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Post by Eric Lysander on Jun 9, 2015 13:10:01 GMT -6
“Ah, come on! There’s gotta be somethin’…!” Disgusted, Eric spun around to get a better account of what was available to him. Off to one side of the countertop was a labelled storage compartment with an item that could put an end to the possessed arm.
A defibrillator.
The hard part would be getting in close to attach the electrodes and hoping they would adhere long enough to deliver a shock. Even so, it risked damaging medical equipment that could sorely be needed later, limiting Naetilia’s options and her patient’s chances. Until Esteban or any other techs could get a handle on the malfunction the only option was to clear out of the med bay. The PA issued another challenge. “Stand and face me, dog, if you have any honor!”
Eric ducked down and scurried back to the locker to retrieve the other crutch. He stood up, spinning then bracing it in his hands and obliged the rogue machine.
“’kay, bitchfist… let’s dance…”
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Post by Maelstrom on Jun 10, 2015 0:59:53 GMT -6
"Your girl got a name?" Fischer asked.
Maelstrom found it a curious question, figuring how long Fischer had been part of the group. He just assumed everyone knew by now. "Shuttle's Vengeance. VI's Emily. Don't expect either to be friendly. I've typed in some basic access privileges. More would take to long."
"Just... don't do anything Emily tells you not to. I've... ah... got a number of... well... lethal traps in there," Maelstrom said.
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jun 11, 2015 0:17:29 GMT -6
Esteban considered what Izham revealed. His piece of information matched with what his omnitool's readout was showing. He swiped his finger over data stream, dragging the flowing river of characters into his mapping subroutine.
"So it's a hacker," he finally responded to the reporter after a few seconds of quiet. "I've been waiting for my VI to finish compiling the results from the ship's security Tertiary and Quaternary systems. It takes a little while to process 25 petabytes safely."
Esteban chewed on his lower lip, pushing himself up to a sitting position. Crawling on the metal grating in the cramped space was rather uncomfortable. Once he leaned his back against the cool wall, his omnitool beeped. He glanced down...
"Get to the central access corridor at the ship's upper level," he quickly exclaimed. "There's something being constructed there. The ship's internal cameras were disabled. But there's something there. The hacker probably created a distraction in order to draw everyone away..."
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Post by spartan560 on Jun 12, 2015 16:16:21 GMT -6
"Where is that?" Izahm says stowing his disciple, "I don't know the complete layout of the ship quite yet," he then glances around noticing two glowing orbs floating just outside the entrance, What's with the constant surveillance?. Izahm growled lowly whoever's doing this I swear I will rip them apart. Nobody hacks me.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Jun 12, 2015 21:03:29 GMT -6
With Maelstrom’s warning about his shuttle, Joe almost changed his mind about staying with it. It was one thing to worry about being killed by enemy fire, but friendly fire? That was the last way he wanted to go.
He’s trusting you to look after his shuttle, the more rational part of him thought. And he’s trying to look out for you.
You really believe that? he replied.
There was a long pause.
It will help me sleep at night, it said.
*****
The internal conversation lasted all of a second.
He nodded at the biotic and said, “I won’t let anyone hurt her, I promise.”
[Insert reply, if any]
He boarded the shuttle.
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Post by Maelstrom on Jun 13, 2015 22:25:06 GMT -6
“I won’t let anyone hurt her, I promise," Fischer said.
"Good," Maelstrom replied. Honestly, he was more worried for the unarmed Fischer than his fully-equipped shuttle, but either way, they would probably be more effective together.
Maelstrom looked over at the newbie's shuttle. It appeared to be locked down. That either meant that the man was not in there or that he was cowering in fear. In either case, that meant that the vessel was not a worthwhile destination. Instead, he started for engineering.
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Post by Maelstrom on Jun 13, 2015 22:34:36 GMT -6
GM Post-
All frequencies suddenly fill with a shrill sound, punctuated with pauses and artificially-modulated groans and croaks. The transmission comes over everything, even the PA, briefly shorting out Mr. Torrez's video (the screen momentarily replaced with what at first glance appears to be static but is actually a pattern). It is too long to be a simple surge in the system, and it seems too deliberate to have been a malfunction. It ends as soon as it began.
For those on the top decks, you may notice one or more power conduits spark and then short out.
1. If you are an engineer, you can identify the source of the signal.
2. If your character is very tech savvy and pursuing that avenue, you may notice certain things about ships systems (contact a GM for specifics and permission).
