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09:59, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

X8T-121: Aerielle.

Posted by StarMasterFor group 0
Lucas Wheeler
SG-X3, 83 posts
Gunnery Sgt, USMC
Force Recon (reactivated)
Fri 28 Apr 2017
at 01:53
  • msg #698

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"Tunnels are not my thing." Lucas pointed out. "I'm a sniper, not a tunnel rat. I like big wide open spaces to shoot things a long ways away. This is not my idea of a good time.All I know about tunnels is they are a hole in the ground.." He stopped by the team leader and looked at what the others were up to, "Anything I can do, sir?"
Alynita
SG-X3, 69 posts
Tok'ra Scientist
Mon 15 May 2017
at 21:02
  • msg #699

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

<b>20:55, Today: Alynita rolled 21,22 using 1d20+9,1d20+9.  Electronics + Computer checks.

Bleh. Not very good rolls, but at least both are 'over the top'.

She had no idea if this was going to work. It didn't seem too likely that Tau'ri or Tok'ra technology would be compatible with this system, since it was built by the Ancients. Still, it was made of stone and was intended for the Dwarves' usage.

The drawback to all computer systems was the human operator, since no organic being could process data and type at the keyboard as fast as a computer could process the information. Therefore, the system developed was called 'sampling'--check all possible sources of input in a continuous sequence until it got a hit.

[OOC: After a confab with the GM...]

First, she had to find the circuit in the wall that corresponded to that computer sampling pulse. It would be different than the rest of the electrical currents flowing through the wall. Without understanding the stone-circuit technology, Alynita had no way of knowing if such a signal was in every section of the wall, or just in certain areas.

Turned out it wasn't, but it was near all the doorways.

The wifi in the computer wouldn't be that strong, so it'd have a limited range, especially if it had to penetrate the stone, so she wanted to get as close to the source as possible.

Now she had to tweak the wifi to find the right frequency. She'd been hoping that the frequency wouldn't be too outlandish, and it turned out she was right. Dwarves and stone again. There was a limited range of workable frequencies at this tech level. She was pretty sure the Ancients operated on wavelengths that they hadn't yet discovered, but, fortunately, they didn't use any of them here.

"I got it!" she exclaimed.

Indeed, as she said this, Sarah saw a flicker to the screen, and then a steady stream of symbols began scrolling off the screen faster than she could read them.

"Okay, step one is done. Now to connect it to the radio."

Alynita tapped a key on the keyboard and the scrolling symbols suddenly froze into a single line.

She pulled a patch cord out of the computer's case and plugged one end into the audio output of the computer. The other end she plugged into the radio.

"What's it saying, Sarah?"
StarMaster
GM, 768 posts
Storyteller
License to Tamper
Mon 15 May 2017
at 22:07
  • msg #700

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

The symbols, of course, are just like the ones in the elevator. Sarah had made a stab at deciding which ones were probably numbers, but she could hardly say what might have been an 'alphabet'. Not all languages used that sort of structure--the A-B-C routine of progression. Not that it meant anything anyway; the letters of the alphabet could have been arranged in any order. It could have been Q-D-G-Y, and children would have learned their QDGs instead of their ABCs. All alphabetical references had derived from the sequence, rather than the sequence being determined by references.

It was that latter type that made learning a new language difficult.

These runes looked rather like futhark, allowing for a millennium or two of culture drift and language evolution.
Sarah Morgan
SG-X3, 376 posts
Human Pointman Negotiator
Civilian & Upstart
Tue 16 May 2017
at 08:46
  • msg #701

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Alynita's excitement was infectious and Sarah laughed as the computer screen sprung to life.  "Well done!"  The initial blast of data leaves her a little confused until the images slow enough for her to make sense of them and then realisation dawns, "It's Futhark!"  And possibly looking at blank response, "These runes are proto-Norse.   The languages have probably diverged but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to piece enough of it together."  She squints at the screen's still scrolling text to try and decipher it.  "I'll need a minute...."  Her voice fades into a mumble of concentration.
Lucas Wheeler
SG-X3, 84 posts
Gunnery Sgt, USMC
Force Recon (reactivated)
Wed 17 May 2017
at 20:39
  • msg #702

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Lucky stood back, understanding very little that Alynita and Sarah was talking about. "I'm guessing all that is a good thing?" He leaned on his rifle strap, then looked at Cormac and shrugged, "So maybe you were right."
StarMaster
GM, 769 posts
Storyteller
License to Tamper
Fri 19 May 2017
at 20:15
  • msg #703

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Just as with the variants on Futhark that cropped up over the centuries--Swedish/Norwegian had a slight variance from Danish, this particular version has a few changes, but it is usually decipherable in context.

