Fallout Play-By-Post

[Songbird]

Robin

Four options come up in the terminal.

Code: [Select]

VAULT 111 OVERSEER INSTRUCTIONS
Overseer's Log
Open Evacuation Tunnel
A Message To The Survivors
"Guys...", Robin doesn't think twice before selecting the last one. The following comes up:

Code: [Select]

I'd like to include as much information as possible, but I have to keep this short - too long a message, and they might notice it.
If you're still alive, get out of the Vault. The override was already triggered, you should have little issue dealing with any remaining security. Head for Sanctuary, if it's still standing.
Avoid University Point.
Do not trust the Institute.
The world has changed. I hope you can change it for the better.

-L
"Good thing they addressed only living people. Of f-cking course we're alive if we're reading this," she mutters angrily. The message reignites the fear in her. What's going on with the outside? How could they expect them, of all people, to fix things? "Does anyone remember where University Point was? I think it was in Boston..."

[thegreyarea]

Nine

As the door opens he peeks inside and finds a small room with a bed, a wardrobe, a small desk and a chair. Practical furniture, quite spartan in style. At the end of the room an open door leads to a bathroom. Nothing moves, and Nine gestures for Faust to wait outside. There's not much space, and he doesn't want to get shot by accident if a roach comes from under the bed.

He moves inside and this time it's not his years in the Army that come to mind, but his experience as an investigator, when he learned that what's missing sometimes is more important than what can be seen. And everything else is missing here.

Nine carefully advances checking under the bed, inside the wardrobe and each drawer on the desk. All empty but for a thin layer of dust. He lifts the mattress and moves the furniture. Still nothing. The bathroom proves equally devoid of anything, not even a toothbrush. Before leaving the room he checks the walls. No damage, no marks left by paintings or wear.

Coming out he announces to the party. "Clear! Striped bare. Whoever left this room had time to pack everything, which is quite a different story from all we saw until here, with gunfight, bodies and abandoned things." He closes the door and moves toward the large desk where Robin and Charlie are looking with attention to the terminal. "All the others had trouble, but this Overseer clearly had time to plan his move and no resistance. Can't be sure what that means but..."

Nine stops, being close enough to read the message left by the Overseer. He reads, and reads again. "Head for Sanctuary? How we are supposed to know where that Sanctuary is? And what is the Institute?"

Hearing Robin's question, he scratches his head for a second. "University Point... They are probably speaking about Columbia Point, in Dorchester, Southeast from Downtown. Massachusetts University is there, and it forms a peninsula out from the mainland into Dorchester bay, with Old Harbor Park on the north side... I don't see why we would go there, but let's keep that warning in mind."

However Nine fully agreed with the "Leave the vault" part. He was getting tired of that artificial light, together with the dust that filled the air every time they moved, not to mention the several body bags that brought him bad memories. "Let's see if there's more information and then get ourselves out of here, shall we? What else you found, Robin?"

[Mirasol]

"Hurts a bit. It might bruise, but I was really lucky" Faust tells her. He's walking with no limp either, he just seems annoyed. He follows after Robin, ready to react in case another group of roaches comes up.

Ok, that´s good. They already have two injured people, hopefully it would stay at two.

Nine

Nine realizes that it feels good to organize the team, one of his best abilities. It's been a long time since he did that. He needs to keep Charlie in the back now, however he doesn't want to sound like giving orders, so he chooses carefully his words. "Robin, you're going to check that terminal, right? Charlie, can you help her? Four eyes see better than two."

Placing the duffel bag on the ground next to the door, he holds the wrench, takes a deep breath and opens the door.

1d10+6: 16 [1d10=10]

PER-check for the room: Roll(1d10)+4:6,+4 Total:10

Terminal, what terminal? Oh, that terminal. Charlie finally notices it as Robin walks towards it. She follows and looks over Robin´s shoulder as she opens the message. She gets a bit irritated as Grey mentions that "university point" is probably "Columbia point".

"What? That´s like... not that far from my University. Actually, my brother studied there. What the heck happened with the place?"

She pauses.

