Selfish Genetics Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/14(Mon)10:55 No. 570653 ID: 878190
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The lights of the lab are making my eyelids grow heavy. I feel like I've been staring into this sample container for hours.

But I know it will work this time. If I just wait a bit longer.

Selfish Genetics Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/14(Mon)10:56 No. 570654 ID: 878190
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Come on...

Selfish Genetics Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/14(Mon)10:56 No. 570655 ID: 878190
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Frakk!

Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/14(Mon)10:57 No. 570657 ID: 878190
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No! I've accounted for all the variables! I didn't miss anything, I'm sure of it.

Why won't this frakking thing stay dead?

What is it you are trying to kill? You said you were staring at the sample for hours and are tired perhaps the stress and exhaustion are causing you to overlook something and a short rest and maybe something to eat would help.

Did you just wake something up, or did you somehow wipe our memories? First thing I suddenly remember is you complaining about the lights of the lab.
Oh, crap! Catch that dish before it falls and breaks!

So...you're trying to kill it? Have you tried extreme heat? Oh, wait, is it like, you're trying to find a bactericide for it or something? Like killing cancer or something?

Im assuming youve tried all the normal methods of eliminating cellular lifeforms, and frankly something that requires that much effort cannot be anything nice to have spiraling through the air, catch that shit!

>>570674
Gotta catch 'em all.
Doc. You know this shit. Sleep deprivation is like a drug. In the short term it offers benefits, and can even be healthy in small, planned dosages, but take too much and everything goes to shit. Your coordination goes first, then your focus, your decision making gets shot to shit, your body and brain starts shutting down, you begin to be unable to distinguish waking reality from the fever dream your overworked and underslept brain is putting together from the unreliable sensory input it's receiving, and if you still don't sleep, eventually your physiology will overcome your willpower and just shut down, though not before a significant amount of hallucination and delusion.
...whiiiiich I hope is not the cause of what you're now hearing.

1/3 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/15(Tue)10:45 No. 570865 ID: 878190
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Don't worry, this container is reinforced Glasteel. I could throw it against the wall without making a scratch in it

I know I should really get some sleep, but I'm just so frustrated right now. If I went to bed I'd just be number crunching in my head all night long. On the other hand, maybe I should take a break, grab a bite to eat or something. It might help clear my head.

I'm working on a variant of the RGE-990 bacterium. The Humans have rather flippantly nicknamed it 'RAGE,' which is actually quite fitting, in this case:

2/3 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/15(Tue)10:45 No. 570866 ID: 878190
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RGE-990 causes fever & delirium, followed by extremely heightened aggression, bleeding from the eyes, nose & gums, increased adrenaline and a drive to spread to any non-infected. It is passed on by bites, scratches & transmission of fluids.

However the standard strain of RGE-990 is completely treatable with modern antibiotics. It's vulnerable to extreme heat, penicillin, even soap will nullify most samples. This mutation is just as vulnerable, the problem is it won't stay dead. It enters a dormant state before re-asserting itself soon after.

Fortunately for me, it doesn't affect my species. Not so fortunate for the planet Chulainn, whose cities are now under siege by infected Humans.

3/3 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/15(Tue)10:45 No. 570867 ID: 878190
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The sudden buzz of my COM shakes me from my stupor. Who's calling me at this hour...?

answer it, might take your mind off of work for a moment.

answer the call, and what exactly are you trying to do here to this strain?

Does it still revive itself if left in the dark? It has to be getting energy from somewhere to be reviving itself. If it's doing it for free then it's using fucking magic.

First answer the phone, then grab some food and a nap somewhere safe in case humans break in.
Im assuming the planet is on lock down to prevent this thing getting off world?

oh and exactly how many humans where living on Chulainn? are we talking a Slight riot problem or full on 28 days later scenario?

Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/16(Wed)15:48 No. 571093 ID: 878190
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Hold on a sec, let me grab this call...

Daraka! These human COMs are so awkward. That must be the 3rd time I've dropped it this week. Why couldn't they give me an earpiece?

