<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='color:gray'> "Uh no, Rogue Platoon doctrine requires that no nanites are used for medical conditions while in active enemy territory. Nanites are kept to a minimum so that all we do is stop the bacterium from infecting us. Otherwise the disturbence is too large. Which isn't what you want on patrol. It causes them to find you rather easilly, and we don't have comm support.
The bacterium you detect inside me is there your equipment isn't lying, just don't ask." *Looks as Night Shade goes to say something* "It involves my first Rogue Platoon mission and a parasite. I don't really want to talk about it...." </span></span>
<span style='color:blue'>"Here to help?. That's what the last guy said."
*whispers to Spark*
"I dont like it. Its all a big conspiracy. The big cheeses train thse guys up and then plant them in normal units, with specific instructions to sabotage if things go wrong. I bet thats why he's the only guy who survived from the last set of men sent in. It used to happen in the US millitary. whenever the squads found something that could compromise the US saftey, the moles planted in the group would arrange an 'accident'. I say we keep our eye on him, and im gonna let the Xect know when we get back"</span>
<span style='color:orange'>*gives up on using the CC to play the disc, takes out a protable disc player/PDA and inserts the disc* *the screen of the PDA lights up and shows the room on the W.T.Hell that the bodies were found in, the lights are off and a woman is standing in front of the camera. She has belt length black hair, falling freely down her back and is wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a white technicians coat. Green blood is splattered on her shirt and her face, normally bright and friendly, has a stern expression and some dirt or grime. She begins to speak. "Anthony, if you're hearing this message, then I'm afraid that we will never see each other again. The Kharaa have infested the ship. We sent a distress signal a few minutes ago, but by the time the Frontiersmen arrive, it will be too late." Gunfire can be heard in the background. "I'm recording this message in the hope that a Frontiersman finds this disc and brings it to Earth for you to view. On this disc, is a compressed version of an AI program I created. She's finished and should be of great help to you. Anthony, if you hear this message, don't grieve for me for long. Find someone else to share your life with. I want you to be happy. Please, move on as soon as you can. My will states that all of my money, what I've earned on this ship, and what I had before, is all yours. I'll try to make it to the escape pods, but I doubt that I'll make it." Suddenly, someone opens the door behind her, he is hidden in the shadows and is holding a large pistol. "Erin, come on," he says. "I've saved us the last escape pod. Finish what you're doing and let's go! Just what are you doing anyway?" "I'm recording a message for my fiance back on Earth." "What!? You're-You're engaged?!" "Yes, his name is Anthony. Didn't you know?" "No, I thought that we could-" "What, get together? I'm sorry if it's a shock to you, but you never asked, so I thought you knew." "It's more of a shock to me Erin, it's destroyed me." "What?" "You are the only woman I've ever loved, and now, right before we could die, I find out that you're engaged to Anthony Wilson?" "How-" "I don't know how, but I assume that I'm right." The shadowy figure raises his gun out of the shadows. It can now be clearly seen as a Desert Eagle. "Jake, don't do this." Erin pleads, just before the figure fires five quick shots, each of them catching Erin in the chest. Her body spins around from the last shot and falls on the console, deactivating the camera.* *After seeing her death, tears are streaming down my face. I had taken my helmet off before playing the message*</span>
<b>Sorry for the ridiculously long post, it won't happen again. I just couldn't think of a better way to show what was on the disc.</b>
<b>Lord the guy who killed your wife your not planning on him being on this ship are you ? <span style='color:purple'> *Nods at what Boggle said and replies.* "So he could be a mole.....would explain why he's still alive......Yeah good idea, keep a eye on him, though don't be too obvious that we are onto him." "So venmoch, where is your squad ? what happened." *Looks at Vens leg.* "Hey if your scratched by a Kharaa you don't become one do you ?" *Takes a sample, he pours it into a vial then adds a clear substance that acts like jelly, it turns vomit green straight away.* "Well theres Bacterium inside, what it's doing i have no idea, here chew this." *Pulls out a blue leaf that smells strongly of mint and hands it to Ven.* " Hey i do use scapals and stuff, just i find herbs and other items more effective, besides i do use nanos at times, okay Shade do your stuff." *Walks back to Boggle and whispers.* " Okay definetly watch him, he has bacterium inside."</b></span>
