The Game Room 30-8-13
Calgary Canada - Patrol Headquarters
(22:08:22) Keeper: Ooo... New plot... cool!
(22:12:09) arcanus: The patrols HQ differed greatly from the pomp and ceremony of Infinity's East and West coast skyscrapers, a large squat ferrocrete complex situated within acres of Canadian prairie and woodland, Black found himself in one of the many briefing rooms, clinically beige, accented with black glass surfaces and screens.
(22:14:59) (Black): Black stands at the back of the room with his back to the wall, his hands tucked behind him like a soldier standing at ease. Although he remains almost statue like his eyes, hidden as usual behind his dark glasses observe every detail of the room.
(22:18:19) arcanus: The door opens and a crisply dressed patrol officer rounded the table in a business like fashion, the door sliding quietly closed of its own violation. "Agent Black" he comments in greeting, immediately activating a screen behind him.
(22:23:36) (Black): Black remains motionless, nothing about his demeanor acknowledging the new arrival. (is there anyone else in the room?)
(22:28:41) arcanus: "I appreciate that your no nonsense agent, so we'll get straight to it, we have a Z World called Steel, World where Artificial Intelligence's have decimated mankind, think Terminator come true, we need you to retrieve a person of value (no one else in the room)
(22:33:02) (Black): Black's head tilts to one side slightly on hearing this. After a moment he moves over to the table to get a better look at both the screen and the person giving the briefing. "Who?"
(22:40:08) arcanus: The officers face remains stoic as he presses the touch screen, an image of teenage girl appears, beside a sturdily built man.
(22:42:23) arcanus: "This is Seran Atkins, the man with the beard is designated Celerus, an android turned from the Zoneminds, fiercly protective of his assumed charge"
(22:43:31) (Black): 8o
(22:44:25) arcanus: "Our interest - she's not native, an accidental traveler from a Quantum 7 world, the imperative, the Zoneminds cannot be allowed to learn of Trans-dimensional civilization and or Parachronic technologies
(22:44:32) arcanus: Muhahahaha
(22:47:05) (Black): "I see," Black says flatly. "How bad have the humans here been hit?" He commits the image to memory and begins thinking of the mission requirements.
(22:51:08) arcanus: "Less than one percent remain or 50 million scattered globally" he replies
(22:52:42) (Black): Blacks eyebrows flicker and he sighs. "How did we know of this girl? Do we have people on the ground there?"
(22:57:26) arcanus: "Yes, infiltrators within Resistance Cells, plus specific Special Ops or ISwat insertions, the latter picked up on rumors of an alien kid, rumours grew too numerous to be hearsay or fear, finally got some concrete intel in the form of a parachronic reading"
(23:00:05) (Black): "Alien?" Black querries. "An unusual choice of words, unless she arrived in a ship of some kind? Is there something which distinguishes her from the rest of the inhabitants?
(23:02:38) arcanus: "The locals choice of words, nothing physical, the intel we received indicated she'd been talking to people about being from another world, we're hoping that the only distinguishing thing about her is the parachronic readings, which we're hoping are undetectable to Steels inhabitants"
(23:06:18) (Black): Remaining silent for a while he stares at the image of the girl. Finally he turns his gaze on the unnamed officer. "I will make a few assumtions. Firstly, that based on your last collection of comments, time to acquire the subject is critical, and secondly that you have already identified both insertion and extraction points?"
(23:10:08) arcanus: "Correct, insertion is problematic, the Zoneminds are paranoid, however we have a safe route, embarking today, extraction will need to be traveled too but confirmed, as is limited local support, time is critical, the local Zonemind has expressed an interest in the rumours through patrols"
(23:14:12) (Black): "Equipment? I'd like EMP weaponry."
(23:14:47) arcanus: The officers eyes narrow "Agreed, however only what you can carry"
(23:14:59) arcanus: "Anything else?"
(23:16:59) (Black): A small smirk crosses his face as he thinks how surprised the officer would be if he knew how much he could carry! "No," is Black's definate reply
(23:20:51) arcanus: "Good, I understand that you can quickly commit large amounts of information to memory, please digest the intel on this datapad during your trip to Insertion, the duty officer will collect it from you on arrival, I'll ensure your weaponry is awaiting you, with that he salutes, opens the door where a patrolman is awaiting you.
(23:21:57) (Black): (is this before or after Collicos?)
(23:22:48) arcanus: I would say after Collicos, but prior to Raz/Etheria and Pheonix
(23:26:59) (Black): Black takes the pad, tucking it under his arm. As he follows the patrolman he removes his phone from his pocket, calling up an image of Inspector Wallace. He smiles briefly before turning it off and handing it to the man he is following. "please see that this is sent to my personal address." He then proceeds to read his way through the pad for the rest of his jourrney.
(23:30:54) arcanus: Your taken from the level and complex out across the grounds to the hangers and runways, boarding a militaristic looking scram jet. The bird is fitted to osprey configuration its wings and engines pivoted vertically to allow static takeoff, which within minutes of boarding it does just that, the roar of the engines consuming all other sound within the plane as it tilts into the sky, the wings slowly tilting to horizontal allowing it to assume normal flight pattern.
