Varuna Base Quest #4

> When we last left off, we had finally rendezvoused with one of the only survivors of Varuna Base, Security Officer James Secord. We had just had a harrowing experience through the Mine Shaft, and now safety comes in a potential new ally...

"So um." Secord coughs a bit, placing the lantern on the floor. "Yeah, welcome to VB Security reception. Th- that's my bed right there. Couple of crates with rations, enough to get me about... another week or two I guess?"

The otter sniffs out the food, looking around the room.

"Y-, um. Your Raft Otter friend there, he- he can have what he wants. I- uh..." Secord still seems a bit shaken. "Just uh... go ahead and make yourself at home. I- I can't imagine you'd still be standing after what you been through."

Yeah, this um...

This doesn't look great. Secord seems a bit shy too. And what's with all the police tape?

And is that a Lindhelm Air Rifle on that crate! Dang it, I left the barrel back in Mining too. Hm.

I'd rather not go back for it now.

Still, I'm feeling kind of tired, a little peckish even. What do I do?

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Rest up and eat. Get some info from Secord about how he's been holding out and what's been happening on the base. You might also want to ask him about if he knows of any escape routes that you and he could take, and possibly any vessels that you could use to that end.

Supporting:

Rest up definitely. We also need to know what Secord knows: what was it about him being here for 6 months? Did your submarine only just arrive? How did things get like this?

Secord hands you one of his ration packs, a jelly donut cake. I pop it open, and then start munching down. Hm, seems the labeled flavor is just there for flavor. "So," you begin your interrogation. "Um. Six months?"

He nods, sitting down next to you on his mattress. "Yep. Six months. No rescue, no communication with the Colony or the Master Subs. Um... did you only just arrive?" I nod. "Oh. And is your Sub?" I shake my head. "Oh, um." His face falls a little, crestfallen.

"What happened?"

"I honestly don't know," he says. "One minute, we get a glitch in our defense field, second minute, power starts going out, the research animals start going loose, skirmisher crabs move in and start shooting at anything that looks bigger than them it's uh..."

I nod slowly. "I won't prod."

"Th- thanks."

"We do need an escape plan though. I can't get the AV Clarke going without extensive repairs. Not exactly something we have the luxury of here."

"There is one intact Sub left in Sub Bay 3, but the bulkhead is keeping it locked down. Those things are designed to stop high pressure floods, it'll keep us out for sure."

"There has to be a way in."

"Yeah, there is, but it's from the outside," he says. "And in my state, I can't exactly um..." He motions to his arm in a sling. "You'd need a suit."

"Where can I get one?"

"Um, th- there's no..." He looks down, biting his lip, averting his gaze. "I um... Look, y- you're better off for now just waiting for rescue. They'll come for you, for sure."

>You'd need a suit.
Time to relive Alien. You have watched that film, right?

>last line
Secord has either: stolen the suit, destroyed the suit, or become the suit. Whichever one it is, you're gonna have to force it out.

More seriously, though, what's up in the vent? Where does it lead to? Also, you may want to keep Ottington on a more... disciplined leash.

Get that otter out of the rations box. He can hunt for food that you might not be able to eat, and he'll probably find a lot of food if he sticks with you.

Does Secord have any way of contacting the outside world and getting immediate feedback from a live person? If not, then the chances of a timely rescue are probably really slim. Insist on getting a suit, and perhaps a map of the area that you need to go to.

Might as well try scrounging around for things to use.

Like that roll of duct tape.

Rest up for now.

I vaguely remember watching old films in History and Moral Philosophy class regarding human attitude towards extraterrestrials some 600-800 years ago, that might've been one of them.

Man, back then, we really hated aliens but we really wanted to see them too for some reason. Too bad there aren't really any aliens like we thought there would be. Meropis is one of the few planets which has any kind of remnant of what is assumed to be intelligent life but unfortunately VB is nowhere near the xenoarchaeological digsites or else this would be a lot easier.

Um. Judging by that expression, I don't think the Otter wants to give up that box.

I'll pick up that duct tape in a bit.

Resting for now seems good. Maybe I can coax more out of Secord. "Well, if there's no suit here, where can we go?"

"Well, the Living Quarters is completely flooded and exposed to the sea. Um, Research is cutoff, the hallway leading in is completely flooded and sealed off by bulkheads."

