All The Kings Men... (Dark*Matter IC)

[Mordaenor]

Michael re-reads the last few entries, then pockets the diary, and goes back downstairs to join the others.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

“Yeah, I suppose a few notes would be good,” Isaac replies to Emrys. “Make sure we don’t forget anything.” He sits in the nearest chair and faces Dr. Thao, “So, what’s the next move, you suppose?”

[Zanzabarb]

"Next move?" Nguyen Nguyen asks rather incredulously. "We've come to Yorkshire, we've looked around, we've taken samples, we found the subject and, as he's not fit for interviewing at the moment.... due to being the single most baffling and incredible medical abnormality I've ever heard about outside of fairytales... the biggest news in biology this century or last... if I could only publish the discovery..." She stops, suddenly confused.

"Where was I? Oh yes, its my belief that we've fulfilled our duties for the day and we should return to the Institute where I can get access to a proper lab."

She doesn't seem so convinced that their work here is over, but she is very sure that she'd like to get back to a lab and start dissecting as soon as possible.

[Mordaenor]

Michael enters the room at that moment. "Returning to the Institute may not be the wisest choice at this time. What do you make of this, Doctor?" He pulls out the diary and draws Nguyen's attention to the last few entries.

Two days ago
"Dammit! One of my animals has wandered off! It wasn't looking healthy, either. None of them have... looks like scabies, but the vet said there's nothing wrong with them, although he did mention they shouldn't look like that. Dr. Thornton may be clever, but damn, he doesn't live on the edge of the moors, like I do. You see some strange things round here..."

Last Night
"Going to check on the animals. Three died this morning, burned the bodies and counted them as sold... They didn't look natural. None of them look too natural now, I may have to cull the lot. Hope it's not necessary."

[Pyske]

Emrys continues to hunt and peck away, methodically recording the details of the latest encounter, with precision and clinical detachment.

A lot of clinical detachment.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

“What’s that?” Isaac asks, referring to the diary.

[Zanzabarb]

Nguyen Nguyen scans the passages Michael indicates and then looks the Corporal in the eye, "I don't think the creatures that did this were only interested in a free meal. The transformation and reanimation of that unfortunate man, the skin disease epidemic in the livestock, the injection marks on all of them."

"I do not know how rational and forward thinking these reptiles are, but it is all rather unnecessary if they were simply trying to feed themselves.... One or two disappearances every few weeks or months attributed to wild dogs. No there is something else going on here, but until I can properly examine these specimens I'm 'flying blind', to use a Yankee expression."

"But as long as we are staying, I would like to collect more thorough samples from the specimens, photograph them, create a proper inventory and then follow the late farmer's lead burn the corpses. I'm not entirely convinced they won't get up and try to attack us..."

[Mordaenor]

Michael turns to Isaac, "It's a diary I found in Old MacDonald's bedroom." Turning back to Nguyen, his voice becoming very grim. "It's the part about the skin disease that worries me. Until now, I'd been assuming the livestock were slaughtered in a frontal attack by the Kinori. These entries suggest some sort of virus was used. And if that's the case, we don't necessarily know how it was administered, or how it spreads. We may well be infected ourselves. I recommend contacting the Institute to discuss quarantine protocols."

[Zanzabarb]

"Corporal, all the evidence supports the mutagen being administered via injection. Most likely a viral vector, although I can't rule out plasmids, and with such a large-scale and accelerated rate of transfection its got to be a very particular sort of thing... hard to imagine the virus surviving long outside of a host .... although not impossible." She frowns and looks at the waded up latex gloves in her pocket.

"I believe its a good idea to contact the Institute." She looks at Michael and asks, "Will you do the honors? I'd like to give this all a bit more thought."

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I threw out some ambiguous lingo there, but lets see what the doctor thinks after a moments reflection. Med. Know. (1d20)[5]
And also some insight/perception (1d20)[20]

[Mordaenor]

Michael looks slightly uncomfortable. "I'd be glad to Doctor, but... ummm... I don't have a phone. When your budget is a tight as mine, some things you can't afford."

[Zanzabarb]

Absently, the doctor fishes out her phone and hands it to Michael without looking. Then she sits at the kitchen table across from Emrys and pulls out the jar with the sample she took from the sheep. She stares into it and through it letting her eyes unfocus and her mind clear.

[Mordaenor]

Michael takes Dr. Thao's phone, and dials the Hoffman Institute."Director Parsons, please." He quickly summarizes the events of the past couple hours, the dead animals, the zombified lizard farmer, and the enteries in the diary. "Sir, until we know more about how these animals were infected, and how contagious the virus is, recommend the Institute implement whatever quarantine procedures we have. Requesting further instructions."

