((OOC: Everyone can continue posting in the Destination: Invermory thread if you want.))


The week-long vacation in J-space ends soon enough by dumping you out into Coventry space. There were three coded vectors tight-beam transmitted to the ship's computer once the Longshot was in space heading to the jump point. This was to prevent interception and someone else knowing how to approach Coventry at this particular time. Yes, the Invermory government is quite paranoid.

It's only a vector once you leave Jump-space. The actual astrogation is left to the ship, since the astrogator might be good or excellent, and the captain of the ship might have his own preferences for how to approach.

The three vectors are apparently based on both the specified drop site as well as the particular day/week of delivery, set up a month in advance. Any 'serious' deviation from the vectors can trigger a military response from the Overwatch ships, one of which is always in orbit around Coventry. Their exact schedule has not been revealed to Vonon or Walter.


There is a map of Coventry, but it's an old map. Nothing more recent than a hundred years ago is available. For security reasons. There are six communities indicated on the map, all within a 100-mile diameter area. The drop site coordinates are also within that diameter, near the perimeter. Unless more recent communities have been established, it should take observers about 6 hours to reach the drop site... more than enough time to unload the cargo pallets and leave.

As it turns out, the orbital gunship circles the planet every six hours. Thus, if you land, you'll be observed within 6 hours, and if you are still there after another six hours, the schrapp will hit the fan. Expect to be bombarded from orbit! No excuses are accepted. While this was never explained to you at the time, it is in the 'fine print' on the contract... Section 5, Clause 9, Paragraph 27, Sub-paragraph 12...

The assumption is either that you are waiting for a prisoner to join you or your ship has been overrun.

There's no exact determination of your fuel consumption, so if you wanted to or needed to refuel at the gas giant, that would probably be okay.


The coordinates of the Iltharan 'ruins' show it to be located on a land mass equivalent to Earth's Greenland, near the southern tip though not quite on it. There's no clear reason for this location, and the map shows the island to be covered in a glacier.

Without a flying vehicle, or at least a fast boat, there is no way the prisoners could reach it inside of a week or longer.

The actual time of your landing at the drop site will depend on the speed you make getting to the planet, as well as the point you exit J-space, which can be intentionally or accidentally farther away.

Likewise, the departure vector from the planet will depend on how long you remain there, where you head when you leave, and the actual rotation of the planet as well as where it is in its stellar orbit.


Once you exit J-space, your ship automatically transmits the standard transponder codes: name of ship, captain of record, medical clearance, engineering clearance, destination, purpose and, in this case, clearance code. It only takes a few seconds to get a response from the orbiting ship; several minutes before you get a second confirmation from the base that's out on the moon of the gas giant.

Sylvester had reluctantly put on the uniform Vonon had for the crew for the 'Jump', though he spent most of his time babying the drives and getting better acquainted with Khue. He polished and stroked the engines, Life Support and M Drives. Anything to make them even more efficient and 'sexy' to him.

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 2):

Jack points out that "It seems if we plan it right. We have a 12 to 11 hour window to explore. While on planet. Longer if go to the Gas Giant slowly and make a run on the planet on the return trip to pick up the landing party when the gunship is on the far side of the planet. "

OOC: Does "Section 5, Clause 9, Paragraph 27, Sub-paragraph 12" of the fine print in the Contract cover any landing upon the planet, or just the Contracted landings to drop off the Contracted supplies at the Contracted locations, which are within reach of the Prisoners?  Thus, more specifically, does "Section 5, Clause 9, Paragraph 27, Sub-paragraph 12" apply to time required for the mandatory inspection of suspicious surface anomalies?

No, diverging from the standard flight plan to investigate an anomaly supersedes the listed time. Although there is no time limit specified on such an investigation, it is sort of implied that it shouldn't take longer than 24 hours.

Also, just because the patrol ship is on the other side of the planet doesn't mean it can't detect a ship approaching.

Once they are out of J space, Sam checks the flight plan is locked in for their approach, and scans the area for anything which doesn't fit what they are expecting.

ooc
22:30, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,5.  Sensors 1 Int 1.

     OOC: I take it from this that we've come out of J-Space closer to Coventry, than to the Gas Giant & the Guard Base located there.



[Bridge, I.A.F. Longshot. Coventry Star System]

     Having done his due diligence as Ship's Captain, Vonon shut's down the comm channel to the Prison Guards, and sits back in his command chair.

     "Okay, Crew, so far, all is well." Vonon announces to everyone on the Bridge, "They were expecting us, and we announced our arrival just as soon as we popped out of Jump Space, just like we were supposed to do.  Now, since we already look like a really old ship, to them, let's continue to play that part and take our time plotting the course to planet Coventry, okay?  Take whatever scans needed, so we can set a course that gets us down to the drop point at a local time, such that we can unload and take off from there just before the sun will be setting at the site of the ruins.  Just like we planned."

"So how fast should we pretend to be? M2? M3? even M1?
Not sure if they will let us stay on the planet to search the ruins while the ship takes a trip to the gas giant and back, but that could buy us several days.

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 8):

"Won't their military grade sensors tell them what we have? More or less?" he asks Khea.

Inderpal, who hadn't been on shift when they exited J-Space, wasn't listening to this. She turned over and went back to sleep, dreaming about Sharik as a cheerleader. Soon, she would come onto the bridge to do her comm bit for the main operation, but not yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Mon 08 June 2020.

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 9):

"If we lower the power output of the drive then no. How should they?  Check the schematics of ancient Darrian spaceships they happen to have lying around?"

Sylvester nods to Khea, "This was a Darrian ship? They have shields to block that."

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 12):

"Shields? Whats that supposed to be?"

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 13):

"Similar to a Black Globe Generator to defend the ship from attack, and mask and hide electronic signatures."

"Nah, this isn't a Darrian ship," Pablo corrected. "It's an old Imperial System Defense Boat with drive module. It don't even come apart no more."

"Besides, this ship has had some upgrades over its long life. Hell, we don't even know what they all are yet! Everything is at least Tech-12 if not higher. Invermory is only Tech-10. Military grade sensors or not, they aren't better than ours!"

"Even if they can tell we have M6 engines, they can't tell if they are all working properly... not without a detailed close scan. And we can always just blame it on Vonon! No one really understands them anyway, so we can just say he was being super-cautious. Quirky Vargr personality trait."

"Or I'm sure Khea can come up with some plausible explanation for why they won't go any faster. The tachometer was redlining! And there's always 'computer glitch'. That covers a myriad of problems. Remember, we have a damaged sector in our computer core that's been blocked off. I was trying to fix it with a laser torch that I didn't have, so I used a laser rifle. Ha-ha!"

"Speak techno-babble to them and their eyes'll just glaze over!"

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 15):

"Very good to know Pablo, chocolate chips? Cigar? Brandy? I like to share and take care of my friends! I need to study further on the drives! Educate and learn all of the little secrets."

Sharik always tried to make sure that she was on duty when a jump transition occurred.  It wasn't always possible given the vagaries of astrogation calculation variance, but usually the precision that Shar like to run at didn't make that variance window too large (barring misjump, of course).  In this case, the auburn-haired astrogator was at station when the transition occured.  The dimmed bridge lighting accentuated the play of shadow and light from her flickering displays on her thin, cosmopolitan features.

A light smile touched her lips as the timer and the transition were fairly closely matched.  Her fingers danced upon her dynamic displays, as she ran diagnostics and popped the sensor feed streams into the churning astrogation modules as they came back online.  It took a few minutes for the mainframe to reestablish its navigational bearings, but everything seemed in order - so, Sharik didn't worry too much.

With a nod and an "Aye, aye Cap'n" to Vonon, Shar started in on the course plotting to using the various constraints given.  She didn't hurry, and eventually a graceful arc denoting the potential course resolved itself on the main tactical overlay for the bridge.  The time and and route were an elegant optimization of allowing for the proper insertion at designated time near twilight.

---

[OOC:  One Astrogation task check coming right up...

  12:52, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 16 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 6,5.  Astrogation/INT: 'Casual' route to Coventry. - [roll=1591732373.33753.202604]

No difficulty modifiers applied (but unless the constraints are 'Impossible' we should be all set ... ]

With the uncertainty of the computer, it was always possible that the astrogation wouldn't go as smoothly as expected. But, this time, it came out just fine. The ship dropped out of J-space at the set 100.1 diameters out. It was a small safety margin just in case, though it probably wasn't necessary for Coventry since there wasn't really any space lanes or traffic.

Sensors soon picked up the picket ship in orbit around Coventry.

There was no way they could have known the Longshot was coming, but the clearance code gave you the correct authority.

As Sharik plotted the new inbound course for Coventry, the ship received a comm from the ship in orbit.

===COMMS: "This is Captain Lantrell of the Invermory Starship Argus. We received your authorization code, but, I must admit, I'm surprised to see your ship here. What happened to George?" :COMMS===

OOC Have far away is the ARGUS?

Coventry is a bit smaller than an Earth-sized world at only 7,200 miles in diameter. Thus, the Longshot came out of j-space at around 720,000 miles. That puts the Argus at around 721,000 miles away.

It has not changed course; it continues its monitoring orbit around the planet.

"It's a trick question," Valeska whispered to Vonon. "Captain Jenkins' first name is Marlow."

In reply to Valeska Brandenberg (msg # 21):

     Vonon casts a puzzled look at Valeska, but nods in acknowledgement of her comment, before he activates the microphone at his command station.

^{COMM START >>>} "Captain Lantrell, hello!  This is Captain Vonon Ronkunu, of the Independent Armed Freighter Longshot, responding.  Captain, I'm afraid I'm not sure just who this 'George' you're asking about, is, Sir.  My vessel was chartered to come here and drop off supplies by officials at Invermory, when the regular supply ship developed some kind of mechanical difficulty.  I think they had to wait for a part to arrive from off-planet.  As I'm sure you can understand, I wasn't, exactly, privy to all the details of your organizations transportation problems."

     "And, the name of that supply vessel's captain was, uh, Captain Jenkins, I think.  I don't believe I ever knew his first name--or, if it was given to me, I do not remember it."

     "My Crew and I just happened to be in the right place, at the right time, talking to the right people, when your people needed a ship heading out this way."

     "So, Captain Lantrell, anything you require from us, before we make landfall?  Me and my Crew fully understand that we are to have absolutely no contact with anyone down on the planet, nor are we to attempt to communicate with the, uh, residents in any way, either.  We all signed the massive amount of documents required, to say that we understood that." ^{<<< COMM END}

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 14):

Khea answers in a low voice to Sylvester so that she is not audible on the comms:
"Such things exist?
Turning something like that on is a sure way to look suspicious. Not that we won't be inspected anyway. I doubt they would take our word for it that we do no smuggle anything or anyone else to the planet. They might even leave some soldiers on board to supervise the offloading.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Sat 13 June 2020.

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 22):

Sylvester makes his way to the crew quarters now that they were out of jump to make a wakeup call for Indy. He knocks on the door. "We just left jump space Indy, duty calls!"

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 23):

"True, wouldn't do to activate something like that if you aren't doing anything wrong. If you are, then you activate it.

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 25):

"Which only tells everyone else that you are doing something wrong.
And that you have an expensive piece of technology on your ship."

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 26):

"Yup, that's about right."

===COMMS: "Nice to meet you, so to speak, Captain Ronkunu. Yes, your transponder identified you and your ship. I don't think I've ever seen a real life SDB before, especially one that old! They really made them to last back then, didn't they?"

"Really? No George? I could have sworn Jenkins' first name was George. Think I've been on picket duty too long. Startin' to talk to the walls. Maybe it was his First Mate. Or was it the cargomaster? Well, whatever."

