Sarah had already noted the slight variations between the Ancient that she'd learned and the (apparently) even older Alterant version. Given the sophistication of media storage, however, not a lot of linguistic drift had occurred. There were a few words here and there than had no direct correlation or translation, but the derivation was usually sufficient to work it out.

There were two situations that could cause Sarah some difficulty: words imported from another language (especially one she didn't know) and idiomatic expressions. The latter tended to be some new specialized use of a word. It was like an English word that had acquired 10 different definitions over the centuries.

In this case, though, she had a certain amount of context to assist her.

The control room is set up in 5-panel configuration, although there are only three chairs.

The central panel is clearly the main control area with a large video display. It's divided into a top section, a middle section and a bottom section.

The top is the only one that seems to be active, and Sarah readily identifies it as the Power Station, though she doesn't really know what it's showing as it mostly uses symbols rather than abbreviations or whole words.

The middle section is a large viewscreen with an assortment of readouts along the top, bottom and down both sides.

The bottom section's function eludes her.


To the left of central panel, that panel has a top section that appears to be weapons control and a bottom section that is defenses control.

The end panel on the left is sensors up top and communications on the bottom.

To the right of the central panel, the upper section appears to be some sort of control for the henges. The bottom section is life support.

The right side end panel has more sensor controls on the top and engineering controls on the bottom.

Each section has its own on/off 'button' in either the lower right corner (for upper sections) or the upper right corner (for lower sections).

She has no idea how to manipulate the controls, of course. And she suspects that maybe half of the symbols/words aren't visible until the panel is activated. There are no mechanical controls--no dials, no switches, no rocker panels--it's all electronic... or whatever the Alterants used.

Sarah will happily explain what she can about each of the panels and has no problem 'walking and talking' as it where.  "I'm not sure how to interface with all these control.  Based on the seating, I'm assuming it isn't touch but there may be other options...."  She takes a seat and considers the power terminal (it is possible her attention might activate the interface) and then speaks several appropriate words in Alterant-Ancient.

In reply to Sarah Morgan (msg # 895):

     Given the limited space within the control room, as reported by Gavin, Kaspar remains just outside the chamber's door, listening.  After all, Sarah was a better Linguist than he was, and the others had greater technical skills he.

     But, after Sarah explains the function labels she's observed on the various control panels, one item stands out to him,

     "Excuse me, please, but--Sarah, you did say that one of those control panels is powered up, and is indicating the base power systems, yes?  And, to the right, there, a panel seems to have something to do with the Henges?  But that the section concerning the Henges is unpowered?"

     "I find that curious--especially if we were to assume that this base was intended to be any kind of over-all control or monitoring facility.  We know that the Henges have power--we've used them.  And here we find evidence that this base can, at least, monitor the Henges.  Add to this, the base has power--we can see this, that monitoring equipment is functioning.  Now, again, this may be my parochial Terran way of thinking, here, but I find it odd that, if the power source fueling this base is also the source of power for the Henges, that there isn't some indicator of that, on the Henge monitors."

After Hilda secured the rope ladder and showed the team to the control room, she was surplus to requirements, which she was rather glad of. The Cimmerian stood outside where she was well out of the way of the seers and their work. 'I think they'll be a while.' she remarked to Lucky and Tate. Looking to pass the time, Hilda produced a little packet from one pocket of her BDU and started to roll herself something distinctly herbal.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Thu 27 Feb 2020.

"While it is possible that the Henges are powered from this facility, Kaspar," Freyda states, "I do not think it is likely. I think each Henge has its own power source."

"This room can monitor the Henges, however, and may even be able to shut them down. But these controls are like a television set. When you shut it off, it shows nothing."

"The only monitor that is currently active... probably in stand-by mode... is the power control. Like the little red light on your television that says it is getting power... until you turn it on and it turns blue. Or else the television just comes on."

"Verbal control would be inefficient, Sarah, though that isn't to say the Alterants didn't use that method."

