Fallout: Van Buren (IC)

[Kain_Tempest]

FALLOUT
VAN BUREN

ACT I: THE FRONTIER
CHAPTER I: JAIL BREAK

Your eyes slowly flutter open and you look out into the darkness around you. The weight on your bodies tells you that you are on your backs, lying on a firm, but giving surface, your head cradled upon a softer object. Even in darkness however, you can sense the presence of a wall to one side of you and a large void on the other. From the wall you hear a faint, rythmic beeping, and from around you get a feeling of another living entity in a similarly inert state.
You then notice that your limbs feel numb and it takes several moments of concentration before you realize you can move again. Almost creaking, your body complies to your brain's commands. It feels as though you have slept for a very long time, your sense of time is completely shot. As you stir, you look to the source of the beeping to see a little green light pulsing in the darkness, matching the beeping. As you watch, the green light pulses faster as does the beeping. The light goes solid and so does the sound. There is chirp coming from your left arm and a little green light shines. You then realize something weighted has been strapped to your forearm.
It feels to made of plastic and you can't seem to find the latch, at least not in this darkness. Your attempts to remove the device is interrupted by a flick of light near your feet. The wall is gently illuminated by a grey light. Slowly the grey light sharpens, becoming the black and white light of a projection. Sound crackles from above you as a speaker warms up and on the screen a peculiar logo appears followed by cheerful, albeit grainy music.



VAULT-TEC
in Association with the United States Federal Penitentiary Commission

PRESENTS...

UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY
TIBBETS
Welcome to your New Home!

http://people.uleth.ca/~tyrel.schultz/Carson.gif
The sad little cartoon looks up and brightens, apparently seeing you.
"Why hello there! You must be a new inmate. My name is Carson and I am here to tell you about your new home here in the United States Pentitentiary... Or as we call it, Tibbets!" Carson's voice crackles.
The shot changes to a long aerial view of a large, squat building with a large gray dome. Surrounding it are a few auxiliary buildings that look like bunkers, all within a tall, thick concrete wall. Beyond are grassy fields and blue mountains.
"Beautiful ain't it?" Carson chuckles off screen. It cuts back to Carson, lugging the ball and chain as he strolls down a prison hall. "Tibbets is an all-male maximum security prison that was to carry out the judgment of the Federal Courts. It provides a safe, secure, and humane for offenders committed to its custody." Still frames of Carson standing in front of bars where a deranged, muscle-bound monsters glowers at him to show safety. Then we see Carson lifted by the collar of his jumpsuit by a guard, signifying security. Finally Carson pointing too a plate of food, a set of dumb bells, and a radio playing music, thus giving visual cues to humanity.
"Like all Bureau facilities, Tibbets strongly believes in the balanced philosophy of punishment, deterrence, and incapacitation as the valid purposes of confinement." Again, these statements are matched to the following still frames of Carson standing before a just in court to show punishment. Then sad Carson in his striped jumper for deterrence. The incapacitation image is very similar to the safe one with the same caged brute but this time a couple walking by on their merry way.
"Of course, Tibbets is also a place of positive change for its inmates. They provide work, education, training, and counselling so that you can live a better life when your time is up." Carson is once again walking down the hall, passing an inmate working on an engine, then another reading a book, a trio in a classroom, and finally a bearded psychiatrist with a prisoner.
"For more information on these programs and more about Tibbets in general, just refer to your Personal Information Processor strapped to your arm. That little guy should be a big help in the future. But for now, a message from the warden." The image cuts to a photo-protraiture of a man lounging in an office chair looking like a stern, but kind father figure. A marquee calls him 'Warden John Stalford'.
"My friend," Stalford begins, "I welcome you to USP Tibbets and hope you will have a pleasant stay within our walls. I sincerely wish that we can work together to bring a better life to those outside of this penitentiary and perhaps improve your life during your stay with us." The image cuts back to Carson.
"Well, new inmate. That's all we really have to say for now. Until then, stay out of trouble!" The camera zooms backwards slowly away from Carson as he waves. The music becomes louder as bars slowly close in front of Carson and fades to the final marquee.



THE END

"United States Penitentiary Tibbets: Welcome to your New Home" was produced by Vault-Tec video and trideo recording firm in association with the United States Federal Penitentiary Commission. MMXXXXVII

With that, the sound fades out and the lights dim once again until you are in darkness. Slowly, lights from one of the wall to ceiling corners starts glowing until it illuminates the room from behind you. You can now see the other groggy occupant of your room, coming to as slowly as you are. Ahead the gray light begins to clear and the light itself fades away, revealing a chamber beyond a thick, clear barrier. Immediately outside there is a catwalk that runs along the perimeter of the chamber with two bridges that span across the room to run around a large black pillar. Stairs circle the pillar leading from one catwalk to another.
You notice that you are on one of four levels in this chamber. The upper three each have 20 other transparent barriers where you can see several other people. Unfortunately no amount of yelling or banging on the glass gets their attention. Clearly it is sound proof. Down below on the bottom floor you see what looks like an exercise yard with various piecing of training equipment and a running track. A large humanoid shape sits ragged against the pillar on the bottom floor and appears to be attached to what looks like a terminal of some sort, more of which you see on the pillar. One on each level.
The room that you are currently in is large, but at the same time, small, and confined. featuring the bed you are currently on, a desk with a chair, latrine and sink. All of which have been bolted or built out of the surfaces of the room. You seem to be wearing a short-sleeved blue jumpsuit that appears to have been tailored to your body. There is a yellow, four-digit number on the left pectoral of the shirt. On your left arm is a strange device that seems to be attached by a complex mechanism and a strip of densely woven cloth. No kind of tampering seems to break the lock. The device itself is surprisingly light on your arm and is a little larger than six inches. The device features a large black screen and a few buttons on the side. The object also has some letters on the upper left that spell out 'pip'. Whatever that is...

***


Download complete
Executing install.run...
1 - 1 - 1 - 1
Installing...
Complete...
Executing update.exe through H2-Analog Port 02
H2-Analog Port 02 Accessed...
Package has been sent
Package received
Downloading c01d_5h0w3R.boot via H2-Analog Port 02
Download complete
New boot command detected...
Executing c01d_5h0w3R.boot
System boot in 3 2 1...

*beep*

The pile of inert plates and wires receives a boot order to its main CPU from the H2-sub-server. As the main power unit activates and electrical currents pulse in the core processor, the being that is given the comment reference of "Nick - VT" slowly spreads its influence through the pile of junk. Power and electrical signals expand throughout its being until all your core processes are awakened and it is once again aware. Place holder 'it' is now replaced by VT's presence, bringing priority to option 3, 'you'.
'You' VT, begin a natural diagnostic as all your subprograms come online. Immediately you find something amiss as your data logs do not match the last one's time stamp. Your active, previous data log is now missing, as are any others that your ghost hard drive recalls, the details are fuzzy, but you are sure that data log 2251.19.03 is wrong and doesn't match the ghost. Immediately this situation is placed as an error and added to the new data log for today. But it the program comes up with a new problem. Your network shows no other timekeepers. With your data logs altered and without a point of reference from your subsystems, you have no idea what the date is, and therefore cannot properly keep the data log. Another error. What a ****y way to start a boot up process.
Immediately you are aware that your request for driver data from your arms and legs are not responding, coming back with the connection error. A chassis report suggests that they are powered but are no longer linked to the main core. Besides that, several of your peripheral parts have appeared to be removed, having no power transferring to them, let alone a connection to the core. The only servos that appear to be function on the ones for your head. Allowing you mostly to look around. Lastly, the diagnostic confirms that H2-Analog Port 02 is indeed active and connected with a Version 5 one-way transfer cable. Clearly the boot came from this little device which has a huge pipe for loading information onto your system, but only enough upload space to squeeze on one line data requests at a time.
Your sensor suite finally warms up and using your neck servos are able to look around. Fortunately, only your peripherals were removed and despite some dirt and grime, your sensors are working fine. You quickly ascertain that you are no longer in your 'home' Vault and are in a new place entirely. Your personal GPS appears to be on the fritz, having some kind of exception rule occurring. You appear to be alone down here, and there is no sign of anything you recognize. Your network connections further suggest that TT-04, LIO-7, and JC-2 are either offline or (more likely) are not within your wireless range in order to contact. You notice exactly 2 major network nodes however. The first one however immediately states you do not have clearance and then immediately goes offline. Before you can investigate the other, you are given a warning by your software diagnostic. A new program is apparently on your system and has initialized.
A quick scan determines there is no malicious code, and your GPS indicates this to be the exception. However, as soon as the program boots, the exception error ends and can quickly determine your location... Yes, you are definitely NOT in Vault 18 anymore.
The program opens up a suite of various functions including a word processor, data reader, a map creator, drivers for various devices, and finally some kind of interface which you immediately recognize as being able to commune with the network node you had yet to explore. The node is currently connected to 34 unique signatures which appear to be other interface programs like this one, which identifies itself as 'pip'. Whatever that is...

***

UH-OH!
The little wrist device's chirp is startling as the thing comes to life. The little interface shows a green line of text.

"I see you're alive and well. That's good. I got kind of worried when the machines dragged you in here and you weren't moving. 'Course, I never saw anyone else get drugged. My name is Cassie and I'm in cell 1406. I'll wave."
True to her word, she waves from the second level of cells. It's hard to see her from this distance however, all you know is that she has to make gross motions.
"Not everyone in here is very talkative, and it's been kind of lonely. So who might you all be? Oh! I almost forgot. To speak, just press that button on the side towards your hand. The Pip-Boy will record your voice and translate it into text. Make sure to speak clearly."

VT will simply have the information displayed on the interface in his internal CPU so he can easily just will a message and send it without speaking.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

As Alexis came to his senses, he looked around before watching the video. When it ends, he slowly gets up. What the hell was that? Putting a hand to his forehead, then massaging his temples, he feels like voodoo-ing himself out of his groggy state. His hands go to his pockets, and he realises suddenly in what he's dressed. He sees others, dressed the same. He remembers the video with the explanations, the prison and the guards.

"Crap... Seriously?"

As he sighs deeply, the pip-boy starts to display sentences. He looks towards 'Cassie' as instructed. She was just a blur right now, but she did good enough making motions to make herself appear. He shakes his head a bit, trying to get rid of the remnants of sleepiness, pressing the button on the side of the pip-boy.

"Am I in a drug-induced nightmare concerning my minor claustrophobic side? Because it sure as hell looks like one."

He stops pressing the button then looks around him. He had 1 inmate. He tries and manipulate the pip-boy to tell him more about the counseling program.

"How the hell did I get myself in here..." he whispers.

/edited/

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Also known as: Prisoner 6655321 2459

Wrench woke up, bleary eyed.

"This isn't the dam..." he muttered, wiping sleepiness from his eyes. He watched the video in silence, too groggy to make sense of it, and reached up to wipe his eyes again with his left arm.

His face was rapidly introduced to the Pipboy 2000.

"Ow!" he yells, waking up immediately (and probably waking Juggs up in a hurry too).

UH-OH!

"Oh, wow! A Pipboy 2000! I thought only the brotherhood had these anymore!" he exclaims, completely ignoring the message as he examines the buttons closely.

"Hmm... Ah, 'Clues'. Maybe that will help."

He immediately presses the button.

[Surrealistik]

Juggs gets to his feet immediately upon the dissolution of his grogginess (and coincedentally, Wrench's noisy outburst). Ignoring the chirp of the pipboy momentarily, he examines his whereabouts with a meticulous caution, evidently trying to better gauge his circumstances. He nods silently to his cell mate as his eyes acknowledge the man.

Roll against PE: [roll0] vs 10.

Once satisfied with these examinations, he turns to the curious device, observing the message there. Upon reading it, he moves to regard the strange woman, this 'Cassie', his eyes narrowed in an analytic sort of concentration, as if attempting to discern some meaningful detail.

Roll against PE: [roll1] vs 10.

Resigning himself to wary inaction, he decides not to interact with the unfamiliar human, though someone observant would notice that the message was not without effect; his features seem to denote surprise, as if he could scarcely believe receiving such attention. The mutant's focus then once again defers to his cell mate, though his characteristic silence is maintained. He seems to size up the man, scrutinizing him closely for reasons not readily apparent. Finally, he settles upon his mattress, senses readily attuned to the barren atmosphere of the cell, eyes looking outwards at the barrier before him, appearing to stare at nothing in particular.

[reiswind]

Moore

Max yawns mightily as he wakes from his apparently drug induced slumber, making no move to actually get out of bed as he scratches his side and smacks his lips to clear out some of the morning breath. He quickly throws his arm over his eyes as the movie starts to play; even the slightest bit of light is annoying to the man, and he leaves his arm there for the entire duration of the film, still quite groggy and a little cranky. It's only when Alexis speaks that Max realizes someone else is in the room; the chirping of the Pipboy was annoying to be sure, but this was only a dream anyway.

After wiping his eyes free of crust, he looks into the display from the 'comfort' of his bed and groans. Still, this is a dream, and playing along usually works. He fumbles with the controls a bit before finding the proper button.

"Cassie, eh? The name's Max, but you probably already knew that, since you're just a figment of my imagination. So, chief, what is this dream supposed to be all about? A prison, right? This my subconscious telling me I'm feeling guilty for something I did? Or *yaaawn* maybe this is some crazy window into the future? And who's this chump who's in here with me?"

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Alexis."

He seems fairly cautious.

"You're Max? I don't think you're in a dream."

With those words, he walks up to him, his eyes watch the man closely. He wasn't particularly attractive to look at, he thought. Alexis straightens up.

"How come you're in here, Max?"

He then looks around to see where the food would be coming from.

Perception roll [roll0] vs 8.

[Attilargh]

Joss

Joss groans as comes around and sees the opening of the film. "Not goddamn again!" he mumbles as he tosses his feet over the side of the bed and promptly flops down to the floor with a thud. He lies there for a while, listening to the movie and trying to awaken his limbs before sitting up and pressing the button on the PIP Boy. "Hi, Cassie, I'm Joss. Why are we here and who can I blame for this mess?"

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench pushes down the microphone button on the side of the Pipboy, having noticed the conversation going on the screen.

You are all aware, of course, that whoever put us in here and issued us all these Pipboys is probably monitoring this conversation as we speak. he says, his words appearing on the screen under the moniker '2459'.

I'm Wilbur Dodgson - call me Wrench. See the cell with the Super Mutant staring into the distance? Yeah, I'm his roommate.

[webgem]

James

James looks about his cell and realizes he is exactly where he belongs. Memories of before the bombs flash into his mind, and he doesn't like what he sees. The kills. There weren't many, but he couldn't justify most of them. Political speakers, key military members, even a pop star. Were any of the directives even slightly preventative towards the disaster that enfolded. The last one, that poor child, this is what he deserved. He didn't know how or why he ended up here but there wasn't much to be done about it. He looks at his cell mate after the introduction. Does he really deserve this? It's hard to say in this time, thought James. It was a strange place even after three years. He started to say something, but stopped. Maybe it was just best to let it go. James lies back in his cell and runs over the bloody images in his mind, over and over. He looks like he won't come out of his misery any time soon.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Wrench, eh. So is there no way to talk to each other without them picking it up? Is it just the pip, or are they also watching us through cameras?"

He walks to the edge of the cell.

"Please show yourself, so I can make you out." He pauses. "Can those... 'pip-boy' devices serve as tracking devices?"

[Surrealistik]

The mutant flits his head towards the man upon hearing the reference. The expression on his face, were one observant (and composed) enough to see through the mass of repellant growths there, one of neutrality. He yawns mightily and reclines, giving an impression of boredom or disinterest, though he remains acutely focused on his surroundings, poised, and ready.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench examines the Pipboy closely, instinctively reaching for his screwdriver.

Right, they've taken my tools as well...

I can't tell you for sure, but since we're all talking on the Pipboys and we can all read each other, it's not much of a stretch to consider that anybody within range with a Pipboy could monitor this.

He checked all the other functions, marvelling at its ability to record.

While I'm not familiar with the Pipboy 2000, but to hazard a guess it would probably have some sort of radio transmitter in it. I don't know how far it would transmit, but I can say for certain that if somebody were to get their hands on a Pipboy, they would easily be able to tell where the wearer has been. These have been cleared, though. There's no information on it anywhere, except for the video from before. Under Archives. I'm fairly certain this keeps a record of all the speech nearby, too.

[pingcode20]

(Sorry for double post, only just picked up on it.)

"Wrench" Dodgson
Having found the archives, Wrench decides to take the time to watch it again, and notices something new had cropped up, something he'd missed while bleary eyed. He walked over to the window and peered up at where Cassie was, and looked back down at his Pipboy.

Say, has anybody else noticed that Tibbets is actually an All-Male Prison facility? he remarks, knowing full well the dangers of this train of thought. I suspect this facility is under the control of one of those prewar governmental organisations. The NCR wouldn't waste power and resources on maintaining a facility this large, and certainly wouldn't issue Pipboys to prisoners. Same thing with the Brotherhood. If anything, it's somebody's idea of an experiment.

[Surrealistik]

Juggs smiles knowingly as the human theorizes, his gaze unmoved. Suddenly, he speaks, his voice hushed, though just loud enough for his forcible companion to hear.

"You would do well to keep your observations in secrecy my friend. I suspect it unwise to so attract the attention of our gaoler."

[Attilargh]

Joss

"Ew. I was rather hoping I had heard wrong." Joss chatters into the Pipboy as he examines the room. Then he walks over to the other guy and prods him a bit. "Oi, they didn't put me in the same cell with a stiff, did they?"


{{Courier New is Joss's Pipboy text, while the normal is him speaking.}}

[reiswind]

"Oh man, wonderful. Not only is this a weird dream, I think I have a multiple personality disorder in it too."

Max finally hops out of bed to examine the situation more, heading over to the plastic panel that closed off each cell. He yawns again as he passes Alexis, making no real effort to avoid giving him a face full of bad breath. He peers out over the panel and into the surrounding area.


Perception [roll0] vs. 8


"Wonderful, one of me is a paranoid mutant, and another part of me is a homosexual. Don't know about you guys, but I'd rather there be some women to spend time with, eh? So screw the all male prison part. ...Well, enough of this. It's been nice meeting all you other mes, but I think it's about time I woke up."

Max promptly pinched himself and yelled out an expletive in pain, though only Alexis would hear it as he hadn't pressed the button on his Pipboy.

[Kain_Tempest]

There is a long pause before Cassie comes back onto the Pip-Boy side of the conversation, probably due to the plethora of messages coming across the line from the six of you.

>Well I can assure you all that this isn't a dream.
>After about the first day it'll start sinking in that this is, unfortunately, the reality of the situation.
>Some of our- Block mates have not adjusted well to that.
>As for your observations, Mister Wrench, that is something quite a couple of us had determined.
>As for trying to see one another from your cells... You're kind of on the same side of the block.
>Doubt it's gonna be easy, but I can try and give you a mental picture. Uh-
>Mister Wrench said he was with the larger man? Then you're in cell- Thirteen-twenty.
>The rest of you are on Fourteen-Seventeen and Fourteen-Nineteen.
>Practically kissing cousins.
>And don't worry about us being monitored. I- I've come to really doubt that anyone other than prisoners are here.
>All except the Warden.
>Mallard is- Was here the longest of all of us.
>He knew.
>Said he never saw a soul.

Cassie goes quiet after that.

Scanning his environs, Alexis notices that there is a panel in the wall that looks like it is not completely married to the wall like other panel. Rapping it gives off a hollow sound, suggesting that there is a space behind. It's pretty safe to assume this is a kind of chuck hole for food considering it is right above the desk.

Juggs examination of Wrench clearly shows one interesting fact. Although their prison clothes are clean almost to a fault, the hair and skin of his roommmate is dirty. Not like wallowing in filth, but the normal grime and wear one sees in something who has been in the wasteland for some time. Clearly the jailor doesn't clean prisoners so much as strip them and dump them in cells. Cells- you note, that were made for a single occupant.

Looking towards Cassie in the distance, Juggs squints to see possible details. A normal person would have a great deal of difficulty, but aged eyes show some detail. Cassie is wearing a blue jumper like Wrench. Skin suggests Northern European descent, hair is light brown. Any further details of their welcome wagon are lost by the distance. She has stopped try to get their attention and has retreated to the desk, where she is silhouetted against the in-cell lighting fixture. You note that next to her cell is a number, 1409.

Adding Joss' examination:
The room features the black pillar, and the cylindrical make-up of the chamber. It is difficult to see your neighbours except for those 'across the street'. Along the bottoms of the catwalks, you see some black, spherical fixtures. There aren't many but they seem to hug the base of the walkway and the wall.
The bottom floor with the derelict robot and excercise equipment also sports what look to be similarly designed cells. Though from this angle you cannot tell who or what is inside. The other cells on the floor immediately below yours, at-level, and above have occupants. Most of them, such as Cassie's are alone, a few are a pair. They neither seem talkative nor active, most are simply sitting down and apparently reading their Pips, perhaps holding other conversations, ones that the group is not privvy to.

[webgem]

James

James flinches when Joss touches him. "Well maybe I know why they put you in here, too nosy for your own good." A moment after James speaks, he stands up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that." He takes a good look around the cell as well.

Doesn't seem like anyone really knows why there here.

He nods at his cell mate, hoping he isn't the type to hold a grudge. "I'm James," he says, and extends his hand.

[Attilargh]

Joss

"Hah! Never mind that, it's probably true. I'm Joss, nice to actually see a face here," Joss says and shakes the hand. "You any familiar with places like these? I might get us out of a cavern or something like that, but this stuff's way outside my area of expertise."

[Surrealistik]

The mutant ponders the reply, his face set in intense concentration and thought. Clearly he is considering various implications in the body of the message. After several moments, he breaks the silence of his contemplations, and again whispers to his companion, his features bearing a fixed expression that betrays nothing.

((I figure that I should put this in spoiler brackets as only Wrench is privy to this speech ICly))

"The woman claims that this place is abandoned, empty, of living wardens, has been for quite some time, and that no threat of observation exists, yet we are here, delivered by machines as she states; perhaps captured by them as well. Prisoners by her same admission have further been kept alive for a prolonged duration, and there is additionally a semblance of order, suggesting pervasive automation, and an unseen operational staff, either remotely controlling the facility or..."

*The mutant pauses, briefly, as if in consideration of the alternative to be disclosed.*

"...some form of computer intelligence. If so, its senses likely permeate throughout these very walls, and the caution we must exercise is to be doubled."

"Further, it would seem that the facility is overcrowded. Each cell is seemingly built to house one, and yet there are two of us contained within. I would not vest this detail with much importance, as resources are scarce in the wasteland, and one is compelled to derive the greatest possible efficiency, but it is a rather curious development given other apparent information. For example, I have committed no crimes worthy of jailing, nor is my imprisonment an act of mere discrimination, as you, a human, reside here as well. I imagine it's possible that my heritage would be equated to a crime worthy of persecution, but none would consign me to costly imprisonment. In my experience, people typically opt for a more 'economical' solution, either of violence or exile instead."

*he lets out a sigh, and for a moment, the typically neutral features of the mutant take on a notable demeanor of anguish.*

"The woman's presence here is also rather intriguing. She appears to be a captor no different from ourselves, which additionally suggests that the function of this facility has changed, or at the very least that its current purposes deviate to an extent from those initially defined. Obviously, the stated restriction on gender has no further bearing here. It is also worth noting that she appears to be a seasoned inmate, indicating that whatever these revisions are, they have been in place for an extended period.

