Even if your respite is only momentary, you have enough time to catch your breath and still the frenetic beating of your heart to a more manageable pace. The pulse carbine which you snatched during your impromptu flight from the armory is still clenched about the barrel in your white-knuckled hand, as is a bandoleer of spare charge packs threaded through its shoulder strap. Your armor, meanwhile, ill-fitting though it is, remains intact despite a direct hit to your back by one of the rebel fire warriors.

The thought of the glassy-eyed, almost automatonous tau sets your teeth on edge. Clearly, they're the product of some sort of insidious subversion, although you've never encountered anything like it before. Regardless, you're left with the unhappy realization that you're not likely to find much in the way of help from your fellow tau.

The logical course of action would be to try and escape, but you honestly have no idea where to go next. You're so far off the evacuation plan at this point that you'd just be guessing at best.

A twinge of pain in the small of your back reminds you that you have still been shot and that medical attention should become a priority now that you're properly armed. Maybe you can find your way back to the medical station on this level?

What do?

Kill myself.

Eat pudding.

Gleam the cube.

I suck my dick, and swallow my own cum.

>>13231328
Try to find a way to the medical stations

always keeping on our toes and alert to any suspicious movements and sounds.

Tau don't have any toes!

>>13231328
Now that we have some weapons, lets try to find our way to the nearest medical help in this hell-hole. After that, GET THE HELL OUT! Seriously, this place is swarming with nids, we -dont- want to be here.

CHOO CHOO!

With the creature trapped behind you, you press onward toward the corridor and, hopefully, the medical station. The crawlway doesn't leave you much room to maneuver, but your slight frame allows you to advance in a low crouch with your firearm brandished in case of any more ambushes.

Roll a perception check, 1d100

rolled 91 = 91

Weeaboo rollan magic

>>13231737
OH GODS WHY

>>13231737
Oh come on

>>13231737
>rolled 91 = 91
YOOOOOUUUUU STUPID MOTHERFUCKER!

You reach the crawlway's egress without any further difficulties, although for a brief moment you feel as if you've missed something important. The sensation of disquiet is gone almost as soon as you recognize it, however, as you clamber out of the tight confines and into the wan red light of emergency lamps.

Distantly, you hear a rapid succession of deep, resonant thuds, reminiscent of gunfire - but what kind of gun, you couldn't say. The pitch is all wrong for an energy weapon. The sound sustains long enough for you to determine that it's coming from the corridor to your left which, coincidentally, is also the most direct path to the medical substation.

An alternate route can be found by doubling back to the right,picking your way through equipment storage, but the likelihood of another ambush is increased the longer you take to reach your destination.

A consensus is required to choose your path, first to reach three decides.

>>13231828

Double around. I'll bet half of my little scarab legs that what we hear is bolter fire.

Bolter fire? Here?

Now I kind of want to go see it.

Let's just head directly to the station. More nid rape is not what we need. Plus, we don't know if it is bolter fire or not. Could be some of the neighborhoods friendly necron residents.

DIE.

IN.

A.

FIRE.

>>13231924
Go towards the gunfire? Okay.

>>13231841

second.

>>13231924

>mfw when people can't pyromancy over the internet.

Stop trying to kill me with your brain, anonymous.

>>13231907
>>13231921
>>13231972

The throbbing of your wounds reminds you of the need for haste and you set off at a trot in the direction of the medical station. The seconds stretch on as you draw closer to the sounds of fighting, the brassy report of high-caliber munitions echoing off the walls around you.

Roll 1d100

rolled 16 = 16

>>13232036

>>13232057
Ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

>>13232057

>>13232057
>rolled 99 = 99

MOTHERFUCK!

rolled 15 = 15

>>13232036

You don't feel the pain so much as the pressure, an unseen force spinning you on your hooves as something collides with your shoulder. The shot neatly parts your flesh in a mist of blue blood, exploding from your back in a shower of gore before the munition's mass-reactive charge detonates a split-second late.

The secondary blowback knocks you to the ground, the ruined stump of your shoulder leaving a visceral smear on the deckplate as you gaze wide-eyed in shock at the sudden dismemberment. Time seems to slow as each beat of your heart pumps ticks away as you bleed out on the floor.

You don't even see your assailant as your gaze drifts away. As your vision begins to fade, a single thought crosses your mind.

