As the team plans to descend and explore they look at the data available. It is clear that many of the tunnels are as little as 5 ft wide and the inclines vary from about 30-60 degrees. The temperature during descent looks to be about 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit and increases closer to the centre. Still, it should be nothing that modern armour cannot handle.
Various members of the team start hauling out the titanium alloy cables and grapplers from the buggies, looking for any other equipment they may have that will be useful. Then discussion begins about what safety precautions will be taken, in what order they will make the descent, will B199S be able to accompany them?
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>Load: Climbing Protocol
>>Activate Manipulator Arms
>>Rotate: Manipulator Arms: 90 degrees
>>Lock: Artillery Laser
>>Follow: Mardonnnen
B199s follows the lead of his Mechanic while descending the lines.
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Not being of much use in a firefight except as support, Laksell offers to hang out near the back of the line. But when Bubba asks about driving supports into the creature, he pauses a moment before answering with a dreamers look in his eyes.
“Bubba, I think we will be okay. We've been driving all over it, and what not. I suspect we are as fleas on a void dragon to it. “
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Maoshi is initially quite shocked by the idea of what they're about to do, but as reality sinks in she starts getting curious about whether the entire area is really alive. While they're assembling the climbing equipment, Maoshi carefully double-checks her armor's protection seals and wonders aloud about what it's like to be inside an enormous organism. "Do you think if we do find the brain we'll be able to... you know, communicate with it? Could you even do that from inside? Is it likely to have some kind of immune system? Or maybe other things live in there, like a kind of symbiosis."
At Bubba and Laksell's discussion she tilts her head to one side. "And yet most people find fleas displeasing, don't they? Even void dragons. It might not enjoy being pricked by our equipment, but I think it would be a wise precaution to take anyway, until we know for sure."
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"Me, too, Aba. And I might be able to help with that," he says with a smile and a tiny lilt to his voice as he says "help" to their especially helpful friend.
"I have a spell that allows another being to communicate in Common, assuming it can speak and hear us. Perhaps telepathically..." his voice trailing off.
"Ah, yes, and another ability of my people is that we can transmit large amounts of information directly to another being. Even without a common language. Perhaps I can explain who we are that way."
As the team descends, the tunnel becomes a vertical shaft 8 feet across and over 50 feet deep. The same grey, shell-like material that was seen on the surface of the plateau covers the interior of this shaft, though it is much lumpier and more irregular in this section of the tunnel.
Aba seems distracted during the climb. A couple of times she nearly loses her grip but the safety measures plus extra hands help her out.
Laksell also comes close to losing his grip but more from surprise. He suddenly realises that some of the lumps they are seeing are actually in the shape of creatures and that this tube may be trapped. In fact, he thinks he can make out the shape of nozzles just below where the team is suspended. It would seem they spray a substance that coats and holds a creature then hardens to the surface they can see. This is similar to what the team discovered at the Windy Cliffs.
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Laksell calls out a halt to the team when he realizes they're about the get glue trapped.
"This is incredible! This truly is a living organism.... I wonder if it's feeding on the trapped creatures, or is it purely a defense mechanism?"
He stops to study the trap hoping to gain some insight on it's timing...
...then shares what understanding he's garnered with his allies.
Laksell draws his weapon, a living electrocellular arthropod claw. He concentrates on it and gently lowers it into the field of the nozzles using only the power of his mind. He waves this tasty bit of live crab claw meat (albeit infused with plasma energy tech) around like a lure hoping to trigger the nozzles without losing his weapon in the process.
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"I'll help!" Five of her six of her hands get involved in this task! Aba pulls scrap out of the Abadar Corp Haulerbot™, hammers it together, sands the rough edges and fashions a new Shield which she then sprays with a bruight yellow teflon coating.
BAM-BAM-BAM! Whirrrrr. Psssssssh!
"And when you turn it upside down, you can go sledding on it! This will be fun!"
With her sixth hand, she pulls out a grappler gun and offers to loan it to someone. "In case anyone wants to shoot a cable that drags a lure for that thing, this'll help!"
Click. Whirrr.
It's a good thing Mardo got so well-rested the night before! Though he only has two hands, he tackes the engineering project with zeal.
BAM.BAM.BAM! Whirrrrrrrr. Psssssssh.
The end result is a second shield that's even more professional looking than Aba's!
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Laksell, over his initial surprise and now fascinated by this organism the group is entering, shares what he observes with the rest of the team and continues to study the situation while speaking out loud his thoughts.
As he does so, most of the team listen intently and formulate plans to pass safely. Bubba, however, relies on his physical prowess to scoot past, hoping to be faster than the creatures reactions. He lands at the bottom safely.
Rogers lowers a lure, after Bubba has passed, setting off one of the nozzles which sprays a greenish gel that starts to rapidly harden. If it wasn't for Laksell's observations the spray likely would have caught at least one of the party members as it covered a surprisingly wide area.
