| Uneven Tides | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 06 November 2017 |
| Location: | Pancontinental Expy |
| Synopsis: | Everyone is working hard and taking risks to get more samples of the coveted psychosonorum. |
| Cast of Characters: | Hammerstrike, 94, Healthpoint |
- Hammerstrike has posed:
The abandoned oil fields had long lay to waste. The nearby polity, Stanix, had not expanded to it yet, and there were no new resources to exploit. Until now.
Although the sensors were still not sophisticated to detect minor traces of psychosonorum, a few had been placed around the oil fields by Autobots in hopes of tramsitting a slignal if levels of it rose high enough TO be detected. Which it did - and the signal promptly cut off afterwards. This could mean psychosonorum also eroded the sensors, that the sensor simply malfunctioned, a critter damaged it, or perhaps the other faction had sabotaged it. This information was unknown. Thus a small team had been dispatched to investigate, and if psychosonorum was present, collect samples. However, if Decepticons weren't involved, they didn't want to draw their attention by mobilising too large of a team. It was a calculated risk. Thus the team consisted of three. A ground transport, a guard, and a medic.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Heading into a situation like this is in many ways better in Healthpoint's eyes than heading into a combat situation. Even though she has combat protocols, she really doesn't like to fight. Still, it doesn't help that this is just like what happened to her the day she was brought online. The thing that causes her hands to shake every now and then. She looks over at Hammerstrike as she clasps her hands together, keeping the occassional tremors under control. "S-so...this is expected to be a completely non-combat mission, right?" she asks as they bounce along in the transport bot.
- Hammerstrike has posed:
While Healthpoint struggles to maintain a semblemce of calmness, Hammerstrike actualy is calm. Calm, quiet, and deadpan, his blue optics staring straight in front of him rather than at anything in particular. However, when spoekn to, she turns to look at Healthpoint, although the rest of him remains unnervingly still.
"Right." At first, it seems that was all the answer she was going to get. But then Hammerstrike exvents a deep sigh as he watches her. "But expectations aren't always met."
There is another bump in the transport, moments before it begins to slow down. They pull off of the ramp towards the closed down Pits Stop, and the transport stops. A voice can be heard over internal speakers of the very large covered truck. "We're here. Best to go on foot from here, but it should be close by. I'll stay here but if you need assistance, just comm me."
- Skywolf (94) has posed:
While tracking the previous signal that was identified by Decepticons, Skywolf arrives at the Oil Fields which has some possible traces left behind. He have gathered some useful gadgets like Storm Eyes for tracking the signal, Dubios Mask for protection, and Containment Unit for extracting the sample without any exposure to psychosonorum from various location.
As Skywolf moves towards the signal, some engine's noise is heard far away in north direction near the Pits Stop. He tries to keep the distance from being identified and notices two Autobots have stepped out of some transport vehicle. With the tracers are indicating past them few clicks away, Skywolf thinks to stay covered and follow the Autobots slowly.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Healthpoint sighs softly at Hammerstrike's response, then just rides quietly the rest of the way. The truck's doors open, and Healthpoint hesitates for a few moments before she finally steps out. "R-right..." she says to their big transport, then she starts toward the direction that the failing sensors indicated the psychosonorum. She doesn't have great sensors, so she might not notice the gas until in a cloud of it. But, that's why they brought the experimental intake filters. Healthpoint puts hers on, then activates the scanner they brought with them. "I hope we find a good sample. If we can understand more about what this substance does and how it does it, we can develop antidotes to it and perhaps rememdies for the effects." she says, then pauses and looks to Hammerstrike. "Ready?"
- Hammerstrike has posed:
This was not expected to be a combat exercise. And the monsters were believed to have been mostly exterminated. But Hammerstrike was not taking chances. As soon as they are out of the transport, Hammerstrike puts on the filter he was provided with, and then brings out a laser rifle. He keeps looking around, staying a few paces behind Healthpoint. To everything Healthpoint says, he just gives her a nod. Yes. Hammerstrike sure is a talkative one.
The Autobots close in on the location of the sensor. If there is a cloud, it isn't easy to see. Not in the present lighting. The sensor outwardly looks more or less fine... except for the smoke rising and occasional sparking. Something caused it to fritz, but there's no denting or cutting or signs of what caused it. Perhaps it overheated or was hit by an electrical storm. Except there have not been any in the area. There is an... eerie calmness around the old oil fields. Sensors aren't picking up scans of psychosonorum just yet, but if it is present, they must be getting close.
