(Requirements to join are very loose. See the OOC thread for more info. This is a Sci Fi story taking place on a human colony in another star system.<br/><br/><a class="internalLink" href="https://forums.darknestfantasy.com/index.php?threads/colony-infestation-ooc-planning-application.31656/#post-490015">https://forums.darknestfantasy.com/index.php?threads/colony-infestation-ooc-planning-application.31656/#post-490015</a><br/><br/>If you're interested in joining, feel free to post there after reading through the first post, and I'll get back to you soon.)<br/><br/><br/>Planet Designation RS882.<br/>Population: 3,000,000<br/>Primary Industries: Mining, weapons and starship production and scientific research,<br/><br/>Also known as Nova Prime. One of the first alien worlds to be colonized by humanity. The colony consists of five terraformed domes, interconnected by monorail, with roughly a third of the planet's population under the main dome, with the rest split between the four sub domes. Each dome has its own local government, with a council ruling over the colony as a whole from the central dome. Each dome is designated with a Greek letter. The central dome is the Alpha Dome. The northern dome is Beta, eastern Gamma, southern Delta, western Epsilon. A sixth dome, Zeta, is under construction to the north of the Beta dome, but due to complications is behind schedule.<br/><br/>Beyond the domes, the atmosphere is breathable but not ideal for humans. The Oxygen level is lower than on earth, with strange compounds and dangerous native flora and fauna. Access to the alien wilderness is strictly regulated.<br/><br/>Within the domes, there are cities as well as terraformed farmland, forests and other environments cultivated to resemble Earth.<br/><br/>The planet's gravity very similar to earth, slightly lower but not enough for the human body to notice. The planet's rotation lacks Earth's tilt, meaning there are no seasons in the local environment, though the climate control in the Domes is capable of simulating the Earth's seasons. The largest difference is that the planet rotates much more slowly than the Earth, with one day taking approximately 48 hours, meaning the colony has longer days and nights. But within the safe, climate controlled Domes, this is not an issue for the colonists.<br/><br/>Because of the long days, the planet runs on a 48 hour time system. 00:00 is still midnight. Sunrise is at 12:00. Noon is at 24:00, and sundown at 36:00. Work hours and schedules vary based on employer and position, but most colonists work eight hour shifts and then have sixteen hours off for sleep and recreation, before beginning the next 'work day.'<br/><br/>Each Dome has its own security force, serving as police and civil guardians. There is also a small military garrison on the Alpha Dome, though this is more a precaution than anything, given that humanity has no known enemies in the region. But because of the time and cost associated with space travel, it's prudent to have a military force present on the colony that can swiftly react to emergencies.<br/><br/>The primary purpose of the colony was originally to mine the planet's rich mineral and metal deposits, which would then be processed to manufacture star ships, weaponry and other industrial goods. However, over the years the colony has grown, with the population expanding to include artists, singers, a plethora of restaurants, television and other entertainment, and more, leading to a wide diversity of professions and industries on the planet. The planet has its own internet, but due to the time it takes for signals to travel back to Earth, the colony does not have a direct line of communication back to the homeworld.<br/><br/>Weapons are still mostly projectile based, but there are also 'stun' weapons that fire electrical charges, similar to a taser designed to incapacitate humans or animals without causing lasting harm.  More advanced energy weapons are still in the prototype phase and not widely distributed, but they do exist.<br/><br/><br/><i>02:45 <br/>
<br/>
Epsilon Dome, Forest Park Recreational Reserve<br/>
</i><br/>"This is Captain Lynn reporting in. I've found their campsite, but there's nobody here. It looks abandoned." While most of the five Domes were filled with cities, factories, homes and other buildings, certain segments were placed aside for recreational use. Parks, amusement centers, nature reserves (though without dangerous animals such as bears or wolves) and the like Forest Park was one such area, a terraformed forest made for camping, hiking, fishing and other activities to help the colonists adapt to life on an alien world. Normally, it was quite safe. Safer even than most parks back on earth, since all the local wildlife was genetically altered to be more passive, less aggressive and less dangerous. But sometimes, accidents did happen. And when six office workers hadn't come back after a brief camping vacation, Rachel Lynn's security team had been sent to investigate.<br/><br/>The Captain was a woman in her mid twenties. She had long, blonde hair, currently tied back in a ponytail. Her body was clad in a form fitting blue jumpsuit, fitting snugly around her curves. While each Dome's security force had its own uniform standards, this was standard issue for Epsilon Dome. Holding up her flashlight, Rachel looked over the camp. The tent had collapsed on itself. The firewood nothing but ash and charred remains. It was clear nobody had here for at least several hours. "I'm going to head west along the river. Miles, Green, keep searching your areas and let me know if you find anything." She said, speaking into a wrist mounted communicator.<br/><br/>Rachel's flashlight lit up the path before her, making her way along the bank of the river. There was no actual ocean of course. The water flowed down to an artificial lake to the west, then was pumped back up to the source of the river. But as long as you weren't at either end, the illusion was quite convincing.<br/><br/>A suddenly rustling in the bushes caught Rachel's attention. Turning towards the sound, she pointed her flashlight, drawing her stun pistol. "Who's there? Show yourself!" She demanded. Another woman emerged from the shadows. A brunette, about Rachel's age, her clothes in tatters. Rachel recognized her as Ashley Weaver, one of the missing campers. "Please...help me..." She whimpered, falling to her knees.<br/><br/>Putting her gun away, Rachel ran forward to help her up. "Easy there. Just relax. You're safe now. Do you know where the others are?" She asked. Just as Rachel turned to her communicator to report in however, something seized her wrists like a vice. It was Ashley. The seemingly wounded girl now had a wild look in her eyes...and an inhuman strength behind her grip. Gasping, Rachel grappled with the woman for a moment, before being shoved backwards against a tree, momentarily dazed. Drawing her stun pistol again, Rachel fired at her assailant, a burst of electrical energy striking the crazed camper. But rather than stunning Ashley and sending her to the ground, her body merely began convulsing...and changing. Ashley's skin seemed to quiver and shift. Her arm, where the charge had struck, was affected the most.<br/><br/>Ashley let out a guttural, primal growl as her hand began to morph. Extending out several feet and taking Rachel by surprise, seizing the officer's throat. Abandoning the stun gun, Rachel drew her pistol and fired wildly, emptying the entire clip int her assailant as she struggled to breathe. While it didn't stop Ashley, it did at least cause enough pain for her grip to weaken, allowing Rachel to slip away, fleeing into the forest. "This is Captain Lynn. I need immediate backup!" Before the officer could elaborate on her predicament, she suddenly fell to the ground. A small creature, hiding in the foliage, had leaped out and ensnared her leg. Before long, it was on her face, covering Rachel's mouth and wrapping slimy tendrils around her head and neck, choking and silencing her. All the while, Rachel could hear footsteps as Ashley approached. Looming over her as the smaller creature's asphyxiation took hold.<br/><br/><br/>Not long after, the captain's team would arrive to find Rachel unconscious. There was no sign of anyone else, and with their Captain unconscious, they wouldn't know what to look for anyway. All they had were some blood samples near where the Captain was, but no sign of whoever she'd been struggling with. Strangely, while the clip in her gun was empty, they found no bullets in the area. All they could do for now was get their Captain to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>