epidemiology | EVENT ★ COWBOYS VS. ALIENS

EVENT ★ COWBOYS VS. ALIENS

STATE OF THE PLANET

Efforts in convincing the Qorral to stop drilling have been tentatively successful. Longterm solutions have been brought to them and, perhaps most importantly for the immediate, the fracking fields have been destroyed. The entire field has collapsed in on itself, taking mining equipment with it and creating a barren wasteland. In effect, the Qorral can no longer drill for argecite here, which means they will be leaving earlier than expected now that there is no use for the mining colony. It also means that the planet has been saved from being hollowed out completely.

On the other hand, attempts at dealing with the Deemers have been a little shaky. By now, it's known that Miz Poppy is host to the Mother, the queen of this Taraxa hive. She remains elusive, slipping through the fingers of any who manage to find or capture her. Meanwhile, the infested Qorral have been dealt with in many ways: some opting for wholesale slaughter, some hoping to extract the Taraxa in the field, and some sending both extracted Taraxa and infested hosts back to Oska to be examined.

As varied as the Deemer solutions have been, they have all resulted in the Deemer population being decimated. The numbers have dwindled as their camps are hunted down by ALASTAIR recruits, and attacks on the town of Perdition's Rest halt.

But the Mother is still out there and free, and that's a problem . . .

THE INVASION (DAY 1)

In the morning, the ships come.

Visible from the ground are massive spaceships in the upper atmosphere, gently drifting clouds sometimes blocking them from view. The Qorral don't recognize the ships; they're neither from their homeworld nor from any species they know, friendly or otherwise. For a few hours, the ships just hang in space like looming, silent buzzards, waiting.

And then -- sparkling, metal objects start falling to the planet. It's difficult to tell what they are, as their scale is minuscule compared to the gigantic warships above, and their descent is strangely beautiful. But as the objects come closer to the surface, the details become clear: individual spacecraft. They're gleaming in gold and white metal, a triangle sigil painted on the sides, and cannons mounted on the bottom.

These are Zymandis fighter craft. And they are not here to make nice.

The fighter craft swoop down close and send a barrage of lasers down on Perdition's Rest, causing the local Qorral to scatter. But their fear doesn't last long: many immediately take up arms to fire back at the ships when they're low enough, including Sheriff Holladay, who shouts commands to anyone who will listen, Qorral and ALASTAIR alike: take cover, give 'em hell, and for sun's sake, don't be a hero. (Those who have been officially deputized may access the sheriff's armory, which includes all sorts of fun toys of the shooty variety.)

But some Qorral have something else in mind. A small pack of locals rides out to the farm of Amos Zephyr -- and if you're suspicious enough to follow, it'll pay off. Beneath Zephyr's farm is a hidden defense platform: earth slowly moves aside as a metal platform raises up, home to mounted anti-aircraft cannons and fighter craft of their own.

The Qorral fighter craft are intuitively designed, and the Qorral will also quickly give any curious ALASTAIR recruit a run-down on how to operate them. They're short-handed since so many of their number joined the Deemers, so they're very eager to allow anyone to try their hand at flying the two-man ships, which have their own mounted cannons and, of course, escape parachutes. The fighter craft are not meant for high altitudes, though, so your dreams of space travel will have to wait for another time.

Those who do not wish to take flight and aren't comfortable with projectile weapons may find luck searching the desert for prey: namely, Taraxa agents attempting to flee in Zymandis escape pods. It seems as though the fighter craft are a distraction from the real goal of Zymandis helping its agents flee the planet. The Zymandis agents who are not Taraxa are variously humanoid, all equipped with laser weapons (spears, rifles, whips) that they will not hesitate to use against any who interrupt their attempts at escape.

For those who aren't battle inclined, there are civilians who need to be ushered to safety, and quick repairs to weapons, equipment, horses, or even the Qorral fighter craft will be needed. This fight is going to be a long one.

