>>4163174
>>Ask one of the lab-prep scientists about it. You heard they're going against "standard testing procedures" today, maybe that has something to do with it.

>>4163174
>Ask one of the lab-prep scientists about it. You heard they're going against "standard testing procedures" today, maybe that has something to do with it.

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>>4163311
>>4163315
You kick your rolling office chair away from the reception desk, and stand up. Vertebrae in your lower back crack and pop as you do, reminding you of how long you've been sitting. You're getting a six figure salary from the pentagon to sit at a desk doing nothing for unhealthy amounts of time. You stretch a bit before walking off. Thankfully under the clothes of a security guard is still the body of an undercover agent. It's hard work keeping that up with long shifts of sitting and on on-site cafeteria consisting of mostly the leftovers from the biology labs.

It is still nice having an excuse to walk around. First you check the break room, hoping to catch a physicist enjoying his breakfast. You have no such luck. Keeping security protocols in mind, this leaves you with checking individual offices or catching someone in the locker room. You've avoided the locker room in this job for fear of seeing a ninety year old einstein in his underwear, but under that outfit you are still a soldier, and you march on in to the lockers. Thankfully you still have some luck. In this room is a female scientist taking her labcoat off, a male scientist putting his labcoat on, and your keen eyes pick up another woman in what appears to be a backroom, by a set of three suits that look like something from a science fiction movie.

>Talk to the male scientist, you've heard him talk. You didn't understand any of it, but it sounded important and people listened to him.
>Talk to the female scientist, maybe starship troopers was right and unisex lockers are the future, but you aren't ready for the future yet.
>Go into the backroom, you've only seen glimpses of those suits before, you might be able to send an actually useful report to your handler.

>>4163382
>Go into the backroom, you've only seen glimpses of those suits before, you might be able to send an actually useful report to your handler.

>>4163382
>>Talk to the male scientist, you've heard him talk. You didn't understand any of it, but it sounded important and people listened to him.

>>4163382
>Talk to the male scientist, you've heard him talk. You didn't understand any of it, but it sounded important and people listened to him.
Ask him why he’s wearing that ridiculous tie.

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>>4163485
>>4163491
>>4163537
"Excuse me doctor?" You say approaching the man. The locker door says "Rosenberg" on it.

"Hmm, yes, did I forget to clock in?" He says. He doesn't seem like the kind of person to forget such things regularly. In fact, you're pretty sure if you responded yes, he'd just tell you to change it for him, while silently chastising you for not logging him in properly.

"No, I just noticed that some of the other scientists are missing. Would you know anything about it?" You ask.

"Is it Dr. Freeman?" He asks in response. You really wish it was just Dr. Freeman. Back when you worked mornings he'd always spend a half hour at your desk trying to "help."

"No actually, a lot of others are missing, Vance, Kleiner, Magnusson, not just Freeman. I heard that the test procedures were different today, does that have anything to do with it?"

"No, there hasn't been any rescheduling, however I wouldn't be surprised if the system is overloaded. We've been running our equipment at high power and it's probably slowing everything else down, including transit. Just write them in as on time when they arrive, Vance will understand." He explains. You've seen the kind of computational power that runs this place, but you rarely get a glimpse at the actual scientific equipment. What kind of crazy stuff are they running down there?

>Try to ask Dr. Rosenburg about the scientific equipment downstairs. He's probably got a few NDAs, but the science types love to ramble. You'll just need to remember a few keywords.
>The lady who was in the backroom has left, but the other woman is now heading towards the crazy suits, see if you can ask here about it.
>Hey Dr. Freeman's locker is unlocked. To hell with the handler's report, you should go swap his stuff out for some random junk, just to screw with him.
>You don't wanna seem suspicious, just head back to the desk and wait for your replacement or the science team to arrive.

>>4163578
>>You don't wanna seem suspicious, just head back to the desk and wait for your replacement or the science team to arrive.

>>4163578
Ask this guy about that suit, then go check out the cctv footage and look on the computer if there are any messages, emails or notices of reschedule

>>4163578
>The lady who was in the backroom has left, but the other woman is now heading towards the crazy suits, see if you can ask here about it.

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>>4163613
>>4163670
>>4163687
"Hey, what are those suits over there?" You ask,pointing to the two remaining suits.

Dr. Rosenberg looks over, squinting towards the suits. "Oh yes, you mean the Hazard Suits. I'm not acquainted with the technology myself. We use them here to handle potentially dangerous samples, or equipment. You'd be better off asking the sample handlers or the designers if you can track them down."

You consider heading right back, but, you know that the computer isn't particularly impatient. The system will still be there in a few minutes. You try to just catch the female scientist, whose locker is labeled "Cross" before she becomes too occupied dressing herself in the suit to talk.

Doctor Cross is currently typing in credentials as you approach. The suits are kept in some sort of clean display storage it seems.

"Excuse me doctor!" You exclaim. A lightly dressed Dr. Cross turns around. The suit, unlike the HazMat suits you've seen, looks very small. She seems to be wearing very thin clothes for comfort.

"Hmmm, is there a problem?" She responds.

"No, I was just curious about the suits. They look neat. Like something out of a movie." You say. It's a cover that always seems to work in this place, since a lot of it does look like something from a movie. Hell, you pass by a giant hauling robot on your way into anomalous materials.

"Oh. I'm not really at liberty to say much about them." She explains. "I can't go into technical details, but they're just advanced protective suits. They provide protection from impact damage, electric shocks, radiation, they can even autonomously call for medical aid. It's one of the perks of being a mad scientist. Anyway I've gotta get in it and get to work."

"Okay, thanks. Wait, you said impact damage, are they bulletproof?" You ask.

"Depends on the bullet." Is her response as she walks away.

You've gotten all the information you can hear. Another day's work in the life of a bored super-spy. You head back to your computer, which still has a game of solitaire open.

>Read: Wallace Breen: Remind the anomalous materials team members the importance of today's test.

>Read: Izzy Kleiner: Transit system slow, will be late!

>Read: Central System: ERROR #496187 CRITICAL MEMORY OVERFLOW

>Read: Guest: SUBJECT CORRUPTED.

>>4163738
>Read: Guest: SUBJECT CORRUPTED.
Get the fuck over here, G-Man.

>>4163738
>Read: Guest: SUBJECT CORRUPTED.


[R E D A C T E D]

>>4163777
>>4163786
You click the message. It's likely the text will be corrupted as well. Odds are either one of the older scientists tried to send the wrong file type, or it has something to do with the memory. Still, you like looking at the nonsensical strings of text that spam the screen when a file corrupts. It makes you feel like one of those movie hackers with dyed hair and a peppy attitude, the kind of thing you expected to have a lacky doing for you when you joined the CIA.

You click the message again. It still hasn't done anything. You try clicking on another message, and the cursor doesn't move. The fans start to spin up. A high pitch tone sounds from the system speakers, and then one by one, from top to bottom parts of the message start coming up. The line of pixels crawls downwards as an image comes on screen. It looks like a nuclear bomb... in a storm... or a...

The system crashed before you could get a closer look.

Jesus... you have a migraine, where did this come from?

>Find one of those scientists again, they're smart enough to know how to deal with migraines, and maybe fix computers.
>Just tell one of the guards to cover your shift and head back to the barracks.
>Power through the migraine, and reboot the system.
>Damn the undercover ops and screw black mesa, you're gonna curl up in the chair and close your eyes.

>>4163848
>Power through the migraine, and reboot the system
I hope this doesn’t count as metagaming, because I really want to pursue this plot line.

>>4163848
>Power through the migraine, and reboot the system.

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>>4163918
>>4163930
It's not metagaming. Now what would be metagaming is playing HL1 or Black Mesa and taking note of the status of the computers by the time Dr. Freeman arrives. [/spoilers]

You reach down, fishing for the computer's power buttons. That annoying sound is warbling and getting worse as you do. You click the machine off, and the fans and the noise turns off. You reluctantly click the system back on and the fans turn to life. A glowing windows logo burns through your retina and churns your brain, making the migraine even worse. Once that finishes, it automatically opens the black mesa central system. The orange logo sits there silently as the fans start ramping up again, and the machine lets out another digitized screech, and then the screen turns blue with white text. You try again, sitting through the loading screens only to have the same result. You try a third time, hoping that just maybe it will have sorted itself out.

As you reach down, you feel an acidic feeling racing up your chest. Your vision suddenly goes red, and you could swear by god that even though the computer was off, you heard that same digital screech again. You narrowly miss the chair and your own pants as you vomit onto the floor. CIA training kicks in. You list your symptoms, distorted vision, vomiting, migraines. A list of poisons run through your head, each one compared with your own symptoms. You check your own heartbeat as you gasp for air at the desk. Then it hits you, this place is called "anomalous materials". If someone tried to poison you, they probably have a million substances at their disposal that you've never heard of.

Better hope it's not poison.

>Try and draw what you saw on the image while the memory is fresh. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
>Try and describe the image in your emergency comms, and hope to god no one who cares in the facility is listening to that frequency.
>Try and find some sort of medical aid. Do any of those scientists know anything? For all you know however, they might be the ones that did this to you, intentionally or unintentionally.
>Don't draw any attention to yourself. Clean up the vomit while the lobby is still empty, and then slump down on the desk.

>>4163961
Oh FFS. Just gonna repost that for posterity.

You reach down, fishing for the computer's power buttons. That annoying sound is warbling and getting worse as you do. You click the machine off, and the fans and the noise turns off. You reluctantly click the system back on and the fans turn to life. A glowing windows logo burns through your retina and churns your brain, making the migraine even worse. Once that finishes, it automatically opens the black mesa central system. The orange logo sits there silently as the fans start ramping up again, and the machine lets out another digitized screech, and then the screen turns blue with white text. You try again, sitting through the loading screens only to have the same result. You try a third time, hoping that just maybe it will have sorted itself out.

As you reach down, you feel an acidic feeling racing up your chest. Your vision suddenly goes red, and you could swear by god that even though the computer was off, you heard that same digital screech again. You narrowly miss the chair and your own pants as you vomit onto the floor. CIA training kicks in. You list your symptoms, distorted vision, vomiting, migraines. A list of poisons run through your head, each one compared with your own symptoms. You check your own heartbeat as you gasp for air at the desk. Then it hits you, this place is called "anomalous materials". If someone tried to poison you, they probably have a million substances at their disposal that you've never heard of.

Better hope it's not poison.

