Imperial Fringe Online Game Chat Session Log June 1st 2003
20:01:57 - Methuslah: I'm ready when you guys are. Now, as I recall you were being arrested by the COlonel for conspiracy to commit mutiny...
20:02:55 - Kit: OK, my speech. Colonel, please, you cannot be serious. Why should we conspire about a mutiny here?
20:04:01 - Kit: I am Baroness Messalina Kitiara of Regina, I am a special attachee to Duke Aledon, and I am here to deliver an important and confidential message to Admiral Laragon.
20:04:12 - Kraiger: I'm evaluating the situation - am I still far enough outside the room to duck and run?
20:05:01 - Kit: We have no interest in this base except our honest offer to help you. If you do not want our help, that is your decision. If you help us to contact the admiral, we will be off your base as soon as we can.
20:05:32 - Methuslah: You might make it - you've have to roll a 5 or more to get out safely.
20:05:50 - Kit: (I am trying on my best noble-pose for the whole speech) Please sir. You will surely see that causing a mutiny here is the last thing that we want
20:06:13 - Kraiger: (No, I'll hold on and watch the situation)
20:06:44 - Kit: (I try to see if there is any reaction on the Colonels face when I start to throw Titles and names around and if he seems the least bit impressed by my speech)
20:07:09 - Methuslah: "Well, madam, aside from desiring to break the Admiral's orders of radio silence and your reluctance to assist us in combat, there is the matter of you questioning the Captain about means of deserting this post. Obviously, you are a threat to this base, and must be confined."
20:08:47 - Kraiger: Colonel, you have no jurisdiction over us...
20:08:59 - Kit: Colonel, The message I have for the Admiral is of utmost importance. We are talking about War with the Zhodani here. I am absolutely sure that the Admiral would greatly appreciate getting this message as fast as possible, and that he would agree with the evaluation, that this is more than sufficient reason to break the communication silence during a maneuver.
20:09:13 - Methuslah: (The Colonel is not impressed by the titles - but you notice that he seems to be holding in hs anger with difficulty.)
20:10:47 - Methuslah: "This war. Can you prove it exists? I think you are trying to spread defeatism - and I WILL NOT HAVE THAT IN MY COMMAND!"
20:10:55 - Kit: Please Colonel, you are a competent man, used to difficult situations. We do not wish to ursup your command here in any way, but Mr Kraiger is right, we are not under your command, so if we consider methods to move around this planet, that can hardly be considered mutiny.
20:12:08 - Kit: Colonel, we have in our posession extensive data on the Zhodani Attack at Trane. I could show, some of that to you, to prove it, though you will understand that some of it is confidential and for the Admiral's eyes only.
20:12:38 - Kraiger: (Taking a stern tone, and stepping forward) Colonel! Snap out of it! I am a retired military officer, and I have never in all my career seen such incompetancy!
20:13:07 - Kit: Besides, Sir, I am as little interested in spreading panic or lies as you are. My duty is to the Empire and to the people entrusted to my care. Spooking them is not going to do any good.
20:13:49 - Methuslah: "Must I remind you both that I am the commanding officer here. I am not interested in false data."
20:14:03 - Kraiger: I demand that you release us, and submit yourself for psych evaluation immediately. You are obviously struggling with persimmons syndrom. (to Marines) Soldiers! Under the authority of the empire, I order you to relieve the Colonel of his command until such time as we can adequately prove his competence!
20:15:07 - Methuslah: "Hold your ground, men! Hah! Colonel, in any force but ours, your ploy might have worked."
20:15:12 - Kit: Sir, you are the commanding officer on this base. This Data is intendes for higher ranking officers only. I doubt that you even have the security clearance to decode it properly.
20:16:03 - Kraiger: (Giving my best and sternest look of commands to the Marines) Soldiers... you know your duty
20:17:47 - Kit: (sigh, there goes the diplomacy part) Sir, please, you are the one who can clear up this situation before it gets completely out of hand. There are more important things for us to do than this fighting.
20:18:35 - Methuslah: "GUARDS! Arrest these men!"