>>571093
well, the earpiece they'd have to make would have to be a custom order about twice the size of the com device, judging from what I'm seeing here

>>571093
Just put it on speakerphone.

By the way, have you considered killing the infection by infecting it with a bacteriophage? The bacteria should have a harder time rebuilding with chunks of themselves stolen for viral reproduction, and even if they can somehow regenerate despite that they would still be vulnerable to re-infection, which would significantly reduce the problem by producing a continual virus population to re-kill the bacteria each time they regenerate.

Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/17(Thu)16:19 No. 571270 ID: 878190
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>Just put it on speakerphone

Now that you mention it, loudspeaker would have been a sensible option. I just picked it up without thinking. I'll put that one down to tiredness.

>the earpiece they'd have to make would have to be a custom order about twice the size of the com device

I did used to have an earpiece, but I, er... misplaced it. Even so, i would have thought the Sol System Alliance has more than a few large-eared xenos on staff.

>have you considered killing the infection by infecting it with a bacteriophage?

That's what I was trying. I created a targeted Lytic Bacteriophage with a polysaccharide hydrolase to overcome the excess EPS masking. I expected the phage to prevent RGE-990 from regenerating quickly, and keep it in the "dormant" stage. This would have been sufficient to keep the symptoms in check until a permanent solution could be found.

However, as you saw, the bacteria re-asserted itself completely. This suggests the phage was destroyed or somehow rendered inert during the regeneration process, a prospect I find troubling. I'll need to run tests to confirm this theory...

Just as soon as I find my COM. Hmmph, looks like it fell down the back of the desk. I can still hear it ringing.

>>571270
You have a visitor. See who it is first.

>>571270
ZOMBIE IN THE LABS, KICK AT THE LEGS AND SCOOT YO ASS

>>571280
The silhouette looks like it has too many sharp edges to be a human, unless it's in particularity crisp clothes, or in a protective suit. And if it's a xeno or a human in a suit, they're likely not a zombie.

Turn around, regardless.

1/2 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/20(Sun)18:33 No. 571751 ID: 8d3016
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ZOMBIE IN THE LABS

Almost all the human soldiers here use that word to describe RGE-990 infectees. "Zomm-bees." Apparently some old Solar myth about corpses coming to life and killing the living. Stories designed to frighten children are hardly going to help scientific progess.

Besides, an infectee couldn't get in here. The facility is surrounded by the SSA Military all day and night. Even if one did get through, the lab is locked down on my voice command. They would need an emergency overide card to gain access, and they aren't in any state of mind to use one of those.

You have a visitor

Huh? Is someone there?

2/2 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/20(Sun)18:33 No. 571752 ID: 8d3016
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I don't see anyone. Are you sure there was someone there?

>>571752
Hmm. Might have been a trick of the light, but, just to be sure, do you have any coworkers who are tall, skinny, and have a lot of points? A flat head, two pointed ears, and a pointed chin; pointed elbows and shoulders... Y'know what, maybe they were just wearing armor. Does that fit the standard description of armor worn there?

There was a humanoid silhouette between you and the door. Unless we're seeing things, or they can teleport, or they can go invisible, there's someone else in this room.

>>571752
...just get your phone and see who it is.

Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/24(Thu)15:56 No. 572236 ID: 6d49f4
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>...just get your phone and see who it is.

Never mind the phone, it's rung off anyway.

What's more concerning is the notion that someone could enter my lab without me noticing, and vanish just as mysteriously.

>Does that fit the standard description of armor worn there?

Someone who, by what you saw of them, doesn't sound like any xeno I've heard of, certainly not one of the few (besides myself) at this facility. It could have been a human in some strange outfit; the personnel here don't tend to wear pointy bits.

>they can teleport, or they can go invisible

I don't know of any race that can teleport an individual with such precision. Teleportation is a relatively new science in this quadrant; mostly experimental, last I heard.

They could be using a lightcloak to hide themselves, but if that's the case, I would have heard something. These ears aren't just for show you know.