"It is more likely to have some sort of neural interface. Possibly a headset or a projected neural field."

"If you cannot sense anything, try taking the center seat. The system may have to be activated before the auxiliary seats work."

"Keep in mind that there may be a mental download that your mind may not be able to handle."

Sarah didn't really have an answer for Kaspar but when Freyda spoke, she gave the Asgard scientist an odd sort of look.  She's read reports from other teams of similar 'events' and wasn't keen on letting something 'manipulate' her mind.  And yet they needed to try something and so she moved to the indicated seat, "Hopefully nothing untoward happens...."  And takes it.

"Talk about being a fifth wheel," he comments as he quickly takes a head count. "We're like the ninth wheel... tenth, if Hecate counts as a separate... ummm... entity."

"We should continue around the balcony level here and check out the doors on this side. If it's like the first side, we shouldn't need Naseem to open the doors. Hilda opened all by herself."

"What about it, Hilda? Ready to continue exploring?

In reply to Tate Ames (msg # 900):

     Standing in the back of the group, as he is, Kaspar overhears Tate's comments.

     "That's actually not a bad idea, Tate." Kaspar says quietly, so as not to disturb Sarah and her investigation of the controls, "But--which of you has the greater Medic skills, you, Tate, or Lucky?  While I have faith in Hecate and her kara'kesh to handle most injuries, I would just feel more comfortable if an extra Earth-trained medic was standing by, while Sarah is experimenting with these controls."

     "So, whichever of you two Sergeants has the most recent medic qualifications, please stay here--but the rest of you are cleared to continue investigating chambers up here, on this level.  Hilda, I know you like to keep close Freyda, so you can stay here and keep observing, or go on searching, whichever you want."

With a flick of her hand, Hilda hid her roll-up before she was caught an officer, but it was just Kaspar and they'd shared a smoke before. In any case, if they went exploring again, she wouldn't get to enjoy it anyway. She tucked it into a pocket of her BDU. 'I do not need to guard Lady Freyda.' she conceded. 'It is my place of honour. But I may leave and explore when needed... And I have the basic SG team training in first aid, and I know the poultices and herbs of Cimmeria.'


OOC: First Aid +3, two ranks

In reply to Hilda (msg # 902):

OOC: That's still better than my +02, Hilda ^_^

"Sorry Major, I don't have any medical training other than the bare minimum they give in early training." Lucky replied with a shrug. "I tend to provide cover so others can tend to the wounded."


OOC: No ranks in First Aid, guess Tate has to stay lol

"Hecate and I are joined so whilst we are one we are still two so yes, she counts as her own separate entity. Since you were wondering. In the lack of a proper medic I shall stay with Sarah in the event something happens that I can heal. If nothing else I can stabilise her until we get proper medical help," Naseem told the others and made sure she was close to Sarah; hoping she wouldn't need her but ready in case she did.

Sarah sits in the center seat... and is rather disappointed that nothing happens.

However, it does let her activate the controls now!

She can turn on all the side panels from the central panel. It doesn't tell her how to operate them, though.

Once she turns on the power control panel, all the side panels light up. She is now able to tell that the power for the facility seems to be at about 50%, with 8123 'power units' remaining.

The easiest panel to figure out turns out to be the Henge control. The display can either show all of them in small thumbnails (the default when you turned that panel on) or when you touch a thumbnail it expands to full screen. You even zoom in. The 'switch' at the bottom apparently activates or deactivates whatever henge is shown full screen.

As near as she can tell, using any of the other panels will probably just require trial and error.


So, Hilda and Lucky move around the balcony to the next door. As with the other doors on this level, it opens at Hilda's touch.

It reveals a long room, such that the next two doors also open into this room. There are a number of seats scattered around the  room, and there appears to be a way to separate the long room into three separate smaller rooms.

It's a bit odd but it gives the impression of a media room.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 906):

     "Oh, well done, Sarah." Kaspar says from where he's standing, back by the door.