20:18:37 - Kraiger: (Sorry Kit - I did warn you that this guy was going to annoy me! At least I didn't start a fire-fight! 
)
20:18:43 - Methuslah: The guards are not moving at all.
20:19:06 - Kit: (Darn, I try to duck back out of the door)
20:19:24 - Kraiger: (Turning to the guards behind us) Is there a medical officer on this base? We need him urgently
20:20:40 - Kit: (OK, what does my medical knowledge say about the best treatment for someone in the colonels situation?)
20:21:06 - Kit: (probably includes tranquilizers, rest and some serious psych talk)
20:21:17 - Methuslah: (Your knowledge of psychology is not extensive, but an extended period in medical low berth is indicated)
20:22:06 - Kraiger: (Approaching Colonel, palms open and outwards, quieter voice) Colonel, it is quite understandable, I have seen this syndrom many times. You just need some rest - your second in command can take over for a little while
20:22:35 - Kit: Colonel. As a Doctor, I suggest that you get some good rest. You are overworked and stressed out.
20:23:04 - Methuslah: "No! Absolutely not! I am in Full CONTROL!"
20:23:13 - Methuslah: The guards are looking at each other nervously.
20:23:32 - Kraiger: (Again talking to the Marines) Who is the 2IC here? We really need his help.
20:24:24 - Kit: Sir, please calm down. You really need some rest. Let us help you. We are trained to deal with this kind of situation.
20:25:54 - Methuslah: "Captain Chambers would be next in line. Colonel, perhaps you do need a rest."
20:26:16 - Kit: (turning to one of the guards) >insert Rank of man< please go and call Captain Chambers and a medical officer. They are needed here.
20:28:13 - Kit: (still to the guards mostly) I am pretty sure that this would be the best for the Colonel. He is a good man, I do not want to ruin his career by having him do something foolish, just because he is stressed.
20:28:42 - Kraiger: (I am trying to maneuver to a position where I am behind the Colonel, wothout arrousing suspicion)
20:28:55 - Kit: If you like your commander, And I was told you have been through a lot together, then surely you will see the wisdom in this.
20:30:19 - Methuslah: "By your leave, Colonel?"
20:30:30 - Methuslah: The Colonel is just sitting bolt unright in hsi chair, starting into space.
20:31:27 - Kit: (I move towards the Colonel) Sir? Are you all right? (Checking for signs of shock or some other serious trauma)
20:32:05 - Methuslah: He seems to have blanked out.
20:32:08 - Kraiger: (Whisper to Marines from behind the Colonel) Stand down men - you can see that the COlonel needs help - holster your sidearms)
20:32:30 - Methuslah: Kraiger, you are almost behind the Colonel, when the guards snaps to and calls ,'Halt!'.
20:33:04 - Kit: (to the guard) Pleas, move quickly, and ask the medic to bring along some mild tranquilizers. The Colonel needs some treatment, but I think it is better delivered by his own men.
20:33:29 - Kit: (I approach the colonel and wave a hand before his eyes. Any reaction?)
20:33:35 - Kraiger: (Turning to face the marine, impatient tone of voice) What is it soldier?
20:34:23 - Kit: Colonel? Can you hear me?
20:38:57 - Kit: (Any Reaction from the Colonel?)
20:41:23 - Kit: (to the guards) Hurry, call the medic. The Colonel seems to have gone into shock (I hand my rifle to one of the guards and adress another one) You, help me get the man into a stable position!
20:42:19 - Methuslah just entered this channel
20:43:19 - Methuslah: Sorry about that - my computer crashed for some reason.
20:43:39 - Methuslah: The Colonel is not reacting. One of the gurads looks around, jumps to and runs down the corridor.
20:43:54 - Kit: Let me guess, you run windows?
20:44:51 - Kit: (I proceed to put the colonel into a stable position, instructing the guard as to what to do, then check his vital signs, preparing to deliver whatever medical treatmend is necessary)
20:45:14 - Methuslah: Windows ME.
20:45:32 - Kraiger: (I am still very wary, watching the Marines to make sure the holster their arms...)
