1/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/16(Fri)15:24 No. 1133082 ID: da477c
File 179216429447.png - (700.87KB , 1020x750 , 2.png )

>Five minuets? Assuming those are as short as minutes, that's not a lot of time
Gertrude: “Five minuets? Didn’t know I was getting some in-flight entertainment. Still, that isn’t much time.”

Chief: “Time you’re wasting talking about dances.”

I roll my eyes.

>What if we find other survivors?
Gertrude: “What if I find other survivors?”

Chief: “Do with them as you see fit. Your focus is on Doctor Mabel. Do not fire off a flare if she is not with you and ready for extraction.”

>Do we get any false paperwork to help sell the idea
Gertrude: “Got any papers or a badge to help me sell the story here? Can’t imagine my giant hulking frame is going to convince her I’m only the clean up crew.”

Chief: “Inside your lab coat are some transfer papers. Do not let her know the coat has internal pockets.”

>Do we have a psych profile on Doctor Mabel? If we're going to charm her we need to know what kind of person we're dealing with.
Gertrude: “What kind of profile do we have on the doctor? Any interests or touchy subjects I should know about?”

Chief: “Generally, she’s very relaxed and shy. Always kept to herself and stayed holed up in her research. Reports from previously failed extractions are contradicting that however. There’s a reason we know she has control over the weapon systems in that hallway.”

Gertrude: “Nobody considered cutting the power to those?”

Chief: “Where do you think they’re getting power from?”

Gertrude: “Seriously? Ugh, back to making allies here. What kind of conversation topics does she like?”

Chief: “You’ll have to fish that out yourself. Like I said, she was known to be a bit shy.”

>Has Mabel stated why she is refusing to leave?
Gertrude: “Why is she refusing to leave the site?”

Chief: “She doesn’t believe it’s safe to leave. Whatever happened has her tinfoil hat levels of paranoid.”

>any threats other than the weapon systems?
>other types of hostiles you can't reason with?
Gertrude: “Other than her weapon systems, any threats or hostiles I should know about? We got anyone else in the facility?”

Chief: “You and Doctor Mabel will be the only living ones in there. At least that we know about. Everyone else has been removed as to not complicate your mission.”

Gertrude: “What about biohazards?”

Chief: “An unknown risk.”

The chopper starts to descend and lands.
Chief: “Best of luck Gertrude.”

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/16(Fri)15:25 No. 1133083 ID: da477c
File 179216430938.png - (626.17KB , 1020x750 , 3.png )

I pull out my papers and rush into facility. Finally, some proper heating. No sign or sounds of activity inside so far.

Got two options here. I can scout around the halls and get a feel for the layout, or I can head straight towards Doctor Mabel’s location.

Get a sense of the layout. Heading straight to Mabel will probably just make her paranoid and get you shot

surely there's an intercom around here somewhere. contacting her before entering her line of fire would be ideal.

Try to find a poster with fire escape routes. They typically have a very simplified map of the hallways and rooms.

Inspect your papers and find out your researcher identity / profession.

Make sure there aren't any hidden cameras around. In fact, might be best to assume she is monitoring you already and make sure you stay in character unless forced to otherwise.

Given you are a gator and can't handle the cold, you might want to prioritize finding some warm outfits for when you have to leave with dr. Mabel, or if any room happens to be exposed to the elements.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/16(Fri)20:21 No. 1133097 ID: da477c
File 179218209463.png - (710.46KB , 1020x750 , 4.png )

I take a closer look at my transfer papers.

“Work Transfer order-
Effective October fourth, Assistant Researcher Gertrude is to be deployed at the Northern Arctic Base. Priorities are to bring the research facilities back to a sanitary and workable state. She is to report and answer to Doctor Mabel.
Note to Doctor Mabel, please see to it Gertrude is issued a level one clearance badge. Should she prove useful, promote at your discretion.
Signed,
Lieutenant Fangmire.”

I grip the paper tightly. They couldn’t even write where I was transferred from, give me a rank, or note any issued equipment for the assignment! What kind of rush job are they trying to pull here?

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/16(Fri)20:22 No. 1133098 ID: da477c
File 179218213683.png - (71.35KB , 1020x750 , 5.png )

>Get a sense of the layout. Heading straight to Mabel will probably just make her paranoid and get you shot
>Try to find a poster with fire escape routes. They typically have a very simplified map of the hallways and rooms.

Heading into the lobby, there’s a guard station of some kind. Two bathrooms, and a cleaning closet.
Looking into the guard station, I can see some kind of layout but it’s too hard to see from here. There isn’t an entrance to it from the lobby side.

Off to my left side is a wide set of double doors with a break room sign on them.

To the right is a single door with a sign that reads research wing one.

