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Research Rat looks over the script Trill shows him. "And here we are, in lovely Jatembe park, home of the biggest forest reserve in Absalom Station..." The ysoki's tail twitches. "What, people actually pay you for this? I could be looking at pretty trees and flowers all day instead of providing tech support to clueless Starfinders? I'm the wrong business."
Through the efforts together the group is able to repair the system files and reconstruct batches of the data. Among them you are finding files containing blueprints for dozens of unique and potentially dangerous augmentations. The technology used varies from hybrid to technological cybernetics. Many of the designs are out of date with today's technologies, but push and threaten the limits of the users more than any safe designs. The creator of these files is logged as "Kebzec."
"Don't see a way out through here." Almina pipes up over the comms again as she gives a bit of a sigh before picking up a bit declaring, "I'm sure they have other devices lying and it is does seem more hopeful with some more of this data keep going. I'm sure there is a way out of there still."
"Oh! Your work is reminding me of something," she remarks with as she gives a bit more cheer. It does slow down though as she has to stop and think and focus coming up with, "A memory. I think? It's fuzzy. One of Iroiveth's cronies-he was an engineer. He invented cybernetics-dangerous ones! The Society kept turning down his requests for sentient testing. Too many people got hurt. Evethriel and Iroiveth were both keep to adopt his inventions. I don't think they ever got hurt."
"There's something else..." she says while struggling to recall. "There's details missing from the memories that I can't remember."
Continuing the search down the hallway you find a few rooms that once held various supplies. The first has have shelves with imprints that once held misalliance wires, components, and batteries. The other has a small number of rotten blankets, towels and pillow cases.
In the corner you find a dusty kitchen is seemingly barren except for the appliances, sink, and a few abandoned utensils. Searching more you find an empty and uncharged delectator in the back of a cupboard.
Almina sighs, remarking, "It looks like these traitors were already planning their escape before I showed up. No idea where they were headed. I haven't found any clues left in the system."
"Even then they seem to have left more traps for anyone that might have stumbled in here than anything else." Almina adds as she returns to scouring the system for any sign of information. "Even the hallways are wired with defenses still. Shut off now. RZMR, you shut those down, right?"
Finishing the loop through the hallways back through the control room you find a set of lavatories and showers that haven't seen use in many years. Checking them, none seem to be still functioning.
There is one last room. The elements of the room are in more disarray as the furnishing have been shoved into the the back wall. Containers are stacked tall on top of on one another but are empty.
Searching through the area you find, buried far under the mattress, a bandolier with a number of still blinking indicator lights.
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Checking out the restrooms, RZMR launches into another reflection on the limitations of the biological form The body is a giant factory of millions of cells working in uniform, oxidating away fuel and producing waste products. And endless supply of simple and complex biological molecules is requires, and each unit of the body performs its own task. There are million of cells in the body, yet each single one of them is a potential traitor and foe.
The absence of any biological waste disposal betrays the long lack of inhabitation of this area. RZMR further observes.
When asked about the defenses Loyalty remains the paramount pillar of any ruler's effectiveness. Be it the minds of those who follow, or the command codes of an automated defense system, those who cannot safeguard the integrity of the command structure will inevitably fall subject to subversion. RZMR long-windedly affirms that, indeed, he say shut off the defenses.
To those looking for an example of martial efficiency, you need look no further than the efficient bandolier. It is a marvel of technological and magical ingenuity. The item enables true versality in the battle space, allowing a single soldier to project multiple styles of combat.
Please do not feed the squoxes any chocolate
"It isn't unusual to leave some things behind, but think they must have been moving quick if they left things like that behind."
Almina ponders a bit as she offers, "I don't you have checked the remaining rooms out that large arena where those robots came out. There were a set of locked doors on the south and more standard doors on the eastern end. The robots came from that side and they might have left some systems there to connect to them."
"Which way do you want to go?"
Heading into the room where the robots entered you find a storage area with several more of the sparring bots. The robots are motionless as they stand at the sides of the room. Charging stations are spread throughout the area, but are all unoccupied.
