XCAS Roleplay 2

[DragonHawk]

August 3rd, 2067

 

Corporal Terra Fleche, Alpha Squad Medic

 

"Unbelievable" Fleche stormed down the hallway in a random direction, cursing Scott and generally muttering all forms of incoherentness. She just couldn't believe that guy... What was it with him? Couldn't he see what was going on around him?

 

Fleche stopped and sighed, leaning up against the bulkhead. It had been a day since her argument with Scott, and the answers hadn't changed. No, they couldn't. They didn't know, they were all caught up in the whole image as protectors of the universe that they couldn't see their leader's corruption. It was almost sad. Some of the X-Com operatives were reasonable. She got along with most of the female members of the crew, and of course with Kacur, but others made her angry sometimes.

 

It had only been recently that she had become even more angry. She remembered previous missions, some she had gotten along pretty well. She even remembered smiling at Ko, despite him being one of the most committed of the wide-eyed true believers in X-Com. With all that had happened lately though, Kacur sinking into depression and Howardson injured, she could almost feel the world collapsing around her.

 

She needed someone to talk to. Somewhat hesitantly, she went off to find Doctor Yorke.

 

 

Private Anne Rallwell, Primary Engineer

 

Rallwell watched as Drake hopped around her desk, intent on getting her attention even in his somewhat other-bodied state. Grinning sadly, she started to pet him. She was sure he was still somewhat sentient, if not in full control. He knew enough to recognize her, at any rate.

 

The two of them (well, she was at any rate) looking at the medkit upgrades that Yorke had asked for. Most of them didn't look too hard to put in, but the key would be retaining the same size... that was going to be difficult. Removing functionality was also an option, but not one she favoured.

 

Tapping her pen on the desk and petting Drake, she sighed. Compromise was unfortunate.

[DragonHawk]

>

 

Alien Craft Crash Site, Yulinis VI, 22 July 2067

 

>

 

PVT_Chavez - ::continues to look into the ethereals eyes after hearing Ko:: You seem...a bit alert. Any reason why you should have your pistol out when you know that we're already done?

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko looked down at Chavez, then his pistol. Giving it a quick pat, Ko grinned.:: We're done, but there's no point being unawares either. These godforsaken ships are the territory of the enemy, and I'd rather not get caught sleeping. ::Ko kneeled down beside Chavez to study the Ethereal. It looked pretty awful, and smelled like a pile of crap.::

 

PVT_Chavez - ::his eyes were fixed onto the dead pupils of the being:: *sigh* You ever wonder if these things even know what they're doing? I mean...a genetically engineered being, who can thinks way better than any of us...you ever think that they do this for domination? or because of what they may be programmed to do?

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Interesting question, Ko thought to himself. He took a second to compose himself and to think about the answer.:: They don't think any better or worse than we do, Cal. Psionics has little relation to thought process. In that way, they may just be like machines... just like every other race in the Starspawn conglomerate.

 

PVT_Chavez - Yeah, maybe you're right. ::he puts his hand over the ethereals eyes and closes them:: hmm...so this is what you look like up close. ::stands up and turns to Ko:: Let me guess how you found me, Kin'jih'ma...?

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko nodded, still looking at the Ethereal. The possibility of them being totally artificially developed... was that possible? It didn't seem likely. He looked up at Chavez.:: Yeah, Kin'jih'ma was on the way out of the ship, we're rallying so we can leave the recovery crews to do their thing.

 

PVT_Chavez - So any word on our next destination? ::he asks while placing his rifle back over his shoulder::

 

LCPL_Ko - We're getting the hell out of here. ::Ko shrugged. He generally knew... Ghost was pretty good with his former-officer teammates.:: We're heading back to Ascidia to resupply. That much is open knowledge. I'm not sure what is planned next though. We need to sort ourselves out.

 

PVT_Chavez - Resupply? ::he asks confused:: but we haven't even been here very long. Hardly even used very much of our ammo. We'd just be wasting our time and letting the enemy get farther in this goddamn invasion. ::he starts to walk out of the door at a slow pace to give he and Ko a chance to talk for a while::

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko nodded.:: Agreed, but the bastards here managed to 're-assign' a lot of equipment for their war, including our communications relay. At minimum, each team needs to replace that; we don't have enough spares to go around. It's bulls***.

 

PVT_Chavez - Yes it is! By the time we get back on track, the opposition will probably have increased another %20 why can't they just get us to where we need to go and ship our stuff with us at the same time? I'd say that Rho and us together could survive off of eachother for a short time while waiting for the rest of our stuff. We're not missing too much.

 

LCPL_Ko - It could be. Logistically though, a rendezvous can be a nightmare. Second, we're not returning to Yulinis. The forces currently here are matching the Starspawn, and more are enroute when they can be mustered. We're wasting our time here. Even a strike on Paronnen may be no good - we need to hit them where we can hurt them for real. ::Ko shook his head as he thought about the situation. He needed more data.::

 

PVT_Chavez - ::getting into the lift, he stops inside but doesn't press the descend button yet:: *sigh* So how long you think till we're back on track? Because ,personally, I just want to get the next drop over and done with fast so I don't have to go through too much of that obnoxious howling. ::snickering at the last part::

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko laughed easily at the comment.:: I think the decision was made to scrap the scramjet. And you should really try it, it helps to equalize the pressure in the ears and the environment. At any rate, resupply should be nice and quick, then we'll head to another system... at the very least, we'll be assigned to eliminate insurgents on other planets - Yurilis and Paronnen fell because of Black Spear involvement, it's believed.

 

PVT_Chavez - Well great! ::he says sarcastically:: they're gonna have us going after the gits again huh? Then what purpose do we have in this system liberation? Black Spear is having problems with the alien forces as we are right? putting them back on the kill list right now is useless, because there is no stopping them right now, and it won't help stop the aliens with us bumping off gits right now! ::hits the descend button, sending them down slowly towards the ground floor."

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko shook his head and sighed.:: Black Spear holdings are not falling because they are less well defended, I suspect they are conquered faster because they are working with the Starspawn. They've made a deal of some sort to get rid of the High Council, similar to some of the smaller nations did back in AW1.

 

PVT_Chavez - AW1 ::he says while looking down towards his feet, remembering a picture of his grandparents:: They should know that if they ended up conquering us all, the starspawn will just end up turning against them and taking this place for themselves. Anyways, what about the API? We know they hate everybody...are they progressing at all in this?

 

LCPL_Ko - ::'Yes, that was possible. But survival as an independent may not have been their goal,' thought Ko. The possibility that they had somehow gotten into the union was frightening - Ascidians were good soldiers. He decided not to comment on this though.:: The API, well, their caught between two colliding forces. Our campaign on Ascidia virtually removed them there, and Black Spear predations have reduced them further.

 

PVT_Chavez - ::reaching ground level, he walks out of the lift and outside the alien craft and looks up into the sky:: hmmh, are they gonna have some big eyes on this place? cause you never know, the raiders could just be late, or plan to take this place at a certain time.

 

LCPL_Ko - It could be. Local forces are very strong though, they'll be along to recover the UFO and repel anyone else... besides, we've got what we came for - there's nothing left to save. ::Ko looked back at the UFO as well. It might provide some good samples of alien materials, materials beyond their ability to manufacture, but processing that would be something beyond him at this point.::

 

PVT_Chavez - ::while walking towards the ship, he catches a glance from Kin'jih'ma, who gives him an almost angry look, and then returns to his own business:: Heh...I think I pissed him off, why does this race have to be so physical? It's like they never take the time to think before they move, I mean of course they're excellent soldiers, but they carry no thoughts of reason, only thoughts of victory, and sometimes false honor.

