June/July 1998 Story

[Lost Point Government Center, H6 on Lost Point Map]

Zane is silent for a moment, as he notices something on his chronocom: a message from Syzygy. Nothing audible. Just text. A single word, "WAIT."

Zane clears the chronocom display with a casual slight of hand. What does Syzygy mean? wonders the Human. Just what situation are the others in?

The Human medic crouches over one of his suffering patients and shields the chronocom. Trying to be as nonchalant as possible, he activates the communicator's audio-out mechanism, hoping the others will overhear any future conversations he might have.

[Unfortunately, unknown to Zane, it is at this time that the others in the group have abandoned their chronocoms at the base of the steel pillars in the storage area.]

A hefty shadow hangs over Zane's crouched form. Kyran, in his armor suit, stands over him and looks down.

Zane freezes. Did Kyran have time to see his move on the chronocom?

But after a long, uncomfortable pause, Zane realizes that it is not he, but the ailing Human woman at his feet, that has caught Kyran's attention.

"Will you be able to save her?" asks Kyran--the slightest hint of a break in his voice.

"She's infected with a micro-organism," explains Zane. "I suspect she got it through a contaminated water supply. I can kill the infection, but she's going to need some clean water as well. She's very dehydrated."

"We will get you the water," vows Kyran, "even if we have to take it from First Landing."

"She's. . .someone special, isn't she?" ventures Zane, noticing Kyran's uncharacteristic concern.

"She is one of my wives," explains the armored man.

"One of your wives?" asks Zane with a twisted expression.

Kyran resumes his usual intimidating tone. "You outsiders wouldn't understand. Life in this outpost is harship. Many of us have fallen to disease, starvation and exposure. Two years ago, an emergency team of workers was sent to repair a number of leaking airtubes that were damaged in a meteor shower that hit the west side of the outpost. Greatly did we underestimate the ferocity of the meteor storm--and that mistake cost us most of our male population. Since then, we have done what we had to, to survive."

Kyran motions to the woman. "Karla was one of over fifty women who became widowed when their husbands were lost to the storm. After this catastrophe befell us, each capable male in our society vowed to fill the role of our fallen brothers. Karla is one of seven women that I have taken as wife, and that I have vowed to care for and protect--even to the giving of my life."

Zane turns to the hulking Kyran with an honest look of admiration. "Where I come from, it's rare to find a man with that much devotion for even one woman."

"You will be able to save her. . .won't you?" repeats Kyran.

Zane replies with a sober nod. "Yes, I will."

[Storage Pod, H9 on Lost Point Map]

"I considered the possibility of dividing our group," replies T'Klkk. "While there may be safety in numbers, we have little chance of sneaking anywhere with a group as big as ours. Self-T'Klkk would suggest specialized purposes--a recon team to scout ahead and a second strike team to hold position here. I would volunteer for the first team, and suggest that Urugg and Kare both be on that team, for their environmental and technical expertise. Tork can stay with the others to ensure their safety, while Syzygy and Taanik watch over Spider and see to repairing the air leaks in this section of the outpost."

Syzygy grinds his mandibles. "I disagree. My speed as a Vrusk would be a strong asset for the scouting team. Plus, I can wire explosive diversions. I've already combed this entire room over, and there's no possible way for me to access any computer networks from here. I need to get out where I can accomplish something!"

T'Klkk hesitates. The real reason she hadn't suggested Syzygy for the team was that she considered him too erratic to be depended upon. But given the male Vrusk's volatile state, she chose not to voice that reasoning.

"Well," says T'Klkk, "perhaps we should put it to a vote."

Syzygy pauses at his work on the computer terminal long enough to regard the group's brainstorming. At the suggestion from T'Klkk that the group vote he clears his throat loud enough to be heard but not be obnoxious.

"It seems we're voting on the particulars of a plan we haven't even agreed upon. Splitting up the team is fine - but let's determine the agenda. I, for one, do not agree that the stationary team should be using heavy labor robots to seal an air leak. That's a big project, it'll generate too much noise and take too long for us to conduct our affairs without the inviso-goons investigating. Next, there's no point in making a frontal assault on the living quarters where Zane and the refugees are - we need some leverage first.

"Let's review our situation: we got eight goons as far as we could count. The halls are flooded with water, cutting OUR mobility, but maybe not their's. Also, one of them seemed to take a liking to us and promised me we'd leave this place alive if we were truly friends. We're seven people, including spider-boy over there", he offers, waving a hand at 'Spider', "meaning we're also outnumbered. So far there's no computer network to hijack, no central command post we know of yet, and no visible leader.

"Given the dire situation, we need something that can work quickly or at least quietly until we own an advantage."

Syzygy's eyes skim over the terminal map of Lost Point.

