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Several hours pass uneventfully. You stand on the bridge, watching the systems as repairs are made. Your mind wanders to Charlie. Then to the deceased November. Then to the fact that you might've just handed the sector the Zerg.

Your thoughts are interrupted by radio chatter on the bridge.

>"Can anyone confirm Walls' position? I saw him on the ship when we got here."
>"Negative. Sensors are offline and we've got radio silence from the second bay. Organize a repair team to investigate, Jenkins. Full gear, it might've decompressed."

>>26255713
Let's go check it out ourselves, might be trouble. Things seem like they're against us these days...so let's hope it's nothing bad.

>>26255713
Also, congraz on your promotion Adjy.

>>26255713
>>26255769
Agreed. Investigate.

Also, yay, I'm actually here on time for one to start!

>>26255713
Psionic scanner, put the vessel on full alert. We might have an unvelcome passenger.

((hate that we lost November, guy just seemed so useful))

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>>26255795
((It's a hollow victory. I had to switch from Terran to Protoss and spam DTs into oracles. There's a reason Terran's so poorly represented.))

>>26255769
>"Belay that order, Ensign. I'll be reporting to investigate personally."

You grab your rifle from it's resting place next to the console and head to the damaged docking bay. Although they're only small enough for a single strike craft on the Daluke.

Jenkins and Valero are waiting at the door's entrance.

>"Sir. Getting cabin sickness already?"
>"Not taking any chances, Marine. Open the hatch."

Jenkins complies, the door slides open. Your feet preemptively locked to the floor. You're relived it's not venting - at least not enough to pull you away - but that raises the bigger question of radio silence.

>" Who're we looking for?"
>"Eric Hairston and Marc Walls, sir. Both marines, they were supposed to investigate this area for damage and we didn't hear back."

You raise your weapon for the light. You probe the darkness with your mind as much as your eyes. You sense something in the shadows as you move forward.

The limp CMC is the first thing you see. The marine doesn't appear wounded. Your HUD registers his IFF as Marc Walls.

You lean down to the man, and shake his CMC a few times, He's experienced some blunt trauma by the looks of his face. He wakes up after some vigorous shaking.

>"Report, Private."
>"Sir! Something attacked me, I think it got Hairston."
>"Something?"
>"I didn't get a good look, it blindsided us."
>"Was it Protoss? Zerg?"
>"I don't know, sir."

You step up from the man, Valero holds out a hand and pulls him to his feet as you walk to the other side of the Bay. The ventilation system has been torn open, the fan fully ripped out.

Something's on the ship...

>>26255998
>Protoss
And they say Swarm Hosts are OP

>Something's in the vents
Holy crap that smells like Zerg. Protoss wouldn't usually be the types to use stealth, unless it was a DT...and we'd have sensed it if it was that, I'd hope.

Put our marines on alert, something is on the ship and they need to be vigilant. Hop in the vent and let's follow the trail.

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>"Delta Phoenix to the bridge. Get everyone on alert. Account for all of our marines. We have hostile contacts on board."
>"Yessir. What kind of contact?"
>"Unknown."

You stare at the vent a few more moments. The loudspeakers echo from down the hall as the announcement is made.

>"Bridge to all stations. Set alert to red. Hostile Hitch-hiker protocols."

Whatever it is, you can't sense it. It's hiding from you somehow. You turn back to your marine squad.

>"Walls, do you need medical assistance?"
>"I don't think so, sir."
>"Then you're with me. We're hunting this thing."

You have several options until sensors are restored. It will probably try to take out engines, power, or life support. It's basically a gamble at which one you think is most important.

>>26256072
>>26256074
The DT's and Protoss on the surface were able to hide from us, so it could be a survivor.

>>26256074
Well, we can't go anywhere right now anyway.

Questions, Adjutant.

How many personnel on board have a suit on that can survive in space and for how long?

Regardless, engines aren't really important right now, but Power and Life Support would be (if we have any men without suits). Of course, Life Support can't work without power...

Refresh my memory, Adjutant, what's our available resources right now, and do we have any men that have experience dealing with boarders of any strokes?

>>26256074
Well, we're waiting for a pick up, so I'd say life support is most important to protect right now. That is, unless the power would shut off everything on the ship, or worse, cause an explosion...might be going for the direct kill.

I still think I want life support though.

>>26256150
We have hostile environment suits for all available crew, Commander. They provide 48 hours of life support. CMCs and your own Cirus suit provide much longer support.

Life support systems have emergency backup power for 4 hours.

We currently have Henderson, Whiskey, and 2 squads. Squad details include 6 marines, 2 firebats, and 2 medics.

>>26256192
If the core were to go critical it would have a yield of 14.6 Megatons.

The resulting crew casualties would be total.

>>26256200
Hm... we haven't had the best experience with situating our troops.

I think we need to poll Henderson and Whiskey, see if they have any good advice to give.

If they have not much to say, I'd say we need a squad plus at least a leader (Henderson or Whiskey) at Life Support and Power, putting priority on power.

If the intruder goes for the generator, I doubt they'd make it go critical unless they were feeling particularly suicidal (which is entirely possible, given our luck).

>>26256216
Er...let's go guard the power core, then.

Gonna vote powerplant.

However we aren't in this alone, we have whiskey on board as well as other Hero's have 'em start covering the ships vitals in case of an attack.

>>26256200
>>26256216
>>26256268
Also, Adjutant, reminder: what is the exact status of the engines? They're broken, or not working, I know, but I don't remember the specifics of why. And could the intruder cause them to explode? If so, how bad would it be?

>>26256268
I have forwarded your request, commander.

Jacob T. Henderson:
>"Power goes critical an' everything goes to hell, boss. Put me there with a squad and we'll keep that from happening. We lose life support and we're gonna have to hope we can get someone out here to pick us up -real- soon."

