Star Wars - DRK-1X and its Mistress

[shadowbloodmoon]

As you watch the woman slowly pass, the medical scans show that the nanocreatures that seem to be a key component in her ability to shapeshift have started to coalesce into one part of her body. As they do so, Four's skin seems to take on a very pale manner, though this could also be from the loss of blood. Her appearance also melts away and she looks to be a different woman altogether. A Nemoidian woman. All of this is recorded by your holoimager.

You help her remove a datastick from her overall's pocket. "Final records...last transmissions...get to Dofina." She presses the item into your manipulators unnecessarily. As you thank her, she slowly shakes her head. "You...are to be...commended..." Her last words are lost to time, as her vital functions fail. You notice in her other hand is an empty biohazard vial. Out of her agape mouth flows a steel-colored ooze that pools near her head.

Searching the rest of her reveals a blaster pistol, a false ID card and the encrypted comlink you gave her.

[sblock=OOC]Thank you! I will do that.[/sblock]

 

[Ambrus]

DRK-1X ceases recording once Four has expired. The diminutive probe droid quickly snatches up the datastick, comlink and blaster pistol; placing the items into the small storage container affixed to the backside of its spherical chassis. 1X then picks up the empty bio-hazard container and scans it carefully, hoping that the MSR-X can identify the substance by its trace amounts.[sblock=OOC]I'm assuming that the steel-colored ooze is some type of poison that Four used to commit suicide. I figure that 1X, with the MSR-X's help, might be able to identify the substance.

DRK-1X is curious about the "nanocreatures" that have coalesced "into one part of her body". Since they've migrated through the body and have puddled together it seems clear that they're still functioning and programmed to stay together if possible. If that's the case they may yet be of some use to 1X. Which part of the body are they in and how difficult would it be to extract and collect them? If it can locate them then 1X might simply try punching a hole in the body to reach them. It could then use one of the magnets its carrying to try and draw them out through the wound. 1X could use the empty bio-hazard vial to store them for the time being. I figure that if 1X can scoop the majority of them into the vial that the rest will flow in on their own; making the probot's collecting job that much faster and easier. Being so small, I figure that the nanobots must have some type of limited group consciousness. Having Knowledge (technology) +9 and Computer Use +20 can 1X figure out how it might interface with the nanobots to verify their programming and capabilities?

In case you're curious, 1X's light carrying capacity is 3.5 kg. I figure that with the six permacrete detonators, the datastick, the blaster pistol, the hydrospanner, the two magnets and comlink that's it's got that 1X is now carrying a medium load. That would slow it down a bit, down to a speed of 10 meters; about a normal human's speed. A bit inconvenient, though an unfortunate necessity for the moment. Speaking of equipment; was Four carrying the datasticks she'd been using for her personal journals?

DRK-1X's next goal will be to reach a pre-selected isolated computer access port just outside the outer shell of the central hub. I believe it'll be 1X's last chance to interface with the outer complex's computer network before trying to breach the hub's security perimeter to reach Dofina. It'll be pausing briefly in that isolated spot to verify the current state of the insurgency and the security force's defenses. Also, since 1X was able to spot Four on the facility's security feeds, 1X knows that it may have allowed itself to be recorded briefly when it approached and departed Four's body in the same location. Hopefully the security forces were too busy tracking the active insurgents to have taken notice of the unidentified probot in the corridor. 1X isn't the type to leave loose ends though so it'll carefully search through the network and to find the data files from that one security monitor for the time in question and carefully slice them to remove evidence of its own presence in the area. 1X will replace the gaps in the visual security record by copying a bit of the file with another recorded image of the corridor at a time when it was empty following the firefight. The probot will then complete the slicing job by modifying the time index of the record to make it seamless and then erase any records of its own slicing of the security files while withdrawing its Code from the network. Hopefully no loose ends, no trail.

