"KaD attempts to disprove the theory that you cannot pull Vespene gas out of your ass"
-Bob_The_Newt
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| SILENT WITNESSES - PART III | | | Author: | | | IP: | 07-148.0XXXX | | Date: | 02/03/01 02:02 | | Game Type: | Other | | Labels: | none | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 1, Max: 8, Min: 8
Lifetime Rating for TheVictim: 6.8333 |  | Sorry I haven't kept up with this lately, I was sick from work for a while where most of this was produced. You might have noticed I placed this in the 'other' category. If you don't want anything other than SC BR's, then don't bring up this category and you won't see my bad fanfics spamming your BR's!!!
The text formatting is a bit odd because it was taken from two different sessions on two different machines.
SILENT WITNESSES PART III
"Thank God that's over!" Riley exclaimed.
Darrin thought something was a bit odd about his tone. Riley HAD kept his
composure during the whole incident. Darrin decided to explore the issue a
bit.
"You kept your cool pretty well there. Are you SURE you're just a
civilian?" Darrin asked. Riley appeared a bit nervous, more so than during
the attack.
"I'm sure. I have seen a bit of action though." Riley replied. Darrin
decided to leave it for a while.
"Then there's you." Darrin said, looking down at the probe. "Not that I'm
ungrateful for being allowed to live, but why did you decide to do that?
You helped kill a Son of Aiur." He added. The Protoss didn't refer to
themselves as Protoss, they were named that by the humans who first
contacted them. They had names, but they had no name for their race as a
whole. They tended to refer to other Protoss as 'Sons and Daughters of
Aiur'.
REASONING WITH G'THARR DID NOT HAVE ANY REASONABLE PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS.
YOU LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT I KNOW.
"Which is?" Darrin asked, prompting the probe for more information. The
observer uncloaked and drifted toward them. Most humans thought that
Observers were remotely controlled by other Protoss or perhaps robotic AI's
higher on the Protoss hierarchy. Like probes, they possessed their own
independent AI, actually choosing where to go and what information to
collect and transmit. The thought of putting so much trust in mere machines
made Darrin shudder. He awaited an answer from the probe. He would have to
wait a while to get it.
Two security team members in full battle dress slipped through the gash in
the door, taking up prone positions on each side of the gash. They had
special issue C-10 canister rifles. The canister rifles fired concussion
grenades that were relatively safe to use in a pressurized environment. The
concussion grenades could cause a fair deal of damage to smaller targets,
but larger targets such as the ship bulkheads received much less of an
effect. The remainder of the security team poured through the gash.
"We'll take 'em, step back" Chief Harle barked.
"I don't think they are hostile any longer!" Riley interjected.
Darrin thought that it was a bit too soon to make that kind of judgement.
As curious as he was about why the machine chose to interfere in the attack,
having it active on the ship was probably not a very good idea. He stepped
away from the bench. Riley had already moved from the line of fire.
"Bring 'em down boys." Chief Harle commanded. He was known among the crew
as 'Captain Cardboard', a perfect security officer in the eyes of the UED.
The prone security guards each fired their weapon. Two canisters burst
forth. One struck the probe and the other one struck the Observer. A
cloud of popping and crackling mist enveloped them both, sending them
crashing to the floor. Darrin had recalled that the C-10 canister rifle
could also be equipped with lockdown rounds that temporarily disabled
electronic systems. It seemed that the security team had some foreknowledge
of the kind of threat they were facing, not that a probe and an Observer
could ever be considered much of a threat.
Protoss probes have been observed attacking in battle using the same
mechanism they use for mining, manual labor, and generating warp beacons. A
small warp field generator displaces molecules from surfaces, which can be
used to separate matter into pieces. This happens somewhat slowly so damage
inflicted in combat is minimal. The probes carry payloads and perform tasks
by attracting matter to small warp fields generated inside the probe itself.
It has been thought that the probes' warp beacons actually teleported
structures from Aiur itself. In reality the teleportation occurs on Aiur or
another point of origin, the warp beacon just tells the teleportation
mechanism what is needed and where to place the structure required. Each
probe is only capable of warping structures for which it possesses a warp
beacon identification for. They are not able to simply 'ask' for something
and have it appear. An exact prefabricated structure is assigned to each
unique ID. If a probe has no valid ID's, then it cannot warp any
structures.
"Secure the targets! Get those bastards strapped down before they trash the
whole ship." Chief Harle barked at his security team. He carefully walked
around the shredded remains of G'tharr and toward the bench. Two of his
team pulled a hovercart from the rear of the lab and loaded the probe and
observer onto it.
"You boys mind telling me just what the hell went on here." Harle demanded.
