[UE4] The Great Automation Run 2: Bolivian Affair, Chapter 5 and final results!

Looks like reports of your demise were greatly exaggerated…

…as was my interpretation of the word “desist”, apparently. :man_facepalming: Sorry, will update that ASAP.

1 Like

initially intended to spread the word of the death of Shitbox Brothers via the officials sending a text to everyone containing details…

but just telling the others at the camp-site is a way too, i guess

even considering Operation BIRD being almost last currently
(7 hours behind leader)

1 Like

It could be a text about an all-team meeting, bar the late M-Series, after the last car crossed Stage 2’s finish line and the officials were informed by BIRD. The meeting is held afterwards, which is then mentioned by Jack (as he hosted the Stage 2 episode after the M-Series arrived)…

Of course, this can be tackled differently by you. Just dropping an idea to help the story flow.

1 Like

well that makes sorta sense,somehow…

although all the teams are gone by the time the M-Series even arrives

1 Like

OOC: sorry for diuble post, thius is done to keep direct RP and general talking seperate from each other
also, this post is “shorter”, because there was little to do in terms of events to RP for


Operation BIRD; Second Stage II
August 27th 2018; 7:11; morning

The team did not sleep too well… They pack their tents up (Tonsom managed to construct his successfully this time), load it onto/ into the Mimas and quickly head off for day three. The seating positions are the same as yesterday, with Connor still being the driver.

The race was relatively uneventful this time, until the Mimas hits a bump, sending it airborne. The rebound of the jump results in every occupant hitting their head on the roof lining of the Mimas. The Mimas lands safely in Connor´s control.

Everyone (except Connor) : “OW!”
Tonsom: “Now my neck hurts…”
Connor: [concerned] “Are you okay, Captain?”
Tonsom: “Yeah… nothing serious. At least i think it is…”

They continue on, without much talking. Maybe a little non-relevant chit-chatting, if at all. A few hours in, Connor stops the car at a gas station named “ES Adaluz Petrol”. He refill the car, silently, gets back in and goes on driving.
Another few hours later, they reach the DEATH ROAD. dun dun dun
Connor is applying a highly conservative driving-style, trying to drive as predictable as possible for the natives, while also trying to avoid collisions or falling off the cliff. At some point, Connor has to let a native Truck pass on the “Wall” side, leaving him very little space between the cliff and the outer two wheels of the Mimas.
He manages to let the truck pass safely, having applied a little trick to decrease vehicle width, which is called “folding in the mirrors”.

The rest of the race remained fairly boring, with few events taking place. Eventually, they reach the city of La Paz.


August 28th 2018; 1:23; night

At the “Aeropuerto International El Alto”

Connor: “We have arrived at the airport.”
Tonsom: “Here we go. Time to say goodbye, i guess.”
Redwood: “Have a nice time, wherever you are from.”

Smith and Miller also say goodbye to the members of Operation BIRD, get out of the car and get their stuff off the car. Then they walk off into the airport terminal building.

The team then proceeds to drive back to the campsite location and catches some valueable sleep for the next stage.

6 Likes

Team Run N Gun

Previous Post
GAR2: Ep.2

Stage 1 campsite, 7:20AM, 26th August, 2018.

Upon the receipt of the “GO” order we headed out; desperate to make time up on the rest of the racers. However, try as we might, we lost touch with the rest of the racers… Our car was simply too standard; no power made for no progress, lol.

We were able to make it to the base camp at Caranavi, which is more than could be said for Team Shitbox… Their car’s carcass was still hissing and ticking when we stopped to check their wreck. Ben scared off some locals who were fishing for souvenirs while I conducted a quick walkaround to see if anyone had been flown clear of the wreck. Unable to find any traces of the team, I then checked the car itself. The roof had caved in and the doors were jammed, making opening the car an expensive and gory exercise in futility. So, after calling to the car’s occupants and tapping the bodywork without any response, before we left Ben lobbed a 40MM willy-pete into the coupe’s fuel tank, giving the Shitbox brothers a fiery funeral as well as protection for their remains from the local carrion hunters, both animal and human…

Caranavi, Bolivia, 07:30 AM. 27th August 2018.

The next day saw us hit the imfamous “Death Highway”. Ben and I had driven the road before so we weren’t too worried, but only a fool gave the road any less respect than it fully deserved…

As always, our sensible offroader proved inadequate to the rigours of racing and we fell further behind. We missed all the excitement of the day and we didn’t see where the Death Metal limo had speared off into the unforgiving void. Later that night, after many tense near misses, we arrived a La Paz where we holed up with some of our smuggling buddies for the night. We’d be ready for tomorrow, when it arrived, but for now we wanted sleep, cider and the good company of trustworthy friends!