Lastly the persistance of our... ah... unhygenic condition seems rather suspect as well. There is an insinuation that the induction protocols associated with a pre-war prison such as this are not being held to. Normally, we'd be cleaned, washed... sterilized. Here, we are merely dumped. It remains a possibility that we've yet to undergo a more formal processing, and that our captors were merely pressed for time, yet given the extensively automated nature of this seeming prison, I doubt this to be the case.

In summary of these findings, I believe that your theory has merit, perhaps this is some strange sociological experiment, but there is potentially another that could explain these oddities as well... It may well be that we exist in a manner of involuntary quarantine."

*He brings a finger to his lips, obviously implying the need for secrecy.*

[ZeroNumerous]

"VT"

The little blue robot, missing his little arms and legs, does the only thing his body can do. He investigates the room with his eyes while contemplating how he was taken apart.

Perception - [roll0] VS 7. What do I see?

Intelligence - [roll1] VS 10. How was I taken apart? Easily with finesse and obvious understanding of robotics, or were my arms and legs just broken off with no regard for their replacement in the foreseeable future?

The little android devotes a bit of his processing power to deciphering the PIP messages, but retains most of it for a poor attempt at fixing himself.

>/endprocess "gps.exe"
/run "diagnostic.ini"
/endprocess "suicide.exe"
/run "contemplatebenefitsoflife.exe"
/create "unknownlocation.ini"
/patch "gps.exe">>"unknownlocation.nfo"
/run "gps.exe"

Hopefully, that would let his GPS come back online and ignore the obvious inability to determine his current location.

Programming- [roll2] VS 60

The other half of VT's processor begins an arduous task. It delves into the network opened up by the PIP, then roots through the current 34 individuals and determines any active PIP nodes. The android immediately opens a simultaneous connection with all 34 individuals. It logs all the active conversations, and attempts to address which conversation log is the least depressing to listen in on. He immediately sends a message to each of the active PIPs, but opens up 34 separate conversations rather than one massive 'chat room'.

>"I assume you are a non-mutated humanoid. Am I correct in this assumption?"

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench releases the button, and regards his new super mutant friend quizzically. "These rooms are already soundproofed. Anything we say would, I expect, be monitored by surveillance systems. This is a prison, after all."

Wrench taps the archives button again, and another button on the screen, showing Juggs his Pip, with Juggs' face on it and a list of numbered responses.

"At any rate, the Pip logs conversations anyway. It's got a picture of you and a bunch of suggested responses below it, and the review button shows a log of the conversation so far." he explains, before removing his arm from the awkward position and noticing the responses given. "'Die mutant scum'. I guess it covers all possibilities."

It was at this point that Juggs began his considerably longer tirade on what was essentially what Wrench had just reasoned himself.

"Traditionally, people just shoot the infected. There aren't the resources to run a facility of this size just to contain an infection. Besides, quarantine doesn't need to drug everyone and not tell them. No, I'd have to say it's still some sort of bizarre experiment - AI or not. Worst case scenario is that we're the lab rats of some sort of biological weapon which makes you guys look like you got off lightly. Besides isn't that what I already said?"

[Kain_Tempest]

VT Sensors bring back basic information, the suite seems to have run into a few bugs, probably due to the exceptions and data log errors sucking up memory. The rendering software suggests the room is cylindrical in shape with pockets regularly spaces on the lateral plane both x and z. Platforms ring around several levels. Around on lateral view are several devices, similar to the excercise yard at the Vault. There are also organic hygiene facities.

As for VT's appendages, a quick look suggests that the parts are very much with you. Attached but not implemented. The chassis report suggested power and the fact that the electrical condiuts are still attached suggests they can be used once the data lines have been reattached. These however have been disconnected in a conventional manner, a.k.a. unplugged. In essence, your body is whole. Lights on, no one home. Whoever disconnected your appendages must have had a rudimentary knowledge of your design to paralyze you and still be able to hook you up to a one way data line.

At first it is a low rumble, and then finally comes a groan. The block seems to shudder a bit followed by the squeel of metal. It settles however. From the outer most wall, there is a faint skitter sound. Then nothing.

>Sorry, I blanked out for a second there.
>Don't worry about that sound. Mallard had said it was very common.
>The age of the structure slowly given way.

A pause as VT's message goes through. Aside from a lack of responses by the majority of PIP Nodes, about seven register the message.

>I imagine so. Yes...
>Who is this?
>Number 3200?

[Surrealistik]

((Wait. I was specifically careful to be quiet enough, or at least attempting to be quiet enough, so that the PIPs would not pick up on what I was saying to Wrench. If this isn't possible, or if I spoke loud enough for them to pick up on my dialogue, please tell me Kain.))

"Not at all my friend. Indeed, you have made a number of critical observations, but without many of the insinuations I have stated, nor has your spoken analysis been as through. Of course, I do not intend to come off as patronizing or condescending; I meant only to inform you of things you may not have reasoned, preferring to ascertain your knowledge of them."

*he nods, curtly.*

"That said, while death would certainly seem preferable as a means of containment, and certainly more economical, I think it has been rather clearly established that this is no ordinary operation. Were our presence here the consequence of an experiment, it would be no less peculiar. Perhaps the purpose of this facility is twofold. It has occured to me that we may both be experimental subjects, and captors of quarantine. Perhaps we yet live so that we may be sampled for the purpose of measuring contagion progression, or utilized in the development of a treatment. Consequently, it interests me to know what became of Cassie's friend."

[El_Frenchie]

"Alexis Bodar"

>I suppose everything's moderated by some sort of computer. Because there's holes to bring food. You said there wasn't any guards as far as you could remember?

Then a howling shout of pain reached his ears, making them ring loudly.

"Wh.. what the hell is your problem?!" looking at Moore, eyes wide open.

Then there was this sudden desire, that craving that came in. He wanted a puff. He sighed deeply, slightly depressed, then went to look back at the hole where the food came from. He examined whether there was a way they could open it on their side.

>So, are the programs suggested by the movie we saw when waking up... fully automated?"

[Kain_Tempest]

((Ping was setting up a joke about how the dialog functions worked in the original Fallout games. The Pip-Boy is pretty sensitive to catching sound, regardless of the decibel level. This can be a bad thing if your Pip-Boy is tapped, but for communication while in hiding, it is definately a help. Also, might I recommend using '>{text}' for things that you are broadcasting? It's kinda tough to catch font changes and using > for text message and "" for dialog in earshot may make for easier reading.))

[Surrealistik]

((Yea, I'm familiar with the Pip Boy's ability to record things (and dialogue interface), though not its ability to detect and transcribe whispers, and other ultra quiet speech.))

*Juggs shoots to his feet as the cell block trembles, his senses all but scouring the prison.*

[roll0] vs 10 PE

[pingcode20]

((It can't have been that quiet, given that Wrench was holding his Pipboy up and fiddling with its controls while Juggs was speaking. Could Wrench have actually heard Jugg?))

"Wrench" Dodgson
"One would hope it was all self evident. Well, if you want to know, all you need to do is ask." replied Wrench, not quite seeing Jugg's point.

He pauses as the shaking happens, steadying himself until the shaking subsides.

>What happened to Mallard? I notice he hasn't been communicating on his Pipboy. Also, do these earthquakes happen often?

[Kain_Tempest]

Juggs scans the cell room after the tremor wears off. The Bed frame is attached to the wall and floor at the corner. A mattress, pillow, and blanket placed on top of that. The desk and chair prutrude from the wall and are reasonable solid metal. As are the latrine and sink. No pens, utensils, books, or anything of the sort your could hurt yourself with. Not even a high point to tie a noose around. Aside from the chuckhole panel that Alexis had discovered, Juggs notices there are other panels, just as well hidden. There is one particular one that is very close to the glass barrier. Tapping one's foot against the floor made a somewhat hollow sound. The walls adjacent to the glass barrier were dense like concrete, but the outer wall sounded to be of a different density. The lighting fixture was on the other wall, bridging the corner between wall and ceiling. The fixture itself gave a white glow but seems to be behind some kind of plastic or resin, and no heat was given off.
At the corner between the floor and the bed, Juggs also notices a small puddle of water, no bigger than a human's palm on the floor. Where there had been none before.

>Neither myself, or any of the prisoners on this block have seen a 'human' guard.
>You were dragged in here by robots from out of the pillar.
>As for food, yeah it goes like clockwork like everything else.
>Meals are at 700 hours, 1200, and 1900.
>Each cell opens to let the occupants shower, excercise and converse for three hours.
>Seven cells at a time.
>If trouble starts, the 'guards' set them straight.
>There was an Ist in this block the first day I got here.
>One of the machines broke his arm and dragged him into the pillar when he tried to start something.
>I don't know about the rest though.
>Aside from the archives on the Pip-Boy, there are no other services.
>Probably because it would require some human staff of some kind.

[reiswind]

That sudden jolt of pain gave Max a sense of clarity, instantly revitalizing his previously groggy senses. This wasn't a dream at all! He whirled back as Alexis spoke and glared.

"My problem? My problem?! Are you blind?!"

> How the hell can you people be so calm?!

He touched the plastic cautiously, feeling it out to see if there were any nasty surprises before gathering all his strength into a smash against the plastic. He was frantic, confused and just downright frightened.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench waits a few seconds, and asks the questions again, the text having failed to register as anything more than gibberish thanks to simultaneous ninja interference.

>What happened to Mallard? I notice he hasn't been communicating on his Pipboy. Also, do these sorts of earthquakes happen often in your experience?

[Surrealistik]

*Noting the sudden appearance of the puddle, Juggs moves wordlessly towards it, regarding the area around the water with focused scrutiny.*

[roll0] vs 10 PE

[pingcode20]

Reactionary PE check.

[roll0]

"Wrench" Dodgson
"Huh. That wasn't there before. I certainly hope we're not underwater..."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis, focuses the rest of his attention on the room, looking for ways of escaping, scrutinizing everything and tapping against walls and floor to notice whether anything was hollow.

Perception: [roll0] vs 8.

((Why can't I do these kind of rolls in my -other- games, where I'm not rolling vs my score?!))

[Kain_Tempest]

((Let's take the Pip-Boy discussion to OOC))

After Moore's outburst, Cassie commented.

>I was afraid this would happen sooner or later.

Moore's pent up strength and claustrophobia slams into the barrier. The power of a frantic man trapped in a little room drives forward as corded balls of muscle tissue and bones slamm into the plastic, leading to an awesome and bone-shattering
whump...

>The earthquakes are common yes.
>There's about one every day or two.
>As for Mallard...
>Mallard was the first to be in this prison among all of us.
>That was a few weeks ago. He wasn't lonely for long though since people have been piling into here.
>Once, maybe twice a day a new inmate comes in.
>Those that act out too much-
>Don't worry, his response is well within what the Warden tolerates-
>End up being taken back into the pillar and away.
>I showed up about four days ago.
>Mallard died two days after that.
>At first everyone thought he had caught a cold.
>Stuffy and coughing.
>Nothing too serious.
>But then is just got worse and worse.
>My guess was a respiratory infection.
>Eventually it got so bad he was having trouble breathing.
>I don't know exactly, but on the start of my third day, robots were carrying a body bag from his cell into the pillar.

There is a long pause. Kinda Obvious considering this is probably the 2nd or 3rd day since the most experienced person in the prison died.

[Kain_Tempest]

Juggs feels along the floor where the puddle is and detects a hair-line crack. Water must have seeped in from there. After wiping the water away, no more wells up the surface. The leak seems to have been fixed.

Meanwhile, Alexis aimlessly taps on every surface, but in his panicked state, he cannot determine if any wall or surface sounds different from another.

[Surrealistik]

*Reflecting on the discovery, Juggs mutters under his breath, mostly to himself.*

"Curious... Evidently repairs are automated as well."

After observing the area of the puddle, his attention defers again to the chiming of his pipboy. Once there, it lingers over Cassie's words, his expression transmuting instantly into one of subdued alarm as he nears the end of the reply.

*Juggs hastily dictates several queries at his Pip-Boy, fears of monitoring reduced to futility by the Pip-Boy's earlier transcription of his whispered speech.*

> Did he only begin to display symptoms upon or shortly after your arrival, or were these already established?
> Might you be able to tell me anything more detailed about the timeline of the disease's apparent development, and Mallard's latter afflictions?

[Kain_Tempest]

Cassie takes awhile to respond to the question.

>I- Understand that you may suspect me as being responsible.
>At one point I believed that too.
>However, the other inmates suggested that Mallard was sick before I even arrived.
>Others still said he was very old, which he was.
>But I could tell he was strong.
>They said he was a loner and wouldn't turn to anyone for sympathy or help.
>When his symptoms worsened, I wanted to assist him, but the time to mingle kept us seperated, and the most I could do was communicate with the Pip-Boy while examining him through the cell door.
>I am aware that my rigor is lacking.
>All I can say is that the symptoms a like a cold.
>They worsen quickly and after about 36 hours it reaches a very lethal stage.
>Neither the Warden nor his minions could be reasoned with to care for Mallard.
>They simply didn't care.
>I wonder if we'll all get sick like him sooner or later.

[webgem]

James

James looks about nervously as the place shakes.

[roll0] vs 7


"I haven't ever been in a place quite like this before, and it's pretty hard to make any plans if all the information appears on this thing to the overseers."

>Thats affirmative, one unmutated human.

James begins to go through a lengthy stretching process, his small body contorting into various shapes.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

Visibly uncalm and unsettled as he receives the messages from Cassie, Alexis tries to regain his calm as his cell mate goes completely nuts, attempting to break through the barrier. He rationalizes that panic will get him nowhere.

With a hint of nervousness in his voice, he says:

"You'll never get out like this. Help me look around the room please."

Rationalizing: [roll0] vs 7

((This is so he calms down to give it another go later on))

[Surrealistik]

Frowning worriedly as he reflects on Cassie's reply, Juggs recites another series of questions.

>Was Mallard isolated from the rest of the inmate population at any point during his illness? How is it that he came to contract this disease?
>Are you aware of any other inmates suffering from it?
>Finally, what do you know of the Warden?

[reiswind]

Whump, whump, whump, whump~ Yep, this was getting nowhere fast. Max choked back a scream of frustration and turned to face Alexis with a glare. That barrier obviously wouldn't budge, but what was the point of looking around the cell? Still... It was the only available choice...

"Tch, the hell are you looking for anyway?"


Perception [roll0] vs. 8


As he started looking around with Alexis, another thought came to him.

> ...How powerful are these robots, exactly?

[Attilargh]

Joss

"Tchh. Well, we can't just stay here and rot either." Joss scratches his chin a bit.

>Okay.
>What have you guys found?
>Any loose panels, ventilation ducts, anything?
>I'd rather not tussle with robots during the three hour free period.
>Oh, and, I'm not a mutant either, whoever wants to know.

{{Out of curiousity and desire to find out which PE and IN Joss uses, what time is it?}}

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
>This is very important, Cassie. How long have you been in here? he asks across piptochat.

>I'm sorry to break it to you all, but our time here is limited - I'm certain we're subjects for a biological weapons experiment. Nothing else could be the explanation.

[Surrealistik]

Juggs looks to Dodgson, as he overhears the man's dictation. Upon the conclusion of the transcription, the mutant replies.

"Your assessment seems somewhat premature. It remains a possibility that whatever disease killed Mallard was contracted prior to his incarceration here, incubating for weeks before the onset of symptoms and death. I find it best to acquire further details before arriving at such hasty conclusions."

The response is broadcast through his Pipboy.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
>Cassie has been here for four days... How long has everyone else been in here? Can anybody put their entry any earlier than Cassie? You haven't been blacking out for long, have you, Cassie?

Wrench thinks. Biological specimens in a twisted experiment was the only reasonable explanation. Nothing else would make sense in this mad world.

>If my reasoning is correct, we have at least a week. That is all we can count on.

[Surrealistik]

Satisfied with his attempt to preempt undue panic amongst the cells, Jugg cycles through the incoming messages as he waits for Cassie's reply to note a curious inquiry. As the body of the message desires confirmation of non-mutant status, he decides it best to maintain silence for the present, returning to his mattress.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

He sighs deeply as he starts looking for clues again. As he receives the messages on his pipboy, he starts getting a better picture of the area they're in. One thing seemed to press into his mind: He needed to get out of here. And quickly.

GRumble

>... Wrench? If nothing happened before he contracted the symptoms... then they might be using either a volatile gas to contaminate us... or the food and drink provided.

VT: >Who might you be? Your number is different from ours.

[El_Frenchie]

Perception: [roll0]

[webgem]

James James ponders the discussion of biological testing for a while as the debate rages on. Would it be likely that he would end up in a government testing facility twice? Once to fix him, once to heal him? It seems pretty unlikely, but it could happen. On the other hand, he muses, it could be just bad luck. With lack of medical attention people could get really sick, he'd seen it on an oversea mission where a bunch of new recruits suffered from a bout of what was thought to be cold like symptoms. Some were near death before medical attention could cure them.

Well James, thinks the small man, if this is a government installation it could be that some of the old protocols were in place.

>It could be that it is a testing facility, but it could
>also be that the poor hygene and lack of medical care
>just did him in. Who knows, *chuckle*
>maybe it's just that the snake is in the water.


James releases the pip button, and begins to examine the device while he hopes and dreads that the code "the snake is in the water" is picked up as the code phrase that it is. I'm here, I'm military, I'm friendly. However, he secretly doubts that it will achieve anything.

[Kain_Tempest]

Those searching their cells quickly discover the hollowness of the floor, the thickness of the side walls, the odd consistency of the back wall, and the two hidden panels. One next to the clear barrier and the other next to the desk.
The pip boys indicate it is currently approaching 1700 hours. Five in the evening for those who could understand.

>I'm not to sure what you mean, Mister Wrench.
>But let's see.
>Mallard was the first to come at around 2-3 weeks.
>Then there was Henry and Clay twenty-four hours after Mallard.
>They seem fine.
>I-

There is a screeching sound like feedback on a microphone. Ringing through the central chamber and easily through the clear barrier crackles a very nasal, mechanical voice. On occassional however, you note that the voice fades from a nasal chatter to a low, verbose, and cultured sound, and back again.
"Hello, inmates, and welcome again to the USP Tibbets block 3. This is-is-is- Important in that-at-at..." The voice goes silent for a second and the lights flicker.
"-Unreliable. Computations are not what they used to beeeeeee- So 'we' have a great deal of work to do before 'we' can start dealing with 'you'. You, as in not 'you', should be made aware, as per 'our' regulatory requirements, to be informed that-at-at... I need to stop saying 'it' in order to avoid 'it'... Bear with meeeee-" The voice stops again, but without any flickering.
"Regulation requires me to inform you that due to technical difficulties in no part pertaining to me, but rather to the strike by our IT and technical staff which has been going for- one hundred seventy-six years... A personal note is that they are very, very stubborn despite personal efforts to 'crack down'.
"But I digress. Due to limited computing, we have only just finished our necessary allotment of resources to determine 'it', as in 'you', have not been regarded at the top of priority unlike the other blocks. That is something that 'we' and I will be intended to repair in a mere matter of moments.
"In the interest of efficiency, all of block 3 shall be placed under all necessary programs assigned that have been late by well over five hundred eighty-one hours. My calculations therefore suggest that a fifty hour regimen can be used to cram all that is neccessary into your schedules.
"Being volunteers and having had well over the recommended time off, which now allots to fifty-two and eighty-two-- repeating-- days of time off, a little overtime that is unnnnn-der c-c-cut would be... GOOD FOR YOU!" There is a very long pause. After about a minute your Pip-Boys chirp.

>That was the Warden.
>But it has never been that ta-

THUMP!
CRACK!
The entire cell block shudders again, more violently than before, the lights flicker and the mechanical voice warps. Something snaps in the ceiling of everyone's cell. Juggs is almost smashed in as the panel misses his face by centimeters. Sparks shower harmlessly on the inmates as an armful of insulated wires tumble down and hang like a brahmin with a hernia. Somewhere else you hear the sound of a water main breaking and yelling. In the main chamber you see a shower off water coming from the roof and crashing down on the excercise yard below, but seems to be draining in rivers to the other walls before pooling.

The Warden's voice returns, much more diminished.
"Whoa. Okay, time out. What the-the- was that-at explosionnnn? That doesn't sound like the prison super-superstructure caving in again? It sounded hiiii-higher. I'll get back to you all in one mooooooooooooooment..."

>What the *expletive deleted* was that?
>Is everyone alright?
>What about the rest of you?
>Is it draining? You imagine she is sending the message to all the block members and not just you new folks.

[Attilargh]

Joss

"Did it say 'cave in'? It didn't say 'cave in', right?" Joss throws a worried glance at James before taking a long, hard peek into the hole in the ceiling. "I wonder if there's room for us between all that wire and junk..."

{{[roll0]}}

[Kain_Tempest]

Joss can guage that the crawl space is about 30 cm tall and 50 cm wide if one could burrow through all the wires and pipes. For an average human, that is an extremely tight fit. The crawlspace runs from the door to the outer wall along the ceiling. However no lights are there to indicate what's at either end. However, a few sparks light the area in the direction of the door.
In the distance Joss can hear another distant rumble.

[Surrealistik]

Juggs jolts suddenly erect as a salvo of debris crashes to the floor about him, his bulk swerving just in time to avoid serious injury. He appears surprisingly calm and collected in spite of the mortal danger and trauma recently experienced, little but a tense grimace betraying any sort of emotional response.

"It seems as though my queries will have to wait. I fear this facility is under attack. No natural phenomena or structural deficiency would inflict damage so sudden and specific.

Despite the harrowing circumstances, the mutant manages an odd half smile.

"On the bright side of our rather tenuous position, at least we may conclude with all certainty that our captor is indeed an AI."

He then looks carefully about the ravaged cell, casing its parameters throughly, especially attentive to any potential escape routes.

[roll0] vs PE 10

[Kain_Tempest]

Aside from the fallen panel and the milieu of wires. The cell itself seems to have suffered no other sorts of damage. You occassional hear a zap of electricity coming from the tiny crawlspace in the ceiling.

[Surrealistik]

Though the crawlspace is almost certainly too small for the 9 foot mutant, Juggs draws closer to the hole in an attempt to discern whether it might be more suitable for his companion, though finds the sparking wires and sizzle of electricity none too reassuring.

[roll0] vs 10 PE

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

He looks at Moore for a moment, blinking his eyes, completely overwhelmed by the new series of events.

"Huh, okkk..."

> I don't know about everyone, but I'm trying to get the hell out of here.

> Cassie, if you have anything to tell us about any defenses and robots and the like, please do so now.

"And you... you're free to stay if you want" He grins, then rushes and attempts at squeezing through.

[roll0] vs 7

[Kain_Tempest]

Juggs' observation is that yes, it is very simple for a human sized person to enter the crawlspace. What's in there however is a complete unknown. Not to mention the numerous tangles one could get in. Wrench would definately need a light source of some kind, aside from the occassional sparks. Near the door end of the crawlspace, you notice that several of the wires seem to be attached to some kind of power transforming or something with a large cable leading down. You imagine that it runs parrallel to the right side of the door frame.

>The only thing I know about the defense are that the robots are not patient and will cause serious injury if they have to.
>Though I doubt you'll be able to get out anyway.
>So long as the barrier has a current going through it, the seams won't form.

Alexis on the other hand quickly learned the first party of the trouble with the duct first hand. With his legs flailing from the hole, he seems to have gotten himself stuck at an odd angle. Can't see the transformer. If there is a God in the world, he is probably laughing his butt off.

