❪ test drive: #2 ❫

[natha]

OVERFLOW POST

THE PROLOGUE     Many people in stasis seem to be medically sound enough to wake up, brother. Are the preparations ready to go? Yes, I've long prepared myself for this. Watching them everyday has been truly rewarding. ... Right. Yeah. Okay, let's get them ready to wake up. We should keep their minds active to ease the transition into consciousness. A simple VR program should do the trick, I think. I will boot one immediately. There! All systems are green. Their consciousnesses are linked. However, their minds appear to be too active... They may be over-stimulated, brother. Huh? How can that be...? Can we pull them out safely? Not from my end, no. This may be too large for us to fix alone. Do you think...? Yes, I think so... It will have to be done organically. Can you send out a message to our refugees? Of course, brother. I will send one swiftly. We must be sure to fix this before Darma returns. There is urgency in the Orbiters' request. Refugees currently in El Nysa are asked via mass message to please return to Thesa Station virtual reality area immediately. Zasere tells them that the next set of Refugees are scheduled to wake, but there's been an issue. On Thesa, refugees will find that the people in stasis are still apparently trapped in slumber. Most of them are complete strangers, but there's a chance you may recognize a familiar face or two. Normally, these people would wake up from their pods without issue, but due to a malfunction caused by the unforeseen force during The Descent, they have to go through extra measures to make this possible. Those in slumber require extra stimulation, something to keep their minds active. What better than a simulation of an area of El Nysa? Keeping their minds active requires an extremely involved simulation. Those subjected to the VR (prospective characters) will find themselves completely immersed in their new environment, believing themselves to be native Olympians. To wake up from the simulation, characters must work together to accomplish a certain objective(s) in the icy tundra. Characters in-game will be aware that this is a simulation, but this is good practice for properly interacting with El Nysa natives, isn't it? An AC-length log thread on this TDM may be submitted for Two (2) Natha REP points HERE. Please read the OOC note at the bottom of this post for the terms. PROMPT: WINTER CAME     The wind in the icy wasteland is bitter and frigid. You are wrapped up in a winter coat, but even still, the cold bites at your skin and leaves you yearning for a warm fire. Perhaps you're a merchant from the city, here to make a delivery, or you're a royal guard, sent to patrol the area. Who are you? The sky is the limit. One thing is certain — you won't snap out of your new identity until you finish a task. 1. Due to the vast diversity of the creatures on El Nysa and the fact that new ones are constantly being discovered, an important objective is to carefully chronicle different species. Unfortunately, to research these new species, they happen to need more than just a visual. More than just fleeting glances in over a snowy hill. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to secure... You guessed it! Blood and stool samples. The supplies for the former will be given. Supplies are offered in a small box; one per person. In this box is a small dart that will automatically procure a small touch of blood, and easily shaken off so the creature will be able to securely escape. As for the latter— well, they'll give you a plastic bag if that counts. Look, sometimes to get a job done, you have to get your hands dirty. Specifically, they seek samples from a newly recorded rare beast known as a Klep. Kleps spend much of their time hidden in caves, so hitting them with the darts will be tricky. They are also nocturnal, but you may be able to lure them out of the cave with fish as bait. When struck with a dart, you must grab the dart and escape immediately, as they will charge you, and killing such an endangered species is illegal. As for stool samples, well... Once you find a pile, you will have plenty of sample to work with. 2. It's cold, to say the least. Too cold to continue forward. Whatever you were doing, you must stop and seek shelter. Looks like your goal is clear, at least. Get warm. Not finding a way to sustain heat, whether it be seeking shelter, building a fire, cuddling up, or all of the above, will likely end in serious consequences. 