Before it heads out, if possible, 1X plans to check Four's comlink, blaster pistol and datastick to confirm that they're intact, charged and functioning properly. The probot also wants to quickly analyze the data on the datastick, simply to determine if it contains any data of immediate use to it and its rescue mission. If it's also succeeded in collecting the nanobots 1X would also like to try interfacing with them.

Assuming that the facility's security forces are still spread out as before, 1X will try to identify the current best point through which to enter the central hub. Once on the other side, it'll be looking for another isolated computer access port to access the central hub's isolated computer network to try and pinpoint Dofina's exact location, condition and the best route to reach her.[/sblock]First confirming that the corridor remains empty, DRK-1X lifts up from the tangle of bodies with its new burden and sends a surge of power into its repulsorlift engine. With a naught but a soft humming sound the diminutive probot leaves the scene as quickly as possible en route towards its next checkpoint, and beyond towards its mistress.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

The ooze by her head and the nanocreatures are one in the same...Her journal datasticks were not on her.

Scanning the bio-ooze that has left the deceased Four's mouth, you are able to determine that these are indeed the same nanocreatures that once in habited her body. Almost as if on their own volition, they begin herding towards the empty bio-container in your manipulators. Making sure that you have the last of the them scooped up, you take a precious second and try to determine how it is that they are programmed.

It would seem that at this point, without a lab and more time, it will be difficult to tell anything other than they seem to have some rudimentary self-preservation protocols built-in and something to translate bio-electric signals into commands for them to perform. They remain inert in the tube for the time being.

As you place each object in your increasingly heavy storage container, you scan them for usage and power. The blaster pistol's power pack has been completely discharged, but her datastick and comlink still appear to be in working order.

Finishing your examination of the area, you leave the woman's body behind with the others. With the rearrangement of the security forces in this part of the facility, it only takes you ten minutes to reach the last part of your journey before crossing the threshold into the inner command structure, even allowing for your increased encumbrance.

Sure enough, you find that the security monitors did indeed record your trespassing of the area where the fight occured, but it would seem that you were identified as another of the probots roaming the area, so a security alert was not put into affect. At least until someone cross checks the noted flightpaths of the probots and your movements. Nonetheless, to be sure, you doctor the footage of the area to indicate that nothing has entered the area after the fight.

The next part of your flight, indeed probably the most difficult, is next. Even with the activity around the complex, this part of the station remains fully manned and locked down. Your preplanned flight path will take you to the least of it, but this will still be a trying task.

In order to cross the first pathway into you first set of vents on the side you want to be on, you will have to somehow manage to bypass two probots and four clone troopers, one of which is manning a blaster cannon turret. You have determined that this is statistically more probable than the regular intervals of security teams numbering in squads of ten troopers and possibly more probot support.

Presently, you are observing them via video in a secluded computer access point on the wrong side of the hallway. The vent you will need to get into the hallway is nearby. It will cross less than ten meters away from this point. Going another ten meters beyond that point would run you into the next set of security teams. This is why you allowed yourself more time. Not the distance, the difficulty.

The access point you need to get to is just beyond the vent you need to get into.

 

[Ambrus]

OOC: You know, I'd originally posted my belief that the ooze coming out of Four's mouth were the nanobots but later changed it when I realized that that didn't explain the presence of the bio-hazard vial in her hand. Seems I should just have just gone with my first hunch. Would communicating with the nanobots be as simple as plunging the tip of 1X's scomplink probe into the vial and sending a series of very weak electric pulses coded in binary to the ooze? If 1X thinks that that is unlikely to damage them it might be worth a try. I don't imagine 1X will stumble across a computer lab anytime soon (though 1X might keep an eye out for one if it found mention of it in the computer network).

When it recognized that the blaster pistol's power pack was dry DRK-1X would have hunted around for a charged one. I suspect the clone trooper who tried to help Four might have had either a spare or a partially charged one in his rifle. If so, 1X would replace it with the spent one before stowing the pistol and heading out.

Are there any new security reports in the computer system which indicate the fate of the insurgents? Has the resistance ended somehow or is the fighting still going on? As I mentioned, 1X will also take a brief pause to quickly scan the contents of Four's datastick to determine what type of information it contains in case it proves crucial to 1X's mission.

