The Baldie Challenge Aftermath, Part Four: Halftime Show

Greetins Captains!

In yesterday's article we've seen the elimination of our first couple of Captains from the contest. Some more have taken heavy hits and are barely hanging on.

Today we'll cover days 31-45 of your colonization and everybody still alive at the end will have already made it through 50% of the contest. Rewards are already starting to get better. Everybody still alive will receive a random rare card from @exoderewardspool!

Let's see how everybody is doing today!

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The Ocean World

Damn it, shut up Norah! The Communications Officer just realized he did it again. I'm sorry, I can't help it. There was something about that planet that slowly drove everybody insane. Several attempts to talk to the Triskan Fighter have all ended with him hurting himself against his constraints. There was only bloodlust left in his eyes. But that was not all, everybody else was getting more and more aggressive by the day. Norah was convinced that it had something to do with the planet, but what could they do? They desperately needed food. And if it was in the air? They needed to breath and the WHC Unit had already run dangerously low on oxygen crystals anyway.@proto26:

To make things worse, there was still that Syndicate Squad leader out there, hiding from them, probably waiting for a chance to strike. But at least that gave the colonists something to direct their anger at. I'll take that bastard down, and if it's the last thing I'll do! the Security Officer proclaimed. Time was going to prove him right. In a fit of rage, the colonists decided to pick up weapons and comb the forest again. This time they would not go easy on the Syndicate Squad Leader! Instead of moving from cover to cover, they just ran through the forest, shooting at everything that looked remotely like it could have been a human figure.

As they moved on, their rage only grew. Finally, the Squad Leader moved up from beyond some stones. Blind from bloodlust, she had forgotten that she was carrying a gun and just charged for the Communication Officer. That was what the Security Officer was waiting for. He discharged his whole magazine into the Squad Leader, reloaded and started to shoot her again. I think she had enough! Norah asked him to stop. Don't tell my what to do! he screamed at her, punching her in the face with his gun. From there things turned to total chaos pretty fast. Everybody was going for everybody else, punching, kicking, and even shooting each other. The colonists had succumbed to bloodlust and madness.

You don't know who was the last man standing after that fight, but when the Colombus finally arrived at the Ocean world weeks later, there was nobody left alive on the planet.

Result of Encounter

• Your colony succumbed to bloodlust: 100 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 0
• You have been eliminated - Thank you for your participation and better luck next time Captain!

---

@blockmonster: With seafood off the menu, everybody was quickly getting back to normal and the mood in your colony was relaxed and optimistic. There was not too much to do so everybody was trying to keep a day-to-day routine. Shen and Oksana were training together, while Eliza and the Preservation Officer kept doing more research on the local flora.

One of these days, the earth suddenly started shaking violently. EARTHQUAKE! Everybody get down!! The earth kept shaking for next to a minute, but luckily nobody got hurt and there was no damage done to your installations. While Oksana and Shen were relieved and wanted to resume their training, Eliza was worried. This is going to cause a major flood wave. Everybody, get everything you can into the Shelter Happy Five and prepare for the worst! Everyone scrambles to pack up as much as possible and get it into the shelter. Once you have everything prepared, your crew gets inside as well and closes the door.

It doesn't take long until the flood hits you. A wave of almost 10 metres height is hitting the island with full force, violently pushing against your Shelter. Luckily, the Happy 5 is made to resist far worse, so you know that you are safe inside for now. You'll have to wait the flood out and see how the rest of your colony fared once it's over...

Result of Encounter

• Your colony got flooded: 10 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 90

---

We can't drink that water! Captain Cranium explained. But we don't have any other water left, there's nothing we can do! Sh4rken was not prepared to die from dehydration. Maybe there was a condition in Eliza that caused her to go berserk. He had full control of his body and mind, something like that would never happen to him. But Captain Cranium did not allow it. KB 119, destroy the desalination contraption and shoot anybody trying to get near it!@apprentice001: Your colonists where still in shock because of what happened to Eliza.

The next days where spent searching for another source of water in growing desperation. By now, your colonists knew every tree and every rock on the island. There was no source of fresh water, there was no salvation for your colony. When the Colombus returned to pick you up, they found several dead bodies and two badly damaged robots. All of the crew had either died from drinking salt water or from their many wounds. Most died from both...

Result of Encounter

• Your colony succumbed to bloodlust: 100 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 0
• You have been eliminated - Thank you for your participation and better luck next time Captain!

---

@apshamilton: The days go by and it seems like this has to be one of your easiest missions ever. If there was ever any danger to your colony, you did not take note of it. Your crew members are keeping up with their day-to-day routine and it's safe to say that your officers are in the form of their life.