Two hours of explaining later, Darrin and Riley were allowed to return to
their quarters until an official inquiry could be made in the morning.
Darrin attempted to return to his quarters, but found a maintenance worker
in an SCV attempting to patch the gash in the deck plate. The bunk had
already been removed. The patch was pretty spotty looking, the maintenance
tech was obviously having a few problems.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Darrin asked, realizing he had not
actually gotten any sleep yet.
"It will be a bit longer sir, I'm about to run out of soup, and I don't have
specs loaded for this deck plate." A timid voice resounded from inside the
SCV suit.
The 'soup' the maintenance tech was referring to is a term given to the
refined mix of metal molecules the SCV operators used for repair and
construction. The molecules had no bonds with each other until
nanoassemblers arranged them into solid pieces. This mixture flowed better
than most liquids, thus the nickname 'soup'. Hydrocarbons refined from
Vespene could also be stored in the SCV tanks, but were not used for many
applications. The computer in the SCV suit stored specifications for
creating each individual component of the desired structure. If the SCV did
not posses the specs in question, the operator needed to improvise. The SCV
also used the hydrocarbon stores to generate power for welding structural
components and powering electronic circuitry. In a pinch the welding unit
could also be used as a weapon.
Darrin decided it would be best to abandon his quarters for the night and
bunk with the rest of the crew. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Darrin awoke to the scattering of the crew around him. He was
amazed at how quickly the military personnel could wake up and get dressed.
Quick was not Darrin's style. He slipped out of his bunk and fumbled for
his clothes. What do you wear to a grilling anyway? As a scientist, Darrin
did not possess anything resembling formal wear. Clean and casual would
have to do. He got dressed and disembarked, hoping the starport mess hall
had some real food. After settling for a breakfast of yet more synthesized
slop, Darrin made his way to the command center and the inquiry began.
The official inquiry was slow and grueling. Riley stood up to it
rather well, but Darrin was flubbering like a schoolboy. The inquiry board
had not been able to determine the reason for G'Tharr's attack, partially
due to the fact that the probe was still connected to the bench computer
when the lockdown round hit it. The electrostatic charges had wiped the
computer's memory. Inspection of the Inquisitor's main computer logs had
revealed the probe had uploaded programming to compromise the ship's
security. The programming took effect when Riley connected his palm
computer to the main system. Riley was ordered to immediately dismantle the
probe and observer.
Riley was not surprised about the reaction of the inquiry panel to
the targeted threat to his life. They had no interest in finding just what
the probe claimed it had discovered in his research before ordering it to be
scrapped. He was to be escorted by combat units whenever he needed to work
in the field anywhere outside an established base. Any building or vessel
he was stationed in was to be placed on an additional stage of security
alert. Since they were on an extremely large planet that had not been
cleared of all Zerg, this was assumed anyway. Not much had changed.
Darren concluded that the best way to put this behind him was to
continue with his research. Perhaps he could find what the probe had found
if he examined his work closer. Beta base had just finished construction
of a science facility before they departed. Darrin applied for and received
a transfer from the Inquisitor to the science facility. Much of the
Inquisitor's crew did the same. Unknown to Darrin, Riley took up a position
at Beta's engineering bay.
The laboratory Darrin was assigned to had much more space and equipment
than his lab on the inquisitor. All of his data and specimens had already
been transferred. He was eager to get back to work.
Darrin began by examining the Lurker tentacle fragment that was found.
The Lurker spread its tentacles underground over a wide area, thus
concealing itself from view and casual detection. It could feel targets
passing over, even if they were levitating such as vulture bikes and SCV's.
It possessed sensitive nerve bundles at regular intervals over the length of
a tentacle to detect disturbances in air currents that transmitted through
the surface of the ground. In effect, it could hear its targets
approaching. After examining the genetic material from the Lurker, Darrin
was able to determine that the Lurker was somehow related to the Hydralisk.
This discovery made more sense once he determined how the creature launched
its attack. Like the Hydralisk, the Lurker also had glands that stored and
secreted highly reactive hydrocarbons. Instead of channeling the explosive
force to fire a spine, the Lurker diverted the pressure to one of its
extended tentacles. The pressure forced thin armored plates up through the
ground many feet into the air. Each plate was connected to a chamber that
acted like a valve, giving way to the pressure on the way to the next
chamber. This gave the appearance of waves of blades moving across the
ground toward the Lurker's targets. Darrin concluded that the Lurker needed
to be buried in order to have enough confinement to exert sufficient force
on the blades to cause any damage. This information could be useful to the
UED's combat forces.