(23:35:03) arcanus: Gaining altitude the jet completes a tight turn and roars off to the East, starting its descent a mere 25 minutes later over an area of Canada pockmarked with lakes, standing upon a cross section of land is a somewhat antiquated base, the rocket standing at its launch platform considerably newer "Welcome to Fort Churchill, Manitoba" says the Patrolman, his first speech of the trip
(23:36:33) (Black): Black barely notices the world around him as he abosrobs himself in one he has yet to visit. there is a small flutter of nerves, and excitement. New worlds offer him yet another perspective. Finishing with the pad he places it on the seat next to him as he takes his first look out of the aircraft window.
(23:39:45) arcanus: The jets wings once again assume vertical position, its engines just above stall speed as it floats down to a landing pad, the noise over Black is escorted across the dusty concrete and into a building near the platform.
(23:40:50) (Black): He eyes the rocket suspisciously as he follows his escort.
(23:43:17) arcanus: Over the next few hour he is medically checked by an attractive female doctor in her forties, about halfway into the checks a man in a slim spacesuit enters and sits on a table, he watches the proceedings but say nothing until she's finished.
(23:44:35) arcanus: "Your good to go agent" smiles the doctor, before the spaceman stands and approaches "Lieutenant Colonel Barton, me an my crew'll be taking you up"
(23:46:07) (Black): Black sighs, wondering whatever happened to good old-fashioned conveyors! "Very well, Colonel. I'm ready."
Dark Worlds - IC
-
arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
The Game Room 06-9-13
Fort Churchill, Manitoba
(21:15:30) (Black): Black stands, dinning his usual long black coat and prepares to follow the colonel.
(21:15:40) (Black): *donning
(21:33:09) (GM): Colonel Barton is an aged man, a once lean form now given over to slight indulgence. His hair neatly combed to one side, sideburns shot with grey, but the stern eyes of a person used to command, his suit a slim down version of the traditional spacesuit, reduced sufficiently to allow general normal movement.
(21:33:48) (Black): It is Black's intention to go where he is led, aware that he really has few choices to make until he is delivered to the target world and finally on his own.
(21:36:56) (Black): from his reading of the briefing material, does Black have any idea of how the general populace dress? He will request a similar style of clothing, if they can provide some. If not he will go as he is!!
(21:37:13) (GM): He leads Black down a series of corridors, until the pair reach a heavy industrial lift a midst vertical gantries, riding it up, the pair silently arrive 20 stories up, the Colonel leads him into a spacious room full of charts, blueprints and photographs taken from orbit
(21:40:40) (GM): The briefing indicated that they dress in any practical clothes or rags they can acquire.
(21:41:41) (Black): hmm... not sure Black's ordered mind can do adhoc scruffy chic!
(21:42:29) (GM): "Right Agent, here's the gig!"
(21:43:23) (Black): Black moves closer to the colonel eyeing the plans and schematics as he does so.
(21:49:05) (GM): "The area where you need ta be inserted, has heavy ground surveillance currently, the higher ups have decided that an orbital entry is the best route in"
(21:49:51) (Black): "Space travel is an unknown to the computer Hive Mind?"
(21:55:36) (GM): "No that's the point of entry, being robotic they automate everything, your conveyor is a captured cargo pod, once we achieve Lunar touchdown, you'll jump, launch and conceal within orbital debris, then achieve entry"
(21:56:34) (Black): Black nods, indicatng his understanding. "What about extraction?"
(21:58:04) (Black): Black smirks. "I assume I am being extracted, of course."
(22:04:11) (GM): The Colonel smirks "Kinda need this girl outa there, you'll have three points of exit, each point has 10 locations conveyor jumps will flash in starting in 72 hours and stopping after a further 72 hours, the jumps will cycle through each location on 4 hour intervals. If a point is compromised, the cycle begins at another point 4 hours later"
(22:07:29) (Black): Black gives a single nod this time. "Colonel... if extraction with the girl does not look viable, or if capture is imminent... am I to terminate the girl?"
(22:09:23) (GM): The astronaut looks uncomfortable "If your only recourse then yes" he swallows
(22:13:56) (Black): Black glances at the man over the top of his dark glasses. "I understand that my primary objective is removal of this girl from the target world, with preference on live extration. My isertion will be via planet-fall in a capyured cargo pod and extraction via timed conveyor. I also understand that termination of the girl is undesirable, but preferable to letting her be captured and interrogated. Do I have the basics, Colonel?"
(22:14:40) (GM): The colonel nods solemnly "You do, ready to go?"
(22:15:13) (Black): Black straightens. "I am."
(22:19:41) (Black): ...and there's a new Black post up while we're at it!
(22:19:55) (GM): Excellent
(22:21:36) (GM): An hour later, Black found himself strapped into a padded seat, suited up in a slimline spacesuit.
(22:23:28) (Black): He looks around, hoping that this old bucket doesn't explode moments after lift-off.
(22:24:42) (GM): An enormous shuddering and roar rumbled through the rocket, sat facing upwards he watched as the Colonel and his crew completed the final pre-flight checks, seemingly ignorant of the vibration and noise
(22:28:52) (Black): Black closed his eyes, blocking out the noise and clamour from around him and let his mind drift back many years to a Louisianna beach in the late afternoon, and Margret Shaw in a light summer dress, all grown up.
