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Scrap Metal; Medium Quest
Topic Started: Sep 10 2011, 06:23 PM (438 Views)
Fossil
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Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Reward: +600 zeni, +5 DP, +20 all stats, +5 Rp Credits; Bonus - +200 zeni, +15 all stats.
Passive: Adventurer I

Progress
Posts: 10/10
Words: 3,779/3,000 (3,779/3,700)
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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Fossil
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“Security Chief Baurbos, this is TMO Compound CS-05 Security Command Center. Please, respond,” the staff sergeant repeated into the microphone with some discernable measure of distress in his voice. Even since Baurbos reported that he was entering the ruins called the “Ancient Forge,” their lines of communication had been spotty at best, but it had now been several minutes since they’d received even a crackle of static over the communicator.

“What do you think happened?” questioned the sergeant’s partner at the computer terminal, “You think that alien got him?”

“I’m not certain,” the sergeant answered sounding somewhat absentminded as he was busy thinking, “It seems pretty likely though.” Really, he was thinking about the whispered tales of ghosts haunting the forge, but he could not admit it aloud.

“Well, what are we going to do?” asked the other guard, who fumbled over the controls to the computer terminal in a state of bumbling panic.

“Page TMO Headquaters,” said the staff sergeant a bit tentatively, “They’ll tell us what to do.”

With a nod of his head, the subordinate set out about the task of cueing up a video relay. However, still a bit aflutter, he pressed the wrong button on several occasions. This created situations in which he would have to navigate backwards through complex menus and generally wasted a great deal of time, much to the dissatisfaction of his superior. Still, at what seemed long last, the security outpost established video communication with the distant facility. One of the many screens of the display showed an official looking Keliouxian wearing a TMO uniform.

“Yes, Security Command CS-05,” his voice crackled from interference, “What is the problem?”

“Sir, this is staff sergeant-“ started the guard although he was abruptly cut off.

“Where is Security Chief…” the official started and then conferred with his computer before finishing by saying, “Baurbos?”

“Sir,” continued the staff sergeant, “An unidentified alien vessel landed on TMO property. A dispatch of guards and Security chief Baurbos were dispatched to investigate the matter. The dispatch took enemy fire and suffered serious injuries. We lost contact with Chief Baurbos shortly after he entered the Ancient Forge in pursuit of the alien.”

“I see,” came the simple response from the TMO official, “One moment please.”

[Word Count: 376/376]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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Fossil
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“Alright, sergeant,” the official said into his microphone, “I’ve been granted permission to contract a third party for this assignment. Please, transfer me the coordinates of the unidentified ship. All the while, his fingers were steadily working at entering data into the console at his fingertips. As quickly as the information came in, it went right back out to a dirty workshop belonging to a private security firm located elsewhere on the dreadful planet.

Along with the mining companies, Cauldron was home to many security companies who earned their fortune by keeping raiders at bay. Although each company maintained their own private force of guards, these businesses offered additional firepower in dire situations. Since, the threat seemed only minimal, as the Thrifty Mining Operation official was somewhat ill informed to the current situation, the zeni-pinching organization elected to hire a discount firm for this assignment. Thus, a noisy alarm accompanied flashing red lights as a distress call came in at a distant outpost, startling a dosing Keliouxian whose hair carried with in the hint of age.

“What?!” exclaimed the startled old Keliouxian as he jumped from up his chair. Quickly calming down, he looked over the monitor before and a mused, “Oh, well, I see. Sure has been a while.” He continued mumbling to himself as he entered some commands into the terminal in order to accept the contract.

It had indeed been a while. Competition for business was fierce amongst the so-called private security syndicates, or bounty hunters, of Cauldron. This particular enterprise had essentially be hedged out by leaner competition and forced to subside on scrap assignments. Having long had to do with meager rations and modest comforts, the elderly Keliouxian that owned the operation was quite excited by the prospects of a proper job.

Thus, his gray face brightened a bit as he continued entering commands into the terminal. Now, he was transferring data from one file to another and setting priorities for a computer program. Afterwards, he paused to double check the input as he greedily rubbed his hands together, already envisioning a payday that surely awaited him.

Moments later a message appeared on a monitor in flashing green text that read, “Processing complete... Awaiting activation…”

[Word Count: 370/746]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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Fossil
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With the details seen to, the aging Keliouxian hopped up from his chair in a sprightly manner, leaving his empty chair to swivel around in circles. Meanwhile, the old technician made his way across the spacious workshop until he came to another terminal located near a large metallic chamber. It was obvious that the controls at this console were considerably less complex. Without hesitation, he seized upon a lever and switched its orientation. Immediately, flashes or flight illuminated all over the terminal.

