<> <<... wait, wait, wrong, sorry. You were INSTEAD on Kappa Ceti III, which is now a "blasted hellscape" as a result of a superflare from friendly Kappa Ceti. Even now, the sun is roiling with tendrils of superheated plasma, making the light over the scorched scene quaver oddly. You all are safe, and your samples have survived, but there's a problem.>> <> <> * Tomas returns from the lab, having procured a futuristic pad of paper and a pen, and begins scribbling madly. (I wonder if we've even got one.) (Lexi has Lipstick!) * Amadeus activates the manual release for the door out of the map room and then heads to the lobby in a state of semi-shock. "Is everyone all right? Everything in the map room shut down." * Hestia calls, from behind Amadeus (and still in the map room), "That would be because the computer core is fried." Yes, er... what she said. * Amadeus blinks a few times and shakes his head. (Paper made on Mars is future paper!) * Lexi shrugs. "Well Zeke appears to be taking a nap, and Tomas has.... other problems apparantly. And we can't take off. Other than that we're doing just peachy." A nap? * Amadeus sounds worried. * Zeke's drones are all deployed now, and he is so totally not doing anything what with his suit seeming shut down. 2d6+12 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+12) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 19. * Zeke's drones, however, are setting themselves up behind him, and then the twitchiest one of them is climbing up one of opposite walls. (Is Zeke in this room? By which I mean, the lobby, because that is where I am now!_ * Hestia walks out of the map room and is opening one of the many pouches on her many utility belts. "The computer is fixable. The wires aren't fused or anything. Fixable in a hurry, well, I hope you brought a 'book'." You can hear the fingerquotes. Books are a myth! (Um... I have no idea where he is, but Lexi noticed him last time.) * Tomas holds up the future paper he's been scribbling on for those in the lounge to see, "Anybody keen on cyber?" (So he's wherever Lexi was.) (presumably cockpit) * Amadeus sees the question and shakes his head. "I have some, but Space Jesus knows I don't know how to implement or fix it. I've got to find Zeke." So saying, he heads off to do that... well, cockpit would be a good guess, since Lexi knows! (You know... I'm really fighting the urge to have Lexi say "Tomas! Now is not the time!" but Cyber Sex has probably lost all the meaning it has now by ATC3) (He also replied to Kyle. Man, our positioning is LOUDY.) (Lousy.) (I imagine TSM makes cyber sex less cyber.) (Don't call me Shirley!) (Lexi: Soon it will be gaining a NEW meaning!) (Yes) (Maria could give you a few tips.) (Like Demolition Man?) * Amadeus finds Zeke! And the drones. He waves away any that get in his way and tries to figure out... well, what he can figure out about Zeke's condition. * Kyle runs back up from engineering, looking pretty messed up from working through the machinery. "Well. Bright side, all the macheniery is still intact. Some effects from the heat, but nothing that can't be quickly fixed." * Zeke is, by the time Amadeus gets there, still blank! But just as he comes into view one of the drones had just jumped across the room, slammed into Zeke, and knocked him over into the other 5. * Tomas shakes his pad of paper at Kyle. * Zeke's birdsect flaps its wing and makes a piezoelectric noise at Amadeus. Maybe it's annoyed? * Amadeus approaches cautiously. "It's okay," he says to the mechanical bird thing. "I'm just trying to figure out what's wrong with Zeke here." Downside is a lot of the control circuitry is fried. I can work it over using non-essential systems and auxilary circutry to fix most of it, but I still need raw metals and some silicon plus to replace some of the more delicate circuits." <> * Kyle takes the pad and raeds it over. * Lexi turns around and looks at Kyle directly. "How quickly CAN it be fixed? Because like... we need to beat those guys back." * Zeke's birdsect flaps its wings as the drones move around him and start trying to carry him off. The bird makes another noise and flaps its wings as it kinda stares at Amadeus. The point is it *can't* be fixed unless I get some silicon plus and raw materials. (Sorry, dinner arrived) * Hestia glances up at the mention of silicon plus. "Well. I can think of one way to get it, once the firestorm dies down." On cue, she stows the tools she was fiddling with and reaches down to check her sidearm, drawing it and cocking it in one go. Yeah, I was thinking that too. Probably would have the other materials I need too. * Amadeus frowns a little as he tries to put the pieces together, then just says, "Hey, Zeke. I know you're probably running those drones and can't talk because your suit shut down. Is there anything we can do to help you out?" * Kyle glances at Tomas. "I could try and fix your cyber, but I'm no expert." * Kyle grins. "Just a techie." * Hestia glances at Tomas. "*I* could try to fix your cyber but I'm not touching your tongue, thank you." (Take it out and drop it on the table!) (...is it detachable?) (I am being told Zeke's connection asplode.) (No, probably not. Otherwise you'd leave it in pickle jars.) (I would have running around waving it around, if so.) ( USE FINGERS TO REMOVE PICKLES. ) * Tomas frowns at Hestia then shrugs and opens his mouth at Kyle. * Kyle winces and looks in, checking for major issues. 