<> <> <> (That is many negative Cs.) (That is not a small number of negative Cs. But it is a much smaller amount of negative Cs than space!) <

> * Tomas examines the readouts, "Looks cold out there. I'm grabbing a scarf." * Kyle goes to get suited up and start out. "See anything awesome on readouts, prof?" * Lexi jumps out of the cockpit and heads out towards the exit. "How's the atmosphere? Do we need our suits?" * Zeke is, guess what, in his suit! Gasp! Three of his drones are carrying the geological equipment to him, and he picks it up with his back arm. They look slightly different now... maybe a little more silvery. The atmosphere is cold. * Amadeus keeps looking at the scans. "You should suit up. It's ridiculously cold out there." It's fuckin' cold, dude. * Lexi nods and goes to get her suit before exiting the ship. And nothing particularly interesting... some carbon-based life. We should check the mineral deposits for mining potential, I suppose. Right on. * Amadeus goes about suiting up. * Kyle comes back suited up, and takes a peek at the scanners. "Sweet, Si+ too!" * Tomas returns in his suit with a scarf draped around his neck, "That much Si+ should make the boss happy." Dunno if it's that much, dude. <> * Zeke trudges out the airlock first. It's good for cold air too. * Hestia is staying on the ship! Her nipples thank you. (still haven't spent CP wtf) 2d6+14 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+14) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 18. (Thank you prof!) (np) <> * Hestia sits down in the lab rather than the map room, with the following things: the sleythin data, some star charts, and a mug of coffee, which she sips. ~ I guess I'm playing Amadeus today, ~ she comms, while setting up her computers. ~So who is Amadeus... playing?~ <> Hey guys, there's definetly life out there. Silicon-based, like those dudes from Star Trek 43: The Return of the Revenge of Kahn: The Ressurection. (UNFORTUNATELY TOMAS MADE THE COFFEE) * Tomas disembarks behind Zeke. (I made it with extra love.) * Zeke has his drones fan out forward as he starts sampling near the ship. * Kyle gets his helmet on and heads out of the ship. ~You know, all shiny-like. I hope they're not like those guys on Metallica." ~That'd hurt.~ <> * Zeke also has a birdsect! It's on his shoulder and not going anywhere. ~Silicon-based life? That... has been rare. Extremely rare.~ * Amadeus returns. "Silicon-based? What?" He rushes over to the scanners and takes another look. <> * Lexi does, in fact, remember that. "This isn't going to be like... last time there was a lot of Si+ is it?" Let's... hope not. ~Oh wait, bugs are Silicon-based, aren't they? This could suck big time.~ ~Did you get a location on the si-life?~ ~Yeah, it blinked for a split second, just the indicator.~ * Hestia blinks at the comm chatter, and starts up the sensor suite on the ship. And, you know... the weapons and engine systems. Just in case. ~ You'd think they'd like cold environments, wouldn't you? Helps conductivity. ~ <> * Tomas walks up to one of the swiss cheese holes and examines it finding... When we ran into bugs before they also only blinked for a second. * Kyle looks out the window. ~Yeeeaaaaah, this is probably gonna suck then.~ <> (Reminiscent at all of the holes we saw the bugs make before?) (Not in the slightest.) * Kyle gets going outside. Suits are awesome! * Zeke comms, ~The Si+ environment has a strong likelihood of affecting the sensor output. The geology is formerly volcanic, minimal organic carbon, both consistent with the temperature and lack of plant life.~ * Hestia type type typity. ~ No kidding? ~ ("This used to be a field of sunflowers." "Really?" "No.") (It coulda been! :|) * Tomas bends down and examines the hole more closely, ~These holes don't look like what we saw the bugs make on the last rock, so that's encouraging.~ <> * Zeke pulls up the geological gear, putting it back on his back. ~There are ice caves to the northeast, where the Silicon Plus in this region runs to.~ (AHAHA KAZAKHSTAN'S FLAG BEARER WHAT) * Tomas stands and heads toward Zeke, ~Any more hits of si-life or are we good to check out these caves?~ * Kyle starts poking around and generally looking around. ~Got me.~ <> (This is fun.) * Zeke starts walking northeast some. ~My robots can scout the caves initially...~ he trails off, then says, ~The ice has sufficient density of minerals to allow for plant life.~ * Lexi nods to Tomas. ~Well that's a good sign. What about that carbon based life. We detected some of that too right?