Calch, get on your messenger, gorramit!

Im really sorry to do this guys, but this weekend I am working Sunday, and saturday is the only day i get off, its also Mothersday on the weekend, and Im having builders in at the new house as well as packing up things in the old.
So it doesnt look like i can run this day.

Sorry cal, I was hoping to have at least 2 straight games in a row to get you bedded into play.. but I will email you about dream stuff.

Its cool. I already explained that I understand completely about RL stuff. Take care and be safe with the move.

Damn, that sucks. Alright, well standard fare: anyone does show up is welcome to chat. Sometimes it's IC, sometimes it's OOC, and it's a good opportunity to get some character meeting going on for those who are new.

And for those of you that do show up, I will have Rage hold a status of the group briefing and share information we have as well as plan our next moves.

Sounds good.

Part 1: Monastery Discussion

**Ragistan would go over the data they had so far before summoning everyone to a conference room. The room was comfortable and had windows, a far cry from the room Wraith last met Rage in! He would wait patiently for everyone to file in "Hello everyone, thank you for taking time away from your duties to be here. I thought it would be important for us to gain a consesus and to understand what we are doing for the next step of the operation." **
**Brandt (D) nods to Ragistan as he files in, Sirius at his heel; he takes a seat at a further pile of pillows and the mechanical wolf lays at his side **
**Frank would finally be awake for when things are interesting for once. **
**Ragistan looks to Frank as he makes his way in. "Oh well, you are finally awake!" **
** Wraith is dressed spare jungle fatigues without a blouse **
Wraith: "Whats the next part of the op?"
Frank: "Yes, yes I am."
**Brandt (D) is dressed in his basic casual wear, though his vest has been let open **
**Ragistan looks to Wraith. "We are going down to the structure that was being guarded by your Leviathin buddy.." he nods to Brandt. "Brandt has found a way to lure it off so we can use a window to get in and look around, you have the most experiance that we know of with thes structures so I was hoping you could tell us what to expect, and what may have caused the destruction of the place?" **
Wraith: "Its got an unknown language. I've sent it back to Ascendant Intelligence for analysis. It doesn't match any of the known languages listed thus far."
Wraith: "Some sort of dead language"
Wraith: "But uhh. I basically walked around and touched a few things and stumbled around. Somehow the monastery reacted depending on what I did.
**Brandt (D) looks up at the reference to himself, then over to Wraith, one hand lifting a small sprig to his muzzle to chew. **
**Frank whistles, "Sooo...some crazy stuff happens when your asleep." **
Wraith: "My blood did react with some of the engravings in the wall of the monastery I was in which unlocked a section. Its freaky shit."
Brandt (D): "Well, no doubt it's the same civilization that left behind all the mecha the natives use. The wreckage we have is ancient... Durable as hell, but ancient."
**Brandt (D) nods over to Oldguy "Yeah, things have been...interesting." **
Frank: "Apparently. So what are you Whippersnappers doing now?"
Brandt (D): "We're going down to the structure that was being guarded by the Leviathan. Well, we will be."
Brandt (D): "I guess Ragistan is just hoping it doesn't go all to hell and we get crushed. Which, would be pretty bad."
Brandt (D): "We're going down to the structure that was being guarded by the Leviathan. Well, we will be."
Wraith: "Leviathan won't be a problem"
Wraith: "Right?"
Frank: "Thats the thing you kids found in the sea right?"
Brandt (D): "The test worked well enough...I have a few dozen crates of crystal growing now, as long as that thing doesn't get tired of eating, we should be safe."