Host body imperiled. Initiating defense mechanism.

>>13232189
INITIATE DEFENSE MECHANISM

INITIATE THE FUCK OUT OF IT

>>13232189
MOTHER
FUCKING
BOLTER
FIRE

WHO DID THAT?

WHO THE FUCK DID THAT?

WHO'S THE WEAK KNEED SOFT SKINNED GROX FUCKING SHIT EATING ORK BRAINED ABHUMAN SCUM UNFIT FOR THE EMPERORS LIGHT WHO THOUGHT WITH THE MUTATED SPHINCTER THEY CALL A BRAIN THAT THEY COULD ERASE THAT?

>>13232189
abandon host. we can find a new tau girl later.

Silver flashes of arterial spray soak every surface, emerald fire casts flickering shadows. There is no fear, no pain, only silence and death.

Wake up. You're not done yet.

The world crashes in around you as your eyes snap open to an unfamiliar place. The medical station - somehow, you made it. Clean white lines of clinical ceramic meet your timorous gaze, the scent of antiseptic comingled with the sickening scent of too much blood. You're soaked in it from head to hoof, but surprisingly little of it is yours; most seems to be red, crusting your exposed skin like a day-old scab.

You manage to suppress a dry heave as you rise unsteadily, although you're almost sent sprawling as you reach for purchase only to discover that your left arm is gone. In its place is an ugly knot of cauterized flesh, turquoise with fresh scarification. Of your armor, weapon, even your clothes, there's no sign.

Roll 1d100

>>13232189
What defense mechanisms do we have available, and can we activate them all?

Never EVER! Delete a bad roll. Shas punishes us if you try and cheat.

rolled 36 = 36

>>13232351
May the dice roller have mercy...

>>13232351
Our arm. God dammit, our arm.

On the bright side, we appear to be a total badass during the periods that our brain isn't working.

>>13232375
>36
Eh...not great, but a hell of a lot better than what's been rolled so far.

Anyway, we need to make sure that we're really okay, and try to find some clothes, armor, and weapons.
Also, do we hear any more gunfire or the sound of boots, indicating whoever shot us is still around?

rolled 33 = 33

>>13232351

>>13231828

Moments before shit went downhill. Maybe we can pull a MGS4 Raiden stunt. Might even be easier for us, still having one arm.

You feel... something, although you don't know what. A presence, maybe, but you can't tell if it's malicious or benign. It just is, somewhere far away, linked to you be a fragile connection that you can't put into words.

You're left, instead, to wonder what happened. How did you get to the medical station? How did you even survive? Everything is all a blur.

"Are you still operational, little scarab?" a voice seems to whisper from everywhere and nowhere at once, simultaneously wracked with worry and a somewhat more self-interested concern. "I can't see you anymore."

Is that Mistress?

>>13232685
"Uhhmm....Hello? Who are you?"

>>13232685
Ask who the voice is, while looking around the medical station. We need clothes. And to get clean. And weapons, or tools, or... anything.

"What?" the voice asks, turning shrill. "Wait, who are you? You aren't my little scarab!"

You feel a pressure behind your eyes that can best be described as static. "The Inquisition sent you, didn't they? I should've known!

The voice seems to be growing more agitated with each moment and its giving you a headache. The sensation of having somebody inside your head is not one you're accustomed to, nor is it one you're in a hurry to become accustomed to.

"Well?" the voice demands. "What are you doing on this channel!?"

>>13232965
The... who? Who are you?

I feel like this is heading straight into an Abott and Costello routine.

>>13232965
"I don't know! My name is Sar'a, Earth Caste research assistant, my lab was attacked and then the things from Xenology got loose and then I thought I was safe with some Fire Warriors but then they turned to be infected with something and then I got my arm shot off and now I've got a shrill woman yelling at me inside my own head and I don't know how that's possible since I don't have a communications implant!"
*gasp for air*
"And now I need to find clothes and a weapon and try not to die, so I'd appreciate it if we could both keep calm about this!"

I say we ask for a name, and pants.

Definitely pants. With something easy to close. One hand does not make buttons easy.

... please let it be mummy

>>13233035
I would really not let slip that his/her voice is in our head. This person seems unkind.

>and not like the Mistress at all

>>13233077 is probably right. Don't use the phrase, In my head. But still ask for pants.

"A tau? Really..." the voice seems intrigued. "I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense...

