Page 41 of 54
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:03 pm
by Namelessjake
You attempt to identify the substance the best you can while lacking any lab or field equipment that would likely be able to tell you its exact chemical or biological composition. The substance has dried out on the ruin floor leaving only some clues to its nature behind, however it bears some resemblance to the various gels used in cryopods on long haul passenger ships,
As for the ruins themselves, they are clearly ancient but don't bear much resemblance to the Mandate ruins in Escriosian space that you have seen in museums or in documentary vids. Although Mandate culture and aesthetics did vary considerably across the civilisation so it cannot be ruled out completely.
That said, you do recall a group of marines on Sarma talking about coming across ruins, which fit a similar description to these, during a rotation on Tul Ruprima, one of the inner planets of the Muiran system.
You attempt to identify the substance the best you can while lacking any lab or field equipment that would likely be able to tell you its exact chemical or biological composition. The substance has dried out on the ruin floor leaving only some clues to its nature behind, however it bears some resemblance to the various gels used in cryopods on long haul passenger ships, as well as being similar to some of the medical gels in use on Strocho that aid in cell or limb regeneration treatments.
As for the ruins themselves, they are clearly ancient but don't bear much resemblance to the Mandate ruins in League space that you have seen in museums or in documentary vids. Although Mandate culture and aesthetics did vary considerably across the civilisation so it cannot be ruled out completely.
However you do recall the words of the Aascein scientist Chal'eh from a few days prior during your meeting with Holland.
Namelessjake wrote: ↑Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:10 pm
Chal'eh looks to Holland for permission before answering your questions after she gives them a small nod.
"Like humanity, much of our history was lost in the Scream. From what remains we know we were once enslaved by an ancient alien race that ruled this sector long before the first humans of the Mandate arrived," they say as they pull out one of the chairs around the table and take a seat.
"This device shows a map of their empire at a point in time. The Asteria outpost 3138 T-1 appears to sit in the same location as something belonging to this empire once did," they continue.
The architecture is unfamiliar to you however you do recall the words of the Aascein scientist Chal'eh from a few days prior during your meeting with Holland.
Namelessjake wrote: ↑Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:10 pm
Chal'eh looks to Holland for permission before answering your questions after she gives them a small nod.
"Like humanity, much of our history was lost in the Scream. From what remains we know we were once enslaved by an ancient alien race that ruled this sector long before the first humans of the Mandate arrived," they say as they pull out one of the chairs around the table and take a seat.
"This device shows a map of their empire at a point in time. The Asteria outpost 3138 T-1 appears to sit in the same location as something belonging to this empire once did," they continue.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:36 pm
by ratwizard
"It looks like, uh," Cass starts in, pausing briefly as his mind spins. "It looks just like pod-gel. Like, you know, that type of shit used in cryopods for long-haul system travel, or in medicine, for limb regeneration."
He is reminded of their meeting with Holland, and the Aascein's intel on what the pyramid map might point to. "You remember that Aascein scientist? Chal'eh. They said some ancient empire ruled this system, one that enslaved their race pre-Scream. Based off that, I'd say there's a pretty damn good chance this is an alien ruin, going back centuries or even thousands of years ago."
He pauses, looking up at the door, wondering what may lay beyond. "Fucking wild," he mutters.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:30 pm
by greysigil
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking, was that it's for cryopods, but with it being dried out, it's hard to tell for sure." Kate echoes after Cass. "And if it is alien, who knows what it's actually made of."
She looks up at the walls, studying them with more intent. "Yeah, I'm not familiar with this, haven't seen anything like it myself, but I remember some marines mention seeing something like this when I was serving. It was on, uhm..." She trails off, pursing her lips in thought. Tul Ruprima, they had just come off a rotation there with stories of ruins exactly like this. She shrugs. "Some planet, I can't remember which one."
"But, if these really are alien ruins, do you think those creatures we find earlier were the aliens, or their pets? Or just scavengers?"
