Eclipse Phase: Terminal Velocity

[Dog Pants]

Shit, we're going the wrong way man. Turn round. Turn round!

[munchkin]

Tiny looks out of the window in the direction of Kurt's pointing. Having stopped panicking long enough to realise that there is something to see outside.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! Definitely with the turning round!! Opposite direction go time!

She seems oblivious to the trail of bodies, and continues to stare manically at the crazy sphere.

[The Shutting Downs]

180 the cab

Shelly, Sweetie, we got any more information on what's happening?

[Joose]

Sorry honey, but the local feeds are still down. Let me check further afield...

There is a few seconds pause, then:

There is something! In the orbital feeds...people are leaving. Its an evacuation..of the whole planet!

You wont know the options as far as leaving a planet goes, but your characters will, so here goes:

1) By ship. None of you own one, as they are not exactly common commodities. Usually found at airports.
2) By Space Elevator. The only one on Earth is at Mount Kilimanjaro.
3) Farcasting. This is a process of uploading your mind into a digital form and transmitting it across the net to pretty much anywhere, with the intention of sticking it in another body at the other end. Obviously you leave your body behind, but your mind is the real "you".

[Dog Pants]

Given the options, I'd rather go for the airport I think.

[The Shutting Downs]

Okay, wher can we cast out near here?

***to the others***

I think it's our best route out, and quickest, if it's a full escape, they'll have to sort people out into new bodies after this.

[Joose]

Doops, used the wrong term there. Its Egocasting we are talking about here, not Farcasting. Farcasting is an extremely long range communication thing. Anyway...

Shelly gives you the locations of a few Egocasting stations, the closest of which is opposite the Smithsonian American Arts Museum, which is only a couple of minutes drive away.

Given the options, I'd rather go for the airport I think.

The closest airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is on the other side of the river, about 10-15mins away. Of course, that's *right next* to the Pentagon.

[Dog Pants]

Whatever man, just get us the fuck out of here.

[The Shutting Downs]

As Kurt is Driving he'll head to the Smithsonian, anyone wants to disagree, then we can play it out from there.

[munchkin]

wake up tiger. Is there anywhere to cast from at the airport as far as you know?

what if there's a problem at the casting station or a big queue? We'll have no time to then go to the airport instead. There might be somewhere to cast from at the airport if we go there first and those of us who are fond of our small but perfectly formed bods can hopefully get a chance to keep them!

[deject]

Lana. Lana. LAAAANNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Is there any information on the Egocasting station at the American Arts Smithsonian or Reagan International?

[The Shutting Downs]

Look around, most people are still in whatever computer generated hellhole they have been put in by whatever is responsible for this, a queue is the least f our worries.

[Joose]

I've done the rolls for the muses, results are:

Munchkin: Frank reports that there is indeed a casting station at the airport. It's computer system is responding, and says that the last use was less than 30mins ago (so since you woke up).

Deject: Lana tells you that the Smithsonian station is also responding, and was last used slightly over an hour ago.

[The Shutting Downs]

Well, if you want to tell us when we reach the Smithsonian, yes I am still heading there.

[Joose]

Ok, you arrive without issue. The casting station is actually just opposite the Smithsonian itself, in a smallish building on the corner of two roads. There's a small number of those nasty looking fellas like the two you killed earlier strewn around the street, and someone in a bulky robotic morph standing in the doorway with a similarly bulky carbine slung over one shoulder on a sling. He is leaning casually against the doorframe, watching you approach.

[The Shutting Downs]

I'll drive up to where the Robo-Morph is standing (providing it's away from the nasty people), and place my hands in plain sight.

Hey there, know a place we can escape from around here?

[Joose]

Theres an egocaster right in here freind. I'm afraid the control system is a bit busted up, so I'll have to send you through manually. It's working fine other than that, I've sent 6 people through now, transmission to orbit confirmed for the lot.

He straightens up and offers his hand to shake.

Names Jim, but people call me Tex.

[The Shutting Downs]

I'm Kurt, these guys are Tiny, Barry and Edgar.

We'd be obliged if you could help us out Tex. How were you planning to get out?

[The Shutting Downs]

Can I take a look at the console and see if it's repairable?

[Joose]

you can try, but none of you are egocasting tech specialists, so it would be like a regular person trying to repair the controls for a nuclear reactor. There's a good chance you would just make it worse.

Nice to meet you. Don't worry about me, this old rig here has a Quantum Farcaster installed. One thought from me and I wake up near Jupiter.

He taps at the side of his head as he talks.

I can get you out of here, no problem. It's gonna cost you, of course. I'm sure you will agree the price is more than reasonable.