Yon continues firing upon the robot. Hoping to deal some damage before it does any serious harm. "Good hit, Dee! Does anyone have any ideas?"
Yon's current battery makes a small whining sound as it completely drains. Yon jettisons the battery and reloads another heavily used one in.
Everyone shifts around. A few shots miss, but Dee's magic bolts fly out of her hand and slam into the robot. It jutters and some built up electrical charge gets released in a burst. Not a big explosion, but a bot of a pop and snap and the robot falls to the floor. Damaged and unable to reactivate.
With this creature no longer in the way, you can see the path leads in a T section. to the west and East
With Dee in the other room she takes a chance to look around. This room is filled with various lights and controls on machinery. This chamber seems torn between 2 worlds. The southeastern half is unfished rock wall, wile the northeastern portion of the room is finished with the same ceramic-metallic plating found elsewhere.
There is a physical console seen, but it is displaying various other languages. You imagine you could try to hack in. If you can get past the language barrier.
There is also a door to the north of this room.
While Dee can see this chamber, the other direction seems to go farther into the rock to the west. You can see it turn a corner. Your spacial reasoning states that it does not have a ton of space or any large rooms that direction.
"Great timing with that spell, Dee!" Tylur notes as he puts away his weapons and examines the robot, "Let's take a look and make sure this thing won't reactivate if we leave it here." He puts a hand on the wall to steady himself, wincing at the bruising he took from the machine's fists. "Man, that thing packed quite a wallop. I might need a breather before we press on. Check the corridors and see if you can get an idea of what it was protecting. Maybe you and Yon can sort out whatever alien tech is in this place. If there's something we can take back for analysis at Absalom, that'd be great..."
As Tylur sat down next to the defeated robot, he glanced over at the similarly crumpled body of Bearslice, shaking his head. "Those fellas didn't have much sense coming out here, but they were willing to put their lives on the line regardless. I hate to see him go down that way." Catching the eye of their other erstwhile ally, Clara, he nodded in the android's direction. "Thanks for helping out," he tells her, "If we get off this rock, you've earned the right to go your own way. I'll see to it."
Yon studies the fallen goblin. Disappointing, I wished to see where his life would take him. It would have been most interesting to observe his life in relation to our own, especially if we formed bonds of kinship. How fascinating that would have been."
After some rest, Yon staggers over to the console, unable to help himself. He and Trianna work to help someone interpret the language and then set to task on the Computer itself.
"Someone assist with deciphering this language, I have some skill but it is not what I would call a skill that I excel at?"
Sybil moves into strange hallway and room as she looks over her colleagues, "Everyone good?"
As she moves she can see the the room to the left but turns right and moves the corner hoping nothing is around the the other side.
As she reaches the end of the end of the hallway she peers around the corner...
The Technomancer blew the tip of her finger in an interesting human-like gesture. The elf-droid was unaware where that sort of attitude stemmed from, but considering their dire situation it seemed warranted.
“I believe my spell was indeed tactically sound,” Dee replied smiling in Tylur’s direction. She popped the clip of her laser rifle and slid in a fresh one stowing the only one in her jacket pocket.
“Everything functioning Ok?” The android asked, seeing Tylur recovering. Doing the same, she too rests before moving forward within the room she was in. It was good to be on solid ground once more.
Once done, Dee makes her way to her fellow Android companion. “Yes, I can assist you with the task. Give me a moment to process the information.” said the elf-droid looking at the information Yon was.
After taking a long look at the robot body, it definitally looks broken and very unlikely to come back, without some major repair
Finally back in gravity and seemingly safe. The group sits down and rests. Yon, with the most drain of strength definitally feels the weight of the gravity on his body.
Yon, can't help but sit down at the strange terminal and taking a look. He seems to be able to get into the system, but it takes a bit of time trying to feel through the commands, without knowing the direct langauge, but computer systems do have some core common commands and actions that seem universal, Yon takes advantage of those to access what he thinks of as a basic menu system. Dee walks up and helps over his shoulder as well. Together accessing what they need.