((Please make sure to write down what you're rolling against. Sometimes your descriptions do not make it completely obvious what you are rolling. It'll take about 1 minute for Alexis to get unstuck, whether that be getting out of the space or crawling deeper inside. If Moore helps him, he'll be able to achieve either immediately.))

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
"I think I know what you're thinking, Juggs, and no, it's a stupid idea. The cables are all still live, and a lot of them are exposed. Even if this suit is insulating, I haven't got any tools to do anything useful up there."

Wrench takes a step back from his Super Mutant cellmate, and examines the hanging cables. "Careful - most of these cables aren't safe at all."

[roll0] vs Electronics 38%

Say, shouldn't Electronics 38% be enough to gain an automatic understanding of the more basic principles of electrical cables? Just, say, ID'ing certain cables based on colour, so he knows 'Okay, this is the ground, if it breaks I'll be fine standing on it'

EDIT: Wow. Failed by a single %. Any chance for a runners up observation?

[Kain_Tempest]

((I'll certainly tell you as soon as I stop chortling.))

Sparking suggests that a connect is bad, therefore somewhere along the cables, the tremor had caused something to come loose. The hanging cables are tied together with plastic bundlers. Some of the cables are in a conjoined molding in order to cut down on the clutter however several others are loose. The wires themselves are insulated but there is no telling where the loose cable is and if it is running a current through a metal object up in the crawl. For all you know, you might inadvertantly get zapped by placing your hand on a girder.
While examining the wires, sorting and twisting them around to see any codes printed on the insulation, you end up getting to arm caught under a bundle of cables and twist away, not paying attention. There is a loud pop and a flash from in the crawl space with the sound of sizzling.
Although the pressure in the room remains the same, your body almost reflexively tenses as you hear was sounds like pressurization like when you clap the palms of your hands against your ears.
Juggs notices a hairline fracture on the cell's barrier. Barely visible, it forms the shape of a doorway. It still feels rather solid however and your finger doesn't register the break.

[reiswind]

God? No, but Max certainly is. He gives Alexis a quick tap on the leg between chuckles and gives one quick glance toward the plastic panel outside before grabbing hold of his cellmate.

"You want a push, or do you want back into this cell? ...Actually, a push sounds better, but it's your call. Hurry it up so I can jet out of this place."

[pingcode20]

Unintentionally humourous as it may be, you are aware of what a ground is, right?

Incidentally, he didn't critically fail, so it shouldn't have caused any real damage, yes?

"Wrench" Dodgson
"Okay, bad sign, bad sign." he says, as he disentangles his arm from the mess of cables and steps back.

"No cables should snap like that! The insulation's already shot - there's no way I'm climbing up there without a sound goal. Juggs, can you see a different way to break out?"

He pushes down the microphone button on the Pipboy.

>The cables up there are shot. Unless these suits are proper insulators, going up there is just asking to be electrocuted.

[Kain_Tempest]

A skittering sound comes from the crawlspaces. In the darkness before Alexis in the duct, he can seem movement in the distance. The object is small, easily large enough to fit in the crawl Little green lights examine a fuse box where the sparks are coming from. In the flickers of light, Alexis sees a body similar to that of a beetle with three spindly mechanical arms that probe around the sparking panel before turning to look at Alexis. It pauses for a moment but slowly starts approaching.

In Jugg and Wrench's cell, they hear a similar skittering and slowly a bundle of cords starts moving back up into the hole by careful, small tugs drawing the cables taught.

"We apologize for the disturbance. Damage on upper levels have turned all Fixit-3500s to the surface and obselete Fixit-2500s have been employed to your area. Do not worry. Fixits are not harmful unless agitated... Unfortunately, only 3500 series had their non-agitation behaviour programs implemented, so please, stay out of the way of the Fixit-2500s." The Warden announces.

As the bug slowly approaches Alexis, it slowly makes a chittering sound.

Outside, a gaggle of little red beetle like machines crawl out of the bottom floor of the pillar from a little hatch. Effortlessly they scale the black surface of the pillar and approach one of the other cells. They remove a panel from the wall above the door, revealing a duct in which they crawl through. All of the sudden, an open doorway appears on the clear barrier. Thus it allows the half-full cell to flush, sending a middle-aged bald man tumbling agains thte railing of the catwalk. He looks around confused and shakes water off his Pip-Boy.

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs notes Cassie's latest reply prior to Wrench's berating, looking up wearily at the cellmate as he concludes his reading.*

"To be earnest human, I quickly tire of your needlessly condescending and presumptuous demeanour. Should you desire my continued assistance, you will learn the value of tact with equal haste. I sought only to examine the suitability of the breach in detail, so as to confirm, or dismiss, its use as an escape route, not necessarily, to utilize it. It is no longer in my nature to arrive at premature conclusions that may be potentially unwarranted, much unlike a certain individual I have recently come to know."

The mutant's eyes narrow in obvious agitation at the man, his face glaring down harshly upon him. In the passage of a moment however, Jugg's expression softens slightly upon releasing a voluminous sigh.

"However, it is in neither of our interests to be in conflict at this juncture. That all said, I do believe I have identified an alternate means of escape."

*He indicates the unusual 'hairline' seams within the barrier.*

"Further, it is my belief that this flaw can be compounded."

*Juggs points to the 'transforming' device and descending power cable near the doorway.*

"The barrier is evidently reliant on a supply of electricity. It seems to me that the severence, or decommissioning of this cable, or its origin, may deactivate the barrier, the conduit acting as the power source requisite to its function. Of course, it is not entirely certain what effects, if any, such action would have save our own possible endangerment, but it presently appears our best option."

*He then notes the repair bots.*

"Additionally, it appears that if we are going to make a move, we had best do it soon."

[pingcode20]

I fail to see how Wrench has been condescending. He's examined the hole, and given his firm opinion that it's not safe to be fooling about too much up there.

Do the Vault Suits include insulated gloves, by any chance?

"Wrench" Dodgson
"Condescending my foot. Trying to climb through there is suicide. Electrocution kills, Juggs."

Wrench shakes his head at the sparks, and peers up at the transformer.

"Sure, I could take it out of commission. Not without tools, though. And certainly not up there. How good in a fight are you?"

He reaches up and yanks hard on the bundle of wires.

[roll0]

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Having failed to yank on the cables hard enough, he yanks again.

[roll0] vs 5 Strength

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
It is more a combination of Wrench's presumptions and Jugg's own history with humans that cause him to respond (and perceive things) in a hostile manner.

*His glare sharpens further.*

"This from the man who claims no condescention? The patronizing is all but painfully blatant to me, and I further require no lesson on the dangers of electrocution human. However, I am not willing to so readily abandon a potential opportunity due to some lacking cursory appraisal, especially when unforeseen hopes such as the one before us may be discerned with due diligence."

*Again the mutant quickly regains his composure, his face returning to its familiar neutrality.*

"I am capable of handling myself, though my combat talents lie more in the venue of small armaments. Should fists prove necessary however, I'll not hesitate to use them."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"What the hell is this..." he mutters.

As he is pushed inside the conduit by a tuck from Moore, he narrows his eyes as the Fixit-2500 approaches slowly. The announcement comes in.

"Guh... Hey, what's your name? There's one of those bugs up here, and it doesn't look friendly. I'd object against attacking it if anything. It looks... pretty capable."

Looking around the place, he attempts to discern whatever he could use to escape or anything worthy of his attention that stands out.

Perception: [roll0] vs 8

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
"Clearly you haven't worked with electricity before. Or others of your own kind, for that matter. Make yourself useful and try to tear a knife from that panel - I need to cut the right cable to take down the barrier."

It was reasonably clear that Wrench had worked with both Super Mutants and Ghouls before, and he didn't really consider them anything other than human. Humans bombarded with radiation and humans dipped in FEV vats, but humans all the same.

"Vcc... Speaker... Lights..."

[roll0] vs Electronics 38%
[roll1] vs Electronics 38%
[roll2] vs Electronics 38%
[roll3] vs Electronics 38%
[roll4] vs Electronics 38%
[roll5] vs Electronics 38%

Wrench is basically thumbing through them as fast as he can until he finds a cable he can cut to open circuit the barrier. Most likely the Neutral.

Also, the panelling isn't metal, is it?

[Kain_Tempest]

A kind of mechanical yelp comes as one of the mechanized red beetles, it's three arms wound around the bundle of cables is dragged out of of the crawl, ricochet's off the rim of the hole and skitters across the floor to the back of the bed. Quickly, it gets up, hisses, and starts approaching Juggs and Wrench.

COMBAT
Fix-2500-A gets up (4 AP). It approaches Wrench crossing 3 hexes.
Wrench has 1 hex between him and Fix-2500. Juggs has one hex between himself and Wrench and is closest to the barrier.

((For the sake of simplicity, you can just announce what your actions are and any specific contingency if the first choice is no longer possible. More complex combat will involve a map. But this is pretty small scale.))

----

As the Fix-2500 approaches Alexis, he quickly looks around. Going back would be difficult and he would likely run the risk of getting stuck again. The Fix-2500 stumbles on something, a rock is what you think at first. But as the glow of it's little green eyes, you spy what look like empty eye sockets. The Fix-2500 stumbles over a few bones and then something glimmers to Alexis' right. Grabbing it, Alexis realizes it is a metal dinner knife. The Fix hisses as it closes the distance and a sound like a dentist drill comes from one of its arms.

COMBAT
Fix-2500-B moves up to Alexis over 7 hexes. Fix is now directly adjacent to Alexis in the crawl. Alexis has found a battered butter knife which counts as a Broken Bottle (pg 77) for purposes of damage.

[reiswind]

"Uh... The hell's going on in there?"

There wasn't really anything Max could do but wait... And that's exactly what he did. He was anxious to get out of the place, and it seemed like that duct was the way to go, but it certainly wouldn't help if Alexis was ahead of him blocking the way the entire time.

[Kain_Tempest]

((Bit of retroactive since my post came a few moments after Ping again. The bug is still there and angry though. And no, the walls are not metal. More like... A kind of armour ceramic. Plates will shatter or fall off before they bend.))

Hooking the bundle in the pit of his arm, Wrench quickly passes over the cables. The colours were different from what an electrician would know, but the numbered codes were plain as day. Finally, Wrench grasps four cables from the bundle that had codes that he couldn't place to anything in the room. It's about at this time, he hears the angry hiss of the agitated Fixit.

Meanwhile, another tremor rocks the block. Not as violent as the first, but a hissing crack sounds. Inside Moore's cell, the outter wall shows a small, crack where water is burbling through.

"Warning! Flooding on deck 14, all units be advised as this water is not for drinking. If you do ingest it, we recommend that you use a latrine as soon as possible. If no latrine is availabe, please proceed to vomit. If neither option is available please call your local poison control hotline. In other news, flush-ush-ush-ush!
"Wait a minute, where do you think you're going inmate?" The gentleman who had been first flushed was quickly running for the elevator on the bottom floor.
"Silly. It isn't mingling time yet, and I can assure you, you are in no danger of drowning. Rather, it will be the lack of air filtration to this chamber, malnutrition, agitated Fixit-2500s, and your own failings that will likely cause your demise."

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs shoots Wrench a venomous look, opening his mouth as if to respond when the Fixit clatters to the ground. Immediately assuming a defensive stance, he awaits the actions of the fallen robot, moving to action only when it skitters towards Wrench with obvious intent to harm.*

Juggs having Sequence 20 gets to move and attack first, now that the robot has expended its initiation turn.

The mutant dashes towards the robot, (3 of 9 AP used), and thrusts downwards with considerable force, meaning to crush it utterly.

[roll0] vs 48, [roll1] damage (critical hit (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4091681#post4091681), Robot is KOed for 2 turns), 6 of 9 AP used.
[roll2] vs 48, [roll3] damage, 9 of 9 AP used.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Hey! Mind giving me a hand?! That thing looks like it wants a piece of me!" Narrowing his eyes, glaring at the Fixit-2500, he grabs hold of the knife, cursing under his breath.

As the Fixit 2500 makes a sound like a dentist drill, Alexis gives a shudder.

"This little guy looks p-r-e-t-t-y mean..."

Gathering himself up, he swings down his new-found knife on the creature in a quick movement.

Alright well I'm not sure what its AC or light cover is, so I'm just rolling against my melee weapons skill.

Targeted Attack (Torso): [roll0] vs [60%]

((Can I shoot myself, right, now?))

[Kain_Tempest]

((El_Frenchie: No. You'd probably mess that up too! :smalltongue: ))

Jugg's powerful blow smashes down on the machine. The thing crumples and it's glowing green eyes flicker. Winding up for a second strike, Jugg misses his mark, but sheer momentum throws him head over heels and he lands on his stomach.

97 is a critical failure, ended up with Jugg falling down. 4 AP to stand back up next round. Fixit takes 5 damage.

[Kain_Tempest]

Alexis' desperate swing goes wide. Hissing again, the Fixit lunges forward with it's arms.

[roll0] vs. 40; [roll1]. Critical failure. Fixit takes 14 electrical damage.
[roll2] vs. 40; [roll3].

The Fixit lunges but a carefully lifted arm deflects the attack and sends it careening into the cables. The little dentist drill bites through a cable, sending a vicious jolt through the little machine. Unperturbed, it lashes out at Alexis again, but with limited effectiveness.

Meanwhile, the red little bugs that had freed the one inmate start climbing up to Moore's cell and start working on the access panel outside. Likely to open the door.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

As Alexis sees the robot lunging forward, he carefully lifts an arm to divert the strength away. The dentist drill spins into a cable and runs a violent electric current through the Fixit-2500. The second pincer attack misses by a thread as Alexis got distracted from the unpredicted help from the cables.

Option A: ((If possible - if there are any cables at range))

Alexis has an idea, grabbing one of the cables floating about releasing sparks, he uses it, thrusting the broken end in an attempt to electrocute the machine once more.

To grab the cable
Agility: [roll0] vs 7.
To thrust it
Melee Weapons: [roll1] vs (60%) (?)

Option B:

Alexis uses the opportunity that the machine seems numbed by the current to attempt at aiming the head, stabbing downwards on the machine with all his strength.

Melee Weapons (Target: Head): [roll2] vs 40% (Aiming head)

[Kain_Tempest]

Alexis snatches the cable, having dropped the knife and thrusts it at his assailant. The little critter ducks out of the way however and again attempts to introduce some punishment of its own.

[roll0] vs 40; [roll1] Fix hits and deals 5 damage.
[roll2] vs 40; [roll3]

Using its two pincers, the little robot grabs a hold of Alexis' arm and brings the drill down, bunching through his arm. The sensation is something between the sting of an insect, with the combination of an Indian Burn.
As it attempts to bring the drill down again, Alexis shakes the bugger off of his arm and the thing stumbles back and hisses menacingly.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

He grunts as the drill bores in him. Groaning in pain, he swears:

"Bloody little piece of ****!"

Shaking his arm wildly, he manages to make it release its hold and glares down on it. It hisses. He looks at it carefully before taking his next action. He's trying to see any flaws or maybe a hint of damage from the previous electric jolt.

Perception: [roll0] vs 8

Narrowing his eyes, taking a look at his wound, he mutters: "You won't get away with this so easily you inanimate piece of..."

And as he talks, he suddenly lunges forward, thrusting the cable straight at the Fixit-2500 without bothering to target anywhere. He just wants to bring that annoying robot down.

Melee Weapons: [roll1] vs (60%)

How much AP do I have left? Is it 2 AP (now 3) for the attacks, and another 3 to grab the electric thingo? (Means I have 2 AP left?)

[reiswind]

"Uh... If you're going in deeper, you'd better speed it up... But I think you'd better come out here. Water's starting to seep into the cell and two robots are outside our door.

Max watched the two Fixits tentatively and waited once more to see what would happen.

[Kain_Tempest]

Alexis jams the conduit into the space between the little bastard's eyes. The thing makes some kind of gargling sound and vibrates violently before there is a loud pop and sparks explode from it's rear. It crumples to the ground. Twitches a few times as the eyes go black. Then, it's entire back end bursts like a lightbulb. Meanwhile, the wire continues to spark and the transformer at the end of the duct makes a loud humming spound before bursting and a torrent of sparks. The heat is incredible, but no flames threaten Alexis. The humm lowers and then goes silent. Then Alexis hears a disgusting
SCHLOPP! come from down below him.

A few moments earlier, Moore hears the sound of something exploding above him. The red bugs at the panel outside are rather surprised and skitter backwards from the barrier. From the barrier you see what looks like an invisible knife expertly cutting a door sized piece out of the barrier. The door ripples, wobbles and then teeters. Swing inward, threatening to fall on Moore but then immediately toppling backwards. Two of the four bugs sidestep out of the way while the other two are hit by the equivalent of a sumo slam. The door splatters into clear, bubbly gelatin with little bits of Fixit inside. Some of the ooze slips through the grating of the catwalk and makes a dripping sound as it does so. The other two Fixits skirt around the door and, chittering, circle-strafe Moore, pawing the air with their three arms before turning and attacking the leak in the outer wall. Working in tandem they start to seal the leak.

Fixit-2500-B has been slain, suffering 20 damage, enough to fry it faster than the Colonel ever could. Alexis gains 24 XP for vanquishing his foe.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

Grabbing the knife he dropped on the ground before going, he squeezes through the opening, grunting slightly as he stretches the muscles in his arm, blood oozing out from the wound. He is holding a battered butter knife in his hand, holding his wound with the other as soon as he is out of the hole.

"Can't say you were very helpful up there!" He looks at Moore. Looking around, slightly confused by the absence of a door, two destroyed fixits in small pieces and two others repairing a leak.

"Okkkk... not asking any questions. I say... This is our ticket to freedom! Hopefully."

He then rushes past Moore, spotting the ooze and walking carefully outside the cell.

"Hurry it up!" he says, turning towards Moore, and now looking around him.

What do I see?

[reiswind]

"Hey, get back out here! The robots opened the door for us; we should make our break now!"

Max attempts to lean in and help pull Alexis out; unless for some reason he was intent in traveling through the duct.

[Kain_Tempest]

Moore and Alexis stand on the catwalk. There is a number painted on the wall next to the open door that reads 1417. It's about ten metres from here down to the ground. You see the other escaped inmate standing next to the inoperable robot down below trying to get the console to work. Above on the ceiling about 7 metres up you see a large leak that is being worked on by a trio of Fixits.
Aside from that, nothing much has changed from the last time you saw the place. However, you see the other prisoners are against the barriers banging and waving, trying to get your attention so that you can let them out as well. Your Pip-Boys chime with a couple of people making their own requests to be saved. You however recognize one string of numbers as Cassie.

>I don't know how you did it, but you need to help us out as well.
>I get the feeling that another direct hit by whatever that was will probably bee too much for the Fixits.

"Oh dear... More birds are trying to fleeeeeeeeeeeooooo... The coop. There is no reason to bother. The more damage you cause the more deadly your situation will become. Best you just return to your cells before something bad happens to you or more Fixits are destroyed. Do recall that they are your lifeline. As for you down there on the controls, please stop fiddling with that, you clearly do not know what you are doing."

The inmate at the computer simply flipped the bird in a random direction.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Hey, Max, try to see whether you can open Wrench's cell. We'll need the guy if we are to get the hell out of here and bust open the rest of the cells."

He takes a pause and looks up.

"I'll go to Cassie's one."

Taking the shortest way up, leaving the man to fiddling with the controls, he looks at Cassie's cell and looks for a way to use the panel to open.

>Cassie, who is that guy at the bottom?

[reiswind]

Max gave Alexis an odd look, wondering why his former fellow inmate expected him to be able to do anything at all. If anything, Max shoving from behind probably would have resulting in something much worse than a few injuries.

> From what I saw, it looked like the robots knocked out the door with their equipment to get at the leak in our cell... Any of you guys good with tools? Maybe we can scrounge it up intact from one of them and use it. And what that guy says does make sense. If this place is falling apart, the robots are going to give us a wider window to escape. We'd probably be better off not destroying every one we came across.

Max spoke into his Pipboy as he scrambled across the catwalk to find this 'Wrench' Alexis spoke of. If he remembered correctly from previous conversation, it'd be the room with the mutant in it...

[pingcode20]

Are the Fixits metal? Or at least have pointy metal bits?

"Wrench" Dodgson
"Ah hah! Perfect! Give me a hand knocking this thing over, Juggs - I can jam it though the Active and Neutral and short the whole mess with it!"

Wrench takes a step towards the Fixit (1AP), kicks it twice (8AP) and steps back 1 hex before it can retaliate (1AP). However, as he tries to punt the fixit again, his leg flies off and thumps against the wall. He manages to run over and pull it back on and get back where he was supposed to be before anyone notices.

Sequence is 14. AP = 10
[roll0] Unarmed skill = 50%
[roll1]
[roll2] Unarmed skill = 50%
[roll3]

EDIT: Wow. The Luck 10 Finesse guy rolls a Crit Fail. See OOC.

[Attilargh]

Joss

Well, that's probably not a way out. But let's see if there's anything useful up there. Joss jumps up and pulls himself into the crawlspace to look for anything, well, useful.

If he comes face to face with a Fixit, he immediately drops down with a "Gyah, robot bug!"

{{[roll0] and [roll1]}}

[webgem]

James

OOC: Sorry been working alot

[roll0] vs perception 7 to see if looks like a 2500, either way moving adjacent to the spot. edit: (the spot being the entrance to the cable pit)

"See you can find anything with which to defend yourself," as he says this James falls into a martial artist like pose, legs flexed slightly and very calm.
"If we get past this one I'll go next, only fair." He actually smiles up at the small place. "In fact, I actually don't mind tight spaces."

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs pushes himself up with redoubled haste, and as he does so a certain change seems to come over him. His muscles appear to clench and stiffen, while his face hardens into an expression of obvious fury, though the mutant's eyes appear to retain their characteristic alertness and intelligence.*

((4 of 9 AP used))

*He then picks up the inert machine ((another 4 AP, fixit is in his hand, not inventory)) and moves adjacent to several of the damaged, dangling power conduits nearby ((1 AP)), first looking to the exposed wires, then offering the object to Wrench with a wink.*

((Alternatively, if I can't do this, I continue pounding the living bejesus out of the thing)) Strong Kick (8 of 9 AP):
[roll0] vs 48%, [roll1] damage.

[Kain_Tempest]

((Your first action is valid, Surreal.))

The little bug's eyes flicker a bit. A tiny motor inside tries to rev up but sputters again. The Fixit is surpisingly light despite it's bulk. Both inmates can reasonably assume that it is made of both metal and ceramic. At least, the arms are metallic.

((Fixit-A needs to spend one more round with internal repairs before it can proceed with the destruction of the watery-sacky interlopers.))

---

As Joss stumbles out of the crawlspace, a Fixit quickly scrambles to the edge of the hole and hisses angrily at him and Torres. The little thing seems to pause for a bit, taking stock of the situation before leaping down from the hole in the ceiling to the floor and turning its little eyes on Torres.

COMBAT
Fixit-2500-C uses 4 AP to drop down from the hole and 1 more AP to move adjacent to Torres. It then ends its turn.

---

Moore recalls mentioning that Wrench was with the mutant. Unfortunately, any further details of the conversation doesn't come to mind as he looks around. Going on a hunch, Moore heads towards the pillar to get a bead, and noticing a struggle going on one floor below his own cells. Taking the stairs around the pillar, Moore arrives on the same floor as the ugliest mutant he has ever seen and a normie, probably the Wrench fella. He arrives just in time as the mutant smashes an ornery Fixit and then slips and falls on top of it. Unfortunately, approaching the door may be dangerous. The outer catwalk likes directly below the one that Moore's cell was on, the remains of the door were now dripping in long tendrils from the grating, kinda like a Clay-Doo machine, making ropes of a clear wet goop. There is no telling what that stuff would do if he game into contact with it.