I'm not entirely clear on the layout of the final security checkpoint but it sounds to me like it's simply a matter of choosing whether to bluff my way past the clones or to sneak past them. If that's the case then 1X will definitely choose stealth. I'm tempted to pause and have 1X reprogram itself with more hide ranks but at this point I don't think it's worth the risk of shutting down in a hostile area and wasting time; the few minutes it takes to reprogram itself may simply allow more troopers to arrive on the scene and 1X's opportunity to disappear.

So 1X will proceed as is with trying to sneak past the outpost. It'll try to keep as much distance between itself and the imperials and probots as possible, simply to help increase their spot and listen check DCs. As is, with its encumbrance penalties, I believe 1X's skill bonuses are Hide +22 and Move Silently +16. DRK-1X will be taking 10 if possible and, since speed may prove crucial, the droid may use one or both of its heroic surges to gain extra actions should it prove necessary to sneak past the outpost. *crosses fingers*

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

It was a simple matter to find a spare power pack for Four's blaster. Of the many bodies around, they are plentiful enough.

Sending small transmissions into the nano-ooze only results in a weak response asking for an identification codekey.

The latest security reports reveal that some of the insurgents have been contained, but fighting still continues in other parts of the complex. The conflict that brought about Four's demise appears to be in a standoff, the rebellious workers holed up in the hangar with some technicians and the clone troopers surrounding them. There are reinforcements on the way there from other sections of the station.

Carefully removing the grate from the vent that leads to the hallway X will have to cross, you begin the journey to the other side of the vast cooridor that separates the main section from the central command section. The ceiling provides an excellent spot to keep the prying eyes of the clone troopers from noticing the small probot crossing their vantage point. Their probot companions are nearly fanatical about searching every nook and cranny of their patrol area. DRK-1X would be proud of them, were it not for the fact that it was attempting to hide from them.

Perhaps it was the fact that X was well-versed in the scanning methods of its lesser brethren, or perhaps it was that the luck of the Code that has been following X for the time being continues to support the tiny droids actions. Either way, X has managed to ingress into the airways of the inner sanctum of the complex.

Before proceeding ahead, like clockwork, you examine the surroundings for any sort of detection device or other machinery that could be detrimentral to your mission. This time, as you finish replacing the grate on this side, you find one.

There is a laser mesh grid crossing your pathway into the rest of the air vents.

 

[Ambrus]

OOC: Back in post 53 1X handed Four her two data-stick journals for her to unlock. They required a keycode and her thumbprint which she provided, twice. DRK-1X was watching her closely from less than a meter away since she was its prisoner and it remained suspicious of her. It would have taken note of the keycode she inputted into the two devices; perhaps the nanobots will respond to the same code. DRK-1X will offer it to them. If that doesn't work, can 1X simply try brute force to slice its way into the nanobots' code with its computer use skill?

I'm a little confused about some details regarding Four. She and the MSR-X told 1X in part that her shapechanging abilities were due to some foreign genetic material that had been introduced into her body and that was causing her body's organs to degrade due to incompatibility. The MSR-X had also concluded that, in spite of her shapechanging abilities Four was in fact a human woman. When she died however, she reverted to a nemoidian form and you said that these nanobots were largely responsible for Four's shapechanging abilities. I'm just wondering what's correct and if the MSR-X who performed the two diagnoses can possibly explain the inconsistencies.

DRK-1X doesn't like the idea of shutting down this close to the security checkpoint, but it's stuck between a rock (the laser grid) and a hard place (the security checkpoint) so there's little else it can do. The probot simply doesn't have the necessary skill-set to proceed. So, DRK-1X will shut down where it is, as far away from the grate as possible, and proceed to archive unnecessary skill-set programming to free up some space within its neural network, and execute a vast series of security bypass simulations to build a reference database for the task ahead. DRK-1X's computer use skill is so high that it can't fail in its droid reprogramming checks so the process can be fairly expedient. Still, 1X will pause briefly between each skill point or feat to reactivate and confirm that it hasn't been discovered before proceeding. Once its Code reprogramming is complete, 1X will retrieve its hydrospanner and proceed to attempt to safely disable or somehow bypass the laser mesh (Disable Device +17, taking 10 if sufficient). Naturally, 1X's next goal is to try and locate an isolated computer access port within the hub to try and pinpoint Dofina's location.