"Three life support stations - too many to take out or capture by ourselves, and too spread out. Food center, maybe. I'd love to see what's in that lab, if possible. The factories or processors have no tactical value. And every corridor in here is a dead end."

A single digit walks up the screen to a bright yellow icon.

"The power plant. Yes - a singularly important location. Cut their power and they're at our mercy. We can even rig it to look like it was a natural failure, in case you don't want to look like the bad guys, which we already do to those poor souls."

Syzygy produces an emergency bag of pistachios from a zippered pouch in his pressure suit. He ponders lifting his helmet to partake of the snack, then thinks better of it and replaces the bag with a frown.

"My best idea is a long-shot, but here goes. Assuming the north door is unlocked and unguarded we enter the life support area. Tork and I can rig some charges on the west door and blow them, opening the room to the surface. This will bring in the bad boys to investigate - maybe they'll think we hot-footed it over the rocky terrain back to Metrosphere. Once inside, however, we bring their attention to another set of charges we rig up over the east door, to be detonated on our command. We can fake them or use the real thing - the point is that we force them to give up or else we open their corridors to the cold of space. Maybe that'll buy us a suit, or at least reduce their numbers if we elect to let them go on a wild goose chase outside.

"Another aggressive option is to break out of the east door and make for the southerly parts. Hopefully this will attract the attention of the goons and make them follow us. Along the way we rig charges for a kill-zone - wait until they get near it and 'BAM!' take 'em out. Another team could be exiting the north door and making for the power plant. If we can secure that as a playing card they may be more willing to listen."

Syzygy sighs heavily, knowing the plans are mere ideas and that they raise the stakes considerably. "Those are just some ideas. I don't want this to escalate any more than you guys do, but we need to get some control here. Our only other option is to collect more data so we can learn of a bargaining option, a weakness to exploit. I just don't know if we have the time for that."

Tork quickly speaks up, "Excuse me, but can I make a suggestion?" Once he has everyone's attention he continues in a slightly hushed voice. "Well actually two things. First. . ." Tork points towards the chronocoms. ". . .can we set up some kind of feedback on those things by having one transmit to the others?"

Kare nods with a smile and a whisper. "Block out any would-be eavesdroppers by disabling the chronocoms' listening units. Good thinking, fuzzball."

[Kare Modifying Machinery (same as Repairing): 40 (base) + 40 (skill x 10) + 3 (LOGIC modifier) = 83%; Rolled: 33]

Tork smiles approvingly at Kare's handywork. "Second," he continues, motioning to the north door, "I suggest we move this conversation."

"I already tried the door," replies Syzygy. "It's locked. I just don't know how much noise it's going to make getting it open."

"Depends," says Kare. "A kaboomite job from you or Tork might make a little noise. But techkits are much quieter." She grins as she unloads her tools and sets to work, deactivating the door's mechanical lock. "It's all about stealth, my friend."

[Kare Opening Locks: 50 (base) + 40 (skill x 10) - 20 (lock level x 10) + 3 (INTUITION modifier) = 73%; Rolled: 04]

The rusted door pushes open with not the slightest sound.

"See," says Kare, "what did I tell ya?"

[Life Support Section, H8 on Lost Point Map]

T'Klkk and Tork pass through the door first, securing the life support room and signaling the others to follow. Syzygy enters next, followed by Kare and Urugg--who are helping "Spider" walk with his bruised legs. Taanik passes through last, guiding the two cargo bots that he was able to get operational.

Once the life support room's south door has been closed, Tork resumes. "Okay, let's decide what to do?"

T'Klkk looks around the room. "First of all, team-mates. What resources do we have at our disposition?"

"A few of those inviso-thug suits would be a nice asset," says Urugg.

"Assuming we can get our hands on some," adds Syzygy. "Face it. We're not going to find high powered suits like that just lying around the outpost."

Kare joins in. "We do have four trashed cargo bot hulls that could be modified to work as disguises. Even a bug would fit in one--which is more than you can say for those armor suits."

"I've been examining these cargo bots," says Taanik. "They're very simple models, but each has a very sturdy chassis." The spacesuited Dralasite begins to point out the robots' features. "Each has a beetle-shaped body with eight mechanical legs, allowing for maximum stability on uneven surfaces. They don't have any built in tools, but each robot has two mechanical arms with hands sophisticated enough to manipulate any standard tools. The arms are also very powerful, capable of lifting--oh, I'd say half a metric ton. There is also this third arm with an 80 cm by 30 cm paddle-like appendage at the end. I imagine this limb would be useful for lifting or pushing heavy objects, or for transporting piles of dirt. It could probably also be used for heavy tasks like digging and bulldozing. Finally, each cargo bot has a panel on top of its chassis that opens up a storage compartment with about a cubic meter of space inside."