Simultaneously, a pattern of whirling red light and crying sirens erupted from the nearby chamber. Slowly, a pair of great metallic doors parted to reveal the seemingly dark void within the structure. The shriek of the sirens quickly dimmed away, but the softer noise of machinery carrying out prescribed tasks drone on. After only a few seconds more, another display began flashing the message “full power.” Almost immediately, the buzz of activity died away.

Then, a whole new sound came forth from the dark confines of the grand metallic chamber. It was an awful creaking sound that possessed some timbre of mournful wailing. This was following by a ringing thud, which sent a detectable tremor through the building. This process was repeated a second time, and this time a massive being seemingly constructed from metal stepped for into a stream of light, revealing its heavily armored appearance. As it continued to move out into the open, the hulking android’s joints continued whining from the stress, having been left to lie dormant for far too long.

The technician looked on with a smile of his face. It had a long time since he had warmed up the old android, and he’d nearly forgotten how imposing the metallic behemoth was, even in comparison to the brawny Keliouxians. Meanwhile, the brutish construct strode past the elderly technician without acknowledge him. The might machine strode directly across the workshop with single-minded purpose and came to where a portion of the wall was retracting to create an appropriate sized exit for the android.

As it stepped out onto a platform outside of the compound, the door began to slowly close again, while the android remained motionless. Inside, the technician had returned to his proper terminal, where he could gauge the android’s status from readouts on several monitors as he worked the controls at the console.

[Word Count: 392/1,138]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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The massive android remained motionless for several minutes more as it stood on the platform just outside of the compound. It appeared inactive, but that was deceptive. In actuality, internal systems and processes were preparing the construct for the voyage it as about to undertake. Thus, the metallic being was suddenly overcome with a violent trembling, and an accompanying rumble rose steadily into a thunderous roar. Then, a burst of flame came out from the android’s feet along with gouts of think, black smoke, and the imposing figuring hurtled into the air. As it flew along, the android remained motionless, with the blaze of mighty thrusters and the trail of black smoke following him. There had been no attempt to disguise the constructs inorganic nature, so that it appeared as a hulking suit of living armor, impassive and unfeeling.

Passing through the sky, the heavy android left a trail of the thick smoke in his wake. The obvious pollutant did not seem that misplaced in Cauldron’s hostile environment. In fact, it blended well with the ever-spewing volcanoes of that bleak world, and it would have done little to disturb any pristine qualities of the landscape, as there were none to be had.

Through its eyes, the android could perceive various bits of information beyond its normal visual capabilities. Several windows projected semitransparent images and readouts over its field of vision. In particular, one of the windows displayed a map that marked the location of the hangar where he had been stored, the coordinates of the alien ship on TMO company property, and the android’s own location. The distance between each of the two locations was marked with numerical values that continued to change at a rapid pace as the constructed barreled through the sky towards its destination.

Coming over a craggy ridge, the android got a good view down into an ash-covered valley. From this vantage point, it could clearly see the ship as a distant dot, indicated by a flashing red circle on its display. There were also two black indicators, marking the crash site of two unidentified speeders, as well as a handful of organic life readings.

[Word Count: 359/1,497]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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Off in another direction, a discus-shaped hovercraft weaved through a winding crevice, kicking up long settled ash and dust along its way. The vehicle was clearly marked with the TMO logo, but its pilot lacked the company uniform. The alien creature had starkly amphibian features, although it did have many characteristics normally attributed to reptilian lizards. Either way, it was heavily armed and only lightly armored.

The alien being, called Karaurus, had come to Cauldron in order to acquire a massive blade that he’d first heard about from an old Keliouxian monk whle back on the planet Kelioux. That blade was now strapped across his back, but in the process of apprehending the item he’d come into conflict with TMO security forces. Although the Keliouxian miners had originally sought to impound the alien’s spacecraft, the clever salamander had turned the tables on them and made off with one of their speeders after promptly embarrassing their security forces.

Now, he was piloting that stolen property back towards his ship. Coming around a corner, the speeder scraped against stone, producing a shower of sparks. It was not the first time the alien had displayed poor driving skills, and in fact the exterior of the craft was marred with dents, scratches, and scorches. Furthermore, his attempts to operate the console and displays had met with little luck, so he was forced to make his way back from memory. This resulted in him becoming turned around more than once.

However, he was of a mind that his altercation with TMO security had come to an end, after he’d left what he’d judged to be a commanding office of the organization in the presence of a hostile spirit. Besides, if they could not do any better than they had during the last conflict, then there was no need for concern even if things had not truly settled.

