June/July 1998 Responses

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

<< t's been a tough couple months there, with every imaginable thing popping
up to keep me occupied. The biggest change will be tomorrow as I begin a
new job. Hopefully all should go well.

Anyway, I just barely got a new computer--which I updated today with all of
the Unity material I've got (I hope). The next segment of the
story--spanning both June and July--is available on-line at the Unity web
page: >>

YAHOO! I can get my Unity fix at last. Good thing too, the DT's were getting
to me. Congrats on the new job Layne : )

Andy

From: Andy Campbell (Urugg)

... but about to be shot out of it? : P

Looks like we have landed our selves back in the sauce folks. Some thoughts
about the current situation (for those of us in the "away team" that is): I
think we've got two options here, given that the goon coming down the hall
can't have missed the beams of our flashlights sweeping the hall...

Option 1 - 
Try to be nice and make them see reason... Unlikely to work, but if we could
actually talk some sense into the goon(s) ahead of us it will save blood being
spilled. Of course, we're talking an Oscar-winning performance to pull this
off... but I'm willing to try.

Option 2 -
Balls to the Wall. Loudly inform the inviso-goons that we have deactivated
the reactor and rigged it with several kilos of kaboomite; said kaboomite
will be detonated with the remote detonator we're carrying (Syzygy can wave
one around for dramatic effect). Basically force them to parley via threats
of annihilation; problem there is that we'll never know if they honestly came
around to our POV until they slit our throats in our sleep or let us walk
away.

Urugg's gut instinct is that this situation has rapidly gotten out of hand,
with neither side able or willing to back down. And with a colony of helpless
civilians as the bargaining chips. However, he is also unwilling to throw his
own life away for people who are literally killing themselves through their
own ignorance; he doesn't expect his teammates to sacrifice their lives for a
lost cause either...

At the moment, he's torn whether to draw weapons (sword in right hand,
stunstick in left & set for damage) and prepare to receive a charge, or to
gamble on not drawing as a sign of peaceful intent. 

Urugg also finds it sadly ironic that this hellhole is named Lost Point -
everyone's point seems to be lost on everyone else here for some reason : P 

So, everyone, what was our Plan B? ; )

From:  Ken Morefield (Zane)

<< So, everyone, what was our Plan B? ; ) >>
As with his new trend, Zane is still away from the rest of the party. I'm
following along with everything thats going on(just to let you all know), but
I'm staying silent
since my character has no idea what you are all up to or if you're even all
still alive.
Remember Zane doesn't even know about the Dakka/Spider/Streel thingy.
Well anyway it looks like you guys are in hotter water than me again, so
good
luck. 
Layne, what equipment does Zane still possess? If he is in his suit,
would he be
more able to perform his medical skills better out of it? Would the suit
provide one of the civillians fresh oxygen to breath? Zane is moved by this
change in Kyran. Once
again Zane does not care about himself, but is more concerned with these
people.
ow hard would it be to move these people to where Cimmy is? If I get Kyran to
agree. I wonder if I can talk him into going there to show him that Cimmy is
O.K.
One last question: Does Zane feel that his group is skilled enough to repair
this
place and make it inhabitable?
Ken and Zane

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

Syzygy hears the grim tone of T'Klkk's voice and even his buoyant nature
becomes steeled with resolve. The splashing of the water in the darkness
triggers a latent Vruskan fear of water and its aquatic dangers. It is
curious how the unseen can be even more intimidating than the seen.

"Um...say, that's scary", is all the levity he can muster. Obviously the
natives were on to their ploy, and their fancy suits would be more than a
match for their limited firepower.

Syzygy's hand feels for his gyrojet pistol. He checks to make sure the
barium rounds are still loaded and ready, in case the mood gets ugly and
the invisible must be made visible.

Suddenly an idea comes to light. He turns to T'Klkk, barely able to hide
how nervous he is at the approaching danger but trying to look calm in
front of the female. "Say, guys, I like Urugg's idea about the ruse. But
instead of upping the ante with a threat of explosives, why not play into
their natural fears? I can try to rig my toxy-rad guage to read a high
level of radiation in this area and we can say we had to deactivate the
reactor."