3. The drones carrying parts continue on their way, but the other drones start moving slightly closer. Something about their behavior seems off, and there are even intermittent sparks or other signs that signal the possible testing of weapons systems. Still, when approached or stared at, they hide.
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jun 15, 2015 1:13:41 GMT -6
Esteban punched in a quick command into his omnitool, sending a copy of the ship's blueprint over to the reporter.
"Transferring the schematic now," Esteban responded to Izham's request. "I lit up the most direct route you can take. Just be ready to fight. I have a bad feeling..."
He said that last part again to himself. After everything else that happened, he wouldn't be surprised if it was something terrible waiting for the crew, like a humanoid-Reaper-Borg-Turian-Cannibalistic-thing. Esteban shook his head and sighed, pulling up the latest data report from the ship.
[insert reply, etc]
"Esteban out," he responded with purpose, his eyes narrowing... reflecting the disturbing data feed he was reading. There were strange inconsistencies within the ship's RAM. Whatever was happening was attempting to access, if not alter, Gin. The VI was shut down, but that was not stopping the attempts. These things, maybe artificial processors, was attempting to access pointers in the Valiant's memory. Hundreds of artificial processors. That was the only way to explain what he was seeing....
His eyes shifted, his keen mind processed the information as fast as it was coming in...
"No," he whispered into the quiet, as dawning realization hit.
It couldn't be....
Not here....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 6:22:57 GMT -6
Naetilia was about to release a high-powered electrical attack on the surgical arm when a piercing high-pitched squeal burst from the PA system.
She turned to look for the source of the transmission and saw that the video of sexual intercourse between the human and the krogan had been interrupted by what appeared to be static.
Then the squeal stopped and the video display resumed showing the sexual encounter.
“That was not a simple glitch,” she said to herself, then turned back to see how Lysander was faring in his battle.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Jun 16, 2015 11:45:13 GMT -6
The surgical assist arm was sturdy but not designed to lift anything heavier than medical tools or other equipment necessary for surgical procedures. Grappling it and using one’s weight it could be taken off its mount and parted from its power cord, disabling it with brute force. Eric was seriously considering this as the arm parried more of his advances and hit him about the neck and torso. His growing anger at the machine made him numb to injuries. He glanced over at Naetilia and the door. The longer the turians took to get it open the less choice Eric had about trying not to damage or break expensive gear. “I am one with the Four Winds!” the PA taunted again as the arm dealt another blow.
“This thing… is seriously… testing the limits… of my medication!” Eric growled and dodged. “Somebody better shut this thing down… or I’m gonna get nasty!”
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2015 6:14:25 GMT -6
"Enough," Naetilia said, charging up her Overload attack and firing at the arm.
The arm shuddered and fell limp, and this time it remained immobile, nor was there any comment from the PA system.
"To ensure it does not resurrect itself, I recommend we disable it further," she said. "What do you think, Lysander?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Jun 17, 2015 10:12:03 GMT -6
Eric gave no reply. As she finished her last sentence the human vented his rage at the arm, bracing it with his crutch, tearing it from its base mount and falling to the deck with it. Using the other crutch Eric stabbed and pounded the arm until the crutch snapped in two. The surgical arm would no longer function for good or ill, only good for spare parts now as it lay there with severed joints and exposed circuitry. The N7 panted heavily, head hung low over the deck. Too many people…
Eric’s breath slowed and he was conscious again of someone in the room with him. Regardless of what Naetilia thought of his tirade, she could throw no stones. They both had their justification for their respective hatreds of synthetics and krogan. The human pushed himself upright from the deck and came up to the door.
“… now let’s see about getting’ this open...” he exhaled as he wedged his hands into a crevice for a grip.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2015 12:05:08 GMT -6
"I would advise against that, Lysander," she said, reaching out to him. "Mr. Caenilus is cutting through the door as we speak, I would not want you to be injured by the very person assisting us. How about we step away from the door and I treat your injuries?"
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Jun 18, 2015 2:32:26 GMT -6
He gulped, hating the feeling of his drying throat.
His trembling hand punched in a quick command into his omnitool, the only thing lighting the darkness, and connected to the ship's comm system.
"Geth," he slightly cracking voice echoed in the ship. "Fucking Geth are in the system. We'll worry about the how later on..."
Truthfully, he had no idea how the hell the Geth got on the ship. What was their goal? Why were they here? And what was the point? His mind raced with possibilities.
