Scene II: The March

[Scarecrow71]

 

With a bit of effort, you are able to lift and carry the unconscious humanoids into the aft compartment of the Halo, sedating them and sealing the area so they won't cause any more problems.  T'kres agreed to watch over them and continue running diagnostic system scans, repairing what little could be found to be repaired, while the rest of you decide to head for the science outpost.  A'Kora and Hesk set about collecting biological samples from your group beforehand, though, so as to have a baseline of what your DNA looks like now so it can be compared to future samples should the need arise.  You store a copy of the samples on the Halo, just in case, and carry a copy of the data from the samples with you.  Again, just in case.

 

The science outpost is several kilometers away, according to the information you got from the Firefly, and so you set a walking course to get there.  And not long after you set out, you realize that this walk is going to be far more difficult than you would have liked, with this being no simple stroll but rather a pretty decent hike through some rough terrain.  The forest in which you crashed gives way only a short ways from the Halo to rock-covered terrain, with hills and outcroppings and gravel that make every step a bit treacherous; you definitely have to pay attention to where you are walking lest you step wrong and twist an ankle, or fall and cut yourself on the sharp rocks littering the landscape.  There are some signs of local flora dotting the area, growing wild with branches stretching this way and that.

 

It isn't long into the trek when you encounter your first challenge in getting to the science outpost, with a deep but narrow ravine threatening to stop you in your tracks.  It looks to be crossable; you believe that you could climb down a ways and then jump from one side to the other, then climb back up...but you know that this will take time for the lot of you to do.  Scanning for anything to help, you can see a fallen tree of some kind on the far side of the ravine that might be long enough to span the gorge, perhaps to be used as a bridge so you could simply walk across without too much trouble.  But you would need to get to the other side first, and then place the tree in a way to allow this to happen.

 

MechanicsThreat: 12.

Momentum: 5.

Anyone attempting to cross the ravine must roll Fitness + Security at a target Difficulty of 4. Failing this task still results in your crossing, but you also suffer a minor injury, which results in you having difficulties on all tasks increased by +1 until the injury is healed. And no, you do not have the correct supplies with you on the trek to heal injuries.

Anyone who crosses the ravine may attempt to move the downed tree into position for the others to use as a bridge. Doing so is a Fitness + Security OR Control + Science task at a target difficulty of 3. Once the bridge is in place, characters may cross it with a Control + Security task roll at a difficulty of 1. Failing this roll OR rolling a Complication results in the bridge still being put in place, but characters crossing have the difficulty raised to 2.

[Roughtrade]

After assisting Ensign Hesk with data sample collection, A'Kora collects a repair kit from the Halo and a engineering tricorder.  Very likely the Science Outpost will have suffered some deterioration from the savagery of the inhabitants and despite Firefly's positive attitude, it might be in need of it's own repairs.  Best to be prepared. 

 

When she is ready, A'Kora awaits for T'Mirras to organize the trek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OOC

 

Mostly porting my formatting over.  Am not ready to try my luck at dice rolling just this moment.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complete

 

 

 

 

[moarhair]

T'Mirras squints as she scans the ravine. Her eyes follow its walls until they land on a narrow ledge. Another one is visible across the way, a little further down. She follows the other wall up, noting potential handholds. Finally, her eyes land on the fallen tree. She nods.

 

The young security officer turns to the rest of the away team. "I will climb down, jump over to the other side, and get back up to move that tree," she says, pointing to the fallen log. "If you can make your way to where it'll bridge the gap, I may need your help lining it up so you can get across safely."

 

Mechanics

Getting across:

Leveraging value "I lost an arm for my comrades, and I'd do so again" to spend a point of Determination for the Perfect Opportunity benefit: grants 2 successes.

Spending 1 point of Momentum for an extra die.

Using Composure Focus.

RESULT: 6 successes, 1 complication, 2 momentum generated. Going to spend the 2 momentum to cancel the complication.

Net: -1 Momentum, -1 Determination for T'Mirras. 

 

Edited July 6, 2022 by moarhair (see edit history)

[ihinka]

KOTHO
Control10	Fitness9	Presence10
Daring9	Insight9	Reason9
Command4	Security3	Science1
Conn4	Engineering3	Medicine1
STRESS: 12

Kotho grumbled internally as the Halo once again was playing hard to get and wouldn't give out her injury secrets easily. The Orion helmsman felt almost like some force of fate was preventing her from showing her true potential as a mechanic. Or maybe I just need more practice?! Kotho wondered. Once we are done with this little side adventure and I get to my final assignment, I should probably ask for additional engineering rotations. After all, what pilot would I be if I can't even fix my own ship in a pinch?! Being prepared is the only way to thwart fate. If the Gods want to play dice with my life, I'd better give them a run for their money. Kotho sighed and surrendered the Halo's damage diagnostics to T'Kres. She returned to the group just in time for T'Mirras' speech. 