RIP
Team Shitbox Brothers
Team Valhalla

TO BE CONTINUED

6 Likes

@HighOctaneLove
congratulations!
you just managed to light a car on fire, while it is submerged in the sea by 2/3rds of it’s height.
now we have a burning oil platform, essentially :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like

@Elizipeazie

I thought that one rolled into a puddle!?!?!?

I just checked and it DID roll into a puddle!!! It was, I believe, Team Valhalla that ended up in the sea…

1 Like

well…
said “puddle” is lake colorado along the route fairly early in stage 2. there is a slight left turn really close to that sea.

imo, that thing is too large to be considered a puddle.

also:
when i am home in two hours, i can add a photo of said “puddle” on google maps

@HighOctaneLove

I found the sea on GoogleMaps…
I would hardly call a pond of 30km² a “puddle”, tbh…

for reference:
this is where they crashed in relation to stage two progress on @Mr.Computah ´s map overview.

4 Likes

@Elizipeazie

Thanks for the nice maps of where the car crashed on stage 2! They would have come in handy when I was writing up my RP flair… Being at the back of the race requires me to write whatever I can from the scraps left to me by the other, faster teams! :persevere:

The hardest part for me is knowing that @VicVictory is currently beating me… I’ll get you next time, Team Canon Fodder! NEXT TIIIIIIMMMMEEEE!!!.. :face_with_monocle:

2 Likes

sorry for that…
should have included them in Connor’s explanation…
i am just gonna assume you siphoned out the fuel and used it to make some (although short-lived) fire with it

also:
i am at the far back myself.
i have just been quicker to write RP, limiting faster teams in actions
i.e.: they cannot burn up a car if i reach a non-burnt one
(you should be even further at the back, so you can burn it if wanted)

1 Like

Ahhh… I re-read your post here and I’ve managed to contradict your account of the crash rather badly!

Corrected account of Team Shitbox Brothers demise

Team Run N Gun

We were able to make it to the base camp at Caranavi, which is more than can be said for Team Shitbox… We came across the carcass of their coupe, knee deep in the waters of Lake Colorado. A number of locals from the local village were trying to pull the car from the water, as the car’s engine was contaminating the lake with oil, fuel and coolant. Ben and I helped the locals drag the car from the water, using the front winch, and I took the time to check the cabin for any hope of survivors. Someone had been here before us and opened the drivers door so I was able to see the rather gruesome sight of two dead bodies, suspended in their racing harnesses, leaking brains, blood and excrement everywhere…

We couldn’t just leave the Shitbox brothers to rot, so Ben used the Alpaca and some locals to mount the Saetta upright on a bed of stones while I collected the Team’s paperwork to hand in to the Police at Caranavi; anonymously, of course! Once we’d finished setting the car on it’s pyre, Ben used a rag shoved into the fuel tank to set the car alight. I’d kept the bootlid, as it was flat and undamaged, and carved:

“Here lies the final resting place of Team Shitbox, killed by the ones we loved…”

I then set the headstone down by the pyre and we set off again, our mood sombre and quiet, for a great team had fallen and if they could die at the hands of fate then anyone could, even us…

TO BE CONTINUED

@Elizipeazie, I think that was a far more fitting send off for the team, plus it shows more respect for the locals, well worth the hassle, IMO :grin:

4 Likes

also shows more respect to Ana and Alejandro

this bootlid carving thing

like it :+1:

1 Like

GAR 2: Episode 3 - Catch your breath

La Paz, Bolivia. 27th August 2018.

20 Likes

I think one team owner will not like this… Especially after he laughed seeing another team face the same fate. There’s a saying in my country that goes something like this; “don’t do to others what you don’t want done to yourself”.

I’m no Mei Ling when it comes to sage advice, but this one could fit in a Codec! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

4 Likes

TEAM HILLBILLY ROLLERS
26th OF AUGUST 2018

MARIE: How do you like my driving this far?
ANDREAS: Better than someone would have thought anyway! I didn’t know you were so skilled in offroading, passing all the obstacles like a dream! I am impressed…for the first time in my life considering anything you have done.
MARIE: Speaking of passing…haha…look at the Mitrus, we are soon…WHAT THE???
JANNE: What are you yelling about?
MARIE: WELL, I AM IN NEUTRAL AND HOW ABOUT THIS?
Marie is waving around the loose gearstick in the air…
JANNE: Ehm…something definitely is wrong here!

