The newly formed team of Acolyte Illuminati have been assigned COVERTLY aboard a new ship called “Zep-25”. The Zep-25 has a renewable energy source for propulsion; This is the maiden voyage.
Before the crowd of passengers begins to board, the captain speaks, “The Zep-25 is the last remaining vessel of its class. Built during the late 30’s, its nuclear power engines have been upgraded to the newest technologies available.” He steps to the side of a large podium and the Concierge steps forward.
The Concierge speaks about the vessel’s design aesthetic, “Wood grains are the featured design element. While we are traveling through space, you’ll feel like you are in the comforts of home. With garden areas, open spaces, and even a large theater, you might forget you are traveling through the cosmos.”
The Head Chef speaks next, “The Zep-25 has been retrofitted with class A replicators for our guest’s highest satisfaction. And, as you’d expect, our mineral and resource bank is secured in the vessel’s rear compartment by RSA1024 encryption algorithms and by an elite embedded robotic security team.”
Following the Head Chef, the husband and wife owners of the vessel speak — Anneke and Bill Strydom, closely accompanied by their unhappy teenage daughter, Sylvia.
Beginning their first assignment together, the team boards the Zep 25 and makes their way toward the main cabin. The team has been tasked with infiltrating the Food Replication area and stealing the advanced technology used by the Head Chef. Prior to boarding, a prior acolyte team had successfully stowed their equipment and weapons at the bottom of the elevator shaft — to avoid detection upon their entry to the vessel.
As they pass the corner, a security bot eyes them cautiously. But the team continues onward, following the flow of the crowd:
Acting with subtlety, Ammon and Darnell question the Concierge kindly and then make their way toward the Head Chef. What could go wrong?
Ammon makes polite conversation - spinning a tale, but his awkwardness comes through...and the Chef looks with wide eyes as he walks away.
Meanwhile, Mathias has been setting up second-sight points, searching for the Food Replication area -- the location of their main assignment.
He quickly notices that there is a puddle of slime next to the food replicator.
At the same time, Darnell is asking questions of the Head Chef, too. At some point, his polite questions turn accusatory when he asks, "if you've already designed the food, what is it that you do all day? I mean, what are you really here for?" His apparent disdain for the culinary software development arts is enough to send the Head Chef into a tizzy. She storms out of the room and heads back to the food replication area.
Mathias sees her run past him and into the replication area. She walks up to the puddle of slime, in surprise and disgust. But when she goes to check the replicator, she, too, turns to a puddle of slime. She died with the offense of Darnell’s insult as her last memory.
Now with two slime puddles on the ground, the security bot quickly cleaned up the mess. As soon as the mess was gone, waiters began to walk into the area, placing and receiving orders on their trays from the replicator. Assuming nothing is wrong, they turn and begin to bring the trays back to the main cabin where people aboard the Zep 25 are awaiting their food.
But Mathias is now informing the team not to eat! Not soon enough, many of the passengers are already eating -- and turned into slime. Hysteria breaks out on the Zep 25 with passengers running out of the dining cabin in horror as half of the patrons are now puddles of slime on the table.
The team uses the hysteria to spring into action, running toward the location where their guns and armor were stashed. But a security bot stands in their way.
To the right, TSB faces a Security Bot on his own...narrowly missing the bot and punching the wall.
But the Security Bot punched back, hard, and knocked TSB to the floor.
Kossori, having activated her powers, catches the attention of the bot at the end of the hallway, but she is standing behind Darnell -- who recieves the first blow from the bot. Kossori, taking advantage of the opportunity, teleports behind the door, hoping it will allow her to enter the Food Replication area. But the stairway does not open.
Meanwhile, Mathias rushes to the elevator, rigs it quickly and forces it upward...revealing their stash of weapons. But the Security Bot comes after him, punching him in the Kidney! Ouch.
Still, Mathias' efforts have armed the team. Kossori and Ammon gain their weapons -- Ammon blasts the Security Bot from behind and blows a gaping hole in it. "What's the problem everyone? These guys aren't too tough!", he says. Darnell disagrees...
All the while, the other Security Bot has grabbed the stunned TSB and carried him toward the brig. Will the team be able to save their teammate? Will the robots turn them all into slime?
The story continues. Watch the video of the "First Mission" below:
