WEEK 3 - TRIAL DAY TWO

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (3)

saturday TRIAL DAY ONE (34) survivors At 9 AM, a klaxon alarm begins blaring in every area of the ship. The alarm will continue to go off until everyone has gathered in the conference room. Should anyone be running late or avoiding the trial for whatever reason, a robot guide will appear wherever they are and gently but firmly escort them into the room. Once all the living players are present, the conference room doors will lock shut; anyone who wishes to leave for whatever reason will need to ask AL-2955 or one of the robots. Anyone leaving for non-investigative purposes, such as bathroom breaks, will be accompanied by a robot escort. The large round table in the center of the conference room has been set up to help the trial run as smoothly as possible. Three holographic screens hover above the center hollow of the table, visible from every angle. The first screen displays the pictures and profiles of the suspects and victim; the second displays the autopsy report; the third displays a blank word processor. Each of the chairs comes equipped with a virtual keyboard which can be used to type information directly into the third screen, such as theories and updated information; they can also be set into privacy mode, which will transfer whatever notes someone writes directly into their datapad instead of on screen. There's also a tablet function for those who wish to draw charts or pictures on screen. The keyboards will detect the DNA of whoever's using them and record who's typed what - simply press an area of text and the name of whoever wrote it will pop up. The area to the right of the table has been temporarily sectioned off with a glass partition and sliding door for hygienic issues. Inside, the victim's body has been laid out on a metal autopsy table, covered by a plastic sheet. Above it is a holographic screen that displays a close-up color photograph of the body when it was found. A hand sanitizer dispenser has been considerately attached to the wall nearby for anyone getting up close and personal to the body. To the left of the conference table is a display case. Any evidence found during the investigation will be carefully collected by the robots at some point the previous day and placed here before the trial starts. Beneath each piece of evidence is a small tablet where players can type up information, such as a short description or where it was found. There are also empty areas left over for any evidence that may be found during the trial. The shelf at the very bottom of the case has been reserved for an extra rulebook in case anyone needs it. Food will be served throughout the day by the robots, who will take individual orders whenever you're feeling hungry. The trial will end at 9:00 PM, at which point all players will have been expected to cast their vote.

victim



suspects



Character Statuses
Setting
Rulebook
Voting

Comments

[bloodbiter]

Good morning, everyone. Perhaps we should begin today by going over everything we know thus far.

[a short pause]

Yesterday, in the garden, Minako, Adam and I found several things. Dirt and grass stained with blood, and holes in the dirt that seem to be caused by bullets. There were shotgun bullet shells there, and a round pellet of some red metal. We found a dented shovel that seems to match the injury on Allen's head, footprints that look like they came from a men's shoe, and dog tags belonging to the last victim, Raleigh. Allen had these tags in his possession prior to his death.

Now, the shotgun itself was found in the sentry station near the holding cells. There were no bullets inside, Elizabeth mentioned it did not look like it had been fired, but considering the shells and bullet marks we found in the garden, I find that unlikely. However, Machias has confirmed that this is his weapon, but that it runs on orbal energy and does not use gunpowder, meaning that if someone tried to load it with different shells, they would put themselves at risk. In other words, normal bullets would not work in this weapon. If it was loaded with regular shells, then there may be some sign or mark we can find.

Focusing more on Machias for a bit, he was found in the a holding cell, unconscious. Shelley has indicated that she heard footsteps that walked away after several minutes. This would indicate that someone brought him into the holding cell, so our murderer is most likely someone strong enough to carry 150 pounds from the gardens to the holding cells. Machias appears to have been drugged and has a concussion. Near him was an bottle that had some kind of liquid and a pill there as well, likely used to drug him. In his jacket, there was a pouch holding shotgun shells. Dirt and ashes were found in the area. Burnt fabric, and a piece of black fabric, were also located. It's possible that this is related to the fact that there was some cooking oil and a match missing from the kitchen. In addition, some supplies were missing from the medical bay - bandages and painkillers.

Now, the matter of the body. Several people climbed into the vents to attempt to locate it, but it was in the garden under a bench. It was found a while after the trial had already begun due to the fact that a cloaking device was used. This means that the murderer was using an item obtained for targeting a person on the vulnerable list - Machias, in this case. It also means that the universal access card could not have been used, so Machias likely left his room with his shotgun and the shells at some point. He has no memory of leaving his room, possibly due to the concussion he received, but I can't see how anyone could have gotten hold of the weapon otherwise. It is important to note that it would likely have been impossible for him to drug himself, as suicide is not allowed and will be stopped if attempted.