He frowned.
"I'll purge them from the system. The rest of you deal with the intruder and neutralize whatever hardware they took over."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Jun 18, 2015 4:45:15 GMT -6
"Geth," came the voice of his employer through the ship's PA system. "Fucking Geth are in the system. We'll worry about the how later on. I'll purge them from the system. The rest of you deal with the intruder and neutralize whatever hardware they took over."
Joe suddenly had trouble standing. He held on to a control panel in a death grip until the weakness in his legs passed.
My fault...
Up until now, the VI had not been the least bit helpful; she claimed EM shielding prevented her from scanning the ship and security protocols Maelstrom had set up prevented her from interfacing with the ship's systems he had wanted her to use to find the source of the problem.
He looked back up.
"Come on, Emily, give me something, dammit," he said, almost succeeding in keeping the panic and desperation out of his voice. "Did you hear Bridges? We've got geth on the ship, which means everybody is at risk, including Maelstrom, probably even you too. Help me keep this ship and everybody on it safe, please."
My fault my fault my fault...
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Post by Eric Lysander on Jun 18, 2015 11:13:09 GMT -6
The ship’s PA went active again, this time with an all too human voice. “Geth. Fucking Geth are in the system…”
Eric pushed away from the door, startled as if it had become hot to the touch. Blood drained from his visage and a wave of terror broke over him. Before their return became public knowledge, Eric had been one of the unfortunate few to encounter the geth and was sworn to secrecy along with his surviving unit by Alliance Command following an inquest by the Galactic Council. His actions at the Cerberus base and every action he had taken against the machines since then had one goal: prevent the geth from getting offworld . If they hijacked a long-range communications array – or a starship – multiple systems could find themselves exterminated by their own technology. Robbing them of their power source was the most effective way the N7 veteran had of stopping geth attacks; he often put more stock in this tactic then any hacker or engineer’s efforts. The geth were far more advanced than a virus. Adaptive and calculating at light speed, they could give even the most talented programmers the challenge of their lives if they underestimated their abilities. If the engineers on board the Valiant could not stop this attack, the ship could become a vanguard for another geth invasion.
And Eric was at Ground Zero.
The PA continued to broadcast. “We’ll worry about the how later on... I'll purge them from the system. The rest of you deal with the intruder and neutralize whatever hardware they took over."
The terror fled Eric’s body and was quickly replaced by anger. Oh, I know how they got on board…
Eric cupped his hands around his jaw and called out to Marcius on the other side of the door. “Marcius! Get this door open NOW!”
He turned to Naetilia. “Naetilia! Find that mutt o’yours n’ yank its power core. No questions or arguments – just DO IT!!”
If we get outta this alive, Joe… you’re in big fuckin’ trouble…
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Post by spartan560 on Jun 18, 2015 23:33:05 GMT -6
Once he received the schematic he headed for it stopping to make sure his shuttle was secured. Debating whether to use the Disciple and his biotics or his Disciple and his Omni-blade. As he goes along he unconsciously deploys and redeploys his Omni-blades in his anxiousness.
Suddenly Bridges voice comes in over the intercom, "Geth," a slight pause as if he was collecting his breath or getting over the shock of this information, "Fucking Geth are in the system. We'll worry about the how later on. I'll purge them from the system. The rest of you deal with the intruder and neutralize whatever hardware they took over." I knew it, no human could have hacked my Omni-tool that quickly Izahm thinks as he now sprints for his objective, Oh shit that means those drones were building platforms for the Geth VIs. He then moves faster activating his Tech Armor full strength the blue light eerie in the cramped hallways. "Azrael activate Alpha level anti hacking and counter cyberwarfare suites, lock down all critical systems and divert runtimes from secondary and tertiary nonessential systems to anti hacking and counter cyberwarfare runtimes," Izahm says hoping the greatest hackers in the galaxy didn't hack his livelihood. "Done sir," Azrael's voice replies within a few seconds, "Sir if Geth are onboard then it will only take time before they build mobile platforms and storm the ship. The Alarei is a prime example of this." Izahm sighs then says, "The Alarei was an experiment gone wrong which cost the Quarians dearly, this is not the same." Azrael acknowledges then disconnects isolating his shuttle from the ships systems.
