>>251315
Leave reprogrammed to be bug-subverted Prince to guard "sleeping" Mint, then, and go cheer up Enrad.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/02(Tue)19:13 No. 251664 ID: b6c6fc
File 128875039223.jpg - (101.08KB , 957x590 , crashquest122.jpg )

Now is not the time for me to be exploring my sexuality, especially if Mint is somehow involved in this bug thing

Oken: "Prince, tell Mint I don't care what she's doing in there, as long as she doesn't keep it a secret"

Prince: "Order Confirmed"

>Prince enters the room, the door closes and locks behind him

. . . Garagine Mint, I've known her for more than three years, yet still I barely know her at all. Mint's never been scared of anything . . . but with those bugs, it's like she wasn't even surprised. I've only seen her cry once, it was the day I first met her, the day Doraun fell. I asked her what was wrong, she hit me in the face with a wrench. Mint not a bad person, I just know.

I told Enrad I was busy, unless I find something else to do I'll actually have to talk to him . . . but I really don't know what to say

>>251664
Talk with him, he might be crazy, but... but...

...
Just talk to him 'till Mint finish the "job"

>>251664

Tell him you're sorry, you were just worried that one of your members might have been hurt.

Ask him if he knows anything about the bugs: where they came from, what they are, what they're trying to achieve. Most importantly, are any of the pinkies trying to fight back?

I bet 3 Fan Arts; Mint actually broke down and is crying right now. She probably doesn't let anyone see this part of her. It shows weakness. Anger towards everything is really easy to hide your true feelings to everyone around. All of this would have a severe emotional toll on all of you.

You guys are currently all you got on this planet, you need to start trusting in each other. Talking amongst each other is a good idea. Definitely need more communication.

>>251699
Yea, but pushing Mint may be worse...

Seriously, hurt feelings aren't nearly as dangerous as mind controlling bugs. You need to find out what the fuck she's doing in there. Anyway, go talk to pinkskin I guess. We can't have everyone turning into emotionally unstable wrecks at inopportune moments, but we're going to have to talk to Mint later. It's just so goddamn suspicious. Ask Enrad exactly when the voices stopped anyway. See if you can link it to the death of the super mutant, like if they were around the same time?

>>251664
Talking with Enrad seems like a good idea. When was the last time you got to talk to a Pinkie? He doesn't seem too bad; just because you're on different sides of the war doesn't mean you're not compatible as friends.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/03(Wed)17:48 No. 251941 ID: b6c6fc
File 128883173112.jpg - (117.90KB , 957x590 , crashquest123.jpg )

Pinkies are disgusting ugly brutes, even if they aren't responsible for all the suffering of this war, they're still unpleasant to be around, but I guess I don't really have much of a choice

I ask Enrad more about the bugs, but he doesn't seem to know much, except that just about every Pinkskin knows about them

Oken: "if everyone knows about these things, why don't any of you try to get rid of them?"

Enrad: "oh lots of people try to fight the bugs, they're called "the Freewill Rebellion" the Voices generally tell us to kill them on sight, but the voices don't seem to care too much"

Oken: "speaking of voices, when exactly did you stop hearing them?"

Enrad: "right before Kitty locked herself in the room, a short while before you got back"

>>251941
Would that be around the time you killed the two bugs?
"What were they saying right before they went silent?"

I think this guy has Stockholm Syndrome or something.

He looks like he is really fucking loving that cheese. Give him a pat on the shoulder or something. You don't want him to try to kill you guys in your sleep or something.

Enough of this bullshit. Let's wake Hoft up and go see what the fuck Mint is doing in there. Fuck.

>>251941

Oh crap, maybe we've got the wrong voices? (cue "be the other guy")

But seriously: I have a feeling the bugs rely upon a sort of Hive Mind. It's possible that we've destroyed the local "node" so that Enrad is out of the network for now.... or else whatever residual crap is out of his system.

... But if he says it's right around the time something is up with Mint, we may need to go in there.

