Approach carefully from the treeline and check out them big ol black balls

>>1010220
Circle around some more. You want to put as much distance as you can between this and you. As for that oil, do you think it's some sort of infection? Mold maybe?

Say hello to the local wildlife with laser fire.

Is this thing big enough that it'd be dangerous to the ship if an aggressive one showed up? You might need to worry more than you have been.

1/2 --- 2021/09/15(Wed)13:55 No. 1010682 ID: 736b7e
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I take aim at the creature and Jui pushes herself in front of me with teeth bared. She hisses to me in a low voice. “Don’t shoot it! Who’s acting like an idiot now? What if you don’t kill it? What if you do kill it? We don’t even know if it’s hostile. We don’t know if we can eat it. It’d be a huge risk with practically no reward.” She looks over her shoulder at it. “Let’s just get the water sample and go. We can deal with it another time if we have to.”

She makes a convincing argument, though I mostly just wanted my rifle on it in case it decided to get up and attack us.

“... I want to get a better look at it. Just stay here and get your sample.”

2/2 --- 2021/09/15(Wed)13:56 No. 1010683 ID: 736b7e
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Jui seems frustrated but she really can’t stop me. I inch my way over towards it while keeping track of the treeline. It definitely seems to be sleeping. It is lying quite still and seems to be breathing with a regular, relaxed cadence. It almost seems cute as I get closer to it. I am no biologist but it does seem to be a predator of some sort. I don’t think I can tell if it is a scavenger or not. I think you’d have to watch its behavior to figure out something like that. I don’t think it would be a threat to the ship; it would take a lot to damage ship hull. It also can’t be the only one. If it is a threat, we’ll probably have to live with them. On the plus side, aquatic means it probably stays near bodies of water.

I approach on a side close to one of the blobs so I can get a good look at it. It’s large, round, and sticks out quite a bit from the body of the creature. It seems to gently quiver and bounce with the breathing of the creature. Even so, it seems to hold a solid form; always settling back to a blobby, spherical shape. Something seems off and I’m not sure what it is.

… I feel like I am being watched.

Get the water sample and leave. Investigation of the infected creatures can come later, with a full team outfitted for hazmat and weapons.

Sentient, parasitic blobs, you should content yourself with the inert sample from the trees and head back to report this sighting.

Eyes up, we just need to get the water sample and exfiltrate.

Keep your eyes on the trees, but ask Jui if she thinks the blobs came from the sleeping creature or if something else might’ve put them there

They don't have eyes, but they might be able to sense you somehow. Keep an eye out and keep your distance to make sure you don't get jumped by one.

1/2 --- 2021/09/23(Thu)16:10 No. 1011452 ID: 736b7e
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I look back over towards Jui. She is waving her hands wildly with a vial outstretched in one, continuing to be annoyed and wanting me to come right back. I take one last look at the creature from where I am. I don’t think the oil is coming out of it. The creature looks like it's been rolling around in it or something. There’s little traces of the oil all over it and there doesn’t seem to be anything emitting it. I back up and walk over to Jui.

She whispers at me in a rushed tone. “Let’s just get out of here!”

There’s a snorting noise behind me and Jui seems to go pale. I turn back and the creature stretches and stands up. It looks at the two of us warily for a bit while we freeze up. It must be unimpressed because it yawns, then wanders off into the water and leaves.

2/2 --- 2021/09/23(Thu)16:11 No. 1011453 ID: 736b7e
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With that heart attack out of the way, Jui and I head back and decide that maybe we should just go back to the ship. It’s another quiet walk back. We pass by the oil and confirm that it hasn’t gotten up and walked away. We don’t really have a better way to deal with it at the moment and Jui seems like she just wants to be back with the others, so we ignore it.

We arrive at the ship. Not much must have happened since we left. The others on board must have seen us and started opening the ramp as we approached. Several of them start hauling what little equipment we have out. Jui starts trying to set up some sort of test with the water vial and nervously talking about what she’d seen. She thinks it would be better to form a larger group for searching for food next. I feel like I disagree but I get the feeling she’s just shaken after the encounter with the creature.

Now it’s back to guard duty while the others set up camp. Things still seem quiet, though I feel like that insect buzzing is starting to get to me. It seems louder than it used to be.

>>1011453
Check the exterior cameras. Is there a giant bug nearby?

>>1011454
This

Have a medic examine you, make sure you didn't bring back any contagions.

If you're outside already, scan the skies.

Let's keep things relatively small. If there's going to be teams it's going to be no larger than four. Preferably three. Two hands, one scientist and one guard.

Are there more insects flying around the landing area than when you first got off the ship? That could explain the louder buzzing.

1/2 --- 2021/11/01(Mon)16:23 No. 1014036 ID: 736b7e
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I am still the only guard as it stands, so as much as I’d like to go inside and check cameras for threats it would be kind of foolish to not be outside in the event we were attacked by something. Any group we send out I’ll have to go with until we can fashion some other weapons. We might be stuck with sharpened sticks or something until we can get materials for making better things.

