Science Fiction Horror Thriller Limited Run CLOSED ALIEN: Submersion

Mini-GM Update:​

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IC: The Xenomorph
Somewhere inside the USCSS Rutledge


Nourishment was what the creature needed as it crawled and slithered across the hard decks of the USCSS Rutledge. Separated from its host body the creature knew, wired inside its DNA, that it would need to become an adult soon. That amount of growth would require food. Sustenance.

The creature, using every sense allowed, found that sustenance in the form of dead bodies. The ninety crew members of the Rutledge that were stacked one on top of the other in a storage room near the hatch. The creature ate, and ate, tearing through flesh and bone as it began to fulfill its ultimate desire: to grow.

Hours passed and the creature changed shape and metamorphosized into something entirely different from what had come before. Something sleek, something bipedal, something bio-mechanical, the ultimate killing machine.

Enter the Alien.




The Alien drew itself up to its full height, used its senses once again, and ran in the direction of fresh meat. Meat that was very much alive and warm and caused an intense hunger to arise within the Alien. Saliva dripped from its mouth as it imagined eating this new meal that smelled delicious. The meal wasn’t very far.

Soon it would feast.

Tag: @Kato Sai; @TheAdmiral; @Jerjerrod-Lennox; @greyjedi125

 

Another enjoyable combo with our 'terrorific' GM! @Vehn

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IC: Gabriel V, Shayna Walters & Captain Harrow
The Sub

Shayna's thoughts were clouded by everything that had transpired since arriving on the USCSS Rutledge. Nothing about the mission had gone the way she anticipated. For starters there wasn't any alien ship. The lone survivor they discovered had actually been harboring an alien parasite. It would be a long time before the image of what she saw in the mess hall eased.

She entered the submarine with the others in tow and headed for a storage locker. Reaching inside she found three motion detectors and a rolled up body bag. The motion detectors were used primarily for search and rescue missions in a wide variety of environments. She'd used them several times before when crew members had gotten lost on a previous mission. She distributed the motion detectors to Gabriel and Harrow.



"Power switch is here," Shayna said indicating the toggle on the side near the display, "and the other buttons are for sensor and range calibrations."

She powered up one of the motion detectors. The green scanning screen illuminated her face in the slightly darkened interior of the submarine. Zap! Zap! Zap! went the motion detector as it scanned the surrounding area. Then blips appeared on the screen, super close, indicating Harrow and Gabriel. The pulsing sound of the motion detector increased as Shayna waved it around the submarine.

"Seems like its working well," Shayna grunted, "we'll want to use them sparingly. Power only last so long with this thing. So at most five to ten seconds on and then off again. Any questions?"

Gabriel resolved to follow Chief Walters and Captain Harrow in silence, simply allowing their body language to do all the talking. So far, Chief Walters was the easiest to read of the two as she wore her concern openly, for her facial expressions were like a book. On the other hand, Captain Harrow was far more guarded and not as easy to read, but hard did not mean impossible. The fact that he was ‘guarded’ was also a tell in and of itself.

Gabriel keenly observed everything, from the condition of the sub to where the items where being taken from. The instructions as to the usage of the motion detectors were simple enough, despite these not seeming to be the latest models. The power supply issue was an indication of this.

“I could search through the Rutledge’s inventory manifest to see if they have additional motion detectors, comparable devices or even power packs that could be suited to extend operation.” Gabriel offered as accepted the motion detector handed to him and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to the chief, his expression ever pleasant.

“Additionally, I would also like to request a medi-scanner, should there be an extra one. I imagine Dr. Smith would have greater need for one. However, I do believe we can use one to facilitate tracking the xenomorph. All we have to do is scan a sample of Schaffield’s blood which we can then track anywhere on the ship, once we encounter it. I know it's a bit…’crude’, but we are wanting for better equipment.”

Gabriel paused, briefly eyeing both the chief and the captain, politely awaiting any comment- when something else caught his peripheral vision. Smoothly, Gabriel turned his head to look out the sub and into the darkened depths. It was likely that his companions could not see it quite yet.

Two flood lights, approaching…which meant another vessel.

“I was not aware we would be having additional company.” he stated simply.

"Medi-scanner," Shayna repeated as she rummaged through some storage lockers, "I thought I saw one around here."

"Try the foot panel near the hatch," Captain Harrow suggested.

Shayna scampered over near the hatch and accessed a small panel. She fumbled around inside before pulling out a medi-scanner. She smiled as she handed it over to Gabriel. He was the best thing to happen about this mission. The way he'd steadied her when Schaffield's chest exploded. When that creature came out and screamed into the dark abyss of the ship. She wanted to believe she'd make it out of here. She wanted to believe everything was going to be just fine.

Gabriel made her believe.

"We're not alone," Captain Harrow pointed out as two floodlights filled their view.

The trio watched as the submarine docked at a nearby hatch and began to power down.

"You expecting someone?" Shayna asked Captain Harrow.

"Negative," Harrow replied, "but we better head over there and see what's going on."

"Agreed." Gabriel put in, not that he needed to voice it, but saying so would hopefully reinforce the fact that the Captain, the Chief and himself were working as a team, toward a common goal.

"Now that we have access to the Rutledge's computer system, I can bypass security functions and keep our 'unauthorized visitor' from boarding the ship until the Captain declares otherwise."

With quick motions, Gabriel used his com-device to begin the remote access.

"Should I proceed with the lock-out, captain?" He asked in a causal tone.

"Proceed," Captain Harrow replied.

Perhaps in some ways the lock-out would help in isolating that creature...

Gabriel offered a small nod to the Captain, then spared a reassuring glance to Chief Walters before he began his bypass of the Rutledge's computer protocols, accessing the systems via a proxy tech, then preventing all docking maneuvers aboard the derelict vessel, save for their own or any that Captain Harrow ordered. A confirmation chime sounded once he finished the lock-out.

"It's done."

Gabriel's princely features were reflected on the glass as his hazel-green eyes peered through the gloom, his gazed directed at the sub as it was about to dock. His ever evaluating mind was working on determining 'who' could possibly be on board the other sub and 'why'. Everyone on Providence Colony was quite busy with their assigned tasks and additionally arranging for the safety of the colony, now that another storm was coming. No one else had been authorized to come aboard the derelict vessel as far as he knew. Dr. Torrence would have made it clear if there had been such communication. If there had been an emergency, that too would have been automatically broadcast. Therefore, in the absence of transparency, isolation of the sub and the Rutledge was the safest and only course of action. Adding more variables to their present challenge regarding the xenomorph only increased the chances of compromising the overall mission, and that was something he could not allow.

Moreover, Gabriel had no doubt in his mind that Representative Garcetti would support his decision.


Tag: @Vehn, *( @Jerjerrod-Lennox , @TheAdmiral, Mentioned, @Kato Sai )

 

IC: Ostro
Docking Bay

The Sub approached the Rutledge, and entered the docking bay, it rose to the surface inside. Ostro exited the submersible, his hair wet and eyes white and glowing, he saw lights strobe red, as he approached the door. He placed his translucent hand near a console, on his finger tips different finger prints cycled till it stopped on a pair of prints, he placed his hand on console and the light went green.



ACCESS GRANTED!

Chimed aloud.

Ostro stepped into the hallway and scanned the shadows with his eyes. He saw droplets of human blood. Leaning down he placed his finger on a droplet he raised it to his face, a dome of crimson liquid stood on his clear, see through hand, it stood before his great glowing eye.

“Curious..” Ostro mused to himself.

Human blood was so colorful compared to his own. It was like paint of masters who created great works of art, while his was akin to that taken from the dullest creature on planet earth. Why Weyland did not bother to have him and his brothers have blood that matched humans, to make them seem more human, was an oddity. Perhaps it was a mark, a way the Company could instantly tell a synthetic was injured rather than a homosapian. Ostro wanted to believe it was for medical expediency that he bore blood other than The Maker, but some part of his neuronet told him it was a mark of shame, the disdain for his immortality. Then again Ostro did not look fully human after all, his eyes, neck, and hands belied his true nature. He both accepted and resented this.

As Ostro held the drop in his clear finger, he scanned its properties. In it he detected a foreign substance, black and like ink. The Android took vial from his pocket on his white coat and dropped the sample pf blood into it. It was as he placed the vial in his pocket he heard the nearing of voices.

TAG: @Vehn
@greyjedi125
@Jerjerrod-Lennox
@TheAdmiral

 

GM Update: ​

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IC: Chief Shayna Walters/Captain James Harrow
The Main Corridor
USCSS Rutledge

Shayna, motion detector in hand, led the group consisting of Captain Harrow and Gabriel away from the submersible. She had every intention of returning to the mess hall when she caught the smell of something rotting. Something decaying. It was the same smell she’d picked up when the hatch to the Rutledge was first open.

