New chat room entered at 5/28/2007 7:35:15 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw052807.”
Thematrian1 (7:35:41 PM): welcome
Umbrafer (7:36:00 PM): j0
Dragcrell (7:36:05 PM): *waves*
circlmastr (7:36:21 PM): Urg
MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 (7:36:37 PM): urg?
circlmastr (7:36:48 PM): Mein stomach
MilesMk1 (7:37:03 PM): ...my hands are shriveled claws.
MilesMk1 (7:37:21 PM): I guess there's lots of pain going around.
MilesMk1 (7:38:30 PM): (I ended up playing 2 hours of Fight Night - Round 3 with a 15 year old...)
Dragcrell (7:38:33 PM): mmm not hurting but eh -_-
circlmastr (7:38:44 PM): (That's a fun game)
Thematrian1 (7:39:12 PM): (We have that at the office. I've only played it once, with some bank manager we had at a party)
MilesMk1 (7:39:59 PM): (It's a great game. And I actually feel pretty good that at 29, I still have it in me to beat the snot out of the little brat, but man, do my thumbs and index fingers hate me...::))
MilesMk1 (7:40:38 PM): So, are we all dead yet?
Dragcrell (7:40:51 PM): (eh I just mush ramdome bottons on them types of games can make for some rather intresting moments tho)
Thematrian1 (7:41:49 PM): no, that takes a few rounds, even in a Halon-ful environment
Umbrafer (7:42:25 PM): (Who won, you or the bank manager?
Umbrafer (7:42:27 PM): *)
Thematrian1 (7:43:41 PM): (I did, but then he was 60+, not 29. Big boxing fan, though. And my thumbs also hurt like hell)
Thematrian1 (7:43:43 PM): Anyway
Thematrian1 (7:45:13 PM): you were still in combat, having managed to trip the fire safety cicuits again
Thematrian1 (7:46:43 PM): you can hear gunfire from downstairs, but it's not hitting anyone. Actions?
MilesMk1 (7:46:54 PM): We're off initiative?
Thematrian1 (7:47:15 PM): yes
Thematrian1 (7:47:17 PM): if you want to try to shoot the bugs some more, you can go back on
MilesMk1 (7:47:41 PM): Blake is going to arm his IPE frag, gently roll it down the stairs (so as not to altert people with excessive bouncing) and retreat back up the stairs, helping anyone without respirators.
Dragcrell (7:48:09 PM): *just keeps moveing untill out of the gas*
Thematrian1 (7:48:39 PM): that'd be Todd and SC. SC was on the ceiling, though
MilesMk1 (7:48:51 PM): (I hear karma was awarded? I think I should check the forums.)
Dragcrell (7:49:05 PM): (mmmm odd thout I had isnt Halon heaver then air and there for would "sink" )
Thematrian1 (7:49:14 PM): (yes, you should)
Thematrian1 (7:49:18 PM): (Yes, it is)
Umbrafer (7:49:37 PM): (Heavy enough that it's difficult to exhale.
Umbrafer (7:49:38 PM): *)
Dragcrell (7:50:35 PM): (just cheking there for the uper cornors of the stairwell well be the last to be filled yes? and the bottome of the stairwells the first to be filled?)
Thematrian1 (7:51:05 PM): (it's falling from the ceiling, so not quite, but the corners and edges are pretty clear)
Dragcrell (7:51:55 PM): (ah ok)
Thematrian1 (7:52:34 PM): You hear Blake's grenade go off. You've traveled up half a flight of stairs, and are almost out of the fire zone
Thematrian1 (7:54:02 PM): there's some more gunfire from down below, but it's no closer than before
Thematrian1 (7:56:12 PM): and you're out of the Halon Zone. Would SC and Todd both roll Body, please?
MilesMk1 (7:56:21 PM): Holy crap, there's something to be said for having huge chunks of karma to spend.
Thematrian1 (7:56:28 PM): heh
Thematrian1 (7:56:30 PM): yeah
MilesMk1 (7:56:44 PM): I'm making Blake a master of... the flying guillotine!
Dragcrell (7:56:44 PM): Dragcrell rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 6 4 5 3 4
circlmastr (7:56:46 PM): Lemme look up Body...
Dragcrell (7:56:57 PM): Dragcrell rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
circlmastr (7:56:59 PM): circlmastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 4 2 6 3
circlmastr (7:57:01 PM): circlmastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Dragcrell (7:57:04 PM): Dragcrell rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
circlmastr (7:57:06 PM): (10, 4)
Dragcrell (7:57:48 PM): (17,4,5,4 :P )
Thematrian1 (7:57:57 PM): (Don't forget to Dikote it)
MilesMk1 (7:58:56 PM): *loads a fresh clip into his rifle and takes a defensive postion covering the stairs* (eventually, when he gets there)
Thematrian1 (7:59:34 PM): Neither Todd nor SC inhaled any halon in the short time they were inside. Well done.