"So, there's no suit here." He remains quiet at that assertion. "There's a suit here, isn't there."

"Well, it's not a Weaver that's for sure. It's just a simple research suit we confiscated a month back because Doctor Newkirk was using it to play around with the animals. It's um... you'd need a researcher's keycard to use it too."

"How can I get those?"

Secord rubs at his injured a bit, still unsure. "I-... I'd rather you not. There's- there's..." He really seems uncomfortable speaking about it.

Level with him. It must have been frightening to experience the base being overrun, and he's likely to have seen some shit while he's been stuck here. But any information about that suit or whatever's in the general proximity of it would be a great help and would also go a long way to building a coherent escape plan, or getting into contact with authorities who could actually mount a full-blown rescue operation.

Push him on this. Its probably something he's not proud of doing, but we need that suit.

Lean uncomfortable close to him.

Ew! No! He's like... 6 and a half feet tall!

"Secord, we need that suit so I can get both you and me out of here. Please, just... level with me for a second, alright? Where can I get the suit and the keycard to use it?"

"I-"

"Please, just, I know it's scary. Just, let me help you."

"They're..." He sighs deeply. "The suit is in an evidence locker. I can- I can open the doors for you. But the- the keycard is in the brig and there's... a really big problem I'm afraid in the brig and in Admin."

"What's that?" I ask.

"Blacksmith Shrimp," he says.

... what?

"Blacksmith Shrimp. The base discovered them knocking on rocks above Mining a couple of months before things went to hell. They're pretty small, small enough to crawl through the vents. But they're... they're fast, and they got a really fucking mean punch." He motions to his arm. "One or two of them are crawling around in there and I- I don't have anything powerful enough to kill them."

"What about the Lindhelm Rifle?"

"Ah, it's useless. Someone stole the firing pin and- and the air canister is in research. Stafford and Loby took the barrel too when they tried to run but- yeah..."

"Alright, well, maybe we should get going."

"Oh, no, no, no." He shakes his head. "I'm staying right where I am. It's safer here. I- I- can't!"

Maybe we can improvise a weapon with our old stuff?

>attach flashlight with duct tape

Hopefully your otter friend has a taste for Blacksmith Shrimp.

As far as Secord goes, he'll need to get over his fear of going outside sooner or later. But as of now, you don't know if you have a clear shot to the Sub or if you'll need to jump through a few hoops to get it to work. But you'll need to talk to him to at least be amenable to the idea of making a break for it if the Submarine is good to go. In the meantime, he can provide guidance in the manner that he's been doing so far.

Does Secord have a map of the area?

ImproBombAnon, ImproBombAnon, I summon thee!

Take note of inventory and any other usable items in the immediate vicinity, please?

this voice has good idea Also, ask him if there is some mining tool we can use for defense. Unfortunately chainsaw is impossible here, but maybe there is something else?

we should double back for the Lindholm barrel.

With the giant fish thing? No please.

In my inventory I have:
> A Rivet gun: Half full
> Two Keycards, Mining Standard and Chief Mining
> A Crowbar
> A Thermos with a little bit of coffee left inside
> A Harpoon gun with two shots left
> The Radio
> A stick of explosive

"Secord, would you happen to have a map of security?"

"Um. N- not on me unfortunately. There is one in Admin on Carver's desk. I didn't think to bring it with me when I moved in here."

"Any weapons I could use."

"W-... well I'm not giving you stun baton if that's what you think."

"That's fine, keep it. What about stuff in evidence?"

"Erm, besides the suit, we did have a laser drill that was out of place in Living Quarters that we picked up for Mining. Other than that, it's mostly junk."

Hm, so question is, Admin or the Brig first?

brig. the laser drill may come in handy.

Ottington's disappeared inside the box. I hope he's not making too much of a mess. Remember to pick up the duct tape: it's the universal solution.

I guess as said. The keycard will probably come in handy later on, too.

Brig first. Secord can probably talk you through the directions to get there.

We could mug Secord for anything useful he might have?

He knows the most about this place. He's looking shiftier by the minute, but it'd be good to have at least one ally (besides Ottington) on our side before we start doing things the more efficient way.

