BUGHUNTER MOREAU d20Future 2, Madness on Tau Ceti Five

April 17th, 2142, 0800 standard GMT, Gateway Station, Launch Bay HaZ1

Over the last month, Cat's Eyes has rejoined the Squad and you have been introduced to a new Squad mate Will3321642 "Deuce" a male Feline Moreau. You have been training and learning about your next mission, escorting colonist to the new colony in the Tau Ceti system (some 12 light years from Earth).

The fifth planet (called Tau Ceti Five or TCF) from this G8 star is a Class 1 inhabitable Earth-type just coming out of a ice-age like period that covered most of the northern hemisphere until some 200 years ago. The planet is still colder then Earth at typical locations and elevation, and glaciers dominate much of the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere is made up of two large continents and numerous very large islands. There is one human colony set up here right now on the larger of the two continents, call Alpha Site. At present there are about 500 humans here, plus another smaller mining outpost on one of the large islands where stellar surveys located a possible large deposits of Tantalum (the major element of the Jump Drive shuttlewarp). The colonist at Alpha Site. are setting up the colony for the new arrives; erecting buildings, clearing the land, mapping the area, etc.

At Alpha Site, dominate planet life in the area is similar to evergreen forests (although it has a more 'yellow' colors and look) that grow to great heights (100+ feet in many cases), and most of the animals have thick fur and are fairly bulky to store up a lot of body fat. Most are not dangerous to mankind, but there are some land predators that have know to attack lone or small groups. The most dangerous is the pack hunters known as Ceti Wolves, two-legged fast runners that have long-sharp claws and teeth to penetrate thick furs and fat. Another is the Great Sloths, which look something like a cross between a tree sloth and huge bear, they are slow normally but capable of short burst of speed. Bat-like winging creatures are also fairly common and range in sizes from small birds to those that exceeding 150 lbs and 60ft wing-spans (these are called Dragon-Bats).

Animal life on the rest of the planet has not been map out yet, although on the island where the mining operation is located does have some pig-like creature (no more then 70lbs) they call Razor-Freaks, that are omnivorous and eat just about anything.

Lt. Talavera briefs the Squad about this and the rest of your team's base mission… to escort and protect the colonist (some5,000 individuals) to the Alpha Site on Tau Ceti Five. The colonist (and the Lieutenant) will be in statis the entire trip (in the 'Meat-Wagon' the nick name for the Stasis Pod Modules) and if there is any emergency or problems you will have to fix them. On most of the these trips, there are no problems and so it is also a good time for the Squad to train, and work on any hobbies they might want to peruse.

The ship that the colonist will be traveling in a Anjou Class Colony Ship, the ICARUS. These ships are some of the largest man has every created, almost 1000 feet long, and the Bennett actually docks with the colony-ship and adds its power to that of the Icarus. The trip should take around 6-months, and of course the Moreau crew of the Bennett will be in charge of both ships with the Marines provide security and assist the Aerospace Crew.

Once you arrive in the Tau Ceti Five system the Bennett will separate and take up patrol for the colony. Your Marine Squad will be placed where you are needed, either serving on the ship or setting up planet-side.

Generally the basic equipment that the team will be assigned for this escort are environmental combat fatigues (with a vacuum mask can be sealed against a vacuum), Pistols and Combat Knives. Shotguns are stored in many weapons lockers around both ships and can be opened only in an emergency (by an Moreau when an emergency has been declared) or by any NCO at any time. Heavy weapons, rifles or other weapons are strictly forbidden, and in lock down that the security computer will only open with a number of emergency protocols have been passed.

Once you reach the colony, other equipment can be issued as seen fit. The Bennett carries a full combat complement locker (nicked named a 'Toy Box') along with the WARTALON a Thunderbolt Class Combat Dropship. The Lieutenant and Colonial Governor have jurisdiction over your missions, until orders come from UT Gov.

This morning is the date of departure, and you have been ordered to Launch Bay HaZ1, where the Bennett is docked. Outside the view port you can see a number of huge colonial ships in stationary orbit around Gateway Station. The Lieutenant and Moreau Aerospace Crew are all assembled here, along with Colonel Owen who is here to see you off.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is an important mission that you are about to undertake. The Tau Ceti system is an important strategic site for us, and with the present of Tantalum, doubly so. Never forget that you hold the lives of 5,000 humans in your hands… it is your great and sacred responsibility to watch over these people. Now then, good luck and God's speed."

