Let's play: SCRAMming up!

[Eternal_Freedom]

Spoiler

That's easy. The pilot, the co pilot the navigator (that seems to be you Simon) and the reapir guy, just in case

[Darkevilme]

Spoiler

I object to this plan on account that every single place we've ever taken off from has been incredibly lethal to us shortly before said launch. How will we all survive the insanity of being left on the ground when sovietgodzilla shows up at the spaceport?

[Zixinus]

Spoiler

I was actually hoping that such a tendency would, you know, STOP HAPPENING.
Or at least be toned down to adventures for the crew on the ground.

I imagined the New Guinea location would be such.

Oh, and Eternal Freedom hit the nail on the head, sort of: pilot and co-pilot with a repair guy. I am sort of counting on having a full navigational computer and my own character being skilled in the subject to do all that. The fourth person would be a load-master, assuming going to and fro.

[PeZook]

Spoiler

Well, variety is the spice of life so yeah I hope you try to stop killing yourselves every time

Of course, you ARE landing in Libertarian Russia, which means orbit is probably going to be the safest place to be

[Simon_Jester]

Spoiler

You do realize our loadmaster has tried to kill us more times than anyone else? I mean, I can forgive being left behind on a trip to the moon ( ! ), but if Shep goes along he'll do something to ruin it. I understand the logic, but at some point we do have to allow some kind of IC realism to intrude a little so that we can actually accomplish the goal of getting paid to do something without all getting killed.

Also, I note that we are rapidly running out of countries that will let us land; honestly, if we wind up persona non grata in Russia as we are in Australia and the US, we might as well slit our own throats. Among other things because we'll be worried about ASAT missile launches every time our spaceplane overflies the Northern Hemisphere.

[Begs DM for a chance of survival in an increasingly unfriendly world]

MAD SCIENTIST reflects that if he has to die, dying for the cause of MAGNIFICENT SPACEPLANE FLIGHTS isn't QUITE AS BAD as MOST OF THE OTHER THINGS he might DIE over.

[Force Lord]

QUIET HISTORIAN is SLEEPING. He is now SNORING.

[Zixinus]

You do realize our loadmaster has tried to kill us more times than anyone else? ISpoiler

Yes, which is why I thought of having a DIFFERENT loadmaster.

Come to think of it, the fourth person would either be that (if there is cargo) or guest greeter (someone to take care of the guests while they, a steward practically, likely Playboy).

[FaxModem1]

Spoiler

Eternal Freedom, he's the pilot. Ivan Ivanov, he's the one with the clearances, Mad Scientist, he's the one who can plo the course, and Zixinus, he's the one who sometimes co-pilots. Or am I organizing this wrong?

[Eternal_Freedom]

Spoiler

Do any of you guys get the feeling this game/thread has run it's course?

[Zixinus]

Spoiler

Do any of you guys get the feeling this game/thread has run it's course?

Spoiler

I rather just imagine that PeZook is busy.

[FaxModem1]

Spoiler

I'm having a ball with the game. But its up to our DM I guess on whether the game continues or not.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Spoiler

I'm all up for it continuing, but I can't help but think we're just re-hashing the same shit as we did the last time we were in space.

[Scottish Ninja]

Spoiler

Yeah, I'm getting that same feeling too. I feel like there's barely anything I can do in space that will have an actual impact that's not just nonsensical crap, especially with so many people crowded in here now. On the ground I can accomplish more, but we have to get there first, I suppose.

[Simon_Jester]

Yeah. This is true.

Cast is large, and "we flee from enemies, go into space, and nearly all get killed before making a landing by the skin of our teeth..." well, it's not going to work quite so well the second time.

I don't know what to do about this; we may just have to split the party or remove some of the fringe characters (which, hell, may reasonably include me)

[FaxModem1]

Well, we could break up like y'all did when Shep and Shroomy were chasing you in a spaceplane.