>Try and draw what you saw on the image while the memory is fresh. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
>Try and describe the image in your emergency comms, and hope to god no one who cares in the facility is listening to that frequency.
>Try and find some sort of medical aid. Do any of those scientists know anything? For all you know however, they might be the ones that did this to you, intentionally or unintentionally.
>Don't draw any attention to yourself. Clean up the vomit while the lobby is still empty, and then slump down on the desk.

>>4163972
>>Try and find some sort of medical aid. Do any of those scientists know anything? For all you know however, they might be the ones that did this to you, intentionally or unintentionally.

>>4164184
ill go with this, cant risk puking while drawing.
just attempt to memorize the image.

>>4163972
>Try and draw what you saw on the image while the memory is fresh. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
Tear the curtains from this cruel play!

>>4163972
>Try and draw what you saw.

>>4163972
>Try and draw what you saw.

>>4163972
>Try and draw what you saw on the image while the memory is fresh. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)

>>4163972
>Try and draw what you saw on the image while the memory is fresh. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)

Rolled 1, 6, 2 = 9 (3d6)

>>4164184
>>4164193
>>4164195
>>4164246
>>4164353
>>4164412
>>4164541
You start shuffling through drawers for something to draw on. You yank out a manila folder, letting the documents slide out. You grab a pen, try and calm yourself, and then focus on what you just saw. You keep the image posted in your head as you stare at the paper.

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>>4164741
Ah cripe

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>>4164741
You're no artist, and to make it worse your head is spinning and your hands are shaking as you try to draw from nothing but memory. The scribbles on the paper are unlikely to be discerned by you without any explanation. The firestorm being pulled into the eye of some strange electrical storm that you saw has been reduced to the tendrils of a cartoon elder god coalescing onto a cataclysm of spirals and scribbles. You keep trying to erase and amend but your hands fail to live up to your own memory. Still, even if it doesn't make it into the library of congress, you won't forget what the image looked like, and more importantly how to describe it to people.

Almost obsessively, you redraw a line, then flip your pencil to erase. Before the rubber even touches the paper, the vault door starts to groan. You fold up the paper quickly and shove it into your pocket. You really hope one of the nicer scientists is coming through that door, because half of them will chastise you for vomiting on the nice sterile floor, as though they were gonna decide to run a test there. As the bottom half of the vault door lowers, you see a dark skinned face opening the door. Dr. Vance, your safe. He's one of the few who will actually help you. He sees you pale face, then the pool of vomit next to you, and shouts your name:

>Heidi Lawrence, by god, are you alright?
>Lene Szilard, by god, are you alright?
>Oppenheimer, by god, are you alright?
>Klarise Bethe, by god, are you alright?
>Ana Fuchs, by god, are you alright?
>Evelyn Seaborg, by god, are you alright?
>Write in a name, bonus for science themed names.

>>4164766
>Gabriella Newall, by god, are you alright?

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>>4164790
Imma just disqualify that on the grounds that I don't want the main character to get bored of this and do nothing but play Dota 2 for the next decade.

>>4164794
You wound me, OP.
Okay, how’s this:
>Gabriella Grignard
Grignard was a French chemist who found a new method to make carbon-carbon bonds by using an organomagnesium halide to break the C=O bond in a ketone or aldehyde to form a secondary or tertiary alcohol.

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>>4164816
Jokes aside, I'm gonna wait until some more people get on and give us a proper vote.

>>4164766
>>Oppenheimer, by god, are you alright?

>>4164766
>Tommy by god, are you alright?
If we drink soda we can see faster.

>>4164766
Tom Long.

>>4164766
>>Oppenheimer, by god, are you alright?

>>4164879
IT'S OKAY MR. VANCE IT'S ALL UP TO REGULATION

>>4164816
>>4164858
>>4164899

Since Oppenheimer doesn't have a first name, let's go with Gabriella Oppenheimer.

"By god, Ms Oppenheimer, are you alright?" Dr. Vance exclaims.

No, your not all right. That migraine is still thumping in the back of your mind. At the very least you got lucky with the scientist that found you. Vance is quick to take on a fatherly responsibility seeing someone sick in his office. He approaches, making it clear he intends to feel for a fever you don't have. "Here, why don't you take a break, your shift should be over by now anyway, do you think you need to head to the infirmary? Would you like some tea?"

>The system crashed, point it out to him, maybe he knows how to fix it, and you can see the picture again. You need to see the picture.
>You would love some tea. Any poison that makes you throw up isn't the best poison. You should just rest.
>Push him off and tell him that you'll just clean up and you'll be fine.
>Tell him your gonna head back to the onsite housing to get some rest. Don't tell him you have a poison testing kit there, and a secure line to a CIA doctor who can diagnose anything else.
>Tell him you just need to head to the infirmary. Those doctors would know what kind of strange things could infect someone in a place like this.

>>4164909
>You would love some tea. Any poison that makes you throw up isn't the best poison. You should just rest.
And as we drink, tell Eli:
>The system crashed, point it out to him, maybe he knows how to fix it, and you can see the picture again. You need to see the picture.

My bet is on it being some memetic bullshit.

>>4164928
>>4164934
"Yeah..." you gasp. "Tea sounds nice."

"Alright, here let's step away from this mess, I'll find someone to clean it up." Eli says, motioning for you to follow. You look at the computer, and reluctantly get up. As you walk with him to the break room, you mention the crash.

"The computer crashed just as I got a message." You say.

"Don't worry about that, I'll tell the administrator..."

"No it's important, I need to see the full message." You explain, stressing the "I."

"Well, erm. I think the programmers will be here in a few minutes, they should be able to fix it. Here, sit down." He says pointing to a seat in the break room, before he fishes out some tea packets and warms up some water. A few minutes later, he places down a small coffee cup filled with tea in front of you. The tea is clearly something from the lowest bidder, but it helps clear the disgusting taste from your mouth, and clean your throat off.

"You know if it's that important, I could probably tell the computer boys to route the message back to your own computer at the housing." He explains.

"No, I don't want it to break the system again."

"By god what is on that computer that is so much more important than your health?" Vance seems to be growing more frustrated.

You feel like the migraine is whispering to you.

>Unforeseen consequences.
>Ignore the migraine, tell him it's just personal information.
>Tell him it's access codes you're not allowed to let anyone else see.
>Be honest, pill out your drawing and explain it to him.

>>4164961
>Unforeseen consequences.
>Be honest, pill out your drawing and explain it to him.
Tell him you think you need to get some scientist to science it out.

>>4164961
>Unforeseen consequences
I really want to tell him about the picture we saw, but it’s not like Eli is going to recognise the Citadel yet. Of course, he won’t understand what unforeseen consequences means either since G-Man only said that to him right before the resonance cascade, but I feel like being super-cryptic and creepy will get him to prioritise getting the image back up. Bonus points if we beg, since Eli is that kind of helpful guy.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>4164969
>>4164972
Just to be clear, there's no building in the center of the image. It's like an electric hurricane pulling a lot of fire into it.

"It's... unforeseen consequences..." You whimper. The words just felt like the only way to describe it, even if they didn't make sense.

"What?" Eli says. You'd bet that he wouldn't have understood you if he could hear you clearly.

You consider telling about the picture.

Since you guys have differing opinions here, I'll say we show him the picture on a 1.

>>4164982
No, if you show him the drawing, he'll just think you're insane and send you to the infirmary. It has the quality of a child's drawing, and trying to explain it in your head, you realize it has the sense of a madman's scribbles. You still need him or... someone to open the computer again. He's a scientist though, and scientists love questions.

"Look..." You say, pausing to elaborate your racing thoughts. "I don't really know what it is but... it was crazy and seemed... really important. I need to get it open again so I can save it somewhere and study it. Please, I just need to look at the image again."

"Well..." he sighs, "I can hear the airlock. It's probably the programmers, or your replacement. Why don't you just stay here? I'll tell them to get the computer fixed, get a janitor, then when today's test is over, I'd be happy to help you decipher it." He stands up and moves towards the exit of the breakroom. Before he steps out, he says "If you start feeling worse, you find someone to bring you to the infirmary."

>Just wait here, finish your tea, and try to rest as the science team does their thing around you.
>Go wait by the desk, you wanna keep an eye on it as it's fixed.
>Try and head home, see if your handler can make any sense of what you saw.
>You don't have to wait for the programmers. You do work for the CIA. You could probably get in there, and find an adress for the hackers to get into and find your message. Of course, that risks a lot.

>>4165002
>>You don't have to wait for the programmers. You do work for the CIA. You could probably get in there, and find an adress for the hackers to get into and find your message. Of course, that risks a lot.
We know there’s something incredibly dangerous about that picture. It’s worth pulling in some serious government help.

>>4165002
>You don't have to wait for the programmers. You do work for the CIA. You could probably get in there, and find an adress for the hackers to get into and find your message. Of course, that risks a lot.

>>4165002
>You don't have to wait for the programmers. You do work for the CIA. You could probably get in there, and find an adress for the hackers to get into and find your message. Of course, that risks a lot.

>>4165002
>You don't have to wait for the programmers. You do work for the CIA. You could probably get in there, and find an address for the hackers to get into and find your message. Of course, that risks a lot.

>>4165091
>>4165092
>>4165102
>>4165108

Whatever this is, it's important, it's a lot easier to get another agent a job at black mesa, than it is to undo catacylsms. Of course, there is the possibility that you're going insane, but that usually only happens to members of Majestic 12, which you're not even supposed to think of outside of the pentagon. No, you have the department of defense budget it at your disposal, and total legal impunity from crimes committed undercover. You don't play timid with that kind of power. Alone in the room, you reach under your shirt, into a pocket well concealed by the bulletproof vest issued by black mesa. You fish out a small little dongle about thirty years ahead of consumer technology. The shaking of your hand becomes more apparent holding a device $10,000 military grade toilet seats have to launder out of the president's budget reports.

The programmers seem to be in the locker room. You have two big options here, lockpick the door to the computer room and risk being caught in there, or go in there with the programmers and try to look inconspicuous as you plug the device in, that only takes a bit of sleight of hand, but it always risks them tracing it back to you. Then there's the real nuclear option, try to convince one of the programmers to plug it in for you. That'd need a slick tongue, if he says no, you're in trouble, if he says yes, and the dongle is found, he's in trouble.

>Lockpick the door. (Roll 3d6, Pass on a 9.)
>Wait by the door for the programmers to enter.
>Try to find a programmer who looks like he might be willing to plug in a random dongle.