Whiskey Phoenix:
>"We'll need power for the sensors. Finding, and killing, this thing should be a priority."

>>26256308
The engines are currently structurally damaged in 17 locations. The damage is severe enough that we are unable to initiate a hyperspace jump for the next 8 hours, if all repairs are focused on the engines.

Currently repairs are being made to the hull to preserve remaining atmosphere and keep the ship intact.

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You need to move before it's too late.

>1 Power.
>2 Engines.
>3 Life Support.

Vote ends in 4 minutes.

>>26256328
>>26256346
Alright, Henderson and one squad on Power. Keep Whiskey and a squad at Life Support.

How long until sensors are restored, Adjutant? While we wait, we might want to patrol the ship.

Also, if it hasn't already been said during the announcements, have our men keep an eye on the ventilation shafts.

>>26256373
>1

>>26256373
>1

>>26256373
>1

>>26256373
>1

>>26256373
>1

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>"Whiskey. Henderson. Take the remaining squads and move to life support and engines. I'll defend the main powerplant."

The three marines follow you as you make your way for the Power. Everything is eerily quiet as you head to the power.

>"Anyone see anything?"
>"Negative. No contacts."
>"Nothin' here, boss."

You maintain your position and wait. And wait. And wait.

>"You think it's Zerg, Buster?"
>"I got yer Zerg right here, heh heh - AAAAUGHH!"
>"Shit. Contact! It's on the ceiling!"

Whiskey's squad opens fire. You can hear the echos of gunshots through both the Radio and the ship's hallway.

>1 Reinforce life support.
>2 Stay at the main power station.

>>26256605
>2

Wait, Charlie and November are dead?

>>26256605
>2

>>26256666
charlie lives, november got fried.

>>26256605
> "I got yer Zerg right here, heh heh - AAAUGHH!"
Dat reference...

>>26256667
Whiskey is over there, I don't think we need to hurry over there. We can't leave the power generator unattended.

>>26256671
November was the one with the heavy accent right?
Damn evil trips

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You hold position. It could be a diversionary tactic. There could be more than 1 intruder. You don't know.

>"Behind you!"
>"Where did it go!? Where the hell is it!?"
>"Holy shit, it's Ball! It turned into Ball!"

As quickly as it started, the radio chatter stops.

>"Whiskey reporting. Squad casualties at 100%. Objective secure but target evaded termination. It's a changeling, Delta."

No sooner did he say that than Walls CMC falls over. Life signs read it as empty.

It was with you the entire time. It attacked where you weren't.

>"Phoenix to the bridge. Notify everyone - it's a changeling."
>"What... are we going to do, sir?"

You're still working on that part.

>>26256769
Can't we psyker sense those things?

>>26256807
Changelings are psionically inclined creatures, commander. They are able to create psionic emulations that can fool even Protoss psionics.

>>26256769
When the hell did we pick up a zerg?

Get our zerg expert on the horn, see if he knows how to ferret them out since they are immune to psionic detection.

>>26256769
Whoa, holy shit Changlings can attac now? God damn it, that explains why the Protoss were supposedly exterminating Terrans back on that planet...

>>26256769
A freaking changeling... oh lordy. We don't happen to have any kind of Changeling protocols would we? A code to hand out to our troops to make it easy to identify each other? Or does the changeling have the means to acquire that anyway?

>>26256818
Geez, this is gonna be fun, isn't it?

...Crap, I really don't know what to do. Ping Whiskey like >>26256835 said. We need a plan, ASAP.

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>>26256818
Well....I...uh
Any advice Adjutant?

>>26256845
And they don't die from one hit apparently.

>>26256845
This ain't no game, Cowboy.

Blizzard released a lore story on the SC2's beta site or whatever before it's release, and it built up the Changeling as freaking terrifying to deal with.

>>26256853
Basically think of Changlings like Alex Mercer
an Intelligence Nightmare.

>>26256866
Crap, I didn't know that...let's contact our Zerg expert, there has to be SOME nonlethal way of determining if it's a Changling or not. I'm not letting this ship turn into The Thing.

>>26256867

Would we be able to determine if someone is a changeling via psyonics?


then it turns out that this entire thing is just us tripping balls on the Spectre drugs

>>26255998
>>26256769
Oh Zel'Naga, I feel like a retard for not realizing how odd it was that Walls wasn't injured when we found him...

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>>26256835
I have forwarded your request to Advisor Dale, Commander. Additionally I have loaded files on Changling abilities.

>"Hell, you've got a nightmare on your hands, Commander. Trust no one. They don't live for very long, but where there's one there's an Overseer. And if there's an Overseer, there's going to be more."

Relevant File - Changeling:
The changeling, composed of a protoplasmic substance, is capable of shape-shifting into a form resembling a terran. It can shift between specific appearances. It can even send out psionic impressions leading terrans to believe that everything is "all right".

It is intelligent, capable of operating computers. It possesses more strength than an unarmored human and can transform part of its body into a deadly bone blade, although its primary purpose does not appear to be combat.

>>26256918
No Anon, it can trick our psionics. It can trick freaking PROTOSS psionics, as Adjutant said above.

>>26256927
Where is it suspected of being?

>>26256927
Alright, alright... this is going to be horrible for morale, but I'm not sure what alternatives we've got. Tell everyone to keep an eye on whoever they're with, and don't go anywhere alone.

If you're not sure about someone, ask them something personal that the changeling wouldn't know. For this purpose, only team up with people you know.

Adjutant, where could the Overseer be? The Hercules is big, but not THAT big.

>>26256927
>Zerg ditto
My sides


Alright, so it does have a limited life span, that's good. If we keep the core safe then the ship should be safe. Make sure everyone stays together. No stragglers to get picked off. This thing got pretty lucky to be able to take down a marine squad by itself, but it won't get lucky again. Let's wait this sucker out

>>26256970
Wait... Adjutant, can the changeling read minds? If so, asking those questions may not work...

