Iron Stars - francisco

Francisco wakes up in his bunk at home, the bronze wings for graduating pilot school pinned to the jacket he fell asleep in. The tv is still on, playing a soft advertisement for the new flavor of Gudfud bar, now in Doona’s Double Chocolate

Grumbles could be heard as he sits up in his bunk. His younger classmates had insisted that he celebrate with them, he did of course, but his middle aged body, did not. Fransisco slowly makes it to the bathroom, which has accumulated many stains from his academy room-mates. "I'm too old for this" brushing his teeth he thinks. Finally, I'll be getting out this dump once I get a job.. After a late brunch, he would start looking for entry level pilot jobs while smoking a cigar, every now and then looking at captain jobs and grunting at the fact that he doesn't meet the experience requirements. (edited)

He would also check his correspondence, not expecting anything but given the fact that war is always on the horizon, there might be a draft. (edited)

There is no draft. A job offer has been newly posted. Two, in fact, though offered by the same employer. Rigers corps of engineers is looking for someone to make a wildlife survey of either Thorgerd or Tsatsos , just to document animal life on the planet for follow up scientific study later

Fransisco takes out a coin from his pocket. Heads Thorgerd, tails Tsatsos. He throws the coin, catches it. "Tails, Tsatsos it is then". He would apply to the Tsatsos first by calling the recruiter and sending him his resume.

The recruiter gets back to you near the end of the morning, accepting you for the job. There are three sites of interest on Tsatsos where they want some areal photographs and searches for wildlife- from the air- conducted. A light utility atmoflyer is being provided for the job, and it comes loaded with the needed survey equipment- they are just short on pilots. You do not need to land, or have a scientific background. They're interested in the areal data only.

12:31 PM

Bad weather is expected on a couple legs of the journey, ash season in full swing on the surface. It promises to pay hazard pay in addition to the regular going rate for a pilot

"Gotta start somewhere" He signs the contract. "Excuse me, other than the standard atmospheric equipment, are there any other significant fittings in this atmoflyer?"

(You're not there yet or even in front of a person, the message just had the job particulars)

1:19 PM

(But it doesnt have the technical specs of the craft)

(I thought I was talking to the recruiter, not a message, and it makes sense that he wouldn't know.) (I was imagining that maybe it was like a facetime video where he sends me a document to electronically sign with my touch pad compad during said hypothetical conversation) Fransisco would gather his personal items and put them in a suit case, end his lease with the room he was at and go to wherever he's sopposed to be at to start his job.

The trip to Tsatsos is only a few days from Gudrun and you see that RCOE has also paid fare for the trip over. There is only a handful of information provided about the planet, one of the purposes of this survey is to learn more. The crew doesn;t say much during the trip, the Ashen One's manning the vessel seem to keep to their own electronic, and evidently very private, form of communication.

7:39 AM

You arrive a few days later, to see the volcanic world below. A defense platform is hastily being built and you see the fleet here on high alert, doing their best to cover the world and jump points as much as possible with the handful of ships on station here

Francisco has done jobs before in ships, such as damage control, Purser, Boatswain, when he was trying to save up money for his classes, so he's not entirely unfamiliar with the ship and how busy crew can get. When he lands he would let his ~~contractor~~ employer (edited) know he's now here and ask him where they would like him to report to next. (edited)

You’re met on the landing pad I. Their airport by a sour faced man in uniform and two bodyguards who don’t look military in nature but are trying their best. All of them have sunglasses on despite the permanently smog choked air of the volcanic world.

1

Fransisco, a man in his middle age, takes a brake from smoking his cigar "Greetings gentlemen, where can I get one those sunglasses, I like the style" still sour from the trip he makes a small groan as he moves a bit closer, within handshake distance "heard you were looking for a pilot"

He offers his hand “We are. We need a surveyor for a suspected rich ore field to the south of here, in addition to collecting wildlife survey data for us. We don’t know much about this planet we are trying to civilize. You’re going to help us fill in the blanks”

"Sounds like honest work, I can imagine it being difficult to track down the melted ore as it ebbs and flows through the planets ever changing topography." "Erm, I heard I'd be flying an atmoflyer with scanners, care to fill me in with that information?"

7:04 PM

(South of what?)

(Ive got to update the map but new haphestus is the settlement on the left next to the windmills) (edited)

7:16 PM

“It’s got survey scanners. Short wave. You’ll have to get close. Weather is expected to be a little touch and go too but this can’t wait. The scanning equipment takes up most of the space inside other than what you’d need for your personal gear”

"O wow, wasn't expecting this ship to be fitted to brim with survey equipment; well, if the weather is good now, lets go before she has the chance to change her mind; I'm curious to see the ship firsthand anyway."

The plane is a prop plane, with a propeller on each wing, and as promised. bulked out with survey gear and an extra power tank on the outside. You can see that it is a modification, not a standard one at that. It looks light, but sturdy, and the cockpit is a bit cramped with the extra instrument panels welded in place over where a passenger would normally sit.

(so TL3 atmoflyer, speed 4, Armor 8, Hp 25, Crew 6 1, KMH 1200, HardP 2. With maybe: Advances sensors, Battery Reserve; and Sealed Atmosphere (I wouldn't want to be breathing toxic fumes I assume?) Does it have anything else?) (edited)

(no)

(no across the board or to the last question?)

(to the last question)

Francisco would look at the make and model and manual for the ship. "Looks alright, I'm ready when you are."

They hand over the ignition key, a finely carved metal rod, the size of a pinky finger, with intricate notches cut in the bottom. You see you have a full load of charge, the main cell and the underwing auxiliary both showing topped off. The propellers begin to spin slowly, as the plane continues coming online. Mapping software begins getting its position relative to the planet surface, and after a moment has you highlighted with a small green pin. "Once you're airborne, we'll transmit survey points to the map, you'll be able to adjust heading then"

"sounds great, one last question before I head out, what is this fine lady's (the aircraft's) name?" (edited)

"Doesn't have one. Just a utility plane"

"All the same, I still think she needs one, I'll call her Clara" Fransisco would then turn would then call the control tower "This is Fransisco in the utility plate, you can call her Clara, I'm ready for takeoff once you give the green light."

"BX-1200- A- C-3 , you are cleared for takeoff. Heavy crosswinds at the end of the runway, keep that stick back as far as you can"

what a mouthful, that takes forever to say "I read you loud and clear, will do so now" Fransisco would take Clara (BX-1200-A-C-3) for a wild, bumpy and steamy ride above the sweltering hot surface. (edited)

The airstrip is smooth, surprisingly, given the rest of the Ashen One construction you've seen so far, and you're flying above the city of Hephaestus Rest before long. The city spreads from a gearshaft looking governmental palace in the middle, and even that's upper reaches are undergoing construction- wreathed in gantries and a blue starfield of welding sparks. The coordinates for the first site of interest are transmitted to the navigation computer, tasking you 400km to the southeast

Fransisco woul check his bearing altitude and speedometer and slowly bring her around to the first location "Headed over there now, shoul get there in about 20 minutes, maybe a bit more with this weather."

In the distance, you see a bright silver and black stormfront beginning to from, over the lava sea. Crackles of the same silvery lighting spread between the clouds like clawing fingers

Fransisco would call the control tower again "Storm is starting to form, if it gets too bad I might have to turn back, but for now I'm keeping course and we are still on schedule."

The weather is noted, and you begin moving on, heading toward the storm. Below you, the lava sea sizzles and pops, flares of magma heading skyward but far below your craft. The thermals, however, do buffet things around slightly. The survey equipment's added weight is welcome, and seems to stop the worst of the bucking. Below you, the pin for the suspected ore flow appears on the map, and the scanners begin to go active

"Mhh. Everything seems to be going smoothly" Fransisco continues with his flight, keeping safe distance from lava projectiles.

