>>1133119
...Fixable problem.

Still no sign of life... Next we check the men's bathroom. Knock on the door or wall and call out before we go in, to stay consistent with the whole "rule-abiding" act. Don't enter until we start to suspect there might be something strange going on.

>>1133119
Good thing you don't have to go. If you do, then you might have to check the Men's room.

Well at least that gives you an excuse to check the supply closet.

Pray that there's some in the supply closet

We could pretend to only now notice the camera and wave to it, then show our paper(s) up close to the lens, so Mabel (or whoever is watching) can read it.

Also, are the cameras static, or mobile/able to move, swivel and track you? If they are mobile, that can allow for a simple 'yes/no/direction' communication.

Our role is a glorified janitor/biohazard cleanup. Get cleaning supplies from the closet and get ready to tackle the horrors of the Mens Bathroom and Break Room by, well, cleaning the stuff?

Buckwheat 2026/10/17(Sat)21:56 No. 1133145 ID: da477c
File 179227420155.png - (700.60KB , 1020x750 , 10.png )

>Could've been worse. Imagine the toilet paper actually being there but going in the wrong direction.
How horrifying.

>Still no sign of life... Next we check the men's bathroom. Knock on the door or wall and call out before we go in
>Good thing you don't have to go. If you do, then you might have to check the Men's room.
Given how much of a biohazard the break room was, I’m not risking going into the men’s room without some form of PPE.

>Well at least that gives you an excuse to check the supply closet.
>Pray that there's some in the supply closet
>Get cleaning supplies from the closet and get ready to tackle the horrors of the Mens Bathroom and Break Room

I slouch a little bit and walk over to the cleaning closet. Not surprising to see it’s fully stocked. Bleach, floor cleaner, mops, two plastic buckets, rags, gloves, face masks.

There’s even an eye wash station and water hose in here.

I mask and glove up right away. Bit awkward with the mask, had to string it on my back neck spikes. I’ve only got two arms to carry things with though, what am I taking with.

>>1133145
I guess nothing. We don't have any reason to believe we need to clean the place up.
Time to approach the safe room, cautiously.

...if you're being watched then I guess she already knows you're not carrying the papers in a visible place. Take them out before you approach the safe room though.

a bucket, bleach, some rags.

You need to determine if there's any food left in the break room. If you can't find food then the timetable of this mission gets very short

>>1133147
Re: food, maybe depends. Alligators in uhhh, in real life, only eat like once a week.

are their any keys in the closet? Just wondering if they might have left some spare keys in her for the janitor that you could swipe.

You got a mask. Can you handle the break room yet?

>>1133147
Act like a germophobe. It may be a factor in convincing Dr. Mabel that you're not infected.

Bucket and mop go together easily. The mop can be an emergency weapon if threatened.

The other cleaning stuff we can bring near the break room if we're going to have to actually clean stuff.

1/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:11 No. 1133165 ID: da477c
File 179233630494.png - (200.96KB , 1020x750 , 11.png )

>We don't have any reason to believe we need to clean the place up.
While not the primary focus of the mission, my transfer papers state otherwise. At least, if I’m to play the part a bit.

>are their any keys in the closet?
No, just an alligator and cleaning supplies. Hm, seems I missed there’s also garbage bags in here as well though.

>a bucket, bleach, some rags.
A good start. I fill up the bucket with some water and head out with bleach and some rags.

>if you're being watched then I guess she already knows you're not carrying the papers in a visible place
Ah…shit. Hopefully I can come up with an explanation later if need be.

>You need to determine if there's any food left in the break room. If you can't find food then the timetable of this mission gets very short
>Grab anything that looks useful. Food most of all, since Mabel might be starving by now.
The chief said the lockdown started about a week ago. Making me wonder what the doctor’s be living off of to stay holed up in there all this time.

2/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:12 No. 1133166 ID: da477c
File 179233633387.png - (629.42KB , 1020x750 , 12.png )

>You got a mask. Can you handle the break room yet?

Only one way to find out. I slouch a bit and slowly make my way into the break room again. The mask only does so much to cover up the smell, but it’s tolerable. The break room is as disgusting as it smelled.

