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The River

#1
Introduction

So, I have been playing on Storium for about a week now and among other games, I have joined a science fiction story. It is hardly riveting stuff in either content or style. Still, I thought that reproducing the entries in the interactive story might have some slight entertainment value.

Feel free to comment on the 'story' in a related thread.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2758
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#2
THE RIVER

Narrated by Andre Beaumont (Andre)


Cast members to follow.
Last edited by Tom on Thu Apr 17, 2014 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#3
BRAND

Played by Kenshin

An alien-human hybrid, Brand was engineered in the birthing pools of Delta Pavonis IV.

Designed for physical prowess as well as quick thinking, she has been trained from youth to be an expert at combat.

Brand is a veteran of two missions working with human crews. Though guarded in expressing opinions there is nothing to suggest that she has been impressed by her exposure to humanity.

Humans appear weak and unfocused to Brand and she can think of no reason why the Builders of Delta Pavonis would be so intrigued with the species.

Brand's Cards

Nature:

ALIEN COMMANDO

Humanity’s not ready for what’s out here. You are.


Strength:

EXPERIENCED

You’ve seen things the others wouldn’t believe.


Weakness:

UNTRUSTING

Others have let you down. It’ll happen again.


Subplot

HUMAN DESTINY

Humanity’s destiny is near. Answers are out there. Will you know them when you see them?
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#4
LT. HANNAH PRICE

Played by sotonrich

From the game The River

Driven by the pursuit of knowledge Hannah Price signed up for deep space service the day she graduated university. It was a move that stunned those close to her and drove a wedge between them but sometimes when you know what you want to do nothing will stand in your way……not even family.

Lt. Hannah Price’s Cards

Nature:

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Trained in xenolinguistics and alien cultures to make allies and history throughout the galaxy.


Strength:

CHARISMATIC

Friendly and approachable or intimidating and stern, whatever the situation calls for.


Weakness:

STUBBORN

Difficult to divert and slow to change.


Subplot:

NOT ALONE

No species is alone. The future of sentience is in the mingling and cooperation of species. Make peace where you can.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#5
GALLUS (GA-115)

Played by Baroquen

From the game The River

Originally a galactic assistant titled “GA-115,” this robot decided to name himself Gallus as he learned more about human culture. He was designed to simply record important findings by the team, but Gallus has started developing a personality. Unexpectedly, Gallus has given himself more objectives than the ones he was programmed with. He has his own desires.

Gallus (GA-115)’s Cards

Nature:

SUPPORT ROBOT

State-of-the-art in earthly robotics and artificial intelligence, programmed for calm precision.


Strength:

STURDY ROBOT BODY

Exceptional artificial design and construction make you strong and sturdy.


Weakness:

LIMITED EMOTIONAL CAPABILITY

Your software brain is designed to limit and regulate emotional responses.


Subplot:

CRAVING KNOWLEDGE

You desire knowledge, to learn as much as your database can handle. If it’s new, it’s worth recording.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#6
HELENE LEIGH WILSON

Played by TheatreGirl21

From the game The River

Helene is a smart, small town girl who grew up working on engines and all types of machinery. Her dad taught her how to look at all the moving parts and how to tell when something is broken just by listening to it. When her dad died she couldn’t stay put anymore.

Her decision to try to join this crew was a spur of the moment decision. She never thought she would be accepted and now that she is she realizes what exactly she’s gotten into. Now is Helene’s chance to make people remember her. She could be remembered as the best engineer…if she can handle it…or survive.

Helene Leigh Wilson’s Cards

Nature:

ENGINEERING OFFICER

Brilliant and inventive but still not used to the stresses of actual interstellar travel.


Strength:

BRILLIANT MIND

You’re inventive and insightful, nimble and powerful of mind.


Weakness:

SENSITIVE

Pain and stress cut you especially deep.


Subplot:

SECURE YOUR FUTURE

You want to be remembered. You want to make a dent in history.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#7
Premise

The deep-space starship Heroditus and her crew embark on a new mission of exploration beyond the colonial boundary in this dramatic and mysterious adventure story.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#8
Scene 1

Setting:

The Bridge of the Heroditus

Narrator:

The bridge of the Heroditus has often been called “the Crypt”, by those who have been lucky enough to be assigned to it. The aging science vessel bares the scars of many retro-fits, overhauls, and in recent years, removal of aging equipment. The severe budget cuts in the deep-space division have left deep holes in the surrounding consoles, bare wires, and a couple empty chairs.

Commander Fitzcurtis looks around at her new crew. She’s been often referred to as the Crypt Keeper by a few of the transient crew members. She knows the moniker. It doesn’t cut her the way her revolving crew-members think it does. In recent years she has actually tried on the persona. Its not easy being the aging Commander of a Science Vessel when it has so little value to the colonies.

She remembers the days when Science was given the lion’s share of budgetary dollars. Sure it was often a front to expand weaponry and find new resource opportunities, but saying you were a member of the deep-space exploration crew gave you immediate respect. You got the finest rooms in the spaceports. People opened doors for you. Young officers bought you drinks to get a glimpse of what you’ve seen.

Now, things were different. These days, saying you’re in deep-space gives people the creeps. Most officers don’t want anything to do with you. Some even suspect you.

Still, when she signed on 35 years ago for Officer school, she chose Science. She’d do it again…and again.

When she looked around at her crew, she wondered. What will this new crew bring to the Crypt? Is this her final assignment? Did Central Command once again assign her the cheapest crew that money could buy? She knew almost nothing about them.

Ah well. The crypt-keeper remains, she thinks.

“All…we are nearing deep-space…” she pauses and takes a deep breath.