The Language seems complex and strangly alien. And neither are able to really figure out what it is saying. But they two androids seem to think this is a control room for some sort of massive power plant. In either case, the two record the text in their internal systems for later analysis.
Sybil takes a quick look down the long tunnel to the west. She can see it extend farther down into the rock. There is nothing moving down this tunnel, but at the end there seems to be a hatch of some kind. A small door about 1 meter tall . This seems to be at the very end of the hall.
"Well, you two..." After a few minutes, Tylur leans over Yon and Dee as the androids assess the alien controls. "Have you figured anything out yet? Be careful you don't trigger any kind of self-destruct. We've got no way off this rock. And I'd really hate to meet any more of those guardian robots any countermeasures summon more of them from elsewhere in this facility..."
He carefully reloads his auto-pistol and pops another charge pack into his laser gun for good measure, doing what he can to assess the alien language he sees on the console.
"Looks like gibberish to me," he remarks. Upon seeing Sybil returning from her scouting run, he calls to her across the comm-link in his helmet. "How's the way forward look? Any exit that way? We've got one door on this side. Looks like it may go further into the asteroid."
"Yes I believe we have successfully broken through the security systems. Dee replied patting Yon on his shoulder. "Nicely done my friend."
"I am attempting to decrypt now, however, we may have to wait until we make it back on board the station before any successful attempt can be made. Perhaps we can record the information for later use?" The elf-droid turned to Yon, her head tilting to the side. "What about you Yon? Able to translate?"
"Yes I believe we have successfully broken through the security systems. Dee replied patting Yon on his shoulder. "Nicely done my friend."
[dice=culture]1d20+5
"I am attempting to decrypt now, however, we may have to wait until we make it back on board the station before any successful attempt can be made. Perhaps we can record the information for later use?" The elf-droid turned to Yon, her head tilting to the side. "What about you Yon? Able to translate?"
Yon smiles at being called friend but shakes his head disappointing,. addressing both Dee and Tylur. "As Agent Tylur stated- Gibberish'. This is the control panel to a power plant of some sort, No data is available beyond that.
I agree we should process this for later."
Yon staggers to his feet, his synthetic muscles groaning as well as organic muscles might, and moves to see what Sybil has found.
"A power plant, huh? Well, copy off whatever data you can. There's bound to be some interested parties on Absalom that'll be willing to look into it. Maybe Chiskisk knows someone?"
He turns to look at the recorder drone hovering nearby. "You hear that? Somebody send a shuttle back over for us and we'll get this data to you."
All of you take a look and the language does not jump out at you. As Tylur talks to the drone, it just continues to bob in the air, unphased by any communication it may have to the outside world.
At this point there seems to be a vent of some kind to the west and another set of doors near the computers to the east.
As Yon approaches the hatch to the west, it seems to be a simple hatch that should be opened, but it seems like it is jammed from the other side.
Yon studies the hatch, not in any shape to even think of using force.
Tylur, come take a look at this... Do you think you can possibly lift it... Hmmm. One second Trianna is processing.
It might be possible to open it elsewise. Anyone see any anomalies with the construction of this hatch?"
Yon takes a quick look at the door. Though whatever internal processing drives his core, or his AI, he is able to find the exact right leverage to push back the hinge and get a, unrelated, internal piston in the wall to push out and open the door.
Once opened its suddenly become visible what is going on here. It looks like blocks of varous machine parts and rocks where pressed against the door.
Inside this small room you quickly see a dead body. It does not take an expert to see the cause of death. A massive hole in her head, and a gun lay on the ground. It seems like she must have taken her own life. Though after any small look at her, you can see that there are other wounds all over her body and clothes.
Even with her body destroyed, you can see long black hair and a strange suit. This strangely matches the strange ghost you fought in the other room. Though this has been decaying for quite awhile. Though the strange vaccum of space has kept it somewhat from melting down.
A quick look over her gear shows an estex suit I with a brown force field generator. though the battery is depleted. There are also 2 spell amps of lesser restoration, and her personal datapad. All of which seem strangly out of date for anyone who uses these types of equipment. There is also a drained Static Arc Pistol that she seemed to have shot herself with.