Upon reaching his destination he deploys a single Omni-blade on his right arm then overclocks it the normal orange hue turning blue and the normally two inch blade extending to one foot. "Alright Bridges I am at the target," he pauses flicking on his left arms Omni-tool preparing to activate his Omni-shield should he get attacked, "I'll hold the entrance and wait for backup." At least I hope there's backup on its way he thinks feet spread apart left arm forward in a shield pose though no shield is deployed yet while his right arm is held to the side and slightly turned so he can easily lunge forward and slice the first drone to arrive which after a few seconds a pair does fly towards him. After a quick jab and than a horizontal slash the two drones are rendered inoperable. I hope the others get here soon I don't want to face an army of drones alone, Izahm thinks then slashes through another drone trying to reach the entrance behind him.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2015 5:43:32 GMT -6
“JUST DO IT!” Lysander yelled.
“Yes,” she said, and looked around the medbay.
She did not see it, so she stepped into the room that was her private quarters, and the mech was not there either.
She stepped back into the medbay.
“It is not here,” she said.
-----
The mech followed a drone as it transported a small box of parts through the Valiant.
It lacked sentience and the ability to express itself, but in its limited way it had detected a threat to its owner. Its programming dictated that it locate the source of the threat and remove it, but it could not, so it was settling for the next best thing, which was to search for anything out of place, and the behavior of the drones qualified.
It followed the drone deeper into the bowels of the ship.
[NOTE: This portion put up with GM approval.]
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Post by Maelstrom on Jun 19, 2015 7:16:25 GMT -6
"Geth," Bridges voice came over the PA. Evidently, their employer had regained partial control over at least some ship's systems. "Fucking Geth are in the system. We'll worry about the how later on..."
"I'll purge them from the system. The rest of you deal with the intruder and neutralize whatever hardware they took over."
Maelstrom paused for a moment. Engaging the drones would more than likely call down the full fury of their adversary, both in terms of malfunctions it could inflict on the ship and, more conventionally, in drones programmed to treat the crew as hostiles. He nodded his head, reminding himself that Bridges had earned a measure of trust in their time together. If the engineer said it was safe to engage the AI-controlled hardware, then Maelstrom chose to believe that the man could manage the AI's attempts against the crew.
"Let's do this, Meldom," Maelstrom said.
With that, he brought up his assault rifle and took out the first of the hard-light drones, his bullets quickly disrupting its containment field, which burst with a harmless electrical display. As he took aim at the next, it started spurting flame, but Maelstrom neutralized it before it could get in close to him.
Maelstrom saw a mechanical drone loaded with parts. Rather than attack, it was rushing away, towards the upper decks. Maelstrom had no idea why the parts were needed by the AI, but he knew better than to let it get them. With a few well-placed shots, he took out the unit's propulsion, attempting to leave it relatively intact for later repair by Bridges.
A quick signal from the fingers on his right gauntlet activated his secure channel to Emily. "Emily, geth on the ship. Highest anti-hacking measures."
"Understood," she said, any attempt at human emulation gone, as her processors devoted all free resources to cyber-defense, shutting down all non-essentials to further bolster her efforts.
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Post by Maricus Caenilus on Jun 19, 2015 7:26:22 GMT -6
"Geth," Esteban's voice called throughout the ship. Maricus paused his cutting efforts, frozen for a moment in disbelief. "Fucking Geth are in the system. We'll worry about the how later on..."
He wanted to question his friend's assessment, before reminding himself that in all the times he had known the engineer, he had never been one to overstate a threat. If he said it was a geth, that meant it could only be a geth or, if it was possible, something even worse.
"I'll purge them from the system. The rest of you deal with the intruder and neutralize whatever hardware they took over."
Returning to the moment, Maricus gritted his teeth, his mandibles tensing unconsciously, as he forced his way through the last few inches of the door. He felt his sword refuse to go any further, as it was finally in full contact with the Valiant's metal flooring. While he could have punched through with the point of his blade, there was no way that it could cut through the flooring using its length.
“Marcius! Get this door open NOW!” Lysander's voice called out.
Rather than be annoyed at his subordinate's tone, Maricus simply grinned. He had not experienced an adrenaline rush like this in ages. He withdrew his sword, jammed it in again halfway up the door's height, then pushed to the side. He was using it like that human tool- he believed it was called a crowbar. Having cut through some of the door's hydraulics along with locking mechanisms, he managed to get it to yield several inches.
He returned his sword to its place on his armor, grabbed the sides of the door with his hands, and, with a grunt, forced it open to almost a meter.
"You two ready to get out of here?"
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