Operation: Event Horizon (Sci-Fi, OOC, OPEN)

[Galnius]

For people looking for a character, i believe we need an actual smuggler. You know, good at talking, can drive land based vehicles, knows the best routes for more illegal activities.

[Segral]

Name: Errol Wyrick
Species: Noxial
Gender: Male
Age: 51
Appearance:

Role: Support
Expertise: Chef/Bartender of the Oriasa

Abilities:

• Noxial Condition: A mixture of good genes and the Noxial's natural biological traits make Errol an incredibly brutal opponent in a fight. His skin is very tough, and is also an extremely poor conductor of electricity, allowing him to withstand electroshock weapons and EMP grenades even when his skin is slightly damp, as well as most basic human and Elnoi firearms. It's like a fiber vest hanging off of his skeleton. He is also blessed with incredible strength, able to lift and throw small vehicles such as hovercraft, Elnoi aircraft, and small boats with ease. As well, and most crucially, Errol possess a moderately powerful regenerative factor that allows him to heal extraordinarily quickly, being able to repair minor cuts, burns, and gashes in anywhere from seconds to a few minutes, recover from damaged organs and limbs in hours, and even reattach an entire leg or arm if it's held up against the joint for twenty-four hours (and regain function again in seventy-two). It's definitely not as strong as it used to be, and has been thinning over time, but still, it's very useful, and it's this trait along with his skin and strength that makes up for his lack of augmentations or formal training.
  
  
• Cooking: Unfortunately, despite his very present natural gifts, Errol is uh...not much of a fighter. He prefers to cook, really. He has spent much of his life travelling through Koronic and other star systems throughout the Elnoi Collective's reach to learn about different types of regional cuisine and collect a wide assortment of kitchen tools, and his knowledge is near-encyclopedic by this point. He's a master of flavor, spice, tenderness, and aroma, a visual artist on the plate, and a genius with a chef's knife. It was his status as a chef for the Elnoi Collective's spacecraft and stations that got him a spot on the Oriasa.
  
  
• Leadership: His one condition for joining the Oriasa was getting to pick his team of chefs, and he runs them with military finesse. Despite not being a typical soldier or crewmember, he has proven himself to be an adept leader, captain, and organizer. He knows how to delegate, how to plan, how to lead, and, to the chagrin of his sous chef, how to punish.
  
  
• Musicianship: He's also an amateur musician on the side, for some reason or another. Seriously, guy knows the keys, the horns, Elnoi reeds, everything...it's kind of impressive, actually.

Weaknesses:

• Fighting: Or lack therof. What's a healing factor and boat-throwing strength if you have no way to use it? Errol is a pacifist, and doesn't really know how to fight. Sure, if he's in danger, he'll swing, but can you expect that swing to be coordinated, or accurate, or in any direction aside from vaguely towards the head? Absolutely not. He has no augmentations through articsite, has no tech either, no weapons beyond his knives, and no formal training. Really, in most cases, he'll probably surrender. It's kind of odd when you really think about it.
  
  
• Illness: Errol is currently suffering from a disease known to Noxials as "AXI-012". It is a genetic disorder that causes the Noxial's regenerative cells to become faulty with age and begin to mistakenly attack healthy tissue in a similar way to many autoimmune disorders common in humans. Those with it stay healthy in their childhood, but as time goes on, begin to develop scars, limb numbness, weakened motor skills, sensory loss, reduced organ function, and difficulties speaking and swallowing. If untreated, it can even be deadly. Therapies and treatments can manage the symptoms, but in order to stay in the military and continue his passion, Errol has concealed his illness to the world. It's terminal, and every time he regenerates from an injury, it accelerates the rate of deterioration.

Bio: Errol Wyrick was born in 2179 in the famous Noxial city of Toro, the son of two chefs within the city. Toro is usually pictured as a dark, decrepit city, huddled in a crater and surrounded by black ocean, but as those who have visited the city know, it's a sophisticated, beautiful place, full of laughter and hidden secrets. Artists, philosophers, thinkers, musicians, moneymakers, and educators move through the streets and canals, and by night and day, they all come together over one classic elixir of life; alcohol. Good drink is plentiful, and it was taverns and watering-holes where all of the good conversation and news flowed. Errol's parents had made their fortune in good drink, and its counterpart, good food. It was an exciting world to be born in, and one that constantly caught the boy's eye. Despite his best attempts to stay in the education system, food and adventure attracted him too much, and when a rare opportunity came his way, he was jumping to grab it.