One of these days, the earth suddenly started shaking violently. EARTHQUAKE! Everybody get down!! The earth kept shaking for next to a minute, but luckily nobody got hurt and there was no damage done to your installations. After cautiously waiting for some more minutes it seems that the threat is over and your crew gets back to their training.

Another few hours pass until Alanna Vös spots something on the horizon. Flood Wave incoming! Everybody get to the Underground installation! Stug was standing nearby and starts running to the shelter alongside her. The Tech Expert was working on the Underground Installation anyway, but Shen is nowhere to be found. Looks like he was on one of his jogging tours around the island. Everybody else made it to the Underground installation in time, but Shen is still not back when the flood wave hits the island. You will search for him once the flood is gone, but his chances for survival are basically nonexistent.

The Underground Installation itself is holding, luckily you had a lot of time this last weeks to prepare it for that exact situation. You don't have any habitat down here, so the stay won't be as pleasant. Still, it's better then being washed away by the flood. You'll have to wait the flood out and see how the rest of your colony fared once it's over...

Result of Encounter

• Your colony got flooded: 10 damage
• Shen got killed in the flood: 25 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 45

---

@raudell: With the change in menu, everybody was quickly getting back to normal and the mood in your colony was relaxed and optimistic. There was not too much to do so everybody was trying to keep a day-to-day routine. Tyron and Alanna Vös were training together, while Eliza kept doing more research on the local flora.

On of these days, the earth suddenly started shaking violently. EARTHQUAKE! Everybody get down!! The earth kept shaking for next to a minute, but luckily nobody got hurt and there was no damage done to your installations. While Tyron and Alanna Vös were relieved and wanted to resume their training, Eliza was worried. This is going to cause a major flood wave. Everybody, get everything you can into the Shelter Happy Five and prepare for the worst! Everyone scrambles to pack up as much as possible and get it into the shelter. Once you have everything prepared, your crew gets inside as well and closes the door.

It doesn't take long until the flood hits you. A wave of almost 10 metres height is hitting the island with full force, violently pushing against your Shelter. Luckily, the Happy 5 is made to resist far worse, so you know that you are safe inside for now. You'll have to wait the flood out and see how the rest of your colony fared once it's over...

Result of Encounter

• Your colony got flooded: 10 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 95

---

The Moon

Your crew spent several days going through everything found in the moon's hidden base. There were several takeaways:

- A lot of the supplies and technology found in the base are of human origin
- Some are of alien design you have never seen, though
- Who ever packed all that stuff had planned for a very long mission - There's food, water, and oxygen crystals that could supply your crew for several years

Besides all the cargo found in the moon base, there were also several locked terminals, a huge screen showing security footage from around the ruins and a radar monitoring space around the moon.

---

@slabakbg: While your crew is very happy to have found the secret control room, mood is still pretty low because of what happened just outside. You never understood why that Mysterious Dark Boss was on your shuttle in the first place, but the Life Searcher was a valued member of your crew. Still, you had to move on and going through all the stuff in the base, you were now set for survival until the Colombus would come to pick you up. The question remaining was: Were you safe down there? There are active auto turrets and a mine field out there. And this base does have to belong to somebody. If they ever return, they probably won't be very happy about your presence.

Alright people, we are still in a hostile base, let's see what we can do about it! Shen was taking control of the situation, giving orders to everybody. We need to know if we are safe here! Luckily, you had two tech savvy members among your crew. The Maintenance Staff was tasked with disabling any defense system still active, while the Tech Expert's job was to find out who this base belonged to.

Disabling the security system was next to impossible. The Systems are all linked, if you get access to one you get access to all the Maintenance Staff explained. I'm a mechanic though, I don't know how to bypass the security system. He still was able to learn a little more about the base's defenses, though. Other than the minefield and the auto turrets you've already met, there are 4 missile launchers hidden around the base, one of them did already greet you when you landed on the moon. I don't think the Colombus can get anywhere near the base without being shot down, we'll need to find a solution to that later. There was one more system in place and that one was the most troublesome for you. The ventilation system that was supplying the base with fresh air had a secondary tank attached to it filled with toxic gas. You were not sure how that one was triggered, but your Maintenance Staff had a good enough understanding of the construction to remove the second gas tank from the system. Staying inside the base was safe - for now.

