| Logs |
2002 February 24
| Weston |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Weston Logs |
I've got a bad feeling about this...
The helicopter sets down on a stretch of beach in a bay, just beyond the sand, on the grass. The motors shut down immediately and Aleksei opens the door, so the group can get out.
The Insertion Point
A long stretch of beach winds around the bay, with Sydney clearly off in the distance. It is not quiet with the soft crash of waves and singing of birds, but there is an unsettling lack of human sounds to be heard. No cars on the highway into Sydney, no hum from the powerlines above.
Numerous hardcases rest on the ground here, presumably holding the group's requistioned supplies.
Aleksei gets out of the helicopter first, looking around at the landing point. He points at the cases. "Your supplies are over here."
Bethpage shrugs mentally and exits the helicopter. Sooner is as good as later, here.
Saburo moves to the front of the helicopter, and asks the pilot if he can borrow their roll of tape. He finds it, and moves back towards the door.
Bethpage goes to inspect the supplies.
Geneviev steps out nimbly and walks over towards the crates.
Dr_Chong climbs out of the helicopter and begins to inspect the supply cases.
Kavanaugh nods to Aleksei, as he slips from the helicopter to the ground. He's oddly quiet, and appears pensive, though he keeps his weapons holstered. "Thank you, m'son," he says simply. "You're dusting off right away?"
Saburo climbs out of the chopper, and joins the others.
The supply cases are roughly organised by type. Medical supplies in one case, toolkits in another. The group finds two more air canisters each in the supplies, as promised. They have enough air to last 3 days, each.
Finally, a small case with each person's name marked on it is on the ground, containing the guns, clothing and other equipment that was requisitioned for personal use, rather than group use. All in all, everything seems to be here that the group requested.
Saburo finds his extra ammunition, and sorts through it, putting extra magazines and clips into the storage pouches on his backpack and rigs. He marks his armour piercing clips with one strip of tape, and puts two strips of silver tape around the clips and magazines of explosive rounds.
The group finds that, whether they requested them or not, they all have backpacks large enough to carry their personal supplies. The group supplies, though, will not fit in the packs. They've been packed in three big hard-cases and will likely have to be carried.
Saburo gets his extra guns out, fits a shoulder strap to his Koroshi laser smg, and to his AK-107V. He straps the twin Japanese made SCK100 SMGs to the back of his backpack.
Dr_Chong finds the case with his name, sorts his supplies and packs them back up again for travel.
Kavanaugh finds the case with his name, giving whats in it a cursory inspection just to make sure they're all there.
Aleksei stands back and watches as the group gets their supplies sorted. "Is everything there?"
Bethpage makes a beeline to her case, and smiles beneath the mask as she opens it. Bless them. They listened. She stows most of her personal items in a backpack, but keeps her pretty new Koroshi gun out and loaded, though holstered, and hangs on to the stun-staff.
Dr_Chong simply nods in affirmative to Aleksei.
Geneviev takes a quick inventory of her own supplies as she stuffs them in a backpack.
Bethpage beams at Aleksei, her voice almost cheerful. "Yes, thank you. If you had a hand in our supplies, thank you personally."
Saburo stows the rest of his gear in his backpack, plugs his assault rifle's HUD link into his helmet, and nods.
Dr_Chong shoulders his backpack and leans on his walking stick, which looks almost comical with the combat armor on.
Kavanaugh nods, not really realizing that Aleksei can't see the nod in his suit. "I think so, m'son. It looks like it. Very good quality, of course. Thank you." He starts to load up his gear, paying especial attention to the ammunition, humming to himself.
Geneviev loads her needler and machine pistol and holsters them both, nodding to Aleksei.
Aleksei nods, the helmet bobbing slightly. "Excellent. This is where I leave you. I wish you all the best of luck."
Saburo carefully wraps his grenades inside a suit of monocrys armor, and puts it into the top of his backpack.
Saburo says, "What would you care about our success, Comrade?"
Kavanaugh nods, offering his hand to Aleksei. "Thanks again, m'son." He cocks his head for a moment. "Yarnchaser's right, we're grateful for the help you've given us. Hopefully we'll be seeing you at the debriefing?" And, Lord, I hope there's going to be a debriefing!
Aleksei shrugs, "Everyone should care, Mister Toshihiro. Any continent could be next."
Aleksei shakes Kavanaugh's hand. "I suspect I'll be there, Father Kavanaugh. Good luck."
Bethpage sees Kav's gesture, and decides to copy it. After all, she might die. Why not shake hands? She offers Aleksei a hand to shake.
Aleksei shakes Bethpage's hand as well. "Good luck."
Bethpage says quietly, "Thank you, Aleksei. We shall need it."
Saburo doesn't reply. He just hoists his assault rifle, and moves towards the front end of one of the supply containers, gripping the handle with his free hand.
Aleksei goes back to the helicopter and climbs inside, sliding the door shut behind him. The helicopter blades whirl to life and the helicopter lifts off silently, banking hard as it races off towards New Zealand.
Saburo says, "Father, have you selected the frequencies we will be using on the radio communicators?"
Geneviev watches the gestures and then glances at Saburo. "Saburo-san. Have we decided if we're going to the city first?"
Saburo raises his rifle, as the helicoptor leaves, as if he were wishing he had time to try and shoot it down....
Saburo says, "Hai. We need to go into Sydney, and establish an Ops base. Then we can put the good father to work on the data nets, and find Doctor Chong a labratory to test the air and .... samples."
Kavanaugh nods, then pats himslf down to make sure he's got everything. "Well, let's head off, shall we?" he asks cheerfully. "They're pre-set, Mr. Toshihiro. You want them set up different?"
Bethpage says, "Nice not to have a time limit except our air. Yes, let's get moving. A vehicle would be nice soonest, too."
Saburo says, "Let's worry about that on the way, Father. I'll feel better if the KGB has to at least work a little bit to track down our communications."
Geneviev nods. "Well...if we can get one of those shielded vehicles, we can come for these cases. They will just slow us down and we have limited air."
Saburo says, "We'll find vehicles in Sydney too."
Kavanaugh nods, and moves to pick up one of the handles on one of the cases. "Sounds like a plan. Though if they really wanted to, everything from the suits to the cases to the guns will have tracers of some kind."
Geneviev says, "Yes. We'll get their soonest without these cases."
Saburo says, "Good idea, Geneviev. Let's take what we need, and come back for the rest with a van."
Dr_Chong waits patiently for decisions to be made and for the group to be off.
Kavanaugh arches an eyebrow. "Hrm.... Yeah, true, Yarnchaser. I don't know though."
Saburo says, "Doctor, we'll need your medical supplies."
Bethpage moves to take her place on a container with Pitch. "Let's hide everything, and come back. They did warn us that other governments are watching by satellite for illegal activity."
Dr_Chong says, "I have enough emergency supplies to cover any mishaps that should happen here with me. The testing equipment could be returned for."
Saburo says, "We should take the case with the toolkits and medical supplies. We can come back for the camping supplies and food and air tanks."
Saburo hmms, and nods to the Doctor. "If you're sure, Doctor. Then we'll come back for it. Let's stow these away.
There is an enclosed firepit nearby that should provide air cover for the supplies that the group has.
Geneviev scans the horizon quietly.
Kavanaugh says, "Over there looks like a good place. Let's do that, then, and march on to Sydney."
Bethpage heads to help hide the cases in the firepit.
Saburo helps move one of the containers over to the large barbeque pit.
Dr_Chong helps carry one of the cases to the firepit.
Saburo hefts his rifle, and starts walking up towards higher ground.
Kavanaugh stretches a bit after the crates are stowed.. "Ah! Well, Yarnchaser, that's that. Off to Sydney now, are we?"
Saburo says, "I've always wanted to see the Opera House."
Geneviev follows Saburo up the incline. "Sydney's there." She points.