It turns out that while converting the Celestia gearbox to the Rexetta, someone had done some less than perfect welding on the linkage, warping some of the rods. Being in some really weird angles, and with some hard beating on the gearbox, it ultimately lead to the rods to the gearstick coming loose.

JANNE: Well, I used the powers I had to bend the linkage somewhat in place, but the bushings is all gone now, so count in that the gearstick will feel very sloppy.
MARIE: Yeah, it feels like the genitalia of a 90 year old man…
ANDREAS: I don’t want to know anything more. I REALLY don’t want to know anything more.

Except for this little mishap, the team soldiered on through the jungle, and the once so hated Rexetta was starting to grow on them. It was like if some kind of friendship was formed between them and the corny little SUV.

5 Likes

Team Canon Fodder

(Insert 3 hours of the two idiots laughing at their penises like Beavis and Butthead, helped by mild hypoxia)

9 Likes

Rental Wreckers

Previous Post - Stage 2 - “Death Road Duel”


“Well, looks like this is that time.” Jake said from behind the wheel, the altimeter on the dash slowly climbing, and climbing, and climbing. “Glad we took this from a junked airplane before we started this race.” Cody opened the glovebox and fished out the Viagra, with a stupid grin.

“You know, I’ve never done this before.” Cody said, laughing at the absurdity.

“I have. Not for altitude, either. Freshman year of college, I thought it’d be a great idea to use this for… Let’s just say some extra ‘staying power’ during the after-party with my girlfriend. No, she wasn’t impressed when she had to take me to the hospital after four hours. Can’t believe I’m taking one again, though at least this time, it’s for a better reason than ‘If I can bang my gal all night, I’ll be the envy of the dorms.’ Get the water, we’re gonna need it.” Jake said, chuckling.

The two of them downed their iconic ‘little blue pills’ and continued on, the Travette singing its way up the mountain, turbocharged inline 3 roaring away in Drive, the added boost keeping them from losing power.

“Shame we’re rear-wheel-drive, we’d probably make better time if we weren’t spinning the tires so much.” Cody said, though he noticed the Dirt Warriors were slowly falling back. “Wonder what’s bothering them.” Cody said, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder at the car behind them.

“Altitude, most likely. Wouldn’t be surprised if we’re driving a bit of a rarity, a turbocharged car. We may only have 100 horsepower, but we’ll still have probably 80 at 15,000 feet. Maybe. I can’t remember my altitude power loss conversions. Someone else with 100 horses would be somewhere around 20 or so, which means the higher we go, the better our power gets compared to theirs. That goes for anyone going for ‘No Replacement For Displacement’ in this run.” Jake said.

They found that the higher they went, the more hilarious everything was. “I feel like that time I walked into Marcus’ room while he had it full of smoke. Everything’s just… You know.”

“Hypoxia. That’s what you’re feeling. Luckily, Luke packed us a little gift under the back seat.” Jake said, pointing to the backpack on the floor. Cody grabbed it and pulled out the contraption within.

“Why is a welding torch a good gift?” Cody asked, with a loopy smile. Jake took his right hand off the wheel, grabbed the torch, then opened the Oxygen bottle ever so slightly and pointed it at Cody’s face. It took only a couple seconds for Cody to come to his senses, then said, “Remind me when we get back to only give him a minor ass-kicking. Who knew his portable oxy-propane welding torch would be a life-saver up here?”

“Just remember, we have to share, and there’s only maybe a couple minutes worth of oxygen in that bottle. And don’t make the mistake of opening the other bottle, you’ll end up with a lung full of propane.” Jake said. “And that’ll fuckin’ kill ya.”

At the end of the stage, Jake parked the little Vheego Travette and helped set up a rudimentary camp. Cody checked their status, then said, “Lost two more. Not surprising, either.”

“What’s surprising is how far this little shitbox has carried us. Proof that a Rental is the right choice, perhaps, or just sheer dumb luck. Either way, let’s rest up what we can, prepare for the next stage.” Jake replied.

7 Likes

Operation BIRD

August 27th 2018; 4:34; morning

Sleep for Operation BIRD is getting worse.
With only two hours of sleep, they pack up their tents and head off earlier than intended, with the plan of catching up on sleep in the car.
In the city of La Paz, road signage proved to be confusing.

The team is sitting at an intersection, trying to figure out where to go:

Connor: “My navigational program suggests turning left here.”
Tonsom: “You sure about that? That sign [points at random road sign] says to go straight. So we are going straight.”

Trying to avoid major conflict, Connor follows order, but after half an hour of driving, Redwood manages to point out their location on a map:

Redwood: [to Tonsom] “Frank?”
Tonsom: “Yep?”
Redwood: “Remember the sign we went straight?”
Tonsom: [:man_facepalming:] “Don’t you tell me he was right…”
Redwood: “He was right.”