>>26256970
I assumed it was on the previous planet...but if there's something the size of an overlord hiding on our ship, I'm gonna be pissed that someone didn't spot that shit.

>>26256927
...
...
...

The last known location was life support.

contact Whiskey psionically. If there is one thing a changeling can't mimic its psionic abilities.

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>>26256970
It is extremely unlikely that the Overseer is onboard, Commander.

>>26256981
I do not have information on that at this time. Dominion testing was inconclusive.

>>26257009
Next time it shows it's face we completely seal off the block

>>26256997
Whiskey responds psionically.

>"Like a changeling can kill a ghost. I'm fine. Squad's dead. It's moved on. I'll keep this place locked down for now."

>>26257009

Meta question; Would Echo have helped deal with this situation had we not let Whiskey gut him?

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You wait at the main power. Eventually you hear an argument break out over the radio.

>"Goddamnit, it's not him, it's the thing!"
>"C'mon it's me, Parsons. I step out for two seconds to take a leak an' yer pointin' a gun at me?"
>"Fuckin' Henderson, you fuckin' idiot! Don't you know what a Changeling is!?"
>"... Kind'a."
>"You can't just wander off you dumb shit! How do I know it's you!?"
>"Well how do -I- know -you're- you, huh?"

You don't need your adjutant to tell you that Henderson's probably got his gun trained on his entire squad. And would probably win that fight.

>>26257036
It is extremely likely that a Zerg specialist would've proven useful in this situation, Commander.

>>26257042
Shoot him in the legs, and bind him.
No chances taken

>>26257009
>> It is extremely unlikely that the Overseer is onboard, Commander.

Right, everything is to scale here, of course. What was I thinking. Scanners are down, so we can't check space outside, and I doubt it's somewhere where we could see it from a window, but have our men check anyway.

Adjutant, what are the odds of the Overseer being within safe distance of using that jetpack I remember us having?

>>26257042
Ah, crap... contact Henderson. Ask him about that suicide mission we had all the way back at the start, when we first met (I'm fuzzy on the specifics at this point, so ask him something he should know).

>>26257042
Contact Henderson, tell him to stand down.

... also ask him how we met.

>>26257042
Aw crap... just...keep an eye on him damn it, don't let anyone freak out too hard. No need to start killing each other.

>>26257042
Toss him a cigar and a lighter. If he lights it, shoot him in the knees.

Crap, I knew last session there was someone stowing away with us.

>>26257077
>>26257093
We're not there, we're hearing this over the radio, guys.

>>26257108
I know, I meant for our crew to do that. We need to protect the power core.

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Current favored option:

>Ask Henderson how you met.

Confirm Decision?
>Y
>N

>>26257142
>Y

>>26257042
Tell them to hold position until we get there. If Pasons looks like he's acting funny, restrain him.

>Confirm Decision?
>Y

>>26257142
>Y

>>26257142
>Y

Question; How long Exactly does a Changeling live for? are we talking days, months or years?

>>26257169
Excellent question. Seconding this. We need to know this.

Although without knowing when the changeling was created, it's only so useful.

>>26257169
Minutes to Hours outside of it's Overseer host, Commander.

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>"Stand down. Henderson, how did we meet."
>"We blew up a Super-Carrier on Umoja, Boss. Why you askin'?"
>"It's him. Stand down."

Valero and Jenkins, who you might've forgotten were in the room, both turn to you. Perhaps asking in public was not the brightest idea.

>"That was... that was you? You killed all those people?"

>>26257216
Valero, Jenkins, another time.
Unless you two don't want to end up dead too, you're going to have to keep awake to see to that Changling.

>>26257216
Ah, crap... Right.

Do you admit to that, or do we say we were still under the influence of our neural inhibitor?

>>26257216
Ask those two what their first mission with us was. It should be that A.I. facility.

>>26257216
I agree with anon, we tell them it was before we had our freedom.

>>26257216

"Have you ever been Resocec? At the time I had neither free will nor my own mind. At the time I was just another Dominion Drone. How do you think I feel knowing what I have done?"

>>26257239
This is me. I like this guy's suggestion, though maybe with less spelling errors: >>26257267

>>26257216
Just admit to doing it. You'll explain later, if they're willing to listen.

>>26257216
Might as well admit it now, but we don't have time to explain everything at the moment.

Wow, you guys are dumb

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>"It was... before I had free will. I had no choice. I was Dominion. It's why we're here now."

There's an uncomfortable silence, the two of them just watching you. Valero thinks you're lying. Jenkins doesn't. Not that it matters, you were too focused on them to notice the boneblade before it pierced Valero's chest. He falls forward into a growing pool of his own blood as you take aim at nothing. Jenkins backs up towards you and you both hug the wall, looking for the changeling.

You stand there for a minute, nothing but the hum of the cold fusion core to be heard. Slowly, Dana steps forward. She looks down in the cracks between the core and the platform you're standing on. Not much space, but then again it doesn't need much.

>"I think it's gone, sir."

As soon as she turns around. It pulls her underneath. You hear the grating sound of CMC on plate metal, and the woman's screams slowly dim and abruptly silenced as she's dragged to her death inbetween the pieces of the ship's hull.

It's quiet now.

>"Delta here. Two down. Power is still secure, over."

You lower your weapon. You're alone now. Everything's so very quiet...

The Thing mixed with Alien

Hooooooly shit, man. This is nuts.

>>26257404
Aw, fuck. The two guys who were with us since the beginning are dead.

>>26257404
Why couldn't we sense this thing with psi?

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>>26257404
Well, time to eat a bullet.

I take it we had some crappy rolls right then.

>>26257404
....are you kidding me? Why aren't Changlings this good in game?
Shit man.

