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"Man, you guys are working for an Eoxian ambassador? Stealing, or 'recovering', cargo for them? Do you know if it was the Eoxians that originally contracted AE for this run?"
"Regardless, if you've got a lead on the crew, we should follow up on it. I would be interested in finding out where one comes across a corpse commander in a box."
Collectively you gather anything of note (includes downloading previously unearthed files), then secure the Eoxian cargo onboard the Hippocampus.
Shortly afterward Kris deftly disengages the shuttle from the derelict tug, and soon you are on the approach to Drift Rock...
As you close, visual display confirms what you suspected about the stellar body; the Drift Rock is a rocky asteroid only a few thousand feet in diameter with an unremarkable, irregular surface.
To discern more about the asteroid, you determine that a deep scan would be required or a physical survey of its surface.
Scanning the Drift Rock with the Hippocampus’s sensors, gleans that the asteroid has no atmosphere and is primarily composed of rock and metal. Strangely, the sensors can pick up no additional information, as if the Drift Rock itself is interfering with the sensor readings...
You can however locate the wreckage of the downed Necroglider - however any scans for life signs prove fruitless due to the strange interference.
Drawing on your knowledge of asteroids, you notice one unusual feature: one side of the Drift Rock seems to have been sheared cleanly off, as if it was once part of a larger planetoid or celestial body.
You discern another somewhat odd detail: unlike on most asteroids, no impact craters mar the Drift Rock’s surface, as though it had somehow been protected from the ravages of space for millions of years.
The Hippo's HUD indicate that touchdown will be in under 5 minutes.
Startoad grabs a seat at the computers and watches as they fly closer to the rock. As he watches it get closer he plugs into the computer pulling a wire from the back of his head.
As he works the scanner his mind blurs as the computer analyzes the rock, startoad starts blurting out the information that comes to him.
Ed listens to the goblin's description of the rock's unusual characteristics, but it doesn't mean much to him.
"Interesting. Any life signs down there, or visible structures? It's not a large rock, but I'd rather not have to crawl all over it."
Startoad starts to hover over the computer as he works it over, erratically. He tries to scan the rock for life signs.
Suddenly the wire shocks him as he is overloaded with info. The goblin flies into the seat as he blinks trying to process the cerebral shock.
“Uhhh, I don’t know, my brain feels fuzzy now.”
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"We at least know there is an android down there waiting. I doubt she will try anything funny, can you scan for her wreckage? Could be a good place to start"
Gathering himself for a second round of the controls Startoad starts to work the computer over again to scan for wreckage.
Noah scans the large rock, fascination painted across his features.
...No atmosphere, ... primarily composed of rock and metal, ... not picking up any additional information. The Drift Rock itself is interfering with my sensor readings. ... ... Ah, there is the wreckage of the downed Necroglider. No life signs anywhere but with the interference I am not surprised.
Noah correctly identifies where the wreckage of the Necroglider lies and Kris sets the Hippo down nearby.
The crackling scanners reveal little of where its pilot could be located, though visual cameras may reveal more:
While studying Hippo's camera feeds of the Drift Rock, you note a rocky overhang concealing a cave entrance that seems to lead inside the asteroid... It may be that Clara has taken refuge there, although it will take a physical scouting of the surface and cave to determine this for sure...
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Ed is busy sorting the comestibles in his fanny pack snack sack.
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And Noah has his eyes glued to the computer monitor and scanner reads.
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While scanning the screen Startoad sees the cave and yells out, “Cave! There’s a cave! We should go in there!”
Ed sighs. Generally a bad idea, but I suppose that's the only way we're going to figure out what's going on. Let's go. He moves to the airlock, ready to go while the others get their life support in order.
Startoad unplugs from the computer ” Yeah! Let’s go explore, I love rocks, big rocks are even better!” he then grabs his laxer rifle from on top of his backpack and scampers to the airlock.
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Paeon pats the gobo on the head as he notes the cave,
"Good spot Toad."
Paeon readies his gear.
"Probably best not to just saunter up out in the open."
Keeping low to the ground, Nipper scuttles up to the mouth of the cave. If nothing seems likely to shoot anyone, he waves up the rest of the motley crew.
You collectively disembark, those of you immune to the hostile vacuum of space unhindered by the life support or suits that the rest of your company wear.
Stealthily you approach the cave mouth, finding it winds deeper into the asteroid itself.
The tunnel before you appears a tight fit - its width just in excess of 5ft wide, with a ceiling height of 15ft.
Retsiji elects to remain back on the Hippocampus - citing those tunnels are "Too tight for the scaled I reckon. Would cramp my fighting style most likely... I guard our chariot."...
Your keen eyes notice markings that correlate with boot marks upon the more mirrored facets of the asteroids surface.
Whether they belong to Clara or a member of the crew you cannot discern.
As the big Vesk re-enters the shuttle something flies out past him - towards your group!
The object glides toward you all, hovering some 10ft above the ground. As it closes you see it appears to be a small humanoid skull, with a camera mounted in one eye cavity. The macabre object halts above your group...
You recognise this as a Dead Eye - necrotech observation/transmission used by Eoxain media to document desired subject matter... They also broadcast direct comms with their "handlers" but are incapable of speech themselves.