20:45:52 - Methuslah: You can hear a commotion from out in the corridor.
20:45:55 - Kit: Windows (any type) is reason enough for a crash 
20:46:07 - Methuslah: "Lights! The lights are attacking!"
20:46:21 - Methuslah: The guard remain with you pulls out his weapon and runs out into the corridor, screaming for you to follow him.
20:47:21 - Kraiger: Kit, we've _got_ to figure out what to do about these lights! Any ideas?
20:47:24 - Kit: Dammned, where? Kraiger, check it out, I will keep watch here, and get that medic here. Try something besides shooting at the lights.
20:47:50 - Kit: (I look around for the scanner of the Colonel) We have to figure out what they are.
20:48:11 - Kit: If I can find out what his scanner was looking for, that might help.
20:48:22 - Methuslah: The colonel's scanner is strapped to his belt. The commotion has not roused him.
20:48:23 - Kraiger: (I'll follow the guards to the light attack) - Marine? WHat weapons have you tried on these things - have you tried liquid nitrogen for example? Or flame?
20:49:03 - Kit: (I will take out the scanner and check to see what is is scanning for or in howfar it ahs been modified)
20:49:27 - Methuslah: "No, Sir! Just our standard weapons, sir!"
20:49:51 - Methuslah: The scanner is just set for infrared - nothing complex at all - and it isn't registering anything.
20:50:10 - Kit: (calling after Kraiger) I know you army types tend not to consider this option, but have you tried to communicate´?
20:50:13 - Methuslah: The lights are back in the corridor, and a group of guards are taking position to fire. One of them is trying to set up a PGMP.
20:50:34 - Kit: (but it HAD been beeping when the colonel used it?)
20:50:38 - Kraiger: OK, I guess you have a science lab? Get down there and bring up a tank of liquid nitrogen, we'll see if we can freeze these bastards.
20:51:30 - Kraiger: (Picking any of the men I recognise) Soldier! We're going to try something different - we need to set up an electricity grid, see if electricity can hurt them - we need some grid wire, and a high- energy source.
20:52:01 - Methuslah: (You thought it had been, anyway.)
20:52:07 - Kraiger: Think men! Bullets don't work, what else can we try?
20:52:15 - Methuslah: "Sir, yes, sir!" the guard runs off down the corridor.
20:52:26 - Methuslah: Another runs off to get the liquid nitrogen.
20:52:36 - Kit: Kraiger, there is nothing there to freeze. No Mass, No Energy, nothing. I'm beginning to believe these lights and the effects they cause may be purely psychological. A great mind control something. Though I am at a loss to say what might cause it.
20:53:08 - Kit: (Could the colonel have caused the scanner to start beeping, by pushing some buttons for example?)
20:53:47 - Methuslah: (Certainly, by running through a standard test cycle.)
20:54:17 - Kraiger: (Well Kit, then we'll have to make the soldiers _believe_ we can kill the lights!)
20:54:42 - Kit: (I get out my medical bag and pull out some tranquilizer to knock out the colonel. If he is unconscious deep enough, he should be safe from any psychic attack for a while, and his nervous system seems damaged enough already)
20:56:18 - Kit: Kraiger, try some different things if you believe it helps the men's morale. But we have to find the cause for all this, and somehow I don't think we will find it down here.
20:57:38 - Methuslah: The colonel give no discernable reaction to the tranq.
20:57:49 - Kraiger: (OK )
20:57:59 - Kit: (Are his vital signs stable?)
20:58:14 - Kraiger: Soldier - run to the kitchen and get some aluminium foil - on the double!
20:58:59 - Methuslah: (They look OK, but there is a much higher rate of brain activity than normal.)
20:59:33 - Methuslah: "Foil, sir?"
20:59:52 - Kit: Darn, That does not look good. Do I have any tranqus that will dampen brain activity?
21:00:36 - Methuslah: Not standard issue - the medical section should have something
21:00:35 - Kraiger: Yes, foil - I have an idea as to what is causing this, and we may be able to defend ourselves...
