Imperial Fringe Online Game Chat Session Log February 15th 2004
21:03:38 - Methuslah: OK - let's get started. The temperature is still rising - now approaching freezing point. You can feel the heat now, even through your suit.
21:06:16 - Kraiger: "Kit, did you press a "preheat" buttton or something down there?"
21:10:02 - Kit: nope, If I recall correctly, the only thing we actually turned off and not on again (or vice versa) was the energy drain effect and the observing screen. (Correct me gm, if I am mistaken)
21:10:50 - Kit: any news of the fleet? (If I am correct, Vance should be on his way to the ship to try to contact them)
21:11:29 - Methuslah: Correct - that is all you did. Nothing from Vance yet.
21:13:08 - Kraiger: Kit, this can't be good - it would take a massive energy buildup to heat the planet that quickly - I think it may be time to get out of here..."
21:14:31 - Kit: I'm not sure if it is the whole planet, anyway, Im coming out now, I'm not feelingtoo well down here. I hope we have shut off sufficient energy to stop the lights.
21:15:17 - Kraiger: OK, make it quick (Meth, is my armour powered up OK now?)
21:16:43 - Methuslah: The armour is powered up.
21:16:57 - Kit: OK, with a last look at the screen (still not moving I hope) I start to climb up the shafts.
21:18:03 - Methuslah: (STill not moving). I'll need three 6 or more for you to get up the shafts.
21:18:11 - Kit: (Now I remember, there was the indicator of the core tap that started to climb after we shut off the screen. maybe the energy is now building up here, because it isn't going out to power the lights any longer.)
21:18:21 - Kit: 2D6: 6
21:18:26 - Kit: 2D6: 7
21:18:32 - Kit: 2D6: 9
21:19:05 - Kit: huff, huff, not exactly my idea of a comfortable climb.
21:19:18 - Methuslah: You bolt up the tubes in a flash, popping out onto the surface. YOu hear Vance over the radio.
21:19:29 - Methuslah: "Nothing from the fleet, but the ship's ready for takeoff."
21:19:47 - Kit: If that assumption is correct, maybe the whole facility will blow up. At least that way it won't be a threat to anybody any more.
21:20:12 - Kraiger: "well, what say we do a little lap of the planet in the ship? Just until things settle down here again?"
21:20:15 - Kit: Ready for takeoff yes, but did the energy transfer magically fill up our fuel cells?
21:21:05 - Kit: though it is a pity we cannot find out more about it. we might have found a way to revive those koed by the lights.
21:21:35 - Methuslah: Afraid not. YOu can take off, but will be unable to make orbit.
21:21:51 - Kit: maybe the experts in the fleet can figure out something from the photos i took of the writings.
21:22:40 - Kit: Well, then we should at least try to get clear of this area. I dont want to get caught in the blast of a new volcano
21:23:55 - Methuslah: The tempeatures is still rising. THe ship sensors indicate that the temperature rise is local, not planetary - and is largest around one specific point.
21:24:47 - Kit: lemme guess, the pyramid?
21:25:27 - Kit: getting away for a sufficient distance should at least put us in a safe zone.
21:26:07 - Methuslah: Correct. Specifically, the base of the pyramid. Indications are that the energy surge is rising, rapidly.
21:26:45 - Kit: Maybe we can find some ice on the planet to fuel up. Otherwise we'll have to hope that we can eventually reach the fleet. (Checking my watch, how much time left until the commander plans to self destruct the carrier if he doesnt hear from us?)
21:27:53 - Methuslah: One hour, eight minutes.
21:28:11 - Kit: wild idea: (again) Assuming there will be some kind of explosion/energy expulsion from the pyramid, could we use the blast to shuffle us out into orbit? Assuming some fancy maneuvering of course, or is thie totally unfathomable?
21:28:33 - Kit: (One Hour eight minutes, well, time for at least three cliffhangers 
)
21:28:57 - Methuslah: Just possible, but risky as hell.