Regarding the question who the base belongs to, the Tech Expert was pretty convinced that it was an actual human base. All displays are in the common language and while he doesn't know the different symbols used they have a distinctively human design as well. Just as the Maintenance Staff, he lacked the skills to actually get into the system. He still was able to find one little detail, though. Look at this, I think there's an active communication feed going out of the system! That was not good, whoever owns the base probably knew of your surprise visit. Can you sever the connection? Shen asked. I could, but then they'd know that we know.... Your crew gives it some thought and decides to leave the channel be for now.

Without a save way to leave the base again you have only one option. You remain inside the base and hope that whoever built this base is far away from you. In case he is not, you'd better be prepared...

Result of Encounter

• Nothing bad happened - Well done Captain!
• Colony Health remaining: 55

---

We'd need to give that information to the Colombus, but with some days work I can probably just overwrite the systems and fire them myself the Syndicate Hacker boasted.@palasatenea: You took the base by storm, your Syndicate Hacker did an outstanding job there. With full control over the base, you checked the existing security systems. Other than the minefield and the auto turrets you've already met, there are 4 missile launchers hidden around the base, one of them did already greet you when you landed on the moon. The Syndicate Hacker checked their auto aim routines. They were basically set to shoot at anything getting close to the surface of the moon unless you broadcast on a certain frequency.

So the question remaining was who this base belonged to. It's a human base, no doubt about it! Oddly enough, there was no mission log, no information on where the owners of that base came from or where they went to. Whoever they were, they were not interested in sharing any information on them with you. While checking the subsystems, the Syndicate Hacker stumbled across an active communication feed. That was not good, whoever owns the base probably knew of your surprise visit. Can you sever the connection? Ayumi asked. I could, but then they'd know that we know.... Your crew gives it some thought and decides to leave the channel be for now. I own this base now, let them come! the Syndicate Hacker proclaimed.

While the Hacker was busy reprogramming the system, your Tech Expert was checking the installation manually. While he checked the ventilation system, he made a terrifying discovery. The ventilation system that was supplying the base with fresh air had a secondary tank attached to it filled with toxic gas. How could the Syndicate Hacker miss that? He went through all systems again, but he could not find anything about it. Seems this one is not connected to the system here, great find Tech Expert! You remove the second gas tank from the system. Staying inside the base was safe - for now.

With the base firmly under your control, there was no reason to leave it any time soon. You had enough supplies to last until the Colombus picks you up and you were prepared in case anybody comes to pay you a visit.

Result of Encounter

• Nothing bad happened - Well done Captain!
• Colony Health remaining: 120

---

@nockzonk: While your crew is very happy to have found the secret control room, mood is still pretty low because of what happened just outside. There's no trust here, everybody is going to watch their backs constantly. Galvin is doing all he can to make people open up to each other but that's only making things worse. Still, you had to move on and going through all the stuff in the base, you were now set for survival until the Colombus would come to pick you up. The question remaining was: Were you safe down there? There still was a mine field out there. And this base does have to belong to somebody. If they ever return, they probably won't be very happy about your presence.

While everybody pretended to search for useful items for the crew, everybody was actively looking to add some treasure to their own pockets. Without anyone even remotely tech savvy, your crew completely ignored the terminals and screens.

After some days, you were convinced that you found enough supplies to last until the Colombus would come and pick you up. With the mine field still waiting outside, you had no desire to leave the base again any time soon. This proved to be a fatal mistake...

There was a secondary tank attached to the ventilation system. Exactly seven days after you entered the secret base, a hidden mechanic switched the ventilation system from breathable oxygen to toxic gas. You didn't hear it, you didn't smell it, but it killed your whole crew within mere seconds.

Result of Encounter

• Your crew died to toxic gas: 100 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 0
• You have been eliminated - Thank you for your participation and better luck next time Captain!

---

I can't tell you anything about it she kept repeating. But how can we trust you? Eliza inquired. The Special Infiltration Agent was clear on that You probably shouldn't. But know that I don't want to harm you and if you follow me, you will get through all this alive, that much I promise. The crew had a bad feeling about it, but what should they do? The Special Infiltration Agent clearly knew more than everybody else combined about that place, so they had to trust her - for now.@veryanprime: This might have been the oddest thing your crew ever witnessed. How did the Special Infiltration Agent know the secret passphrase to an alien base on the other end of the universe?

Maintenance Staff, Tech Expert, go check the whole installation, every single terminal, there has to be a secondary defense mechanism! And indeed, there was. The ventilation system that was supplying the base with fresh air had a secondary tank attached to it filled with toxic gas. You were not sure how that one was triggered, but your Maintenance Staff had a good enough understanding of the construction to remove the second gas tank from the system. Staying inside the base was safe - for now.

