TWG XVI: Veiled Intentions

EMP_DemonEMP_Demon Nothing to see here. Join Date: 2005-01-28 Member: 38754Members, Constellation
edited September 2007 in Role-Playing Haven
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><b><i>It is now Day One. Post away!</i></b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->

==================================================

<i><!--coloro:#00FFFF--><span style="color:#00FFFF"><!--/coloro-->Distress signal received.

Source: Research Station Aurora

Location: Planet Colenar @ (0.356 -3.124 5.39)

Patching transmission...</i><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->

This is Commander Alcarta of the Aurora Defense Squadron. We are under heavy Kharaa attack and request immediate evac! I repeat -

<!--coloro:#00FFFF--><span style="color:#00FFFF"><!--/coloro--><i>Transmission terminated. EOF not found.</i><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->

Admiral Rosenburg of the TSA battleship <i>Boreas</i> pondered the distress signal with fear. The <i>Aurora Station</i> was a top-secret research facility known only to the highest-ranking officers in the fleet. With the Kharaa threat looming over their heads, the station went from being a standard research facility to a laboratory with the resources to develop an anti-Kharaa weapon.

Did those vermin know what they were attacking? Or was this some odd coincidence?

Regardless, Rosenburg knew that if the well-equipped defense forces were being overrun, the Kharaa had to be incredibly powerful to match...

Marching onto the bridge, Rosenburg immediately started giving orders. "Ensign, set a course for Colenar, maximum speed."

"Aye sir. Approximate time to arrival, four days."

Hopefully the defense squadron could last for four days...

==================================================

"Damn it!" A shotgun shot rang through the air as Commander <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> jumped out of the command chair. A skulk was wounded by the blast, and a second shot finished it off. However, the damage was done; the observatory which was being used to transmit their distress signal was trashed, with no hope of repair. <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> swore under his breath, knowing that they didn't have enough resources remaining to create another.

"Sir?" Lieutenant Commander <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Novus<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>, in a suit of heavy armour with his heavy machine gun, was waiting for orders. <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> needed a moment to think, then decided...

"We're going for one last strike. We don't even know if the signal reached anyone. Let's do some damage!" Around him, other marines cheered, eager for a chance to strike back. Orders were quickly barked out, and two squads of six marines each left the base, one led by <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>, the other by <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Novus<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>. Their objective - to strike two hives at once to cause confusion, and hopefully destroy the enemy forces.

"Let's move out!" With that command, three heavy armour marines and three jetpack marines went through each side of the base, each aiming for a separate hive...

==================================================

However, a cloaked skulk near the base saw one group moving out, and could easily hear the second. As the third hive awakened, the trio of hives decided their best chance was to call upon their most powerful fighters.

While most life-forms generated by the hives were devoid of a personality, being completely controlled by a hive-mind, these ten Kharaa had their own personalities. An experiment by the hives some months ago, the few surviving marines still carried horror stories about a group of intelligent aliens that had demolished a force five times their size...

They were a last resort, however, as crafting a life-form with its own personality, while powerful, required a large amount of resources. Hence, as there was a large resource build-up from having pushed the marines into a small area with only a single resource tower, there were plenty to spare.

Both the Pipeline and Sub-Sector 5B hives began the personality transfers as the Cargo hive commanded the remainder of the alien forces to hold back the humans...

==================================================

"My god, they're EVERYWHERE!" <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Novus<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> could certainly agree with that sentiment; they had just been ambushed by a third group of skulks just after securing the Western Skylights area. They ignored the alien resource tower there, knowing that the hives were far more important.

Meanwhile, over by the Topography station, Commander <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> was taking advantage of a break in the action to encrypt all top-secret data and retrieve the only sample of a special anti-Kharaa nanite which was supposedly capable of killing them from the inside.

Placing the sample in a chest pocket of his jetpack's body armour, he signaled to his group of marines to move out toward the C-12 resource node...

==================================================

He was hungry.

The western group of Khiraa, the hives' slang for the intelligent life-forms, caught sight of the western marine group just outside of the western Nanogrid Maintenance station. Feeling hungry, <b>Eternaly_Lost</b> darted in, and ate a marine in heavy armour before running away to feed.