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko almost grinned at that.:: Reason that you don't understand. Their way has advantages too, not just ours. Remember that, for the rest of your life. You always, always play to your advantages. The Ascidians are good strategists, tacticians, and warriors in their own right.

 

PVT_Chavez - Yes,but if we weren't around, the sectoids would have these guys killing themselves off by the thousands. I mean, I have nothing against them, but Kin'jih'ma had said something that just wasn't very appealing to me.

 

LCPL_Ko - I don't want to know what it is. ::'Too bad I do know though,' Ko thought. Ko put out his hand to stop Chavez.:: Just because they are more vulnerable than we are doesn't imply that they are without resistance. They've fought this war for years without us, and they have been successful too.

 

PVT_Chavez - No, I'm not just talking about psionics... it's the attitude they tend to give off, it could destroy them one day. They may kill of ALL the starspawn and win this war, but there's always a bigger fish!

 

LCPL_Ko - Always, Cal. Always. And our attitude could destroy us too, we might hold back instead of smoking the enemy with whatever we've got; we're too restrained, almost, by our rules of warfare. There are constraints everywhere. ::Ko removed his hand and continued walking.:: Their culture, our culture.

 

PVT_Chavez - ::Chavez began walking again and the thought of CPL Shadow just hit him in the head like a bullet:: Hmm... I see what you mean ::but he couldn't help but laugh out loud::

 

CPL_Stone - ::being done with the pre-flight check, she looked outside the window for a moment. Chavez and Ko were still standing outside talking it seems. She turned around on her seat and walked into the cargo space, where Ghost was busy making sure the other cargo (weaponry and all) was secured and wouldn't go bouncing through the hold:: Lieutenant, we are ready for take-off here, so whenever you are ready could you get the others inside?

 

LT_Ghost - Okay sure, I'm just about done here. ::securing one of the straps around the few ammo crates at the back he straightens himself and looks around:: Looks like all is secure here. I'll go get the others, you two get ready to lift off. ::walking outside he approaches Ko and Chavez:: Hey there you two, time for us to move out. Kaitlin is getting impatient, and you don't want that ::grins slightly while gesturing towards the shuttle::

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko looks over to Ghost's approach and laughs slightly.:: Good call, Lieutenant. Is everything tucked away, ready to go? ::Ko looked past Ghost to the ship. Ong was already there, sleeping or otherwise inactive.::

 

PVT_Chavez - ::walks into the ship and looks over in Stone's direction with a funny smile and sarcastically says:: Hey there Kaitlin...what the hell took you so long?

 

CPL_Stone - ::turns around on her seat, looking towards Chavez and replies with a sharp tone:: If you two would have just helped pack the shuttle rather than chat it might have gone faster. Just get in and make sure you are strapped down tightly, there's some bad weather nearby and right in our vector.

 

LT_Ghost - ::walking over towards the shuttle with Ko, and didn't hear Chavez's question as he entered the shuttle a bit ahead of them, but he sure did hear the reply from Stone, and thought to himself "Thank you Chavez... there goes the prospect of an easy ride out". Turning to Ko he replied:: Yeah sure, all is strapped down secure, though I think I'm going to need to give Ong a boot to the rear for sleeping on the job.

 

LCPL_Ko - ::Ko nods to Ghost with a grin.:: You should probably hit him with the butt of your carbine, 'sir'. It's a bit more dignified than applying the boot. ::Ko whacked the hull of the ship as the two of them came on board and shouted up to the front.:: Ok, we're in, let's get out of here. ::The crew chief activated the ramp retraction, and the Aplomado departed back to the Garrison Base.::

 

>

[M. Hoz]

<<OK now,before I make this place even worse,I must pre-apologize (as I always

do) for being an eternal Newbie.So whatever you see next,it was already apologized for... >>

[DragonHawk]

>

 

UGS Patton, August 3rd, 2067

 

>

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Fleche was somewhat more calm by the time she reached the medbay. She did NOT want to piss off Yorke, but on the other hand, she had some frustrations that needed to be vented, and Yorke had always been a good confidant. She took a breath, then stepped through the doors and knocked on the bulkhead.:: Doctor, got a minute?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke looking up from Chung's medical report that he was just signing and dating smiled, well that saved him the task of finding her:: Fleche, course, come in. ::Yorke motioned to the seat:: Take a seat.

 

Cpl. Fleche - ::Fleche couldn't quite bring herself to blurt out what was on her mind, so she started with some small talk.:: How's the medbay holding up? Are you needing any help here?

 

Dr. Yorke - The medbay's holding up fine, I've got a fair bit of work that I need to catch up on ::That was stretching the truth, the alien autopsies and the Performance Enhancing Drugs project had fallen behind with the transfer to the Patton, after all the shi wasn't build for chemical and bio-medical research and development:: As for me needing help, well, as you can see things are a little slow today. ::Yorke closed Chung's medical report and pushed it to one side, he decided that he'd let her open up to him rather than force the issue::

 

Cpl. Fleche - ::Fleche looked down briefly, and thought... Now was as good a time as any, but she didn't know what to say now.:: Doc, I don't know... I just feel like everything is collapsing around me. When is Martin going to pull himself together?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Frowning sympathetically Yorke looked for the words to say.:: Ah, Martin. ::He'd been chatting with him on a regular basis since his regression to a fatiged state, though that was putting it mildly:: I've been chatting with Martin for a while now, I've offered my advice, my support, but only Martin can pull himself together, and given time and your support - he'll pull himself together. ::Yorke couldn't offer a estimate, as he just didn't know.::

 

Cpl. Fleche - It's been so long now though... and it's much worse now than it was a month ago. ::Fleche realized that Yorke couldn't do much more than he was already attempting with Kacur, and it took her a huge amount of energy to stop herself from continuing to ask about his condition.:: Doc, what should I do? I got into a huge argument with Scott the other day... ::She didn't want to mention the subject though, it might be a sensitive one with Yorke too. In that respect, she was alone.::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke got up from his seat behind the desk walked around the desk, shoved some bits and bobs back and perched himself on the edge of the table:: What should you do? Offer Martin your support, that's all we can do now. As for what had happened with Scott, yes, I've heard...mention of it... ::Yorke then placing both his hands on the table edge decided that he might as well:: I don't suppose you'd care to tell me what did happen in the argument?

 

Cpl. Fleche - ::Despite her better judgement, Fleche poured out what happened.:: I don't know him that well, and when he approached me, I... I guess I went crazy. But it just felt like he was trying to get under my skin. He's such a believer in X-Com, too; we argued about that... ::Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't even realize she had mentioned that portion of the argument.::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke raised an eyebrow at that, he would try to avoid the subject of X-Com for now:: Trying to get under your skin? How do you mean? ::Scott, may have the a comparable level of tact and delicacy as that of a bull in a china store which specialised in red painted chinaware, but he wasn't the sort of person to go out of his way to get under some one's skin...at least not since after he'd begun his treatment.::

 

Cpl. Fleche - I don't know. I can't remember what set it off... ::Fleche shook her head and tried to think.:: He mentioned that not-caring was a good attribute to have, and I told him that I didn't really care about anyone. I didn't mean it that way, but that's what I said. I don't know, it just felt like I was being pressured.

