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

[Zepher]

“I think they trapped something in Engineering. Which is exactly where our two new friends have gone. And blown the lock. We have a choice to make. Do we move swiftly, or systematically. I would like to see every room on this ship, in case there are others who can be saved. But I worry for Dean and Duncan.” Merei moves forward, intending to at least identify the body before them.

[Kintobor]

Zaria looked down the hall. "I have a feeling staying on this ship longer than necessary is going to be bad for our well being. We should try and find more survivors, if there are any, and see if we can get a clearer picture of what happened." As Zaria steps back into the hall she whispers under her breath to the group. "I do not trust these two ITA officers. They have been more than interested in this ship. When we were at the station, they seemed interested in knowing more about this freighter."

[The Legonater]

3 hours ago, Zepher said:

Merei moves forward, intending to at least identify the body before them.

Merei finds security dogtags on the body reading "Tamsin Truxton."

MM Note: Just for your convenience, I'm bumping the map of Alpha for all of you. 

[karmajay]

Kirwin follows Merei, ready to use the flamethrower if needed.

[Zepher]

“I don’t trust them either, Zaria, but I am trying to not make assumptions. Additionally, they may have bad intentions, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also in danger.” Merei asks Kirwin to open the door to the Crew’s Quarters. 

[karmajay]

1 minute ago, Zepher said:

“I don’t trust them either, Zaria, but I am trying to not make assumptions. Additionally, they may have bad intentions, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also in danger.” Merei asks Kirwin to open the door to the Crew’s Quarters. 

kirwin uses the key card to open the door.

[Kintobor]

Zaria remains silent at Merei's response, but it's clear that the two ITA officers rub her the wrong way. Her mind focused on them and the reason they were aboard. How they could follow them and what they were doing here all bothered her. She follows the group to the Crew's Quarters.

[The Legonater]

4 hours ago, karmajay said:

kirwin uses the key card to open the door.

2 hours ago, Kintobor said:

She follows the group to the Crew's Quarters.

The Crew's Quarters is in as bad of a state as the rest of the ship. Tendrils and off-shoots of the Hydra swarm over the room. One man is wrapped up by the creature and pinned to the ceiling. Another has been ripped apart by the Hydra growing through his body. A Chimeran man and human woman are also passed out in the space, seemingly unaware of what has sprouted around them.  

[KotZ]

"We gotta stop this thing and rescue those two."

[Zepher]

“Three, perhaps.” Merei points to the man trapped on the ceiling. “We are not sure of his state. I believe it will be safest if we all act at once. Two of us should extradite the two on the floor, the other two attempt to help the man on the ceiling. Who will do what? Zaria and I on the ceiling, while you two handle the floor?”

[Kintobor]

"I will help you lower the person trapped to the ceiling down, Merei." Zaria eyes the person on the ceiling, wondering if her sword would reach the vines from where she stands.

[karmajay]

Kirwin carefully tries to wake the closest crew member on the ground.

[Zepher]

Seeing Kirwin acting, Merei also attempts to reach up to the person on the ceiling, and if they are too far away prepares to use gravity sink, non-harmfully, to pull them within range where Zaria can hack them free.

[The Legonater]

9 hours ago, Zepher said:

Seeing Kirwin acting, Merei also attempts to reach up to the person on the ceiling, and if they are too far away prepares to use gravity sink, non-harmfully, to pull them within range where Zaria can hack them free.

23 hours ago, Kintobor said:

"I will help you lower the person trapped to the ceiling down, Merei." Zaria eyes the person on the ceiling, wondering if her sword would reach the vines from where she stands.

Merei Religion Check DC 1/3 - 3, 5, 1, 3  (One success)

Zaria Melee Weapons Check DC 1/3 - 6, 1, 2, 3, 5 +1 (Three successes)

Merei positions herself under the man strapped to the ceiling, lightly pulling them down so that Zaria can cleanly sweep her blade through the tendrils holding him. Caught in the gravity well, the man is slowly lowered to the ground. He blinks awake, the liquid material still covering his face.

Oh stars... what is happening?

21 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin carefully tries to wake the closest crew member on the ground.

Kirwin Medicine Check DC 1 - 2, 1, 4 (One success)

Kirwin approaches the woman on the floor, and lightly shakes her awake without the Hydra reacting.

Hmm...? Is it my shift already? I was just laying down for a couple winks...

Meanwhile, the tendrils that had caught the first man begin to scramble, reaching for the Chimeran on the floor.