I'm starting to feel more than a little nervous now. I never noticed how quiet this lab is. The fur on the back of my neck is standing on end.

If there's no-one here, why do I feel like I'm being watched?

>>572236
Quiet? Then he's using a lightcloak and a muting device. Call security or do something like that.

Got any dangerous chemicals you can toss on the floor?

phone hasn't rung off. it's been silenced.

Back under the table and grab the phone. Never doubt instinct you never know when it is right.
Plus if there is some one in there with Crazy good stealth tech you want a comm in hand to call for help.

calm down panicking won't solve anything. Just pick your phone up, it fell of the table.

>I never noticed how quiet this lab is.
Do you hear... anything? You have one hand on the desk right now- tap a nail on the surface, see if you hear it (a simple action, easy to not notice, that doesn't necessarily give itself away if we're being watched). If you can't, sound is being suppressed somehow.

How is free-air holography in the Quadrant? It could be someone playing a mean-spirited prank.

1/5 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/29(Tue)15:58 No. 572702 ID: 776e77
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This quiet is more than just the calm of the small hours. This silence is actually oppressive.

I need to be careful, If this is really happening, and not just some hypnagogic hallucination, I don't know how my intruder will react.

>It could be someone playing a mean-spirited prank.

Of course it could be just some prank, someone sneaking a holographic emitter into the room while I'm not here. 'Let's teach Degari not to be such a workaholic, ha ha' is that it?

I can't take that chance. Better to be thought a fool than get hurt.

>tap a nail on the surface, see if you hear it

I tap my nail against the desk, trying to make it look like I'm daydreaming.

Nothing. No sound at all.

2/5 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/29(Tue)15:58 No. 572703 ID: 776e77
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I clear my throat. Again, Nothing. The whole room's been rendered completely silent. This is no prank. We don't have that sort of tech here.

3/5 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/29(Tue)15:59 No. 572704 ID: 776e77
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>Got any dangerous chemicals you can toss on the floor?

This acid isn't that strong but it'll still hurt to get it in your eyes, and if he's wearing a suit it'll clog up his ventilator for a while.

Not a good idea to throw it on the floor. I need to know what I'm dealing with and I don't want to waste it if they're hostile.

4/5 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/29(Tue)15:59 No. 572705 ID: 776e77
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>you want a comm in hand to call for help

I won't be able to call anyone, but if I can reach my COM I can send a text message, or something.

I'll back slowly under the desk, keep my eyes on the room. It'd be pretty foolish to turn my back on it now.

5/5 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/29(Tue)15:59 No. 572706 ID: 776e77
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The COM really has rung off now.

>>572706
Send her a text message. "Intruder, silence field, cloaked"

Can you smell anything unusual?

so who's that and more importantly can they help? Cause if they can send a quick text saying that someone is in your lab, have somehow removed all sound, and you can no longer see them but you don't think they left your lab yet.

I do love it when our paranoia is right on the nose like that.

Question. Obviously an intruder is potentially dangerous to yourself. But just how bad is it if someone unscrupulous gains access to the disease you've got in this lab?

>>572706
If possible, run her saved message through a speech to text app so you can read it, since you can't listen to it.

Then we can either act on the information she provided, or text her (or someone else) as appropriate. Hopefully she was trying to warn or help you and the message is relevant.

>But just how bad is it if someone unscrupulous gains access to the disease you've got in this lab?
I'd think that shouldn't be much of an issue, since the disease is already widely available in the form of all the infected rampaging around.
Does the planet Chulainn have any enemies who might want to ensure the plague keeps going?

On the positive side they didn't simply shoot you in the back, so they are probably after something other than assassination.

>>572757
Im thinking anyone with a eye on this is more leaning towards its rapid spread and its effect on humans, has humanity pissed anyone off lately?

Also who would normally have access to this sort of technology? and if its limited to a select few races are any of them safe to be trapped in a room with?

1/2 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/30(Wed)13:21 No. 572778 ID: 776e77
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>so who's that and more importantly can they help?