3. You are stuck in a dilemma. On one hand, you are set to work for Olympia. One the other, you're not completely sure what is really expected of you, or who the man who gave you this mission truly is. You and your partner are meant to protect precious trade cargo for them. You were told that these were essential supplies for one of the outer colonies. They assured you it was mostly food. In loading the cargo onto the supplied wagon with your partner, however, you noticed something inherently off about it. The weight and even the sounds of some of the contents inside definitely don't sound like food. Moreover, some boxes are more obviously more concealed— draped in black sheets and reinforced on all sides. You've also caught wind of rumors that you are potentially being utilized to supply advanced weapons and other contraband to Wyver terrorists in the colonies. But what do you do? Refuse to make the delivery, and people in the colony will surely starve. Try to remove the weapons and only deliver the food, and you will be killed on sight for being too suspicious. Make the delivery as-is, and not only will Olympians die at the hands of terrorists in the future, but you will betray your country. Decide quickly... 4. There are many dangers associated with traveling in such an isolated, harsh environment. You must help each other to survive. Perhaps someone has fallen on thin ice, and requires a rescue. Maybe someone is on the brink of starvation, and you must share what provisions you have. When you come to, you will awaken in Thesa Station. All will be explained to you by Zasere or Sael via telepathic link. Your world is no more. The Storm has consumed it. We offer proof in the Observation Deck if you desire it, but it won't be an easy thing to stomach. We offer you a new life, in our planet of El Nysa. We just ask for your help in maintaining the vitality of El Nysa. What can we offer you in exchange for your help? PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to access this part of Thesa Station, but refugees are warned that it may not be for the faint of heart. Here, in large pods that nearly cover every square inch of the space, are all of the people the Orbiters have managed to rescue. Your loved ones, your greatest enemy, your next door neighbor— you might find them here. These people are in a state of deep cryosleep. Due to the damaging effects of The Storm, their bodies are not yet ready to be awoken. PROMPT: GET REKT     The Orbiters have noticed that some of the refugees really miss their video games. The technology in El Nysa could be much worse, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. Which is why, after expressing relief that everyone awoke safely, the Orbiters have decided to provide a little fun in the form of video game competitions. Anything from old-timey arcade machines to state-of-the-art computers, consoles, and VR headsets (though you may be a little tired of VR right now...) is available, and yes, they have your favorite games! Enjoy PAC-MAN, Starcraft 2, or perhaps Dance Dance Revolution! Teach a friend how to play. Get unnecessarily angry and competitive. Most importantly, have fun. Keep fourthwalling to a minimum, please. Recommended playing: QWOP PROMPT: OMAGE     Upon receiving your mobile phone, you will be asked to set a username. Voila, you can now access the network! You can choose to send a message to the entire network, specific usernames, or you can try out the Orbiters’ service, Omage, which connects you to a random user. They thought this might be a good way for their new guests to make friends with each other... Connecting to server... Looking for someone you can chat with... You’re now chatting with [username]... Say hi! PROMPT: WILDCARD     You are welcome to write any scenarios in Thesa Station! Characters have been granted temporary access to the Observation Room, and are encouraged to study it carefully. FINAL OOC NOTE     Please give toplevel priority to prospective characters! Current characters wishing to thread these scenarios with other current characters are encouraged to create separate logs. However, threads between 2 current characters are not eligible for Natha Orbiter REP. These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose! Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below! A TDM thread of AC length may be submitted HERE for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS. Current players may submit their thread at any time, and prospective players may submit a thread after acceptance. Please note that threads must contain at least five (5) log comments from your character. A toplevel counts as a comment. Network threads are not eligible. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[dendarii]

