Paranoia: My Name is Troubleshooter

[BlueBard]

ArrMatee starts up the stairs...

Everyone else... You reach the top to find Shoot-O waiting for you.  He has a deep scowl on his face.  Watch-Y is nowhere in sight.

You are not used to climbing stairs at all.  Combined with the earlier forced marches, your legs are aching, your heart is pounding and you're breathing hard.

"WELL?" Shoot-O shouts, "WHERE'S ARRMATEE?"

ArrMatee:
[spoiler]It's a bit of a slow go, the hydraulics don't move very fast and you have to work to keep your balance.  But the exoskeleton is doing most of the work and you're plodding up the stairs with little or no strain.  You reach the second landing and start to ascend toward the third when the exoskeleton suddenly becomes extremely difficult to move.  You lose your balance and collapse onto the landing on your hands and knees.  The ever-present faint hissing sound has stopped.[/spoiler]

You all hear a loud crash and look down to see ArrMatee collapsed on the second landing.

[Viking]

"REPORTING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, TEAM LEADER!" calls out ArrMatee, as loud as he can manage.  "THE EXOSKELETON MAY HAVE RUN OUT OF STEAM!"

[spoiler]Is it possible to get out of the exoskeleton without it, or ArrMatee, taking a nasty fall?  He'll probably need to check to see if it needs a refill, or if it's a different problem.[/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

"REPORTING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, TEAM LEADER!" calls out ArrMatee, as loud as he can manage.  "THE EXOSKELETON MAY HAVE RUN OUT OF STEAM!"

[spoiler]Is it possible to get out of the exoskeleton without it, or ArrMatee, taking a nasty fall?  He'll probably need to check to see if it needs a refill, or if it's a different problem.[/spoiler]

"YOU'RE THE EQUIPMENT GUY!" comes Shoot-O's answering shout.  "FIX IT AND GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE!"

[spoiler]Fortunately for you, you're on the landing.  Unfortunately, the narrow landing and enclosing safety rails leave you little or no room to manuver.  Like, you can't really roll over.  And you're strapped in, with the exoskeleton's arms outstretched bracing the floor, so you don't have a hand free to extricate yourself from the exoskeleton.  You're going to have to try struggling to your feet, which might cause you to fall forward or backward.  Backward might be bad.[/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

ArrMatee:
[spoiler]Just to clarify... you can still move in the exoskeleton.  It's just very difficult.  The unpowered hydraulics resist movement and the exoskeleton itself is quite heavy.  You'll get fatigued very, very quickly trying to move with it on.[/spoiler]

[Viking]

"PROCEEDING TO HASTEN BUTT MOVEMENT, SIR!" responds ArrMatee with forced enthusiasm.

"MISSION EFFICIENCY WOULD BE ENHANCED IF MY FELLOW TROUBLESHOOTERS BROUGHT ME THEIR THERMOSES OF WATER, TEAM LEADER!" he calls out as a helpful afterthought.

ArrMatee grits his teeth and tries to move the exoskeleton into a standing position, so that he may free himself to fix it.

GM:
[spoiler]Based on ArrMatee's prior familiarizing himself with the exoskeleton, where does one add water to restore the fuel supply?[/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

I don't recall that anyone ever stopped to fill their thermoses with anything, let alone water.  Someone in the group might have some other liquid material.

ArrMatee:
[spoiler]With a herculean effort, you manage to climb to your feet and stand erect.

(Amazingly, you rolled an 18 on your Strength check, then passed your Stamina check to avoid increasing your fatigue level.  Must have been a rush of adrenalin.)

Adding water to the steam chamber is one of the things you were briefed on.  You just unscrew a small cap and fill the tank.
[/spoiler]

[Viking]

Does the exoskeleton begin hissing once more?  ArrMatee checks things over, and then goes through the proper procedure to start the exoskeleton back up again before resuming the climb.

[spoiler]On a separate matter - how prevalent are places where one might fill containers with water in Beta Complex?[/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

Does the exoskeleton begin hissing once more?  ArrMatee checks things over, and then goes through the proper procedure to start the exoskeleton back up again before resuming the climb.

[spoiler]On a separate matter - how prevalent are places where one might fill containers with water in Beta Complex?[/spoiler]

No, the exoskeleton does not begin hissing once more when you are upright.  You'll have to get out of the exoskeleton to check the pressure gauge and check the water level.

As an informational aside, drinking fountains may be found in every main hallway of every sector as well as in major departments.  Restrooms tend to be located in out of the way places.  These are the main sources of potable water.  Other sources of water are probably known to HPD&MC and certain others who make it their business to know.