>Make sure there aren't any hidden cameras around. In fact, might be best to assume she is monitoring you already and make sure you stay in character unless forced to otherwise.
Oh there’s security cameras everywhere in plain sight. As for staying in character, I don’t have much to go off. All I know is I’m a research assistant and that the doctor is a bit shy and very paranoid. Paranoid and armed with who knows what.

How should I proceed from here?

MAP INFO: 0- Enterance 1- Guard Station 2 & 3- Bathrooms 4- Cleaning closet 5- Break Room

>>1133098
Okay, time to get into character. We're cautious, nervous, and not used to being in extreme environments like this. We look around at everything like there could be monsters out to get us. We hesitate a bit before we go anywhere or touch anything we're not familiar with. We used to be working on... something harmless, something that we're actually familiar with, at least enough to convincingly bluff. The exact details depend on our level of education. Possibly something entomology related?

Go to 1- Guard Station next. Knock on the front desk or a window and ask for someone like we're trying to check in. Act like we're trying to go through official channels to retain a sense of normalcy. Assistant Researcher Gertrude is someone who respects Mabel's authority, someone she has control over, someone who isn't a threat to her.

Keep shouting 'hello', like you're an intern looking for someone to tell you where orientation is. You want her to believe you're in over your head.

Like >>1133099 said, go to the guard room and call out. If nothing happens, I'd say peek into the break room, then go knock on the research wing door.

well if you're being watched on the cameras might as well play up the part of a lost new assistant. Start poking around everywhere and seeing what you can see starting with areas you'd expect to find people who would tell you where you can put your things. Just incase there are microphones around maybe call out for people and tell them you're here for your first day on the job to sell the act that you're just trying to find someone to tell you where they want you. Maybe look for a phone and hope they got a call list nearby for you to be able to call different parts of the building so you can work your way down the list until you hit the safe room's number to avoid having to walk down the death hallway.

guard station is where someone would normally check in

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/17(Sat)03:53 No. 1133110 ID: da477c
File 179220919165.png - (666.94KB , 1020x750 , 6.png )

>We're cautious, nervous, and not used to being in extreme environments like this.
>play up the part of a lost new assistant.
Well I can pretend I’m shivering in fear instead of the cold at the least. Some ideas on how I can tone down my appearance might help me.

>Go to 1- Guard Station next. Knock on the front desk or a window and ask for someone like we're trying to check in.
>Keep shouting 'hello', like you're an intern looking for someone
>guard station is where someone would normally check in
I slowly walk over to the guard station window. I lightly poke it with a claw.
Gertrude: “H-Hello. Anyone here?”

Obviously not, but I keep tapping a few more times.

Gertrude: “I’m…is this where I check in?”

Pure silence. Seems like if the doctor could communicate to me they would have at this point.

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/17(Sat)03:55 No. 1133111 ID: da477c
File 179220935714.png - (657.03KB , 1020x750 , 7.png )

>If nothing happens, I'd say peek into the break room
>Start poking around everywhere and seeing what you can see starting with areas you'd expect to find people who would tell you where you can put your things.
Gertrude: “Maybe…Did everyone leave for lunch?”

I walk into the break room next, and immediately back out. It reeks of sewage and rotting food in there, it’s enough to make me cough and gag. Going to need a mask or some nose plugs to withstand that shit. Might have to raid the cleaning closet and hope I'm lucky.

I try to pout a little a bit,

Gertrude: “Come ah-n! Is anybody even here?”

>Maybe look for a phone
There is one in the guard’s station, but it might be a bit early to smash fists or chairs through the window to get to it.

This place might really be as dead as the chief said it was. Either I can head for the closet and hope I find something to help with that stench or I can try getting into the research wing and looking for Mabel.

>>1133111
Closet.

I’m going to say check the bathrooms solely to make sure they’re not like the brake room should you need to use them later. Rather spoil that surprise now then in the moment.

yeah might as well check there next, take stock

You really needed some concealed weapons and armor...

Grab anything that looks useful. Food most of all, since Mabel might be starving by now.

>>1133111
We'd look less threatening if we started slouching a bit more, to appear smaller and hide our muscles beneath our loose labcoat. But we'll have to make it a gradual shift, because we're already being watched. We could also talk to ourself occasionally, so Mabel thinks she knows what we're thinking.

Since there's no one to greet us at the entrance, and the break room is a biohazard, next we check the bathrooms. Those are a place where we'd reasonably be allowed, unlike the cleaning closet, so we'll save that for later.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/17(Sat)06:02 No. 1133118 ID: da477c
File 179221696090.png - (444.91KB , 1020x750 , 8.png )

>Since there's no one to greet us at the entrance, and the break room is a biohazard, next we check the bathrooms. Those are a place where we'd reasonably be allowed, unlike the cleaning closet, so we'll save that for later.
>I’m going to say check the bathrooms solely to make sure they’re not like the brake room should you need to use them later. Rather spoil that surprise now then in the moment.