A recording, a small hologram of some kind pops to life on the screen. The same woman, though much less dead flares to life.
Hello, my name is Moriko Nash, and I am the captain of the independent starship Sunrise Maiden. If you are seeing this, I am likely dead. I was traveling in the drift and discovered a strange astroid. Eager to make my claim and discover new things, I found a docking port on the rock and landed my ship.
She looks bruised and bleeding from the head. Slightly out of breath and the camera seems to be from this very small storage room.
"I discovered amazing things here. It seems to be part of something bigger, what.. I do not know. But... I also discovered something dangerous. A flying yellow beast. It attacked me and seemly consumed my life force. It could walk through walls. I did what I could, tried to escape. I eventually tricked my force field generator to use up the remaining power and extend it. The monster was not able to get through it. But it would eventually run out of power"
"I think I've come to terms with it. I won't survive, but at least I've explored strange worlds and seen wonders I would never have dreamed of as a child. I guess everything comes to an end eventually. I've always been the master of my own fate, and I'm not going to change now" Captain Nash holds up a pistol. "When my force field goes down, I'll fight. But I'm saving my last charge for myself. My life. My death."
"This is my last will and testament. To whoever finds this recording. I leave the Sunrise maiden to you. It's a good ship, and no matter where I've gone, it's always brought me home... until now. If you treat it right, it'll do the same for you. Leave my body where you found it - we come from the stars, and the stars I'll return -- but the Maiden deserves to keep flying." nash takes a deep breath and ends the recording.
You recognize Sunrise Maiden as the name of a starship that was reported lost in the drift in 242 AG. (about 75 years ago). The ship and it's crew where never found - until now
"Gods, how long has she been here like this? Do you think that was her ghost?"
"Gods, how long has she been here like this? Do you think that was her ghost?"
"Well...we have no other explanation for that creature. And, seeing as how this asteroid came from the Drift, who knows what kind of otherworldly influence was exerted on her when she took her own life."
Tylur pauses to examine the body's other wounds. "You know, something else happened to her. The gunshot to the head must have been her last act, but she's got slashes here and there. Something must have driven her to the extreme of taking her own life. See here? The suit's got a depleted power cell on the force field generator. That means it ran out. And, when it did, I suspect that's when she used her last resort. The only question is...what drove her to do that? I doubt it was that robot. And if the ghost we encountered was her, that means something else posed a threat here. She must have faced it. And, it's possible it's still around. So, we better be on our guard."
He picks through the rest of the body's belongings. "Static arc pistol," he notes aloud for everyone, "Decent range. It can hit multiple targets if they're clustered together, but mostly just a few electrical burns. Nothing nearly as bad as the primary target."
Examining the datapad, he frowns. "Power cell's depleted on this thing, too. Who knows how long it's been sitting here? If we could recharge it, maybe we can figure out who she was...and why she was here. Hey, Yon? Didn't we find a suit on one of the Acreon crew with a backup generator? If we connect it up to this thing, we can probably power it up with just a few minutes of moving around."
"Zam? Maybe we should fall back for now? Not necessarily all the way back to the Acreon...though, we could, if we want a full night's rest. At the very least, we should move out of this alien structure and back into the Drift Rock. Then, we can take some time to gather whatever intel we can glean from this datapad and the files Dee and Yon have copied. We can also recharge our weapons to full, take stock of our situation, and mend up a bit. Maybe we can treat Yon with these spell amps? What do you think?"
[ooc]Did anyone end up claiming the generator? I knowno caisalltexpfeessed interest in it but don't think o ever saw any other thoughts. I'll assume I have it for the momnent[/ooc
Yon digs around and pulls out the armor mod. Jumping in:retreating seems like a good ideas, recharge weapons, he, And charge generator.
"I have to agree with Tylur. Probability states that whatever creatures we encounter has a high chance of being the remains of the dead crew of the Acreon. We should proceed with caution." The elf-droid seemed worried, but quickly regain her composure.
