Chapter 3: on the station

[SpinwardMarch]

Although the captian didn't mention docking, all the standard submersibles have a forward air lock, which can be used for underwater docking. You all used it when you got on and off the sub.

The docking bay looks similar to all the other globes, but the containment area is 2/3 filled with water. On the wall of the globe is a panel similar to an elevator, with lights next to the following labels:

Doors Closed (currently lit)
Doors Open
Clamped
Draining
Safe to Enter/Exit Dock

The lights are not buttons, but are a status readout of the docking proceedure.

So far, you have not encountered any living beings in the main passages.

What do you do?

[spanningtree]

Ringar:

This may come of use later.... Maybe we try the level below us again, the robot may be gone.

[Jernau35]

Jrec

"We could go back down there. But now we know that it's underwater. Chiree didn't mention being underwater when he escaped. His pod must be further up".

[ybn1197]

Maddox assists in checking out the globe.

[Jernau35]

I was tired when I wrote that last night. All I recalled from Chiree was something about jumping down into the water. When I checked later he first describes climbing up. So it is possible that we might need to check downstairs.

[spanningtree]

Ringar:

Well, I guess we go back down a level? Hope we don't run into the servant.

[SpinwardMarch]

Hint: You entered in Globe No. 3, just slightly above water level. You are currently at Globe No. 9, which I failed to tell you is partially in the seabed. Globes #10-12 are below the seabed.

When you mention going back down to Globe #10, something seems to happen to Chiree. Perhaps being back in the station has jogged his memories of his time here.

I didn't know this tube went so deep. I jumped down into the water. so my people must be up. I have never been in one of these globes. He points upward. After being on the ship in a cage, they kept me in a cage in a room, with my two siblings in other cages. There were all kinds of other beings in cages, some very scary. Metal monsters, like the one below watched over us. Those monsters didn't have the stick thing for pushing across the floor, and were bigger. They brought food. There were even bigger metal monsters that pointed maybe, uh, guns, at us?

With this new information, what do you do?

[ybn1197]

Maddox shakes his head. "Could have used that information earlier." He slaps his face in exasperation. "Back to the elevator? We need to get above where we entered to look for his globe."

[spanningtree]

Ringar:

Yeah... shaking his head. Security robots about... by the sound of it. Don't like the sound of that. Maybe we skip a couple of levels heading up?

[SpinwardMarch]

I appologise for the information "lurch." Life is ... odd, these days. Now back to the regularly scheduled mayhem

[Jernau35]

Jrec

" So if we came in at 3 and Chiree was up from there...then we don't have a lot of choices. Two or one? I'd say two".

[spanningtree]

Ringar

I'm not convinced Chiree would have exact memories, I think we should hit every level going up.

[SpinwardMarch]

So you have decided to go up through the various globes.

Where do you go next?

[ybn1197]

Ringar

I'm not convinced Chiree would have exact memories, I think we should hit every level going up.

"I get that Chiree hasn't been the most reliable source of information but we are here at Globe 9. He thinks he was in 1 or 2. You want to hit every globe on our way up? I think that is just going to increase our chances of getting caught. Like Jrec said, lets start with 2 and see where that leads us," Maddox explains.

[Jernau35]

Jrec

"Starting where Chirree thinks he was at least seems logical to me. If he's not up at the top, we can work our way back down."

"Or...if there's a control room or something up at the top, we could check that out if we have no luck with the first two globes. Just cut to the chase. It's risky, yeah, but something worth thinking about."

[spanningtree]

Ringar

I think going to the top may be the highest risk. Let's try globe 1 or 2.

[SpinwardMarch]

As you return to the elevator pod, you are reminded, by looking at the button panel, that there are indeed two levels above Globe No. 1, labeled "Upper Lab Deck" and "Lab Deck."

Chiree reminds you, But I escaped from a cage in a room, not a globe. I got out through the bottom of a globe to the water. I suppose my siblings might be in a globe thing by now, if they are still alive. He puts his hands over his eyes, and shakes his head.

It occures to Jrec that "specimens" would likely first be taken to somewhere in one of the Lab Decks to be "processed." You all get a chill, thinking about what expirements might have been - or are being- run on those specimens.

So where are you going to start? Globe No. 1 or 2? Or one of the lab decks?

[ybn1197]

Maddox ponders for a moment. "Right now we're just fishing. If Chiree escaped from the labs, maybe we should start there. Even if his kine have been moved, we may find notes as to where they were moved to and we can stop pecking for them and actually have an idea as to where to look."

[Jernau35]

Jrec

"That bit about being in a cage in a room does sound like a bit like a lab. It's the closest clue we've got so far to a place where his people have actually been."

When Maddox mentions the possibility of finding notes, Jrec nods in agreement. "Or even a person. One of the scientists would know exactly what was going on. Ask 'em a couple of questions, then tie 'em up in a closet for a couple of hours while we make our escape".

[ybn1197]

Maddox nods in agreement. "Sounds like a plan."