The Elnoi was offering a Collective-wide exchange program for prospective students wanting to experience foreign cultures within the galaxies. In the past, exchange programs like these had been limited to worlds or even star systems, but the development of FTL technology and the Horizon Gates had given bright young minds the resources to go even farther. Errol's...unique application letter and natural smarts were enough to earn him a spot on scholarship at the young age of 16. Conveniently, that was also the same year that the Twenty Years' War first broke.

Errol landed in Xenro in 2195, a huge, lurking Noxial boy of 16 given the opportunity to attend a culinary training program at the city (when you're a star system in war, good chefs are needed everywhere). However, he soon became...bored. He hated Xenro, with all of its cleanliness, its grayness, its perfect architecture and orderly streets. Where was the adventure? Where were the lights, the laughter? There was no philosophers here, only grubby-knuckled soldiers and engineers. His talents were better used elsewhere. And elsewhere was space. After two years slaving and saving away in the program, he dropped out and applied to the military, hoping to become a cook and exercise his talents there. He would get to travel all over the galaxy, learn about food, and serve some very noble, heroic men and women. Only, the Elnoi Collective had a different idea. They signed him up to be a soldier, and well, he knew nothing about fighting. He protested the assignment, but it fell on deaf ears, and he was sent off packing from Xenro on the next flight out to the Abyss.

Fortunately, once he actually got up there, he managed to get an opportunity to work in the kitchen, and once he did, his natural gift was more than apparent. His luncheons were so exquisite that his commanding officer agreed to let him hide in the mess hall of the shuttles during battles to avoid any risk or danger to his life, and let him have slightly more leisure trip days than the other men. It was a great time. Stressful, but great. During missions, he would feed hungry men in the stars, and during refuelling/restocking stops at star systems or on break, he would explore various cities to learn about food and drink. It was a gift that kept him alive through the Twenty Years' War, and what gave him fantastic positions when he came out.

A few months after the war ended in 2216, Errol was contacted by his old commanding officer, who had since been risen through the ranks to become a prominent Elnoi General. He was heading a diplomatic mission to the Sol Confederation, and wanted Errol to come cook for his crew on the way there. The opportunity was too good to pass up. Time in the Sol, a region with food and drink he had never so much as imagined before? Who wouldn't pass it up? The mission lasted an entire year, an entire year of work, study, and cultural absorption, and when that was done, he was recommended for another, and another. For ten years, he cooked, learned, and grew, and when that was done, he took a permanent position on an Elnoi space station, working there for another five. Finally, his career hit another turn; an offer from Operation Event Horizon to take part in a confidential expedition to the Abyss, upon the Oriasa ship. He took it almost immediately...for a few reasons. The scars were getting hard to cover. Maybe one of the planets would have something for him.


Equipment:

• A large collection of knives, cookware, and various other objects for his kitchen. One of them is an electroshock dagger, because even cooks need self-defense.
• A thick fiber vest for basic protection.
• Several of his favorite horns and pipes, for if he becomes bored in between all of the cooking.
• Three large Toro canaries, gifted to him by his squadron upon leaving the Twenty Years' War. They have long lifespans, longer than most birds, and only two have died since the original gift.

Optional
Likes: Good food, good drink, music, wildlife, swimming, boating, partying (more opportunities to eat and drink), and knives. Way too many knives.

Dislikes: Bad food, bad drink, silence, idiot subordinates, boredom, cocktails (he considers them impure drink, and has been known to hurl barbacks who mix cocktails at his bar from the mess hall)

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Just a question, how do you wield more than two Katana for a human? A quad might say four but six?

Her arctisite power allows her to grow additional appendages. Also, even if she can't use all of them, having spares never hurt anyone.