2d6+11 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+11) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 16. <> (Hahaha.) ...fantastic. Now that I've seen that, let me step outside and put a bullet in my head so I can forget the image before it's too late. 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+8) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 17. <> (What the hell happened to Mecha's conn?) (Throttling kicked in.) * Mechalink is now known as Zeke (Hate that SO MUCH. Recap?) (Kyle's cool, Hestia drools.) (Got.) (Yes, it's clear you'd rather have Kyle in your mouth than Tia.) * Kyle grabs a tiny tool from his toolbelt and, with a carefully calculated movement, gets it into the servo, twists it a few times to get the tongue to stop lashing about, then adjust, tweaks, and gets it operational again. * Kyle pulls the prod out. "There, that working?" <> (Is it?) * Zeke's bird doesn't do anything for a moment, then it hops a few spaces over and makes a noise as it pecks at a plate, turns to Amadeus, then turns back and pecks again. * Hestia turns and heads toward wherever Amadeus is, holstering her gun as she moves. That was unnerving. There will be nightmares. * Zeke's drones shift so as to present said plate to her. * Kyle shrugs. He's seen worse. Much worse. <> * Tomas works his tongue around a bit, "Seems like it." * Amadeus turns to Hestia and smiles with relief. "Thank goodness. Zeke needs our help." He points. "His suit's shut down, but I think his headputer's still active, since the drones aren't." You gotta get EMP protection if you need that thing to talk. I'm afraid of moving him from the suit, but we might not have to. I think he's trying to tell us to take a look under this plate? * Zeke's bird drone looks over to Hestia, and then its legs to start pointing at the panel again. * Hestia stares down at non-active suit. With a very calculating look, and for far longer than is comfortable. *Eventually*, however, she reaches into a pouch and produces some tools. "I suppose I can take a look." She glances at the bird and says, in her ever-so-sweet tone: "Move." * Amadeus lets out a breath and has a seat nearby so he can watch and help if possible. * Zeke's bird hops back slightly, but it seems to be watching carefully, the rest of the drones still holding him over their heads. I'm planning to look into it after we get paid for this trip. <> <> (What am I rolling to jumpstart the Volvo that is Zeke.) (I don't think I get a jumpstart. We're working on communications first.) (It was a joke.) <> * Hestia pops the hood! So to speak. 2d6+9 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zeke (2d6+9) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 19. * Zeke's bird, now that the hood's open, starts pointing at various small fiddly bits of the suit's electronics with its reddish claws, trying to indicate all sorts of things... and finally offers that leg to link up against a specific wire, looking to Hestia to finish the job. <> So, where's the rest of the crew? I am seriously going to shoot that bird someday. * Hestia gets to work maybe! 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Hestia (2d6+8) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 13. (Why is Hestia so angry?) (The ship just fried and she saw something totally disgusting and Amadeus freaked her out earlier?) (Why WOULDN'T she be angry?) (her player has a longstanding hatred of birds.) (especially ones in ATC games.) (She is trapped on a planet after solar flare activity fixing the suit for someone she finds extremely creepy and having just seen Tomas and Kyle play tongue games.) They were saying something's wrong with Zeke's suit. I think they headed up to the cockpit. (Aw yeah.) <> (Excellent.) * Zeke's bird and suit botk make another piezoelectric crackling noise, and then it starts to spew, in Zeke's voice, "T--czzk-test--test." The bird looks right at Hestia. "Interface successful." * Hestia frowns, toying with microtools until *that* happens at which she backs off with some speed. (We're all about the tongue, aww yeah.) * Amadeus just whistles lowly, then asks, "How are you feeling, Zeke?" * Zeke's drones shift him around as the bird looks up at the both of them. "I am--auxillery systems are holding. Major external suit damage, as--kxckrkzk--expected in electromagnetic situation." (Okay, time to make food. Hungry AND nauseated, it's a great feeling.) Drones largely functional. Is that creepy guy for 'fine, thanks'? I think so, Tia. * Zeke makes another electrical noise, then, "You made the process much simpler. That is good for all involved." I've got a warm fuzzy feeling, believe me. (Note: Actual fuzzy feeling not included.) * Zeke's bird tilts is head, then he replies, "Fine. Thanks." * Amadeus