|
Post by Rakshasa on Jul 7, 2014 14:35:26 GMT -5
Today is July 7th, 5194 A.D.
Humanity, numbering about two billion, is a thriving community aboard a set of nineteen Fleets- groups of ships based on national alignment on Earth. (For those of you who played Mass Effect, think the Quarians.) The most prosperous of these are the fleets of America, China, India, and Brazil, the four superpowers after the devastating World War III of the late 2100s.
Today is Millennial Day- the three-thousand year anniversary of humanity's first departure from Earth. Although very few people have been in cryosleep long enough to remember what Earth was like, it is still a great cause for celebration in the nineteen Fleets. Parties of all kinds- ceremonies, balls, raves, and even the odd crime spree- are so abundant that the quiet corner of empty space they traverse seems today to be full of stars.
India's Millennial Day has spared no expense- millions of credits were spent on lavish decorations for the whole ship, including flowers, curry, and gold-plated decorations as far as the eyes can see. The fountain of Shrivijaya Plaza, the bustling commercial center and the heart of India Fleet's flagship, the INS Bharat, is no exception, with even the massive fountain at its center decorated to the teeth with gold and red velvet. Not a single individual in the Fleet is not celebrating today--except for a small band of arrivals from a distant fleet.
These individuals--forty or so humanoids from all walks of life--have come to seek out the famous Indian crime lord, Jaikant Shikre. Years of debt have left them in dire need of a loan, and Shikre has offered a shady--but promising--offer to end their troubles. As our heroes step off of their transport shuttle and onto the loading dock of the INS Bharat, they begin to sense a slight air of deception, but the raging party beyond the airlock ahead dispels any negative thoughts from their minds.
A young man runs up to the front of the crowd of newcomers, and begins to greet them in near-perfect English.
"Hello there! My name is Prabhu Singh, and I'll be your loading officer for today. First off, is there anything I can do for you fellows?"
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 7, 2014 15:35:17 GMT -5
Johnny smiles. "Yes, thank you. Mind telling me where I'll be staying?"
|
|
|
Post by Willow Melody on Jul 7, 2014 16:07:19 GMT -5
Dana looks around curiously. This place reeks of a trap... She runs her hands over her guns, nodding as though confirming their existence to herself.
|
|
|
Post by gasmask on Jul 7, 2014 16:29:12 GMT -5
RakshasaUnidentified target. Scanning for weapons. Scanning for foreign materials. Assessing potential threat level. Checking on Boo. Hamster levels at acceptable levels. Processing response. "Are you to be this one's escort to Shikre?" The towering mass of metal, plastics, and crystals ask in a feminine voice.
|
|
|
Post by Rakshasa on Jul 7, 2014 21:53:11 GMT -5
Prabhu smiles at the robot's question. "Ah, insiders, are you?"
He senses an imperceptible nod.
"Mm. I see. You won't be needing me to show you to the local hotels, then, will you? One moment, please."
He flashes a small, distinctive hand signal, and walks off to one of the bellboys.
"Duryodhan," he says, "These fellows here are our friends."
Duryodhan, a heavyset fellow underpaid and underworked, sits up in an instant and enters a security code with a grunt. He sinks back down into his chair again and rests his head. Within moments, he is sleeping.
"Here, far from the government's control, we can afford to slack off. The underworld awakes while India sleeps, no?"
A door opens almost imperceptibly beside Duryodhan's run-down shack. Prabhu makes stealthy, imperceptible movements over to the party, and speaks to them while looking into the distance. To all outward appearances, Prabhu is an innocent docking officer speaking to nobody.
"I have opened a door for you in Shrivijaya Plaza. Look for a door labelled 'Exit for Swimmers Only'. Enter in groups of three or less to avoid suspicion. Ask for 'Taraka', and they will know that you seek Jaikant. My friends, Jaikant will treat you well just as long as you never double-cross him. No funny business."
The door gapes open and little can be seen beyond it. Prabhu has stalked off, presumably to resume his duties as a docking officer. It seems as if none of the other docking officers aside from Duryodhan know about his involvement with Shikre.
Your shuttle has long departed, and you are now alone with your group amidst a large crowd of innocent tourists.
What will you do?
|
|
|
Post by gasmask on Jul 8, 2014 11:17:04 GMT -5
RakshasaInstructions received. Saving information. Pull up ship schematics. Search for "Shrivijaya Plaza". Switching to low light optics. Scanning for apparent traps. The towering metal figure begins to approach the door crouching low to avoid damaging it as she moves through the crowd. "Pardon me, excuse me."
