22:01:25: <Roget> "Hi Guys!" Michael is there, beaming.
22:01:34: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler nods cordially at him.
22:01:47: <bunton> Pauline looks sternly at him.
22:01:50: <lurkd> Ivan is the opposite of beaming as he slither in.
22:01:50: <Riemann> Hill is too focused on his orange to respond
22:01:51: <Neon> Edvin nods, slight smile on his face.
22:02:18: <Teslatornado> Serge strides into the room, boots clomping, worrying about that smile already.
22:02:29: <FlameShirt> Upon arriving at the storage area, the group finds Michael Fulton, the Foundation's second-In-command and a floating red orb, standing in front of a circular blue portal-looking thingy.
22:03:18: <lurkd> "…."
22:03:26: <lurkd> Ivan blinks a bit.
22:03:41: <Riemann> "Why do I feel like this is going to invalidate my perception of science?"
22:03:54: <FlameShirt> Optimal: Upon arriving at the storage area, the group finds Michael Fulton, the Foundation's second-In-command and a floating red orb, standing in front of a circular blue portal-looking thingy.
22:04:03: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler sighs. He's seen these things before.
22:04:10: <Teslatornado> Serge looks over at Hill. "Too late for me."
22:04:25: <Roget> "So! We've been contracted by an extradimensional travel agency type organization!"
22:04:49: <optimal> "Um… Mr. Fulton? What is it that you are doing?"
22:04:52: <Riemann> Hill mutters "There it is."
22:05:07: <Teslatornado> Serge slowly starts to raise his hand, then quickly puts it down.
22:05:14: <Neon> Edvin mumbles something incomprehensibly.
22:05:17: <Roget> "Well, the big A and the big B couldn't come down today, so they sent me instead!"
22:05:28: <lurkd> "Your perception of science needs to be broadened, Mr Hillbert."
22:05:31: <Roget> "I think I see some new faces here, don't I?"
22:06:04: <bunton> Pauline continues with the stern face.
22:06:10: <Teslatornado> Serge -immediately- feels uneasy.
22:06:17: <Vivax_PCR> Wambles is in the scene.
22:06:33: <optimal> Frederick waits for more explanation.
22:07:06: <Riemann> Hill cocks his head
22:07:35: <lucky> John somehow lost its way and comes to late
22:07:57: <lurkd> Ivan politely nods to Wambles.
22:08:17: <vivax> "So."
22:08:28: <vivax> "I take it you heard that we're amiable to the contract."
22:08:53: <vivax> "My clients have a few conditions which should have been forwarded to you."
22:09:48: <bunton> Pauline looks at Wambles. "I'm sorry, can you explain?"
22:10:49: <vivax> "Do you accept the terms we sent you?"
22:11:01: <vivax> Wambles is focused right now.
22:11:20: <lucky> John is absolutly confused: "What terms?"
22:11:30: <Teslatornado> Serge blinks a few times, ordering his thoughts. "Would you explain the terms and conditions?"
22:11:36: <FlameShirt> "Yes", says the orb. It bobs slightly.
22:12:00: <Neon> Edvin looks to the orb, eyebrow raised.
22:12:29: <Riemann> Hill smiles madly at the orb
22:12:32: <FlameShirt> "Do you want to explain, or should I?" The orb floats over to Wambles.
22:12:39: <bunton> Pauline looks back to the orb.
22:12:40: <vivax> "The Commonwealth of Planets has accepted responsibility for all damages incurred to the Foundation and Foundation personnel while we are fulfilling our end of the contract."
22:12:43: <Teslatornado> Serge starts briefly, looking at the talking orb.
22:12:49: <optimal> ~Great talking orbs now.~
22:13:00: <vivax> "You explain what you want done, I'll explain what we got from you."
22:13:07: <ZOMBIERAPTOR> Luvi walks into the storage area "sorry I'm late"
22:13:12: <bunton> "What contract? What's going on?"
22:13:22: <Neon> Edvin looks to Luvi with a slight nod.
22:13:27: <vivax> "In addition all /criminal/ and /civil/ disputes will be settled on Earth in Chicago."
22:13:30: <lurkd> *ahem*
22:14:08: <vivax> "Commonwealth, why don't you brief them on what you want. I'll clarify if translation errors occur"
22:15:35: <FlameShirt> "Thank you." The orb bobs and floats above the them, "You have been sub-contracted to perform extra-terrestrial environmental sampling." The orb disgorges some slick looking machinery. "You are to take this machine and protect it while it samples the local environment."
22:16:25: <bunton> Pauline suddenly looks very pleased.
22:16:33: <lucky> John: "What the fuck is extra terrestioal?"
22:16:41: <Neon> "Interesting…"
22:16:42: <Riemann> "Not of this world"
22:16:49: <vivax> "Not of this worl- thank you son."
22:16:56: <optimal> Frederick senses his job title starting to take effect.
22:17:11: <bunton> She rubs her hands together eagerly and approaches the machinery.
22:17:11: <lucky> "Serious? Oh man thats going to be fucked up"
22:17:28: <lurkd> "Please be quiet."
22:17:29: <Riemann> Hill is excited to study the gravity and atmosphere of other planets
22:17:34: <ProcyonLotor> "Jesus Christ."
22:17:43: <lurkd> Ivan approaches as well.
22:18:19: <vivax> Wambles just hovers near the hovering orb. Naturally he's grounded.
22:18:22: <Neon> Edvin approaches, but keeps a couple feet's distance, stroking his beard.
22:18:41: <Teslatornado> Serge takes a few steps forward. "Environmental sampling… Like a survey?"
22:18:44: <bunton> Pauline pokes and prods at the thing.
22:18:58: <FlameShirt> "Without an anchoring system on the other side, we cannot guarantee to provide you to a place of known location or time on side planet." The orb bobs slightly. "While on the other side, your administrator has asked me to tell you to explore the local environment and take back anything of interest. The Foundation has been awarded full salvage rights on this…
22:19:14: <ProcyonLotor> "I'd be careful with it, Miss Wisniewski."
22:19:18: <FlameShirt> …trip."
22:19:24: <Teslatornado> "Please don't touch that, ma'am."
22:19:25: <vivax> "In addition to /other/ benefits."
22:19:44: <vivax> "We're getting paid in a fairly substantial sum that I am not at liberty to divulge."
22:19:53: <bunton> "Question?"
22:20:04: <bunton> Pauline has now stood back from the machine.
22:20:09: <FlameShirt> "Yes, we will help provide material goods. This has already been put into effect in a limited way."
22:20:11: <lurkd> "Hmmm… salvage rights… interesting."
22:20:14: <lucky> "Can someone please simple tell me what we are supposed to do?"
22:20:24: <FlameShirt> "Yes?" The orb floats over to Pauline.
22:20:43: <bunton> "What about, um… oxygen?"
22:20:47: <Teslatornado> Serge turns to John. "I believe we're getting there."
22:21:12: <lucky> "Extra-terrostioal?"
22:21:34: <bunton> "And UV protection, and atmospheric pressure?"
22:21:44: <FlameShirt> "The destination has been confirmed as at least partially habitable by long range observation." The orb floats up again. "Any other questions before we begin?"
22:21:55: <Riemann> "Gravity?"
22:21:58: <bunton> "Partially?"
22:22:09: <lucky> "Fucked up aliens?"
22:22:24: <Teslatornado> "Do you have any kind of maps of the area that we could access?"
22:22:40: <Riemann> "Topography?"
22:22:52: <bunton> "Partially habitable, as in, fully survivable, or as in /almost/ survivable?"
22:22:56: <ProcyonLotor> "A vague idea of where it is we'd be going?"
22:23:01: <vivax> "Ya'll are actin like children. Let the mystical orb speak."
22:23:30: <vivax> Wambles makes airquotes around mystical.
22:23:34: <bunton> Pauline grumbles to silence.
22:24:10: <FlameShirt> The orbs lets out a sigh. "Without an anchor, I do not know the precise location you will enter. The planet is close to the Crab Nebula. And believe me, a substantial would have to be paid on our part if any of you died. The air won't be toxic and you won't float off into space."
22:24:34: <bunton> Pauline raises a hand.
22:24:41: <vivax> "They have to give us… basically a planet if you come to accidental harm"
22:24:47: <FlameShirt> "Mhmm?"
22:25:22: <ProcyonLotor> "What's a planet to them? How can they even claim ownership of a planet?"
22:25:22: <bunton> "Are you, um… fully sure that all the dangers are mitigated?"
22:25:41: <bunton> "You know, harmful ray protection, survivable temperature…?"
22:25:57: <Riemann> "Put on a coat?"
22:26:00: <FlameShirt> "I am fully sure." The orb does not bob this time.
22:26:15: <vivax> "They can claim it under commonwealth statute #899-6859-3592385"
22:26:33: <vivax> "If it's not inhabited by… what was your phrase?"
22:27:11: <FlameShirt> "'A minimum of self-aware sub-sapients.'"
22:27:48: <vivax> "Exactly."
22:27:49: <Teslatornado> "So…" Serge contemplates. "A new frontier?"
22:28:02: <bunton> Pauline ponders.
22:28:47: <FlameShirt> "Now, this portal behind me will lead to a staging area on our home-world. Immediately behind it is a second portal that will lead to your destination. If there are no more questions, please." The orb floats closer to the portal.
22:29:22: <lurkd> Ivan steps forward and prepares to enter.
22:29:32: <Riemann> Hill follows behind
22:29:38: <Teslatornado> "One moment." Serge briefly leaves the briefing, returns to his room to grab his satchel and rifle, and then returns to the portal.
22:29:55: <vivax> Wambles goes through. He looks…uh… invigorated maybe?
22:30:09: <optimal> Frederick, with a bit of hesitation, enters the "portal".
22:30:17: <bunton> Pauline looks torn between fascination and fear for her life.
22:30:21: <bunton> She heads in.
22:30:24: <lucky> John mumbles curses but finally walks through
22:30:34: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler follows them.
22:30:36: <vivax> "Pauline! You look like you were just torn between fascination and fear"
22:30:36: <Riemann> Hill closes his nose and jumps in without hesitation
22:30:37: <Neon> "I will return momentarily." Edvin heads to his room, grabbing the Mosin Nagant and clips, before returning.
22:30:38: <Teslatornado> Serge takes one last look at the storage room, then steps through.
22:31:22: <Neon> Edvin smiles, stepping through.
22:31:34: ZOMBIERAPTOR Luvi walks through
22:32:19: <lurkd> Ivan has entered.
22:33:52: <FlameShirt> You enter into a small room with a low ceiling. In front of you, you see six machines, based around large, empty apertures. In one, a portal is active. One side of the room is glass-fronted. Thousand of people and aliens of a variety of forms throng between 30 or 40 active portal machines. It's almost like some giant sci-fi train station or something.
22:34:07: <vivax> "Stay together."
22:34:16: <vivax> "Do /not/ anger the locals."
22:34:39: <Teslatornado> "Mon dieu…" Serge whispers, clutching his backpack tighter and shuffling closer to the group.
22:34:57: <Riemann> Hill anxiously, but successfully resists the urge to examine the new technology.
22:34:57: <optimal> Frederick, with very large eyes, walks quickly to the next station.
22:35:23: <vivax> Wambles stays in front.
22:35:37: <Ballrack> John hastily lits a cigarette and breaths in deeply
22:35:41: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler takes second.
22:35:46: <bunton> Pauline looks around both curious and terrified.
22:35:54: <vivax> "Commonwealth, explain the ground rules to them."
22:35:54: <bunton> She tries to hide the terrified part.
22:36:05: <Teslatornado> Serge looks back quickly at Pauline. "Ma'am? Are you alright?"
22:36:43: <Neon> Edvin looks at the rush of people with joy, his slight smile and glinting eyes all there really is to show for that.
22:36:59: <FlameShirt> "They know why you're here and that any offence is inconsequential."
22:37:11: <bunton> "Oh, I'm fine."
22:37:14: <bunton> She grins.
22:37:35: <FlameShirt> The orb floats up next to the machine with the active portal.
22:37:47: <Teslatornado> Serge nods and continues off after the group.
22:37:52: <vivax> "That means /no sexual harassment/ people. Keep it professional."