 

Dr. Yorke - Not caring... ::Yorke rubbed his chin in thought, this was most odd, very odd:: Pressured, so he was he questioning you about something?

 

Cpl. Fleche - I don't know. Maybe he was, but whatever it was, it just made me angry. ::Fleche looked down at the floor:: I don't know, should I segregate myself from people for a while? Should I be talking to everyone I can? I don't know what to do, how to... lose the anger, I suppose.

 

Dr. Yorke - Segregate yourself? ::Yorke had to hold in a urge to laugh, this was a serious matter:: No, you've done nothing wrong. ::He smiled, he'd definitely have to make a point of seeing Scott about this matter:: If talking helps then talk about it or stuff in general as for the anger...well if things start to heat up, just walk out. ::Though that was usually easier said than done::

 

Dr. Yorke - You mentioned about you and Scott arguing about X-Com? Or at least his belief in X-Com ::He was aware that she didn't particularly care much for X-Com as they had killed Shinji...but this belief thing was new.::

 

Cpl. Fleche - ::Fleche nodded at Yorke's advice.:: We had an argument, about why I fought for the Kabrons, I suppose. It was just depressing, because in him I saw the blind belief in the righteousness of X-Com, and it just can't be like that...

 

Dr. Yorke - Well we all need to believe in something, other wise, why do what your doing? Perhaps a blind belief in something is ... unhealthy but hell, still Scott's lost part of his history, I doubt if he didn't believe in something - X-Com that strongly, he'd go mad.

 

Cpl. Fleche - ::Fleche nods again.:: You might be right, but the fact that, it's so blind... Mine is carefully considered. How can someone believe in soemtihng THAT strongly?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::He took his hands off the desk and placed them on his legs:: People do believe in things that strongly, whether it is carefully considered or not, he may see that there are flaws to X-Com, but overall, at it's heart there is something that he believes in that is worth that strength of conviction of belief.

 

Cpl. Fleche - ::That was hard to refute, or at least she couldn't think of a way to refute it.:: But... ::Fleche shook her head at the thought. Was she as much a believer as Scott was?:: I guess, so Doc. Thanks, I guess this will give me a bit of perspective on how things are going in my life...

 

Dr. Yorke - No, problem, that's what I'm here for...well that and putting people back together. ::Yorke then pushed himself off the desk:: Do you want me to have a chat to Scott about this whole incident?

 

Cpl. Fleche - No, no, I think I can handle it. I'd rather solve the problem myself. ::Fleche stood and smiled a bit.:: Thank you, Ned.

 

Dr. Yorke - Okay, fair enough, you know where I spend my office is, so pop in if you need to chat. ::Yorke watched her leave her his office and the medical bay he then turned around, and returned to his desk, sitting down he pulled out a file on the Performance Enhancing Project, and before he started to read it he wondered, who does Yorke turn to when he needs someone? He shook the thought from his head and got down to reviewing the report on the PED project::

 

>

[DragonHawk]

>

 

UGS Patton, August 3rd, 2067

 

Sgt. Scott - ::Scott enters the med-bay with a bothered look on his face. He approached Doctor Yorke, who was sorting out some paperwork in his office. It had been a few weeks since his last Utopia injection, he felt now was as good a time as any to talk with the Doctor about the current... "issue".:: Hey Doc. Got a minute?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke looking up from the report on his desk, he smiles and nods to Scott:: Hey Scott come in. ::Yorke motions for Scott to take a seat:: So what can I do for you?

 

Sgt. Scott - ::Scott walks up to Yorke's desk and rubs his left upper arm.:: Utopia injection... Y'know, I've been getting flashbacks from my suppressed memory in my sleep again. I think I need a bigger dosage.

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke closes the report and pushes it aside, he frowns, the effect of the Utopia injections could diminish with every dosage - right up until it becomes practically useless, but they would cross that bridge when they arrived at it:: Hmm...fair enough, I'd like you to keep a 'flashback diary' if you could write down the content of the flashback and the date and time if possible that would be helpful for me.

 

Sgt. Scott - ::While rolling up his left sleeve:: Heh, it hasn't been much more than bright flashes of orange and red followed by searing pains in my chest. I wake up unable to breathe for a few seconds, then everything's fine. So far that's all I've seen.

 

Dr. Yorke - Right, I take it that this is when you are asleep then? No flashbacks during periods when you are awake? ::Yorke stands up and walks over to the medical fridge still listening to Scott he pulls out his key and unlocks the fridge, he pulls out a vial and a syringe::

 

Sgt. Scott - ::Scrunches his brow.:: Well, sometimes I still get the urge to know Kacur's block off. But nothing more than that during waking hours. ::Sits down on one of the medical tables, waiting for Yorke to come up.:: Say, I know you're just a doctor and all but... Do you know anything about piloting?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke chuckles at Scott's comment about wanting to knock Kacur's block off, he wouldn't admit to it, but he didn't find Kacur that...likeable a person:: Piloting? ::He paused, it was an odd question to be asked, he loaded up the syringe with a increased dosage of Utopia:: Piloting? ::Repeated Yorke:: Last time I piloted a craft was in a simulation a while ago, so I know the basics ::He selected a spot to inject the fluid into him and slid the needle into Scott's arm, he depressed the syringe and emptied the contents of the vial into Scott::

 

Sgt. Scott - ::Taking a deep breath as Yorke gave him the injection:: Yeah... Well you recall the engine failure from the last mission? I was just a little worried about it. People tell me they can fly the Avenger better just because I let them go for a ride... Have you noticed much of anything wrong with it? Or perhaps anything wrong with mannerisms of Brad when he was piloting it?

 

Dr. Yorke - I take it you mean Brad Cyracius? ::He asked as he slid the needle out and picked up a piece of cotton wool and dabbed the point of injection with it:: No, I didn't notice anything odd about the Colonel while he was piloting the Avenger ::He placed the syringe in the used medical kit bin and stepped back:: As for the Avenger, except for the failure last mission, no, I haven't noticed anything different, mind you I'm only a passenger, not a pilot.

 

Sgt. Scott - ::Scott rubbed his arm and pulled his sleeve back over it. He fought off the momentary dizziness he got from the Utopia drug and stood up straight.:: Heh. I was just curious. You sure he didn't look like he was pulling the stick too hard? Like maybe he was having trouble simply flying the thing?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke shook his head:: Nah, Brad wasn't having any problems as far as I could see, and if we were chances are he would of aborted the mission. As for whether he was pushing the Avenger a bit too hard, well I couldn't say, though all of his maneuvers were - I presume - text book and nothing that really pushed the Avenger too hard.

 

Sgt. Scott - ::Tugs the bottom of his shirt and cracks his neck. Obviously, he wasn't asking the right questions here, so he decided to be slightly more direct.:: Well, how much of the basics do you know? Anything about engine care perhaps? Driving an Avenger isn't like a car you should know...

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke frowned again, the tone of these questions had changed:: Engine care is an engineering matter, not a medical matter. So no, I don't know.

 

Sgt. Scott - I refer to caring for an engine in flight. Y'know, like overburning her? .. Gah, nevermind. I was just making conversation here. ::Scott gave a smile to Yorke as he turned for the exit.:: I'll see you later Doc! *Thinks* He didn't even get my question right... There's no way he could've had the experience necessary to latch that thing on the Avenger. Even with basic training.