For people looking for a character, i believe we need an actual smuggler. You know, good at talking, can drive land based vehicles, knows the best routes for more illegal activities.

We've got someone with experience smuggling and someone who can handle land vehicles though.

[Alcona and Hubris]

Just a question, how do you wield more than two Katana for a human? A quad might say four but six?

Her arctisite power allows her to grow additional appendages. Also, even if she can't use all of them, having spares never hurt anyone.

Ah, my original read wasn't that they could be appendages but some auto repair feature only....thanks...

[Bentus]

For people looking for a character, i believe we need an actual smuggler. You know, good at talking, can drive land based vehicles, knows the best routes for more illegal activities.

We can always have more!

Am also curious if anyone's interested in coming up with some prior history/links between any characters?

[Zarkenis Ultima]

For people looking for a character, i believe we need an actual smuggler. You know, good at talking, can drive land based vehicles, knows the best routes for more illegal activities.

We can always have more!

Am also curious if anyone's interested in coming up with some prior history/links between any characters?

I'm open to the idea. I'm intentionally leaving some gaps/vague spaces in my characters' stories (mostly about the time they've spent in the Abyss) that could reasonably be filled in with interactions with other characters. Though I imagine for most, the assembling of the crew would've been the first time they meet each other.

[Alcona and Hubris]

For people looking for a character, i believe we need an actual smuggler. You know, good at talking, can drive land based vehicles, knows the best routes for more illegal activities.

We can always have more!

Am also curious if anyone's interested in coming up with some prior history/links between any characters?

My character might be a good route for recruiting a few other 'historic' mercs or similar...She really, really hates the Enlightened and sees the New Age as their heir.

[Bentus]

My character might be a good route for recruiting a few other 'historic' mercs or similar...She really, really hates the Enlightened and sees the New Age as their heir.

Maybe she and Tiasha have had run ins in the past? Karu could've been the one to reach out and try and arrange a meeting to get work for the crew? If Tiasha already knew Karu's skills, she would be far more willing to offer jobs to a brand new merc company.

[Alcona and Hubris]

My character might be a good route for recruiting a few other 'historic' mercs or similar...She really, really hates the Enlightened and sees the New Age as their heir.

Maybe she and Tiasha have had run ins in the past? Karu could've been the one to reach out and try and arrange a meeting to get work for the crew? If Tiasha already knew Karu's skills, she would be far more willing to offer jobs to a brand new merc company.

Oh, I'm sure that Tiasha has had dealings where precision flying in of small strike teams into places they shouldn't be have been called for. And I doubt there are very few on the list of people who have Karu's ability to do just that...

Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if Karu is in Tiasha's 'rolodex' or whatever they use in the 22nd century...So yeah, contacting Tiasha looking for some work leads makes sense.

But how that leads to Tiasha being 'read in' is another question entirely.

[Bentus]

Oh, I'm sure that Tiasha has had dealings where precision flying in of small strike teams into places they shouldn't be have been called for. And I doubt there are very few on the list of people who have Karu's ability to do just that...

Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if Karu is in Tiasha's 'rolodex' or whatever they use in the 22nd century...So yeah, contacting Tiasha looking for some work leads makes sense.

But how that leads to Tiasha being 'read in' is another question entirely.

Awesome! Though one quick question: what do you mean by 'read in'?

[Tomia]

Will get to apps that need to be reviewed soon. Just wanted to pop in to mention that we will be starting the IC with the characters already being part of the crew for a very brief time. So you should think about first impressions your char might have about the rest of the PCs and potential discuss short interactions they might have had

[Alcona and Hubris]

Awesome! Though one quick question: what do you mean by 'read in'?

Short hand for being brought into the know of what the Mercs are really up to...You hear it all the time when listening to spy movies and similar these days.

[Kasa Tkoth Sphere]

Looks like we have a pretty good crew coming together! I'm excited.