That’s a good call. I head into the lady’s room and hope it at least the toilets have been spared from whatever biohazard was in the break room.

Gertrude: “My god…”

It's even worse.

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/17(Sat)06:02 No. 1133119 ID: da477c
File 179221697318.png - (179.30KB , 1020x750 , 9.png )

Not only has someone committed the crime of leaving no toilet paper left, they stole the fucking roll holder as well.

Hope their ass is the one that got fired.

Could've been worse. Imagine the toilet paper actually being there but going in the wrong direction.

>>1133119
...Fixable problem.

Still no sign of life... Next we check the men's bathroom. Knock on the door or wall and call out before we go in, to stay consistent with the whole "rule-abiding" act. Don't enter until we start to suspect there might be something strange going on.

>>1133119
Good thing you don't have to go. If you do, then you might have to check the Men's room.

Well at least that gives you an excuse to check the supply closet.

Pray that there's some in the supply closet

We could pretend to only now notice the camera and wave to it, then show our paper(s) up close to the lens, so Mabel (or whoever is watching) can read it.

Also, are the cameras static, or mobile/able to move, swivel and track you? If they are mobile, that can allow for a simple 'yes/no/direction' communication.

Our role is a glorified janitor/biohazard cleanup. Get cleaning supplies from the closet and get ready to tackle the horrors of the Mens Bathroom and Break Room by, well, cleaning the stuff?

Buckwheat 2026/10/17(Sat)21:56 No. 1133145 ID: da477c
File 179227420155.png - (700.60KB , 1020x750 , 10.png )

>Could've been worse. Imagine the toilet paper actually being there but going in the wrong direction.
How horrifying.

>Still no sign of life... Next we check the men's bathroom. Knock on the door or wall and call out before we go in
>Good thing you don't have to go. If you do, then you might have to check the Men's room.
Given how much of a biohazard the break room was, I’m not risking going into the men’s room without some form of PPE.

>Well at least that gives you an excuse to check the supply closet.
>Pray that there's some in the supply closet
>Get cleaning supplies from the closet and get ready to tackle the horrors of the Mens Bathroom and Break Room

I slouch a little bit and walk over to the cleaning closet. Not surprising to see it’s fully stocked. Bleach, floor cleaner, mops, two plastic buckets, rags, gloves, face masks.

There’s even an eye wash station and water hose in here.

I mask and glove up right away. Bit awkward with the mask, had to string it on my back neck spikes. I’ve only got two arms to carry things with though, what am I taking with.

>>1133145
I guess nothing. We don't have any reason to believe we need to clean the place up.
Time to approach the safe room, cautiously.

...if you're being watched then I guess she already knows you're not carrying the papers in a visible place. Take them out before you approach the safe room though.

a bucket, bleach, some rags.

You need to determine if there's any food left in the break room. If you can't find food then the timetable of this mission gets very short

>>1133147
Re: food, maybe depends. Alligators in uhhh, in real life, only eat like once a week.

are their any keys in the closet? Just wondering if they might have left some spare keys in her for the janitor that you could swipe.

You got a mask. Can you handle the break room yet?

>>1133147
Act like a germophobe. It may be a factor in convincing Dr. Mabel that you're not infected.

Bucket and mop go together easily. The mop can be an emergency weapon if threatened.

The other cleaning stuff we can bring near the break room if we're going to have to actually clean stuff.

1/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:11 No. 1133165 ID: da477c
File 179233630494.png - (200.96KB , 1020x750 , 11.png )

>We don't have any reason to believe we need to clean the place up.
While not the primary focus of the mission, my transfer papers state otherwise. At least, if I’m to play the part a bit.

>are their any keys in the closet?
No, just an alligator and cleaning supplies. Hm, seems I missed there’s also garbage bags in here as well though.

>a bucket, bleach, some rags.
A good start. I fill up the bucket with some water and head out with bleach and some rags.

>if you're being watched then I guess she already knows you're not carrying the papers in a visible place
Ah…shit. Hopefully I can come up with an explanation later if need be.

>You need to determine if there's any food left in the break room. If you can't find food then the timetable of this mission gets very short
>Grab anything that looks useful. Food most of all, since Mabel might be starving by now.
The chief said the lockdown started about a week ago. Making me wonder what the doctor’s be living off of to stay holed up in there all this time.

2/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:12 No. 1133166 ID: da477c
File 179233633387.png - (629.42KB , 1020x750 , 12.png )

>You got a mask. Can you handle the break room yet?

Only one way to find out. I slouch a bit and slowly make my way into the break room again. The mask only does so much to cover up the smell, but it’s tolerable. The break room is as disgusting as it smelled.

Moldy bread and burgers, rotting meat, just. Spoiled food everywhere. Guess things went down during lunch hour. Nothing left out here looks edible.