(22:34:39) (GM): The colonel flicks a switch, the immense gantry falls away as a million litres of rocket fuels erupts from the exhausts and with a shudder defeats gravity, sliding the ship up into the air, seconds later the rocket is tearing its way through the atmosphere, while an adult Margret Shaw runs in slow motion along the beach, dress flowing.
(22:38:45) (Black): Black locks the memory away again as the pain begins to build. Instead his mind is wiped clear of all thought as he enters a semi-meditative trance, on vaguely aware of reality around him, waiting for the moment when he could spring into action.
(22:39:41) (GM): (Willpower roll?)
(22:40:03) ChatBot: (Black) rolls 3d6 and gets 4,4,5.
(22:40:11) (Black): 13 out of 16
(21:13:23) ChatBot: Keeper is now known as (Black).Synopsis: (Black): Black barely notices the world around him as he absorbs himself in one he has yet to visit. there is a small flutter of nerves, and excitement. New worlds offer him yet another perspective. Finishing with the pad he places it on the seat next to him as he takes his first look out of the aircraft window.
(23:39:45) arcanus: The jets wings once again assume vertical position, its engines just above stall speed as it floats down to a landing pad, the noise over Black is escorted across the dusty concrete and into a building near the platform.
(23:40:50) (Black): He eyes the rocket suspisciously as he follows his escort.
(23:43:17) arcanus: Over the next few hour he is medically checked by an attractive female doctor in her forties, about halfway into the checks a man in a slim spacesuit enters and sits on a table, he watches the proceedings but say nothing until she's finished.
(23:44:35) arcanus: "Your good to go agent" smiles the doctor. The spaceman stands and approaches "Lieutenant Colonel Barton, me an my crew'll be taking you up"
(23:46:07) (Black): Black sighs, wondering whatever happened to good old-fashioned conveyors! "Very well, Colonel. I'm ready."
(21:15:30) (Black): Black stands, dinning his usual long black coat and prepares to follow the colonel.
(21:15:40) (Black): *donning
(21:33:09) (GM): Colonel Barton is an aged man, a once lean form now given over to slight indulgence. His hair neatly combed to one side, sideburns shot with grey, but the stern eyes of a person used to command, his suit a slim down version of the traditional spacesuit, reduced sufficiently to allow general normal movement.
(21:33:48) (Black): It is Black's intention to go where he is led, aware that he really has few choices to make until he is delivered to the target world and finally on his own.
(21:36:56) (Black): from his reading of the briefing material, does Black have any idea of how the general populace dress? He will request a similar style of clothing, if they can provide some. If not he will go as he is!!
(21:37:13) (GM): He leads Black down a series of corridors, until the pair reach a heavy industrial lift a midst vertical gantries, riding it up, the pair silently arrive 20 stories up, the Colonel leads him into a spacious room full of charts, blueprints and photographs taken from orbit
(21:40:40) (GM): The briefing indicated that they dress in any practical clothes or rags they can acquire.
(21:41:41) (Black): hmm... not sure Black's ordered mind can do adhoc scruffy chic!
(21:42:29) (GM): "Right Agent, here's the gig!"
(21:43:23) (Black): Black moves closer to the colonel eyeing the plans and schematics as he does so.
(21:49:05) (GM): "The area where you need ta be inserted, has heavy ground surveillance currently, the higher ups have decided that an orbital entry is the best route in"
(21:49:51) (Black): "Space travel is an unknown to the computer Hive Mind?"
(21:55:36) (GM): "No that's the point of entry, being robotic they automate everything, your conveyor is a captured cargo pod, once we achieve Lunar touchdown, you'll jump, launch and conceal within orbital debris, then achieve entry"
(21:56:34) (Black): Black nods, indicatng his understanding. "What about extraction?"
(21:58:04) (Black): Black smirks. "I assume I am being extracted, of course."
(22:04:11) (GM): The Colonel smirks "Kinda need this girl outa there, you'll have three points of exit, each point has 10 locations conveyor jumps will flash in starting in 72 hours and stopping after a further 72 hours, the jumps will cycle through each location on 4 hour intervals. If a point is compromised, the cycle begins at another point 4 hours later"
(22:07:29) (Black): Black gives a single nod this time. "Colonel... if extraction with the girl does not look viable, or if capture is imminent... am I to terminate the girl?"
(22:09:23) (GM): The astronaut looks uncomfortable "If your only recourse then yes" he swallows
(22:13:56) (Black): Black glances at the man over the top of his dark glasses. "I understand that my primary objective is removal of this girl from the target world, with preference on live extration. My isertion will be via planet-fall in a capyured cargo pod and extraction via timed conveyor. I also understand that termination of the girl is undesirable, but preferable to letting her be captured and interrogated. Do I have the basics, Colonel?"
(22:14:40) (GM): The colonel nods solemnly "You do, ready to go?"
(22:15:13) (Black): Black straightens. "I am."
(22:19:41) (Black): ...and there's a new Black post up while we're at it!
(22:19:55) (GM): Excellent
(22:21:36) (GM): An hour later, Black found himself strapped into a padded seat, suited up in a slimline spacesuit.
(22:23:28) (Black): He looks around, hoping that this old bucket doesn't explode moments after lift-off.