Will get to apps that need to be reviewed soon. Just wanted to pop in to mention that we will be starting the IC with the characters already being part of the crew for a very brief time. So you should think about first impressions your char might have about the rest of the PCs and potential discuss short interactions they might have had

Well, I suppose just about everyone's had at least one interaction with Ija, if only to ask her something utilitarian like "okay, start up the engines", "what's the distance to Tau Ceti?", or "give me a status report on the power grid". I suspect nobody would really notice much about her besides a disembodied voice — surprisingly high in pitch — and a drone climbing around the halls. A fairly standard ship-assistant AI for the people from the Collective, and maybe an unnerving presence for the people from the Confederation, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Unless someone tried asking how her day was, or what she thought of the new TV show (-equivalent), or whatever — then she probably came across as either clueless or an asshole, depending on how charitable a person they are.

[Alcona and Hubris]

Looks like we have a pretty good crew coming together! I'm excited.

Will get to apps that need to be reviewed soon. Just wanted to pop in to mention that we will be starting the IC with the characters already being part of the crew for a very brief time. So you should think about first impressions your char might have about the rest of the PCs and potential discuss short interactions they might have had

Well, I suppose just about everyone's had at least one interaction with Ija, if only to ask her something utilitarian like "okay, start up the engines", "what's the distance to Tau Ceti?", or "give me a status report on the power grid". I suspect nobody would really notice much about her besides a disembodied voice — surprisingly high in pitch — and a drone climbing around the halls. A fairly standard ship-assistant AI for the people from the Collective, and maybe an unnerving presence for the people from the Confederation, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Unless someone tried asking how her day was, or what she thought of the new TV show (-equivalent), or whatever — then she probably came across as either clueless or an asshole, depending on how charitable a person they are.

Considering how Karu interfaces with things...not sure how the AI deals with a living life form suddenly being 'there' in the AI's world...

[Kasa Tkoth Sphere]

Considering how Karu interfaces with things...not sure how the AI deals with a living life form suddenly being 'there' in the AI's world...

Brain-computer interfacing is just another kind of interfacing, I'd think — if using a mouse and keyboard, or voice commands, doesn't put a person 'into the computer', then neither does sending commands with one's brain. It just gets filtered through the I/O system as usual, right? After all, you need an I/O system to convert whatever the input is into actionable lines of code — computers read ones and zeroes (or spin superpositions, as the case might be here). Brain sends request -> Ija confirms or denies request -> does the computation if so -> returns the results in brain-parsable format (rather than raw bitcode).

In the event that Karu's ability works by, like, literally cutting and pasting her consciousness into the target's memory, then Ija will be accommodating enough to give her the 'space' and computing cycles she asks for, since her job is just to serve everyone else, after all. It's not really as if Ija has a 'world' inside the Oriasa's computers — it's that she's just some software managing all the resources, and handing them off to people who need them.

[Galnius]

For Kennedy, he's an overeager dork with very little understanding of boundaries and will talk your ear off. Some may find him endearing, annoying, or wonder why he's on the ship.

With Nix, unless you can actually tell the difference between androids and cyborgs that are pretending to be androids, you'd likely think she's an android, as she is actively pretending to be one, even to the crew. She's a bit wild, will go on space walks if able and bored. Likes teasing people for their flaws. Sounds like a robot girl.

In a sec I'll give a rundown of reach of their first impressions towards each apped character.

[Bentus]

For Kennedy, he's an overeager dork with very little understanding of boundaries and will talk your ear off. Some may find him endearing, annoying, or wonder why he's on the ship.

With Nix, unless you can actually tell the difference between androids and cyborgs that are pretending to be androids, you'd likely think she's an android, as she is actively pretending to be one, even to the crew. She's a bit wild, will go on space walks if able and bored. Likes teasing people for their flaws. Sounds like a robot girl.

How common would 'realistic' androids be in the setting? Would Nix draw any attention for looking quite realistic apart from her metallic components, or would she be pretty indistinguishable from high-end models?

[Galnius]

For Kennedy, he's an overeager dork with very little understanding of boundaries and will talk your ear off. Some may find him endearing, annoying, or wonder why he's on the ship.

With Nix, unless you can actually tell the difference between androids and cyborgs that are pretending to be androids, you'd likely think she's an android, as she is actively pretending to be one, even to the crew. She's a bit wild, will go on space walks if able and bored. Likes teasing people for their flaws. Sounds like a robot girl.