21:01:41 - Kit: (Comm to Kraiger) The Colonels vital signs are ok, but his brai activity is much too high. He may be part of the problem. I have to get him to the medical station right now, can you send someone to help me carry him there?
21:02:51 - Methuslah: "Yes, sir" And another guard runs off. Then one returns, bearing a gold-plated cylinder.
21:02:56 - Methuslah: "Got the nitro, sir!"
21:03:15 - Kit: Kraiger, I ahve another idea. The Colonel was pretty stressed, maybe strong emotions, especially fear and stress increase the problem.
21:03:18 - Kraiger: (Picking two of the most nervous marines) You two - get to the Colonels quaters and help the Baroness
21:03:40 - Methuslah: "Aye, colonel!"
21:03:44 - Kit: If we can get everyone to calm down, with chemical help if necessary, we might get some positive results.
21:04:14 - Kraiger: OK soldier, we'll need to set it up with a remote release - then roll it towards the lights, and let it go - we'll see if we can freexe these lights!
21:05:31 - Kit: (I try my very best to project a calm and controlled aura to the men when they come) Good, now please help me get the Colonel to medical. He is hovering on the brink of shock. Don't worry, we will get this whole thing sorted out.
21:05:32 - Methuslah: "Right, sir!"
21:06:05 - Methuslah: The lights are dancign around as the Marine tosses the canister into position, keeping hole of a small fiberoptic wire. He then get sout a laser activater.
21:06:09 - Methuslah: "Ready to go!"
21:08:17 - Kit: (All the time I try to talk reassuringly and calmly to the men, trying to calm them down and bolster their morale, and at the same time trying to calm my own thoughts)
21:08:39 - Kraiger: Alright, everyone step back - hit it!
21:10:13 - Methuslah just entered this channel
21:11:08 - Methuslah: The marine jabs the laser to the fibreoptic, and the canister opens, spraying liquid nitrogen across the room, the mrines haev all scrabled well out of the way, but the lights remain unaffected, dancing through it all.
21:12:11 - Kraiger: Damn - OK, where's that wire grid?
21:13:21 - Methuslah: "Coming, sir!"
21:14:38 - Methuslah: The marine runs up bearing a complicated tangle of wires.
21:16:50 - Kraiger: OK, lets try this - slide that grid underneth the lights, and then hit the electricity - then we need to spray them with water, see if that helps...
21:17:58 - Methuslah: "Right, sir!" The marine slides the wires underneath the dancing lights, then hits a button. You can almost see the electric current seeping into the air, and the static is making your skin crawl. The light do seem to be slowing.
21:18:46 - Kraiger: (Kit - how are you coming? Nothing here is helping...)
21:19:38 - Kit: (I believe I'm on my way to medical with the colonel) I'll come as soon as I can, I have to take care of the colonel first.
21:20:21 - Kraiger: (You know, I have a sneaking suspicion that somehow the Colonel is at the root of this...)
21:21:14 - Methuslah: THe men are reacting to your calm demenour - they seem less paniced. The colonel's medical signs are still elevated.
21:21:25 - Kit: (why do you think I'm trying to get his brain to slow to a normal level, or if possible, freeze him, I also suspect that he may be part of the problem)
21:23:02 - Kit: Good, men. (is there a medical cold berth in the medical section? very likely I guess) Help me get the colonel into the low berth.
21:23:46 - Kit: (I#ll do a quick search of the Colonels pockets and put anything I find to the side before I playe him in cold sleep)
21:23:52 - Methuslah: There are a pair of medical low beth units in the medical section. Both seem fully operational.
21:24:46 - Kit: (to the men) His brain is overacting. That might cause permanent damage if we do not stop it. The fastes way to stop it is freezing him. That way he can be awoken safely when neurological experts are at hand.
21:25:37 - Kit: (I will prepare the first berth for an emergency freeze)
21:25:44 - Methuslah: His pockets contain nothing of interest, just an ID card and a couple of datacrystals.