>Try to find a programmer who looks like he might be willing to plug in a random dongle.
Not all scientists are bright.

>>4165117
Before I vote, OP, do we have our invisibility technology on us right now or is that reserved for our black suit?

>>4165147
It's part of the black suit.

>>4165151
Ah damn, I was going to suggest we just invisible our way through the whole thing. In that case:
>Lockpick the door. (Roll 3d6, Pass on a 9.)
As dumb as the Black Mesa scientists can be, they’re gonna know when a dongle is somewhere it shouldn’t be.

>>4165159
Well, the invisibility in the game only seems to work when the assassin is still.

>>4165160
Yeah, just checked and you’re right.
Fun fact, they don’t seem to go invisible in Opposing Force, just the original Half Life.

>>4165117
>Lockpick the door. (Roll 3d6, Pass on a 9.)

Even basic programmers should know not to plug in random dongles. It's the very basics of security and this is Black Mesa for God's sake.

>>4165231
>Even basic programmers should know not to plug in random dongles.
I would't agree with you on this one, I've seen worse then this.

Rolled 4, 5, 1 = 10 (3d6)

>>4165231
>>4165159
>>4165125
You pull out your hair pin, which is made from a nice thin metal and as such, easy to make into a lockpick. Hidden in your belt buckle is a small shim of metal that folds into a torque wrench. You cup your hands around the emergency mechanical lock overide, and feel your way through with the lockpick, trying not to think about the hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on concealing something you could've just put in your pocket.
>>4165238
Yup, and don't forget, you're a spy. You're specially trained to lie, and recognize the idiots that would believe those lies.
>>4165209
It has to do with difficulty. If you were watching a video to check, they might not have been playing on hard.

>>4165251
It's pretty clear when you feel the inside of the lock that Dr. Breen expects you to be the main deterrence against lockpicking, not the lock itself. It's not an awful lock, but the kind of people that would sneak into black mesa would not have trouble with it. Still, there's something incredibly invigorating about finally doing some actual spy work. You enthusiastically run the pick over each pin, setting the ones you can set, until the core turns and you're free to enter.

You take a quick look at the dongle. It's a pretty weird port, and a pretty weird computer system. A lot of things appear to be already plugged in.

>Look for an unplugged port. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 9)
>Plug it in the first port you see, even if you have to unplug something. Even if they find it, it should be after the transmission is sent out. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 7)

>>4165263
>>Look for an unplugged port.
Unplugging ANYTHING at Black Mesa seems like a bad idea.

>>4165263
>Look for an unplugged port. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 9)

>>4165263
>Look for an unplugged port. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 9)
With any luck we would have unplugged the antimass spectrometer, but it’s far more likely that we’d just set off an alarm.
>>4165251
Nah, turns out I’m just stupid. I booted up a new game of OF and teleported to the map I needed, but I set the difficulty to easy because I would have had god mode on anyway. I got confused and checked HL but with hard difficulty.

Rolled 6, 5, 2 = 13 (3d6)

>>4165267
>>4165269
>>4165284
You survey over the millions of ports and flashing lights, hoping to see a matching and empty port, hopefully somewhere inconspicuous. You have no idea what these systems actually manage, but given the processing power on display here, and the fact that you know they do nuclear testing here, you don't want to play with it. You're no physicist, but know as a fact that if something went off because of negligent unplugging, what's left of you would leave earth's atmosphere.

>>4165290
Not only do you find a nearby port, but it leaves the dongle hidden under a rats nest of wires. You plug it in and feel for a small button on the side. When you click, you know somewhere deep in a bunker is a room full of techies running data through this little device. You might just be lucky, but you can't shake the feeling that you're doing the easy part of the job. You poke your head out of the door, and have to pull it back in as a disgruntled janitor walks past. With the coast finally clear you leave the computer room. You quickly palm the torque wrench and relock the door, glad you didn't have to pick it closed. You slip it back into your belt buckle, and pull your hair back up.

>Stay in the break room, maybe try and steal something from the fridge for breakfast. You should keep an eye on the coding room.
>Head back to the on site housing. Your CIA computer is there, so you can not only rest, but look at the message when it comes.
>That felt good, you should try and do some more proper spywork. Maybe try and ask some more scientists about today's test.
>Maybe you should still head to the infirmary. You're feeling a bit better, but you also know that radiation poisoning increase serotonin before it kills you. It's unlikely, but it'll put your mind at rest.

>>4165309
>>Maybe you should still head to the infirmary. You're feeling a bit better, but you also know that radiation poisoning increase serotonin before it kills you. It's unlikely, but it'll put your mind at rest.

>>4165309
>Stay in the break room, maybe try and steal something from the fridge for breakfast. You should keep an eye on the coding room.

>>4165309
>Maybe you should still head to the infirmary. You're feeling a bit better, but you also know that radiation poisoning increase serotonin before it kills you. It's unlikely, but it'll put your mind at rest.

>>4165309
>Stay in the break room, maybe try and steal something from the fridge for breakfast. You should keep an eye on the coding room.
We should make absolutely sure that nobody actually does manage to find and unplug it. And hey, we might be able to steal a certain microwave casserole.

>>4165309
>Stay in the break room, maybe try and steal something from the fridge for breakfast. You should keep an eye on the coding room.

Hopefully the food will make us feel better and we can always head to the infirmary afterwards.

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>>4165312
>>4165314
>>4165323
>>4165333
>>4165335
You shuffle back to the break room, still feeling the migraine gently knocking on the inside of your skull. The spywork took your mind off it for a minute, maybe finally getting something to eat will help. You crouch down at the refrigerator, while focusing your hearing on the code room. You don't hear any signs of suspicion. They all just seem to be lost in their regular science talk. Maybe one day you should learn how all of this works. When you inevitably have to somersault through a grid of lasers while one of the scientists laughs maniacally, it would be nice to actually understand his monologue. One of the styrofoam boxes lacks a name, and so you decide to make it yours. Inside is a turkey sandwich likely left as a scientists lunch. You eat away while the science team filters in. Even as most of them come in on a late train, you'll still don't see the self described prodigy Dr. Freeman. You throw the empty box away, trying to give CIA computers as much time as you can give them by taking your helmet off and resting your head on the cold break room table. More scientists pass by, even Dr. Freeman finally arrives, and makes his mark by blowing up a vile looking microwave casserole and running away. When you're pretty much sure the government hackers have had enough time, you make your way to the blast doors, when the lights shut off.

One of the scientists jumps, shouting "What the hell?" The guard who's replaced you at your post looks to you, asking with his eyes if you know anything about this.

The migraine is whispering again.

>Is this part of the test?
>You can blame me for the computer, you can't possibly blame me for the power.
>Just stay quiet, and keep a hand on your gun.
>You really feel like you should get away from here. Make for the tram.
>It'll probably turn on again, right?
>Nope. No. This is how horror movies start, you're making a break for the bathroom and making an emergency call to your handler.

>>4165374
>Ask one of the scientists if they know what might be happening
Any critical tests happening today, by any chance?

>>4165374
>>Is this part of the test?
Ah fuck, time's running out

>>4165374
>Just stay quiet, and keep a hand on your gun

>>4165386
>>4165390
>>4165402
"What's happening? Is this part of today's test?" You ask to one of the doctors, who seems surprised, but curious.

"Hmmm... We were putting high amounts of power into the equipment. I guess the system failed to handle today's test." He groans. "We told the administrator it was dangerous, I guess we should just be lucky that it was only a capacitor shortage."

The migraine is getting louder. You can hear it's cold computerized chant.

>Screw security codes, you need to investigate this yourself. They have a whole hydroelectric dam for themselves.
>You still feel like you need to leave. Make for the vault.
>No, it's definitely more than a failure. Tell the scientist to stay close to the vault door, be ready to protect him and the guard.
>Hone in on the migraine. What is it saying?

>>4165421
>Screw security codes, you need to investigate this yourself. They have a whole hydroelectric dam for themselves.
>Try to persuade some scientists into following you, they might be able to help
To the spectrometer!

>>4165421
>Screw security codes, you need to investigate this yourself. They have a whole hydroelectric dam for themselves.
Someone stop it!

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>>4165428
>>4165453
"Power failure? How the hell are we gonna overload a hydroelectric damn?" You respond.

"It's all very powerful equipment, you must understand." He explains.

"No, I don't understand. I don't think you do either. Come on, let's go investigate." you rest your hand on your glock in it's holster.

"Hey!" The security guard at the desk shouts. "You don't have credentials for down there."

"Then I'll make my own credentials. You!" You look at the scientist. "Come with me, let's check this out."

"Oh dear, I'd advise against against it. The equipment is sensitive, I'd advise against it."

"Well thankfully it's all been turned off-"

The lights come back on, bright enough to burn your eyes, then they shatter. You hear an explosion, then another, then the building starts shaking. You can't see, but you hear the scientist screaming and...

The migraine is screaming. Your vision is red.

>Duck and cover! Go for under a desk or in a doorway.
>Try to listen to the migraine.
>Run for the vault door.
>It's time for the emergency call.
>Yell at the scientist to calm down, try to take charge.

>>4165485
>>Duck and cover! Go for under a desk or in a doorway.

>>4165485
>Try to listen to the migraine.
Alright, G-Man, I’ll bite. What’s the magic migraine got in store for us?

>>4165485
>Try to listen to the migraine.

>>4165485
>Try to listen to the migraine

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>>4165489
>>4165492
>>4165496
>>4165499
You focus on the thumping chants, the screeching of machines and gears grinding together. It seems to expand forever. The mechanical screaming, it lacks the hate you first thought it had. It does not fear, nor does it hate or regret. It simply orders its forces to prepare. You are an ant. You, your whole species will be stepped on and hardly noticed, the migraine warns. It does not taunt, in fact, strangely enough, it speaks as though you are one of it's soldiers.

You feel dragged in by its orders, not as a soldier of course, but as an interloper among the titanic ranks. You can not translate them, but you know you must remember them.

You feel a knife in the back of your neck. Your body stops listening to your mind. Sparks of something green race down the hallways, and you hear those in the room with you scream. The scientist rushes to help you as you seize on the ground, but then you hear something screech, and then the scientist starts screaming. Boots sprint toward the blast door, away from the danger. You lose track of time as you seize, but when you stop, you smell fire, hear screaming, and the red finally drains from your eyes.