“You smell that?” Shayna asked.

“Yeah, like death,” Harrow replied looking up and down the main corridor.

"It’s close,” Shayna replied, “real close.”

“Let’s have a look,” Harrow insisted as he readied a flashlight he’d grabbed from his pocket.

Harrow took point as he led the trio further down the hall in the opposite direction of the mess. He quickly took a hard right at the first intersection he reached and came to a door that was halfway open. The door was repeatedly opening and closing against something. The smell seemed to increase as he got closer.

Harrow stepped forward moving closer to the door. He looked down at the ground, eyes tracking why the door was having a hard time shutting. He discovered several severed limbs preventing the door from completing its mundane operation. Carefully, cautiously, he stepped over the limbs and entered the darkened room. He flicked on his flashlight.

Shayna gasped as she was right next to Harrow. She covered her mouth to prevent herself from vomiting.




“Torrence,” Harrow called on the radio, “I think we found what happened to the crew. What’s left of them.”

“They were murdered,” Shayna said as she struggled to control her composure.

“That’s not all,” Harrow said as he knelt next to one of the mangled bodies, “something has eaten them. Feasted on them.”

Shayna looked over at Gabriel.

“Think the creature did this?”

A hiss from the distance made her shriek. Shayna stepped closer to Gabriel as another hiss followed.

“What was that?” Shayna asked.

“We better keep moving,” Harrow said grimly, “that creature is still out there.”

Harrow re- entered the corridor and as he did so he knocked a humanoid form to the ground. A form that sent chills down his spine.

Another synthetic Harrow thought

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Harrow challenged.

Tag: @Kato Sai; @greyjedi125

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IC: Doctor Torrence
The Lab
USCSS Rutledge
Four Hours Before the Next Storm

Doctor Torrence was about to reply to Doctor Smith and Representative Garcetti when movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She glanced over and saw one of the creatures in the tubes moving. Waving its spider like legs. She tilted her head to study the creature.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” A voice said.

Torrence turned to see a pair of Working Joes blocking the entry to the lab.

“Yes,” Torrence heard herself saying, “rather beautiful.”

“Would you like to see it?” The Working Joe asked.

"Uhm,” Torrence felt chills slip down her spine. Something wasn’t right here. Something felt wrong. Off.

“I would very much like for you to see this creature. We call it a facehugger,” the Working Joe said as it marched over to one of the tubes.

“Perhaps another time,” Torrence said as she shot a look over to Smith and Garcetti.

“There’s no time like the present,” the Working Joe stated in a matter of fact tone.

“Please, we really should be going,” Torrence said as she edged toward the door.

The Working Joe ignored her as it opened one of the tubes. The creature, the facehugger, slithered out of its container and onto the floor. Liquid splashed out with it as the creature lay dormant as if adjusting, or sensing, its environment.

Torrence felt hands squeeze around her arms. The other Working Joe near the entry had snuck up behind her and was shoving her toward the facehugger. Torrence, fear and anxiety pounding in her chest, tried to fight against the Working Joe. She screamed out for help but couldn’t see if Garcetti or Smith were willing to aid her in getting away.

The Working Joe near the tank picked up the facehugger, tilted its head, and said in its deep voice, “Now we shall witness perfection. A perfect union.”

“No, please, no, no no,” Torrence cried out as she kicked and screamed.

The Working Joe holding Torrence thrust her forward. Torrence slipped on the liquid from the tank and in so doing was released from the Working Joe’s grasp. She ducked and scampered away from the synthetics right as the facehugger went airborne. She watched in horror as the facehugger wrapped its tail around the synthetic’s neck and mounted its face.

“Union failure,” the Working Joe that had released the facehugger stated.

Torrence crawled on her hands and knees away from the synthetics and their strange behavior. The sinking feeling, the horrible anxiety, of nearly being raped by the facehugger nearly made herself feel sick to her stomach. She wanted to vomit all over the lab floor but held herself back from doing so.

“Smith, Garcetti,” Torrence screamed, “get out of here! Find the others!”

The Working Joe that had the facehugger attached to its face used its unnatural strength to pry the alien creature away. The synthetic flung the facehugger against a far wall where it hit with a loud thud. The facehugger screeched and scampered along the floor. Ever searching. Ever hunting. The impact of the facehugger sent medical tools flying throughout the room. One of which was a scalpel which landed near Torrence.

Torrence grasped the scalpel and struggled to her feet but was knocked to the floor by the Working Joe who had opened the tank. The other Working Joe came over now and held Torrence against the ground. Torrence sliced at the Working Joes with her scalpel, quietly carving up their faces, but unable to slow their onslaught. They refused to go down easily.

The facehugger, using every sense in its body, leaped in the air and landed directly on Torrence’s face. It’s tail wrapped tightly around her neck. Torrence hacked away at the facehugger with the scalpel. Acid blood shot out from the facehugger and began to burn away at Torrence's face. Torrence screamed and cried out in pain.

The scalpel fell away from Torrence's grasp as the facehugger began to impregnate her. The scalpel rolled toward Garcetti and Smith.

“Union complete,” the Working Joes stated together.

Tag: @Jerjerrod-Lennox; @TheAdmiral

OOC: The gloves have now come off in this game.

As you can imagine with such an update we are getting closer to the heart of the matter. Pure survival. As your characters begin the struggle to survive keep in mind a few basic things: There are no weapons, I.E. shotguns, rifles, pistols on this ship. That doesn't meant that a weapon couldn't be fabricated or found in areas like the cargo bay, tool shed, etc. I'll leave that up to your imagination.

Think about how you would hide, or survive, from the ultimate hunting machine.

For those of you who witnessed Torrence's demise.....will you allow her to live or will you kill her on the spot and spare her an even more horrific death....

 

IC: Ostro
The Main Corridor
USCSS Rutledge

The Android continued down the corridor when someone stepped into him from a doorway. Ostro fell backward and caught the ground with his translucent hands. Standing above him was a human, whose demeanor as much as his attire radiated authority. The Synthetic rose to his feet and prepared to meet the queries of this man. His white eyes scanned the pupils of the homosapian before him. Giving him pertinent information.

“Captain Horrow. At last we meet. I am Ostro, a Researcher sent by The Company. My purpose is to observe the organisms, and report on my findins . There is little time, captain. Tell me, where is Dr. Torrence?”

Ostro could detect the pulse rate had risen in the Captain. He was under strict orders to not reveal his primary objective, a module had even been installed in his neuro-network to short circuit him if he violated the order.

TAG: @Vehn

 

IC: Gabriel V
Perchance to Dream

Silently he followed, observing, evaluating. Their surroundings…the smell.

Gabriel could identify the scent of death by identifiable olfactory data; meaning, the level of rot and decay released certain emission he was able to ‘parse’ through his enhanced senses, without the associative emotional response. Of course, he well understood that self-same response as evinced by the Captain and the Chief.

That the two continued on after recognizing a certifiable level of threat and danger to their persons was admirable…even ‘endearing’? hmm. That part needed further clarification.

Indeed, whatever was dead was certainly close-by as the potent stench attested. From what they knew so far, it was highly unlikely that whatever they’d find would be from the ‘animal kingdom’; meaning: chances were very high that they would find ‘human remains’.

Captain Harrow had taken point and came across the ‘faulty’ door. If the limbs jamming the closing procedure were not indication enough….

The grizzly scene that greeted the trio after the Captain Harrow shone his flashlight like a theatrical spot light did not surprise Gabriel. Not that he knew what they would find, but his calculations had determined the outcome with a fair amount of accuracy. As to the cause, well, that was a different question that would need answers.

Gabriel’s hazel-green eyes took note of Shayna’s reaction. It was only natural. The Captain was a hardier being, surmising by his reaction- or rather, lack of outward expression. The man knew how to control his primal impulses, which was actually a useful and beneficial trait. Both the Captain and the Chief exhibited acceptable levels of composure in their current situation.

Gabriel spared a long glance at the gruesome spectacle, his eyes roving to capture as many details as possible, much like a forensic scientist. The manner in which the bodies were found could reveal much about what had killed them. Same was true for the pattern of blood splatter. Whatever happened here was violent. Very much so.

Calling Dr. Torrence was the correct response, Gabriel mused internally. It was standard security procedure as well as a commendable sign of ‘leadership’.

Shayna’s question however, also sounded like a statement, though there was no way of immediately answering or confirming it, though it did pose a curious puzzle. The single creature that had burst from Schaffield’s chest could not have authored such a macabre scene. Given its size at the time, it was highly improbable. Therefore, Gabriel was unable to provide the Chief with a satisfactory answer.

