Early March 1998 Official Responses

From:  John Whitfield (T'Klkk)

Well, it would seem to me that we're definitely in hot 
pursuit with no need to turn back. So, T'Klkk will 
continue on that course! I'm unclear as to whether 
or not the cycles can be taken into the monorail 
passage. I'm assuming that they can be and that 
is where Syte is headed. If so, an alarm will immediately 
go off in T'Klkk's head that this would be an ideal 
place for an ambush, and she will warn her teammates 
accordingly. She will also try to ponder the paradox 
of Syte's reputation of being a ruthless killer yet not 
behaving in such a way when he could have easily 
killed Kare and Tork. (Layne, Comprehension roll 
since this is attempting to understand the intricacies 
of his behaviour??). Instead of continuing to fire at 
Syte, she will shoot at his cycle in hopes of disabling 
it. She will also scan the area to make sure that there 
are no other signs of trouble and that her teammates 
are all okay. She will be particularly interested in the 
placement of Tork in an attempt to maximize the 
distance between the two combat experts and 
hopefully try to pin the prey between the two of 
them. She will also be especially concerned about 
the safety of Zane and to a lesser degree Urugg 
since she views them as healers whose talents 
may soon be needed. She will do so NOT in a 
patronizing, "you're an incompetant figher" but in 
a honourific, "you have valuable skills that greatly 
benefit this team and need to be protected" kind of 
way. 

If Syte goes into the monorail tunnel and heads 
toward Lost Point, T'Klkk will follow (although she will 
be apprehensive about what lies ahead and will be 
a little more cautious). Her continuing goal is to 
capture him alive. 

If Syte suddenly decides that he is outmatched and 
surrenders peacefully (it happens all the time, right??) 
:-) T'Klkk will accept the surrender and will keep her 
weapon aimed at him while another character binds 
his hands behind his back and disarms him of all 
weapons and equipment.

If the team is jumped, T'Klkk will have no reservations 
about defending herself and the team and will use 
every possible weapon in her arsonal (including the 
frag grenades if necessary and if none of her teammates 
would be in blast radius). As long as feasible, she would 
continue to use her handgun. If it comes to closer 
quarters combat, she'll switch to her electric sword 
(which was set to stun last time I checked). If there is 
no swinging room for the sword, she'll use her Martial 
Arts skill, trying to recall all of her training in the use 
of nerve combat.

If the team ends up at Lost Point (whether or not 
they capture Syte), T'Klkk will advocate for the team 
to explore the area. She'll suggest that they split into 
2 teams, one led by herself and the other led by Tork. 
Obviously, Zane would go with one team and Urugg 
would go with the other. She would suggest that 
Taanik (because of his Robotics skills) go with one 
team while Kare (because of her Technician skills) 
go with the other. Syzygy would go wherever he 
pleases (PROVIDED IT IS WITH ONE OR THE 
OTHER OF THE TWO TEAMS!!). :-) She would 
insist that the teams remain in radio contact at all 
times and should probably check in every 10 or so 
minutes just to be sure. Those with Environmental 
skills should be checking regularly on the living 
conditions at Lost Point.

That should be enough to keep us busy for a while!

:-)

Can't wait for the next installment.

-JWW

From:  Ken Morefield (Zane)

Since there is no way Zane can catch up(let alone keep up)
with the rest of his team(thanks to the damage to his engine),
he will either look for different transportation or slow the speed
down a little more(If the engine goes altogether, he's really stuck)
When he does get caught up, he'll see if anyone needs medical
attention(if the fights over) or join in with his laser pistol(if the fight
is underway) or if it looks like he got away then Zane will try to
comfort the group, "At least he didn't get our boss.", "We did
spoil his plans." , "That was some ride, eh?", etc.
When it's all done and over and any tension is calmed down, Zane 
will ask Kare out on a date, "Hey Kare, Syzygy's going to go on 
another date with T'klkk and he's a little nervous about it, so he asked 
me if I'd go and bring a date. Would you like to go? If you've got other
plans, hey that's cool. I know you don't know me that well yet,
but it could be a good chance to see what I'm like." Zane is a little
nervous and hopes that he doesn't come across as an asshole or 
something. He's good at that.

From:  Andy Campbell (Urugg)



"By the...!" 
Urugg cuts himself off in midsentence as his instincts kick in faster than his
mind can process. As the cycle headlights brighten like oncoming suns, the
lanky yazirian reacts with unnatural speed. 


In a single, fluid motion he leaps for the panel that activates the emergency
seal for the Terminal habitat section. Like most colonies, all of
Metrosphere's habitats have emergency hatches to seal off sections which blow
out or are ruptured. Designed to seal off a breached section near-
instantaneously, they are easily accessible near major exits and connections
between sections. As the hatch hisses downward, Urugg drops back from the
door, needle pistol ready to fire.