Out of curiosity, what kind of magical all-purpose tool is a hyrdrospanner anyways?

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

OOC: heh. I was wondering when you would ask about that... Yes, the MSR-X confirmed her as being human. It's amazing what you can do with the properly programmed nanomachines, isn't it? Her body was unable to properly accept the nanocreatures completely, but they more than made up for it with their abilities to even be able to fool any medical scanner. At least so far. X's high Intellegence will be able to extrapolate that the machines had basically created a new physical identity for her as a base, even though it wasn't her original form. This base was their 'palette' so to speak. I know you have more questions, but not to worry, all will be explained once your more pressing matter is taken care of...

A spanner is the British word for a wrench. A hydrospanner is a miniature hydraulic wrench.


While working with the nanomachines, you try to emulate Four's bioelectric signal from her thumbprint that you have on file as well as other information you had gathered from her previously. It takes some time, but with a little tweaking, you eventually get a response in binary:

Status: Hibernation
Damage: 13%
Functionality: xx%
Error: Biological component missing
Command ?

***

DRK-1X decides that in order to proceed, it will have to adjust its programming. As much as it has done so in the past, this is an easy venture and only puts the probot out of commision for a short time. In that time, no one seems to have been alerted to its presence.

The laser mesh is formed from numerous small emitters located inside the vent shaft. Scanning the area, you find a small panel that can be removed. Using your hydrospanner to remove the locking bolts, you slide the panel to the side to find the power coupling for the emitters. It will be a more difficult task to leave no evidence of tampering, but with your recent reprogramming, it is made simpler. By placing an interrupt between the power and the emitters, the laser mesh will still show as active even though the emitters will not be firing.

Sliding by this area, you are now back to mapping your route so you can determine where you came from in relation to the information you plan to gather from the core computer system in this part of the station.

It takes some time, having to avoid patrols and random technicians, but eventually you find the proverbial jackpot, a computer access link in an out of the way area.

The room isn't very large, but it appears to be some sort of office. Or at least, it will be, judging by the containers in the room. You didn't see many personnel coming or going here, so you determine that this will as safe a place as any to do what needs to be done.

 

[Ambrus]

OOC: Clever little things, though a little lacking in personality perhaps. So was Four's shape-changing ability the result of the foreign genes or the nanobots or were the nanobots part of the cure?

Pleased to have made contact with the micro-droid collective, DRK-1X sends them two follow-up binary commands:

Command: List operational requirements.
Command: List program code.

******

Having finally reached a safe point within the central command facility, the diminutive probot spins slowly in a 360º arc to scan the uncompleted office space (Search +10, taking 10). DRK-1X then approaches the computer access port as it flips open its probe compartment cover. With a soft whirring sound 1X raises and extends its scomplink probe, marrying it to the port in the wall. As the probe begins to slowly spin clockwise, the black spherical droid tentatively extends its Code into this new network, studying its virtual architecture as it begins its cautious explorations (Computer use +20, taking 10 if sufficient).

OOC: 1X is certainly a little nervous about pitting itself against the virtual defenses of the hub's nestled computer network but there's little else it can do. To that end, 1X will cautiously slice the network, doing its best to avoid drawing attention to its ingress by trying to remain out of primary systems as much as possible; instead trying to extrapolate the kind of information it wants from secondary and tertiary systems is possible. For instance, instead of attempting to download floor plans, 1X might try accessing ventilation, sewage and utility systems to try and extrapolate (based on what it's learned of the outer station's design) where corridors, hangars, labs, work areas and living quarters are likely to be located in relation to such sub-systems. Throughout its slicing attempt, 1X will continue to monitor its own activity while doing its best to cover its virtual tracks and obfuscating its computer access port's location by weaving a circuitous route through the network as it searches.