As for the condition of the body, his left arm is breaking apart. I do not see a reason why this might be happening, but his profile indicates that his arm is rather unusual to begin with. He had a wound on his head that would seem to match the dented shovel we found, and holes near his left shoulder that I assume may have been caused by the Machias' gun. Interestingly, his shoulder and head were bandaged.

There are several things I think we should discuss. One possibility is that someone killed Allen, and Machias witnessed the crime, leading the murderer trying to kill him in turn, or at least cause a gap in memory through the concussion and drugging so that he could not identify the culprit. If this were true, I find it unlikely would have the means to drug him on hand, so they may have knocked him out, taken him to a holding cell, and then drugged him with the missing painkillers from the medical bay. The medical report did mention overdose. I also want to talk about the fact that some of the victim's injuries were bandaged. Why would that be? What would the killer gain from taking time to do such a thing? One was put on after his head was injured, so it's clear that Allen couldn't have put them on himself.

I also want to speak about the round, red colored pellet we found in the garden. It looks very different from the bullet shells we found at the scene. Adam suggested that it may have come from the sentry turret listed on the tools provided to those who target someone valuable, but as the cloaking device was used, I find that unlikely. I do not know what it is, exactly, or where it may have come from, but it's clear that it is important. It would not have been at the scene if it were not. Also, the dogtags - they were at the bottom of a hole that was dug a foot deep. Is it possible that the murderer was planning on digging a grave, but either realized that the dirt was not deep enough, or was interrupted in the middle of their task? If that is the case, they must have been in haste to leave if they left the tags there.

As a final note, each suspect has said that wealth is not important enough to them to kill for, or that they have enough. I doubt there is any way to verify the truth of this information, but it is important to note all the same.

[thanatosincarnate]

{ Adelina is good at critical thinking -- well, much better than Arumat is anyway. He just sort of barges into things and tries to beat an answer out that way. Either way, he was paying attention to what she said, and he'll arrive to tell her. After investigating here. }

The red pellets match up with the wounds in Allen's shoulder.

{ Sooo... what does that mean. }

[bloodbiter]

I wonder... Machias did say that normal bullets would not work in the gun. Perhaps the red pellets are the only projectiles that the gun will fire. In that case, maybe the killer tried to put average bullets in, and it failed, leading to them hitting him with the shovel?

[thanatosincarnate]

Then this is from Machias' weapon. It's been brought up that the killer may have reacted in response to paranoia, presumably after Machias was targeted, and realized that the action couldn't be taken back. But only when it was too late.

{ If he has that correct? Feel free to correct him if he were wrong. }

The shovel likely factoring in if it was a mercy kill.

With all this happening, is it too farfetched to think the killer may have been injured?

[bloodbiter]

In regards to the idea that he was targeted... One thing I would like to bring up is that Machias has said that he leaves the gun unloaded when it's in his room, and that it doesn't use the projectiles a normal gun would. If that is the case... How would anyone but him know what to load it with? It's possible someone else used it, but he would have had to load the weapon first, I would think.

[thanatosincarnate]

He must have been convinced to load it up somehow. Machias was dragged downstairs around 5:30AM, so it's plausible he was fooled into leaving his room on late Thursday night.

{ MAYBE. He doesn't know. }

It seems to me this timeframe was more centered around 12AM to 5AM, Friday, if anything.

The next question is how Machias could be fooled into leaving his room so late, wouldn't it?

[bloodbiter]

[a pause, frowning]

How long does it take to load a shotgun with that many projectiles? Would you happen to know?

[antagonize]

[There are several things about all of this that are bothering him, even though he's, uh. Kind of a suspect right now. But here we go.]

Have the pieces of fabric been compared to anybody's clothes yet? [Also:] Just to clear up any doubt — it'd be interesting to get a live demonstration of how an "orbal" shotgun works. It still uses shells, right? And Regnitz said it's no different than a normal shotgun.

[So who knows if it would leave the same marks as gunpowder shotguns? He just wants to check that out before discarding it, since it's the only shotgun they've got.]

Isn't it more likely our dead guy was trying to dig a grave for the dog tags? He must have requested them with some idea in mind.

[bloodbiter]

No. I imagine the rest of the garment was burned because it had bloodstains on it... That is likely where the ash came from.