Thematrian1 (8:00:03 PM): What're you two doing once you're out?
Thematrian1 (8:00:08 PM): Also, Blake, what're you down to ammo-wise?
MilesMk1 (8:00:18 PM): Let me check.
Dragcrell (8:00:37 PM): *scan the area for any other nastys*
MilesMk1 (8:01:07 PM): By my count, I seem to have gone through about 2/5 out of my 6 ammo clips for the AK.
MilesMk1 (8:02:28 PM): (I resupplied from my drone before we went back up.)
Thematrian1 (8:02:45 PM): (Check. Also, whose drone? ;-))
MilesMk1 (8:02:59 PM): (Details...)
Thematrian1 (8:03:02 PM): Todd, SC, you're out of the halon. What are you doing?
Thematrian1 (8:03:16 PM): Meanwhile, Alex, the Jury has managed to refocus its attention on you and your message.
circlmastr (8:03:55 PM): Moving back safely behind Blake and Accident
Dragcrell (8:04:35 PM): *just scans the area for any nastys the others can't see*
Thematrian1 (8:05:24 PM): perception
Dragcrell (8:05:33 PM): Dragcrell rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 3 2 6 3 4
Dragcrell (8:05:38 PM): Dragcrell rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (8:05:59 PM): *Faces them*
Umbrafer (8:07:12 PM): The Jury is all-male?
Thematrian1 (8:07:22 PM): yes
Umbrafer (8:08:12 PM): Man, I wonder if there's a way to figure out whether the kids know any of them without revealing that I've located them.
Thematrian1 (8:08:33 PM): revealing that you've located who?
Umbrafer (8:09:03 PM): The Jury, or the members thereof.
Thematrian1 (8:09:16 PM): ah
Umbrafer (8:09:41 PM): (It's easier to quietly eliminate them if the kids never know we met)
Thematrian1 (8:10:15 PM): (...not the angle I'd considered, and I'm not sure I'd consider either a machine gun or a ramming spree to be quiet elimination, but ok)
Dragcrell (8:11:29 PM): #the bugs humming is not getting closerrr#
circlmastr (8:12:14 PM): #Is that good or bad?#
MilesMk1 (8:13:13 PM): #Depends on whether now they'll try some new, sneakier angle.#
MilesMk1 (8:13:28 PM): "Can you people hold the fort while I finish working on the helicopter?"
Dragcrell (8:14:13 PM): #the one with the glow had a verrry powerrrfull spell on it#
MilesMk1 (8:16:10 PM): #Yeah, well, I guess he'll die last, then.#
MilesMk1 (8:16:39 PM): #Todd, are you hurt?#
MilesMk1 (8:16:46 PM): *goes over to try First Aid*
circlmastr (8:17:06 PM): #Yeah.#
MilesMk1 (8:17:13 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 5 6-sided dice: 4 3 1 5 3
MilesMk1 (8:17:16 PM): Damn.
Thematrian1 (8:18:29 PM): the TN is...more than that, yeah
Umbrafer (8:20:42 PM): How badly is Todd hurt?
Thematrian1 (8:20:45 PM): that eats another minute or so. Nothing tries to eat your face. Accident has disappeared up the stairs.
MilesMk1 (8:21:38 PM): Didn't we go all the way up the stairs?
circlmastr (8:21:49 PM): S wound.
Thematrian1 (8:21:54 PM): sub into the hangar
MilesMk1 (8:22:11 PM): Can I try once more, at +2 TN?
Dragcrell (8:22:59 PM): *follows Accident then keeps a eye out around the hangar once there*
Thematrian1 (8:23:15 PM): Blake: sure
MilesMk1 (8:23:26 PM): (Also, what kind of Knowledge skill might be appropriate to reflect the odd bits of magical knowhow I've been picking up?)
MilesMk1 (8:23:52 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 5 6-sided dice: 3 2 4 2 1
MilesMk1 (8:23:55 PM): Shit...
MilesMk1 (8:24:09 PM): Ok, I guess Todd needs to sit somewhere quiet.
MilesMk1 (8:24:18 PM): Is there any debris on the stairs?
Thematrian1 (8:24:21 PM): (Knowledge: Magic is pretty standard. K: Spirits would also be reasonable, given everything you've seen lately)
Thematrian1 (8:24:31 PM): Not this high up.