Saburo nods to Geneviev and pauses, kicking in his telescopics to scope out the approach to the city. "You see a good way to get there?"
Dr_Chong walks over beside Saburo, and adjusts his telescopics also, searching the nearby terrain for signs of movement.
Bethpage grins quietly inside her helmet at Saburo's comment. Opera House? He does have a sense of humor.
Geneviev looks at Sydney. "The main road is quicker, but a sattelite might spot us. We could follow the treeline there."
Saburo says, "Personally I am not overly worried about being spotted by sattelites. If anyone other than the Russians are keeping that close an eye on things, they probably saw the contact last week too."
Bethpage says, "Sounds good, Gene... I'd rather be safer, though, Saburo. The only people that want us back alive are the KGB-- anybody else might just nuke the place for fear of diseased people spreading, y'know?" She starts walking, watching for signs of life or other things that might eat people.
Saburo says, "Alright, we'll stay off the roads. But time is of the essence. We don't have enough air to waste time sneaking through the woods."
Geneviev looks around at everyone in their suits, a contemplative expression on her face.
Geneviev says, "Are they going to be monitoring us for extraction?"
Saburo starts walking, towards the treeline Gene pointed out.
Bethpage says over the suit comm as she walks, "We're supposed to radio them when we're ready."
Saburo says, "They gave us information on how to contact them via the communicators when we're ready. I expect they have sattelites overhead to watch for us."
Kavanaugh says, "No, we'll be calling them for hel-- er, extraction. There's a long-range radio in the cases with all the right codes."
Kavanaugh confirms the direction towards the city, then nods cheerfully. "True. Yarnchaser agrees, too. We'll need to be careful. Sooner we get to the city, too, the sooner we can find out if we can take off these suits or not." And with that he steps out in the direction of Sydney in an oddly lively manner. It'd look like he was marching, if it wasn't at a downright odd 80 steps per minute. As he marches or saunters he hums a bit, and very shortly is singing to himself -- considering that it's over an open channel, he inadvertantly has an audience:
Tiens, voila du boudin, voila du boudin, voila du boudin,
Pour les Alsaciens, les Suisses et les Lorrains.
Pour les Belges, il ny en a plus, pour les Belges, il ny en a plus,
Ce sont des tireurs au Cul....
Geneviev says, "Did anyone catch how long from when we request extraction to when the actually extract us?"
Bethpage says, "Kavanaugh?"
Kavanaugh is just getting into the next verse: "Au Tonkin, la Legion immortelle-- Eh? Oh! Yes?"
Bethpage says, "I can hear you, Kav."
Dr_Chong smiles slightly under his helmet.
Kavanaugh says, "You can? And -- Oh, the singing! Right, not to worry at all, m'child." And miraculously he does go silent, though every so often the humming is just loud enough to maybe me heard on the radio."
Saburo says, "It took us just over an hour to get here from New Zealand, Geneviev."
Geneviev says, "Yes...I realize. But governments work slower. Maybe we should ask them how long we will wait?"
Saburo says, "So it may take up to 6 hours for extraction, assuming they keep that helicopter in New Zealand, or close to it."
Saburo says, "Or, we could find out own transport off this island of death. Assuming the airports did not burn to the ground, we may be able to find a small plane that is still flightworthy."
Geneviev says, "It would be shot from the sky."
Geneviev says, "Did they ask for radio silence?"
Bethpage says, "Yes, Gene, until we are ready to leave."
Saburo says, "It could be.. if someone has an air craft carrier with combat jets in the area. I doubt the New Zealand air force has anything worth mentioning. If it makes you feel better, I could hardwire machine guns under the wings of a lear jet..."
Bethpage says, "We're supposed to use our suit comms only, til we call them once, to go."
Geneviev nods.
Saburo says, "We might be able to find a nice yacht."
Bethpage laughs, quietly.
Geneviev says, "It would have to be a submarine, Saburo-san."
Saburo says, "I am sure they have submarines somewhere here... Maybe it would be fun to try and drive one."
"No problem," Kavanaugh provides. "I can sail one of those, too, if need be."
Kavanaugh adds, "After all... half the effort in driving a boat is to keep it from sinking. A submarine is already sunk, so it's got to be easier."
Geneviev says, "With Yarnchaser at the helm"
Saburo says, "Ah, excellent. Come, let's go to Sydney and find their university."
Kavanaugh says, "Oh, no, he hates water. Watch... hey, Yarnchaser! It's bathtime!" There's absolute silence. "Told you," Kavanaugh says simply.
The group walks to Sydney. It takes some time, as they don't want to wear themselves out completely, but after about two hours, they find themselves in an eerily quiet city. There's no sign of humans at all. No bodies, nothing. Just empty buildings and empty vehicles. The traffic lights do not seem to be working and there are no lights on in the buildings, either. Several of the first buildings that the group comes across have been the victims of looters and as they continue, it becomes obvious that nearly every building has been damaged in some way. Mainly broken windows and kicked in doors.
Kavanaugh looks around, fretting. "Yeah... yeah, you're right, Yarnchaser. If everyone dropped dead from the disease... where are they?"
Saburo walks up the sidewalk, his assault rifle held ready, eyes scanning the streets and buildings. He speaks over the communicator, "Let's find the university or a hospital first. Keep your eyes open for a suitable vehicle."
Geneviev nods and looks around. "This looks strange, I think."
Bethpage looks around, untrusting of the desertion despite all she's heard... "The housecat has a point. Where are the remains? It's been long enough for good decay, I guess, but... have animals eaten even the bones?"
Kavanaugh is unnerved enough that he draws his SMG, following along behind Saburo, and keeping a relatively military-like alertness. Yarnchaser actually pokes his head out of the bag for a moment, gives a plaintive mewl, then ducks back into the pack.
Saburo tunes his internal broadcast communicator to scan through a wide range of channels, just in case something somewhere in the city is broadcasting....
Geneviev looks for a phonebooth to find addresses and maps of the city in.
Bethpage, having not much else to do, looks around for any sign of life-- stray cats, rats... tigers...
Saburo pauses to consult with Kavanaugh. "Let's hit the hospital first. You know where the university is?"
Dr_Chong moves to take a look at the phonebook with Geneview.
Pitch_Black says, "Can I make a suggestion there, Geneviev?"
Kavanaugh looks around, and shakes his head. "No, I don't. M'selle Geneviev has the right idea, though. Damn maps they gave us don't have streets. Knew I should've specified a Hagstrom aroad atlas....
Geneviev turns to look at Pitch_Black. "Yes?"
Pitch_Black reaches for the phone book. "May I?"
Saburo says, "Perhaps now is a good time to split up. Three of us can go to the hospital, while the other three scrounge for an off road capable vehicle."
Geneviev shrugs and moves aside.
Dr_Chong says, "If we do split up, I should go to the hospital."
Saburo says, "Hai, Doctor. I will go with you."
Bethpage says, "I'm mostly good for defense and basic breaking into non-cyber stuff, don't know much about vehicles. I'll go with whichever group needs me. "
Pitch_Black takes the phone book, puts a boot up on the phone itself, and rips it free with a cracking plastic and metal sound. He then hands it back to Geneviev, and wanders back to the main group. "There you go. Reference material courtesy of Sydney Telecom."
Kavanaugh says, "Right, then. You think I should scrounge up a good vehicle? There's gotta be at least a range rover, this is bloody Australia....""
Saburo says, "I am sure we can find even better than a range rover. Sydney had rock stars and movie stars living here. Not to mention there may be fully rigged up runner vehicles here. If we can find them."
Geneviev glances at Pitch_Black and then the phone book and then back at him, grinning a little. "Thank you."
Pitch_Black shrugs, and unslings his rifle again. "Welcome."
Kavanaugh says, "So... what, you want the Outback Boyz tour bus?"
Geneviev hmms and walks back towards the group, thumbing through the phone book. "We would be better served by an EM-shielded vehicle. Maybe an APC."