22:38:37: <Ballrack> "who even wants to harrass these … things?"
22:38:53: <vivax> "I dunno. I'm just used to Mr. Newclear bein here."
22:39:00: <FlameShirt> "Yes, no pressing anything against the glass." The orb chuckles, floating up and done as it does so before abruptly stopping. "Err, now, this portal will take you to your destination."
22:39:29: <bunton> Pauline nods at Wambles' comment.
22:39:37: <Teslatornado> Serge moves up next to John and speaks in low tones. "Sir, although I do not understand these creatures either, it would be a bad idea to offend them. Ca va?"
22:40:45: <Ballrack> John mumbles: "As long as they don't make shit with me"
22:41:07: <Riemann> Hill is examining the portal closely, his mouth can be seen moving quickly under his breath
22:41:27: <Neon> "All of them are God's creations, Mister." He says, to John. "I doubt they would."
22:41:44: <Teslatornado> Serge nods, claps John on the back, and moves toward the portal.
22:42:03: <vivax> "John. If you offend our business partners I will make sure you shit through a tube. Is that clear?"
22:42:16: <vivax> "We are not here to make war on an interstellar power."
22:42:40: <optimal> Frederick chuckles a bit and wonders if that feat is even possible.
22:42:46: <Ballrack> "Am I the only one being a bit scepctical? I mean, aliens?"
22:42:49: <lurkd> "Yes… we are hilariously out gunned in that facet."
22:42:55: <bunton> "This is amazing."
22:42:57: <FlameShirt> The crowd beyond the glass takes no notice of you as they go about their commutes. High above the crowd in a floating office, a singular tall, tri-symmetrical alien keeps an eye on you through the glass.
22:43:00: <lurkd> He looks at Pauline.
22:43:26: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler regards the alien up top.
22:43:47: <bunton> "Do you think I could talk to a few after the, er… job's done?"
22:43:49: <lurkd> Ivan is unphased mostly. Just taking note of characteristic differences.
22:44:06: <GottaGoFeast> "I think that alien up there is looking at us."
22:44:06: <FlameShirt> "We do not wish for war and there is no reason we would have to go to war. The boot is not threatened by an ant, to use a popular metaphor."
22:44:24: <lurkd> "Of course."
22:44:55: <lurkd> Ivan shuffles to the front of the group towards Wambles. "Good day, Mr. Wambles."
22:45:06: <vivax> "Ivan. Welcome to space."
22:45:12: <Riemann> Hill is considerably more concerned about the new technology than the presence of aliens
22:45:26: <lurkd> "I was always curious about it."
22:45:31: <bunton> "I wonder what they're technology level's like… is it even that far ahead? Well, of course it is, they have interstellar travel!"
22:45:48: <bunton> "The advancements they must have made…"
22:46:02: <Riemann> "Are incredibly" Hill finishes
22:46:06: <vivax> "We can see if we can arrange an interview."
22:46:16: <Riemann> (Incredible*)
22:46:17: <vivax> "I'll draw up the paperwork if we live."
22:46:21: <bunton> "Oh, thank you. If I could just get a few local engineers… the things we could learn…"
22:46:55: <Riemann> Engineers nothing. I want to talk to these physicists."
22:47:18: <Teslatornado> Serge looks around at the various life-forms around him. "I just want to see what their wildlife would be like."
22:47:22: <lurkd> Ivan nods.
22:47:30: <Riemann> "I wonder what their views on quantum mechanics are…
22:47:39: <vivax> ~Can the eggheads please keep their dicks and/or vulvas in their pants~
22:47:53: <FlameShirt> The orb floats in front of the group. "All things will come to you in time. For now, can we get to the work at hand." The orb then goes over to the active portal.
22:48:01: <lurkd> "Probably what they teach their infants, Mr. Hilbert."
22:48:09: <bunton> Pauline is like a kid that's gotten a iridium truck for Christmas.
22:48:25: <lurkd> Ivan follows the orb and lights a cigarette.
22:48:50: <Teslatornado> Serge looks at the other travelers, then shakes his head and follows the orb to the porta.
22:48:53: <Teslatornado> (portal*)
22:49:05: <vivax> Wambles goes through when everybody else has gone.
22:49:20: <vivax> He does not want a team member left behind causing incidents.
22:49:26: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon goes through the portal.
22:49:29: <bunton> Pauline also goes!
22:49:30: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler's through.
22:49:35: <Riemann> Hill goes in
22:49:40: <Ballrack> John also goes, without saying anymore
22:49:43: <Teslatornado> Serge holds his breath and sprints through the portal.
22:50:04: <optimal> Frederick eager to move on, waits for the signal to go through the portal, then notices no one is there and quickly jumps through.
22:50:24: <lurkd> Ivan wonders if his lit cigarette is going to be doused by wormhole travel.
22:50:24: <Neon> Edvin walks into the portal with a brisk walk.
22:50:31: <Riemann> Hill starts, seemingly remembering something, then turns to Ivan and says "Doctor. I did get my doctorate."
22:50:50: <FlameShirt> People emerge a top a ridge in a barren valley. There's not much planet life, save a scatted few weeds.
22:50:59: <Jabonicus> Sam went through the portal.
22:51:17: <lurkd> "Hmmm… quite sterile."
22:51:20: <bunton> Pauline's grin begins to fade. She checks the portal is still there behind them.
22:51:32: <optimal> Fred speaks quietly, "Remind's me of home."
22:51:37: <Teslatornado> Serge lets out a low sigh of awe. "I'm on a different world."
22:51:45: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler takes a quick look around. Does he see anything besides a few plants?
22:52:09: <FlameShirt> The orb sets brings through the equipment. "Here's where I will depart. The machine will let you know went it has finished its trials. Please serve the Exploration Division in the way I know you are able." The red orb vanishes.
22:52:16: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon is completely amazed.
22:52:33: <bunton> Pauline stops.
22:52:36: <FlameShirt> Tyler, roll preception
22:52:37: <bunton> "Wait a moment…"
22:52:40: <Jabonicus> "What is this place?" Sam asked.
22:52:40: <bunton> "Fellas?"
22:52:45: <ProcyonLotor> 4df+4 Checkin' it out
22:52:50: <lurkd> "Hmm… very well."
22:52:54: <Teslatornado> Serge turns 'round and looks at Pauline. "Oui?"
22:52:59: <Glacon> lurkd: Ivan looks too.: 5 (4df+4=4-, 3+, 0, 3+)
22:52:59: <lurkd> 4df+4 Ivan looks too.
22:53:02: <ProcyonLotor> 4df+4 checkin it out again
22:53:03: <Glacon> ProcyonLotor: checkin it out again: 3 (4df+4=3+, 4-, 0, 4-)
22:53:15: <bunton> "Did… did it say we were supposed to… 'protect' the machine?"
22:53:27: <Ballrack> John is to amazed to react somehow
22:53:37: <ProcyonLotor> "Probably in a 'make sure nothing happens to it' way. Doesn't look like much is moving."
22:53:41: <GottaGoFeast> "What is that supposed to mean?"
22:53:47: <bunton> "Well yeah, but… protect it from what?"
22:53:49: <Teslatornado> "Yes, it did--" Serge blinks. "… Where is it?"
22:53:51: <FlameShirt> Ivan, you see a small squat building nested near a group of boulders at the bottom of the valley.
22:53:52: <bunton> "What would happen to it?"
22:54:04: <optimal> Following Pauline's statement, Fred remembers he has nothing but a pocket knifr.
22:54:09: <Jabonicus> "Hopefully it's like it was on guard duty." Sam said. "Chance of something happening, but it's not likely."
22:54:14: <vivax> Wambles scans the area.
22:54:19: <bunton> "Maybe…"
22:54:20: <FlameShirt> The machine makes quiet fizzing and beeping sounds.
22:54:22: <lurkd> "Please settle down." He points to the building for everyone's eyeballs,
22:54:29: <bunton> Pauline looks over.
22:54:37: <Glacon> Vivax: Looking around: 3 (4df+5=4-, 4-, 3+, 4-)
22:54:37: <vivax> 4df+5 Looking around
22:54:40: <lurkd> "There's a structure."
22:54:45: <Teslatornado> Serge looks over at Ivan, then withdraws his binoculars and looks down at the structure.
22:54:48: <bunton> She looks back at the machine. "Are we allowed to move it?"
22:54:49: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler spots the building once Ivan points.
22:55:00: <FlameShirt> Everyone sees the building now.
22:55:02: <vivax> "No. Let it do its job."
22:55:09: <vivax> "Uhh…"
22:55:11: <Neon> Edvin takes a look around, using his lifelong skills as a hunter to see if there has been any recent animal or human activity in the area that isn't theirs.
22:55:16: <Ballrack> "So… we just wait know right?"
22:55:29: <vivax> "Right, does anybody else think that the buildin may constitute 'sapient life' "
22:55:39: <Jabonicus> "We should probably check out the building."
22:55:41: <lurkd> Ivan takes out his pistol. "We should scout."
22:55:49: <vivax> "If so does anybody else think we should confirm whether or not it's unoccupied?"
22:55:50: <bunton> "Could have been built by the fellows back at…"
22:55:55: <vivax> "Exactly."
22:55:55: <ProcyonLotor> "Well, it's not likely it just sprouted."
22:56:00: <bunton> She metions to where the portal was or is.
22:56:26: <FlameShirt> The portal vanished with the orb. That was a /thing/ that happened.
22:56:31: <lurkd> Ivan waits for volunteers to go with him. "Shall we?"
22:56:38: <bunton> Pauline freaks out as she realises this.
22:56:38: <ProcyonLotor> I'm in.
22:56:41: <Riemann> "I'll go with Ivan"
22:56:43: <Teslatornado> Serge grunts affirmatively.
22:56:45: <ProcyonLotor> *"I'm in."
22:56:55: <GottaGoFeast> "I'll go too."
22:56:56: <lurkd> "Very well, Dr. Hilbert."
22:56:58: <vivax> "One or more of us should stay with the device."
22:57:01: <bunton> "Uh.. uh…"
22:57:02: <optimal> "You guys go. I'll stay by the machine." he says gripping his knife.
22:57:07: <vivax> "Preferably less /insane/ people."
22:57:23: <Jabonicus> "I'm not sticking by a machine the whole time." Sam said.
22:57:24: <Teslatornado> "You sure? You're unarmed." Serge looks over at (Optimal's Character).
22:57:26: <Ballrack> "I#ll stay"
22:57:39: <lurkd> Ivan shrugs and begins walking… puffing his cigarette.
22:57:40: <Riemann> "Would you like me to stay, Mr. Wambles?"
22:57:52: <bunton> Pauline scurres off with Ivan.
22:57:59: <optimal> "That's why I think I'll stay."
22:58:08: <lurkd> "Those with firearms training should take point."
22:58:14: <bunton> "This is terrifying. Isn't this terrifying?"
22:58:19: <FlameShirt> After getting over the weirdness of being on an alien planet, some of you may notice something super freaky. It's bright out, but there's no sun in this sky.
22:58:22: <Teslatornado> "Fair enough." Serge nods and heads off after Ivan, moving to the front of the formation.
22:58:27: <bunton> Pauline is already taking out her revolver.
22:58:36: <vivax> "Yeah. You see stable."
22:58:40: <lurkd> "Not at all… it is just a different location. Try and focus on the task."
22:58:47: <vivax> Wambles follows the group.
22:58:49: <vivax> *seem
22:58:51: <optimal> Frederick uses his keen observation skills to notice there's no sun.
22:59:05: <Jabonicus> Sam follows the group.
22:59:11: <bunton> "But we're… we're on a different world! I've never… this is like something out of a sci-fi novel."
22:59:14: <Riemann> Hill draws his two Colts and stays with Frederick by the machine
22:59:22: <bunton> "This is not what I ever had in mind…"
22:59:47: <FlameShirt> Right, travelling group jump into #tooltime
22:59:49: <lurkd> "What /did/ you have in mind Miss Wisniewski?"
23:00:00: <FlameShirt> Once you head off.
23:00:28: <vivax> Bunton: "Pauline. This is what you're here for. Think of it as an opportunity to do what you eggheads do best."
23:00:29: <Riemann> Hill turns to Frederick "Forget your weapons?"
