(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #34 - Tell His Wife, "Boom!"

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, assisting the Hissers of Notex with the sky falling....

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Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.  

Sonny Helianthus: a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with trusted Restorationist ties. 

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.  Recently "gave birth" to a litter of sentient earthworm babies.

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does. Looking for trouble in all the right places.  Recent jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock he has named Chambray.

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Sonny pressed the "sacred triangle" on the small plastic box, and as expected, it started to speak.

“This is the last recording of Colonel Ratcliffe, stationed at facility Rho. A full evacuation has been ordered. All able-bodied men and women are to exit the plateau and rendezvous with  enlisted at ground level, departing via land vehicles toward an undisclosed location.

We have set “Protocol Alpha-Red” to begin in three months if we haven’t returned. God help us all if we don’t, I don’t trust  those damn robots. We are leaving doctors and scientists behind with the injured and ill, to be airlifted out in two days time. Ratcliffe, signing out.”

"I think it's been longer than three months," the sunflower said, sarcasm dripping.  Sonny 

"Damn robots, I knew it, robots are bad, whatever they are."  Pete said, shaking his head.

Sonny, concurred, "I assume that this Protocol Alpha-Red is why ancient weapons are attacking this joint.  Lathar check the other box, just press the button on the side with the sacred triangle."

Pete interrupted, "Wait, wait, I don't think this Colonel Ratcliffe managed to escaped."

Lathar added, "Was Colonel Ratcliffe's body the one we found..."

"in the Bathroom?" 

"with the mutant plant in the toilet?"

Sonny nodded, "I wouldn't be so sure, but the other recording might be a big clue. Lathar, press the button..."

“Colonel Ratcliffe, identification number 34 999 0101 Alpha. I’m trapped in facility Rho and there’s no way out. My men have turned on me and each other, killing for a can of beans or a cup of water. I’m hiding on Barracks level, waiting for rescue. Most of the fighting is on the next level in Medical. I going to get in to my room soon to get my rifle but until then I’ll wait awhile right here. Once I’m properly armed, I’m going to… shit!  They’re coming… Tell my wife I...  ***BOOM***"

Lathar stared at the device, "Alright guys, if we find Mrs Ratcliffe, tell her 'Boom', I guess."

The group decided to continue exploring, Pete beating down the door with the blasted keypad.  Despite attempting the tactics the Ancients referred to as "SWAT," the single person barracks room was ransacked but empty.  

They finally made it down the final hall, getting to the door of the room with an odd alarm or bell going, that was not Pete's doing.  

Opening the doors, it opened to a four-man barracks with beds, closets, and lockers, but also computer terminals on each desk. 

The group searched as Sonny found the terminal emitting the alarm.  The screen provided two options: 

"I don't snooze, alarm stop...."

Lathar had limited access, but it appeared that the facility was currently in Alpha-Red.  The upper-levels were locked down by security.  He also could calculate using the dates on the system that Alpha-Red was initiated around a month prior, right around when the Hissers began getting their attacks from the sky.

The sunflower attempted to use Colonel Ratcliffe's ID and other data for further access/information, but it appeared it might work on security terminals in the upper levels.

Lathar and Sonny stayed in the room to further examine the weapons they found, Pete and Squiggles completed the sweep of the floor.   With basic weapon function determined without death and destruction, and a few empty rooms producing energy cells and slugthrower ammo, everyone agreed to go back upstairs to the medical/science level.  

Next: #35 - RHA - 9