Heroica: Glory Amongst the Stars - Mission #7: My Bleeding Hart

[Zepher]

"More people? I'm afraid it may be Viper's friends come to collect, not knowing what sort of danger they're heading into. Or Hart followed us. Regardless, Zaria, odds are you'll be right eventually. I say we go greet them. If we don't, we will not know when they will get to the bridge, and what they might run into on their way here." Merei reaches out, trying to hang onto Alexa's connection. "Alexa, how many people could we fit aboard the shuttle?"

[karmajay]

Kirwin tries to dig deeper to determine what is in the restricted crates.

"Goodness we've fallen right into some type of horror adventure for sure." Kirwin glances over to the team. "Zero chance they believe us unless Viper's team sees the entity or some dead bodies so if you talk to them be clear this ship has problems!"

Edited December 21, 2021 by karmajay

[The Legonater]

6 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria ponders on the situation, thinking through the events that have transpired. "Ilbery, what did McSorley leave in to destroy the ship? Would it have been a standard Hart shuttle?"

Shuttle? No- There are no shuttles on this freighter. He would have through the airlocks to Container Delta. 

5 hours ago, Zepher said:

Merei reaches out, trying to hang onto Alexa's connection. "Alexa, how many people could we fit aboard the shuttle?"

What, Actaeon? It's an interpersonal shuttle, nothing fancy. We could probably squeeze eight in total if we needed to, but I wouldn't want to tax the reserves anything beyond that. 

4 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin tries to dig deeper to determine what is in the restricted crates.

Kirwin Coding Check (DC 3/5) - 1, 2, 6, 6, 6 (Three successes)

Kirwin is able to break through three of the five restricted codes. Two of the contents are familiar, the rare gems and flowers that Greenlaw had been studying in her office. The third crate Kirwin uncovers appears to be a cryo-chamber preserving some ancient human relics. Unfortunately, the more he digs through the restrictive files, the more the computer responds, locking even tighter around the remaining restricted files. 

[Zepher]

“Not the answer I was hoping for, but thank you for making me aware of the reality. If we find more than eight, we will find another solution. I am going to step into the hall. Zaria, do what you think is best with the captain. Leave him here, take him with us, send him back to the shuttle. I trust your judgement.”

Merei leans over to Kirwin. “How are you with all of this? Do you think you might be safe given your different nature?”

Once Kirwin and Zaria have answered and made their decisions, Merei will open the door to the hallway the party has not yet been down.

[karmajay]

Kirwin looks away from the screen. "We may want to get the opinion of the team on the shuttle since they are the company reps BUT we definitely need to either make sure this spread stops here to rescue the ship or the ship goes boom!"

[Kintobor]

"I agree with you, Merei. I am quite interested in meeting the new visitors."  Zaria grinned with intrigue. A part of her was curious to know who was present, but she felt a knot twist and tie in her stomach. She would not be the one to start a potential fight, but she would be the one to end it. She turned to the captain. "Where is the safest place for you to hunker down in until we have a better idea what is going on, Ilbery?"

[The Legonater]

6 hours ago, Kintobor said:

She turned to the captain. "Where is the safest place for you to hunker down in until we have a better idea what is going on, Ilbery?"

My... office will do just fine, dear.

15 hours ago, Zepher said:

1 hour ago, Zepher said:

Once Kirwin and Zaria have answered and made their decisions, Merei will open the door to the hallway the party has not yet been down.

Merei starts down the starboard corridor, where a grizzly sight awaits her.

The corridor is covered in the Hydra substance, with a mass of tendrils obscuring passage through the corridor for the moment. On the other side of the tendrils is a mustached Hart crewmember who appears to have been sliced by the creature. On either side of the corridor is an accessible doorway. Around the corner of the corridor, towards the starboard airlock, noise can be heard. A pair of human voices echo off the walls, seeming to be in the middle of a conversation or argument of some kind. Footsteps follow the voices, and soon two uniformed men step around the corner...

Well, well, well, what have we here?

Excuse us, but this ship is now under the jurisdiction of the International Trade Authority! Please comply as we begin our investigation, and thank you for your time!

[Zepher]

"Assumptions and imagination," Merei chastises herself. Raising her voice, and keeping a careful eye on the Hydra substance that is coating the hallway, she addresses the new-comers. "No. You should turn back. It isn't safe here."