23:00:33: <vivax> And wambles goes
23:00:49: <optimal> "I don't have a weapon."
23:01:04: <Riemann> "Personal choice?
23:01:11: <Riemann> "*
23:01:40: <optimal> I've never fired a gun until I visited the range. I've just never needed to use one. Being a magician and all.
23:02:08: <Riemann> "Well, that seems as good a reason as any."
23:02:27: <Neon> Edvin draws his rifle, looking around for animal tracks and other signs of sentient activity.
23:02:44: <Riemann> (Who all is staying with the machine?"
23:02:51: <Riemann> )*
23:03:02: <Ballrack> (John)
23:03:08: <Neon> (Edvin)
23:03:26: <FlameShirt> The machine quietly beeps and boops.
23:03:29: <Neon> (And I need to make a Special Skill Roll…)
23:03:31: <optimal> After some silence Fred turns to Alex, "So. One minute we're eating pizza, the next we're on an alien planet."
23:03:52: <Riemann> "Average Tuesday for me back in upstate New York."
23:04:10: <Riemann> "Erm, I mean, yeah. Weird."
23:04:18: <Ballrack> "What was that sound?", John says, while drawing his revolver
23:04:53: <optimal> "I'm sure it's just doing, eh, it's thing."
23:05:24: <Ballrack> "Lets hope for that"
23:05:31: <Riemann> (Can I roll to investigate the machine? (Non intrusively))
23:05:40: <optimal> "Trust me sir, I am."
23:05:51: <FlameShirt> Aye, aye. Science or academics or engineering.
23:06:08: <Riemann> 4df+5
23:06:08: <Glacon> Riemann: 5 (4df+5=4-, 0, 3+, 0)
23:06:23: <Riemann> (Engineering or science, your pick)
23:07:14: <Neon> 4df+5
23:07:14: <Glacon> Neon: 6 (4df+5=0, 0, 3+, 0)
23:07:43: <FlameShirt> The machine looking on a log the machine states "Language found. Claims disallowed. Environmental sampling continuing."
23:07:44: <Neon> (I'm rolling for looking around for signs of recent activity that isn't ours)
23:09:28: <Riemann> Hill looks around for a moment, then make himself as comfortable as possible, settling in for what he feels will be some time
23:12:13: <Ballrack> John sits down and trys to calm down a bit
23:13:31: <Neon> Edvin walks over to the two gentleman, taking a look at the machine for a few minutes before sitting besides them.
23:13:38: <Riemann> "So, anyone know any spooky campfire stories?"
23:14:26: <Ballrack> "I guess you are going to tell us one, right?
23:14:34: <vivax> Perception checks
23:14:42: vivax is assisting FlameShirt
23:14:51: <Glacon> Riemann: 0 (4df+3=4-, 4-, 4-, 0)
23:14:51: <Riemann> 4df+3
23:14:59: <optimal> 4df+6
23:15:00: <Glacon> Optimal: 6 (4df+6=0, 0, 0, 0)
23:15:02: <Neon> 4df+3
23:15:03: <Glacon> Neon: 6 (4df+3=3+, 3+, 3+, 0)
23:15:16: <Riemann> Hill is too concerned with stories to notice anything. At all.
23:15:25: <vivax> Neon and Optimal: Your characters hear something…
23:15:33: <Glacon> Vivax: Julianna Barwick - "Pacing" - length 4m 25s - rated 5.00/5.0 (293) - 46,117 views - juliannabarwickmusic on 2013.02.08
23:15:33: <vivax> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iap_Ku3rjY
23:15:39: <vivax> ^ wait for the vocals
23:15:40: <optimal> "What the hell was that?"
23:16:15: <Neon> "I heard it too." He rises to his feet.
23:16:38: <Riemann> Hill looks at the both of them. "What's happening?"
23:17:06: <Ballrack> "I hope nothing bad, or?"
23:18:47: <Neon> "Not sure. Hopefully, not."
23:19:18: <optimal> "It sounds lovely, whatever it is."
23:19:43: <vivax> Optimal and Neon: It sounds like it's coming from… below you?
23:19:49: <vivax> In the ground.
23:20:22: <Ballrack> "What sounds lovely?"
23:20:31: <Neon> "Reminds me of the local choir back home…" He strokes his chin. "Is it…coming from…?" He taps the ground with a foot, looking to (Optimal's character)
23:20:44: <optimal> "… the hell? It's coming from the ground."
23:20:55: <vivax> Ballrack: You can put your ear to the ground to listen if you like :D
23:21:18: <optimal> "Don't look at me! I don't know what the hell's going on!"
23:21:45: <Ballrack> John lays down and also listens.
23:22:22: <vivax> John: You hear it.
23:22:27: <Neon> He gets down to the ground slowly, turning an ear towards the ground and holding his rifle perpendicular to the ground.
23:22:56: <Ballrack> John jumps back up, "What the fuck? What is that?"
23:23:16: <optimal> (To everyone: The name's Frederick by the way.)
23:23:25: <vivax> Neon: It occurs to you how insanely stupid it is to shoot the ground.
23:23:36: <Neon> (No, he's not shooting at the ground)
23:24:00: <vivax> Neon: I know. I'm just giving you a way out of being silly.
23:24:48: <Riemann> Hill finally takes notice of what is happening. "What is everyone hearing?"
23:24:51: <Neon> (I think you misunderstood. He's on his knees, putting the rifle's butt to the ground and holding it about midway, so that the barrel is face upwards)
23:25:17: <Neon> "Sounds like singing?…chanting? …praying?"
23:25:18: <optimal> "It sounds like… a woman singing."
23:25:31: <Ballrack> "In the damn ground"
23:25:42: <Riemann> "There is nothing good coming out of this."
23:26:05: <Neon> He simply smiles slightly at Hill.
23:26:24: <optimal> "Maybe it's greeting us. Hopefully…"
23:26:52: <optimal> Fred shows worriness on his face.
23:26:55: <Riemann> "We're on an alien planet, with incredible compensation if anything happens to us."
23:27:09: <vivax> Reinmann: Give me a perception
23:27:21: <Glacon> Riemann: 4 (4df+3=0, 3+, 3+, 4-)
23:27:21: <Ballrack> "But then still something hapens to us"
23:27:21: <Riemann> 4df+3
23:28:10: <Glacon> Vivax: Julianna Barwick - Labyrinthine - length 4m 18s - rated 5.00/5.0 (24) - 4,103 views - va9GPgR-pc39k0VjcKSZkw on 2013.08.22
23:28:10: <vivax> Reimann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJbd4FzaI84
23:28:58: <vivax> In addition you feel the ground move a little bit.
23:29:09: <vivax> What on [insert planet here] could be happening?
23:30:07: <Riemann> "Oh, I hear it now"
23:32:04: <vivax> The more you listen the more you can hear the earth moving a little bit.
23:32:08: <optimal> "Okay, the ground should not be moving. Unless that's normal for this planet."
23:32:33: <Ballrack> "Maybe the maschine is doing it"
23:32:39: <Riemann> (Roll for geology?)
23:32:41: <vivax> You can give engineering rolls
23:32:43: <vivax> And geology yeah
23:32:56: <Riemann> 4df+5
23:32:56: <Glacon> Riemann: 7 (4df+5=3+, 4-, 3+, 3+)
23:33:07: <Riemann> (Hell yeah!)
23:33:36: <vivax> This is /not/ an [insert planet name here]quake.
23:33:41: <vivax> The tremors are too local.
23:34:01: <vivax> And frankly quakes aren't usually accompanied by vocals.
23:35:01: <Riemann> "No, this isn't normal… And I don't think most people hear vocals with tectonic activity."
23:37:24: <optimal> Frederick starts to wonder if coming here was a bad idea.
23:37:53: <Neon> "I wonder if the others are hearing the same thing."
23:37:59: <vivax> What do you guys do
23:38:45: <optimal> (Fred's a magician turned public censor.)
23:38:55: <vivax> (Ah)
23:39:25: <vivax> (be creative. what do you think you would do?)
23:39:46: <Riemann> Hill checks to see if the machine is attracting/pertaining to the vocals
23:40:02: <vivax> Engineering
23:40:07: <Riemann> 4df+5
23:40:07: <Glacon> Riemann: 7 (4df+5=3+, 3+, 0, 0)
23:40:25: <Neon> Edvin heads off his knees to do a quick perimeter check.
23:40:34: <vivax> The readout says "First Contact Established. Hemikava levels optimal"
23:41:08: <Riemann> "I think it's doing what it's supposed to. Says 'First Contact Established'."
23:41:21: <Ballrack> "First contact? Ohh damn. Did that thing maybe searched for the voice?
23:41:40: <vivax> The rumbling intensifies
23:41:50: <vivax> Something is coming *up*
23:42:02: <Riemann> Hill dashes away from the machine, to get distance
23:42:16: <Riemann> Then turns and watches the proceedings
23:42:25: <Ballrack> John throws himself to the ground, coverng his head with the arms
23:42:26: vivax waits for other actions.
23:42:45: <Neon> Edvin stops in his tracks and steps back from the machine. "I suggest you move away."
23:42:54: <optimal> Frederick's eyes turn huge and runs.
23:43:00: <vivax> Okay
23:43:06: <vivax> Everybody give me agility
23:43:25: <Riemann> 4df+2
23:43:26: <Glacon> Riemann: 1 (4df+2=3+, 4-, 0, 4-)
23:43:28: <Glacon> Optimal: 1 (4df+2=0, 4-, 4-, 3+)
23:43:28: <optimal> 4df+2
23:43:32: <Glacon> Ballrack: 2 (4df+5=0, 4-, 4-, 4-)
23:43:32: <Ballrack> 4df+5
23:43:47: <Neon> 4df+2
23:43:47: <Glacon> Neon: 2 (4df+2=3+, 4-, 3+, 4-)
23:44:10: <vivax> Those of you who got 2 or better roll out of the way.
23:44:17: <vivax> Those of you who did not need to give me pdef.
23:44:29: <Riemann> 4df+3
23:44:29: <Glacon> Riemann: 3 (4df+3=0, 0, 4-, 3+)
23:44:59: <Glacon> Optimal: 2 (4df+3=3+, 4-, 4-, 0)
23:44:59: <optimal> 4df+3
23:45:11: <vivax> 4df4+2
23:45:24: <vivax> 4df4+2
23:45:29: <vivax> :|
23:45:46: <vivax> 4df+2
23:45:46: <Glacon> Vivax: 4 (4df+2=3+, 0, 0, 3+)
23:46:04: <vivax> Optimal: Your character takes 2 points of damage as the ground erupts in debris.
23:46:16: <vivax> Riemann: Your character takes 1
23:46:22: <optimal> (Fuck.)
23:46:28: <vivax> Stones pelt the area, but leave the machine unharmes.
23:46:32: <vivax> *unharmed
23:46:38: <Riemann> (Poor Optimal)
23:47:25: <Riemann> "Well, ouch. Thought I was done with explosions, damnit."
23:48:15: <optimal> "AH, DAMMIT! What the hell's going on?"
23:48:18: <Ballrack> John stays up unsteady. "Fuck, fuck, everyone ok?"
23:48:50: <Riemann> "No, I don't think so… Agh, are you ok, Frederick?"
23:49:03: <Neon> Edvin mutters a quick prayer before answering, "Fine."
23:49:13: <vivax> You see rising from where you were just standing a large, chitinous worm-like thing sticking out into the air. It is the color of the sea on a cloudy day and it twitches with unnatural rythem and peristalsis. The top of it extends into fine, pink tendrils upon which are thousands of tiny holes. They writhe in the air. The sound is /intensely loud/ right now. It's an aggressive chorus of…
23:49:14: <vivax> …ethereal beauty.
23:49:18: <optimal> Apart from stones being pelted at my back, I think I'm okay/
23:49:34: <Riemann> "Oh hell no, not again."
23:49:56: <Neon> Edvin quickly shoulders his rifle, aiming at the thing.
23:49:57: <vivax> It just…sits there, singing loudly.
23:50:05: <Ballrack> "What the ……?"
23:50:09: <optimal> "Ho. ly. Shit."
23:50:15: <Riemann> Hill shouts over the noise "Well, what now?"
