2156.11.6:1600 MILLION CREDIT COMM JOB

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:0640 - Smokey Crevice 9 km north of Arctic Complex

Herbie opened the bag to get some food. Almost instantly, half a dozen critters started moving directly towards Herbie with that strange ‘clicking’ of their hard exoskeletons on the stone. They were only two meters away when Herbie was finally ready to throw the meat … it was a panicked throw more AT them than anything else. The food bounced off one and landed halfway between the advancing cluster and the case. The cluster immediately scattered and retreated at the attack while about half the creatures attacking the case converged on the rations.

Smaller pieces and several “trial and error attempts” later, Herbie had lured all the creatures away from the case. The case sat all alone with nothing but 5 meters of cave floor between Mick/DJ and the case. The creatures were all at least another 6 meters from the case (11 meters from Mick/DJ) with Herbie tossing them bread crumbs like he was feeding pigeons - well, really scary pigeons.

Getting a closer look, Herbie could see that their bodies appeared to be almost Crystalline … like they were made of ice or clusters of snowflakes grown into a giant life-form. They were also slightly translucent and Herbie watched the colored liquids flow through their bodies … out the tips onto the food and sucked back in and sliding up the legs into the body.

It took several tries with the Grappling hook to catch the handle. Each failed attempt clattered on the rock, startled the creatures and stopped everyone's heart as you waited to see how they reacted. [They just turned back to Herbie’s crumbs]. Eventually the Hook caught and with a sigh of frustration, you pulled the handle safely to you as it broke free from the weakened case.

Eventually it was obvious. Mick carefully walked up and slowly just carried the heavy case back towards the edge and away from the critters. Layers of case crumbled and slid off under his grasp, making it hard to hold on to.

The latches flipped. The lid opened. DJ reached in and lifted out the critical “widget” you needed.
Mick glanced down at his gloves and saw that handling the case had started to discolor his Vacc Suit. The residue on the case likely qualified as a “corrosive atmosphere”. The less it came in contact with, the better.

[Thumper]

Mick:
Um, blokes. I need to get outta this pressure suit before doing much else. It’s plenty warm in here, but I’m going to need my cold weather clothing from my duffle in the ATV. Can you bring it too me at the mouth of the footpath, er, entrance to we we used to walk down into the caves?

What are all you mates thinking about these insects and the sleepy wolverines? I don’t want to leave the beasts unprotected knocked out where these insects might mistake ‘em for dead. We can either wait nearby to defend the beasts, or we can just start shooting these overgrown Macrobes! Leave here knowing the wolverines’ home is safe.

Either way, Herbie, can ya get some video on your comm of these overgrown mutated should-be microscopic…germs? I don’t want to touch my gear until I can change. I wanna show this species to some people back home.

[shaidar]

DJ

DJ checks over the part to make sure its good, and doesn't have any creature goo on it, before putting it into his deepest pocket for safety.

"We could back up to the entrance and keep an eye on them while you change. How long before they wake up anyway? We're going to be loosing money." he checks his watch "Less than six hours until the next 100k goes up in smoke."

[Thumper]

I’m thinking that once I change, we, all of us, go back and shoot these things. The momma wolverine obviously views them as a threat….so, she’ll have a safe home with them dead.

Then we can split!

[shaidar]

DJ

"Sounds like a plan."

[Hvalreki]

Herbie

"Uh, yeah, sure Mick. I'll get some pictures," he shuddered involuntarily remembering that time with the cockroaches back in basic.

"I really hate bugs..."

Can we gauge how long "feeding" takes? I.e. if we throw some rations further into the cave is it minutes or hours for them to reduce? If it takes a while, we can feed them and just wait for mom to start waking up then beat it to the ATV and drive outta here. Herbie would prefer not to kill anything if it can be avoided, despite his general feelings about bugs.

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:0740 - Smokey Crevice 9 km north of Arctic Complex
Things at the cave go more or less as the group could have hoped or planned. The “bugs” are fairly slow and methodical at dissolving food and absorbing the liquid … but extremely thorough. If it isn’t a MINERAL, they can probably ‘eat’ it.

Examining the part and changing allows ample time to record their activities. A moment of carelessness leads to a startling discovery. One of the smaller creatures chittered across Herbie’s “feeding hand” to eat some of the meat and the creature presented no harm to Herbie’s briefly exposed flesh [he was reaching into a bag and removed his glove for the tight space]. The creatures were hyper discriminating between anything living and dead.

The cubs woke before the mother and sort of “swatted” the bugs playfully. Their hard exoskeletons appeared nearly indestructible to the rough handling. It was eventually speculated that the malice between the mother and the bugs was more likely a territorial issue between scavengers with the wolverine asserting priority of access to whatever carrion might be found.

With the bugs occupied in the back slowly digesting their rations and the cubs attacking some Jerky near the momma (who wouldn’t sleep too much longer), it was time to head back to the Tower and finish repairs.

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:0750 - Plains 4 km north of Arctic Complex
During the drive back, you spotted a herd of grazers a short way off. The Guide identified them as Medusa Deer. The name was worse than the animal. Examining them through Image Magnification, you understood how they got the name. What at first glance you thought were ‘antlers’ aware actually squirming tentacles on their head. Mack was familiar with the creatures and the danger of underestimating them. As grazers, they are generally harmless, but those long strands have small sharp bones protruding from them. When frightened, they just whip them around in the general direction of the threat. A rookie might think that soft velvet “tail” on its head was nothing, but let it rip flesh from bone and you would have wished it was only a horn instead.