[PeZook]

CHAPTER 3: A HOLE IN THE ACE

February 23rd 2025
Sunday
Wheels Up + 00:26:34

SIMULATION ENGINE RUNNING
TIMEFLOW INTERRUPTED

You are now: ZIXINUS, ETERNAL FREEDOM, PHANT, REPAIR GUY, LARGE WOUNDED DOG, COMBAT JANITOR, SMARMY AMERICAN SAILOR, TROPICAL BEAUTY, IVAN IVANOV, INSANE HISTORIAN, MAD SCIENTIST, CHEEKY BETTY, RI'ANN SHAPP, UNEXPECTED PASSENGER and FUCKER NEWTON (goddamn that's a lot of people!)

You are on a SPACEPLANE. The SPACEPLANE is DESCENDING. The RIDE is VERY BUMPY.

The CORRECTION BURN to ADJUST your TRAJECTORY went SURPRISINGLY WELL. Possibly due to the FACT that FUCKER NEWTON is BUSY PANICKING over your UNEXPECTED PASSENGER.

Due to a minor MIRACLE, your HYDRAULIC LINES have been REPAIRED. The IMPROVISED SEALANT HOLDS somehow and you manage to SURVIVE the WORST parts of RE-ENTRY.

You are on APPROACH to OKHOTS INTERNATIONAL. You are ALIVE. It is PRETTY AWESOME.

FUCKER NEWTON is BLEEDING on the FLOOR. It is EVEN AWESOMER.

ETERNAL FREEDOM SAYS something about being EVEN AWESOMER than DEFEATED FUCKER NEWTON. You tend to AGREE.

You TOUCH DOWN at T + 00:48:32.

You are ALIVE.

You are on the GROUND.

Code: Select all

MISSION COMPLETE

MISSION SUMMARY

TIME: 00:48:32
MONEY EARNED: 0 $
PASSENGER CASUALTIES: 0

===SYSTEMS DAMAGE===
MAIN COMPUTER - DAMAGED
FLIGHT SURFACES - OK
HEAT SHIELD - DAMAGED
RADIO - OK
HYDRAULICS - PARTIALLY DESTROYED
RADIATOR - OK
INTERIOR - RUINED BY BODILY FLUIDS AND FIRE (AGAIN)
DOCKING CLAMP - OK
RADAR - OK
COCKPIT INSTRUMENTATION - DAMAGED

===CARGO===

RANDOM SPARE PARTS (9)
MK 84 2000LB LOW DRAG MUNITIONS (3)
FUELING HOSES (4)
MOSTLY USED UP MEDKIT (1)
SPECIALIZED TOOLBOXES (2)

===FUEL LEVELS===

SCRAM FUEL: 0%
MAIN ENGINE FUEL: 2%
RCS FUEL: 88%
APU FUEL: 95%

February 23rd 2025
Sunday


ROUND 1

Okhotsk International Airport
Russia

You are now: ZIXINUS, ETERNAL FREEDOM, PHANT, REPAIR GUY, LARGE WOUNDED DOG, COMBAT JANITOR, SMARMY AMERICAN SAILOR, TROPICAL BEAUTY, IVAN IVANOV, QUIET HISTORIAN, MAD SCIENTIST, CHEEKY BETTY, RI'ANN SHAPP and UNEXPECTED PASSENGER.

You are at an AIRPORT. The AIRPORT is RUN DOWN and in DISREPAIR. You have been TOWED to a RAMP near the PUBLIC TERMINAL. You have OPENED the HATCHES and can BREATHE ATMOSPHERIC AIR again. The ATMOSPHERIC AIR is RELATIVELY FRESH.

As you PILE OUT of the MAGNIFICENT SPACEPLANE, you see two YOUNG RUSSIANS approach you across the TARMAC. They are WEARING nicely tailored SUITS. They STRONGLY remind you of SOMEONE. They seem TAKEN ABACK at your VERY STAINED FLIGHT SUITS and the FAINT SMELL of FIRE.