23:50:16: <vivax> "Ahh ahh AHHHhhhhhh Ahhh Ahhh ohheeeeooooo"
23:50:32: <vivax> "OOoooOOOoooHh Ahhh ooooh eeeooohhhh"
23:50:41: <Riemann> "…"
23:50:44: <Ballrack> "Fuck don't shot!"
23:51:02: <optimal> Frederick looks at his knife and thinks he's fucked.
23:51:02: <Neon> "Not going to, unless it's hostile."
23:51:12: <Riemann> "In my experience, shooting first never works out!"
23:51:26: <vivax> Goddamn is it loud.
23:51:40: <vivax> You are going to go deaf at this rate. What do you do?
23:52:01: <optimal> Frederick frantically covers his ears.
23:52:02: <Riemann> "Anyone want to try to talk to it?!"
23:52:11: <Ballrack> I try to sing similar to the song which we heard before
23:52:27: <Riemann> Hill covers his ears as well, then attempts to examine the worm
23:54:12: <vivax> Ballrack: Uh… Do you have any skill that would maybe work?
23:54:16: <Neon> Edvin pulls down the rifle while still holding it in his hands. He tries to sing the earlier, calmer tune.
23:55:12: <Ballrack> (not really)
23:55:37: <vivax> Ballrack: Persuasion at a -2 then. Same to Neon
23:55:41: <optimal> Frederick looks at the other two, thinking they're crazy.
23:55:46: <vivax> Reinmann: Perception
23:55:55: <Neon> (I have a special skill for this Vivax)
23:56:05: <Glacon> Riemann: 5 (4df+3=4-, 3+, 3+, 3+)
23:56:05: <Riemann> 4df+3
23:56:11: <vivax> Neon: Uh… you do?
23:56:13: <Ballrack> 4df+4
23:56:14: <Glacon> Ballrack: 4 (4df+4=3+, 3+, 4-, 4-)
23:56:30: <Neon> (It should fall under "And though this world with devils filled", which covers all of his religious experience, including choir-boy-ing)
23:56:38: <vivax> Neon: roll it
23:56:53: <Neon> 4df+4
23:56:54: <Glacon> Neon: 6 (4df+4=3+, 3+, 4-, 3+)
23:57:22: <vivax> Reinmann: You're looking at the worm-thing you can see…uh… faces? Maybe? On the sides of it. Thousands of tiny facing singing and crying.
23:58:02: <vivax> Neon and Ballrack; You two begin singing, harmonizing slowly the giant worm thing turns it's tendrils to you.
23:58:14: <Riemann> Hill backs away slowly, bothered by the memories the worm has resurfaced.
23:58:19: <vivax> It's sound softens as it reaches out to touch you. Still singing.
23:58:34: <Riemann> Hill turns to Frederick and raises an eyebrow
23:59:11: <optimal> Frederick gives Hill a very confused expression.
23:59:15: <vivax> "Oooh? Eooooh? Oooooeeeeeee?"
23:59:32: <Neon> Edvin lets it do so, continuing to vocalize.
23:59:41: <Riemann> Hill is as confused as Frederick is
00:00:07: <Ballrack> John also goes on with singing, but slowly grabs his revolver
00:00:11: <Riemann> (I have to leave for a couple, sorry all. Be back in 5-10)
00:00:22: <vivax> John: It tickles…
00:00:38: <Ballrack> (where?)
00:00:40: <optimal> Frederick finds this strange knowing that Hill is the friggin scientist.
00:00:43: <vivax> Optimal: Give me another perception check
00:00:48: <vivax> John: Yer nose.
00:01:01: <optimal> 4df+6
00:01:02: <Glacon> Optimal: 9 (4df+6=3+, 3+, 3+, 0)
00:01:24: <Ballrack> I try ignoring the tickle as good as I can
00:01:36: <vivax> You tear your eyes away from the scene for a moment and look out over the plains.
00:02:12: <vivax> In kilometers in the distance you see another worm-like thing burst from the ground and begin singing… and you see another one… and another one…
00:02:33: <optimal> "Oh shit…. Guys?"
00:02:55: <optimal> "Start singing a lot louder. You've got an audience."
00:02:57: <Ballrack> John is to busy singing to answer
00:03:30: <Neon> He continues to sing, raising his voice at a gradual pace.
00:04:06: <vivax> Neon and Ballrack from within the mess of tendrils you see a human face, a woman's face slowly extrude itself from deep within.
00:04:13: <vivax> It smiles at you.
00:04:21: <vivax> "Hellooo, ooo ooo ooo"
00:04:43: <Neon> Edvin smiles back, well, as best as he can while chiming out a "Hello" in response.
00:05:01: <Ballrack> John trys to sing as friendly as he can
00:05:54: <vivax> "Yooou ooo ooo have curiooous harmooonics"
00:06:19: <vivax> "Whooo ooo ooo is singing with the Choir Below?"
00:07:34: <optimal> "/I think she means you guys./"
00:07:44: <Ballrack> "I am John, ma'm, and this singer is called Edvin"
00:08:14: <Neon> Edvin nods, still vocalizing in a happy and welcoming tone.
00:08:17: <vivax> "Joooohn and Edvin ooo ooo ooo"
00:08:39: <vivax> "We are pleased that the Surface has Singers now ooo ooo ooo "
00:09:48: <Ballrack> "And we are pleased to meet one of the Choir Below, and then so a wonderful lady, i am truly charmed"
00:10:30: <Neon> Edvin nods in agreement, continuing his tune.
00:10:33: <vivax> "We are happy to hear yoooou ooo ooo ooo"
00:10:58: <vivax> "But sad for the below is noooo loooonger hoooome ooo ooo oooo"
00:11:19: <Riemann> (I'm back)
00:11:51: <Neon> "Noooo loooonger hoooome?" Edvin sings inquisitvely
00:12:13: <Riemann> Hill turns to Frederick
00:12:34: <vivax> "The Choir has felt the baratooone of rage"
00:12:49: <vivax> "The Soil Woomb is breaking…"
00:13:06: <vivax> "Surface singers need to find their own surface soooon ooo ooo ooo"
00:13:42: <Neon> "Soooiiilll Wooomb?"
00:14:02: <Riemann> (They are going to take over the surface? Should I roll to try to notice this?)
00:14:10: <vivax> "Dooo yooou noooot feel it?"
00:14:20: <vivax> You guys notice that the sky is getting brighter…
00:14:25: <Neon> "The shaaaking?"
00:14:32: <vivax> Actual earthquakes are happening
00:14:50: <optimal> "Shit. /Guyyyys…/"
00:15:00: <Riemann> "This isn't good"
00:15:06: <vivax> "Yes. We are singing a Way. We are… singing…"
00:15:13: <vivax> Make mental defense rolls
00:15:22: <optimal> 4df+6
00:15:24: <Glacon> Optimal: 5 (4df+6=0, 3+, 4-, 4-)
00:15:26: <Glacon> Riemann: 3 (4df+4=3+, 4-, 0, 4-)
00:15:27: <Riemann> 4df+4
00:15:30: <Glacon> Ballrack: 6 (4df+5=4-, 3+, 0, 3+)
00:15:31: <Ballrack> 4df+5
00:15:35: <Neon> (4df+5
00:15:39: <vivax> None of you take san damage
00:15:44: <vivax> Or mental damage rather.
00:15:45: <Neon> (4df+5)
00:15:56: <Riemann> Neon, no parenthesise
00:16:01: <Neon> 4df+5
00:16:02: <Glacon> Neon: 4 (4df+5=0, 4-, 0, 0)
00:16:05: <Riemann> Parenthesis*
00:16:11: <Neon> (Forgot, sorry)
00:16:16: <vivax> You see the tendrils on the Choir Below wiggle in ecstatic movements
00:16:26: <Riemann> "The sky is getting brighter…"
00:16:39: <Riemann> Roll for astrophysical activity?
00:16:40: <vivax> As the sky above it changes /color/ from a bright white to a deep mahogany brown.
00:16:46: <vivax> Reinmann: Sure
00:16:52: <Riemann> 4df+5
00:16:52: <Glacon> Riemann: 5 (4df+5=0, 3+, 4-, 0)
00:16:54: <vivax> You smell… books and paper?
00:17:00: <Ballrack> "That is pretty fucking shit"
00:17:09: <vivax> Reinmann: Uh… what the /fuck/ is this? A wormhole?
00:17:25: <vivax> The Choir worms start to lift into the air.
00:17:38: <Riemann> Hill pulls out a bottle of pills and begins to take a couple
00:17:42: <vivax> Loose-leaf paper cascades from holes in the sky
00:17:43: <optimal> Frederick makes the decision that yes. Yes it was a bad idea to come here.
00:17:46: <Ballrack> "
00:17:55: <Ballrack> (ups)
00:18:04: <vivax> "We are soooory… loooook for us in the Library"
00:18:06: <Riemann> "This isn't just me. This can't be just me, right guys?"
00:18:18: <Neon> He continues to sing, gazing up at the rising worm, "Liiibrarrry?"
00:18:21: <vivax> Before the air stills and you are left in heaps of random paper debris.
00:18:26: <Ballrack> "No it isn't, and we need ideas KNOW!"
00:19:01: <Riemann> "Well then"
00:19:10: <optimal> "Should we alert the others? What about the machine?"
00:19:19: <Riemann> Hill goes to check the machine
00:19:32: <vivax> The machine is flashing red lights
00:19:37: <Riemann> Roll?
00:19:44: <vivax> "Warning, Warning Stellar Incursion Detected"
00:20:02: <Riemann> "Guys… Something bad is about to happen."
00:20:04: <vivax> "Warning. Warning. Contact Local Union Representitives"
00:20:22: <optimal> Fred runs for the building.
00:20:32: <bunton> Okay!
00:20:44: <vivax> You stop as you see that the building has collapsed in an earthquake
00:20:50: <Teslatornado> Serge looks over at Pauline, wild-eyed. "Ma'am, I'm going to marry you for that."
00:20:51: <Riemann> "Oh, hey all. You just missed some nightmarish face worm."
00:20:57: <lurkd> Ivan is running towards them, overcoat flailing behind. "Do we have an exit, gentlemen?"
00:21:05: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler runs up, panting.
00:21:15: <bunton> Pauline looks at the machine.
00:21:25: <vivax> Wambles falls out of Serge's arms.
00:21:27: <FlameShirt> The machine continually wails.
00:21:30: <optimal> "Wha—- Where the hell did you guys come from?"
00:21:35: <vivax> "Uh…"
00:21:40: <lurkd> "Nevermind that."
00:21:41: <vivax> Wambles looks at the pile of papers.
00:21:45: <lurkd> "Exit!"
00:21:46: <ProcyonLotor> "The building. We ran like hell once the shakes started."
00:21:46: <vivax> "What happened here?"
00:21:48: <FlameShirt> Anyone at the machine, the group has just run to your location.
00:21:50: <bunton> "I'll explain when we get back!"
00:22:01: <Riemann> Hill picks up some papers and pockets them for later
00:22:04: <Teslatornado> Serge shouts above the rest of the group. "DOESN'T MATTER. EXIT STRATEGY."
00:22:17: <Ballrack> "Where is the exit?"
00:22:31: <Glacon> lurkd: looking for portal: 6 (4df+5=0, 3+, 3+, 4-)
00:22:31: <lurkd> 4df+5 looking for portal
00:22:33: <bunton> Pauline picks up a paper, looking confusedly at it.
00:22:44: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler picks up a paper as well.
00:22:45: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 (Perception) Serge looks for the portal.
00:22:46: <Glacon> Teslatornado: (Perception) Serge looks for the portal.: 1 (4df+4=4-, 4-, 4-, 0)
00:22:53: <vivax> Bunton: It's some kind of divorce paperwork.
00:22:58: <optimal> Frederick finds it a good idea to grab a paper.
00:23:02: <FlameShirt> The ground rumbles hard. The machine pipes up. "Encoding: Morse Code. Language: Russion. Message reads "I wake/I see all/And find it lacking"".
00:23:05: <FlameShirt> There is no portal yet.
00:23:08: <vivax> ProcyonLotor: You find a romantic novel about bread.
