Lab A: Applied Micronics

Lab A: Applied Micronics

 

The Applied Micronics lab is dominated by a large APPARATUS. A large raised platform stands at the North end of the room. To the left of the platform is a TERRARIUM with a bubbling water filter, a MESSY DESK covered in post-its and a teetering, skewed stack of notebooks, and a computer console. To the right is a TIDY DESK with personal decorations and a multicolored Lego castle on it, and an eight-foot tall ridged OVOID POD with a clear door. Around the periphery lie a MECHANICAL MESS of scattered, half-assembled devices and projects.

 

Terrarium  
 * This large multi-level terrarium looks like it might house lizards or turtles, with a pool of water at the bottom. However, on closer observation your realize that the terrarium is filled with tiny goats, sheep and pigs, no more than three inches high. You can hear their tiny snuffles and bleats as they wander about the level aimlessly. A small camera is positioned to record their movements. A shaker of food pellets rests atop the terrarium.
 * Item: Miniature Livestock

MESSY DESK

Item: Nameplate

A dinged-up nameplate on this desk reading “Dr. Hendricks”

Item: Notebook

Contains alternate designs for the compression field generator, along with analyses of field stabilizer efficacy.

Item: Notebook

Contains notes on the effects of miniaturization on mineral, plant, and animal subjects. There were a lot of livestock that exploded along the way, but they seem to have it figured out now.

Item: Notebook

Contains a collection of in-progress haikus and couplets, along with recipes for various pasta sauces. Flipping farther in, you find scrawlings about ancient aliens and the Bible along with diagrams of Stonehenge, the pyramids and Chichen Itza.

Item: Binder

Notes on possible applications on miniaturization for industrial and medical purposes, including correspondence with a Dr. Gutenberg

Item: "The Entity"

A cheap thriller novel with coffee-stained pages

Item: Photograph

A photograph of a bookish man holding what seems to be a detailed toy goat cupped in his hands with an awestruck expression.

Item: Assorted Supplies

These could be useful to someone

Item: Jumbo Tub of Skittles

Sweet tooth.   

COMPUTER CONSOLE

Unthinkably, this computer has been left without any password protection.

Item: Project Log

The computer console includes a perfunctory log of major milestones in the development of the project, starting in January of 1988. According to Dr. Hendricks’s entries, Raleigh had dumped a bewildering array of data and designs, much of it in a language that Dr. Hendricks was not able to identify. At several points, Dr. Hendricks alludes with poorly disguised frustration unsuccessfully attempting to get clarification from Raleigh about the designs and his nameless predecessor on the project. While Dr. Hendricks was able to successfully miniaturize living creatures he is still somewhat baffled as to the underlying mechanisms.

Item: Applied Micronics Files

All the data needed to reproduce the breakthroughs made in the Applied Micronics lab, downloaded onto a convenient set of disks.

APPARATUS

A large, cushioned, somewhat sauce-stained chair flanked with display screens is positioned behind the portion labeled "Compression Field Generator" as though it were the seat for an artillery gunner. The Compression Field Generator is a cumbersome gizmo of chrome, tubes, wires, and blinking lights, with a long sighted barrel and a trigger.

The compression field generator begins the night pointing towards the platform, but the device can be rotated on its base to aim or even detached by unplugging a cord and unclasping a few latches. If you choose to carry this apparatus with you, clip this placard directly to your name tag, as it awkward and conspicuous.  If you fire the device at a person or object, give them one of the cards enclosed.

Condition: SHRUNK! (Lasts 20 Minutes)

You cannot attack. You can be squished. Flip your name tag to unseen and ask a Secret Keeper for a blank item card to represent your tiny self. You may draw your tiny self, but at minimum write “Tiny (Your Name) - Squish to Kill”

While shrunk you can only speak to characters if they are holding your tiny self card. You can move this card around in the room, hiding or attempting to get someone to notice you.

You are too small to trigger lab door sensors, and need to go through them with a full-size character. You can now fit through the Ventilation Ducts.

 

RAISED PLATFORM  
 * There is a ramp leading up to the platform, which you notice has many scrapes and scratches, including hoof prints. A fresh set of footprints lead up to the platform, but do not come down again. You can see that the room’s central apparatus is facing toward the platform.
 * Assorted Supplies: These could be useful to someone.

Ovoid Pod  
 * The eight-foot tall ovoid pod has a windowed door and horizontal ridges running along its sides.  It has been labeled “Telepod Unit #3.” Inside is a Destination Toggle to select between Unit #1, Unit #2, and Unit #4, as well as a button to activate the device. Should you choose to activate the device, consult a story keeper.

TIDY DESK Item: To-Do List
 * Whoever was working at this desk carefully carved out an organized personal domain from the jumbled chaos of the lab. The items on the desk are arranged in straight lines and perpendicular angles.

Written on colorful stationary, this is a mix of errands for Dr. Hendricks and checking the biometrics of various livestock.

Item: Nameplate

A crisply folded improvised cardstock nameplate onto which has been printed, in immaculate handwriting, "Miriam Klingler."

LEGO CASTLE

Take the card enclosed only if you are not an employee, stockholder, or product of Apex Vector.

Encounter: A Small Surprise

See Secret Keeper Marco for this encounter.

 

MECHANICAL MESS Item: Assorted Supplies
 * Scattered, half-assembled devices and projects provide a veritable cornucopia of kruft. There's probably something in here a clever mechanical mind could put to use.

Item: Assorted Supplies

Ventilation Duct: The cover of this opening can easily be pried off, but the vents are very narrow. You would need to be as small as a child or as flexible as a contortionist to for through there. If either of these apply to your character and you would like to explore the ventilation ducts, read the card within.

Only Take If Entering Vents

You crawl into the vent, and find that the shaft forks. You can either go in the direction of the Atrium or the Private Annex. You may go to either of those rooms from here. Replace this card.

Phantom Zone
Cocooned Scientist

You find a scientist who you recognize as Dr. Gelman, cocooned within dense, rigid strands of a strange material, which appears organic but has a metallic sheen. The cocoon binds his limbs but leaves him able to breathe. The strands cannot be bent by bare hands, a special cutting apparatus or Brute Strength will be needed to remove them. Dr. Gelman is bruised and unconscious, and attempts to rouse him are met with a fluttering of the eyes and moans, but nothing coherent. Although heavy, his cocooned body may be dragged to another location. Dr. Gelman's ID card dangles on a lanyard loose from the cocoon, and may be removed.

Although heavy, his cocooned body may be dragged to another location. If you choose to do this, clip this placard to your name tag to represent this conspicuous and cumbersome burden.

ID Card: This ID card identifies the holder as one Dr. David Gelman. It appears that it would fit into the slot of a lab door access padlock.

Cocooned Scientist

You find a scientist who you recognize as Dr. Hudson, cocooned within dense, rigid strands of a strange material, which appears organic but has a metallic sheen. The cocoon binds her limbs but leaves her able to breathe. The strands cannot be bent by a normal human, a special cutting apparatus or Brute Strength will be needed to remove them. Dr. Hudson is bruised and unconscious, and attempts to rouse her are met with a fluttering of the eyes and moans, but nothing coherent. Although heavy, her cocooned body may be dragged to another location.

Although heavy, her cocooned body may be dragged to another location. If you choose to do this, clip this placard to your name tag to represent this conspicuous and cumbersome burden.

Item: First Aid Kit

Dr. Hudson's compact and portable kit. Contains enough materials for 3 uses by someone with the First Aid ability.