The other remaining robots have the same matching "Y" emblem on the back of their neck. It doesn't appear as though the machines have been operational for some time.
Looking through the room Mizzrym' finds a datapad just behind one of the metal racks. It has no power and needs a replacement battery or to be recharged.
"Maybe the datapad had network access. I'm not sure I can get out through that, but it might be worth a shot." Almina thinks aloud as she studies the room through the camera. "You might want to check that corner, I think they stored a set of heavy armor with the robots."
The corner of the room does contain one set of bulky heavy armor. The materials might have been top of the line when this base was being used; this technology has become far more common in recent years. Even still this golemforged plating II is fairly substantial armor.
Checking the surrounding rooms reveal more storage rooms. There are discarded crates that have been ripped open and dusty shelves with only a few bare boxes. There is broken cabling discarded to the side of one and, buried within it, you find a basic autograppler for towing and pulling. The device is dusty and scratched up from use from decades ago.
The datapad responds to RZMR's commands.
Slowly.
The systems are dated and takes several minutes to boot up. The files on the datapad are still present though. The data wipe that processed on the rest of the systems on this network have not affected this device. However, even though RZMR can see them, the files are heavily encrypted. A few attempts prove little success and deciphering the data. More time would be needed to decrypt this data.
"Well, I can't get out this way either." Almina sighs, "Still it is good to see that they didn't erase all the data on their system. I think the Dataphiles should be able to get that information off it though." After a moment of thought she adds, "the Dataphiles are still around right?"
After the party finishes here there is only the locked door to the south left to continue exploring deeper into the complex.
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"Well, I can't get out this way either." Almina sighs, "Still it is good to see that they didn't erase all the data on their system. I think the Dataphiles should be able to get that information off it though." After a moment of thought she adds, "the Dataphiles are still around right?"
Information is the cornerstone of any information. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. RZMR stores the datapad for later decryption.
The doors open up into the room revealing an expansive med bay that has a variety fo shelves, countere, and storage spaces on half nearest you while several beds, a computer console, and a large incinerator filling the opposite end.
The area is more a mess than any of the rooms prior. Shattered glass lines the countertops, medical tools are scattered across the floor, the fridge door is nearly torn off on the hinges, and the racking is bent.
The potential cause for the damage is apparent as a large mass of foul substances rolls and slides over the ground. It has the coloration of human blood as it shifts and bubbles. As you enter it is working at trying to reach tendrils to grab at the lightning.
As you enter though, to seems to take a larger interest in your group and it begins moving straight for you.
Almina doesn't hold back her displeasure as she declares, "that is the most vile thing I've seen sliding around! Is that made of- no, please, eww!"
Norbert
Trill
Albrik
Chance
Mizzrym’
RZMR
Ooze
Sensing the surge of heat the mass of ichor shifts away from the blast of fire taking a portion of the blow.
The set of shots fly at the large mass. Trill's shot connects while Norbert's doesn't connect with the moving blob.
Norbert
Trill
Albrik
Chance
Mizzrym’
RZMR
Ooze (8 damage)
The barrage of magical missiles tear through the bloody glob. Mizzrym's shot is just able to barely connect and burns away yet more of the creature. After the volley the ooze is barely able keep the form. There are wounds forming all across the surface as it is leaking onto the floor.
Almina over the comms makes it clear how vile this scene is. The ooze shows far less emotion, if any at all. Falling back from the source of damage it extends a pseudopod that attempts to break Chance's armor.
The attack connects and it rips along the armor attempting to tear into flesh.
Norbert
Trill
Albrik
Chance (7 damage, Fort Save)
Mizzrym’
RZMR
Ooze (37 damage)
Trill's shot cuts through the edge of the creature doing little additional damage, but Chance and Norbert's shots end the combat causing the ooze to break apart and collapse into a pile of sludge.
Almina shudders over the comms as she tries to drive the image of the creature from her mind. She remarks, "Ugh, no wonder Lubose always gave me the creeps! That was disgusting!"
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“Can someone explain what RZMR just said?”