Skywolf's cover seems secure for now, and the gear he has with him is experimental at best. There's no gaurantee that he will be protected should the gas reach him.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Healthpoint inspects the smoking sensor, trying to determine what happened to the sensor as well as if she can repair it. If she is able, she repairs it. But either way, she continues forward with her hand sensor. "It seems...very quiet..." she says almost as quietly as their surroundings. "And that sensor...it would make sense if it was exposed to Psychosonorum for a long while. The gas leaves no outward signs of damage." she says. If they are in the cloud already, then they are pressing their luck. "I'll go ahead and take some samples. Keep alert...th-those creatures could appear at any moment if the reports are to be believed." She pulls out the vaccuum they brought along to collect air samples and fits it with a container before filling it with air. Whether there is gas or not, they have a sample of something.
- Skywolf (94) has posed:
Skywolf is looking through an abandoned building to scan the surrounding areas while following the signal. Climbs down slowly and goes after the wrecked and fallen tower near the roadside that is besides an old refinery. While tracking the signal, he reaches outside some sheds that is being locked down since ages and searches for some way to get inside it.
But was not able to find any possible way, so Skywolf thinks to move forward. As he notices the Autobots are moving ahead too, he tries to stay as low as to avoid any suspicion of getting caught. He moves past the sheds towards the signal and finds himself against a small hill to deal with. Skywolf tries to climb the hill by crawling slowly to get down the other side.
- Hammerstrike has posed:
As Healthpoint examines the sensor, she finds that some of the wires are corroded. But there's no sign what got in there in order to do that. As she fiddles with the wires, her sensor begins to blink, indicating the presence of psychosonorum, just as she surmised. As she gets out her vacuum, her own scanner finally begins to chitter, indicating that yes, indeed, she is standing in the middle of a cloud of psychosonorum. Probably. All signs point to yes. And there is an increasing growing of anxiety growing.
Hammerstrike scans the horizon and listens. He himself is starting to feel nervous and he begins to shift his weight uneasily, his grip on his weapon becoming very tight. "Right.... let's get this done quickly..." Did he hear something? Hammerstrike raises his weapon, aiming it at something off at the distance for a moent, before tentatively lowering it.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Already on edge, Healthpoint flinches quite badly when her own scanner finally goes off! And then her mind starts racing. Have they been in the cloud long? How long? Are they already suffering damage? Are all these internal questions because of psychosonorum psychosis?
When Hammerstrike aims at something Healthpoint leaps to attention as well, her syringe rifle ready to give her enemies a very bad day. But her aim is shaky at best. With things apparently quiet, she hesitantly lowers her rifle before gathering more samples. But she starts wondering again. Like, where are the creatures? They are supposed to be highly attracted to this stuff. Are they nearby, but already subdued by the gas? "...I don't know if we are already suffering from effects, but...I haven't seen any halucinations yet. Have you?" she says to Hammerstrike even as she scans the area nervously.
- Skywolf (94) has posed:
After reaching on the other side of the hill, Skywolf sees some old tunnels that is releasing chemical gas that may harm anyones health for sure. So he puts on the Dubios Mask to avoid any effects from the gas, while tracking the signal Skywolf notices that this is the place to be and moves away from tunnels entry point.
While waiting outside, he notices that Autobots are coming towards the tunnels too. Skywolf tries to keep his existence secure and stays behind the destroyed cargo unit, it seems they may have identified him. He goes few distance away from the tunnel, to avoid the direct contact with Autobots. As they are looking for someone near the tunnel, Skywolf is sure that Autobots are expecting somebody's arrival.
- Hammerstrike has posed:
It seems as though it is getting darker faster than it should. Healthpoint begins to hear static picking up on her radio, and it sounds almost as if there are avoices, distressed voices, but she can't make out what they are saying.
Hammerstrike is looking around alertly, constantly, seeming unable to stop turning and searching for something, or someone. Several times he raises his rifle, ony to lower it again. "Is something out there?" He's never dealt with these monsters that have been in the reports. He's not sure what to look out for. "Are you done?" Hammerstrike keeps looking towards the Pits Stop, seeming ready to pack it in and flee.
Despite the mask, Skywolf is feeling a spreading unease as he moves around in the tunnels. He's not seeing or hearing anything unreal, but there's a sense of impending danger.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Healthpoint flinches as she hears sudden static, then gasps as she thinks she hears voices. "D-did...did you hear someone on the comms?" she asks Hammerstrike as she keeps gathering samples. As darkness seemingly closes in, she looks around nervously. Almost frantically. Nighttime. That's when the creatures like to come out, isn't it? "J-just a few more moments." she says, gathering several large samples. The more they have, the more tests they can run.
Then she flinches again. "C-commander Voltage?" she says, looking as if she is seeing a ghost. Although she isn't seeing anything yet, the voice she thinks she hears seems like a voice she couldn't possibly be hearing.