However, the marines weren't content to let him run. The three jetpack marines in the group chased after him, two heavy machine guns arming and a grenade launcher, reloading after a previous group of skulks.

Unfortunately for them, they didn't see the series of webs that <b>Soul_Rider</b> had placed near the ceiling, anticipating a jetpack chase. The paralyzed marines were no match for the hidden <b>Nightstalker</b> and <b>Xentor</b>. Hearing the loss of their flying companions, the heavy armour marines turned the corner and began to fire, only to be distracted by the acid rocket fire of a fade from the direction of the hive. Knowing that fades presented an immense threat, and their eaten companion would still have several minutes before he was done for, <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Novus<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> ordered his fellow marine forward toward the fade.

Yet again, that was just what <b>im_lost</b> expected them to do. By the time the marines turned the corner, he was already invisible again. Frustrated, and expecting a cloaked alien, the two marines began to throw hand grenades in each direction, hoping to uncloak the fade. Seeing a moment when the marines grabbed their heavy machine guns again, <b>im_lost</b> darted out and struck <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Novus<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>, severely damaging his armour.

Alas, that left him open to the fly-by attack by <b>Xentor</b> a second later, ending <b><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Novus<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>' life. Alone, the last marine was no match for the combined western group of aliens...

==================================================

Meanwhile, the eastern group was having troubles of their own. Due to the enhanced carapace of <b>Thansal</b>, in addition to his speed and silent strikes, he was able to strike with a xenocide attack, several times. Each time, he came out near death, but <b>Faskalia</b> was hiding around the C-12 resource node area, healing <b>Thansal</b> to full for a new strike.

Already, his strikes had cost <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> one of his jetpack marines, and some health damage to the other one, but the armour damage was fixed in a second due to the welders the heavy armour marines had brought with them.

The next time <b>Thansal</b> rushed at the marines, however, he was spared the fire by the onos just behind him. After delivering his blast, <b>Thansal</b> retreated, while <b>TheFeniX</b> stayed behind, and knocked down the three heavy armour marines like bowling pins, devouring one whole before retreating after the skulk.

The other jetpack marine looked enraged, and chased after <b>TheFeniX</b>, shotgun in hand. <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> yelled at him to stop, but could only watch as the fade <b>Isamil</b> darted out as soon as the jetpacker reached the corner, decapitating the poor marine with a single strike before blinking away.

The three remaining marines pushed forward to the eastern Nanogrid Maintenance. However, they were met with a wall of offense chambers planted by <b>Faskalia</b> earlier. Backed up by defense chambers, and since none of the marines had a grenade launcher, they were forced backwards toward the Nanogrid station. Turning toward a biting noise behind him, <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> barely had time to recognize a lerk before it zoomed past him and into the Nanogrid station.

Looking where the sound came from, he could only see that he lost a heavy marine from that bite, and the other one was limping, an offense chamber spike stuck in his leg. <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> knew that taking out the hive himself was futile, so he chased after the lerk in the Nanogrid station...

<b>Gwahir</b> was making a game out of this. He was darting around so fast that the marine trying to shoot him was missing badly. He played around with the jetpack marine for a minute before moving in for the kill, and bit the thruster controls for <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>'s jetpack.

<b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> quickly found himself losing height as he missed another shot toward <b>Gwahir</b> causing him to hit the base of an alien resource tower, knocking it over and causing it to writhe in a death agony. <b>Gwahir</b> shot toward <b><!--coloro:#FFFF33--><span style="color:#FFFF33"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>'s back and bit him, killing <b><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Alcarta<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>'s last stand.

However, the vial containing the sample of anti-Kharaa nanites slipped out of the pocket from the bite, and landed, broken, inside the now-open resource node...

==================================================

The research facility was now in Kharaan control. Putting the two fades, <b>im_lost</b> and <b>Isamil</b> in charge of gaining any relevant information, due to their claws being the most compatible with human keyboards.

Meanwhile, <b>Faskalia</b> was chatting with <b>Thansal</b> about their victory over the marines, while destroying any leftover marine structures and rebuilding the resource tower in the Nanogrid station.

<i>The nanites were dormant, not knowing that they were being absorbed into a Kharaan resource node. It wasn't until they had reached the hive that they awakened. The hive was distributing resources between the remaining aliens, which now consisted only of the Khiraa. However, the nanites then attacked, managing to make their way into two of the Khiraa before the three hives shut themselves down to contain the infection.</i>

<GAH!> <b>Faskalia</b> let out a scream of agony when the hives suddenly shut down, causing him to get a severe headache from the shock. Being more closely linked to the hives than any other lifeform, <b>Soul_Rider</b> was also feeling the same agony, before both fell unconscious.

<What's wrong- arrrrRRRRGH!> <b>Thansal</b> started, but before he could finish, he too felt the disconnection shock from the hives. Across the station, the other Khiraa felt the same agony before themselves falling unconscious.

<i>In these Khiraa, however, the nanites fought against the bacterium composing the life-form vigilantly. Something amazing yet terrible then happened. The bacterium somehow merged with the nanites, becoming a single cybernetic cell. This happened multiple times, and then they started to multiply, enhancing the power of the Khiraa that they dwelled within...</i>

==================================================

<b><u>Surviving Players</b></u>
1. Eternaly_Lost - Redemption Onos
2. Thansal - Silence/Cara/Celerity Xeno Skulk
3. im_lost - Silence/Cloak Fade
4. TheFeniX - Adren/Celerity Charge Onos
5. Xentor - Silence Lerk
6. Soul_Rider - Silence/Adren Gorge
7. Faskalia - Redemption/Celerity Gorge
8. Nightstalker - Cloak Skulk
9. Gwahir - Celerity+ Lerk
10. Isamil - Celerity/Focus Meta Fade

Instalynch is at 6.

Day One will end Thursday, September 20th, at 6 PM EST.

Let the games begin!
«13

Comments

  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    Well, Day 1, wolves didn't take their kill (As people expected).

    im_lost hasn't gotten to do his inital vote, so I shall beat him to it!

    [b]Faskalia[b] (random.girlfriend says 7)
  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    <b>Faskalia</b>

    Lack of auto merge sucks ;(
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    <b>Eternaly_Lost</b>
    random.org and I think I might be coming down with something.
  • im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
    Stupid club computer needing new stuff installed, distracting me from the thread that I was here to read...

    Anyway, my random vote goes to <b>Xentor</b> for now.
  • EMP_DemonEMP_Demon Nothing to see here. Join Date: 2005-01-28 Member: 38754Members, Constellation
    edited September 2007
    <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pPsU6Xq-ptjvwTpnGLpsqaQ" target="_blank">Vote tally</a>:

    Xentor (1) - im_lost
    Eternaly_Lost (1) - Gwahir
    Faskalia (1) - Thansal
  • TheFeniXTheFeniX Join Date: 2007-07-12 Member: 61569Members
    Random vote for <b>im_lost</b> for the time being.
  • XentorXentor Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5877Members
    Oh wow, the game started... Ok, <b>im_lost</b>... I'm too lazy to random.org right now, so I'll just counter-vote.
  • Eternaly_LostEternaly_Lost Join Date: 2004-11-20 Member: 32907Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow
    I vote for <b>NightStaker</b>.

    Reason in Real Life: He was going to get me Orange box, but I wanted in on the TF2 beta, but he has yet to contact me, so I got it on my own <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />.

    Reason in game : I have yet to talk to him yet, and he does not have a vote on him.
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    [b]Thansal[b/]

    Reason: He has not got a vote on him, so this can be considered a placeholder. Also because he is dragging his girlfriend into this <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <b>Thansal</b>

    Me so tired <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
  • EMP_DemonEMP_Demon Nothing to see here. Join Date: 2005-01-28 Member: 38754Members, Constellation
    <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pPsU6Xq-ptjvwTpnGLpsqaQ" target="_blank">Vote Tally</a>:

    im_lost (2) - Xentor, TheFeniX
    Faskalia (1) - Thansal
    Thansal (1) - Faskalia
    Xentor (1) - im_lost
    Eternaly_Lost (1) - Gwahir
    Nightstalker (1) - Eternaly_Lost

    Left to vote:
    Soul_Rider
    Nightstalker
    Isamil
  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    So, Xen plops down the first second vote on im_lost, and im_lost was the one that voted for him.