 

"Any objections?"

 

Kotho's lip twitched in an effort to contain a grin as T'Mirras stared her down... Or, rather, up. So she stared back. And then stared back some more. Before breaking into a grin and winking at the ruffled Security Officer. She raised her arms in surrender.

 

"I'll behave!" Kotho promised with a chuckle. "Mostly..." She added after a beat, with a cheeky shrug and walked away to gather her gear for the trek.

 

 

***

 

While the trek wasn't the proverbial walk in the park, Kotho still felt invigorated by it. After the stress of the crash-landing, the encounter with the proto-humanoids and the overall condition of the Halo, a brisk walk on terra ferma was just what she needed. The ravine, blocking their progress to the science station, however, was another thing. Kotho approached the precipice with care and extended her neck to glance down. She kicked a stone over the edge and watched and listened as it fell. A low whistle followed as Kotho spared her companions with a glance.

 

"That is a loooooong way down!" Kotho commented.

 

"I will climb down, jump over to the other side, and get back up to move that tree," ... "If you can make your way to where it'll bridge the gap, I may need your help lining it up so you can get across safely."

 

Kotho gave T'Mirras a speculative look. She didn't doubt the Security Officer's climbing ability. Though she had to wonder how effective she would be in hauling the fallen tree. But she had no quarrel with T'Mirras and she didn't think this was the time and place to tease her. Not to mention she had no way of knowing her raw power output. So she simply said.

 

"Sure, I can help you position it on this side. I can also belay you as you climb down and across." Kotho nodded as she began pulling out rope from her pack and some assorted climbing gear.

 

Kotho's Action Block

Rolling for Landing Gear diagnostics. Engineering+Control, assuming Standard TD 2.

 

Minor Action: 

Task: 

Momentum gained from rolls: 

 

 

 

[moarhair]

The Vulcan nods at the Orion. "Once across, I will secure the rope to the tree, so you can help by pulling while I push." She secures herself with Kotho's climbing gear, letting the other woman help without complaint despite their earlier bickering.

 

T'Mirras walks to the edge lining up with the ledge she had spotted. She stretches her shoulders, then wipes her biological hand on her trousers. She begins the climb down the shear ravine wall. She finds ample footholds and soon arrives on the ledge. She turns around carefully on the narrow landing to face the other side. Her eyes stray to the pit below, dark and deep. She takes a deep breath, and launches herself across. 

 

She lands on the ledge, but part of it gives way and her right foot slips. She gaps as she starts to fall, and reaches out with her mechanical arm. It grabs a jutting bit of stone, to small to be grasped by her other hand, but the servos in her artificial hand compensate for the small surface. She feels Kotho's pull on the rope. The extra leverage gives her time to regain her footing. She swallows and takes a moment. Once her heart stops pounding like a Risian drum circle, she looks up, and begins to climb.

 

T'Mirras pulls herself up and crawls onto the rocky ground atop the other side of the ravine. She unties the rope, gets up on her feet and walks to the tree. She loops the line around the the trunk a few times and secures it with an elaborate knot. She looks across the ravine to the others. "Ready!" she yells, giving them an awkward thumbs-up in case her voice doesn't carry over the wind.

 

Mechanics

Moving the tree

Going to spend 1 Momentum to buy an extra die

+1 Momentum, +1 Threat from Untapped Potential

 

RESULT: 3 successes

Net: 0 Momentum, +1 Threat

 

Edited July 6, 2022 by moarhair
Added roll and mechanics (see edit history)

[Roughtrade]

Just a stroll through an alien forest; there were many who joined Star Fleet for just this sort of opportunity.  A'Kora was not one of those.  Traipsing through verdant greenery and along moss covered rocky ridges on an animal trail....  Insects.  Sweat.  A'Kora was not adverse to these things, but neither did she enjoy them.  She much preferred to sweat over a hot engine or in a good rugby scrum.  To occupy her mind, A'Kora worked on a thought exercise.  How could one construct a miniaturized hunter-killer nano-bot directed at eradicating insect pests?  

 

Power would be the limiting issue.  To create an insect hunter small enough it would be easier to use a broadcast power unit but then if one were going to broadcast any signal it would be more efficient to use a vibratory frequency which would drive them away.  This wasn't about efficiency though, it was a mental exercise in theoretical mathematics.  Power quantities in pico-volts.  Quantum spin as a control signal perhaps.  Contemplating the math was an entertaining diversion.  It was interrupted by ravine which diverted their trail.