As such, Karaurus’s mind was at ease as his speeder made its way down into a familiar valley. He recognized the features of the bleak valley as the location where he had landed, and he sped towards two rising columns of smoke he was sure belonged to the speeders he’d wrecked earlier that same day, although he was oblivious to the thinning trail of smoke that hung in the air.

[Word Count: 382/1,879]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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Meanwhile, a handful of battered, bruised, and beaten TMO security guards remained huddled around the alien spacecraft. Many of them were seriously injured, and another individual had died after he received quite a shock from a security system protecting the vessel. Nevertheless, the squad leader was urging another on of his men to attempt to bypass the defensive system, although he was not making any progress on the matter.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar interrupted the proceedings, drawing the attention of all the Keliouxians gathered around the ship cast their gaze skyward. They beheld a hulking metallic figure charging through the sky directly towards, inciting a small degree of panic in some of them. In a flash, the android landed upon the black volcanic stone of the valley with a thud, producing a sight tremor upon impact.

Far afar, the elderly technician watched on through display monitors. Complex computers systems decoded and detailed everything the sensory arrays perceived. One screen displayed information about the TMO agents, which were marked as unimportant. The ship was marked as a secondary objective, and one monitor displayed a complex technical readout concerning the ship, including its defensive measures. However, the primary target, the alien visitor, was nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless, if the ship was there the alien would return eventually.

That moment came sooner than expected. The stolen hovercraft raced towards the ship with Karaurus at the controls. However, he could easily see the hulking android that had just arrived on the scene. Recognize this new develop was not in his favor, the salamander worked out a quick plan. He accelerated his approach while wearing a grim expression.

The sound of the approaching speeder did not escape the metallic behemoth, which slowly turned to face the source of the sound. As it optics fell upon the alien’s form, it immediately calculated the chances this was a positive identification of its mark. The results were affirmative, but unfortunately for the construct its reflexes were not as quick as its logic processors. As such, it was still turning and unable to react as the speeder bore down upon it.

[Word Count: 353/2,232]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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On the other hand, the agile salamander displayed a great deal of dexterity. Piloting the craft until the last moment, the alien jumped away at the last moment. He caught himself in flight as the vehicle made contact with the hulking android, producing a terrible crashing noise and a cloud of dust. The force drove the android backwards and knocked it from its feet, toppling over with a great fuss.

Karaurus looked on from the air, but far away the technician overseeing the android momentarily lost contact with the construct. The monitors went black, and he technician panicked, working at the console in a frenzy. Fortunately, the flash of static was quickly replaced with the proper displays, one of which produced a damage report and another assured the Keliouxian that the android’s motor processors were operational and responding.

Thus, back at the battlefield, the chaos settled to reveal the construct slowly recovering and lifting its imposing figure back to its feet. Once again on its feet, the android slowly turned its head upwards. Extending out one of its great metallic arms, the android manifested a red ball of power within its robotic palm, which is subsequently launched upwards at the alien.

Karaurus croaked as he simply deflected the blast with a well-timed chop of his hand. The red orb dramatically changed course and arced off directly into the stone floor of the valley, not all that far from where many of the TMO guards had retreated to the moment the violence began. Upon impact, the orb detonated in an explosion that created a deep crater along with a shower of broken bits of stone. However, the alien did not pay any of this a bit of mind, as he had already leveled his blaster and fired off a shot of blue energy.

The android remained motionless, as if it would make no attempt to defend against the blast. However, as the blue blast drew near it suddenly dissipated. Truthfully, the blast was absorbed by an invisible barrier, which momentarily shimmered the color of the blaster shot.

Upon seeing this, Karaurus was convinced this matter would be considerably more difficult to tackle that the challenges he’d faced previously on that planet.

[Word Count: 370/2,602]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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While still hovering in the air by his own power, Karaurus entered a stance quite familiar to him. The salamander slowly drew in a deep breath while gradually clenching his three-fingered fists across his torso and each other. As he did so, his energy began to simmer, a shift that could be felt easier than it could be detected with the eye although the accumulation of power caused bits of debris, such as pebbles and ash, to resist the forces of gravity and to gather about him. As he did so, his flesh began to quiver, as if he was exerting a great effort, and his voice began in a low, soft rumble that steadily increased in volume and intensity.

From a distance, the scouter of the squad leader came to life, indicating a substantial shift in Karaurus’s power, much to his disbelief. At an even greater distance, the technician working the android puppet perceived the same thing.

At the technician’s command, the android also shifted its stance. Immediately afterwards, the sound of accumulating power began to emit outwards from the construct. As the whirl of activity reached what seemed to be fever pitch, a portion of plating over the android’s chest withdrew, revealing a simple dark-colored orb. However, it suddenly gave off a red light that increased in intensity. Meanwhile, the construct’s optic displays produced a wealth of targeting information. Then, all at once, the charging came to an end as the gleam could no longer be contained, and a tremendous beam cannon fired out from the robot’s torso. The streaking shot of red energy barreled directly towards the salamander.

