<> <> * Hestia is busy tying up the shetland pony she rode in on, thanks to her Juan Valdez cosplay fetish. * Zeke is there! He is oddly in the lobbyish area inside the ship. It's almost like he could have words to say. * Hestia actually just walks up the ramp. * Lexi sits herself down in the cockpit awaiting the okay from everyone to take off. * Lexi is also considerably less hungover today. (Also. PONYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.) * Amadeus isn't in the cargo/lab room, for once; instead, he's seated in the lounge, TSMlinked into a datapad that he's writing something on. He looks up and nods to Tia when she enters. <> * Kyle is already aboard for once, punctual enough that the ship is already through its system checks. He takes out the TSM jack and gives the thumbs-up to Lexi. * Zeke's holoface looks over to Tia, and then after a moment he says, "I was prepared to do heavy modifications on the walker robots before this came up. I hope this will resolve our question about the Tone." * Hestia is carrying a cup of coffee in the shape of whatever the Red Starbucks cup looks like, which is probably what they look like NOW. She gives Zeke a glance, but otherwise keeps walking until he speaks and she's forced to turn around and look at him. "The what?" (Please tell me I did not forget the name of the Tone.) * Lexi opens the com. ~Hey, you guys all ready to take this thing out for another spin?~ <> * Amadeus glances cockpit-wise, then gets up and heads over to the maproom (still jacked into his datapad). * Zeke replies. "The physical Tone, in the water." I know what the Tone is. I meant, what did you modify. * Zeke blinks, and then says, "Ah. I did not get to. I was planning to, but this exploration took precedence." * Hestia eyenarrows at that, not the least reason being that it didn't actually answer the question, then shrugs. "We'll see when we get there. I dunno why I'm coming, anyway, it's not like I can hear the actual Tone." * Lexi clears her throat. ~Alright, ready or not you better hold on to something. We're taking off.~ * Zeke replies, "Your familiarity with the languages involved is greater. It is possible that any clues provided would only make sense to you." * Lexi does the usual take off routine of getting clearance, and removing the clamps and such and then pulls out of the hangar. * Zeke then comms, ~Affirmative,~ before grabbing onto the wall. Woo takeoff. * Hestia uses her mutant heat vision to weld her feet to the deckplates. WOOOOO actually she just moves into her typical map room chair. <> <> <> (It's as if we've done this before.) (WAIT NOOOOOOOOOOO) (*wakes up next to Suzanne Pleshette*) (YES) <> (._.) <> * Hestia tilts her head and looks at the display. "Huh." She stretches out an arm and looks at her suit sleeve, apparently. "I wonder if this is going to work in this weather." * Amadeus whistles as he sees the ice. "I should have dressed more warmly." I realized I actually don't know much about... haha. Well, YOU will be in an environment suit, so I doubt it'll be a problem. <> 2d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lexi (2d6+7) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 11. 2d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Hestia (2d6+7) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 15. 2d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zeke (2d6+7) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 17. 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+8) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 16. (Do I even need to roll? Seriously?) 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Amadeus (2d6+8) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 13. (So in conclusion. No one really had to roll) (ROLL) (Yeah.) <> (You could critfail.) (And wake up next to Suzanne Pleshette.) <> <> (I hope so!) (NO ORBITAL DROP STAR TREK STYLE WOOOOOOOOOO) (NUKE IT FROM ORBIT) <> * Amadeus goes about suiting up. Suits are nice. They keep you warm. * Zeke deploys! He's already in a suit. It gives him warmth and purpose. His drones skitter forward, already heading off towards to the staircase edge. * Kyle suits up too! Water is awesome. :D * Hestia stays dressed as is, which gives her an advantage to getting outside. That said, when she gets there, she blinks, wiggles her fingers