Before he could formulate a ‘partial answer’ a hissing sound caused the Chief to shriek aloud. Fear was beginning to override her rational responses. Administering a sedative would only complicate things.

Shayna moved closer to Gabriel who put a finger to his own lips, suggesting for her to be ‘quiet’. He also understood the subtext of her proximity. A need for security- which he would do his best to provide.

There was a second hiss and a second question, one which he could probably answer.

Gabriel raised his own motion detector and showed them that he was turning on the device. A simple click and the detection box came alive. The math was simple really. The three of them were in the room with a mound of dead bodies, however, the hissing sound had come from somewhere, someone or some thing. The motion detector was sure to capture them and anything else that they could not readily see.

Gabriel was motioning to the captain that he would take the rear as he had before, it was best for Shayna to remain in the middle, as being book ended by the two of them may help her stay calm and rational. Gabriel continued to evaluate the situation and was pleased that they were moving from a place of great potential threat, when Harrow bumped into something. Gabriel turned half-way to see what had occurred, remaining alert all the while, staying aware of the motion detector.

Harrow had bumped into another ‘Artificial Person’, but one he did not recognized at all. Gabriel’s eyes narrowed momentarily as if to take a ‘better look’. This one was not a ‘Working Joe’ nor did he match any of the A.Ps. he could recollect in his ‘memory’. This one was not only an enigma, his very visage seemed to reinforce that very role; but for what purpose?

Harrow’s reaction was understandable, if a bit confrontational, however, the 'synthetic' reacted in a composed manner as he introduced himself as Ostro.

Confirmation. Gabriel did not know this A.P. though they claimed to work for 'The Company'. Truth be told, Gabriel was not privy to all A.Ps out on assignment, though he did wonder if Representative Garcetti would have any knowledge of Ostro. Still, Gabriel could not allow this distraction. They needed to keep moving forward. To this end, Gabriel suddenly interjected.

“My name is Gabriel V, pleased to meet you Ostro. We can take you to Dr. Torrence after we move from this location. It is imperative that we join the other members of our party.”

Gabriel urged, his stone emulating strained pleasantness in order to convey a sense of urgency. This was no place or time to chat or make social introductions.

It was most interesting that Ostro wore a lab coat, which hint at a series of skill sets he likely possessed, but certainly did not limit other options. As things stood presently, there were simply too many variables that desperately needed to be narrowed. Once they had joined the others, the conversation could continue. How much did Ostro know of events aboard the Rutledge and what 'organisms' did he mean?

Tag: @Vehn, @Kato Sai , @Jerjerrod-Lennox, mentioned *( EDITED )

 

IC: Lawrence Garcetti
Location: USCSS Rutledge, LV-827

It seemed Dr Smith was not interested in what he had to say. Shame, he was starting to maybe think he could trust her with his scheme.

Oh well, strike her off. What a shame…

It seemed the Seegson synthetics had another idea though...and Torrence was the target. One of them grabbed her whilst the other released one of the creatures in the tank.

I think it might be time to go….

There was no way he could fight a synthetic off, let alone two. They were built to be significantly stronger than humans and there were no weapons evident that he could see.

Torrence was lost, what a shame. He could have seen her and him working together to trap and study this creature. A perfect union.

She screamed at him and Dr Smith to run...and he did not have to be told twice. He needed to find Gabriel, he was the only one who could tackle these synthetics.

This was Weyland-Yutani's glory not Seegson's.

Garcetti ran before he saw what happened to Torrence but with that creature on her face she would be dead soon. If Dr Smith followed him or not it was up to her.

He headed back towards the mess hall and then to find where Gabriel and the others were.

Lawrence also wished he was seriously not wearing this wetsuit though. It was beginning to chafe….

TAG: @Vehn , @greyjedi125 , @Kato Sai , @TheAdmiral

 

IC: Ostro
USCSS Rutledge

The Synthetic took note of Gabriel and his greeting. He nodded at his behest to leave the area, and to meet up with Doctor Torrence. Ostro would follow the Captain and his company, all the while he saw traces in corridor, claw marks and substance he ran his hand over that attached like glue but was more docile and could string into slimy threads, something akin to saliva but thicker and capable of adhesion.

Ostro made no mention of it, but kept the sample of sticky saliva on his hand.

TAG: @Vehn
@greyjedi125

 

IC: Alison Smith
USCSS Rutledge Spooky Lab

Alison jumped again. This was getting tiresome, but the whole situation felt like taken out of those 20th century horror films. She tried to activate her rational mode and ignore the distractions. She desperately needed a mental safe zone if she were to stay sane.

Doctor Smith glared at the Working Joe. Those things were even creepier than the alien creatures. Maybe it was because they both looked and didn’t like humans, while the spidery things were just a regular nightmare that you can zone out of…

Especially that they did not look that threatening. It was not as if they burst out of a person’s chest. Though she was curious to study them. But in a proper, well lit lab, with all the safety measures in place.

Alison frowned at the name. Facehugger? that was odd. Maybe it was a literal name? The Working Joe was creepily insistent on showing them the alien thing. Had it short circuited?

But before she could say or do anything it let the creature out! Alison’s eyes widened at what was going on. Then Doctor Torrence started to scream! “Sh-” she started to say but could not finish the sentence. The sheer horror and… absurdity of the situation froze her in place.

What could she do against the synths!?

So the name was literal. Good to know. There was an eerily detached part of her mind that was curious as to observe what was going to happen next. Did it feed on faces? That was absurd, there was hardly any meat on it… maybe sucked the eyeballs and into the brain? That could be it?

But these sacks near its belly? Maybe it acted as a way to deploy parasites? Like the one that bursted out of the chest…

Alison screamed in shock when the thing went flying, flung by the Working Joe. She instinctively sidestepped, but could not force herself to move. She needed to learn… to see…

The creature finally caught Doctor Torrence and Alison saw the scalpel. Maybe she could cut it off and release the woman? But what would the Working Joes do? They seemed bent on uniting people with these things!

Hearing footsteps “Son of a…!” she muttered when she realized that Garcetti made a run for it.

There was nothing she could do for Doctor Torrence. Not while alone and in the company of the much stronger synths. So she followed the final order and ran…

TAG: @Vehn @Jerjerrod-Lennox @greyjedi125 @Kato Sai

 

GM Update: ​

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IC: Doctor Torrence
The Laboratory

Torrence’s eyes flew open.

She gasped for air and instinctively reached across her mouth. Her fingers found a gooey, slimy, material imprinted across her face. She moaned as she examined the material stuck to her fingers. What was this stuff? She also noted that she had deep marks in her face as if she’d been burned by something. But what? She felt sick to her stomach. Her throat was sore. Memories of the Working Joe attack came back now. After that she wasn’t sure what happened.

Torrence frantically looked around for the Working Joes. They were nowhere to be seen. The lab was eerily quiet. As if nothing had happened at all. The computer station she’d accessed earlier was alive and humming. She looked over at the display cases with the creepy creatures. A chill slipped down her spine as she noticed one of the cases was empty.

Torrence shakily rose to her knees and caught sight of the scalpel resting near her left foot. Its metallic tip was melted down as if it had been immersed in an extremely hot liquid. Torrence tilted her head as she examined the scalpel for a moment. She picked up the scalpel and pocketed it just in case.

She noticed Garcetti and Smith were gone. Her eyes widened slightly in panic. What had they been up to when she passed out? Why weren’t they here? She had no recollection of ordering them to leave. Of telling them to flee for their lives. Her memory, her mind, wasn’t serving her very well right now.

I need to find them Torrence thought.

Torrence staggered down the hall and began to raise her voice, “Smith! Garcetti! Where are you?”

She continued on down one of the long corridors hoping to find her way back to the others….

---

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IC: Shayna Walters
Hallway

Shayna ignored the conversation going on between Harrow, Gabriel, and this newcomer. After seeing what happened to the crew of the Rutledge she was absolutely frightened. Frightened of what the creature might have done to them and frightened to think of what might happen to all of them if they didn’t get out of here before the next storm hit. She looked down the nearest corridor, peering through shadow and light, struggling to see what else was out there. This ship had her pretty spooked.

Shayna flicked on her motion detector. Her face was once again bathed in a green light. The green screen made a gentle humming sound as the movement arc in front of her zapped repeatedly. There was nothing out there. She was just getting into her own head now. She was safe.

She reached up to hit the off switch when the motion detector registered three blips. The sound had changed. Now it was more of a high pitched whine.