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 5:56 pm
by Scratcherclaw
"Damn. But why the fuck did they build it on a bumfuck asteroid of all places?" Hikaru says, his brain struggling to compute that they're in an ancient ruin from a bygone empire. He shrugs at Kate, unsure if they'd ever find the answer. "Not unless they went feral during that isolation all these years. Maybe some kind of xeno-engineered guard dogs?"
He takes a deep breath, letting his mind process from the information overload. "Holland's gonna love this though. Bet she'll have a team of scientists and researchers here as soon as she knows it's safe. Sensing an even fatter payday in our future."
Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 9:46 am
by FinalTemplar
A few moments after Cass speaks, Creed lights up. "Yeah, I have to wonder if that has anything to do with this place!" He pauses again. "Maybe we'll find more of that stuff here. We've gotta have a look around, there's gotta be something in there-" He stops. "Er, I guess... probably mostly more of those bug-things, rather than anything valuable."
Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 11:36 pm
by Fialova
"Sounds like that ancient empire was a shithole," Tess responds, at the reminder of an entire enslaved race. "At least for anyone of the 'wrong' race. If you're not certain about that stuff on the ground, though, then probably a good idea that we don't go that way for now." She pauses, peering down the hallway towards the remaining door. "So anyone got any ideas how to open these doors?" Maybe the pyramid will do it? If not, then beats me. Will let the techies figure that one out.
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 7:21 pm
by ratwizard
"No handle, knob, keyhole, pinpad, or holoscreen," Cass says, finding the door an oddity.
"Guess an alien race might have an alien way to lock shit up."
He steps closer, knocking on the door twice with a weighty
rap — listening for what he might hear on the other side. Reverberation, echoes, the like.
How big a chamber's through this cryptic portal? Meanwhile, he searches along the walls and the door frame, looking for anything of note.
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:31 pm
by Namelessjake
As Cass moves his hand to rap on the door it suddenly springs open, two halves slitting apart, where there had been no seam, and rapidly sliding into the floor and ceiling - all before the man's hand even came into contact with it.
The chamber inside is circular, about 15 metres in diameter, with another similar door further to your right.
The centre of the room has a circular bowl built into the floor which contains more residue of the strange substance, seemingly having once been filled with it before it drained through the many small holes in the bowl's floor, which are arranged in a spiral pattern leading to a central larger drain.
One of the creatures from the tunnels lies in the bowl, however this creature is deformed compared to the others. Its appendages appear to have only half formed, as has much of its head. As the door opens, its sole open eye moves to look at you and it attempts a scream, apparently unable to move. However its scream is far from the blood curling screech the others could make, instead it sounds more like the whimper of a wounded animal. It tries repeatedly but the attempts seem to tire it out, its breathing becoming laboured and heavy.
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:51 pm
by ratwizard
Cass shouts out in fear as the doors come open, then once more when his eyes fall upon the horrible misshapen xenoform before him. "The... the fuck," he manages, his breath half-gone as he backpedals away.
Landing his drone to give the creature his full attention, he watches for a moment as it tires itself out. "It's weak, but it's still dangerous. Keep some distance." After a pause: "What the fuck were they doing in here?"
Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:04 pm
by greysigil
Kate shoulders her rifle when she sees the creature, a spike of adrenaline running through her, but she lowers the barrel when she registers the state it's in. "What the fuuuck...?" she breathes, about a half a beat after Cass.
She watches it struggle for breath, before looking at the walls and ceiling, trying to get a better feel for what this room might have been for. "It... It might be dangerous. Should still be cautious, but it doesn't look like it can do much."
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 10:20 pm
by Fialova
"What the fuck," Tess echoes, as the sight before her comes into view.
"You think this is where the rest of them came from?" she asks, though she knows no one has any more idea what is happening than she does.
Is this some sort of weird, fucked up alien experiment we've just stumbled upon? What the hell are these things, and why is this one so different?