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 8, 2014 11:50:42 GMT -5
Johnny shrugs and follows the big hulking robot. Not sure why she would need to see Jaikant, but it was good to know he wasn't the only one.
|
|
|
Post by Rakshasa on Jul 11, 2014 16:52:34 GMT -5
A faint rumbling sound churns in the distance of what appears to be the maintenance shaft. There is a row of maintenance space suits next to an airlock that may lead outside. At the far end of the row is a dilapidated pair of doors with yellow-and-black patterning and the words DANGER: BREATHING APPARATUS REQUIRED.
|
|
|
Post by Willow Melody on Jul 12, 2014 10:44:04 GMT -5
Dana looks around to find herself alone. "Huh. Wait, what?" she pauses, trying to recall details from the previous conversation that she had missed. Recalling his directions, she heads that way.
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 12, 2014 12:10:34 GMT -5
Willow MelodyJohnny glances over his shoulder, spotting Dana. "Hey there," He says with a smile. "I'm Johnny."
|
|
|
Post by gasmask on Jul 12, 2014 12:16:50 GMT -5
Pressurizing Hamster habitat. Feeding Hamster. Who's a good boy? Geogria walks over towards the dilapidated doors completely ignoring the suits.
|
|
|
Post by Rakshasa on Jul 12, 2014 12:53:23 GMT -5
The doors automatically detect Geogria's presence. A computerized voice echoes from an outdated touch-screen interface:
"Two lifeforms and one mechanoid detected. Registration required for airlock access."
An icon flashes, and the interface automatically accepts an anonymous packet of data.
"Update received. Registration accepted as *NAME NOT GIVEN*, *NAME NOT GIVEN*, and *NAME NOT GIVEN*. Welcome, sirs. Would you like to proceed outside?"
You can continue on to see Jaikant, but the airlock is also open if you have other ideas.
|
|
|
Post by Willow Melody on Jul 13, 2014 16:52:02 GMT -5
Raptor Dana stares at him. "You may call me B.P."
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 13, 2014 18:51:59 GMT -5
Raptor Dana stares at him. "You may call me B.P." He raises an eyebrow. "B.P.? Uh... alright, I've heard stranger names. So... I think we're supposed to go down /that/ way." He points to the maintenance door.
|
|
|
Post by TheDraconianEyeFudge on Jul 15, 2014 13:31:21 GMT -5
(Is it too late for me to still join?)
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 15, 2014 18:39:43 GMT -5
(Is it too late for me to still join?) ((GM says you can, whenever you want.))
|
|
|
Post by gasmask on Jul 15, 2014 18:48:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by TheDraconianEyeFudge on Jul 15, 2014 20:11:45 GMT -5
Katryn notices the increasing number of people leaving. She decides to follow their trail.
|
|
|
Post by Rakshasa on Jul 16, 2014 15:40:56 GMT -5
The maintenance shaft stretches into the distance. Interface panels and old heating pipes line the walls, and the cheap aluminum flooring completes the scene of partially rusted metal. This is a common theme throughout the Fleets: there is only city left in mankind's home.
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 17, 2014 16:40:31 GMT -5
Johnny smiles at the familiar sight of maintenance shafts. gasmask"Um, hey, I think we're supposed to go down this way." He points down the shaft. TheDraconianEyeFudgeHe looks over at the newcomer, and smiles. "Hey there."
|
|
|
Post by TheDraconianEyeFudge on Jul 17, 2014 17:16:18 GMT -5
Johnny smiles at the familiar sight of maintenance shafts. gasmask"Um, hey, I think we're supposed to go down this way." He points down the shaft. TheDraconianEyeFudgeHe looks over at the newcomer, and smiles. "Hey there." "Hey," she says cooly.
|
|
|
Post by gasmask on Jul 18, 2014 11:03:58 GMT -5
RaptorGeorgia stopped and turned down to look at the human speaking to her with her single glowing blue eye. Target acquired. Scanning target. Acquiring target data. Processing new information. Error in guidance program discovered. Recalculating route. Dispensing token reward. "Thank you target Johnny." Georgia turns away from the airlock and walks down the small pathway using light dainty steps.
|
|
|
Post by Raptor on Jul 18, 2014 11:30:54 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by TheDraconianEyeFudge on Jul 18, 2014 12:27:59 GMT -5
"Well, what are you waiting for, then?" She says with a smile.
|
|
|
Post by Willow Melody on Jul 29, 2014 11:10:27 GMT -5
Dana walks past them, rolling her eyes at their exchange.
|
|