This plan is a little less aggressive in posture, but still weak. If I
were one of the goons I'd be so pissed I'd just shoot and ask questions
later. Perhaps this is the inviso-thug that offered me a gesture of
friendship earlier. I'd hate to blow it with him if he found out we were
lying. Of course, this place IS dangerous, so deactivating the power plant
may not only be believable but somewhat reasonable.

OOC: Layne, are there any computer terminals around that Syzygy could access?

Plan B could be the explosives threat as Urugg mentioned. Syzygy could in
fact rig something up in a hurry. But under no circumstances should we
leave the door open for too long. If our first plan doesn't seem to work,
I say we fall back and try the second from behind the door. Syzygy's
already felt the sting of those power suits personally - he does NOT want a
second dose! :)

I need to think a little more about this one - very dicey!

- your pal AL


From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)

Layne, 

Please clarify for me. Are the ripples that we see outside the
hallway? Also, is there a door that we could close before they get
here?

Not an overly elegant solution, but it may buy us a little time. :-)

-JWW

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

Player FYI:

After some consideration, I have decided what my next move will be. However,
it's a bit unorthodox (though in keeping with Urugg's character). If it
works, we'll be in good shape. If it fails, Urugg will not only look like a
nut but probably get hosed by a monster can of "whoop-ass". I'm mentioning
this so you (as players) don't get blindsided, but am not going to post it
till close to the due date since I don't want to ruin the surprise. 

Andy / Urugg

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." - Hunter S. Thompson,
journalist

From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)
>Player FYI:
>
>After some consideration, I have decided what my next move will be. 
>However,
>it's a bit unorthodox (though in keeping with Urugg's character). If
it
>works, we'll be in good shape. If it fails, Urugg will not only look
like a
>nut but probably get hosed by a monster can of "whoop-ass". I'm
mentioning
>this so you (as players) don't get blindsided, but am not going to
post it
>till close to the due date since I don't want to ruin the surprise. 
>
>Andy / Urugg
>
>"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." - Hunter S.
Thompson,
>journalist

Now the suspense is killing me! What an evil thing to do. :-)

Got any other carrots you want to dangle in front of us? :-)

-JWW

From:  Layne Saltern (GM)

John Whitfield said:
>Please clarify for me. Are the ripples that we see
>outside the hallway?

The ripples are within the hallway--most likely generated by something in
the hallway up ahead of you.

>Also, is there a door that we could close before
>they get here?

You are standing at the doorway that leads into the power generator facility
from the south. There IS a door, with a level two mechanical lock (that
Syzygy opened with his tech. skill).

There are also airlocks in the power generator facility that lead to the
outside.

From:  Layne Saltern (GM)

Ken Morefield said:
>Layne, what equipment does Zane still possess?

Everything on his character sheet, except I need to know how much of his
medkit supplies he wants to use on the Lost Point victims (50%, 75%...)

>If he is in his suit, would he be
>more able to perform his medical
>skills better out of it?

It's up to you whether or not Zane wants to wear his spacesuit, but I agree
that he would probably be more effective if he took it off.

>Would the suit provide one of the civillians
>fresh oxygen to breath?

Yes, but only one civilian at a time.

>How hard would it be to move these people to
>where Cimmy is? If I get Kyran to agree.

Well, Kyran is probably the biggest obstacle to relocating the people. But
if he were to agree, it should be a simple matter of loading everybody onto
the monorail.

>One last question: Does Zane feel that his
>group is skilled enough to repair
>this place and make it inhabitable?

I'm not sure how Zane would feel about it. It would probably be pretty hard
for him to say, since he hasn't seen much of the outpost and has little
technical expertise.

However, the general consensus of the other player characters was that the
project would be somewhat ambitious, given the lack of manpower, materials
and time.

Still, nothing is impossible...

