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Topic: X-COM Monday Nights Campaign (Read 4486 times) |
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karvon
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OOC:
Hadrian both shot AND stabilized the alien leader using his last med kit...
....thus needs more med kits; he passed on several to the docs and others before/during the mission.
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| « Last Edit: on: Oct 30, 2008, 11:37AM » |
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karvon
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Hadrian sat on his bunk, slowly and methodically cleaning his weapons and armor following the mission.
As he wiped down the stun rod he shook his head. This thing hadn't worked worth jack, he'd struck the alien leader a dozen time to no avail and had finally resorted to shooting the bugger and then patching him up with his last med kit. Yeah, he'd have to keep that in mind next time round.
He checked the safeties on his grenade belt; he'd decided to try out a variety of these during the mission. Distance hadn't really proved a problem in the close confines of the base. The frag grenades had been disappointing, the aliens' hides seemed thick enough to absorb most of the smaller bits of shrapnel. The tear gas though, proved handy as it stunned a fair share of the targets. He'd stock up on more of those next time. He had a couple of the new alien grenades, but hadn't gotten round to using them. From what he saw of their effect though, those would be handy to get more of though too - and he'd have to keep an eye out to avoid getting caught in the blast radius as they were deadly.
The extra time he'd put in on the firing range with the plasma rifle seemed to be paying off; he'd been pretty accurate, even on longer range shots. Too bad he couldn't mount a scope on the rifle. He'd talk with the techies in the lab and see if they could jerry rig something up for him.
Problems with the stun rod aside, the mission hadn't turned out too badly. They got their guy and torched the base. Some team members had problems with directions and keeping up at times, and the robo-tank perhaps needed better management, but everyone'd survived and the objectives were met, so couldn't argue with the results overall.
His xphone buzzed. He glanced down at it and frowned. The counselor ringing to remind him of psi-training. Muttering under his breath, he stowed his gear and strolled off to the psi-lab.
OOC:
Like to see if the lab/workshop can convert/create a scope for my plasma rifle - the current ones won't work it.
Hadrian is continuing his reluctance in psi-training for a -1.
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vanya mia
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((OOC - Ahh right, I was sure I'd seen the use of a resus kit being used somewhere and took it for Mary's. My mistake! *changes post*))
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karvon
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OOC:
Yeah I asked first before shooting the guy and no one else had any kits.
I was actually little leary in doing it, cause wasn't certain they'd work on the alien and we might've needed at least one on the way out, but figured a prolonged melee would cost us as much or more damage as what the med kit could repair, so....
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Lazybones
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I checked the mod after the game, and the Commander had a Fort +9, and his class/type were correct (i.e. there was no reason why the Stun Rods shouldn't have effected him). The DC is 12 for the rod hits, so each hit should have had a 10% chance of stunning him. I guess you guys just got unlucky.
The alien was already stable by the time that Mary used the Rez kit (I did see the Raise animation on it), so I'll restore that one to you next time.
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Jenniza
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ooc I think tonight is Daylight Savings' time in the United States. Anyone know for sure?
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Jenniza
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Jane had always sensed that she had some sort of ability to sense what was out there; but, was never able to prove it clinically. She had hoped that someday soon that this would change… that she could demonstrate on a clinical scale that she had some form of latent ability to sense life forms at a distance and be specific as to their nature. She figured that was a pipedream though. She had watched Heroes for every season that it had been on as well as numerous superhero sagas and things like Star Wars with The Force. There were numerous studies of paranormal events over decades past as well as spiritual stuff related to it; but, here she was one among six test subjects and apparently doing quite well. This was reality if you could call it that. Things were so crazy these days that sometimes Jane really did need those counseling sessions just to make sure she wasn’t losing touch with reality. They were fighting aliens that allied with two major world powers to destroy the rest of humanity or something like that and had already done quite a huge job of it. X-COM’s response was mostly tactical and intel-gathering in response. Now X-COM was planning on attacking the aliens on their Martian home base with Alpha Team using Psi-powers. How’s that for crazy?
Jane nearly thought it all funny ‘til a commercial came on TV for “Alien-Away” - apparently the latest in late night infomercial scams… then the reality hit home… the alien war was now an integral part of our culture. She needed to take this more seriously.