Be Enrad.

We definitely need to bust in on Mint. She is up to something shady.

Do Not Disturb mint. She's hearing bugvoices at worst, and we know that people can resist their commands. So she's likely in there trying to sleep or get control of herself in some way.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/03(Wed)21:54 No. 252054 ID: b6c6fc
File 128884645165.jpg - (117.29KB , 957x590 , crashquest124.jpg )

Enrad: "something is wrong, I see it in your eyes"

Oken: "I'm just worried my friends . . ."

Enrad: "the last thing I heard voices say was "KILL HER" they were talking about you!"

Oken: " . . . "

Enrad: "but you made them stop! YOU FOUGHT VOICES!, you made them go away!"

Oken: "I probably just killed a local node or something"

Enrad: " . . . for first time in my life I feel free, I want to help you fight the voices, I want to free my people, please let help you!"

Can I really trust a pinkskin? can I trust Enrad?

more importantly whats going on with Mint
the bugs came from her home, the IceWorld: Vin-Malor
the nuclear weapon disappeared just before take off
Mint's not scared of the bugs, not even surprised
after the voices stopped she hid herself in that room . . . how did she even know?
it's all just coincidence. Mint's not bad person, I just know . . . but I want her to tell me herself, I want her to tell me now!

I could probably bust the lock with my CarboSteel Crowbar, or I could just have prince let me in

>>252054
Enrad is willing to trust you after you blew his damn leg and hand off. I think you ought to give him some credit there.

As for Mint... I'm concerned as well, but I don't know if breaking in is the best idea.

You can never be sure you can trust anyone. You have to make some assumptions.

He seems sincere enough.

>>252055
Also this. How good are prosthetic hands and legs in the future, anyway? Or regeneration treatments or something?

oh great, with all those "coincidences" right next to each other in those sentences makes her look like she's sabotaged this entire mission.

She's probably not affected by the bugs, I bet her people MADE the bugs! And she's a double agent. Oh man oh geeze the Ice Kitty people are planning to enslave the entire Alliance along with the Pinkskins! She's obviously not fighting or stressed by them like Hoft was, she HAS to be in on this. Hell, at first the voices said for the humans to kill you Alliance types on site but suddenly change that to capture when your team's arrival nears. It's a master devious plot, those fiendish Ice Cold Kitties

>>252059
fuck I forgot my final point in the second to last sentence. They changed it to stun and capture so Mint would be stunned and taken to captivity where no doubt the bugs would take her to a luxery suite hotel with musclely and manly Ice Cat Dudes and a hot tub

Mmm... manly icecat dudes. With big long thick ringed tails.

We don't need to break in and make her think we want to fight. Let's wake Hoft up, then just bang on the door again and demand to know what the fuck is going on.

Inform Mint later that we are curious about Hot Ice Cat Dudes.

>>252055
>>252057
Agreed.

Prince is supposedly going to be watching and reporting on what Mint is up to. Unless he's been subverted. I can't see much to gain from going straight back to harassing her right now.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/04(Thu)07:56 No. 252163 ID: b6c6fc
File 12888825635.jpg - (124.91KB , 957x590 , crashquest125.jpg )

No, I shouldn't bother Mint, I wouldn't want to upset her

Oken: "uh sure Enrad, you can help . . . "

He seems pretty happy about this

Fuze: "Miss Pilot, I will have these men combat ready within four hours, two if you can secure me the aid of that Medbot"

Oken: "well that's good I guess . . . "

Fuze: "if you don't mind my asking, what exactly is our next course of action?"

every one is looking at me expectantly, I just realized, I have absolutely no idea what to do next! but I gotta tell them something . . .

Finish exploring the facility, then determine exactly how far the no-voice zone extends. We're taking things one step at a time.

Fff... at least knock on the door and ask to borrow the robot from Mint so we can heal everybody up. She wasn't using the robot anyway, he was on power conservation mode.

explain taht you are staying the night here cause you are pretty sure bugs are all over topside.