>Look for the scientist.
>Call in with your emergency calls.
>Run for the blast door, maybe a tram is still there.
>Go investigate downstairs.
>Look for an alternate exit, somewhere you can't be tracked through.

>>4165524
Fucking Combine. I wonder if we’ll be able to stop them this time.
>Go investigate downstairs.
That scientist has definitely been headcrabbed, let’s just watch not to get eviscerated by zombies.

>>4165524
>>Call in with your emergency calls.

>>4165524
>Go investigate downstairs

>>4165524
>Call in with your emergency calls.

how does the dice system for the quest work?

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>>4165547
>>4165548
>>4165569
>>4165596

You ignore the fire, the twitching bodies, step over the broken glass and try and make your way through the smoke and alarms. This wasn't an explosion, it came from downstairs, but passed straight through the walls and floor. Could there have been gas in pipes that got overloaded? Why would they be running pipes through offices? You hear more screaming. You reach under your shirt, and fish out emergency comms. You try to click the little device on, and you only can hear static.You try restarting it a few times, checking secondary frequencies each time. No good. Maybe you should try later.

At first it looks like a scientist. You call out to him. "Are you all right?"

He seems to be dripping with blood, and you soon realize why. His chest cavity is torn open, and his arms twisted into claws. Something has wrapped onto his face, and his struggling to control his twisted body.

>Approach cautiously. Maybe it's still possible to remove whatever has attached itself. He'd need a surgeon.
>Don't take risks. This is the exact kind of evil science you came to prevent. Take aim and fire a burst. (Roll 3d6, kills on a 12, lose 3 of 17 ammo.)
>He's slow, don't waste bullets. Kick him right in the spot where his head was. (Roll 3d6, stuns on a 10, kills on a 13.)

>>4165614
>He's slow, don't waste bullets. Kick him right in the spot where his head was. (Roll 3d6, stuns on a 10, kills on a 13.)
It’s really the better option. Same amount of dice, lower threshold for at least some success and doesn’t waste ammo. 13 vs 12 isn’t a good enough deal to spend 3 bullets on.

>>4165614
>
>Don't take risks. This is the exact kind of evil science you came to prevent. Take aim and fire a burst. (Roll 3d6, kills on a 12, lose 3 of 17 ammo.)
Any dead security guards? We can just take the guns and ammo from them.

>>4165614
>He's slow, don't waste bullets. Kick him right in the spot where his head was. (Roll 3d6, stuns on a 10, kills on a 13.)

>>4165614
Well shit majority vote to kung fu. I hope it's worth it. if we manage to defeat the zombie could we go back to the locker room to retrieve one of those Hazard suits?

Rolled 4, 4, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>4165613
Decided mainly by three d6, so probability follows a bell curve with 11 being the median. I'll state what the threshold is when an option demands, please roll when you say an option that demands a roll, it just makes it slightly easier for my incredibly slow writing skills to handle.

>>4165617
Kicking enemies grows exponentially harder when they have a fully functioning motor neuron system.

>>4165617
>>4165619
>>4165620

You holster your gun, and hold up your arms to take the hit if it swings. Up close you see that if it ever was human, it isn't anymore. The opening in the chest should've killed it, and there are bones showing. It's visage is disturbing. You'd bet however that it's cracked open sternum is vulnerable. You plant one boot on the ground, and let another swing around, gaining inertia before smacking the target.

>>4165623
The two scientists you met earlier took two out of the three, and the third one you'd know by now belonged to Dr. Freeman, who was "in the barrel today."
>>4165631
Your foot spins around and lands right on the exposed ribs, pushing them down into the soft organs. The creature reels in pain, letting out a disturbingly human scream, and falls to the ground.

>Stomp on it's guts and finish the thing.
>Try and see what happens if you peel the creature that's latched onto the head off. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
>Just keep running downstairs. Leave the gross stuff for the biologists.
>That screamed sounded too human. Try and... see if the scientist can still hear you under there?

>>4165631
Ooh, trips. Does that count for something?
>please roll when you say an option that demands a roll
You sure about that, mate? Generally when an especially good or bad roll happens it influences players to vote for or against that option, like they’re cheating the system. People jump ship from the less favoured option and aren’t forced to stand by what they decided would be the best choice when presented with otherwise equal options.
>>4165619
>We can just take the guns and ammo from them.
>implying Gordon hasn’t already swept the area for every last 9mm bullet
>implying he isn’t already amassing an impossible collection of weaponry as we speak
We’ll be lucky if the psychopath forgets to pick up a tripmine.

>>4165645
That's a good point that I've never thought about. Alright, I'll keep rolling.

Rolled 4, 4, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>4165641
>That screamed sounded too human. Try and... see if the scientist can still hear you under there?
Rolling for us to back up and aim a gun at him and to shoot him dead if need be if he tries anything. I don't know much about half-life to be honest.
After we're done here, can we get the HazSuits?

>>4165645
What we need is to get creative then. Get a lead pipe and a large kitchen top for a Sword & Shield Combo for the zombies and little head crab shitters.

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>>4165641
>Stomp on its head and finish the thing.
We should never, EVER put any of our appendages in a zombie’s torso-mouth. Seriously, those things become fully-functional mouths later in life. Just look at the gonome.
This isn’t even OOC thinking, nobody in their right mind would put their foot in there.

>>4165660
You seem more knowledgeable. What should we do? Shoot it?

>>4165641
>Try and see what happens if you peel the creature that's latched onto the head off. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
>>4165657
Ah damn, what a waste

>>4165669
The original prompt was “stomp it’s guts” but he changed it to “stomp it’s head.”

Rolled 2, 5, 5 = 12 (3d6)

>>4165657
>After we're done here, can we get the HazSuits?
Maybe? They're not growing on trees. The three that we're in Anomolous Materials are taken, and you'd have no idea where any others were. OOC you're gonna get a cool stealth suit.
>>4165660
>>4165669
>>4165675

You look to the gaping, necrotic maw in it's chest. You're a trained soldier whose been through some disgusting stuff, but that's just unhealthy, even if it is vulnerable. Still, it sounds so human. You decide to leave off the killshot for a second, and call to it.

"Doctor, doctor can you hear me?" You say with the commanding tone you learned to use during interrogations. You're sweating. This picked up quick. You don't have time to wait, he either lives when you try this, or he's already dead. You grab the small tendrils of the creature, and yank. You place your foot near enough to the head, so you can stomp it if need be.

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>>4165669
Headcrab zombies’ weak points are the headcrabs themselves, which are the big things latching onto the head like a facehugger. They can take four or five times more punishment to the body than the head. Also, the headcrab may abandon its current host and try to latch onto our head instead.
Not that we actually know that yet, of course. Still, it’s a good rule of thumb to go for the head or neck, right? Especially when the thing’s guts are already hanging out and it doesn’t seem to care?
And as for not playing Half Life, you totally should. There’s a free trial up on Steam right now, go check it out. It’s old as balls so it takes next to no storage space and runs really smoothly.

>>4165681
Tried to do my best to merge the responses there.
The small creature lets out a high pitched scream, while the small creature lets out a lower pitched, human scream. Your put your foot on the shoulder, to brace the scientists body, and it tears off, along with flesh on the scientists head. The smaller parasite is limp in your hands, and the scientist is dead.

You pull away, disgusted. So he was already dead. The parasite seems weaker than you thought. If you can, you could probably save bullets firing exclusively at that. You make your way through the Anomalous materials lab, further towards the basement. One of the elevators appears to have separated from it's cable, and you have to take a ladder. The first humans you see downstairs are a wounded Dr. Kleiner, and Dr. Eli Vance.

"Ms. Oppenheimer, by god why would you want to come down here?"

>What the hell did you people do down here?
>I need to find out what's going on of course.
>Now's not the time for secrecy, pull out your CIA badge, and tell them to get up, you'd need a science team on hand to interrogate scientists.
>Why are you still down here?
>You can hear more explosions from below. Ask them what caused this.

>>4165696
>I need to find out what's going on of course.
>Ask a security guard I'm sort of responsible for your safety
>Please tell me you have guns. I really hope this isn't a zombie out break like in the movies.
>Assess injuries, see if they can walk or if they need to be moved, and figure out where they should go.

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>>4165669
Also, OP’s comment made me realise I should probably tell you who and what we are since it’s all stuff our character would know anyway. We’re a female assassin currently undercover as a security guard. We can do sick flips and turn invisible and shit, and our special glock goes pew-pew-pew instead of bang-bang-bang. Watch this video to understand:
https://youtu.be/sbb9YYkag94
Also important is pic related. We’re the female model on the far left, but the three males are our allies unless we decide they’re not.
Also, those hazsuits? They’re called HEV suits, and we are not going to see one available for a very long time, if ever. They’re also capable of withstanding electricity, flesh-melting radiation and (at least in-game) shots from Abrams tanks, meaning we probably shouldn’t pick a fight with any of the three people wearing one right now.

>>4165696
>I need to find out what's going on of course.
INTEL

>>4165708
Supporting this.

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>>4165718
The HEV suits also notably protect against the will of elder gods. You should also DEFINITELY not pick fights against a marine with a gas mask and a monkey wrench.

>>4165718
>"Ms. Oppenheimer, by god why would you want to come down here?"
>Ms. Oppenheimer
>We’re a female assassin
Oh fuck my sides. I thought we were a dude this whole time. Gotta say I like the music. Here's hoping we find one of those HEV suits to take pack to the Pentagon.

>>4165728
Isn't outright saying Intel blowing our cover?

>>4165732
Marines with gas masks, monkey wrenches and HEV suits? What now??

>>4165645
Oh yeah a thought came to mind. Freeman will be hording a lot of guns and ammo, but he can't carry all of it right? I didn't play the game but I assume there's an ammo cap to what you can carry. At the very least we can grab the guns he leaves behind to use as improvised melee weapons when the ammo runs out.

>>4165732
Don’t worry, we’ll have ample time to avoid him when we hear his loudmouthed squad behind him.
>Squad, quiet down!
>I bet you could get lost in this place real easy!
>Squad, quiet down!
>Government coverups were NOT in my job description!
>Squad, quiet down!
SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY, I EXHAUSTED YOUR QUOTE POOL TEN MINUTES IN

>>4165708
>>4165728
>>4165730
"I need to know what's going on. Not only am I responsible for your health and safety, I need to keep in the loop from know on," You command.

"No, you need to get out of here, get to the surface! I need to watch Izzy. I already sent Gordon to get help, but the more people out of here the better! We can't predict what will happen."