Ooc: Jane is still very much into the Psi-training.
for reference:
Alien Away:
http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/4b7642959dc0c4c740ab/Alien-Away
I still laugh when I see it... no idea who made it
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 1, 2008, 9:58PM » |
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Bob Thundergut
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All through the inital psi-training, Mary Ranma had been told by Dr. Beauvois and her team, that she was scoring well. Mary didn't believe a word of it. She was a doctor herself. In the past, to encourage a patient to do better, she often patronized the patient. Making him think he was doing better than he actually was.
As it turned out, they WEREN'T lying to her. The exact moment she realized it was in China, when for the first time ever,the thoughts of another mind entered hers. STRANGE thoughts she couldn't anticipate, or prevent. From a mind developed a galaxy away.
It a way, it was like watching television; yet at the same time, she wondered if the television was watching back. Could the mind that impressed its thoughts on her, be using her OWN against her team and herself? It seemed possible, given the fierce, coordinated defense of the base.
The mind that looked into her, had also controlled every one of its OWN kind. Like puppets, they marched into the guns of Alpha Team. They spilled human blood, but at a heavy cost.
Strapped into her seat just before launch, Mary resolved to take it up with the Psi research team. In addition to scanning the thoughts of the enemy, they needed to find a way to better defend against THEIR invasive thoughts.
At that moment, she wished she could have that ability. The prisoner, the alien base commander, who owned the thoughts she witnessed, was staring intently at her from within its containment tube. She could see and feel its FURY! at having been ripped from the base by Alpha team.
It was TALKING to her. Filling her head with terrible images. Images of what was in store for her and her species, once the aliens took over. Mary's mind was filled with unspeakable horror.
"Stop staring at me, you!" she cried in despair.
***
Three minutes later, Mary found some respite from the alien mental attack. As Lightning raced from the surface of China, it was rocked by a violent shockwave; the after effect of a nuclear explosion that utterly vaporized the alien base.For a few pregnant moments, Mary could see, feel, even taste, the alien commander's .... fear!
She smiled at the commander. Its nightmarish mental barrage, no longer had power over her. She closed her eyes, and slept the rest of the way home.
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 1:29AM » |
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Bob Thundergut
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In the Bio Lab, Mary's Regen Formula team; Drs. Loretta Jones, Walter Burton, and engineer Sergio Flores, along with ten other engineer assistants, gathered around the conference table.
"Let's get started," Loretta Jones said. "As you know, Alpha Team has just completed its mission in China, and is inbound as we speak. We've just received an inflight transmission from Dr. Ranma. She reports that the first version of the Regen Formula was field tested. It was a success. Good work people."
"Who put HER in charge?" someone muttered in the room. All eyes turned to the person who spoke it. It was Dr. Walter Burton. He blushed.
Loretta continued, as if Burton was a bug on the wall. "The bad news is, that the team went through the ENTIRE supply. In addition, ALL the medikits were used. The resistance was heavy, and the team got banged around a bit."
"Great," a junior said. "More overtime."
"That's right," Loretta replied. "We'll need to build up as much as possible. You assistants will be working on that. Get me at least eight vials of Regen One. Once you're done that, go help out the guys working on the Medikit manufacturing team."
"What'll WE be doing?" Flores asked, attempting and failing, to look at her face, and not her breasts.
"The three of us are going to start on Regen version 2. And yes... I AM in charge. Dr. Ranma's request. She's moving to another project."
Loretta let that one hang for just a few seconds. She wondered if Burton would break the pencil he was holding.
"Alright, are there any questions? No...? Then let's get to work. Alpha Team is counting on us."
OOC - Mary is devoting her time to the Psi-Amp project.
So, tentative suggestion:
Research
Muton Commander (20)
Regen Serum 2 (3)
Psi-Amp (13, plus Mary's Knowledge Technology +12 & Knowledge Behavioral Sciences +13)
Manufacturing
Experimental Heavy Armor (30, plus Jane's 17's)
Regen Serum 1 (6)
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 2:20AM » |
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vanya mia
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"You know I really don't know about that."
Catalina had relaxed a little over the training since the last round had some success, even if it was not always successful then at least she wasn't getting the headache now. Or not so intense a pain, as if some barrier had been reached. So she sat back in the chair listening to the technicians in the psi lab chat about the options on the amplification device. After a while she interjected.