"If no one wishes the weapon, I would love it as part as my arsenal of weapons," Dee asked, hoping to get the item. She wouldn't categorize herself as the heavy hitter of the team, but when her magic was depleted she needed other ways to replace it.
"Yes I believe that is a sound tactical action." Her magic had been depleted, a night's rest would allow Dee to regain her spells. "This will allow me to regain my technomagical energies. Being fully prepared is at our advantage once we face whatever creatures are hiding deeper within."
"I have to agree with Tylur. Probability states that whatever creatures we encounter has a high chance of being the remains of the dead crew of the Acreon. We should proceed with caution." The elf-droid seemed worried, but quickly regain her composure.
"If no one wishes the weapon, I would love it as part as my arsenal of weapons," Dee asked, hoping to get the item. She wouldn't categorize herself as the heavy hitter of the team, but when her magic was depleted she needed other ways to replace it.
"Yes I believe that is a sound tactical action." Her magic had been depleted, a night's rest would allow Dee to regain her spells. "This will allow me to regain my technomagical energies. Being fully prepared is at our advantage once we face whatever creatures are hiding deeper within."
As you all, carefully, make your way out of the gravity in the deeper part of the rock into the zero-g area. Those of you with any kind of drain to your strength feel a bit better. Back through the darkness of the rock, out the small hole you entered. Making your way to the docking cable. Following it all the way back to the Acreon. Its a tiring journey, and by the time you get back into the ship, you are all very tired.
The next morning Both Yon and Sybil start to feel even worse.
Yon works to treat Sybil and himself as they rest.
"Any observations anyone? The data to me still seems inconclusive. Perhaps the datapad will fill in the gaps.
Once rested Yon tries the repowered datapad. Clicking the hologram on.
As it finished he stares off, processing. Interesting... Imagine what information we might find amongst the computers of her ship, or deeper into the asteroid. We shouldn't let her death go to waste.
Sybil had been move about "space" the good part of the day and coming back to the ship where the gravity plating had her on the ground was a disappointment.
It was somewhere resting that she began to feel worse again. The feeling inside was of ick... sickness started to take over. It was when Yon approached asking how she was that she was doing and used his medical skill to feel better. And it worked!
She felt better than she had for most of the this venture. She did not even realize that she was feeling 'that' bad until she was feeling so much better.
"Need a hand... " she asks Yon....
With the power restored to the device it flares to life.
A recording, a small hologram of some kind pops to life on the screen. The same woman, though much less dead flares to life.
"Hello, my name is Moriko Nash, and I am the captain of the independent starship Sunrise Maiden. If you are seeing this, I am likely dead. I was traveling in the drift and discovered a strange astroid. Eager to make my claim and discover new things, I found a docking port on the rock and landed my ship.
She looks bruised and bleeding from the head. Slightly out of breath and the camera seems to be from this very small storage room.
"I discovered amazing things here. It seems to be part of something bigger, what.. I do not know. But... I also discovered something dangerous. A flying yellow beast. It attacked me and seemly consumed my life force. It could walk through walls. I did what I could, tried to escape. I eventually tricked my force field generator to use up the remaining power and extend it. The monster was not able to get through it. But it would eventually run out of power"
"I think I've come to terms with it. I won't survive, but at least I've explored strange worlds and seen wonders I would never have dreamed of as a child. I guess everything comes to an end eventually. I've always been the master of my own fate, and I'm not going to change now" Captain Nash holds up a pistol. "When my force field goes down, I'll fight. But I'm saving my last charge for myself. My life. My death."
"This is my last will and testament. To whoever finds this recording. I leave the Sunrise maiden to you. It's a good ship, and no matter where I've gone, it's always brought me home... until now. If you treat it right, it'll do the same for you. Leave my body where you found it - we come from the stars, and the stars I'll return -- but the Maiden deserves to keep flying." nash takes a deep breath and ends the recording.
Zam realizes and shares:
You recognize Sunrise Maiden as the name of a starship that was reported lost in the drift in 242 AG. (about 75 years ago). The ship and it's crew where never found - until now
"Well, it seems returning to the ship was the best course, after all. Yon and Sybil seem back on their feet. And, judging by that recording, we may well need everyone at full strength if we're going to be facing a yellow flying beast that can walk through walls."