"Hm. But as for "sanctuary" or "institute", no idea. An institute could be close to the university maybe. And there were some places around with "sanctuary" in their name. Actually vaguely in the same direction as Columbia point, I´m afraid. But I could be wrong, maybe it´s somewhere completely different."

[Songbird]

Robin

Robin uses the lull created by the short discussion to copy the message into the Pip-boy. A couple of weeks from now they might no longer remember the exact wording or the writer's moniker. She couldn't speak for the others, but she was sure she wanted to find them. "They might be talking about Sanctuary Hills. It's a suburb a short walk from the Vault, closer even than my neighborhood. Worth checking out. Not that I trust the writer.

"No idea about the Institute, but it sounds like something that would exist within an university."

She turns her attention back to the terminal, navigating to the Overseer's Log. Stepping to the side, she lets the other read it without a word.

Preparations

The final staff orientation is complete, all but a few of the residents down in Sanctuary Hills have been enrolled, and several from Concord as well. Vault-Tec supervisors came up this week to do a technical review with me. This Vault is ready to open.

I can only imagine what wonders our residents will get to witness. The notion of leaping forward in time - I almost wish I could join them and see the promise of our future realized.

October 23

It's happened. We were lucky that most of the staff was nearby when the early warning came through. We had less notice than expected, but only Nordhagen was missing when we sealed the entrance.

Resident Admittance went smoothly. Everyone made it, even the family that waited till the last minute. I was worried there would be more suspicion, but things happened so fast for these people. They must have been too overwhelmed to question the cryogenic pods.

Cryolator

I've long dreamed of making cryogenic freezing available in a portable, on-demand form. The Cryolator is my latest attempt. Thankfully, we're in no short supply of the chemicals and components I need to tinker with the prototype. It's a nice way to occupy the time as we wait for the All-Clear Signal.

System Malfunction

Strange issue today with pod C3. Subject appeared to be having heart palpations. Nothing life-threatening, but unusual. We realized almost too late that the pod was malfunctioning. The cryogenic array almost started thawing her out.

We're not sure, but I suspect a hiccup in Vault-Tec's remote override systems may have sent an errant signal. We'll have to keep an eye out. I only hope their systems are reliable once we evacuate the staff.

Supplies Running Low

There's been no All-Clear Signal yet, even though we're nearing the end of the 180 day Mandatory Shelter Period. Supplies were never intended to last much more than that, and despite my best efforts, people are beginning to question what we're doing down here.

If people think we can just leave when the 180 days are up, they're insane. The radioactive exposure would still be potent enough to fry everyone if the Vault seals are breached that early. The whole point of the All-Clear was to receive additional instructions from the main office.

I don't know what to do. I can't open the Vault. I can't expect our supplies to last forever. I just have to keep everything under control until the All-Clear...

Mutiny

A faction led by the security personnel have turned on me, demanding they be allowed to leave the Vault. Idiots. I will not open the door to be irradiated to death out there.

I'm consolidating the remaining supplies, putting the staff on lockdown. We're going to have to start prioritizing who deserves what little food we have left. I've been too damn generous with the rations.

If people don't like it, well, that's fewer mouths to feed...

[thegreyarea]

Nine

"Not a big Log, considering how many months this Overseer stayed down here." Nine observes after reading the last entry. "I suppose several things may have been deleted before leaving. After seeing how methodically the residence was emptied I can tell there was time for preparations."

He reads again, making sure nothing important goes unnoticed. "The part about the "Cryolator" is interesting. I wonder if that last attempt was successful. However.. what's the point of having a portable cryogenic machine if you don't have a safe place, like the pods, to store the person? And would it have its own power source?"

Nine places the wrench over the desk and comes a bit closer to the terminal. "Robin, can you please show us those "Overseer Instructions"? Perhaps there's some useful info in there."

[Songbird]

Robin

"Not a big Log, considering how many months this Overseer stayed down here." Nine observes after reading the last entry. "I suppose several things may have been deleted before leaving. After seeing how methodically the residence was emptied I can tell there was time for preparations."

"Unless someone else emptied the place. Didn't doctor Ryan mention something about taking all useful things?"

He reads again, making sure nothing important goes unnoticed. "The part about the "Cryolator" is interesting. I wonder if that last attempt was successful. However.. what's the point of having a portable cryogenic machine if you don't have a safe place, like the pods, to store the person? And would it have its own power source?"