Brandt (D): "And yes, Leviathan's a ship-sized...well, it's underwater, and eats things, and it's the size of a ship." (Really a Corvette class, it’s 500m long.)
Frank: "Anything I can do to help?"
**Ragistan looks to Frank. "You could tell us, what do you remember from when you received those crystals? anything at all?" **
Brandt (D): "Well...maybe." *Sits up, propping on an elbow as he addresses Frank.* "See...this crystal, it's the same stuff inside you...it's inside the Leviathan, too... You said you saw ghostly...animals, and turns out people around this ship have been seeing things all over. On top of that, there's a structure underwater, similar to the one Wraith found before. All of these things have happened on top of Viridian crystal 'veins'."
Frank: "So your saying that there is a connection between these things and Viridian crystals? Well considering the fact that I should be dead and am not somesort of crystal man being, I am willing to believe."
**Brandt (D) nods slightly "It certainly seems that way." *Then tips his head toward Ragistan* "Do you remember anything? **
**Ragistan would nod to Frank and he points to a rather large starfish perched clinging to his shoulder that has the same crystals that run through oldguy **
Wraith: "That leviathan I took on solo had viridian crystal webwork in its body over old wounds
Brandt (D): "Yes, we picked that up with our sensors. From a safe distance."
Brandt (D): "It's what gave me the idea to try to feed it crystals to lure it away."
Wraith: "Very well. I lost comms after I engaged. Didn't know what you saw or if you even got my comms"
**Ragistan nods to them. "My idea for drawing the leviathin away was to use the ships artillery to launch shells made of Brandts bait out into the ocean to keep the leviathin chasing the sources of its snack **
Brandt (D): "Well, I found out first-hand it didn't find you very tasty."
Wraith: "No shit"
Brandt (D): "Might that draw its attention to the Pigeon? It might be safer to load the crates onto a small cargo transport to be dumped off."
Brandt (D): "At worst, you're only risking a small crew."
**Ragistan nods. "It may, but I thinnk it is a possibility it will go after the thing it knows it likes to eat spalshing into the water rather than the thing making a bit of noise a distance away." **
**Brandt (D) nods thoughtfully **
Frank: "I know I would
Brandt (D): "Ok, I should be able to rig up a supply of canister rounds... make a few 'leak' once they're fired, that should help get its attention that there's food in the area.
**Ragistan considers. "I remember it gave us a count down, so we should have time to evacuate, though when we are down in the building, we should refrain from touching things if we can." **
Brandt (D): "Agreed. I'll go over my logs, maybe I can figure out a pattern, and at least know when we're getting down to the line on a countdown."
**Ragistan nods. "That is a good idea." **
**Ragistan looks to Frank. "You could tell us, what do you remember from when you received those crystals? anything at all?" **
Frank: "Nothing much. All I could remember was just the crystals growing on my body where the fatal wound was."
Frank: "After that, I just woke up at the deal location."
**Ragistan nods slowly listening to him **
**Brandt (D) leans back slightly, speaking but more idly curious "I wonder what killed the Leviathan..." **
Frank: "Just a guess. But maybe it was a sky ship, before it was a sea ship."
**Ragistan looks to Brandt. "Or there may not have been a leviathan in that area." **
Brandt (D): "Well, it's a giant swimming...thing. Probably not. Something just blew it all to hell, judging by Wraith's observation."
Brandt (D): "So...the Leviathan is taken care of... But we don't know anything about possible security, other than we shouldn't touch anything?"
**Ragistan shakes his head. "The last one had that particularly large psionic trap, other than that I cant say." **
Brandt (D): "I have my own gear, but how are we for pressure suits? I recall some stayed behind, possibly for the better, last time."
