Skull

The Skytower Rebellion

Brilliant stuff Cat, and poor Cesar :( . I enjoyed the ship's interior description -- almost felt like I was walking through it for a sec. I'm not sure what you plan on doing with the Wombat situation, but I put a scenario out there in my Ayah post that might see two plots interconnect? what do you think?

The Skytower Rebellion

An Outer District of Babylon - Clear Point Clinic

---

Ayah found peace in the darkness. The stillness of water encapsulated her entire being, entrapping her senses within a pool of crystalline silence. Long days of rigorous fieldwork. Long nights of lab tests and analyzing data. The morsels of freedom her hectic schedule spared were spent rejuvenating mind and body. Things like high-end robotic Cespora chambers that deep tissue massage over-stressed muscles, or revitalizing meteor rock-heated body spas, and Zero-G Yoga. Such luxuries were never taken for granted during these grace periods, for they so desperately contributed toward her sanity's upkeep.

The Doctor’s recent muse currently has her suspended within a retrofitted cryo-pod. Its engineered cooling fluids contain slight hallucinogenic properties, and ambiance is maintained with a virtual reality HUD. Ayah didn’t care for the VR HUD. Instead, she requested that her pod be in a private room with little-to-no lighting, and that a noise-cancelling sealant be applied to the pod door. Within the confines of this peace chamber, patented simply as the “Life Pod” from Clear Point Industries, Ayah felt an overwhelming amount of calm. It felt as though she were lucid dreaming, though no matter the state of her psychological temperance, would always remain in a visage of tranquility.

For a human with cognitive augmentation that is constantly overworking the brain's processors, the ability to clear your mind and focus solely on the state of simply being… was a godsend. No partitioning between problem solving dozens of tasks, while analyzing the complexities of dozens more -- all while examining patients and/or attending board meetings via neural HUD implant, as she physically coordinates EIS teams to survey hazardous environments.

No, within this Life Pod exists none of the sort.

It’s as if her brain becomes a squished sponge that drains out all of the unwanted thoughts, leaving her with the ones long forgotten. Ambitions. Dreams. Love. Memories. For but a moment in time, she remembers what it was like to be human again. Within the confines of this Life Pod, she can be vulnerable. Exposed. However, like all good things, such sensations of freedom are but momentary lapses within the chaos that is her life.

A mechanical chirping noise slowly reverberated into Ayah’s skull, thrusting her into consciousness. Within seconds, the silk-like gelatinous fluid drained out into the large pipes that veined into the ceiling. Her eyelids slowly lifted, revealing azure sea stones that quickly shifted into irritated ocean tides. She brought up a finger to press “Open” on the pod window’s touch screen. The sound of crackling sealant followed the vibrating hum of the pod door's hydraulics as it unlocked and slid open. As she exited the chamber, a momentary state of drowsiness passed through her.

Whoever the hell is trying to contact me better have a damn good reason.

She grabbed the lavender robe laid out on a small table next to the pod and draped it around her. With a concentrated wink, a HUD appeared in her left retina.

--Incoming Call: ID: 144143AI09 Dr. Grathias Matronillo--

She clenched her teeth as she read the name of her overseeing supervisor. He was recently assigned to her division just last week, straight from BESC operations. He was a boy scout who played everything by the book. Never been out on the field. Never seen what an evolved nano-virus from a defunct Mind could do to flesh and bone. And worst of all, had no decency for protocol, especially when his subordinates were off the clock and on some much needed R and R.

--Accept?--

She winked 'Accept' with an agitated frown.

“Sir, with all due respect, I was granted a ‘no-contact’ grace period for a reason. You should already know by-“ The lecture she planned on giving Dr. Mantronillo about the importance of her off-time was hastily cut off.

“We’ve got a problem!” Grathias blurted out. Ayah sensed the panic in his voice.

“What is it, sir?” She immediately rushed over to the other side of the room and fetched all of her belongings from a touch sensitive locker unit.