leans forward and folds his hands. "Do you think it's safe to leave you in the suit while it's fixed? I don't know what we can manage, but we could try to duplicate the effects you need from your suit elsewhere so we can get it fixed faster." * Zeke's bird looks to Hestia and says, "With Hestia's continued assistance, full suit functionality is possible." Evacuation is not adv--a good idea. * Kyle heads up to the cockpit after finishing checking over the rest of Tom for other major operational issues. "So what's going on with Zeke?" (err, back. YOu would have found my arms and legs down, too, Kyle) * Amadeus looks back at Kyle. "His suit's fried and he's talking through his bird." * Hestia raises an eyebrow at that, but seems content to let it go. "Wall socket to the nth degree," she throws out at Kyle, before looking at, amusingly enough, the bird. "What's the processor core like for that suit?" (I'll get those operational if easily doable.) (Tomas: didn't you buy protection for your arms and legs?) (Cham is preparing food, I th... oh.) (I have enough protection that I don't collapse, but that's all) (OH, right. Give me a minute.) * Zeke responds, as the bird 'meets' Hestia's eyes, with a wingflutter, "Modified ATC-1753T." (yum yum maruchan yakisoba.) (Standard or s+?) Just like everything else in the ship. (S+.) <> (Right, that's what he's got now then.) * Zeke adds, "That is only the main, there are several important sub-processors." (You know.... I read that as 13753T as LTSET for a second.) (er 1753T) * Hestia pauses for a second, and actually looks like she's ticking something off on her fingers before she speaks. "I could speed this up. You won't like how, though." * Zeke asks flatly, "How. The system is... very custom." * Hestia says, with a sardonic smile by way of answer, "I know a few custom systems of my own." * Zeke's bird flutters its wings. "That is not an answer." You're right about that. (WHEN SECRETIVE PEOPLE ATTACK) (OH NOEZ) <<.... so the rest of you. All in the cockpit now? What are you doing?>> (I'm doing what I have been doing. Sitting by and watching and waiting to see if they need my help.) (Making sure Zeke's all right is presently Amadeus' top priority.) (I was heading toward the cockpit to see what the plan is.) * Zeke is silent a moment, then, "I would prefer--czzk--not to use unknown techniques. Unknown effects. High risk." * Kyle whistles. * Hestia shrugs. "Suit yourself. I'm not inclined to go out on a limb for your sake either." Bitch though she may be, however, she gets to work anyway. <> 2d6+13 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Hestia (2d6+13) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 20. 2d6+12 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zeke (2d6+12) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 18. (21 if the suit is booby trapped! :D) (Ha.) * Lexi turns to Kyle. "So, you need some parts to get the ship started? And we don't have enough spare parts on board?" I'm already salvaging what I can from non-essential systems. <> (I play Bejeweled on his face.) * Lexi nods and shrugs. "Ah... So you're saying our only option is to get parts from the other ship?" (;_;) <> (;___; --> ;;) Unless you know another source of silicon plus, yeah. I dunno, someone might have some spare. * Zeke's face comes online, and does a Max Headroom style twitch before his leg moves and he and his drones try to push himself up to standing. He says, "Czzrk--thanks? Again." * Hestia steps back, stowing her tools. She watches this go on for a moment, then puts a hand on her hip, letting her stance relax. "Custom systems, huh." * Zeke's back arm moves back and out. "Necessary. You... navigate them well." * Hestia deadpans, "I have a knack." (And a Charisma score of 3.) (Same here!) (Her Pulchritude is lacking.) (No, no. That I have plenty of.) * Amadeus looks to Kyle, now that Zeke's functional. "There is no way they'd hand those parts over willingly." And they're probably in the same situation we are. Good. It's an excuse to punch that smarmy bastard in the face. which means they're probably headed here right now. (whuf. Let's hope I can keep that down.) * Amadeus winces a little, and he pushes up his glasses. "Most likely." * Zeke's bugs all swarm onto his suit and grab onto the little knobs on it. Like they were made for it! He says, "Are we aware-czzk--of their location?" <> (What is it with that guy and fruit?) * Hestia glances at the bridge windows. "I doubt it. For one, we have no sensors." Can we at least get sensors and defenses online right now? Sure. We could magically conjure some Silicon Plus out of thin air, strap one of you to a treadmill with some leads attached... * Amadeus looks to Lexi. "Did you get a read on where they landed? Do you remember what it was?" * Lexi shrugs. "Why don't we head outside and see if they're coming?" We can't salvage some Silicon Plus from other systems in the meantime? Well, can you magically fix a computer core, Hestia? * Amadeus glances around the room - well, not really. It's more the spastic look of someone who's clearly accessing his