"I can't say I've ever heard of this Sunrise Maiden before, but if it's a ship...and Nash docked it somewhere on the Drift Rock...it's our ticket out of here."
Tylur eats a healthy breakfast from the Acreon's food stores, and then sets about checking his gear for one more foray down to the asteroid's surface. With a set goal now, he's got a determined look in his eye.
"I too have never heard of it. But with my life spent mostly at the whims of my Dark Elf Captors and joining the Liberation Front, by journeys probably headed in opposite directions then wherever this vessel was at. The elf-droid stated, trying to recall the vessel's name.
The Technomancer appeared energized with her own spell energies as she was happy to see her friends were feeling healthy once more. "I believe it's time for us to 'get off this rock'. She quoted, though more a factual statement than an emotional one. "I am functioning at 100% and ready to depart.
Yon moves about, feeling better. "if we encounter that creature, how shall we handle it?"
Clara is still with you. If you let her on the ship she likely just took advanage of a clean space and gravity to to to patch up some of her wounds, though you can tell she is likely very damaged still.
---When you are all ready---
You make your way all the way back to the rock. You enter the big chamber with the door. You do notice one difference, the body of the goblin has gone missing. No longer in the room.
You enter the big chamber with the door. You do notice one difference, the body of the goblin has gone missing. No longer in the room.
"Well...this place either has really dedicated janitorial robots...or there's definitely something still active in this place. Everybody be on point. If that monster's still around, we'll need to hit it with everything we've got or we'll wind up like Moriko Nash."
"Dee? Make sure you're well enough back from the rest of us that you can use your spells. We might need something more effective than blasters and bullets. I'll lead us in. Everyone else keep your sight lines clear and your guns ready."
"That is rather disturbing..." she shrugs, "What on this rock isn't, though right." The hafling says.
She weaves a hand and calls upon her goddess, "Grant me magical sight"
Sybil's cone of magic detection does not pick up anything outside of the blips of power your comrades have. Though the strange metal does seem to have a strange hybrid magic/technology essense to it.
Your group carefully moves back into the strange gravity cooridor. Back with the strange computer terminals and blinking lights. There is a door to the north east that seems to be the only way deeper into the rock.
"I would like to think that their are janitorial robots. But that seems illogical to believe. I am ready when you all are. As a note, I am running low on energy cells. I currently have 16 charges left between my three batteries."
Up on the Acreon, Zam offers Clara a serum of healing.
__________________
"This is my last will and testament. To whoever finds this recording. I leave the Sunrise maiden to you. It's a good ship, and no matter where I've gone, it's always brought me home... until now. If you treat it right, it'll do the same for you. Leave my body where you found it - we come from the stars, and the stars I'll return -- but the Maiden deserves to keep flying."
Zam can't help but feel emotional listening to Moriko's nuncupative testament. Where had this brave woman come from? What had compelled her to leave whatever home she knew and brave the vastness of space all alone? Zam could never be that adventurous. Could she? She reaches out and touches Moriko's face just as the hologram fades, and she's left staring at a reflection of herself.
___________________
Down below, she has her pistol ready, for what it's worth. Staying to the rear, she speaks calmly. "Right, if this thing can walk through walls, it could certainly walk through bullets and hammers. Let's keep that in mind if we come across any flying yellow monsters."
"...I am ready when you all are. As a note, I am running low on energy cells. I currently have 16 charges left between my three batteries."
"Copy that," Tylur replies, "Everyone? If you haven't had a chance to prepare your weapons, do a quick ammo check and reload, if necessary. We might want to keep a our healing serums handy, too. So, make sure you've got one on your belt for easy access."
"Right, if this thing can walk through walls, it could certainly walk through bullets and hammers. Let's keep that in mind if we come across any flying yellow monsters."
"Makes sense. If we encounter it, I'll try to draw its attention. Hopefully, I can keep it occupied while the rest of you figure out if it has any weaknesses or vulnerabilities."
