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

[Kintobor]

11 hours ago, Zepher said:

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.”

Zaria turns to Merei, grimacing. "I do not think we can just "remove" this... creature from Andrea without leaving her full of holes, Merei." Zaria uncomfortably grabs the gun from Andrea.

[The Legonater]

17 hours ago, KotZ said:

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

At Varen's words, Gail's eyes suddenly shoot in his direction. They are blank, expressionless, but clearly something in her subconscious is processing the outward stimuli. 

5 hours ago, karmajay said:

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.

Kirwin Engineering Check (DC 3) - 1, 5, 2, 4, 4 (Three successes)

Kirwin heads back through the ship to scavenge resources and create an improvised weapon. After some tinkering, he returns to the group with a makeshift flame thrower.

Makeshift Flame Thrower - Standard Short-Range Elemental Weapon.

5 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria turns to Merei, grimacing. "I do not think we can just "remove" this... creature from Andrea without leaving her full of holes, Merei." Zaria uncomfortably grabs the gun from Andrea.

Zaria Athletics Check (DC 1) - 1, 3, 5, 6 (Two successes)

With some straining, Zaria is able to pull the gun away from the security chief's tight grip. Gail's hand immediately clamps down around the empty space, forming an awkward fist.

[Zepher]

16 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria turns to Merei, grimacing. "I do not think we can just "remove" this... creature from Andrea without leaving her full of holes, Merei." Zaria uncomfortably grabs the gun from Andrea.

“We don’t know until we try. And what alternatives do we have? You want to eliminate all the Hydra on this ship. That would involve her death regardless. I can come over there or Kirwin can use his new tool. Well done on that, Kirwin, by the way.”

[Kintobor]

"Based on my observation, this Hydra creature is keeping Gail alive. If we remove it, we are killing Gail." Zaria could not imagine the amount of pain Gail was in. It would be best to merely end her suffering and send her to the peace of the place where all journeys end.  "And, I want it known that if given the opportunity to, yes, I would eliminate every Hydra on this ship. Creatures like this take away our agency. It was clearly warping Ilbery's memories, and it would do the same to us if given the chance. Some creatures must be put down to ensure our safety."

[Zepher]

“Then do it.” Merei invites Zaria, indicating Gail.

[Kintobor]

Zaria turns from Merei to Gail. She levels her sword in preparation to strike it through Gail's neck. "This will be as painless as I can deliver it."

OoC: I'll allow people to express interest in stopping Zaria before I go through with it if there's any opposition.

[KotZ]

Varen grimaces. Gail would be fantastic to save and put on the stand... if they could save her... but at this moment that seemed like a pipe dream. He was on a mission with this team; their safety was most important, especially if they could bring evidence to a court. Not that he was really a lawyer anymore, Varen thinks. Not disbarred, just blackballed. Or something like that, however he reationalizes it to himself.

He swallows hard. "Just... just make it quick with Gail. And please try to not damage evidence too much? This could be useful back in the Hall."

[karmajay]

Kirwin enters the room with the flamethrower and listens to the conversation. Before Zaria can strike they whisper "Wait. Wait!"

Kirwin looks at Gail and then at the team and says "I know I'm new to this exploring and adventure stuff but it seems none of us are  well versed in the medical field. I don't know if Gail or any others can be saved BUT we don't have to make these decisions now. The hydra is not going any where. The ship is not going anywhere. We can disable the ship even further and just leave and allow people with more experience then us make those decisions. Haven't we completed our mission? We've found the ship. We know from the captain the reason and issues of why they were lost. Is it our responsibility at this time to be making such life and death decisions when are lives are not in imminent danger?"

 

 

Edited December 29, 2021 by karmajay

[Zepher]

“As will surprise no one, I’m in agreement with Kirwin. At least partially. I sometimes fall prey to assumption as well, Zaria, but Kirwin is right that we are none of us medical experts, and the truth is we have not tried to save Gail. I say we make an earnest attempt at expelling the beast. If that fails, I will leave this in your capable hands. An attempt is all we’re requesting.” Hesitantly, still trying to see where the police end up, she leaves the hallway and enters the room, drawing close to Zaria. “You an I are united in at least one thing - as soon as we stepped aboard this ship became our responsibility. I am not here to protect the creature unilaterally. I want to save what crew we can and learn to the best of our ability to what it is that has happened here.”

