In reply to Yardbird (msg # 869):

The open door reveals a steep but well-crafted staircase that heads downward into the darkness. Any who choose to follow it soon find themselves in a larger underground cellar of sorts, filled with complicated-looking equipment.


Area G - Generators

This is obviously a power plant of some sort, complete with a series of modest generators, pipes, cables, and big boxy devices in front of them filled with gauges and dials with which to monitor their operation.

The generators themselves are silent, the gauges all the way to the left, all indicators zeroed out or blank depending on whether they require power to function. The system, as it were, is down.

A prominent lever is set into the wall opposite the staircase, and an equally prominent placard is placed above it. Behind the lever is what appears to be a fusebox the size of the wall itself. There are more than 20 different notches, each of which is labeled.

"Ah. The master breaker," the Adjutant chirps Roger's wristbox. "That explains everything. Power's been shut off manually. Just flip the lever and it should restart."

A glance at the lower portion of the lever is all it takes to learn this will be easier said than done. The device is badly corroded within its housing and does not budge under normal (unrolled strength check) pressure.

To the left stands another bank of indicators, but these ones appear to actually be functioning. A series of tubes run from floor to ceiling, each of which contains a liquid of a different shade and consistency. Or rather, it looks like it was meant to be a liquid. Half of the tubes are filled with a gunky grime and the other half or either empty or filled with solid matter. If this is supposed to indicate the presence of fuel and/or coolant, you suspect there's something wrong with the lines.

The wall beside these is marred by what appear to be scorch marks, and a long gash can be seen running diagonally for about a meter, cut into the wall itself. A pile of metal parts resembling what was probably once one of the still and silent robots you've encountered elsewhere in this facility is jumbled on the floor nearby.

There are two exits to this room: back upstairs to the waste management room, or through the closed door set further down along the same wall.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 870):

"Guh," says Roger at the sight of the generator room, sounding sick. "All right. I'll get to it," he says, as if answering an unheard question.

He begins his tour of the room, inspecting every last piece of machinery for integrity, purpose, and sabotage, hoping his many years of bound labor on energy and environment systems aboard the Nadir serve him well.

"Don't touch the breaker yet. Not 'til we know what we're switching back on. Last thing I want right now is an impromptu rave."

He notes the gash and the gored bot and shakes his head.

"Adj, cross-reference the damage and debris here with what we saw in the temple. Under the 'Sporcules' tag, should be, but don't limit the search."

Roger turns to the group.

"So I know we're all like, super chuffed to get the lights back on... but we just jumped ahead in Hitch's puzzle. Whatever's next, it isn't gonna be a barrel of fun like the last room."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Sun 14 July 2019.

“Fuck Hitch’s puzzle,” Billy reiterates “get the lights on.”

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 872):

"Well man, you know where the switch is. Not gonna stop ya."

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 873):

Basilisk regards Ibis with cold reflective eyes, but does not ask her for anything.

He stomps along into the generator room and follows behind Roger as the latter does his inspection.

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 873):

Thank you Ibis.

She says in response to the yellow glow.  She watches the exchange between the boys silently and then tromps down to the basement.  Flitting around the light given to her by Roger.

Once you are certain about flipping the breaker, we can have Percy pull it for you.  He is very strong.

What... exactly are you looking for?  Some of this feels vaguely familiar and I think I can help. 

Billy shines his light at the ruined tubes and gouged wall, "What about that?" he replies to Rogers invitation to flip the switch, "Is that gonna be happy if we send power running through it?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:00, Mon 15 July 2019.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 876):

"Hard to say," Roger replies to Nightmare. "I mean there's basic structural stuff... but also seeing if any of this has been repurposed or rerouted from its initial spec. When I had my bots, we cannibalized one of these facilities to build that landcraft I was going on about. So a) what's broken? b) what is it supposed to do when it's not broken and c) what's actually going to happen when the juice starts flowing again."

He continues to walk the room as he addresses Billy's question.