**Ragistan nods. "I dont have an inventory available to me, but I believe there are some around." **
Brandt (D): "It's possible they all, if there are more, possess some kind of psionic trap...Viridian crystals amplify those energies when they're properly formed, it could be why they were constructed atop veins."
Frank: "What kind of trap are we talking about here?"
Brandt (D): "The other monastery was built beneath a dense ore 'shelf' underwater... When I entered, well behind Wraith and Ragistan, there was already a countdown. When it ended, a Psionic force concentrated the ore above the monastery and crushed the site entirely."
Brandt (D): "Some kind of failsafe or self destruct, possibly."
Frank: "So will you expect more impending doom in this expedition?"
Brandt (D): "I'll bring Sirius and my tools with me... depending on how much time is available, it's possible I can disarm it if it's a trap... Problem is, we don't know the language, so I can only guess once we're down there at how much time is left."
**Ragistan shrugs some. "No idea, thats why I recommended we not touch anything to start with." **
Brandt (D): "I don't want to ask, but how do you feel about remote operations? Sirius and I are both rigged."
**Ragistan cants his head to the side. "Remote operations? **
**Brandt (D) turns his head to the side and a wall-mounted monitor flickers to life, displaying a view of the wall-mounted monitor **
**Brandt (D) turns back, the monitor shutting down "That explain it well enough?" **
**Ragistan nods. "Indeed, but I would prefer to be there in person, in case anything untoward attacks." **
Frank: "I wouldn't mind following this one as well."
Brandt (D): "I'm not sure you understand.. Our range is fairly short, but I'm more concerned of its impact. This may be a way to safely interact with any terminals down there...but it could just as easily set off a trap itself."
Brandt (D): "I think I'd prefer you down there, actually. If there is some link between all these anomalies, you're as much a safeguard, maybe even /key/, as anything else."
Frank: "This is all based on speculation?"
Brandt (D): "Consider it an educated guess. The planet my kindred settled after being driven from our homeworld had similar constructs... We discovered Viridian veins, as well as ancient ruins, similar to this world. For us, the two were hand-in-hand. Much of our technology differs from" *Waves his hand slightly, gesturing the Pigeon in general* "this because of it. If the same is true here, you will be an asset down there."
Brandt (D): "Even if whatever happened to you occurred at random, it is a phenomena, to my knowledge, isolated to this world. Speculation or not, it makes your presence at the monastary a factor I would prefer to have, than not. And I suspect Ragistan would agree with that logic."
Frank: "Well, with any luck, I'll dicover more about this pnenomena then. When do you plan on doing this?"
Brandt (D): "As soon as possible. There is the other matter of the Orphan Star we need to handle... It will take me time to rig capsule ammunition for the ship's main guns as Ragistan wants...but in a few hours I'll have a large stock of crystal 'bait' on-hand. Any more time simply makes it possible to have more bait."
Frank: "Well I am going to go have a nap first then. Don't wanna miss this."
Brandt (D): "Are you sure that's the best idea? Last nap lasted half a week."
Frank: "The alarm for cyrosleep was broken and no one bothered to wake me up!"
**Ragistan considers. "if he sleeps too long we could set him next to one of the deck guns when we launch one of the bait shells." **
**Brandt (D) chuckles **
Brandt (D): "Well, in the meanwhile I'm going to dig up specs on this ship's artillery rounds. Maybe I can configure a growth field to load the bait into /and/ fire them. It'll solve the problem of hole-ing out a few hundred shells."
Frank: "You do that."
Brandt (D): "If you're hungry, stop by the hangar and try a bite..."