THE AFTERMATH (DAY 2)

It's peaceful now. The Zymandis warships have fled into space with the surviving Taraxa agents in tow, the Mother presumably among them. The combined efforts of team Audentes and the Perdition's Rest colonists have successfully staved off the attack.

The destruction wrought by Zymandis (and, perhaps, by overeager recruits themselves) is visible across the planet: deep fissures and scars from the laser cannons, fighter craft wreckage from both sides, burned buildings and trees, perhaps a fire still raging in the scrub grass somewhere. The Qorral aren't quite sure what that was all about, but they're more concerned with ALASTAIR's efforts in helping than in pointing fingers.

Q-65 is no longer a suitable home, so the locals begin to pack up in preparation for the arrival of their homeworld's ships in the next few days. An old man puts his chess pieces away; a little girl clutches her robot pony doll, unwilling to put it in her suitcase; the stable owner and the blacksmith stand close together and talk in hushed, affectionate tones. Sheriff Holladay lets her deputies know they've served the colony well. It's bittersweet, but the Qorral always knew this settlement was never permanent.

The mission complete, Audentes should expect to arrive back at Oska shortly. Use the time to say goodbye and finish up your business. Or, if you'd like, drink some of the booze that someone just found in the cellar beneath the burned-out saloon. It doesn't keep during interstellar travel, and no one will begrudge you a little celebration.

OOC NOTES

This log wraps up the Perdition's Rest mission! The log will last two IC days, after which characters will immediately return to Oska via dimensional rift (on 21 December in OOC time).

Mission epilogue details will go up at a later date, but for now, Audentes can rest easy knowing that the mission has been a success. We will be posting an OOC post-mission assessment on 14 December so we can discuss how the mission went and talk about the state of the game in general.

There is a new bounty on the Oska Bounty Board! Perdition's Rest bounties remain open until 21 December, at which point you will no longer be able to turn them in. You can also request bounty missions at any time.

Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ. To submit a player plot or future mission idea, please go to the Suggestions post.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Up? [ Her head tilts slightly, her hands moving to lift her hair from just below her neck. ]

Similar to a bun, I suppose? Normally I would wrap it around and have it in a ponytail, however... even like that it is rather long.

I think if you were to employ braiding and a bun, you could tackle the length that way.

[Granted, Haise has never had to concern himself with hair any longer than Saiko's, and Sonia's is a fair ways longer still yet, but he thinks the same should apply.

A time-consuming thing, to be sure, but better than having her hair caught and being dragged by it]

I shall try it in the future, then. [ She looks hopeful, at least, because he seems to have good ideas about this. She glances at him, looking hesitant when she says: ]

Will you be able to help me?

With your hair?

[There comes a brief flicker of surprise across his features, but it gives way to a smile soon enough]

I'd be happy to lend a hand...a member of my squad back home had long hair, too, so I'm not unused to it.

Well, I hope I am not assuming too much, but you seem to have some good ideas. [ She looks sheepishly at him. ] I would be grateful for any help you would be able to give me, at least I am more used to this.

We could try now, if you'd like. It might take a little while, but if you don't mind that, I'll try to be efficient.

[Real men braid princess-hair anytime and anywhere, surely]

[ She leans forward then, a little excited to get the opportunity so soon. ]

Are you sure?! While we have the time... I would like that. Is there anything you will need me to do?

I've got the time if you do.

[And he'll even give a thumbs-up for emphasis]

Do you have any hair-ties? So long as we've got something like that, sitting here like this should be all I'd need you to do.

Certainly! I mean, there is little else to do here at the moment. Plus, it is quite warm at this spot. [ She pulls two hair-ties from her wrist, thankfully having a bunch in her hair when she first arrived. ]

Here.

Thank you.

[He accepts the hair-ties and sets them down between them so he'll be able to get to them easily, without encumbering his hands]

I'll get started then...maybe we can talk about something, in the meantime.