<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='color:gray'> "I don't have a squad. One man recon team. (Otherwise known as a 'stag') Something Rogue Platoon members are put on a lot. We usually call it a 'one way ticket' but that isn't quite the point." *Chews a bit on the herb* "I was sent in to assertain the Kharra presence in this stations lower levels, in fact I was dropshipped a day before you. The 'One Way Ticket' isn't a job I'd say I'd enjoy, usually it involves a large amount of stealth and combat avoidence. Of course it can all go wrong. My specific orders were to assertain there was a threat and contact the forces involved. I E you lot and tell you of my findings and give you assistance if needed. Nothing more." *looks toward leg* "And don't try to clear up the bacterium infection thats almost impossible with me. The TSA tried with their best equipment and it didn't work. Occupational Hazard you might say....." </span></span>
<span style='color:blue'>"but its almost impossible to avoid the kharaa and do a thorough sweep of the infestation. If just one skulk sees you, evey animal linked into the hive mind knows exactly where you are, just as if they were that skulk. Even the sensory chambers are reputed to be able to send a message to the hivemind when you get close to them. Lets assume you have managed to make a conclusive sweep of the scope of infestation. What re we looking at here? how many hives? state of defences? What can you tell us?"</span>
<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='color:gray'> "<b>Almost</b> impossible. But with the right frame of mind very possible. The Kharra don't venture from out the hive system until under attack. Most of them lie in an almost dormant state until a significant sized threat is percieved by the hive. One man is usually not considered a threat unless he starts attacking the hive or any of it structures. Hence the one man recon team. All you gotta avoid while on your own is the fades that seem to patrol around and perhaps the odd skulk or gorge. You will never see an Onos unless the hive is alerted. I can't tell you much about the infestation but there is a large amount of it and it is moving quickly, I believe your actions to be 'awakening the hive' so I'd keep you guard up. Defenses wise they have a large amount, nothing a squad should have too much trouble about they still are in the basic stages of evolution. Just watch out though it has been known for the Kharra to evolve at a blistering rate while percieved to be under attack. What we're talking about here gentlemen is an Onos in roughly an hour. You don't want to awaken the hive violently." </span></span>
<b>Ok I'm gonna give up on trying to educate people on the REAL backstory with in-character stories because it's obviously not working. Instead I'm going to tell you to read <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=49892&st=0' target='_blank'>this thread</a>.
Now read it again, carefully. Yes, I mean you. Yes, every single post. Yes, twice.</b>
<b>I`m back guys!!!! Seems like lots of things been happeneing here.</b>
<span style='color:gray'><u>"Rouge Platoon...... this name seems awfully familiar to me......~ *takes out a cigarette* "Isn't the Rouge Platoon, a sort of Black-Ops group?"</u></span>
<span style='color:blue'>"technically, they are spec-ops. I doubt they will mind if you get them confused. They wont get angry, they will just blow your insides out."</span>
<span style='color:yellow'><b>"glad to have you aboard." "sorry dark, couldn't find a disc player. I'm kinda used to more expensive media." </b> </span>
<b> Yes we all know the story behind NS, Revenge, some of our characters though don't. <span style='color:purple'> "Hey Ed please tell Deain to stop rubbing in how rich she is." "So errr Ven you gonna tag along with us ? Safety in numbers right ?"</span></b>
<span style='color:red'><span style='font-family:courier'> *straights up a bit, in the presence of a senior soldier* "So...Specialist...Renson, sir? How do you suggest we go about this if we should only gradually engage the hive till we get nice big guns. Should we like, turtle in here and like throw rocks at them that will gradually increase in size or what? I thought that the spec-ops were supposed to strike like lightning. Rush in, take out the aliens early, then kick back and brag." *blinks* "Wow...this is changing my view of the Special Forcers a lot." </span></span>
<b>Well, I take it you are above us, maybe PFC or Specialist since you're a spec-op trooper.</b>
<b>ooooo i see Xect <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo--> <span style='color:purple'> "So if you attack at lighting speed, why are you dawdling here ?"</span></b>
<span style='color:yellow'> <b>"sorry sparks, i wasn't trying to be uppity. "</b> </span> <b> there is no rank in the field, terran. so dont go saluting, <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> . exect, if your out there. come back so i can get out of the tin can.</b>
<b>What's that exact stuff? It's spelled "Xect" and pronounced [Sekt] <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Venmoch, it's not going against "everything in RP'ing before". Trust me, I do roleplay in the real world, you know, the stuff with pen, paper and dices. We actually use first-person (as in "I go there, I do that"). I don't have a problem with you people doing that (current system is fine too), but 3rd person gives people a distance from their characters. I face another problem in this game though, there's little to actually "roleplay" up against. In a battle against the Kharaa, there's little that brings issues like alignment, skill and character "classes" into the light. But that's the way it is, and it just means players will have to work more to bring those issues into the light <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->.