[Kintobor]

Zaria, finished with helping the man from the ceiling down, steps forward to slice the Hydra slithering across the floor. "Merei, get these two out of here. I have the Chimeran." Nothing but disgust and hatred rose in Zaria's conscious for this creature; the Hydra. Looking upon the poor suffering bastard sprawled across the wall was enough to know that this was some blight left her by demons to prey on travellers and insight panic into the hearts of mortals. It would be purged.

[karmajay]

2 hours ago, The Legonater said:

Meanwhile, the tendrils that had caught the first man begin to scramble, reaching for the Chimeran on the floor.

Kirwin jumps in front of the Chimeran and used the flamethrower to defend.

[The Legonater]

6 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria, finished with helping the man from the ceiling down, steps forward to slice the Hydra slithering across the floor. 

6 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin jumps in front of the Chimeran and used the flamethrower to defend.

Zaria Melee Weapons Check DC 1 - 5, 3, 2, 4, 5 +1 (Four successes)

Kirwin Short Range Weapons Check DC 1 - 1, 1, 2 (Zero successes)

Zaria flips the khopesh in her hand and stabs it down into the Hydra, severing it in twain and rendering the offshoot inert. At the action, the Chimeran awakes, as if shaken from a deep slumber.

Hmm...? Who are yo-

Agitated, another strain of the Hydra leaps at the Chimeran. Kirwin fires a blast of their flamethrower but misses, and the Hydra attaches itself to the nape of the Chimeran's neck.

[Zepher]

Merei follows Zaria’s instructions, guiding the two freed crew members out of the room. “Stay here, keep separate, and remain vigilant,” she instructs them, nervously glancing at the still covered face. “I must go help my friends.”

Stepping back into the room she is horrified to see the Hydra attach itself to the back of the Chimerian’s neck. “Kill it.” She steps beside Zaria and, recognizing she can do little to damage the Hydra herself, rallies the warrior’s blade.

OoC: Not sure that’s allowed as an out of combat action (pretty sure it’s not) but she doesn’t fight and I’m almost out of spirit so I don’t want to go for another spell quite yet.

[Kintobor]

Zaria grabs the tendril attaching itself to the nape of the chimeran’s neck and slices the tendril off.

”We are sending this fell beast back to the hell it spawned from! If this creature wishes to obstruct the path, so be it: let it fall to my blade, Varuth willing!”

Zaria didn’t care how this tendril felt in her hands. Her disgust and revulsion wasn’t pushing her away from this creature, but closer towards it to end its existence and grip it held on the ship.

[The Legonater]

12 hours ago, Zepher said:

Stepping back into the room she is horrified to see the Hydra attach itself to the back of the Chimerian’s neck. “Kill it.” She steps beside Zaria and, recognizing she can do little to damage the Hydra herself, rallies the warrior’s blade.

8 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Zaria grabs the tendril attaching itself to the nape of the chimeran’s neck and slices the tendril off.

Zaria Melee Weapons Check DC 3 - 5, 4, 4, 4, 6, 1, 5, 3 +1 (Seven successes)

With determined vigilance, Zaria swings her khopesh in a flurry, atomizing the Hydra attached to the Chimeran. Acting fast, she and Merei grab the last crewmate and rush out of the room.

Tha-thank you...

When did you lot get here? How long's it been?

[Zepher]

“I don’t know how long you’ve been here. We just arrived. The captain has barricaded himself in his rooms, I think for the time being it would be best if you join him there. What are your names?” Merei asks as she attempts to remove the remaining Hydra from the face of the freed man.

[karmajay]

Kirwin attempts to download and information from the computer station in the room. 

[The Legonater]

6 hours ago, Zepher said:

“I don’t know how long you’ve been here. We just arrived. The captain has barricaded himself in his rooms, I think for the time being it would be best if you join him there. What are your names?” Merei asks as she attempts to remove the remaining Hydra from the face of the freed man.

W- Willy Tyne, ma'am. Junior. Ma'am. 

Merei Religion Check DC 1 - 4, 1, 1, 6 (Two successes)

Merei applies a little heat to the man, careful not to burn him, and the Hydra skitters away and vanishes into the darkness.

I am Alexi Larson.

Jane Irving, assistant pilot. And who might you be? Would be nice to know a little about our rescuers before we hang on your every word, you know.

4 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin attempts to download and information from the computer station in the room. 

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

Kirwin is able to download the emergency recordings onto his chip.