MilesMk1 (8:24:36 PM): Mhmm.
MilesMk1 (8:25:39 PM): Ok, I go back to trying to get the chopper running.
Thematrian1 (8:26:03 PM): IIRC you had about fifteen minutes to go on that; I'll let you know when that's done unless something else exciting happens.
MilesMk1 (8:26:53 PM): (If anyone else would like to do something useful, feel free, I've reached the point where I just want to get out of here.)
Thematrian1 (8:27:09 PM): A fair question. Anybody?
Dragcrell (8:27:50 PM): (not that wold be of help to the situations)
Umbrafer (8:28:09 PM): Well, I'm still waiting for the Jury to talk to me
Thematrian1 (8:29:14 PM): Ah, true. Judging by the shuffling that's going on in their ranks, they have a spokesman who suddenly doesn't want the job.
Thematrian1 (8:29:27 PM): Best guess: he's spotted your armor
Umbrafer (8:29:45 PM): :)
Umbrafer (8:30:10 PM): Well, if they don't sort things out in about 30 seconds, I'll fade out and then back in the "Who are you?
Umbrafer (8:30:14 PM): " part of the message
Thematrian1 (8:30:21 PM): After thirty awkward seconds, he settles on "You're not from around here, are you?"
Umbrafer (8:31:05 PM): Fade in: "From the city. I worked outside the Core."
Umbrafer (8:31:49 PM): I'm not replacing the "Who are you" portion, just the part where I announce my fake name.
Thematrian1 (8:32:07 PM): heh. What was your fake fake name again?
Umbrafer (8:32:12 PM): Robin.
Thematrian1 (8:32:32 PM): ah yes
Thematrian1 (8:33:25 PM): "We worked here. We're not - we ain't leaving. We're the neighborhood watch." He's getting his rhythm back.
Umbrafer (8:34:10 PM): All fade out, fade in: "Do you know what's going on?"
Umbrafer (8:34:53 PM): I'm also going to snag pictures of them. I don't recognize any of them, right?
Thematrian1 (8:35:02 PM): No.
Thematrian1 (8:35:36 PM): "People're turning into bugs, that's what's happening! They lose their minds, turn into monsters."
circlmastr has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:37:54 PM): Fade out, fade in. "They're tough. Rifles might not do it. Where are you headed?"
Thematrian1 (8:38:41 PM): "We're not headed anywhere. We live here, in the Core."
Thematrian1 has left the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

Umbrafer (8:39:22 PM): Fade out, fade in: "You're patrolling?"
Thematrian1 (8:39:55 PM): "That's right." Unmistakable note of pride.
Umbrafer (8:40:35 PM): Out, in: "Do you have a radio?"
Thematrian1 (8:43:05 PM): Beat, then Juror #8 points to one of his pals, who looks unhappy to be so singled out.
Thematrian1 (8:43:34 PM): "And it's transmitting now. What're you doing here?"
Umbrafer (8:45:01 PM): Out, in: "If you run into trouble, hail channel [some channel]. If I'm in the area, I might be able to help." Brief pause, then fade everything out but the channel. In: "Getting some people I know out."
Thematrian1 (8:47:03 PM): Your offer throws them off balance. "You're a good, uh, man, Robin. Keep up the good work." And he walks out of your way, forcing his gang to follow.
Umbrafer (8:48:19 PM): I'm going to get a sensor lock on him, then wait for them to leave the area.
Umbrafer (8:48:22 PM): Umbrafer rolled 5 6-sided dice: 6 4 4 2 6
Umbrafer (8:48:26 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 1 1
Thematrian1 (8:49:20 PM): They walk down the street and turn the corner. You've locked him no trouble, though with big metal buildings everywhere you practically need LOS to hang onto it.
Thematrian1 (8:51:00 PM): Anything else?
Umbrafer (8:51:02 PM): Hmft. Well, if I lose it I lose it. I wait until they're either a few blocks away or I lose signal and head over towards where the other team's van is parked. Still avoiding LOS.
Umbrafer (8:51:05 PM): Then I wait.
Thematrian1 (8:51:29 PM): Check. The other team's van is still chilling in the driveway.
Thematrian1 (8:52:29 PM): Blake, you have crackzor'd some guy's helicopter. The DNA scanner has its guts hanging right down to the floor, but it will happily accept anyone as the owner of the copter.
MilesMk1 (8:53:17 PM): Ok... I'll try to power things up and get the autopilot online.