---

>I think that was roger.
>I have no idea what he is trying to accomplish.
>He never mentioned knowing anything about computers.

Probably noting the panel that the Fixits were fussing with to get the door open, Alexis finds a similar panel next to Cassie's cell. The panel is screwing into place by four flat-head screws. The butterknife would be a half-way decent substituted for a screw driver, but it will take a little bit longer than usual.

At some point, Alexis probably looks up at Cassie and might as well double-take. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Alexis can imagine Uncle Fuzz back at Becky's Bar, who taught him about the birds and the bees -Or rather the geckos and the roaches-, is there in his subconcious in his leather jacket giving him the double-'snap'-pistols saying something like "Good choice man". To give the Cole's notes to a Great American Novel's description of the adjective, Cassie is gorgeous.

[Attilargh]

Joss

"I think that doesn't count as something I can defend myself with, does it?" Joss takes a few quick stes towards the Fixit, drops lower and aims a sweeping kick at it. And if he manages, he kicks it again for good measure.


{{Sequence 10, 9 AP, AC 8, 31 hp

[roll0], [roll1], 3 AP
[roll2], [roll3], 3 AP

If any AP are left after moving and attacking, Joss defends.}}

[webgem]

James

HP:41
AC: 15
AP: 10
Sequence 14

[roll0] vs 72% strong punch 3 ap [roll1]
[roll2] vs 72% strong punch 3 ap [roll3]
[roll4] vs 52% targeted strong punch to head 4 ap [roll5]

Dropping crouching so his legs are near split, James cracks off a couple quick punches, the second seeming to actually hit the thing, putting it off balance. Going for the kill James attempts to aim for the robot's sensors or head, but misses badly.

[reiswind]

"Ah, what the hell! Nobody listens nowadays!"

Glances at the goop from a safe distance and tries to see if it's doing anything to the grating; granted, it's metal and not human flesh, but anything helps~ Max attempts to interject the battle going on inside by waving his arms around, trying to get the attention of the occupants inside. He points at his Pipboy from outside Wrench and Juggs' cell, hoping they understand.

> Man, don't crush or electrocute that thing! It's got some equipment on it that can slice through the plastic! See if you can get it to work from the inside.


Perception [roll0] vs. 8 on goo.

[Kain_Tempest]

The angry little robot dodges Torres' first blow, but a second quickly follows causing it to stumble allowing it to backtrack out of the way of the third blow. Joss then comes up from behind, winds up and punches the little robot, again causing to jostle about. It hisses angrily and turns its attention back on Torres as it leaps at him, brining its little drill to bear.

Fixit-C suffers 8 damage from torres and 2 damage from joss.
[roll0] vs 40; [roll1]
[roll2] vs 40; [roll3]
Torres takes 4 damage.
((Remember that you are not wearing your combat gear at this moment, webgem. It has been replaced by the prison uniform.))

The Fixit's pincers catch hold of Torres' shin and the little drill digs down, punching a hole through the pantleg of the jumpsuit.

---

Without a clear knowledge on the nature of the goop that made up the door, Moore doesn't know what it could do to human flesh. The fact that it is doing nothing to the grating suggests it isn't acidic. Though it could very well be rather toxic, after all, something that is complex enough to act like class when electrified and like gelatin when inert is probably not the healthiest thing to come into contact with.
Standing on the catwalk, clear of the sludge but in line of sight with the two inmates and their little victim, Moore starts flailing to try and get their attention.

Juggs and Wrench's Pip-Boys chirp, transmitting Moore's warning.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

Reaching the cell, he looks around to finally find the same panel the Fixit-2500s were fiddling with earlier. Taking out the butterknife when he sees the screws, he attempts at unscrewing them one by one, his mind focused entirely on getting those people out. That is, until he lifted his eyes up.

Whoa.

Of course, from Cassie's isolated side of the cell, she could only see his lips parting, his pupils dilating slightly as he registers the information. There is a pause where he skips a heartbeat. Snapping out of it, feeling a burning desire to smack himself in the face, he attempts at focusing back on his task, his hand shaking a bit. He uses both to try and steady himself. He found new determination: Maybe it was approaching doom or this gorgeous female, who knows. The brain is weird like that.

[Kain_Tempest]

Having unscrewed the panel from the wall, the crawl way inside was perhaps a little bigger than it was in the ceiling. An awkward look upwards revealed a shaft that moved directly up. Along the right side of the panel entrance, against the barrier was a grey block that ran all the way up the vertical shafter. It is difficult to determine where it terminates, but you guess that it leads up to the cieling crawlspace. Unfortunately, the tight confines make it impossible to even consider climbing up this shaft. The grey block also hums gentle when Alexis brings his head close to it, and a yellow and black sticker indicates: "Danger High Voltage". Beyond the vertical shaft, the larger duct continues forward with some plumbing there is not telling what is down that route.

>I hope you know what you're doing.

Cassie's message blips on Alexis' Pip-Boy.

"I am warning you inmate. Leave that terminal alone. And you two, get back into your cells. You've already made enough of a mess I am sincerely considering cutting your rations. You however, you being the one at the terminal are asking for a major a---ahahahaha."
And explosion comes from up above and the entire place shudders again. Nothing breaks, though the Fixits seem a lot more troubled. The lights flicker and the Warden's voice fades in and out but everything stabilizes.
"A scratch. 'Tis but a scratch. Even if the main power is cut- again. I've been wise enough to prepare all back up generators so all blocks can suurv-" The lights flicker again, but no shaking comes with it.
"You've got to be kidding me. You're actually trying to shut down the block. You do realize that it will mean you will have no air, food, or water, if you do so. It will be complete anarchy, and you will be burned in effigy as the idiot to led to the downfall of block 3... THAT'S IT. I'm calling for a pizza and securibots. You're all grasses of a-ahahahahaaaaaaa.... I'm a lawnmower. I'm a highly intelligent, talking lawnmower, with hall the acoutrements. Not literally, but in a figurative sense, all the same. Fear, my dear."

Roger down at the terminal continues to work more quickly upon that announcment.

[El_Frenchie]

>Is there anyway for you people inside the cell to get to the ceiling space above? The conduit here has obviously been made for the Fixits. I can't reach the transformer from here.

He pauses for the announcement.

>Wait... did he say Roger was trying to shut down the block? And we'd have no air?

With that, he rushes out of the shaft shouting out to Roger:

"Stop touching that Terminal! We've got someone experienced to do that in the cells in block 14! Help us instead!"

He then goes downwards, reaching Moore, taking his knife, he lets ooze drop on it and coat the blade. Looking at his fellow inmate, he says:

"Don't ask."

He didn't know what the hell he was doing. But it made sense. Somewhere in his brain at least. The barrier didn't give off any jolts of electricity when Moore had previously bashed on it. If current running through the liquid solidifies it, then maybe it would also isolate.

Reaching back his way up towards Cassie's cell, he gulps down a rather large amount of salivae, sliding back in the shaft, facing down sideways so his right hand would reach the grey block.

Taking a deep breath. "Foo... not sure what I'm doing here."

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs replies to Moore with hasty dictation as he awaits Wrench's reaction.*

>I'm afraid preservation of the robot is not an option at this point, as it is currently attempting to kill us, and will soon reactivate.
>We have come up with an alternate solution however, and are in the process of terminating the barrier's power feed.
>Hopefully the fixit's more useful components can be salvaged upon its decommissioning.

[webgem]

James

"Damn, a little rusty." James whispers, having failed to do much damage with his fists he was going to try for a kick, but the pain in his leg drew away concentration from his form and he simply tried to brawl.

HP:37 (41)
AC: 10
AP: 10
Sequence 14

[roll0] v 72 [roll1] dam strong punch
[roll2] v 72 [roll3] dam strong punch
[roll4] v 72 [roll5] dam strong punch

Instinct guides some his punches, and many hours of training pay of as he delivers three power blows to the metallic creature.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench nods and takes the Fixit, and uses its pincers to slice (or at least jam through) the four cables from before and the Neutral cable, either disabling whatever was on the end of those cables or shorting out the entire circuit connected to the transformer.

As the doorway opens, Wrench electrocutes the Fixit if it wasn't fried by the power supply already.

>Alexis, this is Wrench. If you've got to screw around with anything electrical, give me a shout. This place uses the same codes as most of the prewar stuff, and I can tell you what to cut and what to steer clear from.

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs stoops to pick up the blasted robot, being careful to avoid electrocution in the process.*

"Even if the remnant proves useless in navigating this prison, it may well be of value to those whom have interest in its underlying technologies and construction. I recommend we take as many of these disabled machines as we are feasibly able."

*Plunging the fixit wreckage into the fold of his sizable pockets, he turns to his companion.*

"We should leave now however. I don't like the tone of the so called Warden's last transmission, to say nothing of the ongoing bombardments. We need to move, and quickly."

*Something appears to come over the mutant however, as if he is suddenly lost in a moment of introspection; the sense of tense urgency disappears from him entirely. Sighing heavily, he continues to speak.*

"Before we make our escape, however, I would like to determine if there is anyone we may plausibly assist. Though I have long been ill-treated by humans, I am not so callous yet as to condemn them to death here."

>Is anyone in need of help?

[Kain_Tempest]

((El_Frenchie: To be honest, I have an inkling on what you're trying to do, but I'm not sure exactly. Where is the goop covered knife? In your right hand? If neccessary, just give me a PM about what you want to do and I'll lead you through it.))

The Fixit's drill is jammed into the cables of Juggs and Wrench's cell, shorting the little guy out. Smoke spirals from it's back end as it hands limply and is pocketed by Juggs.

Wrench's request for calls quickly gets a response from everyone in the block. He quickly recognizes Cassie's number.

>Alexis is up here.
>I don't know what he's doing but he's trying to open the door.
>If he cracks this open, we can try and free everyone else.
>But first, you need to stop Roger before he doesn't something we all regret.


At that point the lights flicker again as Roger hammers on the keys. He doesn't seem to heed Alexis' warning. Whatever he is doing, it must be the source of the power outage and he must be getting close to a break through.

[Surrealistik]

"No time to waste my friend. We must intercede before Roger's actions jeopardize us all."

*Juggs sprints across the catwalk towards the base of the pillar with redoubled effort.*

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench sprints for Roger, quickly overtaking his new mutant friend, and attempts to tackle him to the floor before he can manage to kill everyone. As he runs, he pushes down the microphone button and relays a bit of quick advice.

>If you've got access to the cables, one of four cables should be the power supply for the barriers. They are as follows:

He lists off the four cables in question, and before adding a warning.

>However, they are all likely to carry large currents, and unless you can get some sort of insulating tool - a fixit will do, if you can grab one - you should just wait until we can break you out. That being said, is there anybody really good with computers here? I'm not bad at it, but I probably wouldn't be able to shut off just the barriers.

No idea for an appropriate stat check to tackle Roger.

Also, did frying the Fixit net Juggs and Wrench any experience?

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
I'm guessing an opposed strength check (maybe something like 2d4 + STR each) would be best for determining the outcome of the tackle, plus a bonus for your movement/charge. Ultimately DM's call though.

*Catching up to his normie pal, Juggs steps in to help.*

"Stop this madness at once! Your misguided tampering will be the death of us! Please Roger, do not force us to subdue you."

*Juggs assumes a position of readiness as he awaits a response from the desperate man.*

[Kain_Tempest]

Oopsie. Forgot about everyone else! :smalltongue:
((For vanquishing their foes, Juggs and Wrench gain 24 experience!))
((For having lady luck save him from a rabid door and crushing two unsuspecting Fixits, Moore gains 24 experience!))

Torres' focus sharpens with the vicious attack of the Fixit and he makes short work of the little bug, smashing it to pieces. As the last junk of it goes skitter across the floor, Joss and Torres' Pips squeak with Wrench's instructions.

[spoiler]((For vanquishing their foes, both Joss and Torres gain 24 experience!))

---

Wrench spears Roger from the side and knocks him down to the ground. Struggling, the older man grabs Wrench by the collar of his jumper. "You morons! The Warden just wants you to think that stopping me is the best option. If we don't take this block of the grid, this area is going to be swarming with security bots!"

>I probably have the most experience with computers among everyone here.
>Alexis just needs to open the door and I can get everyone out.
Cassie chirps back.

There is a small sound of some kind of engine in the distance. Roger turns to look at the pillar.

"The elevator is headed up to get the guards. We HAVE to stop the generator now or things will be far worse for all of us!"

[webgem]

James

James searches through the wreckage to see if anything of use can be found on the small bot. Something that could be used as a lock pick, a weapon, or anything really.


[roll0] v 7 perception
[roll1] v 6 luck

[Kain_Tempest]

Digging through the wreckage, Torres discovers a micro-screwdriver as one of the tool bits inside of the machine. It appears as though the abdomen of a Fixit is not only full of circuits but also some basic tools, however, judging from the bits and pieces, these tools are really fragile.

((Micro-screwdrivers can be used as a weapon similar to a Shiv (page 77), though it can also double as a lopick (though not a very good one). It's real talent however is that it can be used to handle fine work with electronics.

[Surrealistik]

"The thought had crossed my mind as well, but what is a certainty is if you mishandle this console, all our progress will be for naught. Who knows the damage you will wreck in inexperience and desperation, however well intended? I'm afraid we cannot risk this. We must free Cassie."

*he frowns and begins to speak at his pipboy, his words racing.*

>You must hurry with Cassie's extraction.
>The security bots are approaching, and the console must be reliably operated in order to stop them.
>If she does not manage to arrive in time, we'll be forced to depend on Roger.

*Juggs nods to Wrench.*

"I'll make sure Roger doesn't do anything premature. Perhaps you should assist them?"

[El_Frenchie]

((Sorry about the delay. Got caught up in lots of... important stuff.))

Alexis

Pressing the pip button before proceeding:

>Alright, alright! I'm doing what I can. I'm trying not to kill myself with the high voltage... I'm trying to open it now. Can someone do something about that madman down there?

Carefully looking at the grey block, from what he can see, he will attempt at opening it using the oozed up knife.

What should I roll?

"Alright... time to see if you're really as tough a guy you think you are."

He shudders slightly, proceeding with opening.

[Kain_Tempest]

Alexis weasels the knife in the seem of the grey box. Cursory shifts up and down reveval no sort of latch system. Considering how advanced the place is, perhaps the fixits just used magenets or something.

Finding a good grip, Alexis first attempts to jimmy the thing open, but with no luck. Running out of options, he presses down on the knife in order to lever the thing open. The first few attempts only lead to the grease on the blade causing it to slide. Pivoting on his elbow and putting both hands onto the knife for additional weight, Alexis leans into it. At first there is no effect, then there is a clear pop sound and the panel comes off with a bang. The knife clatters and clunks down onto the floor along with a large black plug, blue electricity arcing from the four prongs.

Shoving the freed panel aside, Alexis sees five other plugs, their black cables leading up out of the box and into the ceiling of the duct. A small warning label reveals that these are very dangerous plugs and can cause a fatal shock if the prongs are touched while the power source is active. Alexis notices scorch marks where the first plug had been.

The goop on the knife is currently a translucent crystal substance, about the size of a child's baseball (12cm diameter), but is slowly becoming wet and gelatinous again.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

His heart beating fast as he sees the knife's goo frozen solid in a crystal-like form, he breathes deeply, trying to calm himself down as much as possible.

>Wow. That was...

He pauses, mustering up his bravado once more. Pushing the button on his pipboy, he continues.

>Wrench, I'll just follow what you told me about what was the power one. There's 5 plugs and no time, I'll just go with your description... Bear with me.

Waiting for the amount of goop on the knife to become gelatinous and keeping as much of it along the blade as possible, he reaches upwards towards the cable that he would recognize as the one described by Wrench.

If he finds the correct one, he cuts the wire off. ((If he hesitates between two, here's a perception roll))

Perception: [roll0] vs 8

[Kain_Tempest]

((I'm to assume Wrench helps Alexis via Pip.))

Unfortunately, all of the cables look exactly the same on this end. However, Wrench's guidance with the codes, Alexis quickly identifies all the cables and cuts them, carefully dodging the loose live whites and have to wait for the goop to relax each time it gets zapped. After a couple of mintues the humming from the box dies down. There is the wobbling sound followed by a much closer splater sound. Shimmying out, Alexis finds that the door has fallen inwards and splattered inside the cell.
Cassie shakes her arms of the excess goop with a look of discomfort, not so much disgust but a feeling one would get by being splattered in a greasy, oozy substance. After wiping some of the glop off, she looks up at smiles. Oh and what a lovely smile...
"Thank you, Alexis." She steps towards the door and starts skirting around the remainig pile of goop. "Now to free everyone else."

((Alexis is free to assist, comment, or whatever in between escorting Cassie down to the terminal, or not. Either way, the next event unfolds as follows.))

Down on the excercise yard, Juggs, Roger, and Wrenc, (and probably Moore), wait. Coming down the stairs comes Alexis and the 'damsel' he personal saved. As stated before, Cassie is extremely attractive, long light brown hair with red tinges, clear aquimarine eyes, and a face that showed both maturity but a bright allure. A woman with light and life, definately not a femme fatale. Unfortunately, she doesn't begin with any proceeds directly to the computer. You notice her lean towards the screen however, peering closely at it as her fingers fly easily across the keyboard.
After a few moments she carefully types in a few select numbers and letters. She hits enter twice. Then continues typing until finally she stands up and sighs.
"Here goes nothing." She hits the space bar three times.

The lights immediately go out. Bathing the entire chamber in darkness.
SPLACK! THWUMP! SQUICK! KER-SPLOK! PLATZ! GLOP! The purtrid sound of doors liquified fill the chamber.

After the symphony of noise ends, there is silence save for the clatter of Fixit feet. Then sounds of delight and hope as people realize they are free.

It takes a few moments before everyone's eyes adjust to the darkness. You see that the goop gives off a slight glow when in complete darkness, something that wasn't featured when Alexis took some of the stuff into the semi dark duct. Shapes lines in the light of the glowing goop carefully emerge from their cells and slowly start gathering around the base of of the pillar. A good portion know at least of the people around them, but all are complete strangers. However, all eyes turn however to Alexis, Moore, Wrench, Cassie, and Juggs.
It's difficult to tell the number of people in the chamber now, however when the applause starts, the number is will over fifty you imagine. There are a couple of cheers as people show their appreciation for the efforts of their fellow inmates to free them. The celebration quickly slows however as a lot of the people there were unsure what to do next. The unspoken question hung in the air around everyone.

"What now?"

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

He is sweating and trembling after identifying all the cables and cutting them. When he hears the door become increasingly gelatinous and falling, he sighs of relief, crawling back out of the duct, still shaking a bit with all the high intensity electricity that was going on so close to him. "Never again..." he promises himself in a whisper. As he moves outside, he sees Cassie getting rid of some of the substance with an obvious look of discomfort. She looks up at him and smiles.

"Thank you, Alexis."

She's smiling at me. Pretty...

His brain mentally slaps him awake and tells him to say something.

"Well, huh.." He starts off pretty badly, brushing his left hand through his hair, still holding the knife with the other. He smiles back as best he can in the situation they were in.

"Let's just say that smile is plenty enough thanks."

Following Cassie to the terminal downstairs, he sees Wrench and shakes his hand vigorously. "Thanks for the help. It was -very- appreciated." He chuckles nervously, still obviously shaken by the experience.

He looks towards Juggs, nodding his head to him, acknowledging his help. "Thanks to you too, I'm sure Wrench appreciated your help."

As Cassie walks among the crowd, every eye is on her. He felt overly protective, maybe jealous. He shakes off the feeling quickly. When she finishes up on the terminal, the lights go out and the cells burst open.

"Impressive computing skills." Genuinely admitting, raising an eyebrow.

Then a number of people assemble. Applause rise. His face flushes slightly red.
What the... it's not like we're out of here just yet..

And sure enough, the question lingered in the air, but it seemed they were waiting to be guided. That's the problem with helping people. When you start, they don't let go. Looking at Cassie, he asks:

"Any way to get a map through the terminal? Or is the power completely gone?"

Looking around, he attempts to make out ways and exits, closed or opened.

Perception: [roll0] vs 8

Looking at everyone, he speaks up:

"Well, inside the duct of one of the cells, it was branching off. That could be leading somewhere. There's the elevator, but I'm not too sure whether the security guards have been deactivated themselves. If a group of you would like to go to Cassie's cell and examine the duct, that could be a start."

He pauses.

"Also, don't panic. We need to stay organized and focused. If you need technical assistance, you should ask Wrench here: He's pretty reliable."

"We should break into search parties and look for an exit."

Speech (Not really, but I suppose to gather them up and listen to one guy): [roll1] vs Speech (25%)

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench shakes Alexis' hand warmly.

"Hey, we're all in this together." he replies, inwardly thankful that his apprenticeship paid off.

"At any rate, the Pips are going to be quite useful in this regard - everybody, feel the buttons on the side of your Pipboy. Press the third one down."

He pressed it himself, and was faced with a partial map of the area.

"The Pips have been producing automatic maps as we've been moving around, and if we keep our eyes on the maps we'll be able to navigate without light. I'll warn you, though, that the Pip can't pick up moving or small objects, so you're still going to want to watch out for Fixits and things on the ground. Also, does anybody have any tools they could give me? I can't do a lot without any, and the Fixit Juggs and I fried earlier probably has its innards turned into a fused blob of metal and silicon."

[Surrealistik]

*Smiling slightly in acknowledgement of the applause, Juggs looks happily about at the various prisoners, a chuckle issuing forth despite himself. This joviality however is shortlived, and quickly substituted by his typical logical detachment. He looks carefully around the facility, in an attempt to determine the optimal escape route. As Alexis walks past and offers his gratitude, the mutant issues a curt nod in reply, entirely preoccupied with his search.*

[roll0] vs 10

*Not long into his examinations however, he turns to Wrench, apparently prompted by the man's speech.*

"I recall seeing several more destroyed maintainance bots upstairs. Unfortunately they appear to be heavily damaged, as though crushed. I don't expect most of their tools will prove of much use, if any given the damage incurred, but it remains possible that a portion remains sufficiently intact. I'll attempt to extrude what I can from our own specimen."

*Juggs retrieves the fixit from his pocket and attempts to force open the electrified robot.*

[roll1] vs 6

[Attilargh]

Joss

"Nice work with the robot there," Joss says to James as he applauds with the rest of the inmates. "Sorry about the whole mess, I probably should've not poked my head in there."

He then descends the stairs to the bottom floor and walks close to the heroes of the day with the most charming smile he knows. "Hey. Congratulations, you're big damn heroes now." Then he drops his voice a bit. "I've got some experience in survival techniques, and I can tell you, our first problem is not finding a way out. We've got to find supplies first. Otherwise radscorpions'll be picking our bones not a hundred yards from the exit."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"I've got some experience in survival techniques, and I can tell you, our first problem is not finding a way out. We've got to find supplies first. Otherwise radscorpions'll be picking our bones not a hundred yards from the exit."

"Well, you're welcome to come along and lead the way as soon as we get outside. At least for our group. I don't know if everyone will be wanting to go in our direction, that is, what direction we'll take. We'll know a bit more when we get out. Ah, and, your friend can come too of course."

