Ch.1 Rescue Plan

[Philulhu]

Tuesday, 28 October 1986, 08:30hrs.
En-route to Exxon Pumping Station #31, via Telegraph Creek, Kitimat-Stikine Regional District, British Columbia

The flimsy, two-sided sheet of A4 paper set out the scant details of what was known about the mission.

+++STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL+++

Exxon Pumping Station #31: Construction commenced Fall 1985. Due to be fully operational by November 1986.

Project cost: $[commercially sensitive] billion.

Anticipated yield: $[commercially sensitive] billion.

What we know: Contact lost with Exxon Pumping Station #31 on Oct. 18th. Attempts to re-establish contact with the station or the relay station at Telegraph Creek have failed. Cause of failure unknown.

Possible causes:

(1) Mechanical breakdown. Spare parts to be sent with rescue team.

(2) Bad weather. Meteorologists report blizzards and extreme cold in area of Chutine Landing.

(3) Human interference. “North Wind” - an environmental activist group - involved in protests in western Canada, Alaska and North Dakota. Most recent protest resulted in a fire at Rainbow Lake Pumping Station, Alberta in Winter 1985. Lost revenue $[commercially sensitive] million. Three Exxon employees killed and twenty-three injured. FBI/CSIS investigation on-going.

Station Personnel: Anthony Ricco (chief engineer), Daniel Walters (station manager), Dale Charbinau (electrician/back-up radio operator), Georgina Davidson (radio operator/engineer), James Mathews (geologist), Roger Morris (engineer and mechanic)

Also present: Anna Levesque, Brian Carson (safety inspectors, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources)

Mission personnel: Amanda Drake (lead), Benjamin Shepherd, Randolph Booth (all security), Harold Cain (electrical engineer), Gavin Holt (wilderness guide), Nathanial Boyer (Exxon representative).

Mission parameters: (1) Re-establish contact with Exxon Pumping Station #31. (2) Secure site. (3) Deal with any potential human interference.

Travel arrangements: Private charter to Telegraph Creek. Road transport to Chutine Landing. Snow Cats to Exxon Pumping Station #31.

Roger M. O’Connor (NW Operations Manager)
Exxon Corporation

+++STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL+++

You climb on board the DHC-6 Twin Otter ski-plane and squeeze in. With five of you, the pilot, Ryan Harris, and all of your equipment, there isn’t much room. Ryan grumbles about the weight, but the take-off is smooth and you settle down for your three-hour flight to Telegraph Creek.

[Joajackson]

Amanda Drake unconfortably tried to acommodate correctly in her seat, and it wasnt working. She had a bad feeling, and she wasnt sure if it was because of the seat or the mission, but the seat didnt help.

"I hope all of you have already read all the pertinent information about what we are doing, I will be the authority for this while, so if something is dangerous listen to me first, then do something."

She spoke to the rest of the group, trying to stablish leadership early in the mission.

[BoyBlunder78]

Gavin Holt sitting back in his seat, eyes closed opens them upon hearing the young lady speak, turning towards her, taking in her words, thinking 'All very well talking about dangerous incidents when they happen, but sometimes they have a different agenda amd you have to go with gut instinct, wonder how you'll deal with those instances? Not everything can sorted out by committee.'
Before resting his head back and closing his eyes.

[Philulhu]

Ryan glanced in his mirror, looked at his passengers and shook his head…

[Mr. Handy]

Benjamin.png (54.08 KiB) Viewed 4333 times

"Yes, ma'am," says Benjamin Shepherd, sketching a salute. "This flight's three hours, just like the Minnow on Gilligan's Island, and there's seven of us. Hope that's not a sign."

[Snapper]

Randy was dressed for the mission in jeans and an olive-green West German 'Bundeswehr' army surplus jacket, the first choice of semi-rad college students across the western world. As well as the West German flag, the jacket was festooned with patches, many seemingly Scout related (e.g. one reads "Canadian Scouts Advanced Nuclear Energy Achievement"). And Walkman headphones seemed permanently attached to his ears, the Walkman itself tucked into a jacket pocket.

Shortly before boarding, Randy selected a new tape for his Walkman, the tape case clearly showing Tom Cruise in a military uniform. As soon as the plane was airborne, Randy settled down to inventory his somewhat more advanced looking first aid kit. Keen listeners would hear him occasionally singing, "Take my breathe away...," but he was largely drowned out by the noisy prop engines.

Randy seemed oblivious to any conversation around him.

[Lost_King]

Harold looks around, surveying the people around him with a neutral expression. He gives a subtle nod to Amanda when she speaks, then mutters something to himself for a couple of minutes. Anyone sitting by him might think he was praying. He takes a few deep breaths as he finishes his prayer, and pulls out a sketch pad, going over a detailed drawing of some electrical gadget. After a while, he puts his sketch pad away and stares off into space…

[Philulhu]

As the plane took them north, around Whistler and along the eastern ranges of the Coast Mountains, the Canadian wilderness unfolded before them. Swathes of pristine snow blanketed the slopes, punctuated by patches of evergreen forest.

Very occasionally, with the frequency decreasing as they went further north, they saw cross-country skiers and snow-cats trekking across the snow fields, leaving long tracks behind them.

[Snapper]

Randy eventually finished the 'Top Gun' soundtrack, moved on through 'The Goonies' and 'The Breakfast Club' soundtracks, and eventually started on some more serious albums.

Meantime, having finished the first aid kit inventory fairly efficiently, he pulled out a well thumbed guidebook to edible vegetation in the Canadian wilderness, fished some glasses out of his jacket and started reading.