The big soldier pauses for a moment. "You know, come to think of it, we might need our biggest firepower if we have to fight it. So, have a grenade ready, and I'll go in with the artillery laser we picked up from the Downside Kings. I think it's still got a decent charge on it and better range than my handguns if this beast flies. Of course, if it walks through walls, maybe we can batter a few down with this thing, too."
"Agreed, my spells and I are ready as they will ever be." Dee replied, making sure that her rifle was at the ready. If this creature was able to venture through walls it would certainly be a foe to reckon with. Dee wouldn't waste any time unleashing her techno magic against it. One's thing for certain she couldn't wait for this mission to be over.
As you open the door in front of you, it leads into a small hallway with another door. You all prepare at this door as well and signal it to open.
With its faulted ceiling and smoothed stone floor, this sprawling cavern has the appearance of a primitive shuttle hanger or landing bay - an impressive reinforced by the presence of a starship taking up the majority of the space. Only the western wall is finished with the ceramic-metallic plating found elsewhere in the complex; the remainder of the cavern is hemmed by natural rock walls. Huge doors stand in the eastern wall of the chamber door easily big enough to accommodate the starship parked in front of them. Of more immediate interest, however, are the two humam bodies splayed on the floor just inside the western doors, their internal organs spread artfully on the floor around the corpses.
When you fully enter the room you see a strange creature tucked against the top of the cavern. It looks to be watching you all.
The halfling peers inside the door from around the corner and sees the bodies before her, "Even more disturbing..."
The woman than takes the rest of the room in and she spots something high up... and whispers in a concerned tone over the comms, "Guys... Ah... we have company... ceiling just to the left."
She grips her rifle just a little harder.
Sybil attempts to discern what kind of creature is there looking back at them....
The good kind... or the bad?" Trianna beeps to prep for the latter, inside his head. Yon does his best to peer around Sybil but is unable to get anywhere without moving past her. He checks his rifle to make surenthe better seems securely connected.
He looks at the others to see their expressions. His own one of ponderous curiosity.
As you all look up at what Sybil points out. You can see a strange yellow creature, with large wings, front arms that end in claws, a long tail, and a huge lampray like mouth. No eyes or ears of any kind.
Round 1
Sybil, Yon, Dee, Zam <- Do anything?
Monster
Tylur
Yon has Trianna lock on to the entity and readies to shoot it if it gets within 10 feet of someone.
The halfling considers the situation and what she heard of the former Captain. Normally she might wait to see how the beastie reacts... but looking to the ground of bodies it has played with and how it is looking at them now she gives a small shrug, "Desna be with us all..."
The hafling gathers forth power from as she casts a spell. The small blackened light appears about her hands quuckly followed by three small dark purple stars streaking out like small comets towards the creature.
Dee looked at the monster wondering if she had ever seen such a creature. Seeing her Halfling friend reaction with an offensive spell, Dee decided to do the same. If this was the creature that was in the message, something told her they would have a battle on their hands.
Reaching out, she does the same letting lose three bolts of light towards their new foe.
"H-hello?" Zam calls, just before Sybil and Dee attack with magic.
"Well, so much for diplomacy," she says as she grips her pistol. "Tylur, time to do what you're best at!"
Dee takes a quick look at this creature. Not quite sure of what it is.
With the small bolts of energy slapping to the creature. It seems to roar into the vacuum. It seems to be focusing all of his attention past Tylur onto Sybil.
It seems to take a deep breath in.. Lines of life seem to escape out of the halfling.
Life seems to drain out of Sybil and straight into the creature, who seems to suck up the life force. Its body getting bulkier and its wounds healing up.
The creature then takes a look at Tylur and opens its mouth wide. Then disconnects from the ceiling. And seems to be flying in the airless void about 15 feet up.
Round 1-2
Tylur, Sybil, Yon, Dee, Zam <- Do anything?
Monster
Tylur takes aim on the flying creature's open maw and unleashes a pair of blasts from the artillery laser.
Seeing the creature dodge the first one, he adjusts his aim and tries again...
"C'mon, you ugly thing..." he snarls as the flash of the laser illuminates his faceplate.