(lets get a program/int for the scan)

(12)

A lake of liquid tungsten begins appearing on the map, as the scanner begins sending in feedback. It almost looks like a self contained island of liquid metal suspended in burning rock and magma from other sources

Fransisco calls the tower again "good news boys, I'm getting a large suspended pool of tungsten here, don't know what pressure it's at, but usually it melts at 6200 F, so it's hot, like everything else here... I hear tungsten makes for good cutting tools and scratch resistant alloys. Ehhh, what's the next spot you want me to look at?"

Another point drops onto the map, 100km away this time, over the same lava sea, but there are weather warnings around it. "We think there might be an island out that way. It would be small, but the initial survey team thought they saw some kind of building or artificial construction on it. We need to know for sure if there's anything out there. Orbital imagery is fowled with all the heat, it just comes off as a giant heat wash, and the images become corrupted"

"Alright, but if the winds get to strong I will move on to the next one. Heading over now." Francisco would then head over to the next location.

Ahead, you see that it might be raining, the drops are grey in appearance as they fall into the lava sea below, in a short amount of time causing a rolling cloud of steam to roil above the surface of the lake

(is this "rain" water, or metallic gasses condensing into liquid form? Would I know if the ship can survive silver/pottasium/mercury rain?)

(You wouldn't know the answers to either of those questions, and I'm not sure if they're even things he'd consider within the knowledge of his background)

Fransisco calls the tower again "Hello getting some gray rain drops around the area you'd like me to survey. Will procede carefully." (I guess I would slow down a bit in case I have to turn and leave the area quickly if the storm rain is unwieldy or dangerous.)

"Watch the steam-rise from the lava below. If it doesn't eat your wings it'll buoy you right into the clouds" the control tower says after a few tense minutes of flying closer and closer to this formation of stormfront. Below, you see the island, and there is clearly a large abandoned structure on it. "Survey 1, we recommenced setting down if you can find somewhere to. The front is moving faster than radar projected. I'm not sure you can outrun it"

He yells "Mierda!" And looks at the abandoned structure down below (what does it look like) for a place to land and maybe tuck the ship under for refuge.

(Like an airport, but abandoned, with a couple extra buildings that aren't hangars. Intentionally not clear what they are)

(If the temperature coming off from the runway is not melting murderous hot, Fransisco would quickly try to land there. Can I quickly look at the sensor equipment if it has a temperature reading of the structure?)

(structure and surroundings are showing fine)

"For some reason, temperature readings show an acceptable range, the abandoned structure does have something resembling a runway will initiate landing procedure. Over."

"Bunker down there if you can, message again when the storm passes. We'll keep an eye out" the tower says, signal already crackling a bit

"Pray for me good lads, over and out"

8:11 PM

Landing montage and pressing switches and buttons begins.

(pilot/dex_

(10)

The steam clouds around the aircraft as you come in for landing, though it does not seem to trouble the airframe much. Flying by instruments only, especially closer to the ground, your first glimpse of the runway is when it is 10m below you, through a break in the clouds. Thankfully you've remained on course. One of the hangars is open, though there does not seem to be anyone alive here but you, and you bring the plane in for landing, taxiing down the runway

Fransisco would slowly creep up with the plane into the opened hangar, while he does so he woul also try to see if there is any chatter on the radio, or if anyone is trying to hail him. (edited)

The storm is raging overhead now, with what you think is probably its full intensity. The radio is not even transmitting static anymore, just silence

Fransisco like looks at the hangar's gate from inside the plane, wondering if it could be closed, before leaving the plane however he looks at the temperature reading outside. And then worries if he would even survive the outside atmosphere. Being quite indesisve, he decided to have a small drink instead of going outside.

(from the plane, what does the hanger's inside look like?)

The interior of the hangar has an abandoned scout plane in it similar to your own but run down from years of abandonment. There are tools hanging up in hooks and they likewise have rust on them. A few fuel drums with a hand pump sit in the corner

After a few moments of boardom Fransisco would very, very slowly open the plane door and investigate the hangar if the inside of the Hangar is safe.

8:02 PM

And look at the other ship.

The other ship is a plane, and you do not notice anytihng new about it upon closer inspection

Fransisco would try to enter the old and abandoned scout plane and attempt to find the black box, or where it may have kept records. If the scout plane had survey equipment he would also seek to find if it had a data slab he can loot. (edited)

The plane does have a navigation computer. The data-card is removable, and it can be viewed on your own compad, or own internal computer aboard your plane, but nothing independently removable

Fransisco would grab the data-card. On his way back to the plane Clara he would peek around the fuel drums and anything else of interest and make note of anything that could be easily salvaged or taken.

2:56 PM

(does it look like there may be anything that could be stolen in here worth a considerable amount other than the data card? I'd like to grab it.)

(nothing that would fit in the plane without you ditching your survey equipment, which is arguably more valuable)

Fransisco sits back in the pilot's chair and would see if he can look at the data chip from the other plane.

The chip isn't quite the same configuration as the current nav computers, and you can see you'll need to jury rig some kind of adapter for this (fix/int)

(6)

You fashion something that looks like it will work, and the card hums as it is connected to the machine

Fransico would look around the program, if there is a passwaord requiered to access it, he woud not mess around with it and let the expert deal with it.

There is no password required. The datapoints from the original scout plane appear interlaid over your own map, and show several important resources deposits already found in the immediate area. Most of these locations are ones you were supposed to survey anyway, and there are a few more already mapped

(that's strange I thought I replied, let me try again) Fransisco would recline his chair and wait untill the storm clamed down. Once he gets connection with the tower he would try to start transmitting said data and ask if there was another spot they would like him to fly to.

The storm passes late into the night, after 11 hours of being out of communication, though the interference lingering in the air at its passage is jamming or at least hindering communications with the control tower\

(When you say the storm passes into the night does that mean that it's still going or that it ended late at night? Sorry I can't tell.) (edited)

(ended late at night)

(th k you) Fransisco would come to the conclusion that without communication he should head back to the control tower.

The plane takes off again, and within 100km of the city, your radio crackles back to life. It does not appear the tower has detected you yet, but you hear the background crackle of radio static

Fransisco would turn to the Towers radio channel "Hello hello, y'all didn't fall asleep on me did you?, Over."

The tower relays no witty remark back, but a landing course is transferred to the computer, along with local weather conditions. It seems the storm is over the city now, and there is a moderate crosswind on the landing

moderate?, I can probably make it "I will be landing shortly as long as the crosswinds are no more than moderate, over"

7:42 PM

Fransisco would then pull up his sleeves, lean forward a bit and get ready to land the ship again.

The scanning equipment is a welcome weight, as you bring the plane down gently to within 2km over the runway altitude. The wind is heavy and beginning to shake the small craft. Several stall potential warnings begin chiming

"Control Tower, this is Fransico in the plan Clara (BX-1200-A-C-3) Winds are heavy, might take me a few tries to get the landing right, get ready for a roughf landing, over."

“Disaster team is on standby. Good luck. We will monitor from here” the tower says curtly as the transmissions garbel

Fransisco would use his best judgment and reflexes to get the plane to land, he would come in at an angle to counteract the cross winds if he needs to, give it a hard landing if the rain has made the runway wet and set the anti-skid for the wheels at max if that's what would be needed, if he doesn't have enughf clearance on his landing he would disengage, and try it again.

The landing is rough and you hydroplane the first 50m down the runway before the tires finally bite in to something. You are shadowed the entire way by emergency trucks and a fire truck , crewed by ashen ones, and a dark tinted explorer with a crane on the back. You see the human who employed you on its top rail. It comes to a halt 20m short of your plane

Fransisco would say over the radio with a motivating and also relieved voice "Thank you staff, coudlent have made that one with all your your help out there and also during this landing, see you in the station. Over and out." Fransisco would park the plane in the indicated hangar or location, or here if thats where they wish to leave it. Take off the keys, and kiss them; and then leave the plane with the data chips in a small briefcase to present to his employer. eddited (edited)

“This is one more chip than you left with. What did you find out there?” He asks. He is wary but not hostile. He makes no attempt to reach for the gun on his hip

8:15 PM

“Just wondering where this second one came from”

"Maybe it didn't come through the radio, I landed in the location you thought there was a structure. In fact, there was a runway there, and hangars. All abandoned. The hangar I parked under to wait for the storm had a rusted old scout plane. I took the chip from its navigation computer. It has several other survey scans in it, and other flight paths and information I didn't look at. Sir, this is really valuable information your going to want your programmers working on it."