"What were you thinking of doing with the two bots you've got working?" asks Tork.

"If we took out this life support unit and sent at least one cargo bot walking on the surface of the moon towards First Landing, the inviso-goons might think that it's one of us trying to make a quick getaway. If it works, the bot might lure a bunch of the thugs away from Lost Point."

"I still think it's best that we take out the power center first," says Syzygy. "As soon as we deactivate any critical system, the thugs are going to notice. I'd rather that the first system to go down be something they only have one of."

"That sounds reasonable," says Urugg. "I think a lot of Syzygy's ideas will work. Our best hope lies in neutralizing the Lost Point hard-liners by ambushing them guerilla style. Three of us can stay here and set up one or more booby traps. Tork, with his demolitions and environmental skills, and Kare, with her tech knowledge and sabotage experience, would be ideal for that team. Taanik should also stay here so that he can rig the cargo bots to help in the trap. Spider should also stay with this group.

"That leaves T'Klkk, Syzygy and myself to get the goons' attention with a covert strike to the outpost's power generator. Once we've got the goons on our tail, we can lead them right back here, where Taanik, Tork and Kare will be waiting for them with a few surprises."

"Sounds like fun," says Syzygy with a mandible grin.

Tork nods. "I'm game!"

[Airtube Leading to Power Generator, G3 on Lost Point Map]

The lighting in the tunnel is not much better than that provided by the eternal night beyond the walls of curved plastiglass. This corridor--like most in Lost Point--is flooded ankle-deep with murky water.

[Syzygy Detecting Alarms/Defenses: 60 (base) + 20 (skill x 10) + 10 (INTUITION modifier) = 90%; Rolled: 44]

"I don't see any security devices, other than a lock on the door," mumbles Syzygy through his spacesuit radio.

T'Klkk searches every direction for any sign of opposition while Syzygy sets to work on the simple mechanical lock barring entry to the power generator.

Urugg pauses to speculate. "Have either of you wondered why the real Dakka would end up here anyway? That still bugs me. There's nothing we know of in First Landing that he couldn't get elsewhere--as far as money, a secure hiding place or anything else. Besides the out-of-the-way location, First Landing doesn't have many other attractions if you're a super-criminal setting up shop."

[Syzygy Opening Locks: 50 (base) + 20 (skill x 10) - 20 (lock level x 10) + 10 (INTUITION modifier) = 60%; Rolled: 07]

Syzygy smiles at his success. "See, Kare's not the only one who can pass through a lock like butter!"

The power generator room's floor is slightly elevated--and therefore dry. Three airlocks, in the west, north and east walls, apparently give access to the outside world, but the dust alone testifies that none of these airlocks has been touched for months--if not years.

A pre-fab nuclear reactor unit sits in the middle of the otherwise quite empty room. The complex network of tubes and casings measures little more than 2 m x 2 m, with a height of 1.5 m. A 50 cm wide tube extends below the unit into the ground an unknown distance. Although obviously not intended to power an installation as large as Lost Point, the power unit has apparently functioned quite well--and shows no signs of tampering.

"Well," says Syzygy. "How should we do this? The quiet way. . ." He pulls out a readied pack of explosives. ". . .or the loud way?"

Urugg places a paw on Syzygy's arm. "No. No explosives. There are good people living here. We want to disarm the inviso-goons--not destroy the outpost's only source of power."

Syzygy puts his kaboomite away. His tone is suddenly quite sober. "Yes. I couldn't agree with you more." He then produces his techkit. "The quiet way, then."

Having convinced herself that the coast is clear, T'Klkk advances. "Self-T'Klkk shall assist you."

[Syzygy Sabotaging Machinery (same as Repairing): 40 (base) + 20 (skill x 10) + 10 (LOGIC modifier) = 70%; Rolled: 70]

It is not the simple task it seemed, but at last Syzygy and T'Klkk succeed in deactivating the device.

What little lighting there was goes black. Syzygy and T'Klkk each bring to life a hand-held flashlight. Urugg first turns on the flashlight mounted on his spacesuit helmet, and then turns on a second flashlight that he holds in his hand. The four yellow beams cast wide circles of light on the room's spacious walls, eventually groping their way back to the door the team came in through.

T'Klkk motions Urugg and Syzygy back to the airtube. "Six degrees of haste are now expedient!"

[Urugg INTUITION: 78; Rolled: 09]

But Urugg stops his two Vrusk companions as they make their first step out into the flooded hallway.

"Hey, wha--" begins Syzygy.

"Look," whispers Urugg. "The ripples gliding towards us. There's something up ahead trudging through the water."

Syzygy focuses his compound vision as far as it can reach down the long air tunnel. "I don't see anything."

T'Klkk's voice carries more dread than an angel of death. "Exactly. You don't."