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>>47805101
NOPE NOPE NOPE

Not dealing with that today, no sir! I don't want to be pulped by a giant fucking shrimp today!

I hurry to the other end of the hall, then look back. The shrimp skitters, clicking its teeth.

>>47805123
Let's jump into room 4, sounds safe to me!

>>47805123
OH FUCK. LOOK AT ROOM 6.

THERE'S TWO OF THEM.
GET OUT
TALK TO SECORD
THINK ABOUT THIS IN A NON-STRESSFUL SITUATION

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>>47805123
>>47805151
>>47805154

GOD THAT THING LOOKS CREEPY.

... but it's not trying to come out of the cell to kill me at least!

Oh shit, oh shit oh shit.

>>47805154
There's two of them in here!?

I pull up the radio. "Secord, Secord! There's two of those Shrimp in here! I need you to let me out!"

"What!?" he yells. "Uh- okay, okay, just-" The shrimp in Cell 1 hisses, still staring at you. "L- look, they're- they're really territorial, okay!? Just- just... I don't know, stay out of their territory!"

Oh, that's wonderful advice, thank you. Probably would've helped sooner.

God I need coffee!

>>47805217
Maybe they don't like being out of the dark (lending to their name), which is why it's not stepping into the hallway? Either way, I'd check the cell you're backed up against - Cell 4, I assume? - and see if that's safe.

They're territorial, so perhaps we could get them to start a fight? If that could lure the one out of 6, then we can get the keycard and scamper off before either engages with you, personally.

>>47805217
Check 4. There might be coffee there!

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>>47805217
Convince Secord to wear a otter suit to distract them.

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>>47805297
This is no time for games!

>>47805249
>>47805266
... aside from the disembodied torso and the huge pulping behind it of what used to be a head, yeah, this seems safe.

Though, I will say, the shrimp on the other end of the hall doesn't seem to want to follow me at least. I could probably just walk out of the brig scot free, but that wouldn't net me a keycard.

>>47805671
A corpse! Must loot! Maybe use as bait!

>>47805671
Check the bed, under and over it.

>>47805671
What's in the box!

keep an eye out on the vents. maybe you can convince them fight?

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>>47805765
That's a toilet. It's a good thing I went to the bathroom before this salvage op gone wrong or else this SmartSkin would be working double duty today.

>>47805732
I pull the mattress away and throw the pillow off to the side. Lo and behold, it's that Security Officer's Keycard!

> KEYCARD ACQUIRED: OFFICER E. B. Cutler - Standard Security Officer access

Nice, this could probably get you into the Admin Offices and their lockup without Secord's help! You do wonder why he hid it underneath this bed, then you remember there are shrimp out and about.

>>47805709
The corpse unfortunately has nothing useful on him I'm afraid. But I like your idea of using it as bait.

I don't seem to have the other shrimp's attention though. It would work better if I had both.

throw bait into a location that would result in the second shrimp spotting the first. so they fight.

>>47806038
Ask Secord why people were being locked inside these rooms.

>>47806038

Alright, think about this critically, the fight with the black claws is going to have a winner. Do you personally have a way to finish off that winner?

> Check the remaining, unoccupied cells.
> Stay away from six
> Salvage what you can

>>47806038
>>47806187

Alright, new thought. For this you are going to need the belts off two of these bodies, plus however much of that police tape Secord has left, in addition to that audio log you just found.

> Loot the remaining rooms.
> Take the belts and attach them to doors 2 (via ducktape) and 5 (via looping the belt around something sturdy)
> Position the body near the exit with the hollow log.
> Attach police caution tape to the buckle and pass it through the loops, then bring it back to yourself (if Secord has rope, all the better.
> What you then want to do is pull.
> The body will be making noise and pass in front of the shrimp's door.
> Then, with a stiff pull, the ducktape at door 2 will release, and you will begin pulling it toward five, which is near 6.
> Territorially instinct kicks in and you have a fight.
> Let them duke it out and see if the winner is in a condition you can fuck them up in.

>>47806351

If not, get the piece of that gun, your mining laser, and begin biding your time. And/or let ottington feast on shrimp

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>>47806076
>>47806187
>>47806351
>>47806374
This all sounds...