headputer. Magically? No. Give me materials and I can. It's adorable how we're talking in circles on this. * Amadeus closes his eyes briefly, then opens them and says, "I've got it. They're approximately five miles away. I have their coordinates logged." * Hestia turns and blinks at Amadeus. Her expression says: nice trick. * Zeke czzks again and then says, "I can deconstruct my other drones to make what I believe to be sufficient repair materials, if engagement is undesired." * Kyle rubs his head. "Well I can't get anything working until we get the computer up and running. Sure, I can get the engines to fire, I can probably get the weapons to fire too, but I can't really make it *do* anything given how it's all controlled by the computer. And to fix that, we need silicon plus." (*moves his after Kyle's.) * Amadeus stands and starts pacing around the cockpit, looking out the windows, then points at one of them. "Right, see. That's their ship." He keeps gazing out the window. Sounds like we have no choice but to ask the neighbors if we can borrow a cup of S+. (Tomas) (Your ears did not break) Zeke, you could do that? Would you be able to fix the drones later? And would that be faster? * Amadeus furrows his brow a little, and his gaze moves as he looks out the window for crew members. (oh hi. I completely missed Zeke saying stuff.) * Hestia follows the line of Amadeus' gaze into the distance, at their ship. "Five miles. It's not that far. And if they're coming here, then *their* ship is almost certainly only guarded with a skeleton crew..." * Kyle walks over to the window and peers out. "Cool. Can you tell if they're wandering around anywhere?" One is on top of the Black Orchid. I don't see the others, so I'd guess either in the ship or hiding. They survived, at least. Damn shame. * Amadeus nods and comments, "The larger foliage wasn't completely incinerated. They'd be able to provide enough cover for crouched movement." * Zeke looks over at Lexi and replies, "They can be repaired. I cannot determine if it would be faster or safer. Maximum chain drive speed is unlikely." * Hestia looks at Amadeus. "Can you tell if it's safe to move around outside yet?" * Amadeus nods. "It should be safe. I'd say about thirty-six celsius? Hot, but withstandable." * Hestia nods at that, then over her shoulder at Zeke. "How long would disassembling the drones take?" (It cracks me up that you ran the conversion) (I'm a scientist! :D) (friggin metric) (Go Amadeus!) (Seriously.) * Zeke tilts his head, then replies, "Approximately two hours." * Hestia grins. Faintly, but she does. "Plenty of time." (Zeke is razzed with the FLAGELLA OF IMPERTINENCE) Hm? What're you planning? * Amadeus turns his attention to Tia, distractedly. If it's going to take him two hours to disassemble the drones anyway, I'm going to pick some orchids. Frankly, even if we GET it spaceworthy, I think their hardening is probably better than ours, meaning when we blast off from this hellhole they're going to put a hole in our hull the size of Red New York and we're all going to die anyway. * Zeke replies, "It would be better if--czzrk--I did not weaken myself, then, before the combat." * Hestia glances at Zeke, sidelong. "I think you and the Doc should stay here." (Unless you have a transformation into a car we don't know about.) (Alas. ;_;) (I cannot become a giant drivable vagina.) * Kyle blinks a few times, then curiously looks at Hestia. "To hold the fort down?" (Thank you, AFK to arrange your ninja assassination for that image.) * Lexi heads over towards the door. "I'll go fly up and scout for our fellow castaways." And make yourself highly visible above the treeline? Do you have a deathwish? * Lexi tilts her head and raises an eyebrow. "Have you just joined this crew?" Sadly, no. They DO have a lookout uptop, though. So if you go up there, they'll see you. * Hestia raps a knuckle on Zeke's armor. "Anyhow, if you really built this I imagine you can make headway on the computer core, and while the Professor may be a biologist he can do some of the finer work. Plus, you don't exactly scream'stealth', if you don't mind my saying so." (Kyle: Can you see that?) (Amadeus said it already.) (Amadeus mentioned it.) (I did!) (Ah, whoops.) Well in any case... let's head out. * Zeke nods slightly and replies, "Your analysis is accurate. If stealth is the operation, I will remain." (*does not say: And I really don't want to shoot anyone in front Amadora the Explora*) * Lexi opens the door and steps outside. (I hate to do this, but can we delay the sneaking and fight(?) until next week?) (Fine with me.) * Kyle checks his weapon and makes sure it's working. * Tomas follows suit, "Best to hit them before they hit us." (I managed to be upright all day and it is catching up with me.) (I'm all for that. I have a paper to write) (Everybody gon be here next week?) (I have no plans not to be.) (Should be...) (Although I have a conference to present at Saturday morning to I have to make sure I get to bed at a reasonable time. But this game usually ends at a reasonable time so it shouldn't be a problem) (okay) <>