"As long as you stick to the landing coordinates, shouldn't be any chance of running into locals. IF... for some reason you do, you cut and run! Get your asses out of there as fast as you can! Got that?" :COMMS===

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 28):

^{COMM START>>>} "Yes, our Longshot is a little long in the tooth, Captain Lantrell--in fact, I think there's some carbon scoring out on the ship's bow that's older than my GranDam." Vonon comms back, "But she's a solid ship, and gets us where we want to go, all safe and sound, if a little slow."

     "And don't you worry, Sir, we are all aware of the consequences of making contact with the residents of the planet!  We most certainly want to avoid that!  We will be extra observant--both going in and going out--to stay away from them!"

     "In fact, Captain, along that line of thought--could you transmit to us any weather data, for the target landing coordinates, you might have?  If we could get that data, before we arrive in orbit, we won't have to spend any extra time over the planet, scanning the local weather for a safe approach vector, once we get there.  We can just slip into orbit, drop right down to the delivery point, unload, and blast back into orbit, without delay.  And then get out of your fur, that much quicker." ^{<<<COMM ENDS}

Indy got quickly to her feet. Her time in the Scout Service had necessitated being able to wake quickly, but you still need to get dressed etc.

"I'll be ready in five minutes!"

She reached for her small wardrobe to pull out the lurid green uniform that they'd been given. She didn't want to be seen dead in it, but in order to ensure that they didn't die, she would have to be seen alive in it.

===COMMS: "Copy that, Longshot. Weather data being transmitted. You are cleared to land. Good luck." <b>:COMMS OUT===


The ship continues on its approach to Coventry. Sam, in the pilot's seat, makes a couple of minor course corrections, more to keep up appearances than because they are necessary. Sharik keeps monitoring the course, mostly making sure that the patrol ship doesn't change its course. As technically precise as the equipment on the ship is, it's no more accurate than the least precise piece of equipment being used. Half a dozen sensors are in play, including visual (the least precise), so Sharik doesn't have to make any course corrections until the ship enters atmosphere.

Normally, this is all done automatically by Air-Space Traffic Control transmitting data to the ship's computer, particularly since a thousand or so data bits per second are being transmitted. With no ASTC, Sharik and Sam have to make corrections as necessary. One of the things that crops up... while you have the landing coordinates and the coordinates of the Iltharan facility, what none of the data told you was that there is a mountain range between the two. It's not a high mountain range, but it does mean that the angle of take-off has to be adjusted so the ship doesn't fly into a mountain.

The slight deviation can easily be accounted for by a bit of 'sight-seeing' or the possibility of needing to refuel... if anyone asks.


In short order, but none too soon, the ship makes its final approach to the landing site, coming in at shallower angle than normal, mainly to give a minute or so longer to look around. The weather data was helpful, particularly the afternoon downdrafts off the mountains. They aren't that strong, though, because the terrain at the base is mostly grassland and scrub forest.

You spot several cities and towns and village in the area, but nothing very close. You also see several 'greeting' parties scattered around the whole area, but none near your landing site. Presumably, they were guessing where the ship would land, but they simply didn't have the resources to cover every possible spot. If they did this every time, though, they might actually get lucky some time and guess right.


The ship lands.

- It seems the locals knew of our approximate landing site and timing, - Serge said. - This is not good. Chances are there is a group within walking distance which can jump on us while we are unloading the cargo. Captain Vonon, sir! It is recommended that we place a hidden observer nearby, covering the approaches to the landing site and the site itself. I was trained specifically for such role. I would prefer to get a partner but am survivable alone too.

Standing on the bridge observing the landing, Sir Walter frowned as the ship settled down. "When we get back and debrief, we might want to suggest to the authorities that they start mixing up delivering the cargo by using old fashion air drops or drone couriers." he said to Captain Vonon.

Sylvester looked out the viewport, brows furled at the prospect of being attacked, time to quickly unload, he made his way to the cargo hold as fast as he could. This could get bad!

Jack wearing his Green Boarding Uniform with Black Arm and Leg Protection. "I would like to join Serge Captain...PLEASEEEEE" As e grabs up his Vest and helmet

"Ready to off load the cargo Captain Vonon, we need to do this fast and get out of here!" He arms himself on top of his company blue/grey uniform to make it so.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Sun 21 June 2020.

Just keep the launch hovering over us and if anyone comes into sight we use the ships laser turret. That would keep them at bay.

No matter, I am surprised how smooth this is going so far. From all the stories told about them I never expected them to let us go down here unsupervised. We could unload all kind of smuggling goods if we wanted to."

"Nah," Pablo chimed in after looking at the screens. "They aren't close enough to reach us before we unload the pallet. They can't even sprint that far that fast."

"They'd have to have at least a horse. Don't see any of them. I am kind of surprised that they don't have a least a primitive vehicle. Don't need petroleum. Ethanol will work just fine. Iron works best but the first carriages were made of wood."

"We may be interpreting their presence incorrectly. They may have a pressing need for these supplies and want to get them as quickly as possible. Maybe the medicines."

"As much as I'd like to stay and... 'investigate', I'm not really keen on interfering with the Invermory government."

"Ordinarily, Khea, you'd have a point. But that's Walter's reputation on the line. Besides, what would we smuggler in? Diapers? Toilet paper? Mignyl chorts? Wait! I know, we could smuggle in an... oboe!"

"Bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah!"

"Energy weapons, generators, drugs, a frozen body from a low berth to exchange for a prisoner so that there is no difference in life signs, things like that."

"Energy weapons... so they could shoot themselves?" Valeska mocks Khea a bit.

"The government might even thank us for that!"

"Generators to run... what? Their non-existent vehicles? Lights that they probably don't have?"

"What kind of drugs? We just brought them medicine. Give them something they can get addicted to so they can't get a new supply? Almost as good as energy weapons. Prolong? Let them live a miserable life for another hundred years?"

"If you think about it, this is the perfect prison. It doesn't need any guards, it doesn't need any walls, it doesn't need any maintenance. I think the people that created this prison were expecting the prisoners to resort to total anarchy and just kill each other. I couldn't find any information on the current status. Other than what can seen from orbit, they have no idea what goes on here. I suspect that's because if they don't know, they don't have to care."

In reply to Valeska Brandenberg (msg # 40):

[On Coventry.  Supply Drop Site.]

     "The idea of keeping an eye out for anyone getting too close is a good one, however I suspect that Pablo is probably correct, that folks on foot will take some time to get here--BUT!"

     Vonon raises a furry finger,

     "Remember the Contract!  NO interaction with the locals--not even accidental!  If they find us, we run!  So.  Nobody leaves the ship."

     "So.  No Perimeter Patrols...." Vonon points back-and-forth, between Serge and Jack.

     "And No Overflights..." Vonon shifts his pointing towards Khea, "While the Last Chance, with its lasers, could easily hold off a big crowd, it will just as easily draw that same crowd to us, hovering around, above us.  So, no."

     Vonon swings his arm around to point at Pablo,

     "Chief Gunner!  Report to the Dorsal Turret and ready for Ground Defensive Action, Alert Status Yellow.  Do not fire upon anything without orders from the Bridge, or from me, directly!  You will not be incinerating any Tweety Birds with a Tactical Weapon..." Vonon shows his fangs to his old friend, "...again!"

     Vonon lowers his arm as he turns around to look at Sam,

     "Chief Pilot, remain at your station and keep the engines at Standby--in case we have to make an Emergency Launch."

     Vonon turns to Sharik,

     "Chief Astrogator, I need you to 'swap caps' and run Sensors.  Set a Proximity Scan out to three kilometers, with sensitivity that will pick up movement of anything larger than a Human infant.  Be sure to exclude a zone within one-hundred meters of the ship--so we don't set off an alarm, as we unload the ship.  I know at that sensitivity you're going to be picking up on a lot of local fauna, just be sure it's humanoid, before you relay the sensor feed to the targeting system in Dorsal Turret."

     "Pablo!  A warning shot, first, please, if you get the authorization to fire.  If they run away, let them.  If not....Tweety Bird time."

     "Everyone else, report to the Cargo Bay to assist with Unloading Operations.  Sidearms are required, people!  So go get'em, if you ain't already got'em." Vonon slaps the holster of his 10mm Heavy Autopistol, in emphasis, "Then get down to the Cargo Bay."

     "Oh!  Wait!" Vonon suddenly calls out, turning to look back at Sharik and Sam,

     "We wanted to try and time our landing at the ruins for just about sunset, over there.  We've got local meteorological data, so--how long do we have to milk this unloading for?  Or do we need to get the frack out of here toot-quick?"

- I recommend starting scanning the radio on all frequencies, in case the locals got portable radio stations, - Serge said.

Then Serge walked into the Cargo bay with a stunner on his hip and a gauss rifle which he put in a nearby locker within the reach of a jump.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:44, Mon 22 June 2020.

Sylvester began unloading as quickly as he could.

Sir Walter helped coordinate the unloading to avoid bottlenecks.

The estimate for unloading was one hour, though it was expected to take only about 15 minutes.

The cargo was two plastech cargo pallets, not containers (which could be used as shelters). A grav-jack was needed to move the pallets.

The cargo doors are all ventral, but they are variable configurations. They can be split down the middle and swing down as a pair of cargo doors, or one end can be lowered to make the entire deck a ramp, or the entire deck or half a deck can be lowered on hydraulics.

The first option is primarily for loading and unloading in zero-gee, the second option is for rolling stock, and the third option is for planetary loading and unloading. The cargo deck drops down to the ground and a grav-jack is used to move the cargo pallets off the deck and out onto the ground.

The process can be done quickly in an emergency, but 15 minutes is normal for safety issues. Lowering the cargo deck to the ground, releasing the pallets from the deck and making sure they don't shift, then using the grav-jack to move them.

The only reason it might take an hour is if there was equipment malfunction. If there was, it wouldn't be detectable from orbit. If the problem couldn't be fixed within an hour, then the cargo would just be dumped.


Once the pallets are on the ground, there is a mechanism that will launch a flare into the sky in three hours. Additionally, a flashing light beacon will also activate.

The landing had been worked out to be one hour before dusk. So you can depart at any time within the next two hours and still be able to visually spot the Iltharan ruins.


Just as the last pallet is put onto the ground, the grav-jack returned to the ship and the cargo deck is raising, Sharik picks up a blip on the sensors. At first, it registered as a bird, albeit a fairly large bird, because it was flying. Once she turns the camera on it, however, she can see that it is a woman using a hang-glider. Further enhancement shows that it is a rather primitively built hang-glider that is never the less functional.

It approaches cautiously... or maybe it appears that way just because of the wind currents and updrafts that it has to fly on. It never gets closer than about half a mile, though, and continues to circle the area.

When they finish getting the cargo off, Sylvester stows the jack and resets the cargo hold to ready for lift off. He then heads to engineering to help with take-off, manning the console in with the maneuver drives.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Mon 22 June 2020.

Sam says "Aye Capn" to Vonun and sits in her seat whilst everyone around them gets moving. She flashes a smile at Sharik "One of the advantages of being a pilot, you miss out on some of the humping and dumping if it looks like a quick exit may be needed." She sighs theatrically "Its a trial but I'll struggle through..."

Sam keeps an eye on the engines and other flight systems, keeping powered up enough for a quick exit if needed, but with her practiced eye she can do that fairly easily as well as look at Shariks station "ANy bogeymen approaching?"

Sylvester buckles up for lift off making sure the maneuver drive and power plant were running at 100% efficiency and within parameters.

Indy went down to the cargo bay to assist as best as she could - which wasn't very much - then returned to the communications console in the bridge ready to man the radio.

She expected there might be quite a flurry of traffic once they headed for the main site... and especially if the authorities got wise.

So it was time to come up with some plausible excuses.

Sylvester made his way to the galley for coffee for the launch. He thought he looked good in Vonon's blue/grey uniform with his Imperial medals attached. When done, he went back to his console and strapped back in, sipping on his Kaffe.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Tue 23 June 2020.