[darkpuppy]

Parsons' voice is soft and troubled as he speaks. "Your first priority is to get yourself into quarantine gear, and wait for the team heading to your location. It sounds like you've done all you can there, and we'll be sending a few sweep teams to find if that lost animal really is lost." he grimly chuckles as he continues "Well, that's some shakedown mission... you all get RnR at our lovely quarantine facility, and we'll be expecting you to have a detailed report compiled during that time. No rest for the wicked, Corporal."

The quarantine team arrive within a few hours, and you are escorted back to Hoffman London HQ, placed in an isolation chamber for a few days, and, thankfully, given a clean bill of health.

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And thus ends the first mish! Everyone gets the 1 AP for roleplaying, and, of course, the 1 AP for completing a mission.

[darkpuppy]

Chapter 2 - If You Go Down To The Woods Today
29th March, 2010, 9:45 AM

The past few days have been rather uncomfortable for everyone, as the quarantine chambers are, in the London HQ, not very large, and furnished only in easily sterilised or flammable materials, such as plastic chairs. Every day, a humiliating ritual of sample taking has taken place, and the team has still had to complete and file their reports (albeit in electronic format, via the computer linked to part of the HQ's LAN in the quarantine chambers), but soon, the voice of HQ's medical technician, Dr. Chandra, comes over the intercom:

"Good morning, everyone, and I am very glad to say that you have tested clean of any viral contaminants, but I am afraid there is no rest for the wicked, as Director Parsons would like to discuss both your reports and your next assignment with you, if you would be so kind."

The team's side of the quarantine airlock finally whooshes open, compressed air hissing as it does so.

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A simple Admin - Bureaucracy or untrained WIL check from everyone, please. Emrys may use his Business skill at a +1 penalty instead, if he wishes, Isaac is untrained WIL (5/3/1), as is Huntingbear (5/3/1) , and Dr. Thao may use her Med. Know or Forensics, also at a +1 penalty.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

“Back to the land of the living, whatever that’s worth,” Isaac mutters as he makes his way through the airlock.

Will - (1d20)[13] + (1d4)[2] =15; Fail

[Mordaenor]

Michael is probably the most comfortable with the past few days, having been through one or two isolation excercises in the army. Still, he's quite glad to get out of the quarantine chamber. He spends some time reviewing the Kunichakwa writings again, but doesn't expect to glean any more information from there. What he needs to do next is clear to him, but being employed by the Institute, who knows when he'll have a chance to do that.

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WIL check (1d20)[5] Hey, look at that!

[Zanzabarb]

Nguyen Nguyen's brown eyes look out from dark circles and a tangled thicket of jet black hair. The necessity of the quarantine is not lost on her, but at the moment she's having trouble convincing herself of it. The lack of sleep, close quarters, uncomfortable furnishings without the necessities of proper hygiene have taken their toll. As hard as she tries she, can't seem to summon the words to describe what she's seen or formulate cogent medical hypotheses.

She stands when Doctor Chandra comes over the intercom and makes a vain effort of smoothing the wrinkles from her clothes.

Still when she passes through the airlock she can't help but feel better and smiles broadly at Issac's quip.

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"Med. Know." - (1d20)[17] + (1d4)[1] = 18

[Pyske]

Emrys looks in even worse shape than Nguyen today -- he hasn't shaved in days. Occasionally over the last few days he seemed to slip back to normalcy before the reality of the bizarre situation was brought home again. He hadn't been sleeping well, either, occasionally starting awake at odd times.

He had spent days on the report, almost obsessively dotting eyes and crossing Ts.

(1d20)[19]

[darkpuppy]

Director Parsons is waiting in the boardroom as the team file in and take their seats. At the head of the table, next to his chair, are two sets of files: One set marked "Agent Reports: Bennman Incident", another marked "EYES ONLY: Biological Hazard and Encounter Report." He is facing away from the group as they take their seats, his shoulders hunched. Turning around, he sighs.

"Well, I imagine we'd better get to business. Firstly, it is somewhat clear from your reports that you are somewhat new at this, with the exception of Corporal Huntingbear, whose report is clear, concise, and has all the basic information, including the missing animal. This does not, however, impact upon your performance during the mission, although Dr. Peters, of our Archives and Reports Department, quite plainly wishes otherwise. You are, as of now, recruits of the Hoffman Institute, with all that that implies."

