SLA Industries: An Inch From Eden

[Baliame]

I silently follow.

[Dog Pants]

Through the door is circular room, about 5m in diameter and about 3m high. There is a surprisingly comfortable looking padded seat stretching around most of the circumference of the room, with a cylindrical column in the centre and a console opposite the door.

[deject]

deej sits somewhere at random

[Grimmie]

Grimmie jives into the room, thrusting his gun out at arms length like a cane, sidestepping over to the console. He waits till everyone's comfortably sat down, and carefully presses the Autopilot button. Yes sir.

So, I've been thinking. I like my armour.
Maybe I should stay at the compound instead. Might be good to have a presence there.

[Dog Pants]

The elevator carriage plummets towards the planet like a stone. As it descends it starts to get warmer, but not so that it gets too uncomfortable.

[deject]

I can try and spy on the workers doing my sneaky thing.

[TezzRexx]

God damn this elevator is fast.

[Baliame]

[Random suggestion which ultimately has no point, but it feels like the story is slightly advancing with it.] [Complaint about a nearby object/person/environmental feature.] [Obscene reference to sausages.] [Praise of bacon.]

[Grimmie]

Yeah, I hear that, Brainrot. I hear that.

[Dog Pants]

Well the journey is long but uneventful, and as you feel the decelleration pulling at the car you can see the lab below you in the monitors. The thing is suspended a few hundred meters from the surface at the end of the gauss rail you're sliding down, and is a donut shape about 400m in diameter. The car slides snugly into the centre of the structure and the console reams off a set of airlock procedures before the door hisses open.

The door opens to a dim and cramped corridor. The air in there is greasy and hazy, and waiting on the other side is an unkempt, dirty looking man wearing an equally dirty and crumpled suit, and a large smile.

Operatives! Hello! My name's Ahmed Shelton, facility administrator. Welcome to our lab. I apologise for the conditions here, but it's an unfortunate neccessity. I'll explain later if you're interested. We have accomodation set up for you, or you can bunk here in the elevator if you'd prefer. I realise you may prefer some privacy.

He peers around the relatively bright elevator and pulls a sympathetic face at Kt'Trr and Eraser.

Hmm. They didn't say we would need to accomodate anyone larger than human size. I'm afraid you might not find it very comfortable here - it's cramped enough for us. I can only offer my sincerest apologies. I'll do my very best to try to make you comfortable.

[Roman Totale]

Mr. Shelton, pleased to meet you.

I'm sure my colleagues would appreciate it if you could fin some accommodation to suit their needs - are you sure there are no larger facilities around for them?

Also, as a matter of urgency, we need fittings for the environmental suits. I am lead to believe that we may have to forsake our armour in order to wear them. I can assure you, this is not something we relish when we are up against a DarkNight squad. Is there anything that can be done to make alterations to them?

[Dog Pants]

Shelton scratches his head and looks thoughtful.

Hmm. I'm not sure. We've a few repair kits but I don't know if we've enough to extend the suits. They're all packed up for you, new ones. Arrived a few days ago. I'll get someone on it though. The living areas should be fine for you, it's the corridors.

He gesticulates to either side of him along the one he's stood in.

They're designed for humans, and space is at a premium. I can get sleeping equipment and things moved into where you're stood now, or you can stay in the crew room. If you like I'll show you around before you make any decisions.

[deject]

Please do, it is rare that we operatives get off-world. I would like to see the rest of this facility.

[Dog Pants]

Well then, please follow me. Feel free to explore for yourself afterwards, make yourselves at home.

He sets off down the corridor. The corridor is only 2m high and 1m wide, with bulkhead doors at the junctions whose apertures are even smaller. For the Deathsuit wearing squad members it isn't much of a problem, even less so for Deject. Grimmie finds his armour getting jarred and caught. It's not easy to move around, but it's possible. Eraser has to stoop in the corridors, but upon encountering a door the extra bulk of the armour proves to be a problem. He could probably get through with manoeuvring and some contortion, but it would take time. K'Trr in his Powercell can barely move in the corridor, so he's no chance of getting through a door.
The inside of the facility is hot and the air is difficult to breath, laiden as it is with greasy smoke. A layer of grime covers every surface. Shelton waits patiently while the larger squad members unjam themselves.

[deject]

We're stuck!

[Joose]

Interesting point: do I wear anything under my armour, or am I going to be in massive y-fronts if I take it off?

[Dog Pants]

Up to you. Most people do wear something under their armour though to stop it chafing. Usually slightly padded around the joints and breathable.

[Roman Totale]

I don't suppose you have any lubricant to ease the passage of my Stormer friend?

[Baliame]

Interesting point: do I wear anything under my armour, or am I going to be in massive y-fronts if I take it off?

Don't. It's more fun if you have to get naked every time you want to use the elevator.

[Dog Pants]

Shelton doesn't get the joke.

Umm, I don't really know what would help. I think it would be more than just lubricant.

Just to clarify, getting out of the elevator (which only goes between the lab and orbit) is no problem - it's a fairly large doorway. However, the corridor it leads into is small and every other doorway in the facility is even smaller.