Moldy bread and burgers, rotting meat, just. Spoiled food everywhere. Guess things went down during lunch hour. Nothing left out here looks edible.

3/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:12 No. 1133167 ID: da477c
File 179233635098.png - (490.40KB , 1020x750 , 13.png )

Seems like there’s back room with a kitchen as well. Thankfully nobody left the stove on, but I see the fridge was left open. Can’t quite see what’s in it though, probably more spoiled food. Maybe there could be some canned food in the cabinets though?

4/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:12 No. 1133168 ID: da477c
File 179233637144.png - (638.07KB , 1020x750 , 14.png )

On the north facing wall, there’s a door with a card reader. There’s no sign above this one to say where it leads. Looks like I’ll need that clearance badge from Mabel to get in there.

5/5 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)15:14 No. 1133169 ID: da477c
File 179233645337.png - (56.33KB , 602x388 , 15s.png )

I take a moment to update my mental map of this place. Got a few options for my next course of action.

I can be a good little worker and start scrubbing tables and tossing out all this spoiled food, it’s what I’ve come prepared .

I could scavenge the kitchen for food. Seems like it might be a serious scarcity if everything’s been left out to spoil.

There’s also backing out and moving to find Mabel for help.

Or, some other idea?

MAP INFO: MAP INFO: 0- Enterance 1- Guard Station 2 & 3- Bathrooms 4- Cleaning closet 5- Break Room 6- Kitchen

consolidate rotten meat and mold into trashcan, if only so you can come in here without gagging.
And check if there's anything to salvage in the fridge (and surreptitiously, if there are cameras in the kitchen)

Might be a good idea to check the state of the freezer (if it flooding/melting, or still cool?) then seal the door so its wasting any more power. And make sure the door can't close on you (by accident or automatic systems) while you're inside, lest you potentially freeze to death.

>papers
Ah, I have an idea. The cameras aren't outside the building I assume, so you can exit and "get them from your car" then return with them visible.

Also yeah start shoving the worst trash into garbage bags I think. Make the room tolerable before you start doing any actual cleaning.

>>1133176
This is an arctic research base. There is no 'car' to speak of, other than a chopper from Lt. fangmire when we launch a flare outside.

>Ah…shit. Hopefully I can come up with an explanation later if need be.
just say they're the new standard issue because apparently management replaced the lab coats with pockets with pocketless ones because they said they were afraid of whatever people put in the pockets would fall out and end up in whatever it was they were working on. This cause people to just kind of clip there things wherever they could on their person which actually made things fall out much more often. Not wanting to admit they were wrong management then gave everyone coats with inside pockets saying they were much better and safer than ones with outside pockets.

If the doc points out they are NOT standard issue her just say you don't know what to tell her as it's what you were given and what you over heard other people say before being transferred here.

>Moldy bread and burgers, rotting meat, just. Spoiled food everywhere.
oh, honestly going off your earlier reaction I was half expecting to find bodies in here.

>what do
might as well do some basic cleaning if for no other reason then to try and get rid of the smell.

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)21:02 No. 1133180 ID: da477c
File 179235734274.png - (598.51KB , 1020x750 , 16.png )

>consolidate rotten meat and mold into trashcan, if only so you can come in here without gagging.
>Act like a germophobe. It may be a factor in convincing Dr. Mabel that you're not infected.
I make a short trip back to the closet and grab a garbage back, leaving the other supplies in the break room.

I slowly move about cautiously pick up spoiled food. I make sure to keep contact with it as minimal as possible and shy away as I touch it. I find a plate and use it to shovel and slide things off the table and into the garbage bag. Having already filled up a bag before getting into the kitchen, I pout.

Gertrude: “This is so gross… Where’s the trash go around here?”

Hopefully there’s an incinerator to toss this all in. I just tie it up nicely and shove off to a corner for now.