00:23:18: <Neon> Edvin gets to his feet. "Well…"
00:23:23: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler pockets it, as a curiosity if nothing else.
00:23:38: <bunton> Pauline looks at the crater.
00:23:46: <FlameShirt> "You cannot hide. Only death.", the machine continues.
00:23:49: <Teslatornado> "I hate this planet!" Serge grabs fistfuls of papers and stuffs them into his satchel.
00:23:49: <Ballrack> John looks what the worms are doing.
00:23:54: <vivax> Optimal: You find a short poem about a hungry dog.
00:23:55: <bunton> "This is it, this is how I'm going to die.."
00:24:04: <lurkd> "Possibly."
00:24:05: <FlameShirt> A singular point of light in the bright sky is getting bigger and bigger.
00:24:14: <vivax> Ballrack: The worms have vanished into portals into some kind of giant library
00:24:19: <lurkd> Ivan lights a cigarette trying to think on what to do.
00:24:33: <Riemann> Hill looks sideways at the singular point
00:24:41: <Teslatornado> Serge puts a hand on Paulina's shoulder. "Most likely."
00:24:42: <Riemann> 4df+5 to discern what it is
00:24:42: <vivax> Wambles just stands there in the swirling papers.
00:24:42: <Glacon> Riemann: to discern what it is: 5 (4df+5=3+, 4-, 4-, 3+)
00:24:50: <ProcyonLotor> "Christ. Christchristchrist. That has to be the false star."
00:24:52: <bunton> Pauline stares up at the light.
00:25:16: <Teslatornado> "False star?"
00:25:17: <vivax> "Uh…"
00:25:22: <vivax> "Well /shit/ "
00:25:22: <lurkd> Ivan ponders whether to end his life right there or not.
00:25:25: <Neon> Edvin looks up towards the light.
00:25:31: <Riemann> "What's this about a false star?"
00:25:36: <ProcyonLotor> "Whatever they did, it didn't work."
00:25:37: <lurkd> He takes out his revolver in his hands.
00:25:42: <optimal> The magician ponders. "No, this isn't the end. There's always a way out. Most of the time."
00:25:50: <vivax> "It made it mad."
00:25:50: <Ballrack> "Who did what?"
00:25:51: <Teslatornado> Serge snatches Ivan's revolver. "Face death like a man."
00:25:58: <Riemann> "Comforting, Fred"
00:26:08: <ProcyonLotor> He turns to Hill. "No time to explain. It's bad. Very bad. Those who live here fear it."
00:26:09: <lurkd> "There are things worse than death."
00:26:13: <bunton> "There were, um… augmented aliens. They were firing missiles at a false star."
00:26:21: <lurkd> And snatches it back.
00:26:23: <FlameShirt> The machine pipes up again. "Environmental status determined. Neutron star is causing fatal tidal forces. Distress call activated."
00:26:31: <FlameShirt> Immediately, a portal is opened near the machine.
00:26:32: <vivax> "Oh thanks!"
00:26:35: <lurkd> "Ah well… "
00:26:36: <bunton> "Then the building they were in collapsed."
00:26:38: <bunton> "!"
00:26:41: <lurkd> Ivan dives in.
00:26:43: <bunton> Pauline jumps for the portal
00:26:45: <vivax> "Could have been a touch… more prompt"
00:26:48: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler jumps through, after drawing the other's attention to it.
00:26:50: <optimal> "RUN FOR IT!"
00:26:50: <vivax> Wambles hobbles through.
00:27:00: <Riemann> Hill takes one look around wildly before jumping in
00:27:00: <Teslatornado> Serge leaps through the portal.
00:27:09: <Ballrack> John rushes for the portal and jumping through
00:27:15: <FlameShirt> "Only death. The Foundation cannot hide.", the machine continues translating.
00:27:17: <Ballrack> *jumpes
00:27:30: <Neon> Edvin rushes for the portal, moving as quickly as he can
00:27:38: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler picks himself up. Where is he?
00:28:06: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon leaps through the portal.
00:28:08: <FlameShirt> As the group dive into the portal, it closes as the Hateful Star destroys the planet. They are back in the staging area they passed through.
00:28:15: <vivax> "…"
00:28:24: <bunton> Pauline is in shock.
00:28:25: <optimal> Frederick takes a good look a the machine, and jumps through the portal.
00:28:26: <lurkd> Ivan falls through. *oomf*
00:28:26: <bunton> "…"
00:28:30: <vivax> "How the /fuck/ does a star know who we are?"
00:28:36: <ProcyonLotor> "FUCK."
00:28:45: <Teslatornado> Serge hits the ground, flops onto the ground, and IMMEDIATELY looks up at the sky.
00:28:54: <Neon> "Thank God." He says, solemnly, before kissing the cross on his chain.
00:29:00: <FlameShirt> The red orb is there, floating. "…"
00:29:00: <lurkd> "A sentient astral body."
00:29:02: <Ballrack> "FUCK FUCK FFUCK"
00:29:10: <Riemann> "It implies some sort of sapience, Mr. Wambles."
00:29:18: <vivax> "No no."
00:29:24: <optimal> Fred lands on the ground. "Ah! My back! Those damn stones…"
00:29:24: <vivax> "Think for a goddamn second."
00:29:37: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler just stares, enraged, at That. Goddamn. Orb.
00:29:38: <vivax> "How does a star know anything about us. On Earth."
00:29:45: <Riemann> "Oh my"
00:29:52: <Riemann> "Oh shit."
00:29:53: <vivax> "It /couldn't/ have known."
00:29:57: <lurkd> Ivan walks over to the orb and surrenders the samples. "Here."
00:30:00: <Teslatornado> Serge keeps staring.
00:30:05: <Ballrack> "but … it did"
00:30:12: <vivax> "It would have to have /known/ the future because of the distances involved."
00:30:25: <Riemann> "I do understand relativity, thank you."
00:30:27: <vivax> "It would have had to know about us /billions of years/ before we knew about us"
00:30:27: <ProcyonLotor> "Oh god. This is too frigging much. They didn't tell me about this." He's near tears. "They said it would just be research."
00:30:39: <vivax> "What the actual fuck."
00:30:44: <vivax> "Commonwealth!"
00:30:46: <bunton> "Maybe it read our minds?"
00:30:56: <FlameShirt> The orb continues floating. "…"
00:30:59: <Ballrack> "A fucking star looking into the future which wants to kill us? Serious?"
00:31:19: <Teslatornado> Serge keeps staring, searching for the star.
00:31:41: <ProcyonLotor> "You Commonwealth fuckers. You knew. You had to know. Why else would you send us somewhere as desolate?"
00:32:02: <vivax> "I am invoking an immediate termination of the contract and callin in for damages.""
00:32:10: <lurkd> Ivan rips out the rubbings and hands them to Tyler. "Professor Taylor, I took the liberty of collecting these for you."
00:32:10: <Riemann> "Tyler, maybe it isn't such a good idea to antagonise them right now…"
00:32:16: <vivax> Wambles says with actual /fear/ in his voice.
00:32:27: <Ballrack> "What? And I was hated for being scepticalto this things?"
00:32:36: <Ballrack> *sceptical
00:32:40: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler nods appreciatively. "Thank you, Ivan. I-I'll take a look at these when we're safe."
00:32:55: <ProcyonLotor> He stows them on his person, next to the bread novel.
00:33:13: <FlameShirt> "We told you we did not know the time and place you were exactly being sent." The orb floats over the "Wambles. "On what grounds? No terms were breeched. You were not mortally harmed."
00:33:36: <lurkd> "I figured this would be as good a time as any." *ahem*
00:34:00: <bunton> She looks around for Serge.
00:34:20: <Teslatornado> Serge is seated on the floor, gazing upwards.
00:34:29: <lurkd> "Are we done?"
00:34:34: <lurkd> "I'd like to be done."
00:34:35: <bunton> Pauline takes out the ermengcy medical supplies she always carries at all times.
00:34:40: <Glacon> Vivax: Law and Legalese! "You know very well that the temporal clause dictates…": 6 (4df+9=4-, 0, 4-, 4-)
00:34:40: <vivax> 4df+9 Law and Legalese! "You know very well that the temporal clause dictates…"
00:34:42: <bunton> She hands them to Serge.
00:34:52: <bunton> "Here. Do you know how to bandage yourself up?"
00:35:07: <Ballrack> "You fuckers knew, I said that we can't trust these aliens"
00:35:12: <optimal> Fred to the orb: "I was injured by flying rocks. Does that count?"
00:35:13: <Teslatornado> Serge blinks a few times, not looking away from the ceiling. "Yes."
00:35:24: <lurkd> *sigh*
00:35:33: <lurkd> Ivan just smokes and waits to go home.
00:35:41: <FlameShirt> "You may leave if you desire." There is a second portal active in the machine you first arrived through.
00:36:24: <lurkd> "And our compensation?"
00:36:42: <lurkd> Ivan places the samples on the ground.
00:37:05: <FlameShirt> The orb pauses in front of Wambles. "On future expeditions, you will be accompanied by a Provider will limited memories that will be capable of producing lethal force and providing an exit portal. As for damages, what would you accept?"
00:37:18: <bunton> ~I'm alive, I'm alive, I almost died but I'm alive…~
00:37:42: <vivax> "A full report on that star."
00:37:58: <bunton> "Information on those augmented aliens we encountered."
00:37:58: <ProcyonLotor> ~You know, I think Harley would have been a fair trade for a planet.~
00:38:14: <ProcyonLotor> "Basically anything with regards to what the fuck just happened."
00:38:55: <Teslatornado> Serge looks over at Pauline from the corner of his eye. "Are you okay? Ma'am?"
00:39:21: <bunton> "Fine. I thought I'd break down, or freak out or something."
00:39:22: <FlameShirt> "We will provide all data our device captured on the star. We will provide limited information on the aliens, but none that will be provide technological or scientific distortion."
00:39:33: <bunton> "I was worried the whole way through, but now that something's actually happened…"
00:39:40: <bunton> "I feel fine."
00:39:59: <vivax> "Thank you. That is acceptable."
00:40:00: <optimal> "Great. So we can't know who just threatened to destroy us all."
00:40:06: <Riemann> Hill perks up upon hearing about data on the star and aliens
00:40:15: <Ballrack> John lits a cigarette and keeps staring aggressive at the orb.
00:40:22: <Teslatornado> "Good."
00:40:33: <FlameShirt> The orb expands several meters in diameter and then retracts. A table on which various papers and scientific readouts is in the space the orb just took up.
00:40:40: <Teslatornado> 4df+3 (Medical) Serge treats his facial burns.
00:40:40: <Glacon> Teslatornado: (Medical) Serge treats his facial burns.: 4 (4df+3=3+, 0, 4-, 3+)
00:40:42: <ProcyonLotor> "Christ. Just fucking Christ."
00:40:47: <bunton> Pauline takes out her fourth cigarette of the day and starts smoking.
00:40:56: <vivax> "Good."
00:41:07: <vivax> "Get those through the portal people."
00:41:08: <lurkd> Ivan assumes those papers are for Wambles and leaves. *poof*
00:41:26: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler hauls ass back home.
00:41:27: <vivax> Wambles carries /some of them/ but needs a hand for his cane.
00:41:35: <Riemann> Hill picks up the remaining papers
00:41:36: <bunton> Pauline heads through.
00:41:43: <Ballrack> "Okay, so, yeah, can we go back. I am pretty sick of this shit. Let's just pack that in and go, okay?"
00:41:46: <optimal> Frederick offers assistance.
00:41:51: <Neon> Edvin heads through.
00:41:55: <FlameShirt> Anyone heading through, back to #origins-ic
00:42:33: <Riemann> Hill, carrying the papers, heads through the portal
00:42:36: <optimal> Frederick grabs the info and leaves.
23:00:11: <Teslatornado> Serge withdraws his rifle from the oilcloth bag.
23:00:12: <ProcyonLotor> "Hm. How far is it, would you say?" Tyler turns to the group.
23:00:33: <bunton> "Terrestrial stuff?"
23:00:34: <lurkd> walking and walking…
23:00:46: <Jabonicus> Sam held his rifle tight.
23:00:50: <vivax> 4df+5 How far away does it look?