Lt. Talavera standing at attention, salutes and yells "Troopers to your posts" and the Aerospace Crew and your Marine Squad head to the docking ring into the Bennett.

Your first journey to the stars is about to begin…

---

[OCC] Some extra stuff; first important people that you meet during the month…

OTHER MEMBERS OF MARINES SQUAD
Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Rudy Talavera (Human); Smart 2/Chasmatic 2
Ursal8765987 GORT (Bear Moreau) Strong 3
Cash7689763 CAT'S EYES (Feline Moreau) Fast 3

AEROSPACE CREW of the UT.S.S. EMORY L. BENNETT a Combat Cutter
First Pilot: Sarah90112873 SWORD (Canine, female) [Light Stellar Commander]; Smart 4/Dedicated 4
Navigator: Richard2541359 FIREBUG (Bat, male) [Star Lieutenant]; Smart 6
Chief Engineer: Grab6260018 GREYBEARD (Primate, male) [Star Lieutenant]; Smart 5/Enginner 3
Engineer: Ellie0396992 COUGAR (Feline, female) [Warrant Officer]; Smart 3/Techie 2
Engineer: Hector0578553 TWITCH (Rat, male) [Chief Petty Officer]; Smart 2/Dedicated 2
Doctor: Mary6295857 MERCY (Bat, female) [Warrant Officer]: Dedicated 4/Smart 2/Field Medic 2
Cook/Damage Control: WHISPER (Feline, male); Charismatic 2/Smart 1
Gunner/Damage Control FLASH (Primate, female); Smart 3


CREW of the a WARTALON a Thunderbolt Class Combat Dropship (Auxiliary Crew on the BENNETT)
Jillia6745392 CASPER (Feline, female) [Chief Warrant Officer]; Fast 4
Baker2307723 BONES (Primate, male) [Warrant Officer]; Smart 3/Fast 1

HUMAN COLONIST
Governor Marcus McCoy (Human, male); Charismatic 5/Smart 1
Captain (civilian law enforcement) Nancy Ngum (Human, female); Fast 3/Dedicated 3
Doctor Georgi Kharalample (Human, male); Dedicated 5/Smart 4


Also if you have not already, please update your characters here

OCC thread is here

and so Part 2 begins [/OCC]

Gramps plods along with the others to the docking ring.

"If I can't make myself useful around the ship this trip's gonna be mighty boring," he complains.

From his position in front of the rest of the squad, Brute looks back over his shoulder at Gramps. "I don't know, I'm starting to think that 'boring' isn't such a bad thing after all."

Pedia (radio)

As Pedia walks to docking ring he says "5,000 human lives, in our hands... I dunno maybe we can put a few in our pockets as well?, I don't think we can hold 'em all in our hands."

"Well Brute, being as I think by the definition of excitment that sewer was exciting I'm inclined to agree with you."

"Boring, eh?" Sneak's usual(and somewhat dangerous looking) grin appears on his face and he pats Gramps on the shoulder, "You just need to find ways to enjoy yourself other than just shooting things and trudging through sewers. At least we've got some nice company on the trip!"

Brute flashes an apeish smile back towards Sneak. "So does this mean we don't have to put up with you being around all the time?"

Ankh-Morpork Guard said:

"You just need to find ways to enjoy yourself other than just shooting things and trudging through sewers. At least we've got some nice company on the trip!"

Click to expand...

Gramps nods, spending a moment thinking about the others who'll be along for the ride. He frowns. Gramps usually didn't like other people, it took him a long time to warm up to anyone. It was hard enough getting used to the rest of his team let alone people he didn't need to work with in the long term.

"Well, I'm alright at fixing things," he says, trying to compensate, and scratches head thoughfully.

Sneak laughs at Brute's comment, "But you know the second that happens that you'll get bored. What would you do without me to get us into trouble, hm? Of course you could find someone else, but no one has the projecting voice like me...cept maybe Squeek."

