The Characters

 

 

Scene 3: Chaos 6

Jill Vickers splashes cold water on her face. It doesn't help much. She still feels like shit and now she's wet. She towels off and looks at her own reflection. It's the first time she's been alone since touchdown and there is clearly something bothering her.

Suddenly the Lt's voice comes in over the radio.

"Vickers, report to the bridge ASAP. Over."

Someone's got some esplaining to do!

Vickers straightens out her uniform and headset in the cramped washroom mirror. She still has a job to do so she better look the part. But now more than most, she's having trouble looking at herself in the reflection.

Lt. Allen waits on the bridge. He asks MU/TH/UR for a damage report and so I roll for it. I get "Dangerous" + "Suits".

Fate is trying to tell me something here, but I actually interpret it incorrectly. Fate will try again to tell me what's going on and I eventually clue in. For now it could be interpreted as  'the weather is dangerous so suit up,' but we already know that so it has to be interior damage.

Great. The pressure suits are compromised. They were dislodged in the turbulence and got banged up on the way down. All 8 of them need to be serviced before even thinking about leaving the ship, at least not until the storm subsides. And AR-32 being known for it's storms that will likely be never. The Lt. hears Jill's boots clunking down the gangway.

"You wanted to see me sir?" Vickers pads in innocently. 

Allen cannot believe she's playing dumb at a time like this. Knowing Vickers is as smart as she is, Allen is now suspicious that she's hiding something. 

"MU/TH/UR tells me that the pressure suits are damaged. It would be way too dangerous to use these suits without a proper repair and sign off. You want to explain yourself, Vickers?"

"I choked sir. The storm got the better of me." 

"Bullshit captain! You know as well as I do that you've handled worse. You were sweating at take off - before entry. Shall we try another one?" 

Since Vickers is visibly shaken and I know Maxx has a drug problem I am definitely rolling for drugs.

Is Vickers on drugs (50/50)? "No" Well shit. This is one big secret that even I don't know about.

"I asked you a question, pilot. You nearly wiped out my entire crew before we could even get our boots laced. I heard once a pilot loses their ICC license, it's a lot harder to get it back."

Vickers remains stone faced. Tears running down her cheeks.

"Sir, I..."

Time for a command roll.

Lt. Allen - Command Roll - Empathy (5), Command (3) 8 Base dice + 1 Stress = 0 Success

This bitch is not breaking...

Allen can see that she's not going to crack. He's smart enough to know that something else may be at play here. Pushing her further may effect her loyalty and performance when he needs it the most so he decides to back off.

"I want you in the docks, Vickers. And don't come out until every one of those suits have been serviced to ICC standards. Report back to me for further disciplinary measures. Dismissed."

Vickers exits feeling like a rabbit freed from a fox's jaws. 

Scene 4: Chaos 7

Maxx Pakowski is a skinny, wise cracking, grease monkey. A lifestyle he embraces and is pretty good at. He's been with Capilano and company for years now and they still don't really like each other. The marines bend to accommodate the lower than desired ceiling of the APC. Its spotless metallic features are well lit, upgraded and polished after each drop. 

Pakowski busts out his tool belt for his first attempt at repairing the sensors. They've been resting for a scene so they can -1 Stress

Maxx Pakowski - Heavy Machinery Roll - Strength (5), Heavy Machinery (3) 8 Base dice = 0 Success

This could take awhile.

The team speculates on what happened to Jill. They call out Maxx for supplying her with drugs. I rolled for this earlier so I know it's not true.

"You guys can fuck right off. I had nothing to do with it." Maxx says, taking offence.
"Yeah sure..." Capilano eyes him carefully. "You can't even fix the fucking sensors. Probably as high as a Conestoga Frigate right now."

This makes Mason smile.

"Mason, where is that welcome party now? I don't want anyone popping out and yelling 'surprise'." Kitzmiller asks.

Mason checks the tracker. Does he get a ping? "No" The tracker is blank.

"Nothing sir. Not a damn thing." Mason responds with relief.

"Maybe native life..." Marlaina ventures a guess. 

They've been in the APC for awhile now so I'm doing a water check. Roll for consumable. No losses.

"Keep that thing handy." Advises Capilano. "Pakowski, open the door."

The door to the APC moves off to the side and the marines file out in smooth, rehearsed order. Pakowski smacks the door lock button and watches the team walk out onto the formidable, jagged terrain.

"Happy trails." Pakowski mumbles. His voice a subtle blend of sarcasm and worry.

The marines forge onward. The rocky surface crunching and cracking under their boots. 

"This is stupid. How do we look for the doctor when we can't ping his PDT?" Mason questions.

"The idea is that Pakowski will have the sensors online by the time we get there." Marlaina offers.

None of them like the idea, but the Lt's strategy is obvious. He's making up for lost time and pressing fast forward on this mission so we can get the hell off this rock.

The marines move 1 zone closer to the dead hive.

Has the storm eased? "No" Pebbles ping off their fishbowl helmets and wind threatens to uproot their balance. The team have to hunch as they walk with a visibility of just over an arms length. 

They've been walking for awhile when Lt. Allen radios in for a sit-rep. Capilano updates him on the state of the storm. In the meantime, Pakowski will attempt further repairs. They will radio back when they have a visual of the hive.

"Look for an opening, the satellite imagery shows of some kind of puncture in the wall big enough to climb through." Lt. Allen reminds them.

Once the radio cuts out, Mason feels the urge to chime in.

"That's easy for him to say. He's not being bashed in the face with the same shit we're walking on." 

Marlaina's smile is barely visible in the flying scraps of soup mix. The squad has gotten used to the barbs and camaraderie over the years, now expecting it. This trip feels different though. Ever since the botched landing and atypical orders from the lieutenant its planted a pit in her stomach. It didn't feel right. Something bad was waiting for them that caused her to extra vigilant. 

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for what happens next.