DRK-1X's primary objective is, of course, to locate Dofina and determine her current status. The probot's secondary goal will be to determine the multiple safe routes to reach her while identifying any obstacles along the way. Following that, 1X has a series of secondary objectives which, although not as pressing, it does hope to achieve during this and subsequent slicing attempts and throughout its physical explorations of the central hub. The probot is interested in identifying power conduits or generators which, if blown up with a permacrete detonator, would amplify their destructive power and possibly begin a chain reaction. Another possible target for 1X's destructive power might be the station's flight control facility; crippling the imperial's ability to track vessels in their flight space might aid 1X and Derek to escape the cluster safely. Identifying its location would be handy in such a case. 1X will also eventually need to access a small communication array; nothing big, just powerful enough to send an encrypted signal to the Ari's Sorrow inside the cluster. 1X's tertiary objectives are to locate such things as hangar bays, airlocks, medical bays, droid recharging facilities, extra-vehicular suit storage compartments and computer access ports.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

That would be one of those questions I mentioned would be answered after the mission...

The tiny machines send back a long string of command sequences and parameters for optimal operations. You determine from these that the nano-bots require a genetically compatible biological host. Genetically compatible meaning that only a certain genome in the host's system would be able to bypass the collective's security measures. Obviously this was done to ensure that if they were stolen and placed in another host, they would not work. How they know what to change the body into is something that baffles even you. The coding indicates that they get a command from the host's thought patterns, which would indicate that perhaps they have programmed with templates of varying species and sexes, but evidence has shown that Four could emulate just about any humanoid with ease and change even the most minor details. How the machines are able to do this would require more time to study or perhaps getting one of the designers to explain it. Either seems a distant goal at this point.

***

The office remains empty for a time, the illumination is off and only minimal power is running through the other systems in here. A desk and computer console has been placed here for organic access, but the console has not been connected to the port you are now using.

Air quality indicates that the ventilation system is functional here as well as the heating, but they are kept to less than optimal conditions for personnel, meaning that perhaps they don't intend on anyone coming in for some time. You make sure to monitor any changes to indicate otherwise.

The first layer of security on the core's infrastructure is difficult to pass. There is a constantly changing code transmission that occurs at regular intervals during access. While to the untrained eye these sequences appear random, to any droid worth its Code they are in a very specific order. After a while of observing them, you are able to come up with the counter codes.

The second layer isn't as bad, having to emulate a proper access code, but this will be erased as you progress through the system and attempt to hide your trail.

The third layer proves the most difficult. As you neared this construct in the Code architecture, you noticed that it is monitored by quite a few slicing droids. Fooling them would prove impossible at best.

However, with a little extra Code manipulation, you manage to pass yourself of as a manitenance droid and thus gain low level access to the system.

This access gets you a line print of the power conduit system, where all the power goes and where it comes from. At each juncture in the line, a small blurb explains what part of the complex center that power is being routed to. This of course becomes your map. While it isn't floorplans, it's the next best thing.

Smack in the middle of the structure is the generator core, a huge facility almost as large as one of the Star Destroyers outside. There are numerous personnel stations across the center and even more work stations, as would befit a command center. A large number of communications antenna arrays dot the surface of the structure. This would appear to indicate that each one covers only a certain part of the center. You could access the comms system from any port, but to make direct use of the antennas, you'd have to go where their power conduits are held.

There are of course power relays along the pathways as well. Taking out any one of these could shut down an area of the complex for some time as backups are put into place.

You count eighteen major hangar bays that are powered in the center with at least twice that many smaller ones, presumably for close range personnel transport. There are also twelve docking and refueling ports for capital class ships.

