The group had recently been following a trace of neutrino activity coming from one of many sources in the asteroid ship. Before marooning everyone (except for Angus, who'd been marooned there a lot longer) and Jumping out the Inquisitor had made an optical and laser mapped surface survey, and also detected several small neutrino sources scattered throughout the mass. These signatures indicated multiple (at least 12) small fusion generators in the thousand kilowatt range but at least a couple in the megawatt range. It was trying to follow one of the latter they ran into a dead end.

And these neutrino sources were powering something. Three drones had been shot down when they must have activated hidden point-defence lasers when they got too close to the surface.

They just didn't have enough data at this time to make a guess on the massive ship's internal layout. Aside from the rear engine clusters (destroyed) and the forward Bussard ramscoops (also destroyed) almost nothing was know about its structure. The system map in the agriculture control module was for that module only and only partially detailed, and not of the ship.

"We need to find the main computer. That might give us an overview of the whole asteroid/ship," said Linus who, truth be told, was feeling a bit disconcerted on a vessel that he didn't know the way around of.

"So am I  ... but do we use the belts to go up the levels of these storage areas, or go back to the main corridor, where we left the others?"

"Back to the main corridor, I think," said Linus.

"This doesn't seem to be a major storage area anyway, more of a staging post with limited scope."

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 203):

Angus follows Linus through the corridors, he seems to know something.

The Vargr scientist used her grav-belt to fly up to the large opening in the roof left by the massive lift. She peered up, using her suit light to illuminate the frozen ice-rimed machinery nestled in its supporting struts.

Dr. Goezghae opined. "it's not just a storage area.

"See those? Those are drill presses, lathes, milling machines, extruders, and so on. I think this is mainly a factory, probably automated.

"Where we come in is kind of a loading bay where the finished goods would be collected and sent to where it was needed or into storage. This deserves a closer look some time. At least we know any of these primates won't be messing with it due to it being so cold!"

in a few short minutes, everyone was gathered back at the airlock-style hatches. They cycled back through into the also zero-gee main access tube.

Soon, they were by the scooters parked just outside the entrance.

Glad to get out of the freezing factory unit, Billy eases the seal on his vacsuit and checks the power reserves.  "Well, some might be, later ..." Billy grins at Dr. Goezghae's assertion that the primates won't be playing with the 'factory' tools.  "Once we are ready understand this place a bit more, we might be able to use that to fabricate some of the parts we will need to repair ships."  Still speaking to the scientists Billy asks, "Do you think we could get someone to sort out these scooters for us?  I think they only need the batteries sorted out, then we would be able to travel a bit  faster."

Then back to the team, "Shall  we push on along here, and see what else we can find?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

"Lead the way Billy, and I'll follow."

"Makes sense," said Linus.

In reply to Billy (msg # 207):

"I think that there might even be parts we can use still in the factory. I'll come back later and do a proper survey!

"I don't think we have anyone available to run batteries out here at the moment. I'll pull Hanno off the surface and he can do it in about an hour.

"I'll wait for him here."

"Thank you Dr. Goezghae." Billy says, as plans are made to get the grav sleds running and storage facility checked out. "We'll check in regularly and  report back as soon as we find anything of interest."

With that Billy starts  out, although slowly enough that one of the others can take the lead, if they want to.

In reply to Billy (msg # 211):

Calls were put through and Hanno confirmed he would be able to RV with Dr. Goezghaege at the entrance to the industrial module. Using a grav pallet he would bring tools and new power cells to work on getting some of the sleds operational.

Using their grav belts to propel them down the zero-G access access shaft, the rest of the expedition quickly traveled to the next module entrance. The trip took about five minutes. The module entrance was another large valve much like the last, also with two flanking personnel hatches.

There appeared to be several bodies either floating in the tunnel, or settled on the outer wall (the wall on the side closest to the outer surface). The floating bodies were also slowly drifting towards the outer wall. Drops of blood were floating as well, twinkling red in the glow panels of the access shaft, and some of it pooled on the outer wall by the bodies. There were some weapons (bows, arrows, spears) floating or drifting against the outer wall or sticking out of corpses.

There was a call on the radio from Dr. Goezghaege. "Hey guys, it's me. I just noticed there are some locals farther down the shaft, opposite the direction you took. Back towards our base. They seem to be keeping their distance. Just scoping me out, I guess? Want me to talk to them?"

In reply to GM (msg # 212):

To the group.

"Well that sounds like a plan? Assuming it's not a large or dangerous group."

To Dr. On the cons

"You confident these are the locals we have encountered and somewhat friendly? You have support there right?"

In reply to Jedec Istec (msg # 213):

"No, I'm alone. Hanno won't be here for another 30 minutes or so.

"Wish me luck!"

In reply to Dr. Goezghae (msg # 214):

"We better hurry to help if we can, talk him out of it, bodies down here with blood in the water."

Billy cuts into conversation,  "Dr. Goezghae?  Can you get into the factory unit safely?  It is too cold for them to follow you in there."

Then speaking so that only those with him can hear.  "I think we should go back.  If the natives are friendly, we should talk to them as best we can.  If they aren't Dr. Goezghae is in trouble."

In reply to Billy (msg # 216):

Agreed, this can wait. lets head back!

"Okie dokie," said Linus, turning and heading off towards the reported natives, eager to see what was going on.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 218):

Angus moved at a trot to get there quicker. "I'd suggest hurrying!"

"Grav belts ..." Billy reminds his colleagues as he pushes forwards as fast as he can.

"Back up on the way ..." says clicking on the Comms, to let  Dr. Goezghae know they are on their way.

In reply to Billy (msg # 216):

"I can get into the factory. I also have a grav belt so I can fly.

"They are about a hundred metres back. They aren't doing anything, and they look like they're hiding."

You hear some heavy breathing and fumbling around. "There, ok, the hatch is open, I'm going in."

There was a burst of static and you maybe think she was transmitting but the signal was having trouble getting past the bulkhead.

Using the grav belts the team quickly flew back to the previous module down the centre of the gravity-less access shaft.

When they arrived, they didn't see anyone. Both hatches to the factory module were closed and now dogged shut from the inside. (When you left they were unlocked.)

"We are outside now."  Billy activates his comms system to let Dr. Goezghae know that they have arrived, then leaves it open as he  turns to the rest of the group.  "Anyone want to take the lead, and go back to try to find the natives? I wasn't expecting to run across them down here.  I thought they would all be in the Ag Unit."

"I'll go," volunteered Linus.