    I feel like evening the odds, so <b>Xentor</b> now has 2 votes.
  • NightstalkerNightstalker Join Date: 2007-01-06 Member: 59463Members
    I vote for <b>Eternaly_lost</b> since he voted for me
  • EMP_DemonEMP_Demon Nothing to see here. Join Date: 2005-01-28 Member: 38754Members, Constellation
    <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pPsU6Xq-ptjvwTpnGLpsqaQ" target="_blank">Vote Tally</a>:

    im_lost (2) - Xentor, TheFeniX
    Xentor (2) - im_lost, Thansal
    Eternaly_Lost (2) - Gwahir, Nightstalker
    Thansal (1) - Faskalia
    Nightstalker (1) - Eternaly_Lost

    Left to vote:
    Isamil
    Soul_Rider

    I wonder if I should just stop with the posts and just let people follow the link if they want to see the tally...
  • XentorXentor Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5877Members
    Oh, whoops... Didn't see im_lost had a vote already... That's what I get for posting after midnight... Bloody hell, it was the post right before mine too... *sigh*

    Ah well, now I have two on me, so I'll keep it there rather than go suicidal...
  • IsamilIsamil Join Date: 2003-11-25 Member: 23552Members, Constellation
    Potentially temporary vote on <b>im_lost</b>
  • XentorXentor Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5877Members
    A third vote on him? Alright, in that case, I'll move mine to <b>Thansal</b> to even things out.
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    Xentor, I'm afraid that's a mistake in arithmetic. Isamil's vote on Im_lost does bring him up to 3 but Thansal only had one vote on him, so now it's at 2 against Thansal.
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    second reply to ensure my point was understood: Your vote doesn't even things out.
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    third reply to call myself a moron because I had forgotten that xentor had voted against im_lost. So, yes, even.

    Nothing to see here folks, don't make fun of the idiot and all.
  • Soul_RiderSoul_Rider Mod Bean Join Date: 2004-06-19 Member: 29388Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue
    Sorry dudes, had major problems with the internet, and you know, anyway...

    Not spoken to anyone yet, only just got online.....

    <b>Isamil</b> has no votes so there is my place holder for now...
  • im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
    I like this format of vote counts (the spreadsheet is also nice)

    im_lost (2) - TheFeniX, Isamil
    Xentor (2) - im_lost, Thansal
    Eternaly_Lost (2) - Gwahir, Nightstalker
    Thansal (2) - Faskalia, Xentor
    Nightstalker (1) - Eternaly_Lost
    Isamil (1) - Soul Rider
  • Eternaly_LostEternaly_Lost Join Date: 2004-11-20 Member: 32907Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow
    I am going to move my vote to <b>isamil</b> So that we have a 5-way tie.

    By my calucations that will make it 45% chance of me dieing, 45% chance of thansal and 10% of everyone else.
  • Eternaly_LostEternaly_Lost Join Date: 2004-11-20 Member: 32907Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow
    For those who did not get the 45% thing, Random.org has show a bias to me and thansal on the last 4 runs of it, so that I joking that only me and thansal had any risk of dieing from a random lynch tonight.

    /me Looks at Gwahir
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    I hadn't read your forum post when I said that. It really didn't come across as a joke in IRC.


    In any case, TWG host's hell this tie is.
  • Eternaly_LostEternaly_Lost Join Date: 2004-11-20 Member: 32907Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow
    Some Info:

    Only about half the people here were somewhat willing to talk, this is not good for us, as if we do not get a wolf with this lynch, very likely, or the next 2, they win.

    People who have talked about the game
    Soul_rider
    Gwahir
    Im_lost (somewhat)
    Thansal

    People who defected talking.
    Nightstaker
    TheFenix

    People who did talk at all
    Xentor
    Faskalia
    isamil


    There is also the problem that we can not depend on the seers at all this game, they get 1 and 1, maybe 2 seerings max.

    Odd is 1-2 max
    Even is 1.

