Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 4973425" data-attributes="member: 143">Thanks for dropping by and posting, VM. If you ever do decide to give NWN another shot, RR, this module and all the haks needed to run it are on the Neverwinter Vault. Unfortunately, a DM is required (it's not scripted for single-player games). * * * * * Interlude: Base Operations (May 25, 2008) A couple of days after handing in the motion detector, Catalina headed back down to see Doctor Sandesh.  This time she adopted a casual smile and approached him at work in one of the machine shops, where he was watching an engineer grinding metal in a lathe.  "Hi Doctor, I just popped down to ask a couple of questions about the detector, if I can.  We really should know how to optimise its use in the field." Without waiting for him to say anything, she went on, "Can you tell me what kind of a range you think it will have?  I imagine that checking through barriers will have an impact but I wondered how close we'd need to be to pick up anything at all." Sandesh did not look happy, and for a moment, Catalina thought he’d leave the room again.  But after a brief pause, he answered her question.  His accent was familiar, Oxford, maybe.  “In tests it functioned clearly out to about 30 meters.  After that, you start to get... duplicate feedback, ghosts, you would say? Barriers affect its function depending on the density of the material.  It can detect through a wood or drywall barrier without difficulty, but a moderately thick layer of metal will block its function.”"The other thing is, is there some way it will be able to tell what it's sensing?  I'm not sure how it works but would we be able to tell the difference between a human and a sectoid?  Would the display be any different?  If it is then we can test it on one another and try to work out how."  She smiled wryly.  "That's if you haven't already calibrated it to do so of course." “Yes, I have already made improvements based on your report.  It is all in the technical file.  Size calibration is integrated in the production model, if not precisely.  It should be able to tell a child—or one of the gray aliens—from a human adult, however.” The engineer finished his work, handing Sandesh a large, round mechanical assembly that looked like part of a turret.  "Now, if you will excuse me, I have some tests to conduct." Without waiting for a reply, he headed back to his lab.Mission Briefing: May 26, 2008The briefing is fast and to the point. The members of Alpha Team were still a bit groggy, having been woken from a deep sleep at four in the morning. Present were Liaison/Director Garret, Doctor Wagner, and Chief Engineer Thelon Beluca.  When asked about Doctor White and Ken Yushi, Garret said that they were already prepping the Skyranger.  There's no sign of Agent Drake; Catalina whispered a comment about her needing her beauty sleep. "Okay, here's the situation," Garret said, looking the same as always, like a man who's never needed sleep in his life.  "We've got an intervention mission at a research site in Australia.  The Aussies are full consortium members, but this place... well, it's pretty 'off the radar'. We know they've been involved in some alien-related research, and they've shared some useful data with us on the alien operations in the Southern Hemisphere, but the Australian government has been reluctant in sharing details about exactly what they're working on at the site.  We do know that it's a Class 5 rated biological containment facility; in plain English, that's the sort of place where work on Ebola or smallpox is carried out." Doctor Wagner picks up the narrative.  "There have been three known alien incursions into Australian territory since the start of the alien troubles. Three hours ago, we intercepted a coded burst from the site of the research base, some sort of distress call.  All attempts to contact the base or respond to the message have failed.  At first, the Australians were reluctant to elaborate about what was happening, but after some... diplomatic pressure, they've agreed that X-COM should be the ones to intervene, given our expertise in this area." "Ken's prepping the Ranger with drop tanks; this is going to be an extreme-altitude boost, so dress warmly.  Even with the tanks, it's going to be a one-way trip; we're already making arrangements for refuel and getting a hazard containment team on site, but they'll be a good six hours behind you.  The Australian military has cordoned off the area, but they have orders not to move in unless the situation grows... dire." "Questions?  This is a high-profile mission, and if successful, we might be able to impress our consortium members that X-COM can help out beyond U.S. borders.  Get your gear and get ready to boost."</blockquote>

Verification