23:07] Yeah. The Pyramid can't be this stupid. [23:07] Who says the pyramid isn't hiding in a closet on the other side of the planet? [23:07] Eh. Prolly a trap. [23:07] * Chako comms, ~Maybe the Pyramid wasn't completely expecting Rondure? Or maybe it is a trap. Not much we can do now.~ [23:08] Either way, we'll prolly be dealing with a whole lotta bugs before long. [23:09] <> [23:09] ~There's some coming up slowly behind us~ [23:09] ~Here we go!~ [23:09] We'll have to blitz through these ones ahead if we don't want to get swarmed. [23:10] ~Blitz means rush, right?~ [23:10] <> [23:10] d6+6 [23:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Vernon (d6+6) and gets 12. [23:10] d6+7 [23:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chako (d6+7) and gets 11. [23:10] d6+9 [23:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (d6+9) and gets 13. [23:10] d6+8 [23:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (d6+8) and gets 11. [23:10] d6+8 [23:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (d6+8) and gets 10. [23:11] d6+9 [23:11] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (d6+9) and gets 14. [23:11] <> [23:11] <> [23:12] * Charlie fires his auto [23:12] 2d6-3 [23:12] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (2d6-3) and gets 1. [23:12] (6 hits!) [23:12] (At?) [23:12] (Man. That auto's killer right now.) [23:13] (one of the big bull things.) [23:13] <> [23:14] <> [23:14] * Isis dashes between the two crickets, slashing at each as she goes. [23:14] 2 2d6-4 [23:14] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (2 2d6-4) and gets 5 1. [23:14] ( Yes, to both. ) [23:14] <> [23:14] <> [23:15] * Vernon runs forward and slices at more of the small bugs. [23:15] 2d6-3 [23:15] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Vernon (2d6-3) and gets 6. [23:15] (Yes!) [23:15] (You silly people and your swords.) [23:15] (There... are no more small bugs.) [23:15] (Ah. Well, one of the less frickin' huge bugs, then.) [23:15] (There are no less frickin' huge bugs.) [23:16] <> [23:16] (...okay, then, I'm gonna make the Bull very angry. @_@) [23:16] <> [23:16] <> [23:17] (Uh, shoot it?) [23:17] (Sadly, I don't have Slash to combine with Taluun's Uzi Punch.) [23:18] * Taluun`tzo charges forward and tries to pin it down for Chako's artillary fire, moving the bull behind him if he needs to. (What checks do I need?) [23:18] <> [23:18] (Uh, yeah.) [23:19] 2d6-2 [23:19] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (2d6-2) and gets 3. [23:19] (And to grapple, do I really need to make a roll? ^^;) [23:19] ("Yes".) [23:19] 2d6-16 [23:19] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taluun`tzo (2d6-16) and gets -8. [23:19] (Who knows? You could crit.) [23:19] <> [23:20] * Chako hesitates for the split initiative that it takes for Taluun to do his work, and then goes with what works, the pair of lasers right through it. [23:20] 2 2d6-3 [23:20] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chako (2 2d6-3) and gets 6 1. [23:20] (Yeahs.) [23:20] (Hrmmm... Shoulda tossed it up so it would explode in midair.) [23:21] <> [23:22] * Chako keeps moving. (What's the distance?) [23:23] <> [23:25] <<...smack in front of a large, well, pyramid. It's as tall as the tunnel, and that means at least several hundred feet high. The Pyramid sits a little bit off the ground, and the intervening space is filled with billions of tiny little insectoid legs. The legs sit on top of the blue veins in the rock, which all go underneath the Pyramid. Directly in front of you is a probiscus, and two glowing blue eyes.>> [23:26] (Reminds me of a FF3/6j Delta Bug.) [23:26] (... Yeah. <.<) [23:26] <> "SO, YOU HAVE MADE IT TO MY LAIR." [23:27] * Chako smirks faintly. ~Should we even bother talking to the thing?~ [23:27] ~Actions speak louder than words.~ [23:27] Impressive... [23:27] "I SUPPOSE THIS IS AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY TO SURRENDER." [23:27] * Chako blinks. It'd be audible, if this were an anime. [23:29] * Isis eyes the Pyramid warily. ~ Surrender... is that even an option? ~ [23:29] ~Maybe we should ask Rondure as to the rules of 'surrender'.~ [23:29] Not a bad idea, all in all. Who are you thinking of surrendering to, and on what terms? [23:30] "TO YOU, OF COURSE. OR MORE CORRECTLY, TO THE SPHERE. SHE IS YOUR PLAYER IN THE GAME. AND THE TERMS ARE SIMPLE. WAR CEASES, I AM A LOSER IN THE GAME." [23:31] * Chako snorts. ~Who here gives a damn about their stupid game?~ [23:32] ~If war ceases, that's good enough for me. On the other hand...how can we be sure it'll happen?~ [23:32] ~We cannot.~ [23:32] ~ It sounds too convenient. ~ [23:32] ~Much too conenient. How do we even know this isn't a decoy?" [23:33] ~Shoot it?~ [23:33] ~Any way we can talk to Ronnie from here?~ [23:35] * Chako frowns. ~Probably, but I say just end it. Whether the shapes are playing a game or not, this guy tried to wipe us all out.~ [23:35] * Taluun`tzo checks his scanners. Any anolomies, or is this entire place weird? [23:35] ~Good point. Can we at least bitch at it a while first? Maybe learn something?~ [23:36] ~ Agreed. AIs shouldn't be controlling living beings. But I also agree we should pump it for information. ~ [23:36] ~Makes sense.~ [23:36] <> [23:36] ~While we talk, we're attracting company. Make a decision quickly.~ [23:37] ~Kill?~ [23:37] ~I say kill.~ [23:37] ~Kill is acceptable. We can get data from the remains if need be.~ [23:38] ~We can?~ [23:38] (You're all so bloodthirsty. I love it.) [23:38] ~Maybe.~ [23:38] ~But hey, one less problem.~ [23:38] ~...actually, yes I can.~ [23:39] * Chako grins. ~Then let's do it. Spread out the damage, we have no idea of what it'll take. Time he learned what this Game of war actually means.~ [23:39] ~That war is not a game.~ [23:39] ~Right.~ [23:40] Sorry, but we're not buyin' what you're sellin'. You've done a few things that've got you on our bad side. The Sphere has too, for that matter. So. [23:40] (So, let's see. There's an automatic -4 to hit this thing.) [23:40] (D'you mean Cube?) [23:40] (She might have really meant Sphere.) [23:40] (Sphere is our friend. Egg and Cube are boo. Cloud is loony.) [23:41] ( Right. ) [23:41] YOU MEAN YOU WOULD BREAK THE RULES? [23:41] (How many rounds until the bugs come into fighting distance?) [23:41] (Well, Cloud's always been loony.) [23:41] They're not our rules. We're not AI. [23:41]