Post
by Windguaerd » Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:44 am
NPC chat, introduces telecryptology as a science or skill, I googled it and searched online to see if it existed, it doesn't.The young woman before you motions hastily, hand waving you closer.
I selected Area A to start, wish me luck!
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Quick, get over here! Don't let them see you!
Once you're fairly well hidden by the rock formation her eyes close tightly, lips pursed into a frown as she peers over your form.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: You... don't look like a Duster. You wanna tell me what you're doing out here? Or for that matter who the hell you are? This is a secure area.
Noticiero: I could ask you the same thing...
The young woman furrows her brow as you speak, shoulders pushing backward as she stares you dead in the eyes.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Hey pal - In case it slipped your attention or something I'm the one in a uniform here. Lance Corporal Erin DeGeus of the Unicorn Brigade. You, on the other hand, just happened to wander into a high-security area without any notice of arrival from HQ. So maybe you want to start talking before I send you back where you came from. The hard way.
Noticiero: Doesn't look that secure to me...
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Yeah, yeah, real funny. Now you wanna tell me who the hell you are before I start giving you a few new breathing holes?
Noticiero: I was... told you might could use some help.
Her brow furrows as she looks down to her wrist-pad, lips still curled in a deep-set frown. Tapping against its display for a few moments she flicks her vision between you and the screen, nodding to herself.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Huh. Noticiero, is it? Can't believe they finally got someone sent out here... even if it isn't the backup I was hoping for. Shoulda known I would have gotten the short end of the stick with this one.
Noticiero: What do you mean?
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Everyone and their mother is so focused out in the Arid Drift section that they haven't had any time to send any backup here - Hell, they probably haven't even read my reports. This is such a load of crap. I keep telling them that I need help here, but nooooooooo, "the aliens are the bigger threat, DeGeus". "We need everyone here, DeGeus". "You just go keep an eye on them for us and if there's anything wrong don't bother to call!" Gah! Stupid friggin' sons 'a....
Her words pretty much degenerate into random muttering at this point, without anything of too much coherence coming out.
Noticiero: Um... right.
The Unicorn sighs, head shaking slightly.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Sorry. Just insanely frustrated at this point is all. I've been trying to get lead command to send ground troops out here to help me for god only knows how long now, and they all seem to have their head shoved up their rear. At least they managed to send out something...
Noticiero: So what's happening here, exactly?
Lance Corporal DeGeus: The Dust Brigade, and lots of 'em. That's what's happening. They've managed to entrench themselves into the area really, really well, and we've got no idea what they're up to. I've been trying to track down their activities for a while now but to no avail - There's only so much I can do by myself, and high command isn't giving me the backup I need right now. Granted, after the incident with the bombing run I guess they have kind of a good reason to be a little gunshy...
Noticiero: Bombing run?
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Ugh. Yeah, not our finest moment, lemme tell ya. When I say they're entrenched I mean they're really buried in. We tried to send a few bomber ships in to just clean house, but... well, they didn't last too long. High command figured it was best to wait until they've got Arid Rift cleared out before sending me backup, but I've got the sneaking suspicion that things here require more drastic attention than they realize.
Noticiero: What's with the area over there with all the fences?
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Oh yeah. Whatever you do? Stay far, far, far the hell away from that. Seriously. There's no way you're getting in through the front door. It's basically the entrance to the main quarters of the canyon, but the Dusters have it locked down tighter than a bank vault. Laser fences, turrets - The whole nine yards. Trust me when I say stay outta there. It's part of the reason Command isn't sending anyone else out here - Far as they're concerned, if they can't just waltz through the front gate, it's too much effort for them at the moment.
Noticiero: Well, you have me now at least. What can I do to help?
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Oh. Oh, right, yeah. Sorry. The note from command says they didn't really brief you on the situation, so... guess it's best to fill you in on that first. Here's the deal: We're not entirely sure what the Dust Brigade are up to out here, but whatever it is it can't be good. This canyon area seems to be pretty much their main base of operations right now, maybe even their central command - I don't know because I haven't had a chance to really dig in yet and find much out. What I do know is this: They're working hard - and I mean really hard - to dig up as much Xan tech as is possible. We - well, I - think it's related to the excavations they had going on back toward the Perpetual Wastelands area, but I can't be sure yet because I don't know what they're looking for.