MilesMk1 (8:53:33 PM): #I think I got it. Everyone, get ready to get out of here. I hope.#
Umbrafer (8:54:32 PM): I spend some time getting a copy of all of the photos of the Jury that, as much as possible, only includes the faces.
Dragcrell (8:54:37 PM): #sounds good to me#
Umbrafer (8:54:47 PM): (That is, making a copy that has everything else cropped)
Thematrian1 (8:54:50 PM): (Right)
Thematrian1 (8:54:53 PM): It's not hard to do.
Thematrian1 (8:55:07 PM): The helicopter: "Good evening, Mr. Ventures"
Umbrafer (8:56:04 PM): At about this time, I turn to the kids. "Hey, the team found a file with some pictures in it. Do you recognize any of these people?"
Umbrafer (8:56:14 PM): I display the cropped photos on the monitor in the van.
MilesMk1 (8:56:49 PM): "Status?"
MilesMk1 (8:57:04 PM): *hoping we don't run into a voiceprint problem*
Thematrian1 (8:57:24 PM): "Fueled and ready."
Thematrian1 (8:57:30 PM): The voice is a soft female contralto.
MilesMk1 (9:00:03 PM): "Bring sensors online, please, and do a scan for threats."
MilesMk1 (9:00:14 PM): "Then prepare for takeoff"
Thematrian1 (9:00:39 PM): "Switching to voice control mode."
MilesMk1 (9:00:56 PM): #Ok, the helicopter seems to respond to voice commands, what do we do now? Alex, any ideas where we want to take this thing?#
Thematrian1 (9:01:00 PM): Wait, voice control mode? You've never heard of that, especially for a helicopter.
Umbrafer (9:01:38 PM): #Voice comm… what?#
Umbrafer (9:01:48 PM): (Any reaction from the kids?)
MilesMk1 (9:02:11 PM): *Blake decides not to look gift horses, etc...*
Thematrian1 (9:02:25 PM): The kids look over all the pictures carefully.
MilesMk1 (9:02:28 PM): #Well, either that or it's messing with me.#
Umbrafer (9:02:56 PM): #I think what we need, unless it's got a big "slave mode" button, is to put it down somewhere I can get at it."
Umbrafer (9:02:58 PM): "#
Thematrian1 (9:03:02 PM): After a whispered consultation, they finger a slight, brown haired guy. "He used to work with dad. We think."
Thematrian1 (9:04:12 PM): "I think his name's Richard" "Or Randy?" "R-something"
Umbrafer (9:04:55 PM): "Got it, thanks."
Umbrafer (9:06:36 PM): How's the street out in front of the tower?
Umbrafer (9:06:45 PM): Do I think a helicopter could put down on it easily?
Umbrafer (9:06:51 PM): #Ask it what its operational range is.#
Thematrian1 (9:08:28 PM): Hm. The street is wide enough for a helicopter, but they're notoriously tricky to land in tight conditions.
Thematrian1 (9:08:40 PM): It's hard to know whether the autopilot is up to it.
Umbrafer (9:09:38 PM): Hm. I'll hop into the Schattenauge and look around for someplace easier to land.
Thematrian1 (9:10:15 PM): street street street street...interesting fact about the Core, it doesn't seem to have any parking lots. At all
MilesMk1 (9:10:23 PM): "What's your current operational range, at maximum load?"
Thematrian1 (9:10:40 PM): The driveway up to the Ares tower has the nice property that the walls around it are trees and bushes and not hard plascrete.
Umbrafer (9:11:05 PM): Hm. That's something, at least.
MilesMk1 (9:11:20 PM): (Ok, I boosted my Willpower up to 9.)
MilesMk1 (9:11:34 PM): (I considered 10, but decided against it after all. For now. ;))
Thematrian1 (9:12:20 PM): "My maximum range, when fully loaded, is 300 kilometers"
MilesMk1 (9:12:41 PM): (My stats might change, I was updating things while dealing intermittently with some guests, so I'll have to check things over for errors.)
Thematrian1 (9:12:57 PM): (Alex: 300 km is not high for a helicopter)
Thematrian1 (9:13:07 PM): (No worries)
Umbrafer (9:14:57 PM): #300? Shit, that's down with the short-range utility helos.#
Umbrafer (9:15:44 PM): #Better than a Hughes, at least. Fully fueled or not, we're not going far with this thing.#
Umbrafer (9:18:03 PM): I'm going to hail the other Rigger whose name I forgot.
Thematrian1 (9:18:42 PM): Accident's rigger Axel?
Umbrafer (9:19:51 PM): Yeah. #Hey Axel, seen anyplace on the ground good enough for a helo autopilot to land?#
MilesMk1 (9:19:52 PM): #Armor and weapons weighing it down, perhaps?#
MilesMk1 (9:20:23 PM): "Status of weapon and countermeasure systems?"