Dr_Chong says, "I think stealth initially is the main priority?"
Geneviev says, "Electrical stealth."
Saburo says, "Good idea. Find out where the military motor pool is. And see if you can hack into the police records, Father. Maybe they have ideas on file as to where we can locate the headquarters of a criminal organization with fully rigged runners."
Geneviev flips to the government section of the yellow pages, looking for embassies and military locations.
Dr_Chong says, "Even though there seems to be no power around here, a military installation may perhaps still be running on backup power. Be wary."
Saburo says, "Doctor, do you want to stop by the General? Or just head straight to the Center for Disease Control in the city core?"
Kavanaugh looks oddly at Saburo, then nods slowly. "Military first. We'll see if anything there shoots at us, then we'll see if we can't make off with an Acey Deucy-- er, an armored truck.
Bethpage nods to Dr. Chong.
Dr_Chong says, "I think the hospital and university should probably be saved for last. The CDC is probably the best chance to find what we need."
Saburo says, "We'll head for the CDC downtown then Doctor. Maybe they have done some of your work for you already."
Dr_Chong says, "We can only hope."
Bethpage says, "Good luck, guys. Yell if you need us."
Saburo says, "And to you."
Geneviev nods. "Watch your back. Something moved those bones."
Pitch_Black says, "Stay sharp."
The group splits into two groups. Doctor Chong, Saburo and Pitch Black are off to find to the CDC and Kavanaugh, Geneviev and Bethpage are going to find the group some suitable transportation.
Kavanaugh lets out breath, then turns to Gene. "So, M'selle... is there a military motor pool nearby?"
Geneviev nods, handing the open phonebook to Kavanaugh. "Yes...probably. About 4 klicks NorthEast."
Bethpage says, "Excellent. Let's go."
Kavanaugh nods, "Yarnchaser agrees, as do I. Let's head that way."
Bethpage says, "You can handle the security system if it's active, right? Kav... Gene?"
Geneviev shrugs. "If it can be shot, I can."
Bethpage laughs. "I'm not worried about things that can be shot, myself, either. It's the electrics I'm worried about."
Kavanaugh says, "Oh, yeah, sure!" Pause. "Probably. Y'see, m'child, it depends on just how easilly the military made it to crack-n-hack into. 'Course, if it's too tough, we just try somewhere else. We're lucky in that, at least, we don't have to go for the military vehicles, though they'd be right nice."
Geneviev nods. "Something with about a range of a twelve hundred would be good."
Geneviev, Bethpage and Kavanaugh head off towards the military motor pool. It is approximately a half-hour walk from where they began. The sight that greets them is perhaps, even more unsettling than the city. The motor pool is just outside the city limits on a large concrete pad. There is a hum of electricity here, as though they have their own power supply. However, the gates have been blown open. There are scorch marks on the pavement and the gates lie, twisted and mangled, about thirty feet in from the fence.
Kavanaugh looks around at the front gate to the motor pool. "Well," he says finally. "Looks like someone showed up first. Since I don't see any previously-flaming wrecks of vehicles here, from anti-vehicular unpleasantness, we should be all right for the time being."
Geneviev says, "It looks like whoever wanted in, must've had military firepower already. They must've been going in for something other than what we're after."
Bethpage says, "No shit they got here first. Yeah, I hope Gene's right. Let's go looking..."
There are plenty of vehicles scattered about inside the yard. Only a few of them, Land Rovers, seem to have been affected by the blast. The larger and better armoured vehicles have survived unscathed, as they were farther back.
Bethpage says, "Kav? Are the big ones in back good for us?"
Geneviev says, "I think they'll have room for us and the crates."
Geneviev points to the building in the back. "That's the most likely to have keys."
Kavanaugh looks over in that direction. "They should do wonderfully for us, m'child. They'd be demmed hard to hide from satellites, but that overflight schedule we were given should do nicely at keeping us from being spotted." THen he nods to nobody in particular -- or rather, he nods to the cat. "Right, Yarnchaser. Let's be cautious." He starts to walk -- cautiously, actually -- towards the gate, first checking through the window of the outside gate house.
Bethpage grins, and eyes the vehicles with a cheerfully larcenous feeling. "All right."
Bethpage says, "Eh, Kav?"
Bethpage says, "Got a proposal for you, in the nicest manner..."
The guard house is, of course, empty. It's got a fairly good layer of dust building and there is no sign of that dust having been disturbed in any way.
Geneviev walks towards the larger APC style vehicles, looking for some meshwork on the top to indicate some form of electronic shielding.
Kavanaugh checks the gatehouse for any sign of alarm-sounders, noisemaking devices, or anything. "Surely, m'child," he says to Bethpage. He clicks his tongue to himself at the gatehouse. "Eh. Nothing here...." He glances back down. "Careful, M'child!" he calls out. "No telling if there's any security bots still about!"
Bethpage scans the area for movement that isn't her teammates... or corpses.
Geneviev hmms. "Something promising back here." She starts walking around the side of the support building.
Bethpage says, "All right, Kav, here's the idea. Real friendly-like. I'm not your child, so you can call me 'Page'... and I won't call you 'cat-carrier,' how about it?" Her tone is friendly, but firm.
Bethpage's tone changes as she notices something. "Guys! The power's on, here. There may still be security."
Bethpage looks harder for signs of it, herself.
Kavanaugh blinks a bit to Bethpage, then inclines his head; his expression is hard to make out behind the faceplate to the suit, but his voice is as cheerful as every. "Certainly, m'ch-- Page. Old, old habit, shan't happen again." He turns his gaze back to where Geneveiv is walking. "Faith, will you lookit that... it looks like the girl's spotted an APC! Page, if we get that going, we will be travelling in style!" He nods to Page. "Good thinking." Louder: "Geneveiv! Back away from there for a bit 'till we can figure out if there's any bots or other nasty surprises the Tommyknockers left for us!"
Geneviev stops and listens intently and crouches down to scan under the vehicles.
Bethpage fails to see anything that looks like a security system, despite worried inspection of the premises. She sighs and keeps watching for motion, or ominous lights suddenly appearing...
Bethpage says cheerfully, "Sounds good, Kav."
Geneviev holds a hand up for a moment and then drops it. "There's a dead 'bot over there."
Bethpage jumps, and looks at Gene. "Can you tell why it's dead? In case something killed this one, but there are more?"
Kavanaugh frowns, and checks his SMG, taking the safety off as he walks past the gates cautiously. He looks around for anything that might be tell-tale of security turrets or robots or anything to that effect. "Dead?" he asks. "Are you sure it's not just pining for the-- er, you know what I mean? Dead instead of playing dead?"
Bethpage unholsters her gun.
Geneviev nods. "Yes...quite sure. It's cut clean in half."
A smallish bot lies on the ground near the covered-up vehicle. It is vaguely insectoid in appearance, but has been cut in half, cleanly, likely with a single stroke.
Bethpage comes over to eye it. "Ah. Yeah, that's pretty dead. Kav, are we wanting this one?" She points at the APC.
Kavanaugh straightens a bit. "Hm. Well, I guess that would make it somewhat inoperative, wouldn't it?" He moves towards Gene slowly, still checking to each side -- including up! -- as he walks closer. "What cut it in half? Some mucking great sword?" he looks at the one Page is pointing to, and nods. "Aye, that's the one we want. Let me check if it's open. Cover me, if you would please?"
Geneviev shakes her head. "I'm uncertain. Maybe it was lased?"
Bethpage says, "Got you, Kav."
Kavanaugh says, "Then it was a mucking great laser. Which bodes equally unwell. Thank you kindly, Page." He moves towards the APC carefully, tapping lightly at the door with the butt of his SMG just to make sure it's not electrified or anything like that. Providing nothing unhappy happens, he checks to see if he can open it up.