You can't tell if Dr. Vance is too caring for his own goods, or trying to cover his ass.

"Well... do you at least have any weapons? Fireams, knives, even just blunt objects?" You ask.

"No but... all the doors are locked."

"Not well enough. The mechanical emergency lock is too easy to pick." You correct.

Vance looks confused, and asks "What, how do you know that?"

You dodge the question, and respond, "I need to know what caused this doctor. Was it those parasites, is this like one of those zombie movies?"

"What? No it was the damned test. The subject fractured and caused a... well... picture the universe as a..." He starts on what was clearly going to be a thought experiment, but you stop him. You can hear it when you don't smell smoke. However any explanation of a calamity that starts with "picture the universe as a..." can't be good.


"Look, can Dr. Kleiner be moved?" You interrupt.

"With the both of us, maybe, but we'll be slow. I've stabilized him the best I can."

>You're right, you two are gonna have to stay.
>There's gotta be a safer place than meters away from ground zero, come with me.
>We're gonna have to leave Dr. Kleiner.
>I wanna take a look at ground zero.

>>4165745
>but he can't carry all of it right?
HE CAN AND HE WILL.

>>4165750
Wouldn't we be working on the same side of the marine?

>>4165374
>Stealing other peoples lunches
YOU ******!

>>4165485
Yeah i was like 14 got scared at this part jumped to my death and shut off the game.

>>4165763
>"Not well enough. The mechanical emergency lock is too easy to pick." You correct.
Why.... why would she say that?

>There's gotta be a safer place than meters away from ground zero, come with me

THAT'S TOO MANY GUNS. HE WOULD LITERALLY BE CARRYING AROUND HUNDREDS OF GUNS, AND ONLY 1/10 OF THE AMMO TO FIRE THEM ALL.
HE WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO CRAWL THROUGH TIGHT PLACES.[SPOILER]

>>4165773
Well shit any armor, weapons and medical supplies we come across would be appreciated.

>There's gotta be a safer place than meters away from ground zero, come with me.
We are not leaving my boys Kleiner and Eli behind. It’s the IC thing to do. Though I wonder if changing things will actually get them or even Alyx killed...

>>4165745
>Here's hoping we find one of those HEV suits to take pack to the Pentagon.
Eh, the government already have that kind of stuff. It’s called a PCV (Powered Combat Vest), and it presumably does everything a HEV suit does. It’s most notably used by Adrian Shephard (pic related), the protagonist of the HL expansion pack Opposing Force and the man who will undoubtedly explode our entire body with a pipe wrench if we look at him wrong.
But yeah, IC knowledge is that at least some of the marines have their own power armour. I’m not sure how a PCV shapes up when compared to a proper HEV in terms of lore, but it’s at least enough to stop a centre-mass shotgun blast without even knocking the target back more than six inches, let alone seriously damaging them.

>>4165765
Theoretically.

>>4165774
>>4165745
>doubting the One Free Man’s ability to carry weapons
Oh, ye of little faith.

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>>4165777
Forgot the fuckin’ image. Look upon him. He is Shephard, destroyer of worlds and maker of gibs.

>>4165763
>There's gotta be a safer place than meters away from ground zero, come with me.

>>4165777
>>4165786
Why the delete and repost?
Hey! How's he even suppose to carry all of it?

>>4165791
Videogame.

>>4165774
Oh boy. My memory on half life is fading a bit but i remember taking several chapters just to fill the basic gun. That ammo is as good as gone, anon
>>4165786
Yeah. And absolutely irrelevant. Tho I hope we can get some of his weirder weapons.

>>4165797
Ah. Didn't know Half-Life was more of the survivalist / rationing ammo type of game. Well we are a security guard and we should have knowledge about any facilities the security staff should have access to. Namely the armory.

>>4165791
HEV pockets stretch deep.

>>4165797
>And absolutely irrelevant
Take it back, hostile.

>>4165774
>>4165777
>>4165790
Too convince Eli/Kleiner to either leave or get some weapons. It's not that weird to know about locks. Most would assume "Hobbyist/locksmith" before "CIA agent"
>>4165807
Don't worry, you won't be following directly after Freeman.

"Alright, well, we're right near ground zero. If this is as bad as it sounds, we don't want to be this close." You command. You take a look at Kleiner, and start to ask him some questions. "Do you have any spinal pain? Neck or back? Can you move your legs?" All of these things could effect the way you have to carry him, and in turn, how fast you can travel.

"No I... I was hit by flying glass. I should be fine I just... need a bit of rest."

Rest you might not be able to afford. From experience, the longer you stay near explosions the worse. Secondary blasts, more of those parasites, collapses. The risk grows by the minute.

>Have Eli drag him on top of a fire blanket. It's slow, but ensures you'll be free to shoot or attack.
>Have Eli walk with Kleiner. It put's more stress on kleiner, but will be faster and leave you free to shoot.
>Walk with Eli and Kleiner. Only leaves one hand to shoot, but it puts less stress on kleiner.
>Have each of you play a part in carrying Kleiner, it's fast, puts no stress on Kleiner's wounds, but you;ll have to put him down to shoot.

>>4165827
>Walk with Eli and Kleiner. Only leaves one hand to shoot, but it puts less stress on kleiner.
Maybe we'll get lucky and find a dead body with a gun on it, as morbid as that sounds.

You know, it just now occurs to me that we really don’t know who left us the picture at the start. We “spoke” to at least one advisor but the Combine surely wouldn’t broadcast their own impending failure. G-Man might have done it but we don’t know if he can see the future, and he probably wouldn’t put the cascade at risk of being stopped by informing a black ops agent that shit is about to go down to seemingly no benefit. I wonder if it’s the vortigaunts

>>4165827
>Have each of you play a part in carrying Kleiner, it's fast, puts no stress on Kleiner's wounds, but you;ll have to put him down to shoot.

>>4165827
>Walk with Eli and Kleiner. Only leaves one hand to shoot, but it puts less stress on kleiner.
Let’s get out of here before we find out this version of Gordon doesn’t make a habit of killing everything in a five-mile radius.

>>4165838
Hey, maybe if we go to the antimatter mumbojumbo we'll get more visions or something. Though shit is kind of exploding right now

>>4165837
>>4165840
>>4165844

You help Kleiner to his feet, and he groans as his wounds strain against his own weight. "Oh dear..." he moans.

"Hang in there Izzy, we'll get to the infirmary. It's not far." He says. "We can't take the tram. It's not safe in a fire, I can only imagine how dangerous it could be in a resonance cascade.

Resonance Cascade, that's what this is called. You get the feeling that you'll need an encyclopedia by the time you reach the infirmary.

You start walking down the halls, having to divert towards stairs where the elevators have failed. One of those zombies is screaming to itself at the midway point.

>Let go of Kleiner to better fight the zombie.
>Shoot the zombie with one arm quickly. (Roll a 3d6, kill on a 14, spend 3 ammo.)

>>4165862
>Let go of Kleiner to better fight the zombie.
It'll be quick, only a few seconds.

>>4165862
>Let go of Kleiner to better fight the zombie
Ah shit, thats more high than what im comfortable with

>>4165862
>Let go of Kleiner to better fight the zombie.

>>4165862
>>Shoot the zombie with one arm quickly. (Roll a 3d6, kill on a 14, spend 3 ammo.)

Rolled 1, 1, 2 = 4 (3d6)

>>4165862

>>4165868
>>4165869
>>4165915
>>4165944
>>4166259
Kleiner groans as he is forced to brace some of his own weight. Fearing that he might fall down the stairs, Vance grabs the rail and braces himself. The zombie, who was seemingly content in his own shuffling, hears this and starts to shamble towards the duo. It's not quick, and you could easily approach it before it approaches the scientists, but that might put some distance between you and the scientist.

>Shoot the zombie. Roll 3d6, kill on a 12, -3/17 ammo, and stay close.
>Get closer and kick it. Roll 3d6, stun on a 10, kill on a 13, will put some distance between you and the pair.
>Wait for the zombie to approach, then kick it. Roll 3d6, stun on a 10, kill on a 13, It will swing at you if you miss.

>>4166569
>Get closer and kick it. Roll 3d6, stun on a 10, kill on a 13, will put some distance between you and the pair.
Hey OP, not trying to backseat drive but have you thought about adding better benefits for the gun? It’s currently a much less attractive option than kicking and more people might choose it if you made it more appealing (e.g. killing on significantly lower rolls than the kick, permanently injuring instead of just stunning on rolls slightly under success?)

>>4166576
The kick will be a lot less useful when enemies are moving faster/more numerous/have their own ranged attacks. Zombies are so telegraphed in their attacks that you can get your kick in before they hit you. The same will not be true for the more dangerous xen aliens, or even just multiple zombies at a time. I'm keeping it light for the time being, since I'm working it out as I go, but it shouldn't be long until the kick loses some of it's bite and the gun becomes comparatively more effective, and ammo a bit more common. I'll also probably make it so that, since your firing bursts, shots that don't kill still make it far easier for the next burst to kill, as some of those three bullets made significant hits, just not all.

>>4166594
Ah, I see what you mean. That seems like a good way to do it.

>>4166569
>Get closer and kick it. Roll 3d6, stun on a 10, kill on a 13, will put some distance between you and the pair.

Rolled 1, 1, 2 = 4 (3d6)

>>4166576
>>4166652
You quickly jaunt up the stairs, and with your inertia, smash your boot into the zombie. From a lower position on the stairs, and being slightly shorter than the zombie, you can't hit the head crab, but aiming for above the center of mass makes it hard for any opponent to stay standing, much less one with compromised motor functions.

Rolled 3, 5, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>4166663
The stairs knock you off balance. You stay standing, but your foot is knocked down as your mass swings around the spot where foot hit the stair ahead of you. You end up with a leg between the zombies legs. The zombie reels his sharpened fingers back to take his own swing at you.

>>4166666
I should've stated the threshold there, he just barely hit you. It's twelve, for future reference.

You pull back, trying to almost "limbo" below the swipe, but the bloody claws just gash across you, and they leave a small, but dirty gash. It stings like hell.

>Go for the kick again, you're in a good position to sweep it's legs out. (Roll 3d6, stuns on an 8, kills on a 13.)
>You're face to face with the headcrab, punch it hard enough to crack something in the parasite. (Roll 3d6, kills on an 11.)
>You've had enough of this, pull your gun, place it against the headcrab, and pull the trigger. (Roll 3d6, kills on a 7, and spends 3/17 ammo.)