“If there are deer, then wolves can’t be far behind” whispered the Guide.

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:0800 - Arctic Complex
You arrive at the Arctic complex. Joe reports no activity observed (animal or human) so you still have the place to yourself.

[shaidar]

DJ

DJ breathes a sigh of relief when they leave the cave with no harm to persons or creatures.

When they arrive at the compound he smiles at the others, and seems rather perky "Let's get this part fitted then start a gradual power-up, we don't want this one to go pop."

[Eris]

DJ

DJ breathes a sigh of relief when they leave the cave with no harm to persons or creatures.

When they arrive at the compound he smiles at the others, and seems rather perky "Let's get this part fitted then start a gradual power-up, we don't want this one to go pop."

"Right ho!" Joe says, "Let's get to work on this. Tempus Fugit and Tempus est Pecunia! In this case."

[Thumper]

In an ironic twist, hunters are some of the most effective conservationists. Mick is quite happy to see these “Mega-organisms” live in balance with local creatures.

Joe says, "Let's get to work on this. Tempus Fugit and Tempus est Pecunia! In this case."

Let’s not waste either.

He’ll take up watch on the top of the building. His body pressure suit appears ruined, so he’ll have left it be fed upon by the decomposes in the cave.

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:0900 - Arctic Complex
DJ headed over to Building 5 and installed the part. Then he ran a low power diagnostic on the Receiver system. There were still red lights across his control panel, but now at least, there was a large patch of green.

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:1000 - Arctic Complex
Mick watched the sky lighten and at 1000, the sun rose above the horizon. While the light improved general visibility, the glare of the light off the snow created a blind spot.

From the Building 5 primary control room [S3], DJ labored to restore the primary controls in [S4] and [S5]. By the time Mick announced sunrise, DJ was ready for a coffee break and to abandon the Second Floor controls. He would scavenge the cabinets for parts if needed to get the Backup Controls [F5] on the First Floor working instead.

DJ stopped in the Lounge [F1] to grab some coffee and update the team.

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:1100 - Arctic Complex
The Backup Control proved much easier to repair and within an hour, Building 5 was all green lights for RECEIVING a signal from the Satellite and running at 75% power. It was time to head back to Building 1 and run a diagnostic on the Signal Processing. Since Building 1 appeared shielded and fully operational when you arrived, hopes were high.

[Thumper]

Knowing that predators learn how to use environmental factors to their advantage, Mick would have sent one (Herbie?) in an ATV to the North or South a little to provide warning in the case that a carnivore uses the sunrise to sneak in. He’ll make preparations for when the sun sets. Then he’ll ask about his security team’s fatigue levels.

Perhaps he, Herbie, and Olivia should take rest breaks in shifts…keeping two on guard, except during sunset.

[shaidar]

DJ

DJ is getting even more perky as things progress, but he is careful not to rush or take anything for granted.

"Come on Joe, let's get the signal processing systems tested and up, then we can gradually bring the transmitters online."

He's really wants to get this done by noon so as not to lose more money, but he knows if he rushes things something might break. It's better to miss the noon deadline and get it working, than to rush and break something than we cant fix and lose the lot.

[Eris]

DJ

DJ is getting even more perky as things progress, but he is careful not to rush or take anything for granted.

"Come on Joe, let's get the signal processing systems tested and up, then we can gradually bring the transmitters online."

He's really wants to get this done by noon so as not to lose more money, but he knows if he rushes things something might break. It's better to miss the noon deadline and get it working, than to rush and break something than we cant fix and lose the lot.

Joe assists DJ. He's not nearly the expert his friend is, but he is certainly capable of helping him, and making sure the pair of them go slowly and carefully. This needs to be done right, even if it goes past noon. Of course, before noon would be better, but getting it wrong would cost everything while getting it done right, but taking a little longer would cost only some.

[shaidar]

(I'm thinking Joe having engineering-1 means he's generally technically competent. They also both worked in space, where you have to go careful and get it right.)

[atpollard]

Y2156.11.08:1155 - Arctic Complex
Mick, Herbie and Olivia rotated watches - allowing people to warm and, more important, rest your eyes from the glare. Herbie’s sunrise scout proved useful … locating a large pack of fairly nasty looking Wolf-like predators. They were still more than a kilometer from the Tower complex and a loud drive-by between them and the complex encouraged them to move in another direction … but they never completely disappeared and the over watch kept a constant eye on their position after Herbie returned to base.

For DJ and JOE, the diagnostics went painfully slow. The Receiving Towers [T2] were operating within normal parameters. The Receiving [B5] was now operating within minimal acceptable parameters but repairing the Primary System would have to wait on another repair crew (your mission was operational, not perfect). Central Processing [B1] was running like a Swiss watch. Transmitting [B2] had some troublesome readings and required a second, more detailed diagnostic to identify the issue. Ultimately, the problem was plain old “it sucked”. The building was long overdue for maintenance and the minimal efficiency was just due to old parts operating at the end of their life cycle. Building 2 just was, what it was, until they chose to overhaul it. The Transmission Towers [T1] were in similar condition.

It was going to require a very slow power up of [B2] and [T1] to avoid burning out the old systems, which meant at least 30 to 45 minutes before you could start transmitting and claim the prize. After 1230 and before 1300 was the best guess. DJ went to work on the painfully slow power up as Joe broke the news to the group.