From:  Layne Saltern (GM)

Albin Johnson said:
>Layne, are there any computer terminals
>around that Syzygy could access?

The pre-fab power generator unit that you deactivated is controlled by a
simplistic level 1 integrated computer, but all the computer does is control
the power generator.

There are a few oxygen/pressure/temperature gauges in both the airtube and
the power generator room. (Not all are operational.)

Other than this, everything in both the power room and airtube hallway is
manually controlled.

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

>Player FYI:
>
>After some consideration, I have decided what my next move will be. However,
>it's a bit unorthodox (though in keeping with Urugg's character). If it
>works, we'll be in good shape. If it fails, Urugg will not only look like a
>nut but probably get hosed by a monster can of "whoop-ass".

Hm. Seems Urugg's been around Syzygy too long... :) Mayhap the two will
make a dandy pair of loons for these madcap adventures. I'm with you,
brother!

- your pal AL

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)

Layne and Jeanne Saltern wrote:
> 
> John Groszkiewicz said:
> >On the robots that we fixed up: Will their storage compartments
> >hold air? Tork is wondering if we could use them to get Spider
> >( or others ) without spacesuits to Metrosphere.
> 
> It could hold air, but of course the air would run out pretty fast if
> someone were inside breathing it.

I know Tork will have to ask the techs but here it goes... IF we put two people plus 
the life support system from one of the spacesuits into one of these bots would the 
occupants be able to get safely to Metrosphere?

Sorry if anyone finds this boring. I'm just trying to solve the 8 people, 7 spacesuit 
problem. Sure it would be easy if we use the monorail.... Hmm, Layne - is there an 
atmosphere in the monorail tunnel? Could we walk back to Metrosphere thru the tunnel 
without needing the spacesuits? The problem there is Tork is assuming that Dakka/Streel 
has one or both ends of the monorail tube monitored.

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)

In a message dated 98-07-27 19:44:12 EDT, you write:

<< I know Tork will have to ask the techs but here it goes... IF we put two
people plus the life support system from one of the spacesuits into one of
these bots would the occupants be able to get safely to Metrosphere?

Sorry if anyone finds this boring. I'm just trying to solve the 8 people, 7
spacesuit 
problem. Sure it would be easy if we use the monorail.... Hmm, Layne - is
there an atmosphere in the monorail tunnel? Could we walk back to Metrosphere
thru the tunnel without needing the spacesuits? >>

Not boring at all - the team's lives may depend on it. Going by the First
Landing Surface Map, following the rail tube back to Metrosphere would be 18
hexes. A more direct route across the rough and clear hexes (but avoiding the
mountain hexes) would be between 16-18 hexes depending on the route.

Judging by the Metrosphere map (1 square=200 m), I'm guessing that a hex is
between 1 km and 1.5 km across, so the journey would range from a minimum of
16 km (16 hex trip @ 1km / hex) to 27 km (18 hex trip @1.5 km / hex).
Assuming that "rough terrain" corresponds to "broken ground" in the AD rules
and you walk at 3 km / hour (dralasite walking speed), the trip back would
take between about 5 1/2 hours (minimum per above) to 9 hours (maximum per
above).

Stock spacesuits come with 20 hours of air in them, but we've already used at
least a few hours of that during our trip out and captivity. If we all bled
off some of our reserves into the tank on the bot and used the entirety of 1
suit's reserves, it should be enough to sustain 2 people for the trip back.
This assumes we beat feet out of here soon and nothing delays us on the way
back in, of course...

As for walking back through the tube, I'd rather cross the surface - you have
more room to maneuver, and you don't have to worry about the next safety
alcove's location should the train come barreling down the tube. Of course,
if there are pedways down the side then train passage won't be a problem.

Andy

From:  Layne Saltern (GM)

John Groszkiewicz said:
>Hmm, Layne - is there an
>atmosphere in the monorail tunnel?

Yes, the monorail tube is pressurized. There is also an airlock in each
side of the tube every 200 meters, allowing someone to enter or leave the
tunnel midway.