"Yes well it might be useful, but so would the better medical supplies. Mary managed to handle the commander without one on the last mission, and if that's the case do we really need it?" In the face of the withering expression on the technician's face she continued. "I'm serious, we have to go hunting for Elerium before we can go to wherever this commander sends us, and the time could be better spent making sure we have the best possible medical supplies."
"Face it, we'll be out there without back up, and if the last mission was tough this is going to be worse. We need to stay alive, the world needs us to stay alive, so all the research we've been putting off on medical issues should perhaps be top priority now." Catalina looked at the dubious expressions. "Think about it. Mary doesn't need it, Jim doesn't need it, Jane's working so hard she'll sprout wings soon too, and you have to drag Hade in here kicking and screaming so what's the chances of him wanting it?"
"It's all very well making a nice toy, but let's be practical about this, eh?" Catalina grinned and then winked at the technician. "Now let's see if we can get so I can really undress people with my mind?"
Later an email winged it's way around the team.
FROM: Cat.Leaveyourhaton
TO: MEMBERS, ALPHA TEAM
Hi Girls and Boys
I've been thinking about the hell we had with healing last mission and really think we need to prioritise that, so I've got proposals to make.
First, unless you're going to say "Gimme, gimme" Hade, we drop the psi amp for now. I can't see one person having the benefit of a jazzy new device being better for us than improving those regeneration serums and perfecting the medikits. We'll all get the benefit of that, and it's going to be more important when we head off world.
Second, we've elerium to find before we can go wherever this commander can be made to give us directions to. So I say we only put one team on him, and I'll help out. If he hasn't given up the goods before we've enough elerium we go on him all out then.
With one team on the big bad guy, we put the rest on bettering the regeneration serum or the medikit function, and maybe you medical professionals can help out with that?
What do you think?
Cat |
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((OOC - For clarity:
Research - Commander 20, regen2/medikit3 16. Catalina will help work on the commander.
Manufacturing - Heavy powered suit 30 + Jane if she is, regen serum 6 plus whatever Jane frees up.
Next time we finish the commander and possibly research Hadrian's scope. Manufacturing is full out on medical.
Seriously think the psi amp is a luxury with the fact that the alien base will be bad ass and we'll be away from supplies for the last between session ... err session, and we drained everything last time. If we research medical this week we can build next, but not the other way around.
If we do this Catalina will use language feat at int 16 to assist (I hope) with the commander. Oh! And she's trying on the psi training.  ))
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 1:26PM » |
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Smart Alec
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Vasily rubbed his chin. "This assuming 'psi-amp' not useful, you know. Maybe, we wrong. I think we better check, you know."
"Is chance, small chance, Commander not crack," he added. "He probably know that X-Com, even Earth, stand or fall by what he tell us - and he look like one tough son-of-bitch. Leaving research of Commander too long... it could leave us high and dry, ya?"
"If we try work on Commander, though, there no way we going to get amp finished this week. And it better to have something we can hold, you know?"
TO: DR. KIMBERLEY WAGNER, DR. STANLEY WHITE
FROM: V. KASPRJAK
RE: psi-amp
Hey doctors
I see it writ psi-amp help us who not develop psi power yet, but will it help who have develop? Make easier or something?
Vasily |
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***
OOC: We know the psi-amp is useful for those with a psi rating of 101-125, but is the psi-amp any help for those who have a psi rating of more than 125, asks Vasily? It's kind of implicit in the name, I admit - the psi-amplifier - but I admit I'm unsure if it was mentioned.
Anyhow! The Russian recommends:
RESEARCH
Muton Commander (20, plus Cat, as she's suggested)
Regen Serum 2 (16, plus - if they'd consent - Mary and James and anyone who Cat's aid with the Commander frees up, if anyone)
MANUFACTURING
Experimental Armour (30 plus Jane, as she suggested)
Medikits (6 plus anyone Jane frees up - no point in building the old regen serum if we can get some new stuff in the pipeline soon)
Then next week, we can hopefully research a psi-amp. There is no way we can finish it this week if we work on the Commander, sadly. It does mean we might not be able to build any extras, but it does mean that if the research on the alien Commander or the Regen Serum is nixed thanks to some bad research rolls, we have 6 points spare besides the psi-amp next week to finish it off.
