(Gamma World) Not a Test #125 - Allocation is Under Review

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, have decided to embark on an epic quest to reach Lathar's long-lost father.  After side-quests, distractions, and backtracking, the group has finally left Fair-Town for another critical stopover at K.I.A Academy.

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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. The two-time champion of the Fair-Town Queen's Joust.  Recently married to the now-pregnant Thunnelda Haycock.   Just received a letter from his long-lost father, and has convinced the others to accompany him to the Wildlands.

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.   Apparently addicted to his newly uncovered yellow powder found at "The Pool House"

Sonny Helianthus: an over 10' tall sentient sunflower artifact examiner with four arms, and trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades.   Sonny may have recently detonated an atomic device in the petrified woods... although no one else knows. 

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble in all the wrong places,  and finding it often.   He  has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair.  Recently attacked and kidnapped then left for dead by an unknown group, looking for revenge 

Poppy and Speedy: Two of Squiggles' offspring from his first... litter(?) They're now teenagers in worm years, old enough to grab diminutive muskets and help their Manchi and his friends on this epic quest. 

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After a casual walk in the late summer heat, the Explorers were happy to see the dirt of River Road transfer into the gravel, then asphalt, and finally concrete that was the trademark of the KIA technology.  The first of the impressive overhead signs, noting the storage area and the ramp to the Great Overpass remained intact with a new addition: a small black sign on the post that flashed a yellow "4" as they neared it.  They stopped in their tracks and the sign turned black again.

Pete: "Was that a code?"

Sonny: "Perhaps its using it's science to count us."

Speedy:  "Uncle Sonny there's six of us, plus No-Name."

Sonny: "I didn't say it was good science."

As they always had, they walked up the long concrete ramp to the Great Overpass,  Speedy and Poppy were amazed as they viewed the massive building KIA Academy was enclosed in for the first time. 

The first sign of issue came from a black overhead sign that flashed a few times as they came near: 

 POWER ALLOCATION IS UNDER REVIEW

The building that rented electric carts have been removed/demolished, the footprint of the building obvious.  They continued walking turning down the road to enter KIA.  They pushed the children onto the walkway.

"Be careful, stagon-less carriages are all over this place."

The streets were empty of those vehicles.  There was certainly a lot of foot traffic, but outside of a one-person scooter or similar conveyance, the technology bustling wasn't there.

And the interior was darker.  Not pitch black, but the normal lighting had been replaced by bare minimum lighting.  

The power might be compromised but the infrastructure and bureaucracy that was classic KIA was still there.   Grabbing someone who appeared to know something, they found out. 

1. The power system was getting overhauled, so energy conversation was mandatory.  Charging stations were placed with the compound, and directions were given.
2. Which hotels/hostels were open, especially with a place to house Stagons.
3. There was no war... "I'd expect things to be worse if there was a war..."

KIA Academy... After Dark

The directions given were even easier, because with three steps left in the direction, the line to the recharging station started.  Pete and Lathar took their place in line.  Squiggles and his kids looked for a place to stay (and a stable, perchance), while Sonny took it upon himself to find some information at the upper levels. 

The sunflower wandered in the darkness and growing trash of the previous pristine facility, until reaching the lobby with access to elevators to the upper level.  The lobby was relatively empty, but the information and communication kiosks were still functioning.  It was time to reach out to Ramsay Kallex, former Explorer and dear friend.  

Sending a request to call the Kallex apartment, the kiosk replied back, "Would you rather reach Sector C"

Sonny: "No!"

"Given the current energy shortfall, you might be better off reach Sector C."

Sonny still proceeded to press the "CALL" button for his orginal request. 

Reaching Ramsay's father, Dr Thaddeus Kallex answered the video call, slightly miffed.

"You don't need a place to stay, do you?"

"No sir... just some help with some information..."

"Good, because we can't accept guests, for the day or long-term... you're burning up my comm credits"

"No worries, we can talk downstairs, so long as the elevators are working."

When Ramsay and Dr Kallex came down, even Sonny sensed that they had no desire to leave the lobby area to talk somewhere more private, preferring to stay close to the elevator.  

Sonny went to business, talking about Squiggles' attack, providing them the syringe they had acquired.  

Dr Kallex took the syringe, "Seriously, you came all the way down here on the off chance I could help you?"