“The radio traffic was spotty here. Most of the city has been interfered with while it passed over. No long term settlement here yet. We know almost nothing about the weather”

"I see, well, I'll give you time to look at the data and then I'll ask you what spots we have left to survey. I'm curious though, how is it that you or the goverment didnt know about the other station I landed at, or did everyone just forgot about it after the scream?"

“There was no city at all here a few months ago. The government has enough to do. That’s why it’s hiring explorers. “

"Very well then, I need rest, lets reconvene tomorrow at noon and gover the data we got and the next locations to survey."

(3xp,5000 credits)

( LVL2: +1 HD; + 3 non psychic skills; + 1 non-psychic, non combat only skill; + 1 focus; +1 BAB. HP: 2d6+2*2, rolled 11 Administer -> 0 (1/3) Program -> 0 (2/3) Charisma -> 13-14 (3/3) Know -> 0 (1/1) Focus -> Authority 2 ) (edited)

( Navcomp 500 Amored Vac Suit 400 Grav Chute x2 600 Backopack TL4 50 Microlight Flier 2500 Good Lifestyle x30 750) (edited)

(I need to check on the armored vac suit because I know there’s a tl5 suit of some kind that isn’t available)

(see attached 1/2)

11:21 PM

(see attached 2/2 vacc skin is tl5 armored vacc suit is tl 4, your call though im ok with with my regullar vacc suit too the one i started with I think)

(the armored one is fine, i was thinking of the vac skin)

8:52 AM

(list is good)

Fransisco wakes up late and a bit sore from the long flight from the plane but well rested. He would arrive back to the office around 1130 am to go over with his employer any loose ends or continued work. He has a few ideas of his own on how the company can beat the other explorer competitiors, but he will listen to what his boss has to say first.

The datacard you returned has some interesting data on it, but more powerful computers, and more savants are going to be needed to do something about it completely. Your metal deposit is verified on both scans and credit for the discovery is given to you in a local AONET newsflash. You're advised the governor will be made aware when he returns from a state visit to Mariam

"That's good news, lets start with the data card. That is unprecendented, I thought it was just a simple navigation and survey log,. Was there encripted data in it as well?" "In terms of buisness, of the locations it had already scouted do any need to be further probed for better results?"

"THere is a large amount of data on it that we've only just begun sifting through. We have fragmentary pieces of a great deal of information, but not the whole picture by any stretch. So you were at that base, and never left the hangar at all during the storm? I find that a bit shocking"

"Look here, as shocking as it may sound, that would of been unecesary risk. The hangar was abandoned yes, but what if there were hostiles or active security sentries in the other structures? We can go back to that site whenever you want, but that's not a solo job, unless you don't value the person doing it, you shouldn't really ever do dangerous things without a spoter or partner. Especially when that would mean you'd also loose expensive equipment on top of an airplane." Fransisco takes a moment of thought. "This is a though for you and the board members to think about, I think efficiency would be siginifcaly improved if we sold the current plane you have and bought a larger plane such as a TL 4 or TL 5 -AdAstra has them I think-, we could have a Captain and a First Officer take on more dangerous pilot flights, and also have a survey or Comms officer there giving us flight locations to survey real time instead of relying on communication with the tower." "Think about it, we have good publicity right now, so pitching such an idea to investors for the money would be easy. And more importantly, we would be able to do missions during the ash season in full swing and get ahead, no, demolish the conpetition." "Lastly, with a plane with a larger cargo hold we could salvage* and explore ruins as well." Fransisco would sit back down with a big smile of complete confidence. (edited)

"We'll be sending a team in next. As far as the other things you have mentioned, I'm not sure what these tech levels you speak of are, but the planet is capable of producing frontier capable aircraft. Scaring up investors is going to be difficult on a world still focused on building enough housing and raising enough hyroponics domes"

"sorry I wasn't aware of the economic situation of the planet, I like your approach, and before we purchase new planes let's wait a few days untill we get a better idea of what that second chip had and after we give that abandoned station a thorough look. I'd would like to be in that team if you have the space."

"We do. Small team is all we can get in there with our current means. You, two security experts, and a programmer. I think between the group of you there's enough of a spread to keep you moving"

"I like what I'm hearing, I'll be on call 24/7, I rather do this when we have the best weather we can get rather than any one particular time in the day."

"THe team leaves tomorrow morning, if you choose to be there you'll be welcomed, but the expedition is leaving no matter what"

"Excellent, I'll get a few things in order on my end this afternoon and rest from early evening till 0400, should be back here by 0430, feel free to call me if anything changes." Fransisco would then go do some last minute shopping.

(Fransisco really, really wants to buy some missiles, bit I won't let him and buy 2 graneades instead.)

(was the shopping the list you put up earlier?)

(Fransisco flew back from his first mission, went to sleep at night, leveled up when he woke up, bought 4800 credits worth of stuff, or idk I bought a lot of good lifestyle expenses, maybe I got a butler to do those errands for me, then I had this noon meeting, and then I decided to buy 2 more grandes on top of everything else, before going back home and resting some more)

(Okay. Skolli I think is going to be scouting with you. Just getting that organized and we can head off) (edited)

(sounds good, I'll be around)

(so, is this the plan?)

3

The following morning, after resting, you receive the message that the exploration team is heading out in a few hours, gathering at the same small airport first. The role of the tech, that was still open last time, is being handled by an Ashen One recruit, named @Dax Withers , and likewise, will be meeting you at the airstrip for the short flight over to the ruins.

(Hey-o!)

S'kolli is standing with his usual rust-brown backpack at the airstrip. His clothes have been replaced since the old ones were torn apart on Miriam, but they are still simple rough spun garments in earth tones that don't reveal anything about his newfound wealth since joing the Corps of Engineers. His single wiry drone is puttering away behind him not-so-silently.

Fransisco is standing with aviators in rather facy clothes

2:18 PM

"Hello, nice to see you again from the unity meeting. You seem like a creative one."

2:20 PM

"I don't think we properly met last time, I am Fransisco, I have a loooong history of odd jobs here and there in aviation and spacecraft buisness, nothing I will bore you with though. Im just the Captain/Pilot for this mission today. We will be exploring some ruins/abandoned I came a acorss the other day." (edited)

(so what is this new plane now TL3 atmoflyer, speed 4, Armor 8, Hp 25, Crew 6, KMH 1200, HardP 2. With maybe: ~~Advances sensors~~, Battery Reserve; Sealed Atmosphere; Cargo Space x14 (7000kg, maybe they changed the advanced sensors for sapce?) and Does it have anything else?) (edited)

(Its just what’s getting you to the scouting area. If something becomes relevant I will tell you. This is not the design)

(ok)

Fransisco would take a long pause looking at messy wrinkled bunch of paperwork he was supposed to read but may have slept on the night prior. Skimming through the ship specks, model and type rather qwickly, he mumbles to himself "bla bla bla... It has a joystick and it can fly" behind a cloud of his cigar smoke he nods in approval. In a hurried shuffle he crumbles the paperwork again and shoves it in this back pant pocket and with his other hand takes off his cigar looking at Skolli and the two security personel, "are you ready?"

S'kolli pulls out his dataslab and gives a chirp to accompany his message.

I'm S'kolli!
I am ready. I like exploring new places!
I'm also good at fixing stuff!