Hope that makes sense. Man, we're really leaving this week to the last minute.  Who wants to go with what?
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 1:45PM » |
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Lazybones
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on Nov 3, 2008, 11:49 AM, Smart Alec wrote:| OOC: We know the psi-amp is useful for those with a psi rating of 101-125, but is the psi-amp any help for those who have a psi rating of more than 125, asks Vasily? It's kind of implicit in the name, I admit - the psi-amplifier - but I admit I'm unsure if it was mentioned. |
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It grants benefits to any Psi user with a score of >101. Basically it's a charged item that grants superior mental powers than that of an inherent user (mental domination, fear, etc.). Its primary limitation is the charges.
I'm going with the latest suggestion, as it doesn't really matter game-wise whether you complete the amp 1/2 this week and 1/2 next week or just do it all at once next week.
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 2:57PM » |
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Smart Alec
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"When you're ready, Mr. Kasprjak."
It was a strange feeling, but as time went on, an amazing one, too. The weight was negligible, as he'd come to expect from the powered suits, but there was more to this. The exoskeleton was stiff and unresponsive to start with, making Vasily feel as if he was walking underwater, but Grace and her chirpy techs explained that as the suit's computer gradually adjusted to his movements, it would improve.
And, hour by hour, it did. As he stomped around the lab, flexing his arms, twisting from side to side, bending back and forth - and as Jane and the technicians gradually fitted and welded new plates to what slowly became a suit of armour, there came a feeling not just of freedom, but of power. By the time the legs were complete, he was leaping three feet off the floor; as the welding efforts reached his chest, he was lifting fifty kilograms with each arm, over and over, as easily as if the dumbells were bags of groceries. There was no weight, no strain - almost an out-of-body experience, if not for the fact that it was under his control. The physical strength of the Muton Commander had been immense, and he'd looked back and realised he'd been lucky to hold his own for as long as he had as it had beaten him bloody. He'd been saved from death at the inhuman slab of muscle's hands only by Mary's mind powers and Hadrian's pinpoint shooting. Next time - if there was a next time - things would not be so uneven.
By the time the helmet was being fashioned and the suit was decoupled from the external power source, he was pulling handstands up against the wall, to the surprise of those who'd dropped by to watch. It was the first time in a long time, he realised, lifted off the floor by power-assisted limbs, that he'd seen everyone in a room smile - the technicians, the spectators, and of course, himself.
***
The high hadn't quite worn off as he marched to the barracks shower block, determined not to attend the day's psi-training session covered in sweat, when he almost walked into a familiar face at the rec room door; Agents Drake, Johnson and Johnson loomed in the doorway, intent on the lift. Both sides stopped and took stock of who they faced, wearing mutual cool stares and disapproving sneers.
He stepped back to let them pass, but she merely took a few steps through before turning to face him, folding her arms, letting the Johnsons pass on behind her - waiting for an apology, or possibly just trying to think of an appropriate remark. He broke the silence first.
"Cataleena say I can't hit you."
Drake raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "And she'd be right, Crackerja- hey! Y- mmf!"
So he kissed her instead.
It took her by surprise, that was for sure. She'd not expected him to do anything, or simply hadn't expected a grab-and-hold like this one. He didn't know what inspired it - an unusually whimsical mood, perhaps - but the outraged, off-balance expression on her face for those few moments afterwards was truly hilarious, with the backhand she lay across his jaw before stalking off forming the literal punchline. Judging from the looks the Chief and the lift guards were giving him, they were probably inclined to agree, and though Drake's two shadows were unreadable as ever, they left without remark, which was an answer in itself, in a way.
Allowing himself a self-satisfied moment of triumph, Vasily walked through the open door, Vasily strolled into the rec room.
***
It was, therefore, a relaxed and upbeat Vasily Kasprjak who came to the psi-lab that day, wandering over to the chair with a spring in his step and accepting the headgear without his usual grimace.
"Ok," he asserted. "Hit me with your best shot."
Frankly, at that moment, he felt like he could tear Mars down from the sky by himself.
***
OOC: A bit of Popular Science for you.
