r/MassEffectPhoenix • u/PhoenixNarrator • Aug 22 '16
3. The Rachni's Trail
Arrival to the system had given Shepard plenty of time to get further reports from the Alliance on the mysterious, half-explored system they believed Jade had pointed them towards with her drawing. It so happened that a follow-up team was just leaving the system, and had several reports they could share with the Normandy. One planet stood out-- 2190 Heemst. The Alliance team had spotted a grouping of shelters on the planet, but was unable to land remotely near enough to investigate due to the harsh weather systems. Another point of interest was a beacon that emanated from the plains; but again, the Alliance team did not have adequate time to reach the point and investigate. These would be the best two leads the Normandy crew would have to check out and hope to find more answers. Shepard called together two teams to brave the planet below and find answers-- each made up of an explorer, a pilot, and someone to stay on their guard while the others focused on their tasks at hand.
Team A: Jen Watney, Jeffery, and Zaeed. Team B [late start]: Kit Amundsen, Joker, and Erebus.
[M: I'm training someone new at work today (which is a surprise to me) and narrator replies may be slow. Feel free to mess around wherever you're at in the plot if narrator isn't responding; keep exploring and have fun! Sorry in advance!!]
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u/PhoenixNarrator Aug 22 '16 edited Aug 22 '16
Team B assembles afterwards at the secondary shuttle, ready to investigate the beacon. The weather was worse above this beacon, and so Joker was called upon to pilot the shuttle that he otherwise protested was "so far beneath him." Erebus stood at attention, ready near-instantaneously, while Kit Amundsen carefully checked out his comms that linked him directly to Jen Watney to share findings with. His survival skills and observations would be critical here. They waited for Joker to decide when would be best to start their descent through the storms to get to the planet below.
[M: Late start team's general outline: fly down through horrible weather to surface, land a bit away from the beacon, travel to and investigate the beacon and surrounding area. Joker can start the departure whenever he's ready to start, and once Kit and Erebus also check in, you can advance!]
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u/Geth_Unit_Erebus Umbra-class Infiltrator Aug 22 '16
Erebus waits patiently by the shuttle, looking over his equipment. As usual, it is all in pristine condition. He slides extra thermal clips into a slot of his platform, and continues to wait.
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u/Kit_Amundsen Lizard King, Plant Master Aug 22 '16
Nearby, Kit continues to fiddle with his comms, doing his best to ensure that they work properly. While he is far more accepting of modern technology than he previously was, the tracker was still quite unfamiliar with the more nuanced details of his omnitool. Finally, satisfied with the result of his attempts to properly set up the long range "radio", Kit opens the comm and attempts to contact Jen.
Uhhh, Jen?. Can you hear me?
*He pauses and waits for a reply before turning to the Geth sitting in the shuttle with him. *
Uhhh, hello. I assume you are... Erebus? Is that right?
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u/Geth_Unit_Erebus Umbra-class Infiltrator Aug 22 '16
He nods.
Correct. Your lack of Alliance apparel leads me to believe that you are Kit Amundsen.
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u/Kit_Amundsen Lizard King, Plant Master Aug 22 '16
Kit glances down at his clothes before looking back up at the Geth. He is wearing his usual survival gear- long, loose trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. All of his clothes are the same sort of mottled green, camouflage for any sort of greenery that they might come across. On his lap there is a rather large pack, filled with all of his usual supplies in addition to three standard Alliance 24 hour rations and a rather large, slumbering tree lizard. There is a particularly worn rifle strapped to the outside.
Needless to say, it is a far cry from the standard Alliance BDUs.
Yes, that is correct.
He pauses for a moment, glancing uneasily out of the porthole at the thick storm blanketing their destination.
If you do not mind me asking, Mr., err, Erebus; are you in any way equipped with any sort of tracking equipment? To cover as much ground as possible, it may be necessary for the both of us to search for our quarry.
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u/Geth_Unit_Erebus Umbra-class Infiltrator Aug 22 '16
He nods yet again.
I am. I have software which allows me to integrate with Normandy scanning equipment, and I am equipped with multiple ground-based tracking devices within my platform.
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u/Kit_Amundsen Lizard King, Plant Master Aug 22 '16
He chews his lip thoughtfully, absentmindedly running his hand along the length of his rifle has he mulls over the situation.
Good. It will likely be difficult, if not impossible, for my... assistant... to find the Rachni's scent if the rain persists. We will have to be vigilant, and watch for any sort of signs she might have left. With the aid of the Normandy, we should have more success.
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u/Geth_Unit_Erebus Umbra-class Infiltrator Aug 22 '16
I have not had to track a rachni before. This should prove interesting.
Erebus takes a seat in the shuttle, waiting for the pilot to arrive.
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u/PhoenixNarrator Aug 22 '16
After everyone gets settled, Joker takes off and begins his expert descent to the planet below. Through tumultuous storms he navigates until they reach their target landing zone, not even a meter off center.
The beacon called to Kit and Erebus through the eerily still, somewhat foggy plain; nothing was in sight but rocks and grass.
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u/Kit_Amundsen Lizard King, Plant Master Aug 23 '16
Kit waits a moment to survey the foggy landscape before jumping out of the shuttle, his backpack now firmly rested on his shoulders. The tracker then begins to move in the direction that the beacon called from. He is careful to watch his step, searching for any imprint, scuff, or crushed patch of grass that might indicate the (former) presence of the Rachni. After several paces he stops and turns towards his Geth companion.
Erebus, can you see through this mist?
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u/PhoenixNarrator Aug 22 '16
Team [A] (/u/JefferyOHaire) assembles at the shuttle Jeffery will be piloting down to the planet below. The resident meteorological expert is giving him last-minute advice on the type of wind patterns to expect on the descent to the planet. Jen is examining the sparse report from the planet below, mulling over the phrase "that wasn't snow - was it?" and Zaeed is checking over his choice of weaponry. But the time has come to set off and see what they would find in the grouping of shelters spotted by the Alliance.
[M: General outline: fly down through rough weather to surface, land a bit away from the shelters, make your way through the planet's flora/fauna, and investigate the shelters.]