How common would 'realistic' androids be in the setting? Would Nix draw any attention for looking quite realistic apart from her metallic components, or would she be pretty indistinguishable from high-end models?

Good question, but she's supposedly made by the forerunners in science as it is so i assume she'd look top of the line.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Updated the work in progress app in the previous page, it's completed now.

[Galnius]

Kennedys first impressions
Karu: Drone friends. Likely pesters her about how the flying works and how she interfaces and her homeworld, because he's a curious fellow. Would likely find her bubbly personality endearing.
Commander Regar: Boss. Intimidating. The guy who might toss me off the ship if I bug him too much. Going to keep my distance.
Benedikte: The other doctor, the doctor of booms, bomb lady. If he is allowed to, he'll pester the german endlessly, just to get a smile or laugh from the serious woman.
Tiquo: "I've never met a Quaret before!" Slightly put off by his absolute need for alone time. Probably has had the door slammed on him, and for once, actually took the hint.
Ija: The ship! Incredibly curious about everything Ija may think about any subject. After all, how often do you get to have a conversation with the very ship itself!
Erina: "They have a robot that's so cool!" Yet another scientist on board, and a friendly one at that. The future conversations shall be legendary!
Ilvara: "Scary lady."
Vincent: Very serious old man. Slightly intimidating, but not too bad. Probably hasn't had fun in decades though.
Nix: Another robot, but this one is sassy! And slightly mean...Threatened to take him on his last space walk once. Couldn't tell if she was joking...
Monica: Something about her is just...scary. Not that that'll stop Kennedy. He has detailed plans on how he shall have a full length conversation about Elnoi Wildlife, and she will listen and not stab him. Hopefully.
Errol: The cook and musician. Kennedy kind of looks up to the older guy, inspired by his collected and calm demeanor (that Kennedy has seen anyway). Also, he is in charge of the food, thus must be a good guy.
Amanda: Hasn't run into her too much, but she seems alright. Looks young for her age though. One must wonder how much money such things cost...
Diego: Heard about him from his father. Was told to avoid him. Can't figure out why, he's pretty cool!
Howoe:, An actually cyborg! His father warned him about this one too, but seriously, his father needed to chill out. Howie seemed like one of the coolest people on board, and if Kennedy can get Howie to teach him how to box, then Kennedy might just show him his side project on Elnoi arachnids before anyone else gets to see it. Fair trades.
Kennedy Cool Crew Captain. Who says you can't have fun on special missions?
Dr Gwyd The man you go to when you accidentally brush your hand against the Toxicodendron of Proxima b. He's rather helpful, but doesn't seem to like it when Ija talks. Weird but whatever.

Let me know if i got any personalities wrong. Or if there's anything Kennedy and your character might have talked about (see first page for his app)

[The Rebel Alliances]

Name: Amanda Rollins
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 46(Physically 26)
Appearance:
Amanda

Role: Pilot/Gunner
Expertise: Starship and shuttle flying and starship combat
Abilities: Amanda is an expert pilot and experienced gunner aboard starships from freighter class to frigate. She has also flown shuttles and small starships and even has some limited experience with ground vehicles such as walkers and hovercraft. She is a skilled combat gunner for starcraft as well but prefers to be strapped into a pilot seat. For personnel combat she is familiar with several small arms but she is by no means an expert commando.

Weaknesses: Amanda is most vulnerable in a combat situation when not piloting some vehicle or weapon. She also possesses no arcticite.
Bio: Amanda was born on Earth in 2189 to a family which existed well into the poverty line. She spent her first several years in one of Earth's megacities and this has colored her desires and personality for the rest of her life. When she was around six or so, her family would sign on to a colonial venture to the Nexus system in order to escape the overcrowded conditions of Earth and to improve their family's financial and social situation. The years of her life on Nexus leading up to the 20 Years War were among her most stable and enjoyable but as the war started, her family very much loyal members of the Confederation openly supported the government and her mother signed on to serve in the military. In part to do her duty and in part to hopefully be able to earn a Arcticite for her daughter one day.