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)21:02 No. 1133181 ID: da477c
File 179235736658.png - (673.14KB , 1020x750 , 17.png )

>Might be a good idea to check the state of the freezer (if it flooding/melting, or still cool?) then seal the door so its wasting any more power.
I prep another trash bag and slink my way into the kitchen next. It’s fucking freezing in here. Inside the fridge is more rancid meat and puddles of disgusting sludge. Can smell that shit even through the mask. I just slam the door shut, I ain’t dealing with that now.

I rip off the gloves and use the sink to wash my claws up. Hoping the cabinets have some food for us.

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/18(Sun)21:03 No. 1133182 ID: da477c
File 179235743078.png - (696.70KB , 1020x750 , 18.png )

Well, lucky us! Wait… ugh maybe not. Some of this stuff seems to be species specific. I honestly have no idea what species Doctor Mabel is supposed to be either...

Anyway, we got:

Baked Beans.
Blue Ribbon Wet Dog Chow.
Cream Corn.
Canned nuts and fish.
Mice Mix Entrée
Canned Bread! Surprised they have this stuff.
Spinach.
Fancy Cat Wet Cat Food.

well that's something at least. Maybe check the sink to see if you still have running water.

guess the only other spots to check out are the men's bathroom and the locked doors... did you spot a key card or anything that looks like someone left behind some personal belongings in the break room? Because short of someone leaving something in the bathroom you haven't checked out yet or next to their lunchbox I'm not sure how you're suppose to get past the locked doors other than trying to break them down.

Time to check out the last hallway I think

Check the break room next.

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/19(Mon)06:25 No. 1133197 ID: da477c
File 179239114792.png - (660.45KB , 1020x750 , 19.png )

>well that's something at least. Maybe check the sink to see if you still have running water.
The sink worked fine, just used it to wash up before opening the cabinet up.

>Check the break room next.
I just looked around the break room and cleaned up all of the spoiled food that was left around.

>did you spot a key card or anything that looks like someone left behind some personal belongings in the break room?
Didn’t see any keycards laying around.

>short of someone leaving something in the bathroom you haven't checked out yet or next to their lunchbox I'm not sure how you're suppose to get past the locked doors other than trying to break them down.
Fairly confident I could bust the doors down, but there’s still the research wing to check. Did I forget to mentally label that one?

>Time to check out the last hallway I think
Off to it then. I leave behind the cleaning supplies for now and head for the research wing.

I look around the hall and spot two rooms, Lab’s two-oh-one and two-oh-two. I’m able to take a glance at the first one, door was left wide open. A bunch of beakers and broken glass.

Second lab is locked and seems to require a key card.
Towards the end of the hallway is another two paths. A locked door, and a separate turn labeled “Security hallway.”

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/19(Mon)06:26 No. 1133198 ID: da477c
File 179239117574.png - (634.19KB , 1020x750 , 20.png )

Glancing down the security hallway, I’m even more confused. That’s one hell of a war zone with no bodies or corpses to go with it.

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/10/19(Mon)06:26 No. 1133199 ID: da477c
File 179239120770.png - (74.92KB , 750x471 , 21.png )

I take a moment and update my mental map of this place.

Not quite sure how to proceed from here and ensure I don’t join those blood splatters.

MAP INFO: 0- Enterance 1- Guard Station 2 & 3- Bathrooms 4- Cleaning closet 5- Break Room 6- Kitchen 7- Research Wing 1 8- Lab 201 9- Lab 202 10- Shelter Hallway [Current Location]

See if you can find secret passages or vents. But first, freak out like a little girl and pretend you want to quit immediately. Really sell the deception, make Mabel think you were sent here as a gullible gator sacrifice.

"Oh, I get it! You're hazing the intern! Well, that's silly! So what did you use to make it smell so real?" Stare closer at the blood, pretend to analyze it so you can clean it, then 'realize' it's real blood and begin to freak out.

>>1133198
>no corpses
Uh. That... doesn't make sense. I don't think going in there is a good idea until you find out where the bodies went. There are no trails to suggest the bodies got dragged out, and there are no inorganic remains so it's not that something's eating the bodies either, unless it's swallowing them whole. I guess it's possible they got dragged out after the blood dried, so to leave no drag marks or blood in connecting rooms?