    So if they don't find a wolf, all they know is who is a human.

    I would like to sugest that the odd seer post if he finds a wolf, to be lynched tommorow, seeing how there is chance that he will not seer again.
    The even seer should post who he seered and what he got the next day also.

    There is no guardian, so there is no chance of living though a wolfing.


    That about all for now.
  • Eternaly_LostEternaly_Lost Join Date: 2004-11-20 Member: 32907Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow
    Correct :
    People who did not talk at all
    Xentor
    Faskalia
    isamil
  • Eternaly_LostEternaly_Lost Join Date: 2004-11-20 Member: 32907Members, Constellation, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Shadow
    Might as well add this:


    What I think people are so far.

    1. Eternaly_Lost -Human <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
    2. Thansal - Human/role
    3. im_lost - Human
    4. TheFeniX - Wolf (based on defection)
    5. Xentor - No idea
    6. Soul_Rider - Human
    7. Faskalia - No Idea
    8. Nightstalker - Potental Wolf
    9. Gwahir - Human/role
    10. Isamil - No Idea
  • XentorXentor Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5877Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1650852:date=Sep 20 2007, 05:47 PM:name=Eternaly_Lost)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eternaly_Lost @ Sep 20 2007, 05:47 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1650852"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Correct :
    People who did not talk at all
    Xentor
    Faskalia
    isamil<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's because you keep messaging me while I'm asleep or at work.
  • EMP_DemonEMP_Demon Nothing to see here. Join Date: 2005-01-28 Member: 38754Members, Constellation
    edited September 2007
    <b><i><!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->It is now Night One: No Posting!<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></b></i>

    ==================================================

    "Captain!" On board the pirate frigate <i>Bloody Hook</i>, the communications officer shouted for Captain Chromebeard, having just decoded the transmission intercepted by a Federation outpost.

    "Tell me you've finally finished or you'll be walking the airlock plank!" Chromebeard was an old pirate captain, bald yet with a beard made from silvery-white hair which gave him his nickname. The lieutenant at the communications position gulped, and reached for a control to play back the transmission.

    "This is Commander Alcarta of the Aurora Defense Squadron. We are under heavy Kharaa attack and request immediate evac! I repeat -"

    Chromebeard looked at the display, reading the outputs of the signal's origin. As he walked back to the captain's chair, he thought about the possible rewards that a Federation research station would have for their awaiting hands. However, the possible presence of those critters could waste many good crew trying to turn a profit. Turning to his first mate at tactical, he ordered, "Scan for ships near Colenar. Check with intel from our moles in the Federation. I want to be able to get in and out before they know what hit them!"

    Nodding, the commander started working at an inhuman speed, looking up as much relevant information as possible. "No ships around Colenar... Federation intel reports only one ship has gone to investigate, the TSA-B <i>Boreas</i>. Commanded by Admiral Rosenburg. ETA to Colenar in three and a half days."

    "They sent an <i>Admiral</i> to deal with this situation?" Chromebeard was shocked by this news; that meant there had to be something <u>big</u> at this Aurora Station. The lieutenant at communications also turned to the captain, adding, "That would explain the unusually strong encryption. It was the strength of a Classified Level One transmission..."

    Chromebeard thought quickly in his head. They could reach the Aurora station in two days, but the rest of his fleet was unable to move at the speed of the <i>Bloody Hook</i>, and if those aliens had control of the station, they might need all the forces they could get. To get most of them there at once would be... just over three days. Cutting it close, but the possible reward seemed to be worth it.

    "Send a message to the fleet; we're shipping out for Colenar. Time to get us some booty!"

    ==================================================

    <i>Mobile Command Interface</i>

    <b>im_lost</b> was one of the first to wake up, having slumped over the human keyboard when he fainted. A password box was on the screen, repeatedly asking for the password in a calm computerized voice. Looking to the side, he saw <b>Isamil</b> leaning against a wall, still unconscious. Giving the other fade a quick poke, <b>Isamil</b> snapped awake, trying to see what had happened.