 

"That is a loooooong way down!" Kotho commented.

 

"It is not the fall, of course, but rather the sudden stop at the end which is lethal."  A'Kora observes with a slight upturning of one corner of her mouth to indicate humor.

 

She watches with the others as T'Mirras scrambles across the obstruction.  And she stands with Kotho to aid in rigging the tackle and rope to direct the log.  

 

"Ready at your signal."  A'Kora answers to T'Mirras.

 

 

OOC

 

Since Moarhair rolled four successes all on their own, do we need to do anything else?

 

 

Complete

 

 

 

 

 

[Maester1216]

Hesk has a proverbial pep in his step as he hikes through the Xerxian wilderness with the team, taking in the untouched beauty of this world with wide-eyed wonder. The walking wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but if there was any terrain Grazerites were custom built for it would have to be this. Roaming over the rocky terrain of this world reminded Hesk of the last time he and some of the Upsol vacationed on the homeworld of Grazer, hiking and climbing through the high mountain ranges that dominated his peoples planet of origin. Just as quickly though did Hesk's mind wander back to the old Vaaro farm on Casmus III, and his boyhood days playing in the hills bounding his clan's lands. While not nearly as treacherous as the mountains of Grazer or those here on Xerxes IV, they'd proven more than challenging for an adventurous young boy. That was likely by design if his aunts and uncles were to be understood correctly, as they wanted the land to simulate as much of the homeworld's own environment as could be done without any real risk of harm to the children.

 

"Stars do I miss'em. I'll have to try and get a subspace message out to 'em soon. Maybe see when leave'd be possible for us. Harvest ain't too far off after all..."

 

Eyeing the ravine the team has reached warily, Hesk hangs back and keeps a lookout as the others secure their passage. Too many cooks in the kitchen spoils the broth after all. "No signs of any Protohumans sneaking up on us, or any other local fauna hankering for a snack. I'd guess these mountains ain't too heavily populated with more 'an lichen or other sturdy breeds of flora."

[Roughtrade]

T'Marras nods at the Orion. "Once across, I will secure the rope to the tree, so you can help by pulling while I push." She secures herself with Kotho's climbing gear, 

 

Joining in with the others, A'Kora assists in securing the lines which hold the makeshift bridge in place.  The basic engineering problem is not enough of a distraction to be entertaining so she allows the others to choose the design.  Similar tasks performed in survival training at the Academy have been accomplished by all present members of the landing party.  While not as adept at climbing as the others, she manages well enough at a slow and steady pace.  The perfectionist in her slowing her rate of passage as A'Kora pauses on several points to secure additional anchors on the line.  She clucks her tongue at herself, recalling that in the survival tests she was often admonished by human teammates who felt she was slowing their progress in her attempt to perfect simple constructions.  

 

At the other side, she did have a question for T'Mirras.

 

"Is there a requirement for speed in our progress of which I am unaware?  I would like to suggest the next such obstacle we find, perhaps we could explore along it's rim to find a less dangerous crossing.  The risk to personnel seems unnecessary."

 

 

 

OOC

 

Three Successes means I generate Momentum.  Yes? 

Momentum being something others can use, I figure shoring up the lines on the bridge/tree can count for something.

 

Not sure if it matters, but A'Kora's question is not just about being overly cautious.  We didn't even try to look for an easier place to cross.  As readers we know that Scarecrow seemed to indicate this was the best place, but I would have liked at least a head-fake to finding a better way.  Also, it leans into her Value of "Take Care of the Crew" as she is worried that the doctor might not be up to the physical challenge.  I don't know if the Value takes any Momentum to use.

 

COMPLETE

 

[hailofsilicon]

Karin inhales through her nose, looking at the bridge as she nods slowly. This wasn't that bad. The bridge looked to be in place with a fair amount of proficiency, and she didn't want or need to second-guess her crewmates here. Following behind A'Kora, she tries to replicate the Vulcan's crossing movements, a youthful trust of a familiar species helping to guide her across. Each footstep placed carefully...slowly...one by one...

 

And with a last quick hop, Karin stumbles to the other side, grinning breathlessly as she looks over at her companions on the other end of the bridge. "My, but that was exciting!"

Edited July 8, 2022 by hailofsilicon
Completing post (see edit history)

[Maester1216]

Seeing that the tree was downed and more or less stable, Hesk lines up with the others for his go at the crossing. "No fault in takin' the longview for sure Kora, but truth be told I don't like leavin' the science team atavised any longer than they need to be." Limbering up for a moment, the Ensign begins his steady, measured balancing act across the downed log...