Darkness, kewl post. Nice to see some character development. As I said, it's hard to get that stuff into the light without NPCs and with definite alignments on the enemy (I mean, who'd ever even consider what to do about an alien).
Well, that was quite a read. Decent handling. Now it's time to get some action back on track.
Now, with all the crazy stuff happening untill now, I kind of lost status (the time being 2:15 AM the night after I returned from London might also be a factor). As far as I can see, you took a node so far and got a few new members. At least that's what we're gonna build upon.</b>
<b><span style='color:white'>"Ok, sorry for my abscense. I got a transmission from the guardpost, and it's just too much to believe. Short version: we're screwed. Long version: The escape pods from that research station have been spread far and wide. The whole staff of the guardpost are dispatched all over the system. Few of them are winning, most of them are not, all are reporting the same thing. The W.T.Hell did something to the aliens. So, Spark, if the battle untill now was the natural selection, this is Natural Selection 2. Right now, it seems they're about to come out the strongest. We really need to adapt, and we need to do it now, because they're not gonna wait. One good thing though, I've managed to get hold of a new gadget. Take a look at the RT, should be done in a second."</span></b>
<span style='color:00FF00'>"Hey wait, you mean to tell me everything that guard told me about you guys as I was being shoved steadily towards the IPsis actually <i>true?</i> So all that theory I learnt means bugger all now?"
*I shake my head as I get off the res node, giving it a curious look as I wonder what's about to happen*</span>
<span style='color:red'><span style='font-family:courier'> "Oh man, I knew I should of stayed in bed this morning..." *looks at the RT* *hears a buzz pop, but nothing happens to it visually* "You know, I don't see whats so different about the RT...looks normal to me..." *reaches out and touches it* "Hurk-GAH!" *hand jolts back in pain and I fall/run backwards quickly* *falls against a crate and pulls self back up* "What the **** was that?!? That'd leave a mark if I wasn't in nano armor." *looks at palm of hand, which is singed black a bit* </span></span>
<b>You know, you don't really see electricity flowing around in real life, right? Besides, I don't think Kharaa would really want to touch something that glows blue. Where's the surprise in that if it doesn't look like a normal RT <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--></b>
<b>Don't worry, Erin's killer won't turn up here. If my guy survives this, he'll go back to Earth and kill him after finding out if the guy made it back to Earth safely by hacking into the TSA ID mainframe. And thanks for the compliment Xect, I got the idea for Erin while I was working on my NS fan-fic, 'Natural Selection:The Vanguard Incident'. Main difference being that Erin was a fellow Frontiersman and was killed by a Fade that stabbed her in the back of the head.</b>
<span style='color:orange'>*bottles up emotions for later and starts to transfer and decompress the AI program that Erin put on the disc* "Looks like this'll take a while." *hears Terran get electrocuted* "I heard rumours about the RTs getting a new upgrade, didn't think it'd be that shocking. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> "</span> <b>Bad joke, I know. So sue me.</b> <span style='color:orange'>"Good to hear from you again Xect. Didn't think the situation was that bad." *picks up helmet off the floor and puts it back on* "I think that we should set up a few more turrets around here, if we can afford them. It'll free up Ed and me to go with the others."</span>
<span style='color:green'>*assists Terran off the deck* "Nice little shock there, eh? That's why I stopped jamming my fingers in light sockets." *wipes his brow, noticing the slight temperature increase over the last few minutes* "Bacterium on the move again? Looks like we lost another feeder vent somewhere along the way." "So comm, how long until these escape pods run out of battery life and drain their IFF transponders?"</span>
<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='color:green'>"That looks like it delivers quite a jolt. Nifty. Welcome back, Xect." *looks around at Revenge* "Yes, revenge. That's right. All the TSA's so-called tactical doctrine doesn't really mean **** anymore. We're gonna have to figure everything out again from scratch." *turns back to Venmoch* "No nanites? Well, you've got a squad now, so I don't see the harm in at least trying to close up the wound. This looks old. What's been keeping the bacteria from eating the rest of your leg?" *gives Venmoch's leg a large dose of anaesthetic, pulls a suture kit out of his pack, counts to three, liberally sprays the wound with steriliser and begins stitching it back together* "When I'm done with this, I'm gonna keep giving it doses of medical nanites. I might not be able to clear up the infection, but I might be able to push it right back. Unless you have any serious objections, now that you have a comm and the backing of a squad."</span></span>