Fransisco's right bushy eye-brow slowly raises rather high into his well groomed and gelled receding hairline. "Ahhh, I can hear the enthusiasm, I like that spirt. You'll go far with that attitude." He then looks at the other two security guards, "we will all get very far with the right attitude." And gives his cigar another go. (edited)

The guards are looking over the plane, and after a few moments look to you. "Are we all ready to go?"

(I'm ready to get to it, but I'll be slow this evening cause I'm DM'ing)

(yeah i appreciate the plans and stuff, but I'm just trying to keep from information overload, if we were going to be doing sometihng where fittings mattered or combat from the plane was expected I'd have given you plans or asked you to draft some )

(Ok, ill assume most of my stuff is loaded onto the plane except for my Microlight Flier) Fransisco leans over to grab the keys to the plane in his pants, as he walks over to the plane, he looks at Skolli and informs him "Skolli, if you want shotgun seat, you can help me by operating this Navcomp while I fly, and with the coms." (Navcomp: A combination of low-tech compasses, automappers, astronomic charts, and gyroscopes packed into a flat, one-kilo case. A character with a navcomp will never get lost on worlds with GPS satellites. They can also make a crude but serviceable automatic map of all buildings or landscapes they travel through. Other terrestrial navigation skill checks are made at a +1 bonus.) Fransisco opens the plane door and starts the ignition process for the engines as the security personnel load up the plane and everyone gets situated... (edited)

The plane is brought out to the runway by a small tug-cart, and you are given takeoff clearance. One of the security officers comes up and sits in the empty navigator seat. "So you're aware of the complex and what we're looking for there? I know the guy we're working for. hes not always the best at communicating"

"ehh, kind-off. Haven't been brief yet on any new information that may have come about from the chip or about its prior history." Fransisco presses some switch in the control panel. "At the very least, I know there is an old plane I'd like to salvage for spare parts and some structures I did not explore, let me know if there is something I should know though." Looks at the back seats. "Skolli, do you know anything about abandoned buildings in this planet?" (edited)

He chirps back and a message begins appearing on his dataslab for you to see. Only been in one so far... it was scary! There was a mean bird thing that tried to get me!

"if we find mean brid things, well give them some cherries. If you want one there's two in the left hand box next to your chair" and he points to a tin can, it has 2 granedes In it. (edited)

Quickly he would radio the tower: "Control tower this is Fransisco, we are moving to the runway for takeoff, over" As the plane starts to move into position he would look at everyone's seat belts "make sure you have your belts on!".

(do we want to fast forward unitll we land or have some charcter rp? I don't really know at what pace we all want to move at.)

(I'm fine to move forward. There will still be RP during the mission stuff too)

1

(you guys are just posting faster than me,) The plane makes its way to the island after a short flight, this time clear of storms or the need to scout other areas. The complex below is a tangle of buildings along with a rough airstrip and hangar. Some sort of smokestack has fallen through the middle of the complex, cutting it into a west and east district

"Skolli, over there, in that hangar is where I saw the old plane, do you want to start over there? Maybe we could get some salvage from, or fix it. I was thinking after that we could move on to the next building and so forth. Untill we had the entire compound thoroughly looked at." (edited)

He nods in agreement with an affirmative-sounding squawk.

Fransisco would fly around the base to get one good view of the compound and then land next to the hangar he stayed at before. He would look at one of the security personel and tell him "I think I want one of you go out there with a long ranged weapon and get a good vantage point where you can give us cover and keep an eye on the ship itself. I can give you one of my gravity harnesses if you need to jump out of the roof in a hurry." "The other security personel will come with me and Skolli if that sounds allright with everyone, yes?"

They seem to agree with the sensible plan, and he helps himself to the harness from your bag. The facility below looks dormant and very abandoned, and it can only be guessed what kind of riches must remain inside.

"Excelente, vamonos!" Fransisco would say. Already his left hand with another cigar. He leads the way to the Hangar, on his walk he would look at Skolli. "You haven't told me, why have you signed up for this mission?"

His head cocks to the side curiously.

Why not?
I live here and I love to explore new places!
Of course I want to come!
I can help with a lot of stuff too.

"Fantasitco" he would reply back to Skolli. "I'm here for the money and the prestige, erm, and the wanderlust to explore old structures as well, of course." Fransisco stop smoking as they approach the hangar and place his cigar in a bag for later use. "Alright, before we go in, make sure to always be careful around the corners that's where they get ya if you aren't quick." He would say with overly expressive hand gestures. (he goes into the hanger, is everything as it was before?) (edited)

(Nobody has been here or moved anything since you were last here)(

Fransisco takes out a wrench "Alright Skolli, let's see if we can take out that engine or if there are any other worthwhile hardware wires we can remove." (I'm thinking I'm just looking for a few spare parts from the plane, maybe if we are lucky we can remove a fitting, then we can move on to he next building?) (edited)

(lets get a fix/int, higher score for a fitting removed intact)

(Which of us?)

8:59 AM

(Also, I wasn't here the last time around so I'm not sure where we are or what we're dealing with)

(FRancisco, since he has a rough idea of what's being looked for in this case, but you can offer a +2, there was an old plane here also in the hangar, when he landed- covering from the storm, and he's trying to get some parts from it now that yo're back)

(Fransisco rolled a 12)

9:11 AM

(I think the only other thing in this hangar are few fuel drums with a hand pump that sit in the corner... but the rusted plane seemed the best thing to loot right now)

(is skolli offering a +2? If so, it's a 14 total)

(It's why I'm here. Help fix stuff)

You're able to pull two pretech components from the ruins of the engine and console compartment, but the actual computer sytem itself has been left to rot too long

3

"Great Job Skolli, let's put these back in our planes cargo hold, and next I was thinking of exploring the building with the smoke stack that crumbled?"

He gives an excited nod and jumps to his feet to load the components.

Fransisco is more cautious now as he approaches the old smoke stack building, he would walk up close and look for a side entrance or main entrance.

S'kolli trails behind carefully. Sparks jump around his hands and forearms as he holds onto his EK powers. Energy Sensitivity is active to search for anything remaining that might be powered up.

(Missing dot?)

Skolli feels a dim electronic presence nestled in the building, above the door. A metal shutter sits above it, only about a meter by a meter, and is currently closed, the outside covering patchy with the passage of time, flaking away the paint

S'kolli tugs on Francisco's clothes before he gets too close.

Do you see that above the door?
I feel something is still active there!
What do you want to do?

Bobs head left and right looking for cameras "Ideally, not trigger any traps behind the door. Before we consider entering from the partially crumbled smokestack over there; can you tell what is still active in there, where it's come from? What about windows, do you see any windows?"

He idly scratches his neck before another message appears on his dataslab.

Probably a camera!...
...or maybe a camera with a gun to shoot us.

(No windows on this side of the building)

8:18 AM

Skolli can only sense that there is power there, not what it is powering

"well, we could get a welding torch and a ladder and weld the shutter above this door shut. If you got on my shoulders you could probably reach it as well... I have some spare parts, and tools if you don't. Then we open the door?"

I'm afraid to get closer until we know what it is...
Maybe I can send my drone in to see!

A coughing sputtering sound announces the activation of his drones anti-grav thrusters as it springs to life. S'kolli peers through the drone's sights as he urges it closer to the doorway.

(How close are you getting to the door, you're about 40m away right now)

(haha I though we where like 2m below it, 1m away from it, I don't think I'll get closer than 40m since skolli is going to use his drone.)

(Skolli is who that was directed at

Fransisco would call the sniper "if you can see that shutter, get ready to potentially fire there" then he points to the security guard next to him "let's get behind somee cover and point our guns at it first". (edited)

9:11 AM

Then looks at skolli "just in case there is something mean behind the shutter"

(I'm piloting the drone closer until something happens, if something will happen.)