She puts more haste into gathering her samples after that, quickly filling the sample containers and slipping them into a safety case, the kind of thing that is filled with a packing material with holes cut in it for the containers. "O-okay. I think we can..." She trails off as she hears more voices and looks around quickly. "...l-leave."
- Skywolf (94) has posed:
As Skywolf looking at the tunnel, he heards some noise coming from higher grounds. May be the creatures are coming in this direction, while he waits for Autobots to move ahead first. Because Skywolf never visited the tunnel before, what would be the possible outcome inside may be devastating. He notices that there is a railtrack behind the tunnels, that can used for escaping out of here.
The gas is somewhat effecting Skywolf a bit, but he tries to keep the pace up and continues trailing Autobots. The signals are getting stronger every time he moves further, there is a gas leaking out of the outer walls. Skywolf takes out his Containment Unit and starts extracting the gas as a sample for future experiments.
- Hammerstrike has posed:
The moment Healthpoint so much as thinks about Commander Voltage, she begins to hear the sound of gunfire in the distance, mixed with the hectic thrum of distant jets. Soon, sounds and sights from her traumatic simulation begins to weave themselves into the distant landscape. There are moments when it seems almost as though Hammerstrike isn't there. Other moments, his presence comes to the forefront of her consciousness, as though it were struggling to cling to reality.
Hammerstrike puts his hands up as if shielding himself from something, stumbling back a few steps. He cautiously lowers his hands, peering beyond them fearfully. "I'm..." Hammerstrike doesn't finish his sentence but pulls out his rifel and fires at... nothing. Nothing anyone else can see. "GO!" he yells at Healthpoint.
As Skywolf collects the sample, there is an odd, rippling effect in the ground around him. Darkness seems to gather around him. He may need to take what sample he has and leave, before the effects become too strong.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Healthpoint's delusions are twice as scary for her. Not just the panic of hearing those shots, the cries of the fallen around her and the barked orders of the gruff commander...but the fact that she KNOWS that none of that was real! Or at least she was told it wasn't! Reality seems to crumble around her, and when Hammerstrike shouts at her Healthpoint grabs the case and takes off in the direction of their transport. "Th-the filters were supposed to stop this! Hammer-GAAH!" Healthpoint dives as in her mind artillery strikes explode around her. "W-we have to get back! Commander Voltage will lead-...w-wait, no he's..." She shakes her head in a futile effort to clear the haze, then takes off again. "Retreat!"
- Skywolf (94) has posed:
While the extracting process continues, out of nowhere one of the creature rams into Skywolf and throws him off balance. Without any notice, he is being thrown away in front of the tunnel. With that Autobots identified his presence, and are aiming to fire at Skywolf. "Get out of here, the creatures have arrived and coming directly towards the tunnels.", he shouts.
Skywolf grabs his gadgets, shoots at the creature and transforms. He leaves the tunnel and Autobots with the creatures alone, Skywolf flies in the sky towards the base. With enough psychosonorum collected as a sample that can be used for experiments, he goes afar in relief not being hurt badly.
- Hammerstrike has posed:
Hearing the order to retreat causes Hammerstrike causes Hammerstrike to pause. He fires a few more times at something that isn't real - or is it? But he doesn't continue this cover fire long - once he sees Healthpoint taking off, Hammerstrike fires one more time in futility before turning and running back to the transport.
As Healthpoint begins to put distance between herself and the psychosonorum, the haze begins to clear somewhat, reality once again superceding delusion.
As both the Autobots head towards the transport, the large truck comms <<You two are in a rush! Did something happen?">> Even as he says this, his engines rev up and loading doors open, ready to receive the two freaked out Autobots.
- Healthpoint has posed:
Healthpoint practically dives into the cargo bay before looking out at Hammerstrike making his way toward them. <<Psy-psy-...gas exposure! The filters did little to->> She ducks as one last illusory missile flies toward her. <<-t-to nothing! We should get back quickly to ensure minimal exposure! H-have you seen anything strange?>>
Despite reality being stronger now, Healthpoint continues to hear Commander Voltage and her lost squadmates calling out to her, and she is soon curled up in the farthest corner of the cargo area. "...just g-get us back..." she murmurs out loud, trying her best to focus on what she knows is real. If anything is real...
- Hammerstrike has posed:
Hammerstrike hobbles into the van after Healthpoint. The doors shut closed and at Healthpoint's bidding. <<Nothing strange happening here. But we're heading back ASAP. I make a point to never argue with a medic.>>
Hammerstrike glances over at Healthpoint for a moment, optics wide, and then he looks over his shoulder towards the doors. His gun is back in his hands, and unlike the statue-like calm stillness he arrived yet, his is shaking. He puts the gun down, swinging an arm to brace himself against the van walls as the transport takes a wide turn, accelerating quickly.