[VR] Theora System Part 3

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Sun Jun 02, 2024 11:21 pm

The "All Stop" sign seems to whimper a soft cry of remorse as Zilch's teeth comes gnashing down.

"I'm... soo... sorry... Please... Mercy..."

XP TALLY STOPS HERE

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:28 am

JIC: 1d20: [12] = 12 , 1d100: [2] = 2
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [44] = 44 (FAIL)

Conditions: ,

Nurse Ratchet wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 11:54 pm The wolfen begins to speak, its voice much more metallic now:

"I am grateful for you for disabling the collar, but our cohort is badly hurt because of exposure to vacuum. We will need to get her to a sick bay. What are you doing on board this ship?"

Zilch stomps past the threshold and enters the room. His blue fur bristles with righteous ravenous anger. His googly eyes, usually comical, now burn with a terrifying fury.

"WHO DARES ATTACK US?!" he booms, his voice a monstrous rumble. His massive blue arms clench and unclench, a monstrous display of raw power. He zeroes in on the wolfen with the metallic jaw, his oversized finger pointing accusingly.

"YOU!" Zilch roars, his voice tinged with an almost childish glee at finding a culprit. "You shot at us, didn't you?"

Before any of them can even respond Zilch continues his tirade. He advances with each word. He is a living nightmare, the embodiment of childhood bedtime threats come to life.

"Oh, I don't need your lies," he sneers. "Don't even try to deny it, you little snacks. Shooting missiles at our ship, why you're so lacking in brains and sense and wit you couldn't assault an unconscious kitten. My unforgiving, selfish and ego-maniacal colleagues, hooked on violence and easy larceny in deep space are not prepared to ignore your insolent miserable little turd of a ship no matter the fact how ineffective your attempt at piracy might have been. Don't fuxxing tell me you didn't do it you little fraggers, because if you didn't do it then you're the first people I've ever met on this whole stinking sewer of a galaxy that aren't guilty. We're all guilty, mate. We're all guilty deep down in the darkness of our hearts. Maybe lower for you, I'd say the dark truth is in your guts, that's where the fucking crapulent mess of your truth is waiting to be revealed! I'll rip you apart, you little turds. I'll rip you open and pull out the crap that fills you up and I'LL SHOVE IT IN FRONT OF YOUR DYING EYES! And with your last glance you can see what's really there, deep inside you, underneath your fragile and pathetic mortal skin!"

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Tue Jun 04, 2024 8:13 am

Perception: 1d100: [98] = 98 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [13] = 13 / 1d100: [53] = 53
Initiative: 1d20+7: [11]+7 = 18 [In Space/Void]

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] | | | | Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 168/184 |Sixth Sense [Active, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 110/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] | Psi-Blade [19m:45s | 6d6 MDC ] | Mind's Eye [8 ISP | 300 ft | +3 Init, +1 Strike, +2 Parry/Dodge]

Skills
Mind's Eye Tracking: 1d100: [67] = 67 /78% [Track the assailant]
Heightened Sense of Touch: 1d100: [79] = 79 /78% [Recognize different textures of the assailant.]
Heightened Sense of Touch: 1d100: [37] = 37 /68% [Identify Fabrics or Materials of the assailant.]

Post

Vinney wrote:"Hey Tentacles, where the fuck are you?" "Ashrak, ahead of you by about sixty feet there is a humaniod in a weird looking spacer suit, standing upside down from the ceiling and starring at us."

Ashrak looks back and then forward at the comment but before he can comment he hears the sound on the other side of the room. Floating closer to the source and the engineering console, Ashrak smiles. Mm, it does still work. Yes, good. I can make it overload and go boom. Hehehe. Yes. I wonder if I can rig a detonator Ashrak finds himself thinking as he readies the K-Hex and his Psi-Sword. Ashrak's long tail coiled behind him so that the Psi-Sword hovers over his right shoulder like a stinger. His tentacles reaching around and feeling different parts of the ship as he moves.

Vinney wrote:"It's coming right for us!"

"Oh!" The floating alien mutters in gleeful surprise. "What fun!" Ashrak exclaims as he spots Vinny barely parry a vibrosword from an invisible attacker. "What fun." Ashrak says again. When Ashrak manages to sense a piece of electronics on the assailant, his smile twists. Oh, another psi-blade! Hehehe, not one of my people though. Shame. And invisible! I must have this toy for myself. I want to be invisible. Ashrak thinks as he squares up behind the assailant. Activating his Mind's Eye to hopefully help track it, then trying to turn off the device he senses thinking it's a cloak or forcefield. Floating behind the target, Ashrak attempts to wrap all six tentacles around it in a grapple, giggling while he does so. He doesn't leave Vinny to die, giggling "hehehe I'm riiiight here!" he exclaims during the grapple attempt and tries to impales his tail like a stinger towards the target he sensed, the tail coiling from below. If the grapple fails, he goes towards slicing and dicing. If it succeeds, he impales multiple times like an angry floating alien scorpion. Whether or not it succeeds, Ashrak attempts to learn more about it during the attempt with his heightened sense of touch.

Combat Contingency/Intentions
APM: 7 [+1 Space Native in Space/Void]
Parry [With Tail-Blade]: 1d20+6: [14]+6 = 20 | 1d20+6: [12]+6 = 18 | 1d20+6: [2]+6 = 8 | 1d20+6: [3]+6 = 9 | 1d20+6: [9]+6 = 15 | 1d20+6: [1]+6 = 7 | 1d20+6: [16]+6 = 22
Dodge [One action reserved for Dodge; remaining dodges as needed]: 1d20+9: [6]+9 = 15 || 1d20+9: [20]+9 = 29 | 1d20+9: [13]+9 = 22 | 1d20+9: [18]+9 = 27 | 1d20+9: [20]+9 = 29 | 1d20+9: [17]+9 = 26

A1: Activate Mind's Eye to keep track of the invisible assailant. [8 ISP]
A2: Use Electrokinesis to Manipulate the electrical device on his body and turn it off. [4 ISP]
A3: Attempt to grapple the target with his six tentacles, bear hugging it from behind. Grapple: 1d20: [10] = 10
A4: Impale from below with his Psi Sword like a stinger. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [12]+5 = 17 | DMG: 6d6: [4, 5, 4, 3, 5, 4] = 25 M.D.C.
A5: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [16]+5 = 21 | DMG: 6d6: [2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 4] = 12 M.D.C.
A6: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [20]+5 = 25 | DMG: 6d6: [1, 5, 5, 1, 1, 1] = 14 M.D.C.

A7: Dodge Reserved. Insert where needed.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Tue Jun 04, 2024 5:40 pm

Perception: 1d100: [35] = 35 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [14] = 14 ; 1d100: [2] = 2
Conditions: None.

Bert continues to type away at the console, working out equations for his project. Bert's mood is somewhere between happiness and zen, as he has time to work without a million interruptions. They really are chaos personified aren't they. Bert thinks.

As the clacking of fingers on keyboard continue, Bert smiles. Weirdly, I feel safer that they're my companions. The idea of facing them as a foe scares the crap out of me... I should get a drink. Bert thinks as he pauses in his work and pushes the chair away from the console. Bert groans as he gets up, the past few days of madness seeping into his joints. I could probably take a few days to just sleep... but then I would be so far behind. Bert thinks as he makes his way to the galley for something to drink.

Large mug of caffeine in hand, Bert goes back to engineering. Back to work I guess.

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Wed Jun 05, 2024 10:43 am

JIC: 1d20: [6] = 6 , 1d100: [56] = 56
PER: 1d100: [86] = 86 vs. 75%

Conditions: , , ,

Nurse Ratchet wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 11:54 pm"I am grateful for you for disabling the collar, but our cohort is badly hurt because of exposure to vacuum. We will need to get her to a sick bay. What are you doing on board this ship?"

Some people might be horrified at having accidentally caused death or injury via explosive decompression to a group of presumably innocent civilians. The good doctor is not one of those people. He looks on with a psychotic grin as the ex-slaves struggle to deal with the consequences of depressurization, mentally filing away all of the side effects and trauma for later cataloguing. Once the others get in and the airlock closes again, White decides that the time for battle is over- now is the time for conversation. Without a look back at the others he says ”Ooo! Ooo! I know this one! Achem!” He clears his throat melodramatically, and adopts a graveling and comically exaggerated pirate’s accent for the next few moments ”We’re pirates! Arrr! Yer money or yer life!” He then snaps back to normal and looks at Zilch. ”How was that?” Sadly, the rest of the room doesn’t seem too interested in his impression. White sighs and looks crestfallen for a moment, then remembers that the wolfen mentioned a medbay. Okay. So, prisoners? Maybe they don’t have much of a reason to defend this place, or its contents. Maybe they just need a reason to switch sides.

While he still maintains that psychotic gleam in his eyes, White tries for a friendlier tone as he continues. ”Oh, right. Sorry about the airlock. Call it even with the whole collar thing, yeah? A free rescue on the house, for the low low cost of some decompression symptoms. But that’s in the past- I want to talk about the present and the next couple minutes. Y’see, my friend Zilch here- he gets hungry a lot. You wouldn’t like him when he’s hungry. Now, we’ve been on a fair few jobs with precious little looting to show for it, so I’m inclined to be on my merry way to be looking for wherever you folks keep the Good Stuff and let Zilch satisfy his appetite here and now. But I know a slave collar when I deactivate them, so maybe we can make a deal- you tell us everything we want to know about this ship, what’s on it, and who’s in charge, et cetera, and I see if I can’t convince Zilch here to go vegetarian for just a wee little bit longer. Oh, and did I mention that I’m a doctor? I could even throw in some triage for you and your, uh, friends. You just have to make it worth our while.” At this last sentence, his eyes and tone go cold.

Post by **MOD** » Wed Jun 05, 2024 11:50 am

Perception (30%) 1d100<30: [48] = 0
JiC 1d20: [20] = 20 / 1d100: [63] = 63

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel

Once on board the disabled shuttle, MOD follows Dr. White and Zilch. Ey float around aimlessly, paying less attention to the ship than thinking about a free association poetry over a jagged synth riff. Eir red circle ripples at random incriminates, in theory to the rhythm of the thrumping bass line, but really with all the skill of the young man sitting in the seat across who is playing drums on his knees like he is John Bonham. (That young man is definitely not John Bonham.) But more to the point, MOD has a song in eir heart and who is to judge?*

Ey keeps track of the three radio signals that ey assumes are on EBA's. Not moving, neh? Might have been hurt from the blast or holed up waiting for us to storm. Ey defers to the Doctor in scouting the area. When he airlock -starts to creak, MOD stops humming along to the song and fixes eir red circle on the door. Alright, it sounds like the Doc is opening the door let's see who the fux is on the other side.

Ey did not expect what looks like a cybernetic wolfen. The dead body is less surprising, but M isn't sure if that was an accident or the Doctor neturalizing a threat. Ey is about to ask when Zilch takes a bullish lead.

Fuxing wolfen wrote:"I am grateful for you for disabling the collar, but our cohort is badly hurt because of exposure to vacuum. We will need to get her to a sick bay. What are you doing on board this ship?"

Zilch wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:28 am"WHO DARES ATTACK US?! YOU! You shot at us, didn't you?"

"Whoah! Whoah! Whoa!" M tries to shout. "Let's be reasonable. Maybe they can tell us their side-"

Zilch wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:28 am"Oh, I don't need your lies... And with your last glance you can see what's really there, deep inside you, underneath your fragile and pathetic mortal skin!"

Well fux, now I have to play good cop. MOD's red circle grows until the white is a thin border around it. "Zilch, as your captain I say stand down!" Ey turns back to the wolfen. "Listen, I can only he keep him back for so long before he decides to start eating. So convince us you're friend not food."

* The answer, dear reader, is me.

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Tue Jun 18, 2024 8:54 pm

Bert:

In the absense of the crew, Bert manages to sketch out a basic design of the device he is trying to construct. He has a parts list drafted for a minimally viable drone, as well as delineating different sections of the design with project plans. Altogether he has about a week or so's worth of work, if he had six hours devoted to the project.

MOD, Dr. White, Zilch:

The Wolfen quickly herds his squishy compatriot behind him.

"Our captain, errrr, captor followed a lead from Geo. You were hauling a lot of explosives off planet in a dingy ship and our captain wanted the goods for himself. We tracked you to the end of the solar system."

Looking back at his companion, he continues to talk

"We are captives commandeered to work on this ship. Much of the crew are CCW citizens enslaved to work on this ship"

"I manned the rail guns and was secondary on weapons. I shot those missiles at your ship. Most of them were deliberate misses. But if I didn't shoot, my collar would have exploded, taking my head clean off."

"I am a Wolfen Quatoria. I was sent to the system to investigate and report back on the pirate contingents within the system. The brain damaged lady is a pleasurer that the captain has taken a liking to, while the companion behind me is a CCW Medical officer who was supposed to be part of an envoy. We were all captured and traded amongst the pirates until we landed on this boat."

"Our captor is a duo. One is a machine person. The other is seemingly a hybrid organism of flesh and machine. It has no arms, but floats in both atmosphere and space, and is capable of moving things using an invisible tractor beam. It also seems to be able to calculate the future to a stunning accuracy. The machine person is the head honcho pilot whom is in charge of the ship proper, while the other, seems to delight in managing the crew by any means torturous."

The CAF Officer speaks up:
"We just want a way to get off this boat. There are twelve of us. Three of them are humans and they have already expired from the accidental missile hit. There are six crew members, including the two bosses. You have two TGE silhouettes, one of whom was a subordinate of the other. They keep to themselves and would not be interested in fighting if you could disable their collar. We have a seljuk Gunbrother, whom is a space native and can survive a vaccuum. I think he can be reasoned with if you free him. And last but not least, we have a lanotaur psi slayer who is itching for a fight. She's the most ornery of the bunch."

The two remain tense. After their collective confessions, their eyes dart back and forth, looking at the trio.

The wolfen speaks up:

"The machine man pilot cannot repair the ship properly from where he is, and the repair droids can only do so much. I'm willing to help disable the ship if you let these two have safe passage off this hell hole."

Ashrak and Vinny:

Ashrak activates his minds eye and proceeds to track Vinny's opponent. Psi sword in one hand, Ashrak spots the strange assailant with a mean looking dagger in the other hand. Strangely enough, it does not engage the fight with both hands and seems to be holding back.

Ashrak disables the collar. Suddenly, the assailant pauses and a thought appears in Ashrak's mind:

"Well, now I'm actually free. Did you mean to do that?"

Meanwhile, Vinny takes the opportunity of detaching herself from melee range, getting about 80 feet of clearance. She rears her rifle again, this time taking aim and nailing the assailant squarely in the chest. As the spacer is knocked back, it's space armor does not seem damaged but whatever magical protection surrounding it seems to have expired.

As the assailant attempts to cast another round of magical protection, Ashrak manages to pin himself onto the back of the assailant. The assailant does not complete the incantation, but instead disentangles from him and flips Ashrak with a judo throw. Ashrak is on the ground but manages to fight back with his tail. The assailant parries the first attack, but Vinny connects again with a good shot, this time charring the armor of the assailant. The assailant immediately tries to take cover away from both Vinny and Ashrak, moving expeditiously away from the fight and ducking behind cover. Vinny attempts to pursue the retreating foe, closing in while firing. Suddenly, the assailant briefly peaks out behind cover and Vinny's armor suddenly stops.