In the meantime, Aba and Donny have fashioned shields to protect those still descending. Everyone reaches the bottom of the shaft safely and congregates to exchange observations and make notes before they proceed.
Those that need them have already activated their flashlights or other light sources. One of the beams shines over a corner area and catches a flash of green cloth trapped in the now grey hardened surface. There is the distinct four-armed outline of a kasatha. A spherical holorecorder is in one of the kasatha’s hands.
Aba scrambles over where she can easily free the object from the corpse’s hand, knock off the shell covering, and play the recording. The projector creates a hologram of a female kasatha, her mouth covered with a green mask and her hands outstretched in ritual gestures. Faint audio crackles to life, echoing in the tunnel.
“It has been three days since I landed, and I believe I am the first sapient creature ever to visit this planet. What a privilege this discovery is. Thank Talavet for the tales she has charged me to tell. I shall not fail in this duty.
“When I first beheld the vast, dry, expanse of this plateau, I felt the call of home. A year have I journeyed, with only my crest-eater cubs for company, and as a citizen of the Idari, I have never seen the deserts of Kasath with my waking eyes. Yet, they are as clear to me now as if they stretched out before me. Now I descend into the depths of this strange, alien desert to find what rests beneath it. Mother, father, I miss you and all the members of our family. Soon I will return to add my story to the records of our House. Perhaps one day that story will be retold, and the lessons others have taught me about myself will be repeated in the halls of our ancestors.
“But if I should fail, I leave behind this record in the hope that other pilgrims follow in my footsteps. And while it is hope beyond hope, I ask that if you, strangers, find me before the carrion birds have made a meal of my flesh, perform the work of the adata and preserve my memories, for what they are worth, so that I may be returned to my people. For even in failure, there are lessons to be learned, and love can still be found and remembered.
“I am Exu Jana Onorab of House Hadulan, and this is my Tempering.”
You recall that the adata are a special class of kasatha aboard the Idari who remove a thin slice of brain material from kasathas who die aboard the vessel. This brain matter is added to a vast ancestral record which kasathas can access, even asking questions of those who have died.
The calcifying gel has petrified Exu Jana Onorab’s brain. you can remove the brain or a piece of it with a successful Engineering, Medicine, or Profession check related to handling stone. Alternatively, you could just hack the petrified head from the body or otherwise extract a large portion of the petrified corpse, though if doing so a Dexterity check will be needed to avoid damaging the brain’s preserved structure in the process.
While it is not within your ability to restore the petrified brain sample, the adata aboard the Idari may know a way to do so.
If any would rather extract the whole body, they can do so using any of the methods and risks above. However, Exu’s petrified body is 45 bulk, which is extraordinarily difficult to carry, much less maneuver up through the tunnels. If someone is strong enough and devise a means to hoist the body through thousands of feet of tunnels, the process likely takes many hours.
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"Oh that poor Kasatha! We need to bring her brain back to The Idarii if we can. I can help Mardo remove the brain! Or we can carry her head in my Abadar Corp Haulerbot™! Which would you like us to do?" She looks to the others for guidance, trying to figure out how to best help.
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"I have confidence in all of you lil buddies! Especially after seeing how well you all did with getting those towers setup. Try to take the brain!"
Bubba will also take a look through the corpse for any other mementos or personal effects that should be brought back plus any useful equipment she's left behind.
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"How sad. There's something tragic about hearing a person's voice after they've already passed." Maoshi spends a few moments in respectful silence, and then chimes in. "I agree, we should try to take the memories only, and get them back to the Idari. It's a strange practice if you ask me, but it's what she requested."
She shudders slightly at the thought that it could have been any of them trapped and preserved like this, if the others hadn't been so adept at getting past the nozzles earlier. "Let's not let that happen to any of us, right?"
With the approval of the others, Donny and Aba carefully remove the brain and store it in Aba's haulerbot.
Rogers and Maoshi watch respectfully, trying to add what dignity they can to the procedure.
After they are done, Bubba moves in to try to recover any personal effects the kasatha's family may value. In doing so he also recovers a suit of kasatha microcord I, spark polarity gauntlets , a frost subduer , jump jets, and a mk 1 ring of resistance.
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Laksell watches respectfully alongside Maoshi. When everyone is done, he offers a simple prayer over the remains asking that the memories, hopes, and dreams of Exu Jana Onorab of House Hadulan be remembered by his descendants and honored by his ancestors.