MilesMk1 (9:21:42 PM): #Guys, are you ready to leave?#
Dragcrell (9:21:55 PM): #yes#
MilesMk1 (9:22:11 PM): (We seem to have lost Dave, but I assume he's more than ready to get onboard.)
MilesMk1 (9:22:27 PM): *sticks his head out* "Accident, you staying?!"
Thematrian1 (9:22:30 PM): "Doors unlocked. Chaff prepared. Machine gun fully loaded. ECCM operational. Tail bomb ready. Ablative armor fully stocked."
Thematrian1 (9:22:44 PM): (Yeah, Todd wants out in the worst way possible)
Umbrafer (9:23:05 PM): I… see.
MilesMk1 (9:23:21 PM): #Apparently, we have a tail bomb and ablative armor. In addition to the more usual things.#
MilesMk1 (9:23:37 PM): #I think that explains the range issue.#
Thematrian1 (9:24:03 PM): Meanwhile, the control panel has lit up, and is now displaying about a thousand incomprehensible status reports.
Thematrian1 (9:24:24 PM): Wait, no, that one you recognize: it's a stock ticker.
MilesMk1 (9:24:24 PM): I assume it's been preparing for takeoff?
Thematrian1 (9:24:38 PM): The engine is whirring, but the rotors aren't spinning yet.
MilesMk1 (9:25:18 PM): "Do you have a map of acceptable emergency loading sites in memory? If so, display the ones in a 10km radius from here on the main screen."
Umbrafer (9:25:42 PM): #…Tail bomb? Was this an executive joyride helo or a black ops assault helo?#
Thematrian1 (9:25:44 PM): "We are presently located at one such location."
Thematrian1 (9:26:09 PM): No reason it couldn't be both.
MilesMk1 (9:26:23 PM): "Display 20 additional ones, in order of increasing distance from our current location, please."
Thematrian1 (9:28:19 PM): The first three are all roof sites. #4 is a softball field in the north end of the Core.
MilesMk1 (9:28:47 PM): #Alex, we have a softball field at *coordinates*.#
MilesMk1 (9:29:13 PM): #Do we have everything we wanted loaded up?#
MilesMk1 (9:29:34 PM): (Did we ever get all the mobile drones - not counting the VTOLs on the roof - loaded up?)
Umbrafer (9:29:54 PM): (No, the Big Guy is still sitting, and the Behemoth is still downstairs.
Umbrafer (9:30:05 PM): (IIRC we got the bike to ground level, though)
Thematrian1 (9:30:09 PM): (The Behemoth is still on his side in the basement, and - yeah, the Big Guy is still hanging out. Had you even located it?)
Umbrafer (9:32:11 PM): (Yeah, it was the first drone we met in person)
Umbrafer (9:32:18 PM): (It's waiting on the stairwell)
Thematrian1 (9:32:35 PM): (ah yes)
MilesMk1 (9:32:53 PM): #Just let me know when, then, but I'm getting out at first sign of more trouble.#
MilesMk1 (9:33:20 PM): Ooh, right, I almost forgot - if I didn't say it before, I make sure I load the case with the scrip / head that I found and actually lugged up here.
Umbrafer (9:33:28 PM): #Let's get the people out, then we can rescue the drones.#
MilesMk1 (9:33:36 PM): *closes the doors*
Thematrian1 (9:33:42 PM): Ok, you have the head.
MilesMk1 (9:33:53 PM): #Well, SC, Todd and I are ready to go. Who else are we getting out?#
Thematrian1 (9:34:19 PM): Accident didn't even answer you.
Umbrafer (9:35:01 PM): Accident didn't, or Axel didn't?
Thematrian1 (9:35:45 PM): Ah, I see, you did hail him. "Alex, what's up?" Accident did not answer Blake.
Umbrafer (9:36:32 PM): #Know anywhere safe nearby for a helo to put down on autopilot? We've got a ball field, but it's a little far..#
MilesMk1 (9:36:33 PM): Ok, I don't try to contact him again.
Thematrian1 (9:37:04 PM): #What kind of autopilot?#
Umbrafer (9:38:16 PM): #I don't know the model. It takes voice command, but that could be a separate module.# @Blake: #Is there a model number for the audiopilot?#
MilesMk1 (9:38:43 PM): "Display model number for the autopilot programming, please."