"Wounded or not, we've seen what those things can do. We should get rid of it before going any further," she continues, raising her gun towards the creature before her, lining up a shot to finish it off.
Assuming it is possible in the creature's current state, Tess would line up an execution attack. Not sure if that is possible if the thing is otherwise incapacitated. If not, is there any other mechanic like a coup de grace or something, or would I just do a normal shot?
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 10:33 pm
by Namelessjake
Tess takes aim and pulls the trigger. The shot echoes through the narrow corridor and around the larger room. The creature slumps to the ground, ceasing its laboured breathing and Tess ends its suffering.
It ded now
No roll or anything needed as it offers up no resistance
Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 10:51 pm
by greysigil
Kate winces as the shot goes off, lowering her rifle as the malformed creature lies still. "Shit, that's one way of dealin' with it." She says, "Poor sumbitch." She adds, mostly to herself. It's probably fucked up that I thought about trying to take it back for study, isn't it? Probably better this way, in less pain now.
"Might be? Looks like it could be a hatching room, or experimentation? Those holes look a bit like drains to me." Kate speculates, responding to Tess.
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:41 pm
by ratwizard
Cass winces as the sound of Tess' mag pistol blast, but he nods glumly at the now-still corpse. "How long has this thing been here for?" he wonders aloud. "My guess is some sort of stable stasis. Cryo, or another type, depending on their biology. That'd explain all this fucking medi-goo and why we're looking at an alive xeno in a dead fucking ruin. Well, recently alive, at least."
Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:43 pm
by Scratcherclaw
Hikaru grimaces as he watches the wounded xeno creature in clear distress before Tess finally puts it out of its misery. Despite knowing what they're capable of, he can't help but feel some level of sympathy for it. It's better this way... Must've been in constant pain looking like that.
"Hard to say," Hikaru says to Kate, poking his head around the others to get a better view of the room. "Could've been an incubation pool or something like Cass said when that thing was filled. But I guess buddy's spa session got interrupted to look like that."
Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2023 12:47 pm
by ratwizard
"Yeah, what the fuck is all this shit?" Cass asks, beginning to take a look around. "Could be this was an experimentation chamber. They were clearly filling and draining this pool. No telling why this one looks all... wrong, though."
"Hey, another door," the tech says, pointing toward it. "Last one only opened when one of us got close enough. Not the drone. Anyone brave enough to take a peek?"
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:20 am
by FinalTemplar
As the door opens, Creed is delayed from seeing whatever it is from behind Tess and Cass. After a moment though, he sees the thing and almost leaps back, until Tess shoots it. He gulps and slowly steps forward toward the door in question. "I'll do it." He says the genuine fear on his face intermixed with curiosity and excitement, needing to know more.
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 9:37 am
by Namelessjake
Creed steps around the basin towards the next door. Similarly to the first door, as he draws near the door opens quickly. A small corridor leads a few metres forward before it widens and splits in either direction.
The corridors in both directions then narrow again, however both appear to have long since been sealed off as the tunnels have collapsed at some point in the past. Some ancient looking machinery sits in at the junction of the corridors. It appears weathered by the millennia but it's likely a skilled technician would be able to salvage some valuable pre-tech components from it.
At work so no yet
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 10:52 am
by ratwizard
"Hey, look at that," Cass says with a whistle. "Those machines have got to be pre-tech. We should take a quick break to pick through them. Asteria didn't know it was here, which makes it legitimate salvage. Here, let me scout ahead first."
Recalling his drone from its idle position in the previous hallways, Cass pilots it ahead and into the new room to check for anything his eyes have missed.
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:32 pm
by Namelessjake
The drone glides past on its gravictics, exploring the revealed tunnel ahead, however it quickly establishes there is little else beyond the machinery in the room.
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:37 pm
by ratwizard
With no imminent danger present, Cass lands the drone. He gingerly approaches the machine wreck and begins to pick through what he can.