[The Legonater]

On 12/27/2021 at 6:28 AM, Zepher said:

Merei keeps watching the hall, waiting to see if the police will be able to open a door without the captain’s keycard. 

Merei glances out into the corridor as she awaits the group's decision, and sees Dean and Duncan conversing by the engineering door before pulling out a gun and shooting the lock open, and stepping through. 

[Zepher]

“Kirwin, with Zaria’s permission, I suggest we use that flame you have on Gail. I will stand by to heal her as soon as it looks like the Hydra is retreating. Again, Zaria, if we are wrong in this, your method is next.”

[karmajay]

6 hours ago, Zepher said:

“Kirwin, with Zaria’s permission, I suggest we use that flame you have on Gail. I will stand by to heal her as soon as it looks like the Hydra is retreating. Again, Zaria, if we are wrong in this, your method is next.”

"Er, in my professional opinion,  a flamethrower to the face may be a bit much to heal. If the goal is to see if the hydra will retreat I suggest a smaller flame. BUT, like every episode of Space Animals Attack shows us, once you show yourself to be hostile all bets are off with space animals. There is still a lot of hydra around us besides this Gail section!"

[Kintobor]

Zaria took to her breathing regimens as she tried to tune out the noise and listen. As much as she wished to find someone on this ship with more medical knowledge, she was not sure if said people were even alive still. Even then, a wound like the one Gail had was not something one recovered from. This was nothing but pain at this point, and to leave Gail like this while they searched the ship was to leave her to suffer.

"I wish to save what crew we can, Merei, but I do not believe that Gail is capable of being saved. To give her a quick, painless death is the small amount of kindness we can provide her." Zaria turns from Gail quietly and makes room for Kirwin. "In my heart of hearts, either I take her head, or we burn the creature out of her. As much as it pains me, she dies either way. I merely do not wish to prolong the inevitable."

[Zepher]

OoC: I think we gotta pull the trigger on this one way or the other! Kinto, Karma, one of you do what you're going to do!

"I will not stand in anyone's way. I am simply advising that we are making assumptions."

[karmajay]

"Zaria if that is what your experience is telling you then do what you need to do." Kirwin looks to the other Hydra stalks. "Should I burn the other hydra stalks? Are we prepared for a reaction?"

[Kintobor]

Zaria solemnly steps forward, past Kirwin, and readies her stance briefly before a swift stroke of her sword attempts to remove Gail's head from her shoulders. She hoped this would be a quick and painless end to the poor woman's suffering.

[The Legonater]

3 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria solemnly steps forward, past Kirwin, and readies her stance briefly before a swift stroke of her sword attempts to remove Gail's head from her shoulders. She hoped this would be a quick and painless end to the poor woman's suffering.

As Zaria steadies her khopesh, the Hydra eye seems to gaze up at her, waiting on her every action. There is a cold silence in the room. For a moment, nobody moves. Then, in one smooth action, Zaria swings her blade across the shoulders of Valencia's chief of security. Andrew Gail makes a gasping sound as the sword passes through her, and then nothing. Her head falls to the floor. Its host dead, the Hydra eye retreats back through Gail's body and skitters up the wall as a tendril, retreating into the ventilation system. The silence returns to the room as the heroes stare at the body and contemplate their next decision.

[karmajay]

After a brief moment of silence Kiriwn says 'Well, that proves the ventilation system is full of this thing. Is the ship really salvageable? Maybe the only thing to do is ascertain the crew status."

[KotZ]

11 hours ago, karmajay said:

After a brief moment of silence Kiriwn says 'Well, that proves the ventilation system is full of this thing. Is the ship really salvageable? Maybe the only thing to do is ascertain the crew status."

"We can't just leave this thing alive though. What if it spreads to another ship?"

[Kintobor]

Zaria wiped the blood from her blade with a cloth from her pouch and raises her empty hand up to her face to provide a rite.

"Varuth, Father of Wisdom, Companion in Travels, Shower of the Ways, deliver this wayward soul from this life and unto the next. Guide his spirit away from damnation and suffering, and to the place where all journey's end. Ro uk fouso. Be at peace." She sheaths her blade closes Gail's eyelids respectfully.

2 hours ago, KotZ said:

"We can't just leave this thing alive though. What if it spreads to another ship?"