"I don't think he had safety in mind. Portable, on-demand? Sounds something you could use on unwilling targets."

Robin moves on to the Overseer Instructions as requested.

[thegreyarea]

Nine

Robin
"Unless someone else emptied the place. Didn't doctor Ryan mention something about taking all useful things?"

"I don't think he had safety in mind. Portable, on-demand? Sounds something you could use on unwilling targets."

"Yes, I remember that. But there's nothing there, not even some old, ripped socks, or a used soap on the shower... Was all that stuff useful for them? Anyway, your view on possible uses for the "Cryolator" thing seems like something those bastards from Vault-Tec would do. Respecting people's rights wasn't a requirement to get a job there, as we can see by that log."

Nine puts one hand over his ribs, in the place where the robot landed. Now that he stopped it hurts a bit more. They don't seem broken, but he's sure to find a large bruise whenever he gets to take out those clothes... Which won't happen inside the vault, he recalls. "So, let's see those instructions and get ready to move, shall we?"

[thegreyarea]

Nine

As Robin press the option "VAULT 111 OVERSEER INSTRUCTIONS" the screen blinks for a second and is filled by capital letters.

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL
OVERSEER EYES ONLY | VIOLATION VTP-01011

Vault 111 is designed to test the long-term effects of suspended animation on unaware, human subjects. Your staff will be on short-term assignment to monitor basic cardiopulmonary and cognitive functions. Long-term monitoring will be handled remotely by Vault-Tec technicians.

Under no circumstance is suspension to be disrupted. This includes the administration of live-saving measures. Your staff is also considered expendable. Insubordination or attempts to evacuate prematurely are capital violations. Unused cryogenic pods are the preferred method for cadaver disposal.

Nine feels a knot in his stomach. The text just confirms his suspicions, but is still hard to read. A strong desire to get the wrench and smash something fills him, and his hand moves toward the tool. He manages to stop and breath before speaking his mind. "Those ******* bastards!" He turns to Robin. "I was right! The true job requirement here was the willingness to disrespect people's rights! But the staff didn't know that they were also paws in the game... I wonder how it ended. Did the Overseer use the sentry robot to get rid of the rebellious group?" He shakes his head and moves away from the desk, grabbing the wrench and the duffel bag.

His eyes are fixed on the door leading to the escape route as he walks slowly towards it. "Anyway that doesn't help us now. Open the door when you are ready. Oh, if anyone wants to use the bathroom... well, your first chance in two centuries is there." He points the door to the Overseer's residence. "Who knows when we will see another one?"

[Songbird]

Robin

Nine seems oddly bothered by the confidential file. They're perfectly in line with what Robin came to expect from Vault-Tec, or any other corporation with ties to the government for that matter. She keeps a watchful eye on him as he moves away, quietly scanning his movements for signs of pain. His earlier discomfort didn't go past her unnoticed.

"I saw something, let me just..." She dives back into the terminal options, hunting for a last option she saw tucked in somewhere. Yes, there! She clicks on the [Check Cryopod Status Reports].

"The people on the pods below... Thirty people. It's saying they're dead. So are the others in the other room. And the remote override was engaged for our pods only."

She returns to the main menu and clicks on the Open Evacuation Tunnel option.

[Kitty]

Faust just quietly listens to them reading stuff out and arguing.

He's tired.
And sad.

He just wants to leave.

Hopefully, they will be doing just that soon.

[thegreyarea]

Nine

He brings himself to a halt midway to the door. Something is missing... Looking around Nine sees Faust a bit away from the others and... silent! The guy isn't showing he's usual, energetic behaviour.

Walking closer Nine manages to stop short of patting Faust. He seems to be the kind of person that wouldn't like that. But It's hard imagine what's going on inside that head. Faust is the strangest member of their group, with all the secrecy about his name and backstory, but there's also something on him that creates... empathy? Perhaps it's the feeling of loss of the world as he knew it, but in these hours Nine began to like each of these strangers, together with their peculiar traits.