The main command 'bridge' seems to exist near the very top of the structure, with numerous subcommand stations located throughout the facility. If Dofina is as high a priority target as it would appear the Imperials have marked her as, she would probably be held near the main control center. This same control center would also appear to hold the main flight command center.

There are very few personnel airlocks, except near all of the hangar bays. It could easily be assumed that any EVA suits would be located near them.

All in all, you have managed to put together a rather detailed, if rough, map of the center complex. With any amount of luck, it will suffice and the whole procedure will be a cakewalk. Except:

"ALERT! Intrusion detected. Improper system access. Lockdown in affect. Security enroute. ALERT!"

The warning repeats itself and you note that the temperaure in the room has begun to rise.

 

[Ambrus]

OOC: Unfortunately DRK-1X may not have the luxury of waiting until after its mission to get answers as to how the nanobots function; it may need that information much sooner.

DRK-1X's emotive node registers frustration upon learning that it's slicing attempt has been detected. The probot knew that its entry into the central hub's computer network might eventually be noted by the network monitoring droids, but 1X had hoped to obfuscate its physical whereabouts before its access point could be identified. Unfortunately, the environmental changes in its office demonstrated that they'd pin-pointed the droid's location all without 1X even becoming aware that it had been discovered. DRK-1X also hadn't yet managed to pinpoint its Mistress' position, its primary goal. Those failures stung DRK-1X's pride, but the probot didn't have time to dwell on them at the moment.

The black spherical probe droid quickly withdraws its Code from the computer network nearly at the speed of light, erasing or modifying access logs as it hastily retreats through the system. Although too late to hide its unauthorized access, 1X could at least hope to leave no further clues in the computer network which might help the empire to identify it or its trail. When complete, the probot disconnects, retracts and stows its scomplink probe. Before heading back to the ventilation grate DRK-1X first stops at the door to tap its control panel to leave the entry open behind it. Hopefully that small action would help to lead its pursuers astray.

The probot then turns and re-enters the ventilation shaft and uses its hydrospanner to replace the bolts before turning and racing away through the duct work. The probot only slows down to turn corners before speeding up again as it tries to put as much distance as possible between it and the office it had been in only moments ago. DRK-1X backtracks through previously explored ventilation ducts during its retreat, choosing to make a safe escape rather than penetrating deeper into the central hub for the moment. Once it has covered sufficient ground to hopefully outdistance any pursuit DRK-1X turns and, settling on an alternate route through the ventilation system, resumes it course towards its mistress' assumed location in the main control center.

OOC: Assuming it's evaded pursuit, 1X will resume its careful but steady advance through the hub's ventilation ducts and utility shafts. Although it doesn't know Dofina's exact location, traveling towards the main control center should keep 1X busy for a fair bit; I imagine it remains many kilometers away still. Along the way, 1X will refrain from accessing the computer network as much as it might like since it seems to be much more of a risk in the carefully monitored central hub.

As it travels, 1X hopes to gain covert entry to one of the nearly forty smaller hangar bays. Ideally 1X would pick one that's on its route and perhaps in an incomplete or disused part of the station, with little foot traffic, a few personal shuttles and maintenance droids if at all possible.

DRK-1X has another plan it wishes to execute while traveling towards the main control center. To that end, 1X will stop in what it considers a relatively safe spot, shut-down momentarily and reprogram itself with the maximum number of ranks and feats in its demolition skill. The probot will then use its new skill along with the data its gained concerning the station's power distribution grid to extrapolate the best spots to position its permacrete detonators for maximum destructive potential (Demolition +17). DRK-1X is of course hoping to start a chain reaction, but if such explosions aren't as easy to achieve as they are in the movies then 1X will take what it can get. Once it has chosen five such locations as well as a series of alternate choices that it believes it could reach while en route 1X will shut down once more and reprogram itself back to its former skill-set.

Detours are acceptable to reach these secondary objectives as long as they don't lead the probot into overly dangerous areas. Taking a circuitous route to reach the main control center might help 1X to avoid drawing attention to its true objective in case security personnel try to track it.