"What if it spreads beyond a ship?" Zaria punctuates, looking to Varen. "I think this ship is beyond salvaging without putting others at risk. Spaceports are the lifeblood of cities and frequent stops for travellers. If this ship reaches Cosmopoli this Hydra could do untold amounts of harm."

[Zepher]

“The captain intended to destroy it. We can do the same, though it does fly in the face of what we were hired to do, if I recall correctly.” Merei searches the room to see if there are any logs, records, or ways to surveil other areas of the ship.

[The Legonater]

1 hour ago, Zepher said:

“The captain intended to destroy it. We can do the same, though it does fly in the face of what we were hired to do, if I recall correctly.” Merei searches the room to see if there are any logs, records, or ways to surveil other areas of the ship.

Merei looks around the security room, and finds herself at Gail's console. While most security functions are currently offline in this section, she is still able to access backup recordings and emergency settings.

"Playing <08/30|0800> [Outgoing Recording: Chief of Security Andrea Gail, all security consoles]"

Alright everyone, here's the update: we're officially beginning to take security measures. The means increased shifts, increased checkpoints, the works. Don't be surprised if we implement quarantine measures next. With the engines cutting out this morning, we're also switching to a regimented power supply. That means Alpha only runs on Alpha's power, Beta with Beta's, etcetera. Hopefully that slows down whatever is screwing with our systems. If, gods forbid, you have to reset power yourself, every cargo container's supply controls should be at the security console, and here in Alpha you'll have to go talk to McSorley in Engineering. Eyes alert, all; let's make the rest of this trip a safe one. 

"Playing <09/02|0800> [Outgoing Recording: Chief of Security Andrea Gail, all security consoles]"

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. If you somehow haven't heard yet, we lost Bugsy Moran yesterday. I had to finish the job myself, and let me tell the lot of you, I'm not going to sleep well if I have to do that. So beyond the quarantine measures, I'm sending you all out with flares. If you want something a little heavier than that, come talk to me, but as far as I can tell fire does a pretty damn good job at putting this Hydra thing down. 'Guess Greenlaw had one thing right. If you see any of those tendrils on the wall, burn 'em up. I don't care how superfluous it feels. If you see any of those walls it likes to build up you can tear right through them. We're cutting the head off this snake one way or another. 

"Playing <09/08|0800> [Outgoing Recording: Chief of Security Andrea Gail, all security consoles]"

Another security memo. These are getting more frequent than any of us would like, believe me. It has come to my attention that some of our crew is trying to reach unsafe areas of the ship. The rear cargo containers, the mess hall, etc. I bet you didn't think I could put much more security pressure on this ship, but damnit I've found a way. Truxton, you're on mess hall security. I don't give a damn how dull it is, you watch that entrance and make sure no one gets in. Morrison, I'm putting you in charge of cargo access. Keep an eye on the cams and make sure that thing doesn't move. No one gets in without my direct confirmation. Let's get it done, people. I don't want to see anymore deaths on my watch. 

[Zepher]

“It appears the back of the ship is more dangerous. Kirwin, would you kindly clear us a path in the hallway? The tendrils block our way forward, but you should be able to force their retreat.”

[karmajay]

4 hours ago, Zepher said:

“It appears the back of the ship is more dangerous. Kirwin, would you kindly clear us a path in the hallway? The tendrils block our way forward, but you should be able to force their retreat.”

Kirwin nods and uses the flamethower on the hydra in the hallway.

 

6 hours ago, Zepher said:

“The captain intended to destroy it. We can do the same, though it does fly in the face of what we were hired to do, if I recall correctly.”

Kirwin grumbles under their breath, "Well, we could just ask the Hart people we came with what their opinion is..."

[The Legonater]

22 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin nods and uses the flamethower on the hydra in the hallway.

Kirwin blasts through the wall of tendrils, and the Hydra skittered away, disappearing into the darkness of the ship. The group proceeds forward, where they come to the other end of the corridor. A Daraki lies against one wall, impaled by a spike-like shoot from the Hydra. They appear to be facing the starboard entrance to the mess hall, which has been destroyed much like the portside entrance. On the opposite wall of the corridor is a similar-destroyed entrance to Valencia's lounge. At the end of the hall the entrance to Engineering awaits them, its lock seemingly blown open by Dean and Duncan.