“The contaminated cargo carrying the G-II virus in that wrecked sand-ship we surveyed... It, it was en-route for pick up, but it never reached our Laboratory. We tried calling the transfer team but we didn’t get a response back.” Ayah’s quickened pace to get dress slowed to a momentary halt.

“What!?” She yelled in disbelief. It was as if her brain had glitched before suddenly kicking back into full gear.

“W, we’re assuming the transfer unit got ambushed by pirates. Got ahold of the cargo. Shit, Ayah. If people get exposed to that…” G-II, or Golathius Strain, is a terrible flesh-eating virus mutated from the dead carcasses of sand worms. Dr. Ayah was the EIS officer that personally coordinated the sterilization of the sand-ship that contained the G-II, seven hours ago.

“I shouldn’t have handed the operation over to you. I should’ve known that this would be the more plausible outcome with you left in charge…” Ayah’s tone grew more aggressive, but it still retained its cold indifference.

“Now wait just a minute-“

“Do be quiet, Mantronillo. Leave rational thought and logical reasoning to those who are far more capable. File your report to your BESC superiors while I clean up the defecation of your incompetence.” A forceful wink severed communications with her supervisor. In the time spent conversing with Mantronillo, she had dressed herself fully into a form-fitting EIS enviro-suit, messaged her bodyguards Lucy and Edgar to pick her up at the rooftop of the clinic, and dispatched a neural link to her hazmat squad and EIS security teams to rendezvous toward the sand-ship’s last pinged GPS coordinates. She shot a glare at the Life Pod and nodded disapprovingly.

“Should have never stepped into the bloody thing...”

The Skytower Rebellion

Thanks Cat! That's high praise coming from you XD. I'll take a more comprehensive look at your Huxley post after I nap. Here's my other character.

---

Full Name: Dr. Ayah Mei Lau

Age: 32

Race: Human

Appearance:

Personality: Dr. Lau is incredibly well-schooled, delightfully well-mannered, and insatiably well-dressed. She gives off a pristine vibe that alludes to a prissy, high maintenance-type lifestyle, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. In reality, she is a hands-on field officer that finds physical labor as the most rewarding part of her job. Puss fuming epithelial sores from a sexually transmitted tindrel disease wouldn’t make her flinch any more than an insufferable public formality would. And don’t let her charm fool you; her snarky attitude and sarcastic undertones aren’t just meant for social fluff. She didn't gain the infamous title of "Ice Queen" by sitting pretty.

History: She originally worked as a Hazard Consultant at Yggdrasil Industries for ten years before she was offered the job at Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) as a Lead Field Epidemiologist Officer. The EIS are contractually assigned to consult BESC with Disease Prevention and potential outbreak risk from deadly pathogens on a global scale. Dr. Lau takes credit for preventing six cases of what could have resulted in genocidal outbreak; Three in Babylon, one in Edessa, and two in Reunion. The constant influx of immigrants and trade imports and exports off-world puts Outremer in a constant state of vulnerability that Dr. Lau hopes to change in the coming future.

Occupation: EIS Science Officer

Weaponry:

BAAC Personal Beam-Focus Blaster - Laser-Firing Handgun, short-medium range, 10 shots before reload, powerful at short range, energy decreases with range; medium recoil.

BAAC Personal Defense Droids (PDD's)
Standard Issue Defense Machine - Simple, stripped down self-functioning Machine, armed with two Beam-Focus Blasters, metallic appearance, Machine Intelligence of 0.4

Augments: Increased cognitive function.

Other: There are two elite BESC officers assigned to guard Dr. Lau: Lucy Tournes and Edgar Daicon. While Dr. Lau is uninformed on the specifics, she is aware that they are both graduates of a rigorous augmentation program that was recently green-lit at BESC's advanced military academies.