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Frowning, he shook his head:: Bloody hell... ::He muttered Yorke looked around the medical bay and then went back into his office. Scott, was not just making conversation, Yorke was quite aware of that:: Overburning!? ::He picked up the report he'd been reading earlier and sat down at his desk, if Scott had asked whether Brad had been over burning the Avenger he'd of said no, but Engine care?

 

Dr. Yorke - A doctor of medical and xenological science isn't generally expected to know of such things, rather they're expected to know how to put a person back together and cut up a person for a autopsy, he'd make a point of perhaps reviewing the Avenger training material in the future but for now he'd content himself with Performance Enhancing Drugs project status report::

[Ion Mage]

UGS PATTON, bridge, same scene as the previous brief between the colonel and Scott.

 

Colonel: Scott, I called you for joint pilot training, but you know as well as I what we're really here to discuss. Have you found any major leads?

 

Scott: No, not yet. Not major, at least. I've eliminated a couple possibilities, such as Yorke. But I'm sure that you want to discuss the... failure of the DDUs last mission? I'm sorry we lost the engineering diags.

 

Cyriacous: No, it was not your' fault at all. You couldn't have done anything. The thing that concerns me is the tenacity of the saboteur; thats two missions in a row that we got affected by it!

 

Scott: Yes, it is. Paul tells me that the virus was simple though, he was capable of deleting the virus in the field, no OS reinstall needed.

 

Cyriacous: Right. I'd imagine that a more computer-minded person would have made a much more hidden virus, one that couldn't be deleted in the field like that.

 

Scott: Yes, that is a strong possibility. I'll need to consider it.

 

Cyriacous: Well, if nothing else needs to be said, dismissed!

 

<<Ok, just to forward things a bit. Consider it for future conversations. Feel free to respnd, or just end it here, bob>>

[Strong Bob]

<<Joint roleplay. Starring Strong Bob (Joseph Scott), Atz (Atzel Evander), and MYH (Mordechay Hoz.>>

 

The UGS Patton Hangar, just after the interview with Doctor Yorke.

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Is tinkering on the right side laser cannon on the Avenger, whistling silently under her breath. She's dressed in the standard unform jumpsuit, but the upper part of it is zipped down and the arms are tied together behind her back to stop them from getting caught on things. She's also wearing a white tank top::

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Digs out a pack of smokes out of her utility belt, of the quite horrible kind the hydroponics section provides. She puts one of the white paper cylinders between her lips and applies the flame of a lighter.. pockets the lighter closes the access hatch on the cannon::

 

<SGT_Scott> ::Enters the hangar bay rubbing his left upper arm. Yorke's injection was still a bit painful, but Scott always survived it. He spied Evander tinkering with the Avenger's laser guns. Also Private Hoz was nearby... Staring at the hangar cieling. Scott approached Evander with a tiny grin on his face. He leaned up against the hull of the ship and looked down on Atz as she worked:: Hey Malarky... What are you doing with the guns?

 

<PVT_Hoz> ::Is slowly walking around the Bay watching the Ceiling as he suddenly notices Scott,and...keeps walking slowly around the Bay,watching the Ceiling::

 

<PVT_Hoz> ::Curiosly looks inside an open Container::

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Mumbles with her english accent around the cigarette:: They were in need of realignment, Guv... and you better cover your ears, this will be.. a little loud... ::she smiles quirkily and puts one finger in her ear and presses the button on a control rigged to the side of one of the cannons and they both fire of a pair of blasts at the the waste containers rigged up on the farside of the hangar with makeshift targets painted on them.. the blasts are almost deadcenter.::

 

<SGT_Scott> ::Scott's hands shoot up to his ears, almost too late as the laser bolts zap the containers on the wall. As the smoke clears, leaving the walls somewhat scorched, Scott looked back down to Evander.:: Shit! Malarky! ... I take it you got authorization from the Commander to be shooting the Avenger's guns right here in the hangar?

 

<PVT_Hoz> ::Is shaken by the blast,thinking,that was TOO close:: Watch where you're firing!

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::To Hoz:: Yeah yeah, up yours too... ::To Scott:: You would guess that the few people that are downhere would see the friggin "Warning, weapon testing area" signs, do you? Ah, no, I didnt, because chain of command usually just gets in the way of things... sides, they are on lowest energy setting.. would be leathal if you got hit.. but who would be stupid enough to step into the way.

 

<PVT_Atzel> ...which I'm probebly going to get chewed out for, but I rather get a yelling than being unable to hit bloody bandits with them when I do have to... Sir.

 

<SGT_Scott> ::Scott notices Hoz wandering about the Hangar. A little confused as to why HE would be down here of all people.:: Actually, I think we've got a candidate for who would be stupid... Excuse me! ::Gestures to Hoz:: Private, just what the hell are you doing down here? Only Command, Engineers, and the pilots are allowed here during these hours.

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Removes the rigged up controller for the guns and looks to Hoz:: Who, him? Don't know, Joseph.. I didn't notice him until he started yelling.

 

<PVT_Hoz> What? Oh,sorry Sir I didn't know that...or didn't remember...You know what that Cryo does to your head...::Starts walking shakily towards the Exit::

 

<SGT_Scott> AHEM! Private Hoz get over here please... ::Scott looked back down at Evander:: You'd expect that the few people down here would've seen him... ::Gives Atz a small grin before looking back to Hoz.:: Private?

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Grins:: Ah, excuse me to pieces Sarge, I was just working my ass off, that's all.

 

<PVT_Hoz> ::Reluctantly stops and turns around:: Sir? I'm a bit dizzy now... Can you do that later? I've really gotta sleep...

 

<SGT_Scott> Sleep later. Give it to me now, what the hell are you doing here?

 

<PVT_Hoz> Well I just wanted to know the Hangar better...in case it's attacked again.....Sir?

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Looks at the very short burning cigarette stubble in her hand and looks around...::

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Smiles and flips it into a convenient looking barrel next to the Avenger::

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Jumps back with a "Jesus Christ" as the contents of the barrel, probably oily rags and other flamable junk is lit and nearly singes her eyebrows... She grabs the lid of the barrel, laying next to it and slams it onto that barrel, smothering the flames::

 

<SGT_Scott> Woah! ::Takes a step back as the flames dissipated away:: Christ, what the hell are YOU doing?

 

<PVT_Atzel> Ahem. Sir.. slight lapse there Sir, the situation is under control Sir.

 

<SGT_Scott> ::Scott's head darted back and forth between the nearly burned up Evander and Hoz with his weird excuse:: Uh... Evander, be careful where you throw those things... Ahem, Hoz. The hangar is clearly listed in several Daedalus consoles all over the Patton. Why don't you use one of those instead?

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Chuckles and puts the lid back down again:: No problem Joey, wasn't anything I'd like to try again.... ::she moves into the Avenger via the lowered ramp and dissappears inside the craft. Leaving Scott to deal with Hoz::

 

<PVT_Hoz> Well Sir I thought it might be better to actually SEE it,you know,for the same purpose. And I don't undertand Computers much either...Sir? ::Makes a sad desperate face::

 

<SGT_Scott> Ugh... Hoz. You need to learn to use Daedalus, if not for the research purposes but for looking up information available in the UFOaedia. Du'Gannon forced me to learn the first day I was out of Cryo. Now then... ::Scott looked up the Avenger ramp and looked back at Hoz.:: Say, you come down here that often?

 

<PVT_Hoz> No, I just ran out of reading material so I thought I might as well do something Constructive...