Another thought appears in Ashrak's mind:

"Well then. She's out of commission for a few minutes. Shall we dance?"

Suddenly, the assailant makes itself visible. It is around eight feet tall. The armor it is wearing is damaged but holding. A shimmering field seems to envelop the assailant. Ashrak notices the assailant's hungry eyes.

"Well go on then, raise your psisword. Let's finish this."

Post by **MOD** » Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:04 am

Perception (24%) 1d100<24: [25] = 0
JiC 1d20: [10] = 10 / 1d100: [92] = 92

Stuff
Energy form: RAF roundel

Skill rolls
Limited mind reading (65%) 1d100<65: [78] = 0 - scan the prisoners to make sure none of them is lying
Additional perception (24%) 1d100<24: [28] = 0 - check for more radio signals

The sad story of how the crew of the damaged shuttle had been press ganged affects MOD. After all, as a former lab rat for the Naruni, MOD is a champion of the oppressed and disenfranchised. Ok, that's a lie, but M manages to delude emself just enough to realize that freeing the wolfen is the 'right' thing to do. Ey scans the prisoners and assumes that they are telling the truth. This guy isn't the enemy, no, not him or the other corporeals.

Injured wolfen wrote:"The machine man pilot cannot repair the ship properly from where he is, and the repair droids can only do so much. I'm willing to help disable the ship if you let these two have safe passage off this hell hole."

"Ok, you got yourself a deal. We'll help you get out of here."

MOD spins around, eir red circle staring at Doctor White. "Doc, get these corporeals back to our ship and take care of them." Realizing what the good doctor considers care, MOD then adds, "Tell Bert and Grizz you got incoming, and try to keep them alive, neh?"

Then eye looks at Zilch. "I don't like the sound of the slavers. Big blue go find the others and help them secure the ship." Eir red circle floats up and down sizing up the relentless eater. "You look anemic. If you see a machine person feel free to put some more iron in your diet. And only eat flying armless corporeals you don't recognize, neh?"

Once that is take care of MOD, starts to scan the area for more radio signals, hoping to find the other enslaved crew members. If ey sees the signal of an EBA, ey will fly towards it. If ey picks up multiple signals, ey will look for the one that is coming from outside the ship. The spacer seljuk seems like the one corporeal that MOD will be able to negotiate with. If ey doesn't sense any more radio signals, ey will simply fly around the ship until finding an airlock or hole in the hole to then search the perimeter of the ship for anyone floating in the void of space.

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:57 am

JIC: 1d20: [10] = 10 , 1d100: [72] = 72
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [31] = 31 (SUCCESS)

Conditions: , , Darkness Control, Immune to Psionics

Zilch listens impassively to the slave's sob story, his eyes fixated on the trio.

Injured wolfen wrote:"The machine man pilot cannot repair the ship properly from where he is, and the repair droids can only do so much. I'm willing to help disable the ship if you let these two have safe passage off this hell hole."

MOD wrote: ↑Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:04 am "Ok, you got yourself a deal. We'll help you get out of here."

...

Then eye looks at Zilch. "I don't like the sound of the slavers. Big blue go find the others and help them secure the ship." Eir red circle floats up and down sizing up the relentless eater. "You look anemic. If you see a machine person feel free to put some more iron in your diet. And only eat flying armless corporeals you don't recognize, neh?"

"Both sound like chewy snacks," the monster says, sounding thoughtful. His earlier rage at the trio seemingly forgotten as quickly as it came.

Best warn these about fibbing. I hate fibbers.

Zilch gives MOD a curt nod. Then he swivels his googly eyes toward the prisoners, and fixes a predatory look upon them.

"Any attempt to mislead us will result in a most… delicious… disassembly process. Now," his voice growls in warning, "tell me the fastest route to engineering that doesn't involve more cold vacuum for you."

Zilch listens intently as the prisoners stammer out directions. Then he wastes no time, propelling himself forward with a burst of his signature dark energy flight. Rocketing down the corridors, he would be a blur of blue were it not for the tendrils of darkness he emits outwards. It shrouds the surrounding area in an inky blackness through which only his own googly eyes can see.

Any unfortunate Machine Captain or rogue Floating Armless Cyborg thing that crosses his path will be attacked without a moment's hesitation.

However, if Zilch stumbles upon Ashrak, Zilch will reel in the darkness he projects. No reason to leave an ally fighting blind.

Combat posts to follow once I get the time... :) Must run now.

JIC: 1d20: 1d20: [4] = 4 , 1d100: 1d100: [40] = 40
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [22] = 22 (FAIL)

Initiative: 1d20+5: [5]+5 = 10
APM: 8

Action 1: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [12]+9 = 21 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [1]*10+[5, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3]+6 = 36
Action 2: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [15]+9 = 24 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [3]*10+[5, 4, 1, 3, 3, 1]+6 = 53
Action 3: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [20]+9 = 29 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [4]*10+[5, 5, 4, 3, 4, 2]+6 = 69
Action 4: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [7]+9 = 16 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [3]*10+[4, 2, 5, 5, 1, 2]+6 = 55
Action 5: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [1]+9 = 10 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [1]*10+[4, 1, 2, 6, 2, 6]+6 = 37
Action 6: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [19]+9 = 28 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [4]*10+[2, 2, 4, 5, 5, 1]+6 = 65
Action 7: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [13]+9 = 22 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [1]*10+[1, 1, 4, 1, 6, 1]+6 = 30
Action 8: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [8]+9 = 17 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [1]*10+[1, 2, 2, 4, 3, 5]+6 = 33

Parries (+13 included): 1d20+13: [11]+13 = 24 , 1d20+13: [14]+13 = 27 , 1d20+13: [6]+13 = 19 , 1d20+13: [10]+13 = 23 , 1d20+13: [17]+13 = 30 , 1d20+13: [12]+13 = 25 , 1d20+13: [6]+13 = 19 , 1d20+13: [3]+13 = 16 ,

Auto Dodge (+7): 1d20+7: [16]+7 = 23 , 1d20+7: [6]+7 = 13 , 1d20+7: [5]+7 = 12 , 1d20+7: [20]+7 = 27 , 1d20+7: [13]+7 = 20 , 1d20+7: [13]+7 = 20 , 1d20+7: [2]+7 = 9

Contingency:
If opportunity presents itself bite victim's weapon 1d20+9: [11]+9 = 20 , rendering it useless (damage 6d6+6: [6, 5, 2, 5, 6, 1]+6 = 31 )

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Mon Jun 24, 2024 7:26 am

Assailant wrote:"Well then. She's out of commission for a few minutes. Shall we dance?"

When Ashrak's grapple attempt results in him being thrown to the ground, for the briefest of moments the look of amusement and excitement evaporate from the alien's twisted face and a far more predatory and diabolical gaze replaces it. It seems I was having too much fun. Ashrak thinks to himself as he squares up to his opponent after they incapacitate Vinney.

Assailant wrote:"Well go on then, raise your psisword. Let's finish this."

Ashrak's face contorts with a twisted and unsettling smile as the alien's eyes lock on his opponent. Noticing a similar hunger for violence in their eyes, the Rithe is all but happy to oblige. "Hehehe, yes. Let's." Ashrak says as his long tail with the extended Psi-Blade coils underneath him.

Ashrak reaches out with Bio-manipulation, seeing the target in a normal EBA opens some avenues to the alien mentalist as he first attempts a Stun on the assailant then charging at it with his Psi-Blade for a short series of strikes. During this, he'll reach out again and attempt a full-blown body paralysis with Bio-manipulation, then continue lashing out.

Combat Contingency/Intentions
APM: 7 [+1 Space Native in Space/Void]
Parry [With Tail-Blade]: 1d20+6: [9]+6 = 15 | 1d20+6: [18]+6 = 24 | 1d20+6: [12]+6 = 18 | 1d20+6: [2]+6 = 8 | 1d20+6: [20]+6 = 26 | 1d20+6: [3]+6 = 9 | 1d20+6: [1]+6 = 7
Dodge [One action reserved for Dodge; remaining dodges as needed]: 1d20+9: [18]+9 = 27 || 1d20+9: [9]+9 = 18 | 1d20+9: [17]+9 = 26 | 1d20+9: [1]+9 = 10 | 1d20+9: [18]+9 = 27 | 1d20+9: [13]+9 = 22

A1: Bio-Manipulation: Stun (-1 APM, Speed cut in half, -4 Strike/Parry/Dodge/Disarm and all other combat maneuvers.)
A2: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [17]+5 = 22 | DMG: 6d6: [3, 1, 1, 5, 5, 4] = 19 M.D.C.
A3: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [7]+5 = 12 | DMG: 6d6: [6, 4, 5, 6, 1, 4] = 26 M.D.C.
A4: Bio-Manipulation: Paralysis (Completely incapacitated but conscious.)
A5: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [20]+5 = 25 NAT 20 | DMG: 6d6: [3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 5] = 20 M.D.C.
A6: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [7]+5 = 12 | DMG: 6d6: [5, 1, 6, 5, 4, 6] = 27 M.D.C.

A7: Dodge Reserved. Insert where needed.

Contingency: If the Bio-Manipulation: Paralysis is successful, Ashrak will instead send a jolt of pain to the assailant to watch him writhe on the ground instead of his last two attacks.
Contingency #2: If Zilch manages to arrive in time to assist Ashrak, the floating alien will beam. "Welcome to the fun! I do hope this one tastes good." Ashrak adds aloud for Zilch.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:34 pm

Perception: 1d100: [19] = 19 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [13] = 13 ; 1d100: [20] = 20
Conditions: None.

Sitting at his work station Bert continues to work, and muse over his life so far. To be fair the design process is almost rote for him, having done many such exercises during his studies in the UWW, which leaves Bert's brain to wander. Ashrak is a strange one, definitely has an unhealthy obsession with explosives. His mannerism's are just as strange, maybe it's common for his people... not that I've ever met one before. Bert thinks as he sips his coffee.

Now Zilch is just terrifying. His want to basically consume everything puts me more than a little on edge. As of now, I don't think he wants to eat me, but that seems like it could change at a moments notice. Other than that he's kind of lumped into the same category as Ashrak, strange and overly obsessive with something... in this case eating. Should probably keep a stash of food just in case. Bert thinks, suppressing a shudder.

MOD, another odd one. Though to be fair the few of it's kind i have met in the past, were also justa bit off. At least I don't have to worry for my life when they're around. I cold go without the constant music soundtrack at all hours of the day, but if that's my only real issue, i can make do. Bert muses.

Phara is really just an angry woman with a chip on her shoulder. Nothing I haven't seen or dealt with before. Given the woman is an Atlantean, does make it a bit more dangerous. Not a bad fighter, so there is that. Bert thinks as he types another note about power consumption variables.

Doc White. Is her really a doctor, or just a mad man... probably both. He is definitely not like any Promethean I have ever encountered before. As long as I avoid medbay, I should be fine though. Bert thinks.

Bert types a few more notes. All in all a disparate collection of individuals, that somehow make a semi-competent pirate band. I guess that's where I come in, I act as a grounding point... bringing some of the chaos to a useful point... Man I need a vacation at this point. I wonder if those Horune are still around. Bert thinks with a sigh.

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:24 pm

(rolls carried)

Ashrak wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2024 7:26 am Contingency #2: If Zilch manages to arrive in time to assist Ashrak, the floating alien will beam. "Welcome to the fun! I do hope this one tastes good." Ashrak adds aloud for Zilch.

Zilch's googly eyes widen for a moment, then narrow with predatory focus upon Ashrak's opponent. He lumbers frighteningly towards the fight, his massive blue form distorted by the rippling with shadows and darkness.

He asks the psi-blade wielding fellow a simple question, "Are you… edible? Or more like… sentient celery?"

Without waiting for an answer, Zilch launches into an attack. His massive blue arms wielding the unfamiliar cosmic weapon. His approach is a bizarre mix of childish curiosity and raw, monstrous power.

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Wed Jun 26, 2024 11:29 am

JIC: 1d20: [6] = 6 , 1d100: [70] = 70
PER: 1d100: [86] = 86 vs. 75%

Pilot: Small spacecraft: 1d100: [38] = 38 vs. 108%
To fly the shuttle back to Grizz, and then back to the others if there’s time.
Medical Doctor: 1d100: [37] = 37 and 1d100: [56] = 56 vs. 83%
To diagnose whatever might be wrong with the rescued slaves.

Conditions: , , ,

White listens raptly as the Quatoria describes the cyborg captain. What a fascinating-sounding specimen! Perfect to try out the dissection facilities on our new ship! I suppose there are worse ways to take over a hostile ship than by supporting a slave revolt. And you can never have too many slaves, anyways! I wonder what the cap’n’s gonna say? White grins evilly as MOD agrees to help the slaves, but his face immediately falls when ey order him to escort the slaves back. Pouting, White whines and says ”But cap’n! I wanted to dissect that weird cyborg thingee that’s in charge! And a machine person! Do you know how rare it is to have the opportunity to experiment on one of them?” White sighs but, realizing that his complaining is unlikely to get him far, immediately walks it back. ”Alright, alright. C’mon, canno- I mean pleb- I mean, people. Can you walk, or should I carry you?” Secretly relieved if they answer the former, White waves one arm theatrically. ”Okay! Ah, before I forget” he snaps his fingers and reaches out telemechanically to disable any of the collars that are still on- unlocking them if necessary, but ideally just deactivating the explosives (for now). ”Okay, new crew! Where are the spacesuits? Don’t tell me I have to teleport you people onto the shuttle.” Assuming they can find something that will allow the freed slaves to escape back to their shuttlecraft, White impatiently waits for them to suit up with one hand on his vibro-sword.

Once they’re ready, he heads back outside and leads the two prisoners to their shuttle. There, he will take the comm and wave vaguely at some seats nearby for the duo to take. He will then deftly lay in a course back to the others- once that’s laid in he will message Bert back at HQ. ”Hellooooo, uh, Bert and others! Doctor White here, bringing back a pair of pris- erm, patients! Yeah, patients with me. Can you arrange somewhere secure to house them after I drop them off? Ideally under a guard of some sort. I should probably get back soon and help the others take the ship and whatnot.” After signing off, White swivels his chair back and addresses the two in a chipper tone. ”Okay! Let’s have a look, yes? I’m under orders to keep you two alive, which means I can’t have you bleeding out on me. Who wants to go first? Tell me where it hurts.” That last bit is definitely not creepy. Absent any symptoms or obvious distress, White will limit himself to a physical examination but if necessary he will also use psychic diagnosis to see what might be going on beneath the surface.

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Fri Jul 05, 2024 8:23 pm

(OOC: You are all spread out again. Damn it)

MOD's immediate discernment of the hostages is that none of them are lying. Er's assessment of the Quatora is that he is candid through and through. The CAF officer seems to be holding back something as MOD can sense she was thinking before speaking and deliberating her words.

