Late April 1998 Responses

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

In a message dated 98-04-25 17:43:41 EDT, layne@xmission.com writes:

<< Hi Guys!

Stop by the Unity page

http://www.xmission.com/~layne/Unity.html

to see how the team is faring.

Since the story was a bit late getting out this time, the deadline for
responses will be Sunday, May 10th.

Hope to hear from you soon! >>

Hey everybody! Just a quick note - I'll be on vaca from 5/7 to 5/24 in
Germany and hence have no access to email. I'm shuttting off my mail c. 5/5
or so, so anything emailed after that will probably go unread until aftter
Memorial Day. So anyway, my response to the latest events will have to be
taken in light of my last post prior to 5/7. 

All for now,

Andy / Urugg

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

In a message dated 98-04-25 09:35:24 EDT, johngroz@velocity.net writes:

<< "Let us hope in never comes to that." In the back of his mind Tork is
thinking 
sometimes people do not back down. If Syzygy was to find himself in such a
situation 
things could get messy. Tork resolves to do anything he can to keep the team
from 
getting into a situation where we need to use Syzygy as an 'ace-in-the-hole'.
>>
OOC - By this point, Urugg has had about enough as he can handle of being
cooped up in a tin-can colony, sold out to some greedhead megacorp, then (even
worse, in his mind) turned by same greedhead megaorp and its possibly criminal
local leader against innocent colonists. 

If  a situation occurs where it's "Syzygy against the team"
vis-a-vis the demo charges question, Urugg will back Syzygy against all
comers. "In my personal estimation, none of us are functioning at below par
for our given situation; if Syzygy believes that a set of hardwired TD-19
switches are essential to our survival, I will accept his judgement. If any
one of us fails to act for the greater good, then we are all lost. When we
fail to trust one another, we have already lost. If any of you distrust
Syzygy's judgement, say so now. If this is your firm belief, I believe we
should dissolve this team immediately upon our escape from our captors and
each seek our own escape from this accursed moon." 

At which point (if we have escaped our bindings) Urugg will begin assembling a
kit to reach the First Landing spaceport (including any and all weapons at
hand); barring this (ie. if we are unable to escape captivity), Urugg will
await the first oppurtunity, pose the question, and act as above. If no
possibility of escape presents itself, Urugg will withdraw deep within himself
until some sort of "escape hatch" presents itself. In the meantime, he will
volunteer for any attempts at escape, no matter how foolhardy, in a
subconscious attempt at escape (whether he himself escapes or not is
immmaterial, so long as someone - and by extension, himself - escapes).

Latenite thoughts from your furry comrade,

Andy

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

> Tork will then ask Syzygy "Why don't we step over here
> and dicuss this." Tork will attempt to get T'Klkk (and the rest of
> the group) on one
> side of the room while he and Syzygy talk on the other side. At this
> time Tork is more
> concerned about tempers going off then TD-19.
>
OOC: Once again I don't see this conversation happening so i
don't want to waste too much time on this (like I did on the two dates
described with T'Klkk, the outing on the town with Taanik, etc.) but the
situation is REALLY interesting as a study in group dynamics so I'm
having a ball.
IC:
Syzygy is visibly ruffled by T'Klkk's assertions that he has
done something wrong. However, it doesn't affect his attitude towards
the situation they face. He is still intent on getting the group free,
as well as the poor wastrels living nearby. If he seems a little
defensive towards Tork, it is his wariness of authority that triggers
it. It was coming as quite a shock to find a pecking order forming in a
group of equals. Tork's calm demeanor, though soothing, still leaves
Syzygy wary, as if Tork is diplomatically hiding his true purpose (OOC:
same feeling you get when that state trooper is sauntering up to your
car, ticket book in hand :)

> > Syzygy will insist in no uncertain terms that the charges will be
> removed
> > over his cold, dead carapace. "It is ridiculous to think I am any
> more of

> > them off and place them as remote charges. I do not see how Tork is
> > empowered to enforce some unwritten rule that I cannot carry charges
> - I


> And I thought only Yazarians experanced 'battle rage'  of am I
> reading more emphisis
> in Syzygy's words then were intended? Tork will try to remain calm
> but insist "Syzygy,
> lets talk over there. T'Klkk, how about checking on the others?"
>
OOC: The emphasis in his words may reflect more confusion than
anything. This didn't seem the time or place to discuss armament
issues. Also, Syzygy is surprised to find such concern when he's
supposedly qualified to carry these munitions. It in no way reflects a
chip on his shoulder towards Tork.