[KotZ]

"I said this would be considered a crime scene..." Varen whispers to nobody in particular.

[Kintobor]

"I do not know how these two can be both the most unexpected and yet also the worst possible outcome, but Varuth is... certainly testing us." Zaria whispers to her comrades. She turns to the two officers. "I think we are all familiar with each other, so I think it is in our best interests to be amicable to one another. What are you two doing aboard here?" Zaria asks Duncan and Dean.

[karmajay]

15 hours ago, The Legonater said:

Well, well, well, what have we here?

Excuse us, but this ship is now under the jurisdiction of the International Trade Authority! Please comply as we begin our investigation, and thank you for your time!

Kirwin stares at the new arrivals "You two don't even have any back stories! It is super dangerous on this ship for you! "

[The Legonater]

12 hours ago, Zepher said:

"Assumptions and imagination," Merei chastises herself. Raising her voice, and keeping a careful eye on the Hydra substance that is coating the hallway, she addresses the new-comers. "No. You should turn back. It isn't safe here."

I think we'll be the judge of how safe it is here.

And we're the professionals! With all due respect ma'am, it's probably best to let us handle things from here on!

4 hours ago, Kintobor said:

"I do not know how these two can be both the most unexpected and yet also the worst possible outcome, but Varuth is... certainly testing us." Zaria whispers to her comrades. She turns to the two officers. "I think we are all familiar with each other, so I think it is in our best interests to be amicable to one another. What are you two doing aboard here?" Zaria asks Duncan and Dean.

We followed through on our investigation!

We picked up a clean trail of breadcrumbs that lead us straight here. Now we'll do a thorough look over this shuttle, and we can judge who's to blame and all that. Duncan points to the dead body between them and the heroes. Like him. Did you kill him? We might need to fingerprint you.

26 minutes ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin stares at the new arrivals "You two don't even have any back stories! It is super dangerous on this ship for you! "

I grew up on a farm!

I don't think that was an invitation, Dean. He turns back to Kirwin. Listen, bud, we know what we're doing. Let the big shots do the work on this one.

[karmajay]

55 minutes ago, The Legonater said:

I don't think that was an invitation, Dean. He turns back to Kirwin. Listen, bud, we know what we're doing. Let the big shots do the work on this one.

Kirwin smiles at the two. "The real issue here is jurisdiction though right? This is a Hart freighter. We are working with Hart to investigate the situation. I'm sure we can use your services after we've done our part. While we are doing that why don't you talk to the legal representatives on the Hart shuttle which I believe is standard procedure anyway?"

Kirwin briefly turns to the team before turning back around. "And before you ask that's section 2.4 in chapter 7 of book 4 of the ITA Deep Space Recovery & Rescue Guidelines for Space Police and Associated Members of ITA, commonly known as ITA 2.4.7.5 Tango-1."

Kirwin turns back around and whispers to the team "Book 4 was the most common one used in Space Lawyers For Hire!!! Lots of pirates and adventure in that show! Amazing that each episode was based on a true story! So the book is legit!"

Edited December 23, 2021 by karmajay

[The Legonater]

7 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin smiles at the two. "The real issue here is jurisdiction though right? This is a Hart freighter. We are working with Hart to investigate the situation. I'm sure we can use your services after we've done our part. While we are doing that why don't you talk to the legal representatives on the Hart shuttle which I believe is standard procedure anyway?"

Kirwin briefly turns to the team before turning back around. "And before you ask that's section 2.4 in chapter 7 of book 4 of the ITA Deep Space Recovery & Rescue Guidelines for Space Police and Associated Members of ITA, commonly known as ITA 2.4.7.5 Tango-1."

Kirwin Persuasion Check (DC 1/3) - 6, 1, 5 (Two successes)

Er... uh... of course, but... Hart doesn't have authority beyond their station... do they? 

ITA 3.1.7.2 Bravo-2 does allow us an official investigation in case of an environment deemed unsafe for outside organizations... but sure. If y'all think you're so competent. Duncan looks at the mesh of tendrils in between them. Eh... how 'bout you start on that side and we'll start on this side? 