However, Karaurus had no intention of finding out just how powerful the beam cannon was. Although it was obvious that it would be considerably more difficult to deflect the shot as he had the last, if such a thing was possible at all, that fact did not leave the alien defenseless. In the blink of an eye, the alien disappeared. As such, the brilliant red beam harmlessly passed through open air where the alien had previously been, continuing on until it lost all power and seemingly disappeared. An instant later, he reappeared a startling distance away.

[Word Count: 367/2,969]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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The onlookers were shaken by the maneuver, so that they had to scramble in order to lay eyes upon the alien again. Fortunately for it, the android’s sensory array was not as easily thrown. Still, its slower motor functions limited how quickly it could react. Meanwhile, Karaurus was planning his next move.

Reaching back, he laid a hand upon the hilt of the massive blade sheathed across his back. He’d yet to have the opportunity to employ the blade in combat, and this seemed as fair a time as any that was likely to present itself. As such, he drew it forth with one hand, although he was forced to support it with his second hand, thanks to the great length and width of the blade. Holding it ready, a beam of sunlight caught the blade and reflected off in a gleaming display.

Thus prepared, the alien fell upon his metallic foe. In a flash, the salamander had teleported so that he was at the robot’s flank. His experience practicing with another blade made him capable of delivering quick strikes despite the great weight of the sword in his hands. As such, he released a pair of furious strokes that tore into the armor protecting the android’s more fragile and vital components.

Each time the blade fell it cut through metal with tearing noise and sparking displays. Impressive as the blade was, it required a great deal of strength on the part of the alien in order to power it through the heavy armor plating of the imposing construct. Fortunately, Karaurus was also able to exercise his superior speed, so that his blade struck time and again, hewing away at one of the android’s legs.

The damage inflicted upon this metallic limb quickly began having a notable effect, further limiting the mobility the robot was capable of. Still, it was able to react in turn by firing off a second small blast from its palm, although the salamander dismissed it with a powerful shout.

Then, with a bit of quick wit, the salamander darted directly between his metallic foe’s legs. From that position, his eyes fell upon an exposed cable, a sight that brought a gleam to his otherwise cold amber eyes.

[Word Count: 372/3,341]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
<br>
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Fossil
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Karaurus did not waste a moment before he reacted, slashing at the weak point with his massive sword. The blade struck true, cleaving the cable with easy. Thus, his ploy had worked, but not without a cost. The electric power fed through the cable surged directly into the metal of the blade, transferring through it an into the salamander’s body.

Thus, as the stumbling android began to topple, one to see the alien’s meager for propelling away with the sword still clenched in his hands. Sailing for a moment, it was not long before he went with the stone of the ground and was sent tumbling. Coming to a rest, his body was at once in pain and numb as a result of the tremendous shock and the subsequent rough landing.

The on-looking TMO guards starred were shocked by the turn of events. At first, the believed that not only had the android been dismantled but the alien had died in the process. However, they soon realized they were incorrect as the still smoking for of the salamander began to pull itself to its feet. As he did so, Karaurus cast a leering glare towards the guards, hoping to dissuade them from bothering him further. The gesture was not needed, as the Keliouxians had no intentions of angering the alien further.

As such, the salamander was able to hobble over towards his ship. After entering a few commands at a small console, the defensive systems disengaged, and the door withdrew granting the alien access to his ship, only to slam shut behind him afterwards.

Far away, the technician looked upon his monitors in disbelief with his jaw agape. Then, he burst into a fit of laughter and he poured over the controls at his fingertips. Moments later, he was looking at his insurance policy for the android. After purchasing it many decades ago, he’d come to doubt he’d ever be able to cash the thing in. Full of glee, he entered one last command and then took off to his private chambers to start packing, fully intent on taking the zeni and leaving the planet.

Meanwhile, back at the battlefield, Karaurus’s ship slowly lifted off the ground. The alien’s patience with thse miners had grown thin, and he had elected to relocate. This left the guards standing amongst the smoking ruins of speeders and the android watching him depart.

Then, the eyes of the android came to life, and an emotionless voice relayed a bit of information. “Self-destruct protocol activated.”

With panic in his eyes, the squad leader gave a quick order of “Run!” before leading the way.

[Word Count: 438/3,779]
<center>"Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
-Thomas A. Edison

"Ashes to ashes and clay to clay; if the enemy doesn't get you, your own folks may."
-James Thurber
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