I don't know what he could really do with a broken arm. He's either lying about that (and has presumably orchestrated the entire thing), or he's legitimately hurt and scared. We need to assume the latter, because assuming the former will make our job harder regardless.

He might be shaken and scared, but he's at least a head taller than me. If anything, he'll mug me for useful stuff.

The brig it is then. "I'll head into the brig first. Think we can-" We both look to the box to see our Otter friend still inside of there. "Um."

Secord blinks. "You know, I always did like the Raft Otters." He looks down at me. "It's interesting though, does he have a name or... something?"

"Well, I haven't really called him anything, but a bunch of voices in my head keep referring to him as 'Ottington', so I guess that's what I'm rolling with."

Secord is a good man.

Unless you count "The Otter" or "Hey You" as a name, no.

Ottington is a fine name though. It signifies his otter-ness while being dignified.

I don't call him anything, but Ottington seems to work.

To the Brig

The Otter's name is now Secord Number 2

"His name is Ottington."

Secord squints at me a bit. "Ottington?"

"Ottington."

He blinks confusedly. "Um. Alrighty. Well, I'll go ahead and let you into the Brig. The door beeps. I'll keep contact with you over the radio. But... uh, try and be careful in there. Those Shrimp are much faster than you think and uh..."

"What?"

He shrugs. "Watch out for the blood on the floor. There- there were-... there was a few people in there when it went down." Oh. Alright.

...

>when it went down
We still don't technically know HOW it went down, though. Tactical negligence on GS' part, clearly, for dramatic effect.

Let's see what sort of FUNFUNFUN we get ourselves into now.

I'M NOT PREPARED ask questions about the setting and maybe some select creatures if you'd like, i will be building the next part shortly

youtube.com/watch?v=-EOg5LI3v4Q

I drew some fanart~
imgur.com/a/Fz8Lp
Thermos-tan for best waifu

That's some fine lewds there.

AH I FORGOT ABOUT THIS AAAAHHHH

Is this what happens when you grow too dependent on coffee?

Well that certainly didn't take long.

Yes. That's why you start on decaf, and only move to decaffeinated when you actually need the boost. If you do that, you don't associate the taste with the high it gives, so you don't become so easily addicted to it.

I haven't enjoyed a quest this much since AVP Quset (which got abandoned half way through?). All good quests deserve fanart. Shame I have as much artistic ability as a slug trying to eat saltbeef.

hi lime

> "Alright, since you're close, I can walk you through this. The Researcher's name was Doctor Gilmore, we put him Cell 6 because he assaulted one of the Sec Officers before the incident."

"Alright. Uh..." I look down to see I'm standing on dried blood. Yuck. "Far end of the hall."

> "Yeah. Be careful, I- uh... there's low power in here so the cameras aren't working. Just let me know if you need help in there, okay?"

"Okay."

Right... um. Cell 6.

Hm.

What are in the other cells.

>AVP Quset (which got abandoned half way through?)
QM ran afoul of a school of fis.

I guess we walk (slowly) over to cell 6, then. Peer through the gap (if you're tall enough) to see what's in there before pressing a button?

Aww, that sucks. Hope things are getting better for him.

Cell 3 looks like fun. Go there first!

Is the otter with you? You might want him along so he can sniff the cells and let you know if there's bad shit inside of 'em.

Since our otter is...well... an otter...does that mean whenever it goes to sleep it holds hands?

user, not only is that lewd, but that is also bestiality.

Um, That's a good question. I'm kind of curious if I'm honest.

We can check Cell 3 later. Let's focus on Cell 6 first.

Let's see what's in Cell 6.

The Otter refused to come out of the box with me. He wasn't even eating anything in there. He just decided to go and nap. I'd... I'd rather not wake him up.

Uh...

Judging by my short height. I can't really see anything in Cell 6.

I'm guessing instant death, let your otter through first.

...

um.

oh fuck

This may be an awful move, so other anons please critique it, but...

Knock on the door.

ANOTHER ANIMAL FRIEND THING
THIS TIME IT IS SPOOKY
GIVE IT A HUG

It looks like a another otter.

My guess is that the glowing eye is to do with the 'experiments' that was going down in research. They may have been experimenting on an otter.

I am a huge fan of the befriend-everything route.

I- it uh...

It looks curious.

