Imperial Fringe Online Game Chat Session Log April 27th 2003

19:58:18 - Kit: Fine with me. Last I remember a buncha sldiers were shooting at "them", apparently glowing butterflys or somesuch that appeared in midair (and on whom shooting did not seem to have much effect)
19:59:34 - Methuslah: The Colonel and a group of his men are firing on a series of small, bright lights, dotting around the room. They appear to be massing in a swarm, upoon which the Colonel begins screaing 'increaase firing rate!'.
20:00:40 - Kit: (I'm still trying to gen any scanner readings on those motes of light)
20:00:57 - Kraiger: Well, I have a primed PGMP in my hands... but doesn't sound like I'll have a clear shot without taking out someone else! So, I'll drop the PGMP and draw my pistol...
20:01:56 - Kit: (does the shooting seem to have ANY effect? btw I am NOT firing any weapon until I know more)
20:02:06 - Methuslah: The scanner isn't detecting anything out of the ordinary..
20:02:38 - Kit: Colonel, according to my scanner there is nothing here. What are these things? Please tell us.
20:03:34 - Methuslah: "Are you crazy! The scanner's going wild! Open fire, Kraiger!"
20:04:27 - Kit: (going into testing mode: I take out a pencil or somesuch from my pocket, and try to touch one of the flying light motes with it, to see if this thing has anny effect on matter)
20:04:44 - Kit: Colones, what exactly are you scanning for?
20:05:24 - Kraiger: I Have my pistol drawn, but I am holding my fire "Fire at _what_ Colonel???"
20:06:15 - Methuslah: "The intruders, Colonel! The aliens! What do you think did this to us?"
20:06:26 - Methuslah: The pencil pushes straight through the light.
20:06:31 - Kit: (Am I assuming correctly, that all this shooting is causing some damage to the room?)
20:06:49 - Methuslah: "I don't have time for this! Hudson, maintain fire! Bring out the FGMP!"
20:07:18 - Kit: (I examine the pencil. Anything unusual about it. If not, I try something mate of metal next, to see if there is any indication of corrosion)
20:07:57 - Kit: Aliens? Colonel, please. What Aliens. Where did they come from and what exactly did they do.
20:08:41 - Kraiger: (whispers to Kit) "Is this some kind of optical illusion?"
20:08:52 - Kraiger: Does the firing seem to have any effect on the lights?
20:09:39 - Kit: (whisper back) I currently see no indication that these lights are causing any harm, which cannot be said about all this shooting (surveys collateral damage in room)
20:10:01 - Methuslah: The pencil seems fine to you. The Colonel is not responding, but the lights seem to be, they are lashing out towards the soldiers, catching one in the chest - he falls to the ground. They seem to be grouping up again. A pair of men have come out of a side door, and are setting up a FGMP mounting.
20:10:13 - Methuslah: The corridors are blackened with laser fire.
20:10:18 - Kit: Colonel, might it not be possible that your pani... err, eager shooting causes much more damage to this station than any aliens ever could?
20:11:03 - Kit: Medical emergency, everyone back off (heading over to the fallen soldier to check him out)
20:12:15 - Methuslah: "WHAT! HOW DARE YOU!"
20:12:17 - Kraiger: Well, OK, these things seem real! I'll pick up the PGMP again and maneuver for a shot...
20:12:33 - Methuslah: The soldier seems to be dead - no heart rate, no respiration.
20:12:43 - Kit: Kriager, you have to stop the Colonel from shooting up the whole station. I think the lights are responding to agression. If they cease fire whe may be able to communicate. Dammned. There is a reason wha the navy isn't in charge of first contact missions. This is Scout territory.
20:13:41 - Kit: Any indication of what killed him? I ignore the ruckus around me to check very thoroughly, especialy the place where the light entered.
20:13:46 - Kraiger: Kit, these things _are_ attacking! (maneuvering for a shot, taking care not to catch anyone else...)
20:14:07 - Kraiger: "Fire in the hole!" - 2D6: 8
20:14:27 - Kit: But your shooting doesn't seem to harm them in any way. It only damages the station even more!
20:14:28 - Methuslah: THE FGMP has been connected and the charge is building. The men are preparing to fire.