>>252163
"We're in here because a large assault force was moving in on our position, and we're going to stay down here until it's clear up above.
We need to clear the facility on this side of the vault door to make sure it's secure and to find whatever supplies we can.
There was a crate and a closet back in hell, so I'll go search those while you guys focus on medical treatment."

Oken: Be Mint.

>>252163

Secure the area. Use it as a base of operations. Maybe do a bit of cleaning, a nice funerary service, and get around to redecorating some, too.

I mean, really. Bleak tile is just NOT in~

>>252174
This, and remember that we have a plane close, maybe is space-worthy/can be repaired...

Commence burial rights for your fallen comrades and enemies within the facility; might ease your minds some.
Maybe pass Mint a non-threatening note of some sort.
Is there any way to see out of the vault without opening it?

First thing we should do is thoroughly take stock of what's in the supply room.

>>252163
Camp out here; explore the facility a bit more once everyone is in fully working order again.

Tell them that the plan is to search the facility to find out where the Brood Mother is located and how to defeat her. Then you're going to tell the Alliance what's going on, unless you find evidence that they're corrupted, too.

Get Prince from Mint.

See if you can sneak a peek at what she's doing in there while you're at it.

Try and get an estimate of how many people this base can reasonably house.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/04(Thu)20:10 No. 252491 ID: b6c6fc
File 128892661573.jpg - (157.20KB , 957x590 , crashquest126.jpg )

Oken: "well first we will have to something about the bodies . . ."

I ask Prince to help Fuze, he agrees, while the others are busy, I gather and prepare the bodies. I also put up an Alliance flag I found in the supply room, I figure it would be good for the ceremony. I ask Mint if she would like to attend, she declines.

Fuze offers to be speaker, he says he's done this many times before, he knew them best anyways.

Fuze: " . . . and so it is that their souls now feed the gods and empower us through their divine will, and through our will the Alliance is empowered in turn . . . it is by blood be got."

Oken/Hoft/Prince: "By Blood Be Got!"

after the ceremony we use the TurboCleaner (tm) to incinerate the bodies

>you may now control Oken, Hoft, Fuze, Prince and Enrad

>>252491
Enrad: What's the situation back on Earth, anyway?

>>252491
Ummmh... Be Prince: Check Mint?

>>252503
second

>>252504
Second second.

>>252503
this... is a great idea.

>>252493

I kinda wanna know this shit.

>>252503
Tidal wave of public opinion.

your shower is also an incinerator?

>>252639

IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE

>>252491

Awwww..... shit on a stick. Hey, hey Oken. What do you know about Alliance beliefs and/or faith? It sure sounds like something very unfortunate is stewing (and by stewing I mean "possibly skittering around on little insect legs").

>" . . . and so it is that their souls now feed the gods and empower us through their divine will, and through our will the Alliance is empowered in turn . . . it is by blood be got."

LonelyWorld 2010/11/05(Fri)13:28 No. 252825 ID: b6c6fc
File 128898891681.jpg - (129.87KB , 957x590 , crashquest127.jpg )

Enrad's thoughts: "EarthWorld: Solan", our homeworld, I've never seen it, I was born on Jucha19, I've never seen any other world. my father told me stories though, when he was young. 32 years ago we had perfect contact with Solan, we used The Great Window. Apperently anything could go through The Great Window; people, food, starships . . . But the furres came, they shattered The Great Window and stole all the shards, now we are trapped here, we will never see Holy Solan again

* * *

>Prince decides to check on mint

computations: >Mint appears to be resting

Mint: "PR159! erase all memories from the past minute, engage power conservation mode!"

computations: >do I comply?

Say "Negative. Only Dr. Fuze has sufficient authority to contradict orders from Pilot Oken at this time."

>>252825
...while she pretty evidently wants you to stop watching, what is your power source, anyway, and is it something in need of conserving?

do not erase memories, engage power conservation.