"This shit is ancient. Crazy to think something this old can be leagues better than what we can muster these days."
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:29 pm
by Namelessjake
You are able to obtain 3 pretech salvage from the remains of the machinery.
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:53 am
by ratwizard
"Fucking jackpot," Cass cheers, setting aside a few piles of invaluable components stripped from the ancient tech.
"Anyone got room in their pack for all this shit? I've still got that demo charge for, uh, safekeeping."
What's the encumbrance for pretech salvage? # or 1 each?
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2023 3:41 pm
by Scratcherclaw
"Goddamn, that'll fetch a pretty cred to the right buyer," Hikaru says with an impressed grin as Cass manages to salvage bits from the ancient device. "Which means we should be discerning sellers..." He shrugs at the engineer's question though, adding, "Doubt I can manage much more. Haven't lifted this much since idol boot camp." Fuck those staircases. Two hours, up and down, every day for a month straight. Swear they just filled our backpacks with rocks.
Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:43 pm
by ratwizard
"Thinking in cred is 2D, beratna." Cass shakes his head, fanning a hand at the mass of salvaged parts.
"This shit is, like, intangible in worth. A currency of its own, you know? The level of modifications we could make to the Makkuro, or even to a rifle with these..." He whistles again, before turning to the others expectantly.
I think you literally can't sell pretech salvage/components RAW — they exist to upgrade ship, guns, and armor.
Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:49 pm
by Namelessjake
Not easily. Buyers and sellers of pretech salvage can be found but it’s the sort of thing that would need an adventure in of itself to find, rather than just a connect roll.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 12:19 pm
by FinalTemplar
Creed glanced between the others, before walking in himself. The excitement on his face was palpable, looking at the computers.
"This is incredible... the bounty of knowledge here. It's awesome..." He said, his voice dropping a bit.
Forgot to mention I could carry some loot
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 1:32 pm
by Scratcherclaw
"Right," Hikaru says, entirely out of his wheelhouse with this valuable spacejunk. "Guess the Makkuro's gonna be pretty fucking sick if you can get this all hooked in. Think you can do it, Chief Engineer?" He cracks a smirk, hoping to stroke the man's ego into further motivation with such a title.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 1:53 pm
by ratwizard
Cass barks a laugh at the title. "Chief Engineer? You must be thinking of the rook," he says, hiking a thumb toward Kate. "I'm your resident systems cracker, now that I don't have to do two jobs and get paid for one."
He helps Eridas load the salvage into the pilot's pack while he continues talking to the captain. "Anyways, the question isn't if we can mod the Makkuro. Between the two of us gearheads it's a done deal. It's more a question of if we can afford it, you know? The salvage and the knowledge we have, but the amount of work we'd gotta do on the hull and systems?" He whistles.
"Ship like the Mak's worth two, no, three megacred — and, hell, that was before the war. Any pre-tech bullshit we wanna slap on her's gonna take a hundred kilocred or more just on raw materials or labor." The tech smiles. "Guess we should finish the job so we can get paid, huh?"
Damn, feels good to have something to work forward again.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 2:04 pm
by Scratcherclaw
"Two hands is better than one. May as well make her work to earn that title," Hikaru replies with another laugh. "Got it in you, Kate?"
He nods to Cass's further clarification. "Gives us a long-term goal then, and more reason to keep doing jobs like this." He pauses for a moment, considering their payment for this job. "Might not be a bad idea to keep all this salvage under wraps from Asteria though. Their researchers and engineers would love to get their hands on this."
"Yeah," the pop star says with an almost-overwhelmed sigh. "Let's wrap things up and make sure there's no other stabby alien fucks. Their scientists can scope the rest of the place."