<span style='color:purple'>*Holsters his lmg and pistol for the moment, leaning back against the wall arms crossed* "So then, this is guna be one hell of a trip you're saying? Tons of kharaa, only a few of us, and the TSA brass are too damn full of it to pull us out? Heh, sounds pretty regular come to think of it" *Pushes himself off the bulkhead with a grunt* "Nice electric node there comm, but unless that baby is powered by more than a couple of Double-AA Energizer bunnies I say we get packed up and move on to the next area, the longer we stand here the more time the Kharaa have to find us." *Pulls LMG back out, checking the clip unconsiously while closing eyes and calling a mental prayer*</span>
<b>sorrt xect. youve been gone so long i forgot how to spell <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->. and btw, is the corridor out of base one way?</b> <span style='color:yellow'><b>*humps armory, then runs to the rt* "hey guys, wait up"</b> </span>
<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='color:gray'> "Taking on a large amount of Kharra at once? Shouldn't be much of a problem. Remember the hive mind only responds to a threat depending on its severity. If we can take out a few hives before it even begins its immune responce we should only have minimal threats to deal with. And they will probably be Skulks, Lerks and Fades. ALthough in a result to the threat the Hive Mind may force some Kharra to become builders. Of course for most squads all those except the Fades should pose no problems. *Grimaces a bit as his leg burns a bit* "And although the Kharra infestation is widespread I believe we could probably pull it off with no losses. Spec-Ops contary to popular belief do not do lightning strikes. Against humans fine they work. But we are not against humans. A lightning stike againt a sleeping Kharra will only make it wake up and cause the Onos evolution to appear much earlier as well as make it more difficult to get rid of them. It awakens the hive so violently that its certain suicide for the sqauds involved. *looks around* And if one man can stay in a largely infested area for a week without being spotted I think we could do it!"
<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='color:green'>"You guys handle the tactics, I'll shoot things and patch you up afterwards." *grins, and finishes stitching Venmoch's wound closed* "Right. Since you haven't complained..." *picks up the medical nanite injector and injects a sizable amount into Venmoch's leg next to the wound* "I'm going to do that again every half hour. Can't hurt." *pulls out two gauze pads and some bandage and dresses the wound* "This, at least, will stop more getting into it."</span></span>
<span style='color:blue'>"so what are you suggesting? We split up and attack all the hives at once? Maybe thet way they wont know whats going on until its too late. Have to be very careful though, one false move and kansas is going bye bye"</span>
<span style='color:00FF00'>*Looks at Venmoch and his uniform quizically*
"Man looks like our tactical doctorine was the only load of crap they fed us during training... Whatever happened to the Frontiersmen being superior to other fighting forces because we responded within hours rather than within days? So now you'd have me believe that we had full knowledge of some kharaa infection on this ship for a whole <i>week</i> without anybody doing anything about it?"
*Pauses slightly, and starts considering the situation. Realisation and anger occasionaly flash across my facial features before I manage to force them to appear calm once again. I stay with a thoughtful expression on my face as I try to work things out*</span>
Comments
"Uh no, Rogue Platoon doctrine requires that no nanites are used for medical conditions while in active enemy territory. Nanites are kept to a minimum so that all we do is stop the bacterium from infecting us. Otherwise the disturbence is too large. Which isn't what you want on patrol. It causes them to find you rather easilly, and we don't have comm support.
The bacterium you detect inside me is there your equipment isn't lying, just don't ask."
*Looks as Night Shade goes to say something*
"It involves my first Rogue Platoon mission and a parasite. I don't really want to talk about it...."
