[Archived] Act 2 — The Gods of Coxa II

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Ryerson:

Dr. Ryerson sets his phaser to stun and boots up his medical tricorder. Once it's warmed up he starts to scan the surrounding area for signs of life.

[Inferno]

Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The peaceful Edosian's phaser is always on stun.
He placidly uses his tricorder to study the mysterious radiation at close range, and attempt to locate its source.

[Starbeard]

The crew fan out from the shuttle, each performing the routines proscribed by countless hours of rote training. Ensigns Costello and Abbot take point, covered by Collins and the Captain; the scientific officers, in the middle of the group, each switch on their tricorders and begin to scan the area.



Dr. Ryerson's medical tricorder shows no life signs within 100m of the landing sign, beyond the basic background noise of the local non-sentient fauna: bugs, mostly, and small animals one would expect to find in a jungle environment.

Nadix makes his own scan of the area, setting his sciences tricorder to scan for the radiation source, and the tricorder picks up some radiation! The science officer begins fiddling with the knobs on the device to pinpoint the source.

Nadix needs to make a basic 'Encounter with Unknown' test by rolling 3D6 ≤ Mentality. The roll is modified by -5 for using a tricorder, and -1 for each rank in Sensor Theory or Physics (your choice).

Edit: As Gareb Endilev's engineering tricorder is also capable of scanning for energy signs, this applies to him as well.

Momentarily distracted by Nadix's tricorder readings, everyone is called back to their current surroundings when they hear Abbot's voice from the front of the party. 'It's so soft!' The foolish ensign, mesmerized by the flickers of light dancing along the grass, or perhaps its strange texture brushing against his leg, stoops to feel one of the taller tufts with his open hand. It is indeed soft, almost velvet-like. As he runs his thumb across the blade, he sees that it is covered in almost microscopic, velvety fibres, brilliantly white on the top and silver underneath, creating the wonderful sparkling phenomenon.

The ensign appears to have been lucky this time.

[Inferno]

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The Edosian concentrates on his tricorder readings, serenely unaware of the danger of the alien flora.

Nadix needs to make a basic 'Encounter with Unknown' test by rolling 3D6 ≤ Mentality. The roll is modified by -5 for using a tricorder, and -1 for each rank in Sensor Theory or Physics (your choice).

Nadix's Mentality: 14
Sensor Theory and Physics are both 1.
Mentality Save: [3d6] = 12 -6 = 6. Makes it by 8.

Also, any chance of a saving throw to notice the potential threat of the grass lifeform? Thanks.

[ybn1197]

Captain Dillon Wyse

"Careful Ensign. We still have no idea about this planet. Everything should be done with kids' gloves."

[Grognardsw]

The ensign appears to have been lucky this time.

We must be in the Mirror Universe!

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Ryerson:

"No large or unusual life sign readings, Captain. Only small fauna and flora one would suspect for an environment like this."

[max_vale]

LCDR Dale Collins; Helmsman

Dale continued to do his best to stay alert and try and determine if anything threatening was approaching the party from any direction, including from above....

[Grognardsw]

Security Officers Costello and Abbot spread out, phasers at the ready, earnest looks on their faces. They move beyond sight of the others.

[Starbeard]

Stardate 2271.3.22: 1445h

Dale and the captain scan the perimeter, horizon and sky—which has an odd hue, not quite purple and not quite orange—as the other officers continue about their business with tricorders. The two security officers march forward and take tentative steps into the bush—within moments the dense foliage conceals them completely, and the senior officers are alone in the tiny, paddock-like clearing.

[Starbeard]

Also, any chance of a saving throw to notice the potential threat of the grass lifeform? Thanks.

A basic 'unknown encounter' check (3D6 vs MN) will determine some basic understanding of the grass. Dr Ryerson's medical tricorder would allow -5 to the roll, while Nadix's science tricorder would allow -2.

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Ryerson:

MN 7 [3d6-5] = 10-5 = 5
Success by 2

[Inferno]

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The introspective Edosian serenely adjusted the settings on his tricorder with all three hands.
"Captain, the source of the unidentified radiation is due south, well beyond the tricorder's maximum measurable range of 100 meters."

[max_vale]

LCDR Dale Collins; Helmsman


Dale frowns upon realizing that he can no longer see the two security officers and he calls out; "Costello? Abbot? Can you hear me?!!!"

[Grognardsw]

If Security Officers Costello and Abbot can hear Lt. Dale, they call out "Coming, Sir!"

Ensign Costello puts down the rock he was looking at, and Abbot turns away from the strange insect on the ground, and they reunite with the others.

[Starbeard]

The two security officers stumble their way back into the clearing with somewhat comic fanfare.

[ybn1197]

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

The introspective Edosian serenely adjusted the settings on his tricorder with all three hands.
"Captain, the source of the unidentified radiation is due south, well beyond the tricorder's maximum measurable range of 100 meters."

Captain Dillon Wyse

"Due south it is then. Lets see what awaits us there."

[Inferno]

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Aye, captain," said the Edosian, contentedly following orders.

Joining the away team's advance, Nadix will periodically observe his tricorder readings to confirm direction and distance to the anomaly.

[Starbeard]

NBC Announcer: "And now, back to STAR TREK…"



"Captain's Log, Stardate 2271.3.22, at 1500 hours: The mysterious energy radiation that was causing havoc on our engines has been traced to an unfixed location somewhere on the planet's surface, not far from an unknown space vessel we found hiding in the jungle. We have landed the shuttle nearby to investigate. So far, no signs of life present."

The two security officers lead the party south, periodically consulting Nadix for directions from his tricorder. The going is quite slow, as the party finds itself having to weave back and forth through the dense foliage, avoiding pockets of an unknown substance that seems to thrive on the jungle floor: little burbling pools of some brown, tar-like ichor, not unlike a wet cow pat in texture. The tricorders determine an average pacing of roughly 3km an hour. (if anyone wants to RP investigating the ichor, we can do that retroactively while we push on elsewhere)

1600h
After an hour of moving due south as best they can, the energy readings are becoming much clearer and more distinct, but the source is still outside of the tricorder's scanning range. As the party pauses briefly to gather bearings, Dr Ryerson's medical tricorder—set by default to a periodic sweeping biological scan—blips an alarm! Almost immediately a clumsy rustle is heard through the trees at some distance to the left.

[Grognardsw]

"I got some brown gunk on my boot," complains Ensign Costello.

"I heard a rustle to the left," whispers Ensign Abbot. "Captain, should I investigate?"