None of those ever came to fruition. Her mother would eventually be killed in action and her remaining family would be left behind on Nexus after the Confederation recognized the independence of Abyss which in turn resulted in her family losing everything to retaliation from pro abyssian forces and pirates. As a result of these events her father turned to piracy himself and took his daughter with him. She worked alongside him until her teen years until he was killed and she then found work with a partner. Unfortunately he did not share Amanda's moral compass and made his living in the worst of trades including the slave trade. When Amanda finally gained all she could from working with him, she shot him in the back and let his latest 'shipment' escape. Amanda in the following years has done just about anything for money. Bounty hunting, piracy, smuggling and even most recently privateering for the Confederation. While she strongly detests the Confederation, their money is as good as any other's. All of her years in near constant space travel has slowed her aging and for the last twenty years she has been building a 'retirement fund' from all of her jobs. She has always done her best to avoid the worst of jobs and keep her money as bloodless as possible and in jobs where people would get hurt she picks the worst offenders as her target. Lately though she is looking for one last big job to finally push her into retirement and when she found an opportunity for the Operation Event Horizon she immediately jumped at the chance.
Equipement: Standard sidearm and smg for close quarters combat situations and some personnel effects

Optional
Likes:
Dislikes:

[Zarkenis Ultima]

He has detailed plans on how he shall have a full length conversation about Elnoi Wildlife, and she will listen and not stab him. Hopefully.

That's what he thinks

[The Rebel Alliances]

Name: Amanda Rollins
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 46
Appearance:
Amanda

Role: Pilot/Gunner
Expertise: Starship and shuttle flying and starship combat
Abilities: Amanda is an expert pilot and experienced gunner aboard starships from freighter class to frigate. She has also flown shuttles and small starships and even has some limited experience with ground vehicles such as walkers and hovercraft. She is a skilled combat gunner for starcraft as well but prefers to be strapped into a pilot seat. For personnel combat she is familiar with several small arms but she is by no means an expert commando.

Weaknesses: Amanda is most vulnerable in a combat situation when not piloting some vehicle or weapon. She also possesses no arcticite.
Bio: Amanda was born on Earth in 2189 to a family which existed well into the poverty line. She spent her first several years in one of Earth's megacities and this has colored her desires and personality for the rest of her life. When she was around six or so, her family would sign on to a colonial venture to the Nexus system in order to escape the overcrowded conditions of Earth and to improve their family's financial and social situation. The years of her life on Nexus leading up to the 20 Years War were among her most stable and enjoyable but as the war started, her family very much loyal members of the Confederation openly supported the government and her mother signed on to serve in the military. In part to do her duty and in part to hopefully be able to earn a Arcticite for her daughter one day.

None of those ever came to fruition. Her mother would eventually be killed in action and her remaining family would be left behind on Nexus after the Confederation recognized the independence of Abyss which in turn resulted in her family losing everything to retaliation from pro abyssian forces and pirates. As a result of these events her father turned to piracy himself and took his daughter with him. She worked alongside him until her teen years until he was killed and she then found work with a partner. Unfortunately he did not share Amanda's moral compass and made his living in the worst of trades including the slave trade. When Amanda finally gained all she could from working with him, she shot him in the back and let his latest 'shipment' escape. Amanda in the following years has done just about anything for money. Bounty hunting, piracy, smuggling and even most recently privateering for the Confederation. While she strongly detests the Confederation, their money is as good as any other's. She has always done her best to avoid the worst of jobs and keep her money as bloodless as possible and in jobs where people would get hurt she picks the worst offenders as her target. Lately though she is looking for one last big job to finally push her into retirement and when she found an opportunity for the Operation Event Horizon she immediately jumped at the chance.
Equipement: Standard sidearm and smg for close quarters combat situations and some personnel effects

Optional
Likes:
Dislikes:

[Tomia]

Amanda Rollins

Accepted! I'll just note that you should probably just say she is 46 instead of claiming she looks younger and all. We can chalk it up to enhanced genes instead of trying to find some kind of excuse.

Erica Lantrix

Accepted!

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Erica Lantrix

Accepted!

Thanks! A note though, decided to change her name to Monica. Didn't want confusion between her and Erina