23:00:59: <bunton> Pauline keeps her revolver in front of her.
23:01:00: <vivax> 4df+5 How far away does it look?
23:01:01: <Glacon> Vivax: How far away does it look?: 5 (4df+5=3+, 3+, 4-, 4-)
23:01:02: <lurkd> "There is no such thing as terrestrial… it is a myopic term to describe a narrower view of the universe."
23:01:20: <bunton> Pauline gives Ivan a look.
23:01:22: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 Distance to building
23:01:22: <Glacon> Teslatornado: Distance to building: 4 (4df+4=4-, 0, 3+, 0)
23:01:26: <vivax> Wambles wonders to himself why everybody is going for guns.
23:01:30: <lurkd> Ivan is focused ahead.
23:01:32: <FlameShirt> It's maybe half a kilmeter down the valley, you should get there pretty fast.
23:01:32: <bunton> "That's ridiculous. Of course there's such a thing as terrestrial."
23:01:37: <vivax> This is an uninhabited planet.
23:01:39: <ProcyonLotor> "Well, considering the Earth is a thing, terrestrial is in fact, a meaningful word."
23:01:41: <lurkd> "Is there?"
23:01:47: <bunton> "Our world is an objective point in space."
23:01:49: <Jabonicus> "I just hope whatever is here can be hurt by guns." Sam said to himself.
23:01:54: <bunton> "Sure, it's only meaningful to us…"
23:01:59: <bunton> "But we're the ones using the term."
23:02:13: <vivax> "Well Sam, that's one hell of a hope. "
23:02:15: <lurkd> "Which counts for little value in the greater scheme."
23:02:15: <Teslatornado> "You're giving me a headache."
23:02:28: <ProcyonLotor> "What use is the greater scheme to us?"
23:02:28: <bunton> "It counts for a lot if you happen to be a human."
23:02:34: <vivax> "But also insane. There's nothin here to shoot unless you like to kill lichen and nothin ness"
23:02:54: <lurkd> "Humans are not special… life in general is a highly over rated phenomenon."
23:03:02: <bunton> "Humans are special to humans."
23:03:05: <FlameShirt> You know, you just happen to pass some of that lichen right now. It just kinda sits there, being a plant.
23:03:17: <lurkd> Ivan stops.
23:03:23: <vivax> "Oh my *God* "
23:03:28: <Teslatornado> Serge stoops and investigates the lichen.
23:03:28: <ProcyonLotor> "It does not mean that terrestrial is not a relevant description to humans. Considering knowledge comes from perception…"
23:03:37: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler stops with the group.
23:03:39: <vivax> "Can you children please shut up and /enjoy the fuckin planet/ "
23:03:43: <Teslatornado> "Should someone take a sample of this…?"
23:03:49: <bunton> Pauline glares at Wambles.
23:03:57: <FlameShirt> Anyone wanting to investigate it should roll science or perception.
23:04:00: <Jabonicus> Sam stopped, chuckling at wambles.
23:04:01: <vivax> "Yeah. Scientists. Take samples. Do your damn jobs."
23:04:02: <lurkd> 4df+6 Science to gather samples.
23:04:02: <Glacon> lurkd: Science to gather samples.: 6 (4df+6=3+, 3+, 4-, 4-)
23:04:10: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 to investigate the strange moss
23:04:11: <Glacon> Teslatornado: to investigate the strange moss: 5 (4df+4=3+, 4-, 0, 3+)
23:04:12: <lurkd> "Gladly."
23:04:15: <Teslatornado> (Perception)
23:04:15: <bunton> 4df+4 Science!
23:04:16: <Glacon> Bunton: Science!: 4 (4df+4=0, 4-, 3+, 0)
23:04:50: <GottaGoFeast> 4df+2 just taking a look
23:04:51: <Glacon> GottaGoFeast: just taking a look: 2 (4df+2=3+, 3+, 4-, 4-)
23:05:01: <FlameShirt> Anyone investigating it sees tiny little structures on the lichen. They seem to be oscillating pretty fast, tens of times a second.
23:05:10: <bunton> Pauline looks closely.
23:05:21: <Teslatornado> "These things are moving." Serge frowns. "I don't like it."
23:05:22: <bunton> "You know, it's pretty amazing once you get over the terror of it all."
23:05:39: <lurkd> "Precisely, Miss Wisniewski."
23:05:47: <bunton> "I mean, right here, we have evidence for life outside of earth!"
23:05:48: <Jabonicus> "What do you mean, 'moving'?"
23:05:52: <bunton> "Concrete evidence"
23:05:55: <lurkd> Ivan uses that roll to try and take a sample.
23:06:20: <vivax> "Uh. Looks concrete to me."
23:06:25: <bunton> "If it doesn't kill us and we get back, this changes everything!"
23:06:35: <Teslatornado> "There're small things on them… Shaking, it looks like."
23:06:36: <lurkd> Ivan shrugs.
23:07:01: <Jabonicus> "Wait, you mean there's something living on them? Like… bugs?"
23:07:34: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 Do they look like bugs?
23:07:34: <Glacon> Teslatornado: Do they look like bugs?: 2 (4df+4=0, 4-, 0, 4-)
23:08:06: <FlameShirt> Nah, they are attached to the plants.
23:08:11: <FlameShirt> Samples are easily taken.
23:08:13: <vivax> "You're awfully quick to jump to death, Pauline"
23:08:35: <Teslatornado> "No, they're part of the growth…"
23:08:36: <lurkd> Ivan looks at the sample in the test tube and pockets it carefully.
23:08:38: <ProcyonLotor> "Uh, be careful you guys. Christ knows what diseases these things could have."
23:08:50: <Teslatornado> Serge smiles grimly. "That's why I wasn't touching it."
23:08:56: <lurkd> "Let's continue." Ivan has an unnerving faith in the universe.
23:08:57: <bunton> "We're probably the first humans to step foot here."
23:09:07: <vivax> "Put some gloves on and put it in a lunch bag."
23:09:08: <bunton> "I doubt any disease on this planet could affect us."
23:09:12: <Teslatornado> "Yes, let's keep stepping feet."
23:09:14: <bunton> She shies back from it anyway.
23:09:16: <lurkd> "More than likely correct, Miss Wisniewski."
23:09:29: <ProcyonLotor> "Still to big of a risk."
23:09:33: <ProcyonLotor> *too
23:09:37: <Jabonicus> "Either the diseases are too foreign to affect us, or they are about to murder us all."
23:09:42: <bunton> "Yeah, I guess… better safe than sorry."
23:09:59: <bunton> She fidgets.
23:10:06: <lurkd> Ivan saunters to the structure… looking for other sample opportunities.
23:10:17: <bunton> Pauline follows close behind.
23:10:23: <Teslatornado> Serge moves to the structure close behind Ivan.
23:10:27: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler's right with them.
23:10:29: <FlameShirt> There's a couple of plants to pocket. It's done easily if you so desire.
23:10:34: <vivax> Wambles plays shepherd to the eggheads.
23:10:35: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon follows the group.
23:10:35: <Jabonicus> Sam followed at the back of the group
23:10:42: <vivax> (DO IT TAKE SAMPLES)
23:10:57: <Teslatornado> "Plants there." Serge points to the plants.
23:11:04: <lurkd> Ivan takes the responsibility of samples.
23:11:08: <bunton> Pauline takes samples of the rock and dirt.
23:11:08: <Jabonicus> "I ain't touching them."
23:11:14: <lurkd> *samplenoises*
23:11:17: <bunton> She leaves the plant-life for Ivan.
23:11:22: <Teslatornado> He also takes a look at them himself, using his wildlife knowledge. 4df+4
23:11:25: <lurkd> Ivan samples.
23:11:26: <Teslatornado> 4df+4
23:11:27: <Glacon> Teslatornado: 5 (4df+4=3+, 3+, 4-, 0)
23:12:28: <FlameShirt> Serge, the plants seem to be altering the position of parts of the lichen, ever so slightly.
23:12:54: <lurkd> "Miss Wisniewski, take care of the mineral sampling… I'll gather the flora and if need be… fauna."
23:13:05: <bunton> "Yup."
23:13:14: <Teslatornado> "Hm." Serge looks over at the rest of the party. "Hey, take a look at the plants. It seems like they're related to the lichen somehow."
23:13:40: <vivax> Wambles doesn't assist
23:13:40: <lurkd> "Very astute."
23:13:51: <Teslatornado> (was that sarcasm or)
23:13:54: <Jabonicus> Sam stood back with Wambles.
23:14:10: <vivax> "Yeah. If lichen was in the Crab Nebula"
23:14:17: <lurkd> "Hmmm…"
23:14:18: <vivax> "Yeah Sam?"
23:14:29: <lurkd> Ivan is clearly more focused on the structure ahead.
23:14:39: <Jabonicus> "I'm not touching that stuff." Sam replied.
23:14:46: <Teslatornado> "It looks like Earth lichen. I am not a scientist." Serge looks at the plants again, then continues toward the structure.
23:14:51: <FlameShirt> The structure sits there, being all spooky and foreboding.
23:15:06: <vivax> "Put on some /gloves/ you pansy."
23:15:16: <bunton> Pauline shuffles towards it.
23:15:20: <lurkd> "Let's keep moving please." Ivan has gloves.
23:15:21: <Glacon> Teslatornado: Serge looks at the building, searching for signs of recent use. (Perception): 5 (4df+4=0, 3+, 3+, 4-)
23:15:21: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 Serge looks at the building, searching for signs of recent use. (Perception)
23:15:29: <Jabonicus> "I told you, I'm not touching that shit." Sam replied.
23:15:56: <FlameShirt> There's a small track leading out of an door on the side facing you, Serge.
23:16:06: <Teslatornado> "Sam, there are gloves in my backpack."
23:16:07: <vivax> Wambles has been with the group.
23:16:16: <bunton> Pauline keeps an eye out for any especially interesting patches of dirt, or rocks.
23:16:37: <lurkd> "Miss Wisniewski?"
23:16:41: <lurkd> Ivan calls her over.
23:16:44: <bunton> "Hm? What is it?"
23:16:50: <vivax> "What do you see Serge?"
23:16:52: <bunton> She goes over to him.
23:16:57: <lurkd> "You're background is engineering, correct?"
23:16:58: <Teslatornado> "Path leading away from the door." Serge points.
23:17:03: <bunton> "Yes, that's right."
23:17:05: <vivax> "And a door."
23:17:14: <Jabonicus> Sam walked over, crossing his arms.
23:17:16: <Teslatornado> "… Yes. And a door."
23:17:24: <lurkd> "What is this structure from an engineering perspective? Purpose and use."
23:17:40: <bunton> Pauline gives the structure a careful look.
23:17:43: <lurkd> Ivan lights another cigarette.
23:17:57: <FlameShirt> Roll engineering.
23:18:02: <bunton> 4df+6
23:18:02: <Glacon> Bunton: 6 (4df+6=3+, 0, 0, 4-)
23:18:03: <Jabonicus> "Want me to take another look?" Sam said.
23:18:22: <lurkd> Ivan nods.
23:18:30: <Jabonicus> 4df+6
23:18:31: <Glacon> Jabonicus: 5 (4df+6=4-, 3+, 0, 4-)
23:19:01: <vivax> "How are you gonna guess Ivan? It's alien. Who the hell knows what it's for?"
23:19:03: <GottaGoFeast> 4df+2 Gordon takes a look as well (engineering)
23:19:04: <Glacon> GottaGoFeast: Gordon takes a look as well (engineering): 2 (4df+2=0, 0, 0, 0)
23:19:07: <FlameShirt> Pauline, there's some kinda of extractor device, with pile of dirt outside. It looks like it would be too small for mining, unless they just started.
23:19:19: <Glacon> Teslatornado: (Perception) Serge investigates the tracks.: 4 (4df+4=4-, 3+, 0, 0)
23:19:19: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 (Perception) Serge investigates the tracks.
23:19:27: <lurkd> "It's built for a purpose, Mr. Wambles… logically that is."
23:19:31: <FlameShirt> Gordon ain't got a clue though, Sam gets it though.
23:19:49: <bunton> "I'm not sure… sampling, maybe? There's a pile of dirt over there, but it's not large enough for anything on an industrial scale."
