The Return to Laura II [IC]

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace nodded as Baba walked him through what she was learning and what he could do.

"Well, if we need to use Vernon, we can later. Any chance you might be able to learn what is jamming comms? Was there something on board that would have done that?"

He used his ID to access the intercom system and called the Bridge. "Hello, anyone in there?"

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Laser Rifle

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 04:30 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 11:54 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~6.5

---

Party Members and Status

 

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

Looking up from the screen, Baba chews on her inner cheek. "Somebody could have snuck a jammer on board if this is really some sort of spy... or, if the ship's subspace radio is broadcasting, it could be making noise on comms in its path. Can't say I've ever tried to use a radio in the path of a running subspace signal."

There's a small slot in the side of the intercom system, like a credit scanner. Swiping his ID, Jace cycles the selection to the Bridge and places his call. The internal system is wired, and it comes through without interference from whatever is messing with their radios. After a few minutes of trying, it doesn't seem like anyone is responding. However, Jace can overhear something in the background of the room, like the whirring of mechanical joints and the occasional buzz of a power tool.

Baba stands from her seat and stretches her back. "Hm. I think that sounds like one of the Laura's automated maintenance bots running. They're a similar model to HERBIE."

OOC

 

 

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace disconnected the call to the Bridge. "Hmmm, maybe we can save time by cycling the intercom through all the various compartments. But if we do not get any answers, then we are going to have to search the ship in person anyway."

He made the attempt, contacting all the different compartments of the ship asking if anyone was there and then listening if there was any response or ambient noises that could tell them something.

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Laser Rifle

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 04:40 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:04 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~6

---

Party Members and Status

 

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

Cycling through each of the intercom stations in turn, Jace searches for any response.

First, their own level. None of the adjacent laboratories yield any response. Then, the kitchen returns only what Jace recognizes as the ambient sound of a table fan that was left on.

On the mid-level, the robotics bay is quiet, but the AI processor yields the sound of more of the automated maintenance droids working. Given the lack of response from the ship AI, it was probably disabled or damaged - the ship's sturdy structure survived its crash landing, so it was likely deliberate sabotage. Then, he gets his first real hit. When Jace calls the intercom in the quartermaster's office, he waits... and then after a delay hears the faint sound of muffled yelling. It sounds like it's coming from nearby, suggesting the armory. The yelling sounds distressed, but not like combat. It's too quiet to make out the words.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem there's an intercom directly to the armory; any inquiries about the armory would have gone to the quartermaster's office.

OOC: Passive Jace Battle Check

The armory is fortified. With the munitions stored inside, these fortifications are designed both to keep any mishap or lucky shot from devastating the nearby parts of the ship. If someone were under attack, it would be a good place to bunker down and hide - assuming the attacker didn't also know the override code for the armory door lock. Jace guesses it would be different from the normal door override, for security reasons.

 

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace disconnected the intercom channels. "Okay maybe we are overthinking things here. I suppose we could be looking at some unsavory pirates infiltrating this crashed ship, but maybe we are just looking at the remains of the tampering that caused the ship to crash and the AI being off-line or malfunctioning. We might just have some folks trapped and we need to rescue them from the ship itself."

"Lets get the tools we need to break into the armory and head to the Quartermaster's office and see what we find. I will take point. Then Carl, Ferny and Baba covering the back."

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Laser Rifle

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 04:50 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:14 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~6

---

Party Members and Status

 

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

"There should be a breaker box controlling power flow for the level somewhere on the mid-deck," Baba guesses, getting up and patting the hefty toolkit dangling from her pack. "I could break into the box and cut some power. That would disable any security measures on the door. Then it's just cutting into the door and prying it open, like we did with the airlock."

Emerging from the Atmos room, they find Carl and Ferny still watching the stairs. Carl flashes a quick thumbs-up to signal everything's clear. Falling into formation at Jace's direction, they descend into the middle deck.

Any wishful thinking is dispelled on the level below. One of the walls has been shredded by a gyrojet blast, exposing some damaged wiring attached to the inner port airlock door behind the stairwell, which twitches a few inches open. A maintenance droid is utilizing its built-in tools to manipulate the damaged wall.

The door to robotics is nearby, locked down like the rest of this section but accessible through the standard override method. Down the hall to their left are the mid-level escape pods, and doors to the cargo hold and the hangar. To their right, the door to the generator chamber at the end of the hall, and the men's lavatory along the way.