a bit, and 'huhs' under her breath. "Guess it does." * Amadeus steps out after Tia. "Glad to hear it," he says over the speakers with a grin. * Hestia walks over toward the edge. "I suppose if it's designed to work in space, cold water isn't much compared to hard vacuum." * Zeke comms, ~As long as it does not have problems with significant positive pressure,~ as he and his drones head under. * Amadeus heads down, too. Sploosh! (I'm in no danger of positive anything from this group!) * Kyle jumps in! Woot, H2OH YEAH. (After suiting up, of course) * Lexi heads out of the ship, as well, suited up of course. And then enters the water, * Hestia slips into the water. Let's hear it for unknown forcefield technology. < ran computer terminals set up, and most of the rest of the area is filled with supply crates. The door into the center of the pyramid lies open.>> (...well now I know how the building looks from the outside.) (Are we already getting the Tone?) * Hestia blinks, glancing around at the stuff in surprise. "Didn't take them long to figure out the language, did it?" <> (Eaten by the grue. Sad.) (I don't think we heard it until we went into the water.) * Amadeus shrugs. "It's only an alien race." (Well, we just went through the water.) (The water outside the building.) (Nod.) (I didn't think we heard it until we were in the water inside the building) (Maybe I'm wrong) (You're right.) * Hestia raises an eyebrow at Amadeus' statement. "Sounds odd, coming from you." (You may be right.) (I may be crazy) * Zeke looks between them, then replies, "Necessity creates speed or failure." (But it just may be a hot walrusfurry that you're looking for.) (Or a lunatic, you know, same thing) (... where is my scotch) (I drank it.) * Zeke walks, and his drones skitter, towards the inside of the pyramid, since apparently nobody's manning the place at the moment. * Lexi looks around. "Well next thing you know they'll have the water park set up with little walfin hats at the gift shop." * Hestia heads to the terminals, because she's interested in what they've been doing here so far. That could be pretty cool. <> * Amadeus responds, as he tags behind Hestia, "I was being sarcastic." It's an alien race! If I weren't busy doing this chainjumping thing, I'd be spending ALL of my time here. * Hestia doesn't look up from whatever computer she's sauntered up to, flipping the power on if it's off. "That would explain why it sounded odd." <> ( Hey, Amadeus. You know... I've got a little alien in me. Because you've been running through my mind all night.) (*pushes Zeke down the stairs and out the airlock*) * Kyle reads the cliff's notes. That being: "So, what's up, Prof?" * Zeke advances down the stairs (on his feet!) into the water, drones scampering down as he looks for the person who's probably got that floating research station under their control. * Lexi follows Zeke down the stairs. ~So what are we looking for, exactly?~ They're just trying to find out everything they can. Nothing particularly conclusive yet. * Amadeus keeps reading anyway. "That I can see." <> ~Hey, we didn't get word they were sending anyone else!~ 'kay Prof. * Kyle heads further in. Because exploring is fun! <> * Kyle ends up meeting with Lexi and Zeke, assuming they don't Yakity Sax out. * Zeke comms, Lexi only, ~Information about the Tone and the supposed prophecy,~ before his holohead swivels to the scientist. ~I am here to gather more information to add to the initial exploration. Have you been recording audio from the floating station?~ * Amadeus closes up as appropriate and heads out to meet up with the others. * Hestia raises an eyebrow. People? Interesting. She follows Amadeus! <> "More information my ass. Who are you guys?" (Man, who do we work for?) * Amadeus walks up. "We're the chainjumpers who discovered this place. My name is Amadeus Cheung. You are?" * Lexi removes her mask and flashes the girl a smile. "Lexi Calhoun. Pleased to meet you." * Zeke's holoface tilts, but his name is boring and so he does not mention it. * Kyle lowers his mask as well. "Kyle Maksimov." <> "You guys...? Wow, you're back pretty early. Vacation?" <> "Wait, Cheung? Like, the RNYCU Cheung?" That's the Prof. You appear to be famous. * Hestia stands out by her not-being-in-a-suit-ness, but that is about it. * Lexi frowns some. Amadeus