"That's why I wanted us to take our time here," he offers. "Probably not very happy in its current state. I'm gonna to patch it up if it's critical. Wire around it if it's not. Seems like more than just power and sanitation going on here."

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 877):

Understood.  Xander you should be able to help with this.

Nightmare applies herself to the task at hand.

"How much time do you expect all this to take?" Billy asks, sounding impatient, "I'm not looking to move in here."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 879):

Roger rummages around the room, pacing and mumbling to himself (and to the Adjutant on his wrist).

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 880):

After about a minute more, Roger's face breaks into a smile finally. "Cool."

"Shame Bill, this is prime Ceto real estate. Distill and refine the fuel into an edible paste and we could live here for weeks," he says, spirits seemingly buffeted, as he strides over to the master switch.

He begins clearing rocks and other junk jammed into the switch's bay. "Disuse with a pinch of sabotage. My favorite. How did you know?"

Once only the rust remains, he takes out his tesla handcannon and zaps away the oxidation with quick precision. He doesn't throw the lever just yet.

"Three options here I see. Varying degrees of caution. Take your pick: power it all back on now, turn it on one breaker at a time to be safe, or -- and you know this is my favorite -- I build a small AI compute bay into the breaker box ... just take a few minutes .. and we tap Sophia in, see if we can map the facility using AI and machine learning -- assuming that's what she wants to do. Establish control over the facility's peripherals, manage them on demand remotely as we explore."

Roger looks to Billy for a decision.

"Yeah, sure, take over the facility, do that one." Billy nods encouragingly.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 882):

What... what does it taste like?  Is it still good?  She asks Raj with a hint of awe in her voice.

"I am not eating refined fuel paste," Billy comments with a curl of his lip.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 882):

"Hell yeah," Roger says, removing his duster and shaking a cartoonish quantity of looted baubles and doodads out onto the floor, creating the sort racket only a tinkerer could find the music in.

In short order, he's fashioned a port for Xander's AI into the breaker and master control panels.

"Xander, Sophia, it's yours if you want it. Double-checked the wiring, so hopefully no nosebleeds. Lines aren't hot yet -- let me know if you want me to power on before or after you plug in."

He turns to Nightmare.

"Not as good as wasper, probably. Definitely not as crispy."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 16 July 2019.

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 885):

Ibis follows the others down into the basement, looking around the room with a stoic sort of fascination. Her gaze lingers on the gash mark on the far wall, and she walks up to run her fingers along it.

"Everything we have encountered so far on this planet has been powerful," she says quietly. "It is a good omen."

In reply to Ibis (msg # 886):

...

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 887):

As Roger tinkers and builds and ponders -- and awaits Xander's input about the makeshift AI rig -- Ibis grows restless.

She paces the room a few times, but her gaze keeps filtering back toward the claw mark on the wall and the room's remaining closed door not too far from it.

"Perhaps we should have the biologist take a look at this?" she suggests. "Most of us are not mechanics, but that does not mean we cannot contribute to the Goddess's plan while you work."

In reply to Ibis (msg # 888):

"I'm ninety-eight point five percent sure a Terrasque did that, but yeah, let's get some more brainpower on it, why not."

Roger will share what data and observations he has from previous Cetoan creature encounters with the team's resident creature experts.

"I'd kind of prefer the unarmed members of the team stay away from potential dangers lurking in the dark," Billy replies with a shrug that says he's aware his preferences don't carry as much weight as maybe they should, "Is our linguist conscious yet or do you just want to leave him alone with a mech set to overwatch and hope for the best?"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 890):

"Yeah, true. Good point. I'll send 'em my records, give 'em something to do," Roger says, working out the mundane details of data transfer with various members of the team over comms.

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 891):

Nightmare examines the claw marks.

Xander and Sophia perform the mental equivalent of exchanging dubious looks.

Yeah, I guess we can give it a shot, he says, reaching for the conduit.

Let me know if you get anything weird, Soph, and I'll unplug.

In reply to Xander (msg # 893):

Roger throws the master switch.