23:20:06: <bunton> "Definitely looks like terrain extraction, though."
23:20:13: <FlameShirt> Teslatornado: There's no foot prints, but it's clear of any of the local plants.
23:20:14: <lurkd> "…exploration and surveying, perhaps?"
23:20:20: <bunton> "Could be."
23:20:29: <vivax> "I ain't sayin it isn't built for somethin. I'm just sayin that we gotta be careful when dealin with things beyond our uh… frame of reference."
23:20:30: <Jabonicus> "If it's for anything, it's not large scale." Sam added.
23:20:45: <lurkd> "Hmmm…"
23:20:53: <lurkd> "So not terraforming then."
23:21:01: <lurkd> "Alright."
23:21:11: <ProcyonLotor> "Does it look like anything our… employers… had?"
23:21:15: <Teslatornado> "Could be gardening." Serge says, looking out over the trail.
23:21:43: <lurkd> "Miss Wisniewski, take some samples of the structure if you can. Let's try and enter."
23:21:54: <Jabonicus> "Looks like a home, possibly."
23:21:55: <FlameShirt> Suddenly, a missile streaks out from the top of the building, heading upwards into the sky.
23:22:02: <lurkd> "….."
23:22:07: <lurkd> Ivan halts.
23:22:07: <bunton> Pauline jumps.
23:22:16: <Teslatornado> Serge hits the deck.
23:22:22: <bunton> "Jesus Cricket!"
23:22:23: <GottaGoFeast> "Was that a missile?!"
23:22:31: <vivax> "Uh…"
23:22:36: <FlameShirt> The missile continues on upwards. It goes upwards and upwards until you can't see it anymore.
23:22:47: <ProcyonLotor> "Lord. That's inhabitation, if anything is."
23:22:53: <vivax> "Looks like the rocket's blastin off again."
23:22:54: <bunton> Pauline looks up at it.
23:23:03: <Teslatornado> Serge tosses Pauline his binoculars.
23:23:18: <bunton> She takes them and looks through, trying to see where the missile stops.
23:23:33: <Jabonicus> Sam hit the deck, covering his ears. "HIT THE DECK! MORTAR-…" Sam stopped, realizing what he was saying.
23:23:51: <FlameShirt> The missile just went waaaaaaaay up into the sky. Didn't look like it was going down anywhere around here.
23:24:00: <lurkd> "Intriguing." Ivan continues to the front of the structure.
23:24:06: <bunton> "Ivan… you could be right."
23:24:17: <lurkd> Any markings on the entrance?
23:24:17: <Jabonicus> Sam slowly stood up, picking up his rifle.
23:24:23: <vivax> "Whelp."
23:24:29: <vivax> "May as well say hi."
23:24:35: <bunton> "I mean, if I wanted to distribute seeds a resources, a high-altitude missile wouldn't be the worst way…"
23:24:36: <vivax> "It's in the contract."
23:24:40: <bunton> *or resources
23:24:46: <bunton> "Y-yeah… let's go look…"
23:24:53: <FlameShirt> There's a bunch of symbols around the door. None that make any sense though.
23:25:13: <lurkd> "Hmmm… Professor Taylor?"
23:25:23: <bunton> She takes a sample of whatever the door is made of, as well as the walls.
23:25:38: <lurkd> *Tyler
23:25:49: <Teslatornado> Serge keeps his rifle close, watching the tracks.
23:26:06: <FlameShirt> Ivan, roll academics.
23:26:23: <lurkd> 6df+5 symbols
23:26:24: <Glacon> lurkd: symbols: 5 (6df+5=0, 3+, 0, 4-, 4-, 3+)
23:27:15: <FlameShirt> Some of these symbols look vaguely Cyrillic. You don't understand them, but the odd character here and there is replicated.
23:27:55: <GottaGoFeast> 4df+1 Does Gordon see anything ion these symbols?
23:27:56: <bunton> Pauline tries to identify what the building's made out of.
23:27:56: <Glacon> GottaGoFeast: Does Gordon see anything ion these symbols?: 0 (4df+1=4-, 0, 4-, 3+)
23:28:09: <lurkd> "Strange." Ivan takes out a pencil and notepad and does a quick rubbing. *rubrub*
23:28:33: <Jabonicus> "What the hell is this place.."
23:28:53: <GottaGoFeast> "What are you writing down, Ivan? Do you understand those synbols?"
23:29:20: <lurkd> "I'm copying them… producing a rubbing to examine later."
23:29:31: <FlameShirt> Gordon sees nothing. Pauline, looks like mostly plastics.
23:30:02: <vivax> "See Ivan is smart."
23:30:44: <bunton> "Interesting…"
23:31:30: <FlameShirt> The door beckons.
23:31:39: <Teslatornado> "Very. Does someone want to knock?"
23:31:42: <lurkd> Ivan pockets the rubbing and enters.
23:31:50: <bunton> Pauline writes down some notes on a notepad.
23:32:03: <lurkd> He has a calm confidence to him as his cigarette smoke trails behind.
23:32:12: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon copies the symbols as well, in case Ivan loses his notepad.
23:33:08: <Teslatornado> Serge steps away from the trail and moves into the building.
23:33:31: <FlameShirt> You walk to the building. There's two bipedal, vaguely mechanical looking aliens loading what looks very like a missile into some mechanism that leads up into the roof. They don't notice you entering yet.
23:33:34: <bunton> Pauline follows.
23:33:42: <bunton> "…"
23:33:43: <lurkd> "…."
23:33:48: <Teslatornado> "…"
23:33:54: <GottaGoFeast> "…"
23:34:10: <lurkd> Ivan holds out his hand to wave Wambles over.
23:34:43: <vivax> Wambles is there.
23:34:44: <vivax> Duh
23:34:48: <Jabonicus> Sam followed, freezing in the entrance
23:35:05: <lurkd> He gestures to Wambles for /him/ to make contact first.
23:35:07: <Teslatornado> Serge reaches back and signals for Sam to get out of the fucking doorway.
23:35:27: <Jabonicus> Sam quickly moved towards the side, nervously holding his rifle up.
23:35:40: <vivax> "Greetings. We are here on behalf of the Commonwealth of Planets. We are investigating this planet under commonwealth statute #899-6859-3592385
23:35:42: <vivax> "
23:35:51: <vivax> "Put the weapon /down/ "
23:35:57: <bunton> Pauline moves to the back of the group.
23:36:15: <bunton> "We… we don't know it's a weapon!"
23:36:24: <lurkd> *ahem*
23:36:27: <Jabonicus> "It's just a precaution wambles.." Sam said, too many memories flashing through his head.
23:36:29: <Teslatornado> Serge slings his rifle over a shoulder. "He was talking to us."
23:36:36: <FlameShirt> The two aliens freeze mid-movement and turn to look. They sit and stare for several moments and place the missile-thingy on the ground.
23:36:51: <bunton> Pauline points her revolver towards the ground.
23:36:56: <lurkd> Ivan smokes.
23:37:04: <vivax> "Sam. This is a first contact scenario. Lower your rifle or you eat it."
23:37:05: <bunton> "Hello…"
23:37:07: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler just stares.
23:37:35: <Jabonicus> Sam didn't move for a moment, before aiming his rifle down.
23:38:14: <Teslatornado> Serge steps forward, tilting his head down at the missile. "What's that for?"
23:38:32: <bunton> "Would, uh… do they speak English?"
23:38:41: <vivax> "They put the missile down."
23:38:47: <vivax> "I'd say they understand somethin."
23:39:09: <lurkd> Ivan is patient
23:39:22: <FlameShirt> The floor between you and the aliens opens up, and up slides a very large version of the two aliens you saw working the missile. There is some large cylindrical thing grafted into each of the arms.
23:39:22: <bunton> Pauline waits for the aliens to respond.
23:39:29: <bunton> She looks at their mechanical parts.
23:39:37: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler attempts to motion something, but steps back at the third one.
23:39:45: <bunton> Pauline also steps back.
23:39:55: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon steps back.
23:39:58: <lurkd> Ivan cranes his neck up but doesn't step back.
23:40:16: <Jabonicus> "Wambles, give me a reason to not put my gun back up." Sam said, stepping back.
23:40:17: <Teslatornado> Serge moves back and raises one hand over the grip of his pistol.
23:40:35: <Teslatornado> "It's bigger than us, sir. That's reason enough."
23:40:37: <bunton> "Now, now, he's just big, he might not be bad."
23:40:44: <FlameShirt> "We are here to destroy that would that harm. We will continue.", utters the very large alien. The two smaller ones get back to work.
23:40:56: <vivax> Wambles holds up the ID.
23:41:10: <Teslatornado> Serge looks over at Wambles, then likewise raises his ID.
23:41:22: <vivax> "We are going to need to talk about that on behalf of our contractors"
23:41:22: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler follows suit.
23:41:28: <lurkd> Ivan produces ID.
23:41:34: <bunton> "Okay, so it's a weapon."
23:41:52: <bunton> Pauline raises her ID, which apparently she has.
23:42:26: <bunton> "C-can you explain what it is you're attempting to destroy?"
23:42:38: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon raises his ID as well.
23:43:07: <bunton> She starts studying their mechanical parts again.
23:43:22: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler tries rephrasing. "What is that which would harm?"
23:44:00: <FlameShirt> "The Commonwealth… Department of Moter Vechiles… ". The alien looks at the various IDs produced, before shaking itself. "We still not stop our work here. The fake light giver will destroy all. It must be destroyed."
23:44:23: <bunton> "The fake light giver?"
23:44:31: <lurkd> "The star?"
23:45:39: <Jabonicus> "You might need to be more specific."
23:46:07: <FlameShirt> "This is a dead star that must be killed. Leave, you can not help." The alien's right arm twitches.
23:46:23: <Teslatornado> "We do not intend to help. We intend to understand."
23:46:38: <Teslatornado> "Perhaps, through understanding, we can help somehow."
23:46:39: <lurkd> "Ah…"
23:46:44: <ProcyonLotor> "Perhaps we should. This is not our concern."
23:47:06: <lurkd> 4df+6 Science to see if the dead star in question is more likely a black hole
23:47:07: <Glacon> lurkd: Science to see if the dead star in question is more likely a black hole: 4 (4df+6=0, 0, 4-, 4-)
23:47:56: <FlameShirt> Ivan, you dunno. It might be, but you're in the Crab Nebula. Black hole would've sucked all that gas down.
23:48:03: <FlameShirt> Serge, roll physical defense.
23:49:11: <Teslatornado> 4df+4
23:49:12: <Glacon> Teslatornado: 3 (4df+4=0, 4-, 0, 0)
23:49:54: <Glacon> FlameShirt: The alien raises its left forearm. "You are owed no explanation.": 4 (4df+3=3+, 0, 0, 0)
23:49:54: <FlameShirt> 4df+3 The alien raises its left forearm. "You are owed no explanation."
23:50:50: <vivax> "Serge!"
23:51:14: <FlameShirt> Serge, burn marks appear on the right side of your face. Your face feels like it's suddenly jumped up a few hundred degrees in temperature, -1
23:51:20: <FlameShirt> -1 health*
23:51:40: <lurkd> "Don't…. we are here on official business. We have authority. And we will exercise it if you continue to be uncooperative."
23:51:50: <bunton> Pauline backs out through the door.
23:52:26: <Glacon> Vivax: Persuasion: 5 (4df+5=0, 0, 0, 0)
23:52:26: <vivax> 4df+5 Persuasion
23:52:37: <bunton> 4df+6 Engineering to try and understand the alien's mechanical parts.
23:52:38: <Glacon> Bunton: Engineering to try and understand the alien's mechanical parts.: 6 (4df+6=0, 0, 4-, 3+)
23:52:47: <FlameShirt> "Any authority preventing us from this work has lost legitimacy here."
23:53:20: <lurkd> "We are not preventing anything yet."
23:53:33: <vivax> "If the Commonwealth hears of what you have decided to do to /peaceful/ terraforming contractors you're goin to face repercussions."
23:53:39: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler follows Pauline out, leaving the others to make up their minds.
23:53:50: <vivax> "Be civil. Your people can work while we talk."
23:53:59: <lurkd> Ivan nods.