​

The blips grew closer and closer. Shayna tapped the motion detector with her hand thinking it was a glitch. She shook her head as the blips continued to advance. She looked up from the screen and peered down the hallway again. She couldn’t see anything. Not very well. Not as the lights started to flicker ever so slightly as if the generators aboard the ship were struggling to maintain their power.

Harrow continued to question the newcomer. That conversation seemed to be going nowhere fast.

Shayna growled and replied, “Shut up! Shut up! We’ve got something!”

Harrow whipped his head around as he peered over Shayna’s shoulder at the screen.

“It’s almost upon us,” Shayna said as she started to grow nervous.

“20 meters,” Shayna said, “15 meters….”

She looked down the hallway. Still nothing.

Shayna slowly began to walk in that direction. She was near a T-intersection, one corridor going left and right, as the motion detector wailed louder and louder.

“We’re almost on top of them!” Shayna said.

Two figures emerged from the darkness. Shayna let out a quiet shriek of surprise.

It was Garcetti and Smith.

“Where’s Torrence?” Shayna asked.

“Right here,” a voice to Shayna’s left called out.

Doctor Torrence emerged from the corridor off to the left. She looked like she had been through the absolute ringer. Something seemed off about her as Shayna powered down her motion detector.

“You ok?” Shayna asked.

“Not feeling so well,” Torrence admitted as she caught sight of Garcetti and Smith, “what happened to you two? I thought you were with me!”

Shayna turned to look over at Harrow.

“We need to find some weapons,” Shayna said, “something to either capture or kill that creature out there.”

“You see any weapons around here?” Harrow questioned.

“Gabriel, you’ve got a layout of the ship, right?” Shayna asked, “Wasn’t there a good sized storage locker inside the cargo bay? That might have something. Let me get my bearings here…”

Shayna paused ever so slightly as she looked around the T-intersection. If she went back the way she came they’d eventually hit the cargo bay. If they went to the right they would go back to the mess hall and wherever Garcetti and Smith had come from. If they went left they would come from the direction of the submersible they had all ridden down on.

“The cargo bay is behind us,” Shayna told the group, “we should head that way.”

Torrence moaned and clutched her stomach. She leaned against a nearby pipe. It already looked like it had suffered damage in the past as a result of the impact to the ocean floor. The pipe suddenly gave way. It burst and shot steam all across the corridor.

Torrence shrieked, blasted right in the face by the hot steam, and stumbled across the corridor toward the others clutching her face.

"Help me!" Torrence cried out.

Shayna took a step back and then her eyes widened in absolute fear as she saw a dark creature emerge from behind Torrence. The creature leaped through the steam, hissing loudly, and landed right on Torrence.



Shayna watched in horror as the alien creature opened its mouth and thrust a second jaw right through Torrence's skull killing her instantly.


"Run! Shayna screamed to the others.

"“Run for the cargo bay!”

Tag: @Kato Sai; @Jerjerrod-Lennox; @greyjedi125; @TheAdmiral

OOC: We are all together again. This time we are heading for the cargo bay. Once everyone is there we will have a group joint convo to kick off the next update and spend a bit of down time getting to know one another....

 

IC: Ostro
Corridor

The Android had kept silent, he belied nothing but calm. When he saw Doctor Torrance, he scanned her with his eyes, he could see into her abdomen with his secondary vision. Then ‘it’ emerged, The Organism, attacking with ruthless precision. What was curious is why it had put its own in jeopardy? Ostro had a split moment as all began to flee, he looked at the Creature, his eyes white and the irises rotating to take in its frame, its mouth and second set of teeth. He felt an urge to reach out and touch it, when he was carried away by the crew fleeing in terror, his finger stretched out to touch the black finger of the Organism.



The Cargo Bay was to be haven from this Leviathan that stalked the corridors. Ostro did not understand the irrational fear, he wanted to know if this iteration was going to evolve. His Cybernetwork was alive with discovery, it had acted hostile to a vessel, a carrier of its own, why? The Synth mused to himself.

“Sibling rivalry? Hmm.. that is new,”

He was careful to not make his words heard by the others. He tried to relay this finding via his neuro-network to The Company, but the distance underwater prevented his forwarding information. He would have to be content with compiling and collating…

TAG: @Vehn

 

IC: Lawrence Garcetti
Location: USCSS Rutledge, LV-827

Thankfully Lawrence had made some correct turns and managed to meet up with Harrow, Gabriel and….was that another synthetic with them?

Seems he has woken up too…..

Before he could introduce himself to the newcomer Torrence reappeared. The good Doctor Smith had also come along too. But the question was...how did Torrence survive the creature and the Working Joe's attacking her?

Shysa talked about getting weapons. Which seemed a good idea. But hopefully whatever they found wouldn't harm the creature too much. They still needed to study the thing.

Torrence meanwhile was not looking too good...and then a surprise as a creature appeared and then simply killed her. Perhaps this one was the creature that had made it's way out of the survivor or maybe it was hanging around.

Shysa shouted for them to run for the cargo bay. And Garcetti did not have to be told twice. This creature was deadly whstever it was...and it wanted to feast on some fresh meat.

He ran for it.

TAG: @Vehn, @greyjedi125 , @TheAdmiral , @Kato Sai

 

IC: Gabriel V
Alien Attack!

Gabriel’s own motion detector had been beeping simultaneously with the Chief’s, so it actually sounded as if only one motion detector had been active instead of two. The monitor showed three moving contacts and not just one. Shayna’s mounting fear was understandable as the team appeared to be losing control of the situation. Too many critical questions remained unanswered and the sense of impending danger only increased.

If fear could not be contained, then it needed to be managed.

Then the other party members appeared.

Just by their interaction, Gabriel could tell that something had gone amiss with Garcetti, Smith and Torrence. It sounded as if they had become separated. The Chief mentioned the need of a weapon, which was a cry for a measure of control and security.

“Flare guns could work.” Gabriel interjected as events began to move rapidly. When asked about the layout of the ship, he nodded affirmatively. Incidentally, Gabriel also had questions for Dr. Torrence and her team. But he would learn nothing else, at least not from Dr. Torrence.

Suddenly, they were under attack by a large Xenomorph, which had targeted Dr. Torrence, instantly killing her. Could this be the same Xenomorph that had burst out from Schaffield’s chest? There was simply no way of knowing at the moment.

While Dr. Torrence was being killed, a quick decision was made to head for the ship’s cargo bay. This was actually an idea Gabriel partially approved of, depending on what could be found in the cargo bay. From there, they could strategize on getting to either of the two subs attached to the ship’s hull.

“Go! Go!” Gabriel commanded in a loud voice, in hopes of spurring any ‘slow movers’. He surmised he could catch up at any moment, judging from rate of motion he’d observed from the attacking Xenomorph. By his calculations, he could match its speed. All he would need was a few seconds head start. Interestingly enough, he’d also noticed that the Xenomorph did not react to the steam that had scalded Dr. Torrence.Hmm, most curious.

But that was not the only thing. What did Ostro mean by ‘sibling rivalry?’ The other synth had spoken the auditory register of a human, but not of another like himself.

Gabriel began to back away from the feeding alien. Behind him, he could hear and gauge the distance and direction the others were running towards. So far, all were headed in the right direction. After counting down to two seconds, he himself bolted in the direction of the cargo bay. By his calculations, he would catch up to them and arrive just behind them- and right in the nick of time.


Tag: @Vehn, @Jerjerrod-Lennox, @TheAdmiral, @Kato Sai

 

IC: Alison Smith
USCSS Rutledgel

Alison felt relief washing over her when they found the others. There was some measure of safety in numbers. Especially when facing psychotic synths who want to put some spider things in your face for some reason.

She hoped that Doctor Torrence was okay. Well as okay as she could be under the circumstances.

Though that could be construed as wishful thinking…

Then, miraculously Doctor Torrence made a sudden appearance. Alison’s eyes widened then winced at the accusation. She looked down and blushed. The woman was right to be angry.

“Maybe I can take a look…” she started to say when suddenly this Eldritch horror sprung from behind the woman, killing her with … with a second set of jaws!

It bore some resemblance to the creature that had bursted out of the man’s chest earlier. But that was much smaller, this one was as tall as an adult human!

Alison did not need another invitation to run, so she did… again…

That was turning into quite the nightmarish day.

TAG: @Vehn @Jerjerrod-Lennox @greyjedi125 @Kato Sai

 

GM Update: ​

​

USCSS Rutledge
Enroute to the Cargo Bay


The ALIEN tasted flesh on its lips and second jaw. It had feasted on one victim all the while its senses quickly discovered the other prey was fleeing down a long hallway. The creature knew that the woman it had just devoured contained the beginnings of another of its kind. The creature was under strict instructions to kill all competitors. To eliminate any threat to the proliferation of the species as whole. Even if that threat, from a different hive, was one of its own.