Looking further down the stairwell, Jace can see a few spots of blood near the bottom of the stairs, and a trail leading further into the crew deck.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace held up a hand to signal they stop and then crouch down on the stairwell. He motioned Carl to get closer so he could speak quietly.

"Carl, you and Ferny sneak around and slowly check this deck to see if there are any threats. Baba and I will cover the stairs leading down. I don't want to be surprised on our six when we follow this blood trail."

He shifted to the side and then slowly took up a position with partial cover keep his weapon trained down the stairs from one side, while Bab had the other. He motioned for Ferny to stay with Carl and sneak around.

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Laser Rifle

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:00 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:24 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~5.5

---

Party Members and Status

 

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound

Exploring Mid Deck:
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

Looking around nervously, Carl nods his head and steps towards the cargo area. "Feels like I'm on some kinda ghost ship. One of those wrecks floating out in space, you know?" he murmurs to Ferny as they walk away from Carl and Baba's position.

"What is kkocht [ghost]?" Ferny asks him, trying her best to replicate the sound of the word.

"Well see, it's like when somebo...dy...." their conversation trails off as the cargo loading area door closes behind them, and the two explore the deeper parts of the mid deck. It feels too loud where Jace and Baba are, the older woman grunting as she squats down on the other side of the stairs. Power tools whine off and on while the maintenance drone doing its work, and the warning alarm continues, bleeding into a white noise in the background but dampening other sounds.

Through it, Jace thinks he hears footsteps below. Heavy, clunking steps, like someone dragging and slapping their feet after an exhausting day of work, or perhaps dragging themselves along while wounded. They stop out of view, somewhere beneath the stairway. "Is someone there?" a voice calls out. Hanna's voice, easily recognizable, but her tone sounds deadpan, voice flat and sagging as if tired or in shock. Carl's talk of ghosts brings to mind other things, from horror vids new and old. The abandoned spacecraft is always a favorite setpiece for something unknown and horrific. But that's all fiction. Right?

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace did not move down the stairs and motioned for Baba to stay put as well. He was still awaiting Carl and Ferny to finish their sweep of the area first.

He did call out in answer after a few moments, "Hanna, this is Jace. How are you doing down there?"

"Why don't you come up here so we can help you," he added with a tone that indicated it was a strong suggestion or command and not a question. He still had his laser rifle pointed down the stairs, but was not taking aim.

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Laser Rifle

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:05 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:29 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~5.5

---

Party Members and Status

 

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound

Exploring Mid Deck:
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

"I'm down here," Hanna's voice responds, failing to answer Jace's questions properly. A shape moves from behind the stairs, leaning forward onto the railing and looking up at him. It's not a horrible monster with vocal chords that can mimic voices, at least not visibly. Hanna Egilsdottir stands limply at the bottom, holding side with one arm where reddened bandages are wrapped around her torso. Her other hand hangs at her side, gripping a gyrojet pistol. From his experience, Jace can see the weapon is loaded with a HE rocket round. The collateral damage it would cause going off is consistent with the damage to the wall on their level.

Railing held between her arm and torso, Hanna takes a single step onto the stairs, looking up at them. Her eyes are glazed over, staring past them as if concussed. Every few seconds she blinks - at strangely exact intervals, Jace notices. Exactly every third second.

"Hanna, are you shot? Do you need a medic?" Baba asks, holding her weapon at her side pointed down at the floor.

"Medic," the woman below repeats. A shudder runs through her body and her head lolls forward, eyes dropping. She breathes heavily for just a moment, then her breathing starts to regulate and her head bobs back up, with the same blank-eyed stare. "I'm down here. I need a medic."

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace muttered under his breath, "This is not right. I have my sonic stunner on my belt and a stun baton. We might have to knock her out to find out what's wrong."

He let his laser rifle dangle from its chest sling and drew out his sonic stunner slowly while he called down to Hanna, "We can protect you now, so you can set down the weapon. You do not need it."

He gestured for her to come to him, "Yes, we can provide medical attention. Please come up here."

From aside he called, "Carl, are you and Ferny about done?"

