The Return to Laura II [IC]

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:13 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:37 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: ?

Whether she heard or understood Jace's directions or not, Hanna shows no change in her expression. His steps backwards do not relax her posture, the weapon following his feet up the stairs. When he tries to subtly aim his own weapon, Hanna sidesteps drunkenly, the sound waves striking the floor and making a fierce echo through the halls of the spaceship. Ferny leaps over the railing and attempts to grapple Hanna up close.

Ferny's flexible vines wrap around Hanna's wrists and twist her arms, aiming the weapon away from the group and down the hallway beyond. Taking the opportunity, Baba fires her own stunner into the mix. The sound waves cause Hanna to spasm and collapse into Ferny's waiting appendages, her weapon clattering to the floor.

Not far behind, Carl is hop-stepping down the stairs, stumbling to a stop at the bottom. He scoops up the pistol and quickly checks her for other weapons, removing a sheathed knife attached to a small leather strap around her thigh. As he gets back up and offers the weapons to Jace, he asks, "Well shoot. What happened here?"

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace shook his head, "Not sure. But maybe something is in the air. We don't have a medic with us now to assist. But maybe the others can tell us."

"Let's secure her and finish looking around down here. Ferny, nice work. Please keep watch on Hannah so she doesn't hurt herself or anyone else."

He switched back to his laser rifle in hand and moved down the stairs to get a better look 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

 

Edited February 15 by Paro (see edit history)

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:18 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:41 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: 1 Wound
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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

Patting himself down for something to use to restrain Hanna while they work, Carl has an "aha" and unfastens the knife sheath from her leg, using it to bind her hands together. It's not perfectly secure, but with Hanna disarmed and Ferny watching over her it should be enough to keep the disoriented woman from causing further problems.

Falling in next to Jace, Baba keeps her gaze trained opposite his, watching the flank. Carl maintains a position on the stairs, watching the next floor up for signs of approaching trouble. The lower port hallway of the Laura II shows no signs of danger, beyond Hanna herself. There is no visible smoke or vapor in the air to hint at an airborne poison; then, it could be harder to detect than that. On this side of the ship, they find a pair of communal mens' and womens' restrooms; they look unremarkable. The Aquila and Dove residences are also here. Venturing into Hanna's room finds a notebook fallen on the floor.

Jace flips through it. Most of the notebook is mundane, apparently containing some of her notes on the amphibious lizards they discovered on their first drop, and some joint work with Mox on microbial life found in the water samples. Later on, he finds a recorded series of coordinates written down repeatedly, and strange scribbles. With a keen eye, Jace picks out some of the more coherent drawings, which resemble the shape of a sathar eye and snout.

"No movement out here. Anything new?" Baba asks, standing watch in the entrance of the residence area.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace takes the drawings and the coordinates, putting them into a pocket. "Nothing to indicate what happened to her. But it looks like she wrote somethings down after going a little wonky. Not sure what to make of all this, but I don't see any threats down here."

"Let's move back up and try to talk to those locked in the armory. I hope they know what happened."

"We do know there was some saboteurs on board Laura Two, and maybe it was Hanna and she is suffering some psychotic dissonance or something from being trapped on the planet. Not my expertise, so..."

He moved up the stairs and joined Carl, "Let's see about the others. Did you make contact with them?" he asked.

Jace continued to be on his guard for strange things.

 

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

 

Edited February 18 by Paro (see edit history)

[Sala]

Galactic Standard Time: 05:20 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:43 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: 1 Wound
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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

"Sabotaging a distress call seems a little weird for cabin fever," Baba reasons, chewing at her inner cheek. When Jace steps back out she follows, closing the residence door behind them.

At the midpoint of the stairs, Carl is stationed peering up and out as if from a bunker. He startles a little when Jace comes up behind him and speaks, clearly on edge. Thankfully he has adequate trigger discipline, or there's be some buckshot embedded in the wall of the hallway above. "Oh! Yeah, it's S'hax and Marg, I think. I mean, it was Marg's voice and she said S'hax was hurt, injured by a gyrojet. And," he stops and counts on his fingers. "With Hanna, and the guys on top, yeah that should be everyone that should be here."

Keeping a clear head and a keen eye, Jace watches their surroundings. But there are no strange signs of movement, or unusual occurrences.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace pats Carl on the shoulder and whispers, "You all good, Carl?" In the movement he had let his laser rifle dangle back on the chest lanyard, pulling out the stunner from its holster again. There did not appear to be any external threats yet, so it was more likely they would need non-lethal force.