Geneviev stands back up smoothly. "There may be keys for that in this building, but the security is likely still on in there, too. That 'bot was probably one of their most effective tools, though."
Bethpage covers Kav, but says to Gene, "I'm game for going in there if it's got keys... then any of us could start the car in a pinch."
Kavanaugh glances at the bot as he checks the door to the APC, then does a double-take, frowning. "Wait a moment, Geneveiv... no laser did that. There's no melting or burning along the edge. Merde. We're back to a mucking great sword."
Bethpage says, "Good! Then the swordsman's probably dead. A laser might've been automated."
Geneviev moves over to look more carefully at the 'bot. "Not any normal sword. The cut is too clean."
Geneviev hmms. "Maybe monowire?"
Kavanaugh hrmps, stepping back from the APC. "Locked. Yes, yes, I know, Yarnchaser! Sheesh! We should see if we can get the keys all the same, then. We could probably pick the lock, but that wouldn't help us later if we needed to lock it again."
Bethpage watches her step... not that she'd see anything but the monowire handles.
Kavanaugh shivers a bit. "Augh! Monowire. Ugly stuff. Nothing ruins a day more than Concertina monowire. Well, on to the blockhouse, then, see if there's no key that'll open up that APC." He, too, is cautious, looking in all six directions, and also keeping an eye out for the other half of that bot.
Geneviev nods and heads towards the building, pulling her needler.
The building is squat, white and ugly as only the army can make buildings. The door has been pushed in, though it appears to have been accomplished with a foot, rather than whatever it was that blew the front gate open. Inside, the place has the look of having been looted. Cabinets and drawers are open, paper strewn across the room. On the wall next to the door is a metal lockbox. It appears to be the only untouched thing in here.
Bethpage follows Gene and Kav to the building.
Bethpage sees no traps, and walks on in to inspect the lockbox.
Kavanaugh glances at the lockbox, and studies it carefully for any electronic surprises... such as a high-voltage line. "Let's see," he says, digging in a belt pouch for his lockpicks. "We'll have to hope that this has what we're looking for." After a moment he ads, "Well, yes, I did see that. Looks like the looters had quite a fun time here."
Bethpage wonders what Kav is reaching for... aha. She stands back and watches for danger, since he's going to pick the lock.
Geneviev looks around quietly, still wondering where all the people had gone when they died.
Kavanaugh grimaces a bit, wresting with the lock for a bit. He digs into his kit for another couple of types of pick. He mutters darkly as he does so: "Miserable... German-made... hypersecure... overpriced... overbuilt... bullish... piece of--!" *CLICK* "Ah, there we go," he says pleasantly, tucking the picks away. He pauses, looking over the box. "Now," he says quietly. "If the keys to my tank or high-tech stealthy Acey Deucy were in here... I'd have an incendiary of some sort ready to flame all of what's in there." He positions himself so that he can push himself back quickly... and slowly eases it open.
Bethpage watches Kav, attention caught. She tries not to think BOOM!
The lockbox opens easilly, and Kav spares a proud glance to the other two, before looking back into the box. "Let's see... hmmm... mmm-hmmm.... Anyone see the license plate of that great orca of an APC? Anyone see if it even had a license plate?"
Bethpage says, "No... though I don't think stealth vehicles are supposed to have them... doesn't seem very stealthy..."
Bethpage says, "Good job on the box. What's in there?"
Kavanaugh says, "Keys. Lots of little keys, all with Aussie license plate numbers."
Geneviev nods. "Just grab the one that says 'stealthy APC'?" She leans over to look in.
Bethpage says, "I'll go look for a plate, then, if you're good here?"
Kavanaugh nods, "Sure, Beth." He moves to stand at the door so that he can cover both Beth and Geneveive. "I'm starting to think that going about alone in this neighborhood is a mighty poor idea."
Geneviev glances up at Kavanaugh. "I can cover her if you want. Why don't we just grab the whole box and take it outside, though?"
Bethpage nods, and goes back out-- still keeping an eye out-- to the APC to check for an identifying mark or plate. Mercifully, she finds one... it has a license plate. A stealth plate, but a plate. Black, with grey numbers. She shakes her head, mutters and returns to Kav and Gene.
Bethpage says, "It has a plate. Whaddya know?" She searches the box for the right key.
Kavanaugh hmms to Geneveive, and looks at the box. "Could be... ah, but here's Beth. Eh? It did? Smashing! let's see if it'll start our bad boy out there."
Bethpage finds the key easily enough, and hands it to Kav. "You do the honors."
Geneviev nods. "Hopefully they kept it fully fueled."
Kavanaugh bows grandly to Beth. "Thank you very kindly, Beth!" He goes over to the APC -- still managing to be cautious despite his cheer -- and tries the key in the door.
The door opens easily with the key.
Bethpage watches, and thinks, Boom.
Kavanaugh's laugh actually sounds like "Bwa-ha-ha-ha!" "Thank you, Lord!" He opens the door, and starts reviewing the satellite overflight schedule on the chip.
Bethpage starts at the laughter. Thank you, Dr. Crazypants... still, we're in. All right!
Geneviev blinks at Kavanaugh. "Your 'Lord' is likely half a planet away."
Bethpage settles in to wait for the car to be ready, still watching the grounds.
Kavanaugh pulls himself into the driver's seat. "Ahhh... Yes, Yarchaser, we are indeed travelling in style. Even Mr. Toshihiro will have to be happy. And we still have an hour before the next spysat comes overhead, we can be in a parking garage well before then." He blinks to Geneviev, and looks about ready to explain... "Errr... I'll explain later. Let's see now... Stealth is on, power is on, engine is on.... Let's ride. Say, while we're rolling, could one of you see just what stuff we have aboard this thing, if there's any supplies or, if the Lord be most bounteous indeed, ammunition or weapons?"
Bethpage nods, "Sure," and climbs in to look around.
Bethpage sighs, "Nothing here. Oh well."
Kavanaugh says, "Ah, well, 'twas but a thought. Let's give the others the good news, shall we?" And the APC pulls out of the motor pool onto the street."
Geneviev shrugs. "Well...we'll have to raid an armory."
Doctor Chong, Saburo and Pitch Black set out for the CDC, armed with good directions. It takes them some time to get there, but it is easy enough to find. It is a standalone building in the heart of downtown and looks like any other office building. No perimeter security is visible.
Pitch_Black hangs back toward the middle of the group, keeping his eyes to the countless empty windows and alleyways, with an eye toward the longer distances.
Saburo approaches the front doors and crouches down, setting his rifle carefully on the ground. He pulls an electronic lock pick from a pouch on his left arm, and peers through the windows of the front doors. He starts to work on the lock, after making sure the foyer beyond is empty.
Dr_Chong carefully watches Saburo's work on the lock.
Saburo seems to be having trouble with the lock. He struggles for a minutes, then changes to another pick. It looks like he's about ready to stand up and just kick the door in when the lock finally gives and opens.
Pitch_Black doesn't watch Saburo; he watches the darkness beyond the glass doors with upraised weapon.
Saburo holds up one hand, and slips his picks away. He unplugs his rifle quickly, and motions for Pitch to get ready. He pushes the door open with his foot, quietly drawing his mini uzi.
Pitch_Black moves inside with his rifle raised, pausing about ten feet inside, scanning the lobby. "Clear. Move up."
Dr_Chong stands back out of the way of the two gunslingers, leaning on his walking stick, but still standing ready.
Saburo moves in behind Pitch, leaving his rifle at the door, his more compact sub machine gun in hand. He looks around, locating the reception desk.
Saburo goes over to the reception desk, and check to see if the power is on. He tries turning on the security monitors.
Pitch_Black says, "Pretty clean for a ruin."
Dr_Chong looks around for any signs or maps indicating the layout of the building.
Pitch_Black covers one of the branching hallways. "Let the Doctor handle the computer, To-sho. Cover the other hallway. We don't have enough personnel here to double up."