Or were you just not looking at the floor? Check for drag marks or bloody footprints or anything that would give you an idea of what happened to the bodies. Also, go back and get something resembling a weapon. Big knife from the kitchen maybe? At this point a new employee would start royally freaking out. Also you shouldn't really know Mabel is in the safe room, so avoiding it until it's the last place to check would be reasonable as well.
Where did you put away the papers? If you weren't seen by the cameras doing it, maybe you can pretend you left them somewhere out of sight.

Then look in Lab 1 in more detail. Hopefully we can find some keys there.

>>1133198
No corpses makes for a very bad sign.

Either some biohazard did... Something truly horrible to the corpses (melt them?), the corpses were removed by the armed forces themselves... or Dr. Mabel has been... Removing them herself by dragging them into the Panic Room. Which might also answer how she's been sustaining herself.

We should have asked what species she is.

Can you identify the weapons in the hallway? Are those all just guns, or are there explosives and flamethrowers as well?

A flamethrower might explain the lack of corpses - they were burnt to ash!

Honestly I’m tempted to just toss something down the gun hallway to see if the guns are motion activated or if someone needs to “pull the trigger” for the guns to shoot. Because that screen at the end of the hall makes me wonder if you could use that to talk to the good doctor. unless it’s just a card reader or something then never mind

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/19(Mon)17:21 No. 1133213 ID: da477c
File 179243051577.png - (602.22KB , 1020x750 , 22.png )

>first, freak out like a little girl and pretend you want to quit immediately. Really sell the deception, make Mabel think you were sent here as a gullible gator sacrifice.
>At this point a new employee would start royally freaking out. Also you shouldn't really know Mabel is in the safe room, so avoiding it until it's the last place to check would be reasonable as well.
I stare down the hall in fear and panic like a little gator in fear. I make my old squeaky calls for mother and then scurry off.

>Can you identify the weapons in the hallway?
Should have took a closer look but one of those was absolutely a flamethrower. On of those guns had four barrels on it.

>A flamethrower might explain the lack of corpses - they were burnt to ash!
That might explain where some went, and the dark markings on the wall, but I’m not sure it could reach and cover the whole hallway.

>There are no trails to suggest the bodies got dragged out, and there are no inorganic remains so it's not that something's eating the bodies either, unless it's swallowing them whole.
>Or were you just not looking at the floor? Check for drag marks or bloody footprints or anything that would give you an idea of what happened to the bodies.

Looking around the only blood I could see is in the shelter hallway. No drag marks and no bloody footprints out of there. I sure as hell hope there isn't some giant monster swallowing things whole. Got a feeling my claws and fists wouldn't stand a chance against it.

>or Dr. Mabel has been... Removing them herself by dragging them into the Panic Room. Which might also answer how she's been sustaining herself.

Another concerning thought, but from the briefing it sounds like she's very stubbornly refused to come out of that room. If she's eating the dead bodies of our own, I'd have to start seriously questioning the chief and lieutenant's decisions or intel here...

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/10/19(Mon)17:22 No. 1133214 ID: da477c
File 179243056805.png - (650.41KB , 1020x750 , 23.png )

>see if the guns are motion activated or if someone needs to “pull the trigger” for the guns to shoot.
I take off my mask and toss it down the hallway and take a peek.

There’s a laser sight aimed right at it, but nothing fires off.

>that screen at the end of the hall makes me wonder if you could use that to talk to the good doctor.
The screen has lit up as well it seems.

>Where did you put away the papers? If you weren't seen by the cameras doing it, maybe you can pretend you left them somewhere out of sight.
They’re back in the internal coat pocket. I could pretend I left them in the bathroom, that was one of the first rooms I went into.

>I don't think going in there is a good idea until you find out where the bodies went.
>go back and get something resembling a weapon. Big knife from the kitchen maybe?
>look in Lab 1 in more detail. Hopefully we can find some keys there.
Lotta different ways to approach this.

I can head back to the kitchen and come back with a knife or something for defense, though this might make me seem like a threat to Mabel and get me shot.