"Aye, aye, Cap'n." the auburn-haired astrogator noted easily, she swapped out a set of displays bringing the sensor feeds to the fore and pushing the navigation feeds to the background.  Shar kept an eye on the streaming data from computer core and the constant calculations that she had running there - various vectored escape routes on order.  Just in case.

As she surveyed the various sensor feeds, the young astrogator hummed a light tune until the hand-gliding blip resolved itself.  At that point the diminutive asian's burgundy lips were pursed for a moment.  "Vo," she noted, as her head jerked towards the main display where she'd pushed the visual feed onto, "Looks like we have a bogey about ... about a click out."  As she studied the image, Sharik narrated, "Approaching - no, circling ... It's a winged.... a bird... no, scratch that.  Wind-powered aerial transport.  Local-made from the materials."

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, "A woman driving from size and build... "  She winked at Sam for a moment, as they both knew which gender made the best pilots, adding with a touch of playfulness, "Naturally."

"Single person." Shar judged from the size, "A scout, presumably."  And that elicited a glance in the direction of Indy at the comms console.  The astrogator based her observation on the size of the hand-glider and it's occupant.  There was no way that craft was going to haul off any significant portion of the supply drop on its own.

"Likely," the cosmopolitan ex-operative noted rather deadpan, "We've likely been spotted.  But I don't think that anyone can get here in time to affect the drop."  Though, she recognized that was the Captain's call more than hers.  But that was her educated guess.

With the cargo unloaded, Sir Walter documented that the cargo had been delivered at the assigned location before heading back to the bridge.

Sharik's comment caught his attention "Another thing to bring up with the authorities. Lets hope they have not come up with artillery or such. That "Scout" might be a spotter." he said, looking at the readout.

Sharik shrugged slightly at Walter's comment.  "Possible." she admitted tentatively, "But extremely unlikely to be aggressively hostile.  They want the supplies intact.  And the ship, in theory - if they could construct the means to piece the hull."  She sounded extremely skeptical that the local technology would make anything that could pierce a standard starship hull - let alone an additionally armoured one like the Longshot.

Still, prudence was likely in order - though she wasn't going to shoot down the hand-glider at this point.  "+++Those on lookout, stay frosty.  Let's get that drop done, ASAP.  The locals are likely to be aware of the dump location soon, if not already.+++"  Not that the crew wanted to linger and were dwaddling anyways.

And once the ramp doors were closed.  She figured the ship would be impervious to any local assault.  It would take burying the ship in a couple hundred tonnes of rock to slow it down.  Which would require the ship to be on the ground.  And the mountains weren't that close...

     Down in the cargo bay, Vonon is watching the cargo lift come up to seal the deck closed, when Sharik calls.

     Vonon presses the commdot stuck under his fur, on the left side of his throat,

^{COMM START>>>}  "On my way!" Vonon responds,

     "Wind-powered aerial scout vehicle?" he adds, as he rushes to the ship's lift, "I was raised on an asteroid station, Shar'r -- what the Hell are you talking about?  Is it armed?" ^{<<<COMM END}


OOC: the commdots -- 1 on his throat, 1 on his skull in front of his left ear -- are linked to his personal comm, on his belt

Khea is helping with the unloading, or rather she makes sure that subordinates unload it while still appearing to be part of the work
"Wind powered scout....
Guess as soon as we leave they will start warring over the supplies.

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 55):

"Undoubtedly, I'm sure it is not enough for all of them. The population will be growing."

Sharik seemed nonplussed by Vonon's urgency.  She loved her friendly captain's passion and urgency, but knew that it was likely to be unwarranted here.  Hopefully, it wasn't too much of a let down - and secretly she wondered about Vargr physiology and what type of adrenal response they were prone to.  So much so, that the diminutive ex-operative made a mental note to brush up on that later.

"It's a woman in a cobbled-together hand-glider..." Sharik explained simply when her terminology was questioned, and she pointed to the screen where the visual feed had been trained upon the circling aircraft - with the digital zoom used to focus and clean up the image, "There are no armaments that I can see.  And I would doubt that such a lightweight craft would be able to carry much in the way of weapons.  At least not at this tech level."  She kept her tone calm and even, appearing to be almost bored.

"That person would need a hell of an arm to reach the Longshot or the LZ with an muscle powered object." Sharik continued in an even, reassuring - almost dispassionate - tone, "They haven't approached within 800 meters of us."

"Grav-jack returned, Ramp up, Captain." Sharik noted dutifully, her eyes darting from the external to the internal sensor feeds and back, "We are ready to depart."  The auburn-haired astrogator turned slight from her station, to see when Vonon would give the order to depart to Sam.

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 57):

     Vonon gets Sharik's report as he enters the ship's lift and heads up to Deck 1.

     "A Hang-Glider?  Oh--a Glidewing!  Yeah, we have those at the Zero-G Park, back home." Vonon responds, "Okay, so low threat potential.  Still, send the targeting data to Pablo."

     "Next--Pablo.  You'll be getting targeting data, I want you to track this target with all three lasers.  Do not fire--repeat-do not fire.  Just make a production of following them with the turret.  This just a warning, just intimidation.  Nothing more."

     "Okay--Sam.  The ship is secured from unloading operations.  Start your prelaunch checklist.  No hurry here, we kept the engines warm, so just run a standard sequence, then standby for my order."

     "Indy.  I'd bet good money that Guard Ship has been watching this whole time--so I want you to get ready to hail them, just as soon as we lift off.  I think we can use us reporting this...hang-glider...to them, as an excuse to make what appears to be a hurried take-off.  Which will explain why we're heading off over the mountains, between us and the ruins."

     The lift arrives at this point, and Vonon hurries forward to the Bridge, where he plops himself down in the command chair and straps in.

     "All stations report--are we ready for lift off?"

After the cargo door was sealed, Serge walked back to the bridge and took the place of the Second Pilot.

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 59):

"Engineering ready for lift off." Sylvester says as he looks for Khea. He watches all of the controls on the console and all of the graphs and dials on the heads up display.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Thu 25 June 2020.

"Finally. Now the real work can begin.
>>COM to bridge
"Everything ready down here
<<<COM out

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 61):

     "Okay, then.  If everyone's ready." Vonon says, then nods towards Sam,

     "Sam--keep an eye on that circling hang-glider--once it gets to a place directly opposite from the direction towards the ruins, go ahead and lift off--over the mountains and take us over the ruins.  And go as slow as you can!  Keep up the illusion that the Longshot's old and slow."

     "Shar'r.  The moment we leave the ground, go full sensor sweep.  I'm not really looking for the locals--I just want that Guardship, up in orbit, to see it and think we're panicking, a little bit."

     "Indy, once we're in the air, start hailing the Guardship.  I don't want you to actually say the word 'emergency', but try to put a tone of concern in your voice.  Then, when they respond, transfer the call to me."

     Vonon keys open the internship comm,

     "Okay everyone, real quick, here's the immediate plan.  I'm going to use the unexpected appearance of this local built hang-glider as a pretense for a rapid lift-off.  I'm going to scream my head off to the Guards about it, and how we didn't know they could do that, and that we never had any contact with them, yadda-yadda-yadda.  Then, because we are 'panic scanning' for more hang-gliders, once we clear the mountains, we can 'accidentally' scan the ruins--and make a 'What The Frack Is That?' report.  I wouldn't be surprised if they don't order us to land and check it out."

     "Okay, then...here we go!"

"It's just a spotter," Pablo offers after observing the hang glider.

"She's not interested in us. She's just circling over the site of the supplies so the others will know where it's at."

Sam follows Vonuns order, though if the hang glider doesn't move to a position opposite their line of departure within a minute of them buttoning up, she'll say to V "If we wait too long thats gonna damage the story, I'm gonna punch it" and will do so.

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 63):

Jack "So... some group is getting a head start before the flares on the boxes go off. Doesn't seem fair."

"I think you're getting confused with the term 'prisoners', Jack," Pablo responds. "These aren't a bunch of hardened killers and gangbangers. These are decent ordinary citizens that protested at the wrong time in the wrong place and against the wrong person."

"I don't think the various groups are working against each other. This looks like a military operation. Whether the people here were capable of that before, I don't know. But remember, Admiral Birnbaum was recently exiled here. This seems like something an Admiral would do."

Sylvester sat strapped in his seat monitoring the systems during the sudden takeoff. Everything was normal. Now it was time to look for ruins, that was for the sensor folks.

Serge checked the coordinates again.

OOC: What is the distance between the landing site and the Iltharan facility?

"Navigation and sensors are ready, Captain." the auburn-haired astrogator chimed in dutifully, with a raised thumb in Vonon's directory.

"Roger that." Sharik agree amicably to the full sensor sweep ordered by the Captain; already the data was streaming across her display.

Shar had pushed a wire-frame overlay of their projected route over the mountains - one that looked just plausible enough to properly avoid interaction with any local on the ground and in the air.  The times and compass headings were prominently displayed in the corner of the tactical map for Sam to use if she wanted.

When the circling hang-glider gets directly opposite from the direction of the ruins coordinates, Sam lifts the Longshot off and heads towards the mountains where the Iltharan ruins are supposed to be.

The moment the ship leaves the ground, Sharik activates a full sensor sweep. Moments later, with the ship in the air, Inderpal begins hailing the orbital guard ship.

The ship soon clears the mountains and visually picks up the ruins on the edge of the ice field. The facility is comprised of five circular columns--four smaller ones spaced equally around a larger central one.

The ice appears to cover about the lower 3rd of the structure. You can't make out an entrance from here, though. The tops of the four outer towers have slanted roofs with what appear to be solar energy cells covering the entire roof. The central tower has a domed roof.

There is no response from the orbital ship.

In reply to Pablo Esteban Ryzov (msg # 66):

"OHHH there is some very unpleasant people here. I should know since I put them here. "Says Jack

Inderpal hit the voice communication button - she wasn't going to him an image they could use on a wanted poster and started hailing the guard ship.

"Orbital Guard Ship, Orbital Guard Ship, this is IAF Longshot. I repeat this is Longshot. We have a potentially dangerous situation on the ground here. Have identified an unpowered aircraft on an approach trajectory and are taking evasive action..."

Now to wait for any response.

"We should have left a drone near the dropoff site. War footage is always popular entertainment back in the Hierate"

Sylvester stayed at his console for the entire trip to the ruins. Had to make sure the drives and power plant were running at optimum.

Sir Walter stepped over to Jack and had a few words with him.

"So how do you want to play this V? I reckon a fly by to see what we can make out first? SOund good?"

"Cap'n, I'm picking the presence of five towers partial exposed on that glacier ahead." the diminutive astrogator noted dutifully as the mountains cleared.  She might as well make it 'official.'  She rattled off coordinates and initial dimensional estimates from the longer distance scans, "Given their size, I don't make them to be constructed by the current local population; it's way beyond their current known capabilities."

"Am I correct, sir," Shar added rather deadpan, "that we are contractually obligated to investigate?"  Pretense was pretense; and she figured that they might as well make that official as well. "We can't just bug out..."

"Preliminary aerial reconnaissance seems extremely prudent." Sharik chimed in from the navigator's chair, when the Longshot's pilot asked, "Given the seeming disposition and organization of the local population, Captain."  Though the auburn-haired astrogator had addressed her Vargr friend directly, her tone was loud enough and casual enough that she was also letting Sam and the other bridge crew know that there was (ostensibly) a reason for plenty caution.  And extra deep surface scans.  The works, potentially at this point.  It was a 'new' discovery after all.

And with locals more organized and mobilized than anticipated, it might limit their time at the site.  But, it could also be a reason to destroy the site (or at least make it much less hospitable/accessible) after their investigation...

"Yes Sir Walter" says Jack

30 seconds go by.

Jack looks like he has a headache

And gives Sir Walter his answer...

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 79):

     The ship was now over the mountains--to the Guardship, above, it should look like they were running away from the sudden appearance of the 'flying resident'--so now it was time to foster the illusion that they were, just now, 'accidentally' spotting those ruins...