Incredibly complicated.

Which is why I will proceed to do everything you just said but probably mess something up. It's like playing telephone, I swear.

It's time to do some engineering work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyz_2DEah4o

>>47806629

It's dragging a dead body on a rope through one breakaway pivot toward a final anchor pivot. I'd draw a picture, but it should not be that complicated.

>>47806811
I think anchoring those points may, uhm, involve going outside and near the big snappy claw things. Though I may be misunderstanding your plan.

>>47806811

Also my computer is taking a nap, at the moment.

>>47806822

Okay, so door 2 is not in Mr. Snip's territory. You duck tape a belt loop to that. You also duck tape or otherwise more rigidly attach another belt on doorframe 5 or between it and doorframe 6. You run a line through each loop (Secord seems to have a lot of police tape), tie one end off on the dead body and hold the other, then pull. Tension will bring the body close to shrimp one, then in front of shrimp two.

>>47806908
What if there's a THIRD snippy?!

>>47806964

Well, they may come out when looting the other rooms. They may come out to join the crab battle. Or they may be a surprise for later.

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>>47806811
>>47806822
>>47806908
>>47806964
>>47807003
Hm.

You know, considering how long I've gone without coffee and how much trust I put into the auditory hallucinations in my head, I can tell this might actually work.

Shall we proceed?

>>47807222
Now or never. OPEN THE GATES!

But don't stand in the hallways. Lock yourself in, say, 5?

>>47807222

Okay, so I'm looking at this and I see the body already in front of door 5. Yet, the shrimp isn't trying to get through? Also, why are you at the end of the hall if the goal is to pull the body along from the other end?

>>47807222
From the looks of things, you are going to need to pull into room three. Best to check if that room is safe. And if you can lock the door in an emergency.

>>47807222
You could always chuck your explosive when the shrimps group up.

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>>47807246
>>47807337
>>47807384
>>47807389
Ah, forget it! Let's do this!

>>47807916
[begin dramatic music]

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>>47807916

>>47807971
[continue dramatic music]

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>>47807971

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>>47808028
The Cell 6 shrimp busts the door down, almost flattening you when it happens. The two shrimp face off over the corpses, clicking their teeth. The Cell 1 shrimp grinds its claw across the ground, sending sparks shooting. The Cell 6 shrimp smashes them against the floor, making loud noises in response.

Oh boy, this is a clash of the titans.

>>47808048
They actually look pretty weird out here. When they're actually engaged with each other, get the key, skirt around the edge, get out, slam door, tell Secord you are the greatest master of everything in the universe.

>>47808048

Let them fight it out, and get ready to light the dynamite in a pinch.

>>47808422

Also, peer into the cell shrimp one was defending.

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>>47808201
>>47808422
>>47808445
Yuck... It smells like shit in here.

Aha! There's the keycard. It's bloodied all to hell, but it's among the stuff that the shrimp didn't particularly fancy eating.

> KEYCARD ACQUIRED: DOCTOR U. GILMORE'S KEYCARD - Research access

Alright, now that you have the keycard, it's time to leg it!

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>>47808566
LATER SHRIMP

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"You made it!" Secord stands there, shocked. "I- how did you do that!?"

"I don't know and I'd rather not do it again."

"Well, did you get the keycard?"

"Yes, I did and... where's Ottington?"

Secord points to the ration crate. "He's still in there. I think he's still napping."

"Oh. Well- wake him up! We need to get into the admin offices!"

"... we?"

"... yes, we. You, me, and Ottington."

"Oh, um..." Secord rubs at his injured arm a little. "Well, that- I mean, erm. Y- you could always... I- I can open the door for you maybe..." I stare at him a bit. "I mean, you could consider taking a break too. Gotta get hydrated you know! I know we're surrounded by water and all, that doesn't mean you can't skimp on it!"

>>47808777
Stare at him with more intensity.

>>47808777
What's that mister, getting cold feet? Is that gun just for show?

>>47808777
Well, then. Open the door, I'm going in!

>>47808777

Take a break, but only after grabbing that gun part. You need water, and maybe his supplies include instant coffee.

>>47809274

The barrel, to clarify.