Saburo says, "Kuso. No power. We may have to go to the basement, see if there is a backup generator to turn on. Of course, the labs upstairs may already have one running."
Saburo nods and hops over the desk.
Saburo lands neatly, and moves to cover the other hallway, turning his nightvision on to scan it more carefully from the edge of the lobby
Pitch_Black says, "There a paper directory back there, Doctor? I don't want to do this blind. We need to know where we're going."
Dr_Chong says, "The labs are on the top floor, number 10."
Pitch_Black says, "We going there first or hitting the basement? Your call."
Saburo nods and looks for the stairs. He pauses at the front door to grab his AK-107, suddenly not trusting leaving it there out in the open...
Dr_Chong says, "The labs should have their own power, we should probably head up."
Pitch_Black says, "That's just fine with me."
Pitch_Black says, "Point me toward the stairs, Doctor. We'll get a move on."
Saburo nods, and steps to the door to the stairwell. He holds his rifle in his right hand, just carrying it. It's far to big to bring into play effectively. The mini uzi in his left hand, on the other hand... is perfect.
Dr_Chong points and says, "Should be this way."
Dr_Chong stays back behind Saburo and Pitch Black letting them lead the way.
Ten flights of stairs later, the group has reached the labs. The labs are airlocked and do appear to have power, as the lights are on.
Pitch_Black moves to a landing, scans above, and lets Saburo advance. The going isn't exceedingly fast, but it is methodical. Pitch pauses outside the door to the laboratory. "I'm gonna clear."
Saburo walks around, checking to make sure the entrance area is empty.
Dr_Chong says, "This airlock here leads to the decontamination area which can be sealed off before entering the lab."
Saburo looks at the airlock. "Any ideas? Usually in this kind of situation, I would find a handy guard or lab rat with security clearance, and make them open in for me.... You know how to open this Doctor?
Dr_Chong operates the controls and opens the airlock on this side.
The airlock slides open with a hiss of air.
Pitch_Black says, "I'll clear the lab and cycle the lock. Doctor, you come through next. I don't wanna leave you in the hallway alone."
Saburo tenses, as if waiting for something to leap out at him.
Dr_Chong nods his head, barely discernable in the armor.
Saburo says, "I don't see anything in there.. "
Pitch_Black steps into the lock, "Cycle it, Doctor."
Dr_Chong cycles the lock.
Saburo moves forward to watch Dr Chong, his back now to the open stairwell door
Pitch_Black steps out, playing his weapon across the laboratory.
The outside door cycles shut and the room pressurises. Once the pressure is equal, the inside lock cycles open, allowing Pitch Black into the lab.
Saburo says over the communicator, "How many bodies in there?"
Pitch_Black says, "Clear. Nothing in here live or dead that I can see. Cycle through, Doctor."
Dr_Chong enters the airlock.
Dr_Chong cycles the lock and proceeds into the lab.
Saburo stops to check the small security booth.
Saburo searches it carefully, looking to see if it has been meddled with recently, and also looking for a log book, although he suspects the lab usage was only logged electronically... leaving it inaccessible without the building power on.
Saburo swears in Japanese again upon finding only and empty booth with a data terminal and blank lifeless security monitors, and an equally dead radio and intercomm. He moves to the airlock, and enters it.
Dr_Chong looks around at the cupboards, opens one, and removes a sample labeled 'BioHazard 4'. He also finds a kit for testing for air borne diseases.
Saburo waits, then enters the lab when the airlock cycles through. He closes it behind him, sealing the lab again, then finds and empty tabletop to set his assault rifle down on. He holsters his small SMG, and walks over to the Doctor.
Saburo says, "Do they have the equipment you'll need to test the air in here?"
Dr_Chong says, "First I'll test this sample, so I know what to look for. Then we can do the same test outside and see if it matches anything present still."
Dr_Chong works with the testing kit for a while until he now has a positive sample.
Saburo says, "Where are all the bodies?"
Pitch_Black leans around a workstation and nods toward the rear. "Looks like a morgue back there. Big ass door in the rear there."
Dr_Chong says, "That worries me also. No known disease would leave no trace of any remains behind."
Saburo's hands move nervously. He really wishes he could have a smoke right now...
Dr_Chong takes the positive sample, returns to the cupboard, and gathers up some more test kits labelled 'EBB Test'.
Saburo says, "Somehow I have a feeling this is not a conventional or known disease Doctor. This whole scenario reeks of tailor-made."
Saburo looks over at Pitch, and then back to the Doctor. "I'l... I will check it out," he finally says, reluctantly. He moves towards the rear of the lab, and inspects the big ass door.
Pitch_Black says, "Maybe they all just decided to take a walk. Anyone checked Bonday Beach?"
Saburo says, "The beach was eerily empty of surfers when we arrived."
Pitch_Black says, "Yeah, yeah. Everyone's a critic."
Dr_Chong says, "These test kits are EBB Kits, short for Ebola's Big Brother for lack of a better name. Dr_Chong chuckles slightly. "This should be everything we need to test the air outside.""
Saburo draws his Baretta, but quickly realizes it is far too clumsy with his suits gloves on, and reholsters it. He draws his Katana instead, reversing his grip on it, so the blade, rises up ready behind his back for a close quarters slash. He puts his other hand on the freezer style door handle, and gets ready to open the door.
Pitch_Black faces the door and raises his rifle. "Crack it."
Dr_Chong stands back with his walking stick held at the ready.
Saburo crouches into a low, wide stance, then pulls the door open wide, leaning his upper body back to give Pitch a clear shot.
This is definitely the morgue. There's a bit of frost that comes out in the air when the door is opened into the warm temperature of the lab. There are two body bags laying on slabs inside, but they appear to be empty. From the positioning of them, they were likely once full. The zippers are still closed.
Pitch_Black says, "Clear. Bagged, too, for your convenience."
Saburo walks into the morgue, moving like a cat, his Katana at the ready... he checks the rest of the room out before moving to check out the body bags...
Dr_Chong moves to where he can watch but yet stay out of the way of Saburo's katana swing.
Pitch_Black says, "Hmph. Is it just me, or does it look like the previous tenants just took a hike?"
Dr_Chong says, "If someone were to have removed the bodies for some reason, it would seem odd to zip the bags up again afterwards."
Saburo swings the Katana around, shifting his grip, and smoothly sheaths it in one motion. He leaves it loose in the sheath, ready for a fast draw. He wiggles his fingers, then reaches out to slowly undo the zipper.
Saburo says, "I was thinking the same thing."
The bag is empty, but has a good layer of dust in it.
Dr_Chong moves closer and adjusts his microscopics taking a closer look at the dust.
Pitch_Black says, "Now that just isn't sanitary."
Saburo says, "Dust?"
Saburo says, "Is that.. all that's left of the human remains Doctor?"
Saburo says, "It is not natural for dust to collect on the inside of closed containers. At least not in Japan."
Dr_Chong says, "I can't be sure, but thats the obvious perception."
Saburo says, "Lets take it into the lab and check it out then."
Dr_Chong says, "Lets do that, we might learn something."
Dr_Chong returns to the lab, finds a sample dish, and returns to the freezer and collects a sample of the dust.
The radio crackles breifly. "Hospital team, this is the vehicle team." It's the priest. "The Lord hath blessed us with a most wonderful vehicle. We're inbound to the CDC now, we have about half an hour before the next spysat is overhead. Did you see a place where we can park this out of sight?"
Dr_Chong returns to the lab again, and begins doing tests on the dust.
Saburo suspiciously checks the second body bag, to see if it contains.. 'dust'...
Dr_Chong completes the tests and announces, "Yes. This dust is definately human remains."