 

<PVT_Hoz> ::Looks down::

 

<SGT_Scott> Hoz are you sure? ::Scott stared Hoz down and decided to bluff him out of information:: I have people that say you came down here before...

 

<PVT_Hoz> Me? No...By the way,are Cigarretes allowed on the Ship Sir?

 

<SGT_Scott> Alright then. But I'll be watching you. ::Turns back to the Avenger's ramp:: And no... I don't think Cigarrettes are allowed. But what harm will just one do? ::Scott smiled and looked back to Hoz.:: Alright. Go on, git. I wanna see you in my office later so I can cram how to work Daedalus into ya. ::Pats Hoz on the left shoulder:: I also might show you some better tactics for knowing your home terrain.

 

<PVT_Hoz> ::Quickly releases himself then started walking (again,shakily) towards the exit, thinking: Stupid Lasers....::

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Sits down in the pilot's seat and leans back.. she digs around in her utility belt and gets another cigarette out.. after lighting it she presses play on the near ancient CD player that has been crudely duct taped to the wall and something classic comes out of the speakers.. Beethoven, probably::

 

<SGT_Scott> ::Scott turned back to the ramp and entered it to find Atzel.:: Malarky? Where'd you run off to? I need to talk to you. ::He hears the nice Classical music from the cockpit and walks over to the threshold between it and the troop bay.:: Heh... Where'd you get that thing?

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Says from within the chair "Brought it with me... why?"::

 

<SGT_Scott> Seemed a little weird. That's all. I haven't seen one of those since I was a teenager. ::Scott walked into the cockpit and gestured to the co-pilot seat:: May I?

 

<PVT_Atzel> ::Grins and takes an other draw on her cigarette:: ...well, you're the non-com, aren't you? ::She makes a gesture towards the seat with a smile:: ..though, would you mind if I called you Joseph? Its sort of odd.. everyone calling each other by rank and surname, or callsign.. its not like we're in the military... ::she takes an other draw:: ... well, not anymore at least, really. If you get what I mean.

 

<SGT_Scott> I don't mind. I get what you mean... ::Scott sat down in the "passenger" co-pilot seat and thought about his own codename for a second. 'Albino' used to be his nickname until now.:: Say, have you been making a lot of mods to the Avenger, Atz? Particularly to the engines?

 

<PVT_Atzel> Well.. I mean... you know, in combat, a chain of command is necessary otherwise... ::she scratches her head abit:: well, people would most likely not do what they are supposed to.. but, like this.. at base.. or station or whatever you want to call it, it just feels.. odd. There's only about thirty of us, anyway, sleepers excluded... and, naah.. not really. I'm really trained to fly jets.. the Avenger isn't that hard though, because it handles pretty much like a "harrier". I leave it to the greasemonkies to, well, monkey around inside it.

 

<SGT_Scott> :: 'Man, she does talk a lot.' Thought Scott to himself. He decided to stay a bit on task here, despite the fact Atzel wasn't necessarily on duty, Scott was. But he couldn't make it that apparent just yet.:: Well. It does seem awfully ridiculous to just call everyone by rank in casual conversation. But the Commander would certainly have it otherwise... ::Curses under his breath, hoping Atzel didn't hear.:: But, ah, Cyriacus talked to me earlier. He said he was having a bit of trouble with the Avenger's engines. It might be just because he's used to the big star cruisers like the Patton though. But still, tell me if you ever feel anything strange. Aye? ::Scott ended his sentence with an English accent in a playful mock.::

 

<PVT_Atzel> I bet he would... ::she grins:: Sure I'll do, ye bloody yankee... but if Cyriacus thinks I've been monkeying around with the engines, I'd give him an earful, I would...

 

<PVT_Atzel> I mean.. in a respectful manner, of course. But I wouldn't do anything like that. With the engines, I mean.

 

<SGT_Scott> Alright. ::Scott patted Atzel on the shoulder and stood up. He couldn't remove the grin on his face though.:: Now if you'll excuse me, I need to teach Hoz how to use the Ship's computers. I'll see you around.

 

<PVT_Atzel> Good luck. From the look of it, you're going to need it, mate... well, laters

 

<SGT_Scott> ::Scott exits the Avenger and leaves the hangar.:: *Thinks* Alright, Atzel doesn't sound like she'd do anything to the Avenger... But if she was working on it here without authorization there's no telling what she could have done to it before, without us knowing. Mordechay was acting strange too. Who the hell doesn't know how to use Daedalus? That's why they developed the user interface! He couldn't have done much to the DDU's without knowing about the computers. And if he were faking, why would he bother arousing suspicion in the Hangar like that? Heh, this is turning into more of a charade every minute.

[Strong Bob]

<<Insert Ion's post just prior to this...>>

 

Scott: Wait! Sir.

 

Cyriacus: Yes?

 

Scott: I must also ask that Fléche be scratched off the list as suspects as well. I've spoken to her personally, and she seems to be patriotic in a sense that's openly against the aliens. Not only that, she blew up in my face in the Mess Hall, and I suspended her from the platoon pending a psychological exam or Kacur's "return". She told me I can't keep her out of the loop but she also didn't seem too distressed of being removed. Without access to things like the DDUs or other mission important objects, I find it difficult to believe she'd allow me to kick her out without a fight if she really was sabotaging everything. I'm going to ask Doctor Yorke to evaluate her for future participation in the platoon... But that's all I have on her.

 

Cyriacus: I'm sorry Scott. But I'm not scratching anyone off, even Doctor Yorke. Now is there anything else?

 

Scott: Well, one thing... I was just in the Hangar bay talking to both Private Hoz and Private Evander. Mordechay was wandering around in there, when I asked him what he was doing he told me he was feeling dizzy and tired, and then told me he needed to rest a while. But when I forced a response he claimed he was studying the Hangar in the event of another landing party on the Patton.

 

Cyriacus: What? Why didn't you mention this in the first place!?

 

Scott: Well... for one thing when I asked him why he didn't look at the interior maps of the Patton instead, via Daedalus, he said he was computer illiterate. The possibility existed that he could've feigned ignorance, but why would he arouse suspicion by wandering in the hangar like that?

 

Cyriacus: That's true... Have you searched the Hangar at all? He might've planted something there. What was Evander doing?

 

Scott: I... didn't look around. I wasn't going to arouse suspicion as to what we suspect by blatantly searching the place in front of them. But Evander was also making unauthorized modifications to the Avenger's laser cannons. She also tested them right then and there without authorization... It didn't look like they were sabotaged, she merely realigned them to be more precise and on target.

 

Cyriacus: Alright... Did you ask why she didn't gert authorization?

 

Scott: She... Ah... Didn't have the patience to go through the proper channels. *Mumbles* Can't say I blame her... I also spoke to her regarding the engines. She admitted to modifying the laser cannons but claimed she didn't touch the engines. I told her that we were simply having a small degree of trouble, and I didn't see any flash in her eyes. If you ask me, she's not a likely suspect.

Cyriacus: This is important information Scott. Evander might be the most potential spy so far though. Anything else?

 

Scott: Not yet. I plan to study the evidence further in my office in Private. My next target will be the Engineering staff. See if they're even capable of building something that can jam the Avenger's engines like that. The Engineering crew is almost as computer literate as our Scientists and Hackers, so I don't know about them.

 

Cyriacus: Alright. Keep me posted Scott. Dismissed.