The first screen was a directory requesting a numeric response for what was desired.

Sarah is able to direct Alynita along the paths to what she was trying to do.

Rather than fine-tune the computer's wifi, Alynita finds that the system built into the walls can be adjusted to the team's radio frequency, and the transmission can be selected for broadcast from the shrine above.

She still needed the computer to access it. She can't determine, however,  how the Dwarves accessed it... if they even did.
Alynita
SG-X3, 70 posts
Tok'ra Scientist
Wed 24 May 2017
at 03:14
  • msg #704

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"Okay, Major," she says to Randall. "You should have radio contact with the surface now, and the other teams."

"I'll keep monitoring the system just in case there's still a glitch."

Sarah Morgan
SG-X3, 377 posts
Human Pointman Negotiator
Civilian & Upstart
Wed 24 May 2017
at 07:28
  • msg #705

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Major?  Sarah is ostensibly a civilian though she prides herself on the fact that she too has rank - besides, why call the major 'Major' as a sign of respect when no one calls her 'Doctor' or indeed 'Professor'?   As such, she assumes Alynita is talking her and so responds, "Wonderful.  Thank you Alynita."  She lift her hand-held comms unit (produced from 'somewhere' - though in the know will know it is the altered vest she is wearing) presses the talk button, <"This is Sarah, SG-X3.  Can anyone hear this transmission?">  Not very military!
Michael Thomas
player, 9 posts
USAF Lieutenant Colonel
Thu 25 May 2017
at 15:01
  • msg #706

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Michael and he team are on the surface talking with the local, as the himself and the other soldiers keep a perimeter up just incase there is another attack the scientists with his group seem to be making little headway in their communication just when out of the blue there is an unscheduled radio communication broadcast, it sounds like it could be SG-X3, to which Michael quickly responds. "The is Colonel Thomas of SG-X5, We can hear you Sarah, is your team ok?"
Sarah Morgan
SG-X3, 378 posts
Human Pointman Negotiator
Civilian & Upstart
Thu 25 May 2017
at 17:27
  • msg #707

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Sarah gives Alynita a huge grin and thumbs up.  <"Michael!  Good to hear you.   We are underground.  We've found a prison and rescued..."> Even a military man should pick up the pause, <"One of the prisoners.">  She let's Michael draw his own direct or indirect conclusions based on that.  She doesn't, after all, want to broadcast the fact that she is Tok'ra or a Queen - if she proves to be an ally!  <"We are on our way up, searching the various levels though it currently appears deserted of staff.">
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Thu 25 May 2017.
Michael Thomas
player, 10 posts
USAF Lieutenant Colonel
Thu 25 May 2017
at 19:49
  • msg #708

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

He heard Sarah's response, as cryptic as it was, he thought to himself before he responded. "10-4 Sarah, we are on the surface and await your arrival, should we be prepared for the............Rescue-e to be contained or is it safe to say we need no special preperations the your arrival?" There was a lengthy pause in his response trying to figure out what all should be said or what they were hiding, in any case, he looked at the rest of his current team. "Tate, Glosten SG-X3 are heading this way with a....an extra passenger, now I do not know who it is or if this new arrival with them is aligned with, so you two be on guard, if you see anything out of the ordinary with this person do not keep it to yourselves, but until they get here keep your possitions and keep an eye out for more of the Raptors, who knows when they may try again."
Randall Thorne
SG-X3, 206 posts
1/2 Apache Soldier
Army Ranger Major
Fri 26 May 2017
at 01:37
  • msg #709

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"I think Alynita meant me, Sarah," the Major spoke up then. "It's not a big deal. You pretty much said what I would have."

"She has proven beneficial to us... Tawaret, I mean. We know how to make the elevator go faster, and she told us how to communicate with the surface."

"Both those things have caused me to re-evaluate my previous stance. I think we can try to return Tawaret to her people."

"Okay, everyone! Back into the elevator. We're going back up top!"


