[Stargate SG-1 RPG] Part III - The Enemy of my Friend . . .

[MadThinker]

Lt. Luthor Donovan

On the Street, Cobblestone Town
P7X – 912
26.06 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

Medraut motioned to come to him and disappeared into the governmental building. Durant and Jeremiah were 150 feet from the entrance (including 30 feet of steps). Stewart was 200 feet away from the entrance, while Donovan and Reed were 240 feet away.

Donovan ran as fast as he could in the direction of the giant man that had appeared ahead of Grayson. He thought that it must be okay - Grayson must have met him already, since everyone was running toward him without another thought. And Donovan thought that running anywhere would be better than waiting for the bugs to reach him. He pulled out his knife as he ran, so he could cut any bug that came too close.

 

[Dark Nemesis]

Somewhere over the planet
P7X - 912
39 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

“It is known as the ‘bas dubh’* in the language of the land,” Myrrdin stated, looking over each individual to determine if they knew Gaelic. He paused, eyes resting appraisingly at Rylee. He continued in English, “Insects, with a swarm or hive intelligence. The creatures are flesh-eaters . . . actually they eat almost anything organic. Luckily, they are migratory and never vary from their path. Unfortunately, that path carries them through the town you were so recently in.”

"Black death," she said, very quietly as she regarded the bugs on the view screen. It was not so much to provide information to her companions, as she was fairly certain that they could not speak Gaelic, or to show off. It was simply a force of habit, as she was constantly translating her thoughts, which were in Gaelic, into English, to communicate with the Americans.

Well, 'Black death' was certainly appropriate. The creatures seemed quite deadly. She had seen big bugs before, and had grown used to them as both as annoyance of outdoor living as well as a possible source of nutrition, though she had not had to resort to that in a long time. But nothing she had seen compared to this. It was then that she noticed the look that Myrrdin was giving her, and she regarded him quietly, keeping her expression blank.

Then, her attention was drawn back to the view screen, in time to see five people as they ran to escape the bugs. It did not take long to recognize their wayward companions. When did they arrive? She wondered to herself. She was not certain where they were going, but she hoped that they knew of a place where they could take cover from the oncoming swarm. At Myrrdin's question, she glanced at Andreev, expecting him to answer. After all, the 'missing soldiers' story had been part of his explanation.

 

[kid A]

Andreev Ilianov

Somewhere over the planet
P7X - 912
39 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

“Are these your lost soldiers, Tauri?” Myrrdin asked.

Myrrdin's question lingered in the air for several moments as Andreev watched the viewscreen with horror. It had taken him a moment, but a sudden realization revealed exactly whom he was observing flee from the "black death." In addition, he noticed that there were five of them, not four. Apparently, Craig had succeeded in finding Jeremiah, where he and his teammates had not. Although, truth to tell, their chances of survival now seemed slim.

He did not wish to keep Myrrdin waiting long for answers. The truth came quickly, and easily. "I am afraid not, Myrrdin. They were indeed lost to us for a time, however, those men and women, along with we who stand here before you, comprise our original team. In travelling to Alvanon through the Stargate, we were seperated from eachother. We were beginning to search for them," he gestured toward the viewscreen, "when your Jaffa... (intercepted) rescued us. Is there anything you can do to save our comrades from this plague also?"

 

[ajkar]

Lt Barry Stewart

On the Street, Cobblestone Town
P7X – 912
26.06 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

Medraut motioned to come to him and disappeared into the governmental building. Durant and Jeremiah were 150 feet from the entrance (including 30 feet of steps). Stewart was 200 feet away from the entrance, while Donovan and Reed were 240 feet away

Stewart briefly thought, I should help the Reed and Donovan...what? How the fric am I going to help them? I can't shoot each bug with this peice of crap. The only thing that would happen would be me dying with them if we don't make it.