 

Scott left the bridge. He himself had noticed Cyriacus being a bit off his usual personality. Even though Scott only knew him for under a month, perhaps Brad wasn't much less of a potential traitor than Atzel or Fléche. He made note to somehow interrogate him sometime in the future.

[Loonie]

<<Yup, I'm back. But not for long though. Because it seems that Lieutenant Kacur is going rather well.....sour in his mood lately. :o Let's see why... >>

 

Martin was still lying in his room listening to a rather depressing song, fidgeting every now and then as he kept thinking about things, his eyes wide open.

 

"I was such a fool! WHY?!? Why did I have to do that? Why did I decide to DELIBERATELY FLUNK my test in school all those years ago?! Everything went downhill from there...first the EDF, then X-Com. Sure they might not have specific plans to crack me like the Balkan section did, but it's like it doesn't even matter if they have them. I always was different from just about anyone else."

 

He got up on his feet and paced wildly across the room.

 

"And why? Because I have empathy? Because I actually believe that living beings, even the aliens, are not toy soldiers that can be sent into battle and just rebuilt afterwards?"

 

He hammered the ferronium table with his fist at that moment, the pain quickly making him to recoil and curse to himself.

 

"Now I really don't know what to do. I just don't seem to fit in here. A part of a group...heh. What a joke. It didn't work when I was a civilian and it sure as hell won't work here in the military. All that I can do now is just curse the sky and myself for being such an idiot that I decided to say to myself back then when I was taking that test paper: "To hell with it all! Life's without meaning anyway"

 

The pacing and thinking was costing him energy. He'd need to get it from someplace. So he went out of his quarters and headed towards the mess hall to get his energy. Only at that moment he had more hoped that it wouldn't come from the food...

[Ion Mage]

JOINT POST: Between me (as Cyriacus) and 3 others.

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke strides into the Mess Hall, he'd had an odd day so far, what with Fleche and Scott coming into the medbay earlier on in the day, since then he'd finished up writing up the weekly report on the PED project, and when he saw the time he decided that it might be time to get something to eat and drink::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Xiggores is sitting down at one of the tables off in the corner away from everyone, reading up some notes on the Psi Grenade. He badly wanted to join the others in social conversation, but he found himself unwanted everywhere outside R&D. So he often spent his time alone, with nothing but his own research::

 

Col. Cyriacus - ::walks in, with a somewhat relieved look on his face, thinking "Thank god the plan worked.::

 

Lt. Kacur - ::heads into the Mess Hall at quite a quick pace and tries to find himself a place to sit down, though before doing so he heads towards the food dispenser and begins by grabbing himself a plate, afterwards taking on a wide selection of foodstuffs. It looks like more than his standard-two-meal-a-day ration indeed. Quite larger::

 

Col. Cyriacus - ::Walks over to the fridge/bar/whatever dispenses drinks and gets some beer:: Haven't had one of these in a long time, I, no, we've earned it.

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Xiggores can be heard whistling the tune to old Sci-Fi movies while he crosses things out in his notes with a ball point pen and writes other notes down::

 

Lt. Kacur - ::as Cyriacus gets near him Martin decides to speed up his own collection of food faster and continues moving down until he has a very large portion of...food...on his tray. Quickly heading away from Brad mumbling to himself something annoyedly along the way too::

 

Lt. Kacur - ::noticing Xiggores reading the notes of the Psi-Grenade he says in an irritated voice:: We researching that thing now?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::He made his way over to the food dispenser and selected several items of food, he'd observed that Kacur had taken more than the standard amount of food stuffs normally allocated, but he kept quiet, however the tension between Kacur and Cyracius seemed interesting, he'd never been able to figure out what had happened between the two. He turns from the food dispenser and looks around and sits down on a table that's unoccupied::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::His head pops up as Kacur addresses him. He becomes relieved that for once somebody has decided to talk to him under their own free will:: Uh... Y-es sir! McBannok already finished the casting and things are going great in development! ... Oh but you won't wanna use them though. If my calculations are correct, there's no way a Psion could survive being near a Psi Grenade when it goes off! *Nervous smile*

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke then pulled out some notes on the PED project and with one hand he uses the fork and shoves food in and just eats it not taking much notice of any of the flavourings, while with his other hand he scribbles some ideas down that he'd been milling over on his way down to the mess hall, he could make out the conversation between Xigs and Kacur, the room was deathly silent except for them two and the hum of the engines::

 

Col. Cyriacus - ::Notices Kacur's... repulsion... but doesn't mind it much, thinking he shouldn't let the sourness of a soldier get him out of the good mood recently earned, sits down and starts sipping the beer:: *sigh* I hope you're all ready for another op in a couple days. After that, we're going on standby for a little while, to lay low. I hope that all this vacation time means you'll be up for some action, lieutenant?

 

Lt. Kacur - ::sighs deeply as if he had held his breath for the last minute or so:: Hmph...I see. Anyway...see you later ::he felt quite a bit nasty right now and really didn't even know what he was doing here. Not to mention that Xiggy was not quite the type of person who could help him out. He decided to make his way towards Yorke instead, taking a rather swift change of direction across the mess hall::

 

Lt. Kacur - ::as he hears the Colonel he stops and moves closer to him:: Action for what? So that I can have a nice time killing more 'toy enemies' Yeah... ::his voice trails off::

 

Col. Cyriacus - what do you mean 'toy enemies'? The aliens are a threat, if you haven't noticed they've been slaughtering civilians at all chances they get.

 

Dr. Yorke - Ah...bloody hell, I'll need the distillation suite before we can proceed with phase 4.. ::Mutters Yorke under his breath as he eats and scribbles down notes, pausing for a moment Yorke turns around and sees Kacur coming over:: Hello Kacur ::Says Yorke as the Colonel responds to Kacurs statement::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::His excitement quickly turns to depression:: *Thinks* Aw man, why doesn't anybody like me? I build them all the weapons they want and still, the only people that talk to me are Rallwell and Chung. ::Xiggores grudgingly got back to his notes.::

 

Lt. Kacur - ::he puts down his tray on a nearby table and sits down next to the Colonel quite slowly, not even knowing why he's bothering to try and make his point to the Colonel:: And that makes them the ultimate evil against which we must fight? ::he says in a sarcastic tone of voice::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke seeing that Kacur has sat down with the Colonel shakes his head and gets back to his note making and eating, he repeats the well practiced movements of shoveling food into his mouth while working away on his notes::

 

Col. Cyriacus - ::sarcastically, somewhat:: No, it makes them our saviors. They'll slaughter us to save us all from the pain of life. ::Considers the possibility of Kacur himself being the one he's looking for::. You know, I've been thinking that this vacation is good for us, it's really telling us a lot about you. Where HAVE you been vacationing, and what have you been doing there?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Things were about to get a little out of hand shortly, or at least a major argument was brewing between the two gentlemen, Yorke slips his pen and note pad into his lab jacket pocket and returned to eating his food, he was an NCO, and the argument was about to be between two officers, it would be best to remain uninvolved unless things were going to get too out of hand::

 

Lt. Kacur - Just in my room Colonel. Having a nice time mulling over the things that we consider as necessary and how they're going to rob us of our humanity. Jesus...when I was defrosted on that first day I thought that if we ever saw combat that we'd do it professionally and keep casualties to the minimum. Instead I see the command structure allow such nuts as Goorit do whatever the hell they like including killing enemies that do not resist us. Swell!