[she nods]

That would be a good idea. Machias has said that when it is in his room, he leaves it unloaded. How would another person know to load it with the red pellets instead of normal bullets, unless he has explained the weapon to someone before? In that case, he was most likely the one who loaded it, either in self defense, or...

[antagonize]

If there were bloodstains on the clothes, it's possible traces of blood might've been left elsewhere on the ship.

[And they have a shiny bottle of luminol at their disposition. Aw, yeah.]

No idea as to how someone else could have loaded it, unfortunately. But Machias's memory isn't exactly crystal clear right now. Since the access card is out of the equation, he must have left his room with the shotgun at some point. Could have even loaded it himself, without remembering he did it.

[Which is another point that needs to be cleared up. If he loaded it himself, it must have been for a reason.]

[bloodbiter]

If he loaded it himself... Do you know how long it takes to load a shotgun?

[pauses]

Before that, let me go fetch the luminol.

[antagonize]

If you're good? Seconds. Maybe four. Maybe five. Longer if you're not used to that type of gun.

[And he'll give her the time she needs to go fetch the luminol, of course.]

[bloodbiter]

[coming back with the luminol, and then pausing]

If he loaded it to defend himself after sensing danger... In the space of that time, is it not likely that he would have been disarmed, or that his attacker would have done something to stop him? Would that suggest that he loaded it prior to entering the area?

[parodeity]

Seconding the request for a demonstration, honestly.

[breakshot]

[ Pretend Frankenstein or another science nerd was busy looking him over and that's why Machias couldn't speak up until now!! He clears his throat. ]

If you'd like a demonstration, I don't mind providing. Although we'll probably have to find someplace else to test it.

[ Machias pauses for a moment, looking grim. ]

... Although there was something I've been meaning to ask: someone here said they discovered a red looking pellet?

[antagonize]

Great. Then we can ask Alice which room we're allowed to use as a firing range.

[Maybe they can even bring out the dummy with the wig, for authenticity.]

Yeah — the guys that checked out the garden said they found something like that. Why? You know what it is?

[breakshot]

I'd have to see for myself, but... One moment.

[ He's gonna rifle into his pouch real quick and take out one unused shell, holding it out before Jason. ]

... If it's what I think it is, they may or may not match up to the pellets inside of this.

[ The more he hears this, the more he doesn't like where this is going and it's subtly reflected in how pale he's beginning to look. ]

[antagonize]

[Well. This isn't looking good for Machias.]

You won't mind if we crack this open to take a look, right?

[JUST ASKING. But is there really an option at this point? They have to confirm everything all the way.]

Is there anybody else on this ship that knows how to work your gun? Or does it load and fire the same way any other normal shotgun would?

[breakshot]

It... loads the same way a normal shotgun would, yes.

[ Machias is looking grim as fuck, what with not actually knowing for himself what the fuck happened. But he'll hand the shell over to Jason without much resistance. ]

... The sooner we get to the bottom of this, the better. Go ahead.

[missmaladroite]

[Marinette listens carefully to all of this] Thank you, Adelina! That was great.

[it does raise some questions, though]

How would they have gotten hold of his gun? Surely, if he was armed with it, they couldn't have taken him by surprise...?

[bloodbiter]

That's something I'm wondering, too. Additionally... Machias has said that normal bullets do not work in his gun. The bullets found in Allen's shoulder were red pellets, which would seem to confirm that information. However, Machias has said that he leaves the gun unloaded when it is in his room. How would anyone but himself know what kind of projectiles it's meant to fire, and load it correctly? Unless he has explained the weapon to someone previously.

[missmaladroite]

Or Machias drugged himself non-lethally and gave himself a concussion for an alibi. Everyone is already dismissing him, no? Perhaps that's what he was counting on.

[dun DUN DUN]

[bloodbiter]

Additionally... Do you know how long it takes to load a shotgun? If he was truly targeted and tried to load the gun then and there to defend himself, wouldn't the killer have been able to take the gun from him before he could finish? That may mean that he had to load the gun prior to coming to the garden.

[she frowns, though]

In that case, though... How would he come upon the cloaking device? Allen was not on the list of vulnerable individuals.

[chiseler]

Vulnerables can go after other vulnerables according to our AI. Think about that for a sec.

[A lot of people seem set on Machias being the true victim here, but things still aren't adding up yet to him.]

[bloodbiter]

...You think he tried to target Lavi, but Allen was killed instead? Why wouldn't he have come forward with that information? I doubt any of us would be angered with him for injuring Machias to save his friend.