"Let's talk to them and see if we can wrap this up."

Moving back towards the armory, he makes the attempt to talk to Marg again himself.

"Marg, this Jace Falcone. We are here to get you out of here. But I want to know what happened. We have Hanna secured now."

 

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: 05:25 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:48 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~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: 1 Wound
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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

"Oh, I'm good," patting his own chest, Carl does his best to reassure Jace. "Just all spooky, y'know. Creepy abandoned ship," he holds up a hand and waves it around at the ceiling. "People acting weird. It's like a ghost story. You think... she could be possessed? By Sathar ghosts?" He hisses the word like an ancient curse. As they tread through the ship, force-overriding the door into the deeper parts, Carl looks around warily. The man doesn't seem panicked, but he's definitely spooked.

The armory door, when they find it, features a partially disassembled lock panel. It looks like tampering was attempted.

On the other side of the armory door, a muffled voice responds to Jace, "Hey!" It does sound like Marg. "We're kind of in a jam!" Her voice doesn't sound terribly strained. Dralasite anatomy makes it difficult to hurt themselves by yelling too loudly. "We were shutting down the subspace radio! When Hanna saw the computer screen, she had some kind of freakout and ran into the hall! S'hax went chasing after her and that's when he got hurt by a gyrojet missile!"

"He's hurt, but I've got him stable!" she reports. "Just, uh, one problem. She was trying to get inside, and S'hax panicked and deleted the door's drivers from the panel in here! The thing is a giant brick." The armory door is substantially thick, made to withstand a munitions blast from inside and minimize damage to the surrounding vital stations. Trying to laser it open would take hours, at a generous estimate.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace frowned as the predicament was being explained. "Baba, hopefully something can be done electronically. We don't have the time to cut through the door, and we might have to get more help if you cannot come up with something. But you are good, so give it a shot. We should have tools still on board that might help, yeah?"

He triggered the intercom to talk to Marg again. "So, you think Hanna might have experienced some hypnotic suggestion from an image on the screen? She was certainly acting strange and not herself. HE had to stun her and subdue her. Everyone else saw the same image, correct?"

 

 

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: 05:27 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:50 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~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: 1 Wound
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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

"Yeah, if there was a hypno-beam from the screen it did nothing to us," Marg hollers back through the layer of steel. "Hopefully you knocked some sense into her!"

Tonguing her teeth in thought, Baba leans in and looks at the external panel for the door. "This port was fried by whatever Hanna tried to do in her stupor. Top level computers should have access to all the subsystems, however. If I can get in there maybe I can factory reset the door drivers?" She straightens her back and looks towards the bridge. "One terminal on the bridge, one in the AI chamber, and one in his quarters, I'd guess. Think Roark is the type to write his passwords down somewhere in his room?"

Setting his ear against the door, Carl knocks on it. "Hey, you got any food in there?"

"Water! Couple ration bars!" comes the reply. In the worst case scenario, they would be able to last a few days inside while more pressing matters are addressed, granted the Laura II doesn't sink somehow.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace nodded as Baba explained what she could attempt. "Okay, Baba take Ferny with you and see if you can do something from whichever of those terminals you think you can use. If it is Roark's then make a play for it. We can probably spare 30-45 minutes. Then we have to look at handing this problem over to another techie and get about our other mission which impacts all of our survival potentially."

"Just let me know which one so Carl and I shall catch up after we deliver Hanna to our exit point. We operate in pairs in case someone needs to find the others."

While Baba and Ferny take off, Jace looks to talk some more with Marg. "We shall keep working on this, but you have to be patient as we might need to leave and return later with more help."

"Do you know why the comms are having trouble? We could not reach any one once they were inside the ship."

 

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: 05:30 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 12:53 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~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: 1 Wound
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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

"Half hour, yes," with a short nod, Baba walks back the way they came to meet up with Ferny and begin searching for a usable terminal.

While he and Carl remain behind for now, Marg answers through the door, "We'll be here!" Forced levity in her voice. "Right! Almost forgot with all the other excitement. Comms going out was sometime after Hanna went off her rocker, must be something she did! I don't know if it was before or after we got stuck in here, I was busy trying to patch S'hax up before I ever tried putting out a call!"