Saburo speaks over the radio. "Good news, Father. I saw an alleyway half a block from the CDC building that should provide you with good parking. The front door is open. You'll have to take the stairs. We're on the tenth floor. Doctor Chong is testing what we think may be human remains. He's found the equipment and test kits he needs to test the air outside."
Dr_Chong says, "Now that I think about it, I did see a fair bit of dust around in town on our way in."
"Oh, good. I think. Right, then, we'll park this thing and we'll be up there shortly. Vehicle team out."
Saburo says, "Well, at least now we know why we haven't found bones and bodies... but this does not set my mind at ease."
Pitch_Black says, "Now, I'm not a scientist, but am I wrong in thinking this sounds chemical and not biological?"
Saburo says, "Doctor, can you test those remains to see if they have traces of the virus in them? We do need to find out what caused this, before we can call for a ride home."
Dr_Chong takes out one of the EBB tests and gets another sample of dust.
Dr_Chong tests the dust for traces of the disease.
Dr_Chong says, "Positive. This would seem to be the cause of death and the final results then."
Bethpage arrives on the scene, with Geneviev and Kavanaugh.
Saburo says, "What exactly was the cause of death, Doctor Chong?"
Kavanaugh knocks on the airlock door.
Dr_Chong says, "Unknown. I can only tell that this was once a person that did have the disease."
Saburo looks up at the knock, and moves over the airlock, his hand on the butt of an SMG. When he sees it's the others he relaxes, and operates the airlock to cycle open the outer door.
Bethpage says over the group comm link, "Honey, we're home," as they approach. "So don't shoot my ass off, please."
Kavanaugh says, as they come through the airlock, "Our ride's all concealed. What have you guys found?"
Saburo says, "I don't think you want to know Father.. I'll let the Doctor explain."
Pitch_Black says, "Doctor, as long as we have power, why don't you check the computers while you're explaining? Maybe the CDC came up with something hard."
Bethpage nods, then remembers to say, "Yes, please, Doctor!"
Dr_Chong sits at the computer and begings accessing it while he explains.
Geneviev says, "So...uhm...is the dust still active? It's blowing around everywhere."
Saburo says, "Good idea. Father, see what you can find on the computer. The rest of the building is without power, but the lab terminals should be up and running, along with the mainframe they're linked to."
Kavanaugh nods, and looks for a nearby terminal, already prepping his deck.
Dr_Chong says, "I found a sample of the disease here, labelled BioHazard 4."
Dr_Chong holds up the sample for inspection.
Saburo stays away from the sample, not really wanting to hold it, or lick it or generally have anything to do with it.
Dr_Chong blinks at the sample.
Geneviev blinks.
Dr_Chong says, "Thats strange."
Dr_Chong says, "It used to contain a sample, it appears to be empty now."
Kavanaugh glances over as he sits at a terminal. "Are you sure that's... er, it? Whatever it is? There's nothing in there, so it's airborn?
Pitch_Black says, "You're gonna shake that and it's gonna turn black, right?"
Bethpage looks blankly at the empty tube.
Saburo says, "Is it microscopic?"
Dr_Chong says, "It was a clear liquid, plainly visible to the naked eye."
Pitch_Black says, "So... what? It sublimated? You're the doctor."
Bethpage says, "So... did it have a time limit or something?"
Geneviev says, "Uhm...if it can fall through acrylic test tubes...it can easily go through these suits."
Bethpage mutters, "Good news is, we're not dead yet..."
Kavanaugh blinks, and frowns to Chong as he types. "Uh... so now, what, it's gone? Evaporated? Disappeared?" He grimaces at the computer, then *bap*s it's monitor. "Blast! Nothing local that we don't already have. And the host it's trying to connect to is simply not there, probably powered off.
Bethpage says, "Can something be engineered to just... crumble to dust, along with everything it... affected... after a certain time limit?"
Dr_Chong says, "I cant think of any reason it would just disappear like that. There are two more samples in the cabinet here."
Kavanaugh deadpans, "Why don't you check to make sure that they're still in the cabinet, Doctor."
Dr_Chong checks the cabinet for the remaining samples.
Saburo says, "Did you expose that tube to the air, Doctor?"
Dr_Chong says, "They both still seem to be here."
Kavanaugh says, "Or rather what's in the tube to air?"
Dr_Chong says, "It was exposed to air, but was still in the tube when I sealed it again."
Bethpage's eyes widen. "Oh shit. You did?"
Kavanaugh blinks, then, quickly and calmly slips his pack off, and peers into the top of it. "Hey... Yarnchaser... are you okay in there?"
Dr_Chong says, "Its the only way to test it. And it was done here in the lab so that it cant contaminate anything outside."
Saburo says, "The Ruskies said it didn't affect animal life..."
Geneviev says, "You tested the air in here when you first got here, right? Maybe you should do it again?"
Bethpage nods!
Saburo says, "Good thinking."
Dr_Chong says, "I only tested the sample, to know what to look for in later tests. And then tested this dust we found, which appears to be human remains."
Saburo says, "It's the air outside we need to be sure of. If our filters work, we'll have an extra day. But that still only leaves us with a week at the tops before we have to take our helmets off to drink."
Dr_Chong says, "And tested the same as the sample."
Geneviev shakes her head. "I won't last that long."
Bethpage says, "A week? I won't either."
Dr_Chong says, "There are 2 EBB kits left, we could use one in here and one outside, but that would leave us none to test any air sealed areas later."
Saburo says, "We should save them in that case."
The cat glares up at Kavanaugh, but otherwise appears fine. The priest relaxes, and he slips the pack back on. "Three minutes without air," he recites, "three weeks without food, three days without water. And that's pushing it. We'll need water long before a week."
Dr_Chong says, "Well we need one outdoors for sure. That would leave us one remaining."
Saburo shrugs. "Fair enough."
Bethpage comes to a nasty realization. I'm not sure I can go two days without eating... they said the rations were tailored...
Dr_Chong says, "My question is, with the way it seemed to disappear like that, is it safe to bring these samples with us, or should they best be left here?"
Geneviev says, "We might be bringing it with us when we leave this chamber at this point."
Dr_Chong says, "If we find it safe outside, and remove the suits, it will do us no good if the sample is somehow still able to escape into the air again."
Kavanaugh says, "I'd say, leave them here. Worse comes to worse, we can come back here. They've been here for weeks and it was only when you opened that up that it decided to-- er, that the liquid disappeared.""
Saburo says, "Well, that depends on why they disappeared. Could it be exposure to the air? Surely they were exposed to the air before, when the Aussies tested them.. or first put them in those tubes."
Pitch_Black says, "Depends. If you think it's exposure to air that does it, better find something that isn't gonna rattle it around too muhc to carry them around in."
Dr_Chong nods to Saburo. "Exposure to the air seems unlikely."
Bethpage says, "We need to do whatever we must to figure this out fast, Doc. I have... certain needs. I can't last as long without eating or drinking as any of you can. "
Dr_Chong says, "Lets leave the samples back where they were for now, and test the air outside then?"
Saburo says, "Why would we need the samples with us anyway? This is the only place the Doctor can study them, unless the university proves to have better facilities."
Geneviev nods. "I think I can last partway into tomorrow."
Kavanaugh blinks. "Hey... doc, you're closer. What's the temperature out here, compared to in the fridge?"
Dr_Chong says, "I would imagine the samples would prove invaluable for study if they could be safely removed from the island."
Saburo says, "Tommorrow? Good, we need to be certain of the outside atmosphere then. I'll be ready to kill for a cigarette by tommorrow anyway."
Bethpage fidgets irritably.
Saburo turns around and looks straight at Doctor Chong. "Doctor, no samples are leaving this island."
Geneviev stares at Dr. Chong. "It wiped out an entire continent, Doctor...and you want to take it with us?"
Dr_Chong says, "I did say safely. We would need to know much more about it first."
Pitch_Black says, "We're taking only what we need to fulfill our contract."
Pitch_Black says, "That's it."