gets recognized but not her? This is not what she is used to. * Zeke says to her, in reply to the first half, "Exploration is our job. Curiosity often is attached." It'd suck pretty bad if we weren't curious. Wouldn't be good at explorin', you know. * Amadeus nods. "The very same," he replies. * Amadeus goes through the trouble of removing his helmet now, because she's removed hers and that's really only fair. "Wow, it IS you. I'm Alyssa Hakes, here on a grant through Red Boston Polytech. We won the grant because we were the first team to submit, and I was the first to submit because because I'm captain of the exo-roller team at the university." <> (AND THEN SHE'S EATEN BY BUGS ROLL INITIATIVE) (Delicious.) (ANOTHER EXOSPORT) (I wonder how many Blurns she has.) * Amadeus laughs. "Nice." He moves forward and offers his hand for the shaking. "Pleasure to meet you." <> "Weird to have a celebrity like you here, but not on the project." Believe me, if I weren't tied to these guys, I'd be the first to jump at a project like this. How is research going? (Right, I'm going to tie her up for the next couple of hours. You guys have fun!) * Hestia smirks at Amadeus. "Yes, we love your company too." She is not a scientist, so she's heading blow decks! Time to try to find the Tone she couldn't hear before! * Zeke comms to Ama, ~Can you convince her to give us access to her observed data?~ <> "It'd be going a lot faster without this goddamn Tone. Vibrates right through the suits and induces a soporific state if you get too much of it." * Amadeus TSMcomms back to Zeke, ~Possible.~ (You're good as a commentator, Colbert, but as an ice cream flavor, you're even better.) * Amadeus blinks at Alyssa's statement. "I did notice a lack of Tone." Word. What did you do to get rid of it? "We didn't, it's just only transmitted through the water." <> * Hestia stops and turns back at that. "Wait a sec." * Hestia starts walking back to Blackhair von Gradstudent, having STILL not introduced herself. "You were in environment suits, right? But you heard it anyway?" "Yeah, it vibrates through the metal. Hey, wait, where's your suit?" * Hestia smirks and crosses her arms over her chest. "Well, that MIGHT explain it, but I'm not a physicist." She waves her arm through the air. "Skintight force field. Same effect, without the extra weight." * Amadeus nods. <> "Sounds right. Maybe we need to scrounge up some of that tech. Where the hell'd you buy something like that, anyhow?" * Zeke does not follow, but his birdsect hops off his shoulders to follow for him. He comms, ~Make me aware when she approves of access.~ * Hestia says, in an even tone, "I didn't." Her expression is carefully crafted to suggest that further inquiry is not advisable. "Yyyyyeah, okay. Well, you guys are free to look around, I guess. Not like you weren't here before. Might want to keep out of the time capsule room, though. Most of our work's going on in there." <> * Zeke does not jump for joy, but perhaps he wants to. He heads over to the water observation station. It's got to have long term Tone data! I see. Have you talked with the PI much? * Hestia follows Zeke. Of her own free will. The end is heralded by these events. "Yeah, he... it's been a great help, but it's a pain to talk with." * Amadeus nods. "The question/answer thing, right? It's just the way their language works. Took me a while to even understand it." <> Would you mind if I took a look at the data you gathered? I know it's a work in progress, but... ~ Barring that, cracking these machines would be a piece of cake. I might do it anyway; I want a copy. ~ (Is that comm to everyone? Or at least me?) (Everyone.) "Sure, sure. Mi casa es su casa. Or whatever." * Zeke moves to such a terminal, which is hopefully TSM enabled, and comms, ~Agreement. It is possible we will need significant amounts of their data over time.~ A pause, then, ~We are not competing with them. That may help.~ If it is TSM enabled, he's totally gonna hook in. Thanks. Right over there? * Lexi swims around the stairs and listens to the nerdtalk with a sigh. ~Let's at least do -something- interesting. Like go explore more or something. I'm falling asleep here.~ * Amadeus indicates the terminals. (How many CP have we earned to date?) (13 according to the topic) (I only have 13 down as well.) (After S3.2, even!) ~Totally with you there.