     "Okay, Indy, transfer that call to my station, here." Vonon says, as he leans forward in his command chair--he clears his throat, before pressing the button and activating the microphone in his console.

     "Confederation Guardship!  Confederation Guardship!" Vonon suddenly growls at the mic, sounding stressed out, "This is Captain Ronkunu of the Longshot!  Captain Lantrell, your prizz--I mean, your residents have aircraft, dammit!"

     Vonon pauses a moment, rolling his eyes,

     "Well...okay...it was just a hang-glider, but still!  We had no idea!  We weren't scanning for anything approaching by air!" Vonon had been raising his voice until he was now shouting, "It would have been frelling nice if you'd warned us they could drop down out of the frelling sky!  Especially since, if we hadn't seen them before they'd actually done that, you'd have started shooting at us, the moment they landed next to our ship!"

     "Anything else you forgot to tell us, Captain?" Vonon continues, "Like, maybe they got aerospace interceptor fighters to chase after us with?  Or maybe they got surface-to--KLONO'S HAIRY ASS!!  WHAT THE FRACK IS THAT?!!"

     The microphone still open, Vonon has to pause a moment, to stop himself from giggling,

     "Uh...are those buildings, down there?" He manages to get out in a choked voice, "Sensors, gimme a full scan of those structures, there!  Comms! Get the--oh!  Right.  Still open....uh,....Captain Lantrell?  Captain Lantrell?  Look, we were hauling ass to avoid contact with your--Residents--and we came over this mountain range, here, whatever it's called, and now we're seeing some pretty advanced looking structures down on the ground."

     "Indy--send that video feed up to the Guardship, please.  Pilot--bring the ship back around and circle that location.  Keep us at, um, ten-thousand meters?  Will we stay clear of the mountains at that altitude?  Oh, just use your best judgement."

     "What the Frack, Lantrell?  First the Prisoners--dammit!--I mean the Residents!--sneak up on me with a hang-glider, now this frelling Country Estate!  My contract says now I gotta go down there and make sure it's not something your Residents can use to get off planet!  And it's getting dark down there!  My ship gets damaged, landing down there in the dark, I'm gonna bill the damages to your Organization!"

     "Longshot, out!" Vonon looks at Indy, nods at her, and makes a gesture of swiftly dragging his heavy thumbnail across his throat.

     Once the circuit is closed, Vonon sits back in his command chair and chuckles,

     "Heh-heh.  So, what do you all think--too much?  Heh-heh-heh." Vonon claps his hands and rubs them together, "Okay, Sam, take us in.  Nice and Easy.  Sharik, Serge, you two help Sam look for a good place to land, that's close to those ruins.  Pablo, anything shoots at us from out of those ruins, you shoot back with everything we got--frack the historical value!  Indy, if that Guardship calls back, you ignore them until we are on the ground.  Then you can answer their call--we're an old ship, lots of technical glitches.  Got it?"

     "The stellar primary is going down, so let's do this."

Sir Walter listened to the Captain's conversation and kept a poker face, but was laughing on the inside.

Sharik's sensor readings show that the orbital patrol ship is on the other side of the planet it still. It can't pick up any communications from the Longshot until it comes over the horizon.

The sensors don't detect any weapons on the facility, nor are they picking up any source of power. On the other hand, the place is heavily shielded and sensors can't penetrate the walls at this distance. IR scan indicates it's as cold as the glacier half-surrounding it.

Sir Walter jerked his head up as a though came over him. "Mighty interesting that they are on the other side of the planet right now.  Maybe they planned it this way. There would not be a problem for them to loiter in orbit over the drop off site and make sure no one escapes. They would want to keep an eye on us until we were in orbit, do you not agree Captain? " he said.

     "Passive shielding, right Shar'r?  Nothing active, like sensor scrambling?  Sheesh!  I wonder what the frack those walls are made of...?" Vonon ponders.



     "That's how competent law enforcement would do it, yeah." Vonon says with a sneer,

     "Captain Lantrell and his crew might just be too lazy to bother altering their orbit to hang around and make sure we don't do anything naughty.  However, as I discovered in my last days with the Cassandras Belt Space Patrol, you can't discount either political or bureaucratic ineptitude, in these things.  We don't know how long that Guardship has been on-station--they may not have had the energy to spare, to change course and watch over us, because of resource shortages."

     "Still...I am a little surprised that they didn't have some means of--at a minimum--monitoring comm channels, over here.  I mean, even a small observation drone in a high orbit--with the crappy resolution it would be receiving from up there--is better than nothing...."

     Vonon shrugs in his chair.

     "Oh well.  Still, it's on us to alert them about this find.  Indy, once we've landed, set up a loop recording asking for Captain Lantrell--specifically--to call us when he receives the message.  Just say we have to report something he needs to know A-S-A-P., then leave it running."

     "You don't have to wait around for any answer, though." Vonon adds, "Sir Walter, you said you wanted to stay aboard the Longshot, before--that still what you want to do?"

"Yes, just like the space pyramid, I am too long in the tooth to play explorer, unless it is to find cargo to sell. You kids run along, and I will sit tight right here. Besides, I need to get in my monthly flight hours." Sir Walter said. A thought hit him. "Do you want to send in the drones for a look-see first? Maybe use them as a comm link between you and the Longshot?" he suggested.

"We were told up front that they didn't care about anything leaving the planet," Valeska reminds Vonon. "Their focus is on ships coming in."

"In our case, we have three things going for us: we have the proper clearance code, we're conforming to the scheduled cargo ship, and we have Sir Walter aboard."

"I'm not saying that those things are absolutes, but these guys clearly aren't customs agents. As far as they are concerned, someone else is responsible for giving us clearance. If we couldn't be trusted, we wouldn't be here. In other words, it's not their job."

Sam brings the Longshot around in a sweep as slowly as she can, trying to find a space near enough, big enough and stable enough to set down.

"Sharik, can you scan the ice to see how solid it is if we have to land on it?"

Inderpal acknowledged the instruction and looked to see how far they were away from touchdown. Once they did that, she would transmit the message as recorded, then conduct diplomacy with Count Armitage Shanks.

I at least have no intention on staying on the ship just in case they decide that we are doing something forbidden and start blasting before listening to the message."

"Become a prisoner Khea? I'd rather be dead!"

"Suit yourself, I value my life"

"I intend to treasure hunt, but I don't want trapped here if I can help it."

Sharik gave Sam a curt nod, "On it."  Her fingers flew over the dynamic display, pushing some of the sensor feed configurations around to get the proper densitometer readings done on the surface below.  She'd already been focusing on the tower structures and under them; so, widening the scan was straight-forward.  At least, in theory.

The closer they got, of course, the more detail the scans could give.  But given the ship's sensors... 'close' was 10 klicks - plenty of space and time to make adjustments.  She pushed the data stream results (filtered through a collection filter to resolve features in 3-D) to the tactical overlay on the main screen.

---

[OOC:  A Sensors/Int check, just in case...

  12:14, Today: Sharik Kaagira rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 3,4.  Sensors/Int: Towers and Ice - anything unusual to detect? - [roll=1593630846.32171.202604]

No modifiers for difficulty or advanced sensor design applied...]

The sensors aren't able to penetrate the walls of the towers, but as you approach, you can see what appears to be a door only on one side between two of the smaller towers.

The whole facility is maybe 100 meters from the shore of the ocean on the far side of a inlet. It appears as if it might be at the base of a cliff, but you can't be sure because the ice covers it still. Sensors show the 200 meter cliff under the ice. There's nearly another 100 meters of ice on top of the cliff.

It was most likely that the entire inlet had been covered with ice and had been retreating for a dozen years or more.

The retreating glacier had scoured the beach, probably expanded the inlet--may have even created the inlet, so there's plenty of room to land the ship on the rocky shore. It'd be stretching it to call it a beach.

There isn't a Glaciology program in the computer, however, so you can't really tell how stable the ice is. Parking the ship on the shore is probably safe from any chunks of ice breaking off and hitting the ship.

The ground is stable; you can't be sure about landing on top of the ice. That would make it a bit more difficult to get down to the facility.

ooc
Not sure I got this - but the beach is on a different level to the facility? And/or the ice is?

Inderpal looked out the window from her position to assess the situation. Not just the ground, but the air; she needed to see whether there was a risk of a snowstorm or strong winds that would hamper their operations.

The facility is on the shore, and the ice once was, but it has retreated, which is what revealed the facility. The facility is at the base of a cliff. The ice is mostly up on top of the cliff though some of it still hangs down and partially covers the facility.


Inderpal just has to go through the data that the orbital ship transmitted on your approach. There doesn't appear to be any storms on the way for at least 7 days.

thanks SM

"So we land on the beach, and catch some rays whilst exploring - yeah?"

"You in a bikini Sam! Wow! Throw in a bottle of wine and some cheese! Exquisite!"

"At least we don't have to look for a door this time. Although how likely is it that it will still work?"

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 100):

     "Relax, Khea...hur-hur..." Vonon says with a snicker, "All things are possible...with enough explosives!  Hurr-hurr-hurr."

The external temperature is -3^oC.

Sam looked at Sylvester and just said "Down Tiger. I'm outa your league by a parsec"

She begins maneovering in for a landing on the beach "We good to go in or do we want more fly bys?"

"Hehehehehehehehehe, too bad Sam, it could have been fun!" he says with a grin. "Bout time for fun in the snow and on the beach!"

Inderpal looked at the external conditions data.

"Probably not the best place for sunbathing in any event. It's negative three Celsius outside and that's before you factor in any wind chill."

Sharik chuckled lightly with a slightly crooked smile on her lips as her mind wandered a touch as she recalled Indy in her bathing suit for a brief moment, before chiming in, "Minus three Celsius is still a lot warmer than plus three Kelvin - The Cold Vac of the Deep Black!"  She glanced at her gloves and helmet hooked to the side of astrogator's station; no matter what, she'd be wearing her vacc suit on the sortie - and that should be plenty enough environmental protection.

Generally speaking, the cosmopolitan spacer was dressed in her vacc suit for almost every j-Space transition. a habit likely formed over the decade in the Imperial Services of her previous life.  It was standard protocol for in the scouts and navy - most calamities (misjump or otherwise) happened on or near the jump points, either right before or after transition.  And while those events were often immediately fatal ... well, Shar just didn't want to be caught underdressed for the rest of those cases.

She stayed in her seat, with her five-point harness secured.  Shar intended to stay that way until it was time to disembark.  The auburn-haired operative didn't see any reason not to.  Even if she was quite excited to see what was in the ruins at this point, Sharik knew she was ready.  She was just waiting for the Captain to give the word.  Her eyes continued to scan the sensor feeds.  Nothing was blaring at her currently - which was a good thing.

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 106):

     "Yeah, yeah, Sam, go ahead and put us down." Vonon says, "As close as you can to the site, but don't take any risks.  Better we have to do a little walking, than we land too close to an ice cliff, and it falls down on us.  Pilot's Discretion, and all that."

Cold or not, at least I will get some air time after our last stop was cut short. This fur better be good for something.

With that Khea walks to her cabin and goes through her wardrobe to find something she can wear as a second layer of clothing over or under her normal outfit.

Standing on the bridge, Sir Walter looked at the various loud colors of the clothing on the crew, he shook his head. "Please remind me to get some mirrored sunglasses when we get back to civilization." Sir Walter said, holding his hand up next to his eyes and turning his head away before starting to chuckle.

"Be careful out there." he added as the ship started to land.

Sam moves in to the beach using the sensors to try and find a good  landing site before settling the ship down.

She shuts down the engines, and says "Ok - time to suit up I guess?"

As soon as they touched down, Inderpal recorded the to be looped message asking for Captain Lantrell to get back to them as soon as he received it.

She set up the looping command, then softly pressed the key to transmit it. Elegantly removing her headset, she got to her feet and then started to walk towards the door.

"Back in ten minutes," she said then headed for the WC.

