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*

Alriiiight!
Picking up where we left off.

here's the refresher for thems that need it:
//suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17647683/

and don't worry, there's no rush. Get up to speed, you may need to think.

*

Put basically, there is a nasty ass METAL HERETEK HAND running around, and you're not sure whether to go to the surface yet or not.

There are some places you may not have explored to your satisfaction also, and perhaps more questions you may want to ask.

*

Surface time! But before we head up, make sure everyone knows about the heretek hand.

Going to the surface will totally end the level, just so you know.

Here is your gear, for the record.

*

MINHELM interjects, as expected.

*

MINHELM agrees that getting rid of the HERETEK HAND is the way to go. With it running around, it could sabotage the KORNHEISER, or other electrical devices.

*

MINHELM suggests that, if we were to use an obvious and unarmed victem like NEL, as bait, then we could lure it out.

MINHELM's aim is not that good, so she would then need you to hold it in place with SPECTRAL HANDS and then she'll blast it.

*

MINHELM also recalls you mentioning that this HERETEK, SPOKANE has a second brain as a back-up server of sorts. As the hand is being controlled by the second brain, most likely, if we can find that we can at least slow it down.

*

wait, if it only goes after people who are alone...
Maybe check to see if HUNT made it to the medbay.

GM: You guys said you escorted him during the last session, and while I'm not usually into that sort of 'oh yeah its taken care of' game play, in this instance I feel that LOWRY has suffered enough. He's safe now.

Seriously, guy became a miner after his kid died and his wife left him because she blamed him for the death. Wasn't his fault at all.

*

Alright.

We should look for the back-up before trying to bait it out.

Check on HUNT to see if he made it to MEDBAY, then all go check out and try to find the second back-up brain.

MINHELM seems to find your ambiguity a little vexing.

*

Hmm what are some of the areas we have not explored or would we know that?

If not maybe we should take a look around to see if we can find an area we have not checked yet.

You decide to retrace your steps, stopping whenver you notice anything strange. The MINE seems normal, but it is when you head back DOWN into the SECURITY AREA that something different is happening.

SPOKANE is awake.

*

"A backup system would need to be in a place with adequate power and connections for at least a cogitator plus a transmitter. It would probably have to be dry because even I know that machines get angry when wet. Probably also has to be in a place that's fairly central with no major ore deposits around it that could interfere with the machine's signals.... Nel, can you narrow down our choices to only rooms where those conditions are met?"

NEL has been thinking this also, and can only assume that, based on it's importance, is somewhere hidden and laregly sealed off. The mines would likely be too dangrous a place for it. She reasons that it would be put near somewhere that is not going to see much danger or conflict.

*

Call Leo, "while we were moving about at any point did you hear or sense a powerful machine that you couldn't see or that didn't belong?"

Also we should probably lock the hover car then swap out Nel for Leo for this stage

LEOKADIA seems to be willing to offer a service without you having to actually commit to having her as a team mate. Could be useful, who knows?

All of the miners have been wearing big bulky suits with breathing systems, right? Ask Leo or Nel (or Leo to ask Hunt for us) if we need to find suits or at least rebreathers for the deeper parts of the mine due to hazardous gasses, materials, etc.

HUNT says the suits were as a precaution in case of gas or falling rocks, but there's never been any.

*

didn't we once have a map of the facility?

Yup, one crappily drawn map.

*

Sweep the processing room.

LEOKADIA does a broad FERRIC LURE on the PROCESSING ROOM, but find nothing unusual. She does note that since the last time she was here, the vibrations under the floor are getting stronger.

*

HOLD UP!

Contact the assassin in orbit, ask her if s/he noticed any supposedly mundane rooms that higher ups frequently went into for long stretches, or if there are any rooms without machinery that she saw mechanics going into or out of.

Explain what we're looking for, she might be able to help having infiltrated the guards.

If that doesn't turn up anything have Leo do the processing room then look in the interrogation chamber and the comms chamber, if we find any leads we might have Leo sweep those too.

Second

BURDELL is as helpful as she can be.

*

According to the map, it's either Medical, the Lounge, or the Plant.

It's not somewhere on the map. It'd be a lousy hidden room if it were.

*

I'm going to assume the place we are looking for is not on the map and that the entrance is somewhere on the security floor.
>inb4 its in the WC

'The great mind behind this whole empire is quite literally beneth my shit'. It probably is.

I'm going to assume the place we are looking for is not on the map and that the entrance is somewhere on the security floor.
>inb4 its in the WC

agreed.

I'm going to assume the place we are looking for is not on the map and that the entrance is somewhere on the security floor.
>inb4 its in the WC

Hey yeah. Godek DID say that. And he's the sort of guy who MEANS literally when he SAYS literally (rare trait these days, damn shame - I blame wrestling commentators)

captcha: DrinKo Scotch
Captcha, you've had worse ideas.