“If we are all ready, then let us continue. “
The team continues to travel down the shaft for a total of about an hour as the temperature steadily rises. Eventually the tunnel, bending at a 45-degree angle, empties out into an enormous spherical chamber 120 feet in diameter. Dozens of tunnels like the one they traversed lead up from this chamber, some directly from the ceiling and others ascending more gently around the edges. The temperature here is 120° F. The heat emanates from a massive, golden crystal about 90 feet in diameter that almost fills the chamber. It is suspended in the center of the chamber by many gray, shell-covered columns that each stretch across the 15-foot gap separating the crystal from the walls of the chamber. The crystal is a network of nerve cells and other matter that functions as Big Mina’s brain.
As they arrive, Mora contacts the team on their comm units and asks them to use their handheld geological survey scanners to analyze the crystal. She can process the data through the computers back at the research station, and together they can learn more about Big Mina.
After a few minutes, Mora has the data she needs.
”Well, Big Mina is definitely not from around here. There are enough traces of cosmic particle decay that she must have spent a long time moving slowly through deep space. Our preliminary growth estimates suggest that was millions of years ago, and she must have been very small—maybe no larger than your fist. But it looks like Big Mina and my little one have something in common: a big appetite! This alien creature can consume anything: rock, water, organic material... it’ll take a while, hundreds or maybe thousands of years, but eventually Big Mina will consume the entire planet!”
Mora’s face appears on the computer screen. “I’m not sure if we should allow that to happen. Vabaimus has a rich ecosystem, and while there aren’t any sapient creatures here yet, it’s only a matter of time before these sloths, or something else, make that critical step. Can we sentence them, and every other species on the planet, to certain death? On the other hand, Mina is a unique life-form, and it doesn’t seem evil. It’s no more intelligent than a giant clam. Can we bring ourselves to murder it when it’s just doing what it’s evolved to do?
“Starfinders, you’ve taken the lead in so many of our recent discoveries, I would really benefit from your perspective. What do you recommend?”
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“Doctor, how did you determine that it is, how did you put it, 'no more intelligent than a giant clam?' With a brain this size, shouldn't it be at least sentient? “
Laksell suddenly realizes what he's implying when he looks down at the diminutive Aba. “Not that I think that brain size... “
“Err, but, well, Doctor, how do you know it cannot communicate at some level? “
Laksell's vestigial gills seem to flutter, perhaps it's a sign of embarrassment in his species.
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"If you ask me, bro, I say chill and let it be... Who are we to get involved, y'know? Big Mina is doin what its supposed to be doin. It isn't an evil to be eliminated. It has as much a right to do what it does as other lifeforms have on this planet to try and evolve and survive.
"We don't fault a lion for killing antelope. It's just doin what its supposed to do, y'know bro?
"And as for the sloths eventually becoming sentient, who's to say that Big Mina won't one day do the same?
"So I say sit back, have a few puffs, learn a thing or two about Big Mina and other lifeforms on this planet but let nature take its course man...."
Bubba lays back comfortably, a plume of smoke surrounding his head as he philosophizes...
Dr Motressi replies to Laksell, “The scans you took provided a lot of data. We have analysed it and compared it to all known life forms in our database. Based on what I’m reading, it’s not intelligent as we understand the term. It’s an animal and can feel pain, but it doesn’t have cognition, a prerequisite for language. The brain functions are very basic.”
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"That is an excellent question, Rogers. Doctor, is Big Mina even capable of movement on her, uhh..., its own?"
Turning to the group, Laksell expresses support for Bubba's philosophy. "We would not interrupt a rangalor from eating a zarn-beast, nor any of the creatures that grow and live within and upon the zarn. This being isn't Evil, it is simply following the Inscrutable way of the Universe."
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Aba thinks hard. "I became a wayfinder in part because I value life, and want to seek out new alien forms and welcome them into the universe. But all life is not equal. Big Mina is an invasive species, but she's been here long enough for some of these other species to adapt to life around her. Is there a way to slow her growth? A lot of races have pituitary glands or other things that make them grow. Can we stop her -- at this point in her cycle -- and allow all the life in this world to live together? If so... I want to help!"
Mora is intrigued by the Starfinders discussion as she listens to them deliberate.
"I doubt there is any way to extricate Big Mina at this point. Her travelling days are well behind her and she is now thoroughly established as part of this planet. I am not even sure what combination of experts would be needed to consider the problem let alone how Mina could survive without a large food source."
"Stop her growth? Hmm, I am not sure, though the idea is an interesting one. We don't yet have enough detail to make that determination."
Aba goes back to scanning and applies her own knowledge to the problem. With time and careful study she is able to calculate that if enough damage were dealt to the correct parts of Big Mina’s crystalline brain, the creature would stop growing. Damage to the crystal might never heal, so this would permanently cripple Big Mina, but the plateau would never grow any larger. The current species that live on the plateau could continue to do so, and the other species on Vabaimus would not be in danger. The procedure would not be without risk.