Sylvester puts on his cold weather gear, over his blue/grey uniform, to protect him from the cold. He gets a shotgun and ammo from the locker just in case.

"Any other precautions we need to take? We should all travel in at least pairs if not groups. My comms is turned on."

Khea returns clothed in cold weather gear.
"Do we have any rebreathers in the locker? And I guess we should also get the densitometer and all the other fancy scanners we bought"

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 113):

     "Rebreathers are a good idea, Khea." Vonon sealing the front of his electric tangerine parka, but leaving the hood, with it's royal blue fur trim, down,

     "The interior of the ruin could have been closed up for centuries, and the air inside may be unfit to breathe--along those lines, would anyone like to volunteer to wear a vacc suit, just in case we encounter something that rebreathers can't handle?"

     Vonon pulls his heavy autopistol from the holster on his right thigh, pops the ammo clip and checks that it's loaded, then slaps it back in place and secures the pistol back in the holster.

     "Okay, that Guardship is gonna be back overhead soon, when it'll pick up our signal and expect a response--maybe even demand an update.  So, for right now, let's just plan for a quick trip over there.  We'll first locate a way in, then make sure we can get in safely, then establish that whatever is on the other side of our entrance is safe and stable."

     "At that point we'll take a break--either because the Guardship is back, or simply to come back aboard and get a meal and assess our situation.  Regardless, we bring with us every portable scanning device we have, as well as recoding devices.  Everybody records their activities--everybody!  And, if possible, have your recordings streamed to the Longshot."

     Vonon reaches under his parka and pulls his personal comm from the belt pouch where he keeps it.  Activating the device's controls, he establishes a data feed from it to the Longshots computers.

"Oh no, not me. You guys had your fun outing on Ivermory while I was stuck in here. Now its my turn to catch some sunlight."

At that moment, Vonon noticed Serge, who was standing next to him, dressed in combat armor with an extended life support system, and diligently hiding his gauss rifle with the under-barrel grenade launcher from Vonon's view.

"Already on it, Cap'n" Sharik noted dutifully, when the request for a vacc-suited individual on the away team was ordered.  If the diminutive spacer was surprised more of the crew weren't dressed that way for this sortie, she didn't really show it.  Once the Longshot had touched down, she ran through the standby engagement checklist for her station and locked the console before grabbing the helmet and gloves that were secured next to the console.

Disengaging the five-point harness, Shar stood and straightened out the pleats on her suit for a moment before heading off with the others to the airlock and the ruins beyond.  The auburn-haired ex-operative only stopped at the ship's locker to pull her stunner and laser pistol from secured armory there.  Sharik also retrieved her faithful wrecker's tool; a cunningly crafted titanium crowbar-multitool, that seemed to be made for custom salvage and repair work - it pushed into its own custom sheath strapped to her right thigh.  Tucking the two sidearms into their holsters, she slipped on her gloves and helmet, and confirmed the environmental seal and system diagnostics were all showing green.

She took in a deep breath, noting to no one and everyone in particular, "And it's Showtime..."

With the crew getting ready to leave, Sir Walter took over controls of the Longshot checking to make sure he was getting video and audio feed from the group and was being backed up in triplicate just in case. Once that was working, he set the sensors to track anything larger than 20 kg within 5 km of the ship and checked over the comlink for the guardship in case they come calling.

+++Base to Captain comm check+++ he said.

[Aboard The Longshot, on Confederation Prison Planet Coventry]

     Spotting Serge wearing a strictly military vacc suit, Vonon tilts his head to the side and opens his mouth to ask--but suddenly snaps it shut.

     Giving his head a little shake, Vonon says,

     "Okay, fine--expect the unexpected, and all that.  So, I'm going to assume you know how to use that gear..."

     Vonon points at Serge, but not at his Combat Armor--instead, Vonon is pointing at the Gauss Rifle.

     "Maybe we'll need grenades, maybe not, but know that I don't buy into all the stories and fairy tales about lost Iltharian technology--which means I have no expectation that that structure out there--which could be over a millennia old!--isn't ready to fall down on us if somebody sneezes hard.  So if you feel the need to go firing grenade shells around that place, you better account for every aspect of the blast."

     Vonon lifts his hand from pointing at the grenade launcher, and pokes Serge in his armored chestplate,

     "So you think twice--no, think three times!--before you pull the trigger on a grenade.  Because if somebody gets hurt by one of your grenades..."

     Vonon snarls, exposing his fangs,

     "...I will eat you.  And I am not being metaphorical.  So please be careful."

     Vonon's snarl turns to a grin,

     "Cuz the last Scout I ate gave me heartburn.  Hurr-hurr-hurr-hurr..."

Sam grabs her gear and the warm kit and heads over to the airlock, still pulling the lat of her warm kit on. She most obviously carries her usual cutlass and an auto rifle. She follows Vonuns lead and set her comm up to transmit straight to the Long shot SHe has a grip bag with her as well.

- Sir, yes, sir! - Serge barked at Vonon and closed the visor of his helmet. "Our captain is such an adorable pal!" - a muffled voice came from under the helmet.

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 121):

Sylvester sets his comm to transmit everything to the ship as well. He zips his parka up and puts on his gloves. Ready to venture forth and explore.

"Who wants to partner up? Sam?" he says with a grin. "How bout you Khea? Then we can get back for some chocolate chip cookies and brandy! If Sir Walter doesn't find it that is!"

As the others prepared to leave, Inderpal returned to her seat and put on her headset to see if anyone was trying to contact them.

She didn't fancy going outside anyway.

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 121):

     "Good." Vonon nods in acknowledgement, as Serge seals up his suit--apparently oblivious to Serge's comment,

     "Because, if you'll take notice, my friend, while you are wearing hard armor, the rest of us are not!  We are just wearing heavy clothes and breathers--and though Sharik is wearing a Softsuit, it still doesn't give her protection from being squished that's much better than the rest of us.  Just keep that in mind, please."

     Once everyone is assembled down at the main airlock, Vonon slips the lanyard attached to a rebreather mask over his head, then lets the mask dangle down, over is chest.

     "Okay, everybody," Vonon says, as he activates the airlock, and the outer access ramp, then quickly adds, "raise your hand if you're wearing armor.  Hey!  Thanks for volunteering, Serge!  Hurr-hurr-hurr..."

     Vonon makes his growl-like laugh for a moment, then waves it off,

     "Ah, I'm just busting your balls, Serge.  But you are the only Scout who showed up in armor, so you get to take point, and try to find us an easy way up to that door we spotted, during the overflight."

     The airlock opens and Vonon gestures for Serge to lead the way,

     "Let's move out, team--ears up and eyes open!  Don't let the Perps..."

     Vonon shuts up with a grimace--raising his hand in an apologetic gesture.

     "Sorry, sorry," he says, "Old habit.  Pretend I didn't just say 'Perps'.  Just...pay attention to your surroundings, out there, let's avoid accidents where we can.  Let's go."

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 124):

Jack watches the exchange of Vonon and Serge. And the other pecking orders and relations between crew members.

Jack decides to go with just his armoured uniform. Foregoing the vest, helmet and arm-leg protectors.

After donning the mask and breather. He checks his transmitter and Gauss pistol. And decides on two extra mags for it.

After the comments about grenades, he puts his back in the case.

             After all... if he needs them he can come back for them



"All set Capt'n" says Jack to Vonon when he comes up to the airlock.

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 125):

OOC: Jack, what do you mean by "donning the mask and breather"?  "Donning" is such a slippery word...  ^_^

Serge switched on his external speakers and radio, and addressed to Vonon:
- Who's my second? Where's Pablo? Is he going? I need someone with a free hand to use this, - Serge demonstrated a motion sensor.

Sam swung the grip bag up and hooked it over her arms, so it hung like a bad back pack. Looking at V she says "perps is right - thats what the local inhabitants are." She looks outside and says to Serge "I got no free hands, but I'll take 3rd spot to cover you, ok?"

"There's already seven of you going," Pablo comments as he waits by the hatch to close it when the 'away team' leaves. "Besides, someone has to stay behind to form the rescue team. That'd be me, Valeska, Reese, Inderpal and maybe Veronika."

"Too many of you and you'll start getting in each other's way and the supply chain'll start getting thin. Just how many Longshot crew does it take to screw in a light bulb anyway?"

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 122):

"Oh, no. Stay away with those dirt chips"

Khea steps up to the airlock to get out once it opens.

"So what is your plan? Shove Serge in and see if he dies before the rest follows?"

     "Yeah, what Pablo just said." Vonon agrees, hooking a thumb towards his old buddy, "And, to a slightly lesser degree, what Khea said, too."

     "Look, Serge," Vonon continues, turning towards the Scout, "when I said you have Point, I didn't mean in the military sense--that I wanted you watching for hostiles.  What I meant was that I wanted you to take Point in the Scout sense--as a pathfinder.  I want you looking at the ground, finding us the best and easiest route up to those ruins.  Okay?"

     Vonon then lowers his gaze down towards his boots, and lowers his voice,

     "And if, while you're walking up in front, you happen to get attacked--well, you're wearing all that armor, so...."

     Vonon clears his throat, as he raises his gaze back up,

     "*A-HEM*  Uh, Jack, here will be responsible for watching for hostiles--either people or, more likely, animals.  And the rest of us will also be keeping an eye out, too, but we should also be taking pictures, environmental recordings, and other forensic observations."

     "But sure, I'll take your motion sensor, for you, if you haven't anyplace to rack it on your armor."

- Worry not, I got you right, - Serge said. - Let's go then. Sam and I will go forward, you stay here until we give a sign.

Serge walked out of the ship, took some time to learn the surroundings, and headed to the ruins together with Sam. If the path is clear, Serge will give a sign for the others to approach.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:40, Sun 19 July 2020.

Sylvester falls in with the others, waiting in line to head out. Feeling left out. Being ignored because he was the new guy. He has his tool kit ready if he needs it as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Sun 19 July 2020.

Sam follows out having checked her gear t make sure she is ready for the predicted atmosphere

As they get 50 metres from the ship she says "Comms check. Serge - you here me? Longshot, you hear me?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Sun 19 July 2020.

+++Read you Lima Charley Ms. Kilgore+++ Sir Walter said as he made his way to the galley to get a cup of coffee.

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 134):

- Sam, I hear you, loud and clear, - Serge said, adding on a PHUD data fed from the Geiger counter, atmosphere tester and NBC alarm.

The auburn-haired astrogator gave Sam a thumbs-up, responding dutifully over the crew channel, "++Longshot Central, this is Alpha Tango Three.  Sharik here, are you receiving my video and sensor feeds?++"  She'd already double checked her connection when on the bridge, but it didn't hurt to ensure that Walter and Indy were still receiving.  The feed was forked from her personal HUD which was tied into the UV and IR sensors in her glasses and secured under her helmet.

Shar's hand instinctively went to her left thigh pocket, which housed her PRIS goggles.  Though tied into her sensor feeds, they were on standby in case she needed them on the inside to study anything anomolous.

Rubbing her hands together eagerly as the airlock opened, Sharik followed behind the lead vanguard.  Her innate curiosity was barely contained as she strained to get a look at the beach, the cliff and glacier and that ruins that awaited them.  Her eyes darted from all of the sensor and comms data that augmented her view to the vista beyond even as her eyes adjusted to the light.

+++Read you Lima Charley Ms. Kaagira. Have fun storming the castle!+++ Sir Walter said, remembering a line from a film that the Count had shown during one of the early jumps.

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 138):

     Vonon steps off the boarding ramp onto the rocky shore and stops to look around.  Gloved hands on his hips, he inhales deeply...

     "Ahhhh!  A little cold and damp, what with the breeze off that glacier," Vonon says, "but otherwise, just the refreshing smell of sea spray."

     Vonon activates the motion sensor that Serge had handed him, setting it to three-hundred meters out (OOC: or it's maximum range, if it won't scan out to 300 meters).