With the hatch down and Dakka safely isolated from escape, Urugg slumps
momentarily with exhaustion against the Terminal wall. In the silence of the
darkened terminal, he listens for any sign of events on the other side of the
hatch. With a sudden chill, he realizes that the velvety blackness of the
terminal may be hiding other forms than his own. For a few terrifying
seconds, he tries to remember if there was a smaller exitway than the main
opening. His heart beating like the rolling thunder of a summer monsoon, he
keys open the link to the rest of the team: "Urugg to anyone - what's going
on out there? Do we have him?" The needler clenched in his right hand traces
an anxious path through the inky stillness. 


 
Urugg wishes he had time to create a trap, a snare, rig a grenade - anything.
But the hovercycle is coming in too fast. Urugg ducks to one shadowy side of
the Terminal opening, bringing up the needler pistol and drawing a bead on
Syte's approaching cycle. Thanking the ancestors that the darkened plastic of
the gas mask take the edge off the near-blinding halogens, he carefully aims
the handgun. At the last possible moment, he squeezes off three careful
shots.
 


Urugg's stomach sinks as Dakka's cycle balzes past like some ill-omened comet.
He sinks against the terminal wall for a moment in despair, the whir of his
teammates approaching cycles underscoring his own failure. But he still has a
chance to make good on his duty to the team. Quickly, he links in to Selson's
private channel: "Selson - Dakka has escaped into the rail tunnel. I repeat
- he's escaped into the rail tunnel. We know there is still a working train
in this damn rail system - get your techs to activate the train and bring it
in at top speed to the station! Urugg out!" 

A click as he keys the team channel. "Start slowing your cycles down if you
can - I've told streel to summon the mono to the station, which should choke
off the tunnel and drive Dakka back into our hands." The yazirians hands
tremble slightly with anxiety as he brings up the pistol again - this time
aimed down the tunnel.


Urugg works with the rest of the team as they attempt to encircle their prey,
now on foot. Unslinging his kit bag from his shoulder, he pulls out one of
each grenade type and hooks them to his chest bandoliers for easy access.
Then he readies his pistol and begins stalking Dakka.


General stuff - 
(1) If we manage to capture Dakka, by whatever means, Urugg will immediately
ask his teammates to restrain him (if the situation allows). Urugg will ask
Zane's assistance in administering a dose of Telol to the fugitive, then
interrogate him as quickly as possible on the key questions. If necessary and
time allows, Urugg attempts Hypnosis to get at any important facts Syte tries
to conceal. Sample questions (kept relatively simple due to time and to help
the Telol work): "Why did you come to Metrosphere?"; "Who did you come here
to kill?" ; "Who are you working for?"; "Who are the Shadows?"; "What is
your relationship to Selson Streel?"; "What is your relationship to Maxim
Zek'et?"; "What is at Lost Point?"; "Why didn't you shoot when you had our
team helplessly tangled?". If time allows, Urugg will ask more questions
along the same lines. 
(2) If any of the team or Dakka are injured, Urugg will give whatever aid he
can - first aid, administering drugs, etc.
(3) If Dakka successfully escapes down the tunnel, Urugg will suggest that
the team get and don its pressure suits before any pursuit; also, that we all
travel the tunnel either on h-cycles from Streel or summon and ride the m-rail
(after checking it for boobytraps). If we do head out to Lost Point, Urugg
will bring along his outdoor equipment (water pack, rations, salt pills, rope
and flares) which he usually leaves in quarters. He will also don the
magnetic gloves he bought for his spacesuit, in the hope he can use them and
his magboots to climb along metallic walls in the railtube or Lost Point
thanks to the low gravity. He will leave the bladed gloves behind, opting
instead for his knife, stunstick (set for stun) and sword in the event of
melee.

Whew! That should cover the immediate possibilities. Also, if at any point
we get some downtime, Urugg will stop in a weapon shop and purchase 2 extra
tangler grenades.

All for now - let's see what hand Fate deals us this time...

Andy / Urugg

From:  John Groszkiewicz (Tork)

Hi Layne,

Sorry about the lateness of my post. I've been over the story several times and the 
only courses of action I see for Tork is to continue or stop the chase. Tork does not 
intend to let Dakka get away. 

Tork will try to close the distance between himself and Dakka. We want Dakka alive so 
if Tork gets a shot he will shot at Dakka's hovercycle in an attempt to disable it. If 
he can get close enough Tork will ram Dakka.

I don't feel like rushing down to Lost Point at this time but if that is where Dakka and 
the team are going then 'Tally HO!'. I hope Urugg gets that seal down in time. 

If Dakka is 'dehorsed' Tork will attempt to enter into hand-to-hand using his martial 
arts skill. Depending how close he is to a wall, Tork will race his hovecycle twords 
Dakka. Tork will jump off the cycle ( at the last second ) and into Dakka.