Stewart did not hesitate. He saw where the large stranger was directing them and he focused on that point as if it was the goal line. He pretended the bugs were the defensive line trying to prevent him from getting there. With all the speed he could muster, Stewart leaped the bug that fell in front of him. It must have all the years of leaping over prone football players, Stewart made the leap with his right arm outstretched and the left arm could have been cradling a football. As soon as he landed, he spun out of the way of another without slowing down. He automatically refocused on his goal and quickly ducked under one the insects that swooped down at him. He ran with the determination knowing that the game clock had reached zero. It was going to take quite a few of them to stop him from making it to the end.

 

[Carlo]

Somewhere over the planet
P7X - 912
39 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003


While somewhere in the back of her mind the thought of Durant being torn apart by large inscects intrigued her Lorelai recognized it as an unhelpful, spitful display of immaturity. In the front of her mind she saw her teammates about to be torn apart. She took an involontary step towards the display, her eyes focused on them, willing them to run faster.
"Faster...faster." she urged them on in barely a whisper, unthinkingly dropping into her mothers native tounge <Vietnamese>.

 

[Keia]

On the Street, Cobblestone Town
P7X – 912
26.12 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

Grayson broke into a run . . . assisted by Commander Durant, hustling toward and up the steps. The swarm seemed to fly by them, occasionally impacting on the ground or steps near them. The pair needed almost two steps for every actual step of the incline. A large archway stood open leading into what appeared to be a large reception area within the building itself.

From that point Jeremiah guided Durant as they entered the reception area of the governmental building. Two stone arched stairway lead both up and down from the reception area. Heavy furs covered many areas along the walls of the reception area. Another statue was in the center of the reception area, again of the same or similar person to that within the central courtyard. This statue had its arms outstretched, its palms at its eye level and facing outward to the entrance.

Through the entrance and standing in front of the statue was a hulk of a humanoid, skin pale and thick. The creature wore a fur loin cloth for its only clothes and a brass torc on its arm. It’s right hand had a metal device on it, finger tips encased in the metal, bands connecting in the palm and around the wrist, a crystal in the center of the palm.

Stewart moved with the subtle grace of a running back on a mission. The swarm had thickened and Stewart noted in the back of his mind that his commander and the young linguist had made it into the building. Several of the bugs clawed or bit at him, but seemed to get into each others way more that successfully harm Stewart . . . much.* Up the stairs and into the building (which had a few stray insects in it as well), Stewart glided into the room, muscles pumping. Durant and Grayson were standing next to the large creature, urgin him to get close to them.

Donovan ran through the growing swarm, watching Stewart evade the ever increasing number of insects. Donovan heard a few muffled shrieks right behind him, drowned out by the loud buzzing of the nearby insects and the approaching swarm. Donovan merely had to hold his knife out to cut an insect on the way by, they were so numerous around him. Battered by the insects, Donovan felt one of them latch onto his upper thigh as he climbed the stairs at a run.** He was careful though, one misstep and he would be covered before he could stand again. As he neared the entrance he didn’t hear the shrieking anymore . . . Reed was no longer behind him.

* - Stewart took 15 points of vitality damage from the impacts . . . no bites, claws or stings.
** - Donovan 27 points of vitality, 4 wound points from a bite critical, GM used action die, 6 remain against this group.

OOC: Donovan, Durant, Grayson, Reed, Stewart

 

[Keia]

Somewhere over the planet
P7X - 912
39 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

"I am afraid not, Myrrdin. They were indeed lost to us for a time, however, those men and women, along with we who stand here before you, comprise our original team. In traveling to Alvanon through the Stargate, we were separated from each other. We were beginning to search for them," he gestured toward the view screen, "when your Jaffa... (intercepted) rescued us. Is there anything you can do to save our comrades from this plague also?"

“Sadly . . . no,” Myrrdin replied to Andreev. His eyes narrowed, however, when he continued. “If they had been present when my Jaffa risked their lives to save yours, then yes. The swarm generates a resonating field that interferes with transport rings, ship electronics, and all manner of devices. I’m guessing your crude communication devices weren’t working when you arrived, either.”