~ * Kyle thumbs-up to Zeke. ~Take a shot at it then.~ <> (The robots are! I don't know the others are.) (I'm enjoying my coffee.) (I'll be catching up in a bit for enjoyable geological readings. Mmm. Rocks.) (I'm willing to give the bots a slight headstart.) (THE ROBOTS FIND BUPKUS, MOVE YOUR HEINEYS) (Totally letting the bots lead.) (I'll give them a bit longer. I have confidence in Zeke's bots.) (Have less confidence so we can move this along >_>) (I feel loved.) * Zeke takes a more direct sample of the Si+ near the cave, at the least, before he follows after. <> <> * Tomas examines the plants, taking samples samples samples, "Is this our c-life?" * Lexi shrugs. "I want to know what's making these holes." <> * Kyle looks down. "Geothermal activity?" * Amadeus looks around, then walks over to some of the plants and clips a few samples. ~Hey Hestia, does this planet still have some geothermic activity?~ ~It is some... c-life.~ (I don't know, Cham! Does it? As far as the ship knows anyway.) <> (Are we in an ice cave or a cave-cave?) <> * Hestia swings around on her chair, mug in one hand, and tappity taps on a readout. ~ Deep down, yeah... the core is still mag-ma. ~ She has to say it that way, 'mag-ma', it's in her contract. <> <> (... nobody all volunteer at once, now.) (I'm examining these gas vents.) (I am probably on point, because my sensors are best.) (AKA: the drones are a significant distance out in front of me.) <> (I'll be somewhere near the middle poking around.) (Well, I'm following them.) (So eventually I'll get there.) * Kyle looks down one of the nearby holes. "Well, that'd explain the heat." <> <> (Does this resemble a certain other tone?) <> * Amadeus jumps and looks around. "What the hell?" (Ha! No. It's a single note, not a harmonic.) ~ You got another hit, guys. ~ * Zeke comms, ~The silicon plus turned blue momentarily, along with the tone.~ <> * Tomas glances toward the flash of blue, ~What the--~ 2d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tomas (2d6+5) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 15. * Kyle steadies his stance and looks around at glowing blueness. ~You think we might be inside the life form?~ 2d6+14 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+14) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 21. 2d6+14 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Amadeus (2d6+14) and gets 26, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "I hope you invested in some good armor." (Dammit!) (HA I BEAT YOU) (Such fail.) 2d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zeke (2d6+7) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 14. 2d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lexi (2d6+7) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 14. <> * Tomas takes on a defensive posture, ~Something poking out of the tunnels, guys~ ~Yeah? What is it?~ * Amadeus turns his attention to the something(s) and approaches, cautiously, for a better look. One hand goes for the gun he barely knows how to use. <> * Tomas has his hands in front of him, ready for fisticuffs, and approaches one of the holes. * Zeke and his birdsect look around. ~I detected nothing.~ <> * Kyle reaches for his gun and inches ahead. ~These things are fuckin' sneaky.~ ~They're gone now. What was that sound that pulled them out?~ It sounded like.... E-flat? * Zeke comms, ~That was the sound of the exposed Silicon Plus. We could cause it again, if people are prepared.~ * Amadeus nods. ~Let's rig some snares first.~ * Hestia leans back in her chair. "I need some camera drones or something, like Zeke's..." she mutters, before patching in her comm. ~ Play some walphin songs on them, see if that works. ~ ~Why not simply step near a vein again?~ * Amadeus blinks. ~After everything else we've seen, that makes an odd amount of sense, Tia.~ (Are people rigging snares?) (Or... something?) * Tomas runs up to the hole he saw a something poke its head out of and rigs up a quick snare with some cable from his pack, ~I'm ready to try grabbing one of these things.~ * Hestia snorts, and says (justifiably) sarcastically, ~ Thank you for that. ~ * Kyle mentally focuses and nods. ~I'm ready to try and grab one too.~ ~It seems extremely unlikely.~ ~I am ready to cause the noise again.~ ~Well... Does anyone have like Walfelvis' greatest hits or something?~ (... Walfelvis.) (We really need to try harder to make the GM vomit in disgust.) * Zeke has his drones get nearer to the holes as well, then says, ~Ready.~ * Tomas gets readier, ~Count it down, Z.