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Ed's excited chirp is stymied by the vacuum of space, but his mental message is received. Looks like Clara did come this way. I can see her tracks.
He startles as the creepy skull cam zooms up. It looks someone knows we're here. Smile. We're on Death TV.
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Startoad hops along the reduced gravity carrying the goblin into the air before returning to the surface.
The goblin stares at the footsteps as they travel, curious as to who this Clara is they keep talking about. When the skull appear the goblin’s eyes go wide as he looks at it, fascinated by the technology of it. “Can I take it apart? Shiny head looks really cool.”
The Dead Eye hovers, panning to take in your collective group, before addressing you all in a familiar voice;
"Greetingssss Mossst Dutiful Vitalitatessss of Eox. Asss I have been charged to invesssstigate the sssstrange casssse of the Acreon and itssss cargo, thissss Dead Eye hassss been deployed to document your findingssss."
Alasss. Due to technical difficultiessss the Dead Eye could not be deployed on the Acreon itsssself. A pity given the interesssting disssscoveriessss you no doubt sssssecured. Consssider it a non-combatative chronicler of your endevourssss."
His voice abruptly cuts out, leaving the skull-cam floating vigil above you all.
You realise there is something amiss with the "transmission". Given live comms are disrupted by the Drift Rock's strange field, then Nor's message must be a recording...
Toad looks to the others confused by exactly what the machine is talking about.
Paeon looks toward the eye of the camera briefly as the crew ponders it.
"Can't say I'm too partial to being observed. If they wanted to keep an eye on us, wouldnt they have sent this thing with us from the first meeting? If you can catch it, i say you can take it apart Startoad. "
Noah seems unhappy but not distraught at the sight of the observer. Its likely property of our employer, but he should have mentioned it, right?
I am pretty sure it can't transmit in here. Remember the ship's sensors were having a hard time scanning this rock. So the best it can do is record.
Toad is gonna try and leap and grab it to try and start to take it apart.
Paeon easily smacks the necro-tech, sending it spinning toward the ground! Startoad leaps, grabbing at the skull sized camera, but he fails to grip successfully as it takes an evasive turn... its internal gyros groaning as it rights itself and begins to climb!
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Somewhat unhappy with the decision to attack the recording drone but being a team player and seeing no choice Noah fires his arc rifle at the bot.
Ed seems startled by the sudden assault. Oh. We're shooting? he asks the obvious and draws and fires if dead-o-vision is still aloft.
Caught in a deadly crossfire between Noah and Ed's arc-blasts the Dead-Eye, frying its necrotic circuits.
Blackened and (un)lifeless - it falls to the ground with a hollow thunk... wisps of acrid smoke billowing from its dead lens.
Kris taps the necro-cam with her boot and a wry smile;
"Think you killed it boys. We should pick fights with AV-tech more often."
Trailblazing up front Paeon indicates that there is a channel to the left, or to carry on with a gradient towards the right. Neither have indications of how long they are past the 20ft range of his flashlight...
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Startoad is gonna take the skull robot head and put in his bag, extremely curious about how it works. Following after the group till the intersection looking to the tall one with the glowing speck near him.
Maybe left? Ed shrugs.
Paeon notes Ed's shrug acutely as it takes three times the regular amount of time before his arms fall after the shrug.
"Left seems right to me Ed... Nipper you want to scuttle off ahead?
"Scuttling is what I do, just be prepared if I come running back with a pack of angry locals at my heels."
Nipper ranges out in front of the main party to see what he can see.
As Fingernipper rounds the bend he suddenly signals for the group to halt.
A seemingly dead body in a spacesuit lies motionless in this cavern...
You note the Hardscrabble's "HC" logo upon the Estex Armoured Spacesuit. This is most likely one of the Acreon's crew, but to correctly identify them you'll need to get closer...
Ed points to the patch on the suit. Hardscrabble. I think this is one of the lost crew.
I'll have to take your word for it. Noah says trying to focus ahead and failing. If so, we will need to take it back with us. Wonder if we can figure the cause of death?
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Well, I don't want to go near it. How do we know it's not going to get up like the last one? Someone poke it.
Noah will cautiously move up to identify the body. Assuming it does not explode or worse he will eventually try to determine what killed the man.
Noah braves the potential of undead ambush finding the body to be mundane.
The cause of its death is clear - they bear the same tell-tale puncture marks of an Akata bite your companions do, however it appears the bite wound killed the crewman before they suffered a horrifying transformation into a void zombie.
The corpse bears an digi-tag around its neck detailing this was Tym Wikker, Human Male. You recall from the ACREON'S CREW FILE that he was the ship's Junior Engineer.
Wikker's forlorn corpse still wears an Estex Suit I with Backup Generator armour upgrade and clutches an empty Survival Flare Gun.
Paeon stands vigilantly while the android investigates the death,
"Anything worth noting Noah? It doesn't seem were away from danger here either. Can retrieve the bodies later if needed, for now scoop the badge and tags if any... let's find the rest of the crew and keep a lookout. Nipper, lead us."
Paeon sets himself to follow Nipper, the faint glow of his stellar muted illuminating his presence.