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"I certainly don't want to murder Big Mina. It's been around for - you said millions of years? That's a majestic being, even if it's not furry and friendly. Some sort of coexistence would be the best case scenario. That crest eater was eating minerals from the surface, and maybe the bird things, though we never quite figured them out. If Mina grows slowly enough, the life here might be able to adapt anyway. It would be hasty to assume the entire planet will be consumed. But if it did... I wonder what would happen then in it's normal life cycle. Does it die if it consumes the entire planet and there's nothing left? Or would it move on somehow? Does it reproduce? So many unanswered questions, as worthy of study as the sloths and other species native to the planet."
She ponders the procedure that Aba has proposed. "It sounds like a decent compromise. I'm willing to try, if you think it's something we could manage."
While continuing to investigate, Aba identifies two sections that seem to be auxiliary nerve clusters that are ideal targets for her plan. It may be tricky to deliver sufficient damage to bring about the desired result without injury to surrounding areas but it does look possible.
The team members continue to consider their options.
After careful thought and deliberation, the team agree that the best compromise is to attempt to halt Big Mina's growth. When they inform Dr Motressi of their recommendation she requests some time to consult with the other researchers. About 10 minutes later she returns on the comm to state that they accept the recommendation and support the team attempting the necessary procedures.
Aba has already identified two sections that look to be axillary nerve centres that may be the best targets. Destroying them without causing additional harm will take a steady hand.
With a little assistance, Aba performs the "surgery" and believes they have done what is needed to stop Big Mina from further growth while allowing her to maintain her current status.
The team quickly pack their gear and make their way back out of the system of tunnels and tubes. They have no difficulty, after reloading the buggies, in traversing the distance back to the base.
On their return, the team are confronted by a big-eyed Little Mina, who has overheard much of the conversation between them and her mother and has realized Big Mina is alive. She asks, "What did you decide to do about my Big Sister?"
Dr Motressi thanks the Starfinders for all they have done and expresses sympathy for the difficult decision they were confronted with. She supports their choice and reports, "It will be some time before we can determine how successful the procedure has been. Growth does not happen quickly. We will continue to monitor Big Mina while we can. So far, at least, there have been no obvious adverse effects."
When the time is appropriate, the research team gather to bid the visiting Starfinders goodbye and thank them for their services.
The team can return to Absalom Station without incident. Their journey through the Drift takes only 5 days. Once they arrive, they are contacted by Fitch, who asks them for a report. Fitch is startled by the revelation that a massive geological feature turned out to be a single living creature.
“I didn’t think this was going to be a first contact mission when I asked you to take it,” Fitch admits. “It sounds like you all did the best you could in a really difficult situation. The Wayfinders will back you up on this, don’t worry.”
She thanks them for all they have done and promises to assign them future missions to discover alien life-forms and explore unknown regions of space.
Weeks later, each of the team receives a message from Dr Motressi indicating that at this time it appears Big Mina's growth has halted but that areas already affected are maintaining a status quo. It looks like the procedure was successful.
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Aba sits next to the little girl.
"Your big sister is a unique and wondrous creature, worthy of study in her own right. But she was like a fish that was rapidly outgrowing her aquarium. We couldn't let her keep growing and growing and eating this entire world. There'd be nothing left for all the calcium birds and cresteaters and furry sloths -- or her, after a while." Aba offers the little girl a hand. "So what I did was tell Big Mina's brain that it was time to stop growing. I turned off the parts that were all about growth and expansion, while leaving all the stuff that she needed to remain part of the ecosystem. So she's still going to be this amazing being that you and other scientists can study when you grow up, and she will still be part of this world. But so will all the other critters. And maybe one day these little sloths will be scientists just like you and your mom. Maybe they'll get to study Big Mina too, and explore all she has to offer."
Aba gets up, and stands on one leg, inviting Little Mina to join her. "The world is about balance. Balance is hard, but if we work together, it's easier." Aba offers a hand to Little Mina just as it looks like the little girl will topple. "See? We just helped Big Mina find her proper size, so that the balance could be right for her and for all the other creatures!"
Then she grins. "Hey, want to race me back to the compound? Let's find out what they made us for lunch!" The skittermander and the little girl race back, and somehow along the way just before the end the graceful Aba trips and Little Mina wins.
Finding the right balance can be tricky at times.
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Laksell watches Aba's pleasant and insightful handling of Little Mina's questions and laughs aloud when Aba trips and tumbles in spite of her 6 arms and very very low center of gravity. When they arrive back in Absalom, he reminds her that they need to check in with AR (Agent Resources) to get their IDs and records upgraded.
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After witnessing Aba's heartfelt exchange with Little Mina, Bubba tears up a little andconsiders offering Little Mina an 'herbal' cigar - the perfect cap to a situation well handled, or so he thinks.
But Aba reads Bubba's mind and shakes her head slightly without causing Bubba any offense. Bubba gets it and concedes to Aba's wiser judgement, keeping cigar firmly in pocket.