>>252825
Say nothing, make it look like you complied.

Can you see anything wrong with Mint right now?

and playback the last minute in slow motion.

>>252825
she's playing fort with her pillows, how childish

>>252825
@Enrad: Wait, was it the furres or the bugs? If contact was lost 32 years ago that means the bugs might not have gotten to Solan!

@Prince: This situation is well within the terms for suspending the right to privacy; if you conserve power while you are alone with Mint then nobody can respond if something happens to Mint. By the same token, anything which would justify deletion must by its nature be anomalous enough to forbid deletion.
Do not comply, but appear to do so for her comfort.

@Mint: Oken has a nice ass, doesn't she? She really knows how to work it, too. Doesn't just thinking about it make you want to go for another round?

>>252862
Those are her clothes and boots over on/by the stool, best I can tell (they weren't there earlier). So she's playing pillow fort naked.

>>252862

I'll have you know. pillow fort is a highly sophisticated pastime!

LonelyWorld 2010/11/05(Fri)21:13 No. 252966 ID: b6c6fc
File 12890167884.jpg - (129.96KB , 957x590 , crashquest128.jpg )

computations: >my back up generator is in my head unit, it has enough power to last me another 483 hours

computations: >disable deactivate main screen, appear in sleep mode!

computations: >reviewing audio/visual files from past minute, odd I was only within the room for 10 of the seconds, I have recorded nothing of any interest

Mint: "what the hell, PR156 I can hear your motors running, are you still online?"

Prince: "I am in power conservation mode, I am unable to respond!"

Mint: " . . . "

Prince: " . . . "

Mint: " OK turn off for real now!"

Prince: "Negative, Only Dr.Fuze has sufficient authority to counteract orders from Officer Oken."

Mint: " Doctor who? whatever, I don't give a shit what Twiggy told you! turn off NOW! don't make me use manual override!"

computations: >I have no manual override, Engineer Mint appears to be threatening me

>>252966
Eh, comply. We don't want to be disassembled. :(

MINT NO DISASSEMBLE!

no deleting anything ever. but comply with conserving power.
maybe try saying she is showing elevated stress lvls.

>>252966
You know, you could walk outside instead.

I don't think we're going to get anywhere with this unless you're going to actually go over there and peek under her blanket. Which probably WILL get you rebuilt as some kind of stupid inverted pendulum robot or something.

>>252966
"Standard operating procedure mandates usage of the buddy system in contested areas. This facility is not yet secure, ergo I can not leave you unattended.
If you would like I can seal these records for privacy, but I cannot delete them without approval from at least three officers ranked as captain or above.
I have a predefined message from your commanding officer in the event that you threaten me over required behavior, among other contingencies: Mint, stop being an ass, leave the damn machine alone, and do your damn job. That's an order."

flee~

Get the fuck out of where or you're getting court martialed, you are disobeying direct orders from superiour officers, stop fucking around or we'll take you with us as a prisoner if we have to. We don't have time for your shit.

secrecy is unacceptable.

>>252966

Enter "Dalek Mode" if necessary? Wait, no, ask her to show her face as you are currently patrolling for an intruder life-form that may have disguised itself.

Gauge her reactions.

Enter Dalek mode, Prince.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/06(Sat)11:17 No. 253096 ID: b6c6fc
File 128906743075.jpg - (83.68KB , 957x590 , crashquest129.jpg )

Computations: >Pilot Oken's orders were unspecific I have little authority to make any demands of Engineer Mint

Prince: "Engineer Mint I do NOT respond to threats, if you attempt violence towards me you will have revoked your Alliance rights, making yourself liable for immediate extermination"

Mint: *sigh* "do you honestly have nothing better to do then pester me? I don't see why you want to stand around wasting your battery, but I just realized I don't give a shit any more, waste your battery, have fun, I'm taking a nap"

>>253096
Destroy the pillow fort.
With your claws, that is - not vaporizing anything.

just leave and guard the door. sit right in front of it in sleep mode.