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-04/building-real-iron-man
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 3:52PM » |
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vanya mia
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Standing lounging against a table in the recreation room, idly surfing on her xPhone as she drank a cup of coffee, Catalina noted Drake's leaving and followed her with a flat stare. As Vasily rounded the corner she tensed, waiting to move at the first sign of any conflict almost physically wishing to see something.
It was with a small sigh, and shake of the head, that she watched Vasily stand to allow Drake and her attending men in black through. Then it happened, and a bright grin illuminated Catalina's face. Shaking with silent laughter she met the eyes of the Russian as he crossed the room, winked at him and in congratulatory tones remarked, "That's my boy."
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 3:48PM » |
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Jenniza
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Jane watched with amusement at the antics of Vasily.
Grace called over to Vasily, "Come on over, Iron Man, I need to make an adjustment in the weight actuaters."
Jane smiled amusedly, "Ironman, I like that."
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Jenniza
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Jane huddled the team around some schematics she'd been working on.
One of the engineers looked at them, "Are you sure about this?"
Jane grinned, "I've had worse hair-brained ideas."
Another looked at Jane, "Yeah, but are you sure he'd go for this?"
A bunch of engineers began to debate:
"He'd have to be nuts to try this"
"I don't know, think about the possibilities."
"But think about the risks."
"What if he pukes?"
"That man has the constitution of a bull elephant."
"Can he control the systems?"
"With training, I suppose."
"But can we even build it?"
"We won't know until we try."
Grace wrapped it up, "Then we proceed with the plans to add flight systems to the Experimental Heavy Armor."
ooc: craft mech +17, repair 17
k/ tech 7
research 7
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 7:04PM » |
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Bob Thundergut
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Three days after the China mission, Mary Ranma found herself in the Bio Lab once more.
"Hi there," Dr. Loretta Jones said. "I was just about to go to lunch. Care to join me/"
"I'd love to," Mary replied.
As they walked to the mess hall, Mary said, "It looks like I've been put off the Psi-Amp project. At least for now."
"Well, that didn't last long. What happened?"
"Team decision. Vasily and Cat decided that the Psi-amp could wait. We need to focus on medical supplies. I pretty much agreed, having dispensed our entire supply in combat."
"So you'll be joining us on the Regen upgrade?"
"Yes, but not to take over. I'd like you to continue on as teamleader." Mary leaned in close to Loretta, and whispered. "I don't like how Dr. Burton looks at me."
Loretta smiled, "Alright, but don't worry about Burton. He's an ant. I can handle him."
"Still. He tries to make me feel small. I don't like that."
"It isn't about you. It's about him. He wants to take credit for the Regen serum. So, after the war, he can get his Nobel prize. He's in for a rude suprise, when he tries to publish."
"Really? How do you know so much?"
"Let's just say that I have experience with his kind," Loretta smiled.
Near the mess hall entrance, Loretta and Mary pressed against the wall, to make room for Agent Drake and her entourage. The woman was briskly stalking down the hallway, her eyes dark, her lips taut. Loretta then did something that took Mary's breath away.
She SPOKE to Drake.
"Inize..honey are you alright?" she asked as Drake passed.
The agent stopped dead in her tracks, and spun to face Dr. Jones.
"No I'm not alright!!! That... that APE!!!"
"Calm down sweety. What happened?" Loretta replied, soothingly.
"He kissed me, that's what happened! Right in front of everybody. Right in front of my men!"
"WHO kissed you?"
"The Russian!!! Bastard! I'm on my way right now to lodge a complaint!"
"Oh...?" Loretta smiled. "So... how was it?"
"Well, it was kind of..." Drake blurted before she could stop herself. She looked at Loretta, then Mary. Both women stared at her, waiting with bated breath for her reply.
"HAVEN'T YOU TWO GOT ANYTHING ELSE TO DO?" She stamped down the hallway, and out of sight, muttering 'sonofabitch' the whole way."
Loretta and Mary laughed at each other when she was gone. "Let's go eat," Loretta said.
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| « Last Edit: on: Nov 3, 2008, 8:02PM » |
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Jenniza
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The sounds of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" with Ozzy Osbourne singing, could be heard from around the base as the engineers began working on the attempted upgrades to the armor.
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