~ * Kyle looks for avenues to go exploring. <> "Have fun." * Hestia smirks a bit, and looks for a computer out of everyone's line of sight... though she's going to try, first, a good old conventional look around for not-so-public files. <> ~ Don't stay down there too long, apparently... well, unless you need a nap. ~ (I see Ama w/Alyssa on the terminals, Zeke on tone data, Hestia on stealing shit, Kyle and Lexi on exploring randomly and finding a place to make out.) (So true! I'm also downloading things if it turns out to be okay. ^^) (o/`) <> (My main concern is patterns. Or more specifically, lack of patterns.) (In addition, where it is generated from, if anywhere, so I can steal it and figure out in what ways it is an anti-watermelon.) <> (The sun continues to shine. "Fuck!") (Stupid sun!) * Hestia just tilts her head, sighs, then Red .zips the files up and downloads everything. Permission is for people with lots of free time who care. * Zeke's holoface frowns as he checks that the tone has had no variation at all. He comms to Hestia, ~The physical Tone seems unhelpful: constant.~ ~ If it were that easy would we have needed to come back in the first place? At least now we know why I didn't hear it. ~ * Zeke replies, ~I had hoped it would indicate a path. Our knowledge of quantum physics remains insufficient.~ ~ Says you. My knowledge of quantum physics remains nonexistent. ~ She pauses, tapping her finger on her terminal monitor (or something like it) before changing the topic. ~ How is it down in the water? ~ <> * Lexi sighs. ~Man... this place is dull. You'd think a cool water planet with a new species would be more interesting. But even the people who are here are all dull dorks.~ * Zeke replies to Lexi with, ~You could explore for... Bug skeletons.~ ~... could, I don't think we'd find any inside here, though. We'd probably have to go outside the pyramid.~ <> <> d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (d6+8) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 12. * Amadeus is gleefully checking on stuff and downloading and talking to Alyssa about it. Not going to bore people with nerd talk. (Not very surprising, no.) (err) 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+8) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 13. (Visual is body right?) (Mind?) (Or mind?) 2d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lexi (2d6+7) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 12. (That's mind) <> ~ Hey, Prof. I have a strange question. ~ She also starts walking toward Amadeus and Amadeus Groupie A, having done her bit with the computer. * Amadeus glances at Tia. ~What is it?~ ~ How did the walphins hear? ~ (Ooh. I wonder.) * Amadeus starts flicking his eyes in an accessing-headputer kind of way. Since he's still jacked in, that may also be an accessing the terminal kind of way. * Zeke's drones are just climbing on the walls downward, avoiding people as they walk. It's fun to explore. He looks for more information on Sleythin interactions, if any, or the names referenced in the prophecy. (.... just fyi) (Do not "I'm feeling lucky" "dolphin sona" and expect wikipedia) (...) * Lexi peaks in the room and then decides to give it a closer look and coms to Kyle. ~What do you think this is for?~ (IT'S VERY GAY) (It is.) (...you fool.) (I'll take your word for it.) (*just did it* wtf is this?) * Kyle keeps some distance, then gets closer. ~Dunno. It's pretty huge.~ (It's a gay sauna!) (Free membership!) (Dolphins don't need saunas!) (I got a download site for something, so.) (So did I) (http://www.dolphinsauna.co.uk/) * Amadeus murmurs, "Ah. Makes sense." He switches to comms: ~They use something like what we scientifically call 'the melon' - it's how dolphins and toothed whales hear on earth.~ ~They also have ears, much like we do.~ ~ So what can they hear that we can't? I mean... ~ She frowns, then shakes her head even as she's walking. ~ I don't even know, it just seems like if the Tone is actually audible to them but they get Woowoo Mystic Vibes out of it, they might hear something we don't. ~ ~They'd at least be capable of hearing frequencies that we can't, much like dolphins.~ ~And they have an organ we don't, tied to their brain... it's hard to even guess how the Tone might physically affect them.