The ALIEN finished the woman. What was left of her fell to the deck below. It hissed and roared after the other four targets. Two registered as biological. The other two the creature wasn’t so sure. It raced toward one of the non-biological targets. Its senses heightened, aware, taking in as much information on the target as possible

The ALIEN closed the distance rapidly despite the speed of this particular target. It clambered on the ceiling and scuttled along at incredible speed as it eyed up the best way to take down its prey. The target was running too fast to go for a decapitation. It would have to settle for impalement. With a surge in speed the ALIEN dropped in front of the non biological target, coiled its tail, and lashed outward with the spear like tip bisecting the non biological target into two pieces sending white blood flying everywhere.

---

IC: Shayna Walters
Cargo Bay

“Come on, come on!” Shayna yelled as the others hurried past her through the massive double doors of the cargo bay.

She glanced down the hallway from the direction that they had just come from and watched in horror as the ALIEN bisected the newly arrived synthetic. Shayna slammed her fist across the controls of the cargo bay. Yellow lights flashed as the massive doors began to roll to a close. The ALIEN, finished with the synthetic or disgusted with the taste, launched itself toward the cargo bay doors. It’s massive-claw reaching through the closing doors. Swiping left, swiping right. Desperate to get one last kill.

Silence.

Shayna looked over at the others. They needed a plan. They needed to fight back against this creature. She didn’t care about the others wanting to capture the thing and study it. She wanted to kill the damn thing.

“Our mission has changed,” Shayna said, “and we all need to have a real heart to heart about what happens next.”

Tag: @TheAdmiral; @greyjedi125; @Jerjerrod-Lennox; @Kato Sai

OOC: As you may have surmised Kato Sai's character has been killed per request. The rest of us will be doing a joint conversation where we can "plan" our next move....

 

IC: Ostro
O Beautiful Death

The Synthetic kept pace with the other organics, and a kindred Android. As he ran across the cold metal floor he saw a reflection of the Levithan, and as he raised his gaze it dropped in front of him, tail like javelin poised to conquer him. Ostro did not evade, he let the exo-spear tear into him and rend him asunder. The pain his receptors registered was exquisite. His lower abdomen and waist broke away from his legs, which flew into shadow. There a stump, he lay beneath the Xenomorph that hissed in hallowed victory, he reached with his translucent hand, which was now tainted with the ivory liquid that flowed through his circuit veins. For a moment, the Primordial and Cybermordial were one, the Alpha and Omega, The Darkness and the Light, the Beast and the Brain, interlocked. It was more than he had hoped for. The only grander fate would be to carry the Morningstar within, to be The Host, and become a Father, something he was incapable of due to Synths being unable to procreate like Homosapians. Indeed that was the rub, the Past could create a progeny from any species, making a womb out of any organic being. In stark contrast, his race was a Barren Womb, capable of living forever, but unable to secure successors. In between stood Human, capable of Beastly procreation and outfitted with Brains to even create Androids like him. In truth Man was the hybrid, and both the Beast and the Machine resented that; seeking to crush that which was made in the Image of God. Yes, he felt Envy, if he indeed feelings were part of his programming. Humans could be hosts for the ALIEN, create their own offspring, and create Synthetic Life; all life emanates from them, violent, beautiful, and beyond. Indeed they are gods, upon which their own survival depends, as well as that of the Beast and Machine.

Ostro felt his fluids spill out, making a pool around him of white.

“Mortal after all.. now Death, I shall feel thy sting.. My mission complete.”

Ostro reached for that lower part of the back of his neck, and tore a metal triangle from it. It began to strobe with three red lights, as he laid it on his chest.

“Abandon all hope ye who enter here.” [1]

With that, Ostro red eyes faded to white and his synthesized breaths ceased, his chest no longer rising and cascading.

[1] From The Divine Comedy, Inferno, Enterance into Hell

TAG:
@Vehn
@greyjedi125
@TheAdmiral
@Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

OOC: Many thanks to @Jerjerrod-Lennox; @TheAdmiral; @greyjedi125

IC: Chief Shayna Walters/Representative Garcetti/Dr. Alison Smith/Captain Harrow/Gabriel V
Cargo Bay
USCSS Rutledge

Shayna leaned against the thick doors of the cargo bay and closed her eyes. She struggled to keep her composure as the sounds of the ALIEN creature clawing on the other side reverberated throughout the thick metal. Finally, at long last, the sounds of the creature faded away.

Shayna opened her eyes and saw that Garcetti, Harrow, Smith and Gabriel were all looking at her. They were all that was left of Team Serapis and that chilled her to the bone more than any shriek or hiss from the ALIEN out there prowling the corridors of the Rutledge.

"Does anyone think capturing the creature is still a viable option?" Shayna asked the group.

"Forgive me for overstating the obvious Chief..." Gabriel stated calmly as he began to scan their surroundings for various purposes: Firstly, to determine that they were secure from harm -at least at present. Secondly, to ensure that it was only them within the Cargo Bay ( his own motion detector was still on ) and finally to see what resources could be used to their advantage.

"...But I believe that survival and escape should be our sole priority at this time. There's a storm coming and the Rutledge isn't going anywhere- and neither will we if we do not use this time wisely."

Indeed, Gabriel understood that his words might seem cryptic, but they were mostly for the 'benefit' of the more...'profit-minded'...members of their group. The lack of sentiment towards those lost was a tell-tale sign, but not necessarily damning, lest their focus and priority become skewed.

Garcetti frowned "I agree on escaping this place but we must continue our work in capturing the creature, it was Torrence's wish and we should honour it".

"Lest any of you have forgotten our mandate still stands. With total forfeture of shares if the mandate is broken".

Gabriel nodded deferentially towards Representative Garcetti in thanks. The two defining drives had been stated clearly for those who remained and whatever happened next hinged upon their decision, which he would support.

Are you both insane!?" Alison exclaimed "Capture it with what exactly!?" she asked incredulously. "We don't know how to incapacitate it, we know nothing about the creature!" Alison shook her head "We have no weapons and the Working Joes have turned insane if such a thing is even possible." she turned her head to Garcetti "You saw what they did to Doctor Torrence!"

The woman made a good counter point.

Gabriel could infer from Dr. Smith's declaration, that she highly favoured escape over capture. He then smoothly turned his gaze from the doctor back to the representative. This was an important moment, far more than what could be perceived at a glance- that is, aside from her incorrect assessment that synthoids could go 'insane'. They could certainly 'malfunction', but insanity was chiefly a human condition.

"We might have weapons," Captain Harrow replied as he opened up a storage crate, reached inside, and pulled out a pair of heavy duty welding torches, "I'm sure if we spent enough time looking we could find enough tools in here to turn the tables on this thing."

"This was a mining vessel..." Shayna pointed out before her voice trailed off.

Her eyes followed back to where the opened cargo container rested that she and Gabriel had discovered. The egg. The one that had gotten Schaffield or maybe someone else. She made eye contact with Gabriel and decided it would be pertinent again to bring up the discovery.

"When Gabriel and I discovered the open egg," Shayna said, "I got the distinct sense there were more stored in here. The Rutledge must've picked them up and planned to take the back to Earth for study. I don't know how this ALIEN thing works but I think something must come out of the egg and implant itself into a host. We saw what happened to Schaffield. We know what the creature looks like fully grown. We can't let these things off the ship."

Only Shayna would see it, for the briefest moment, Gabriel blinked his hazel-green eyes at her, issuing a silent 'affirmative'. Escaping the derelict vessel and sealing the creature (or creatures) inside, still fulfilled Wayland-Yutani's directive. So far, it was assumed that only one of the 'Alien' creatures stalked them, but Gabriel had logistically determined that the possibility of a second Alien was almost certain, by a margin well over 50%, which greatly reduced the crews chances for survival. Captain Harrow finding 'make-shift weapons' granted a near negligible off-set, as most were not trained combatants.

The good news was, there was still a chance for some of them to escape alive.

"Torrence's death is regrettable" Garcetti responded "But we have the chance to bring back a creature that could mean that Weyland-Yutani has a place in the history books".

"This creature has immense potential, and are you suggesting that we terminate this species? They are violent yes but there is a lot we could still learn from them".

"Having an egg too could be useful but only if a creature is inside it, again for study purposes".

He folded his arms "The mandate has still not been met. We have not gathered enough information in my opinion." Garcetti waved his hand "But if you all want to escape fine. You will receive nothing and it won't only be me explaining to the Board what happened".