MOD's radio senses detect two collar like signals to the northwest of them, one more due northeast. There seems to be a huge amount of radio noise coming from the upper floor. There is a large power source to the north of them.

MOD does not see an immediate path to the upper level at er current locality. There is a door to the north of them with a keypad.

-

Doc White and the CAF Officer haul the comatose Pleasurer onboard the shuttle. The CAF Officer is under a great deal of stress and had been under a great deal of stress, but her physical well being seems to be in tact. Under psychic diagnosis, much of her wounds seem to be electrical shock burns from her collar, as well as lacerations and bruise from blunt force trauma. She seemed to get hit a lot.

The comatose patient is wounded. She suffered enough frost bite to go into shock and her internal organs are overloaded from trauma, but brain damage is minimal. Dr. White recalls that the bio printer/liquid tank can be configured to repair tissue and she could possibly heal in the lab with a good rate of success if he gets her situated appropriately post haste.

The shuttle docks onboard Grizzelblak without event and Dr. White and co are free to disembark.

-

Zilch flies through the space ship and arrives where Ashrak is. Suddenly, the repair bots look up and start firing at Zilch. Zilch ignores the energy beams and calmly (auto) dodges past them while making a bee line for Ashrak's foe.

Ashrak welcomes Zilch to the fight. He takes the opportunity to first stun the foe, but the assailant calmly shrugs off the attack. Their psi-swords clash. Zilch makes good of the opportunity to attack, but his first thrust was parried by vibro knife that she had successfully palmed out of sight previously.

Ashrak's continued strikes are met with parries from the assailant's psi sword, but one strike slips through (the nat 20 strike). Meanwhile, Zilch continues his attack from the side. The assailant manages to dodge all but two of the attacks. However, the damage from those hits are immense. Immediately, the magical field around the psi-slayer is dispelled and she suffers a nasty gash on her EBA.

Amidst the flurry of strikes, the assailant launches a counter attack of her own. Aiming most of her attacks at Zilch, she thrusts her psi sword with thirsty glee towards the blue monster. The blue monster managed to parry much of those attacks but suffers two hits (-55 MDC). Saving her last strike of the round, she aims Ashrak and strikes a hard blow towards his torso. Ashrak's forcefield suffers some damage, but holds up and can function still in this fight (-22 MD).

The Machine:
Based on The Machine's initial work up, given optimum parts, he should be able to assemble his helper drone in two to three to weeks.

He has some of the servos and computing units already for the helper's appendages. While these appendages should be able to articulate movements, optional tools, such as wrenches, drill bits, welding torch etc, are not present and will need to be obtained. The hovering mechanism is noticeable absent from the pile of spare parts, that will need to be obtained either through salvage from another droid, or it can be adapted from a grav pack from Naruni as need be. Last but not least, much of assistant processors are present, but the main artificial neural net housing still needs to be obtained. He can cobble one from one of the naruni brains found in Dr. White's lab, or it can also be obtained from salvage via other droids.

(OOC: I will need AI, Mechanical Eng, Electrical Eng, Programming and Computer Operations rolls at a minimum. Anything else you find appropriate will possibly speed up assembly time, as well as increase all around stats, armor and other capabilities.)

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Sat Jul 06, 2024 3:10 pm

Perception: 1d100: [92] = 92 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [1] = 1 / 1d100: [85] = 85
Initiative: 1d20+7: [17]+7 = 24 [In Space/Void]

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] | | | | Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 160/184 |Sixth Sense [Active, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 88/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] | Psi-Blade [19m:45s | 6d6 MDC ] | Mind's Eye [8 ISP | 300 ft | +3 Init, +1 Strike, +2 Parry/Dodge]

Skills
Mind's Eye Tracking: 1d100: [42] = 42 /78% [Track the assailant]

Post

Ashrak giggles a sinister squeal as the magical armor cracks and the assailant's EBA starts taking a beating. "My my, seems it's about time we pop that little shell of yours! What do ya say? My friend is quite hungry." Ashrak says menacingly towards the assailant. I must see about finding some custom made armor of my own, soon. Ashrak muses to himself briefly, thankful for the shield but not wanting to rely too heavily on it. The Rithe doesn't wait for an answer and unleashes a flurry of psionic strikes at the assailant's armor; notably aiming for their head specifically where possible. Each strike prompts a sinister laugh to emanate from Ashrak as his pupils dilate. "Hehehehe! Such FUN! EheheHAHA!" Ashrak exclaims amid the flurry, hoping to shred their armor to see what is underneath.

Combat Contingency/Intentions
APM: 7 [+1 Space Native in Space/Void]
Parry [With Tail-Blade]: 1d20+6: [16]+6 = 22 | 1d20+6: [6]+6 = 12 | 1d20+6: [9]+6 = 15 | 1d20+6: [20]+6 = 26 | 1d20+6: [6]+6 = 12 | 1d20+6: [14]+6 = 20 | 1d20+6: [15]+6 = 21
Dodge [One action reserved for Dodge; remaining dodges as needed]: 1d20+9: [6]+9 = 15 || 1d20+9: [18]+9 = 27 | 1d20+9: [3]+9 = 12 | 1d20+9: [18]+9 = 27 | 1d20+9: [19]+9 = 28 | 1d20+9: [14]+9 = 23

A1: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [8]+5 = 13 | DMG: 6d6: [5, 3, 5, 2, 2, 1] = 18 M.D.C.
A2: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [6]+5 = 11 | DMG: 6d6: [2, 1, 3, 2, 5, 6] = 19 M.D.C.
A3: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [9]+5 = 14 | DMG: 6d6: [1, 5, 2, 3, 3, 4] = 18 M.D.C.
A4: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [4]+5 = 9 | DMG: 6d6: [3, 4, 2, 3, 5, 2] = 19 M.D.C.
A5: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [5]+5 = 10 | DMG: 6d6: [4, 2, 4, 6, 4, 4] = 24 M.D.C.
A6: Slice with Psi-Sword. Strike [With Psi-Sword Tail]: 1d20+5: [17]+5 = 22 | DMG: 6d6: [2, 3, 1, 1, 2, 2] = 11 M.D.C.

A7: Dodge Reserved. Insert where needed. He will sacrifice some of his attacks if the assailant turns their attention back to Ashrak for dodging.

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Tue Jul 09, 2024 11:38 am

JIC: 1d20: [2] = 2 , 1d100: [80] = 80
PER: 1d100: [29] = 29 vs. 75%

Medical Doctor: 1d100: [83] = 83 and 1d100: [45] = 45 vs. 73%
To treat the rescued slaves.

Conditions: , , ,

Oooo… What a fascinating opportunity to test out the ship’s fancy medical facilities! To the tank! Turning to the officer, White says ”Alright, follow me and we’ll get her into the tank. Best chance I think. Then once she’s stabilized I’ll have a look at you. Mind the ship and try not to touch anything! Not that it wouldn’t be fun to watch.” White smirks but then gets serious as the ship docks- he’ll haul out the pleasurer and make for the med bay/bio printer posthaste- canceling his spatial distortion if necessary so that the CAF officer can keep up. Once he gets them both down there, White waves his companion to an appropriate bench or chair and says ”Take a seat, and give me a moment to get her in there and set up.” White will unceremoniously load the pleasurer into the tank, although he will take some pains to be gentle. Then, once she’s in, he will set up the tank to have it begin work stabilizing the woman and eventually healing her. Assuming that eventually works, he turns to his other patient. ”Okay, one down. Or not down, I should say. Let’s have a look at you.” He’ll use whatever other medical equipment he has handy (and if necessary psychic surgery) to repair the CAF trooper, then report in to the others ”Uh, cap’n I got them as healed as I’m gonna get them for now. CAF trooper’s fine, albeit a little banged up and definitely on the stoic side. Pleasurer-lady’s gonna need a minute in the tank. You want I should stay and keep an eye on ‘em, or have Bert store them away somewhere and head back for the looting and whatnot?” His tone leaves little doubt as to which option White favors.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Tue Jul 09, 2024 6:04 pm

Perception: 1d100: [67] = 67 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [20] = 20 ; 1d100: [84] = 84
Conditions: None.

Bert's finally almost ready to start actually working on his project, when his radio squawks.

Dr. White wrote:”Hellooooo, uh, Bert and others! Doctor White here, bringing back a pair of pris- erm, patients! Yeah, patients with me. Can you arrange somewhere secure to house them after I drop them off? Ideally under a guard of some sort. I should probably get back soon and help the others take the ship and whatnot.”

"Understood, I'll find some manner of hold for them." Bert responds before sighing and getting up from the computer station. "Griz do you have a brig?" Bert asks as he picks up his helmet. Reminds me, I have to build a helmet for that very nice Altess woman. Bert thinks as he seals his helmet and powers the holo-mask.

Bert makes his way over to the airlock and awaits the patients. "Well Dr. White is gonna be busy, and whatever doesn't go right Zilch is probably going to eat." Bert say to no one in particular.

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Thu Jul 11, 2024 1:04 am

JIC: 1d20: [3] = 3 , 1d100: [37] = 37
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [90] = 90 (FAIL)

Conditions: , , Immune to Psionics

A sizzling scorch mark blackens a patch of the monster’s fur, but Zilch seems unfazed.

This opponent, unlike so many others, doesn’t seem blinded by Zilch's darkness. An intrigued expression shows in Zilch's mismatched eyes.

With a hearty laugh that echoes through the chamber, Zilch dismisses his darkness.

"This is fun," he rumbles, his voice dripping with amusement. A toothy grin, wide enough to showcase a disturbing number of razor-sharp fangs, shows in his blue face. "I must admit," he continues, his voice revealing a hint of dark glee, "I enjoy playing with my food!"

In a flash, Zilch launches into a new attack. His cosmic naginata swings high in a wide arc, aimed to cleave his opponent in two. He attacks in the same boring way until his enemy retaliates; then Zilch launches into the contingency described

Initiative: 1d20+5: [19]+5 = 24
APM: 9

Horror Factor: 16 !!

Action 1: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [20]+9 = 29 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [3]*10+[1, 1, 1, 5, 3, 3]+6 = 50 CRIT 100 damage

**Action 2: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [9]+9 = 18 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [1]*10+[3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1]+6 = 30

Action 3: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [1]+9 = 10 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [2]*10+[4, 1, 5, 6, 3, 4]+6 = 49

Action 4: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [8]+9 = 17 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [3]*10+[2, 2, 6, 4, 5, 6]+6 = 61

Action 5: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [9]+9 = 18 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [1]*10+[2, 4, 2, 2, 2, 3]+6 = 31

Action 6: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [16]+9 = 25 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [4]*10+[2, 5, 1, 5, 1, 1]+6 = 61

Action 7: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [16]+9 = 25 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [2]*10+[6, 2, 1, 2, 5, 4]+6 = 46

Action 8: Cosmic Naginata Strike 1d20+9: [8]+9 = 17 , Damage 1d4*10+6d6+6: [2]*10+[1, 5, 5, 2, 6, 6]+6 = 51

*** This sequence only until his enemy swings at Zilch - see contingent dispersal dodge and drum solo attack below ***

Parries (+13 included): 1d20+13: [2]+13 = 15 , 1d20+13: [10]+13 = 23 , 1d20+13: [16]+13 = 29 , 1d20+13: [18]+13 = 31 , 1d20+13: [10]+13 = 23 , 1d20+13: [4]+13 = 17 , 1d20+13: [6]+13 = 19 , 1d20+13: [12]+13 = 25 ,

Auto Dodge (+7): 1d20+7: [6]+7 = 13 , 1d20+7: [12]+7 = 19 , 1d20+7: [2]+7 = 9 , 1d20+7: [2]+7 = 9 , 1d20+7: [5]+7 = 12 , 1d20+7: [12]+7 = 19 , 1d20+7: [15]+7 = 22

Contingency:
If an incoming strike comes to hit Zilch he dodges using his Dispersal power (+3 bonus to dodge: 1d20+16: [17]+16 = 33 ). He will reform (2 apm) behind his enemy and grab his opponent by the leg, (Grab strike 1d20+9: [16]+9 = 25 ) swinging him bodily at the hard floor as hard as supernaturally possible.

“Do you enjoy drumming?” Zilch asks sweetly as he swings his enemy like a club. “It’s a wonderful way to tenderise a meal!”

Play Musical Instrument (Drumming with victim’s body) 80% : 1d100: [40] = 40 (PASS BY 40%!)

Zilch does not release his grip, but instead uses his opponent as a drumstick to batter the ceiling, wall and floor over and over until his opponent stops twitching.

Power Attacks (2 APM each) and Regular slams (1 APM) use as many as remaining APM allow (can’t be more than 7)

Power slam enemy 2 APM 1d20+9: [19]+9 = 28 , Damage 2d4*10: [4, 3]*10 = 70
Power slam enemy 2 APM 1d20+9: [14]+9 = 23 , Damage 2d4*10: [4, 1]*10 = 50
Power slam enemy 2 APM [roll] 1d20+9: [14]+9 = 23 , Damage 2d4*10: [4, 3]*10 = 70
Slam Enemy 1d20+9: [3]+9 = 12 , Damage 6d6: [6, 6, 4, 5, 6, 3] = 30

Post by **MOD** » Thu Jul 11, 2024 7:53 am

Perception (33%) 1d100<33: [65] = 0
JiC 1d20: [13] = 13 / 1d100: [45] = 45

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel

Combat Stuff
APM: 5
Initiative 1d20+4: [14]+4 = 18
Actions: 1. Shoot energy beam at enemy 1d20+5: [14]+5 = 19 / damage 8d6: [5, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 1] = 30
2. Shoot energy beam at enemy 1d20+5: [17]+5 = 22 / damage 8d6: [3, 5, 3, 3, 5, 3, 1, 4] = 27
3. Shoot energy beam at enemy 1d20+5: [8]+5 = 13 / damage 8d6: [1, 3, 1, 6, 1, 4, 5, 2] = 23
4. Shoot energy beam at enemy 1d20+5: [17]+5 = 22 / damage 8d6: [4, 6, 3, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6] = 32
5. Shoot energy beam at enemy 1d20+5: [10]+5 = 15 / damage 8d6: [4, 2, 1, 5, 3, 5, 4, 6] = 30

Scanning around for signs of life isn't as fruitful as MOD had hoped, which in its own way is a blessing. Fux it. It's not like I need to find any more corporeals in my life. I should go search the ship for A to Z instead. Ey floats towards the back of the ship where ey thinks Ashrak and Zilch are.

If/when ey encounters the repair bots ey will open fire eir energy beam to disable them. Once they are destroyed, or if ey doesn't encounter the drones, ey will proceed to engineering and find the two engaged with the floating crew member. From a distance, ey fires eir energy beam at the enemy.

Once the creature is (hopefully) down, MOD turns to Ashrak then Zilch and asks, "What the fux was that?"

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Thu Jul 18, 2024 4:43 pm

Ashrak, Zilch and finally MOD:

The Assailant's face covering betrayed no emotion, but her posture and body language otherwise betray her. Gone was her confidence. Zilch's arrival had turned the fight. Looking to make a tactical retreat, she attempts to left hold her hand out, trying to cast something.