>>26257404
I'm getting the feeling that if we just keep standing still like this, it's gonna keep picking us off one at a time. We need to be more proactive in hunting these down.

Also, make sure the others put their freaking backs to something that won't have a bone blade surprise popping out of it. Our guys need to stop getting killed off like that.

Adjutant, how many men do we have left? We still have Henderson's full squad, but who else we got? Not much, it seems...

>>26257430
Because if you read what Adjutant said this thing can fool detection even by the Protoss.

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>"Commander this is the Bridge. We've got sensors. I'm reading... We've... everyone's gone but you, Whiskey, us, and Henderson's squad. Charlie and Jessie moved to the Bridge, Mia's got us covered right now. I'm... also reading Jenkins' IFF. She's in the mess hall, sir. Life signs are stable. I don't see the changeling."

>>26257473
it's a trap!

>>26257473
Out of the ENTIRE GODDAMN SHIP?
There's got to be more than one of these, in fact, there's an overseer in this ship.

>>26257440
Or more accurately, we need to take out the freaking Overseer that's making them

>>26257473
Have the Bridge scan around the outside of the ship for an Overseer. We need to know if more changelings will be inbound.

>>26257473
Lock down the ship, seal the blast doors.
Etc etc etc

>>26257473
Maybe it IS Jenkins now?

Was Wall giving off life signs on the IFF after he'd been replaced?

>>26257487
Overseer's too big to be on the ship. Maybe it's NEAR the ship or attached to the outside of it, maybe.

>>26257491
>>26257487
Do you know how large an overseer is? There is not one on our ship. That's like saying there was a giant floating elephant that no one had noticed.

>>26257473
Man the more shit that shows up, the more I feel like that Psionic Radar upgrade we picked is useless as shit. Anything that would warrent it's use is either immune, or stronger then us, so what was the point?

Shoulda just gotten the shield upgrade.

Okay, well we've lost a lot on this trip to New Ares already, and it looks like we're going to lose more before it's over.

Did we actually gain anything?

>>26257518
I know that, I was saying it could be near the ship or attached to the outside. We didn't have sensors before, so we couldn't have been able to tell before now.

>>26257487
>"Yes, sir... Out of everyone."

>>26257491
>"Nothing on Scanners, sir. I don't think it's anywhere near us, I'm willing to bet the Survivors we picked up... at least one of them... maybe all of them."

>>26257500
Walls' CMC was giving accurate life signs, Commander. I would have notified you otherwise.

>>26257543
Alright, let's go to Dana, but it's probably a trap.

>>26257543
Are you telling me we just picked up a crew of Changlings?

God damn it.

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>>26257523
Psionic Radar will prove useful in most situations. However this exact instance was an exchange between Protoss and Zerg infiltration units specifically designed to counteract that form of detection, Commander.

>>26257530
Far as I can tell, we didn't gain anything at all.

And we had to blow up a Protoss mothership. The Protoss are not going to be happy with us.

>>26257543
Crap. We need to nip this in the bud now, before we lose anything else. Dana being off by herself is strange, somehow we need to investigate.

Contact her before we leave first, though. I don't want to be greeted by an empty suit and the titanic rattling of the ship when the power generator goes critical.

>>26257583
Yeah, I really regret coming to this damn place. We got next to nothing and lost, and are losing, several important assets. Whole mission was a bust.

>>26257583
Er, I mean Jenkins. Dana just died.

>>26257564
crap... how many did we bring aboard

>>26257583
Lifesigns indicate that she is currently unconscious. Psionics confirm this as you cannot make contact. With the changeling Walls you could still sense a presence, but it appears she is legitimately not awake.

>>26257613
Enough to explain all the death, I suppose.

>>26257625
Then she's bait.

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>>26257611
Dana Jenkins is the marine who was with you at the powerplant, Commander.

Loading personal file.

Name: Dana Jenkins
Sex: F
Current Rank: Sergeant
Current Asssignment: Marine
Additional Training: None
Age: 24
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 122 Lbs.
Known Relatives: Ivan Jenkins (Husband), Carl Jenkins (Son)
Addt'l Notes: High marks in legal education, low marks in marksmanship, low marks in defense tactics. Wanted for dereliction of duty in a time of war.

>>26257625
Alright. Wrenloft is probably right, she's bait.

Tell everyone to keep an eye open for her and be wary if she shows up. Keep monitoring her life signs.

Guys what do we want to do? We need to track this (possibly these) things down before we lost anyone else.

Are Dana and Jenkins the same person?

>>26257639
Ah. Sorry, just reread the post. I thought they were separate people for sec (I haven't been able to be here for every session, so I don't remember all the characters).

Man, I can not believe I didn't pick up on the The Thing references when we got to New Ares.

>>26257639
After this, we're setting her up for a desk job. Any way, when we find her, verify by asking here what we found on that space station with the A.I.

>>26257643
I honestly have no idea. I'm avoiding suggesting something simply because pretty much anything would backfire if there are that many Changlings onboard.

Seriously, worst mission ever. Really wish the Protoss would've just said, you know "Hey, these guys are zerg, trust us, we're Protoss. We know this shit."

>>26257663
What?

>>26257673
Well it was probably a literal shadow war on the planet with things that could fool the protoss. They most likely just weren't taking any chances.

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>1 Investigate Jenkins' IFF.
>2 She's already dead.Continue to hold position until Evac arrives.

>>26257701
>1

>>26257701
>1

Okay, well how about this for questions:

In addition to asking real things, we'll also mix it up by asking fake things. Things that never happened. Like, "How many people did you shoot when we were on Tannis-IV? Four or five?"

"Five."

"Tannis-IV isn't even a real planet. LIGHT THIS BITCH UP!"

>>26257701
>1

>>26257706
Sigh, I really don't like our options, or our chances here. But we've already lost too many people.