Everyone else:

Shoot-O is red-faced, his brows are knit in an angry frown, and his teeth are bared.  He shoves past all of you and begins storming down the steps toward ArrMatee.  As he shoves past Spyd-R, he nearly knocks him over the rail... but Spyd-R was able to grab the rail just in time to avoid going over.

[Viking]

Then ArrMatee proceeds, with all due haste, to check on the pressure gauge, water level, and such.

[BlueBard]

Then ArrMatee proceeds, with all due haste, to check on the pressure gauge, water level, and such.

ArrMatee:
[spoiler]You remove yourself from the exoskeleton and squeeze past it to check the steam chamber.  The pressure gauge reads zero and the water level is below the minimum.  Time for a refill, looks like.  You spot Shoot-O storming down the stairs toward you.[/spoiler]

Everyone Else:
"Follow me!" Shoot-O barks.

[The Phantom Eyebrow]

Everyone Else:
"Follow me!" Shoot-O barks.

:o "He looks angry - we should get going as quickly as possible"

Numb tries to stick in the midst of the pack in a suitable position

[gdaybloke]

Spyd follows his illustrious leader.

[BlueBard]

I assume you're going down in reverse order from how you all went up, except Spam can't decide whether to follow Shoot-O and both Numb and Blo hesitate for their own reasons.  Spyd-R tries to squeeze past them on the stairwell to follow Shoot-O.  I assume, following his recent near-splat, he is trying to pass on the wall side.

If anyone prevents Spyd-R from doing so or if anyone's pulling any dirty tricks, post here or PM me whichever is appropriate.  If anyone refuses to follow them down, post that too.

[gdaybloke]

Struck by sudden inspiration, and looking slightly nervous, Spyd pauses.

"Shoot-O, Sir! Permission to wait on the next landing while everyone else keeps running up and down stairs, to tune the PMB and properly compose our teams anthem before we're thrust into a combat situation where our morale, and possibly our very existence, is dependent on a suitably rousing anthem! Sir!"

[BlueBard]

Struck by sudden inspiration, and looking slightly nervous, Spyd pauses.

"Shoot-O, Sir! Permission to wait on the next landing while everyone else keeps running up and down stairs, to tune the PMB and properly compose our teams anthem before we're thrust into a combat situation where our morale, and possibly our very existence, is dependent on a suitably rousing anthem! Sir!"

Shoot-O, nearly down to where ArrMatee is checking out the exoskeleton, barks over his shoulder, "PERMISSION DENIED!  ALL OF YOU GET DOWN HERE, NOW!"

[gdaybloke]

Spyd gingerly continues his way down...
[spoiler]...whispering into his multicorder mike "Citizen Shoot-O has just expressly ordered me NOT to make efforts to improve team morale, despite my assignment as happiness officer. Very suspicious."[/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

Spyd-R descends the stairs past the others, who fall into line behind him.

Meanwhile, Shoot-O is shouting at ArrMatee:

"What's wrong with the stu-- uh, stupendous!  The stupendous exoskeleton!  What's wrong with it?!  Why haven't you fixed it yet?!"

Then a thought occurs to him.

"You broke it, didn't you?  I saw you tampering with it!  You're trying to sabotage my training mission!  You-you- traitor!"

Before anyone can blink, Shoot-O's pistol is out and pressed upwards into ArrMatee's chin.

"You'd better spill your guts or I'll spill your brains!  Who are you working for?  Was it Watch-Y?  He put you up to this, didn't he?"

[Viking]

"Arr!  The exoskeleton needs more water, sir!"  calls out ArrMatee.  "No water means no steam!  Which means that radioactive material is just sittin' there, uncooled, an' gettin' hotter n' hotter, ready t' blow!"

ArrMatee keeps a manic grin on his face as he continues to fast talk.  After all, fear only comes with the anticipation of death.  Calm comes with the certainty!

"Now, my orders actually come from higher up than Watch-Y.  Internal Security's gotten suspicious of the two of you, so I'm just watchin' th' both of ye.  But I've been cunning about gatherin' evidence on ye both!  I mean, why else do ye think I don't have a Multicorder, an' yet Multicorders were requisitioned by the Happiness and Cleanliness officers?  Who are behind ye, even now!"

[BlueBard]

Spam, Blo, Numb:
[spoiler]ArrMatee must be the IntSec spy you were warned about!  Remember your instructions![/spoiler]

Shoot-O's eyes widen at the mention of the radioactive material getting ready to blow.

"Well what the heck are you just standing there for?!  I can't be responsible for irradiating the complex AGAIN!  Go get water!  Now!!!"

Shoot-O turns to the rest of you.  "You want to freaking glow in the dark?  Go get water!!!  Waitaminute..."

He turns to ArrMatee again.  "YOU wait here and do what you can to keep this thing from blowing.  I'LL take these hosers to go get some water!"