</span></span>
*whispers to Spark*
"I dont like it. Its all a big conspiracy. The big cheeses train thse guys up and then plant them in normal units, with specific instructions to sabotage if things go wrong. I bet thats why he's the only guy who survived from the last set of men sent in. It used to happen in the US millitary. whenever the squads found something that could compromise the US saftey, the moles planted in the group would arrange an 'accident'. I say we keep our eye on him, and im gonna let the Xect know when we get back"</span>
*the screen of the PDA lights up and shows the room on the W.T.Hell that the bodies were found in, the lights are off and a woman is standing in front of the camera. She has belt length black hair, falling freely down her back and is wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a white technicians coat. Green blood is splattered on her shirt and her face, normally bright and friendly, has a stern expression and some dirt or grime. She begins to speak. "Anthony, if you're hearing this message, then I'm afraid that we will never see each other again. The Kharaa have infested the ship. We sent a distress signal a few minutes ago, but by the time the Frontiersmen arrive, it will be too late." Gunfire can be heard in the background. "I'm recording this message in the hope that a Frontiersman finds this disc and brings it to Earth for you to view. On this disc, is a compressed version of an AI program I created. She's finished and should be of great help to you. Anthony, if you hear this message, don't grieve for me for long. Find someone else to share your life with. I want you to be happy. Please, move on as soon as you can. My will states that all of my money, what I've earned on this ship, and what I had before, is all yours. I'll try to make it to the escape pods, but I doubt that I'll make it." Suddenly, someone opens the door behind her, he is hidden in the shadows and is holding a large pistol. "Erin, come on," he says. "I've saved us the last escape pod. Finish what you're doing and let's go! Just what are you doing anyway?"
"I'm recording a message for my fiance back on Earth."
"What!? You're-You're engaged?!"
"Yes, his name is Anthony. Didn't you know?"
"No, I thought that we could-"
"What, get together? I'm sorry if it's a shock to you, but you never asked, so I thought you knew."
"It's more of a shock to me Erin, it's destroyed me."
"What?"
"You are the only woman I've ever loved, and now, right before we could die, I find out that you're engaged to Anthony Wilson?"
"How-"
"I don't know how, but I assume that I'm right." The shadowy figure raises his gun out of the shadows. It can now be clearly seen as a Desert Eagle.
"Jake, don't do this." Erin pleads, just before the figure fires five quick shots, each of them catching Erin in the chest. Her body spins around from the last shot and falls on the console, deactivating the camera.*
*After seeing her death, tears are streaming down my face. I had taken my helmet off before playing the message*</span>
<b>Sorry for the ridiculously long post, it won't happen again. I just couldn't think of a better way to show what was on the disc.</b>
<span style='color:purple'> *Nods at what Boggle said and replies.*
"So he could be a mole.....would explain why he's still alive......Yeah good idea, keep a eye on him, though don't be too obvious that we are onto him."
"So venmoch, where is your squad ? what happened."
*Looks at Vens leg.*
"Hey if your scratched by a Kharaa you don't become one do you ?"
*Takes a sample, he pours it into a vial then adds a clear substance that acts like jelly, it turns vomit green straight away.*
"Well theres Bacterium inside, what it's doing i have no idea, here chew this."
*Pulls out a blue leaf that smells strongly of mint and hands it to Ven.*
" Hey i do use scapals and stuff, just i find herbs and other items more effective, besides i do use nanos at times, okay Shade do your stuff."
*Walks back to Boggle and whispers.*
" Okay definetly watch him, he has bacterium inside."</b></span>
"I don't have a squad. One man recon team. (Otherwise known as a 'stag') Something Rogue Platoon members are put on a lot. We usually call it a 'one way ticket' but that isn't quite the point."
*Chews a bit on the herb*
"I was sent in to assertain the Kharra presence in this stations lower levels, in fact I was dropshipped a day before you. The 'One Way Ticket' isn't a job I'd say I'd enjoy, usually it involves a large amount of stealth and combat avoidence. Of course it can all go wrong. My specific orders were to assertain there was a threat and contact the forces involved. I E you lot and tell you of my findings and give you assistance if needed. Nothing more."
*looks toward leg*
"And don't try to clear up the bacterium infection thats almost impossible with me. The TSA tried with their best equipment and it didn't work. Occupational Hazard you might say....."
</span></span>
"<b>Almost</b> impossible. But with the right frame of mind very possible. The Kharra don't venture from out the hive system until under attack. Most of them lie in an almost dormant state until a significant sized threat is percieved by the hive. One man is usually not considered a threat unless he starts attacking the hive or any of it structures. Hence the one man recon team. All you gotta avoid while on your own is the fades that seem to patrol around and perhaps the odd skulk or gorge. You will never see an Onos unless the hive is alerted.