Ragistan: He shrugs a little. "May be a good idea."
**Brandt (D) chuckles "Probably not the best idea, unless you're giving them to your little shoulder-buddy." **
Brandt (D): "If you're hungry, stop by the hangar and try a bite..."
Frank: "A bite of what?"
Brandt (D): "Some of the crystals that are being grown."
Frank: "Hmm? Well sure, why not eat incredibly expensive crystals."
Brandt (D): "Hmm... I suppose a little clarity is in order."
Brandt (D): "My kin's technology developed around the Viridian technology similar to what is found on this planet, however there are several /kinds/ of Viridian gem."
Brandt (D): "It's similar to the differences of Iron and Steel. Grown naturally, it has the properties you are familiar with, and functions excellently when modified for use as circuitry
Brandt (D): "However, that growth can be accelerated artificially through the use of a Gravitic field...Even simulating Zero-G will greatly enhance the normal growth rate into something which can be taken advantage of throughout the manufacturing process."
Brandt (D): "Unfortunately that accelerated growth deprives the crystal of many of its inherent benefits. It still functions as an ideal circuit, and can be tailored to fit nearly any purpose through customized gravitic fields."
Brandt (D): "The crystal I am preparing in the hangar is formulated and the fields tuned for a growth rate several thousand times normal. It has little to none of the traits that you would associate with a Viridian crystal."
Frank: "Thus, its like fake diamonds?"
** Frank is in the diner, eating your crystals **
Brandt (D): "My understanding of the common process to grow 'fake' diamonds involves starting with a true diamond seed...in that way, yes, they are similar. However Viridian crystals grow of their own accord, without an inherent need for 'feed' material. Our current theory is...well, complicated, at best. We still do not understand the entire nature of their existence."
Brandt (D): "It was centuries before we even realized their further uses and entanglement with psionic expression."
Frank: "I was more of referring to the fact its not as good as the real thing."
Brandt (D): "In your present state, you may even 'function' as a greater amplifier than Ragistan's own Psionic amplifier built into his armor."
Brandt (D): "Well, better than the real thing is a matter of perspective."
Brandt (D): "A module on my armor can grow a Viridian shard to an array of specifications in a matter of seconds, providing me with virtually unlimited ammunition."
Brandt (D): "Neither mine nor your kin have discovered any comparable technology...though I understand the Dargonese can achieve a similar effect with their biological creations."
Frank: "Well our technology concentrates more on light and power effeciency. As far as I know."
Brandt (D): "It does not need the traits typically associated with the crystal... in this case the advantage is that it can be grown in quantity, rapidly. A quality your kind have had little interest in discovering, instead focusing your want for the material solely to be used, and not studied. Given its rarity on Concordat worlds, I can understand that."
Brandt (D): "Please do not misunderstand, our paths are different, however we share many similarities and I do not mean to...offend...the ingenuity of humans."
Frank: "Yes I understand that much."
**Brandt (D) considers a moment, on that note "I wonder if Mai still has the sample cutting she made, I'm curious of its properties." **
Frank: "But like you say, theres still much you don't understand about your crystals, the same thing applies to our light based technology, the fullness of its potential has yet to be completely tapped."
Brandt (D): "That is true about a great many things, I think."
Brandt (D): "I would be curious what you think of the grown crystal. I had the idea while studying Ragistan's 'visitor'. It appeared to enjoy one of the Viridian bolts I carry with me."