[Zepher]

Having just made the mistake of assumption, Merei tempers herself. She has a bad feeling about the two men, both as a threat to the party and in regard to their ability to survive, but Kirwin appears to have talked them down. And if they are to remain, she should do her best to equip them with the information they will need to survive. "Kirwin is not saying this for nothing. It is very dangerous aboard this ship. There is a creature here, called the Hydra. It can multiple, it can kill, and it can infect. These tendrils you see are part of it. Secreted by it, maybe. Sentient and waiting, maybe. We don't know. There are survivors, too. Hopefully. Some of the crew. Do not shoot first and ask questions later." Merei steps to the door to the crew quarters. "We'll start here."  She points to the Head. "You can start there."

[The Legonater]

7 hours ago, Zepher said:

Having just made the mistake of assumption, Merei tempers herself. She has a bad feeling about the two men, both as a threat to the party and in regard to their ability to survive, but Kirwin appears to have talked them down. And if they are to remain, she should do her best to equip them with the information they will need to survive. "Kirwin is not saying this for nothing. It is very dangerous aboard this ship. There is a creature here, called the Hydra. It can multiple, it can kill, and it can infect. These tendrils you see are part of it. Secreted by it, maybe. Sentient and waiting, maybe. We don't know. There are survivors, too. Hopefully. Some of the crew. Do not shoot first and ask questions later." Merei steps to the door to the crew quarters. "We'll start here."  She points to the Head. "You can start there."

MM Note: To be clear, the Hydra wall cuts in between the doors to Security and Crew Quarters. Dean and Duncan can't currently get at the Head and you can't currently get at Crew Quarters. 

[Zepher]

“Very well. Let’s try Security first. Kirwin, if you want to unlock the door? I can stay here to keep an eye on the hall and our new additions.”

[karmajay]

1 hour ago, Zepher said:

“Very well. Let’s try Security first. Kirwin, if you want to unlock the door? I can stay here to keep an eye on the hall and our new additions.”

Kirwin uses the key to open the door to security.

[The Legonater]

1 hour ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin uses the key to open the door to security.

With a pleasant beep, the door unlocks and slides open. Immediately, a foul smell begins to flow into the hallway as Kirwin takes a look a what waits for them in the security office.

Leaning against the desk is an older woman, face frozen in fury. It appears that some of the Hydra monster has grown through her, forming an unblinking eye over her torso. Blood is spilled all around her. Beside her is a rack of various types of weapons, and a cabinet covered in more tendrils.

2 hours ago, Zepher said:

“I can stay here to keep an eye on the hall and our new additions.”

Meanwhile, in the corridor, Dean and Duncan glance at each. Uncomfortable with Merei's attention, they slowly back towards the other end of the corridor.

Well, if you come across anything, please report it to your local authorities!

We'll keep an eye out for your group... I'm not fully convinced you don't have your hands in this somehow. Hart cleaning its own? Rest assured we'll get to the bottom of this. See you on the other side.

They move towards Engineering. 

[Kintobor]

"Kirwin, I'll help you get to the terminal." Zaria moves to inspect the body slouched against the table.

[karmajay]

Kirwin enters the room behind Zaria.

[The Legonater]

11 hours ago, Kintobor said:

"Kirwin, I'll help you get to the terminal." Zaria moves to inspect the body slouched against the table.

Zaria Medicine Check (DC 1/3) - 1, 6, 3 (One success)

Zaria looks over the body and finds a dog tag that labels the woman as Andrea Gail. While she can't determine a lot about the specifics of Gail's condition, it appears the creature has grown straight through her. The glowing red eye seems to be gazing up at Zaria, but there is no movement. Gail's left hand has sprouted into a tendril, while her right hand is gripped tight around a gun. To Zaria's surprise, Gail is still breathing, apparently kept alive by the Hydra.

[KotZ]

"Uh, Gail," Varen starts, "can you hear us?" Varen keeps a distance from Gail and the Hydra.

[Zepher]

Merei keeps watching the hall, waiting to see if the police will be able to open a door without the captain’s keycard. She glances into the room. “If she is alive we can try fire to scare the hydra out of her. At the very least, someone ought to take her gun.”

[karmajay]

Kirwin looks at Gail and says "Ok, we really need to communicate the seriousness of the situation with the shuttle. Even if we were able to clear the hydra from the rooms who knows where else in the ship it could be hiding. IF we are going to continue searching the ship we probably need some type of torches too keep these things at bay"

Kirwin goes back to the storage/science area to construct some torches for the team.