     "Anybody got anything that can give us a read, from here, on what those walls are made of?" Vonon asks, while he's waiting for Serge to scout the terrain, a little ahead of the group.

Sylvester checks his feeds for comms and his body cam and his cam on his glasses. "Sylvester here, radio and camera check, Are my video feeds coming through?"

+++Base to Sylvester, you are getting an afterimage. Switch your video feed to Alpha 8 and turn down the gain.+++ Sir Walter said taking after taking a swig of coffee.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:50, Mon 20 July 2020.

Sylvester replies, "Roger that," and switches video feed to Alpha 8 and turns down the gain, "Better base?"

+++Much better. My eyes and ear drums thank you.+++ he replied to Sylvester.

With everyone clustering around the base of the ramp Khea starts to "gently" shove people forward.
"You are aware that you have a entire glacier in front of you. No need to stand around the ship. Especially if the wardens decide to blow it up for not being were we are supposed to be. So spread out and set up those scanners."

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 144):


+++Comm ...Check..Cop...Longshot+++

Jack checks his comms..

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 145):

"+++Yes, yes, I hear you+++"

Back on the ship, Valeska is able to use the ship's standard sensors to get a spectroscopic reading of the structure. She passes on the information that it appears to be made of molybdenum and carbon, but no additional data is available nor is there any indication of why it isn't.

It would probably require a close-up scan with a DM-5.


As you approach the building, it is clear that it in no way could be considered 'ruins'. The walls appear to be in pristine condition. Neither time, weather nor the glacier seems to have done any damage to it. It could have been put there yesterday.

Up close, it looks metallic with a greenish tint to it.

There is an outline that signifies that it is the door... the only potential access point. Nothing that could be hinges are visible. There is an area to the left of the door could be an access panel--it is rectangular with rounded corners but appears to only be a slightly different shade of greenish metal.



Back on the ship, Inderpal finally gets a reply from the patrol ship in orbit.

===COMMS: "Report received, Longshot. Acknowledge. I see you've read your contract! Yes, you ARE required to investigate. Our scans confirm the presence of the structure. There does not appear to be any danger of the... local populace being able to reach you. I don't see any reason your investigation shouldn't continue. When you're done, we may have to destroy it. Fair warning. Argus out." :COMMS===

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 147):

     After he hears Valeska's report, Vonon clears his throat in the pattern that activates the comm-dot on his throat,

^{COMM START>>>} "Valeska, did you say those walls are composed of Molybdenum and Carbon?" Vonon asks, "Would you please run the numbers through the computer and see if the material of these walls matches that of Molybdenum Carbide?" ^{<<<COMM END}

     Vonon turns to the members of the away team,

     "Molybdenum Carbide is a hard heat-resistant ceramic, it's used a lot in structures on the sun-side of Rockport--the asteroid station I grew up on.  I'm thinking, maybe the Iltharians plated the outside of these buildings with the stuff, as some kind of, I dunno, an ablative armor against lasers, and such...?"

Sam moves up to the access pad and starts to examine, it trying to work out anything she can about it - what language it uses, if it appears to have power,

"It also means laser cutters will be useless. So you better get the door open the intended way.

Should we roll out the drones? As they will blow up the ruins unless there are some kind of highly advanced super technology in there for them to study we should get out everything we can"

Sylvester nods agreement that they will at least try to destroy the place so the locals don't gain technology or shelter.

===BEGIN COMMS:

"It doesn't work that way, Vonon," Valeska replies. "The spectroscope only determines the reflected wavelength of a substance."

"The rest of the scans aren't getting a reading. The best you're going to be able to do is get some sort of local scan... probably through neutrino penetration."

"But molybdenum carbide is a good bet. It's what else that's been done to it that's the issue."

:END COMMS===

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 148):

- Vonon, the approach looks clear... So far. We got a door here, and something that looks like an access panel. Sam is examining it closer, - Serge reported.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Wed 22 July 2020.

After due consideration, Sam decides that the access panel is probably touch-sensitive/touch-activated, as there are no symbols or language visible. It seems highly improbable that there wouldn't be some sort of residual charge left in the panel to enable access to the facility, since clearly there is no power to it... although she has no clue what that indicator may have been for the Iltharans. Possibly a faint glow, maybe in the infrared or UV range.

At the very least, it appears to be in standby mode. Merely touching it might reveal something, but she can't help wondering if it is a biosensor pad--it might require a hand/palm/fingerprint or, when active, a code sequence. She wonders if the Iltharans ever considered the 'frequent button' fingerprint recovery possibility... and if any of that even survived the centuries and the glacier.

It further looks like there is no access to it from the front. Any servicing would have to be done from inside the facility. On the other hand, she can't see any seam but clearly the panel is a different color, indicating it might be made of a different material. Based on Valeska's report, Sam guesses it's probably some other form of carbide.

She considers alternatives: magnetics, photonics and good old electricity. Perhaps, if it doesn't respond to a palm print, it might be recharged/reactivated by submitting it to an electrical charge.

Sam adjusts her sunglasses to see if that makes any difference - adjusting to IR and Light Intensifier modes in turn

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 155):

     Moving up to the area around the supposed entrance, Vonon watches from the sidelines as the maybe-access panel is examined.

     "Yeah, at a guess it's some kind of biometrics." Vonon adds into the conversation, "Suppose it could also be a back-lit touch panel that's just unpowered.  Now, if the Universe loved us--which it doesn't--that little panel would be nothing but a sensor pad, and all we have to do is flash the correct type of radiation on it, and the door..."

     Vonon stops mid-sentence and frowns in thought,

     "Actually, how would the door open?  I mean, if we're assuming that this place has no power--and after being buried under a glacier for a millennium, how could it still have power--then how could that door open up, unless we figure out a way to feed it power?"

     "Well, no matter what," Vonon says with a shrug, "given the blood-thirsty reputation of the Iltharians, maybe we should be expecting something really nasty to happen, if we get the entry sequence wrong.  Y'know?"

As a crowd gathers near the door Khea joins them.


More or less, as she still keeps several steps distance, just in case.
"Now the tedious and boring part begins. Use that densitometer to see what is in the walls and behind it to see if there are any wires we could use. Then hope that we can take off some wall panels to access them"

She takes a step back

"Or you do the recless thing and just put your hand on it and see what happens"

"Were their hands the same as ours?" He looks at his gold colored skin on his hand then scratches a pointy ear.

While everyone was pondering what to do with the door, Serge surveyed the area and the building outside for anything that might be of interest.

Checking the panel in the infrared spectrum doesn't produce any results, particularly considering the external temperature and the years of being covered by the glacier. If it radiated in the infrared, without power, it couldn't do that anyway.

As far as anyone knows, the Iltharans were human, so their hands were just normal hands.


All that Serge sees is a featureless building. There are no seams that would indicate access panels or building sections. While it might be possible that the building was formed entirely in one 'pour', it's more probably that the Iltharans had some sort of method of constructing material in a continuous manner, such as is done with 3D printers.


Applying the densitometer to the building shows a thickness of about 3 meters  but no indication that there are any wires within.

Sylvester puts his hand on the panel minus the glove to see if it does anything.

It's not like sticking your tongue to a frozen flagpole, but Sylvester is surprised to discover that the panel does not feel cold to the touch. It neither conducts heat nor emits it.

Unfortunately, nothing else happens.

Sam dumps her grip and kneels beside it to rummage inside. She brings out an odd looking glove. She presses it against the wall and lets go of it

Sam places the glove against the wall and lets go. It stays in place for a moment, but then starts slowly sliding down the wall until it reaches the ground.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 164):

Jack groans "I'll probably regret this."

Jack takes off his glove and puts his hand up to the panel and holds it there. And says...
"OPEN"

     Vonon looks at Jack for a moment...looks down at his hand on the panel...looks back up at Jack...

     "Funny...you don't look Druish..." Vonon says in a serious tone...which he only maintains for a couple of seconds, before doubling over with his growl-like laughter.

     "Hurr-hurr-hurr...Really?...Hurr-hurr-hurr...Iltharians were a Minor Race...hurr-hurr-hurr...stole their Jump...hurr-hurr..Jump technology from a Reaver...hurr-hurr-hurr...Then they were the Big Boogie Men of The Deep...hurr-hurr-hurr...until they poked...hurr-hurr-hurr...poked the young Principality of Caledon."

     "Ahhhh...hurr-hurr...that was fun." Vonon sighs, getting control over himself, "My point is...hurr...the Iltharians had their own language, and they were a proud, arrogant people, so they likely spoke only that."

     "So, giving that door a verbal command in Anglic was, like, a billion-to-one shot, Jack.  But, hey!  Hurr-hurr...Maybe if you tried it again, but this time with a Caledonian accent--that would only be a million-to-one shot!  But still just as funny!  Hurr-hurr-hurr!"

Sam picks up her glove and stashes it in her bag, putting the bag back in her bag and slinging it on her back.

"Whatever else is in those walls, theres nothing magnetic." she says

"had to try Boss. And my best heavy Caledonian accent is Aslan...." Jack says with a grin

Inderpal was faced with a choice between listening to the ground comms and listening to the orbital comms. Both of them could suddenly pop up something that might necessitate a rapid departure from Coventry.

She radioed the others.

COMMS>>> +++Kumar to all callsigns. I'm going to be listening on the orbital frequencies to make sure that we're not about to kicked off this place. If you need me for anything, ask Valeska to tap me on the shoulder. Out.+++

Inderpal put on her headphones, then switched over her listening watch to the orbital frequency that Argus was using. She couldn't really focus on two things at once in this situation. Few humans ultimately could.

"Can we blast it open? Ships weapons?" Sylvester questioned the others, not knowing himself. "A missile? Or just dynamite?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Mon 27 July 2020.

Having watched the "attempts" to open the door half amused, half embarrassed, Khea quickly sprints over to the group to intercede when she hears Sylverster's suggestion.

"What? No!
Before we resort to demolition we try carefully cutting first. Use that densiometer to see whats in the wall right next to the door and then we try to cut out a panel with a blowtorch or laser.

"I thought the wall was able to defeat lasers? If it isn't metal, a torch is useless too."

     "Yeah, I know, Jack.  It just struck me as funny, that's all." Vonon said, "And, I suppose, we've at least eliminated 'touching the pad' and saying 'Open' in Anglic, as two possibilities."

     "Like I said--and I do hope I'm wrong--if the opening of this blast-proof door requires any power, we're screwed.  Because I believe this facility to be completely dead.  However, if the mechanism of this door is strictly mechanical, we might be able to get it unlatched--but we'd still need to move a multi-ton blast door."

     Vonon pauses a moment and frowns at the supposed door control panel.

     "Actually, Jack..." Vonon says slowly, "Let's continue with your process of elimination.  Remember what I said about the Iltharians?  Well, they were also a violent people--they engaged in genocide on their own homeworld.  So...don't just touch the panel...don't just press the panel...I want you to slap the panel.  Hard."

     "Oh, not hard enough to break your hand, of course!  But assume you're a bad-tempered Iltharian, and you want inside, here, now.  Go ahead, give it a whack."

     Vonon points at the panel with his free hand,

     "And afterwards, we can write off any physical activator for the door, and move on to flashing various energy frequencies at it."


     Vonon frowns at Sylvester,

     "What, is molybdenum carbide alloy too primitive for you, Sylvester?  Too far behind the Darryan tech curve?" Vonon asks, with a wry grin, "I just said that I was familiar with a molybdenum carbide that was used as heat shielding.  I said it was really heat resistant, not laser-proof.  And while I'm guessing this is some kind of molybdenum carbide material, my comment that the Iltharians might be using it as laser resistant armor plate, is also based on my assumption that these walls are also a couple meters thick."

     "And what do you mean a torch would be useless?  Ceramics can be metallic, and they do burn--if the temperature is hot enough.  But..." Vonon looks around at the group, specifically at the gear they've brought.