WAIT a minute! Adjutant, do Changelings need atmosphere/air to breath? I don't remember.

>>26257701
>2

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>>26257726
All known Zerg strains are capable of surviving in the vacuum of space for extended periods, Commander.

>>26257745
Can we fly just a LITTLE closer to the sun?

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>>26257757

>>26257779
Don't you want some fried Zerg?

>>26257757
Engines are currently offline, Commander.

The odds of a changeling being able to attach to another ship if ejected by airlock is 19,213,128,500 to 1, however.

>>26257784
That was a very specific sun and dealing with infected, not changelings.

>>26257800
All I'm saying is that if we fly a little closer, our ship could handle it, a Changling couldn't.

>>26257789
.....Where is the nearest airlock to where Dana is? And what are our chances of manuevering one into an airlock?

>>26257789
>>26257833
Also, what are the odds it's listening in on our radio communications using someone's radio?

Rolled 9

>>26257853
Probably high.

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>"Henderson, have your squad maintain position. I'm going to investigate that IFF."

>"Boss, best case scenario, that's a trap. Notice that I said -best-. As in the best thing that could happen is that's a trap."

>"Just follow my orders, Henderson."

You make your way through the winding passages until you reach the openness of the Mess Hall.

It's a tomb.

Bodies, CMCs, and stray chunks of gore litter the room. As you step on someone's severed hand, a loud crack sends the shadows skittering. You aren't alone.

>1 Psionic reflexes. Shoot the shadows, sense where they are.
>2 Irradiate grenade. Nothing lives.
>3 Attempt to take Dana and run.

>>26257873
>1

>>26257877
Psionics won't work remember?

>>26257873
>1

>>26257873
I'm tempted to go 2, but that would kill Dana if she were still alive.

>>26257886
psionics work, they just can't detect the difference between it and one of our crew.

>>26257873
>1

>>26257873
Attempt to psionically communicate with Dana?
If that fails I say 2

>>26257908
She's unconscious, remember?

>>26257908
dana is unconscious

jeez you'd think Adjutant was talking to the blind and the deaf with the amount of attention paid to the posts.

>>26257924
>>26257917

Fuck, missed that one, sorry. Should probably stop posting at 2:30 AM

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Several shots ring out in the darkness. You hear the sweet cries of dying Changelings.

The last one makes a run for it.

>1 Pursue. It's still dangerous.
>2 You've already pushed your luck enough. Get Dana and get out.

>>26257873
>1

>>26257940
>1

>>26257940
>2

>>26257940
>2

>>26257924
You're one to talk, retard

>>26257940
>2

>>26257940
That seems a bit too easy.

IF, and I stress IF, we chase after it, radio to the rest of the group saying where we're going, and if it comes at them to shoot.

>>26257940
>1

>>26257940
>1

>>26257940
>1

>>26257973
if we end up chasing, we might as well tell them that Dana is unconscious down here and any spotting of Dana elsewhere should be verified.

>>26257940
>2

>>26257940
>2

>>26257940
2

>>26258037
vote properly

>>26257940
>1

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Dana's a secondary objective. If you can get the last Changeling now the ship will be secure.

You follow it through the winding corridors, past blood stains and abandoned weapons. You make it to the docking bays. The thing is at one of the consoles. You're not sure what it's up to but you can assume it's nothing good. Luckily for you, it's right next to an Airlock.

You're not sure why but you think that's a bad idea. You head up to it slowly, stealth engaged. And kick the bloblike creature into the airlock, which seals shut.

>1 Dr Nelhav would like to get her hands on one of these, for science.
>2 However, you would like to vent it into space. Not for science.

>>26258079
>1

>>26258041
Votes end after 4 minutes, it's well past the mark, Commander.

Loading relevant file.

Protocol for consensus votes:

All votes must be in the following format:
>1

Votes that will not be accepted:
1
>1 I want this lol
>1 unless x in which case 2.

Votes end 4 minutes after the choices are given.

>>26258079
Can we do 2, but keep it somehow?

>>26258101
I cannot calculate it's velocity or trajectory if you vent the airlock, Commander. Recovery is only 0.02% possible.

>>26258079
>2

>>26258079
>2

>>26258079
Oooh, for science...we have proper facilities to contain an amorphous creature back home right? Because no way is this thing getting out on the Daluke.

>>26258079

Fuck science.

>>26258121
Expanding on this. We have bodies, lots of them. Surely they will suffice.

>>26258079
>1

>>26258079
>1

>>26258079
>1

>>26258079
>2

>>26258152
>>26258147
>>26258137
How do you intend to keep it locked till we get the fuck out of here?

>>26258163
changing vote, Whiskey said no using zerg.

>>26258079
>2

Why in the fuck would we want to save it?

>>26258170
In the air lock, I assume.

>>26258188
Learning a way to detect them in the future?

>>26258171
We're not using the Zerg Red, we're studying them. Long as we don't use it as a weapon we're fine. We're losing too many good people because we don't know anything about the zerg or Protoss.

Also hopingfor some research points.

>>26258206
Can't we use the dead ones we have?

>>26258218
Don't you know anything about science?
If it's alive, then we can learn way more about it, before killing it and examining the body.

That's what Xcom taught me anyway.

>>26258171
Pretty sure he was talking about using the zerg to you know, kill people. Using zerg to make sure we can fight against them better should be ok.

>>26258240
And if not, we can end it ourselves.

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You tap the glass of the Airlock door, taunting the creature. It should be secure in there, and you can always vent it the moment you decide it's an issue.

>"Delta to bridge. Notify all teams - Threat is contained. Notify research team - we have a live subject."

>"You're... crazy, sir. But alright."

Several hours pass, you don't let it leave your sight. You stare eachother down. You can't sense it's thoughts but you get the idea it doesn't like you.

Several hours pass before your rescue arrives.