(22:24:42) (GM): An enormous shuddering and roar rumbled through the rocket, sat facing upwards he watched as the Colonel and his crew completed the final pre-flight checks, seemingly ignorant of the vibration and noise
(22:28:52) (Black): Black closed his eyes, blocking out the noise and clamour from around him and let his mind drift back many years to a Louisianna beach in the late afternoon, and Margret Shaw in a light summer dress, all grown up.
(22:34:39) (GM): The colonel flicks a switch, the immense gantry falls away as a million litres of rocket fuels erupts from the exhausts and with a shudder defeats gravity, sliding the ship up into the air, seconds later the rocket is tearing its way through the atmosphere, while an adult Margret Shaw runs in slow motion along the beach, dress flowing.
(22:38:45) (Black): Black locks the memory away again as the pain begins to build. Instead his mind is wiped clear of all thought as he enters a semi-meditative trance, on vaguely aware of reality around him, waiting for the moment when he could spring into action.
(22:39:41) (GM): (Willpower roll?)
(22:40:03) ChatBot: (Black) rolls 3d6 and gets 4,4,5.
(22:40:11) (Black): 13 out of 16
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arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Dark Worlds - IC
Homeline – Edison Lunar Base
Commander Ido van Alst regarded the ten meter across view screen, showing the Earth orbit panorama.
“Coyote has achieved transit beyond the lunar launch window, parking orbit in T-minus 4 minutes” reported one of the comms officers
Their feed was relayed from one of the orbital habitats that sat in high Earth orbit.
Lieutenant Fifine Baril, van Alst’s second officer smiled knowingly at her commanding officer, noting his frown,
the Homeline Accords controlled the introduction of advanced technology into mainstream society.
This was applied to space technology meaning they had to use conventional chemical or fission rockets to take a payload into orbit,
meaning that more advanced technologies could only be used once in orbit and without public knowledge.
Van Alst felt that they should just go public, announce their usage of advanced space tech and get on with business.
***
Starchaser Industries F32-XIII, Codename: Coyote
Agent Black felt the bone shaking shuddering of atmospheric exit begin to subside, opening his eyes he saw the void of space, a loud clang emanated from behind him.
The astronaut to the left of Lieutenant Colonel Barton checked the array of instruments “Booster separation complete”
Barton removed his helmet clipping it to an adjacent panel to prevent it from floating away, Black breathed a sigh of relief before following suit.
The Colonel turned “Now the fun begins Agent”
The Infinity Agents face revealed nothing in response
***
Edison Lunar Base – The Dark Side of the Moon
“Separation complete” relayed comms
Van Alst watched as free from the scrutiny of terrestrial agencies, the crew capsule engaged its advanced anti-matter thermal booster, the ship accelerated forwards at
6gs, achieving lunar orbit within 30 minutes, rendezvousing with a Avatar spaceplane on the darkside.
A further 45 minutes later Agent Black arrived at Edison Lunar base, on the Alden plateau.
Commander Ido van Alst regarded the ten meter across view screen, showing the Earth orbit panorama.
“Coyote has achieved transit beyond the lunar launch window, parking orbit in T-minus 4 minutes” reported one of the comms officers
Their feed was relayed from one of the orbital habitats that sat in high Earth orbit.
Lieutenant Fifine Baril, van Alst’s second officer smiled knowingly at her commanding officer, noting his frown,
the Homeline Accords controlled the introduction of advanced technology into mainstream society.
This was applied to space technology meaning they had to use conventional chemical or fission rockets to take a payload into orbit,
meaning that more advanced technologies could only be used once in orbit and without public knowledge.
Van Alst felt that they should just go public, announce their usage of advanced space tech and get on with business.
***
Starchaser Industries F32-XIII, Codename: Coyote
Agent Black felt the bone shaking shuddering of atmospheric exit begin to subside, opening his eyes he saw the void of space, a loud clang emanated from behind him.
The astronaut to the left of Lieutenant Colonel Barton checked the array of instruments “Booster separation complete”
Barton removed his helmet clipping it to an adjacent panel to prevent it from floating away, Black breathed a sigh of relief before following suit.
The Colonel turned “Now the fun begins Agent”
The Infinity Agents face revealed nothing in response
***
Edison Lunar Base – The Dark Side of the Moon
“Separation complete” relayed comms
Van Alst watched as free from the scrutiny of terrestrial agencies, the crew capsule engaged its advanced anti-matter thermal booster, the ship accelerated forwards at
6gs, achieving lunar orbit within 30 minutes, rendezvousing with a Avatar spaceplane on the darkside.
A further 45 minutes later Agent Black arrived at Edison Lunar base, on the Alden plateau.
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arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Dark Worlds - IC
(21:53:07) (Black): Despite the locale, Black only paid his surroundings an obligatory glance as he re-read the intelligence briefing on his destination. He wanted to make sure he understood the world as thoroughly as possible.
(21:53:53) (Black): hmmm... my spelling leaves a lot to be desired!
(21:54:48) arcanus: Briefing: We have a Z World called Steel, World where Artificial Intelligence's have decimated mankind, think Terminator come true, we need you to retrieve a person of value
(21:58:22) (Black): Aware that at this juncture he had very little influence on events, Black allows himself to be led wherever these people need to take him, allowing very little to side-track him. He remains focussed on getting to Steel and getting on with the mission.