Ashrak flashes an evil glint and springs into action. Attacking with reckless abandon, Ashrak forces her to parry with her right hand. Cancelling the incantation mid flight, she retreats begrudgingly.

Zilch comes in from the flank and thrusts at the attacker with his naginata. She dodges proficiently, but it is obvious that the damage on her armor is concerning her.

Foregoing one of her parries, she manages to squeeze off a telekinetic barrier around Ashrak. Trapped inside the forcefield bubble, Ashrak proceeds to attack the barrier but buying a few scant moments of reprieve for the assailant.

The assailant is still looking to flee and tries the same trick on Zilch. However, Zilch suddenly disperses into many many little pieces. The assailant's body language is one of alarm. She turns to flee but within yards, Zilch reforms behind her. And carnage ensues.

Zilch manages to grab the assailant's left arm. Try as she might, she cannot dis-entangle from his grasp. Swinging her like a floppy drum stick, she tried to break the impact with rolling with the blow, succeeding at first, but hitting the ceiling with her hind quarters on the second try.

A thin stream of water vapor suddenly escapes from her suit. All the while, the assailant is frantically trying to cover the cracks in her compromised armor. She is physically straining. Peering through her face visor, Zilch can see the sheer look of shock and horror as his opponent struggles to breathe.

Meanwhile, MOD enters the room energy beams a-blazing. Targetting the first repair drone, Ey dismisses the poor robot in a few short blasts. The second drone decides to continue targetting both Ashrak and Zilch. Zilch seems to be dancing around the beams, Ashrak re-doubles his efforts as the remaining foe is helping to free him and MOD gets one more good blast in, before it in turn, successfully retreats.

Dr. White and The Machine:

Dr. White manages to stabilize the thoroughly frost bitten pleasurer while the CAF officer seems remarkably sedate.

Grizzelblak replies to Bert:

"Mr. Machine, there are two rooms on the port side of the ship, towards the leading edge of the space craft. It's at the base of my left wing. It's across the hall way from some crew quarters and it is right next to an air lock. They lock from the outside."

"You might want to grab a stretcher from the sick bay."

As they disembark, the CAF Officer helps Dr. White to move the injured spacer off the ship. The CAF Officer continues to help the pleasurer into the sick bay. Once they arrive at the healing tank, the CAF Officer's eyes fall on the elaborate array of instruments and facilities. She gently whistles in amazement, a seemingly innocuous gesture.

Suddenly, Grizzelblak says Bert over his armor's radio :
"I'm gonna be quiet now. And you be careful of the officer, I can sense her surface thoughts. She is scared and she might resist confinement."

WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Fri Jul 19, 2024 9:53 pm

JIC: 1d20: [18] = 18 , 1d100: [82] = 82
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [6] = 6 (SUCCESS)

Conditions: , , Immune to Psionics

Zilch's mismatched eyes gleam with a predatory hunger. The sort a cat gives when it captures a mouse. Here is a plaything that had put up a fight and shown to have a little bite of her own. With a chuckle that would send shivers down the spines of most beings, Zilch tightens his grip on the assailant's captured arm. A hungry smile stretches across Zilch's blue face, and that smile reveals a forest of razor-sharp teeth.

It is a look of pure, primal hunger and satisfaction.

Finally, a worthy snack! All that squirming and pummeling must have tenderized the meat nicely.

With a sickening yank, Zilch twists the arm, aiming to shatter bone and tear muscle. If she persists in fighting back, Zilch will pummel her until she dangles as limply as one's dinner really ought to be.

Then Zilch's monstrous jaw unhinges with an audible snap. It stretches impossibly wide thanks to his Super Consumption ability, and within the once-cocky attacker can clearly see rows of sharp teeth. With a sickening crunch, Zilch lunges forward, his maw engulfing the woman's head whole.

There might be a muffled gurgle, or pleas for mercy, or even a final spasm, but Zilch will ignore all that.

With a sickening wet slurp, Zilch begins to swallow. The woman's body will soon disappear entirely within his monstrous gullet.

When it is done, Zilch licks his chops and his googly eyes gleam with a horrifying satisfaction. Dinner is served.

"MmmmmMmm yum."

The aftertaste of the kill lingers, a pleasant metallic tang on his tongue. Zilch looks at his crewmates, and chuckles, "Well, that was fun. Now, where were we?"

His gaze flickers around the room for other threats, and there's a spark of curiosity about his new surroundings.

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Sat Jul 20, 2024 7:24 am

JIC: 1d20: [2] = 2 , 1d100: [9] = 9
PER: 1d100: [90] = 90 vs. 75%

Conditions: , , ,

White works away at the Pleasurer seemingly oblivious to all other concerns, though in reality he’s keeping half an eye out for trouble and thinking that the prisoners might choose this opportunity to become difficult. At the officer’s reaction to their facilities, White can’t help but grin in appropriated pride. ”Quite something, isn’t it? Now, you can stay here and watch if you want, but do us all a favor and don’t make any sudden moves, m’kay? You two are technically prisoners until I hear otherwise, so let’s just all relax while I do my work and wait for the cap’n to come back.” I suppose worst case I could always paralyze and then vivisect her. But really, how much new ground is there to cover with humans nowadays, anyway? Should the CAF officer become distressed, violent, or otherwise problematic White will hit her with two psionics- suppress fear and empathic transmission: trust ((-14 ISP, not deducted)) to try and calm her down.

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Sun Jul 21, 2024 11:24 am

Perception: 1d100: [54] = 54 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [5] = 5 / 1d100: [41] = 41
Initiative: 1d20+7: [8]+7 = 15 [In Space/Void]

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] | | | | Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 160/184 |Sixth Sense [Active, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 88/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] | Psi-Blade [19m:45s | 6d6 MDC ] | Mind's Eye [8 ISP | 300 ft | +3 Init, +1 Strike, +2 Parry/Dodge]

Skills
Mechanical Engineer: 1d100: [29] = 29 /65% [Rig the engine to blow if MOD agrees]
Demolitions: 1d100: [92] = 92 /100% [Rig the engine to blow if MOD agrees]

Post

When Ashrak finds himself locked underneath the Telekinetic Forcefield, he giggles. "Hehehe, you should've tried containing my blue friend." Ashrak taunts as he coils his tail and floats gleefully within the shield as he watches Zilch reveals his hunger and chomps down on the assailant. Each snap and yank ZIlch causes, each cry from the assailant prompts Ashrak to snicker as he watches Zilch consume the assailant.

When the assailant is lost within Zilch, and the forcefield breaks, Ashrak floats up. "My, my. You are most impressive, Zilch. The next port we visit, I'll see to it you get your pick of edibles before we leave." Ashrak offers

Zilch wrote:"Well, that was fun. Now, where were we?"

It is as if a lightbulb sparks in Ashraks mind at the comment. "Ah, yes. I was going to rig this vessel to explode! Unless we want to salvage it. Who doesn't want a pirate fleet!? Hehehe" Ashrak exclaims, moving back to the engine control Yes, yes. A red wire here, a green wire there, ba boom goes the ship! as MOD flies in. "If you want to deal with that other repair drone, please be my guest, oh Captain. Also, would you like me to detonate this ship, or have you aspirations to keep it?" Ashrak asks MOD, not bothering to chase the drone that retreated.

Post by **MOD** » Mon Jul 22, 2024 6:12 pm

Perception (33%) 1d100<33: [69] = 0
JiC 1d20: [3] = 3 / 1d100: [58] = 58

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel

The red circle at the center of M's energy form contracts as ey watches Zilch eat his opponent.

Zilch wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 9:53 pm"MmmmmMmm yum"

There's so much one has to wonder about: does that taste good? Does an EBA have any nutritional value? Oh, and what the fux was that thing? But I'm just too mesmerized by the carnage.

Zilch wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 9:53 pm"Well, that was fun. Now, where were we?"

Ashrak wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 11:24 am"If you want to deal with that other repair drone, please be my guest, oh Captain. Also, would you like me to detonate this ship, or have you aspirations to keep it?"

"As gratifying as detonation is," M ponders aloud, "Bert would hate to waste any salvageable parts. Check in with Grizz and then start scrapping this for parts. Once we got what we need, then we can scuttle this. Now if you'll excuse me I got a drone to disable."

With that said, MOD floats off to explore the ship further on eir own.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Mon Jul 22, 2024 6:42 pm

Perception: 1d100: [47] = 47 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [2] = 2 ; 1d100: [79] = 79
Conditions: None.

Nurse Ratchet wrote:"Mr. Machine, there are two rooms on the port side of the ship, towards the leading edge of the space craft. It's at the base of my left wing. It's across the hall way from some crew quarters and it is right next to an air lock. They lock from the outside. You might want to grab a stretcher from the sick bay."

"Noted." Bert says as he jogs to the medbay for a stretcher, before making his way back to the airlock.

Nurse Ratchet wrote:"I'm gonna be quiet now. And you be careful of the officer, I can sense her surface thoughts. She is scared and she might resist confinement."

Bert nods. "Alright if you'd kindly follow me we have accommodations for you." Bert says, gesturing towards the direction he'd like them to go. Hopefully leading the CAF officer to the suggested room. "This is only temporary, till something better can be worked out, so if you would please enter this room here." Bert says, trying to not sound threatening, but more bored, which isn't far from the truth as Bert would rather be doing pretty much anything else than leading surprise passengers to locked rooms.

If the officer causes trouble, Bert will channel (10 P.P.E.) through his armor and grabs the officer, to toss them in the room. (Strike: 1d20+2: [15]+2 = 17 ; Damage: 3d6: [1, 3, 6] = 10 M.D.) Before closing the door and locking it.

If the officer doesn't cause an issue. "I'll have some grub brought as soon as we're away from here." Bert says before closing the door and locking it.

Once done with the new passengers Bert will open up on the radio. "MOD what's the word. Is that ship clear? What are we doing with it?" Bert radios, before again making his way to the airlock to go over to look.

Once MOD or anyone else gives him a plan, Bert will begin to go over the Reign of Death looking for valuable salvage.

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Tue Jul 23, 2024 9:13 am

Ashrak wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 11:24 am Perception: 1d100: [54] = 54 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [5] = 5 / 1d100: [41] = 41
Initiative: 1d20+7: [8]+7 = 15 [In Space/Void]

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] |
HU2E, pg 256 | Invisible to All forms of mechanical/technological detection and scanning (appears as barely noticeable blur), has to physically trip alarms | Hard to notice by anyone: +10 Prowl/Palming/Concealment | Can cloak one additional individual at level 3
|
[HU2E, pg 234 | Easily recognize different textures: 70%+2%/Lvl | Identify Fabric or Material: 60%+2%/Lvl | Notice minute temperature changes: 60%+2%/Lvl | +10% to Rogue/ Card Sharp, Palming, Concealment, Pick Pockets/Locks, All Electronics/Mechanical/Medical skills | +1 Strike Aimed/Called Shots | -5 when Blinded v -8]
|
Duration: 12 days in space before he needs to find an atmosphere. Bonuses in space: +1 APM, +2 Strike, +1 Parry/Disarm/Pull, +3 Dodge, +25 SDC (MDC for MDC Settings) | Half Damage from Magic-based Cold, Impervious to all other forms of Cold Damage | Half Damage from attacks Gravity Manipulation attacks | Impervious to all forms of radiation.
| Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 160/184 |Sixth Sense [Active, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 88/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] | Psi-Blade [19m:45s | 6d6 MDC ] | Mind's Eye [8 ISP | 300 ft | +3 Init, +1 Strike, +2 Parry/Dodge]

Skills
Mechanical Engineer: 1d100: [29] = 29 /65% [Begin dissecting the ship]
Demolitions: 1d100: [92] = 92 /100% [Still rigging it to blow but with a button press at Ashrak's leisure, will use some of his K-Hex.]

MOD wrote:"As gratifying as detonation is," M ponders aloud, "Bert would hate to waste any salvageable parts. Check in with Grizz and then start scrapping this for parts. Once we got what we need, then we can scuttle this. Now if you'll excuse me I got a drone to disable."

Mr Machine wrote:"MOD what's the word. Is that ship clear? What are we doing with it?"

Ashrak lets loose a sigh then a giggle. "Fiine, fine. Option 3. Strip it for parts... rig it to blow, and ram it into something!" Ashrak responds with glee as he then opens a radio channel with Grizz. Maybe we use it to blow up that filty pirate's space station. Line it with explosives, ram it into the side. BOOM. Fireworks in space! They always say fire in space is an oddity and not natural... unless what is being blown up is filled with oxygen, yes. Then it makes pretty colors with other gases. Yes. Ashrak finds himself thinking.

"Ooooh Grizzz! How much storage space do you have, it seems we are dissecting this ship for parts. Have you laser cutters or the like? Oh, Also! Mr Machine, are you listening? Would you come over here and tell me what you want to keep? MOD wants to check in with you before we... hehehe, blow it." Ashrak asks over the radio.

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 7:18 am

Ashrak, MOD, Zilch
Zilch's stomach stirs as what remaining life of the meal has been finally snuffed out. His curious chuckles leave behind a light mist.
All is quiet along these walls. As MOD comes to the final decision per what to do with the ship, Ashrak relays the message back to Grizzelblak.

Ashrak wrote: "Ooooh Grizzz! How much storage space do you have, it seems we are dissecting this ship for parts. Have you laser cutters or the like? Oh, Also! Mr Machine, are you listening? Would you come over here and tell me what you want to keep? MOD wants to check in with you before we... hehehe, blow it." Ashrak asks over the radio.

Grizzelblak replies:

"I have the shuttle area where the roach is parked. There is about 4000 cubic square feet there. We have a lot of space in the armory. But uhm, we don't exactly have a large array of tools at the ready. There is one good plasma torch, a decent set of wrenches, but the tools are meant for minor repairs on the ship's systems. They aren't for salvaging a large craft. Could we tow the heap back to the asteriod?"

Just as Grizzelblak finishes talking, an ominous voice booms across the team frequency:

"[color]EXCUSE ME. WE ARE THE CAPTAINS OF THIS SHIP AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PARLEY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO OUR ESCAPE PODS AND WE ARE WILLING TO TRADE OUR SLAVE STOCK![/color]"

Meanwhile, MOD follows the drone into the deeper recesses of the ship. Ey arrive in a large room with four glowing purple pillars. MOD feels that this is a heavy energy array of some sort. Ey can detect the non-nominal amounts of radiation leaking in the room. It isn't serious right now, but it needs tending to post haste. The repair bot is busy at a corner at an access panel with a welding torch and calipers deployed. If it has noticed MOD, it isn't showing any signs of it.

Dr. White, The Machine:

Dr. White's psionic powers illicits the faintest of wry grins from the female officer. However, she quickly recovers and stiffens back, then relaxes and proceeds to take a few deep breaths. "We're going to be compliant. I'll talk to the captain once this business has concluded. Until then, just point to where we need to go and I will do as I am told."

Just as she finishes this sentence, the Machine arrives in the medical bay.