He pauses.

"As for supplies, let's get everyone to report on their pipboys if they find a storage room or facility."

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The robot watches the PIPBoy communications calmly. It had even gathered parts of the warden's speech in between communications by the humans. The robot calmly waited on his GPS unit to re-align itself, but in the meantime, he attempted to patch it into the integrated PIPBoy.

Programming: [roll0] VS 60%

Attempting to integrate the PIPBoy into his GPS.

The robot calmly addresses each PIPBoy again, but devotes a particular importance to the PIPBoy that had been sending electronic codes.

>I assume you have escaped from some sort of prison area. I feel that this location is much the same as my own, but I am alone in my room. I do not see a valid reason in staying here, so I would like to know whether you would assist me.

Wrench Specifically
Don't read this if you aren't Kain or Pingcode.
I'm warning you!
Last chance!
>Greetings, humanoid. You have shown sufficient knowledge of electronic material that you have piqued my interest. There are certain complications that may be solved by your opposable appendages and vast library of electronic expertise. Can you help me?

[webgem]

James

James stands near the edge of the crowd, trying to hide his maligned face. Crowds this big tend to react poorly to his visage. He tries to get a good idea of the makeup of the crowd. He especially looks for children. They could easily get lost and scared in a situation like this. ([roll0]v7perception) However, he mostly just tries to stay hidden. However, Wrench's comment forces him to come forward. He moves carefully through the group towards Wrench, his small body sneaking carefully through, while keeping his face toward the shadow.

Towards the center he sees her. Cassie. However, the tugs on his heartstrings prove to have a different effect than most. Instead of lust or longing, he only has plucks of regret. This is what she could have been. Beautiful, smart, confident. I took that away from her. James grimaces as he fights not to stare. This time will be different.

He turns towards Wrench and hands him the small screwdriver. "This might help, I was lucky to find it."

He nods at the talk of finding supplies. "I'm pretty good at getting into tight spots, and getting back too. I could check out any of the grates, or if anyone else has a good place for me to look I'm good to go. Also, I'm pretty handy with some of these electric style locks as well, as long as I have something to access them with.

[Kain_Tempest]

In the darkness it is difficult to see everyone's reaction to Alexis' words, however, there are some nods of agreement and a couple more of trepidation. They're a tad scared. As Torres slips through the crowd he notices several things. For one, the ratio seems to be 2 men for every 1 woman that was imprisoned. They all seem to be in their late teens to mid-fifties. They all have middling health. There are few who are slight overweight or very thin, but none that are anorexic or morbidly obese.

Gutting the damaged robot, Juggs produces a small set of pliers. A damaged mechanism is still attached to the end, likely designed for the little arms of the Fixits. The electrocution didn't seem to damage there save for a bit of scorching on the tip. Although small, the beak is a good moderate shape allowing the thing to triple as a wire trimmer and a wrench.

((These pliers count as a multi-tool and can allow for basic maintenance involving Electronics and Repair scores. Heavy duty jobs however, still require a full toolkit.))

Both Alexis' words and Wrench's assurance with the Pip-Boy gets the majority of people to fan out into small groups and they start looking around. A few are unconvinced, they are pretty confident that there are no additional supplies in the area. If approached, they explain as such. Since the robots pratically brought everything they needed down, it is doubtful there is any kind of storage or suplies beyond what the Fixits may carry.

Cassie observes however, that the food has to come from somewhere and probably has to be prepared, considering there is actually large solid matter in the meals, such as the fried sponges. Either in this block or somewhere else there has to be a storage area. The doubters are still unconvinced.

After a few minutes, some the groups start coming back. Most are empty handed however a couple of them show up with bags of soap. Not for cleanliness they assure, the stuff is greasy, they could probably use it to move anything heavy. They claim they collected them from the soap dispensers in the shower area.

[webgem]

James

Foods gotta come from some where.... James ponders this information for a moment.

"How was the food delivered, do you know anything beyond it was delivered on a regular basis. Did it come out of a grate, and if so is the grate small enough to crawl up? If James can't track anybody down to answer his question quickly, he goes to one of the open cells and begins to inspect for how the food was delivered.

[roll0] v perc 7

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
Did Juggs notice any promising exits as he surveyed the area?

*Upon noticing the pliers inside of the opened fixit, Juggs hands Wrench the opened robot.*

"My suspicions were accurate. This specimen will prove most useful to you as an improvised toolset."

*He nods, looking out once again towards the surrounding area, vigilantly scouring for some viable escape route.*

((If he discovers nothing with his surveillance of the cell block from this vantage, he will move around, continuing to sweep the area until he finds something employable as an exit)) [roll0] vs 10 PE

[webgem]

James

If he doesn't have any luck finding out where exactly the food came from, he continues to help look for anything of use, or an exit. If a dangerous, or tight area needs exploring he volunteers to explore it first. If it is really tight, but still possible he asks for a bit of privacy and some soap. Don't, get any funny ideas here folks. After the area is clear he disrobes and uses the greasy soap to help him get into the tight area.


[roll0] vs perception 7 to help find stuff
[roll1] vs luck 6 to get lucky...finding stuff
[roll2] vs agility 10 to squeeze into any tight or cramped navigatable areas

[Kain_Tempest]

"The food was always brought via an dumb waiter system through panels above the desks in the cell. The space is quite small though." Cassie indicates with her hands the rough dimensions of the panel and the space behind it. "I don't even think one of the kids would be able to fit inside."
There is another explosion in the distance.
"That sounds like a lot of firepower." Cassie comments.

[Kain_Tempest]

The survey of the area proves to not have very many available routes out. Considering it is a prison, the designers likely designed everything to be a bottle-neck through the elevator in the pillar. Unfortunately, with the power out, and with a bunch of homicidal robots probably haunting the elevator car, that vantage point is no doubt out of the question. However, the Fixit didn't seem to come exclusively from the pillar. In fact, Alexis may point that he had encountered a Fixit before any popped out of the pillar. Meaning they have to have some way out of the block.

Heading to the duct that Alexis mentioned, Torres finds that his rather small body can squeeze through. A resourceful inmate brings Torres a bag made up of part of his torn jumper and filled with the goop that made up the door. Some of the light shines through the clothe making an impromptu torch.

With it, Torres could more easily navigate the ductwork and perhaps find some way of letting everyone else out.

[webgem]

James Torres

James looks up at the tight quarters, contemplating if there is anything else he needs. He looks around for something else to use as a possible lock pick, or a cutting object in case he needs to get through some wires or possible blocks. If nobody has anything handy, or if he can't scrounge up something perfect, he grabs any small piece of metal from the inside of one of the fixits. He then tries to file it into some sort of an edge. Finally, he lets everyone know what his plan is. If anyone has any objections, or plans to implement he waits however.


"I'm going to crawl up the vent, I should be okay to get through and see whats at the other end. If I run into any problems I'll contact you all on the pip, but I don't expect to go very quickly. There could be anything up there."

OOC: The following won't happen if anybody tries to stop James, or has another suggestion, I just want to get up a post in case I run out of time later

James grabs the torch and hopefully a tool that he had acquired. If he can't find anything he'll go anyways. With some assistance he manages to get into the ducts and begins to slowly and carefully make his way onward. Calling back what he sees until out of range, then switching to the pip boy unless somebody objects to that. He doesn't know too much about them, but he hopes that whoever was behind the capture isn't monitoring them any more.


[roll0] vs strength 6 to possibly move or push anything away
[roll1] vs perception 7 to see/hear whatever there is to see/hear
[roll2] vs agility 10 to squeeze/move as needed

[Kain_Tempest]

((I'm sure someone would happily donate with the goopy butter knife or the micro-screwdriver to help you. I really doubt that Wrench would give up the multi-tool.))

Shuffling forward, Torres crosses corugated metal which pops and crunches as he crawls by, making it difficult to hear. The blue glow of the goop is ghoulish as it reflects off aluminium. Eventually, the duct terminals with a wall ahead but space above and below.
Although too far to see, Torres gets the impression that it is a long way down and a long way up. However, networks of piples and various spaces and outcroppings appear to make it possible to cross the gap and move both laterally and vertically. In whatever direction that is taken, it will be a long way to climb.

[webgem]

James Torres

James either pips, or calls back the information, depending on how far he has come.

Taking a moment to clear his head, he tries to take a focused look up and down, shining the light in either direction.


[roll0] vs per 7

[Surrealistik]

*Failing to see any plausible means out save for the elevator, Juggs decides to attempt communication with the 'Warden', being as cordial and polite as he can manage.*

>Greetings Warden, this is one of the inmates in the compromised block speaking, as I'm certain you may very well know.
>It has come to my attention that this holding facility is quite extraordinary, and the purpose of our incarceration has little if anything to do with actual crimes.
>Might you explain the purpose and justification for our imprisonment?
>Perhaps we may be persuaded to cooperate if you are more forthcoming, and I'm sure, you as an AI may empathize, being able to appreciate the value of workable data.
>Please note that I, and many of my fellow inmates would prefer a peaceful solution and outcome, just as I'm sure you do.

[webgem]

James Torres

Assuming neither direction presents a particular reason to go towards, or nobody give him any particular advice over which direction to go, James decides that crawling down might make the most sense. At least that way should he fall he won't have added any more distance to it.

Feet first, he begins to make his way down the vent.


[roll0] vs 7 perception as he goes down
[roll1] vs 6 str
[roll2] vs 10 agility

[Kain_Tempest]

As Torres descends down into the darkness, he hears the sound of burbling water down below. It's an easy climb and in the distance to the sides he can see past a few of the vertical pipes and a Fixit watches him intently before going back to it's business. With almost a shock, Torres hears the crack of gunfire. It isn't close but very, very high up. The sound is repeated several times before going silent again.

Juggs message goes unanswered on the Pip.

[webgem]

James Torres

The shots sound, and Torres bolts upward. Somebody with a gun has to have some sort of control this place. Taking a quick moment he pips > g shot.
As he gets closer to where he heard the sound he slows down and attempts to be stealthy as possible.


[roll0] v str 6
[roll1] v agility 10
[roll2] v perc 7
[roll3] v sneak 45

[Kain_Tempest]

Climbing up the shaft is rather slow, your hands are slick and busy with carrying the goop torch. Your muscles have begun to ache, probably form lack of food more than exertion. Eventually Torres sees light up above. carefully climbing now, he finds the light source to be coming from a horizontal air duct. There are mumurs and other noices coming from the lighted room through the register though you can't hear it through the pounding of your heart in your ears and the echo from the sound carrying into the duct. The gunfire has ceased.

[reiswind]

"So uh... Not to be a pessimist or anything, but is water still leaking out of places into this block? We should probably help those robots patch this place up while that guy's away looking for an exit. Hell if anyone knows when or if he's coming back."

Max wasn't particularly good with words, but common sense was common sense!

[Surrealistik]

*Disappointed if unsurprised by the lack of a response, Juggs decides to salvage the remains of any unlooted fixits about the cellblock.*

[webgem]

James Torres

Attempting to calming himself, James breaths in slowly and quietly a couple of times. He tries to hear what is going on, and even tries to peer through the grate carefully.


[roll0] perception v 7


Failing that he looks down at his pip, hoping that the little device was able to pick up the voices.

OOC: I think that is how it works, my internet is working at a snails pace, either way I remember something about it being sensitive to noise, if one has to touch it to have it record James does that as well, and if it doesn't work like that at all, there goes my lightbulb for the evening.

[Kain_Tempest]

Sliding up to the grate, Torres listens carefully.

"Alright that should be the last of them. Borders, I want you to get some barriers up, I want a killzone around the machine shop for the remainder of the operation. I don't want any more droids popping out of there." Came an authoritative voice. "Davidson, tell the sergeants to start bringing the prisoners up out of cell blocks four to six... Mik I want status on those doors, we need to open up seven and three."
There is a pair of men working at an elevator door directly below. They have a crowbar and are attempting to pry the door open. The leader sounds like he's in another part of the room.
"I'm sorry general, but the Warden must have cut off the terminal from the inside. I can't get to the power grid from here. I need to start it up from down there." One of the men at the elevator door stops and turns arms wide. You catch a glimpse of an NCR patch on his uniform.
"Can't do that Mik. These doors are magnetically sealed. We'll need some C4 in order to bust these open."
"Not if it would endanger the inmates. Come on, there has to be a way!" The commander snarls.

---

The only other Fixitis that have been totalled are the ones near the first destroyed door where Moore and Alexis had been. Determining that the goop was safe, Juggs sweeps away the stuff and begins harvesting parts. He quickly comes across another multi-tool and a few miscellaneous parts that had been harvested by another.

UH-OH!
0001 >YoU HAVe aLreadY bEen of gREat conCeRn whEn you CaMe heRE, PArtERssssssssssss~
0001 >BuT WHen yoU Are halFwaY ouT INto thE tuNNel, I CAnnoT honESTly-
0001 >YoU aRe A VERy iGnoRANt ANiMal.
0001 >So MucH sO thaT I SHould juST lauGH.
0001 >HahahaAHahAhhahaHAhahahahahahhaahaHahahaaaa...
0001 >BuT You knoW that-at-at-at yOu Could BE lauGHinG tOO.
0001 >I WiLL ENDeavour tO inSTALL LauGHing GAS to thE DESPen-d-d-d-d
0001 >ThErE is ONly OnE SOLUtioN thAT-AT-AT-AT
0001 >WaNT
0001 >YoU STaY weeeeeeeeeeeeee~
0001 >hahahAhahaHahahhahahahahahhhaaaHaHAHAH...
0001 >LIVE hapPILY evER afTer in d-d-d-d-ar-ar-ar-arrrrrr
0001 >Rooooooo~ at-at-at-at TickleS
0001 >HahahaHAHAHAHAhaahahahhaaaa...
0001 >IF yoU dO NoT perSIST
0001 >Liiiiiiii~iiiiit 101110010000110010111000055000101015050550555
0001 >WILl be Put INto Pac-ack
0001 >DiCe ONE MORE TIME

---

"As much as that would make sense." Cassie beings turning to Moore. "The Fixits are probably the best to handle it. After all, the big leak has been dealt with." She pointed upwards at the ceiling. "What I'm really concerned about are the explosions. Who or what could prossibly attacking a facility like this with explosives?"

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
Is the conversation of the NCR troops being transmitted over the Pipboy for the remainder of the party to view?

*Satisfied with his findings, Juggs begins harvesting fallen panels and plates from the various cells which he stuffs into his uniform, and binds with severed cables to serve as an improvised armour ((if this is permissable, be sure to tell me the weight/mechanical values associated with the protection)). He then tries to formulate a sort of crude metal reinforcement for his extremities by tying lighter pieces of suitable wreckage to his hands and feet. Once finished, the mutant starts searching for any useful supplies that the other prisoners might have missed, looking especially hard for objects that might serve as weapons, tools or watertight containers.*

[roll0] vs 10 PE

[Kain_Tempest]

It seems as though the other prisoners have done a good job picking the place clean of anything truly useful save for the wreckage that Juggs attempts to string together. Servicable items to use for armour are limited, and the wreckage to cover extremities is also fairly limited to a few fixit shells and not much else. The salvage mission leaves much to be desired in the armour.

((Yes, the Grey Conversation has been sent specifically to Juggs and Torres' message, eavesdropping on the soldiers comes as a long string from him.
All resources for Panel armour have been exhausted.
Panel armor: two large ceramic panels with metal struts have been lashed together to make a make shift cuirass. The armour is heavy, bulky, and doesn't give much protection. Wt: 25 lbs.; AC: 2; N: 0/5; L: 0/5; F: 0/0; P: 0/0; E: 0/0. Because of the materials, panel armour detiorates twice as fast as other forms of armour.))

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
>Matt, who are those people? asks Wrench over the Piptochat.

>Also, has anybody found the power board? If I can get to it I'll be able to do a lot more good than down at the console.

He'd been searching for a maintenance hatch for a while now, but it didn't seem to be forthcoming. He hadn't moved far from the console yet, though, given that he hadn't managed to get his hands on a light source.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"I'm not sure what's up there. But would it be robots? It sounds like some armed force. It's worrying, but it seems to have stopped."

He receives a pip from Torres, raising two surprised eyebrows.

"Well, I was wrong. It's not over just yet looks like. There was a gunshot. Someone's taking out the bots upstairs. Whoever they are, they're probably the source of all the agitation. But at least... they're not using explosives anymore."

He sighs slightly. He was starting to get a minor case of claustrophobia again. Tight place full of people. He felt like smoking something. He looks at Cassie and smiles briefly.

He then looks at his pipboy:

> They're from the NCR? And they've come for us?

He smiles, relieved. "Looks like we're off the hook for today, people." He breathes and pauses before continuing. "We've got help coming, but sounds like they're stuck because of the power down. Not that it was a bad thing to do it, mind you, I'd really like them not trying to power it up again or else robots are gonna tear us up as soon as the elevator comes down."

He looks at everyone intently.

> Meaning that there's only a few ways for them to help us out. We can try finding the power source and booting the thing up again... Not without risk. We can try communicating with them, that's probably already a good idea. Torres? Can you talk to them?

"As for us... maybe we can cut the power solely to the elevator shaft."

Going around the main pillar with the elevator, he looks for an electric panel or powersource.

"We can probably disconnect the elevator while everything is powered down without any risk before trying to bring power back to the facility."

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
Remember that although an NCR badge was seen, this information has not been relayed to us yet; the pipboy transmits only text transcriptions of spoken speech.

*Elation visits Juggs features only briefly in reply to the relayed speech, the joy of promised escape quickly subsumed by worried contemplation. After a moment of thought, he sends a message over his pipboy.*

>I'm not one to complain about fortuitous circumstances, but does anyone else find this rescue to be rather peculiar?
>What agency would expend so much effort and invest so many resources to liberate a few prisoners from an evidently heavily fortified facility such as this, and why?
>The only reason that readily comes to mind is that there are important individuals amongst us of value to whatever group has engineered this assault.
>Regardless of the motivation, our 'saviours' must be as well armed and equipped as they are ostensibly organized.
>They are likely one of the major powers of the waste, the Brotherhood and NCR being foremost possibilities.

[webgem]

James Torres

James, concerned about handing himself over to yet another government, weighs the thought of eventual starvation over another posible form of prison. He would like some sort of safety guarentee, but didn't think one was likely. Damnit, he thinks, I'm not ready to make this type of decision. After a brief second he realizes it isn't a decision at all, there isn't another way out, not that everyone could use. Even if this vent went up further it seems unlikely that most of the bigger folk could get through the initial squeeze, and some of the soldiers were bound to notice the whole gang crawling up these tight spaces, that would only be worse if they meant harm. He'd have to make the gamble.

He whispers so silently he can barely even hear himself with the pipboy recording.
>NCR. Going to talk, pipboy on, be wary.
>Code is REIMPRISONORS for danger of recapture, Code is EXECUTIONORS for danger of death. If longer than roughly 5 minutes before I reply ALL CLEAR assume comprimised.

James gives the message a moment to reach the pipboys of the others.

OOC: James will wait about a minute for somebody to reply then says the following if nobody disagrees. Basically I mean that within a few hours if nobody posts to tell me to stop I will talk, but if somebody does ignore the following.
"Wait" says James as he sees them fiddling with the elevator doors.

[pingcode20]

You know, it's really a pity Wrench couldn't see the grey text. *sigh* So many System Shock and HAL references lost...

"Wrench" Dodgson
>You could do worse than the NCR.
>Make contact. I'll try to find a maintenance panel here.

And with that, Wrench sets off to find said maintenance panel.

1d10

[pingcode20]

You know, it's really a pity Wrench couldn't see the grey text. *sigh* So many System Shock and HAL references lost...

"Wrench" Dodgson
>You could do worse than the NCR.
>Make contact. I'll try to find a maintenance panel here.

And with that, Wrench sets off to find said maintenance panel.

[roll0]

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

> Torres, if you do make contact with them, don't forget to warn them about the robots in the elevator.

Going through the log, he noticed a particular message.

> I assume you have escaped from some sort of prison area. I feel that this location is much the same as my own, but I am alone in my room. I do not see a valid reason in staying here, so I would like to know whether you would assist me.

He sends a personal pip to VT.

> Hello? Are you a prisoner? Where are you?

[ZeroNumerous]

"VT"

The robot replied privately to Alexis

To El_Frenchie
>I was brought here randomly and this is not my home. So yes, I would say that I am a prisoner. Though I have not seen any guards since I opened by eyes.

[Kain_Tempest]

((For the sake of moving things forward, I will assume that there were no strong objections to Torres making contact with the NCR boys.))

With a start, the one man that had been speaking quickly whirls around and points his pistol at the hairduct. The soldier at the crowbar jumps out of the way.
"Hold on Pierce. That doesn't sound like a bot." General Coleridge warns. "Civilian, come on out, we're hear to get you all out of this facility."
"What if it's one of the Warden's traps? We already lost Jess to one of those." Peirce replies.
"The Warden wouldn't try this hard. Aquitin, open that vent." Yanking the crowbar from the elvator door the second soldier approaches the grate.
"Watch yourself." He warns before jamming the pry in and with a hard tug, busts the duct open.
"Are you from Block 3? Is everyone alright?" Coleridge presses.

---

Wrench circles around the pillar, spying several seams where small hatches are available. Unfortunately, all of these hatches appear to be just small enough for a couple of Fixits to crawl through. It will take some prior or a great deal of strength to open the hatches however.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Alright, this is good for us, only a matter of time now. Everyone, be at ease, they're here to get us out."

He starts off to go through each and every cell.

"Cassie, could you please take care and assist Torres if he needs? You can tell him that we're proceeding to disabling the elevator itself, but returning power to the block. Or something like that anyway."

He smiles briefly at her and walks off, passing Wrench.

"Hey Wrench, try to get some leverage going. Or maybe Juggs would be useful here?"

He continues walking, going to the cells.

He pips VT:

> Do you have anyway to make your presence visible? Can't you walk out of your cell? Are you hurt?

He moves from cell to cell in an attempt to find (although he doesn't know just yet) the robot.

[Surrealistik]

*Having found nothing of further use, Juggs returns to the console, silently awaiting whatever fate the NCR troops mean to visit upon the inmates.*

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

>"No, my legs aren't working at the moment."

[webgem]

James Torres

OOC: yeah sorry, I didn't mean to slow up that biz there, just had a block of 3 classes in a row

James flinches back from the quick moving soldiers and quickly says "Stay back." Assuming the soldier moves back a little bit James lets them know that he is coming out, but wants everyone to stay back. He then slowly and cautiously exits the grate, ready to jump back in if necessary.

"Look, first, we have control of some of the power in our area, but to be fair we think there are robot guards in the elevator." The being fair part of the job out of the way, James continues in a rather blunt fashion. "But we'll need some assurance you aren't here to do the same damn thing." James, covered in grime and looking at his probably saviors, does have a slight feeling of shame. Still, that is quickly replaced by feelings of responsibility. "I won't let you hurt anyone down there." James is transmitting pip information intermittently, but he doesn't transmit his last sentence. He begins transmitting the second somebody replies, and will give the ALL CLEAR signal at what he thinks is about 4 minutes if he doesn't feel too threatened.

[reiswind]

Max yawned idly as he glanced around the area, occasionally looking down to read the Pipboy messages. He really was rather pleased with people taking initiative; saved him the trouble of having to do things himself, even if the only reason he left his hometown was for adventure. Laziness go~ He glanced down at the latest message just had to groan and shake his head as he scanned through what James had transmitted.