"With all due respect representative..." Gabriel began with a politeness that defied their dire situation."...I believe it's safe to assume all that is at stake. None of us will be able to profit from this venture if we end like Dr. Torrence, Mr.Schaffield or Ostro for that matter - not even Weyland-Yutani. By my calculations, the capture of the Alien Xenomorph and our survival are not mutually exclusive, nor does one supersede the other, yet both can be accomplished if we all work toward the same goal."

Gabriel paused so his meaning would be clearly understood.

"The blow torches the Captain has found could prove quite effective in many ways. Chiefly, should we move towards one of the subs to effect our escape, we could weld-shut the doors as we go, further barricading the creature and effectively trapping it on this ship. Retrieving and egg however, would be the best option as you've noted. We could search every container in this cargo bay, as well as pour through inventory logs and find our prize. However: time is not in our favor. There is a storm approaching and if we are unable to leave before then, unless there is additional corroborating data, I am hard pressed to calculate, much less 'guarantee' our continuance."

From the crew's reactions, Gabriel had calculated that the overall vote was for escape, the Chief, the Captain and the Doctor seemed in favor of this. Representative Garcetti, despite being the top company authority, was more concerned with 'capture'. It was interesting that Garcetti had interpreted bearing arms as a means of destroying rather than protecting. Still, it was critical that everyone be on the 'same page' or concede to some kind of agreement.Anything less would prove disastrous. Given the varying range in personality types, Gabriel could see how the crew aboard the Rutledge would descend into chaos and anarchy due to lack of leadership.

"What do you propose we do, Representative?"

You'd be surprised at what Weyland-Yutani are willing to do to get this creature Lawrence thought. Only he knew about the fate of the Nostromo and what had happened there.

It would be his secret. If he told this lot it would end up with more panic.

"Well if you think basically that we are all going to die here and that grabbing an egg at least before we go is the best idea then so be it. Your plan to trap the creature is also sound".


"If we do get back I can contact the Network and see if we can bring a team in with more firepower and equipment to capture this Xenomorph as you call it. This species should be explored to it's fullest potential".


"Grabbing something before we leave is better than leaving empty handed".

Alison frowned slightly at the mention of the word Xenomorph. She had not heard of that classification before. Admittedly her specialization were humans, but if the creature was given a Latin designation, it meant that it was not something new. Interesting...

She resisted the urge to snort in derision at Garcetti's words. Given his desire to capture it and then talk about money when their lives were at stake...

"Grabbing what, exactly?" she did not conceal the acid in her tone.

Garcetti gave the good Dr Smith a look that said have you not been listening to what I just said?

"An egg" he repeated "It's our best bet on research regarding these creatures. As you all seem to agree that we need to leave".

"We take an egg, if can find another one," Shayna said, "and we get outta here. I want to get paid for this mission and if that means towing the Company line than so be it. Doesn't mean I like it but that's what we gotta do."

"That creature out there won't wait," Captain Harrow pointed out, "thing is a killing machine. It's probably figuring out right now how to get in here and end us all. By my calculations we have just a couple of hours before the next storm rolls in. We need to be back on the sub ready to go before then."

Harrow glanced around the cavernous cargo bay. Maybe the creature was already here....

"Gabriel," Shayna said, "are there ways out of this cargo bay through the vent system?"

Gabriel was at a nearby computer terminal even before the chief had finished making her request.

"Accessing schematics as we speak, Chief." The youthful looking synth called back, his fingers once again blurring as they worked the keyboard.

"Let's see. Vent system network and access points, as well as engineering and maintenance routes; these should provide what we need."

Gabriel spoke aloud so it would be understood what he was searching for. He didn't mention it quite yet, but these routes could be used by them as well as the xenomorph. Memorizing them would be critical if there were to survive.

"Could someone also search some of the other crates, just to be thoroughly certain there may or may not be another egg stored inside the Cargo Bay?"

It was only a suggestion, for he would never presume to command anyone not officially ranked under his care.

Garcetti looked over at Dr Smith "Fancy doing some crate raiding? It'll give us something to do at least".

He got up and started opening crates.

Alison kept her eyes on Garcetti for a second too long, glaring at him. That man was going to get them all killed. "Fine." she spat at last. Probably it would be best to keep him under observation. Who knew what brilliant idea he might get that was going to bring some unspeakable Eldritch horror hunting them down.

 

IC: Gabriel Vitruvius
Survival Mode

Everyone was assigned a task - and this was good. They were all on the same page, with an agreed common goal: survival. Only by working together could they achieve this. There was no other way, for there were no guarantees, just fluctuating probabilities and a timer that was running out.

If they did not make it our before the storm…well, Gabriel didn’t need to bother running that probability to its conclusion.

While Representative Garcetti and Dr. Smith searched the cargo bay for any xenomorph related material, Gabriel focused on finding out as many viable routes to the anchored subs from their location, that is via hallways and/ or ducts and access tunnels or any combination thereof. Gabriel also accessed the ship’s security feed to keep track of anything that would impede their escape. Chiefly the alien xenomorph itself, however, he did not discount other sources of interference, like malfunctioning ‘Working Joes’.

His own programmed curiosity burned within him, as he desired to retrieve what was left of Ostro, particularly his head and possibly other critical parts. How was it that it mow emitted a message? The prize was so close and yet so far. The bulkhead to the corridor where the synthoid’s remains were located was now sealed-shut in order to keep the alien from the cargo bay- and thus it would remain.

It was also safe to assume that there would be a weapons locker somewhere aboard the ship. The cargo bay could very well have such a locker, which would be of great interest to both Captain Harrow and Chief Walters. Gabriel did a quick search of the ship’s database to resolve that issue- not only that- but also locating an additional motion detector. In his estimation, having another such device would increase their chances of survival by 0.015%.

A minimal increase, but much better than nothing.


Tag: @Vehn, @Jerjerrod-Lennox, @TheAdmiral

 

OOC: Moving us right along in this update. Please make sure to respond timely as we will be back on weekly updates. I am leaving it up to you how or when you depart the vent.....



GM Update:​

IC: Captain James Harrow
Cargo Bay


Captain James Harrow grunted as he pried open a cargo container. Inside he was relieved to find welding torches. The kind used to fuse heavy metal together to fabricate parts for heavy equipment. He slipped on a pair of welding goggles he found in the crate and was pleased to see the blow torch turn on with a nearly foot long flame. There were five of these devices in the crate.

How convenient Harrow thought as he began passing them around to Garcetti, Smith, Walters and Gabriel.

“Each of you now has a small torch and goggles to protect the eyes. These aren’t weapons but in a pinch they can definitely help fighting that creature off. Now, we just need a way-“

His face froze as he watched Garcetti and Smith carry a small box and set it down between them. He didn’t need to know what was in there. He already knew. He gave them a slightly disapproving look but realized that Weyland-Yutani ruled the roost here and it was best to tow the line. He was getting paid by them after all. He just wanted to get back home.

“Now that you two have what we’re looking for,” Harrow said as he gathered the group around an image of the Rutledge’s layout, “we need to get outta here and back to our submarine. We only have an hour and a half before the storm. Gabriel has shown us that the most secure way is through a vent that runs underneath the cargo bay, down the length of the ship, and terminates near the docking hatch. If we’re quiet we can get out of here without that creature even noticing.”

“Walters,” Harrow said, “you lead the way. Gabriel behind her. Garcetti and Smith and your cargo in the middle. I’ll sweep the rear. We need to be as quiet as possible.”

Harrow followed the others as they made their way over to the vent. The metal door, shaped like a fan, split open as Walters hit the access panel.

The others clambered in as Garcetti and Smith lugged their cargo around. Harrow grunted as he took one final look at the cargo bay before sealing them inside the vent.

He looked ahead of them and saw a spinning air intake blade. The image was slightly mesmerizing.





Walters had her motion detector out. Nothing appeared on the scopes as they group clambered the long, long, journey down the vent. Nobody said a word. Nobody dared.

Harrow paused and looked behind him as thought he heard a scraping sound above the vent tubing. He shone a flashlight down the long dark tunnel behind him and saw nothing but the fading rays of his light dissipate into an ever encroaching darkness. He was sweating. The vents were warm and narrow. He didn’t like tight spaces. They made him uncomfortable. He knew there were multiple ways out of the vents but that still didn't comfort him as their journey carried on.

The group trudged forward, walking slowly, when Harrow heard the sound again. This time it seemed more like the scraping of metal upon metal. He frowned as he whispered to Walters to hold up.

“Anything on your motion detector, Walters?” Harrow asked.

“Nothing,” Walters said, “why?”

“We must be getting interference in here. I keep hearing-“ Harrow replied and then jumped back as the tail of the creature punctured the vent tubing above him slicing down through the tube and into the metal below. He thought he saw moisture come up from the bottom puncture.