~ <> * Hestia stops and, to make it appear as if this encrypted compubrainphone conversation isn't going on, glances to Amadeus as she comes to a stop. "Having fun?" ~ Alright, well... can we duplicate walphin hearing to some extent, electronically? I mean, not the... whatever organ but maybe picking up frequencies outside the human range? ~ * Kyle takes pictures of the inscription panels, then looks at the focal point for some sort of mechanism. * Amadeus snerks at Tia's question. "Are you kidding?" He continues looking at data. ~I don't know, honestly. I imagine it's possible, given enough information. I'd have to work with you on that.~ * Kyle really just starts looking for any mechanism of some sort to do something. (Where's the shiny red button?) ~ It's something to consider, especially since we're here on the planet where they heard the Tone. I wonder what generates it, anyway... ~ <> ~I wish I could tell you. It's not them.~ ~ Good thing. If you were we'd need to keep you from dissecting yourself. ~ * Lexi moves over to the vocal switch and examines it. She opens her com so that she can be heard outside the suit. "Hello?" * Amadeus laughs over the comms. ~Thanks.~ <> (And then you need to make a body roll.) (*scrolls back, clicks link* Yeah, that's pretty gay.) (Oh, is it ever.) 2d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lexi (2d6+5) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 12. (Lexi wakes up next to a dolphin dressed as Suzanne Pleshette.) (Lexi is the groundhog) (The term is 'green wiggly'.) <> (WE FOUND LEXI FLOATING BELLY UP IN THE TANK :( ) (At least she didn't get sucked into the air filter) (It's okay, we'll get a new one, her father will never notice.) (It'll be just as good.) Aw SHIT. * Kyle swims over to Lexi and makes sure she's at least, well, breathing. (Quick! Mouth to mouth! It'll be your only chance!) (Clearly!) (Not in suit.) (In fact, how do you check she's breathing in suit?) <> (You are underwater. Mouth to mouth would be amusingly brief.) * Kyle sighs, then tries to shake Lexi to consciousness. "C'mon Lexi." * Hestia is oblivious! Instead she spends her time conversing with the other science-oriented types. ~ So what might cause the Tone? It's vibrational, right? What causes vibrations? Only kinetic force, I thought, or something like that. ~ * Lexi stirs and comes to. "Abuh? Er Hey, Kyle." * Kyle smiles. "Hey Lexi, you passed out for a 'bit. What was goin' on?" ~Yeah, something is probably vibrating out there.~ ~ Like what? ~ She pauses, then glances to Adrian or Annabelle or whatever the hell her name is. "Did any of their records suggest a planet-wide society? Or were they bunched up here, mostly?" <> * Lexi shakes her head. ~I uh.. I just remember feeling like everything was making sense with the tone and all that... and then you were waking me up. I guess I must of passed out... I don't even really remember what I was thinking or why it made sense." That's pretty wicked. * Hestia digests this knowledge. ~ Alright, so it was planet-wide, so whatever generated the Tone is either doing it for the whole planet, or there's some... Tone-relay station out there. What the hell would vibrate an *entire planet*? ~ But it happened when I went over to that thing. Maybe we should get 'deus and Tia and them down here. (Lexi gets bored of nicknames easilly and makes up new ones!) * Amadeus shakes his head, glancing at the records. ~Maybe the planet itself, but...~ (Now I am imagining Amadeus taking over the ship. YOU SHALL BE AS GODS.) (Haha) (Sweet!) (Am I in on HEstia/Ama's convo?) Yeah, the prof'd probably know more about this stuff. (I'm broadcasting to everyone, though I dunno if that means Kyle and Lexi are out of range or what.) * Lexi nods and opens up the com to the others. ~Hey guys, we found some weird wirey thing down here. I tried to use it and it seemed like I was making sense of things. It was really weird like the tone suddenly made sense for some reason... then I passed out. You might want to check it out, yeah?~ * Zeke replies, over comms, ~It is possible that it is simply reproduced, via mass-produced components.