(22:04:21) arcanus: Without ceremony Black is led to a prep room, over the course of an hour he is suited up in a replacement lightweight spacesuit. Once this is complete and the techs are happy Black understands the controls, he is taken to a hanger, where a pod stands.
(22:06:05) (Black): ((I will make sure that i have all of the equipment I requested in a hold-all, or similar, including his clothes packed neatly.))
(22:06:25) arcanus: An aged tech stands for a moment in silence as Black takes in the man length capsule, the he begins to talk (Yes you do)
(22:11:44) (Black): Black listens intently.
(22:18:06) arcanus: "Right, one of the AIs manages the Moon and the automated mines, on an hourly basis capsules of precious materials are fired to Earth" he gestures to the capsule, "This unit has a life support unit and conveyor, when your ready we'll port you across, your unit will be collected and fired down into atmospheric entry"
(22:20:30) (Black): Black's eyebrows twitch momentarily, as he becomes aware of the potential risks involved here. "I take it they won't be expectin to find a person inside the pod?" he asks sceptically.
(22:22:39) (Black): "I take it this pod will not be landing where they expect it to?"
(22:25:54) arcanus: The tech smiles "Nope, plus we've shielded the internals to mask your presence, no it will convenient deviate, once you have completed re-entry, you will evacuate the pod and descend to ground via your own means"
(22:27:45) (Black): Black inclines his head slightly to the right as he regards the technician then cautiously asks, "And how, exactly will I achieve that?"
(22:29:53) arcanus: He shrugs "Above my pay grade, apparently you have specialist talents"
(22:32:57) (Black): Black frowns, but says nothing more on the matter. 'I'm going to haunt some bastard back in HQ if it turns out my abilities do not work on this world and I have an unfortunate and speed coming together with Planet Earth' he muses silently to himself. "Very well," he says as he climbs into the pod.
(21:53:53) (Black): hmmm... my spelling leaves a lot to be desired!
(21:54:48) arcanus: Briefing: We have a Z World called Steel, World where Artificial Intelligence's have decimated mankind, think Terminator come true, we need you to retrieve a person of value
(21:58:22) (Black): Aware that at this juncture he had very little influence on events, Black allows himself to be led wherever these people need to take him, allowing very little to side-track him. He remains focussed on getting to Steel and getting on with the mission.
(22:04:21) arcanus: Without ceremony Black is led to a prep room, over the course of an hour he is suited up in a replacement lightweight spacesuit. Once this is complete and the techs are happy Black understands the controls, he is taken to a hanger, where a pod stands.
(22:06:05) (Black): ((I will make sure that i have all of the equipment I requested in a hold-all, or similar, including his clothes packed neatly.))
(22:06:25) arcanus: An aged tech stands for a moment in silence as Black takes in the man length capsule, the he begins to talk (Yes you do)
(22:11:44) (Black): Black listens intently.
(22:18:06) arcanus: "Right, one of the AIs manages the Moon and the automated mines, on an hourly basis capsules of precious materials are fired to Earth" he gestures to the capsule, "This unit has a life support unit and conveyor, when your ready we'll port you across, your unit will be collected and fired down into atmospheric entry"
(22:20:30) (Black): Black's eyebrows twitch momentarily, as he becomes aware of the potential risks involved here. "I take it they won't be expectin to find a person inside the pod?" he asks sceptically.
(22:22:39) (Black): "I take it this pod will not be landing where they expect it to?"
(22:25:54) arcanus: The tech smiles "Nope, plus we've shielded the internals to mask your presence, no it will convenient deviate, once you have completed re-entry, you will evacuate the pod and descend to ground via your own means"
(22:27:45) (Black): Black inclines his head slightly to the right as he regards the technician then cautiously asks, "And how, exactly will I achieve that?"
(22:29:53) arcanus: He shrugs "Above my pay grade, apparently you have specialist talents"
(22:32:57) (Black): Black frowns, but says nothing more on the matter. 'I'm going to haunt some bastard back in HQ if it turns out my abilities do not work on this world and I have an unfortunate and speed coming together with Planet Earth' he muses silently to himself. "Very well," he says as he climbs into the pod.
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Keeper
- Magi
- Posts: 591
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:41 am
Re: Dark Worlds - IC
The pod itself looked like something out of an old sci-fi movie from the days of the space-race; lots of panels with red and white lights on them, toggle switches beneath. It was a basic lozenge shape, simple, functional. The sort of thing a machine might make to use for menial tasks.
Black considered that it was probably something from an old design, rehashed by the machines on the destination world.
Only two things looked out of place, the moulded humanoid shape which Black assumed he was to lay in, and a small dimensional conveyor.
Black stepped into the pod and lay down.
The technician fastened belts around him, checking they were tight enough. “These are quick release, like on an airplane.”
Black gave a quick nod of understanding and slipped the offered face mask over his head.
“You ready to go?” the tech asked as he fastened a strap from the hold-all positioned below Black’s feet otto his ankle.
Another nod.
“Talkative feller, ain’t ya?” the technician muttered as reached for the lid of the pod.
“Good luck,” he added, though there was little emotion in his words as though they were automatic, a neat way for the tech to end the encounter.