"Playing <08/29|0612> [Personal Recording: Doctor Linda Greenlaw]"

Exciting developments! I was able to confirm my findings from last night, GL-7743 is certainly intelligent! The behavior that I've been able to detect seems to point towards a young organism. Its primary concern is that of feeding, seeking sources of energy to sustain its growth. And it is growing! This sort of finding is unprecedented; we know nothing of this creature, and I have yet to be able to find a medium of communication with it. So far it appears primarily driven by primal needs; food, shelter, etcetera. But once those needs are met I think it's only a matter of time until it seeks out an intellectual, relational connection. What could we learn about this creature? Where is it from, what does it know about the depths of space that we don't? I can hardly contain myself!! I need to check it out later today, maybe I can reach another breakthrough...

"Playing <09/04|1204> [Interior Recording: Chief Engineer Ernest McSorley, Assistant Engineer Artemis Callaghan]"

Callaghan, how are you holding up?

I appreciate you asking, sir. Losing Bugsy was... well, it was a shock, to be sure.

It was a shock to us all, Callaghan. An' we're gonna make sure it doesn't happen again. Nobody else is dying tonight. You're a bit of a tech whizz, is that right? I have something of a mission for you - Cap'n's got us working on something to get us out of this mess.

I'm happy to do anything I can to help, sir. What exactly are we looking to build?

Well.. it's a li'l complicated. And hush-hush. Meet me in Engineering when you're able.

"Playing <09/09|0903> [Interior Recording: Head Pilot Simon Dunn, Assistant Pilot Jane Irving]"

'Aight, Jane. I think this is it.

Are you sure about this, Simon?

Sure as I'm 'gonna be. Best to not rethink it now. Besides, we're all sitting ducks if nobody goes back to finish this, and there's no way of knowing if that's a better plan for us.

And what about your family? I don't want you rushing into something-

Peter's got a good head on his shoulders. He'll be able to make it without me. I'm not sure we've got much other choice anyways... hold the fort for me, Jane. And if I don't come back, hopefully that means I did it. 

...I hope you're right. Best of luck, out there. We're all countin' on you.

Edited January 7, 2022 by The Legonater

[Zepher]

Merei listens to the recordings as they play, particularly interested in Greenlaw's theories. No time for that at the moment, however. "My name is Merei," she tells Jane. "You've been missing for a long enough time that people were sent to look for you. We are those people. We are going to continue forward, but, please, get to safety. I don't think I need to tell you how dangerous this is. Before you go, however, I hate to ask this, but who is that?" Merei indicates the dead body torn apart.

Merei takes out her holocube and again summons the list of personnel file, adding further edits.

<Valencia|PersonellFiles>
Barlow, Ruby - Cargo Engineer
Callaghan, Artemis - Assistant Engineer
Dunn, Simon - Head Pilot
Fitzgerald, Gordon - Assistant Pilot ("Abandoned" in Mess Hall/possibly dead?)
Gail, Andrea - Chief of Security (Deceased)
Greenlaw, Linda - Lead Scientist
Ilbery, Edward - Captain (Retrieved)
Irving, Jane - Assistant Pilot (Retrieved)
Larson, Alexi - Bridge Engineer (Retrieved)
Lightfoot, Edmund - Comms Officer ("Abandoned" in Mess Hall/possibly dead?)
Luce, Jamie - Doctor (Went to retrieve Fitzgerald and Lightfoot)
McMaugh, Jim - Custodian
McSorley, Ernest - Chief Engineer (Set Off To Destroy The Ship)
Moran, Michael - Cargo Security (Deceased, Medical Bay)
Morrison, Joan - Security Sergeant
Noble, Jim - Bridge Engineer
Shatford, Robert - Bridge Engineer
Shaw, Quincy - Assistant Doctor
Truxton, Tamsin - Cargo Security (Deceased)
Tyne Jr., Wiliam - Cargo Security (Retrieved)
Worley, Frederik - Engineer
Wood, Greg - Comms Officer (Deceased, Hallway Explosion)

[The Legonater]

11 hours ago, Zepher said:

Merei listens to the recordings as they play, particularly interested in Greenlaw's theories. No time for that at the moment, however. "My name is Merei," she tells Jane. "You've been missing for a long enough time that people were sent to look for you. We are those people. We are going to continue forward, but, please, get to safety. I don't think I need to tell you how dangerous this is. Before you go, however, I hate to ask this, but who is that?" Merei indicates the dead body torn apart.

Jane glances back at the body and blanches, staring in horror at her former crewmmate. 

That's... was... Bob. Bob Shatford. I... you said we'd be safe with the captain? I think... I think we'll head that way now. Thanks for all you've done, and all.