He makes sure his team gets back in the elevator. He then pushes the top button and holds it.
StarMaster
GM, 771 posts
Storyteller
License to Tamper
Fri 26 May 2017
at 01:46
  • msg #710

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

There is little sensation of traveling upward. Mostly it's the sequence of flashing buttons that lets the team know they are moving quite rapidly. It only takes two minutes to reach the top level that the elevator reaches.

When the door opens, it's the bottom of the ramps level. Hurrying up the ramps brings the team to the uppermost level of this facility. Although half expecting to be greeted by... something... something threatening, there is nothing there.

The team moves over to the mandala pattern on the floor (and repeated on the ceiling). Once everyone is standing in the circle, Randall merely has to say the word 'up' and the ring transport activates.

Moments later, the team out on the surface again, underneath the trinium canopy over the shrine.

It only takes another minute or so to climb up the run-off to the top of the mountain where the Avians' nest-village is.
Randall Thorne
SG-X3, 207 posts
1/2 Apache Soldier
Army Ranger Major
Fri 26 May 2017
at 02:02
  • msg #711

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

It sure was faster going up than it was coming down!

Randall escorted Tawaret up the incline and found Lt. Colonel Thomas waiting for him.

"So what's been going on up here?" he asked Michael.

After he gets Michael's report, though, technically, he should be reporting to Michael, he takes the Colonel aside to give him the full picture.

"We... accidentally revived one of the sleepers down below. She was different. Turned out she's actually a Tok'ra queen... or claims to be. Really didn't have any way to verify that."

"The rest of the sleepers appear to be Dwarves. No, really! I know exactly how that sounds."

"Anyway, we've decided that she needs to be returned to the Tok'ra right away. If she is what she claims, that will be very important. Besides, only they will be able to tell."

"She did tell us how to make the elevator go faster, and how to use the built-into-the-walls communication technology to make our radios functional. The signal is relayed through the comm system and broadcast from the canopy below."

"I was thinking I'd take Tawaret... home, as it were. That would put you in charge of SG-X3. It's your call whether you want to return down below. There's still a lot we haven't explored. On the last level we were at, there was a tunnel cut into the mountain. We hadn't explored it yet."

Lucas Wheeler
SG-X3, 85 posts
Gunnery Sgt, USMC
Force Recon (reactivated)
Fri 26 May 2017
at 02:24
  • msg #712

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Lucky was happy about the turn of events, and breathed a deep sigh of releif when they got to the surface. He stood off with Sarah and the others as the officers spoke, only catching bits and pieces, "Wait, did the Major just say he's dumping us? No way..., wait, we aren't going back in? We just got out, we should stay a while." He sputterednot considering who might be in earshot.
Sarah Morgan
SG-X3, 379 posts
Human Pointman Negotiator
Civilian & Upstart
Fri 26 May 2017
at 07:24
  • msg #713

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Sarah will follow Randall over for the briefing and will speak up - probably out of turn - but it needed to be said.  "I still strongly disagree with your assumptions, Randall.  Blindly introducing a charismatic symbiote 'queen' in the body of a murderer, who has already admitted to going against Tok'ra law by overwhelming the body's mind, 'back' to the Tok'ra when they are desperate to find and believe in the possibility of such a queen... is tantamount to providing a child with a loaded gun - despite the obvious trust you place in them."  There were no doubt other possibly more appropriate (and probably more gauche) analogies, but she will leave those to the listener to furnish.

"I further believe that by directly jeopardising our Allies rather than isolating the problem for further investigation in a surrounding where the Tok'ra themselves are less vulnerable to general hysteria is a clear overstepping of your authority."

[08:23, Today: Sarah Morgan rolled 29 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 18.  Diplomacy +11.

With a roll of 18 - this is also a CRIT for Sarah.]