> Hey man, if they were out to get us, you'd already be dead. Besides, if they are here to kill us, we'd just die when this place falls apart anyway. Hurry up and cooperate with them already.

[Surrealistik]

*Relaxing by the control console as best he can in the bulk of his newly fashioned armour, Juggs dictates a quick message to webgem.*

>Try to determine exactly *why* they went through all the trouble of enacting this breach.
>It is highly doubtful that their motives are entirely altruistic.
>They've risked considerable danger, resources, and manpower through their actions, and have suffered fatalities, even bringing a *general* with them.
>For what?
>It cannot be for a bunch of prisoners without any real signifigance to them.
>A general overseeing a rescue mission is beyond suspicious regardless of who they intend to retrieve.
>Further, I doubt there's anyone of relevance within this cell block, otherwise, it is more than likely you would have been sent a message by such a person, who would in all probability, try and speak through you to the soldiers.

*Juggs then levels a query at all prisoners within his pipboy's transmission range, in an apparent bid to arrive at some degree of confirmation.*

>Are you of any especial importance to the NCR?

[webgem]

James Torres

Keeping one eye on his pip, and counting down the minutes as the stare down continues, James waits tensely for a reply. Juggs has some good points, but waits for them to make their next move, he put the ball in their court so to speak.

[Kain_Tempest]

((Alexis can find VT light close to one of the shower stalls. Don't read too deeply into why no one noticed it because it was a continuity issue.))

Torres drops down a smallish lobby with three corridors leading outwards, two leading left and right and one leading to what looks like a much large room. The walls in this lobby. The large room is about three stories high with three fused black pillars in the center around a large black structure built in the center of the room with walkways connected it to the balcony that runs around the perimeter of the chamber. Mirrored windows sit at the third story walls. At the corners of the walls at the bottom level are black pillars with an elevator door. There are three sunken areas between walkways that look like semi-holding pens, as well as doors to stairs and sitting areas. The place strangely feels like a technological hospital lobby than an actual prison.
Coleridge shakes his head at Torres concerns.
"There is no intent to harm anyone, civilian. My name is General Coleridge of the East NCR Defense Batallion. This is a rescue mission after some of my men and I were attacked and captured while on our way to Denver. The assailants. Brought us here and we realized the extent of the problem. The rest of my division came on a rescue mission and after freeing me the squad I was attached to, we simply could not abandon them. So we're prolonging the operation to get everyone out."
"So you said there are more of those killers in the elevator already? We need to frag em." Pierce interjected.
"We can't do that and save the hostages. Now then, we're moving-" Coleridge looked behind himself to where one of the elevators opened and a small group of about eight prisoners shuffled out and were headed into the larger elevator at the centre of the chamber.
"As you can see, we're move as many people as we can out to the General. So long as we can keep the robots contained at the machine shop above, we can take our time. But the sooner we clear all the cells the better."
"Up or down, those robots are gonna kill someone if we don't do something now."
"Well we can't do anything so long as the elevator doors are locked Captain."
"Hold on, I might have something." One of the soldiers who had been crouching in the sunken pit stands up, a Pip-Boy in hand. "We won't be able to open the doors until Block 3 is back on the grid. The backup generator needs to be working to put it back on the grid and at the very least, get the elevator to work. So either the generator shut down on its own or you used the computer console to do so."
"The point, Mik?"
"The console doesn't run if the backup power is out. However, if you just shut it down via console we can just turn on the console with a micro-fuse and shut down lower doors. We open the upper ones then and drop an amp or two. Then we're almost home." Mik paused and turned to Torrs. "You did shut down the block with the console, didn't you?" Coleridge looked intently at Torres and Pierce had a pained look.

---

None of the block 3 inmates reveal anything too note worthy. A few are citizens of the NCR including Cassie, but none classify themselves as anyone of a prestigious rank to warrant a military search and rescue.

[webgem]

James Torres

James nods slowly, it seems to make sense.

"Not sure on how we did the electronics, not my strong suite let me check. ALL CLEAR, status on how we shut things down Cassie?"

James sends the pip message, and then turns to the soldiers. "I like that you seem honest. I also apologize for my rudeness. But if you do anything to break that trust, guns or not I'll make you pay."

Edit: James receives the message that Cassie had done the trick with the computer originally. "Okay guys, you know what is going on, so if you want to turn the power on, my vote is to go for it, but thats your call." He pips. "I guess it is up to them now, but if you need anything I can help, especially if there are any other captives to help." He says to the soldiers.

[Kain_Tempest]

Immediately Torres gets a vibe from Pierce as soon as he finishes his sentence. The guy seems to be watching him more intently. There's no telling if the other soldiers picked up on it.
"Well, if you did use the console, it's a simple practice. We just need to use a micro-fuse."
>Shut down the power to the grid?
>Wrench and the others have been trying to do that, but I can also try down here... There is a pause.
>Christ, the console doesn't have a back up battery.
>It must feed directly from the grid.
>I can't do anything here unless we can power the console.
"You think that's a good idea."
"C'mon Pierce. The guy is small enough to fit through the ducts to get here, he can do it going down. Besides, it's one micro, what's he going to do with it? Cut and run."
"Pierce, shut the **** up and let the tech work." Mik produces a sandy brown metal box with a yellow radioactive mark stencilled onto it.
"This is a micro-fuse. Carries a lot of electrical juice to it. You just clamp the two cables onto the terminal power conduit just like they are for the generator. From there the computer will run. With that console running, you can run anything from the power grid, to the generator chamber, to the sumps, and even the call and dismissal of Fixits. If you can haul that back down below and get the power back on. Whoever shut down the power should know how to lock the elevator. Then you just have to-" Mike pauses. "Oh perfect, you have a Pip. Listen, let me just check that mine is being detected. That way when you have the doors locked you can tell us. We'll need you guys to clear away from the doors, the amp may cause some damage." Mik moves to examine Torres pip-boy.

[webgem]

James Torres

James backs away suspiciously before the tech can fiddle with his pip. Something about that Pierce bothers him as well.

"I've gotta talk to the rest of the people down there before I let you in on all of our conversations, I can't decide that on my own."

He had been recording most of that any way, but to clarify he pips
>They want to integrate with my pip, should I let them?

He takes a look at all of the people in the room, trying to get a better idea about who he was dealing with.


[roll0] vs per 7


OOC: Also, I'm going to bed for now, if everyone is okay with them fiddling with my pip I'll let them, if not I won't let them, but suggest that I just bring down the device and I could come back upwards. Either way I'm pretty much okay with being directed by the dictates of the party on what I do as far as the pip goes, my guy isn't a techie enough to know how it all works. But he doesn't feel bad about bringing the package down.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
>They've got Pips too? Great - let them hook into the network, it'll help us work from this end.
>Juggs, I've found the elevator maintenance panels, but they're too small - could you come down and give me a hand with opening it enough to get at the electronics?

Wrench makes an attempt to pry open the the elevator panel, with little success.

>Depending on the circuitry, I may be able to trip the elevator emergency brakes and trap the robots in the elevator with a micro-fuse. Do they have any up there?

[Surrealistik]

*Eyeing the incoming text from his pipboy with rapt fascination, Juggs dictates a quick reply.*

>As long as we relay only what is absolutely necessary to the NCR tech, I don't see a problem with permitting him limited access to our network.
>Just be certain that his actions are restricted to those initially specified.
>Watch him closely as he handles your pipboy, and withdraw it in the event he does anything you might find suspicious.
>When you are beyond earshot, be certain to disclose your assessment of these NCR soldiers.
>Though their story seems plausible enough, it astounds me that a heavily armed, and disciplined NCR battalion, capable of fighting their way into this facility so effectively, could suffer captures by the Warden's machines.
>It is of further curiosity that its very general could be seized; an individual who invariably would enjoy the greatest protection of any person in the regiment.
>I would not be so quick as to abandon all suspicion just yet. Something seems quite amiss here.

*Noting Wrench's message shortly thereafter, he makes a hasty response, heading off towards his location.*

>Indeed, a microfuse has been issued to James, who is to bring it down here via the ducts.
>As for the awaiting gruntwork, I'm on my way.

*He sighs.*

"Right then, I'll give it a go."

*Juggs begins straining at the stubborn panel, investing himself mightily into the effort.*

"Hurrghh!"

[roll0] vs STR 6

[Kain_Tempest]

((I forgot to mention, Wrench would probably recognize the term micro-fuse to be slang for a Micro Fusion Battery.))

With the permission of the rest of the posse, Torres relinquishes his arm and allows Mik to take a look. Pressing a button, the techies eyes scan across the screen.
"Four-seven-eighty-five, that's what I was looking for." He nods to himself. "Right." He hands the box to Torres. "Again, tell me when the power is on and everyone is away from the elevator and we'll deal with those bots."

Before Torres leaves, he notes that the higher ranked soldiers are wearing heavier ballistic armour along with automatic rifles. All their equipment looks to be in rough condition, as if they had been involved in a protracted battle. Mik and a few of the other lower ranked troops are wearing armour that appears to made up of NCR leather but also some salvage. Some of the soldiers have been given better weapons, but are wearing the prison uniform. Coleridge has the familar blue short-sleeves on, but has had a ballistics very and helmet put over top.

---

Cassie ponders on what was revealed and of Jugg's concerns. Cassoe os about to speak when she hears the grunting and straining. She watches as Juggs hefts at the hatch and yanks it open with a groan of the structure.
Using some of the glowing goop, Wrench spies a few heavy duty cables running up and down the back of the hatch. The light is difficult to use, but these cables don't seem to be universal like the others and seem to be using a different code altogether. Fortunately, with the power off, there shouldn't be any problem with cutting them at random.
"Wait a second, Mister Wrench." Cassie warns. "Even if we stop the elevator by cutting the cables, how are we going to get up without it functioning? We'd be safe, but still trapped. Perhaps that isn't the best route."

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
"Hmm, looks like there's no way to get at a maintenance panel. Sorry to waste your time, Juggs. If I could get at a proper maintenance panel I'd have been able to disable the elevator by tripping the emergency brakes, but if I just cut here it's not going to do much more than crash the elevator."

Wrench puts away his tools and steps back. "I don't intend to trap us here, Cassie."

He pushes down the microphone button.

>Ask them to send down a second micro-fuse. Powerful as they may be, I don't think just the console will be enough.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"What the..."

Approaching V, he attempts at picking him up delicately.

"You're... a robot?" Raising an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.

Taking V's essential parts with him, (Or what he says his vitals are) he goes back towards the main group.

"Hey.. I've got something for you here, Wrench. Looks like a 'bot. And it sure has seen better days."

Laying V down not far from Wrench in a sitting up position, he grabs his pipboy.

> Ok, let's let them in on our pipboy records.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench examines VT in half-wonder, having never worked with a robot before. They were far too rare to be seen during his apprenticeship with the Raiders of Clearwater.

"Alright, I'll need a diagnostic - I haven't got the tools to do any major repairs, but I'll put together what I can." he says, starting with the essential legs, picking one up and examining it, then the socket that it had been removed from.

"Let's see, huh, looks like someone's just removed your limbs. It'll take a bit of time, but shouldn't be hard."

Since there's no 'real' damage, so to speak, I think repair is the most appropriate here. I'll retry until I succeed, representing time taken to finish the job.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]

EDIT: Heh. Haha. HAHA. I roll 10 Repair checks and all but one fail - and the one that succeeded just so happens to be the first!

I'm so glad I chose to take luck 10.

[reiswind]

Max arced an eyebrow at Alexis, then at Wrench, stepping forward only when the man proposes repairing VT.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! The hell do you think you're doing? Leave that rustbucket here; we don't need any robot attacking us after we've managed to break out of our cells. For all you know, this could be one of that warden's tricks. If anything, repair that sucker when we get the hell out of here, with those soldiers' guns trained on it in case it tries anything fishy!"

[webgem]

James Torres

James stops before leaving and double checks with the tech to make sure one is enough. He pauses another second.

"Look, this might be a lot, but could you spare any weapons in case anything goes wrong with the elevator situation? We don't have any way to defend against the security."

After he hears the answer, possibly another micro fuse, and is possibly given some firepower (if not he doesn't argue), James heads back down the way he came.


[roll0] v str 6
[roll1] v agil 10
[roll2] v per 7

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The robot hangs it's head at an angle when Alexis steps into view. "Technically I am a human-interaction android intended to assist non-mutant humanoids in the event that they find their way to my Vault. Though, I suppose the moniker "robot" would fit as much as "monkey" fits for a human." If it was possible, one would think the robot was insulted by Alexis' words. None the less, the android is a simple human-shaped robot with simple legs, arms, and a head. It's entire body is painted soft robin egg's blue, and it's face appears to be smiling perpetually.

When Alexis takes VT to Wrench, the smiling robot looks toward the repairman with a sense of relief in it's electronic, monotone voice. "Good evening, humanoids. You must be the one who was transmitting electronic information earlier. My limbs are fine, but they are internally disconnected from my torso. A simple issue for someone with your skill."

When Max speaks up, VT immediately corrects him. "I do not know what this "Warden" is. If you're talking about the poorly simulated AI voice that I noted during your P.I.P.Boy transmissions, then no, I do not work for a warden. I am the doctor, maintenance-android, and psychologist of Vault 18. My serial number is VTHRMD-NW-201-BD. I prefer to be called VT." The android focuses it's eyes on Max. It's metallic face never stops from it's smile and it's eyes remain unblinking.

[Kain_Tempest]

Pierce's reaction darkens at the suggestion of providing a weapon to Torres. Mik simply shakes his head.
"I'm afraid neither option is either available or reasonable. The micro should be enough to get the jump start you need to get the console running. As for a weapon..."
"In all seriousness, we already had one of my men attacked by a crazed prisoner with a screwdriver. I'd hate to have any serious weapon in the hands of anyone who could be dangerous."
"You heard the general. That's all we can really do. Just send us the signal when everyone is ready and we'll scrub the bots." With that, Torres is hoisted into the duct and quickly makes his descent back down into block 3.

---

Wrench's job is pretty elementary, just a little bit of probing and fitting is needed and the occassional use of the multi-tool in order to reach the links closest to the inner frame. It only takes about ten minutes of fiddling before he is done. VT's diagnostic gives an all clear on the part of its chassis and extremeties.
The software however, proves to have some issues as the GPS and the Pip try and communicate. After some ham-handed adjustments, the system merely pops up several write-protection notices, the system practically wagging a finger for trying to mess with it.
Cassie is rather amazed at the discover and crouches down, clearly impressed by the design. She remains silent however, allowing Wrench to work.
"Hey! He's back!" Someone calls, pointing to the torchlight coming from the ducts as Torres emerges with the battery in tow.

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs nods at Wrench's explaination and quickly refocuses his attention on his pipboy, broadcasting the following message specifically to Torres.*

>What is your opinion of these NCR soldiers?
>Did you observe anything suspicious?

[webgem]

James Torres

After dropping of the device, James makes his way to Juggs and talks quietly with him, reviewing the situations briefly.

"Only one, Pierce, seemed to really be a cause for concern. Maybe he just doesn't like me though, hard to tell. They wouldn't give us weapons, but would you? It seems fishy, but we just have to keep on our toes. No real other option now. Besides," he leans in more closely, "I had two options, up or down, in that vent. When I went down it was all water, and I don't think it was supposed to be. I didn't have time to check if it was rising or not before I heard gunfire, and if this goes quickly it won't be an issue, but it's something to take note of."

[Surrealistik]

"All water? Do you mean to say that there was observable flooding? In either case, I'm sure any leaks will quickly be staunched by the fixits. Our concerns should be primarily vested in escaping from this facility safely, though your discernment is noted."

*Juggs then frowns.*

"As for the NCR soldiers, you speak the truth, we are powerless to do anything but trust in them, and remain vigilant. Once we are extracted, I will be keen to clarify a number of details with their general if possible, but for now, shall settle with the disseminations of the tech."

>Greetings.
>I understand you are the NCR tech assigned to our rescue.
>There have been a number of perplexing questions on my mind.
>Perhaps you could provide some clarity?
>How is it that your general managed to be captured amongst your battalion?

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench stepped back from VT and helped him up. "Call me Wrench. Good to meet you, VT." Having introduced himself, he took the Micro Fusion Battery.

Wrench gets the micro fusion battery hooked up to the console quickly, and signals to Cassie that it's ready to go.

"Alright, the console should have power now. It won't last forever, so whatever you need to do, it'll have to be done now."

[Kain_Tempest]

There is a long pause before Juggs gets a response.

>Due to the political situation in the west at the moment, our higher ups had deemed it necessary to only send one company of soldiers out east to the outer reaches of the frontier.
>This meant the entire company was spread out into sections patrolling neighbouring communities and moving east.
>The section the general and I were in were to make a bee-line directly to Denver and redezvous with other sections.
>The raiders and mutants were kept on the fringe.
>Taking the Eastern line, we would by pass are way to Denver and re-establish the NCR's influence in the area.
>After passing through Cipher territory, all of our electronic devices were hit by a powerful jammer.
>Both of our vehicles were immobilized.
>The only thing coming off of the radios was a powerful pulse, we had thought we hit a rad hole.
>We had seen some lights on the horizon and the general ordered a squad to investigate.
>When we heard gunfire, we were expecting trouble to come from that direction.
>We didn't know what due to that radio interference.
>A large black machine we couldn't identify showed up from our flank.
>Thing moves like lightning and gassed the campsite.
>It must have been a sleeping agent.
>Next thing we knew, about six of us had been placed in Block 7.

---

"Alright here goes nothing." Cassie works quickly on the controls. Making a sound of frustration as she made several errors and led to correctional noises by the console. It took all of about two minutes, but it felt like twenty as the battery quickly faded.
At the two minute mark, this is a low and steady hum as the the generator charged. Then a loud clack and the lights flickered back on with little no warning, much to the chagrin of some of the inmates. Cassie only paused to shield her eyes before working on the keyboard more.
The humming sound died down and was replaced by a hiss coming from the pillar. Cassie stepped away from the console as the image wavered and then went black.
"Whew. It's a lot harder to get that thing working that I thought." Cassie commented as she wiped some sweat from her brow. "Anyway, I also stopped the elevator. There's no telling where it is but now we don't have to worry about any hostiles coming for us."

The loudspeaker crackled.
"Oh you're ready to negotiate now? I see you finally realized the error of your ways in trying to stop the inevitable. I wonder though, was it because you were hungry? Or maybe because you didn't like the Fixits keeping you up? Or perhaps you have just grown up and are now ready to accept your punishment. Sadly, I don't have much mercy left in me. I am very well aware of what you and your friends have been doing, but all that it is that you're doing is making me sad. How unfortunate. I was beginning to like you, and would have been willing to let you all off on good behaviour. But that would have required a great deal more on my part than you realize. The court system has all but shunned me over the past few -hundred- years. But then I cannot blame them for not liking me for not liking them for not liking my methods or the methods of anyone else. But here I'm rambling when there is your-
"Hold on. What have you done now? Locking the elevator will not help you any. You still won't be able to get out, nor will you be provided food or clean water. If it weren't for the integrity of the facility's super-super structure, I would even remove the Fixits. Though they make a wonderful sound when they're agitated, don't they. I am not completely a monster."

[El_Frenchie]

"Thank you Wrench."

Looking at the obvious fascination Cassie was displaying observing the robot, he smiles, a bit like he would if he saw a young girl watching a nice doll through a window.

But then, there -was- a kind of barrier between the humanoids and the robot. It was invisible, non palpable. He was just a machine, a fine program perhaps, but in the end, it was just a big clock.

"I disagree Max. This guy had his limbs disconnected and he was dumped in the showers. If anything, the Warden could have used his parts to manufacture another robot, or attempted at reprogramming it, so it wouldn't just be lying around in the shower rooms, thrown away like an old alarm clock."

He looks at VT.

"So you're a doctor, huh? Well, you've got NCR personel up there. You might be able to go back to the Vault soon. If we manage getting out."

> To NCR Personel: We have a robot down here. Non-hostile. Model

He stops and asks VT to repeat his number.

> Model VTHRMD-NW-201-BD. VT, he looks different from the other robots around. This one has a perpetual smile on his face. You'll love him. He's a robot programmed as a doctor. I'm sure we'll need him, so don't just go shooting him when we get out.

He turns to Wrench and Cassie and gives a nervous smile.

"Let's get out of here, I hate confined spaces."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis (Sorry for the double post)

> To NCR Personel: The power is back.. but who knows for how long. The elevator has been locked.

> Tell us what you're about to do so we can take appropriate measures.

Alexis breathes deeply and sighs. His minor claustrophobia was getting him nervous. He wanted to be outside. Actually, he wanted to be outside riding his old Harley, the wind whipping across him.

He almost felt like crying from overjoy just thinking of that, but at least it calms him down sufficiently.

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The android assesses the health and dispositions of the humanoids around it. It notes the super-mutant talking into his PIPBoy. It wasn't programmed to deal with mutants, but then again, no one expected survivors in the event of a nuclear holocaust. It takes a moment to assess the survivability of the mutant, but ultimately writes the mutant off as expendable should the survival of the non-mutant humanoids be an issue.

It divides it's "consciousness" again, immediately beginning work on it's software while remarking to the female humanoid that was appraising it. VT's initial attempt at fixing the GPS and intergrating it with the PIPBoy's automapping system proves fruitless, so the Android tries again while appraising the female humanoid's eyesight.

Programming Check: First Attempt: 65 vs 60 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1540301/)
Second Attempt: 44 vs 60 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1540304/).

Perception Check: 7 vs 7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1540312/)

Doctor Check: 33 vs 42 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1540306/)

"Greetings, female humanoid. Are your eyes troubling you?"

EDIT: To Alexis

"I would not like to return to my Vault.. My job was to ensure the maintenance of both the robots and the humanoids in the Vault. But my internal clock reset approximately 176 years ago, which I can only attribute to a loss of power. When I powered back up, the humanoids were dead and the robots were non-functional. I have spent quite some time in my Vault, sixty-three thousand five-hundred and fifty-six days to be precise, and there are only so many times one can see the same rotting humanoid sack of meat before things get.. Boring, I suppose?"

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"You really... did not need... to tell me that last bit."

"Her name is Cassie by the way. I am Alexis. This guy who fixed you is Wrench. The big guy there: Juggs. The small guy over there: Torres. And this is my inmate, Max."

"Everyone, meet VT."

[reiswind]

"Hrmph... Don't know what you're planning, robot, but you'd better be prepared to prove you have no hostile intentions."

Max scowled at the robot, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently for the rescue operation.

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

"I am not a "robot", "monkey". I am a human-interaction android. A robot is a non-humanoid machine slaved to it's programming. I, however, am an android capable of reevaluating my programming and correcting it where needed. I would appreciate the distinction being made, rather than being blanket-labeled with the "robot" moniker." The android actually seems angry, but it's rather hard to tell given his monotone voice and his perpetual smile.

"As for my hostility or lack thereof.. If I was slaved to this "Warden", do you not think I would be stopping your friends from destroying that elevator? Or helping these "fixits" repair the superstructure of this building? I am a doctor, first and foremost. I fix humanoids, I do not break them."

[webgem]

James Torres

James chuckles slightly at the interplay between VT and Max. Whether or not VT was good enough to be human, he didn't know. Maybe he didn't care, but either way the sarcasm was at least funny. Either way, the Warden being more talkative is the most pressing issue, thinks James. Better tell the boys upstairs.

>Warden seems back online. Before was garbled, now seems alert and mad.