21:29:40 - Kit: (If I don't tell Kraiger, hell not freak out in fear 
)
21:30:55 - Kit: Vance, you are the prospector. Judging from what you have seen of this planet so far, do you think there is a chance we can find suitable fuel here?
21:31:21 - Kraiger: 
21:32:01 - Kit: Well, vance, Kraiget, I have an Idea how we might get into orbit without sufficient fuel. It would be kinda risky though.
21:32:37 - Methuslah: "Possible, almsot probable - but nmot within the deadline.
21:33:29 - Kit: we may have a better chance of contacting the fleet away from this planet.
21:34:24 - Kit: it may also be possible, that if the pyramid blows up, the comm lines will be clear again.
21:34:46 - Methuslah: "I don't think we can go exoatmospheric with the fuel wie have."
21:35:07 - Kit: But maybe the pyramid won't blow, maybe it'll take off into space, sink down into the core or do something totally unexpected (like transforming into light)
21:35:50 - Kit: Yes, that is where my idea comes in. Risky, as I said. And we will have to decide fast, before there is any kind of explosion of the pyramid.
21:36:41 - Methuslah: Temperautre rising again.
21:37:19 - Kit: (any estimate on when the core tap indicator is going to reach its peak?)
21:37:48 - Kit: (Readying the ship for takeoff)
21:38:46 - Kraiger: "Just get me off this rock in one piece Kit..."
21:39:07 - Methuslah: No data to make a guess.
21:39:12 - Kit: Does that mean you want the risky option?
21:39:15 - Methuslah: Ship is ready for launch.
21:40:57 - Kit: (starting to calculate the vectors for two possible scenarios: 1. the pyramid explodes and there is a kind of shockwave that we can ride to escape orbit. 2. the pyramid itself launches, in that case I want to piggyback on it into orbit.
21:41:25 - Kit:
21:42:03 - Kit: I'll shut off all cloaking devices and rerout the computer capacity for the necessary navigational jobs, if I can)
21:42:57 - Kit: 8Is there a gas giant in this planet that we might reach for refueling once we manage to escape orbit (even if we go slowly)?
21:43:33 - Methuslah: I'm afraid you'll have to ride them both yourself - the computer has not data to base a course for either. Navigation will be amnual - and you cannot fly or navigate. Kraiger, it'll be up to you.
21:43:36 - Kit: (good old scout thinking: hope for help but cover all options that you have to help yourselves, should help not arrive)
21:44:18 - Kit: Kraiger, what do you think? Can you handle nav?
21:45:02 - Kit: I can give you a few good leads to work on, if that helps, but I'll have to concentrate on piloting this baby. It is rather unwieldy after all?
21:45:05 - Methuslah: Power eading just spiked, and dipped slightly. Bulinding still, above previous spike> It now appears to be getting erratic>
21:45:55 - Kit: We don't have much time, try for the risky option or get stuck on this planet and just hope for the fleet?
21:46:08 - Kraiger: "Well, I'll give it a try..."
21:46:23 - Methuslah: What relevant skill would you use?
21:46:28 - Kit: OK, Vance what about you?
21:46:59 - Kraiger: Hmmm - computer-0?
21:47:05 - Methuslah: "No help I fear."
21:47:08 - Kit: (I think Vance may be able to help out with Jack of all Trades)
21:48:07 - Methuslah: Computer will do. Another power spike - this one more dramatic. Looks like the next will be the big one. Kit - you want to be airborune when it happens?
21:49:10 - Kit: OK, everyone ready, we are going for the wild ride (rising and approaching a suitable position to cathc the blast the best possible way).
21:49:57 - Kit: Kraiger, vance, ready. Kraiger, keep the nev data up and be ready for a bit of gs. I dont know how rough the ride will be.
21:50:27 - Kit: (can we launch a small sender with our collective data to be found by the fleet, should we not make it?)
21:50:29 - Methuslah: Pilot roll - 4 or more for safe launch.
21:50:48 - Kit: (something like jettinosing the black box or somesuch?)
21:51:10 - Kit: 2D6: 7
21:54:08 - Kit:
21:54:58 - Methuslah: Not into orbit, but you could ditch a recorder on the surface. YOu have taken off, and are hoving near the pyramid.