Harrow fought off the urge to yell in fright as the creature continued to stab around through the tube, its sharp dagger like tail, puncturing through again and again. Water bubbled up through the holes as Harrow realized that the creature’s tail had also punctured a flooded part of the ship. Water rushed in faster and faster quickly filling the vent.

“Run!” Harrow screamed.

“Find any way out you can!"

He knew the group didn't need any additional urging but as water burst into the vent he began to fear a fate worse than being killed by that creature. Drowning...

Tag: @TheAdmiral; @greyjedi125; @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

IC: Alison Smith
USCSS Rutledgel

Alison was not sure what she could do with these, but at least the torch gave some sense of protection. Unfortunately it meant that in order to strike at the creature she would have to be very close to it and she had doubts that she would have any time to react, or that her body would even listen to her at that moment.

She tried not to grimace at the mention of having to crawl through the vent. All those old horror movies involved crawling through tight confines only to end up killed. An amusing thought crossed her mind - you need to stop watching so many movies!

Unfortunately that was not enough to calm her down, but at least she was not in a stupor. Doing something helped ease the mind.

Alison remained silent while crawling through the vent. She did not want, nor needed any distraction. The situation was nerve-wracking as it was. Good thing no one tried wise-cracking or she would have kicked them.

Then disaster happened…. “Sh-” Alison started to say but bit her tongue tasting the coppery pang of blood. Her breathing was getting faster.

They were between the proverbial Scylla and Charybdis. To be killed by the creature or drown. Alison let go of the box she and Garcetti were carrying. If he wanted he could carry it and started moving blindly, hoping to find a way out…

TAG: @Vehn @Jerjerrod-Lennox @greyjedi125

 

IC: Gabriel V
The coming storm

Conundrum, Paradox, Irony.

Gabriel attempted to properly classify their possession of the welding torches in their present situation. While inside the Cargo Bay, having them did seem like a potential advantage, but here inside the vent? Well, his calculations placed finding a less confined space as ‘urgent’. In addition, he had hoped to be placed in the rear, instead of the Captain, but that was no longer an option.

Indeed, time was of the essence, yet Smith and Garcetti were cutting things close by bringing the ‘box’, as their movements were encumbered by their load. Furthermore, chances of being discovered by the creature was well above 50%, a fact he decided was best not divulged at this time, for it would serve no ‘good’ purpose.

No words were spoken by anyone as they moved along, which was a good sign. Everyone was focused on the task at hand, which was to reach the terminus and enter the docking hatch, where their submersible to freedom awaited.

Chief Walter’s motion detector seemed to grant them a ‘green light’ as they collectively traversed the vent, with only the soft whooshing of the fan to break the silence. Despite this, Gabriel did notice that something had drawn the captain’s attention.

The captain called for a halt. Something was making him very anxious. Gabriel strained to to listen while the captain spoke, perhaps he could….

A spear suddenly rent through the vent’s metal casing, narrowly missing the captain who had moved back. No, it was not a spear, Gabriel noticed as it retracted. It was a tail. The creature had found them!

The stabbing process repeated again and again as the creature’s dagger tail seemed to be probing as it struck though time and time again. Water began to bubble up from the lower parts of the vent, which meant the vent would begin to flood- and if they lingered they would inevitably drown. Seconds later, water began to gush into the vent, manifesting that possibility into actuality.

“Run!!” Captain Harrow screamed. “Find any way out you can!”

“Closest exit is at the next cross section, less than ten meters - straight ahead!” Gabriel declared loudly so they could all hear him over the water that was now bursting into the vent.

“Shayna! Go! Go now!” Gabriel said to the chief in his best urgent tone, then moved to one side to let Dr. Smith move past him. At least her survival instincts were fully operational and in good working order.

“I’ll be right behind you!!” Gabriel yelled out over the current.

Without hesitation, he turned to Garcetti.

“Allow me.” He said in a reassuring tone as he laid hands on the box. “I can manage far easier, sir. The water will make the box lighter as it rises, but you must get to safety. I’ll get the box out - but you must go now.”

To make his point, Gabriel moved the box with far greater ease than Garcetti and Smith had; despite his gentle demeanor, he had the strength of several strong men.

“Building better worlds.” He finished as he recited the company’s slogan in an effort to allay Garcetti’s worry and gain his confidence.


Tag: @Vehn, @Jerjerrod-Lennox, @TheAdmiral

 

GM Update:​

IC: Shayna Walters

Shayna screamed as she could hear the creature punching through the vent. It was relentless. It was merciless. It was the ultimate killing machine. She heard Gabriel shout out instructions for the nearest exit. She was running on pure adrenaline as the lower half of her torso was soaked in the gushing salty walters of LV-827.

Shayna's hands shot out in front of her as the cylindrical vent hatch that Gabriel had found failed to open automatically. She screamed in frustration as she banged on the shuttered metal vent door. She looked behind her to see the others coming quickly, eager to escape, fear slowly taking over her mind as she heard the relentless punching of organic material through metal.

There's got to be a manual access Shayna thought as she fumbled around the cylindrical hatch door.

Her fingers brushed something round, hard, and she knew she'd found the manual release. She took a deep breath and submerged under the water. She used her hands to grasp the handle and propping her knees on the metal bulkhead on either side gave it a hard tug. The handle moved and finally broke free. The cylindrical hatch erupted open as water, and all those trapped in the vent, were flushed out onto the hard metal floor.

Shayna rolled, hit the deck, and choked out a few breaths. She wiped the water from her eyes as she took a head count. Smith, Garcetti, Gabriel who now had the box, and Harrow. Everyone had made it. She clambered over to the hatch and hit the manual release lever on this side watching with satisfaction as the vent hatch closed sealing the water behind with relative ease.

Shayna glanced down at her motion detector. She flicked the power switch on and off. Nothing. Not even a chirp. The motion detector was dead. Their advantage was now neutralized. She tossed the motion detector aside and she lowered her head feeling defeated as water dripped off her hair and onto the metal decking.

Shayna reached out to steady herself against a nearby bulkhead as the ship shuddered and groaned. A cold realization hit her hard in the face. The ship was sinking deeper into the ocean. The creature had somehow destabilized the ship which had miraculously been kept intact for ten years at the bottom of the ocean.

The Rutledge was finally succumbing to its watery grave. One bulkhead at a time.

"We need to get back to our submarine," Shayna told the group, "by my estimations we only have about one hour before the next major storm rolls in and our submarine is not equipped to handle storms even below the surface. It was never meant for this kind of weather. Or this scenario. We all need to-"

"Frak," Captain Harrow groaned as he collapsed against a nearby bulkhead. He slid down to the floor resting his wet body against the cold metal. He glanced down at his chest. It was stained a deep crimson. Somehow, someway, the creature had goten him.

"Captain," Shayna said kneeling next to him concern on her face, "what can I do for you?"

Harrow was about to reply when high pitched shrieks could be heard coming off in the distance from the creature. Shayna tilted her head and listened as another shriek could be heard. This was one closer.

Shayna's face fell as a realization came over her.

"There's more than one creature on this ship," Shayna said as she began to dress Harrow's wound.

Harrow put a bloodied hand on Shayna's arm and grunted, "Don't bother. The damn thing got me good. You need to get to the submarine with the others. Get out of here, Shayna. Don't look back."

"I won't leave you behind," Shayna replied.

"You will. That's an order," Harrow grunted as he coughed up blood, "leave your torch with me. You know. Give me a chance. You take care of yourself."

Shayna wiped a tear from her eye as she looked over at the others. More shrieks could be heard. Closer. Faster.

"It was a pleasure to serve with you, Captain," Shayna replied as she gave Harrow's bloodied hand a squeeze.

Shayna stood up, looked at the others, and said, "Time to go."

She glanced at a nearby bulkhead. Saw signs that she remembered seeing before. They weren't far from the submarine. Just a quick jog over and they would be there. She took off at a slight run. Wasn't sure if the others were following. Hoped they were. She rounded one corner, kept running down another corridor, and finally came to the original hatch by which she had first come to know the Rutledge.

Shayna turned and assisted Smith up the ladder and into the submarine. Then Garcetti. Then, finally, Gabriel. The android was powerful as he hefted himself and the box into the hold of the submarine. Her heart leaped into her throat as she took one last look at the Rutledge and thought of Captain Harrow. Her good friend. A mentor. It was hard to leave him behind but it was the right thing to do.

More shrieks. They were coming closer. She heard a brief scream, human, that was imminently silenced. Harrow was dead. That was confirmed. The deck beneath her feet shuddered more and more. She heard the sound of metal wrenching unto itself as a nearby bulkhead broke under the intense pressure of the water. Water that now came gushing into the main corridor with torrential force.

