[BEGIN LOG]
>> [Unintelligible mumbles and whispers are heard in the background, accompanied by footsteps.]
Trevor: Uhh, where are we? This… This doesn’t seem right…
Nicole: No, it doesn’t… This building looked different on the outside.
Stein: The outside looks different, too…
Nicole: It’s… a void?
Allison: Not the Void, though… Huh…
Ben: This is a different Level. Can’t you tell?
Stein: We know. The question is what Level?
Ben: Hm… I… I don’t know. I don’t recognize this one. I don’t think I’ve been here before.
Trevor: It’s… It’s a hotel.
Allison: A really nice hotel.
[There are a few minutes in which only the sound of footsteps present.]
Stein: Well, here we are. It’s time to get to work. First, Ben, I need you to dig into the Database and see if you can find a description matching what we’re seeing here. Trevor, start studying the area. See what you can find out about this place and how it functions.
Trevor: Uhh… By myself? Are you sure?
Stein: Don’t worry, I’m coming with you. I’ll watch your back. Meanwhile, Nicole and Allison will focus on scouting out the area.
Nicole: How far do you want us to go? This place looks pretty big, not to mention there’s an elevator over there…
Stein: Stay on this floor, and only go as far as you’re comfortable. No unnecessary risks.
Ben: Sounds like a solid plan to me.
Stein: Okay… Everyone’s got their jobs. Let’s do this.
>> Okay… The others are all busy doing their thing. Best to take a moment and make a record of what just happened…
So, we were on Level 11, just moving along. We had been wandering for hours using rather vague directions to look for some place called “Evermart” — wherever that is — and wanted to stop and take a quick break. We were just gonna stop and sit on the sidewalk and eat a quick bite, but then we noticed what looked like a huge hotel building. “Five-Star,” I think it said. We thought it was the name of an Outpost set up there, but I guess we were wrong.
It’s… Quiet here. No Entities in sight. I wish I could say I feel safe, but you just never know with this place.
[There is a brief pause, followed by footsteps and the sipping of Almond Water.]
This place is nice. It looks like one of those luxurious hotels that I would never be able to afford back ho… in… in the Frontrooms.
[There is a long pause as the footsteps finally cease. Stein lets out a sigh.]
I… I need a break.
>> [Voices break in as the audio recording is unpaused.]
Allison: …are you doing?
Stein: Making sure we have record of our progress.
Trevor: Smart.
Ben: As I was saying, I found no record of this place in the Database. Sounds like we found a new Level of sorts.
Nicole: Well, then, it looks like we get a chance to test our exploration capability.
Stein: True, but we’re not going in unprepared. We need more supplies. We’ll need weapons, especially.
Allison: You know, I could get in touch with my friends at Level 153… I could offer a them a potential outpost site if they bring us what we need.
Stein: That’s a good idea. Do it.
Ben: Speaking of contacting allies, the M.E.G. is gonna want a report on this place. If it isn’t on the Database, they want it on there ASAP.
Stein: We can do that. Trevor’s already got a fairly detailed report on this floor. but we need to know what Level this is.
Ben: They’ve got resources, not to mention a lot of operatives. I’ll see if they can get people working on locating us.
Stein: Alright, go ahead. Allison, you stay and watch his back. Try and get in touch with your Level 153 friends, too. The rest of us will check out the elevator. See what more this hotel has to it.
Nicole: Sounds like a plan.
Stein: Alright, let’s do this.
[A few minutes of footsteps are heard until coming to a stop.]
Stein: Huh… This thing doesn’t have traditional buttons for each floor.
Trevor: It looks like you use these arrow buttons to select which one to go to, then this one to confirm.
[Some clicking is heard with simultaneous beeps for each click.]
Stein: Hm… That’s neat. I wonder…
[A few more clicks and beeps are heard.]
Stein: Yeah… This place has got a basement, too.
Nicole: Should we check it out?
Trevor: I don’t know… We should probably wait until we have more gear first. That place might be infested with Entities, for all we know.
[There is a short pause.]
Stein: Yeah, he’s right. We’ll wait until our allies arrive with equipment before we do this. C’mon, we should go get some rest before they get here.
Trevor: Oh, good idea.
Nicole: Okay, sounds good to me.
Stein: Yeah, rest does sound good right now.
[END LOG]