20:14:51 - Methuslah: Your shot catches in the middle of the lights, but flies through and hits the wall.
20:15:00 - Methuslah: "Good man, Colonel! Now we'll get them!"
20:15:21 - Methuslah: The lights are swarming around again, heading to the men on the FGMP.
20:15:22 - Kit: I drag the fallen man out of the line of fire and continue my examination. Medical 2D6: 11
20:16:03 - Kit: These lights are definitely reacting to threats, dammned. Cease fire, you aren't accomplishing anything.
20:16:59 - Kraiger: Did the pgmp have _any_ visible effect?
20:17:17 - Methuslah: (Good roll) There are no life signs, but no signs that life has ceased.
20:18:09 - Kit: You mean no usual signs of body deterioration, just as if he had been frozen?
20:20:06 - Methuslah: Something like that.
20:21:33 - Kit: Colonel. I don't know what they did to the man, but they did not kill him. He is just... frozen, similar somewhat to our cold berths, only different. If we can establish communication with the aliens, find out what they want, we may be able to revive him and probably others, as I assume that he is not the firts one affected?
20:22:05 - Kit: But you have to cease fire!
20:22:11 - Kraiger: (Meth, did my shot seem to have any effect?)
20:22:18 - Methuslah: The lights seem to be withdrawing, gradually fading out of existence.
20:23:03 - Methuslah: Not that you could see.
20:23:37 - Kit: Colonel, please, could you or anybody else tell us, just what exactly happened here?
20:24:01 - Kraiger: "Colonel, our fire has no effect!"
20:25:24 - Methuslah: "Those lights, those aliens, attacked again. And one more of my men was killed."
20:26:01 - Kit: Colonel, first off, he isn't dead, just froszen. And please tell me from the beginning. When and how did this start?
20:28:03 - Methuslah: "About four hours ago, the atmosphere turned corrosive. I got as many men as I could into this bunker, and sealed it up. Just before the corrosion began, we saw all these lights around the outside, sawrming around. Now they are coming down here. Last time, they killed five men - fifteen have fallen so far. There will be no more."
20:29:14 - Kit: Colonel, your weapons don't seem to have any effect on the "aliens" as you call them, and we do not know if they really mean harm. As far as I can tell, this man is not dead. Just "frozen", though in an unknown technique.
20:29:56 - Kit: Did anything happen before the atmosphere turned corrosive? And what caused the explosion above? was that before or after tha lights appeared.
20:30:31 - Methuslah: "Look around you! Over a hundred dead up above. And now moire. And that man looks dead to me."
20:31:33 - Kit: So would anyone in a cold berth to people not fam,iliar with the technique. His body is frosen, his vital signs have stopped, but there is no sign of his body deteriorating, which would happen in and dead person.
20:31:58 - Kit: Can I look at the other people who have been affected?
20:32:36 - Kit: I believe we can revive them, if we can just figure out what froze them in the first place.
20:33:13 - Methuslah: "They're in the morgue. YOu can go see them if you wish. I'll be n my office."
20:33:32 - Methuslah: With that, the Colonel stalks off.
20:33:44 - Kit: Colonel, what are you scanning for to detect them?
20:33:53 - Kraiger: Colonel, what exactly was showing up on your scanners? If we can figure out what these
20:34:07 - Kraiger: (sorry, brb)
20:34:06 - Kit: Please, anything you know may help these people.
20:35:41 - Methuslah: He does not reply.
20:37:47 - Kit: (mumble mumble incapable leadership mumble mumble, turning to the men) It's OK men, we will figure out what is going on here, And I don't believe your comarades are dead. I'm sure we can find a way to revive them. But I need your help. I would like to have you tell me as much as you can about these lights and what you observed about them.
20:38:23 - Kit: Any detail might be important, but please report only what you have personally observed.
20:39:08 - Kit: you (pints on someone) could you sratr please?
20:39:33 - Kit: What's your name (insert rank)?
20:40:24 - Kit: I am Baroness Dr Messalina Kitiara of regina, IISS, I have been trained for just such emergencies. You can trust me.
20:40:36 - Methuslah: "I'm Captain Chambers, ma'am. Perhaps we should speak in private?"
20:41:05 - Kit: That is fine with me.