This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Fri 26 May 2017.
Michael Thomas
player, 11 posts
USAF Lieutenant Colonel
Fri 26 May 2017
at 16:27
  • msg #714

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Michael was listening, to everything, then he spoke up, more in a questioning tone but only because he had never met a Tokra, and this was his first off world trip. "So this....Tokra Tawaret was it, is inside a murderer? That does pose the question of if it or they can be trusted, now if I remember correctly don't these Tokra have a devise that reads your brain or eye or whatnot to see if there is anything wrong? If you do take the Tokra back home I would suggest it be placed under security both for it's protection as well as SGC's protection, but let's check in with Hammond and see what he wants to do, I have no problem with taking command of SGX3 while you take the Tokra home, in the meantime perhaps they could help my team with setting up the perimeter and with talking to the locals, I don't want a second attack to happen and us not be prepared." He looked quickly at Sarah, and he couldn't help but be lost in her eyes for a brief minute, heck not too many would even notice it, he looked past them and to the rest of the teams. "Tate, dial the gate, we need to Report to Hammond."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Tue 30 May 2017.
Randall Thorne
SG-X3, 208 posts
1/2 Apache Soldier
Army Ranger Major
Sat 27 May 2017
at 20:53
  • msg #715

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"Just because we don't agree very often, Sarah, doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing," Randall replied to Sarah.

"I had no intention of just barging into a Tok'ra stronghold and blabbing out 'here's your queen!"

He then turns to the Colonel.

"Too many unknowns, Colonel. We don't know that Tawaret is really a Tok'ra queen, we don't know if the host was really a murderer, and even if she was, we don't know the circumstances or motivations."

"That's the main reason I wasn't inclined to just drop everything and run off on some hare-brained errand."



When the gate is dialed back to the SGC, Randall reports to General Hammond.

"So I'm thinking we should meet a Tok'ra representative or two on some neutral planet and let them figure out what to do with Tawaret, Sir."
Sarah Morgan
SG-X3, 380 posts
Human Pointman Negotiator
Civilian & Upstart
Sat 27 May 2017
at 23:00
  • msg #716

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Sarah remained silent as Randall 'dug' himself out of the hole he was in.   He reminded her of so many politicians back on earth.   The ability to cover (if not correct) ones mistakes 'after' the fact by denigrating the person who opposed your viewpoint was a tactic they used regularly.
Lucas Wheeler
SG-X3, 86 posts
Gunnery Sgt, USMC
Force Recon (reactivated)
Tue 30 May 2017
at 01:15
  • msg #717

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

Lucky stood back near Tawaret, his hands resting on his rifle. He could not help a smirk as the two team leaders butted heads, reminding him of too many squad meetings during his deployments, but something the Lt. Colonel said bothered him. He raised his hand as he asked, "Umm, what attack?"
Eric Brooks
player, 10 posts
USAF Major
Sat 3 Jun 2017
at 23:40
  • msg #718

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"Well, I wasn't there," Major Brooks responded to Lucas. "I was down the side of the mountain trying to blow it up."

"Anyway, as I understand it, the... raptors returned... in force. The Avians said they'd never seen that many raptors before."

"The colonel and his men were able to drive them off, using the rubber bullets."

"What are we going to do if they return? We're low on ammunition."

Lucas Wheeler
SG-X3, 87 posts
Gunnery Sgt, USMC
Force Recon (reactivated)
Tue 6 Jun 2017
at 17:29
  • msg #719

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"Blow up the mountain!" Lucky replied with tone a bit too excited. "Umm, Major sir, did anyone tell you we were inside the mountain you wanted to blow up?" He asked, glancing to the rest of His team.
General Hammond
NPC (SGC Commander), 125 posts
Tue 6 Jun 2017
at 18:07
  • msg #720

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

[["That's an excellent idea, Major,"]] General Hammond replied to Randall. [["I'll contact the Tok'ra and arrange that meeting."

"I don't know how long that'll take."]]

Eric Brooks
player, 11 posts
USAF Major
Tue 6 Jun 2017
at 18:15
  • msg #721

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"You need to pay more attention at the briefings," Eric responded to Lucky. "We were using small charges for seismological ranging... trying to find how far down the bottom level was."

"We think we found it, but we also found some... space... place... structure. We don't know what it was... couldn't find an entrance."

"And then we came back up."

Lucas Wheeler
SG-X3, 88 posts
Gunnery Sgt, USMC
Force Recon (reactivated)
Tue 6 Jun 2017
at 18:45
  • msg #722

Re: Return to X8T-121: Aerielle

"Sorry sir, I was a late addition to X3, but the general never said anything about blowing holes in mountains. I am certain I would remember something like that." Lucky replied a bit too defensively. "We started at the bottom from the inside, and it's huge. Hundreds of floors down."
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