 

And after a few moments steps down on the other side of the ravine, gives a small and a wink to others. "Yep, just like home."

 

Mechanics

Standard roll here, Control + Security(TN 12) at Difficulty 1.

 

Succeeded with a 5, so all's good by the look of things.

 

Edited July 8, 2022 by Maester1216 (see edit history)

[ihinka]

KOTHO
Control10	Fitness9	Presence10
Daring9	Insight9	Reason9
Command4	Security3	Science1
Conn4	Engineering3	Medicine1
STRESS: 12

Kotho grabbed a pair of gloves and slipped them gingerly on her hands as she prepared to belay T'Mirras. Rope burn was desirable in few select situations and this was most definitely not among them.

 

She remained focused on the movements of the Security Officer and relaxed only once T'Mirras was more or less safely on the other side of the ravine. And with the other end of the rope now secured to the tree Kotho made sure to find herself a good anchor point for her feet in order to pull from a place of power and stability.

 

"Heave-Ho! " Kotho grunted as the group pulled at the tree in tandem.

 

With the improvised Bridge firmly in place Kotho observed A'Kora, Hesk and Karin crossing cautiously. 

 

"No point in dawdling, I s'pose." Kotho flashed her, by now, trademark cheeky grin and stepped onto the tree bridge. Testing it's stability with small sideways steps, arms splayed to the side for balance. Halfway through her foot slipped on a crumbling piece of bark and she ended up straddling the log in order to avoid plummeting into the ravine. She crawl-walked the rest of the way and once safely on the other side shook herself like a dog throwing off water off its fur.

 

"Woo-wee, what a rush!" Kotho exclaimed while coiling the rope and collecting the used carabiners to stow away for future use. 

 

Kotho's Action Block

Well, got 1 success, so thank the gods for that at least 😄 

 

Minor Action: 

Task: Cross the tree bridge - TD 1

Momentum gained from rolls: 0

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2022 by ihinka (see edit history)

[Scarecrow71]

Thanks to T'Mirras crossing the ravine and getting the fallen tree into place - and who knew Vulcans had that much agility? - your away team is able to cross the ravine successfully and continue on your way to the science outpost.  It seems, though, that the longer you march towards it, the longer it will take to get there; every step on this strange planet seems to move you 1 meter forward and 3 meters back, having to backtrack and double around various rocky outcroppings and fallen trees.  It's almost as if the planet itself is working against you...but that cannot be, can it?  Planets aren't really alive and sentient, are they?  No, not according to Starfleet, anyhow.

 

Eventually, you find your way out of the rocky hillside and staring down into a wide, shallow valley covered in local flora of varying kinds.  There are trees and plants of all shapes and sizes, with no visible path to move between them.  You can hear the buzzing of various insects, and you catch sight of some of them flitting between flowers, collecting whatever pollen and nectar they can.  Or, at least, what amounts to that on Xerxes IV, anyhow.  The air here is filled with both sweet and sour, odors emanating from the plants to both attract and repel.

 

You can see the science outpost at the far side of the valley, in a directly straight line from where you stand, on the edge of yet another rocky hilltop.  You turn to both directions, gauging the distance you would have to cross if you didn't go through the plant-covered valley, and you look to the sky to see where the sun for this planet would be.  Your best guess at this point is that if you didn't go straight through, you wouldn't make it to the science outpost before nightfall.  But those plants.  Are they safe?  Are they poisonous?  Could you make it through the valley safely?

 

MechanicsThreat: 12. 1 point was spent to add a simple Complication that you cannot make it to the outpost by going around the valley before nightfall.

Momentum: 6.

[Maester1216]

"Stars, not even Grazer's geography was this hardy. Gotta wonder what tectonic shenanigans created a landscape like this. Ah well, just makes for a more interesting hike." Concerned as he might be for the science team, Hesk refused to let such thoughts dour his mood. 'Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart' was an aphorism his first cousin once removed had always stuck by when the Upsol back home hit a rough patch, and now more than ever did Vaaro-Hesk hope to live those words.

 

Coming up on the forested valley in the mountains foothills Hesk's eyes widen, taking in as much of the alien beauty of Xerxes IV's flora as he can. He doesn't allow himself the pleasure of such beauty for long however, as he spies the outpost the the away team was looking for. More pointedly, that the science station was in more or less straight ahead of them, albeit through unknown and potentially dangerous alien fauna. "We won't reach the station before nightfall if we take a longer route. Way I see the forest's our best bet... provided nothing here tries and eat us."