20:41:16 - Kit: Do you have a suitable place here Captain?
20:41:42 - Methuslah: "My office, ma'am."
20:42:08 - Kit: Good, please lead the way as I am not familiar with this station.
20:42:59 - Kit: (turning to some other men) Could you take this man to some place where he can be kapt safe 8points to fallen man) I would like to take another look at him later?
20:43:19 - Methuslah: He heads off down the corridor, barking orders for the men to tidy up the corridor as he goes.
20:43:53 - Kit: (I follow him along, smiling reassuringly at the men as I pass)
20:44:30 - Kraiger: (following)
20:45:36 - Methuslah: He turns to face a door, taps in a code and opens it, he gestures you in.
20:46:09 - Kit: Thank you
20:47:29 - Methuslah: The office is small, with few decorations. The exception is a fine cutlass hanging on the wall, marred only by the dozen notches on its blade.
20:49:10 - Kraiger: (I'll take a closer look at the cutlass) Ah, a blade man Captain?
20:50:18 - Methuslah: "I've carried that proudly for twelve years, Colonel.!"
20:51:49 - Kraiger: Very nice...
20:51:59 - Kit: Looks like a fine blade. Good, that it wasn't caught in the corrosive atmosphere.
20:54:41 - Kit: Captain I would like to ask you a few questions. I hope you can shed some light on hwat has been happening here.
20:55:28 - Methuslah: "Fire away ma'am. But - be careful arguing with the Colonel in public."
20:56:31 - Kit: I will remember that Captain. Now first could you give me a quick account of what happened here in the last four hours, from your own point of vew and personal observation please?
20:59:54 - Methuslah: "Things were basically as the Colonel said, ma'am. The lights appeared, then the air went dark. The sensors went out and the walls started to corrode. The Colonel ordered us all down into the bunker, then sealed it up with the plastic coating. We've been watching ever since. Those lights have emerged six times, and fifteen men are dead, counting the last one."
21:00:42 - Kit: The Colonel talked about a hundred men above. What happened to them?
21:01:21 - Methuslah: "Killed when the walls blew out."
21:01:49 - Kraiger: Hmmm, I just remembered - I think the x-boat pilot is still out there, right?
21:02:01 - Kit: When we firts flew over the dome, it seemed to have been blasted from within. Do you know what caused the explosion?
21:02:32 - Kit: Yes, so is our scout and one cold berth passenger.
21:03:46 - Methuslah: "The reactor intake sucked in air from outside before we could close it down. The reactor itself scrammed automatically, but the storage batteries went."
21:03:48 - Kit: Do those lights always appear in midair? And what exactly is the colonel scanning for. My scanner didn't indicate anything at all.
21:05:01 - Kit: Did anybody notice anything else besides the lights outside, and could you describe more exactly what you mean by "the air went dark?"
21:06:18 - Methuslah: "The air went cloudy, the light was blocked out. I've never seen anything like that before. I don't know what the Colonel is scanning for."
21:06:27 - Kit: From my observations outside, it seems the corrosion came from the station or from somewhere directly at/in it, not from someplace farther off. Do you know if the corrosion started everywhere at once or was it gradual?
21:07:23 - Kit: Captain, do you know if there wer any scientists in the station doing... non-public research of any kind?
21:08:45 - Kit: The soldiers who were affected down here, were they all firing weapons at the lights? Or were unarmed men affected as well?
21:09:20 - Methuslah: "Not that I know of, but I don't know what they've been doing at Crater Station."
21:09:49 - Kit: There was a pretty strong storm outside when we arrived. The dark clouds you saw, were they affected by the wind?
21:11:00 - Methuslah: "It looked to me like they were being carried by the wind. And that's another thing - that wind came from nowhere. it was dead calm just before."
21:11:12 - Kit: (I guess I should leave him time to answer my questions in between asking the next five ones

)
21:11:45 - Kit: Where is this Crater station. is it far away?
21:12:22 - Methuslah: "It's up at the pole, over a thousand miles away."
21:12:36 - Kit: The soldiers who were affected down here, were they all firing weapons at the lights? Or were unarmed men affected as well?
21:13:18 - Methuslah: "There weren't any civiians on the base. All the soldiers obe the Colobnel's orders to the letter, I fear."
