[DH1e] The Damocles Contingency (RPG IC)

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

"During our attempt to board the train, Bardas fell and was lost. We don't know if he is alive or dead, unfortunately." Nicios looked at the conman steadily. "I know little of the workings of tech-use, but perhaps our Inquisitorial emblems will allow us access to the terminal?"

[Trokair]

Bardas

As he followed the directions to the elevator he heard the worker shout out to his colleagues, the Chief had been true to his word. The elevator itself was a simple affair, a cargo hauler that probably has run up and down for decades at least. Right now it was empty, so Bards stood to one side and holding onto the rail next to the control panel with one hand. Racing upwards at speed he barley saw the floor numbers flash by, bracing when he felt the start of the deceleration as the elevator reached the topmost floor it could reach Bards was swiftly able to depart.

Stepping out into another store hall, a counterpart to the one departed, and the others on the floors he passed in-between, however unlike below there were no workers here, and the exit doors where closed. Cautiously he crossed the hall, and found that the door to a little side room office was open. The office itself was sparse but functional, clearly only used when needed. On the far wall there was another door, and he could see that it was a self closing and locking door when he tested it, once he had gone through he would not be able to go back. Opening it a slither he peered out into a disserted street, but in the distance he could see and hear the bustle of a small market at a square.

Slipping out of the door he, it click closed behind him, he headed towards the market, he should be able to get further directions from there.   

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

"Unfortunate. Still…," Reynard grinned wickedly at Falk, "...I had thought that if you were going to throw any of us in front of a train, it was probably going to be me…"

He turned to Nicios.

"Sounds worth a try."

 

[A.T.]

Falk:

Falk held up a hand, "wait", recalling the words at the briefing, "any breach was to activate the autoclave, presumably due to the research found here. Without a scion of the mechanicus to check the systems one of us alone should undertake this task." The tech priest had been lost on his watch...

[Mazer Rackham]

Sanctum:

The Security terminal is password secured. However, there is a palm-reader which is very familiar to you. Any Character may attempt to use the terminal, although Security Skill would be appropriate. I will shortly place the terminal screen for consideration. All Players may assist with this in the OOC.

Spoiler

++ ACCESS DENIED ++

++ ROOM TEMP 451F ++

++ CURRENT ACCESS RESTRICT/ISOLATE/CAUTERISE ++

++ IN VICTIS VERITAS - op/end: 001:43/LOCUS-//Error

//Attempts remaining: [ ], [ ], [ ].

VIEWPOINT     VITRIFIED         VISUALIST

VISCERATE      VOLUMETER     VOICELESS

VIRUCIDAL      VITRICIDAL       VIGILANCE

VISCOSITY       VITRUVIAN      VITRIFORM

VULCANISE     VIRULENCE      VISORLESS

//? Select ? -...awaiting input...

A Challenging (+0) Security Test will remove ONE wrong answer per DoS, to a maximum of 5 DoS.

Four or more DoF will, as anyone with the Skill will know, trigger a lockout, and possibly countermeasures. The nature of your Electoos mean that you may attempt a Security Test even if you do not have the Skill. However, possessing the Skill will add +1 DoS, (to a max of 6).

The Security Test itself will not count as an Attempt. Only the input of a word will do so. You may make a Security Test for each Attempt, however, the difficulty will increase by one step (-10) per Test, reflecting the Security systems hardening against you.

This Test may not benefit from Assistance, except where the PC assisting DOES have the Security Skill. Only one palm may be placed on the Reader at any one time.

Questions in the OOC.

Edited September 8, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Beren]

++I'll try and join you shortly.++

Stitches attempts to navigate hisvway to the rest of the group.

[A.T.]

A methodical approach first. Falk stepped forward and placed his palm on the reader, "certain words are not permitted for use by official Imperial locking devices, those such as viewpoint and visualist are said to promote unwise thought, and the name of neither Primarch nor traitor is permitted even in part". The arbitrator eliminated those words that would have been rejected by a standardised cogitator system and... one more, he recalled many years ago a particularly dark event that had been closed from all public records and even the files of the arbites, the so-called Vitruvian Man killings.

 

Assuming this is an INT based rather than AG based security roll

Roll of 24 vs int of 38.
 Pass with one extra, +1 from having the security skill, +1 from assist. = 4 successes total**

**Plus one more for Falk spending a fate point - how frequently are they refreshed in this game? Seems like a good idea to get the extra success in with an actual passed roll - though not if the multikey works as the successes are capped

Edited September 8, 2022 by A.T.

[Mazer Rackham]

I'll answer FP queries and INT vs AG Tests here:

Spoiler

FP's will be refreshed per "Session" which for the purposes of our PBP game will be "Part", so all FP's will be refreshed from Part One: A murder of Acolytes. They will be refreshed again at the end of Part Two: The Crucible, which you are nearing anyway.

This Security Test is very much INT. The only AG Tests would be something nuts, like avoiding Laser Tripwires, or using delicate motor controls like opening tumbler-based locks with picks etc, where it's all about feel.

 

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

"Perhaps we should wait for the medic- he might have more insight about the workings of a medicae security station?"

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal

Sometimes the direct approach is called for to gain the best kill.

The Arbite Falk had asked for his assistance earlier and now he reciprocated the same, using security probes that he attached to the terminal.

Tarrant sought to chance fate as he listened to his Inner Voice. He knelt down in the form of the penitent man asking for alms, he placed his left hand down palm upwards so that the electoo touched the locking plate and pushed.

 

 

Use a Fate Point. Int 33 + Security - 10 (Difficulty) = 23. Result: 02, Pass 2DoS +1 for Security +1 for the Assist +1 Fate Point = 5DoS[/spoiler] 

 

 

"Vigilance" Tarrant said.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by Machine God
Fate Point

[Mazer Rackham]

Falk:

Spoiler

++ ACCESS DENIED ++

++ ROOM TEMP 451F ++

++ CURRENT ACCESS RESTRICT/ISOLATE/CAUTERISE ++

++ WARNING: SECURITY COMPROMISED. BYPASS IN PROGRESS...//ALERT PREPARED:

//Attempts remaining: [ ], [ ], [ ].

VIEWPOINT     VITRIFIED         VISUALIST

VISCERATE      VOLUMETER     VOICELESS

VIRUCIDAL      VITRICIDAL       VIGILANCE

VISCOSITY       VITRUVIAN      VITRIFORM

VULCANISE     VIRULENCE      VISORLESS

//? Select ? -...awaiting input...

Ok AT, time to pick your poison...(I'll deal with each attempt as it's posted).

Edited September 9, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[A.T.]

Falk

The remaining answers all appeared to have some relevance to medical sterilization and care save for one, 'voiceless', it seemed out of place amongst the rest. With no further insight to offer from his training Falk entered this errant word and awaited the machines response.

[Mazer Rackham]

Falk:

Spoiler

++ ACCESS DENIED ++

++ ROOM TEMP 451F ++

++ CURRENT ACCESS RESTRICT/ISOLATE/CAUTERISE ++

++ WARNING: SECURITY COMPROMISED. BYPASS IN PROGRESS...//ALERT PREPARED:

//Attempts remaining: [X], [X], [ ].

VIEWPOINT     VITRIFIED         VISUALIST

VISCERATE      VOLUMETER     VOICELESS

VIRUCIDAL      VITRICIDAL       VIGILANCE

VISCOSITY       VITRUVIAN      VITRIFORM

VULCANISE     VIRULENCE      VISORLESS

//? Select ? -...awaiting input...

Kerr Restal/MG has already rolled etc, so it's filled in, and if MG decides to FP, I'll clip off another random wrong word etc

Edited September 10, 2022 by Mazer Rackham
Extra DoS from fate added as per notes.

[A.T.]

Falk

What were they missing... Falk peered at the remaining words as he considered ordering the rest to evacuate less the countermeasures were explosive in nature. Something... something...

Surely it could not be so simple. "Vitricidal" he muttered to no-one in particular, "the only word with ten letters".

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

Reynard looked thoughtfully over Falk's shoulder at the remaining options. Maybe they were going about this the wrong way.

"A good password is totally random. Virulence and virucidal, both words directly connected with contagion... and therefore too obvious?"

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

As the others deal with the matter of the security terminal, Nicios looks around and settles in a lotus position in the cleanest area he can see. Sending out his mind, he looks for traces of psyker-craft in the hallway, not being able to reach all the way into the secured lab.

Spoiler

Psyniscience Test

Roll- 59

Target- 31

Result- Fail, with 2 DoF

Nicios feels nothing, his questing thoughts skittering off of the walls and floors without any purchase.

[Mazer Rackham]

Sanctum:

Nicios ONLY:

Spoiler

Your mind grasps nothing...it slips and bounces from where even lingering psychic fingerprints should be. This truly a clean-room, not just of microbes, but of spirit. There is another layer of security here, not proven by existence, but by lack.

To such a one as you, this is guilt by omission perhaps? After all, who can detect an absent trap?

 

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

Reynard grimaced as he saw the screen warning that an alert was being prepared. No more time to play around, they needed to act now! He felt pretty sure he knew which answer was right… One more shot… one in three was good odds, right…?

To a gambler, it had to be worth a punt.

With quick fingers, he leant over the terminal, made his selection and pressed 'confirm'.

 

Spoiler

Security Roll: Int37 +10(Assist) -20(3rd Test) = 27

Roll:
…
…
 21! (phew, that'll do it - just!) Success with 0DoS, 1 wrong answer revealed! Reynard doesn't have Security Skill, so he will spend a FP to add another DoS and reveal the last wrong answer…

and the correct answer, which he will input!

 

[Mazer Rackham]

Sanctum:

Spoiler

++ ACCESS DENIED ++

++ ROOM TEMP 451F ++

++ CURRENT ACCESS RESTRICT/ISOLATE/CAUTERISE ++

++ WARNING: SECURITY COMPROMISED. BYPASS IN PROGRESS...//ALERT PREPARED: RESET-NULL//

//Attempts remaining: [X], [X], [ ].