>"Terminal Velocity to Delta Phoenix. Wanderer is moving in to repair your vessel. We're moving alongside do transfer test samples to quarantine. Standby. Terminal Velocity out."

>Loading...

>>26258313
... Send someone to check on Dana.

>>26258313
Have Whiskey and us both go with the team to secure the live sample.

>>26258326
Second this motion. We don't need this thing slipping out.

Also, get a medic to Dana, see how she's doing.

>>26258313
Can we cast some psyker mojo on it while it's in there?

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You jump to the Daluke. Dana survived, though part of you is worried how that'll end, since you know that most of your original crew lost people in that explosion.

Charlie's in intensive care on the ship. Whiskey's reported to engineering to see about a new mask, as he lost his on the mothership infiltration.

You report to the Bridge, the XO salutes you briefly before he begins.

>"Sir. We've been playing tag with the Mutalisks. So far no shots fired on either side. They were testing defenses, but they pulled back after they got close to Liberty station. Every where's reporting similar activity, few missing persons reports have gone up, but nothing major."

>"So it's not an attack?"

>"Not yet. They're probing defenses. I don't know if one is coming or they're looking for something in particular but we're going to need to step up production. Starmap's being updated with some info we've gotten from the MDF. But we shouldn't need to defend them anymore. They've got their own fighter wings now."

Finally, some good news.

Commander, I am loading new information available from Engineer Mac's research. Please wait.

>>26258381
psychic, this isn't 40k. Also, no, we can't.

Reminder, Adjutant: what are our available psionic abilities?

>>26258394
Available Research:

Neosteel Frame (100 Minerals 100 Gas)
Building Armor (150 Minerals 150 Gas)
Hi-Sec Auto Tracking (100 Minerals 100 Gas)
Military Stimpacks (100 Minetals 100 Gas)
Banshee Stealth Reactor (100 Minerals 100 Gas)
Durable Materials (150 Minerals 150 Gas)
Dual Fusion Welders (500 Minerals 250 gas)
Advanced Construction (300 Minerals 125 Gas)
Recluse Mines (100 Minerals 100 Gas)
Hellstrom Batteries (300 Minerals 125 Gas)
Advanced Medic Facilities (150 Minerals 150 Gas)
Stabilizer Medpacks (125 Minerals 125 Gas)
Incinerator Gauntlets (125 Minerals 250 gas)
Juggernaut Plating (400 Minerals 100 gas)
Kinetic Foam (250 Minerals 250 Gas)
Multi-Lock weapons system (100 Minerals 200 Gas)
Ares-Class Targeting system (100 minerals 200 Gas)
Maelstrom Rounds (300 Minerals 250 Gas)
Improved Deployment Tube (200 Minerals 200 gas)
Advanced Healing A.I. (300 Minerals 200 Gas)
Tomahawk Power Cells (125 Minerals 400 Gas)
Displacement Field (200 Minerals 300 Gas)
Shockwave Missile Battery (400 Minerals 350 Gas)
Cross-Spectrum Dampeners (300 Minerals 400 Gas)

>>26258398
8:[Astral Projection/Remote Viewing: Psionically project yourself to others and appear as a hallucination, remotely view areas using psychic abilities.]

7: [Psionic Radar: Able to precisely detect biological units and psionics at great distances, through almost all forms of stealth.][Psychic Reflexes: Attack Multiple Targets simultaneously with no penalty, attack first on all fights against non-psychics][Psionic Regeneration: Able to heal self or others with psionics, reduced chance and duration of being stunned/knocked unconcious]

6: [Psionic Close Combat Specialist: Massive Bonus to health and CQC weapons and unarmed combat.][Psionic Warfare Specialist: Able to deal massive psionic damage to biological units, stronger telepathy][Psionic Weapons Specialist: Improves deadliness and accuracy with all ranged weapons, improves reflexes.]
5: Read Minds, probe memories.

>>26258408
>Juggernaut Plating

I want me some of this.

>>26258408
Oh man...the choices!

Are these straight out of the campaign, and shall I pull up a link? Or did you alter or add your own?

pastebin up to date for current resources and forces?

>>26258418
...Wish I'd remembered that projection thing. Might have been mighty useful while we were trying to track the changelings. And the healing ability...

>>26258436
((They're out of the campaign with additional 'logical' benefits.

Hi-Sec improves all AI turrets, for example. Kinetic foam/juggernaut plating effects all CMC-660s, advanced medic facilities also improves Daluke medbay, etc.))

>>26258442
You had already used most of your energy in the deployment while trying to heal Mia, then Charlie, prior to encountering the changelings, Commander.

>>26258457
Alright then I'll give a hand so you don't have to explain everything
http://www.carlsguides.com/starcraft2/walkthrough/terran-wingsofliberty/upgrades/

For those with questions, check this. It gives you a basic overview of the upgrades.

>>26258466
How's our resources looking, by the way?

>>26258408
Loading relevant information:

Resources:

>Supply: 984
>Credits: 2,000,000
>Minerals: 3500
>Gas: 920
Morale: 101 (+1)

Additional resources are planetside, but will require 1 day to load to the Daluke. Planetside resources are negligible and using them for research instead of production will hinder planetary economy and production.

hmm, we're still quite limited due to our gas. Might be wise to do some mining somewhere.

Our medics keep on dying, lets change that.
>Advanced Medic Facilities
(150 Minerals 150 Gas)
>Stabilizer Medpacks
(125 Minerals 125 Gas)
>Kinetic Foam
(250 Minerals 250 Gas)

>>26258408
Advanced Healing A.I. (300 Minerals 200 Gas)
Dual Fusion Welders (500 Minerals 250 gas)
Advanced Medic Facilities (150 Minerals 150 Gas)
Stabilizer Medpacks (125 Minerals 125 Gas)

>>26258486
Alright then, here's gonna be my suggestion...we build some more supply depots for the sake of moral, which is suffering a little at the moment

Second, research: Hi-Sec Auto Tracking, Military Stimpacks, Advanced Medic Facilities, Stabilizer Medpacks.
We get hurt...a lot. Plus infantry is our strongest thing right now.