“In several hours, when the swarm has passed a good distance away, you may return to the surface and search for your comrades,” Myrrdin stated. He paused for several moments as though considering. While he was considering, the group saw the swarm envelope the location the figures were heading into, until the screen showed only the blackness of the swarm.

“Until then, you shall have my hospitality . . . perhaps an opportunity to bathe . . . new clothes and . . . shoes . . . as well as some food and drink will be provided to you. If there is nothing else, Artorius, please escort the Tauri to guest quarters where they may rest and refresh themselves.” Artorius nodded sharply and raised a hand to help guide the teammates out of the chamber.

“Miss, I would be honored were you to remain a few moments. I would like to speak personally with you,” Myrrdin added after a few seconds.

When Rylee looked back to him . . . she saw Myrrdin was looking at her.

OOC: Fallon, Fisher, Ilianov, Nguyen

 

[Nuke261]

Lt. Commander Craig Durant

On the Street, Cobblestone Town
P7X – 912
26.12 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

Durant lept up the steps and into the strange surroundings of the building. As usual there was not much time to admire the sites since the team was being attacked. He stood with Jeremiah near the large... humanoid and then turned to make sure everyone else has safe.

Trying to catch his breathe soon seemed to loose it's importance as Durant watched Stewart get tagged and then Donovan seemed to stumble and then there was just the swarm and no sign of Reed! He knew in his mind that the worst thing he could do would be to run out to help the others but that didn't matter, Craig Durant was not about to watch his teammates get attacked while he stood by and did nothing.

He quickly dropped his gear and followed Donovan's example by pulling his combat knife and charging towards Stewart, making sure he was still breathing and not bleeding. Then he rushed passed him, towards Donovan...

 

[MadThinker]

Lt. Luthor Donovan

On the Street, Cobblestone Town
P7X – 912
26.12 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

Donovan ran through the growing swarm, watching Stewart evade the ever increasing number of insects. Donovan heard a few muffled shrieks right behind him, drowned out by the loud buzzing of the nearby insects and the approaching swarm. Donovan merely had to hold his knife out to cut an insect on the way by, they were so numerous around him. Battered by the insects, Donovan felt one of them latch onto his upper thigh as he climbed the stairs at a run.** He was careful though, one misstep and he would be covered before he could stand again. As he neared the entrance he didn’t hear the shrieking anymore . . . Reed was no longer behind him.

Donovan ran toward the building, trying to keep his footing until he could reach cover. He saw Commander Durant run back out the door and past him. Donovan considered running after the Commander, but with the bite on his leg, he was in no condition to go back into the swarm. Donovan called out to Durant instead, "Commander, don't go after her! She's gone!"

 

[Dark Nemesis]

Somewhere over the planet
P7X - 912
39 minutes since arrival, June 3, 2003

She barely heard Myrddin's words as she watched their teammates run for their lives from the approaching swarm. They seemed to be making their way toward one building, but why? There was no way to keep the bugs out of the buildings, as far as she knew. As she watched the screen go black, she felt numbness wash over her. Gone. They were gone. If the swarm was what Myrrdin claimed, and she had no reason to believe otherwise, then there was very little chance that they could survive such an onslaught. She started to reach for her flask, out of habit, but paused. That would be... inappropriate. Instead, she looked to the others, to see if they were holding up okay.

And then they were dismissed. She was... looking forward to getting her weapons back. She did not feel whole without them. That would be a small comfort, anyway. Also, she was eager to speak with the others, away from the presence of an alien who seemed to have the ability to read thoughts and emotions.

“Miss, I would be honored were you to remain a few moments. I would like to speak personally with you,” Myrrdin added after a few seconds.

She looked up when Myrrdin spoke up, and saw that he was talking to her. She kept her face blank, to not betray her emotions, and glanced briefly at Andreev. She had no reason to mistrust the alien, except for the fact that she tended to mistrust anyone who had a measure of power over her. WHich meant she did not trust a lot of people. "Sure..." she replied quietly.