As the drone closes to 20m, the shutter opens, quickly, and a scorpion tailed turret pops out- Tip armed with a laser cutter three bolts of laser energy hit the dusty ground in front of the probe before the turret sneaks back into the grate

11:56 AM

(pops out, fires, pops back in to reload, like a toaster)

(Didn't hit my drone though, right?)

(No it hit the ground. I got a 9)

It's an uncanny experience to be shot while in first person view, even if the drone isn't S'kolli himself. Startled, S'kolli screeches as he tries to spin the drone and run it back towards his position.

THe drone was not struck and begins to wobble back toward your position. With no targets in range, the turret does not emerge again

S'kolli snaps out of the drone sight and hurriedly messages Francisco.

It's a bad one!
Not friendly!

"Terrible news, but it seems like it is only bad when we are within about 21 meters of it. The collapsed smokestack may have crumbled an entrance into existence that the original architects did not plan, do you want to try inspect for alternative entrances there?"

I can do it! S'kolli begins buzzing his drone around the perimeter looking for another way in.

The rest of the building looks impassible aside from the fallen smokestack. There is a rubble pile where it detached from the rest of the building you could scale, and then use to rapel inside

"I'm sure there is some rope back in the ship's cargo hold, I'll go get some for some industrial spelunking."

S'kolli looks at you for a moment and then produces a bundle of sturdy rope from who-knows-where. With a questioning gesture, he offers it to Francisco. (edited)

Fransisco initiates plan B "Alright crew, we are doing industrial spelunking, Guardo, we will be putting on hard hats, and masks to protect against fine particulates. We will scale the scalable rubble parts with the intent to tie this rope securely onto that sturdy H beam protruding from the collapsed pile, all of this so that rappelling down into the lower chamber can be done safely." He takes a moment to think. "Now, smoke staks are usually used to either increase air flow in a furnace, so this could of been an old foundry, or, to disperse pollutants, or both in all those cases, the dust could be toxic. I'm not sure if this was a cooling tower, I don't think it is one so we probably won't find any nuclear power plant stuff in there that may still be radioactive, but ill still take some vac suits just in case. So be careful!"

9:19 PM

Fransisco looks at S'kolli very seriously "there could be dangerous things everywhere!" (edited)

I've got a built in filter!
I'll be OK!

S'kolli points to his ventilator mask. Ready to go!

You circle the building, keeping away from the turret's engagement radius, and arrive at the fallen smokestack. It has cut this facility in half, but the stack itself seems to have been reinforced, and not crumbled when it hit the ground, merely settled. The interior is very dark, and dust drifts out as the wind blows gently, coming in from the lava sea

Fransisco would spelunk through the smoke stack and carefully procede, he is looking for a wall that may have an exposed crevice, or interior doors/shafts. He would keep looking until he reached the foundation of the smokestack, at the foundation he would look for exaust chambers or maintenance access points, he's not a chemical engineer, but he would imagine that large complex structure could potentially have had such things. (edited)

(We can't really skip that far ahead of Neko. Just take it one step at a time. Let's get into the tunnel and make our way through it rather than assume we're in the clear all the way to end)

(thank you, yes)

(okay, sorry)

Entering the smokestack, more of the stale smoke comes out, dust disturbed by the breeze. It is low, coming in through cracks and sounds almost mournful. Brick crumbles under your boots, weakened by the passage of time.

12:07 PM

You see that the insides were heat treated, and hot smoke or by product of some kind must have been coming out

12:08 PM

Midway down the chimney, a protruding wall msut have lanced through the side of it, now coming through the floor in a makeshift barricade preventing further access without removing it

Fransisco would inspect it with his flashlight and ask S'kolli "Do you have has any ideas, can you sense anything?"

S'kolli follows carefully with his own "headlamps" illuminated on the side of his AR visor. He gives a Francisco a glance before visibly concentrating and reaching out with his electrokinesis senses. He gives the wall a test by zapping electricity into it to see if anything gives way.

it shifts somewhat, and a small spurt of dust billows into the air

1:06 PM

(so you can knock it down, its not super solid)

"Carefull there S'kolli, it looks unstable"

S'kolli runs himself feebly into the wall shoulder first, but his short and slight frame give him very little mass to work with. He shrugs back at Francisco and gives an 'after you' gesture. (We have a couple guys with us, right?)

(we have a guard with us, the other one is outside in some tall tower with a grab harness in case he need to bail with some long range weapon)

1:35 PM

Fransisco would try to fit through, if he can't he would slowly scrape away and dislodge some of the ruble to make space.

(I was just thinking we need a larger person to throw their body at the wall or do something to knock it down since S'kolli is too small physically to affect much.)

(A larger person can try, you do have one guard on the ground, or we can dig some more away, either option is valid)

(I would like to try and dig methodically and carefully as opposed to hopeing our guard can muscle his way through it)

Fransisco looks at S'kolli in a contemplative manner for a while before speaking "No, this might be our only exit and I intend to leave with more salvaged items, if we are in a hurry on our way out we won't have time to widen this hole. I will make this hole at least my shoulder width." He then looks at the guard, hand me the tools, I'm sure there was a spade one somewhere in there, this requires care" he then looks at S'kolli "Can you assist me by either using these spare parts and bracing as I dig a little? Don't want to cause a cave in."

Digging methodically and carefully, you begin picking away at the ruined section, removing clumps of stone that have been compacted together by the years of compression. After each piece is removed, there is a pause to see if anything shifts, but it does not.

7:47 PM

(no fix or rolls are needed here)

7:47 PM

The obstruction is cleared after an hour, and the way ahead to the end of the stack looks clear. You see a cross beam at the end of the stack where you can affix a climbing line

With a high heart rate, sour joints and some sweat on his brow from all the work Francisco would look ahead at the cross beam "Haha ha!, great job... team, we are getting closer, Gaurd, please, go tie this rope, around that H beam, I, I need to rest a bit, but I'll look, at were the descent will lead us to."

S'kolli sticks with Francisco until we're ready to continue further in.

(Well, the grunt can do it to the best of his abilities, if thats good enough we can push on)

S'kolli looks from Francisco to the grunt and back to Francisco. Does he need help? I'm good at fixing stuff!

"I might need a hand over here, this bar is wobbling quite a bit, we need to shore it up with sometihng if its going to take any weight"

"It looks like he needs help, S'kolli, I'll go looking for something heavy, perhaps some of the rubble I just dislodged, and you can assist him with making sure the structural integrity of what he's building is adaquate" (Authority 2 gives the guard a +1 on all his skill checks, and I'd like to assist him if that's possible) (edited)

(Skolli is assisting, so him with your authority gives a cumulative +3)

(Would you like one of us to roll 2d6 +3?)

(yes please)

(I rolled for the gaurd, got a total of 9)

THe rapelling lines are secured and set up properly, and they seem well anchored after a few pulls. It looks to be about a 30m descent into the factory below, though it is too dark to see mcuh of the inside

Fransisco would get his rapelling gear in order and begin the descent. (Can I go down 10 meters and then use my flash light to get a better look?)

(sure can)

"get ready to pull me up Gaurdo in case something bad happens [he says that to the gaurd] I'll go down a bit and see if I can get a better look". I grasp the rope and get on all fours, legs looking for things step on, as I go over the edge, my hands grasp the lines as I slowly feed the belay/rapelling device with more rope as I go. (If I don't fall, I would then use my flash light after descending 10 meters to get a better look)

This building was a manufacturing plant once, using the natural heat of the lava to power thermal exchanges and run machinery. Some sort of metal shop existed here in conjunction with a component stamping plant- the machines are relatively standard and easy to identify, as you dangle above the factory floor

"It looks like I'm seeing a lot of metal shops, CNC machines, and compression machines S'kolli, I think youll like them. I don't see any of those metal screens with turrets or hostile things I think it's safe for all of us to come down." Fransisco rappels to the floor, he would wait for everyone else who's coming down before doing more stuff.