Saburo says, "I signed the Pact on behalf of Murasaki. While I was forced to come here, I will not go back on my word further by allowing any samples of this disease to leave here. I will shoot you all before I allow the KGB access to a weapon like this."
Kavanaugh coughs a bit. "Excuse me... Doctor... they had it in a very chilly environment. Maybe it's still IN the tube, it just... well, you know how when ice gets warm it turns to water, then you make water hotter and then it's vapor? Humidity? We have to worry about that sort of thing when dealing with electronics in a cryogenic environment.
Dr_Chong turns to Kavanaugh, "Its nearly freezing inside."
Dr_Chong says, "Are you suggesting I return this sample and see what happens?"
Pitch_Black sighs irritably, "Jesus Christ, Saburo, keep it in your pants. Nobody's getting shot here. We'll determine what we need to get this run completed and go from there."
Dr_Chong holds up the seemingly empty vial.
Kavanaugh nods to Chong. "Yes, please, Doctor. Keep it there for a little bit."
Dr_Chong turns to Saburo, "I never said I would ever let the KGB get near it."
Bethpage watches her group members warily.
Dr_Chong returns the sample to let it cool.
Dr_Chong says, "Obviously this disease was not a coincidence. Someone already has a sample."
The sample cools quite quickly in the fridge.
Geneviev says, "Even so...taking something off of this secure land that powders bones when finished with people and seemingly killed everyone...is not a good idea."
Dr_Chong says, "The only way I might find some way to combat it is to learn everything I can about it."
Geneviev says, "Maybe it was engineered here and killed it's own creators?"
Dr_Chong says, "If neccessary I will stay here and learn what I can."
Saburo says, "We'll learn what we can while we are here, Doctor."
Pitch_Black says, "That's what you're here for, Doctor. Do the research. Sooner we know, sooner we get off this island. We'll watch your back until then."
Dr_Chong says, "The sighting is very intriguing, but finding a way to prevent this ever happening again is my main priority."
Saburo says, "I do not wish to risk this getting out to the rest of the world. The natural winds and waters did not pass it on. Let's not tempt fate by carrying out ourselves what Gaia wisely chose to leave on this island."
Dr_Chong says, "I want to learn as much as I can while I am here."
Saburo says, "I am with you on that at least, Doctor. "
Dr_Chong returns to the freezer and inspects the sample.
Pitch_Black says, "Correction, Doctor. Getting us out of here alive is our priority. Learn as much as you can and we'll keep you safe while you do it. That's the deal."
Dr_Chong says, "I would gladly give my life, if it might mean millions could be saved."
Pitch_Black says, "Not if it means our lives as well."
Dr_Chong says, "The vial appears to be empty still, but I think I will leave it in here all the same."
Geneviev says, "And if we all die, it'll be hard to tell everyone that we saved the world."
Saburo watches Doctor Chong. If he weren't in a sealed military combat suit, he might be stroking his chin.
Pitch_Black says, "Just do your job, Doc. We'll do ours."
Bethpage says firmly, "I'm with Pitch Black on this. We're no use to those millions dead. We need to know about this. And I need to know fast."
Kavanaugh says gently but firmly, "Gentlemen... I'd like to recommend that we continue this discussion outside... and not in a biohazard laboratory in the middle of freakin' Australia."
Pitch_Black says, "Then drop your jock and move your socks, Father. Let's get moving."
Geneviev glances at Pitch, wondering briefly what language that was supposed to be.
The group leaves the building and loads into their brand new stealth APC. They have maps that show where the university is, so they make it there quickly. No traffic lights or traffic is a definite bonus. As they pull into the university nearly everyone in the group, with the exception of Saburo, who is fiddling with his guns, sees a skeleton laying on the top of the university steps.
Pitch_Black says, "See what happens when you don't pay your student loans?"
Bethpage giggles out loud, and stops, embarassed that it was funny... but it was. Place is getting to me.
Geneviev looks confusedly at Pitch.
Saburo finishes threading the silencers onto his Mac and his Uzi. He leaves his assault rifle stowed away in the APC.
Dr_Chong telescopes his vision and looks closely for any signs of wounds or broken bones.
Kavanaugh frowns, and slows the APC until it stops just before the steps. "Doctor... I thought you said the virus turns the entire body into dust?"
Geneviev climbs out. "Why are there still bones this time?"
Dr_Chong says, "I only said that those two bodies apparently turned to dust."
Saburo stands up and follows them out of the truck. "Bones? What do you mean?" He looks. "Oh."
Pitch_Black says, "Maybe something else got this one."
Dr_Chong says, "Its possible that this person could have died after the initial outbreak as well."
Saburo says, "Well, this is oddly comforting to me."
Bethpage says, "Maybe this guy died before the virus? --Yeah, Pitch."
Pitch_Black says, "Scavengers, maybe. If the animal life isn't affected..."
Dr_Chong says, "From here I can't see anything unusual about the skeleton."
Bethpage says, "Let's go closer then."
Bethpage gets out and walks closer, looking for traps or predators.
Dr_Chong climbs out and follows a distance behind Bethpage, cautiously looking around.
Saburo moves closer to the steps, scanning the windows of the university with his telescopic eyes, his silenced SMGs ready, one in each hand.
Bethpage inspects the bones.
Geneviev glances at the APC. "Maybe we should park it under a tree?"
Kavanaugh slips out of the APC. "That doesn't make any sense, though, Doctor. Bone is bone. Before the outbreak, the body would have been cleared away. During, it would have been... er, dustified. Nibbled to death by the virus. And if after... why did it survive? And why isn't it dessicated? Even after all this time it would have been a dessicated corpse, not a skeleton." He follows along, his machine pistol at the ready.
Pitch_Black steps down and scans the windows and adjoining alleys for movement. "Hey, Geneviev. If you see anything moving.... run over it."
Kavanaugh looks to Geneveiv. "The next satellite overflight isn't for a while yet. We've some time."
Dr_Chong looks to Kavanaugh, "I was suggesting that perhaps this person survived somehow, or recently came to the continent, and something could have recently stripped the flesh from his bones."
Saburo says, "I'm not worried about the sattelites."
Dr_Chong says, "This skeleton is obviously female."
Geneviev looks at it. "I don't think it makes a difference now."
Bethpage says, "Ok. Anything else, Doc?"
Pitch_Black says, "Okay, so it's a coed skeleton. Any ideas about why it's dead?"
Dr_Chong points to a deep groove in the chestbones running diagonally all the way from the shoulder to the bottom of the ribcage. "See this groove? This is the kind of mark that could be made by a knife, but its to deep and precise for a clumsy knife attack."
Pitch_Black says, "Dissection?"
Pitch_Black pauses. "Or a sacrifice?"
Bethpage says, "So... what, human sacrifice?"
Kavanaugh frowns slightly. "Let's not go jump to conclusions, here...."
Dr_Chong points to the neck of the skeleton. "See this groove here on the front? It appears her throat was also slit. So deeply it marked the bone."
Bethpage eyes Pitch Black.
Geneviev glances between Pitch and Bethpage.
Saburo says, "Maybe it wasn't a knife, Doctor."
Pitch_Black doesn't say anything for a moment. "It happens," he murmurs. "Desperate people do fucked up things."
Geneviev looks around, trying to spot something.
Saburo reaches up and taps the hilt of his katana with the silencer of his Mac.
Bethpage says, "Does it look like she was tortured, Doc? Any more wounds?"
Dr_Chong says, "It would have to have been done with great force. I would guess most likely a bladed weapon of some kind."
Bethpage says, "Hmm."
Saburo crouches down opposite Doctor Chong, inspecting the wound and the skull.
Geneviev says, "Let's see if there's a recording of what happened, then?"
Dr_Chong says, "Something larger like a sword, and not the high-tech kind, the medieval blade variety."
Bethpage sighs, almost inaudibly. People.