The Skytower Rebellion

R. Sinclaire said The damage is far from done, but it may very well be the proverbial nail to Illugia’s ramshackled coffin. It took me eight long months to bury his lackluster career as BESC Representative, but it was time well-spent and effort well-placed. My call to arms against his preposterous mishandlings in office has rallied the CGB to my cause in restructuring our military dictatorship that play pretends democracy to keep the ‘peace.’ By getting rid of Illugia, I’ve also swooned key politicians in the ROC and BESC branches, who were too cowardly to oust the bastard themselves. Everything is set into motion. The coming weeks will be paramount to the overall success of my plan, which, rest assured, will be nothing short of grandiose. Welcome to my world.

---

Babylon. Capitol District. Congressional Hall

---

Robert Sinclaire exited the Congressional Hall from the back entrance. His Secondary Security Chief, Haseji Machiko, awaited his arrival around a sleek Vivaldi luxury transport module.

“The prodigal son returns!” She smiled as wide as the blocky frames of her black sunglasses.

“I don’t think you’re using that phrase correctly.” Sinclaire said, slightly offended.

“Probably, sir. Apologies.”

Sinclaire grinned as he approached her. At 5’7” with a slimming frame, she wasn’t physically intimidating like the others of her trade. In fact, in many public outings with Delegate Sinclaire, she was often mistaken for his personal secretary, or worse, girlfriend. However, compared to the other politicians who felt more secure hiring seven-foot, geno-fixed muscle men as bodyguards, Robert felt just as comfortable, if not more, having Haseji at his side. It was in Sinclaire’s style to hire someone like her; to stand out and be unorthodox. To make you underestimate what you can’t even begin to understand. Such follies often resulted in irreversible consequences. Just ask Illugia Faux.

“Where’s Kruger?” Sinclaire asked, knowing what answer would follow.

“Here, sir.” Sinclaire turned and saw flashes of light refraction coalesce around the 6 foot frame of Kruger Valens, Sinclaire’s Primary Security Chief. The light reflecting stealth systems died down to reveal a man in desert camo fatigues. A slim mechanical support frame latched onto his upper body like an external skeleton, reverberating in low hums as he articulated his arms and hands.

“That’s pretty good.” Sinclaire nodded as he stared into the armored mask where Kruger’s blue eyes would be. “Were you with me the whole time? I couldn’t tell..”

“Only when it mattered, sir. From your exit from the main room floor at the Hall, to Illugia spitting on the floor, seven inches from your foot. I was mainly circling the perimeter to make sure no demonstrators got through.” Where Haseji was employed for her unique appearance, Kruger Valens was recruited for his complex and often peculiar methods of security, which embodied all that was unorthodox.

Together, the pair worked in tandem; Haseji in the public eye as Robert’s physical bodyguard, while Kruger remained discreet in the shadows, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. Their stellar dynamic has put Robert at ease for over four years now. It’s to the point where he considers them more than just subjects under his employ; something he has never experienced since hiring security teams back in his CEO days. It’s why he allows them to be so incredibly unprofessional, at least when they’re away from the public eye.

“He left out when you took a leak in the restroom, sir.” Haseji joked. Robert suppressed his chuckle. He didn't in fact use the restroom at all since his time at the Congressional Hall, but he wouldn't put it past Kruger to take such a precaution, even if it was uncomfortably awkward to think about, let alone an invasion of the Delegate's privacy. It wouldn't be the first time its happened.

“Hey princess, you take the Vivaldi for a wash like I asked you, or were you too busy painting your nails again?” Kruger shot back.

“Oh don’t be so uptight. I had time for both.” Haseji said, nonchalantly.

“Okay, children,” Sinclaire interrupted, motioning for the door handle. Just as he did, Haseji immediately grabbed it first and pulled the sliding door back for Sinclaire. “Watching Illugia Faux publically castrate himself has put me in high spirits.” Robert grinned as he entered the plush grey leather interior of the Vivaldi transport. “I think a celebration is in order.”

