Ch 3 The river flows to the ocean

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates' grip on his rifle visibly tightened as he readied himself. He was looking directly at Sam, making sure she saw the concern on his face. It was the type of look a dog got when he knew he was about to face something like a dragon.

Retry to identify the type of supernatural:
Recognize Psychic Scent: 74% +4%/level; range: 55 (+5/level) [dice=100]

[rand=6285659797296882869959060770331821449932215362327056840886883331165]

[Tori]

Tori did not like her theory being wrong. She was comfortable with an enemy she knew something about. The little cat found it most disquieting she did not know who was above. She decided to compare the waterfall signature to known enemy craft. She compared impeller or propeller propulsion, approximate speed, hull-form, number of screws and any other distinguishing characteristic with other enemy craft.

Intel roll to compare known craft characteristics to acoustic characteristics:
[dice=100] needs 42

She shot Janx a shrug and decided at once to replace her boonie with her helmet. The suit lacked the skull helmet, and other than the vague impression of of a death's head on her shoulder, looked completely non-CS.

It was better to be safe than sorry.

(Still would like an answer on the baddie's direction of travel. It's easy enough to detect on passive sonar. Just if they are on a parrallel course with us or no.)[rand=13304878474498116206574009874698652768803888255413319951320812440287]

[sasqaricious]

Autumn just stays in the background silent and prepared, she will put her hand by her pistol out of instinct.

[Mierin]

Sam nods at the Captain and falls quiet, though she wasn't being very loud to begin with.

Seeing the concerned look on Socrates' face, Sam frowns and him and mouths the word 'What?' silently at him. She couldn't help but look up a bit, wondering what it was that was out there and what they were potentially going up against if they weren't able to sneak past it.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates wiggled his fingers the way mages do, then made a gesture that it was big and evil. But, he simply sat their, using his psi-dar.

[Dome]

Richardson picks up on the tension in the sub he grips his weapon tighter, "see you all think I'm a bit off. You all made jokes, but here we are sitting ducks underwater, hoping whatever is up there doesn't see us. If it does it blasts a hole and we drown because we trusted our lives to this tin can suspended in the water column," he says in just a barely audible whisper.

He closes his eyes and leans forward head resting almost on his knees. "Next time I'll walk in, thank you very much," he says a little more than tense.

[sasqaricious]

Autumn's eyes fly wide as he starts to speak and understands that she needs to quiet him fast. He only gets as far as See you all think before her finger flys up to his mouth and she squeezes his other hand with hers. She is prepared to take the greatest chance if he does not shut up!

[Dome]

Richardson pauses in his whisper, he grits his teeth. He closes his eyes and nods his head, when he opens them again, panic can almost be seen in the background as he tries to put on the strong face of a soldier. He looks directly into Autumn's face and no where else. Part of him realizes, if he talks they all might die. Part of him is on the verge of panic and just wants out. He whispers again to her this time through gritted teeth, "I don't know if I can. Put me out Autumn," he whispers pleadingly.

[sasqaricious]

The doctor thought long and quickly about his suggestion but decided to try something else. She leans in and cups her hand over his ear to maximize how quietly she is whispering. "Look Stephen, if you stay quiet I will go on a date with you!" If he speaks again she will tranq him though which she pulls out of her bag used for field use.

[Dome]

Richardson almost laughs at her suggestion. He smiles instead. He knows what she is trying to do. He knows he has to keep quiet or be responsible for all their deaths. He closes his eyes again and tries to picture his family farm. The feeling he got when he would run or walk through the fields. After a few moments he opens them and looks into her eyes again. He bites his top lip and just stares right at her. She can see he is giving it his all. He tries to forget where he is and instead starts thinking about showing her the family farm. He can't help but think derisively about himself, like she would want someone with this problem. She would only agree to date him because it was either that or death. The best thing would be to end this mission and say goodbye.

[Mierin]

Sam nods quietly at Socrates' motions, letting him know she understands what he is trying to communicate to her.

Sam whirls around at the muffled whispers of Richardson and Autumn and after giving them a look cold enough to make dry ice seem warm and comforting by comparison, signs at them to stop whispering RIGHT NOW! 'My god, it's a life and death situation and they are flirting with each other!' she thinks, fuming.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates Shifted his glower to support Sam's towards Richardson and Autumn. As he sealed his helmet, expecting combat due to their chatter, he shook his head.

Normally, I would expect Shep to do something like that. He thought to himself. At least now he can accept the promotion knowing the junior troops are picking up his mantle.

[Janxi]

Janxi stayed quiet as well. Whispering and speaking in low voices would be difficult, but not impossible for a surface ship to hear. Magic was a bigger fear to her. She pulled on her helmet like Tori and waited. Her human and Richardson were still flirting. She thought it was funny, but made no more "in heat" calls. She grinned under her face mask and trusted the captain of the boat. He would save them or kill them all.

[Tori]

Tori saw the panic on Richardson's face. She was right. Socrates and now Sam seemed to be the only ones who could handle submarine insertion. She wanted to keep her eye on the waterfall, but knew her human needed her.

Prowl [dice=100]-60 needed

Silently, and much like a housecat, she crossed the submarine, taking a seat on the opposite side of Richardson from Autumn. Tori removed her helmet and nuzzled twice under his chin, before resting there permanently with the top of her head. Her soft fur and warmth were soothing, and silently, she began to purr. She used the same purr on Janxi while spotting for her. The big cat would calm down, control her breathing, and even her heartrate and increase her accuracy. She hoped the soothing quality of a "pet" cat would get Richardson to relax. A panic attack could get them all killed.

Sparing him her claws, she "made biscuits" on his side with her paws, and controlled her own breathing in a slow, long inhale. Held it for five seconds, then exhaled slowly. Richardson could not hear her breathing, but felt her lungs inflate and deflate.

Tori knew humans who kept pets were likely to suffer less stress, and had lower blood pressure. Richardson was her human, and she would not allow him to endanger the group with a panic attack.[rand=44525515039088726931986952611319612903252984526679365411198136534]

[dakota]

Before Tori left the sonar station, she discovered why she didn't recognize the signature. It didn't seem to have a engine. Something else was propelling it as they passed under it in the opposite direction.

The boat was quiet as they passed directly under the surface vessel, except for a strange rhytmic sound coming from the back of the boat. It was broken up by ... a snort?

The captain hissed a whisper," Zut! Your man is snoring! He'll get us all killed!"