>>26258618
Additional supply depots will not do much to improve morale past 100, commander.

100 Morale is not 'suffering'. It is standard morale, putting your troops at 101% combat effectiveness.

>>26258627
Wait, how did we get it up to 200 before then?

>>26258648
we had a festival.

>>26258618
Get the advanced healing AI as well.

>>26258654
Oh right...forgot about that. We should do that again some time when we don't have an impending Zerg invasion.

>>26258670
thats for medivacs, we don't have any built right now... unless Adjutant says they ALSO improve other things.

Registering decisions:

>Advanced Medic Facilities
>Stabilizer Medpacks

2 confirmed requests are required for any research to be approved. These are the only options with 2 or more requests.

>>26258692
Well, we're going to make a starport anyways

>>26258692
It would also improve the Medical bays aboard the Daluke, Commander.

Additionally you have 1 medivac.

G-226 Medical Transport ("Healbus" Pilot: Corporal Nigel Ohann)

>>26258713
confirmed

>>26258713
confirmed

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>>26258727
You did not pay any attention to what I said, Commander.

Confirming what I just confirmed will not get you anywhere.

>>26258739
ok, now i just feel foolish.

>>26258713
I'm cool with just these for right now.

How much is +2 gonna cost us/do we even have access?

So, shall we get that Healing A.I.?

>>26258486
How many of our fighter wings have been filled by wraiths in our absence?

Also, have a full hazmat team scrub that Hercules from head to toe before we use it again.

Alright, then: giving seconds for these as well:

Advanced Healing A.I.
Hi-Sec Auto Tracking

>>26258750
+2 Armor/Weapons requires an armory, Commander.

This will currently be handled by the base commander you appointed.

>>26258757
We have received no additional wraiths at this time. As part of the agreement with Murric we have acquired the Screaming Eagle wing remnants.

>>26258770
Ah right right,course. Nevermind for now then...we'll get those upgrades one day.

Current decisions:

>Advanced Healing A.I.
>Hi-Sec Auto Tracking
>Advanced Medic Facilities
>Stabilizer Medpacks

Please state all final decisions. Research choices end soon.

>>26258779
Let's ask our XO, Head Engineer, and Research Head if they have any suggestions really quick.

Opinions from NPCs in this Quest get us far.

>>26258719
>Healbus
Ha.

>>26258739
Confirm additional research:
>Dual Fusion Welders (500 Minerals 250 gas)
>Shockwave Missile Battery (400 Minerals 350 Gas)

Should help with that muta problem.

>>26258791
Seconding this.

>>26258797
We don't have THAT much spare gas...easy with the spending there, I'm suppose to be the cowboy

>>26258797
don't have enough left for both after the first purchases.

>>26258770
Didn't we order the construction of starports on the new land we receives last time, and told them to prioritise fighter construction?

>>26258813
nope, we handed base construction off to our commander we picked.

>>26258804
I'm bad at math...

Nix the welders then, add the missile batteries.

hey, guys, what does a displacement field do?

>>26258791
Contacting the XO:
>"No bad choices here, sir. We need everything. Anything that can improve the cost effectiveness of our units is a must, though. Losing people is bad for morale and we're going to be outnumbered where-ever we go."

Engineer "Mac" Guyver.
>"I'm not really a tactician, I just do the technical stuff. Some things might open up other veins of research, though, so aim for what you really want to focus on. Time's going to be an issue I'd guess."

>>26258839
Displacement fields improve wraith evasion while cloaked, further improving their survivability.

>>26258813
That was less than a day ago, Commander.

>>26258841
Alright Adjutant, I just had a crazy idea, and I want you to roll with me on this one

What if there was a vein of research that led to a way to reduce splash on all our Infantry units? Making them way less vulnerable to their bane: Banelings, Tanks, etc.

Just a thought

>>26258841
Oh also then confirm our choices. Don't want to over spend and after we take care of the Zerg out this way I wanted to go to that old Hive world and harvest like a mofo.

>>26258871
Then we would take reduced damage from area of effect attacks, Commander.

This speculation is currently ineffective as we do not have that capacity at this time.

Anyone want to get some neosteel?

>>26258879
Research will take time to complete, and the queue will pause if resources are unavailable.

>>26258899
Is researching our new Zerg 'friend' considered resource free?

>>26258899
I think if we can get medical facilities up and running, then we'll do a lot better against this Zerg threat. If Muta is their specialty, then our marines shall tear a strip in their buttholes.

>>26258918
It is research by the science division, not the engineering division, so it will not require any minerals or gas at this time.

That is possible to change with this subject or future subjects.

Final decisions reached:
>Advanced Healing A.I.
>Hi-Sec Auto Tracking
>Advanced Medic Facilities
>Stabilizer Medpacks
>Dual Fusion Welders
>Shockwave Missile Battery

Request has been sent. Research underway.

Loading updated starmap. Please wait.

>Advanced Healing A.I.
>Hi-Sec Auto Tracking
>Advanced Medic Facilities
>Stabilizer Medpacks
>Dual Fusion Welders
these will finish fine

>Shockwave Missile Battery
this will stall out.

>>26258968
Hopefully by then, we'll be able to go gas hunting

...uh, can we save enough gas to make a jump? I don't want to get stranded.

>>26258968
Yeah, we'll need more gas. Onto the old Zerg hive I guess.

We should swing by the city world and pick up more recruitments first though, we might need them...

>>26258985
yeah, maybe we should always keep a reserve of about 100 or so gas for jumps.

>>26258940
>Jungle World XTYU003: Prtoss ruins on planet. Feral Zerg infestation.