21:55:19 - Kit: (leaving it on the surface was the idea. I'll do that)
21:56:12 - Kit: Ok, now baby, don't go down on me, this is gonna be the ride of your life, but if you will be with me, we can all get out of this fine.
21:56:26 - Methuslah: It is ditched.
21:56:33 - Methuslah: Power beginning to build again.
21:56:50 - Kit: (Ready for action, keeping a close look on the scanner readings to catch the right blast)
21:57:03 - Kit: Here we go
21:57:37 - Kit: Pray to your gods, Vance, we can use all the help we can get.
21:58:45 - Methuslah: You see a bliding light from the top of the pyramid. It is as if a safety valves has been blown out - a pillar of light floods out. YOu can feel the shockwave as you begin to life.
21:58:56 - Methuslah: Kraiger- I'll need an 8 or more for a course.
21:59:24 - Kit: (trying to catch the shockwave just right)
22:00:10 - Kit: (maybe Vance can assist him?)
22:00:13 - Kraiger: "Um, this button?" 2D6: 7
22:00:50 - Methuslah: Not enough. Kit, that'll make yours more difficult. Eight or more to ride thw wave up.
22:01:16 - Kit: Here we go 2D6: 11
22:01:47 - Kit: Good baby
22:02:21 - Kit: (I messed up on the way down, easy to see where I prefer to be eh? 
)
22:03:04 - Methuslah: You use no fuel at all in the initial boost. COmputer indicates that you'll have enough thrust to reach orbit, if you can keep it under control.
22:03:27 - Kit: I'll do my very best
22:04:10 - Kit: If you want another Roll: 2D6: 8
22:04:15 - Methuslah: Now, it'll take five rolls to reach orbit. Kraiger, you can try to make Kit's job easier with successful rolls - nine or more. If you make them, Kit will have to roll six or more; otherwise she will have to roll nine or more. YOu have enough fuel to fail two rolls and still reach a low orbit.
22:05:18 - Kit: 2D6: 9
22:05:29 - Kit: 2D6: 10
22:05:29 - Kraiger: "I think I understand..." 2D6: 8
22:05:40 - Kraiger: "OK, and..." 2D6: 12
22:05:57 - Kraiger: "Hey Kit, this isn't so hard!"
22:06:01 - Kit: 2D6: 7
22:06:23 - Kit: You're figuring it out, good job, I'll make you a spaceman yet!
22:06:32 - Kraiger: R2d6
22:06:52 - Kit: 5th roll 2D6: 9
22:07:02 - Kraiger: "And " 2D6: 5
22:07:06 - Kit: (small caps r)
22:07:34 - Kraiger: "Oh, I see... " 2D6: 9
22:11:07 - Kraiger: (Opening my eyes) Did we make it?
22:11:21 - Methuslah: You are settling into orbit. If I've worked it out right, you used no fuel riding up, juust a little from the thrusters. YOu can see a bright beam of light below. Just as suddenly, it winks out.
22:12:33 - Kit: OK, we made it, and very well at that. Well, that was certainly a new maneuver, even for me. Save the navlogs or nobody is going to believe this.
22:12:57 - Kit: Vance, can you check the sensors? Anything on the pyramid?
22:13:52 - Kit: Kraiger, you can start as navigator on teh bucephalos if you want.
22:14:54 - Kit: Once again trying to caontact the fleet. Sending out a report of what we found and did, even if we don't get an aswer.
22:15:30 - Methuslah just entered this channel
22:16:06 - Methuslah: A faint message from the fleet, but you cannot hear it - there is a lot of static on the line, probably solar.
22:16:19 - Methuslah: "Power's gone. Temperature dropping back to planetary norm."
22:16:37 - Kit: Do our sensors show anything about the pyramid?
22:17:41 - Kit: Do we have enough fuel to maneuver to a position where the solar static is not so strong? (behind the plenet for example, or accelerating (slowly) towards the fleet?
22:18:02 - Kit: Any Kind of energy reading down on the Planet at all?