 

Col. Cyriacus - Though I agree killing unarmed enemies is not the right thing to do, can you blame one persons actions as though they are those of an entire organization? I'd love it if the aliens would just throw their' weapons down, but they aren't going to! Don't be naive, this is war, and in war, one's loyalty to oneself and ones species is of utmost importance. I'd LOVE to solve it in a nonviolent manner, but the aliens aren't going to let that happen!

 

Col. Cyriacus - They are PROGRAMMED to fight us, manufactured in large quantities, in a manner that DOES make them 'toy soldiers'. They are not raised to have their' own opinions, only to blindly follow what they are 'programmed' to do! nothing more, nothing less!

 

Lt. Kacur - ::shakes his head whilst looking away quickly and then back at Brad:: You see?!? This is what I'm talking about! I get around to talking about using less violence and people think I'm NAIVE! I can't believe it!! And toy soldiers you say? Then explain how did the Osiris ever come to light? Answer me THAT if you can!

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::His eyes shoot up from his notes and fill with a sense of urgency:: *Thinks* Uh oh... The officers are fighting! Why isn't Yorke doing anything!? Where's Scott and Weindhoven when you need them?!

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke finished his main course, and picked up his dessert, the Colonel had a point about the Alien foot soldiers being manufactured, designed to whatever task needed solving, peeling off the lid he nodded about the point that Kacur made about the Osiris, which was another fair point, though Sectoids were a psionically capable species, and the psion species were capable of free thought::

 

Col. Cyriacus - ::Leans over to Kacur, and quietly says:: "And that is EXACTLY the reason why we take prisoners. The possibility of intelligence does exist, yes, and that is why we trust them. If you haven't noticed, and you haven't, we have been relying on the Osiris for an important op lately.

 

Lt. Kacur - ::leans back on his chair and releases some of his breath as he looks upwards into the 'roof':: Okay...but still it's going to be mighty tough to take prisoners in the future if we have nuts like Goorit still on the team. In fact the whole team is cracking up under this pressure...

 

Col. Cyriacus - And heres another thing; the only aliens to betray thus far have been Sectoids. No else. I've come to believe the sectoids, and maybe ethereals, are the trues masterminds being the aliens. If i had the power, I'd have launched a full-scale investigation of the command structure of the aliens, and if I could free the poor, controlled minds of the floaters, snakemen, and mutons, and I'd LOVE to be friends with them. but unfortunately, I always imagined that it was the psioni-ists jobs to determine whom has free thought, and whom doesn't. You are the ones, after all, whom can read thoughts, no?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke munched his way through his desert it wasn't anything special, just something sweet, he was concentrating on the conversation not the dessert, he finished it and picked up his mug of coffee and slotted the tray into the cleaning unit and then made his way over to Xig's table, though he paused for a moment he shifted his hand gun around a bit in its holster before he sat down, he always kept a hand gun near him. You never knew when it would be handy::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Nervously leans over to Yorke and whispers in a shaky voice:: Psst... Doctor, it sounds like they're gonna get in a big fight. You need to do something!

 

Lt. Kacur - ::his eyes focus back onto Brad:: You know what I 'read' when I enter their thoughts? No...not 'read'...FEEL! I feel their fear when we make our assault, I feel their pain when a bullet hits their body and I feel their pleas when they hit the ground wounded. You have no FRICKING idea of how much we have in common with them ::he concludes with his eyes still set firm on the Colonel::

 

Dr. Yorke - I know. ::Says Yorke in a normal tone, then lowering the tone of his voice into a whisper:: However, lets remember they arn't at each other throats just yet... ::Hearing the last statment from Kacur:: However, it won't be too long till they are. ::He raises an eye brow and then turns to look at the two officers::

 

Col. Cyriacus - In common? Perhaps they can feel, but has it occurred to you maybe they are happier to be free from the pain? How would you feel to be manufactured, sent to some op out in the middle of nowhere, and used as mere cannon fodder, and knowing you're only good for a few weeks? I wouldn't want that, I'd rather be dead. Do they ever get to feel love, joy, happiness? The only ones that do are those with free will, those whom have the option of coming to our side, like the osiris. And those that do not, are nothing more than cowards whom would rather let others suffer for their' personal safety, their personal joy.

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Acknowledges Yorke's statement with a quick rapid nod but he doesn't move his eyes away from the Colonol and Lieutenant. If they start anything at all, Xiggy was prepared to call down somebody to take care of it::

 

Lt. Kacur - And that would be why we need to kill them all. That is to say every alien that is not with a free will needs to be killed. Then why do we have the Snakemen tied up in the alien containment? Why don't you go over there and just kill one of them? Why do we even keep them around? I'll tell you why. Because we're not as sadistic as the enemy.

 

Lt. Kacur - And that is exactly what I'm trying to relay to your brain. If we stoop to their level we WILL have lost the war. Mark my words!

 

Col. Cyriacus - right. I assume you don't have anything wrong with that, lieutenant?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke picked up one of Xiggores' chips and ate it while keeping his glance on the two officers, in a hushed tone:: Y'know, even though they may start beating the crap out of each other shortly, this is proving to be a very interesting debate, takes me back to my university years. ::Again he raises an eyebrow::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::He leans closer to Xiggores:: Well actually there is one snakeman, and four sectoids, locked down, in containment. ::Whispers Yorke::

 

Col. Cyriacus - I already stated, if, IF i could free them, I would, but we have yet to find the way to do so. But unfortunately, whoever brainwashed the 'toys' did a damn fine job. Hell, the muton control units are so well designed, if you cut them off, they die! We likely won't be able to free them anytime soon, but until then, killing is all we can do! Do you think you can just pick up a flower, hand it to the aliens, and they'll take the flower and make peace? No! Unless you consider a plasma burn on your' chest an act of peace, it won't happen!

 

Pvt. Xiggores - I'd rather they solve it all peacefully though. But if they did start fighting, it would certainly put the Colonol at an advantage, because Kacur would become the hypocrit. ::Xiggores started getting interested in the argument as well.:: And don't we still have an Ethereal in there from oh so long ago, Doctor?

 

Col. Cyriacus - If there is a way to free them, it'll need to come from within the empire itself. Only they will know how to save their own kind. Where there is a will, there is a way, where there is no will, there is none

 

Lt. Kacur - ::rises from his chair rapidly and whilst standing looks at the Colonel:: I can't BELIEVE YOU! You STILL don't listen! HOW MANY TIMES DO I NEED TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT KILLING BUT ABOUT HOW WE ACT IN COMBAT?!!? How many times do I need to say that it's not the result but the WAY we do things that bother me the most!?!? ARGH! ::turns around and thinks of leaving the cafeteria, heading towards the exit at a rapid pace::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke frowns for a moment:: Oh yeah, so we do. I hardly ever go into the Etheral containment unit, mind you it's permanently sedated and is being kept alive by some life support machinery ::Whispers Yorke::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - Don't we also have an Aereon too? Boy, I'd love to get a look at that thing's implants. ::Xiggores' eyes trail off for a moment::

 

Col. Cyriacus - ::Gets up as Kacur storms out:: Were are you going? ::Gives Kacur a cold stare, thinking to himself 'hes the traitor, he has to be::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Nodding:: Yup we do, and bloody hell when we cut it up the implants in it will keep us busy for weeks, from what I can see it's got everthing enhanced with some kind of implant, hell I'm guessing that the small holes are interfaces for an alien ship, so that it's controling the ship with it's thoughts alone...and it doesn't appear that it has any psionic capabilities(!) ::Yorke whispers in an excited tone while looking at the officers:

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Then when Kacur gets up he himself gets up and starts walking towards the officers then Kacur starts to storm off so Yorke stops in his tracks, his hand nearby his holster covered over by his lab coat::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Raises an eyebrow at Yorke:: You know, for a Doctor you seem pretty cold. I don't think the Aereon will like being cut up alive like that.