*

TO THE TOILETS

WE HAVE A COURSE OF ACTION

Scan those toilets (and other parts of the WC) like there is no tommarrow

Also, get ready for combat if necessary.

LEOKADIA casts another FERRIC LURE in the washroom and confirms that there is indeed something metal beneath the floor. She then politely excuse herself from the room and then, if your ears don't decieve you, runs like all get out back to the MEDBAY.

This was not the evening you envisioned.

*

Read what's writting on that tile under our left boot.

It says "only the loyal" in high gothic, it was part of a puzzle that has already been solved.

now we just need to get to it

anyone got a better idea then flush the toilet three times?

You jiggle the handle, but nothing happens. You notice that the toilet is actually completely, spotlessly drained.

NEL explains that there weould have been a drop in the facilities water pressure when you drained the water tank. You remember that fondly. Seems like ages ago.

*

Ask companions for suggestions.

Ask companions for suggestions.

*

"The Emporer Sends Us Forth. Do it"

You're the boss.

*

Your ears ring a little.

*

SHE DON'T GIVE NO FUCKS!

Excellent! NOW LOOK INTO THE HOLE!

As you look into the hole, you see a concrete floor not too far down, the room below is lit. It'd be a safe drop.

*

DOWN THE HATCH! Um... Minnie first.

Their duty is admirable, learn something new every day.

Lets check out the room below, make sure we have a way to get back up before jumping down though.

MINHELM goes down the convenient ladder first and you hear her sigh in frustration.

"Miss...you may want to see this."

You follow her down.

This computer right here is some bullshit. It has some sort of data entry panel on it.

MINHELM, ever efficiant points out that even with 'the ATTILLAN' we you can't presently destroy this thing, but you might be able to damage it enough to escape to the surface without worrying about the HERETEK HAND.

*

A data entry panel you say? It's time to enter some data!

The attached keyboard has only numbers on it. Looks like another code.

Nel suggests its probably a shut down failsafe that SAPP insisted upon as a sort of trust between them and SPOKANE

*

Now if only we had some kind of TOOL with a SUPER STRONG end made for CUTTING AND GRINDING through things that are HARD AND TOUGH...
Oh wait, we do. AND we have several tech experts at our disposal.
I say we fix the drill, and fuck this motherfucker up.

The drill. Is. Not. Moveable.

*

Okay. I can see I haven't been clear. Sorry.

This is the drill. It does down. It is presently busted because you ripped its wires out till you found a nice long one.

Were it fixable, it is still attatched to a piston, attatched to a larger machine. It is not mobile. It was about 3 tons. The drill and its controls are seperate units, but necessary to eachother.

It was there for scenerey and as a back-up power source for LEO, should she have used too much PP.

You also could have drilled people if you had tricked them into standing there somehow.

(there was a theoretical scenario of leading SEB in there with some porn, then switching it on, but you've taken care of SEB already.)

The BACKUP COMPUTER OF QUITE UNBELIEVABLE HERESY is difficult to completely destroy because it is partially composed of living metal.

Apparently SPOKANE is trying to piss everyone off, not just the Imperium.

*

Dang, I suck at puzzles.

Well...since this device is obviously heretikal, maybe the tech priest can luminen shock it/techsorsize it in good conscience? Or drain it of energy to shut it down long enough for us to bail without heretek hand killing everyone.

LEOKADIA drains energy from things of a compatible energy source, which this thing, on many level, does not have.

also if we go with the pour fluid in a vent or hole plan we should use that corrosive shit we found down below, you know where we fought the first big monster.

The fluid was actually only very slightly caustic, it didnt even tarnish the alluminium can you put it in.

i bet the heretek hand is also made of heresy and diamonds, same as this machine.

SPOKANES body is much more destructable than this computer, but so long as this computer is around, he will be difficult to destroy completely.

Even with his fancy backup brain, enough shots with the right weapons would see him dead, but you don't have a lot of MELTA weapons lying around.

*

Make of this what you will

>CRRA
3 18 18 1
>JFPS
10 6 16 19
>JSLS
10 19 12 10
>GKLS
7 11 12 19
>JQSV
10 17 19 22
>OVRH
15 22 18 8

That's not it, sadly.
You place another call to VOX MAN who seem's delighted to hear from you.

*

Also, pouring the MILK of MAGNESIA into the NECROCOMPUTER just makes it evaporate, but that's cool. You totally get some more.

*

My Chest, I've got my nut off.

What do you know about HERESY COMPUTER and it's CODE?

He has picked an odd time to be whimsical.

he also adds:

"You of all Alice Boone, would feel safest when you are looking at a Commissars back, would you not?"

he then laughs until you hang up.

*

Commissar trading card then?

Very well, here is Jaes Quellens's card.

Should we like... WAIT A DANG DAMN MINUTE!
LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE COMMISSAR TRADING CARDS!
LOOKING AT A COMMISSAR'S BACK AND TRADING CARDS ARE FOR KIDS!