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:57 pm
by Fialova
Tess frowns as the creature falls lifeless, sad to have ended the helpless creature's life, but not wanting to exchange her own - or those of her crew - for its. She watches with interest as the drone makes its way inward, revealing the ancient devices, and with even more interest as Cass later manages to reclaim some of the components future use. "You're even better with those tools than I'd have thought to figure that thing out," Tess responds, smirking at the man. "Guess we'll have to put you to work dismantling more machines for use down the line, free parts are free parts," she continues. I knew he was good with his hands, but now he's upped the stakes, she thinks, chuckling lightly to herself.
As the two mean talk, she nods along in agreement about their plans for the parts. "Yeah, no need to let them know we have it, last thing we need is them trying to claim those for their own. If we ever want to install them on the ship, we can just do so at another port. Asteria will be none the wiser, and we can then rest safely knowing our ship has tech no one else's has." Then the Diktat can find out what pretech can do if they catch up to us again. Not that they should find us with our new transponder and paint job.
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:12 pm
by ratwizard
Cass shrugs off the compliment though he smiles proudly. "What salvage? All we saw down here were some out of order ruined machinery," he says with a smirk before booting the drone back up.
"Alright, last stop, that door back there with the biomed gel shit leaking from it. Who's taking point? I'm thinking it will open the same way the rest of these do. Motion activated, but only for a sentient being the size and shape of a human. No drone."
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 3:20 pm
by Scratcherclaw
"Don't forget deadly xenos that are definitely worth a bump in our pay rate," Hikaru says toward Cass with a smirk. "Can mention that over and over til we've got enough credits to swim in the holos." Wouldn't be the first time. Kinda lame though, but can't ruin the fantasy for them.
The pop star grimaces as they look to the final door, almost scared of what's behind if it's leaking so much of the goop. "Do us the honors, Tess?"
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 6:54 pm
by ratwizard
"I wouldn't plan on a higher payrate. We're dealing with a corpo, remember? Plus, we already agreed on the number before we stepped foot on this rock. I doubt Holland gives a shit about burning bridges with third party contractors, she has no strong interest in fair compensation."
Cass turns to Kate, remembering he technically poached her from Asteria. "But shit, I don't know. What do you think, Chief Engineer? You worked for them."
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:28 am
by greysigil
At the mention of her new title, Kate pops her head up from behind the ancient machine. "Huh? Oh yeah no we can't sell any of this, I mean we could but yeah, finding trustworthy buyers is damn near impossible, and even besides that, like Cass said the things we could do with this is damn near unlimited. Pre-tech components are wildly versatile, you'd be amazed at what we can whip up. Like--" she cuts herself off, realizing she was about to launch into a full technical description. She clears her throat softly before refocusing. "To answer your question, Captain, absolutely have I got it in me. We might have to find or make some adapters, but these will have the Makkuro running better than it ever has before, guarantee it." She picks herself up from the floor, where she had been studying the machine, helps load up their new tech, and follows the group back out into the corridor.
Kate frowns at Cass' question. "I dunno, t'be honest. Didn't work with them too long. But y'all saw the strikers, can't imagine they'd be so pissed if workin' for 'em were that great. So, might be worth a shot? But we could also just count any salvage we may or may not have found as a bonus, and let the sleeping dog lie." She shrugs her shoulders, glancing between Cass, Hikaru, and the door they now stand in front of.
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:19 pm
by Fialova
"Maybe we won't get a better rate on this job, but showing our success despite the unexpected danger could get us some other - hopefully less deadly - work before we leave station. That waiting gig I got at the brothel was certainly not the best way to make money, that's for sure."
Nodding to Hikaru, Tess cautiously approaches the other door, hoping that whatever slime lies dried along the floor is not going to cause any harm. I know I'm the one who kicked one of those things in the face, but I'd like that to be my last up-close encounter with whatever those were. Let's hope nothing lies behind door number two.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:08 pm
by FinalTemplar
Creed adjusted the pack on his back with the new pieces of scrap. He shrugs as he begins to walk toward the next door, but pauses when Tess moves up first. "No harm in telling them of the danger, at least. Might show her that we're capable." He says and watches as she tries to open the door.