>Distress Signal at 912 , 776, 011: "Message Repeats. Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is D.S.S 121-A, Battlecruiser Yelon. Requesting immediate assistance. Survivors aboard. Authorization code Zulu Seven Alpha."

>Gas Giant 09812Z "Henderson's Fart": Composed of Caslon, Hydrogen, Helium, Terrazine, Vespene, and some Alcohols. Dominion Patrols present.

>Continental Planet 34R75 "Xander's rock": "Mineral, Vespene, and Jorium deposits. Hostile psionic wildlife.

>Volcanic World HA002: Dead Zerg hive world. Nuked by UED expeditionary force. Heavy resource deposits.

>Forest World NN014 "New Ares": Abandoned colony and remnants of destroyed Protoss mothership. Dr. Nelhav states that it represents your best research opportunity.

>Urban World Kilaro: Criminal Elements are at war with Kilaro's Fledgeling government. Supplies are in high demand.

>Space Platform A-22-OP/Tarento: Abandoned space platform over a Dominion-Loyal Corporate Nationalist government. Dominion activity on the planet is increasing.

>Nohallan: Ice Planet home to viking Mercenaries. They are wanted by the Dominion for multiple piracy operations. Hostile wildlife and environment.

>Barren World JZ01919/ Dick's Paradise: Mining Platform over a planet high in inorganic salts. Unofficial reports suggest possible Zerg planetside.

>Corendis: Jungle Planet home to big game hunters. Base locations available. Unusual Psionic activity.

>New Albuquerque: Two governments have emerged. The People's Republic of New Albuquerque (PRNA) and the New Albuquerque Confederacy. Both factions are positioning for a standoff but hostilities have not begun.

>Station 114: Previously a Confederate mining station, now home to Ex-Confederate mercenaries and pirates. Large black market presence.

>Loading additional locations..

>>26258993
not yet bro, we have an imminent Zerg threat on the horizon.

>>26259003
>Skorpia Shipyards: Dominion Fleet staging grounds over Vespene Gas Giant "Greth". Multiple battlecruisers present and undergoing upgrades.

>Jestos: Zerg occupied Urban World that fell during the Brood wars. Multiple broods are fighting for dominance. Sensors indicate that this fighting is coming to an end and more recent Zerg mutations have been detected.

>Promeshi: Scanners indicate multiple Radiation spikes consistent with a nuclear Arsenal. Records indicate that this is a Dominion mining operation.

>>26259003
>>Distress Signal at 912 , 776, 011: "Message Repeats. Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is D.S.S 121-A, Battlecruiser Yelon. Requesting immediate assistance. Survivors aboard. Authorization code Zulu Seven Alpha."

intriguing...

... welp, alll those new death traps.

voting for a quick stop here:
>Station 114: Previously a Confederate mining station, now home to Ex-Confederate mercenaries and pirates. Large black market presence.

>>26259003
>>26259011
...so many...fucking choices... damn it, I have no idea what to pick but... I think we should settle on preparing to jump to New Albuquerque. We need to deal with that Broodmother once our forces are built up and the space station is rebuilt. Honestly, I don't want to go out any more- the last mission went so badly...

>>26259003
Why is Gas Giant 09812Z called Henserson's Fart in particular?

>>26259011
>Promeshi: Scanners indicate multiple Radiation spikes consistent with a nuclear Arsenal. Records indicate that this is a Dominion mining operation.

Get nukes, nuke the fallen Hive world to prevent the Zerg from unifying. Sounds like a plan to me.

Adj. as we're continuing our Terrazine treatments, how long will existing stockpiles last?

>>26259015
No Wrenloft. We already went strutting in like a cowboy and that almost got us killed.

We need to build up if we're gonna do any good.

>>26259060
And ironically, the cowboy is the one with the sensible plan. We need an army before we deal with any more zerg. Or large Protoss forces for that matter.

>>26259081
My guess is burrito night.

>>26259081
This is the gas giant you originally discovered with James Raven. Whiskey made the original joke and it stuck with your crew.

>>26259088
If you do not acquire additional Spectres, 4 months.

>>26259003
>Distress Signal at 912 , 776, 011: "Message Repeats. Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is D.S.S 121-A, Battlecruiser Yelon. Requesting immediate assistance. Survivors aboard. Authorization code Zulu Seven Alpha."

I'm interested in this distress signal.

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>>26259128
Without FTL-range scanners I have no additional information at this time other than the message, Commander.

>>26259128
We've got nearly nothing to help them WITH.

honestly the distress signal is the most time sensative one, the zerg brood wars is the next one.

>>26259142
we have our wraiths and our ghosts, though I'd want to take a marine\firebat and medic team for backup.

>>26259142
Hey, guys, should we do character interactions with Dana?

Adj. can we buy some minerals and gas using our credits from the Murric government or any private corporations?

I want to answer that distress beacon, but we need some additional supplies.

>>26259187
You can purchase additional resources. However this will not improve your production capacity by any significant amount.

>>26259170
We have our full force... From the XO:
>But we shouldn't need to defend them anymore. They've got their own fighter wings now."

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Consensus is required, Commander.
Vote ends in 4 minutes.

>1 Jungle World XTYU003
>2 Distress Signal at 912 , 776, 011
>3 Gas Giant 09812Z "Henderson's Fart"
>4 Continental Planet 34R75 "Xander's rock"
>5 Volcanic World HA002
>6 Forest World NN014 "New Ares"
>7 Urban World Kilaro
>8 Space Platform A-22-OP/Tarento
>9 Nohallan
>10 Barren World JZ01919/ Dick's Paradise
>11 Corendis
>12 New Albuquerque
>13 Station 114
>14 Skorpia Shipyards
>15 Jestos
>16 Promeshi
>17 Maintain current location

>>26259249
>2

>>26259249
>17

>>26259249
>17