I can't tell you much about the infestation but there is a large amount of it and it is moving quickly, I believe your actions to be 'awakening the hive' so I'd keep you guard up. Defenses wise they have a large amount, nothing a squad should have too much trouble about they still are in the basic stages of evolution. Just watch out though it has been known for the Kharra to evolve at a blistering rate while percieved to be under attack. What we're talking about here gentlemen is an Onos in roughly an hour. You don't want to awaken the hive violently."
</span></span>
Now read it again, carefully. Yes, I mean you. Yes, every single post. Yes, twice.</b>
<span style='color:gray'><u>"Rouge Platoon...... this name seems awfully familiar to me......~
*takes out a cigarette*
"Isn't the Rouge Platoon, a sort of Black-Ops group?"</u></span>
"sorry dark, couldn't find a disc player. I'm kinda used to more expensive media." </b> </span>
Yes we all know the story behind NS, Revenge, some of our characters though don't.
<span style='color:purple'>
"Hey Ed please tell Deain to stop rubbing in how rich she is."
"So errr Ven you gonna tag along with us ? Safety in numbers right ?"</span></b>
*straights up a bit, in the presence of a senior soldier*
"So...Specialist...Renson, sir? How do you suggest we go about this if we should only gradually engage the hive till we get nice big guns. Should we like, turtle in here and like throw rocks at them that will gradually increase in size or what? I thought that the spec-ops were supposed to strike like lightning. Rush in, take out the aliens early, then kick back and brag."
*blinks*
"Wow...this is changing my view of the Special Forcers a lot."
</span></span>
<b>Well, I take it you are above us, maybe PFC or Specialist since you're a spec-op trooper.</b>
<span style='color:purple'>
"So if you attack at lighting speed, why are you dawdling here ?"</span></b>
<b> there is no rank in the field, terran. so dont go saluting, <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> .
exect, if your out there. come back so i can get out of the tin can.</b>
Venmoch, it's not going against "everything in RP'ing before". Trust me, I do roleplay in the real world, you know, the stuff with pen, paper and dices. We actually use first-person (as in "I go there, I do that"). I don't have a problem with you people doing that (current system is fine too), but 3rd person gives people a distance from their characters. I face another problem in this game though, there's little to actually "roleplay" up against. In a battle against the Kharaa, there's little that brings issues like alignment, skill and character "classes" into the light. But that's the way it is, and it just means players will have to work more to bring those issues into the light <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->.
Darkness, kewl post. Nice to see some character development. As I said, it's hard to get that stuff into the light without NPCs and with definite alignments on the enemy (I mean, who'd ever even consider what to do about an alien).
Well, that was quite a read. Decent handling. Now it's time to get some action back on track.
Now, with all the crazy stuff happening untill now, I kind of lost status (the time being 2:15 AM the night after I returned from London might also be a factor). As far as I can see, you took a node so far and got a few new members. At least that's what we're gonna build upon.</b>
<b><span style='color:white'>"Ok, sorry for my abscense. I got a transmission from the guardpost, and it's just too much to believe. Short version: we're screwed. Long version: The escape pods from that research station have been spread far and wide. The whole staff of the guardpost are dispatched all over the system. Few of them are winning, most of them are not, all are reporting the same thing. The W.T.Hell did something to the aliens. So, Spark, if the battle untill now was the natural selection, this is Natural Selection 2. Right now, it seems they're about to come out the strongest. We really need to adapt, and we need to do it now, because they're not gonna wait. One good thing though, I've managed to get hold of a new gadget. Take a look at the RT, should be done in a second."</span></b>
*I shake my head as I get off the res node, giving it a curious look as I wonder what's about to happen*</span>
"Oh man, I knew I should of stayed in bed this morning..."
*looks at the RT*
*hears a buzz pop, but nothing happens to it visually*
"You know, I don't see whats so different about the RT...looks normal to me..."
*reaches out and touches it*
"Hurk-GAH!"
*hand jolts back in pain and I fall/run backwards quickly*
*falls against a crate and pulls self back up*
"What the **** was that?!? That'd leave a mark if I wasn't in nano armor."