If Dakka is subdued, Tork's next actions are to (1) question Dakka, (2) turn Dakka over 
to Captain Ap-Harrow, and (3) go out and get slightly drunk.

Questions for Dakka: "Who are you after?" "Why are you after him/her?" "Why did you hit 
me with a tangler grenade?" if I get the anticipated 'what you talking about' look Tork 
will elaborate "With a reputation of being a cold, unfeeling killer, why didn't you just 
kill me and Kare on the spot?"

TTFN
John johngroz@velocity.net
----------
"Can't say. Saying would be knowing. Don't know. So, can't say." - Zathrus

From:  Albin Johnson (Syzygy)

OOC: Well, it looks like any serious treatment of our leisure time (dating
T'Klkk, getting a tattoo, etc.) is going to have to wait, folks - Syte is
indeed managing to give us a hard-ass time. I don't know how much Syzygy's
efforts at the computer are worth, but now it seems we're just a pack o'
road-warriors so we'd best come up with some tactics.

Syzygy is in the lead for the moment, but anything can change. He would
rather be coordinating this whole thing from a computer terminal, but since
Syte has proven so elusive Syzygy can't afford to lose the small gain he's
making.

Without a better idea of the roadways, my only input is to open up the
cycle and try to pour the speed on, even if it endangers himself. If
within range, Syzygy will try to muscle Syte off the road, bumping and
slamming as best as he can. If it hasn't become obvious yet, Syzygy has
little regard for his own safety - his own self-contempt is fueled by a
thirst to experience chaos in all its forms. What better way than to send
Syte to hell by colliding in a blaze of glory? :)

Seriously, Syzygy will play dirty during this chase - smashing through
obstacles normally considered too dangerous, gunning the cycle waaay past
its safety limits, slamming into Syte's cycle with no regard for the
consequences.

"Let's dance, human!"

- your pal AL

p.s. Layne, I had little to go on with this move since the chase is the
only thing going on - I listed several activities Syzygy would like to do
in previous posts - you can use those for anything that may happen after
the chase

From:  Ruben Rivera (Kare)

Layne Please Post,


Whats a girl to do? Honestly, I don't know what Kare should do? I
guess shell start shooting. 

At each and every straight away, Kare will let off a burst of spikes. 
Directing the fire towards the bike and not the driver. She hopes to
knock some top speed off the bike.

Kare will back the team in any decisions they make.

From:  Clark Valentine (Taanik)

Sorry this is late! Hope it still makes it into the story.

Taanik realizes that id's not going to catch up with the chase.
If T'klkk wants it to keep with the team, then OK, but id doesn't 
think id can do much good.
Id is still worried about Selson's safety anyway, so id decides 
that id could be more useful playing Selson's bodyguard for the 
time being (unless T'Klkk orders otherwise).

Taanik reduces ids cycle's speed to a saner level and activates 
ids chronocom. "Selson, There's reason to believe you may be 
in danger. Give me your location and I'll be there ASAP. Wait - 
is this a secure channel?" If it's not, Taanik will suggest they 
meet "Where we met for the first time - remember where that is?" 
Taanik will proceed there posthaste and sit with Selson, blaster 
at the ready, until the team determines that the immediate danger 
is over. Id will allow nobody (especially that aide what's-her-name) 
to see him unless he absolutely insists on it, and then Taanik 
will not under any circumstances leave him alone with anyone. 
Id will make use of ids lie-detection whenever possible screening 
anyone who wishes to see him. At all times id will prominently 
display ids blaster, set to 5 SEU.

If the team gets into trouble (whether before or after Tannik meets 
up with Selson)Taanik will go to them only if id thinks its not simply 
a diversion to get id away from Streel. 

If it comes to a firefight Taanik will shoot to kill (blaster set to 5).

If things calm down Taanik is still interested in taking a close look 
at those robots with Kare or Syzygy. Id will go with the team 
enthusiastically if the decision is made to inspect Lost Point.
Id agrees wholeheartedly with T'Klkk's split-up suggestion.

Taanik's bad jokes of the month: 

"Q: How many surrealists does it take 
to change a light bulb? A: (#1) Two. One to change the bulb and the 
other to fill the bathtub with strawberry Jell-O. BWAHAHA 
A: (#2) A fish. BWAHAHA" (Hey, Drals have a strange sense of humor...)

"Q: How many Streel techs does it take to change a light bulb? A: None - 
Streel simply declares darkness the new standard. BWAHAHA"
(Okay I stole that one but it is funny...)

Layne - Slight modification of Taanik's orders

Taanik will go to protect Streel only if Syte's capture or an open firefight
isn't imminent. If the team needs id now, Taanik will stick around.

Remember Taanik is still royally pissed at Syte over the Ixiol incident - id
managed to hide it pretty well at the time but it's just too hard now.
Given the opportunity Taanik will put Syte in a world of hurt. But if
there's no way id is going to catch up then id will proceed with protecting
Selson Streel.