Looking around the table, his gaze fixes on Emrys. "Mr. Aberwyn, I am happy to see you recovered from your nasty shock, and hope that we will see no further flippancy from you in such matters. What we deal with is very, very real, and I believe this has finally hit home."

"Now, before I speak further, I would like you to get any questions out of the way now. Some of them will be dealt with during the briefing, but time is a luxury we can afford for now, so I think it's best to get such things out of the way while we still can."

Something is quite clearly on Parsons' mind, and he is a little crestfallen. He tries not to show it, but it is quite obvious.

[Zanzabarb]

Nguyen Nguyen opens her mouth and promptly shuts it. Where to begin...

"Will I have access to the lab now? I'd really love to get a look at those samples I took..." Suddenly her eyes get wide and she practically hops out of her seat. For a moment, she becomes the embodiment of every child on Christmas Eve, "AND the specimen! Is it still breathing?! Have the mutations continued?!" She very visibly has to stop herself from asking anymore questions. Then realizing that she's been in quarantine for several days, adds a bit more reluctantly, "Or at least I'd like a look at the reports from whomever you've had working on it."

[Mordaenor]

Michael Huntingbear chuckles a little at Nguyen's excitement. "Scientists." he mutters under his breath. He also notes Parson's discomfort, but does not inquire about it. If the commander's feelings are important to the mission, he'll let you know. He may have simply had a fight with his wife this morning. He does move on to a more immediate concern of his."If we're now full fledged members of the team, I'll ask the obvious question, Director. What exactly is this place?"

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Isaac allows the others to ask a few questions while he sees if he can discover what Parsons is upset about.

Mind Reading - (1d20)[6] (Good success if no modifiers)

[Pyske]

Emrys seems subdued. There are no sarcastic comments... or comments of any kind, though he responds to questions or comments. He seems unsure, as if not quite sure how to cope with his new situation. The lack of a return to normalcy, owing to their confinement, may be playing into his lack of spirit, as well.

For now, he nods and lets Parsons comment go unanswered.

[darkpuppy]

At Dr. Thao's outburst, Parsons seems to shake, and his knuckles whiten on the edge of the table... nothing outwardly happens, but Isaac distinctly hears, in that other sense of his, the tirade he could have gone through. It is distinctly impolite, and he learns something important a good few minutes or so before the rest of the team.

Taking almost an entire minute to compose himself, he merely says to Dr. Thao "The specimen is dead, but you will still have access to the laboratory and samples, for reasons I will go into when debriefing you."

Turning to Corporal Huntingbear, he obviously finds this a better question. He smiles as he talks, obviously warming to the subject, and quite proud. "This, Corporal Huntingbear, is the London HQ of the Hoffman Institute, as you know. What you did not know, but recently discovered... and more quickly than any other london recruit team, I might add... is that we are not only researchers of science, but also of the paranormal, which is, as you have once again noticed already, is quite real, and, in many cases, quite deadly. We are, in effect, the people who take it on the chin for the rest of mankind, so we don't have a world of black and white magicians fighting in the subways, and monsters openly walking the earth. Not that most of them are inclined to that, anyway."

Looking around, he continues. "This building, as you may have noticed, has a full quarantine area, medical research facilities, a weapons range, a full garage, computer access to both the internet and our restricted LAN system, OSIRS. Quite frankly, this is a small facility compared to the ones the yanks have, or even the europeans, but we do what we can, and we all do our part."

[Mordaenor]

Michael Huntingbear starts a little upon hearing the croco-zombie is dead. Several thoughts go through his head, including if they had overdosed the tranq, what a waste of effort to bring it back alive if it was going to die anyway, and a mental image of hanging its corpse at the end of the shooting range.
He also considers several things he will have to research once he has a few moments of downtime. Just how thorough were the Hoffman's files?
His question answered for the moment, he settles back in his chair, and awaits their debriefing.

[darkpuppy]

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How did you come to the conclusion it was dead, Mord? I don't believe I've mentioned that.

[Mordaenor]

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Taking almost an entire minute to compose himself, he merely says to Dr. Thao "The specimen is dead, but you will still have access to the laboratory and samples, for reasons I will go into when debriefing you."

What other specimen are you refering to?

Edit: Or did Parson's simply mean "It was dead all along" in response to Nguyen's "Is it still breathing?"

[darkpuppy]

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Sorry, was a little muzzy when I wrote that spoilered post, so apologies to both yourself and Shhalahr. Whuff, I hate colds...