MilesMk1 (9:38:49 PM): *relays the info to Alex*
Umbrafer (9:40:55 PM): *Re-relays, as appropriate*
Thematrian1 (9:40:56 PM): "I am autopilot model Appellia, number 0000000003"
MilesMk1 (9:41:38 PM): *asks again, this time about the hardware*
Thematrian1 (9:42:30 PM): "I am built on CHS Pele model, serial 5489054038-A88-4389-U0U
Umbrafer (9:42:41 PM): *Re-relays*
MilesMk1 (9:42:41 PM): *relays*
Thematrian1 (9:43:02 PM): #Pele model? I've never heard of any of this drek.#
Umbrafer (9:43:28 PM): Rolling Autopilot R&D
Umbrafer (9:43:30 PM): Umbrafer rolled 3 6-sided dice: 2 4 6
Umbrafer (9:43:34 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
Umbrafer (9:43:40 PM): 5, 2, 0
Umbrafer (9:43:52 PM): (Almost forgot I had that skill)
Thematrian1 (9:45:10 PM): Hm. That's a nicely specific knowledge skill. You get this: Pele is a hardware configuration specification for vehicle autopilot systems (like a 2000-era graphics card, just optimized toward a different purpose). Ares created it,
Thematrian1 (9:45:37 PM): and includes in their highest-end drones and aircraft.
Umbrafer (9:46:16 PM): #I've heard of the hardware, at least. It's high-end.#
Umbrafer (9:48:00 PM): How far is the field?
Thematrian1 (9:48:27 PM): Once all passengers are on board and the doors are closed, the rotors start to spin. The roof of the hangar starts to retract.
Thematrian1 (9:49:34 PM): The field is two miles east, give or take.
Thematrian1 (9:50:34 PM): "We can take off whenever you're ready, Mr. Ventures"
Umbrafer (9:50:51 PM): @B: #Grab everyone who's coming with you. We'll meet up, then come back for the drones.#
MilesMk1 (9:51:02 PM): #All right.#
MilesMk1 (9:51:42 PM): #By the way, does the name "Ventures" mean anything to you?#
MilesMk1 (9:51:48 PM): *straps iin*
Umbrafer (9:51:55 PM): Have I heard it?
Thematrian1 (9:52:10 PM): Hm. Roll Intelligence orAres-related knowledge
MilesMk1 (9:52:41 PM): "Take off. Keep stealthy."
Thematrian1 (9:53:28 PM): Up she goes. Have you ever ridden in a helicopter before?
MilesMk1 (9:53:47 PM): Yes.
MilesMk1 (9:53:55 PM): Wait, me or Blake?
Thematrian1 (9:54:04 PM): Blake.
Umbrafer (9:54:15 PM): Umbrafer rolled 9 6-sided dice: 6 2 4 3 3 5 2 2 3
Umbrafer (9:54:19 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
MilesMk1 (9:54:29 PM): Yes, mostly during his merc work in Germany.
Umbrafer (9:54:32 PM): 7, 3, 2, 1s.
Umbrafer (9:54:38 PM): (That was INT)
Umbrafer (9:54:47 PM): (So presumably 3)
Thematrian1 (9:54:50 PM): There's a Gavilan Ventures who owns a bunch of Ares. 10, 15 percent?
Umbrafer (9:55:15 PM): #There's a Ventures who is a big exec. Probably his ride.#
MilesMk1 (9:55:39 PM): #Well, hopefully, he'll never know...#
Thematrian1 (9:55:41 PM): Deep Question of the Day: if Gavilan Ventures' helicopter is here, where is he?
Thematrian1 (9:56:44 PM): Anyhoo, you're in the air, maybe 50 meters above the roof of the Tower.
MilesMk1 (9:56:44 PM): Well, we'll pull up some publicity photos and have a look at the head, just in case, but other than that, we have no way of telling.
Dragcrell (9:56:51 PM): ^_^b well theres the closet, the pool, the case.......
Umbrafer (9:57:09 PM): The part-bug insects
MilesMk1 (9:58:47 PM): You're still here? My AIM claims you logged off, Heath.
Dragcrell (9:58:55 PM): ay
Dragcrell (9:59:16 PM): hmmmm
Thematrian1 (9:59:38 PM): What a crappy piece of software this is. But yes, there are a number of explanations for his absence
Dragcrell (10:00:40 PM): *hangs on milidly unamused by the ride*
Dragcrell (10:02:28 PM): (ping)
Thematrian1 (10:03:07 PM): (pong)
Thematrian1 (10:03:23 PM): So you're up.
Dragcrell (10:03:35 PM): (got a odd deal about the there servers)
Dragcrell (10:03:55 PM): (and ya been here and yet not I gues)
Dragcrell (10:04:39 PM): (and haveing hellish lag it appers...........)