"Hey, Faust! Are you OK? Looking tired, and, to be honest, a bit sad." He looks again, looking for injuries, but sees none. "I'm hard pressed to believe that bullet hit the crowbar instead of you. I guess you're right in wanting it so bad." Giving him a wry smile he adds. "Cheer up! We're almost out of this place. That message for the survivors... us... it's been recorded decades ago. Maybe things got better outside, and all we need is to get out of this old bunker." This time he can't resist and gives a very light pat on Faust shoulder. "Com'on, let's do it!"

[Kitty]

Nine

He brings himself to a halt midway to the door. Something is missing... Looking around Nine sees Faust a bit away from the others and... silent! The guy isn't showing he's usual, energetic behaviour.

Walking closer Nine manages to stop short of patting Faust. He seems to be the kind of person that wouldn't like that. But It's hard imagine what's going on inside that head. Faust is the strangest member of their group, with all the secrecy about his name and backstory, but there's also something on him that creates... empathy? Perhaps it's the feeling of loss of the world as he knew it, but in these hours Nine began to like each of these strangers, together with their peculiar traits.

"Hey, Faust! Are you OK? Looking tired, and, to be honest, a bit sad." He looks again, looking for injuries, but sees none. "I'm hard pressed to believe that bullet hit the crowbar instead of you. I guess you're right in wanting it so bad." Giving him a wry smile he adds. "Cheer up! We're almost out of this place. That message for the survivors... us... it's been recorded decades ago. Maybe things got better outside, and all we need is to get out of this old bunker." This time he can't resist and gives a very light pat on Faust shoulder. "Com'on, let's do it!"

Faust just seems mildly surprised that someone's coming up to cheer him up. But he gives the man a smile. "I'm doing fine, I just can't wait to get out of this dump" he says casually, waving off Grey's concern. "They suck, what they did sucks, this place sucks." And all the people he ever knew when he was traveling all over the States were now dead.
His parents included.
He isn't particularly happy nor sad about them dying. It's been two centuries, and he left them even earlier. Mom deserved better, he supposed... but still.
And his friends and companions from back then... well, he hopes they had a nice life. There was nothing else he could do except move on.
And remember them.
And meet new people.
Once he gathers enough information, he'll set out... California again, he supposes. Crossing the Rockies will be a nightmare...

[Mirasol]

Charlie reads through the Overseer´s log. Something catches her eye in the first paragraph.

Robin

Preparations

The final staff orientation is complete, all but a few of the residents down in Sanctuary Hills have been enrolled, and several from Concord as well. Vault-Tec supervisors came up this week to do a technical review with me. This Vault is ready to open.

I can only imagine what wonders our residents will get to witness. The notion of leaping forward in time - I almost wish I could join them and see the promise of our future realized.

"Oh yes, great, I love being in the future, alone, far from everything and everyone I know. I almost wish you did join us so I could personally thank you." she wispers, her voice trembling in anger. She reads further.

Louder she tells the others: "a hiccup in Vault-Tec's remote override systems? That system is what unfroze us, right? Could it be that maybe not a specific person freed us, but some malfunction like this one?" And would that be good or bad news???

Charlie doesn´t fully read the overseer´s instructions Robin pulls up next. Her faith in humanity has been damaged enough today. Instead, she actually uses the opportunity to go to the bathroom. The toilet flush still works, surprisingly enough.

Robin

Nine seems oddly bothered by the confidential file. They're perfectly in line with what Robin came to expect from Vault-Tec, or any other corporation with ties to the government for that matter. She keeps a watchful eye on him as he moves away, quietly scanning his movements for signs of pain. His earlier discomfort didn't go past her unnoticed.

"I saw something, let me just..." She dives back into the terminal options, hunting for a last option she saw tucked in somewhere. Yes, there! She clicks on the [Check Cryopod Status Reports].

"The people on the pods below... Thirty people. It's saying they're dead. So are the others in the other room. And the remote override was engaged for our pods only."

She returns to the main menu and clicks on the Open Evacuation Tunnel option.