They RECOVER quickly. They must have SMELLED MONEY.

SMALLER RUSSIAN Says: Welcome! Welcome travellers from far away. It is Okhotsk! It is finest airport in Russia! Russia, the greatest country in the world, da! Not like those communist Amerikanskis!

There is a BURST of AUTOMATIC FIRE from SOMEWHERE NEARBY. It is IGNORED.

BIGGER RUSSIAN GRUNTS.

SMALLER RUSSIAN Says: Da, well said, Syergyei! I introduce myself now, da? I am Ivan Pyotrevich, CEO. This is my enforcer security director, Syergyei Iosefovich!

SYERGYEY IOSEFOVICH GRUNTS

IVAN PYOTREVICH Says: Da! You are wealthy customers, da? Had some trouble, but no worries, no worries, we can furnish you!

There is an EXPLOSION some DISTANCE away. A HEAVILY ARMED AIRPLANE flies OVERHEAD.

IVAN PYOTREVICH Says: Forgive noise, transport companies are having dispute. It will be solved soon. Would you like to use VIP terminal for your magnificent spaceplane? It has cable!

SYERGYEY IOSEFOVICH GRUNTS

IVAN PYOTREVICH Says: Da! And a fence! You want a fence! Price very reasonable, da!

SUAVE PLAYBOY STAGGERS out of the SPACEPLANE. He is ZIPPING UP his FLIGHT SUIT. TROPICAL BEAUTY FOLLOWS him. Her HAIR is RAGGED. She is SMILING WISTFULLY.

IVAN PYOTREVICH: Oh, must be your important passenger! Da, welcome, sir!

IVAN PYOTREVICH is SUDDENLY ALL OVER the SUAVE PLAYBOY. He is PRESENTING his AIRPORT'S many SERVICES in the HOPE of EARNING some CASH.

SYGERGYEY IOSEFOVICH GRUNTS in IRRITATION.

What do you do? _

[FaxModem1]

REPAIR GUY tells team to get out that AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD.

"It seems the currency of the realm is currency."

[doom3607]

INSANE CTHULHU CULTIST (yes that's redundant) ATTEMPTS to SUMMON AND BIND HORRIBLE SPACE MONSTERS to TAKE OVER THIS PLACE FOR THE GLORY OF CTHULHU.
Spoiler

I don't believe this has happened before.

[PeZook]

INSANE CULTIST finds OUT with DISMAY he does NOT possess sufficient DARK PARAPHENALIA to perform the EVIL RITUAL.

[doom3607]

INSANE CTHULHU CULTIST ATTEMPTS to RECALL EXACTLY WHAT PARAPHERNALIA HE REQUIRES.
Spoiler

Well? What do I need to take over Libertarian Russia?

[FaxModem1]

REPAIR GUY asks HISTORIAN to cover CULTIST.

"Can you take him if need be?"

[Darkevilme]

SUAVE PLAYBOY recovers swiftly from the surprise.

SUAVE PLAYBOY engages PYOTRIVICH in conversation and attempts to use CHARM and ARTFUL RHETORIC to take advantage of all the free PERKS that are rolled out for RICH CLIENTS without committing to actually spending any MONEY.

[Force Lord]

REPAIR GUY asks HISTORIAN to cover CULTIST.

"Can you take him if need be?"

HISTORIAN CASTS IMPRISIONING SPELL over CRAZY CULTIST.

"That a good answer for you?"

[Simon_Jester]

MAD SCIENTIST is growing GRADUALLY LESS MAD now that he is ON THE GROUND. However, he is still SIGNIFICANTLY MAD.

Regardless of other attempts to restrain CULTIST, SLIGHTLY LESS MAD SCIENTIST will proceed to punish CULTIST using HIGH VOLTAGE LOGIC PROBE. FOR SCIENCE!

[Force Lord]

HISTORIAN lets MAD SCIENTIST do his THING.