Sonny filled them in further, covering everything since the wedding, including their new quest to find Harkonn Bracken, Lathar's father, allegedly lost in the Wildlands downriver.  

"Give me two days at least, Sonny.  We'll get you some answers.  Stay safe."

He gave Sonny one more piece of address, "I know you guys like to have fun with all sorts of people.  Do NOT go to the Sub-Levels right now. 

Once Pete and Lathar reached the friend, they discovered the ugly truth:  Only one power cell recharged per person, per day, regardless of size.   They were even more shocked to find the fee was 100 domars.    Two hundred domars and another half hour, and they had two power cells recharged.  

Day Two: 

Everyone else stood in line to recharge energy cells, while Pete and Lathar wandered outside, towards the Station Petro, where they had recharged cells prior.  Less than a half mile away from the complex, the world became militarized, with wire fence and armed fellows, human and mutant alike armed with Ancients tech.  A mile away and they were constantly getting harassed by the KIA troops stationed outside.  No lies, nor any smooth talking was successful as they were sent back.  

As a positive, ammo, particularly for slugthrowers, was a lot more expensive, but plentiful. 

Day Three:  

The goal for the group, if the Kallex family had information, was to fill the a few more energy cells, then head down river.  

Much to the sunflower's pleasure, the Kallexes were ready and met him in the lobby

Thadeus Kallex... Rogue Scholar

The elder Mountain Goat handed Sonny the pad with the chemical report, "You guys should probably should leave, given the search histories I've created.  

Neural Suppression Slurry (NSS-4)

Delivery: Injection Dermal
Purpose:

• Temporarily disables telekinetic, psionic, and reflexive mutations

• Causes:

  • Confusion

  • Time gaps

  • “Thousand-yard stare”

  • Compliance without full unconsciousness

"This took a little work.  It's not something we have the means to manufacture..."

Ramsay handed Sonny an actual paper file.  

"We also did a little more digging.... on a whim...."

Sonny: "Thanks guys!"

Dr Kallex:  "You shouldn't...  we need to go back... good luck."

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Page 1 - INITIAL REGISTRATION PAGE

(Mostly intact)

• Name: Harkonn Bracken

• Species: Human (Pure-Strain at intake)

• Origin: Riverbend region

• Occupation: Independent Salvager / Explorer

• Affiliation: None formally

• Family Noted: None

Margin Note (faded)

“Unusual resistance to ambient mutation.”

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Page 2 - EXPEDITION AUTHORIZATION

(Heavily redacted)

• Destination: Southern Wildlands / Parr Interface Zone

• Mission Type: Resource Survey / Contact Assessment

• Escort: REDACTED

• Equipment Issued:

  • Long-range beacon (never recovered)

  • Cold-weather survival kit

  • One prototype filter mask 

Stamp:
🟨 NON-STANDARD CONTRACT

Handwritten Note:

“Volunteer. Knows the risks. Says he wants a ‘big haul.’”

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Page 3 - INCIDENT REPORT – PARTIAL

(Fragmentary, unsettling)

Date: Unknown
Location: Parr Edge / Black Reeds Region

“…loss of visual contact after animal movement spike…”
“…subjects responding to vocal commands…”
“…Bracken did not flee when instructed…”

Redaction ends abruptly.

Single clear line:

“Subject chose to stay.”

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Page 4 - BIOLOGICAL ANOMALY ADDENDUM

(Restricted access)

• Harkonn shows delayed mutation onset

• Exposure levels normally fatal

• No aggressive mutation patterns observed

Comment:

“Possible adaptive symbiosis rather than mutation.”

Stamped by:
Dr. E. Varn 

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Page 5 - FINAL STATUS PAGE

(The most important page)

STATUS:
🟨 MISSING – NOT PRESUMED DEAD

Last Known Condition:

• Injured, mobile

• Refused extraction

• Last transmission not distress

Transcript fragment:

“They aren’t what you think.
They remember things.”

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Page 6 - LATE ADDITIONS (Years Later)

(Sparse, but recent)

• Animal population patterns altered

• Human sighting unconfirmed but consistent

• Note added:

  “Bracken name noted by some Parr scouts with deference.”

Final handwritten note (newer ink):

“If Harkonn Bracken appears — do not interfere.
Observe only.”

No signature.

Next: #126 - Downriver Guardians