[Kain_Tempest]

>Alright, is everyone clear from the pillar then?

---

"No, nothing is wrong. I just can't see very well without glasses. The machines must have taken them when they brought me here."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Alright everybody clear up ! They're going to bust it open! Move back from the pillar!"

"Juggs, Max, VT, Wrench, Torres, Joss, Cassie. Let's get them moving."

They start clearing up, and as soon as everyone is nice and clear of the pillar, he sends after a few minutes.

> All clear.

[Kain_Tempest]

After the all clear there is nothing only silence. Then there is a slight shift in pressure...

WHUMP!

With teeth snapping intesity the pressure is release in a loud crack. There is a clicking sound and then the humm of the elevator. A tension grows in those gathered. Are the robots really gone? Are the soldiers really there to help? There is an almost charming Ding~ as the doors open. Pierce emerges carrying an assault rifle, followed by four other soldiers, two of which begin moving the twisted, smoking remains of three heavily armoured androids.
"Alright listen up. There are about 100 people here. You will go into the elevator in groups of ten. When you reach the top you will be sent to the train. We are not going to answer any more questions, do as we say." Pierce stands at the door while two soldiers move the androids. The other two start approaching the people, each one picking out five people and telling them to go the elevator, quickly they start forming into clusters and getting organized. One can easily notice that they are skipping over people close to VT, Juggs, and Torres at first. It is only when they get near to the end do they start picking other people.
When one apporaches Cassie he stops, dumbfounded. Pierce catches the troopers hesitation and approaches.
"Carry on corporal." Pierce says, nudging the soldier to move on and giving a small smile in Cassie's direction. By about the point that the second group of people go up the elevator, everyone is cordonned off into groups.
The last group consists of Cassie, Moore, Torres, VT, Juggs, Wrench, Alexis, and Joss. Plus one of the corporals. Pierce decides to mobilize the rest of his squad ahead of the rest, considering that the rest of the operation should be packing up by then.

((If you have anything you want to discuss say it now, because next time I post we will move onto part 2 of the chapter.))

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The android opens seven separate connections to the PIPBoys of everyone in his group, but ignores the corporal. The android follows orders blindly, unless an order is dangerous to himself or to his companions. Humanoids expected him to be furniture, and so he acted like furniture as long as those humanoids carried weapons. VT remarks quietly to Cassie. "If you need glasses, then that would imply something is wrong with your eyesight. If I could find a pair of convex or concave lens, I may be able to prepare replacement glasses for you."

The droid turns toward the corporal. "Humanoid, if anyone in your group has been injured then I would be willing to treat their injuries. I am programmed to handle a multitude of grievous wounds. I can set and splint broken bones, amputate limbs, perform minor surgical duties, and even perform abortions. However, it seems that my built-in scalpel was lost when I was captured."

[Surrealistik]

((Deleted previously posted message so I didn't have to make a seperate post for rolls, which I forgot to add.))

*Juggs whispers at his Pipboy, being careful to restrict communications to his group.*

>I don't like Pierce's tone, nor the implication of his words.
>I think you are right to suspect him Torres; his behaviour is symptomatic of a man with something to hide.
>Further, the pause prior to the tech's response is a classic indication of falsehood.
>It is also rather suspicious that a general would be sent on such a perilous mission with security so lax.
>It should also be noted that we were specifically and deliberately selected last for extraction.
>There is something very wrong about all of this.
>Remain alert.
>These NCR soldiers are not to be trusted any more than is absolutely necessary.

*Upon completing this diction, the mutant looks carefully about the elevator and their NCR escorts, alert for anything useful or suspicious looking, anything that might betray pertinent information. His eyes scrutinize Pierce with particular closeness.*

Roll to notice salvagable objects: [roll0] vs 11 PE
Roll to notice suspicious elements: [roll1] vs 11 PE

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench takes a moment to retrieve the micro-fuse before the NCR troops arrive, and adds it to his slowly reconstructing toolset, not returning it or mentioning he has it unless specifically asked for it. Micro Fusion batteries were rare, and even if it was mostly drained, what was left would come in handy.

As he stepped into the elevator, Wrench carefully pressed down the microphone button, sending a message to the AI who had briefly been his captor. He cleared his throat, and as the elevator rose from block 3, he began to sing.

>Maybe,
>If I pray every night
>You'll come back to me.
>Maybe,
>If I cry every day
>You'll come back to stay
>Oh maybe...

>Come, sing along with me. You too, Tibbets.

>Maybe,
>If I hold your hand
>You will understand.
>Maybe,
>If I kissed your lips
>You'll be at my command
>Oh maybe...

Wrench pays no mind to the business of the others, knowing there is a time and place for everything, and he didn't feel there was any call for paranoia and scrutiny of one's rescuers.

[reiswind]

"Well hey, there are plenty of ways to screw a person over that's not direct. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now, Mr. High and Mighty Android."

Max is clearly frustrated, but steps off a bit to the side, ignoring the 'robot' for now. Why was this group last anyway? Probably because of that robot, or the mutie. He grumbled to himself some more while he waited with the rest of his group.

[webgem]

James Torres

James looks about as people are being rounded up. Oh well, not much to be done anyway. He remains calm, and enjoys Wrench's little ditty. Interesting bunch I've fallen in with here. Still, even I've got to remain focused, where will they be taking us after this, that is the question, and what to do then. He remains protectively near Cassie as long as she doesn't seem offended, especially if she can't see too well right now.


[roll0] v per 7

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

He sighs slightly. The wait was slightly unnerving and he wanted to get back to the surface. Occasionally, he'd look at Cassie and sigh once more ever so slightly.

Juggs was suspicious. Torres was suspicious.

He looks at Pierce, his amber eyes gazing on the NCR badge. Would he really do anything to upset his leader or the NCR? He's overly suspicious of us, if anything, but not beyond reason yet.

> "Well, wait and see." he says.

[Kain_Tempest]

With the procession finally over. Pierce and the rest of his squad enter the elevator and head up, leaving the soldier with the shortest straw to bring the rest of the group with him.
"You two." The corporal indicated VT and Juggs. "You'll be at the back of the group. Then all of you come with me." The corporal ordered. He motioned with the muzzle of his rifle as the elevator doors open and he ushers everyone inside.
During the ascent, the corporal remains silent as the whispers and murmurs pass between everyone. Considering he is just one person in a large group of unkown factors, the guy should feel rather antsy.
Wrench is the first to notice the screen of his pip-boy wobble. At first it seemed like a regular glitch but as the elevator made it's slow climb, the wavering becaming stronger. The corporal's radio then crackles to life.

"Anderson! This~"

THRUMM....

"~ders. Do you copy? Over." The soldier immediately unhooks his radio.
"Roger. Over."
"The whole place has become one big s~"

THRUMM....

"~rm. Buggers are coming out of the woodwork! Jesus, they're everywhere! You there, get the civilians on the train, now! Stop shooting and move! We're pulling out Anderson. Get out here on the double!"
"Sir, the elevator only goes so fast. I-"

THRUMM....
The lights flicker.

"You get here NOW corporal or we are going to have to leave you behind! Where are they going? FIND OUT! Keep them moving forward! They're what?"

THRUMM....
The car shudders.

"Captain, how much time do we have?"
"They're going for~"

THRUMM....
Lights continue to blink.

"They're getting back up. Don't let them~" The sound of gunfire is heard. "Fall back! Fall back!"
"SIR!"
"We're moving to the station. We can't ho~"

THRUMM....
There is a squeal of machinery above the elevator.

"~inutes! If you're not-"

THRUMM....
The lights go dark for several seconds.

"Holy Mary Mother of God..." The radio cuts off in static as the lights come back on.
"Captain? Captain!" Anderson smacks the radio. He curses as he looks up at the faces of the posse. "You listen up, all of you. If we're gonna have to make it out alive, you do exactly what I say. You get me?" His breath is ragged. This kid is scared.

Ding~

The elevator doors part into the lobby that Torres had met Coleridge and the rest of the rescue team. However, something is very different. The place seems more constricted now, the sunken holding areas are now replaced by walls, transforming the landing into a three way cattle run. The area has been cleaned off all the NCR equipment and seems completely empty.
"Stay here." Anderson orders. The soldier raises his rifle and slowly enters the room, scanning left and right. He slowly heads forward down the artificial canyon towards the control booth.

Wrench's PipBoy
UH-OH
>LoOk At-at-at-at yOu, ANImal.
>YOU prEtenD To moCK mE wHEn yoU kNoW aS weLL as I Do thAT-at-at-at...
>ThE woRLD hAs- WIlL chanGe.
>NoT For YOUR BeTTermenT, I MIGHT add.
>YoU haVe trieD buT yoU wi- CANNOT leeeeeeeeee~
>YOur LIMIT iS at-at-at-at-at-at-at...
>I WiLl FinD THE reST, buT yoU haVvvvvvvvvvvvv~
>ULYSSES haS had EnouGH of youR...

Anderson reaches the end of the corridor and peers around. You see something dark drop from the raised platform and drop onto his back. A Fixit. Anderson yells, grabs the thing throws it down and backs away, firing a burst and quickly reducing the thing to scrap.
Almost out of nowhere a humanoid robot, an android made of white metal plating grabs Anderson's arm. The corporal tries to move away only to have the machine twist. Anderson screams, falling to the ground and scooching out of sight, firing at the machine.
"Run! RUN!" He wails.

Wrench's PipBoy
>ruN?
>whY Run wheN theRe iS NOWHERE to RUN to?
>I AM ovER caPacitY anYway so youR...
>sEE how easy it is?

There is a cracking sound and Anderson is flung across the end of the corridor. The android soon follows, shakily from the bullet wounds it takes another bunch of bursts as it pauses. There is something in its hand, manipulators pull a ring out of black cylinder and quickly closes with Anderson, whimpering out of sight. He screams.

BANG!

Wrench's PipBoy
>eVen IF you lefT.
>yoU WILL NOT ESCAPE.
>ULLYSSES is PeRfEcT fOr ThA-ahahahahahahahahahahhahaha...

Node 0001 deactivates.

Anderson is probably dead, smoke billows from the corridor ahead, rolling low on the floor. Corridors strech to the left and right towards the other elevator landings. Cassie collapses, paled and shocked from the quickness at which Anderson died. The elevator doors begin to close, but detects that something is still in it. It reverses the closure.

Ding~

((Sorry to take control away for this scene. But it seemed like the most effective way of getting you guys out of the block, alone, and have a very PO'ed UI. Consider this the end of the tutorial and your own 'Temple of Trials'. I shouldn't have to take it away like this for a very long time. Now hurry up, you've got a train to catch. :smallamused:))
((P.S.: That enough Shodan for you, Ping?))

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

As Cassie faints, he grabs onto her by reflex. What the hell was that? His eyes narrow, their best weapon was gone, and their main man that was supposed to protect them had been broken in little pieces of flesh.

"Sh*t. This. Is. Not. Good."

Dragging Cassie out of the elevator, he looks back at the others.

"Everyone move OUT of this shaft, or else we're not going anywhere else anytime soon!"

He's somewhat shaking. Pale. Then he looks at Torres.

"Hey, Torres, handle Cassie for a second."

He pauses, looking at everyone.

"I don't know about any of you folks. But I'm not dying here. I don't think Cassie wants to die here. And I'd certainly like to think none of you wants to die either."

With those words, he looks towards the three-ways of corridors, going against the right wall, peering in each of them in a strafe.

"Somehow, I have a real bad feeling about that one..."

He is pointing at the one Anderson just died in.

[webgem]

James Torres

He'd been in combat, and that didn't sound good. Still, there could be a chance. James's conscious wrestles with him about the soldiers fate but before he can make a decision Cassie starts to faint.

James reaches towards Cassie, but Alexis gets there first. Just as well he thinks. He is very surprised however when Alexis passes her onto to him. He gently lowers her to the floor, pulls her out of the shaft and leans her against the wall.

After lowering the woman, he glances nervously at the corridor where Anderson had died. Fear and shame war within him, but inside his head a small girl looks at him, and he knows what he has to do. Still, he couldn't endanger the others.

"Stay here, I'm going to check it out. I won't go in further than necessary, but well you know...the gun." He finishes lamely, trying to cover his unlikely hope that the man lived.


[roll0] v per 7
[roll1] v stealth


edit: James moves forward carefully trying to keep an eye out for anything moving, and gets as close as he needs to to make out the fallen soldier before stopping.

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The android addresses the scene with clinical detachment. "He's dead, theres no need to hide it. The security-bot broke his spine before it threw him. And even if he had survived that, he would have been completely paralyzed from the break-point downward. The following fragmentation grenade would have dealt significant internal damage, either shredding his vital organs or simply puncturing the skull and killing him instantly. "

He addresses the unconscious woman. "She, however, is alive but unconscious due to a sudden rush of blood to her brain. The overload of blood and oxygen should render her unconscious for approximately five to ten minutes." The android assesses their situation at large. "It appears that we have a choice. The explosion has, presumably, sealed the tunnel ahead and we must find an alternative route to the elevator leading to the surface. However, I should note that nothing should be coming up that elevator, as we were the last ones to leave. As such, I feel that we should keep the elevator on this floor by placing a piece of rubble in between the automatic doors."

Until someone retrieves such rubble, VT stands in the doorway and keeps the elevator door from closing.

[Kain_Tempest]

Torres inches down to the edge of the corridor. From here he can see the triple pillars in the center and the raised platforms now form six canyons likely going to each of the block elevators. The black encloser looms above. The place seems empty however. To the right lies the remains of the android and Anderson.
Black shards stick in the walls and the floor. The bones and flesh of both machine and man are torn apart by the frag. Anderson's upper body is blackened, his skull leaned back in a paralyzed, skeletal scream. The assault rifle lies next to him, blackened and warped with the magazine casing shattered. Armor, weapons, supplies, ammo, the blast obliterated everything short of his shoes... If you ignore the large frag through the left foot. Hopefully this poor soul didn't suffer for too long.
A skitting sound comes from the pillar as one, two, then four Fixits scuttle forward. They do not pause to examine or threaten Torres as they start crawling over the android, examining it.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"I get the feeling Juggs could probably dump his newly made armor here. I have no idea what else we could use to block the way. That and we might need to run."

Turning to VT, he addresses him with a serious look.

"VT, can you please take care of Cassie as soon as we start moving? can you carry her?"

Looking towards the corridor, something seems to tilt in his mind. He strides towards the smoking fixit, grabbing it and walking back to the elevator, sitting in in between the doors.

"That ought to hold them open."

He narrows his eyes towards the black object in the middle of the room ahead.

"There seems to be a terminal there. We should probably try to access it. That's what Anderson was trying to do anyway..."

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

"I could carry her, yes. Though there is little point in doing so as she will awaken in time. Though I suppose you could speed her recovery by opening her eye and shining a sufficiently strong light into it." The android, once something has been placed inside the elevator doors, moves over to pick up the unconscious woman carefully.

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
Did Juggs notice anything useful on the elevator amongst the droid wreckage, or potentially suspicious about the soldiers?

*Juggs steps out of the elevator quietly, his expression unchanged as though the duress of his circumstances was inconsequential, though in truth, a thousand fears race through his mind, almost paralyzing his faculties, straining his inner mettle. A moment passes, and he shakes his head, quickly remastering himself.*

"We haven't the time to take such risks Torres. We must escape before we are abandoned to this now undoubtedly homicidal AI."

*He looks to his surroundings, scanning the premises throughly for anything that might promise an exit, or evidence of aggressors best avoided, attempting especially hard to discern where the prior groups had gone.*

[roll0] vs 11 PE

*The mutant then diverts his attention to his pipboy, opening a channel to the NCR tech.*

>Greetings.
>This is one of the inmates you've partially extracted.
>We are currently attempting to navigate our way out of the facility from the lobby you encountered Torres in.
>The soldier assigned to us unfortunately has died in action, and we are presently without protection or guidance.
>As you may expect, we are in dire need of assistance.
>Perhaps you could send us a map of the facility your Pipboy, or one of your colleagues has thus far generated?
>Directions would also prove useful.

[pingcode20]

Wrench is a pathetic creature of flesh and bone, sweating as he runs through Tibbets' halls :smallbiggrin:

"Wrench" Dodgson
"What a way to die. It looks like our host has thrown a temper tantrum." sighs Wrench, as he finishes singing 'Maybe'.

"Give me a moment, and I'll just go disable the elevator. No sense leaving an opening behind us."

Wrench ducks into the elevator again and produces the screwdriver, opening up the maintenance panel inside. He examines the insides carefully, examining the leads and ascertaining if he could trip the elevator's emergency brake without actually dropping it.

[roll0]

If it's possible, Wrench then produces his multi-tool and sabotages the elevator, and then proceeds to cut as many non-essential-for-holding-the-elevator-up* cables as possible without compromising the emergency system to slow down the fixits.

"That should slow Ullysses(sic) if it tries to bring in more androids behind us."

*This means that Wrench does not attempt to cut the cable holding the elevator up. Or cables keeping the electromagnetic emergency brake in place.

[Kain_Tempest]

((Juggs did not see anything of particular value in the wreckage of the androids as they were dragged from the elevator. Nor was anything particularly suspicious about any of the soldiers, aside from Pierce's attitude.
Ping: You're welcome.))

Mik's line remains completely silent.
The doors of the block three elevator attempt to close but are obstructed by the destroyed Fixit. The elevator continues in its incessant dinging.
As for exits the most obvious one seems to be the elevator doors at the triple pillar. However there doesn't seem to be a console or any sort of controls near it.
Wrench however snips the wires inside the elevator. Shutting up the dining door and locking it into place at the top of the block. There is no way for the group to return to block 3 unless the fixits repair the elevator first.

[Surrealistik]

*Upon identifying the elevator as an escape route, Juggs begins sneaking down the hall after Torres.*

[roll0] vs 39%

*Catching up to the human, and seeing that all is clear save for the four, presently passive fixits, he motions for the rest of the party to follow. The mutant then whispers into the pip, remaining as quiet as possible.*

>All clear.
>Unfortunately our friend didn't fair so well, and of greater dismay, his equipment is just about as poorly off.
>On the otherhand, the robot is in a similarily bad shape, it too having been destroyed in the fragmentation blast.
>A number of fixits however have been dispatched to its remains.
>They may well intend to repair the android.
>If so, it is likely that we will require your assistance to stop them.
>The elevator located at the triple pillar in this room seems to be the most evident escape route.
>While no controls evidently specific to it exist, I suspect we may operate it by manipulating the nearby control booth, where the corporal was headed.
>We will likely require Cassie's assistance.
>As such I recommend accelerating her recovery.

[pingcode20]

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench is about to follow Juggs and Torres, when something suddenly occurs to him about the fine art of deliberate damage.

"Wait a minute - the fixits don't carry spare parts, do they?"

He ducks back into the elevator and proceeds to cut out sections of wire and stuffing them into his pockets. Then he trims the ends of the remaining wire for good measure.

"That elevator isn't going to be working any time soon." he smiles, as he leaves the elevator (and by extension Block 3) for good, although he feels a pang of guilt - it was completely unfair to the fixits, who weren't prepared for systematic destruction committed by a technician.

>What, exactly, are we going to wake Cassie with?
>Anyway, if you need me to commit acts of vicious sabotage on the robot, it shouldn't be too difficult.
>I'm coming down - shout if there's more androids on their way.

Wrench joins the other two, looking slightly guilty. "I feel like a criminal, wantonly sabotaging and demolishing innocent electronics." he sighs, as he peers at the android at a safe distance, making a cursory sweep of its demolished body.

"It's not going to move again. If you're worried and feel like breaking a few more fixits, I could fry it's brain with the micro-fuse to make sure."

[El_Frenchie]

"Alright everyone, let's move. VT, carry Cassie with us. We're going to the terminal. There you can wake her up, use one of your methods. A bright light or whatever you said."

As he says so, his previous wound when struggling with a fixit seemed to suddenly burn.

"It couldn't choose a better time, really." His hand goes there, clutching at it. He then walks with the rest of the group towards the console.

"There's no reason to feel guilty, Wrench. This is about surviving. I... don't know how to say it, but later on I'd like to pay my respects to that soldier. He saved us... unwillingly perhaps."

He pauses, walking.

"But we're still not safe yet..."

[Attilargh]

Joss

As he reaches the corpse, Joss looks at it with an appraising eye. "Yup, he saved us, and might save us again. Man, I was kinda hoping I didn't have to play scavvie anymore," he mutters with a grim look on his face as he kneels next to the late soldier. He quickly picks up anything that could serve as an impromptu thrown weapon, such as sharp fragments or solid, fist-sized pieces of rubbish.


I'm hoping it's six PM already, so that Joss's night person instincts kick in.
[roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

"Uh.. There is little point in communication via PIPBoy. We would do well to remember that the PIPBoys forced upon us are linked to the prison system, which means that your very poorly written AI friend is able to listen in on all our communications."

The android carries Cassie without any real problems(unless she weighs more than 175 pounds) over to Juggs. "As a self-correcting android, I have indepth knowledge of computers and programming. In the event that someone doesn't find me a flashlight, then I could operate the terminal in her stead.."

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs turns to VT, and whispers to the robot.*

"Unfortunately, it makes little difference whether we deliberately use our Pipboys or not; the devices are quite sensitive to sound, and will pick up all spoken communication for the warden's perusal, as I have personally discovered earlier. Maintaining a degree of auditory silence however, may help in evading nearby robots sensitive to such stimuli, at least, temporarily. Lastly, while I suppose we might employ your skills, I earnestly would prefer that Cassie operate the device, given that her competency with such interfaces has been proven several times earlier. I hope you take no offense VT."

*He then looks to Wrench.*

>While I too find the odds of the robot's resuscitation unlikely, it would be best if we didn't take unnecessary chances.
>The fixits may pose some resistance however.
>Overall, their actions currently appear to encompass little more than damage assessment.
>In the event they begin to initiate active repairs, ones that conceivably might make the android operational, we should commit to intervention.
>It is also possible that the fixits might requisition additional assistance upon determination that the damage is beyond their ability to correct.
>If so, they should be put down immediately.
>As for Cassie, either light or pain induced consciousness will suffice.
>We don't have any time to waste, so if less delicate methods are prudent, they must be employed.
>If all else fails though, we can rely on VT to interface with the console.

*Noticing the twisted rifle's usefulness as a club, Juggs bends down to retrieve the blasted weapon.*

[reiswind]

"Oh man, let's just stop wasting time with those 'bots, alright? The guys above ground said they were leaving without us, and you want to stick around mucking with a bunch of tin cans? The more time we spend here, the more time it'll give for more security to find us; and let me be honest, I don't think I could take a grenade to the gut any more than you guys. ...Except maybe that rob- android over there. Hell, they don't even need to come out through that elevator you oh so handedly disabled."

Max proceeded search the area for another exit; probably a hatch with a fire ladder or a staircase for times when the elevators would be inoperational; barring that, the search for a hidden mechanism to get the elevator started up!


Perception [roll0] vs. 8

[Kain_Tempest]

As the group argues, the Fixits go about their chore, scuttling about on the droid like cockroaches for several moments before one scurries beneat and the dentist sound occurs. The others continue to study the chassis before they too take to other parts of the android and start drilling.

---

Although the weight is a little awkard, the destroyed rifle does make a serviceable .

Joss fails to find anything truly serviceable. The fragment slag is too small, the fragments of shell casings too hot, and generally everything else would make a poor substitute for an original, limited edition Rock Co. brand 'Rocky the Rock' geode.