21:14:30 - Kit: Do you have the feeling that your firing is having any effect on the lights?
21:15:04 - Methuslah: "It's certainly having an effect on the walls. What effect it is having on the creatures I don't know."
21:16:11 - Kit: When the lights appear, do they always act like we saw it a few minutes ago, do they always stay for about the same time or is there a change to their pattern?
21:17:18 - Methuslah: "They seem to be about the same each time, even staying for the same amount of time."
21:17:44 - Kit: Do they always appear at the same place?
21:18:40 - Methuslah: "No, never the same place twice."
21:20:07 - Kit: I do not know the colonel. How he usually is. Do you think he is handling the situation well, or do you feel he may be in danger of suffering a breakdown. As a doctor I have to ask this. Maybe I can help him.
21:22:56 - Methuslah: "The Colonel is - odd. At the best of times. He was behind the lines during the Fourth War, and they say he was never the same afterward. His men are dedicated to him - most have been with him for a decade. To be honest, he was posted here to be out of trouble. He and hsi men have problems in non-combat situations. Part of brief from General Lansing was to smooth over any 'incidents'."
21:23:51 - Kit: Sounds like a capable soldier but not someone for such unusual situations like these where you do not know the enemy.
21:24:40 - Kraiger: Have you been in contact with the polar base? Any idea if they suffered the same problem?
21:25:04 - Methuslah: "Precisely."
21:25:18 - Kit: I think I will have another talk with him. I am sure than we (points to Kraiger) can figure out what is happening here and solve your problem. We might even be able to revibe the men affected by the lights, though I'm afraid I can do nothing for those killed in the explosion.
21:25:25 - Methuslah: "The Colonel has kept the communication blackout."
21:25:44 - Kit: Do you still have functioning comm equipment?
21:27:10 - Kit: Captain. We have come straight form Trane where the Zhodani have attacked. We have important messages for the fleet. The Zhodany have declared war on the empire. If you have any method of doing so, you have to contact the fleet to call them back. The maneuver must be cancelled, this real emergency is more important.
21:27:13 - Methuslah: "Yes, but the Colonel has had it stashed in his office."
21:28:01 - Kit: Who do you think would have the best chance of convincing the Colonel to break the comm blackout?
21:28:21 - Methuslah: "So it's finally begun."
21:28:50 - Kit: You have been expecting this?
21:29:37 - Methuslah: "I always knew the Zho's would come at us again."
21:30:28 - Kit: I hope you do agree that this is important enough to break the comm silence and call the fleet, even if this local emergency should not qualify.
21:31:13 - Methuslah: "I agree, of course. But I am not your problem."
21:31:40 - Kraiger: Kit, I think this Colonel is going to treat any attempt to contermand his orders as a mutinee. Never the less, if you pronounce him unfit to command, then we are perfectly justified to then do what is necessary...
21:31:56 - Kit: You know the colonel. How do you think can we convince him best?
21:32:32 - Methuslah: "I know the Colonel. I doubt he'll go along. He is an excellent tactician, and that is all."
21:32:46 - Kraiger: ... And we _MUST_ contact the fleet.
21:33:06 - Kraiger: Captain, is there any means of transportation here that has not been damaged by the corrosion?
21:33:57 - Kit: Well, we do have to try. But first I would like to take a look at the other men affected by the lights to see if they show the same symptoms as the one i examined just a few minutes ago.
21:34:26 - Methuslah: "We have a fast grav car, but it is under guard."
21:35:41 - Kit: Kraiger, I would like to look at the other affected men first, then talk to the colonel again. Maybe he knows more, at least his scanner detects something.
21:36:33 - Kit: And then I would like to take a look around above. Whatever is causing this trouble doesn't seem to be down here�, and we may be able to find out more above.
21:37:26 - Kit: Captain, who is commanding the fleet on the maneuver?
21:39:00 - Methuslah: "Admiral Laragon is commanding the fleet."
21:39:50 - Kraiger: Be careful Kit - if the colonel sees us as a threat, he will not hesitate to arrest us...
21:40:07 - Kit: OK. Thank you for your help captain. Could you point me to the morgue now, so I can examine the other men?