Darrin assimilated all the data he could from his current samples. He
had made some startling discoveries, but he would need more specimens to get
any new data. He needed to discover how the Zerg were able to evolve new
genetic traits in a matter of days. This would require an expedition into
the field, perhaps among live Zerg. He submitted an application to the base
ComSat station to scan for existing Zerg habitations. Suprisingly, his
request was approved. Darrin would meet with the ComSat officer and
personally oversee the scans.
Quin Lu San was Beta command's acting ComSat officer. Darrin had met him briefly before when Alpha base's comsat was being built. Together they were able to choose some fairly probable sites for any existing Zerg habitations. Quin Lu charged up the ComSat's dish for the first scan. The ComSat ground station supplied the energy required to scan an area by beaming it in microwave form to an orbiting sattelite. The beam was fairly powerful, so can only be kept up for a few seconds on a single scan. The sattelite consisted of a giant reflector and a data transponder. When the sattelite received the microwave beam, it would redirect it to the area that was to be scanned. Terrain and objects in the area would reflect some of the energy back. The sattelite would then pick up the reflected energy readings and transmit the data back to the ComSat station. So much energy was involved that nothing, not even cloaked ships and buried Zerg could avoid reflecting any of the energy and revealing their
presence for a short time. The microwave beam would also ionize particles in the upper atmosphere and on the ground, creating an optical scintillation that was visible with the naked eye. Even without any form of electronic detection, you knew when you were being scanned by a ComSat.
Quin Lu pointed out an interesting formation to Darrin. In a valley that was thought to have been cleansed of Zerg, a single structure remained amongst remnants of others that had been destroyed. The structure was fairly large and looked like a huge purple tube stacked up against a red tube. The mass was connected by various smaller pieces. During the period of active scanning, it almost appeared to pulsate slightly. The structure had very little creep surrounding it, indicating that there were no other Zerg structures nearby that produce it. The scan did not reveal any Zerg creatures in the area at the time. Darrin concluded that this would be a prime target to investigate. He would need some time to raise an expeditionary team to help him examine the structure. It was some distance away. On a planet this size even a dropship would take a while to get there.
Darrin was able to get permission to examine the Zerg structure, provided he had ample combat support. The Beta base commander had assembled a force that should be able to handle any skirmishes that could occur with Zerg forces. They conscripted eight marines, four firebats, and two medics for combat support. For some odd reason, Riley insisted on coming along. He had built a new mobile scouting drone and wanted to test it in the field. How Riley was able to get permission to accompany his team was making Darrin wonder how much influence a simple tech would have. He would be in his custom SCV in case maintenance was needed on any equipment. Utilizing three dropships, Darrin's team and equipment left plenty of room for specimens. The Inquisitor would also be supporting the expeditionary force.
The flight to the Zerg site was an interesting experience. Darrin chose a compact environmental suit, offering little protection but increased mobility over the combat suits that marines wore. The dropship Darrin was strapped into was also being used by Riley. He was in his custom SCV, clamped to the jump rail. The scouting drone with him was rather odd. It seemed cobbled together from bits of junk and was quite disfigured looking. Almost purposefully so. A combat medic had also chosen to ride in this dropship. Darrin could not see her face clearly from his seat on the ship, but could clearly see where her armor suit had been breached right in the chest. It had been patched over and repainted. The last person on board Darrin's ship was Cheif Harle, 'Captain Cardboard' himself.
Darrin was not entirely sure of Harle's military rank, but it was sufficient to lead a squad of marines on an expedition such as this one. Harle was bad enough as Chief of security on the Inquisitor. If fighting broke out, Darrin would have to follow his orders. Every once in a while during the ride, Harle would glance over toward Riley, then quickly dart his vision away when Riley noticed he was looking. Darrin also thought it was odd that Harle did not choose to fly with his men. Darrin did not like the military way of life, but if he had to command men who would follow his orders, possibly to their deaths, he would at least want to know them.
After a final ComSat scan was ordered of the area they finally set down outside the Zerg structure in question. Up close it was much larger than Darrin at first assumed. It was the size of a small barracks. He began unloading his equipment. Riley pitched in to help, his SCV handling much of the labor.
Harle set his troops on patrol around the area, then retrieved his C-10 canister rifle from the dropship. He took up a position behind Darrin and Riley as they unloaded their equipment.
Darrin set up a static scan of the structure. After a few minutes of assembly he was able to get an image of the interior of the Zerg structure. He was able to determine the most promising areas to collect samples from. Now came the part Darrin could enjoy. He turned to Harle.
"I'll need you and a couple of your men, we're going in." Darrin said casually.
"In?" Harle asked. "In WHERE?" he added, genuinely confused.
Darrin turned to glance at the Zerg structure.
"You have GOT to be fuckin' kidding!" Harle shouted. He looked worried now. Darrin turned away, barely containing his laughter. |
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