"Then the scarab must have bonded with you! I could never get it to do that! Oh, what did it feel like? Were you already augmetically enhanced?

"I can't believe this is happening and I'm stuck up here!"

The voice seems more petulant now. "Alright, I can't have you getting yourself killed. There are Astartes in the compound and they're performing a purgation sweep.

"Beneath you should be a series of catacombs. You need to find your way down there, just make sure you aren't followed. The Space Marines don't know they're there and won't be looking for them. I'll try to meet you there."

>>13233344
Well, we got a direction to go in, at least.

Now, for some clothing.
Is there any clothing in the medbay that we can use?

Is that... Anima?!

>>13233344
First, gather supplies - if this is a medical center, there should be some medical scrubs, or at least one of those embarrassing opens-in-the-back gown things they put on patients. We'll also need something that at least resembles a weapon. With a good sharpened stick, we might be able to frighten away a lame, legless tyranid. Maybe.

Once we're equipped, looks like it's back into the vents.

uh... has anyone bothered to look for a mirror or reflective surface? What's this drone she's talking about?

>>13233473
Good point - we might want to check that before we put clothes over it.

Then, clothing.

>>13233515
We should make a point of checking our back.

Just a hunch.

>>13233559
Well we did get _shot_ there. Taking stock of (and possibly treating) any remaining injuries before we rush off out of the medical center would be silly.

we probably should stop by a machine shop at some point.. just for the obligatory Prosthetic Limb Assembly Montage.... Just cause... you know... Groovy.

>>13233621
I don't think we'll have time for that in the current situation, what with all of the scary alien monsters (some of which have guns) running around.

Medical check, clothing, and into the vents to get down to the basement.

OP image updated to reflect our current state of naked and diss-armed.

Finally alone with your own thoughts, you have a moment to properly assess your situation. The facilities in this compartment all seem to be operational so you take the opportunity to clean yourself up as best you can in the sink. Thoughts of modesty are, for the moment, banished while you focus on the more immediate need, but as you wash away the alien blood and ichor you catch sight of a metallic glint.

The scarab must have bonded with you, she said. Slowly, you turn in the mirror, tracking a silvery armature encircling the curve of your hips. Craning your neck, you see for the first time the insect-like construct affixed to your spine, dug in like an enormous chrome tick.

You seem to have an unwanted passenger.

>>13233796
.... I can't help it.... I'm sorry...

Does it... Tickle?

>>13233796
Okay, panicing now. Except apparently without adrenaline... odd. (Or is that still happening?)
Well, we can't do much about removing it with only one arm. Best get cleaned up the rest of the way, and see if we've got any other injuries to be bandaged. Then, clothing. With that thing on us, it's even more important we cover up - just in case we spot another actual Tau, we don't want them deciding to try to kill us.

>>13233796
Clean up, check for any other wounds that need attention.
Also is there a medical scanner available to take readings on vital signs? Might be useful to know.
Last, clothing that will cover the scarab, and find a weapon.

>>13233796

clean up, clothing, and cover our tin assplate of a scarab.

Damn freeriding necron bum.

Like this? Really? Really, Shas?

>>13233999
Do. Want.

>>13233999
Sorta - just take off the nose, wings, and extra arm, then change the colors a bit. Like this:

Panic response suppressed. The errant thought passes before you even realize you've had it, your brain chemistry altering on the fly to elevate you to a more analytical frame of mind. Instead, you find your body on autopilot, ransacking the medical suite as you process your predicament.

The scarab is the same construct that was under examination right before the containment breach. It must have attached to you during your blackout in the air duct - but to what purpose and what end? Is it controlling your actions? Subverting your free will? The prospect is singularly horrifying, although you don't seem to able to muster a sensation of horror to match.

By the time you take notice of your unconscious multitasking, you've located and dressed yourself in a clean white medical jumpsuit - a bit snug, especially with your unwelcome guest, but suitable. Armor and weapons are sadly lacking, but a heavy length of pipe - removed from the bulkhead? - has founds its way into your hands and seems like it would make a suitable holdout, at least until you can find something with greater range.

>>13234195

I like big Drones and I cannot lie.

But Drone is only a little drone.

>>13234199

hokay. Time to head for the catacombs. Also: We need a new arm. We know the scarab is doing something... and it might just know a thing or two about how to re-Arm outselves.