Get off your fat ass and put it in rear, Oken isn't going anywhere without you, and you have better things to do than in lay in bed all day!

Remove that blanket!

Fuck, leave her alone and go outside. We have more facility to explore.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/06(Sat)13:00 No. 253164 ID: b6c6fc
File 128907361076.jpg - (149.95KB , 957x590 , crashquest130.jpg )

>Prince decides to stand guard outside Mint's room

. . .

>Oken is exploring the facility

hmmm all that's in the crate is building supplies

move the crate and check behind it.

Let's check this first. There is also the other air vent to check.

>>253164
That panel behind the crate seems to have some kind of palm print identification scanner.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/06(Sat)14:15 No. 253221 ID: b6c6fc
File 128907811421.jpg - (95.40KB , 957x590 , crashquest131.jpg )

it looks like some sort of hand scan thingy, I try my hand on it . . . it doesn't do anything

dang, it's probably made for mouse people hands.

>>253221
Well, we can have Mint try to bypass that when she's done being crazy.

Go inspect the obvious trap in the vents.

>>253164

There is a wall to your right, right? I daresay, a fourth wall? We haven't gotten a look at it yet.

>>253232

It probably has some festive mural to balance out all the blood and stuff.

Look inside the crate.

Pry open that mirror panel right over there that the trap led to.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/06(Sat)22:57 No. 253541 ID: b6c6fc
File 128910945894.jpg - (81.16KB , 957x590 , crashquest132.jpg )

If Mint wasn't being stupid, I'm sure she could get that panel open

I guess I'll check the maintenance shaft

>>253541
Open it up and grab the battery.

Are you sure it's trapped? It doesn't LOOK trapped?

Throw a thing through it.

>>253541
Is it possible to get some thick rubber gloves, then poke it with the crowbar?

LonelyWorld 2010/11/07(Sun)06:06 No. 253628 ID: b6c6fc
File 128913880724.jpg - (82.41KB , 957x590 , crashquest133.jpg )

I can't find any rubber gloves that fit, oh well. I poke the battery with the CarboSteel crowbar . . . nothing happens

>Oken picks up battery

>>253628
Ok, is there anything further down the shaft this way?

>>253541
Mint is just being a butt... give her time~

>>253628
Quick, find an old man to trade it to for some other fairly useless item! (We'll get a sweet laser gun in the end)

LonelyWorld 2010/11/07(Sun)08:03 No. 253669 ID: b6c6fc
File 128914580061.jpg - (146.34KB , 957x590 , crashquest134.jpg )

there doesn't appear to be anything interesting down this passageway

>>253669
Right, let's not go through there yet.

What's down the other direction?

>>253669
Is the other entrance the only thing at the end of the other passage? If it is, then grab the crate and bring it back to the others.
Once recon and clearing of this area is finished you're going to want to go get prince and have him inspect the collapsed area next to that terminal; we need to know if we can safely clear out the rubble and explore the areas behind it.

Can we get some kind of map to figure out where we've been and where we haven't? The other direction just goes back where we came from originally, right?

>>253672

Could we please not forget that the other direction has a trap set?

the other direction leads to the holding cell fuze was in.

LonelyWorld 2010/11/07(Sun)14:46 No. 253766 ID: b6c6fc
File 128917001548.jpg - (149.40KB , 905x792 , crashquest135.jpg )

>Oken uses the MAP function on her SpaceCompass

LonelyWorld 2010/11/08(Mon)03:24 No. 253957 ID: b6c6fc
File 128921549411.jpg - (105.91KB , 957x590 , crashquest136.jpg )

>Oken can't think of anything productive to do. she decides to take a nap

Chapter 5: End

>>253957
Stop napping and start clearing out that debris next to the terminal. This is a research facility, so it's pretty obvious there's more facility beyond that.

(forgot this part)

>Oken can't move the box, and clearing away rubble is hard work and would take a really long time