3/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:12 No. 1133167 ID: da477c
File 179233635098.png - (490.40KB , 1020x750 , 13.png )

Seems like there’s back room with a kitchen as well. Thankfully nobody left the stove on, but I see the fridge was left open. Can’t quite see what’s in it though, probably more spoiled food. Maybe there could be some canned food in the cabinets though?

4/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:12 No. 1133168 ID: da477c
File 179233637144.png - (638.07KB , 1020x750 , 14.png )

On the north facing wall, there’s a door with a card reader. There’s no sign above this one to say where it leads. Looks like I’ll need that clearance badge from Mabel to get in there.

5/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:14 No. 1133169 ID: da477c
File 179233645337.png - (56.33KB , 602x388 , 15s.png )

I take a moment to update my mental map of this place. Got a few options for my next course of action.

I can be a good little worker and start scrubbing tables and tossing out all this spoiled food, it’s what I’ve come prepared .

I could scavenge the kitchen for food. Seems like it might be a serious scarcity if everything’s been left out to spoil.

There’s also backing out and moving to find Mabel for help.

Or, some other idea?

MAP INFO: MAP INFO: 0- Enterance 1- Guard Station 2 & 3- Bathrooms 4- Cleaning closet 5- Break Room 6- Kitchen

consolidate rotten meat and mold into trashcan, if only so you can come in here without gagging.
And check if there's anything to salvage in the fridge (and surreptitiously, if there are cameras in the kitchen)

Might be a good idea to check the state of the freezer (if it flooding/melting, or still cool?) then seal the door so its wasting any more power. And make sure the door can't close on you (by accident or automatic systems) while you're inside, lest you potentially freeze to death.

>papers
Ah, I have an idea. The cameras aren't outside the building I assume, so you can exit and "get them from your car" then return with them visible.

Also yeah start shoving the worst trash into garbage bags I think. Make the room tolerable before you start doing any actual cleaning.

>>1133176
This is an arctic research base. There is no 'car' to speak of, other than a chopper from Lt. fangmire when we launch a flare outside.

>Ah…shit. Hopefully I can come up with an explanation later if need be.
just say they're the new standard issue because apparently management replaced the lab coats with pockets with pocketless ones because they said they were afraid of whatever people put in the pockets would fall out and end up in whatever it was they were working on. This cause people to just kind of clip there things wherever they could on their person which actually made things fall out much more often. Not wanting to admit they were wrong management then gave everyone coats with inside pockets saying they were much better and safer than ones with outside pockets.

If the doc points out they are NOT standard issue her just say you don't know what to tell her as it's what you were given and what you over heard other people say before being transferred here.

>Moldy bread and burgers, rotting meat, just. Spoiled food everywhere.
oh, honestly going off your earlier reaction I was half expecting to find bodies in here.

>what do
might as well do some basic cleaning if for no other reason then to try and get rid of the smell.

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)21:02 No. 1133180 ID: da477c
File 179235734274.png - (598.51KB , 1020x750 , 16.png )

>consolidate rotten meat and mold into trashcan, if only so you can come in here without gagging.
>Act like a germophobe. It may be a factor in convincing Dr. Mabel that you're not infected.
I make a short trip back to the closet and grab a garbage back, leaving the other supplies in the break room.

I slowly move about cautiously pick up spoiled food. I make sure to keep contact with it as minimal as possible and shy away as I touch it. I find a plate and use it to shovel and slide things off the table and into the garbage bag. Having already filled up a bag before getting into the kitchen, I pout.

Gertrude: “This is so gross… Where’s the trash go around here?”

Hopefully there’s an incinerator to toss this all in. I just tie it up nicely and shove off to a corner for now.

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)21:02 No. 1133181 ID: da477c
File 179235736658.png - (673.14KB , 1020x750 , 17.png )

>Might be a good idea to check the state of the freezer (if it flooding/melting, or still cool?) then seal the door so its wasting any more power.
I prep another trash bag and slink my way into the kitchen next. It’s fucking freezing in here. Inside the fridge is more rancid meat and puddles of disgusting sludge. Can smell that shit even through the mask. I just slam the door shut, I ain’t dealing with that now.

I rip off the gloves and use the sink to wash my claws up. Hoping the cabinets have some food for us.

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)21:03 No. 1133182 ID: da477c
File 179235743078.png - (696.70KB , 1020x750 , 18.png )

Well, lucky us! Wait… ugh maybe not. Some of this stuff seems to be species specific. I honestly have no idea what species Doctor Mabel is supposed to be either...

Anyway, we got:

Baked Beans.
Blue Ribbon Wet Dog Chow.
Cream Corn.
Canned nuts and fish.
Mice Mix Entrée
Canned Bread! Surprised they have this stuff.
Spinach.
Fancy Cat Wet Cat Food.