Bert takes the Officer down to the make shift holding area without issue. The Officer simply nods at Bert's suggestion at food. As Bert closes the door, he catches out of the corner of his eye that the officer begins to fold her legs and closes her eyes.

Just as he finishes his message to Ashrak, he hears the same radio message over the radio channel.

What are your intentions?

Post by **MOD** » Mon Aug 05, 2024 11:07 am

Perception (33%) 1d100<33: [84] = 0
JiC 1d20: [5] = 5 / 1d100: [87] = 87

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel

Combat Stuff
APM: 5
Initiative 1d20: [5] = 5
1) Shoot energy beam 1d20: [16] = 16 / damage 8d6: [5, 2, 2, 3, 6, 1, 4, 6] = 29 M.D.
2) Shoot energy beam (if necessary) 1d20: [15] = 15 / damage 8d6: [1, 4, 4, 2, 3, 6, 1, 1] = 22 M.D.
3) Shoot energy beam (if necessary) 1d20: [1] = 1 / damage 8d6: [4, 1, 5, 2, 4, 1, 3, 3] = 23 M.D.
4) Shoot energy beam (is this overkill?) 1d20: [18] = 18 / damage 8d6: [1, 2, 1, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6] = 30 M.D.
5) Shoot energy beam (this is DEFINITELY overkill) 1d20: [8] = 8 / damage 8d6: [3, 1, 3, 4, 1, 6, 6, 6] = 30 M.D.

Wandering an abandoned ship by one's self is not really leadership behavior. That doesn't stop MOD from floating around stalking for any other hostiles on the ship; plus ey just want some time alone. Ey spots the drone, and before ey can assess the situation, MOD shoots the robot with energy beams until it is blasted beyond repair.

Ey then floats around the room and notices the radiation leak. Well, that'll be sub-optimal if we want to scrap this ship. Maybe I should have let the drone finish its thing. If ey was corporeal, MOD would have shrugged as ey flies back to Grizz. Along the way, ey is able to pick up the radio messages from the owners of the ship.

Dead fuxor wrote:"EXCUSE ME. WE ARE THE CAPTAINS OF THIS SHIP AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PARLEY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO OUR ESCAPE PODS AND WE ARE WILLING TO TRADE OUR SLAVE STOCK!"

The fuxing nerve of some corporeals! To think they can bargain like that! Do they have any clue what kind of psychopaths they're negotiating with? And MOD realizes that since ey isn't on the ship, negotiating falls to Bert (not bad), Doctor White (shudder), Ashrak (fuxing hells), or Zilch (mm... food).

"Fux, I better go and be the adult..."

MOD flies back to Grizz the easiest way possible. Once ey gets back on the bridge, ey looks at the others and asks, "Did anyone respond to the slavers yet?"

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Mon Aug 05, 2024 3:43 pm

JIC: 1d20: [9] = 9 , 1d100: [94] = 94
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [93] = 93 (FAIL)

Conditions: , , Immune to Psionics, Darkness Control-Shadow Meld

Nurse Ratchet wrote: ↑Wed Jul 31, 2024 7:18 am Just as Grizzelblak finishes talking, an ominous voice booms across the team frequency:

"EXCUSE ME. WE ARE THE CAPTAINS OF THIS SHIP AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PARLEY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO OUR ESCAPE PODS AND WE ARE WILLING TO TRADE OUR SLAVE STOCK!"

Zilch, his monstrous appetite satiated for the moment, casts a predatory gaze around the engineering bay. He thinks of Grizz.

Grizzelblak said he was hungry too...

He looks at Ashrak and blinks. "Captains? At least two more then." The monster grins evilly. "Grizzelblak would want some nummies for his silvery goo. I'll go fetch these captains for him. That would make a fine meal!"

He turns toward the door to the north, and uses his Life Sense to home in on these captains. He sniffs the air, scenting for delicious Life! Then he shadowmelds into the darkness of the corridor, stalking for Grizzleback's dinner. (Darkness Control-Shadow Meld power).

Life Sense Tracking ability 75%: 1d100: [10] = 10 (SUCCESS)

He makes his way northwards, past the door, and probably notices the escape pods to the right. A voice in the shadows says, "Hrmm escape pods, those seats would look better with some K-Hex under them don't you think?" He says this to Ashrak, who is no doubt psychotic enough to want to accompany him.

Zilch then stalks in the shadows towards the life signs, which are presumably in the bridge farther north.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Fri Aug 09, 2024 12:46 pm

Perception: 1d100: [71] = 71 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [1] = 1 ; 1d100: [38] = 38
Conditions: None.

Unknown Voice wrote:"EXCUSE ME. WE ARE THE CAPTAINS OF THIS SHIP AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PARLEY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO OUR ESCAPE PODS AND WE ARE WILLING TO TRADE OUR SLAVE STOCK!"

Bert sighs. Even beaten they still act like they're winning. First thing Bert does is switch channels to an old one MOD and he had used in the past. "MOD I'm gonna negotiate with them."[/b] Bert says over the radio, before changing back to the normal channel.

"An interesting proposal. I'm feeling magnanimous. We'll give you till we secure the slave stock to run, if you're here after that, I cannot guarantee your safety. How's that sound for a deal." Bert says over the line before looking towards the ceiling.

"Grizz, I am not likeing the look on the guests in the locked room, can you keep a close eye on them?" Bert says aloud as he moves towards the airlock. This has been a very strange event. For some reason I don't think it's quite over yet. Bert thinks as he holds the stock of his grenade launcher.

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Sun Aug 11, 2024 4:45 pm

Perception: 1d100: [97] = 97 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [14] = 14 / 1d100: [89] = 89

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] | | | | Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 160/184 |Sixth Sense [Active, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 88/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] | Psi-Blade [19m:45s | 6d6 MDC ] | Mind's Eye [8 ISP | 300 ft | +3 Init, +1 Strike, +2 Parry/Dodge]

Skills
Intimidate: 1d100: [69] = 69 /40% [Oh slavers! I have a HF 13 when they see me!]
Black Market; Read People: 1d20: [1] = 1 [They roll a D20; if mine is higher, I can them]

Post

Grizz wrote:"I have the shuttle area where the roach is parked. There is about 4000 cubic square feet there. We have a lot of space in the armory. But uhm, we don't exactly have a large array of tools at the ready. There is one good plasma torch, a decent set of wrenches, but the tools are meant for minor repairs on the ship's systems. They aren't for salvaging a large craft. Could we tow the heap back to the asteriod?"

Slavers wrote:"EXCUSE ME. WE ARE THE CAPTAINS OF THIS SHIP AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PARLEY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO OUR ESCAPE PODS AND WE ARE WILLING TO TRADE OUR SLAVE STOCK!"

Bert wrote:"An interesting proposal. I'm feeling magnanimous. We'll give you till we secure the slave stock to run, if you're here after that, I cannot guarantee your safety. How's that sound for a deal."

Ashrak practically squeals into the radio. "Hehehe, trade your slavestock for your lives? That doesn't seem fair when we can take both... But sure! We'll hehehe, meet to parlay." Ashrak responds as Zilch rushes off. Ashrak watches the blue monster go with a high degree of amusement. "We're sending our best negotiator..." Ashrak adds ominously as he follows Zilch out of the reactor room, giggling as he follows Zilch towards the Captains.

Zilch wrote:"Hrmm escape pods, those seats would look better with some K-Hex under them don't you think?

Ashrak's eyes beam with approval. "Oh, yes. An excellent place to line explosives. You have a beautiful mind! COME, let us go... meet the captains, hehehehe." Ashrak says through a giggle. "Oh, Captain! Zilch and I are on the way to meet these..... slavers." Ashrak calls over the team's radio frequency.

When/If Zilch and Ashrak happen the supposed Captains, Ashrak waves a single tentacle arm at them as he smiles. His small and razor-like teeth coupled with his psychotic smile enough to send the sane into a corner; least of all counting the blue monster who is with him. "So, hehehe, you want to talk... terms?" Ashrak says menacingly. "Better make them good. Slavestock doesn't quite cover it; you attacked us." Ashrak coos towards them as his long, bladed tail coils over his shoulder.

Post by **MOD** » Sat Aug 17, 2024 7:25 am

<Rolls carry>

It takes MOD long enough wend eir way through the wrecked pirate ship that ey listens to all the radio transmissions between the pirates and the Machine (well played, Bert!) and then Ashrak (less helpful). Ey wonders who could possibly be the Reaver's best negotiator. Reasonable as Bert is, he's prolly staying on the ship. And Ash doesn't refer to himself in the third person. So that leaves Vinny, who shoots first and insults later, the Doc, who is just off-putting, and Zilch, who chews with his mouth open. Huh.

That question is answered by Ashrak on the private radio channel.

Ashrak wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 4:45 pm"Oh, Captain! Zilch and I are on the way to meet these... slavers."

That answers MOD's questions, and ey flies back feeling something almost adjacent to sympathy for the pirates. Those fuxors are going to get torn apart and eaten, literally. Then ey remembers that they are a bunch of slavers that attacked the Reavers.

Back on the bridge, MOD says to Bert, "I heard everything. Think the pirates were trying to negotiate in good faith? Because I'm pretty fuxing sure that A and Z won't. Will make scrapping the ship easier in the end, neh?

"Oh!" M's red circle widens. "That reminds me, when I was roaming around the reactor I noticed that it was leaking a lot of radiation. A repair drone broke before it could patch the leak up. Don't think the ship will anytime soon, but might be important for you corporeals when you go salvage."

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Tue Aug 20, 2024 1:09 pm

JIC: 1d20: [10] = 10 , 1d100: [100] = 100
PER: 1d100: [86] = 86 vs. 75%

Conditions: , , ,

White claps his hands at the prisoner’s apparent acceptance of their situation. ”Ooooo, compliant is one of my most favorite words! Off we go then- we’ll see if Grizz can’t patch in a video feed from the medbay so you can make sure we’re not doing anything nefarious to your companion.” Yet. I suppose I can ask Grizz about the video feet. Keep all that compliance going.

Once White gets the prisoner secured (and inquires about the video feed with Grizz) he will bound excitedly up to the bridge and confer quick with Bert (telepathically if he’s still communicating with the other captain). ”I take it things are going well?” If he receives an answer even vaguely in the affirmative, White will smirk and think to himself Well. Will wonders ever cease. Deciding against going back over, White sidles over to his weapons console from earlier and eyes the display. If the auto-interceptor is still doing its thing well enough, White will leave it along and just observe- ready to step in if there are any issues with the prisoners or with the soon-to-be-prisoners on the other ship. After a few minutes, he gets board, and murmurs to Bert ”When the Cap’n gives the word, I can carve that baby up like some sort of roast fowl the humans are always eating in those ceremonies of theirs. Dissection was always one of my stronger subjects.” He adds with a creepy grin.

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Sun Sep 01, 2024 12:13 am

MOD's engagement with the repair bot ends with shrapnel flying everywhere. Under purely fortuitous circumstances, the exploding debris does not make the containment field around the reactor worse.

The radiation leak is not dire. Much of the power plant has been knocked out. MOD realizes that various safety system will prohibit the energy core to be powered beyond minimum levels until repairs have been finished. Safeguards and all that.

Flying back to the Grizzelblak, MOD does not encounter any resistance. Once aboard, ey realize that negiotiations with the slavers have already been underway.

The Machine wrote: "An interesting proposal. I'm feeling magnanimous. We'll give you till we secure the slave stock to run, if you're here after that, I cannot guarantee your safety. How's that sound for a deal."

Over the radio, a machine like voice replies:

"We have two Silhouettes whom were recently taken from a raid. I understand they are TGE royalty and they can be ransomed back for a substantial fee. We also have a sedated Seljuk Gunbrother. We can leave him with the Silhouettes. Will we have a safe passage to the escape pods?"

Meanwhile, Ashrak and Zilch manage to get to the escape pods. The slaver captains are nowhere to be seen as they are still negiotiating with the bridge of Grizzelblak. Zilch and Ashrak arrive within the hatch of one of the two escape pods, where they find two Silhouettes trying to activate a pod, to no avail. Those two are in heavily worn spacer suits but they seem to be once adorned with vibrant color and detail. Their eyes are white and they are both wearing a bridge purple war paint. Meanwhile, lying next to them is a giant dinosaur looking being. It is exposed to the space, but does not seem to be suffering any harm.

Ashrak wrote: "So, hehehe, you want to talk... terms?" Ashrak says menacingly. "Better make them good. Slavestock doesn't quite cover it; you attacked us."

Suddenly, the Silhouettes freak out. Frantically, they hold their hands up and try to indicate that they are willing to surrender. Obviously, they are not the slaver captains Ashrak and Zilch are looking for.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Grizzelblak announces over the intercom:
"Vinny is coming back into the bay. She was heading towards the bridge when I redirected her to stand guard near the prisoner."

"Dr. White, our CAF Officer is attempting to meditate to recuperate her inner strength. What can we do to slow that down? I don't know the extent of her powers, but she seems to be at least a master psionic. MOD, do you have anything in your music collection that I can pipe into her cell?"

What are your intentions?

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Mon Sep 02, 2024 10:11 am

JIC: 1d20: [10] = 10 , 1d100: [88] = 88
PER: 1d100: [9] = 9 vs. 75%

Conditions: , , ,

Are we branching out into slavery now? Are there any Splugorth worlds nearby that’d take our stock? White purses his lips at the possibilities for a moment, before Grizz’s comment to him shakes him out of his reverie. ”Eh? Meditating?” What a time! I suppose she’s got nothing better to do, anyway. To Grizz, he says ”Music is good, and I trust the Cap’n can find the noisiest, grungiest, nonconcentratingiest hard rock around. Personally I’d recommend something out of the Kreeghor Symphonic Metal genre- really great for staying awake, if you’re into that sort of thing. Maybe see if there’s a strobing pattern plugged into the cell’s lighting? Really, anything out of the antisomniac database should do. It’s a standard interrogation technique nowadays- really softens ‘em up. Anyway, I’ll head down there and see what I can see. Maybe the diplomatic approach will actually work, and failing that we have a perfectly nice hostage situation all setup and ready to go.” Unless, of course, they’re lying and we’re the ones being set up…

Abandoning his jovial manner, White decides to double-time it down to the prison section of the ship. He’ll get there and just observe their prisoner first- trying to deduce if they’re really meditating or just using some sort of trance-based psychic ability, but barring an actual clue he’ll give up the effort with a shrug and rap none-too-gently on the cell door. He’ll then wiggle his fingers in a wave. ”Hellooo there, Ms. Officer-turned-prisoner! I do so hate to interrupt your reverie, but I’m afraid I must insist that you drop out of the meditative pose for the time being. I’m sure you’re just exhausted and looking to put all this down time to productive use, but you must understand that from our point of view you could just as easily be astrally projecting all over the ship and up to who-knows-what kind of mischief. As you can imagine out Cap’n is a particularly cautious sort, and I would so hate for em to vent any misunderstanding on your little friend up in medbay. I tell you what, you keep your eyes open and your psionics all nice and neatly tucked away, and once we’re finished dealing with the, ah, situation I’ll pop you out of your cell for a quick check-in to see how everything’s going up there? Whaddya say?”