Pitstop for Groovy (or orky) limb addition optional

> (or orky)
Oh that's the LAST thing we need right now! Don't say that!

>>13234199
Looks like it's time to get out of here. Now for the balance between safest route, and quickest route.

>mfw this thread is not about me

I'm kind of visualizing Drone attached like an abdomen. Is that weird?

>>13234199
Alright, let's get down the catacombs.

Maybe use the ventilation shafts to avoid meeting a space marine.

>>13234288
It could be. Find a cute alien girl to infest and you're aces.

No! No more ducts.

>>13234306
but then where would tears go?

>>13234293
Yes, I've heard Space Marines are big, and likely won't fit in the air shafts. Less getting shot is a good thing!
Also, we've got a nice pokey stick to stab at anything that is in front of us in the shafts. It would probably be more useful against anything that would fit in there with us than it would be against things that we'd meet in the corridors.

>>13234290
I think it's supposed to be in the small of our back.

Ventilation shaft seems the safest option for us at the moment. Let's hope they don't have any flamers.

>>13234322
The air shafts are probably the best way to go. But where shall we take them to?

>>13234398
There should be vents leading between floors somewhere - possibly a central air shaft. Which, if we're really lucky, will either be easy to climb, gravity free, or at least nicely sloped.

>>13234398
The Catacombs seem safest; if the space marines are here, any escape vessels are probably already destroyed, or the human ships have targeting solutions for them ready.

>>13234435

odd question: is the mechanicus at any point interested in tau FTL drives? i mean, breaking dependance on the astropathic choir isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Satisfied that you've prepared as best you could, given the circumstances, you shift your grip on your pipe and depart the relatively safety of the medical bay for parts unknown. Your unlikely ally mentioned a series of catacombs beneath the complex which would allow you to escape unnoticed, especially if the upper levels are already under gue'la control.

You resolve to cover as much distance as you can in the duct network to avoid the worst of the fighting, but you find yourself somewhat less sanguine about navigating the ventilation system than the corridors below; at least those are color-coded with helpful stripes directing you to the relevant sections.

You push the thought aside for the time being as you focus on prying loose a grate cover and infiltrating the vent.

Roll 1d100.

rolled 18 = 18

>>13234512

Let's do this.

>>13234531
>18
Yes, let's.

>>13234531
I think we just accidentally a genestealer with a flying grate cover.

>>13234512
Prying grates loose is yet another thing our pokey stick can help with. I'm glad we have that thing. Now hopefully we won't open up a grate only to get a face full of spikey monster while someone shoots us from behind.

>>13234579
this would be bad, because that would mean that moar genestealers are nearby.

unless we somehow managed to graft a geanstealer arm on.

>>13234679


So instead of a taucron, we'd have a... Tauranid?

thereisnotareactionimageformycurrentsetofemotionalresponses.jpg

>>13234693

Tauorkronid is where I'm headed.

ONE FOR ALL, AND ALL FOR THE GREATER GOO... OVERMIND.

>>13234693
More of a Taucronid.

>>13234693
>>13234725
>>13234738
And then, we were eaten by a Kroot, who became the Krootaucronid.

Captcha: shuffle surmounted
Indeed captcha, indeed.

Drone wouldn't let us turn into a tauranid, would he?

>>13234765
I'm pretty sure he wouldn't let us be eaten by a kroot either.

>>13234760
If our Krootaucronid becomes cyborg-y enough, could it be looted by an ork?

>>13234531
Grats

>>13234809

THIS IS MY GOAL IN LIFE

Drone would probably abandon us if we turned into a 'nid. We wouldn't really be a suitable host any longer.

>>13234809
What happens if the looted krootaucronid gets eaten by kirby?

>>13234907
Not yet. We still need to get the Adeptus Mechanicus to bolt some mechadendrites on it, then a deamon to posses it.
THEN we feed him to Kirby.

without the taint of chaoss???

>>13234943

FOR SHAME.

Ok. SO. SHAFTS. Where are we going?

The grate comes flying free with surprising force, clanging loudly against the opposite wall of the corridor. You grimace as it crashes to the floor but when nothing comes leaping out of the vent at you, you decide that it's time to proceed. With any luck, you'll be able to make it to central ventilation before anything else happens.

Drone Quest will continue.

Thanks for the run, Shas'o.