There's a very subtle tapping against the door from the inside of Cell 6.

It wants out. Let it out. Free the caged creature; it is only humane.

Is it Morse code?

ask secord first if he know anything about... whatever is that thing.
And if we gonna let it loose, i prefer to do it from safety.

No, but it's getting louder the longer I stand her staring at it.

Open it but have Ottington face it

Welp, the scientist dude who is (dead) in there has obviously transferred his consciousness into this genetically modified raft otter, explaining the large stature and glowing eyes of spiritual possession. He is tapping more insistently because, being unable to vocalise English properly, upon you opening the door he can engage in conversation through sign language and physical gesticulations. He will then lead you and Secord to Freedom™, fighting his way through the evil monsters that lurk this vicinity because of his own darkness because he has become one with the very darkness he created.

And with that, I'm off to bed. Have fun, guys, don't die.

hold up the thermos of goo! See if we can make nice with it

Good idea. Seconded.

"Um. There's something inside of Cell 6. Should I let it out?"

> "NO! Does it have a green eye!?"

"Y-... yes?"

> "Do not let it out! It's one of the blacksmith shrimp!"

Well then don't let it out and check other cells.
Keep an ear out for a morse signal.

BANG

...

um. uh.

Whoops, I left the reference image in there, pls ignore

Time to skedaddle the fuck out of here. If it breaks free, drop an explosive behind you before you run.

I quickly retreat to the other side of the hall. It clonks again the metal door. Those things are designed to stop people from punching it in! What's it going to do to you!

It stops however, and its eye goes back to the slot, apparently watching to see if you move any closer.

Okay, pro tip. Do not go near Cell 6.

Right, now what?

Test

test

Check the other doors, start with No. 1.
is it me or did Veeky Forums went silent?

Posting's fucked right now, someone said in another thread it was taking like half an hour for responses to show up.

...

Check cell 3 while our mini me checks cell 1 and I check why can't I post!

try door number 1.

check the other cells

arm the rivet gun

So. This is Cell 1.

Oh. I look back to see a camera directly above the door. The light is off, meaning it's powered down.

Oh boy.

Um... Now what?

Wonder why the dude was imprisoned.

check the body, keep watching that ceiling.

Let him out.

Send in water dog first.

Closed room. How'd he die?

apparently it was Russia that was fucking up Veeky Forums

the whole country just got banned

We should build a wall and make Russia pay for it

Blyat!

a firewall

Alright, let's check out the corpse then.

Very funny.

He's not with me right now.

All that I can find on him is an audio log.

I decide to play it.

> Engineer Harry Drew: "Ehehe... ehehe... alright, uh, Secord! Harding! Klein! Alright, you jackasses, very funny! Very funny, I wake up in the drunk tank after a hard night's work, alright, that's fair, you don't need to pull this joke on me. M- my head's killing me, come on!"

> ...

> Engineer Harry Drew: "C-... Secord! Come on, I know you're out there! You never leave the Admin offices you lanky prick!"

> BANG

> Engineer Harry Drew: "Wh-... wh..."

> BANG BANG BANG

> Engineer Harry Drew: "Okay- okay! Hahaha! Okay! Th-... that's... come on! This isn't funny anymore, lemme out, Secord! Secord, come on!"

> BANG BANG BANG BANG

> Engineer Harry Drew: "Hey, Secord! For fuck's sake! Don't make me yell for the AI, man! She can open this door too! Eh- uh... MAMI! MAMI! Open the door! Somebody let me out! Let me out!"

> END AUDIO LOG

...

Poor guy. You look over to the sink, and see some blood pooling around the drain. He must have slit his wrist open there somehow. Great, this is a bust.

Might want to skedaddle. There's something watching you from the vents. It also has green eyes.

Though I must say that it's very strange how these "Blacksmith shrimp" are apparently capable of busting down doors, yet don't seem interested in doing so.

RUN!

Okay, leave now. Something is on vent and i don't wanna face it in narrow room.

Flee the thing in the vents!

Look flat redhead, something in the vents.

Huh, what?

The vent grate suddenly falls to the floor, and coming out of it now was that huge shrimp with big black claws and those glowing green eyes.

Oh. Oh shit.

RUN AND CLOSE THE DOOR

FLEEE! Close the door behind us!