> Tork has *NO* plans on trying to forcefully remove the charges from
> Syzygy. [Trying to
> forcefully remove the charges could set them off.] Tork is, however,
> worried about
> accidental detonation. [ FYI Tork carries both TF-19 and detonators
> but keeps them
> seperate. "If you want a quick explosion use a grenade". ] Tork will
> discuss with
> Syzygy how he has the carges set and ask to examine the detonators to
> try and minimize
> chances of accidental detonation.
>
OOC: Unless the GM takes liberties (as I sometimes do in the
interest of spicing up a story) there are no rules for TD-19
accidentally going off except if struck by laser fire, in which case
TD-19 is just as dangerous whether it's armed or not. Once again,
that's up to Layne, though.

IC:
Syzygy will be noticeably calmer dealing with Tork. He knows
how this must make him look in the group and is even more self-conscious
than before. Syzygy will open his suit and show Tork the wiring harness
he's (supposedly - Layne never gave me feedback on it so I assume it's
cleared) rigged up. Straps hold separate charges of varying portions
(detailed in character sheet) over his upper torso, all wired to a
master controller in his hand. Separate triggers in his palm are wired
to detonate the separate charges. An optional 'dead man' switch can be
activated in case anything happens to him.

> During the conversation Tork will try (to the best of his abilities)
> to determine if
> Syzygy plans on using himself as a Vrusk bomb.
>
Syzygy detects the true level of concern in Tork's voice and
heads it off. "Are you concerned I may go postal, my friend? Well, it
is no secret I have little regard for my own life. However, I would
never do anything to endanger the others. Trust me when I say that all
the variables concerning my potential detonation of any device would
exclude you or anyone you care about. It is a hold-out weapon, as you
say, a way of leveraging up my bargaining position if cornered by
overwhelming forces. My ace-in-the-hole, my insurance policy for not
being a strong military force on my own. That is all."


> Tork will also take a couple
> opportunites to get Syzygy to disarm himself. To do this Tork will
> try two arguments:
> first he will quote from the "UPF Guide to Safe Handling of TD-19".
>  Tork will also
> try to make the case: "I think T'Klkk may have over reacted. Despite
> her hard exterior,
> I belive she cares for the team and you. Yazarian females sometimes
> over react when
> someone they care deeply for is in danger. Perhaps this is the case
> with Vrusks also?"
>
(LOL - good one, John!)

Syzygy stops for a moment to stare over Tork's shoulder at
T'Klkk in the distance. No doubt she is fuming and giving orders, but
that is what is so endearing about her. He sighs and reflects on the
Yazirian's words.

"You may be right, my friend. Although my experience with
females is scant, this one in particular is obviously infatuated with
me. I sometimes wonder if I'm safe if left alone with her, considering
how strong Vrusk hormones can be. Yes, I'll give this serious thought.
In the meantime, I'll defuse the TD-19 harness and think about it."

Syzygy thinks about it. Five minutes later he re-arms the
harness with almost no regard to its potential danger.

From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)

Layne, you mentioned that we saw where all our weapons and equipment
were located. How far are we from that room, and can we tell how clear
of a path we have between here and there? Also, how many characters do
we think would be required to retrieve all of the equipment/weapons? 

Thanks for the clarification, and thanks for keeping things hopping!!

-JWW

From:  Layne Saltern (GM)

John Whitfield said:
>Layne, you mentioned that we saw where all our weapons
>and equipment were located. How far are we from that
>room, and can we tell how clear of a path we have between
>here and there? Also, how many characters do we think
>would be required to retrieve all of the equipment/weapons?

All of your weapons and equipment--including items that were previously in
your apartments--have been dumped in a pile on the floor of the storage pod
where you were being held. Lost Point storage pods are simple one-room
units, which means that if you want your equipment, you need only pick it up
off the floor.

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

Well, not exactly... but I will be. I'll be on vaca in Germany between
Thursday, May 7 and Saturday, May 23 and therefore unable to check mail. So,
I'll be sending my final move out either Tuesday or Wednesday nite, and
hopefully will be able to complete my midmonth move after i get back and get
caught up on things. Just don't get my favorite Yazirian killed, guys ; )

Later,

Andy