Bethpage says, "Oh! Great idea, Gene. How?"
Dr_Chong glances at Saburo's blade.
Saburo says, "I would agree with you on that, Doctor. My katana would have cut through some of the bones, even without the vibro on."
Geneviev shrugs. "Pull the drive from the security computer and take it to a computer that still has power. Like in the lab."
Pitch_Black says, "Not to piss on everyone's detective vibe, but maybe we ought to make the bug hunt our first priority here?"
Pitch_Black says, "And I'm getting a cramp scanning these windows. A little focus, maybe? We can piece together the murder mystery after we get what we came for, yeah?"
Dr_Chong says, "We might be able to extract the memory hardware from the camera or security system its connected with and hook it up to one our decks later to review perhaps?"
Bethpage says, "What if it's her fault, Pitch? Maybe she released it, and was cut down. It might be important why she died."
Saburo says, "Our first priority should be finding out if we can safely remove our helmets."
Kavanaugh blinks to Gene, then nods, "If we're going to look for the security cameras -- or spend any time here -- then I'll get the APC parked out of sight. Er... and I'd like to request that we don't travel alone? Not that I'm terrified of being alone on this continent which I'm sure you'll all understand if I say that I am."
Bethpage stops, and says, "Saburo's right."
Dr_Chong says, "We can do the test outside here at anytime."
Bethpage says, "How about now then?"
Pitch_Black says, "Our employer doesn't care, so neither do I. We're here to tag this mystery plague, which entails the helmet-removal data. So let's go, huh?"
Pitch_Black says, "Do what you gotta, Doctor."
Saburo says, "Do it here, now, Doctor. Someone go get the security camera logs."
Geneviev nods and pulls her needler. "Anybody else?"
Dr_Chong takes one of the remaining two EBB kits out and performs the test on the surrounding air.
Bethpage says, "Gene can go get them, right? I want to know."
Saburo stands up and goes with Geneviev, moving up the steps to the front doors.
Kavanaugh nods, and moves to the APC. "Who wants shotgun?" he asks cheerfully, albeit a bit muted.
Geneviev moves carefully to the front door and glances at Saburo, nodding.
Dr_Chong concludes the test and straightens up. He takes a deep breath and cracks the seal on his helmet, and removes it.
Pitch_Black says, "Let's go with the padre, Page. No point in committing all our firepower at once--"
Bethpage stays with Cr. Chong... and freezes in shock.
Pitch_Black pauses, and looks at the doctor.
Dr_Chong says, "The test of the air is negative."
Dr_Chong says, "I figure someone had to try it."
Bethpage is no longer watching for predators. All her attention is on the Doctor.
"Balls," breathes Black.
Kavanaugh blinks, looking over at the doctor. He blinks. "Yes, Yarnchaser. Doctor, you've demonstrated courage in your convictions."
Saburo holsters his guns and offers to boost Gene up, to grab the camera...
Bethpage says faintly, "How long does it take to strike, if the air is infected?"
Dr_Chong says, "The only problem is, we might not see negative affects if they did develop for some time yet."
Pitch_Black says, "You're not real big on the scientific method, are you, Doc?"
Dr_Chong says, "But every indication is the air is fine now."
Bethpage fidgets, and says, "I'll give you until tonight to drop dead, but..."
Geneviev also holsters her gun and steps into Saburo's hands, springing up and leaning on the wall to grab the camera.
Kavanaugh nods slowly. "So... er, do you mind if we, well, kind of keep our suits on for a little while longer?"
Dr_Chong says, "Sometimes knowledge can only be gained by doing, not just tests."
Bethpage offers Dr. Chong her hand to shake.
Pitch_Black says, "I'll leave my filters going for now, I think."
Pitch_Black says, "Not that I don't trust you, Doctor, but... I don't."
Geneviev takes the camera off the wall and steps down again. "Got it."
Dr_Chong says, "I dont blame you. Im in excellent physical health. Someone had to try it eventually. I figure I have as good of a chance as any."
Saburo nods and starts back down the steps. He stops when he sees the Doctor with his helmet off.
Pitch_Black says, "All the same, did they fit you with special pants before this mission?"
Geneviev pauses, too. "I take it the air is clean?"
Saburo says, "That is the courage of Zen, I would say."
Dr_Chong says, "I take peace in my life, if my time has really come."
Saburo starts back down the steps, joining the others, his eyes on Chong the whole time.
Dr_Chong says, "All tests show the air is clean, but there is no way to know for sure."
Dr_Chong says, "The initial onset time was unknown, so it will be difficult to judge if a safe point is ever really reached."
Bethpage snickers inwardly at Pitch Black's comment.
Dr_Chong says, "I can keep a closer eye on my own physical condition and watch for any unusual symptoms that may develop though."
Geneviev hmms. "But we'll have to wait at least that long to call for extraction now, or they'll just leave us to wait and see themselves."
Yarnchaser pokes its head, groggilly, out of the pack to have a look around. From its mouth dangles one of those cat-toys that has catnip in it, and with its lazy-eyed look it truly is the good stuff. He ducks back into the pack and shuffles around a bit, as Kav pulls out his deck to interface with the camera. "Well, Doctor, if for no other reason than you've got guts worthy of the Legion, I hope that you're right."
Saburo struggles internally, but manages to overcome his urges. Anyone looking can see a bead of sweat trickle down his forhead through the faceplate of his visor.
Geneviev hands the camera to Kavanaugh.
Pitch_Black says, "They're not gonna come at all, if we don't get a move on. Let's go inside."
Kavanaugh nods to Gene, accepting the camera. "First, let's get the APC parked and under cover, just in case we're here for a while.
Bethpage nods. "Yeah... can we do this inside? Satellite pass soon."
Geneviev shakes her head. "Not what I mean. They'll have to wait for the incubation period to see if it works...and we don't have enough air to last that long. They'll either let us die now...or we'll die from lack of air." She cracks her helmet and removes it.
Saburo says, "Why are you all worried about the satellites?"
Saburo shrugs, and kicks a nearby rock against the steps.
Bethpage says, "Because we're not supposed to be here."
Pitch_Black mounts the steps to the University. "You're Japanese. Haven't you ever seen Akira?"
Kavanaugh says, "Frankly, we should worry about it, because if a nation discovers obviously well-equipped people here, they really might want to make very sure that the virus isn't going to get off the continent, and, well, to be blunt, in a nutshell, nuke us."
Saburo looks relieved at Geneviev's action, and reaches up to unseal his own helmet. He tosses it through the APCs open door, and plugs the leads from his SMGs into the links behind his ears. Then he fishes a pack of smokes out from a pouch on the side of his pack, and lights one.
Bethpage says, "Exactly! Asses in gear. Inside. Now."
Saburo says, "When I was a kid. Don't really remember it. "
Bethpage suits words to action.
Geneviev glances at Saburo and offers a small smile before following Bethpage into the APC.
Saburo says, "Nobody would risk dropping a nuclear weapon on us, Father. It would be far worse in regards to international treaties than breaking the Australlia Pact. No one is that stupid or desperate."
Pitch_Black says, "Maybe not. So lemme ask you something, Saburo. You feel like waging a firefight with an equally or better equipped force of soldiers with superior numbers? In the middle of nowhere? With no evac or logistical support? Me either. So let's hide the truck."
Kavanaugh blinks at Geneviev's action, then to Saburo. He blinks, and nods slowly. "Right. We'll just... go park the APC. Over there. And we'll see you guy soon. I hope." It doesn't take long to find a suitable place to hide the APC -- underneath one of the overhangs with lots of leafy bushes nearby at the Student Union works well.
Saburo sits down on the steps next to the skeleton, puffing on his cigarette. He looks far more happy and relaxed.
Dr_Chong follows Bethpage into the University, taking one glance back at the skeleton before entering.
The group makes its way into the University, out of sight of the upcoming sattelite pass.
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