Parsons, seeing no further questions or comments for the moment, continues. He is obviously having a little difficulty with this part. "After your initial, on-site report, it was decided that a team of assistants, recruits, agents and allies would keep watch on the surrounding area for signs of this lost animal. It is quite fortunate that I specifically requested teams of three, as one of our groups..." He pauses, and cannot continue for a moment, his knuckles whitening once again. Taking long, deep breaths, he finally masters himself. And continues.

"One of our groups was, in one sense, fortunate enough to have discovered the animal before it could cause any damage. It resulted, however, in the 'loss' of one of our agents. The virulence of the disease, while tailored, is thankfully low, as Dr. Peters, may he... eventually rest in peace, if he isn't already... somehow... took an entire 24 hours to both become deceased and... mutate. It was not a pleasant process, and was apparently immensely painful. Being as we did not, and do not, have any serum, vaccine, or counter-agent at this time, we... We couldn't save him." Again, he has to take a minute or two to calm himself. This has obviously hit him quite hard.

"It was considered too high a security risk to keep our 'patient zero' and the first transmitted case, so we dissected the late Mr. Bennman, and are currently collaborating with elements within the CDC to ensure that we can provide some sort of vaccine. You may, if you wish, Dr. Thao, examine these samples, but, as your objectivity has been called into question, both by your report and your comments made so far during this briefing, you will not be allowed to study the late Dr. Peters."

He looks around the group. "Now, before I discuss your next assignment, questions and comments would be appreciated, so long as they are not requests to countermand my order regarding the... late Dr. Peters."

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Anyone making an untrained WIL or Awareness - Perception/Intuition test (negative modifier for Dr. Thao, due to her obsessive quality), will quickly realise that he is deadly serious on that point, and furthermore will react very negatively to any such request. Those making a Good result will also note that there are no files, as yet, that may pertain to the next assignment. Make of that what you will, IC, if you get that result.

[Zanzabarb]

"Director," Nguyen Nguyen begins softly, her voice clearly touched by sympathy at his loss and perhaps a bit of surprise that he is so clearly shaken. Surely a man in his position must be hardened somewhat to this sort of tragedy. Her tone is sympathetic but she remains standing.

"I do not mean to lecture or be pedantic, particularly at a time like this, but..." She inhales deeply to steel herself and then continues calmly,"because you've attacked my professional integrity so directly, I feel I must elaborate on the nature of objectivity. In this context it is the property of scientific measurement that can be tested independent from the individual scientist who takes the measurement. My curiosity and desire to research this phenomenon will not affect my measurements or the reproducibility of any experiments I would carry out."

"On the other hand, your decision to mislabel my enthusiasm as subjectivity and deny me access to aspects of this case because of a very personal and very human connection to the subject is antithesis of objectivity. I don't call into question your right to give this order or ask it be reversed, but let's be clear about why." With this she sits down and awaits the worst.

[darkpuppy]

Parsons' response is formal in tone, but his voice is almost glacial as he speaks. "In this organisation, as with any other, Dr. Thao, objectivity refers to the ability to go beyond personal concerns when dealing with a case. I have read your file, as I have every other, and it is you, not Mr. Aberwyn, who came closest to being failed as an agent for this organisation. Only your experience and intelligence swayed my judgement. Notice, for yourself, Dr. Thao, that you have not thought of Dr. Peters as the loss of a human life. Nor Mr. Bennman. To you, they are both 'subjects' for study, a puzzle to unlock your own personal tragedy. In your report, you mention quite a lot about the evidence you gathered, but nothing of the missing animal, nothing of the fact that you gathered evidence before securing a potentially dangerous area, and, furthermore, even though you are the medical professional of this team, you did not immediately request the team wear their hazmat suits upon noticing the possibility of a contagion, but decided, instead, to study the contagion close up, with no previous knowledge of its vector, and thus put yourself, and the entire team in danger."

He pauses, wipes his hand across his forehead, and sits down. His voice is calmer now, low and measured. "Depending upon this interview, I was either going to keep you on this case, or move you onto something else temporarily. It is quite clear to me that you need time to consider the term 'objectivity' as it applies to the safety of your team-mates, the value of human life, and it is also clear that Mr. Aberwyn needs something a little more restful than field-work. As such, we are placing you on what we call 'Urban Legend' duty. It is a duty that rarely finds results, involves a lot of interviewing and archive work, and is almost guaranteed to give you a lot of time to think. You will meet with Iain Davies, our Archivist, for this assignment, and he will assign you where he sees fit. Are we clear?"

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Whuff, this is tense! Good roleplay, damn good roleplay, just thinking what to say next has made me all shaky and nervous!