The cover closed, latched, sealed, complete darkness enveloped the agent. All those blinking lights had gone out.
Black lay motionless as he waited for the pod to launch.
After a moment the bulbs on some of the equipment illuminated again, casting a half-light of greens and reds and stark whites.
The pod lurched forward jerkily, being manoeuvred mechanically into the launch tube.
A large red light came on within the pod, swamping all other colours. A moment later it went to amber like a traffic light, then to green.
Black heard a faint hiss from outside of the pod as compressed air jettisoned the capsule out into space.
Black’s stomach lurched as the pod cleared the artificial gravity of the station and zero-g took over.
Then the pod lurched again, thrusters directing the pod to a certain location.
A soft female automated voice said, “Jumping in five… four… three… two… mark!”
For the second time in as many minutes Black’s stomach churned as he felt the odd wave of the trans-dimensional jump. He found it an odd sensation to describe.
It was like having your whole body stretched thin, like pastry, only for it to spring back elastically into shape, all in a half-second or so.
Another change of direction from the thruster and a rocket above his head fired a short burst, propelling the pod through the void towards the planet below.
Black lay patiently, waiting for what he knew was coming.
The heat within the pod rose as it shook violently and the big red light blinked on once more.
Turbulence battered the pod for another ten minutes as its trajectory carried it into the planets thermosphere and mesosphere and on into the troposphere. The internal heat increased to the point were Black thought he might pass out.
Suddenly the shaking stopped and the temperature dropped dramatically. The light also turned to amber.
“Jump in one minute,” announced the electronic woman.
Black could feel the g-force of his rapid descent pulling at him within the pod.
“Thirty seconds…” the voice announced.
The pod’s cover flew open with a pop as the air from within was momentarily sucked out.
The light turned green signalling for Black to exit.
A quick yank on the buckle released the agent from the harness and he pulled against the g’s to position himself at the opening. The world below was still very long way below him, hidden from view by a layer of grey clouds.
“Twenty seconds…”
Black paused, looking at the cloud cover beneath him. His breath hissed noisily through his face mask, audible in his head even above the roar of the wind.
There was no time for doubt now; he had to exit the pod.
Putting faith in his abilities, Black quickly checked the tether at his ankle.
“Ten seconds…”
Black leapt forward the wind instantly picking at him and throwing him about like an old plastic shopping bag caught in a tornado.
Black concentrated, bringing his breathing into t steady rhythm, deep and slow. He used his freefall training to manoeuvre himself to adopt the classic skydiving poise.
Not far below him he could see the pod which flared suddenly a blinding white and was gone.
Hitting the cloud was like stepping wholly into a tepid lake and he lost all vision.
Black narrowed his profile, streamlining himself to decrease the friction and allow him to drop faster. The only thing stopping this from being a perfect dive was the bulky carry-all strapped to his leg.
Black burst through the clouds, getting his first glimpse of this new world. He concentrated, slowing his descent, bringing himself to a complete halt some then thousand feet above the ground.
He looked about, a small twinge of excitement sending an adrenaline rush through him as he took in this new vista……
Black considered that it was probably something from an old design, rehashed by the machines on the destination world.
Only two things looked out of place, the moulded humanoid shape which Black assumed he was to lay in, and a small dimensional conveyor.
Black stepped into the pod and lay down.
The technician fastened belts around him, checking they were tight enough. “These are quick release, like on an airplane.”
Black gave a quick nod of understanding and slipped the offered face mask over his head.
“You ready to go?” the tech asked as he fastened a strap from the hold-all positioned below Black’s feet otto his ankle.
Another nod.
“Talkative feller, ain’t ya?” the technician muttered as reached for the lid of the pod.
“Good luck,” he added, though there was little emotion in his words as though they were automatic, a neat way for the tech to end the encounter.
The cover closed, latched, sealed, complete darkness enveloped the agent. All those blinking lights had gone out.
Black lay motionless as he waited for the pod to launch.
After a moment the bulbs on some of the equipment illuminated again, casting a half-light of greens and reds and stark whites.
The pod lurched forward jerkily, being manoeuvred mechanically into the launch tube.
A large red light came on within the pod, swamping all other colours. A moment later it went to amber like a traffic light, then to green.
Black heard a faint hiss from outside of the pod as compressed air jettisoned the capsule out into space.
Black’s stomach lurched as the pod cleared the artificial gravity of the station and zero-g took over.
Then the pod lurched again, thrusters directing the pod to a certain location.
A soft female automated voice said, “Jumping in five… four… three… two… mark!”
For the second time in as many minutes Black’s stomach churned as he felt the odd wave of the trans-dimensional jump. He found it an odd sensation to describe.
It was like having your whole body stretched thin, like pastry, only for it to spring back elastically into shape, all in a half-second or so.
Another change of direction from the thruster and a rocket above his head fired a short burst, propelling the pod through the void towards the planet below.
Black lay patiently, waiting for what he knew was coming.
The heat within the pod rose as it shook violently and the big red light blinked on once more.
Turbulence battered the pod for another ten minutes as its trajectory carried it into the planets thermosphere and mesosphere and on into the troposphere. The internal heat increased to the point were Black thought he might pass out.
Suddenly the shaking stopped and the temperature dropped dramatically. The light also turned to amber.