I could head into Lab two-oh-one and investigate further. Gotta be some kind of research notes or papers. Maybe even a working computer or keycard if I’m lucky.

Then there’s head straight down the hall and hoping I don’t get shot. Maybe that screen is a way for me to communicate with her.

Or, another idea.

check the lab first and hope that the room has a working phone that would let you call other rooms in the building. Even if not it would still let you delay going down the gun hallway for a few more minutes.

>>1133214
Get another mask on before you go into the lab.

go and get a mop and use it to drag the mask back to you without getting in range.
such a silly action should elicit a response from the doctor.

Call out to the hallway, see if anyone responds on the (presumed) intercom. Don't use dr. Mabels name directly, just call out for 'anyone' as you likely would be in this situation.

Buckwheat 2026/10/20(Tue)23:18 No. 1133283 ID: da477c
File 179253831170.png - (437.75KB , 1020x750 , 24.png )

>Call out to the hallway, see if anyone responds on the (presumed) intercom.
Gertrude: “Is anyone there? Please don’t shoot!”
Silence. The lasers stay aimed at the mask, but nothing fires at it.

>check the lab first and hope that the room has a working phone that would let you call other rooms in the building.
>Get another mask on before you go into the lab.
I mask up again and make my way into lab two-oh-one. I move around carefully and try not to step on any of the broken glass. I see one of the computers is actually still turned on. Thing looks ancient and bulky.

Current User: Ass. Baxter Password: _

Just for the hell of it I try entering in one-two-three-four for the password. It beeps,
INCORRECT PASSWORD. Four Attempts remaining.

So much for that. Guess if I want to snoop around the computer or play minesweeper I’ll have to find his password. Doing another quick sweep around I find a clunky old phone mounted to the wall.

There’s a list of extensions to call, emergency shelter standing out amongst them.
I pick up the phone and go to dial it, but hesitate. If this is the extension to reach Doctor Mabel.

How should I approach the conversation? Why would her new assistant try calling that number? Should I just dial down the list?

I feel like I’m walking on eggshells here and the lack of information I have here isn’t helping.

You're supposed to report in, but no one is around. There's signs of violence in the hall. Its perfectly natural to be calling to see if someone's in the safe room.
Don't mention that you know who is in saferoom though

Go back and get your transfer papers from "the bathroom" and start carrying them openly. For reference, they say:
“Work Transfer order-
Effective October fourth, Assistant Researcher Gertrude is to be deployed at the Northern Arctic Base. Priorities are to bring the research facilities back to a sanitary and workable state. She is to report and answer to Doctor Mabel.
Note to Doctor Mabel, please see to it Gertrude is issued a level one clearance badge. Should she prove useful, promote at your discretion.
Signed,
Lieutenant Fangmire.”

So yes, you're supposed to seek out Doctor Mabel and it would make sense to call her first. However, you wouldn't know if she's in the shelter. Isn't there an extension for her desk in the listings? Call that first. Then try calling the safe room.

pretty sure you can just say you started with the safe room as that's the only place around here that had any signs of life. Though if they don't pick up I say call some other rooms at random after the safe room to make it look like you were just seeing if anyone would pick up.

>>1133283
Start where a scared and confused assistant would, first try security, HR (assuming there's a number), and then just work your way through the list.

Gertrude, what exactly IS your military role, ranking or standing?

So far, you've been given minimal info, told to retrieve one scientist (and other survivors are entirely optional) and are kind of in a 'Canary' situation.

There could be three possibilities here.

1) A biologicaal disaster struck the lab, and Mabel refuses to leave because of something the army is unaware or unwilling to consider, and forced her to take drastic action. She could be containing the disaster, even.

2) Mabel did something extremely immoral/illegal and is hiding to avoid consequences, or has just gone insane. Either way, you're here to trick her and be Expendable-ish?

3) The army did something heinous (or plain fucked up) and Mabel is being set up to be a scapegoat / witness they can't reach or remove. In other words, your boss might be blatantly lying to you to save the army face.

We'll want to compare Mabels story of what happened with what the evidence suggests the previous taskforce encountered, and whether convincing her to leave is gonna have disasterous consequences.