    <We've got a problem.> The Khiraa had their own language, a slight variant of the hive's, but it held more words in comparison to the single-minded orders of the hive's communication. <b>im_lost</b> was referring to the fact that the hivemind link was disabled, leaving them unable to mentally communicate to any other Khiraa on the station.

    <We should split up, group everyone together so we can be sure we've got everyone.> <b>Isamil</b> pointed toward his right, to the Western Skylights. <You take that path,> then pointing to his left with his other claw, toward Topography, <and I'll go that path. We'll meet up at Cargo Storage.> The two had effectively memorized the map the humans used to navigate, so the two of them both knew exactly where to go.

    The two fades moved out, unaware of what they might find...

    ==================================================

    <i>Topography</i>

    <b>Isamil</b> quickly moved out from the base, quickly running across <b>TheFeniX</b> in the Topography station.

    <Atmospheric pressure... average. Humidity, pretty low, but I think I could get used to that. Wind speed, high, I don't think that matters... High temperature, that would be a change of pace.> <b>TheFeniX</b> was staring at a satellite display readout of the conditions of Colenar. Thinking he was alone, he was considering abandoning the Aurora Station and fleeing to the planet. The ability to read human language wasn't limited to the two fades; all of the Khiraa had the knowledge to do so, they just often never got the chance to use it.

    <<b>TheFeniX</b>!> <b>Isamil</b> yelled out, <Have you seen any of the others?>

    <b>TheFeniX</b> shook his head, an action which nearly caused his horn to smash the display panel he was reading. <Can't say I have. You're the first one that I've seen.> Nodding, <b>Isamil</b> moved toward the C-12 resource node, <b>TheFeniX</b> right behind.

    ==================================================

    <i>Western Skylights</i>

    <b>im_lost</b> was slightly slower than <b>Isamil</b>, but this played to his advantage; if he had been going at <b>Isamil</b>'s speed, he would've missed the breathing from the vent near the resource node.

    Backtracking, <b>im_lost</b> let out a quick call, <Is anyone there?>

    All of a sudden, a lerk darted out of the vent and landed on <b>im_lost</b>'s head. The fade nearly attacked the lerk before he made the realization, <Oh, it's just you.>

    <What do you mean, 'just me'?> <b>Gwahir</b> was somewhat annoyed, considering that he had been hiding in a cramped vent. All of his choice, obviously, but that still didn't make him any less annoyed.

    <Come on, let's just go find the others.> <b>im_lost</b> found a lerk-sized weight lift off from his head, and the two of them went over to the Overlook resource node...

    ==================================================

    <i>Nanogrid</i>

    <b>Faskalia</b> and <b>Thansal</b> woke up about the same time.

    <Ow... what happened?> <b>Thansal</b> woke up with a headache, which was unusual given the Kharaa's regenerative capabilities. Looking over to the side, he could see <b>Faskalia</b> trying to shake off something.

    <Can't... communicate... with hive...> <b>Faskalia</b> was disoriented. As previously stated, gorges were linked closer to the hives compared to the other life-forms the Kharaa possessed. <b>Thansal</b> realized this, and was quickly able to figure out what was going on. After a few minutes, <b>Faskalia</b> seemed to regain his senses, and asked, <What happened?>

    <b>Thansal</b> tapped the floor with one of his claws a few times, the skulk version of a human's shrug. <Can't say I know, but I think something's wrong with the hives. I think we should go check out the Cargo hive...> <b>Faskalia</b> nodded, and the two of them were off.

    ==================================================

    <i>Overlook</i>

    <b>im_lost</b> blinked into Overlook, <b>Gwahir</b> trailing closely behind. Stopping for a minute, the fade heard a similar breathing noise coming from the vent.

    <You know, I thought the humans were using some kind of technology to pierce through our cloaks. Now I know better; you people are just too damn loud.>

    <b>Nightstalker</b> chuckled, popping out of the vent and retorting, <Speak for yourself. I could hear you all the way from out here.>

    <b>Gwahir</b> bit the air, a gesture of annoyance for lerks. <That's because you were in the exact same vent I was!>

    <b>im_lost</b> let out a loud sigh, and started blinking toward the Sub-Sector hive. The skulk and the lerk behind him argued for a few more seconds before realizing the fade had taken off without them, and rushed to catch up...