     "I don't see a plasma cutter..."

"Maybe we should see if there are any other possible access routes? We saw the door, were there anything like vents or similar on any of the scans. What about below ground routes - anything that could have been leading to the building that way. Sharik - can you recheck your sensor sweeps for anything like that?"

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 173):

To Vonon's response Jack Touches the pad briefly with his fingertips. Then hits it three times with his fist. And lastly.. in desperation. Puts his forehead to the pad and sighs. Leaving his forehead there he says "Why don't you open???"

"Because we don't know the activation term Jack."

Somewhere amid Jack's efforts, there's a faint *whoosh* sound and the door pops out about an inch, then moves outward another 4 inches before it slides aside.

"You did it Jack! You got it open! Faceplant and a retina scan it was!"

Sharik placed a friendly (environmentally-sealed) glove on Jack's shoulder briefly  "Way to use your head, Mr. Blackwood." the auburn-haired astrogator quipped lightly over the crew channel and through her helmet speakers.

Her boots scuffed the cold gravel in front of the entryway as she stepped up to the opening, her helmet mounted lights flicking on to try and illuminate the gloom beyond.  As Shar let her eyes acclimate, she cast her head back and forth to let the beam of light give her a quick survey.

Sylvester pulls his torch out of his tool bag for light, turning it on and pointing in he lines up to enter the facility.

Vonon seemed upset with him, but he hoped to find something nice and good to raise him in his stature there, always willing to suck up while doing a good job was good in his opinion. As far as his job, there were no questions that he was good there, comparing well with Khea.

- Before we go in, we should have an idea how we are going to get out. I recommend Mr. Blackwood try to close the door and open it again, - Serge said.

"That is an excellent idea Serge, we don't want to be trapped inside when they decide to destroy the facility."

In reply to Sylvester Jinx (msg # 182):

     When Jack kneels down to put his head against the small panel, Vonon opens his mouth to make a smart-ass comment--but his jaw just continues to drop, as the massive door pops open and slides aside.

     "Wha...?  Well wrap my head in bandages and call me a Zhodani!" Vonon says, stunned, "That actually worked!"

     Suddenly Vonon frowns, and brings up the motion sensor Serge had handed him earlier,

     "Oh, shit!  That worked!" Vonon growls, slowly sweeping the sensor back-and-forth, in the general direction of the now-open door,

     "This place actually has power, you guys!  That means it's defenses could be live!  Iltharan defenses!"

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 183):

A odd look is on Jack's face.  "Vonon... Boss.. a word"

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 184):

     "Yeah, yeah!  Go ahead--I'm listening..." Vonon responds to Jack--his eyes never leaving the display of the hand-held Motion Sensor in his hands.

Sam looks surprised when the door opens, but peers inside to see if anything is lit up.

"Hm, I wonder what kind of power lasts that long. Geothermal? Or hopefully some very advanced and so far unknown form of power generation which is also conveniently portable?"

Khea positions herself some paces away from the door and not directly in front it.

"Who wants the honor of going in first?

"Don't know how exactly to say it.. but here it goes. Someone or something just greeted me as Zoron's heir when the door opened." And Jack looks at the open doorway, then back at Vonon.

"Jack is going first Khea, he is Zoron's heir. I'll follow, but not too close behind."

Vonon's handheld Motion Detector does not register anything moving in the dark interior. Nothing inside has lit up yet... if it will.

Based on the opening, the walls are about a foot thick, and you can see that there was an internal door that also slid aside. The thickness of the wall clearly means this was never meant to be an airlock.

Shining a light in, you can see one large room, with a sunken center area and a raised perimeter. There is furniture in the sunken area, and what looks like game tables.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 190):

Jack switches to UV on his glasses. "Sure... send the new guy in first into the haunted ruins....  sure, that's a GREAT plan"

Jack heads into the sunken area looking for something that might be a computer. And eyes whats on the tables.

Sam moves back beside the wall and says "So whos next up?"

- That reminds me of an old joke*, - Serge said. - So, after you, Zoron's heir! I think this name will stick to you for a while.

When Jack entered the building, Serge followed him.

* OOC:
In an Afghan village a man is walking down the street, his wife is walking in front of him. An old man meets them:
- Hey, Abdul, have you not read the Koran? The wife should only go behind the husband!
- When the Koran was written, there were no antipersonnel mines yet. Go ahead, Fatima!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Fri 31 July 2020.

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 193):

Hehehehehehe, good one!

Sylvester shines his torch around and enters, going first if he has to. He circles a little to the right and shines the light around the room from a standstill.

Still staying further back Khea shouts to those going inside, completely forgetting her comm: "See if the door can also be opened from the inside"

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 196):

Sylvester turns to check the door opening device on the wall, to see if it is the same inside as out and whether it opens from inside or not. And whether he can do it or if it has to be Jack.

OOC Good tactic Sam

Jack then realizes  that ***COMM*** "If something used telepathy to talk to me, then it might be able to read all the surface thoughts of the crew. ***COMM END***
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:13, Sun 02 Aug 2020.

Inderpal continued to listen on the orbital frequency in case things changed there. She looked over at the others in the room with her to see what their facial expressions were saying, so she could get an idea of how the mission was going.

>>>COM: "Right, talking to you with telepathy. Are there any hallucinogenic gases in there? Maybe we should all get helmets from the space suits instead of just rebreathers after all."<<<
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:40, Sat 01 Aug 2020.

[Coventry, Confederation of Duncinae Prison Planet.  At the "entrance" of "The Ruin"]
[And it's still Tuesday....]




     Having detected no movement inside, beyond the now-open door, Vonon turns a puzzled frown towards Jack,

     "Really?  That's odd--I didn't hear anything over my comm." Vonon says, then looks around at the others,

     "Anybody else hear anything, just now, over their comms?"  Vonon then clears his throat in the pattern that activated the comm-dot on his throat,

^{COMM START>>>} "*Hmm-Harr-hmm*  Indy?  Did the ship pick up any kind of transmission from this structure, just a moment ago?" ^{<<<COMM ENDS}






     "So...that's a no on anyone else hearing anything on comms, then?" Vonon asks, as first Jack, then Sylvester enter the structure.






     "That's a good idea, Kheah." Vonon says, then raises his voice to shout through the open door, "Guys!  Just don't..."




     "Stop saying the farging word TELEPATHY over the frelling Comms!" Vonon shouts at the top of his lungs.

     Then, in a more normal tone, he continues, "There is an armed Guardship in orbit abouve our heads, y'know!  And they just might pick up our comm signals and decrypt them!  There are lots of people in the Universe, who would react to hearing...that word...by dropping missiles on us--even though you're joking!  So, please stop saying that over comms!"

     "Now.  Khea has another good point!  Even though it's a little late, now--after you two already rushed inside!  But we really should test the air quality, in there, before anyone else steps in.  Who has anything that can test the air?  Anyone?"

There's a similar 'touch pad' on the inside to the right of the door. It was on the left outside, as you were facing it... and the door slid to the right; inside, the inner door slid to the same side, which would be to the left as you faced the door.

In to test whether the touch pad will work, you have to close the door.


Once inside, Jack's shades allow him to see almost as if it's daylight, as the UV light from outside bounces/reflects inside. The room will probably go dark once the door is closed.

There is a three-step drop to the sunken central area the whole way around except in two spots--at the east and west. The orientation of the facility is such that the door was to the south. At the NW, NE, SE and SW points, you can see doors.

With more light and moving a bit closer, Jack can see that the tables are game tables. One is set up with a chess set that looks a bit odd. Then there's a foosball table and an air hockey table... or whatever the Iltharian equivalents were.

There is no sign of a computer. At the east and west points, though, there are two cabinets inset into the stairs.




Inderpal glances at the others to see their reaction to the Away Team's reports/status, and Valeska just rolls her eyes.

There's no action from the orbital ship. They are continuing their orbiting of the planet.

- I have an atmosphere tester and NBC alarm, capt'n, - Serge answered. - There are no signs of trouble so far.

Serge checked the readings of the tester again.

- Capt'n is right, Jack, - Serge added. - We rushed inside too fast. Let's not progress without Vonon's command.

In reply to Serge Baklanov (msg # 203):

     "Keep a record of those air quality readings, Serge!" Vonon says, nodding at the scout, "I find it a little odd that the air inside a structure that's been sealed in ice for centuries appears to be so safe.  I mean, not even a little stale?"

     Vonon steps up and stops right in the middle of the open doorway--then leans forward, to put his muzzle just inside...and takes a long, deep sniff...

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 204):

     Vonon holds his breath for a moment--a pondering look on his face--then exhales all at once.  He grimaces, then takes a couple of quick sniffs, one right after the other, then slowly exhales.

     "Huh.  Nothing." Vonon says with a shrug, then steps into the dark chamber.

     "Oh, Jaaaaaaaaack......?" Vonon calls out into the dimness,

     "Tell me again...just what did you hear over your comm--or whatever--when you got the door to open?" Vonon asks, "Tell me exactly--word-for-word!"

     After Jack repeats what he (thinks) he heard, Vonon pauses a moment to think on it, himself,

     "Y'know...that's kind of an odd thing to say to somebody who just opened your front door, uninvited, don't you think?  Especially if that door had been buried under ice for a few centuries, right?"

     "So, Jaaaaaaaaack....what do you think that message means?  Means for you, I mean...."

Sam follows V into the room and makes sure the wall is between her and the ship and tries contacting the ship "Comms check do you read Longshot?"

"Now if we only would know if for Vonon that is normal or if he is acting strange.

Oh well, I guess we trust the nose of a vargr more than our instruments. So when he drops dead everybody hold your breath and run."

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 207):

- Hahaha! It's okay Khea, I'm in a closed suit, - Serge laughed.

+++Read you 5 by 5 Ms. Kilgore.+++ Sir Walter said,

Vonon does detect that the air seems a bit stale... and cold. If the temperature has been below freezing for centuries, it might not have deteriorated all that much once the automatic recycling system quit or was shut down.

There's no problems with the comm-link to the ship, but that could conceivable change once the door is closed. There's been no indication that the walls would keep out radio waves. Perhaps, if the place is powered up, there might be electronic countermeasures that would stop the comms.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:45, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

Sam clicked on Comms again "OK - Longshot, can you see us on sensors through the walls?"

+++Still receiving data. That might change when the door is closed.+++ Sir Walter replied. +++Might want to rig a repeater at the door if there is an enough of a gap to connect them.+++ he suggested.

OOC:I am guessing that the technology is there where a connection could be made between two devices so a signal can be passed through the door to the other side by fiber optics, flat cable, or some other means, even a worn spot on the floor might be a wide enough gap to connect them.

Jack holds up his hand as thinks of the right words. "Hmmm... well now... It did say welcome. After putting my forehead to the panel. Zoron's heir I believe goes to my drug problem (winks). My thought is this station has a link to drug research."

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 213):

After answering Vonon. Jack tries thinking ***Caretaker... Thank you for opening the doorway. Can you turn on the lights in this entry room ONLY. Thank you***

Pause for Vonon response and waits to see if anything happens.

Inderpal lifted her microphone a second. While she had the system set as Push to Talk, she was in the habit and moving it clear when she wanted to ask something off comms.

"What's going on?", she asked Valeska, "Is someone being stupid?"

Sam says "Roger that Walter - good idea. Khea - Sharik - any ideas on how we could do that?"

"Just jam something sturdy in the door to prevent it from closing?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

Sylvester shines his light all around, trying to see what there is to see, keeping his camera turned to follow the light recording everything he sees. He describes into his comms what he's looking at for posterity.

     Vonon points at Jack with his gloved left hand, and nods.

     "Got your fangs in it the first time!" Vonon acknowledges, "From what you said, the first time, about what you said you heard--that didn't sound, to me, like some generalized greeting being given to any and every visitor that walks through the door!  No.  That sounded like a 'welcome home, boss', to me!"