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>>47808874
>>47808907
>>47809274
I mean, I guess I can take a break. "Do you happen to have a bottle of water!"

He smiles, yeah, yeah. O- one second." He quickly reaches into a crate, then lobs a fresh bottle of water to you. You snap it open then take a drink. It's warm, very warm. But, it's better than nothing.

"So, Secord. I wanted to ask you something." He blinks, standing next to you. "Wh-... what happened to the guys in those cells?"

"Oh, they-..." He looks away. "Well, they were killed by the shrimp."

"And you didn't do anything?"

He blinks. "Well-" He coughs, turning away even more. "That's uh... that's a pretty heavy topic." It seems like he doesn't want to talk about it.

>>47809470
Is his arm really broken?

>>47809274
>>47809311

Also, while you are at it, you'll need a broom or a wooden chair leg.

>>47809470

They mentioned the door could have been opened from where Secord was. Maybe he was afraid he'd let the monster's out. Maybe something else happened. Still, we need to trust each other, to have as much info about things before the disaster went down and during to save both of us.

>>47809470
Well to the admin then, and since Secord clearly isn't coming and can't handle the gun either, we'll be taking it. You know, for close encounter.

>>47809653

The gun is missing parts: the barrel, firing pin, and the compressed air cartridge. However, I have a plan to ghetto rig two of those. Basically, we can trim down a chair leg into a temporary firing pin, install the barrel, and take the autocompressor from the nail gun to replace the cartridge.

>>47809470
You are starting to look like a murderer to me, Secord,

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>>47809483
It looks broken to me.

>>47809498
>>47809712
>>47809653
Well, I could go. Honestly, I'd really love to have someone with me when I go in there. I've had way too many close encounters. I just want a bit of company you know? Strength in numbers?

Also, that idea of getting the Lindhelm Air Rifle together, that's- that's a real idea. I don't know how we're gonna find a wooden chair leg though or anything like that though.

>>47809841
Let's not start throwing accusations here. It is still kind of suspicious the circumstances of what happened but, we are in this together!

Right, into the admin office we go then.

>>47810100
>Let's not start throwing accusations here.
Last words of woman who got shrimp'd in mysterious circumstances.

>>47810100

Remember that office you found a while ago? It had a chair in it.

>>47810213

The desk was also made of wood that could be broken off and rounded.

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Right, administration.

"Right, um." Secord was at least gracious enough to let me in and come with. However, "So, I'll just stand by the door. As you can see, uh... even the alarms have stopped working in here. So- so just um... Yeah."

I nod slowly. "Alright. Where do I start?"

"Well, wherever you want. Chief's Office is with the offices behind that glass wall. And lockup is on the far end. There's no power anywhere here in admin, so you might need to use your crowbar to force the doors open. I'd uh... be careful with that though, if you force them open, they're going to stay open."

"And you?"

"I'll just be standing here by the door, in case there's trouble."

Right, where to start then?

>>47810384

A risky gambit, but Secord could lift you up to get access to the vents into the area beyond the secured glass wall. Basically, climb up, pop a vent, and then wriggle over to the other side. The door should open easily from the secure side back to where Secord is.

However, what happened to the air rifle plan? Also, ask Secord if he knows where you can find a janitor's closet.

>>47810384
Well the glass ain't gonna stop the xenos so we might just as well bash our way through the door into the office, and check out the desks.

>>47810384
To lockup then

>>47810509

Alternately, assuming the door is even locked, take about five equal strands of that security tape and braid them together to make a rope. Attach a spear at the end and shoot it through the vent. Pull the vent down, attach the crowbar to the end of the rope and then throw it through the hole. It should be wider on at least one dimension and catch. Use that to climb up.

>>47810384
Keep a close eye on those vents.

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>>47810509
>>47810552
>>47810645
"Secord, can we get into the offices?"

"Erm, I mean, it's locked."

"... aren't you a Security Officer?"

"I am, but that's a plain lock and key thing. Warden handles that, not me." Ugh. It's as you say, we'll have to improvise.

I point up to the vents. "I'm gonna head up there." You take the police tape off of Secord's belt, then wrap it around one of your harpoons. You fire up at the vent, then force it open. "Don't wait up."