Post by **MOD** » Mon Sep 02, 2024 8:24 pm

Perception (33%) 1d100<33: [65] = 0
JiC 1d20: [18] = 18 / 1d100: [22] = 22

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel

Presumably, MOD is on the bridge of Grizzelblach when the negotiations continue. The mention of two silhouettes intrigues em. Ortiz wanted us to hunt down some silhouettes - The Baron's asshole kin, neh? Wouldn't it be nice if they turned out to be related to The Baron. I can send him photos of his family's mutilated corpses. Maybe turn them into u-cards to send during the holidays. 'Dear polished turd, remember the last time you saw your brother? I sure do! He burned real nice under my energy beam. Thinking of you. XXX.' Oh, I'm practically glowing thinking about this. I can't get too optimistic, tho. If they're not related to The Baron we should prolly keep them alive. I guess.

Slaver scum wrote:"We have two Silhouettes whom were recently taken from a raid. I understand they are TGE royalty and they can be ransomed back for a substantial fee. We also have a sedated Seljuk Gunbrother. We can leave him with the Silhouettes. Will we have a safe passage to the escape pods?"

"Take the deal," MOD whispers to Bert. "I think these guys might be some corporeals we're looking for."

Grizzelblak wrote:"Dr. White, our CAF Officer is attempting to meditate to recuperate her inner strength. What can we do to slow that down? I don't know the extent of her powers, but she seems to be at least a master psionic. MOD, do you have anything in your music collection that I can pipe into her cell?"

Dr. White wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 10:11 am"Eh?... Really, anything out of the antisomniac database should do. It’s a standard interrogation technique nowadays- really softens ‘em up. Anyway, I’ll head down there and see what I can see. Maybe the diplomatic approach will actually work, and failing that we have a perfectly nice hostage situation all setup and ready to go."

"I think I have the perfect thing for this situation," MOD says. "Grizz, I need you to queue up the following song." Then, turning eir red circle back to White, "Lead the way, and I'll chime in when you need me to."

Dr. White wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 10:11 am"Hellooo there, Ms. Officer-turned-prisoner!... As you can imagine out Cap’n is a particularly cautious sort, and I would so hate for em to vent any misunderstanding on your little friend up in medbay."

"Hi," M says flatly. "We'd really like your cooperation."

Dr. White wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 10:11 am"I tell you what, you keep your eyes open and your psionics all nice and neatly tucked away, and once we’re finished dealing with the, ah, situation I’ll pop you out of your cell for a quick check-in to see how everything’s going up there? Whaddya say?"

If the prisoner says something about explicitly cooperating with the good Doctor's requests, that's that, MOD will float behind White to observe the prisoner. But if the prisoner gives the Reavers any lip or doesn't respond at all, MOD will stay in the cell with the prisoner. "Ok then, I'm going to perform an interpretive dance that I call 'The Ballad of the Dead Cowboy'. Grizz, if you will please start the music."

As the guitar riff sputters into a groove MOD starts to bulge with smaller orbs and planks. When the drum kicks in, the first orb flashes a pink light, followed by orange and green lights from other orbs. The colors seem to reflect off the glowing white blanks that shimmer off rhythm to the drums. Really, dear reader, look at the album cover for Hypermagic Mountain, and just imagine that as a light show. Bright, jarring lights flash at seemingly random intervals that directly clash with the beat (if one can identify a consistent beat to the song) and with each other. You get an idea of what type of dissonant hell our poor prisoner is trying to focus in.

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Tue Sep 03, 2024 1:31 pm

Perception: 1d100: [35] = 35 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [12] = 12 / 1d100: [38] = 38

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] | | | | Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 160/184 |Sixth Sense [Active, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 88/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] | Psi-Blade [19m:45s | 6d6 MDC ] | Mind's Eye [8 ISP | 300 ft | +3 Init, +1 Strike, +2 Parry/Dodge]

Skills
Demolitions: 1d100: [58] = 58 /100% [Rig the escape pods to blow on command from Ashrak]
Pick Locks: 1d100: [25] = 25 /100% [85% Base + 10% from Safecracker + 5% Electrokinesis | Unlock/Reseal the Escape Pod]
Safe Cracking: 1d100: [77] = 77 /105% [90% Base + 10% from Safecracker + 5% Electrokinesis | Unlock/Reseal the Escape Pod]

Post

When Ashrak and Zilch arrive to find the shadow-folk attempting too open an escape pod with an unconscious Seljuk with them, Ashrak is mildly disappointed that they don't appear to be the Slave Captains he was expecting. "Oh." Ashrak mumbles and when they notice their presence and cower before the tentacle alien and blue monster, Ashrak could almost be seen blushing. "You don't look like those obnoxious slave captains we came here for." Ashrak says to them, then taking one of his tentacles and pointing at the Seljuk. "What's wrong with that one, is it dead?" Ashrak asks them as the Mechanized voice of the actual captain comes over the coms. Ashrak holds up a tentacle as if saying 'wait' while he listens.

Deceptive Slaver wrote:"We have two Silhouettes whom were recently taken from a raid. I understand they are TGE royalty and they can be ransomed back for a substantial fee. We also have a sedated Seljuk Gunbrother. We can leave him with the Silhouettes. Will we have a safe passage to the escape pods?"

Ashrak furrows his alien brow and bares his razor-like teeth in disgust. "Safe passage for slavers? As. If." Ashrak growls and then floats towards the Silhouettes. "You two!" Ashrak snaps and points towards Zilch. "If you want to make it home, make no noise and follow him to our ship. Take the unconscious Seljuk with you. If you resist, he will eat you. And I mean, literally." Ashrak practically barks, though his annoyance is not towards the kidnapped silhouettes in this instance. Dumb slaver wants to get off free and clear? Report back to his owners empty handed and trade information on us for his life, no doubt. No, no. We owe nothing to slavers. I will watch them burn. Ashrak thinks to himself as the Silhouettes hopefully move out of his way. Ashrak turns to Zilch. "Magnificent Blue, please take these three back to our ship and don't eat them yet. I am going to leave a little surprise for the slaver. Unless you eat the slaver on the way here, that is, hehehe." Ashrak coos and then brandishes some K-Hex with a twisted grin.

Ashrak will then set to work on rigging the K-Hex inside the escape pod in an inconspicuous location with a detonator that he can activate. First, Ashrak has to unlock the escape pods the Silhouettes were flailing at, then arm the explosives, then reseal it so nothing seems amiss. Ashrak will renew his Electrokinesis to help him access the pod. Ashrak will shape his charges on the interior of the escape pod, using all of his remaining blocks of K-HEx on hand (8 blocks remaining) and molding them. Yes, free path to the escape pod, sure, sure. No one said you'd get to live, though. Will need to grab more from crate when I get back onboard the Grizz. Ashrak thinks as he finishes up the setting the demolition charges (hopefully) and resealing the escape pod, then waits in a corner to watch his plan unfold. If it truly is a Machine Person, Ashrak will enjoy watching it cluelessly run past him and will detonate the charges seconds after it launches.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Wed Sep 04, 2024 5:21 pm

Perception: 1d100: [89] = 89 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [8] = 8 ; 1d100: [70] = 70
Conditions: None.

Spaceship Mechanics 1d100: [36] = 36 /60% Success (What is salvageable?)
Electrical Engineer 1d100: [24] = 24 /73% Success (What is salvageable?)
Weapons Engineer 1d100: [41] = 41 /63% Success (What is salvageable?)
Salvage 1d100: [70] = 70 /78% Success (What is salvageable?)
Field Armorer & Munitions Expert 1d100: [29] = 29 /68% Success (What is salvageable?)
Drive Repair 1d100: [94] = 94 /73% Failure (What is salvageable?)
Computer Repair 1d100: [89] = 89 /63% Failure (What is salvageable?)
Sensory Equipment 1d100: [79] = 79 /68% Failure (Running a variety of scans if able to.)
Mechanical Engineer 1d100: [54] = 54 /73% Success (What is salvageable?)

MOD wrote:"Take the deal, I think these guys might be some corporeals we're looking for."

Bert nods. "Ashrak... Zilch, please make sure the captains of the other ship get to the escape pop in one piece and leave safely. Captain's orders." Bert says over the team channel, before switching back to the generic one the slavers are using. "Two of our crew will see you safely off. Please make haste, you do not want to tarry when the blue one gets hungry." Bert says to the other ship. "Hopefully those two won't do anything unfortunate." Bert says as he looks to MOD one last time.

Slaves... nah, probably hostages, that's pretty normal for pirates. Wonder what kind of loot we can get for them. Bert thinks as he starts making his way to the other ship. Gonna need to inventory what's left of that wreck and sort through what is salvage, and what is scrap. Likely need to dump the reactor core. I need like a month after this to get the station up and running. I wonder if Grizz can tow the other ship? Bert thinks as he works.

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Wed Sep 04, 2024 6:41 pm

JIC: 1d20: [10] = 10 , 1d100: [91] = 91
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [51] = 51 (FAIL)

Conditions: , , Immune to Psionics, Darkness Control-Shadow Meld

Zilch, his monstrous form silhouetted against the dim interior lighting, approaches the cowering slaves. Despite his rows is razor sharp teeth, and growling stomach, he is intrigued. His googly eyes are wide with a certain curiosity. "Shadow skin," he muses, and he reaches out to touch one of the Silhouettes. "Interesting."

He straightens up, towering over them, as he considers whether or not to devour the three of them. Or listen to the wishes of the crew.

To eat or not to eat?

A wave of darkness rolls over Zilch, a tangible force that seems to come from his very being. The room plunges into darkness, and the only light that shines is the faint glow of Zilch's googly eyes.

[Horror Factor: 16]

"I am the Monster in the Darkness," he introduces himself.

Not to eat.

"And you," his terrible eyes narrow dangerously. But he decides they are interesting enough to keep. "Will follow me."

Zilch then allows the lights to return, and the monster turns and stalks towards the airlock. His massive form casts an intimidating shadow. After a few steps, the monster turns around. If they are not following, he frowns with a look of disapproval.

"You have a choice," Zilch growls. "Follow me willingly, or become part of me unwillingly."

In the airlock, Zilch scoops up the slaves in his massive arms. He then unleashes his flight power, and a surge of shadow energy propels them through the void to Grizzelblak.

Yet.

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Sun Sep 08, 2024 1:28 am

The military officer prisoner comes out of her meditative trance quickly. The loud knocking on the door garnered her attention. Wearily, she shoots a glance through the windowed slit on the door. Seeing Dr. White, she shudders and sits straight up.

Dr. White wrote: "Hellooo there, Ms. Officer-turned-prisoner! I do so hate to interrupt your reverie, but I’m afraid I must insist that you drop out of the meditative pose for the time being. I’m sure you’re just exhausted and looking to put all this down time to productive use, but you must understand that from our point of view you could just as easily be astrally projecting all over the ship and up to who-knows-what kind of mischief. As you can imagine out Cap’n is a particularly cautious sort, and I would so hate for em to vent any misunderstanding on your little friend up in medbay. I tell you what, you keep your eyes open and your psionics all nice and neatly tucked away, and once we’re finished dealing with the, ah, situation I’ll pop you out of your cell for a quick check-in to see how everything’s going up there? Whaddya say?"

MOD wrote: "Hi," M says flatly. "We'd really like your cooperation."

Replying meekly, the officer says:
"I was merely recuperating. I will stop if it bothers you. Please do not hurt me or the others."

Meanwhile, Vinny arrives at the brig in full power armor. She does not take off her helmut. Curtly, she says:
"I'll watch over the prisoners for the time being."

Meanwhile, Bert arrives of the Rain of Death transport and does some quick diagnostics on the broken ship. He realizes that he can stop the radiation leak that MOD was talking about, but drive repair in the ship's current state is quite impossible. The computer system shows that much of the security locks are intact, 90% of the weapons turrets are operational, and the rest are easily repaired as it just seems like the servo motors were shaken from alignment. Two of the missile bay launchers are destroyed, but there are two left that are working. There are 26 working medium range missiles left. The gravity cannon batteries also look like they are functional. Much of the internal life support systems can be re-used in another vehicle or a small space station. The navigational computer and connected systems are intact, as are much of the electronics that the ship needs to function.

Meanwhile, on the Rain of Death transport, Ashrak and Zilch work out their own separate duties. Zilch orders the two Silhouettes to come with him, and they immediately comply. The Seljuk floats through the vacuumed space restfully while the Silhouettes maneuver him via telekinesis. As they get to the airlock, Zilch bear bugs both the Silhouettes and bolts out of the Rain of Death transport, arriving back on Grizzelblak's port side airlock, along with their Seljuk cargo.

Suddenly, Grizzelblak pipes up: "Hrmn Zilch, you are going to have to put the Silhouettes in the brig right away... Let me page Dr. White and he can move the Seljuk..."

Meanwhile, the Silhouttes begin to protest: "The Seljuk is our personal guard, we really would like him next to us..."

It appears it is up to Zilch to be the adult in the room. Meanwhile, Grizzelblak alerts MOD and Dr. White that Zilch has came back with more corporals and Dr. White will be needed to move a large Seljuk to the med bay.

Ashrak arms the explosives inside one escape pod. The resulting concoction looks very good, and he cleans up his handiwork readily. Ducking out of the way to prowl, Ashrak hides around a corner and waits patiently. Suddenly, coming down the main stair well are two beings. One is a machine person who is armed with a large naruni machine gun, the other is a 10m long floating machine. Suddenly Ashrak's six sense pipes up. The 10m long floating droid pauses for a second. It seems like it is psionicly scanning for Ashrak's location, but since it is a heavily augmented ps-borg, it's sensors cannot detect exactly where Ashrak is.

Motioning to the floating droid, the Machine Man beckons the droid to follow frantically. They don't seem to be able to communicate in vacuum proficiently. The duo decides that the floating droid is too large to fit inside the escape pod. The Machine man goes into the pod and motions for the large droid to follow behind him. Quickly, the escape pod jettisons. The flying droid then proceeds to re-open the airlock housing the escape pod, and then floats out of the shuttle as well.

Not 10 seconds after the escape pod has jettisoned, the roundish spacecraft ruptures with an explosion. Following behind it is the floating space droid. Suddenly, Ashrak briefly loses sight of the space droid using his visual eye, but in a flash it reappears. Meanwhile, on the bridge, Grizzelblak managed to still register the floating space droid visually her sensors.

What are your intentions?

Post by **MOD** » Sun Sep 08, 2024 7:49 pm

Perception (33%) 1d100<33: [80] = 0
JiC 1d20: [3] = 3 / 1d100: [43] = 43

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel

Skill Stuff
Limited mind reading (68%) 1d100<68: [69] = 0 - Scan Phara, just in case
Invoke Trust/Intimidate (50%) 1d100<50: [43*] = 1 - Compel the silhouettes to follow orders
Limited mind reading (68%) 1d100<68: [100] = 0 - Scan the silhouettes during interrogation

Butcher's Bill
-5 P.P.E.

Prisoner 1 wrote:""I was merely recuperating. I will stop if it bothers you. Please do not hurt me or the others."