     "Your ordering the lights turned on is a great choice to test your ability to give orders, around here.  Well, it's a good idea, assuming that that there is a working voice receiver somewhere in this chamber and that the lights in here still work..."

     "Oh, and as for that drug problem you just said you have...you didn't report it when you applied for the job.  You're fired.  You can walk home from here...hurr-hurr-hurr..."

     After another moment of chuckling, Vonon pauses a moment, in silent thought, then calls out to everyone else,

     "Is everybody sure they didn't hear anything over their comms, just before the door opened?  Serge?  Did your suit's acoustic systems, maybe, pick something up?"

))C Jack did not ask for the lights to be turned on out loud. Just mentally doing so, to see if the 'Caretaker' is listening.

Jack looks to Vonon "Yeah.. I see what you mean by welcome home Boss comment. Lets see if I can get the lights on."

(NOW)

Jack says aloud "Caretaker... turn the lights and power in this room only"

- Nope, I didn't hear unidentified voices. But... there can be infrasounds or ultrasounds of course, and I'm feeding all the data to Longshot so they can analyse the records.

Nothing happens when Jack asks for the lights to get turned on.

There might not be enough power, though. Or some physical switch might need to be thrown first.

While voice activation was probably available to the Iltharans, security might have required voice recognition.

So the power needs to be on before the lights. Gotcha (Maybe, or a physical light switch needs to be found)

"If there is a physical switch, there will be one by the door, maybe it's a clapper? Clap  on, clap off type of thing." Sylvester claps his hands.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Sun 09 Aug 2020.

Still not having actually entered the ruins Khea stands at the doorway shouting in.

"Are you done trying to talk to the walls so that we can approach this in a more scientific manner?"

Sylvester claps his hands, but there's no reaction. No lights come on.

Those that have entered the building realize that it's just as cold inside as it was outside.

Sam goes inside, and walks around the entire area looking at it trying to take in all the details - to see if she can learn anything that might help.

She muses out load "Do we know anything about their power systems? Could we use sensors to try and trace cabling from something in here back to the power source?"

She also muses "This is a games room? Why would you have a games room as the first thing you come into from outside?" she gives a light laugh "Maybe this a holiday cottage rather than a research station or anything like that"

ooc
Sam will examine all the obvious powered devices to see if there is any sign of power  in them, or if they are even on. She will also try and assess if the place seems to have been left in a hurry - is signs of things left behind, or if it seems tidy as if shut down carefully. ALso looking for dust or any signs of how long things have been abandoned, as well as any exits, hatches, cupboards etc


08:33, Today: Samantha Kilgore rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,5.  Investigate 1 Int +1.

Serge looks for a switch on the walls :)

Serge can't find anything on the wall that looks like a light switch.


As far as anyone knows, nothing is known about the Iltharan power systems, though there was also nothing that hinted at anything out of the ordinary.

The only thing Sam kind find that would seem to require power is the 'air hockey' table, since it presumably generates a cushion of air on the table top to make the 'puck' slide easier.

Nothing else appears to require power.

Based on the thin layer of dust, Sam can theorize that the place still had air conditioning running when it was abandoned. That would have cleaned any dust our of the air until the place eventually shut down. Since it was sealed, no dust would have entered the facility, and only what remains would have settled on the furniture.

Sylvester walks around the room, looking carefully, with his light, at everything he can see. He looks for doors out of this room as well. He watches where he steps.

While the rest of the group are inside the building and still alive Khea returns to the ship and looks for something sturdy she can put in the doorway to prevent it from closing.
After she found that she joins the others inside.

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 231):




Jack looks happy. A strange grin is evident...

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 232):

- Emm... Jack?.. Are you all right?.. - Serge had obviously worried voice.

Sam moves over to one of the internal doors, to examine it and see if she can open it

Jack holds up his hand and extends his thumb and pinkie and holds his hand up to his ear.

Seeing Jacks strange reaction when she was drags the semi-portable freezer they have over the the building she carefully places it in the doorway to prevent it from closing while keeping an eye on Jack.
Once its in place she activates her comm
COMM START>>>"Uh, Jack doesn't look so good. Are you sure there is nothing in the air here? I am not chancing it.
Does anyone else want something more protective gear? And I guess some lanterns would be useful.<<<COMM END
Not waiting for a reply Khea, again, goes back to the ship, changes into one of the emergency hostile environment suits which have gathered dust so far and checks if the oxygen is filled up.
She then puts the cold light lanterns, the light intensifier goggles and whatever else the team has requested on a cart and rolls it out. She also takes a stunstick in case more people start to act weird.

Going over to one of the 'doors', Sam doesn't find anything that resembles either a door handle, a lock or a control. However, touching the door easily shows her that it is 'loose' in its housing, but when she tries to slide it aside, she realizes that it doesn't exactly 'slide'--instead it revolves. She also observes that there is a counterpart on the opposite side of the small circular chamber that also revolves in conjunction of the outer side.

In any case, there is now a clear opening into the next room, which appears to be the ground floor of one of those perimeter towers.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 237):
Jack puts his hand away from his ear.

"Vonon...Vonon...Vonon... Just had the most pleasant talk with the building.  Her name is TAMI.


No one has been here for 823 years. Five levels like this with the four outer rooms and a sixth level. Power needs to be turned on manually, but that ship will see that.

 Says your aura is very nice. "

Jack says almost running out of breath.

Sam points at the opposite door to the one she has opened "Someone might want to check that, I'm gonna check this one" She looks in side, moving round the doorway to examine as much of the room as she can before going in

- Better let us check them together, one by one, - Serge joined Sam in investigating the rooms.

Although the small circular room could just be a peculiar design of the Iltharans, and it might also serve as an airlock, now that she's seen the 'map', it does occur to her that these odd doorways might also be an elevator to access the other floors. It isn't unusual for some buildings, particularly hospitals, to have elevators that have doors on both sides, though only one can be opened at a time.

The small circular room is only about 6 feet in diameter. Clearly, now, it's a tube... or more exactly two tubes one inside the other. The inner tube is the door that rotates to open and close.

In the room beyond, you can see that it appears to be set up in two parts. The closer third looks like an office. On the right are two office-type desks with chairs. On the left is a quarter-circle console with four chairs.

You do notice that the chairs have not been neatly tucked under the desk or console.

The back two-thirds of the room is clearly set up as a chemistry lab. There are two large lab tables set up in this area, angled slightly toward the door. The top of each table is black, but the cabinets beneath are a dark red (as is all the furniture here). Each is about 12 feet long, cabinets below, open shelves above, a sink at each end, and small wheeled stools placed along the sides. Against the back wall are three cabinets, each about 6 feet long. Upper half of each cabinet has glass paneled doors; bottom half has a stack of shallow drawers in the middle and doors to either side. Between these cabinets is a fume hood cabinet.

There is numerous glassware still set up on the lab tables: beakers, tubes, retorts, etc. It looks like a chemical operation was on-going when it was abruptly abandoned.

Anyone with any lab experience can tell that this is all high-end industrial-grade equipment.

I say we take everything not nailed down and sell it as artifacts. Certify them original Iltharin items and sell them."

     "You...just...had a pleasant talk...with the building?" Vonon asks in a concerned tone, while making the same 'talking into a headset boom mic' hand gesture that Jack had been making,

     "And the building's...name...is Tammy?  Uhhh..."

     Suddenly Vonon uses the hand he'd been mimicking Jack with, to lightly tap himself on the top of his head.

     "Of course!  You mentioned you'd been an Agent with some Law Enforcement outfit, or other, when you first came aboard!"

     Vonon now moves his hand, and uses a finger to tap himself just behind the ear,

     "You must have one of those comm implants!  That's why you're hearing voices nobody else is!  You're receiving encoded signals!"

     Vonon takes a half step towards Jack, to get more into the light near Jack,

     "That is what's happening." Vonon seems to state, rather than ask, while giving Jack an intense stare, "Right, Jack?"

     Vonon quickly smiles again, and adds,

     "And please tell this...Tammy--I assume that's the facility control computer--that I'm glad that it--she?--likes my, uh, Aura.  Tell her for me, if you would, that I am very pleased with her reception towards us.  I was not expecting such a pleasant welcome from anything related to the Iltharans, given their reputation, and all that."



     Vonon turns to give Sylvester 'A Look', as well as making a surreptitious 'keep it down' gesture with his free hand--unaware if Sylvester can actually see either, given the dim lighting conditions in the large room.

     "Let's get to know the Resident, first, maybe?" Vonon responds to Sylvester, through a grin.

Sir Walter sat listening to the conversation that Vonon had with Jack, over the many open channels the others had going. He mashed down on the mute button before the sounds of his laughter echoed through the bridge. He laughed so hard that he ended sliding out of the chair and rolled on the floor. Catching his breath, he was glad that he was not drinking kaff at the time or it would have coated the bridge .

Sam nodded at Serge and said "Ladies first" and moved into the room, she looked over the desks to see if there were any documents or items being used on the desk. She'll also look through any drawers etc. As she worked, she stopped and tapped something into her comm


She also Comms "Inderpal, can you do a search on this Zoron character and see if you can find out anything please?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:56, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

"yeah Boss. This transceiver of mine just had an interesting conversation. Not sure if TAMI is the base computer either. It opened the door for us, but that seems to be it. " Jack is sensing Vonon's mood about his eagerness.

Serge looks at the lab equipment.
- Longshot, do you see this? Do we have a chemistry specialist among the crew? - he said in the comm.

OOC: Serge has a degree in "explosives", does he recognize anything related to explosive components?

Khea deposits the chart at the entrance and finally enters the building and joining the others with a ignited lantern in each hand.
"Everyone still alive and sane?"

"It's perfectly safe Khea, famous last words!" Sylvester says as he explores the rooms, looking for items to acquire to sale as artifacts.

Inderpal, in searching through the computer archives, does find an obscure reference to an Iltharan biologist by the name of Zoron Glane from back in the days of the Iltharan Empire. There is no real data on this person, other than when he was born. Date of death is unknown, but presumably he died hundreds of years ago. There was little data recovered from the Empire after it fell.

The Longshot is not a ship of eggheads. Inderpal, Serge, Valeska and Walter all have basic Science training, but no one is a specialist in Chemistry.


Nothing in this room looks like it is or was an explosive to Serge. He's not even sure if anything in here could have been used as a makeshift explosive.

Inderpal contacts Samantha with the result of her search.

"Apart from a long dead biologist named Zoron Glane, there's what is colloquially known as 'bupkis'. Sorry I could not be of more help."

+++Negative there Serge. We are a bunch of knuckle draggers when it comes to that. The only chemistry we know is how to mix a drink. Have to remember to get our hands on a scientist or two.+++ Sir Walter said.

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 252):

     "I know how to recognize several forms of illegal pharmaceuticals, from my time as a Patrolman, but I couldn't tell you their chemical formulas, no." Vonon offers, "And, like you, Serge, I could probably recognize a lot of gear from a Chem Lab, but I also know that a lot of chemistry gear also doubles as Bio Lab gear.  Sorry."

In reply to Vonon Ronkunu (msg # 253):

"Just don't open any containers.  And besides, no one came back either..." Jack adds

In reply to Jack Blackwood (msg # 254):

     "No one came back...?" turning back to Jack, Vonon repeats Jack's last statement, thinking it a non-sequitur--until he recalls his own previous comment to Jack.

     "Oh!  You mean the computer is happy to see anyone, after so long...wait..." Vonon pauses for a moment, as he ponders the relevance of what he just said.

     "Computers can't be happy!  They don't have emotions--though I suppose some really sophisticated ones can probably appear to.  But...from what I've heard...an AI, or a Digital Personality, could actually have some kind of emotional response algorithm.  Are you saying, I mean, do you think that this Tammy could be an AI?"

     "Jack, are you saying that Tammy is happy to have visitors?  Even though we're not Iltharan?" Vonon asks, with a cautious tone,