 

Taking out his Tricorder Hesk begins scanning nearby flowering plants, as well as trees and what he likened to grass. In between scans he cross-references the plants ontogeny amongst other details against a handful of botanical samples from other Federation worlds to more accurately build a profile of Xerxes IV's flora. "Shouldn't be long here folks, just need to narrow down the details on these jugary glands and we'll be through in no time." At the back of his mind however, Hesk wondered at what the worst case options would be for the team. He could always try talking the others through how to best mitigate negative dose responses from poison or venom, but a controlled burn of the forest should only be their last resort...

 

OOC/Mechanics

Hesk'll take charge on this Extended Task. Going for the Reason + Science option, with Comparative Exobiology as an applicable Focus. I'm gonna go all in from the start and spend our pool of Momentum on three extra dice (-6 Momentum).

 

Wow, so that roll made back the initial investment of Momentum(+6 Momentum). I'm gonna spend all of the Momentum (-6 Momentum) gained there on the Additional Work Momentum Spend(P.91). This increases the Work done by +1 for this Task per Momentum spent, before reductions for Resistance(which in this case is 0).

 

The Work Roll's a base of 2D6 plus Hesk's Science of 4 for 6D6. The total value of the roll here is 5 and a Effect(no real special effects, so the 5 is just a 1), and the 6 from Additional Work brings the total to 11 which... I believe completes the Task in one go (unless I did something wrong).

 

Untapped Potential's roll adds 1 Momentum to the Pool.

 

Current Momentum Pool: 1

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by Maester1216 (see edit history)

[moarhair]

On 7/8/2022 at 1:52 PM, Roughtrade said:

"Is there a requirement for speed in our progress of which I am unaware?  I would like to suggest the next such obstacle we find, perhaps we could explore along it's rim to find a less dangerous crossing.  The risk to personnel seems unnecessary."

On 7/8/2022 at 6:05 PM, Maester1216 said:

"No fault in takin' the longview for sure Kora, but truth be told I don't like leavin' the science team atavised any longer than they need to be."

T'Mirras tilts her head towards the doctor. "My thoughts exactly." 

 

***

 

T'Mirras keeps watch as Dr. Hesk scans the dense flora ahead. She sweeps the area, tricorder in hand, looking out for potential threats. Some members of the atavised science team were still on the loose, and the local fauna could include predators. With the source of the scientists' regression still unclear and no obvious alternative path, caution was the only logical course of action.

 

The security officer looks up from her tricorder, the corner of her lip curling up slightly as she gives A'Kora a sidelong glance. "It seems you're getting your wish, Ensign A'Kora. We have to pace ourselves this time. Perhaps you could entreat us to find the solution to this mystery and manifest our success."

[Roughtrade]

Along with her fellow crewmen, A'kora crossed the wilderness.  Though she does not ignore her surroundings, she remains completely unphased by the natural beauty; it is an obstacle to be surmounted and nothing more.  The vegetation has not as yet posed too great a threat, but she accepts the assessment from Hesk that the valley should be surveyed before crossing.  As the source of the 'de-evolution' of the science outpost personnel is still unknown, A'kora is pleased to note her fellows are being more cautious.  

 

Her head tilts to one side when T'Mirras addresses her comment from, well, some time earlier.  

 

"I do not believe quite the opposite."  A'Kora replies.  "As Mister Hesk has already determined going around this valley will require us to remain in the wilderness over night, the more direct crossing appears to be our only viable option."  

 

She configures her tricorder for data collation and slaves her signal over to receive data from Hesk's readings while continuing the conversation.

 

"I found your previous solution to be quite human.  You seem to have assimilated more quickly to their ..."  A'Kora pauses and looks up to consider for a moment.  "Style?  Is that the proper terminology?"  She shrugs and goes back to her task.  "I admire your ability to assume a stance which humans will more readily accept.  It is a level of comfort with the human nature of which I have not yet attained."

 

The technical tricorder has trouble finding common ground with the biological scanner.  A'Kora will frown and then allow a pout to show as she tries to get her equipment to comply.

OOC

 

Is it my imagination or do the OOC tags look different than they used to?  

 

On any road....  A'kora is going to try an Assist roll.  Essentially using her engineering tricorder as additional data processing to make Hesk's work go faster.  Opening up more processing power on his tricorder for actual data collection while hers does simple number crunching.  

Either Reason (10) plus Science (3) or Control (9) plus Engineering (4).  Which ever seems proper, the TN is the same.  14.

 

18 is a fail, but not a disaster.  I do not believe I will spend Momentum, unless someone suggests it is required.  

 

 

 

Complete