"Doc Chronis, this is Royce. If you can link the comms into the pod's systems, assuming they're not completely fried, I may be able to run some diagnostics from here, if that would be of any help. Royce over." Jack doesn't really expect to be able to do anything much from three miles away, but there's a chance the cryo pod's systems are still functioning at some level or other, and it's all he can offer from a distance...
Turning to Doc Williams, he arches an eyebrow and gives her a sly grin. "Getting a bit maudlin, aren't you Doc? Sure, it's a big bad universe out there, full of strange and wonderful things, many of which will try to kill you..." He points to the comms icons indicating Gunny, Edmund and Allen. "That's why the human race invented marines."
I'm on it Royce. Pulling out his multitool, Gunny heads over to the nearest panel and begins working.
Allen, keep an eye on that black thing. I don't trust it. TOo much chance for surprise.
"As soon as we can reach a standard terminal, that should be easy to do, Royce. Will let you know when we can access it."
With deft fingers you sever the wires emitting the sparks. You maneuver yourself so as to reach inside and manage to unlock the doors.
The black stuff isn't moving.
Who enters first?
While Xzavier is definitely anxious to see if the inhabitants require medical attention, he's no militant. He waits patiently for the weapon-bearers to investigate and secure the pods.
Gunny steps forward to open the door after repairs have been completed. His rifle is in hand, ready to be brought to bear on whatever might be inside.
"So ah, anythin' in there, are our pals okay in their boxes?"
Edmund speaks softly through the communicator in his helmet, wary of any native fauna that might have made the wreck site home in the last few days. He'll follow Gunny at a respectable distance and use the entry as cover to peer around as Sgt. Isaacsohn goes on ahead.
Dr. Chronis follows behind the two soldiers, keeping a wary eye on the horizon behind them, hoping the flying worm doesn't come back.
Mister Hayes, keep an eye on that thing and let us know if it comes up with any surprises.
As you enter the eight digit code into the door, a loud whirring noise echoes from within.
The doors slide open revealing a mist filled room. And it's freezing. Hundreds of cryopods lie in rows, frost glazing the glass.
A loud noise from the far end of the room catches your attention.
It sounds like loud screeching.
Gunny advances, scanning the area with his weapon ready.
"Williams, Royce, do you hear that screeching? Is that organic or structural?"
The screeching seems to be coming from darkened shape at the back of the pods. Getting a little closer, you see that some black crystalline substance has pierced through one of the pods from the outside and the body inside is screeching ever so slightly.
@Chronis: Organic.
"Grindin' metal in there or is summun hurt?"
Edmund whispers through his communicator while cautiously and quietly following Gunny into the chamber, Edmund keeps to the shadows hoping to get the drop on anything dangerous before it reaches Gunny, Chronis (Or the others who may or may not be here).
@Edmund: You don't see anything else out of the ordinary.
Gunny approaches the dark form in the back of the chamber, picking up a bit of scrap from the hull as he goes. A couple of meters out he tosses the scrap so it will skitter past their guest, hoping to guage it's reaction.
"Give me a moment." Williams patches the sounds from the input through to an analysis program. Comparing the amplitude, frequency, and variance, she looks to see if there is a pattern; some repetition or predictability in the wave indicating non-organic, more eccentricity representing organic, she relays her prediction back to the away team.
"Eh Doc? looks pretty okay for you to join us, but I uh, wouldn't wanchu too close, still dunno what made that racket..."
Edmund advances in turn with Gunny keeping him covered while whispering through his comm-link to Chronis.
Every scrap of the unknown seems like something out of a nightmare...
The strange crystal doesn't respond in any way... but the screeching gets louder the closer you get.
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Gunny continues moving forward and, unless provoked otherwise by the crystalline structure, reaches out a hand to investigate.
... she relays her prediction back to the away team.
As soon as the warmth of your hand touches the crystalline surface, shards of the black material burst forth to cover your hand.
Luckily, you manage to tear your hand away just in time.
However, the mass begins to buckle and shake and more of the material begins bursting from the "infected" cryo pod and slowly begins moving toward you.
Gunny scrambles back from the mass of black crystals. This thing is advancin'.
Gunny looks around, examining the situation. D'we have any way ah movin' these pods quick-like? Git 'em away from that thing?
While egressing from the scene and keeping himself between the Doc and the crystaline growth, Gunny orders Brynhilde to keep the kids at home up to date. Shortly afterward she starts transmitting a panoramic image every other second from Gunny's PoV. Along with these images comes a general scan of the area every 5 seconds, giving them a map of the area and an idea what the situation holds.
Just so ever'one's aware, Gunny transmits to anyone listening, We may be about t'lose a whole buncha friends.
"Well If we can't, best be runnin' boy! And quick!"
While the mass of dark material advances slowly Edmund's air of caution towards his moving breathing companion supersedes his desire to see the others awoken.
"Hurry Get outta it's way!" Gesturing rapidly to Chronis Edmund hopes the good doctor will hurry his wizened old bones out of the path of the growth. "Gunny, you comin' out too, close call already! Too close!"
Edmund is concerned for the group's immediate safety first and foremost and hence his instinct is to convince Gunny and Chronis to move as far from the mysterious THING that reason and slight panic dictate.
Gunny moves to the nearest pod and scans its readout. Not that he'll know what any of it means, but Brynhildr will remember and be able to share with the brains later. If the crystal approaches quickly, he'll retreat further and check another.
Just a moment Mr. Oschia. He looks about for any kind of computer or scanning device that might give them a clue about what happened here.