[Taocow PBEM] Book 3 - Chapter III

[Aaron Clausen]

> > [GM]
> > A voice, in American, is saying "O.S... S.O.S.  Our reactor has
> > overheated and we have been forced to shut it down.  Please
> > help us.  S.O.S... S.O.S.  Our reactor has overheated and we
> > have been forced to shut it down.  Please help us..."
> >
> > The message seems to loop endlessly.
> >
> > The searcher's lights seem to be getting closer now.
> > [/GM]

> [Ted]
> "Can you tell if those searchlights are looking for us or the other sub?"
> [/Ted]

[Louissa]
"How do I know?" Louissa says in exasperation.

She puts down her head.  "Sorry, Ted." she says.  "A little
stressed right now."
[/Louissa]

> [Lyle]
> "Is there to see if there is anyone still alive on the sub or how long
> its been there?"
> [/Lyle]

[Louissa]
"I don't think there are any bio-sensors on this thing." Louissa replies.
"It's buried in the sediment, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of
encrustation.  I don't know much about the ocean, but judging by
how everything else on this wreck around us is encrusted, I'd bet
it hasn't been nearly so long, maybe a few years at most."
[/Louissa]

> [Alex]
> Alex unfortunately does not have much to add because the water
> really is not her 'element'
>
> An idea comes to her, "Dagger, is there any way of seeing if
> anybody is alive on that other sub?"
> [/Alex]

[GM]
Alex seems to lose focus of her surroundings for a few moments, then
seems to become aware again.
[/GM]

> [Alex]
> Alex pipes up again a few minutes later, "There are three or four
> aboard, all asleep. Don't know if we can do anything to rescue
> them. We are in a pretty pickle ourselves. Still, I would feel wrong
> to leave them."
> [/Alex]

> [Ted]
> "Can you tell whether or not they are in stasis or regular sleep?" Ted
> asks.
> [/Ted]

> [Alex]
> "In honesty, I don't know and I don't think there is any way to find out.
> I don't even want to guess although I wonder if they are not running
> out of oxygen," Alex returns
> [/Alex]

> [Ted]
> "Louissa, do we have the means to dock on the other sub?"
> [/Ted]

[Louissa]
Louissa thinks for a moment.  "I might be able to extend the
energy field protecting us and keeping the water out.
[/Louissa]

OOC: Apologies to Koba's player, but I just know he'd do this, so...

[Koba]
"I think I can help there," Koba says.  "if you can get us up to the
sub."
[/Koba]

[Louissa]
Louissa nods.  "Okay, here we go."
[/Louissa]

[GM]
With a bit more control, Louissa fires up the engine and moves the
craft.  The submarine comes closer, and they can more clearly make it
out.  The sub is buried at least half way up in silt, but just as telling,
it clear didn't sink, but steered or crash into the bottom, there is a thirty
foot depression left behind.

The aft section shows damage.  Nothing blackened, but twisted, as
if it had been crushed.  Everything else looks relatively intact, though
there looks like the beginnings of corrosion.  Clearly Louissa's guess
as to its age must be reasonably accurate.

The markings are in what looks to be Dragonese, at least that's what
Ted, Owen and, though it somewhat surprises her, Alex can make out.
The sub's name is The Brave Venturer 2.  There is an access hatch on
top and Louissa nudges the craft over top, lowering down to just four
or five feet over top.
[/GM]

[Louissa]
Louissa works the controls for a few minutes, cursing under her
breath.  Finally she slams her fists down on the console in frustration.
"There doesn't seem to be any manual way to change the shape of the
force field."
[/Louissa]

[Koba]
"Let me try." Koba says.  He places his hands on the console,
and after a few moments faint sparks can be seen dancing from them.
After a minute or so he looks up.

"Okay, the field is over the hatch now." he says.  "The field has pushed
out most of the water, though some will still get in the sub."
[/Koba]

[Louissa]
Louissa looks at Koba with appreciation, and maybe a tiny bit of
adoration.

"In the interests of keeping ourselves alive," she says finally, "I'm
staying with the boat.  Oh, and can someone tie him up?"  Louissa
points to the remaining ape-men, who apparently everyone forgot about
as they were making their escape.
[/Louissa]

[Ape-creature]
The ape-creature looks fearfully on the company.  "Me not cause
any trouble." he says.  "No need tie me up."
[/Ape-creature]

-- 
Aaron Clausen
mightymartianca at gmail.com