23:55:01: <lurkd> He takes out a notepad and starts documenting things.
23:55:13: <FlameShirt> Bunton, it's all grafted into the organic parts. Some parts seem like power sources to augment the lifting.
23:55:16: <lurkd> Looking all official and professional like.
23:55:17: <FlameShirt> The alien pauses at the mention of repercussions, and turns a shade of blue.
23:55:36: <FlameShirt> "You can call the commonwealth, get them to use their weapons on the star. Please."
23:55:46: <bunton> Pauline stays near the door, but keeps an eye on proceedings.
23:56:06: <lurkd> "Because it represents an immediate threat?"
23:56:14: <ProcyonLotor> Do they have a way of communicating with the Commonwealth?
23:57:10: <FlameShirt> They have no way of contacting them.
23:57:13: <FlameShirt> "It is immediate for my people."
23:57:50: <FlameShirt> Behind the talking alien, the two smaller ones finish their work, the missile clicking into place.
23:58:35: <vivax> "Huh."
23:58:51: <lurkd> "Mr. Wambles, should we request such an action when we get back?"
23:58:56: <vivax> Wambles calls for a huddle.
23:59:03: <lurkd> Ivan huddles.
23:59:13: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler huddles.
23:59:21: <bunton> Pauline pauses, then huddles.
23:59:58: <GottaGoFeast> Gordon huddles.
00:00:11: <vivax> "Right, thoughts?"
00:00:41: <ProcyonLotor> "What exactly are we trying to accomplish here? They are irrelevant to our task. And I doubt they're the only ones involved in this. Even if we talk them down…"
00:00:46: <bunton> "We need to understand their threat, and what their technology level is before we can take any action."
00:00:55: <GottaGoFeast> "By God, did you see what that thing did to Serge?"
00:01:03: <bunton> "What they're doing might be perfectly reasonable, or it could kill us all."
00:01:17: <lurkd> *ahem* "Let's agree to request an action to destroy said star for now in exchange for cooperation."
00:01:25: <GottaGoFeast> "I don't think they'll cooperate no matter what we say."
00:01:40: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler coughs. "What would we gain from their cooperation? Our orders are simple."
00:01:52: <bunton> Pauline nods in agreement with Tyler.
00:01:57: <lurkd> "They leave us alone… possibly assist."
00:02:07: <lurkd> "The sooner we leave the better."
00:02:09: <ProcyonLotor> "In what? We're simply babysitting a machine."
00:02:12: <bunton> "They were already leaving us alone, and we don't need any assistance."
00:02:35: <bunton> "But I still think it's a good idea to know what they're doing, exactly."
00:02:54: <vivax> "I don't disagree. But I don't think we're in a position to argue."
00:02:57: <ProcyonLotor> "Drawing attention to it is the worst thing we could be doing. They don't seem all that pleased about the Commonwealth. And they're not sharing any secrets, unless you want your face to come off."
00:03:09: <vivax> "We'll take this up with the Council of Doom when they show up again."
00:03:16: <lurkd> "All we have is our authority."
00:03:20: <lurkd> "We should flex."
00:03:23: <ProcyonLotor> "That sounds like the best course of action."
00:03:38: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler turns to Ivan. "Who says our authority is worth anything here?"
00:03:39: <Teslatornado> Serge remains quiet and stoic, seeing as his face just got burnt.
00:03:49: <FlameShirt> Outside, you hear a low rumbling.
00:03:53: <FlameShirt> "Please, this launch cannot be stopped.", the alien pleads to the group.
00:03:56: <bunton> "Serge, do you want me to see if I can bandage that?"
00:03:56: <lurkd> "…."
00:04:19: <Teslatornado> Serge looks at Pauline, waving her off. "Fix it when we're safe."
00:04:38: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler turns to Wambles. "I'm against interfering, but do what you think is best."
00:04:46: <bunton> "Okay…"
00:04:50: <bunton> She turns back to the group.
00:04:59: <FlameShirt> The rumbling outside rises slightly in intensity.
00:05:10: <bunton> "Er…"
00:05:10: <lurkd> "The commonwealth will respond to this problem… we just report it."
00:05:11: <vivax> "We're goin. Be at peace… whoever you are."
00:05:23: <bunton> Pauline looks to try and see what's going on.
00:05:24: <ProcyonLotor> "I don't like that sound."
00:05:28: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 Perception: Serge moves outside, searching for the source of the rumble.
00:05:29: <Glacon> Teslatornado: Perception: Serge moves outside, searching for the source of the rumble.: 7 (4df+4=0, 3+, 3+, 3+)
00:05:54: <bunton> 4df+3 What is that?
00:05:55: <Glacon> Bunton: What is that?: 4 (4df+3=4-, 0, 3+, 3+)
00:06:12: <Glacon> GottaGoFeast: what is that sound?: 2 (4df+2=0, 4-, 3+, 0)
00:06:12: <GottaGoFeast> 4df+2 what is that sound?
00:06:25: <FlameShirt> "Thank you." The alien walks to a nearby console and pushes buttons. "I do not know if this will work, but thank you."
00:06:27: <FlameShirt> The sound is omnidirectional.
00:06:44: <FlameShirt> The missile streaks out of the mechanism.
00:06:54: <Teslatornado> Serge nods. "Good luck."
00:07:01: <FlameShirt> The rumble gets much, much louder.
00:07:09: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler nods as well, and waves the alien goodbye.
00:07:12: <bunton> "We should probably get back to the others!"
00:07:19: <vivax> Once everybody is outside Wambles says "Jesus… we're in hot water."
00:07:21: <bunton> Pauline shouts over the rumble.
00:07:36: <Teslatornado> "GO." Serge starts moving back towards the original group.
00:07:40: <ProcyonLotor> "What, Wambles? The nearly being killed by moon-robots or the earthquake?"
00:08:11: <FlameShirt> As you get outside, the rumble keeps getting louder and louder. You see the tail end of the missile heading out into the skies.
00:08:23: <bunton> Pauline looks worried.
00:08:34: <ProcyonLotor> "Let's get back to them."
00:08:54: <Teslatornado> Serge picks up his pace, moving at a jog, drawing his rifle.
00:09:03: <FlameShirt> You notice the sky is brighter than earlier and increasing in intensity.
00:09:04: <bunton> Pauline heads off.
00:09:25: <ProcyonLotor> "It's glaring out, but still no star. The hell is going on here?"
00:09:32: <vivax> "Uh…"
00:09:42: <vivax> "I don't wanna know. I just wanna get back to the damn machine."
00:09:43: <Teslatornado> "Nothing good."
00:09:52: <lurkd> "Agreed."
00:09:58: <lurkd> Ivan treks back.
00:10:03: <ProcyonLotor> "Let's get going. I want to get far from here, quickly."
00:10:32: <bunton> Pauline tries to mitigate her worry with conversation. "I wish I had time to study them…"
00:11:00: <lurkd> "Hmmm…"
00:11:00: <Teslatornado> Serge keeps pushing forward.
00:11:15: <ProcyonLotor> "They didn't seem happy to be bothered. It was best we left when we did. And I don't want to be there if whoever they're aiming at figures where the missile came from."
00:11:27: <lurkd> "Let's just report our findings."
00:11:36: <vivax> Wambles /limps/ like a motherfucker.
00:11:41: <FlameShirt> The rumbling keeps on going. The ground around you starts to fissure and crack.
00:11:48: <ProcyonLotor> "You need help, Wambles?"
00:11:50: <vivax> "Uh…"
00:11:55: <ProcyonLotor> "Oh s-"
00:12:12: <vivax> Wambles starts doing the crutch fast hobble.
00:12:24: <lurkd> "…"
00:12:28: <lurkd> Ivan is jogging.
00:12:39: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 (Strength) Serge turns back and lifts Wambles into a fireman's carry.
00:12:39: <Glacon> Teslatornado: (Strength) Serge turns back and lifts Wambles into a fireman's carry.: 2 (4df+4=4-, 4-, 0, 0)
00:12:39: <lurkd> "Let's hurry."
00:12:41: <FlameShirt> Behind you, the building collapses as its foundations are destroyed.
00:12:43: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler moves as fast as he can."
00:12:46: <bunton> "Oh dear!"
00:12:49: <bunton> Pauline hops.
00:12:50: <lurkd> !!!
00:13:05: <FlameShirt> Serge, you just manage to lift that Southern gentleman.
00:13:08: <bunton> SHe looks back at the building.
00:13:09: <ProcyonLotor> Tyler almost feels a small bit of pride, convincing everybody to leave. But they've more pressing concerns.
00:13:17: <bunton> "Um… should we check if they're alright?"
00:13:26: <lurkd> "No."
00:13:36: <Teslatornado> "RUN."
00:13:39: <vivax> "Uh"
00:13:43: <Teslatornado> Serge keeps on moving.
00:13:47: <ProcyonLotor> "They're gone, or are about to be. Run. Fast."
00:13:48: <FlameShirt> Above you, one of the points of light brightens noticeably and fades twice in succession.
00:13:48: <bunton> Pauline continues on.
00:13:53: <vivax> Wambles just ignores the blow to his dignity because life is more important.
00:13:56: <bunton> Hoppity hop hop
00:13:57: <ProcyonLotor> "Above us!"
00:14:09: <Teslatornado> "Yes, I saw!"
00:14:44: <lurkd> "This is a much longer distance than I remember."
00:14:50: <lurkd> RUNNING
00:15:08: <bunton> HOP RUN HOP RUN
00:15:09: <Teslatornado> Hauling ass.
00:15:27: <ProcyonLotor> "What if the portal's not there?"
00:15:32: <vivax> "Well… we were pickin lichen before"
00:15:37: <Teslatornado> "We will find a way."
00:15:55: <lurkd> "Possibly death if an exit is not viable."
00:16:01: <ProcyonLotor> "That's not exactly comforting." He stops talking, to conserve his breath.
00:16:04: <Teslatornado> "That's a way."
00:16:42: <bunton> Pauline makes a noise like she's stranded on an alien planet experiencing an earthquake.
00:16:52: <bunton> You know the one.
00:17:03: <lurkd> (lol)
00:17:10: <Teslatornado> "Keep moving, ma'am."
00:17:23: <bunton> Pauline never stopped.
00:17:26: <ProcyonLotor> "Can you see them? Do we even know where we're going?" Tyler's a worrywart.
00:17:34: <bunton> She's running as fast as her little legs will carry her.
00:17:53: <FlameShirt> A head of you a fissure opens up. Roll agility, all of running peeps (so everyone that is not Wambles).
00:18:04: <ProcyonLotor> 4df+2 oh dearie me
00:18:05: <Glacon> ProcyonLotor: oh dearie me: 3 (4df+2=0, 0, 0, 3+)
00:18:16: <bunton> 4df+4
00:18:17: <Glacon> Teslatornado: (Agility) Serge attempts to dodge the ground: 0 (4df+3=0, 4-, 4-, 4-)
00:18:17: <Teslatornado> 4df+3 (Agility) Serge attempts to dodge the ground
00:18:17: <Glacon> Bunton: 3 (4df+4=0, 0, 4-, 0)
00:18:25: <Teslatornado> (FFF)
00:18:31: <lurkd> 4df+2 HUP!
00:18:31: <Glacon> lurkd: HUP!: 3 (4df+2=4-, 0, 3+, 3+)
00:18:52: <Glacon> GottaGoFeast: JUMP! JUMP GORDON!: 4 (4df+3=4-, 3+, 0, 3+)
00:18:52: <vivax> "Oh fuck."
00:18:52: <GottaGoFeast> 4df+3 JUMP! JUMP GORDON!
00:19:01: <vivax> "I don't… Jesus"
00:19:30: <FlameShirt> Everyone, bar Serge dodges fine. Serge, you scrabble on the far edge of the fissure for dear life. Roll strength.
00:19:47: <Teslatornado> 4df+4 (Strength) Serge scrabbles!
00:19:48: <Glacon> Teslatornado: (Strength) Serge scrabbles!: 4 (4df+4=3+, 4-, 0, 0)
00:20:09: <bunton> Pauline tries to help him up.
00:20:21: <FlameShirt> Serge, you get up, and like the rest of the party, arrive back at the machine in #homeimprovement