Dragcrell (10:05:08 PM): (let me restart the stupid thaing)
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Thematrian1 (10:05:16 PM): Directing your new gunship to fly to the softball field?
MilesMk1 (10:05:31 PM): Yeah.
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Dragcrell (10:06:44 PM): (ok now maby I can see what is what lol)
Umbrafer (10:07:13 PM): Did Accident come with you?
Thematrian1 (10:07:15 PM): No
Umbrafer (10:07:28 PM): Did anyone figure out where he was?
Thematrian1 (10:07:43 PM): He wasn't in the hangar.
Umbrafer (10:07:58 PM): Is he near any of my drones?
Thematrian1 (10:08:23 PM): No.
Thematrian1 (10:10:09 PM): Alex, are you following the helicopter or what?
Umbrafer (10:10:12 PM): @Accident: #Hey, we're going to pull people off the roof with the helo, then regroup. You coming?#
Umbrafer (10:10:29 PM): Oh, he's already left. Ok, I'm following.
Thematrian1 (10:10:42 PM): #No need.#
Umbrafer (10:11:01 PM): @A: #Got it. Let me know if you need anything.#
Thematrian1 (10:11:55 PM): #I will. Stay smart.#
Umbrafer (10:12:36 PM): @B: #Keep the helo low.#
Umbrafer (10:12:42 PM): *Follow*
MilesMk1 (10:13:03 PM): #Told it to be stealthy, hoping it'll know what it's doing.#
Thematrian1 (10:13:21 PM): It's been climbing steadily ever since you told it to set out.
Umbrafer (10:13:56 PM): #Ok, I'll trust it.#
Umbrafer (10:14:09 PM): #I guess I trust it to be stealthy more than I do to not crash.#
Thematrian1 (10:15:54 PM): Ok. This thing may not have a long range, but it is fast: it accelerates steadily to 220 km/hr, slowing only when it reaches the softball field.
MilesMk1 (10:16:07 PM): "Appelia, please confirm that you're following a maximum stealth profile?"
MilesMk1 (10:16:15 PM): Ah, never mind.
Thematrian1 (10:17:17 PM): "Shall I begin landing, Mr. Ventures?"
Thematrian1 (10:17:50 PM): "Landing will expose us to infantry anti-aircraft fire."
Dragcrell (10:18:51 PM): *pirks a ear at that* "what infantrrry?"
MilesMk1 (10:19:08 PM): "Potentially, or imminently?"
Thematrian1 (10:21:05 PM): "Potentially. I cannot confirm, but I have identified three potential sources of fire." Here she calls up a monitor display of a nearby skyscraper, done in infrared. Small circles appear around three lower-story
Thematrian1 (10:21:25 PM): windows; the legend identifies them as human-like signatures overlooking the landing site.
Umbrafer (10:22:34 PM): *Begins thinking about how to shoehorn this pilot+autopilot into the van*
MilesMk1 (10:23:16 PM): "Land, but orient in such a way that the weapons systems are able to engage them if needed."
MilesMk1 (10:24:03 PM): *passes info about the signatures to Alex*
Thematrian1 (10:24:29 PM): "Very well, Mr. Ventures." And down you go. The helicopter touches down, but the rotors never stop spinning.
Umbrafer (10:24:30 PM): #I can take a closer look if you wait, or you can land and take the chance.#
MilesMk1 (10:24:54 PM): #I think Appelia is just being professionally paranoid.#
Umbrafer (10:27:06 PM): *Drive drive drive*
Thematrian1 (10:27:55 PM): And here you are. The softball field is a bit of an anachronism; the standium seating is plain aluminum, barely two stories high.
Umbrafer (10:28:12 PM): *Takes a moment to reflect on simpler days*
Thematrian1 (10:28:51 PM): All the parking is long gone, but the gate is open so you can drive right onto the field.
Thematrian1 (10:31:15 PM): No one shoots anything at you.
Umbrafer (10:31:15 PM): *Drives up to a few meters away from the helo*
Thematrian1 (10:32:29 PM): *thop-thop-thop-thop-thop*
MilesMk1 (10:32:46 PM): "Appellia, what capabilities for remote control using rigger networks are you equipped with?"
Thematrian1 (10:34:02 PM): "I am equipped only for direct access."
MilesMk1 (10:34:30 PM): #Alex, bad news - Appelia here is not set up for being rigged.#
MilesMk1 (10:34:43 PM): Appellia, I should be saying.