“Jump in one minute,” announced the electronic woman.
Black could feel the g-force of his rapid descent pulling at him within the pod.
“Thirty seconds…” the voice announced.
The pod’s cover flew open with a pop as the air from within was momentarily sucked out.
The light turned green signalling for Black to exit.
A quick yank on the buckle released the agent from the harness and he pulled against the g’s to position himself at the opening. The world below was still very long way below him, hidden from view by a layer of grey clouds.
“Twenty seconds…”
Black paused, looking at the cloud cover beneath him. His breath hissed noisily through his face mask, audible in his head even above the roar of the wind.
There was no time for doubt now; he had to exit the pod.
Putting faith in his abilities, Black quickly checked the tether at his ankle.
“Ten seconds…”
Black leapt forward the wind instantly picking at him and throwing him about like an old plastic shopping bag caught in a tornado.
Black concentrated, bringing his breathing into t steady rhythm, deep and slow. He used his freefall training to manoeuvre himself to adopt the classic skydiving poise.
Not far below him he could see the pod which flared suddenly a blinding white and was gone.
Hitting the cloud was like stepping wholly into a tepid lake and he lost all vision.
Black narrowed his profile, streamlining himself to decrease the friction and allow him to drop faster. The only thing stopping this from being a perfect dive was the bulky carry-all strapped to his leg.
Black burst through the clouds, getting his first glimpse of this new world. He concentrated, slowing his descent, bringing himself to a complete halt some then thousand feet above the ground.
He looked about, a small twinge of excitement sending an adrenaline rush through him as he took in this new vista……
-
arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Dark Worlds - IC
Fairfield - Freestone County Texas
Rolling green hills flowed down to the former site of Fairfield Texas, the birds fell quiet.
A motley group of hunters warily checked their surroundings, olfactory sensors sat on their brows picking the scents of prey from the oil and lubricants below and the smell of the woodlands above.
Each was dressed in a rag tag of camouflage fatigues, cobbled together cloth and gadgetry, personal hygiene was not high on these men’s agenda, each had a layer of grime upon any uncovered flesh, their hair lank with grease.
The hunting group fanned out picking their way around moss covered boulders, cautiously past trees and undergrowth, moving as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing their prey.
The most easterly hunter signalled, his olfactory sensor displaying a trail, digital blocks wound around a graph paper image, resembling a retro game from decades previous, a time before the machines.
Each of the red neck hunters received the virtual trail and again fanned out across the hill top, several drawing wicked curved hunting knives, as they closed upon their target.
Readying themselves, signalling their intention to attack simultaneously, they stopped behind the cover of the surrounding rocky outcroppings.
A savage murderous glee gripped each man, accustomed to inflicting pain and ultimately death upon trespassers they scrambled into the clearing, descending upon the curled up form cuddled into the overhang of a rock face.
Each repeatedly stabbing the form like a stuck pig, it was a good thirty seconds of knifing until their ferocity was spent.
The group panting from the exertion and excitement looked down upon the flesh and gore now scattered around their feet, as they came to their senses it became apparent that something was wrong, one of their number crouched and as he peeled back the blanket they realised they’d murdered the rotten carcass of a pig.
A shadow crossed over them from above, a figure dropped from the summit of the rock face, the hunter upon whom he landed appeared to collapse within his own body as his upper body bone structure was driven down into his pelvis.
The figure was well over 6 feet in height and massing 120kgs, within seconds he had snapped the necks of the nearest pair of hunters, the next suffered a burst heart as the figures fist smashed his sternum into his chest cavity.
The next pair captured through shocked indecisiveness were dispatched with equally brutal speed, the last hunter gave into fight rather than flight, swinging his knife across the attackers face and slicing his cheek down to the bone.
The attacker turned staring at the hunter with a look of intent rather than any acknowledgement of pain, the hunter stabbed again driving the knife into the attackers stomach.
Again the attacker didn’t register the pain, instead seizing the surviving hunters throat crushing the man’s windpipe, the hunter clawed at the attackers grip his eyes bulging, gasping, the attacker twisted putting the man out of his suffering.
***
“That was pretty horrible” came a voice from the rock face, a section of the stone appeared to displace, shimmering before the camouflage dropped away revealing a blonde girl with elfin looks.
The man didn't respond merely looking at her with a raised eyebrow, the girls attention was drawn from the scattering of bodies to the knife stuck in his side.
“Doesn't that hurt”
“No” he replied neutrally withdrawing the blade, the girls attention remained now on the fact that the wound lost no blood.
The girl somewhere in her early twenties picked her way through the bodies with a look of disgust, moving past the corpses, he noted she hadn't asked if he’d needed to kill them all.
Anything these wretches were after would have been unpleasant for the girl, he removed a tube from a flesh pocket within his upper thigh, in turn he squeezed both wounds together and applied the bio-glue.
“We have to get away from here Serrin” he said
“I'm really hungry” she replied
He looked down at the pigs carcass
"I am not eating that!!" she scolded
“Organics” he muttered despite the fact that although artificial he was largely a biological construct “Very well” he responded, gathering up their meagre kit and slowly started to lead her down the hill.
Rolling green hills flowed down to the former site of Fairfield Texas, the birds fell quiet.