[ Meanwhile, Miles applies himself to opening the crate. A fucking pain, that's what this is - and he swears under his breath every time the metal bar slips. But - after way too much time spent sweating over it, Miles manages to crack it open.

And stares down at the supplies he sees. There's food in here, yes, but those weapons too. Incredibly, ridiculously dangerous weapons that will get people killed, possibly collapse the colony this shipment is going to if the guerillas get ahold of them ... He just stares a moment, mind whirling. ]

So. When did you figure this out, Byerly?

[ Because like hell By just wanted food here. The man knew something surely. ]

[vorrutyer]

Figure...?

[ His face is a picture of innocence when he turns around. And the convulsive look of shock and horror that spasms across his expression when he lays eyes on the weapons is pretty convincing, for all that it's perfectly manufactured. ]

My God! What...Who...? [ And then he waves his hands, shaking his head, saying - ] No, no. I want no part of that. Cover it back up.

[dendarii]

[ Convincing enough for Miles, who's genuinely taken aback for a moment. Did he misread his cousin? Was Byerly really just hungry and desperate? Goddamn, that will make this harder. ]

We've already a part in it. These weapons can't be delivered, dammit.

[vorrutyer]

And why not? [ Safe for now. Good. All right. If Miles doesn't know his true job, his true duty, then he might be able to twist his cousin around enough to disentangle him from this. Because if Miles knows that By is putting his neck on the line to get rid of these weapons, Miles will inevitably insist on risking his life too...The idiot. ]

Come on. We don't have to know about this. We wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't gotten thirsty. Let's just...pretend the last hour never happened.

[dendarii]

Because this is treason, Byerly. Actual treason. If we deliver these, we're arming a group of people who may very well overthrow the entire colony.

[ Always count on Miles to be kinda stupid and self-sacrificing. He shakes his head hard at that proposition. All right, if Byerly doesn't want any part of this, he'll have to find a way to avoid involving the man. ]

You can pretend if you like. Go back to sleep, Byerly. I'll fix this.

[vorrutyer]

[ By waves gratefully, and starts to turn away - and then turns back, squinting suspiciously at Miles. ]

Fix it how.

[dendarii]

[ That. Is a question. A hell of a question. Which he doesn't know the answer to just yet. ]

What do you care, Vorrutyer?

[vorrutyer]

Well, I'm the one affected here, aren't I?

[ He gives a flutter of his hand. ]

If we're dealing with people who are willing to kill Olympians, then - well - we're Olympians. If we fail to deliver these, do you really think they won't cut our throats? And I happen to like my throat. Shapely thing.

[dendarii]

[ Miles backs off from the crate a moment, starting to pace. He's thinking, dammit. ]

We could remove just the weapons. Still deliver the crates.

[vorrutyer]

Oh, yes, what a grand plan. After all, what they're really interested in is that fine wood. The weapons are just there to fill it up. They'll be happy and non-murderous as long as they get that gorgeous cedar.

[dendarii]

There's food in here too. We can't not deliver that.

[ He gestures to the packs of rations interspersed with weapons. ]

[vorrutyer]

They can tighten their belts.

[dendarii]

They're going to starve, Byerly. You know that.

[vorrutyer]

And how is that my business?

[dendarii]

If it's not your business, then go back to bed. I'll handle this.

[ He reaches into the crate he's got open, pulling out one of the weapons. ]

[vorrutyer]

Except I'll still be murdered on the other end when we fail to deliver. Put that down, Vorkosigan.

[dendarii]

[ Byerly does have a point there. He frowns down at the energy gun in his hand ... and pops out the ammo cartridge in it. Considers it a moment, then chucks it over the edge of the cliff. ]

Oops.

[vorrutyer]

[ He can't help it. He lifts his hands to his face and lets out a groan of pure mingled frustration and anger. This fucking guy.

Fine. ]

Turn around and go home.

[dendarii]

[ Your fucking cousin, Byerly. Miles just puts the gun back in the box ... and pulls out another. Once again pulling the cartridge and tossing it over the edge of the cliff. ]

And why would I do that?

[vorrutyer]

[ He can feel an actual stabbing headache lancing through his temples. There aren't many who can enrage a poor soul like Miles Vorkosigan can. ]

Because there will be very real repercussions if Count Vorkosigan's heir is killed by the Wyvers.

[dendarii]

They won't kill me. We'll still make their delivery, after all. And it's not as though they can inspect the shipment openly while we're there.

[ He continues to systematically strip the weapons of their ammo, dumping it over the side of the cliff. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ By takes a step closer, grabbing at Miles' wrist. None too gently. ]

Yes, they can. Stop.

[dendarii]

[ Ow, hey. Miles struggles lightly, more irritated than trying to pull away just yet. ]

I won't. We can't deliver these weapons as-is.

[vorrutyer]

You won't be delivering anything at all.

[ He yanks. ]

Turn around and go home, Lord Vorkosigan.

[dendarii]

[ Ow. A real wince; Byerly could very easily break his wrist if he pulls any harder. ]

And leave you to do what exactly?