Umbrafer (10:35:17 PM): #That's gotta be security. I can fix it later.#
Umbrafer (10:35:47 PM): (Alex is ignoring the possibility that it might just have a really good Autopilot.)
MilesMk1 (10:37:06 PM): "Appellia, how do your capabiltites compare to those of a professional military pilot equipped with VCR-3 rating cyberware?"
MilesMk1 (10:37:20 PM): (Hey, she's had answers for all other questions so far.)
Thematrian1 (10:38:33 PM): "I am rated equivalent to a military pilot with VCR-1"
Thematrian1 (10:39:00 PM): Which is an absolutely thunderous thing for an autopilot to say, but clearly she's better off with a driver.
MilesMk1 (10:39:32 PM): *passes that tidbit to Alex*
Dragcrell (10:39:54 PM): *ears flicker and tail twiches* "tech stuff is odd and brrreaks to easly"
Umbrafer (10:41:08 PM): #That's… if that autopilot came from anywhere else, I'd say it was lying its electronic ass off.#
Umbrafer (10:41:55 PM): (I will point out that the van, unlike a certain pair of Shapeshifters, has taken only… one to three, I forget exactly how many, boxes of damage all game.)
Thematrian1 (10:42:31 PM): (one box per year, worst case)
Thematrian1 (10:42:45 PM): (And that includes ramming)
Dragcrell (10:42:48 PM): (one shapeshifter ;3)
MilesMk1 (10:44:24 PM): *snorts* "I'll take being filled with "tech stuff" and not getting holes shot in me over your approach."
MilesMk1 (10:44:29 PM): Ok, what now?
Thematrian1 (10:45:16 PM): The helicopter sits, rotors whirring, waiting for further orders. The van sits quietly nearby.
MilesMk1 (10:45:34 PM): Right. I meant, what's Alex up to now?
MilesMk1 (10:45:44 PM): *waves to the kids from the window*
Dragcrell (10:46:04 PM): *points at the mess that was the dna scaner* "that tech shit brrreaks easy the tech stuff in you dont brrreak so easy."
Umbrafer (10:46:16 PM): Hm. I'm not sure. I guess what I'll do is maneuver so I can get from van to helo without entering LOS of the building, to whatever degree.
MilesMk1 (10:46:41 PM): "Easy? You think that was easy?" *shakes head smiling ruefully*
Thematrian1 (10:48:09 PM): You could put the van between you and the watchers, you guess. Anyhow, no one shoots you as you enter the helicopter.
Umbrafer (10:49:25 PM): It's a start.
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Dragcrell (10:51:30 PM): Dragcrell rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 5 5 5 4 6
Dragcrell (10:51:38 PM): Dragcrell rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
MilesMk1 (10:52:01 PM): (BTW, I need to get going. Still trying to do that whole "sleeping at sane hours" thing, in hopes it'll pay off eventually.)
Umbrafer (10:52:21 PM): I enter the helicopter and look for a datajack port.
Thematrian1 (10:52:55 PM): (Ok, sleep well)
MilesMk1 (10:53:09 PM): (See you guys Thursday.)
Thematrian1 (10:53:11 PM): You find it no trouble. I'm ready to wrap; any final actions?
Dragcrell (10:53:22 PM): not from me
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Umbrafer (10:53:56 PM): Next Tuesday-on-a-Monday, I plug my brain directly into unknown electronics. Hilarity ensues!
Dragcrell (10:54:08 PM): hehee
Thematrian1 (10:54:41 PM): aw, not doing that now?
Thematrian1 (10:54:49 PM): I prefer to end on a cliffhanger, but it's your call ;-)
Umbrafer (10:55:45 PM): I have Blake ask the helicopter what security features are connected to the datajack port, and if necessary, have him ask to disable them. With luck I won't trigger a hijacker-recognition circuit.
Thematrian1 (10:56:45 PM): "Datajack security is presently set to "high". Only recognized neural patterns will be accepted."
Umbrafer (10:57:51 PM): Unfortunate. I suspect my neural pattern isn't in their memory banks.
Umbrafer (10:58:38 PM): Well then, next week we figure out what to do.
Thematrian1 (10:58:53 PM): Ok. Good night everyone; I'll see you later.
Umbrafer (10:59:04 PM): There is again a very small chance that the Thursday game will be cancelled—I'll email if it happens, but it almost certainly won't.
Dragcrell (10:59:17 PM): night
Umbrafer (10:59:18 PM): It happens = cancellation.
Dragcrell has left the chat room.

Umbrafer (10:59:54 PM): Anyway, sleep well and see you Thursday most likely.
Chat room exited at 5/28/2007 10:59:57 PM.