S'kolli pokes his head over the edge and looks into the gloom. With a nod, he readies himself to climb down too. Energy Sensitivity is up to sense what's nearby as he lowers himself to follow Francisco.

You confirm the machines Francisco has seen as you both make your way to the factory floor. You are not storing enough charge to start any of them, but feeling the electrical systems inside, you get a feel for their use. These machines would be worthy of a small fortune back in Haphaestus Rest

1

"S'kolli, I'm not clueless about industrial megapelexses, they are large and complex like battleships and space stations, but I think you are the expert here now that we are inside. Do you think it would be prudent to search for the main control room, or an access terminal, maybe we can disable the mean sentries, or check the last logs to see if anyone else has been here recently. Just throwing some suggestions." (edited)

"oooooOOOoooo..." I could fix so much stuff with these machines! S'kolli wanders around and searches out some sort of control panel for the building.

Fransisco and the Guard try to cover his back and blind spots as best they can staying relatively close by as he moves about. (edited)

With energy sensitivity, Skolli finds the main breaker box for the factory floor handily. There is some residual power but not enough to keep a facility like this running at full or even half capacity for any length of time

11:36 AM

If there is a reactor or other type of energy generation project at work here, it is dormant or damaged

With sparks dancing on his arms, S'kolli goes for the main breaker to turn it on. He turns around excitedly to see if anything comes to life with electricity.

"S'kolli, I would of never thought of looking for the main breaker box room, sleek find" Fransisco starts to read the breakers labels, he's looking for anything that sounds perilous.

The lights come on, and the machines enter standby mode. Lights flash on all of them stating materials are missing or power is not sufficient to continue work

7:10 PM

(This was like enough power to put the place on standby )

I should fix this place up and make an office here! Then I could make ALL sorts of things! S'kolli thinks to himself as he admires the engineering. (edited)

7:19 PM

This place seems to actually be in OK shape...
If you ignore that there isn't enough power to run anything and there's a few structural problems!

"I get the sense that the smoke stack was the main source of power, most likely; see, the hot source would of been the surface of the planet itself, and the cold source would of been the high altitude of the tower. Bam, there's your Carnot Heat Engine. We would either have re-build a smokestack or bring in a new industrial sized generator to get all of this running again" Fransisco thinks for a few moments and says "Skolli, do you know what the last logs were regarding personnel and security protocols?" (edited)

He shrugs.

Who cares about THAT?
What did they MAKE?
I want to find a warehouse area or somewhere where they kept finished goods!

"S'kolli, I understand that what they made here and what the warehouse might have are extremely interesting things, i am interested too! I just don't want to deal with more of those sentries that pop out and shoot, as you said they are mean and they could could hurt us, or even worse, destroy your drone. I was just thinking that in terms of priority of tasks, maybe disabling security that sees us as hostile might be smart."

I can try!
Let's find the control panel!

(would Administer be applicable here? I have administer lvl-0)

(not really, you're not dealing with government records)

8:26 PM

(and all you did was ask if he found documents, nobody looked or did, all he did was throw some breakers to get the power on, not really a data storage system to interact with, based on where we are right now)

(I'd like to begin to look for one)

(are the breakers labeled to what kind of rooms the switches are for? Does this room have any old dusty map of the compound on the wall?)

(The breakers are not labeled for rooms, just the machines they power, and no, there are no maps) There is a small room off to the right of the sprawling factory floor. The door looks to be reinforced with a grate over the glass and heavy strikeplates on the bottom, and around the door handle

Looking at S'kolli "Vents, blowtorch, or grandes?"

(Is there any panel near the door that looks hackable?)

(Nothing on the outside of the door no)

(Looks like were forcing an entry)

(are there any diamond cutter power tools around here that we can use? Do we have a blow torch? Or do you just wanna use a ganade?)

(your flyer does not have a locker, so whatever you have now is what you have, aside from searching or something like that)

I'm better at getting in with a computer.
If you're knocking the door down, I have no expertise with that.

"S'kolli, you can provide power to motors right? Is that some thing you can do? I'll look for a machine with a cutter, or a drill bit, we can remove or drag it here and use it on the door. If that fails we'll use grandes"

He nods yes and squawks something happy sounding. He accompanies Francisco on a hunt for some portable machinery to cut through the door.

Fransisco is menacingly creeping around dual wilding the very same wrench he used to strip the derelict plane from before and a flash light in the other. His eyes keenly scoping the machines for plundering. (edited)

(Notice/wis)

(don't know who's rolling or who's assisting, let me know if you also want me to roll for our guard. In any event, I got a 5)

(11)

S’kolli feverishly runs about the factory floor swiping a selection of components, wire, gears and focusing coils into something that after an hour resembles a haphazard breaching drill (edited)

1

See! Look!
I fixed stuff so I can break stuff!

S'kolli uses Conduit to fire the drill up to life. A blue-white tendril of electricity tethers his arm to the device.

It chews air nosily as the whirring blades and jackhammer like breaching tip come to life, touched by the power being generated here

S'kolli presses the rudimentary tool into the door near the handle to shear off the locking mechanism.

There is a harsh squeal as the first punch cuts the bottom of the hinge, and a second punch tears it from the wall

"Wow, Thank you S'kolli, that thing might also be helpfull when we get to the storage room."

He nods excitedly and rushes ahead to see what's inside the room.

Francisco follows.

This is a security and administration room, where reports were filed, order forms were put in, and the factory floor itself was monitored. There are six computers in here that all seem to be working in good order, since this room was sealed off

3:15 PM

They are arranged in a circle, backs all facing one another, interacting with a central data and processing core

"ooooOOO!" S'kolli scurries up to one of the workstations to access the automated security measures and hopefully disable them.

The security system is disabled, the residents here evidently leaving in haste, or at least expecting to be back to work in short order

6:40 PM

(You can ask questions, easier than a data dump)

S'kolli chirps in delight.

What did this facility manufacture?

(edited)

This facility manufactures stamped metal plating and components for light vehicles, and light airframes

Satisfied, he continues.

What caused the collapse of the factory?

the factory was crushed by seismic activity in the time before the tectonic plates were stabilized by the orbital platforms strange projection system

S'kolli scans the files for a building layout that might give him clues where to look next for hidden treasures.

Fransisco sits on the largest, most regal chair, and innocuously looks for business cards on the desk, employee cards, keys, loose data chips, notebooks, post-it-notes and the like. "S'kolli, I'm over here if you need anything"

There is a storage site on the campus here where some finished products were meant to be airlifted out. The order forms are all showing hilariously expired fulfillment dates, and it looks like the shipment has never gone out

S'kolli chirps excitedly and points to the screen.

Look!
There's where we can find more stuff!

He then connects directly into the computer with his cybernetic implant by rifling through his bag for a moment and producing a cable that looks like it should fit. The other end plugs into a input jack on his upper arm.

10:53 AM

He attempts to download the map of the facility along with any other important looking information so he can take it back with him.

Fransico looks at the screen S'kolli is pointing at, and with his compad's camera, or a pen, records the general layout.

(I can get more of a map if you want one, basically there's ruins everywhere with a couple points of interest that were mostly theater of the mind)

(I'm good without a map. I was trying to give S'kolli a story reason to know where things are)

You are also able to extract the security code fromt he computer, for the warehouse, but without seeing the state the door is in post collapse, you're not sure if it will be needed or not

Francisco would nod at S'kolli "Security is disabled right? I'm ready to go."

S'kolli unattaches himself from the console and nods.

Let's go!
Maybe we'll find some cool working stuff!

The warehouse is across the campus, and you will need to exit this building to get there. It is to the northwest of this building, the most outside developed area in this research and manufacturing park

With the campus layout now projected over his field of view in true augmented reality style, S'kolli leads the way towards the storage warehouse.

Fransisco follows with a little more peace of mind since security sentries should have been disabled. However, he would still be cautious, especially for falling beams or the like from these weakened structures.