Noticiero: So... basically you don't know what's happening either?
The Lance Corporal shoots you a rather pointed glare, frowning deeply.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: You're a comedian. That's why command sent you out here, to give me a good laugh. Great. I've got gods only know how many damn Dust Brigaders out there and you're here cracking jokes. Beautiful. If you're done trying to be a friggin' wiseguy how about we actually discuss what's going on, ok?
Noticiero: Ok, ok, sorry...
The Lance Corporal shakes her head again, tapping quickly against her wristpad.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Here's what we've got right now. You see those pads behind me? They're teleport pads the Dust Brigade have been using to transport people in and out of the area. I've had 'em under survelliance for a little while now, but they haven't seen any use in... well, a while. I think they're bunkering down in there - Either because they're afraid to come out or because they don't need to come out. So since they aren't using them at the moment... well, let's just say I did a little creative rewiring.
Noticiero: You hacked the Dust Brigade's teleporter system?
The Lance Corporal flashes you a bright smirk, tapping against her temple with an index finger.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Didn't major in telecryptology for nothin'. Well... I guess I should be fair - I've hacked most of 'em so far. Take a look at the pads - See the letters over the top? They all lead to different, closed sections in the canyons. And while I can get into the first few areas, there's one I can't crack. The encryption's just too good, and I don't have any kind of information that could serve as an unlocker key.
Noticiero: So what do we need to get in there?
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Same thing everyone needs sooner or later. Information. I'm willing to bet that if we can get into the areas I've managed to hack open we can find enough to let me break open the seal to the last sector. I've done a little scouting here and there with unmanned probes, but that only goes so far. I can't get what I need on my own, and HQ hasn't sent me any help. Until...
Noticiero: Until... me?
The Unicorn grins, nodding.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Until you. Whaddaya say, Noticiero - You interested in getting your hands dirty?
Noticiero: Just tell me what I have to do.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: That's the spirit. Can't say it's gonna be that pleasant of a ride, but you look like you can handle yourself pretty well. So! There's six areas I've got access to. Which one do you wanna check out first?
Noticiero: Area A.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Area A. Alright, here's what I know so far. Probes turned up a lot of the Dusters in there, think it may be some kind of camp area for them, maybe where their main barracks are. What I know for sure is that it's also where their heavy equipment is stored, and that's of a lot more interest to me than where they sleep. Like I said earlier, they've been working hard at doing some excavation in the area, and part of this involves some really massive digging machines they've managed to slap together - Two of 'em total that I know of. One of them is... somewhere, not sure where. But the second one is currently parked in their supply depot, getting some minor repairs and refueling. What this means is that its a sitting duck, ripe for the plucking.
Noticiero: So you want me to go blow it up?
The Unicorn shakes her head quickly.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: That's a negative, Noticiero. We blow it up, we attract too much attention right now. What I want is to disable it, without them knowing something's wrong off-hand. So here's what you're going to do.
Reaching into a small pouch near her waist, the Lance Corporal pulls out a tiny device, tossing it toward you non-chalantly.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: That's a specially-modified Unicorn hacking device - Been tinkering with it the past couple of days. What you're going to do is go in, find the digging machine, and apply this hacking tool on their main supply terminal - The station that controls the thing. Reason is two-fold: First, it'll upload a targeted virus onto the machine, designed to keep it in perfect running order... except the actual drill. This will keep 'em wondering what the hell is going on for a while without drawing too much suspicion to ourselves. Reason two, though, is that it'll also do a data dump of the memory logs from the terminal itself; we may be able to learn something useful from it, maybe something that'll get us through to the last area. Any questions?
Noticiero: None.
Lance Corporal DeGeus: Glad to hear it. I've uploaded the access codes for the area into your NCU - Just head through the teleporter marked "A"... and be careful. The Dusters aren't something to screw with. Watch your back.
Twitch Channel -
Youtube Channel -
Twitter -
Facebook -
Pinterest
AO Universe - Site Founder (Retired) | AOSpeak - Founder (Retired) | AO RecipeBook - Founder (Retired)
Keep in mind: My posts/views are not representative of AO-Universe in any way, shape or form. They are my own personal views and thoughts.