A few moments later, Baba and Ferny pass through the hallway on the way to the bridge. All the possible terminal locations connect there, making it the best place to start. "Heard the tale end of that," the old woman says. "I'll take a look in the bridge and see if anything could be causing it, while we are there. Like I said before, could be the subspace transmitter running." Though it's possible there's a jamming device somewhere else on the ship - if Hanna's involvement were premeditated, by herself or another party. The ladies step through the bridge door, and the sound of whirring machines comes through, revealing past Baba's shoulder several smashed control terminals that the Laura II's remaining automated maintenance drones are working on. "Layno," she mutters. "Okay, going to try the AI chamber terminal," she walks past them, around the ringed catwalk at the edge of the bridge.

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace answered back, "Okay, we shall check that out then as can talk to those on the shuttles. Hopefully we shall be back soon."

Turning to Carl, "Let's take Hanna up and outside. I do not want to leave her behind and we need to keep her secured until she either regains her senses or we can have her medically evaluated. Try a fireman's carry and I will help get her situated. But first make sure you do not have a equipment she can grab off you when she regains consciousness."

"Then we can take her up to the hatchway out and leave her there."

Once he and Carl moved their prisoner, he planned to leave Carl watching her as he joined Baba on the Bridge to check on progress.

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: 05:40 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 13:03 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~5

Time Remaining to Investigation: 20-35 minutes

---

Party Members and Status

 

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

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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: ?, trapped in Armory
S'hax: 1 Wound, trapped in Armory

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

As he's about to start walking back, Carl holds up a finger at Jace's reminder. "Right." He undoes the holster at his side and takes off his shoulder sling for his shotgun, tucking both into his pack and zipping it shut. "There she goes."

Together, the two of them return to the unconscious marine biologist, and Carl heaves her up to ascend the station. At the pried-open airlock, they are able to rig a simple way to pull her up using some rope and a biological weapon. Geo's strength proves more than capable for the task.

"Water hiders circle. Watching," the alien informs them as they, too, use the rope to climb out and onto the slippery metal surface of the roof. "No action." Apart from that news, it doesn't seem like much has changed on the roof of the station. The shuttle remains in place, with Vernon and Francis inside. Curled up on one of the seats, Francis is drawing in pencil in a small notebook, while Vernon is sitting at the entrance to the cockpit, occasionally adjusting some tape he's used to strap a gel ice pack to Herbie's side.

"Have you found - oh!" the Atmostech's expression perks up when he notices Hanna being lugged along by Carl. Straining against the tilt of the roof to drag himself to a stand, he tries to climb his way over to them. "I take it you have found what happened, then?"

Edited March 13 by Sala (see edit history)

[Paro]

Jace Falcone, Halcyon Field Commander & Acting Expedition Commander

---

Jace nodded, "Sort of. We did talk to Marg. Baba is working on trying to get them out of the armory."

"Why don't you guys tell us what you know about it all so we can get a better picture of what's up here with Hanna. While she is secured, I don't think she is a danger to herself or anyone else. Particularly with our friend Geo here."

"But we have a good bit of time while we wait for you to two to fully debrief me on things."

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: 05:45 am / Landfall Planetary Time: 13:08 am
Hours Remaining to Deadline: ~5

Time Remaining to Investigation: 15-30 minutes

---

Party Members and Status

 

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

Station Roof:

Geo: 3/3 Bennies

 

Aquilla Shuttle:

Carl: 3/3 Bennies
Hanna: Unconscious, Drugged?

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: ?, trapped in Armory
S'hax: 1 Wound, trapped in Armory

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

"With Hanna?" Francis asks, scratching his head. He notices the bindings on her, now. "Was she... the mole?" he wonders. "I mean, somebody was sabotaging all our stuff, the radio and the fuel, there has to be a mole."

"She had access to both of the shuttles before we went in, she could have cut the fuel lines," straining to peer towards the hanger-side of the floating station, Tobias' gesture proves pointless. There's no seeing over the structure of the Laura II in the way. But somewhere past there, the water should still be painted in rainbows by the cut line's leak. Cutting the fuel lines would put the action before her supposed snap at the subspace communicator control panel.

Hanging onto the edge of the shuttle door's opening, Carl has a foot on the rearmost left seat to keep himself balanced on the tilt. "Well, they said it was some kinda coordinates that set her off," he points out. "What if she's, like... one of them old cold-war sleeper agents from the vids?"

"I doubt that kind of technology really exists," Tobias responds skeptically. "Not undetectable, anyways. I have no doubt someone somewhere has cyberware that can do that, but CDC would have found anything like that when they vetted her and did her medical."

"Yeah but. But what if it's biotech, like a... bio-engineered cordy-ceps fungus?" Carl retorts.

Edited March 18 by Sala (see edit history)