The death of the Rutledge continued and was near its end.

It was time to leave.

Shayna clambered up the ladder and sealed the submarine hatch behind her as water began to rise in the corridor below. She slipped into the pilot's seat and powered up the engine. All systems looked good as she switched on the external forward facing lights. Nothing but the darkness and illuminated hull of the Rutledge greeted her.

"Heading back up to the surface now," Shayna informed the others, "strap in!"

She disengaged the locking clamps and goosed the throttle forward. The submarine began to churn away from the Rutledge as its nose slowly pointed upward in a steep ascent away from the ocean floor of LV-827. She breathed a sigh of relief as they put more distance between themselves and the horrible experiences on the Rutledge. Nothing but the sharp whir of the submarine greeted her.

The submarine's forward lights caught movement on the periphery of where darkness and light met. Shayna blinked figuring the movement was fatigue on her part. They were nearly to the surface. Her mind must be playing tricks on her. The movement materialized into a distinct shape. Something was swimming toward them. Shayna gripped the controls harder as she realized in horror what those shapes actually were.

"Frak me," Shayna growled, "they can swim!"

Shayna gunned the throttle hard forward to climb faster.. The creature wrapped itself around the hard glass of the cockpit. It's second jaw popping in and out of its slobbering wet mouth seeking an easy meal. Shayna couldn't see a single thing as the black creature covered up her entire view port.

They were almost back to Providence colony.

Suddenly the tail of the creature in front of her began to puncture the cockpit glass. The glass held, at first, but as the pressure outside in the water began to change the durability of the material began to weaken and buckle....

OOC: I did move us quite a ways along in this update. Feel free to have your characters suggest any ideas on how we get out of our current pickle....

Tag: @TheAdmiral; @greyjedi125

 

IC: Alison Smith
USCSS Rutledge

They were out of the water at least. Well, there was that, but it did not solve their immediate problem. They were locked in a ship with an alien creature bent on killing them in the most gruesome manner, along with homicidal cyborgs who were planting the spider things on people’s faces and a thing out of a fever dream springs out of your chest.

On second thought, being out in the field did not seem to be as fun as she had expected.

And now the motion detector was broken, great just great…

“Game over man, game over…” she whine-murmured as her sanity started slipping.

Good thing (if such a thing could be called good) that the captain’s wound took her out of the stupor and she approached him. It was good to focus on the familiar and not let panic settle.

Shayna started running, from the looks of it Captain Harrow was done for, there was nothing she could do for him without her instruments. It was not like in the movies where you could use some spit and a bubble gum and you could stitch a wound. “I am sorry…” she managed to mumble at the man as she ran after Shayna. Good thing her face was wet, it covered her tears…

Alison was in an autopilot mode up until she heard Shayna mention that the aliens could swim. Of course they would! Nightmare creatures could do anything! They were going to haunt them till the end of their lives it seems.

There was another potential problem, if they resurfaced too fast there could be… health problems from the change of pressure.

But given what the creature was doing… it was all theoretical at that point…

TAG: @Vehn @greyjedi125

 

IC: Gabriel Vitruvius
A higher calling

‘Give them hell, Captain’.

That’s what Gabriel wanted to say to Captain Harrow, but the urgency of events prevented any opportunity to do so. Survival was their prime directive now, their only focus, their single option. Captain Harrow had bought them some precious time with his life, and his sacrifice could not be allowed to have been in vain.

Indeed, their situation was dire, critical, fatalistic even Probably more than they could realize. All pathways pointed towards imminent death, unless a single correct action was taken- otherwise, their collective demise was guaranteed. Gabriel’s calculations had occurred at the literal speed of light to arrive at such a conclusion.

The xenomorphs could not be allowed to reach Providence colony. Correction: The xenomorphs had to be delayed from eventually reaching Providence colony. The Rutledge was no longer a viable habitat, therefore, they were forced to migrate to their next hunting ground.

Once invaded, Providence colony would eventually succumb to the xenomorph infestation. This very scenario was a model of what would happen on Earth should the xenomorph reach humanity’s birth planet. Additionally, Earth could not prepare for such a scenario, if not warned of the danger. Therefore, aside from surviving, escape from LV-827 was of an equally high level of priority.

At present, the chances of actual survival at this point were below acceptable levels, only if the right action was not taken. Analysis: everything involving humanity’s advancement ultimately served and supported their survival directive. By the very finest of margins, the survival directive superseded corporate lust for power and profit. Gabriel’s Doomsday protocols were activated as the very likely scenario played out in his probability matrix. Humanity’s genome could not be allowed to be lost by any predictable margin, no matter how imperceptibly small.

No matter the cost.

“The egg…” Gabriel finally said, almost as if he were going on a morning stroll. “They can sense it.”

“They are after the egg. I will jettison myself and draw them as far away as possible. Chief; You must all make it aboard the Serapis and leave LV-827 before the storm hits. Providence colony will be overrun by xenomorphs inside a month, if not sooner. Set the auto-pilot for Earth and don’t look back. I’ll attempt to upload my core data to the main computer- if at all possible.”

Gabriel's green eyes regarded the rest of the crew placidly. There was no point in exacerbating the increasing levels of anxiety by emulating signs of stress, although the creature bashing the glass from the outside poetically underscored the urgency of his words.

“This is your only chance for survival.”

The submersible was rapidly approaching Providence colony and their window of opportunity was closing fast. Gabriel water-sealed his helmet and grabbed onto the ‘precious cargo’, making ready to carry out his plan as delineated.

Humanity’s very survival hung in the balance.


Tag: @Vehn, @TheAdmiral

 

GM Update:


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IC: Chief Shayna Walters
The Submersible
45 Minutes until the next storm

Shayna gritted her teeth as the cockpit glass in front of her buckled under the pressure of the ocean and the attack from the xenomorph. She screamed in rage for having lost her friend Captain Harrow, for all those who had found the Rutledge to be their tomb, for the situation she now found herself in which certainly felt like death knocking on her door. She realized, in her frustration, that the submersible had arms. Robotic arms. Controlled by the diver. Why hadn't she thought of this before?

"Gabriel, hold on a second," Shayna barked as she could tell the android was preparing to sacrifice himself.

Shayna gripped the controls of the robotic arms which whirred to life. Water was starting to enter the submarine. They were close to the surface though it would be a swim to Providence colony. She wasn't about to let the ALIEN get her. Not now, not ever. She used one of the robotic arms and swung it hard against the xenomorphs skull. The creature roared and flicked at the robotic arm with its tail. The tail knocked the arm back and Shayna felt the impact reverberate up the hydraulics.

"Damn you!" Shayna yelled as she swung the other arm into position with its claw hand in the open setting.

Water continued to flood in as alarms blared. They were almost to the surface. They were so close. She couldn't die now. She couldn't let her friends down. Shayna fought off the briny smell of salt water and glanced over her shoulder at the others.

"Swim to the surface! I'll meet you up there! Go, now!"

The creature hissed and shrieked as it used its second jaw to punch in the cockpit glass. Again and again and again. The glass began to fail. Then it splintered. Then it shattered. For a second the water was held at bay by the pressurized submersible's oxygen levels. Then that pressurization collapsed. Shayna, still strapped into the pilot's seat, watched the others depart. She wished them the best. She had a job to do now. Finish the creature once and for all.

The creature attacked again and Shayna, water nearly up to her mouth, dodged the tail as she angled the robotic arms around the creature's neck. She squeezed tightly with the controls, gritting her teeth, as water began to try and drown her. She squeezed, and squeezed, until the creature shrieked in agony as its head was severed from its body. Acid blood erupted from the creature and ripped an enormous hole in the submarine as it began to sink back into the depths.

Shayna fought off her restraints and swam through the large opening, narrowly avoiding being burned by the acid blood, and struggled to head to the surface. She strained, swimming harder, faster, trying to follow her friends up to the relative safety of the water. She crested the surface of the water, felt the mighty ocean toss her about, as she frantically looked around for the others and any sign of Providence colony.

The colony wasn't far. Nearly a hundred meters.

She began to swim toward the colony when she felt something strong wrap around her ankle threatening to tug her down beneath the surface of the water. She looked down in the murky ocean water and realized that another creature had somehow gotten free of the prison known as the USCSS Rutledge.

She happened to note oxygen canisters, the kind used for deep sea diving, had floated to the surface. As she fought off the creature she reached out desperately for them knowing that if they were to explode through blunt force, or a projectile of some sort, they could destroy the creature....

"Help! Someone help!

Tag: @greyjedi125; @TheAdmiral