The red circle in the center of MOD's energy form widens in curiosity. That easy, neh? Well now I'm a little disappointed that I can't do my performance. Unless this is a ploy, and they're just waiting for us to let our guard down. Maybe I should do my bit, just in case. As MOD ponders eir options Vinny walks into the brig.

Phara Vin wrote:"I'll watch over the prisoners for the time being."

MOD glances at Vinny. Wonder where she's been this whole time. Did it take that long to put on her EBA. Phara's timing was a little to precise, so MOD decides to scan her surface thoughts. The armor blocks the phantom's powers, and ey floats away not sure if ey should be concerned about the CAF officer.

But ey has more prisoners to attend to. And ey is eager to meet possible relatives of The Baron. Ey arrives at the bridge and looks to Bertrand. "Yo, Mac," ey says, "Vinny is down in the brig guarding our prisoner. Where are Ash and Zilch? They get back yet?"

Eventually they do, and with the new prisoners. MOD is literally glowing at the sight of the them (-5 P.P.E per minute to glow like a heavy duty flashlight). Part of that radiance is joy, it feels like ey is getting everything ey ever wanted. (Ey very much isn't.) But it is also a defense. Silhouettes are creatures of the dark, and MOD wants exert control of the situation from the start. The white of eir orb contracts as the red widens. The blue gets paler.

Prisoner 2 or 3 wrote:"The Seljuk is our personal guard, we really would like him next to us"

"I'm afraid we need to have our doctor examine him," MOD says. "But as captain of the Void Reavers, you are under my protection while on board. Now tell me who you are and how you ended up with a bunch of filthy slavers."

For the sake of the narrative, let's say that the machine man's escape pod bursts in that instant. MOD watches and then cackles. "Woo! Serves those fuxors right! I love explosions. Especially ones that kill slavers! Now where were we?"

The white and red circles sync back to their proper proportions as MOD stares at the two silhouettes. And if the two new prisoners are as complacent as the CAF officer, MOD will lower eir light. "Right, so I was saying that you're under my protection. Well that's sorta true. I got some questions for you, and if you answer them honestly, then I'll keep you under my protection. But if you don't, and I'll know if you're lying, I'm going to feed you to my crew." M pauses for effect, especially if Zilch is around. "They're very ambivalent about where they get their protein from."

"So first, question, how did you guys meet the slavers?" M starts to scan the silhouettes surface thoughts as ey asks eir questions. (This is a lie, apparently.) This first question is if hasn't been answered already. After that ey asks: "You said you're royalty in the TGE, neh? Do you happen to be related to a guy that goes by the Baron? Next question, what do you know about konstant krunch? Like do you know where we can score some? Anything about its manufacture? I gotta be honest, some of our crew are really strung out, and we'd love to tap a regular source if we can."

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:35 am

Perception: 1d100: [57] = 57 /42% (+20 regarding explosives)
JiC: 1d20: [7] = 7 / 1d100: [87] = 87

Conditions: Natural HF: 13 | Exceptional vision [2 miles] | Naturally floating [Max 30 MPH] | | | | Current Numbers: I.S.P.: 160/184 |Sixth Sense [Inactive, 2ISP] | Forcefield: 88/110 | Electrokinesis [Manipulate Electrical Devices | 65ft | 4ISP | 7m:30s] |

Skills
Pick Locks: 1d100: [27] = 27 /100% [85% Base + 10% from Safecracker + 5% Electrokinesis | Permanently seal the Escape Pod Hatch]
Computer Operation: 1d100: [61] = 61 /80% [Help Grizz find and destroy the fleeing robot if Grizz needs it.]

Post

Ashrak coils into the corner like a trapdoor arachnid ready to pounce as the slaver and his robot run past him. As the robot appears to scan for him, Ashrak activates his "Mask ISP/Psionics" ability to further reduce his footprint and is pleased as punch when they retreat. Ashrak watches with a twisted grin as the Machine Person climbs into the escape pod and has to refrain from giggling as the robot is left behind to follow. Ashrak wastes no time and detonates it before it can get out of range and practically squeals with glee, pressing his contorted Rithe face against the escape pod hatch to watch the explosion.

Bert wrote:"Ashrak... Zilch, please make sure the captains of the other ship get to the escape pop in one piece and leave safely. Captain's orders."

Ashrak heard the call from Bert before detonating but that didn't stop the twisted alien who triggers his radio. "Hehehe, oops. You see, by the time you sent that message I had already rigged it to blow. Beautiful colors, no? Fitting end for unworthy slavers." Ashrak coos over the radio and uses electrokinesis and his ability to pick locks to secure the escape pod hatch just in case the robot survives and tries to use that to regain entry. Can't have any competition, after all. We Rithe don't like sharing Ashrak considers briefly. "Oooooh Captain! I hope you liked the fireworks! Magnificent Blue should be back aboard the ship now... and I'm on my way. Did that Slaver say he had a robot with him? We might have an errant robot floating out there. I'll see if Grizz can find it!" Ashrak says with glee and makes his way back to the Grizz.

On his way there, Ashrak will go the short path that Zilch had used when he ate some of the other crew and look upon the carnage with a twisted grin. Upon his return to the Grizz, Ashrak heads towards the Bridge. "Oh Grizz! Can you track that robot that left the other ship? It should've been fairly close to the escape pod when it... hehehe... detonated. If you find it, let's play a game and test your weapon systems!" Ashrak coos over the Reaver's frequency as he attempts to help locate, and blast the fleeing robot.

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Mon Sep 09, 2024 1:29 pm

JIC: 1d20: [15] = 15 , 1d100: [45] = 45
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [32] = 32 (SUCCESS)

Conditions: , , Immune to Psionics, Darkness Control-Shadow Meld

Zilch, his monstrous form looming over the two prisoners, stands guard over the two dark-skinned Silhouettes. He watches his captain, that oddball floating sphere of red, white, and blue, as he hovers nearby, asking questions of their new meals guests.

His energy fluctuations catch his attention and Zilch watches with morbid curiosity. MOD, despite its simple form energy blob, seems capable of a wide range of expressions. His energy levels seem to shift, never quite making up its mind, calm then agitated, changing about chaotically almost as often as fellows breathe. Zilch begins to idly wonder if his darkness could snuff it out. Would that calm him down? Or would be completely lose his mind? The thought almost makes him giggle.

His googly eyes then flicker with interest towards the Silhouettes. I wonder what they might taste like? His monstrous hunger, a constant companion, gnaws at him, urging him to indulge. However, he decides to hold off for now. MOD seems genuinely interested in what the these two have to say, and I'm not about to spoil the fun. After all, you can't get much conversation out of a fellow when he's being eaten. All you tend to hear are monosyllables like "no" and "aargh!"

Prisoner 2 or 3 wrote:"The Seljuk is our personal guard, we really would like him next to us"

MOD wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2024 7:49 pm"I'm afraid we need to have our doctor examine him," MOD says. "But as captain of the Void Reavers, you are under my protection while on board. Now tell me who you are and how you ended up with a bunch of filthy slavers."

For the sake of the narrative, let's say that the machine man's escape pod bursts in that instant. MOD watches and then cackles. "Woo! Serves those fuxors right! I love explosions. Especially ones that kill slavers! Now where were we?"

The white and red circles sync back to their proper proportions as MOD stares at the two silhouettes. And if the two new prisoners are as complacent as the CAF officer, MOD will lower eir light. "Right, so I was saying that you're under my protection. Well that's sorta true. I got some questions for you, and if you answer them honestly, then I'll keep you under my protection. But if you don't, and I'll know if you're lying, I'm going to feed you to my crew." M pauses for effect, especially if Zilch is around. "They're very ambivalent about where they get their protein from."

"Eating them?" Zilch tries to look surprised, and lies shamelessly. "That was the furthest thing from my mind!" His googly eyes narrow with thought. "I'm not picky," he continues, his voice is conversational and light. "Protein's protein, whether it comes from a living creature or a floating husk frozen in the void. Then there's metal, lumber, high-density plastics, explosives, even broccoli - I'm open to anything."

MOD wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2024 7:49 pm "So first, question, how did you guys meet the slavers M starts to scan the silhouettes surface thoughts as ey asks eir questions. (This is a lie, apparently.) This first question is if hasn't been answered already. After that ey asks: "You said you're royalty in the TGE, neh? Do you happen to be related to a guy that goes by the Baron? Next question, what do you know about konstant krunch? Like do you know where we can score some? Anything about its manufacture? I gotta be honest, some of our crew are really strung out, and we'd love to tap a regular source if we can."

"Just nod, or blip, or something... whenever they tell a lie," Zilch tells his captain.

Zilch, standing to his full height, takes a few steps back as MOD asks his questions. He watches with great interest as MOD's interrogation continues. With each lie, MOD will see Zilch take a half-step closer to the Silhouettes, a subtle but chilling reminder of the consequences of any deception.

If Zilch reaches the Silhouettes before the questioning is over. Zilch devours them.

The Machine · Post by **The Machine** » Sun Sep 15, 2024 4:20 pm

Perception: 1d100: [88] = 88 /55%
Just in Case: 1d20: [15] = 15 ; 1d100: [28] = 28
Conditions: Radio is turned off.

Spaceship Mechanics 1d100: [58] = 58 /60% Success (Deal with Radiation Leak)

Bert is well into his work when his radio squawks.

Ashrak wrote:"Hehehe, oops. You see, by the time you sent that message I had already rigged it to blow. Beautiful colors, no? Fitting end for unworthy slavers."

Why? Bert thinks immediately before responding. "That was ill advised." Bert says before cutting his radio off. Idiots! Bert fumes, but goes back to what he was doing. I need to cap the radiation leak. Let me take care of that first then I can strip this crate for valuables. Bert thinks as he makes his way to engineering to do just as he's planned.

Dr. White · Post by **Dr. White** » Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:55 pm

JIC: 1d20: [12] = 12 , 1d100: [36] = 36
PER: 1d100: [45] = 45 vs. 75%

Conditions:

White’s rictus grin slips a little at the officer’s meek submission, but he recovers quickly. ”I’m glad we understand each other! Vinny here will keep an eye on you both. Don’t worry, she’s a much better conversationalist than I am. Ta!” Waggling his fingers, White skips off when he hears the announcement from Grizz. Oooo, a Seljuk! Never gotten one of those alive before! White promptly replies over the comms, ”Got it! I am on my way. Uh, White out!” He begins racing down the corridors to meet up with the others and the Seljuk they found. When he arrives, he cheerfully says ”Hello everyone! Does the big fella require surgery or are we popping him straight into the blender? Er, medical recovery bay. Yeah. That’s the one. Blender’s out anyway.” And probably too small. Once the chitchat’s out of the way White will put his back into it and heft the Seljuk over one shoulder (if he can) before unceremoniously carrying him up to the medical bay (for realsies, no blender).

Post by **Nurse Ratchet** » Wed Sep 18, 2024 11:44 pm

Brig area:

MOD and Dr. White quietly gasp at Vinny as she races past. Vinny's armor is more than a bit charred at spots. It looked like she was in a bit of a fight. MOD and the good Doctor can hear Vinny murmuring quietly something to herself, but they can't make any sense of it before both of them are called to do something else.

Vinny quietly stands guard about three feet from the jail area of the CAF Officer. Without warning, she knocks on the jail cell and proclaims:

"Listen, do as the Captain asked of you. Sit quietly and recover your reserves after we hand you off."

Vinny waves affirmatively to her colleagues and takes a gander at her prisoner and says:

"Dr. White, I believe I saw the wolfen cyborg still on the pirate transport. He doesn't have any way to get here. I think he will eventually need medical attention. We should keep these two apart."

Turning to MOD, she says guardedly:

"I will make arrangements and get more of the brig ready."

MOD and Dr. White make their way back to the bridge where they meet Zilch. Grizzelblak informed MOD over radio that Bert had already gone to the other ship to fix the reactor leak, so the bridge was unmanned.

Angry floating disk of violent strobbing wrote: "I'm afraid we need to have our doctor examine him," MOD says. "But as captain of the Void Reavers, you are under my protection while on board. Now tell me who you are and how you ended up with a bunch of filthy slavers."

Just as MOD finishes er sentence, the bridge observation ports glimmer with the light of a nearby explosion

Angry floating disk of violent strobbing, laughing hauntingly wrote: "Woo! Serves those fuxors right! I love explosions. Especially ones that kill slavers! Now where were we?"

"Right, so I was saying that you're under my protection. Well that's sorta true. I got some questions for you, and if you answer them honestly, then I'll keep you under my protection. But if you don't, and I'll know if you're lying, I'm going to feed you to my crew." M pauses for effect, especially if Zilch is around. "They're very ambivalent about where they get their protein from."

The two silhouettes look at each other. There is no hiding their worry. Their eyes smart at the glare of MOD's torturous radiance. Both Zilch and Dr. White notice that the two silhouettes are actually physically reduced in the light.

Angry floating disk of violent strobbing wrote: "So first, question, how did you guys meet the slavers?" M starts to scan the silhouettes surface thoughts as ey asks eir questions. (This is a lie, apparently.) This first question is if hasn't been answered already. After that ey asks: "You said you're royalty in the TGE, neh? Do you happen to be related to a guy that goes by the Baron? Next question, what do you know about konstant krunch? Like do you know where we can score some? Anything about its manufacture? I gotta be honest, some of our crew are really strung out, and we'd love to tap a regular source if we can."

The larger silhouette merely nods to the other...

Let me do the talking

Okay...

Was all MOD can observe of their thoughts.

The larger silhouette begins to talk:
"I am Zuks Mungu. This is my younger Maks Greif Mungu. We are representatives of the Mungu family. Our cousin Shawneef Iven Mungu, while technically did not inherit his father's title, runs the enterprise of our family. The symbolic head of our family currently is Fergaus Mungu. He is our Barow.'"

A strong hint of contempt surfaces on both Zuks and Maks fore thoughts, which Zuks quickly suppresses. Neither of them change facial expressions.

"We were negiotiating a business deal. The TGE have tasked the Mungu family with the overall running of a star system. One of the family responsibilities as the Magistrate of the system is to run a high security prison colony. We are paid to house and keep these prisoners alive and are bonuses towards their successful rehabilitation. We are fined for incidents of recidivism. With the TGE enveloped in war, many of our facilities are at capacity. We are trying to find a place for some of the less serious offenders and give them a better place to serve out their sentences. One of our partners was a cohort of biowizards that recent escaped spluggorth servitude. With a cooperating in mate, they could be enhanced and be put to work in a different environment. On our end of the deal, we are tasked to find suitable candidates for resettlement. There was a third party contracted to find placements for our candidates. We were told that meeting in this system would be safe, and that our partners had secured safe passage from the important inhabitants of the region. The raid came as a surprise. Swarms of autonomous drones were able to defeat our defenses... we were captured soon after."

Somehow, MOD can tell that Zuks is telling the truth, at least his truth. Maks on the other hand, momentarily loses his concentration on the word 'rehabilitation', but successfully regains it in a split second.