[BoyBlunder78]

Opening his eyes Gavin Holt looked out the window, taking in pristine views, the pure, crisp white snow looking over the peaceful barren horizon. A small smile on his lips and a single thought in his head. 'Home'.

[Joajackson]

The woman seemed to have at least some of the team being cooperative... and some ignoring her or being considerably rude. She would need to deal with that, and she really would have liked better an unified team, but this is what she got.

She left the time pass in silence, shutting her brain to her own internal conversation.

[Mr. Handy]

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Benjamin looks out the window as they fly, when he isn't reading his Bible. "That looks like fun," he says as he sees the skiers far below.

[Snapper]

Randy eventually replaces the guidebook with another paperback, this one on advanced first aid. He starts reading diligently, occasionally seeming to recite first aid instructions to himself. The Walkman headphones stay on.

[kabukiman]

Boyer nods completly distracted and takes a cigar.
"I just hope that they won't ask me to stay and clean whateaver mess there is"

[Philulhu]

The ski-plane followed a leisurely route between the mountains, tracing the river below. Raising his voice over the sound of the engine, Ryan called back down the plane, “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking! Just to let you know, we’re about 45 minutes from Telegraph Creek, which is actually to the North of where we want to be, but it’s the safest place to land. It’s also where they have fuel, so I make no apologies for wanting to be able to fly home again after I’ve dropped you off!”

He waited for the mocking catcalls to subside before continuing. “If you look down, you’ll see the Stikine River and soon we’ll actually be flying over the pumping station itself so you’ll get a good view of it. If you look to your right, you’ll also see…”

Whatever landmark Ryan was about to point out was violently obscured as the starboard engine suddenly exploded, spattering the fuselage with burning oil and red hot shards of the engine housing! “Shit! Shit!” he screamed, the fear in his voice clear for all to hear! The plane yawed suddenly, standing almost on its wingtip before plummeting the other way! There was a metallic screech and the plane banked again as the wingtip of the engine-damaged wing sheared clean away!

The cabin was a whirlwind of flailing limbs and anything not secured was thrown around the cabin as the plane veered uncontrollably! “We’ve got to land!” Ryan yelled, and nose of the plane was forced downwards as he pushed the stick forward as hard as he could! The last thing they heard before a sudden shuddering impact robbed them of consciousness, was “Brace! Brace! Brace!”

…

… …

… … …

… … … …

The bitter cold and a steady creaking noise woke them. For some, it was reminiscent of porch door in a high wind. For others, it was a rope swing, hung from a tree in a childhood garden. But once they opened their eyes, they realised it was neither. It was, in fact, the plane in which they’d been travelling, the cockpit open to the elements and a good chunk of the tail plane torn away, balanced precariously on a high ledge, rocking ever so slightly backwards and forwards.

As more people stirred, that was all the impetus the plane needed. Gradually, gracefully, it flopped forwards , landing on the broad snowfield in front of the ledge. The snowfield dropped away when it reached the cliff edge and with mounting horror, they realised that the plane, with them inside, was about to be catapulted off the edge and into the river below! It moved slowly at first, but was starting to pick up speed! It was time to get out!!

You have 60 seconds to get off the plane, before it goes over the edge. Getting out is no problem because of the holes in the fuselage and you may attempt to grab some of your gear as you do so.

Each search will take 20 seconds. If you make a successful Spot Hidden roll for each search you can choose which item to take. If you fail your roll(s), I’ll randomly choose something for you.

There is no penalty for searching in the 0-20 seconds and 21-40 seconds segments, but if you go for a third search before trying to get off the plane (i.e. in the 41-60 seconds segment), please also make a Dexterity check to see how well you exit the plane.

[Mr. Handy]

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Benjamin hastily grabs his M-16A2 and a random piece of gear, one in each hand, and scrambles from the plane. He's glad he's wearing his Kevlar vest already.

Spot Hidden rolls (30% skill) to grab gear:
d%
d%

[Lost_King]

spot hidden (30): 1d100

Fail

spot hidden (30): 1d100

Fail

Harold grabs 2 random items and hurries off the plane. He is already wearing his walking boots, but otherwise has no special equipment on his person. Breathing heavily, Harold scans the area for other immediate dangers.

[BoyBlunder78]

Gavin as soon as his head stops ringing and his vision clears, grabs his rucksack and rifle and makes his way off the plane.

[Snapper]

OOC:   Slightly amended...

1d%pHdd50%

Extreme success.

1d%pHdd50%

Success.

1d%pHdd50%

Hard success.

DEX 75%
1d%d

Hard success.

Randy grabbed the advanced first aid kit, his M16, and a tent, then dove out of the wrecked plane. He yelled to the others, "Anyone see the pilot?!"

[Philulhu]

Hi all, I think a bit of clarification is required. A successful roll allows you to grab one piece of equipment per successful roll i.e. a rifle, a tent, a camera, an ice axe. Your characters have just been through a plane crash and you can assume that everything has been thrown about, including things that were in your backpacks.

And just a hint about that potential third roll. I see no one took it up, presumably out of concern that they’d follow the plane over the edge. I’m not planning on killing anyone off just yet, but there is a chance you may get hurt if you go for it.

PS. Don’t forget to record any successful skill checks.

Lost_King: if you haven’t used the dice roller before, you should hopefully see it as an option below the ‘save draft’, ‘Preview’ and ‘Submit’ buttons at the bottom of the text entry box. Your roll donation for skills will be 1d100 and once you’ve clicked the ‘Roll the dice’ button, you’ll see roll ID and a green arrow which will insert it into your text e.g. 1d100