22:18:17 - Kit: Like that we picked up before we found the pyramid?
22:19:29 - Kit: Any indication of strange "lights" out in space on the long range scanners?
22:19:31 - Methuslah: "A very faint reading - coming from the pyramid."
22:20:13 - Methuslah: You will enter the shawdo naturally in a few minutes. You haven't anything like the few to break orbit. You can hold orbit for three hours - but if you don't go down again in one you will not have the fuel for a controlled re-entry.
22:20:22 - Kit: rising or falling? (ie, still powering up something or slowly cooling down after the explosion)
22:21:07 - Kit: OK, so we have one hour to contact the fleet. lets get to it, concentrate on comms, as soon as we enter the shadow.
22:22:14 - Kit: Starting to broadcast our collected data over all available comm channels again and again, so that someone might be able to pick it up.
22:24:00 - Kit: Also scanning for ice or other sorces of fuel on the planet to locate a suitable landing place)
22:24:05 - Methuslah: Level.
22:25:18 - Kit: So there is still some kind of energy source down there. I guess we'll have to take a look at it later. For now I hope we have at least shut the lights off. Vance, can you locate a source for fuel on the planet?
22:25:40 - Methuslah: Some ice at the south polar cap - not sure whether it is water ice or dry ice. Only way to find out...is to go and look.
22:26:57 - Kit: ok, calculating a landing vector, that will deposit us at the pole, and keep us in orbit as long as possible. Still trying to contact the fleet.
22:27:48 - Methuslah: No problem. Vector is standard and the computer has managed it. You are now in the shadow of the planet. Reception is impossible, you some of your signal appears to have gotten through.
22:29:21 - Kit: Is there any way to shoot a message probe towards the fleet form here? Otherwise we'll keep braodcasting our data as loud and as widespread as possible, so that the fleet can receive it.
22:30:53 - Kit: Kraiger? you still with me? What about my job offer?
22:32:07 - Kit: The data send out will include all my pictures from the pyramid.
22:32:42 - Kraiger: "Temporary post only Kit - I like to keep my boots on terra firma..."
22:33:33 - Kit: And then you applied for this job?
22:33:41 - Methuslah: YOu could detach a probe, leave it in orbit as a comsat.
22:34:00 - Kit: (ok, the comsat idea is good, I'll do just that)
22:34:27 - Kit: Besides, the Bucephalos is as good as any firm ground.
22:36:35 - Methuslah: Ready to de-burn?
22:36:52 - Kit: While the comm is busy, I dig out the canteen with coffee, and take a deep gulp from it. "A bit cold, but good, you want some Kraiger, vance?"
22:38:24 - Kraiger: "Sure"
22:38:41 - Kit: (de burn? you mean descend to the pole? we'll do that as soon as the time we have in orbit with enough left foe a safe entry has elapsed. Still hoping for some message from the fleet or any kind of sensor reading, either from the pyramid or form further out in space.
22:39:31 - Kit: Here, have some. When this war and the job is over, I'll have to invite you to my home to sample the true Regina beans.
22:40:33 - Kit: Best beans in the galaxy! One thing I really miss.
22:40:54 - Methuslah: Thirty minutes until fuel dips below minimum.
22:41:48 - Kit: We'll leave the comsat shortly before we go down, just in case we have some new data to include up to that point.
22:44:19 - Kit: (while drinking coffe) well Kraiger, how does it feel to have just participated in a maneuver that most pilots would believe impossible?
22:45:02 - Kraiger: "Feels like another day with you, Kit."
22:45:43 - Kit: (grinning) Your life must have been boring before you met me. Aren't you glad you did?
22:48:51 - Methuslah: While you are talking, you hear an alarm - something has activated your short-range sensor alarm...
22:48:59 - Methuslah: MOre, next week, on the amazing adventures of....
22:49:44 - Kit: oh well, i somehow expected that.
22:49:58 - Kit: The amazing adventures of who?
22:50:02 - Kraiger: Hooray, cliff hanger!"
22:50:16 - Kit: I think it is time we find a good sounding name for our team.