“Report?”
Last edited by Tom on Thu Apr 17, 2014 7:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#9
Gallus (GA-115) (Baroquen) moved:

“Status report protocol activated: The structural integrity of the vessel is adequate, but equipment is scarce and outdated. The Heroditus is currently on course and the possibility of hitting an asteroid field is negligible.” A monotone, robotic voice states after a whirring noise as Gallus turns to face the commander.

His database contains a plethora of regulated information, such as time traveled and the current temperature, but Gallus figured the commander would have little interest in such minor details. Curious as to what else the other crew-members would add to the discussion, the galactic assistant whirred again as he looked to them.

“Was that report satisfactory?”
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#10
Helene Leigh Wilson (TheatreGirl21) moved:

Helene felt uncomfortable in the seconds of silence that followed. She quickly steps forward by the strange robot. “Madam…may I add that the engine is in perfect condition. Everything is moving in perfect condition. She couldn’t sound any prettier. She’s a good vessel…Madam.”

Unknowing if this was the right time for her to speak up she quiets herself and looks at the ground.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#11
Brand (you) moved:

Brand had just completed her inspection of the Heroditus. It was worse than she could have imagined. Well, that is if she had bothered to imagine anything about her latest assignment prior to her arrival at the port.

She wasn’t told much in her one and only briefing before leaving the Delta Pavonis system, only that she was being assigned to a human science vessel. The implications were clear regardless, she had to prep and pack everything that she would need to be operationally effective. The humans have informed their Concourse allies some time ago that interstellar exploration was no longer a priority for them. As such Concourse world crewmembers assigned to human ships often had to report to their assignments with a cargo crate full of their own equipment.

And yet the Builders believed that humans held great promise. Then again the Builders were as unfathomable as they were esteemed. For them, potential was not something to be measured and quantified.

Brand caught herself then, these were all pointless reflections. As pointless as it would have been to recriminate against the quartermaster, who decided that her equipment crate was too big and too heavy to justify including in the Heroditus' payload.

Taking stock of the ship’s military potential was simplicity itself. The exterior weapon systems were relics and would be completely useless against up-to-date shields and reactive armor. As for portable weaponry, she could count on an assortment of grenades, along with a handful of plasma and hypervelocity projectile rifles and sidearms. On the upside, she had packed her vibroblade and two molecularedges in her carry-on luggage. If there was fighting to be done, it would either end extremely quickly or it would get very personal and rather messy.

And now it was time to make her way to the bridge and report to the commanding officer.

“Unconventional warfare specialist Brand, reporting,” she said to Commander Fitzcurtis in a neutral, matter-of-fact tone, making and holding full eye contact with the older woman.

She knew that humans found the amber glow in her irises unnerving. Regardless, she appeared very much like a human female even if the flow of muscles along her lithe but powerful body spoke of physical abilities beyond those of ordinary humans.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#12
Lt. Hannah Price (sotonrich) moved:

Hannah had been at her station for several uneventful hours now. She shifted uncomfortably in the cramped hard seat and checked the comms once more before making her report.

“All communication systems are operating within pre defined levels Commander.

We are still in delayed contact with Port Nova via the outer relays and all ship’s telemetry including logs are up to date and can be transmitted back at your discretion.

Sensors currently indicate no spacial phenomena that could affect comms."
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#13
Brand (you) moved:

Fitzcurtis caught herself staring at Brand. The unusual orange glow from the warrior’s eyes was almost hypnotic but it was trying to puzzle out what else was different about her that drew the Commander’s attention. And Brand was so very close to being human! But she was not, the briefing documents were quite clear about that. Delta Pavonis IV was one of the restricted worlds of the Concourse. No human has ever set foot there and none ever would unless and until the Builders decided to let them.

Brand stayed at attention noting that Fitzcurtis was staring at her. She wasn’t bothered by it and used the time to take in as much of the bridge as her field of vision allowed without movement. It wasn’t much to look at. With several missing or dead consoles, it was a worn antique with enough functional upgrades to make it still serviceable. Looking at her crewmates Brand wondered if they were as eclectically chosen as the ship was maintained. Time would tell.

Shaking off her reverie Commander Fitzcurtis called out orders to secure the bridge. She felt a touch of satisfaction as the crew moved to obey her. They were just as odd a collection in person as they appeared in her briefing documents. Still, they seemed capable and, underfunded or not, the mission was a go.

With the bridge secured, Fitzcurtis uploaded the encrypted coordinates into her command module. Once decrypted the coordinates were laid into the navigational computer which then proceeded to spin up the hyperspace drive.

The Heroditus entered the intersplit with a slight lurch.
Last edited by Tom on Thu Apr 17, 2014 8:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.
Post

Re: The River

#15
Scene 2

Setting:

The Bridge of the Heroditus

Narrator:

The Heroditus creaks and groans as the deafening howl of its drives spin up. Fitzcurtis grins as she remembers the days of sound dampening engines and Veramine pills.

She braced for the sickness that would soon come. How many times did she take these jumps? A thousand? and every time the sickness comes. She looked at Helene and Lt. Price. She felt sorry for them. At least their youth speeds up their recovery.

Younger people get hit hardest but it wears off quickly. You get to be her age and its inconvenient, and uncomfortable, but these women would soon be doubled over if they weren’t strapped into their seats.

She stares at Brand, and hear’s Gallus' servos fire to stabilize. I am surprised they put any humans on these ships anymore, she thinks.

Suddenly a loud tearing sound pierces through the bridge, like fabric ripping inside of your ears. The bridge goes dark. The roar is deafening and then silence.

The floor-lights flicker as backup power comes back on.

Fitzcurtis sees everyone conscious. “Wilson, I need a full report as soon as your vertigo clears. Price, get me an active channel as soon as we are up. Brand, see if you can get a read on where we are. Gallus you assist Wilson. We need to find out what the hell just happened.”
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out-all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn,
Free from clouds of attachment.

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