>>4166673
>Go for the kick again, you're in a good position to sweep it's legs out. (Roll 3d6, stuns on an 8, kills on a 13.)

>>4166673
>You've had enough of this, pull your gun, place it against the headcrab, and pull the trigger. (Roll 3d6, kills on a 7, and spends 3/17 ammo.)

>>4166673
>>Go for the kick again, you're in a good position to sweep it's legs out. (Roll 3d6, stuns on an 8, kills on a 13.)

>>4166666
Nice quints.

>>4166673
>Go for the kick again, you're in a good position to sweep it's legs out. (Roll 3d6, stuns on an 8, kills on a 13.)
Let’s hope Gordon hasn’t eaten all the health kits. If I remember rightly there’s a health station in the bathroom next to the HEV station, we should head there after we finish this zombie. Then we can get ourselves and Kleiner patched up.

>>4166732
>>4166744
>>4166749
>>4166754
You flick your leg into the shambling creatures ankle as it follows through with it's slash. The parasite already struggles to control it's host, shuffling in it's attempts to maintain balance on the small step. If you do this well, he met start rolling down the stairs, and most certainly have the dexterity to stop himself.

>>4166754
Don't forget, you're not wearing an HEV suit. Be careful around biohazards with open wounds.

Rolled 2, 4, 6 = 12 (3d6)

>>4166798
Oh shit, sorry. accidentally refreshed once, and forgot to input dice.

>>4166798
But the HEV station isn’t near biohazards, is it? It’s just in a locker room. Even then, there’s a second health station in the server room and a third in the Sector B airlock.

Rolled 3, 6, 6 = 15 (3d6)

>>4166801
The force of the fall isn't enough to knock the headcrab off, but it's enough to make something crack. If that wasn't bad enough, it starts rolling, leaving a trail of blood and decay along the stairs. The zombie moans as it hits the bottom, but even with a clearly snapped clavicle, and twisted foot, stands up, only a few feet away from Eli and Kleiner. Your up the stairs, if you simply run down, it'll get a swipe off on the scientists.

>Fire a burst down the stairs. Roll a 3d6, 10+ will finish him off, but anything below an 8 might hit the scientists.
>Let one of them take it, and kick him. Cold, but better than risking worse injuries. Roll 3d6, 10+ will kill, but Vance will take a hit.
>Leap down the stairs and tackle him. No one gets hit, and the zombie definitely dies. Roll 3d6, anything under a 14 and you hurt yourself in the process.

>>4166808
It's Black Mesa, those health stations are placed every where because everything else is a health hazard.

>>4166818
>Leap down the stairs and tackle him. No one gets hit, and the zombie definitely dies. Roll 3d6, anything under a 14 and you hurt yourself in the process.
Brave jump!

>>4166818
>Leap down the stairs and tackle him. No one gets hit, and the zombie definitely dies. Roll 3d6, anything under a 14 and you hurt yourself in the process.
GET SOME

Rolled 4, 2, 6 = 12 (3d6)

>>4166826
>>4166828
You coil up, crouching down, and placing your center of mass directly in the center of the thrust provided by your legs, perpendicular to the angle of the stairs. CIA training taught this move as a last resort to capture a target, you risk injuring the target, and yourself. Thankfully one of those things is the intention, so you've removed half of the equation. All you need is for the breaking of the zombies bones to pad the inertia of your own body.

It's a really good thing your wearing a helmet.

>>4166842
Good news? Doctors are safe and we can kill the crabs. Bad news? I hope we didn't break any bones.

>>4166842
God damn, first fucking encounter and we already got injured

>>4166842
Ouchie. At least Izzy and Elly are okay.

Rolled 3, 4, 4 = 11 (3d6)

>>4166842
You kick off the stairs, and for a second time slows as you see the zombie reel back it's arms. Thankfully the shambling, barely in control parasite is not a match for 9.8 meters per second per second. Your legs spike into it's torso, snapping bones and causing organs to pop like balloons. All too soon however the padding of the zombie runs out, and the force transfers to you. You try to push it into a roll, but even with the cushioning and your dexterity, you wince as your ankle twists, and then your shoulder smacks into the ground. You're lucky it's nothing long lasting, but it won't deny that it hurts to stand back up. It's gonna be sore tomorrow.

Kleiner shouts "Great scott!" at the very fact that you can stand back up. Most security guards aren't particularly active.

Eli looks at you honestly surprised. "Where the hell did you learn to do that..."

>I've watched a lot of Bruce Lee movies.
>I take martial arts classes as a hobby.
>You've been nice Dr. Vance, so I'll just say it's better if you don't know.
>Maybe you should just show them your badge. You're pretty sure your mission is void when zombies become real.

>>4166864
>>Maybe you should just show them your badge. You're pretty sure your mission is void when zombies become real.
I think Gabby already has some idea tha her goverment will be in shambles by tomorrow

>>4166864
>Maybe you should just show them your badge. You're pretty sure your mission is void when zombies become real.
>”Now, let’s try and make our way to the apartment complex. I’ve got a nest-egg of weapons, ammo and a pretty cool suit saved up for special occasions.”

>>4166864
>I've watched a lot of Bruce Lee movies.
>I take martial arts classes as a hobby.

>>4166874
>>4166880
Why should we reveal it so early?

>I think Gabby already has some idea tha her goverment will be in shambles by tomorrow
How would she know that? Who's Gabby?

>>4166891
Gabriella Oppenheimer is our characters name

>>4166891
Because if we wait too long and then reveal it, or even worse get it forcibly revealed by someone else, then Eli and Kleiner won’t trust us anymore.

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>>4166874
The BMI took a few days, and the seven hour war another seven hours. OOC, You've still got a few days left before EVERYTHING is fucked. Although you're perfectly free to interperate the BMI in character as the apocalypse.

>>4166891
Gabriella Oppenheimer, it's the name that was chosen. It combines everyone's favorite things, nuclear explosives and Gabe Newwal.

>>4166874
>>4166880
You consider a few thousand excuses, but none of them will draw away suspicion. Right now is a special occasion, where people need a leader. If you try to explain away your feats, they'll just distrust you. You reach under your shirt, find the concealed pocket, and pull out a badge in the shape of a shield with a eagle peaking above. "Alright, jig is up. I was sent here by the pentagon to monitor Black Mesa. I think it's clear the situation has changed. I'm gonna make sure as many people can get out of here as possible, so hopefully we can organize a solution." You explicitly leave out the part where that solution could well involve bombing the facility.

"You've been spying on us? How much do you know of the facility? Are there more of you?" Kleiner asks. He honestly sounds more curious than accusatory. You've already observed that the scientists are usually either totally enthralled with the politics of black mesa, or apathetic to it. Kleiner is the latter.

"I don't have much information, but what I do know is I have a cache of equipment and multiple methods of contact at the apartments." You explain. "If we make our way their, I can protect you better and contact the government."

"Good idea!' Vance almost shouts. "My family won't be far, I can find them their as well." As he says that, you know that it's not a suggestion, he'll do it regardless of your opinion.

>We'll should still stop at an infirmary on the way, or at least take some medical supplies we can find. We'll move faster if we're not limping.
>We should reroute straight there. The tram is probably unsafe, but maybe we can find a car on the surface and drive to the apartments.
>We should move through the back ends of the facility. Their will be less people, and therefore less zombies.

>>4166923
>We'll should still stop at an infirmary on the way, or at least take some medical supplies we can find. We'll move faster if we're not limping.

>>4166923
>We'll should still stop at an infirmary on the way, or at least take some medical supplies we can find. We'll move faster if we're not limping.

>>4166923
>We'll should still stop at an infirmary on the way, or at least take some medical supplies we can find. We'll move faster if we're not limping.
Again, there’s three health kits on this floor alone. The best one to go to would be the one in the bathroom of the locker room where the HEVs are since we’ll have a chance to raid some supplies from the lockers. I mean, Barney was allowed to bullets in his locker and Gordon a HEV battery in his, so Black Mesa regulations can’t be too restrictive here. Maybe we’ll find a real melee weapon?

>>4166937
At this point anything would be welcomed.

>>4166927
>>4166929
>>4166937
"Okay, we should try to be direct, but we'll go nowhere fast limping. Let's see if we can find any medical supplies before we leave. There's plenty of first aid equipment on the walls." You command.

"Most of those are stuck in the walls, they're advanced systems that administer medication on the spot. We can use them here, but we can't take them with us." Kleiner explains.

"Alright, then we raid the locker rooms. I'd bet some of the scientists have prescription painkillers. If nothing else we can tear up clothes to turn into bandages that we can take with us." You say, ushering them onward. The three of you walk with the wounded Kleiner, encountering the bloody corpses of scientists, and even more corpses of zombies. Many of them seem to have been killed with blunt force trauma. Someone's been busy in the labs. In the hallways you do manage to encounter a health station, but you're not really sure how to use the thing. You never really paid attention to the first aid around here, but typically they're just a box filled with medical equipment. This looks closer to a computer.

Vance has to show you how to operate it, while saying something about "Automated medicinal application" and "bio-metric scanning." The device makes a low pitched whaling sound, and Kleiner gives a sigh of relief.

Tentatively, you put your hand into the device, feel a prick, and slowly the pain starts to drain away. The slight migraine still doesn't go away.

At first the locker-room seems empty. You tentatively step in, then wave the two scientists in. "Alright... check your lockers first then..."

The migraine yelps. The air itself sizzles, then a green flash blinds you. Some three armed, browned skin cyclopean creature is standing before you.

>Quick reflexes, you shoot it even before your vision settles. (Roll 3d6, kill on a 12.)
>The martial arts has been doing well on most of these things. Kick it. (Roll 3d6, stun on an 11, kill on a 14, he will get an attack off on you.)
>You know... maybe this thing is intelligent. Try to communicate with it? Yeah, explain your authority on Earth, and explain the credentials of the men with you.

>>4166976
>Quick reflexes, you shoot it even before your vision settles. (Roll 3d6, kill on a 12.)

>>4166976
>Quick reflexes, you shoot it even before your vision settles. (Roll 3d6, kill on a 12.)
No electroschizoids allowed here!

>>4166976
>Quick reflexes, you shoot it even before your vision settles. (Roll 3d6, kill on a 12.)