Don't you know the passcodes to log into the system as well? the Research Officer inquired. I do not, this is not a friendly base the Special Infiltration Agent answered. The Tech Expert reported in. Look at this, I think there's an active communication feed going out of the system! That was not good, whoever owns the base probably knew of your surprise visit. Can you sever the connection? Eliza asked. I could, but then they'd know that we know... The Special Infiltration Agent turned to the crew And that's exactly what we want! Let them know we are waiting here for them. Sever the connection!

You really are not sure in what kind of situation you have gotten yourself. You have enough food, water, and air to survive until the Colombus arrives, but you have a feeling that you'll get into a lot of trouble before that. The Special Infiltration Agent seems to be sure of what she's doing. Let's hope she is right about it...

Result of Encounter

• Nothing bad happened - Well done Captain!
• A member of your crew obviously still knows more than you - that's...good!?
• Colony Health remaining: 95

---

The Asteroid

Odd, what's causing that? What was even more odd was the sight of your Maintenance Droid waiting for you right next to the Airlock. He did not seem to recognize you so you approached him with caution.@digital-wisdom: You had no idea what was waiting for you on the other side of that shield. As you crossed the shield, you were prepared for anything to happen. Instead, nothing happened. It was just more tunnel on the other side. You moved on for almost 30 minutes until the tunnel started to become smaller an smaller. After another turn, you saw the end of it: A heavy airlock with about 3 metres in diameter left. As you approached it further, you felt the strong pull of gravity and after some more metres you could walk normally on the floor.

When you were less than 5 metres away, he turned to you ...welcome to Ptekorian observatory CS-D95!... It seemed like something had taken control of him, but at least he was not hostile. Eliza put out her scanner and started to analyze the Droid. ...Please do not interfere with this unit. The Central Node is now ready to accept your gift of reconciliation... With this, the airlock in front of your crew slowly opened up. Your crew was unsure how to proceed. Something was feeling very wrong here, but you did not make it that far to back down now. With Kilbot leading the way, you moved on through the airlock. You entered what seemed to be a labyrinth of small tunnels and corridors, each with additional airlocks leading to different directions. As you traversed the corridors, the airlocks closed behind you and another one in front of you opened, giving you only one way to follow.

After several more minutes, yet another airlock revealed a huge room which seemed to be some kind of control room. The walls were clustered with big screens showing symbols in a writing your crew has never seen. The center of the room was made up of a large energy sphere, similar looking to what you had encountered back on the Baldie, but at least 10 times its size. For a second Eliza was just standing there, staring at the sphere. ...welcome to Ptekorian observatory CS-D95!... Eliza snapped back in and started to follow federation protocols again. Greetings to you, I am Eliza, I speak on behalf of the Fe... she started, but was interrupted immediately. ...an introduction is not necessary. We learned all we needed to know from the first gift you sent us. In accordance with the Ptekorian accords of Sang'khta we accept your second gift and your guilt is considered to be compensated. Now what was that meant to mean? Eliza and the Exploration Officers were looking at each other, raising there shoulders.

Out of nowhere, the Kilbot turned to your crew ...the Ptekorian Commonwealth thanks you for your gift, go in peace... You did not understand how they managed to do that, but it seemed they turned the Kilbot just like that. If Eliza was a more impulsive person, she might consider fighting this silly Ptekorian Commonwealth, but she was able to restrain her anger. With the Kilbot opposing them, there was nothing they could do but retreat. Maybe a Hacker or another more tech savvy person could do something about it, but with the three of them left, there was no play available to them.

Your crew slowly retreated back the way they came, again with each airlock closing behind them and another one opening in front of them. When they made it back to the last airlock, the Maintenance Droid was still standing there. ...go in peace, we will lower the shield for you...

The Officers made it back to the Baldie, but you lost both your Maintenance Droid and the Kilbot to what ever entity is sitting within this strange sphere. There had to be something you could do about it...

Result of Encounter

• Your Kilbot got turned - 25 damage
• Colony Health remaining: 70

---

And that's all for today Captains. Another 15 days have passed and everybody still alive just won themselves a random rare card from @exoderewardspool coming your way shortly.

Let's have a quick look at the standings after 45 days:

Ocean World:




@raudell: 95 health @blockmonster: 90 health @apshamilton: 45 health @apprentice001: eliminated @proto26: eliminated

The Moon:



@palasatenea: 120 health @veryanprime: 95 health @slabakbg: 55 health @nockzonk: eliminated

The Asteroid


@digital-wisdom: 70 health @craniuma: eliminated @drillith: eliminated

We are now half way through the contest and you need to survive another 3 events until the Colombus will come and pick you up.

We'll be back tomorrow with part five!

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