The ground is rubble covered and choked with blocks, and dust. The hangar where th eplane was found,the factory, and the warehouse you're heading to are some of the only buildings located here that are intact still. Beams and random spars poke out everywhere like skeletal fingers

11:47 AM

The warehouse itslef has a large bay front door, keypad either unpowered, or unlocked

(Not sure I know what you mean by unlocked. The bay door is closed but unlocked?)

2

(Correct)

(it is shut but the electronic lock is not engaged)

(Thank you for clarifying after I made myself look stupid lol

)

S'kolli looks at the door and then over to Francisco with a questioning look and shrugs.

I'm not very strong.
I don't think I can open this if the motor for the door doesn't have power and we have to move it manually.

"No worries" Francisco grabs a long piece of rebar from the rubble, and asks the Gaurd to push over a large cinder block onto position. He wedges the lever under the lip of the Gate's opening edge, and with the cinder block acting as fulcrum in position he leverages his efforts to get compounded results. Francisco looks at S'kolli: "Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world" And he pushes! (does it work?) (edited)

(who is standing where right now. Francisco is in front of the door, where is skolli)

(Giving him room to work. Brute force isn't my thing)

(evasion save Francisco!)

(Sorry S'kolli, I may have succeeded and the world hates me now) (Evasion Save, Success, 15vs13) (edited)

A falling tumble of machine parts cascades from the door as you wrench it open, the heavy engine blocks scattering across the ground, kicking up dust, and coming to rest. A direct hit by one would have flattened a person.

"EEEEEEEE!!!" S'kolli screeches shrilly. As the dust settles he runs over to help Francisco up. "Seeeka Da N'iki? Da N'iki?"

Fransisco can be heard yelling "CARAJO!" He emrges from the dust with a grey beard. "Dios mío, S'kolli, look at all this fantastic stuff!" (edited)

Finding Francisco in good health, S'kolli turns his attention to the pile of stuff that tumbled out of the door. There's so many drone mods I could make with this stuff!

There are enough engines and small components here to outfit at least a dozen vehicles, if not more, scattered across the warehouse entryway. This looks to have been a parts warehouse once, where replacement gear would ahve been shipped to other parts of the planet, or eventually offworld, had the original settling initiative not failed

"S'kolli, I'm realizing all of the stuff here, it's unprecedented,... did you go over our employer's and the local governments scouting authorization and documents. We have legal rights to all this right?" "I mean, I can't tell if we should repair this plant here and being productin, or if we should send several convoyes of cargo planes to loot everything here and start a new facility over at Hapasteous Rest." "S'kolli, drones are fun, but with this we could also make vehicle for own as well. Don't really know where to start." He would then look around again and scratch his head. And address S'kolli more directly and seriously. "Sorry S'kolli, I got carried away in thought, are there any other buildings for us to inspect?"

We should be able to take whatever we want!
Other people might think this is junk anyways.
There's no more buildings since the rest are all smashed to bits!

1:52 PM

(Italicized text is just a thought that S'kolli had, not said out loud. He didn't mention drones or anything)

(The employer is contracted to bring salvage back to the city and scout. The whole point is for the city/government to know what's around it and use what it can to speed up development, otherwise why contract private companies who are just going to set up their own trade fiefdoms on your dime)

2:18 PM

(You guys get a cut of it)

(I hate it when you make sense like that)

Fransisco would dust himself off a bit. "S'kolli, go ahead and get a roughf itemization and inventory of all of this, we can't fit all of it on our planei don't think, while you do that let me go over our contract documents." He would then take out his cigar and crumbled bunch of paperwork and read it over... "S'kolli looks like we get a share of the loot, make sure you tag the best stuff for us. The remaining good stuff for our trip back, and the rest for future trips from out employer, the gaurd and I will haul it back to the ship." (edited)

S'kolli begins logging everything electronically through his visor and saving the inventory record to AONet. He pokes and prods the pile when necessary, or when something shiny strikes his fancy.

(so, i think we are nearing a logistics zone now, how much stuff we can load on the plane? Is it safe to assume that the manufacturing equipment we found in other room is too bulky?)

(Yeah that stuff is two bulky. It would take three cargo only plane rides to move everything home

S'kolli opens a line to the employer over AONet, notifying them of the findings and requesting more cargo haulers to bring everything home. To Francisco, he types.

I told them what we got!
They should be able to bring bigger vehicles to help move it all.

Fransisco radios the almost forgotten gaurd that was sent to a tall place "how you doing up there, Did you see anything interesting? Let us know if you see a storm coming, we are waiting on tower for guidance, S'kolli requested bigger cargo planes."

“Weather looks clear for now. That could change fast. The only things I’ve got moving down there right now are you guys”

"S'kolli, are you even get a signal from central tower?"

(I don't know actually)

5:05 PM

(Sorry I didn't get a notification for this thread)

while the DM isn't looking, Fransisc and S'kolli take all the vehicle components manufacturing components and the factory itself to make the following: https://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/16/15914/FB.jpg Also it can traverse magma and lava. And they sail away.

~~(Fix/Int = 15 with Francisco's help for this plan we're totally doing)~~ (edited)

(There’s a signal but I don’t know what you want them to do) (edited)

10:08 AM

Your employer is sending heavier lift craft to gather the useful components here. Each of you have managed to pocket something for yourselves. (1 pretech component, 3xp, 5000 credits)

(Is this in addition to the one component we found earlier?)

(1 pretech component total for each of us, or 2 pretech component total for each us?) LVL3 changes summary: HP: 20 Lead -> 2 Stab -> 0) (edited)

11:54 AM

Francisco would send a message to Dax Withers once he returns to the airport,

Dax Withers,
As I mentioned in the Unity Council Meeting, if you are in dire need of a ship captain, I am available. In any event, best of luck out there.
-Francisco

(edited)

(I can captain my own ship, thank you very much

)

1

(2 total)

1

(You probably don't want to go deep into fleshshaper territory with us at lvl 3 lol)

(can I donate my pretech to UNW efforts against the fleshshapers?)

(Sure you can)

4:16 PM

(I’ll give you some extra face for it)

(Okay, he donates all his pre-tech components)

The lifters clean out the facility and your group loads up as well with the small amounts of salvage you’ve been able to claim for yourselves. You’re each given an accolade for finding the factory

(From roll20 Tsatsos, wild life: First seen by the mission team of Cass, Melora, Herb, and Val, the beast emerged from the lava floes near the ruins of the southern ruins. The team fled, and thus its capabilities remain unknown. Any new news about the beast? I think Fransisco might want deal with that and then take the souther ruins...?)

(No new info because no ones done anything with it since then)

Francisco would accept the Accolade ceremony in his finest clothing,, and give a rather bold speech: "Thank you for this gracious gift, S'kolli was great help, and so where the two crewmembers who also joined our perilous mission, if it wasn't for them, heavy laser plasma from malfunctioning sentries would of taken my head off. I would like to announce, that this is just the begging; and our company has been discussing what next mission I shall Captain. Now, we usually don't publicize private corporate strategy; but given the circumstances, I'll let you in on a secret." Francisco gives a pause for the tension to build up and gives a rather large smile. "We are in the preliminary talks of spotting the whereabouts of the dreaded Beast of the south, and slaying the beast if it be foul. All of this so that all the plunders of the Southern Ruins and ore deposits the beast prowls may be re-taken; all this to aid in our efforts and the good works. The good people here deserve to live in peace and prosper, and that is why I am here, to make us safer, and stronger!" If the crowd is cheering he would take some personal affect, perhaps his Aviator glasses and throw them into the crowd, before promptly putting on a second pair back, - he keeps a spare at all times. (edited)

(Okay so you’re going to hunt this thing down? Is that what you’re getting at?)

(hunting that thing would be a good idea. My boss might have something else in mind before doing that. I think that ideally I would like to find where it lives, what it eats, if it's hostile, territorial, how big it is, maybe shoot it with a drone from afar to see how it reacts. But not engage it head on, yet. Is what I was thinking.)