     "You'll have this all figured out in no time.  But, you know--and maybe I'm wrong--but this doesn't seem like an Engineering control room, do you get my meaning?"

    Kaspar frowns as he tries to explain his thought, "I mean....while you obviously have control of what we see in these monitors, that seems to be all these consoles do--let us see these things!  Just like a, a--oh, how do the American's put it?--ah, yes!  It's like this is a Security Control room!  We see these things, but we do not operate them from here.  It's miejsce na tajna obserwacja, tak?"


OOC:
Polish: "miejsce na tajna obserwacja, tak?" = "a place for secret observation, right?"

'This place is like Stargate Command.' Hilda told Lucky, feeling like the expert on the upper level of this place now, after exploring half this level already. She surveyed the long room and the seats, wondering 'Maybe this is a briefing room, or a movie room?' She went look for controls or a screen for those briefings and/or movies.

Try as she might, Hilda cannot find anything that looks like a control nor can she discern a screen or a hidden spot it could be found.

She does find the bars--a credenza against the back wall of each section. Opening the doors reveals shelves with bottles, glasses, and clear containers with what looks like food in them. There is also two side-by-side drawers at the top that has napkins, coasters and utensils in them.

"I do not think your assessment is accurate, Major," Freyda says to Kaspar. "Clearly, the henges can be controlled from that panel."

"The power control panel would seem to control power to all the others, which covers communications, sensors, and engineering."

"The top right panel appears to be the control panel for this facility. And the central screen is a touch screen. Sarah, try touching the weapons panel and drag it into the main screen."

Sarah had to agree with Freyda and says as much.  "I think you might be right there.  Just because the UI is simple enough for me to understand, doesn't mean that it doesn't contain a depth of control I've yet to discover.  And on a side note - I'm still not American.
Tak?"   She reaches out to do as Freyda asked her to....

In reply to Sarah Morgan (msg # 911):

     "Yes....I do vaguely recall that fact." Kaspar responds to Sarah, "Perhaps, then, as a non-American, you could explain the meaning of the word 'Rhetorical' to me.  Lately I seem to be constantly encountering people who don't, actually, know what that word means, you see."

"You might be right. It looks like a briefing room." Lucky agreed as they looked around the room. As she found the cupboard stocked, it puzzled him a bit. "Or maybe it doubled as a lunchroom or breakroom for the ones working the control room?" He suggested as he counted the seats around the table. "Then again, I've heard of pilots that always have a lunch at pre mission briefings, so maybe this room has multiple uses. Too many seats for a break room, unless we find other work sttions besides the one the others are checking out."

After looking through the shelves and drawers, Hilda closed the doors with a shrug and turned back to face Lucky. 'I have already found a mess hall and galley, or I think that is what they were... Maybe this is their... mead-hall?' she tried to fit a familiar name to something slightly too unfamiliar. 'But I do not know why they needed separate rooms. Maybe they just really liked eating and drinking.'

There are no tables in the 'briefing' room. The seats seem to be more lounge-like than meeting room types. Also, while they are movable, they are all facing towards one end wall.


Sarah's effort works--the weapons display seems to slide across the panels to the center screen. This is currently available technology on Earth albeit not quite commonplace yet due to the cost.

Sarah is quite careful not to press any of the buttons on the weapons screen though points it out to the watchers, "So far as I can tell, we're looking at similar technology to what we have."

"That's interesting. A people advanced enough for intergalactic travel and they're using technology you can get at Best Buy if you're willing to pay the prices they charge. Colour me somewhat baffled by this whole place," Naseem said in a rather dry tone of voice.

In reply to Naseem Ansari--Hecate (msg # 917):

     "Maybe." Kaspar responds to Naseem's comment, "But, at the moment, aren't we also thinking that these Alterans may have been some kind of Precursor to those who we now call The Ancients?  I know that, a couple of times, now, I've caught myself thinking of all this..."

     Kaspar waves both hands, indication the base around them,

     "...As being of Ancient origin, but really, it may be older than that."