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Laser Rifle

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:10 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:34 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~5.5

---

Party Members and Status

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound

Exploring Mid Deck:
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

"This is not right," Baba murmurs at the same time as Jace. Seeing him switch to his stunner, Baba waits until he finishes and then slowly draws her own, allowing Clarence to dangle at her side with his safety on. If Hanna is offput by their actions, she doesn't show it. At an audible mention of the weapon in her hand, she slowly looks down at it, dangling on the other side of the railing as she holds herself in place with the arm gripping it. Her hold on the weapon loosens and it falls, landing with a clatter on the floor. The weapon's safety features do their job; the gyroslug loaded inside does not go off. Now empty, her hand grasps and flexes against the open air, reaching for something that is no longer there.

"I dropped something," she mumbles to herself, beginning to walk unsteadily back down the stairs in search of the weapon, forgetting what she had been doing.

"Has she been drugged or something?" Baba wonders aloud in the same hush under her breath, raising her sonic stunner. "We shouldn't let her get hold of it again. Permission to subdue?"

 

Carl and Ferny exit the generator room through the door they went in, stepping into the hall. Raising his hand, Carl waves at Jace, pointing the way he just came from and miming words with his mouth that are too far away to read and then slapping the wall.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace was not quite sure what Carl meant, but he was not sensing any urgency or danger in his actions. So, he assumed Carl and Ferny were still checking things.

He shook his head in response to Baba, speaking low, "Negative. Let's not rush this. Maybe there is something in the air down there that impacts judgment. We need to tie a rope on anyone that goes down there, and it would at least help to have a cloth over one's mouth to potentially filter out something in the air. We need to check the toxyrad gauges, except I we did not bring them. Helmet with filters should be fine."

"I will go," he finished and slowly stepped down.

Louder he called to Hanna, "Don't worry about that, Hanna. Come up here and we can help you."

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Stunner

 

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:12 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:36 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~5.5

---

Party Members and Status

 

Status
Drop Team:
Baba: 3/4 Bennies, 1 Wound

Exploring Mid Deck:
Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Ferny: 3/3 Bennies

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Vernon:
Francis:

Herbie:

The Sathar Dome:
Keita: 2/2 Bennies
Beth:
Tiki: 3/3 Bennies, 1 Wounds
Yat: 3/3 Bennies
Becky:
Mox:
Kochinho:
Simba:

Halcyon Shuttle: At dome

Halcyon Merc Dropship Alpha: At Dome

Kershkick Mound:
Kirby:
Felix:
Captain Roark: 3/3 Bennies, 3 Wounds
Vinz: 1 Wound
Buubuu: 3/3 Bennies, 2 Wounds

Laura II Crash Site:
Corvid Shuttle:
Dove Shuttle:
Marg: ?
S'hax: ?
Hanna: ?

Missing Escape Pod:
Rudith: ?
Gloopurt: ?
Gohn: ?

Hesitantly, Baba nods and keeps her stance. A few careful steps down, Jace tastes nothing but air through his helmet filters. Slightly claustrophobic, clammy air from the heat and closed in space; a good sign that the filters are working as intended. From experience, the seaside air on Landfall should taste a little metallic from the silver-laden oceans. Like the good silverware resting on his tongue.

Plucking the weapon from the floor, Hanna holds it in her hand, looking at it as if it were new to her. Her finger plays against the safety, and flicks it off as Jace crosses the threshold of halfway down the stairs. A moment of clarity, or at least delusional purpose, settles behind her eyes and she turns, pointing the weapon at the stairs in front of his feet. "You can't come down here," she states. Voice stern, but still possessing that unsteady, dreamlike quality to it. "No one can come down here. You'll interfere."

Footsteps from above. Carl approaches the edge of the stairwell and peers down, then backs out of Hanna's view. "The rest o' Marg's team locked themselves in the armory," he stage-whispers to Jace, audibly nervous. "S'hax was wounded by a gyrojet blast."

"Hanna, put down the weapon," Baba commands, her stunner held aimed at the marine researcher.

"No one can come down here," she repeats, eyes boring holes into the stairway at Jace's feet, as if waiting for him to take another step forward. Not looking at any of them.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace climbed upwards one step, his tone conciliatory, "It's okay, Hanna. I am not trying to come down any farther. See? I am moving back up. Why don't you put down the device and come with me, please?"

He pointed to her gyrojet weapon, hoping to distract her enough that he could shoot her with the stunner when her eyes were averted.

 

Character Info

SWADE Character Sheet
Notice: 1d6+2
Parry: 5
Toughness: 6 Base (12 Ballistic, 14 Laser)

Bennies: 3/3

Weapon in hand: Stunner