*looks at palm of hand, which is singed black a bit*
</span></span>
<b>You know, you don't really see electricity flowing around in real life, right? Besides, I don't think Kharaa would really want to touch something that glows blue. Where's the surprise in that if it doesn't look like a normal RT <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--></b>
<span style='color:orange'>*bottles up emotions for later and starts to transfer and decompress the AI program that Erin put on the disc*
"Looks like this'll take a while."
*hears Terran get electrocuted*
"I heard rumours about the RTs getting a new upgrade, didn't think it'd be that shocking. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> "</span>
<b>Bad joke, I know. So sue me.</b>
<span style='color:orange'>"Good to hear from you again Xect. Didn't think the situation was that bad."
*picks up helmet off the floor and puts it back on*
"I think that we should set up a few more turrets around here, if we can afford them. It'll free up Ed and me to go with the others."</span>
"Nice little shock there, eh? That's why I stopped jamming my fingers in light sockets."
*wipes his brow, noticing the slight temperature increase over the last few minutes*
"Bacterium on the move again? Looks like we lost another feeder vent somewhere along the way."
"So comm, how long until these escape pods run out of battery life and drain their IFF transponders?"</span>
*looks around at Revenge*
"Yes, revenge. That's right. All the TSA's so-called tactical doctrine doesn't really mean **** anymore. We're gonna have to figure everything out again from scratch."
*turns back to Venmoch*
"No nanites? Well, you've got a squad now, so I don't see the harm in at least trying to close up the wound. This looks old. What's been keeping the bacteria from eating the rest of your leg?"
*gives Venmoch's leg a large dose of anaesthetic, pulls a suture kit out of his pack, counts to three, liberally sprays the wound with steriliser and begins stitching it back together*
"When I'm done with this, I'm gonna keep giving it doses of medical nanites. I might not be able to clear up the infection, but I might be able to push it right back. Unless you have any serious objections, now that you have a comm and the backing of a squad."</span></span>
"So then, this is guna be one hell of a trip you're saying? Tons of kharaa, only a few of us, and the TSA brass are too damn full of it to pull us out? Heh, sounds pretty regular come to think of it"
*Pushes himself off the bulkhead with a grunt*
"Nice electric node there comm, but unless that baby is powered by more than a couple of Double-AA Energizer bunnies I say we get packed up and move on to the next area, the longer we stand here the more time the Kharaa have to find us."
*Pulls LMG back out, checking the clip unconsiously while closing eyes and calling a mental prayer*</span>
<span style='color:yellow'><b>*humps armory, then runs to the rt*
"hey guys, wait up"</b>
</span>
"Taking on a large amount of Kharra at once? Shouldn't be much of a problem. Remember the hive mind only responds to a threat depending on its severity. If we can take out a few hives before it even begins its immune responce we should only have minimal threats to deal with. And they will probably be Skulks, Lerks and Fades. ALthough in a result to the threat the Hive Mind may force some Kharra to become builders. Of course for most squads all those except the Fades should pose no problems.
*Grimaces a bit as his leg burns a bit*
"And although the Kharra infestation is widespread I believe we could probably pull it off with no losses. Spec-Ops contary to popular belief do not do lightning strikes. Against humans fine they work. But we are not against humans. A lightning stike againt a sleeping Kharra will only make it wake up and cause the Onos evolution to appear much earlier as well as make it more difficult to get rid of them. It awakens the hive so violently that its certain suicide for the sqauds involved.
*looks around*
And if one man can stay in a largely infested area for a week without being spotted I think we could do it!"
</span></span>
*grins, and finishes stitching Venmoch's wound closed*
"Right. Since you haven't complained..."
*picks up the medical nanite injector and injects a sizable amount into Venmoch's leg next to the wound*
"I'm going to do that again every half hour. Can't hurt."
*pulls out two gauze pads and some bandage and dresses the wound*
"This, at least, will stop more getting into it."</span></span>
"Man looks like our tactical doctorine was the only load of crap they fed us during training... Whatever happened to the Frontiersmen being superior to other fighting forces because we responded within hours rather than within days? So now you'd have me believe that we had full knowledge of some kharaa infection on this ship for a whole <i>week</i> without anybody doing anything about it?"
*Pauses slightly, and starts considering the situation. Realisation and anger occasionaly flash across my facial features before I manage to force them to appear calm once again. I stay with a thoughtful expression on my face as I try to work things out*</span>