Kruger entered at the front passenger seat across from the driver. “Rolling Dice, sir?” He called out from behind him. Haseji closed the Delegate’s door, then walked around and entered the vehicle from the opposite side and sat next to Sinclaire.

“Let’s try and get there quick. I’ve got a meeting with the committee later on tonight.”

“You got it.” Kruger peeled back the hood of his cloak and clicked a button on the side of his mask, collapsing it to reveal a thickly bearded face. “You heard the Delegate, Max, let’s get moving.”

The driver nodded his head, both to Kruger and to Mr. Sinclaire. Max was an older gentleman, somewhere in his 50s, but he still had a spring in his step. Like Robert, Max was geno-fix free, and was as healthy as a prime adult for his age. “We’ll have to detour through the backroads, sir. There’s a high speed chase going on that rerouted all the traffic to the main highways.”

“That bad huh?” Robert snapped his fingers, triggering the motion sensor of the ceiling holo projector to come to life. “Search news report: high speed chase in Babylon. Current time.” Robert said aloud, ordering the search engine of the projector to filter out the desired result. He made a swiping gesture with his hand until the projector illuminated a news reporter who was live on the scene...

The Skytower Rebellion

Catharyn said
Yay! I'll be with you all the way. I'll be introducing the Red Cross later on, with some tweaking so it's not such a cult of personality, Gideon may have a chance to shine.

Sweet! I'll keep Gideon on hold until then, though I might do some tweaking with Mya Froch when I work on her bio so she could mingle more with other characters.

The Skytower Rebellion

okay. I have some free time on my hands for the next couple days. I'm going to try and dish out as many posts as I can. XD

Catharyn said
By the way i endorse multiple characters totally! That way if one gets frozen into a corner or you lack inspiration for them you can shelf them until later and still work on other things.

My Gideon Hyde character is pretty much frozen into place with Sauron gone. I may bring him out of hiding further down the line, but I'll likely promote one of my NPCs (most likely Mya Froch) as a replacement.

The Skytower Rebellion

Maxxorlord said
Gah. I missed my deadline.I'll try to catch up on everything, and post. I won't promise anything this time around, though.

Same here. I've been pretty busy.

The Skytower Rebellion

Leidenschaft said
Ech, I'm not pleased with my intro. Hopefully, the next post's better.

I enjoyed it myself. I foresee a rift in the future between the group and richard, who looks like he might fly off the handle at any moment if Marcus doesn't rein him in.

Though I suppose that's good you're not pleased with your intro. Means it can only get better. Though I know what you mean. I just edited mine after feeling like I rushed it (which I did b/c I was excited the IC was up lol). With the talent we have on our roster, it's only natural to feel intimidated (at least I do), but it pushes me get better.

Catharyn said
Okay, noted. Good luck with your finals for next week! :D That's some serious work.

Thanks! I'm on a gonna need it!

The Skytower Rebellion

Sauron The Dark Lord said
I am very sorry, but the delay of the IC has stripped me of my freetime and now that the IC is open I have none to spare. I won't be able to commit myself to the IC or even RP at all, or atleast not something of this magnitude.

NooOooO Sauron!!!! Hopefully we'll see your return in the future bud... I'm not quite sure how to go about Gideon Hyde now... I wouldn't want to take any liberties with the Knight's Cross without its creator on board.

I'll try and get a small news post in but I won't be able to get any character posts up until next tues/weds. I've got a hectic work week + its finals next week. Until then, I'll be lurking about and reading everyone's excellent posts in the meantime.

The Skytower Rebellion

Siphran said
So many IC posts, and here I was worrying that it would stall.

I love me some work break reading material. XD

Catharyn said
Great posts guys! I've posted a little one so it looks like we are actually in the casual section.

lol sorry I just realized how long mine was. I applaud anyone that managed to get through all of that haha.