Ken looked around at the magnificent space.  "They certainly built on a large scale.  Let's rig our ropes and head down to the surface of the dome."

Blake looks for an anchoring point.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 18):

Some time, long ago, someone had anchored pitons or other brackets to secure a ladder or rope. Now there were only pits with rust inside them. A little slag had flowed down into the bowl but most of it had run outside, down the slope of the tunnel.

With a little effort they fixed new pitons into the surface to secure a new rope ladder. Soon, they were on the floor of the temple. The roof was lost overhead in darkness, the floor was probably more permacrete but hidden under several centimetres or more of gravel, sand and mud.

Blake walks the perimeter,looking for doorways.  He spends time watching where his feet go.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 20):

The floor of the dome seemed to be a couple metres under ground level.

If there were once furnishings or equipment inside the dome, it was all long gone. All that remained were the detailed murals and carvings on the walls. At various places were also blocks of text in what seemed to be a similar script to that of the Sky Raiders, a debased form of Vilani.

There were several exits around the perimeter of the dome, a dozen in all. All were dark, arched portals leading down into blackness. A few pools of water had gathered here and there but it was obvious that the water was mainly draining out three or four of the exit tunnels.

"We ought to get pictures of the walls," said Linus.

Blake investigates the dry portals.  The wet ones may be flooded, but he checks one on a lark.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 22):

Setting up her gear, Lorrain began scanning the wall carvings, paying particular attention to the blocks of text.

All the exit passages led down, both the dry ones and the one that drained out. Sounds echoed off the concrete walls, roofs were 4m high, ribbed with reinforcements, spiderwebbed by cracks but not so many as to cause alarm. Floors were filled to 30-60cm of gravel and dirt or mud, scattered with chunks of debris dislodged from the tunnel ceilings.

Numerous side passages and rooms opened off every tunnel, indicating the sublevels of the temple was probably not unlike a labyrinth. The purpose of these rooms and passages remained a mystery.

Thomas faded back into the entry tunnel to keep a watch outside, at least the little he could see, and remain in contact with the G-Carrier. They could barely hear him through the static while the signal from the carrier was completely blocked.

Ken surveyed the half ruined great hall as well.  He looked about for signs of those that had breached the walls so long ago to see perhaps where they might have gone.  As he went from one passageway to another he shone the light down as far as possible and shook his head.  He looked for some sign that one might be more important than the other.  "Lorain, can you make sense out of the murals and writings to see in which passage we might find some sign of these First Comers?  I'd guess it's at the very heart of the temple underneath somewhere."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 25):

Whoever had come here and then left had done so thousands of years ago. There wasn't any trace of their passing or tracks leading to one particular entry. All of the entries were ornate open arched gates.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 25):

"Yes. That is plausible. Now, let's see if they left a map? Too bad these guys didn't seem to believe in a gift shop!"

She continued to scan the muraled walls. "Once I have enough information I can make a guess. This might take a while, though."

Hearing the prof's voice, Blake looks at the archways -- anyone of them unusually ornate or significantly different from the others ??  Hmmmm

Ken looked about.  He walked over to Lorain and gave her an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder.  "Do what you can Lorain.  Blake and I can look down each one of the passageways in turn to see if there is anything unique about them." He turned to Blake; "Let's head a ways, maybe 50 or 100 meters down each passageway while Lorain works.  We may stumble across something before Lorain can do her thing."

"I'll stay here and assist," said Linus.

While they waited for Lorain to finish her analysis, Blake and Ken ventured down the tunnels. Ollie and Linus stayed with the professor. Thomas stayed on guard at the exterior opening.

Each opening led to a 100m ramp down into the darkness. The tunnels were 4m high by 3m wide, but at least a metre or so of mud and gravel had been deposited over the millennia.

What was apparent was how massive this structure was. Permacrete was incredibly strong and durable, and very lightweight relative to its mass but the wight of this structure must have been immense! It became clear as they descended that the reason it hadn't completely sunk into the soil of the river delta floodplain was that it was actually built on a spur of buried sandstone. The ramps led down into a maze of corridors burrowed into the rock itself. Every 5-10m was a room or chamber, no doors or furnishings. Even murals and other adornments were sparse.

4 meters top to bottom ??  Tall aliens if you ask me.    as Blake looked up and down.  This entire mesa must be a labyrinth of corridors and such.  We could spend years searching this building out.  Ramps, no elevators ??  Very low tech footprint ??

Ken returned after a bit of exploration.  "There are no real clues as to which way to go.  The place is a huge warren and built like a fortress.  The Sky Raiders put a lot of work into the temple."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 33):

After some time, Lorrain announced, "I think I can tell how to get to the innermost chamber, the Final Resting Place of the First Comers. My mapping software and equipment will track where we go so we won't get lost.

"So is everyone coming down with me?"

The space under the dark dome didn't seem very appealing. It was silent save for the constant echo of dripping water, unseen.

"Of course," said Linus, far more confidently than he felt.

Ken gave Lorain a quick kiss to the cheek.  "Well done Lorain.  Let's go then." He'll motion for Blake to take the lead while he follows.  Lorain will be kept in the middle.

Blake takes point and the scans the ground and walls with his flashlight. Oh to have a 3 meter stick he thinks ...

Linus brings up the rear.

"Ha ha! It looks like we getting to to the interesting bit," said Ollie with a wide wolfish grin. He follows after Ken with a spring in his step.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 38):

Walker radioed from outside, "what's the plan? Did we find anything?"

There was a hiss and crackle, as the thick outer shell interfered with radio transmissions.

Neva takes up her position and follows the rest.  As she does so, she gets back in touch with Blake.  She keeps it short in case they are being monitored.  "We're on the move.  Update when I can."