Redwood marks their position on the map with a permanent marker and hands said map over to Tonsom.

Tonsom: [:face_with_symbols_over_mouth:] “WHY THE FUCK DID YOU NOT TELL ME?”
Redwood: “I only found us on the map just now… and Connor did tell you at the intersection…”
Tonsom: “You know that i do not trust this piece of plastic one bit!”
Connor: “I would suggest both of you to calm down. We did take a wrong turn, but that does not mean we are stuck here now.”
Redwood: “He’s right. Mistakes are made to be corrected. Soo… How about correcting the mistake we made?”
Tonsom: “Alright then… Connor, you know i hate you, but just do your thing and don’t get us killed. You got that?”
Connor: “Got it.”

The car turns around, now on the correct path to their destination. The next few hours remain rather uneventful. Some commuting on the highway at the speed limit, the crossing to Chile and a bit of a climb towards the volcano. Redwood and Tonsom managed to catch some dairly decent sleep until…

some time on the climb
POOF. flopflopflopflopflopflopflopflopflopflop…

Connor stops the car on the roadside.
Connor: “Our front right tyre has blown. We should replace it.”
Tonsom: [sarcastic] “Oh my god… i would not have known what to do if you weren’t here…”
Connor: “Then it is a good thing i am here.”
Tonsom: “Still dumber than i thought…”

Redwood gets out and changes the tyre for the spare out of the engine bay (yes, the Mimas has more than enough soace for it). Then hhe gets back in the car.
Connor tries to accelerate, but the Mimas happily spins the newly replaced front wheel.

Tonsom: “Lock the diff you fucking idiot.”

Connor flicks the switch to lock the diff and the Mimas easily gets moving.


early morning a day later

The car comes to a halt at the destination, all other occupamts asleep. Connor shuts down the engine, apllies the parking brake and waits for the morning.

8 Likes

Team ‘Southend Or Bust’

She’ll becoming round the mountain: aka I couldn’t think of any other title for this.

Original Post


Everything was going too smoothly, thought Martin. Said thought had been running around in his head for the last day now, as the Estate Roamer pluckily - but braggadociously - ploughed on through the heart of South America. Mind you, it was far from comfortable, thanks to James’ erratic weight saving modifications, with the bucket seats starting to becoming an irritation.

With Martin at the wheel, James was playing co-driver whilst Steph caught some sleep on the back seat. Navigating under pressure in the thick Bolivia jungle had been a real mental strain, though it was nothing compared to having to stick his head out of the sun roof to guide the 2 tonne behemoth over the death road.

“There’s another” said Martin, as they blasted pass the wreck of the Paginza. “That was nasty” he remarked.

“Just a bit” said James observantly, grimacing at the mangled metal and huge lines in the dirt where the car had drifted out of control.

Southend ploughed on.


Hours later and across the border into Chile, the climb was now really on. Seb had woken up too.

“I’m telling you, I’m not taking this viagra” he said jokingly “I don’t care how much it helps, I don’t want wood I can’t deal with up here”.

“Ay! Finally delivered some good slang” said Martin, smiling back at him through the rear view mirror has he negotiated a particularly bumpy turn. “But that’s not what the doctor would say”.

“What, that he wouldn’t take viagra or that he wouldn’t deal with it?” replied Seb.

“The viagra” replied Martin, not taking the joke. “It’s a genuine way to deal with the altitude”.

“Yes but I want a genuine way to deal with my hard on, and I don’t see any cocktail bars around here” said Seb, thinking back to his last one night stand.

James sat quietly in the passenger seat, still wearing his army surplus shirt and now sporting his favourite gold Avitaors, with a pair of binoculars glued to his face. He brought them down after a while. “Commie fuckers” he grunted.

“Eh?” said Seb, looking over to him.

“Bastard green shit box is miles ahead of us now” said James, once again in a low voice. He was referring to the AAU Cross-4X that was now nearly 20 minutes ahead of them. However, thanks to the complete lack of anything up here in the Andes, he could see the car as it twisted up the mountain road miles ahead.

“Are you trying to impersonate Colonel Quaritch again?” questioned Martin, thinking back to that time back in first year when they’d all crammed into Martin’s dorm with their other flatmates and drunkedly watched Avatar.

James’ expression completely. “No, no…” he said defensively but with some embarassment.

Martin glanced in the rear view mirror and caught Seb’s eyes, giving him one of those looks. It’s the shirt, isn’t it they both thought.

9 Likes