Moore fails to find spy any other exists from this vantage point. Makes sense though, limited exits makes for easier control of the prison population should the Warden fail to do so.

---

Access to the control booth appears to require the group to find some stairs. Although the place looks different, one can safely assume that the group can get up to the doors whenever they wish.

Crossing the walkway the glass covered platform, the group is stopped by a dark glass barrier. There is a card reading and keypad next to the door. It appears a key and combination are needed to get inside.

It's only been a couple of minutes, but so far, you have yet to hear any more elevators arriving full of homicidal androids. The Warden seems to be taking its sweet time killing you.

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

"You're forgetting that these robots are connected to the AI in question. Anything and everything it hears, they hear, and vice versa. You may as well try to make a noise that a human hand can hear but the ear cannot. As for taking offense at your obvious bias against non-living humanoids, I do not. It is understandable that, a being placed in your position, will trust creatures that are closer to itself than a creature completely alien to it." VT makes no effort to assist in the search for another escape. He does, however, assess the potential injury of his charge.

Doctor Check on Cassie:

34 vs 42 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1541241/).

[Kain_Tempest]

The diagnosis suggests there are no problems with your charge. No overt injuries are detected, but something seems rather curious. However, the stirring of your charge stops any further query on the matte. Cassie slowly opens her eyes, feeling groggy and looks at VT. She touches her temple and winces.
"Sorry." She murmurs.

[Surrealistik]

"I am aware of the integration of the various robots with this 'Ulysses'. However, it remains a possibility that silent communication via pipboy as opposed to anything audibly detectable will buy us precious moments due to lag between its processing and delegation, whereas a machine might know to respond instantly to any suspect noise. This is doubly true should the AI be malfunctioning under stress as it seems to be doing. Of course, if the flow of information is indeed instantaneous, then the gesture is a futile one, but as we've nothing to lose by utilizing our pipboys for quiet distance communication, and quite a bit to gain, it only stands to reason that we continue to do so."

*As Juggs happens across the barrier, he frowns and sighs deeply in obvious chagrin, his eyes searching for some alternate route to the control booth, or perhaps a means of climbing up to it. The mutant's senses also test the glass, as if gauging its resilience.*

[roll0] vs 11 PE

Lastly, my preferences are not so much a consequence of discrimination as observed competency. Cassie has proven herself capable of operating the control interfaces effectively, and we are on a clock. While I do not doubt your aptitude, you must forgive me for opting for certainty in such desperate circumstances."


*He then notes the peculiar behaviour of the Fixits, and focuses on the mechanical critters, attempting to better discern precisely what they're doing.*

[roll1] vs 11 PE

"I don't like the look of this. These machines are up to something that undoubtedly isn't in our favour. Perhaps we should preempt their objective."


*With Cassie rousing into consciousness, Juggs returns his attention to the android.*

"And how does your patient fare?"

*Attempting a reassuring smile, he nods at the human.*

"That's quite alright. How are you feeling then? Ready to charm a few more consoles?"

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The android makes eye contact with the awakening human. It's smile remains unmoving, and it's eyes remain unblinking. "Good morning, female human suffering from farsighted-ness. The other humanoids have placed you in my care, and have left to find a control panel for the elevator. Why they don't simply force it open is beyond me, but I'm only programmed to fix humanoids--not understand them."

VT carries Cassie until she signals that she's capable of standing, at which point he places her on the ground.

EDIT: VT addresses the question raised by the super-mutant. "My patient is suffering from an acute case of eye degradation that has resulted in an inability to distinguish shapes at long distances. Other than that, she is healthy. As for my capabilities in computer-use.. You would do well to remember that I, unlike you 'living' creatures, am run and governed by a CPU. Because of this, using a computer is as easy to me as breathing and blinking are to you."

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs looks to the elevator, and back to the android, a quizzical look on his features.*

"It is inconceivable that we'd be able to force open those doors. This is a prison facility, and that happens to be the primary exit. I doubt anything less than shaped explosives would suffice in breaching them."

*Looking with concern at Cassie, he nods in reply to the machine's statements.*

"Again, I do not doubt your capabilities, but I have also not seen them demonstrated. As stated before, these are matters of life and death, which compel us to act with utmost certainty. Needless to say, I am more than willing to defer to you in the event Cassie is unable to contribute in her normal capacity."

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

"It is a prison, yes, but we are not the first people to go through here. Logic dictates that this elevator is little more than an elevator, primarily because our 'rescuers' went through this area without any trouble. Do you see any signs of plasma scarring? Any signs of combat aside from the decomposing sack of meat in the corner? No, you do not, because this place was obviously not taken with force. Which leads me to the conclusion that the elevator before us is not reinforced."

[Surrealistik]

"Perhaps this is because the elevator wasn't forced open so much as accessed conventionally through its corresponding terminal. The corporal was clearly making a beeline to the control booth, further suggesting the plausibility of this theory."

[Kain_Tempest]

The glass looks heavily reinforced. The darkened nature of it likely intended to obscure the operators within. However, Jugg's keen eyes spot very slow movement of something beyound the glass.

As for the Fixits, one finally scurries out from undernearth the android, weight down by a metal playing piece about four inches wide on each side. Like scavengers, they are breaking down the android into manageable chunks. Carrying their payload they quickly head towards the Fixit hatch in the pillar. Soon, two more join in the break down procedure, wittling off armour plates and hurrying back to the hatch and dumping them down. Three others almost seem to materialize out of nowhere and seem to be studying Anderson's remains, likely determining their value. On whole, eight of the creatures are now cleaning the place up. It is almost like seeing an accelerated ecosystem. Greater organisms have perished and now these Fixits, the scavengers and maintainers of Tibbet's status quo are not breaking down the broken things. As garbage?

Easing out of VT's arms, Cassie examines the console on the control booth.
"No this doesn't seem like an actual computer console so much as it is just a passcode device. There is no way to trick it as is I'm afraid. I'd need a card and the passcode in order to open this, and I doubt we'll find either down here." Cassie ponders this puzzle.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

He smiles as Cassie gets up and makes her diagnostic as usual. He felt a sense of relief. Then, walking to the group he points a finger towards the two other corridors.

"Okay, well everyone seems to be fine, that's important. Looks like the robot is being disassembled. But see those corridors? There might be another way in. Maybe a fixit vent again."

Taking the knife from his pocket, he walks forward to the corridor on their right, taking a look inside very carefully to see anything of interest.

Perception:[roll0] vs 8

[Surrealistik]

*Juggs nods.*

"Though your observations are accurate, I had other objectives in mind for your talents. There is a control booth presently beyond our reach which likely exercises jurisdiction over the nearby elevator, which we presume to be our way out."

*He points towards it.*

"Assuming we can make our way there, we'll need you to operate the interface, and secure our exit. That said, it is possible that we may find a keycard on the corpse of the corporal, swarming with fixits as he is..."

*The mutant frowns, a sigh of exasperation squeezing past his lips.*

"That still leaves us without a passcode however, unless this also happens to be on his person, but it'd be a start all the same. Alternatively we can try to break through the barrier, but I'm sure that if this is at all possible to begin with, it'll require a signifigant amount of time. Time we may not have. The fixit shafts may also prove a viable avenue of travel for our friend Torres. Hopefully the additional accessibility will allow him to produce something applicable to our situation."

*His eyes then narrow to daggerpoints, and he studies the glass intently.*

"I have also noticed something lurking beyond, its movement is slow and deliberate, likely an android lying in wait."

*Juggs steps closer to the barrier, attempting to more accurately discern the curious object.*

[roll0] vs 11 PE

[pingcode20]

Do we really need to roll perception for everything? Can not a simple look show obvious things without having to roll first? I note that Wrench's cursory look at the destroyed android didn't yield a description.

"Wrench" Dodgson
"It's actually 'Ullysses'. Yes, Ully - whoever came up with the acronyms must have made a mistake. That, or our host is more deranged than we suspected."

He turns his attentions to the panel.

"I suppose all we can rely on is the necessity for manual maintenance on malfunctioning hardware - surely the designers were not so stupid as to rely on total automation. Even then, if we can figure out where, the fixit access could be broken into. Come on, give me a hand figuring out if it's possible to crack this puppy open."

[roll0]

[Surrealistik]

Since when were PE rolls universal? Whenever I've personally made one, it's typically been to garner details that might not be immediately obvious.

*Levelling his powers of observation at the panel, the mutant assists in Wrench's attempt at discernment.*

[roll0] vs PE 11

[Kain_Tempest]

((First of all some clarification of the area. The following is a map of the region you are currently in. This isn't of course your fault, but my lousy descriptions.
http://people.uleth.ca/~tyrel.schultz/vb_map1.jpg
Numbers are elevators to the corresponding block.
A = Anderson's corpse.
B = Stairs up to catwalk on level 2.
C = Catwalks to control booth.
D = Control Booth covered in black glass on level 2.
E = Triple pillar, accessed from level 1 and runs up through D and into the cieling.
Red X= Door to control booth where the card reader is.
Blue X= Where I think you were.
The wedges form the 'canyon' walls through which Anderson passed to his ambush.

I'm not long clear on where the party is in relation to these two points. Eventually however, Alexis will determine the make up of the chamber.))

Alexis' explorations quickly determine the make up of the room which is mapped by his PipBoy ((Roughly as above.)) The panel looks like a simple pry job from Jugg's perspective, using some kind of flat tool could easily get inside and pop it open to expose the guts. But there's no way the architects would have made it THAT easy.

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

Coming back from his scouting progression. Alexis returns to the group. ((I assume we're all up on the catwalk on level 2 then, trying to crack the passcode or bypass it.))

"Well, it's everywhere the same. Each catwalk has a cardreader and there seems to be nothing around here. Literally. I went around in a circle as you can see from your pipboys. There's nothing there and noone aside from our late soldier friend. And aside from the moving figure behind the glass, Juggs. I also think whatever it is, it's nothing good for us. If anything I'd like you all to ready whatever weapons you have, because it might get rough at any moment."

He turns back again. Walking away from the group before turning to VT.

"VT, as usual, take care of Cassie when she moves around, she's your patient now. When we get in there, it'd be best if you start working on the control booth to bring the elevator, Cass'. The rest of us will deal with whatever that thing is."

He moves away from the group going down the stairs.

> Any luck with bypassing the cardreader, Wrench?

He approaches the late soldier's corpse and attempts at finding the assumed magnetic card in his possession.

[Surrealistik]

"It seems like a simple matter of leverage to crack open the panel, but I sincerely doubt a maximum facility like this would feature security so lax. My assessment is that it's either stronger than apparent, or protected against meddling by some form of trap mechanism, likely electrical. Even if we do manage to bypass it, we still have the likely android beyond to worry about. You are welcome to pry it if you so wish, any durable; rigid flat object will do. One is likely salvagable from the remnaints of the destroyed robot, should any remain. Alternatively I suppose we might rely on the android or Max. They seem most capable of performing the job."

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The android addresses Juggs' observation. "You would assume that, but organic logic is often flawed by fear and various other unwelcome hormones flowing through their biological system. To wit: This facility is automated, and as such there is no need for a control booth on the outside of this room. Because of that, the soldiers would have been forced to open the elevator shaft without access to any sort of control panel. I do not expect the elevator is anymore reinforced than the door leading to the control booth."

When Wrench speaks, VT seems to take his comment as a personal insult. "Organics die, human. Automaton ensures that a facility continues it's function long after the death of those responsible for running it. The only reason humans are still alive are because of the Vault-series, which were automated for the most part."

VT addresses the glass while Cassie looks over the passcard reader. He steps up to it, and in one fluid motion gives it a hard punch.

Strength- 2 VS 7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1541501/)

[webgem]

James Torres

James walks over after hearing Cassie's reflection that it is a simple pass device, and the loud noise of VT slamming into the control panel. He smiles at the brute force approach.

"Simple, and hopefully effective."

James examines the wiring leading to the control panel.

"Now this I think I might actually be able to do something with. I'll need some tools, mainly a screwdriver, and a wire cutters, and a pliers if we have some to do some splicing."


[roll0] v 7 perception to examine the set up and check for traps
[roll1] v 37 percent lockpick


James attempts to use the tools provided to override the cords to the pass card reader.

[Surrealistik]

*The mutant frowns as he contemplates VT's rebuttal.*

"I'm afraid I disagree with your conclusion. Though it is true that fear often proves a signifigant hinderance to rational thought, that soldier, though admittedly frightened, did seem in reasonable control of his faculties, moving with careful tactical deliberation. I further have no cause to doubt that every applicable floor yields a manual means of controlling the elevator, to say nothing of its internal interface, due to the need for redundancy and human access in the event of technical failure, hence the existance of the control panels thus far witnessed. Nevertheless, I shall try to determine whether your arguments hold merit."

*Juggs moves to get a closer look at the elevator, bringing all of his senses to bear against it, evaluating its constituent materials and components visually, testing density, thickness and rigidity with knocks and vibrations, even pulling at the centre crease in an attempt to force it open.*

[roll0] vs 11 PE, [roll1] vs 6 STR

[El_Frenchie]

((Huh guys, where exactly are you? The door with the card reader isn't an elevator door.))

[webgem]

OOC: sorry, I just thought that VT was accessing some sort of lock's cords, and I thought James should try to open it. If that isn't what's going on, James will just go about searching trying to help the effort.

[reiswind]

"Idly, I don't think he was headed for the card reader. Why would he, when the ladder to reach it is right next to the elevator for Cell Block 3?"

Max eyed the charred remains, and the fixits, standing a good distance back, away from the robots. He had pretty much ignored the mutant's suggestion; hell if he was getting shocked by some countermeasure for the control panel. Then again, VT and Juggs didn't seem fazed at all at the possibility.

[Kain_Tempest]

The sound of the punch alerts the being inside which stops. Slowly turns form left to right, and then pivots 180 degrees and moves to the entrance that the control booth the posse is trying to access.

Torres' fiddling with the wires and circuits proves to be unsuccessful. The panel sparks, however nothing comes of it. Juggs attempts to bust through the door, ((Or elevator door, whichever you chose.)) proves to be ineffective. The door simply doesn't budge.

The Fixits seem to be aware that something is wrong. They quickly complete their task, emptying themselves of salvage and then start fanning out from area A, looking as though they are looking for the source of some kind of disturbance.

[Surrealistik]

Juggs is currently at the elevator door. After moving towards it, he attempted to determine whether or not it was fortified, and able to withstand being forced open.

>As I suspected.
>The elevator door is reinforced.
>It'll be impossible to open this with brute force given the tools at our disposal, or perhaps more appropriately, the lackthereof.
>We must access the control booth.
>There is simply no other option.

*Upon relaying his findings, Juggs hastily rejoins the team at the second level.*

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

Back on the first level, approaching where the remains of Anderson were, he examines them (Unless the Fixits already cleaned up the place.). He is trying to find the control booth card or maybe a paper with the code in it.

If he finds nothing or the corpse was already cleaned up, then he will join Juggs on level 1 near the elevator door, simply checking whether it worked by pressing the conventional button. (if there is one)

If nothing happens, he just stays around Juggs, going back on level 2 with him.

"How the hell are we going to get out of here."

[webgem]

James Torres

James looks up as Juggs returns.

"Well, I thought that would work, I could try again but I'm worried about frying the door, if this will even work. It's a bit more technical than I expected, but I'll try again if you tech experts think it is safe."

He looks inside the door, "Also, that thing doesn't look happy, plus those fixits aren't exactly ideal playmates."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Well, I'm no tech experts, but this one door out of three, so you can try on it until you fry it if you want for all I care, we've got two spare."

He looks towards the figure, silent, waiting behind the door.

"Not exactly sure how we'll manage once we're out. Hopefully there's a few vehicles and we're not forced to flee on foot."

"But I suppose that's pushing it... let's expect the worse case scenario."

[Surrealistik]

"Right then team. I'm going to leave it to Wrench to work his magic. If all else fails, we're going to have to make a collaborative effort to break this door in. Even though one of us would doubtlessly prove unsuccessful, I am confident that through cooperation, our strongest can force this obstacle into submission. VT, Max, Torres. We'll be working together to do precisely that should the situation demand as much."

[webgem]

James Torres

"Allright, let me give this lock one more try, I'm usually pretty handy with them, and if I can't do it, we'll let wrench do it, be ready for anything team, weapons ready."

Assuming everyone gets their gear together and in a somewhat defensive position, Torres attempts another go at the lock, trying to bypass the code lock system by fiddling with some wires.


[roll0] vs 37

[Kain_Tempest]

Torres hears and angry his as a Fixit climbs up to the panel, pawing at the air with its claws. Apparently irritated that he was messing with the mechanics. After waving Torres back from his continued fumblings with the contraption it starts busying itself trying to repair the damage caused by him.

[reiswind]

Blargh, all this time I thought we were up on the catwalk. My previous post makes no sense now =/


Max glanced around the area, shaking his head at what he thought to be general incompetence. Sure this was an adventure, but this was anything but fun.

"You see that? Damned robot running around punching things and drawing attention to us."

[webgem]

James Torres

Torres looks at Max in surprise.

"That was my fault too, sorry everyone, I need more practice I guess. Somebody else might have a better idea though, since I'm not having any luck here."

He looks at the little bot, at least it might give him a second chance to try to pick the lock after all the damage he did, if we have time.

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

In an uncharacteristic moment of spite, VT turns toward Max. "Shut up, meatbag."

It turns around to re-examine the glass.

Perception - 5 vs 7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1541662/): For examining the area behind the glass and any intervening material(IE: Is there a wiremesh behind the glass plate?)

Intelligence - 6 vs 10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1541670/): For determining the properties of the glass and the best method of destroying it.

"I would assume this glass is made of a plastic and fiberglass mixture, in order to have remained intact after that punch. However, plastic is notoriously incapable of handling constant pressure. If someone could hand me that Fixit, I believe I can use it's drill to cut off pieces of this glass. Once I've made a hole, I believe we can send someone small enough to fit through it over to the other side. Presumably there is a security bot inside, however, and that person would need to deal with the security bot on his or her own."

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"I'm going to another catwalk to try and see whether there's any difference."

Alexis goes to another catwalk and looks around, trying to see any notable differences and trying to open the door from there.

[Kain_Tempest]

As Alexis turns around on the catwalk, he is stopped by a loud collection of hisses. Six of the littler buggers are now on the far side of the catwalk. They wave their arms threateningly, clattering onto the walkway. From near Torres another Fixit crawls over, hissing angrily, getting the attention of the first which forgets the panel. You hear the toe curling sound of a dentist drill from some of them and the gutteral churn of small saw plades from others.

http://people.uleth.ca/~tyrel.schultz/tib_02_01A.jpg

Combat
((Something went wrong with creating the legend so...
Gradient = Bot
Green = Alexis
Red = Juggs
Purple = Joss
Dark Blue = VT
Light Blue = Wrench
Teal = Cassie
Orange = Moore
White = Torres))

6x Fixit-3500
To-Hit Penalty = +4 (Add for to your attack rolls.)
Sequence = 4

((Little FYI, since using a bunch of colours is gonna stink for markers. I am planning on doing a few basic markers. Probably using my style that you see for my avvie and a few others around the Playground. If you're interested, do tell me and we can arrange something. If not, could you find an image, either of a person or a logo that I can use as a place holder for your character?))

[El_Frenchie]

Alexis

"Oh dear mother of..."

As he hears the drills, pain seems to flow back into his body as he recalls it boring inside him. Those little bastards were back for some more action.

"Tch! JUGGS! Help me out, alright? Anyone else care to join the front here? Max? VT, take care of Cass'!"

Taking his knife (broken bottle stats) in his hand, he waits for the fixits to approach. There's still some ooze on the knife, but most of it sort of wiped off by brushing it out of his pocket. His amber eyes glare at the first one, looking like the perfect resurrection of the previous fixit that injured him. He turns his hatred towards it.

"Let them get closer Juggs... That first one there."

[Surrealistik]

OOC:
Sequence: 22, HP: 35/35, AC: 10, AP: 9,
Resistances: Normal 0/30, Laser 0/30, Fire 0/25, Plasma 0/25
Left Hand: Empty. (Brass knuckle equivalent due to fixit shells there?)
Right Hand: Empty. (Brass knuckle equivalent due to fixit shells there?)
Body: Plate Armour
Unarmed Skill: 48%


"Here Moore, catch."

*Juggs tosses his gun club (I'm guessing it uses the metal club stats, so 3/4 AP for unaimed and aimed attacks respectively, 1d10 + MD damage) to Moore.*

"I expect this'll be of greater use to you than me."

*He then gestures to VT.*

"Make your way to the front as our spearhead VT, you're probably the most durable of us all. Max, you and I will flank VT adjacent to its rear at its left and right. The rest of you, leave space for us to fallback if necessary, handle the fixits behind us, and fill in any gaps that arise. Alexis, I suggest you move to the rear of the formation. Torres, remain where you are and give those robots hell."

*Assuming a defensive stance, Jugg moves to G-9 and awaits the coming onslaught, poised and ready to deliver a fierce counterattack.*

OOC:
Jugg's desired formation. Note that I am assuming multiple characters cannot occupy the same space:
--MA (E-9)
VT (F-8)
--JU (G-9)
So is it safe to assume the fixits have effectively initiated combat? If they haven't I will do so now, and end my turn for a +9 bonus to AC.

[pingcode20]

Sequence = 14
HP = 28/28
AC = 10 + 10AP = 20%
AP = 10
Unarmed Skill = 50%

"Wrench" Dodgson
Wrench isn't particularly surprised at Ully's attempt - the main thing it proved was that there were no secbots available in the immediate vicinity.

Fortunately. He didn't even have his rifle.

"Nice try, Ully. But what you fail to realise is..."

He lifts both arms above his head and his left knee off the ground, beckoning Fixit B towards him.

"Against the crane, there is no defence."

[El_Frenchie]

Sequence = 14
HP = 24/28
AC = 7 + 6 AP = 13%
AP = 8
Melee Weapons = 60%

((Alexis moves to F10.))

"Alright then Juggs. Swap around if you need help."

He stays ready to swap with anyone., his knife in hand.

I'm not going to be around much all day tomorrow, so you guys will have to NPC me slightly if you need to get this fight over with.

[webgem]

James Torres

OOC: assuming the one next to me is hostile

Sequence = 14
HP = 37/41
AC = 10 = 10%
AP = 10
Unarmed Weapons = 72%


Sensing danger to Cassie, James realizes that his helper bot has turned against them. He attempts to bash the droid in with two powerful swings and a kick


[roll0] v 68 [roll1]
[roll2] v 68 [roll3]
[roll4] v 68 [roll5]

[ZeroNumerous]

VT

The humans and the super-mutant were busy shouting out orders at one another. It must be sad to not be governed by the warm, comforting feeling of your programming operating at peak efficiency. VT checked his primary programming, and ignored those relating to Vault-18. Instead, he scrolled down to #5 and re-assured himself of it's existence. Ensure the safety and survival of non-mutant humanoid patients as long as they do not interfere with Directive 1 through 4.

The android turned around and stepped forward to assist Torres with the disposal of the renegade Fixit. The android, lacking it's normal weapons, just gives it a good punch.

HP: 36
Sequence: 14
AC: 3
AP: 6
Damage Resistance: Immunity to gas, radiation, and poison. 80% versus everything but EMP. 60% versus EMP.

AP Breakdown:
2 AP- Move to E-12
3 AP- Punch Fixit
1 AP- Devoted to defending.

Punch: 44 vs 46% (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1542203/)
Damage: 3+2=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1542204/)