21:26:02 - Methuslah: Make a roll (4 or over)
21:26:28 - Kit: (As I said, I will put whatever i find to the side and prepare him for the freeze)
21:26:39 - Kit: 2D6: 7
21:27:26 - Methuslah: The medical bay is operational and ready for use.
21:27:40 - Methuslah: Kraiger, the lights are beginnig to slow down now, to cease dancing through the air.
21:28:10 - Kit: Good, Now please help me place him inside the berth.
21:28:44 - Kit: (with the assistance of the men (always good to meke them feel useful) I will put the colonel in emergency cold sleep)
21:28:58 - Kit: (If you need a roll: 2D6: 9)
21:28:58 - Kraiger: OK men, stand down. Good work!
21:29:32 - Methuslah: The marines look at each other a couple of times, before reluctantly helping you with the Colonel.
21:30:41 - Kit: (I'll talk to the reassuringly, explaining what i do as I go along and mentioning how this and that is going to make sure the Colonel will be safe and sound)
21:31:41 - Methuslah: The lights begin to fade away.
21:32:13 - Kraiger: Soldier, please take me to Captain Chambers - I need to talk to him..
21:33:53 - Methuslah: "He's in his office, sir. I can't think why he didn't aswer the call."
21:35:54 - Kit: (uh ohh I sense another problem 
)
21:37:56 - Kraiger: Hmmm, OK, lets go (Drawing my sidearm...)
21:38:41 - Methuslah: You reach his office and open the door to find him slumped in his chair, dead - a pistol in hsi right hand.
21:40:24 - Kraiger: Don't touch anything! Soldier, who is the _third_ in command?
21:41:07 - Kraiger: (I holster my weapon, and carefully inspect the scene without diusturning anything - does it look like a real suicide, or a fake?
21:41:40 - Methuslah: "Sir, the captain was the only other officer on base!"
21:42:25 - Kraiger: OK, please spread the word - I am officially taking command here.
21:43:01 - Methuslah: "Yes, sir. By Deus, this is a nightmare."
21:45:05 - Kit: (That soldier is talking in my color 
)
21:45:37 - Kraiger: Don't worry soldier - I'll get you though this...
21:47:18 - Methuslah: Without touching anything, the suicide appears real enoug.
21:47:21 - Kit: (Is the Commander frozen safe and sound?)
21:49:02 - Methuslah: (Frozen safe and well)
21:50:09 - Kit: (I'll do a last scan of his vital signs to see if his brain activity has now calmed to a proper freeze-level) OK men, your Commander is safe and well for now.
21:50:51 - Kit: (comm to Kraiger) Kraiger, the Commander is in deep sleep, safe and sound. How is your status?
21:51:01 - Kraiger: Soldier, post a guard on Captain Chamber's quaters - I want nothing touched.
21:51:38 - Kraiger: Bad news Kit - Captain Chambers is dead - apparently suicide, which I find very surprising. Looks like I'm in command now,,,
21:51:47 - Methuslah: "Aye, aye, Colonel."
21:52:01 - Kraiger: I'll meet you at the comm centre - lets pass our message onto the Admiral, and see if they have any idea baout this...
21:52:36 - Kit: What.? He did not seem that depressed to me. Let's meet at the Colonles Room, we have to contact the fleet!
21:53:05 - Kit: What about the lights? Any casualties?
21:53:47 - Kraiger: No casualties this time, but nothing we tried had any effect on them
21:54:23 - Methuslah: "None, sir. You saw to them good."
21:54:28 - Kit: (turning to the men) OK, The Colonel is safe. Come with me, we have more work to do here. (heading for the Colonels Room)
21:55:16 - Kit: Maybe they are not dangerous as long as they are not attacked.
21:55:29 - Kit: What did you try?
21:56:15 - Kraiger: Thats possible - we tried freezing and electrocuting - but no apparent effect at all...
21:56:16 - Methuslah: You reach the Colonel's room without interference, though most of the men look rather shell-shocked.
21:56:20 - Kit: Best guess i have at the current time is that the lights, or whatever causes them reacts to strong emotions, especially agression and or fear.