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>>4166976

>You know... maybe this thing is intelligent. Try to communicate with it? Yeah, explain your authority on Earth, and explain the credentials of the men with you.
Oh shit, it’s a vortigaunt.
Question is, are they currently under mind control? I’d say yes, but let’s try to communicate. Very, VERY carefully. Worst case scenario, we can jump behind a wall while it charges its attack.

>>4166993
On second thought, probably not a good idea. Sorry, vorty, time to die.
>Quick reflexes, you shoot it even before your vision settles. (Roll 3d6, kill on a 12.)
Let’s try communication if we find a wounded one, though.

Rolled 5, 1, 3 = 9 (3d6)

>>4166982
>>4166983
>>4166986
>>4166997
You quickly grab your gun, seeing something spark in it's hand. The massive eyes looks rather vulnerable. Aligning the sights, you pull on the trigger, and let out a burst of three shots.

>>4167024
These shitty rolls man

>>4167024
Dammit. Let’s hope we wounded it enough to activate the retreating behaviour.

Rolled 4, 4, 6 = 14 (3d6)

>>4167024
Your vision is still reeling from the flash of teleportation. The creature seems to yelp, and then the light from it's hands blasts toward you. Hit's on an 11.

>>4167043
FUCK

>>4167043
The minor damage that you did do, didn't throw it off by much. Not knowing what to expect, a green beam lances out towards you, sending an electrical shock through your whole body. You struggle to stay upright as you spasm.
>Fire another burst, will use 4 of your 14 ammo. Roll 3d6, kill on a 10.
>Kick it in the eye.
>Roll 3d6, stun on a an 8, kill on a 12, he will get an attack off on you.

>>4167053
>Kick it in the eye.
What, no roll required? Okay, nice. I wonder what the unforseen consequences are.

>>4167053
>>Fire another burst, will use 4 of your 14 ammo. Roll 3d6, kill on a 10.
Jesus christ, we are so jinxed. Must be the natives ghosts.
>>4167058
We do roll, its just under the prompt

>>4167053
>Kick it in the eye.

>>4167053
>Kick it in the eye.

Rolled 6, 6, 3 = 15 (3d6)

>>4167053
>>4167058
>>4167059
>>4167060
>>4167064
Shit, I messed up those prompts pretty hard.
You jump forward and throw your foot towards the creatures hunched over face. One of it's small claws takes a swing at you. It'll hit you on a 13, but have no effect on your roll.

Rolled 1, 2, 5 = 8 (3d6)

>>4167067
jesus christ the dice
The creature cuts apart of your leg as it flies closer, it stings badly, but you keep your focus on the red orb in the center of the alien's face.

>>4167067
>>4167070
Yay, dice gods finally favour us for a change.
Shame it’s dead, though. I kind of wish we’d only wounded it so we could try communicating. Eli was good at that in canon, after all.

>>4167076
Oh wait, I’ve got that backwards. Fuck.

>>4167076
No, he hit us and we just stun. It said there he would get an attack on us

>>4167076
Someone played HLA
>>4167070
Your slip slightly on the smooth floor of the locker room, but hold your balance just enough to make the thing scream, and fall to it's knees. The force of your kick scrapes against the iris, causing the creature to grab at it's face.
>Grab it, hold it down. See if communication is possible.
>Just finish the damned thing.

>>4167081
>Grab it, hold it down. See if communication is possible.
Just cuz purplenon wants it

>>4167081
>Grab it, hold it down. See if communication is possible.
Fuck it why not. Shits only gonna go down hill from now on.

>>4167081
>Grab it, hold it down. See if communication is possible
I hope to god we’re not past the point of no return. Vorts tend to pussy out when they get too injured, so maybe it’ll surrender if we threaten it enough.
Yeah, I fucking wish. I’ve never even seen a basic VR system in person, much less what Valve’s packing these days. I just remember reading Eli was the first to make peaceful contact with a vort.

>>4167095
We made contact by beating its ass into submission. I think that's just as cool.

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>>4167087
>>4167089
>>4167095
You kneel next to the strange creature, bracing it to the floor with one hand, and holding the bullet hole in it's arm with another. You bark out the kind of things that make sense when making first contact. "My name is Agent Gabriella Oppenheimer of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. This makes me the highest local authority in the facility. Why have you come to earth."

The creature just mumbles something unintelligible. Eli kneels down. "I'm afraid it'll take more than a scary tone to get answers. It doesn't speak our language, we don't even know if it can."

"Is it a lost cause then?" You ask.

"Not entirely. We can start, maybe we'll notice a pattern in it's speech." He explains. "Try asking it a question again."

>What the hell are you?
>Do you have a name?
>Why shouldn't I finish you?
>Where are you from?
>Why did you attack?
>Take me to your leader.

>>4167105
>Do you have a name?
I guess we could say “GABRIELLA” and motion to ourselves and then motion to him? It worked in Tarzan.

>>4167105
>Do you have a name?
Dr. Pavel, I'm CIA.

>>4167105
>Why did you attack?

>>4167105
>What the hell are you?
E.T?

>>4167105
>Do you have a name?

>>4167108
>>4167110
>>4167112
>>4167113
>>4167128

"Do you have a name?" You say, slightly softer this time. If it can't understand you, you should probably try and copy Eli's tone. If it's willing in any way to communicate after being shot, it will be looking for an inquisitive, diplomatic tone. "Oppenheimer." You say, pointing to yourself. "Agent Oppenheimer!" Then you point to Eli, and say "Dr Vance!"

It grumbles something again.

"Hmm... could you try repeating that?" Asks Eli.

You try it again, this time pointing to Kleiner as well. It grumbles again.

"Fascinating. There's too much of a pattern. It seems to repeat the exact same sound... perhaps... perhaps it doesn't communicate through speech or... doesn't have the ability to formulate new sentences..."

>Maybe it's just part of a larger hive. Like bees.
>Maybe it's being coerced to only say that phrase.
>Maybe it's just in shock cause I shot it.
>Maybe it's just not as smart as I thought.

>>4167140
>maybe it got too much brain damage from getting kicked in the eye and head

>>4167140
>Maybe it's being coerced to only say that phrase.

>>4167140
>Maybe it's just in shock cause I shot it.

>>4167140
>Maybe it's being coerced to only say that phrase.

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>>4167143
>>4167145
>>4167147
>>4167150
"It's probably in shock. It just teleported here, and then I shot, and kicked it. I might've damaged it's brain, and it's definitely bleeding." You look down to your hand. It's covered in yellow goo. "At least I think it's bleeding."

Vance sighs, then says "You're probably right. I don't know for sure if it would've attacked us either way, but don't blame yourself for shooting it. You're doing a good job protecting us." Vance says.

Kleiner interrupts Dr. Vances session of enthusiasm by suggesting "I think we better get going... unless you have any ideas, I'd suggest we put it down..."

You take one last look over the creature. It's brown skin almost seems withered and decayed. You don't know much about alien biology, but even without the gunshots and the bruises, it doesn't look particularly healthy. You're not a scientist, but CIA training gave you a good bit of military knowledge. If it was a soldier, it wasn't a highly praised one. Perhaps this is the alien's unwilling conscript. "Maybe it's being coerced. It could be conditioned, enslaved..."

The migraine is whispering again, but it's a different voice. No general, a wiseman.

>Look for any suggestive markings. Branding, punishment scars.
>Check it's collar. Maybe it has something suggestive. An advanced species might not name their slaves, just give them some form of serial code.
>Listen to the migraine, even if it gave you a seizure last time. (Roll 3d6, pass above a 10)
>Kleiners right, you have no idea if they might just teleport another one into this room.

>>4167174
>Listen to the migraine, even if it gave you a seizure last time. (Roll 3d6, pass above a 10)

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>>4167174
>Look for any suggestive markings. Branding, punishment scars.
>Check it's collar. Maybe it has something suggestive. An advanced species might not name their slaves, just give them some form of serial code.
>Listen to the migraine, even if it gave you a seizure last time. (Roll 3d6, pass above a 10)
Why not all these?

>>4167174
>Listen to the migraine, even if it gave you a seizure last time. (Roll 3d6, pass above a 10)
Come on, Dice Gods.

>>4167186
I dunno if OP would allow that. But hey, I can only speak for myself. Is it okay, OP?

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>4167186
>>4167191
I'll allow it, but ignore this dice roll.

>>4167196
I cannot Ignore a one

Rolled 5, 1, 5 = 11 (3d6)

>>4167198
That one could go either way.
>>4167181
>>4167186
>>4167189
You start to examine the creatures body. It bears no brandings or signs of punishment. It seems unhealthy, but not beaten, burned, or bruised. Still, there are methods of punishment that don't leave scars, hell, you're trained in many of them. Next, you look over the "clothes" It's wearing. At first, you though it might be a metal collar, but to the touch it feels oddly organic. Perhaps they remove tags before sending them through, or keep track of their slaves through other means.

You sigh. You can't ignore it. The red is in the corner of your eyes again. You have an obligation here, your job as a CIA agent demands you sacrifice to gain intelligence. Perhaps this is even an obligation to humanity. You try to focus on the sound of the migraine.

>>4167207
Fucking clutch. A pass. Thank god.

>>4167207
The migraine is dull, quiet, and getting quieter by the second. What you thought was a whisper wasn't the ordered sound of language. It's the sound of a wiseman being strangled. It's everywhere, in this world, in the next, and in the world between worlds. The suffocation transcends space and time, and it doesn't fear you. It slowly clamps down onto you.

You do... or.. you will have that collar. You need to remove it.

You open your eyes, and realize you were holding your breath for far too long. You gasp for air, and as you do, you see the creature before you. His chest just barely rises. The skin is pulled around the collar.

>Yank the thing straight off. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 10, but hurt the vortgiaunt on an 8.)
>Try to find a release mechanism. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
>Eli is smart. Tell him it has to do with a collar, he'll be able to find a way to remove it.
>The asphyxia is everywhere. Put him out of his misery.

>>4167229
>Eli is smart. Tell him it has to do with a collar, he'll be able to find a way to remove it.
Come on, Eli, pull through for us.

>>4167229
>Try to find a release mechanism. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 12.)
>Eli is smart. Tell him it has to do with a collar, he'll be able to find a way to remove it.
Why not work together?

>>4167229
>Eli is smart. Tell him it has to do with a collar, he'll be able to find a way to remove it.
Party member, go!

>>4167234
>>4167245
>>4167249
As you gasp for air, you look to Eli. He asks you, "Are you alright, is this... are you having an asthma attack, will you need steroids?"