Part 2: Merc Business

Wraith: "So on the orphan star situation?"
Wraith: "What are your thoughts on them gents?"
**Ragistan scratches his chin. "I do not know much about them, I have never had dealings with them before this." **
Wraith: "I'm thinking after the monastery we should check out their island"
Brandt (D): "I have spoken my part on this before. I did not come here to battle. I am trained, but that is not my focus."
Wraith: "Where they are training the elites. It would help shed some light on things."
Wraith: "How big is the marine contingent we have on board?"
Wraith: "And are they equipped like your personal suit is, for infiltration"
**Ragistan gives a laugh. "Mine is the only such suit on this ship or in the whole of the cartel, The others are standard marines, but taking a whole squad is inadvisable, in this situation Less is more." **
Wraith: "Well."
Wraith: "I'm thinking direct action."
Wraith: "Within reason if that guy in the orphan star can't help out in a more subtle manner"
Wraith: "Get some surveillance with the string of pearls....orbital satellites I'm sure your father has to have at his disposal. Get some people that spend all day looking at pictures to identify key locations. Where the admin section is opposed to the barracks, armory, medical."
Wraith: "Command and control the works."
Wraith: "And a way to get your marines on the island"
**Ragistan nods. "Direct action could work, but again, subtlty and smaller units will owork best, my marines would get killed in an up and up fight with mech units **
Wraith: "Thats why we remove the mech units from the fight"
Wraith: "Don't discount them, I've seen human special forces blow up a Rogue class Mecha in the jungles"
Ragistan: "And how do you propose to do that? If these are their elite cadres they will be ready for this sort of thing."
Wraith: "Diversion."
Wraith: "Naturally."
Ragistan: "Elaborate?"
Wraith: "You know that dargonese biomachien Z we have on board"
Wraith: "Its a unknown quantity...way I figure it. Simple is best"
Wraith: "Take out some training flights and fade. Guerilla action."
**Ragistan nods. "And again we could do that better without several squads of marines to supply and keep hidden, After we establuish a beach head and screw with them a bit then maybe we can bring in extra forces to mop up." **
Wraith: "They have to get resupplied right?'
Wraith: "on that island"
Wraith: "Figuring out how they get resupplied would also be a pretty big deal."
**Ragistan shrugs. "Maybe, maybe not. They could be sresupplied once a year for all we know." **
Wraith: "Thats why we need to do our homework. I can talk to you all day about how I want to wage a guerilla war on them. It would be nice...."
Wraith: "But it would be irrelevent if it don't get the job done."
Wraith: "First thing we need is that sat coverage and to put the pieces together."
Wraith: "Also, I don't think we have time to do a whole beachhead thing anyway. It has to be in and out capture key personnel and fade"
Wraith: "Assuming it goes that far"
**Ragistan cocks an eyebrow ridge. "I am not exactly sure what kind of satellite intel we have in this area...The best we could hope for likely is to take brandt shuttle into orbit and try to sight see." **
Wraith: "If you put a good enough camera on it. That would work"
**Ragistan looks at Brandt **
Brandt (D): "You know, on my approach, I didn't detect much. Even debris. Does C'tarn even operate geostationary satellites? It seems likely the mercs, Orphan Star and the others, wouldn't take kindly to that.
Brandt (D): "But I could reach low orbit again, sure...and if you can find a long-range sensor suite to fit onto Corona, that could work."
**Ragistan gives a shrug of his shoulders. "I dont know, I never really payed much attention to orbital things, I spent the last ten years fighting ground side fights." he taps his artificial mecha arm. "Thats how I got this." **
Wraith: "Satellite uplinks are very valuable."
Wraith: "Common when a force has orbital superiority. Helps us in numerous ways and facilitates communicaiton between us ground guys and the Marine Commander."
Wraith: "Ground Force Commander, whatever the fuck"
Wraith: "I don't know if the cartel has them to monitor the tribes or not although I think it would be wise to have them around"
Brandt (D): "That's true, but there's just one problem... Neither side belongs here. At best, C'tarn avoids the mercs, and the mercs avoid C'tarn, right?" *Looks up and over to Ragistan* "Both sides probably have comm equipment good enough to reach within their active range, whatever the active range is for the mercs, and I haven't heard of hostilities since my arrival."
**Ragistan nods. "That and orbital control isnt really needed, all the fighting is done here close to the ground." **
Wraith: "Knowledge is power."
Wraith: "Thats why I keep bringing up satellites."
Brandt (D): "And both sides have missiles...and Corona isn't the only ship capable of breaking orbit. Hell, if I could refuel the drive, I could leave the system."
**Ragistan nods. "And brandt said if we can get the proper sensors to hook into his shuttle we could go to low orbit and get the information we need." **
Wraith: "Check with the techs"
Wraith: "I know some of the spare parts I brought for the exterminator like the MARS and ASP suites can be linked in to a resolution intensifier"
Wraith: "It should help enhance the orbital cam"
**Brandt (D) considers after a moment "I wonder if I could get some amplification out of my gravitic barrier, too... Interesting." **
**Brandt (D) leans up, slowly rising from the pillow pile, obviously distracted by thoughts "If there's nothing else, I'll make the arrangements for your shell idea, and see what sensor gear I can dig up that will break through atmosphere." *Starts toward the door and pauses, looking back.* "I can do without, but this will be a lot easier if I could repair the damaged wing, which may take a few days even with a full repair crew." **
**Ragistan would lean back on his pillows, looking around and digging under them to pull out a bottle of wine, using two teeth he pops the cork and downs half of it in one gulp. "Requesition anything you think you could use, if anyone gives you problems have them talk to me, the shells and wing should be top priority then the sensors." **
**Brandt (D) nods and heads out **

Exfellent! looking forward to the next game and you guys exploring the Deep see monastary thing!hehehe

I laughed, will explain why in a couple of sessions!

Hope ya'll have fun this weekend. As I mentioned before, this weekend I will not be available for a game. I'm looking forward to getting back into it.