~ * Hestia starts digging in the 'archives' for some of the walphin songs. ~ Presumably you could actually get a tone by tapping the silicon with something, depending... I'm not sure. Let me look it up. ~ (Ha ha ha.) (The GM who created Honest Stan cannot be out-dorked in his own universe. Accept it.) (Todd raises a compelling point.) * Zeke comms, ~I will attempt to recreate the noise in three, two, one...~ and he moves to step right next to an exposed Si+ vein again. (Walfelvis has left the planet.) <> (It's grab-a-mole!) 2d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tomas (2d6+5) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 14. < 2d6+9 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tomas (2d6+9) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 15. (U rollin': Bad.) <> (...ahahahaah let me savor that image.) (Hehehe.) (Pooh stuck in his hole from too much honey, AGAIN) (MOLE FIGHT) (Hahaha.) * Tomas comms a bit garbled, ~I have one of them snared, but he has the upper hand right now.~ (Ha ha ha ha ha.) * Tomas flails his legs a bit trying to find purchase. * Lexi looks over to Tomas and starts to laugh. ~Geez Tomas. You look hilarious from this side. What is the thing anyway?~ ~Furry.~ ~And angry.~ ~ And probably extremely... yeah. ~ ~How tight of a hold do you have on that rope, Tomas?~ * Zeke comms, ~Can someone pull him free?~ * Amadeus tries to keep himself from laughing as he says, ~Lexi has enough lift, I believe.~ It's mostly working! * Tomas twists his hand to wrap the rope around it for a firmer grip, ~I have a pretty good hold, I think.~ ~Oookay.~ <> * Lexi nods and keeps laughing. "Yeah... Alright. Hang on..." She tries to stop laughing long enough to concentrate on pulling Tomas and his uh... angry hamster out of the hole with her mind. <> (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH SNOW SPIDERRRRRRRRRRRRR) (*opens fire*) (wtf is wrong with you?) (kill it!) * Zeke (and all of his drones) look at it. ~... strange.~ * Amadeus whistles and he approaches slightly to get a better look while not, er, getting within range of the thrashing. * Lexi sighs and hovers the creature in mid air and restrains it so people can get a better look. (Can I mind control to calm it down?) ~Exames the creature, ~I hope all that thrashing didn't build up too much lactic acid. It'll make the meat taste terrible.~ * Kyle peers at it curiously. "You don't want to eat that dude. There are things going on in that thing that your body has no idea how to digest.~ ~We're not going to eat it, Tomas.~ * Lexi eyes Tomas. "Tomas... I'm not going to eat this thing... It's gross." (Yes, Amadeus, you can) ~Yes, you cannot eat it. You need at least two. One as a sample.~ * Tomas nods excitedly, ~Yes. We'll have to capture another.~ * Hestia smirks at the chatter, then gets out of her chair and heads into the hangar, whistling as she works. Doot doot doo... 2d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Amadeus` (2d6+6) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 11. <> * Amadeus doesn't sound amused: ~We're not going to eat *any* of them, Tomas.~ <> ~I...what? Why are we here then?~ <> ~... Research. In theory.~ (ok, seriously. You need to draw this thing.) (Why?) * Kyle baps Thomas on the back of the head. ~We're here to discover things, not eat it.~ (because wtf) (Also, do we have anything on hand that can contain this guy?) (It makes sense to me.) (I'll try to draw it, I guess) * Hestia suddenly pipes up, ~ I'm sending you a little present, by the way. ~ (A model in clay would be good too.) (They've got upward curving claws.) <> (Dude, you should just make it in Spore) * Amadeus lights up upon seeing that. ~And it's not even my birthday!~ (I can't.) (He's tried.) * Amadeus gets a case of the appropriate size and opens it for Lexi to deposit the furry dude. * Lexi moves it over and lowers it into the case. ~Happy birthday Prof.~ * Hestia goes back to her coffee, occasionally looking over at her personal (secure) pad. Go, progress bar, go! ~ Thought you'd like that. ~ (Sorry for the delay.) (*continues griping about the opening ceremonies on twitter*) << http://tinypic.com/r/51f69/6 >> * Tomas moves in for an even closer inspection, ~What's this silvering? Is that SI+?