"No..." You respond. "I'll be fine." You take another deep breath, this time long and slow. You may be going crazy, but you still know how to get oxygen. "I think the alien is some sort of conscript. It was forced to come here somehow. It's fighting for someone or... something else. I think it's the collar. I think it might be controlling him somehow."

"Woah," Eli exclaims. "You need to slow down. Take a seat, just rest for a minute."

"We have to get that collar off." You say, pointing to the vortigaunt.

"Well then let me handle that, you're gonna hurt yourself." He explains, motioning towards the bench.

You just nod, and sit down on the bench next to Kleiner while you catch your breath. You don't understand these things your seeing, but all of that training is for one instinct you need to follow, Intel. Somehow, the migraine, the alien, the picture, it'll lead to some truth, you can smell it. Eli fiddles with the collar, ocasionally saying things like "Here we go," and "okay" like a booksmart dad figuring out how to fix plumbing. You have a minute, maybe you should talk to Dr. Kleiner.

>So what... exactly caused this, in simple terms?
>So what do you guys actually test here.
>Do you have any theories as to what these creatures are?
>Have you been hearing things?

>>4167336
>So what... exactly caused this, in simple terms?
Ah, a good old fashioned Kleiner science ramble. I’m in.
Anyway, my last post for tonight, see ya boys

>>4167336
>>So what... exactly caused this, in simple terms?

>>4167336
>So what... exactly caused this, in simple terms?

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>>4167345
>>4167347
>>4167364
"Would you happen to be familiar with quantum field theory?" He asks.

"What?" Is all you can think to respond.

"Oh dear." Kleiner pauses to think for a moment. "So, we often think of space as 3 different axis, some choose to implement time as an axis that is constantly traversed. Thus creating a fourth dimensional universe. Well, instead, the universe has a lot more dimensions. Many universal constants are only constant for our universe. Our universe is a pocket in those dimensional tides. Almost like a bubble, where the laws of physics have fallen into the perfect conditions for life to form. These positions are those that have a natural stability, that allow consistent cycles to form. It's why our universe is able to have stars, planets, life!"

"So what does this have to do with aliens, and exploding lab equipment?"

"Well my dear, that's what's so fascinating about all of this. When we performed out test, we created a critical condition that had only existed in theory before today. Have you ever seen a sing break a glass with her voice?"

"I've heard of it, yeah. People who can sing really high pitched."

"No, not just high pitched. You see, every particle in the universe, every single one, vibrates at a certain frequency. If one is able to match that frequency, they can affect certain objects in often catastrophic ways. You see, it turns out that this is true for the fundamental particles that cause physics to act the way they do. In the highly unlikely event that the right particles could transfer their energy into quantum particles, it causes the quantum fields that make up the universe to temporarily break. Much like glass, they shatter, sending spikes of energy through space itself. You might have noticed that the explosions almost seemed to hit rooms at random. That's because this was no gas or radiation explosion, it was space itself temporarily unraveling. This is almost like poking a small hole in the boundary of the universe, as it causes our universe to touch the base state of chaos that exists without that stability. Now, these fields exist at the equilibrium they do for a reason. All energy in the universe, including the universe itself, wants to reach a ground state. In our universe, the closest ground state is our concept of space. So for this reason it is that this state only exists in a minuscule period of time."

You've never felt less like a physicist.

>So where are the aliens coming from?
>So how the hell did you manage to... do that.
>You should really write a book.
>So... if the universe is a bubble, are there other universes. What about the space inbetween?

>>4167464
>So... if the universe is a bubble, are there other universes. What about the space inbetween?

>>4167464
>So how the hell did you manage to... do that.

>>4167464
>So where are the aliens coming from?
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

>>4167464
>So how the hell did you manage to... do that.

>>4167464
>So where are the aliens coming from?
Know thee enemy

>>4167464
>"So you were poking holes in the universe, got it. Why couldn't you have opened a hole into a dimension filled with friendly talking cats or something instead of a eldritch psychic dictator?"

>>4167475
>>4167488
>>4167494
>>4167589
>>4167605
>>4167619
"So... how did you manage to... blow up the universe?" You're honestly unsure if you should be asking, it makes less sense by the second.

"Well, our research focuses mainly on teleportation, which requires certain incredibly rare particles. We had a sample of what's called "Exotic Matter." In order to better study it's property, we put it through an "Antimass Spectrometer." Mass spectrometers are devices that seperate matter by their matter. Usually this is a simple matter of amplifying the effects of gravity by applying inertia, but unfortunately, the process becomes significantly more difficult as you introduce molecular systems in which the total energy in the system is negative. The processes we used in the antimass spectrometer unfortunately caused the exotic matter to reach a critical point in which it devolved into the static background field of the universe. With normal matter, this would look closer to an atomic bomb. However, the percentage of exotic matter in the crystal was so miniscule, it caused minimal direct explosive damage. No, the real damage came from the fact that the energy waves released were, being negative energy, the exact opposite to the resonant frequency of the universe."

"And how does this cause an alien invasion?"

"That's where our situation becomes strange. It would appear that, perhaps, the resonance cascade hasn't fully healed. Since this is naturally a violation of the laws of thermodynamics, it would mean that it's somehow being held open, and these oppurtunistic beings are somehow travelling through the gash. How they got to the entrance of our world is beyond me. Perhaps some sort of... escape trajectory teleportation..."

>So how do we stop them?
>Wait, your researching teleportation?
>I'm too lost, let's change subject. Are you really not angry that I'm a part of the CIA?
>So, could we stop this if we evacuated the base and nuked the hell out of it?

>>4167672
I forgot to mention, I'm gonna hit the hay.

>>4167672
>So you were poking holes in the universe trying to figure out teleportation, and you just so happen to make a hole in a dimension where the occupants can keep it open for conquest? Christ, why couldn't you guys be doing something less dangerous, like cloning dinosaurs or making an ever evolving AI?

>>4167751
support

>>4167751
support.
>an ever evolving AI?
Ha! Sounds like something those hacks at Aperture would do.

>>4167672
How's our new alien dude doing? We get those fleshy things off him yet?

>>4167672
Supporting
>>4167751


>>4167756
C.I.A. portal guns when?

>>4167672
>So how do we stop them?

>>4168168
coughing

File: 32E1511A-D051-4726-9209-6(...).gif (1.7 MB, 349x367)

1.7 MB GIF

>infected posters
Quick, lads, put on your HEV suits!

>>4165681
Will the suit have the jigglebone boobs?
>>4167672
So how do we stop them?
That's what everyone will want to know, right on up to the POTUS.

>>4168236
Can't you see? The true jiggle physics were within you the whole time.
>>4167751
>>4167753
>>4167756
>>4167787
>>4167876
>>4168168
>>4168236
"Not even the guys from Jurassic park were playing with fire as much as you guys." You say. "Couldn't you have..." You were gonna say, "build a murderous AI," but then you remembered that you're getting very close to the aperture incident, and that place is STILL under lock-down. Even the HECUs sent in there haven't come back. You play it safe instead, "built a space laser instead of poking holes in the universe?"

Kleiner stammers for a moment, and then starts to explain himself, "Well, what I don't think you realize my dear is that, well, all theories show the space we poked into to be uninhabitable. It's pure chaos. It makes no sense that beings could come from there because the border world should be pure energy. This incident will rewrite much of modern physics. Yes, it is unfortunate the damages we have and may yet. I fear I have already lost close friends and valued colleagues, but it may well open the door for vast frontiers!"

You've seen this mentality before. It presents in CIA agents after having to perform something very unconstitutional on a US citizen. This nihilistic pragmatism is a protective mechanism. Human emotion switches off for a while so they don't break down.

"Ok, so how do we stop it?" You ask.

Kleiner sighs and says, "I have no idea."

"Ahh..." You hear Eli say. "Got it."

The fleshy little collar seems to slip off like a dead snake.

You quickly join Eli, kneeling next to the Vortigaunt.

>Try the name trick again.
>Check if it's breathing better now.
>Try to calm the creature.
>Try to establish your terran authority again.

>>4168432
>Try the name trick again.
Pfft, alien dumb-asses.

>>4168432
>>Check if it's breathing better now.

>>4168432
>Check if it's breathing better now
Then if it is,
>Try the name trick again.

>>4168432
You're a good man Kleiner. Just wanted to let you know that.
>Check if it's breathing better now.
>Try to calm the creature.

>>4168492
>>4168499
>>4168581
Purplenon, oh no!

You put your hand near it's mouth, hoping that's where it breathes from. You don't feel any airflow. You place your head against the floor, watching for the rising and falling of the chest. It hits you that this creature may not even have luings. Still, it's the only thing you have to go on, you need the intel. You put your hands on it's chest, and compress, up and down, about 2 inches. The creature doesn't seem to respond.

The migraine seems calm.

You continue chest compressions while you try to wake it up. You look into it's eye and shout "Gabriella Oppenheimer." It doesn't respond. You point to Vance, and shout "Eli Vance." It still doesn't respond.

The migraine has something it wants to show you.

>Continue chest compressions. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 13)
>Maybe the medicine from those machines will work, try to drag him there.
>You're done with the damn migraine. Close the creatures eye, and loot the lockers, you need to leave.
>Listen to the migraine. (Roll 3d6, pass on 8)

>>4168620
>Listen to the migraine. (Roll 3d6, pass on 8)
Magic migraine, give us something useful!

>>4168620
>Continue chest compressions. (Roll 3d6, pass on a 13)

>>4168620
>Listen to the migraine. (Roll 3d6, pass on 8)

File: russel.jpg (11 KB, 250x250)

11 KB JPG

Rolled 2, 2, 3 = 7 (3d6)

>>4168648
>>4168654
Sorry purple non, no (you), Quaranta giorni.

He probably doesn't have lungs. You pull back, groaning slightly. "I think it's dead." You say. "Does he even have lungs?"

"Hey, calm down. There will always be time to study the creatures later, let's just focus on being safe." Eli reassures.

You look at the creature again. It's alive, if just barely. It doesn't seem like it's getting worse. What is getting worse is the throbbing pain that still hasn't left your head. Your vision is starting to go red again.

File: E7B15121-0FC8-40C1-935F-9(...).jpg (233 KB, 1024x1024)

233 KB JPG

>>4168668
>1 off
Fuck. Oh well, at least the vort doesn’t seem to be getting worse.