Secord stares at you as you climb on up. "Y-... yeah."

"Catch me if I fall, alright?"

"... yeah." He's gone quiet all of a sudden.

"Is something wrong?"

"No! No, I'm- I'm good, I'm great, better than great actually, y- you're fine. Just get in there."

>>47811068

I see London, I see France...

>>47811068
Bah, we've got no time for people acting strange. Actually, Secord's been acting strange the whole time. Let's crawls into the office and check the place through.

>>47811068
Take a peek inside the vents to make sure there's nothing instead.

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>>47811068
Ugh. I can barely move my arms in here! It smells like absolute... familiarity. You can't put your finger on it, but there's something.

At the other end though is probably the vent grate leading into the offices. I turn on my side. Nothing behind me either, just a big dark passageway into... nowhere.

Ugh. I'm small, but this is optimistic.

>>47811147

There are things in front of you. Use your light.

>>47811171

Ah right, have a weapon ready before hand.

>>47811147
Flash around to get an idea of your surrounding s.

>>47811147
Weapon ready!

Back away and get a light on those things

I'm trusting Secord less and less with each interaction. Either he's not security, or he's got something to do with this whole mess

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>>47811171
>>47811198
>>47811293
>>47811500
Unfortunately, I don't have a flashlight ready and it's too cumbersome to get the lantern up in here.

Ugh, still. I dab my hand into one of those things and bring it closer to my face.

What the hell is this stuff? I take a whiff of it. Smells familiar, smells like...

Oh.

Oh no.

Suddenly, something clangs in the vents behind me.

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>>47811972
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6laPiPI4RKU

Unfortunately, I have to end it here. Gotta head to bed early for work reasons. However, if I'm not too tired tomorrow, I should finally be able to run LGA2. We'll see. Thanks for playing.

Follow at: https://twitter.com/GermanSchteel
Ask at: http://germanschteel.tumblr.com/
Book Tumbles: http://germanschteelbookblog.tumblr.com/


See you next time.

Also I can answer questions if you want. It's always so quiet in this neck of the questing.

>>47811972
Crawl towards the light

>>47811994
Does MC work out, she's really athletic.

>>47811994
Thanks for the fun, boss.

How's the work thing?

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>>47812045
She's decently fit and able, as is befits someone who works constantly day and night on machines.

>>47812062
It's mostly background check stuff before I can actually work. Then I gotta wait for that for about a month or two to clear before I can actually go to work.

>>47812070
I love the "God I need coffee" eyes on her. I know that pain.

>>47812070
What inspired Varian Base Quest?

>>47812202
Varuna I mean, I'm on a phone

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>>47812173
feel the pain

>>47812202
I've always figured on doing a drawquest. Binged on Ruby Quest, thought that was great. So here we are.

Jurassic Park (The game Trespasser especially) was the biggest inspiration, along with Space Station 13 and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. The setting is actually a very heavily salvaged Meropis Undersea Explorers Quest.

It was originally going to be a lot more Dead Space-y in nature but somewhere around the first thread I switched it to more Trespasser and Jurassic Park.

>>47812254
Her smile and optimism gone.

I'm glad you went the way you did. Horror doesn't have to be supernatural if the PC is just a normal person.

>>47812254
I think I was that game, was it for the SNES.

>>47812326
Have*
am I having a aneurysm?

>>47812318
Indeed. There's a bit of a message to this Quest which may make itself more exposed when you get further into the lore of how the base fell and what not.

Honestly, it's just one of the oldest conflicts in the book, Man vs. Nature, or in this case alien nature.

>>47812326
Trespasser was a PC game. It was the game that inspired Half Life with its innovate physics engine, incredibly big outdoor environments, the whole shebang.

It was also a big fucking buggy mess but I remember having fun with it as a kid. Scary as fuck.

>>47812368
Ah, okay.

So does she like pets?

>>47812497
She isn't really too fond of animals she doesn't find cute. She did babysit her neighbor's dog once. Other than that, she's pretty indifferent to the idea of pets.

>>47812628
How many years of hands on experience does she have with machinery?

>>47812712
At least a decade and a half, she's been working with machines since she was seven alongside her parents whom are Colony Station engineers.