A medic can wait until we actually are set up and ready to rest. There’s not really anything we can do about a contagion immediately. Being outside should assist at preventing spread anyways.

A small tent is set up outside and a couple boxes have been brought out. Both to get the equipment out and to act as a working space for Jui. She’s inspecting the vial and seems to be viewing it with a… satisfied expression. Hopefully that’s a good thing.

As for the bugs, I’ve seen a few around but the buzzing I’ve been hearing I haven’t really found a source for. It always seems like it’s nearby but out of vie--

2/2 --- 2021/11/01(Mon)16:25 No. 1014038 ID: 736b7e
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*buzzZZZZZZ--THUMP*

GET IN THE SHIP
NOW NOWNOW

Open fire! The noncombatants need to get inside, then you can follow.

Fire at will! And the bugs!

They better scramble like an egg before they get folded like an omelet.

Shoot that one on top of the ship first, to teach the natives that "touching our stuff without permission gets you killed."

Get everyone you can into the ship and close the door. Surely they can't break through the hull, right?

Everyone back in the ship, NOW. Focus your fire on the insects trying to get into the ship. Maybe start with some warning shots near them to scare them off before firing directly at them; who knows what properties their blood has?

1/2 --- 2021/12/09(Thu)16:19 No. 1016990 ID: 736b7e
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T-there’s bugs..! Giant bugs! Everywhere! The one in the center seems to have turned its attention to Jui and the criai unloading has scrambled over to one of the landing struts. More are coming out of the woods around us but the two on the ramp are blocking us from getting in! I don’t have time, I have to keep them from getting inside!

I take aim at one of the two on top of the ship. The laser hits one in the neck and oil scatters everywhere! The one I shot is writhing in pain but still up and the second is turning its attention towards me. I– SHIT.

2/2 --- 2021/12/09(Thu)16:20 No. 1016991 ID: 736b7e
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No no no no NO. It’s too hot, I can’t hold it anymore! I don’t even know if it will work again with it smoking like that! It drops out of my hands and I try to shake the burning off.

I can hear Jui screaming. Is she... being eaten!? It’s hard to tell when it’s all black and oily, but it seems to have opened its chest and grabbed Jui! She's embedded in it and struggling to free herself.

The second bug on the roof is coming towards me slowly and yet more of these things seem to be wandering in the woods around the clearing. Most of them seem focused on me.

Draw them away from the ship by grabbing their attention and running.

Hostiles have overwhelmed the camp. Laser based firearm has failed, which halts your effective ability to resist. Due to this, all outside the ship is lost.

Either yell at somebody to seal the door while you flee to draw away hostiles, or get up there to seal it yourself before they overwhelm the ship.

>>1016991
Your minus one gun but you have a smoking hot club. Grab any hold you can, hit the thing that grabbed Jui. Use your knife if you have to.

I know the laser rifle was at risk of overheating, but a single shot??
What about your survival knife? Can you get to the monster that's attacking Jui and force it to let her go before the other bug on the ship reaches you?

Do what you can to keep their attention on you; the people on the ship might be able to close the ramp door now. Surely they can't easily break through a metal hull, right?

It sounds like you can't afford to lose Jui, so you need to find a way to rescue her. What do you think, could you take the bug that's grabbed her if you can draw it out on its own? If not, you might need to follow it (or get it to follow you) and look for a safer opportunity to attack.

1/2 --- 2022/05/29(Sun)04:39 No. 1033919 ID: 736b7e
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No way I can make it to the top of the ramp in time! “Close the door!”

I grab the smoking remains of the rifle and take off at a sprint towards Jui. She is all but absorbed into an oily mass. The exoskeleton of this creature appears twisted and jagged like some horrid maw. I bring the rifle to bear and bring the hot barrel down on it.

The creature retreats a bit; its exoskeleton jitters and creaks.

2/2 --- 2022/05/29(Sun)04:40 No. 1033920 ID: 736b7e
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Another mass attempts to grip my arm. I pull away but it grabs me from the other side. I am tugged around to face the centipede-like creature that pursued me. It rears up and creaks as its shell hinges open.

I pull my survival knife from my suit and plunge it into the mass inside. It quivers and a less viscous oil leaks out. More oily tendrils reach for me. My arm is pulled from its grip on the knife. Its body ejects the knife and the mass knits itself back together. It pulls me into itself.

Before I am fully submerged I can hear screaming from the ship.

Do not go gently into that good night.
KICK ITS LACK-OF-TEETH IN

Don't you dare stop fighting. Claw, bite, rip and tear. You will not be easy prey.

If the gun's already damaged beyond repair from heating, do you think trying to fire again would make it fail catastrophically? An explosion might be just what you need right about now, and you're running out of options.

1/3 --- 2022/06/05(Sun)16:56 No. 1034423 ID: 736b7e
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My thoughts are racing. I am trapped within the black void of the creature and I am smothered in it. Breathing will let in whatever its body is made of in. I will choke on it. I dropped the rifle when it tore me away from the other creature. The knife was popped out like a small splinter. I have nothing left but my own claws… If I can do anything, it’ll have to be fast before I run out of breath!

