The armory settles into an uneasy pause. Emergency power steadies, and Dr. Vash angles his portable terminal beneath the flickering lights as old evacuation maps load across its screen.
Dr. Vash
These maps predate the current lockdown, but the service corridors should still connect to the west loading exit.
Dr. Ella Vash, a lean adult human woman with warm brown skin, tightly curled black hair, and a dark utility vest over gray work clothes opens the nearest ammunition case and checks its sealed magazines, counting under her breath before arranging only the most useful supplies on a workbench.
Dr. Vash
We can carry ammunition for the M2, a few power cells for your plasma system, and basic medical supplies. Everything else stays.
Dr. Vash enlarges two routes: one passes near the testing bay, while the other winds through storage and emerges beside the loading doors. Impacts remain muffled beyond the walls.
Dr. Vash
The direct route is shorter, but the bay is our greatest risk. Storage takes longer and may be blocked by collapsed shelving.
Dr. Vash
We stay together. Vash monitors the network, I handle the supplies, and Aia1 can keep the corridor clear while we move.
“Plasma weapon Damaged Plasma Ammo unusable purging unusable Weapon require new secondary Weapon”
SUCCESS (Good Cybernetics, rolled +2)
Aia1 isolates the damaged plasma ammunition from her weapon system. Her internal diagnostics mark each compromised charge unusable and sever the feed before it can obstruct the blaster.
The failed plasma charges purge into a sealed disposal channel with a brief hiss. The blaster reports an empty, safe feed, while its remaining mechanisms stay intact.
Dr. Vash
The damaged ammunition is gone. Your plasma system itself is still clean, but it cannot serve as a reliable weapon until we find new charges.
Ella closes the ammunition case and separates the unusable cells from the supplies they can carry. Nearby racks hold sealed equipment, their labels obscured by dust and failing light.
Dr. Vash
Then we treat the plasma arm as unavailable. I will search the armory inventory for a compatible secondary weapon before we leave.
Dr. Vash
The M2 remains ready, and the corridor is still clear. We can move once Vash identifies something you can carry without delaying us.
The purge completes successfully. Aia1’s plasma weapon remains mounted but unloaded, while the researchers turn toward the sealed weapon racks and the route beyond the armory.
✓ Quest Accepted
Obtain a compatible secondary weapon
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the west loading exit
“I keep the M2 ready while Vash searches for a compatible weapon.”
Aia1 keeps the integrated M2 trained on the armory’s sealed service door, its barrel steady while the unloaded plasma arm remains lowered and safe.
Dr. Vash moves along the weapon racks with his portable terminal, comparing faded inventory labels against compatibility data as emergency lights flicker across the cases.
Dr. Vash
The M2 ammunition is sufficient for now. I am narrowing the search to weapons with independent power and straightforward mounting.
Dr. Ella Vash gathers the selected magazines and medical supplies into a compact load, keeping the usable plasma cells separate from the failed charges.
Dr. Vash
The corridor remains clear. Keep watching the door while Vash checks the sealed cases.
Aia1
The service door remains closed. M2 ammunition is available.
Vash stops at a narrow equipment locker and enters its serial number. The lock releases, revealing a compact conventional carbine, spare magazines, and a sealed adapter marked compatible.
“Handhelds will suffice”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled -1)
Aia1
Handhelds will suffice.
Aia1 takes the compact carbine and its compatible adapter from the locker, keeping the M2 trained on the service door while the weapon settles securely against her armored frame.
Dr. Vash
Understood. The carbine gives us an independent option without altering your integrated systems.
Dr. Vash passes over the spare magazines. Aia1 checks the action, confirms the weapon feeds correctly, and retains it as a ready handheld backup.
Dr. Vash
Then we have enough firepower to move. I’ll carry the medical supplies and the M2 magazines.
The locker slams shut with a sharp metallic crack, spending their quiet. Somewhere beyond the armory walls, distant impacts pause, then resume.
Dr. Vash
That noise may travel, but the equipment is secured. We can take the storage route now.
Quest Complete
Obtain a compatible secondary weapon
+ New Item Acquired
Compact carbine
+ New Item Acquired
Compatible adapter
“Grab the belt feeding Backpack instead and lessens what must be carried”
SUCCESS (Good Strength, rolled +0)
Aia1 reaches past the compact carbine and grabs the belt-feeding backpack, securing its harness against her armored frame. The linked ammunition settles into the M2 feed system, reducing the loose load.
She transfers the spare belt into the backpack and checks the connection by feel. The M2 remains trained on the service door while the handheld carbine stays ready at her side.
Dr. Vash
That will carry the ammunition more efficiently. Ella, leave the extra magazines here unless we need them immediately.
Dr. Vash
Agreed. I have the medical supplies and enough ammunition for the others. The storage route is clear on the network.
Ella secures the reduced load against her vest. Dr. Vash opens the service door a fraction, then studies the corridor camera as emergency lights pulse across empty concrete.
Dr. Vash
No movement at the junction. We move now, with Aia1 first and the storage doors ahead.
The door rolls upward. Aia1 advances directly into the service corridor, belt-fed backpack secured, M2 aligned forward, while the researchers follow close behind.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the storage doors
+ New Item Acquired
Belt-feeding backpack
“I advance toward the storage doors with my M2 trained ahead.”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +0)
Aia1 advances through the service corridor with her M2 trained ahead. Emergency lights stripe her armor as the belt-fed backpack shifts securely with each measured step.
The storage doors come fully into view at the corridor’s end, their access panel glowing amber beneath dust and peeling hazard markings. No movement crosses the junction.
Aia1
The storage doors are intact. The corridor remains clear.
Dr. Vash
There they are. The network confirms the storage wing still has manual power.
Dr. Vash follows inside Aia1’s firing line, portable terminal raised. Dr. Ella Vash keeps close behind him, one hand securing the medical load against her vest.
Dr. Vash
We reached the doors without drawing anything out. Aia1, hold the corridor while Vash gets them open.
Aia1 arrives at the storage doors and takes position before them, M2 covering the empty corridor while Dr. Vash steps to the access panel and begins the manual release.
Quest Complete
Reach the storage doors