Heads-up, session report

After last time ordeals, the Erikssons decided to retreat to the safety of Stein Fjellberg’s truck – waiting to get a complete scan of the unexplored system of caves beneath the safe-shelter. The debris of the hole seemed to have caved outwards, indicating that something had broken out from the caves – something that some of the siblings found quite horrific. They managed to map the general outline of the caves, but they unfortunately lacked the equipment to make a proper scan for any form of life. If they wanted to find out what was in there, the only option was to go in themselves.

Meanwhile the six captured replicants dies more or less at the same time, something Tor-Erik finds intriguing. He discovers with the help of Munin-1 that this particular model of replicants should have expired four years ago. Tor-Erik's analysis indicated that there could be a connection to the p-string infection, holding them alive longer than their programmed age. They are also baffled by the fact that the remaining replicants behaves in a hive-mind pattern.

They made some final preparations before entering the cave, like injecting themselves with a cocktail of combat drugs – something that woke an old hunger in Einhjard, as he once had been addicted to the stuff. Tor-Erik also tried to prepare them for another psi-attack. He had little practical knowledge with the subject, so what the effect would be was uncertain. It was decided that Einhjard and Idunn would lead the attack on the around 25 replicants remaining in the caves. The rest would wisely follow from a little distance, but not too far away.

There were five or six replicants that seemed to malfunction more than the others – resulting in a surprisingly aggressive behavior. They had positioned themselves behind a pitfall, and were armed with homemade crossbows – not that it frightened Einhjard and Idunn as they charged, intending to jump the pitfall. Too late Einhjard spotted the thin and almost invisible steel wire strung across the pit, and so his jump was abruptly stopped half-way. He fell into the pit head first, and he found himself soaked in gasoline – not that he cared that much, high as he was on combat drugs. Meanwhile Idunn used all her dance and fighting skills, gracefully avoiding the wire and engaging the replicants in close combat. She quickly neutralized all resistance, but one of the replicants managed to throw a flare down into the pitfall. Luckily Munin-1 had already taken action, and helped Einhjard out of the now burning pit. Angrily the ex-athlete decided that at least one of the replicants had to die, and so he quickly impaled one of them with his cold steel claws.

Alfred and Stein quickly put the fire out with the help of a couple of old fire extinguisher they found in the safe-shelter, and the party was once again ready to investigate the rest of the caves. They were greatly surprised by what they stumbled upon next, a big statue like the ones found on Eastern Island back on earth. There was also an altar in front of the statue, indicating some kind of worship. At that point it seemed that Tor-Erik lost it, as he suddenly was trying to summon some kind of divine help – it was unclear if this was due to religious motifs or an attempt to use some undefined psi-power. It was almost too much for Einhjard’s already drug-troubled psyche, but he managed to keep focused.

What they discovered in the next chamber was even more mind-blowing – a mummified but still living replicant chained to the wall with shackles. It seemed that something was keeping the body alive, and once again the leading theory was the p-string virus. After herding the remaining replicants out of the last chamber, they found also there evidence of something that once had been chained up in shackles – though whatever it was it had escaped some time ago.

After some discussion it was agreed upon to deliver the discoveries over to N.E.R.A, though not everyone was found of the idea. Alfred especially voiced concerns towards being the lapdog of N.E.R.A. Not long after they called in, two black helicopters appeared. With them were two squads of soldiers taking charge over the situation. Glad to be rid of the problem the Erikssons finally could concentrate on finding some nomads.