    ==================================================

    <i>Pipeline</i>

    Having seen nobody at the C-12 resource node, <b>Isamil</b> and <b>TheFeniX</b> continued over to the Pipeline hive. They were met by <b>Xentor</b>, who <b>Isamil</b> could tell from the other lerk by the lack of noise made by <b>Xentor</b>'s flying style.

    <Something's seriously wrong here,> <b>Xentor</b> said. Leading them to the Pipeline hive, the three of them could see that the hive was retracted into the ceiling, as though it was inactive.

    <What could have caused this?> <b>TheFeniX</b> looked in awe; no weapon known by them, human or Kharaan, was known to disable a three-hive connection simultaneously...

    <We need to hurry and find everyone so we can figure out what to do next.> Taking charge of the situation, <b>Isamil</b> continued to head toward Cargo hive, <b>TheFeniX</b> and <b>Xentor</b> following yet again.

    ==================================================

    <i>Sub-Sector 5B Access</i>

    <Hive-link disabled... due to... ugh, I don't think we have a word for that... infection?> <b>Soul_Rider</b> had come to his senses already, and had been trying to get answers from the hive verbally, which had only responded in fragments. Something was wrong with the hives, that much was obvious.

    Just then, <b>im_lost</b> came in. <You okay, <b>Soul_Rider</b>?> The gorge nodded, <I am, but the hive definitely isn't. It looks like something's gone wrong with the resources we collected. It says there's some kind of 'infection'. That's why the hive-link went down.> As <b>Soul_Rider</b> finished his explanation of what he learned from the hive, <b>Gwahir</b> and <b>Nightstalker</b> yelled at <b>im_lost</b> for leaving them behind. Ignoring them, <b>im_lost</b> thought of what to do next...

    <We should check out the Cargo hive.> It was not <b>im_lost</b> who said this, but rather <b>Soul_Rider</b>, <If it's in the same state as this one, it's likely the Pipeline hive is down, too.>

    <b>im_lost</b> silently agreed, knowing that <b>Isamil</b> should be there too, and would probably know anyway if the Pipeline hive was active or not.

    The four set out toward the Cargo hive...

    ==================================================

    <i>Cargo Transfer South</i>

    The Khiraa each reached the Cargo hive at about the same time, which was in the same state as the Sub-Sector and Pipeline hives. However, none of them were looking at that yet, but rather at the sight of the dead Khiraa lying on the ground next to the nearby resource tower...

    <<b><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Eternaly_Lost<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>?!?> <b>Soul_Rider</b> screamed, shocked to see a fellow Khiraa dead when things were supposed to be safe. <b>Isamil</b> started checking over the body, muttering, <Not marine weapons... the marks look almost like one of ours, but I can't tell what species... We might have a problem, people.>

    The rest of the Khiraa looked shocked at the possibility of betrayal from within...

    ==================================================

    <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pPsU6Xq-ptjvwTpnGLpsqaQ" target="_blank">Final vote tally</a>:
    1 - im_lost (2) - TheFeniX, Isamil
    2 - Xentor (2) - im_lost, Thansal
    3 - Eternaly_Lost (2) - Gwahir, Nightstalker
    4 - Thansal (2) - Faskalia, Xentor
    5 - Isamil (2) - Soul Rider, Eternaly_Lost

    Random.org gives a 3 to a 1-5 roll. Ouch.

    <b><u>Surviving Players</b></u>
    1. Thansal - Silence/Cara/Celerity Xeno Skulk
    2. im_lost - Silence/Cloak Fade
    3. TheFeniX - Adren/Celerity Charge Onos
    4. Xentor - Silence Lerk
    5. Soul_Rider - Silence/Adren Gorge
    6. Faskalia - Redemption/Celerity Gorge
    7. Nightstalker - Cloak Skulk
    8. Gwahir - Celerity+ Lerk
    9. Isamil - Celerity/Focus Meta Fade

    Wolves and odd seer (if alive) should PM me, and the psychic (if alive) will receive their PM shortly.

    Night One will end Friday, September 21st, at 6 PM EST.
Sign In or Register to comment.