April 17th, 2142, 0841 standard GMT, UT.S.S. EMORY L. BENNETT

As the Squad is lead on board, you get a good view of the UT.S.S. EMORY L. BENNETT; almost 200 feet long, built around the super-mass laser, and two main plasma cannon turrets on each side. Most of your personal gear is in the duffle bags that you are carrying, and a very attractive Feline Moreau named Whisper shows you to your berths (she is the ships Cook, which is a bit strange for such a small ship crew, but from what you all understand, in the Aerospace Core, the cook also serves as a quartermasters, and unofficial morale officers). She is very friendly and easy to talk to and makes the Marines feel quite welcome on board. Your rooms are semi-private, two troopers sharing a room that has a dual bunk-beds, private lockers, and a pull-out desk and computer consul. The bathroom is communal in the center of the crew area. And while Brute has to share a bunk room, he does have a private office near by that he can do work, file reports, etc.

Whisper, now joined by Casper then give the squad (and Lt.) a tour of the Bennett, starting at the Crew Mess and Rec Room. This is where Whisper is stationed, and fairly close to the Crew Quarters area. This is a fairly large area, that is very modular (the tables can be pulled down into the floor, walls can be moved, etc). The Mess area also acts as meeting/briefing room, with ceiling computer displays and pull out work stations. The Rec Room has exercise equipment, Vid-screens with thousands of movies and documenters and even some learning chips (different languages, technical manuals, etc).

Just forward of that is the Medical Bay, where Warrant Officer Mercy is working. She is a Bat Moreau (small and somewhat Asian looking). The Medical Bay is state of the art, and Mercy seems like a very caring person.

Next they take you forward to the bridge. The Pilot, Light Stellar Commander Sword, a female Canine Moreau is a bit older then most of you (except maybe Gramps) and seems very serious about her mission. The other bridge crewmember is the Navigator, Star Lieutenant Firebug, a male Bat Moreau who chatters about minor trivia while the Squad is there (Earth sporting teams mostly).

Heading back, behind the Crew's Quarters, the two Felines escort the Squad to the Docking bay, where the WARTALON the Thunderbolt drop-ship is stowed. Looking like an angry shark, the Wartalon is a high-tech killing machine. There is also a large Warthog class ATAPC (All-Terrain Armored Personel Carrier, nicked named "A-Tapsy"). This armored personal carrier can hold a full Marine Squad (10 men), officer station (for the Lt) and a drive and gunner. The Wartalon can of course carry the ATAPC as part of a normal combat drop. Casper and Bones are both checked out with this vehicle, but on many combat missions, they would be in the Dropship, and driver and gunner would fall to the Marine's themselves. It is fairly easy to drive, with no special skills (or feats) required, while the gunner section is a 40mm Autocannon and Missile Launcher (both Anti-Armor and Anti-Air missiles are generally carried). Casper explains that herself and Bones are generally found here, as there are always work and tinkering to be done of these two machines.

Lastly they take the Squad all the way back into Engineering where Cougar is normally stationed, along with Chief Engineer Graybeard, a male Primate Moreau and assistant Engineer Twitch, a male Rat Moreau greet you. Graybeard asks that if you ever wish to come to into Engineering that you are always escorted by one of the Engineering crew. This is a rule for all Bennett, not just the Marines.

As the tour is ending the Bennett docking with the ICARUS. Whisper and Casper excuse themselves then as there are a number of things they have to do now before they begin their trip. Mercy also shows up to take Lt. Talavera to his Stasis Pod, and he wishes you all luck "See you all in about six-months I guess. Be good" he winks to Brute and then he is off.

Within two hours, Sword's voice comes over the inner comm. "We are about to head to our Jump Point now, everyone to your stations. Marines, please report to the Mess Room. We should make Jump Point in 25 hours. Until then we will be diverting most power to the Fusion Drive and turning down the Artificial Grav and Initial Dampeners in most sections of the ship. Mess will maintain normal Dampeners and Gravity for our initial burn, and you will be able to return to your berths in two hours. Thank you."

Pedia (radio)

Pedia walks to the mess room as ordered and finds a chair Pedia mutters to himself "They would have to start this sort of thing right in the middle of my movie"

OOC: who is bunked with who just wondering?