 

Lt. Kacur - ::turns around quickly:: I don't know!! It just seems that none of the doofuses on this ship seem to get at what I'm pointing at! I guess that pretty much says it. Just promise me one thing Brad. Years from now when you get back to earth and find yourself an emotional wreck ask yourself if I happened to be right at this point okay?!

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke starts walking back to Xiggores table but stops as Kacur replies back to the Colonel::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Notices Yorke standing up and walking back and forth:: Doctor, is there something wrong with your legs?

 

Lt. Kacur - ::he dodges slightly the doctor whilst saying to him, whilst not looking into his eyes:: You should've evaluated our Colonel here a long time ago Doc, but then again...who knows. The way that you coldly take things in life I'm not sure of what good it would do.

 

Col. Cyriacus - WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

 

Lt. Kacur - ::he disregards the Colonel on that last shout and continues mumbling to himself, wondering where the hell he really IS going...maybe to sit on one of the benches looking out to the space through the windows...most likely. If he couldn't find understanding on this ship maybe he could try to look elsewhere...::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke chuckles at Xiggores last statement and whispering:: Alive? I may be cold but I'm not that cold, it would of been put to 'sleep' prior to the autopsy ::Then when Kacur tells him that he should of looked at Cyriacus a long time ago he snaps his head around and looks at Kacur in the eye::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Lets out some forced laughter and spouts a pathetic joke:: I guess we found our test subject for the Psi grenade! Eh?

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Yorke rolls his eyes and frowns, but refrains from clouting Xiggores over the head for that 'joke'::

 

Lt. Kacur - ::taking it the wrong way he overhears that last 'joke' as he exits the mess hall and shouts:: BITE ME YOU SCHIZOID

 

Dr. Yorke - Ouch, he's definitely pissed off ::He says as he glances to Xigs and then back at Kacur::

 

Pvt. Xiggores - ::Is shocked at Kacur's insulting attack and is left a bit hurt from the unexpected slur:: Hey... I was only... *Sniff* Nevermind. I know I'm no good with jokes. ::Gets back to his notes with a sad look on his face::

 

Dr. Yorke - ::Muttering under his breath:: Not good at jokes?

[Strong Bob]

<<Phasing back to the sim roleplays!>>

 

It had been a few days since Alpha squad boarded the alien supply ship and captured the vessel. Joseph Scott and Anne Rallwell were both heavily wounded just outside the bridge and had been in critical condition since. Scott had only recently come out of consciousness while Rallwell was still in a drug induced coma. There were no garrantees just yet, but the survival of Rallwells left arm was in question.

 

Scott was sitting on his med-bay bed, just a few meters from Rallwell, who was in a life support unit. Yorke was in his office doing whatever he did in there. Scott had heavy wounds to his left ripcage and his upper left arm was shot up as well, if it wasn't for the ferronium armor he might have been in the same boat as Rallwell...

 

Scott: (Covering his face with his hands while sitting on the side of his bed.) What the hell was I thinking? I did the same f**king thing I did over three years ago! Was it because of Kacur? Because I was trying to look good in front of Rallwell? What the hell is wrong with me?

 

He looked up again at Rallwell laying unconscious in the bio bed. She had a bunch of pipes pumping drugs into her body, making her a helpless lump for a while. According to Yorke, it was amazing she even survived.

 

Scott: Why did I do that!? To look macho? Jesus christ, she even gave me good advice to stay behind for her, I should have listened to her! But no... I made the same mistake Kacur did... I put myself ahead of the team without even realizing it...

 

Joseph rubbed his face again and then pushed himself off the bed. He grunted a moment at the slight pain in his side, and then walked over next to Rallwell.

 

Scott: (Whispering, realizing she could not hear him.) I'm so sorry Anne. I should've listened to you... But I'm not going to make the same mistake again. I'm not going to break like our leaders have before...

 

He placed his hand on Rallwell's hand, the one that was likely to be amputated, and exhaled a deep sigh of guilt.

 

Scott: I made the same mistake once before, and to a person I knew and loved. It's not going to happen again this time. Not to you... Not to anybody else here.

 

Scott was suddenly interrupted from his guilt trip when the med-bay doors screeched open.

 

Xiggores: I just heard the news! Where is she!? How is she!?

 

Scott: Uh...

 

Christopher Xiggores charged into the med-bay in a semi panic, almost losing his coke-bottle glasses after nearly tripping over a mobile tray of medical tools.

 

Xiggores: (Arriving beside Rallwell's bed, on the opposite side of Scott.) Oh my god! What happened to her!? Is she gonna be okay!?

 

Scott: (Hesitating to speak, mostly out of shock at Xiggores' sudden appearance.) Uhm... She'll be okay in a few days Chris. Calm down...

 

Before Scott could say anything else, Xiggores looked at the listed contents of the drugs being injected into Rallwell. He whispered to himself for a few seconds before resuming his unstable panic.

 

Xiggores: You're lying!! I know what this stuff is! You wouldn't be putting it into her if she was going to be okay in just a few days! You plan to operate on her don't you! What's going on!!??

 

Scott: (Reluctant to tell the truth.) Uh... Y'see, she got hit pretty bad there. Worse than me...

 

Xiggores: WHAT!?

 

Scott: She might lose her arm...

 

Xiggores: H-Her arm!? What did you do to her!?

 

Xiggores backed up against another bed, clearly looking for someone to blame. He looked as though he were about to hyperventilate from the stress.

 

Scott: Xigs! Calm down, there's a chance that won't happen!

 

Xiggores: How big a chance!? Any chance that she'll lose it is too much a chance... I... I... I won't let her lose her arm! Never! I don't care if I have to chop off my own arm so she can have it! Where's Doctor Yorke!?

 

Scott: Uh...

 

Before Scott could make any response, Xiggores instantly ran to Doctor Yorke's office and barged in through the door. The doctor looked up from his paper work in a mix of shock and confusion. Xiggores, wasting no time, ran behind his desk and grabbed Yorke by his med-coat.

 

Xiggores: Don't cut off Rallwell's arm! She doesn't deserve it! I-I'll make a genetic clone of her arm if I have too! And then you can give her that one and she'll be just fine, right!? RIGHT!?!?!

 

Scott nearly let out a laugh as Xiggores made a fool of himself in front of Yorke. It was exactly what he needed to get his mind off of his self loathing.

 

Scott: Sometimes, that guy is the real situation 'fixer-upper'.

 

Scott thought to himself as he left the med-bay for his quarters. He was supposed to stay there, but with the Doc occupied, Joseph felt he could get away with it...

 

Scott: It's getting hard to believe there's even a traitor here in the first place...

 

<<Heh, the forum was pretty empty this week so I decided to put more emotion into Xiggy. Just a little something I wanted to clear up before we do the time skip. >>

[M. Hoz]

<<::Strolls around the Patton's Hangar:: My ride should have been >>

here AGES ago.Hellllooo? *echo* Hellloooo! >>

>>

What happened to the Roleplays? >>

Two weeks with no sim,no updates whatsoever-I feel stuck.>> >>

[M. Hoz]

....Mis-post Num. 3......