21:58:54 - Kit: Also I am pretty sure that the casualties are not actually dead. They seem to be in some kind of stasis. If we can find out, how it is caused, we may be able to revive them (I say this so that the men can hear it, I also try once again to give a good, calm example to them)
22:00:03 - Kit: (I look around fro the comm equipment supposedly here)
22:01:30 - Methuslah: You cannot see anything that could be comm equipment.
22:02:16 - Kit: (to the men) Is there any kind of comm equipment on the base that we can use to contact the fleet?
22:02:34 - Kraiger: (To one of the Marines) Where is the comm centre located?
22:02:35 - Kit: (is there a reader for the type of data crystals I found on the Colonel?)
22:03:09 - Methuslah: "The main centre is topside, but there is an axuilary unit in this office somewhere, sir."
22:04:01 - Kraiger: OK, lets find it - (starting to search the office for Comm equipment or _any_ other sort of clue)
22:04:53 - Methuslah: (You cannot see anything that looks like a reader.)
22:05:05 - Methuslah: After a few minutes of searching, you come across a sliding panel in the wall.
22:05:26 - Kit: (to the men) How many men are on the base? Any specialists?
22:05:47 - Kit: (Would the crystals fit into my reader?)
22:06:41 - Methuslah: They should do - a standard model.
22:07:00 - Methuslah: "About fifty survived, mostly military cadre. No technicians."
22:08:04 - Kit: (good, I'll scan the crstals quickly, first by date. Anything from within the last few day gets a closer examination. maybe we can find some kind of clue on them, though as far as I know they might just be standard ádministrative stuff)
22:08:30 - Kraiger: I'll carefully open the sliding panel
22:08:51 - Kit: (to men) OK, Is there a room down here where all can be gathered?
22:09:39 - Methuslah: The sliding panel opens to reveal a standard comm unit, visual readout - with a palmprint ID control.
22:11:12 - Kraiger: I'll try to boot up the comm - and see what happens with my palm print...
22:11:47 - Methuslah: 'PALMPRINT IDENT REJECTED"
22:13:00 - Kraiger: Kit - what are the chances of borrowing the colonels hand for a minute or two - this comm unit is locked...
22:13:58 - Kit: The Colonel is in deep freeze. You cannot borrow his hand now, and I would advise against waking him without some neurological experts on hand. We will have to override the safety some other way.
22:14:34 - Kraiger: Well, you seem to be the best at that sort of thing - want to try it?
22:14:55 - Kit: (Still scanning teh crystals)
22:15:13 - Methuslah: Do you mind if we call it a night here - I'm getting sleepy.
22:15:32 - Kit: OK, I can try, can you scan these data crystals? They might contain useful information.
22:15:49 - Kit: Hmm, OK with me, but where is the cliffhanger?
22:15:59 - Kraiger: Sounds like a good place to break....
22:17:10 - Methuslah: I'll do a good one next week.
22:17:33 - Kit: Next weekend I'll be away on a con, but we should be back by sunday evening, barring unforseen problems like the car breaking down or somesuch.
22:17:48 - Kit: So we can play.
22:17:55 - Kraiger: I may be a little late next week, and not sure if I'll be able to make it the week afterwards...
22:18:03 - Kit: Say what is with Steward?
22:18:17 - Kraiger: I haven't heard from him in a while...
22:18:21 - Methuslah: OK, great. I don't know, haven't heard from him in a while.
22:19:23 - Kraiger: See you next week...
22:19:23 - Kit: Maybe you should mail him and tell him his character is now unfrozen and we may need him?
22:20:03 - Methuslah: Might be a good idea. See you next week, everyone!
22:20:12 - Kit: BTW any new players on the horizont? We could use another player or two.
22:20:35 - Methuslah: I know what you mean - I'l start looking around, maybe post on the Traveller message boards.
22:20:37 - Kit: Though the terrible duo seems to be doing fine for now.
22:20:43 - Kraiger just logged off.
22:20:59 - Kit: One to blow up things, one to fix them 
22:21:14 - Methuslah: 
22:21:18 - Methuslah: Bye!