~ ~ You'd think there'd be some noti-- ~ She then gets cut off by Lexi and blinks. Well, that's fortuitous. ~ Coming. ~ And then she starts moving! Because it is unthinkable that mere geeks would keep her from going down there. <> * Zeke moves down that way as well. The drones decide to remain explory and nosy. * Amadeus de-jackifies, tells Alyssa he's heading off to check something out, and goes to wherever it is as well. <> * Zeke peers at the giant machine a moment, once he's there! He stays back of room, though, so people can get around. * Hestia swims on in, and glances at Lexi. ~ So it knocked you out, huh? ~ * Lexi nods. ~Yeah, I guess... It was weird. It was like I was suddenly overwhelmed.~ Was pretty wack, I didn't hear anything unusual, so it's gotta be focused. I could try it again, if you want. ~That's probably not wise, since you passed out once.~ * Hestia frowns. ~ It probably wouldn't do me much good either, given whatserface's explanation. ~ ~I wonder if we could get a recording device in there so we could listen in a safer environment.~ * Zeke is silent a moment, then, ~Our suits can reasonably function as recording devices.~ ~But that would require one of us going back into that thing, right?~ * Zeke's holoface looks around. ~Is that a problem?~ ~ I say the Geologist-in-a-box does it. ~ * Lexi shakes her head and turns to Zeke. ~Nope. I can go again. I'm crazy bored anyway.~ ~Or that works too.~ * Hestia pauses. ~ Actually, gimmie a moment. ~ * Zeke glances to Hestia, then Lexi. ~I do not mind if I must.~ * Lexi shrugs. ~In all honesty, I kind of want to know what I felt... it was really wicked weird.~ (I delay everything an hour by asking Cham complicated questions! (~ ' ')~ ) Yeah, I'm wonderin' what was up too. (What does that face mean?) * Hestia swims around the center machine thing in a circle, then stops and gets back to her original position. ~ Huh. Alright, well, whoever's going, go for it. ~ (Wouldn't you like to know ( ^o^)/ ) * Lexi shrugs and swims over there again, she opens up her recordey thingy on her suit. (Anything happen just from me going over? Or did it not happen until I talked?) <> 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lexi (2d6+8) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 13. (Man... so much hate) <> (GO LEXI!) (Throw your life away for justice!) (Bah... she's done way more dangerous things for way less) * Hestia watches with vague interest, then frowns when Miz Calhoun conks out a second time. ~ Are we SURE it's safe for her to keep doing this? ~ ~No.~ * Kyle swims down and gets Lexi back to the world of the concious again. (RIP Alexis Calhoun. Caught in a tune net.) ~The mentioned mental effects, combined with the death of the prophet, indicates that the Tone, as it is likely she is experiencing, had dangerous effects in likely high dosages.~ * Zeke then looks over at Hestia. ~It is speculative, but reasonable.~ * Amadeus just frowns. <> (Presumably Lexi wakes up right?) (We need to get someone to record the experience and/or succeed at the tone roll!) (I think we'll want to check the recording.) * Hestia swims around the thing in a circle again. ~ So if this thing focuses the Tone, it might lead us back to the source. ~ * Zeke posits, ~It would be reasonable to acquire a second sample.~ (Lexi is crazy enough to keep trying until people stop her) * Amadeus looks like a headache might be coming on. ~That makes sense. Do you think you can trace it, Tia?~ (Yeah, I think we'll try to trace and/or record the tone.) (Because the feeling is weird and intense) (She's doing her Walphin call.) (She's so wasted, she's so wasted!) (¬_¬) * Hestia shrugs. ~ I don't know. I don't think this system is connected to the rest of the facility, actually. ~ (Zeke will go in if Lexi gets bored. Or once at the end if not.) ( (Tracing is a good idea if viable.) * Amadeus nods thoughtfully. (Yeah, I'm for toneifying Lexi until we figure it out or her molecular bonds dissolve.) <> (...!) (i've realized who Zeke is, in my head) (Oh no.) (Master Chief.) (HAHAHA) (YES) (If only I knew enough about Master Chief to play off that.) (ATC: Zeke Punches Shit.) (Err, ATC3: Zeke Punches Shit) (According to Monty Oum it's a hot Asian chick inside a suit.) (Well, Zeke does the Zergling Rush.) (So you've got 'Asian.') (OMG ZERG RUSH KEKEKE) <<.... okay so you all make it back, though the journey is a little harrowing because Lexi seems to have developed a migraine.>> (Nothing a lot of alcohol won't solve!) (BOOZAHOL!) (Woo!) <<... and so the session ends!>>