21:40:29 - Kit: Kraiger, I have no intention of threatening the Colonel.
21:41:44 - Kraiger: Not threatening him Kit - appearing as a threat. The man is obviously unstable...
21:42:13 - Methuslah: "End of the corridor. Hold on, I'll give you a pass to get you past the guards."
21:42:27 - Methuslah: He scrawls a letter on a piece of paper, and hands it to you.
21:42:59 - Kit: Thanks. (Following directions. Meth, once I have a quiet moment to myself in the morgue or someplace else, I check the name of Admiral Laragon against the data that I copied from the disc from the trane station commander. Does it show up?)
21:43:39 - Methuslah: (It doesn't.)
21:44:02 - Kit: (that's a good sign. At least he isn't a suspected spy)
21:45:21 - Kit: Then I will check a few of the bodies affected by the lights to see if they show the same symptoms.
21:46:41 - Methuslah: They seem to be the same as the one you examined before.
21:46:59 - Kit: Kraiger, what do you think we should do. Try to contact the fleet, examine what is happening here or something else??
21:48:37 - Kraiger: I think our priority has to be contacting the fleet. And then, getting out of here!
21:48:55 - Kit: All these bodies seem to be tha same. In a state of suspended animation, frozen. I do not think they are really dead. If we can fugure out what caused this, we may be able to revive them.
21:49:33 - Kit: Aren't you curious about who or what these lights are?
21:50:14 - Kraiger: Contacting the fleet is still the best - they will have the facilities we need... I suggest we confront the Colonel, but be prepared for him to react badly...
21:50:47 - Kraiger: I'm curious about the lights, but to be perfectly honest, I'd rather investigate from the outside rather than the inside! Safety first...
21:51:02 - Kit: I think we should try diplomacy before confrontation. If he is a good soldier, he may be willing to obey authority.
21:53:27 - Kraiger: I agree - but be prepared for the confrontation - as I said, I have seen this syndrome before in commanders pushed beyond their limits... they will perceive anything that disagrees with them as a threat.
21:54:26 - Kit: Then we'll just have to convince him that he agrees with the right thing. I have an idea that might work, just try to play along ok?
21:55:32 - Kraiger: OK - you try the diplomacy, and I'll be ready incase it comes to confrontation...
21:56:35 - Kit: sigh. I hope it doesn't come to that. I'd hate to cause any harm to the poor men here. lets go. (heading for the colonels office)
21:57:30 - Methuslah: As you walk down the corridor, you notice that a couple of guards fall into step behind you.
21:57:52 - Kraiger: (I will follow - prepare for quick-reaction combat. I just don't trust this Colonel!

)
21:58:30 - Kit: When I reach the colonels dook, I knock before entering.
21:59:32 - Methuslah: The door lock disengages.
22:00:07 - Kit: (entering) Greetings Colonel. May I have a few words with you?
22:01:50 - Kraiger: (Follow Kit, and assume a covering position to the side of the door)
22:02:09 - Methuslah: The Colonel is sitting at his desk. Behind him stand a pair of Marines, with pistols raised.
22:02:42 - Kit: (questioning look) Sir?
22:04:27 - Methuslah: "I'm sorry ma'am, Colonel -but you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit mutiny."
22:04:46 - Methuslah: <Cue dramatic music>. One cliffhanger.
22:05:09 - Kit: What? Colonel please, you cannot be serious. Do you have any idea of who you are trying to arrest?
22:05:58 - Kit: dammned cliffhangers of yours.
22:06:09 - Methuslah: Sorry.
22:06:39 - Kit: I hope I haven't forgotten all my arguments next week.
22:06:45 - Kraiger: _told_ you so!

22:07:19 - Methuslah: Well, have a good week, guys.
22:07:40 - Kit: OK you were right, he is out of his mind. I had hoped he hadn't fallen quite so far yet.
22:07:46 - Kraiger: you too - great cliffhanger!
22:08:02 - Methuslah: Thanks. bye!
22:08:18 - Kit: bye
22:08:26 - Kit just logged off.
22:08:30 - Methuslah just logged off.
22:08:31 - Kraiger: I know Kit, you're going to want to rehabilitate him... my rehabilitation is going to involve a PGMP and a long stain on the wall!