He turns back to the rest of you.  "WATER!!! NOW!!! MOVE!!!"

[gdaybloke]

[spoiler]Did I get any of Shoot-O's outburst on tape? Incriminating evidence indeed![/spoiler]

"Sir! Yes, Sir! But first, a moment of your time..."

[Spoiler]PM away![/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

"We don't have a moment!" Shoot-O screams.  His weapons are out and he's covering all of you.  "Get moving up those stairs before I have to shoot every one of you for treasonous insubordination!  NOW!  This is a Public Safety issue!  Priority One!"

[The Phantom Eyebrow]

"Priority ONE eh!?  At the dou... I mean at the Treble sir!"  Numb leaps into action in response to Shoot's shouted commands.  Running up the stairs in a curious one-at-a-time but rapid stepping gait he searches for a means to cool the radioactive material, he entreats any citizens in the vicinity for aid with a plaintive cry:  "Water!  Water!  Anywhere?"

[Viking]

ArrMatee makes a show of doing what he can to keep the exoskeleton from blowing by spitting into the refill tank.  Spit is water, after all...

[BlueBard]

Shoot-O's laser pistol dips sharply.

"ZAP!"

Suddenly there's a scorch mark on the landing at Spyd-R's feet.  "MOVE!!!"

[Spam]

"Sir, I think I have something very important to say. If I could just use a minute of your time, and privately talk with you for a few seconds... you know, away from everyone else..."

I start to sweat at the sight of Shoot-O's pistol, and try to gulp as quitely to myself as possible.

[spoiler]ka-PM![/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

"ZAP!"

Another scorch mark appears at the feet of Spam-R.  Shoot-O's pistol immediately levels up to point directly between Spam-R's eyes.

"Next shot don't miss, you monkeys!  WATER!  NOW!  MOVE!!!"

[BlueBard]

Numb-R,

You have reached the top of the stairwell and have emerged into the corridor above.  You see a number of Red and Infrared level clones going about their business.

"Water! Water! Anywhere?" you shout.  The various clones in the corridor stop and stare at you.

[gdaybloke]

(*turns and runs back up the stairs looking for water THAT way*)

[Spam]

After failing, I'll just follow somebody, hoping to find... something. Anything. He said something about water, so I guess I'll look for a sink, or something. A bathroom... a pipe...

[BlueBard]

Now the stampede is headed in the right direction... ;)

I'll assume Blo-R has gotten the message and is charging up the stairs in a desperate search for water, with Shoot-O hot on his heels.

Spyd-R, you've reached the top of the stairs and burst out into the corridor.  You see the same thing Numb-R sees.  A bunch of Infrared and Red citizens staring at you.

Now, none of you have ever been to DTH sector before.  You have no idea where the lavatories are let alone any other source of water.  But you do have other resources.

For anyone not familiar with Paranoia, or if you're stuck for an idea, see the spoiler below.  Otherwise, let me know how you intend to locate water.

Resources:
[spoiler]
1. The Computer.  You can always find a Terminal somewhere and ask the Computer directly.  However, there's a good reason they're called Terminals.  Because it's always a good opportunity to get Terminated.  Terminals usually sport more hardware than just a user interface, if you know what I mean.  If you go this route, form your queries and responses to the Computer carefully.  Don't lose sight of the fact that the Computer is frequently fallible, paranoid, and schizophrenic.

2. Your Inventory.  Nobody packed water, per se, but you might have other things in your inventories that can help you.  If you don't remember what you've got on you, PM me.

3. Your Skills.  See if you have any skills that might apply to your search for water.  Or attempt to use a skill that you don't have, at a penalty.  Either way, this will be subject to a Skill check, so you might fail.

4. Your Mutant Power.  Do you have a mutant power that might be useful?

5. Your Service Group.  Could your Service Group contacts have information that would be helpful?  Mind you, you'll owe someone a favor of some kind if you go this route.

6. Your Secret Society.  Could your Secret Society contacts have information?  Ditto on the favor owed thing.  Plus there's the whole secrecy thing.  If you get caught at it, you could be terminated.

7. Other Citizens.  Can you get information from a passing citizen?  Don't forget that you outrank any Infrared citizen.  This will probably involve Charisma/Chutzpah/Skill checks in some way and might fail.  Also, other citizens can lie or be clueless.  Don't lose sight of the fact that clones are often fallible, paranoid, and schizophrenic.  Along the same lines, you could try to find a Bot and try to get the information from it.  The Bot may have no useful knowledge, or it may be programmed such that it's purposes are opposed to yours.  Technically you outrank the average bot too, but rank is far less useful in dealing with one.  And yes, even bots can be fallible, paranoid, and schizophrenic.

8. Backtracking.  Have you been anywhere recently that might have water, or someone who knows where water is?[/spoiler]