~ * Amadeus closes the case, sets it to the appropriate settings, and secures it in the lander. (so angry.) (It's iceskater!Snork) (Or an Octorok bred for cold weather.) (It looks better in my head.) (But you get the gist.) (OCTORK!) (I like the unibrow.) (I'M SO HUNGRY, I COULD EAT AN OCTOROCK!) <> <> * Zeke has spent his time being productive, which is to say, starting to thoroughly examine one of the Si+ strands directly. <> * Amadeus goes to harvest more of the kelp for the ice skating snork. * Hestia brings up a comm window, Nadesico-style, in the lander, so she can 1.) look at the captured thing and 2.) talk with people in a non-sound-only way. ~ I'm no biologist but that seems like it makes sense. Hooks are how *I'd* get along on a planet full of ice and rocks. ~ * Kyle helps the Prof in his harvesting. Icesnork needs kelp badly! <> * Tomas reluctantly leaves dinner^Wthe icenork and explores the cavern more. * Zeke comms, from his analysis, ~The Silicon Plus is as pure as one will find in nature. Perhaps even moreso. The noise is not likely to be natural.~ ~Whatcha thinking then, Zeke?~ ~How deep does this stuff go, anyways?~ ~Unknown.~ * Lexi heads back to the cavern with the rest. ~Is there any other life out here?~ * Zeke starts moving from vein to vein in analysis (likely causing more noises), the drones sweeping forward and down further into the caves. <> ~Are these the right tones to produce the walphin tone?~ * Lexi looks around. ~You know... I'm starting to think that the whole of the universe is a giant complex music synthesizer..." ~You migh be onto something.~ ~ You can't produce the Tone in nature, or at least not without being a Walphin. ~ (It's actually a hologram of data playing on the underside of the universe, but thanks for playing!) <> (I think that's the first I've heard of that.) (I.... would check but the webserver is down. Hahaha.) (There is an audible component TO the Tone but it is primarily sub-audible.) (Ha.) (I am actually going to have to sleep soon here. I'm like dozing off at my keyboard) (This is why we need to start earlier! >:|) (I know. I know.) (We got back from dinner late. =/) <> (It's all I have to do right now! Silicon plus is fun.) (It'd be nice to figure out where it's coming from.) <> (Anyone doing anything>) (*plays the tones from Close Encounters of the Third Kind*) * Lexi begins to head in that direction as well. "Come on, let's check out where it's coming from." * Tomas follows beside Lexi. * Zeke says, ~I will continuet to make noise.~ * Amadeus walks after the others, looking around. * Hestia smirks despite herself at that line. ~ You know, it's almost BETTER to hear that line without being there for context. ~ * Kyle shrugs and walks with the others. ~Almost.~ (As Zeke brings a metal pot and a wooden spoon out and starts banging them together laconically.) ("...what the FUCK?" "I am making noise." *CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG*) (Beep beep noise.) (Beep beep noise.) <> (Okay now you're like Ershin in my head.) (Who's Ershin? OH. Ershin! Yaaaay!) (I do love Ershin.) ("Engo shimasu!" ROCKET FIST) * Tomas continues forward to the point of the cone. <> * Zeke hits a different note with his magic dancin' feet. 2d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kyle (2d6+8) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 14. <> ~The icenorks are dancing.~ * Amadeus looks at the cave wall for maybe, I don't know, a reason for sound to be coming from there? * Kyle peers at the funky creatures. They sure are funky! ~ They're what now? ~ ~It's not the foxtrot, but they're definitely moving in time with the tones.~ ~Well, you're definetly agitating them.~ * Hestia sips her coffee. ~ Weird. Doesn't seem like something to make such specific sounds could occur in nature. You don't think they worship it like a god, do you? ~ ~ Are they providing any useful information? ~ ~... Infrared? We have a pietzoelectric reaction going on here. Like compressed crystal...~ ~I just have no idea *why*, really.~ * Amadeus actually walks over to the wall, now, and along it. * Hestia blinks. ~ ...that might mean there's... *data* in those crystals. ~ (Okay. We've hit where I wanted to tonight, and I do have to get up and GM tomorrow, so) (Lastish poses) (I'll whip up a GUI in visual basic to read that data!) (*punches Tomas in the gut*) (gooey*) * Lexi shrugs. ~Well even giant universe synthesizers need to be programmed, I suppose.~ ~Maybe the data's a puzzle to unlock a hidden temple deeper in the planet. Then you get to the center, get the golden monkeyhippo, and win a trip to anywhere on Mars!~ (Giant mantis.) ~... Maybe not, Kyle. Maybe not.~ ~Is that tr---oh.~ * Hestia stands up, eyes her pad, and decides to head out to the cave, making security lock prep on the ship before she does so. (Crush the legs. Suck the head.) <>