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 3:40 am
by Namelessjake
Tess approaches the door and, like the others, it opens without complaint. On the other side is a small room leading to another larger door, built into a wall which curves away from you, suggesting it leads to another circular chamber. By the door are two red barrels, most likely placed there by the pirates, as they are clearly anachronistic in the ancient alien facility.
However your eyes are most drawn to the floor in front of you which is covered in more of the dried substance, its source still further ahead. In the middle of the room however lies a body. This body, unlike that of the pirate in the mines, appears to have been here a long time. It is shrivelled and withered, dried out much like the substance lining the floor around it.
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 7:06 am
by ratwizard
Cass nearly jumps at the sight of the shriveled body. "The fuck? Aascein, or something else, I wonder?"
He pilots the void hawk into the T-intersection, taking a brief moment to scan the passage first.
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 4:00 pm
by Fialova
"What the hell?" Tess asks, surprised to see a humanoid corpse, and one so long. "What do you think is going on with those barrels? Were the pirates trying to gather up this goop?"
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 1:47 pm
by Namelessjake
The voidhawk glides into the room, revealing that it extends not much further past what you could already see.
Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 2:05 pm
by ratwizard
"No idea," Cass admits. "It's clear though. Somebody trip the door. The rest of us, trigger discipline — might be more of those bugs."
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:30 pm
by Scratcherclaw
"Or blow the door open maybe," Hikaru says with a shrug as he anxiously looks at the strange corpse before them. "Played enough games where red barrel means boom." He stays toward the rear, peering ahead past his crew as he waits for someone to open the door.
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:23 pm
by greysigil
Kate checks her rifle with a practiced motion at Cass' suggestion, before returning to a ready position. "Sure's fuck hope not, blast that close'd take us all out." Kate replies to Hikaru, with a glance at the barrels.
She gives the corpse a look over from afar, checking to see if she recognizes any markings or designations on its suit.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:56 pm
by Fialova
Tess frowns as it appears that she has yet another mystery door to open. Instead of approaching the door directly, however, she decides to first step towards the barrels. She looks them over up close, hoping to find some sort of logos or markings indicating their purpose.
If these do go boom, last thing we need is to be standing right next to them when they do.
Do I need to roll anything to spot anything on them while being up close?
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:01 am
by Namelessjake
From what you can tell, the body isn't wearing a suit of any kind. With how withered and decayed it is, its possible that it was once wearing clothes however they have either since disintegrated away, or they are now apart of the crusty exterior of the corpse.
Inspecting the barrels you find no warning labels or anything else that would suggest the contents are dangerous or volatile. They do bear the Asteria Corp logo and appear to be the same type of barrel as the others found in the mines. Embedded in one of the barrels, you do find a small spike, identical to those the alien creatures were able to fire at you from their tentacle like appendages.
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 8:11 am
by FinalTemplar
Creed shudders slightly as the body is revealed, gulping a little bit. He steadies his spikethrower, looking at the far door. "I'm ready, let's hope there's no more of them." He says, sure he's mimicking how everyone else feels on the topic.
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:30 am
by Fialova
Noticing the spike, Tess decides to try to yank it out of the barrel before her. Well, let's hope that whatever they brought, it isn't dangerous.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:43 am
by Namelessjake
With some application of force, Tess is able to yank one of the alien spikes free of the barrel.
As you remove it, you can hear the noise of the spike scraping against the barrel echo slightly inside the barrel. This and the lack of anything flowing out of the now unplugged hole, suggests that the barrel is empty.
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 7:43 pm
by Fialova
"It's empty," Tess says to the others, as she looks to the barrel with confusion. "Maybe they were trying to take something out of there, not bring anything in?" she muses aloud, before turning her attention back towards the other door. Here goes nothing, I guess, she thinks, as she steps towards this one as well, hoping it will open automatically as all the others had.