"We are a titled family in the TGE Uradel, an honorific that is rarely bestowed outside of the kreeghor race. Our honorable Barow doesn't go by his title within the family. We refer to him as Fergie. However, he has fallen in with the Bunto Shinrikyo in the last 10 years. I understand he has been using his title while associated with that _organization_."

MOD can tell that Zuks is still speaking facts. But there are things he is deliberately leaving out. Like how the Baron's childhood was less than pleasant. And details about Fergie's brother are quickly skipped over as he picks and chooses what to say. A note of pity clouds his thoughts, but frustration and embarassment pervades as Zuks mutters the following sentence.

"There are other Barons in the TGE Uradel, but most go by their title, their firstname and their lastname. It is certainly not customary to only introduce oneself with just one's title."

Meanwhile Maks is mildly amused by the mention of his prodigal second cousin. MOD sees thoughts in fragments, Maks and Fergie partying together in their youth, getting into trouble, Fergie taking the brunt of the punishment because he refused to rat. Maks is not wholly ashamed by his childhood friend. He was a terrible music critic. But he was a good friend. I liked Fergie.

When asked about Konstant Krunch, Zuks answers contemptuously:

"The Mungu are not in the _business_ of selling temporary ability enhancers. Our methods are more permanent."

Without a doubt, MOD knew this to be true. Thoughts about genetic alternation and enhancement treatment from biowizardry surfaced, but went away, by the both of them.

"However, our ex captors have recently raided a convoy with a large supply. They have since offloaded the cargo and parlayed that to upgrades on this ship."

The larger Silhouette looks around. Nobody here seems to be suffering the effects of withdrawal... The light bulb is lying.

Just as Zuks had finished speaking, Ashrak runs into the bridge. Noting the interrogation, he proceeds to speak on the radio:

Ashrak wrote: "Oh Grizz! Can you track that robot that left the other ship? It should've been fairly close to the escape pod when it... hehehe... detonated. If you find it, let's play a game and test your weapon systems!" Ashrak coos over the Reaver's frequency as he attempts to help locate, and blast the fleeing robot.

Grizzelblak replies back on the team frequency:
"Ashrak, please go on the weapons console. I can make the main gun ready for you. The floating robot is traveling at around twice the speed of sound. It is somehow psionically endowed. But at this range, its abilities do not deter me. We can proceed to follow quietly or we can start shooting here. MOD, what would you suggest?"

Zilch meanwhile waits in the wings, looking to lunge forward with so much as a nod.

Dr White arrives at the med bay. A quick diagnosis leads Dr. White that the Seljuk's biology has been fundamentally altered on the biological level. The Seljuk is a bio borg, however it doesn't have any obvious symbiotes or parasites. He is larger than normal, heavier than normal and apparently survived the vacuum of space. He is also under a chemically induced sleep. Dr. White carries him into the med bay and settles him down on a diagnostic support armchair. The Seljuk is breathing quietly, his chest rising and falling at normal intervals.

Bert hunkers down in the machine room. Dismayed with Ashrak's choices, he nonetheless gets to work. He sees fragments of a drone lying on the ground, splattered across the room by a series of energy blasts. Next to the debris sat a Wolfen borg with 1/3 of its face eaten away by the cold of space. It has cuts on its arms, revealing a metal endoskeleton underneath. It appears to be barely alive but it doesn't seem to be moving.

Bert quickly power downs the power core to reduce the radiation leak to a crawl. This buys him time to activate the emergency containment forcefield, which allows Bert to power up the ship while keeping the radiation contained for the time being. Bert estimates that the ship can fly with the containment field on for another 36 hours. Come time to repair, he will need a patch kit to mend the containment structure of the power core, there are obvious fissures on the surface, the hairline fractures will probably be go unnoticed by eye for a while.

nurse's previous post wrote: Meanwhile, Bert arrives of the Rain of Death transport and does some quick diagnostics on the broken ship. He realizes that he can stop the radiation leak that MOD was talking about, but drive repair in the ship's current state is quite impossible. The computer system shows that much of the security locks are intact, 90% of the weapons turrets are operational, and the rest are easily repaired as it just seems like the servo motors were shaken from alignment. Two of the missile bay launchers are destroyed, but there are two left that are working. There are 26 working medium range missiles left. The gravity cannon batteries also look like they are functional. Much of the internal life support systems can be re-used in another vehicle or a small space station. The navigational computer and connected systems are intact, as are much of the electronics that the ship needs to function.

Aside from the weapons and equipment haul, Bert notes that the ship will need a skeleton crew of 2 people to fly anywhere. With a few days of repair, he feels confident that the ship can either be flipped for salvaged on Geo without availing itself as too much of a target, or that it will take some delicate disassembly on his part (and whoever else can help proficiently) to lift the power core and sensor suite to the space station, taking at most a month.

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:28 pm

Grizz wrote:"Ashrak, please go on the weapons console. I can make the main gun ready for you. The floating robot is traveling at around twice the speed of sound. It is somehow psionically endowed. But at this range, its abilities do not deter me. We can proceed to follow quietly or we can start shooting here. MOD, what would you suggest?"

Ashrak floats over towards the weapons console with a contorted grin and wide pupils. "Oooh, hehehe. Do I have a say? Let's test your guns from here and blow it up! Even psionically empowered, it can't outrun a ship..." Ashrak exclaims and then uses all of his tentacles to take the various controls. This will be most fun! Like those times Telshak and I would play "Kill the Pyjaks" with those missiles to blow up those pesky little scavengers. Ashrak thinks to himself, remembering possibly one of few fond memories of his larger sister. This crew can barely handle me, Telshak would horrify them, hehehe Ashrak continues the thought as he familiarizes himself with the weapon console. "Mm, first time I've used a weapons console. What does this button do? Oh, that looks dangerous! Pew pew!" Ashrak says with a growing sense of amusement as he starts using Grizz's weapon systems to fire at the escaping robot. "I have engaged the robot!" Ashrak calls out to the group's radio. With each shot Ashrak makes, he makes an audible Pew sound and giggles insidiously.

If/When Ashrak misses, he'll groan and laugh. "Ooooh, the sight's off!" Ashrak purrs and continues firing until he hits the target. "Grizz!! Get closer!" Ashrak calls out to help his aim.

If/When Ashrak hits and destroys the robot, Ashrak will squeal. "Weee! That pesky robot is blown to smithereens!" Ashrak exclaims to anyone nearby.

Post by **MOD** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:59 pm

Perception (33%) 1d100<33: [79] = 0
JiC 1d20: [14] = 14 / 1d100: [5] = 5

Stuff
Energy form: RAF Roundel
Radio: Basic (92%) 1d100<92: [41*] = 1

Butcher's Bill
-5 P.P.E.

Zuks wrote:"We were negotiating a business deal. The TGE have tasked the Mungu family with the overall running of a star system. One of the family responsibilities as the Magistrate of the system is to run a high security prison colony..."

Private prisons, neh? That's almost as bad as slavers. MOD contemplates killing them on the spot. The fact that they're related to The Baron doesn't really help their case. But they seem honest, more honest than MOD at least, and that earns them the chance to tell their story.

Zuks wrote:"We are a titled family in the TGE Uradel, an honorific that is rarely bestowed outside of the kreeghor race. Our honorable Barow doesn't go by his title within the family. We refer to him as Fergie"

Fergie?!?! This is a revelation. In all the years of chasing after the same jobs, sniping at each other Vibro-fork message boards, and actively battling each other, MOD never really knew eir nemesis. No name, no clue on his upbringing, no thought of his life outside of being a rival pirate and having shitty tastes in music. His fuxing name is Fergie?!?!

A more considerate and thoughtful being, one with emotional maturity, might realize that this is an opportunity to understand, or maybe even empathize, the enemy. One could learn what makes that foe tick - their habits, their neuroses, their weaknesses. Maybe with a reasonable amount of social awareness, one might even be able to read the cues and learn some valuable details about how a nemesis came to be. Who the fux is going to take srsly some stupid fuxor named FERGIE?!?!

Zuks wrote:"The Mungu are not in the _business_ of selling temporary ability enhancers. Our methods are more permanent."

Talk of business brings MOD back to attention, more or less. "Sounds fun, we'll have to chat more about that later, neh?"

Zuks wrote:"However, our ex captors have recently raided a convoy with a large supply. They have since offloaded the cargo and parlayed that to upgrades on this ship."

"You don't say..." MOD glances over the bridge and sees the little robot. So those slavers were the fuxors we were supposed to be hunting. Isn't it ironic?*

Grizzelblak wrote:"Ashrak, please go on the weapons console. I can make the main gun ready for you. The floating robot is traveling at around twice the speed of sound. It is somehow psionically endowed. But at this range, its abilities do not deter me. We can proceed to follow quietly or we can start shooting here. MOD, what would you suggest?"

"Fuxing hells I have to do the quasi-responsible thing, neh?"[/b] MOD mutters to emself as ey dims back to eir normal glow. "Ash, we need that robot intact. I think it's a lead to some scumbags we're being paid to slag. Shoot to disable."

M glances over at the two silhouettes. They might know too much. "You all can pretend you didn't hear that last part, neh?" Then ey shifts eir red circle to stare at Zilch. "In fact, why don't you take these two noble corporeals to a holding cell?"

Back to the Mungu brothers: "We can talk about the terms of your liberation after things get settled up here. K? Thanks, and try not to make the guards want to eat you!"

Once the two silhouettes are gone, MOD activates the radio console, "Bert, how's work on the reactor going? We might need to depart for a moment. Would you be ok with that?"

* Don'tcha think?

Ashrak · Post by **Ashrak** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:25 pm

[rolls held]

MOD wrote: "Ash, we need that robot intact. I think it's a lead to some scumbags we're being paid to slag. Shoot to disable."

Ashrak audibly groans and reels his head back towards MOD. "Seriously? These big guns only destroy. If you want it alive we'd best move quickly and capture it..." Ashrak says with a groan, then pauses with one tentacle rubbing what might be considered his chin. Hmm, these slavers are a link to something the glowball was hunting. Ashrak considers as his grin twists. "Good thing I blew up that Machine Man, then! Hehehe. COME, let us capture a robot!" Ashrak exclaims. Ashrak is no longer shooting to destroy the robot and is instead shooting to make the robot zig-zag and ideally make it easier to catch.

Zilch · Post by **Zilch** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 5:08 pm

JIC: 1d20: [10] = 10 , 1d100: [64] = 64
Perception: 32% (47% in darkness) / 1d100: [7] = 7 (SUCCESSS)

Conditions: , , Immune to Psionics, Darkness Control-Shadow Meld

Grizzelblak wrote:"Ashrak, please go on the weapons console. I can make the main gun ready for you. The floating robot is traveling at around twice the speed of sound. It is somehow psionically endowed. But at this range, its abilities do not deter me. We can proceed to follow quietly or we can start shooting here. MOD, what would you suggest?"

While the prisoners and MOD drone on, Zilch's mind wanders. His thoughts drift off into a fantastical realm where imagines himself as a culinary maestro, a monstrous chef with a penchant for the bizarre and delicious. His kitchen is a cavernous space, filled with strange ingredients from across the galaxy. He experiments with alien meats, interesting alloys, exotic spices, and even a few unsuspecting Reavers whom he found annoying.

In this dream, Zilch is a master of appetite, and he creates dishes that are both horrifying and delicious. He imagines the Silhouettes, their bodies skinned and dressed, marinating in garlic with apples stuck into their mouths. He imagines serving them up with a platter of deep-fried potato chips, a side dish of oily machine parts, and a dollop of cream.

mMMMmmmm garlic.

MOD wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:59 pm M glances over at the two silhouettes. They might know too much. "You all can pretend you didn't hear that last part, neh?" Then ey shifts eir red circle to stare at Zilch. "In fact, why don't you take these two noble corporeals to a holding cell?"

Zilch snaps out of his lovely daydream, and asks, "Do we have any apples?" He glances at the two silhouettes. I wonder how large their mouths are and what manner of apple would fit just right? Hrm.

If anyone asks why, he remains cryptic, "Oh never mind."

MOD wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:59 pm Back to the Mungu brothers: "We can talk about the terms of your liberation after things get settled up here. K? Thanks, and try not to make the guards want to eat you!"

Too late.

Zilch, his monstrous form towering over the Silhouettes, listens to MOD's request with an affable indifference. "Certainly," he rumbles in a delightful and pleasant tone. "I'll make sure these two guests are comfortable, after all they've been very well behaved. I'm starting to like them." He turns to the Silhouettes, his googly eyes flickering between the two of them. "Shall we?"

Unless the Silhouettes violently object (in which case they are devoured on the spot for being naughty misbehaving little blighters), Zilch scoops them up in his massive arms. Then he began to carry them to their new home.

Alas my little snacks, you are not to know the layout of our home, so don't go about trying to memorise turns and corridors. And.. no peeking., With that his darkness engulfs the corridor, and the only light is that coming from the faint glow of his eyes. Only Zilch can see which corridors he takes, and while he does so he talks to his two new tasty friends.

"You know," Zilch rumbles in a voice that echoes through the darkness, "I'm a big fan of garlic. Do you smell of garlic? I can put garlic in just about anything. It's delicious."

The monster ignores whatever nervous looks they might have and continues on. He recalls where he first learned of the wonders of garlic-infused delicacies long ago.

"Back on Eikooc, there was this village, see? Now, this village had a problem. A vampire problem. These bloodsuckers, they were a menace. They'd sneak into the village at night, drain the folks of their life essence, and leave them as hollow husks. It was a real nightmare."

Zilch pauses, a nostalgic gleam in his googly eyes. "So, what did these villagers do? Well, they got smart. They started growing garlic. Tons of garlic. They'd hang garlic bulbs over their windows and doors, they'd put garlic in their food, and they even made garlic soap. It was a garlic fortress."

He chuckles. "Vampires? They stayed far away. Other villages? They shunned them, called them garlic freaks. But you know what? They were safe. No vampires ever bothered them. It was a very clever plan indeed."

Zilch grins, his teeth glinting in the dim light of his googly eyes. "And me? Well, I was ever after a great fan of garlic. It is wonderful stuff."

He pauses, his gaze turning towards the Silhouettes. "Garlic," he muses, "it's a most versatile ingredient. Can be used for protection, for flavor, even for... other things." He does not elaborate, but his eyes flicker with a calculating expression. How much garlic would I need to marinade them both? If I had enough only for one, which would MOD miss the least?

Let's not mention that I devoured the entire village, they look like they're under enough stress. He thinks. And stress would make them tangy and yucky. That just won’t do.

Finally, they reach the holding cells. He cancels his darkness, gives Phara a smile, and shows the pair to their new room.

"Hello Phara," Zilch says pleasantly. "These are two guests who need a room. They're not to leave it under any circumstances, and are to be well treated. I like them, they're excellent listeners."

Zilch grins, and for a terrifying moment looks hard at the two prisoners. "Indeed," he adds. "They'll be excellent guests. Or excellent second courses. It all depends on how well they behave. But I am very hopeful, thus far they have been a delight."

You have been warned. Now behave.

Unless needed elsewhere, the monster returns to the bridge, and may witness Ashrak shooting poorly at the fleeing robot.