VIEWPOINT     VITRIFIED         VISUALIST

VISCERATE      VOLUMETER     VOICELESS

VIRUCIDAL      VITRICIDAL       VIGILANCE

VISCOSITY       VITRUVIAN      VITRIFORM

VULCANISE     VIRULENCE      VISORLESS

//? Select ? -...awaiting input...

// V I R U C I D A L

//Process...process:

+ Logic cycle complete. Mortis Microbia. Vivem Imperator.

+ Welcome: Biologis Sepulturum Dreyfuss. WARNING: Sanctum Terminal///Report.end//Offline.

//C:_

It appears the terminal has no more secrets to hide, and the engrammic path is open. A list of functions is presented to you, involving the current processes of the sanctum. It becomes quickly apparent that the clean room does indeed function as an airlock, only allowing one door to be hermetically sealed at a time.

This would suggest it is impossible for a single person to enter the sanctum without someone working the terminal.

Edited September 10, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

Reynard blew out a breath of relief as the terminal displays changed from red to green. His luck was still in! Then he examined the list of functions, which appeared basic, easy to navigate, even for someone with his minimal technical skills.

Security systems > Autoclave > Current status: Active > Shut down Y/N?

There, done. Not that it would help much. Looking through the window, he could still see the oven-like shimmer. It would take hours for the room to cool sufficiently so that a mortal could enter without being immediately baked by the heat!

But the terminal was now flashing up another option. Reynard looked carefully at the screen. A simple diagram seemed to show hot air being vented up, out and back into the vast central thermal sink, and cooler air being drawn in from elsewhere in the Hive.

Y/N?

He pressed the correct letter and almost immediately several wide metal fans set into the laboratory ceiling started to spin. After more than a  minute the temperature display on the terminal changed. 450… Several more minutes passed and the numbers began to change more rapidly. 449… 448…

As the team waited for the air temperature to drop to a safe level, the doc arrived. Incredibly, he was followed only a short time later by the tech-adept Bardas! Considering he'd taken on a train one-on-one, he looked in surprisingly good health.

"You're a remarkably resilient fellow, it seems!" Reynard joked. "If you're feeling up to it, maybe you can see if there is anything more we can learn from that terminal while the rest of us go inside and look for any physical evidence?"

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by Lysimachus

[A.T.]

Falk:

While the room cooled Falk checked the condition of his weapon as too much had already been left to chance. Reynards words brought his attention back to the present as Bardas arrived, it scarcely seemed possible that he could have survived yet his augmetic nature appeared to have protected him from the fall somehow.

After all that had happened this felt like the first good piece of news and for once Falk felt disinclined to question their fortune lest it slip away. "Two teams, to enter and to guard the terminal. Weapons check."

[Mazer Rackham]

Sanctum:

MAP:

Spoiler

Checking his strange rifle, Bardas nods to Falk, and admits you. Scourge draws his shotgun, watching the Techpriset's back. (Anyone else may also remain outside - as per AT's post).

Map Notes:

• The Blue Triangle is metallic;
• Red Triangle is organic in nature
• The storage bins may be opened without difficulty, and may be investigated with the Search Skill.
• The safe will require either a Hard (-20) Security Test, or may be opened with the Terminal in the desk.
• The terminal will require a Challenging (+0) Tech-Use Test to access and operate.
• Whilst inside this room, your commbeads will not function
• There is a hardline comms terminal in the desk

It will require concentration to investigate these POI's so only one Player may investigate anything at any one time. (This is basically to give everyone something to do).

As per, queries in the OOC.

Edited September 13, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal 

Kerr Restal guards the airlock, both from unauthorised persons seeking entry and to crazed team members trying to get out. 

[A.T.]

Falk:

Falk casts his eye over the room as he would a crime scene, noting where each item of interest was relative to the others and which were built to resist the autoclave. "Be careful not to contaminate the scene, Stitches check for human remains, Nicios do what you must"

The safe seemed like the logical first choice, he could only hope it was not as well protected as the room itself.

Security roll 17 (vs 42 - including modifiers)

Subsequent search / dodge / etc roll as appropriate = 10

The dice have been kind to Falk so far, it worries me :p

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

Reynard followed the Arbitrator into the lab. Falk went immediately to the safe, almost casually using a multikey that he retrieved from under his coat to crack the security systems. Impressively quick too - better than some criminals Reynard had worked with!

With a grin, he moved on around the room, examining the specimen tanks and the large storage cupboards. The doors were thick and seemed to have heat-seals along their edges, perhaps to protect the contents from the autoclave process? He yanked them open, one by one, each of them unsealing with a quiet sucking noise.

Now to see what was within.

 

Spoiler

Search Test: Per28 ÷2 = 14 (will keep rolling until I get a Success?)

Rolls: 67, 54, 81, 03.

 

 

Edited September 13, 2022 by Lysimachus