I start to thrash and rend with my claws. I feel liquid flow against me. It shifts and reacts to my efforts. It starts to feel harder to move. I bring up every ounce of strength I have remaining and struggle against this creature. In response, the creature tightens itself on me. The flesh of the creature gets tighter and tighter. The thrashing leaves me out of breath and unable to resist.

I don’t want to give up but I just can’t go on anymore.

2/3 --- 2022/06/05(Sun)16:57 No. 1034424 ID: 736b7e
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Locked in place, I can only think about everything leading up to this point. Every strained action to defend my people wasted. I was the only one who could defend them and I failed. Jui’s face stuck in that look of terror as she sunk into the oil.

I can feel a greater darkness closing in as the lack of air takes its toll.

I could have done better. It was my sole responsibility to do better. The fate of my people is entirely my fault. I should have been stronger. I should have fought harder.

My mind screams my worst regrets to me while my body screams to breathe. There is a maelstrom of panicked thought racing through an incoherent mind. Eventually I can’t hold back anymore and I reflexively draw in a large breath. This is surely to be my end.

3/3 --- 2022/06/05(Sun)16:57 No. 1034425 ID: 736b7e
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gggGAAAAASP

I cough and sputter. I… can breathe..? There’s a small light. It shines in from outside the creature. I pull at my arms. They’re still held tight. Confusion brushes my concerns away for the moment. I can feel the creature moving, but the gap is maintained. I am being held within, but also being allowed to breathe?

I take a moment to just take stock of myself. I’m not exactly sure what I thought being digested would feel like but… there is a distinct lack of burning that I feel I should expect. In fact, it feels… comfortably warm. Cooler than outside but not entirely cold. Just weirdly comfortable…

GO TOWARDS THE LIGHT

Reach out, grab something important... and crush it.

>>1034425
Have you... interfaced with it? Focus on the light, try to see. Don't try to move very much, in fact try to be as still as possible until you can see clearly, at which point you should try moving a little.

Pull yourself further to the surface.

1/2 --- 2022/06/28(Tue)18:47 No. 1036435 ID: 736b7e
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After confused inaction for a few moments, I try to move again. There is a moment of slow movement through thick ooze before it tightens up again suddenly. The thought crosses my mind that the comfort I feel is some aspect of the digestion process or some kind of weird link between me and the creature. I still feel like me, though. Nothing feels like I am a “part” of this thing and I am still very much trapped in goop.

The panic I was feeling before was derailed by near-suffocation and this odd serenity. It feels useless to ruminate when this could be the end of me. I feel the creature move around me. I can feel it walk forward. It… seems to be staggering occasionally and it periodically stops. I guess all that flailing managed to do something. The thought doesn’t really bring comfort, however.

As the travel continues, the liquid softens up slightly. It fights me when I move but with each time it takes longer to tighten. I take some time to feel around carefully. It doesn’t seem to react so much if I move gently. However, I feel nothing that seems of note in this ocean of oil surrounding me. At this point, I don’t know if there’s really any fight left in me at all anyways.

We stop. The creature coils and adjusts. I hear a cracking sound as I assume its carapace opens. I consider if I should try to leave but as I do the light widens and I feel myself being gently released. It is bright, there are noises around me, and I wipe the residue from my eyes and ears…

2/2 --- 2022/06/28(Tue)18:48 No. 1036437 ID: 736b7e
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I am initially not sure what I am looking at. It is… huts. Giant huts. Surrounded by bugs wandering around. A fenced-in area houses one of the monsters we saw at the water’s edge, also with blobs of ooze on it. It seems to be lazily wandering. There is a pit with a fire slowly burning. I notice the bugs around me hunched down. Next to each of them is… a criai! It’s hard to make out under all the oil but it even looks like the one directly across from me is Jui. She is holding a hand out in a defensive manner. The bug over her is… nuzzling it with a mandible? Nearby I also notice the older criai that was being escorted off the ship at the start of the… attack. There are several bugs there taking an interest in them.

My captor enters my field of view. It leans down, oil leaking out of it everywhere. Its antennae fall on me and gently rub across me. It makes a long chirping noise at me. I am not sure what to think, but it sounds… worried, possibly sad. I touch its carapace and it weakly nuzzles my hand back.

I look back out across the village. The criai are all being treated much the same way. Insects without criai are busy moving back and forth, carrying things to my people. They are bringing us… food. Some are providing water. The criai are… befuddled but not harmed.

The peace gives me room to think. We’ve been running for so long with no hope for a future. We moved ever forward while the pressure and trauma ground us down. I was ready to fight and kill for any hope that we would keep living but every attempt failed me. These terrifying oily bugs came and brought us to their home despite my efforts to stop them. Maybe I should stop fighting. This seems like a good place to do just that.

[Quest End]

Enjoy the quiet moment. Maybe see about getting a bath. Welcome home.