[It's a suggestion, more than anything else, as he lifts his hands to start parting her hair. Quite a lot to work with, but he can tell she's taken incredible care of it]

[ She shifts slightly to get comfortable, ensuring he has space to work as well. ]

Of course, did you have a subject in mind? Or perhaps I could ask you some questions. I believe there is a game called "20 questions" which can be used to get to know someone?

[ Really, she'd just like to get to know him better. ]

I don't think I've gotten to try that one before... How does it go?

[Well, he thinks he knows the gist, but he's going to ask anyway.

Who knows, different versions of the same world could have different rules to a game of the same name]

Well normally one person would think of something and the other would ask questions that may only be answered with "yes" or "no" to guess the answer... However I think in this case it will not be necessary. [ She looks sheepish. ] Instead, perhaps we should just take turns to ask questions after all.

[ She'd just wanted to try it as well, but thinking it over... it won't work that well, will it? ]

We could do that. Since I've just asked a question, I believe that means you're up next.

[Because clearly, they count clarifying questions too. Or rather, Haise uses this excuse to be polite, as is his way]

[ She falters slightly at that, though seems to brighten up at being given the first choice. ]

Do you have a favourite colour?

A favorite color...

[He thinks that over, pausing briefly, before he resumes working with her hair]

Black, I suppose. I wear a lot of it. [Black and white are his mainstays] Do you have a favorite food?

Ah, I suppose so... [ She reaches up to tap her lip thinking it over. ] Perhaps Gugelhupf Cake? Or Apple Strudel is also quite lovely.

Do you have a favourite song?

Ahh, a fan of sweets then. Some members of my squad are fond of them.

[Just not Urie. He hates sweet things.

Despite the limitations of his own palette, it's funny how he understands individual tastes]

But let's see... [A favorite song is something he'd never considered before] There's a piece I heard just once, some time ago. I never did get the name, but it was strangely comforting.

[In lieu of a name, he hums some of it for her]

Some, yes... [ She looks embarrassed for admitting it though. ] We would often have cakes at tea time.

[ Though it is interesting to know that he knows people who would be fond of sweets as well -- though it's probably more common than she thinks. She just doesn't like sour or tangy flavours as much, hating sour plums as she does. ]

That does sound rather relaxing to hear, as though your worries may float away.

[Memories floating away... Haise hadn't thought about it, but he thinks he can relate to her saying as much. Troubles or the shadows of the past fading would be a comforting notion at the very least]

Sorry I can't tell you the name.

[He wishes that he could recall]

Do you have a favorite book?

[The most important of all questions]

[ Exactly. Some songs definitely generate that kind of image more than others. ]

It is quite alright!

[ Though hmm... She looks thoughtful then, considering numerous options. ]

American Psycho?

[ nOT THE ANSWER HE'S PROBABLY EXPECTING. ] At least, it is one of many.

That's an interesting title... I'm only passably familiar with it though.

[Horror wasn't so much his thing, for whatever reason.

Kaneki though, he would've been all over that. Not that Haise realizes of course]

Edited 2017-01-05 13:23 (UTC)

[ Ah... welp. ] It is about a serial killer, that is why...

[ Though you'd think with her experiences she'd change her mind?! ]

You find serial killers interesting?

[Sonia...?

But then he supposes that people tend to be fascinated by these things when they have no direct relation to them. Ah to be young and naive like this people-eater right here]

[ Crime is pretty common in her country though, and in actuality... one of the others at her school turned out to be a serial killer that murdered pretty boys so...

um.

Though she's only partially aware of that now, it hasn't changed her opinion of Toko in the least. ]

It is rather strange, is it not? [ Her smile grows a little sadder. ] A princess with a fascination with murderers. If my people knew... I imagine they would be very disappointed.

you're so kind ren ;u;

only appropriate for a kind liah

pls?!?!?

<3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject