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My understanding is that the area outside the shield is subject to random electromagnetic pulses and radiation. Do you have a vehicle we could use to get there, or are there tunnels or some other protected way of transit? Fifty miles is enough that it would take us a couple of days to walk, though I suppose we could also take our shuttle.
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Tordenskjold waves to the doctor. "Hello again, Dr. Monsylkis. It's me Tordenskjold, remember? Seems like things have gotten a bit rough. This is my new team. Pretty cool, right?" He pauses, then takes stock of the situation, before continuing "My team is right, there are a lot of variables and if time is limited, then we will need transportation and knowledge of the quickest, safest way."
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Taska responds on how to get to the mine: “That’s the tricky part. The estris have been seen in First Bore, an old mining site within Constant Reminder, an enormous mesa to the west. The location turned out to be a dud, so we stopped maintaining its automated tram years ago. We can’t spare any vehicles to take you out there, but that’s probably for the best. Outside the shields, a Coilstorm can wipe out visibility and your batteries in seconds, leaving you stranded with a useless vehicle. Given the terrain, there isn't a much better landing area for the shuttle than what you have here. I’m afraid you’re in for a bit of a hike.”
Dr. Monsylkis smiles as she recalls Tordenskjold. "Yes it is good to see familiar starfinders again. As for collecting the samples." Dr. Monsylkis produces an item from her scrubs pocket, an oversized stylus-shaped device mounted on an arachnoid framework of 8 stabilizing struts. “All you need to do is stick the pointy end into whatever you want a sample of. The device will do the rest. Once inside the chamber, organic tissue can remain stable for up to a week. Keep in mind, a living sample is better.”
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“What do your miners call them again?” Dr. Monsylkis asks Taksta. “[/b]Living comets, right? What an odd name. They’re one of the animals native to Zeyther-3. I’ve never seen one up close, but I’m told they bore tunnels into the rock by regurgitating their own stomach acids. The enzymes that allow them to dissolve rock apparently don’t play well with humanoid biological systems. That’s how this disaster started, with a single estri bite.[/b]”
Turning to Dr. kliktikiti “Though the long-term prognosis is grim, my patients are comfortable for now. Most of the quarantined citizens are experiencing gutmelt’s early phases and can still be treated with antiemetics and fluids. The best thing you can do for them right now is to help me get my hands on that sample, so I can start designing a cure.”
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Chik-Chik discovers the following about the Estri: They are medium sized animals. As they are creatures of the cold, they are immune to cold but also have weakness to fire. One the interesting facts is that they usually have some type of ablative frozen carapace that provides DR till is breaks off completely.
Taksta offers The following items: autotarget rifle with 25 cartridges backup generator armor upgrade, and fortified mobile hotelier tent. Taksta’s fortified mobile hotelier holds two occupants and functions like a normal tent but is reinforced with materials that prevent it from being affected by Coilstorms.
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You make good time and get about three quarters of the way to the Bore on your first day, before you get notice of a Coil Storm about to happen. Chik-Chik is easily able to utilize your resources to prevent any serious damage to you or your equipment.
Then after a few hours travel the following day you make it to the base of the Bore. The opening is about 80 feet up a steep climb.
You see three possible ways up:
Abandoned Lift: A metal platform built into the northwestern side of Constant Reminder houses a dilapidated industrial elevator. This may seem like the most straightforward method of reaching First Bore, but unfortunately, the elevator has suffered years of neglect.
North Face: The quickest and most treacherous method of scaling Constant Reminder involves climbing 80 feet up the vertical rock face to reach First Bore,
Scree Trail: This meandering trail begins at the foot of the rock formation and follows a circuitous route between various ledges and overhangs until finally reaching the mine’s entrance.
Nomoline Notices a splash of bright color in the snow. It is a backpack containing a climbing tool kit, a survival flare gun with 6 flares, and titanium alloy cable line (300 feet). The backpack is emblazoned with AbadarCorp’s familiar logo and is constructed of a newly patented temperature-resistant, waterproof fabric worth 600 credits
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We can take a look at the elevator unless someone has a jetpack or other means of scaling the cliff without risk. The rope and climbing kit is obviously also an option. I can make a reasonable attempt, but am by no means certain of my ability to make this climb unaided.
I'm not sure, honestly, and don't much like the idea of scaling a sheer face. Let's take a look at the elevator.
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"See that's what I always appreciated 'bout you dwarfs! Always got a sensible head about ya! Know when t' trust in the machines and when t' take yer own path. Good woman, Nomoline. Now if you'll jes' help me get these hydraulic cylinders realigned...And you, young'un, get on over here and hep me with this gear box."
Chikasa gets to work repairing the elevator, calling in extra assistance from his field trainee as well.
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Chik-chik stares and studies the machine, walking around and pondering. Then after about 10 minutes of not much, he taps one corner of a panel and suddenly it is working fine.
You quickly make your way up to the bore entrance
Warped railways lead away from the elevator shaft and toward the ruins of First Bore. The mine’s entrance gapes like the maw of a deep-sea predator, the metal tracks and gigantic icicles clustered around its opening giving it the appearance of manifold snarling teeth. Beyond the jagged rim, a smooth, icy gullet slopes downward into the belly of the rock formation.
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Chikasa pulls out his Diasporan rifle now that the group is up in the mine. "A'right, y'all, now remember, these things got some plating on em that's gon' make it hard to hit em proper, and they ain't even gon' feel a chill offa any weapon what deals cold-based energy. Hit em with fire, hard, and take em down before they get a bite on ya! We don't want none of us comin' down with gutmelt." He primes his rifle and looks around for signs of recent activity.
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Although cautious, as Cavaler and Tordenskjold take point and move in to the cavern, chunks of ice fall from the ceiling on them.
Both of them pelted with ice. They jump out of the area and then after a few moment the ice stops. Looks like it spent for now.
Looking forward you can make out some remains of an encampment.
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The shirren takes out her tool and starts removing ice shard from Cavaler’s skin and applies a cream to treat the frostbite. She looks at her work and looks satisfied, telling Cavaler telepathically, as usual. “You should already feel better, you’re good to go.”
She looks toward Tordenskjold to see if he needs anything.
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Dealing with the aftermath of the minor ice cave in, you examine the remains of a camp
This spacious chamber displays signs of recent habitation. Irregular melted patches of ice expose the bare gray rock beneath, and a large, hexagonal space of floor is suspiciously devoid of snow and frost.
You recognize the hexagonal patch on the floor as the space where a tent was likely set up. You also notice footprints and lines in the frost where pieces of equipment were hauled out of the mine.
With access to Zeyther-3’s infosphere you trace the serial numbers on the needler pistol and medicinal items to batches manufactured by AbadarCorp
You identify the odd, trefoil-shaped patches of melted ice as caused by a type of portable generator recently patented by a subsidiary company of AbadarCorp.
You notice a scrap of synthetic fabric caught on a rock near the cavern’s entrance with a successful Perception check. Upon closer inspection, the piece of cloth displays a design recognizable as part of AbadarCorp’s logo.
You see some leftover equipment in the chamber further in
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There was a tent set up here. There are also footprints and drag marks in the frost from pulling equipment out.
These oddly shaped melted patches look like they were caused by some new type or portable generator I was reading about last week. AbadarCorp makes it, I think.
Scrap of cloth here, with part of the AbadarCorp insignia on it. Someone's being naughty.
She looks around the chamber further. There's some additional equipment back, further into the chamber. We should check it out.
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Cavaler looks carefully in to the back room.
This shallow cavern contains the remnants of a field laboratory. The haphazard remains of collapsible equipment and discarded syringe casings suggest a rushed cleanup. The frost-rimed corpse of a six-limbed animal with translucent flesh and an iridescent carapace lays crumpled on a folding examination table to the north.
The creature is a dissected estris. And the tag on the creature is definatly that of Abadar corp.