The limitations of the mind form protection against the horrors of cognition. It cannot recognise what it has not seen before, and it cannot fear that which it doesn't know. RZMR says, unwilling to explain further.
Soon the entire network of devices will be ours to command. Please ensure all passwords meet the minimum complexity requirements. RZMR says.
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As soon as Albrik has recovered from his stumbling, he starts to pray again, touching the symbol on his chest. With a brightly glowing hand (or paw) he touches Chance's armor, where the thing has ripped into it. The wounds immediately start to close.
I hope, that helped a bit...
Research Rat attempts to aid the computers and engineering checks. "Hold on, hold on... I gots scripts and tools and all sorts of stuff!"
Mizzrym' finds that there is not much equipment that was left in the area even before the ooze rolled through the area consuming remaining samples. Among the disarray he finds a set of microgoggles that were left behind and not destroyed.
Accessing the computers is becoming easier as the same systems are contested again and again with the group working together. The computer was used to track experiments and perform research as the remnants of applications for logging that data still remain. The specifics of the experiments are erased but there are details scattered through the remaining files that indicate that the operator of the lab was interested in the reanimation of organic compounds, organs and bodies after death.
Looking through the incinerator finds that it hasn't been used in some time, likely since the base was abandoned. However there are enough remnants inside to make it clear that it was regularly used to burn paperwork and organic remains. Within the ashes there are humanoid teeth and bone shards.
There is a bucket beside the incinerator that has a scrap of paper stuck to the bottom. It is familiar to some of those you found during your research within the archives. The writing matches the journal with the torn out pages you found within the archives.
The paper fragment reads, "I grow increasingly convinced that the elf siblings and their gang are up to no good. After this next mission, I intend to voice my concerns to the Starfinder Society Forum and request permission to begin a formal investigation."
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It is the hallmark of many civilization that the body, once it has served its purpose, be recycled so that resource may be freed for the next being. Prolonging the biological beyond its limits only leads the to emergence of weaknesses and must be avoided at all costs. RZMR dismisses the notion of reanimation. The incinerator offers recycling by breaking down material into its volatile constituents. In this case, the process was incomplete, recording the heroic efforts of the one against improbable odds.
Searching through the rooms Almina struggles within the systems and seems a bit confused as she thinks on Trill's question, "I-Lubose who? I don't know anyone by that name."
Going through the doors within the room find several refrigeration units. All haven pulled open and contents broken and consumed with clear signs of passage from the ooze. Anything within them that may have been left behind has been consumed long ago.
To the northeast section of the room there is another storage room that has been stripped bare of equipment. Looking through it there is almost nothing left aside a set of misplaced thunderstrike boomknuckles packed away in small box within stacks of crates.
The last room is another small decontamination room. It whirrs to life as you enter but produces reports of errors as the mechanisms fail to begin. Nothing of note seems to be within though.
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Trill picks up the sheet of paper from the bucket and reads it. “Guess Koerah wasn’t quite concerned enough. Doesn’t bode well, finding this here.”
He points his Comm unit at the paper to capture an image.
Then he looks into the camera of his Comm unit and asks “ “Almina what can you tell us about Lubose, other than they creeped you out?”
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"Almina, I have a good memory, because my people are storytellers with an oral tradition. Here is what you said, right after I killed that ooze. 'Ugh, no wonder Lubose always gave me the creeps! That was disgusting!'" Chance looks around. "If you were corporeal, I'd tell you to take in a deep breath, because meditation always helps me calm down. What helps you?"
"I... I did?" Almina struggles a bit as she her voice takes on a bit of concern. "I- I don't remember saying that."
"Was Lubose of those working with Ivoiveth? No, I remember the rest of, they were their sister Evethriel then..." she hesitates as as she starts to speak but can't finish any name. "I don't know why, I can't remember them... I know them though! I think... I think there is something wrong with me. Trying to fill more is like grasping at air."
With a few breathes she refocuses with Chance's suggestion and responds, "I try to relax by spending some time working on the computer." She gives bit of a nervous laugh. "Not as relaxing right now."
"There must be a way out of there. There isn't a lot of system outputs here. At least ones that I can find."