As Charlie comes back, she hears Robin read out the Cryopod Status Reports. They´re all dead, huh? To say she´s surprised would be a lie. But she was hopeful for them to be alive. At the very least, she was in denial that they were dead. That her family was dead. For a moment, she wishes they had stayed behind. Maybe they could have lived a good life 200 years ago. Her mom was so close to getting that fancy promotion she wanted. One would have graduated from college. Theo would have gotten to high school. Who knows what he would have wanted to do with his life, but now he would never get the chance.

But no. That was wishful thinking. Home was nuked. Being frozen was maybe a better death than exploding. And wishing things were different wouldn´t bring them back either.

She hears Faust talk to Nine.

"I agree. Can we please leave now?"

[R.M.S.N.P]

Robin

Nine seems oddly bothered by the confidential file. They're perfectly in line with what Robin came to expect from Vault-Tec, or any other corporation with ties to the government for that matter. She keeps a watchful eye on him as he moves away, quietly scanning his movements for signs of pain. His earlier discomfort didn't go past her unnoticed.

"I saw something, let me just..." She dives back into the terminal options, hunting for a last option she saw tucked in somewhere. Yes, there! She clicks on the [Check Cryopod Status Reports].

"The people on the pods below... Thirty people. It's saying they're dead. So are the others in the other room. And the remote override was engaged for our pods only."

She returns to the main menu and clicks on the Open Evacuation Tunnel option.

Having taken up his watch upon the door again, Arthur listens intently to the conversations going on without giving any sign of it.
Dead?
What does this confounded system know, anyway?
It was meant to freeze us for a bit to decontaminate us and let the boffins prepare stuff, but it spat a few of us out at random after 200 years!
About as useful as a chocolate teapot on a summer's afternoon, and we're just going to take the blasted computer's word for it?
No.
The others are as alive as we were an hour ago, just still frozen.
We'll have to head out to find someone who can defrost them properly, the others mostly seem sharp, but not scientifically inclined.

Charlie reads through the Overseer´s log. Something catches her eye in the first paragraph.

"Oh yes, great, I love being in the future, alone, far from everything and everyone I know. I almost wish you did join us so I could personally thank you." she wispers, her voice trembling in anger. She reads further.

Louder she tells the others: "a hiccup in Vault-Tec's remote override systems? That system is what unfroze us, right? Could it be that maybe not a specific person freed us, but some malfunction like this one?" And would that be good or bad news???

Charlie doesn´t fully read the overseer´s instructions Robin pulls up next. Her faith in humanity has been damaged enough today. Instead, she actually uses the opportunity to go to the bathroom. The toilet flush still works, surprisingly enough.

As Charlie comes back, she hears Robin read out the Cryopod Status Reports. They´re all dead, huh? To say she´s surprised would be a lie. But she was hopeful for them to be alive. At the very least, she was in denial that they were dead. That her family was dead. For a moment, she wishes they had stayed behind. Maybe they could have lived a good life 200 years ago. Her mom was so close to getting that fancy promotion she wanted. One would have graduated from college. Theo would have gotten to high school. Who knows what he would have wanted to do with his life, but now he would never get the chance.

But no. That was wishful thinking. Home was nuked. Being frozen was maybe a better death than exploding. And wishing things were different wouldn´t bring them back either.

She hears Faust talk to Nine.

"I agree. Can we please leave now?"

"That would be a prudent course of action, if we're all ready" he says calmly, without getting up or turning around.  

[Songbird]

Robin

The Overseer's logs seem to have affected her companions to different degrees, visibly distressing some while others didn't look affected at all. Robin fell into the latter category. She moves to the front of the line like before, falling into scouting position to cross the passage.

She has enough concerns to bother thinking about how people in power are horrible. Two out of six injured, and barely no supplies to deal with it. They're about to leave the Vault — and with it, the people they ever cared behind. Will they ever come back? Will she ever find a way to help them?

Can they be helped? That sound-induced headache is getting worse. She rubs her temple with a free hand.

A laser blast flies past Robin's ear as soon she turns around the corridor bend, hitting the wall behind her. She yelps in surprise, feeling the last remnants of the heat on the wall her as she throws herself to the side in a hopeless attempt to shield herself, trying to grasp what's happening.

Mystery PER check: 1d10+6 7
(AGI save): 1d10+8 10
Initiative (Surprise!): 1d20-5 -2