*

And here is John Fuklaw's card.

You stare at NEL's butt for good measure. It's a decnet butt, but you've no real attatchement to it. There's only one butt for you, really.

*

And 78,879,104,14,8000. Ok try those.

The numbers you enter do not work. Rather, the data screens dont seem to be able to hold that many characters.

*

GOT IT!

The first two letters refer to the commisar, the last two refer to the stat.

So

JQSV is 68
and
JFPS is 8000

We need more cards.

>JQSV
68

WHOA! Those numbers work!

There is a groaning thud, and the computer starts making a struggling noise like an dying motor.

This is very good, Boone.

*

Ok so each screen hold 1 number and we have to find 4 more cards b4 the robot hand kills errything. ADVENTURE HO!

GM: Telling you guys now. With the back up brain at 2/3 capacity, you need no longer fear 'THE HERETEK HAND'

*

True but we should try to disable this piece of heretical shit b4 we more on cuz SPOKANE will eventually break outta that hatch and kill errything if we dont.

Ahh, but full puzzle solving could lead to TREASURE! or DATA! or OTHER FUN STUFF THAT WILL LIKELY HELP US AND WILL NOT HARM US IN ANY FASHION!

Sure, sure, but if we can fuck it up EVEN MORE, then we wanna do that too.

Do WE, being her AIDE, know Connie's Range Accuracy?

You do of course, know CONRAD RAEGE's RANGE ACCURACY, you know may things about her! Oddly though, the computer doesnt accept it. You suppose it uses out dated data.

GM: Scout honor, SPOKANE has been taken care of for a while, you have slowed him down as best as able (better than I predcited, too!) at this point in the game. He will back later, much like any other irritating BOSS character.

The people on the facility are safe where they are. It's YOU SPOKANE hates. Trust me.

Woo. Sorry. Not dead.

Had some bad internet. let's see where we are.

*

At this stage, there's not much more you can do to weaken SPOKANE, but I guess you could empty a volley of las into the comp if you wanna make sure.

GIVEN THAT, this is the best you can do at this point, even I wouldn't be a bif enough dick to have SPOKANE rain havoc on those in the MEDBAY.

The MEDBAY has C-16 and the AUTOSENTRY they are safe, I swear to you, stand on me.

LOCKE can be repaired with THENEZZ-AUGER parts, same as the teleporter.

*

Wel if this is the case then lets empty said las into the comp and radio LEO about MOAR CARDS info, then to the surface.

A look or dour satisfaction on her face, MINHELM used DISCPLINED VOLLEY on the NECROCOMPUTER aking it groan and complain further until it basically silent.

She clicks in a spare LASPAK with conciderable satisfaction.

*

ONWARD TO GLORY AND...AND SURFACE!!!!!!!!

HAHAHA, IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME!

Wel if this is the case then lets empty said las into the comp and radio LEO about MOAR CARDS info, then to the surface.

Agreeing to eachother that it's time, you all head back to the KORNHEISER.

Yout put through a COMMCALL to LEOKADIA letting her know about the cards, and she totally understands.

The KORNHEISER is only built for 2 people, but you and MINHELM are both pretty small, so sharing the backseat isn't too bad.

It's time to get outta this place.

How about a little launch music?

//www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PL129D4E00A355C07C&v=gwFRGz3fIOc
#t=79s

*

Toll the Great Bell Once!
Pull the Lever forward to engage the
Piston and Pump...

Toll the Great bell Twice!
With push of button fire the Engine
and spark the Turbine into life..

Toll the Great Bell Thrice!
Sing Priase to the
God of All Machines.

Machine spirit, I pray for our safe arrival.

Did you say that? Awesome. MINHELM just got back the PP she lost because of your adherence to protocol.

Anyway, time to lau..YAYHEEY

*

As the KORNHEISER rockets through the MINE almost scraping the walls, you are very glad you decided to have someone with the PILOT skill with you.

You put a call through to LEOKADIA telling her to shut the doors.

She says you can count on her, and may the Emperors Love be with you.

Who knows what you will find?

*

Certainly not you. This little section is gonna be concluded in the form of a properly rendered CUTSCENE COMIC, which ima post, and will hopefully finf it's way here.

Also, because I ain't gonna draw the whole dang city at once, you guys will at some stage determine what you want to check out first. It's gonna me shorter chapters more often, hopefully.

I'll tell you now, the mansion and the facility are destroyed and empty.

So like, don't pick those.

Thank you all so so much. This is the best.
Thank you.

*

Thank you Culexus, this was fun. Any idea when this might run again or is it just at random?

Man, I wish. I'll try and keep you posted.

The Diner man, it has a UNIVERSAL GREETING!

That's actually a pretty hot idea.

You guys are being awesomely kind.

The next half of the game is harder, and will start to determine which ending you get.

A heads up.

So like Colossal Faggot, when we reach surface we will be able to get back at the MedBay?

Probably.