(I don't see how we can possibly scale it back into something else after everything thats been written, alright, lets move along then) The company is not providing any material support for this aside from the scout plane you were already using. This is an exploration company, not a hunting and safari company. Anything that needs to be done is with your own resource

(well, I do use glasses and have a lazy eye. But yes, we can move along)

Dear President and Board Members: Thank you for seeing the potential for more profits with this venture and providing me with the use of a plane. I agree, this is not a hunting and safari company; but, it looks like we are lacking talent and creativity in our advertising department, I see this as a publicity endeavour, susces will surly make our company the first to come to mind for anyone looking for ~~a good~~ *the best* exploration company.

I will give you an executive summary of how the exploring of the beast and southern ruins tommorow will be conducted after I iron out some logistical and administrative details. 

-Fransisco

(edited)

(I can't really write anything else until there's more information presented, I have no idea how youre gonna go about this)

(i don't either I have to buys stuffs first. Will do it tommorow.)

(but like 33% it involves installing a rocket launcher on the plane, or buying 10-20 demo charges. 33% chance it's just exploring and finding the beast, and then flying away. 33% something in between.)

(okay, well, whenever youre ready)

(The very first exploratory plane that had no space available irght? Not the second one that was used with Skolli and the two security personnel right?)

(Correct)

(well, that rules out the rocket launcher idea, which means I'll probably be getting some demo charges) Fransisco would file an inquiry for the report from Cass, Melora, Herb and Val, and for any second/subsequent sightings. He would like to read them and see if there were any clues that may be surmised from the reports. Such as, why or when it emerges. (edited)

It emerged on an island nearby but there was no formal report. The group fled before a serious engagement or study could begin

Fransisco sometimes likes to do things the old way. He prints large maps of the planet and gets the best resolution he can on the island in question from whatever salvaged data was acquired from the first survey plane, his own navcomp and records. With an opisometer and curvemeters he carefully plots a survey plan, and later optimises the paths more with recommendations from staff in his company. (I'm at the base with the windmilld in the northwest and It looks like the base to south east is about 13-15 tiles away, that's like 3000 km away if I go south east... Can I fly north & off the map instead and come around the other way? This planet is a sphere right?)

(You can do that. The planet is a sphere)

They have no recommendations for you, as stated, they’re into exploration, not monster hunting

(Alright, going around the other way cuts travel time there to about 6-7 tiles. The plan is: Fly over to the area and scan near the island and search for beast and follow it around, also explore ruins if I find any. As an insurance policy I'm thinking, Fransico would like to go for a good one: A Sleeper Drone with three suicide charges, all of them with demo charges; and Holoskin for visual sneakiness. This is expensive, so he sells his micro light flyer which he can't take with him anyways. If the beast starts shooting me, or if I, for whatever reason decide to try and kill it, im going to try and use the sleeper drone. Im guessing the second worst case scenario is the ship can't fly anymore and I'll have to use my grave harness to land on some nearby island that is not lava and call for rescue. Also he gets TL4 Binoculars, that would leave me with 600 credits left)

(ThAt is fine. You can only control one drone at a time with your move actions though)

(yay! Thanks for the clarification) Fransisco would finally present his plan so that people are not clueless as to what he is doing. And prepare his bag harnesses, drone and stuffs for the flight.

The plan is approved as much as the company actually can, they remind you again, this is far outside their normal remit, and they cannot really effectively support you. They do however, make a show of coming out to the airfield to see you off

Fransisco is likewise aware that this is beyond their field of expertise, and that there are dangers ahead. But he is tiered that his entire life he has played it safe and boring, he wants to take full command, make his own opportunities and is eager to set a new reputation for himself. He loads up the cockpit with his bag, drone and miscelanous things and practically crams himself in the chair.

"Tower, requesting takeoff and ready at your command, over"

(edited)

The tower grants permission for your flight and the weather for the day looks clear. The last observed position of the beast is marked on the map as a place to start

Fantastic Fransisco figueres, flying farther he ~~flippity flops~~ fluidly floats across the sky twords his destination, paying attention to the weather and volcanic activity underneath. (edited)

The weather remains clear as the tower indicated. Volcanic activity is..active. A sustained settled presence has not existed here long enough to give forecasters an idea of what could be average. The hours drag on as the plane makes its way to the island where the beast was last seen

Relived that no volcanoes or unusual hotspots have boiled projectiles at his ship. Fransisco begins the scanning and visual observation of the island and the magma around it. He would use his TL4 binoculars to see if he can spot any large depressions on the island, but is mostly looking for irregularities in density on the scanner, irregularities that might indicate a less dense creature below, or a more dense creature below amongst the magma... He has ideas, but doesn't know exactly what the optimal procedure and tests to run for finding the beast.

this may take a while he thinks.

(edited)

(you can do either a notice/wis for visual scanning, or a program/int to try to tune the plane's sensors)

(I think I'll do a visual scan first, let me know if I spot a place to land as well.) (7 notice/wis)

You don't notice anything that would signify the creature with the visual check, but you do see a small patch of flat land on the island, the one where the beast was last seen. It will be a short landing, but the plane is light enough and you should be able to do it

(can i do program/int to try to tune the plane's sensors as I fly around the area near the flat land where the beast was last seen?)

(Sure)

(8 program/int)

The scanners work to examine the lava. There is a dense mass 30m offshore to the north side of the island but it is not moving. The computer suggests it may be a suspended conglomeration of cooling minerals but the model is not accurate and several disclaimers ensure that information is presented

That's interesting Francisco would look at the displayed grid and scale around on the scanner's monitors, and try to get a sense of how big this mass is, and how deep it is. He would fly closer if that would give better results. (edited)

(You got the best info you could with that roll, nothing new )

Francisco would come around once again to get in a good position for a landing in the flat area.

(No check needed here. Your pilot rating is fine for the routine work like this)

Once landing is done, Fransisco would drive a little more and leave the plane as far into the island as possible. He would then slowly walk to the area where the beast had appeared keeping a distance of 50 meters from the island's shore and use his TL4 binoculars from a vantage point to look at the ground. His highly explosive drone is about 70 meters away from him, but also about 50 meterd from the shoreline.

The beast emerges from the area where the mass was detected, the ground rumbling as it rises from the lava sea. It is tall, easily the size of a capital ship on its own, and it’s obsidian plates glisten with magma. It’s arms are rock like and each ends in a long claw, thinner web like membranes stretch between them.

Fransisco is panicking and starts to back off between his teeth he utters obsceneties . "LA RECONTRA PUTA DE MIERDA NUNCA PENSE QUE LA DESGRACIA SERIA TAN GRANDE" (Wait, so it not just a mech/gravtank size, but larger like a carrier/battleship/destroyer size?) (edited)

2

(Yes)

Fransisco runs away.

5

The beast slaps a hand down, causing the magma to boil up In a tsunami like wave, engulfing Francisco, his equipment and the plane itself, he has just enough time to scream before becoming engulfed

4

5

8

1

(we probably want a closing I guess?

) Francisco does not fight it, does not struggle or try to somehow, force his own survival out of sheer will or hope for the improvability of an impossible miracle occurring. Memories run backwards to one of his earliest ones, one with his Godmother.

A child asks at his parent's funeral "what happens when we die?" The Godmother replies smiling "we go to heaven"

As the flashbacks fade away, so too does Francisco, his equipment and the plane itself, his scream would be a silent and calm sigh or relief. About a minute later the heat conduction would probably detonate his drone's three demo charges, causing a minute hiccupy-like-bubble to pop on the vast sea of lava. From far away, one would not see this though, they would see a lonely island. A shiny speck of dust floating and landing on the shore, to which a playful critter splashes some lava towards it, perhaps for it's own amusement, or because it did not fancy the shiny thing on the shore. (edited)