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You race out into the storm (details to be determined!)

I'll have an update tomorrow, just letting you know I've not forgotten.

The crowd retreats to the back of the bunker as the Vizier reopens the blast-proof garage door for your vehicle. The world outside is a maelstrom of gold and green, lightning and wind. Through the tumultuous weather, you spy boxy black silhouettes of seeders left running in place.

Mister-Kent wrote:There are armed personnel nearby. Do you take any with you?

I am assuming we are going with 'no' on that, then.

So I am clear: all sensors and comms are down. The electrical storm is a major threat. The seeders are self-driving AND currently unguarded. There is a handful of people needing rescuing who have no transport and are likely stuck in a hiding spot. Right?

Malachi assesses the storm as they careen into it with their vehicle. "Better plan," he says to Michael, "First I access that Seeder's controls and send it running out into the green zone where we can pick it up with the ship. Then we rescue the pinned-down folks."

Michael nods.

"Sounds good,"

Michael veers the tour car out into the storm towards the seeder.

"I'll get you to that seeder. Hang on!"

Michael
The ground is rough as you head towards the seeder--the driving winds and the terrible lightning have been the main concern, but as you cross the ridge, you feel the ATV slip in its tracks slightly.

Did...the ground just move?

Roll Vehicle/Ground, please--2d6+0, since your Dex bonus negates the -1 from not having the skill.

Haha. I thought Michael had that skill, but I took grav instead. D'oh!

"What the <bleep>? Hang on!"

Michael grabs the wheel tightly and curses Kleinsmith under his breath. What else hasn't she told the Amirians about these seeders?

Ground Vehicle [2d6] = 8

Malachi utters a string of epithets. "Do you even know how to drive? Engage the four-wheel traction! Here, this lever!" he says, pointing.

Lol. Can Malachi assist since he DOES have the skill?

Mister-Kent wrote:He did happen to succeed, But If you roll a success, then yes you may assist, you backseat driver!

Back seat driving is less effective.
assist driving [2d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

You feel the ground shrug--you remain in control of the vehicle, but there is no mistaking it now: the very plateau beneath you is rearranging itself!

Up ahead you see two familiar forms. East of the ridge sits a lonely ATV, its windshield partially shattered. West of the ridge is a calmly idling seeder.

Michael, never passed his driving test, Xenobiologist

Michael brings the survey vehicle to a shuddering stop near the seeder, spinning the car in a wide hallf bootlegger turn.

He turns to Malachi.

“I guess this is your stop buddy. I’m going to go check out the ATV while you do your thing here. I don’t think we should stay out here too long. By the way, I’m guessing you’re more interested in this seeder than you’re letting on. That’s cool with me. I’m all for science and for making a buck. Assuming I’m still alive and we have time, I’ll take a look at that thing too when I get back.”

If Malachi gets out of the car, Michael will peel out towards the ATV. If Malachi wants him to stay here and watch his back while he checks out the seeder, he will do that instead, but he is clearly trying to hide his anxiety regarding the fate of Zedra and Kleinsmith while he waits.

(Malachi urges Michael to remain together, but doesn't stop him from acting.)

Malachi hops from the vehicle and into the rain in a smooth motion."It is important that the seeder plausibly be a malfunction from the storm, and that you arrive together for the rescue 'straight away' from the bunker," he says. "Lets just redirect this thing, then go show up to play hero to your girl." He winks, seeming much more vivacious and alive than any previous moment. His normal stoic and calculating demeanor has given away here -- standing in the rain and electrical storm with immanent danger, next to a giant pretech artifact -- to an uncharacteristic zest for action. He leaps up grasping the ladder on the seeder's side, and clambers up to the control hatch to get the job done.

Malachi
Thr rain sizzles as it drizzles against your shoulders. The climb up the seeder's ladder is slippery, but you make it to the hatch as lightning strikes the ground mere feet from where you just stood. The hatch is slightly ajar, and there is the nervous shuffling of a figure within the great pretech mechanism.

Michael
You see across the plain to the ATV--its windshield is now fully collapsed, shattered by the force of the storm.

Malachi
Thr rain sizzles as it drizzles against your shoulders. The climb up the seeder's ladder is slippery, but you make it to the hatch as lightning strikes the ground mere feet from where you just stood. The hatch is slightly ajar, and there is the nervous shuffling of a figure within the great pretech mechanism.

There is the whimper of a female voice. "Ah! H-hello?" the young woman mutters.

Michael
You see across the plain to the ATV--its windshield is now fully collapsed, shattered by the force of the storm.

Malachi thinks quickly, assuming an authoritative soldier's tone. He yells down the ladder, "We found a survivor!". He then turns back to the hatch. "Miss, thank goodness you are unharmed. It isn't safe here - I need you to climb down the ladder and enter the truck. Quickly."

Michael, Xenobiologist

Michael started at the control panel trying to remember how to put the car back into drive. He was about to give up and just walk over to the other vehicle when Malachi called out.

"A survivor?" Michael called out. Could it be Zedra?

He quickly leapt from the car and grabbed onto the bottom of the ladder. The car drifted a few feet without the parking brake engaged.

"Whose up there? The other car isn't a very pretty sight!"

The voice coughs. "Michael...?" she asks. Zedra's head pokes out from the seeder's hatch. She winces as the blowing rain hits her face.

"Get inside! Your truck won't hold up in this weather--"

As the young artist beckons you inside, a bolt of green lightning strikes the crashed ATV in the distance, causing it to sizzle and smoke.

Within the seeder, the dashboard control panel of the seeder is a circular screen an a panoply of blinking lights. It seems to show a semi-holographic terrain map of the immediate ridge area, and brightly blinking lines denote some sort of effective range. Further interpretation would take some application of your pretech knowledge...