Guinevessa is a Medic at this facility. More importantly she is my friend, one of the few I have here. Even more importantly, she's not asleep.

>run her saved message through a speech to text app

Looks like she didn't leave a message, though.

>Send her a text message

Fumbling at the keys (stupid human COM!) I hastily tap out a message:

INTRUDER IN LAB 2 CLOAKED SEND HELP

It'll be a few minutes before anyone gets here.

>Does the planet Chulainn have any enemies who might want to ensure the plague keeps going?

I don't know enough about human politics to know if Chulainn has any enemies. Guinevessa told me that before the SSA locked the planet down it was an autonomous colony. It's certainly possible that someone wants them dead. Or maybe they want humans dead in general. Who can say at this point?

If someone wanted a sample of the disease, why go to such lengths to break in here when there's thousands of infectees outside?

If it is one of Chulainn's enemies, they could be trying to sabotage the cure research. Does that mean I'm close to finding it?

NO. YOU ARE NOT.

2/2 Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/04/30(Wed)13:22 No. 572779 ID: 776e77
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I hear the voice inside my head. It sounds like someone dragging metal across stone, underwater. It's so loud I instinctively cover my ears, to no avail.

DEGARI DENAKRA, WHY DO YOU HIDE?

"who's asking and the hell do you want?"

MK ULTRA!
Unless telepathy is a thing..
Either way they know your name, best reply politely.

Hide? At best you're slightly obscured under a table. Either there's a cloaked intruder who is monumentally inept, trying to psych you out for some reason, or someone is just plain bluffing.

>>572779
Good grief, it's like they don't know an undetectable intruder could be perceived as a threat. Tell them to stop violating the privacy of your mind and talk to you like a normal person. Why are they here? Do they know how to develop a cure?

Where we come from sneaking around invisibly and shouting in people's heads is considered threatening behavior. So why are they here then if we aren't even close to a cure? (Just think it at him instead of saying it out loud.)

Oh, you could just shoot back "Why do YOU hide?"

>>572794
This seems like an appropriately cutting response. This is almost literally a case of glass houses throwing stones. You can see right through him!

Could it be possible that the intruder IS the variant of RGE-990? I mean, the glimpse we got sort of looks similar to what a vaguely person shaped 'version' would look like.

If so, this is really troubling. A variant of the bacterium that can affect your species. On the plus side, if it's not the delirium side effect, you can more or less communicate with it.

And hope that there's some way out of this situation. And that there's no hard feelings about working on the cure.

Dr. Degari Denakra 2014/05/01(Thu)11:10 No. 572833 ID: 776e77
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I direct my thoughts in the form of a reply:

"Hide? That's pretty rich coming from someone wearing a lightcloak and using a muting device. I'm just under a desk! Why do YOU hide?"

NO. NOT HERE. NOT FROM ME. YOU HIDE FROM THE MASTER.

Aargh, that voice again! Doesn't he know that shouting inside people's head might not endear them to you?

"What Master? Look, who are you? What do you want from me?"

YOUR PEOPLE KNEW ME AS XUNOXTA. I BRING YOU A MESSAGE.

"You couldn't have sent me an E-mail? Get out of my head and talk to me like a normal person!"

IT IS SO VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSING WITH THE UNENLIGHTENED. COME FORTH, WE SHALL DISCUSS MATTERS IN THE MANNER OF YOUR PEOPLE.

The creepy, deafening monotone almost sounds ... disappointed. Wait a minute...Xunoxta? I've heard that name before, I'm sure of it.

Try to remember how you remember that name.

And might as well get out from under the desk while you are at it. Not like its really protecting you much.

>>572833
Try to remember. Is that a terrorist? Religious figure?

Step out from under the desk regardless, if it wanted to hurt you, it would have already. You still have the acid anyway.

Is google a thing for you? cause if you cant remember it google that name asap.

>>572845
Yeah, you have a smartphone. It's for looking things like that up.

But yeah, tell them if they turn the optical and sonic jammers off, you'll come out.