A motley group of hunters warily checked their surroundings, olfactory sensors sat on their brows picking the scents of prey from the oil and lubricants below and the smell of the woodlands above.
Each was dressed in a rag tag of camouflage fatigues, cobbled together cloth and gadgetry, personal hygiene was not high on these men’s agenda, each had a layer of grime upon any uncovered flesh, their hair lank with grease.
The hunting group fanned out picking their way around moss covered boulders, cautiously past trees and undergrowth, moving as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing their prey.
The most easterly hunter signalled, his olfactory sensor displaying a trail, digital blocks wound around a graph paper image, resembling a retro game from decades previous, a time before the machines.
Each of the red neck hunters received the virtual trail and again fanned out across the hill top, several drawing wicked curved hunting knives, as they closed upon their target.
Readying themselves, signalling their intention to attack simultaneously, they stopped behind the cover of the surrounding rocky outcroppings.
A savage murderous glee gripped each man, accustomed to inflicting pain and ultimately death upon trespassers they scrambled into the clearing, descending upon the curled up form cuddled into the overhang of a rock face.
Each repeatedly stabbing the form like a stuck pig, it was a good thirty seconds of knifing until their ferocity was spent.
The group panting from the exertion and excitement looked down upon the flesh and gore now scattered around their feet, as they came to their senses it became apparent that something was wrong, one of their number crouched and as he peeled back the blanket they realised they’d murdered the rotten carcass of a pig.
A shadow crossed over them from above, a figure dropped from the summit of the rock face, the hunter upon whom he landed appeared to collapse within his own body as his upper body bone structure was driven down into his pelvis.
The figure was well over 6 feet in height and massing 120kgs, within seconds he had snapped the necks of the nearest pair of hunters, the next suffered a burst heart as the figures fist smashed his sternum into his chest cavity.
The next pair captured through shocked indecisiveness were dispatched with equally brutal speed, the last hunter gave into fight rather than flight, swinging his knife across the attackers face and slicing his cheek down to the bone.
The attacker turned staring at the hunter with a look of intent rather than any acknowledgement of pain, the hunter stabbed again driving the knife into the attackers stomach.
Again the attacker didn’t register the pain, instead seizing the surviving hunters throat crushing the man’s windpipe, the hunter clawed at the attackers grip his eyes bulging, gasping, the attacker twisted putting the man out of his suffering.
***
“That was pretty horrible” came a voice from the rock face, a section of the stone appeared to displace, shimmering before the camouflage dropped away revealing a blonde girl with elfin looks.
The man didn't respond merely looking at her with a raised eyebrow, the girls attention was drawn from the scattering of bodies to the knife stuck in his side.
“Doesn't that hurt”
“No” he replied neutrally withdrawing the blade, the girls attention remained now on the fact that the wound lost no blood.
The girl somewhere in her early twenties picked her way through the bodies with a look of disgust, moving past the corpses, he noted she hadn't asked if he’d needed to kill them all.
Anything these wretches were after would have been unpleasant for the girl, he removed a tube from a flesh pocket within his upper thigh, in turn he squeezed both wounds together and applied the bio-glue.
“We have to get away from here Serrin” he said
“I'm really hungry” she replied
He looked down at the pigs carcass
"I am not eating that!!" she scolded
“Organics” he muttered despite the fact that although artificial he was largely a biological construct “Very well” he responded, gathering up their meagre kit and slowly started to lead her down the hill.
-
arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Dark Worlds - IC
Black found himself having to mentally push, his psion senses detecting a force resisting his powers.
He’d felt this force before the very fabric of this World lines reality pushing against an intruding force, his descent was not smooth rather
bursts of rapid falling broken by his decelerating.
The landscape grew larger rushing up towards him.
***
<Target acquired – human fleshform practising free-fall descent, originating aircraft undetected>
<Accelerating to interception speed>
He’d felt this force before the very fabric of this World lines reality pushing against an intruding force, his descent was not smooth rather
bursts of rapid falling broken by his decelerating.
The landscape grew larger rushing up towards him.
***
<Target acquired – human fleshform practising free-fall descent, originating aircraft undetected>
<Accelerating to interception speed>
-
arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Re: Dark Worlds - IC
GM wrote:Make a Perception and Telekinesis/Levitation roll(s)?
-
Keeper
- Magi
- Posts: 591
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:41 am
Re: Dark Worlds - IC
11 out of 16 for perception
7 out of 15 for levitation@power level 20!
-
arcanus
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Re: Dark Worlds - IC
A degree of difficulty challenged Black as he rotated in the air, he now exerted an enormous force of will upon his old foe gravity, his power significantly diminished.
Upon the edge of his vision he picked out the smooth black bullet shaped aircraft flying at supersonic speed.
<Interception speed attained - Unknown threat, terminate>
It circled like a missile closing upon him rapidly, he had slowed his descent but not completely arrested it, it was then that the first tracer rounds sailed across the sky between them.
Upon the edge of his vision he picked out the smooth black bullet shaped aircraft flying at supersonic speed.
<Interception speed attained - Unknown threat, terminate>
It circled like a missile closing upon him rapidly, he had slowed his descent but not completely arrested it, it was then that the first tracer rounds sailed across the sky between them.